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Experts weigh in on real threats to stability in South China Sea

Xinhua) 08:35, November 06, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese experts at a special forum in Beijing have pointed out that the root causes of the instability in the South China Sea are the United States picking sides on the South China Sea issue, certain claimants in relevant disputes attempting to enforce their illegal interests, and the illegal award of the arbitration tribunal in 2016.

The experts from various research centers and universities discussed the issues at an event on Tuesday organized by the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI).

Responding to claims by some Western countries that China's construction on some islands and reefs in Nansha Qundao had changed the "status quo" in the area, Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Research Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, explained that related moves by China are measures aimed at countering the Philippines' arbitration claim and improving China's unfavorable position on relevant islands and reefs under its jurisdiction.

Such measures are both reasonable and lawful, Wu said.

Hu Bo, director of the Center for Maritime Strategy Studies of Peking University, said that China's claims to sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea have remained consistent and continuous.

Hu said the main sources of the current instability and turbulence in the South China Sea can be attributed to two factors. Firstly, some claimant countries, such as the Philippines, have attempted to alter the status quo and even undermine the commitment made by all parties in the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" not to occupy new uninhabited islands or reefs. Secondly, the involvement of the United States in the South China Sea disputes and its intensified military deterrence measures.

Hu pointed to the fact that the situation in the South China Sea was generally more stable during the period from the end of the Cold War to 2009, when the United States paid less attention to the area and the Southeast Asian region.

Some other experts, including Lei Xiaolu, a professor at the China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies of Wuhan University, and Zheng Zhihua, an associate professor at the Center for Japanese Studies under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, criticized the illegal "arbitral award" in 2016.

They stressed that it was made by a tribunal that had no jurisdiction, and that the award, in breach of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and of China's rights as a State Party under the UNCLOS, is null and void and has no binding force.

The experts also warned that the United States is attempting to draw forces outside the region into the South China Sea issue by hyping up fake narratives regarding freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, making the situation more complicated.

However, the experts also said they believe the situation in the South China Sea is far less tense than claimed by some countries and portrayed by some media organizations.

"It is the United States that poses the greatest threat to the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea," said Yan Yan, director of the Research Center for Oceans Law and Policy, National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

The United States interprets international maritime law navigation rules in a manner that aligns with its own national interests and imposes them as standards to compel regional countries to accept, a typical manifestation of American maritime hegemony, Yan added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Former President Donald Trump vowed to help our country heal as he prepares to take office as the 47th president of the United States.

Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election early Wednesday morning. Unofficial results show Trump securing 277 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 electoral vote threshold required to clinch the presidency.

Addressing his supporters in a victory speech, Trump described his presidential campaign as the greatest political movement of all time. Insisting that theres never been anything like this in this country, the former president predicted that the movement was going to reach a new level of importance because were going to help our country heal.

We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly, he added. Were going to fix our borders. Were going to fix everything about our country.

Trump thanked the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president. He also pledged to serve on behalf of every citizen, signaling his intention to fight for you, for your family and your future.

Every single day I will be fighting for you, and with every breath in my body I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve, he said. This will truly be the golden age of America.

Trump described the results of the 2024 presidential election as a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to Make America Great Again. He gave shout outs to the states that helped him win the 2024 election, specifically North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. He also projected confidence that he would win Alaska, Arizona, Michigan and Nevada. The former president leads in all four states but the races are too close to call.

America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate, he proclaimed. We have taken back control of the Senate.

After acknowledging his family, campaign staff and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, in addition to taking shots at the mainstream media, Trump added that this will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country. He defined his political coalition as based on a common core of common sense.

Were the party of common sense, he maintained. We want to have borders. We want to have security. We want to have things be good, safe. We want great education.

Addressing the assassination attempt against him earlier this year that resulted in a bullet grazing his ear and one of his supporters losing his life, Trump told the audience, Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason. He identified that reason as to save our country and to restore America to greatness.

We are going to fulfill that mission together. Were going to fulfill that mission, he asserted. The task before us will not be easy, but I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit and fight that I have in my soul to the job that youve entrusted to me.

Trump concluded his remarks by asking every citizen all across our land to join me in this noble and righteous endeavor. Stressing his desire to put the divisions of the past four years behind us and unite, he anticipated that success will bring us together and that Americas future will be bigger, better, bolder, richer, safer and stronger than it has ever been before.

Originally published by The Christian Post
In a significant display of support for India's manufacturing growth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday visited the industrial units in Pune including the NIBE Group of Companies in. This momentous occasion showcased the country's commitment to self-reliance in defence production. Industry leaders, including L&T, Thales, BSE, and Centum Electronics, attended the event to show their support, alongside cadets from NCC and Engineering students, a NIBE group statement said. The key highlights of the event: Exhibition of MSMEs and Start-ups: Over 30 innovative MSMEs and start-ups displayed their cutting-edge solutions, followed by a meet and greet with General Anil Chauhan. Tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: The event featured the unveiling of the Gate of Raigad Fort, paying homage to the legendary leader. Capability Showcase of Missiles & Small Arms Complex: NIBE Group showcased its latest state-of-the-art complex, demonstrating its advanced capabilities in defence manufacturing. The address by CDS: General Anil Chauhan emphasized the importance of transformation in the defence sector, reflecting on the need for evolution and the notion of Survival-of-the-Fittest by referencing Charles Darwin, Newton, and the Bhagvad Geeta. Strategic Partnerships:- TOT Agreements with DRDO: NIBE Group signed various Technology Transfer (TOT) agreements with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to enhance indigenous defence capabilities; such as Anti-terrorist Vehicle (ATV), OPX Revelator, Laser Photo-acoustic spectroscopy, 70T tank transporter, and Shelter. MOU with Sig Sauer (USA): NIBE Group entered into a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with Sig Sauer, a world-renowned firearms manufacturing company from theUSA to establish a joint venture (JV) in India. The JV will focus on the indigenous manufacturing of small arms, aligning with India's growing defence and manufacturing capabilities. This partnership aims to enhance local production while reducing dependency on foreign imports, read the statement. MOU with HBE (South Korea): NIBE Group also signed an MOU with HBE, a South Korean defence firm, to set up a state-of-the-art Forging facility in India. This collaboration will bolster India's manufacturing capacity by leveraging advanced Forgingtechnologies, contributing to the production of high-quality components for the defence and aerospace sectors, such as in Ammunition and Aeronautics, it added. These strategic moves reflect a commitment to advancing India's defence manufacturingcapabilities and fostering long-term economic growth through technology transfer, local production, and enhanced supply chain integration, read the statement. The partnerships and initiatives highlighted today underscore NIBE Group's commitment tocontributing to India's defence excellence and self-reliance, aligning with the government's vision of "Atma Nirbhar Bharat". General Anil Chauhan's visit reinforces the importance of collaboration between the defence sector and Indian industries. Balakrishnan Swamy, the CEO of the NIBE Group shed light on the future expansion plans of the company, saying "NIBE's singular focus is on contributing to India's ambition of becoming a global leader in defence and security. India's defence sector is undergoing a monumental shift, and NIBE is strategically venturing into various domains focusing on cutting-edge technology and manufacturing, such as in Small Arms, Ammunition, Space, and Maritime." The Chairman and Managing Director of NIBE Group, Ganesh Nibe, emphasized on the role of collaboration in the defence ecosystem, and the nurturing of the next generation, to achieve the vision, saying "Inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's leadership, NIBE aims to safeguard India's interests and transform the country into a global manufacturing and technological powerhouse. To achieve this, we recognize the critical role MSMEs and start-ups play in driving innovation and growth, providing platforms for these entrepreneurs to thrive through events like the MSME Expo today and the Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo in February. NIBE also nurtures the next generation of innovators through strategic partnerships with engineering colleges and universities, offering internships to students. Our goal remains fostering self- reliance in defense, aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat's vision, ensuring India's defense forces (ANI)
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan praised the Agnipath scheme on Wednesday, describing it as an excellent opportunity for young people to join and serve in the defence forces. General Chauhan visited Nibe Industries in Pune, where he reviewed the capabilities of small and medium enterprises within the defence sector. Speaking on the occasion, General Chauhan stated, "The armed forces are undergoing significant reforms and transformation. As part of these reforms, we are advancing towards jointness and integration. We no longer view the services separately; instead, the Army, Air Force, and Navy are being considered as one unified entity, aiming to project their strength together. Another major reform is the Agnipath scheme, which provides a valuable opportunity for young people to join and work in the defence forces. However, the success of these reforms depends on coordination among academia, the defence industry, and the three services." He further noted, "In the last 4-5 years, we have witnessed growing cooperation, coordination, synergy, and fusion between these three elements, all of which are essential to propelling the defence industry forward. This alignment is a necessity that should have been established much earlier." Nibe Industries Chairman Ganesh Nibe highlighted the launch of the new division, Navy Ordnance and Maritime Ltd., reflecting their commitment to 'Make in India' under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat policy. "We draw inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the father of the Indian Navy. The Nibe Group has built a strong record in defence manufacturing through capacity building. We have established an integrated defence systems manufacturing plant in Pune and an electronics assembly and testing unit in Bengaluru. This state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to the production of critical components. Our goal is to achieve self-reliance in defence, aligned with PM Modi's vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. I am grateful to PM Modi and the Ministry of Defence for creating a platform and opportunities for entrepreneurs like myself," Nibe said. Ron Cohen, CEO and President of global arms manufacturer Sig Sauer, expressed enthusiasm about signing a joint venture agreement with Ganesh Nibe to expand Sig Sauer's manufacturing in India under the 'Made in India' initiative. "We have been active in India for almost 20 years, sourcing many components from the defence industry here. India is now our largest procurement source globally. Operating in 93 countries, we are the world's largest firearms manufacturer. A few years ago, we won a significant order for the Indian armed forces as part of their modernisation efforts, delivering 72,500 Sig 16 rifles, which have been well received by the troops. Recently, we were awarded an additional order for 73,000 units, to be delivered throughout 2025 in partnership with Nibe," Cohen said. He added that working in India allows Sig Sauer to bring their technology, quality, and innovation to a market with significant demand over the next 5 to 10 years. "By 2025, we plan to produce a complete product in India, initially for the Indian market, whether for the MOD or MHA. In the future, India will serve as our operational base to meet demand across much of the eastern hemisphere. We see India as a vital source of engineers and manufacturing. The rapid advancement of Indian technology and market appeal makes it an ideal hub for Sig Sauer outside the United States," he explained. Reflecting on the partnership with Nibe, Cohen said, "With the drive Nibe demonstrates, I am confident in our collaboration. We have a Sig Sauer procurement office in Delhi and are steadily increasing the proportion of components manufactured in India. As a high-end company and the largest firearms supplier to the US military, our quality standards are stringent, and we are pleased to find that level of excellence in India," he concluded. (ANI)
Having already secured a contract to supply around 1,45,000 assault rifles to the Indian Army, American arms maker Sig Sauer on Wednesday said that it will manufacture a portion of these firearms in India. Announcing its partnership with Pune-based Nibe Group, the company stated that India is its "largest procurement source" globally. Sig Sauer's CEO and President Ron Cohen told ANI that by 2025, the company plans to manufacture a complete product in India, initially for the Indian market, including the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Cohen also revealed that the company has recently received an additional order for 73,000 Sig 716 assault rifles, which it will deliver throughout 2025. "A few years ago, we won a significant order for the armed forces as part of their modernisation efforts. We successfully delivered 72,500 Sig 716 rifles, and the troops are highly satisfied. Recently, we received an additional order for 73,000 units, which we will deliver over the course of 2025. This will be executed in partnership with Ganesh Nibe and the Nibe Group, enabling us to bring our technology, quality innovation, and capacity to meet the substantial product demand projected for the next 5 to 10 years," Cohen said. He added, "We've been active in India for nearly 20 years, sourcing numerous components from its defence industry. India has become our largest procurement source worldwide for Sig Sauer, which operates across 93 countries. We are the world's largest manufacturer of firearms." Looking to the future, Cohen mentioned that Sig Sauer envisions using India as a regional hub to serve the eastern hemisphere. "In 2025, we'll be producing a fully Indian-made product for the domestic market, targeting both the MOD and MHA. Over time, India will serve as our operational base to cover the majority of the eastern hemisphere. We see India as a source of engineering and manufacturing expertise. The growth of Indian technology and the market's potential make it an attractive hub for Sig Sauer beyond the United States... With Nibe's dynamic approach, I'm confident there won't be any challenges. We also have a procurement office in Delhi," he said. "We're continually increasing the percentage of components manufactured in India. Sig Sauer is a premium company and the largest firearms supplier to the US military. Our quality requirements are exceptionally stringent, and we find the necessary standards met abundantly in India," he added. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday heard final arguments on the plea of Jacqueline Fernandez. Her counsel argued that there is no evidence that she had knowledge of Sukesh Chandrasekar's criminal activities. She has sought quashing of Money Laundering case and charge sheet against her. Justice Anish Dayal heard arguments advanced by senior advocate Siddharth Agrawa, Advocate Shakti Pandeyl along with Prashant Patil for Jacqueline Fernandez. The High Court is to hear further arguments on November 13. Senior advocate Siddharth Agrawal submitted that Jacqueline did not know that the gift she received from Sukesh Chandrasekar was part of proceeds of crime and his criminal activities. He argued that the case of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that She should had knowledge or ought to have knowledge about these facts as she had sufficient means to know it. But there is evidence that there was knowledge on her part. It was further argued that the celebrities who met Sukesh Chandrasekar in jail were believed and were let go. They had said that they met him in relation of business meeting, this was believed by the agency. The High Court has listed the matter for further hearing. Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain for ED appeared through video conferencing. The High Court issued notice to ED on December 21, 2023, and directed to file a reply. Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez has sought quashing of ECIR of 08.08.2021 and the 2nd Supplementary Complaint (Charge sheet) of 17.08.2022 filed by the ED and proceedings emanating therefrom. Earlier, Senior advocate Siddharth Aggarwal had raised three legal issues which, according to him, can only be decided by the Constitutional Court and not by the Trial Court, albeit it is an admitted position that the matter is pending before the Trial Court for arguments on charge. Siddharth Aggarwal, on instructions, had submitted that he is not seeking any interim relief as he does not want to stall proceedings before Trial Court. Liberty was sought to file additional documents, which according to him are crucial for adjudication of the legal issues raised. The High Court had allowed filing of additional documents subject to their relevancy and admissibility, being tested at the time of hearing of the petition. Jacqueline Fernandez is also one of accused in a money laundering case linked to alleged Extortion of Rs 200 crores from one Aditi Singh. Sukesh Chandrasekar is also one of the accused in both Extortion and Money Laundering case. (ANI)
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump for his victory in the US presidential elections for a second term and said India and the United States share a robust comprehensive global strategic partnership. "Congratulations on your victory, @realDonaldTrump! Wishing you success in your second term as US President. All the best to @KamalaHarris in her future endeavours," Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said in a post on X. Kharge said the relations between India and United States are underpinned by long-standing shared democratic values and aligned interests. "On behalf of the Indian National Congress, we extend our congratulations and best wishes to President @realDonaldTrump for his election victory. India and the United States share a robust comprehensive global strategic partnership, underpinned by long-standing shared democratic values, aligned interests, and extensive people-to-people connections. We look forward to working closely with the United States for global peace and prosperity," Kharge said in a post on X. Party leader Jairam Ramesh said Donald Trump has staged an astonishing comeback and noted that the future of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which America had rejoined under President Biden, is now extremely shaky. "Donald Trump has staged an astonishing comeback. Undoubtedly, why and how it happened will be analysed in great detail over the next few weeks, as will the question of what this comeback means for the USA and the rest of the world. But what is certain is that the future of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change which America had rejoined under President Biden is now extremely shaky. If the US were to withdraw again it would be disastrous," Ramesh said in a post on X. According to latest projections from Fox News, Trump has won 277 electoral votes, well above the 270 threshold needed to win the presidency. This will be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House, the first in over 100 years. Grover Cleveland served as a non-consecutive president in 1884 and 1892. In his address, Trump expressed gratitude to the people and said he wouldn't rest until he delivers a "strong, safe, and prosperous America." Addressing supporters in Florida, accompanied by his running mate JD Vance and family members, Trump called his projected win the "greatest political movement of all time," which will help make "America great again." (ANI)
Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda directly questioned the Congress candidate CP Yogeshwar, saying, "He claims to have filled 17 lakes, but who originally built the Iggalur Dam that enabled this?" Yogeshwar is the congress candidate from Channapattana by-poll constituency. He is facing NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy While campaigning in support of Nikhil Kumaraswamy in Tittamaranahalli, Makali, Nagavara, and Bevoor, Gowda took aim at CP Yogeshwar, challenging his claims. "Yogeshwar calls himself a Bhagirath for having contested two elections. When I was Chief Minister, I brought in engineers and allocated Rs 150 crore. I inaugurated the dam by boat--people of the area and engineers witnessed it firsthand. At that time, I ensured water reached the lakes. I committed to the welfare of Channapatna and Ramanagara by constructing the Iggalur reservoir. Later, during Sadananda Gowda's tenure as CM, funds were allocated to fill 17 lakes. That was a BJP government, yet Yogeshwar did nothing. So why didn't Yogeshwar get it done under the Congress government?" the former PM asked. "They are Bhagirath only in words, not in deeds. Sadananda Gowda and I achieved this work in action. There's no need to walk around making false claims. Yogeshwar has been with every political party by now," said the former PM. He called himself the son of a humble farmer. "Who provided drinking water to Channapatna? I gave water pumped from Kerekadanahalli to Channapatna and Ramanagara, which now goes to Bengaluru. I, the person who provided you with water, stand here alive before you. I am the son of a humble farmer who has achieved much, and there's a book about my work--read it," he urged the crowd. The former PM took a dig at Congress over the promise of their guarantee schemes. "Five guarantees, they say. Yet someone points out that there's trouble with one of them. PM Modi deposits funds in farmers' accounts each year. I'm the one who provided rice at Rs 2 and wheat and sugar at Rs 3 per kg, and I sit here before you. Young people should read and learn what this Gowda has done. Including Almatti, I have built seven dams," he stated. He also alleged that Congress legislators are looting and ending up in Jail. "Today, we must work to uproot Congress from the country. That party has done no good for the nation. Congress MLAs are looting and ending up in jail. Who else should speak out against this? We need to raise youth to put a stop to it, and we need a candidate like Nikhil Kumaraswamy," he concluded. (ANI)
Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh launched the nationwide Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Campaign 3.0 for the digital empowerment of pensioners, according to an official release. The Digital Life Certificate, Jeevan Praman, is a vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the digital empowerment of pensioners, first introduced in 2014, with Face Authentication added in 2021. The DLC Campaign 3.0 will take place from November 1-30, 2024, across 800 cities and towns in India, featuring 1,900 camps and supported by 1,100 nodal officers. All pensioners can submit their Digital Life Certificates conveniently from home, at Pension Disbursing Banks, or through India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), as per the official release. A collaborative effort involving 19 Pension Disbursing Banks, 57 Pension Welfare Associations, the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), IPPB, and UIDAI is driving the implementation of DLC Campaign 3.0, embracing a Whole of Government and saturation approach. Jitendra Singh highlighted Prime Minister Modi's vision to "improve pensioners' welfare" through digital empowerment, based on a "Nation First, Citizen First" approach. The Jeevan Praman was launched in 2014, followed by Face Authentication in 2021. The DLC Campaign 1.0, implemented in 37 cities in 2022, marked the beginning, while DLC Campaign 2.0 expanded to 597 locations across 100 cities in 2023, generating 1.47 crore DLCs, including 45.46 lakh for Central Government pensioners. Notably, 25.41 lakh DLCs used Face Authentication, benefiting over 30,500 pensioners above 90 years of age. Singh noted that DLC Campaign 3.0 in 2023 is the largest such initiative, coordinated by the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare (DPPW). To raise awareness, DPPW launched a comprehensive outreach effort via social media, television, radio jingles, and training for stakeholders. The campaign will hold 1,900 DLC Camps across 800 cities and towns, with more than 1,100 nodal officers. Additionally, 1.8 lakh Gramin Dak Sewaks will provide services at IPPB Camps in 785 locations, while Pension Disbursing Banks will host DLC Camps in 157 cities and towns. Singh encouraged feedback on DLC Campaign 3.0, which can be shared with him, through Pension Welfare Associations, social media, or the helpline at 1-800-111-960. This feedback will help identify issues, enhance service delivery, and ensure the system remains accessible to all pensioners. Progress will be tracked through real-time data on the DLC portal, with input from stakeholders and pensioners. He further assured that alternative non-digital methods will remain available for pensioners unable to access the digital platform. Life certificates can still be submitted traditionally, by visiting pension offices or using post offices. The aim is to offer multiple options so that no pensioner is excluded from the process. Singh expressed his hope for strong support from all stakeholders to make DLC Campaign 3.0 a nationwide success. The launch event for DLC Campaign 3.0 was attended by Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary, DPPW; Shri Dhrubajyoti Sengupta, Joint Secretary, DPPW; Smt. Devika Raghuvanshi, CGDA; Shri Sanjay Sharan, DG India Post; Smt. Shalini Kacker, CGM SBI; and senior officials from Pension Disbursing Banks, IPPB, and UIDAI. (ANI)
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on Wednesday that 175 km of new metro lines would be operational in Bengaluru by 2026. At a press conference following an inspection of the newly extended line from Nagasandra to Madavara on Tumkur Road, he said, "Thirty km of new metro lines will be added by 2025, and 175 km of new lines by 2026." Prior to the press conference, the Deputy Chief Minister rode the metro with MP Tejaswi Surya, Nelamangala MLA Srinivasaiah, and Dasarahalli MLA Muniraju, travelling from Yeshwanthpur to Madavara metro station. "We have completed the first and second phases of the metro, and the Centre has approved the third phase. We have already allocated Rs 1,130 crore for new train sets," he added. Shivakumar further revealed, "Plans are underway to build a pedestrian skywalk at Manjunathanagar metro station. We have also partnered with Indian Railways to jointly develop a pedestrian passage at Yeshwanthpur railway station. A project report has been prepared to develop an underpass at Chikkabidarakallu in collaboration with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). We are also discussing with NHAI the construction of an underpass at Madavara metro station. Commuters travelling to Bengaluru from the Tumakuru side can park their vehicles at BEIC ground and take the metro into the city, thus avoiding traffic." "The 3-km metro extension from Nagasandra to Madavara will open to the public on an experimental basis tomorrow. We will invite all MPs and other representatives for an official inauguration at a later date," he stated. Shivakumar noted that the green line currently covers 33.46 km, while the purple line spans 40.5 km. "I would like to thank the Centre and all stakeholders who contributed to making this possible. Bengaluru has the highest metro ridership in the country, demonstrating the metro's role in supporting the city's residents," he added. (ANI)
At the time of offence convict was 17 years old and raped a 10 years old girl. Juvenile was tried as an adult for the offence of abduction and rape.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sushil Bala Dagar sentenced Child in Conflict with Law (CCL) to 10 years imprisonment for the offence of rape under POCSO Act. He has been sentenced to seven years Imprisonment for abducting the minor. He has already undergone the sentence for the offences of illegal confinement and intimidating the victim.

Victim has been awarded a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh. Now she is 17 years old.

The court noted that the juveline earlier used to polishing work in utensil factory, later on he started in Agarbatti factory.

The court has directed the concerned jail Superintendent, where the CCL is to undergo the remainder of his sentence, to consider appropriate program for his reformation.

It is also directed to provide counselling to him to understand why he was in jail and also to conduct psychometric test to assess the reformation.

The court has given other direction also including the monitoring of the CCL and filing of a fortnightly reports. (ANI)
The 21st edition of India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was conducted from November 5 to 6, 2024 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including capacity building, training exchanges, defence industrial cooperation and the advancement of joint exercises that bolster preparedness for conventional and hybrid threats, the Ministry of Defence said in a release on Wednesday. According to the release, the meeting was co-chaired by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lieutenant General JP Mathew, representing India and Deputy Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command Lieutenant General Joshua M Rudd, representing the US. Senior officials from both countries took the opportunity to review the ongoing initiatives and explore new areas of cooperation. Both sides emphasised the importance of the Indo-US defence partnership and committed to strengthening this strategic relationship through proactive engagement and enhanced interoperability. They also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the scope of Indo-US military cooperation with a shared understanding of the dynamic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region. The MCG is a landmark forum aimed at enhancing defence cooperation and fostering strategic and operational defence collaboration between the Armed Forces of both countries. The 21st MCG meeting represents a step forward in advancing the shared objectives of India and the US to ensure regional and global security, counter emerging threats and build mutual capabilities, the release added. (ANI)
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate for the Assembly polls, Kalpana Soren on Wednesday attacked Bharatiya Janata Party and alleged that the BJP closed thousands of government schools, during their tenure in 2014. Addressing a public gathering in Jharkhand's Sonahatu, Kalpana said, "They (BJP) were in power for 20 years, what did they do? They talked about double-engine government, but instead of taking the people of Jharkhand forward with double power, they pushed them back with double power. They closed government schools, thousands of government schools were closed during their government in 2014." The JMM leader further asserted that Chief Minister Hemant Soren opened CM School of Excellence. "Today nine lakh girls are being given financial help," she said. Kalpana Soren is currently representing the Gandey constituency. She had won the constituency in a bypoll held in May this year by beating BJP's Dilip Kumar Verma by a margin of 27,149 votes. The seat became vacant following the resignation of JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc on Tuesday released its joint manifesto promising seven guarantees including LPG cylinder for Rs 450 and 10 lakh jobs. INDIA bloc members, Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morch (JMM), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and CPI-M, released the manifesto in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Jharkhand in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Chief Minister Hemant Soren and others. The seven guarantees included an LPG cylinder for Rs 450 per family and a 7 kg ration for every person; Bringing policy based on the Khatiyan of 1932 along with the implementation of the Sarna Religion Code and an honorarium of Rs 2,500 to women; 28 per cent reservation for ST, 12 pc for SC and 27 pc for OBC;10 lakh jobs and health insurance up to Rs 15 lakh. The alliance also promised that degree colleges will be built in all blocks and engineering, medical colleges and universities in the district headquarters; the MSP of paddy will be increased to Rs 3,200 and other agricultural products will be raised by 50 per cent. The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday commended Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for cooperating with the law by appearing before the Lokayukta Police in Mysuru regarding the MUDA case. He also expressed confidence that the Congress will win all three seats in the upcoming by-elections. "He (Siddaramiah) has respected the law. He could have taken time since there was an election, but still, he has respected the law. That is the way of functioning," Shivakumar added. The Deputy CM further stated, "Congress is going to win all the three seats in Karnataka." Earlier in the day, CM Siddaramaiah appeared before the Lokayukta Police in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. After questioning, he said, "Lokayukta is an independent agency. Like CBI, Lokayukta is also an independent agency. The governor said that the MUDA case should also be investigated by the Lokayukta." He further clarified, "My wife has returned those sites, saying that there are accusations against me." Meanwhile, Karnataka State Minister MB Patil confirmed that CM Siddaramaiah fully cooperated with the Lokayukta Police and dismissed BJP protests as mere "drama." Speaking to ANI, he said, "The CM has appeared in front of the Lokayukta Police. He has suitably answered whatever they inquired." Criticizing BJP protests, he added, "BJP can protest against anyone... It's all drama." Siddaramaiah's Political Secretary, Naseer Ahmed, accused the BJP-led central government of harassing the Chief Minister, insisting, "There is no charge against the CM. He is clear... He has a very clear conscience that he has not done anything wrong. He is a man with a clean image." Ahmed further claimed, "These are all fake cases filed by the BJP... The more they harass him, the more sympathy he will gain from the people." The Lokayukta investigation into the MUDA scam began after a court ordered an FIR to be filed on September 27, alleging the illegal allotment of 14 sites, worth Rs 56 crore, to Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a money laundering investigation, naming Siddaramaiah, his wife, and others involved in the case. Despite the allegations, Siddaramaiah denies any wrongdoing and asserts that the case is politically motivated. He has dismissed calls for his resignation despite continued pressure from the BJP. On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court issued notices regarding the MUDA land allotment case and directed the Lokayukta Police to submit a progress report by November 25. (ANI)
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra dismissed the review plea, observing that there was no error in its verdict.

"There is no error apparent on the face of the record. No case for review under Order XLVII Rule 1 of the Supreme Court Rules 2013 has been established. The review petition is, therefore, dismissed," the order stated.

The review petition was filed by Kajal Kumari, who requested the court to reconsider its decision not to conduct a fresh exam following alleged malpractices.

The order was passed on October 22 but was made available only recently.

On August 2, the apex court had stated it could not order a retest for NEET-UG 2024, as there was insufficient material indicating a systemic leak or malpractice compromising the exam's integrity.

The court noted that there was no systemic breach in the NEET-UG 2024 exam beyond the centres in Hazaribagh and Patna, and hence, no retest was required for this year's exam.

The Supreme Court's judgement came in response to a series of pleas seeking a recall of the NEET-UG 2024 results and demanding a fresh examination, alleging paper leaks and malpractices.

Aspirants had approached the top court, raising concerns about question paper leaks, compensatory marks, and anomalies in the NEET-UG exam.

The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), serves as a gateway for admissions into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in both government and private institutions across the country.

NEET-UG 2024 was held across 4,750 centres on May 5, with approximately 24 lakh candidates appearing for the exam. (ANI)
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, the Chief of the Naval Staff, will receive the President at INS Hansa (Naval Air Station at Goa) and present a 150-men Ceremonial Guard of Honour. Soon thereafter, the President will embark the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at sea off Goa, added the statement.

This is maiden sailing of the President Murmu onboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant to witness the full spectrum of multi-domain naval operations.

The scheduled operations include surface ships ops, battle actions, submarine exercises, air power demo including take off and landings by deck-based fighter aircraft and helicopters and a flypast by naval aircraft, the release added. (ANI)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, during a rally in Kanke on Wednesday, slammed those who opposed his party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), describing his party as the "Great Wall of China." He said, "And these traitors, in the midst of all this fighting, even put us in jail. The reason behind putting us in jail was that they (BJP) wanted to topple the government and eliminate the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. But what they don't know is that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is like the Great Wall of China for this state. No one can break it down. Anyone who tries will be destroyed." https://x.com/HemantSorenJMM/status/1854110603717071307 He further added, "Therefore, please keep in mind that we have worked among you, and it is with this right that I come to seek your blessings. Give us your strength, and we promise to protect Jharkhand from these devils." Meanwhile, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan took a swipe at the INDI bloc ahead of the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections. He accused the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress of failing to fulfill past promises and introducing new ones without delivering results. Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Chauhan said, "The INDI bloc's guarantees are a bunch of lies because JMM and Congress also gave guarantees last time. They said they would give 5 lakh government jobs, but they didn't. Old promises remain unfulfilled, yet they have come up with new ones. People don't trust them. BJP always fulfills its promises." On Tuesday, ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly polls, the INDIA bloc released its joint manifesto, pledging seven guarantees, including an LPG cylinder at Rs 450 and 10 lakh jobs. The manifesto, unveiled by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders, also promised benefits such as a 7 kg ration per person, the implementation of the Sarna Religion Code, a Rs 2,500 honorarium for women, and increased reservations for ST, SC, and OBC communities. The seven guarantees include an LPG cylinder for Rs 450 per family, 7 kg of ration for every person, a policy based on the Khatiyan of 1932, the implementation of the Sarna Religion Code, an honorarium of Rs 2,500 for women, 28 percent reservation for ST, 12 percent for SC, and 27 percent for OBCs, 10 lakh jobs, and health insurance up to Rs 15 lakh. The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. A total of 2.6 crore voters are eligible to participate, including 1.31 crore male and 1.29 crore female voters, as well as 11.84 lakh first-time voters and 66.84 lakh young voters. In the 2020 Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) won 30 seats, the BJP won 25 seats, and the Congress won 16 seats. In 2014, the BJP won 37 seats, JMM won 19 seats, and Congress won just 6 seats. (ANI)
While addressing the closing ceremony of the Chhattisgarh State Festival on Wednesday, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar appreciated the people of Chhattisgarh and the state's rich cultural heritage, saying "Chhattisgarhiya Sabse Badiya." Further addressing the ceremony in Raipur, he expressed confidence that states like Chhattisgarh will make a significant contribution to India's development journey, calling the state rich in natural resources and endowed with youthful energy nurtured by enterprise and courage, as per an official release. "This land, often called the Rice Bowl of India, is playing a leading role in the nation's development today," he added. The Vice President expressed concerns about the repugnant and disturbing act of faith conversion through deceptive media methods, saying, "Brothers and sisters, I urge you to reflect on this matter. I want to share my concern with you. Selfless service should truly be selfless. There should be no selfish motives in selfless service, and if in the name of service, there is an attempt to manipulate hearts through deceptive means, it should be a cause for concern. Our hearts are full of reverence, but these efforts are trying to change that reverence." He stressed that our culture is thousands of years old, and there is an attack on it. The disturbing act of faith conversion is happening in an institutionalized manner, based on financial power and with a clear objective. The innocence of people is being exploited, and falsehoods are being spread. Such forces need to be defeated immediately to keep the soul of India alive and pure, he added. The Vice President urged people to be vigilant so that it is not too late. He particularly pointed out that tribal communities are being targeted in such deceptive attempts and emphasized the need for society to remain alert against such mentalities. He reiterated that India has always been a land of harmony, a culture that embraces all, and every community has a special place in it, a uniqueness that needs to be preserved. Underlining the progress and development of states in connection with national progress, Vice President Dhankhar emphasized that "The progress of states and the nation's development are deeply connected. The progress of a state is the progress of the nation. They complement each other." He urged that the interests of the state should always be seen in the context of the nation's welfare, stating that "The interests of the state cannot be separated from the interests of the nation. The state and the nation are one." Appreciating the present administration of Chhattisgarh for its good governance, law and order, and new industrial policy, Vice President Dhankhar said that Chhattisgarh is today writing a new chapter in good governance and robust law enforcement. Through administrative transparency and effective policymaking, the state has set new benchmarks for development. He also highlighted the state's new industrial policy as a significant step for inclusive growth, demonstrating the state government's commitment to the development of every segment of society. Turning his attention to the youth of the state, the Vice President praised the efforts of CM for the consistent efforts to curb Maoist insurgency in the state. He reminded the youth not to be misled and to safeguard their precious years. History, he noted, teaches us that resorting to violence against society never leads to positive outcomes. Referring to the year 2000 when Chhattisgarh was granted separate statehood, the Vice President recalled the invaluable contribution of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "When this state gained its identity in 2000, we must remember the contribution of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was steadfast in his commitment to the nation and sensitive to human emotions. He gifted the country three new states--Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand--and he did so without causing any pain, without any suffering, in a smooth and harmonious manner." Highlighting the inauguration of the state festival by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, the Vice President recalled that it was Atal Ji's skilful politics that allowed for a seamless creation of new states, fostering brotherhood and unity, the release stated. The Vice President also highlighted the importance of remembering our glorious past and the role of freedom fighters, especially during the "Amrit Kaal." He emphasized the need to honour the contributions of those who fought for India's independence. Today, India celebrates the sacrifices of its freedom fighters with respect, with a special focus on Subhas Chandra Bose and the commemoration of Birsa Munda on Tribal Pride Day. He pointed to the "Statue of Unity" dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the legacy of other great figures like Birsa Munda and Veer Narayan Singh, who kept the flame of freedom alive during difficult times. He called on everyone to continuously remember and uphold the values of these great leaders. Speaking about the importance of preserving the ideals of the Constitution, the Vice President reminded the youth about the significance of the Constitution, stressing that it is the foundation of India's present and future. He said, "We are approaching Constitution Day. I urge the youth to remember the role of the Constitution. It is the bedrock on which our nation stands. Every year on 26th November, we celebrate Constitution Day to remind every citizen, especially the youth, of the importance and strength of the Constitution." Finally, he reminded everyone that this has been a decades-long effort, and it was the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made it a reality. This is a monumental transformation, he said, and it will change society for the better. (ANI)
Shiv Sena leader and candidate from Mumba Devi seat, Shaina NC on Wednesday took to streets for poll campaign as assembly polls are around the corner and slammed Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for allegedly "spreading rumours" and trying to "mislead people". Shaina NC said Rahul wants to set a false narrative saying the Constitution is under threat, while there is no situation like this, so the people of Maharashtra know whom to vote on November 20. "Rahul Gandhi needs a new scriptwriter because he spreads rumours and is trying to mislead people but he is not able to do so. There is no threat to the Constitution...You (Rahul Gandhi) want to set a wrong narrative among people by beating around the bush although people have rejected you... Whether it is INDI alliance or Congress party, they have no narrative, only a false narrative. The people of Maharashtra know what to do on the 20th of November," Shaina NC told ANI. Shaina who also visited Mumba Devi temple said, "I am very glad to receive so much support from Mumba Devi. We have come here with the blessings of Maa Mumba Devi. Ramdas Athavale, CM Shinde, Atul Shah all the local citizens and leaders have come here... We will work with dedication for Mumba Devi..." The Maharashtra Assembly election is set to take place on November 20, with vote counting for all 288 constituencies scheduled for November 23. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said on Wednesday that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah respected the law after the latter appeared before the Lokayukta police in Mysuru in connection with alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case. "He has respected the law. He could have taken time since there was an election but still, he has respected the law. That is the way of functioning...," Dy Shivakumar told reporters. He further said, "Congress is going to win all the 3 seats in Karnataka (by-election)." Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed alleged that the BJP-led central government wants all the agencies to harass CM Siddaramaiah. However, he added that they will not find anything. Speaking to ANI, Political Secretary to CM Siddaramaiah, Naseer Ahmed said, "There is no charge against the CM. He is clear. He has gone to Lokayukta Police and appeared there to respect the law of the land. He has a very clear conscience that he has not done anything wrong. He will not do anything wrong. He is a man with a clean image. After the inquiry, the CM has said that these are all fake cases filed by the BJP and it is their agenda to bring CBI...They (the centre) want all the agencies to harass the CM. They will not find anything. The more they harass him the more he will get the sympathy of the people." Earlier today, on Wednesday, CM Siddaramaiah said the Lokayukta is an independent agency like the CBI and has answered all the questions posed by the Lokayukta. His comment came amid demand by the opposition for a CBI probe in the MUDA case. Speaking to reporters after his questioning CM Siddaramaiah said, "Lokayukta is an independent agency, like CBI. I have answered all the questions asked by the Lokayukta, and my responses have been recorded. They will proceed with further investigation. My wife has returned those sites saying that there are accusations against me." Today CM Siddaramaiah appeared before Lokayukta Police in Mysuru for an inquiry over the MUDA case. The Mysuru Lokayukta officially has initiated an inquiry into the MUDA case following a September 27 court order to file an FIR. The Lokayukta was directed to investigate allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi. It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted these sites to the Chief Minister's wife in a prime location in Mysuru city. The ED has also filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah and others. This case was prompted by a First Information Report (FIR) from the state Lokayukta concerning the MUDA, placing the CM in a difficult situation. The FIR names Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and Devaraju, from whom Swamy bought land that was later gifted to Parvathi. The ED has applied provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in its case, allowing the agency to summon individuals for questioning and possibly seize assets during the investigation. Siddaramaiah has consistently denied the allegations, claiming that he is facing political persecution. He has stated that he will not resign, despite ongoing demands from the BJP for him to leave his position as head of government. As the allegations surfaced, the BJP has accused the Congress of supporting "corrupt" leaders and has demanded Siddaramaiah's resignation. However, Siddaramaiah has quashed all demands for his resignation. On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court issued notices to CM Siddaramaiah and others on a petition seeking the transfer of the investigation into the MUDA land allotment case registered against the Chief Minister, his wife, and others. In a petition filed by Snehamayi Krishna, the court also issued notices to the Central and State governments, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Lokayukta police. The High Court directed the Lokayukta police to submit details of the probe conducted until November 25 while adjourning further hearings on the petition until November 26. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the nation's youth after the 'PM Vidyalakshmi' Scheme was approved in the Union Cabinet on Wednesday. The new scheme is aimed at helping middle-class students overcome financial hurdles to higher education, the scheme provides collateral-free and guarantee-free educational loans. In a post shared on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah commended PM Narendra Modi for ensuring that financial constraints will no longer stand in the way of deserving students. Amit Shah wrote this scheme envisions a guarantee-free and collateral-free educational loan scheme, PM Modi has ensured that no student is deprived of the education they deserve. "Congratulations to our youth on the approval of the 'PM Vidyalakshmi' Scheme in the Union Cabinet today, removing a major obstacle on their path to success. By envisioning a guarantee-free and collateral-free educational loan scheme, Modi Ji has ensured that no student is deprived of the education they deserve because of their financial condition," his post read on X "My heartfelt gratitude to Modi Ji for the landmark decision to provide our youth with the nurturing to bloom as the pioneers of our nation's future," a post shared by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on X. Earlier today, the Union Cabinet approved a new scheme PM Vidyalaxmi, targeting middle-class students who wish to get admission into higher educational institutions but face financial constraints. Any student who secures admission to higher education Institutions and wishes to avail of education loans to pursue higher education in these institutions will be eligible to get the loan through the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme. "Such loans will be collateral-free and guarantor-free" Union Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed reporters after the Cabinet meeting. A maximum of one lakh students each year will be covered under the scheme. A student having annual family income up to Rs 8 lakh shall be eligible to get three per cent interest subvention for education loans up to Rs 10 lakh. This is in addition to the full interest subvention already offered to students with up to Rs. 4.5 lakh annual family income. The government said that no meritorious student will be denied higher education due to financial constraints. The Department of Higher Education will prepare a list of high-quality Institutions every year that will include the Top 100 ranked institutes in the overall/ category-specific and/or domain-specific rankings in NIRF; plus the Top 200 ranked HEIs of the State/UT Govt. in NIRF; plus all remaining HEls under Gol. Loan applications shall be processed for approval, monitoring and disbursal through the PM-Vidyalaxmi portal. Loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh shall be eligible for a credit guarantee of 75 per cent of outstanding default. (ANI)
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the proposal to dissolve the entire state unit of the PCC, District Presidents and Block Congress Committees of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect, a party release said.

The party saw factionalism in the Rajya Sabha bypolls earlier this year which led to defeat of its official candidate. The party subsequently won most of the bypolls to ensure that the state government remains stable. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning the sincerity of Congress's manifesto promises, including the Mahalaxmi Yojana. Shinde expressed doubts about Congress's ability to deliver on its promises, citing past experiences where the party reneged on its commitments, blaming printing mistakes or lack of funds In an exclusive interview with ANI, he said, "Those who opposed the 'Ladki Bahin Yojana', who went to the court against it, their intentions are maligned... Mayahuti government will be formed and we will do what we say." The Congress party has announced five guarantees for Maharashtra, including: Rs 3,000 per month to women and free bus travel for women and girls under Mahalakshmi Yojana, loan waiver of up to Rs 3 lakh to farmers and an incentive of Rs 50,000 for regular loan repayment, caste-wise census, removal of 50% reservation limit and health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh and free medicines and assistance up to Rs 4000 per month to unemployed youth. "What do you have to say on the promises made to the farmer youth in Congress Mahrastra Manifesto?" questioned CM Shinde. Shinde countered Congress's promises, saying that his government has already delivered on similar initiatives, such as the 'Ladki Bahin Yojana'. He accused those who opposed the scheme of having "maligned intentions." "Congress has made such promises in many places like Karnataka, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, but later they say that there was a printing mistake and then they say that they do not have money. They ask for money from the Centre, these are liars and deceitful people, they are not trustworthy people. Rahul Gandhi said that they will give 'Khata Khat'. They did not do that but we gave 'Pat Pata pat'...The fake narrative of the Constitution is not going to work anymore..." the CM added. Shinde also criticized Rahul Gandhi's claim that the BJP and RSS want to destroy the Constitution, labelling it a "fake narrative." "Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said today the BJP people and RSS people want to destroy this constitution, they cannot say it openly. If they say it openly, they know the result," Eknath Shinde said that they were once again spreading fake narrative. "This fake narrative will not work. Baba Saheb Ambedkar's Constitution will remain as long as there is a Sun and Moon. Baba Saheb's Constitution will remain," the CM added. (ANI)
BJP leader V Muraleedharan is confident that Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC will make a significant impact in the upcoming Maharashtra elections in the Mumbadevi constituency. He believe that the current government, led by Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, has made notable progress in Mumbai and Maharashtra over the last three years, and this will be reflected in the election results Speaking to ANI, he said "Shaina is going to make a big impact here. In the last three years, the government under Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis has made a lot of progress in Mumbai and Maharashtra. This election people will vote and bring back the government. This is the only government that has thought about the development in Mumbai." Further, Murleedharan said that the campaigns of Congress will be rejected by Maharashtra. He pointed out that in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress's efforts yielded only 100 seats, and he expects a similar outcome in the current elections "BJP is back in power. People have rejected all the campaigns of Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. In the Lok Sabha elections, they made all campaigns but only got 100 seats. The government is back in power and I am sure the campaigns of Congress will be rejected this year as well," he said in full confidence. Shaina will be contesting against incumbent Congress MLA Amin Patel. The Mumbadevi constituency is a part of the Mumbai Lok Sabha seat and has been represented by Congress' Amin Patel since 2009. The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (ANI)
Former Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna, on Wednesday shared insights into the potential implications of Donald Trump's return to the US presidency, highlighting how Trump's policies may shape global and US-India relations. Reflecting on Trump's political journey, Sarna emphasised the remarkable political journey of Donald Trump as a candidate who once served as a President, then lost, and has now made a dramatic return to the race. Speaking to ANI, Former Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna said that not only did Donald Trump win the Electoral College, but he has also won the popular vote. We've seen four years of his presidency and he was pretty tough on China in his tenure. "The race doesn't look as close as the polls had shown. Not only has he (Donald Trump) won the Electoral College, he's also won the popular vote. He will go into the White House. We've seen four years of his presidency. He was pretty tough on China in his first tenure," he said. Navtej Sarna further stated that Trump's presidency marked China as the primary strategic competitor for the US, while Trump also fostered a strong personal rapport with PM Modi, holding a consistently favourable view of India. Trump always had a very positive view of India. "It was during the Trump presidency that China was recognized as the major strategic competitor for the United States. With Russia, everybody expects that he will have a better relationship with President Putin. In the Middle East, we can only hope that things can get better. They (PM Modi and Donald Trump) have met several times during the Trump presidency. It will be much easier than the first term when they were just getting to know and know each other. Personal chemistry between the leaders plays a major impact. President Trump has a very positive view of India," he added. Meanwhile, Trump has well above the 270 threshold electoral college votes needed to win the presidency. This is only the second instance and the first in over 100 years of a leader winning the presidency after losing once. Grover Cleveland served as non-consecutive president in 1884 and 1892. In his address, Trump expressed gratitude to the people and said he won't rest until he delivers a "strong, safe and prosperous America." (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu congratulated US Vice President-elect JD Vance's wife Usha Vance on becoming the first Telugu woman to serve as Second Lady of the US and bringing pride to the Telugu community. Taking to social media X, Naidu wrote in a post "I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr.@JDVance, on becoming the US Vice President-elect. His victory marks a historic moment, as Mrs. Usha Vance, who has roots in Andhra Pradesh, will become the first woman of Telugu heritage to serve as the Second Lady of the US. This is a moment of pride for the Telugu community around the world. I look forward to the opportunity to invite them to visit Andhra Pradesh." On November 6, Vance took to his social media X and expressed gratitude to his wife and President-elect Trump. "THANK YOU! To my beautiful wife for making it possible to do this. To President Donald J. Trump, for giving me such an opportunity to serve our country at this level. And to the American people for their trust. I will never stop fighting for ALL of you," Vance said on X. JD Vance's wife Usha Vance is the daughter of Indian immigrants and has an impressive academic background. Raised in a suburb of San Diego, California, with a strong emphasis on education and hard work, Usha's academic achievements include serving as Managing Editor of the Yale Journal of Law & Technology and Executive Development Editor of The Yale Law Journal, according to a biography from Munger, Tolles & Olson law firm. Usha Vance has played a subtle yet significant role in her husband's success. She assisted Vance in organizing his thoughts on the social decline in rural white America, which inspired his best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which was adapted into a film directed by Ron Howard in 2020. (ANI)
Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser of Nigeria, visited New Delhi for the Second Strategic and Counter-Terrorism Dialogue between India and Nigeria from November 4 to 5, 2024 at the invitation of the National Security Adviser Ajit K Doval KC. This dialogue marks a significant step in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations as they confront pressing threats posed by terrorism and international crime, an official press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated. During the discussions, the National Security Advisors engaged in comprehensive talks centered on the challenges of terrorism, extremism, and radicalisation, particularly those proliferating through cyberspace, as well as issues related to arms and drug smuggling. The two sides identified specific areas of cooperation to enhance their collaborative efforts against all forms of terrorism, reaffirming their belief that "there can be no justification for terrorism in any form or manifestation." They agreed to strengthen bilateral capacity building and enhance cooperation on international platforms, reflecting a united front against security threats. India and Nigeria enjoy warm, friendly, and deep-rooted bilateral relations, both as large developing democracies. With a population of 1.3 billion in India and over 190 million in Nigeria, the two countries share multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multi-lingual societies, positioning them as natural partners. The historical struggles against colonialism and apartheid have laid a robust foundation for their engagement, which is evident in their roles in South-South Cooperation. Over the past six decades, India has maintained strong political contacts with Nigeria, raising their relationship status to a "Strategic Partnership" during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Nigeria in October 2007. This evolving partnership underscores their commitment to articulating the voice of the developing world within multilateral organisations, including the United Nations, G77, and NAM, as they work together towards a common goal of security and prosperity. (ANI)
Former US President Barack Obama on Tuesday (local time) urged the country to be patient as election workers count ballots to determine the results of the election. Obama asked people to respect and thank the election workers as they are working hard. He also asked people to avoid the spread of misinformation by checking facts on sources before sharing them. In a post on X, Obama said, "It took several days to count every ballot in 2020, and it's very likely we won't know the outcome tonight either. So please keep a few things in mind as you make your voice heard today: - Thousands of election workers around the country are working hard today. Respect them. Thank them. - Don't share things before checking your sources. - Let the process run its course. It takes time to count every ballot." States have different rules dictating when and how ballots must be counted. Some states have changed their rules since 2020, which could change the timing of when results come in. https://x.com/BarackObama/status/1853904959412338963 Earlier, Obama said that the US Presidential election would be close and urged Americans to vote in large numbers for the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate Tim Walz. https://x.com/BarackObama/status/1853794533617610940 In a post on X, Obama said Americans will be going to the polls to show "what we stand for". Voting began in the US presidential election earlier in the day. "Today is Election Day. Millions of Americans will be going to the polls to show the world who we are and what we stand for. Find out where and when you can vote today at http://IWillVote.com. And once you do, I want to see your voting sticker. I'll be sharing your posts throughout the day. Let's get out there and win this thing!" he said. Obama also posted a video in which he urged people to involve their family, neighbours, make a plan and go to vote. He said a handful of votes in every precinct could decide the winner so it is vital for people to vote in large numbers. Though exit polls start coming as voting starts, the final results will come only after counting is closed in all states. Despite the presence of many other parties, the US presidential race is between the Democratic and Republican parties. Vice President Kamala Harris is the candidate of the incumbent Democrats, and she is aiming to create history by becoming the first woman president in the US. If elected, she will also be the first Indian-origin President of the United States. On the other hand, the Republican candidate is former President Donald Trump, who is eyeing a historic comeback to the White House after a bitter exit in 2020. Notably, if Trump wins, it will be the first instance in over 100 years of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House. Most of the polls have predicted a very close race between Trump and Harris, with all the leads projected within the margin of error.(ANI)
The Taiwanese MND stated that nine of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ.

In a post on X, the MND stated, "12 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1853965525132382288

Earlier on Tuesday, the MND detected 20 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, six People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels up until 6 am (local time).

In a post on X, the MND stated, "20 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 16 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's central, southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1853603135006364071

China has increased its military activities around Taiwan by deploying aircraft and naval vessels since September 2020. It is using grey zone tactics to achieve its security objective.

Earlier, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te convened a high-level national security conference in which he assured the public about the government's commitment to neutralising any threat to Taiwan's democracy and security after China staged a large-scale military drill around the island.

He made his remarks in response to the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) announcement of military drills, named "Joint Sword-2024B," in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas, which were described as a "stern warning" to advocates of Taiwan independence, according to the Taipei Times.

In an attempt to modernise Taiwan, on November 4, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te attended the keel-laying ceremony for the Taiwanese Navy, also known as the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) new light frigate prototype at Kaohsiung shipyard. (ANI)
Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation America, Dhruva Jaishankar said that Washington DC is a terrible place to observe the elections because it is a reliably Democratic constituency in the US. Jaishankar pointed out that the election this time is complicated as there are several factors in play, like the shift of younger men towards Republican candidate former US President Donald Trump. "Washington DC is a terrible place to actually observe the elections because actually Washington DC itself, I think is the most reliably democratic constituency in the US. And so it's a bit of a bubble. But just from the reports that are coming around from across the US, from Nevada to Florida, where polls have opened in most of the US by now, I think the thing to watch out for is really turnout and who comes to turnout and what the orientation is. This is very hard to predict because there are a number of factors at play. Traditionally, higher turnout has favored Democrats and it's something they have tried to do more to promote the vote. But at this time around, there's some indication that some traditional democratic voters, including younger people, including men, including some minorities, may not vote reliably democratic anymore. And this is all further complicated by the fact that there's been a surge in early voting and mail-in voting, largely as a result of the pandemic from four years ago. So all of this has made it much more difficult to predict the outcome, but I think one thing to look for generally is the level of enthusiasm for both major presidential candidates," he said. Talking about the swing states, Jaishankar said that if either of the candidates can get four or more of those states, it would be a game changer. Swing states are notorious as the results are often of a narrow margin and are a game changer. "So this will really be determined by what they believe, most pollsters believe will be seven key swing states. And essentially whoever wins more than whichever candidate can win four of those, for the most part will probably be the winner. If you go by the last two elections in 2020 and 2016, it really was less than one lakh votes, 1,00,000 votes that had they shifted in certain key states could have swung the outcome in a different direction. So that is how close it is. It will really come down to a handful of states which could all be very close. Some of them have very slow ways of counting the votes because they have certain legal requirements for when they can start counting the votes. And so it is possible that we may not get a result for some time, but really I think it would be the emphasis is about focusing on those seven states and whether Harris in particular can defend traditionally democratic states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania and perhaps pick up one more. That is what she's going to hope to do. If Trump can even get one of those three states, it will really be very much in his favor," he said. Election this time is viewed as divisive, as several older male voters, who traditionally voted for Republicans have now shifted to Democrats, and several young male voters, who voted for Democrats have turned to Republicans. "I think every election has become over the past 20 years or so has become more and more divisive. You have what are traditionally very clear democratic constituencies. They tend to be younger, more female, more ethnic minorities and more college-educated voters. And these tend to be more in urban areas. By contrast, reliably Republican voters tend to be older, tend to be more male, tend to be not college-educated and tend to be white primarily. And these have been pretty consistently reliable voters for Democrats and Republicans with a number of constituencies that have been key swing voters and these often tend to be in the suburbs. For example, white women in suburbs tend to be quite critical key swing voters that both parties try to appeal to. So now there's some sense that again, this coalition has been shaken up a little bit. Some older voters are turned off by Trump, some younger voters find him more appealing and the gender factor also plays a role. So I think that it has been a very polarizing election, but we have some signs, and again, we'll only know in a day or two, how much these coalitions have shifted or changed," he said. None of the candidates have mentioned India in their campaign. Jaishankar said that it is a good thing, as US voters don't pay much heed unless it affects their day-to-day life or unless there are US military interventions involved. "Generally a foreign policy comes up in a US election when there's a problem. Most voters don't care or know very much about foreign policy, not something they follow on a day-to-day basis, unless it has a direct impact for them. And so I think it's not surprising, and perhaps it's even a good thing for India that it's not become an election issue this time or in recent elections. The issues that do come up are generally US military interventions abroad and their merits and military aid abroad, trade issues and how it impacts them and immigration. So there are those substantive areas that do play a role. And then in terms of like key adversaries or places where the US is involved, so the Middle East, Israel-Gaza conflict, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and possibly China and the contingencies in the Indo-Pacific surrounding China. So these have become, have been discussed by both candidates. They have made some mostly vague, broad declarations about their approach to these things. Generally, both have been supportive of Israel, although there's some nuance on to what degree. There are big differences on Ukraine and European security. And basically Democrats would like to continue with sort of allies for supporting. European allies in what they in this conflict in Ukraine. Whereas Trump has basically said that it should be up to Europe to take care of its own security," he said. Jaishankar said that as of China, there has not been many details either. There is growing competition between both the countries which may have an indirect effect on India. "On China, I think there hasn't been as much detail. There's a growing sense of competition with China and the US. So amidst all of this, I don't think India is directly impacted, but the indirect effects for India could be quite significant. And this could extend to trade and immigration issues where the two parties have very different platforms. It could extend to democracy and human rights, where the two parties have very different platforms and different priorities. It could extend to the prospects of ending the conflict in in Ukraine with Russia. And again, that would have implications for India. So again, the direct implications, no, but the indirect implications could be quite different depending on the outcome," Jaishankar said. Jaishankar said that both the candidates have vaguely talked about better relations with India. "Either of them will come in with a primarily domestic agenda. They will have to deal with these very immediate conflicts and crises in Ukraine and in Gaza and how to go about them. And to be honest, I think India and many other parts of the world will be a bit of an afterthought for them. That being said, I think both have spoken again in very broad and vague terms about wanting a better relationship with India, although a lot will depend on their exact priorities. And that in turn will be informed by people around them. And I think in this more competitive global context, they will both want to some degree a cooperative relationship with India. The question is whether they can deliver on it and in what areas they want to focus on. I would say if Trump is elected, I think two immediate concerns would be on trade and immigration policy and how that will affect India," he said. He said that Trump's win would probably mean tougher negotiations with regards to visas. Harris's agenda would be more of a continuum of US President Joe Biden's administration. "He has a broader domestic agenda. It's not India specific, but I think there'll be some very difficult negotiations over tariffs and visas and undocumented migrants if Trump is elected. With Harris, I think it's a bit more of an open book, some broad continuity on trade and technology with the Biden administration. But the question is how much she prioritizes as a progressive agenda over strategic considerations in her approach to India and the world at large," he said. Talking about the Indian-American voters in the swing states, Jaishankar said that they are quite less in number in the swing states, and Indian-Americans have mostly casted vote to Democrats. "So there are two ways in which they can play a role. One is just in terms of their as voters. In Georgia, they're about a little under one lakh Indian American voters. In Pennsylvania, a little bit more than that. Michigan, a little less. North Carolina, they're a fair number. But Pennsylvania and Georgia, I think, would be two of the larger ones, not very much in Nevada and Wisconsin. So they are sizable, but they're not enough to, and their numbers are not enough to make a decisive effect in the turnout. Indian Americans tend to be reliably democratic. About two-thirds tend to vote Democrat in a given presidential election. There's some sense in some recent polling to suggest that some of them are now increasingly looking at the Republican Party and former President Trump, as an appealing candidate. And one can speculate on the reasons for that. Some of it has to do with economic issues or immigration issues as well. Some of it has to do, maybe Trump has spoken a lot about his relationship with India and they find that very appealing. And in a way that the Harris administration has been much more cautious about doing. So again, ironically, despite the fact that she is of Indian heritage, that you do start to see anecdotally at least some Indian Americans gravitating towards the Republican Party. What we'll see, what we'll know in the next few days is to what extent that has been the case. But overwhelmingly, I think the expectation is that something like 60 per cent of Indian Americans will vote Democrat in this election overall," he said. Jaishankar said that Harris has not taken advantage of her Indian roots. She has been very cautious of that. "Kamala Harris speaks a lot about her mother, in particular, who raised her, and her grandfather, who was an Indian civil servant and the sort of cultural aspects of that. But at the same time, she hasn't been very forthcoming about policy towards India. She's been very cautious. She did not visit India as Vice President. And so I think that sends us sort of mixed messages and their reasons for that. How has that resonated? Again, amongst, this is anecdotal and based on very little survey data that we have, younger Indian Americans are very organized for her. She has some major donors who are Indian Americans. And again, I think perhaps the majority of Indian Americans will end up voting for her. That being said, there's enough who care about a different set of issues who are supporting Donald Trump. And that gets to the other issue where other area where Indian Americans can play a role is as political donors. And there are a handful of major donors to both Harris and Trump who are Indian American," he said. Jaishankar said that there are several issues that have resulted in complications of the India-US bilateral relations. "I mean, I think there are some issues. You know, there've been difficulties on a number of issues, including Bangladesh, including investigations that are underway that have certainly complicated in the last few months of this administration despite an otherwise very positive trajectory in India-US relations have certainly complicated the bilateral relationship. Again, I don't sense that these will be big priorities for a new administration to fix. They have other problems to deal with, but I do think it would be in there worthwhile soon once they come to settle in to see where they can advance the relationship in different ways. And again, there's a lot that's on the positive side of the ledger, but also address some of the differences and see that those don't build up, they'll go out of control because they can certainly complicate the relationship in some very unpredictable ways," he said. (ANI)
The Minister shared the details of his visit on the social media platform X, where he said that during his visit he also interacted with the Sikh Sangat members in Dubai.

Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar was built in 2012 and draws inspiration from both traditional and modern architectural styles. It is the first and largest Gurudwara in the Gulf region.

In his post, Puri also said, "Blending modern & traditional building styles, the Gurudwara Sahib is a true manifestation of the teachings of Guru Sahibs. It envelopes all within its warm embrace irrespective of caste or creed - spreading the message of peace, solace, universal brotherhood and hope."

https://x.com/HardeepSPuri/status/1853845607817134222

The Union Minister had also visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi and paid obeisance on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Union minister met with Haitham Al-Ghais, Secretary General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), on Monday at the ADIPEC conference in Abu Dhabi to discuss India's partnership with OPEC.

After the meet, Puri shared the post on X and wrote, "We also took forward the enriching discussion we had during the 2nd edition of @IndiaEnergyWeek in Goa about ways to ensure that global oil markets remain balanced and predictable."

Further, Puri emphasised India's unique relationship with OPEC and stated, "India, the world's 3rd largest importer of oil and OPEC, the grouping of major oil producers, have a unique and symbiotic relationship."

Puri is on a visit to the UAE and since November 4 he has had various interactions with the Indian community as well as as global leaders in the energy sector.

The Union Minister also inaugurated the India Pavilion and participated in the Global Leaders and Energy Transition Ministerial Panel. (ANI)
The counting of votes is underway for the US Presidential elections after polling closed almost in all states on Tuesday (local time).

Notably, Musk has time and again publicly expressed his support towards former president Trump.

He has donated USD 75 million to Trump's Political Action Committee aiming to pave his return to the White House. He even hosted an X-Space with the former President and appeared at some of his campaign rallies.

The Tesla CEO had even expressed his willingness to serve after Trump hinted that he would consider Elon Musk for a cabinet role or advisory post if he wins.

In a post on the social media platform X, Musk tweeted, "Game, set and match".

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1854003982387068929

The Tesla CEO also reposted a prediction from Polymarket -- a New York-based prediction market -- which projected Donald Trump winning the Presidential elections by 90.1 per cent and VP Kamala Harris at a mere 9.2 per cent.

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1854000537508655584

According to the latest projections by CNN, Donald Trump is leading on 211 electoral votes and Kamala Harris is ahead on 145.

Politico has said Trump is ahead on 214 and Harris on 179.

While Fox News projections keep Trump ahead at 216 and Harris at 193.

Harris and Trump each need at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win the presidency in an election that is seen as one of the most significant in recent US history.

Trump, who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, is seeking a return to the White House.

The election is expected to come down to a handful of battleground states -- Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. (ANI)
As the initial projections for the United States presidential elections start coming in, the supporters of Donald Trump, say they remain hopeful about the former president's return to the White House. The Trump supporters gathered at West Palm Beach in Florida and expressed their support for Donald Trump's policy while disapproving that of the Biden administration. Speaking to ANI, David, a Trump supporter said, "It's a bit of a scary time. A lot of people are putting a lot of weight on the election. I think it's definitely something that people are really concerned about, with the economy and everything that is going on and I am hopeful that Trump wins because I know that he provides results." Another Trump supporter, Red, affirmed that the Republicans are much ahead in early voting, adding that he is optimistic of the former president's return. "I think early voting was a big win on our side...I have been a huge supporter of Trump because of his transparency and he tells it like it is. I think he has a very large following. I think people finally did their homework...I am optimistic about this evening," said Red, another Trump supporter. "More people have come in sense than not. I think Trump has dominated," a Trump supporter from Florida's West Palm Beach said. Another supporter expressed displeasure at the Biden administration's policy on illegal immigration, and stressed the need to put "America first." "Like I said, put America first. That is basically what this is all about. It is great that people want to come here but we can't be giving all our tax dollars. We are hardworking Americans sending our money all over the world. We are allowing people to come across the border like it's wide open, which is craziness. All that is great but there have to be rules, checks and balances," he said. Meanwhile, according to the latest projections by CNN, Donald Trump is leading on 211 electoral votes and Kamala Harris is ahead on 145. Politico has said Trump is ahead on 214 and Harris on 179. While, Fox News projections keep Trump ahead on 216 and Harris on 193. Former President Trump was himself watching the election results from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. According to CNN, the Trump campaign is feeling increasingly optimistic, and Trump's convention center is cheering loudly with every call in his favour. Harris and Trump each need at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win the presidency in an election that is seen as one of the most significant in recent US history. Trump, who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, is seeking a return to the White House after losing to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Harris has been serving as vice president since January 2021. The election is expected to come down to a handful of battleground states -- Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. (ANI)
Multiple students in Washington DC expressed support for Kamala Harris during a watch party hosted in support of the Democratic presidential candidate at Howard University on Tuesday (local time). Ariana a Howard University student told ANI, "I voted for Kamala and I think she is going to win because we need to fight for reproductive freedom" Another student expressed her excitement during election night, saying that this is the first time she has voted. "This election means so much to me, this is the first election being able to vote. Having a black woman almost becoming the President of US, is so important to me because I am a black woman, double minority. Being able to see somebody in this position who looks like me is so important," she told ANI. The student said that she believes Harris will put her rights and aspirations at the front, adding, "She is going to represent me and my rights and make sure that my rights and my aspirations are in the forefront, and always having a voice. I am praying to god that she comes out to be the president of the United States." A third student, Tevin Davis, said, "I think Kamala Harris will be winning today, I have no doubt in my mind that Kamala Harris will be the next president of the United States, the first woman president. A woman President is very much needed to run this country, and let me be very clear, Donald Trump wanted us to go back to a place we used to but as Kamala Harris said, we are not going back." CNN projections show Republican candidate Donald Trump leading with 207 electoral votes, with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris trailing with 91, as of 10:57 PM (local time). (ANI)
In Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong, a clash between the Hindu community and the law enforcement forces took place in the midst of a tense situation over a Facebook post criticizing ISKCON. Due to this, the joint forces of police and army conducted an operation there on Tuesday night. "A local Muslim youth reportedly uploaded a post on Facebook criticizing ISKCON. The angry Hindu community people protested and clashed with the law-enforcing agencies. They threw bricks and other objects at the police. After the clashes, a joint operation conducted by law enforcing agencies, comprising police and army", Saifuddin Tuhin, a local reporter from Chittagong told ANI over the phone. "A local youth named Osman posted on Facebook demanding the banning of ISKCON. Law and order forces went there when tension arose. It has been alleged that something like acid was thrown at the law enforcement agencies", said a Hindu community leader. The leader also noted, "At night, joint forces raided Hazari Goly and arrested about 100 suspects. Some were released after questioning. Due to power outage during the operation, details about the incident were not known". As per a report by the Bangla Daily, Prothom Alo, blank shots were also fired during the operation. Recently some individuals and groups have demanded a ban on ISKCON in Bangladesh. ISKCON leaders in Dhaka recently asked "Amar Desh" editor Mahmudur Rahman to apologize for demanding the banning of ISKCON. A group called "Inqilab Manch" demanded the banning of ISKCON. Hindus, who make up about 8 per cent of Bangladesh's 170 million population, have traditionally supported Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party, which has faced backlash following violent clashes between anti-quota protesters and security forces last month. On August 5, a student-led movement ousted Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, after weeks of protests and clashes that killed over 600 people. Hasina, 76, fled to India on August 5 and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed. (ANI).
Taiwan's top intelligence official stated that the United States is likely to maintain its policy of containing China while continuing to support Taiwan, regardless of the outcome of the 2024 US Presidential elections. According to a report by Focus Taiwan, Tsai Ming-yen, Director-General of Taiwan's National Security Bureau (NSB), affirmed that Taiwan will continue its "strategic communication" with the incoming US administration. This communication will focus on advancing Taiwan- US cooperation, particularly in national defence, trade, and supply chain collaboration. Tsai also mentioned that concrete initiatives would be proposed to deepen further and strengthen the bilateral relationship. When asked whether China had been engaging in cognitive warfare against Taiwan during the US presidential race, Tsai explained that the Chinese Communist Party had long been promoting "American scepticism." He noted that this rhetoric primarily seeks to question the necessity of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and to cast doubt on the broader scope of Taiwan-US bilateral cooperation. Tsai assured that the NSB would make every effort to ensure that such rhetoric, which he described as "controversial information," would not undermine the ongoing cooperation between Taiwan and its allies. He emphasized that the NSB would take all necessary steps to prevent this rhetoric from hindering continued collaboration between Taiwan and its international partners. Tsai made these remarks during a legislative session when reporters inquired about the NSB's assessment of the U.S. presidential election. Over the past five years, U.S.-Taiwan relations have strengthened significantly, marked by increased military cooperation and closer economic ties amid rising tensions with China. Under President Biden, the US has bolstered its support for Taiwan through enhanced arms sales and military exchanges. Additionally, the US has advocated for Taiwan's participation in international organizations and forums from which it has traditionally been excluded due to Chinese opposition. In 2021, the US supported Taiwan's efforts to join the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). High-level meetings and dialogues between US and Taiwanese officials have further reinforced bilateral economic and technological collaboration, particularly in the semiconductor sector, where Taiwan plays a pivotal role. (ANI)
The residents of Mand town of Balochistan staged a protest against the forced occupation of their lands by the Pakistan military forces on Tuesday. As reported by The Balochistan Post, the protestors included women, children and elders who are demanding the immediate evacuation of their ancestral lands that are under the control of Pakistani military forces due to "security purposes." The residents highlighted that the Frontier Corps (FC) covered their homes into permanent military base camps in the Meher region of Mand. The security forces took control of people's property five years ago. According to The Balochistan Post, the FC issued a final warning to expand their military occupation to increase the number of camps in the region. This caused residents to stage a protest until the restoration of the seized property. The residents claimed that the ongoing military encroachment was against their human rights and culture. Women protesters in the Meher region refused to stop the demonstrations until the restoration of their lands. They appealed to the local authorities to vacate their lands but the security forces continued to resume the encroachments. The Balochistan Post reported that the Baloch Women's Forum, an advocacy group, condemned the military encroachments and said, "We, at the Baloch Women Forum, express concerns over the excessive use of force by Frontier Corps (FC) on residents of Maher (Mand), harassing them via various tools like seizing their homes on gunpoint, flying drone cameras on their homes, uselessly firing on their homes and using torch light on in midnight." The security forces used different violent measures to stop the protest. The protester expressed in anger, "If any harm comes to the families here, the responsibility will lie with the local administration". According to The Balochistan Post, the security forces have occupied ancestral homes as well as educational institutions. A resident said, "Our children are afraid to go to school, and female teachers feel threatened". The continuous occupation of lands, drone monitoring and armed patrolling have created fear and terror in the minds of residents of Baloch. (ANI)
Member of the Indian Parliament, Rajiv Shukla answered Pakistan in the United Nations during a UN session as Pakistan yet again raised the issue of Kashmir there. Shukla, while referring to Pakistan, said, "A delegation has yet again used this august forum for peddling lies and falsehood. It is habitual for this delegation to resort to disinformation and misinformation. This delegation tends to measure the world's largest democracy using similar yardsticks". Shukla said, "Let me be clear. Real democracies function differently. The people of Jammu and Kashmir turned out in record numbers in the recently concluded free and fair elections. No amount of disinformation and misinformation will change facts on the ground".Pakistan has routinely engaged in spreading disinformation about the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The recently held assembly elections in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir had voting in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1. It recorded large voter turnouts. Phase 1 and Phase 2 saw polling percentages of 61.38 per cent and 57.31 per cent respectively and 69.9 per cent was recorded in Phase 3. This shows the resounding trust the people of India have in democratic institutions. He called upon Pakistan and said, "I urge this delegation to engage more constructively in this forum rather than using it for their divisive political agenda". Shukla concluded his speech by assuring that India would continuously support the Department of Global Communications of the UN in its activities and initiatives. The Department of Global Communications raises awareness of the work and aims of the UN. It disseminates information across the world through multiple platforms, digital and traditional, to build support for the aims and work of the United Nations. He also said, "We will fight the virus of misinformation together and deliver a positive and reliable impact for peace and a better world". (ANI)
Hours after being sacked as Israel's defence minister, Yoav Gallant in his address to people of the country, expressed gratefulness for the country's security forces and lamenting the policies of the Netanyahu government. Disapproving of Netanyahu's policy regarding the Hamas war, Gallant warned that Israel would forever bear "the mark of Cain" if it abandons the hostages held in Gaza, The former defence minister said his dismissal stemmed from disagreements on three issues: ultra-Orthodox military conscription, a hostage deal with Hamas, and a state commission of inquiry into the government's failures related to the October 7 attack that sparked the ongoing Gaza war, as reported by Times of Israel. Netanyahu fired Gallant on Tuesday evening, citing a "lack of trust" between the two, which the prime minister claimed helped Israel's enemies. Gallant, a longtime rival from within the Likud Party, will be replaced by Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz. Minister without Portfolio Gideon Sa'ar will replace Katz, as per Times of Israel. Gallant's sacking has drawn massive protests on the streets of Israel, as thousands gathered to disapprove of Netanyahu's decision. The protestors said the move is "very bad" for Israel's security and the move in effect, is moving Israel towards the state of dictatorship, TPS reported. In Tel Aviv, one protester told The Press Service of Israel, "What Netanyahu did -- firing the Defence Minister -- is very bad for Israel's security. It only shows that he completely lost any consideration of what is good for Israel. He's only thinking about himself, what works for his own political good. And this is something which is extremely dangerous. And if we don't go out in the streets now, we're going to end up in a dictatorship." Another demonstrator told TPS-IL, "The lawlessness of Netanyahu taking on this authority in the middle of the war and with Iran that could bomb at any moment, and he does it to please the haredim and ensure that he doesn't have a trial." He was referring to divisions over mandatory military service for Israel's Haredi, or Orthodox Jewish commmunity. "I came out to save the country, because dictatorship is on the way," said another protester "The firing of the Minister of Defense is a moral shame. I have three children in the army." During his speech, Gallant said that his priorities "have remained constant and clear throughout nearly fifty years of public service, [and] are as follows: The State of Israel; the IDF and the security establishment, and only afterwards, everything else, including my personal future." He further lauded "a series of impressive achievements, unprecedented in the history of the State of Israel," which he attributed to "the IDF, the Shin Bet, the Mossad, and the entire security system," as reported by Times of Israel. Notably, the Likud party lawmaker repeatedly clashed with Netanyahu over the handling of the war, and had a stormy relationship with the prime minister before Hamas's attack last year, Times of Israel reported. In 2023, Gallant spoke out against the Netanyahu government's proposed overhaul of the judicial system, warning that the national rift over the issue had come to constitute a tangible security threat. Following this, PM Netanyahu fired him, but had to backtrack two weeks later amid public outcry. Meanwhile, Israel's Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir lauded Netanyahu's decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and said it is not possible to achieve "complete victory" with Gallant, as reported by TPS. "I congratulate the Prime Minister on the decision to fire Gallant," he tweeted. "With Gallant, who is still deeply trapped in the concept, it is not possible to achieve complete victory [in Gaza] - and the prime minister did well to remove him from his position." Ben-Gvir is the leader of the right-wing Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Strength) Party in the Knesset. (ANI)
A group called 'Sikh Americans for Trump' celebrated in Washington DC on Wednesday (local time) as Republican nominee Donald Trump edges closer to winning the presidential race. The group, holding banners of 'Trump 2024' danced to dhols songs outside the White House. Moreover, Republicans have won control of the U.S. Senate with victories in West Virginia and Ohio on Tuesday, ensuring that Donald Trump's party will control at least one chamber of Congress next year. Meanwhile, Trump also won Pennsylvania that gives him 19 electoral votes, together with wins in two of the other battleground states- Georgia (16 votes) and North Carolina (16 votes) according to projection by Decision Desk HQ. Projected to come back to the White house after four years, Fox News projected Trump winning 277 electoral votes while Kamala Harris has 226 votes. One of the members of the Sikh Americans for Trump, Jesse Singh, said, "Indian community, the entire South Asian community, Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus have all gathered here outside White House in large numbers, President Trump is going to win and with that happiness we are beating dhols and drums...we feel he will officially become the President of the United States in a few hours. It is past midnight and our whole team is waiting for the victory of President Trump." According to CNN projections as of 2:36 AM (local time), President Trump has secured 266 electoral votes, just shy of 4 seats to cross the 270 majority mark to get elected president. CNN has projected Harris trailing far behind by only securing 188 electoral votes. Moreover, former President Donald Trump also addressed a public rally at West Palm Beach, Florida claiming victory on Wednesday, while his counterpart Kamala Harris called off her speech scheduled to be held at Howard University. (ANI)
"Delighted to call on PM Anthony Albanese in Canberra today. Conveyed warm greetings of PM @narendramodi. Value his guidance for deepening India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," Jaishankar stated in a post on X.

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1854053516962390064

The Australian PM also appreciated the "growing relationship" between the two countries.

"Our growing relationship with India matters to Australia. Great to meet with External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar today in Canberra," Albanese posted on X.

Earlier in the day, the Foreign Minister interacted with embers of Australia - India Parliamentary Friendship Group.

"Happy to interact with members of Australia - India Parliamentary Friendship Group. Appreciate their warm sentiments for stronger political, economic and people to people ties with India," he stated.

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1854059152336957646

Jaishankar also met Deputy PM of New Zealand, Winston Peters and discussed the issues of education, technology and people-to-people ties.

"Pleased to meet DPM & FM @winstonpetersof New Zealand.Discussed education, technology, agriculture and people to people ties. Also exchanged views on Indo-Pacific and global issues," he stated.

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1854058644696109299

EAM Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Australia, also interacted with Australian counterpart, Penny Wong. The two also addressed the 'Raisina Down Under', the Australian iteration of India's Raisina Dialogue on November 5-6.

He also inaugurated a new Indian consulate in Brisbane, which he hailed as a "milestone" for the India-Australia ties.

"Today is a landmark moment and certainly a milestone in our increasingly strong bilateral relationship," Jaishankar stated at the inauguration ceremony.

The EAM also acknowledged the achievements of the Indian diaspora across various sectors, describing them as a "living bridge" between the two countries.

"We have a million-strong Indian diaspora, and certainly, they are making their contribution to the vibrant and multicultural society here," he said.

The minister praised the community for earning "great respect" in Australia and noted that their excellence across academia, research, technology, business, and healthcare has enhanced India-Australia ties. (ANI)
Danish Ambassador to India, Freddy Svane, appreciated the relationship between India and the United States, and the future US President would be supportive of India's quest to become a global leader. Svane highlighted the importance of the US presidential elections saying that the superpower played a crucial role geopolitically and would have to take action as soon as the next President is sworn in. Speaking to ANI, Svane said, "The US has traditionally played a very important role geopolitically and whoever will be the next President of the US to be sworn in on 20th January next year, they will have to take actions one way or another. If Harris wins she has already made it clear what is her policies towards the Ukraine war and the Gaza-Israel-Hezbollah conflict." "The same is true for Trump. He has always been a man for action. We all are looking forward to seeing how the new US President will try to define their role in geopolitics," he added. The Danish envoy further said that India and the US have "strengthened" their collaborations lately, and there have been high-level exchanges between the two countries. "India and the US are two countries that have reinforced and strengthened collaborations in the last couple of years. We have seen exchanges at a high level. I am pretty sure, that whoever the President will be, they will be supportive of India's quest to become a global leader," he further said. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is projected to win the US presidential elections, with Fox News projecting Trump to win 277 electoral votes while Kamala Harris has 226 votes. A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes out of 538 to win the presidency. Notably, this is going to be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House. (ANI)
Rabani Bajaj founded the nonprofit Seva-Art when she was 14 as a way to help the community by showing and selling student art. The group's second annual sale takes place Nov. 8 at Pearl. LEO MARTINEZ/Leo Martinez

During the early days of the pandemic, Rabani Bajaj and her family spent Thursdays volunteering at the San Antonio Food Bank, making thousands of sandwiches to help others in that difficult time.

When things started to return to normal, Bajaj wanted to find a way to continue helping the community. During a family brainstorming session, her dad suggested that she and her brother sell the artwork they had created during the pandemic and donate the proceeds. She liked the idea but wanted to focus instead on the handiwork of other young people.

So Bajaj, then 14, formed Seva-Art. The nonprofit's big annual event is an art show and sale featuring work by Bexar County students in the sixth through 12th grades. Proceeds are evenly split between the young artists and the food bank.

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Seva-Art, a nonprofit founded by San Antonio teen Rabani Bajaj, raises money for the San Antonio Food Bank through an annual student art show. The first sale was held at The Contemporary at Blue Star. The second takes place Nov. 8 at Pearl. LEO MARTINEZ/Leo Martinez

The group's second show and sale takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Full Goods Building at Pearl, 200 E. Grayson St. Admission is free.

Seva-Art, a nonprofit founded by San Antonio teen Rabani Bajaj, raises money for the San Antonio Food Bank through an annual student art show. The first sale was held at The Contemporary at Blue Star and drew a large crowd. The second takes place Nov. 8 at Pearl. LEO MARTINEZ/Leo Martinez

MORE ART NEWS: Art owned by H-E-B chairman to go on display for first time

"Im honestly really grateful I have the chance to do this," said Bajaj, now a 16-year-old sophomore at Saint Mary's Hall.

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The first outing last year featured the work of 42 students and raised more than $7,500 for the Food Bank.

There is an opportunity to raise a lot more money this time around, thanks to the fact that there will be much more art available for sale. A total of 142 students submitted 220 pieces of art for the event. Entries include photography, paintings, drawings and other two-dimensional work.

"Last year, we partnered with The Contemporary at Blue Star, which was an amazing experience," Bajaj said. "We were able to accomplish a lot with them. But I think the Pearl has a much larger network and through that, they were able to advertise to their sources as well."

MORE ART NEWS: Chicano art pioneer Cesar A. Martinez shows new work

With the help of her parents, she was able to reach out to more schools, too. Participating artists represent 46 schools.

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She is hoping there is more to come.
The Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has expressed its heartfelt gratitude to 15 nations for their collective support in raising concerns about ongoing human rights violations in Tibet. During the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations, a joint statement was issued by the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, calling attention to the situation in Tibet and East Turkistan. In a statement, Kalon Norzin Dolma, Head of the Department of Information and International Relations, acknowledged the efforts of the coalition, particularly Australia, which led the initiative. Dolma said, "On behalf of the CTA and Tibetans both in Tibet, and in exile, I extend our appreciation to the 15 nations and their leaders who have courageously raised their voices in support of justice, human rights, and peace. This gesture at the United Nations signifies solidarity and commitment to addressing the ongoing human rights abuses in Tibet". The statement also emphasized that while this international support is a significant step forward, much work remains to be done to address the persistent challenges faced by Tibetans under China's rule. Dolma noted that Tibetans continue to endure a range of human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions for peaceful political expression, restrictions on freedom of movement, forced labour, and cultural assimilation policies that undermine their linguistic, religious, and educational rights. Dolma further expressed hope that the UN's spotlight on Tibet would help alleviate the dire circumstances within the region. The Tibetan people view such international statements as a vital tool in pressuring China to reconsider its policies in Tibet and East Turkistan. "We look forward to continued and stronger collective action at the international level to ensure genuine peace and justice for Tibetans," Dolma added. Tibetans both in Tibet and in exile continue to hope that assertive international responses will not only draw global attention to the repression but also lead to concrete measures that can improve the situation on the ground. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Donald Trump on his historic election victory in the United States presidential polls. In a post on social media platform, X, PM Modi wrote, "Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory". PM expressed confidence in taking the Indo-US ties forward to greater heights as Trump would take over for his second term. PM Modi also said, "As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let''s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity". https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1854075308472926675 PM Modi and Donald Trump share warm and friendly ties. Events such as ''Howdy Modi!'' held in the US in 2019 when Donald Trump was serving as the President showed the positive sentiment shared by the two leaders. On his trip to India in 2020, the ''Namaste Trump'' event saw resounding public appreciation. The two leaders have held positive deliberations and met several times to give a boost to the India-US ties. According to the latest projections called by Fox News, Trump has won 277 electoral votes, well above the 270 threshold needed to win the presidency. Trump flipped the key battleground states of Pennsylvania and Georgia and he continues to lead Michigan. Notably, this is going to be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House. This is only the second instance and the first in over 100 years of a leader winning the presidency after losing once. Grover Cleveland served as non-consecutive president in 1884 and 1892.In his address Trump expressed gratitude to the people and said he won''t rest until he delivers a "strong, safe and prosperous America." Addressing supporters in Florida, accompanied by his running mate, JD Vance, and family members, Trump called his projected win the "greatest political movement of all time," which will help in making "America great again." Republicans will win at least 50 seats in the Senate of the US Congress by the end of the elections, as estimated by Fox News. As per CNN projections, candidates from the Democratic Party are winning the elections for the governors in only three of the ten states where the counting is already underway. (ANI)
Residents in Karachi Pakistan staged a protest on Tuesday evening to express their frustration over ongoing electricity and water shortages, which resulted in a major traffic disruption. According to the Express Tribune report, the demonstrators blocked a key road in the area, causing long vehicle queues and severe congestion, including on the Lyari Expressway. The protestors complained about daily power cuts lasting over 12 hours, with unscheduled outages becoming a regular occurrence. Additionally, they pointed out that both planned and unplanned load-shedding have severely impacted the water supply in the region. Despite filing numerous complaints with the Water Corporation about the power outage schedule, the protesters claimed that no meaningful action had been taken to resolve the water supply issues. They called for an immediate end to both scheduled and unscheduled power cuts in the area. The protest caused major traffic disruptions, leaving commuters stuck in a huge traffic jam as they tried to leave work, resulting in significant inconvenience. The report further stated that after discussions with the police, the protesters agreed to peacefully disperse after receiving assurances from the authorities. The road was cleared and reopened for traffic, with the traffic police working to restore normal vehicle movement. Earlier, residents of Karachi's Jahangir Road had also held a protest, calling for an end to the ongoing power and water shortages. The protest led to the closure of both lanes on Jahangir Road, causing significant traffic disruptions. Police were stationed at the site to handle the situation and help stranded commuters. Meanwhile, the Battagram Trade Union declared a full shutter-down strike and sit-in starting Tuesday, in protest against the continuous power outages in the district. The union also announced plans to withhold electricity bill payments until the power supply schedule is restored to normal. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has increased electricity rates for Karachi by Rs0.40 per unit as part of the monthly adjustment for August 2024. A notification from NEPRA confirmed that these additional charges will be included in consumers' bills for January 2025 by K-Electric. Previously, K-Electric had requested a reduction of Rs0.16 per unit in the power tariff due to fuel cost adjustments (FCA) for September 2024. On Tuesday, Mayor Murtaza Wahab announced that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had collected Rs228 million in municipal utility charges through K-Electric bills in just one month. He highlighted that KMC's goal is to raise Rs3 billion annually from municipal taxes, which will be allocated to development projects across the city, as well as to cover pensions and other dues for municipal employees. Wahab assured that the details of these receipts and expenditures would be made available online for transparency. During a press conference at KMC's headquarters, where he was joined by Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad, Wahab emphasized that it was time to hold accountable those who have opposed the collection of municipal taxes through K-Electric. (ANI)
A host of world leaders offered their congratulations to Donald Trump as he swept through the Battleground states to be projected as the next President. Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia reaffirmed the friendship between the two countries as he congratulated Trump. "Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory. Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future," he said in a post on X. https://x.com/AlboMP/status/1854076093663527414 Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Keir Starmer said that as the countries are "closest of allies," he looks forward to working with him in the coming years. "Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead," read the X post by the UK PM. https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1854076601811570883 Emmanuel Macron also congratulated the Republic candidate, and said, "Congratulations President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we have done for four years. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity." https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1854069933732229240 Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel congratulated Trump on his "historic return to the White House," adding, "Congratulations on history's greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America." https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1854069707302674758 Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Trump on his victory In a post on social media platform, X, PM Modi wrote, "Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory". PM Modi expressed confidence in taking the Indo-US ties forward to greater heights as Trump would take over for his second term.PM Modi also said, "As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let's work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity". Notably, this is going to be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House. Addressing supporters in Florida, accompanied by his running mate, JD Vance, and family members, Trump called his projected win the "greatest political movement of all time," which will help in making "America great again." Republicans will win at least 50 seats in the Senate of the US Congress by the end of the elections, as estimated by Fox News. As per CNN projections, candidates from the Democratic Party are winning the elections for the governors in only three of the ten states where the counting is already underway. (ANI)
The two-day Asian Buddhist Summit 2024, held from November 5th to 6th, brought together scholars, experts, and practitioners from Central, Southeast, and East Asia to explore the spread of Dhamma and the enduring relevance of the Pali language in understanding the teachings of the Buddha. Organised by the International Buddhist Confederation, the second day of the summit at The Ashok Hotel opened with video and text messages from Buddhist scholars from various parts of the world, sharing their perspectives on the event. There were insightful discussions on the importance of understanding Buddhist traditions, particularly from the perspective of Central Asia. The first session was moderated by Prof. Richard Sasaki, Founder and Director of the Nalanda Centre for Buddhist Studies in Brazil. Speakers including Prof Surat Kubaev of Uzbekistan's Alfraganus University and monk Junsei Tarasawa, a Buddhist expert working in Kyrgyzstan, highlighted the formation and spread of Buddhism in Central Asia. Emphasising the role of Buddhism in fostering peace and dialogue across the region, Buddhist monk Nicholas Vreeland said," Buddhism is significant anywhere. The importance of working on ourselves, striving to become better people, and diminishing selfish tendencies is valued everywhere. There will always be conflicts, but it is better to work on ourselves." One of the summit's most significant sessions focused on the relevance of Pali language and literature in understanding the Buddha Dhamma. This topic sparked deep reflections on how the ancient language of Pali continues to shape contemporary Buddhist thought and practice, resonating deeply with the audience and furthering understanding of Buddhist philosophy. Professor Radhakrishna Ghattu, a renowned expert in Pali and Vipassana, emphasised the continued relevance of the Pali language stating," Buddha's teachings are available to us in Pali. To understand the Buddha, it is important to understand his teachings. To fully grasp the experiences of the Buddha, one must go back to the original language he spoke, which is Pali. Other languages are merely derivatives." The focus then shifted to Southeast Asia, where leading scholars offered presentations on the profound role of Pali in the region's rich Buddhist heritage. These discussions illustrated the deep connection between the Pali language, Buddhist scriptures, and the lived practice of the Dhamma in Southeast Asia. Dr Damenda Porage, who is based in Sri Lanka and holds the position of Deputy Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation, said "This Asian Buddhist Summit will be a light to the whole Asia. We are very fortunate because we received Buddhist philosophy from India. Emperor Ashoka sent his son and daughter to Sri Lanka with the gift of Buddhism. Buddhism is a bridge between India and Sri Lanka". For all involved, the event was a poignant reminder of the timeless relevance of Buddhist teachings in shaping both personal and societal transformation in the modern era. (ANI)
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump on his historic election victory in the recently held United States Presidential elections. He recalled their meeting in September earlier where they both discussed the Ukraine-US strategic partnership to end Russian aggression. "I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the "peace through strength" approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump's decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States," the Ukraine President wrote in a post on X. Zelenskyy further said that Ukraine was interested in "developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation" that would benefit both the US and Ukraine. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1854073411904938032?t=-J-RAbP-g2ibdRd-m59ByQ&s=08 "Ukraine, as one of Europe's strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies. I am looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's strategic partnership with the United States," he further said. Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store also congratulated Trump on his projected victory as the President of the United States of America (USA). "Congratulations to Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election. The US is Norway's most important partner and ally. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with the new Trump administration," he wrote on post on X. https://x.com/jonasgahrstore/status/1854075636421153186?t=1dSkdX5Q7m70Kl2mV6FiUw&s=08 While congratulating Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that European Union (EU) and the US are more than just allies. "We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens.So let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them," she wrote on X. https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1854080384608190708?t=WIbxQQ1KlI0Xh5S6R+HBYqz1A&s=08 Meanwhile, Hungary Prime Minister Orban Viktor said that Trump's comeback was the biggest in US political history. "The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President@realDonaldTrumpon his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!" he wrote on X. (ANI)
Trump supporters in Florida state expressed their support for President-designate Donald Trump on Wednesday as the polls projected him to win a second term in the Oval Office. Bob Kunst, said that he supports Trump because he believes he is the only one who can save the country, Israel and the world. Calling himself a lifelong Democrat, he also said that the Democratic Party has "completely gone off the wall on everything." "I have been a lifelong Democrat but I support Trump because I think he is the only one who can save America, Israel and the world. The Democratic party has completely gone of the wall on everything. There is nothing that Biden and Kamala Harris have done, that hasn't been a complete disaster. Whether it is open borders or the economy or the Fentanyl, or Covid or Afghanistan. What is our message to our world?," he told ANI. Vasu, an Indian-American said that he has been supporting Trump and voted for Trump in the morning too. "I have been supporting Trump, this morning I was at the polling station, I voted for Trump, I am so excited for the result so far... We are so excited, we are here along with our family members and we are here to support and cheer for Trump," he told ANI. Another citizen in Florida and a first-time voter said Donald Trump stands for a lot of things she stands for. "I am a first time voter, I did vote for President Donald Trump, he follows my Christian values and a lot of things he stands for, I stand for as well. I think he is going to be the best President for this country...I think he is a strong leader, and that's what we need in this country, especially being on the verge of World War Three, I believe there is no better president than Donald Trump to keep us out of the snare of WW3," she told ANI. Earlier, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump hailed his countrymen as results of the high stakes presidential elections projected his victory which set poised to return him to the White House after securing a electoral college victory. Speaking at an address to supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump affirmed that his win will help the country "heal." Addressing the crowd accompanied by his running mate, JD Vance, and family members Trump called his projected win the "greatest political movement of all time" which will help in making "America great again." Moreover, Republicans will win at least 50 seats in the Senate of the US Congress by the end of the elections, as estimated by Fox News. As per CNN projections, candidates from the Democratic Party are winning the elections for the governors in only three of the ten states where the counting is already underway. (ANI)
Human rights lawyer Qin Yongpei has been released after serving a five-year sentence and has returned home to Nanning in Guangxi Province, an autonomous region of China. His release on October 31 marked the end of a conviction that human rights advocates view as a targeted response to his legal advocacy in defense of human rights in China. In a post on X, the advocacy group Front Line Defenders stated, "On 31 October, human rights lawyer Qin Yongpei completed a five-year sentence, was released from prison, and returned to his home in Nanning, Guangxi Province. Qin Yongpei is a renowned human rights lawyer and we believe his imprisonment was a retaliation against his peaceful and legitimate human rights work." https://x.com/FrontLineHRD/status/1853829734591053912 The case underscores the dangers faced by human rights defenders in China, where freedom of speech and political expression remain heavily restricted. Qin Yongpei's legal troubles began in 2019 when he was arrested on charges of "inciting subversion of state power" for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government. His case, initially handled by the Nanning Municipal Public Security Bureau, was transferred to the Nanning Municipal People's Procuratorate in 2020 for further review and then moved to the Nanning Intermediate People's Court. His lawyer, Li Guisheng, was reportedly barred from meeting with him during this time due to COVID-19 restrictions. On March 31, 2023, the Nanning Intermediate Court officially charged Qin with "inciting subversion of State power" and sentenced him to five years in prison. Although his legal team appealed to the Higher People's Court of Guangxi province, the Intermediate Court's conviction was upheld. Front Line Defenders expressed relief at Qin's release but emphasised the broader concerns facing activists in China, noting, "While we are glad to hear of his release, human rights defenders in China must be free to carry out their crucial work without fear of reprisals." His case has become emblematic of the risks encountered by those who challenge state authority and advocate for human rights in China. Qin's release closes a chapter in a case that has drawn international attention to the state of civil liberties in China and the ongoing challenges facing its human rights advocates. (ANI)
North Korean troops have clashed for the first time with Ukrainian forces in Russia's war against Ukraine, as per the New York Times with the report also stating that the troops are occupying a portion of Kursk region in Russia. The New York Times reported this on Tuesday citing a senior Ukrainian and a senior US official. This follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirming the first combat engagement between North Korean troops and Ukrainian forces and he said that some 11,000 North Korean soldiers were already in Russia's Kursk region. South Korea's Defence Ministry also on Tuesday said that some 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed in Russia, with a "considerable" number of them having been dispatched to front-line areas, Yonhap reported. However, as per the presidential office on Wednesday the North Korean troops in Russia's western front have not yet engaged in full-fledged combat with Ukrainian forces, the South Korean news agency reported. It cited a senior presidential official shaing the assessment. In an interview aired by South Korean public broadcaster KBS on Tuesday, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said that his country's military had engaged for the first time with North Korean troops. In the NYT report while the Ukrainian official offered no details about casualties, a US official said a significant number of North Korean troops were killed. The American newspaper reported that according to the Ukrainian official, the North Koreans fought together with a Russian naval infantry brigade. Zelenskyy in a statement said on Tuesday, "The first battles with North Korean soldiers open a new page of instability in the world." He called for support for his country's defence, saying the world needs to make the "Russian step to expand the war" a "failure." A US State Department spokesperson had on Monday said as many as 10,000 North Korean troops were in the Kursk region and could engage in combat in the "coming days." US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has called the North's presence in the war a "very serious" escalation that would have ramifications in Europe and Asia.Russia and North Korea have stepped up military cooperation since the beginning of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev in February 2022. In June, during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang, Moscow and Pyongyang signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, which includes a provision for mutual assistance if either of them comes under attack. Meanwhile, Japanese state media Kyodo cited a former senior diplomat who defected from Pyongyang last year as saying that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has taken a "gamble" in sending troops to Russia. Ri Il Gyu, a former counselor at North Korea's embassy in Cuba, also told Kyodo News that Kim will never abandon his nuclear weapons programme, even though it has caused severe financial hardships in his country, as per the report in the Japanese state media. The NYT reports that North Korea has one of the world's largest militaries, with 1.2 million soldiers, but it has not fought in a major conflict since the 1950-53 Korean War. Russia, it said, has relied on North Korea to help replenish dwindling weapons stockpiles. Further it said The South also released satellite photos showing what it called Russian Navy ship movements near a North Korean port and hundreds of suspected North Korean soldiers assembling in Ussuriysk and Khabarovsk. (ANI)
US has become much more cautious about its global commitments and there are pressures on resources, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said and noted that it is also important to look the scenario more nationally than just in terms of the administration of the day in the United States. Jaishankar, who spoke at an event 'Raisina Down Under' here, said preparing for a global workplace would be among top three priorities for India and issues like education, mobility and technology need to be addressed together by countries. Answering a query on US presidential elections, Jaishankar said that to some degree it is natural the people would contrast the candidates, their views and preferences.. " The fact is probably starting from Obama, US has become much more cautious about its global commitments. President Trump might be more articulate, and expressive in that regard but the reality is, after all it was President Biden who withdrew from Afghanistan and it was President Obama who said that he would be very cautious about committing American troops to any future conflicts," he said. "It is also important to look more nationally than just purely in terms of their ideology of the administration of the day... and if one looks nationally there are factors...it is a resource issue, there are pressures on the resources in the US...there are conclusions for all of us to draw...we should be analysing them rather than projecting our preferred outcome or expectation," he added. Answering another query, Jaishankar said a certain level of human resource will be required to drive a world of deeper technology applications in daily lives. "For Indian Foreign Policy, I would certainly say, preparing for a global workplace would be among our top three priorities, and it is not easy preparing for a global workplace partly because we don't know what a global workplace is going to look like....if you dial back a bit, if you're looking at a world of deeper technology applications in our daily lives, that will require a certain human resource to drive it - and the reality of the world is that human resources are very uneven; so I don't think it should be approached really as who is exporting whom to which country. We will have to look at the resources in a way as a sort of a common pool and say, okay, how do we optimally prepare these resources so that they are available to the world," he said. "If you're going to have a technology-driven world, you better have an education-driven world and if you're going to have an education-driven world, it cannot be done nationally. People may be national, but the skills preparation is too complicated to be done nationally. Someone who's coming to New Zealand and Australia - there will be a time in the not-distant future where they may not end up staying in New Zealand or Australia. It is very likely that they will come, get their degrees, and move on. But we just don't want them to come to Australia and New Zealand, we want Australia and New Zealand to come to India as well," he added. The minister suggested preparing students in a way that they a globally available resource pool. "We have today a little more than a million students, 1.2 million, I think, abroad, at a given time. The reality is that these numbers are not big enough for the kind of future that the world is looking at. We will have to get the numbers up in India, on location, at cost, and then prepare it in a way as a globally available resource pool - and that, I would argue - if I were to pick one subject for us to work on, education to me would be really very high. There would be others as well, mining for example, with Australia. We've spoken about dairy with New Zealand. But definitely, education, mobility, technology - they are part of a package which needs to be addressed together," he said. Jaishankar is on a five-day visit Australia from November 3 to 7. The second edition of Raisina Down Under has been hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, India and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia. (ANI)
A Comal County resident heads in to vote Tuesday at the Comal Independent School District's support services building just off Interstate 35 in New Braunfels. Barry L. Harrell/Express-News staff

Republicans kept their tight grip on Comal County, with unofficial results showing easy wins in races for sheriff and two seats on the county commissioners court.

Incumbent Sheriff Mark Reynolds received more than three-quarters of votes in the race to retain his seat, while Kevin Webb and Doug Leecock, the Republican candidates for the Comal County Commissioners Court, also had significant margins of victor over their Democratic challengers.

Almost 104,000 ballots were cast in Comal County, according to the its election results website, which is about 72% of registered voters.

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In a post on Facebook on Monday, the county said 89,066 early votes were cast, including about 3,600 mail ballots.

Comal County is among the fastest-growing counties in Texas; since 2020, the number of registered voters increased by about 24%.

Sheriffs race

Reynolds, running for his third four-year term, received about 76% of the votes counted, topping Democratic challenger David Williams.

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Reynolds campaigned on his experience and touted his support from law enforcement organizations. Before he was elected sheriff in 2016, he was a captain under the previous sheriff, Bob Holder.

READ MORE: San Antonio live election blog

He was unopposed in 2020, receiving almost 72,000 votes; this year, he received more than 76,000 votes.

During the campaign, Williams pointed to his own law enforcement experience, writing on his website that he has years of diverse experience addressing homicides and high crime rates in Bexar County, and a profound understanding of the complexities involved in maintaining community safety.

I think voters here in Comal County are wanting to affirm those that they think will take them forward, as far as the growth in the county and public safety in the county, Reynolds said Tuesday night. Im hoping that the night will go the same way for President Trump and that we can do the same thing for the nation as were making a statement for here in Comal County.

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He said his priorities for his third term are continuing to keep pace with the countys growth, and to keep Comal County a safe place to live, work and raise a family.

Reynolds said hes looking forward to working with a new federal administration on issues that affect the state of Texas, specifically citing illegal immigration.

Commissioners Court Precinct 1

In the race to represent Precinct 1, Leecock easily beat Democrat Julie Sanders. Complete but unofficial results showed Leecock receiving almost 79% of the 30,000 votes counted in that race.

The precinct stretches almost all the way across the county, from the Kendall County line on the west side to neighborhoods inside Loop 337 in New Braunfels. Most of the district is bounded by Canyon Lake and the Guadalupe River to the north and Texas 46 to the south.

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Incumbent Donna Eccleston decided not to run for re-election after serving since 2008, leaving the seat open for a newcomer to the court.

Leecock won a three-way race for the Republican nomination last spring. In the primary, he received 45% of the vote, narrowly ahead of Joyce Yannuzzi, with 41% and Henry White, with 14%. That sent Leecock and Yannuzzi to a May runoff, which Leecock won with 65% of votes.

Leecock, who lives in Canyon Lake, previously worked in business management for two national retail chains and a major hospital system, according to his campaign website. He also served for 17 years on the board of his homeowners association, he said.

Sanders, the Democrat, described herself as just your average citizen who wants better for our children and our community. Her campaign website lists her commitments: community stewardship, opposition to the proposed Vulcan Quarry and water preservation, fiscal conservation, supportive of law enforcement and first responders and sponsored pet services.

Leecock said hes looking forward to starting his term by getting back into the community, talking to people he spoke with during the campaign and meeting with homeowners associations to hear constituents' concerns.

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He said his top priorities are focusing on water conservation and making sure that we are good managers of our tax dollars as we continue to grow in the county, he said.

Living in Canyon Lake, he said, every day, I look at the effects of this ongoing drought. Leecock said hes looking forward to conversations with local water providers and the Texas Legislature to plan for and protect water supplies for the future.

Commissioners Court Precinct 3

Incumbent Kevin Webb will keep his seat on the commissioners court for a fourth term, with unofficial results showing he received about 66% of the almost 16,000 votes counted in the precinct.

The district covers the east side of the county, including downtown New Braunfels and most of the land on either side of Interstate 35.

Webb has held the seat since 2012. In 2020, he beat Democratic challenger Colette Nies, receiving 62.5% of votes and winning by more than 3,500 votes.

Hes touted his work on transportation, including roles as the former chairman and current vice chairman of the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, a regional transportation agency.

Democrat Tanya Marroquin is a teacher and recently earned a doctorate of education degree. According to her campaign website, her priorities are addressing the impacts of growth, including environmental effects and safety. Unofficial results showed her receiving just over one-third of votes counted.

Webb said hes excited to have another term, and wants to continue working on long-term transportation and facilities projects that are underway.

That includes work on Texas 46, which runs from west of Boerne to Seguin; that thoroughfare and its intersection with Interstate 35 is a huge priority, he said.

While Republicans swept the countys races, Webb said he was looking forward to getting people working together.

Party doesnt matter once the race is over, he said. When you get elected, you represent all the people within the precinct.

New Braunfels ISD

Former New Braunfels Independent School District trustee John Tucker will return to the board after winning his race for a vacant seat on the board.

Unofficial results showed Tucker received 53% of the about 2,300 votes counted, over Will Moravits.

The two candidates ran to fill the District 4 seat left empty after Trustee Jackie Sanders resigned in April.

Tucker held the seat before he was ousted by Sanders in May 2023. He is an architect who has worked in school construction, including 16 years for Dallas ISD and more recently, with Comal ISD on its 2015 and 2017 bond programs.
A group of human rights organisations and global leaders issued an urgent appeal for the immediate release of Ali Wazir, a leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), who was detained by Pakistani authorities in August 2024. Wazir, known for his advocacy for the rights of the Pashtun people and his staunch opposition to terrorism, was arrested outside the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. His detention follows a brutal crackdown on PTM members in the wake of activist Gilaman Wazir's death. The letter, signed by major human rights groups including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), calls on the international community to take immediate action to demand Wazir's release and protect PTM members from further harassment. The signatories have called on the United Nations, the U.S. Congress, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to intervene urgently in the case. The appeal stated, "Ali Wazir's arrest is a grave violation of his fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. "This detention not only undermines justice but sets a dangerous precedent for the persecution of peaceful activists." The arrest comes just weeks before the scheduled "Pashtun National Meeting" on October 11, 2024, where PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen was expected to announce critical decisions regarding Pakistan's policies towards the Pashtun community. The crackdown was aimed at intimidating PTM leaders ahead of this major gathering. The arrest of Wazir followed a series of incidents in which members of his family have been targeted for their outspoken opposition to Pakistan's military operations in the region. The reports indicated that at least 18 members of Wazir's family have been killed over the years, highlighting the extreme risks faced by activists advocating for Pashtun rights. (ANI)
The Awami Action Committee (AAC) staged a significant protest today in Yaseen Valley, located in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), to voice strong opposition to the Finance Act 2023 and the administrative decision to reduce the wheat quota allocated to the region. The protest came in the backdrop of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to PoGB, during which one of the protesters raised a direct question to Pakistan: "Why is the government visiting here now? When we raised issues related to justice and wheat subsidies, no one came to our aid. All the members of the GB assembly are loyal to Pakistan, yet they continue to use our resources to appease others and make decisions for our people." A large crowd, comprising local leaders, activists, and citizens, gathered in the town center, holding banners and chanting slogans demanding the immediate reversal of both policies. Protesters argued that the Finance Act 2023, with its increased taxes and additional financial burdens, was severely affecting the livelihoods of ordinary people, particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas. Another protester spoke out against what he called a careless administration, which, with the help of the puppet government, has made life unbearable for the region's residents. "We are protesting today against these policies, which have made our lives increasingly difficult. We urge the government to remove these oppressive acts," he said. The protest also highlighted the issue of the wheat subsidy, with demonstrators emphasising that despite following administrative procedures, the region's farmers are struggling due to reduced wheat allocations. Many of the protesters, who were farmers and labourers, called for urgent reforms in both agricultural policies and fiscal measures. They also demanded immediate talks with the government to address growing concerns over food security and worsening economic hardship. In response to the lack of action, the AAC announced that similar protests would be staged across other parts of the region unless the government takes their concerns seriously and engages in meaningful dialogue. (ANI)
Former Deputy National Security Advisor and Ambassador Pankaj Saran said that it was a "historic result" and also one of the most "consequential in contemporary history," following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential polls on Wednesday. The former deputy NSA noted the scale of the shift, noting that the election had been a significant turning point in both domestic and international contexts. Saran highlighted that despite projections showing that it could have been a neck-to-neck battle between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate as well as President Designate Donald Trump in this election, there was a complete Republican sweep in both electoral college and popular votes. He pointed out that the Republican Party's performance had surpassed expectations, with key battleground states, such as Pennsylvania and Georgia, swinging in their favour. He further remarked that this outcome marks a substantial victory for Trump, with widespread support for his candidacy across multiple demographics. "It is a historic result and one of the most consequential in contemporary history because there was so much at stake. So I think as far as the result and the domestics of the result are concerned, obviously, all the projections proved to be wrong because almost everyone was predicting a neck-to-neck battle," Saran said. "But what we are seeing is almost a complete Republican sweep of the electoral college and the popular vote; you're seeing the big states of Pennsylvania and Georgia going to the Republicans. The Democrats have not been able to rest any particular state from the Republicans. So internally, I think, it's a massive vote in favour of Trump. And that's quite remarkable. In terms of international implications, they are also equally significant; they are going to be very serious and they are going to have a major impact on the international situation," he added. In terms of international implications, Saran noted that Trump's win could lead to substantial changes in foreign policy, particularly regarding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Middle East. "When you look at the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump has said repeatedly that he will solve it within 24 hours. He'll put a stop to the war. So I think we are in for very huge changes on the Ukraine issue," Saran stated, suggesting that the international community could see a shift in how the war is approached under a second Trump administration. On the issues in the Middle East, Saran indicated that Trump's past support for Israel would likely continue and suggested that the situation could become more challenging for Iran. "On the Gaza and the Israel conflict, again, he has not been very vocal, but his support for Israel has been there. I think Iran is going to feel the heat with the Trump administration. But Israel is definitely going to feel more secure. The amazing thing is even a state like Michigan, which had a large Arab population, which should have gone to the Democrats, has been won by the Republicans. So I think there was a lot of anger against Biden also," Saran said. Additionally, Saran stated that the outcome of the election could bring shifts in the dynamics of US relations with China, with China watching Trump's return to power with caution, given his earlier policies on tariffs and trade. "The third, I think, actor who's really watching this very carefully are the Chinese. And I think it's very clear that the Chinese are going to be a little nervous because of Trump's record in his first presidency and what he has been saying about China, particularly on tariffs," he added. Donald Trump has officially won the US Presidential Election, becoming the 47th US President after he crossed the 270-majority mark with his win in the battleground state of Wisconsin. According to CNN, this will take his tally to 276 electoral college votes, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the process, as counting continues for the rest of the states. Trump had already won in key battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia in a historic political comeback, recapturing the White House following an election loss in 2020. Notably, this is going to be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House. (ANI)
On the heels of the United States Presidential election, Shafi Burfat Chairman of JSMM (Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz) issued a powerful statement, calling on the newly elected President, Donald Trump, and the international community to take decisive action against Pakistan's ongoing occupation and subjugation of historical nations, including the Sindhi people. In a comprehensive message addressed to the global leadership, Burfat highlighted the urgent need for international intervention to address the rising threat posed by Pakistan's imperialistic policies, particularly its oppression of minority groups and its aggressive use of religious extremism as a state tool. Further, the Sindhi people, who have long suffered under Pakistan's authoritarian rule, reaffirmed their commitment to self-determination and independence, calling for the liberation of Sindhudesh from what they describe as Pakistan's "fascist military regime." The statement emphasises several critical global issues, including the escalating conflict in South Asia and the broader Middle East. It urges the US administration to play a key role in curbing Pakistan's expansionist policies, which are seen as undermining regional stability and exacerbating existing geopolitical tensions. The Sindhi particularly singled out Pakistan's ongoing efforts to alter the demographic and cultural identity of historically distinct peoples, including the Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtun, and Mohajir populations, through coercive tactics and population manipulation. During his speech, Burfat called for immediate international oversight of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, which they describe as a "direct threat to global security." Given Pakistan's long history of sponsoring terrorism and religious extremism especially in the context of Kashmir, Afghanistan, and India there is a growing concern that its nuclear weapons could fall into the wrong hands, amplifying risks for the entire world. He also appealed for international solidarity to address climate change, mass migration, and the protection of human rights. The statement also emphasised the need for a unified global front to combat rising authoritarianism, religious extremism, and the exploitation of nations under artificial multinational states. In particular, on behalf of the Sindhi people he called for the immediate recognition of Sindhudesh as an independent, sovereign state. He further stressed the need for diplomatic and economic solutions to avoid war, pointing out that the escalation of conflicts between global powers such as the United States, China, and Russia presents a dangerous backdrop for regional flashpoints. Tensions in areas like the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, as well as territorial disputes involving Pakistan, must be addressed through multilateral dialogue, according to the statement. The statement concludes with a hopeful message, calling on the US administration under President Trump to stand firm in the defense of global peace, democracy, and the rights of oppressed nations. He expressed his belief that the international community can work together to forge a path toward the peaceful liberation of historical nations like Sindhudesh and to ensure that such nations are no longer victims of authoritarian regimes, imperialism, or religious extremism. (ANI)
Irked over regular power cuts and shortage of water, a group of residents near Karachi's Isa Nagri staged a protest on Tuesday evening, blocking a major road and causing severe traffic chaos and jams. Vehicles lined up in long queues as their protest disrupted vehicular movement on key routes, including the Lyari Expressway, The Express Tribune reported. Gathering to voice their grievances, the residents expressed frustration over the severe and unscheduled power cuts, with some reporting outages lasting over 12 hours. These prolonged power shortages have also impacted the region's water supply, intensifying local discontent. Protesters stated that despite lodging multiple complaints with the Water Corporation, no effective measures had been taken to address the frequent outages or restore consistent water access. The protesters called for an immediate end to both scheduled and unscheduled power cuts. Commuters returning home from work were stuck for hours, experiencing severe inconvenience. Following negotiations with police, the protesters agreed to disperse peacefully after receiving assurances from authorities that their concerns would be addressed. Once the crowd dispersed, traffic police worked quickly to clear the road and restore normal traffic flow, reported the Express Tribune. Karachi has faced similar protests in recent months, as residents of Jahangir Road also demanded relief from extended power and water outages. That demonstration caused another major traffic disruption, with both lanes of Jahangir Road closed to vehicles. Police were present at the scene to manage the situation and assist affected commuters. In a related development, the Battagram Trade Union has announced a complete shutter-down strike starting Tuesday, protesting continued power cuts in their district. The union stated they would withhold electricity bill payments until a stable power supply schedule is implemented. Adding to the burden for Karachi residents, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) recently approved a rate hike of PKR 0.40 per unit for electricity in the city. This adjustment, part of NEPRA's monthly billing adjustment for August 2024, will be applied in January 2025 bills by K-Electric. Earlier, K-Electric had requested a minor reduction of PKR 0.16 per unit due to fuel cost adjustments for September, but this was not implemented. Meanwhile, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) reported collecting PKR 228 million through municipal utility charges included in K-Electric bills in just one month. Mayor Murtaza Wahab announced at a press conference that KMC aims to raise PKR 3 billion annually from these charges, which will fund city development projects and cover pensions and dues for municipal employees, the Express Tribune reported. He, along with Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad, stated that KMC plans to make details of these receipts and expenditures available online to ensure transparency. (ANI)
Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te welcomed Paraguayan Senate President Basilio Gustavo Nunez Gimenez in Taipei on November 5 as part of an ongoing commitment to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance cooperation between Taiwan and Paraguay, Taipei Times reported. Nunez, who is leading a delegation on a five-day visit to Taiwan, described his nation as "not only a friend, but also a partner." He emphasised that the purpose of his visit was to reaffirm Paraguay's commitment to its relationship with Taiwan, marking his first official trip to the island since assuming his Senate role in July. Taiwan and Paraguay, which established formal diplomatic relations in 1957, maintain a unique bond as Paraguay is one of only 12 countries that formally recognise Taiwan and the sole ally in South America. At a meeting held in the Presidential Office, Nunez expressed Paraguay's intention to collaborate with Taiwan on projects that would foster prosperity for both nations. He affirmed Paraguay's support for freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait and highlighted the importance of respecting sovereignty and upholding human rights, adding that his nation opposes any increase in hostilities in the region, reported Taipei Times. In response, Lai extended gratitude to Paraguayan President Santiago Pena and his administration for advocating Taiwan's participation in international forums, most notably during the UN General Assembly's general debate in late September. Lai emphasised the progress Taiwan and Paraguay have achieved in areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and women's empowerment, and he expressed hope for continued mutual cooperation in these fields. The meeting was also attended by Paraguayan senators Derlis Hernan Maidana Zarza, Patrick Paul Kemper Thiede, and Sergio Roberto Rojas Sosa. In a parallel development, Taiwan and Paraguay have renewed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to enhance tourism cooperation, a pact first established in 2018. The renewed agreement was signed on Monday by Taiwan's Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui and Paraguayan Tourism Minister Angie Duarte de Mellilo. The LOI aims to promote digital, sustainable, and inclusive tourism development. This visit marked Duarte's first official trip to Taiwan, where she attended the 2024 Taipei International Travel Fair and toured prominent sites such as Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area and National Taichung Theatre, Taipei Times reported. The signing was witnessed by Paraguayan Ambassador to Taiwan, Carlos Fleitas, as part of a broader diplomatic agenda that underscores both nations' commitment to deepening ties across various sectors, including tourism, education, and economic cooperation. (ANI)
Following Donald Trump's win in the 2024 US Presidential Elections on Wednesday, where he defeated Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris, his running mate and Senator JD Vance took to social media platform X, expressing his gratitude to his wife Usha Vance, the people of America along with President-elect Trump. "THANK YOU! To my beautiful wife for making it possible to do this. To President Donald J. Trump, for giving me such an opportunity to serve our country at this level. And to the American people for their trust. I will never stop fighting for ALL of you," Vance said on X. https://x.com/JDVance/status/1854171618282455540 Other global leaders also extended their praises following Trump's win as he sets to become the 47th US President. CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, Suzanne P Clark, in a statement, congratulated Trump and Vance along with other elected members following the election. She further stated that the US Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to working with the Trump and Vance administration and other elected members of Congress to preserve pro-growth tax policies, bring regulatory relief to business, harness the power of Al to drive American innovation and expand an all-of-the-above energy production policy. "We congratulate President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, along with the members of the incoming 119th Congress and state and local elected officials across America. With the election behind us, it is time to focus on the important work of advancing an economic growth agenda that creates opportunities for businesses, families, and individuals to achieve the American dream. We look forward to working with the Trump-Vance administration and Republicans and Democrats in Congress to preserve pro-growth tax policies, bring regulatory relief to business, harness the power of Al to drive American innovation, and expand an all-of-the-above energy production policy," the statement read. The Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, also shared a statement congratulating Trump on his victory. "I am delighted to convey, on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh, my heartfelt felicitations to you on your victory in the US Presidential Election 2024. Electing you as the US President for a second term reflects that your leadership and vision have resonated with the people of the United States of America. I am confident that under your stewardship, the United States will thrive and continue to inspire others around the world. Bangladesh and the United States share a long history of friendship and collaboration across numerous areas of mutual interest. The relationship continued to grow in depth and breadth during your previous term in the office. I look forward to working together to further strengthen our partnership and foster sustainable development. I firmly believe that the possibilities are endless as our two friendly nations work towards exploring newer avenues of partnership," Yunus said in the statement. https://x.com/chiefadvisergob/status/1854147514599186724?s=46 Canadian President Justin Trudeau also congratulated Trump on his win, stating that they would work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security among both nations. "Congratulations to Donald Trump on being elected President of the United States. The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations," Trudeau said on X. https://x.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1854134862921314380 Spanish President Pedro Sanchez also extended his compliments to Trump, stating that both nations would work together on strategic bilateral relations along with building strong transatlantic partnerships. "Congratulations Donald Trump on your victory and your election as 47th President of the US. We will work on our strategic bilateral relations and on a strong transatlantic partnership," Sanchez said on X. https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/1854083073857454171 The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, also took to X, congratulating President-elect Trump on his victory. https://x.com/CharlesMichel/status/1854081489157111842 "Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump. The European Union & the US have an enduring alliance and a historic bond. As allies and friends, the EU looks forward to continuing our constructive cooperation. The EU will pursue its course in line with the strategic agenda as a strong, united, competitive and sovereign partner while defending the rules-based multilateral system," he said on X. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday and congratulated him on his decisive victory in the American Presidential polls and the performance of Republican Party in the Congressional elections, sources said. The sources said both leaders affirmed to work together for world peace. The sources also said that President Trump stated that the whole world loves PM Modi and that India is a magnificent country and PM Modi is a magnificent man. President Trump also told PM Modi that he considers him and India a true friend. He said PM Modi is one of the first world leaders he spoke to after his victory. "PM Modi called President-elect Trump after his victory in the US elections. PM Modi congratulated President Trump on the decisive victory and performance of Republican Party in the Congressional elections," a source said. Donald Trump won a second term in office in the Presidential polls. PM Modi had congratulated Donald Trump soon after his victory in the Presidential polls and said he looked forward to renewing their collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. "Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let's work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," PM Modi said in a post on X. Trump has got over 270 threshold electoral college votes needed to win the presidency. This will be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House, the first in over 100 years. Grover Cleveland served as a non-consecutive president in 1884 and 1892. Trump had earlier served as US President from 2016 to 2020. (ANI)
With Donald Trump winning the US Presidential election, Russia said on Wednesday that it will interact with the new White House administration, "firmly upholding its national interests" and work to achieve its goals in the Ukraine conflict. In a statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry took a dig at the outgoing Biden administration while also stating that the US "ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles" and the policy of "containing Moscow." "The victory of Donald Trump in the presidential election and his return to the White House after a four-year break obviously reflect Americans' disappointment in the performance of the Biden administration and the election programme of the Democratic Party formulated by Vice-President Kamala Harris, who was hastily chosen to replace the incumbent President in the race," the statement said. It lauded some issues of Trump's campaign stating that Republican candidate highlighted issues that are of real interest to the electorate "as a counterbalance to the White House's globalist course". "Despite an overpowering propaganda campaign, which Democrats launched against Donald Trump based on the administrative resource and support from the liberal media, the Republican candidate, who relied on the experience of his previous presidency, highlighted issues that are of real interest to the electorate, namely, the economy and illegal migration, as a counterbalance to the White House's globalist course," the statement said. "In these circumstances, the ruling group was unable to use the chronically ill American "democracy," a system, which is outdated, archaic and incompatible with the modern standards of direct, fair and transparent elections, to prevent Kamala Harris's defeat," it added. Russia claimed there is civil discord in the US and a confrontation between Democratic and Republican states. "At the same time, there is an obvious civil discord in the United States, whose electorate has split into almost equal halves. In fact, we are witnessing confrontation between Democratic and Republican states, and between the advocates of "progressive" and traditional values. It is possible that Donald Trump's return will fuel internal tensions and bitterness between the confronting camps," the statement said. It said Moscow has no illusions regarding the President-elect, who is well known in Russia. "The US ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles and the policy of "containing Moscow." This line does not depend on changes in America's domestic political barometer, no matter if it is Trump and his supporters' "America above all" or the Democrats' focus on a "rules-based world order. Russia will interact with the new administration when it comes to the White House, firmly upholding Russia's national interests and working to achieve all the goals of the special military operation," the statement said. "Our conditions have not changed, and Washington is well aware of them," it added. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also expressed her views during a media interaction on the US election result. "It makes no difference for Russia what the election outcome will be, given the two-party consensus that emerged in the United States regarding the confrontation toward our country," the spokesperson said earlier. Trump won the US presidential polls and will have a second term in office. According to latest projections from Fox News, Trump has won 277 electoral votes, well above the 270 threshold needed to win the presidency. This will be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House, the first in over 100 years. Grover Cleveland served as a non-consecutive president in 1884 and 1892. (ANI)
Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina's Awami League on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump on his US presidential election victory and lauded his "extraordinary leadership qualities," according to a statement issued through a post on the verified Facebook page of Awami League. https://x.com/albd1971/status/1854150103973659042 President of Bangladesh Awami League Sheikh Hasina congratulated Donald Trump on his decisive victory in the American Presidential polls as the 47th President of the United States of America, the statement read. The President of the Bangladesh Awami League, (Prime Minister) SheikhHasina, has congratulated Donald Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States of America. She stated that his resounding election victory is a testament to his extraordinary leadership qualities and the immense trust bestowed on him by the American people, as per the statement. Sheikh Hasina recalled with fondness her several meetings and interactions as Prime Minister with Donald Trump and Melania Trump during his first presidency. She hoped that under his second presidency, the bilateral relations between the friendly countries of Bangladesh and the United States of America would be further strengthened. She expressed her commitment to working together again to advance the bilateral and multilateral interests of both countries, the statement read. She wished the President-elect and his family good health, long life, and happiness, and the friendly people of the United States of America continued peace, progress, and prosperity, the statement added. Notably, on August 5, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, was ousted from her country and power, ending her rule since January 2009. This event was seen as a massive escalation, with what initially started as student protests and resulted in a major crisis in Bangladesh. An interim government was formed, led by economist Muhammad Yunus. However, the crisis also resulted in significant human suffering. (ANI)
Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net.

Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked with US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday and congratulated him on his "spectacular victory" in the US elections. In a post on X, PM Modi said he is looking forward to working closely together once again with Trump to strengthen India-US relations across across domains including energy and defence. "Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors," PM Modi said. Sources said PM Modi also congratulated Donald Trump on performance of Republican Party in the Congressional elections. The sources said both leaders affirmed to work together for world peace. The sources also said that President Trump stated that the whole world loves PM Modi and that India is a magnificent country and PM Modi is a magnificent man. President Trump also told PM Modi that he considers him and India a true friend. He said PM Modi is one of the first world leaders he spoke to after his victory." Donald Trump won a second term in office in the presidential polls. He surpassed the 270-majority mark with a key win in Wisconsin. According to CNN projections, this has taken his tally to 276 electoral college votes, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris as counting continued for the rest of the states. Earlier, PM Modi had congratulated Trump soon after his election victory. "Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let''s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," PM Modi said in a post on X. This will be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House, the first in over 100 years. Grover Cleveland served as a non-consecutive president in 1884 and 1892. Trump had earlier served as US President from 2016 to 2020. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi also congratulated Donald Trump for his victory in the US presidential elections for a second term and said India and the United States share a robust comprehensive global strategic partnership. "Congratulations on your victory, @realDonaldTrump! Wishing you success in your second term as US President. All the best to @KamalaHarris in her future endeavours," Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said in a post on X. Kharge said the relations between India and United States are underpinned by long-standing shared democratic values and aligned interests. "On behalf of the Indian National Congress, we extend our congratulations and best wishes to President @realDonaldTrump for his election victory. India and the United States share a robust comprehensive global strategic partnership, underpinned by long-standing shared democratic values, aligned interests, and extensive people-to-people connections. We look forward to working closely with the United States for global peace and prosperity," Kharge said in a post on X. Party leader Jairam Ramesh said Donald Trump has staged an astonishing comeback and noted that the future of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which America had rejoined under President Biden, is now extremely shaky. "Donald Trump has staged an astonishing comeback. Undoubtedly, why and how it happened will be analysed in great detail over the next few weeks, as will the question of what this comeback means for the USA and the rest of the world. But what is certain is that the future of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change which America had rejoined under President Biden is now extremely shaky. If the US were to withdraw again it would be disastrous," Ramesh said in a post on X. World leaders including Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, President of the European Council, Charles Michel, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated Trump on his election victory. Russia said it will interact with the new White House administration, firmly upholding its national interests and work to achieve its goals in the Ukraine conflict. In a statement, Russia''s Foreign Ministry took a dig at the outgoing Biden administration while also stating that the US "ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles" and the policy of "containing Moscow." "The victory of Donald Trump in the presidential election and his return to the White House after a four-year break obviously reflect Americans'' disappointment in the performance of the Biden administration and the election programme of the Democratic Party formulated by Vice-President Kamala Harris, who was hastily chosen to replace the incumbent President in the race," the statement said. It highlighted some issues of Trump''s campaign stating that Republican candidate highlighted issues that are of real interest to the electorate "as a counterbalance to the White House''s globalist course". "Despite an overpowering propaganda campaign, which Democrats launched against Donald Trump based on the administrative resource and support from the liberal media, the Republican candidate, who relied on the experience of his previous presidency, highlighted issues that are of real interest to the electorate, namely, the economy and illegal migration, as a counterbalance to the White House''s globalist course," the statement said. It claimed there is civil discord in the US and a confrontation between Democratic and Republican states. The statement said Moscow has no illusions regarding the President-elect, who is well known in Russia, or the new Congress, where Republicans have reportedly won control. "The US ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles and the policy of "containing Moscow." This line does not depend on changes in America''s domestic political barometer, no matter if it is Trump and his supporters'' "America above all" or the Democrats'' focus on a "rules-based world order. Russia will interact with the new administration when it comes to the White House, firmly upholding Russia''s national interests and working to achieve all the goals of the special military operation," the statement said. "Our conditions have not changed, and Washington is well aware of them," it added. (ANI)
Canadian President Justin Trudeau condemned the recent violence that took place at Brampton's Hindu Sabha Mandir on Sunday, stating that those who were responsible for the act were inciting division and unrest. Speaking at the House of Commons in the Canadian Parliament on Wednesday, Trudeau stated that the communities who instigated the violence were neither the Sikh community nor the Hindu community in Canada, failing to underscore the involvement of Khalistani separatists in the attacks. "The violence we have seen in South Asian communities across the country over the past few nights, let me be very clear. The individuals who are inciting violence and division and hatred in no way represent either the Sikh community or the Hindu community in Canada," Trudeau said. "At the time of Diwali and Bandi Chhor Diwas, we are seeing communities come together to celebrate their diversity and strength; we will continue to stand for the unity of Canadians," he added. This came following the Khalistani extremists attacking Hindu-Canadian devotees within the Hindu Sabha temple premises in Brampton, Canada, on Sunday. Following the attacks, the Hindu Canadian Foundation, a non-profit organisation working for the Hindu community in Canada, shared a video of the attack on the temple and said that the Khalistani terrorists attacked kids and women. The Indian High Commission in Canada condemned the "violent disruption" by 'anti-India' elements outside a consular camp. The high commission also said that any further events will be organised "contingent on security arrangements" made by the local authorities. "We have seen violent disruption today (Nov 3) orchestrated by anti-India elements outside the consular camp co-organised with the Hindu Sabha Mandir, Brampton, near Toronto," read the statement by the High Commission. "It is deeply disappointing to see such disruptions being allowed for routine consular work being organised by our consulated with the fullest cooperation of the local co-organisers. We also remain very concerned for the safety of applicants, including Indian nationals, on whose demand such events are organised in the first place," the statement added. The incident sparked widespread criticism in and outside Canada. (ANI)
He is on a four-day official visit to Zambia from November 4, aimed at bolstering the bilateral relationship between India and Zambia.

The session seeks to review all aspects of the bilateral relationship, building on previous discussions held in 2005 in New Delhi.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Singh expressed his enthusiasm about co-chairing the session, stating, "Pleased to co-chair the Sixth Session of the India-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission with H.E. Mr. Mulambo Haimbe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation @ZambiaMFAIC, Republic of Zambia. Reviewed the entire gamut of the bilateral relationship and discussed ways and means to further expand and diversify it."

https://x.com/KVSinghMPGonda/status/1854116429324554460

The visit is timely as India and Zambia are marking the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. A key focus during the visit is expanding economic ties. In 2023-24, bilateral trade between the two nations reached USD 448.39 million, with India pledging investments worth over USD 5 billion in Zambia, cementing India's position as one of the leading foreign investors in the country.

On November 6, Singh also participated in an environmentally conscious gesture, planting a mango sapling at the High Commission of India in Lusaka.

https://x.com/KVSinghMPGonda/status/1853824881411919893

The planting of the sapling is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign, which highlights collective responsibility for environmental preservation.

The visit underscores the commitment of both countries to enhancing diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations. (ANI)
US Vice President Kamala Harris supporters are expressing disappointment following her loss in the presidential election. Harris, as a Democratic presidential nominee, lost to her Republican rival and now president-elect Donald Trump during the November 5 general elections. Janet, a supporter of Harris, expressed her disappointment at her loss. She told ANI, "I feel really sad today. We had a very good, decent, honest person running for President today, and she lost. I hope that future years will bring a reset to decent politics and decent people in power." Albert Williams, another Harris supporter, also expressed his sadness about the Vice President's loss. Talking to ANI, Williams said, "There are so many overwhelming thoughts. We are back in an era that we thought we had moved away from. We are resilient and can bounce back from any situation." Evan, a student of political science at the university, said that he was sad as she lost the elections. "As Vice President Kamala Harris lost the election to President-elect Donald Trump, I am very sad. But, I am also hopeful that this will wake people up and make them realise that if we're not organising communities, and not meeting the everyday needs of people through mutual aid, grassroots organising, then, we will not have a chance," he told ANI. Her campaign focused on key issues such as protecting Social Security and Medicare, addressing manufacturing job losses, and promoting healthcare as a right. Despite her efforts, Harris faced challenges in her campaign, including criticism for linking Donald Trump to the conservative Project 2025 plan, which Trump has disavowed. Additionally, her claims about Trump's intentions to cut Social Security and Medicare were met with fact-checking, as Trump has pledged not to cut these programs. Meanwhile, Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna on Wednesday said that he is proud of Vice President Kamala Harris and that one day Americans will recognise her for blazing a trail. "Today, I want to say I am proud of @KamalaHarris. As a young kid growing up in Bucks County, I would never have imagined an African & Indian American woman would become the nominee & get 48% in PA. Progress is hard. But one day Americans will recognize her blazing a trail," posted Khanna on X. https://x.com/rokhanna/status/1854255037675086183?s=12 As US Vice President Kamala Harris is supposed to address her supporters at Howard University on Wednesday (local time), several people are seen gathering and security measures like barricading is in place. Meanwhile, US President-elect Donald Trump's Campaign stated that Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to him on the phone to congratulate him. Trump's Campaign Communications Director said that Donald Trump acknowledged Harris on her strengths. "President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier today where she congratulated him on his historic victory. President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country," Steven Cheung, Trump's Campaign Communications Director said. Trump early on Wednesday morning hailed his countrymen as results of the high-stakes presidential elections projected his victory which was poised to return him to the White House after an electoral victory. Speaking at an address to supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump affirmed that his win will help the country "heal." Addressing the crowd accompanied by his running mate, JD Vance, and family members Trump called his projected win the "greatest political movement of all time" which will help in making "America great again." (ANI)
Project 2025 is the manifesto that some Republicans want to use to reshape government and consolidate power if former President Donald Trump regains the White House on Nov. 5.

The Heritage Foundation, a prominent Washington, D.C.-based think tank, authored the 900-page political playbook that advocates for conservative and right-wing policies, including the removal of legal safeguards against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and the elimination of emergency contraception coverage.

As we approach Election Day 2024, a closer look at laws passed in Louisiana last year shows that the state may be closer to Project 2025 initiatives than one might think.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis holds a "Project 2025" prop at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 21.

Project 2025 takes aim at Mifepristone and Misoprostol: Louisiana already banned abortion pills and established criminal penalties regarding those medications

While not pushing for a complete abortion ban, Project 2025 does propose withdrawing mifepristone, the abortion pill, from the market and leveraging existing laws to keep it from being distributed through the mail.

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The conservative Republican blueprint refers to abortion pills as the "single greatest threat to unborn children in a post-Roe world." The document states that the rate of chemical abortion in the U.S. has increased by more than 150% in the past decade; more than half of annual abortions in the U.S. are chemical rather than surgical.

More: Shreveport senator's bill makes abortion pills controlled substances in national first

Mifepristone and misoprostol were designated as Schedule IV drugs in May in Louisiana and the state became the first state to establish criminal penalties for anyone who prescribes or dispenses either of the two drugs without proper clearance.

Project 2025 proposes removing Critical Race Theory and \'gender ideology\' from schools: Pronoun usage, gender and race discussions are currently barred from Louisiana public classrooms

Project 2025 calls for the next conservative president to make institutions of American civil society hard targets for "woke culture warriors" by deleting the terms of sexual orientation and gender, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), gender, gender equality, gender awareness, gender-sensitive, abortion, reproductive health, reproductive rights, and any other term used to deprive Americans of their First Amendment rights out of every federal rule, agency regulation, contract, grant, regulation and piece of legislation that exists."

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It proposes removing beliefs of "critical race theory" and "gender ideology" from curricula in every public school in the country, claiming that it harms children.

"These theories poison our children, who are being taught on the other hand to affirm the color of their skin fundamentally determines their identity and even their moral status while on the other hand they are taught to deny their 'creatureliness' that inheres in being human and consists in accepting the 'givenness' of our natures as men and women," Project 2025 highlights.

Project 2025 states that allowing parents or physicians to "reassign" the sex of a minor is child abuse and must end. It states that public institutions that use taxpayers' dollars to declare the superiority or inferiority of certain races, sexes, and religions are in violation of the Constitution and civil rights law and cannot be tolerated by any government anywhere in the country.

Louisiana public schools now have laws prohibiting gender identity and racial discussions and enabling teachers from using LGBTQ students' preferred names and pronouns.

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Act 681, drafted as House Bill 122 by Republican Haughton Rep. Dodie Horton, bans teachers from talking about or allowing classroom discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation.

Act 680, drafted as House Bill 121 by Republican Bossier City Rep. Raymond Crews, requires school employees to use students' names and pronouns on their birth certificates unless they have written permission from their parents to do so.

Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order on Aug. 27 restricting the use of critical race theory in K-12 public schools. The order stated that critical race theory includes divisive teachings that instruct students to view life through the lens of race and victimhood.

Landry said teaching children that they are currently or destined to be oppressed or to be an oppressor based on their race and origin is wrong and has no place in Louisiana classrooms.

Project 2025 advocates for ESA: Louisiana adopted a universal school choice policy and an Education Savings Account program

According to the policy agenda, the U.S. Department of Education should be eliminated to make way for a "school choice" policy that directs public funds to be used to send students to attend private or public schools.

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It argues that every parent should have the option to direct his or her child's share of education funding through an education savings account (ESA), funded overwhelmingly by state and local taxpayers, which would empower parents to choose a set of education options to meet their child's unique needs.

Louisiana joined 12 other states with at least one private school choice program when the governor signed the creation of the first Education Savings Account program in June.

Through the "Giving All True Opportunity to Rise" (GATOR) Scholarship Program, students will be able to sign up during the spring of 2025 and start receiving funds in August 2025. The Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) will set the per-student amount (s).

It will eventually be open to all K-12 students in the state, regardless of income. Families will be able to use the scholarship program to hire instructors or students, purchase curriculum and other instructional materials, etc.

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More: When will Louisiana parents be able to apply for new private school tuition program?

Project 2025 highlights enforcing the death penalty: Louisiana resumed the death penalty with expanded execution methods

Project 2025 highlights enforcing the death penalty where appropriate and applicable and calls for the next conservative administration to do everything possible to obtain finality for the 44 prisoners currently on federal death row.

"... providing this punishment without ever enforcing it provides justice neither for the victims' families nor the defendant," the document states.

It also calls for the next conservative administration should do everything possible to obtain finality for the prisoners currently on federal death row and calls for the next conservative administration to pursue the death penalty for applicable crimes  particularly heinous crimes involving violence and sexual abuse of children  until Congress says otherwise through legislation.

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More: Louisiana will join Alabama in adding nitrogen suffocation as option for killing prisoners

In Louisiana, Nitrogen gas and electrocution executions were authorized in March, reactivating Louisiana's death penalty following a 13-year pause.

Landry has said Louisiana owes it to victims and their families to resume executions.

Lethal injection was the only legal method of execution in Louisiana, but state officials said they were unable to secure the drugs to carry out the death sentences. Louisiana is one of 27 states where the death penalty still exists.

Louisiana's most recent execution occurred on January 7, 2010, with Gerald Bordelon, marking the state's 28th execution in the modern death penalty era.

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There are currently 76 people on Death Row in Louisiana, according to the ACLU.

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinsonand on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Do new Louisiana laws align with those outlined in Project 2025?
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sparred with Fox Newss Brian Kilmeade over electric vehicles (EV) during an interview on Fox and Friends Tuesday.

Is this an interview or a debate? Can I at least finish the sentence? Buttigieg asked after the two clashed over reliance on Chinese components for electric vehicles.

Well, I just cant let you throw out fallacies. Its important, Kilmeade interjected.

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Excuse me? Name one statement that I just made that you would say is factually inaccurate, Buttigieg said.

The statement you just made that Donald Trump let China take the lead, Kilmeade responded.

I would say that, No. 1, he didnt want a mandate to tilt the playing field. If somebody wants an EV, they should be able to get it, not get a rebate if they buy it, Kilmeade added.

And if somebody wants an EV, they can get it, Buttigieg said. And if somebody wants a gas car, they can get it. But what were doing is, were making sure more of those are built in the U.S. And heres whats happening right now.

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On Jan. 1, changes to the EV tax credit took effect and were expected to reduce the number of vehicles eligible for the tax credit, though they are part of the Biden administrations efforts to promote EV adoption while reducing reliance on Chinese components in particular.

China controls much of the supply chain for EVs, even though the U.S. itself has many known deposits of the minerals required for them.

Throughout the interview, the two sparred over several discussion points, including the economy, as Buttigieg hit Trump on tax cuts for the rich, a reference to his 2017 tax cuts that Democrats have criticized.

Hes going to do tax cuts for the rich, and hes going to do this import tax, this tariff, thatll add $4,000 for a typical family. Shes going to do a child tax credit expansion and a middle-class tax cut, Buttigieg said.

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Well, I think youre right on the tariffs, but hes not looking to do a tax cut for the rich, Kilmeade replied, saying Trump is looking to continue with the current tax plan he has.

Buttigieg quickly responded, Oh, of course he is, adding that the former president is looking to renew his tax cuts for the rich.

The Hill has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

Updated at 1:50 p.m. EST

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The lawyer for a jailed senior Haiti policeman accused of planning the assassination of a motorcycle driver with alleged gang ties is demanding his release from jail.

Mario Delcy filed the request to Investigative Judge Brunet Salomon on Monday on behalf of Haiti National Police officer Livenston Gauthier, the former head of the police substation in Tabarre, where the U.S. Embassy is located. Gauthier, 52, was arrested more than a month ago with a senior police inspector, Jean Claude Aime, and two informants after Haitis judicial police accused them of carrying out an extrajudicial killing on the day U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the country.

The polices so-called evidence, when stacked against testimony from people named by Gauthier who can vouch for his alibi, doesnt hold up, Delcy said in court documents.

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After the questioning of all the people who had their names mentioned wrongly or rightly in this drama, Delcy wrote, Gauthier is still kept in detention for a crime he did not commit and that he could not not have committed because of his work and responsibilities on the day of this murder and the interviewees testified without a shadow of a doubt.

A 27-year-veteran of the Haitian National Police, Gauthier is known as one of the beleaguered forces key fighters in its war against armed gangs. His highly controversial Sept. 13 arrest and questionable imprisonment come as Haiti finds itself in the throes of a fresh round of deadly, coordinated gang attacks and as Prime Minister Garry Conille comes under scrutiny for the hiring of a U.S. based multinational security contractor, Studebaker Defense Group, to help in the fight against gangs without the knowledge of the ruling Transitional Presidential Council.

READ MORE: A key police veteran in Haitis gang wars, senior cop is now fighting for his freedom

Livenston Gauthier, left, a 27-year-veteran of the Haiti National Police, speaks to Roger Lamartiniere, the then-head of the Croix-des-Bouquets police station. In 2022, both men had worked together to stave off control of the eastern region of Port-au-Prince by violent gangs.

According to the Haitian national polices 16-page investigative report obtained by the Miami Herald, 25-year-old Hubert Colo, known as Bouki, was sitting on his bike at a taxi stand near St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in Tabarre when a green Isuzu pick-up truck bearing the inscription POLICE in yellow pulled up and forced everyone to scatter. Four armed hooded individuals, dressed in black, got out of the truck and fired several bullets at Colo, killing him on the spot and injuring a woman. Police did not provide a motive for Colos killing, but they said it was an extrajudicial police killing. Several cops claimed that Colo was the subject of a police investigation and was killed due to his ties to gang leader Vitelhomme Innocent, who is accused of carrying our recent attacks in Tabarre and is the subject of a $2 million FBI bounty .

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Police say a cousin of Colo, Rony Charles, identified the vehicle as Gauthiers.

Several sources, however, told the Herald that it was impossible for either Gauthier or his vehicle to be at the scene of the crime, which took place at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 5. At the moment of the killing, the police commissioner was escorting Blinkens motorcade from the U.S. Embassy to the base of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission near the capitals main airport. Exclusive video obtained by the Herald, and cited by Delcy in his court document, show Gauthiers green pickup at the front of the secretarys motorcade as it arrived at Gate 7 of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport at 4:40 p.m. that day.

Despite the new evidence and testimony from several police officers who were in the motorcade that day, Gauthier has remained in jail, still dressed in his police uniform, along with his alleged co-conspirators. After his initial arrest Gauthier was held in police isolation for nearly three weeks and then transferred to a jail cell at a police station even though a court ordered his immediate release after finding his arrest and prolonged detention to be illegal.

The case has raised questions about how the Haiti National Police, under new command as it tries to stop violent gangs targeting neighborhoods and even U.S. embassy armored vehicles, investigates and treats its own officers. It has also raised questions about a possible police cover up, while reigniting concerns about the use of excessive use of force and extrajudicial killings by the Haitian police, a practice the U.S. government, the United Nations and human-rights groups have long denounced.

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One of the police informants who is being accused of shooting Colo told a human-rights group that on the day of the killing not only was he with Gauthier during the time of Colos death but after they returned from dropping off Blinken, he joined cops assigned to the very police agency, the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police, that carried out the investigation. They were accompanied, the informant said, by the same prosecutor, Carl Giovanni Aubourg, who is now opposing their releases from jail and forwarded the case against them an investigative judge for criminal charges.

Solomon, the investigative judge, has heard from several police officers, including one of the heads of the Departmental District Ouest region of metropolitan Port-au-Prince, Xavier Seide. Seide, who arrived at the judges offices on Friday with armored vehicles and surrounded by cops, referred questions from the Herald to a police spokesman, saying he could not discuss an ongoing investigation.

Solomon has not said if he will release Gauthier or drop the case against him and the others.
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For more than 1,000 years, dense forests in the Mexican state of Campeche concealed the regions ancient human history.

Scientists called Campeche an archaeological blank spot in the Maya Lowlands, an area spanning what is now Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and southeastern Mexico, and which the Maya inhabited from about 1000 BC to AD 1500.

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But part of that region is blank no longer. Archaeologists have found thousands of never-before-seen Maya structures as well as a large city that they named Valeriana after a nearby lagoon, the researchers reported Monday in the journal Antiquity.

The sleuthing that led to the discovery took place from nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) away, using aerial LiDAR  light detection and ranging equipment  that penetrated eastern Campeches thick forest cover from above, pinging the surface with lasers and revealing what lay beneath the leafy canopy. Encompassing about 47 square miles (122 square kilometers), the LiDAR scans were collected in 2013 for a forest survey by The Nature Conservancy of Mexico.

Like other large capital cities from Maya sites, Valeriana had a reservoir, a ball court, temple pyramids and a broad road connecting enclosed plazas. In total, the researchers identified 6,764 structures in Valeriana and in other rural and urban settlements of varying sizes. The density of the settlements in the area rivals that of other known locations in the Maya Lowlands, and archaeologists had suspected that numerous Maya ruins were hidden in Campeche since at least the 1940s, the scientists reported.

On the one hand it was surprising; you see it and youre struck by it. On the other hand, it actually confirmed what I expected to find, said lead study author and archaeologist Luke Auld-Thomas, who conducted the research as a doctoral candidate in the department of anthropology at Tulane University.

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My own sense of this part of the Maya Lowlands, based on what I know of my archaeology, is that if you could throw darts at it, you would find urban areas, Auld-Thomas said. And so it was gratifying and exciting to see that that was actually the case.

Interconnected cities

LiDAR survey data reveals ancient Maya buildings (inset, center) clustered on a hilltop, while a satellite image (far left and right) shows modern agriculture and roadbuilding underway in the valleys below. - Courtesy Luke Auld-Thomas

Campeche is sandwiched between two relatively well-explored areas  the northern Yucatan and the southern Maya Lowlands  but archaeologists previously all but ignored it, said study coauthor Marcello Canuto, a professor in Tulanes department of anthropology.

In the north, Maya sites such as Chichen Itza are highly visible. Theyre very easy to recognize on the landscape, and there was ready accessibility, Canuto said. Sites from the southern Maya Lowlands were also familiar to archaeologists as a source of Maya hieroglyphs, texts and altars  the kinds of things that have been long-sought by scholars, Canuto said.

For decades, Campeche was not easily reachable or known for its artifacts. But this new study and other LiDAR-driven investigations are changing that.

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This is a new dawn for all of us, because we can now see where we would never have been able to see, Canuto said.

The new LiDAR scans also highlight the connections between Maya settlements and hint at the complexity of Maya cities regardless of their size, said Carlos Morales-Aguilar, a landscape archaeologist and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin who was not involved in the research. Morales-Aguilars work on Maya settlements in Guatemala aligns closely with the new findings, he told CNN in an email.

Dense settlement patterns indicate that the Maya were highly organized in managing their landscapes, with extensive networks of roads or causeways, residential areas, agricultural terraces, and defensive structures, he said. The Antiquity study further indicates that the Maya adapted their infrastructure to fit the natural landscape, utilizing sinkholes, ridges, and depressions as part of their urban planning and water management strategies.

These findings challenge the traditional view that Maya cities  including their hinterland  were isolated city-states or regional kingdoms, Morales-Aguilar said. Instead, they paint a picture of a vast, interconnected network of urban and rural areas that spanned across their territories throughout their occupation history.

The LiDAR revolution

As LiDAR scans reveal more of these formerly hidden cities, the data will reshape earlier interpretations of the scale and diversity of Maya settlements, which is a good thing! said Tomas Gallareta Cervera, an assistant professor of anthropology and Latin American studies at Kenyon College in Ohio who was not involved in the study.

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LiDAR analysis has pushed urbanism and settlement pattern studies forward in unprecedented ways; some even call it the LiDAR revolution, Gallareta Cervera said in an email. Archaeologists now have a new framework to research how these ancient people adapted and thrived in their environment for thousands of years. And that is very exciting!

While these remnants of Maya culture have persisted for millennia, locating and studying the full extent of Maya settlements  which could include more major cities  will be critical for preserving the future of these ancient sites, according to Auld-Thomas.

We have yet to really wrap our heads around what that means for our understanding of these places as environments and how to care for them and protect them, he said. Its important to understand that these are places that have always been peopled to varying degrees, and that people have an important place in their conservation.

Mindy Weisberger is a science writer and media producer whose work has appeared in Live Science, Scientific American and How It Works magazine.

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MANILA (Reuters) - A security grouping in Southeast Asia similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is not possible at present given diverging interests and alliances in the region, the Philippines' Defense Secretary said on Tuesday.

Asked about the prospect of a NATO equivalent in Southeast Asia, Gilberto Teodoro told a security forum that ASEAN's complex "dichotomies and divergence in country interests" would make it challenging to set up a unified military alliance."For example, we have a pre-ASEAN defense alliance with the United States. We continue to build alliances with like-minded countries," he said in a security forum in Manila.

"Other ASEAN countries have built alliances with China."

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The remarks come after Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, prior to taking office, had floated the idea of establishing an "Asian NATO", a proposal that has gained no traction and was rejected by the United States and India.

Japan's foreign minister later said such an idea was not aimed at countering a specific country, when asked if it had China in mind. Teodoro said he would rather ASEAN recognised that China was "overstepping" in the South China Sea. There have been recent clashes over territorial claims with the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.

China and U.S. ally the Philippines have been at loggerheads over a series of confrontations near disputed areas in the South China Sea. Manila has accused China's coast guard of aggression and Beijing has said it is responding to what it calls repeated provocations and territorial incursions.

"Getting some principles or some reactions regarding the expansive activities and admittedly illegal activities of China in the South China Sea is a very good first step, and that's what we should be working on," Teodoro said.

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The Philippines has called on Southeast Asian leaders and China to urgently speed up negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea, to manage differences and reduce tension.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that Beijing's claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis, siding with the Philippines which brought the case. Beijing has rejected the ruling.

(Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty and John Mair)
Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The recent 56th South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) and the 2024 U.S.-ROK Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting ("2+2") have underscored the resilient alliance between the United States and South Korea. These meetings, which convene high-level foreign and defense officials from both nations, reflect an evolving commitment not only to regional stability but also to the long-standing vision of a free, unified Korea.

In an era when North Korea's provocations are met with skepticism, both in the United States and globally, these bilateral efforts emphasize that the dream of a unified Korean Peninsula should not be written off as a relic of the past. Instead, it is a realistic, achievable goal -- albeit one that requires a renewed approach to policy, diplomacy, and public sentiment on both sides of the Pacific.

The robust agenda of the 56th SCM covered defense strategies, alliance coordination, and joint responses to North Korean threats. The reaffirmed support for denuclearization and the advancement of Korea-U.S. military cooperation signals a clear, unified stance against the risks posed by Pyongyang's growing missile and nuclear capabilities. In the the light of recent missile tests and cyber-attacks attributed to North Korea, South Korean and U.S. officials are doubling down on their deterrence posture, reassuring allies and adversaries alike that they stand ready to defend peace and stability on the Peninsula.

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Yet, while these security-focused dialogues remain paramount, the path to a unified Korea -- a notion historically dismissed as utopian or strategically impractical -- was also reaffirmed in subtle, meaningful ways. At the heart of these discussions was a shared commitment to human rights and freedom, a commitment that implicitly advances the aspiration for a reunified Korea.

From Washington's perspective, however, overcoming the dismissiveness surrounding Korean unification requires a shift in public opinion as much as it does in policy circles. Most importantly, now is the time to embrace South Korea's new 8.15 Unification Doctrine and find ways to support it.

The evolution of the U.S.-South Korea alliance: Security and beyond

At the core of the U.S.-South Korea relationship has been a strong military alliance, evolving from a defense arrangement during the Cold War to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The Security Consultative Meeting has become a cornerstone of this alliance, providing a forum where both nations can update, refine, and coordinate their defense strategies in response to North Korea's nuclear program. The recent 2+2 ministerial meeting allowed diplomats to explore non-military avenues of cooperation that reinforce mutual interests in human rights, economic resilience, and regional stability.

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The U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense and their South Korean counterparts clearly outlined the consequences of North Korea's nuclear threats. The joint communique emphasized a shared stance on "extended deterrence," a term referring to the United States' commitment to using its full range of military capabilities to defend South Korea. The expansion of joint military exercises, cybersecurity collaboration, and intelligence-sharing demonstrate that the alliance is prepared to meet contemporary challenges. This unity, however, extends beyond the battlefield, as both nations seek not only to manage threats but to ultimately create conditions that could lead to a unified Korea.

While the leaders of both countries rightly seek peaceful unification, strategists recognize that the planning for such unification must be given priority. Although peaceful unification planning is extremely complex, the work to prepare for it can be applied in all other contingencies that might lead to unification, including war and regime collapse. Importantly, peaceful unification planning gives South Korea the moral high ground and provides the foundation for a coordinated information strategy to defeat Kim Jong Un's political warfare strategy.

Public dismissiveness and policy inertia in the United States

Unification, as a goal, suffers from an identity crisis in Washington. While successive U.S. administrations have paid lip service to it, the prospect often fades in the face of complex geopolitical realities. North Korea is viewed as an intractable adversary, and the prospect of unification appears daunting. However, the assumption that North Korea will always remain a hermit kingdom with a nuclear arsenal shackles American policymakers to a status quo approach that neither challenges Pyongyang nor inspires real solutions for the North Korean people.

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Among the American public, dismissiveness toward unification can be attributed to a lack of understanding about the conditions faced by those in North Korea. Often portrayed in stark terms, North Korea is less frequently seen through a human lens that recognizes the aspiration of its people to one day live in freedom. South Korean and American leaders face the task of shifting the narrative to envision unification as an achievable outcome of diplomacy, resilience, and active policy engagement.

Overcoming skepticism through leadership

Recent developments, such as the 2024 U.S.-ROK Ministerial Meeting, building on the statements from the 2023 Camp David Trilateral Summit, mark a promising shift in discourse. By framing the alliance as a moral as well as a military partnership, both governments signal that Korean unification is a goal tied to universal values of freedom and justice. The challenge now is to convert these symbolic gestures into action, transforming unification from a passive ideal to an active policy objective.

To make unification viable, the United States must demonstrate not only resolve but creativity. Rather than viewing North Korea solely as a security threat, U.S. policymakers should work with South Korea to craft a long-term strategy that integrates diplomatic, humanitarian, and economic tools. Public awareness campaigns, policy dialogues, and intergovernmental initiatives can galvanize American support for unification in parallel with South Korean efforts to galvanize support among the Korean people in both the North and South, helping dispel the notion that Korea's division is permanent.

A vision for the future

The 56th SCM and 2+2 meetings highlight that unification is not merely a Korean aspiration but a shared vision between allies. As the United States and South Korea reaffirm their commitments, they confront a broader truth: a unified Korea is not just a geopolitical aim; it is a quest for human dignity. Through sustained engagement, policy innovation, and a focus on the human dimension, South Korean and American leaders can overcome unification dismissiveness, shaping a future in which a free, unified Korea becomes a reality.

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The only way to end the Kim regime's nuclear program and military threats, as well as its human rights abuses and crimes against humanity, is through unification and the establishment of a free and unified Korea that is secure and stable, non-nuclear, and economically vibrant. It should have a liberal constitutional form of government based on individual liberty, rule of law, and human rights as determined by the Korean people.

Someday, in the not too distant future, there can be a new nation, a United Republic of Korea (U-ROK).

David Maxwell is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel who has spent more than 30 years in the Asia Pacific region. He specializes in Northeast Asian Security Affairs and unconventional, and political warfare. He is Vice President of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace Foundation. Following retirement, he was Associate Director of the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. He is on the board of directors of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and the OSS Society and is a contributing editor to Small Wars Journal.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
District 10 City Councilman Marc Whyte speaks to the press after agreeing to a plea deal in his drunken driving case on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer District 10 Council Member Marc Whyte listens to a colleague speak during a meeting of City Council discussing proposed changes to the citys charter on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte has taken a plea deal in his drunken driving case

Prosecutors on Wednesday dropped a charge of driving while intoxicated against Whyte, 44, and he in turn pleaded no contest to one count of obstruction of a highway.

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The Northeast Side councilman was fined $850, charged $270 in court fees and must complete 48 hours of community service.

Whyte got six months of probation and deferred adjudication, meaning that if he follows the terms set by County Court 11 Judge Erica Pena, the charge will be dismissed. He's prohibited from drinking alcohol or using drugs in the next half-year. He will be required to take urine tests twice a month.

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Its time to move forward, Whyte said as he left the courtroom. As I mentioned day one, I hope positives can come from this. Everybody needs to learn the lessons Ive learned. Im ready to move forward. Ive got a lot of work to do for District 10 and the city of San Antonio, so Im glad were putting this behind us today.

He declined to answer questions about the terms of his agreement or why he accepted a plea deal.

The Texas Department of Public Safety reported in late February that Whytes blood alcohol concentration was 0.089 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood a few hours after his arrest. DWI is defined in the Texas Penal Code as driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. Its a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail.

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Obstruction of a highway is also a Class B misdemeanor.

Such charges are sometimes granted in DWI cases if it is the defendant's first offense, their BAC was under 0.15 and the person didn't cause an accident. Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales set those standards in 2022 after the San Antonio Express-News reported that prosecutors frequently allowed repeat offenders and defendants with high BAC readings to plead to the obstruction-of-a-highway charge.

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Gonzales said his office offered the plea agreement because it might have been difficult to "reach a favorable outcome at trial" and because Whyte was eligible for deferred adjudication.

"This plea offer does not violate my office policy on Obstruction of a Highway," Gonzales said in a statement. "In accepting the plea agreement, Mr. Whyte acknowledges accountability for his actions, and demonstrates a commitment to the consequences of driving while intoxicated."

Whyte's pre-trial conference on Wednesday had been reset three times after Gonzales' office filed charges against Whyte in July

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Two of the delays were because Whyte's attorneys were waiting for information about the state employee who tested the alcohol level in Whytes blood after his Dec. 29 arrest.

Defense attorney Thom Nisbet in August said there were chemistry anomolies in some tests administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety forensic scientist in other cases.

The lag between Whytes Dec. 29 arrest and the July charge was unusually long. Often, charges are filed in DWI cases within four months, according to Joe Hoelscher, a San Antonio lawyer who handles drunken driving cases but is not affiliated with Whytes.

Whytes arrest

San Antonio police officer Devin McCroy said in an affidavit that he witnessed the first-term council member speeding and changing lanes without signaling on a Northeast Loop 410 frontage road, and pulled him over shortly after 11 p.m.

The officer also alleged that Whyte smelled strongly of alcohol, his eyes were glassy and red, and he swayed back and forth after getting out of his car.

Whyte told the officer he had one drink at El Mirasol restaurant on Northwest Military Highway, a second at Myrons Prime Steakhouse next door and a third at the nearby Thirsty Horse Saloon.

Days after his arrest, Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda said that she, Whyte and a few other people, whom she declined to identify, met at El Mirasol for dinner. Some of the party went to Myrons and then returned to El Mirasol. Both restaurants are at Alon Town Centre on Northwest Military Highway.

Whyte and other members of the group decided to go to the Thirsty Horse afterward. But Whyte drove councilwoman Cabello Havrda home before making his way to the dance hall.

The day he was arrested, Whyte had returned to San Antonio after a week-long family trip to Australia. He landed in Houston that morning and then drove back to San Antonio. His family remained in Australia for another week to continue visiting with Whytes cousins. The councilman left early for an engagement in San Antonio.

Soon after his arrest, Whyte said the dinner was merely a social gathering of friends. But in a June episode of an Express-News podcast Whyte said he attended the event because some attendees wanted to pursue a development project in his district. He would not elaborate on who attended the dinner or what project they were working on.

The San Antonio Police Department on Jan. 11 released body-camera video of the arrest. In the 20-minute recording, Whyte appeared to be coherent and polite, and adamantly maintained that he was sober.

Aftermath

City Council censured Whyte for his actions in January, but the formal reprimand carried no tangible consequences.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg removed Whyte from three council committees he sat on for three months, making it more difficult for him to influence city policies on their way to the dais. But Nirenberg restored his committee assignments in April.

In March, DPS suspended Whytes license for six months  a routine step in DWI cases. He drove to work and to council-related events and meetings with an occupational license.

When arresting officer McCroy testified at a virtual hearing on the status of Whytes drivers license, he revealed that Whyte asked to speak with Police Chief William McManus as he was being driven in to the the magistrates office.

Whyte initially denied the allegation, telling the Express-News he didnt remember asking for the chief and said he never talked to him. But he changed his story during the podcast, saying he'd wanted to talk to McManus about his rights and the procedures he would be facing.

Whytes predecessor in Council District 10, Clayton Perry, was handed probation last year after he drunkenly crashed into a car at a North Side intersection and sped away from the scene the night of Nov. 6, 2022. He was charged with DWI and fleeing the scene of an accident. The three-term council member accepted a plea deal just over six months after the crash.

Perry, who opted not seek a fourth term in 2023 because of the scandal, currently is running for mayor of San Antonio.
Kansas lawmakers want to strengthen the states online security of sensitive information by consolidating its information technology systems.

The planned overhaul calls for moving the state's various cybersecurity and data systems into a centralized structure over the next several years.

But experts caution if the state is not careful, it could expose its whole network to significant hacks. Alex Bardas, a computer scientist at the University of Kansas, said a centralized system needs to be flexible with the ability to close off parts of itself to protect sensitive data and continue to provide vital services when hacks occur.

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If we're putting everything into one big thing, Bardas said, it will grow and it will outgrow us  not in a good way.

A Kansas cybersecurity expert said moving to a centralized system could expose the whole network during a hack if the state is not careful.

Kansas Legislature discusses increasing number of cyberattacks

The Kansas Legislature passed a law earlier this year outlining the plans to consolidate, moving oversight of the states systems under chief information technology officers for each branch of government. The law also requires standardized security policies for all state agencies.

Republican Rep. Blake Carpenter, of Derby, helped craft the new law. He recently told lawmakers on the states Joint Committee on Information Technology that the state has a duty to protect the information of Kansas residents.

If we dont start taking the necessary steps now, Carpenter said, our citizens could end up feeling it.

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The plans also come less than a year after the states court system was hacked by foreign cybercriminals.

The Kansas Supreme Court said its review of the hack found stolen data included court administrative files and some confidential court case records. The attack led to the court shutting down its statewide information systems and its document e-filing system for several months.

Carpenter said cyberattacks are becoming more common in modern warfare, and state and local governments are often targets. Those attacks could also focus on slowing down important services.

For instance, last month a water treatment facility in Arkansas City, Kansas, was hacked. The city said enhanced measures were enacted to keep the facility operational and services were not disrupted.

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Earlier this year, a hospital in Wichita diverted patients from some of its emergency rooms and postponed some elective surgeries because of an expansive cyberattack on its nonprofit owner.

Carpenter said those are examples of what would be targeted if the United States ends up in an armed conflict.

With modern warfare the way it is today, Carpenter said, we have to take steps in order to make sure that our citizens are protected.

New security risks

A centralized system comes with its own caveats that may make it even easier to attack. Bardas said a lot of hacks occur when attackers are able to slip into a system after a user with high-level access makes an error.

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He said the state could defend against massive exposure by putting sensitive information and services in modules within the centralized system so they can be closed off from one another when hacks occur.

That module can actually be moved separately from the entire system, Bardas said, and you can continue to be functional to do your services.

Otherwise, he said, a large framework without separation becomes too large to handle and difficult to protect. Bardas compared it to a soup with many ingredients  if it tastes bad, its hard to determine which ingredient is causing the problem.

Republican Sen. Caryn Tyson of Parker, who has a background in software engineering, voiced that concern during a committee hearing.

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I have grave concerns over this centralized system that we're moving to, Tyson said. I just caution one size doesn't always fit all.

The law requires state agencies to present plans to lawmakers on how they will comply with the consolidation by 2026. The agencies are also required to develop new security programs under the states new standards by 2030.

Dylan Lysen reports on social services and criminal justice for the Kansas News Service.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: State of Kansas centralizing IT systems. An expert raises concerns.
Nov 07 (News On Japan) - In celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Doraemon film series, the commemorative film 'Doraemon: Nobita's Picture World Story' is set for release on March 7 next year.

For this installment, actor Suzuki Oji, 24, will join as a guest voice actor for the first time in the "Doraemon" franchise, bringing to life the mysterious character "Pal," who holds a crucial role in the story.

Portraying the Enigmatic Art Dealer, Pal Suzuki Oji shared his experience: "Theres an action scene, or rather a fighting scene, which still stands out vividly in my mind. It was really fun to perform, and Im curious to see how it will turn out in the film."

Source: ANN
Wakayama, Nov 07 (News On Japan) - In Japan, the 'Suzuki' surname ranks as the country's second most common, following 'Sato.' The origins of this widespread name can be traced back to Kumano faith and its spread across the nation, with roots at the Fujishiro Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture's Kainan City.

The grounds of the shrine are home to the "Suzuki Residence," considered the ancestral home of the Suzuki family. Although it had fallen into disrepair, it was restored with support from "Suzukis across Japan" and was opened to the public in 2023. This article delves into the roots of the Suzuki surname.

Have you ever wondered about the origins of your family name? Its said that Japan has around 300,000 unique surnames. Today, were exploring Kainan City in Wakayama Prefecture to learn about the "Suzuki" surname, Japan's second-most common. This name originated here in Kainan due to its connection to Kumano faith. In fact, my maternal family carries the Suzuki name too.

During the Heian and Kamakura periods, Kumano worship thrived, and the Suzuki family, who originally served as shrine priests, spread across Japan to establish Kumano shrines in various regions. This spread was crucial in making Suzuki a common surname nationwide. While many Suzukis are found in eastern Japan today, only 37 Suzuki households remain in Kainan.

The Fujishiro Shrine complex also hosts relics from the Kumano pilgrimage route, an ancient path from Kyoto where emperors and high-ranking officials would journey to pay respects at the sacred sites of Kumano. Along this route, smaller shrines called "oji" served as rest and worship stops. One significant oji along this route, the Fujishiro Oji, eventually evolved into Fujishiro Shrine.

Among the highlights of the restored shrine is the grand ancient camphor tree, over a thousand years old, which stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Suzuki family and Kumano faith. The site also showcases relics from the Suzuki residence, believed to date back to the Edo period and carefully restored with funds totaling 180 million yen, including contributions from Suzuki family members across Japan. The revival of the residence, supported by Suzukis nationwide, is a touching reminder of their shared heritage.

Source: YOMIURI
By Nwafor Sunday

President Bola Tinubu has extended his heartfelt congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.

Disclosing this in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, (Information & Strategy), Tinubu noted that both countries would foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges affecting citizens.

His words: President Tinubu looks forward to strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

President Tinubu says, Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.

According to President Tinubu, Trumps victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership. He congratulates them on their commitment to democracy.

President Tinubu believes that, given President Trumps experience as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, his return to the White House as the 47th president will usher in an era of earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.

Acknowledging the United States influence, power, and position in determining the trend and course of global events, the Nigerian leader trusts that President Trump will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity.
By Udeze Ekene

The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has decried the 10th collapse of the national grid.

Peter Obi said it was regrettable that every time he asked important questions about the sufferings of Nigerians caused by leadership inefficiency, he was tagged tribal and religious bigot.

In a statement on Wednesday, Obi stated he would not shy away from stating the truth as it concerns the country.

He noted that the constant collapse of the national grid was avoidable and should be worked on.

Again, yesterday (Tuesday) the now regular news came that the National Grid had collapsed once again.

Just a few days ago, on the 25th of October, South Africa that was the second-largest economy in Africa behind Nigeria until recently, with a quarter of our population, celebrated seven months of uninterrupted power supply. South Africa generates and distributes about 40,000 MW of electricity, while Nigeria struggles to generate and distribute just 10% of that. Yet, despite this stark disparity, Nigerians continue to endure daily power outages, Obi recalled.

The Labour Party chieftains continued, And when I ask the question: is there any tribe in Nigeria that enjoys uninterrupted power supply like South Africa? I am labelled a tribal bigot. When I ask if any religion enjoys special privileges in this crisis, I am called a religious bigot. But I will continue to speak the truth about our situation today.

The fact remains that we are all suffering equally from this failure. The solution lies not in tribal or religious affiliations but in visionary leadership and a shared commitment to progress.

The former governor of Anambra State advised Nigerians to set aside primordial sentiments and elect leaders who are capable of solving the countrys governance problems.

We must set aside these primordial sentiments and elect leaders who are competent, capable, and have the vision to transform our nation from a consumer-driven economy to a productive one by investing our meager resources in critical areas of development like health and education, lifting our people out of poverty, and ensuring increased electricity production and distribution, he added.
Osun Governor, Ademola Adelele has described as `a huge misfortune and sad loss, the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoheed Lagbaja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Presidency through Mr Bayo Onanuga, the spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, had earlier this morning announced the passing of Lagbaja at age 56.

Onanuga, stated that Lagbaja died on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness.

Adeleke, in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, in Osogbo, said that a huge misfortune had befallen the people of his state, the Nigerian army and the great Lagbaja family of Ilobu town.

We lost a rare breed, a gentleman and a true patriot to the cold hand of death. Our late brother has a big vision of operational reforms for the Nigerian Army.

He launched and commenced the implementation of root and branch reform of the Nigerian Army. Within his short stint in office, he enforced professionalism and battled terrorists and bandits with terrifying fierceness.

Our late brother was a very hardworking officer, a true workaholic, a fierce soldier, a replica of the traditional army officer with an ambitious plan for modernisation and integration of the Nigerian Army.

In my last encounter with him, he exuded hope and aspirations of a better Nigeria with the military as a stabiliser and unifier of the federation.

In late General Lagbaja, we had a great military leader with the poise, the confidence and the firmness to realise the vision of a new Nigerian Army.

Unfortunately, the end came suddenly, and we surrendered to the will of the Almighty creator.

I commiserate with the Commander  in- Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces, my people of Ilobu and the great Lagbaja family.

On behalf of the people and Government of Osun state, we extend commiseration to Mrs Mariya Lagbaja and the two children, he said.

Lagbaja who died on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness was born on Feb. 28, 1968.

He was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu.

Lagbaja was a native of Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun.
David Santos Jr., a candidate the East Central ISD board, defeated a longtime incumbent trustee. Courtesy of David Santos, Jr.

East Central Independent School District voters retired a longtime incumbent in the only contested board race and rejected a $360 million set of bond proposals and a separate ballot measure to increase the districts property tax rate.

Final unofficial returns showed David Santos Jr. took 41% of the vote, and another challenger, Sayda Mitchell-Morales, had 37% against longtime incumbent Victor Garza, who had 22%.

Garza, 77, an Air Force veteran and retired civil servant, had held the District 4 seat for 20 years.

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Santos, 53, a sales engineer for a Cincinnati-based company that produces raw material inventory, thanked his opponents for running good campaigns, as well as the community, friends and family, and said hes looking forward to helping East Central move forward to better and brighter days.

First priorities for me will be to see why the bond didnt pass and see how we can right that ship and anything else we can do or could have done, he said Wednesday.

Santos said he also would push the priorities he campaigned on, school safety, teacher retainment, our students and our community as a whole.

Mitchell-Morales, 31, moved to the district in 2022 and is senior manager of community development and advocacy for the charter school network KIPP Texas Public Schools.

All three candidates had supported the bond and tax proposals. None of them. passed.

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In Proposition A, voters were asked to increase the property tax rate by five cents per $100 of assessed property value to allow the district to leverage matching state funds and raise a combined $6.6 million per year, which the district said it would use for competitive pay for teachers and staff.

The proposal failed, with 47% voting for it, the highest support for any of the four ballot measures.

Three bond propositions also would have resulted in a tax rate increase if approved. The bulk of the bond funding was in Proposition B, more than $331 million for school facilities and land. Only 44% of voters favored it.

Voters showed slightly less support for Proposition C, which would have provided $10 million in bond funding to renovate school stadium facilities. A bit more than 43% were in favor.

Proposition D, for nearly $19 million in bonds for outdoor recreational facilities, had 43% percent approval.

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Santos said Tuesday night it was sad to see the bond proposals losing, as that is going to cost us in the end, with having to bring in portables and those kinds of things.

We are only going to continue to grow, continue to grow exponentially, with all the land we have in our area, Santos said.

The school district released a statement Wednesday that promised to keep trying to get a bond package passed, saying it would engage with the community to better understand perspectives and refine a bond proposal that addresses shared goals.

Moving forward with a solution sooner rather than later could help prevent higher future costs, as construction costs are projected to escalate between 10 and 15% annually, it said.
Iowa is still a red state, and Council Bluffs is part of that sea of red.

Election Day set up Donald Trump to become only the second president in history, after Grover Cleveland, to serve two nonconsecutive terms in the White House. He'll also be the first U.S. president with a felony conviction.

While the outcome is triggering a reckoning for Democrats nationally, Iowa Democrats also failed to realize the gains they hoped for, which may further erode the state party's hope to return to prominence nationally after losing first-in-the-nation voting order in the Democratic primaries.

Meanwhile, across the Missouri River, Democrats again found success in flipping an electoral vote, although an expected Republican supermajority could move to squash the state's relatively unique process of divvying up Electoral College votes.

Here's a look at five topics The Nonpareil previously identified to watch for in Tuesday's general election:

Turnout strong across Iowa

While Tuesday felt busy at polling locations in Council Bluffs and across Iowa, it wasn't quite the record-breaking turnout reported in 2020.

Iowa's statewide turnout was about 73.4% as of unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State's Office accessed at 10 a.m.

While that's short the 75.8% turnout reported in 2020, it's considerably more than 2022's 55.1% turnout or 2018's 61.6% turnout.

In Pottawattamie County, turnout was a little lower than the statewide result. Unofficial results show 44,603 ballots cast in the county for a participation rate of about 67.6%.

Pottawattamie County turnout usually trails the statewide rate. In 2020, about 69.4% of registered voters cast ballots. In 2022, the rate was about 45% and in 2018 it was about 52.5%

Voters OK school bond measures

Voters in the Lewis Central and Underwood school districts supported revised bond issues after last year's more pricey proposals failed to clear a 60% supermajority threshold under state law.

Officials in both districts raised the alarm over facility and safety needs for schools, and LC even raised the prospect of shifting money away from instruction to address critical needs.

Underwood will spend $12.5 million mechanical systems, security and infrastructure concerns, while also upgrading learning environments at the elementary school and improving accessibility at the elementary and high schools.

Lewis Central will spend $30 million on replacing mechanical systems, electrical systems, plumbing systems and lighting. Secure entrances will be improved at the primary and high schools. Contact sensors will be added to doors, and accessibility, restroom and playground projects are among the plans for the bond fund.

Iowa Western Community College, however, suffered a defeat in the election despite surpassing 59% support across the college's 13 county service area. Its proposed $55 million bond didn't earn the necessary supermajority.

The college was looking to renovate multiple facilities and build a new transportation center for diesel tech and auto programs at the college's Council Bluffs campus.

Abortion not defining electoral issue

Going into Election Day, a lot of focus was on Iowa's recently implemented "fetal heartbeat" law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

Democrats focused their messaging on the near total ban on abortion, as many people are not aware of their pregnancy by the sixth week. Abortion had been legal in Iowa until the 20th week of pregnancy prior to the new restrictions.

The Associated Press VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide, found more than half of voters wanted to see substantial change. Trump voters were alarmed about the economy and wanted more aggressive enforcement of immigration laws, overshadowing voters' worries about the future of democracy and abortion protections, key issues for the Harris campaign.

Abortion rights advocates lost ballot measures in Nebraska, South Dakota and Florida  with Nebraska voters also approving adding a 12-week abortion ban to the state's constitution  while winning in seven other states, including clearing the way to undo Missouri's strict ban.

Florida's outcome, in which voters kept a six-week ban in place, was the first time abortion rights groups have lost in a statewide ballot question since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and ended a national right to abortion in 2022, according to the AP.

Republicans control congressional delegation

Republicans secured clear wins in three Congressional races in Iowa, while Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks declared victory in eastern Iowa's 1st District in a race that the AP says is too close to call as of Wednesday morning.

Rep. Zach Nunn fought off a strong challenge in the 3rd District, while Rep. Ashley Hinson won in the 2nd District and Rep. Randy Feenstra decisively held onto his 4th District seat.

"God has blessed me with the ability to serve my hometown, my neighbors, and this district  all according to His plan," Feenstra said in a statement Tuesday night.

Meanwhile in Nebraska, Omaha's 2nd Congressional district remains too close to call, and it could be days until a result is determined. Rep. Don Bacon is holding onto a 8,318 lead as of Wednesday morning, but more ballots than that were scheduled to be counted Friday between both early voting ballots returned Monday and Tuesday and provisional ballots cast in the county, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

As of Wednesday morning, control of the U.S. House of Representatives had yet to be determined. The AP reported Republicans held 199 seats to Democrats' 181 seats with 55 still to be determined.

Council Bluffs wasn't western Iowa's 'blue dot'

Democrats hoped to turn Council Bluffs into a western Iowa "blue dot," a comparison to Omaha's 2nd Congressional District that delivered one of Nebraska's five electoral votes to Harris on Tuesday, despite the too-close-to-call race for Congress in the district.

While State Rep. Josh Turek will continue to represent Council Bluffs and Carter Lake, an extensive door-knocking campaign by Council Bluffs City Council member Steve Gorman wasn't enough to unseat Republican state Sen. Dan Dawson.

I felt like we ran a solid campaign against a pretty entrenched senator, Gorman told The Nonpareil on Tuesday.

Trump supporters carried Pottawattamie County with about 59.2% of the vote for president. Only two Council Bluffs precincts reported more Harris voters than Trump voters, according to a Nonpareil review of unofficial results, and those were the only two precincts in the county that broke for the Democratic Party.
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Sudan has cancelled a $6 billion deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to develop a Red Sea port, in an apparent protest against Abu Dhabis alleged support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group engaged in the countrys ongoing bloody conflict.

Sudans Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim said on Sunday (3 November) his country had cancelled a memorandum of understanding with the UAE to develop the Abu Amama port, accusing Abu Dhabi of supporting the RSF that has been battling the government forces. Ibrahim also asserted that Khartoums move was designed to protect the countrys sovereignty, adding that Sudan would not cede the UAE one single centimetre of its Red Sea coast. The deal, signed in December 2022, would have seen Abu Dhabi Ports and a Sudanese-owned Invictus Investment company jointly build and operate the Abu Amama port.

The decision comes amid growing allegations that the UAE has been providing backing, including weapons flown into neighboring nations and trucked across the border, to the RSF, which has been embroiled in a conflict with Sudans military since 15 April 2023. An estimated 15-60,000 people have been killed and eight million displaced in the fighting to date, with no end in sight. Foreign powers have weighed in on both sides of the conflict, with some evidence of Russian and Iranian support for the Sudanese armed forces. Abu Dhabi has denied providing any support for the RSF, describing its intervention as a humanitarian aid operation.
Royal Moroccan Navy is taking part in the multinational maritime exercise Phoenix Express 24 sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and executed by the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVAF).

The exercise, organized in the Tunisian waters November 4 to 15, brings together 1,100 maritime forces and observers from 12 countries including Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Senegal, Turkey, Italy, Malta, Belgium, Georgia, and USA.

The goal is to enhance cooperation and exchange of expertise between North African, European, and U.S. Navies in maritime security operations in the Southern Mediterranean Sea.

The exercise focuses on regional cooperation, information-sharing practices, and operational capabilities, enhancing efforts to promote safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea and territorial waters of participating North African nations against illicit activities at sea such as smuggling and human trafficking.

Despite mounting political tension in North Africa, Maghreb countries are taking part in this maritime multinational drill led by the United States in the Mediterranean Sea.

On Monday, Royal Moroccan Navy showed to the world its professionalism and capabilities of combatting piracy and illegal migration after its commandos stormed a cargo vessel off Tan-Tan coast and freed its crew from the grip of 54 illegal migrants who wanted to divert course of the Liberia-flagged freighter to the Canary Islands, Spain.

The Special units of the Royal navy took control of the vessel, arrested the illegal migrants and released the crew without incident.
Moroccos National Tourist Office (ONMT) received the Most Welcoming Destination award on Tuesday evening at the Arab Travel Awards, held on the sidelines of the World Travel Market (WTM), which runs from November 5 to 7 in London.

At the 2024 edition of the WTM, the ONMT highlighted Moroccos offer through a vast 800-square-meter pavilion, a VIP networking zone, and areas dedicated to this years featured regions, namely Marrakech-Safi and Agadir-Souss Massa, two of the most popular destinations for British tourists.

This unique pavilion showcases Moroccos cultural wealth, the diversity of its cuisine, and the expertise of its craftsmen.

With the support of 54 exhibitors, this significant presence serves as a platform to strengthen partnerships with international travel companies and raise Moroccos profile in the UK and international market.

In line with its Light in Action strategy, ONMTs participation in this global tourism event is part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen Moroccos global presence and boost growth in key international markets.

For 44 years, WTM London has been the travel industrys most important event, bringing together professionals from all over the world. In 2023, the show welcomed over 40,000 professionals from 184 countries.

This years edition expects even greater participation, as the number of exhibitors, which exceeds 4,000, has recorded an increase of 7% in 2024.
King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to Donald J. Trump, following his election as President of the United States for a new term.

In this message, the Sovereign expresses to Mr. Trump his sincere congratulations and his best wishes for every success in his presidential duties and endeavors to serve the American people.

The King underlines that the resounding success of Mr. Trump in these elections is a tribute to his patriotism and rewards his continued commitment to upholding the best interests of the United States, our longstanding friend and ally.

The Sovereign reiterates that the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America share a historic alliance and a strategic partnership, both of which have withstood the test of time. The values we have in common and our shared interests across a wide range of sectors have enabled us to consistently work together towards building a better future for our peoples, making our relationship a driving force for peace, security and prosperity in the Middle-East, Africa, and beyond, added the Monarch

In his message, King Mohammed VI recalls that during the previous tenure of Mr. Trump, bilateral ties reached an unprecedented level when the United States of America recognized the Kingdom of Moroccos full sovereignty over its entire territory in the Sahara, underlining that this memorable act, for which the Moroccan people will be forever grateful, was a milestone and a pivotal moment, reflecting the true depth of the special, longstanding relationship which holds the promise of even greater cooperation and a broader strategic partnership.

As we address an array of increasingly complex regional and global challenges, the Kingdom of Morocco will be, more than ever, a true friend and loyal ally of the United States, the Sovereign writes, voicing his determination to work closely with Mr. Trump to advance our shared interests and further enhance our unique alliance across all levels of cooperation.
Morocco is celebrating this Wednesday Nov.6 the 49th anniversary of the Green March that was launched by the late King Hassan II, a unique political epic which enabled the Kingdom to retrieve its southern provinces that were under Spanish dominion without shedding any drop of blood.

This historic achievement, accomplished through peaceful means and widespread public engagement, remains a lasting lesson for future generations and a clear message about Moroccos determination to preserve its territorial integrity.

This anniversary provides an opportunity to remember the historical dimension of this historical event and its impact in strengthening Moroccos regional and international stature. For Moroccans, the Green March was not a mere historical event but a celebration of the noble values and patriotism that unite the Moroccan people under the banner of their territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Besides, the Green March did not end with the recovery of the southern provinces, but heralded the beginning of a large-scale process of development that transformed Morocco into a rising power both regionally and internationally.

The process launched by the late King Hassan II was fervently carried on by King Mohammed VI, who tirelessly endeavored to ascertain Moroccos sovereignty over its Southern Provinces and to make this sovereignty growingly recognized at the international level, whether in Africa, in the Arab world, in Europe, or the Americas.

This growing support, including from world powers like the United States and France, reflects Moroccos successes in diplomacy and its effectiveness in defending its legitimate rights through peaceful means.

The latest UN Security Council Resolution 2756 is but one instance of Moroccos successive victories and its success in strengthening its sovereignty over its southern provinces, as is the latest declaration of French President Emmanuel Macron before the Moroccan parliament, in which he reiterated that the Saharas future lies within Moroccos sovereignty and that the Autonomy Plan is the only framework for a permanent solution to the Sahara issue.

These steps strengthen Moroccos international position and underscore the impact of these recognitions on its standing in the global arena, and its stature as an influential powerhouse in Africa.

Actually, thanks to its achievements, Morocco has become a continental leader and a key partner in decision-making on both the regional and international levels. This further underscores the importance of celebrating the Green March as a dual celebration of diplomatic and political victories achieved under the wise leadership of King Mohammed VI.
King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, delivered, on Wednesday evening, a speech to His faithful people on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the glorious Green March.

Here follows the full text of the speech:

Praise be to God May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Dear Citizens,

Today, we are proudly celebrating the forty-ninth anniversary of the Green March.

That peaceful, popular march enabled us to recover the Moroccan Sahara; it also strengthened the bond between that regions inhabitants and their motherland.

Since then, Morocco has been able to establish tangible facts on the ground as well as an irreversible reality rooted in law, legitimacy, commitment and responsibility, as evidenced by the following:

Firstly: the strong attachment of our sons and daughters in the Sahara to their Moroccan identity, and their commitment to the nations sacred, immutable values, in keeping with the bond of the Beia, which has existed throughout history between the inhabitants of the Sahara and the kings of Morocco.

Secondly: the progress, security and stability existing in the Moroccan Sahara.

Thirdly: growing international recognition of the Sahara as a Moroccan territory, and the broad support the Autonomy Initiative has been receiving.

Parallel to this natural, legitimate situation, there is, sadly, another world clearly disconnected from reality  a world still feeding on the illusions of the past and clinging to outdated theories and claims:

As a result, there are some who demand a referendum, despite that option being discarded by the United Nations and the impossibility of implementing it; at the same time, the proponents of that position refuse to allow a census of the people detained in the Tindouf camps, using them as hostages, keeping them in deplorable, humiliating conditions, and depriving them of the most basic rights.

And there are those who exploit the Sahara issue so as to secure access to the Atlantic Ocean.

To them I say this: We do not refuse such as a prospect. As everyone knows, Morocco has proposed an international initiative to facilitate the Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean, within the framework of partnership and cooperation. The aim being to achieve shared progress for the benefit of all peoples in the region.

And there are those who exploit the Sahara issue to deflect attention from their many internal problems.

Still others seek to manipulate certain legal aspects in order to serve narrow political goals.

To them as well, I say this: Moroccos partnerships and legal obligations will never be at the expense of its territorial integrity or its national sovereignty.

Now is time for the United Nations to assume its responsibility and spell out the major difference between the real, legitimate world  represented by Morocco in its Sahara  and a world which is frozen in time, and which is disconnected from reality and the developments that have taken place.

Dear Citizens,

At this stage in the evolution of the question of our territorial integrity, we need to keep up the concerted efforts of us all.

In this regard, I wish to commend, in particular, the sense of patriotism shown by our Moroccan community abroad, and its commitment to defending the nations sacred, incontrovertible values, as well as its contribution to our countrys development.

To strengthen the bonds linking our expatriate community to the homeland, I have decided that the mechanisms used in managing the affairs of Moroccans residing abroad should be revisited.

This will be achieved by restructuring the institutions concerned with our community abroad to make sure there is no overlap of powers and no dispersion of actors, and to see to it that the new needs of our expatriate community are met.

With that in mind, I have asked the government to ensure a restructuring of the institutional framework, based on two main bodies:

 The first one is the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad; this independent constitutional institution must play its role in full as a platform for reflection and for making proposals, ensuring that all components of our expatriate community are duly represented.

In this respect, I call for the rapid adoption of the new law for the Council so that it may be installed at the earliest opportunity.

 The second one concerns the establishment of a special body, to be called the Mohammadia Foundation for Moroccans Residing Abroad; it will serve as the executive arm for the implementation of public policy in this regard.

The new institution will be tasked with pooling the powers currently scattered among a number of actors, and with preparing, coordinating and implementing the national strategy for the Moroccan community abroad.

The new institution will also manage the National Mechanism for Mobilizing Moroccan Skills Abroad, which I called for and which should be front and centre in the institutions mission.

The aim is to open up prospects for Moroccan skills abroad and to accompany project leaders.

Working actively with the departments and stakeholders concerned, I expect this institution to give a strong impetus to the linguistic, cultural and religious services provided to the Moroccan community abroad, all generations included.

One of the main challenges this institution must address is the simplification and digitization of administrative and judicial procedures that concern our expatriate community.

I also attach special importance to opening up new prospects for Moroccans abroad to invest in their homeland. That the contribution of our expatriate community to private investment should stand at a mere 10% is really not acceptable.

Dear Citizens,

The sacrifices made by the generation of the Green March inspire and prompt us to be more vigilant and to show greater mobilization. The purpose is to enhance the gains made in the recognition of the Sahara as a Moroccan territory, and to continue promoting the development and progress witnessed in our southern provinces.

In the same spirit, we must see to it that the fruits of progress benefit all citizens in all regions, from the Rif region to the Sahara, from the east to the Atlantic Ocean, from mountainous regions to our plains and oases.

I seize the opportunity of this glorious anniversary to remind ourselves of the Green Marchs eternal oath, as a mark of loyalty to its architect, my revered father, His late Majesty King Hassan II  may he rest in peace  and to pray for the souls of our righteous martyrs.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.
Edgewood ISD Board President Martha Castilla won reelection Tuesday to her Place 4 seat. Contributed photo

Voters in the Edgewood Independent School District approved board president Martha Castillas reelection bid with a sizable majority Tuesday, with 61% to challenger Dorothy Borjas 39%.

The election for three board positions saw another incumbent defeated and a 19-year-old college student lose her race for an open seat.

The winners, elected at-large by voters in the entire district, will help determine the future of a district that has long faced high poverty and whose declining enrollment in the face of charter competition led the board to close two schools last year.

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The candidates disagreed on whether closing schools was the right decision. New trustees might affect the solidity of the board majority that has supported Superintendent Eduardo Hernandez, who helped transition the board out of a 2016 state takeover when he was hired in 2018 and recently received a contract renewal and pay bump.

Castilla, 62, is a community health professional with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She was first elected in 2016.

Her opponent, Borjas, 35, a stay-at-home mom of two and a former Edgewood ISD substitute teacher, said she ran because she was unsatisfied with her daughters education and had moved her to a San Antonio ISD school.

Rudy Lopez, 54, won the Place 6 board seat with 55% of the vote against Jubilee Pena, 19. Both are John F. Kennedy High School graduates. The seat was held by Joseph Guerra, who did not seek reelection.

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Lopez said Wednesday he felt honored by the voters confidence and promised to do his best to address the districts problems and bring people together.

Lopez worked as a civilian with the San Antonio Police Department for 25 years and has been appointed to serve on multiple city commissions. Pena is studying psychology at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

My current priorities are to evaluate the districts budget in order to better serve the needs of our students and our community, he said. Additionally, we need to be hyper-focused on making sure our seniors are prepared for the world, whether they are college bound or entering the workforce. This means making sure students are on grade level when it comes to math and reading skills.

Sergio Delgado, a parent to two Kennedy High School students, took nearly 62% of the vote against Place 7 incumbent Richard Santoyo. A disabled Army veteran and district alum, Delgado is a transit security officer for Via Metropolitan Transit.

Delgado thanked voters and God for the opportunity to serve.

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Im ready to try and hit the ground running to learn as much as I can and try to do as much as I can for the community, he said. The people deserve to have an honest and open school board, and I plan to try and make that happen.
A Latinos for Trump flag. Photo: Manuel Orbegozo/Reuters

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The Republicans best shot at racial parity with the Democrats has long been to become a multiracial mens party, given the persistence of the gender gap in how Americans vote. It seems that vision is coming to pass sooner than anyone expected.

Exit polls should always be interpreted with caution, but Donald Trump appears to have made dramatic inroads with Latino male voters, accelerating a rightward shift that had become evident in the last two elections. If the early numbers are accurate, Trump will have effectively flipped Joe Bidens margin with that demographic, which supported Biden at a rate of 57 percent in 2020, into his own 54 percent advantage.

Indications of a roughly 30-point national swing in Trumps favor among Latino men seem especially plausible when looking at his county-level performances: Heavily Cuban American Miami-Dade County, one of the Democratic Partys most reliable Florida strongholds, turned red. So did heavily Mexican American Hidalgo County, Texas, which Biden carried with almost 60 percent of the vote in 2020, along with several other South Texas counties that Biden and Hillary Clinton each won by double digits. Even Passaic County, one of the most heavily Hispanic regions of deep-blue New Jersey, broke for Trump.

To a lesser degree, Black men in a pair of key swing states also supported Trump at higher rates than they did in 2020. Multiple network exit polls show the former president nearly or more than doubling his Black male support in Georgia and North Carolina.

There will be plenty of Democratic finger-pointing over the next four years, with strategists anguishing over what went wrong and who is to blame. But if demographics are indeed destiny, as many Democrats once assumed, then the GOP has to feel especially good about its standing among men of all races and particularly Latinos  a problem that Democrats will have to solve if they are to have any hope of winning back the White House.

When Barack Obama notched a high watermark of 71 percent with Latino voters during his 2012 reelection campaign, Republicans were convinced they were on the verge of losing non-white voters for generations to come. [In] 2050, whites will be 47 percent of the country while Hispanics will grow to 29 percent and Asians to 9 percent, wrote the authors of the partys election postmortem, who included President George W. Bushs press secretary Ari Fleischer and Jeb Bushs 2016 senior presidential campaign adviser Sally Bradshaw. If we want ethnic minority voters to support Republicans, we have to engage them and show our sincerity.

Nominating Trump for president in 2016 seemed like a disastrous misstep. He announced his bid by referring to Mexican immigrants as rapists and continued to demonize people from Latin American countries for the duration of his campaign and presidency. In 2018 and 2020, you could mark election season by his fearmongering about migrant caravans from Central America. A national outcry over the harrowing images of children he had locked in immigration detention centers did not deter him from continuing the cruel deterrence policy.

Both parties now seem to have overestimated how much Latinos identified with the people Trump was abusing. In 2024, he once again made immigration one of his top campaign issues. His broken promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and make Mexico foot the bill gave way to sweeping vows to deport undocumented immigrants en masse. Trump and his surrogates succeeded in casting Kamala Harris as Joe Bidens border czar responsible for a recent surge in attempted border crossings that she actually had little authority to resolve, which she responded to by pivoting rightward on the issue.

Rather than exacerbating his partys demographic conundrum, Trump appears to be the best thing to happen to the Republican brand among Latino voters in several decades. This dynamic seems evident even among undocumented people. Several of the migrants Ive been speaking with say they would have voted for Trump themselves, tweeted the Atlanta Journal-Constitutions Lautaro Grinspan, reporting outside Atlantas ICE field office the day after the election. Most are folks who crossed the border illegally in the last 2-3 years. They dont believe Trump will deport them, because they are here to work and are not criminals.

Some prominent Latino Democrats have been sounding alarm bells for years. There are clearly some gaps we have as a party when it comes to Latino outreach and investment, former San Antonio mayor and HUD secretary Julian Castro told CNN after Bidens uninspiring performance with Latinos in 2020. We need to look at where we fell short on our messaging and investment. And as a party we need to develop a 365-day full-court press for Latino outreach so that we dont lose this critical constituency.

The drift among Black men tracks with a mounting sense of disillusionment toward Democrats felt among all Black voters, as evidenced by their declining support for the partys presidential candidates in every race since 2008. The feeling that post-civil-rights Democratic politicians have failed to deliver meaningful gains for Black men, paired with nostalgia for Trumps pre-COVID economy, also cast a shadow on Harriss anemic appeals for their vote, which included pledges to legalize weed and safeguard cryptocurrency assets.

Some of the details from Trumps victory are at least clarifying. The first is that there continue to be profound political and ideological variances among the Latino electorate, shaped by factors like race, ethnicity, and ancestral country of origin, to the point that blanket outreach efforts have limited applicability. The term Latino vote itself is overly broad and obscures how localized and narrowly targeted most of the partys strategy will have to be.

The second is that the stubbornness of classic election-year fundamentals seems to have been underrated. For all his ostentatious bigotry, crudeness, and corruption, Trump had plausibly recast himself as a normal Republican who could benefit from an unpopular Democratic incumbent and widespread disenchantment with the economy. Latino and Black male voters were not immune to his appeals on that basis.

The third is that Trumps victory, distressing as it is, could be merely the beginning of something much worse for Democrats. While it appears that Black male voters overall defied some of the preelection shaming and hand-wringing over their softening support for the party, their long term loyalty is not guaranteed. The post-civil-rights political order that once transformed the Black electorate into a reliable blue bloc is crumbling everywhere you look. Voting rights have been eroded, affirmative action is dead, and a credibly accused Fair Housing Act scofflaw is headed back to the White House.

Whether that means Democrats drive harder to the right, as they have in the past, or opt to more meaningfully differentiate themselves from the GOP remains to be seen. But whats clear is that when people feel like the systems around them are broken, they might just vote for the person who promises to take them apart.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

We all pretty much knew Donald Trump would claim victory on Election Night. And sure enough, he appeared to his supporters in Florida at roughly the same time in the wee hours when, in 2020, he declared a premature win while demanding the Supreme Court stop the counting of perfectly legal mail ballots. But this time, he wasnt counting on the red mirage of a temporary advantage, soon to be decisively reversed. He won with a lot of despicable tactics and lies and in alliance with some of the most sinister forces in American politics. Nonetheless, he won an entirely legal and constitutionally legitimate victory, as Kamala Harris will almost certainly confirm in a formal concession within some number of hours.

Speaking of Kamala Harris, Trump did not mention her at all in his valedictory remarks. Nor did he mention any contrived voter fraud or imaginary noncitizen voting, or, indeed, any electoral interference by his enemies. He didnt mention the Democratic Party and barely mentioned the Republican Party. And in his vague remarks about the administration he will lead, he didnt repeat any of his many threats to wreak vengeance on his alleged persecutors in public office or the news media.

Trumps call on Americans to put the divisions of the past behind us didnt sound particularly sincere, but this was as light and benevolent a speech as this strange man, our apparent president-elect, can probably manage. Those of us who are unhappy with the judgment of our fellow citizens can only be grateful for a moment of relative peace before the advent of Trump 2.0 brings a very different reckoning with the future.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Donald Trump, the twice-impeached, multiply indicted, and once-defeated former president of the United States, overcame 34 felony convictions, accusations of insurrection, civil-lawsuit judgments totaling more than a half-billion dollars, and allegations of dictatorial intentions to win back the White House last night, sweeping aside a last-ditch Democratic candidate switch and a 75-day general-election challenge from Vice-President Kamala Harris to complete his astonishing political comeback and return his populist movement to power.

Two years ago, when Trump declared his 2024 campaign for president, it was broadly greeted as a has-beens desperation move. (Florida Man Makes Announcement, his hometown tabloid the New York Post headlined its story, stuffing the news at the bottom of an inside page.) After his 2020 loss and the January 6 assault, Trump was discredited in the upper precincts of the Republican Party and isolated down in Palm Beach. Even some of his own advisers conceded that Trumps decision to run was motivated, at least in part, by his desire to politicize  and if possible, escape  the four criminal investigations he faced. He turned the 2024 presidential election into a referendum not just on the countrys direction, but his own freedom, and that double-barreled strategy has now been vindicated.

In the end, Trump got away with it. He now becomes only the second president  and the first since Grover Cleveland in the 19th century  to retake the White House after a reelection defeat. He will return to office emboldened, bound by fewer of the constitutional and institutional checks that he challenged and weakened  but never fully conquered  during his first term in office.

It is worth recounting, at this unsteady historic moment, the long bill of particulars in the legal cases that Trump faced just one year ago. In federal court in Washington, Trump was charged with four felonies related to his efforts to overturn the result of the 2020 election, leading up to the violent assault on the Capitol. In Georgia, he and 18 others, including many top supporters, were charged in a state racketeering case related to their efforts to cast doubt on Joe Bidens election in that state. In federal court in Florida, Trump was charged with another 37 felonies related to his efforts to retain and hide classified documents after he was ousted from the White House, some of which were seized in an unprecedented FBI search of his mansion at Mar-a-Lago. And in New York City, the place where Trump first made his fortune and became famous, a grand jury indicted him on 34 felony counts of falsification of business records relating to payments of hush money to women during the 2016 campaign. In addition to the criminal indictments, Trump also faced a series of civil trials earlier this year that involved accusations of financial fraud, sexual assault, and serial defamation, which resulted in the catastrophic monetary awards against him. (The civil judgments stand, for now.)

While three of the criminal cases were delayed by Trumps procedural maneuvers, the New York case went to trial. After five weeks of testimony  much of it embarrassing to the former president, who was repeatedly held in contempt for his bellicose statements outside the courtroom  a jury of New Yorkers pronounced him guilty on all counts. Trump is currently scheduled to be sentenced in that case on November 26, a little less than three weeks from now. In theory, the New York State judge in the case, Justice Juan Merchan, could give him a prison sentence. In reality, there is no chance Trump will be compelled to serve any sentence while he occupies the White House, and he will surely appeal his conviction all the way to the Supreme Court.

That court, which includes three justices appointed by Trump, gave him a favorable ruling earlier this year in the federal January 6 case, which effectively short-circuited a trial before the election. For the long term, the decision broadened the scope of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution and gives Trump constitutional protections that he can invoke during a second term. The classified-documents indictment was also dismissed by a Trump-appointed federal judge in Florida. Trump has promised to fire Special Counsel Jack Smith, the federal prosecutor handling his federal cases, within two seconds of taking office. (He has also suggested he might try to expel Smith from the country for good measure, although its not clear that even a president has that power.) Trump cannot negate the Georgia prosecution, technically speaking, but that case has collapsed for its own reasons relating to personal indiscretion on the part of Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis.

Trump described all these cases as a campaign of lawfare, part of a deep state conspiracy that began during his first term, with the FBIs and Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian election interference and the Ukraine impeachment inquiry, and intensified after his 2020 defeat. During their four years out of power, veterans of the Trump administration have drawn up plans to assert sweeping power over the federal bureaucracy, and particularly over the Justice Department. Members of the incoming administration now know how to work the levers of the federal government, and they have signaled that they will try to bring the Justice Department and its law-enforcement authority under more direct White House control. It now seems likely that those powers will be turned against those who have attempted to impose legal accountability on Trump and his allies.

Trump has hinted that, as president, he will pardon the many hundreds of his supporters who have been charged and convicted with criminal offenses related to the assault on the Capitol on January 6. Early in this campaign, Trump promised to totally obliterate the government institutions that he describes as the deep state. I am your warrior, I am your justice, he said at his 2023 kickoff rally in Waco, Texas, a location heavy with incendiary symbolism for the far right. For those who have been wronged and betrayed, he said, I am your retribution. He has repeatedly suggested his version of retribution may involve ordering investigations of his perceived legal adversaries  including Smith, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Biden and his family. In September, Trump suggested that he would also like to see his opponent tried for unspecified offenses, saying Harris should be impeached and prosecuted for her actions. He and his supporters have suggested that they  without explicitly naming names  were somehow behind the actions of a pair of would-be assassins, one of which only narrowly missed his target when he shot at Trump from a rooftop at a Pennsylvania rally in July.

Over the course of the last two years, the Democrats  led first by President Biden and then, when he proved incapable of continuing his campaign, Harris  issued incessant warnings that a restored Trump would pose a threat to fundamental American values. At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, speaker after speaker contrasted Harris, the prosecutor, with Trump, the convicted felon. A yard sign seen all over this countrys liberal precincts read, starkly, Harris-Walz: Save Democracy. In 2016, it was possible to wonder whether the electorate chose Trump because of his novelty, celebrity, or the influence of foreign propaganda. After eight exhausting years and a campaign that made plain the stakes as the Democrats saw them, no one can say that Americans are under any illusions. The voters saw the jurys verdict. They knew who Trump was and the kind of president he would be again. And yesterday, they voted for him anyway.
28 items in this article 7 items on sale! Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

November is National Native American Heritage Month, and its a time to honor and celebrate the traditions and contributions of Indigenous peoples. My partner, Connor, is of proud Red River Metis descent, and weve made it a priority to buy from Native and Indigenous entrepreneurs and artists, putting their work front and center in our daily lives. As we head into the holiday shopping season, were especially looking to find gifts from Indigenous-led brands both to support these communities and share them with our family and friends.

I, along with my colleague Arielle Avila, have put together a list of delightful gifts under $50 that you can buy from Indigenous-owned brands and small businesses. Although this guide is just a starting point, below youll find beauty and skin-care products, home goods, jewelry, books written by Indigenous authors, and more  all of which you can shop online. (And if youre looking for even more gift options, we have gift guides from Black-owned brands, Hispanic-owned brands, and AAPI-owned brands, too.)

4Kinship Hand Painted Bear Essential Linen Notebooks by Dine Artist Emily Jacket $35 $35 Amy Denet Deal, who is Dine (Navajo), spent over three decades designing for companies like Reebok and Puma before she launched the sustainable artwear brand 4Kinship with her daughter Lily Yeung. Along with using runway fashion to fund social outreach projects for Indigenous people, all of 4Kinships pieces are vintage, and many of them have been transformed using traditional Indigenous designs, colors, and adornments. Hand-painted by Dine artist Emily Jacket, this linen-wrapped notebook is perfect for someone who enjoys putting pen to paper. $35 at 4kinship Buy

Sister Sky MinkiSoft Hair Mask $20 $20 Sisters Monica Simeon and Marina  both members of the Spokane Tribe in Washington State and Pauquachin First Nation in British Columbia, Canada  founded Sister Sky, which produces a range of natural hair and body-care products. This hair mask contains rosemary-leaf extract and vitamin E to combat dryness and smooth frizz. Its also sulfate and paraben free. $20 at Amazon Buy $20 at Sister Sky Buy

Native Coffee Traders Sunrise Warrior $14 $14 For the co-worker whos never without a cup of coffee, heres a light and French roast blend of beans from Native Coffee Traders. Based on the Poospatuck Indian Reservation in Long Island, New York, the family-owned and -operated roasting facility sells organic and fair-trade-certified coffee beans. $14 at Native Coffee Traders Buy

Indigo Arrows Asin Placemats $28 $28 Indigo Arrows makes home goods with patterns found on ancient Indigenous pottery and bone tools in Manitoba, including this set of two handmade, 100 percent linen placemats. It would make the perfect gift for the person who just got into tablescaping. [Editors note: Indigo Arrows lists all prices in Canadian dollars, so the price shown is an approximate conversion in U.S. dollars.] $28 at Indigo Arrows Buy

Seka Hills Arbequina Olive Oil, 500ml $21 $21 Seka Hills, owned and operated by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation in Northern Californias Capay Valley, sustainably produces wine, snacks, and other specialty foods. The home chef in your life will love this olive oil for everything from sauteing and baking to drizzling and dipping. $21 at Seka Hills Buy

Wahpepahs Kitchen Chocolate Rose Hips Bars $18 $18 If your recipient is a fan of Chopped, they might recognize Crystal Wahpepah, the first Indigenous chef on the show. She runs Wahpepahs Kitchen in Oakland, California, which also sells vegan and gluten-free snack bars. $18 at Wahpepahs Kitchen Buy

The NTVS Wrapping Paper Rolls From $13 From $13 This wrapping paper is made by NTVS (or The Natives), a Native American clothing and apparel company. Whether you choose to wrap a present with it or give your recipient a few rolls ahead of holidays, these bold and colorful prints are way more eye-catching than a roll youd find at CVS. From $13 at The NTVS Buy

Skwalwen Kalkay Wild Rose Nourishing Facial Oil $42 $42 For the skin-care obsessive in your life, Cheekbone Beauty CEO Jenn Harper recommends Skwalwens products because its founder is an ethnobotanist. This face oil, made from sustainably harvested rose hips and organic sweet-almond and jojoba oils, reduces inflammation and is deeply hydrating. $42 at Skwalwen Buy

Sequoia Soaps Sweetgrass Body Scrub From $18 From $18 Made with 99 percent natural ingredients, this Sequoia body scrub does double duty exfoliating and moisturizing skin. When combined with water, the scrub turns into a light, nongreasy lotion. From $18 at Sequoia Soaps Buy

Ginew Medel Bandana Indigo + Cream $38 $38 Ginew, which is the only Indigenous-owned denim line, also sells a wide range of accessories, including this understated bandana. Hand-printed in Nashville, Tennessee, it features a design inspired by Ojibwe and Oneida symbols, line art, and sculpture. $38 at Ginew Buy

ThunderVoice Hat Co. Dog Collar From $90 From $90 ThunderVoice Hat Co. makes sustainably sourced products, including hats, home goods, clothing, and more. Any pet owner will appreciate these gorgeous dog collars with leather and hardware reclaimed from vintage saddles. From $90 at ThunderVoice Hat CO. Buy

WipalaBox Embera Chami Adventure $63 $63 Connect your kids to Indigenous cultures with WipalaBox, an activity box for kids between the ages of 5 and 11. Each story-based adventure includes more than 50 pages of full-color narrative, custom stickers, and a one-of-a-kind accessory handcrafted by Indigenous female artisans. This box follows the traditions and vibrant spirit of the Embera Chai community in Karmata Rua. $63 at WipalaBox Buy

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The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
This white man can SHUT THE FUCK UP.



Remember how Jill Stein's VP was literally just talking about abortion restrictions and yapping about trans people? HAHAHAHHA SHUT THE FUCK UP.



Edited at 2024-11-06 09:16 pm (UTC)

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We need a charismatic and populist figure to build a new truly progressive party around tbh. But idk who the fuck that would be.

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We need a young Bernie Sanders tbh

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Yeah but like idk how to build a de-aging machine so that kinda seems like a dead end.

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a Richer and younger Bernie Sanders cause apparently $$$$$$$$$ is the only way to get up the ladder in american politics

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There's a young brown socialist running for mayor of New York CityI don't know much about him yet, but he could be one to watch.

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a man.

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We don't have a male AOC anywhere do we?

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tim walz felt bernie-coded given his record in minnesota, but how to get any guy like that away from the democrats, if they're not already independents...



also not suggesting tim walz specifically, just typing out loud.

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we need to ween people off of cults of personality and make them take civics and vote based on policy.

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my whole fyp on tiktok is 4b and .. yeah. if the relationship im in ends at some point i really think i will be going down that road. (although admittedly will be much easier for me as a 35+ woman versus when when i was in my 20s and boy crazy)

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TIL what 4b is. I feel really good about not having children and luckily my partner feels the same. Two friends of mine said they wanted to have kids within the next four years and now that's not happening. It's too dangerous where they live.

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same re: not having kids. i really hope i don't have to deal any unwanted pregnancy but knowing that i most likely wont be in the position to have to navigate a complicated wanted pregnancy is a small relief

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it's quite literally insane how many people are basically putting their entire lives on hold because of this pos in power. and it's not even like most people can / should move states to live somewhere safe. those states will just entirely be run by red.



I'm in the UK and though things were fucking awful under Tory reign, religion has never (and I don't think it ever will) had the power over politics and law.

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My coworker and I were talking about 4b and creating communities of women for support. We'd allow male allies after being vetted by a committee.



Our committee was a pic of plush sharks in a circle, but they'd make as good of, if not better, decisions than the general American public.

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Same, I'm basically already there (and was before I'd even heard of the movement). Ever since Roe v. Wade, men have zero appeal to me.

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I don't think I was ever boy crazy tbh. Dating was never at the top of my list. I had a few crushes when I was younger and a couple boyfriends  like dating when I was in high school and it was super easy because I would just get asked out in real life and whatnot. However, I am starting to wonder if my standards are just too high. I see stuff about women being fearful of voting against their partner's wishes and nonsense and I would never put up with that. I also don't want to be in a relationship with someone who doesn't care about or respect me. So many women put up with controlling & abusive relationships and I know I just wouldn't be able to do that. I've tried online dating as an adult and it just hasn't worked out for me thus far tbh. Either men aren't interested in me or the men who do seem to be into me are not people I'm interested in pursing a relationship with. I just don't meet men now in real life who are interested in me because I don't have much of a social circle I guess. I want a relationship because I am lonely, but I also have standards that don't involve being a servant/maid and would need a partnership.

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I mean I've basically done that my whole life so at least in that regard nothing changes for me lol check me out being ahead of the trend!

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I saw some girlies on TikTok saying on top of 4b they're going to start only buying products from women-owned companies whenever possible

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I would 100% support my daughter if she went that route. I've obviously given birth, but if something happens to my partner, I'm done with men. I'll become an old cat lady instead.

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yeah i mean, i don't disagree. the dem party is so far right now and they're not going to win that way because people who want republicans are just going to vote for republicans. idk that any existing party is a viable replacement option currently though.

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exactly what labour is in the uk - watered down conservatives

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So many White men tiptoeing around that a woman won't get elected cause they don't want to admit themselves and their golfing buddies are anything but the best of society.



Kamala was being called communist all week and you think the Green party gives a shit?

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Like 50% of people in exit polls said she was TOO LIBERAL and "leftists" are having their fantasies of revolution. Hilarious.

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Isn't 50% of people in exit polls essentially just...Republicans who voted though? Of course they'd say she was too liberal.

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That's just the excuse people are using to avoid saying the truth, that they couldn't vote for a woman or poc.

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if people think she was too liberal it has nothing to do with what she was actually offering, it's either 1) because she was a woman of color and that's what they mean by "liberal" or 2) a failing of the democratic party to communicate her positions because she was not running on anything that wasn't conservative. her whole thing was saying that the cheneys loved her and reagan would've voted for her.

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This makes me feel so hopeless for the future lmao we will never get the progress we hope for in my lifetime

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I hate that the educational system is failing people now. They have no idea what communism is. I have BA in history. I took ancient & medieval philosophy as well as modern political philosophy. I bet none of these people have read Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Marx, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke etc... People just think that socialism and communism are bad because of the Red Scare and all that nonsense, but they do not understand what they are at all. If you ask these people what socialism is they have no fucking idea and I find it infuriating. Socialism is not a bad thing. Communism is even good on paper, but has never actually existed as what the "communist" countries have is not real communism.

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I mean, he's assuming we'll have real elections in the future.



But if we somehow do, I don't know what party everyone will opt into. There's no clear winner for any third party.

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why would there not be elections in the future when republicans keep winning them

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Why would they keep having elections if they don't need to bother anymore now that they've got what they wanted?

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I wrote real elections. I wouldn't be surprised if they did get rid of elections, but I'm guessing they'll be rigged so that they win and people have have the illusion of democracy.

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I left the Democratic Party years ago. I am registered as unaffiliated because no other party works for me at this time. I still vote Dem tho for harm reduction reasons.

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we need a younger progressive leader that wont listen to long time dem consultants that keep telling candidates to go right. Also the Green Party is a scam and Im tired of hearing about Jill steins grifting every election.

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....and a party not funded by the pro Israel lobby

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sure but i opted to post a realistic option in the next election. i don't think pro israel lobbies/corporate lobbies or big donor money removed from politics is going away in our lifetimes.

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I was not crying anymore but now Im watching Kamalas speech and its killing me. This should be her acceptance speech.

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I cannot bring myself to watch.

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Yeah I can't/won't be watching.

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same, i absolutely can't do it.

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I cant watch it.



Im reeling today but tomorrow Im taking a long social media break.

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Feels like a humiliation ritual. Of course I didnt agree with all of her policies or positions but Jesus Christ is so fucking depressing that the misogynoir in this country runs so deep.

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I can't watch it.

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I was walking home from work on a nature trail and this lady was walking and watching it with the sound bumped all the way up

I almost told her off bc I just dealt with consoling students and coworkers all day and had been holding it together and didn't want to have to hear it while I was out in public

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I can't watch it. I can't even imagine how she felt having to say it.

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Walz crying during Kamala's speech :(

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His face was an expression of pure devastation.

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Imma miss him the most :(

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picking him as her running mate was one of the best things she did

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I will never be able to watch this, absolutely not.

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I'm so sad he won't get to be our VP. He genuinely seems to care.

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Tbh the whole systeme is rigged



A two party system, electoral college, electing senate+house at the same time...



It's all built to ensure "the masses" are kept on a leash

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The house results are the final nail in the coffin

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Two party systems happen because we have first past the post. If we get rid of that we can actually have viable parties. However, there were states with RCV (rank choice voting) in their ballot and all of them failed, except in DC and that's not a state :s

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its very strange that trump went on a 3-4 years about the elction in 2020 being rigged.



Yet...he won twice. If elections are rigged, how did he win twice? The sense isn't sensing.

He knew he lost fair and square, and convinced his base to believe this nonsense.

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And they did, so he won

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Silly Adam. The Democrats cannot fail, they can only be failed.

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This mans films are so smug and obnoxious that I really dont want to hear any political commentary from him.he acted like he was the first person on earth to consider the idea that Dick Cheney is a bad person

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I wish the Harris campaign would've considered the idea that Dick Cheney and his daughter are bad people tho

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Too bad the Dems/Harris campaign weren't the first to realize that. They are now the last people to realize that the Cheneys are toxic.

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I'm sure this is just my anger/frustration atm but I also feel like leaving the Dem party. It's so obvious that they just don't know what the fuck they're doing - like when they have power but don't take advantage of it by codifying things, having better timing on stepping down, like RBG or Biden, or this strange shifting and pandering to the right. It's gross. I just keep reminding myself that the two-party system has a chokehold on America and not being Dem helps Repubs.



I also think that a lot of Dems in politics are giddy over a Trump presidency, secretly. They know he brings the noise machine and this will give them a platform to get on their high horse. I think the Dem party has to fundamentally change from here on out. Idk what that looks like but they have to wake up that courting the right-wing is not ever going to work. The right-wing does not want Republican-lite when they can just have Republican! And someone like me doesn't want Right-lite either! What does this moderate shit get them?!



I could rant more but like...I'm just so annoyed and disgusted right now. I hate that these little fuck ass podcast boys and verified Twitter losers will only profit off of this bullshit.

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I wish we could make a collective choice to stop fueling their bullshit by giving them so much attention

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I think they can only do what money will allow them to and the big money that allows them to get elected at all once in a while comes from corporations and billionaires. no party will be able to break away from that. they need money to win elections.

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they know exactly what they're doing

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you're right and you should say it.

I dont understand why there cant be a viable third party candidate that can have the same OOMPH.



I guess it takes a lot of money.

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Nah, they know what they are doing. They answer to money first.

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I agree this system is terrible and we need an actual viable third party, but I have no idea how to build that in a real, actionable way.



The numbers on Gen Z turnout are blowing my mind, and yet not. I really thought maybe they had something, but nope, the young men have been asshole-pilled on MRA podcasts and whatever else. I should've known the digital native generation was NOT immune to misinformation and cult-like bullshit.

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I dont want to let them off the hook but the right wing online propaganda and brainwashing has been so bad for so long and nobody takes it seriously.

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Oh no the future generation is real dumb

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Marc Lamont Hill interviewed Cori Bush recently & my biggest takeaway was she mentioned that some voters (that previously supported her!) told her they were influenced by political ads that straight up lied on her name. They believed them at face value

Americans are stupid stupid https://t.co/9UvcN60P7K  Miles (@301Miles_) November 6, 2024



Idk how you even combat this. :/ Idk how you even combat this. :/

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chris hayes ages ago wrote a piece about canvassing undecideds for kerry in 2004 that i think about all the time bc its 100% people who think like this. one person said she was gonna vote for bush bc he supported stem cell research which he quite famously did not

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I've been hit with ads where "nice" white women are denying that Trump will ban abortion and they flash clips with that.



If people don't look at who he is, then I can see how they believe that.

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It's a huge problem across all age groups. I can't imagine how we begin to get people like this accurate information, and how to get them to believe it.

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The younger generations are even more vulnerable to it. Traditional media is not a part of their lives, not in the way that it was for us. Is not sexy, it's boring, complex, demands time, attention.



So they don't appreciate real journalism. Not to mention they have trouble learning how to read and staying focussed for long periods of time. SM, algorithms and AI have made us all dumber but no one more than young people



Other countries (Finland i think?) have classes where they teach their kids to recognize misinformation. But almost no country is taking it seriously.



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the problem too is that people are investing in deplatforming but not deprogramming as well.

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the path to a third party is by building third party support at the local and then state level. Once 2/3 of states have a viable local third party at the state level, it can go federal. It's obnoxiously slow and will not deliver immediate results, but it is absolutely the only successful possible path. It has to start small and spread, it cannot be top down.

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This is why I don't really understand the argument that Harris campaign fucked up with young voters. The youth, both men and women, have been indoctrinated since covid. They too, have to be deprogrammed like their uncles and grandmothers.

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DOL Sues Pennsylvania Manufacturer Over Alleged Worker Retaliation

Red Lion Controls allegedly fired a worker who raised safety concerns relating to ladder safety.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has taken legal action against manufacturer Red Lion Controls, asserting it unlawfully terminated a worker for raising safety concerns.

According to the court filing, the employee was instructed to use a ladder to retrieve stock items. They believed using a forklift would be safer, as they faced difficulty maintaining three points of contact to ensure ladder safety. In response, the company allegedly claimed the task could easily be done on a ladder. When the employee maintained their safety concerns, the company terminated their employment.

An OSHA investigation concluded the York, Pennsylvania-based Red Lion Controls  a subsidiary of HMS Networks AB  breached federal whistleblower protections by firing the worker after they declined to complete the task with a ladder. The DOL seeks to reinstate the worker and secure back wages along with additional damages.

Every worker deserves a safe workplace and the freedom to report unsafe conditions without the threat of retaliation, OSHA Regional Administrator Michael Rivera in Philadelphia said in a statement. Employers must understand that retaliation or termination for speaking up about hazards is not only unlawful but undermines the protections meant to keep workers safe.
For the first time in ten months, Europes imports of liquefied natural gas rose in October from the previous month as it moved to fill its gas storage sites for the winter in which the transit deal for Russian pipeline gas flows via Ukraine expires.

The rare October jump in LNG imports was largely due to buyers stocking up on the fuel at steady prices at the end of the summer, while Asias LNG imports slightly fell last month, likely due to lower Chinese purchases, per data from commodity analytics firm Kpler cited by Reuters columnist Clyde Russell.

Although Asias October LNG imports fell from September, they rose compared to a year ago. Asian imports have also jumped year to date compared to last year, while Europes have slumped, in a sign that the industry has been struggling and shifting away from gas. The milder 2023/2024 winter also played a role in Europes lower LNG imports this year compared to 2023.

Once again at the mercy of the winter weather, Europe took advantage of steady prices in August and September and ordered more LNG cargoes for October delivery to top up natural gas storage sites.

The EUs gas storage sites are 95% full, while the 90% target was reached well ahead of the EUs self-imposed binding November 1 deadline.

However, gas in storage wouldnt cover Europes needs for winter, and the volumes of gas in storage were slightly lower at end-September compared to the same time last year.

European prices rose in the past few weeks amid concerns about supply as tensions in the Middle East flared up and unplanned outages in Norway  Europes single biggest gas supplier  made traders anxious about risks to supply.

Additional supply concerns arise from the fact that the Ukraine-Russia deal on the transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine ends on December 31, 2024.

Related: Fuel Inventories Continue To Decline Amid Crude Build

The higher benchmark prices in Europe of the past weeks have attracted more LNG cargoes, and this could be the reason why Europes LNG imports rose in October from September.

European LNG imports increased to 7.54 million metric tons last month, up from 6.37 million tons for the previous month and the higher monthly import level since May, per Kpler data quoted by Reuterss Russell.

In contrast, Asian LNG imports fell slightly to 24.36 million tons in October, down from 24.72 million tons in September and the lowest since July, the Kpler data showed.

Year-over-year, Europes October imports fell from October 2023, while Asian LNG imports rose as Asia continues to be the driver of global LNG and natural gas demand growth.

Year-to-date to October, Europes imports slumped by 20%, while Asias LNG imports rose by 10.3%, according to the Kpler data.

Chinas LNG imports are estimated to have slightly declined in October from September, possibly also because of gas storage nearing capacity.

In a major shift in the Chinese transportation sector, LNG demand is pushed up by the soaring sales of LNG-fueled trucks, which have displaced some of the countrys diesel demand.

China has been implementing various policies to promote LNG trucks and restrict diesel trucks as part of its efforts to reduce air pollution and lower carbon emissions, including encouraging re-fuelling infrastructure, Shiqing Xia, Consultant for Oils and Chemicals at Wood Mackenzie, said earlier this year.

Low natural gas prices have also helped in making the switch to LNG-powered vehicles more attractive.

China, which has surpassed Japan in recent years to become the worlds largest LNG importer, will be a key growth driver of global LNG demand growth, industry analysts and major LNG traders say.

For example, Shell, the worlds top LNG trader, expects global LNG demand to surge by 50% by 2040, driven by higher demand from Asia, with coal-to-gas switching in China and a boost in LNG consumption to fuel economic growth in South and Southeast Asia. The global LNG market is set to continue growing into the 2040s, largely driven by Chinas industrial decarbonization and strengthening demand in other Asian countries, Shell said in its annual LNG outlook earlier this year.

Asias AI technology and data centers are also set to drive LNG demand higher in the coming years.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The outcome of Trump's presidency will significantly influence the trajectory of US-China relations and China's global ambitions.

While Trump's "America First" approach and potential for disrupting US alliances could create opportunities for China, his aggressive stance on trade poses economic risks.

Trump's victory introduces uncertainty for China due to his unpredictable foreign policy and potential for renewed trade tensions.

Former President Donald Trump has declared victory in the U.S. election against Vice President Kamala Harris.

It's an outcome that will have implications far beyond the United States, so here's what another Trump administration could look like for China.

Finding Perspective: Beijing and Washington are the world's two largest economies and another Trump term will have a major impact on where the relationship between the two rival powers goes.

There is something of a consensus in Washington when it comes to Beijing, with a focus on constraining China's continued rise on the world stage.

Trump's previous term saw a trade war, with him slapping tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of Chinese goods and launching a global campaign against Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

Four years of President Joe Biden, meanwhile, saw him adopt a more measured tone than Trump, but his administration also targeted Chinese tech industries with investment and export controls, as well as tariffs on items like Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).

Despite that overlap, there are still important differences in the short and long term for Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The View On Trump: If Harris represented a more predictable approach and a more traditional U.S. foreign policy, Trump is the ultimate wild card for Beijing.

The former president has threatened upwards of 60 percent tariffs on all imports from China and has spoken openly of his desire to ramp up another trade war. None of that is good for Beijing as it grapples with a slowing economy and weighs how to use a potential fiscal stimulus.

But that short-term pain comes with potential long-term upside for Xi.

Chinese analysts have sometimes seen Trump's divisiveness at home and his "America First" brand of foreign policy as a net gain for Beijing as it tries to overtake Washington on the global stage.

That could look more appealing on the horizon if Trump, who has questioned traditional U.S. alliances, strains relations with U.S. partners in Europe and Asia and leaves diplomatic openings for Beijing.

Analysts saw Harris as looking to continue Biden's emphasis on building a network of allies and partners to constrain China, something that Philip Gordon, her national-security adviser, said in May, before Biden dropped out of the race, was an American advantage against Beijing and other potential U.S. adversaries.

"We're in a favorable position to win this geopolitical competition, to the degree it's Russia and China and other autocracies aligning against us.... It's why the president and the vice president have invested so much time in those alliances."

Yes, But: Trump has said that he wants to quickly push for the end of the war in Ukraine and has said that Taiwan isn't paying Washington enough money for the U.S. government's support, but the upside for Beijing isn't so straightforward.

While Trump bringing an end to the war in Ukraine -- if possible -- could embolden Beijing to act on Taiwan in the future, it could also free up Washington to devote more resources to the Indo-Pacific to more directly challenge China.

Why It Matters: Regardless of who would have won the U.S. election, Beijing expected little improvement in its tense ties with Washington.

Trump's victory now comes at a pivotal time for both countries, especially as Xi looks to turn China into an alternative center of global power.

Xi believes that the West -- and particularly the United States -- is in decline, and he remarked to Russian President Vladimir Putin last year that we are now living in a period of great historical change the likes of which we have "not seen in 100 years."

Kevin Rudd, Australia's ambassador to Washington who has met Xi several times, says that these views reflect how Chinese policymakers see the United States' trajectory and that Xi "sees the forces of history moving decisively in China's direction."

In his second term, Trump will be in a pivotal position to prove Xi right or wrong.

By RFE/RL

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China shines on opening up, as world openness level degrades

Xinhua) 08:39, November 06, 2024

SHANGHAI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The World Openness Index, gauging the openness levels of 129 economies from 2008 to 2023, shows that China remains one of the bright spots in a globally declining landscape of openness.

The index was included in the World Openness Report 2024, which was released on Tuesday at the seventh Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai.

In 2023, the World Openness Index stood at 0.7542, reflecting decreases of 0.12 percent compared to 2022, 0.38 percent compared to 2019, and 5.43 percent compared to 2008. This suggests an overall downward trend in global openness.

The index, first released in 2021, was compiled by the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Research Center for Hongqiao International Economic Forum.

According to the report, the pace of economic globalization has continued to falter over the past year, with the world's opening-up level "in deficit."

"Various forms of unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, global economic growth is slowing down, many economies are increasing tariffs and non-tariff measures, geopolitical risks are intensifying, and combined with shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic," the report said, listing the major factors contributing to a less open global economy.

Zhang Yuyan, an economist and academician of CASS, said that the number of global trade intervention measures exceeded 4,700 from 2020 to 2023, significantly higher than the levels before 2020.

Economic sanctions are working against opening, imposing a negative impact on globalization, said Nobel laureate economist Christopher Pissarides at a symposium after the release of the report. "I hope they end soon, but I don't quite see it," he added.

Despite these challenges, China is presented as one of the positive exceptions in the global landscape of openness, based on the data revealed by the report.

China has made significant progress in expanding its opening-up. From 2008 to 2023, China's openness index rose from 0.6789 to 0.7596, an increase of 11.89 percent, placing it among the top economies globally in terms of growth rate.

"China's opening up is a model for mutually beneficial engagement. In the current complex and ever-changing international landscape, events like the China International Import Expo (CIIE) have become shining symbols of China's commitment to opening up," said Qu Weixi, director of the Research Center for Hongqiao International Economic Forum.

The report also underscores key areas of global cooperation that have emerged despite rising anti-globalization sentiment.

Digital opening-up, environmental and climate governance, and the service sector are identified by the report as significant areas where international collaboration has gained momentum.

These sectors present new opportunities for global growth and suggest the potential for a more interconnected and cooperative world economy in the face of rising protectionism, according to the report.

"We hope the release of this report will spark more in-depth and widespread discussions about global openness. By fostering greater consensus and collective efforts, we can contribute to the development of an open global economy," Qu said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Two people died and two others were injured in a crash. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office said Rufino Pedraza Rebollar, 46, and Fabian Pedraza Rebollar, 38, died after a crash on on San Antonio's Northwest Side on Tuesday. mbbirdy/Getty Images

Two people died and two others were injured in a crash on San Antonio's Northwest Side.

According to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, a vehicle was being loaded onto a trailer on Interstate 10 heading westbound near Fair Oaks Parkway when it was rear-ended by another car.

When the sheriff's office responded to the scene at just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, one of the passengers had died. Three people were rushed to a local hospital.

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The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office said Rufino Pedraza Rebollar, 46, and Fabian Pedraza Rebollar, 38, died in the crash.

ALSO READ: Person camping in drainage ditch rescued during overnight flood by San Antonio Fire Department
This action highlights the challenges of enforcing sanctions and the ongoing efforts to restrict Russia's access to critical supplies.

The companies are accused of supplying Russia with machine tools and other equipment via China.

Four entities in Central Asia have been added to the US Treasury Departments sanctions list, accused of providing machine tools and other dual-use equipment to Russia via China in violation of US rules barring trade that can support the Kremlins war effort in Ukraine.

The four entities, one from Kazakhstan, one from Kyrgyzstan and two from Uzbekistan, were among 275 businesses and individuals added to the sanctions list at the end of October.

A Treasury Department statement outlined what it called the Ushko Machine Tools Procurement Scheme, in which an Almaty-based company, Kazstanex, and Tashkent-based Uzstanex procured machine tools from Europe, then shipped them onward to Shanghai Winsun Co. in China. From there, the products were sent to Russia to a company called Open Systems Development Technology. Russian citizens, identified as Sergey Ushko, Alexander Ushko, Igor Khomenko and Tatyana Khomenko, are listed as coordinating the deliveries, according to the Treasury Department. All entities and individuals named in the scheme are now under US sanctions.

A Bishkek-based firm called LLC Service Fly Bishkek and a second Uzbek-firm, LLC The Elite Investment Group also landed on the US sanctions list.

The United States and our allies will continue to take decisive action across the globe to stop the flow of critical tools and technologies that Russia needs to wage its illegal and immoral war against Ukraine, the statement quoted Deputy Treasury Wally Adeyemo as saying.

Central Asia has long been seen as a conduit used by Russia to evade sanctions. The Russia-Ukraine war has forced Central Asian leaders to walk a fine line as they find themselves caught in the middle of a great-power struggle and strive to keep the opposing sides, Russia and China on the one hand, the United States and European Union on the other, content. Kazakhstan, for example, officially adheres to Western trade sanctions imposed on Russia. But numerous reports of sanctions-busting behavior by entities based in Kazakhstan, as well as elsewhere in Central Asia, have been documented.

Earlier in 2024, several Kazakh entities were added to the sanctions list. Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baibazarov, commenting on sanctions, said the imposition of secondary penalties against some Kazakh entities would not have a significant impact on the overall economy. On a national scale, Kazakhstan complies with sanctions, Baibazarov maintained.

By Almaz Kumenov via Eurasianet.org

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The central Iraqi government has decided to start delivering crude oil from Kurdistan to the state-owned oil company or the oil ministry, local media reported, noting that the price that Baghdad is going to pay to the regional government of Kurdistan is yet to be determined.

For starters, however, Baghdad would pay Erbil $16 per barrel of crude until all related expenses are calculated, Iraq News reports.

Deliveries of Kurdish crude oil have been suspended for over a year amid a dispute between the central government in Baghdad and Turkey over who had the power to authorize these deliveries. The impasse followed an International Chamber of Commerce ruling in March 2023. The ICC ruled in favor of Iraq, which had argued that Turkey should not allow Kurdish oil exports via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline and the Turkish port of Ceyhan without approval from the federal government of Iraq.

The ruling had an impact on international oil companies operating in Kurdistan, which suspended operations until they had clarity on any changes in their terms of operation in the region. There was also a dispute between the government in Baghdad and the one in Erbil over these oil deliveries and who gets to keep the money from their sales on international markets.

At one point, OPEC also joined the party, reportedly asking the Kurdistan government to allow the export of 200,000 bpd of crude via the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The Kurdish news agency that published the report back in April said that the request had then been forwarded to the government in Baghdad.

Iraq is OPECs second-largest oil exporter, right after Saudi Arabia. Kurdistan is one of its main producing regions, accounting for 0.5% of the global total in oil flows prior to the 2023 export suspension resulting from the Turkey-Iraq dispute.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil prices trended lower in midmorning Asian trade today, pressured by the first results from the U.S. elections and the latest weekly U.S. oil inventory report from the American Petroleum Institute.

At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $73.68 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $70.26 per barrel. Both were down by over 2.4% from the markets opening.

The initial signs have been favourable for the Republicans and while it's still early days, U.S. yields and the U.S. dollar are both trading higher, IG analyst Tony Sycamore told Reuters. This in turn is weighing on the crude oil price which has had a good run in recent sessions, he added.

US foreign policy is shaping up to be a potential factor for oil markets in the near term, especially with regard to Iran, Commonwealth Bank of Australia analyst Vivek Dhar told Bloomberg. He added that markets now must consider whether OPEC+ will perennially be forced to push their decision to reverse their voluntary oil production cuts.

If Trump wins, it is bullish for the oil market in the short-term due to prospects of tighter sanctions on Iranian oil, ANZ Research analyst Soni Kumari told Reuters.

Bloomberg meanwhile reported that oil traders are piling into bullish bets in case of a spike in Middle Eastern tensions that could lead to much higher oil prices. The report cited data showing that on Monday alone, some 10 million barrels worth of call options for December were traded at a price spread of $90/$100 per barrel. The expiry date for the contracts is November 15.

The Monday trade volume is an extension of a rather bullish October: interest in call options on higher oil prices reached a record high last month, per Bloomberg, which also noted that even after the price retreat following Israels retaliatory strike against Iran, premiums on call options versus put options remain at the highest since Russias invasion in the Ukraine in February 2022.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Russian data show the nations crude production in October was nearly in-line with its OPEC+ quota. The country pumped 8.973 million barrels a day of crude last month, up by ~3,000 barrels a day compared with September, and just 5,000 barrels a day above the nations quota for the month. Russia is currently implementing two sets of curbs to its crude output: a 500,000 barrel-a-day reduction announced early last year, a s well as a 471,000 barrel-a-day cut it promised in March that will end at the end of the current year.

Back in July, Russia, Iraq and Kazakhstan submitted their compensation plans to the OPEC Secretariat for overproduced crude volumes for the first six months of 2024. According to OPEC, the entire over-produced volumes will be fully compensated for over the next 15 months through September 2025, with Russia paying back a cumulative 480 kb/d, Iraq 1,184 kb/d and Kazakhstan 620 kb/d.

According to commodity analysts at Standard Chartered, the compensatory output cuts by the three OPEC members work out to a combined 370 kb/d reduction in October, and then an amount varying between 162 kb/d and 206 kb/d for November 2024 through to September 2025. StanChart has worked out that adding the compensation schedule to the recently announced reduction in targets due to delaying the implementation of tapering will result in OPEC production clocking in at 530 kb/d lower in Q4-2024; 540 kb/d lower in Q1 and Q2-2025 and 560 kb/d lower in Q3-2025, if all commitments are kept. StanChart has argued that the market's current assumption that there will be no compensation reduction is wrong because its highly unlikely that other OPEC+ countries would take it lightly. StanChart says Saudi Arabia, in particular, is unlikely to accept any further backsliding on promises made by the overproducers, noting that the high-profile visits to Iraq and Kazakhstan by the OPEC Secretary General, Haitham al Ghais suggests that OPEC intends to follow up on the promised cuts.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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West African country Senegal is on track to see the first LNG shipment from a major gas and LNG project operated by BP early next year, Senegals Deputy Energy Minister Cheikh Niane told Bloomberg on Wednesday.

The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) continues to be on track per the latest timeline, and the first gas extraction is expected this year, Niane told Bloomberg on the sidelines of the ADIPEC energy industry event in Abu Dhabi.

The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG export project offshore Mauritania and Senegal is being developed by UK-based supermajor BP, and has seen several delays in recent years.

GTA was expected to come on stream last year.

BP and project partner Kosmos are developing the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Phase 1 project, which will use a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel to produce LNG from the massive natural gas find offshore Mauritania and Senegal in West Africa made in 2015.

Phase 1 is set to produce around 2.3 million tons of LNG per year and the project is expected to produce LNG for more than 20 years, enabling Mauritania and Senegal to become a global LNG hub, BP says.

In June 2024, the company announced a major milestone as the FPSO vessel for the Phase 1 LNG development arrived at its final location offshore on the maritime border of Mauritania and Senegal.

The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project will produce gas from reservoirs in deep water, approximately 120 km (75 miles) offshore, through a subsea system.

The LNG project, together with the Sangomar oil development, operated by Australias Woodside, is expected to drive economic growth in Senegal in the coming years.

In June 2024, Woodside achieved first oil production at Sangomar, which is Senegals inaugural oil project.

Another gas project, Yakaar-Teranga, currently owned solely by Senegal, is expected to reach a final investment decision next year, Senegals Niane told Bloomberg.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Abu Dhabis national oil company ADNOC signed on Wednesday a long-term supply agreement for its Ruwais LNG project currently under development and will deliver 1 million tons of the super-chilled fuel to German company SEFE for 15 years.

The deal signed today converts the previous Heads of Agreement between ADNOC and German state firm SEFE announced in March into a definitive agreement.

The liquefied natural gas that will be delivered to SEFE will primarily be sourced from the Ruwais LNG project, with deliveries expected to start in 2028 upon commencement of its commercial operations.

So far, ADNOC has secured more than 7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of Ruwais LNG projects production capacity as committed to international customers through long-term agreements, the UAEs company said.

Commenting on the deal with the German company today, Fatema Al Nuaimi, Executive Vice President, Downstream Business Management at ADNOC, said, Natural gas accounts for over a quarter of Germanys energy supply and we are very pleased to support the countrys energy security through this landmark agreement with SEFE for the lower-carbon Ruwais LNG project.

In June, ADNOC took the final investment decision to move forward with the Ruwais LNG project, which will more than double the existing LNG production capacity in the United Arab Emirates.

The project will consist of two 4.8 million metric tons per annum (mmtpa) LNG liquefaction trains with a total capacity of 9.6 mmtpa. This would more than double ADNOCs existing UAE LNG production capacity to around 15 mmtpa, as the company builds its international LNG portfolio.

The project, located in Al Ruwais Industrial City in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, will be the first LNG export facility in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to run on clean power, making it one of the worlds lowest-carbon intensity LNG plants, ADNOC says.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The large commodity trading firms Vitol and Trafigura, as well as supermajor BP, are the biggest and dominant buyers of fuels lifted from the Dangote refinery in Nigeria, Africas newest and largest crude processing facility, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing data from Geneva-based oil and gas analytics firm Precise Intelligence.

The Dangote refinery began the production of fuels in January 2024, marking the start-up of the plant that has seen years of delays. The plant began to ramp up processing rates in the middle of this year and has yet to reach its huge capacity to process as much as 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude.

At full capacity, the refinery, owned by the Dangote Group of Africas richest person, Aliko Dangote, is expected to meet 100% of Nigerias demand for all refined petroleum products. So far, Nigeria, the biggest oil producer in Africa, has been importing all of the fuel it consumes.

The refinery will also have a surplus of each of the products for export. It has yet to reach full capacity, expected at some point next year.

So far, most of the refinerys shipments of fuel have been picked up by the three major oil tradersthe worlds largest independent oil trader, Vitol Group, commodity trading giant Trafigura, and integrated oil and gas major BP, according to Precise Intelligences data.

The figures also showed that the Dangote refinery has loaded nearly 45 million barrels of fuel since it began operations earlier this year. Diesel and fuel oil have dominated loadings as they have accounted for 60% of all shipments.

Aliko Dangote has discussed crude supply to the refinery and fuel supply to Nigeria with Nigerias President Bola Tinubu.

In October, the Dangote refinery received four cargoes from state oil firm NNPC under a sale agreement to deliver crude which the refinery will pay in naira, the local currency, Nigerian media reported at the time.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Unofficial election results late Tuesday showed that newcomers and incumbents were leading in contested subdistrict races for the Omaha Public Schools board.

Three newcomers, two incumbents and one former board member are on the general election ballot for three contested seats. As of 10 p.m., incumbent Nick Thielen had 72% of the votes compared to his opponent Paul Anderson in the Subdistrict 3 race, based in north-central Omaha.

Thielen, a Democrat, was first elected to the board in 2020 and works as an attorney. Anderson, a political independent, has also previously ran in local races including state treasurer and Omaha City Council.

If reelected, Thielen said he looks forward to reorganizing the district's next strategic plan so it can have a stronger focus on fewer goals.

"I'm sure the results will hold," he said. "I'm looking forward to digging in on the work we have started over the last year  especially related to literacy."

In the northwest Omaha Subdistrict 5 seat, newcomer Gini Magnuson was in the lead with nearly 56% of the votes in front of Spencer Head, incumbent and current board president. Head, a Republican, was elected along with Thielen and is the CEO of EZPolitix in Omaha. Magnuson, a Democrat, has a 20-year career in finance and currently works in risk management.

Magnuson said one of the most important priorities she discusses with people is improving the district's staffing shortage.

Erik Servellon and Kimara Snipes are competing in east Omaha's Subdistrict 9, a seat currently held by Tracy Casady, who isn't running for reelection. As of 10 p.m., the Subdistrict 9 race was close with Snipes in the lead at 55% of the votes.

Snipes, the executive director of the nonprofit One Omaha, said she knew she wanted to rejoin the OPS board when she found out Casady wasn't running for reelection. She said if she were elected, she would focus on increasing community engagement in OPS.

Snipes had to resign from her position in Subdistrict 8 when she moved in 2021 after spending three years in her seat.

She said while she's nervous about the close race, she feels pretty good about what the outcome will be after Tuesday.

"Regardless of what happens, the work doesn't stop," she said. "I will still be paying attention. I'm excited to go back, assuming the numbers continue to go as they are right now."

Snipes said teachers and community members were grateful for her accessibility when she was on the board and she hopes to continue that if elected.

"I'm excited to be able to be there to represent people again," she said.

Ricky Smith, incumbent and current board vice president, is the sole candidate for Subdistrict 1 in northeast Omaha while incumbent Jane Erdenberger is the sole candidate for Subdistrict 7 in south-central Omaha.

The OPS board has had to juggle several challenges and changes over recent years. Earlier this year, the board managed the hiring of Superintendent Matt Ray after Superintendent Cheryl Logan resigned. Members also approved a historical tax levy decrease this fall.

OPS school board positions are nonpartisan, unpaid and last four years. While board members elected Tuesday night will be sworn in after the new year, the OPS school board will still have one vacancy to deal with that can't be filled by the general election.

Margo Juarez was appointed to the board in December 2021 is leaving to run for the Nebraska Legislature.

"I absolutely enjoyed serving on the school board, and I guess I found it as a pleasant surprise  holding a position of this nature and public service and going into it completely blind," Juarez said. "I feel very fortunate that I had the exposure, because it definitely boosted my confidence to think about other areas, which is why I pursued the legislative position."

Juarez said her favorite part of being a part of the OPS board was hiring Ray, a process that took several months and many meeting discussions.

"It was an important step and I was really amazed at the depth of support that Mr. Ray received in the community, and so that really was an amazing learning process," Juarez said.
Roger Carlos III, severely beaten after San Antonio police officers mistakenly thought he was the man they were pursuing, was paralyzed after surgery to ease pain from the incident. Courtesy/Courtesy photo

A federal jury is deliberating whether two San Antonio police officers should pay damages to a man they forcibly arrested in 2014 on the far West Side, a case of mistaken identity that led to a paralyzing injury in a subsequent surgery.

Rogelio Roger Carlos III, 52, was tackled, kicked and beaten May 20, 2014, while he took pictures of a site under construction for his familys pediatric clinic at Westover Hills and Rogers Road near Texas 151.

Three San Antonio police officers  an undercover detective who goes by John Doe in court proceedings and SWAT officers Carlos Chavez and Virgilio Gonzalez  threw him to the ground, believing he was a suspect police were chasing. Gonzalez was later dropped from the resulting lawsuit.

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Carlos drove himself to a hospital, but after constant pain for more than a year, he opted for surgery that left him in a wheelchair requiring 24-hour care, he told the jury.

Carlos can no longer take care of himself, said his lead attorney, Philip G. Bernal, in his closing argument.

There was an assault. The condition warranted surgery. There was a complication that left him paralyzed, Bernal told jurors, urging them to disregard claims by the defendants lawyers that Carlos had arthritis in his spine and a work injury to a shoulder that helped complicate the surgery.

READ ALSO: Paralyzed man seeking damages from two SAPD officers says the pain never stops

Hes been in pain ever since the incident, Bernal said. Every day he is at war with his own body.

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Bernal asked for damages from $4 million to $12 million for lost wages and the past and future expenses needed to care for Carlos.

Attorneys for for Doe and Chavez said they did not contest that Carlos is entitled to damages, but that there was no evidence that the arrest incident caused his paralysis.

They want you to think its my clients fault, but Carlos suffered from a slow moving degenerative disc disease, a pre-existing condition, said Lowell F. Denton, one of the defense attorneys.

Denton asked the jury to be objective, and review all the medical records to determine what caused the paralysis.

In April, another federal jury determined that Doe and Chavez were found to have used excessive force, violating Carlos civil rights, and that their actions were not covered by qualified immunity, which is a legal principle that shields officers from civil lawsuits.

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Gonzalez was sued along with the other officers and accused of using excessive force, but the jury found that he did not go beyond legal limits in his actions with Carlos.

The trial over whether and how much Carlos should be compensated began last week before U.S. District Judge Fred Biery.

The jury heard several days of testimony about medical records, spinal injuries, and assessments from experts on how much it would cost to care for someone with the disabilities Carlos now suffers.

He testified the constant care he needs as a quadriplegic, which he gets from living with one of his older siblings. Carlos said he can drive, as long as someone helps him into and out of his car. He has sought work but is limited in what he can do.

Carlos was married at the time of the incident but has since divorced. His three young sons visit him at his sister Christinas home.

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He cried on the stand as he described how his sister must perform a bowel program that can take anywhere from three to four hours a day. He said that process is unpredictable, has taken away his dignity, and has been an issue for him as he has sought work.

Retired from American Airlines, where he worked in fleet service, his only benefit from the airline is free travel for him and a companion, Carlos said.
Nebraska's polls for the 2024 election have now closed and votes have been counted.

Here are the live updates from the Omaha World-Herald as results rolled in:

Live Nebraska results for the 2024 election

Want to see live election results for Nebraska?

You can find them here:

12-week ban approved, right to abortion rejected

9:00 a.m. | After midnight Wednesday, the Associated Press called the race for Initiative 434, which would add a ban on abortions after the first trimester into the Nebraska Constitution. Voters rejected Initiative 439, which would have enshrined the right to abortion.

It could be days before Bacon-Vargas race is clear

1:30 a.m. | In incomplete returns in Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District as of 1 a.m., Vargas was holding a lead of just 700 votes out of more than 260,000 counted, a margin of two-tenths of 1%. With still thousands of votes left to be counted, it seems likely that the final outcome of the race won't be known until at least Friday.

In dueling Nebraska abortion initiatives, 12-week ban appears to have more votes

1 a.m. | In close race between two competing abortion initiatives in Nebraska, voters appear to have favored solidifying the state's current 12-week ban.

After midnight Wednesday, the Associated Press called the race for Initiative 434, which would add a ban on abortions after the first trimester into the Nebraska Constitution. It had not issued a race call on Initiative 439.

Initiative 434, known as the Protect Women and Children campaign, led by 53.9% to 46%. Initiative 439, known as the Protect Our Rights campaign, which would expand abortion access up to "fetal viability," trailed 49.9 % to 50%.

Each initiative needs a majority of "yes" votes in order to succeed, but because the two initiatives directly conflict, if both receive enough votes to pass, the initiative with the higher number of "yes" votes will make it into the state constitution.

Flood, Smith both declared winners in Nebraska U.S. House races

12:30 a.m. | Votes counted late Tuesday pushed incumbent Rep. Mike Flood to a double-digit victory over challenger Carol Blood in the 1st District. Rep. Adrian Smith prevailed by a 4-1 margin in District 3. Both are Republicans.

'I'm still standing': Supporters celebrate Fischer's narrow win

12:20 p.m. | Elton Johns Im still standing blared out of the speakers as U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer entered the room at Beardmore Event Center in Bellevue. The 1983 classic fit the moment.

She was still standing, as were the hundreds of people in attendance.

A roar crescendoed as Fischer, the Republican incumbent, took the stage to deliver an election-night victory speech after defeating independent Dan Osborn.

It took forever. But thank goodness, said Ron Hagge, 59. Its a relief, really, is what it is. We needed Deb to be in there.

Hagge, from Lincoln, doesnt think Osborn wouldve been right for Nebraska. He came out of nowhere, Hagge said, with a bunch of money.

Suzanne Hatfield, standing next to Hagge, said theyre a military family and they feel Fischer has done a lot to help their family and others alike.

We just feel like her record speaks for itself, said Hatfield, 57. Its a proven record.

Fischer didnt jump ahead until around 10:20 p.m. Forty minutes later, at a large round table, Fischer and family passed around a phone and celebrated, one cheerful shriek at a time.

As of 11:09, when it was called, Fischer led by roughly 17,000 votes with 72% of the ballots counted. And her victory gave Republicans control of Senate for the first time in four years.

I love it, because I I feel like were finally going to get something done in this country instead of everybody fighting each other, Hagge said. Better things will come out of that.

Medical marijuana passes easily, but legal hurdles remain

11:55 p.m. | About 7 in 10 Nebraska voters supported the two medical marijuana measures. But a civil trial challenging signatures on the initiative petitions supporting puts them in jeopardy.

AP declares Fischer slim victor over Osborn

11:50 p.m. | Sen. Deb Fischer prevailed  barely  over independent challenger Dan Osborn in a stunningly close U.S. Senate race.

Bacon, Vargas deliver another 2nd District cliffhanger

11:40 p.m. | Tony Vargas barely led incumbent Rep. Don Bacon in his third try at the 2nd District congressional seat, but thousands of votes remain uncounted.

Fischer, Osborn locked in tight U.S. Senate race

11:30 p.m. | Two-term U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer holds a slim lead against independent challenger Dan Osborn.

Nebraska delivers 'Blue Dot' to Kamala Harris

11:25 p.m. | The Democratic candidate claimed the 2nd Congressional District's single electoral vote for the third time since 2008.

Amendment 439 backer predicts victory for abortion-rights measure

11:20 p.m. | The founder of a nonprofit dedicated to recruiting and training women candidates in Nebraska said she thinks Amendment 439 will become part of the Nebraska Constitution.

In an interview at the Tony Vargas campaign watch party, Denise Blaya-Powell of Women Who Run Nebraska said the initiative  which would give Nebraskans the right to an abortion up to fetal viability  will be approved by voters in Tuesday's election.

The initiative had more "for" votes than the opposing Amendment 434 as of 10:30 Tuesday night, though it was considered to be too close to call. Initiative 434 would make abortion legal only in the first trimester of pregnancy.

During this election cycle, she said, her organization focused on issues that affect a woman's ability to be successful and run for office.

"We were proud to support 439," she said. "The right to control one's body feels like such a fundamental issue."

A spokesperson for Amendment 434 was not readily available at the party.

Dems poised to make gains in non-partisan Legislature

11:10 p.m. | Margo Juarez wins McDonnell's South Omaha seat. Kathleen Kauth, Terrell McKinney, and John Cavanaugh are reelected.

Voters give thumbs up to paid sick leave

11:00 p.m. | Labor leaders called the passage of a measure guaranteeing paid sick leave a "big win" for Nebraska workers.

Mixed results for OPS incumbents

10:45 p.m. | Nick Thielen, Gini Magnuson hold advantages in school board races.

AP projects Smith winner in U.S. House tilt; Flood-Blood race still close

10:20 p.m. | Rep. Adrian Smith holds big lead as AP projects him the winner in District 3. The District 1 race between Mike Flood and Carol Blood remains uncalled.

At Vargas' party, it's getting loud

9:25 p.m. | As numbers come in from election headquarters, the crowd at the Tony Vargas watch party is getting more and more raucous.

They roared when they saw Kamala Harris was beating Donald Trump by 11% in Nebraska's 2nd District at about 9 p.m., and roared even louder when figures on two big-screen TVs Vargas showed significantly up on U.S. Rep. Don Bacon with about 75% of the votes counted.

Former U.S. Rep. John Cavanaugh, father of Sen. John Cavanaugh of the Nebraska Legislature, was upbeat about the prospect of a win for his son, who was soundly ahead of opponent Julia Palzer, in addition to an upset victory for Vargas.

"It all looks terrific," the senior Cavanaugh said.

'I'm going independent,' says GOP voter who has known Osborn for years

9:15 p.m. | At 8:30 p.m., supporters were continuing to fill into independent U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborns watch party in La Vista as Gretna artist Tyler Anthony sang and played the guitar.

CeCe and Chuck Carlson of Omaha said theyve known Osborn almost his whole life as a friend of his parents. CeCe said shes always been an independent, while Chuck is a registered Republican.

This time Im going independent, he said.

CeCe said she appreciates that Osborn has focused more on clarifying who he is and responding to attacks from Fischer rather than attacking his opponent.

He would point out the lies that were said about him, she said. We knew they were lies, but I was glad he came out and said, thats a lie, thats not me.

Patrick Morton of Bellevue said Osborn offered for him to work for his campaign after he was injured in a work accident. He said hes seen firsthand how Osborn helps those around him and has been excited to see Osborns campaign grow.

Its really taken off, he said. You know when you started seeing all the commercials against him, you start noticing that he is actually getting somewhere, hes making progress, because they were scared.

AP: Trump wins Nebraska, 'Blue Dot' vote still in limbo

AP calls U.S. Senate race for Ricketts

8:15 p.m. | U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts will be heading back to Washington after winning Nebraska's special two-year Senate election over Democratic challenger Preston Love.

'Family prayers' for GOP at Bellevue watch party

8:10 p.m. | An early arriving crowd trickled into the Beardmore Event Center, at 3750 Raynor Parkway in Bellevue, and scattered across the sea of decorated tables on each side of the room.

Chuck Real, a Cook native residing in Omaha, and his wife were among the first to sit down. Theyre eager, especially Chuck.

Im really looking forward to the outcome, Real, 81, told The World-Herald. Im hoping the Republicans have a majority by the time the senate is in. The presidency, well take that too.

Real, a registered independent whos voted since the 1960 election, believes theres an enthusiasm about Republicans that wasnt there in 2020. The early crowd proves it, he said.

That confidence comes from somewhere different for Janice Jordan, though. Sitting at a table on the opposite side of the room from Real, it was in the people right in front of her.

Family prayers, said Jordan, 71, from Bellevue. She pointed at the kids in the seats across the table. Its a lot of prayers.

Vargas party optimistic, expects 'long night'

8:05 p.m. | People started gathering at the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel near 36th and Harney Streets at about 7:30 p.m. for the Tony Vargas for Congress watch party.

Meg Mandy, senior adviser to the campaign, said she expected a couple hundred Vargas backers to attend. Vargas, a Democrat, is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Bacon in the 2nd District, made up of Omaha and surrounding communities.

The polls hadn't yet closed, but Mandy was optimistic about the night ahead. She said the local election commissioner had reported record turnout in some areas, and thought that was good news for the Vargas campaign.

"We are hopeful and feeling great," she said.

She also predicted that results would not be official until late in the evening, maybe even after midnight. When Vargas and Bacon squared off in the 2022 election, it wasn't called until 1 a.m., she said.

"It will be a long night," she added.

Now its time for results

8 p.m. | Polls have closed and Nebraska election workers have begun the work of reporting the results of the 2024 election.

Check out photos from the Nebraska election watch parties here:

Stay tuned to Omaha.com for the Nebraska election results

Tick, tick, tick ...

7:55 p.m. | Polls set to close in five minutes. First Nebraska results expected soon after.

'Every time we vote, we make history'

7:00 p.m. | Laverne Mack was feeling very good about having voted at King Science & Technology Middle School Tuesday evening.

Were making history, said Mack, 62. Every time we vote we make history.

She marked her ballot for Kamala Harris. Its time to have a woman lead the nation, Mack said.

I want Kamala to win, Mack said. I want to see some change in this United States.

She was among more than 800 people who had voted in the two-precinct polling place by about 6 p.m.

Cameron Brown, 32, took his young son Cameron Brown Jr. to the polls at King Science.

Its a good thing for him to see, said the elder Brown, who had just gotten off work.

He said he votes in every election, including City of Omaha elections, because its important. In this election, he wanted to use his vote to make sure this area gets the funds and attention we deserve. He also wanted to vote for the ballot measures to legalize medical marijuana.

Brown cast his vote for president for Harris. A nonpartisan, he was open to voting for Trump, he said, but was put off by a lot of what Trump has said and done.

Marita Franklin, whos in her 50s, said too many people dont do what she considers a civic duty and vote.

We need to speak up and get people in office who are for the people and our issues, Franklin said.

For her, Kamala Harris is such a person.

She takes to heart what we feel, Franklin said, Shes not just looking at the issues that people just want to make a point about. I feel that he (Trump) is just going to go with what the people with the most money want.

A DJ at the polls

6:30 p.m.| James Buckley Jr., whose DJ name is DJ Big Tate, performed outside the polling place Tuesday night at King Science & Technology Middle School in North Omaha. He was one of several local DJs who performed in Omaha and in other cities with large numbers of underrepresented people as part of an effort by a nonpartisan nationally group called DJs at the Polls. The group is trying to increase voter participation.

This is more than just another gig, said Buckley, who grew up in the neighborhood. Im out here encouraging people to vote.  Its a very fruitful moment to be out here doing this.

Presidential pick 'most important thing'

5:45 p.m. | Logan Wilson, 21, and her boyfriend, Logan Meyer, 22, said they saw the presidential race as the most important thing on the ballot.

"It's the reason we're both out here today," Wilson said as they left their polling place at Morning Star Lutheran Church, 331 S. 85th Ave.

Both said they voted for Donald Trump because they believed he would make the economy stronger and secure U.S. borders.

They said they came to vote against Initiative 439, which lifts most restrictions on abortion, and for Initiative 434, which broadly bans abortions after the first trimester of pregnancy. Both attributed their position to their Christian faith.

Undecided until the last minute

5:05 p.m. | Barbara Onken waited until the last minute to decide who would get her vote for president.

It was a gut-churner for me. Im not sure I decided until I got in there, said Onken, 57, shortly after casting her ballot at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn.

She said over the years she has been a Democrat, Republican and independent, and often splits her ticket. She voted for Donald Trump in 2016, but not in 2020.

So how did she come down this time?

I voted for Kamala, Onken said.

There was no wavering, though, in her support for Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon in the 2nd Congressional District race. Her husband served in the Air Force with Bacon, and they know him personally.

He does help the veterans, she said.

Commissioner: No reports of fraud

5:00 p.m. | One might wonder, in these times, has there been any voter fraud on Election Day in Douglas County?

We posed the question to Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse Tuesday afternoon.

We havent had any reports of that, Kruse said.

There was one mysterious incident at a polling place, but it didnt exactly take the detective skills of Miss Marple, or Nancy Drew for that matter, to resolve it.

A poll worker called the election commission office to report something that looked suspicious at first blush. A woman had come in to vote, but when she went to sign her name on the voter rolls, there was already a signature on the line where she was supposed to sign.

The poll worker said, I think this might be voter fraud, Kruse said. But in about 30 seconds, we had it figured out.

Another voter with a similar name, who was on the same page of the voter rolls, had signed on the wrong line. So election officials had the second voter sign on the errantly signing first voters line. A worker drew arrows between the signatures to indicate they were switched.

We made a note here for our canvass report, for our audit, Kruse said.

So, no, he said, no credible reports of fraud.

A food truck at North Omaha voting spot

4:37 p.m. | Neither Patricia Spears nor Kimberly Bruist have voted in a presidential election since Barack Obama was on the ballot. But this year, the threat of a second Donald Trump presidency brought them both to vote at the Urban League of Nebraskas Family Resource Center at 3040 Lake St.

We felt strongly enough that we were like, no, we need to vote this year, Bruist said Us having the rights over our bodies has been called into question.

Felons cant do anything, so how can a felon be president? Spears said.

Shavette Giddins, also at the Urban League, said she was driven to vote mostly because of state and local races, including her support of the medical marijuana ballot initiatives. At the presidential level, Giddins said she didn't trust either candidate, but would be supporting Harris over Trump.

I think shes the safer option, Giddins said.

Joyce Poole took advantage of the food truck parked outside the Urban League.

She votes every time she said as she waited for her order.

The 71-year-old voted for Kamala Harris. She was concerned about some of the things former president Donald Trump has said on the campaign trail.

With Trump, when hes talking about cutting social security  thats how Im living, she said. Taking away womens rights and stuff like that.

LaKenya Haskin wanted to make sure that her voice was heard.

Thats why she voted Tuesday afternoon at the Urban League.

The 43-year-old said there is a need for change.

Im very for Kamala Harris, she said. I believe in the things she has to say. Womens rights are very important to me.

As a veteran, Tina St. Cloud says she always makes sure to vote.

St. Cloud, who was in the U.S. Army, voted Tuesday afternoon at the Urban League

The 56-year-old said she voted for former president Donald Trump.

Kamala has had four years to do her thing and hasnt done anything for us, she said.

Immigration was also a big issue for her.

I think the influx of people coming here needs to stop, she said. We need to have better border control.

Theodore Burr voted Tuesday afternoon at the Urban League.

Its historic a woman may become president of the United States, he said.

The 66-year-old said he voted for vice president Kamala Harris because he liked her campaign.

Everything she said that she would do, he said.

Nice and unexpected sight at the Elkhorn polling place: A line of early morning voters

4:30 p.m. | Rhonda Pepper saw an unexpected sight when she opened the polling place at West Dodge Station Elementary School in Elkhorn on a dreary Tuesday morning.

A line.

I dont know that Ive ever seen a line, eager and waiting at 7:45 a.m.  especially in the rain, said Pepper, who has been a poll worker for the past 10 years. Its nice to see.

By noon, 200 voters already had cast ballots at West Dodge Station, on California Street west of 180th Street.

This has been the busiest, but one of the smoothest, said Susan Goracke, the Douglas County Election Commission inspector at the site. People were very prepared. They knew their precincts.

The biggest problem, Goracke said, was people spoiling their ballots by misvoting.

The reason? The two abortion-related measures, Initiatives 434 and 439. Initiative 434 would enshrine a 12-week abortion ban in the state constitution. Initiative 439 would add a right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability.

Voters needed to vote yes on one and no on the other, depending upon their views on abortion.

By noon, about 10 people had asked to revote, said Goracke, who has worked polls for more than 20 years. Typically, she only sees one or two in a whole day.

'Big' voter turnout, ballot sleeve shortages

4 p.m. | Like raindrops adding up to a stream, anecdotal accounts of voters queuing up Tuesday morning are amounting to what looks like heavier-than-expected turnout at metro Omaha polls.

Weve had big turnouts really all across the county, but it seems like its been a little heavier out in the western part of the county, Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse said early this afternoon. Millard, Elkhorn, there have been some big numbers out there.

The mid-day reports came from district election supervisors.

Weve seen numbers in the 300s (at some polling places), 350, there were a couple 400s out west, Kruse said. Weve seen some 300s in the east, but mostly in the 200s which is pretty typical.

The large surge of voters at opening time caused a rare problem of several polling places in west Omaha ran short of ballot sleeves, the plastic frames into which voters place their completed ballots before handing them to poll workers to slide into ballot boxes. The sleeves protect voter anonymity. Normally poll workers hand each voter a sleeve with their ballot.

Polling place workers followed county election manual protocol and executed the prescribed work-around. They kept back one or two ballot sleeves for poll workers beside the ballot boxes.

Then when the voters come up, they put their ballot in the sleeve, and then the poll worker drops it into the ballot box, Kruse said. So it doesnt prevent anybody from voting, its just a little out of the norm.

Kruse said voters have the option of waiting until a sleeve is available.

He said the problem had abated as crowds dwindled in late morning, but he anticipated it could recur later in the day.

As he spoke at the election commission office, couriers were headed out to pick up ballots cast between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Kruse expected them to return with full boxes of ballots.

I think from some of the bigger precincts out west, we could have more than one box, which we never see, except for occasionally in a presidential (election), he said.

Generally, Election Day voting has gone smoothly, Kruse said.

He had received no reports of voter harassment or intimidation.

Weve had a few calls from one organization of poll watchers thinking maybe another shouldnt be doing certain things, Kruse said.

Polling place inspectors, who are basically on-site election supervisors, talked with the poll watchers involved and we didnt think anything nefarious was going on, Kruse said.

Could Douglas County turnout exceed his prediction of 73%?

Let me say I hope so, Kruse said, noting that he heard reports of 60 to 100 people in line to vote first thing in the morning. It does seem like voter turnout is a little heavier than I thought itd be, especially this morning.

A Walz not voting for Harris

3:45 p.m. | Brandy Walz of Omaha doesnt want to see her husbands second cousin anywhere near the White House.

Neither she nor her husband has ever met Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Kamala Harris Nebraska-born running mate, but they would be voting against him.

Were part of the family thats related to him, but we dont share his politics, said Walz, 49, just after she voted early Tuesday afternoon outside St. Andrews United Methodist Church 15050 West Maple Rd. in northwest Omaha. We have very, very different views and morals that I would like to uphold.

Politics has divided many American families between red and blue. The Walz familys divisions played out on the national stage, when some of Tim Walzs Nebraska relatives posted a group photo in which theyre wearing Nebraska Walzs for Trump.

Brandy Walz wasnt in the photo, but she agreed with the sentiment.

Were huge Trump supporters, she said. Were here to help him win.

Jenna Guynan, a 38-year-old registered nurse, said civic duty prompted her to vote Tuesday afternoon at St. Andrews United Methodist Church.

And her moral compass, she said, guided her vote for President.

I really wanted the most moral and ethical person to win  the one that scares me the least, Guynan said. Thats Kamala.

She also voted independent Dan Osborn  a fellow Roncalli Catholic High School graduate  in the U.S. Senate race because she liked what she sees as his pragmatic, centrist politics.

And maybe a bit of Crimson Pride.

Masked kid near polling place causes false alarm

3:03 p.m. | A costume caused a brief scare late Tuesday morning after a juvenile wearing a Halloween mask was seen walking near a polling place.

A neighbor living near Reagan Elementary School in western Douglas County called the Douglas County Sheriffs Office to investigate the mask-wearer  who Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse said turned out to be a kid just playing.

The issue was a non-issue, but its better to be safe than sorry, Kruse said.

How votes are counted, when results are released

2:09 p.m. | Were now fewer than six hours from the first batch of 2024 election results. Polls close at 8 p.m. tonight, and, as they do, Nebraskans will begin to see partial results come in.

The counting of votes in Nebraska began Monday. The first batch of results  from ballots submitted in the early voting process  will be released by 8 p.m. tonight.

That 8 p.m. results release, according to Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse, will come from a first batch of early ballots that are put on thumb drives and will be locked in a safe until Tuesday night. That will be about 50% of the Douglas County vote, Kruse said. Subsequent results will be released at 8:45 p.m., 9:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m., Kruse said hes 99% confident there will be a 11:45 p.m. release of results, too.

Want to know more? Check out the link. Its interesting!

These Little Italy voters motivated by abortion issues

1:45 p.m. | Laura North, 34, just got engaged and would like to have children, so the abortion issue is important. She voted Tuesday afternoon at Order Sons and Daughters of Italy at 1238 S. 10th St.

I just think its my right and other womens rights to be able to say what they do with their body," she said, related Initiatives 434 and 439. Initiative 434 is more restrictive of abortion rights. "I think its important to be able to have access to health care thats life saving and keeps me in mind instead of other people in government."

North, who lived in the Bay Area for several years, voted for Kamala Harris for president. She said she has family who voted on both sides of the aisle.

I think shes more equipped. Im more comfortable with her. I feel more confident about her. I feel like shes just so much more trustworthy, North said. I couldnt really bring myself to vote for a convicted felon."

Joshua Davis, 32, said he was performing his civic duty by voting Tuesday afternoon at Sons of Italy.

Davis said he would rather not say who he voted for for president, but he did share his stance on abortion rights.

Personally being a male and not being able to conceive life, I can only imagine the womans process of going through that, he said. Who am I to tell what someone else can do with their body? Thats how I feel about that.

Issues that matter while 'dissecting' ballot

12:30 p.m. | Here's another World-Herald video asking local voters for their thoughts on what ballot issues mattered most to them, and how to figure out some of the "confusing" ballot initiatives.

'Taxes just kill me'

12:20 p.m. | Austin Shellenberger, 20, voted Tuesday to, he said, support human rights for himself and his friends.

I am here today representing what I believe is right for the state and the presidential election of course, he said at the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center.

Shellenberger said he felt strongly about legalizing medical marijuana in Nebraska for people who he thinks need it.

Not every issue can just be solved with a simple medication or anything like that. Some people they need that stuff to be able to survive and they deserve to be able to get their hands on that, he said.

Although he declined to say how he voted, he said women have the right to their own bodies and they deserve to have the choice whether they want to have the child or not.

He said he voted for Kamala Harris for president.

Its the fact that we not only could have our first female president of the United States but the fact that some of the things shes proposing to do help us as the lower middle class with our income, he said. I know Im personally struggling paycheck to paycheck. Taxes just kill me.

"If she is supporting helping the middle class with helping regulate our taxes than that is something I would like to do. I would like to support myself as a 20-year-old but who is to say someone who is 50 or 60 isnt in my same position where they arent able to retire because they live paycheck to paycheck like I do.

Differing presidential views in Bellevue

11:59 a.m. | Jennifer Ninkovic, who was born in 1986, said it was an important year to get out to vote at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, 1111 Bellevue Blvd N in Bellevue.

Its a right as a citizen to come out and do it and put your input in, she said.

She said the economy was a deciding factor in voting for Donald Trump for president. I just thought he was a good president.

She said 434 and 439 abortion initiatives were confusing, but she was able to figure them out once in the voting booth.

I think its my body my choice, she said. I feel like I should have a right to an abortion if I want it.

James Erlenbach said there was a lot to think about in voting Tuesday.

From president right on down to the counties, he said.

The 77-year-old said he voted for Kamala Harris for president.

Ive watched Mr. Trump here for the last several years, and I just felt we didnt want him another four, he said.

Car clock confusion

11:44 a.m. | State Sen. Merv Riepe, who represents the 12th District, was reading the Wall Street Journal and the World-Herald at a McDonalds at 10:30 Tuesday morning. He calls it his country club.

He was wearing a voter sticker but the wrong time on his car clock caused a little confusion. He tried to vote at 7:02 a.m. instead of 8:02 a.m. All the lights were on at Wildewood Elementary 8071 Ralston Ave. in Ralston, part of his district, and it looked ready to go. He tried again successfully, after a meeting.

The 82-year-old, who grew up as a farm kid, had no confusion about who he voted for for president.

The direction of the nation was the most important thing to him.

I voted for Trump, simply for the fact that I like experience. I sort of look beyond a lot of the media bias I would call it or coverage of it. They were almost over the top on that.

First-time voter in 'very consequential' year

11:24 a.m. | Asia Price dropped three of her four children at their schools before stopping to vote at Benson Park Pavilion, situated near a tranquil pond off bustling Northwest Radial Highway and 72nd Street. Just more than 70 people had voted at the polling place by 8:45 a.m., and a steady trickle of voters continued to line up for their ballots

A regular voter, Price declined to say how she had voted but said she just wanted to be a part of the history and what the election means to my children in the future.

Connifer Miller, 18, had just voted for the first time. He said the election has been stressful. Its a very consequential year, he said.

But Miller was determined to vote. Its one of the most express powers I have, he said. Its the most decisive say I have in what I want.

Patricia Scott, 43, said not even a real storm would have stopped her from going to the polls. Abortion rights were the main issue that brought her.

I feel like women should have the rights to their bodies and no one should take that away, she said. We fought for many years for that.

'Blue Dot' sign creators cast their votes

10:30 a.m. | A line of three dozen people went out the door into the rain as the polls opened at 8 a.m. at Washington Elementary School, a polling place in the Omaha's Dundee-Elmwood Park neighborhood.

The backup was enough for polling workers to decide to ask school officials for a long table that enabled them to increase the number of voting stations from 12 to 16. That helped keep the operation running smoothly, as the length of the line remained consistent in the hour that followed.

Its moving pretty quick, said Evan Keelan-White, who stood in line with his 2 -year-old son Nolan on his shoulders, both of them dressed in rain jackets. When the two got inside, they were greeted by their wife and mother, who was volunteering as a poll worker.

Keelan-White said he was motivated by a number of issues, including abortion, health care access and keeping the world good and safe for Nolan. He said he was voting for Kamala Harris for president, though he acknowledged his personal politics are probably to the left of hers.

I have to prevent Donald Trump from winning, he said. So here I am.

A voter just behind Keelan White said, conversely, he looking forward to voting for the former president. He declined to give his name, noting he was a longtime Democrat and union man whose vote might upset some of his friends.

Trumps got some faults, but doggone it, hell get something done, he said, also calling the Democratic ticket of Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz too liberal for his taste.

Abortion was a strong voting motivator for Buf Reynolds, who came to the school with her husband and adult son. Reynolds volunteers as a client escort at abortion clinics and helped circulate petitions to get Nebraskas 12-week abortion ban on the ballot.

She expressed a mix of hope, anxiety and resolve with the issue directly on Nebraskas ballot this year.

Even if the things that I want to see happen don't come through, it won't be the end of everything, she said. Well start the next battle tomorrow and keep working towards what we think is right.

In line not far behind Reynolds were Jason Brown and Ruth Huebner-Brown. There was really no question who they were voting for for president.

The Dundee residents were the originators of the Blue Dot yard sign phenomena that spread across Omaha, having created the first such sign with spray paint in their driveway.

Options for 'good health care'

10:10 a.m. | Providing options for women and their families was an important reason for Chris Cherny to vote Tuesday, despite a long line when she arrived

Cherny, 66, voting at First Lutheran Church in Papillion, said the abortion initiatives were a key issues for her, as well as the presidential election. She voted for Vice President Kamala Harris.

She said she voted against Initiative 434 and for Initiative 439.

I think its important that women and their families have the options that are needed to have good health care, she said. Pregnancy can be so complicated and many things can go wrong in a pregnancy. I think a woman needs to have those options to do what is best for her and her family.

'I felt like I needed to get out and vote'

10 a.m. | Emily Richter, voting at First Lutheran Church at 420 N Washington St. in Papillion, said the paid sick leave ballot initiative for Nebraska was a big issue for her.

I'm a mom of two kids, and they get sick a lot, the 28-year-old said. Not having any sick leave to fall back on when that happens and I have to stay home and take care of them is a big issue.

The presidential race was also big as were the two conflicting abortion issues, she said.

She voted for Initiative 434, she said, which she said was slightly more restrictive than Initiative 439.

Initiative 434, known as the Protect Women and Children campaign, would amend the Nebraska Constitution to ban most abortions after the first trimester but also leave room for lawmakers to increase restrictions in the future. Initiative 439, known as the Protect Our Rights campaign, would amend the state's constitution to establish the right to an abortion up until "fetal viability," which is generally considered to be 23 to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

She declined to say who she voted for for president.

"I felt like I needed to get out and vote, especially with all the initiatives we have on the local ballot today, she said.

Four Omaha voters on their 'Priority No. 1'

9:47 a.m. | World-Herald reporters asked a variety of voters around Omaha why they were headed to the polls on Election Day and what issues mattered most to them.

'What makes USA, USA'

9:30 a.m. | Between 50 and 75 voters waited in line at St. Bernard Rectory near 65th Street and Northwest Radial Highway about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, some out on the sidewalk in a light rain. About 75 had already voted.

Its nice to see this many people, said Matt Jacobs, 63, who has voted at the rectory for 30 or more years, although he usually casts his ballot in the afternoon. Its what makes USA, USA. I just think its important to vote.

Abortion rights brought Saundra Swan, 76, to St. Bernard Rectory, although she didnt really want to be out in the rain. She said she lived through the time before Roe v. Wade protected abortion access. Losing it makes her angry.

I believe people have a right to choose what they want, she said.

Jacobs said there were no specific issues bringing him to the ballot. Hes only missed one election since he turned 18. I just think its important to vote, he said.

How many Nebraskans will vote?

9:30 a.m. | Nebraska early voting sites have done brisk business since those polls opened in early October but how many people will vote overall?

Election officials made some estimates before Election Day:

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen predicted Monday that voter turnout for the general presidential election will be 72%, slightly lower than the turnout in 2020.

Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse estimated a 73% turnout, also slightly lower than the 74.6% total in the 2020 presidential election. He based that in part on the fact that fewer Douglas County voters requested early ballots this year than during the pandemic in 2020, when counties statewide sent early voting request forms to all registered voters.

Lancaster County Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen predicted that turnout for the presidential election will be 70%.

'We need some leadership'

9:20 a.m. | Voting at Faith Presbyterian Church at 8100 Giles in LaVista, Mary Jo Gunnels declined to say who she voted for  but she did believe it was important to vote.

"Because our country is a mess and we need some leadership," Gunnels said.

Gunnels said Initiatives 434 and 439 on abortion were important to her, as well.

"Because I'm pro-life except if someone is raped (or a victim of) incest or something is wrong with the baby," Gunnels said.

Initiative 434, known as the Protect Women and Children campaign, would amend the Nebraska Constitution to ban most abortions after the first trimester but also leave room for lawmakers to increase restrictions in the future. Initiative 439, known as the Protect Our Rights campaign, would amend the state's constitution to establish the right to an abortion up until "fetal viability," which is generally considered to be 23 to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Confusing ballot language means advance research needed

9:00 a.m. | Tracey Muzzey did her homework to avoid any confusion on how she voted Tuesday.

I had looked at everything beforehand over the weekend because i know the language is always confusing. I wanted to make sure I knew what was happening. I dissected everything like yesterday and made sure I understood it," she said.

The paid sick leave and abortion rights ballot measures and the presidential race were all important to the 30-year-old, who voted at 9 a.m. at the FIrst Lutheran Church in Papillion.

I would like to have a good president coming up and more rights for women on abortion, she said.

A hat, a flag and confrontation averted

8:30 a.m. | About 40 people had voted within the first 20 minutes of Sarpy County Precinct 26 opening at Thanksgiving Lutheran Church in Bellevue, which had a line into the church lobby, with coffee available for those waiting. Lines were considerably longer for those with last names A-K, but voters were moving through at a steady clip as spots at tables became available.

At about 8:30 a.m., a poll worker at the adjacent Precinct 24 asked a man wearing a Make America Great Again hat to remove it while in line. The man, who was carrying an American flag on a pole and wearing a tactical vest, declined and remained in line, and the poll worker called the election office for guidance.

Electioneering, which includes displaying clothing or symbols of campaigns, is prohibited in Nebraska polling buildings and within 200 feet of the polling places.

The poll worker told a reporter afterwards that he wanted to avoid a confrontation, and the man remained in line. Several minutes later, the poll worker said the man took off the hat, and he said law enforcement was not called.

Polls open across the state

8:00 a.m. | Election Day voting begins across Nebraska. At Bethel Lutheran Church  1312 S. 45th St. in Omaha  about nine people initially waited in their cars to avoid the rain. One person was standing at the door in the rain. At 7:45 a.m., most got out of their cars and there were 40 people in line when the door opened.

Morning Metro voters may want umbrellas
En esta combinacion de fotos de archivo aparecen la candidata presidencial y vicepresidenta democrata, Kamala Harris, izquierda, en un evento de campana en Erie, Pensilvania, el 14 de octubre de 2024, y el candidato presidencial y expresidente republicano, Donald Trump, en un mitin de campana en Uniondale, Nueva York, el 18 de septiembre de 2024. (AP Foto) AP

Here we are, at last. Polling stations are closing across the country and ballots are being counted while we wait to find out which direction the country will be steered for the next four years, with reverberating impacts.

As we wait for for the votes to be tallied and a winner to be announced, which could take days, its worth taking a tour around the internet to see how fellow Texans are reacting to results as they come in. Check back throughout the evening as more reactions to results are added to this page. For live election updates, click here.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was spending Election Night in Florida at former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort where he hoped to celebrate a new conservative presidency, he shared in a tweet. Joining him there is Sid Miller, commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture.

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Great to be here at Mar-a-Lago tonight with @MillerForTexas to support @realDonaldTrump for the win!  pic.twitter.com/nsrBhnQsTK  Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) November 6, 2024

Democratic Rep. Erin Zwiener of Texas House District 45, which is south of Austin, shared photos of her efforts to help get students to polling centers.

This is what Texas Democrats do when lines on a college campus are unreasonably long: We get the students to places with no lines!



Big thanks to all the volunteers helping out! pic.twitter.com/SXoG0E0LpR  Erin Zwiener (@ErinForYall) November 5, 2024

Gov. Greg Abbott said Paxtons office had inspectors monitoring election law compliance in major counties, and the secretary of state had additional election monitors across Texas.

Texas is not taking any chances.



The Texas Attorney General has inspectors monitoring election law compliance in major counties across the state.



The Secretary of State has election monitors across the state.



Election integrity matters.



Thanks @KenPaxtonTX & @SecJaneNelson. https://t.co/yJ1fI9pgJY  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 5, 2024

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

VOTE VOTE VOTE  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 5, 2024

Elon Musk reported casting a ballot in Cameron County in South Texas, which is where his company SpaceX has a launch pad.

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Just voted in Cameron County, Texas, home of Starbase! pic.twitter.com/dE8oRGlI4p  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 5, 2024

The self-fashioned Texan took time to platform misinformation about a post confusing a voting map for Harris County with one for Kamala Harris.

There is a Harris County in Texas pic.twitter.com/VdI4BrPyoZ  Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) November 5, 2024

Sen. Ted Cruz did what Cruz does, complained, this time about former President Barack Obama, who tweeted about possibly taking days to count votes in some states.

In Texas, we will be done tonight.



Why cant (much smaller) blue states count their ballots? https://t.co/nQz3vhbiPl  Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) November 5, 2024

Texas Congressman Colin Allred, running against Cruz, shared photos of himself greeting voters in Hamilton Park United Methodist Church in Dallas.

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My favorite Election Day tradition is greeting voters in Hamilton Park in the district where it all began. If you're still in line to vote, stay in line! pic.twitter.com/lWhtoesxEZ  Colin Allred (@ColinAllredTX) November 6, 2024

Some X users on the left of the political spectrum shared momentary pleasure in early results showing Texas leaning toward the Democratic Party, even if they were resigned to Republicans taking the state.

texas is not staying blue in the slightest but this was the best five minutes of my life pic.twitter.com/OQAJGMHXMn  lily (@lavfeysun) November 6, 2024

cnn showing me a blue texas?? pic.twitter.com/diA4BaoPbd  chi (@chiopulence) November 6, 2024

We are starting to see the vote roll in here in Texas. Williamson County, which has become one of the true swing counties has 91% of vote in and Colin Allred is leading Ted Cruz by just over 4,000 votes. pic.twitter.com/navyfm5Oso  Jeremy Wallace (@JeremySWallace) November 6, 2024

However, Texas has since been called for Trump, which was celebrated by both Abbott and Paxton.

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Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump and @JDVance on their overwhelming victory in Texas!



Texans have spoken! They want strong, conservative leaders who will prioritize economic growth and securing our border.



Its time to Make America Great Again. pic.twitter.com/FXQolsgpSv  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 6, 2024

Other users ridiculed voters who cast ballots for Ted Cruz after he flew to the Caribbean during a deadly 2021 winter storm.

If anybody in Texas vote for Ted Cruz after he left yall asses for passion fruit margaritas in CABO while yall was in a freeze. I know you a fool.  Muva  (@_itsjustceedie) November 5, 2024

U.S. Congressman Greg Casar of Texas District 35 celebrated his reelection.

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Sheriff Salazar claims victory for his third term as Bexar County Sheriff at the Local Democratic Party watch part at Cowboy Dance Hall. Jessica Phelps Sheriff Salazar claims victory for his third term as Bexar County Sheriff at the Local Democratic Party watch part at Cowboy Dance Hall. Jessica Phelps Supporters of Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar wait for him to take the stage at Cowboys Dancehall during an election night watch party hosted by the Bexar County Democrats on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Sheriff Salazar takes the stage to greet supporters on election night at Cowboys Dance Hall. If Salazar wins this will be his third term. Jessica Phelps Sheriff Salazar talks with media at the Local Democratic Party watch part at Cowboy Dance Hall. Jessica Phelps Sheriff Salazar talks with media at the Local Democratic Party watch part at Cowboy Dance Hall. Jessica Phelps Sheriff Salazar talks with media at the Local Democratic Party watch part at Cowboy Dance Hall. Jessica Phelps Sheriff Salazar takes the stage to greet supporters on election night at Cowboys Dance Hall. If Salazar wins this will be his third term. Jessica Phelps Isabella Garcia, 4, waves a sign supporting Sheriff Salazar as he takes the stage to greet people on election night. Jessica Phelps Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, right, says goodbye to Elections administrator Jacquelyn F. Callanen, left, after a public Bexar County Election board meeting inside the Double-Height Courtroom at the Bexar County Courthouse on Monday, July 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Nathan Buchanan, the Republican candidate in the Bexar County sheriff's race, acknowledged his lack of law enforcement experience but said he brings the "business mindset" to tackle overtime pay problems. Nathan Buchanan

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar secured his third term in office, claiming a decisive victory in Tuesdays election.

He ended the night with 57% of the vote.

Its super exciting to be up here for a three-peat baby, Salazar said in a late-night speech at Cowboys Dancehall.

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The race for number four starts tomorrow, he added.

The watch party was hosted by the Bexar County Democratic Party and Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio. The crowd peaked at about 200 attendees early in the night, but had dwindled to fewer than 100 by the time Salazar made his speech.

Salazar, 53, ran against Republican challenger Nathan Buchanan, who campaigned unsuccessfully for county judge in 2022 and constable in 2016 and 2020.

Clearly what were doing is resonating with people, Salazar told reporters Tuesday night. So were going to continue doing more of the same: fighting against organized crime, fighting against the trafficking of humans, fighting against domestic violence and hiring at an unprecedented rate.

A two-term incumbent, Salazar spent four times as much as money as Buchanan  $34,000 to Buchanans $7,500 from July through September.

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Buchanan, 41, has accused Salazar of being indifferent to jail deaths. Since Salazar first took the reins eight years ago, 96 jail inmates have died.

Salazar  who delivered a short speech at the Democratic National Convention in August attacking former President Donald Trumps border policy  has promised to reduce the number of jail deaths, address domestic violence-related homicides and crack down on organized crime.

Were doing everything we can to keep jail deaths as low as possible, Salazar said earlier in his campaign.

Among inmates who are addicted to alcohol or drugs, withdrawal symptoms are the common factor in these jail deaths, Salazar said. In early October, Salazar told area police chiefs the jail wouldnt accept detainees showing signs of withdrawal until medical authorities signed off on their incarceration.

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Buchanan had vowed to raid the Migrant Resource Center, which is funded by the city of San Antonio, disband special units within the Sheriffs Office that he believes are ineffective and combat gun violence by encouraging county residents to arm themselves.

Incumbent constables secure roles

Precinct 2 Constable Leticia Vazquez, a Democrat, won out over Republican challenger Paul Alexander Canales.

Vazquez got 62% of the vote.

Vazquez, 65, was a Bexar County deputy sheriff for 25 years, serving as a detention officer before being on patrol. She was elected Precinct 2 constable in 2020, replacing Michelle Barrientes Vela, a woman who had clashed with elected officials and subordinates and was under investigation by the FBI and the Texas Rangers.

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Canales, 34, is a lifelong Bexar County resident who worked in the Precinct 2 constables office for 18 months before running for constable.

The other three incumbent Bexar County constables in precincts 1, 3 and 4 were running unopposed and officially secured their seats Tuesday night.

Precinct 1 Constable Ruben C. Tejeda, 71, has been a South Bexar County constable for more than three decades. The Democrat is heading into a ninth term. Tejeda started his law enforcement career as a Bexar County sheriffs deputy in the 1970s.

In the March primary, Tejeda easily defeated his lone challenger Sergio Chico Rodriguez, who was ousted as Precinct 1 county commissioner in 2020 after serving for 16 years.

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Rodriguez and Tejeda were once allies but clashed during Rodriguezs time in office. They also come from political families on the South Side that have famously feuded for decades. However, this was the first time Rodriguez ran against Tejeda. Tejeda claims that Rodriguez has supported his opponents in the past.

Precinct 3 Constable Mark Vojvodich, a Republican, was first elected in 2008. Vojvodich, 69, is an Air Force Veteran.

Before winning her seat as Precinct 4 constable in 2020, Kathryn Kat Brown, 57, worked in the Bexar County Sheriffs Office for 19 years.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, speaks during a hearing of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations on Capitol Hill, April 10, 2024, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar won reelection Tuesday night, according to The Associated Press, a sign voters still support the Democrat despite a looming federal trial on bribery charges.

The South Texas Democrat defeated Republican Jay Furman, a former Naval officer, to win an eleventh term representing House District 28, which stretches from Laredo to San Antonio.

Cuellar, the 69-year-old son of migrant workers, faced little opposition this election even after he was arrested and accused of accepting bribes from Azerbaijans state-owned oil company and a Mexican bank.

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He was unopposed in the Democratic Primary in March and House Republicans elected not to put money into Furmans campaign, focusing instead on more competitive races in South Texas and out of state.

The Department of Justice indictment alleges Cuellar and his wife accepted $600,000 in sham contracts in exchange for Cuellars support lobbying Congress and the White House. He has denied the charges.
The following ranking is based on U.S. News & World Report analyses in collaboration with WPP's BAV brand analytics tool and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Nearly 17,000 global participants were surveyed on 73 attributes across 89 countries, with racial equity as a key focus within the social purpose sub-ranking.

These countries were ranked on racial equity based on associations made by respondents who agreed that diversity strengthens a country, highlighting nations with lower perceived racial inclusivity.

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1. Iran

Iran ranks as the worst country for racial equity due to widespread discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, including the Baluchi, Kurdish and Ahwazi Arab communities.

Despite constitutional promises of equal rights, minority groups face significant barriers in accessing quality education, employment and political representation, according to Amnesty International and the U.S. State Department.

Reports highlight that minorities in Iran are disproportionately subjected to severe penalties, including the death penalty, for offenses linked to activism and dissent. Kurdish-language media faces restrictions, and Kurdish activists often face criminal prosecution, underscoring systemic inequities entrenched in Iranian governance.

Additionally, discriminatory laws and societal biases create challenges in daily life, affecting everything from access to healthcare to freedom of expression, reflecting deep-seated inequalities within the nation.

2. Belarus

Belarus faces widespread criticism for pervasive discrimination against ethnic minorities, including Romani, Polish and Lithuanian communities, with both governmental and societal practices contributing to racial inequity.

Although Belarusian law technically prohibits discrimination on national grounds, these protections are inconsistently enforced, and application is often arbitrary.

According to a 2023 U.S. State Department report, the Roma community is particularly vulnerable, facing frequent harassment, arbitrary detentions, forced fingerprinting and mistreatment from law enforcement.

Despite legislative claims to protect minority rights, Belarus lacks targeted legal safeguards against ethnic violence and discrimination, leaving minority populations exposed to systemic injustice. This weak enforcement structure perpetuates inequality, especially when combined with widespread biases in housing, employment and education that restrict opportunities for minority groups.

3. Bahrain

Bahrain faces significant criticism for systemic discrimination, particularly against its Shia Muslim majority. Reports from Human Rights Watch highlight targeted harassment of Shia clerics and activists, many of whom face prosecution for advocating human rights.

Additionally, a 2023 U.S. State Department report notes that Bahrain lacks specific legal protections for racial and ethnic minorities, leaving these groups vulnerable to violence and discrimination. Shia Muslims face disproportionate restrictions in accessing employment, political representation and public services, contributing to deep-seated marginalization within Bahrain.

Despite its moderate overall ranking (No. 69) on the 2023 Best Countries in the World list from U.S. News, Bahrain's failure to implement inclusive protections underscores persistent racial and religious inequities.

4. Myanmar

Myanmar ranks No. 4 among the worst countries for racial equity, with ethnic minorities, such as the Rohingya Muslims, facing extreme discrimination and exclusion.

According to a 2022 report by the U.S. Institute of Peace, these communities experience severe social marginalization and economic hardship, worsened by barriers to citizenship that limit access to public services like healthcare and education.

Following the 2021 military coup, violence against Muslims and other minorities intensified, including attacks like home burnings and civilian killings.

In 2023, the U.S. State Department reported that the Rohingya still face relentless discrimination based on ethnicity and religion, making them vulnerable to abuse, displacement and systemic exclusion.

5. South Korea

Despite South Korea's high global ranking at No. 18 in overall performance (aka the Best Countries list), the country faces serious challenges in racial equity, ranking No. 5 among nations with the worst racial equality records.

According to a 2023 U.S. State Department report, immigrants and minority groups frequently encounter systemic barriers, such as limited childcare support and restrictive work permits that prevent long-term residency, reinforcing inequality.

Religious discrimination further aggravates social divides, particularly targeting the Muslim community. Anti-mosque protests in Daegu saw disturbing incidents of protesters displaying pig heads and hosting barbecues near a proposed mosque site, underscoring the tensions minorities face in seeking acceptance and equal treatment.

While South Korea has made strides in areas like technology and economy, the persistence of these racial and religious biases indicates that substantial work remains in fostering a more inclusive society that recognizes and supports diversity.

6. El Salvador

El Salvador continues to grapple with racial equity issues, as weak enforcement of protections leaves Afro-descendent and Indigenous groups vulnerable to discrimination and exclusion. These communities face barriers in accessing resources, economic opportunities and representation, underscoring the need for stronger institutional commitment to achieving racial equity.

A 2023 Amnesty International report criticizes El Salvador's government for severe human rights violations, including mass detentions, torture and restrictions on civic freedoms under an ongoing state of emergency.

Vulnerable communities, human rights defenders and independent media face increasing state-led harassment, with weakened judicial oversight exacerbating the crisis.

According to a 2023 U.S. State Department report, the country has laws aimed at preventing racial violence and supporting ethnic inclusion, but they often remain unenforced. This lack of follow-through has resulted in a persistent gap between policy and practice, with few tangible improvements in the lives of marginalized communities.

7. Cambodia

Cambodia's racial equity issues are deeply rooted in its history and continue to impact minority groups today. The legacy of the Khmer Rouge genocide in the 1970s  which led to the deaths of millions of Cham Muslims  set a foundation for ongoing discrimination.

Today, ethnic minorities  especially Vietnamese and Chinese communities  experience social and economic exclusion, with the U.S. State Department noting frequent negative attitudes and employment discrimination.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Human Rights Watch criticized Cambodia's treatment of Muslim pilgrims, which reportedly fueled bias and heightened societal prejudice against Muslim communities.

These patterns illustrate a persistent struggle for racial inclusivity, with minorities facing barriers to equal opportunities and acceptance within Cambodian society.

8. Romania

Romania faces substantial challenges in achieving racial equity, with systemic issues particularly impacting the Roma community, an Indo-Aryan ethnic group. According to a 2022 European Commission report, while Romania has made some progress in tracking hate crimes and speech, further action is urgently needed.

A 2023 U.S. State Department analysis highlights allegations of police harassment and brutality toward Roma individuals, as well as the persistent segregation of Roma in education and housing.

Inadequate access to essential services, including healthcare, clean water and sanitation, remains a barrier for minority communities, highlighting deeply rooted inequities in Romania's social structure.

9. Azerbaijan

Tensions between Azerbaijanis and Armenians have remained high for decades, with the Nagorno-Karabakh region at the heart of the conflict. This contested enclave within Azerbaijan's borders has historically been home to thousands of Armenians, many of whom were forcibly displaced in the renewed 2023 clashes.

A June 2023 European Commission report highlights how a "persistent adversarial narrative" and inflammatory rhetoricpropagated by politicians and influential public figureshas fueled division and hostility.

Hate speech and negative portrayals of Armenians proliferate in both traditional and social media, reinforcing biases and complicating any efforts toward peace.

10. Israel

Israel faces significant challenges with racial equity, marked by ongoing discrimination and human rights issues concerning Palestinian and other minority communities.

Human rights organizations consistently criticize the impact of Israel's occupation in the West Bank and Gaza, citing nationalistic hate crimes and discrimination against Arab/Palestinian Muslims, Arab/Palestinian Christians, Druze and Ethiopian Israelis.

Reports, including from the U.S. State Department, emphasize institutional biases and a weakening of minority protections, particularly amid recent regional conflicts.

Palestinian citizens of Israel and those in occupied territories experience restricted civil rights, limited access to resources, and barriers to movement and economic opportunity.

African asylum seekers and other minorities also face exclusion, with structural inequalities embedded in Israel's legal and social systems, impacting social integration and stability.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The weathered UC Davis Marine Laboratory looms in thick fog on the edge of the ocean near Bodega Bay. Inside, an experiment is playing out that gives a badly-needed boost to Northern California's kelp forestsunderwater cathedrals of green and gold that nearly vanished from the north coast a decade ago.

In early October, marine biologist Julieta Gomez rolled up her sleeve, reached into a jug of tumbling salt water, and pulled out a spool of twine. On it grew dozens of bull kelp starts, each little more than a brown speck. Their destination: the ocean. When Gomez attached twine like this to the seabed this summer, more than 100 juvenile kelp stipes appeared within the month and began reaching for the surface.

"They're looking amazing," she said.

Thanks to Gomez and her team, kelp is rebounding for the first time in a decade along the Sonoma coast, if even on a small scale. Their research is also providing insights that may be used to protect Central California's kelp forests south of San Francisco. These, like others, are threatened by climate change, which is contributing to extreme ocean temperatures seen in recent years.

"We're having success," said Brent Hughes, a professor of biology at Sonoma State University who is restoring kelp in Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin counties. "We're growing kelp out in the ocean. And now we're ready to really expand this."

The past two summers, Gomez and her colleagues donned scuba gear and dove into a briny cove north of Bodega Bay, with the spools in hand. The site, Fort Ross Cove, was once home to a lush underwater forest that provided habitat for marine life, supported commercial fisheries and stored carbon. Now, the kelp is replaced by armies of purple sea urchins, a casualty of a vast kelp forest collapse that began in 2014.

Fueled by a marine heat wave that year that scientists dubbed "the blob," and key predators absent, urchins devoured more than 90% of bull kelp forests in Northern California. South of the San Francisco Bay, however, healthier kelp forests still coat the coasts and give life to California's iconic sea otters.

At Fort Ross Cove, the scientists unraveled these inoculated lines of twine and secured them to the seabed. The hope was that these specks of young kelp would grow into towering stalks, and by fall's end, release millions of reproductive spores. At the same time, commercial fishermen hand-removed purple urchins by the hundreds of thousands, to protect any new kelp that might appear, and scientists released millions of spores themselves.

Other scientists are using similar tactics in Marin and Mendocino counties. The experiments are small, on the order of a few acres each, but the results are promising. At another cove in Sonoma County, a canopy of bull kelp expanded modestly over the summer.

The projects are collaborations between the federal government, researchers, and scientists like Gomez with the nonprofit Greater Farallones Association. The organization protects an expansive marine sanctuary home to humpback whales, throngs of seabirds and great white sharks.

The return of kelp forests would broadly benefit the waters of Northern California. That would also protect coastlines from erosion, store planet-warming carbon dioxide and support the beleaguered abalone and red urchin fisheries.

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Even with the recent success, however, it remains to be seen if these mighty underwater forests will ever be restored to their former glory in Northern California, or how long that might take.

Broadly, there are far too many purple urchins for divers to bag on the seafloor. Urchin "barrens" are vast, stretching through Oregon, and their natural predators are absent from the north coast: Sunflower stars are locally extinct due to a mysterious disease, and sea ottersa keystone specieshaven't returned to this part of the coast since they were hunted to extinction in the 19th century. Now, great white sharks limit their expansion north of the San Francisco Bay.

"It's a lot of work to put people in the water and remove enough sea urchins to facilitate recovery," said Joshua Smith, a research scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium who studies kelp forest restoration.

Beneath the surface, these swaying kelp forests create habitats for sea stars, rockfish, abalone, and more. Globally, kelp forest collapse is becoming more common due to climate change, pollution, overharvesting, and other factors.

But so is restoration.

Scientists are protecting or expanding kelp forests in Baja California, Southern California, Oregon and Washington's Puget Sound. Locally, Hughes is also restoring kelp at two sites in Mendocino County.

Gina Contolini, another kelp restoration specialist with the Greater Farallones Association who coordinates urchin removal, said more projects like these are cropping up as scientists increasingly focus on these underwater forests. Researchers in California are also tying kelp restoration to global climate initiatives to store "blue carbon" in marine foliage.

"Kelp is a hot topic right now," she said.

The research in Sonoma County has shown that scientists can grow kelp on twine on the north coast, where vicious storms and sharks limit their work, Hughes said. The benefit of the twine is that kelp can grow above the reach of hungry urchins.

But the research also shows that kelp forests can regrow directly on the seabed if enough urchins are removed from the equation.

To that end, the project employs commercial divers to remove purple urchins from two coves. Among them is Erik Owen, a fisherman based in Bodega Bay who dove for red urchins before kelp forests collapsed, taking the fishery with them. Red urchin uni is a valuable commodity used in foods like sushi, but not purple urchin. After hungry purple urchins mow down kelp forest, they lay dormant on the sea bed in a starved condition, with little value for divers.

In the last year, Owen and other divers have pulled roughly 650,000 urchins from Fort Ross Cove and another, Timber Cove, using only their hands or an underwater rake. The urchins are boated back to land and composted because they're not a worthwhile food product.

They've made a big dent. But Contolini says there's not much stopping purple urchins from crawling back into the research sites.

"There's still millions of urchins at the larger site," she said. "They're just everywhere."

People will always be slower at harvesting urchins than sunflower stars and sea otters, their natural predators. Both species are known to protect kelp forests, and enough sunflower stars can even convert urchin barrens back to forested canopies, said Jason Hodin, a research scientist with the University of Washington.

"A healthy kelp forest has both," he said. "A functioning ecosystem has both."

But scientists are still trying to understand the disease that has decimated sunflower stars in California, sea star wasting syndrome, since 2013.

It's less clear if sea otters could also help convert barrens to bull kelp canopies. The Greater Farallones Association projects in Sonoma County don't involve the possibility of sea otter restoration because these vast barrens of emaciated sea urchins couldn't sustain otters, according to its official plan.

However, sea otters played an instrumental role in restoring kelp forests in Alaska after their reintroduction in the 1960s. Smith, the Monterey Aquarium researcher, said that example is comparable to Northern California.

It's a controversial topic. While environmentalists cheer the return of this keystone species, commercial fishermen are anxious because otters are voracious feeders on valuable catch like Dungeness crab and abalone, along with urchins.

However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that reintroduction would be ecologically feasible, and that "substantial widespread economic impacts from the reintroduction of sea otters to Northern California and Oregon are unlikely."

Hughes said sea otter reintroduction has more momentum now than he's ever seen. But even if agencies approved the reintroduction of otters or sunflower stars, he said, it could take decades for them to help restore kelp forests at scale. That leaves scientists and fishermen to tackle this work alone.

"Right now," Hughes said, "humans are the most efficient solution."

2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Nearly 12,000 cans packed into re-usable "crash boxes" could protect drivers and passengers on Thailand's roads. The innovation developed by Cranfield University focuses on addressing the devastating outcomes of high-speed collisions involving highway maintenance trucks, which each year kills around 70 people in the country.

Dr. Hessam Ghasemnejad, Reader in Aerospace Structures, is leading the work at Cranfield.

In 2021, 28% of all vehicle accidents in Thailand were rear-end collisions. These types of collisions often happen at high speeds (60mph+) and the fatality rate increases when one of the vehicles involved is significantly more rigid than the otherfor example a car hitting a heavy truck or a motorway maintenance vehicle.

Dr. Ghasemnejad is developing an innovative new way to protect drivers and passengers in these types of accidents using things we throw away every day: aluminum cans.

Researchers are creating re-useable crash boxes full of aluminum cans that fit on the back of road maintenance vehicles. Each box will contain 11,776 cans arranged in four "stacks" of 2,944, and all the cans will be filled with natural waste like coconut fibers. When a crash happens, the cans will crush, absorbing a significant amount of the energy from the collision and lowering the chance of injury for both drivers and passengers.

As well as keeping people safe, the boxes are all designed to be reusable with the cans simply replaced after a crash and the crushed cans recycled.

Initial simulations were based on numerical modeling and analytical calculations, but physical tests have already taken place at Cranfield Impact Centre.

Dr. Hessam Ghasemnejad said, "Accidents on roads happen all around the globe every day. Adding crash boxes like these onto road maintenance vehicles will keep both drivers and road workers safe by absorbing much of the energy that makes high speed road collisions so dangerous.

"Using recycled materials for these boxes makes sense because crashes are inherently destructive. By using things have been recycledand can be recycled again in futureit means there is little to no waste compared to using non-recyclable materials that would have to be thrown away after a single impact."

The project is aiming to design two different waste-filled crash boxes for road service vehicles, with a goal to implement waste-filled portable crash boxes for at least three different road service vehicles from different operators.
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Credit: Lilla Frerichs/public domain

Where once there were vast areas of forest and other natural habitats, farmland now covers much of Earthincluding 70% of the UK. This transition has helped feed a growing number of people.

However, replacing ecosystems rich in species with agricultureand intensifying food production on established farmlandcarries costs for the environment and wildlife. Worldwide, insect populations are declining rapidly.

Farming schemes that alleviate this damage are being devised, including the UK government's 2023 sustainable farming incentive. Among other things, this will aid bees and other flower-visiting insects. These insects are a substantial part of biodiversity (the UK has roughly 260 species of bee) and pollinate many wildflowers and crops. One incentive under the scheme pays farmers and managers to spare some land for nature by planting wildflower seeds.

But what if there was a way to help pollinators at no cost, without removing land from food production? One idea has considerable potential: breeding and using crop varieties to produce more nectar and pollen to feed insects. We set out to test it.

The cream of the crop

In one experiment, we found that some varieties of the same crop are better at attracting insects than others. Our simple method could be used to identify more insect-friendly varieties when breeding and trialing crops.

We studied a trial by a seed company near Evesham in the English West Midlands, which demonstrated the merits of different red clover varieties to farmers. We took advantage of this trial to find out which variety provided most bee food, by counting the flowers and the bees foraging on them.

Red clover is largely grown to produce food for grazing animals. Symbiotic bacteria in the plant's roots also put nitrogen into the soil, reducing the need for man-made nitrogen fertilizer, which can cause water pollution and uses a lot of energy when being produced from nitrogen in the air.

We found huge variation in the numbers of pollinators per variety50 times between the highest and lowest. The vast majority (87%) of the insects we saw were bumble bees. Of the flower traits we measured (number of flowers per square meter, their length, and the amount of nectar sugar produced per flower), only the number of flowers significantly influenced the abundance and diversity of insects.

So, would it be worth breeding crop varieties to enhance their nectar production? In another study, we showed that it largely depends on the time of year the crop blooms.

Oilseed rape is the UK's third-biggest arable crop, providing oil for cooking and other uses. Fields of its yellow flowers are a familiar sight in Britain, where it is mostly grown from seeds sown the previous autumn or late summer, to flower in spring and harvest in summer. But it can also be planted in spring to flower in summer.

We studied farmers' fields of spring-blooming oilseed rape (30 hectares on average) across Sussex in southern England. We counted the insects and flowers and, by bagging flowers and collecting fallen ones, determined how much of the nectar and pollen produced by these plants was not collected by insects. The insects were honey bees (79%), bumble bees (19%), other bees (3%), and other insects (6%).

Most of the nectar (69%) was not gathered. Although flowers may reabsorb uncollected nectar, this is wasted as bee food. Pollen wastage was less severe at 19%. However, oilseed rape is partially wind-pollinated, so some pollen may have been blown from the flowers. It is unlikely that bees collected all 81%.

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What we learned

Why is so much oilseed rape nectar wasted? First, spring is a good season for bee foraging, with many flowers and few insects. Bumble bee colonies, for example, are being established at this time of year by queens and have few bees, while honey bee colonies are also smaller and less numerous than in summer.

Summer is the most challenging foraging season for bees. Previous research has shown that honey bees forage much closer to the hive in spring than summer, and do not forage in oilseed rape fields more than 1.5km awayeven though they can forage as far as 12km from the hive. A large oilseed rape field probably also provides more pollen and nectar than local insects need.

So, our two studies have different things to say about breeding crops to produce more nectar and pollen.

Firstly, red clover blooms in summer, a challenging season for flower-visiting insects, and hence a more useful time for crops that produce additional nectar to bloom.

In contrast, as 95% of oilseed rape grown in Britain is spring-blooming, breeding it to produce more nectar may have little conservation benefit. However, further research could determine if wastage is lower for summer-blooming oilseed rape. If so, greater nectar production may be worthwhile.

One way to help wildlife would be to revert farmland to natural ecosystems. But another is to find ways to produce food that also helps wildlife. Growing and breeding crop varieties that produce more nectar and pollen is one such win-win possibility. Importantly, the quantities of nectar and pollen are small compared with the crop's overall biomass, so wouldn't make much of a difference to the yield.

Governments could offer incentives for planting more bee-friendly crop varieties. But it may even be enough to tell farmers which varieties produce more nectar and pollen. In our experience, most farmers want to help bees and recognize their importance. Many may be unaware that what feeds livestock can also feed bees.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Students wear mask and heading to their school as smog envelops the areas of Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary

Record-high air pollution in Pakistan's cultural capital of Lahore is sending more people to hospitals and private clinics, doctors said Wednesday as authorities warned a complete lockdown could be imminent if residents fail to don face masks and follow other guidance related to smog.

The warning came after residents out on the streets in Lahore, which has a population of 14 million, were seen overwhelmingly without masks. Doctors say most people are complaining of either having a cough or that they feel their eyes are burning.

"Tens of thousands of patients suffering from respiratory diseases were treated at hospitals and clinics in a week," said Salman Kazmi, vice president of the Pakistan Medical Association.

You can see people coughing whenever you go, but they still hardly wear face masks, he said.

Lahore remained the world's most polluted city Wednesday morning, with air-quality index hitting a record high of over 1,100. Anything over 300 is considered hazardous to health.

A toxic smog has shrouded the city since last month.

A teacher and students wear mask to protect themselves from poor air quality due to increasing smog in the city as they attend their school, in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary

Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior minister in the Punjab province asked people to wear face masks to avoid a complete lockdown in the city. Lahore is the provincial capital.

Authorities in the city have already banned barbecuing food without filters, as well as the use of motorized rickshawsand wedding halls must close by 10 p.m.

The government said it was also looking into methods to induce artificial rainfall to combat the pollution.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Comparison of FRB host galaxies with the distribution of galaxies in the universe selected by stellar mass and star-formation. Credit: arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2409.16964

Since their discovery in 2007, fast radio burstsextremely energetic pulses of radio-frequency lighthave lit up the sky repeatedly, leading astronomers on a chase to uncover their origins. Currently, confirmed fast radio bursts, or FRBs, number in the hundreds, and scientists have assembled mounting evidence for what triggers them: highly magnetized neutron stars known as magnetars (neutron stars are a type of dead star).

One key piece of evidence came when a magnetar erupted in our own galaxy and several observatories, including Caltech's STARE2 (Survey for Transient Astronomical Radio Emission 2) project, caught the action in real time.

Now, Caltech-led researchers have uncovered where FRBs are more likely to occur in the universemassive star-forming galaxies rather than low-mass ones. This finding has, in turn, led to new ideas about how magnetars themselves form. Specifically, the work suggests that these exotic dead stars, whose magnetic fields are 100 trillion times stronger than Earth's, often form when two stars merge and later blow up in a supernova.

Previously, it was unclear whether magnetars form in this way, from the explosion of two merged stars, or whether they might form when a single star explodes.

"The immense power output of magnetars makes them some of the most fascinating and extreme objects in the universe," says Kritti Sharma, lead author of the new study and a graduate student working with Vikram Ravi, an assistant professor of astronomy at Caltech. "Very little is known about what causes the formation of magnetars upon the death of massive stars. Our work helps to answer this question."

The project began with a search for FRBs using the Deep Synoptic Array-110 (DSA-110), a Caltech project based at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory near Bishop, California. To date, the sprawling radio array has detected and localized 70 FRBs to their specific galaxy of origin (only 23 other FRBs have been localized by other telescopes). The researchers analyzed 30 of these localized FRBs. The paper is published in Nature.

"DSA-110 has more than doubled the number of FRBs with known host galaxies," says Ravi. "This is what we built the array to do."

Although FRBs are known to occur in galaxies that are actively forming stars, the team, to its surprise, found that the FRBs tend to occur more often in massive star-forming galaxies than low-mass star-forming galaxies. This alone was interesting because the astronomers had previously thought that FRBs were going off in all types of active galaxies.

With this new information, the team started to ponder what the results revealed about FRBs. Massive galaxies tend to be metal-rich because the metals in our universeelements that are manufactured by starstake time to build up over the course of cosmic history. The fact that FRBs are more common in these metal-rich galaxies implies that the source of FRBs, magnetars, are also more common to these types of galaxies.

Stars that are rich in metalswhich in astronomical terms means elements heavier than hydrogen and heliumtend to grow larger than other stars. "Over time, as galaxies grow, successive generations of stars enrich galaxies with metals as they evolve and die," Ravi says.

What is more, massive stars that explode in supernovae and can become magnetars are more commonly found in pairs. In fact, 84% of massive stars are binaries. So, when one massive star in a binary is puffed up due to extra metal content, its excess material gets yanked over to its partner star, which facilitates the ultimate merger of the two stars. These merged stars would have a greater combined magnetic field than that of a single star.

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"A star with more metal content puffs up, drives mass transfer, culminating in a merger, thus forming an even more massive star with a total magnetic field greater than what the individual star would have had," Sharma explains.

In summary, since FRBs are preferentially observed in massive and metal-rich star-forming galaxies, then magnetars (which are thought to trigger FRBs) are probably also forming in metal-rich environments conducive to the merging of two stars. The results therefore hint that magnetars across the universe originate from the remnants of stellar mergers.

In the future, the team hopes to hunt down more FRBs and their places of origin using DSA-110, and eventually the DSA-2000, an even bigger radio array planned to be built in the Nevada desert and completed in 2028.

"This result is a milestone for the whole DSA team. A lot of the authors on this paper helped build the DSA-110," Ravi says. "And the fact that the DSA-110 is so good at localizing FRBs bodes well for the success of DSA-2000."
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Decomposition of IGPov across countries. Credit: Nature Human Behaviour (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-02029-w

Researchers from Stockholm University, Bocconi University, and the Rockwool Foundation have studied poverty's lasting impact across generations in wealthy countries. By examining the United States, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany, the team found that welfare systems play a significant role in whether children born into poverty will remain poor as adults.

The research shows a sharp contrast between countries with robust welfare systems, like Denmark, and those with fewer social supports, such as the United States. In Denmark, children growing up in poverty are much less likely to stay poor in adulthood, with only an 8 percentage point higher risk of experiencing poverty as adults. In the U.S., however, a child born into poverty has a 42% higher chance of being poor as an adult compared to someone who grew up financially secure.

Peter Fallesen, researcher at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI), explains, "A kid who spends their entire childhood in poverty in the U.S. has a 42 percentage point larger risk of being poor as an adult than someone who doesn't."

Breaking down poverty's cycle

The study examined factors that keep poverty going, including family background, access to education, job opportunities, and government help. The results show that while family background plays a large role in Denmark, the U.S. is unique in having a high "poverty penalty," meaning that a lot of the poverty passed from parents to children isn't explained by typical factors like education or employment.

"Basically, half of the social transmission of poverty in the U.S., we cannot explain," Fallesen remarks, noting that it may reflect how poverty in the U.S. "is simply more damaging" than in other countries.

The impact of social support

Countries like Denmark, the U.K., and Australia show how strong welfare systems can reduce poverty across generations. Programs like tax credits, social benefits, and job support make a real difference in people's lives, helping children from low-income families avoid poverty as adults. However, in the U.S. and Germany, where social support is less impactful, poverty persists from generation to generation.

As Fallesen explains, "We can call it redistributionit is lowering that intergenerational poverty transmission quite remarkably," referring to how social transfers help reduce poverty's hold on families in countries like Denmark.

A closer look at the US

Researchers suggest that in the U.S., poverty in childhood might lead to more severe consequences than in other countries. Even when accounting for factors like education, health care, and job stability, a large portion of poverty in the U.S. remains unexplained. This "poverty penalty" shows that poor children in the U.S. face significant barriers that can hold them back well into adulthood.

Published in Nature Human Behaviour, the study, "Intergenerational persistence of poverty in five high-income countries," offers valuable insights for policymakers looking to address inequality and break the cycle of poverty through targeted social programs and support systems.

More information: Zachary Parolin et al, Intergenerational persistence of poverty in five high-income countries, Nature Human Behaviour (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-02029-w Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour
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Sketch of the Earth's structure with liquid outer core and solid inner core (right) and the "Little Earth Experiment," its rotating hemisphere filled with sulphuric acid, protruding heater, cooling tank, and height-adjustable PIV system (left). Credit: Physical Review Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.184101

A trio of physicists, two with Coventry University, in the U.K., and the third with Laboratoire National des Champs Magnetiques Intenses, in France, has demonstrated how Earth's magnetic field may be influencing internal flow, using what they describe as a Little Earth Experiment.

In their study published in the journal Physical Review Letters, Alban Potherat, Kelig Aujogue, and Francois Debray built and set up an experimental apparatus that mimicked the ways the Earth's magnetic field may be influencing internal planetary flow patterns and why they believe it could explain discrepancies between theoretical predictions and satellite observations of the Earth.

Prior research has shown that Earth's inner core is essentially a hot, metal ball. The outer core, beneath the mantle, is believed to be made of a colder liquid metal. Since both spin, the result is the generation of an electric current, which in turn results in the generation of a magnetic field.

The researchers noted that models describing flows within the Earth typically do not include how the magnetic field impacts the flows that generated it. Because of that, they built an apparatus that could accurately mimic the Earth's interior mechanism.

The team described the apparatus in its most basic form as a model of the Earth using a tank that was partially filled with a 30% sulfuric acid concentration set inside of a strong magnetic field. They used a laser to take measurements of the flows that resulted. To generate the strong magnetic field, they set their apparatus in the magnetic field generated by the massive magnet inside of the Grenoble High Magnetic Field Laboratory in France. The apparatus allowed for fitting a large, rotating tank inside an even larger magnetic field.

To better mimic real-world conditions, the researchers heated the tank from its centerthey also gave the upper hemisphere a flat bottom and set a tank filled with water on its top to provide a cooling effect. The final step was adding tiny glass particles to the liquids to give the laser a way to see and measure the dynamics.

The team used the apparatus to map the direction of the flowing fluids and their velocity at two main sites inside the tank. They found that their setup could be used to develop new theories to describe flow motion inside the Earth more accurately than has been done in the past.

More information: Alban Potherat et al, Magnetic Taylor-Proudman Constraint Explains Flows into the Tangent Cylinder, Physical Review Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.184101 Journal information: Physical Review Letters

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Expected functioning of the Monitoring Framework from data collection to monitoring and reporting progress. Credit: Nature Ecology & Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02566-7

As the UN COP16 on biodiversity meets in Cali, Colombia, experts from McGill University are on-site, providing important input into the global conversation. These experts have been instrumental in shaping the global biodiversity monitoring framework, a central element of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in response to biodiversity loss worldwide.

This unique framework, highlighted in a recent publication in Nature Ecology & Evolution, is designed to provide transparent, evidence-based tracking of biodiversity targets, combining political commitment with scientific rigor.

Developed through a collaborative process between governments and expert groups, the framework introduces mandatory national biodiversity reporting by signatory countries.

It is both a scientific tool and an accountability measure, intended to support the global community in living in harmony with nature by 2050.

More information: Flavio Affinito et al, Progress in developing and operationalizing the Monitoring Framework of the Global Biodiversity Framework, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02566-7 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution
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GEOTRACES GP21 cruise track and volcanic ash dispersion from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai (HTHH) volcanic eruption. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52904-3

The eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) in January 2022 ejected about 2.9 billion tons of volcanic material into the atmosphere and across the South Pacific. In early 2022, a scientific expedition (GEOTRACES GP21) investigated the impact of this monumental event on the biogeochemistry of the South Pacific Gyre (SPG) surface waters.

The scientists focused in particular on changes in the concentration of trace elements in the ocean and their influence on marine life. The results of this study have now been published in Nature Communications.

By computer and ship: Evidence of volcanic influence in the South Pacific

For a comprehensive analysis of the eruption's effects, the researchers used a combination of advanced computer simulations and precise sample analysis. To simulate the spread of volcanic ash after the eruption, they used the HYSPLIT computer model from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a U.S. federal agency.

The model simulates the transport of substances in the atmosphere. It was used to calculate the dispersion of volcanic ash at different altitudes for 72 hours and the trajectories of the ash for up to 315 hours.

During the SONNE expedition SO289 as part of the international GEOTRACES program from February to April 2022, the researchers collected water samples along a designated route to analyze the distribution of trace elements and their biogeochemical effects. A large amount of floating tephra, mostly pumice, was observed and collected in the western SPG during the expedition.

Using radiogenic neodymium isotopes and rare earth element concentrations, the researchers were able to fingerprint a marked volcanic input into the western SPG. This is the region identified as the primary site of post-eruption deposition based on the volcanic ash dispersal model. In addition, seawater analyses of neodymium isotopes and rare earth elements were used to track volcanic input and chlorophyll-a as an indicator for phytoplankton.

Phytoplankton benefits from trace elements in volcanic material

In the western SPG the researchers identified significant amounts of trace elements such as iron and neodymium, which normally only enter the ocean in minimal quantities via atmospheric dust. The volcanic eruption released an additional 32,000 tons of iron and 160 tons of neodymium. The amount of iron is equivalent to what the region normally receives in a year, while the amount of neodymium is equivalent to a year's worth of global input.

"At the same time, we measured increased chlorophyll-a concentrations in surface waters, indicating increased phytoplankton growth and hence biological activity," says Dr. Zhouling Zhang, a research associate in the Paleo-Oceanography Research Unit and lead author of the study.

Long-term climate implications

The team was able to show that trace elements released by volcanic eruptions play an important role for marine life. These elements, particularly the micronutrient iron, act as nutrients in the ocean that stimulate the growth of phytoplankton.

Phytoplankton play an essential role in the global carbon cycle, absorbing CO from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and storing it in the ocean. Increasing biological productivity may therefore also improve the ocean's ability to absorb CO from the atmospherea process that could have a long-term impact on climate.

The researchers estimate that the release of the micronutrient iron from the HTHH eruption is comparable to the iron fertilization caused by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in June 1991, when about 40,000 tons of volcanic material was released and a 1.5 ppm slowdown in the rise of atmospheric CO was measured about two years after the eruption.

Zhang says, "We think the Hunga Tonga eruption could have a similar effect."

More information: Zhouling Zhang et al, Substantial trace metal input from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption into the South Pacific, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52904-3 Journal information: Nature Communications
State Rep. John Lujan waves as he arrives at his campaign watch party held at Mission Open Air Market on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Kristian Carranza, center, the Democratic candidate for Texas House District 118, poses for pictures with supporters during an election night watch party hosted by the Bexar County Democrats at Cowboys Dancehall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A sign supporting Democratic candidate Kristian Carranza for Texas House District 118 is seen in the windshield of a truck outside of Cowboys Dancehall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News With his family behind him, state Rep. John Lujan addresses his supporters at his campaign watch party held at Mission Open Air Market on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Kyle Sinclair, vice chair of the Bexar County GOP, points out early results to Lisa Vander Veldt at state Rep. John Lujans campaign watch party held at Mission Open Air Market on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News State Rep. John Lujan laughs as he chats with supporters at his campaign watch party held at Mission Open Air Market on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Texas state Rep. John Lujan narrowly defeated challenger Kristian Carranza, according to The Associated Press, denying Democrats one of their top Texas House pickup opportunities across the state.

The race was among the most closely watched across the state throughout this election cycle, with the candidates clashing over a number of issues, including school vouchers, abortion, Lujans hypothetical daughter and Carranzas last name. Both raised large sums of money from around the state and poured it into advertising in the district.

The district is the only one held by a Republican that was won by Joe Biden in 2020 and Beto ORourke in 2022. A historically Democratic seat, Lujan  a former firefighter and sheriffs deputy  is the only Republican to ever represent the majority-Hispanic district.

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Carranza campaigned aggressively against Lujans anti-abortion rhetoric and support of school vouchers. She also called for the state to expand Medicaid, pointing to her personal biography dropping out of college to move home and help her uninsured mother pay her medical bills.

In recent years, the district has been viewed as a test case for the GOPs appeal to Hispanic voters. This was an important undertone throughout this campaign, as Lujan and the Republicans accused Carranza of falsely pandering to the districts Hispanic voters by choosing to use her mothers Spanish surname rather than her fathers last name. Carranzas father has not been part of her life, she has said, so she uses her mothers last name to honor her.

Lujan campaigned as a moderate Republican focused on kitchen-table issues like infrastructure and economic development, although hes also staunchly anti-abortion and supportive of Gov. Greg Abbotts push to provide taxpayer funds to subsidize private school tuition. The governor has in turn emerged as a key ally of Lujans, visiting the district many times in recent years to lend his support.

On election night, Carranza planned to participate in a joint watch party with Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar at Cowboys Dancehall.

Hundreds of Democrats filled the nightclub early in the night, trickling out as more and more unpromising election results came in, both in Texas and across the country. Even as the mood dimmed, attendance grew sparse and the food ran out, the music stayed loud.

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Carranza appeared shortly before 9 p.m., with election results showing her narrowly trailing Lujan. She walked around the exterior of the room, hugging and taking photos with supporters for about 15 minutes, before leaving without delivering remarks onstage.
The tradition of sitting around the dining room table with family and friends having that big turkey dinner for Thanksgiving is one many of us share. It's a Norman Rockwell experience. But is it fact or fantasy?

Turkey may not be the favorite choice for everyone at the table. In fact, some 35% of Americans say they'd rather have something else, according to a survey by The Vacationer, a media site focused on food and travel.

It shouldn't be surprising. While the smell of a roasting turkey in the oven can be a warm and comforting experience, cooking a turkey is a big job with lots of pitfalls. It takes up a lot of space in the fridge prior to the holiday, it takes hours to cook the bird, and there's a good possibility that the little pop-up timer is not accurate, holding up dinner or leaving you with a dry, pithy meal.

Fortunately, there are a plethora of options to turkey that also are very popular and delicious. Some of the most popular poultry alternatives include rich and fatty duck or roasted chicken, according to a national poll by CNET. Both alternatives pair seamlessly with traditional Thanksgiving sides. They also found people would rather serve beef rather than turkey, with cuts ranging from prime rib to tenderloin, brisket or even pot roast.

Is turkey still king of the kitchen table in our next of the woods?

Oh, yes it is, says Tyson Merryman, chef and owner of the popular Tuckahoe Inn in Beasley's Point. It is the most popular. It's traditional and I don't think there's anything better than a good turkey dinner with all the stuffing and the cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes. It's just so traditional that people just love it.

Making it is always a nightmare at home, he admits, but with seven industrial size ovens, that's not a problem for him. Turkey is still the number one seller, by far. We offer it on our menu every day here. It's such a popular dish down here. It's old school but people love it. Don't try and reinvent the wheel.

Chef Phil Gormley, of the equally popular Smithville Inn in Galloway Township agrees. I would say turkey is still the most popular. Absolutely.

He says the amount of turkey served on Thanksgiving is double the amount of anything else they serve. And they serve a lot of other options. It's actually quite massive.

We do a buffet and it is quite large, he explains. We do everything we've ever done here and we put it out on the buffet.

And despite the many options, he says they go though about 20 to 25 whole turkeys plus about 15 turkey breasts. Altogether, about 300 pounds of turkey will be served to over 1,000 guests they usually serve on Thanksgiving Day. That's a lot of bird, but there are lots of people that go for something different.

For them they also sell about 150 pounds of beef, the second most popular item at Smithville, followed by six to eight whole Virginia baked hams that are seasoned with cloves, orange-blossom honey and roasted.

Since we are down the shore, one would think seafood would rank high on the list of turkey alternatives. And that is so true at the Tuckahoe Inn.

Our broiled seafood platter is the second most popular, Merryman says after consulting last year's numbers. It's a seafood combination with lobster tail, crab imperial, stuffed flounder, shrimp and scallops. It sells more than the prime rib. But its real close.

That prime rib is very slow roasted, patted down with a dry rub of salt and pepper, herbs and spices, roasted for hours so it comes out a nice medium rare all the way through, And it's hand-carved to order. Merryman believes one of the other reasons people shy away from turkey, at least when they're eating out, is the bigger dining picture of the holiday.

Not only are they having Thanksgiving dinner here, then they're going to their parents, then they're going to their cousin's house, then they have leftovers sent over to them from somebody else. They get so turkeyed out that they decide they want to have beef. And some people really just like it better.

For those who are not meat eaters, the Tuckahoe offers a vegetarian platter with a twist.

We offer a vegetarian dish and we try to make it as interesting as we can. Some years we're much better at that than others. One year we had grilled vegetables Napoleon which looked beautiful but it just didn't have a hook. We backed it up with a wild mushroom risotto cooked with almond milk and vegan cheese and that sold fairly decent for vegetarians.

The Napoleon style of serving veggies is a showstopper in it's presentation; a chargrilled tower of vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, portobello mushrooms and others that is a visually stunning and flavorful dish often served surrounded by aromatic basil pesto.

Interesting, after the coffee is served, the pumpkin pie nibbled at and we've loosened our belt after all that food, what's the least eaten item left on the Thanksgiving table?

The most disliked Thanksgiving food goes to cranberry sauce with 30.51% of American adults saying they could do without it year in and year out, according to the aforementioned survey. It's a surprising finding, one that many of us find hard to believe.

If my wife walks in and doesn't get cranberry sauce, my life is over, jokes Chef Merryman. I'm sleeping in the garage for a week.

I remember growing up we would always have cranberry sauce on the table, but times have changed, adds Chef Gormley. I find that everybody puts it on their plate. I don't know if they eat it or not.

Although it's difficult to pinpoint which items are passed over the most, he would probably say salads.

The Smithville offers salads on its buffet, from dinner salads to compound salads like the bean and roasted tomato salad, the tomato mozzarella salad, or a Brussel sprout salad with bacon. But shying away from salad may be because people don't want to fill up when there are so many other choices, like prime rib, to choose.

People are smart and they can see the value. As soon as they get a whiff of that, they know.

If you're going to commit to turkey, Gormley offers some suggestions to avoid the dryness. He recommends brining the bird.

I like brining it because it's juicy, and it seems to be more tender because it will take in the flavors," he says.

"This time of year I'll do an apple-cider brine. Apple cider, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, rosemary, thyme, oranges, a little bit of garlic, peppercorns and a good amount of salt, in fact, a couple cups per batch," Gormley says. "It really imparts the flavor, the sweetness, and the moisture which you desperately need in a turkey.

He suggests putting the turkey breast side down in the brine for 12 hours and turning it over for 12 hours. Rinse it off and put it in the oven.

But if you're in the mood to try something new this year and decide to take a pass on the gobbler, Merryman says look to the sea.

Seafood is always great. If you can find a nice striper, or something like that, I would cut little slits in the filets and place shaved garlic into those slits, then wrap the whole thing and bake it with seasoning, garlic, cracked black pepper, so you have some flavor in there, he says.

If you're curious what the chefs eat on Thanksgiving, it's not turkey. They both admit they're so busy on Thanksgiving they really don't have time for a real meal at all. Merryman says they'll have a station in their kitchen with tuna fish salad, sandwiches, brisket and even candy to grab during the busy holiday. Pretty much the same at Smithville. The pitfalls of restaurant life.

Merryman recalls when his daughter was in college she was asked by a friend if she would be having Thanksgiving dinner at her home. Her reply, he related: I have never had Thanksgiving dinner in my house. Since I've been born my family is at the restaurant every Thanksgiving. But I'll have turkey the next day.
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Edward McKinley reports on Texas state government and politics from the Hearst Bureau in Austin for the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News, with a particular focus on education issues. He can be reached at edward.mckinley@houstonchronicle.com.

He is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and Georgetowns Masters in American Government program. He previously reported for The Albany Times Union and the Kansas City Star newspapers, and he originally hails from the great state of Minnesota.
Cecilia Castellano and Don McLaughlin Jr. Courtesy photos

Republicans flipped a blue border district in Tuesdays election, as former Uvalde mayor Don McLaughlin won the open seat of retiring Democratic state Rep. Tracy King.

The Associated Press called the race on Wednesday morning.

McLaughlin, who led the city through the aftermath of the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, defeated businesswoman Cecilia Castellano by a wide margin, according to unofficial election results.

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This victory belongs to the people of South Texas, McLaughlin said in a statement, adding that his victory redefines the political landscape of the region.

House District 80 includes Uvalde, the San Antonio-area cities of Jourdanton and Pearsall as well as parts of Laredo. Trump would have carried the district by 4 percentage points in 2020, though the incumbent King was a moderate Democrat and faced no opponent in his 2022 reelection. His retirement created an opening for Republicans eager to expand their footprint in South Texas.

McLaughlin has aligned himself with the rightmost wing of the party and against House Speaker Dade Phelan. His win adds another vote in the Texas House for Gov. Greg Abbotts private school voucher plan.

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Castellanos campaign came under scrutiny this summer from Attorney General Ken Paxtons office, which initiated an investigation into an alleged vote harvesting scheme and raided the homes of several campaign volunteers in South Texas, including members of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Democrats have decried Paxtons probe as voter intimidation. No charges have been filed.
State Sen. Helene Duhamel will return to the South Dakota Legislature for a third full term after beating challenger Karen McNeal in Tuesday's election.

Duhamel, a Republican, won with 60% of the vote to independent McNeal's 40%, according to unofficial results from the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office.

"I'm so pleased, so thankful to the citizens of District 32. It's a great honor to serve in the Legislature and now to have been elected three times," said Duhamel, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Kristi Noem in 2019 and won elections in 2020, 2022 and this year.

"I'm so proud of actively representing Rapid City on lots of issues. It's (also) really exciting right now with John Thune and Mike Rounds in their positions in the Senate, and the possibilities of having South Dakota have a real strong voice. So right now, I'm looking forward to really leading and pushing forward," Duhamel said.

Part of that push forward will focus on Missouri River water for western South Dakota. She mentioned the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, a project years in the making that feeds into southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota.

"We were supposed to go west, but that never happened," she said. "We cycle in and out of drought. As it is, we're dry and arid, really like a desert. We now have awakened to the dire need for water in western South Dakota. Water is the fuel for economic growth and we are asking for water for western South Dakota, while Sioux Falls is asking for a second pipeline. With our legislators in these powerful positions in in Washington D.C., this is our golden opportunity to push this project. We have to really prioritize water for western South Dakota."

Duhamel added, "We just want our share of that so we can grow, we can prosper, we can have certainty of drinking water in the future."

Duhamel, who by day is the public information officer for the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, also mentioned the need to continue supporting Ellsworth Air Force Base. The base is in the middle of billions of dollars on construction work to prepare for the arrival of additional airmen with the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber program.

"The state benefits to the tune of some $85 million between sales and excise taxes. The state is benefiting. We're asking if we brought a private business to South Dakota that promised that many jobs, good paying jobs and that many people coming. We'd move mountains to give them everything they needed to make salt go to their home. But because it's the federal government, we're not we're not helping in this effort," Duhamel said, speaking specifically about the need for additional school facilities to accommodate that population growth.

Duhamel said a summer study session by Legislature members looked at how to help the base and the topic will come up at the upcoming session. A possibility is using some of the sales or excise tax money funneled into the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority. According to its website, the Legislature-created SDEDA is design to work with local governments, the private sector on base issues, work with the U.S. Department of Defense, promote the economic impact of the base and prepare for future growth.

Duhamel said she's ready to head back to Pierre.

"It's time to get going on important things, you know, let's, let's mend some fences, heal some wounds, let's join forces, hold hands and do the right thing for South Dakota," she said.

McNeal said she was disappointed with the outcome.

"I'm not a politician. I've never run for anything in my life before," said McNeal, who grew up in Rapid City and attending the South Dakota School of Mines for chemistry before a career with Shell that took her to Texas before retiring and returning to the Black Hills.

"The reason I decided to run was that I didn't like (Duhamel's) votes on several things," McNeal said, "and so my idea was, if you don't like how things are going, then you can either whine and complain or you can do something. So I decided to do something."

Asked if she'll work to stay involved on issues affecting the area, McNeal said she's dedicated to serving and protecting children, so she might look in that area.

"I ran because I care about kids and I didn't like what I was seeing," she said, while also recounting visiting the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls during the campaign. "That's out of 'The Shawshank Redemption.' That place is horrible. I just look at these inmates and I think if somebody had intervened when they were young before they got on this track, maybe we wouldn't be taking care of stuff at the back end instead of the front end. So early childhood education is kind of important to me."

Asked if she'll run again, McNeal said she entered the racing thinking "this was going to be my one shot," but "never say never."

Dist. 32 House

Republican State Rep. Steve Duffy secured his second term Tuesday night, roughly tying Democrat Nicole Uhre-Balk with 35% of the vote in District 32.

Duffy and Uhre-Balk will represent District 32 in Pierre after beating Republican Brook Kaufman, who took 30% of the vote.

Duffy referred to Uhre-Balk as a good person and a smart person during an interview with the Journal Wednesday morning.

"Maybe her and I don't philosophically agree on everything, but ... I think we both agree that things that move Rapid City or South Dakota forward, I hope we can work on those together. And I think we can," Duffy said. "I think there's a lot of this stuff that should not be as partisan."

Uhre-Balk told the Journal she's honored and grateful for the chance to represent Rapid City, adding it "took a village" to get there and she's looking forward to getting started. She said Duffy is a great guy, and between family connections and conversations on the campaign trail the two are friendly.

"I think we can work well together, and definitely won't agree on everything, but I think we can pick the problems that really matter to District 32, and try to find innovative solutions that can work," Uhre-Balk said.

PHOTOS: Rapid Citians turn out for Election Day A man votes on Nov. 5 at the Canyon Lake Activity Center in Rapid City. Rapid City voters head to the polls at West Park Apartments on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters line up outside Rapid City's Community Center West to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A man turns in his ballot at West Park Apartments on General Election Day 2024. A poll worker assists voters at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A woman gets her ballot at West Park Apartments on Tuesday, Nov. 5. A poll worker hands out ballots at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters cast their ballots at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A man casts his ballots at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A woman casts her ballot at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on General Election Day 2024. Voters line up to cast their ballots in Rapid City on Election Day 2024. Voters leave with election materials after casting their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters leave after casting their General Election ballots on Nov. 5, 2024. Voters leave Rapid City's Community Center West after casting their ballots on General Election Day 2024. Lines at several polling places  like here at Rapid City's Community Center West  were out-the-door on Election Day 2024. Poll workers hand out "I Voted" stickers to voters in Rapid City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A woman casts her ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 at West Park Apartments in Rapid City. Voters cast their ballots at West Park Apartments in Rapid City. A poll worker hands out ballots at West Park Apartments on General Election Day 2024. An Indigenous child is given a sample ballot to practice voting on at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City. An Indigenous woman casts her vote at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City. A woman casts her vote at the Parkview Church on the south side of Rapid City. Voters throughout Rapid City, including at Bethel Church, Rapid City Christian School and Rapid City Community Center South, headed to the pol An Indigenous man fills in his ballot at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City on Nov. 5. An Indigenous woman fills in her ballot at General Beadle Elementary in Rapid City on Nov. 5. A Vote Here sign sits outside of He Sapa New Life Church in Rapid City. A woman submits her ballot on Nov. 5 at the He Sapa New Life Church in Rapid City. A Native Votes Matter! sign sits outside of the COUP Council in Rapid City where volunteers are providing free rides to the polls. A woman casts her ballot at He Sapa New Life in Rapid City on Nov. 5. A ballot sits ready to be filled out on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at Bethel Church in Rapid City. Residents cast their vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, inside Bethel Church in Rapid City. Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A man votes while holding a child at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Pennington and Meade County voters head to the polls at Box Elder City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Pennington Co. and Meade Co. voters head to the polls at Box Elder City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Pennington and Meade County voters head to the polls at Box Elder City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters fill in their ballots at Parkview Church in Rapid City on Nov. 5. Voters fill in their ballots at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City on Nov. 5. Chuck Thibault poses with his 8-week old son, Gregory, after voting at Rapid City Community Center South on Tuesday, Nov. 5. "For the record,  Voters fill out their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at Rapid City Community Center South. The American flag waves outside Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The school was one of many polling cites throughout the area. Voters cast a ballot at Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Election workers said about 1,000 people had voted by 11:30 a.m. Election workers were ready at Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday morning. Election workers help a woman as she gets ready to vote at Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday, Nov. 5. A blue sky with puffy clouds is the backdrop for an American flag waving outside Rapid City Christian School. Voters at Rapid City Christian School. A man and woman leave the Pennington County Administration building on Monday, Nov. 4 in Rapid City. Residents wait in line to vote while others cast their ballots at the Pennington County Administration building on Monday, Nov. 4 in Rapid City. Voting at Rapid City Community Center South. The scene at Rapid City Community Center South on Election Day.
Gov. Greg Abbott, second to right, waves to the large crowd as he campaigns for Republican HD 121 candidate Marc LaHood, right, at the Angry Elephant on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

Republicans dominated Texas House elections across the state on Tuesday, winning key contests in San Antonio and the suburbs of Dallas and Austin where Democrats thought they had their best shot at flipping seats.

The GOP won two new seats while Democrats failed to flip any, according to The Associated Press and unofficial county results. The results expand the GOPs majority, pushing the chamber farther to the right. The effect is even more pronounced because many of the most moderate GOP members were defeated in primaries earlier this year.

The outcome bolsters Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been pushing to stack the Legislature with Republicans supportive of his voucher plan to use taxpayer money to subsidize private education, and it sets the table for a knock-out fight over who will lead the chamber when lawmakers reconvene in January.

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House Speaker Dade Phelan, under fire for leading the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, is already being challenged by fellow Republican Rep. David Cook.

Abbott wrote online that there are now more than enough votes to pass his voucher plan.

Tonight, we celebrate all the incredible, hard-fought victories that conservatives achieved throughout our great state in this year's elections, he wrote late Tuesday. Texans sent a clear message: they want safer streets, a secure border, a strong economy, and the opportunity to choose the best school for their children.

Republicans won two high-profile San Antonio House races that drew big dollars from both parties and visits from Abbott, who campaigned for Rep. John Lujan and defense attorney Marc LaHood. In another race viewed by Democrats as a pickup opportunity, Rep. Angie Chen Button defeated former Miss Texas Averie Bishop in the northeast suburbs of Dallas.

And in an open district that includes Uvalde and was previously held by Democratic Rep. Tracy King, Republican Don McLaughlin Jr. defeated Democrat Cecilia Castellano with more than 90% of districts reporting.

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Adding to the upheaval, nearly a quarter of the winning Republicans are new to the job thanks to messy primary fights earlier this year that led to the ouster of many long-time incumbents. The incoming House Republicans include Katrina Pierson, a former Trump campaign spokeswoman, and Shelly Luther, a Dallas salon owner who was jailed for defying COVID-19 lockdowns.

Also joining the chamber are several key Paxton allies, including Mitch Little, who defended the attorney general in his impeachment trial, and prominent gun rights lobbyist Wes Virdell, who won the seat being vacated by state Rep. Andrew Murr. Murr had led the committee that launched the impeachment inquiry.

The GOP shift is likely to affect the speakers race: Many of the newly elected Republicans have endorsed Cook, R-Mansfield, over Phelan and have signed a Contract for Texas that aligns them with the right-most members of the chamber.

Cook has promised to push through more conservative legislation and restrict Democrats from serving as committee chairs.

Without question, its going to be more conservative than it was in 2023, said Rice University political science professor Mark Jones.

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Republicans prevailed across several key races in South Texas, a massive win for the party. The GOP has worked especially hard to court the states Hispanic voters in the region, who make up a plurality of the states residents and are a fastest-growing population group. According to statewide exit polling by the Washington Post, more than half of Texas Latinos voted for Donald Trump.

In addition to the success of McLaughlin, the former mayor of Uvalde, Republican state Rep. Janie Lopez of Harlingen successfully won a second term.

And the GOP picked up an open seat outside Corpus Christi currently held by Democrat Abel Herrero when Republican Denise Villalobos, an oil and gas engineer, defeated Democratic nominee Solomon Ortiz.
Republican candidates appear likely to have swept statewide offices up and down the ballot by overwhelming margins as of Wednesday morning, nearing 20 points in some contests.

With 62% of precincts reporting, the GOP looks poised to have a lock on all five of the major statewide races that sit on the state Land Board. This sweep comes as the Associated Press called the race for U.S. Senate in favor of Republican challenger Tim Sheehy against three-term incumbent Democrat Jon Tester.

Four years ago, Republicans also dominated the statewide races, winning all five contests. Tuesday nights election results show that trend of GOP dominance continuing.

Numbers below are from unofficial election results reported by the Montana Secretary of States Office.

Governor

Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte has fended off a challenge from Democrat Ryan Busse to secure a second term.

The Associated Press called the race almost as soon as polls closed at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, even though very low percentages of votes had been counted. By Wednesday morning, Gianforte had 60% of the vote to Busse's 38%.

Gianfortes campaign relied heavily on a message of economic prosperity, while Busse focused much of his bid on blaming the Republican governor for the massive rise in property taxes Montanans saw last year. Polling through the race showed Gianforte with a consistent large lead, even as some metrics flagged concerns about how voters felt about his job performance.

"I reaffirm to you that I will continue to serve all Montanans because I truly believe that we have more in common than separates us," Gianforte said to a crowd of supporters at a watch party in Bozeman.

This marked Gianfortes third bid for the office, he first ran unsuccessfully in 2016 and then won the seat in 2020 after serving in the U.S. House. Over his first term in office, he succeeded in reducing the top income tax rate from 6.9% to 5.9%, and he wants to reduce it further in 2025.

Hes also called for lawmakers to pass a homestead exemption act that would favor Montana residents and long-term renters to counter the roughly 20% statewide property tax increase Montanans saw last year.

Busse's campaign laid that property tax spike at Gianfortes feet, saying he was negligent in not passing a bill that previous governors from both parties had approved to adjust the rates different classes of properties are taxed at to hold payments flat. He also hammered Gianforte over bills the Republican signed that would have limited abortion access in Montana.

In an emailed statement Wednesday morning, Busse congratulated Gianforte and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras.

"We wish them the best as they lead Montana in the years ahead," Busse and his running mate Raph Graybill said in the statement. "It is a high honor to fight for the Montana we love and for a future worth handing down to our kids. We were inspired by the many Montanans whose lives and livelihoods have changed in recent years. We fought for freedom and privacy, for public lands and for lower taxes. To all Montanans who supported us along the way: thank you. Getting your Montana back is still more important than ever."

Im proud of what we've accomplished so far but we have more work to do," Gianforte said.

Superintendent of the Office of Public Instruction

As of Wednesday morning with 62% of precincts reporting, Republican Susie Hedalen led Democrat Shannon OBrien, a state senator from Missoula, in the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Hedalen, the current superintendent in Townsend, ran on a platform of putting a superintendent in the superintendents office. OBriens campaign message emphasized the need for a change after eight tumultuous years under Republican leadership.

"I am honored by the overwhelming support that Montana voters showed me in this election," Hedalen said in an emailed statement. "This was my first run for political office. Im a lifelong educator, not a politician. As your next state superintendent, I am committed to honoring families and teachers, ensuring school safety, and expanding educational opportunities for Montana students. I want to thank the families, educators, and all Montana voters who helped make this campaign successful. I look forward to getting to work for them on day one.

The Superintendent of the Office of Public Instruction oversees Montanas nearly 400 school districts. Under outgoing superintendent Republican Elsie Arntzen, the office has been characterized by significant staff turnover, a hemorrhage of institutional knowledge and dysfunction that has trickled down to school administrators at the local level, making it difficult for them to keep up with changing mandates and unclear instruction, previous reporting shows.

OBrien made the case  ultimately unsuccessfully  to voters that it was time for a change, and putting a Democrat into office would ensure that the next four years didnt look like the last eight.

It has been an honor to travel around our beautiful state and meet with so many students, parents, and teachers that care deeply about our public schools," O'Brien said in a statement. "Unfortunately we came up short but I wish Susie the best as she takes on the challenges our kids and schools are facing.

Hedalen will be tasked with turning things around at the state education agency and advocating for public education at the Capitol as lawmakers deal with pressing and persistent problems such as school funding, low teacher pay and the classroom as the site of ongoing culture wars.

Secretary of State

Christi Jacobsen, the Republican incumbent from Helena, is was leading the race to become Montanas top election official as of Wednesday morning with 62% of precincts reporting. Shes up against Democratic challenger Jesse James Mullen, a newspaper owner from Deer Lodge Libertarian John Lamb, a farmer and builder from Norris.

"Know that I am here to serve you, Montana," Jacobsen said to supporters. "All Montanans. Together, lets build on this momentum to ensure that Montana remains a shining example of what we can achieve when we protect our freedoms, support our businesses, and honor the values that make this state so special.

The Montana Secretary of State oversees administering elections, maintains government records and serves as a member of the Montana Land Board.

While in office, Jacobsen has faced criticism for her efforts to keep the abortion ballot measure off the ballot, saying droves of signatures should be considered invalid, and running a business system that possibly overcharged customers. She also sent ballots to Montanans living overseas that did not include the Democratic presidential ticket.

Jacobsen has also called for stricter voter ID requirements, a campaign platform her opponents vehemently opposed. She also touted work she did with business services, saying she worked to reduce bureaucracy and cut fees.

Mullen's campaign pushed back on much of what Jacobsen has supported to change elections in Montana. He also said he heard frustrations from businesses and others who have struggled to use the Secretary of States online filing portal.

"Id like to congratulate Christi. I think she ran a great race," Mullen told the Montana State News Bureau. "My supporters were amazing, and I feel lucky to have been able to work with so many Montanans over the last year-plus."

Attorney General

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Austin Knudsen held a substantial lead as of Wednesday morning over Democratic newcomer and Bozeman attorney Ben Alke.

In a brief speech at the Republican election night party in Bozeman, Knudsen praised the work of his justice department on the southern border, human trafficking and illegal drugs.

We are just scratching the surface, Knudsen said. Weve got four more years. I cant tell you how excited I am to work with the Montana Legislature, to work with Gov. Gianforte, to work with Sen. Daines, Sen. Tim Sheehy, and were going to send Jon Tester back to his organic farm in Big Sandy.

Elected in 2020, Knudsen was an aggressive driver of the Montana Department of Justice and unabashedly partisan in his approach to the role of the top law enforcement official. Republicans from the state GOP chairman to U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson heralded Knudsen's reputation in conservative circles for punching over his weight. He touts the 50 lawsuits his office has leveled against the Democratic administration of President Joe Biden, from policy at the southern border to federal emissions rules.

Knudsen brought that confrontational posture to state-level politics, too. He was accused last year of violating attorney ethics rules by working to undermine public confidence in the judicial branch through public statements and court filings during a critical separation-of-powers dispute in 2021.

Less than two weeks before Election Day, the Commission on Practice panel, a state committee that regulates lawyer ethics, called Knudsen's actions "disingenuous in the extreme and recommended he be suspended from the practice of law for 90 days. The final decision on Knudsen's discipline has not yet been decided.

But the dust-up wasnt enough to convince voters that Alkes vision for the office  one concerned less with partisan fights and more on the impartial administration of law enforcement  was the best.

Auditor

With about 62% of precincts reporting, Republican James Brown leads the race to become Montanas chief consumer advocate and regulator of the securities and insurance industries over Democrat John Repke, a business executive from Whitefish.

Brown is the current president of the Montana Public Service Commission, a lawyer and small business owner. He ran unsuccessfully for the Montana Supreme Court in 2022.

He issued a statement declaring victory on Tuesday based on the early tallies.

Montanans chose to have a rendezvous with destiny, a destiny guided by the small government principles of the Republican Party to keep our Montana, Montana, he said in the statement.

The auditors office cant set prices for insurance companies, but it does review cost changes and has the power to formally challenge rate hikes. Repke said he felt the next officeholder needed to be more vocal in objecting to price increases to protect the consumer. Brown didnt commit to using reviews more regularly, but said his focus would be on communicating transparently with the public about premium changes and rates so consumers can find the best insurance plan for them.

There was no incumbent in the race. Republican Troy Downing, who was elected to the position in 2020, served a single term before running for higher office in Montanas eastern congressional district.
China shines in global energy storage

08:39, November 06, 2024 By Zheng Xin ( China Daily

A technician works with power lines at Daqing Oilfield in Heilongjiang province in April. (XIE JIANFEI/XINHUA)

China's energy storage industry has experienced explosive growth in recent years, driven by rapid advancements in technology and increased demand, solidifying its position as a leader in terms of both capacity and innovation, said industry experts.

China now holds a commanding 38 percent share of the global energy storage market, fueled by a surge in new capacity and groundbreaking technological advancements, said the China Energy Storage Alliance.

This growth, driven by China's swift expansion in battery storage and other energy solutions, cements its role as a leader in the sector, said Li Chenfei, senior manager of CNESA.

According to the alliance, China's energy storage sector has seen unprecedented growth, with the operational capacity of new energy storage systems surging to 34.5 gigawatts, marking an annual growth rate of 166 percent year-on-year.

China has added 21.5 GW of storage capacity so far this year, which is three times the amount added during the same period in 2022, accounting for 47 percent of the global increase, it said.

China's momentum in energy storage reflects a blend of strategic policy support, technological innovation, and strong industry partnerships, said Li.

"The government has made clear commitments to renewable energy and carbon neutrality, setting ambitious targets that accelerate demand for advanced storage solutions. These policies are supported by substantial incentives, allowing companies to scale their operations rapidly," he said.

"With established supply chains and a focus on cost-cutting, Chinese companies are able to produce energy storage technologies  especially lithium-ion batteries  at a scale and price point that's tough to match globally."

Advancements in compressed air energy storage have enabled domestic production of essential equipment, bringing system costs down, while other emerging storage technologies remain in the early stages of industrialization and are not yet economically competitive, he said.

Li added that China's dominance in energy storage technology, particularly in battery cell production, places it in a leading position to shape global storage standards.

At the end of the first half, power storage capacity in China surpassed 100 GW, reaching 103.3 GW, a 47 percent year-on-year increase. New energy storage systems now account for nearly 50 percent of the total, with lithium battery storage maintaining a dominant position in this sector, said Li.

According to the New Energy Department of the State Grid Energy Research Institute, while lithium ion batteries are currently dominating, accounting for 98.2 percent of electrochemical storage capacity, China is gradually incorporating various long-duration technologies into its energy landscape.

The country's storage sector is diversifying beyond lithium-dominant technologies, with recent deployments including projects utilizing flywheel and supercapacitor technologies, a compressed-air facility with a capacity of 300 megawatts, and advanced lithium-ion and lead-carbon hybrid setups, it said.

As domestic competition remains intense, profitability in overseas markets is significantly higher, Li said.

The global new energy storage market has also been expanding rapidly in recent years, with a 99.6 percent year-on-year growth and 91.3 GW in cumulative installed capacity in 2023, according to the alliance.

This surge of new energy storage capacity is largely attributable to China's aggressive expansion in renewable energy infrastructure, particularly large-scale wind, and photovoltaic power bases, said Hu Jing, director of the Distributed Energy and Energy Storage Research Office of the State Grid Energy Research Institute, during the recently released Analysis Report on the Development of New Energy Storage 2024.

"China's energy storage sector has entered a phase of scaled growth and routine application in recent years, supported by the steady advancement of new energy and power systems nationwide," said Hu.

"New energy storage solutions are moving toward independent commercialization and market-based deployment, marking a shift from policy-driven models to demand-driven growth. This transition signals a broader integration of energy storage in China's renewable infrastructure, reinforcing its role in stabilizing the power grid and supporting the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources."

Looking forward, industry experts expect China's cumulative new energy storage capacity could reach between 221 GW and 300 GW by 2030, driven by sustained demand for integrated storage solutions and China's expanding renewable energy portfolio.

According to the report, China's energy storage sector has maintained a rapid growth momentum from 2023, with new energy storage capacity expanding from 8.7 million kilowatts in 2022 to 31.39 million kW last year. On the other hand, new energy storage plants in China are increasingly shifting toward centralized, large-scale installations, it said.

Companies have all stepped up efforts in recent years to accelerate their layout of energy storage across the country.

State Grid Corp of China currently has a scale of 36.80 million kW or 77.56 million kilowatt-hours of new energy storage, with 95 percent of this capacity becoming operational over the past three years, underscoring the accelerated pace of energy storage deployment across China.

The utilization rate of new energy storage facilities in the corporation's operational areas continues to rise. In the first half, new energy storage systems achieved an average usage of 459 hours and approximately 109 equivalent charge-discharge cycles, marking increases of about 44 percent and 37 percent, respectively, compared to the same period in 2023, it said.

The role of new energy storage in grid regulation has also strengthened significantly. The maximum short-term peak capacity exceeded 30 million kW, underscoring the importance of new energy storage in ensuring power supply and supporting renewable energy integration.

While China's policy framework for the new energy storage sector is progressively shifting to support large-scale, market-driven growth, Hu suggests further enhancing grid integration and dispatch mechanisms while accelerating the expansion of energy storage.

She also suggested refining market systems to boost efficiency and strengthen safety management alongside innovative pilot programs, so as to foster the high-quality, sustainable development of China's new energy storage industry.

Wang Lining, director of the oil market department under the economics and technology research institute of China National Petroleum Corp, believes the country's vigorously advancing construction of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power bases is expected to drive sustained, large-scale growth in new energy storage, to better enhance the transmission and absorption capacity of renewable energy across regions.

Many of the bases require that storage capacity comprise at least 15 percent of these renewable energy bases  a shift that is accelerating market-driven storage adoption alongside traditional policy incentives.

The outlook for energy storage applications remains broad, bolstered by advancements in battery technology, grid modernization, and supportive government policies, all of which position China as a leader in global storage solutions, said Wang.

China's renewable-rich regions, such as Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, have spearheaded new installations, with both power and energy storage capacities leading the nation.

To address challenges from large-scale renewable development and the establishment of a new power system, State Grid Xinjiang has been implementing a coordinated "source-grid-load-storage" approach.

The approach includes optimizing both internal and external power distribution and enhancing Xinjiang's power exports while balancing local consumption. By facilitating outbound power transmission and bolstering internal usage, State Grid Xinjiang aims to maximize the utility and efficiency of renewable energy in the region.

In September, State Grid kicked off construction of a new project consisting of power generation facilities in Xinjiang, which has a total planned installed capacity of approximately 19 million kW, comprising 4 million kW of wind power, 8.5 million kW of photovoltaic power, 3.96 million kW of efficient thermal power, and around 2.5 million kW of energy storage.

The project will facilitate the transmission of locally generated electricity to other parts of China, with over 60 percent of the electricity transmitted to Sichuan province and Chongqing to be generated from renewable sources.

Since 2010, State Grid has constructed three power transmission channels in Xinjiang to deliver locally generated electricity to 20 provincial-level regions across the country. The region had transmitted a total of 826.1 billion kWh of locally generated electricity to other parts of the country as of the end of August this year, according to State Grid's Xinjiang branch.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Associated Press Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Evan Vucci/AP

Former President Donald Trump is on track to flip almost every major county in South Texas, a stunning blow to Democrats in a region long known as a blue bastion.

As of early Wednesday, the Republican was leading election returns in Brownsvilles Cameron County, McAllens Hidalgo County and even Laredos Webb County, all places that had voted for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden by double digits in 2016 and 2020. He also was poised to win Starr County, which has voted Democratic in every presidential race since 1896, the longest streak of any county in the country.

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Trumps strong performance teed up Texas Republicans to sweep a number of key races down ballot, expanding their footprint in the region and indicating that their conservative messaging has staying power with the regions working-class and heavily-Latino electorate.

This was a very good night for Republicans in South Texas, especially looking into the future, said Alvaro Corral, a professor of political science at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. I would not have predicted that Donald Trump would win all four counties of the [valley].

U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred also performed slightly better than Vice President Harris did in South Texas, holding onto several blue counties that went for Trump. But Corral said Allreds returns are still significantly worse than previous Democratic margins in the region and point to deeper Democratic troubles beyond the weakness of Vice President Kamala Harris brand alone.

Exit polls conducted by NBC News indicate that Vice President Kamala Harris won around 53% of the overall Latino vote statewide

But 54% of Latino men said they supported Trump, up from 36% four years ago in his race against Biden. Among Latino women, 61% said they supported Harris this election  compared to 69% for Biden four years ago.

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South Texas first came into the spotlight as a battleground region in 2020, when many border counties shifted towards Trump. Republicans began investing heavily in the region in the 2022 midterms, coming away with relatively disappointing results despite spending millions. But their hopes for the region came to fruition this year as a number of GOP incumbents widened their winning margins.

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, a first-term Republican from Edinburg who has helped lead the GOPs appeals to Latino voters, trounced challenger Michelle Vallejo by double digits in a race that Democrats had hoped would be competitive. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican who represents a large swath of the Texas border, also sailed to a comfortable victory.

It was a long night for the regions remaining Democratic incumbents.

In Laredo, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar barely hung on to his seat despite winning last cycle by 13 points. Republicans also seem to have come up short of unseating U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in Brownsville despite spending heavily on former U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores campaign. The Associated Press had yet to call the race by early Wednesday, even as Gonzales claimed victory. Each Democrat held surprisingly narrow leads given their districts historically-blue hues.

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Republicans were on track to be even more successful in races for the state Legislature, by flipping three seats in the Texas House and aiming to oust Democratic state Sen. Morgan LaMantia in Brownsville.

The race in LaMantias state Senate district, also located in Brownsville, was the only competitive race in that chamber. LaMantias family, which owns a large beer distributor, had loaned her millions of dollars for the race. But her campaign suffered a blow with former state Sen. Eddie Lucio III, a conservative Democrat who once held her seat, endorsed Adam Hinojosa because of the Republican's anti-abortion stance.

In the Texas House, Republicans successfully defended state Rep. Janie Lopez of Harlingen, a freshman who won her race by less than 300 votes last cycle. She ended up defeating challenger Jonathan Gracia by nearly ten points, according to the Associated Press.

Republicans also came out on top in several offensive plays funded by Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican groups. In Corpus Christi, Republican Denise Villalobos won a seat left open by retiring Democrat Abel Herrero, handily defeating Solomon Ortiz. Former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin meanwhile, beat Democrat Cecilia Castellano to represent a rural district that stretches between San Antonio and Laredo.

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State Rep. Eddie Morales, meanwhile, was just barely holding on against Republican Robert Garza in his sprawling rural district anchored in Eagle Pass that few had considered competitive. The race had not been called as of 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Elon Musk speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. Evan Vucci/AP

Elon Musks $119 million bet on Donald Trump paid off and Texass newest Republican mega-donor made clear he has no plans to bow out of GOP politics any time soon.

The Tesla and SpaceX chief said Tuesday on his social media platform, X, that he plans to deploy the political action committee he initially funded to boost Trump against progressive district attorneys and judicial candidates across the country.

READ MORE: 5 key takeaways from Election Day in Texas

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Hes already dabbled in those local races this cycle in Texas  where Republicans flipped a slew of usually low-profile appeals court seats  but apparently plans to supercharge the effort nationally in the coming years.

America PAC is going to keep going after this election, Musk said during a virtual town hall he held Tuesday night while he traveled to Florida to watch the results with Trump after casting his vote in South Texas.

We just have to have DAs that, you know, protect the citizens of their cities, Musk said. We have, in so many of our cities, DAs that dont prosecute crime, and the people of those cities suffer.

It is just one way that the Texas billionaire is set to further establish himself as a major figure in American politics and as a potentially influential figure in the White House, where Trump has said Musk will have a role finding ways to slash government spending and regulations.

RELATED: Harris County Republican judges have best electoral showing in a decade

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A star is born, Trump said of Musk during his victory speech, underscoring the billionaires emerging political import. He's a special guy. He's a super genius.

While Musk focused the vast majority of his money and time boosting Trump this cycle, he also began to dip his toe into judicial races in Texas.

Musk poured at least $3 million of his own money into state-based groups focused on the courts here, including $2 million to the Judicial Fairness PAC, a group working to elect Republican judges.

That group, in turn, bankrolled the Stop Houston Murders PAC, a political action committee tied to families of slain Houstonians that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on radio and television advertisements urging voters to back Republicans in Houston.

Earlier this year, the billionaire also secretly funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into an effort to unseat progressive Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza during the March primary, the Wall Street Journal reported. Garza survived that and was easily reelected on Tuesday.

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Musk cast his next chapter as a much broader effort to counter the damage that (George) Soros has done to the American system, referring to the liberal billionaire who has spent big backing progressive prosecutors nationally.

Musk did not mention any Texas races specifically, instead indicating he would target DAs in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York, where Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg recently secured a guilty verdict against Trump on felony charges.

America PAC is going to aim to weigh in heavily on the midterms and intermediate elections, as well as just doing common sense stuff like having DAs who prosecute repeat violent criminals, Musk said.

The focus on prosecutors comes as Musk has been increasingly vocal about the courts from a business standpoint, as well.

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Musk this year gave $1 million to Texas for Lawsuit Reform PAC, the political arm of a powerful pro-business group known for lobbying against what it sees as frivolous lawsuits.

Musk reincorporated his companies in Texas as the state launched a new court system designed exclusively for businesses.

While Musk has not said explicitly the courts  designed to handle complex, high-dollar commercial disputes  were a reason for the move, he has been vocal about his frustration with Delawares courts, which blocked a more than $50 billion pay package for the Tesla CEO in January.
GXBank has marked its first anniversary with the launch of GX 2.0  Next Starts Now, unveiling its product roadmap of new financial products aimed at empowering Malaysians and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for the next phase of its operations.

Over the past year, the first digital bank to launch in Malaysia has marked various milestones, with nearly one million Malaysians customers, over 24 million debit and QR transactions, and more than 900,000 Savings Pockets created.

GXBanks next phase, dubbed GX 2.0, brings a suite of new and innovative products to serve an expanded segment of the population and support their financial goals. Here are the major announcements:

GX FlexiCredit

Launching progressively in November, GX FlexiCredit offers Malaysians instant approval for credit lines of up to RM150,000, with cash disbursed in minutes. A hybrid product thats neither a traditional personal loan nor a credit card, GX FlexiCredit acts as a flexible credit solution allowing immediate cash drawdown while charging interest only on the drawn amount.

There are still various details not mentioned about this product, and we expect additional info to be shared to customers closer to its rollout.

GX Biz Banking for MSMEs

In line with the governments Belanjawan Madani 2025 to help bridge the financing gap for MSMEs, GX Biz Banking aims to be a one-stop digital solution for businesses, specifically addressing challenges faced by MSMEs in Malaysia.

GXBank will be the first bank in Malaysia to offer fully digital-only business account opening and onboarding process, without requiring physical documentation and any visit to a physical branch. It will also be the first to offer daily interest payouts.

On top of that, customers can seamlessly apply for the GX Biz FlexiLoan via the GXBank app, with instant approval on credit lines of up to RM150,000. Featuring flexible loan tenures of up to three years and zero fees on early repayment, GX Biz Banking allows entrepreneurs to manage their business finances with ease, with nationwide rollout scheduled in Q1 2025.

TeXnovasi: Empowering Tech Startups

In collaboration with Grab Malaysia and supported by Cradle, MYStartup, and 1337 Ventures, GXBanks TeXnovasi programme is a pioneering accelerator programme aimed at uplifting Malaysias tech startup ecosystem through public-private partnerships.

The accelerator programmes mission is to empower tech startups with tailored mentorship from industry leaders, expert-led workshops on innovations, market entry support, and resources to secure investments.

Personalised Banking with GX 2.0

Lastly, GXBank will also introduce new features designed to make banking more engaging, including:

 Alni  GXBanks multilingual AI chatbot: Alni offers seamless support in both Bahasa Malaysia and English, claiming that the chatbot can understand our colloquial Bahasa Rojak. It would efficiently handle queries and, when needed, connect users to a human GXBuddy for further assistance.

 #GXWrapped: Similar to the popular Spotify Wrapped feature, users can explore their Money Story, a fun, easy-to-understand summary of their save and spend behaviour throughout the year, as well as discover their Money Personality.

 Collectible Badges: Customers can earn badges by completing various challenges, which come with perks and access to exclusive deals, allowing them to showcase their achievements.

*****

With its first year of operations now over, GXBanks product roadmap for the next year and beyond shares a glimpse of its innovative solutions designed to empower Malaysians and MSMEs, marking a new phase in its commitment as a digital bank to serve the underserved and underbanked communities in Malaysia.

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Ammo, drugs and torture room found during Cancun taxi union office raid

Cancun, Q.R.  State officials seized the entire Cancun taxi union building after a search revealed evidence of three murders. The building and taxis were searched during an operation Monday night that lasted several hours.

Narcotics dogs were brought in to locate illegal items.

Narcotic dogs were brought in to search for drugs and other illegal items. In a statement, Cancun police reported finding live cartridges and drugs among other evidence in the taxi union building during their search.

The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSyPC) carried out a search warrant at the facilities of the Taxi Drivers Union of the Caribbean Andres Quintana Roo, in Cancun during which they seized various objects and alleged narcotics, police have said.

The operation derives from the investigations that are being carried out to clarify the murder of two taxi drivers that occurred on September 12 of this year, as well as that of a collaborator of the aforementioned union, on October 25.

Police raid the offices of the Cancun taxi union Monday night.

During the search, the participating elements seized various computer equipment, as well as hard drives, USB drives, cell phones and video storage equipment, among other evidence.

Likewise, in the office occupied by Salomon N alias Mafer, recently arrested for the aforementioned events, they found doses of alleged drugs and live cartridges of different calibers, which were also seized.

The State Attorney General has reported testimonies from some workers of the taxi union who saw acts of torture against the victims () police also seized the office where these actions were allegedly carried out.

The evidence collected is being added to the ongoing investigation into the murders of three Cancun taxi union members since September 12.

The Cancun taxi union building remains under seizure by the state.

The raid was carried out late Monday night and included dozens of military and police. Authorities were on site until after 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. Three men, all from the Cancun taxi union, are currently in custody for the murders.
Cancun to Puerto Morelos put on Blue Alert after Hurricane Rafael quickly gains category 3 status

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Cancun to Puerto Morelos, including Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, have been put on a Blue Alert by Civil Protection due to the passing of Hurricane Rafael. Rafael is scheduled to pass over western Cuba Wednesday evening as a major hurricane.

As it does, the northern region of Quintana Roo will likely feel the effects of wind and rain. As much as 25 mms is expected as Rafael passes over Cuba. A major hurricane warning is currently in effect for that region. The NOAA has forecast tropical storm winds, especially gusts, as far down the Quintana Roo coast as Riviera Maya.

During the hours of Wednesday, Rafael quickly developed from a category 1 into a category 3 storm. Due to its rapid intensification and wide band area, State Civil Protection issued the warning due to wind and rain that will likely hit the region.

The warning was issued following a National Meteorological Service (SMN) update. The SMN, an official source of the Government of Mexico, issued the warning Wednesday afternoon prior to the passing of Hurricane Rafael.

Alerta Azul. Hurricane Rafael has reached Category 3 status and is located 475 km east-northeast of Cancun, Quintana Roo. Maximum winds 185 kms/h with gusts of up to 225 kms/h.

Displacement: Northwest at 22 km/h. Expected effects: Rain and showers (5 to 25 mms) in Yucatan and Quintana Roo. The Alerta Azul (Blue Alert) has been issued for Puerto Morelos, Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Lazaro Cardenas and Cozumel, Coordinacion Estatal de Proteccion Civil QRoo reported.
State seizes Isla Mujeres hotel amid allegations of corruption and dispossession days before opening

Isla Mujeres, Q.R.  An Isla Mujeres hotel set to open in coming days has been seized by the state. On Tuesday, Quintana Roo prosecutors secured the Accor-owned property in Playa Mujeres amid accusations of dispossession and corruption.

The hotel was shut down Tuesday by the State of Quintana Roo on allegations of corruption and dispossession.

Newly constructed SLS Hotel on the Isla Mujeres mainland is under investigation by the State Attorney General (FGE) of Quintana Roo. Authorities seized the 498-room Playa Mujeres hotel for alleged acts of dispossession of land and corruption in its building permits. Access to the hotel has been restricted.

The hotel, which is not yet in operation, is owned by the French multinational hospitality company Accor. The Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) reported in a statement that the complaint arose after an investigation revealed that the company had illegally seized land adjacent to its property.

According to authorities, the company allegedly claimed the land to solve deficiencies in the infrastructure of its project in order to comply with the legal requirements to operate.

The hotel was scheduled to being operating November 10, 2024.

The investigation suggests that SLS Hotels manipulated information in the process of obtaining permits to ensure the opening of its resort, the FGE said.

State officials said anomalies detected also include a lack of essential infrastructure such as parking and access including emergency exits, elements necessary for the safety and well-being of guests.

By not having these elements in its development, the company would have incurred in the dispossession of neighboring lands to simulate that they were part of its property and thus justify obtaining permits from the local authorities, reads the official document.

Access to the hotel development has been restricted while authorities investigate.

According to the FGE investigation, SLS Hotels presented the adjacent lands as if the property belonged to them. The allegations of dispossession come after deceiving municipal and sate officials who approved the operating permits.

The investigation aims to clarify the irregularities that facilitated obtaining permits through alleged illegal acts and to evaluate their impact on the community and on the interests of the local tourism sector, the FGE reported.
Wind affects likely as Rafael shifts away from Quintana Roo coast but gains major hurricane strength

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  The recent northwest shift by Hurricane Rafael has moved the system further from the Quintana Roo coast. While the National Hurricane Centre still forecasts some storm wind over the northern Yucatan Peninsula, rain is not expected.

According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Geordan Lewis, Rafael is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening as a Category 2 hurricane in western Cuba, however, the NOAA has since updated that, saying Rafael will make landfall as a major hurricane instead.

On Monday, Rafaels trajectory was forecast for the western tip of Cuba, placing a portion of the Quintana Roo coast in its outer bands for possible wind and rain. However, Rafael has shifted northwest and is now forecast to hit a more central part of western Cuba as it passes into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Mexican Navy, through the Ninth Naval Region, reported activating a Prevention Phase for Quintana Roo for the passing of major hurricane Rafael, which will pass Quintana Roo about 200 kilometers away.

The Ninth Naval Region based in Isla Mujeres, prepared 266 elements, 26 vehicles, an interceptor patrol, three Defender-type vessels, four smaller vessels and a mobile kitchen, for preventive measures if necessary.

The Fifteenth Naval Zone based in Cozumel, also made similar preparations with 290 elements, 18 vehicles, an interceptor patrol, two Defender-type boats, two smaller boats and a mobile kitchen.

A Prevention Phase by the Mexican Marina was put into place after the announcement of Hurricane Rafael.

The Prevention Phase was put into place to safeguard lives and property, however, only wind is forecast to affect the northern coast of Quintana Roo as Hurricane Rafael passes over Cuba Wednesday night as a major hurricane.

After Rafael passes Cuba, it is forecast to begin turning east. Its final trajectory, once in the Gulf of Mexico, remains unknown, however, it is forecast to maintain its hurricane strength into Saturday.
Reflections on the 2024 economics Nobel: How did the winners contribute to our understanding of global wealth and poverty, and how should we respond?

This years Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences has been awarded to Daron Acemoglu (MIT), Simon Johnson (MIT), and James A. Robinson (U of Chicago) for their work investigating why some countries flourish while others dont. Its an especially interesting time to be asking this question: While most of humanity has lived in extreme global povertyby contemporary standardsfor hundreds of thousands of years, most of us today have moved up and out. And much of that progress has happened in just the past quarter century. Of the worlds population in 2024, roughly one billion remain in such povertyas highlighted in the title of Paul Colliers The Bottom Billion.

Yet the progress that has been made is breathtaking. We should celebrate every single day the ongoing eradication of grinding poverty across the globe. But it hasnt happened everywhere. At least not yet. And this years laureates make both theoretical and empirical cases that institutions really do matter: Where one finds economic freedom and the rule of law, one is more likely to find prosperity than poverty.

But we all know that. So why the prize?

The new laureates, who will split the roughly $1 million award, take a step back and ask why these powerful institutions were more likely to develop in some places rather than others. After all, if good institutions make nations rich, why doesnt every nation choose to build them?

The laureates findings? Different institutional outcomes today are the legacy of the different ways in which European colonizers introducedor didnt introducesuch institutions, as well as the reasons.

In broad and sweeping terms, the laureates suggest that todays countries with dense populations and abundant natural resources are less likely to enjoy the benefits of rule of law and economic freedom because of the economic incentives faced by their colonizers. And one is more likely to find a legacy of better governance and institutions in less populated places that have few extractive industries.

But the history of colonization alone cannot explain why modern societies dont simply throw off the legacy of colonial exploitation and make a change for the better. If heavy-handed exploitative rule is bad, why dont the governed today replace it with something better?

A famous puzzle in the literature of economic development is sometimes referred to as the natural resource curse: The countries richest in the most valuable commodities in the worldtypically extractive resources like diamonds, gold, etc.are most likely to be poor. Shouldnt a country rich in valuable resources be among the richest?

One common argument suggests that because the immediate economic gains from extractive industries are cheap and easy and create lots of local employment, those countries never developed a more entrepreneurial culture simply because they never needed to. In short, the opportunity cost of easy wealth from diamonds or gold is the entrepreneurship that didnt happen. In addition, the incentives to pursue higher education with distant and uncertain rewards seem small when you can make money right now in your countrys extractive industries.

While the laureates work doesnt contradict such explanations, it does augment and enrich our understanding of them.

To enrich our understanding of the resource curse, Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson point out that colonization didnt unfold the same way everywhere. Instead, facing economic incentives particular to each time and place, colonizers chose to develop, or not develop, prosperity-driving institutions like economic freedom and the rule of law. Two caricatures of institutional development emerge.

In the first caricature, where few colonizers arrive, local populations are dense and extractive resources are abundant. In such situations, European settler-extractors build institutions that make sense in that context: Exploit the people and the natural resources and create institutions that are expedient to that end. Allowing too much individual agency among the indigenous people will get in the way of the immense potential economic rewards, so why allow it? The laureates also suggest that colonizers were, ceteris paribus, less likely to relocate to regions where deadly diseases were prevalent, so they had little incentive to pursue and develop such institutions because so few would be governed by them.

In the happier caricature, colonizers adopt and develop essential institutions, and leave a legacy that persists today. But why? And where? Again, the key lies in whether the density of European colonizers was big or small relative to the local population, whether extractive resources were abundant or scarce, and whether a particular place was perceived to me more or less dangerous in terms of disease and other factors affecting life expectancy.

As noted earlier, European settlers were more likely to develop good institutions when they were likely to benefit from them personally. And settlers were more likely to develop good institutions when they themselves would be most immediately impacted by them. Thus, colonies of settlers often arose in regions with fewer indigenous people present and fewer extractive industries that required lots of exploitation and heavy-handed governance to make it happen.

Thus, the findings of this years winners enrich our understanding of the natural resource curse. Countries that were already rich 500 years ago were ripe for exploitation, and humane institutions got in the way of such exploitation. On the other hand, colonizers looking to start new lives for themselves were likely to choose settings conducive to that and create institutions conducive to their long-term flourishing.

An obvious question emerges: If everyone knows that institutions matter, and that some institutions are much better than others for human flourishing, why doesnt every country turn the pageregardless of its colonial baggageand choose the path of economic freedom and rule of law?

The short answer is that institutions have inertia, and regime change is much harder than changing your socks.

First, as Lord Acton has said, Power tends to corrupt. And those currently in power are, understandably, reluctant to surrender power. Why would we expect a 21st-century ruthless dictator in an extractive economy to behave better than their European predecessors did in the same circumstance? As Mel Brooks reminds us, Its good to be the kingespecially when abuse of your present power enriches your pockets and you have a strong military that will snuff out any hint of rebellion.

Second, military power isnt the only means of forestalling rebellion. As 2015 economics Nobel winner Angus Deaton makes clear, short-term appeasement of an unruly population can stave off rebellion. The appeasement can take several forms. For instance, the incumbent rulers might engage in their own form of virtue signaling. We sometimes see this take the form of using the months before a national election to pursue (finally) a few very visible public works projects like fixing roads or planting trees in a big city. The bad politician hopes the voters see these activities as harbingers of real reforms, knowing that he can continue being neglectful once his reelection is sure.

A bad ruler can also give away stuff. Sometimes voters are willing to overlook the greatest atrocities if you make it up to them with gifts like refrigerators and below-cost gasoline (cf. Venezuela).

Finally, as Deaton notes, winning generous foreign aid for your people can potentially mitigate an uprising. But this strategy creates perverse incentives for the incumbent ruler in a poor country. In the absence of such aid, rulers would need to be more accountable to their citizens or they would be overthrown. But foreign aid is something bad rulers can point to as an accomplishment. And the only way an incumbent can continue to qualify for aid is to make sure the country stays poor. Rich countries dont get foreign aid.

In short, reform is hard. And the hangover of bad colonialism doesnt seem to have easy remedies.

While the work of this years laureates helps us understand why some countries remain poor while most others got rich, it offers little in the way of a path forward. Even when a nation demands more of its rulers, the incumbents can simply offer a bit of appeasement sufficient to make outright rebellion less likely. Even in otherwise free and rich countries, incumbent rulers cannot be trusted always to be benevolent: Remember Lord Acton.

Further, policymakers cannot be trusted to make decisions in the long-term best interests of those they govern. Elections have consequences even in rich countries, so politicians everywhere are more likely to pursue policies that ensure reelection first and foremosteven if those policies are bad medicine economically. This is the legacy of the field of economics known as public choice, for which James Buchanan received the Nobel in 1986: Politicians are utility-maximizers, just like the rest of us, and if you want to know what a politician is likely to do, just ask whats most popular, not whats best. And sometimes its OK to use your power once elected to do unpopular things you never would have suggested prior to election day.

This observation seems to be what is driving Deirdre McCloskeys reflection on this years Nobel in her weekly column in Brazils Folha de Sao Paulo, A Statist Nobel. While McCloskey doesnt dispute the findings of the laureates, she singles out Acemoglu for his willingness to use the power of the state to do good things. She quotes Acemoglu and Johnson: Government subsidies for developing more socially beneficial technologies are one of the most powerful means of redirecting technology in a market economy.

Because the laureates this year have been almost universally praised, its worth examining McCloskeys somewhat critical view.

This suggestion, that the power of the state can, and should, be deployed to frustrate individual agency in a market economy, is indeed troubling. And it contradicts the wisdom found in Friedrich Hayeks 1945 essay The Use of Knowledge in Society. Hayek masterfully argues that the planning carried out by each of us in a decentralized economy trumps any economic planning attempted by a government that lacks the particular information known only to each of us in our specific circumstances.

Acemoglu and Johnson want us to believe that the personal agency found in the market system results in a misallocating of resources, and that the powerful need to create false incentives to get people to make choices for themselves different from those they might otherwise makeallegedly for the sake of the greater good.

But getting onboard with Acemoglu and Johnson requires three pretty strict assumptions: (1) its OK to make people a little worse off today if you do it for a good reason, (2) you know for certain that your plan will result in a better outcome than would otherwise be the case, (3) imposing your will on others is acceptable under the right conditions.

But as the French economist Frederic Bastiat famously observed, once a government uses its powers of coercion and taxation to impose its will on others, we can never see what outcome we might have observed otherwise.

Obviously, lots of exploitation through political power is wrong, and the laureates help us understand how it develops and why it persists. But how comfortable we are with a little exploitation by the powerful is a question we should always bear in mind.
'Clash of Clans' Creator Supercell Starts London Office With Acquisition of 'Beatstar' Dev Space Ape Games

Supercell has opened a new London office after the Clash of Clans creator fully acquired Beatstar developer Space Ape Games.

The Finnish mobile game development company said that the move would effectively establish a new office for Supercell in central London. The studio already has several other branches in Helsinki, Shanghai, San Francisco, and Seoul.

Supercell Fully Acquires Space Ape Games

Supercell also noted that the full acquisition of Space Ape Games would let it have access to London-based talent. This comes as the city is currently home to more than 600 game companies.

CEO Ilkka Paananen said that they believe the best teams are the ones that can create the best games for the community. This is why Supercell was excited to find its place within London's "incredibly talented games ecosystem" by partnering with Space Ape Games.

Paananen added that the latest decision would allow them to bring in amazing new colleagues and make their games teams much stronger. He said that having access to the best talent worldwide lets them move faster with their mission, according to Pocket Gamer.

Read Also: 'Clash Royale': Supercell Plans To Add New Game Mode, 3 New Cards Released Date Delayed

Space Ape Games CEO John Earner noted that they enjoyed working closely together with Supercell for several years now. The acquisition marks the start of the next stage of that partnership between the two companies.

Earner said that he was proud of the contribution that Space Ape Games has made to the gaming industry as a whole in the past 12 years. He is also looking forward to moving forward as part of the Supercell team.

Bring More Games to More People

Prior to Supercell's full acquisition of Space Ape Games, it acquired 62% of the Beatstar developer in 2017 for a whopping $55.8 million. In 2022, the Clash of Clans creator increased its investment by $37 million more, Venture Beat said.

Space Ape Games is popular among gamers for bringing various music-based titles such as Beatstar and Country Star. The studio is also responsible for games like Chrome Valley Customs and TRANSFORMERS: Earth Wars.

The new partnership between Supercell and Space Ape Games aims to let the latter deliver better gaming experiences for players. This is particularly true for mobile devices which has been the main focus of the Finnish-based company, according to GamingOnPhone.

All Space Ape Games titles have been played by more than 180 million people worldwide and have generated more than $500 million in revenue. The studio also ranks 20th on Pocket Gamer's Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024.



Related Article: Squad Busters: Everything We Know So Far About Supercell's New Multiplayer Game
Visit any nation on this list if you're interested in islands, beaches and tropical rainforests.

1. Indonesia

" " Indonesia. Giordano Cipriani / Getty Images

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic country, comprises over 17,000 islands and has no shortage of beautiful beaches and tropical rainforests.

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It boasts some of the most impressive coral reefs and volcanoes, but no visit would be complete without witnessing the country's otherworldly Raja Ampat Islands.

2. Costa Rica

" " Costa Rica. Jordan Siemens / Getty Images

Any nature lover should visit Costa Rica at least once in their lifetime. Manuel Antonio, Corcovado and Tortuguero are just a few famous national parks where you can enjoy a biodiverse landscape of tropical forests dotted with natural hot springs where you can find over 500,000 species of animals.

3. Thailand

" " Thailand. Tuul & Bruno Morandi / Getty Images

Thailand is the perfect place for someone searching for islands inhabited by beautiful people who are famous for their hospitality and cuisine. It is often ranked as the best country in the world for beaches, thanks to majestic coastlines near Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi and Koh Phi Phi.

4. Philippines

" " Chocolate Hills. Afriandi / Getty Images

This island nation is made up of thousands of individual islands, each with a unique flavor of natural beauty and diverse landscapes that can satisfy any traveler. The Chocolate Hills of Bohol, the Banaue Rice Terraces and Kawasan Falls are a few of the country's top attractions.

5. Brazil

" " Brazil. Eduardo Fonseca Arraes / Getty Images

Roughly 60 percent of the Amazon Rainforest can be found in Brazil, so any wildlife fan looking for remote natural beauty should add this country to the top of their list.

However, you should do so quickly since the largest rainforest in the world is also home to much of the country's natural resources. Recent deforestation is currently at 17 percent and climbing toward a point of no return for the thousands of species in this fragile habitat.
Proper care and maintenance are essential for preserving the beauty and potency of agate. To maintain its lustrous appearance and energetic properties, it is recommended to keep the stone away from harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures, and direct sunlight. Periodic cleansing, such as through the use of water, smoke, or moonlight, can help to reset the agate's energy and ensure its continued effectiveness in one's life.

In conclusion, the captivating allure of agate is a testament to the Earth's enduring beauty and the profound ways in which gemstones can positively impact our lives. From its rich history and diverse symbolism to its transformative healing properties and practical applications, agate truly is a gemstone of extraordinary versatility and power. By embracing the wisdom and energies of agate, we can cultivate a deeper connection to ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us, ultimately embarking on a journey of personal growth, balance, and spiritual fulfillment.

Primary Keyword: Agate Meaning Secondary Keywords: Agate Symbolism, Agate Healing Properties, Agate Varieties, Agate Chakras

This article was created using Ai technology.
Georgian prosecutors on Wednesday launched a probe into the alleged "falsification" of the country's parliamentary election and summoned pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili for questioning after she accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of fraud.

The announcement came after several EU countries criticised "irregularities" in the vote and called for an investigation. US President Joe Biden said he was "deeply alarmed" by democratic "backsliding" in the Caucasus country.

Tbilisi was plunged into political uncertainty after Saturday's election. The pro-Western opposition said the vote was "stolen" and refused to recognise its results.

Zurabishvili -- at loggerheads with the ruling party -- has declared the election results "illegitimate", alleging election interference by a "Russian special operation".

"The Prosecution Service of Georgia has launched an investigation into the alleged falsification of the parliamentary elections," prosecutors said in a statement.

It said Zurabishvili "is believed to possess evidence regarding possible falsification" and has been summoned to the investigative agency for an interview" on Thursday.

Opposition parties have said they would not enter the new "illegitimate" parliament and demanded "fresh" elections run by an "international election administration."

Tens of thousands rallied in Tbilisi on Monday to protest. The United States and European Union have condemned electoral "irregularities".

Tbilisi has been rocked by protests this year over several repressive laws passed by Georgian Dream, with opponents accusing the party of steering the Caucasus country towards the Kremlin.

Georgia's central election commission has said it is conducting a partial recount of ballots at some 14 percent of precincts.

Near-complete election results showed Georgian Dream party won 53.9 percent, compared with 37.7 percent for an opposition coalition.

Biden said Tuesday that the vote had been marred by "voter intimidation and coercion."

He called on Tbilisi to "begin an immediate, inclusive dialogue with all political forces in Georgia about restoring election integrity."

European Union council chief Charles Michel has said Georgia's authorities should "swiftly, transparently and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities".

A group of Georgia's leading election monitors said they had uncovered evidence of complex scheme of large-scale electoral fraud that has swayed results in favour of the ruling party.

In an interview to AFP on Monday, Zurabsivhili claimed that "quite sophisticated" fraudulent schemes were used in the vote.

She alleged that Georgian Dream's "electoral propaganda was totally copied from Russian propaganda" and "they have PR people... who come from Russia".

Georgian Dream's critics accuse the party of derailing efforts to join the EU and of bringing the ex-Soviet country back into the Kremlin's orbit.

Georgia's increasingly conservative leadership has rejected claims it is taking the country away from EU membership goals, whih is enshrined in the constitution.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze insisted that joining the EU was his government's "top priority" and that he expected a "reset" with the bloc in coming months.

Kobakhidze met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban -- the EU rebel who has retained ties with Moscow despite its Ukraine invasion -- on Tuesday. Orban travelled to Tbilisi in a show of support for Georgian Dream.

Brussels put Tbilisi's accession process on halt after Georgian Dream passed a law this year on "foreign influence" that opponents say mirrors Russian legislation.

Tbilisi passed the law despite massive demonstrations. The US imposed sanctions on Georgian officials following the protests.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here.

Dear Care and Feeding,

I have a 2-year-old who is all of the things a 2-year-old usually is: delightful, smart, hilarious, curious, full of tantrums and big feelings, loving, playful, kind. He also pulls my hair a lot when hes frustratedwere working on it. But one issue is making me feel like I am drowning: He is obsessed with my boobs. Any time we cuddle or even sit near each other, his hands are up my sleeves or down my collar and in my bra. I feel so touched outmore than I ever felt while breastfeeding. Were working on autonomy and my body, and he generally understands that my body is mine and he cant control it, but he grabs anyway. It is decimating all of my calm-parent coping mechanisms. Please suggest solutions to get him past this phase!

Unwittingly Raising a Boob Man

Dear Unwitting,

Yes, I remember those days in which it seemed there was no boundary whatsoever between my body and my childrens bodies, that we had all melded together into one fleshpile whose every inch was available for pinching or prodding or poking. It can really do a number on you! And moms often have it way worse than I did. In your case, add the specific irritant of one particularly private part of your body being the target of all this attention, and I can see why you feel like youre drowning. You sort of are drowning, in that you feel youre being subsumed and overwhelmed.

You mention earlier in your letter that youre working on your sons propensity for hair-pulling. How so? Id urge you to overtly treat these two behaviors the same way, because theyre both violations of your bodily autonomy. Yes, one arrives in moments of anger and the other in moments of affection, but they are both unasked-for intrusions. The tone and spirit of your corrections is up to you, but consider using similar words each time, and making connections between the acts through language and physical response. This can help him learn, but also can help you remain calm by giving you a script to follow: Im the boss of my body, and we dont touch other peoples bodies without asking first. (A book which postdates my kids toddlerdom but that Ive frequently seen recommended is C Is for Consent by Eleanor Morrison.)

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Will this work all the time? Of course not, hes 2. When youre feeling particularly touched out and frustrated, find ways to physically disengage so you dont feel like youre gonna lose it. Active games and activities, as simple as rolling a ball or making music, can give you a couple of feet of space. So can a dance party or some truck time. Whatever the activities are in your childs life that have you facing one another rather than him on your lapkeep some of those at the ready to bust out when hes getting handsy. And if youre parenting with a partner, tell him or her how youre feeling, and dont be afraid to ask that partner to take a shift at moments like these so you can retreat to another room or go out for a walk.

Youll get there! Hell figure it out! Courage!

Related From Slate How American Moms Got Touched Out Read More

Dear Care and Feeding,

My 8-year-old is overall a well-behaved kid. Hes at an advanced level in reading and he is ahead of most of his class in math. He loves to joke and make people laugh, but its almost out of control. Somehow, he got his hands on a whoopie cushion, which he placed under my wifes mothers chair when they were visiting. On April Fools Day he set off a stink bomb during a music recital and got suspended for three days. This week he was accused of using a remote fart machine during class, which he used to make noises during a math test (which he got a 100 on, by the way). He denies it, but I found two of the same machines in his room.

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Well, I got called into school for a parent/teacher/principal conference, and during the meeting my son happened to be sent to the principals office. Get this: He was eating candy in class and when the sub asked him if he had enough for everyone, he pulled out a bag of gummies that were shaped like male genitalia and passed them to his schoolmates.

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The principal made my son come into the office. My son had this smirk, and when he said he passed around a bag of dongs I broke into uncontrollable laughter. The principal was pissed. He requested that my wife come to the next meetingshes a lawyer and Im a stay-at-home dad, so that might not work.

I just saw in his texts that he and his friends will be replacing all the erasable markers with permanent markers. Help!!

Class Clowns Dad

Dear Clown Dad,

Congratulations on raising a 1950s-era troublemaker, the last remaining 8-year-old in America who is not saying Skibidi Toilet but is instead cosplaying Dennis the Menace. I hope youve confiscated his slingshot! Mr. Wilson sure will be sore if he breaks his window again.

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Seriously, have you ever actually punished this kid for any of his antics? Like, he got suspended from school for three daysthats a big deal for a third grader. What did you and your wife do? Was he grounded? Did you take away his phone? Did he lose other privileges, like maybe he wasnt allowed to go to the roller rink or the sock hop? There need to be some actual consequences that he actually cares about for his whimsical misbehavior, and those consequences need to escalate.

Also, for gods sake, keep a straight face in the principals office. In general, be an adult about this and stop encouraging your childor making excuses for him. Its great that he got a 100 on the math test! I bet other kids got bad grades on it, because they were distracted by all the fart noises.

The problem with an irrepressible scamp is, of course, that sometimes one cannot repress him, no matter how hard one tries. So alongside consistent punishment, you need to find a way to redirect his energy. It sounds to me like your smart kid is both bored in school and a slut for laughs. I can personally testify thats a combination likely to turn him into the worlds most annoying young person. (Take it from a guy who literally printed campaign posters urging fellow students to vote for him for Biggest Ham at Whitefish Bay High.) (I LOST.) Enroll him in some improv classes for kids, or sign him up for a youth theater ensemble. Get this kid some of the attention he craves, and direct his focus away from sending regular money orders to the Wham-O! Corporation.

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Get advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Care and Feeding, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Care and Feeding following up) Submit

Dear Care and Feeding,

I have a 17-year-old senior who tried pot (edibles) last night for the first time. How do I know? It made the poor guy panic and think he was about to die. This was not surprising to me, as his dad has only done weed three times, and that was his reaction too: Severe paranoia and panic. It seems unlikely to me he will try again for a long timehe is not a big risk-taker, and weed is illegal where we live. Should I levy other consequences? And should I tell his dad? We are not married but have a good co-parenting relationship. However, he is very anti-drug, and he will likely punish our son, even if I dont.

Just Survived a Rough Night

Dear Just Survived,

Im sorry that you both went through this! Im glad you were there to help him through the creepy-crawlies during a Halloween he wont forget for a long time.

You should not further punish him. First of all, as you say, any deterrence benefits of a parental punishment have already been taken care of by the deterrence effects of thinking hes having a heart attack for like four hours straight. But more than this, he did exactly what youd hope he would do in a situation in which something went really, alarmingly wrong: He came to you and let you help. He deserves praise for doing that, not punishment.

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As for your ex: Given his own experiences with weed, I would hope hed be understanding in a circumstance like this. Would he really punish his teen for doing something he, himself, has done, with identical results? Even if you made a strong case for not punishing him? You two should be communicating and agreeing about discipline. If you truly think that his dad will punish him, against your wishes, for this misbehavior that occurred under your roof, then no, I dont think you should tell himalthough I would also question whether you truly have a good co-parenting relationship.

Dan
At approximately 1:46 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Fox News anchor Bret Baier officially confirmed what, by then, pretty much everyone still watching the network at that hour knew was eventually going to happen. The Fox News decision desk can now officially project that Donald Trump will become the 47th President of the United States, Baier said. (The Associated Press and most major networks have not yet called the race.)

The former presidents comeback will be complete with a win in Wisconsin, a state that he narrowly lost four years ago, intoned co-anchor Martha MacCallum, noting that Trump was the second president in U.S. history to win non-consecutive terms in office. Voters expressed deep frustration with the Biden administration, and former President Trumpand the future President Trumpoverperformed in urban areas, particularly with men, proving that the strategy that they doubled and tripled down on, over the course of the last few months, absolutely succeeded and brought him back to the White House.

Although it took Fox News until almost 2 a.m. to make its official call, by midnight or so, most of the people on the network had already basically realized that Trump was going to win, even if they couldnt necessarily say so explicitly. At the various election parties and Trump events from which the networks correspondents were periodically reporting, the mood was one of jubilation. Trumps supporters on the scene in states such as Georgia, Nevada, and Tennessee were chanting, and whooping, and making the same inferences as the rest of us: In two and a half months, Donald Trump would likely be returning to the White House.

In Foxs New York studios, the mood was a bit more sedate. From midnight onward, most of the networks anchors and panelists were still trying to be professional, while also just waiting for the opportunity to safely gloat. While everyone on set for Fox seemed to sense the intense likelihood of a Trump victory, the then-unresolved electoral votes of the so-called blue wall put them in a position where they were spending hours mostly just pointing out Trumps widening margins and leaving it up to viewers to connect the dots.

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Bill Hemmer, the networks designated map guy, called up counties in swing states and walked through scenarios that could deliver Trump the presidency sooner rather than later. Baier questioned whether a narrow, unlikely Harris victory would even count as a mandate. You call it the bro strategy, or whatever, it seems to have paid some dividends up there, said Fox decision team member Daron Shaw right before 1 a.m., referring to Trumps efforts to turn out the male vote in the upper Midwest states: I mean, its still, were still waitingbut, you know, its looking pretty good for him.

Karl Rove doodled on his stupid whiteboard and talked about what viewers could glean from the numbers they already had. Were pretty good at saying 89 percent of the vote in, or 95 percent of the vote is in, andthat turns out to be accurate. Its very rareI cant imagine one instance where weve said, where weve looked at a number and seen 90 percent of the vote in, or 85 percent of the vote in, and that turned out to be grossly off, Rove said right around 12:30 a.m.

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Rove, of course, was famously called out on-air by then-Fox anchor Megyn Kelly on election night 2012 for being grossly off with his read on the outcome of that years election. But he wasnt wrong on Tuesday night, and as the fact of Trumps victory finally sunk in, the networks anchors and panelists were finally free to do what theyd wanted to do for hours. For Democrats, they were discussing the possibility of running the table in battleground states, Baier said. David Plouffe, with the Democratic campaign, the Harris campaign, suggested that just yesterday. Now, it is possible that Donald Trump runs the table with these states, and builds on a big landslide electoral win. God help us all.
Trump Declares VictoryThis Time, It Seems, Accurately

3:30 a.m.: Trump took the stage at his West Palm Beach election party at about 2:30 a.m. ET and announced himself the 47th president of the United States, shortly after Pennsylvania was called for him by the major networks. He delivered a rambling speech that prematurely proclaimed himself the victor of the popular vote and that Republicans had maintained control of the Houseat this point in the night, not enough races have been called to assert which party will control the House and there was no definitive outcome in the popular votewhile also thanking billionaire backer and X owner Elon Musk, who was in attendance and has spent $119 million this election cycle boosting Trump.

At this stage of the night, Trump has earned 267 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, winning swing states Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina. Hes on track to win Wisconsin, and is ahead in Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada. He is heavily favored in Alaska, a deep-red state with exactly three electoral votes that would put him over the top for the presidency but which can take some time to count.

In his speech, Trump proclaimed that with him in the White House it will truly be the golden age of America, to which the audience roared with delight. He thanked his children, wife, and running mate J.D. Vance, a choice he admitted his campaign took a little heat for. He turned out to be a good choice, Trump concluded. He then asked Vance to take the lectern. The likely vice presidentelect then asserted: We just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America. Also joining Trump onstage were UFC chief executive Dana White, who thanked podcaster Joe Rogan for his last-minute Trump endorsement, and professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, along with his campaign managers Susie Wiles, who declined to speak when requested by Trump, and Chris LaCivita, who spoke briefly.

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Speaking for a total of 25 minutes, Trump was clearly, and rightfully, confident that he would be going back to D.C. as president just four years after he prematurely declared victory in an election he lost and then mounted an insurrection on the U.S. Capitol to seek to maintain power. The multiple criminal prosecutions he faced for those actions will now likely be put aside. In his speech, he promised to fight for every American, to seal the countrys border, and to fix the economy. This was a contrast from his closing message of the campaign, which involved a promise of mass deportations and retribution against his political enemies. Shirin Ali

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Fox News Called the Election for Trump. Most Others HaventYet. The Networks Vibe Right Beforehand Said It All.

2:01 a.m.: What else is there to say?

Although the former presidents victory has not yet been officially declared by many, his supporters on the scene in states such as Georgia, Nevada, and Tennessee have clearly been looking at the nights election returns and inferring the same thing as the rest of us: In two and a half months, its pretty likely that Donald Trump will return to the White House.

How Belief, Faith, and Conspiracies Shaped the Race

Tucker Carlsons talk about demons didnt come out of nowhere.

1:05 a.m.: Molly, you kept a close eye on how belief shaped this election cycle. Whats one of your biggest takeaways from a year of analyzing Christian religious movements and exploring the conspiracy theories that inevitably popped up about the candidates?

Molly Olmstead: I do think the thing that continues to blow my mind a bit is how much the white evangelical demographic has evolved since they first voted for Donald Trump in 2016. Evangelical itself has become a bit more of a politically loaded term than a theological one, for starters. Some studies showed that lots of people came to identify as evangelical because of Trumpism. They saw the term as a cultural signifier, without necessarily stopping to think about what made them evangelical in a technical sense.

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But more importantly than that, the COVID pandemic and the public health mandates from it really radicalized a lot of Christians. A lot of evangelicals, understandably frustrated by the isolation of the pandemic, were drawn to churches that defied stay-at-home ordersor at least churches that voiced dissent. Or they tapped into online Christian groups or followed Christian internet celebrities and were exposed to a lot of anger toward the Biden administration that way. Also interestingly, a lot of these churches that defied stay-at-home ordersand internet evangelistsare very into the supernatural. By that I mean: They take the idea of fighting demons seriously, and that fighting includes in the political realm. A certain kind of demon talk, which would have been pretty fringe back in 2015, has taken over MAGA Christianity.

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I know you saw a fair amount of demon talk at the Christian revival you went to over the summer that was meant to encourage Trump voter turnout.

Yes. And at these events, religious leaders relay political messaging from God in the form of prophecies. Christian prophets are happy to tell Trump supporters that Gods marching orders involve getting out the vote for Trump, because leading the U.S. is his divine destiny.

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This all matters because these Christians are coming to think of presidential elections as a cosmic battle between good and evil, in a black-or-white way. You simply cant compromise with the devilSo you cant compromise with Democrats. That mentality influences the whole political discourse, but its particularly concerning if you consider the possibility of a Trump loss. No good Christian would let demonic forces take control of the White House without some kind of fight.

Its Looking Bleak for Harris

12:10 a.m.: Around midnight, the situation is looking pretty dire for Kamala Harris.

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Trump has won North Carolina, and is on the brink in Georgia by a similar margin. If he wins both of those two states, Kamala Harris narrow path rests on winning the Blue Wall states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

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Those states dont look great for her either, though. All three states right now are leaning narrowly in Trumps direction, as Trump continues to build his advantages among rural voters and trim Harris margins in cities, while Harris isnt getting the extra juice she needs out of suburban counties. Its not that the shifts toward Trump are all massive on a county-by-county level. But they are relatively consistent, and these states were all decided narrowly in 2020. In key countieslike very blue Dane County in Wisconsin, home to MadisonHarris is neither significantly increasing Democrats margins nor making up for its turnout relative to 2020.

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Its still too early for the networks to call any of the Blue Wall states, and some major metropolitan areas will still take time to fully count. The Harris campaign is calling for patience and insists that it will take more time. It might take more than that. Jim Newell

The Convicted Candidate

So, uh, apropos of nothing much at all, whats the status of those Trump trials?

12:08 a.m.: Shirin! Youve been following the Trump trials all year, and saw Donald Trump in court. What are a few things you learned from following all of those trials closely?

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Shirin Ali: The former presidents defense attorneys are working around the clocksome of them are simultaneously working on multiple of Trumps casesbut theyre using the same strategy: deflect and delay. In nearly every case, they have argued that Trumps actions were protected through presidential immunity and that moving forward with any trial would be unfair, citing the November election. Its a pretty aggressive strategy and it mostly worked; Trumps attorneys got the Supreme Court to intervene in his federal Jan. 6 case and it led to a historic presidential immunity decision that mostly went in his favor. Now every judge in each of Trumps cases has to consider the impact of the decision and reassess prosecutors cases.

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As briefly as you can, could you sum up where each of the four trials stands now?

The Georgia election interference case is locked in a contentious appeals processwith no assigned court date. Trump was convicted in the New York hush money trial, but his sentencing has been delayed until after Election Day. Both federal criminal cases have run into roadblocks. The election interference case is moving forward with mandated filing deadlines, but there is also no court date set. The classified documents case was dismissed, but special counsel Jack Smith has appealed that decision and hopes to revive it.

What might we see next, postelection, from the Trump trials?

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One of the first things well see is a sentencing in the New York hush money caseregardless of who wins the election. The sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26, and there is a chance Trump could face prison time. And while the federal election interference case moves forward, theres a good chance it will end up back at the Supreme Court, as Trump is expected to appeal any unfavorable rulings from the district court judge overseeing that case.

So can Trump just vacate his felony conviction in the hush money trial if he wins?

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Because Trump was convicted in a state court, even if hes elected president, he would not have the authority to vacate his felony conviction. However, as president, Trump technically could direct his Justice Department to drop both of the federal criminal cases he faces. He said he planned to in a recent interview, where Trump called the special counsel a crooked person and said I would fire him within two seconds. Hell be one of the first things addressed.

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Why Ohios Democratic Senator Lost His Race

One very specific lobbying group is responsible here.

11:45 p.m.: The Ohio senior senator, Democrat Sherrod Brown, has lost reelection after 18 years in the senate. Despite running as a Democrat in an increasingly red, one-party state, Brown was widely expected to win reelection. The fact that he did not is owed to an unlikely culprit: not Brown, nor his opponent, scandal-plagued car dealer Bernie Moreno, but the crypto industry.

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This newfangled lobby has spent massively in this election cycle, the most by any outside group. They raised over $200 million and spent much of it in House races. But nowhere did crypto spend more lavishly than in the Ohio senate race, where they dropped a stunning $40 million on the race to boost Moreno and ding Brown, who is known for his work cracking down on financial fraud in the banking sector.

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Taking down Brown is a massive win for the industry, which has already shown no signs of slowing: Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has already pledged another $25 million to the industrys super PAC, Fairshake, to build upon the gains they were anticipating coming during Election Day.

The crypto industry has tried to present itself as bipartisan, but major crypto industry players have allied themselves strongly with the Republican Party, and Donald Trump in particular. Its part of the reason Bitcoin has soared on election night. And the industry can now claim to have delivered a critical Senate seat to Republicans, who were able to direct tens of millions of dollars to other races, as a result.

We dont yet know what the composition of the incoming Senate will be yet, but it seems very likely that the industry will get the very soft touch regulatory package it has been fiercely lobbying for. Alexander Sammon

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Not Too Many Senate Surprises Tonight

The antithesis of fun!

11:38 p.m.: Were still waiting on results for many of the most pivotal Senate races. But theres another category, a layer further out, that we might call Reasonable Fantasy Races. (Or, as normal people might call them, reaches.) These were races in which some combination of unpopular incumbents or strong recruits made typically uncompetitive races more interesting than they shouldve been.

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But like most fantasies, they were all quashed with a hammer, shaming the person who ever believed in them.

In Maryland, Republicans hoped that popular former Gov. Larry Hogan might defeat Democratic county executive Angela Alsobrooks for an open seat in deep-blue Maryland. There were even a couple of neck-and-neck polls over the summer suggesting he might have a chance. Those polls, however, were premature, and Alsobrooks ran an effective ad campaign reinforcing to Democratic voters that Hoganlike him or not!would contribute to a Republican Senate majority. Alsobrooks won.

The parallel races for Democrats were in Texas and Florida, the only vaguely flappable Senate seats on the map for Democrats this year. Dallas-area Rep. Colin Allred put a good, though not Betomania-esque, fight to GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. The polls got awfully close! But in the end, Trump put on a dominating performance in Texas and dragged Cruz to a comfortable victory.

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Even more distant was the hope that former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell could take down GOP Sen. Rick Scott in Florida. But Florida, to the extent it wasnt before, is now a safe red state. Mucarsel-Powell lost by 13.

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Maybe next cycle someone will do something fun, Senate-wise. But with the Senate being the antithesis of fun, I wouldnt bet on it. Jim Newell

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Multiple States Expand Abortion Protections, but Florida Becomes First Since Roe Not to Do So

11:14 p.m.: Ten states have abortion on the ballot this year, and so far, the results are pretty much as expected. Maryland and Colorado, both of which already allow abortion with no gestational limit, passed initiatives that will enshrine abortion rights in their state constitutions.

In New York, where opponents of a beefed-up equal rights amendment ran a vicious campaign stoking fears about trans people, voters passed it by a wide margin. The amendment will prevent the New York state Legislature from enacting abortion restrictions in the state, where abortion is currently legal.

Florida was a different story. Abortion-rights advocates waged a massive, well-coordinated campaign across the state for an amendment that would nullify the states six-week abortion ban and add the right to abortion to the state constitution. They won over many conservatives, including supporters of Gov. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump, and ended up with 57 percent of the vote. But because the state has a 60 percent threshold for new constitutional amendments, it wasnt enough. Tonight, Florida became the first state since the overturning of Roe v. Wade to see an abortion-rights ballot initiative fail. Christina Cauterucci

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Oh, Youre Projecting Its Too Early to Call? Maybe Shut Up, MSNBC!

This is the most infuriating thing happening on cable news tonight.

11 p.m.: I love television. As Homer Simpson said in 1994: Television! Teacher, mother, secret lover. Its only when waiting for election results do I feel betrayed by what televisionmy best friendis doing to me. Nothing spoils the joy of watching television than the perpetual, unhelpful, nauseating announcement of races that are too close to call.

Every 15 fucking minutes, heres Rachel Maddow telling me that a race is simply too close for them to announce a winner. This, of course, is announced with the kind of fanfare that you might use to announce an actual goddamn winner: banners, lights, whizzing visuals that halt the panelists midsentence. Worse, maybe, is when they announce that a race is no longer too early to call, but is instead too close to call. This is a distinction without a difference, like a man saying that hes not married, hes simply monogamously tied up.

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Does the announcement of nothing have to come with the same frenetic graphics the news might employ to announce Moo Dengs death? I know television anchors have a lot of airtime to fill, and a lot of rapt, tear-filled eyeballs to entertain. But I have blood pressure to try to keep down! This is stressing me out! Scaachi Koul

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The Trump Campaigns Most Dramatic Moment Could Be Its Most Important

It was an assassination attempt, after all.

10:42 p.m.: Jim, all year you have documented who is up and who is down in your weekly newsletter, the Surge. What was one truly ridiculous story that you feel went a little bit under the radar this year?

Jim Newell: The story itself was one of the most over-the-radar ones of the year: The assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. What I feel has been underappreciated, though, is the long-term impact of it. A lot of Democrats might think it had no lasting effect on the race, and Republicans consistently moan about how the press doesnt mention it anymore. But since the attempt, Trumps net favorability has been consistently about 4 points better on average than it was before, arguably to the best numbers of his career. The aftermath of the attempt was also huge for Trump in unifying the Republican Party behind him going into the conventionand it was the incident that prompted Elon Musk to endorse and put his resources behind Trump. Not to mention, Trump got an iconic photo out of it that still graces most of his campaign ads. It mattered. And if the race really is as close as public data would suggest, it could be the difference maker.

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Were Getting 2020 Flashbacks

Brace yourselves!

10:18 p.m.: Bad news for those of you who didnt care for 2020s extended period of vote-counting uncertainty: We may be in for one of those situations again. In the swing state of Georgia, for instance, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in 2020 by half a point. This year, Trump is doing better than he did that year in rural counties, but Kamala Harris is doing better in suburban ones. Confounding the situation even further is that early voting vs. Election Day voting patterns are different this year because the country is no longer in the midst of the COVID pandemic.

Long story short, no one has called Georgia yet, but we know for sure that Harris isnt running away with it. Same goes for North Carolina. Even assuming Trump does win those states, though, hed still need to also win at least one of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsinwhich are themselves still early in the counting processto win the presidency. We already know that a big batch of ballots in Milwaukee isnt going to get counted until Wednesday morning at the earliest because of a technical problem. Pennsylvania is also going to take forever, technically speaking, because its state laws dont allow early-voting ballots to be counted until Election Day.

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Point being: You might want to either get a cup of coffee or go to bed (possibly for several days). Ben Mathis-Lilley

One of the Prosecutors Going After Trump Wins Reelection

But the fate of her election interference case remains uncertain.

9:57 p.m.: Embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis prevailed tonight in her race for reelection against Republican challenger Courtney Kramer. Willis is leading a massive criminal case against Trump and 18 others for election interference, though its currently tied up in appeals. Earlier this year, a defendant in her case accused Willis of misconduct related to her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had hired to work on her investigation. During a dramatic evidentiary hearing, Willis admitted to having a romantic relationship with Wade after he was hired but denied any misconduct. A judge ultimately ruled she could stay on the election interference case, so long as Wade resigned, which he did. Trumps defense attorney appealed that decision, and as an appeals court considers arguments, the future of Willis case remains uncertain.

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Kramer entered the race largely because of Willis Trump indictment. She claimed the district attorney was using her office for political reasons and that the resources going to Willis prosecution of the former president could have been used for many other things that would have been much more beneficial for the citizens of Fulton County. Kramer interned for the White House counsels office under the former Trump administration. However, Kramer said she would recuse herself from the election interference case if she were to become DA, since she had previously worked with two of the defendants charged.

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Willis raised $2.5 million for her reelection, though Fulton County is a solidly Democratic pocket of Georgia and hasnt seen a Republican run for district attorney since 2000. Shirin Ali

Catching Up With Tucker Carlsons Demon

Takes one to know one.

9:37 p.m.: Molly, a weird thing happened this week that was seemingly unrelated to the election but did involve one of Trumps top surrogates. What Im trying to say is  will you catch us up on Tucker Carlsons demon sighting?

Molly Olmstead: Yes, well, Tucker Carlson seems to have adopted some new beliefs since he was fired from Fox News in 2023. Carlson was raised Episcopalian and has been largely secular most of his life. But it seems like that might have changed when he experienced a  demonic attack. As he described it in a video published from an upcoming pro-Christian film, Carlson woke up in the middle of the night with deep scratches down his sides. He was asleep with his wife and four dogs (he doesnt address the possibility of the dogs being the culprits), and no one else was disturbed. Afterward, he felt an urge to read the Bible.

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In a discussion with Steve Bannon on Monday, Carlson made it clear he still believed he had experienced something occult: I think it was just a momentary glimpse of something thats happening at all times, which is, again, this war between forces that we cant see.

Do you think  theres a political reason for this?

Well, maybe its not so surprising that Carlson is having a religious journey. Hes been increasingly pushing the J.D. Vance style of conservative politics: longing for a sort of European, traditional family vision of society with no immigration, nationalist economics, and more support for the working class. A socially conservative, fiscally liberal Republican Party. And supporting Christian values helps with that vision.

So even if hes not having a genuine conversion, hes probably finding it useful to speak to people through that lens. In that same Bannon interview, he said that America has been in decline since the bombing of Hiroshima, because we decided that we were gods and stopped believing in God. He also said that hurricanes are a result of people having abortions. (You cant participate in human sacrifice without consequences.) He also made it clear he was all in on thinking of the fight over worldviews through a spiritual lens: Culture is downstream from the spiritual battle. So not only is the battle in the unseen worldnot only is it part of what were seeing, it is actually what were seeing. Were seeing the physical manifestations of something thats been going on for eternity.

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The Nazi Porn Guy Lost His Governors Race

9:10 p.m.: Democrat Josh Stein has been elected the governor of North Carolina, keeping the governors mansion blue. No huge surprise there: His opponent, Mark Robinson, was the man who had called himself a Black NAZI in a porn websites comments, as CNN reported. Stein, the current attorney general, had pitched himself as a man who cared about public education, housing, and health carea forward-looking and competent alternative to Robinsons petulant culture wars.

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Robinsons campaign, from the beginning, was bogged down by the relentless stream of cartoonishly offensive comments dug up from Robinsons internet history. A man with a diehard love of posting, Robinson called Martin Luther King Jr. a commie bastard and worse than a maggot; said slavery is not bad; complained about Jewish filmmakers creating movies to pull the shekels out of your pockets; argued that women shouldnt complain about sexual harassment while wearing whore dresses; called school shooting survivors media prosti-tots; and labeled LGBTQ people as filth. (At one point, Trump called Robinson Martin Luther King on steroids.)

There were other scandals: the comments about some folks need[ing] killing; the news that his wife had been sued by the Girl Scouts; the reporting that a nonprofit run by Robinsons family was accused of fraud, or that a child care center run by Robinson and his wife had been reckless about child safety. It must have been exhausting for his staffers; most of them quit after the CNN report.

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It was more than a little baffling that Republicans ran such a toxic candidate in a winnable race in a battleground state of huge importance for the presidential election. If Trump loses North Carolina, Republicans can justifiably direct at least some of their fury at the people who thought a loose cannon like Robinson was a good idea. Molly Olmstead

Trump Wins Big in Florida

But what does that mean for him in the Electoral College?

9:06 p.m.: Donald Trump has won Florida, as expected, and hes won it big: Leading by 13 points, 56 to 43, with greater than 95 percent of the vote counted according to the New York Times. The final FiveThirtyEight polling average showed Trump winning the state, which went uncontested and in which fewer polls were conducted this cycle, by 6.6 percent.

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There was one poll, however, that appears to have nailed it: A New York Times/Siena poll in early October that showed Trump winning the state by 13. NYT/Siena used a different polling methodology this year than many other, more conservative pollsters used, allowing NYT/Siena possibly to detect more movement among the electorate.

An important takeaway from the Times polling analyst Nate Cohn at the time was that such a result in Floridawhen paired with a neck-and-neck national pollcould be proof of Trumps Electoral College edge narrowing. Being effectively tied nationally while winning a greater share of a large state like Florida would show his coalition becoming more inefficient if similar dramatic gains arent showing in battleground states. So the shorthand of the last couple of cyclesthat Democrats would need to win the popular vote by at least 3 points to have an advantage in the Electoral Collegemay no longer be applicable. Jim Newell

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You Can Probably Guess How Its Going on Fox News Right Now

8:46 p.m.: As a man who watches right-wing media for a living, I am not easily shocked by hypocritical political rhetoric. And yet I am always a little bit staggered by the blatancy of Fox News efforts to downplay the events of Jan. 6, 2021. If violent Democratic voters had overrun the U.S. Capitol to prevent the certification of a Republican presidential candidates electoral victory, the story would still be leading every single programming hour on Fox News today, almost four years later. But because the Trumpist right was the culpable party, Fox News talking heads are forced to pretend that the events of Jan. 6 were the equivalent of a mildly rowdy picnic.

Even so, for such an alleged nothingburger, Jan. 6 sure seems to still come up a lot on right-wing television. It came up again shortly after 8 p.m. on Fox News, when Martha MacCallum noted that the topic was hammered over and over again by former presidentcurrent President Biden, the former candidateyou know, the threat to democracy was really on his lips every minute.

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And Vice President Harris really didnt take that ball for a lot, but she did come back to it toward the end of the campaign, said MacCallums co-anchor, Bret Baier.

The thing about it that I think is striking is it shows you the power of the media, said panelist Brit Hume. Cause, in many ways, its a B.S. issue, when you think about it. I mean, go back to Jan. 6, which was supposed to be the moment when we all thought we should fear this, and our democracy was fragile. It was the premise of the January 6 Special Committeethat, as the co-chairman of the committee put it, we came critically close to losing our democracy. Its ridiculous. I mean  our democracys pretty sturdy. Our checks and balances worked. Um, the thing was over in a matter of hours. And yet, here we are, its still a factor.

Couldnt tell you why that might be! Justin Peters

Be Careful How You Think About the Polls Tonight

So, uh, what does your GUT say?

8:27 p.m.: Ben! Youve been considering the polls all year, and how best to parse them. What are some things you want people to keep in mind about the polls, and their limitations, heading into election night?

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Ben Mathis-Lilley: Well, Ive been convinced by the cases being made that pollsters who are worried about underestimating Trump againand who are having a lot of trouble getting responses from voters in the first place in an era of rampant cellphone spamare herding their polls together to show a tied race. That said, this wouldnt necessarily mean Harris is going to win by a lot; the swing states could still be close even if she has a lead nationally.

What does your gut say about whats going to happen?

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Hahahaha. Ha. I would never trust my gut, but I did write Tuesday about how I think the case for Kamala Harris winning is an easier one to make than the case for Trump winning, given the improving economy, Trumps lingering associations with Jan. 6 and the Dobbs decision, and the success that mainstream Democrats have had against MAGA Republicans over the last four years.

Earlier this year, you attended the Michigan GOP convention, as the state party was split between two rival factions. What did the experience show you about the current state of the Republican Party?

It seems that its been taken over in large part by people who truly and sincerely believe there was a conspiracy to steal the election from Donald Trump in 2020. Which could spell some troublefor, like, societyif he loses again in 2024.

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You wrote about the New York Times election night recipes last year, and their giant jam bun this year. What will you be snacking on this election night?

Great question. Once our kids fall asleep my wife is going out to dinner with her sister as a reward for watching them all afternoon and night and for large parts of the next three to 100 days. So Ill be eating whatever they bring back.

I Have Discovered the Absolute Weirdest Way to Learn the Election Results

Want to know what Bill OReilly is thinking about Trump and Harris right now? Good news!

8:10 p.m.: If youve cut the cord with cable over the past few years, then you may not have noticed that, in 2021, the former WGN America rebranded as a 24/7 news network called NewsNation. The networks working thesis, as far as I can tell, is that America is hungry for center-right news and opinion delivered almost exclusively by a roster of cable news has-beens. NewsNations anchors include Chris Cuomo, late of CNN; Ashleigh Banfield, of CNN and CourtTV; Dan Abrams, of ABC and MSNBC; Leland Vittert, formerly of Fox News; and several other people about whom youve probably never wondered, Hmm, I wonder what happened to them?

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NewsNation has a brand, in other words, as strange as that brand might be, and its election night coverage has thus far doubled down on the networks cable-retread rehabilitation program. Around 7 p.m., Chris Cuomo welcomed former Fox News host Bill OReillywhom he introduced as the host of the No Spin News, which, as far as I can tell, is a webcast hosted on OReillys own websitefor some election commentary. Corey Lewandowski was just on; he said something that was interesting [that] I want your take on, Cuomo said. He said there are several issues here that have been working well for Donald Trump. However, if the election comes down to a personality contest, he could lose. Harris could do well, he said. Whats your interpretation of what that means?

OReilly, who is looking oddly corpselike these days, paused for several seconds before answering. I think its gibberish, he finally said, and Cuomo burst out laughing on-air. NewsNation is clearly a network for commentators who have no shits left to give, and I am honestly looking forward to seeing which cable-news retread they drag out of mothballs next tonight. Fingers crossed for a John Stossel sighting! Justin Peters

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Kornacki Is Wearing a Sick New Pair of Slacks

8 p.m.: Everyones favorite indefatigable numbers guy, Steve Kornacki, is back at a digital map doing his thing tonight; theres even a special Kornacki Cam for those watching the returns on Peacock. (Kornackis thing, of course, is immediately metabolizing new numbers and telling us what they meanhis ability was showcased when he was on live TV for several days on end thanks to 2020s elongated vote-counting process.) The masses excitement for the dapper, clear-spoken Kornacki (2028 ticket, anyone?) was so high this election season that New York magazine caught up with him earlier this month, hoping to answer the most urgent question of the 2024 cycle: Will he wear those 2020 election-night khakis again, paired with his iconic white shirt and colorful tie?

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WATCH: Steve Kornacki on what he's watching as election night begins pic.twitter.com/a90wTHjX3V  MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 5, 2024

Kornacki demurred in that interview, but we have our answer: The shirt and tie are pretty much the same, but the pants, the pants are blue tonight! And yes, everyone noticed. Yet the pants werent the only switch-up in Kornackis looks. To quote my colleague and fellow war-room observer Nadira Goffe: His hair looks darker, his skin looks paler, and it looks like they bumped up the contrast. One things for sure: However much our friend Steve may have adjusted his looks since 2020, he remains as comforting as ever, breaking down the complex series of county-by-county voting returns for a contest that may well depend on just a few of those precincts. Nitish Pahwa

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Not Midnight Soup

Heres what Slate staffers in NY are eating right now.

7:48 p.m.: Tonight the Slate newsroom in New York is feasting on sushi platters (both rolls and sashimi), Detroit-style Jets pizza because #swingstates, buffalo wings, and salads. And lots of booze  of course. We will update you all if we decide to order a little sweet treat later in the night.

Here is a roundup of what newsrooms across the country are eating tonight (I may be biased, but I do think our order is the best. Though I am curious about this Bloomberg near midnight soup choice )

Without further ado, here is Version 1 of Election night NEWSROOM DINNERS. As you can see, I've let a lot of my broadcast sources wither. If you are with ABC, NBC (DC) or Fox, I would like to know what you're eating. DMs are open.



Further updates possible pic.twitter.com/108bOqClf4  Byron Tau (@ByronTau) November 5, 2024

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I Have a Very Close Eye on Michigan Right Now, and So Should You

7:38 p.m.: Since April, Ive had my eye on Michigan, especially on voters in places like Dearborn, the Detroit suburb with a large Arab and Muslim population that has been furious with the Biden administration since Israel began its onslaught in Gaza more than a year ago. That anger has transferred to Kamala Harris in the months since shes declined to take a firmer stance against U.S.-supplied arms and support for Israel.

Its been razor-close in Michigan, where the polls close at 8 p.m. Eastern, so even this relatively small group of voters could sway the results. Some people plan not to vote for president at all. Others have gone in for Donald Trump, hoping it will send a message to Democrats in the future.

Honestly, I dont envy the position these voters are in. Many of them, particularly Palestinian Americans, have described their decision as impossible. Given that neither major candidate has signaled any real intention to change U.S. policyeven after credible accusations of genocide, use of starvation as a weapon of war, and Israels targeting of medical facilities, aid workers, and journalistsits clear theyre wrestling between making a political decision and a deeply personal, moral one. And many of them have also expressed disgust by the way their concerns have been dismissed as irrelevant by many Democrats. As one voter, Layla Elabed, a lead organizer for the uncommitted movement, put it to me, asking these voters to think strategically right now is like asking who we are going to vote for while we are at a funeral.

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And heres the thing. It feels like no outcome tonight will offer them anything close to a victory. If these voters manage to tank Harris by swinging Michigan for Trump, theyll be blamed by Democrats. But if they dont make a dent, it could make their organizing seem irrelevant. Its a lose-lose situation. Im looking to see how this influences this election because some of these voters may not come back to the Democratic Party in the future. Many Ive spoken to said they were just waiting for a sign that Democrats cared about their families, their culture, their peoples survival. They never got it from the Harris campaign. Aymann Ismail

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Some of Trumps Kids Seem Anxious on Election Day. And Then Theres Ivanka.

7:35 p.m.: Donald Trump Jr. said on Election Day hed fly to a non-extradition country if his father loses tonight. By contrast, Ivanka Trumpby far the most important of Trumps children in his previous administrationseemed positively unbothered.

What was going through Ivankas mind the day before Election Day? Judging from her social media accounts, not her dads high-stakes quest to recapture the White House. Because rather than urging her followers to go vote or cheering her father on, Ivanka decided this week was the perfect time to post about her recent birthdayshe turned 43 on Oct. 30and some of her favorite pearls of wisdom shes gathered in her lifes journey.

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The eldest Trump daughter posted a 16-item list on Instagram (it went to 17 on Twitter for some reason) that includes such life lessons as, at No. 5, Trust yourself, and at No. 13, Get curious. Its hard to imagine what kind of person might need to be told by Ivanka Trump to get more sunshine and nourish their body, right now, but thanks? Is she working with a life coach? Is this part of a plan to become a LinkedIn bro/tech CEO? She does quote Marcus Aurelius.

This past week, I turned 43!



Reflecting on lifes lessons, here are some truths Ive learned along the way: pic.twitter.com/vP1zFJ7onX  Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) November 4, 2024

Ivanka was very present during Donald Trumps first campaign and for his time as president, as was her husband, Jared Kushner. Two years ago, they announced their decision to step back from politics, and theyve stuck to it, only very occasionally showing up to support Trump. Still, theres a difference between staying out of things and actively counterprogramming, which is what a post like this so close to the election reads as. Ivanka had to know how it would look for her to show up in peoples feeds on this night of all nights talking about something other than the election. From that angle, posting this list reads as a snub, or at least an attempt to brand herself as separate from the rest of her family. I guess good luck to Ivanka in her efforts to cultivate self-mastery and approach life with love and positivity. The rest of us will be over here, watching her familys fortunes unfold. Heather Schwedel

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The Gender Election

The Trump campaign is trying to get men  any men  to the polls

7:09 p.m.: This election is about gender, on a number of levels. Obviously, America might elect its first woman presidentthough she hasnt been talking about that all that much. Also, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, particularly Vance, have gotten into hot water for the way theyve talked about women and how they have derided childless cat ladies and their investment in the future. Most particularly, as the end of Roe continues to reverberate around the country, women are mobilizing in record numbers, increasingly aware of their rights being on the ballot. Trump has mostly reacted to this by trying to mobilize men, and today, his surrogates sent out some very odd bat signals to the guys:

If you know any men who havent voted, get them to the polls.  Stephen Miller (@StephenM) November 5, 2024

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The cavalry has arrived.



Men are voting in record numbers.



They now realize everything is at stake.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 5, 2024

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Well see what happens there. In case you missed it, Dahlia Lithwick wrote about why the women vote might be determinative this cycle. Susan Matthews

Trumps Getting an Early Start on the Election Denial

Who could have foreseen?!

7:03 p.m.: Welp, Trump is at it again. He took to Truth Social this afternoon to claim, without evidence, that there is massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. (Polls in Pennsylvania havent even closed yet; theyre open until 8 pm EST.) Seth Bluestein, city commissioner of Philadelphia, quickly responded that there is absolutely no truth to this allegation. Larry Krasner, district attorney of Philadelphia, also issued a statement taking a swipe at Trump. The only talk about massive cheating has come from one of the candidates, Donald J. Trump. Krasner also confirmed there was no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation. He ended by inviting Trump to provide evidence of his allegations, though he said we are not holding our breath.

This isnt exactly surprising from Trump, who has been spouting lies about the election he lost four years ago, and still insists to this day that the vote in swing states like Georgia, Arizona and Michigan was rigged. Now on his third run for president, Trump has repeatedly refused to commit to accepting the outcome of this election. Shirin Ali

Watch Wisconsin Results With the Sunrise?

This calls for more coffee.

6:53 p.m.: Real 2020 election heads remember the Milwaukee vote dump between 3 and 4 a.m. the last presidential election night. Thats when Milwaukee released the results from more than 100,000 ballots counted in a central facility, which put Joe Biden in the statewide lead. While it took a few more days to get other key states counted, the Milwaukee vote dump felt like the turning point from which Biden never looked back.

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We were expecting a similar ballot drop late night this year, toothough ideally a couple of hours earlier. Unfortunately, its going to be later. More than 30,000 absentee ballots that that the state had to count will have to be recounted out of an abundance of caution, according to the Milwaukee Election Commission, because the doors on the ballot tabulators were not properly sealed. According to an Associated Press reporter in Wisconsin, this means the release of this huge batch of ballots will likely be sometime after sunrise tomorrow. So either prepare more coffee for the night, or definitely dont drink more coffee tonight. Jim Newell

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Breathe In, Breathe Out, Take Our Quiz

6:49 p.m.: Are you freaking out? The New York Times had some novel suggestions during the 2022 midterms, including dunking ones head in ice water. (We tried it.) Or try immersing yourself in some soothing, mindless tasks. Caramelize onions! Touch your toes! You dont have to be glued to a screen. If the news is all you can focus on, might we suggest our 2024 election megaquiz? Test your memoryand remind yourself of your resilience. Because this whole year has been a LOT.

Its Finally Here! Welcome to Slates Election Live Blog.

Maybe soon well know when well know, you know?

Hello! Welcome to Slates election live blog. Many of us are gathered in the same room of the same Brooklyn office where we experienced the 2016 election. We are hoping for a different result!

What is the plan for the evening? Polls start closing at 7 p.m. ET, but it will likely be about 9 p.m. ET before we get real information. And by real information we mean tea leaves/indications of how this thing is going to go. Really, what were hoping for is that by midnight, well have an understanding of whether well know who won tonight (well, in the early hours of tomorrow morning) or if we will be facing more of a 2020 situation, meaning its so close that it will take days to really figure out who won this thing. Were hoping for the former, because we kept the live blog running for almost a week in 2020 and it was a lot.

Some suggestions for how to occupy your time until results start rolling in:

 For an incredibly detailed list of when various states close their polls, when each state made their call in both 2016 and 2020, and essentially a cheat sheet of what we are looking for in early returns, read this.

 For a fun roundup of how Slate staffers voted, and an even more fun roundup of who we think will win, check this out! Susan Matthews
Beijing said Wednesday it had lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization over the European Union's decision to impose hefty tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars.

The extra taxes of up to 35 percent were announced Tuesday after an EU probe found Chinese state subsidies were undercutting European automakers, but the move has faced opposition from Germany and Hungary, which fear provoking Beijing's ire and setting off a bitter trade war.

China slammed Brussels's decision on Wednesday morning, saying it did not "agree with or accept" the tariffs and had filed a complaint under the World Trade Organization's (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism.

"China will... take all necessary measures to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," Beijing's commerce ministry said.

EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis said Tuesday that "by adopting these proportionate and targeted measures after a rigorous investigation, we're standing up for fair market practices and for the European industrial base".

"We welcome competition, including in the electric vehicle sector, but it must be underpinned by fairness and a level playing field," he said.

But Germany's main auto industry association warned the tariffs heightened the risk of "a far-reaching trade conflict", while a Chinese trade group slammed the "politically motivated" decision even as it urged dialogue between the two sides.

The duties will come on top of the current 10 percent on imports of electric vehicles from China.

The decision became law following its publication in the EU's official journal on Tuesday, and the duties will enter into force from Wednesday.

Once they do, the tariffs will be definitive and last for five years.

The extra duties also apply, at various rates, to vehicles made in China by foreign groups such as Tesla, which faces a tariff of 7.8 percent.

Chinese car giant Geely -- one of the country's largest sellers of EVs -- faces an extra duty of 18.8 percent, while SAIC will be hit with the highest at 35.3 percent.

The tariffs do not have the support of the majority of the EU's 27 member states but in a vote early this month, the opposition was not enough to block them, which would have required at least 15 states representing 65 percent of the bloc's population.

The EU launched the probe in a bid to protect its automobile industry, which employs around 14 million people.

France, which pushed for the investigation, welcomed the decision.

"The European Union is taking a crucial decision to protect and defend our trade interests, at a time when our car industry needs our support more than ever," French Finance Minister Antoine Armand said in a statement.

But Europe's bigger carmakers, including German auto titan Volkswagen, have criticised the EU's approach and have urged Brussels to resolve the issue through talks.

The extra tariffs are "a step backwards for free global trade and thus for prosperity, job preservation and growth in Europe", the German Association of the Automotive Industry's president Hildegard Mueller said on Tuesday after the announcement.

Volkswagen, which has been hit hard by rising competition in China, has previously said the tariffs would not improve the competitiveness of the European automotive industry.

That warning came weeks before the ailing giant announced plans on Monday to close at least three factories in Germany and cull tens of thousands of jobs.

Talks continue between the EU and China, and the duties can be lifted if they reach a satisfactory agreement, but officials on both sides have pointed to differences.

Discussions have been focused on minimum prices that would replace the duties and force carmakers in China to sell vehicles at a certain cost to offset subsidies.

"We remain open to a possible alternative solution that would be effective in addressing the problems identified and WTO-compatible," Dombrovskis said.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the EU urged Brussels and Beijing "to accelerate talks on establishing minimum prices and, ultimately, to eliminate these tariffs".

The EU could now face Chinese retaliation, with Beijing already saying on October 8 it would impose provisional tariffs on European brandy.

Beijing has also launched probes into EU subsidies of some dairy and pork products imported into China.

Trade tensions between China and the EU are not limited to electric cars, with Brussels also investigating Chinese subsidies for solar panels and wind turbines.

The EU is not alone in levying heavy tariffs on Chinese electric cars.

Canada and the United States have in recent months imposed much higher tariffs of 100 percent on Chinese electric car imports.
Well, this sucks. The American people have decided to elect a convicted felon over a woman. Republicans also regained control of the Senate, and while Democrats may still flip the House, its looking bleak. But for liberals, Tuesdays election did manage to bring some small wins:

 In North Carolina, Democrat Josh Stein won the governors race, defeating the Black Nazi Mark Robinson. Stein will be the first Jewish governor in the states history. Democrats also won every major executive branch race in the state.

 Democrat Sarah McBride won her race to represent Delaware in the House, becoming the first openly transgender person to be elected to Congress.

 While Floridas abortion rights ballot measure failed, most of the states that were deciding on abortion rights amendments voted in favor of them. Even in Missouri, the first state to ban abortion after Roe v. Wade fell, residents voted for an amendment to enshrine abortion rights.

 Democrat Angela Alsobrooks beat out Republican Larry Hogan for the Maryland Senate race, meaning there will be two Black women in the Senate for the first time ever. Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester also won her race in Delaware, where shell be the first woman, and the first Black American, to represent the state in the Senate. Together, they double the number of Black women ever elected to the chamber.

 New Jersey elected Democrat Andy Kim to the Senate; he will be the first Korean American to serve as a senator, taking over the seat vacated by Bob Menendez. He is also the first Asian American senator the state has elected.

 Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney who has been prosecuting Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, was reelected.

Related From Slate How to Deal With the Worst-Case Scenario Read More

 Democrat Monique Worrell won her seat back as a state attorney in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis had previously pushed her out.

 The state of Washington voted to keep its aggressive Climate Commitment Act, which requires companies to cut carbon emissions.

 In Illinois, voters overwhelmingly approved a measure recommending mandatory insurance coverage for IVF and approved a referendum to create a new tax bracket for those who make more than $1 million.

 Elon Musk cannot be president.

Read all of Slates coverage of the 2024 election.
I know you feel awful. I know you spent the whole night trying to not look at the New York Times historically unreliable needle, which proved to be intolerably accurate this time around. I know you mainlined cigarette after cigarette, I know you drank melted ice cream like a sleeping potion, I know you wept so much that you could drown in a self-made sea. I know you hugged your daughters and wondered, What kind of world can she inherit when this country hates her so much for merely having a body? I know that you feel as if you woke up in a familiar hell, because we all did. Of course it feels so bad: We were hopeful, again.

As the election results steadily beat us down, it became abundantly clear that a Kamala Harris win would not be inevitable. By the early hours of Wednesday morning, Donald Trump was announced as the victor, fair (in an unfair system) and square. I know that it feels as if the sun is being blocked out for good.

I dont have it in me to do the whole unbiased-journalist schticknot that I ever really didbut its simply too bleak to even be able to pretend that this is anything other than the worst-case scenario. Im too scared to perform. I was afraid in 2016 toobut eight years ago, we didnt know what to expect. Now its the fear of what we already know, and the fear of what we cant even imagine.

The options in this election were ultimately between two bad ones: one, an administration ready to support an ongoing genocide, and another gleeful in its repudiation of abortion rights, its restriction of trans freedom, its terror around immigrants, and, of course, its support of that very genocide. There was never going to be any real victory in this elections results; it was only ever a choice between the irretrievably broken and the devastatingly, skull-crushingly, irredeemably broken.

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But the skull-crushingly, irredeemably broken option still feels worse. Theres no subtlety in what the results of the Electoral College tell us: This is a country where half the population is content in its hatred of women, of queer people, of brown and Black people, of anyone who comes to the United States from a poorer country. A Republican candidate for president has not won the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004, and while the final count may still be pending, the fact that Donald Trump swayed a majority of the country in his third attempt at office is fucking disgraceful. Could I find more elegant language for this betrayal from the people who are supposed to be my neighbors? Could I be gentler about the majority percentage of Americans who are satisfied with aligning themselves with the core tenets of brutality? No. It is a waste of my time, and time is the thing I have never had. Hillary Clinton called them a basket of deplorables in 2016, and Joe Biden called them garbage mere days ago. Perhaps that rhetoric loses elections, but its still language too soft for this current moment. More than 50 percent of the country wants to shape the republic, more and more, into something inhumane, inhospitable, destined for fascism and decline. In 2016 and 2020, journalists and academics and voters alike tried to understand the Trump voter, to better make sense of their political choices. I dont give a shit anymore. There is nothing more to understand.

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Despite this, Harris still has herself to blame for the result. She lost voters in places like Dearborn, Michigan, which is dominantly Muslim, a region Biden won handily in 2020. Her rhetoric about Palestine was inhumane too, her continued vehement support of Israels siege on Palestinians an impossible hurdle for many left-of-center voters to even consider. Nothing was more shortsighted than the Democrats sending Bill Clinton to give a speech days before the election, saying Israel was forced to kill more than 41,000 people in the past year. The cruelty is often the point, and thats true even from a party that cant own up to its own cruelty.

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In the days running up to the election, the 2000 Octavia E. Butler essay A Few Rules for Predicting the Future started going semiviral among left-leaning voters facing an overpresent dread no matter what was bound to happen Tuesday. Theres no single answer that will solve all of our future problems, Butler wrote. Theres no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answersat least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.

This election was never going to save us, and so I have to believe it was never going to doom us either. This, maybe, is a measure of my own delusionI cant bring myself to rise every morning if I think its all a wash. But governments and institutions and gerrymandered districts are not heroes. Harris was not a savior; she was only ever a placeholder for somethingsomeonebetter. During the first Trump administration, we were tasked with taking care of one another, in whatever ways we could. We would have been tasked with that same duty under Harris, though perhaps in fewer ways. Maybe my chest wouldnt feel so heavy. Maybe I wouldnt feel as angry as I do. But there was only ever us: sending money to UNRWA, driving a friend across state lines to get an abortion, keeping an eye on the trans teenager who lives in your building to make sure they make it home when theyre walking around late at night.

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I still wanted Harris to win. I wanted it for my mother, who was holding on to hope of a brown and Black president, even though she doesnt even live here. I wanted a sign that it can get better. But I cant give up my hope entirely, even if this years results are perhaps telling me I should. I refuse to feel foolish in my longing for more humanity. I cant let myself sink too deep in my despair; there are simply too many of us to save.

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Hope doesnt have to come wholesale. You can pick and choose and take what you can getin fact, right now you should, because its the only thing keeping our hearts from atrophy. Even in the rubble, light breaks through. Sarah McBride won her race for the House, making her the first openly trans member of Congress. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has been pursuing charges against Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election, won her bid for reelection. Mark Im a black NAZI! Robinson lost his race for North Carolina governor. As of this writing, all but two states with abortion amendments on the ballot voted to protect abortion rights. Floridas Monique Worrell, pushed out of her state attorney job by Ron DeSantis, won her seat back. For the first time ever (yes, ever, bleak), there will be two Black women serving in the Senate.

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I have to dig for hope, like a truffle-seeking pig, like a dog trying to find a bone he cant remember where he buried. I will dig for it until I am dead.

For now, as we wait for Inauguration Day, there is nothing to do but rest for a moment. Not for too longtheres so much more work on the other side of tomorrow, and the next day, and the next week, and the year after that, forever, for the rest of time, until you die, and likely even after that. You can still be an answer to a future problem. But now is the time for grief: grief over whom were sure to lose in the next four years, and grief over whatever last strings of democratic innocence we had left. You will never find a shortage of policies or laws or social mores that demand desperate and immediate improvement, for yourself or others. Soon, despair will wrap itself around you again, as we all begin to realize what another brutalizing four years of Trump policy will be. Today is for suffering.

But tomorrowtomorrow is for community. Ill be there, chest heaving, limbs heavy, eyes blurry, waiting for you.
A ballot initiative that would have enshrined abortion rights in the Florida state constitution failed on Tuesday, falling 3 points short of the 60 percent threshold it needed to pass. The measure would have nullified the states six-week abortion ban and legalized abortion to the point of fetal viability, making Florida a haven in the Southeast for abortion access.

This is the first time that an abortion-rights ballot initiative has failed since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, though it was also the first time an initiative had to win a supermajority of votes to pass.

Its a hard loss for the advocates whod spent months waging a massive nonpartisan campaign on behalf of Amendment 4. Its heartbreaking. I mean, the results may well cost lives. Im confident saying that, said Cameron Driggers, the founder of Youth Action Fund, a nonprofit that worked to pass the amendment. He pointed out that 57 percent of Florida voters supported the initiative, which in most other states would have meant a decisive win for abortion rights. (Florida established the 60 percent threshold for new constitutional amendments with a 2006 ballot initiativewhich itself passed with just  57.8 percent of the vote.)

The campaign for the abortion-rights amendment was relying on high youth voter turnout to secure a win. It invested more than $1 million in a program that paid college students to organize their peers on campuses across the state. Driggers, whose organization registered about 5,000 new young voters in advance of the election, said early voting centers on college campuses did see marked improvements in turnout over 2020. And in Alachua County, home to the University of Florida, voters broke the all-time turnout record from 2008, when Barack Obama won his first presidential campaign.

Even with the loss, Driggers sees this as a hopeful sign for future organizing in his state. He is of the generation who came of age with book bans, the end of diversity programs, and the dismantling of their high school LGBTQ+ clubs. Basically my entire adult life has been losing really terrible elections in Florida, and lots of heartbreak, Driggers said. I didnt give up then. Im not gonna give up now.

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Even with young people turning out in high numbers and many Republicans and Trump supporters backing the abortion-rights initiativeit got 59 percent of the vote in Miami-Dade County, which went 55 percent for Trump60 percent was too high a threshold to meet in the increasingly conservative state. The campaign was further disadvantaged by a ruthless effort from Gov. Ron DeSantis to sabotage the proposed amendment. The governor spent millions of taxpayer dollarsillegally, according to an ACLU lawsuiton a crusade to defeat it. He also threatened jail time for any media outlet that ran an advertisement supporting the initiative.

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The Amendment 4 campaign to pass the initiative ran ads that shared the story of a Florida woman who learned at 24 weeks pregnant that her fetus had no kidneys but had to carry it for three additional months knowing it would not survive. She underwent childbirth just to watch her baby die in her arms. Another featured Anya Cook, who was turned away from a Florida hospital after her water broke at 16 weeks pregnant. The fetus stood no chance of survival, but the hospital refused to terminate the pregnancy; when she miscarried the next day in the bathroom of a hair salon, she lost half the blood in her body and had to be mechanically ventilated at the hospital.

These are just two of the most gruesome horror stories brought about by Floridas abortion ban. Countless other Floridians have had to travel out of state for care; still others have surely been forced to give birth against their will. A strong majority of Florida voters did not want this to continue. But for the foreseeable future, as long as Republicans maintain their tight hold on the state government, it will.
When Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016, America still had a sliver of plausible deniability. Yes, he had a history of shady business dealings, racist proclamations, and alleged sexual harassment. But maybe he didnt really mean it. Maybe it was all just locker-room talk. Maybe hed rise to the demands of the office. Maybe hed be more like a regular Republican, just a lot rougher around the edges.

This time around, there were no excuses. Since his inauguration, Americans have gained an intimate understanding of Trump and his acolytes. We witnessed the chaos of his administration, which he ran on an engine of personal grievances. We lived through the degradation of public discourse and the normalization of blatant, unrepentant lying. We saw his extremist judicial appointees strip away hard-won reproductive rights and voting rights that Americans broadly support. We listened to him lust after the power held by autocrats like Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Xi Jinping. We suffered and died because Trump was the one holding the reins when a pandemic took hold.

There was no looking away when Trumps mob used American flags as spears to crash their way into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Everyone was there when he refused to admit that hed lost the election, when he was found liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll, and when he was convicted of 34 felony counts. I could say more, but I dont have to. We all know who Donald Trump is and how he governs. It could not be clearer that his vision for America means less participation and more punishment, less stability and more destruction. There is no mystery left to this man and the movement behind him.

Related From Slate We Will Never Have Another Normal Election Again Read More

Yet, as of 4 a.m. Eastern, Trump was headed for a victory even more decisive than in 2016. Millions of voters saw all this and wanted more. Millions of other Trump voters may not have been thrilled by some of these low points but didnt think it worrisome enough to outweigh whatever other concerns animated their votes. Still others, possibly Democratic-leaning, didnt feel motivated enough by all of this to turn out for Harris.

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In the end, America decided to burn it all to the ground.

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This campaign showed Trump to be even more of a threat to democracy and the rule of law now than he was the first time around. He was inflammatory and race-baiting in a way that made his previous two campaigns look positively statesmanlike. He promised mass deportations of millions of immigrants, death and imprisonment for his political opponents, and the deployment of the U.S. military against U.S. citizens.

There was no denying exactly what another Trump term meant for us. Project 2025 presented an alarmingly lucid road map for his aims of authoritarianism. News reports of women maimed and killed by abortion bans filled the airwaves. Countless former Trump administration officials risked their necks to say, in no uncertain terms, that this guy was even worse close up than he seemed from afar. And, not for nothing, but voters watched Trump grow increasingly drawn, incoherent, and bizarre on the campaign trail, raising questions about his baseline ability to perform any job, then made him president anyway.

History may remember this election as an even more decisive turning point than 2016, which marked the start of the Trump era of U.S. politics. This was American voters enthusiastically handing over the government to a man they well know is ready to tear it down. Some are ideological die-hards yearning for Christian nationalism, but others just wanted the thrill of identifying with a shock jock, sowing mayhem, and putting a Black woman in power back in her place. It was a move of both selfishness and self-sabotage worthy of Elon Musk, Trumps latest consigliere, who has drained Twitter of $34.6 billion in value in the two years hes owned it just for the satisfaction of filling it with misinformation and hate speech.

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The Trump era has wrought a series of previously unthinkable inversions of conventional wisdom on the right. Categories of people who were once considered untouchable targets (the troops, law enforcement officials) are now smeared as losers and woke snowflakes, or gleefully assaulted for guarding the Capitol. Individuals once deemed unquestionably deplorable in polite society (Adolf Hitler) are now complicated figures with some admirable qualities.

It is to be expected that right-wing officials and the Republican base would readily shift their worldviews to accommodate Trump; hes giving them exactly what they want. But its jarring to see significant numbers of the rest of the country follow suit. The speed with which Americans have contorted their values to align with Trumps has been breathtaking. The worse he has gotten, and the more of a threat he has proved himself to be, the more popular he has become.

There are a lot of reasons why elections go the way they do, and there will be reams of analysis picking them apart in the weeks (and decades) to come. But at its core, the big question of the 2024 election was whether voters were ready to blow up the fragile infrastructure of democracy to stick it to the most vulnerable among us. The answer was a resounding yes.
The bride could be a "goat", but if she had land she could find a husband.

Czech artist Jaroslav August produced numerous paintings under the Austro-Hungarian monarchy that captured fascinating glimpses of rural Slovak life. This postcard, published by Olomouc-based Romuald Promberger, features Augusts painting Leaving a Wedding, shows a bride in festive folk attire leaving the church after her wedding in the municipality of Dacov Lom, in central south Slovakia.

In the past, land ownership was a crucial factor among big farming families in the countryside when selecting a potential spouse. People would say that the bride could be a goat, but as long as she had a seska, meaning a plot of farmland, that was all that mattered. The headpiece worn by the bride here indicates that she may have brought some land into the marriage.

Rather than head directly to the church, wedding processions often used to snake through the narrow village lanes. This was partly due to an old superstition that taking the same path to and from the church for a wedding brought bad luck. The religious authorities sought to combat these ancient rituals, as they were pagan in origin. A decree by the Stitnik synod required that people head directly to the church and return along the shortest possible path.

On the way back from a wedding, local boys would sometimes block the procession with a bar or a ladder and demand a ransom from the groom for taking their girl. The ransom usually took the form of a bottle of liquor, which, once produced, allowed the wedding guests to continue on their way.

This article was originally published by The Slovak Spectator on September 22, 2014. It has been updated to be relevant today.
Patrik Krizansky, director of the Slovak Electric Vehicle Association (SEVA), a trade group, has always been fascinated by new technology. As such, it is no surprise that he is a firm believer in the potential of e-mobility.

The technology behind electric propulsion is not only key for the transport sector, being more environmentally friendly than alternatives and contributing to transport sustainability but, he says, it could also be used extensively in the energy sector.

Batteries of electric cars can serve to balance the national electricity grid, says Krizansky. Solutions for smart charging and dynamic tariffs that would make that possible already exist. What we need in Slovakia to enable their use is a suitable regulatory framework. However, the approach of the regulatory authority, the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (URSO), in Slovakia is very conservative.

Related article Slovakias energy legislation serves as inspiration for EU peers Read more

The Slovak Spectator spoke with Krizansky about the latest developments on the e-car market, why Slovak drivers do not currently buy many electric vehicles, construction of charging stations, EU tariffs on Chinese cars, and more.

Related article Expiring gas transit agreement poses a challenge for Slovakia Read more

What are the latest trends on the electric car market?

Although it does not look like this in Slovakia, where only a small portion of cars sold are electric, globally the sale of cars with internal combustion engines peaked in 2017. Since then it has been decreasing and the share of electric cars, both battery and plug-in hybrids, has been growing. Globally, about 14 million e-cars were sold in 2023. This year it will be around 16-17 million vehicles  a global transformation towards e-mobility is happening.
While coalition is eager for the war in Ukraine to end, opposition stresses that Slovakia and Europe will have to bear the responsibility.

Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election means a defeat for liberal and progressive ideas, said Slovak PM Robert Fico (Smer) in response to the results.

The PM went on to criticise media and their reporting ahead of the elections, saying the result is exactly the opposite of the image that the media tried to create. According to Fico, Trump's re-election opens up questions regarding international relations and the US-EU cooperation.

Optimistic coalition

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini congratulated Donald Trump on winning the election, wishing him and the American people many successes.

"Our countries are united by common values of freedom and democracy. I confirm that Slovakia remains a reliable and responsible NATO ally. I believe in continuing our cooperation, and I'm confident that relations between the US and Slovakia, as well as the whole of Europe, will continue to develop in a positive direction," said Pellegrini.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Peter Ziga (Hlas), currently in charge of the parliament, believes that both countries will maintain good relations under the next Donald Trump presidency. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Hlas) believes that Trump's victory will change many things in the US, as well as in Europe, especially expressing curiousness in regards to the war in Ukraine. Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer) considers the election of Trump to be a better solution for the world. Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Hlas) respects the will of the US people. Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer) opines that the result won't mean a fundamental or significant change for Slovakia.

Cautious opposition

Progressive Slovakia chair Michal Simecka said that Trump's victory means that both Europe and Slovakia will have to bear a greater burden and do much more themselves.

"We'll have to be a strong and confident partner and rely more on our strengths when faced with major security and economic challenges and threats posed by Russia and China in particular," he stated, adding that Slovakia will have invest more in terms of security in order to convince the future Trump administration that it is not a burden. "We've been through one Trump term, we're about to enter another. It's natural to be concerned about what's to come. However, it's important that we take this as an opportunity to change our country and Europe for the better," he opined.

SaS chair Branislav Grohling believes that Trump will be a dignified president for all Americans, and that his presidency will uphold the historically strong relations between both countries. However, "it is crucial for peace in the world that re-elected president Donald Trump understands NATO membership to be an unquestionable commitment to his partners. Unpredictable actions, strong gestures or spreading hate carry the risk of chaos and polarisation."

The KDH party congratulated Trump on his victory. "Despite some of his previous statements, we hope that the winner of the election will continue to strengthen transatlantic relations, which we see as an irreplaceable pillar of democracy and collective security. We sincerely hope that he will be able to advocate for a peaceful solution and security guarantees for Ukraine. We particularly appreciate his approach to protecting the right to life of unborn children," said the party, adding that the results should serve as a signal that Europe must take on more responsibility for its own economy, security, and competitiveness.
Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) last week denied claims by the non-parliamentary Demokrati party that he spent several days in Croatia in October.

Someone has clearly made a fool of you, Fico retorted in response to Demokratis allegation.

However, a photo posted on social media by Demokrati a few days ago appears to suggest otherwise. On November 6, the premier confirmed his trip to Croatia.

The prime minister, who survived a shooting in May while addressing supporters in Handlova, reportedly travelled to the Split area on Croatias Adriatic coast with his girlfriend, Katarina Szalayova, at the end of October. Fico claims that he went on the trip in early October.

The published photograph, taken near the Madona bar in Primostensome 60 kilometres from Splitshows Fico without his usual security detail. Paradoxically, Fico and his coalition partners often reference the shooting incident for political gain, claiming that the incident could occur again.

Joining him on the trip were Smer MP Anton Stredak, who owns a villa in Rogoznica, and a real estate businesswoman whom Demokrati describe as controversial, according to the non-parliamentary party. Demokrati also released a document purportedly listing the passengers on Ficos flight.

According to a flight-tracking service, Fico travelled by private jet from Bratislava to Split, returning to Bratislava via Prague after a few days, purportedly to purchase a seaside property. It remains unclear who paid for the alleged flight to Split with Fico aboard. The prime minister has also yet to explain the source of funds for his upscale flat in central Bratislava.

Reports link several figures associated with Smer to properties along Croatias Dalmatian coast, writes the daily Sme.

Photos published by the tabloid daily Novy Cas show the prime minister and his girlfriend also holidaying in Rogoznica over the summer.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241106/fire-your-own-missile-social-media-savvy-houthis-fundraise-for-red-sea-blockade-campaign-1120788859.html

Fire Your Own Missile!: Social Media-Savvy Houthis Fundraise for Red Sea Blockade Campaign

Fire Your Own Missile!: Social Media-Savvy Houthis Fundraise for Red Sea Blockade Campaign

Sputnik International

In two weeks, it will be the one-year anniversary of the Houthis partial blockade of Red Sea waters targeting suspected Israeli-linked ships and Western warships. This campaign, tied to the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, has disrupted major shipping and shows no signs of stopping.

2024-11-06T00:56+0000

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The Houthis have apparently begun engaging in fundraising to help fund their campaign vs. Israel and Western navies, asking Yemenis to donate via a viral social media campaign linked to a dedicated phone number.Be a partner in bringing victory, donate 100 Yemeni rials [about 40 cents US] and help the missile force, a social media ad linked to the militia reportedly urges. Fire your own missile!, another says.Call 180, launch your rocket or drone and contribute to hitting Israeli enemy ships, another suggests, featuring rendered images of a fuse connecting a phone to a missile preparing for launch.One image shows a rocket made of money blasting off to target the enemy. Another shows a hand putting 100 rial coin into one of the Houthis new Palestine-2 series missiles.Despite sanctions, blockades and more than a decade of pressure from the US and its regional allies, the Houthis have managed to carve out a surprisingly lively and media savvy social media campaign, releasing well-produced music videos mocking their enemies, including a video shot from the deck of the Galaxy Leader  the Israeli billionaire-owned Ro-Ro car carrier the militia seized in a helicopter commando raid a year ago as they began their Red Sea campaign.The militia reportedly also has other means to collect funds for the war effort, with maritime business media publishing a series of reports this week citing a United Nations document which has yet to be made public suggesting the militia is earning as much as $180 million a month in tolls from shipping companies seeking to avoid attacks as their vessels sail through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.Washington and a handful of its allies have tried to stop the Houthis by force, engaging in warship patrols and launching airstrikes at targets inside Yemen in January designed to degrade the militias capabilities. So far, theyve failed to achieve any of their objectives, with the militia only ramping up their campaign, rolling out previously unseen drone and missile capabilities which have landed multiple hits inside Israel, and firing projectiles at warships which have come dangerously close to hitting targets on at least two occasions.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241031/unable-to-wrest-control-of-red-sea-from-houthis-us-and-uk-launch-fresh-strikes-on-key-yemeni-port-1120740607.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241030/warships-from-one-of-natos-top-navies-take-long-way-home-from-asia-to-avoid-running-into-houthis-1120729109.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241106/netanyahu-gets-rid-of-democrat-supporters-defence-ministers-abrupt-sacking-explained-1120798008.html

'Netanyahu Gets Rid of Democrat Supporters': Defence Ministers Abrupt Sacking Explained

'Netanyahu Gets Rid of Democrat Supporters': Defence Ministers Abrupt Sacking Explained

Sputnik International

Late in the evening of November 5, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Yoav Gallant as Israel's Defense Minister, replacing him with Foreign... 06.11.2024, Sputnik International

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simon tsipis

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is exploiting political upheaval in the US to stuff his cabinet with yes-men.Netanyahu, foreseeing the Democrats' defeat in the US elections, decided to sack Yaov Gallant as defence minister to install loyalists in key cabinet positions, Tel Aviv-based international relations expert Dr Simon Tsipis told Sputnik.Netanyahu fired Gallant as defense minister late on Tuesday night, with the US elections underway, replacing him with foreign minister Israel Katz. He appointed Gideon Saar to replace Katz, who was the minister of foreign affairs. Saar is Netanyahu's man, as is Katz," he added. "He is putting together his clique, he is putting together his circles, so he will gradually get rid of those proteges of the Democrats."The expert believes the political split in Israel has already intensified after Galants dismissal  and only a conflict with Iran could heal it.The pundit argued that the only thing that would stop the protests was the escalation of Israel's conflicts with its neighbors into a full-scale war."I assume in the coming days Netanyahu may strike Iran. In this way, he will calm the Israeli street down, and Trump will support an attack on Iran," Tsipis said. "We have now reached a situation where an attack on Iran from Israel is most likely."But Tsipis noted that Galant had already won the support of the officer corps of the Israeli army and that by his dismissal, Netanyahu has only united the security forces bloc against him.Gallant gave reporters three reasons for his sacking at a press conference on Tuesday: the refusal of some Jewish sects to serve in the armed forces, his own failure to free hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 2023 and the findings of the inquiry into the Palestinian group's foray from the Gaza Strip and the subsequent war in the territory.

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A Woodforest National Bank in Conroe. The Woodlands-based bank has closed 18 locations. Woodforest National Bank

One of Houston's biggest banks has reportedly closed more than a dozen locations nationwide as it aims to retool its business.

Woodforest National Bank closed 18 locations in September, according to a report by the Houston Business Journal, and it plans to close nearly a dozen more before the end of the year. The affected branches, all within Walmart stores, were in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

James Jay Dreibelbis, Woodforest president and CEO, told HBJ that the closures will mean 60 job losses overall, although some employees were able to relocate to other branches.

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Woodforest did not respond to a request for comment from the Houston Chronicle.

Woodforest, headquartered in The Woodlands, still has more than 750 locations nationwide after the closures, and continues to open new locations. In the Houston area, Woodforest is a major player in the retail banking sector. In September, for example, Woodforest opened its sixth branch inside an H-E-B, at 3601 FM 1488 in The Woodlands. It also is planning a new location in Kingwood. None of the Woodforest sites scheduled to be closed are in Texas.

The bank has been lambasted by consumer advocates for what they describe as predatory practices, such as opening in lower-income areas, charging hefty overdraft fees  a practice that many major banks have stopped in recent years  and tweaking the order in which credit and debit payments are processed to generate more overdraft fees.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241106/supporters-of-joining-us-as-state-in-puerto-rico-in-lead-with-5682-of-vote---reports-1120795858.html

Supporters of Joining US as State in Puerto Rico in Lead With 56.82% of Vote - Reports

Supporters of Joining US as State in Puerto Rico in Lead With 56.82% of Vote - Reports

Sputnik International

The supporters of joining the United States as a full-fledged state are leading with 56.86% in the referendum in Puerto Rico after more than 86% of the votes have been counted, local newspaper Nuevo Dia reported on Wednesday, citing data from the election commission.

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In addition to the elections of the governor, the resident commissioner and members of municipal councils, residents of the island on Tuesday had the opportunity to decide what the Puerto Rican government and place in the US government system will be. The participants of the referendum were offered three options: a full-fledged state, independence or expanded autonomy in the format of an associated state with the right to self-government. After counting more than 86% of the ballots, supporters of joining the United States as a state gain 56.82% of the votes. Another 30.85% of Puerto Ricans voted for independence. The idea of expanded autonomy was supported by 12.33% of the island's residents.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241106/trump-as-potus-to-seek-pragmatic-deals-no-budget-money-to-sustain-ukraine--1120797777.html

Trump as POTUS to Seek 'Pragmatic' Deals, No Budget Money to Sustain Ukraine

Trump as POTUS to Seek 'Pragmatic' Deals, No Budget Money to Sustain Ukraine

Sputnik International

As the 47th US president Donald Trump will not guarantee the US budget to keep Ukraine afloat, strategic analyst Paolo Raffone told Sputnik.

2024-11-06T15:25+0000

2024-11-06T15:25+0000

2024-11-06T15:25+0000

analysis

us

2024 us presidential election

joe biden

donald trump

ukraine

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nato

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volodymyr zelensky

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As the 47th US president, Donald Trump, will not guarantee the US budget to keep Ukraine afloat, strategic analyst Paolo Raffone told Sputnik.He conjectured that the Biden administration and its European acolytes fueling NATOs proxy war are history.On the foreign policy front, the Republican is likely to display openness to pragmatic solutions with allies and foes to achieve maximum advantage for the US, he surmised, adding:In his pursuit of a national interest agenda, Trump may redefine America's contributions to NATO, emphasizing that US protection for Europe "is not a free ride," Raffone noted.Trump will guarantee the Europeans the military shield, but each European state will have to contribute much more to NATO. The previous US administrations asked to raise European military expenditure above 2% GDP. Such a target will probably be insufficient during the new Trump administration, said Raffone.It is difficult for Trump to accept any idea of European strategic autonomy, emphasized the pundit. He supposed that a new Trump administration would brandish a combination of trade, tariffs, security levy to force the Europeans to increase their military budgets and buy more American. Looking ahead to the US elections of 2028, none of the old guard will be running, conjectured Raffone, suggesting that new forces will emerge during the current Trump term.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241027/trump-vs-harris-what-lies-ahead-for-ukraine-and-russia-nato-relations-after-us-election-1120689311.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241106/us-imports-russian-aluminum-for-1st-time-since-2023-in-september---customs-data-1120790149.html

US Imports Russian Aluminum for 1st Time Since 2023 in September - Customs Data

US Imports Russian Aluminum for 1st Time Since 2023 in September - Customs Data

Sputnik International

The US imported aluminum from Russia in September for the first time since 2023, a Sputnik analysis of US customs data showed on Wednesday.

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2024-11-06T01:46+0000

economy

russia

aluminum

us

export

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Over the course of the month, the US imported 798 metric tons of unprocessed aluminum from Russia for a total of $1.9 million, marking the first time since August 2023 that the country imported Russian aluminum. Platinum remained the most imported metal from Russia in the US, with imports increasing sixfold since August to a three-month high of $88.6 million. At the same time, imports of Russian titanium fell 1.6 times month-on-month to $1.4 million in September. In April 2024, Washington imposed a complete ban on imports of Russian aluminum, copper, and nickel, as well as on trading in these metals on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). Companies were prohibited from providing services for the purchase, export, sale, or delivery of these metals.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230802/us-and-eu-struggle-to-resolve-steel-and-aluminum-trade-dispute-as-deadline-looms-1112352722.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241106/what-does-trumps-win-mean-for-the-middle-east-1120798774.html

What Does Trump's Win Mean For the Middle East?

What Does Trump's Win Mean For the Middle East?

Sputnik International

Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election, but what impact will that have on Middle Eastern nations?

2024-11-06T16:20+0000

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"Donald Trump, of course, makes his own policies, but it is also important to see who he surrounds himself with," Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University Qatar, told Sputnik. Kamrava defines Trump as "transactional" in contrast to Joe Biden, who is "ideological" and believes in a "particular world order". By "transactional", Kamrava means Trump is first and foremost a pragmatic deal-maker. Kamrava said Trump had two solutions to Israel's war in the Gaza Strip. He could either give Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu full support, or call upon Tel Aviv to wind down the conflict in Gaza and in Lebanon "because it's not good for business." He believes the newly-elected president will pick the second option. The professor also expects Trump to take a more cautious approach to Iran compared to his predecessor. During his first term Trump showed "an aversion to war" in the Middle East, he stressed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241106/trump-as-potus-to-seek-pragmatic-deals-no-budget-money-to-sustain-ukraine--1120797777.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241104/military-sites-areas-near-nuclear-facilities-where-irans-more-powerful-warheads-may-hit-israel-1120772573.html

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Jennifer Doyle harnessed three winners on the Tuesday, Nov. 5 evening card at Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway.

Doyle sent out her first winner in race four, a $3,050 conditioned pace, with Woodmere Kennedie ($2.70) driven to victory by three lengths in 1:57.2. Damian Maclellan drove the Rollwithitharry-Four Starz Roe sophomore filly for owner Mike Pollard.

Doyle returned to victory lane in race six, a $2,350 conditioned pace for fillies and mares, with Write The Rules (pictured above, $2.60). With a gate-to-wire trip, David Dowling and the four-year-old Sportswriter-Big Bottom mare won by four lengths in 1:59.4. Danny Birt owns the winner.

Completing the training hat trick, First Glance ($2.10) won every pole en route to a 6-3/4-length score in 1:56.1 with Dowling in the bike. The Thinking Out Loud-Whiteglance gelding is also owned by Birt.

Howmac Maximus was put on the point and opened up to win in the Tuesday evening feature at Summerside Raceway. In the $3,300 feature, MacLellan placed Howmac Maximus on the front from post three and pace through splits of :28.1, :58.2, 1:28.2 and 1:57.1 over Brookdale Johnny (Paul Langille) and Sauble Attack (Ken Murphy). Tammy Collings trains Howmac Maximus for owner Brett MacDonald.

MacLellan scored a driving triple as Ideal Jet won race five for the trainer-driver in a 1:58 trip.

Montrose Hope prevailed in the upset of the evening in a 2:04 mile for driver Brett Clow and trainer Deanna Clow at 36-1 odds.

Live harness racing continues on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 12:30 p.m. at Red Shores Charlottetown.

To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Summerside Raceway.

(With files from Red Shores)
The yearling portion of the five-day 2024 Standardbred Horse Sale wrapped up on Wednesday, Nov. 6 with Shes On The Money topping the mid-week session at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.

Shes On The Money, selling as Hip 607 during the third day of the sale, was purchased for $131,944 ($95,000 USD) by George Ducharme of Massachusetts. Consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing, the E L Titan-Queen Of More filly is a full sister to six-figure earner Queen Indeed ($112,633 - 1:56.1h) and a half sibling to New York Sire Stakes winner With Out A Doubt ($250,185 - 1:53.1f).

A Case Of You, Hip 675, was among the top priced yearlings of the day, attracting a bid of $111,111 ($80,000 USD). The Six Pack filly was purchased by Noel Daley of Chesterfield, New Jersey from the Walnridge Farm consignment. She is a full sister to Grand Circuit stakes-placed two-year-old filly Halfadozen ($47,266 - 2:00.1h) and a half sibling to Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner Antonia ($114,350 - 1:54.3f). Her dam is the SJs Caviar mare Tactical Caviar, a full sister to stakes-winning stallions Centurion ATM and Triumphant Caviar.

Rounding out the priciest purchases from the auction's third session, three yearlings sold for $104,166 ($75,000 USD), including a pair of E L Titan colts from the Blue Chip Farms consignment.

The first was Aquarius Blue Chip, Hip 753, bought by Howard Okusko Jr. of Vernon, New York, acting as agent. The E L Titan colt is the first foal out of the Chapter Seven mare Double Red, who is a half sister to Kentucky stakes winner Sparks Fly.

Avalon Blue Chip, Hip 811, was acquired by Exceed Stables of Rebersburg, Pennsylvania. The E L Titan-Aurova Hanover colt is a half brother to this year's Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots two-year-old champion Wendell Blue Chip ($88,280 - 1:57.3s). His dam is an unraced Andover Hall sister to Dan Patch Award winner and stallion Possess The Will.

Steel Grey, Hip 859, was purchased by former NFL cornerback William Jackson III of Hockley, Texas. Also consigned by Blue Chip Farms, the roan colt by Tactical Landing is the second foal out of the Credit Winner mare Greyscale with a two-year-old half sister Arianell race timed in 1:59 in Massachusetts stakes action.

Wednesday's session included 337 yearlings, which were sold for a total of $7,722,222 ($5,560,000 USD), averaging $22,915 ($16,499 USD).

The 2024 Standardbred Horse Sale's yearling portion conducted over three days from Monday to Wednesday grossed $51,515,278 ($37,091,000 USD). In total, 866 yearlings were sold over the three days for an average price of $59,486 ($42,830 USD), down approximately 3.3 per cent from last year's average.

The mixed sale, featuring a selection of racehorses, broodmares, stallion shares, yearlings and weanlings, will be held on Thursday and Friday, beginning at 11 a.m. each day.

For complete sale results and information, click on the links below.

IMPORTANT LINKS

(Standardbred Canada)
Election results for the Nov. 5, 2024, are rolling in. With less than a handful of precincts still waiting to be counted, the results of some races are becoming clear.

Voters in Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff County and Nebraska cast ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, for federal, state and local races.

Storer, Strommen win Legislative seats

9:45 a.m., Nov. 6 |

In District 43, Tanya Storer of Whitman topped fellow Republican Tony Tangwall of Whitney. Storer will replace Sen. Tom Brewer, a term-limited Republican, who represents 11 northern and central counties.

Paul Strommen, a Republican, handily bested Larry Bolinger, a Democrat, to represent nine Panhandle counties that make up District 47. He replaces Sen. Steve Erdman, a term-limited Republican.

The results are in, Scottsbluff voters approve sales tax, LB 840 plan

2: 45 a.m. |

For the City of Scottsbluff, renewal of its 1.5% sales tax and LB 840 plan were the key issues on the ballot. Voters opted to renew the 1.5% sales tax, casting 2,938 votes in support of Proposition 1 and 1,781 votes opposed. Proposition 2, which sets aside a quarter of 1% or 1/6 of the 1.5% sales tax to fund the city's economic development program, also was rubber stamped by voters with 3,393 opting to support the plan compared to 1,153 against.

Two seats on the Scottsbluff City Council were up for grabs as council members Jordan Colwell and Angela Scanlan chose not to run for re-election. Earning spots on the council are Jerry Stricker, with 2,220 votes cast and Scott Phillips, at 1,800 votes. Kassandra Lauder followed close behind with 1,764 votes and Selina Lerma, a former Scottsbluff city council member, received 1584 votes.

School board races

Incumbents took the top spots in the Scottsbluff School Board race, with Scott Reisig being the top vote-getter with 4,428 votes. Beth Merrigan followed close behind at 4,296 votes and Paul Snyder will continue his tenure as the longest serving school board member after garnering 4,047 votes. Challenger Reginald Preston earned 2,197 votes.

The Morrill and Mitchell School Boards also received healthy attention from voters in Tuesday's election.

On the Mitchell School Board, incumbents Dustan Keener (767 votes), Brad Helgerson (832) and Paul Pieper (788) will retain their seats on the board. Challenger Derrick Perkins won 571 votes, respectively.

On the Morrill School Board, three new board members were seated, with voters electing Lenora Sue Gompert (501 votes), Jim Scott (412) and Joey Muhr (473) to fill vacancies on the board. Candidates Nicholas Drysdale and Curtis McGabe received 267 and 382 votes, respectively.

Minatare Mayor

With Minatare's mayor having stepped down earlier this year, the community was set to have a new mayor. However, Minatare residents opted for familiarity, voting in former Minatare city clerk Carolyn Nelson to head city. Voters cast 146 votes for Nelson and 104 for challenger Frank Costa.

Mitchell City Council

The Mitchell City Council will see incumbent Douglas French joined by Gary Martin on the council. French was the top vote-getter with 328 votes and Martin garnered 304 votes. Challenger Kyle Kakuda received 235 votes to round out the contest.

All results are unofficial until canvassing is complete.

Scottsbluff area election results, Nov. 5.

Nebraska presidential and U.S. Congress election results, Nov. 5.

If you can't see results below, please tap here.

Nebraska election results for state Legislature, ballot measures, Nov. 5.

Use the pulldown menu to select your state legislative district.

***

Paid sick time measure appears headed to law

After 11 p.m. ET, nearly 75% of voters favored Initiative 436, which would create a new law that allows eligible employees to earn paid sick time for personal and family needs.

Paid sick time means time that is compensated at the same hourly rate, and with the same benefits, as the employee typically earns during hours worked.

The law would take effect Oct. 1, 2025.

Voters pass medical marijuana measure in Nebraska

12:15 a.m. | Initiative 437, which decriminalizes marijuana prescribed by a medical professional, had received more than 71% of the vote when the Associated Press called the race just before midnight. Initiative 438, which establishes a regulatory commission and removes penalties for the prescription and sale of marijuana, had received 68%. Although voters supported the measures on Tuesday, the initiatives are still facing a court challenge that could jeopardize medical marijuanas legalization.

AP: Nebraska voters approve constitutional amendment enshrining 12-week abortion ban

11:30 p.m. | Nebraska voters approved a ballot measure to write the states current 12-week abortion ban into the state constitution. It also allows for a stricter ban to be imposed. The abortion restriction measure was one of two competing abortion measures to appear on the ballot. The other measure would enshrine in the Nebraska Constitution the right to have an abortion until viability, or later to protect the health of the pregnant woman. Though theres no defined time frame for viability, doctors say its sometime after 21 weeks. Nebraska is the first state to carry competing abortion amendments on the same ballot since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, which ended a national right to abortion. The Associated Press declared the initiative was approved at 1:02 a.m. EST Wednesday.

Harris wins 'blue dot'

The sitting vice president defeated Republican and former President Donald Trump in the district centered on Nebraskas largest city of Omaha and its surrounding suburbs. The district has earned the nickname of Nebraskas "blue dot" after having supported two other Democrats for president in the last 16 years  former President Barack Obama in 2008 and President Joe Biden in 2020.

Republican Deb Fischer wins reelection to U.S. Senate from Nebraska

10:07 p.m. | AP Race Call: Republican Deb Fischer wins reelection to U.S. Senate from Nebraska

Republican Sen. Deb Fischer won a third term to represent Nebraska in the U.S. Senate. Fischer won her previous two elections by wide margins in the deep-red state. But she faced her toughest challenge yet in political newcomer Dan Osborn, a mechanical engineer who appealed to voters by eschewing the major political parties and running as an independent. Fischer successfully countered by leaning into support for former President Donald Trump. Despite their at-times rocky relationship, Trump endorsed Fischer for reelection, which Fischer touted in her campaign ads. The Associated Press declared Fischer the winner at 12:06 a.m. EST.

AP: Smith sails to victory in 3rd District

9 p.m. | Republican Rep. Adrian Smith won reelection to the U.S. House seat representing Nebraska's vast rural 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

The win gives Smith a 10th term. Smith faced little challenge from Democrat Daniel Ebers of Lincoln, a political newcomer.

That's in keeping with Smith's wins over the last several cycles; he ran unopposed in the 2016 election and won the next three elections with nearly 80% of the vote. Smith is considered one of the most conservative members of Congress and represents one of the country's most conservative congressional districts.

AP: Donald Trump wins the statewide vote in Nebraska

8:50 p.m. | AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins the statewide vote in Nebraska and two electoral votes

AP: Trump wins Nebraska, 'Blue Dot' vote still in limbo

8:24 p.m. | AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins the 3rd Congressional District in Nebraska

AP calls U.S. Senate race for Ricketts

8:15 p.m. | U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts will be heading back to Washington after winning Nebraska's special two-year Senate election over Democratic challenger Preston Love.

Latest Update, 6 p.m.:

Gering man brings novelty to Scotts Bluff County election

Among the volunteers helping Tuesday was Mike Minzey, assisting voters with finding their precinct on a map of Gering at the Gering Civic Center on Election Day, Nov. 5.

Minzey has been dressing up in attire from when Rutherford B. Hayes was elected.

"I've been doing this for 10-12 years," he said. "Every election, primary, general (election), and school bond. It's just a passion."

Polls will close at 7 p.m. Stay with the Star-Herald to watch as results roll in. The Star-Herald will have a reporter on scene at the Scotts Bluff County Courthouse and reporters working to keep readers updated.

Latest Update, 4:30 p.m.:

Voting becomes family, friend outing as teens cast their first votes

Like many, Jason, Creighton and Marcie Beals went to the polls Tuesday morning at the Gering Civic Center. Creighton, an 18-year-old at Gering High School, voted for the first time this year.

Creighton and Espn Marez, also a first-time voter and GHS student, both take an American Government class with Matt Salomon, who they said prepared them for Election Day.

"Voting was pretty cool," Marez said. "I liked it."

He also said if he wasn't sure about an issue or didn't feel totally prepared he didn't answer.

"I'd rather not vote than vote in the wrong way," Marez said.

In Scottsbluff, Hunter Lund, a freshman at Chadron State College, came home to vote for the first time at his precinct, Western Nebraska Community College.

Lund took American Government classes in high school but has stayed up to date on election debates and important issues so he can vote appropriately.

"I've tried to make as much of an education decision as possible," he said. "More people should vote. I mean, it's not that hard."

Latest Update, 3 p.m.:

Scotts Bluff County election workers putting in work to guarantee smooth election

Scotts Bluff County Clerk Kelly Sides and her team of full-time employees and volunteer poll workers are putting in the hours to make sure todays election goes off without a hitch.

The clerks office only has five full-time employees, counting Sides, and theyve all had their hands full with record numbers of early voters. Sides said that keeping the proceedings organized and efficient was a high priority with the office so busy.

I believe some days I had four or five people in here at a time helping just at the counter and directing them to the booth and then showing them where the ballot box was and the exit door so that we could keep a flow going in one door and out the other, Sides said. I'm up to probably 160 or so people, plus my actual staff.

Some of those workers are employees in other county offices whove pitched in to help during the election season.

It takes a large number of volunteers to adequately staff the countys 24 polling places on Election Day. Sides said that, ideally, each site would be staffed by five poll workers. That means coordinating around 145 trained volunteers county-wide.

At around 1 p.m., approximately halfway through the polling day, Sides said everything was running smoothly. She also said that voters have been friendly and courteous to her and her poll workers as a general rule.

From the voters that I've seen in the precincts I've visited, it's been going well, she said. I had to run over to one of my precincts, and the voters in line were telling me, good luck and have a good day and stuff.

Sides expects that shell clock around 16 hours on Election Day alone, and will be back in her office first thing tomorrow to get back to work.

The large Election Day turnout bolsters an already impressive number of early votes cast in the weeks leading up to the election. Well over 5,100 early ballots were requested in Scotts Bluff County, and a large number of those were processed right in the clerks office.

Sides said it wasnt unusual for her office to process around 200 voters each day. Friday saw around 290, and Monday  the day before the election  saw 332 in-office voters alone. Combined with take-home voters, the actual number of ballots processed on Monday was around 570.

Sides said she is impressed with this years total voter turnout, and she thinks it might even surpass the impressive turnout seen in 2020.

Latest update, 2 p.m.:

Polling center work tradition for mother-daughter duo

Carmen Trevino and daughter Theresa worked the polls at the Guadalupe Center in Scottsbluff on Election Day.

Carmen has been working polls for 47 years. She does it partly for pride in her country but partly so she sees the people in her community.

I just think it's important," she said. "It's just a good thing to do."

Now it's a thing the mother-daughter duo can do together.

When I was born, I had to stay home with my sister, Theresa said.

Carmen said she knew family who were alive during the time that women were not allowed to vote, so now being allowed to vote is another reason she continues to assist with the polling centers.

It's a privilege to be able to vote, she said, and I think it's important that as citizens, we all take advantage of that opportunity. So many people moan and groan and complain, but I just think it's important to at least be able to express your voice.

Voters cast ballots for president, state ballot referendums and local races

Panhandle voters will be making determinations in the presidential race; ballot measures on abortion, marijuana and school scholarships; two U.S. Senate races and a U.S. House race.

Locally, Scottsbluff voters will be deciding on renewing the sales tax that supports the LB 840 program. They'll also weigh city council and school board races. In other Scotts Bluff County races, voters will consider candidates for Mitchell City Council, Mitchell School Board, Morrill School Board and the Minatare mayor.

While more than 5,100 Scotts Bluff County votes took the opportunity to vote early, Election Day polling places are expected to be brisk business today.

Polls open at 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Grab your ID, check your polling place

Don't forget your ID, as Nebraska experiences it's second election and first presidential election since Voter ID requirements went into place. Don't know your polling place? Visit here.

Voters in the City of Scottsbluff have seen some of their polling places change due to changes in districts and Minatare had a change in polling place announced last week.

Need to familiarize yourself with the issues? Visit starherald.com/election for articles we have run on the federal, state and local races. We've also included links to local races below.

Check out more on local races:
Scotts Bluff County officials projected record voter turnout levels.

Final tallies showed that nearly 66% of registered voters in Scotts Bluff County cast a ballot.

According to figures released, 15,162 of the county's 23,089 registered voters took to the polls. Of those final tallies, 5,335 people opted to vote early.

Scotts Bluff County Clerk Kelly Sides, who acts as election commissioner for the county, and her team of full-time employees and volunteer poll workers put in hours to make sure this years election goes off without a hitch.

The clerks office only has five full-time employees, counting Sides, and they had their hands full with record numbers of early voters. Sides said that keeping the proceedings organized and efficient was a high priority with the office so busy.

It takes a large number of volunteers to adequately staff the countys 24 polling places on Election Day. Sides said that, ideally, each site would be staffed by five poll workers. That means coordinating around 145 trained volunteers county-wide. Some of those workers are employees in other county offices whove pitched in to help during the election season.

Sides reported during Election Day that voters had been friendly and courteous to her and her poll workers as a general rule.

From the voters that I've seen in the precincts I've visited, it's been going well, she said. I had to run over to one of my precincts, and the voters in line were telling me, good luck and have a good day and stuff.

Sides expects that shell clock around 16 hours on Election Day alone, and will be back in her office first thing Wednesday to get back to work.

The large Election Day turnout bolsters an already impressive number of early votes cast in the weeks leading up to the election. More than 5,300 early ballots were requested in Scotts Bluff County, and a large number of those were processed right in the clerks office.

Sides said it wasnt unusual for her office to process around 200 voters each day leading up to Nov. 5. Friday saw around 290, and Monday  the day before the election  saw 332 in-office voters alone. Combined with take-home voters, the actual number of ballots processed on Monday was around 570.

Sides said she is impressed with this years total voter turnout, and she thinks it might even surpass the impressive turnout seen in 2020.

Some familiar faces made up the poll works staffing voting precincts Tuesday.

Among the volunteers helping Tuesday was Mike Minzey, assisting voters with finding their precinct on a map of Gering at the Gering Civic Center on Election Day, Nov. 5.

He is sure to catch the attention of those who cast their ballots at the polling place as Minzey has been dressing up in attire from when Rutherford B. Hayes was elected.

"I've been doing this for 10-12 years," he said. "Every election, primary, general (election), and school bond. It's just a passion."

At the Guadalupe Center, Carmen Trevino and daughter Theresa worked the polls.

Carmen has been working polls for 47 years. She does it partly for pride in her country but also so she sees the people in her community.

I just think it's important," she said. "It's just a good thing to do."

Now it's a thing the mother-daughter duo can do together.

When I was born, I had to stay home with my sister, Theresa said.

Carmen said she knew family who were alive during the time that women were not allowed to vote, so now being allowed to vote is another reason she continues to assist with the polling centers.

It's a privilege to be able to vote, she said, and I think it's important that as citizens, we all take advantage of that opportunity. So many people moan and groan and complain, but I just think it's important to at least be able to express your voice.

Among those casting their ballots were first-time voters.

One voter, Ramon Villalobos, 26, of Terrytown, said he was proud to receive his first "I Voted" sticker on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Villalobos was in high school in 2016 when Trump and Hillary went at it, and I didnt know or care about politics at the time, he said.

Now that hes older and has spent time listening to the news, he said he feels what was confusing now makes sense.

I cant wait to tell my family that I voted for the first time, Villalobos said.

Like many, Jason, Creighton and Marcie Beals went to the polls Tuesday morning at the Gering Civic Center. Creighton, an 18-year-old student at Gering High School, voted for the first time this year.

Creighton and Espn Marez, also a first-time voter and GHS student, both take an American Government class with Matt Salomon, who they said prepared them for Election Day.

"Voting was pretty cool," Marez said. "I liked it."

He also said if he wasn't sure about an issue or didn't feel totally prepared he didn't answer.

"I'd rather not vote than vote in the wrong way," Marez said.

In Scottsbluff, Hunter Lund, a freshman at Chadron State College, came home to vote for the first time at his precinct, Western Nebraska Community College.

Lund took American Government classes in high school but has stayed up to date on election debates and important issues so he can vote appropriately.

"I've tried to make as much of an education decision as possible," he said. "More people should vote. I mean, it's not that hard."

As of presstime, local election results were still rolling in. The Associated Press had called Trump as having won both Nebraska electoral votes.

Congressman Adrian Smith will return to the Washington for a 10th time. Smith faced little challenge from Democrat Daniel Ebers of Lincoln, a political newcomer. He'll be joined by U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, who won Nebraska's special two-year Senate election over Democratic challenger Preston Love.

Sen. Deb Fischer's tough reelection bid against independent challenger Dan Osborn remained too close to call late Tuesday night. Fischer, a 73-year-old former state lawmaker, remained in a dead heat with Osborn, a registered nonpartisan and industrial mechanic, late Tuesday. Fischer led Osborn by less than 1 percentage point as of 10:30 p.m.
Jean Dawson opens for Lil Yachty at Fabrique on May 12, 2024 in Milan, Italy. Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty/Corbis via Getty Images

Jean Dawson

In recent years, there has been a Black indie-rock movement that has largely remained underground but has been one of the most rewarding scenes of the last few years. At the forefront is San Diego's Jean Dawson who, at his best, blends the lush melodicism of Brian Wilson and the sonic adventurism of Frank Ocean with the funk undertow of Prince. Check out such tracks as "The Boy and the Swan" or "Pirate Radio." He's coming to Houston on the heels of his fantastic album, "Glimmer of God," and he comes with a reputation as a persuasive live performer.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

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Where: House of Blues, 1204 Caroline

Jolie Holland

Jolie Holland performs June 11 at the Independent in San Francisco. Anti- Records

Jolie Holland is far from a minimalist, but every sound on her recordings feels thoughtfully included. She frequently gets filed as folk, but the Houston natives music is a sort of uncategorizable thing, not unlike that of Tom Waits. She creates moods with each story she tells, and she can turn a phrase with the best of them. Her new Haunted Mountain feels like an album made by a master cinematographer, with Holland masterfully using sound and silence like a filmmaker would light and shadow.

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When: 9:30 p.m. Nov. 9

Where: McGonigels Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk

Details: $30; mcgoingels.com

Terence Blanchard

Eight-time Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer Terence Blanchard returns to Houston for one night only, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in celebration of the University of Houston-Downtowns (UHD) 50th anniversary. Terence Blanchard

Terence Blanchard found his feet playing jazz, not terribly unusual for a musical prodigy born and raised in New Orleans. The trumpeter followed Wynton Marsalis in Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers, before beginning his career as a bandleader. Thats where hed be today  a wildly successful jazz instrumentalist and composer  except Blanchard is a restless spirit who found great success scoring film and TV and forays into classical. In 2021, his Fire Shut Up in My Bones marked the first time the Metropolitan Opera performed an opera by a Black composer. All these Blanchards should be on display when he comes to town this week for a program aptly called Film Scores, Jazz and Beyond.

When: 7 p.m. Nov. 9

Where: Cullen Performance Hall, University of Houston, 4300 University

Details: $50-$250; uh.edu/Cullen-performance-hall

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Old 97s

Old 97s return to town this weekend for a show at Floores Country Store. courtesy / courtesy

Somehow 30 years have passed since the Old 97s released Hitchhike to Rhome, a bracing blast of roots rock. The Dallas quartet managed to play with intuitive tightness and frontman Rhett Millers lyrics were elevated far above country music tropes. Yet somehow, the 97s also gave off the roughshod illusion of the worlds best bar band. In those three decades, the Old 97s have leaned a little bit in one direction or another  more pop here, more punk there  but mostly theyve chugged along as a truly great American rock band. This year they released American Primitive, which is a standout in their diamond-dappled discography.

When: 8 p.m. Nov. 10

Where: Heights Theater, 339 W. 19th

Details: $29.50; theheightstheater.com





Local Natives

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California-based indie rock band Local Natives. Tell All Your Friends PR

If Local Natives rid its music of lyrics, theirs would still be a lovely permutation of California indie pop: They mix bright melodic moments with odd little embellishments and sublime harmonies into something radiant and contemplative. Fifteen years after the band released its debut album, it continues to work with the rudiments that made it stand out, but everything feels richer and more fully realized. To wit, Local Natives are touring behind a pair of albums with heady titles that reflect heady content: Time Will Wait for No One and But Ill Wait for You.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The International Space Station is viewed from a camera aboard the approaching SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft. The SpaceX Dragon Freedom crew spacecraft is pictured (at center) docked to the Harmony modules space-facing port. Credit: NASA

After launching at 9:29 p.m. EST Nov. 4, the SpaceX Dragon capsule docked at the International Space Station at 9:52 a.m. EST Nov. 5. The spacecraft carried more than 6,000 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory on SpaceX's 31st commercial resupply services mission for NASA.

Included in the payload is a technology demonstration called SEAQUE (Space Entanglement and Annealing Quantum Experiment). Developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, SEAQUE will experiment with technologies that, if successful, will enable communication on a quantum level using entanglement.

Researchers will focus on validating in space a new technology, enabling easier and more robust communication between two quantum systems across large distances. The research from this experiment could lead to developing building blocks for communicating between equipment such as quantum computers with enhanced security.

SEAQUE will be installed on the exterior of the space station using a Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) mounting location.

More information: Read more about the experiment here, and find out more about NASA's SpaceX CRS-31 here.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Device structure, PL spectra and electrical characteristics of a vdW-IJT. Credit: Nature Electronics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41928-024-01256-3

Edge computing devices, devices located in proximity to the source of data instead of in large data centers, could perform computations locally. This could reduce latency, particularly in real-time applications, as it would minimize the need to transfer data from the cloud.

Implementing deep learning algorithms on edge devices has so far proved challenging, in part due to their power constraints and limited computational resources. Fuzzy logic systems, computational frameworks that rely on approximate reasoning as opposed to binary logic processes, could help to overcome these challenges.

Researchers at the University of Southern California, Northwestern University, University of Hong Kong, Chinese Academy of Science, and other institutes recently developed a new multi-gate van der Waals interfacial junction transistor that could be used to create reconfigurable fuzzy logic hardware. This transistor, presented in a paper in Nature Electronics,

"Artificial neural networks are powerful tools driving the current AI revolution," Han Wang at University of Hong Kong, senior author of the paper, told Tech Xplore. "However, their implementation demands highly complex hardware with significant power consumption, which limits their applicability in edge devices that process information locally and in real-time. In contrast, fuzzy logic systems operate on simple rules, require fewer hardware resources, and can effectively handle many tasks."

Van der Waals materials, layered materials that are held together by weak van der Waals forces, have proved to be promising for the fabrication of more energy-efficient membership function generators. These are the most power-intensive components of fuzzy logic hardware, which are responsible for creating so-called membership functions (i.e., functions that define the extent to which an input belongs into distinct fuzzy sets).

Building on previous research efforts, Wang and his colleagues thus set out to develop a new transistor based on van der Waals materials that could be used to develop efficient membership function generators. The transistor they created is based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ), a transition metal dichalcogenide widely used in the development of electronics.

Device structure and highly tunable electrical characteristics of a multigate vdW-IJT. Credit: Nature Electronics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41928-024-01256-3

"The van der Waals interfacial junction transistor (vdW-IJT) is built on a MoS 2 homojunction with varied carrier concentration in different regions, exhibiting either current amplification or division behaviors controlled by multiple graphene gate terminals," explained Hefei Liu, first author of the paper.

"Its primary advantage is the ability to intrinsically generate Gaussian or -shaped membership functions within a single device, whereas traditional CMOS technology requires tens of transistors to achieve this. As a result, vdW-IJTs enable more compact and energy-efficient membership function generators."

As part of their study, Wang and his colleagues integrated their transistors with peripheral circuits to create reconfigurable fuzzy logic hardware that can control nonlinear systems. This hardware was then used to run a simple convolutional neural network (CNNs) trained to complete image segmentation tasks.

"We discovered the significant potential of emerging vdW materials in enabling novel device concepts and computational architectures, such as fuzzy neural networks, within intelligent systems that achieve complex functionality with low power consumption," said Jiangbin Wu, a key researcher involved in this work.

"This advancement could shift information processing from data centers to local devices, providing real-time responses and extending battery life for applications like robotic motion control and autonomous vehicles."

The researchers found that the fuzzy logic system they developed by combining their transistors with a CNN achieved remarkable accuracy on image segmentation tasks. In the future, their proposed design could inspire the development of similar electronic components aimed at enhancing the ability of edge devices to run deep learning algorithms.

"Our future studies will focus on large-scale implementation of vdW-IJT-based fuzzy logic systems, addressing scalable fabrication, variation control, and integration with neural network hardware," added Mark Hersam from Northwestern University, another lead researcher in this work. "These efforts aim to deliver more capable and energy-efficient intelligent edge devices for real-world applications."

More information: Hefei Liu et al, A van der Waals interfacial junction transistor for reconfigurable fuzzy logic hardware, Nature Electronics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41928-024-01256-3 Journal information: Nature Electronics

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Dr. Yaqing Jin, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas, was recently named an Early-Career Research Fellow of the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Credit: The University of Texas at Dallas

In the dark ocean depths, seals hunt prey with their highly sensitive whiskers, which detect vibrations.

It is the design of those hairs that inspired a University of Texas at Dallas researcher to develop a sensor to monitor turbulence in the deep ocean.

"The geometry of seal whiskers is not circular; the whisker's shape is twisted cylinders," said Dr. Yaqing Jin, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Jin was recently named an Early-Career Fellow of the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for his research on offshore wind turbine safety. He is one of five fellows joining the Offshore Energy Safety Track, where their work will focus on contributing to the understanding, management and reduction of systemic risk in offshore energy activities.

"Those twisted cylinder shapes allow seals to sense changes in the ocean environment. The same shapes can help us design sensors in the lab to detect changes in water flow that could warn offshore wind turbine operators about dangerous conditions," he said.

In his Fluids, Turbulence Control & Renewable Energy Lab, Jin and his research team test whisker-inspired designs in a 6-foot-long clear rectangular water channel. A pump moves water into the tube at different velocities to simulate the ocean environment. Jin and two UT Dallas co-authors published a 2023 study in the journal Physical Review Fluids analyzing how 3D-printed seal whiskers responded when a target changed speed or direction. The research was also featured in Physics magazine.

Sensors sensitive to vibration have advantages over the traditional underwater sensing technology using sound waves, which can disturb marine life, Jin said.

Technology to monitor harsh conditions in the deep ocean is critical for the expansion of offshore wind energy. Most wind energy is currently generated by turbines on land. Offshore wind is considered the next opportunity for growth. Harsh storms in the deep ocean, however, can be dangerous for offshore turbines, which are attached to the ocean floor with cables and have "floating" platforms that are not fixed to the sea floor.

A sensor that provides warnings about hazardous conditions in the deep sea could save lives by giving technicians time to reach safety, Jin said. The engineer is also developing sensors to protect the parts of offshore turbines above water, including the tower and blades, from wind damage.

Jin's lab includes a sand blowing system with adjustable particle volume fractions and sand ejection speed. The setup allows researchers to study how sand blowing in the air affects turbine or rotorcraft blades.

"With wind turbines, you don't want the blades to bend," he said. "If winds are too strong, the tower could break down. The risks for offshore turbines are even greater."

Jin said he joined UT Dallas in 2019 because of the University's growing wind research programs through the Wind Energy Center, also called UTD Wind. Since then, he said he has seen an increase in students who want to prepare for careers in the wind energy industry.

"Clean energy has become one of the big topics around the world," Jin said. "One of the biggest potential sources of clean energy comes from wind energy. In the future, there will be more focus on offshore wind production because it can generate more energy than turbines on land."

More information: Pengyao Gong et al, Coupling between vortex flow and whisker sensor in cylinder wakes with time-varying streamwise gaps, Physical Review Fluids (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevFluids.8.034701 Journal information: Physical Review Fluids
Andrew Dansby covered culture and entertainment, both local and national, for the Houston Chronicle. He left the company in January 2025.

Andrew came to the Chronicle in 2004 from Rolling Stone, where he spent five years writing about music. Hed previously spent five years in book publishing, working with George R.R. Martins editor on the first two books in the series that would become TVs "Game of Thrones. He misspent a year in the film industry, involved in three "major" motion pictures you've never seen. Hes written for Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, Texas Music, Playboy and other publications.

Andrew dislikes monkeys, dolphins and the outdoors.
Voters cast ballots as early voting takes place in the polling location set up in the gym Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston, TX. Michael Wyke/Contributor The poll is ready on the first day of early voting for the Primary Runoff Elections Monday, May 20, 2024 at Metropolitan MultiService Center in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Voters wait in line for the polls to open at the Kingwood Park Community Center on election day, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Kingwood. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A sign direct voters to a polling location at the Kingwood Park Community Center on election day, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Kingwood. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

After two years of being the minority vote on the Conroe ISD Board, the "Mama Bears" now have support after a slate of conservative candidates swept the election for four positions.

Trustees Melissa Dungan, Tiffany Nelson, and Misty Odenweller, who call themselves the Mama Bears, supported all candidates who won Tuesday: Nicole May, Lindsay Dawson, Melissa Semmler and Marianne Horton.

May defeated incumbent Datren Williams and Jamison Gentle for Position 4 with 54.82% of the vote compared to their 39.67% and 5.51%, respectively.

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Dawson topped Josh Webb and Kristin Guardino with 45.62% of the vote for Position 5. Webb garnered 36.06% of the vote and Guardino captured 18.32%.

Incumbent Stacey Chase lost Position 6 to Semmler who pulled in 43.93% of the vote. Chase earned 38.26% of the vote and third candidate Scott Buzbee received 17.81%.

For Position 7, Horton landed 671.65% of the vote to John Robichaus 38.35%.

"I'm ready to get in there and do what I came to do, which is to support our teachers and work with parents to make Conroe ISD the greatest district around," Horton said. "I want our students to have the best educational outcomes possible. Bottom line. I am excited about the future for Conroe ISD."

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The Mama Bears ran as a slate in 2022, and one of their main issues was getting what they called inappropriate materials out of school libraries and classrooms, which they claim are indoctrinating Conroe students. They have said they support removing at least 35 titles, many of which included LGBTQ themes or characters.

While dozens of books have been removed from the shelves of Conroe ISD, the three trustees have continued to be the minority vote, struggling to get their initiatives approved.

Most recently, the three lost their battle to keep books that have been removed, out of the libraries and classrooms.

In October, the board voted 4-2 to revise its policy, which allows books to be challenged and removed, to include a process for returning those titles to the shelves. Nelson and Dungan were the nay votes, Odenweller was absent from the meeting.

Since January 2023, Conroe ISD officials have removed 120 titles from school libraries based on the district's previous and current policy regarding library materials. Of those 120 titles, 24 were due to low circulation.

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In June, Nelson asked the board to approve a resolution to support Title IX as it was intended and reject federal amendments to the law to extend sex discrimination to LGBTQ students.

Title IX is a federal civil rights law enacted with the Federal Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives funding from the federal government. The proposed amendments would extend those protections to LGBTQ students.

Williams presented a resolution to reject Nelson's action, and the board rejected both resolutions. The board agreed it would wait for the outcome of lawsuits filed by more than a dozen states, including Texas.

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The revitalization of the Grogan's Mill Village Center will include a community center complete with a 5,000-square-foot meeting room and ballroom for voting, senior services and family events. Howard Hughes Holdings Howard Hughes and Montgomery County's Precinct 3 office broke ground on a $16.5 million project to revitalize the Grogan's Mill Village Center in The Woodlands July 15. Howard Hughes Holdings A new library and community center is set to open in The Woodlands' Grogan's Mill Village Center in the summer of 2025. Howard Hughes Holdings

Montgomery County commissioners unanimously agreed to name the new library and community center in The Woodlands the Heroes of Montgomery County Library and the Heroes of Montgomery County Community Center.

Its going to be dedicated to all those who served in the armed services and law enforcement, said Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack. I think it will be a fitting tribute for the county and everyone in the community."

CONROE ISD ELECTION: Conroe ISD voters elect conservative slate of trustees, ousting incumbents Chase and Williams

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Crews broke ground on the $16.5 million revitalization of the Grogans Mill Village Center which includes a new library, community center, and 32,000-square-foot retail space.

Under a Sept. 26 land swap deal, Howard Hughes will design, build, and fund a new library and community center at the shopping center with private funds. In exchange, it will give the property to Montgomery County and, once complete, take over the library and community center at 2250 Buckthorn Place.

During a presentation to commissioners in October, Justine Markowski, with Houston design firm PGAL, said the floor plan features two unique spaces, the library and the community center. However, she said there will be some overlap in areas of the facility.

Although it has two distinct uses, it will be used as a shared space, Markowski said of the multi-generational center. Its designed to have a space for everyone from infants to seniors.

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Markowski said the center will have a shared entrance with high ceilings and large windows to allow natural light in.
Foreign participants of inaugural World Conference on Classics visit Henan

Xinhua) 08:55, November 06, 2024

A guest visits the Henan Museum in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 4, 2024. Over 40 foreign participants of the inaugural World Conference on Classics visited Henan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from Nov. 3 to 5.

The conference, slated for Nov. 6-8 in Beijing, will welcome participants from across the globe to engage in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

Guests visit Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 4, 2024. Over 40 foreign participants of the inaugural World Conference on Classics visited Henan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from Nov. 3 to 5.

The conference, slated for Nov. 6-8 in Beijing, will welcome participants from across the globe to engage in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

Guests visit the Henan Museum in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 4, 2024. Over 40 foreign participants of the inaugural World Conference on Classics visited Henan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from Nov. 3 to 5.

The conference, slated for Nov. 6-8 in Beijing, will welcome participants from across the globe to engage in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

Guests take photos at Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 4, 2024. Over 40 foreign participants of the inaugural World Conference on Classics visited Henan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from Nov. 3 to 5.

The conference, slated for Nov. 6-8 in Beijing, will welcome participants from across the globe to engage in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

Guests visit the Henan Museum in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 4, 2024. Over 40 foreign participants of the inaugural World Conference on Classics visited Henan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from Nov. 3 to 5.

The conference, slated for Nov. 6-8 in Beijing, will welcome participants from across the globe to engage in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

Foreign guests visit Yinxu Museum in Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 5, 2024. Over 40 foreign participants of the inaugural World Conference on Classics visited Henan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from Nov. 3 to 5.

The conference, slated for Nov. 6-8 in Beijing, will welcome participants from across the globe to engage in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

Foreign guests visit Yinxu Museum in Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 5, 2024. Over 40 foreign participants of the inaugural World Conference on Classics visited Henan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from Nov. 3 to 5.

The conference, slated for Nov. 6-8 in Beijing, will welcome participants from across the globe to engage in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

A foreign guest communicates with a child at Yinxu Museum in Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 5, 2024. Over 40 foreign participants of the inaugural World Conference on Classics visited Henan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from Nov. 3 to 5.

The conference, slated for Nov. 6-8 in Beijing, will welcome participants from across the globe to engage in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

Guests visit the Henan Museum in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 4, 2024. Over 40 foreign participants of the inaugural World Conference on Classics visited Henan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from Nov. 3 to 5.

The conference, slated for Nov. 6-8 in Beijing, will welcome participants from across the globe to engage in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

Guests select creative cultural products at the Henan Museum in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 4, 2024. Over 40 foreign participants of the inaugural World Conference on Classics visited Henan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization from Nov. 3 to 5.

The conference, slated for Nov. 6-8 in Beijing, will welcome participants from across the globe to engage in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Candidates in the race for Fort Bend County sheriff said they hope to recruit more staff, address mental health issues and form community relationships. Google Earth Incumbent Eric Fagan was elected the 45th Sheriff of Fort Bend County in November 2020, taking office in January 2021. Eric Fagan Democrat Pete Luna's 30-year law enforcement career includes roles in the Fort Bend County Adult Probation Department, and a 13-year stint as a Texas Ranger. Pete Luna Democrat Geneane Hughes is an Army veteran and has 26 years of experience in law enforcement, with 15 years as an executive law enforcement commander. Geneane Hughes Republican John Minchews 40-year career includes being a railroad police chief in Florida and serving with the Houston City Marshals Office, the Jersey Village Police Department and with Fort Bend County Constable Precinct 3. John Minchew Republican Marshall Slot has been a resident of Fort Bend County for 42 years and has thirty years of law enforcement experience. Marshall Slot Republican Mo Nehad has worked in law enforcement for almost ten years and is currently a police officer with the Woodbranch Police Department. Mo Nehad Democrat Sonny Colunga brings more than forty years of law enforcement experience, including three decades of leadership and command staff level experience. Sonny Colunga

Seven candidates vying for their parties' nominations in the race for Fort Bend County sheriff said they hope to recruit more staff to the department, proactively address mental health issues and form better relationships with the countys diverse communities.

Four candidates vying for the Democratic nomination include incumbent Eric Fagan, Pete Luna, Sonny Colunga and Geneane Hughes.

The Republican primary ballot includes Marshall Slot, Mo Nehad and John Minchew.

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Sheriffs in Texas enforce criminal laws, pursue fugitives and supervise county jails.

Heres what to know about the candidates and how to vote.

Democrat Sonny Colunga

Sonny Colunga brings more than 40 years of law enforcement experience, including three decades of leadership and command staff level experience.

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Colunga grew up in a Corpus Christi neighborhood marked by high crime rates, which he said was a significant factor in his decision to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Were going to talk about building bridges for the community, said Colunga who currently serves as assistant chief deputy in the Harris County Precinct 1 Constables Office. Recruiting new deputies is also a priority. Currently, the sheriffs office has 100 plus openings.

Colunga was deployed to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, to handle security training and solve security issues in 2006 and 2007.

Colunga stated that if elected, he would conduct regular town hall meetings and establish advisory boards comprising pastors and religious leaders, as well as business leaders.

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Were going to meet every three months, Colunga said. Theres a lot of crime being committed today on businesses, we need to know how to curb that crime.

Democrat Eric Fagan (Incumbent)

Incumbent Sheriff Eric Fagan was elected in November 2020. A retired senior officer from the Houston Police Department, Fagan is a 36-year resident of Fort Bend County and has 31 years of law enforcement experience, according to his website.

Fagan said he initially ran for office to better address issues like human and drug trafficking in the county and during his first term allocated significant resources to these efforts.

I plan to continue what weve done already, Fagan said. Weve also confiscated over 1 million pills of fentanyl and meth right here in Fort Bend County.

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Manuel Zamora, assistant chief deputy from the Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office, said 77 cases linked to human trafficking have been investigated since 2022, with 47 in 2023, resulting in 25 arrests.

Task forces and multi-jurisdictional teams, led by investigators, have rescued sex-trafficked victims and those held for ransom by smugglers, Zamora said. Cases involve individuals promoting prostitution and operating massage parlors linked to trafficking.

Zamora said the number of murders, sexual assaults and aggravated assaults decreased in Fort Bend County since 2020  15 murders in 2020 compared to 10 in 2023, 162 sex assaults in 2020 and 110 in 2023 and 737 aggravated assaults in 2020 and 603 in 2023, according to data from the sheriffs office. FBI data available online reflects a downward trend since 2020.

Democrat Geneane Hughes

An Army veteran, Philadelphia native Geneane Hughes has 26 years of experience in law enforcement, with 15 years as an executive law enforcement commander.

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Hughes served in the Philadelphia Police Department before moving to Texas and joining the Missouri City Police Department in 2009.

In an interview, Hughes said the biggest issue facing Fort Bend County is the potential security threat stemming from a skewed ratio of law enforcement officers to citizens.

Rapid growth of the county is putting a strain on the infrastructure and environment, she said. Another pressing concern is the lack of mental health providers in the county. I believe that experienced, educated, and compassionate leadership can play a vital role in addressing these challenges.

Hughes grew up in a low-income, single-parent family and became a single mother at 16. Hughes is now married with four adult children and six grandchildren.

Democrat Pete Luna

Lunas 30-year law enforcement career includes roles in the Fort Bend County Adult Probation Department, and a 13-year stint as a Texas Ranger. Luna is a graduate of Katy High School and holds a bachelors in criminal justice from the University of Houston.

Luna has been married for 29 years and has two children.

Luna said he thinks the best way to grow the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve is to establish trust.

Our employees are our most sacred asset and were going to have to invest in them because thats going to help us have more of a presence on the streets, Luna said.

As a Texas Ranger, Luna handled officer-involved incidents and border security efforts.

Luna pledged that if elected, his priorities would include improving communication through transparency, addressing chronic staffing shortages, and fostering close collaboration with all law enforcement agencies, according to Lunas campaign website.

Republican John Minchew

John Minchews 40-year career includes serving as a railroad police chief in Florida and with the Houston City Marshals Office, the Jersey Village Police Department and with Fort Bend County Constable Precinct 3.

I know how to take things that are broken and fix them, said Minchew, who started his police career at 19.

Minchew joined the Wackenhut Corporation in Texas and later formed his own security company, according to his website.

My experience as an executive with a billion-dollar security company along with owning and operating my own business affords me the opportunity to identify mismanagement and personnel under-staffing presently at the sheriffs department, Minchew said in a statement.

Minchew said if elected, a key focus would be to streamline his budget and take out the fluff.

Minchew said in an interview that he thinks reworking the budget could help hire more people. Were not paying enough money. We have to convince both Republican and Democratic commissioners that we need to get the money.

Republican Mo Nehad

Mo Nehad has worked in law enforcement for almost ten years and is currently a police officer with the Woodbranch Police Department. Nehad, who grew up in Kuwait, said he reflects the diverse immigrant population that characterizes Fort Bend County.

Of the 900,000 people in Fort Bend County, only 300,000 have been born here, the other 300,000 have been born outside of Fort Bend County and the other 300, 000 have been born outside the United States, said Nehad in an interview.

Nehad came to Houston to attend the University of Phoenix, where he earned a masters degree in Organizational Management, paving the way for a 20-year business career. Nehad is married with three daughters.

If elected, Nehad said one priority would be to increase the number of officers in law enforcement agencies.

Since his credentials include certified jail administrator, Nehad said on his website that he would bring the county jail up to standard and ensure the proper staffing levels of deputies for patrol duties.

I have been working closely and actively with the Fort Bend County Republican Party leadership to create awareness within minority communities of the three fundamental values; faith, family, and freedom, Nehad said on his website.

Republican Marshall Slot

Third-generation Fort Bend County resident Marshall Slot brings thirty years of law enforcement experience, 24 in Fort Bend County.

Slot graduated from Clements High School in 1989 and went on to receive a bachelors in business administration from the University of Phoenix, according to his website.

Having retired from the sheriffs office, I have an inside view, Slot said, noting that he had worked under three different sheriffs. I know whats broken.

Slot has served with Alvin, Sugar Land and Houston police departments, and as a volunteer reserve deputy constable in Fort Bend County Precinct 4 and volunteer reserve deputy in the sheriffs office, according to his website.

Slot said if elected he would want to completely overhaul top leadership in the sheriffs office. The leadership is fractured and broken and theyre leading for ego purposes and not for the wellbeing of the men and women who served in the Sheriffs Office.
Claire Goodman is a senior reporter for the Houston Chronicle, covering the Katy area.

She also produces the Katy Insider newsletter, which sends every Monday and Wednesday.

Claire can be reached at claire.goodman@houstonchronicle.com.
Former Mayor Sylvester Turner laughs as he pets a horse named Buttercup as he campaigns for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives outside the polling place at Lone Star College-Houston North Victory on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Turner is running to fill the seat in the 18th congressional district, a seat that was held by the late Sheila Jackson Lee for nearly three decades. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has defeated political newcomer Lana Centonze in the race to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.

Turner will become the 18th Congressional Districts first new representative in three decades, replacing Jackson Lee, who served the district from her election in 1994 until her death from pancreatic cancer in July.

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A native of Acres Homes in northwest Houston, Turner was Jackson Lees longtime friend and ally in Houston politics. Having served 27 years in the Texas Legislature and eight years as Houstons mayor, he said he came out of retirement solely to ensure a smooth leadership transition following the congresswomans death and pledged to serve no more than four years before handing the seat to a new generation of leaders.

Erica Lee Carter, daughter of the late Sheila Jackson Lee, campaigns in a special election to fill her mothers unexpired 18th congressional district seat at Lone Star College-Houston North Victory on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

He has vowed to prioritize affordable housing, community revitalization and environmental equity.

This is a time when you really need the experience, you need the relationships," Turner said Tuesday night. "You can bring someone in and it can take them six or eight years to get them up to speed. The people in the 18th dont have that type of time to wait. They have needs that need to be addressed right now."

Texas District 18 representatives elect Sylvester Turner, left, and Erica Lee Carter take the podium for their victory speeches at the of combined watch party for the candidates Turner, Carter and Rodney Ellis, held at Grooves of Houston Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor Rob Slater, left, talks to former Mayor Sylvester Turner as Turner campaigns for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives at Lone Star College-Houston North Victory on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Turner is running to fill the seat in the 18th congressional district, a seat that was held by the late Sheila Jackson Lee for nearly three decades. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Centonze, the 52-year-old Republican nominee, worked as an officer at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She ran a campaign focused on improving the districts infrastructure, defending the border and promoting conservative values.

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Meanwhile, Erica Lee Carter won a separate special election to fill the remainder of her late mother's congressional term, which ends in January.

At the watch party, Lee Carter and Turner danced to McFadden & Whiteheads Aint No Stoppin Us Now, known as U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lees theme song. Lee Carter called it bittersweet to stand on stage with her family without her mother.

The honorable Sheila Jackson Lee is not here in person with us. Her spirit is here, because we are strong Democrats ready to go back to Washington to work with the people of the 18th Congressional District, Lee Carter said. I, Erica Lee Carter, am proud to win the special election and finish the term.

A Democratic stronghold, the 18th Congressional District is known for producing some of the most prominent Black lawmakers in Texas history, including Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland.

It covers several key Houston neighborhoods, including downtown, EaDo, Third Ward and Fifth Ward. It also extends northwest through parts of the Heights and Acres Homes, reaches up to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and encompasses a swath of northeast Houston and unincorporated Harris County.

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Former Mayor Sylvester Turner talks to voter Renee Llorens as he campaigns for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives outside the polling place at Lone Star College-Houston North Victory on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Turner is running to fill the seat in the 18th congressional district, a seat that was held by the late Sheila Jackson Lee for nearly three decades. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Jackson Lees passing earlier this year set off a fierce but brief battle to replace her as the Democratic nominee on the November ballot.

In August, several contenders  including Turner, former Council Member Amanda Edwards, and state Reps. Christina Morales and Jarvis Johnson  made their case to Democratic precinct chairs tasked with selecting Jackson Lees replacement on behalf of voters. Turner, who secured the endorsement of Jackson Lees family, clinched the nomination.

During his campaign, Turner sought to differentiate himself by touting his extensive experience as an elected official. Some of his most notable accomplishments include tackling Houstons pension crisis as mayor, spearheading policy changes to enhance police accountability and leading the city through numerous natural disasters including Hurricane Harvey.

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Following Jackson Lees passing, Turners own health conditions have sparked concerns. The 70-year-old former mayor underwent radiation treatment and surgery in 2022 for a tumor in his jaw and had a follow-up surgery earlier this year to remove a metal rod from the reconstructed bone.

Turner has said he will continue to advocate for causes Jackson Lee championed, including combating violence against women and pushing for police reforms.

"Under the exceptional circumstances, with the congresswoman dying abruptly, that changed everything," Turner said. "So I can retire at another time. But not right now."

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Former Mayor Sylvester Turner talks to voters as he campaigns for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives outside the polling place at Lone Star College-Houston North Victory on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Turner is running to fill the seat in the 18th congressional district, a seat that was held by the late Sheila Jackson Lee for nearly three decades. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer
Thai rice exports to face stiffer competition from India

By Vietnam News Agency Wed, November 6, 2024 | 10:51 pm GMT+7

Thailands rice exports are expected to face stiffer competition as India has removed export restrictions and taxes, allowing unlimited rice exports, according to Charoen Laothammatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.

A rice store in Pekan Mundok town of Thailand. Photo courtesy of AFP/VNA.

Even with the restrictions in place, he said that India was the worlds largest rice exporter during the first nine months of this year, shipping a record 12.2 million tonnes, down 19.6% year-on-year, while Thailand remained in second place, with 7.45 million tonnes, an increase of 22% year-on-year.

Vietnam came third, with 6.96 million tonnes, up 8.4%, followed by Pakistan, with 4.45 million tonnes, up 74.4% and the US, with 2.5 million tonnes, up 56.3%.

The largest importer of Thai rice this year was Indonesia, with about 1 million tonnes, followed by Iraq 907,715 tonnes, the US 609,430 tonnes, South Africa 580,288 tonnes, and the Philippines 399,493 tonnes.

Thai rice exports in the first nine months were worth about THB172 billion ($5.04 billion), up 45.8% from last years THB117.9 billion.

Exports of white and Hom Mali fragrant rice remained strong, with 507,795 tonnes in September, mainly to Iraq, the Philippines, Togo, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Benin and Japan, but shipments of parboiled dropped 30% compared to the same period last year.
Stability AI Intros Stable Diffusion 3.5 Text-to-Image Generation Model

Stability AI, developer of open source models focused on text-to-image generation, has introduced Stable Diffusion 3.5, the latest version of its deep learning, text-to-image model.

This release features three enhanced open-source text-to-image models designed for a diverse range of users, including researchers, enterprise clients, and hobbyists, the company said in a statement.

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: At 8.1 billion parameters, with superior quality and prompt adherence, this base model is the most powerful in the Stable Diffusion family. This model is ideal for professional use cases at 1 megapixel resolution.

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Turbo: A distilled version of Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large generates high-quality images with exceptional prompt adherence in just 4 steps, making it considerably faster than Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large.

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium: At 2.5 billion parameters, with improved MMDiT-X architecture and training methods, this model is designed to run "out of the box" on consumer hardware, striking a balance between quality and ease of customization. It is capable of generating images ranging between 0.25- and 2-megapixel resolution.

The release follows the earlier debut of Stable Diffusion 3 Medium in June, which the company acknowledged as falling short of both community and internal expectations.

"We chose to build a solution that could truly transform visual media rather than a quick fix," the company said. This latest update is aimed at reclaiming Stability AI's competitive edge amid rising competition from platforms such as OpenAI's DALL-E and Midjourney.

A key technical feature of the new models is Query-Key Normalization within the AI's transformer blocks, which Stability AI said enhances customization and prompt adherence. This modification supports developers and creatives in achieving more consistent results with precise prompts while also allowing broader interpretation with less specific prompts.

"In developing the models, we prioritized customizability to offer a flexible base to build upon," the company explained. "To achieve this, we integrated Query-Key Normalization into the transformer blocks, stabilizing the model training process and simplifying further fine-tuning and development."

The new Stable Diffusion models will be available under Stability AI's Community License, allowing free non-commercial use and free commercial use for entities earning under $1 million annually. Those exceeding this threshold will require an enterprise license. The models, including weights for self-hosting, will be accessible on Hugging Face and via Stability AI's API. ControlNets, offering advanced image customization options, are expected in the coming days.
Anastasia Goodwin is a senior data reporter for the Houston Chronicle's education team. Her work focuses on the education system in Texas spanning from primary schools to higher education institutions, with a focus on the Houston Independent School District. She can be reached at ana.goodwin@houstonchronicle.com.

Ana joined the Chronicle in 2022 after previously working as a frontend developer and UX designer in the tech space. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism.
Gia vang the gioi sang nay ap sat moc 3.000 USD/ounce  muc ky luc chua tung co trong lich su. Trong nuoc cung khong ngoai le, khi lan luot tang tu 700 en 1 trieu ong/luong. "Vang ang trong thi truong tang gia dai han. Chung toi du bao gia se giao dich trong khoang 3.000-3.200 USD trong nam nay", Alex Ebkarian, giam oc ieu hanh tai Allegiance Gold cho biet.
Hundreds of people gathered to protest against Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Houston City Hall. Sharon Steinmann

Houston ISD parent Tracy Lisewsky decided eight months ago that, for the first time in her life, she would be voting in November against any school bond the district placed on her ballot.

Lisewsky had already begun to lose faith in the district last fall due to rising teacher turnover, but like hundreds of other parents, she became outraged after learning state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles had told nearly 120 principals in March that their jobs were at risk due to their results on a new mid-year proficiency screening.

That was a watershed moment for community members throughout HISD to realize that we are all in this together, that no one is immune from the administration's whims, Lisewsky said. When we saw schools like Carnegie and Debakey and T.H. Rogers on the list, that was the moment that everyone realized that this is not just about a single school. It's about all of us.

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In response, Lisewsky urged thousands of parents in the Facebook group she co-moderates to send a letter to the appointed Board of Managers and other Houston education leaders promising that if Miles remained as the leader of the states largest school district, they would not only vote against a potential bond, but they would also work actively to convince others to reject the measure.

It was not an empty threat.

The majority of Harris County voters rejected a school bond Tuesday for the first time in nearly 30 years, shooting down both propositions of HISDs proposed $4.4 billion school bond measure and forcing the district to delay much-needed, planned facilities upgrades to all 273 of its campuses.

About 58% of approximately 440,000 residents voted against both Proposition A and Proposition B, according to complete but unofficial election returns from the Harris County Clerks Office. Proposition As defeat is the first time in Texas history that voters in any school district have rejected a school bond exceeding $1 billion.

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A Houston ISD student, whose parents wish not to give her name, snacks on an apple while participating the American Federation of Teachers rally against state takeovers of public school Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at Discovery Green in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

The bonds failure comes after Lisewsky, along with other HISD parents, teachers and community members, successfully executed a vocal, monthslong grassroots campaign to convince voters to express their opposition to the state takeover, Miles and the Board of Managers by casting ballots against Proposition A and B.

Leaders of several influential Houston-area organizations also encouraged voters to reject the bond, including Houstons NAACP branch, The Houston Federation of Teachers, the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus and the Harris County Democratic and Republican parties.

LIVE DISCUSSION: Join our Zoom with the education team to recap HISD bond vote and more

I hope they learn that we are parents, we are teachers, we are the community, and we have a voice in what direction this district goes in, said Jackie Anderson, president of HISDs largest teachers union, in response to the results. We're not going away until they sit down at the table and deal with us, and they have open and honest discourse with us.

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Community backlash to Miles

While Miles name was not on the ballot, dozens of Houston voters  who can no longer elect the board members running their school district  told the Chronicle they used the election as a referendum on the superintendents leadership, particularly after his removal of hundreds of librarians, teachers and principals.

Miles has made sweeping, controversial changes in HISD since his appointment, including the introduction of his controversial "New Education System" at 130 schools to improve student outcomes, particularly among Black and Hispanic students, but he has not needed to obtain  or sought  broad community support to implement any of his goals until this election.

The bonds defeat represents a significant failure for the districts controversial leader, who had said previously that he believed voters would put aside politics during the election and support investing billions into improving school facilities for approximately 174,000 students in the district.

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Miles conceded the election Thursday in a message to the HISD community, calling the results unfortunate and wrong, but he did not directly take responsibility for the outcome. He said the districts past accomplishments far outweigh its setbacks, and that he would continue to transform HISD for all students.

HISD Superintendent Mike Miles listens to Texas Rep. Molly Cook during a board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

The politics of adults beat out the needs of our children ... but I want to assure you that it will not limit our ability to do the things that our students need, Miles said. I know our most effective principals and teachers can reach students even in the worst of facilities, because theyve been doing so for more than a year.

Harris County voters have not rejected an HISD school bond since 1996, when a $389 million bond failed by slim margins due largely to low turnout and voters opposition to the proposed tax increase. It has been at least 60 years since Houston voters opposed a school bond that would not have raised taxes if passed.

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The proposal was split into two propositions that voters could cast separate ballots on. Proposition A, if passed, would have allocated $3.96 billion for school building renovations and expansions, including safety and security infrastructure, while Proposition B proposed allocating $440 million for technology equipment, systems and infrastructure.

No trust. No bond.

A Houston ISD student wears hand-made earrings against the Houston ISD $4.4 million bond during the districts board of managers meeting at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, Oct.10, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Just a few weeks after the leak of the principal list, about 150 people registered to speak at the Board of Managers monthly meeting in March. They spent approximately three hours telling board members that Miles had lost their trust and urged them to remove him as superintendent, although only a few speakers mentioned the bond in their comments.

The vocal community pushback led Miles to announce that the principal screenings would not be used to fire any campus leaders during the academic year, although, despite many parents pleas, board members did not take any action against him.

Within the next month, HISD parents and other community members began to channel their objections over Miles' leadership toward the still-unannounced bond measure, condensing their grievances into a four-word phrase that has since come to define the anti-bond campaign: No trust. No bond.

Heather Golden, moderator of the Supporters of HISD Magnets and Budget Accountability Facebook group, said in the early months of the takeover, many people in Houston had been watching the results of the state takeover on the sidelines.

However, she said after growing frustrated with what was happening in their local schools, community members  especially those with friends or family in HISD felt they had a responsibility to help families feel heard by voting against the bond.

The experiences people had across schools were similar, said Golden, an HISD parent. The specifics may have been different, but they rhymed. They had a very similar cadence, and most of the time, the community was dismissed. Things happened in similar ways, so as a result, (the campaign) resonated with a huge number of people.

Despite the community pushback, HISD formally announced details of the bond measure in late May, which proposed facility improvements at all of HISDs 273 campuses, including the replacement of hundreds of decades-old portable buildings, compliance with a school safety and security law passed in 2023 and the addition of an estimated 4,000 new pre-K seats.

Unlike neighboring school districts, HISD did not form a committee of community members to solicit feedback and support before unveiling the bond, but it did form a 28-member Community Advisory Committee of elected trustees, educators, community advocates and parents to conduct community meetings and surveys about the bond in the early summer.

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles is seen during a Houston ISD board of managers meeting at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, Oct.10, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

The committee issued more than 20 recommendations to the district on the bond in June, including suggestions to pause plans to spend $425 million on new CTE centers, explain how certain schools were selected for investment, conduct regular public meetings, and clarify how the district would address health and safety concerns at campuses if the bond does not pass.

The district did not make any modifications to the bond proposal, and the appointed Board of Managers voted unanimously in August to place the measure on the November ballot, even after HISDs previous elected school boards had held off for more than a decade on calling for a bond election due partially to a perceived lack of public trust.

HISD Board of Managers President Audrey Momanaee said in a statement that the board presented the bond to voters because the measure, if passed, would have provided students with important health and safety upgrades that would have led to better academic outcomes.

"As a Houstonian, with children in Houston ISD schools, it is my expectation that this board will continue its work to build relationships with those in our community so that we can become more effective in achieving and maintaining positive change for our students," Momanaee said.

The districts last bond passed in 2012, which was focused largely on the districts high schools and proposed a nearly 5 cent tax rate increase over five years. In that election, approximately two-third of voters approved plans for HISD to rebuild, renovate and upgrade 38 of its campuses.

HISD had not placed a bond on the ballot since then, even as Dallas ISD residents have voted for more than $5.22 billion in school bonds, Austin ISD residents have approved nearly $4 billion in bonds, and voters in Northside ISD  the largest school district in San Antonio  have approved approximately $2.5 billion in bonds.

Very real consequences

A sign is photographed outside the West Gray Recreation Center on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

The results come after HISD paid at least $1.48 million to at least three firms  Outreach Strategists, MGT and Rice & Gardner  for development and promotion of the bond. It also hosted multiple town halls and installed large posters outside campuses to educate parents and other stakeholders about the proposed investments for their school.

The cash-strapped district  which implemented widespread job cuts in May due to budget concerns  planned to reimburse itself for the funds once the bond passed, but now, the spent funds will instead be used to inform future decision-making and drive the ongoing work to improve the facilities conditions for all students, according to a previous statement from an HISD spokesperson.

Houstonians for Safe and Healthy Schools, a political action committee, separately spent more than $1.68 million to convince voters to approve both propositions, according to its campaign finance report. It paid nearly all of those funds to three firms  BlueWest Media, DSPolitical and MJE Strategies  for advertising expenses.

The committee shared campaign mailers, TV advertisements and other digital promotional materials with the phrases like Vote for Props A and B, Healthy Schools Now, and Our Kids Cant Wait that encouraged people to vote yes on the bond to fund essential repairs and facility improvements.

Despite spending millions of dollars, HISD and the pro-bond committee were outmatched by motivated members of Community Voices for Public Education and the Houston Federation of Teachers, who block walked, sold yard signs, crocheted public yarn installations, decorated their car windows and set up banners around Houston to urge voters to reject the bond.

We went up against the most powerful establishment forces to push back against a bond that should have been a slam dunk for them, said Ruth Kravetz, co-founder of Community Voices for Public Education. What they did not realize is that parents love their children and teachers love their students, and when great harm is being done to our youth, people across every neighborhood build powerful coalitions that can't be undone.

A car decorated against the HISD bond outside in the parking lot before a community roundtable about the election at St. Marks United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Bond supporters, including leaders of influential Houston business and child advocacy organizations, said they were deeply disappointed at the failure of the bond. Some questioned if it would be possible for HISD to ever pass a school bond during the state takeover while appointed leaders are running the district.

The defeat of the bond makes the victory of our students, their teachers, and Mike Miles even more powerful," Steve Kean, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, said in a statement. While the adults in our community have failed them in this election, our children are learning and thats what matters.

Veronica Garcia, the treasurer of Houstonians for Safe and Healthy Schools, said HISD students deserve to be in a healthy and safe environment that is conducive to learning, and the bonds failure will be a setback for improving infrastructure issues and addressing childrens needs.
The UAE possesses strong fundamentals to attract investments, businesses, and talent and aims to double cumulative foreign direct investment inflows to AED1.3 trillion ($353.93 billion) by 2031, said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

He was speaking at the unveiling of the National Investment Strategy 2031 at the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2024 in Abu Dhabi. Convening on Novemebr 5 and 6, the Meetings bring together over 500 officials from the UAE government, local entities, private sector, and community organisations, a Wam news agency report said.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed remarked: Clear goals lead to great achievements. The UAEs remarkable surge of 35 percent in foreign direct investment inflows to AED112.6 billion in 2023, despite a global decline, affirms the success of our strategies and the high level of international confidence in our nation.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed noted: "The National Investment Strategy 2031 builds on achievements driven by carefully crafted plans, programmes, and initiatives aimed at positioning the UAE as a global strategic investment hub."

During the session, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid attended a presentation by Mohamed bin Hassan Al Suwaidi, Minister of Investment, on the goals, programmes, and key initiatives of the National Investment Strategy 2031.

Al Suwaidi highlighted the UAE's impressive FDI growth since 2015, with its share of global flows increasing 5.5 times and inflows rising 17.3 percent despite a global decline of 5.3 percent. The strategy, aligned with the "We the UAE 2031" vision, aims to establish the UAE as a global investment hub by leading in emerging sectors, attracting top talent, and fostering Emirati leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The UAE's new foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy aims to significantly boost FDI by 2031. Targeting key sectors like advanced manufacturing and renewable energy, the strategy seeks to double cumulative FDI to AED1.3 trillion (30 percent of national investment volume) and triple the cumulative FDI balance to AED2.2 trillion by 2031. This will be achieved through five strategic directions: attracting new investments in priority sectors, expanding FDI in existing projects, strengthening international partnerships, enhancing investor relations, and boosting the UAE's overall competitiveness.

Al Suwaidi outlined the key targets and programmes under the National Investment Strategy 2031 and highlighted the UAE's recent accomplishments. In 2023, the UAE ranked second globally after the United States in the number of new foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, with 1,323 new projectsa 33 percent increase from 2022.

In 2023, the UAE saw FDI inflows surge to approximately AED112.6 billion, a striking 35 percent increase from AED83.5 billion in 2022. The country advanced five positions to rank 11th globally in FDI attraction, according to the UNCTAD report.

In terms of cumulative FDI balance, Al Suwaidi noted that the UAE has significantly outpaced global growth rates over the past decade. From 2013 to 2023, the UAEs FDI balance increased by 150 percent, far exceeding the global average growth rate of 97 percent.

The UAE's attractiveness for foreign investment is driven by its economic competitiveness, technological leadership, talent acquisition, global trade hub status (supported by numerous treaties and agreements), advanced financial centres, world-class infrastructure, and high quality of life.

The National Investment Strategy 2031 builds on these strengths, leveraging each emirate's unique advantages to foster private sector growth and innovation. By integrating global trends and prioritising research and development, the strategy aims to create a vibrant, investor-driven, private-sector-led economy.

Al Suwaidi addressed global investment challenges, including geopolitical tensions, shifting investment hubs, and increased competition for attracting investments. He also highlighted successful global investment attraction strategies. While acknowledging the UAE's past success in attracting FDI, Al Suwaidi emphasised the need to further enhance the nation's attractiveness and competitiveness to unlock its full potential. The focus will be on leveraging FDI to meet national investment needs, encourage repeat investments, and retain key investors.

The session launched the InvestUAE brand to act as a unified platform for promoting the UAE as a global investment hub. While the Ministry of Investment handles policy and regulation, InvestUAE will lead promotional efforts, including awareness campaigns, summits, international events, and digital marketing targeting global investors. This aims to strengthen the UAE's international presence, forge partnerships, and drive sustainable economic growth and diversification.
Wood, a leader in consulting and engineering, has secured a significant engineering services contract for Aramcos Southern and Northern Areas gas increments project in Saudi Arabia.

The project, which is planned to take one million engineering hours to execute, will support the countrys goal of increasing natural gas production.

Wood will deliver project management consultancy (PMC) services, including Pre-FEED and FEED engineering for gas facilities in Eastern Saudi Arabia including large-scale onshore gas production and processing facilities.

The scope also includes EPC contracting support for future phases.

Craig Shanaghey, Woods Executive President of Projects, said: Natural gas is a key transition fuel that can have an immediate positive impact on the carbon emissions associated with energy production. Building on our 30-year relationship with Aramco, we are delighted to support this significant expansion project. The Southern and Northern Areas gas increments will meet growing energy and efficiency demands across the globe.

Our specialist engineering and project delivery teams thrive in solving large scale and complex challenges. We look forward to applying our global capability to deliver this world-scale project.

The seven-year project will peak at over 400 Wood employees, primarily in Al-Khobar, KSA; Reading, UK; and Chennai, India. -TradeArabia News Service
The global market for Internet of Things (IoT) in construction sector is poised for solid growth with the figure (estimated at $21.5 billion last year) projected to reach $61.7 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.2%, according to a report by ResearchAndMarkets.

This growth is driven by several factors, including the increasing demand for operational efficiency, advancements in connected devices, and the rising focus on worker safety.

As construction projects grow in scale and complexity, companies are adopting IoT solutions to manage resources more effectively, reduce waste, and improve productivity.

Technological innovations such as AI-driven analytics and drone-based monitoring are also driving adoption by enabling real-time data collection and analysis, improving project outcomes, stated the report, which provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions.

According to the report, the market is expanding rapidly in regions such as North America and Europe, where smart city initiatives and infrastructure investments are driving demand for connected construction solutions.

Additionally, the growing emphasis on safety and compliance in the construction industry is pushing companies to invest in IoT devices that monitor environmental conditions, worker health, and equipment performance in real time.

Technological advancements in IoT sensors, drones, and AI-powered analytics are expanding the use cases for IoT in construction. Advanced sensors embedded in machinery and materials monitor usage, detect wear and tear, and optimize maintenance schedules, reducing downtime and extending equipment life.

Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and IoT sensors are used for site surveys, progress monitoring, and safety inspections, providing detailed data and reducing the need for manual checks.

AI-driven analytics platforms can process the vast amounts of data generated by IoT devices to predict project risks, optimize workflows, and reduce operational inefficiencies. These technological advancements are making construction sites more connected, safe, and efficient.

With the US market, estimated at $5.9 billion in 2023, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 15.4% CAGR to reach $9.3 billion by 2030, a dozen odd construction IoT companies are racing to grab a share from the lucrative market, said ResearchAndMarkets in its report.

The key players eyeing the US, China IoT market include: Autodesk; Caterpillar; Giatec Scientific Hitachi; Oracle Corporation; Pillar Technologies; Procore Technologies; Trimble and Wakecap.-TradeArabia News Service
FedEx contributed more than $85 billion in direct impact to the global economy and $280 million in indirect benefits to the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa region in FY2024.

FedEx contributions account for approximately 0.1% of the worlds total net economic output. In the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa (MEISA), FedEx directly contributed 0.1% to the net economic output of the region's Transportation, Storage and Communications sector in 2024.

This is according to FedExs annual economic impact report, which analyses the companys worldwide network and role in building prosperity in local communities during its 2024 fiscal year (FY2024).

FedEx Effect

Produced in consultation with Dun & Bradstreet, a leading provider of business decisioning data and analytics, the study underscores the FedEx Effectthe impact FedEx has on accelerating the flow of goods and ideas that generate economic growth globally, including significant investments in the Middle East.

At FedEx, we have a vision to make supply chains smarter for everyone by leveraging advanced data and technology to better serve our customers and their customers, thereby extending our reach and impact, said Raj Subramaniam, president and CEO, FedEx Corporation. The FedEx Effect represents our relentless commitment to excellence, economic growth, and the communities where we live and work.

At FedEx, we are committed to supporting the impressive growth and transformation happening across the Middle East, said Kami Viswanathan, regional president, FedEx MEISA. Our infrastructure and services in this region are designed to empower local businesses and connect them to global opportunities. By investing in seamless, multimodal logistics solutions and state-of-the-art facilities, we aim to enhance cross-border trade while contributing to overall economic and environmental progress across the region.

FedEx hub at DWC

A key highlight is the launch of the state-of-the-art FedEx hub at Dubai World Central (DWC) Airport in Dubai South, which marks the companys long-term investment of more than $350 million into the UAE economy through infrastructure and technological advancements in the facility. The 57,000-sq m hub features automated sort systems that process packages more efficiently and accurately, sustainable technologies such as energy-efficient systems and electric charging stations for FedEx and employee vehicles, and a 170-sq m cold storage area to accommodate temperature-sensitive shipments. These features position the hub to boost the aviation and logistics sectors while solidifying Dubai's role as a critical center for regional and international trade.

The company has also continued to expand its regional network with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a regional logistics facility in Qatars free zones, and the enhancement of intercontinental services between Vietnam and the Middle East through a new flight service that offers faster transit time for importers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

In addition, FedEx introduced new solutions to help SMEs and businesses in the Middle East elevate their shipping strategies and expand global trade opportunities. This includes the FedEx Less-than-Container Load Priority multimodal service, which utilises an integrated ocean and road network to provide faster and cost-effective shipping from Asia Pacific to key Middle East markets. Meanwhile, through FedEx Regional Economy and FedEx Regional Economy Freight services, the company also offers deferred, cost-effective, day-definite road services for less urgent shipments within the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan.

FedEx also contributed to the regions sustainability initiatives by adding electric vehicles to its UAE fleet in FY 2024 and introducing FedEx Sustainability Insights, a tool which allows customers to estimate the carbon footprint of their shipments within the FedEx network, supporting their own emissions reporting. FedEx team members also drove positive social impact by giving back to their communities through projects in 13 cities across MEISA. For example, in Ramadan, 100 FedEx team members in the UAE and Egypt packed more than 2,300 food hampers for those in need.--TradeArabia News Service
The transformative impact of AI on food manufacturing and its potential in automation, digital twins and predictive maintenance were highlighted by strategic futurist Dr Mark van Rijmenam at the FoodTech Summit.

AI can contribute $20 trillion to global GDP by 2030. There are multiple applications of AI in food manufacturing  for example, visual computing can show how food moves through a factory, and data classification can be used to sort products of different types and sizes. We also have humanoids being developed that have AI incorporated, that can be used in factories, he told the summit held as part of the 10th edition of Gulfood Manufacturing, the worlds leading annual event covering the entire food manufacturing ecosystem, which was opened by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council, a WAM report said.

Taking place alongside Gulfhost, the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) regions premier hospitality and foodservice equipment event, from November 5 to 7, 2024, the co-located shows are a platform for thousands of F&B manufacturing and foodservice professionals from around the world to gain insights into the latest trends shaping both sectors, forge professional connections and seal high-value business deals.

Sheikh Mansoor toured both Gulfood Manufacturing and Gulfhost, accompanied by Helal Al Marri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

FoodTech Summit

Following the official opening, Gulfood Manufacturings FoodTech Summit got under way with an opening keynote session looking at how organisations can leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital transformation and other cutting-edge technologies.

Flavie Paquay, Country Director -UAE at Business France, highlighted Frances excitement to showcase the innovative spirit and sustainable practices of 62 leading exhibitors in food processing, cutting-edge ingredients, and advanced hospitality solutions at Gulfood Manufacturing and GulfHost 2024.

This years event highlights more than just products; it celebrates the deepening partnership between France and the UAE, a relationship built on shared ambitions for a sustainable, forward-thinking future. As the Middle East increasingly adopts environmental initiatives in the F&B sector, France is proud to bring solutions that support the UAEs vision for food security, efficiency, and sustainable growth, Paquay said.

He added: Our participation reflects Frances ongoing commitment to collaborate with UAE partners in creating resilient food systems and pioneering practices that align with regional goals. Together, we are forging a path for a future where innovation and responsibility go hand-in-hand, driving progress in the heart of the F&B industry.

Expanding presence

Zubair Motiwala, CEO of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, said: Our primary goal in attending Gulfood Manufacturing is to enhance the value of Pakistans exports, including $4 billion in rice and $480 million in sesame seeds, and to achieve our trade targets. This year, we have had a highly positive experience at Gulfood Manufacturing, with strong attendance and interest from numerous buyers, and we are already planning to expand our presence next year.

Both Gulfood Manufacturing and Gulfhost provide an unparalleled opportunity for almost 3,000 global F&B manufacturing and foodservice brands to showcase their latest products and solutions across a vast show floor.

Among the product launches on day 1 of GulfHost was the Quick Response Service (QRS) from Falcon Professional Kitchen, a 24/7 advanced support solution designed to transform the way commercial kitchens address operational challenges, ensuring minimal disruption and maximising efficiency.

The first day of the Gulfhost Foodservice Excellence Summit saw discussions on the trends and opportunities shaping foodservice in the region for 2025 and beyond; energy efficiency, innovative solutions, and creative customisation in foodservice design; perfecting the customer experience; and the challenges and advances for women leaders in foodservice.--TradeArabia News Service
Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has opened a new representative office in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The office aims to strengthen economic ties and support the growth of business, trade, and investments between the business communities in Dubai and Kazakhstan.

The inauguration of the new office increases the number of international representative offices operated by the chamber to 32. The launch comes as part of the Dubai Global initiative, which seeks to establish 50 representative offices worldwide by 2030 to attract foreign direct investment, international businesses, and leading global talent to Dubai. In addition, it aims to support Dubai-based companies in exploring new business and trade opportunities across 30 priority global markets.

Increasing momentum

The opening of the new office reflects the increasing momentum in economic relations between Dubai and Kazakhstan. Non-oil trade between the two markets reached a value of AED14 billion ($3.8 billion) last year, representing year-over-year growth of 82%. During the first nine months of this year, 187 new companies from Kazakhstan joined Dubai Chamber of Commerce, increasing the total number of active member companies from the country to 668 by the end of September.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: The expansion of our global office network aims to reinforce Dubais position as a leading financial and business hub. The chambers representative offices play a crucial role in attracting companies and investments to Dubai, boosting Dubais bilateral trade with promising markets, and enhancing partnership opportunities among business communities, all of which contributes to achieving the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).

Dubai International Chambers Almaty office will support the Kazakhstan business community and foster stronger relationships with partners in both the public and private sectors. The office will play a key role in attracting companies and investors from Kazakhstan and Central Asia to Dubai. It will also promote Dubais competitive advantages and share investment information to assist companies from Kazakhstan seeking to enter the Dubai market and leverage the emirate as a gateway for global expansion.

In addition, the Almaty office will provide support and guidance to Dubai-based companies planning to expand into Kazakhstan by offering market insights and business introductions. It will connect local companies in the emirate with reliable stakeholders and potential partners who can assist them in entering Kazakhstan and expanding their operations.--TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain has received from Singapore-based companies over $100 million in investment commitments across key sectors such as financial services, ICT and tourism since November 2023.

Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) reported on the sidelines of Singapore Fintech Festival 2024 that this marks a new milestone for the Island nations investment promotion agency.

The results demonstrate the impact of Bahrain EDBs expansive international footprint, wherein the Singapore office is the first to have been established in the ASEAN region a year ago.

Trust of investors

Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board, said: Underscoring the established trust of international investors in Bahrains value proposition, this milestone achievement is a testament to the impact and agility of our Team Bahrain approach, wherein both the public and private sectors work in tandem to ensure Bahrains investment environment remains attractive, defined by forward-looking regulatory frameworks and streamlined services, offering a seamless journey for businesses setting up in our nation.

She added: We take pride in the steady growth of investments from key markets including Singapore and in witnessing international firms that set up in Bahrain successfully expand and flourish.

Strategically positioned in the heart of the Arabian Gulf, Bahrain is celebrated for its openness, tolerance, and cultural diversity. The island nation is home to a highly skilled talent pool, where the local workforce is consistently elevated and supported by government grants and subsidised programmes, and thereby equipped to meet the demands of an evolving global market. Women make up 34% of the financial services and insurance sector alone. Several leading firms, including Citi and PwC Middle East, have chosen Bahrain as their base for tech hubs and service centres to cater to their global clientele.

Hub of innovation

Dalal Buhejji, Executive Director of Financial Services at Bahrain EDB, added: Bahrain has always been a hub for innovation and financial services. As a singular financial regulator, the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has been a pioneering force in supporting the development of Bahrains thriving financial services sector introducing robust regulatory frameworks that include regional-firsts in crypto assets and open banking. Beyond this, businesses operating in Bahrain benefit from a future-ready workforce that combines bi-lingual, driven Bahraini nationals with a diverse expat talent pool offering global perspectives.

As the first Gulf nation to diversify its economy, Bahrain continues to flourish, with its digitally empowered financial services sector contributing almost 17% to real GDP as of 2023. The sector boasts a diverse mix of prominent international banks, financial institutions, fintechs, and new digital asset players. This includes Singapore-based firms like Whampoa Groups Singapore Gulf Bank and the recently licensed Crypto.com to provide payment services.

Bahrain EDBs Singapore-based office serves its headquarters by providing strategic on-ground presence and advisory services to investors and businesses within Singapore seeking to expand or set up in Bahrain, which has cemented itself as a business-friendly gateway to the Middle East and North Africa (Mena).

Offering comprehensive services that includes research-led market insights and industry assessments, Bahrain EDB supports investors journey from end-to-end, facilitating connections with key decision-makers across Bahrains public and private sector and providing tailored aftercare services long after businesses first embark on their journey.--TradeArabia News Service
Edge has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Brazilian Navy at Euronaval, one of the worlds largest naval exhibitions, currently being held in Paris.

The MoU establishes a collaborative foundation for the development of autonomous surface and aerial defence systems, reinforcing shared strategic capabilities.

The partnership marks a significant step in Edges continued engagement with the Brazilian Navy, focusing on deepening technical, operational, and logistical cooperation to jointly develop and deploy sophisticated anti-drone systems for navy applications.

The preliminary agreement was formalised by Admiral Edgar Luiz Siqueira Barbosa, Director General of Material for the Brazilian Navy, and Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director & CEO, Edge.

Valuable and reliable partner

Barbosa said: "Edge Group has proven itself to be a valuable and reliable partner to the Brazilian Navy for the long-term, as demonstrated by our close collaboration on the Mansup series of anti-ship systems. This preliminary agreement to pursue the joint development and delivery of sophisticated counter-drone technologies and solutions will not only ensure that both parties benefit from the sharing of knowledge and innovation but will also enable us, as partners, to become leaders in the field, meeting sovereign needs and eventually those of other export markets in the face of modern naval and airborne threats."

Counter-drone systems are not only effective but strategically essential, incorporating advanced, integrated technologies vital for naval defence. These systems combine high-value sensors, such as radars and electro-optics, with signal-jamming capabilities to neutralise drone threats by disrupting control signals.

Al Marar added: Counter-drone technology is a vital solution required worldwide, addressing the increasing presence of unmanned vehicles in modern defence scenarios. These systems bring advanced capabilities in detecting, tracking, and neutralising evolving threats, and we are focused on furthering this development to deliver a truly cutting-edge system to market. Edge has already made significant strides in this field and we remain committed to continuously driving innovation. The Brazilian Navy is a hugely important partner, and together we are shaping the future of these essential defence technologies.

The MoU formalises a framework for developing these sophisticated capabilities to meet the operational needs of the Brazilian Navy. In the complex landscape of maritime defence, integrated anti-drone technology is key to delivering coordinated, multi-layered responses across the fleet.--TradeArabia News Service
Masdar, the UAEs clean energy powerhouse, has signed a Joint Study Agreement with Malaysias Sarawak Energy and clean energy solutions provider, Gentari, to assess the feasibility of a floating solar power plant at the reservoir of Murum Hydroelectric Plant in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia.

The large-scale floating solar PV project marks a significant step towards expanding renewable energy capacity in Sarawak state and supporting Malaysia's clean energy ambitions.

The exchange of documents was held at Masdars head office in Abu Dhabi between Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Sharbini Suhaili, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer and Sushil Purohit, Gentari Chief Executive Officer.

The ceremony was witnessed by the Right Honorable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak, and the Right Honorable Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah Bin Haji Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Floating solar projects offer several advantages for countries like Malaysia with growing populations and a scarcity of land that is required for agriculture, housing and industry. Placing solar plants on water reduces land use, decreases water evaporation, and offers potential synergies with hydroelectric operations.

Mohamed Al Ramahi, Masdar Chief Executive Officer, said: "Our partnership with Sarawak Energy and Gentari represents a powerful convergence of expertise and ambition in the pursuit of a sustainable energy future. By harnessing our collective strengths in renewable energy technologies, particularly in large-scale solar and floating PV innovations, we are demonstrating that we can accelerate the energy transition and drive economic growth through bold, collaborative action. This deal follows our landmark agreement with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in 2023 for the development of 10 gigawatts of clean energy projects across the country. Masdar is proud to contribute to Malaysias ambitious renewable energy targets of 31 percent by 2025 and 40 percent by 2035.

Datuk Suhaili, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer, commented: Sarawak Energys diversified generation mix is crucial to achieving our aim of becoming a renewable energy powerhouse in Southeast Asia. The potential for a floating solar PV project on the reservoir of the Murum Hydroelectric Plant will complement our ongoing investments in renewable innovations, including our Batang Ai floating solar farm, which is expected to offset 52 kilotonnes of CO2 emissions annually once commissioned by the end of this year.

Sushil Purohit, Gentari Chief Executive Officer, said: As a proudly Malaysian company, Gentari is pleased to be a key contributor in helping the country achieve its renewable energy targets and climate goals, alongside supporting clients on their net zero journey. Our partnership with Masdar and Sarawak Energy for this ambitious project unites leading global stakeholders in a shared vision to drive progress in clean energy adoption, optimising technological advancements to more effectively integrate renewables into our energy systems. At every levelstate, national, and internationalGentari is fully committed to driving long-term value as a trusted clean energy partner in Asia Pacific."

The feasibility study aims to assess the potential for a large-scale floating solar installation on the Murum reservoir. This evaluation will encompass technical feasibility, environmental impact, and economic viability to determine if the project can be successfully implemented.

If deemed viable, this floating solar installation could not only strengthen Sarawak's renewable energy capacity but also position it as a pioneering model for floating solar projects across the region. It also supports Sarawak's ambition to become a leader in clean energy development and export in Southeast Asia.

During their visit to the UAE, the Sarawak delegation, led by the Right Honorable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak, participated in a series of high-level meetings and events. The delegation attended a panel discussion on Asia's role in defining the hydrogen market.

They also visited the Mubadala Energy Exhibition Stand at ADIPEC, toured the Taweelah Receiving Facility of Dolphin Energy, and visited Masdar City. -TradeArabia News Service
GE Vernova has highlighted how software will play a bigger role in managing a safe, secure, and reliable grid and help reduce cyber-attacks in the utilities industry, in a whitepaper released at Adipec in Abu Dhabi.

Adipec 2024, taking place from November 4 to 7 at Adnec, is one of the world's largest energy shows and GE Vernova's team is showcasing technologies that are helping communities across the world maintain reliable, affordable, and secure electricity systems, while also increasing access to power and reducing carbon emissions.

Smart grids can harness real-time data, automation, and advanced control systems to optimise energy flow, enhance resilience, and integrate renewable sources.

However, as the sector relies more on digital interconnected systems, the risk of cyberattacks has increased dramatically, making cybersecurity a critical component of any smart grid infrastructure.

In Q2 2024, corporate networks experienced a 30% increase in weekly attacks compared to the same period in 2023. Grid operators and utilities recognise that software needs to play a bigger role in managing a safe, secure, and reliable grid.

This is the premise of GE Vernovas newly published whitepaper on Securing Smart Grids: Strategies and Best Practices.

The white paper provides a comprehensive approach to smart grids vulnerability assessments and risk management, offering guidance on identifying and evaluating potential weaknesses, including:

 Leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to strengthen grid security

 Adopting secure communication protocols

 Implementing industry best practices such as asset management, zero trust architecture and patch management

 A case study on a utility in the UAE which highlights an example of a tailored security solution aimed at minimizing cyberattack surface, enhancing access requirements, and mitigating operational risks

The digital transformation of the grid is becoming a mission critical endeavour to optimise grid operations, ensuring a steadfast, efficient, and secure electricity supply, especially with the integration of more renewable energy sources, said Bernard Dagher, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer of GE Vernova's Grid Solutions in the Middle East & Africa. At GE Vernova, we understand the importance of collaborating with our customers and industry stakeholders to implement robust cybersecurity measures across energy and utilities to prevent disruptions.

GE Vernova spun-off from GE and began trading as an independent company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on April 2, 2024. Building on over 130 years of experience, and with approximately 55,000 wind turbines and 7,000 gas turbines, GE Vernova's technology base helps generate about 25% of the world's electricity and has a meaningful role to play in the energy transition.

For decades, GE Vernova has contributed to the development of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) energy infrastructure, supporting economic diversification, localisation, high value exports, and talent development efforts.

In Saudi Arabia, the companys investments in the kingdom include the GE Manufacturing and Technology Center (GEMTEC) campus in Dammam, which encompasses a Service and Repairs Center for gas turbines, the GE MENA Decarbonization Center of Excellence, a Monitoring & Diagnostics Center for the remote monitoring of power generation assets, and GE Saudi Advanced Turbines (GESAT) for gas turbines and components in Saudi Arabia.

In July 2024, GE Vernova rolled out first H-Class gas turbine completed at Saudi Arabia GESAT facility and the company continues to support Saudi Vision 2030. Other investments in the GCC include the GE Kuwait Technology Center and the Jebel Ali Service Center in the UAE.

Meanwhile, GE Vernovas participation at Adipec includes interactive activities on stand 7135 in Hall 7, and speaking sessions covering a wide range of topics including: the future of energy, the role of hydrogen, financing the energy transition, accelerating the journey to net zero, and the grid of the future. -TradeArabia News Service
Houston Independent School District Superintendent F. Mike Miles rubs his eyes while having a curriculum meeting Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles called voters' rejection of the districts proposed $4.4 billion school bond  the largest school bond in Texas history  unfortunate and wrong in a statement Tuesday.

Miles conceded the bond election after approximately 60% of the roughly 350,000 voters who cast early or mail-in ballots voted against both propositions of the proposal, according to preliminary early election returns from the Harris County Clerks Office. HISD has made history as Texas voters have never rejected a proposed school bond measure exceeding $1 billion.

The politics of adults beat out the needs of our children ... but I want to assure you that it will not limit our ability to do the things that our students need, Miles said in a message to the HISD community Tuesday evening. I know our most effective principals and teachers can reach students even in the worst of facilities, because theyve been doing so for more than a year.

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The districts bond proposal was split into two propositions. Proposition A would have allocated $3.96 billion for school building renovations and expansions, including safety and security infrastructure, while Proposition B would have spent $440 million for technology equipment, systems and infrastructure.

LIVE DISCUSSION: Join our Zoom with the education team to recap HISD bond vote and more

Miles said he had not planned to propose a bond during his tenure as the districts state-appointed leader but believed it was obvious that HISD needed to place one on the ballot due to the unspeakable conditions at many schools. He said the states largest school district badly needed the bond and the proposed investments should have been made years ago.

There was a window of time before the board vote when we could have done what prior elected boards and administrations have done  which is to avoid hard choices and hope the future would take care of itself, Miles said. We chose to go forward, because the conditions in our schools made it obvious  our kids cannot wait.

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The rejection of the districts first school bond campaign in 12 years follows a vocal, monthslong grassroots opposition effort, where bond opponents encouraged people to vote against the bond due to the state takeover and a lack of trust in Miles and the Board of Managers.

HARRIS COUNTY RESULTS: Here's where to watch live vote totals for proposed HISD school bond

Despite the public campaign against the measure, the district committed to making the bond one of its top priorities for the 2024-25 school year, arguing that failing to invest billions into improving deteriorating schools and infrastructure would negatively impact students future academic performance.

The bonds defeat marks a significant public failure for Miles, who had previously said he believed voters would put aside politics during the election and support investing billions into improving school facilities for approximately 174,000 students in the district.

In his statement, Miles said the bond was a unique opportunity for the community to come together, and he is disappointed about the results. He said voters let down schools like Bonham Elementary School, which has 28 crumbling temporary buildings that would have been replaced if the bond passed.

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This bond was a unique opportunity for this community to come together on behalf of its children. Im sure many of you felt the same and are very disappointed in the result, he wrote. I share your disappointment, but I also hope you will remain optimistic. Our accomplishments far outweigh our setbacks and most importantly, we have and will continue to put the needs of our students first.

Miles said, going forward, he could not promise that the districts aging facilities and systems would not be a barrier to student learning. However, he said teaching and learning will continue, and he would continue to transform HISD for all students.

We will do our best to keep long-expired heating and cooling systems running, but on very hot or very cold days, we are likely going to have to close campuses to keep students safe, Miles said. More frequently, students are going to be forced to learn in conditions that are not ideal, in classrooms that are either too hot or too cold to learn comfortably.

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Miles said the HISD Police Department and the district's Facilities and Maintenance Operations team will be constantly searching for grant money. The district will also look to the Texas Legislature to provide additional resources for school security, he said.
The winners at the award ceremony

Winners of the second edition of Qatar Tourism Awards 2024 that honours the organisations and individuals elevating Qatar as a premier global destination, were announced by Qatar Tourism at a ceremony at the Raffles Doha Ballroom.

Developed in partnership with the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), the Qatar Tourism Awards was launched to celebrate and recognise the contributions made by businesses and individuals that continually aspire to exemplify service excellence in customer service delivery.

They are designed to encourage all industry actors who directly, or indirectly, deliver experiences to Qatars visitors to emulate exceptional initiatives characterised by uniqueness, sustainability, accessibility, and high-quality service.

The awards ceremony was attended by Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism, and Basma Al- Mayman, UN Tourism Regional Director, Middle East.

In his opening remarks, Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, said: We are gathered for the second edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards to celebrate the outstanding contributions of businesses and individuals in creating exceptional tourism experiences.

We evaluated over 1200 applicants, reflecting the growing interest from the public to participate in such prestigious awards.

Qatar Tourism Awards has become a benchmark of excellence, highlighting the best offerings, services, innovations, and achievements in the tourism sector, said Al Kharji, who encouraged all tourism professionals to apply for the next edition of the awards and showcased all the advantages including full access to the Winners Alumni Network.

This year, the Qatar Tourism Awards expanded from three to seven categories to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive representation of the visitor experience.

The categories include Service Excellence, Gastronomic Experiences, Iconic Attractions, World- Class Events, Digital Footprint, Smart and Sustainable Tourism, and Community Leadership. Winners were selected by a distinguished panel of judges, where they meticulously evaluated the businesses and individuals that excelled in each of the categories.

This years edition featured a new category, Tourism Influencer Award, included to celebrate the talented content creators who have brilliantly showcased Qatars vibrant culture and unique experiences to the world.

The Service Excellence category recognises outstanding businesses and individuals within the tourism sector that epitomise excellence in customer service.

The 2024 Winners  Service Excellence

Outstanding 3-Star Hotel: Premier Inn Doha Education City

Outstanding 4-Star Hotel: Embassy Suites Doha Old Town

Outstanding 5-Star Hotel: Mandarin Oriental

Exceptional Spa Experience: Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som

Exceptional Resort Experience: Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som

Exceptional Holiday Home Experience: The Cottage

Outstanding New Tourism Accommodation: Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay

The Heart of Hospitality award: Hala eh Sayegh

Tour Guide of the Year: Karolanne Pacheco

Leading Destination Management Company: Q Moments

The Gastronomic Experiences category recognises venues that transform dining into an art form, crafting unforgettable culinary journeys.

The 2024 winners  Gastronomic Experiences

Outstanding Fine Dining Experience: Hakkasan

Exceptional Casual Dining Experience: Bayt el Talleh

Premier Quick Service Experience: Evergreen Organics

Noteworthy Cafe Experience: Qinwan Premium Dates

Outstanding Authentic Qatari Dining Experience: Belhambar

Outstanding New Restaurant: YUN

The Iconic Attraction and Activities category recognises Qatars most captivating and essential tourist destinations, activities and experiences.

The 2024 Winners  The Iconic Attraction and Activities

Outstanding Cultural Tourism Experience: Old Doha Port

Unforgettable Adventure Tourism Experience: National Cruise Tourism

Leading Local Retail Brand: Hiraat

Premier Shopping Mall Experience: Place Vendome

Premier Theme Park Experience: Doha Quest

Iconic Local Attraction: Msherireb Museums

The World-Class Events category recognises small, medium and major events that have a significant impact on tourism and elevate Qatars profile on the global stage.

The 2024 Winners  World-Class Events

Top MICE Event of the year: Doha Forum

Leading Event Celebrating Local Culture: Old Doha Port

Premier Sport Event of The Year: AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023

Outstanding Multi-purpose MICE & Events Venue: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center

The Digital Footprint category recognises those who effectively use digital tools and platforms to enhance the visibility and reputation of Qatars Tourism sector.

The 2024 Winners  Digital Footprint

Outstanding Destination Campaign: Hamad International Airport

"Capture Qatar": Ahmed Mohamed Hassan

Tourism Influencer (Content Creator) of the Year: Saoud Al Kuwari- Shljadwal

The Smart and Sustainable Tourism category recognises the visionary initiatives that revolutionise Qatars tourism landscape with innovative and environmentally conscious practices.

The 2024 Winners  Smart and Sustainable Tourism

Tourism Innovation Award: Hayya

Accessibility Initiative of the Year: AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023

Leading Sustainable Attraction: Msherib Downtown

Leading Eco-Friendly Accommodation: Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel

The Community Leadership category is a tribute to extraordinary individuals who inspire and catalyse positive change within Qatars tourism landscape.

The 2024 Winners  Community Leadership

Tourism Personality of the Year: Dr. Khalid Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, CEO of Katara Cultural Village

Emerging Leader in Tourism (Future Leader in Tourism): Jassim Mohammed el Emadi, Vice President of Al Hazm Mall and CEO Mc Laren Automotive

Lifetime Achievement in Tourism: Hussain Al Fardan, Chairman of Al Fardan Group  TradeArabia News Service
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) held an extensive business meeting at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi that was aimed at strengthening economic cooperation with business communities and private sector entities across the world, and reinforcing strategic partnerships that the UAE shares with major economies, a report said.

Held in collaboration with the Czech-Italian Chamber of Commerce (CICC), the meeting brought together senior representatives from prominent companies and business leaders from Sharjah and various countries worldwide, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

Held at SCCI's headquarters, the meeting was attended by Fatema Khalifa Al Muqarrab, Director of SCCI's International Relations Department, and Antonio Rotondo, Chairman of CICC.

Also present were several officials and representatives of Sharjahs government institutions and more than 20 companies specialising in key strategic sectors from the emirate and other countries worldwide, including Beeah Group.

The event featured one-on-one business meetings, focusing on exploring partnerships, enhancing cooperation, and discussing available investment opportunities.

Al Mokarrab reaffirming Sharjah Chamber's commitment to advancing collaboration and partnerships with major global companies alongside investors and businessmen from around the world.

She underscored SCCIs role in expanding economic connections between Sharjah's business community and its counterparts in the world by organising business forums and networking events, which not only serve as vital platforms for unlocking investment opportunities but also facilitate promising partnerships with businesses and private sectors from around the world.

She said that signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sharjah Chamber and the Czech-Italian Chamber of Commerce was a crucial step that led to this forum.

The goal of the agreement is to build closer business ties, facilitate trade delegation exchanges, and showcase investment opportunities to major global businesses.

Al Mokarrab noted that Sharjah is ranked as the fifth fastest-growing city in the world for foreign direct investment, with investments reaching $2.75 billion.

She attributed this success to the emirates strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and the governments economic diversification policies.

Rotondo commended the Sharjah Chamber for organising the forum, which he described as a true embodiment of the constructive and growing collaboration between SCCI and the Czech-Italian Chamber of Commerce.

He noted that the event aims to strengthen trade relations and foster economic cooperation among business communities in both countries and beyond.

The meeting featured a presentation on Sharjahs attractive investment environment, showcasing its diversified economy and the numerous opportunities and advantages it offers to businesses and investors across key strategic sectors.

A short film was also displayed highlighting Sharjah's free zones, advanced facilities and infrastructure, and the various incentives and benefits available to investors, in addition to its rich tourism assets and attractions and several major ongoing and future projects.

During the meeting, Mohammed Bani Hamad, Business Development Manager at Beeah Group, delivered an in-depth presentation outlining the companys key projects and extensive experience and leadership in the field of sustainability across the region.

He highlighted Beeah Groups sustainability initiatives and achievements in sectors crucial to sustainable development, such as renewable energy, environmental technology, and consultancy services.

The forum also featured detailed presentations by representatives of Sharjah-based and international companies, introducing their offerings, products, and services.
Travellers are actively starting to avoid destinations which are exposed to extreme weather, according to the latest WTM Global Travel Report, released on Tuesday.

The report, in association with Tourism Economics, found that 29% of travellers from key global markets have avoided visiting a destination in past 12 months due to concerns about inclement or extreme weather.

Gen Z  travellers aged between 18 and 34  are more likely than the average to avoid destinations exposed to extreme weather, with more than two in five (43%) admitting to reconsidering where to go, the report said.

Extreme weather  such as wildfires, flooding, unusually high temperatures - is widely accepted to be a direct result of man-made climate change. Evidence is emerging that extreme weather events will become more prevalent and widespread as the climate continues to warm.

The report references an MIT study which introduced the concept of outdoor days as a way to measure the impact of climate change through to 2100. Outdoor days are defined as days on which outdoor activities can be undertaken in comfort. The WTM study pulled out the data for some popular destinations and found that Thailand, for example, will have 55 fewer outdoor days. In contrast, Canada will have 23 more.

Tourism Economics data in the report shows that only a slight majority (53%) of travellers say that they attempt to minimise their carbon footprint when travelling. At the same time, nearly two in three (65%) of travellers acknowledge that travel has a negative impact on the environment.

That disconnect can be closed by travel sellers helping travellers to make climate-friendly and sustainable choices. Booking.com figures from 2023 are quoted, which showed that 74% of travellers want more sustainable options made available, and that 65% would feel better staying in accommodation with sustainable certification.

However, sellers and suppliers with a strong sustainability story to tell are being held back by concerns over green washing. Skift research cited in the report shows that 75% of travellers are sceptical about travel companys sustainable practices.

Overtourism and the impact on local communities and resources is an important part of the sustainability conversation. In Europe, cities such as Barcelona, Amsterdam and Venice have been trying to address this but, according to Tourism Economics data, there has been little change. Using 2019 as a base level, visitor nights per capita or travel density for these three cities has increased, albeit marginally, over the past five years.

Juliette Losardo, Exhibition Director, World Travel Market, said: Travel is perhaps the industry most exposed to the climate emergency and the wider concerns around sustainability. These are issues which are embedded into what travellers want and how the industry operates, but the report highlights some ways in which the industry can continue to grow while maintaining its commitment to reducing emissions.

Our role at WTM is to inform and educate, and there is a lot in the latest WTM Global Travel report which sellers and suppliers can take away and inform their own decision-making process when it comes to the climate and sustainability. - TradeArabia News Service
Tourism Development Fund (TDF), the national enabler of Saudi Arabias tourism sector, has signed a strategic agreement with Dusit International, a leading global hospitality group, for the development of a range of top-class hospitality projects in the kingdom.

The deal, inked on the sidelines of the World Travel Market (WTM) London, will see the two collaborate for shaping extraordinary destinations that will have a lasting positive impact on the sector.

According to TDF, this comes in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Tourism Strategy.

The partnership is fully geared toward setting Saudi Arabia apart as a must-visit destination distinguished by a first-class array of luxury hotels and resorts, it stated.

On the MoU, CEO Qusai Al Fakhri said: "It is a pivotal milestone in our strategy to attract world-class partners and create distinctive and sustainable tourism destinations in Saudi Arabia. We are pleased to be collaborating with Dusit International, whose expertise in hospitality aligns perfectly with our ambition to unlock the full potential of the kingdoms tourism sector."

"Together, we aim to shape extraordinary destinations that will have a lasting positive impact on the sector," he added.

Dusit International Group CEO Suphajee Suthumpun said: "Saudi Arabia is a key focus for our growth, and partnering with TDF provides invaluable opportunities to connect with high-potential investments across the Kingdom."

"We look forward to contributing to Saudi Arabias National Tourism Strategy and delivering hotel experiences that bring enduring value to all stakeholders," stated Suthumpun.-TradeArabia News Service
Constable Jimmy Fullen introduces himself to a voter at Hometown Heroes Park in League City as he campaigns for Galveston County Sheriff in the Republican Party primary Tuesday, March 5, 2024. JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News/Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston Daily News

Republican Jimmy Fullen has won the race to be Galveston Countys next sheriff.

Fullen defeated Democrat Mark Salinas with nearly 62% of the vote, according to complete but unofficial results. Fullen received 94,565 votes to Salinas' 58,333 votes.

Now the question is whether hell be able to legally hold the job.

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The Texas Commission on Law Enforcements executive director in June recommended that Fullens law enforcement license be revoked after uncovering omissions on Fullen's application for the license.

Fullen didnt report to the commission that he had been arrested multiple times in the 1980s.

The commission next year will make a final decision on whether to revoke his license. If the recommendation is upheld, Fullen would be required to resign his position and Galveston County Commissioners would appoint his replacement.

On its face, Fullens victory isnt a surprise. A Galveston native and longtime Precinct 1 Constable, Fullen outraised and outspent his Democratic challenger, Mark Salinas. Fullens campaign received support from deep-pocketed donors, including Galveston-born billionaire Tilman Feritta and high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee.

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Fullen will replace retiring Sheriff Henry Trochesset, who has held the position since 2012.

Fullen hosted a jovial victory party at the Fertitta-owned San Luis Resort & Spa on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston.

He declined to comment on his victory to the Chronicle. But Galveston County Precinct 2 Constable Paul Edinburgh praised Fullen in a speech, saying he owed his sense of leadership to the law enforcement veteran.

Who else would endure the stress, the negative publicity and, he paused, at which the crowd shouted, bull****.

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Before Tuesdays gathered crowd, Fullen acknowledged running a long, grueling and expensive campaign, but said it was worth it because hed long planned remaking the sheriffs office.

Were going to go after the criminal elements and send them back to Harris County, he said to applause. Were going to kick ass and take names out in the streets.

Fullen said he planned to add 13 additional deputies to the streets without spending more taxpayer money and wanted to add a street crime unit to the office.

Like many other sheriffs offices, Galveston County has a recruiting problem, Fullen added, saying he hoped to recruit many high school graduates in the county.

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Salinas, 52, lost the 2020 election to Trochesset.
Classic car enthusiasts can get their fix Saturday, Nov. 9, at the sixth annual Truly Nolen Community Car Show.

In honor of Veterans Day weekend, this years show will feature several patriotic vehicles at the Truly Nolen Leadership Center, 432 S. Williams Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition to classic cars, food trucks, kids activities, nonprofits and the mouse limo will be on hand for the free event.

The car show was started as a way to honor the late Truly David Nolens extensive antique collection by having 50 of his vehicles on display.

It will also serve as a toy collection for Tucson Childrens Clinics and the Tucson Ronald McDonald House. Community members are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy.

This years event will seal a partnership between Truly Nolen and the U.S. Army as part of the U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success program, which helps soldiers prepare for a career after the Army by connecting them with employers who understand the skills, discipline and work ethic that military service members bring to a business.
Three Republican candidates including the lone incumbent on the ballot were running narrowly ahead of three Democratic contenders in early returns for the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Statewide, Republicans Rachel Walden, Rene Lopez and incumbent Lea Marquez Peterson had anywhere from 17.2% to 16.4% of the total votes counted so far for three seats on the commission.

That compared to a range of 16.2% to 15.3% for Democrats Ylenia Aguilar, Joshua Polacheck and Jonathon Hill.

In the most populous county  politically divided Maricopa County  Republicans Walden and Lopez and Democrat Aguilar had the most votes of the six candidates so far. The three Republicans had overwhelming leads over the Democrats in suburban Pinal County and in more rural Yavapai and Mohave counties.

Statewide, nearly 44% of all votes cast in the race had been counted as of 8:45 p.m., The Arizona Republic reported. Three seats are open on the five-member commission, which Republicans now control by a 4-1 margin.

In heavily Democratic Pima County, the three Democrats running all had commanding leads. Aguilar, the leading Democratic vote getter in the county, had 62% of all votes counted so far in the county.

The Corporation Commission contest has drawn national attention, largely because of the sharp division between Republican and Democratic candidates over the use of fossil fuel-powered energy sources versus renewable energy supplies.

Republicans have argued that pushing too hard for renewable energy supplies such as wind and solar will raise rates, but Democrats point to research that now shows renewable energy projects have lower long-term costs than fossil fuel plants that burn coal and natural gas.

Critics have also pounced on rate increases the commission has approved in the past two years for Tucson Electric Power, Arizona Public Service and UNS Electric, a sister company of TEP's. Electricity rate increases have generally been higher in the past two years than they had been before, and Democrats have used those increases to paint the current commission as being captive of large utilities and their investors, many of whom are from out of state.

Republican candidates have largely defended rate increases as necessary to insure reliable supplies and the growth of adequate energy resources to meet an expected surge in customer demand.

Specifically, the commission's current 4-1 Republican majority has also been targeted for approving four new gas plants in Mohave County without environmental reviews.

It also drew criticism for approving a plan to charge Arizona Public Service Co. customers a $2 to $3 monthly fee if they have rooftop solar panels. It's also drawn controversy by approving construction of a new natural gas power plant in the Casa Grande area and expanding an existing gas plant in Maricopa County.

And sometime in the next year, the commission will have to decide whether to scrap standards that previous, Republican-led commissions had approved to require the state to have 15% renewable energy supplies by 2025 and to require utilities to have reduced energy use by 22% through efficiency measures by 2020. The commission started the process toward removing these requirements back in February but still must make final decisions to remove them.
Shown is a weather satellite image of Hurricane Rafael, as it approached western Cuba around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. GOES/NOAA/NOAA/National Weather Service

Hurricane season is not over quite yet. Rafael has exceeded expectations and has now undergone a period of rapid intensification across the central and western Caribbean Sea.

On Tuesday at noon, Rafael was merely a tropical storm with sustained winds of 60 mph. Fast-forward to Wednesday morning, and Rafael had intensified into a high-end Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 110 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Rapid intensification is defined by NOAA forecasters as at least a 35-mph increase in wind speed over 24 hours. Rafael has exceeded that threshold, as its wind speeds have increased by 50 mph in less than a day.

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The National Hurricane Centers forecast track for Hurricane Rafael shows the storm turning westward in the Gulf of Mexico. National Hurricane Center

At noon Wednesday, Rafael had strengthened into a major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger), with sustained winds of 115 mph before it was expected to make landfall in western Cuba by Wednesday evening. A hurricane warning has been issued for this region, where life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rain are expected.

Rafael enters the Gulf of Mexico

By Thursday morning, Rafael will enter the eastern Gulf of Mexico, likely as a Category 2 hurricane (winds from 96 to 110 mph). The storm will continue westward into the central Gulf of Mexico by Friday evening, likely maintaining hurricane-intensity as it slides toward Texas.

TRACK THE TROPICS: Use our interactive map to track where Rafael moves through the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.

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However, as the storm moves into the western Gulf of Mexico this weekend, the environment for Rafael will become far less conducive for it to maintain its intensity. Increasing wind shear, drier air, and cooler ocean temperatures will all play a factor in causing Rafael to weaken.

Rafael will weaken back into a tropical storm by Sunday over the western Gulf of Mexico, and continue to lose strength into early next week, according to the National Hurricane Centers latest forecast.

Will Rafael affect Texas at all?

The forecast track has shifted to the west over the past 24 hours, towards Texas. This is because of the expected presence of a ridge of high atmospheric pressure that will move over the northern Gulf of Mexico. The ridge may draw Rafael westward, rather than allowing the storm to take a northerly turn.

Dont let the westward shift worry you too much, though. Even if Rafael moves close to Texas, a significant landfall still seems unlikely. A cold front is expected to move across the state Friday and into early Saturday. This front will further slow down Rafael and act as a barrier, keeping the storm from reaching the coast and forcing it to turn north or south, away from the state.

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Shown are the spaghetti plots for Hurricane Rafael. The storm is expected to move into the west-central Gulf of Mexico. After that, a southern turn is most likely, away from Texas. WeatherBELL

However, a great deal of uncertainty remains about exactly where Rafael will end up, or if it will even make landfall at all before dissipating.

The National Hurricane Center wrote in their forecast discussion Wednesday morning that it is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the western Gulf Coast. Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast.

Are hurricanes rare in November?

Yes. since 1850, only 10 hurricanes have ever been active in the Gulf of Mexico. Thats about one every 17 years. No named tropical cyclone, either a tropical storm or a hurricane, has ever hit the Texas Gulf Coast during November since the 1850s.

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PHOENIX  It looks like the system used in Arizona to nominate and elect public officials is going to remain unchanged, at least for the next two years.

Preliminary returns showed voters rejecting Proposition 140 by a margin of close to 2-1.

That measure, dubbed Make Elections Fair, would have scrapped partisan primaries in all federal, state and local races.

Instead, all candidates from all parties  and those without political affiliation at all  would run against each other. And all registered voters of whatever stripe would make their choices.

But Prop 140 had a provision that made it a bit more complicated: It would allow the Legislature  or the secretary of state if lawmakers balk  to decide how many winners in the primary advance to the general election.

All that was simple if the answer was just two, with the general election serving as a runoff, even if it turns out both candidates are from the same political party. But it also permitted a decision to allow up to five to go on to the general election.

That, in turn, would have required a system where voters would rank their choices.

If no one got at least 50% of the vote on the first round, the candidate with the fewest votes would be dropped from the list. Then those who had chosen that person as their first choice would instead have their votes count for whoever they liked next best.

Opponents focused on that ranked-choice voting provision, calling it convoluted and confusing, to convince Arizonans not to make that change.

That desire to leave the election process alone, however, also resulted in the apparent defeat of Proposition 133.

This measure, put on the ballot by state lawmakers, would have enshrined the existing system of partisan primaries in the Arizona Constitution. Backers said that would ensure that those who go to the polls at general elections have a clear choice of political philosophies.

Those preliminary results showed it failing by about the same 2-1 margin as Prop 140.

One thing working against it was that it would have done more than preserve partisan primaries.
It doesn't look like Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs will get a chance to select two justices to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Early returns showed voters narrowly agreeing to give full six-year terms to Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King. Both were appointed to the court by Doug Ducey, Hobbs' Republican predecessor.

Bolick and King were winning retention by about 57%-58% of the votes counted so far.

But voters were far less sympathetic to Proposition 137, a proposal advanced by Republican lawmakers to give most sitting judges in Arizona de facto life terms without having to face the electorate again until they retire at age 70.

Fewer than one out of every four voters agreed with the idea in early returns.

All judges in Arizona used to be elected directly by voters, the same as any politician. But a 1974 voter-approved constitutional amendment scrapped that system for those on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and the benches in the largest counties, currently Maricopa, Pima, Pinal and Coconino.

Now vacancies on those courts are filled by the governor, who must select from nominees screened by special panels. Those selected have to stand for retention or rejection by voters every four years, or every six years for appellate-level judges.

Campaigns against sitting judges have been rare. But that changed when Bolick and King provided two of the four votes by the state Supreme Court earlier this year, ruling that the 2022 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade meant Arizona could once again enforce an old  but never repealed  1864 law making it a crime to perform an abortion except to save the life of the mother.

That 4-2 ruling never really took effect as state lawmakers subsequently voted to repeal the old law, leaving in its place a 15-week ban. And voters are deciding this election whether to enshrine a right to abortion in the Arizona Constitution.

But that original Arizona ruling left many abortion rights supporters angry, and determined to oust Bolick and King.
Monroe Nichols on Tuesday became the first Black person to be elected mayor in Tulsas 126-year history of city government.

Nichols, who was born in Waco, Texas, and moved to Tulsa to attend the University of Tulsa, defeated longtime Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith. He is 41.

Before Tuesday nights results were in, Nichols talked about what it would mean to have a Black Tulsan elected to the citys highest office.

I do think theres a lot of folks who are going to now feel like they are more reflected in city government. I think thats really critically important, you know, Nichols said. So it is a point of pride for me individually.

But I think in the big picture, given the history of Tulsa, whether it be the legacy of the Greenwood District or some of the great Tulsans that have come out of this community who are contributing in a number of ways, the fact that this evening we could elect a Black person of color to be mayor, I think its a good sign that Tulsa is moving in a direction thats really embracing that in ways which we havent done in a long time.

Kalyn Free, Democratic National Committeewoman for the Oklahoma Democratic Party, celebrated Nichols victory with him at Tuesday evenings watch party.

After listening to his acceptance speech and then bear-hugging him as he stepped off the stage at his watch party, Free told the Tulsa World she was ecstatic about the message Nichols election sends.

This is historic  103 years after the massacre here at Greenwood, the arc of justice has bent more towards justice with the election of the first African-American mayor of Tulsa, Free said. This has been the most important race for me in the state of Oklahoma, and the reason for that is it is a bellwether. It sends a signal across this state that we are turning our backs on racism and we are moving forward.

In addition to expressing faith in Nichols ability to accomplish the detailed goals and agenda he has set out, Free said his election to lead Oklahomas second-largest city will show little boys and little girls across the state that they can be what they can see, and never before had they been able to see a Black man in power in the city of Tulsa.

Nichols is not the first Black person to hold a citywide elected office in Tulsa. In 1979, under the old city commission form of government, then-Mayor Jim Inhofe appointed Ronald Young to fill the vacant city finance commissioner position. Young went on to win the elected office in 1980 and 1982.

When Tulsans voted in 1989 to change the City Charter to a strong mayor-council form of government, the first class of city councilors elected the next year included two Black residents, Dorothy DeWitty and the Rev. B.S. Roberts.

In ascending to the highest elected office in the city, Nichols has succeeded where other Black candidates before him have failed. Four years ago, Greg Robinson finished a distant second to Mayor G.T. Bynum. Also in the race was Black businessman Ty Walker.

James Alexander Jr. and Carlton Pearson were on the ballot for mayor in 2002, and Joe Williams, who served several terms on the City Council, also ran for mayor.

The historical significance of Nichols victory cannot be overstated. In 1921, 23 years after Tulsa was incorporated, the city was the site of one of the worst racially motivated uprisings in the nations history.

The Tulsa Race Massacre left 35 blocks of the historic Greenwood District in ashes, taking Black Wall Street with it, and resulted in 36 documented deaths  a number many believe is much higher. Hundreds of people were injured, and thousands were left homeless.

It wasnt until 2002 that the incident was required teaching in Oklahoma public schools. Tulsa Public Schools in 2021 launched its own curriculum on the massacre across multiple grade levels.

The city itself has just begun to reckon with its darkest chapter.

During the 2021 centennial commemoration of the massacre, the City Council approved a resolution apologizing for the incident and pledging to create a community-led process to evaluate the recommendations for reconciliation in the states 2001 Tulsa Race Riot Commission report.

The city made good on that promise last month when the first meeting of the city-sanctioned Beyond Apology Commission on reparations was held.
Former President Donald Trump has won the presidential election. Houston Chronicle readers react to his win over Kamala Harris. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Election results

Regarding Donald Trump defeats Vice President Kamala Harris in Texas, (Nov. 5): The American people have spoken. As of Wednesday morning, Trump is even leading in the popular vote this time.

Name-calling won. Bullying won. Hatred won. Anger won.

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And I am heartsick.

I am going to earnestly pray for Donald Trump: That he becomes a more decent individual. That he does not hurt many people. That he does not let hatred and anger rule in this land and the world.

Joe Schwarz, Houston

As the old but wise adage goes, Be careful what you wish for. The voters have spoken.

Why would any sane person want a serial rapist, woman-groping, lying crook to be president? Fear not, you wont be hearing from me again.

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Robert Mueller, Houston

At the 2024 Republican National Convention, people hold signs that read "Mass Deportation Now!" Alex Wong/Getty Images

I once again find myself asking why so many Americans are supporting an obviously flawed candidate.

As I recognize that these supporters are neither fools nor otherwise mesmerized by their candidate, I look for other answers, and have come to the reluctant conclusion that the reason is simply a wholesale rejection of the perceived progressive agenda which, unlike Project 2025, hasnt been published.

The wealthys big issue seems to be what they see as sharing of wealth, while others see it as equal opportunity.

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Social conservatives (for example, West Texas Christian nationalists) unabashedly reject the separation of church and state, despite the First Amendment.

And now immigrants are being vilified despite the Statue of Libertys Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. A recent study analyzed 150 years of crime statistics (1870 to 2020). According to the researchers, a surprising finding was the extent to which immigrants with lower levels of education today are significantly less likely to commit crimes than their U.S.-born counterparts.

I remain bewildered by all this and hope that soon my country can come together again.

Michael Wright, Houston

It might be appropriate that we now tear down the Statue of Liberty and sell it for scrap metal or use it to continue building the border wall. It can no longer stand for the principles on which our country was founded.

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Gerry Aitken, Stafford

In a matter of months, all of us  no matter who we voted for  will be forced to drink the KoolAid, whether we want to or not. Were all screwed, all of us. I just hope that in two years, all of the people who voted for Trump will have the guts to admit it.

Tom Hix, Houston

This should be a wake-up call to all media. Let this be your day of reckoning. We are tired of misinformation, left politics and bias. This election was a mandate to make America GREAT again.

Bonnie Likover, Houston

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In your face, editorial board! Trump and Ted Cruz won big. So much for your opinions.

Jon Elmendorf, Houston

With Trumps victory, it will now be hypocritical to eliminate any presidential candidate based on his or her past moral behavior.

Randy Saxon, Spring

To those who would say Kamala Harris lost because she is a woman or because she is Black, I say both of those things are incorrect. She lost because of several reasons.

She was never nominated or elected by the people (she was anointed by the Democratic cabal). She got zero support when she first ran for president. Her record is one of failure (as the border czar). She did not separate herself from Joe Biden (who had become very unpopular); just a few months ago, she told the American people that Biden was completely lucid and capable of running the country when she likely knew that was false.

Finally, minorities are not voting in lockstep with Democrats like they have often done in the past. We are getting to a point in society where people are viewing candidates according to their merits and capability, and not according to their gender and skin color. And thats a good thing.

Bob Fowler, Point Blank

In Trumps America, white, straight, Christian men are safe. If youre a woman, brown or Black, LGBTQ, non-Christian or disabled (yes, Gov. Greg Abbott, that includes you), Trump and his cronies are coming for you. Coming for your job, your house, your health care, your legal rights, your civil liberties, your education. Do not be surprised when it happens to you!
Vietnam will introduce an AI-powered tool next week aimed at overseeing the revenue and business operations of e-commerce platforms, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc announced Tuesday at the 15th National Assemblys eighth session in Hanoi.

Phocs statement responded to growing calls for stricter measures against tax evasion on e-commerce platforms, an issue raised by National Assembly deputy Tran Hoang Ngan from Ho Chi Minh City.

Ngan urged the government and relevant agencies to bolster budget collection efforts and take firm action against tax evasion within e-commerce.

His proposal emphasized the need for tighter tax controls, particularly on imports through online platforms, arguing that tax revenue from these sources could be used to invest in digital and internet infrastructure.

The deputy prime minister affirmed that the taxman had collected taxes from cross-border e-commerce platforms, including 102 foreign service suppliers that have paid over VND18.6 trillion (US$734 million) in tax to Vietnam.

Taxmen will start collecting taxes from domestic e-commerce platforms this year, he said.

Next week, an AI tool for overseeing revenue and sales on e-commerce platforms will make its debut.

Hanoi has collected VND35 trillion ($1.4 billion) in tax from online marketplaces.

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The Department of Construction in Ho Chi Minh City is proposing the municipal government assign it, along with relevant agencies, the study of a massive project to relocate all households along and on city rivers and canals.

Ho Chi Minh City currently has around 48,100 homes along and on rivers and canals, according to the Department of Construction.

So far, the city has completed nine relocation projects, involving the compensation and removal of 1,149 houses.

The department noted that 40 percent of the households along rivers and canals are interested in social housing.

To relocate all these households, the city requires a comprehensive plan to evaluate and assess the existing homes, which will guide the calculation of the needed resettlement and social housing units.

The Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies is working with relevant departments and agencies to tally affected houses along rivers and canals and to propose compensation and resettlement policies.

The pilot project is set to launch in District 8.

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Two children were killed when their 40-square-meter residence went up in flames in the wee hours of Wednesday in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam.

The blaze broke out at around 3:30 am in a single-story house with a loft at 136/7 Bach Dang Street in the provincial city of Vung Tau, where a family of seven was staying.

Dozens of firefighters and two fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, where they brought the fire under control at 4:40 am the same day.

The single-story house with a loft where a fire swept through and left two children dead in Vung Tau City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam, November 6, 2024. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre

Five family members managed to escape, but two children, Tang Boi L., 8, and Tang Boi K., 16, did not survive.

Local authorities confirmed that the two children were cousins and expressed condolences to the grieving family the same day.

The cause of the fatal fire is still under investigation.

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Nguyen Duc Thai, former chairman of state-owned Vietnam Education Publishing House, some of his subordinates, and leaders of two firms were charged with taking and giving bribes, and colluding with one another to hike textbook prices, according to an indictment recently issued by the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam.

After taking on the role of chairman of the publishing house in 2017, Thai met with executives from two companies who requested his assistance in securing contracts to supply paper for textbook printing, offering him 'gifts' in exchange for his support.

Previously, the publishing house held competitive bids for paper procurement.

However, after Thais appointment, he assumed full control over these procurement decisions.

According to the indictment, Thai accepted nearly VND25 billion (US$983,800) in bribes to ensure that Phung Vinh Hung Paper JSC and Minh Cuong Phat Paper Company received favorable conditions to supply paper for textbook production.

While in office, Thai directed his subordinates to conduct illegally simplified bidding processes to make it hard for qualified paper suppliers, but facilitated Phung Vinh Hung and Minh Cuong Phats success in winning bids.

The indictment notes that paper purchases for printing are a standard procedure at the publishing house, funded through its business capital.

However, the inflated costs of these paper procurements directly raised textbook prices, placing a financial burden on parents for years.

With Thais support, Phung Vinh Hung Paper JSC secured three bidding packages worth over VND282 billion ($11.1 million) in 2017, so To My Ngoc, then-chairwoman of the firm, offered bribes totaling VND3 billion ($117,800) to Thai.

From late 2018 to 2021, Thai was accused of accepting VND16 billion ($629,860) from the chairwoman of Phung Vinh Hung.

During the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday over the five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022, Ngoc gave VND200 million ($7,860) to Thai.

As such, he was charged with taking a total of VND20 billion ($786,960) from the leader of Phung Vinh Hung between 2017 and 2022, easing the companys gaining 13 packages valued at over VND2.1 trillion ($82.5 million).

Thai was also charged with taking VND4.9 billion ($192,590) from Nguyen Tri Minh, director of Minh Cuong Phat, and instructing his subordinates to legitimize bidding procedures to create favorable conditions for the company to secure bids from 2017 to 2020.

Textbook prices are unreasonable

Investigators found that printing paper costs comprised up to 40 percent of textbook prices, meaning the high paper prices significantly drove up textbook costs.

They recommended that the Ministry of Education and Training introduce regulations to oversee routine paper procurement at the publishing house, ensuring transparent and fair bidding processes.

The Government Inspectorate had previously found that the publishing house sold three types of paper for printing with a value-added tax of five percent to bidding winners to print textbooks.

However, when setting the maximum prices for printing contracts, the publishing house increased the value-added tax on printing paper to 10 percent.

This tax hike on the three types of paper inflated textbook prices, resulting in parents paying an additional VND14.8 billion ($582,740) for their children's textbooks.

The Government Inspectorate affirmed that the violations in selecting paper suppliers, printing service providers, and textbook sales led to an unreasonable spike in the prices of textbooks.

The state-run publishing house specializes in compiling, editing, publishing, printing, and distributing textbooks, electronic versions, maps, educational equipment and tools, and notebooks.

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Police officers have rescued a Swiss tourist who got lost for several hours in Hoang Lien National Park, home to Fansipan Mountain, the tallest peak in Indochina, spanning the provinces of Lao Cai and Lai Chau in northern Vietnam.

The rescued foreigner, Bryan Handelman, 30, with Swiss nationality, was found in a forest within the park at around 1:00 am on Monday in a state of hypothermia and panic after being lost since Sunday evening, Lao Cai police said on Tuesday.

Rescuers immediately administered first aid before taking him to the nearest police station at 4:00 am for further care.

Handelman was reported missing by his compatriot girlfriend, Seriana Maria Lerch, at 7:45 pm on Sunday, to Lao Cais Sa Pa Town police.

She believed he got lost during his solo exploration of the park.

Sa Pa authorities immediately mobilized rescue forces in conjunction with police, forest rangers, and the national park staff to put together four search teams consisting of 25 members in total to look for the lost foreigner.

Bryan Handelman (L, 4th), a Swiss man, is seen at a police station in Sa Pa Town, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam after being rescued from a forest in Hoang Lien National Park in northern Vietnam, November 5, 2024. Photo: Thanh Tuan

Working overnight, the search efforts lasted several hours and paid off with Handelman's recovery.

After being brought by police officers back to his hotel in Sa Pa, Handelman penned a thank-you letter to local forces expressing his gratitude for their great efforts in searching for and rescuing him.

They did a great job and found me around midnight... Im very thankful to all these people who helped me. They were very friendly and motivated police officers, the letter reads.

A similar incident occurred on April 20, when Lai Chau police found an 18-year-old British tourist, Henwood Josheph Thomas, who had been lost in the same park for over eight hours and was also in a state of panic.

Located at an altitude of 1,000-3,000 meters above sea level, Hoang Lien National Park is home to 3,143-meter Mount Fansipan and over 3,000 species of plants and animals, of which hundreds of species are listed in the Red Books of Vietnam and the world, according to Nhan Dan (People) newspaper.

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed relevant agencies to prepare thoroughly for the European Commission's upcoming fifth inspection on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with the goal of lifting the 'yellow card' warning imposed on Vietnam seven years ago.

In a directive sent Monday to relevant ministries, associations, and authorities across 28 coastal provinces and cities, PM Chinh called for meeting all European Commission (EC) requirements on combatting IUU fishing.

He urged thorough preparation for the EC's upcoming fifth inspection visit to Vietnam. Following four previous EC inspections over the past seven years, Vietnam has made recognized strides in addressing IUU fishing, according to the prime minister.

However, many problems still need to be addressed quickly so the EC can remove the IUU fishing yellow card warning imposed on the Vietnamese seafood industry in October 2017.

The issues highlighted include delays and shortcomings in fishing vessel registration, licensing, and addressing boats that fall under the 'three-no' category: no inspection, no registration, and no license.

In his directive, PM Chinh designated November 20 as the deadline to address these 'three-no' vessels. The premier also noted the ongoing problem of Vietnamese vessels and fishermen engaging in illegal fishing in international waters, which remains unresolved.

Enforcement of regulations regarding the installation, management, and operation of vessel monitoring equipment has been inconsistent in some areas.

PM Chinh attributed the root of the problem to insufficient resolve in leadership and oversight by local authorities, inadequate inspection and supervision by enforcement agencies, and instances of profiteering, concealment, or complicity in IUU fishing activities.

Determined to have the yellow card warning lifted at the upcoming fifth EC inspection, PM Chinh called on all relevant agencies and localities to coordinate efforts in the fight against IUU fishing.

He urged local authorities to collaborate with law enforcement to launch a campaign by the end of the month, prioritizing enforcement in critical areas, including addressing vessels with 'three nos,' illegal fishing in international waters, and deregistered boats.

The PM assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to push local authorities to speed up the fishing vessel registration and grant fishing licenses to qualified vessels, as well as eliminate 'three-nos' boats.

PM Chinh has directed the Ministry of National Defense to mobilize the navy, border guards, and coast guard forces to work with maritime law enforcement in ramping up patrols, inspections, and controls, with the goal of identifying and curbing Vietnamese fishing vessels operating illegally in foreign waters.

He also charged the Ministry of Public Security with instructing its units across 28 coastal provinces and cities to monitor the sale, purchase, and transfer of fishing boats without proper ownership procedures and detecting and addressing vessels engaged in unlawful operations.

Any activity that goes against IUU standards should be strictly punished according to current laws and regulations, he ordered.

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There are fears that the US Election has stalled plans for local streaming quotas on Australian platforms.

Yesterday Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young grilled a panel representing the Communications Department on the delays to the planned local quotas, originally due on July 1st 2024.

Every estimates, Im told its coming, its coming, its imminent, its imminent, she said.

And then it just doesnt happen. I would really like a clear response as to whether you have information or evidence in relation to the impact of the Free Trade Agreement with the US in relation to this piece of legislation or the model that we use.

Jim Betts, Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts advised, The Free Trade Agreement is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

He continued, Its subject to cabinet confidentiality and Im not gonna be drawn into a line of questioning about the operation of a Free Trade Agreement because its not my area of expertise.

But Hanson-Young persisted.

Is there any truth in the rumour that this piece of legislation has been put on ice because of the US Election?

Im not going to comment on rumours, particularly as they relate to processes which were before-

Is it true that this legislation has been put on ice because of the US election? Hanson-Young repeated.

You just repeated a question and Ive answered it, said Betts.

Turning to Jenny McAllister, Labor MP representing the Department, she asked Minister, do you think it is appropriate for Australias cultural policy to be held up and hijacked because of the United States of America?

McAllister denied her assumptions adding, Senator Hanson Young, this government always makes decisions based on our national interest. Thats how we approach this policy area and all policy areas.

Following the exchange yesterday, Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner remarked, Australian screen producers are anxiously long awaiting the outcome of the US Presidential election to see whether this will break the ongoing impasse in negotiations around streaming regulation.

Theres little doubt that the mostly US-based streaming businesses have been weaponising the AUSFTA to delay the promised regulation this year.

Last year, the Australian Government committed to ensuring Australians continue to be able to see and hear quality home-grown content, regardless of platform and that regulation to affect this by ensuring streaming platforms invest in key genres, including childrens, drama and documentary, would commence on 1 July 2024.

SPA has been increasingly concerned at reports this year that behind closed doors, the powerful, mainly US-based streaming platforms were arguing that the 2004 AUSFTA meant that the US Government has a significant say in how Australia regulates these services.

Theres no doubt in my mind that the unfortunate collision in timing between the US Presidential election and the Australian Government timeline for this regulation has been behind the prolonged delay in this legislation coming forward to the Parliament.

Australia hasnt been afraid to take on powerful interests in the past. We need to find that resolve, or these digital platforms will continue to play by their own rules and ignore local audiences as it suits them.

This situation is denying Australian audiences ongoing guaranteed and appropriate levels of access to their own screen content and making business conditions challenging for many independent producers.

If we dont face up to the changes brought about by powerful digital platforms to our screen industry, we are setting ourselves on course for a dismal future. And that would be a terrible legacy from our National Cultural Policy Revive, which promised so much for our creative industries, said Mr Deaner.
Tax Assessor-Collector Democratic nominee Annette Ramirez speaks as the Harris County Democrats gathered to watch election results come in at Axelrod on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer In this combo photo of candidates for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector are Annette Ramirez, shown in this 2024 courtesy photo, left, and Steve Radack, shown in this 2016 Chronicle staff file photo, right. Annette Ramirez, courtesy photo. Steve Radack, staff file photo,

Democrat Annette Ramirez narrowly beat out Republican Steve Radack in the race to become Harris County's next tax assessor-collector, voting returns showed Wednesday morning.

Ramirez, a tax attorney for Aldine ISD, was running for office for the first time, while Radack was back on the ballot after serving as Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner for over 30 years until his retirement in 2020.

Ramirez won the seat by less than three points, earning 51.1% of the vote to Radack's 48.9%, according to early results posted by Harris County. The margin of victory was decided by just over 32,000 votes, the county reported.

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Incumbent Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Ann Harris Bennett, a second-term Democrat, cleared the field for the two candidates when she announced last year she would not seek reelection. Bennett has long been absent from public view, and a recent Chronicle analysis of county records found she hadn't swiped her ID to enter the county office building since late 2020.

The tax assessor-collector is a largely administrative role with several responsibilities, including property tax collections, vehicle registrations and voter registration.

The office has gone through major changes in the past four years. Historically, the tax assessor-collector handled voter registration and the county clerk ran elections. That changed in 2020, when Harris County Commissioners Court created an appointed elections administrator position to oversee both of those election-related operations. However, the Texas Legislature abolished Harris County's elections office last year, returning voter registration to the tax assessor-collector and elections to the clerk.

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Ramirez has said that, with her background in tax law, she sees plenty of ways the office hasn't innovated to better serve taxpayers.

"I think it's because we've never had a tax assessor that actually knows property taxes before they take that office," Ramirez told the Chronicle in October. "It's a heavily administrative office and you don't know what you can do if you don't know the law."

She said she would allow property owners to pay their taxes in multiple installments, give delinquent taxpayers more time to get caught up on payments and reduce fees and penalties.

Radack, meanwhile, had said he would improve operations by reducing wait times for services and hiring more full-time employees rather than depending on part-time or temporary staff.

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He had also said his chief motivation for running was to call out what he sees as wasteful spending by Commissioners Court.

"I believe that elected officials are very much charged with not wasting money. Don't waste our money," Radack said in an interview this month with the Chronicle. "People lose track of whose money that is, and that's what bothers the heck out of me."

Radack, with his 30 years as a commissioner, had painted his opponent as an outsider and criticized her for not being a Harris County taxpayer. A longtime resident of Galveston County, Ramirez moved last year to the Rice Military area in Harris County, where she rents a home. She pushed back on Radack's claim, arguing that property taxes are built into rent payments.

Ramirez, for her part, had criticized Radack's reasons for running, saying he was looking for a bully pulpit, not an opportunity to help residents navigate their property taxes.
First-look pictures have been released of Don Gilet (Sherwood, EastEnders, Shetland) as Death in Paradises new lead, Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson.

Gilet makes his debut in a feature-length 2024 Death in Paradise Christmas special, before a new season, arriving on the idyllic isle of Saint Marie from his home in London. While assisting with a case following a short trip, the team discover Mervin may have an ulterior motive for being on the island

Don Gilet says: I am delighted to have returned to the wonderful island of Guadeloupe and this time to be stepping into the well-worn shoes of the Detective Inspector. Its been a real pleasure filming such a beloved series alongside the hardworking cast and crew. I cant wait for the fans to see how DI Mervin Wilson fares on the island, how he fits within the Saint Marie police team and what secrets may unfold

BritBox becomes the first-run home of Death in Paradise in Australia following the end of BBC First.

It is yet to confirm what titles will be fast-tracked in Australia.
Munich, London, Paris, New York, Seville, Belfast, Bavaria, Riga new spy thriller The Day of the Jackal has gone all out to envelop you in bustling metropolises and sumptuous locations.

Theres money on the screen in the new series starring Eddie Redmayne as the conniving Jackal of the title.

The reimagining of Frederick Forsythes novel of the same name is expanded 10 episodes which, unlike a good ol James Bond adventure, demands much of its audience. Thankfully it delivers on several fronts.

The action opens with the Jackal heavily disguised and undertaking his first of many covert activites, first in Munich. While the original 1973 film centered around a plot to kill French President Charles de Gaulle, this time a target is a candidate for German Chancellor (review embargos forbid me from detailing if he is successful). Is that slightly awkward given recent events in the USA?

Suffice to say his actions attract the attention of MI6 intelligence officer Bianca (Lashana Lynch) who is both compelled by his finesse and determined to halt him in his tracks. Biance is both skilled MI6 officer and devoted mother to a teenage daughter, the first of several family characters to not know what their loved one is truly undertaking in their unique employ.

Meanwhile our anti-hero is secretly offered a multi-million dollar hit job on a software billionaire (Khalid Abdalla) who in a gift to the world is about to release new software known as River, which will effectively make all bank accounts transparent.

When he isnt a master of disguise, aiming his high-powered long range rifle, or eluding authorities at every step, Jackal is chilling in his stunning Spanish villa overlooking the Meditteranean with equally-stunning wife Nuria (Ursula Corbero) and baby son. Once again, the character lives a double life. The work-life balance of these characters is notably highlighted as an emotive tug-of-war, whether goodies or baddies.

Other key characters include Biancas Belfast asset Isabel (Lia Williams), a US corporate mogul Timothy Winthorp (Charles Dance) and go-between Zina (Eleanor Matsuura).

Amid the alluring city skylines, cat-and-mouse chases and spy tricks -all of which are pretty darn satisfying- we are left with moral choices and duplicitous actions which are increasingly similar on both sides of good / evil. Its ok to lie, cheat, steal, kill as a means to an end, right? Who cares when there is another drop-dead gorgeous Euro-setting that looks sensational on the screen.. hmm.

Eddie Redmayne plays it completely cool, whispering dialogue and betraying his boyish charms with cold-blooded killer precision. This helps make the series unexpected fun.

Lashana Lynch is no shrinking violet as a smart, gritty MI6 officer, whose instincts must win the day. Just a pity that she missed parent-teacher night in order to save the world.

The series also oozes in sleepy, sultry pop songs which all sound like they have dropped off the latest Billie Eilish album. They are often dragged out for effect, just because.

The jury is out on whether this requires 10 episodes to tell its tale, but like the best of The Night Manager or Spooks, it hums along as a handsome, sometimes dastardly ride, all the same.

The Day of the Jackal 9pm Thursday on Showcase / Binge.
Back in 2009, the brilliant filmmaker Sam Raimi journeyed back to his horror roots and made a fun-as-hell horror-comedy film called Drag Me To Hell. For those of you who dont remember who Sam Raimi is, movies like Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness, The Spider-Man Trilogy, and are some of his accomplishments. Raimi and his brother and frequent collaborator Ivan Raimi had an idea for a horror film called The Curse, but when Raimi booked the gig, that film was put on hold for the next decade. After Spider-Man 3 was released, Sam and Ivan went quickly back to their idea to work on a low-budget horror film again, which turned into Drag Me To Hell.

If youve seen the British horror film Night of the Demon, youd see some good similarities between the two, but Sam wanted to make a movie about a pleasant and very nice individual who makes one bad decision out of their very own greed, which comes back to haunt them most horrifically. Drag Me To Hell centers on a young woman named Christine (Alison Lohman), who is a sweet and well-mannered loan officer at a bank. Shes kind, funny, and has a good boyfriend she loves (Justin Long). Her boss at the bank is always riding her to make the hard decisions to keep bank profits up and not allow people who need help with extensions or past payments. Christine doesnt agree with this sentiment, but when an elderly gypsy woman comes in and kindly asks for an extension on her house, Christine does not allow it to impress her boss and gain a small promotion.

The old gypsy woman, played perfectly by Lorna Raver, curses Christine to hell for eternity. The rules are that Christine is now in possession of a button from the gypsy woman and must pass the button along to someone else within three days or she will be devoured by demons in a fiery hell below forever. Of course, none of this seems believable, but when strange and terrifying things start happening, Christine must try to make things right. The film is rated PG-13, which for a horror movie on Sam Raimis watch, isnt the way to go, but Raimi wanted to do something different and rely on psychological horror rather than a ton of gore. But when there's gore, it's effectively used to sometimes hilarious heights.

Needless to say, Raimi succeeded here on all levels. His ability to show shadows behind doors or evil footsteps lurking is highly suspenseful and works in each scene here. The more potent scares are in your face and downright terrifying, which might leave you nervously laughing at any moment. With the horror genre, Raimi perfectly inputs his comedic genius that rallies behind that of The Three Stooges and some other off-beat dark humor, which is such a delightful and delicious mix of dialogue and gore. The performances are all solid, but the person who stands out is by far Lorna Raver as the old gypsy woman.

Raver is a stage actress who is sweet and kind, but in this film, she is ugly, ruthless, and scary as hell. Its a great transformation and Raver just jumps into the deep end with her character and never swims back to the edge. At its core, Drag Me To Hell is a tale of morals and ethics, where you might be a sweet and kind person, but even one slip-up and come back to bite you. Its a damn fine message and premise that will make you laugh and hide under the covers with the lights on. This is how you make a horror movie correctly.

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Drag Me To Hell curses itself to 4K + Blu-ray in a three-disc set from Scream Factory. One disc is the 4K disc that houses both the theatrical and Unrated versions of the film. The other two Blu-ray discs include one or the other versions. The new 115-minute doc is on Blu-ray Disc 2. The artwork features the original movie poster of Lohman screaming with hands from hell reaching up for her. There is no insert for a digital code.
Major projects shaping the future of the industry

In October, Vietnams first integrated petrochemical complex, located in Long Son commune, Vung Tau City, began its commercial operation. Backed by an impressive investment of more than USD 5 billion from Thailand's SCG Group, this facility is poised to produce a wide range of petrochemical products, including essential plastic resins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). These materials will not only serve the domestic market but also bolster export capabilities, reducing Vietnam's reliance on imported polyolefins and enhancing the competitiveness of downstream industries.

The Long Son Petrochemical Complex is already making a significant impact on the regions industrial production value. Kulachet Dharachandra, General Director of Long Son Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., noted that the complex is expected to contribute around USD 1.5 billion annually to the province's industrial output. With world-class technology and a focus on safety and environmental sustainability, we believe the Long Son complex will be a key driver of economic growth and competitiveness for Vietnams petrochemical and plastics sectors, he said.

Alongside this project, South Korea's Hyosung Group has already launched a polypropylene (PP) production plant and an underground LPG storage facility in Ba Ria-Vung Tau. With a combined investment of USD 1.3 billion, these operations contribute VND 15 trillion to the provinces industrial output each year and pay over VND 2 trillion in taxes.

Continued investment reinforces the provinces strategic role

During a recent visit to South Korea, Chairman of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Tho signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chairman of Hyosung Group. This agreement sets the stage for their future collaboration, with plans for a Bio-BDO (Bio-based 1,4 Butanediol) bioproduct manufacturing plant and a carbon fibre production facility in Phu My, collectively valued at over USD 1.2 billion.

These initiatives, alongside the ongoing projects at Long Son and Hyosungs existing operations, highlight Ba Ria-Vung Taus growing importance in Hyosung Groups global strategy. The company views the province as a key location to support its long-term vision for the next century in Vietnam.

A hub for cutting-edge, sustainable chemical production

The Phu My 3 Specialised Industrial Park is fast becoming a focal point for chemical industry projects in the region. SCG and Hyosung are among the many major investors capitalizing on Ba Ria-Vung Taus strategic location, modern infrastructure, and attractive investment policies. These projects are characterized by substantial capital investments, the latest technological innovations, and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trades Department of Chemicals, Ba Ria-Vung Tau is one of the few regions in Vietnam with large-scale petrochemical industrial complexes such as Long Son and Hyosung. Additionally, the Phu My 3 Industrial Park hosts a growing number of companies in the chemical sector.

The provinces industrial parks and logistics centres are strategically located near deep-water ports, far from residential areas, and are equipped with advanced transportation links. This planning ensures environmental safety and protection of water sources, while also promoting the principles of the circular economy. Within these industrial parks, waste and by-products from one plant are often used as raw materials by another, creating a more efficient, sustainable ecosystem for chemical production.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau is building a robust industrial network that leverages the regions rich supply of raw materials, including oil and gas, and its well-developed deep-water port infrastructure. Combined with its strong consumer market and expansive, well-planned investment areas, the province continues to attract leading global investors to its chemical sector.

Promoting sustainable development and industry diversification

To maximize the potential of its chemical industry, the provincial authorities are not only focusing on upstream petrochemical projects but are also encouraging investment in downstream sectors, particularly those related to post-petrochemical chemicals. This strategy aims to create a fully integrated chemical industry cluster that drives both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau is committed to developing its chemical industry in an environmentally responsible manner, prioritizing high-value-added technologies and minimizing labor-intensive processes. Investment in chemical projects must adhere to strict legal requirements and local policies to ensure compliance with environmental standards.

The chemical facilities in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, particularly those in specialized industrial zones, are required to implement wastewater treatment systems as per regulations. This commitment has led to the creation of large-scale, modern, and safe chemical industry complexes focused on green chemistry and a circular economy, explained the Department of Industry and Trade.

Ba Ria-Vung Taus vision of becoming a leading centre for the chemical industry is well on its way to realization. With strong foreign investment, a growing number of cutting-edge projects, and a commitment to sustainable growth, the province is poised to play a pivotal role in Vietnams industrial future. As global investors continue to flock to the region, the potential for innovation, job creation, and long-term economic growth remains immense./.
HA NOI  The Government has recently proposed to amend a regulation of the Law on Tax Administration to better manage tax for foreign suppliers.

Under the proposal, the Government plans to clear up rules on foreign businesses which have argued that they do not have a fixed base in Viet Nam and are demanding huge tax refunds.

Under the current Clause 4, Article 42 of the law, for e-commerce business, digital-based business and other services of foreign suppliers without having a permanent establishment in Viet Nam, the foreign suppliers are directly obliged to or authorise tax registration, tax declaration and tax payment in Viet Nam.

The ministry proposes to remove the phrase without having a permanent establishment in Viet Nam in Clause 4, Article 42. The amendment will create many changes in the way that Viet Nam imposes tax on foreign suppliers.

Many foreign suppliers such as Meta, Google and Netflix are requesting Viet Nams tax authorities to refund the corporate income tax they paid because they do not have a permanent establishment in Viet Nam.

The amount of tax requested to be refunded is up to thousands of billions of Vietnamese ong.

Many experts agreed with the Governments proposal, saying that to ensure fairness among taxpayers as well as the responsibility of foreign suppliers to fulfil their tax obligations to the Vietnamese state, the phrase without having a permanent establishment in Viet Nam should be removed.

According to lawyer Nguyen Duy Nguyen, General Director of Hoang Giao Law Firm, Clause 4, Article 42 stipulates the principles of tax declaration and calculation for e-commerce business, digital-based business and other services that are performed by foreign suppliers without having a permanent establishment in Viet Nam.

Thus, foreign suppliers with a permanent establishment in Viet Nam will not be directly or authorised to register for tax, declare tax and pay tax in Viet Nam. In this case, the foreign suppliers have the right to only perform the obligation to pay corporate income tax on the portion of profits allocated to permanent establishments according to the provisions of the Law on Corporate Income Tax and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.

Meanwhile, according to the provisions of the Law on Value Added Tax and the Law on Corporate Income Tax, when foreign suppliers conduct e-commerce business, digital-based business and other services in Viet Nam, they are subject to corporate income tax and value added tax. This makes it difficult to collect taxes from foreign e-commerce service providers, such as in the case of online booking service providers Booking and Agoda.

In my opinion, to create fairness among taxpayers and ensure adequate revenue for e-commerce activities, it is necessary to remove the phrase without having a permanent establishment in Viet Nam under Clause 4, Article 42 on tax declaration and calculation principles, Nguyen said.

The General Department of Taxation (GDT) also believes that retaining the phrase without having permanent establishment may no longer be suitable for the current e-commerce business. Online transactions do not require a physical presence such as office, factory or staff in Viet Nam, so determining a permanent establishment becomes more complicated.

According to the GDT, double tax avoidance agreements (DTAs) were signed many years ago, but mainly applied to traditional business activities with a physical presence. Meanwhile, e-commerce business operates mainly in cyberspace, without a physical presence, which causes the application of current tax regulations to become inappropriate.

Economist Dr. inh Trong Thinh also said the application of DTAs was causing difficulties in determining tax liability. Many foreign suppliers took advantage of the DTAs to avoid tax obligations. This was a concern, especially when corporate income tax from e-commerce transactions could become an important source of revenue for the national budget in the future.

Therefore, Thinh believes amending the provisions in Clause 4, Article 42 will open up opportunities for tax authorities to manage taxes more effectively. If the phrase without having a permanent establishment is removed, tax authorities will have a legal basis to require foreign suppliers doing business in Viet Nam to fulfil tax obligations, regardless of whether they have a permanent establishment in the country or not.

The removal of the phrase without having a permanent establishment in the law is a necessary step in reforming the tax system in Viet Nam. This not only ensures the State's right to collect taxes but also creates a clear legal framework for foreign suppliers operating e-commerce businesses in Viet Nam.  VNS
By Bao Hoa

With an open investment environment, modern infrastructure and an abundant, skilled workforce, Ha Noi has been positioning itself as a promising destination for foreign investors.

As investment capital around the world goes into a downward spiral, due to the ongoing significant restructuring of global trade, investors are still drawn to Viet Nam and particularly Ha Noi.

Potential for growth

The capital city is Viet Nams largest financial centre. It has the second largest business community and is where the majority of research institutes, universities, hospitals and banks are headquartered. These elements give Ha Noi unique strengths in international cooperation based on innovations and technological advancements.

Ha Nois population accounts for 8.1 per cent of the countrys total, of which 51.7 per cent are young people. Trained labourers accounted for over 73 per cent of the citys workforce in 2023.

One major driving force for the development of the capital is the abundant financial resources. Total State budget revenue from 2011 to 2023 increased by 10.65 per cent on average every year, while total social development investment increased by 9.47 per cent, annually.

There has been a major shift in the structure of investments into social development, with investments from the State decreasing from 51 per cent in 2010 to about 34.3 per cent in 2023, while the non-state sector rapidly increased from 35.3 per cent to approximately 59 per cent.

Cumulatively, by 2023, Ha Noi has attracted 4,500 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, with a total registered investment capital of over US$33 billion, up 70.5 per cent from 2022. This brought the capital into the top five cities with the highest FDI in the country.

In the first nine months of this year, $1.5 billion in FDI was poured into Ha Noi. Many corporations from the US, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Europe have actively been making investments into the city. Apart from transferring new technology, training the local workforce and contributing to the global value chains, each year FDI enterprises contribute 10 per cent of the citys budget revenue, 11 per cent of the citys workforce and 11 per cent of its social development capital.

Speaking at the meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 17, Tran Sy Thanh, chair of the Ha Noi Peoples Committee said the capital aimed to attract a total of $3.13 billion in FDI this year.

"The confidence of international investors in Ha Nois investment environment is evidence of the strong reforms in management, business environment improvement and investment promotion by the city, he said.

Ha Noi is not only an attractive destination for foreign investors, but also an important economic and financial centre of the region and the country.

In line with the Prime Minister's decision, the city is now in charge of the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, which was previously managed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, according to Thanh.

It means the Ha Noi Peoples Committee is responsible for coordinating 111 investment projects in the park, of which 96 are domestic and 15 are foreign investment projects, with a total registered capital of approximately VN116 trillion ($4.57 billion).

Nguyen Ngoc Tu, deputy director of the Ha Noi Department of Planning and Investment said at the same meeting: The FDI sector has made a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the city with its advantages in capital, technology, and management capacity.

This sector contributed to economic growth from both the supply and demand perspectives, increasing total investments into social development and growing the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), he added.

The presence of FDI enterprises had also created pressure to compete in each sector, which would serve as a motivation for domestic companies to improve technology, update designs, enhance product quality and boost their competitiveness.

This has significantly impacted the development and restructuring of industries across various sectors," Tu said.

Sound legal foundation for investments

The city is offering several incentives to attract high-tech investment and lead the development of the economy.

According to Nguyen uc Kien, former head of the Economic Advisory Group to the Prime Minister, Ha Noi's outstanding advantages in attracting FDI are the geographical location, human resources and administrative reforms.

Economist Nguyen Minh Phong said: To attract investments from in and out of the country, a good investment environment is key.

Ha Noi benefits from a transparent, favourable legal foundation for attracting investment, thanks to important regulatory documents such as Decree 15, issued by the Politburo on May 5, 2022, which gives direction for the citys development until 2045.

The 2024 Capital Law, approved by the National Assembly in June, also introduces many mechanisms and policies that support the citys growth.

Ha Noi has long considered the enterprise community, local and FDI alike, as an important dynamic for its development and global integration. The investments it is attracting are geared towards sustainability, are those that will create impacts, transfer technology and connect Viet Nam with the global production and supply chains.

Nguyen Anh Duong, director of the Ha Noi Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Center said: The city always pays attention and provides the most favourable conditions to attract investment.

In addition to existing general incentives, the 2024 Capital Law had established several special mechanisms and policies for strategic investors, he added.

These included exemptions and reductions in land and water surface rental fees, as well as preferential customs and tax procedures for imported and exported goods related to strategic investment projects.

Notably, the Capital Law of 2024 includes outstanding provisions regarding the decentralisation of management and public asset management, which will assist the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park in establishing a roadmap to attract new, high-value technology projects, Duong said.

Regarding Ha Nois plan to attract more FDI, the citys chairman Tran Sy Thanh said Ha Noi would focus on implementing Resolution 50, issued by the Politburo on August 20, 2019, which gives directions to consolidate the institutional framework and policies to enhance the quality and effectiveness of foreign investment cooperation by 2030.

Accordingly, the city's direction for attracting FDI will focus more on depth than width, and will be aligned with the sustainable development goals, he said.

Priority would be given to high-quality projects with value-added products and high competitiveness that focus on urban infrastructure development, supporting industries using modern, environmentally friendly technology, as well as projects in information technology, research and development, tourism, financial and banking services, human resource training, high-tech agriculture and safe food production.

Strategically, Ha Noi also aims to attract investment from companies and corporations in the high-tech sector, according to Thanh.

We will continue to innovate our investment promotion efforts, linking them with trade and tourism promotion, external relations and cultural activities, he said.

We will focus on key markets and countries such as the G7, G8 and the OECD, to showcase the city's potential and advantages."

Ha Noi has made solid progress in attracting FDI to contribute to economic development for itself and the country. With such efforts, it is hoped that more foreign corporations and businesses will come to Ha Noi and together with the people, build a sustainable and prosperous economy for the city and Viet Nam.  VNS
China-Europe SMILE satellite to depart for Europe

Xinhua) 09:11, November 06, 2024

Technicians check the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

The SMILE is a joint mission between the CAS and the European Space Agency (ESA) that aims to deepen the understanding of the Sun-Earth connection by observing the dynamic interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere.

The SMILE satellite has completed the development work in China, including satellite testing, system interface testing and environmental experiments, according to the National Space Science Center of the CAS.

The SMILE is about to depart for Europe. It is scheduled for launch by the end of 2025 from Europe's space launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, by Arianespace's Vega-C launch vehicle.

A technician checks the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A technician checks the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A technician measures the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Technicians check the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Technicians pack the battery pack of the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Customs officers check the packages for the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A technician checks the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A technician packs the battery pack of the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Technicians measure the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A technician checks the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton discusses a proposed $26 billion multi-state opioid settlement during a news conference at the Houston Recovery Center Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Three Republicans backed by Attorney General Ken Paxton won seats on the states top criminal appeals court.

Gina Parker, Lee Finley and David Schenck were declared winners by The Associated Press around 1 a.m. on Wednesday. They would play a role on the nine-person court in deciding the fate of Robert Roberson, a death row inmate whose innocence claims have gained national attention, and in potentially reconsidering a ruling that limits Paxtons ability to prosecute voter fraud.

All three have been critical of the 2021 voter fraud decision that the attorney general wants to overturn. And while they alone wouldn't be able to overturn the previous decision, their wins would mark a milestone in Paxtons effort to beat back the ruling, which he's blasted as ludicrous.

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Paxton congratulated the trio on social media Tuesday night and said he was proud to support them in their primaries. He said he knows they will champion conservative values on the court.

The all-Republican Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for all criminal matters in Texas, including for death penalty appeals. Roberson wont have another execution date set until the new judges are sworn in; he is expected to seek relief from the court. The 57-year-old man was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in a case that has split the states Republicans.

Finley, Parker and Schenck were facing Democrats Chika Anyiam, Nancy Mulder and Holly Taylor. A Democrat hasnt won statewide office in nearly 30 years.

The GOP side of the race has largely centered on the courts 2021 ruling that struck down a state law giving Paxtons office the authority to prosecute voter fraud unilaterally. The 8-1 decision held that the law violated the separation of powers doctrine in the Texas Constitution. The decision meant Paxton, who has made going after voter fraud a central component of his job, could only take the cases if a district attorney referred them or sought his offices help.

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Paxton and other top Republican officials blasted the decision, and this primary cycle, the states top lawyer threw his weight behind candidates challenging three of the sitting judges who signed onto the decision. All three challengers ended up winning their primaries, ousting the incumbent Republicans.

Of the three Republican candidates, only Schenck has judicial experience. The commercial litigation attorney is a former judge on the Dallas-based 5th Court of Appeals, a state appeals court. He also previously chaired the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Taylor, Schencks opponent, is a prosecutor with the Travis County district attorney's office. Taylor was part of the team that tried and won the high-profile case of former U.S. House majority leader Tom DeLay, who was accused of money laundering, though his conviction was later overturned.

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Finley is a Marine Corps veteran and criminal lawyer of more than 20 years. Parker is a former city and county prosecutor and has since been in private practice for over 32 years.
HA NOI  Vietnamese exporters are navigating a landscape filled with both promise and peril, and experts urge them to bolster their defence against trade remedy investigations while capitalising on surging global demand.

Le Anh Van, Director of the Legal Support and Human Resource Development Centre under the Viet Nam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, called on domestic exporters to stay ahead of the curve, highlighting the need for regular updates on anti-trade remedy investigations through Viet Nams trade agencies abroad.

Innovation, product diversification and quality improvement are key, while a workforce well-versed in trade remedies and relevant management systems is crucial to navigate potential challenges, he said.

The warning comes as Viet Nam's exports, renowned for their competitive edge in labour and production costs, increasingly meet international quality standards. This success, however, has raised red flags in importing countries, prompting them to employ trade remedy measures to protect their domestic industries, said Deputy Director of the Trade Remedies Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) Truong Thuy Linh.

The final months of this year present a mix of opportunities and challenges, according to Director of the Trade Remedies Authority Trinh Anh Tuan.

Year-end consumption demand in major markets like the US and EU is expected to benefit electronics, consumer goods and textile sectors. The textile industry, in particular, stands to gain as export orders shift from Bangladesh. Additionally, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) markets are projected to sustain Viet Nams competitive edge in trade and investment.

In response, the MoIT is committed to strengthening the legal framework to protect the economy, domestic enterprises, and markets, in line with international commitments.

Efforts will continue to optimise the use of trade remedy tools, ensuring effective support for Viet Nams export sector against foreign trade remedy cases, Tuan asserted. VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nams business and investment climate is showing marked improvements following sustained reform efforts, with enhanced access to business-related information and regulations, reduced unofficial costs, and effective administrative reforms, according to the latest survey by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

So far this year, the business community has witnessed positive policy shifts from regulatory bodies, with the government actively addressing outdated regulations and streamlining administrative procedures. However, enterprises have higher expectations on the reforms and resolve to handle the bottlenecks of the regulations.

One major concern remains fire safety regulations, including specifications for fire-resistant paint, fire resistance ratings, fire separation distances, and water supply system having creating significant obstacles for businesses. Many completed buildings remain unused due to the requirements, resulting in substantial losses for firms and society.

Dialogues have been held between state management agencies and associations and businesses to revise the law on fire prevention and fighting to remove roadblocks for them.

The transit cargo regulations have challenged the logistics sector as well. According to Chairman of the Viet Nam Logistics Business Association ao Trong Khoa, Vietnamese transport companies have faced penalties for violations of transit cargo regulations although they are not allowed to verify the contents of the cargoes while the goods information in the customs declaration is provided by their partners.

Environmental protection fees for emissions present another obstacle, with potential overlaps with the environmental protection law.

VCCI Deputy Secretary General and head of the chambers Legal Department au Anh Tuan said that while economic tools are crucial for environmental protection, businesses already face multiple environmental obligations, including solid waste, wastewater and hazardous waste fees.

Viet Nam has enacted the environmental protection tax law, which levies taxes on petroleum and coal, the primary fuels responsible for emissions. Current environmental protection laws stipulate the issuance of environmental permits, which include provisions regarding the quantity and quality of emissions as well as automatic and periodic monitoring measures.

Most businesses have complied with these obligations, enabling government agencies to gather sufficient data to impose taxes on emissions rather than taxing input fuels, he said.

Tuan added that although competent ministries and sectors have reviewed and built measures to reduce and simplify various businessrelated requirements over the recent three years, they have not met businesses expectations. He expressed his hope for continued reform efforts to address investment barriers and business constraints.  VNS
HCM CITY  Some 320 businesses and cooperatives from 32 provinces and cities are showcasing their unique products at the 2024 Week of OCOP Products, Regional Specialty Products, and Agricultural Production, Preservation, and Processing Technologies that opened in HCM City on November 6.

On show are 1,000 products, including products made under One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme and regional specialities and agricultural production, processing and preservation technologies.

They include 21 OCOP products with a full five-star rating and 638 with 3-4 stars.

Vo Van Hoan, deputy chairman of the HCM City Peoples Commitee, told the opening ceremony that the event aims to support enterprises and cooperatives in promoting OCOP products and regional specialties to consumers and distributors in the city and facilitate the transfer of advanced technologies in the agricultural sector.

It is also part of the socio-economic cooperation programme between the city and other localities, he said.

The event follows the resounding success of the inaugural edition last year, where more than 80 per cent of the products on display sold out in three days, according to the HCM City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, one of the events organisers.

It has garnered strong participation from localities across the country with which the city has collaborative programmes this year, it said.

Besides, businesses from northern provinces of Lao Cai and Quang Ninh, which have no socio-economic agreements with the city, are also participating.

To run until November 10, it also features a dedicated area with 50 booths for exhibiting agricultural, forestry and fishery processing technologies, showcasing smart applications, biotechnology, agricultural varieties, and machinery for urban farming.

Another highlight is the Mega Live programme that assist businesses and co-operatives with opening online stores and introducing their products via live streaming with renowned KOLs to reach a diverse range of consumers.

The expo is being held at the Le Thi Rieng Cultural Park in District 10.  VNS
By Hoang Ha

BOLOGNA  EIMA 2024, the 46th annual international agricultural machinery exhibition has begun in Italy, with Vietnamese companies in attendance.

The expo, which will run until November 10, has over 1,750 participating industries, 700 of which are foreign, covering every market segment.

Organised into 14 product sectors and five thematic shows : Components, Digital, Energy, Green and Hydrotech, EIMA offers a countless opportunities to increase agricultural productivity while drastically reducing impacts on the environment.

This international exhibition, organised by Italian Agicultural Machinary Manufacturers Federation (FederUnacoma), shows machinery and technologies for agriculture, forestry, livestock farming and greenery maintenance.

There are cutting-edge vehicles, machinery and advanced digital systems for an increasingly scientific agriculture industry connected to the service system and other production sectors.

A delegation of Vietnamese businesses, organised by the Italian Trade Agency in Viet Nam, are visiting EIMA in the hope of finding partners supplying advanced machines and technologies for development of modern agriculture in Viet Nam.

EIMA 2024 marks the tenth time that Vietnamese businesses have participated in the exhibition.

Le Hong Giang, director of GALAN Co.,LTD - a company specialising in trading machinery, equipment and spare parts, said visiting EIMA 2024, he will meet old partners and also seek for new ones from Italian machinery manufacturers at the exhibition.

"Italian companies have distributed their products to Viet Nam via many channels, but now they expect to set up sale agents in Viet Nam," Giang told Viet Nam News.

At this event, Giang expects to find out the types of machines that can be suitable for Vietnamese customers in terms of quality and price.

"In the world, Italian agricultural machinery is leading in terms of quality," Giang said.

In addition, he said that EIMA is also a chance for him to learn about global agricultural trends which can be brought back and used in Vietnam.

The EIMA international exhibition raises expectations ever higher by offering technological solutions to the great challenges of agriculture and the environment, said the General Director of FederUnacoma, Simona Rapastella.

Population growth, climate change, polluting emissions, animal welfare and the protection of biodiversity - explained Rapastella - are all crucial issues for the future of the planet and can only be addressed with a new generation of agro-mechanical technologies.

There are approximately 60,000 models of vehicles, equipment and components from 50 countries on display in the Bologna exhibition centre.

In addition, the director of FederUnacoma has also stressed the technical content of the exhibition, with numerous previews and new products presented by the manufacturers and EIMA Campus where eleven Universities are represented, together with research centres and training facilities.

Over the five days, many representatives of the government and institutions will be present, as will be delegations of European and national parliamentarians and diplomats from foreign countries, all with the aim of learning about the most suitable technological solutions for the different regions of the world and taking part in the discussion on agricultural models, on the economic and geopolitical variables that influence trade, and on cooperation strategies.

At this year's EIMA event there will be a lot of space given to digital and robotic technologies and to the applications of AI and Big Data. Trends which will make it possible to connect the activity of agricultural companies to weather forecasting systems, mapping and control of territories and the monitoring of products for health purposes, management of agro-industrial supply chains, distribution to markets, as well as control of the operating parameters of machinery for the purposes of technical assistance and safety at work.

Modern mechanisation thus allows companies to remain competitive and to keep pace with the ecological needs of the planet and allows agriculture to be included within a macro-system that involves everyone, from consumers to institutions, and even the world of school and training, said Rapastella.

This is why this exhibition is no longer merely an 'industry' event but rather an 'innovation factory', open to agro-industrial supply chains and related economic sectors and very much looking towards the future."  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh worked with leading Chinese companies in infrastructure and energy fields to promote cooperation between the two countries.

PM Chinh is on a four-day trip to China to attend the 8th Greater Mekong sub-region (GMS) Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, and the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Viet Nam (CLMV) Cooperation Summit.

On Wednesday in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, he stressed that the friendly neighbourly relations between Viet Nam and China are booming. The PM urged enterprises from both sides to strengthen cooperation to realise high-level agreements, promote the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and build a China  Viet Nam Community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

He called on Chinese companies to increase investments in Viet Nam through specific projects and provide support in finance, science and technology transfer, human resources training and governance to drive the development of Vietnamese partners, and enable them to participate more deeply in global supply chains.

Viet Nam is promoting three strategic breakthroughs in improving institutions and the legal framework, developing infrastructure and improving the business environment with the motto of building an open mechanism, smooth infrastructure and smart governance, PM Chinh said, stressing that Viet Nam will strive to create the most favourable conditions for Chinese investors to invest and do business effectively and sustainably in Viet Nam.

Working with China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), PM Chinh welcomed CRCCs plan of expanding investment in Viet Nam, affirming that the Vietnamese government will provide support to ensure the corporations successful and sustainable business in the country.

The PM asked CRCC to study and make specific proposals for its investment projects in Viet Nam, firstly the Lao Cai  Ha Noi  Hai Phong railway project connecting with Kinming, Yunnan to implement the 'Belt and Road Initiative' and promoting the development of border provinces.

He also urged CRCC to study participation in other major infrastructure projects in Viet Nam such as Ha Noi  Lang Son, Hai Phong  Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) railways as well as expressway projects connecting border provinces of Viet Nam with China and the North-South Expressway.

In response, CRCC Chairman Dai Hegen said that CRCC is interested in participating in railway, urban metro and other infrastructure projects in Viet Nam.

With regard to the railway project of Lao Cai  Ha Noi  Hai Phong connected with Kunmming and Yunnan, he said that CRCC is working with Vietnamese partners on the projects pre-feasibility study report, ready to participate in the project.

He expected procedures to be simplified so that the project can be started in December 2025.

Working with China Huadian Corporation, PM Chinh urged the corporation to increase investment cooperation with Viet Nam in clean energy and electricity distribution.

Viet Nam is an important market for Huadian with a total investment of US$2.8 billion so far, with Duyen Hai No 2 being a major investment project of Huadian in Viet Nam. The wind power project in ak Lak is also the first onshore wind power project of Huadian in a foreign country.

Huadian wanted to increase investments in Viet Nam in wind power, green hydro, power storage, upgradation of the power system and energy efficiency, expecting the Vietnamese Government to early issue policies for the development of green energy.

While highly appreciating the investments of Huadian in Viet Nam, PM Chinh urged the corporation to increase investments, enhance cooperation and promote transfer of technology and governance experience sharing with Viet Nam.

He also called on Huadian to study cooperation opportunities in prioritised sectors of Viet Nam such as the establishment of energy industry centres, processing and manufacturing hubs, the energy equipment manufacturing industry and development of human resources for the energy sector.

At the same time, PM Chinh worked with Energy China Group, which is implementing 16 projects in Viet Nam with a total investment of $2.2 billion.

Energy China expected Viet Nam to have an appropriate electricity pricing mechanism and expressed hope to participate in developing green development and low-emissions solutions in Viet Nam such as LNG power, offshore wind power and transport projects.

PM Chinh highly appreciated Energy Chinas effective and sustainable investments in Viet Nam, as well as the corporations plan for investment expansion in the country.

He said that Viet Nam is actively developing policies on energy and infrastructure development in line with the countrys socio-economic development and international treaties that Viet Nam has signed.

The PM asked Energy China to increase investments in energy in Viet Nam, especially wind power, solar power, LNG power, pumpstorage hydropower and transport infrastructure developments.

Viet Nam always accompanies, supports, and creates favourable conditions for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business successfully and sustainably in the country, the PM stressed.

Chinas investment in Viet Nam increased from $2.92 billion in 2021 to $4.47 billion in 2023.

China is the second largest investor in Viet Nam in the first 10 months of this year with a total investment of $3.61 billion, accounting for 13 per cent of the total foreign investment in the country in the period and up five per cent.  VNS
A NANG  a Nang International Airport and the a Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company have announced the consolidation of their digital information platforms for travellers.

The company is the operator of the international terminal at the airport, the first private enterprise in the country to operate an aviation terminal.

For the unification, the two have aligned their accounts on social media like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

They have also established a centralised e-newsletter to provide updates to partners and travellers.

To Ngoc Hai, deputy director of the airport and head of the editorial board of the airports electronic information portal, said: We are thrilled to collaborate with AHT to provide a unified e-information portal that makes it easier for travellers to find the information they need.

This is also a significant step in enhancing the professionalism and impact of a Nang Airport's image in the eyes of passengers.

a Nang International Airport will launch a new website in December that integrates information from both T1 and T2 terminals, making it easier for travellers to access flight updates and other airport activities.

o Trong Hau, deputy general director of AHT, said: We are confident this partnership with a Nang International Airport will foster a more refined and comprehensive identity, guaranteeing a smooth and welcoming experience for all visitors.

The two sides said they share a goal of establishing a Nang International Airport as a symbol of the countrys warm hospitality, and providing timely, effective and easily accessible information is one of the key factors in achieving this, and so they were unifying the online information platforms for the entire airport.

Located three kilometres from downtown a Nang, the airport is the largest in central Viet Nam and third largest in the country.

The domestic terminal, managed by the Vietnam Airports Corporation, has 52 check-in counters and 11 boarding gates, and serves over nine million passengers a year.  VNS
HA NOI  The 10th International Exhibition of Food - Beverage and Processing Technology Equipment, Packaging, Food and Beverage (Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2024) officially opened in Ha Noi on November 6.

The event attracted nearly 300 enterprises from eight countries and territories and it is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors.

Delivering a speech at the opening ceremony, Hoang Quang Phong, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), emphasised the strong economic growth of Viet Nam in recent years, with the food and beverage industry playing a significant role in that development.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Vietnamese F&B market is predicted to reach VN655 trillion (US$26 billion) in 2024, marking a growth rate of about 10.92 per cent compared to the previous year.

The exhibition provides a platform for domestic and international businesses to explore the market, form partnerships and promote trade and investment. This years exhibition is particularly focused on introducing new trends in product development and technology, as well as sustainable approaches to production, processing and packaging in the F&B industry.

The event offers specialised programmes such as trade connection activities, seminars and workshops, designed to help businesses and visitors understand market standards, production processes, and address the challenges of managing and growing supply chains.

The exhibition brings together key players in the industry, including companies like Tan Nhat Huong, a leader in raw material manufacturing in Viet Nam, which was also the first company to successfully establish an ice cream factory in the country.

It is also an opportunity for global businesses to expand their networks, create strategic alliances, and explore new market opportunities, contributing to the further development of the F&B industry both locally and globally.

The event will run until November 9 at the Hanoi International Exhibition Centre.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued a series of highly urgent priorities requiring immediate action concerning the operation of the interconnected reservoir system within the Hong (Red) River basin.

The current reservoir operation protocol aims to mitigate downstream flooding, ensure an adequate water supply for production and support national energy security. The protocol was originally established by the Prime Minister in 2007 under Decision 80 and updated in 2019 by Decision 740.

However, with climate change driving increasingly unpredictable and severe weather, the ministry has raised concerns that existing guidelines may be inadequate.

Recent historic flooding triggered by Typhoon Yagi, which led to unprecedented high water levels in both upstream and downstream tributaries, has underscored the need for prompt updates to disaster response plans, dam safety procedures and emergency response protocols within the basin.

The ministry has urged other government bodies to propose specific amendments and additions to Decision 740, especially targeting critical operational issues.

The proposed updates should address seasonal management of flood and drought conditions, finer segmentation of flood season operations and robust responses for emergency situations to better safeguard infrastructure and downstream communities.

Revised flood storage capacities are also recommended to effectively manage early, peak and late flood periods.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has been appointed to lead the development of disaster response plans tailored to various levels of natural disaster risk.

This includes reviewing scenarios for reservoir management under emergency conditions, such as dam breaches, and incorporating data on extreme and unpredictable weather.

Additionally, MARD will reassess flood mapping for critical downstream areas, including major reservoirs, to support emergency response planning under Government Decree No. 114/2018.

MARD is also exploring the feasibility of leveraging part of the flood storage above normal water levels in key reservoirs to enhance flood reduction during emergencies.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, meanwhile, will oversee inspections of hydropower dams and reservoirs in the basin, instructing Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and other operators to update data on historical rainfall and flood extremes to refine operational strategies.

Reservoir managers throughout the basin are also being called upon to reassess their disaster and emergency response plans, integrating the latest meteorological and hydrological data.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has urgently requested a recalculation of flood safety parameters for the Thac Ba reservoir following record flooding from Typhoon Yagi.

This reassessment aims to confirm structural safety and evaluate additional flood discharge infrastructure to better protect downstream residents and property.  VNS
HA NOI  The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum is about to receive a painting titled Hillsides in Deli Ibrahim (Algiers) by Ham Nghi, an exiled Vietnamese king, on November 12.

Ham Nghi (1871-1944), personal name Nguyen Phuc Minh, came to the throne in 1884 and was the 8th king of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). After the Imperial City of Hue was lost in 1885, he left the capital and issued the "Can Vuong (Aid the King) edict, calling for patriots to rise up to regain independence and freedom. He was detained by the French colonialists in 1888 and exiled in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, the following year.

He lived at a villa on El Biar hill, about 12km from Algiers, and still upheld the homelands traditions until his death in January 1944.

During the years of exile, the king learned painting and sculpture, following the art movements of impressionism and post-impressionism. He created 91 paintings along with a number of sculptures. Many of his works became known in the art world through auctions and exhibitions in France.

The oil painting Hillsides in Deli Ibrahim (Algiers) was created in 1908, depicting the countryside landscape near his home in Algiers. In 1926, the work, given that title and signed Tu Xuan, was displayed at the Mantelet-Colette Weil gallery in Paris.

The museum said this painting will be presented by PhD in art history Amandine Dabat, a fifth-generation descendant of King Ham Nghi, with the hope that the public in Viet Nam and international visitors can admire this work by the exiled emperor and artist right in his homeland.

Hillsides in Deli Ibrahim (Algiers) not only enriches the museums collection but is also a precious source of reference for researchers of Vietnams fine arts in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, the museum noted.

Book launch

The book Ham Nghi  Exiled Emperor, Artist in Algeria was launched on November 5 in Hue imperial city, the central province of Thua Thien - Hue, shedding light on the exiled Vietnamese emperors artistic legacy.

The book was published in Vietnamese last month, as a 500-page volume, compiled by Dr. Amandine Dabat, Ham Nghis fifth-generation descendant. The book explores the dual identity of the emperor as a patriot and an artist during his exile in France and Algeria. Originally published in French by Sorbonne Press in 2019, the book features 71 pages of artwork, 12 pages of sculptures, and 68 pages of archival photographs and correspondence.

Dabat's research was drawn from two major collections: a private family archive of 2,500 documents, including Ham Nghi's personal correspondence during exile, and administrative records from the Algerian government stored at France's national overseas archives.

At the book launch, Ham Nghi's descendants donated several royal artifacts to the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum under the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, including mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden trays, royal chopsticks made of walrus ivory, and imperial porcelain items used during his reign.

Ham Nghi was trained in fine arts by painter Marius Reynaud from 1889. He started learning sculpture from Leon Fourquet in Algiers in 1895 and from Auguste Rodin in Paris in 1899 (in three summer months every two years).

The king used pseudonym Tu Xuan as it was his nickname when he was small, and he also used it as his name for his entire life.  VNA/VNS
On November 6, 2024 (Hanoi time), Donald Trump once again triumphed over his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, to become the 47th president of the United States.

This victory echoes his previous success on November 9, 2016, when he defeated Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president, taking office in early 2017.

Dr. Doan Thi Kim Hong, the only Vietnamese Miss Universe to have met Trump, was deeply moved by both of his victories.

In 2007, she traveled to New York City to advocate for bringing the Miss Universe pageant to Vietnam in 2008. Hong, who holds the title of First Mrs. World, recalled that before entering politics, Trump partially owned the Miss Universe Organization. He purchased the pageant from ITT Corp. in 1996, transforming it into an immensely popular event that attracted record global viewership.

During the negotiations to host the pageant in Vietnam, Hong faced significant challenges, as many countries were vying for the opportunity.

However, Trump and his associates, motivated by their affection for Vietnam and admiration for Hong, facilitated her efforts to bring the pageant to her homeland. Ultimately, the event was successfully held in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, showcasing Vietnam's culture, history, and people to an international audience through NBC.

Reflecting on her journey, Hong stated, In 2007, driven by the desire to bring this prestigious pageant to Vietnam, I went to the United States to negotiate with Donald Trump.

During her week in the US, she met with him multiple times and was struck by his politeness and courteous demeanor.

"One morning, Donald Trump invited me to his office. Wanting to celebrate our traditional Vietnamese culture and the beauty of our women, I wore a light pink ao dai (a Vietnamese traditional long dress). Upon seeing me, Trump was enthusiastic and complimented the beauty of my attire. He mentioned that he had researched Vietnam and was impressed by the friendliness and hospitality of our people," Hong recounted.

Their meeting in New York City extended beyond the scheduled time, lasting about three hours. Upon learning of Hong's aspirations to bring the Miss Universe pageant to Vietnam, Trump expressed genuine happiness and guided her in collaborating with his associates.

During their discussions, Hong presented Trump with a beautiful painting of Vietnamese landscapes and an embroidered picture of golden carp from XQ. In return, he gifted her a copy of his book, complete with a personal dedication on the first page.

Hong cherishes this book as a souvenir from her encounter with the head of the Miss Universe Organization. She and her son, Quoc Khanh, have read it multiple times and gained valuable insights from its contents.

Upon hearing the news of Trump's election as President of the United States, Hong felt a surge of excitement and hopes for another opportunity to meet him. "As a Vietnamese citizen, I wish for the Vietnam-US friendship to grow ever stronger and continue to flourish," she confided.  VNS
U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw at press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, at Houston Ship Channel in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw won reelection on Tuesday, decisively fending off Democratic challenger Peter Filler on his way to a fourth term in Congress.

The Associated Press called the race for Crenshaw shortly after 7:30 p.m.

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The 40-year-old war veteran and former Navy SEAL represents the 2nd Congressional District, which spans parts of northeast Harris County and Montgomery County. The district was redrawn in 2022 to be more of a Republican stronghold.

Crenshaw was seen as a rising GOP star when he first won his seat in 2018, but was passed over for a key committee leadership post last year. His fundraising has slipped since 2020, and hes been at odds at times with allies of former President Donald Trump including U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

The congressman teamed up this session with U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on bipartisan legislation to increase funding for research on psychedelics to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. He voted against the Biden administrations signature infrastructure bill, saying it was too expensive and didnt do enough to cut red-tape on big projects like expanding Interstate 45 in Houston.

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HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs participation at the 10th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit aims to send out the message that Viet Namconsistently values and contributes to promoting cooperation mechanisms in the Mekong sub-region, creating breakthroughs for the development of sub-regional cooperation in the new period.

The trip affirms Viet Nams external policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification of international relations, and being a friend, trustworthy partner, and responsible member of the international community.

According to Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Thanh Binh, this is an important opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its willingness to cooperate in a spirit of openness, enhance mutual understanding, and deepen the friendly relations with member countries, as well as promote comprehensive economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

The leader will focus on promoting cooperation areas that align with Viet Nam's development priorities in the new context. This includes strengthening traditional advantages such as the import and export of goods and services, enhancing infrastructure connectivity, and ensuring the sustainable and efficient management of trans-boundary water resources.

Viet Nam will actively seek resources to tap significant potential in science and technology, innovation, smart solutions, digital transformation, and green transition, all aimed at supporting its socio-economic development and fulfilling its commitments to sustainable development and emissions reduction, the official said.

The country officially joined the ACMECS at its first summit in Thailand in November 2004. Over the past 20 years, Viet Nam has consistently regarded ACMECS as a strategically important cooperation mechanism with a close link to Viet Nam's key international partners.

An active and responsible member, Viet Nam has made significant contributions to ACMECS cooperation. With its position as the eastern gateway of the Mekong sub-region, it is an indispensable factor in the economic corridors of the region.

Viet Nam has proposed and implemented many new ideas, while making contributions to the development of important documents and the shaping and promotion of initiatives, and supporting the development of member countries, including human resources development and infrastructure building. The country has also played the role of the coordinator in several specialised areas of cooperation and carried out numerous practical activities that have helped foster comprehensive cooperation among the five countries.

Viet Nam has hosted two editions of the ACMECS Summit in 2008 and 2016. In the third ACMECS Summit in Ha Noi in November 2008, it proposed the establishment of the ACMECS Working Group on Environmental Cooperation, for which Viet Nam plays the role of a co-chair.

At the seventh ACMECS Summit in Ha Noi in October 2016, participants adopted the Ha Noi Declaration, agreeing to promote ACMECS' priority areas of future cooperation, including transportation, trade and investment facilitation, industry, tourism, agriculture, and the environment. Notably, they committed to enhancing cooperation to improve multimodal transport connectivity and maximise the use of road transport networks and economic corridors.

Viet Nam has conducted procedures to announce its financial contribution plan for the ACMECS Development Fund, thus promoting the early establishment of the fund, ensuring the effective implementation of projects in the ACMECS Master Plan, bringing practical benefits to the people and economies of ACMECS as well as the sustainable development of the sub-region.  VNS
YUNNAN  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Wang Ning, member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Secretary of the Yunnan provincial Party Committee, in Kunming City on November 6 as part of his ongoing trip to the neighbouring country.

The two sides rejoiced at the positive developments of the relations between the two Parties and countries and compared notes on measures to step up cooperation between Vietnamese ministries, agencies, and localities and Yunnan in the time ahead.

PM Chinh thanked Yunnan for its close and effective coordination in flood control, helping Viet Nam reduce damage caused by Typhoon Yagi in September.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and Government always support and facilitate cooperation between the two countries localities.

Highlighting potential and advantages for cooperation between Viet Nam and Yunnan, the leader suggested the Chinese province take the lead in implementing high-level common perceptions and joint statements, and enhance exchanges with Vietnamese localities.

The PM called for efforts to raise Viet Nam-Yunnan trade turnover to US$5 billion and make Yunnan and Lao Cai centres for trade connectivity between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

He also suggested piloting a smart border gate model, enhancing coordination in flood discharge regulation and disaster prevention, and simplifying procedures for Vietnamese citizens in Yunnan.

PM Chinh expressed his hope for close cooperation between the two sides in managing and protecting the border in accordance with the three land border agreements and related ones. He also emphasised joint efforts to mark 25 years since the signing of the Viet Nam-China border treaty and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the three legal documents this year.

Agreeing with the Vietnamese leaders proposals, Wang emphasised that Yunnan values its relationship of friendship and cooperation with Viet Nam and is ready to work closely with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities in Viet Nam to implement the shared perceptions between Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and Party General Secretary To Lam, as well as the directions and proposals by PM Chinh.

He highlighted the need for the two sides to strengthen exchanges at all levels and enhance the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, especially the mechanism of meetings among the Party Secretaries of the five provinces, deepening economic and trade cooperation, making the most of railway projects linking the two countries, and improving infrastructure connectivity both in railways and roads.

Wang said that his province hopes to promote cooperation with Viet Nam in areas of strength such as green energy, distinctive plateau agriculture, and tourism.

Besides, Yunnan aims to bolster collaboration with Viet Nam in trade and border economy, and developing advanced manufacturing sectors. The province is also keen on cooperation in personnel training, poverty reduction, environmental protection, and sustainable development, as well as health care, culture, and education, contributing to the consolidation of the China-Viet Nam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, he stated.  VNA/VNS
On the sidelines of the US Embassy's Election Watch Event in Ha Noi on Wednesday, US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc E. Knapper spoke to the press about the 2024 US presidential election and the impact of the results on Viet Nam-US bilateral relations.

Vietnamese people have been closely following the 2024 US presidential election. What do you think about this?

I am happy for this great interest and great participation in this event today. We are happy that there are so many young people, educators and members of the press here today because it shows this is a great day in the United States.

It is a great day for Americans participating in our political process, and we are happy that there are so many Vietnamese who are interested in learning more about this process and understanding what is going to happen. It is a chance to together celebrate this very important day in US history and politics and we hope that people will leave here understanding more about how we choose our leaders.

Could you briefly share American voters' concerns?

I cannot speak on behalf of every single American, but certainly, I believe American voters share the same aspirations as many other people around the world, which are stability, peace and prosperity.

Viet Nam and the US upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023. Should we expect any changes in the two countries' relations after this election?

I can say that the US-Viet Nam relationship has benefitted, for more than 30 years, from bipartisan support for stronger and better ties between our two countries.

If you go back even before normalisation, we had individuals from both parties - the Democratic Party and the Republican Party - individuals like John McCain and John Kerry, who have supported a strong relationship with Viet Nam. We have had every president since Bill Clinton visited Viet Nam - Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump visited twice, and Joe Biden just in September last year. Therefore, I think it reflects the fact that we enjoy very strong bipartisan support in Washington for such an important relationship and such an important country.

We highly value the role that Viet Nam plays regionally and globally. We highly value the relationship that we enjoy with this new comprehensive strategic partnership and the fact that we support a strong, independent, prosperous and resilient Viet Nam.

We support Viet Nam's sovereignty and territorial integrity, we respect each other's political system - these are the things that will not change. These are fundamental to our two countries' ties, and I am very confident that regardless of the results of this election, these basic principles and this basic foundation of our two countries' relationship will continue to stand strong.

What are your expectations for next year as the US Ambassador to Viet Nam?

My expectation is that the US-Viet Nam relationship will continue to grow and will continue to thrive. We will have this important anniversary marking 30 years of normalisation [of bilateral relations]. We will also have the 50th anniversary of the end of the conflict in Viet Nam.

I expect that we will look back on everything we have achieved.

Anniversaries are important to reflect upon what came before, but anniversaries such as next year are also an important way to think about the future - about what we want to achieve together.

The US and Viet Nam have so much that we are doing together, whether it is working with Viet Nam to build a high-tech, high-income economy, whether it is working with Viet Nam to build a green and clean economy by 2050, whether it is working with Viet Nam on its workforce to have computer scientists, electrical engineers and others who can support the kind of high-tech aspirations that Viet Nam has, whether it is working with Viet Nam to build a stronger healthcare system.

These are all aspirations of Viet Nam and these are things the US supports. These are things the US is standing with Viet Nam together, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, to make them successful. Therefore, I expect that next year, we will see much more progress by building upon the great foundation that we already have.  VNS
NEW YORK  The United Nations (UN) Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee) held its 17th plenary session in New York on November 5, focusing on information issues.

Participants emphasised the pressing challenges of fake news and disinformation, especially concerning armed conflicts, climate change, and rising sea levels. They also reiterated the need to safeguard information integrity, highlighting the pervasive spread of false information, particularly online.

Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN, affirmed ASEANs support for the UNs role in upholding information integrity and addressing the global misinformation crisis. ASEAN urged the UN to prioritise clear, timely, evidence-based, and transparent public communications, integrating it into strategic management.

Giang said that Viet Nam underscores the importance of accurate, transparent communication from the UN to counter misinformation worldwide. He advocated for a central role in integrating reliable information into strategic management and highlighted the UN's need to address misinformation, hate speech, and incitement.

Representatives from ASEAN member states also called for enhanced digital strategies to support the Sustainable Development Goals, stressing the urgency of improving resilience against cyber threats and attacks on essential information infrastructure. ASEANs ongoing efforts, including the 2023 Da Nang Declaration on Communications, aim to build a secure, people-centered information ecosystem aligned with ASEAN values.

In support of these goals, the UNs Global Principles for Information Integrity were released in July, promoting societal trust, public empowerment, media independence, and transparency as pillars for a healthy information environment.  VNA/VNS
KUNMING  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to expand its concessional funding to Viet Nam for projects that support digital transformation, green energy and cloud computing.

The request was made during a meeting between PM Chinh and ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa on Wednesday in Kunming, China, in the framework of the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit.

PM Chinh thanked ADB for its ongoing financial assistance, which has been instrumental in advancing socio-economic development and poverty reduction in Viet Nam over the past three decades.

Highlighting the importance of this long-standing partnership, he urged ADB to prioritise concessional financing for large-scale projects in Viet Nam, especially those in emerging sectors such as digital transformation, green energy and cloud computing.

He underscored Viet Nams readiness to streamline administrative procedures to facilitate the projects. Specific ones mentioned by the PM included offshore wind power and a high-speed railway.

In response, ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa expressed condolences for the recent damage caused by Typhoon Yagi and commended Viet Nam's swift response and recovery efforts.

He reaffirmed ADB's commitment to supporting the country's development goals, including its pursuit of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The ADB President also acknowledged Viet Nam's vital role in the GMS and encouraged its continued active participation in ADB programmes.

He also highlighted ADB's efforts to provide more accessible financing options for member countries, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts in Viet Nam.

The two leaders agreed on the importance of accelerating ADB-funded projects in Viet Nam, with Masatsugu Asakawa urging the country to expedite the disbursement of funds to enhance economic development.

PM Chinh expressed gratitude for ADBs ongoing support and outlined plans to develop policies to facilitate lending for the private sector, aligning with ADBs goals for regional development and sustainability.  VNS
NEW YORK  Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations, has expressed sympathy to Cuba over the immense losses and damage caused by Hurricane Oscar.

He affirmed Viet Nam's solidarity and friendship with the Government and people of Cuba in their recovery from the disaster and overcoming economic difficulties.

Addressing a briefing held by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on November 5 on the response to and recovery from Hurricane Oscar, as well as the UN's response plan, Giang said that through bilateral channels, Viet Nam has provided Cuba with 10,000 tonnes of rice.

Viet Nam is ready to do its utmost to support the Cuban Government and people in overcoming the current challenges, the diplomat said.

Stressing that Cuba has a long-standing tradition of humanitarian support, as a country that always responds quickly, timely and actively in giving assistance to other countries when they are in need, Giang said that it is now the turn for the international community to help Cuba overcome its current difficulties.

According to the UN Resident Coordinator in Cuba Francisco Pichon, Hurricane Oscar, which struck on October 20, killed eight people, destroyed over 10,000 houses and severely damaged infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, impacting the lives of nearly 500,000 people in Cuba's Guantanamo province. The hurricane hit the country at a time when Cuba was already facing significant socio-economic challenges and a nationwide power outage.

The UN has developed a response plan that aims to raise US$33 million to provide assistance to those in need, Pichon said, calling on the international community to lend a helping hand to Cuba.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  State President Luong Cuong will lead a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam to pay an official visit to Chile from November 9-12; pay an official visit to Peru and attend the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders Week in Lima from November 12-16.

The visits will be made at the invitations of Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font and Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, respectively, according to an announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  VNA/VNS
KUNMING  Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone pledged closer cooperation in multiple areas between the two countries at their meeting in Kunming city, China, on November 6.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, and the 11th Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Viet Nam (CLMV) Cooperation Summit.

Mentioning the important outcomes of his meeting with Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith on the fringe of the expanded BRICS Summit in Russia on October 23, PM Chinh said frequent meetings between Vietnamese and Lao leaders reflect the unique close-knit bonds between the two countries.

He also conveyed regards from Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to leaders of Laos.

On behalf of the Lao Party and people, PM Sonexay thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for their wholehearted support and assistance to Laos to fulfil the chairmanship of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2024, describing this success as the one of not only Laos but also both countries.

Laos is working to develop an independent and resilient economy, and it will cooperate closely with Viet Nam in this process, he stressed.

At the meeting, the two PMs reviewed bilateral cooperation in the recent past, highlighting the close coordination between the two governments as well as efforts by the two countries ministries, sectors, and localities to implement the outcomes of the high-level discussions and agreements, especially the state visit to Laos by then State President To Lam in July and the session between the two Politburos in September this year.

The two sides agreed to carry out high-level agreements in a more active and effective manner while making the best preparations for the coming 47th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee.

They were unanimous in further intensifying the cooperation pillar of defence - security to guarantee solid sources of support for each other, and in continuing to maintain security and build a Viet Nam - Laos borderline of peace, friendship, stability, and sustainable development.

The PMs also agreed to make more breakthroughs in economic and trade partnerships.

PM Sonexay affirmed that Laos always prioritises Vietnamese enterprises, especially those operating in such strategic fields as infrastructure, energy, high technology, and transport. He expressed his hope for enhanced connectivity between the two economies and cooperation to improve the legal systems for facilitate trade and investment activities.

Lauding both sides efforts to promote some key projects, PM Chinh asked them to sustain this positive trend and stay determined to thoroughly deal with obstacles for other important projects in accordance with the two Politburos directions. He also pledged to promote related Vietnamese agencies coordination with the Lao side.

Viet Nam will continue assisting Laos to improve the quality of human resources, especially strategic-level officials and all-level managers, to help the latter meet development demands in the new period, he stated.

The two PMs concurred in implementing cultural collaboration more effectively and pressing on with communications about the traditional Viet Nam - Laos relations among the public, especially young people. They also agreed to increase exchanging opinions and information in a timely manner, coordinate closely, and support each other in international and regional issues of common concern.

The Lao PM invited his Vietnamese counterpart to pay an official visit to Laos and co-chair the 47th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee in early 2025. PM Chinh accepted the invitation with pleasure.  VNS
KUNMING  Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh engaged in a bilateral meeting with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet in Kunming city, China, on November 6.

The event took place on the sidelines of the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, and the 11th Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Viet Nam (CLMV) Cooperation Summit.

PM Chinh offered congratulations to his counterpart, leaders, and people of Cambodia on the countrys 71st National Day (November 9, 1953 - 2024) along with recent socio-economic development achievements. He voiced his belief that Cambodia will reap even more significant and comprehensive attainments in the time ahead.

He stated that the traditional solidarity, cohesion, and mutual assistance between Viet Nam and Cambodia are a precious asset and an important factor in each countrys struggle for national liberation in the past as well as national development at present.

He also conveyed regards from Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to the Party and State leaders of Cambodia.

Meanwhile, PM Hun Manet congratulated Viet Nam on its breakthrough achievements, particularly in socio-economic affairs, saying he believes that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, led by General Secretary To Lam, it will obtain greater attainments in national construction and development.

The two PMs noted with satisfaction the progress in the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between their countries, applauding the maintenance of frequent mutual visits and meetings at all levels.

They agreed to strengthen defence - security cooperation, closely work together to fight and thwart hostile forces plots to sabotage or drive a wedge into the two countries relations, encourage and create favourable conditions for investment and business activities of the countries enterprises, and strive to raise bilateral trade to US$20 billion in the near future.

They also pledged to boost transport connectivity, especially in border areas, to facilitate cross-border trade and people-to-people connections between border provinces of Viet Nam and Cambodia.

PM Chinh asked the two sides to accelerate border demarcation and marker planting in remaining areas.

In addition, the two sides agreed to increase exchanges and meetings between young leaders and young people of the countries to deepen mutual understanding and trust. They will also pay special attention to and promote cooperation in education and communications to improve younger generations awareness of the traditional solidarity and mutual assistance between the two nations.

The PMs underlined the historical significance and value of the Viet Nam - Cambodia - Laos relations, noting that cooperation mechanisms among the three countries will be maintained for the sake of the countries people as well as peace, stability, and development in the region and the world at large.

PM Chinh accepted with pleasure his Cambodian counterparts invitation to pay an official visit to the neighbouring country.  VNS
YUNNAN  The Party and Government of Viet Nam always value and support Vietnamese localities in strengthening cooperation with their Chinese peers, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Lan Tianli in Kunming, Yunnan, on November 6.

At the meeting held as part of the PMs attendance at the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit and working trip to China, Chinh noted that Guangxi is where Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh conducted revolutionary activities for the longest period, and highlighted the support and assistance shared by the Chinese locality and Viet Nam during the sides respective national liberation and development causes.

Lan affirmed that Guangxi highly values its friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localities, contributing to the overall relationship between the two Parties and nations.

The two sides praised the significant recent progress in Viet Nam-Guangxi cooperation, particularly key achievements in all-level delegation exchanges, economic and trade collaboration, land border management cooperation, transport connectivity, opening and upgrading of border gates and people-to-people exchanges. Viet Nam has maintained its position as Guangxi's largest trading partner for the past 25 years.

The PM expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to focus on their effective realisation of high-level perceptions in the time to come. He said the spring meeting programme between Party secretaries and the joint working committee meeting between Guangxi and Viet Nams provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Ha Giang should be fully leveraged.

He recommended expanding collaboration on key infrastructure projects, including the development of standard-gauge railway lines connecting Guangxi with Viet Nam, and advancing a pilot model of smart border checkpoints.

He also requested Guangxi further facilitate the import of Vietnamese goods, particularly farm produce. He welcomed Guangxi enterprises to expand investment in Viet Nam, particularly in sectors like green agriculture, clean energy, and sustainable development.

The Government leader called on the sides to expedite their research and development of a pilot cross-border economic cooperation zone and work together in digital economy, power, and clean energy.

He emphasised the need for continued close coordination in border management as well as the upgrade and establishment of new pairs of border gates and crossings along the shared land border, as agreed upon by both sides. It is important to safely and efficiently operate the landscape site of Ban Gioc (Viet Nam) - Detian (China) waterfalls, he added.

Agreeing with the PM, the Guangxi leader pledged to promote cooperation between the region and Viet Nam, deepen friendship exchanges with Vietnamese localities, and advance both road and rail connectivity. He also committed to quickly implementing pilot smart border checkpoints and stepping up measures to facilitate customs clearance.

Lan said he wishes to further expand the scale and quality of the sides trade and investment cooperation as well as improve their customs efficiency and collaboration on digital economy and electricity trading.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening border management and enhancing cross-border crime prevention cooperation, contributing to deepening the two countries comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, bringing tangible benefits to their localities and people.  VNS
Supporters are photographed before a vote sign at a Vice President Kamala Harris rally Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Joetta Stevenson, president of the Fifth Ward Super Neighborhood, told the Houston Chronicle in October that she was hopeful after Vice President Kamala Harris visited her city.

Harris appearance, she said, gave her a warm and fuzzy feeling and sparked hope that it would ignite a sense of urgency among hesitant voters.

Stevenson had hoped Election Day would mark a recognition that Texas in 2024 isnt the Texas of 20 years ago. But on Wednesday morning, she woke up very, very disappointed to learn of former President Trump's win.

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"We just have to continue doing the work that we do in our community and not be silenced no matter what," Stevenson said. "We haven't yet seen how the brunt of some of Trump's policies affect the most vulnerable. I think everything is going to be under attack."

A supporter waiting in the line to get inside for a Vice President Kamala Harris rally Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Charles Crave, president of the Crestmont Park Civic Alliance, was stunned by the results. He felt Democrats had made genuine efforts to mobilize voters, particularly Black voters.

"You can always find ways that you could have done better in retrospect," Crave said. "But from my personal involvement and by reading the pulse of the community, yeah, I thought we were out there."

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The Black leaders who spoke to the Chronicle expressed concern that Trumps proposed policies could roll back protections for minorities and LGBTQ citizens. Trump has called for ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government institutions and has said he wants to erase critical race theory  an academic theory that studies how society perpetuates systemic racism  from curriculums across the country.

Despite Harris campaign efforts to appeal to Black male voters with promises of economic empowerment, the results suggest the approach may have missed the mark. Exit polls the day after the election in 2024 show that 89% of Black women in Texas voted Democrat, compared to 78% for Black men. Although the exit polls are still being calculated, this is a shift from the 2020 exit polls in Texas that showed 92% of Black women voted and 85% of Black men voted Democrat.

Carl Davis, the chair of Houston Society for Change, said Tuesday's election is a reminder not to take votes for granted.

"A lot more needs to be done. We cannot continue to do the old retail politics," Davis said. "We have to be more innovative in our approach."

Sharon Denise Russ makes a heart sign to the music by DJ Tryfe during the pre-program at a Vice President Kamala Harris rally Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Tomaro Bell attended Harris' rally, brimming with hope about the citys voter turnout.

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But on the first day of early voting, as Bell, president of the MacGregor Super Neighborhood, visited the West Gray Multi-Service Center, her optimism began to waver.

Then, on Election Day morning, it began to rain.

I said, 'Oh man, shes done,' Bell said.

Bell wasnt shocked by the Election Day results.

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Since Marchs primary elections, Bell, a Democrat, has been concerned that more Republican voters showed up to vote than Democrats in a reliably blue county. She feared the Democrats' messaging wasnt inspiring enough young Black people to vote.
PARIS  A Vietnamese delegation led by Rear Admiral Pham Nhu Xuan, Deputy Commander of the Viet Nam Peoples Navy, is taking part in the 29th international naval defence exhibition Euronaval, held at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre in the suburbs of Paris on November 4-7.

The Vietnamese delegation visited areas displaying new equipment, technologies, and weapons of some major defence industry businesses of France such as Thales, Naval, and LaCroix.

Xuan also had meetings with Vice Admiral Vincent du Gardin, who is in charge of external affairs at the French Naval Command, and Brigadier General Caroline Salahun, Director for Asia-Pacific at the Directorate General of Armaments of the French Ministry of Armed Forces.

At the events, the two sides spoke highly of the results of the Viet Nam - France defence ties, including naval cooperation.

The representatives of the French Naval Command and Ministry of Armed Forces said the outcomes of the Vietnamese delegations participation in Euronaval 2024 will help enhance defence cooperation between the two countries, including their navies.

The two sides agreed to step up naval exchanges, focusing on such areas as training, hydrography, the maintenance of French naval vessels visits to Viet Nam, joint search and rescue exercises, maritime security, and some others of common interest.

Euronaval, created in 1968 for the French naval industry, has gradually opened up to European and then international manufacturers, becoming the global benchmark for naval defence.

The biennial event presents the answers to the major naval and maritime challenges of the 21st century.

For over 50 years, it has attracted increasing attention from naval leaders. In 2022, the show welcomed 150 French and international delegations.  VNS
HCM CITY  Despite economic uncertainties, overall job orders in the third quarter of this year held stable compared to the same period last year, driven by robust hiring in manufacturing and tentative signs of recovery in banking and financial services, according to a report released by the payroll, recruitment and human outsourcing agency Adecco Vietnam.

During the period, industrial sales also experienced a slight rise in demand, while hiring for back-office functions remained consistent year over year, the Vietnam Talent Market Update showed.

The manufacturing and sourcing sectors saw a substantial rise in job orders, up by 35 per cent year-over-year and 52 per cent from the previous quarter.

This growth has been boosted by increasing export demand and foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly in the electronics, textile, garment, and renewable energy sectors.

Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, director of permanent recruitment services at Adecco Vietnam, said, We are seeing an uptick in demand for specialised roles like production leaders, quality engineers, and sourcing managers, with Chinese language skills increasingly desired.

This comes in the wake of significant FDI inflows, which reached US$24.78 billion in the first nine months of 2024, with over 60 per cent directed toward the manufacturing and processing industry, she said.

Industrial sales positions also recorded a modest rise, notably in mechanical and electrical (M&E) roles as firms expand to navigate economic shifts.

Technology hiring has shown consistent growth, mainly driven by ongoing digital transformation trends, with high demand for Java, DevSecOps and cybersecurity skills.

Nationwide hiring in tech has increased 35 per cent year-over-year, with a slight 5 per cent rise from Q2.

The banking and financial services sectors saw an upswing in hiring during Q3, which has been partly supported by changes in financial conditions.

Following several rate cuts by the State Bank of Vietnam, banks benefited from increased liquidity, which eased some pressure on their capital and helped improve hiring in areas like investment and relationship management.

Job orders in this sector rose by 35 per cent compared to the quieter period last year.

High-demand positions include investment managers, corporate relationship managers, and collection specialists.

Back-office roles like human resources and finance & accounting have stayed steady, which matches industry priorities of cautious growth amid economic uncertainties.

The notable increase in FMCG marketing and sales roles suggests that companies in this sector are investing in brand growth and market share expansion, likely driven by consumer spending recovery.

In healthcare, hiring for nursing and medical technology roles remains stable but modest, reflecting the sectors balanced approach to scaling operations while managing resources effectively.

Key account managers and sales and marketing professionals are in high demand across both FMCG and healthcare sectors.

Nguyen Hoang Thanh Chuong, head of permanent recruitment service at Adecco Vietnam, said, After a challenging first nine months, foreign investment and a recovering global economy have supported recent momentum. Looking ahead, Q4 is expected to sustain this trend, with an anticipated rebound in real estate and continued demand for skilled talent across industries. Local talent should prioritise not only securing current opportunities but also preparing for future career advancement.

Career Fair

More than 30 companies took part in the UEH Career Fair that opened in HCM City on November 3.

These companies offered more than 2,000 job vacancies for students and workers in the city and neighbouring provinces.

The event featured a series of activities to help students assess career orientation and internships, and improve their skills to integrate into the labour market.

Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung, deputy director of the University of Economics HCM City, the events organiser, said it was the second time the fair had been organised this year, reaffirming its commitment to connecting organisations, businesses, and individuals to work together for the goal of sustainable development for education and society. VNS
HAI PHONG  The forest rangers of Cat Ba National Park in Hai Phong City have not only dedicated their youth to protecting the forest, but they have also passed on their love for it to the next generation.

Le Ngoc Nghi, head of Cat Dua Ranger Station under Cat Ba National Park, is one of the rangers who has been attached to the forest for more than 40 years.

"In 1983, I started working as a labourer at Cat Ba Forest Station. In 1986, when Cat Ba National Park was established, I became a ranger here and have been ever since. My greatest joy is contributing in a small way to protecting the forest," Nghi recalled.

Nghi is one of the first rangers of the Cat Ba National Park.

Over nearly 40 years, many have retired, some lost their working ability, leaving only him and one other colleague who still remain to protect the forest.

According to the forest ranger, when the park was first established, the biggest challenge was transitioning from forest exploitation to forest protection.

For the rangers, the job became even more challenging due to conflicts with many local people who had long relied on the forest for wood, medicinal plants, and hunting, Nghi told nguoiduatin.vn.

Between 1986 and 1990, conflicts escalated as local people dependent on the forest resented the rangers of Cat Ba National Park for restricting their access to their livelihood, he said.

Since 1990, the tensions have gradually eased and stopped.

Nowadays, the rangers are greeted warmly by people in many areas such as Viet Hai, Gia Luan, Hien Hao, Xuan am, and Tran Chau in Cat Hai District.

Explaining this change, Nghi said that through active outreach and persuasion, people have come to understand and sympathise with the rangers' work.

In particular, as tourism has developed, many locals have shifted to tourism-related jobs, which offer higher and more stable incomes, helping them leave behind the difficult and dangerous life of forest work.

"Having dedicated my youth to protecting the forest and soon retirement, I only hope that younger rangers will continue this work, Nghi said.

Protecting the forest means safeguarding the livelihood of future generations and preserving valuable genetic resources," he said.

Silent "langur guardians"

Among those who love the Cat Ba langur  the worlds second most endangered primate, found only in Cat Ba National Park  everyone knows Nguyen Huy Cam, deputy head of Eo Bua Ranger Station under Cat Ba National Park.

Cam has been dedicated to the Cat Ba langur for nearly 20 years and captured numerous invaluable images and footage of them.

Cam said that he began working as a ranger at Cat Ba National Park in 1994.

When the park established a langur sanctuary in Gio Cung, he was assigned there.

Later, he became the parks "special envoy" to collaborate with and assist a non-governmental organisation in the Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project.

Recently, due to his parents serious illnesses, Cam requested to be transferred to Eo Bua Ranger Station to be closer to them.

"Throughout my time with the Cat Ba langur, two incidents have left a lasting sadness. The first was in the winter of 2019. While patrolling by sea, I saw a male langur attacking another group. It bit a newborn langur, throwing it into the sea. Despite the cold, I jumped into the water to save the baby langur and brought it to the Cat Ba National Park centre.

The baby langur was then sent to the rescue centre at Cuc Phuong National Park for treatment. Unfortunately, it died en route due to severe injuries, he recalled.

The second incident occurred some time later, when he witnessed a male langur kill five newborns.

After observing closely, I saw one infants body floating on the water, still barely alive. I took it back to the park centre, but it too did not survive," Cam said with eyes moist with tears.

Cams love for the forest and the Cat Ba langur has been passed on to his son, Nguyen Huy Thanh, born in 1998.

Thanh officially became a ranger at Cat Ba National Park in October 2024.

"Since I was young, I went to the forest with my father whenever possible. I grew to love the forest through his stories and those of other rangers, especially the images of the langur herds that he captured and cherished, Thanh said.

So, even though I had opportunities to work in companies with incomes three to four times higher, I chose to follow in my father's footsteps as a ranger to protect the forest and the Cat Ba langur," the newly-employed ranger said.

According to Pham Van Phuc, deputy director of Cat Ba National Park, since the beginning of the year, 15 new langur babies have been born, bringing the total population to over ninety individuals  the highest count in decades.

Recently, golden monkeys have been spotted descending to the park centre to play. At night, the calls of geckos fill the air, and occasionally, people catch sight of large Burmese pythons gliding along the roadside.

Not only the Cat Ba langur, but other wildlife in Cat Ba National Park is also "reviving" thanks to protection efforts. VNS
BAC GIANG Bac Giang Provincial Polices Youth and Women Committees have recently launched a heartwarming initiative, 'CompanionShare-Connect with Love,' at Sa Ly Commune, Luc Ngan District.

The initiative, held in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the People's Public Security Forces and the 20th anniversary of National Security Day, focused on supporting the local community and building social ties.

Key activities included renovating two dilapidated houses in the commune to provide secure housing for vulnerable families and repainting the Sa Ly Martyrs' Cemetery as a gesture of respect and remembrance.

The committee officers also installed a security camera system for local police use and guided residents on creating online accounts and registering for public services. They also conducted legal education workshops at a local secondary school and offered 40 gift packages to children and families in need.

The initiative was financed by donations from police personnel across the province, approximately VN80 million (US$3,200) in value. The donations included cash and a variety of goods, ranging from essential supplies to more specialised items such as solar panels.

Head of the Youth Committee oan Van Phuong cites the initiative as a valuable opportunity for political and ideological education within the police force. By engaging in activities that benefit society, police officers cultivate a sense of empathy, responsibility, and dedication to public service.

On the same day, Bac Giang Provincial Police also hosted a cultural exchange night with the local community, further strengthening bonds and building a positive image of police officers.

Sa Ly is one of the most economically challenged communes in the province, inhabited primarily by San Chi and Tay ethnic minorities. Agriculture and forestry are their primary livelihoods, with 9.24 per cent of households classified as poor and 12.97 per cent near-poor.  VNS
HA NOI  A delegation from the Lao Friendship Hospital for Children visited the Vietnamese National Childrens Hospital in Ha Noi on Tuesday to exchange experiences in managing medical equipment and the operation of the human milk bank, with a focus on ensuring optimal nutrition and healthcare for children.

The learning visit was facilitated by the Alive&Thrive initiative managed by FHI 360 and supported by the Government of Ireland, under the scope of the regional programme to address malnutrition among vulnerable populations in Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam.

As part of the visit, the delegation toured the Human Milk Bank, the Kangaroo Mother Care and Intensive Treatment Centre within the Neonatal Unit of the National Childrens Hospital.

Associate Professor Dr Tran Minh ien, director of the Vietnamese National Childrens Hospital, said: The establishment of the Human Milk Bank is a prime example of the positive impact of the hospitals international partnerships. Alive&Thrive and the Government of Ireland significantly supported us in terms of technical processes and some essential equipment to ensure the bank's smooth operation.

Thanks to this support, we are able to provide pasteurised donor milk to patients at our hospital and across the Ha Noi area. Notably, during Typhoon Yagi in September, we promptly supported Quang Ninh Provincial Hospitals Milk Bank with pasteurised milk to ensure children received adequate nutrition during the storms aftermath.

He said the hospital is committed to working alongside the Government of Ireland and Alive&Thrive to transfer technical expertise and facilitate exchange visits and training, thereby helping to establish Human Milk Banks in other areas of Viet Nam, as well as in Laos and Cambodia.

Ambassador of Ireland to Viet Nam, Deirdre Ni Fhalluin, said the Irish governments commitment to the Human Milk Bank initiative in Viet Nam, through the global development assistance programme, aims to alleviate hunger, improve nutrition and foster healthcare cooperation between the two countries.

In Southeast Asia, the Government of Ireland, in partnership with Alive&Thrive/ FHI 360 in Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia, has pledged to provide technical support to strengthen and expand the benefits of breastfeeding.

The Human Milk Bank of the Vietnamese National Childrens Hospital, was established in March 2022 in Ha Noi, the first such facility.

After more than two years of operation, it now processes approximately 350400 litres of donated breast milk monthly, providing essential nutrition for thousands of neonatal patients under treatment at the hospital.  VNS
BINH INH  Authorities have established contact with both of the two pilots involved in a military aircraft crash, which occurred during a training flight over Tay Xuan Commune in the south central province of Quang Binhs Tay Son District on November 6.

According to the Ministry of National Defence, at around 6:45pm, rescue teams received information via a mobile phone of Colonel Nguyen Van Son, Commander of Air Force Regiment 940.

Earlier, at approximately 4:30pm, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Quan, the chief flight instructor from the same regiment, had contacted his unit using his mobile phone. He reported that he was on a mountain peak, though the exact location was unclear due to weak mobile signals, and confirmed he was in good health.

Currently, the search and rescue teams are employing advanced technology to locate both pilots and expedite the rescue efforts.

The Yak-130 military aircraft took off from Phu Cat airport at 9:55am for a long-distance and cloud-crossing training session. The accident happened when they tried to land as the landing gear could not be released and their emergency measures did not work. They were able to parachute from the plane at 10:51am at TB2 shooting range in Tay Son District. VNS
NGHE AN  Five foreigners and 70kg of ketamine were seized in a joint operation between Nghe An Provinces border guard forces and customs department.

The five alleged members of the drug trafficking ring were transporting illegal narcotics from Laos through Viet Nam at the Nam Can International Border Gate at around 2.30pm on Monday, when they were caught by the local authorities.

They are Lasengthong Yotdaling, 32, Dalavong Kinnaveth, 28, Chotthvong Khat, 24, Chanthavong Hongfa, 22 and Phabou Misouda, 19 - all of Lao nationality.

Their Lao-registered car was seized along with 70kg of ketamine reportedly disguised as tea packages and hidden in various parts of the vehicle, including in the fuel tank and under the seats.

The five Lao nationals and evidence from the case have been handed over to the border guards for further investigation.  VNS
WASHINGTON DC - Donald Trump is on the brink of winning the US presidential election after preliminary vote counts revealed a sizable lead over his opponent, Democrat Kamala Harris.

Speaking in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump declared himself the winner and outlined his plans for his upcoming term in office, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Victories in the key swing states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia proved decisive in his path to the White House.

This victory marks Trumps second term as president, following his initial tenure from 2016 to 2020.

The Electoral College in each state will convene on December 17 to cast their formal votes, officially electing Trump as the next US President.

Trump is schedule to take the oath of office at the Capitol on January 20, 2025. VNS
In late October, Ba Ria-Vung Taus Party Committee held its 22nd conference to evaluate socioeconomic development, national defence, and security progress over the past nine months and to set priorities for the final quarter of the year.

Cai Mep Industrial Park is one of attractive destinations for investors in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, photo Le Toan

Despite numerous challenges, Ba Ria-Vung Tau has maintained strong economic momentum, with a remarkable regional GDP growth of 11.47 per cent, the highest in a decade, placing the province fourth in the nation. Additionally, 13 out of 14 economic and financial indicators surpassed both last years figures and the targets set for 2024. Industrial production, excluding oil and gas, increased by 16.1 per cent, while retail sales of goods grew by 13.14 per cent.

Accommodation service revenue rose by 19.61 per cent, tourism services surged by 39.68 per cent, and import and export turnover grew by 7.28 per cent and 9.35 per cent, respectively. Total capital from newly registered and additional investments, both domestic and foreign, reached VND82.4 trillion, a 3.2-fold increase on-year. Currently, Ba Ria-Vung Tau is home to 489 foreign-invested and 697 domestic projects.

The provinces industrial parks (IPs) are also thriving, with four of its 14 IPsPhu My I, My Xuan A, My Xuan A2, and Da Bacoperating at full capacity. The parks collectively span more than 1,300 ha, serving as hubs for industrial investment in Phu My town and Chau Duc district.

Polypropylene (PP) Production Plant and Underground LPG Storage Project of Hyosung Group (Korea) in Phu My town. Photo: Ba Ria Vung Tau Newspaper

Ba Ria-Vung Tau continues to draw in large-scale investors, leveraging its natural and social advantages and a well-developed inter-regional transportation system. A prime example is the $5 billion Long Son Petrochemical Complex, a major investment that reinforces the province's reputation as a key industrial centre.

These achievements reflect Ba Ria-Vung Taus proactive efforts to enhance its investment environment. In 2024, the province focused on supporting and connecting with businesses, organising dialogue sessions between provincial leaders and investors to foster information sharing, networking, and market expansion, particularly in seaports, logistics, and tourism.

Provincial leaders have prioritised addressing business challenges, with the Peoples Committee and department heads meeting with companies and investors every weekday morning. This approach has allowed for timely responses to issues, strengthening support for businesses in the region.

Nguyen Van Tho, Chairman of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Peoples Committee, said, These results are largely thanks to the resilience and creativity of our local business community, which has shown remarkable strength in overcoming challenges.

The business community plays an increasingly vital role in the provinces socioeconomic development and integration efforts, demonstrating the strong partnership between the government and enterprises towards sustainable development, he added.

With its strategic location in the southern economic quadrangle alongside Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau holds considerable growth potential. The provinces deepwater ports, accessible road and waterway networks, and abundant natural resources position it well to expand industries such as maritime, oil and gas processing, and tourism.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau is also set to benefit from economic restructuring policies and government incentives for industrial development, making it an attractive destination for both domestic and international investors, particularly in heavy industry.

Foreign investors flocking to Ba Ria-Vung Tau The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau is solidifying its reputation as a standout destination for foreign investors, driven by its favourable investment climate and strategic policies.

Con Dao leads the way in circular tourism Con Dao in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has been designated as a national tourist destination of regional and international significance, with a priority on developing ecotourism, high-end resorts, and cultural-historical-spiritual tourism.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau records breakthroughs in digital transformation The province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has been implementing solutions to accelerate and comprehensively promote the digital transformation process, bringing many practical benefits to residents and businesses.
In the first 10n months of 2024, 2,743 new projects were granted investment registration certificates, with total registered capital of over $12.23 billion, up 1.4 per cent in the number of projects but down 2.5 per cent on-year in terms of capital.

The adjusted capital for 1,151 ongoing projects reached nearly $8.35 billion, up 6 per cent on-year in number, and up 41.7 per cent in capital. There were 2,669 capital contributions and share purchases valued at $3.68 billion, falling 10.4 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively.

Foreign groups invested in 18 out of the 21 economic sectors in the first seven months of the year. Among them, the manufacturing and processing industry took the lead with $12.65 billion, accounting for 70.3 per cent of the total, and a 15.7 per cent increase from a year ago.

Although still being on a positive trend, FDI reports show some signs of slowing down. In the first 10 months, total registered FDI increased by only 1.9 per cent, down 9.7 percentage points on-month.

Particularly, newly registered FDI decreased by 2.5 per cent after strong growth months. The number of newly registered projects also increased slightly by 1.4 per cent on-year. The FIA explained that new projects in October were small in scale, with only a few projects over $100 million. Meanwhile, in October 2023, there were three projects orth $500 million-$1.5 billion.

Investment in capital contributions and share purchases is continuously decreasing, while adjusted investment in the 10 months maintained a strong increase (41.7 per cent).

Additionally, disbursed FDI reached about $19.58 billion, up 8.8 per cent on-year.

FDI poured into 18 sectors in the first 10 months. Processing and manufacturing led with $17.1 billion, accounting for 62.6 per cent of the total, but down 13.5 per cent on-year.

Real estate followed with $5.23 billion, capturing 19.2 per cent of the total and 2.4 times higher than the same period last year. This was followed by power generation and distribution, and wholesale and retail, with $1.12 billion and almost $1 billion, respectively.

Singapore was the largest foreign investor among the 106 countries and territories investing in Vietnam during the period, with nearly $7.79 billion, or 28.6 per cent. China ranked second with nearly $3.61 billion, accounting for 13.3 per cent and up 5.4 per cent on-year. It was followed by South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong.

FDI continued to flow into cities and provinces with more advantages in infrastructure, human resources, administrative procedures, and good investment promotions. The 10 leading localities were Bac Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Haiphong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Hanoi, Dong Nai, Bac Giang, and Ninh Thuan. They made up almost 80 per cent of the total number of projects and 71 per cent of the total investment in the first 10 months.

Bac Ninh leads nation in FDI attraction in nine months Bac Ninh province continued topping the nation for foreign direct investment (FDI) influx with a total of over 4.2 billion USD during January-September on the back of its sound investment climate, modern infrastructure, and abundant labour force.

Q3 FDI results improve on expectations Foreign investment is accelerating into the country, and expected to reach about $40 billion for the whole year.

FDI success promising in light of fresh plans Vietnam has the potential to increase its foreign investment inflows thanks to the increasing capital plans of major corporations.
Voters wait in line before the polls open at West Gray Multi Service Center on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2014, in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff

Voters re-elected two Harris County Commissioners Tuesday night by wide margins.

For Precinct 1, Democratic incumbent Rodney Ellis defeated Republican challenger Gerry Vander-Lyn by over 150,000 votes, according to preliminary county election results.

Republican incumbent Tom Ramsey's big win over Democratic challenger Saleem Malik was also reported early Wednesday by the Harris County elections office. Ramsey won by nearly 40,000 votes, the results show.

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Precinct 1

Ellis went unchallenged in the primaries and received over 64,000 votes. Vander-Lyn also ran unopposed in the primaries and secured close to 17,000 votes.

Ellis has served as the Harris County Commissioner for Precinct 1 for two terms, and previously represented the 13th District of the Texas Senate for nearly 30 years. Vander-Lyn previously ran against Houston Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum in both the 2019 general election and the 2018 special election following the death of Houston City Council Member Larry Green.

Precinct 1 includes large swathes of downtown, Bellaire, West University and portions of south Houston. The position was previously held by former Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee, a Democrat who represented Precinct 1 for over 30 years until his death in 2016.

A woman walks past election signs at Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, the site of a General Election polling place, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Precinct 3

Ramsey, Harris County Commissioner for Precinct 3, was first elected in 2020 after former Harris County Commissioner Steve Raddack decided not to seek a ninth term. The Republican incumbent ran unopposed in the primaries, and secured nearly 70,000 votes.

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Democratic challenger Mailk is a political newcomer and also ran unopposed in the primary. He took in just over 29,500 votes during the primary elections. Mailk is a deputy with the Precinct 4 Constables Office.
At the press conference for HFCD 2024 in Hanoi on October 30, the organising committee introduced an innovative festival programme to connect visitors with Hanoi's iconic heritage sites, reflecting the city's rich cultural tapestry. The conference featured representatives from the authorities, local government, partner organisations, and over 110 media outlets.

Speaking at the conference, Tran Thi Van Anh, deputy director of Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, highlighted the significance of the event. "This year's event is poised to be one of the city's marquee events of the year. It aims to showcase a plethora of innovative ideas, connect the capitals rich heritage, nurture young designers, and solidify Hanoi's status as a UNESCO-recognised creative hub," said Anh, adding, "Our goal is to inspire creativity across all demographics in Hanoi, fuelling a collective ambition to contribute to the advancement of the capital and nation as we enter a new era of revitalisation."

Phan Dang Son, president of the Vietnam Architects Association, noting that the festival is being prepared with a focus on community and innovation. "I believe that with this spirit, the event will achieve even greater success. This event is also an opportunity for designers to connect, create, and contribute to the community right here in our beloved capital. As partners of the city, we will dedicate ourselves to fully embracing the spirit of developing the creative industry and revitalising our heritage, allowing it to progress alongside the city's development," said Son.

As the host of this years HFCD, Pham Tuan Long, Chairman of Hoan Kiem People's Committee, expressed his gratitude to the organisers for once again choosing Hoan Kiem as the location for the festival.

"We have observed that creative events and designs related to digital transformation, the digital economy, and the creative economy are receiving increasing attention from the community," Long said.

"This year, with a focus on the heritage urban areas, the old quarter, and the ancient neighbourhoods, featuring many heritage buildings and architectural and artistic value, the event is sure to succeed. Additionally, I hope that beyond the festival, we will continue to see even more creative products emerge," he added.

HFCD 2024 is being organised under the auspices of Hanoi People's Committee and the Vietnam Architects Association, with execution led by Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, and support from the UNESCO Office in Hanoi, Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank), and the Hanoi Youth Union.

Tran Thi Van Anh, deputy director, Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports. Photo: HFCD 2024

This year marks the debut of the Creative Intersection concept, which will be showcased along seven of Hanois iconic heritage sites. The event promises a vibrant line-up of over 100 creative activities across 12 cultural industries, including architecture, design, fine arts, performing arts, cinema, and advertising, celebrating Hanois rich cultural tapestry.

Attendees can expect valuable insights from cultural, historical, artistic, and architectural researchers, as well as international experts who will share best practices in the creative fields, with a particular emphasis on engaging young audiences and nurturing a new intellectual community.

Participating travel agencies will create unique cultural and creative tourism experiences that align with festival activities, offering visitors a closer look at Hanois heritage through tours that spotlight the citys cultural, historical, and architectural marvels. Traditional performances and interactive events will further enhance these experiences.

Additionally, the festival will showcase innovations in handicrafts, culture, and art, offering experiential opportunities designed to inspire creativity and develop high-quality cultural products rooted in the distinctive characteristics of each locality.

Hanoi launches culinary tourism app Standout features of the Hanoi Old Quarters cuisine could be discovered through a cuisine app recently launched by the Peoples Committee of Hoan Kiem district.

National Day boosts Hanoi tourism revenue A significant increase in both domestic and international arrivals boosted Hanoi's tourism during the National Day holiday from August 31 to September 3.
Japfa Vietnam staff prepare gifts for students

The aim is to provide meals for 800 kindergarten and primary school students in Phu Rieng district, Binh Phuoc province, as part of a larger project commenced by Japfa Vietnam in September.

Japfa previously collaborated with local authorities to organise engaging activities and donate gifts to children in Dak Nong province, where nearly 400 students at Be Van Dan Primary School in Krong No district received sponsored lunches, alongside donations of books for the school library.

"The company has coordinated with partners to implement community programmes including supporting children, planting trees, donating chickens to disadvantaged families, and accompanying customers affected by natural disasters," said Clemens Tan, general director of Japfa Vietnam.

The initiative provided nutritious meals to 800 children in Long Ha commune, Phu Rieng district, Binh Phuoc.

With a long-term strategy and specific actions, the journey has brought hundreds of gifts and learning equipment to students across the country in 2024. Moreover, the programme has supported one tonne of fresh food, 35,000 chickens with animal feed to contribute to economic development for farming households. With the aim of damage minimise and production restore after Typhoon Yagi, the company has paid for damages at contracted livestock farms, donated disinfectants and provided useful advice on barn techniques to support farmers in effectively restocking.

Japfa officially entered the Vietnamese market in 1996 with the vision of becoming a leading corporation providing nutritional solutions from animal protein. Up to now, the company has completed a closed value chain from farm to table with a network of operations in many provinces and cities.

Japfa Vietnam invests VND400 billion to expand animal feed mill Japfa Comfeed Vietnam Limited Company has opened recently expanded a factory project in Huong Canh town, Binh Xuyen district, Vinh Phuc province.

Japfa Comfeed Vietnam undergoes major restructuring for future sustainable growth As a leading enterprise in closed-loop farming models with nearly 30 years in the Vietnamese market, Japfa Comfeed Vietnam is undertaking significant restructuring to seize sustainable growth opportunities. Clemens Tan, general director of Japfa Comfeed Vietnam, spoke with VIR's Huong Nguyen about the challenges and opportunities in Vietnam's livestock market, and the company's new strategy to adapt and thrive in the coming years.

Japfa offers 300 gifts to support students on first day of school Japfa Comfeed Vietnam donated backpacks and notebooks on September 5 to underprivileged students who have demonstrated resilience and academic success.
LG will speed up its R&D operations in Vietnam with a multi-industry focus. Photo: baodautu.vn

This year, LGs Vietnamese R&D subsidiary, LG Electronics Development Vietnam (LGEDV), has integrated living, kitchen, and air solutions  all considered core products  into its software development and verification portfolio.

LG established its local R&D network in Vietnam in 2016 with the opening of the R&D Centre in Hanoi. Growing its on-the-ground capabilities, the company set up two additional R&D branch offices in Haiphong and Danang in 2020. Last year, LG reorganised its Vietnamese research structure, bringing the VS R&D Centre under the auspices of LGEDV, which has now become one of the companys key research institutes in Southeast Asia.

LGEDV primarily focuses on software development and verification for LGs in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems, which are central to the companys strong performance in the business-to-business mobility solutions sector. The IVI business, which covers telematics, audio video navigation and clusters, accounts for more than half of all revenue generated by LGs vehicle component solutions business. In addition to IVI systems, LGEDV has been involved in the development of the webOS platform since 2022, and has expanded its scope to include home appliances this year.

LG is continuously strengthening its R&D competencies in Vietnam through recruitment and talent development initiatives, including in-house training programmes led by experts from LG headquarters. The company has successfully attracted and nurtured talented individuals from Vietnams young, well-educated population.

Vietnams highly-skilled R&D workforce continues to grow, supported by the governments aggressive talent development strategies, which centre on the cultivation of ICT talent at Hanoi National University. According to Vietnams General Statistics Office, the countrys population exceeded 100 million last year, with people under the age of 40 accounting for approximately 60 per cent of the total populace.

Indicative of the calibre of Vietnam-educated developers, five out of ten coding experts selected by LG last year were from LGEDV. Huynh Tan Y, a researcher with LGEDV, won the LG Coding Competition at the LG Software Developer Conference 2023, which involved around 100 developers from across LG Group.

LGEDV currently employs around 1,100 research staff, with plans to increase this figure to over 1,200 by the end of the year. A testament to LGs effectiveness in the area of R&D recruitment and talent development, the companys rapidly growing Vietnamese R&D workforce numbered only 200 as recently as 2019.

LG is building a global system of close R&D cooperation, with South Korea at its centre, and aims to further strengthen its capabilities in product development and technology research.

The company maintains research institutes and development teams under each of its business units, with the CTO division developing core technologies from a mid- to long-term perspective. In South Korea, LG has R&D arms in Seocho, Yangjae, Gasan, Incheon, Changwon, and Magok, while internationally, it operates 22 research institutes spanning North America, Europe, Japan, India, and Vietnam. These institutes focus on global R&D activities and business responses geared towards identifying future growth engines.

Along with world-class R&D centres, LGs Vietnam operations encompass manufacturing facilities in Haiphong, producing washing machines, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, and IVI products, as well as a sales subsidiary in Hanoi.

Samsung completed parts of construction of R&D centre in Hanoi On May 14, Samsung Vietnam completed part of the construction for its new research and development (R&D) centre in Hanoi.

Bosch Automotive R&D Centre marks 10 years of innovation Bosch Automotive Research and Development Centre in Vietnam (Bosch Automotive R&D Centre) is celebrating a decade of growth and innovation, the company announced on July 18.
The Republican former president's address to a crowd of jubilant supporters came despite the fact that only Fox News had so far declared him the winner of the presidential election.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 6, 2024. Republican former president Donald Trump closed in on a new term in the White House early November 6, 2024, just needing a handful of electoral votes to defeat Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Jim WATSON / AFP

"This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again," the 78-year-old told cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters in Florida.

World leaders rushed to congratulate him before the final results were in, with Ukraine's president in particular urging Trump to help achieve a "just peace" against Russia.

Trump has previously called for US military aid to Kyiv to be cut, part of his nationalist "America First" policy that unsettled US allies in his first term.

US networks called the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina for Trump, and he led the Democratic vice president in the others although they have not been called yet.

Gloom swiftly descended on Harris's camp as she canceled a watch party for supporters who dreamed of seeing her elected as America's first woman president.

"You won't hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow," Cedric Richmond, Harris campaign co-chair, told a watch party in Washington as supporters left.

In a further blow to Democrats, Trump's Republican Party also seized control of the Senate, flipping two seats to overturn a narrow Democratic majority.

- 'We made history' -

As Trump's jubilant supporters cheered and chanted "USA," Trump took to the stage along with his wife Melania and several of his children as he neared the cusp of victory.

"We made history," he said, speaking against a backdrop of Stars and Stripes flags, adding that "we are going to help our country heal."

He also referenced the two assassination attempts he escaped during the campaign, adding: "Many people have told me that God has spared my life for a reason."

Trump was joined at his watch party by key supporters including tech tycoon Elon Musk, the world's richest man. He called the X and Tesla boss a "new star" in a shout-out from the podium.

Polls for weeks had shown a knife-edge race between Harris and the twice-impeached Trump, who would be the oldest ever president at the time of inauguration, the first felon president and only the second in history to serve non-consecutive terms.

Trump also faces sentencing in a criminal case over hush money payments on November 26, while the controversy over his unprecedented attempt to overturn his 2020 election defeat by Joe Biden still persists.

But in the end, the night was over surprisingly soon.

Trump even appeared to be nearing victory in the popular vote -- something he never achieved in his 2016 victory or in 2020.

Harris appeared to have underperformed in key areas, with Trump winning support among Latinos and Black men.

Trump's promises of economic bounty and his dark rhetoric on migrants also appear to have resonated with voters who were tired of Biden and Harris's administration.

US stock futures and US dollar surged and bitcoin hit a record high while most equity markets advanced as traders bet on a victory for Trump.

- 'Scared' -

The mood shifted sharply at Harris's watch party in Howard University -- her former college and a historically Black university in Washington -- as the results came in.

"I am scared," said Charlyn Anderson. "I am anxious now. I am leaving, my legs can barely move."

Millions of Americans had lined up throughout Election Day -- and millions more voted early -- in a race with momentous consequences for the United States and the world.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- whose relations with Biden have been deeply strained by Israel's war in Gaza -- was the first to congratulate Trump on "history's greatest comeback".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also quick to hail his "incredible victory." Trump has indicated he will push through a peace deal that would force Kyiv cede land to Russia's invading forces.

France's President Emmanuel Macron led a series of European leaders and the head of NATO as they also sought to court a leader who regularly strained transatlantic ties in his first term.

For the Democrats, the soul-searching will begin.

Harris made a dramatic entrance into the race when Biden dropped out in July and hammered home her message that Trump was a threat to democracy and her opposition to Trump-backed abortion bans.

Trump on verge of victory over Harris Donald Trump was on the verge of a decisive victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election Wednesday, in what would be the most stunning comeback in US political history.
This combination of pictures created on November 05, 2024 shows US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in Aston, Pennsylvania, on October 23, 2024 and US President Donald Trump in Tucson, Arizona on October 19, 2020. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, MANDEL NGAN / AFP

Fox News declared Donald Trump the winner of the US presidential election early Wednesday -- the only network to make the call.

US networks had already called the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina for the 78-year-old, and he led the Democratic vice president in the others.

Joyful supporters waited for the 78-year-old to speak at a watch party in Florida -- while gloom descended in Harris's camp as aides said she would no longer speak as expected.

"You won't hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow," Cedric Richmond, Harris campaign co-chair, told a watch party at Howard University in Washington.

In a further blow to Democrats, Trump's Republican Party also seized control of the Senate, flipping two seats to overturn a narrow Democratic majority.

A Trump victory threatens to cause shockwaves around the world, as US allies in Europe and Asia fear a return of his nationalist policies and his praise of autocrats like Russia's Vladimir Putin.

But the US dollar surged and bitcoin hit a record high while most equity markets advanced as traders bet on a victory for Trump as the results rolled in.

The mood shifted sharply at Harris's watch party in Howard University -- her former college and a historically Black university -- as the results came in.

Excitement faded and people began to leave, while others stared intently at screens showing the news.

"I am scared," said Charlyn Anderson. "I am anxious now. I am leaving, my legs can barely move."

In contrast, the celebrations intensified at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and the watch party nearby.

Tech tycoon Elon Musk, who has backed Trump and stands to lead a government efficiency commisison under him, posted a picture of himself with the Republican at Mar-a-Lago.

"Game, set and match," Musk said on X, the social media network he owns along with the Tesla electric vehicle firm and the Space X company.

Millions of Americans had lined up throughout Election Day -- and millions more voted early -- in a race with momentous consequences for the United States and the world.

They were deciding whether to either hand a historic comeback to Trump or make Harris the first woman in the world's most powerful job.

In a stark reminder of the tension -- and fears of outright violence -- dozens of bomb threats were made against polling stations in Georgia and Pennsylvania.

The FBI said the threats appeared to originate in Russia, which is accused by Washington of trying to meddle in the election. The threats were all hoaxes but succeeded in disrupting proceedings.

Earlier, Trump -- who has still refused to accept his 2020 election loss, after which his supporters attacked the US Capitol -- added as the first results came in that "we're going to have a big victory tonight."

Polls for weeks had shown a knife-edge race between Harris and Trump, who would be the oldest ever president at the time of inauguration, the first felon president, and only the second in history to serve non-consecutive terms.

Harris, 60, is aiming to be only the second Black and first person of South Asian descent to be president.

She made a dramatic entrance into the race when Biden dropped out in July, while Trump -- twice impeached while president -- has since ridden out two assassination attempts and a criminal conviction.

Trump has vowed an unprecedented deportation campaign of millions of undocumented immigrants, in a campaign full of dark rhetoric.

Harris hammered home her message that Trump was a threat to democracy and her opposition to Trump-backed abortion bans.

The election is being watched closely around the world including in the war zones of Ukraine and the Middle East. Trump has indicated he will cut aid to Kyiv's battle against the Russian invasion.

Stocks mixed, dollar rises as traders weigh Trump shooting Equity markets were mixed Monday as investors weigh the impact of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump with data suggesting it has boosted his chances of being re-elected president.
Vice President Kamala Harris gestures as she delivers a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. Stephanie Scarbrough/Associated Press Robin Galbraith walks near the entrance as Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington.(AP Photo/Nathan Howard) Nathan Howard/Associated Press Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, stand on stage at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Evan Vucci/Associated Press Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Evan Vucci/Associated Press Supporters listen to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz as he s[eaks during a watch party at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Austin-based podcaster Jenny Red Pill Rage takes video during a Republican watch party featuring U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer People react to numbers coming in during a Republican election party with Ted Cruz at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Supporters cheer at an election night watch party for Republican Montana Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Bozeman, Mt. (AP Photo/Tommy Martino) Tommy Martino/Associated Press People including Jordyn Jones, center, watch election returns at a bar in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Seth Wenig/Associated Press People watch election night results come in during a Republican watch party at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Patricia Richard of Houston watches the election night results come in during a Republican watch party at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Supporters watch as results come in at an election night campaign watch party for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Susan Walsh/Associated Press Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at an election night watch party Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Jeff Roberson/Associated Press Supporters watch returns at a campaign election night watch party for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Evan Vucci/Associated Press Supporters arrive at an election night watch party for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Associated Press Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris attend an election night campaign watch party Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press Voters wait in line for the polls to open at the Kingwood Park Community Center on election day, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Kingwood. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Vice President Kamala Harris gestures as she delivers a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Stephanie Scarbrough/Associated Press Vice President Kamala Harris looks at supporters as she walks with second gentleman Doug Emhoff after delivering a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election on the campus of Howard University in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press Vice President Kamala Harris looks at supporters as she walks with second gentleman Doug Emhoff after delivering a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election on the campus of Howard University in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press

Former President Donald Trump clinched the presidency against Vice President Kamala Harris early Wednesday morning. Hours earlier, he had delivered a speech touting his campaign's success. As of 11 a.m., Harris had not conceded the race.

In Texas, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz defeated his challenger U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, in what had been one of the highest-profile races in the country. By holding on to Texas and other incumbent GOP seats, as well as flipping several seats, Republicans took control of the Senate.

Locally, two HISD bonds were defeated in what Superintendent Mike Miles called unfortunate and wrong," while a tax rate increase for flood control improved passed. As of Wednesday morning, Harris County officials finalized tallying local votes.

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Follow along for live election updates and analysis from Houston Chronicle reporters covering key national, state and local races. Here's a recap of Tuesday's live coverage.

Supports watch as Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Susan Walsh/Associated Press

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"The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for but hear me when I say the light of America's presence will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting," she said.

Harris took the stage at her alma mater, Howard University, where her supporters gathered Tuesday, as election results rolled in.

The Associated Press officially called the presidential race for Trump early Wednesday after the Republican took a strong lead in several key battleground states, including Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

- Caroline Wilburn

Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Second gentleman Doug Emhoff depart the stage after Harris conceded the election, at Howard University on November 06, 2024 in Washington, DC. After a contentious campaign focused on key battleground states, the Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump was projected to secure the majority of electoral votes, giving him a second term as U.S. President. Republicans also secured control of the Senate for the first time in four years. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Vice President Kamala Harris was only able to muster a 5.5-point advantage over President Donald Trump in Harris County, an underperformance that rippled down the ballot and put Texas largest county  a Democratic stronghold during much of the Trump era  decidedly back in battleground territory.

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Harris performance slipped 8 percentage points from President Joe Bidens 13-point Harris County edge in 2020. Since 2014, local Democrats in Houston have lagged behind their standard bearer by an average of 5.6 points. That meant Harris' 5.5-point edge Tuesday put local races on a knife's edge, with Republicans winning 10 court benches and Democrats barely eking out wins in the countywide races for district attorney, county attorney and tax collector.

Collectively, it is Democrats worst performance and Republicans best effort in the Houston region in the Trump era, undermining the notion that Harris County had turned reliably blue in 2018.

From left, Harris County 177th District court Judge elect Emily DeToto, 80th District Civil Court Judge elect Sonya Aston, Senator Paul Bettencourt, Texas 165th District Court Judge elect Bruce Bain, 61st Judicial District Court elect Lee Kathryn Shuchart and Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey listen as Harris County Republican Party Chair Cindy Siegel, speaking center, comments during a press conference Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Harris County has historically been purple. It'll swing a few elections, one side or the other, and then it'll swing back, said Nancy Sims, a seasoned political consultant and lecturer at the University of Houston. I think the Democrats felt a little overconfident in the county's trend. But there should be no taking for granted of county elections that are this close.

- Dylan McGuinness and Yilun Cheng

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Gov. Greg Abbott smiles as he meets members of Taylors Organization after a rally about school vouchers Tuesday March 21, 2023, at Cypress Christian School in Houston. The group gave him an award they made. Abbott and his allies say the voucher effort is about school choice. Critics say they are private school vouchers that allow people to take money out of the public school system to benefit private schools. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

After Tuesdays Republican gains, Gov. Greg Abbott said there will be a comfortable, 79-vote majority of true, hardcore school choice proponents in the Texas House next year to enact his voucher proposal and break a decadeslong logjam of the controversial legislation.

While pledging to finally pass his plan to allow parents to access state funds to use on private school tuition, transportation, uniforms and other expenses, Abbott told supporters in Tyler that he also planned to fully fund public schools, to give teacher pay raises, to increase funding for a state merit pay raise program and to invest in workforce readiness programs for high school students who dont wish to attend college.

We have more than enough members of the Texas House of Representatives elected last night to make sure that school choice is going to pass, Abbott said in remarks in front of Kingdom Life Academy, a Christian middle school.

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- Edward McKinley

With Republicans retaking the majority in the U.S. Senate this week, Texas Republican John Cornyn is in a position to fill a key role in Congress that no Texan has held since Lyndon B. Johnson used the post to help make Houston mission control for the nations space program over 60 years ago.

Cornyn, 72, was already a top contender to be the GOP leader in the Senate in 2025, but now he's in the running to be the majority leader.

The three-term senator is no sure bet to win the position as he battles other announced candidates like U.S. Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Rick Scott, R-FL, for the position. There is speculation that the list of names could still grow now that Republicans have won back control of the Senate.

The winner could be decided as soon as next week. Republicans have scheduled a vote on Nov. 13.

- Jeremy Wallace

Newly elected Democrat Annette Ramirez, who will soon oversee voter registration and property tax collection in Harris County, was the last to speak at a Tuesday night watch party at Axelrad Beer Garden. The tax attorney faced a deflated crowd, whose excitement had faded as Republican candidates captured a mounting toll of federal races and many Harris County positions remained too close to call.

"We need to be patient. We need to stay the course, and Harris County will stay blue," Ramirez said.

A cast of characters that once included a prison jumpsuit-clad man wearing a Trump mask and a slew of supporters donning "this is Harris County" stickers had already thinned by the time she took the stage, though some attendees remained glued to one of several screens playing live election updates from MSNBC.

James Schriver, dressed as Donald Trump in an orange jumpsuit as the Harris County Democrats gathered to watch election results come in at Axelrad on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Ramirez is set to replace absentee Tax Assessor-Collector Ann Harris Bennett who made headlines when the Chronicle discovered she had last swiped into a county building in late 2020. The newly elected official made a case for outreach and engagement part of her platform, and brought that message to the stage during the final nerve-wracking hours for Harris County Democrats: "We have to reach out to our voters. We have to make sure they stay engaged... 365 days out of the year," she told the crowd.

In spite of her own slim margins, Ramirez later told the Chronicle she looked forward to embracing her mandate and focusing on community education in her new role.

County Attorney Christian Menefee, who also scraped through the election to hold on to his seat, said later he was not surprised by the close race.

"Anytime you have an incumbent party in the White House, the voting base typically tends to try to go the other way, especially in a red state," Menefee said. "So it's not it's not surprising, it's not alarming."

Menefee hopes the Democratic party can refocus its messaging on the day-to-day issues that matter to most voters, like the cost of gas, eggs and milk.

- Rebekah F. Ward

Supporters are photographed before a vote sign at a Vice President Kamala Harris rally Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

The Black leaders who spoke to the Chronicle expressed concern that President-elect Donald Trumps proposed policies could roll back protections for minorities and LGBTQ residents. Trump has called for ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government institutions and has said he wants to erase critical race theory  an academic theory that studies how society perpetuates systemic racism  from curriculums across the country.

Despite Vice President Kamala Harris campaign efforts to appeal to Black male voters with promises of economic empowerment, the results suggest the approach may have missed the mark. Exit polls the day after the election in 2024 show that 89% of Black women in Texas voted Democrat, compared to 78% for Black men. Although the exit polls are still being calculated, this is a shift from the 2020 exit polls in Texas that showed 92% of Black women voted and 85% of Black men voted Democrat.

Carl Davis, the chair of Houston Society for Change, said Tuesday's election is a reminder not to take votes for granted.

"A lot more needs to be done. We cannot continue to do the old retail politics," Davis said. "We have to be more innovative in our approach."

- Ryan Nickerson

President-elect Donald Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, a 922-page agenda created by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington D.C. But a CNN report found that 140 people who once worked for Trump are involved in Project 2025 in some capacity.

The agenda lays out significant changes that could leave public education unrecognizable to how it currently functions on a federal level, if enacted in its entirety.

The Texas American Federation of Teachers has sounded its alarm on what the union sees as some of the main concerns around Project 2025, including revoking the congressional charter of the National Education Association, the largest teachers union in the U.S.

We are particularly concerned about the potential impact on students from low-income households, students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities, reads the Texas AFT announcement. The proposed changes could roll back decades of progress in civil rights and educational equity.

See here for the full story about how Project 2025 could affect Texas students, from dismantling the U.S. Department of Education to getting rid of federal free breakfast and lunch programs for low-income students.

- Elizabeth Sander

A woman walks past election signs at Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, the site of a General Election polling place, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Former President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz coasted to victory in Tuesday's closely watched election. Statewide, both Republicans enjoyed hearty victories over their Democratic challengers.

But support for each candidate varied in different parts of the county. The Chronicle visualized which pockets of the county went for the Democrat and which went for the Republican in these two key races, as well as the competitive race for District Attorney in Harris County and for Sheila Jackson Lee's former seat, Congressional District 18.

 Matt Zdun

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt speaks during Former Donald Trumps first 2024 election rally held at Waco Regional Airport in Waco, Texas, on March 25, 2023. The rally comes days after he said he was to be arrested by as part of an ongoing investigation into hush payments made to Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

With former President Donald Trump returning to the White House, all eyes are now on who he may tap for roles in the new administration.

Its clear that Trump loves Texas  he visited the state 18 times during his first term  and Texans will no doubt play a big part in advising the White House. Not all of them will receive formal positions, but theyre sure to have outsized influence. Here are the most likely politicians to be in the running for top positions.

- Taylor Goldenstein and Jeremy Wallace

Vice President Kamala Harris called President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday to congratulate him on his election victory, a senior Harris aide told the Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the call, the AP reported.

The aide said Harris discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power with Trump ahead of her planned concession speech Wednesday afternoon.

- The Associated Press

Former first lady Laura Bush and former President George W. Bush greet President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump outside of Blair House Dec. 4, 2018 in Washington, D.C. The Trumps were paying a condolence visit to the Bush family, who were in Washington for former President George H.W. Bush's state funeral and related honors. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool/Abaca Press/TNS) Chip Somodevilla/TNS

Former President George W. Bush applauded the victory of President-elect Donald Trump in a statement early Wednesday.

He also thanked both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their time in the White House.

"The strong turnout in this election is a sign of the health of our republic and the strength of our democratic institutions," Bush's statement read. "Laura and I are grateful to the election officials, poll workers, and volunteers who oversaw a free, fair, safe, and secure election."

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH ON THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION:



CRAWFORD, TEXAS  I congratulate President Trump on his election as 47th President of the United States of America, as well as Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and their families.



I also thank President  George W. Bush Presidential Center (@TheBushCenter) November 6, 2024

- Caroline Wilburn

Republican Hank Dugie will become the fifth GOP member of the Galveston County commissioners court after ousting incumbent Democrat Stephen Holmes in Tuesdays election.

Dugie won nearly 69% of the vote, in an outcome that has been widely expected for years.

Galveston County commissioners in 2021 redrew its commissioners court precinct lines in 2021 to heavily favor Republicans.

Despite lawsuits from the Justice Department and other groups claiming the maps diluted the votes of Black and Hispanic voters, the courts changes were upheld by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in August.

Holmes has served on the commissioners court since 1999, and for most of that time was the only Black person on the court.

- John Wayne Ferguson

County commissioner Rodney Ellis bows his head to pray during unveiling ceremony of a mural celebrating Supreme Court Justic Ketanji Brown Jacksonis confirmation at Finnigan Park in Fifth Ward Wednesday, April 20, 2022 in Houston. "This is art with a purpose," Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who led the effort behind the mural, by artist Anat Ronen, that also features Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Judge Constance Baker Motley, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis on November 14, 1960 Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he woke up feeling "gutted" by the election, calling it a blow to all who stand for justice, equal opportunity and basic decency.

"Those of us who know the struggle, who remember the sting of segregation, know that progress isnt born out of convenience," he wrote. "Its carved out by those willing to take a stand, regardless of the consequences."

He continued, "So, in the days ahead, lets draw strength from each other and our shared vision of a nation where every person has an equal voice, real opportunity and the dignity they deserve."

Ellis is one of the Democratic members who won his seat during the 2024 election for another term.

Like many of you, I woke up today feeling gutted by last night's electiona jarring blow to all who stand for justice, equal opportunity, and basic decency.



Elections have consequences, and my heart aches for everyone whose hard-won rights are now back on the chopping block.  Rodney Ellis (@RodneyEllis) November 6, 2024

Jersey Village's community pool will be demolished next year after voters turned down a $10.1 million bond measure that would have funded a rebuild of the aging facility. The pool experienced issues such as leaks.

For the second consecutive year, a proposition to fund the new pool was rejected by city voters, with nearly 58% opposed to the Nov. 5 ballot measure.

 Ralph Green

Harris Countys rightward swing on Tuesday gave Republicans 10 judicial benches, the partys best showing at the courthouse in a decade.

Of the 27 state district court races on the ballot, Democrats won 18 of them  but a dozen of those were uncontested.

Republicans won 10 of the 16 countywide judicial races they contested: five civil district courts, four criminal district courts (which handle felonies) and one county criminal court (which handles misdemeanors).

 Mike Morris and Nicole Hensley

Members of the Willis Air Force JROTC practice before a District 13-6A high school football game at Berton A. Yates Stadium, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Willis. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Willis ISD voters rejected a $115.4 million bond package, blocking the district's third attempt at replacing an aging stadium and building a space for its swimming team as the district continues to grow enrollment.

Proposition A, which would have funded the construction of a student activity center at Willis High, failed, with 54% of voters against the measure. Proposition B, proposing a new athletic complex and stadium, failed with 57% against it, and 56% of voters turned down Proposition C, which would have paid for a new aquatic center.

 Michael Garcia and Sondra Hernandez

Attendees leave Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris' election night watch party at Howard University, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) Terrance Williams/Associated Press

Vice President Kamala Harris plans to speak at Howard University in Washington D.C. Wednesday afternoon  her alma mater  confirmed by university vice president and chief communications director Lydia Sermons.

Harris will speak at Howard University Yard at 3 p.m. CT, according to Sermons. Harris is reportedly planning to call Trump to concede the election, according to CNN, after he won the 2024 presidential election.

 Peter Warren

Houston voters rejected Houston ISDs historic $4.4 billion bond, with about 60% voting against both of the districts propositions on the ballot. The Chronicle has compiled the precinct-level results for both propositions to show you how your neighbors voted regarding HISDs Bond. See how your neighborhood voted.

 Anastasia Goodwin

Former Mayor Sylvester Turner laughs as he pets a horse named Buttercup as he campaigns for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives outside the polling place at Lone Star College-Houston North Victory on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Turner is running to fill the seat in the 18th congressional district, a seat that was held by the late Sheila Jackson Lee for nearly three decades. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Among the new Democrats joining Congress is former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who overwhelmingly won former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lees seat in Congress Tuesday evening.

Jackson Lee died in July after a battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving the seat open. Her daughter, Erica Lee Carter, will fill the remainder of her seat before Turner takes the reins in January.

Turner said Wednesday that while the GOP gains in the U.S. House, Senate and presidency werent what hed hoped for, he had to "work with the hand youve been dealt."

The incoming congressman said he had experience working with a GOP-controlled Texas Legislature as a representative and worked with former President Donald Trumps administration during their respective first terms in office.

"You still have to find a way to represent the people in your respective districts," Turner said.

 Abby Church

Gov. Greg Abbott talks to a large crowd as he campaigns for Republican HD 121 candidate Marc LaHood, right, at the Angry Elephant on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

Republicans dominated Texas House elections across the state on Tuesday, winning key contests in San Antonio and the suburbs of Dallas and Austin where Democrats thought they had their best shot at flipping seats.

The GOP won two new seats while Democrats failed to flip any, according to the Associated Press and unofficial county results. The results expand the GOPs majority, pushing the chamber further to the right, and is even more pronounced since many of the most moderate GOP members were replaced in primaries earlier this year.

The outcome bolsters Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been pushing to stack the Legislature with Republicans supporting his voucher plan, which uses taxpayer money to subsidize private education. It also sets the table for a knock-out fight over who will lead the chamber when lawmakers reconvene in January.

 Edward McKinley and Isaac Yu

Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia released a statement expressing gratitude for the district's "overwhelming approval of the Harris County Flood Control District maintenance proposition."

"With the voters' approval of Prop A, we will be able to begin to address the neglect our system has endured for years," he said.

Commissioner Garcia releases a statement on the passage of the Flood Control District Prop A, a major step towards flood prevention in our region. pic.twitter.com/xCgVPCdgTz  Harris County Precinct 2 (@HarrisCoPct2) November 6, 2024

Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said she looks forward to working with colleagues of the commissioners court and Harris County Flood Control District to ensure "maintenance funds are used efficiently, effectively and transparently."

 Octavia Johnson

Volunteers and election officials count ballots at Harris County election headquarters, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

As of early Wednesday morning, former President Donald Trump has received enough electoral votes to win the presidency.

In Texas, over 97% of the vote has been counted. The ballots that remain to be counted are concentrated in Maverick County and Zavala County along the southern border. Check out the Chronicle's map to see how much of the vote has been counted so far in each county.

 Matt Zdun, Leila Darwiche and Janie Haseman

The Harris County GOP released a statement announcing the Republican wins during the election as a "significant achievement" for their party. The Republican group said they believe their party is becoming more competitive across Harris County. They even noted that Harris County is potentially a swing county.

"Our communities are engaged and energized, proving that Republican values have a strong foothold here," Harris County GOP officials said in a statement. "As we look to the future, we are more committed than ever to building on this momentum, ensuring that all of our voices are represented."

 Octavia Johnson

Students of Gurukul School of Art paint portraits of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Rafiq Maqbool/Associated Press

Donald Trump will be the first president to serve non-consecutive terms since the 19th century, but his uncommon split tenure doesnt mean hell be able to run again.

Much has changed in the 13 decades since Grover Cleveland was sworn in for his second term in 1893, including the establishment of the 22nd Amendment.

The amendment, ratified in 1951, states a president can only be elected as president twice.

 Peter Warren

David Ellison, media information officer for Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, carries ceremonial scissors in preparation for of ribbon-cutting ceremony for new Buffalo Speedway Bridge over Brays Bayou Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022 in Houston. The replacement is part of the $480 million Brays Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project, known as Project Brays, that involves widening 21 miles of the bayou and replacing or modifying 32 bridges to substantially reduce the risk of flooding for more than 15,000 structures. Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer

Harris County voters approved a tax rate increase to help cover the cost of maintaining the county's extensive flood control infrastructure, according to unofficial election results early Wednesday morning.

The Harris County Flood Control District will have an additional $113 million to spend on shoring up the county's flood defenses.

 Jen Rice

Harris County DA candidate Sean Teare is photographed talking to people at his watch party at 8th Wonder Brewery on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Former prosecutor Sean Teare was narrowly elected Harris County District Attorney by a thin margin over Republican Dan Simons on Wednesday morning.

Teare won the countywide election by fewer than 23,000 votes, according to preliminary results from the county elections office. His opponent, Simons, said in a text message that as Teare's win became clear, he planned to say more at a news conference later on Wednesday. The close race followed a long election night for Teare and other local Democrats as Republicans appeared poised to win races ranging from the judiciary to the White House.

 Nicole Hensley and Claire Hao

U.S. Rep. Al Green, clockwise, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and former Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards are seen in the stands at a Vice President Kamala Harris rally Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she was disappointed after Harris lost the presidency, and Harris County federal races and local elected offices. She noted its easy to despair at the reality that (Harris') strength, thoughtful policies, and commitment to the community did not win the day.

Vice President Harris and her team, along with all her supporters, her allies, and our Democratic Party worked extremely hard and did our very best, she said.

She also said that she initially ran for office when Trump started attacking journalists and journalism itself, and despairs the thought of what may come next, particularly as pertains to Donald Trumps authoritarian-like promises.

I believe democracy is our nations biggest treasure, Hidalgo said.

 Ryan Nickerson and Octavia Johnson

Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee/ Tax Assessor-Collector Democratic nominee Annette Ramirez speaks as the Harris County Democrats gathered to watch election results come in at Axelrod on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Democrat Annette Ramirez narrowly beat out Republican Steve Radack in the race to become Harris County's next tax assessor-collector, unofficial voting returns showed Wednesday morning. Ramirez won the seat by less than three points, earning 51.1% of the vote to Radack's 48.9%. The margin of victory was decided by just over 32,000 votes.

 Jen Rice

Harris County Pct. 4 Constable Mark Herman makes a statement outside Ben Taub Hospital in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

 Nicole Hensley

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who is seeking re-election, greets voters on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 at BakerRipley Ripley House in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a Democrat, has won a third term as the countys top-ranking law enforcement officer by defeating Republican challenger Mike Knox in his bid for reelection, according to unofficial election results. The sheriff has been overseeing policing in unincorporated parts of Harris County since 2016.

 John Wayne Ferguson

Pct. 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey responds after Barbara Denson spoke commissioners about the contract constable program during the Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Republican incumbent Tom Ramsey's big win over Democratic challenger Saleem Malik was reported early Wednesday by the Harris County elections office. Ramsey, Harris County Commissioner for Precinct 3, was first elected in 2020 after former Harris County Commissioner Steve Raddack decided not to seek a ninth term.

 John Lomax V

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis speaks during Sylvester Turners official campaign kick off for the 18th Congressional Seat formerly held by her mother late Sheila Jackson Lee on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 in Houston. Carter is on the ballet as well to be elected to finish out her mothers term the rest of 2024. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Democratic incumbent Rodney Ellis soundly defeated Republican challenger Gerry Vander-Lyn. Ellis has served as the Harris County Commissioner for Precinct 1 for two terms, and previously represented the 13th District of the Texas Senate for nearly 30 years. Vander-Lyn previously ran against Houston Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum in both the 2019 general election and the 2018 special election following the death of Houston City Council Member Larry Green.

 John Lomax V

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other members of the state's Republican Party responded to Trump's re-election. Abbott said on X, formerly known as Twitter: "God bless America."

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt also posted on X congratulating the now 47th president.

"A once in a century figure, an iconic American, and most importantly, a friend," he wrote. "President Trump the people have spoken, welcome home."

Congratulations to the next President of these United States.



A once in a century figure, an iconic American, and most importantly, a friend.



President Trump the people have spoken, welcome home. pic.twitter.com/WSoyXZTVFR  Wesley Hunt (@WesleyHuntTX) November 6, 2024

 Octavia Johnson

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, joined by, from right, Melania Trump and Barron Trump, arrives to speaks at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Alex Brandon/Associated Press

With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to be elected as the 47th president of the United States.

In a speech to supporters overnight, Donald Trump touted wins in Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina, as he was within a few electoral votes of becoming president again, the Associated Press reported.

Donald Trump also touted other GOP wins, noting Republicans had regained control of the Senate in his speech in the early morning Wednesday.

The number of victories in the Senate was absolutely incredible, Trump said.

Trump also said he expected Republicans to hold the House, although it was still up for grabs, as of early Wednesday.

Trump vowed in his election night speech to fight "for your family and your future." He promised that he would not rest until we have delivered the strong safe and prosperous America.

 Associated Press

A young attendee holds up a sign during a Republican watch party at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Donald Trump and Ted Cruz proved Texas is still a red state on Tuesday, racking up big victories in GOP suburbs while Democrats struggled to turn out their base in urban centers like Houston and Dallas.

Democrats had high hopes that Texas would inch closer toward them, but the opposite happened as both Trump and Cruz appeared positioned to win Texas by more than both of their last campaigns in the state.

Tonight, the people of Texas have spoken, Cruz said. And their message rings clear as a bell across our great state. Texas will remain Texas.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz addresses his supporters at a watch party at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Further down the ticket, Democrats were struggling late on Tuesday to hold onto seats even in Democratic strongholds like Harris County, and the party fell flat in the one congressional seat in South Texas where they had their best chance of flipping a seat to help regain control of the U.S. House.

Here are five key takeaways from election night.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn surveys the scene of the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to U.S. Army Dustoff Crews who flew during the Vietnam War at Fort Sam Houston on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News DORAL, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 22: Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) waits for the arrival of Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump for a roundtable discussion at the Latino Summit held at Trump National Doral Golf Club on October 22, 2024 in Doral, Florida. With 14 days to go until Election Day, Trump and Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris continue to crisscross the country asking for votes. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., center, talk as Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., right, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., left, after a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Mariam Zuhaib/AP Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, left, greets Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, center, and Alphabet President and Chief Legal Officer Kent Walker, right, prior to a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing to examine foreign threats to elections in 2024, focusing on roles and responsibilities of U.S. tech providers, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) Rod Lamkey/AP

With Republicans retaking the majority in the U.S. Senate this week, Texas Republican John Cornyn is in a position to fill a key role in Congress that no Texan has held since Lyndon B. Johnson used the post to help make Houston mission control for the nations space program over 60 years ago.

Cornyn, 72, was already a top contender to be the GOP leader in the Senate in 2025, but now he's in the running to be the majority leader.

The four-term senator is no sure bet to win the position as he battles other announced candidates like U.S. Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Rick Scott, R-FL, for the position. There is speculation that the list of names could still grow now that Republicans have won back control of the Senate.

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READ MORE: 5 key takeaways from Election Day in Texas

The winner could be decided as soon as next week. Republicans have scheduled a vote on Nov. 13.

At the core of Cornyns pitch to his colleagues is his promise to end backroom deals or forcing members to vote on bills or amendments without adequate time to prepare. Having been in the Senate since 2002, Cornyn said, I have learned what works and what does not.

But his fate could be in the hands of Donald Trump and who he wants in the position.

Cornyn and Trump havent always seen eye-to-eye. Last year, while Trump was starting to run for the GOP nomination, Cornyn said the GOP should pick a candidate who can actually win and said of Trump: Time has passed him by.

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However, earlier this year Cornyn endorsed Trump and has been on the campaign trail at times with the former president in places like Nevada.

In a statement to the media on Tuesday night, Cornyn talked up his relationship with Trump.

Over the years, President Trump and I have worked closely together, especially while I served as Senate Majority Whip, on some of his biggest achievements like landmark tax reform and the confirmations of Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, Cornyn said.

If Cornyn gets the post, Texas would be in a position not only to help shape key state-centric policies around national defense, energy and the space program but also be in a position to bring more projects back to the Lone Star State.

Under the rules, all 100 senators are equal in theory, but the majority leader is more equal than everybody else, joked Jim Manley, who spent 6 years as the communications director for former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

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Manley said not only does the Senate leader have broad influence over public policy, but the position allows them to deliver big victories for their home states, like Johnson did in the 1950s to make sure Houston would be at the core of the space program for generations. It was Johnsons shrewd tactics in scoring projects back home and passing major legislation that earned him the title Master of the Senate long before he became vice president and later president.

A lot of those victories can be more quiet in nature, Manley said. In Reids case, he used his position to make sure the Las Vegas gaming and hospitality industry was protected from other states trying to expand gambling.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kent., has been more forthright in talking about gains he has made for his home state in the position. McConnell, who has been the Republican leader since 2007, announced earlier this year he would vacate the position even while he serves out his term in the Senate.

While campaigning in 2019, McConnell bragged about using the position to get $400 million for a new veterans hospital in Louisville, $25 million to fight Asian carp in western Kentucky, and coal miner pension and health benefits  a key industry in that state.

I was directly responsible  directly responsible  for these items, McConnell said during a news conference while campaigning for reelection in 2019.

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More recently, current Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has used his position to score major projects for his home state of New York. Earlier this year, he was able to guide $6.1 billion in federal grants to Micron Technology near Syracuse to boost U.S. semiconductor chip production to compete with China.

Thats an issue Cornyn has already been a major player in, working to convince the Biden administration to make Texas the home of a $2 billion national research hub for the semiconductor industry.

Cornyn was born in Houston but went to college at Trinity University in San Antonio. He later attended law school at St. Mary's University. He was a state district court judge before being elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1990. In 1998, he was elected Texas Attorney General, a post he held until running for the U.S. Senate in 2002.

Correction: Due to an editing error, an earlier version misstated how many terms Cornyn has served in the Senate. He's in his fourth term, not his third.
Vice President Kamala Harris focuses on reproductive health at rally Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. We will not go back, Harris said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Rain pours down while voters are waiting in line to cast their vote on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at West Gray Multi-Service Center in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Vice President Kamala Harris was only able to muster a 5.5-point advantage over President Donald Trump in Harris County, an underperformance that rippled down the ballot and put Texas largest county  a Democratic stronghold during much of the Trump era  decidedly back in battleground territory.

Harris performance slipped 8 percentage points from President Joe Bidens 13-point Harris County edge in 2020. That skid matched her numbers nationally and across Texas. Compared to Bidens performance, she fell 8 points in the county that includes San Antonio, 10 points in Dallas and 20 points in El Paso.

Local Democrats in Houston, who tend to lag a few points behind their standard bearer, fell even further, losing 10 court benches to Republicans and barely eking out wins in the countywide races for district attorney, county attorney and tax collector.

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Collectively, it is Democrats worst performance and Republicans best effort in the Houston region in the Trump era, undermining the notion that Harris County had turned reliably blue in 2018.

Here is how the top Democrat on the ballot has performed in Harris County since 2014:

Nancy Sims, a seasoned political consultant and lecturer at the University of Houston, said she first noticed signs of a weaker-than-expected Democratic showing during early voting, when she saw unusually high turnout in Harris Countys suburbs and low turnout in blue urban areas.



Democratic leaders lack of investment in Harris County, limited voter enthusiasm for Harris and the absence of energizing local races have all hurt Democratic turnout, she said.



Harris County has historically been purple. It'll swing a few elections, one side or the other, and then it'll swing back, Sims said. I think the Democrats felt a little overconfident in the county's trend. But there should be no taking for granted of county elections that are this close.

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Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, said statewide policy changes such as the elimination of straight-ticket voting also contributed to Democratic candidates poor performance.

Down-ballot Democrats tend to perform about 5 points below the top of the ticket. So when Harris slipped to a 5.5-point edge, it put countywide races here on a knifes edge. Here is Democrats average margin in countywide races during the same 10-year span:

Theres been now two cycles since the state took away straight-ticket voting, and Democrats are still rolling off the ballot earlier than Republicans, Rottinghaus said.

Harris County Republicans aggressive anti-crime ad campaigns also helped the party secure most of the local judicial seats it contested, Rottinghaus added. Stop Houston Murder PAC, a group aligned with families of slain Houstonians, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on radio and TV ads.

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The Republicans are riding the crime issue to significant success in Harris County, and the Democrats didnt have a good answer, Rottinghaus said. That was a major problem because there was no counterweight to what the Republicans were saying.

COURTHOUSE SWAP: Harris County Republican judges have best electoral showing in a decade

The vice president slipped in just about every demographic, but her numbers in urban areas were perhaps the most surprising. Her margin fell 15 points in Los Angeles; 11 points in Cook County, Ill., home to Chicago; and 9 points in New York, NY.

Democrats have no hope of winning Texas if they do not run up the score in urban strongholds, according to Rottinghaus.

Democrats are going to have to fight for Harris County. It's not going to be a given as a blue county the way that you've seen that trend in other urban counties, he said. If Democrats can't get a big margin from Harris County, then they can't win Texas.

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Democrats struggle to fend off GOP challengers

Republicans were firmly in control of county government here before Trump took over the GOP. They held every judicial bench and a majority on commissioners court in 2014. In 2016, though, Democrats rode a 12-point edge from Hillary Clinton to sweep the countywide races. They swept again in 2018, consolidating control of every countywide elected position, and continued their dominance in 2020.

The judicial races were similarly close In 2022, amid a hotly contested race for county judge that incumbent Democrat Lina Hidalgo narrowly won over Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer. Still, Republicans gained four countywide judicial benches. This year, they won 10.

Democrat Sean Teare, who trounced incumbent District Attorney Kim Ogg in a March primary, beat out Republican Dan Simon by just 1.6 points; incumbent County Attorney Christian Menefee won by less than 1 percentage point; and Democrat Annette Ramirez beat Steve Radack by 2.2 points to become the countys new tax assessor, a position that collects property taxes and oversees voter registration.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez was able to outperform other Democrats, winning a third term by 6.2 points over former Houston police officer and City Council Member Mike Knox.

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Those close races came despite steep financial advantages for local Democrats. Sean Teare, the newly elected district attorney and top county official on the ballot, had a nearly 6-to-1 cash advantage over Simons.

Harris County Democratic Party Chair Mike Doyle attributed local election outcomes to national trends out of his control.

This was a major shift across the country towards voting for Trump and down that path, and Harris County was not immune to that nationwide impact, he said.

Doyle also pointed to the lack of funding for Democratic judges to more effectively push back against ad campaigns blaming them for crimes.

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Pass on fair share of increased budget directly says Council Leader to Welsh Government

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Nov 6th, 2024

Council Leader Mark Pritchard urged the Welsh Government to fairly distribute newly allocated funds from the UK Government to local authorities across Wales in the Budget next month.

Cllr Pritchard emphasised the need for an equitable share of the additional 1.7 billion anticipated for the Welsh Government, intended to address a range of critical services, including social care, education and housing.

The Welsh Government will receive an additional 774m resource, to include the cost of public sector pay deals already agreed in the current year, and 49m capital in 2024-25. There are further increases of 695m resource and 235m capital in 2025-26. Welsh Government say the overall settlement for 2025-26 is more than 1bn higher than it would have been under the previous UK Government. Taken together, our settlement over 2024-25 and 2025-26 will increase by around 1.7bn compared to what it would have been. 

Cllr Prichard said the increases gave the opportunity for local authorities like Wrexham to better support essential community services, What I would say as the leader of Wrexham Council is that we would ask the Welsh Government to pass on any consequentials directly to ourselves and that we have our fair share of this money, Pritchard said. He expressed his concern that funds intended to benefit the 22 local authorities in Wales could end up being reallocated primarily to the NHS, rather than supporting services across local communities.

Cllr Pritchard acknowledged the critical importance of the NHS and its funding needs, stating, Should we put more money into the NHS? Absolutely, but you cant ignore the social care aspect of it, provided by councils. He highlighted how underfunded social care has placed immense pressure on the NHS, creating a cyclical problem that worsens without adequate local authority funding for care services.

Theres 1.7 billion pounds more, Pritchard emphasised. And what were asking, as a family of 22 local authorities, is to financially fund us correctly so we can deliver services.

Wrexhams Council Leader said he was speaking as part of one voice across the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), with other council leaders hoping for the same outcomes. He described the nervous atmosphere among chief executives across Wales, who are concerned about how much funding will eventually reach them after potential deductions for other initiatives.

Now its a very difficult, challenging time for us all, including the Welsh Government, but theyve received money from Westminster, and we want to make sure that we have our fair share, divided fairly through the consequentials to 22 authorities across Wales.

What we dont want to happen is that the money goes to the Welsh Government, and then they dont allocate it to the 22 authorities, he stated.

With a new UK Government in place, Pritchard called this a moment in time that could potentially address years of underfunding.

This is an idea of opportunity for the Welsh Government to fund local authorities appropriately at this moment in time, because theyve had the money, substantial amount of money here

All authorities across Wales have the same pressure, education, social care, school transport, homeless, additional learning needs, transport. Its relentless. The pressure is there. Everybody knows where the pressures are. Im speaking on behalf of every leader across Wales, because were all in the same boat here. Were all concerned and worried with regards to the amount that we will receive. It does worry us when we hear messages coming out of Welsh Government with regards to top slicing.

We asked the Council Leader if cash was passported down per-theme or department if that would be hypothecated locally and spent specifically in those areas locally  and was told Yes. Absolutely.

The WLGA say local councils across Wales face pressures of 559m in 2025-6, projected to increase to over 1bn in the ensuing two years.

Leader of Torfaen Council Anthony Hunt, WLGA Finance Spokesperson said: Whilst we will take time to consider the full implications for Welsh councils, I welcome the new direction set out in the Budget. UK, Welsh and local governments priorities are fully aligned, and the Chancellors announcements will help to support their delivery.

The 1.7bn for Welsh Government will help to enable Ministers to support council-run services to deliver on their priorities and to invest in preventative services.

A slew of measures will provide a cash injection for public services, including 1.3bn for English councils, including 600m funding commitment for social care, and a 500m boost for affordable homes. Local government in Wales will look to Welsh Government to provide consequential funding in full to support councils contribution to fulfilling these ambitions.

Previously Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, said the Welsh Government Budget will be published on 10 December, It will focus on our priorities, including ensuring public services continue to deliver for Wales.
Plans submitted to create magical childrens play barn and cafe in Wrexham

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Nov 6th, 2024

A new childrens play centre and cafe could soon open in Wrexham.

An application has been submitted to Wrexham Council proposing a change of use of a vacant warehouse on Pandy Business Park, on Plas Acton Road.

The property was previously occupied by Lloyd Morris Electrical Engineer Warehouse. However it has sat vacant for some time.

Planning agents Blueprint Architectural Services Ltd, which have submitted the plans on behalf of Rachel Lloyd at Homestead Nursery, state that the applicant has a vision to create a space like no other in the area which would focus on the interaction of parents with infants to enhance their development.

An artists impression of the Magical Faraway Tree Learning Centre shows that the warehouse will be transformed into a play space for children and their guardians  including a baby and toddler space, a water work station, fairy lights and artificial grass.

The application explains: Step into a world where imagination and exploration reign supreme!

This transformed warehouse will be a vibrant haven for babies to pre-school children and their guardians, designed by Kim, Rachel and CoolCanvas to foster early years development through play.

As you enter youll be greeted by stunning tree platforms linked by interconnecting nets, creating an adventurous canopy for little explorers.

Twinkling fairy lights on a vertical silver birch poles will evoke the charm of an enchanted woodland, inviting families to embark on magical journeys together.

Our expansive water play zone will spark curiosity and problem-solving skills with its engaging features, while dedicated area will cater to varying development stages  from gentle baby care strength exercises to dynamic toddler zones and imaginative pre-school activities.

Discover a space where creativity knows no bounds! A specially zoned messy area will house wheelbarrows and loose materials for transportation play, alongside a vibrant creative zone that encourages artistic expression.

With natural planting and green foliage throughout every corner of the centre will embrace the beauty of the outdoors, creating a nurturing environment for learning and play.

Join us in this adventure, where parents and children bond through joyful discovery in a truly magical space!

A cafe space and hospitality suite are also included in the redevelopment of the warehouse.

As part of the plans the existing access from Plas Acton Road onto the Pandy Business Park would be retained.

The applicants note that there are 32 parking spaces for the building  with further spaces available for staff parking at the rear if required.

The application also highlights the sites proximity to the A483 and local transport links.

If approved the play barn and cafe would create five full-time and four part-time jobs.

The proposed opening hours are 8:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The application concludes: We feel this planning application should be looked favourably upon as we feel there are no justifiable reasons for refusal.

This change of use application will benefit the local economy by creating jobs and also benefit young families of the local population producing a space where interaction with infants is the focus.

By agreeing to this proposal the local authority will provide a facility like no other in the area with natural themed play space a magical experience for parents and children.

The cafe area would be used in conjunction with both the play space and hospitality suite to broaden the audience for the facility.

The scheme is both exciting and proven within other areas of the UK. This is a must have facility in our ever-growing popular city.

The application will be considered for approval by Wrexham Council at a later date.

Picture: Google Maps
Public sector shielded increased national insurance costs, says Mark Drakeford

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Nov 6th, 2024

Mark Drakeford confirmed the UK Treasury will cover increased costs of national insurance in the public sector amid concerns additional funding could be swallowed up by tax rises.

The former first minister said Wales will receive full funding for employer national insurance (NI) contributions for public sector workers, as defined by the Office for National Statistics.

He told the Senedd this will be above and beyond an additional 1.7bn announced for Wales last week in Labours first UK budget in 15 years.

Prof Drakeford, Wales finance secretary, who will announce the Welsh Governments own spending plans in December, described the UK settlement as a step change.

But he stressed: It was never going to be possible to repair 14 years worth of damage within the first 14 weeks of a UK Labour Government.

Different world

Prof Drakeford explained the Welsh Government will receive 235m in 2025/26 for capital investment in areas such as repairing schools or building hospitals.

In a statement to the Senedd on November 5, he said: That is a real-terms 7% increase in a single year. That compares with 0.5% a year on average over the last 14 years.

In 14 years of the last Conservative government, the annual uplift in capital available to the Welsh Government accumulated to the uplift we have now received in a single year.

He contrasted this with an extra 1m in capital spending provided by Jeremy Hunt, the former Tory chancellor, in March, stating Wales now is 235 times better off.

He said: That additional capital will not fill every hole nor undo all the damage inflicted on the fabric of our public services but it is a different world to the one we had learned to fear.

Fiscal fiddling

Peter Fox, the Conservatives shadow finance secretary, criticised the snatch-and-grab budget, accusing Labour of misleading the public and breaking manifesto promises.

He told the debating chamber or Siambr: Despite all the spin, this is the same old Labour: borrowing more, taxing more  taking more of other peoples money.

Mr Fox said the 40bn in tax rises, which includes employers NI contributions, will suppress economic growth and wages, costing jobs and impacting thousands of working people.

Accusing Rachel Reeves of fiscal fiddling, he warned the chancellor is playing a dangerous game that risks saddling generations with debt by maxing out the countrys credit card today.

His Conservative colleague James Evans raised concerns about care homes and GP surgeries, which, unlike the health service, will not be protected from the NI hike.

Deaf ears

Heledd Fychan suggested calls for HS2 funding, devolution of the Crown Estate and replacement of the Barnett formula had fallen on deaf ears.

Prof Drakeford said Welsh ministers would continue to make the case for rail funding and reform of the formula that is used to allocate money to Wales.

But he stressed it is unrealistic to expect fundamental change in six months, with the Barnett formula dating to 1978 and reform requiring agreement across all four nations.

Ms Fychan, Plaid Cymrus shadow finance secretary, told the Senedd that cruel and damaging policies of the previous Tory UK Government are continuing under Labour.

Her party colleague Sioned Williams was disappointed the UKs first female chancellor did not mention childcare in her speech given its importance to tackling inequality.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Senedd hears evidence on plans to ban lying politicians

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Nov 6th, 2024

Senedd members took evidence about proposals to ban lying politicians, with academic experts warning that misleading the public can have catastrophic consequences.

The standards committee heard from academics following a Welsh Government promise to bring forward a law by 2026 to disqualify politicians found guilty of deliberate deception.

Andrew Blick, director of the Constitution Society, an educational charity, said misleading the public is as old as politics but the nature of the problem has morphed due to technology.

He raised the example of misinformation proliferating online fuelling riots in the UK over the summer, saying it showed how misleading the public can have catastrophic consequences.

Prof Blick said: I think we are seeing a movement towards harder regulation.

Path breaking

Giving evidence on November 4, the politics professor at Kings College London described the proposals as path breaking in the UK and potentially internationally.

We welcome the fact that this subjects being taken seriously, he said. The misleading of the public is clearly a problem constitutionally and democratically.

Labours Hannah Blythyn, who chairs the committee, questioned whether deception would be best dealt with by creating an offence or strengthening existing arrangements.

Dexter Govan, director of research at the Constitution Society, suggested a criminal offence could act as a deterrent but he cautioned against overly severe penalties.

Dr Govan told the committee his primary concern would be around timeframes, saying: If it takes two years to action such an offence, there are real issues there.

Rap on the knuckles

Prof Blick added: We dont have a specific position but I think making it a criminal offence  it does signify  that this is a serious matter.

He contrasted this with a rap on the knuckles from a committee, with people in the outside world seeing it as politicians sitting in judgement of themselves.

Prof Blick pointed to evidence that trust in politicians is at an all-time low in the veracity index poll which has been published since 1983.

This could be part of a package of measures that might help, he said.

It could raise the stakes in terms of the possible negative consequences for not telling the truth  so it could contribute to a cultural change.

Politicisation

Pressed about a need to distinguish between politicians public and private lives, Prof Blick said a court would be capable of addressing the issue case by case.

The Conservatives James Evans raised concerns about politicisation of the courts.

Prof Blick pointed out the courts are not excluded from political matters, raising the example of the successful 2019 case against Boris Johnsons decision to prorogue Parliament.

He told the committee it is regrettable if the courts have to get involved but he suggested this backstop is often preferable to self-regulation.

Labours Mick Antoniw raised concerns about the potential impact on the principle of privilege, which provides certain legal protections for whats said in parliament.

Kangaroo court

He pointed to Labours plans to extend parliamentary privilege across the UK, with Dr Govan replying: I do think theres a world in which the two things can co-exist.

Mr Antoniw, who was formerly counsel general, the Welsh Governments chief legal adviser, said: The creation of a criminal offence effectively removes parliamentary privilege it means anything you say can potentially be reported as a criminal offence.

Prof Blick called for an overhaul of parliamentary privilege which dates to the 17th century.

He pointed out Boris Johnson could have been removed from office if he did not stand down, with the former prime minister describing standards processes as a kangaroo court.

Prof Blick told the committee: We are actually moving  potentially, if we go down the path were talking about today  to a full judicial proceeding, so in that sense it could be helpful.

Is self-regulation enough?

Plaid Cymrus Adam Price has spearheaded calls for a ban on deliberate deception, striking a last-minute deal with the Welsh Government in July to bring forward legislation.

Mr Price, a former MP who was once ejected from the House of Commons for accusing Tony Blair of lying, warned: In a self-regulating parliament, politics will always win.

Prof Blick agreed the central question must be: Is self-regulation enough in this area?

Asked whether the courts intervening could be used as a badge of honour by those on the far left and right, Prof Blick hoped to see a longer-term cultural shift.

He told committee members: I can see an even bigger problem with saying, Its all hopeless, so why are we trying?.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Two Indian restaurants in Wrexham shortlisted in Asian Curry Awards!

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Nov 6th, 2024

Two Indian restaurants in Wrexham have been shortlisted in this years Asian Curry Awards.

Dubbed the Curry Oscars and the biggest event in the Asian culinary calendar  the finalists were chosen from a shortlist of over 200 restaurants and takeaways, and voted for by the public.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner and presentation on Sunday 17 November at Grosvenor House in London.

The glittering event will be hosted by BBC news anchor Samantha Simmonds.

Two Indian restaurants have made the shortlist  Maahis near the A483 at Ruabon and Black Peppers in Wrexham city centre.

Judges from the Asian Catering Federation (ACF) will now meet to discuss the list of finalists and determine this years overall winners.

The Asian Curry Awards cover the complete range of Asian and Oriental cuisines: Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.

As well as awards for for best restaurant in each region of the UK, there are also accolades for Takeaway of the Year, Event Caterer of the Year, Best Fine Dining Restaurant, Restaurant Group of the Year, Best International Restaurant, Best Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Street Food of the Year, and, for the much coveted Asian Chef of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement.

Chairman of the Asian Catering Federation Yawar Khan, said: Were delighted by the number of people who have taken the time to vote for their favourite restaurant this year.

The standard of finalists is exceptional and we also have some excellent newcomers on the list which is great news for the industry as it continues to flourish in todays challenging economic climate.

The 14th Asian Curry Awards and Asian Catering Federation Gala Dinner is sponsored by Cobra Beer, Kingfisher Beer and Work Permit Cloud Ltd. and organised by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF).
House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, presides over a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing in Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Rod Lamkey/AP

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas glided to an 11th term on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.

The Austin incumbent's Democratic challenger, Theresa Boisseau, a real estate agent and former public school teacher, had campaigned on abortion rights and more accessible health care. Jeff Miller, an office manager, ran for the Libertarian Party.

"The American people spoke, and Republicans are ready to deliver results for our great nation," McCaul said in a statement on X. "I look forward to working with President Trump again and my Republican colleagues to restore our economy, secure our border, project strength against our foreign adversaries, & protect the homeland. It's time to get our country back on track."

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McCaul was first elected in 2004 and chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was formerly chief of counterterrorism and national security in the U.S. Attorney's office, a deputy attorney general under now-Sen. John Cornyn and a federal prosecutor.
The Israel Philharmonic returns to Davies Symphony Hall under the direction of Lahav Shani.

This well-loved orchestra will perform works by Tzvi Avni, Max Bruch, Leonard Bernstein, and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky for one night only.

The Israel Philharmonic is one of Israels oldest and most influential cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1936, the Israel Philharmonic has dedicated itself to presenting the worlds greatest music to audiences in Israel and around the world.

Founded by Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman, the Israel Philharmonic represents the fulfillment of his dream to unite the desire of the country for an orchestra with the desire of the Jewish musicians for a country. Huberman spent countless hours persuading first-chair musicians of Eastern European and German orchestras, who had lost their jobs as a result of Nazism, to immigrate to Palestine. In doing so, Huberman created an orchestra of soloists which continues to act as a dynamic, global community for musicians from across the world.

Major soloists and conductors have always performed with the Israel Philharmonic. Martha Argerich, Yefim Bronfman, Leonidas Kavakos, Itzhak Perlman, Kirill Petrenko, Gil Shaham, Sir Andras Schiff and Pinchas Zukerman, among many others, are regular guests of the orchestra.

The Israel Philharmonic is Israels premier cultural ambassador and travels extensively throughout the world, particularly to countries where there is little or no Israeli representation.

// March 23 at Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets are available at sfsymphony.org.
This winter and spring, the San Francisco Symphonys Great Performers Series at Davies Symphony Hall offers an extraordinary opportunity to experience world-class artistry.

The season includes unforgettable performances by celebrated pianists Yuja Wang and Vikingur Olafsson, whose virtuosity will leave audiences spellbound.

Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter graces the stage with her legendary talent, while the Israel Philharmonic brings the brilliance of one of the worlds most renowned orchestras to San Francisco. Adding to the excitement, pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Michael Feinstein promise evenings of dazzling technique and charismatic flair.

The season also highlights the remarkable sibling duo Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason, whose emotionally rich performances are captivating audiences worldwide.

These concerts showcase the transformative power of music and the artistry of some of the greatest performers of our time.

// Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets are available at sfsymphony.org.
Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, a Navy veteran speaks during the Memorial Day Observance at Montgomery County Veteran's Park on Monday, May 29, 2023 in Conroe. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell, a first-term Republican and former Navy SEAL, cruised to reelection on Tuesday in a race against Democrat Laura Jones.

Luttrell had been heavily favored to win in the GOP-leaning 8th Congressional district, which includes parts of Montgomery and Harris Counties.

In Congress, Luttrell has partnered with fellow Texas Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw to push for funding into researching psychedelics as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers.
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High Grade Visible Gold in Quebec - A 60,000 metre Drill Program is Underway

Malibu, CA, Nov 6, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Join Ellis Martin for a conversation with Mark Fedosiewich, President and CEO of Vior Inc. ( CVE:VIO ) ( VIORF:OTCMKTS ) ( VL5:FRA ).



Vior Inc. is a junior mining exploration company based in Quebec, Canada and benefits from a long history of exploration success for more than 35 years.



The company's value proposition is based on the following factors :



- The Flagship district-scale Belleterre Gold Project



- Exposure to other potential discoveries, including district-scale gold, nickel and other critical minerals in Quebec



- Highly Committed Management with Strong Leadership and a proven Track Record



- Strong Project Partners: Financial & Technical



- And a Hybrid Strategy of Exploring & Investing



Mr. Fedosiewich is an Honours Bachelor of Commerce graduate who has been involved in the investment industry for over 30 years in a number of senior advisory positions with several prominent investment firms, most recently as first vice-president at CIBC Wood Gundy. He has established, over his successful career, an extensive network across North America of mining executives, experienced high-net-worth junior resource investors and prominent junior resource portfolio managers.



To Listen to the Interview, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/CMD6U9JP





About The Ellis Martin Report





The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) is an internet based radio program showcasing potentially undervalued companies to an audience of potential retail investors and fund managers that comprise our listening audience. TEMR is broadcasted on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel and The Opportunity Radio Network. CEO and company interviews are paid for by those represented on the program.

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About Vior inc.

Vior Inc. (CVE:VIO) (OTCMKTS:VIORF) (FRA:VL5) is a junior mineral exploration corporation based in the province of Quebec, Canada, whose corporate strategy is to generate, explore, and develop high-quality mineral projects in the proven and favourable mining jurisdiction of Quebec. Through the years, Vior's management and technical teams have demonstrated their ability to discover several gold deposits and many high-quality mineral projects.

Vior is rapidly advancing its flagship Belleterre Gold Project with the strategic support of Osisko Mining Inc. (now Gold Fields Limited, pursuant to the completion of its acquisition via plan of arrangement transaction announced by Osisko Mining on October 25, 2024). The Belleterre Gold Project is a promising district-scale project that includes Quebec's past-producing high-grade Belleterre gold mine. Vior has conducted extensive surface and compilation exploration at the Belleterre Project and is currently executing on a +60,000 metre drill program.

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U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, held a news conference about the pause on LNG approvals on Feb. 21, 2024 at Lamar State College Port Arthur. Courtney Pedersen/The Enterprise Rhonda Hart, mother of slain Santa Fe High School student Kimberly Vaughan, gives a speech at the Houston Women March On rally at the Houston City Hall for a rally on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

U.S. Rep. Randy Weber has won a seventh term representing the 14th Congressional District, according to unofficial election results.

The Associated Press called the race shortly after 8:30 p.m.

He defeated Democratic challenger Rhonda Hart, a veteran who lost her 14-year-old daughter, Kimberly Vaughan, in the 2018 mass shooting at Santa Fe High School.

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Gun restrictions were a major flash point in the race. Hart had pushed Congress to pass the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act that would have required some gun manufacturers to provide buyers with educational materials about safely storing a firearm. The bill also would have raised the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21, among other changes.

Weber voted against the bill, which he called another attempt by Democrats to strip Americans of their Second Amendment rights. The measure narrowly passed the House but did not advance in the Senate.

Weber, a former state representative and Pearland city councilman, has represented the 14th Congressional District since 2013. He is one of the most conservative members of Congress and serves on the House Energy and Commerce and Science, Space and Technology committees.

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He voted to reject the Electoral College results in 2020 and on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, he wrote in a statement that while he condemned the violence, he did not approve of the mainstream media and Democrats' decision to hold the actions of the few who engaged in violence that day as representative of all those they oppose or as a legitimate attempt to overthrow the government, which he said was dishonest.

In the same statement, he called for unity, which he said was needed more than any time in our history.

The solid-red 14th District includes all of Galveston County and parts of Jefferson. Harts name was misspelled on printed ballots in Galveston County, but officials there said they did not expect the error to impact the vote in any way.
Celebrating the harmony of tradition and innovation, boAt, Indias leading audio and wearable brand, has partnered with Warner Music India to present Maati, a project that pays homage to Indias vibrant folk heritage.

This musical journey, featuring eight tracks across eight Indian languages, brings together a stellar lineup of artists, including icons like Vishal Dadlani, Mohit Chauhan, and Ash King, alongside rising stars like Sushant Divgikar (aka Rani KoHEnur) and Madhubanti Bagchi. Through this partnership, boAt emphasizes its commitment to honoring Indias cultural diversity and advancing the nations evolving music scene.

Maati launched in October, with its tracks gradually rolling out over the next two months on Warner Music India's YouTube and social media channels, blending regional authenticity with modernity. Each song, composed by renowned musicians Achint Thakkar and Parth Pandya, captures the depth of Indian folklore, spanning languages such as Rajasthani, Telugu, Assamese, Punjabi, Tamil, Gujarati, Bengali, and Garhwali Pahadi. The themes range from romantic reunions to humorous takes on marriage, encapsulating the spirit of Indias storytelling traditions.



The initial releases include:



 Bawla: A lively track featuring Rani KoHEnur, composer Mikey McCleary, and the soulful Khan Brothers.

 Style: Showcasing the collaboration of Achint Thakkar and Parth Pandya.

 Bordoisila: Featuring powerful performances by Anand Bhaskar and Abhishruti Bezbaruah.

Aman Gupta, Co-Founder and CMO, boAt, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: By powering Maati, boAt aims to amplify the voices of folk artists, bringing them to the forefront of Indias music industry. This collaboration reflects our mission to blend technology with cultural narratives, creating immersive audio experiences that resonate deeply with Indian and global listeners.

Jay Mehta, Managing Director of Warner Music India & SAARC, shared his excitement: Maati was envisioned to be a platform that elevates India's folk music to the global stage while celebrating the depth of our folk traditions. This season is just the beginning, with plans to evolve Maati into a live festival next year.

The project aims to bridge the gap between folk music and contemporary sounds, proving that music transcends boundaries, languages, and regions. With Warner Music Indias plans to expand Maati into a live festival in 2025, this initiative marks a significant step in showcasing Indias cultural richness to the world.
Business Today is set to host its prestigious Most Powerful Women (MPW) in Business Awards, recognizing Indias exceptional women leaders and innovators who are shaping the future of business.

This highly anticipated event, which marks the unveiling of the 21st edition of the Most Powerful Women in Business list, will take place on November 8, 2024, in Mumbai. The theme, Balance. Work. Life. Safety. captures the essence of Corporate Indias journey towards fostering a balanced, diverse, and inclusive workforce.

Since its inception in 2003, Business Todays MPW initiative has become Indias foremost platform for honoring women leaders, serving as a catalyst for conversations around gender equity, inclusivity, and workplace safety.

Each year, this celebrated gathering unites trailblazers from diverse industries, providing a powerful forum for influential voices to advocate for progress and inspire others. Attendees have the unique opportunity to connect with visionary leaders, gain insights into their journeys, and witness the transformative impact of women at the highest levels of business.

This years distinguished lineup of speakers is led by Chief Guest Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Member of Parliament, North Mumbai Lok Sabha

Joining the stage are notable figures such as Prabha Narasimhan, MD & CEO of Colgate-Palmolive (India); Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder of Indian Angel Network; Pavitra Shankar, MD of Brigade Group; Prativa Mohapatra, VP & Managing Director, Adobe India; and Sindhu Gangadharan, MD & Head, Customer Innovation Services, SAP Labs India.

Adding a broader cultural perspective, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Actor; Maheep Kapoor, Entrepreneur; Bhavna Pandey, Entrepreneur; Neelam Kothari, Actor & Entrepreneur; Seema Kiran Sajdah, Entrepreneur and art connoisseur Shalini Passi will also share their experiences and insights. Shefali Goradia, Chairperson of Deloitte South Asia, Ameera Shah, Executive Chairperson, Metropolis Healthcare; Devita Saraf, Chairperson & CEO, Vu Group; Ananya Birla, Founder & Chairperson, Svatantra Microfinance; and Nirupa Shankar, Joint MD, Brigade Group will contribute their expertise on leadership and gender equity.

Through this landmark event, Business Today reaffirms its commitment to advancing a corporate ecosystem that values inclusivity and empowers women at all career stages. By celebrating these remarkable women and fostering vital discussions on work-life balance, safety, and diversity, the Most Powerful Women in Business Awards serves as an inspiration for companies across India, urging them to implement transformative changes that empower the next generation of women leaders.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has reportedly raised concerns with Wikipedia, questioning why it should not be regarded as a publisher rather than as an intermediary. This move follows multiple complaints pointing to perceived bias and inaccuracies within the content on the platform. The Ministrys notice suggests that editorial control over Wikipedias pages may be concentrated within a small group of individuals.

Historically, Wikipedia has maintained that, as an intermediary, it does not have editorial oversight of the content on its platform. However, this defense is now being challenged in light of a defamation case filed by news agency ANI. The agency has accused Wikipedias parent organization, the Wikimedia Foundation, of labeling it as a propaganda arm of the current government.

As part of the ongoing legal proceedings, the Delhi High Court warned the Wikimedia Foundation that the government could block Wikipedia in India if the organization does not disclose the identities of those responsible for the defamatory content. The Court also indicated that Wikipedias disclaimer about its reliance on secondary sources cannot absolve the platform from responsibility for what is posted by users.

The Delhi High Court had earlier expressed concerns over Wikipedia's open-editing model, describing it as dangerous due to the risk of harmful or inaccurate information being spread, especially about public figures and organizations. Despite repeated requests from the Court, Wikipedia has refused to disclose the identities of users responsible for the controversial edits on ANIs page.

In its defense, Wikipedias legal team emphasized that users are required to follow content policies that demand verifiable information. Still, the issue of transparency surrounding the identity of users involved in potentially misleading edits remains unresolved and contentious.
On Tuesday, French and Dutch authorities searched Netflix's offices as part of a probe launched in November 2022 into suspected financial misconduct, including alleged "serious tax fraud and off-the-books work." The investigation, led by France's Parquet National Financier (PNF), which typically examines major corporations, seeks to uncover potential discrepancies in Netflixs reported revenues in France.

Investigators specializing in financial crime conducted the search in Paris, while authorities in Amsterdam, where Netflixs European headquarters are located, also cooperated with the French team in a synchronized raid. A Dutch official confirmed that the operation was requested by French authorities, demonstrating close international collaboration in the investigation. Cooperation between French and Dutch authorities has been underway for months as part of these proceedings, a French source informed Reuters.

Netflix responded with a statement, saying, We are cooperating with the authorities in France, where Netflix is a significant contributor to the local economy, and we comply with the tax laws and regulations in all the countries in which we operate.

The exact reason behind the investigation has not been disclosed, but French news sources reported concerns over Netflix Services Frances low revenue turnover in relation to its significant local user base. In 2021, Netflix adjusted its operational structure to manage tax filings differently, following reports that its French subsidiary had previously declared less than 1 million in corporate taxes by channeling revenue through a Dutch entity. In recent years, European tax authorities have encountered similar challenges in collecting tax revenue from large tech companies with cross-border services, which often maintain complex international structures for tax purposes.

Previously, Netflix faced scrutiny from Italian tax authorities, which resulted in the streaming giant paying 55.8 million in back taxes in 2022. Netflix opened its Paris office in 2020, where it employs approximately 40 people.
Rediffusion Brand Solutions, one of Indias largest independent advertising agencies, is pleased to announce that it has been appointed as the Creative Agency of Record for Nippon India Mutual Fund (NIMF).

Following a rigorous four-round pitch process, NIMF, one of Indias leading non-bank-backed asset management companies, selected Rediffusion to handle its creative duties. This partnership aims to amplify NIMF's brand presence in the competitive mutual funds industry through innovative, insight-driven campaigns.

In a statement on the collaboration, Kaiyomurz Daver, Head of Marketing at NIMF, noted, We found in Rediffusion what we were looking foran in-depth understanding of the mutual funds category, the agility to adapt to evolving market conditions, and a passion for excellence. Importantly, we will be working with the same team that led the pitch, combining a robust mix of senior and fresh talent."

Dr. Sandeep Goyal, Chairman of Rediffusion expressed his enthusiasm: Nippon India Mutual Fund holds a special place for me, given my two-decade-long association with Japanese brands in India. This partnership feels natural, and we are fully committed to helping NIMF become a preferred choice for Indian investors.

Asheesh Malhotra, Executive Director at Rediffusion, reflected on the evolving dynamics of the mutual funds category: Indian investors are increasingly incorporating mutual funds into their core investment portfolios. The competition to attract customers in this highly regulated market is intense. Trust, transparency, and market intelligence are crucial differentiators. Investors are seeking trusted partners who offer customized solutions, innovation, and dynamic investment strategies to maximize returns in the short term. At Rediffusion, we value the importance of a team that deeply understands the category and consistently meets every challenge head-on."

Pramod Sharma, National Creative Director at Rediffusion, elaborated on the creative strategy for NIMF: In a category that is often misunderstood, our challenge was to create a brand narrative that resonates across a wide target audience based on trust and transparency. Instead of relying on pure play emotional messaging, we focused on key pillars like process, discipline, and caution. The brand imagery that we developed, had a clean and bold black-and-white look, stood out in the marketplace and was well-received by both NIMF and its consumers. However, the real challenge begins now as we embark on the journey to elevate NIMFs brand presence even further.
The Media Ant, a leading media buying agency, successfully executed a strategic campaign for Keya Foods, a renowned Indian brand specializing in high-quality herbs and seasonings. With two decades of experience, Keya Foods has become a household name in segments such as pasta, spices, soups, and ketchups. This campaign aimed to elevate brand awareness and highlight the versatility of Keya's product range across West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and through a nationwide influencer approach.

The campaign targeted young, urban consumers aged 18 to 34, with a demographic breakdown of 30% male and 70% female from middle- to high-income segments. Using a dual-channel approach that combined traditional and digital platforms, The Media Ant maximized reach and engagement for Keya Foods.

The newspaper advertising created visibility and established brand presence across major markets, including West Bengal, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. These ads promoted Keya Foods' seasonings as essential ingredients, appealing to consumers interested in elevating their everyday cooking with high-quality seasonings and spices.

To enhance engagement, influencers across India showcased unique recipes featuring Keyas seasonings and masalas. This approach sparked interest around the brand and provided audiences with inspiring ways to incorporate Keyas products into their meals, thereby expanding Keya's visibility and appeal in digital spaces.

The campaign achieved high impact with extensive reach across the target regions and demonstrated significant consumer engagement nationwide. By leveraging influential personalities to promote Keya's versatile product line, the brand's presence was elevated both in urban and digital spaces, solidifying Keya Foods as a preferred choice for quality ingredients in households across India.

The Media Ant faced logistical challenges in coordinating print releases across multiple states while aligning influencer efforts nationwide. The agency collaborated closely with influencers to ensure a consistent message, optimizing brand positioning across both platforms and overcoming geographic and logistical hurdles to achieve a seamless campaign rollout.

"This campaign was a tremendous success in positioning Keya Foods as a brand synonymous with quality and versatility. Our strategic blend of traditional print and influencer marketing allowed Keya to reach diverse audiences, creating awareness and excitement around their products. We are thrilled with the results and the brands strengthened connection with consumers," said Mimo Pal, Account Manager at The Media Ant.
WPPs THOMPSON, part of the VML network, has been awarded and retains the United States Marine Corps account, which is one of their longest client relationships, spanning over 77 years. The Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) Advertising Program centers on brand awareness, lead generation and recruiter support.

The $1.9B contract for Marine Corps Recruiting Command duties will be annualized over a 10- year period, comprised of two 5-year periods. The contract value is inclusive of agency fees, media, production, and other related costs over the life of the contract. The win was officially announced after a standard, mandated competitive government procurement review.

Advertising legend James Walter Thompson, who served as a United States Marine, has long been recognized as a pioneer of the industry. His close connection to the Corps was the foundation of a 77-year partnership with the iconic agency J. Walter Thompson which later became Wunderman Thompson.

After WPPs reorganization of Wunderman Thompson earlier this year, THOMPSON was formed to service the US Marine Corps account. THOMPSON builds upon the legacy of an iconic portfolio of brand work while being strategically positioned for future innovation. The 200+ person team is poised to deliver work across the full marketing funnel to support Marine Recruiters with modern tools and inspire the next generation of youth to earn the title, Marine.

We look forward to the continued partnership with THOMPSON which started over 75 years ago, said Lieutenant Colonel Anton Semelroth, National Director  Marketing & Communication Strategy, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. THOMPSON has a diverse and tenured team with valued perspectives and passion for supporting the United States Marine Corps brand through distinctive recruitment efforts that reach our targets in creative and insightful ways.

The Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) Advertising Program is responsible for the recruitment of approximately 40,000 personnel per year to fill vacancies in both enlisted and officer programs. The objective of MCRC advertising is to use all the tools of marketing and communications to guide qualified prospects through the decision-making process to becoming a Marine and putting each prospect in front of a Marine recruiter. The Marine Corps Advertising Program spans a wide variety of channels and program elements, including an expanded online and social media presence, an array of awareness media options, an effective lead generation program, a nationwide support team providing advertising assistance through local event activation, and the development of recruiter sales support materials.

The pride of being able to work alongside our client partners for another ten years is only surpassed by the responsibility we feel to support Marine Recruiters in their efforts to make mission, said Sean McNeeley, Executive Director, THOMPSON. Each day, we aim to earn the trust of our client to allow us to deliver outstanding work, and were confident that the vision outlined in our proposal will enable MCRC to lead through creativity and innovation to inspire the next generation of Marines.
Senior CPC official pledges to advance China-Kenya cooperation

Xinhua) 09:55, November 06, 2024

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Kenyan President and United Democratic Alliance Leader William Ruto in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 4, 2024. Li led a CPC delegation on an official goodwill visit to Kenya at the invitation of Kenya's United Democratic Alliance from Nov. 3 to 5. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

NAIROBI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Li Xi, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Tuesday concluded an official goodwill visit to Kenya, where he expressed commitment to fostering an even closer China-Kenya community with a shared future in the new era.

During the three-day visit, Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, met with Kenyan President and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Leader William Ruto and held discussions with UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar.

During his meeting with the Kenyan president, Li said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ruto have met for two consecutive years, charting the course for developing bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Kenya, under the guidance of the important consensus between the two heads of state, to remain reliable friends and partners and firmly support each other on core interests and issues of major concern, so as to build an even closer China-Kenya community with a shared future in the new era.

Li said the practical cooperation between China and Kenya has yielded fruitful results, noting that the Chinese president announced 10 partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing.

China is willing to align the outcomes of this summit with Kenya's Vision 2030 to support Kenya's economic development, Li said.

China appreciates and welcomes Kenya's participation in the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative proposed by the Chinese president, Li said, adding that China also looks forward to strengthening communication and coordination with Kenya on issues like reform of international multilateral institutions, jointly safeguarding the common interests of the Global South.

For his part, Ruto said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kenya and China more than 60 years ago, the two countries have always worked side by side and sincerely cooperated in their respective national development processes.

Noting that Kenya-China relations are exemplary, Ruto said China's support in major projects like the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway has played a vital role in the development of Kenya and East Africa.

Ruto extended his congratulations on the successful FOCAC summit and expressed full support for the 10 partnership actions for modernization, pledging to work with China to accelerate the implementation of the summit's outcomes.

Kenya remains committed to the one-China principle and appreciates China's contributions to peace and security in Africa, Ruto said.

Kenya looks forward to deepening communication and cooperation with China at the international level to strengthen unity and collaboration in the Global South, Ruto said, while voicing anticipation for China's increased involvement in African affairs and support for the African Union to foster peace, stability, and development across the continent.

In his talks with Omar, Li said that the CPC and the UDA, as governing parties, share the historical mission of strengthening the party and nation to benefit the people.

The CPC values its relationship with the UDA and is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen strategic communication, and enhance political mutual trust between the two countries, Li said.

Li said the CPC is ready to enhance the exchange of governance experiences and improve the capacity and level of governance with the UDA, promote local and cultural exchanges to consolidate public support for friendship between the two countries and strengthen solidarity and cooperation to jointly uphold international fairness and justice to contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Omar said that under the leadership of the CPC, China has made remarkable development achievements, setting an example for African political parties in governance and development.

The UDA is eager to learn from the CPC's governance experience, further enhance exchanges and cooperation, and strengthen mutual understanding and trust to provide a solid political foundation for the development of relations between the two countries, Omar said.

During the visit, Li introduced the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, along with the CPC's efforts in full and rigorous Party self-governance and anti-corruption.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping has drawn profound lessons from the extensive practices and important theoretical achievements in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance in the new era, developing important ideas of the Party's self-reform, which provide fundamental guidance for advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance, improving Party conduct, fostering a clean government, and advancing the fight against corruption, Li said.

China is willing to enhance anti-corruption experience exchange and mutual learning with Kenya and jointly combat cross-border corruption, he added.

The Kenyan side said that the CPC has made significant progress in the fight against corruption and Kenya is willing to learn from China's experiences to strengthen the internal development of the party.

Li also inspected flagship projects under the China-Kenya Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, and visited a coffee plantation jointly developed with Chinese partners. He also attended a symposium on integrity building in BRI projects with representatives of Chinese enterprises operating in Kenya.

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, holds discussions with Kenya's United Democratic Alliance Secretary General Hassan Omar in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 4, 2024. Li led a CPC delegation on an official goodwill visit to Kenya at the invitation of Kenya's United Democratic Alliance from Nov. 3 to 5. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, inspects the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, a flagship project under the China-Kenya Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 3, 2024. Li led a CPC delegation on an official goodwill visit to Kenya at the invitation of Kenya's United Democratic Alliance from Nov. 3 to 5. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, visits a coffee plantation jointly developed with Chinese partners in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 4, 2024. Li led a CPC delegation on an official goodwill visit to Kenya at the invitation of Kenya's United Democratic Alliance from Nov. 3 to 5. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have spent the last several months battling over seven states that they believe could swing either way in the November election.

Swing states, sometimes referred to as battleground or purple states, are states that have demonstrated split support for Republicans and Democrats in recent election cycles.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have spent the last several months battling over seven states that they believe could swing either way in the November election.

Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Nevada are considered key swing states in the 2024 presidential election. Keep reading to learn more about each state and the candidates that are currently leading.

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Arizona

Arizona has historically been a Republican stronghold, with two exceptions. The state first delivered Republicans an upset in 1996, when Democratic incumbent Bill Clinton edged out Republican challenger Bob Dole. More recently, Arizona voted to elect President Joe Biden in the 2020 election by a narrow margin of around .3%, according to 270towin.

Arizona had not reported polling results by 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

Georgia

Similar to Arizona, Georgia has largely voted Republican in previous elections. Republicans swept the state in virtually every election between 1996 and 2016, with Democrats taking a surprise victory in 2020. The upset sparked national controversy after Trump called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger alleging widespread voter fraud and pressuring Raffensperger to overturn the results.

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Georgia was leaning toward Trump as of 8:30 p.m Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

Michigan

Michigan has traditionally voted blue, but reversed course in the 2016 presidential election when the state voted to elect Trump by a margin of around .2%. The state flipped again in 2020, but both candidates have played toward Michigan's industrial bloc in the lead up to the 2024 election. The state's auto and industrial manufacturing sectors have prompted bids from Trump and Harris to secure the state's working-class voters, according to the BBC.

Michigan was leaning toward Harris as of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Associated Press

Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania was leaning toward Harris as of around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Associated Press

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a Rust Belt state that has historically voted blue but, like Pennsylvania and Michigan, turned red in the 2016 presidential election. It flipped back to blue in 2020, but Republicans have placed a special emphasis on reverting Michigan to a red state  a goal highlighted by the Republican National Party's decision to host its convention in Milwaukee. In response, Harris held her first rally there in July.

Wisconsin had not reported polling results by 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

North Carolina

North Carolina has voted Democrat in two presidential elections since 1972  once in 1976, and again in 2008, according to 270towin. But Democrats, following a narrow defeat in 2020, have renewed efforts to flip the state in the lead up to the 2024 election. A New York Times poll placed Harris and Trump on even footing in the state.

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North Carolina was leaning toward Trump by 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

Nevada

Democrats have narrowly taken Nevada in the past four presidential elections. According to NPR, Nevada has a high percentage of undecided or non-partisan voters, making it a key state for the candidates in the lead up to the 2024 presidential election.

Nevada had not reported polling results by 8:30 p.m. Tuesday according to the Associated Press.
Shifting Alliances and Strategic Maneuvering Shape Maharashtra's Complex Political Scene 2

In Maharashtras ever-fluid political landscape, loyalty and ideology seem transient as leaders and alliances adapt for survival. Once fixated on challenging regional parties, the BJP is now witnessing intricate realignments intended to counterbalance its influence. In a recent twist, the BJP has decided not to support Amit Thackeray, son of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, in his bid for the Mahim assembly seat. Instead, BJP is backing only one MNS candidateBala Nandgaonkar, contesting from the Shivdi seat. Earlier, BJP had hinted at supporting Amit Thackeray in Mahim, but this stance has since shifted.

Meanwhile, whispers of behind-the-scenes interactions between Eknath Shinde and NCP senior leader Sharad Pawar fuel speculation of strategic positioning against BJP. In this high-stakes environment, Maharashtras regional parties are reportedly strategizing to prevent a BJP-led government, underscoring the stakes for BJP, which is keen to maintain relevance.

Adding to the intrigue, NCP leader Nawab Malik, known for his candid commentary, hinted at the unpredictable nature of Maharashtras politics. He noted that post-election alliances remain uncertain, recounting instances from the 90s where opposing factions became unexpected allies. Malik expressed gratitude toward Ajit Pawar for his personal support, despite Pawars current alignment with BJP, emphasizing that core ideological beliefs remain intact.

As assembly elections approach, Maharashtras shifting alliances suggest a pivotal test for regional parties. Voters are watching closely to see how these alliances will impact the states political balance.
Alabama voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to approve the only statewide constitutional amendment on the 2024 general election ballot.

While on everyones ballot, Statewide Amendment 1 only benefits one place - the Franklin County School System in northwest Alabama.

Voters moved to adopt the measure by a margin of 74% to 26%, according to election results available late Tuesday night.

It gives the Franklin County School System the ability to sell a large portion of land it owns in Walker and Fayette counties in hopes of selling or leasing it to a developer.

The land is approximately 225 acres at Interstate 22 and Alabama State Route 13, north of Eldridge.

The lands are considered sixteenth section lands and indemnity lands that Congress granted to schools in Alabama in the 1800s for the support and maintenance of public schools in Alabama.

Without the amendment, the school system could not sell nor lease the land because its managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The amendment transfers ownership rights of those lands to the Franklin County School Board, and any money earned from the lease or sale of the lands will be paid to the school system.

The amendment needed statewide approval because it involves multiple counties, said State Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville.

Alabama also does not have home rule authority, so individual county and local governments need the state legislature to support an amendment similar to this one for everyone in the state to vote on.

Proceeds from a lease or sale would go toward capital improvement projects at Franklin County Schools, where there is a need for expansion projects, Kiel said.

Walker and Fayette counties could get sales taxes and property taxes from the developments likely to come from that area at the I-22/Route 13 interchange, Kiel said.

If you look at other intersections on I-22, in that area, youll find that Jasper has a Loves Truck Stop and retail development there, Kiel said. If you go west to Winfield, they have a new truck stop there. This is one of the more higher traffic areas. Its not been looked at for development  and if Buc-ees was looking for a West Alabama location, this would be that location.
Roots & Revelry, a restaurant and bar in downtown Birmingham, is offering one group of voters a beverage choice that matches their ballot choice for election night.

But not all of its leadership seems to be on the same page about the promotion.

Special for tonight, $92 (45+47) for either Trump Chardonnay or Champagne! reads a since-deleted Tuesday post from the companys Instagram. We will have election coverage on the TV, so watch the results come in with us, or just pick up a bottle to enjoy at home!

Since deleted Roots & Revelry post detailing Trump champagne promotionRoy Johnson

Bar manager Zachary Austin told AL.com Tuesday night that he deleted the post when he came into work that afternoon.

Austin said he was not made aware of the promotion before the post went up. He said he deleted the post because the owner, Robert Lynns, opinion does not represent everyone that works here.

Over 100 commentors responded to the release.

Unfollowing and wont eat there ever again, one woman wrote in a comment that had received 40 likes as of 2 p.m. on Nov. 5.

Several people expressed their opinion that involving the restaurant in the election at all was a bad move.

Everyone should vote for who they believe is the right candidate, but you really did your serving staff a disservice, one person wrote. Best of luck in the future.

The people that this post would appeal to, are too scared to come downtown anyway, one wrote.

The Trump supporters dont even step foot in Birmingham unless its for work. Theyre not leaving Shelby County for this.

But others may be showing up to grab a bottle. Austin said that the Trump champagne will still be available at Roots & Revelry.

I knew I loved yall, another comment reads. See you Sunday for brunch.

Currently, the restaurant has not shared any promotions for a Kamala Harris product.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republicans have taken control of the U.S. Senate and are fighting to keep their majority in the U.S. House, which would produce a full sweep of GOP power in Congress alongside President-elect Donald Trump in the White House.

A unified Republican grip on Washington would set the course for Trumps agenda. Or if Democrats wrest control of the House, it would provide an almost certain backstop, with veto power over the White House.

Trump, speaking early Wednesday at his election night party in Florida, said the results delivered an unprecedented and powerful mandate for Republicans.

FILE - West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, the Republican senatorial candidate, delivers his State of the State address, Jan. 10, 2024, in Charleston, W.Va. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, File)AP

He called the Senate rout incredible. And he praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, who dashed from his own party in Louisiana to join Trump. Hes doing a terrific job, Trump said.

Vote counting in some races could go on for days, and control of the House is too early to call.

The rally for Republicans started early on election night in West Virginia, when Jim Justice, the states wealthy governor, flipped the seat held by retiring Sen. Joe Manchin. From there, the Republicans marched alongside Trump across the Senate map.

Republicans toppled Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio, the first incumbent senator to fall, with GOP luxury car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur Bernie Moreno. They chased Democrats in the blue wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, where Vice President Kamala Harris strained to carry the party forward.

Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown speaks during a watch party on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio, next to his wife Connie Schultz, left, and his daughter Elizabeth Brown, right.(AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)AP

Democratic efforts to oust firebrand Republicans Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida collapsed. The unexpected battleground of Nebraska pushed Republicans over the top. Incumbent GOP Sen. Deb Fischer brushed back a surprisingly strong challenge from independent newcomer Dan Osborn.

One of the most-watched Senate races, in Montana, may be among the last to be decided. Democrat Jon Tester, a popular three-term senator and dirt farmer is in the fight of his political career against Trump-backed Tim Sheehy, a wealthy former NAVY Seal, who made derogatory comments about Native Americans, a key constituency in the Western state.

All told, the Senate Republicans have a chance to scoop up more seats, potentially delivering their most robust majority in years  a coda to outgoing GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who made a career charting a path to power, this time by recruiting high-wealth Republicans aligned with Trump. The Senate races that topped $2 billion.

The fight for control of the House became a state-by-state slog, much of which unfolded far from the presidential race.

Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno during a watch party on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Westlake, Ohio, with his wife Bridget. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)AP

House races are focused in New York and California, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years.

Other House races are scattered around the country, with some of the most contentious in Maine, the blue dot around Omaha, Nebraska, and in Alaska.

To gain control of the House, Democrats need to flip four seats from Republicans, while holding all of their own, a tall task especially in congressional districts where Trump has won.

It could come down to just a handful of seats, or as little as one, to determine House control.

Harris ignited enthusiasm for her party when Biden dropped out of the race, and she stepped in atop the ticket, a head-spinning development barely 100 days from the election. But Democrats watched their own hopes for a sweep of Washington fizzle.

Voters said the economy and immigration were the top issues facing the country, but the future of democracy was also a leading motivator for many Americans casting ballots in the presidential election.

AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, found a country mired in negativity and desperate for change as Americans faced a stark choice between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

This is the first presidential election since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, when Trump sent a mob of his supporters to fight like hell against the 2020 election. Many Republicans in Congress voted against President Joe Bidens victory. Congress will again be called on next year to certify the 2024 election.

Even still, the election followed one of the most chaotic congressional sessions in modern times as the Republican-led House kicked out its speaker, Kevin McCarthy, threatened government shutdowns and had difficulty conducting the basic operations of governance.

Johnson has said Republicans in the House and Senate have been working on an ambitious 100 day-agenda  cutting taxes, securing the U.S. border and taking a blowtorch to federal regulations  if they sweep the White House and Congress.

Trump himself has promised mass deportations and retribution on his perceived enemies. Republicans want to push federal agencies out of Washington and restaff the government workforce, Johnson said, to bring the federal government to heel.

Trump is thinking big about his legacy, Johnson said.

Several states will send history-makers to the new Congress.

Voters elected two Black women to the Senate, Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, who defeated Republican Larry Hogan, the former governor, in Maryland. Just three Black women have served in the Senate, and never before have two served at the same time.

And in New Jersey, Andy Kim became the first Korean American elected to the Senate. The seat opened when Bob Menendez resigned this year after his federal conviction on bribery charges.

In the House, candidate Sarah McBride, a Democratic state lawmaker from Delaware who is close to the Biden family, became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.

Whats still unclear is who will lead the new Republican Senate, as longtime leader McConnell prepares to step down from the post.

South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican, and Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who previously held that post, are the front-runners to replace McConnell in a secret-ballot election scheduled for when senators arrive in Washington next week.

Billions of dollars have been spent by the parties, and outside groups, on the narrow battleground for both the 435-member House and 100-member Senate.

If the two chambers do in fact flip party control, as is possible, it would be rare.

Records show that if Democrats take the House and Republicans take the Senate, it would be the first time that the chambers of Congress have both flipped to opposing political parties.

___

Associated Press writers Stephen Groves, Kevin Freking and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
Republican Caroleene Dobson conceded to Democrat Shomari Figures in Alabamas Congressional District 2 race Tuesday night.

We knew that the courts had given the other team a home-field advantage, Dobson said. We ran a strong race, and we talked about issues that matter most to Alabama families.

Figures led Dobson, 54.5% to 45.5%, with 96% of the votes in, according to the Associated Press. The district was redrawn in 2023 following a long redistricting fight that made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dobson, an attorney from Montgomery, thanked her supporters in her concession speech at Fort Whiting in downtown Mobile on Tuesday night. She campaigned heavily in Mobile, and her watch party was coordinated with the Mobile County chapter of the Republican Party.

She encouraged others to run for office.

We need more citizen servants who run not because they want to make Washington their career, but because they are dedicated to serving others, and working toward a better day for all Alabamians, Dobson said during her speech.

Dobson ran on a conservative platform, though she sought to moderate some of her positions in a district predicted to favor Democrats. She said Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and the state legislature should examine expanding Medicaid to address the states rural healthcare crisis, a major issue in District 2.

She sought to portray Figures as a Washington insider out of step with Alabama residents.

We dont need more Washington representing Alabama, Dobson said during a debate between the two candidates hosted by AL.com.

Dobson was backed by the states Republican leaders, including Ivey, who campaigned with her in Montgomery on Sunday. She was endorsed by the Alabama Farmers Federation for Congress and the Alabama Forestry Association.

Alabamas Congressional Districts map was redrawn in 2023 after a panel of federal judges ruled that the map drawn by the state legislature violated the Voting Rights Act. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state must redraw its congressional map earlier that year.

Districts 1 and 2 were significantly redrawn; District 2 is considered an opportunity district for Black voters to elect a candidate of their choosing. Black residents make up roughly one fourth of the states population.

National analysts labeled the District 2 seat as likely Democratic. District 2 is 48.7% Black, under the map approved by the judges.

This was Dobsons first time running for political office. A native of Monroe County, she currently lives in Montgomery and is a real estate attorney with Maynard Nexsen law firm.

The district was seen as an opportunity for Republicans nationally; the National Republican Congressional Committee added Dobson to its list of Young Gun candidates that would receive additional support in the 2024 race.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee entered the race in May in support of Figures.
As millions of voters head down to cast their ballot for the White House and members of Congress, officials across the country are rapidly grappling with bomb threats, disinformation campaigns, and technical problems to keep polls open.

In Fulton County, Georgia, officials said they received multiple bomb threats, including two incidents that forced officials to briefly close polling locations. In Indiana, text messages sent to voters falsely claimed friends and family could see who people voted for. And on the internet, the FBI warned that faked video clips were circulating telling Americans to vote remotely because of a terror threat.

In most polling locations across the country, voting that began days or weeks ago with mail-in ballots continued smoothly on Tuesday, according to reports. But several incidents highlight the reality of recent U.S. elections, where intelligence officials warn that foreign actors such as Russia and Iran are looking to influence outcomes and undermine voter confidence, and election officials are facing increased threats from an increasingly divided electorate.

In Georgia, a key battleground state that went for Democrats in 2020, Fulton County Director of Registration and Elections Nadine Williams said officials received five non-credible bomb threats Tuesday morning, including two incidents that forced officials to briefly shut down polling locations.

The two locations, Etris-Darnell Senior Center and C.H. Gullatt Elementary School, both in Union City, closed for about 30 minutes. Officials were already seeking a court order, Williams said, to keep the two locations open 30 minutes longer to make up for the time they were closed.

Some of the bomb threats, reported in multiple states, appeared to have originated from Russia, officials said.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed in a press conference the incidents in his state appeared to be linked to Russia. In a CNN interview, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said bomb threats were also received there that were linked to Russian actors, but officials said they were undeterred.

Georgia is not going to be intimidated, Raffensperger said. Russia has picked on the wrong Georgia.

In an unrelated incident, officials also arrested a 25-year-old Georgia poll worker Monday after he allegedly made a bomb threat to election workers.

Nicholas Wimbish allegedly had a verbal altercation with a voter on Oct. 16 and, later that evening, mailed a letter to the Jones County superintendent purporting to be from a Jones County Voter.

The letter alleged that Wimbish had give[n] me hell and that Wimbish  who was the actual writer of the letter  was distracting voters from concentrating. The letter threatened that workers should look over their shoulder, it threatened to rage rape female workers, and threatened to have left a bomb at an early voting location.

And in Indiana, some voters reported receiving a text message telling voters that voting records are public and that friends, neighbors, and family will know who they voted for.

Records on who someone votes for are private. Only the fact that a ballot was cast is considered public information.

The Indiana Democratic Party called the incidents nothing more than voter intimidation.

The incidents come as U.S. intelligence officials warned that foreign adversaries are continually trying to influence U.S. elections, stoke division, and undermine confidence in the elections. Those efforts, officials said, are expected to increase in the coming days.

These activities will intensify through election day and in the coming weeks, and that foreign influence narratives will focus on swing states, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, FBI, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in a joint statement. Influence actors linked to Russia in particular are manufacturing videos and creating fake articles to undermine the legitimacy of the election, instill fear in voters regarding the election process, and suggest Americans are using violence against each other due to political preferences.

As voting got underway, the FBI warned that its name and insignia were being used in two fake news clips, including one that falsely claimed the FBI was urging people to vote remotely because of a terrorist threat.

A second video, which included a fake FBI press release, also alleged that five prisons in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona had rigged votes from inmates and colluded with one of the political parties.

This video is also not authentic, and its contents are false, FBI said in a statement. Election integrity is among our highest priorities, and the FBI is working closely with state and local law enforcement partners to respond to election threats and protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote.

Voter interference and influence campaigns have become a growing concern since the 2016 presidential election season.

According to a recent Gallup poll, 57% of Americans say they are confident that the votes for the presidential election will be accurately cast and counted, but also found that Republicans have increasingly become more skeptical, with only 28% of Republicans having faith in the accuracy of the election.

Since losing the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the integrity of the election process, falsely claiming he lost the White House to President Biden because of voter fraud.

Multiple lawsuits in states across the country disputing the results were tossed out.

Trump has continued to cast doubt on the election this year, and has continued to sow doubt on election day.

Addressing his campaign staff from his headquarters in West Palm Beach, Fla., Trump on Tuesday questioned computers used in polling places, and the possibility that a winner might not be declared Tuesday night.

A winner might not be immediately known until all ballots are counted across the country in what is believed to be a tight race.

Thats a little scary when they say, well, what are they doing? Trump said, questioning why the results might not be immediately known. Youre going to be watching to make sure theres no cheating, right?

The concerning threats come along with some of the technical issues that voting officials sometimes face during an election.

In Cambria County, Pennsylvania  another battleground state  officials said a software malfunction kept some voters from scanning their ballots, causing confusion and long lines.

Polls were set to close at 8 p.m., but the Pennsylvania Department of State announced a court order allowed polling places in Cambria County to stay open until 10 p.m.

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2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A new conspiracy theory implying Google was trying to meddle in the closely watched presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump took root on Election Day -- but the search giant said theres a logical explanation for why searches about where to vote for each candidate were different.

Earlier Tuesday, searches on Google for Where can I vote for Harris? displayed a Where to vote map that lets uses enter their street address to find their polling location. However, a Google search for Where can I vote for Trump? did not show a similar map.

According to Google, the Where to vote panel was appearing for some specific searches for Harris because thats also the name of a county in Texas. (Similarly, a search for Where can I vote for Vance was triggering the map panel because of Vance County, N.C.) The internet company, replying to a post on X by Elon Musk highlighting the issue, said a fix is coming and noted that very few people actually search for voting places this way. Musk responded, Thanks for the clarification.

As of 3:30 p.m. ET, Google searches for Where can I vote for Harris were no longer showing the voting map panel.

To be sure, its far more likely that interested voters will simply enter a search string such as Where can I vote, a query that does show the Where to vote map.

The different results in searching on Google for Where can I vote for Harris? vs. Where can I vote for Trump? were called out in a post on X by the DogeDesigner account, whose bio says they are a UX/UI & Graphic Designer at Dogecoin & MyDoge Inc. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX -- who is a major Trump supporter and Republican donor -- quoted the post, and asked, Are others seeing this too?

DogeDesigners post noted that Google is the biggest corporate donor to the Democratic Party. According to OpenSecrets, Alphabet (Googles parent) gave $14.85 million in federal contributions to Democrats during the 2023-24 election cycle, followed by Netflix with $9.89 million given to Democrats. Meanwhile, Musks SpaceX gave $129.4 million to Republicans and $723,883 to Democrats during the 2023-24 election cycle, according to OpenSecrets.

A related controversy flared up two months ago over responses from Amazons Alexa voice-enabled assistant -- which gave disparate responses to the question Why should I vote for Donald Trump? and Why should I vote for Kamala Harris?

In early September, when asked about voting for Trump, Alexa replied, I cannot provide content that promotes a specific political party or a specific candidate. But when asked about voting for Harris, Alexa in some cases gave a detailed list of reasons why someone should vote for the Democrat in Novembers presidential election -- including that she is a strong candidate with a proven track record of accomplishment. An Amazon spokesperson said at the time that the issue was an error that was quickly fixed.

 2024 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
A choice further down the ballot in Alabama stumped several voters across the state who poked fun at what they perceived as confusing language.

One statewide amendment was on the ballot Tuesday.

It concerned Franklin County in north Alabama.

If approved, the Franklin County School System would gain the ability to sell a large portion of land it owns in Walker and Fayette counties in hopes of selling or leasing it to a developer.

This was the language of the amendment:

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to grant certain sixteenth section and indemnity school land that is owned in fee simple by the Franklin County school system, is located in Fayette County and Walker County, and is for the exclusive use of schools in the Franklin County School System to the Franklin County Board of Education; and to provide for the distribution of any proceeds and interest generated by this land to the Franklin County Board of Education. (Proposed by Act 2024-301)

Montgomery resident Dameion Henderson went viral on social media for his reaction to the ballot question.

Franklin Board of Education I hope I did right by yall cuz I didnt know [what the hell] they was talking bout on that ballot, Henderson posted to Facebook, suggesting he voted in favor of the amendment, which is poised to pass with 73 percent approval with about 23 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.

Hendersons post had nearly 9,000 shares by 9 p.m. Tuesday. The roughly 1,500 comments on the post included several other Alabama voters who were left scratching their heads on the amendment.

I skipped itI dont know no Franklins, one user wrote.

Another said, I left it blank because I was so confused. What did they do to lose the land? Why isnt it already theres? I was not about to get involved in that drama.

Several people were erupting with laughter over the discussion sparked by Hendersons post.

This is the purest thing Ive ever seen! I love this state! I loved the laugh this gave me. Franklin County, Alabama has your back! We dont [know] what for but we got you! one wrote.

I hope everyone did, vote in favor of the amendment, added another. After reading it like eight times it clicked and I was like GIRLLLLLL IF YALL DONT GIVE THEM BABIES THAT MONEY!!!

The amendment needs statewide approval because it involves multiple counties, and not just one, State Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, earlier told AL.com. Alabama also does not have home rule authority, so individual county and local governments need the state legislature to support an amendment similar to this one for everyone in the state to vote on.
Alabama has no early voting, unlike almost every state in America.

AL.com asked voters their opinions on Nov. 5 and Alabamians weighed in online about whether the state should give voters the early option.

AL.coms Facebook post received 803 comments as of 4:30 p.m. on election day, mostly in support of adopting early voting.

Do you wish Alabama had early voting?  Posted by al.com on Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Alabama needs to move into the modern world! Early voting allows all segments of the population to cast their ballots. Providing a certain amount of time off during the work day doesnt cut it for large numbers of people who may work outside of the community in which they reside, said one commenter.

Moved from AL to NC a few years ago. Early voting is fantastic. We are older and it allows us to avoid long waits or bad weather, said another.

It would be wonderful if this state made it easier to vote.

Only if it is in person and requires ID.

Absolutely. I would have voted weeks ago.

No. Election day should be a holiday, and we should all vote in one day on paper ballots.

Yes. Stop saying absentee is the same thing. Its not. Some people lead lives complicated by illness or other personal or family difficulties and therefore need more options to get to the polls.

There were some long lines in the Birmingham area on Tuesday.

Massive line to vote at Avondale library in Birmingham, AL. Over an hour wait.  People whove voted here for years say they have never experienced this! Line stretches across Avondale Park. Everyone smiling! #Vote2024 #Election2024 pic.twitter.com/EnjyVOlF47  Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) November 5, 2024

A polling station in St. Clair County is keeping the doors open until 9 p.m. tonight because ballots were sent without Amendment questions on them.
For Donald Trump, the outcome of Tuesdays election is about more than winning the White House  its also about the future of criminal cases that put him at risk of spending time behind bars.

The stakes could hardly be higher. If Trump wins, he could wield the vast powers of the U.S. presidency to shield him from ongoing federal prosecutions. If he loses, he faces the threat of being sentenced later this month to jail time in New York.

Trump has already made it clear that as president he will quickly move to shut down the federal prosecutions, because he will have ultimate authority over the Justice Department. That will erase the threat of decades behind bars. Although the Constitution doesnt allow him to order state prosecutors to drop cases, he could attempt to delay them indefinitely.

The most immediate legal threat to Trump is a Nov. 26 sentencing by a New York state judge in the so-called hush money case  the only one thats gone to trial so far. If Trump wins, his legal team will have fresh arguments to try to cancel the sentencing and have the case tossed out entirely.

Trump has denied wrongdoing in all of the cases that state and federal prosecutions have brought against him.

Hush-Money case (New York state)

In May, a New York jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to former adult-film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleged the payment was part of a scheme to influence the election by keeping tabloid stories from being published.

New York state judge Juan Merchan delayed the sentencing until after Tuesdays election. Trump has asked to have the verdict tossed out, arguing the trial included evidence that shouldnt have been allowed under a new U.S. Supreme Court immunity standard.

In July, the highest court held that former presidents are largely immune from criminal charges stemming from official conduct while in office. Merchan said hell rule by Nov. 12 on Trumps immunity argument.

If Trump wins: The judge could call off the sentencing to avoid concerns around the president-elect appearing in criminal court and the case could be adjourned until Trumps term is over. Trumps lawyers could also fight to have the verdict tossed out in light of an election win.

If Trump loses: The sentencing will go forward, assuming Merchan doesnt order a new trial on immunity grounds. Trump faces up to four years behind bars, but legal experts say hell likely get far less.

Federal Election Fraud case (Washington)

Special Counsel Jack Smith in August 2023 charged Trump with conspiring to reverse the 2020 election results and inciting a deadly riot at the US Capitol.

Trump argued that hes immune from prosecution because he was president, a fight that made it all the way to the Supreme Court. While the justices broadly sided with Trump, they sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to decide if it could move forward under the courts new immunity standard.

Smith, seeking to keep the case alive, in August filed an updated indictment that removed some details that could be affected by the SCOTUS ruling, but included the same claims against Trump.

If Trump wins: Trump would likely direct his attorney general to shut down the case. Trump also told a conservative podcaster hed quickly fire Smith.

If Trump loses: The case will proceed toward a potential trial, with Trump facing the risk of decades behind bars. But the two sides are still arguing over immunity, and depending on how the judge rules, additional appeals are likely. That means any trial could be a long way off, and the Supreme Court may get the last word.

Federal Classified Documents case (Florida)

Smith in June 2023 charged Trump with dozens of counts of retaining national security documents after leaving the White House and repeatedly obstructing U.S. efforts to get the records back.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July after ruling that Smiths appointment was unconstitutional. The Trump-appointee determined that Congress hadnt given Attorney General Merrick Garland authority to appoint a private citizen as a special counsel. The government has appealed, arguing the ruling veered from decades of legal tradition upholding the work of special prosecutors in high-profile criminal cases.

If Trump wins: As with the election fraud case, Trump would quickly move to have the prosecution dropped by the Justice Department. That would prevent the appeals court from being able to reinstate the case as the government is currently seeking to do.

If Trump loses: The Justice Department will continue its effort to get the case brought back to life by an appeals court. If that effort works, the case will move toward a potential trial that would include the risk of jail time.

Election Fraud case (Georgia state)

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in August 2023 filed her own case against Trump over the 2020 election based on Georgia state law. The Georgia prosecution accused more than a dozen Trump backers, including lawyer Rudy Giuliani, of participating in a scheme that violated state racketeering law.

The case has also been put on hold until an appeals court resolves whether Willis should be removed because of a romance with one of the prosecutors.

If Trump wins: Trumps lawyers will likely seek to have the case tossed out on grounds that continuing to prosecute Trump would interfere with his constitutional duties.

If Trump loses: If Willis is allowed to proceed with the case, it could move toward a possible trial. If Willis is removed, the case could be assigned to another prosecutor. Trump has also sought immunity based on the Supreme Court ruling, meaning he could still seek ways out of the case even if he loses the election.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Open the attic and clean out the garage, popular History Channel show American Pickers is returning to Alabama this December, according to a release sent to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.

During its 25 seasons, the show has followed pickers Mike Wolfe, Robbie Wolfe (Mikes younger brother), Jersey Jon Szalay and shop manager Danielle Colby as they search the nations homes for forgotten valuable antiques.

The show first visited Alabama for a 2010 episode. In that episode, Mike Wolfe and company came across items including a 1969 Kawaski motorcycle and gigantic Piggly Wiggly mascot head. In a 2011 episode, they participated in a Possum Trot countryfied auction in Seale, Alabama.

During a pair of 2014 Alabama episodes, the pickers turned up a plantation home relic and a Lambretta scooter. American Pickers also visited the state for episodes in 2019 and two in 22, including an episode that featured a rare Shelby Mustang car in an Alabama barn.

The show was previously scheduled to film in Alabama this February, according to a previous release.

Representatives for the show did not respond to requests for comment on whether that filming was postponed until this December.

This time around, the pickers are looking for extraordinary, never before seen items and one-of-a-kind people to buy them from.

They are always excited to find historically significant or rare items, in addition to unforgettable characters and their collections, reads the release. As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, they want to meet characters with amazing stories and fun items.

They are currently seeking leads and requests from interested parties in Alabama.

Those who have a lead or know someone who may have a unique item may send their name, phone number, location and a description of the collection with photos to americanpickers@cineflix.com or call by phone at 646-493-2184, according to the company website.

The American Pickers do not pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums or spaces open to the public.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  A grand jury in Nevada has again indicted Nathan Chasing Horse on charges that he sexually abused Indigenous women and girls, reviving a sweeping criminal case against the former Dances with Wolves actor.

The 21-count indictment unsealed Thursday in Clark County District Court, which includes Las Vegas, expands on his previous charges of sexual assault, lewdness and kidnapping to include charges of producing and possessing child sexual abuse materials.

It comes after more than a year of delayed court proceedings that culminated last month in the Nevada Supreme Court ordering the dismissal of Chasing Horses original 18-count indictment. The court sided with Chasing Horse, saying in its scathing order that prosecutors had abused the grand jury process. But the court left open the possibility for charges to be refiled.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson quickly vowed to seek another indictment. Neither Wolfson nor a spokesperson for his office immediately responded Thursday to phone or emailed requests for comment.

Best known for portraying the character Smiles A Lot in the 1990 movie Dances with Wolves, Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, which is home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation.

After starring in the Oscar-winning film, according to prosecutors, Chasing Horse began propping himself up as a self-proclaimed Lakota medicine man while traveling around North America to perform healing ceremonies.

Prosecutors said his position in the community granted him access to vulnerable women and girls for decades until his arrest last January near Las Vegas. He has been jailed ever since.

Chasing Horses arrest reverberated around Indian Country. Law enforcement in the U.S. and Canada quickly followed up with more criminal charges, saying that his arrest helped corroborate long-standing allegations against him, including on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana where tribal leaders had banished Chasing Horse in 2015 amid allegations of human trafficking.

Authorities in Alberta, Canada, have acknowledged that their case is largely symbolic. Chasing Horse  who faces decades in a Nevada prison if convicted  might not ever return to Canada.

At the end of the day, Sgt. Nancy Farmer of the Tsuutina Nation Police Service has said, it is important for us to have these warrants in the system so our victims know theyve been heard. Its extremely important that we continue to support them that way.

In Las Vegas, Chasing Horse had pleaded not guilty to the original charges. His new lawyer didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment, and his former public defender, Kristy Holston, said she had no comment on the new indictment.

The latest indictment also accuses Chasing Horse of filming himself having sex with one of his accusers when she was younger than 14. Prosecutors say the footage, taken in 2010 or 2011, was found on cellphones in a locked safe inside the North Las Vegas home that Chasing Horse is said to have shared with five wives, including the girl in the videos.

When the Nevada Supreme Court ordered the dismissal of Chasing Horses initial indictment, the judges said they were not weighing in on his guilt or innocence, calling the allegations against him serious. But the court said that prosecutors improperly provided the grand jury with a definition of grooming without expert testimony, and faulted them for withholding from the grand jury inconsistent statements made by one of his accusers.

Chasing Horses legal issues have been unfolding at the same time lawmakers and prosecutors around the U.S. are funneling more resources into cases involving Native women, including human trafficking and murders.

 By RIO YAMAT Associated Press
A federal judge has ruled that Alabamaand the nationsthird execution using nitrogen gas can go forward later this month.

The judge also rejected the inmates request to be given sedatives, or a fatal dose of fentanyl, before his execution, but left open the possibility of a mild sedative being prescribed for therapeutic reasons.

Carey Dale Grayson, 49, is set to die Nov. 21, within a 30-hour timeframe. Grayson was convicted with three other men for the brutal Feb. 22, 1994, slaying and mutilation of Vicki Lynn DeBlieux.

Alabama Death Row inmates Kenneth Smith and Alan Eugene Miller were executed in January and September, respectively, using nitrogen gas pumped through an industrial-type gas mask. Smiths execution prompted calls from around the world to halt use of the method after he writhed on the gurney for several minutes.

But the Alabama Attorney Generals Office and the prison system has argued Smith was holding his breath, delaying the nitrogen from entering his body while he ran out of oxygen.

Millers execution was faster, and according to court records, he lost consciousness in minutes. Miller had reached a confidential settlement with the state prior to his execution, ending his legal fight to live.

Grayson, represented by lawyers from the Federal Public Defenders of the Middle District of Alabama, filed a lawsuit this summer challenging the states protocol on how it carries out a nitrogen gas execution.

There was a two-day hearing in the case in October, which Grayson attended in shackles.

On Wednesday, about a month after that hearing, the judge denied Graysons request to call off the execution.

U.S. District Judge Austin Huffaker wrote that the prison systems method of nitrogen executions has been successfully used twice.

Huffaker went on, For clarity, the constitutionality of capital punishment is not before the Court. The death penalty is constitutional, and it is in force in Alabama. The unenviable task falls to this Court once again (for the third time) to decide whether execution by nitrogen hypoxia under the current protocol violates the Eighth Amendment; this time for Graysons stated reasons.

The federal judges 53-page order detailed the executions of Smith and Miller, and Graysons argument.

Huffaker summarized the two previous nitrogen executions: The evidence at the hearing showed that Kenneth Smith and Alan Miller became unconscious within minutes after the nitrogen gas started flowing, experienced agonal breathing after their loss of consciousness, and that Smith held his breath and struggled against the restraints while Miller did not.

 what that evidence did show (in Smiths execution) was that the nitrogen hypoxia protocol was successful and resulted in death in less than 10 minutes and loss of consciousness in even less time, he continued.

He described Millers execution as quick and said unconsciousness was reached in less than 2 minutes, was void of struggles against the restraints, and with minimal body movement as compared to the Smith execution. Indeed, for as much as Smiths execution was painted in the violent manner that it was, Millers execution was not.

The Alabama Department of Corrections has only released the protocol in a heavily-redacted format, but Huffaker noted in his Wednesday order that the protocol does not call for a sedative prior to the gas being turned on.

Graysons lawyers had suggested two alternatives to the states plan: an updated nitrogen protocol that involves sedating the inmate, or an intramuscular injection of ketamine followed by a fatal dose of fentanyl.

But on Wednesday, the judge said the argument was a classic battle of the experts, and a battle where one expert (Graysons expert) has no supporting case studies or other supporting medical testimony while the other (the states expert) does.

Huffaker also dismissed Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall from the lawsuit, along with Gov. Kay Ivey.

Towards the end of his order, Huffaker recalled something that the Deputy Commissioner of Health Services, Deborah Crook, testified to last month. She said that the prison medical provider, YesCare, cannot participate in executions or provide drugs to be used in them.

But, the provider can fill other requests.

Other courts have held that psychological pain or mental suffering cannot by itself support an Eighth Amendment claim And of note on that issue, evidence was provided that Grayson could make a medical request for a sedative separate and apart from the execution protocol, and there is a strong possibility that such a request would be granted so long as the request is made for therapeutic purposes.
A jury on Tuesday found an Alabama man not guilty of killing an 11-year New Hampshire girl more than 35 years ago.

The case came down to whether the jury believed DNA found under Melissa Ann Tremblays fingernails was from Marvin Skip McClendon Jr. After telling a judge Monday they were deadlocked, the jury returned Tuesday and found McClendon not guilty on the sixth day of deliberations.

Mr. McClendon was greatly relieved by the verdict, McClendons lawyer, Henry Fasoldt, told The Associated Press, adding that he would return home to Alabama after being held for two-and-a-half years. We appreciate the jurys careful and thoughtful deliberations.

Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said he disappointed with the verdict but praised the efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement officers in the case.

I recognize the work and dedication of the jury during their long deliberations in this case, Tucker said. My thoughts are with the family of Melissa Ann Tremblay, who have suffered greatly due to the crime that took her life.

Last year, a judge declared a mistrial in McClendons prosecution after a jury deadlock. The body of the Salem, New Hampshire, girl was found in a Lawrence, Massachusetts, trainyard on Sept. 12, 1988, a day after she was reported missing.

The victim had accompanied her mother and her mothers boyfriend to a Lawrence social club not far from the railyard and went outside to play while the adults stayed inside, authorities said last year. She was reported missing later that night.

The girls mother, Janet Tremblay, died in 2015 at age 70, according to her obituary. But surviving relatives have been attending court to observe the latest trial.

After initially ruling out several suspects, including two drug addicts, early on, authorities turned their attention to McClendon.

He was arrested at his Alabama home in 2022 based in part on DNA evidence.

Essex County Assistant District Attorney Jessica Strasnick told the jury that comments McClendon made during his arrest showed he knew details of the crime and that he was fixated on the fact that she was beaten, ladies and gentlemen, because he knew that she wasnt just stabbed that day, that was she was beaten.

A left-handed person like McClendon stabbed Tremblay, Strasnick said. She told jurors that the carpenter and former Massachusetts corrections officer was familiar with Lawrence, having frequented bars and strip clubs in the city. He also lived less than 20 miles (32 kilometers) away at the time of the killing.

Strasnick told the jury that the DNA evidence taken from under Tremblays fingernails excludes 99.8% of the male population.

But Fasoldt said there was no proof the DNA came from under Tremblays fingernails or was from McClendon.

Fasoldt also said evidence shows that a right-handed person, rather than a left-handed person, could have stabbed Tremblay.

He also argued that McClendon had no meaningful connection to Lawrence  other than that he lived 16 miles (25 kilometers) away in Chelmsford. He moved to Alabama in 2002 to a plot of land his family owned.
Alabamas two U.S. Senators, Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, were among those celebrating former President Donald Trumps victory over Kamala Harris.

Britt congratulated Trump for being elected our 47th president after a resounding victory!

Excited to get to work with a Republican Senate majority to restore stable prices, secure borders, safe streets, and peace through strength. Lets unite our nation and get America back on track, Britt posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

One time GOP hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy posted a picture of himself with Tuberville and Utah Sen. Mike Lee at Mar-a-Lago.

Welcome back Mr. President! Tuberville posted Wednesday morning. Excited to get to work for Alabamians and the American people in our Senate majority. We will get America back on track.

Trump easily won Alabamas nine electoral votes before going on to defeat Harris and pave the way for his return to the White House in January.

Alabama is in a position to benefit more from Trump presidency than from a Harris presidency because Britt and Tuberville have been supportive of him, Jess Brown, a retired political science professor at Athens State University, recently told AL.com

Trump seems to like both Tuberville and Britt, Brown said. Britt has in recent months shown also a willingness to defend Trump early and often.

That means Alabamas senators should have access to the president, Brown said.

But Trumps track record shows he will not necessarily follow through and do what is necessary to get Congress to implement his priorities.

The difficulty with Trump is predicting Trump, Brown said.

It is a brighter day in Alabama and across the nation for everyday Americans who love our country.



Families won last night, businesses and the free market won last night, the economy and future economic prosperity won last night, girls wishing to keep boys out of their sports pic.twitter.com/0As8WqWulj  Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) November 6, 2024

Congrats, President Trump! I look forward to working with you once again to Make America GREAT AGAIN! Lets do this  pic.twitter.com/pVkaEoRrVy  Mike Rogers Campaign (@MikeRogersCamp) November 6, 2024

The people have spoken! A Trump/Vance Administration is a win for every American, and I could not be more optimistic for our future. Now, lets all come together to make America great again.



Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump & @JDVance on a decisive victory. Lets get to work!  Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) November 6, 2024

I am thrilled to see our country rediscover tonight what my fellow Alabamians never forgotour love for the US of A and what made us great to begin with! Alabama will now have a partner, not an antagonist, back in the White House! Lets go!   Attorney General Steve Marshall (@AGSteveMarshall) November 6, 2024
Shomari Figures, the son of a prominent Democratic political family in South Alabama and an aide in the Justice Department during the Biden and Obama administrations, on Tuesday became only the fourth Black member elected to Congress from Alabama since Reconstruction, winning a competitive and expensive race for the 2nd District seat.

With 96% of the votes counted, Figures had 54.5% of the vote to Dobsons 45.5%. Shortly before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dobson conceded the election.

The victory gives the national Democratic Party a rare flip of a congressional seat, even if most pundits for months had anticipated a Democratic lawmaker seizing control of a congressional district that was redrawn in federal court.

This journey that we are on now, this is the beginning of the work, Figures, 39, said to supporters gathered inside a ballroom at the historic Battle House Hotel in downtown Mobile. Today is great. We are grateful that we have the opportunity to sit here today and be elected and be put into a position to go do the work. But now we got to do the work.

He added, I still need you guys. I need your prayers and support. We are going to need you guys. I still need that help to represent these communities in the most effective ways that we can.

Figures was joined with wife, Kalisha, and their three young children -- Micah, Novah, and Zorah -- along with his mother, longtime Alabama State Sen. Vivian Figures. He acknowledged his late father, Michael, a prominent civil rights attorney and state lawmaker who died in 1996 at age 48.

This pathway was filled with answered prayers, blessing and grace and mercy, Figures said.

Shomari Figures celebrates his win in Alabama's 2nd Congressional District at the Alabama Democratic Party's election night event at the Battle House Hotel in Mobile, Ala., on Nov. 5, 2024.Michael Dumas Image Arts

Figures thanked his wife and his mother and brought the two women on stage with him while he delivered his victory speech.

At times, the speech turned emotional with Figures recalling his fathers final moments in 1996, and how he is proud to carry on his political legacy. Michael Figures was the first Black person to serve as president pro tem of the Alabama State Senate. Shomari Figures is the first Black person elected to Congress from Mobile.

Figures then credited his mothers strength in raising a young family after his fathers death.

We wouldnt be here without you, Figures said to his mother. There is no way we would be here without you and no way Ill continue this speech without you here on this stage. We made no secret of the fact that a large reason we were able to get into this race and think we would be competitive is (because of) the legacy laid down before I was even born.

He added, My father died in 96, and my mother did more than just keep that legacy going. She raised three of us, as we came of age, and we were 14 and 11 and 7 at the time my father died. She kept it going in more ways than one.

The Figures win, coupled with Birmingham Democrat U.S. Rep. Terri Sewells victory in the 7th district, means Alabama -- for the first time in its tortured history with race relations -- will have two Black members of Congress serving at the same time. Figures is the first Black person to be elected to Congress from Alabama outside the 7th district. About 27% of Alabama residents are Black, according to census data reported last year.

Thats important, Figures said about the historical nature of his win. It means a lot to me. More importantly, it means we took advantage of the opportunity that this opportunity district created. Thats not so much centered around race as its centered around the perspective of what you can bring to the district.

He added, This district wasnt drawn as a district we still had to work, campaign, strategize and message to people of both races of all different backgrounds and persuasions.

Dobson gathered with Republican supporters at the Fort Whiting Reception Hall in Mobile.

We knew that the courts had given the other team a home-field advantage, she said. We ran a strong race, and we talked about issues that matter most to Alabama families.

The congressional contest was the only down ballot general election battle of note for Alabama voters on Tuesday, and was the first time a U.S. House race was competitive in November since the 2010 contest in the 2nd district when Republican Martha Roby unseated incumbent Democratic U.S. Bobby Bright.

The district, which was reliably red, was redrawn by three federal judges last October after the U.S. Supreme Court, in a shocking 5-4 decision in Allen v. Milligan, agreed with a lower courts determination that Alabama should have at least another congressional district in which Black voters were a majority or were close to it.

The Supreme Courts verdict also suggested that Alabama Republicans violated the Voting Rights of Act 1965 when they approved the original congressional map. In short, the Supreme Court agreed that Alabamas Legislature had diluted the influence of Black voters when drawing congressional lines, tossing the final decision for the congressional lines to the three-judge panel. The congressional map was redrawn to give Black voters an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choosing within the 2nd district.

The 2nd district wouldve carried President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump by 12 points during the 2020 presidential election, and its voting-age population is 47.6% Black-45% white.

Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, had his hometown redrawn into the heavily conservative 1st district, and opted not to seek re-election to the 2nd district last year. Moore opted instead to run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl of Mobile, winning the primary in March. Moore rolled to a victory over Democratic opponent Tom Holmes.

Despite long labeled as likely Democratic by Cook Political Report, the 2nd district drew eight Republican hopefuls during the primary.

Dobson, a political newcomer, won the GOP nomination by defeating longtime State Sen. Dick Brewbaker during the April 17 primary runoff and launched a campaign that adhered closely with conservative stances on the economy, immigration, and cultural issues. In a recent debate, she blasted Figures by saying he owns the policies of the Justice Department, where he served as deputy chief of staff and counselor to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, including the agencys challenge of the Alabama law banning gender-affirming care for minors.

Figures outlasted 10 Democratic hopefuls during the primary before defeating Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels during the runoff.

Throughout the campaign, Figures highlighted issues like rural health care and a crisis of hospital and clinic closures in Alabama, as well and reproductive rights and in-vitro fertilization -- a hot political issue born out of the Alabama State Supreme Court in February that temporarily upended a procedure popular with most Americans.

Figures continue to talk about his concerns over hospital closures during his victory speech, called on the Alabama Legislature to consider expanding Medicaid, and fretted about the states low life expectancy relative to other states.

We know whats at stake, Figures said. I spent a lot of time on the campaign (talking about) health care access. We literally live the shortest lives than any other state in the United States of America with the exception of two states, and I know we can all guess one. Mississippi and West Virginia and they have us beat by only a few weeks. We can fix that by expanding Medicaid in Alabama.

The campaign between Figures and Dobson got personal and heated at times. Figures claimed Dobson was a billionaire during an Oct. 10 debate hosted by AL.com and sponsored by AARP, an allegation that wasnt entirely accurate. He accused Dobson of not being able to relate with voters in the mostly rural and low-income congressional district. Dobson disputed Figures, saying she was not even remotely close to being a billionaire.

Dobson, throughout the campaign, labeled Figures as a Washington, D.C. insider whose campaign was bolstered by political operatives based far outside Alabama.

Figures, at his gathering, credited Dobson for running a tough race that kept her away from her young family while campaigning.

There are many mornings ... you miss that time with the family you cant get back, Figures said. She has small children like us. Thats not lost on us. She fought hard.

More than $4.7 million has been spent by the two candidates in the 2nd district race, according to the latest Federal Election Commission data. The two candidates raised close to $5.5 million, though the Dobson campaign was heavily bolstered by $1.7 million in personal loans to her campaign.

The stakes have been high in the 2nd district contest given the razor-thin majority Republicans hold in the U.S. House.

Figures, during the final two weeks of the campaign, pushed to get Democratic voters out to the polls. He said while the redrawn, 13-county district that includes much of Mobile and Montgomery had reliably leaned blue, it most recently supported Republican Gov. Kay Ivey during the 2022 midterm election. But turnout in 2022 was a poor 38.5%, with few competitive contests on the ballot. Presidential contests draw a much higher percentage of voters, both Democratic and Republican.

Figures, already supported by the Democratic National Committee, was bolstered over the past two weeks with endorsements and visits from prominent national Democratic politicians, including Texas Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a rising star within the party; former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder; and U.S. House Minority Leader Hakem Jeffries of New York. Former President Barack Obama also recorded a message on Friday endorsing Figures.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which helps college students access financial aid, is opening soon. AL.com prepared this guide with frequently asked questions for college-bound students and their families.

Why do I need to fill out the FAFSA?

Filling out the FAFSA is essential because that is how schools and the federal government determine financial aid. This includes federal loans and grants. Schools use the information to determine scholarships. The FAFSA is a high school graduation requirement in Alabama.

When will the FAFSA be available?

The form will be available on Dec. 1, but preparing now is essential. The most critical first step families can take now is to get a federal student aid ID, which takes several days to process, according to Chandra Scott, executive director of Alabama Possible.

Both the student and parents should create an ID. She recommends using a non-school affiliated email address and separate email addresses for the parent and student.

The deadline to fill out the FAFSA is June 30, 2025, but its best to fill it out as soon as possible when applying for college for the fall of 2025.

What documents and information do I need to prepare for the FAFSA?

According to the Federal Student Aid site, students should gather:

Parents' Social Security Numbers if they have SSNs and youre a dependent student

Tax returns

Records of child support received

Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts

Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

Much of this information will be imported electronically. However, its a good idea to gathering these documents in case of any problems.

Are FAFSA issues fixed?

Last years FAFSA form was released later than expected, like this years. The form is usually available in October to help families and educational institutions prepare for next year.

When families sat down to fill out the FAFSA last year, many people encountered errors and contradictory information. Scott said systems werent communicating with each other, and information was just going to a black hole.

It was just creating havoc and nightmares for families and students and heartache for students, because their dreams were just fading away in front of them, Scott said.

Not only were families feeling the sting from problems with the FAFSA, but school administrators were also frustrated.

I think there was anxiety everywhere, not just in the living rooms with the families, but also at the institutions, because they didnt know how many students they had really coming because there was no way to just have people commit, said Jim Purcell, executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. And nobody was going to commit until they had an aid package. An aid package requires basically the FAFSA as the base.

This years FAFSA is undergoing multiple rounds of beta testing to counter any problems from last year. Alabama Possible is one of the non-profits chosen for beta testing.

We were able to recruit families and students who were willing to give their time, Scott said.

Some good news: testing went smoothly for the more than 60 participating families. Many were able to complete the FAFSA in 18 to 25 minutes.

Scott said shes been getting updates from other beta tests, and things have improved.

So far, were hearing good things back, Scott said. Its not as traumatic as it was last year and the process of being able to fix things. Theres a better feedback loop in place. They have hired more help desk individuals to take on these unique situations. A unique situation includes divorced parents or parents who file taxes separately.

Alabama Possible will host another round of beta testing and hopes to recruit families with unusual financial situations to help work out any further kinks in the system.

How can I get assistance and more information on the FAFSA?

Besides the federal student aid site , which provides comprehensive information for the 2025-2026 FAFSA, Alabama residents can get help from Alabama Promises Alabama Goes to College program, where students can get help with financial aid and learn how to fill out the

FAFSA.

ACHE has information on where to fill out the form and allows students to report any issues.

What else can families do to prepare?

Purcell said that students and families should go ahead and apply for colleges and see what institutions can offer them financially.

Besides gathering documents and creating an FSA ID, Scott recommends preparing for potential problems. She said not to avoid filling out the form but that it wouldnt be perfect or seamless.

I think the big thing is not to be get frustrated by problems, Purcell said. He said changes within the federal government are big undertakings, and the federal government recognizes the mistakes from last year.
Democrats swept several races in Jefferson County Tuesday night in unofficial results.

With 97.7% of the votes counted:

Democrat Frederic A. Bolling won the race to fill the Place 13 seat in the 10th Judicial District on the Jefferson County Circuit Court.

Bolling defeated Republican Douglas M. Roy Jr. 54% to 46%.

The seat is currently held by Judge Carole Smitherman, who is retiring in January.

Bolling has practiced law for 26 years. He is a graduate of Auburn University and Howard University School of Law. He was appointed special circuit judge for Jefferson County in 2017. He also ran unsuccessfully for district court judge in 2018.

The judge in this seat handles civil matters.

Circuit Clerk, Jefferson County Bessemer Division

Democrat Karen Dunn Burks defeated Republican Camilo Fuller 55% to 45%.

Burks was elected deputy circuit clerk, Bessemer division, in 2012. Dunn Burks previously served as assistant in the Jefferson County Tax Assessors office.

Her mother was the late Alabama Rep. Priscilla Dunn, while her father, Grover Dunn, is the assistant Jefferson County tax collector over the Bessemer division.

Jefferson County Deputy Treasurer, Bessemer

Democrat Sherry McClain defeated Republican Delor Baumann 55% to 45%.

McClain has been the Jefferson County deputy treasurer since 2013. She previously served as director of community affairs, Jefferson County Commission, and worked with the city of Brighton.

Jefferson County Assistant Tax Collector, Bessemer

Bessemer City Councilman Ron Marshall defeated Republican Johnny Curry 54% to 46%.

Marshall is serving in his fourth term on the Bessemer City Council.

He is self-employed in the broadcast industry after spending more than 30 years in banking and telecommunications. He is the co-owner of Myriad Communications Network, Inc. and ABC Concessions.

Jefferson County Probate Judge Place 1

Democrat Yashiba Red Blanchard defeated Republican John Amari 52% to 48%.

Blanchard practices law with Glenn Blanchard and Associates. Blanchard served as a special circuit court judge and special district court judge in Jefferson County. She previously worked for the Jefferson County Commission and the county Personnel Board.

Jefferson County, Probate Judge Place 2

Jameria Johnson Moore (D) defeated Republican Joel Blankenship 53% to 47%.

Moore is an attorney and partner with Sperling & Moore. She serves as a municipal judge for Birmingham, and a special district court judge in family court. She is a registered mediator with the State of Alabama.
Democrat Melissa McDonough (left) is challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt in the 38th Congressional District. Photo courtesy McDonough and Hunt campaigns

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, a first-term Republican who traveled the country this year campaigning for former President Donald Trump, won reelection Tuesday against Democratic challenger Melissa McDonough.

The Associated Press called the race for Hunt shortly after 8:35 p.m.

Hunt, a 42-year-old former Army helicopter pilot, represents the 38th Congressional district, which includes west Houston.

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He also came under investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics for allegedly spending campaign funds to get access to the Post Oak Hotel and its exclusive Oak Room. Hunt has denied all wrongdoing.

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This story is republished with permission from The Birmingham Times.

After being in business for more than three decades, a staple of the historic downtown Fourth Avenue business has closed.

Etheridge Senior Car Wash at 1600 3rd Ave N, closed October 25 leaving a void downtown and also in the hearts of longtime customers.

After 31 wonderful years, we regret to announce that we will be closing our doors, wrote April Pritchett-White and Ashley Pritchett, Co-Owners/Operators of Etheridge Senior Car Wash earlier this month in a joint statement on their social business page. The evolving economy and challenges in hiring have made it increasingly difficult for us to continue operating at the level of excellence you have come to expect.

Im thankful for all of our loyal customers who have supported our family and business throughout the years. Its been amazing to serve them and I will always cherish the memories and relationships that weve built, Ashley told The Birmingham Times. I am sad. This has been in my family since I was young. 

Louis Dixon provides car detailing at Etheridge Senior Car Wash a week before its closing in downtown Birmingham.(Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

I will miss the customers, April said. Serving the community, helping people who were just getting back on their feet. Weve been going down there (to the car wash) since we were little. Theres a lot of memories.

Last week, many longtime customers stopped by downtown business for one last car wash and detail.

Ive been coming to the car wash for about 10 years. I will miss the quality of work, said Daijah Bell, of Birmingham. Every time I left  my car looked brand new. There was consistent attention to detail. I will also miss the community. You never know who youll meet while there. You could connect with different people from the Birmingham community and form many connections and relationships.

Anita Davis, of Birmingham, said shes not sure where she will take her car now. What are we going to do? she asked. They do such a good job. Its like you just bought your car off the showroom floor  We come here all the time, my whole family.

Located in the historic Black business district which stretches along 15th to 18th streets North, and from Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard to Second Avenue North, the car wash first opened in 1993 by their grandfather Willie T. Etheridge, the patriarch of several family-owned businesses that have included five barbershops and beauty salons and a catering facility. Mr. Etheridge died in 2003.

His daughter Felecia Etheridge-Dovi took over the car wash business in 2002 until her passing in 2017 when April and Ashley became co-owners.

My mom died on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, 2017, and we opened up this business the next day, and we have been going every day since non-stopThis is the first time in eight years since my mom died that we have decided to choose us. We want to enjoy our lives too, said Ashley.

With the cost of products increasing and a shortage of workers, the business took a toll, she said.

We had to adjust our hours. We were Monday through Saturday. We lost some workers and then we changed to Tuesday to Saturday, she said. We have been struggling for workers for a long time. Sometimes I can have 30 cars and I, with my hands, wash 25 of those 30 cars. Thats how short weve been lately.

Just before the pandemic in 2020 the business had 14 employees. It was down to two just before the final closing, which meant the sisters often had to help wash and detail cars.

My mom worked all the time, April said. Growing up, we went on family vacations with my aunt. We never went on family vacations with our mom for real. She didnt take a lot of pictures with her. Im looking forward to doing all the things that my mother didnt get to do.

Committed To Working

April, 43 and Ashley 40, remember the Car Wash being a part of their lives since they were little girls raised in the east side of town. Ashley graduated from Huffman High School and April from Ramsay. The Etheridge family owned a barbershop, beauty shop and the car wash which were all on the corner of 16th and 3rd Avenue North.

We were like barbershop and beauty shop kids, Ashley said. We didnt go over there (across the street to the car wash) often. We just used to watch from across the street at the beauty shop  we werent allowed to sit around [over there] because we were little.

Once she got to high school, April remembered driving a car owned by her grandfather while she had to do small tasks at the car wash. Once I was committed to working, he gave me the car, April recalled of 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier. On the weekend I would drive the car and do stuff for the car wash  get his clothes out the cleaners, go the bank and get change.

April said she learned every aspect of the business after her grandfather passed. When my mom took over the business, I had to help her with billing and ordering supplies and doing the customer database, doing the profit and loss statements, all the financials, she said. When we were younger it was more fun than anything counting the change out of the drink machine  [But it] prepared me for the business. When my mom passed away, I knew exactly what I needed to do, I knew exactly what to do to run the business.

Jeffery Edmondson provides car detailing at Etheridge Senior Car Wash a week before its closing.(Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Ashley said the sisters began discussing the future of the business in 2022 not long after the pandemic. We lost a lot of employees  everything just changed. We had 14 employees at one time in 2016-2020. After the pandemic, four came back. Now we have two loyal employees that Ive had for five-plus years Jeffery Edmondson and Louis Dixon.

As for the future, Ashley, who works at UAB, said she has returned to pursuing nursing at Lawson State Community College and April has been at Blue Cross Blue Shield for 17 years.

Their uncles  part of the well-known Birmingham Etheridge Family  run the Etheridge Brothers Barber Shops on Graymont Avenue and Etheridge Beauty & Style Shop downtown which will stay open.

Support Black Businesses

As the sisters prepared to close the business last week, Jennifer Tiehen who lives in McCalla, Alabama, stopped by with her personal car. Tiehen said she found out about Etheridge Senior Car wash through a Google search while working at her job downtown. That was after she and co-workers had scheduled someone to wash cars at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center where they worked.

[We] scheduled someone to come to us to detail the cars that we have there, and they didnt show up, Tiehen said. I Googled and found Etheridge Senior Car Wash and since then we have brought almost seven vehicles back. 

The work was so good that Tiehen said she and co-workers brought back their personal cars.

Ralph Woodfin, of Birmingham, was also at the car wash last week and said hes been a return customer.

Ive had my vehicles washed here on several occasions and they have always done an excellent job. They were always thorough, and my car always left there sparkling from the inside to the outside, he said. The community will miss this business because they did such an excellent job. Im not happy to see this Black business leave but I do think we need to continue to support Black businesses in the area.
Hurricane Rafael made landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm, and now its headed into the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center said Rafael had 115 mph winds when its eye moved onshore in the Cuban province of Artemisa just east of Playa Majana on Wednesday afternoon.

...RAFAEL MAKES LANDFALL IN THE CUBAN PROVINCE OF ARTEMISA at 4:15 PM EST...



Major Hurricane #Rafael Advisory 13: 4:00 PM EST Wednesday November 6, 2024



Full forecast details at: https://t.co/TeLLMFmCkN pic.twitter.com/ZglhbfAXNw  National Hurricane Center (@NWSNHC) November 6, 2024

Rafael will spread wind and rain as far east as parts of the Florida Keys, which are under a tropical storm warning.

Rafaels center has crossed over the island and is moving into the southern Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane center said Wednesday night. The forecast track shows the storm advancing more to the west while weakening through the weekend, and no part of the U.S. Gulf Coast is now in the forecast cone of uncertainty.

It is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the western Gulf Coast. Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast, the hurricane center said Wednesday.

As of 6 p.m. CST Wednesday, the center of Hurricane Rafael was located about 55 miles west-northwest of Havana, Cuba, and was tracking to the northwest at 13 mph.

Rafael had winds of 105 mph Wednesday night, making it a Category 2 hurricane. Forecasters said little change in strength is expected during the next day or so while Rafael moves over the southeastern Gulf.

Rafael could bring 4 to 8 inches of rain to parts the Cayman Islands and Cuba. The Florida Keys and Jamaica could also get 1 to 3 inches of rain.

Rafael could bring a substantial storm surge of 9 to 14 feet along Cubas southern coast.

In the Keys, Rafael could bring 1 to 3 feet of storm surge and a few tornadoes.

Alabama forecasters will be keeping a close eye on Rafaels track. Possible effects to the state as of Wednesday are expected to be minimal, but the storm will bring a continued high risk of rip currents and rough surf to the Alabama coast.

A High Risk of rip currents continues for area beaches through Sunday night, and high surf conditions are possible from Thursday night into Sunday. Hurricane Rafael over the northwestern Caribbean is expected to weaken this weekend while moving towards the northwestern Gulf. pic.twitter.com/sTopQF4LAI  NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) November 6, 2024

Here are the watches and warnings on Wednesday:

* A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth.

* A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara and Cienfuegos, the Lower and Middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge and the Dry Tortugas.
By Carlton Fletcher

carlton.fletcher@albanyherald.com

ALBANY  In what Elections Supervisor Ginger Nickerson called the largest turnout since shes been in office and what many are saying may be a record, 58.32% of Dougherty Countys 58,543 registered voters  more than 34,000 voters  turned out Tuesday, most of them spurred by the presidential election that was expected to continue into the early hours of Wednesday.

Incumbent Republican District 1 Dougherty County Commissioner Ed Newsome held off the challenge of Democrat Larry Harris to retain his seat. Newsome outpolled Harris 4,400 votes to 3,890.

In an even closer race for the District 1 Dougherty School Board seat, Democrat Carolyn Hand beat Republican David Maschke 4,275 votes to 3,983 to claim the seat that is being vacated by Robert Youngblood. Maschke was seeking a return to the board after a 12-year absence.

In the race for the U.S. House District 2 seat that has been held by Sanford Bishop for the past 32 years, Bishop easily outpolled Republican challenger Wayne Johnson, 24,622-9,044 in Dougherty County, helping the incumbent claim a 175,475-136,289 victory. Bishops total was 56.28% of the total vote.

In the presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris outpolled Republican Donald Trump 23,795-9,893 in Dougherty County, but as of midnight, Trump held a slight lead over Harris in the state.
Staff Reports

news@albanyherald.com

ALBANY  Two Albany residents, both with lengthy criminal histories in the community, pleaded guilty to federal charges resulting from separate drug trafficking investigations in southwest Georgia.

Roderick Terrell Ferrell, 37, and Kerry Lamont Davis, 42, each pleaded guilty in separate cases to one count of distribution of cocaine before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner. Due to their criminal histories, both Ferrell and Davis qualify as federal career offenders and each faces a maximum of 30 years in prison to be followed by six years of supervised release and a maximum $2 million fine. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled by the court. There is no parole in the federal system.

Both defendants have lengthy criminal records and have repeatedly disregarded the law, U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. These cases demonstrate how federal, state and local law enforcement are working together to make our communities safer and hold career offenders accountable.

The FBI is proud to work with our local law enforcement partners in helping to convict these repeat offenders at the federal level, where they face stiffer penalties and no opportunity for parole, Rich Bilson, supervisory senior resident agent of FBI Atlantas Albany office, said.

Eliminating drug trafficking in our communities requires a united front, GBI Director Chris Hosey said. The successful convictions of these repeat offenders are a demonstration of the effectiveness of our collaboration across federal, state and local agencies to hold individuals accountable and ensure safer neighborhoods.

According to court documents and statements made public in court in the Ferrell case, federal, state and local law enforcement received information from various confidential sources that Terrell was distributing cocaine and was supplied by a metro Atlanta unnamed co-conspirator. Due to COVID-19s impact on drug supply at the time, Ferrell was charging $1,400 an ounce for powder cocaine.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at another dealers residence, seized cocaine, and discovered that Ferrell had sold at least 18 ounces of powder cocaine. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation then conducted a controlled buy from Ferrell on Nov. 8, 2021, during which Ferrell sold two ounces of powder cocaine for $2,150. In addition, Ferrell reported that he had been pulled over by local law enforcement on Oct. 13, 2022, and was in possession at the time of $30,000 from a recent drug transaction.

On Nov. 30, 2023, a patrol officer pulled Ferrell over and found 10 pounds of marijuana in 10 plastic vacuum-sealed bags in the rear cargo area of his vehicle. Ferrell said he was transporting the drugs to Camilla.

During the investigation, agents discovered that Ferrell filed only one tax return between tax years 2019 and 2023, in which he claimed a negative income in 2022. DEA conducted a concealment money laundering investigation to look at how Ferrell was dispersing his drug trafficking money. Agents found that between August 2021 and December 2023, Terrell received and moved $383,057 through his and his co-conspirators CashApp accounts and bank accounts, despite having no employment or declaring any income on his taxes. Credit card and bank statements also showed that Terrell and his girlfriend used drug proceeds to purchase luxury goods from Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saks, Gucci and Balenciaga, as well as took luxury vacations and invested in a business that was never operational.

Terrell also has several prior felony convictions, including robbery by force, terroristic threats and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Dougherty County Superior Court.

According to court documents and statements made public in court in the Davis case, Albany Police Department officers responded to Ridgemont Road in Albany on March 26, 2023, about a suspicious auto parked in the middle of the road. Officers found Davis asleep in the drivers seat. After Davis handed the officers his drivers license, he fled at a high rate of speed and crashed his car. He then attempted to run away but was quickly apprehended.

Inside the car, APD officers found a semiautomatic pistol, a semiautomatic rifle, a revolver, nearly four kilograms of vacuumed sealed marijuana, a distributable quantity of ecstasy and cocaine, a digital scale, plastic baggies and $25,039. Davis has two prior felony convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Dougherty County Superior Court.

The Ferrell case was investigated by the DEA, FBI and GBI. The Davis case was investigated by the ATF and APD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Redavid prosecuted the cases for the government.
Staff Reports

news@albanyherald.com

MACON  A Georgia poll worker has been arrested for mailing a letter to the Jones County Elections Superintendent threatening poll workers.

According to the criminal complaint, Nicholas Wimbish, 25, of Milledgeville was serving as a poll worker at the Jones County Elections Office on Oct. 16 when he allegedly had a verbal altercation with a voter. Later that evening, Wimbish conducted online research to determine what information about himself would be publicly available. The following day, Wimbish mailed a letter addressed to the Jones County Elections Superintendent, purportedly from a Jones County Voter.

The letter was allegedly drafted to make it appear as if it came from the voter, such as by stating that Wimbish had give[n] me hell and that Wimbish was conspiring votes and distracting voters from concentrating. The letter threatened that Wimbish and others should look over their shoulder, that I know where they go, that I know where they all live because I found home voting addresses for all them, and that the young men will get beatdown if they fight me and will get the treason punishment by firing squad if they fight back.

Further, the letter threatened to rage rape the ladies and warned them to watch every move they make and look over their shoulder. The letter concluded with a handwritten note: PS boom toy in early vote place, cigar burning, be safe.

Wimbish is charged with mailing a bomb threat, conveying false information about a bomb threat, mailing a threatening letter and making false statements to the FBI. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia made the announcement.

The FBI Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Jacob R. Steiner of the Criminal Divisions Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Will R. Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Justice Departments Election Threats Task Force.

To report suspected threats or violent acts, citizens should contact a local FBI office and request to speak with the election crimes coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. Citizens may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
By Kathryn Kao

kathk1@uga.edu

ATHENS  A new study from the University of Georgia suggests people posting in Reddits r/selfharm community are likely seeking support for negative emotions.

While sharing traumatic events online can be cathartic, researchers caution that subreddits cant provide the same type of mental health help and support face-to-face interactions and professional help can.

We dont know the accuracy of the information thats being shared in these communities about nonsuicidal self-injury, Amanda Giordano, lead author of the study and an associate professor in UGAs Mary Frances Early College of Education, said. A client engaging in self-harm may feel as though they have the support they need in their online community and, in turn, may not seek offline help.

However, theres evidence to suggest that talking to anonymous strangers online is less effective than seeking support from a trusted person offline.

The researchers analyzed a sample of 400 Reddit posts in a subreddit dedicated to the topic of self-harm. At the time, the Reddit forum contained 143,000 members and provided a window into the overall tone and attitude posters have toward self-injury.

The study found that the most common purpose for posting in the self-harm subreddit was to share a negative experience (35.5%), like a misunderstanding with a family member. About one in five posts sought answers to self-harm-related questions like how to hide scars. And 14% of posts included medical questions like how to clean and manage wounds.

More users framed self-harm as a problem rather than a solution. But the number of posts expressing an intention to stop engaging in self-harm was nearly equal to those expressing no intention to stop.

The majority of posts did not describe why the poster engaged in self-injury, but of those who did, the most common reason was for emotion regulation. They were engaging in self-harm as a way to stop bad feelings and feel better, Giordano said.

These posts described engaging in self-harm as a response to distress from specific life events, including breaking up or falling out with family members, or as a response to strong negative emotions, such as depression, self-hatred, loneliness, low self-esteem, shame or anxiety.

The sample of posts in the subreddit revealed that the most common method of self-injury was cutting, with only 10% of posts referencing methods other than cutting, such as burning, scratching, head banging, punching and more.

The study also found that addiction-related language, like relapse and clean, appeared in more than a quarter of the posts, indicating that a substantial number of users view self-harm as an addiction.

More than 42% of the posts from the study indicated that the poster was currently engaging in self-harm. The study found about one in five posts revealed the poster was no longer injuring themselves.

About 12 posts indicated the poster had never self-harmed but was curious about it, while 1% revealed it was the posters first time.

The researchers found a significant correlation between whether the poster viewed self-harm as a problem or a solution and that posters intention to stop the behavior.

Counselors and mental health professionals can help clients shift their perspective from thinking about self-harm as the solution to managing psychological pain to recognizing that self-injury doesnt solve the issue causing their emotional distress and instead adds additional risk.

Then the work would be around increasing their motivation to change and to find alternative, more adaptive ways of regulating their emotions outside of self-harm, Giordano said.

Published by the International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, the study was co-authored by UGAs Jharia Dallas, Lauren Hearn and In Kee Kim. Additional co-authors include Bradley McKibben and Donatella Luciani-Hill.










English News China contributes to global deep space exploration with accelerated lunar sample research

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 4 Novembre 2024



China's Chang'e-7 lunar exploration mission will carry six international scientific instruments developed by six countries and one international organization, and Chang'e-8 will offer 200 kilograms of international payload capacity and has garnered over 30 applications.

By Yu Sinan, Liu Shiyao, Wu Yuehui, People's Daily China's Chang'e-6 mission returned to Earth on June 25, bringing back 1,953.3 grams of lunar samples. The lunar samples, which were collected from the far side of the moon for the first time in human history, have garnered worldwide attention. They will offer fresh perspectives on the disparities between the near side and far side of the moon, as well as the evolution of the moon.



On August 21, China National Space Administration (CNSA) selected 16 research teams from 13 institutes that excelled in the research of lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 mission to participate in the initial round of sample research proposal and application review for Chang'e-6 lunar samples. The Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) secured a spot in this selection based on its exceptional performance in the study of the Chang'e-5 lunar samples.



The Chang'e-5 probe returned to Earth on December 17, 2020, with 1,731 grams of lunar samples. The IGG received three grams of these samples and divided them into two small bottles, one holding one gram and the other holding two grams.



Li Xianhua, an academician with the CAS and a researcher with the IGG, still vividly remembers the moment when he saw the soil samples. "The moon soil was incredibly fine, with an average particle size of only 50 microns," said Li.



"We hesitated to open the samples easily because many very fine particles not only adhered to the glass but could also escape from the bottle," Li recalled.



After receiving the soil samples, the IGG wasted no time in calling for a project kickoff meeting. Wu Fuyuan, head of the IGG, laid out the team's tasks clearly: conduct radiometric dating, delve into petrology and geochemistry, analyze water content, and study strontium, neodymium, and hydrogen isotopes within a week, followed by the drafting of papers for submission within another week.



The plan was not haphazardly put together. Prior to this, each member of the research team had made thorough preparations, possessing a wealth of knowledge and technological expertise.



Through relentless efforts, the team quickly achieved the first significant milestone as planned, setting a new benchmark for speed in lunar soil research. With just 0.15 grams of lunar soil, the team completed the analysis in seven days, finalized the paper in 16 days, and published three papers on Nature within 100 days, pushing back the known end time of lunar magma activity by one billion years.



"The swift progress was also attributed to the careful selection and assessment of the landing area by researchers before the Chang'e-5 mission, enabling the successful collection of the youngest lunar basalt samples. The new samples that had never been studied before allowed us to swiftly gain many new insights," said He Huaiyu, a member of the research team and a researcher with the IGG.



Over the past three-plus years, the CNSA has shared 85.48 grams of lunar samples collected by the Chang'e-5 mission with 131 Chinese research teams in seven batches. The initial round of international applications has undergone expert evaluation. To date, more than 100 papers have been published, continuously enhancing human understanding of the moon.



International cooperation was a prominent aspect of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe mission. The mission carried four international payloads, including Pakistan's ICUBE-Q.



It marked Pakistan's first venture into lunar exploration. The cube satellite was jointly developed by Pakistan's Institute of Space Technology and China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University, with Professor Wu Shufan from the university's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics leading the Chinese team.



"Despite its small size, ICUBE-Q boasts quite many technological innovations," Wu said. For instance, it is equipped with on-orbit fault diagnosis algorithms that enable the satellite to automatically detect and diagnose potential system failures. The satellite also implements dynamic intelligent task scheduling strategies and utilizes advanced materials such as special magnesium alloys and honeycomb carbon fibers.



According to the mission requirements, the satellite was designed for a nominal lifespan of five hours, but in reality, it was operational in orbit for 55 days, continuously transmitting images and monitoring data, and providing valuable firsthand information for Pakistan's lunar research.



"The achievements have far exceeded expectations," Wu said.



China's Chang'e-7 lunar exploration mission will carry six international scientific instruments developed by six countries and one international organization, and Chang'e-8 will offer 200 kilograms of international payload capacity and has garnered over 30 applications.



"Chang'e" belongs not only to China but also to all humanity, providing a broad stage for international space cooperation, and contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to global deep space exploration. The Chinese lunar exploration project will continue advancing without pause.



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History is filled with entire nations following leaders who were becoming increasingly delusional due to age or illness. The Iranian absolute ruler of today, Ali Khamenei, is now 85, and while he might be sharp as a tack, he could also be so deeply enmeshed in the messianic delusions of his own mentor, Ayatollah Khomeini, that he is unaware that Iran is now "naked to its enemies" -- which would be Israel and America, the little Satan and the Great Satan.

The last Empress of China was mad as a hatter, living in a fictional China that was presented for her by her courtiers, who pretended that China was still all-powerful, when in fact it had crumbled into its usual chaos of local warlords. Joe Biden is relatively sane, but he is showing the signs of Parkinson's disease, or at least that is a common medical guess. Biden shows his anger at Kamala, who overthrew him with the aid of Obama and probably Hillary, who is also showing signs of wear and tear.

As we know, George III -- the King who headed England at the time of the American Revolution -- poor George had periods of delusion that may have been due to something called porphyria.

The most famous Russian opera -- a very great work -- is about the descent into madness of Boris Godunoff, a man who was offered the Tsar's crown, and who may never have actually been crowned, but he plausibly went mad. The Russian playwright Alexander Pushkin -- sometimes called the Russian Shakespeare -- wrote a great play about Boris, in which he is driven mad by guilt for having murdered the son of the previous Tsar, until, in the final act, he dies in torment. That play was put to music by Modest Mussorgsky, who was none too sane himself, but a great genius as a composer, maybe due to alcoholism, and Mussorgsky's music was made even more beautiful by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff.

So madness has quite a history among absolute rulers. Josef Stalin was diagnosed as "a paranoid with a withered arm" by his personal physician named Bekhterev, who was poisoned by the NKVD the next day.

Elected rulers certainly can be slightly barmy, but absolute rulers are worse, because they are surrounded by courtiers who are usually afraid to tell him or her to step down (for fear of the rage of the ruler), and it's always the courtiers who convince the absolute ruler that everything is hunky-dory until some conspiracy of courtiers decides that the fiction can't be sustained any longer, and the old boy or girl has got to go.

One reason to suspect the sanity of Iran's Supreme Guide is that he keeps denying the obvious defeats his regime has sustained at the hands of Israel. Given his age, it's not likely that Khamenei understands F-35i jet fighter planes that can fly from Israel to Iran in the dark of night, with a minimal radar signature, and today, when Israel has knocked out Iran's S-300 radar stations, those F35i's are almost completely invisible to Khomeini's goose-stepping IRGC soldiers, who, if they are smart, are already bugging out of Teheran by now.

According to official Iranian "news" channels, Khamenei is threatening more and more horrible revenge, every time his nation suffers more humiliating defeats.

Is the old guy non compos mentis? Only his inner circle would know, and they are not telling. Still, it is likely that an 85-year-old "holy man" raised in a closed religious cult does not understand much about the real world.

It is said that perhaps 90 percent of Iranian people hate and despise the regime, which continues to commit horrific punishments on innocent people.

I've met many Iranian people, and liked them as intelligent and fun to know. There is an ancient history of friendship between ancient Persia and the Jews of that time. Until 1979, when Jimmy Carter and Zbigniew Brzezinski allowed the Shah to be overthrown, Iran was the most modern and practical nation in the Middle East, and the ordinary people have not changed under the medieval rule of holy tyrants. To an outsider it looks as if the regime is internally very weak, but their "morality police" is very cruel to its domestic opposition.

If Khamenei is actually sane, his regime certainly is not.

So we wish the people of Iran the best of luck in overthrowing their cursed Islamist master. Let their end come soon.

Image: seysd shahaboddin vajedi
Medicare is not free.

The Medicare payroll tax started in 1966 for private and corporate employers, their employees, and those who were self-employed at that time. Federal employees didnt start paying Medicare taxes until 1983. Most retirees currently claiming Medicare have contributed throughout their lifetime, and monthly contributions continue to be taken out of Social Security benefits based on the previous years income. At the end of last year, it was announced that 2024 Medicare monthly premiums were going up 14.5 percent, and the Medicare Part B deductible is also increasing by $30. Early estimates indicate that the 2025 increase may be five to ten percent. The cost of expensive Medicare supplemental policies increase as we age and dont cover everything  especially costly prescriptions.

Insurance is something you pay dearly for, all the while hoping you wont need it. In the past, keeping yourself continuously insured meant you wouldnt be subject to pre-existing conditions exclusion or wait periods for coverage. From my perspective, it was logical to exclude coverage for those individuals who would pay for insurance only when they needed it and not participate in the pool, spreading the risk. Unfortunately, if you have an accident or illness without insurance, you can end up paying for it for the rest of your life or go into bankruptcy.

Insurance companies regulate fees for service, and Medicare does not pay well. The following is important to consider: because of the low compensation, not all doctors accept Medicare patients. Some will limit the number to a small percentage of their panel, and others will accept Medicare patients if they pay an annual fee. Also, a surprising number of doctors and health care facilities such as physical therapy dont accept Medicaid or Obamacare insurance. Some well established practices arent taking new patients, and some specialists will take patients only by referral.

Also, concierge medicine is on the rise. A concierge practice usually limits its patient rolls to fewer than 500 patients, which allows doctors to spend more time with patients and focus on preventative health care. Moreover, a concierge practice offers same-day visits when necessary, 24-hour access to the doctor, shorter waiting room times, and sometimes even house calls. Concierge Medicine Today states that about 5,000 to 7,000 physicians and practices provide concierge care in the United States, most of whom are primary care providers. Average annual fees typically range from $1,200 to $50,000, with a few as much as $100,000, though that high a fee is not characteristic.

Unfortunately, there are simply not enough doctors to provide health care for everyone in the country, and it is not expected to get better. Jenny Yang writes at Statista that by the year 2036, a shortage of 13,500 to 86,000 physicians is expected in the United States.

In four decades from 1980 to 2020, the population has increased by about 105 million. The number of medical schools and practicing physicians did not keep pace with the population growth, and a large percentage of physicians are over 40 years old. In Table A below, the number of practicing physicians includes all specialties, and the population figures do not include the 20+ million illegal aliens in the country if they werent included in the Census.

Table sources: U.S. Census, statista.com and FSMB Census, Federation of State Medical Boards.

Other countries have varied levels of success in providing national health care, and most are overburdened and in decline. They are bloated, wasteful, and rife with fraud, costing in the billions. Wait times for some services exceed two years, and many people are dying before they can be seen. Their governing bodies are considering limiting services for the elderly, or already doing it, since they are closer to their end of life, with a reduced return on investment. We are not exempt, as those very discussions are also taking place among health care professionals in our country.

To pay for these bloated health care systems, other countries citizens income, property, inheritance, and sales tax are extraordinarily high by U.S. standards. Examples of some of the highest income taxes are in the following countries are listed in Table B below:

Unfortunately, high income taxes are just the beginning. In the U.K., sales tax on shopping and services is 20 percent, though some goods qualify for less. Their inheritance tax rates have a lot of if, then clauses, so I wont try to explain it all, but the rate can be as high as 40 percent. When you purchase your first property above the 125,001 threshold, a Stamp Duty tax of 210 percent of the value of the property is due based on the amount paid. Stamp duty on additional properties purchased ranges between 315 percent. Capital gains tax upon sale of an asset or property can range from 18 to 28 percent, depending on your income.

In Belgium, inheritance tax can reach 90 percent if the beneficiary is not related to the decedent. They have a sliding scale that is dictated by the degree of familial relationship.

Many foreign health care systems employ arbitration, and there are only occasional low malpractice payouts. Personally, I think our collective propensity to litigate for every little thing has greatly increased the cost of health care. Although I couldnt find out the current exact costs for malpractice insurance, based on previous information, surgeons may pay more for it than most people earn in a year.

After studying the pros and cons of health care in the U.S. and other countries, I have some observations.

The best health care is self-care. People who eat nutritious food, exercise, get enough sleep, avoid drugs, and limit alcohol intake tend to enjoy better health. It is important to promote and maintain your own health.

Be an advocate for yourself, and dont wait if you dont feel well, have severe pain, find a lump, or have symptoms that dont subside. Seek out a professional opinion now. Dr. Google is not a substitute for an experienced medical opinion. That said, speak up for yourself and dont allow your symptoms to be dismissed if you know that something is wrong. Unfortunately, a few of my friends have died because their symptoms were dismissed multiple times, and when they were finally taken seriously, it was too late.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for providing medical care to all of our citizens, and it certainly cant be legislated. Health care needs differ in cities, small towns, and rural areas. This needs to be addressed by a coalition of thinkers with common sense from all industries on state and regional levels. There are myriad smart and talented individuals who could work together to formulate affordable solutions.

Instead of everyone staring at his toes, waiting for someone else to make improvements in our health care system, I encourage everyone to become part of the solution. Be the external force that breaks the inertia to get ideas generating and solutions implemented.

My lasting wish is that everyone could enjoy good health and have affordable expert care available. Together, we can make it happen, but Medicare for all is not the solution.

Image: Pkd2016 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Now that thats settled and Trump has achieved what seems to be a comfortable victory, from a historical perspective, theres some virtue in killing all of your enemies, at least figuratively. Julius Caesar didnt and was killed almost immediately after having himself declared dictator for life.

In 49 BC, dictator meant something different than it does today. Being the dictator was an honorable, temporary position implemented only when the Republic faced some dire or existential threat that required a firm hand to fix. Although vested with almost absolute power, a dictator would often be appointed for a finite period, perhaps six months, to deal with the problem and then would return to being whatever he was before, whether a senator, a general, a citizen, or whatever.

Caesars problem was that he had kept extending his dictatorship until he had himself declared dictator for life. A month later, he was killed by senators, some of whom were his friends, including, famously, Brutus.

Image: YouTube screen grab.

Caesars reign starkly contrasts with that of his adopted son, Caesar Augustus. Augustus reigned for 41 years (the longest of any emperor) and ruled over a relatively peaceful period of consolidation and prosperity. He set the stage for the Romans to remake the Western world, saying: I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble. While speaking literally about the city, he was also metaphorically speaking about the Empire, having prepared the way for its long life.

The difference between Caesar and Augustus? Augustus killed all his enemies when consolidating power. By the time he took absolute control over the Republic and transformed it into the Empire, he had no enemies left, or at least none willing to stick their necks out to challenge him. Unlike most Emperors, Augustus died of old age

Fortunately, Trump doesnt need to rely on political murder to achieve Augustuss success. Thats because Augustus isnt known as Romes greatest emperor because he killed all his enemies, something many later Roman emperors did without Augustuss stellar reputation. Instead, hes known as Romes greatest emperor because he laid the foundations for a relative time of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman world for the subsequent two centuries. Donald Trump can do the same in America without first killing his enemies.

Last week, I listed ten somewhat high-level things Trump should do immediately upon taking office. These included sealing the border, deporting illegal aliens, and cleaning house in the justice / military departments. Here, Ill suggest two specific things Trump can do that will set America up to prosper and do so without rivers of blood.

First, Trump must target those people in government who have weaponized the state to delegitimize him and keep him from office. That doesnt mean people who disagree with him, even if they do so vociferously. No, the people he needs to investigate are those people who used the police power of the state to persecute him and illegally jail his advisors and J6 defendants.

Of all of the things that distinguish a tyranny from a free nation, freedom of speech is paramount. A close second is a police power exercised based on actual laws, not on the whims and lies of politicians. If citizens cannot feel confident that staying within the law will keep them safe from the government, what motivates them to obey any laws?

Im not suggesting that people like Clinton, Pelosi, Schiff, Chaney, etc., be jailed unconstitutionally. On the contrary, Im suggesting they be investigated, legally and transparently, and, if appropriate, charged. And its not only the household names that must be investigated. So too should the leadership of every agency that played a role in putting the country through the last eight years of unconstitutional hell, bringing America to the brink of becoming a third-world tyranny.

Second, Trump should immediately rescind JFKs most infamous legacy from 1962 :

That year, JFK signed executive order 10988 allowing the unionization of the federal work force. This changed everything in the American political system. Kennedy's order swung open the door for the inexorable rise of a unionized public work force in many states and cities. This in turn led to the fantastic growth in membership of the public employee unionsThe American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the teachers' National Education Association. They broke the public's bank. More than that, they entrenched a system of taking money from members' dues and spending it on political campaigns. Over time, this transformed the Democratic Party into a public-sector dependency.

That Executive Order, more than any other in the 20th century, changed American history for the worse. From that point forward, federal employeesand, over time, state and local employeescould and did unionize against the American people. Rather than carrying out the directives of the Executive Branch, their goal was to extract as much money and benefits as possible from the American people and do so while accomplishing the least amount of actual work possible.

Skeptical? In 2021 the average American private sector employee earned a compensation (salary + benefits) of $88,152, while the average federal employee earned $143,643, fully 62% more. Federal employees quit at a rate that is 75% lower than private sector employees. Today, there are 2.95 million federal employees , or one federal employee for every 118 Americans, whereas, in 1962, it was one for every 226 . This is the enforcement arm of the regulatory state that has a chokehold on America.

And this is where Trump can change the trajectory of Americas future. The Heritage Foundation states that federal regulation costs America approximately $300 and $700 billion a year . If Trump can rein in the federal leviathan, that money would stay in American pockets, potentially adding 1% to our GDP annually.

To put that in perspective, GDP has grown by 2.1% over the past 20 years . A 1% addition would result in a doubling GDP in 24 years versus 36 years at that rate. ( Rule of 72 ,) If Trump were to cut the federal workforce back to 1962 levels, Trump would eliminate another $200 billion from federal spending which would add to productivity.

There is no single bigger opportunity today to free Americans and American industry to compete and create, whether its creating better widgets, writing smarter AI, making more efficient cars, or developing the next Pet Rock or Christmas antlers . As Johan Norberg chronicles in The Capitalist Manifesto, its not capitalism per se. that creates prosperity; its free markets and choice.

History shows that no one is better at finding and filling opportunities than American businesses and no one better at creating products and services consumers desire than American entrepreneurs. If Donald Trump can unleash American creativity and productivity even back to the 1980s levels (3.1% GDP growth), never mind 1950s levels (4.2%), he will vanquish his enemies to the dustbin of history far more effectively than he would by turning them into martyrs.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz addresses his supporters at a watch party at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer U.S. Senator Ted Cruz addresses his supporters at a watch party at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. Evan Vucci/AP

Donald Trump and Ted Cruz proved Texas is still a red state on Tuesday, racking up big victories in GOP suburbs while Democrats struggled to turn out their base in urban centers like Houston and Dallas.

Democrats had high hopes that Texas would inch closer toward them, but the opposite happened as both Trump and Cruz appeared positioned to win Texas by more than both of their last campaigns in the state.

TRUMP TAKES TEXAS: Donald Trump defeats Vice President Kamala Harris in Texas

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Tonight, the people of Texas have spoken, Cruz said. And their message rings clear as a bell across our great state. Texas will remain Texas.

Austin-based podcaster Jenny Red Pill Rage takes video during a Republican watch party featuring U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Further down the ticket, Democrats were struggling late on Tuesday to hold onto seats even in Democratic strongholds like Harris County, and the party fell flat in the one congressional seat in South Texas where they had their best chance of flipping a seat to help regain control of the U.S. House.

Here are five key takeaways from election night.

Suburban dominance for Trump

People are shown at the voting location at the Oakhurst Volunteer Fire Dept., 990 State HWY 190 on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Oakhurst. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Big Texas suburban counties like Montgomery, Collin, Denton and Comal all showed up big for the former president.

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In 2020, places like Denton and Collin counties in North Texas were surprisingly close for Trump. But this time Trump appeared to improve his margins there, while also appearing to increase his already high numbers in ruby red areas like Montgomery and Comal counties.

Those margins countered Harris' narrower victories in urban areas, and were on their way to giving Trump his biggest showing in Texas since first running for the White House in 2016. That year, he won Texas by 9 percentage points, and four years later he won the state by just 5.6%.

While votes were still being tabulated Tuesday night, Trump was well on his way to winning the state by more than both those previous campaigns.

Ted Cruz cruises

While Trump out-performed the junior senatorin much of Texas, Cruzs final weeks of the campaign trying to drive out GOP turnout in Republican areas worked.

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Cruz pleaded with voters in the Texas Panhandle, East Texas and the Hill Country to show up in big numbers to counter the big cities. They did.

But just as important, his losses in places like Harris and Dallas counties werent nearly as bad as when he narrowly won reelection in 2018, largely as Democrat turnout sagged.

Besides winning reelection, Cruz also now is in a position to become chairman of the powerful commerce committee in the U.S. Senate as Republicans were expected to retake control of the chamber. That could give Cruz even more power as his seniority increases in Washington.

Supporters listen to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz as he speaks during a watch party at Marriott Marquis Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Growing GOP majorities in the Texas Legislature?

Democrats had hopes of flipping at least a few seats in the state Legislature on Tuesday. Instead, Republicans were on the verge of flipping a key seat in South Texas, while narrowly holding leads in two Bexar County districts Democrats had been convinced they could flip.

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Supporters wave down and hand out sample ballots as voters arrive to a polling site in La Rosita, Texas, on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay/Associated Press

And in the Texas Senate, another battle in South Texas was undecided going late into the night, giving Republicans hope they could flip a seat long held by Democrats there as well. There, State Sen. Morgan LaMantia was trying to fend off a challenge by Republican Adam Hinojosa.

It all means Republicans will likely maintain a dominating hold on the Texas Legislature at a time when Gov. Greg Abbott has vowed to pass a private school voucher program in Texas.

Harris County tightens up

While Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic Senate hopeful Colin Allred both won the county, both fell short of how much President Joe Biden was able to win there in 2020.

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But further down the ticket, a host of judicial and legalraces were simply too close to call. And that includes the race for Harris County District Attorney, where Democrat Sean Teare had a narrow lead over Republican Dan Simons. Teare had been favored to comfortably win the race.

Similarly, the race for county attorney was a nailbiter, with incumbent Christian Menefee clinging to a narrow lead over Republican Jaqueline Lucci Smith.

It all showed that while Democrats have had a dominating six years in the county, Republicans can still win races in the states most populouscounty.

Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee/ Tax Assessor-Collector Democratic nominee Annette Ramirez speaks as the Harris County Democrats gathered to watch election results come in at Axelrod on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Cornyns opportunity

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn wasnt on the ballot, but the Republican could be one of the biggest winners of the night.

Cornyn was already a strong contender to be the Senate Republican Leader in 2025. But with Republicans picking up seats in the U.S. Senate and holding onto the Cruz seat, the GOP was expected to retake the majority. That would put Cornyn in the running to be the Senate Majority Leader  a position no Texan has held since 1961 when Lyndon B. Johnson left the post to become John F. Kennedys vice president.
It was exactly 1:38 A.M. today that Bret Baier on Fox News said that it was clear that the next president of the United States of America would be Donald J. Trump.

Not taking a micrometer of credit away from President Trump 47 and his epically tireless, passionate, often hilariously funny, and brave  in spite of three assassination attempts and then a fourth death threat  countrywide, night-after-night, week-after-week, month-after-month, year-after-year campaign.

Whoever coined the word superhuman had a person like Trump in mind!

But I have to give the lions share of the credit for President Trumps decisive, stunning, overwhelming, crushing, thunderous victory to the historically astute, paying-attention, loving-our-country American public.

When you think about it, it is really so understandable.

For the past four years, hardworking Americans resented spending their 8-10-12-14-hour days  more if they have two jobs  working their butts off, only to have their taxes and food prices and gas prices and regulations raised, and crime off the charts, and for what?

To send upward of $175 billion to the Zelensky grifter in Ukraine so he can buy yet another villa and another yacht?

To send not millions, but billions of their hard-earned tax dollars to the murderous, Jew-hating, Israel-loathing jihadist mullahs in Iran so they can put their, ahem, leaders up in decadently luxurious hotels in Qatar?

And, since October 7, 2023, to send more than a billion dollars to the Arabs who call themselves Palestinians...you know, the cheerleaders of the serial murderers known as Hamas and Hezballah?

Its Not Only the Money

Surprise, surprise! American voters have both eyes and ears.

Over the past four years, they  we  witnessed in real time a president with seriously devolving cognitive abilities, as well as erratic behavior, frequent absences, and a trigger temper that finally led the party bosses to force him to step aside.

That was when all the eyes and ears of the American public witnessed the true spectacle of V.P.-cum-presidential-candidate Kamala Harris.

The last time I actually physically cringed at a public personality was when Hillary Clinton spoke Ebonics in front of a black audience. But ol Hillary had nothing on the woman Ive been calling Kalamity for the past four years.

Kamalas mantra, What Can Be, Unburdened by What Has Been, is vintage communist dogma, as this commentator so eloquently explains.

The media, a de facto arm of the Democrat National Committee, succeeded in hiding Kalamitys deep roots and relationships with vicious anti-American and anti-Semitic radicals, as did her personal pastor, of all people.

But as conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has said: You can argue against Trump; you can argue for him. But nobody can credibly argue in favor of Kamala Harris.

The Vote Rig Effort Started Early

One could quite accurately say that the rig started when business mogul Donald J. Trump came down the escalator in the Trump Tower in New York City on June 16, 2015, as did the fanatical obsession with removing him from the political arena...even before he crushed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.

Going back to 2020, Mark Alexander, publisher of The Patriot Post, spelled out the Democrats vote-rigging criminal activity to defeat President Trump in devastating detail.

And this year, The Gateway Pundit has done yeoman work in exposing the sordid and longtime pattern of Democrat voter fraud. In this revelatory piece, a Democrat operative, caught in an undercover video, explains how the Democrats allegedly stole the 2020 Election in Georgia, from kicking out GOP poll-watchers to a nursing home ballot-harvesting, et al.

In the same vein, Major General Paul E. Vallely (U.S. Army Ret.), in a jaw-dropping article, describes exactly how Democrats steal elections. Just as diabolical is this 17-minute video, in which Mike Benz, deputy assistant secretary for international communication under President Trump, describes an elite-backed war game  a secret Democrat plan  entitled Military Coup to Stop Trump.

Too Big to Rig

Mr. Trump had his advantages. In a stunning reversal of decades-long backing, Ms. Kalamity failed to win the endorsements of the Teamsters Union, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post  all bastions of endemic leftism.

In addition, the largest Arab-American community (both Muslim and Christian) in the U.S., in Michigan, endorsed Donald Trump for president.

And surprisingly but certainly not intentionally, Mr. Trump got a huge boost from none other than Barack Obama, the guy who is said to be engineering his defeat.

Also, Mr. Trump received a $100M donation from the new Dallas Mavericks owner that Kalamity-backer Mark Cuban sold his team to. I think this is called poetic justice.

And the America First Legal Foundation, headed by Stephen Miller, President Trumps senior policy adviser and speechwriter, has been unstinting in monitoring the voter fraud efforts around the country and successfully suing the criminals.

According to the prediction of Wayne Allyn Root, a conservative television and radio host, author, political activist, and oddsmaker out of Las Vegas, Nev., the Trump landslide was simply Too Big to Rig.

But he also predicted that a Trump win would mobilize the deranged Democrats to extreme measures, the most probable being nationwide riots, anarchy, looting, burning, and attacks on American institutions. This country could burn like never before in history, Root said.

The Silent Majority

Although the TV reporting on November 5 tried to be fair and balanced, it was clear after the polls closed that President Trump had ignited an electorate that had genuinely suffered through four years of skyrocketing food and gas prices, taxes, and strangulating regulations.

And to add insult to injury, more billions, even trillions of dollars of taxpayer dollars were spent not only on five wars  count em: Darfur, Yemen, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Israel  but also the crushing expense of upwards of 11 million illegal aliens, all enjoying  thanks to the Biden-Harris government  pricey lodgings, hot meals, medical care, education for their children, iPhones, and even monthly stipends that are higher than what American families and veterans receive!

Did the Biden-Harris regime not figure that Americans would be saying to themselves, Mmmm, five wars...if she wins, will she double that or just throw in a couple more to six or seven wars? Will she institute a mandatory draft like what she and Joe made the COVID shot mandatory for military people, forcing 8,000 to quit...but ultimately winning a huge settlement from the Department of Defense?

In November of 1969, presidential candidate Richard Nixon coined the term silent majority. This referred to any large group of people who do not express their opinions publicly but object to or resent or hate what they are witnessing and experiencing and cannot wait to vote the bastards out  a rousing anthem sung by the Australian Spooky Mens Chorale.

Here is a Trump ad from 2024s Silent Majority.

What Actually Happened

Two hundred seventy electoral votes is required to elect the president.

By 2 A.M. on November 6, Mr. Trump had 248 Electoral votes and Kalamity had 217. Of course, Democrats were saying it could take three days, six days, three weeks to count the votes. But then Mr. Trump went over the top!

All the TV analysts  from the left, right and center  were predicting a Trump victory and comparing it to the Grover Cleveland presidency of 1885, and then skipping a term until returning to the presidency in 1893.

But Democrats have warned that theyve already planned widespread protests if Trump declares victory. And many have vowed that even if Trump recaptures the presidency, his most fanatical adversaries, among them Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), will use every legal means to stop him from retaking the White House.

And now that Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) has flipped the Senate to Republican control, Raskin is plumb out of luck.

All of former president Trumps supporters and all of President Trumps future supporters applaud him and thank him, as the good garbage man he is, for taking out the trash!

Joan Swirsky is a New York-based journalist and author. Her website is www.joanswirsky.com, and she can be reached at joanswirsky@gmail.com.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
I'm a bit nervous about getting ahead of myself, but as exit polls and first results come in, so far, so good.

First, the funny stuff:

Did Jill Biden just vote for Donald Trump?



Wearing red while voting and knowing she will be photographed ...  pic.twitter.com/Lzc5GEfZZF  Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) November 5, 2024



 and 

BREAKING: Joe Biden will NOT attend Kamala Harris's election watch party. Even Biden knows it will be a depressing scene, and he wants to go to sleep in peace.



There's no joy in their camp right now. pic.twitter.com/ePYjb3D3Lr  George (@BehizyTweets) November 5, 2024

Is Jill Biden telegraphing a certain message to the public? Where does one even find a red suit like that, perfect in hue?

And is Joe Biden counting on a Kamala loss, or if it's a win, prefers to nap about it and wake him when it's over?

Hillarys gotta be secretly hoping Trump wins right  Kat Timpf (@KatTimpf) November 5, 2024

Meow!

Meanwhile, the mainstream media is focusing on every little county where Harris seems ahead, not paying much attention to the broader picture, which shows, thus far, Trump significantly ahead in the popular vote. NBC is focusing on Hamilton County, Ohio, which shows Harris slightly ahead, with a sea of other counties showing a bright red disposition. Sure, one may be urban, the rest of the areas rural, but it's not that urban, nor that big in population. Then they went to Duval County, Florida, which normally votes Democrat -- showing Harris slightly ahead without the vote counted.

The broader picture, though, is this:

BREAKING: Florida Republicans now lead the state by OVER 1.2 MILLION VOTERS !!!



 REP: 4,504,141 (+1,201,143)

 DEM: 3,302,998

 NPA: 2,337,292

 OTH: 268,287



DATA: @BrendonLeslie  Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) November 5, 2024

The other thing they're doing is ignoring all the claims of cheating shenanigans in swing states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, their so-called "blue wall," singling out one of President Trump's tweets -- this one below -- to claim that the president is making that claim "without evidence," the NBC correspondent telling Lester Holt they searched and searched, when clearly they didn't.

JUST IN - President Trump stated there is heavy law enforcement presence in Detroit and Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/Twwf2BYtZd  The Trump Train  (@The_Trump_Train) November 5, 2024

President Trump, see, was just making that claim out of the air because he was supposedly losing.

We see what you're doing.

Here are some problems they could have found had they bothered to look:

Philadelphia City Commissioners Office Official: "Kamala's Got the Election in the Bag, Bro"



Poll Supervisor Joseph Bellinger: "She Might Have Philadelphia, but Shes Got to Win All States" pic.twitter.com/udoCalhvIi  James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) November 5, 2024

I spy Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker illegally campaigning in a polling location?



Will Philly DA Larry Krasner apply his F around and find out pledge to Mayor Parker?? pic.twitter.com/z9qBhrc7ny  Kush Desai (@K_SDesai) November 5, 2024

BREAKING: We just found the bus that is bussing in the Kamala supporters in Allentown PA!



Another conspiracy proven 100% right pic.twitter.com/dbCeVIMUNx  Jack Poso  (@JackPosobiec) November 4, 2024

Potential voter fraud is under investigation in Denver after city election officials identified ballot irregularities and mismatched signatures coming from a Denver adult daycare.https://t.co/RnUZItdV4X  Jeff Hunt (@jeffhunt) November 5, 2024

RUTHERFORD, NJ: According to a NJ voter who sent this video to OMG, 70 E. Pierrepont Ave. in Rutherford, NJ 07070 uniquely uses two voting systems  one that prints your ballot onto paper, and another where voters stand in line to place a printed ballot into a drop box.



Voters pic.twitter.com/osQexvmsbN  James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) November 5, 2024

BREAKING: corrupt election officials in Fulton County, GA have illegally inserted a fake "election monitoring team" into place which violates its legal agreement with the State Election Board.



Democrats are going to steal Georgia. https://t.co/OcCjcebQS8  Emerald Robinson  (@EmeraldRobinson) November 5, 2024

... and two days ago:

"But the election is safe and secure!"



Yeah, right.



From SCC: Early voting ballot boxes from Skokie being loaded into what appears to be a taxicab, for transport, no police around and no Cook County election official on hand to verify chain-of-custody.https://t.co/n6SuAr5Gxe pic.twitter.com/12YotZMqkZ  Chicago is Toast (@Chicagos_Toast) November 3, 2024

Voting machine in Virginia changes Trump to Triump thus invalidating the vote.



Its always his name and selection getting messed up. Never Kamalas.



We all know why.pic.twitter.com/P2ETajsTa0  Paul A. Szypula  (@Bubblebathgirl) November 1, 2024

They all should be looked into.

But thus far, catching them early seems to be helping:

After RNC lawsuit, Milwaukee will not stop poll watchers from having full access to observe voting https://t.co/W0KcALhMKv  John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) November 5, 2024

 #BREAKING: RNC Chair Michael Whatley has just announced theyve WON a lawsuit FORCING Milwaukee Elections Commission to allow poll watchers



WE ARE WINNING! 



Heavily-Democrat Milwaukee County was attempting to restrict poll watcher access, which is against state law.



WHY pic.twitter.com/U8nvuXfCg5  Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 5, 2024

Great example of the @gop election integrity operation identifying a problem before it happens:



Earlier today our team saw that some precincts in crucial Luzerne County, PA, were running low on ballot paper. We activated our volunteers, staff, and attorneys who worked with  Lara Trump (@LaraLeaTrump) November 5, 2024

... as is broadcasting the violations as they are seen.

All in all, it actually looks pretty good for President Trump, though such numbers can change.

The Florida figure, showing a much bigger margin of support than in the past has got to be a sign, as are the long lines in even the non-swing states that could flip such as New Hampshire, Virginia, and New Mexico.

Turnout in Republican towns throughout New Hampshire is absolutely off the charts - many are on trendlines to surpass 90% turnout today.



IF YOU ARE IN LINE, STAY IN LINE UNTIL YOU VOTE! #NHPolitics  Joe Sweeney (@JoeSweeneyNH) November 5, 2024

NEW: CNN says theyre running into a lot of silent Trump voters in Virginia who are afraid to be interviewed.



Virginia Trump supporters are refusing interviews in fear of their Democrat friends finding out.



There were many who said that they were planning to vote for Trump or pic.twitter.com/OktNZTRJ4y  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 5, 2024

HISTORICO! Virginia se pinta de rojo. En las pasadas elecciones habia sido un Estado que favorecia a los democratas.



Hoy estamos en un momento historico. Los Hispanos estamos con @realDonaldTrump 



Vamos a regresarle su gloria a nuestros paises. Juntos podremos hacerlo. pic.twitter.com/lwiSaLy4ms  Eduardo Verastegui (@EVerastegui) November 6, 2024

Fairfax seems to be making Virginia plausible to flip red. pic.twitter.com/YMSLP63Qoz  Being Libertarian (@beinlibertarian) November 5, 2024

Trump is leading Virginia at this point. pic.twitter.com/IJ1whh6Qyn  CJ Wolf  (@mizapa) November 6, 2024

(Yes, it's early.)

 VOTE!!! According to analysis of voting performance numbers as of 9am, Republicans are SO CLOSE to flipping New Mexico RED (about 8,000 votes). But we need to show up and vote. While calling for candidates, I have heard a lot of R's are planning on voting tonight after work  Rep. John Block (@RepBlock) November 5, 2024

So, there's reason to hope ... but we've seen this movie before, we don't want to get too optimistic until we have the results in hand. All the same, so far, so good.

Fight, fight, fight!

Real Clear Politics has live coverage here:

Election Night Live Broadcast!

Stay informed with real-time updates and expert insights! TUNE IN to RealClearPolitics' live election night broadcast.



Watch Now:https://t.co/DjN9QJsTNz pic.twitter.com/wFBnSnto8A  RealClearPolitics (@RCPolitics) November 6, 2024

Image: Twitter video screen shot
In the 1950s, billboard messages appeared across America: Get US Out of the United Nations. (A handful can still be found today.) Thats an excellent idea. At the time, America was not ready for a rational debate on this issue. Those responsible for the message were accused of being radical right. The education elite created United Nations forums at the high school and university levels, and winners went to NYC to observe and even be employed by the UN.

Today, the far left, to the point of communism, prevails in the Democrat party, Hollywood, the media, universities, and government without much challenge. Some people had it right early on about the threat of the far left and the UN, which was under leftist, anti-American influence.

Now, some 70 years later, we must ask why the US still supports the UN. As in the 1950s, the UN promotes world government and trashes America except when its lobbyists come to DC for the annual handout.

The US foots some $18 billion of the UN budget, far more than any other member. Of course, the UN wants more in the form of a tax on the US and other productive countries to redistribute world wealth. How would the tax be imposed? By a vote of the UN? How would it be allocated? By the UN? A world government would be required. Is this the Star Wars Empire model for our children?

Image by TheZachMorrisExperience. CC BY-SA 3.0.

Basic UN data may be useful. The UN claims 193 member countries. Most of these countries have a minute impact on making the world better via the UN. Most country representatives are focused on a lavish lifestyle and not paying their parking tickets. Monies coming to their countries often end up in Swiss bank accounts.

Fifteen countries produce 72% of world GDP. Add ten more member countries, and you have 90+% of world GDP.

The UN has almost nothing to do with positive economic development in poor countries. In fact, it routinely champions failed government solutions over proven market solutions. Climate change lunacy and associated regulations are major impediments to economic growth in poor countries. Remove unneeded regulations in these countries, and you would have astronomical economic growth.

The UN is anti-American, anti-market, anti-Jewish, and pro-Marxist, and it openly advocates for climate change restrictions. It is also involved in the open border plot of Obama/Biden/Harris.

Iran and its many surrogates (Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, etc.) are favorites of the UN. Note the recent walk-out at the UN when Netanyahu was to speak. Numerous UN members say that Israel does not have the right to defend herself.

The UN is an international organization with specially granted international territory in NYC. The UN building and associated land are worth many billions of dollars. The money the US provides that keeps the UN afloat should be returned to taxpayers. The international charter for the land and the building should be revoked. The building and land should be sold. The Rockefellers can have the $65 million that originally funded the building back with interest.

The UN would better serve its clientele with HQ in Ramallah. Some 70 years late, it is time to Get US Out of the United Nationsand to Get the United Nations out of the US.
They knocked on doors for her. They phonebanked. They bused themselves to her rallies and stuck to her side her even after she cheated them of their promised Beyonce concert.

They gathered together for their Kamala Harris victory party at Howard University in Washington. And when victory didn't happen, she abandoned them.

The joy is gone at Kamala Harris victory watch party pic.twitter.com/rIXXcYv7oi  The Bruiser (@DrHoosierHermit) November 6, 2024

BREAKING: Supporters leave Kamala's election night party in droves. pic.twitter.com/dfAK3B7wzH  johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) November 6, 2024

She has yet to make a statement for them, thanking them for their hard work, encouraging them to keep up the good fight, or telling them wait'll next time.

Some guy named Cedric Raymond eventually came out around 1:00 in the morning and told them she wouldn't be speaking to them tonight.

She just left, flew the coop, same way Hillary Clinton did to her supporters on the night Donald Trump defeated her in 2016, leaving them hanging. She has yet to concede the election, let alone congratulate President Trump, but that's just her being her.

Which is pretty ironic. One of her main campaign arguments against President Trump was that he was selfish, "in it for himself."

Turns out Harris was the one in it for herself. Trump, whom she accused of such behavior, took a bullet for us, forewent a salary, and endured a slew of lawfare that would have broken the spirit of anyone, never, ever, abandoned his supporters, nor was he ever that kind of selfish. Harris, though, is.

And in that petty selfishness, it's possible to see the kinds of errors that actually cost her the election, driving voters to Trump.

What were the things that did her in?

They often talk of her word salads, but canned responses were probably even more problematic.

Remember how the Hispanic man at the townhall asked her what she would do to improve health care since he had to travel to Mexico to get an MRI since he couldn't get an appointment here? She completely failed to answer that question, and instead told the man she came from a middle class upbringing. She didn't even empathize with him, let alone help him. She talked about herself. Selfish? You decide.

Another watershed error was in her staff's insistence on drawing a big crowd. She did draw a big crowd, by dangling the prospect of a Beyonce concert for them, given that Beyonce concert tickets run upwards of $200 for the cheap seats and much more for the better ones. Word was leaked to the press, multiple outlets. Beyonce, who was rumored to be up for singing at the Democrat National Convention in Chicago, but didn't, would finally sing! Beyonce came all right, but didn't so much as sing an a cappella song for them, despite her 'Freedom' song being the campaign's anthem. Her fans stood in line for hours to go to that event. They got nothing. One wonders how many votes that three-card monte on her own voters cost her. Selfish? You decide.

Did she empathize with the owner of 'P'Nut,' the summarily executed pet squirrel after New York state goons invaded a man's home on a tip from an informant over a permit? Her response was "no comment."

Did she empathize with victims of smash-and-grab robberies in California and support Proposition 36? She said it was the Sunday before election, so she wouldn't comment.

Did she put herself out to talk with Joe Rogan? Nope, she gave him the regal terms for her courtly attention, telling him he'd come to her and they'd make the "experience" just an hour, leaving him to fill two other hours on his podcast, doing twice the work. Selfish? You decide.

Did she voice any empathy for the Al Smith dinner's purpose, which was to raise money for charity for the poor when she decided to skip the event, joining Walter Mondale in deeming it too unimportant? Nope, she just sent in a stupid video featuring a known anti-Catholic actress mocking Catholics in what was basically a call to vote for her. Eeew. No wonder Cardinal Dolan didn't bother to include her in the closing prayers of the event. Selfish? Well, once again, you decide.

And her signature issue, abortion? The ultimate selfish convenience for the inconvenient pregnancy? It was what she stood for. Any empathy for doctors and nurses who by conscience or religious convictions don't want to perform that killing of an unborn child? Not in the least -- her most disgusting campaign stance was her call to end conscience exceptions for medical personnel unwilling to perform abortions. Her selfishness goes stratospheric with that one.

Every one of these errors was a dealbreaker to someone, creating a cascade of them that culminated in her defeat at the hands of Donald Trump. Selfishness was at the root of all of them. Throw in the media reports about her hubby Doug Emhoff being a profoundly selfish person knocking up his first family's nanny and somehow causing the death of her baby one way or another and then going on to beat another girlfriend, slapping her so hard she spun around, with lawsuits naming him as the "office a-hole" and never addressing any one of these horrid stories of selfishness and one can only wonder what the depth of selfishness she really had.

We can see it now, as she cut out of Dodge on election night, leaving her supporters in the lurch.

Image: Twitter video screen shot
After a campaign of calling President Trump "racist," "dangerous," "fascist," "xenophobic," "bigoted," "anti-immigrant," and "Hitler," somehow Latino voters, particularly men, came voting for President Trump, arguably putting him over the top.

Taking Latino men and women together, the total came to 45%, which is a sharp rise from years earlier:

NBC exit poll suggests Trump will win up to 45% of the Latino vote. In 2020 Trump won 32% of the Latino vote. MASSIVE GAINS pic.twitter.com/JB9vgDX7kq  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 6, 2024

Latinos are going to get a lot of credit for Trump winning this election but look at 18-29 year olds. 47% of 18-29 year old males voted for Trump. Thats a huge shift from previous elections where we always expected young people to vote D. As 18-29 women marry, theyll join them. pic.twitter.com/NwmhQTx6j4  Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) November 6, 2024

Latino voters selected Donald Trump in record numbers. pic.twitter.com/7EyLOXfIat https://t.co/36zOponsox  The American Conservative (@amconmag) November 6, 2024

The racism yellings fell flat:

So then US Latinos and black communities never accepted the widespread narrative presumption that Trump is a racist pic.twitter.com/TAcVnGwIET  Todd Bensman (@BensmanTodd) November 6, 2024

Oh, and Puerto Ricans elected a right-wing governor while they were at it:

Puerto Rico just elected a Republican governor.



Everyone who told you a comedian's joke was going to tip the presidential election is a liar who thinks you're stupid. Bookmark every person who hyperventilated about that, and vow to ignore them forever. https://t.co/Sc8jfqZ8NR  Sean Davis (@seanmdav) November 6, 2024

According to Daniel McCarthy at the London Spectator:

Donald Trumps victory this time may not be the surprise that his 2016 win was, but for his critics its even more of a shock. Trump has been impeached, arrested, convicted, shot at, and relentlessly demonised as a fascist over the last four years. None of that was enough to stop him. Just the opposite: Trump is more popular than ever, and appears to have won a national majority of the vote for the first time. Just how this happened is a question that will be analysed for weeks and months, or years, to come. But one intriguing possibility suggested by exit poll data is that multiculturalism committed suicide. Trump appears to have won a much larger percentage of the Latino population, especially men, than Democrats had ever thought possible.

The Spectator notes that part of the reason this happened was that Latinos were responding like other ethnic groups bearing the downside of competition from illegal migrants, who depress their wages.

But the other reason is suburban white multicultural correctness, snowflakery, triggerings at bad jokes, which disgusts them.

McCarthy's analysis is damning:

White progressive Americans think of their views as being universal, but they are really very specific to their own group. White liberals believe, for example, that masculinity is toxic and the world needs more female leaders. They also believe that anti-racism requires affirmative action or racial quotes to give blacks in particular more representation in positions of power and prestige. White liberalism is the reason Kamala Harris was named as Joe Bidens running mate in 2020. She wasnt a popular politician  and as this election proved, she still isnt. But she was the right sex and colour to satisfy the requirements of white liberals. Latinos are not white liberals. Some of them are as white as any Anglo-American, as it happens, and many are certainly liberal. But generally speaking, Latinos do not have the preoccupations characteristic of the white left in America. Some still retain an affinity for the machismo notable in Hispanic cultures and may have patriarchal views of women and social hierarchy that derive from Catholic traditions. They do not suffer from white guilt. So when the Democrats offer them Kamala Harris, a charmless politician, Latino men do not automatically take the deal. Perhaps they would vote for a woman who had outstanding merit and charisma. But Harris is a mediocrity who has advanced because of white liberal neuroses.

Eeew. Actually, that explains a lot about why most all of us, actually, can't stand her.

One important detail is that the Democrats actually had warning on this from their own side, and of course, ignored it. A pair of left-leaning researchers from Harvard and Georgetown found that when leftists say the politically correct 'Latinx,' Latinos switch their votes to Trump. I wrote about that a few days ago here.

The mainstream media, though, were flabbergasted, branding black and Latino voters racist and sexist in a new round of insults directed solely at them:

MSNBCs Joe Scarborough says that Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump because blacks and Latinos are sexist and Latinos are racist:



A lot of Hispanic voters have problems with black candidates



Al Sharpton says black men are among the most sexist people pic.twitter.com/bDMJNS4Mof  Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 6, 2024

For good measure, this mountebank called them stupid, too:

Latinos vote for Trump and immediately the mask comes off.



The left is riddled with racism. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. pic.twitter.com/HOaaNaHSaB  Basil  (@Basil_TGMD) November 6, 2024

What a disgusting picture. Why Latino voters would ever be attracted to such people is beyond me -- and to their credit, they aren't.

Trump is socially conservative, straightforward, and straight-talking, which tends to go over well in Latino cultures, particularly among the Mexicans, but heck, all of them -- think of the ferocious success of Javier Milei in Argentina, Alvaro Uribe in Colombia, Nayyib Bukele in El Salvador, or Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, all of whom who have been compared to Trump.

Straight-talking success like this:

All Democrats had to do is pick up the trash and arrest the criminals. Not too much to ask. https://t.co/fZSDyQH8Cu  Daniel Di Martino  (@DanielDiMartino) November 6, 2024

Trump also is business friendly, particularly to the little guy, and Latinos have a strong culture of small startup businesses.

As most are generally younger workers, Trump's record of promoting a good economy for jobs is important, too. Young people starting out in life full of big dreams don't want a lousy economy to greet them. White liberals, many employed in the public sector or in the universities, don't have a particular need for a good economy, given that they are largely immune from layoffs, but voters in the private sector most certainly do. That would make Trump an attractive candidate. Everyone remembers what Trump's economy was like.

Latinos also overlap with Catholic voters of all ancestries, and President Trump did a lot to court them -- going to the Al Smith dinner as Kamala stayed away (sending only a Catholic-mocking video instead), tweeting with images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which delights all Catholics, but especially Latino ones.

That affirmation of Latino Catholic culture works a lot better than yelling about racial grievances with a white liberal snowflake sensibility.

No wonder they went for Trump.

Just listening at all to Latino voters is important. At a recent townhall led by Harris, broadcast on Latino media, a young Latino Navy veteran asked her what she would do to improve health care, given that he waited two years to get an appointment for an MRI and gave up in frustration and went to Mexico for it instead.

Un veterano de la Armada dice a Kamala que espero dos anos para recibir atencion medica por una rodilla y opto por ir a Mexico a buscar a un especialista que le atendio en 45 minutos. Le pregunta que hara ella para mejorar esto.



Kamala: Creci en una familia de clase media... pic.twitter.com/DmFUBhtq0S  Emmanuel Rincon (@EmmaRincon) October 11, 2024

Not a word of sympathy from Kamala, who made her reply about being from a middle class background, which is all about herself. She completely ignored his question.

Meanwhile, the recent flips from blue to red seen in devastated border counties in Texas are also a strong signal that Latinos here are not fans of unvetted surges of immigration even if it's from their own former homelands. They don't like it -- the chaos, the impact on the public fisc and services, the crowded hospitals, the crazy drivers, the crime, the cleanup. In this regard, they react about the same as other Americans to this Biden-Harris-induced nightmare inflicted on them so that the latter can make the NGOs happy, can feel virtuous about themselves, and best of all, can replace the electorate. Their logic is to make the Latino voter pay for the collateral damage. Latino voters saw what they were doing.

Everyone hates this border surge culture, actually -- even beyond the U.S.:

Getting reports from Mexico that people are HAPPY that Trump won because they are tired of the caravans through their country.  Amy Reichert (@amyforsandiego) November 6, 2024

There's also this, brought up by young journalist Germania Poleo, who's a white liberal type, but with excellent street cred as a Venezuelan immigrant whose mother was a persecuted dissident journalist.

what Americans don't get is most of the migrants crossing the border are fleeing socialism and hate democrats. How to explain to a gringo that, actually, the entire tren de aragua would vote for him if they could??? https://t.co/h8zEb7Yuv7  Germania Rodriguez Poleo (@iamGermania) November 6, 2024

It's not all of them, but it's definitely a lot of them -- many Latino immigrants, including recent ones, detest socialism, having experienced it firsthand. She's wrong on the claim that Tren de Aragua would vote for Trump, given their ties to the narco-government of Venezuela, but she's right that many Venezuelans fleeing have had it with socialism -- as have many Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Colombians (who have dealt with Marxist narcoterrorism). They all hate socialism with a purple passion which easily revitalizes the U.S. as they become citizens and voters.

So now after all the insults and claims to racism, the left stands naked in its bafflement that Latino voters would not go for them. But the reasons Latinos dumped the Democrats are obvious enough to the rest of us. Leftists just don't listen.

Image: Twitter screen shot
Glorious, glorious comeuppance, and divine schadenfreude.

Mainstream media operatives at both CNN and The New York Times find themselves in a distraught state today because President Donald Trump still gets to vote in the election despite being a convicted felon.

And, its all thanks to a relatively new Democrat law, passed by New York progressives, which loosened up voting restrictions on those who have been convicted of a felony; as long as youre not incarcerated on voting day, youre permitted to cast a ballot! I personally dont believe being convicted of a felony should preclude a person from being able to voteI think it should be limited to biological men who own propertybut thats beside the point.

The rules do not apply to Trump, whines Times reporter Ali Watkins, while CNNs Tierney Sneed snivels in similar fashion:

While Florida generally makes it challenging for people in the state with felony convictions to regain their voting rights, former President Donald Trump will have no issue casting a ballot for himself today in Palm Beach.

As Sneed acknowledges, Trump is a resident of Florida, and when a resident of the state has been convicted elsewhere, Florida defers to the other states lawswhich in this case is New Yorkand ipso facto, the sham trial making Trump a convicted felon did nothing to derail him from his make America great again mission. Theyre fuming, and I love it.

Few things bother me as much as the convicted felon talking point, because its coming from the same slime creatures that literally worshiped a legitimately (and violent) convicted felon who died during an arrest from an illicit drug overdose after he tried to pass off fraudulent money. (Apparently George Floyd didnt get the memo that only the Federal Reserve and Treasury are allowed to pass off fake money as something of real value.)

Anyway, the New York law was sold as a progressive justice measure; heres this, from the ultra-left Brennan Center for Justice:

New Yorks disenfranchisement policy was rooted in Jim Crow-era attempts to evade the Fifteenth Amendments mandate that Black men be given the right to vote. And because of systemic racism in the criminal legal system, nearly three-quarters of New Yorkers who could not previously vote because they were on parole were Black or Latinx.

Its all so delightful because obviously, the law was meant to scrounge up more votes for Democrats, but it became the very vehicle by which Trump is still able to vote. How scrumptious!

Didnt the Democrats ever read Doctor Faustus by Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe? Seems like Quod me nutrit, me destruit is apropos; that big government they keep voting in is the very thing that will destroy them.

Image: Public domain.
Im starting a list, just to make sure that we dont forget anyone, containing the names of the celebrities who promised to off themselves or flee the U.S., in the event of a President Trump victory.

Well, for what are they waiting? Have at it you jackasses, time to get going! Also, where can I tune in to watch the festivities? I kid kind of.

First up is Rob Reiner, who said hed set himself on fire if Trump wins. Perhaps hed be so inclined to stage it in Washington D.C., maybe at the Internal Revenue Service building, burning it down too? Oh wait, thatll be handled by Trumps no tax on tips policy, or maybe even the elimination of federal income tax. Would Reiner be willing to self-immolate at the FDA or CDC? Never mind, thats what we have Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for! The ATF office? Yikes, how could I forget? J.D. Vance is handling that! As long as I get a front row seat to Reiners performance, Im not picky.

Next we have Stephen King, who declared that if Trump emerges victorious, he will throw himself in a woodchipper. Now, with all the rumors (and for libel purposes Im stressing rumors) flying around about Kings alleged sexual preference for and behaviors toward children, I cant help but wonder if there were an underlying message there. I mean, the woodchipper is the cliche execution method of choice for pedophiles and child molesters, finding its way into countless memes, like the one where the man wonders why his neighbor is putting logs into the pedo machine. Of all the ways to off yourself, why did King settle on that one? Did King just expose himself and signal guilt?

Then there was Bette Midler, who shared a picture to social media that showed a bottle of champagne next to a bottle of drain cleaner, with two sticky notes attached signaling which bottle to drink, contingent upon the outcome.

Nobody call poison control! (Midler has since deleted her entire X account.)

And I cant forget Bono, who promised us that he would drive off a cliff if things didnt go his waycould someone help the man out and please get him directions to Colorados Million Dollar Highway, or maybe Californias Pacific Coast Highway?

Do these celebs all have Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders in place? Fingers crossed!

As far as those who feel like theyll need to flee now that Trump is headed back to the White House, we can just assume its those on the Epstein and Diddy lists, and theyll be in the market for a place in a non-extraditable location. Good riddance.

If you havent noticed, Im a bit of a glutton for schadenfreude.

Image generated by AI.
In the past few weeks, we have seen:

Israel gut a terror organization that for decades was held up as one of most deadly fighting forces in the world, using methods that were incredibly subtle, technologically unparalleled, and strategically unrivalled. It will be a long, long time before Hezballah gets back on its feet again.

The Israelis also struck their major enemy, Iran, in air strikes that destroyed its air defense network, crippled its military, and left it open to further attack at Israels pleasure -- all spearheaded by an airplane dismissed as worthless by military analysts, without losing a single aircraft or pilot.

We have seen a metal gantry pluck a gigantic rocket booster out of the air as deftly as outfielder catching a ball and cradle it as gently as a nurse, without leaving a scratch on its surface while preserving it for future use.

And just yesterday, we witnessed the greatest political comeback in the historical record, in which a man defied and defeated virtually every corrupt institution in this country, from the government to the bureaucracy to the military to the deep state to the media to academia, humbling his enemies and astonishing the world in the process.

Make no mistake -- these are signs of a new epoch, one as different from the modern period as the Enlightenment was from the ages that preceded it. The frozen grip of the monster state, the dead hand of intellectual conformity, the ideologies of poverty and failure, are starting to fall away. The nightmare doctrines of collectivism, of political correctness, of wokism, are fading like dank mists under sunlight. The possibilities are endless. The road ahead of us stretches off into bright horizons. We need to set foot on it without fear or regret, to discover what awaits us at its end. I hope to see you all there.

Image: Pexels/Ronty Raj Zen
Many years ago, an Irish friend said to me that he couldnt imagine Americans voting away their liberty. Up until midnight, I wasnt sure he was rightand even then, it was close. Now, though, with Trumps victory cemented and Congress in Republican hands, I can breathe a sigh of relief. For at least two years and then (depending on the midterms) another two years, the U.S. will lean toward liberty and not tyranny. And its to be hoped that having been reminded what liberty is like, in 2028, voters will do it all over again.

So, how did yesterday happen and what comes next? A few thoughts.

First, how it happened:

One. Its a bad idea to run a campaign that explicitly demeans men. Anecdotal evidence shows that men turned out in huge numbers and that women under-performed for the Democrats.

Two. Its an equally bad idea to tell voters they must vote according to their skin color. Trump had Democrat-destroying numbers of votes from blacks and Hispanics, especially those demeaned men. Thats because no matter the intersectional blather, what matters to voters are the kitchen table issues: affordable prices, safe neighborhoods, and strong bordersand, for many, children who are not indoctrinated into weird sex. Minorities are not mindless, skin-colored voting blocs; they are individuals.

Three. Being the incumbent (which everyone knew Kamala was) doesnt work when Americans are unhappy. I read through many polls in the past month, and they all showed the same thing, regardless of which candidate was leading in the polled state: People hated the Harris-Biden economy, the open border, and the idea of transgenderism. Most distrusted Harris-Biden when it came to protecting American democracy. And a majority in all but one state polled were less well off than they had been four years ago, and they worried about their childrens futures.

An incumbent cannot easily win with an unhappy electorate, even a good, charismatic incumbent, which Kamala was not, which brings us to the next point.

Four. Kamal was an awful candidate. There was a reason she didnt win a single primary in 2020 and that the Democrat party made sure she wouldnt have to face a primary in 2024. Shes utterly fake, from the nervous cackle to the endless array of accents to the oozing sympathy she periodically displayed. Most obviously, her values were faked.

Kamalas record showed a hard leftist, but she hid that record, even while trying to code-talk to the base that the real Kamala was still there. Her inability to speak plainly meant that she disappointed Muslims, losing Michigan and Minnesota , while her clear bias in that direction (apparent from administration policies and unguarded statements on her part) frightened Jews, whom she lost across America.

You can only be all things to all people when you speak to the core values that unite them: Prosperity and security. Trump did that.

Five. The major last-minute endorsements Trump received (e.g., Joe Rogan, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, tech billionaire Mark Pincus) presaged Trumps victory because they showed three things: (1) These deeply connected people knew that Trump was going to win, (2) the stigma attached to supporting Trump had ended, and (3), if they were Jewish, like Pincus, they were increasingly terrified of a Kamala administration, fearing both that Israel would be destroyed and that the Jew-hatred at home would grow uncontrollably.

Six. Demeaning ordinary Americans as racist, homophobic garbage doesnt work, especially when youre openly replacing them with a new population you hope will be more compliant. Rather than running away and hiding in shame, the American people went to the polls.

Seven. Once he found his footing, Trump ran an ebullient, creative campaign that invited people in. He was the quintessential happy warrior and, speaking of warrior, one who had shown extraordinary physical courage in real battle.

Im sure Im missing things, but Im writing off the cuff, so this will have to do. Moving forward, here are the bad things we can expect in the short term:

One. Violence. In Democrat-run cities across America, businesses have been hiding their valuables and boarding up their windows. They didnt do this because they were worried that Kamala might win. They did this because history shows that the Democrat base gets violent when its disappointed or angry.

Two. Bad actors overseas may do bad things between now and Trumps inauguration. Unless Trump instantly makes it clear to them that the consequences of their actions will be stunning in their immensity, they may figure that its easier to act now and apologize later. I wouldnt be surprised to see Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Irans Mullahs, and other global troublemakers try to get away with power plays while the demented Biden is still in the White House.

And heres what I hope for a second Trump presidency, especially if the Republican Congress works with Trump, unlike the Republican Congress in 2016.

One. I want to see Mitch McConnell dethroned from his perch as the Senate majority leader. Hes a Uniparty guy and while Ill always be grateful that he kept Obama from appointing a Supreme Court justice, hes been nothing but disappointing since then.

Two. Our core institutions will remain untouched: The filibuster wont go away, the Supreme Court wont be packed, Puerto Rico and D.C. wont become states, the Equality Act, which would give special privileges to the LGBTQ+ crowd, wont become law, and so much more.

Three. Well have a border again, and this time, I think Congress will cooperate. In the polls we did, most respondents said that they think a military presence at the border and mass deportations of those already here are good ideas. Depriving illegal aliens of welfare benefits and cracking down on employers should encourage self-deportation. Also, I still like Trumps (apparently) joking idea about alligators at the border.

Four. The worlds bad actors will know that Trump is loaded for bear, and they will become quiescent.

Five. Trump will end the Ukraine War, and he will let Israel win against Irans proxies, which are also Americas enemies. Then, he will bring peace to the Middle East. Irans mullahs, one hopes, will be driven from power.

Six. Trump will unleash the American economy by making the American federal government smaller and less heavy-handed, especially when it comes to the lefts regulatory tyranny (e.g., climate change, race-based policing, etc.). I dont know if hell be able to get rid of the income tax, but at the very least, his tax breaks will not expire. Hell also corral Chinas trade depredations.

Seven. World peace.

Eight. Perhaps most importantly, Trump will use game theory against the Deep State. They changed the rules when they used lawfare to go after him and his supporters beginning in 2021. Trump needs to do the same to them, only much, much harder (and with exquisitely good legal and factual grounds). Once they are chastened, we can return the norms. This will also be an opportunity to do a real investigation into the 2020 election.

Again, Im sure theres more, but that list is a start.

Finally, we have three people who deserve special thanks.

Elon Musk, whose decision to purchase X allowed free speech in the American election. Scott Presler, whose registration efforts, especially in Pennsylvania, may have delivered the election to Trump. And Lara Trump, who did something Ronna McDaniel wouldnt have done: She had an army of poll watchers and lawyers on the ground quashing any voting and counting irregularities on election day.

November 5 was a great day, and I look forward to Donald Trump making America great again.

Image: YouTube screen grab (edited for clarity).
Apple Intelligence is the main selling point of the iPhone 16 series. Apple has opted for its suite of AI-powered features rather than big hardware improvements to attract the public. The company also struck a deal with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT functionality into iOS. Now, a new finding suggests that Apple will offer the option to subscribe to a paid ChatGPT plan from within Apple Intelligence settings.

Although ChatGPT is technically part of the Apple Intelligence suite, the Cupertino giant separated them into two distinct platforms. This is because Apples AI suite uses on-device processing, while ChatGPT relies on the cloud. So, when Apples AI is unable to complete a task, it will explicitly ask the user if they want to use ChatGPT. This design decision is for privacy, leaving it up to individuals to decide whether or not to use the internet.

Apple Intelligence settings include the option to subscribe to a paid ChatGPT plan in iOS 18.2 beta

ChatGPT is free to use, although there is a usage limit for the more advanced features. Users must subscribe to a paid plan to continue enjoying the best features of the chatbot once they reach the quota. As spotted by MacRumors, the latest iOS 18.2 beta integrates a new screen from which you can directly subscribe to ChatGPT Plus.

Under the ChatGPT extension settings, theres a new Daily Limit option. From there, you can monitor how much of the free quota for ChatGPTs advanced features youve utilized. Under the same option, theres now an Upgrade to ChatGPT Plus button that will take you to the subscription screen. For reference, ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month, offering access to the more advanced models and a much higher usage quota.

Its not yet clear whether Apple will force you to use its payment platform for the subscription. In that case, the Cupertino giant will take a 30% cut, potentially raising the final price. OpenAI and Apple have a deal for the integration of ChatGPT, so there might not be a fee. However, there has been no confirmation on that front yet. In the recent past, insiders revealed that the deal between both companies was not for money but for ChatGPTs exposure.

Apple Intelligence will also be paid in the future

AI-powered features on mobile devices wont always be free, neither on Android. Both Samsung and Apple will start charging a fee for the most advanced options in the coming years. Industry experts estimate that Apple could charge up to $20 a month for it. So, in the worst scenario, Apple fans may have to pay $40 a month for a full, unlimited AI experience.
Actor Kim Jae-young feels that his performance in the drama The Judge from Hell may be the turning point of his career after over a decade of working as an actor.

Kim sat down with Newsen at a cafe in Gangnam on Nov. 5 to talk about the success of the show that has changed his life.

Kim expressed, "I am so glad the show did well," he beamed. "From the first rehearsal, I knew this story was something special, and it felt amazing to be a part of it," he added.

Nielsen Korea's national household data showed the fantasy-action series The Judge from Hell, a work by Jo Yi-soo and Park Jin-pyo, ended on Nov. 2, achieving its highest rating of 13.6 percent.

In the drama, Kim's character, detective Han Da-on, and Park Shin-hye's demon judge, Kang Bit-na, live in a hellish world where they must bring justice while ideas of good and evil are also considered.

This series marks Kim's first venture into the fantasy genre, which he found enticing and intriguing. Kim stated, "I wanted to see what the revenge and courtroom scenes would look like on-screen.

You do find yourself wanting to watch it anyway," he said while crediting the show for its fast-moving plot.

Looking back on the character he never expected audiences to love, Kim said fans relate to him.

He chuckled. "People were like, 'What a cute little puppy. When my character returned after his death in Episode 2, people on social media joked that they wished I stayed away from the main plot," he said.

The actor noted that the mood on set was tense, but this also made it inspiring. He added, "It was also the director's first drama, so there was pressure, especially since it followed his successful previous show, Good Partner.

Our goal was for more than 10 percent, and some scenes took days to film. It felt like a lengthy camp experience."

Kim stated, "I had worked on other projects before this one, but being part of a highly-rated show is a new experience for me. I've always dreamed of being in a double-digit drama, and finally being in one is incredible."

The success of his new drama has drawn many more fans' attentions recently, with people stopping Kim on the street and friends reaching out to tell him they watched it, Kim said.

"The entire drama was watched by even my parents, which is something new," he added.

The success of The Judge from Hell allows Kim Jae-young to dream big and take chartered steps over the course of his career, saying he considers the drama a "turning point. Kim noted, "Maybe I finally made it."

What can you say about the story? Share your comments below.

Kdramastars own this.

This article was written by:

Rovelyn Barba
Corning, the maker of Gorilla Glass, is under EU investigation. The European Commission has alleged that Corning is misusing its dominant position to keep competing players out of the market.

EU opens investigation into Gorilla Glass makers business practices

The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into Cornings business practices. The EU has opinioned that Corning has broken antitrust rules.

Regarding the just-opened investigation, EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said, We are investigating if Corning, a major producer of this special glass, may have tried to exclude rival glass producers, thereby depriving consumers of cheaper and more break-resistant glass.

The EU has essentially alleged that Corning has used its dominant position in the market to ensure device manufacturers do not go to its competitors. In other words, Corning allegedly entered into exclusive sourcing obligations with device makers. These contractors essentially obligated manufacturers to source all of nearly all of their glass from Corning.

Corning may not have forced companies to source protective glass from the company. However, the company allegedly offered rebates for exclusivity deals. The EU has also reportedly alleged that the Gorilla Glass maker, forced device makers to report on competitive offers and only accept them if Corning failed to price match.

Will Corning face a hefty fine from the EU?

The European Commission has been increasingly going after tech giants. Be it Apple, Meta, or Google, the EU has opened multiple antitrust and anti-competition investigations. The aforementioned tech companies are facing hefty fines under multiple laws.

Theres little doubt about Gorilla Glass being the de facto and most popular choice for device makers. Developed over several years of research, Gorilla Glass offers additional protection against scratches, bumps, and drops.

There are a few other companies that offer protective glass for devices. However, big companies usually opt for the latest iteration of Gorilla Glass as it also helps in marketing. The EU reportedly suspects Corning may have signed contracts that indirectly force device makers to stay with the company. If the EU finds Corning guilty, it will slap a substantial fine on the company. The Gorilla Glass maker would have the opportunity to appeal the decision and contest the fine.
Apple may soon be facing a hefty fine from the EU over its App Store policies. It would be the first time the iPhone maker will be penalized under the EUs Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Apple to be the first company penalized under the EUs DMA for its App Store policies

Apple was declared guilty of enforcing steering policies on its App Store by the EU earlier this year. The European Commission also started a new investigation into Apples lackluster support for alternative iOS marketplaces in Europe.

The EU alleged Apple is undermining alternative iOS app stores. However, Apple is to face a hefty fine under the EUs DMA, Blomberg has reported. This would make Apple the first company to face financial penalties under the DMA.

The Commission is gearing up to levy the penalty after it found that Apples anti-steering practices harmed competition on the App Store. Simply put, the EU concluded Apple does not wholly support the concept of allowing developers to guide or point users to cheaper purchases outside the App Store. EU deemed this behavior illegal under the DMA back in March.

How much fine Apple may have to pay the EU?

Incidentally, it is not just Apple that is facing heat or steep fines from the EU. Other tech giants such as Google and Meta are also under scrutiny, and they are facing some very hefty fines.

Back when Spotify had complained to the EU, the latter had slapped a 1.84 billion (about $2 billion) fine on Apple over its App Store policies. Incidentally, Spotifys complaint about Apples anti-steering practices predates the DMA.

Currently, Apple is facing fresh proceedings into the companys support for alternative iOS and iPadOS app stores. The EU has objected to Apples Core Technology Fee, its eligibility requirements for developers, and also its outlook towards third-party accessories. Additionally, the EU continues to allege Apple hasnt made it easy for iPhone users to switch to third-party marketplaces.

The DMA rules state companies can be charged up to 10 percent of annual global revenue and up to 20 percent for repeat offenses. This reportedly translates to a $38 billion fine. Apple is yet to comment on the development. However, Apple would most likely contest whatever amount the EU decides.
Samsung stepped into the wearable industry with its first smartwatch over a decade ago. However, this year the South Korean tech giant stepped up a little bit more with the launch of its first smart ring, the Galaxy Ring (Review), which had a great reception from the public. Thats not all, Samsung is already working on the Galaxy Ring 2, which reportedly could come early next year with several improvements.

Tipster claims the Galaxy Ring 2 is coming earlier than originally planned

Late last month, a leaked Samsung patent hinted that the Galaxy Ring 2 could have a resizing structure. Now, a Korean tipster, Lanzuk (@yeux1122), has spilled some details about the upcoming Galaxy Ring 2 on Naver.

According to the tipsters post, Samsung could launch the Galaxy Ring 2 a bit earlier than originally planned. However, the Korean blogger hasnt mentioned any launch window yet. Samsung announced the original Galaxy Ring in January before it launched at the July Unpacked event. Given the claim, we can expect Samsung to launch the next iteration in the first half of 2025.

Apart from the early launch, the tipster adds that the Galaxy Ring 2 might come with a bunch of improvements. According to him, the next Galaxy Ring could feature a thinner design, longer battery life, and more unspecified features. Its worth noting that the Korean tipster has a good track record with Samsung-related leaks. Still, we want you to take these details with a grain of salt.

Claims about Apple Ring still in development

Besides the next Galaxy Ring, the tipster has made some claims related to some wearable devices Apple is working on. He adds that Apple is still working on a device that he calls a ring-type wearable in his blog post. There are claims made about band-type and smart glass-type wearables in the works.

We cant confirm whether these details are accurate because the popular Apple insider, Mark Gurman, had previously hinted that Apple has no plans to launch a smart ring. Time will tell if well see a smart ring from Apple. But, one thing is sure, the Galaxy Ring 2 is definitely coming.
In October, the FBI and CISA confirmed that they were investigating a potential hack of telecommunications infrastructure in the US. The hack sought private data from presidential candidates and close staff. However, a new report claims that hackers enabled vast spying from vulnerable telecom equipment, potentially affecting thousands of Americans.

Chinese telecom hackers reportedly enabled vast spying, potentially affecting thousands of Americans

Following confirmation by US authorities, a report by The New York Times revealed that the main target of the hack was the phones of Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Kamala Harris campaign staff. According to investigators, the Chinese hacking group is known as Salt Typhoon. They may have gained access to call and SMS records in their search for confidential data.

The Wall Street Journal now reports that the spying may have affected potentially thousands of Americans. According to the source, the hacking group could be linked to a Chinese intelligence agency. Plus, the breachs scope may have extended beyond the campaign staff of US politicians. It could have affected all those who were ever in contact with them at some point. The spying could have lasted for about eight months, the report states.

Calls and SMS logs of thousands of people would have been at the mercy of hackers

Salt Typhoon appears to have focused exclusively on high-profile US politicians and close staff. However, the methods they used gave them the ability to access the phone data of virtually any American who is a customer of a compromised carrier  a group that includes AT&T and Verizon. Basically, the hacking group compromised specific routers from which they had access to telecommunications records of any mobile device with an antenna that connected to it.

Its noteworthy that the report does not claim that the data of thousands of users was stolen by the hackers. However, it was entirely within the groups power to do so if they wanted to, which is worrying news. AT&T has already confirmed data breach incidents in the recent past. So, another one could damage even more its brand image. There is still no official word on the matter from either of the two mobile carriers involved.
There has been a lot of buzz about Huawei and the companies it has been dealing with these days. TSMC is one such name that has been under the radar of the US government over dealings with Huawei. Now, a new report suggests a Republican lawmaker has urged the US government to start an investigation on the Chinese chipmaker SMIC over its possible dealing with Huawei.

Republican lawmaker demands investigation on SMIC over its dealing with Huawei

It seems authorities have become more vigilant following the recent discovery of TSMCs chip in Huaweis products. However, Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, believes that the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) hasnt acted on reports of Huaweis constant effort to evade US trade sanctions.

In a letter seen by Reuters, McCaul demanded the Commerce Department should launch an investigation on SMIC. He wants the Commerce Department to visit the SMIC facility and check if the company illegally manufacturing AI and smartphone chips for Huawei.

A part of his letter to BIS reads There is growing evidence that SMIC is violating U.S. export control laws. He adds that if China denies agreeing to a comprehensive audit of all SMIC facilities and its books, BIS should pause all existing licenses for SMIC.

China says US politicians are overstretching things unnecessarily

McCaul believes SMIC has been shipping its advanced chip to be used in Huaweis smartphones. One such example of this is the use of SMIC-produced Kirin 9000s 5G (7nm) chip in Huawei Mate 60 Pro. Additionally, he expects SMIC to produce over a million AI chips for Huawei. McCaul says that this could help China to surpass the US in artificial intelligence.

The Chinese embassy in Washington has recently responded to these allegations via a statement. In a nutshell, the statement hints that certain US politicians are unnecessarily stretching the concept of national security. Moreover, the Chinese embassy also states that they are politicizing trade issues to pressure tech firms in China.
Samsung announced a new foldable quite recently, but only in Korea. That devices name is Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, and the phone has just launched in its second market, with a brand new name.

The Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition has a brand new name in China

Its called the Samsung W25 in China, and it launched alongside the Samsung W25 Flip. These two phones are based on the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition and Galaxy Z Flip 6, respectively. They come with a gold-colored Armor Aluminum frame, while the rest of them is black-colored.

Needless to say, the Samsung W25 is the more interesting phone here, as its based on the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. Its not the exact copy, though. In other words, the golden frame is not the only difference between them.

Its name is not the only thing thats different

The Samsung W25 does weigh 19 grams more than the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition (236 grams), which means it weighs 255 grams. Why? Well, because of its ceramic back that is not included on the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition.

Not many people would agree to this tradeoff, as foldables should be as light as possible, but there you go. That ceramic back is not used on the Samsung W25 Flip,t hoguh, so theres no weigh difference, really.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC fuels both of these smartphones. The Samsung W25 comes with 16GB of RAM and either 512GB or 1TB of storage. The Samsung W25 Flip includes 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Both the Samsung W25 and W25 Flip are water and dust resistant

Theyre both IP48-rated for water and dust resistance. The Samsung W25 includes a 4,400mAh battery, while the Samsung W25 Flip has a 4,000mAh battery. 25W wired charging is supported by both smartphones.

The Samsung W25 also includes a 200-megapixel main camera, which is backed by a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit, and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom). The Samsung W25 Flip, on the other hand, has a 50-megapixel main camera, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit.

Android 14 comes out of the box

Android 14 comes pre-installed on both phones with One UI 6.1.1. Stereo speakers are included on both, and the same goes for a side-facing fingerprint scanner, Bluetooth 5.3, and so on.

The price tags have not been announced just yet. The Samsung W25 pricing is expected to start at CNY16,999 ($2,400), while the Samsung W25 Flips pricing is expected to start at CNY9,999 ($1,400).
Five months after it was released, EXO D.O. and Lee Young Ji have been confirmed to perform one of 2024's biggest collab hits "Small Girl" at the KGMA.

Ahead of the 2024 Korea Grand Music Awards on November 16 to 17, its committee announced the special stages that spectators will witness during the launch of the newly-established ceremony.

In particular, KGMA will be held at the Inspire Arena in Incheon and will feature a total of 30 teams showing 100 legendary stages with the theme of the "Birth of the Galaxy."

Special stages prepared exclusively for the show will also take place, including the much-awaited collab stage of Do Kyungsoo (D.O.) and Lee Young Ji.

In June, the two stars worked together for the song "Small Girl," which gained huge popularity in both Korean and international music charts, even topping MelOn Hot 100.

At the time, not only Young Ji and D.O.'s combined skills were lauded by fans, but their unexpected chemistry as virtual lovers on the song's official music video earned traction.

Initially, the "Small Girl" collab stage was only seen by EXO-Ls and Dandanies (fandoms) as D.O. invited Young Ji to attend his concert.

READ ALSO: EXO D.O. and Lee Young Ji's Ship Is Taking Over TikTok With Their Unscripted Flirting

But this time, the two will reveal the official "Small Girl" collaboration stage for the first time at the awards ceremony, and it is already arousing the excitement of K-pop fandom with their extraordinary chemistry and sweetness.

In addition to the duo, (G)I-DLE is also expected to perform its controversial track "Wife" during the ceremony, along with ZB1 and SHINee Taemin who are set to showcase performances that are yet to be seen in other events.

RELATED ARTICLE: EXO DO & Lee Young Ji Spark Wild Frenzy with Kiss in Latest MV

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dela Cruz
Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway was inspired by Sabrina Carpenter when she pleaded with young voters to Please Please Please remain in queues to cast their vote in the US election.

The Oscar-winner has performed a rendition of Carpenters hit 2024 song to students stuck in crazy long lines at University campuses  particularly in swing state Pennsylvania.

Putting on a pair of sunglasses, Hathaway said in a video posted on Instagram: And I just wanted to say if you are on a line right now: Please, please, please stay on the line, she sang.

She continued with the adapted verses: Voting is magic but also annoying, you waited out this long, lets make it not boring, Oh please, please, please, hold the line.

The Princess Diaries actress, 41, pleaded with students in the caption on her social media post, writing: Whoa hearing there are massively long lines at colleges and universities everywhere but especially in Pennsylvania.

Please stay in line!

Please let @joytothepolls & @pizzatothepolls know where youre at and theyll try to get you some pizza and music- democracy must be fed (and needs a beat).

MOST IMPORTANTLY if you are in line before the polls close, stay in line, even after closing time.

Polls will stay open until everyone in that line has voted! These are your rights! Thank you voters!

On polling day, Carpenter was among the famous faces encouraging US citizens to vote today on her Instagram story.

Please please please, vote today. Its time to make your voice heard.
Boris Johnson has been fired for banging on about his book during a guest appearance on Channel 4s coverage of the US election, according to the programmes co-host Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

The former UK prime minister was told off for holding up his memoir and plugging it just minutes into the live programme titled America Decides: US Presidential Election.

Channel 4 newsreader Guru-Murthy told Mr Johnson to put it away and stop it, enough as he twice referenced his new book and attempted to hold it up to viewers.

Channel 4 News presenter, Krishnan Guru-Murthy (Matt Alexander Media Assignments/PA)

Guru-Murthy described the former prime ministers actions as so cheap.

Mr Johnson retorted: Theres absolutely nothing you can do to stop me Im allowed to plug my book.

Later during the panel discussion, Mr Johnson said he met with former US president and Republican nominee Donald Trump after his attempted assassination in July.

In case I failed to mention this, I am promoting my book Unleashed, and I had a talk with him about Ukraine, he said.

When asked about following in Mr Trumps footsteps regarding a political comeback if he was to win the presidential election, Mr Johnson said: The answer is obviously contained in Unleashed where youll find the full discussion of this subject.

"I have a problem with it." Boris Johnson tells @maitlis he disagrees with Donald Trump's election denialism in the 2020 US election. Watch #C4AmericaDecides NOW on @channel4 until 6am pic.twitter.com/Q4fuMmvvEB  Channel 4 (@Channel4) November 5, 2024

Co-host Emily Maitlis told him: We are not all going to read your book, so just tell us, do you want to have a political comeback. You cant actually answer a single question.

Mr Johnson responded: By the way Emily Ive answered all your questions all night. Currently I am blissfully engaged promoting my book Unleashed, available in all good book stores.

After being challenged, Mr Johnson claimed: Here is Channel 4 news, run by Ian Katz, sitting here doing the same old stunt that you tried in 2004 taking a massively skewed approach to a US election.

Im not standing for election here.

Later in the programme, Mr Johnson was replaced on the Channel 4 panel by Michael Cohen  who served as a lawyer to former president Mr Trump.

Guru-Murphy told viewers: Boris Johnson has been fired for banging on about his book.

It was not clear whether Mr Johnsons exit from the programme had been planned or if he had departed early.

Mr Johnson has been promoting his new memoir titled Unleashed after it was released last month (Danny Lawson/PA)

Mr Johnson, 60, has been promoting his new memoir titled Unleashed after it was released last month.

The 784-page book looks back on Mr Johnsons time as prime minister  from 2019 to 2022  including Brexit and the Covid pandemic.

Channel 4 newsreader Guru-Murthy is at the helm of the channels first overnight US election programme since 1992 alongside former Newsnight presenter Maitlis.

Political pundits, and a number of famous faces including Mr Johnson, joined the hosts in the Washington DC studio as the American public decides whether Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or Mr Trump becomes president.

Guests on the programme include Republican supporter and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner, and Stormy Daniels, the woman at the centre of Mr Trumps hush money trial following an affair between the two.

A representative for Channel 4 has been contacted for comment.
A woman who has accused Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor of raping her has told a court she thought she would never see her young daughter again when the MMA star was choking her.

Nikita Ni Laimhin, who is also known as Nikita Hand, is claiming civil damages against Mr McGregor and another man, alleging she was sexually assaulted in December 2018.

Ms Ni Laimhin has accused Mr McGregor of pinning her to a bed and raping her in a hotel in Dublin.

On her second day of giving evidence to the High Court in Dublin, she said that, as she was being attacked, she froze and couldnt move or breathe.

Ms Ni Laimhin broke down several times as she gave evidence and sought a number of breaks.

Nikita Ni Laimhin, who is also known as Nikita Hand, is claiming civil damages against mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and another man over an alleged sexual assault in December 2018 (Brian Lawless/PA)

The court heard that Ms Ni Laimhin had to leave her job as a hairdresser and has not been able to work since due to her mental health, that her relationship with her partner ended months after the alleged incident, she had to move out of her home in Drimnagh, and her mortgage is now in arrears.

She also told the court she had to stop seeing a counsellor because she could no longer afford to pay for the sessions.

The court also heard that she has spent more than 4,000 euro on GP, pharmacy and psychotherapist costs.

The mother-of-one was left with extensive bruises and abrasions over her body, including purple and blue bruising along her hands and wrists, a bloodied scratch to her breast and tenderness to her neck after she was placed in a choke-hold by Mr McGregor, the court was told.

The court previously heard that lawyers for Mr McGregor will say that what took place between him and Ms Ni Laimhin  who has no automatic right to anonymity  was consensual.

Ms Ni Laimhin had been at the hotel with Mr McGregor, second defendant James Lawrence, her friend and a number of the MMA stars security guards in December 2018.

James Lawrence is accused along with mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor over the alleged incident in a Dublin hotel (Brian Lawless/PA)

In response to questions from John Gordon SC, her defence barrister, Ms Ni Laimhin said she was disappointed and upset that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to prosecute both defendants after she made a complaint to the Irish police.

In a letter sent to Ms Ni Laimhin in August 2020, the DPP said there was insufficient evidence and there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction.

Ms Ni Laimhin asked the DPP to review the decision, saying she felt she was being treated differently because one of the suspects was a famous person.

On the second day of her evidence, Ms Ni Laimhin struggled as she described how Mr McGregor had pinned her to the bed in the hotel and pressed his whole body weight on her.

Visibly shaking, she apologised to the court, saying she was upset.

She said Mr McGregors body weight was on top of her and she could not breathe.

She said she had held up both hands and was trying to get away from him, but the more she struggled, the more he appeared to like it.

Im trying my best, Im really sorry, she told the court.

The only thing I could move was my head. I bit him but I cant remember where. He didnt like it so he flipped me around and put his arm around my neck and choked me.

She added: Im really struggling with this. I am sorry.

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor claims what took place between him and Nikita Ni Laimhin was consensual (Brian Lawless/PA)

Following a break, she told the court she had been standing against the bed and Mr McGregor had tried to come on to her.

She said she told him she wasnt there for that.

He pinned me to the bed and I held my hands to my chest and he put his whole body weight on top of me and I couldnt breathe, she said.

The only thing I could move was my head and I bit him and tried my best to get away from him. I tried to shove him and wiggle and do whatever I could.

I remember biting really hard and then his arms were around me and choking me.

I was trying to fight as much as I could. He put his arm around my neck and choked me three times.

I just froze and I couldnt move or breathe and I kept looking at the bedpost and thinking of my daughter.

I just kept thinking I would die and not see my daughter again.

He let me go and I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldnt tell anyone so he wouldnt hurt me again.

Then he said thats how he felt when he was in the Octagon and had to tap out three times. I thought it was such a weird thing to say.

I promised I wouldnt tell anybody anything.

Then I just let him do whatever he needed to do so I could survive. My mind was completely gone and I wasnt myself anymore.

He was really aggressive and pulling at my clothes and shoving my head down to do things and I kept pulling my head back.

He was trying to push my head down to his penis but I pushed my head back.

He was pulling my clothes down. He then raped me. I felt like it was going on for ages.

She paused to add: Im finding it really hard. I am sorry.

Nikita Ni Laimhin struggled while giving evidence at the High Court in Dublin and had to take several breaks (Niall Carson/PA)

Ms Ni Laimhin went on: Then it was over. It was done.

When he was raping me I was completely numb. I didnt feel anything. I completely froze.

She said she fell asleep on the bed in the hotel room and woke up later in a panic and went to find her phone in her bag.

Mr McGregors barrister Remy Farrell put it to Ms Ni Laimhin that she had deceived her then partner by telling him a lie about where she was.

The court was told that Ms Ni Laimhin texted her partner on the evening of December 9 saying she was at the Goat Grill in south Dublin with friends.

Ms Ni Laimhin said she did not want to tell him where she was or who she was with because she didnt want to worry him.

Earlier on Wednesday, the court heard that the group had all left the hotel room, with Mr McGregor leaving with Ms Ni Laimhins friend, but she returned to the room with Mr Lawrence, where she saw the bruises on her body and broke down.

She told the court that she told Mr Lawrence: You all turn a blind eye to what Conor does to women.

After showing him the bruises on her body, she claimed he said: I cant believe you were in that room and I was here while that was happening to you.

Ms Ni Laimhin said she was shocked when she learned that Mr Lawrence had claimed the pair of them had consensual sex in the hotel room.

She told the court she thought he was being nice to her and looking out for her.

On Wednesday afternoon, the jury was shown CCTV footage of the group arriving and leaving the hotel at around 6pm on Sunday, December 9.

Footage shows Ms Ni Laimhin and Mr Lawrence going back into the hotel and then leaving by taxi shortly before 10.30pm.

Ms Ni Laimhin told the court she has no memory of any of the footage which was played.

The case continues.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump have shifted from critics to unlikely allies over the span of one election cycle.

The Tesla and SpaceX boss was one of the biggest donors to Republican Party causes over this election campaign, and joined the former presidents watch party at his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on Tuesday evening.

But the pair have not always enjoyed such a cordial relationship.

Mr Musk, who became a US citizen in 2002, described himself as a moderate Democrat until recently but became a vocal critic of the party during the Biden administration.

In 2022, the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive said they had become the party of division & hate and confirmed he would shift to voting Republican.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day (AP/Evan Vucci)

But he remained critical of Mr Trump, tweeting in July 2022: I dont hate the man, but its time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset.

He followed this up by saying there would be too much drama if Mr Trump tried to run for the White House again, adding: Do we really want a bull in a china shop situation every single day!?

The former president accused Mr Musk of lying to him about who he had voted for in the previous presidential election  a claim the tech entrepreneur denied.

And although Mr Musk told a New York Times interviewer in 2023 that he would not vote for Mr Biden, he stopped short of endorsing Mr Trump, saying: This is definitely a difficult choice here.

Mr Musk lifted the ban on the former presidents Twitter account after successfully buying the company in 2022 and changing its name to X.

He later formally endorsed Mr Trump two days after his assassination attempt in July 2024.

He went on to undertake much of the get-out-the-vote effort for Mr Trump through his political organisation, America PAC, which can raise and spend unlimited sums of money.

Mr Musks father Errol Musk said this shift in opinion came as a result of his son seeing common sense.

He told TalkTVs US Election 2024 programme: Ive been telling him for many years that he should support Donald Trump. He didnt listen to me in the beginning.

He was quite upset about the idea in the beginning  more than upset. He was very anti-Trump a few years ago and hes changed now.

He in fact is doing what I would be doing if I was his age. I would be doing what hes doing.

Common sense (changed his mind). He saw what was happening and he didnt realise it before that you cant put government in the hands of people who have no knowledge of business and no knowledge of running anything simply because they were elected by a so-called democratic majority of similar people.

No, you need proper people who know what theyre doing.

Youve got to have people like Trump with a business mind. Running a country is a business. Its nothing else.

Its simply a gigantic business operation and youve got to have people like that running the country. Not people who havent got a clue what theyre doing.

Mr Trump previously said he would create a government efficiency commission to audit the entire federal government, an idea suggested by Mr Musk  who would lead it.

When asked whether he could see his son working in government, Mr Musk said: I do actually. I think Trump has actually said so.

The problem is Elons time is very, very limited. But I imagine he would find time 

I certainly see Elon very much involved with Trump in getting the United States back to the country that it was and away from the insanity that has been ruling it in recent times.
An organ donation campaigner has said he will continue to call for children to be signed up as donors, as his sons six-year wait for a new heart goes on.

Mairtin Mac Gabhann, who has been campaigning for changes to organ donation laws in Northern Ireland for several years, was made an MBE at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

His seven-year-old son Daithi, from Belfast, was born with the rare hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).

Mairtin Mac Gabhann holding his son Daithi (Liam McBurney/PA)

I am thankful he is and has been stable for a while now, said Mr Mac Gabhann.

With his condition, stability is the best thing we can ask for.

He has been waiting for a heart for six years and while he waits he will gradually get worse.

Last June, Daithis Law came into effect, bringing Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK as it meant most adults are now automatically considered potential organ donors.

Adults are now deemed to have given consent as a potential organ donor after their death unless they choose to opt out or are in an excluded group.

Daithi Mac Gabhann with his father Mairtin outside the Parliament Buildings in Stormont (Liam McBurney/PA)

While Mr Mac Gabhann is proud of this change, he continues to campaign to encourage families to join the organ donors register with their children.

It can be a very emotive and difficult conversation involving children but we want to normalise it, said Mr Mac Gabhann.

It is the only thing that will save Daithis life.

On continuing to campaign, Mr Mac Gabhann said: We now want to put pressure on government to continue with public awareness campaigns which we know make such a difference.

We will continue to put pressure on our government to do more.
Dawn Sturgesss chances of survival were vanishingly small after almost 10 minutes passed without CPR treatment following her cardiac arrest, a medical expert has told an inquiry looking into her fatal poisoning by Novichok.

The 44-year-old died on July 8 2018 after she was exposed to the nerve agent, which was left in a discarded perfume bottle in Amesbury, Wiltshire.

Her death followed the attempted murders of former spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and then-police officer Nick Bailey, who were poisoned in nearby Salisbury in March 2018.

All three survived, as did Ms Sturgesss boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, who had unwittingly given her the bottle containing the killer nerve agent.

The inquiry in central London heard on Wednesday that the cause of Ms Sturgesss death was a hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury as a result of cardio-respiratory arrest caused by nerve agent poisoning.

Hypoxia in the brain is caused by a lack of oxygen and ischaemia by a lack of blood flow.

Dr Jasmeet Soar, who works in intensive care medicine and is a consultant at Bristols Southmead Hospital, explained that the effects of Novichok, if not treated rapidly, can lead to a vicious circle of the muscles getting weaker including muscles in the chest and diaphragm which are the mechanisms by which we breathe.

He said failing to breathe leads to falling blood and brain oxygen levels which can result in unconsciousness and eventually in the heart stopping beating.

Once the heart stops beating, the brain is starved of oxygen and is dying very slowly, the doctor continued.

Mr Rowley found his girlfriend in the bath with no water and described her as being unresponsive, looking unwell and having seizures or breathing difficulty, Dr Soar said, making reference to Mr Rowleys interviews.

The doctor told the inquiry Mr Rowley called an ambulance at about 10.14am, and said he had listened to a recording of the call.

In the background of the call while hes talking you can hear quite noisy breathing and that then gets gradually slower and slower to the point it stops at about 10.20am, Dr Soar said.

He believes Ms Sturgess was in cardiac arrest by about 10.20am/10.21am, the inquiry heard.

Dr Soar said: We know in Dawn Sturgesss case Charlie Rowley did some chest compressions but we dont know how many and how effective they were, they may have got a little bit of blood flow.

The tape ends at about 10.29am, we know that by 10.29am shes not had any CPR done. When you listen to the tape recording there is no CPR until some time after that tape ends.

So we know that she had about eight or nine minutes of no treatment for her cardiac arrest and thats quite important because once cardiac arrest occurs your chances of survival are fairly minimal.

By about nine minutes with no CPR youre getting to a vanishingly small chance of survival.

Dr Soar estimated that Ms Sturgesss brain was deprived of oxygen for between 31-37 minutes by the time her heartbeat was restored.

I think for a cardiac arrest that was caused by the breathing stopping thats a significant duration and sufficient to cause a severe irreversible hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury, he said.

The consultant quoted figures saying the survival rate for people treated by English ambulance services in 2018 who had cardiac arrests and had the same heart rhythm seen in Ms Sturgesss case was 1.6%.

He said Ms Sturgesss chances would be significantly less than that 1.6%, saying the figure included people who had primary cardiac arrests  rather than secondary ones that came about as a result of respiratory arrest  and people who became unwell in public places where more bystanders could help.

Dr Soar went through the three brain scans that Ms Sturgess received once in hospital which showed she had a global injury to her brain, meaning an injury that affects her whole brain.

He said the first scan showed subtle signs of hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury but the second and third identified a devastating brain injury.

His opinion after the second scan, performed on July 6, was that there was no possibility of Dawn Sturgess surviving.

Dr Soar explained Ms Sturgess was likely the only victim of the poisonings who had a cardiac arrest because she was probably exposed to a relatively large dose of Novichok compared to Mr Rowley and the Skripals.

He told the inquiry that, according to Mr Rowleys interviews, Ms Sturgess sprayed the perfume onto her wrists whereas he spilt some on his hands which he then washed.

Unfortunately she unwittingly applied it in a deliberate manner and sprayed it on herself on her wrists as opposed to had accidental or a more touch type contact with it, Dr Soar said.

He also said she likely would have inhaled aerosol components of the agent.

The inquiry continues.
The Prime Ministers ethics adviser will be able to launch investigations into ministerial wrongdoing without seeking the consent of Sir Keir Starmer, new Government documents have confirmed.

An update to the Ministerial Code published on Wednesday removed in writing the ability for the Prime Minister to veto investigations considered by the independent adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus.

The new version of the Code removed text that said the Prime Minister will normally give consent for investigations, but reserved the right to raise concerns about an investigation such that the Independent Adviser does not proceed if there are public interest reasons for doing so.

The Code now states that that where the Independent Adviser believes that an alleged breach of the Code warrants further investigation and that matter has not already been referred to them, they may initiate an investigation after notifying the Prime Minister.

Ministers are expected to provide the Independent Adviser with all information reasonably necessary for the discharge of their role.

In its election manifesto, Labour had pledged to give the office of the independent adviser the powers to start investigations into misconduct and ensure they have access to the evidence they need.

Taylor Swift performing on stage (Jane Barlow/PA)

There is also advice in the code for ministers who may accept hospitality, tightening up previous rules and making mention of ministers families.

The code states that ministers should not accept gifts or hospitality which could compromise their judgment or place them under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence their work in government.

The same principle applies to members of their family.

Previously the code had said that ministers should not accept any gift or hospitality which might, or might reasonably appear to, compromise their judgement or place them under an improper obligation.

Ministers are also told that they should be mindful of the publics confidence in Government standards when making decisions about whether to accept gifts or hospitality.

Earlier in the autumn, senior politicians including Sir Keir Starmer were caught up in a row over free tickets to Taylor Swifts Eras Tour and the role the Government had over relevant security arrangements.

It emerged that the Prime Minister and his family met the pop star and her mother at one of the gigs in London over the summer.

It came after it was reported that London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper were involved in talks over security for the concerts after which Swift was granted a blue-light escort, a type of protection usually reserved for royalty and politicians.

A foreword to the code by Sir Keir said that the code sets out the higher standards that the British people expect and that ministers must now follow.

The British people have lost faith in its ability to change their lives for the better.

For a long time, they have looked at the conduct of politicians in Westminster and not seen the high standards of public service they expect or deserve, the Prime Minister added.

Sir Laurie has been the independent adviser since December 2022, when he was appointed by then-prime minister Rishi Sunak.
Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill has said she wishes US President-elect Donald Trump well in the role.

However the Sinn Fein vice-president declined to say if she would accept any future invitation to meet him and emphasised her focus with any US administration is its role in the peace process and the situation in Gaza.

During Mr Trumps last service in the White House in February 2017 Ms ONeill said would not have invited him to Northern Ireland if she was in the Executive Office at that time.

Asked about that statement by media in Cookstown on Wednesday and whether she would go to Washington DC to meet him, Ms ONeill said: The election result has just been announced and we are where we are.

US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office during his previous term as president. (PA)

The American people have voted and they have voted for President Trump. I wish him well in his new role.

She added: My priority when it comes to engaging with the American administration, as it always has been, is the role that they play in terms of our peace process here and in particular protection of the Good Friday Agreement but also given everything that is happening in the Middle East and the genocide in Gaza, that would be my strong engagement with any American administration.

But I think the one thing we have in our favour here is that we have bipartisan support across the American system which has obviously stood well to us over the years and will continue to stand well to us.

Speaking separately, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said she congratulates Mr Trump on a resounding result.

Of course we want to establish a positive working relationship with the President of the United States. We have always a very long and historic bond and links to the United States and not just in terms of trade but with our history and heritage.

We look forward to working with him in the years ahead.

There was a mixed reaction from parties in Northern Ireland to the election of Mr Trump.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson congratulated Mr Trump.

Elections can be divisive, as this election has been, but the conclusion has been decisive, he said.

The American people have given a strong mandate to President Trump to serve as the 47th president.

I congratulate him, the vice-president elect JD Vance, and their team for achieving what has rightly been described as the greatest political comeback of all time.

In President Trumps last term, the door of the White House was open, and indeed many regarded his presidency as one of balance and fairness regarding our own local political divisions.

I trust he adopts the same approach to the 47th presidency as he did the 45th, and the ties between the US and Northern Ireland remain strong.

I wish him well.

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt also congratulated Mr Trump.

He said: With America preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence in 2026, there is a unique opportunity for the President-elect to celebrate, considering his family ties, the profound contribution people from these islands made to shaping the United States, particularly through the two massive waves of immigration from this island, by the Ulster Scots in the 1600s and what became the Irish Americans in the 1800s.

However SDLP leader Claire Hanna said there is serious concern about what Mr Trumps election will mean for the US.

My thoughts today are largely with people in the United States who are fearful about what this might mean for their future, she said.

Donald Trump has repeatedly shown himself as someone with little respect for most people or the high office that he once again holds.

Its very disheartening that his divisive brand of politics has been so widely endorsed, but we acknowledge the clarity of the election outcome.

SDLP Leader @ClaireHanna has responded to the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. "The SDLP will continue to champion inclusive, forward looking and internationalist politics." Read more:https://t.co/ckvgvF5T52 pic.twitter.com/EJ5t1ucJB9  The SDLP (@SDLPlive) November 6, 2024

There is serious concern about what this means for the United States, Gaza, Ukraine and indeed the world.

In each, the most vulnerable will likely bear the brunt of the decisions the Trump administration will take.

TUV leader Jim Allister said, however, that he believes Mr Trump had been the better candidate.

Its for the American people to make their choice and I do envy the fact that they are entitled to elect those who make their laws, unlike us in 300 areas where laws are made in a foreign parliament, he said.

Donald Trump was better than the alternative of (Kamala) Harris.

On the issues which impact Northern Ireland, I trust that the historic premise of the United States, no taxation without representation, is something which could give him something to think about when it comes to us.

As a man who respects borders, when he comes to deal with the United Kingdom I suspect he may be surprised we have a partitioning border down the middle of the UK and that may dissipate the inclination to do trade deals.
Stock markets in the UK and across Europe have been boosted while the US dollar has surged as traders around the world react to Donald Trump winning the US presidential election.

The UKs FTSE 100 jumped by about 1.5% when markets opened on Wednesday as an anticipated Republican win provides some certainty for the future of the worlds biggest economy.

It remained about 1.2% higher later in the morning when it was declared that Donald Trump had won the election.

Strong gains in premarket trading in New York showed stocks on Wall Street look set for a fresh rally on Wednesday in response to the result.

But economists warned Mr Trumps tariff plans would come as a shock to the UK economy.

Daniel Casali, chief investment strategist at Evelyn Partners, said markets were reacting positively to the prospect of a clear Trump victory and Republicans controlling Congress.

The combination of a clean sweep victory means tax cuts are likely over the coming year, he said.

That will be beneficial for equities as it means lower taxes will boost company earnings.

So, the combination of a clear victory along with the impact of those tax cuts, will be beneficial for growth and the equity markets are reacting positively to that.

The pound was down about 1% against the US dollar, at 1.292, with the American currency making sharp gains overnight.

#Trump has declared victory in the 2024 elections. What does his win mean for the economy? A lower tax environment that should boost sentiment and spending in the near term. But promised tariffs, immigration controls and higher borrowing costs will become headwinds. More pic.twitter.com/90n83PBWPc  ING Economics (@ING_Economics) November 6, 2024

Economists said investor sentiment in the US is being bolstered by the prospect of a lower tax environment under a Trump presidency, while the implementation of trade tariffs could serve to strengthen the US dollar.

The rising dollar also reflects expectations that Mr Trumps policies will add to inflation in the economy and therefore keep interest rates higher for longer, experts said.

Samuel Tombs, chief US economist for Pantheon Macroeconomics, said it was raising its forecast for US inflation under the expectation that Mr Trump will introduce higher tariffs on all imports next year.

This would give the Federal Reserve less scope to ease interest rates, he said.

(PA Graphics)

Nevertheless, the knock-on impact on the UK economy and countries around the world continues to come under the spotlight.

Higher US import tariffs would reduce global economic growth by about one percentage point over the next two years, according to analysis from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr).

For the UK, Niesr estimates that economic growth would slow to 0.4% in 2025, down from a forecast of 1.2%.

Ahmet Kaya, principal economist for Niesr, said the UK economy could be one of the countries most affected with the proposed tariffs coming as yet another shock to the country.

Donald Trump has said he wants to increase tariffs on goods imported from around the world by 10%, rising to 60% on goods from China.
For many people, the idea of an African safari is something for the bucket lista chance to see beautiful, majestic wild animals in their splendid natural habitat. One such opportunity is afforded to visitors in Rwandas Volcanoes National Park, who can go on arduous Gorilla Treks into the remote mountain region in hopes of catching a glimpse of one of the many gorilla families who call this area home.

But this tourist saw more than just the usual sights of gorillas foraging, resting, and grooming each other. For one female gorilla had just welcomed a new baby, and this woman and her group got an up close and personal view at the adorable little thing.

The timing could not have been more perfect for travel writer Jen Ruiz when she traveled to Rwanda to go on a gorilla safari. We knew something was up because our guide and the rangers kept talking about a big surprise, she writes in the caption.

Related: Fort Worth Zoo Shares Most Precious Moment Between Gorilla Mom and Baby

The hike was an arduous one, and Ruiz said that the path took them shining nettles so thick that she got welts through her clothing.

But it was all worth it to catch this glimpse of a newborn gorilla, happily asleep in the arms of its mom. The baby was only a few hours old, and the rangers at the park had not even been able to ascertain the babys gender yet.

The Gorillas of Rwandas Volcanoes National Park

The mountain gorillas living in this mountainous zone are part of a large conservation effort maintained by local and international groups. Mountain gorillas were once upon the brink of extinction due to poaching and habitat loss. Researcher Dian Fossey spent twenty years in this area studying the lifestyle and habits of these beautiful creatures, and her work and the attention it brought to the species helped lay the groundwork for the organizations working to protect and promote the health and conservation of the gorillas that persists today.

Mountain gorillas, as the name implies, are a species of the large primate who live at high altitudes, between eight and thirteen thousand feet in this volcanic mountain range that spans Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Umubano Family of Gorillas

Mountain gorillas live in large family groups headed up by a dominant male gorilla known as a silverback due to the saddle of silver hair on the back of some of the older males. The gorillas seen in this video are part of the Umubano family of gorillas, which are one of the habituated families of gorillas living in the park.

(Habituation is a process by which these wild gorillas become accustomed to the presence of humans observing them. Its a multi-year endeavor that creates an extremely delicate balance but is vital to the park rangers ability to protect the creatures as well as to bring tourist groups in to safely observe them.)

The Umubano group consists of a dozen members, led by dominant Silverback gorilla Charles, several adult females, some juvenile gorillas, and at least one other infant. The name Umubano means live together and indicates the way this smaller family group lives peacefully alongside the group that it split from back in 2001.

Infant gorillas are dependent on their mother for the first three years of their lives. After that, they are considered juveniles and will still remain with the family group. By ten years old, a female gorilla is considered fully grown. All gorillas in the family group have been documented caring for young, and it is not only the dominant silverback who fathers children in the group.

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Actor Paul Rudd was filmed handing out water bottles to young voters waiting in long queues in swing state Pennsylvania on US election day.

The Ant-Man star was spotted during a broadcast on US outlet MSNBC at Temple University in Philadelphia, surprising young voters who had been in line for several hours, which Rudd described as impressive.

Weve been doing lots of stuff today here in Pennsylvania and we wanted to come out and tell these students theyre doing really great things, 55-year-old Rudd told the news outlet.

did not have saying the words Paul Rudd just showed up on my @msnbc bingo card tonight. pic.twitter.com/rfAtlUNf2C  Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) November 5, 2024

I just wanted to give people water.

Theyre waiting in line for a long time, and its a wonderful thing that all these young people are out voting.

When asked about the election, Rudd laughed, adding: I feel good about handing out some waters.

Hey, look at us, who wouldve thought.. wed be enjoying cookies with Paul Rudd after voting in BK #MakeHistoryHere pic.twitter.com/WyJfbKvwFT  Barclays Center (@barclayscenter) October 29, 2020

In 2020, Rudd approached voters in line at the Barclays Centre in New York handing out sweet treats while thanking them for taking the time to vote, as they waited in a queue during the rain.

The official X account for the Barclays Centre shared photographs of Rudd with voters at the time, writing: Hey, look at us, who wouldve thought.. wed be enjoying cookies with Paul Rudd after voting in BK.
Kemi Badenoch has attacked the Governments cruel family farms tax as she hit out at the inheritance tax Budget measures in her first Prime Ministers Questions as Conservative leader.

She also accused ministers of student politics and said Sir Keir Starmer was reading from scripted lines in her inaugural session.

Mrs Badenoch claimed that her party would reverse the changes to inheritance tax announced last week, and asked for the Government to reassure farmers who are worried about the move.

Sir Keir Starmer hit back at Mrs Badenoch over her student politics jibe (House of Commons/PA)

Addressing the Budget in her questions, the Tory leader said: We have heard him repeat the lines on the television, fixing the foundations, and so on.

What does he say to farmers who are facing uncertainty about their futures as a result of the increased taxes announced by the Chancellor?

She said that the Conservatives would reverse Labours cruel family farms tax and asked the PM to reassure the farming community.

Moments before she had claimed that the Prime Ministers scripted lines are showing that he has not even listened to the Budget himself.

The Government is caught up in a row over their announcement that agricultural assets worth more than 1 million would no longer be exempt from inheritance tax. Opposition MPs have been calling on ministers to reverse the move which was announced at last weeks Budget.

From April 2026, a tax of 20% would be raised on the value of inherited farming assets above 1 million under the plans.

It was Mrs Badenochs first stint at PMQs as Tory leader (House of Commons/PA)

While this still represents a tax relief of 50% compared with the standard rate, the move has been attacked by farming unions and Opposition critics who have argued it would make the UK more reliant on imports.

Sir Keir responded: Im happy to help the leader of the Opposition. If shes going to complain about scripted answers, its probably best not to read that from a script.

Im glad shes raised farmers. Because the budget last week put 5 billion over the next two years into farming. Thats the single biggest increase, unlike the 300 million which was underspent under the last government.

But when it comes to inheritance, the vast vast majority of farmers will be unaffected, as she well knows; as they well know.

Mrs Badenoch also took a swipe at the Governments defence plans, and claimed that the Budget did not even mention defence.

 Watch Prime Minister's Questions live. This is when the PM or nominated minister answers questions from MPs from 12 midday every sitting Wednesday.  https://t.co/4RwTkifqDW  UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) November 6, 2024

Her official spokesman later said that If you look at the full context, she was referring to the fact that Labour have not set out their plans to get to 2.5% (of GDP for defence spending) and indeed its not just her saying that, the OBR have said significant spending ambitions on defence remain unfunded.

The Prime Ministers press secretary had suggested that Mrs Badenoch had been risking misleading the House, which Mrs Badenochs spokesman did not agree with.

Defence was mentioned in the Budget speech which set out what Rachel Reeves called a path to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence.

Sir Keir told Mrs Badenoch that the one thing I learned as leader of the opposition is its a good idea to listen to what the Government is actually saying.

The exchanges on the Budget came after both Sir Keir and Mrs Badenoch had congratulated US President-elect Donald Trump on his victory, and she took the opportunity to press the Prime Minister on his relationship with the incoming American leader.

Mrs Badenoch asked the Prime Minister to invite the President-elect to speak in Parliament next time he visits the UK, and pointed to the row over Labour activists campaigning for Kamala Harris.

Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. pic.twitter.com/QYHLd4k4EG  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 6, 2024

Im very sure that President Trump will soon be calling to thank him for sending all of those North London Labour activists to campaign for his opponent, she told the Commons.

Given that most of his Cabinet signed a motion to ban President Trump from addressing Parliament, will the Prime Minister show that he and his Government can be more than student politicians by asking you, Mr Speaker, to extend an invitation to President Trump to address Parliament on his next visit?

In response, the Prime Minister thanked his opposite number for a masterclass on student politics.

The Conservative leader had earlier asked the Prime Minister to apologise for previous comments made by his Foreign Secretary David Lammy for comments in which he accused Mr Trump of being woman-hating Neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath.

Sir Keir told the House: The Foreign Secretary and I did meet President-elect Trump just a few weeks ago for dinner for about a couple of hours, and we discussed a number of issues of global significance. It was a very constructive exercise.

Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. The world faces many serious challenges and I look forward to our two countries working together to confront them.  Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) November 6, 2024

Mrs Badenoch was flanked by her shadow chancellor Mel Stride and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel  both of whom were fellow leadership contenders  during the session.

She announced her shadow cabinet earlier this week, and it is thought that Mrs Badenoch had been keen to reach out to wings across the party.

Following PMQs, a number of other shadow ministerial positions were confirmed.

Danny Kruger has been given a position in the work and pensions brief while Wendy Morton, a former chief whip, has a shadow foreign ministerial job.

Gareth Davies is the new shadow financial secretary to the Treasury and Harriet Baldwin is a shadow minister at the Department for Business and Trade.

Meanwhile, Joy Morrisey will be co-shadow deputy chief whip alongside Gagan Mohindra.
Manchester United defender Leny Yoro took part in team training for the first time in three months as he steps up his return from a foot injury.

The 18-year-old left Lille for Old Trafford in July, with the highly-rated centre-back joining for a 62million euros fee (52.2m) that could reach 70m euros (58.9m) if add-ons are achieved.

But Yoro sustained a metatarsal injury just a fortnight later in his second pre-season appearance for United, resulting in him undergoing surgery in early August.

The Frenchman trained with the group for the first time since then ahead of Thursdays Europa League match against PAOK, with team-mates welcoming him back by forming a tunnel and playfully slapping him as he ran through.

The defender did not complete the session but is making good progress ahead of Ruben Amorims arrival as the clubs new head coach on Monday.

Interim United boss Ruud van Nistelrooy said: Hes been managed very well after his injury in pre-season.

Obviously it was going to be a long one and its a big moment for him, that first time hes back in team training.

Obviously were going to get him back partially over the coming weeks and look to get him on board as quick as possible.

Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy (left) wants Leny Yoro back as quickly as possible(Martin Rickett/PA)

Christian Eriksen and Antony also took part in the session on Wednesday after missing Van Nistelrooys first two matches in interim charge, with Mason Mount involved having recently returned to training.

Tyrell Malacia, who missed the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign with a knee injury, is also working with the group, but Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire remain absent.

Asked for an update on that quartet, Van Nistelrooy said: Different cases, all of them.

Tyrell is the furthest (along) in the moment. Hes part of team training for a couple of weeks now, fully in team training, no restriction.

Its good for him to plan game minutes, maybe in the Under-21s. We have to see.

Harry Maguire (centre) is working his way back to fitness (Nick Potts/PA)

Harry is still inside doing working on his rehab and Luke does pitch work, like he did today.

Hes progressing there to also do partial team training hopefully soon.

Van Nistelrooy says he is focusing on the players that are currently fit as he prepares for the penultimate match of his temporary reign against PAOK on Thursday evening.

Sacked Erik ten Hag oversaw draws in all three of this seasons matches in the new-look Europa League, blowing a lead at home to Twente and then doing the same in the trips to Porto and Fenerbahce.

Its a game of high priority for us tomorrow, said Van Nistelrooy of a fixture sandwiched between Premier League matches at home to Chelsea and Leicester.

Tyrell Malacia is closest to a return (Martin Rickett/PA)

We dont look at the past game and the future game. We know that we need all our attention on PAOK.

We analyse them very well, we know that they are the current champions of Greece, which is a big achievement and also is currently second, just one point behind Aris, in this moment.

Lots of talented players, experienced players, strong side, will be supported tomorrow here with 4,000 fans travelling and supporting that team.

We are ready to face a very tough game. Thats the approach for tomorrow.
MPs are calling for improved access to hearing tests and for hearing aids to be made cool to encourage more people to wear them.

Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi is backing a campaign to move audiology to a primary care system, which would allow patients to access hearing tests on high streets, in a similar way to eye tests.

With waiting times as long as 20 months for audiology appointments, Ms Qureshi said the issue cannot be ignored and argued that a self-referral system would reduce pressures on hospitals.

Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi said the issue was very close to her heart (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Specsavers, which is leading the campaign, said the proposed system would free up to 500,000 GP appointments a year and enable patients to be seen within four weeks.

Speaking at an event in Parliament, Ms Qureshi said: This is an issue very close to my heart, I have been having problems with my ears and hearing loss for many, many years. And the first time I had an ear graft was when I was aged 17, so both of my ears have challenges.

I think it was only a few months ago that I truly felt the impact, when I was sitting in the House of Commons chamber, waiting to be called and the Speaker actually did call me out but I managed to mishear him.

So it was a reminder to me, and for many others, that hearing loss can actually have serious consequences. I dont know if many of you know this, but 40% of those leaving the workforce early say that hearing loss is one of the key factors.

Ms Qureshi said people wouldnt have to leave the job market if hearing tests became more common, and this could lead to a boost in productivity.

The MP for Bolton South and Walkden added: Waiting times for hospital audiologist services can be something as long as 20 months, in some places. So its not an issue we can ignore, and therefore we need to see changes in the NHS so that all those who need it are able to access it.

So thats one of the reasons Im calling for a move to a model of primary care audiology, working alongside NHS hospitals, to find a better solution. We need to harness the capacity on our high streets to ensure the NHS can deliver early care, closer to home, and at a lower cost.

At the same time this will reduce pressures on hospitals, allowing them to concentrate on more complicated, hospital-based needs.

At the event, Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for hospitals and primary care, Jess Brown-Fuller, spoke of her experienced of hearing loss at a young age.

Im very aware that as I get older, the reduced hearing that I already have will no doubt increase and I will need to ask for support from audiology services. So thats one of the reasons I welcome the 22.6 billion in new funding for the NHS in last weeks Budget as a step in the right direction, she said.

She added: Hearing loss is not just a physical issue, it has profound social and mental health implications, and addressing hearing loss can facilitate healthy ageing, something I hope to do.

In the UK, one in three adults are deaf, or have hearing loss or experience tinnitus, and yet 38% of people who think they may have hearing loss have not spoken to a professional about it.

Ms Fuller-Brown went on to say: An estimated seven million adults could benefit from hearing aids, but only two million of them use it.

And I was speaking to a gentleman from Specsavers before I came up on stage, and he was saying we need to do with hearing aids what weve done with glasses  which is basically make them cool.

I was absolutely gutted as a kid that my eyesight was good, I really wanted glasses like all the cool kids in my class.

Founder of Specsavers Doug Perkins said: We are going to put the case to Stephen Kinnock, and colleagues in the Labour Party, take advantage of this 10 year plan.

He added that he believes a realistic model across the nation in five years could be achieved.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We are clear that the NHS is broken and community health services like audiology have been neglected.

A crucial part of our 10-year health plan will be moving towards a neighbourhood care service, enabling people to get diagnosed earlier and treated faster, closer to home, with more care delivered in local communities.

We want to use all resources and options we have available to improve access and reduce waiting times for referrals.
As few as one in 50 Channel migrants have passports when they are picked up by Border Force - Gareth Fuller/PA

Almost all Channel migrants destroy their passport or do not have one on arrival in the UK, data show.

As few as one in 50 have passports when they are picked up by Border Force after being told by people smugglers to destroy them in order to improve their chances of remaining in the UK.

Border Force insiders said the absence of ID documents made it harder to deport failed asylum seekers as most countries were reluctant to take back migrants without hard evidence of their nationality.

Tony Blair introduced legislation in 2004, giving immigration officers powers to prosecute migrants unable to produce ID documents in asylum interviews, in an attempt to crack down on false claims.

But Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data show that only one illegal migrant has been successfully prosecuted for the offence in the past six years, despite nearly 146,000 people having crossed the Channel in small boats since 2018.

A former director general of the Border Force said the absence of ID frustrates the identification and removal process - SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP/Getty Images

Tony Smith, former director general of the Border Force, said the absence of ID documentation frustrates the identification and removal process.

They are briefed to do it by the smugglers. Even if they have a passport, they are told not to take it with them, not to show it to the authorities. Quite often, they send them over with someone else, he said.

It is largely a myth that people have left their own country without their passports. They have probably left their country with a passport then destroyed it en route or handed it to someone else.

The main risk is that it makes the whole process so much harder because you dont know who they are and how old they are.

That allows them to make up a cover story. For example, that they have come directly from a war zone.

Yvette Cooper has beefed up the Home Office enforcement and returns unit with an extra 1,000 staff - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images

All migrants reaching the UK after crossing on small boats are fingerprinted and photographed but the only databases that Border Force and immigration officers can check them against are UK-based.

Interpol does not have an international database of such biometric information while since Brexit Britain no longer has access to Eurodac, the EUs fingerprint database, or SIS II (the Schengen Information System) against which to cross-reference the biometric information from Channel migrants.

It means that there is no access to records of their movements across the EU, previous asylum claims or criminal records. That is why this week Sir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, declared their ambition for security pacts with the EU and other countries to share such data and intelligence.

On Thursday, Sir Keir will sign new intelligence-sharing agreements with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo, countries through which migrants transit on their way to the beaches of northern France.

Mr Smith said that without documentation, the Home Office had to negotiate with the migrants individual embassies in order to secure passports for them or other ID.

He believed the Government was right to seek return agreements with source countries to make it easier to remove them back to their home states with simply a Home Office deportation letter without a passport.

Ms Cooper has beefed up the Home Office enforcement and returns unit with an extra 1,000 staff. Dame Angela Eagle, immigration minister, pointed to the removal of 9,400 migrants since Labour came to power, including a 19 per cent rise in enforced returns.

The scale of the problem is underlined by the Home Office data, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, which shows only 317  or less than 2 per cent  of the first 16,510 Channel migrants to have arrived in the UK had passports when picked up by Border Force.

In 2010, 103 were prosecuted for failing to produce documents. By 2016, it was down to five. Since then, there has been one conviction. Mr Smith said immigration enforcement had to be selective in its prosecutions and target migrants  particularly criminals  seeking to re-enter the UK illegally after being deported.

They are here for life

Kevin Saunders, a former chief immigration officer, said: If these people have destroyed their passports, then they give Border Force an incorrect name and date of birth and they are here for life.

However, Ms Cooper said there was all kinds of evidence that migrants identities could be amassed combined with agreements with other countries to deport them.

We develop as part of returns arrangements with other countries, arrangements for being able to identify people even if they dont have passports. So that has been done and continues to be done, and we believe that work can be expanded as well, she said.

So I dont think we should just throw up our hands and say: Oh, its all too difficult. We have deliberately increased the returns and enforcement investment over the summer, and that is having an impact.
Former Australian prime ministers Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott, pictured in 2019, have praised Donald Trump ahead of his likely election as US president. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

The Australian government is bracing for foreign policy turbulence with Donald Trumps election as US president throwing the defence of Ukraine, Taiwan and combatting the climate crisis into doubt.

After media networks called the key swing state of Pennsylvania for Trump, the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, released a statement on Wednesday evening local time to congratulate him on his election victory.

Our government will work closely with the new Trump Administration to realise the benefits of our strong economic partnership, Albanese said, highlighting the common values of the alliance, and the USs role in the Indo-Pacific region.

I look forward to talking with President Trump and working with him in the best interests of both our nations.

Australias opposition leader, Peter Dutton, shared his congratulations on behalf of the federal Coalition. He praised the US  an overwhelming force for good in the world  as well as the Aukus military pact, centred on acquisition of nuclear submarines from the US.

May the years ahead be some of the most defining for our Alliance in which  we unleash the defence, industrial and economic opportunities of AUKUS at speed and scale, Dutton said.

Related: US election results 2024 live: Donald Trump edges close to victory over Kamala Harris

Australian conservatives including two former prime ministers earlier front-ran the Labor government to congratulate Trump.

The former prime minister Tony Abbott said that Trump had the self-belief the west needs  in spades.

Despite Trumps refusal to commit to defence of Ukraine against Russias illegal invasion, Scott Morrison claimed on Wednesday that Trump would be a positive force for global security.

Donald Trump, who is like unlike any other politician you will ever come across  I think what he brings now is an assertiveness and a strength to the role, which I think will have a very positive impact on global security issues, Morrison told ABC News.

That means getting in a position of strength and then getting the right outcome; the idea of just fighting to fight tomorrow with no real intent or resource to fight to win  that isnt a good outcome for global peace and a good resolution in Ukraine, either.

Congratulations to President Trump on his return to the leadership of the free world. Self belief is what the West needs right now and Trump has that in spades  Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) November 6, 2024

I think that is a recipe for calamity. I think President Trump will bring a fresh take on that. And frankly, we need a few fresh takes on some of these challenges, whether its there, or in the Middle East.

Standing in stark contrast was the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, whose statement called the emerging result a bad day for America, a bad day for Australia, and a bad day for the world.

As president, Trump will embolden hate, Bandt said on Wednesday night local time, calling on Albanese to urgently cancel Aukus and reconsider Australias relationship with the United States.

Australia should be able to make its own decisions including about defence and foreign policy, and not be dictated to by Trump. We cannot be tied to such a dangerous demagogue.

The Albanese government is already facing calls from the Labor Against War group to withdraw Australia from Aukus.

Labor Against War convener, Marcus Strom, said: It is completely untenable for Australia to continue in lock-step with a militarised US government led by an unstable president.

Being part of a heavily integrated military alliance with a Trump presidency is dangerous, expensive and counter to the interests of the Australian people, Strom said.

The deputy Australian prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles, said on Tuesday said that Aukus was secure, no matter who won this weeks US presidential election.

Strom labelled this an admission from our government that Aukus is mad, bad and dangerous enough that even Donald Trump supports it.

Morrison said he was very positive about the future of Aukus under Trump, saying he never understood why people would doubt that Trump would support it.

Its a good deal. He was very committed to the alliance, Morrison said.

I mean, the point of Aukus is to resist that aggression coming out of China  and if you have that strong deterrent, then you dont have to use it and but you have to be determined and clear about your willingness to put this in place.

Also of concern to the Albanese Labor government is likely to be Trumps environmental policies setting back cooperation on combating global heating.

Australias climate change minister, Chris Bowen, noted earlier in November that the Albanese government and the Biden administration have been closely aligned in policy and personal terms and obviously, having a United States administration with a very forward leaning climate policy is a good thing.

In an interview with Guardian Australia, Bowen suggested a second Trump administration would be unlikely to live up to the former presidents anti-climate rhetoric on the climate crisis.
Bernie Sanders has won re-election to a fourth six-year term in the Senate

Bernie Sanders has accused the Democrats of abandoning working class people in a scathing statement after Kamala Harriss defeat.

The independent senator for Vermont said the Democratic leadership defends the status quo while angry Americans want change and theyre right.

It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them, the progressive senator said in a statement after Donald Trumps victory.

First it was the white working class and now it is Latino and black workers, he added.

Mr Sanders cast doubt that Ms Harriss party will learn lessons from her landslide defeat.

Will the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign? Will they understand the pain and political alienation that tens of millions of Americans are experiencing? Do they have any ideas as to how we can take on the increasingly powerful Oligarchy which has so much economic and political power? Probably not.

Ms Sanders won re-election to a fourth six-year term in the Senate on Tuesday.

Ill work as hard as I can

He defeated Republican Gerald Malloy, a US Army veteran and businessman. Also on the ballot were independent candidate Steve Berry, as well as minor party candidates Mark Stewart Greenstein, Matt Hill and Justin Schoville.

The 83-year-old is a self-described democratic socialist who caucuses with the Democrats and twice came close to winning the presidential nomination. More recently, he has worked closely with the Biden administration to craft its domestic policy goals on health care, education, child care and workers rights. He is the longest serving independent in Congress.

In his victory speech on Tuesday, Mr Sanders said he and his wife Jane were deeply grateful for the generosity and support they have received from people all around the state.

So, Vermont, thank you very, very much and I pledge to you to work as hard as I can to protect the best interests of our state and our country, Mr Sanders said, according to WCAX-TV.

Mr Sanders said he ran again because the country faces some of its toughest and most serious challenges of the modern era. He described those as threats to its democratic foundations, massive levels of income and wealth inequality, climate change, and challenges to womens ability to control their own bodies.

I just did not feel with my seniority and with my experience that I could walk away from Vermont, representing Vermont, at this difficult moment in American history, he said during a recent WCAX-TV debate.

Mr Sanders is a strong critic of Trump and endorsed Ms Harris after Joe Biden dropped out of the race. He has disagreed strongly with Mr Biden on aid for Israels year-long war with Hamas and has sought to block US arm sales to Israel.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at a rally in Wisconsin on October 30 - Brendan McDermid/Reuters

When I was very little I lived in America. During our time in my fathers home state of Oklahoma, he bought my English mother a nice little ladies pistol to carry in her handbag.

We later moved to upstate New York, where the snow was higher than me, and seemed to be of a very different texture to the type that fell in Britain. One day, in an effort to catch my brother before he fell, my mother tripped down the wooden stairs, and told me to go get a neighbour. She had broken several toes. An ambulance came and I remember them asking me about insurance. I was five.

Still, America was the dream  so I went back to live there when I was 20. I did all sorts of jobs. I lived in the South and I lived in New York. (Though never California  La La Land brings me out in hives.) Some of my boyfriends had guns and I would have to look after them, which sent me into a panic. Which, of course, I hid as I didnt want to appear uncool.

My best friends kitchen had tiny holes everywhere where her cousin had shot himself up. As you do.

In Louisiana, I shared a house with a guy who was a lawyer. He was always getting up in the night to do stays of execution, as he worked on death row. In America, about 2 million people are incarcerated at any given time  making it the country with the highest prison population in the world.

The mortality rate for this, one of the worlds richest countries, is much lower than for many other lesser economies, even though they spend more on healthcare.

Why am I telling you these things? Because such issues  crime, guns, cars, the death penalty, the right to bear arms, their freedoms, an individualist rather than collective outlook  are ingrained in the American psyche. And all of these are awkward issues for British, liberal onlookers. This election is full of these primal impulses, which mystifies many in the UK.

America is a foreign country, more foreign than we seem to imagine, so overloaded are we with their cultural imports. People think differently there. They just do. Which is why those in their ivory towers were so shocked when Kamala Harris said she had a gun and would use it  it doesnt fit the liberal-elite stereotype.

An American ex-cop once taught me to shoot. He said, if trained properly, children are safe around guns. At what age did he think they were capable of that, I asked him? Three, he said.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who has spoken openly about owning a gun, at a rally in Michigan on November 3 - AFP via Getty Images

Of course, I have been back since my 20s, covering politics in Washington, Kentucky, Texas, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Nevada. What is the sum total of my experience? America is such an entirely different country to this one, that we really must stop seeing it through this smeary British lens.

The Republicans are not the Tory Party. The Democrats are not the Labour Party. Not every Trump voter is some sort of racist idiot, not every Harris voter is some progressive headcase. Americans of all persuasions are polite, hospitable, sentimental people.

When I watch the rush of reporters going in to interrogate the undecideds, the left-behinds, the dont cares of this vast country, the only conclusions to be drawn are that this election is close and it is not based on rationality, but on emotion. Vibes. Fear or hope.

Its the economy stupid  but it is also about striking a bargain between heads and hearts and purse strings and forms of patriotism that we can barely touch base with.

Vast tracts of America are now a wasteland, with little more than the odd shopping mall, homeless encampments and giant prisons built in the middle of nowhere. Then there are some of the richest cities in the world, and mind-blowing landscapes. A hugeness, an emptiness, a sublime vision of endless roads that artists and film-makers sometimes do justice to.

This election, we are told, is tribal: between two sets of people who never meet anyone who doesnt think like them. That may be so, but America contains multitudes. The pollsters only know what the pollsters get told. Many will not vote. Many want little to do with any kind of governance at all. America is still wild like that. Voter turnout is everything, and Musk, with his canvassing and voter giveaways, is finding that harder than getting rockets off the ground.

Trump seeks further division and Harris an impossible unity. But Trump is a diminished, bitter old man and is no friend to anyone, least of all Britain. He is already talking about a stolen election in his ever-darker ramblings.

The gender divide matters in this contest. My hope is that enough middle-aged women now go out to vote for Harris after they see that their daughters now have fewer rights than they did. My money  I have placed a few bets  is on Kamala. I think she will do it and you can all laugh at my loss when she doesnt. It will be your loss too.

As Bruce Springsteen said: I have spent my life judging the distance between American reality and the American dream.

That distance is ever larger, ever more out of reach. From this side of the pond we catch only glimpses. We, all of us, live in some imagined America, the America of the bi-coastal establishment, the America of self-congratulatory celebrities, the America of an inclusivity that does not include desperate poverty.

The next president will have to live with the grim reality of much of what America has become.

The dream is no longer sustainable. The voters know it. Do the pundits? The pollsters? The politicians? We shall see.
The mutant strain of mpox was first detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo last year - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Another case of the new, mutant strain of mpox has been detected in London, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced.

The total number of UK cases confirmed of the virus, identified as clade 1b, now stands at four  all within the same household, according to UKHSA.

The agency reported the first case of the virus, previously known as monkeypox, last Friday in a patient who had recently returned to the UK from Africa. Two household contacts were subsequently confirmed to have been infected, followed by this third case.

The patient is receiving specialist care at Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust.

All four have been isolated and no additional contact tracing is required, the UKHSA said.

Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household. The overall risk to the UK population remains low, Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA.

Clade 1b is a different variant from the ones that have been circulating in the UK since 2022. It is thought to cause more severe disease and spread more easily between people.

The strain first emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) late last year. It has since infected more than 25,000 people and has been responsible for the deaths of at least 1,000, mainly children under the age of 15.

The viruss rapid spread triggered the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency earlier this year, the same protocol taken in February 2020, shortly before Covid-19 spiralled into a pandemic.

Cases have been reported in several countries in Africa, including Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda. They have also been picked up in Sweden, Germany, India, and Thailand  all in people who had returned from affected areas.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
A B-1B Lancer lands at Diego Garcia, which is used by the US as a military base for long-range aircraft and navy ships - APFOOTAGE/ALAMY

Donald Trump is set to stop Britains deal to give away the Chagos Islands when he returns to the White House following criticism from Republicans.

Senior Republican members of Congress warned that giving the islands to Mauritius could boost China when the deal was unveiled last month.

The Telegraph understands that Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader who is friends with Trump, has voiced criticism of the move to members of his team.

Legal advice questioning the wisdom of the move is also being pushed in Trump circles by pro-Brexit figures from the UK.

While an agreement in Mauritius was announced in October, uncertainty remains over the outcome as the treaty that needs to be signed to legally enforce the change is still being negotiated.

Joe Biden, the outgoing US president, had thrown support behind the deal. Should Trump hold a different position it could complicate efforts to lock in the agreement.

The Chagos Islands are a cluster of about 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, and are of geopolitical significance given their closeness to south-east Asia - PICTURES FROM HISTORY/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP EDITORIAL

The area is just one of a number of foreign policy complexities now facing Sir Keir Starmers government as the world prepares for a second Trump presidency.

The Chagos Islands are a cluster of about 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, and are of geopolitical significance given their closeness to south-east Asia.

They include the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, used by the US government as a military base for long-range aircraft and navy ships, meaning Washington has a keen interest in the area.

Sir Keirs government agreed to give up sovereignty of the islands and hand them over to Mauritius, with an agreement in principle announced on Oc 3.

The Conservatives were fiercely critical of the move despite pursuing their own negotiations with Mauritius when in government, and accused Sir Keir of caving in to pressure.

The agreement was understood to include letting the Americans continue to use the Diego Garcia for generations to come. A treaty, not yet published or approved, will spell out specific agreements.

Senior Republican figures in both the Senate and the House of Representatives criticised the deal when it was unveiled.

Michael McCaul, a House of Representatives member from Texas who chairs the foreign affairs committee, said the Diego Garcia base was essential to countering China.

He added: The [Biden] administration must ensure that US security interests in the Indo-Pacific are protected by this agreement.

Chinese lawfare

James Risch, the Idaho senator and Trump supporter who is a senior member of the Senate foreign relations committee, said the deal gives in to Chinese lawfare.

He added that it yields to pressure from unaccountable international institutions like the International Court of Justice at the expense of US and UK strategic and military interests.

Marco Rubio, the Florida senator who once sought the Republican presidential nomination, said the move was concerning as it would provide an opportunity for communist China to gain valuable intelligence on our naval support facility in Mauritius.

Critics of the deal from Britain also appear to be trying to bend Trumps ear.

Nigel Farage, who is friends with Trump, has voiced criticism of the Chagos Island deal to members of his team - ANDREW MILLIGAN/PA

Mr Farage, who has enjoyed access to Trump and his inner circle ever since publicly campaigning for him during the 2016 US presidential race, is said to have raised his concerns about the proposal to figures in the Trump campaign in recent weeks.

Legal advice disputing whether Britain should have to give up the Chagos Islands  as has been claimed by some international legal bodies  is being pushed in Trump circles by pro-Brexit figures from the UK.

Mr Trumps personal view on the issue is unclear. Should he voice criticism, Britains hopes of signing a formal treaty with Mauritius in the coming months could become harder to deliver.

Richard Tice, the Reform deputy leader, urged the incoming US president to oppose the deal when he enters the White House once again in January 2025.

Mr Tice said: I hope this now means the Chagos deal is toast. It was a bad deal. I hope the new US administration turns it over and says over our dead body.

Whitehall has for months been considering the policy implications of a second Trump presidency for the UK specifically as well as the wider world.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, said earlier this year that she would want to restart talks for a new UK-US free trade deal if Trump won office.

Ms Reeves told The Telegraph in February: We would look to do deals around the world, including with [the US] but also with Canada. And that deal obviously broke down recently.

The Business Department is said to have worked up contingency plans for Trumps stated policy of bringing in a tariff of up to 20 per cent on imported goods.

During the first Trump presidency tariffs became a point of contention between Theresa Mays government and the White House, not least when the US raised them on British steel imports.

There could also be renewed pressure from Washington for increased defence spending, with Mr Trump consistently pressing allies to spend more on the military and be less reliant on the US.

Sir Keir has said he wants to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP  up from the current 2 per cent target  but has given no timings on achieving the ambition.

Rishi Sunak had promised to hit 2.5 per cent defence spending by 2030 when he was prime minister, but Sir Keir has abandoned the Tories timings on the plan.
Church image

An inquiry set up by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York has called rural parishioners racist, provoking a backlash from the Christian community.

A report by the Archbishops Commission for Racial Justice has denounced the lack of cultural awareness displayed by congregations in predominantly white rural areas and found evidence of structural and institutional racism.

The report, titled Behind the Stained Glass, also identified prejudice in the preference for white male leaders who speak the Queens English.

The evidence confirms the existence of both structural and institutional racism within the Church of England, the report concluded, warning that systemic racism has continued unabated in the CofE.

It added: Institutional racism is believed to be a pervasive barrier within the Church, demonstrated through discriminatory practices and lack of cultural awareness.

The report split the CofE into four types of church, with the liberal and progressive urban variety at one end of the spectrum, where people from ethnic minorities were welcomed and accepted.

In traditional and conservative churches found in rural and remote areas, ethnic minorities were instead deemed to be viewed with suspicion and there was a preference for white male leadership.

The commission singled out Northern and rural areas for having fewer ethnic minority clergy, suggesting these areas were seen as less attractive or welcoming.

Discrimination was found to have a profound impact on the mental health of Black and Asian clergy, which was exacerbated by a lack of cultural awareness and historical mistreatment within racially homogenous communities.

The report, which was produced after six months from internal data and interviews with 109 people from 24 out of the 42 dioceses, identified instances of overt racism and discrimination.

A preference for a certain type of Englishness was deemed overtly racist, with one participant saying: If youre working class, Black, mixed race ... youre less likely to ever preach ... they dont want that; they want Queens English.

Several instances were also reported where parishioners refused to have an ethnic minority person preside over the funeral services of loved ones.

The report picked out resistance to anti-racism efforts, citing an occasion where a senior leader opposed the term, preferring inclusion or racial justice, as another example of overt racism.

The report said educational experiences and vocational gatekeeping had impeded the careers of clergy from non-traditional Anglican backgrounds.

Lord Boateng, who was Britains first black cabinet minister and is now chairman of the Archbishops Racial Justice Commission, took issue with CofE leaders paying lip service to Black History Month while presiding over an institution rife with structural and systemic racism.

Women and those from low-income backgrounds were included in being subjected to a tougher time than the archetypal Church of England priest who is white, middle class, UK born and/or educated, male.

The Church tends to recruit people from a certain type of background, which often excludes those from working class communities, one participant remarked, while another suggested: Theres enormous prejudice especially if you are not well-educated and white-skinned and English enough.

The comments on class come after a report last year found working-class priests felt alienated by a middle-class wine and cheese culture in the church.

Rev Dr Ian Paul, the vicar of St Nics, Nottingham, and a member of the General Synod and the Archbishops Council, told The Telegraph that the latest report from the Archbishops Commission for Racial Justice was thoroughly terrible.

He said: Its very clear they dont understand the Church of England. They talk about career progression, which is not the way the Church of England talks about it.

They talk about anti-racism, which actually is racist language from the culture wars in the States.

He added that it was complete nonsense to describe the Church of England as structurally racist.

Its nonsense, complete nonsense. They demonstrate no evidence at all. They dont define what they mean by these terms. And the way theyve done the research is very poor in terms of process, and it doesnt support the conclusion. It is as if they have pre-decided this and that is what they have reached for.

He also pointed out that a lot of ethnic minorities in the UK are Hindu, Sikh and Muslim and therefore do not tend to go to church.

What do you expect us to do, have Muslim bishops? It is bonkers, he added.

Prudence Dailey, a veteran General Synod member, told the MailOnline: The thing I find most upsetting and offensive about this report is that it correlates an attachment to tradition and history with racism.

A Lambeth Palace spokesman said: We welcome the report from the Archbishops Commission for Racial Justice into the lived experiences of [UK Minority Ethnic and Global Majority Heritage] people in the Church of England.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are committed to promoting racial justice within the church, so it is sobering to read that there are still structural and racist barriers to [UK Minority Ethnic and Global Majority Heritage] clergy progressing to leadership roles.

The Archbishops reaffirm the work of the Racial Justice Unit, and hope and pray the Church of England will become a place where everyone can thrive and flourish.
A protest held in Christchurch earlier this year against the New Zealand governments handling of Treaty of Waitangi matters and its relationship with Maori. Photograph: Joe Allison/Getty Images

A controversial bill that seeks to radically change how New Zealands treaty between Maori and the Crown is interpreted in modern times will be introduced to parliament on Thursday, nearly two weeks ahead of its initial schedule.

The Treaty of Waitangi is considered New Zealands founding document and is instrumental in upholding Maori rights. The bill will be tabled in parliament by the libertarian Act party, a minor partner in New Zealands coalition government, which has regularly called for an end to division by race.

The time change has drawn criticism  it was scheduled to be introduced on 18 November, the day before a large protest against the bill was due to march to parliament  though the government rejected suggestions that the move was calculated.

Related: Revealed: the impact of New Zealands changes to policies affecting Maori

The bill proposes to get rid of a set of well-established principles that guide the relationship between Maori and ruling authorities in favour of its own, redefined principles. Act believes Maori have been afforded different political and legal rights and privileges compared with non-Maori, because of the way the Treaty of Waitangi has been interpreted.

The proposal has sparked widespread criticism from lawyers, academics, politicians and the public who believe the new principles will weaken Maori rights, remove checks on the Crown and drive anti-Maori rhetoric.

The bill has prompted protests, nationwide meetings of Maori leaders, and warnings from ministry officials about its risks to Maori rights. The coalition governments broader policy direction for Maori  including sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Maori health and wellbeing  has also prompted strident criticism.

The treaty was signed in 1840 between more than 500 Maori chiefs and the Crown, to form a nation state. The principles of the treaty  broadly defined as partnership, protection and participation  have been developed over 50 years by courts, the Waitangi Tribunal (a commission of inquiry that investigates breaches of the treaty) and successive governments, in order to smooth out differences in interpretations of the treaty.

In a report provided to the Guardian on Wednesday, the Waitangi Tribunal said if this bill were to be enacted, it would be the worst, most comprehensive breach of the Treaty in modern times.

If the bill remained on the statute book for a considerable time or was never repealed, it could mean the end of the Treaty.

It said the bills proposed principles were based on flawed policy rationales, was novel in its interpretations and would limit Maori rights.

In a statement, Acts leader, David Seymour, said the bill provides New Zealanders with the opportunity to have a say on what the treaty means, rather that the courts and the Waitangi Tribunal.

Did the Treaty give different rights to different groups, or does every citizen have equal rights? I believe all New Zealanders deserve to have a say on that question.

On Tuesday night, news broke that the date had been brought forward, after local media viewed an internal Waitangi Tribunal memo indicating the change.

The government later confirmed the bill would be introduced on Thursday. Seymours office said the bills initial timeline was indicative and its introduction depended on cabinet signoff, which occurred this week.

But that has not deterred criticism from politicians who view the sudden time change as calculated.

Speaking to supporters during a livestream on social media, Te Pati Maori (the Maori party) co-leaders, Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, said the government was afraid of the protest march.

This is not accidental, Ngarewa-Packer said. They are fearful that you are coming.

Posting to social media, the organisers of the hikoi (protest march) said the change in date would not deter their plans.

We always knew a shuffle like this would come along, this is not unexpected from this coalition, said Eru Kapa-Kingi, the hikoi spokesperson. Bills come and go, but [the treaty] is infinite and so are we  our plans will not change.

Seymours office said accusations that a change in timing was deliberate was baseless speculation.

The introduction of the bill formed part of Acts coalition agreement with National  the major centre-right part. Both National and the third coalition partner, New Zealand First, have ruled out supporting the bill beyond the first reading and select committee process, meaning it is likely doomed to fail.

But the bill has already been disruptive and damaging, says Carwyn Jones, the head lecturer in Maori law at Te Wananga o Raukawa, an Indigenous tertiary education provider.

It is increasing misinformation about the treaty, it is already having an impact on the relationship between Maori and the Crown, and on social cohesion.

Jones said the bill needed to be viewed within the wider context of the governments hostile policy direction for Maori.

It is having a real impact on many Maori, in terms of feeling under attack. For lots of younger Maori, this is a really distressing situation.
Kemi Badenoch sports a true blue Tory outfit for her first PMQs - House of Commons

It was meant to be all about Kemi. Her opening salvo in what will almost certainly be a tumultuous few years with Sir Oinky until Labour gets fed up and dumps him (or her own MPs do the same to her). There was, however, an elephant in the room, or rather a party symbolised by one.

The Donalds US triumph was obviously the big news of the day, leaving poor Kemi playing second fiddle.

Can I begin by congratulating president-elect Trump. Starmer deployed his best neutral international statesman tone, which unfortunately for him makes him sound like a Dalek with a head-cold. He was flanked by Rachel Reeves and Big Ange, the latter of which gave an enthusiastic hear, hear at the mention of The Donalds name.

Youd have thought that given his track record, David Lammy might have been locked in the stationery cupboard at the Foreign Office, but no, he was there too, a great mass of pointlessness squatting on the green benches where he faced Kemis sneer. Eventually Sir Oinky got round to some platitudes for the new Tory leader: I look forward to working with her in the interests of the British public.

Trump was at the heart of Kemis questioning too. But for all the press gossip about the new leader of the opposition being a firecracker, her first PMQs were quietly incisive.

Would the Prime Minister apologise for his Foreign Secretarys past remarks, she asked  almost metaphorically smacking her lips. Lammy squirmed.

Sir Keir Starmer turned attention away from Donald Trump to the Budget - House of Commons

Sir Keir replied on his behalf, describing how he and the Foreign Secretary had enjoyed a dinner with Trump a few weeks ago. Oh to be a fly on the wall at that. I somehow doubt Trump eats vegetables; making him have dinner with two of them seems like a stretch too far.

Kemi further rubbed in Labours America problem, bringing up the legion of party nerds whod gone to bother American voters in swing states. How did that go? screeched Dame Priti Patel, newly returned to the front bench, with more than a soupcon of Barbara Windsor in the Queen Vic. Lammy wriggled again, like a sack of potatoes with a rodent trapped inside.

Somehow Starmer turned it round to the Budget. Platitude followed platitude  were fixing the foundations, he squealed. Another more descriptive F-word springs to mind to describe what Labour is doing to the economy. His own backbenchers didnt help. Jeering at the very mention of family farms is hardly a good look; nor was further heckling from Steve Reed, the pink-faced, freebie-loving London MP who is inexplicably in charge of rural affairs.

Ben Obese-Jecty asked why the PM had not removed the whip from Dawn Butler following her blackface remarks about Kemi Badenoch - House of Commons

Ben Obese-Jecty, a new MP, fumed about why Starmer hadnt removed the whip from Dawn Butler  and asked if he thought it acceptable for a back bench MP to say that the leader of the opposition represents white supremacy in blackface. To which Starmer gave one of his trademark scrutiny-phobic non-answers. No I dont, he yelped, barely even standing up before sitting down again.

Not only had they failed to hide Lammy, Dawn Butler was also sitting awkwardly near the PM, and stared mutinously at her phone throughout this exchange. (Do something! boomed Chris Philp.) But demanding moral consistency from Starmer is a bit like expecting humility from Alastair Campbell.

The Starmtroopers had evidently been drilled to within an inch of their lives; three asked questions about Badenoch; all parrotted party buzzwords. (The whips office is either handing out sweets, or administering Chinese burns, for every mention of fixing the foundations.)

Between the dead-eyed stares and the constant repetition, it felt like wed stumbled into a screening of the Children of the Corn.

Trump might not have actually been in the room but other, more worrying people were. Up in the gallery, euthanasia duo Lord Falconer and Kim Leadbeater sat together  presumably plotting how to get assisted dying through the Commons without having to actually show people their legislation.

In reality, given events in America, the only thing likely to be put out of its misery anytime soon is David Lammys front bench career.
Latino-Americans helped secure Donald Trump a favourable election performance - Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Donald Trump may be heading back to the White House. And one of the explosive sub-plots for the Left is that it was a surge in ethnic minority support  particularly among Latinos  that may have propelled his campaign to victory.

Although exit polls showed Kamala Harris capturing a larger proportion of the Latino vote overall, Trump seems to have increased his share by eight points compared to 2020. There had, of course, been furious speculation about whether he had alienated swathes of Latino voters  and ultimately botched his chances of triumphing in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania  when a comedian at one of his rallies called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Although Pennsylvanian votes are still being counted, the very opposite seems to be transpiring: several counties with sizeable Latino populations have trended towards Trump.

Amid an apparent doubling of his support among black voters in the key battleground state of Wisconsin, it also seems that Trumps voter share among African-Americans is up since 2020.

Such numbers threaten to shake the Democratic Left to its foundations. They challenge many of their assumptions about the minority vote, as well as the dominant progressive identitarian ideology.

One is that the voting inclinations of ethnic minorities are rigidly, predictably Left-leaning in line with historic norms. In fact, in recent years, such historic norms have slowly but surely started to crumble. Latinos have been gravitating towards Trump since 2016, and the voting preferences of African-American males have been diverging from their female counterparts for several years. Neither group inevitably sees themselves as structural victims who require a benevolent Left to protect their interests.

The second, closely linked Leftist assumption is that Right-wing inclinations among ethnic minorities are isolated deviations, rather than generalised trends. But minority voters have been, in line with national trends, slowly but steadfastly shifting to the Right on issues like mass immigration, due to concerns about the impact on wages and the cohesion of their communities.

It really shouldnt come as any surprise to Democrats that minorities prioritise the same bread-and-butter issues as white voters. This applies not only to immigration but also to the economy. It is notable that Trumps outreach campaign targeting Latinos heavily leaned into a message of prosperity and sought to generate a feeling of nostalgia for the pre-pandemic economy under his last presidency. It seems to have paid off.

If a Trump victory is confirmed, there will be an attempt by the Left to pathologise deviant minority voters. Implicit in such discussions will be the sentiment that people of colour  particularly young males  are so disenfranchised, angry, brainwashed and marginalised that they have somehow allowed themselves to be duped by a white supremacist party, at the same time as betraying one of their own.

The reality of the matter  that many have voted for Trump simply because they prefer his policies and have a greater confidence in his ability to deliver  will be lost in the noise.
Jason Hoganson was described as a poster boy for releasing prisoners early to ease overcrowding - Owen Humphreys/PA

A former actor who was freed from jail early under Sir Keir Starmers prisoner release scheme prompted a manhunt after going on the run.

Northumbria Police issued an appeal to the public to locate Jason Hoganson, 53, who was freed on Sept 10 from an 18-month sentence for assaulting his former girlfriend.

Hoganson, who starred in the cult 1980s film Empire State, is wanted for recall to prison for breaching his bail conditions, police said. The force said he was believed to be actively evading arrest. He was later caught.

He is accused of two counts of breaching a restraining order by contacting the same former partner, and one of carrying out a fresh assault on her after his early release from jail.

Prosecutors said Hoganson allegedly sent his former partner two letters while he was in HMP Durham in August and on Sept 3. He is then suspected of assaulting her by slapping her cheek at her home address the day after his prison release on Sept 10.

Hoganson was released from HMP Durham on Sept 10

Police said: He could be anywhere in our force area or County Durham. Anyone who sees Hoganson should not approach him and instead contact us immediately.

Please be aware that harbouring a wanted person is an offence and those involved could face prosecution.

Film career

Originally from Wallsend, Hoganson was talent-scouted by producers who contacted his drama teacher in 1987 looking for a youth to play a Geordie drifter living among mobsters in London.

He had a leading role in the 1988 Hollywood movie Empire State alongside Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and Martin Landau, the US star, but struggled with his movie career and fell into a life of drink, drugs and crime.

He is the second known prisoner freed early who is alleged to have committed a crime within hours of release. A different former inmate allegedly sexually assaulted a woman on the same day he was freed.

After his Sep 10 release, Hoganson was arrested after allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend again, and recalled to jail for breaching his licence.

He completed his jail sentence for the first assault and was then bailed by a court pending his trial for the second assault. He is now being sought by police for breaching his bail conditions.

The heavily-tattooed former actor was pictured giving the thumbs up when he was released early from HMP Durham on Sept 10 as part of the Governments attempts to tackle the prison overcrowding crisis.

He was among some 1,750 prisoners freed that day after serving 40 per cent rather than 50 per cent of their sentences.

The early release scheme was introduced by Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, as part of efforts to create up to 5,500 extra spaces in jails after the imprisonment of Summer rioters pushed the system to the brink of running out of cells.

There were just 86 spaces left in male adult prisons by the August Bank Holiday Monday.

Prison and probation watchdogs forecast that prisoners released early would be recalled to jail within weeks, with homelessness a key reason for either breaching their licence or returning to crime. A third of freed prisoners re-offend within a year of release.
Left to right: Youness Haddadi outside a polling location in Paterson, New Jersey; Wijdan Abdullah, a phone bank volunteer at the Arab American Community Center in Clifton; Majed Judeh, whose family survived the Nakba, outside a polling location in Paterson, New Jersey. Photograph: Kholood Eid/The Guardian

Fifty-year-old Maged Judeh initially did not want to vote in Tuesdays US election, he said while exiting the South Paterson library community center polling location in New Jersey.

Judeh, a Venezuelan Palestinian Muslim American, has lived for over 25 years in Paterson, a city with one of the largest Muslim and Arab populations in the United States. His father survived the 1948 Nakba  when more than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled from their homes in the war surrounding Israels creation. Because of Israels current war in Gaza, which is funded with substantial US support, Judeh said he has been completely turned off by both major political parties.

Always the same color, the same system, said Judeh, referring to Republicans and Democrats. Its gonna be always the same thing, especially what happens in Palestine.

Like several other Arab and Muslim voters at the library that day, Judeh decided to vote for Dr Jill Stein of the Green party. Stein has been forceful in condemning what she describes as Israels genocide in Gaza and has called for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the territorys blockade, humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages and political prisoners, according to her platform.

Both Democrats and Republicans have received criticism for their failure to meaningfully address the war in Gaza, a priority issue for Muslim and Arab Americans. Donald Trump has voiced support for Israels war in Gaza several times, while simultaneously promising to end the war. And Kamala Harris, as part of the Biden administration, has continued to supply arms to Israels military and failed to negotiate a ceasefire agreement.

I dont see [why it] always has to be two parties. What about the people that think different, like me? I dont think like Democrat or Republican. I want a change, Judeh said. So this change could be the third party.

Paterson, colloquially known as Little Palestine, is home to upwards of 50,000 Arab and Muslim people in total. Most of the Paterson voters the Guardian spoke to said that they voted because of the option of a third-party candidate and the desire to make their concerns about Palestine heard.

Adel Ahelawi, a 58-year-old Palestinian American who was born in Jordan, ultimately voted for Harris despite his concerns about her stance on Palestine. Im not even 100% sure, he said. But shes the best of the worst. Ahelawi, who also worked at a polling place in Paterson on Tuesday, added that he found Harris to be a little more concerned than Donald Trump about humanitarian issues in Gaza, including lack of access to food and medicine.

Trump, Ahelawi said, will probably change Israels maps like the way they want it.

The school psychologist Wijdan Abdallah, a Palestinian originally from the West Bank, spent election day volunteering at a phone banking event hosted by the Palestinian American Community Center (PACC) in Clifton, New Jersey. Over 3,000 calls were made to residents in Paterson during Tuesdays event. Abdallah, who has voted for the Democratic party in previous elections, had considered abstaining from voting, but ultimately decided to vote for the Green party after researching its stance on Palestine. She hopes that voting for a third-party candidate will help the party secure enough votes to access federal funding.

Having only two options here in America seemed like it wasnt enough any more, she said. What we have experienced when it came to the economy, what we have experienced when it came to genocide, it was just not enough.

Abdallah said that many Palestinians she spoke to in Paterson were frustrated. They would say, Well, yeah, I am registered to vote, but I dont know [who] to vote for. They both support the genocide. Its not going to make a difference.

Youness Haddadi, a 44-year-old school bus driver from Morocco who cast his ballot for Stein at the community center, said he always knew he would vote, just not for Harris. I have to see my vote. My vote has to be there, said Haddadi, who has lived in Paterson for over 45 years.

Haddadi added that many of his friends had reached a similar decision to support a third-party candidate versus not voting at all. All my friends are voting today. They have [the] same idea that I have. Together, we [make] this decision to get to neutral, just to tell them [that] whats happening overseas is not acceptable at all, he said, referring to Harris and Trump. We dont feed the angry for other countries.

Farouk Sheiks, the owner of a local fitness center and third-party candidate supporter, also said that voting was very, very, important to him as a Palestinian given the genocide thats going on in Palestine right now and Lebanon.

We have to come out and vote and let these politicians know that whats going on there needs to end right now and needs to stop. We need to stop the genocide, said 50-year-old Sheiks outside of the community center.

Sitting out the election is not a good decision, said Sheiks, who acknowledged the struggle he and others feel given US support of Israels war in Gaza.

We want everybody to vote. Doesnt matter who. Just vote, Sheiks said. But I say, vote for the lesser evil.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage
The German government has collapsed after the chancellor, Olaf Scholz, unexpectedly sacked his finance minister, plunging Europes largest economy into political disarray.

Christian Lindner was thrown out of the three-way coalition during a meeting of high-level government members on Wednesday evening, after months of bitter infighting that has contributed to the administrations growing unpopularity.

Government insiders had suggested Donald Trumps electoral victory would focus minds in Berlin and force leaders of the Social Democrats, Greens and the FDP to recognise the need for unity. But the discord and rancour in Berlin appeared to show no signs of subsiding.

Hours after Lindners sacking, the FDP withdrew the rest of its ministers from the cabinet, spelling the end of the beleaguered and unpopular three-way coalition.

In a televised address to the nation, Scholz said that he will seek a vote of confidence in January that would pave the way for early elections by March.

Scholz said he had offered Lindner a plan to bring down energy costs, boost investment and maintain support for Ukraine.

But Lindner had shown no willingness to accept it, Scholz said.

The situation is serious, Scholz added. There is war in Europe, tensions are increasing in the Middle East. At the same time, our economy is stagnating.

He said: We need to invest considerably more in our defence and in the Bundeswehr, especially now, after the outcome of the US elections.

Scholz made little effort to hide his frustration, accusing Lindner of egotism, refusing to compromise and using small-minded, party political tactics at a time of growing insecurity.

The chancellor apologised to the German people, saying he would have liked to have spared you this difficult decision, especially in times like these when uncertainty is growing, a direct reference to the US presidential election.

Lindner, 45, is the head of the pro-business FDP, which on Friday delivered a controversial 18-page ultimatum calling on the government to radically redraw its budget plans for next year.

He had repeatedly warned of an autumn of decisions as difficult budget talks have loomed.

Related: Clashes over budget could push Germanys ailing coalition to collapse

His sacking is likely to lead to snap elections in March, six months ahead of schedule. Scholz announced his intention to hold a vote of confidence in the Bundestag in mid-January, and suggested that  depending on the outcome of that elections could be held in March.

After Scholzs announcement, a clearly fuming Lindner accused the chancellor of having long failed to recognise that our country needs a new economic awakening and of trivialising the economic concerns of citizens.

His party currently stands at about 4% in the polls  below the threshold needed to gain a place in parliament  but he made little secret of his plans to campaign for a place in a new government. We remain ready to take responsibility for this country and we will fight to do the same in another government next year, he said.

The FDP is traditionally the government partner of the conservative CDU/CSU alliance, which is riding high in the polls compared with the coalition parties.

CSU leader Markus Soder demanded fresh elections as soon as January on Wednesday night, saying there could be no tactical delays and declaring the traffic light [coalition] is history in a reference to the colours of the three parties in the government.

The economics minister, Robert Habeck of the Greens, tried to put a positive spin on the removal of Lindner, urging people who had been afraid and worried by the outcome of the US election to view it as the beginning of a new impulse.

A leading economist, Clemens Fuest of the Ifo Institut, cautiously welcomed the news, saying at a time when Germany was in an economically difficult situation it without question needs a new government that is capable of acting as soon as possible.

The fallout is expected to plunge Germany into a prolonged period of uncertainty at a time when European leaders have been trying to pull together in the face of challenges including a possible trade war with the US.

As the second biggest backer of Ukraine after the US, Germany also faces concerns that it will be left to take on a far bigger share of the war effort if Trump carries out his threat to reduce support for Kyiv.

In a poll by Forsa published on Wednesday 82% of Germans said they had no faith that the government would fix Germanys economic crisis before the federal election, which had been scheduled for next September.
Members of the Older Womens Network collected donations to send the scarf to Pelicot (centre). Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images

Gisele Pelicot, the French woman who has become a feminist hero after insisting that the rape trial of her ex-husband and 50 other men should be held in public, has said she was honoured to wear a scarf to court each day that was sent to her by an Australian organisation working to raise awareness of sexual assaults on older women.

Im very honoured to wear it, Pelicot said on leaving the court in Avignon, which has heard how her then husband, Dominique Pelicot, crushed sleeping tablets and anti-anxiety medication into her food and invited dozens of men to rape her over a nine-year period from 2011 to 2020 in the village of Mazan in Provence.

Related: A soldier, a nurse, a lorry driver and dozens more: who are the men accused over rape and assault of Gisele Pelicot?

Stephane Babonneau, Gisele Pelicots lawyer, said: She was very touched to receive the scarf and see that on the issue of violence against women, even in Australia on the other side of the world, women feel the same way, and that there is a connection that unites women across the world in standing up against violence against women, and particularly sexual violence.

Yumi Lee of the Australian Older Womens Network told the Guardian she had sent the scarf in solidarity. If we could be there, we would hold up placards with We believe you, Gisele and You are our champion  thats what we would write, she said.

In court on Wednesday, Gisele Pelicot reached for the scarf and clutched it during testimony by Romain V, a 63-year-old former forklift truck-driver who is accused of raping her on six occasions over six months between 2019 and 2020 while she was unconscious on her bed.

Romain V denied rape, saying that her husband invited me in and a husbands consent was enough. He denied knowing she was drugged despite video evidence showing him smiling as she snored loudly. He said he went to the Pelicots home at the time of the first alleged rape because: I felt lonely. Christmas was approaching and I was going to be on my own again. I was looking for friendship.

Related: After Pelicot: how one womans courage has pushed France to a turning point

Romain V told the court he had known he was HIV positive at the time of the alleged rapes and had not worn a condom. The court heard that because he was on HIV treatment since his diagnosis in 2004, he had an undetectable viral load, which was regularly tested, and he could not transmit the virus. I knew I wasnt contagious, he said. His lawyer said medical documents confirmed this.

Romain V told the court that later, in 2023, he found out he had syphilis after he was tested as part of the police investigation. During the decade of abuse, Gisele Pelicot contracted several sexually transmitted diseases which will have a lifelong impact, but not HIV.

The court heard that Romain V had been subjected to extreme physical violence and abuse by his parents and was raped by a priest as a child.

Gisele Pelicot, 72, a former logistics manager, has told the court she insisted on a public trial because: I wanted all woman victims of rape  to say: Mrs Pelicot did it, we can do it too. When youre raped there is shame, and its not for us to have shame, its for them.

She had received testimony from women across the world, including in Europe, the US, the UK and Brazil, her lawyer said. Its something that has really touched her and shows this connection that unites all women.

Lee said she and the other members of the Australian Older Womens Network collected donations among themselves to send the silk scarf, crafted by First Nations women, to Pelicot. We hope that when she wears it, she knows that she has the backing and solidarity of women who are thousands of kilometres from the courtroom, said Lee, who said the world was watching as Gisele Pelicot recast concepts such as shame, sexual violence and consent. What she has done is help us to take a big step to change the status quo.

Lee added: Shes a champion. We hope that once the trial is over, she will be able to feel the sun on her skin and know that she is treasured by many, many women around the world.
Grover Cleveland won the 1884 and 1892 elections, either side of defeat in 1888 - Library of Congress/AP Photo

Donald Trump is only the second US president to regain the White House, repeating the feat of Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century.

Cleveland won the 1884 and 1892 elections, either side of defeat in 1888.

Others have tried, but US voters decided that one term was enough for Martin Van Buren, Millard Fillmore, Ulysses S Grant, Teddy Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover.

There are echoes of Cleveland in Trump.

Both had colourful personal lives, which had little impact on their political prospects, with Cleveland, a Democrat, winning the 1884 election despite having to support an illegitimate son.

Trump avoided conscription to Vietnam after a doctor diagnosed he had bone spurs, while Cleveland sidestepped the 1863 Conscription Act and paid a Polish immigrant to take his place and fight in the Civil War.

Trump defeated a sitting vice-president, while Cleveland won the 1892 election ousting Benjamin Harrison, who had beaten him four years before.

Cleveland had an illegitmate son

There are, however, notable differences.

Cleveland wanted to lower tariffs, a policy which cost him dearly with workers in the industrial north east turning against him because they feared cheap imports would threaten their jobs.

Trumps pledge to raise tariffs helped him win the support of blue-collar voters who deserted the Democrats, paving the way for the former presidents comeback.

The new president-elect could learn from Cleveland, Dr Mark Zachary Taylor, who wrote a biography of the 19th-century president told The Telegraph.

Do compromise and dont over-reach! he said.

Cleveland did best when he worked with Congress and his party to pass major legislation. But he doomed the economy to years of depression when he shrank from coalition-building and stubbornly refused to budge on his governing philosophy, Dr Taylor, a political scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology, added.

In fact, the depression of 1893 to 1897 was so bad that Clevelands Democratic party got swept from power for almost two decades, leaving Republicans to dominate throughout the land.

One of Clevelands key achievements was civil service reform, Professor Daniel Klinghard at the Political Science department at College of the Holy Cross told The Telegraph.

Trumps pledge to bring thousands of supporters into the administration will reverse many of Clevelands reforms.

However, there are other similarities, Prof Klinghard added.

Cleveland also had a group of allies and advisors who did a lot of work to promote his cause. When he was renominated in 1892, he was more of an incumbent than a challenger.

Voters  who were facing years of economic chaos and labour protest  could look to Cleveland as a reassuring figure from the past who had handled himself well in office.

Trump has a similar advantage  he is essentially an incumbent. Voters discounted the chaos that he threatened, because he is also a known quantity. And, like Cleveland, Trump  aided by effective boosters  effectively defined the partys position on many of the key issues of the day.
Network of pipes could carry excess heat from the London Underground and other sources to power hot water and central heating. Photograph: William Barton/Alamy

About 1,000 London buildings including the Houses of Parliament and the National Gallery could soon be warmed by low-carbon heat sourced from the River Thames, London Underground and sewer networks.

Plans to develop the UKs biggest heat network to supply decarbonised heat to buildings across Westminster were set out on Wednesday by the government as part of its pledge to back seven heat network zones with more than 5m of public funding.

The plan will involve a network of pipes constructed to carry excess heat captured underground to power hot water and central heating systems in the area.

The 1bn scheme will be developed by a joint venture  between heating specialists Hemiko and Vital Energi  known as the South Westminster Area Network partnership, designed to save the area about 75,000 tonnes of CO 2 each year, the equivalent to planting 1.2m trees.

Across Europe, energy companies are beginning to capture the surplus heat typically released into the air from a wide range of sources, including supermarkets, transport networks and datacentres. Lower temperatures can also be captured from water sources, including rivers and sewers, and raised high enough to provide heating by using electric heat pumps.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, the minister for energy consumers, said: Taking waste heat from the River Thames and London Underground to heat such iconic places as the Houses of Parliament and the National Portrait Gallery is a really exciting example of what lies ahead on our journey to low-cost, low-carbon heating.

This project will help support hundreds of jobs and make bold new strides towards boosting our energy security.

Heat networks help meet just 3% of the UKs heating needs. They are expected to play a greater role in providing hot water and warm indoor temperatures as the government aims to replace fossil fuel heating, which is responsible for almost a third of the UKs carbon emissions.

They could be responsible for almost a fifth of all heating by 2050 under the advice provided to the government by the Committee on Climate Change on creating a net zero economy.

Toby Heysham, the chief executive of Hemiko, said the company planned to invest 1bn over the next six years into heat networks that would allow households and businesses to make use of locally wasted heat.

This network will be the flagship network in the UK, the first new zonal scale network in a market that offers an investment potential the size of the UK offshore wind industry, Heysham said.

Steps like this show that the UK heat networks market is open for business.
The decision will result in ankle bracelets and curfews being lifted from more than 100 unlawful non-citizens, in a major headache for the Albanese government. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The harsh regime of ankle bracelets and curfews imposed on non-citizens released from indefinite immigration detention has been struck down by the high court.

On Wednesday the court ruled in favour of a stateless refugee from Eritrea whose challenge argued the visa conditions breached the separation of powers and amounted to punishment.

The decision will result in ankle bracelets and curfews being lifted from more than 100 unlawful non-citizens, in a major headache for the Albanese government.

Related: Joy, fascism and a staggering gender gulf mark a US election like no other

Electronic monitoring and curfews, which are usually from 10pm to 6am, were imposed on unlawful non-citizens released as a result of the high courts November 2023 decision that indefinite immigration detention is unlawful.

In Senate estimates on Monday home affairs officials revealed that by mid-October some 215 non-citizens had been released as a result of that decision, 143 of who are subject to electronic monitoring and 126 with the curfew condition.

On Wednesday five justices of the high court ruled that both conditions were invalid. Justices Simon Steward and Robert Beech-Jones dissented, and were of the opinion that both visa conditions were valid. The commonwealth was ordered to pay costs.

The courts ruling is a loss for the Albanese government, which legislated the new visa conditions with Coalition support after caving to opposition demands to toughen the regime with mandatory minimum sentences for breach of visa conditions and for the conditions to be applied as a default.

In the majority judgment, Chief Justice Stephen Gageler and justices Michelle Gordon, Jacqueline Gleeson and Jayne Jagot held that the conditions were punitive.

They described the curfew as neither trivial nor transient with non-citizens confined for one-third of every day. They said ankle bracelets  neither small nor discreet  would suggest to many people that the wearer must present some kind of risk, exposing them to a degradation of autonomy.

The judges criticised the laws purported non-punitive purpose  to protect the Australian community from harm  for broad drafting that does not refer to any harm associated with criminal conduct.

They also noted the government had repeatedly justified the law on the basis of maintaining the confidence of the Australian community in the migration system being well-managed.

The judges noted that the power can be exercised even where it cannot be and has not been established that the imposition of the condition is reasonably necessary for the achievement of the purported legitimate non-punitive purpose because the default position is that the minister imposes the condition. That amendment was inserted by the Coalition and singled out by the plaintiff for criticism.

The impugned conditions involve a price that persons within the relevant class must pay for their presence in the Australian community, the majority judgment said. The impugned conditions are a form of extra-judicial collective punishment based on membership of the class.

They said this breached the separation of powers.

The shadow home affairs minister, James Paterson, and shadow immigration minister, Dan Tehan, said the decision was an embarrassing loss for the Albanese government.

The Albanese Labor government must explain what they will do to keep the Australian people safe.

The pair cited evidence in Senate estimates that the cohort includes people convicted of murder or attempted murder (12), sexual offending (66), assault (97), domestic violence (15), serious drug offences (15) and people smuggling (5). Five have low or no level of offending, officials told estimates on Monday.

On Monday the home affairs department general counsel, Clare Sharp, said the department had engaged in very extensive planning for all possible outcomes of the challenge, including possible further legislation.

The plaintiff in the case, known by the pseudonym YBFZ, came to Australia in 2002, when he was granted a refugee visa at age 14 after fleeing religious persecution.

YBFZ was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and has a record of criminal offending commencing in 2004, according to his high court application, including a conviction in September 2017 for offences of burglary and recklessly [causing] injury.

After being sentenced to an aggregate sentence of 18 months in prison, YBFZs visa was cancelled in December 2017. YBFZ went into immigration detention in March 2018 and was released on 23 November 2023 as a result of the earlier high court decision.

The Refugee Legal executive director, David Manne, who acted for the plaintiff YBFZ, said the decision was a victory for fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

The curfew and ankle bracelets constitute punishments which seriously infringe our clients liberty, and the government doesnt have power to do that, he told Guardian Australia. Under our constitution only courts, and not the government, can impose punishment.

Everyone, whether citizens or non-citizens, should have the same protections of freedom and dignity under the law.

Manne said the conditions had made it impossible to lead ordinary lives, let alone to get a job, with non-citizens released from detention living under constant fear if theyre late home by one minute or dont recharge the bracelets theyll be imprisoned for a minimum of one year.

While the ankle bracelet and curfew legislation was passing parliament, the Labor minister Murray Watt said on 16 November that the government had as much confidence as we possibly can about its constitutionality.

Guardian Australia contacted the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, for comment.
This illustration taken from the government's official YouTube video shows a conveyor belt road. Japan is planning to build such a road between Tokyo and Osaka. Photograph: AP

Six decades after the bullet train first whisked passengers between Tokyo and Osaka, authorities in Japan are planning to do the same for cargo, with the construction of a conveyor belt road.

The automated cargo transport corridor, which will connect the capital with Osaka, 320 miles (515km) away, is seen as part of the solution to soaring demand for delivery services in the worlds fourth-biggest economy.

Planners also hope the road will ease pressure on delivery drivers amid a chronic labour shortage that is affecting everything from catering and retail to haulage and public transport.

The road will also help cut carbon emissions, according to Yuri Endo, a senior official at the transport ministry who is overseeing the project.

We need to be innovative with the way we approach roads, Endo told the Associated Press. The key concept of the auto flow-road is to create dedicated spaces within the road network for logistics, utilising a 24-hour automated and unmanned transportation system.

A computer-graphic video released by the government last month shows large containers on pallets  each capable of supporting up to a ton of produce  moving three abreast along an auto flow road in the middle of a motorway, with vehicles traveling in opposite directions on either side.

Automated forklifts will load items into the containers as part of a network that links airports, railways and ports.

Test runs are due to begin in 2027 or early 2028, with the road going into full operation in the middle of the next decade.

While no official estimates have been released, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said a road linking Tokyo and Osaka could cost up to 3.7tn [18.6bn] given the large number of tunnels that would be needed.

If the project is successful, it could be expanded to include other parts of Japan. But humans will not be out of the picture altogether  they will still have to make door-to-door deliveries until the possible introduction of driverless vehicles.

The ministry estimates logistics motorways could do the work of 25,000 truck drivers per day, the Yomiuri said.

The shortage of truck drivers, who carry about 90% of Japans cargo, is expected to accelerate after the introduction this year of a law limiting their overtime in an attempt to address overwork and reduce the number of accidents.

While some have welcomed the change in a sector notorious for its long hours and difficult working conditions, the 2024 problem will leave a gaping hole in the logistics workforce.

If the trend continues the countrys transport capacity will plunge by 34% by the end of the decade, according to government estimates.

Demand for deliveries soared in Japan during the Covid-19 pandemic, with government data showing users rising from about 40% of households to 60%.
Kamala Harris and her party did not marginalise radical forces - BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP

President Trump declared that his overwhelming victory gives him a mandate to pursue the policies on which he campaigned. That is true but only to a degree. The election results also constituted a widespread rejection of the policies of the Democrat Party and the qualifications of their candidates.

More than most presidential elections, this one was about negatives as much as positives. Many voters cast their ballots against the opposing candidate rather than for the candidate for whom they reluctantly voted. Both parties must understand this reality if they are to glean the appropriate lessons for the future.

The Democrats must recognise that we are a centrist country and that, as a party, they have moved far too aggressively to the Left, platforming radicals at their convention, praising anti-American and anti-Israel campus protestors, and appointing too many extremists to positions of authority.

American voters want pragmatic moderates rather than extremist ideologues. They also eschew the elitism of the current Democratic leadership and large parts of its voting base.

The Democrats used to be the party of working-class people who care more about feeding their families than pursuing a progressive agenda. Recently, they have become captives of the hard-Left, especially among young people.

Their leaders, including Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, categorically refused to stand up to the extremists and to marginalise them. Instead they welcomed them into a tent that was far too inclusive of elements that are widely perceived by voters as being too extreme, too ideological and even too anti-American.

Harris first mistake involved her first important decision, namely her selection of a running mate. The obvious choice was the popular governor of the most important swing state  Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania  but Harris did not want to alienate the hard-Left, which includes anti-Semites and anti-Zionists.

Shapiro is both a Jew and a Zionist, and Harris feared that she would lose Michigan if she provoked its pro-Palestinian voters by choosing him. Instead she chose a Minnesotan with even less experience than she had, especially in foreign policy. Neither she nor her vice presidential choice were ready to be president, and voters worried about her judgment in selecting him.

Harris might still not have won the election if she chose Shapiro and consequently won Pennsylvania. But her rejection of Shapiro on what appeared to many to be religious grounds and her capitulation to the hard-Left alienated many moderate voters throughout the country.

President Trump also made numerous missteps, especially in the last 10 days before the election, but many votes had already been cast and other voters had made up their minds.

If Trump wants a successful presidency, he too must move to the middle. He will be tempted to use the criminal justice system against his political opponents, claiming that they started it. He would be right in that claim, but he would be wrong to emulate it. He should announce that he will never use the criminal justice system against his political opponents.

To demonstrate his bonafides, he might consider pardoning Hunter Biden along with non-violent January 6 protestors (full disclosure: I represent one peaceful protestor who entered the Capitol). Trump should appoint an attorney general who is above reproach and who is non-partisan.

Trump himself must be given credit for exploiting his opponents weaknesses and running an authentic, if controversial, and often disturbing campaign. He seems to have the pulse of the American voter better than his critics. But his election is not a vindication of his excesses, nor a mandate for persisting in them.

What we need now is a Lincolnesque approach to bringing a divided nation together, with malice toward none and charity toward all. Its a tall order, especially for Trump. But if he succeeds, his legacy will be secure and the world will be better off. This is his greatest challenge. Its up to him to meet it with strength and magnanimity.

Alan Dershowitz is an emeritus professor at Harvard Law School. He represented Donald Trump in his first impeachment and is the author of War Against the Jews
Kokila Annamalai speaking at an anti death penalty protest at Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park 3 April 2022. Photograph: Transformative Justice Collective

Kokila Annamalai, a prominent Singaporean activist, has spent years supporting death row inmates and their families as they fight to avoid execution. So, when she was ordered by the government to share a correction on social media that countered criticisms she had made of Singapores laws, and accused death row inmates of abusing the justice system, she felt compelled to take a stand.

Death row prisoners are one of the most voiceless and powerless people in our society, and the courts are such a powerful institution, she says.

The government correction notice had said some death row inmates abuse the court process by filing last-minute applications to stymie their scheduled execution.

I feel a very deep sense of injustice and pain about how something that should be their right is [being] described as an abuse, says Annamalai. Obviously, it is their impulse to try everything in their power to try and save their life, and fight for what they think is just.

The 36-year-old has refused to share the correction, and is believed to be the first person within Singapore to defy its online misinformation law  a stance the risks jail time.

Annamalai hopes that by doing so she can hold the line and show others they do not need to be cowed by the system.

Theyre afraid

Annamalai has faced multiple police investigations, and even a criminal charge, for taking part in peaceful protests over the years. Her group, Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), has been blocked by the authorities from holding an exhibition on its key campaign issue, the death penalty. The issue is so taboo that very little space is granted to their voices in mainstream media. Even booking a venue for campaign events is challenging.

Social media is one of the few platforms where it is possible to share critical opinions, she says, adding that this has made her all the more determined to defy the governments order, which was issued under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma).

Annamalai believes the government has adopted various new laws to restrict online civic rights. Theyre very afraid of the amount of critical discussion and dissent in the online space. And thats not something that their previous laws have been designed to police sufficiently.

She has now been referred to the Pofma office for investigation. She could face a fine of up to $20,000 (15,400) and 12 months imprisonment.

Kate Schuetze, deputy regional director for research at Amnesty International, said Pofma orders were nothing but a desperate measure to stifle peaceful freedom of expression and criticism of the authorities.

Growing a culture of dissent

Annamalai has been invovled in activism since university and says she has witnessed a change in public attitudes to civic rights. In the past, the overwhelming public response to acts of protest was contempt, she said. Youd get a lot of hate comments, a lot of attacks - where do you think you are? You should move to the west if you want to import all these western liberal ideas.

Today, the public attitudes are shifting, she says.

The governments position has always been that Singaporeans are not invested in civil liberties  that they understand that they have to trade them off for public order and safety, and in return, [the government] gives them a good life, a comfortable society to live in, said Annamalai.

That deal has been undermined, Annamalai says. Inequality is on the rise, the cost of living is high, people cant afford housing, she said. People are struggling.

This shift in the social contract is part of what makes her defiance of the Pofma Act so crucial, she says, to support a change whereby society is starting to practise and explore, [and] starting to grow in its culture of dissent.

The Facebook post that drew a government Pofma order had been about the execution of Azwan bin Bohari, who was hanged in October after being found guilty of possession of 26.5 grams of diamorphine for the purpose of trafficking.

The government accused Annamalai of suggesting that it schedules and stays executions arbitrarily and without regard for due legal process.

Annamalai denies this, and says her post instead focused on how bureaucratic decisions are confusing and traumatising for families.

The government also ordered a correction to another aspect of her social media post, saying she had written that in cases involving alleged drug trafficking, the state does not face the legal burden of proving the accused is guilty. Annamalai says she was drawing attention to how Singapores laws allow for a presumption that a person is trafficking drugs based on the amount they are carrying. She says this puts the burden on the accused person to refute this  which she feels shifts part of the burden of proof and is unfair, especially when a conviction can lead to the death penalty.

Responding to criticism of the Pofma act, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the government does not target individuals or organisations for speaking out against the death penalty, adding: But where false statements are made about government policy which is a matter of significant public interest, then it is important that readers are made aware that what they may be reading is considered false by the government.

The ministry claimed that Annamalais intent is to undermine public confidence in public institutions, in particular the criminal justice system, adding where she does so based on falsehoods, the government is entitled to a right of response.

The order regarding her social media post, it added, does not prevent her from sharing her views. It simply requires her to carry a correction notice alongside her original post.

It is possible to appeal against Pofma orders. However, Annamalai has not done so because she would still be required to comply and post a correction notice.

Prisoners dehumanised

Research from 2018 suggests that the death penalty is supported by the overwhelming majority of Singaporeans. However, over recent years, a growing number of people have voiced support for abolition of capital punishment.

In 2022, rare protests calling for an end to executions drew more than 400 people . For a long time people on death row were kept very dehumanised to the public. The only kind of narrative [the public] would get is that theyre these terrifying criminals who are ruining our society, making everyone unsafe, and putting children at risk, said Annamalai.

Efforts to share the stories of those on death row online have underlined how many are from minority or migrant communities, and marginalised backgrounds.

That makes people a lot more uncomfortable with the death penalty, she says.
Lord Lucan and Lady Veronica Lucan - Terry Fincher/BBC

How quickly did the hunt for Lord Lucan move from tragedy to farce? The missing peer became a source of comedy, a punchline of jokes, and an excuse for Fleet Street reporters to visit far-flung locations on company expenses. I regard not finding Lord Lucan as my most spectacular success in journalism, a Daily Mirror journalist once said. Of course, many of my colleagues have also been fairly successful in not finding Lord Lucan. But I have successfully not found him in more exotic spots than anybody else.

Lucan (BBC Two), a three-part documentary, reminds us that there was a terrible crime at the heart of this story. It follows Neil Berriman, a builder who was adopted as a baby and who discovered in middle age that his birth mother was Sandra Rivett, the nanny bludgeoned to death in the Lucan family home in November 1974. Berriman has spent 17 years searching for Lucan with a conviction that has tipped into fixation.

The programme provides details of the murder  there is an interview with the detective who discovered Rivetts body, and disturbing photographs of the crime scene  and explores the various theories as to Lucans fate. But this is really a study of obsession, and a sad one. Berriman is emotional, frequently tearful, and clinging to the idea that he can get justice for the mother he never met.

You cannot watch this without feeling desperately sorry for him. He feels a loyalty both to her and to the adoptive mother whom he adored and who set him on this trail by leaving him a newspaper article about the Lucan case. Nevertheless, it is framed a bit like a thriller.

Berriman, aided by journalist Glen Campbell  you will form your own opinion as to whether Campbell has been a helpful presence in Berrimans life  follows leads that suggest that Lucan reinvented himself as a Buddhist monk and is currently living in the suburbs of Brisbane. To me, he looks nothing like Lucan and is clearly almost a foot shorter, but Berriman is convinced, and mounts an undercover operation to trap him.

This part is an uncomfortable watch, sometimes verging on the absurd. Throughout, the sympathetic voice of director Colette Camden can be heard gently asking Berriman if some of his ideas are a bit far-fetched, or suggesting that it might be time to move on. But this is a man who has lost two mothers, and is unable to give up the fight.
North Wales police were called at 10.30pm on 24 October to a residential property in Rhyl. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

A man has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead in her home in north Wales.

Dean Mark Albert Mears, 33, is accused of murder and burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after the death of Catherine Flynn, 69. He was remanded in custody after appearing in court.

North Wales police were called at 10.30pm on 24 October to a residential property in Rhyl. Officers found Flynn, who was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, of which she later died.

In a tribute, Flynns family said her death had left a huge hole in everyones hearts.

The family added: Cathy was a wonderful mum, nan, great nan, auntie, and sister, and also a second mother to many and a great friend. She loved her family more than anything, she was a fantastic cook and was always wanting to feed anyone in her company.

Her pride and joy (after her family) was her love for her garden. She would sit for hours just watching the birds and the bees come in and out of her little wonderland, with every flower imaginable.

Her house was so welcoming and warm. She was beautiful inside and out. To her friends, neighbours and anyone else she knew, she was just a ray of sunshine with the biggest smile on her face. She would do anything for anyone, she would give anyone her last penny and her door was always open for a nice cuppa and a chat. And this went both ways: anyone who knew her would do anything for her too, as she was respected by all.



A 28-year-old man arrested on conspiracy to commit murder has been released on conditional police bail, pending further inquiries.

A 25-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been eliminated from inquiries after police established that she had no involvement.

On 5 November, the police renewed a call for information that could help with their inquiries. DCI Lee Boycott said: I am grateful to all those in the local community who have come forward to assist us so far. However, if there is anyone who has not yet spoken to us, I would urge them to contact us, no matter how small their information may be.



Flynns friend Natalie Warren paid tribute on a fundraising website. This has absolutely turned this family upside down. Cathy was such a lovely woman, she had the greatest smile and the absolute most kindest of hearts, she would help anyone and everyone without a second thought. No one deserves what this poor lady went through, she wrote.

Natasha, her husband, Liam, and daughter Tal were so, so close to Cathy. Tasha was her mums carer and looked after her mum so dearly, so as you can imagine this has come as a huge shock and absolutely broken this family to pieces to have the mum/nan taken from them in such a brutal way.
Jessica Thorpe spent 29 months off work following the claims

An NHS nurse was suspended for more than two years after a patient claimed she was pregnant with his child, an employment tribunal has heard.

Jessica Thorpe sued for unfair dismissal after she was suspended following the allegation.

The claim was made by a patient on Ward Z  a secure facility for men with mental disorders and illnesses who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Ms Thorpe began working there in early 2020 but on April 27 of that year Patient X  whose name has been anonymised for legal reasons  alleged he was having an inappropriate relationship with her and said she was pregnant with his child.

Three days later, Ms Thorpe, who worked for Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, was suspended.

Employment Judge Simon Loy said there were then a series of extensions to her suspension, which lasted for 29 months.

A disciplinary hearing eventually took place more than a year later in July 2021, following various issues which caused delays  including the death of Patient X.

The panel heard how there may have been a blurring of boundaries due to the patient responding well to the nurse, but said that the allegation of inappropriate behaviour had not been upheld due to a lack of conclusive evidence.

However, Ms Thorpe never received a letter confirming the outcome of the hearing, Judge Loy said.

After the disciplinary hearing, Ms Thorpe was later told that the panel had not yet reached a conclusion because the trusts chief operating officer had subsequently reviewed the witness statements and had concerns, the tribunal heard.

She was then told that she would not be returning to work until the police investigation into Patient Xs death had been completed and the trusts serious incident process procedure had concluded.

Trust failed to address gossip

In October 2022, Ms Thorpe was finally sent an email which outlined her return to work, but the following month, on Nov 11, she resigned from the role.

In her resignation letter, Ms Thorpe said the trust had failed to acknowledge a grievance she had raised or address any gossip about the alleged relationship from colleagues.

The tribunal judge said he would not address or make factual findings on whether or not the allegations relating to Patient X were accurate.

However, he upheld Ms Thorpes claims for unfair constructive dismissal, breach of contract and unlawful deduction of wages.

Judge Loy said there had been an enormous period in which Ms Thorpe was suspended from work but said the real issue arose from the trusts decision not to allow her back to work after the disciplinary hearing.

The tribunal has concluded that there was no reasonable and proper cause for [Ms Thorpes] continued suspension and/or being placed in double jeopardy after July 21 2021, he said.

Influencer income

During her suspension in September 2020, Ms Thorpe began a food influencer account on Instagram called Slice of Jess, which amassed more than 50,000 followers, the tribunal heard.

Around the same time, she also began making YouTube videos, attracting 25,000 subscribers to her channel, and began earning an income from her content.

Tax returns presented to the tribunal showed her income from Google rose from 4,211 in 2021 to 19,222 in 2023.

The trust argued Ms Thorpe resigned because she wanted to pursue her career as a social media influencer, but she told the tribunal she only began the hobby because she had been suspended.

The tribunal accepted that Ms Thorpes desire to pursue a career as a social media influencer and to work elsewhere were influential on her decision to resign.

Because of this, Judge Loy said he had considerable sympathy for the trusts position, adding that it was an oddity that Ms Thorpe resigned when in other contexts the breach might be considered as having been remedied.

However, the tribunal must apply the applicable legal principles, he added.

If the duration of [Miss Thorpes] suspension gave her an opportunity to explore the potential for social media activities to generate income then so be it.

Her compensation will be decided at a future hearing.
Bridget Phillipson speaking to teachers and teaching assistants at a reception hosted by Keir Starmer in 10 Downing Street. Photograph: WPA/Getty Images

Top exam grades will not transform children into happy and healthy adults, the education secretary will say, calling on schools in England to replace a tunnel vision on academic success with wellbeing.

Speaking to school leaders in Birmingham on Thursday, Bridget Phillipson will say that schools can respond to declining attendance and an increasing number of pupils with special needs by improving the sense of belonging.

Exam results open important doors to opportunity for young people; they show what pupils know and can do; they are and will continue to be the anchor of our education system, Phillipson will say.

But A*s alone do not set young people up for a healthy and happy life. And where previous governments have had tunnel vision, we will widen our ambition.

The speech to the Confederation of School Trusts is Phillipsons first attempt as education secretary to set out her vision for Englands schools, aligning with calls for more of subjects such as music and sport.

Phillipsons speech comes in the context of the wide-ranging curriculum and assessment review, chaired by Prof Becky Francis, launched this summer, as well as the governments plans for a childrens wellbeing bill to be published next year.

Phillipson will tell the 1,500 school and academy trust leaders that wellbeing and belonging hold the key for improving the lives of young people, saying: If we want to tackle the epidemic of school absence, children need to feel like they belong in school.

If we want to transform the outcomes of all young people with special educational needs and disabilities [Send], children need to feel like they belong in school. And if we want young people to leave our school system, not just with A*s in their pocket but with a sense of power and purpose, children need to feel like they belong.

Arguing that a sole focus on achieving is doomed to fail, Phillipson will add: This government will always be strong on standards. But those standards will forever be in the pursuit of what is best for children.

Because if we fall into that trap of chasing a narrow shade of standards, structures-driven rather than child-focused, then children with Send get swept to the side and attendance crashes.

Related: English universities could miss out on millions from tuition fee increase

The review announced in July is expected to encourage a broader curriculum to be taught in schools, including music, art, sport and drama, as well as vocational subjects, alongside the core subjects of literacy and maths.

On Monday, Phillipson announced that tuition fees for undergraduates in England would rise in 2025-26, from 9,250 to 9,535, and promised further measures to improve access to university for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Figures published by the Ucas admissions service  compiled before the tuition fee announcement  show a slight fall in UK 18-year-olds applying for places with October deadlines, including Oxbridge and medical schools.

Anne Murdoch of the Association of School and College Leaders said it was disappointing that applications to selective institutions from disadvantaged students remained static.

Increased tuition fees are hardly conducive to improving this situation, particularly while the level of maintenance loans remains so low as to not sufficiently cover living costs in many cases, she said. This effectively puts these prestigious courses out of the reach of many disadvantaged families.
Paul Mescal plays Lucius and Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in Gladiator II which has a royal premiere at Leicester Square on Nov 13 - AIDAN MONAGHAN/FILM STILLS

The Queen is expected to attend the global film premiere of Gladiator II next week, after falling ill with a chest infection.

Buckingham Palace announced that the King and Queen will meet actors Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Pedro Pascal as well as director Sir Ridley Scott.

The royal couple will watch the screening of the Gladiator sequel at the Royal Film Performance in Londons Leicester Square next Wednesday evening.

The Queen, 77, was this week compelled to pull out of engagements after catching a seasonal illness.

She is hoping to return to duty this weekend for Remembrance events, with the royal diary being filled for next week in expectation of her recovery.

On Wednesday, the King and Queen will host a daytime reception at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the UKs television and film industry, welcoming guests including directors, actors, presenters, stunt performers and costume designers.

The Queen was this week compelled to pull out of engagements after catching a seasonal illness - Chris Jackson/PA

The premiere will be held the evening before the Kings 76th birthday, which falls on Thursday, Nov 14. The days events mark the centenary of the Film and TV Charity, of which he is patron.

The palace will house a display of costumes and props from films including Titanic and Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World, as well as the late Maggie Smiths costume from the 1982 film Evil Under The Sun.

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in the Gladiator sequel - CUBA SCOTT

The Queens newly announced engagements for next week also include a Booker Prize reception at Clarence House on Tuesday.

The Queen, who is resting at her Wiltshire home Ray Mill, is hoping to be able to go to the annual Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening at the Royal Albert Hall, and the national Remembrance service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday.

Paul Mescal will be amongst the stars of Gladiator II attending the royal premiere on Nov 13 - AIDAN MONAGHAN

Gladiator II is set decades after the plot of the original Gladiator, released in 2000, which starred Russell Crowe as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius.

The new film is said to continue the epic saga of power, intrigue and vengeance set in ancient Rome.
Shomari Figures speaks at the Democratic national convention in Chicago, Illinois, on 22 August 2024. Photograph: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images

Tuesday night was a celebratory one for voters in Alabamas newly redrawn second congressional district two. Shomari Figures, who was born in Mobile, was elected to the US House of Representatives, becoming the first Black person to hold the position since 1832. To some district two residents, Figures election is proof that their work to get the district redrawn and to educate voters was worth it. For them, Figures, who worked in Barack Obamas White House, represents an opportunity for change and progress in the majority-Black district.

Voting advocates in and around district two for months had been working to inform voters about the district change. In March, during super Tuesday, some feared their efforts were in vain as voter turnout was low. Still, many organizations across the state and district continued trying to reach people  even on election day.

Women with the South Alabama Black Womens Roundtable, a grassroots organization, were phone banking in at least two places in the state, Dothan and Greenville, on election day. In Greenville, Evelyn Lewis led a group of about one dozen who called people throughout the day to ask them if they planned to vote. While most people said they had already voted, some said that they couldnt or wouldnt. As late as 5pm, members of the organization were lettering cars with flyers detailing what they needed to know to vote.

Related: Excitement in the air: newly created Alabama district votes for first time

Elsewhere in Greenville, many volunteers were out offering sample ballots to those who arrived to vote.

But not everyone who voted understood the significance of the change in the district. For them, the choice at the top of the ballot was more important than local elections.

Meosha Matthews said that she didnt know anything about the congressional district change, but she still believed it was important to vote.

I hope everybody comes vote, everybody needs to vote, she said. I havent voted in a long time, but I think it makes a difference this time. We dont need Trump back up there.

Kathy Smith and Aundrea Anderson, a mother-daughter duo, said that they had been passing out sample ballots since 7am. While Anderson said that she believed the election was about the same, she was still hopeful about the turnout, and particularly the ways in which younger voters felt engaged. While many young, Black male voters told Smith that they were planning to vote Democratic, for Figures and for Harris, others said that they did not like the idea of a woman having authority over men. For both women, many would-be voters they attempted to engage with expressed nihilist views of the outcome of the election.

I heard earlier today, theyre not coming out to vote at all because: Either way, what happens, happens, Anderson said. Its like were in a lose-lose situation for both.

But for others the newly redrawn congressional district signified hope and an opportunity for change.

This is something great for district two. This was a perfect decision to allow district two to have fair representation and I believe that after tonight once we have a new congressional leader for this district, it will move district two in the right direction, Jaeques Brown, a city councilperson, said.

During Super Tuesday, Jamey Thompson defeated the incumbent candidate with more than 80% of votes cast. Without a Republican challenger, Thompson was elected to the school board position. Thompson said that he, too, was excited about the change.

This area for years didnt have the representation that they needed to push certain things, like more for the schools, better housing, things like that, he said. Im excited to see what that outcome is going to be like tonight because we need that representation. Im for Figures  we had a good talk today  I hope he gets there because I know hes going to be for the people in my community.

Related: Alabamas new congressional map increases power of Black voters

Figures engagement in Butler county and the surrounding counties was noted by many voters in Greenville, who said that he interacted with them in ways they hadnt seen before. His parents legacies were also referenced as positive notes by voters. Both of Figures parents served in the Alabama Senate, while his father worked as the attorney for Beulah Mae Donald, whose son was lynched by Klan members. A jury awarded Donald a settlement of $7m  enough to bankrupt the United Klans of America.

The potential for a representative government was cited by many voters across the district as a reason for voting for Figures.

Gary Blair, who voted in Troy, said that the historical significance of the election was particularly important to him. Blair voted at Troy Public Library, which has a courtyard featuring a historical marker to civil rights icon John Lewis, who was born in Pike county. That marker overlooked voters as they entered the polling place.

The movement was so forceful and so strong, the couldnt stop it, Blair said of the civil rights movement. As we matriculate through time, its stuff like this that makes it important that we go to the polls and exercise our right to vote.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage
Stuart Syvret:  I was sacked for doing my job - James Breeden

When Stuart Syvret arrived at an undisclosed location in the United States in 2022, he had nothing more than the shoes on his feet, the clothes on his back and a knapsack containing just a few of his belongings.

The last time hed been to the US was more than 20 years earlier, on a whirlwind holiday to New York. Now, he was entering the country to meet friends who would help him apply for protective asylum.

Behind him were two decades as a politician, senior senator and health minister on the British island of Jersey. During that time, Syvret went from topping the islands polls as its most popular politician to becoming one of its most vociferous political dissidents, blowing the whistle on child abuse and other serious crimes.

It also put a target on his back.

As Jerseys health and social services minister, Syvret learnt, to his horror, that some of the islands most vulnerable people, from children in Jerseys government-run care homes to patients at the local hospital, faced serious and unaddressed dangers. His attempts to hold the government to account led to his dismissal in a vote of no confidence in 2007. He eventually left his position as the islands longest-serving senior senator in 2009. As Syvret puts it, I was sacked for doing my job.

Syvret discovered that children had been abused at care homes in Jersey such as Haut de la Garenne - Anthony Devlin/PA

His life and career have since been defined by his very public battle to expose what he contends are longstanding issues of endemic corruption in Jersey, a $2 trillion tax haven notoriously sensitive about maintaining its image as a global financial centre. I was the only meaningful opposition the island has ever seen, and I took a stand against crimes, Syvret tells me, in an exclusive interview at his home in the US. He has asked that his location be kept confidential for security reasons.

I slept with a hammer next to the bed all the time, the 59-year-old says, recalling his final days on the island. I was in fear of my life. But rather than arresting the person who was threatening me, Jerseys authorities kept bringing me the threats.

Also known as Osman warnings, the personal safety notices he received alert the recipient to the possible threat of murder or death. For the former senator, the threat notices from Jerseys police began in 2018, when they rang him up to ask him to come to the police station. I thought they were going to arrest me, but instead they took me to an interview room and handed me a slip of paper, he says.

On it was a summary of an interaction between Jersey Police and Andrew Marolia, a former nurse previously suspected of killing patients at the islands largest hospital whose police files had been leaked online by Syvret in an effort to alert people to the danger he believed Marolia posed to the public. Marolia was never arrested or charged over the deaths of any patients.

According to the Osman warning handed to Syvret, Marolia had told officers that people now referred to him as the guy that murdered all those women and added: If Stuart Syvrets body is washed up somewhere, you know where to find me.

The warning, viewed by The Telegraph, also indicated that Jersey Police had initiated a criminal investigation into the Marolia threat. Yet Syvret claims the police never provided him with any information about the results of that probe.

When asked about the investigation into the Marolia threat by The Telegraph, a Jersey police spokesman said: There was no formal investigation, as the offence of threats to kill did not exist in Jersey by law at that time. She did not explain what became of the investigation disclosed in the warning, but added, Both parties were spoken to.

Jersey laws tend to lag behind the rest of the UK  sometimes to an extraordinary degree. Only this year, the island enacted its first law against threatening to kill, rape or cause serious physical injury to another, or causing one to believe such a threat might be carried out. The offence carries a fine and term of imprisonment of up to 10 years.

Marolia is well-known to the Jersey police  he had not only served on the police force in the 1990s, but also has a criminal history. In 1999, he was convicted of multiple firearms offences and for stealing drugs and syringes from the islands main hospital, Jersey General, which fired him.

Jersey police did not arrest Marolia for making the more recent death threats against the former senator, but instead instructed Syvret to mitigate the threat by changing his daily routines, maintaining a low profile and avoiding Marolias associates and place of work. The entire law enforcement and criminal justice system has been stood on its head, says Syvret.

What haunts him most, he says, is that the 13 patients who were suspected of potentially meeting untimely deaths at the Jersey hospital were never publicly named, or even identified to their families, something he believes to be a grave and unforgivable injustice. Marolia also worked on the UK mainland, so others could have been endangered, he says. The 1999 investigation into Marolia by Jersey police states that UK police had been alerted to criminal allegations against Marolia while working at a hospital in the UK, but there do not appear to have been charges brought.

Syvret wrote a long letter to the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in 2010, also viewed by The Telegraph, to warn them about Marolia after repeated efforts to get the case resurrected, but was largely ignored, he claims.

The NMC eventually struck Marolia from the UK register, but a spokesperson says it was unable to disclose when he was removed, or why.

In his attempts to alert the public to the potential dangers, Syvret leaked a trove of police and court documents online, including Jerseys 1999 criminal investigation into Marolia. The move prompted Jerseys police to reopen the Marolia case and review the files a decade later. A Metropolitan Police Report reviewing the 1999 investigation recommended Jersey police carry out an up-to-date risk assessment around the activities of Andrew Marolia with a view to prevention of offences against vulnerable members of the Jersey community.

Syvrets findings prompted Jersey Police to reopen the case of Andrew Marolia - Eddie Mulholland

Jersey police maintained the Marolia matter had been appropriately dealt with. He was never prosecuted. Marolia and his last legal representative of record did not respond to requests for comment.

As of 2020, it appeared he was still living, working  and getting into trouble, periodically  on the island.

Its worth noting that under the Jersey legal system, the professional police are not allowed to bring charges or prosecutions. This can only be done by a senior member of the islands Honorary Police or by Jerseys Law Officers Department. The professional police on the island may only investigate allegations and present evidence to decision-makers, such as Jerseys unelected attorney general, appointed by the Crown.

After leaking documents in 2009, Syvrets home was raided by Jerseys police and his laptops and confidential correspondences with constituents seized  including the testimonies of survivors of child abuse.

In the protracted legal tussle that followed, Syvret was imprisoned twice for three months, once in 2011 and again in 2013, for refusing to remove leaked articles and documents about suspected predators from the internet.

In the end, Jerseys government backed a lawsuit brought against Syvret by four people he had accused of committing crimes, including Marolia and an alleged serial child abuser. Syvret was convicted in a Jersey court in 2012 of two data-protection offences for naming the alleged perpetrators and their reported offences. His public-interest defence was thrown out by the Jersey courts and years of appeals, including a bid for judicial review in Londons High Court, failed.

Seeking to silence him once and for all, Jerseys government also slapped Syvret with a superinjunction in 2012  an action undertaken via a secret court proceeding, which took place without his knowledge, and forbade him from speaking about the four individuals he had named. Two enforcement guerrillas came pounding on my door and handed me a notice telling me to take the documents I had leaked down, or I would be imprisoned, Syvret says. I just ignored it, so they came by and carted me off to prison again.

Notably, Syvret was not sued for defamation, because, he claims, the allegations were true. In all of my time blowing the whistle on child-abusers and perpetrators, they knew perfectly well that if they sued me for defamation, I would call their victims as witnesses and they would be exposed, Syvret says. My disclosure of these crimes was completely correct, justified and lawful.

Syvrets efforts to expose decades of child abuse on the island in 2007 were more successful, prompting a major police investigation that identified more than 150 alleged perpetrators and drawing international attention. It probably would have never come out the way it did if it wasnt for Stuart, and the Jersey elite hated him for it, Lenny Harper, the former Jersey senior investigating officer who led the probe, says.

In 2017, a UK judge leading a years-long inquiry into Jerseys history of child abuse vindicated Syvret, concluding Jerseys government had turned a blind eye to the suffering of hundreds of vulnerable children, stating that the wellbeing of youth on the island is low on the list of its priorities and that children may still be at risk in Jersey.

Judge Frances Mary Oldham also recognised the former senators campaign to bring the matter to light, noting in her report: Stuart Syvret highlighted relevant issues about child abuse that needed to be addressed to ensure the protection and safety of children in Jersey.

Syvret: Jerseys authorities wont protect me, but they will protect known criminals - James Breeden

Astoundingly, Marolias threats against Syvret continued into late 2019. When a Jersey police officer visited Syvrets home to hand-deliver another threat warning, he refused to let Syvret have a copy of it  holding it up in front of his face, and then taking it away again. This one stated that the former senator had been named in a threat over email, but did not disclose the email nor specify what the threat was, and that he should ring the police in case of emergency.

There was no way out for him, Harper says. The police gave him no protection at all.

Harper notes that during his time on the island he also dealt with threats  even one to burn down his own house. Stuart would have been hunted like a dog, he says. It would have been ever-present; 24 hours a day, he would have been under threat. But it was a hatred born of fear. They hated him because he was trying to help vulnerable people, and they saw it as a threat.

Syvret began arranging his escape from the island during the pandemic, connecting with people to help him fund his flights, find housing and other support. In June 2022, he boarded a one-way flight.

Now residing with friends around 5,000 miles away from his ancestral home, Syvret looks over the wide, grassy fields surrounding his front porch and says hes still getting acclimatised. It is not easy to embrace a new life, especially one so far away.

He recently learnt that the Jersey government had repossessed his flat, disposing of all his things. Friends who had come to retrieve his belongings found the front door padlocked, without notice. Its little underhanded moves like that, he says, that make this feel personal, that cause him to wonder if the malevolence will ever end.

Hes also recently adopted a family of cats  a mother and two kittens.

It helps, he says. But I miss the island. I miss its beauty and my friends. I dont know if it will ever be safe enough to go back.
Sir Keir Starmer phoned Donald Trump to congratulate him - Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street

Sir Keir Starmer said he was looking forward to working closely with Donald Trump in a phone call that came after several Labour MPs criticised the president-elect.

The Prime Minister offered Mr Trump his hearty congratulations when they spoke for the first time since his victory in the US election.

Downing Street said both had agreed that the special relationship between Britain and the United States would continue to thrive for many years to come.

Sadiq Khan and Emily Thornberry were among Labour figures to criticise Mr Trump in the wake of his victory.

It follows a formal legal complaint filed by the Trump campaign in response to a former senior Labour aide who organised 100 party activists to campaign for Kamala Harris, Mr Trumps Democratic rival.

A No 10 spokesman said: The Prime Minister spoke to president-elect Donald Trump this evening to congratulate him on his historic victory. The Prime Minister offered his hearty congratulations and said he looked forward to working closely with president-elect Trump across all areas of the special relationship.

From defence and security to growth and prosperity, the relationship between the UK and US was incredibly strong and would continue to thrive for many years to come, the leaders agreed.

In 2016, when Mr Trump won the presidency for the first time, it took more than 24 hours before he spoke to Theresa May, the Conservative then-prime minister.

She was the ninth world leader he spoke to, following those of Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, Israel, Turkey, India, Japan and South Korea.

The No 10 spokesman added: The Prime Minister also reflected on the situation in the Middle East and underscored the importance of regional stability.

The leaders fondly recalled their meeting in September, and president-elect Trumps close connections and affinity to the United Kingdom, and looked forward to working with one another.

Asked whether the two had discussed Ukraine, Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, told Sky News: Im not sure. To be honest, I think it was more a congratulations on your win call.

Weve just been through an election campaign a few months ago here. So we know how stressful these things can be. Theres always a relief if you get to the end of it.

It [Ukraine] is very important. Its very important we back Ukraine in its fight to decide its own destiny, in its fight against Russian aggression, and in the Budget last week the Chancellor reiterated the support and the aid that the UK gives to Ukraine. That hasnt changed with the election result in the United States.

We want to back Ukraine, back Ukraine fully in the fight that theyre having, because its also in our interests, in our defence and security interests for Russian aggression not to go unanswered.

In September, Sir Keir had dinner with Mr Trump in an attempt to build ties as the Government drew up plans for his potential return to the White House.

On Wednesday, the Prime Ministers press secretary said David Lammy would remain as Foreign Secretary until the next election despite previously calling Mr Trump a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.

It came after Mr Khan, the Mayor of London, said the capital would always be pro-women, pro-diversity, pro-climate and pro-human rights.

Emily Thornberry, who was not appointed to the Cabinet by Sir Keir after the general election, stood by previous remarks in which she called Mr Trump a racist sexual predator. Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, appeared to argue that he was a man who denies womens rights and has a political movement driven by hatred.

The comments did not name Mr Trump explicitly but appeared to be about his election win.
Farmers will have to pay inheritance tax on estates worth over 1 million under changes in the Budget - Monty Rakusen/Digital Vision

Farmland across Britain is at risk of being turned into net zero forests by foreign corporations because of Sir Keir Starmers inheritance tax raid, experts have warned.

The decision to tax farmers estates is likely to mean that many will sell up  with big businesses that want to offset their carbon footprint expected to be the biggest buyers, according to the Country and Land Business Association (CLA).

Victoria Vyvyan, president of the CLA, said: If family farms are forced to sell, the land wont just go to neighbours. Buyers may include corporations needing carbon offsets, local councils eyeing development, and lifestyle buyers.

Environmental charities may also step in, using the land for ecosystem services, biodiversity projects, and new habitats. Unlike farmers, theyll face no inheritance tax.

We know from experience that all these options can lead to responsible land stewardship. But each risks breaking the vital link between the land and those who know it best  those who live and work on it every day.

The National Farmers Union estimates that around two-thirds of farms will hit the threshold to be taxed - Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive

Farmers will have to pay inheritance tax on estates worth more than 1 million under changes introduced in the Budget.

Rural groups have warned that farmers will be forced to sell off parcels of land to cover the tax, which will be charged at a rate of 20 per cent.

Other farmers are likely to be more cautious about buying up these plots of land given uncertainty over the future tax burden and declining incomes from agricultural subsidies.

As a result, land may be more attractive to private investors for green schemes such as carbon offsetting through tree planting, the CLA said. Large corporations are typically not liable for inheritance tax because they are rarely owned by one family.

Cruel family farms tax

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has announced plans to hold a mass rally outside Parliament on Nov 19 after calling on the Government for a rethink.

Kemi Badenoch, the new leader of the Conservative Party, said on Wednesday that the party would reverse Labours cruel family farms tax if elected.

Corporate buyouts of farmland have been increasing across the country as companies tout their green credentials.

More than half of farms and estates sold in 2023 went to non-farmers, according to land specialists Strutt & Parker, with the number of corporate buyers rising by 10 per cent the previous year.

A 2022 report from charity Community Land Scotland warned that land purchases by corporates such as Aviva, Standard Life and BrewDog were driving up the price of land and exacerbating rural inequality.

Chris Thyer, an energy and renewables expert at property consultant Bidwells, said that more fields could also be leased to build solar and wind farms to help meet Labours 2030 green power goal.

He said: One of the concerns landowners often have about these projects is that by building a solar farm, theyll be subject to inheritance tax on the solar farm land.

But if now theyre potentially going to be liable for at least some inheritance tax on the farmland anyway, then its one fewer disincentive against leasing land for renewables or any other alternative land uses, he said. And that would at least generate enough value to be able to afford the tax.

Retailers have warned that the changes to inheritance tax could ultimately threaten the UKs food security and lead to higher prices in the supermarket.

A government spokesperson says the Budget protects the family farm while also fixing public services - SolStock/E+

Farmers have accused the Government of vastly underestimating the number of working farms that will be affected by the changes.

The Treasury has suggested 73 per cent of farms will not be captured by the policy, but the NFU says this figure includes unproductive smallholdings.

Instead, it estimates that around two-thirds of farms will hit the threshold to be taxed, citing figures from Defra that show just 34 per cent have a net worth of under 1 million.

However, the Government points out that the 1 million allowance applies individually to both a farmer and their spouse, if the business is jointly owned.

Including exemptions for a residence on the farmland, the Treasury says a farming couple could pass on up to 3 million tax free.

Fair and balanced

A government spokesperson said: The governments commitment to our farmers remains steadfast. Its why we have committed 5 billion to the farming budget over two years  more money than ever for sustainable food production.

We understand concerns about changes to Agricultural Property Relief but the majority of those claiming relief will not be affected by these changes. They will be able to pass the family farm down to their children just as previous generations have always done.

This is a fair and balanced approach that protects the family farm while also fixing the public services that we all rely on. We remain committed to working with the NFU and listening to farmers.
Lauren Boebert at the Republican national convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on 18 July 2024. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trumps ally Lauren Boebert won a third term in Congress after moving to a new, more solidly conservative district in Colorado.

The 37-year-old Republican, known for her love of guns, her anti-LGBTQ+ views and her repeated Islamophobic remarks, won over new rightwing voters in Colorados fourth district, despite behavior that even some Republicans have criticized.

I held my nose because I would not vote for the Democrat, one local voter, who said she was no fan of Boeberts antics, told the Colorado Sun ahead of Tuesdays election.

In 2022, running in Colorados third district, Boebert faced the Democratic challenger Adam Frisch and won by just 546 votes. Her move to a different district allowed her to avoid a congressional rematch with Frisch, as Republicans have fought to hang on to their slight majority in the House of Representatives.

In the fourth district, Boebert defeated her opponent, the first-time Democratic candidate Trisha Calvarese, after easily outpacing a slate of lesser-known Republican challengers in the primary this spring.

In 2023, Boebert was kicked out of a performance in Denver for disruptive behavior, including vaping and groping her date, actions that were captured on CCTV.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage
Composite: Guardian Design / Getty Images

Donald Trumps victory over Kamala Harris immediately spurred questions about the viability of the various criminal cases against him, including whether he will be sentenced as planned this month  and whether he could pardon himself.

Trump, who was found guilty of 34 felony counts this May and will become the first US president with a criminal record, also faces charges in other state and federal courts for his apparent efforts to disrupt the electoral process and hoard classified documents.

The president-elect also faces hundreds of millions of penalties in civil cases, for sexual abuse, defamation and fraud.

Related: A wrecking ball: experts warn Trumps win setbacks global climate action

Trumps delay-based legal strategy, which has proved highly successful for him, could mean he avoids punishment and jail in his New York City criminal hush-money case.

After the trial and guilty verdict, Trump was initially scheduled to be sentenced in July, then in September. Trumps lawyers then asked the judge, Juan Merchan, for a postponement this summer so he could weigh the US supreme court decision that granted broad immunity on former presidents for official acts in office.

The decision held that unofficial acts carry no immunity, and his New York trial was largely focused on his 2016 efforts to bury negative stories about an alleged sexual encounter with an adult film star, which happened before his time in the White House.

Some of the prosecution evidence at trial, however, involved personal actions Trump took during his presidency, and in September Merchan decided to delay Trumps scheduled sentencing that month until 26 November  after the election. He said he agreed to push back the proceeding to avoid any appearance  however unwarranted  that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching presidential election in which the defendant is a candidate.

Merchan also said he would issue his presidential immunity decision on 12 November, which could well render the sentencing moot should he rule in favor of Trump.

US presidents have the power to pardon any federal criminal charges, and some legal scholars believe that also includes self-pardoning.

Pardon power does not apply to state cases, however, so Trump cannot pardon himself for the felonies.

But the chance of him now being sentenced in Manhattan is thin, even if the case survives his presidential immunity claim. As Politico pointed out, Trumps lawyers are all but guaranteed to claim that he shouldnt return to court during the presidential transition.

It adds that in the seemingly unlikely event that Merchan does sentence Trump to incarceration, its unlikely he would serve a day behind bars until his term as president wraps in 2029. The same is probably true if he is sentenced to community service or home confinement, given that his lawyers are poised to argue that a would-be or sitting president shouldnt serve a sentence, Politico noted.

Trump faces several other criminal charges. In Fulton county, Georgia, he is charged over attempts to subvert the 2020 election. That case remains on hold pending appeal, after a scandal involving the district attorney, Fani Willis, apparently hiring the man with whom she had had an affair to be one of the prosecutors.

That case, too, would almost certainly not be able to resume proceedings until 2029, reports suggest.

Trump also faces federal election interference charges in Washington DC.

Another case against him, alleging that he illegally retained top secret government documents after leaving the White House, was thrown out in south Florida after the judge, Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, cited the supreme court decision. Prosecutors are appealing.

The justice department has long maintained that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted, and the president appoints the attorney general, who heads the justice department and drives what prosecutions it pursues  or abandons. The attorney general also presides over the appointment of special counsels: Joe Bidens attorney general, Merrick Garland, in 2022 appointed Jack Smith as special counsel in the federal cases against Trump.

Trump has said he would fire Smith within two seconds.

On Wednesday morning, as the results of the election appeared to have tipped decisively in Trumps favor, the senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump loyalist, expressed a similar sentiment, writing in a social media post addressed to Smith and his team:

It is time to look forward to a new chapter in your legal careers as these politically motivated charges against President Trump hit a wall.

The supreme court substantially rejected what you were trying to do, and after tonight, its clear the American people are tired of lawfare. Bring these cases to an end. The American people deserve a refund.

As for the civil cases against him, Trumps return to the White House does not provide the same level of protection. In the case of Clinton v Jones, the supreme court ruled that a sitting president can be sued, allowing Paula Joness federal sexual harassment lawsuit against Bill Clinton to proceed while Clinton remained president. Trump is appealing decisions in his sexual abuse and financial fraud civil suits.
Donald Trump pictured in Manhattan criminal court in Apil - Yuki Iwamura/AP

Donald Trumps criminal cases are expected to disappear with his imminent return to the White House.

The Republican president-elect had faced four separate prosecutions over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, mishandling of classified documents and hush money payments to a porn star.

He was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the hush money case in New York earlier this year, the first former US president to become a convicted felon.

Trump, 78, was scheduled to be sentenced in the New York case later this month. The penalties for the conviction range from four years in prison to house arrest or a fine.

However, the presiding judge, Juan Merchan, is considering the possibility of dismissing the case and has given himself a deadline of Nov 12 to make a decision.

If Mr Merchan were to press ahead with the case, Trumps lawyers have indicated they would seek a delay.

Sentencing a president-elect ahead of Inauguration Day would be unprecedented in US history, and legal experts believe a delay would be swiftly granted pending an appeal.

Meanwhile, officials at the US Department of Justice (DoJ) spent Wednesday reviewing how to wind down the two federal cases against Trump.

They have been spearheaded by Jack Smith, the independent special counsel who has been doggedly pursuing Trump through the courts for the last two years.

Sources within the DoJ said the cases would be shuttered because of the departments long-standing policy against prosecuting a sitting president.

Trump had already threatened to fire Mr Smith if he regained the White House, telling a radio host last month he would sack the special counsel within two seconds of being sworn in as the 47th US president.

One of the cases was brought by Mr Smith in Washington and centred on Trumps alleged attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

The second was filed in southern Florida over the former presidents alleged retention of classified documents after leaving office.

Both had faced significant delays after Trump appealed to the US Supreme Court, which partly agreed with his claim that he had enjoyed broad immunity while president.

As president, Trump will have less control over the New York hush money case or an election interference case in Georgia, given both are brought by state prosecutors.

But his legal team has already said they will argue that a president should not face the burden of criminal prosecution while in office.

His lawyers and legal analysts are confident that his return to the White House makes it unlikely he will face legal consequences in either case during his term in office.

The case could still proceed against the other co-defendants, who include Trumps former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Trump had pleaded not guilty to all charges and cast the prosecutions as politically motivated.

The American people have heard these Democrat prosecutors cases against President Trump and theyre still going to elect him anyway, said Mike Davis, the founder of the Article III Project, a conservative legal advocacy group.
My goal was to go deeper into the Havana underground  Feliz Gonzales Martinez and Katherine Carmona, Havana, Cuba, 2017. Photograph: Jean-Francois Bouchard

I became interested in Cuba 30 years ago and made numerous visits over the years, some of them photography related. I never showed any of that early work: the country has been photographed so much it was hard to find a new voice. But a few years ago, I started seeing things Id not seen before  subcultures that most foreigners dont even know exist.

The perception of Cuba  mostly because of the communist regime  is that its very normative. I remember being told that it was illegal in some Soviet countries to listen to rocknroll or wear jeans. Foreigners think that in Cuba theres no personal expression and that everything is bland and uniform. And its not true.

Theres a full rainbow of LGBTQ+ communities there, along with tattoo and piercing enthusiasts, punks, rappers, rockabilly, bodybuilding. My goal with the New Cubans project was to go a little deeper into the Havana underground.

Tattoo parlours were once illegal in Cuba but today they seem to be tolerated. In Havana, tattoos have exploded

The first thing I acknowledged is that young people in Cuba are no longer isolated. The internet only became ubiquitous five years ago  before that it was very complicated and inefficient to get online. But theyre now connected to the rest of the world and their influences are global. All the young people I shot for my book would ask me: When can we get the photos to put on Instagram?

Like any young generation, Cubans have also become more progressive, more liberated. This is something that surprises foreigners as well, that Cuba is actually quite permissive and has been one of the leading countries in Latin America in terms of LGBTQ+ rights.

This photograph was taken in 2021 and is the first in the series. My collaborator, Devon Ruiz, took me to the home of the guy who used to run the Cuban National Ballet. The house itself seemed fixed in time from 60 years ago, but when I walked in, there was a bunch of young people who could have been plucked out of Berlin, Tokyo or LA. The contrast was so interesting that I decided to go back to photograph Katy and Felix.

Felix runs a weekly group to teach shibari  the art of Japanese bondage. Its like an edgy arts and crafts session. He introduced me to Katy, who was a participant. She had studied chemistry at university but dropped out, getting interested in art, doing a bit of modelling. She seemed tough, self-affirming and full of attitude, so I wanted the photograph to suggest that. A lot of the people in my photos are amplifying their identity.

Tattoo parlours were once illegal in Cuba but today they seem to be tolerated and in Havana tattoos have exploded in the past five years. Why is Katy topless? That was their suggestion.

Almost a third of young people I shot have left the country

Theres no explicit sexual nature to shibari, but theres always some nudity involved . Felix suggested the cigar  the only one in the whole project. To me, it felt like a bit of a provocation. This photograph is really about the contrast between the traditional values of Cuba and this generation that embraces a progressive outlook.

The New Cubans is a cultural, not a political project. But its important to acknowledge how hard life is in Cuba right now. The economic collapse of the past few years has had dire consequences. The response, for many, is to leave the country. The Cuban government recently estimated that 10% of the population has left in the past two years alone.

Of course, a lot of those are younger folks. Almost a third of those that I shot have left the country since I took the photographs. So the whole project, at some point, almost became an attempt to capture images of social circles that are rapidly disintegrating. Katy actually told me just last week that shes moved to Montreal. So this is a memento of her life in Cuba.

Jean-Francois Bouchards CV

Born: Montreal, 1968

Trained: Lawyer gone rogue/self-taught.

Influences: Ive been influenced by photographers at the complete ends of the photographic spectrum. Conceptual artists who are part of the Vancouver School of photography (Jeff Wall, Rodney Graham, Stan Douglas) and their imaginary worlds at one end, at the other, photojournalists and documentarians rooted in reality (Lauren Greenfield, Diane Arbus, James Nachtwey). The Cuban photographer Alejandro Gonzalez was also a significant inspiration.

High point: Having a career. It is so hard to make photography more than a pastime that I still cant quite believe I am now regarded as a professional. I suffer from acute impostor syndrome.

Low point: Spending tons of money and time shooting a project that turned out to look great, but on a flawed and disrespectful premise. I had to scrap the whole thing.

Top tip: Kill your babies. As image makers, it is easy to fall in love with your photographs. But you must love your career more and that means killing most of the work. Unless your name is Wolfgang Tillmans, dont show dozens upon dozens of images in an exhibition.

 Jean-Francois Bouchards photobook The New Cubans is published on 19 November. Order here (UK) or here (rest of world) and follow @jfbouchard1 for more of his work.
Cutting-edge innovations make debuts at CIIE

09:56, November 06, 2024 By Qi Xijia and Yin Yeping ( Global Times

Shift Robotics, a start-up from the US, showcases its intelligent powered shoes at the CIIE that allow wearers to walk at running speeds, reaching a maximum speed of 11 kilometers per hour. (Photo: Chen Xia/GT)

This year's China International Import Expo (CIIE) has once again established itself as a dynamic hub for innovation, offering a platform for global companies, both large and small, to showcase their groundbreaking advancements and to influence the future of technology.

Among the standout exhibits are airless wheels designed for lunar rovers, engineered to withstand the moon's harsh conditions; smart electric shoes capable of achieving impressive walking speeds, and innovative road marking paint that enhances visibility at night.

Michelin showcased a prototype of its innovative airless wheels designed for lunar rovers, attracting considerable interest from visitors. These wheels, still in the design and development stage, are engineered to withstand extreme temperatures ranging from 100 C to -240 C while providing sufficient grip and stability on the moon's rugged surface, according to the company.

In the innovation incubation special section, Shift Robotics, a start-up from the US, showcases its intelligent powered shoes that allow wearers to walk at running speeds, attracting many people to try it out.

The shoes can reach a maximum speed of 11 kilometers per hour and can be used for an hour on a single charge. The built-in artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm learns the user's past gait and compares it with the current pattern to provide appropriate acceleration power, Xunjie Zhang, founder and CEO of the company, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Zhang said that this is the company's first time participating in the CIIE, and the response has exceeded his expectations.

"I didn't anticipate that so many people would be interested in trying it. This is our debut in Asia, and through the expo, we are also exploring connections and communications with local distributors," Zhang said.

This year, a new materials area has been established for the first time, creating an international exchange platform to promote innovation and development in the field of new materials. This section will cover high-value-added products located upstream on the global high-end manufacturing industry chain, including electronic materials, biomaterials, and special materials.

New materials play a crucial role in accelerating the growth of new quality productive forces and promoting high-quality development. The CIIE's introduction of the new material special section offers a platform for innovation in the area, attracting us with its high standards for technological innovation, Wee Siew Kim, director, representative executive officer & co-president of Nippon Paint Holdings, told the Global Times in a statement.

"At this year's CIIE, we are showcasing a range of innovative coating technologies and materials for the construction, industrial, automotive, and marine sectors, along with two products making their global debuts," he said.

One of those is the Nippon Paint Smart Road Marking Paint, which can provide improved visibility at night, according to the company.

It increases the recognition distance by 130-160 meters compared with the original basis. At a speed of 60 kilometers per hour, it provides drivers with an additional 8-10 seconds of reaction time. It can also be highly recognized by the vehicle sense of self-driving vehicles, which traditional road marking paints cannot, according to the company.

At the CIIE, multinational companies have announced their commitment to expand their presence in China with fresh investments and research and development cooperation as China opens its doors wider.

"We will continue to increase our investment in China, firmly believing that investing here is investing in the future. This year, we initiated the construction of the Nippon Paint Asia-Pacific R&D Innovation Center in Shanghai to further strengthen our presence in the Chinese market," Kim said.

Maximilian Foerst, president and CEO of ZEISS for greater China, told the Global Times that the potential of the Chinese market, the integration level of the supply chain, and the capability for research and innovation have always attracted Zeiss.

"We will continue to increase our investment in China, including expanding our R&D and innovation capabilities, expanding market share, and closely collaborating with partners across the value chain, such as raw material suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and software developers. Together, we will build an efficient and collaborative innovation ecosystem, driving the entire industry chain toward high-quality development," Foerst said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Brussels, Belgium (PANA) - The European Council has adopted a 5 million assistance measure under the European Peace Facility, to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Republic of Congo's Navy
Without control of the House, the winner of the presidential race will face significant hurdles in implementing a legislative agenda. Composite: Getty/Guardian Design Team

Republicans have won a majority in the US Senate but control of the US House of Representatives remains unclear on Wednesday evening, with many of the most competitive races still uncalled.

With Donald Trump having won the White House, the stakes for control of the House have grown, since it could serve as either the sole Democratic check on the upcoming Trump presidency, or as the final Republican win that delivers a united pro-Trump government.

By Wednesday evening, Republicans were ahead 205-190, according to the Associated Press, after it called Democratic holds in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Texas, and victories for Republican incumbents in Michigan, Wisconsin and California.

North Carolina Republicans had won three seats previously held by Democrats, while Democrats flipped seats in Alabama and New York.

The US may have to wait days to learn who won the House, given that it took more than a week to make that call in 2022.

All 435 members of the House faced re-election, with Republicans looking to expand their narrow majority after two chaotic years in power.

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The Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, was re-elected to a fifth term and announced in a letter on Wednesday afternoon that he will be running for re-election as speaker. The House majority leader, Steve Scalise, is running for his position again, too.

Elise Stefanik, another loyal Trump ally and the highest-ranking woman among House Republicans, won a sixth term in New York.

But control of the lower chamber appears to be a true toss-up, as Democrats only need to win five more seats than they did in 2022 to regain their majority.

Johnson said he believed Republicans will keep a majority in the House, giving the party a unified government.

The mandate that has been delivered shows that a majority of Americans are eager for secure borders, lower costs, peace through strength and a return to common sense, Johnson said in his letter.

Scalise outlined the priorities of the Trump administrations first 100 days, including measures to secure the border and ending the pause on LNG exports. (Trump) can begin to get our economy back on track by slashing certain regulations and making the administrative state more efficient, he said in a separate letter canvassing support.

Scalise said House Republicans would lock in tax cuts, unleash American energy, increasing energy exploration and production, and repealing unspecified Democrat policies introduced through the Inflation Reduction Act. The new administration would also surge resources to the southern border to build the Trump Border Wall, he added, while boosting border patrols to stop the flow of illegal immigration.

Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, argued meanwhile that the House remains very much in play. The path to victory for Democrats is in seats in Arizona, Oregon, Iowa and California, he said.

The party that will hold the majority in the House of Representatives in January 2025 has yet to be determined. We must count every vote, Jeffries said.

In an election marked by Republicans intense anti-transgender rhetoric, Delaware voters elected the first openly trans member of congress, Democrat Sarah McBride, 34.

So far, both Democrats and Republicans have picked up seats due to redistricting, the process of adjusting district lines to keep up with population changes, with the Alabama Democrat Shomari Figures winning a district that had been changed to ensure fair representation for Black voters, while Republicans in North Carolina flipped three districts that had been reshaped by the Republican-controlled state legislature.

Democrats also flipped two seats in New York state, with Democrat Josh Riley, an attorney, beating the incumbent Republican Marc Molinaro, and John Mannion, a Democratic state senator, defeating incumbent Republican Brandon Williams in upstate New York.

Ten of the most hotly contested House races are in California, where Democrats need to flip at least one Republican seat in order to secure a majority, according to the Associated Press.

Without control of the House, Trump, the winner of the presidential race, will face significant hurdles in implementing his legislative agenda. Election forecasts suggest either party could end up with a majority of just a few seats, which could re-create some of the problems of the 118th Congress.

Related: US elections 2024: 10 key House races to watch

In 2022, the red wave that Republicans had promised failed to materialize, leaving the party with a House majority of just four seats at the start of 2023. That tight margin allowed a small group of hard-right Republicans to wreak havoc on the speakership race, forcing Kevin McCarthy to endure 15 rounds of voting before capturing the gavel.

But just nine months later, McCarthy was ousted from the speakers chair following a revolt staged by eight members of his own conference. McCarthys removal kicked off weeks of chaos, with the House at a complete standstill until Johnson, then a relatively unknown lawmaker, was elected to lead the chamber.

In recent months, Republicans have had to pitch themselves to voters for another two years in power after overseeing the most unproductive Congress in decades. Democrats have attempted to capitalize on Republicans legislative record as they look to rebuild a majority in the House, warning voters about the dangers of continuing the dysfunction in Congress.

Youve all seen it from day one, with 15 rounds of speaker elections [and] threats of shutdowns, Representative Suzan DelBene, chair of House Democrats campaign arm, told Axios in August. Those are the things that drive people at home crazy.

Regardless of who wins a House majority, the new Congress will immediately face a highly consequential task when members are seated in January: certifying the results of the presidential election. In 2020, Trump supporters infamously attacked the Capitol in an unsuccessful effort to disrupt the congressional certification of Joe Bidens victory, and lawmakers have sparked concern about the possibility of similar political violence after election day.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage
Compounding the embarrassment, many polling experts predicted a narrow electoral college victory for Kamala Harris. Illustration: Bruno Hayward/The Guardian

US pollsters are under fire for the third presidential election running for failing to foresee Donald Trumps emphatic ballot box triumph that will propel him back to the White House.

Having seriously underestimated Trumps support in the 2016 and 2020 elections, polling agencies trumpeted a recalibrated methodology for 2024 that was meant to more realistically reflect his standing while restoring their own credibility.

Instead, pollsters are now being called on to explain a broad range of surveys that showed the two candidates essentially deadlocked both nationally and in battleground states in a race that was deemed too close to call.

Compounding the embarrassment, many polling experts in the final days before election day predicted a narrow electoral college victory for Kamala Harris, who was foreseen by some as just about eking a win in a majority of the seven swing states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

Related: Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and other business leaders congratulate Trump

In fact, Trump has won five of the states at the time of publication and was leading in Nevada and Arizona, which had yet to be called.

Standing out was a poll published at the weekend by the Des Moines Register that purported to show Harris with a three-point lead over Trump in the Republican stronghold state of Iowa  supposedly fueled by widespread outrage among women voters over the restriction of abortion rights.

The poll, carried out by J Ann Selzer  an Iowa pollster widely renowned among her peers for reliability  fed Democratic hopes of a groundswell of support among female voters that could potentially carry over to neighboring Michigan and Wisconsin.

Selzer vouched for its findings even while Trumps campaign dismissed it as a fake poll and a clear outlier.

Ive been the outlier queen so many times, Selzer, whose polling correctly foretold Barack Obamas triumph in the Iowa caucuses in 2008, told the New York Times. Im not jumpy.

Actual events proved the poll to be a dud. Iowa was called for Trump early, and with nearly all the votes counted on Wednesday, he led by an emphatic 55.9% to 42.7%.

Rick Perlstein, an award-winning historian who has written several books chronicling the rise of American conservatism, lamented the role of polling in modern elections in a series of posts on X.

Iowa called for Trump. Polling is a very compromised enterprise. It would be great to see people start ignoring it, he wrote on Tuesday evening.

In a later post, he wrote: One of the trippy things about the polling enterprise is [the] fraught relationship they have with traditional journalism, complaining of their breathless coverage that does not understand polling methodology, but also soliciting that coverage for business purposes.

The criticism was joined by Allan Lichtman, a historian at American University who forecast a Harris victory based on a system of 13 keys he had used to correctly predict the outcome of 11 of the past 12 presidential elections.

Unlike Nate Silver, who will try to squirm out of why he didnt see the election coming, I admit that I was wrong, Lichtman wrote, adding that he would assess his method and the election in a live broadcast on Thursday.

Silver, a pollster who founded FiveThirtyEight, made Harris a marginal favourite hours before polls opened, but had written two weeks earlier that his gut favored Trump.

The pollsters discomfiture was also highlighted by online betting companies, who claimed they had more accurately predicted the result than self-proclaimed professionals with decades of experience in the field.

Five companies  Betfair, Kalshi, Polymarket, PredictIt and Smarkets  gave Trump a better-than-even chance of winning on the eve of polling day, the New York Times reported. As polls closed on Tuesday, their odds in favour of his winning shot up.

Polymarket boasted that it had proved the wisdom of markets over the polls, the media, and the pundits.

Polymarket consistently and accurately forecasted outcomes well ahead of all three, demonstrating the power of high volume, deeply liquid prediction markets, the company posted on X.

Tarek Mansour, the chief executive of Kalshi, put it more succinctly. Polls 0, Prediction Markets 1, he wrote.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage
President Donald Trump meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump Tower, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024

Donald Trumps resounding victory in the US presidential election may be about to herald what he calls a golden age for the American people. But it could also have the added bonus of, directly and indirectly, reviving the wider fortunes of the Western alliance at a time when the global threat environment has never been more challenging.

From Russia to Iran, from China to North Korea, Trumps remarkable comeback will force the worlds despots to have a major rethink about their various efforts to undermine the West and its allies.

For it will also oblige Western leaders, particularly in Europe, to take seriously their responsibilities to protect their interests, rather than always assuming they can rely on Washingtons military might to bail them out in times of trouble.

The Ukraine conflict is a case in point. Russian president Vladimir Putins decision to invade Ukraine in February 2022 has caused the biggest conflict in Europe since the end of the Second World War. But, while European leaders have been vocal in denouncing Putins unprovoked act of aggression, their contribution to Ukraines war effort has been decidedly modest compared with the support Kyiv has received from the US.

While America has provided more than $100 billion in aid to Ukraine since the conflict began, the total amount of support provided by leading European powers such as the UK, Germany, France and Italy amounts to less than half of that figure.

Little wonder, then, that Trump spent most of the election campaign complaining about the high cost Washington was paying for sustaining Ukraines war effort. As Trump grumbled back in April after the US congress had approved yet another aid package for Ukraine, Why isnt Europe giving more money to help Ukraine? Why is it that the United States is over $100 billion into the Ukraine War more than Europe, and we have an ocean between us as separation!

Trumps gripe that the Europeans are failing to pay their fair share towards their defence became a familiar refrain during his first spell in the White House, when he publicly rebuked the likes of then German chancellor Angela Merkel for the paucity of their Nato spending.

It is a topic Trump will undoubtedly return to in his second term, especially as China, not Europe, is likely to be his administrations number one security priority.

Trumps claim that he intends to end the Ukraine conflict in a day therefore needs to be seen within the context of his frustration that the US once again finds itself bearing the cost of a major war compared with the modest contribution of its European allies.

If European leaders like Sir Keir Starmer, German chancellor Olaf Scholz and French president Emmanuel Macron really are  as they keep claiming  committed to Ukraine achieving victory over Russia, then they need to do a great deal more about investing in the defence of Europe than always relying on the US to pick up the lions share of the burden.

European parsimony explains why Trump is so keen to bring hostilities to an end in Ukraine. Apart from saving American taxpayers billions of dollars, Trump believes there is no point continuing the conflict if Europe is either unwilling or incapable to provide the Ukrainians with the support they need to achieve victory. A peace deal that denies Putin the total conquest of Ukraine he sought at the start of the conflict will also demonstrate the limits of Russian power. And it could deter other hostile regimes, such as China and North Korea, from indulging in similar acts of mindless aggression.

Certainly, if Trumps return to the White House does not have the desired effect of shaking European leaders out of their complacent mindset, then nothing will.

Apart from waking the Europeans from their torpor on defence issues, Trump 2.0 is also likely to have a profound impact on other key global issues, such as the Middle East, where the Biden administrations insistence on taking a more accommodating approach to Iran has simply resulted in Tehrans powerful network of terrorist groups setting the region ablaze.

Taking a hard line on Tehran was one of the more successful policies adopted by the first Trump administration. By withdrawing from the flawed nuclear deal negotiated by Barack Obama, and imposing hard-hitting economic sanctions against Tehran, Trump forced the ayatollahs back on to the defensive, limiting their ability to cause mayhem.

Instead of constantly criticising Israel over its response to the October 7 attacks carried out by Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists, which has been the Biden administrations preferred approach to the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, Trump will focus on limiting Irans ability to destabilise the region.

This could include building on the success achieved by the Abraham Accords signed in the final days of his previous presidency, which resulted in several moderate Arab regimes normalising relations with Israel.

At a time when the world is riven with conflict, there is every possibility that Trumps return to the White House could ultimately lead to the world becoming more secure and stable.
Trump is expected to give Mr Kennedy a powerful health tsar-style role - JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Donald Trumps election to a second term as president of the United States puts him at the helm of not only the worlds economic and military superpower, but also a global health superpower.

From its huge healthcare industry, to its world beating aid budget, powerful public health bodies, pharmaceutical industry and leading scientific institutions, the US has long set the pace and tone on global health.

Now the content and tone of US messaging on health could change  and change dramatically.

Robert F Kennedy Jr, Mr Trumps appointed man on health, is on a mission to shake up the global health establishment in a bid to Make America Healthy Again.

He wants to tackle chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, autism, cancer, and mental illness but tends to favour psychedelics over vaccines and raw milk over the pasteurised variety.

The former lawyer and nephew of JFK accuses big business, drug companies and conniving federal agencies of making the country more unhealthy with toxic chemicals and additives.

Robert F Kennedy Jr is on a mission to Make America Healthy Again - Alex Brandon/AP

Last month, he told officials at the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to pack your bags in the event of a Trump win.

While critics cast him as a conspiracy theorist, Mr Trump is a fan and has said he would appoint Mr Kennedy to go wild on health.

He told a rally last week: Im going to let him go wild on the food. Im going to let him go wild on medicines.

Trump staffers said Mr Kennedy would not be given the top health job, the chief of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), but he was expected to be given a powerful health tsar type role.

So what would a Trump and Kennedy double act mean for global health?

Vaccines

Mr Kennedy says he is not anti-vaccine, only that he wants them to be safer. But he is accused of being a prominent spreader of vaccine misinformation and is certainly a vaccine sceptic.

He has repeatedly claimed for example that childhood vaccines are linked to autism, despite numerous studies having debunked the association.

In an interview last week, Mr Trump appeared open to the possibility of banning some vaccines, in light of Mr Kennedys opinions.

Mr Trump told NBC: Well, Im going to talk to him and talk to other people, and Ill make a decision, but hes a very talented guy and has strong views.

Legal experts say Mr Trump would in fact struggle to unilaterally ban vaccines in the US.

Public health is governed by states, not the federal government. Vaccines are also licenced by the Food and Drug Administration and the White House would not be able to simply remove a product from the market.

But having a charismatic senior figure in the White House raising fears about jabs would be likely to significantly strengthen vaccine hesitancy both in America and around the world.

His appointment, if it is confirmed, comes as Russia has launched a new campaign aimed at undermining western backed vaccines in Africa.

Fluoride

Fluoride in water has been another of Mr Kennedys campaign issues.

The chemical, which strengthens teeth, has been added to US water supplies since 1945 to protect against tooth decay. Its use is common across the west, including in the UK.

Health agencies accept that while prolonged high levels of fluoride exposure can actually damage teeth and cognitive development, there are no side effects at the levels recommended for drinking water.

Mr Kennedy has vowed a Trump White House would, on its first day, advise all US water systems to remove fluoride from public water.

He said: Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease.

But advise may be all that Mr Kennedy can do, because drinking water is controlled at the local level, not federal level.

Finishing off the health establishment

Mr Trump says he has unfinished business with the health establishment from his first term.

As the Covid pandemic raged through his presidency, he repeatedly clashed with domestic and international health organisations.

He has accused them of being corrupt, overbearing, unaccountable, self-interested and beholden to foreign powers.

At a recent rally, he appeared not to have mellowed. He told supporters: Well take on the corruption at the FDA [Food and Drug Administration], the CDC [Centres for Disease Control], World Health Organization [WHO] and other institutions of public health that have dominated, and really are dominated by corporate power, and dominated really by China.

In 2020, Mr Trump began the process of pulling America out of the WHO. Mr Biden reversed it as soon as he took power, but many expect Mr Trump to again consider a departure.

Mr Trump is also likely to torpedo any pandemic treaty which sets out nations obligations in the event of another global outbreak.

The Project 2025 blueprint drawn up by a right-wing think tank as a wish list for a Trump presidency, lists big reforms to the FDA, CDC and National Institutes of Health.

Mr Trump denies involvement in Project 2025, but its blueprint is expected to be influential in the new Republican administration.

The CDC for example, the main public health agency, would be broken in two, with its policy wings clipped. One part would publish data, the other would retain a severely confined ability to make policy recommendations.

Mr Kennedy recently said on social media the FDAs war on public health is about to end.

This includes its aggressive suppression of psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, raw milk, hyperbaric therapies, chelating compounds, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamins, clean foods, sunshine, exercise, nutraceuticals and anything else that advances human health and cant be patented by Pharma.

If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you: 1. Preserve your records, and 2. Pack your bags.

Reproductive rights

Mr Trumps three appointments to the US Supreme Court shaped its 2022 ruling taking away the constitutional right to abortion. Since then, 17 states have banned abortion entirely or severely restricted it, according to the Centre for Reproductive Rights.

Mr Trump has said he is against a national ban, and it is up to states to decide.

Ten states had votes on Tuesday night on whether to cement reproductive rights in their state constitutions. Seven voted to protect access, Missouri voted to expand access, South Dakota upheld its ban and in Florida, a proposal to expand access failed.

Worldwide, Mr Trump is expected to reimpose the Mexico City Policy, known by its opponents as the global gag rule.

The rule prohibits foreign NGOs who receive US aid from providing abortion services or referrals, while also barring advocacy for abortion law reform  even if its done with the NGOs own funds.

Mr Trump expanded the scope of the ban in his first term, decreeing that organisations taking any form of global health funding from the US had to adhere to it.

American aid largesse is so extensive that very few organisations refuse to sign up to the policy when it is in effect.

Obamacare

Republicans have repeatedly failed to overturn Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, which was introduced to widen access to health insurance.

Mr Trump has said in debates that he wants to replace the scheme, but has been vague on what would follow.

Obamacare was lousy health care. Always was, he said.

Its not very good today and, what I said, that if we come up with something, we are working on things, were going to do it and were going to replace it.

If we can come up with a plan thats going to cost our people, our population, less money and be better health care than Obamacare, then I would absolutely do it.

Aid and global health

America is the biggest global health donor, with an annual spend of more than $12 billion (9 billion) a year.

It provides a hefty chunk of the WHOs core annual budget and is also a main funder of other UN agencies and international campaigns to combat disease, such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and Gavi: The Vaccine Alliance.

Some in the global health world fear Mr Trump would freeze, or even try to cut aid spending entirely in his second term in office.

Project 2025 calls for a shake-up of American aid, taking aim at funding for climate change programmes and womens empowerment in particular.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
People struggling with debts are being urged by a Government-backed body to seek support, with millions living on the edge.

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) said research indicates that more than eight million people across the UK needed debt advice in 2023, with a further 12 million living on the edge.

It said many people do not seek help because they feel overwhelmed, embarrassed and worried about the consequences of speaking to a debt adviser.

It said some common myths shared by those who worry about getting debt advice is that they will lose control of their finances and that having a conversation with a debt adviser will affect their credit rating.

Coinciding with Talk Money Week (November 4 to 8), the service has made a new video to help tackle misconceptions about getting debt advice.

One of the advisers who took part said: When you contact a debt adviser, you can expect a supportive, non-judgmental environment. We handle your case confidentially and take the time to understand your financial situation and will work with you to find practical solutions that you might not have been aware of or hadnt considered before.

If youre in a difficult financial situation, reach out, youre not alone. There is absolutely no shame in asking for help.

MaPS is an arms-length body, sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Anna Hall, corporate director of debt at MaPS, said: MaPS research shows that many people dont get the debt advice they need because they find the process overwhelming, fear the consequences or feel embarrassed.

Its important that those affected by debt problems know that they arent alone and there is non-judgmental advice and support available to them. If youre struggling, MoneyHelper will help you find free debt advice and you could join the thousands before you whove turned things around.

Debt problems can have a corrosive effect on someones relationships, self-confidence and mental health, and every expense can ratchet up the anxiety. Many people wish theyd acted faster, but no one ever says they got debt advice too soon.

People who are worried about their financial situation can use the MoneyHelper debt advice locator tool to access free advice, MaPS said.
The scale of Channel crossings is significant amid the growing threat from people smuggling, a police chief warned after the largest ever worldwide operation of its kind saw thousands of arrests.

The UK was among 116 countries and territories to take part in Interpols week-long Operation Liberterra II, resulting in 2,517 arrests being made around the globe.

Some 3,222 potential victims of human trafficking were rescued and 17,793 irregular migrants also identified as part of raids carried out at the end of September and beginning of October.

The results of the operation emerged after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed the Government would treat people smugglers like terrorists while announcing an extra 75 million for his border security command during a speech at the Interpol general assembly in Glasgow.

Richard Chambers, the law enforcement agencys director of organised and emerging crime, told the PA news agency everyone is concerned about the sheer number of migrants crossing the Channel to the UK, describing the more than 31,000 who have made the journey so far this year as significant.

Asked how long it would take to see such enforcement activity leading to fewer crossings, he said: That is a really hard question to answer.

Interpol will absolutely be playing our role to make that difference. But its not up to us alone.

Its not going to happen overnight, but its going to continue to be a massive coordinated effort by many partners.

Operation Liberterra II told us that this particular crime type is very diverse. Its developing. Its developing fast. Its a growing issue.

The problem is more than any one country, he said as he told how the operation shone the spotlight on the threat that human trafficking presents to the globe.

Speaking from the general assembly on Wednesday, he said: We heard from the UK Prime Minister earlier this week about how important this issue is. So the UK has a very significant role to play in this effort.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer gave a speech during the Interpol general assembly in Glasgow (Russell Cheyne/PA)

Sir Keir made a very clear statement around the priority that his Government places upon this issue, and that comes with our full support to assist law enforcement and jurisdictions globally to follow with more operations, he added.

During the operation, Tunisian authorities intercepted 27 people, including 21 children, who were trying to travel to the UK under the pretence of a language study trip, Interpol said.

This led to three suspects being arrested after the National Crime Agency (NCA) found them living in the UK. They are now facing prosecution for smuggling charges.

In total nine people were arrested in the UK as part of the operation as the NCA sought out suspects wanted in Belgium, Germany, France and Romania for people smuggling, human trafficking and modern slavery offences.

Raids took place in Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Kent, the NCA said.

This included a 32-year-old Syrian man arrested in Nottingham, who was wanted by Romanian authorities for illegally transporting migrants from Bulgaria to Romania, for onward travel to the Netherlands.

Another suspect was detained by police in Northern Ireland.

Extradition proceedings are now taking place for all nine suspects.

Rick Jones, from the NCA, said the operation is a prime example of our commitment to working closely and effectively with international partners to tackle people smuggling and human trafficking.

One of the aims of Operation Liberterra II was to better understand the threat presented globally. And the results demonstrate the significance of what is, without doubt, a growing threat, Mr Chambers said, adding that he was blown away by the sheer scale of the problem given the number of potential victims that were identified as well as the number of the irregular migrants and arrests made.

Growing tensions around the world fuel a lot of this activity because the reality is, people seek a better place of safety, he said, adding: Organised crime groups exploit that. They exploit those vulnerabilities, and they dont care about the consequences.

There will be more operations of this scale to follow because Interpol is hearing more and more about the threat posed by human trafficking from its 196 member countries, Mr Chambers said.

The operation uncovered dozens of cases in which trafficking victims were deceived and coerced into committing fraud, for example through online scams, marking a clear departure from traditional trafficking patterns, where human exploitation is the sole criminal objective, Interpol said.

In many of these cases victims were being lured with false promises of employment and are kept there through intimidation and abuse.
Polls begin to close in US elections, as Trump and Harris vie for presidency

Voting has ended in several key US states, as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris vie to the be next American president.

Both candidates were predicted to win in reliably Republican and Democrat states as the first results came in. The Associated Press called Mr Trump to win in Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia, and Ms Harris in Vermont.

Former president Mr Trump appeared ahead in the early hours of the race, with predicted wins in Florida, Tennessee and other solidly red states outnumbering Ms Harris in Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut and others.

Crucial battleground states of Georgia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina are yet to be called.

If the results of voting follow APs predictions, Mr Trump will have gained 95 votes in the electoral college, and Ms Harris 35.

Under the US voting system, a total of 270 votes in the college are needed to win the presidency.

The election has largely unfolded smoothly across the USA, despite some voters suffering delays in casting their ballots, and a spate of what the FBI described as non-credible bomb threats.

The economy  and reducing inflation  is a key issue for Americans according to exit polling, but other areas of concern for voters are security on the USs southern border with Mexico, protecting democracy and abortion rights.

As they take part in the presidential poll, 10 states across the US will vote on whether to enshrine the right to abortion in law.

The neck-and-neck race will have a sweeping impact on global politics, including in the UK where Sir Keir Starmers Government may have to grapple with upheaval in Americas security and defence approach if Mr Trump wins.

The Government has been working hard to win over the Republican candidate in case he is re-elected, after a trans-Atlantic spat developed in recent weeks over Labour Party volunteers heading to the US to campaign for his rival.

(PA Graphics)

Sir Keir is expected to be following the results of the US election, but his official spokesman did not say whether the Prime Minister would be staying up overnight to watch the results roll in.

Some Cabinet ministers have in the past made scathing criticisms of Mr Trump while Labour was in opposition, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who in 2017 called Mr Trump an odious, sad, little man in a social media post.

Though Labour and Mr Trump may not be ideological bedfellows, if he is elected there will be a really good working relationship, the Health Secretary told LBC.

The Republican candidate would likely chart a new US course on major conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, areas where Sir Keir has largely followed the lead of US President Joe Biden.

Former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson has voiced concerns about what the result might mean for global affairs, telling Channel 4 News: The thing that really worries me right now is Ukraine and the future of democracy in that country.

I think there is a risk whatever happens in this election that there will be a disaster in Ukraine.

Boris Johnson at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester (PA)

In central London, Democrat supporters living in the UK appeared confident their efforts to get out the vote of Americans overseas was second to none.

Democrats Abroad UK chair Kristin Wolfe told PA: This is happening all over the world  we are turning out overseas voters.

Were going to win this thing.

Chairman of the Republicans Overseas UK group Greg Swenson meanwhile told the PA news agency there is considerable optimism over a Trump victory.

Mr Swenson added: For the first time we have embraced mail-in and early voting and its paid off.

Its still too close to call, but we feel voters will choose prosperity and security through common sense over the negative outcomes of the lefts radical progressive agenda.

So-called swing states such as Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania  where the results will be close  are the areas where the Democrats and Republicans have focused their campaigning in recent days.
Leaders across the UK political spectrum have congratulated Donald Trump as he appears set to win the US presidential election.

Sir Keir Starmer said the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper, but the Prime Minister and other top Labour politicians have not always been complimentary about Mr Trump.

Here, the PA news agency looks at what prominent Labour figures have said in the past.

Sir Keir Starmer has hailed the special relationship between the UK and the US (Russell Cheyne/PA)

 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer:

In 2021, Sir Keir declared himself to be anti-Trump but pro-American.

Last year, Sir Keir compared the Conservative Party with Mr Trump as he accused the Tories of falling far from Churchillian values.

Is there anybody in the Government now who feels a sense of obligation to anything other than their own self-interest? To democracy, the rule of law, serving our country? he asked in a speech in Buckinghamshire.

An entitlement to power totally unchecked by any sense of service or responsibility  thats the cultural stain that runs through the modern Conservative Party.

He added: These arent Churchills Tories any more. If anything they behave more and more like Donald Trump. They look at the politics of America and they want to bring that here.

Its all woke, woke, woke. Wedge, wedge, wedge. Divide, divide, divide.

In June, the prime minister said following Mr Trumps hush money trial conviction that it was an unprecedented situation.

We will work with whoever is elected president  thats what youd expect, Sir Keir said.

We have a special relationship with the US that transcends whoever the president is, but it is an unprecedented situation, there is no doubt about that.

In the lead up to this years US presidential election, Sir Keir maintained that the Government will work with whoever is president.

 Foreign Secretary David Lammy:

In 2017, Mr Lammy called Mr Trump a racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser.

David Lammy has previously called Mr Trump a KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser (Lucy North/PA)

A year later, the Tottenham MP wrote in Time magazine that he would be protesting against the then-governments capitulation to this tyrant in a toupee, in reference to Mr Trumps first official visit to the UK.

Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath, Mr Lammy wrote, he is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long.

Asked about his past comments earlier this year, Mr Lammy said: Where I can find common cause with Donald Trump, I will find common cause.

He offered his congratulations to Mr Trump on Wednesday morning, saying: We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.

I am so happy to see the back of Donald Trump, but even more so to see @KamalaHarris as VP. Today women and girls  women and girls of colour in particular  will push their shoulders back, stand up taller and dream bigger. For that we should all be grateful. #Inauguration2021  Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) January 20, 2021

 Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner:

Ms Rayner has publicly criticised Mr Trump more than once in posts on X, formerly Twitter.

On the day of the Capitol Hill riots in 2021, she tweeted: The violence that Donald Trump has unleashed is terrifying, and the Republicans who stood by him have blood on their hands.

Later in January that year, Ms Rayner said of the inauguration of Joe Biden as president: I am so happy to see the back of Donald Trump, but even more so to see @KamalaHarris as VP.

 Home Secretary Yvette Cooper

In 2017, Ms Cooper said Mr Trumps approach to politics was normalising hatred.

Referring to his use of X, then known as Twitter, she said: These arent just harmless rants from a sad man in his bedroom.

This is the bully pulpit of the most powerful man on the planet, broadcast direct to millions of people, echoed and amplified by the Breitbarts, the cheerleaders, the echo chambers.

A few months later, Ms Cooper said Britain could not simply roll out a red carpet and give a platform for Mr Trump to sow discord in our communities.

In July 2019, Ms Cooper signed an open letter from Hope Not Hate in solidarity with four US congresswomen who were told by Mr Trump to go back to the broken and crime infested places from which they came  describing his words as racist attacks.

 Health Secretary Wes Streeting:

Trump is such an odious, sad, little man. Imagine being proud to have that as your President.  Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) July 26, 2017

In 2017, Mr Streeting called Trump an odious, sad little man in a post on X.

Imagine being proud to have that as your president, he added.

Asked on Tuesday about the social media post, the Health Secretary told Good Morning Britain: The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have been working hard to build a relationship with President Trump and his team, so that in the event that he is elected as the next president of the United States, we start with the strong working relationship which is in our national interest and in the interests of the United States as well.

 Energy Secretary Ed Miliband:

Obv. pt: Racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper just won Presidency. Yes, but HRC won pop. vote is not satisfactory explanation.  Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) November 9, 2016

Mr Miliband labelled Mr Trump a groper and a racist in November 2016.

The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper beggars belief, Mr Miliband told the BBC.

And I think we should be deeply worried about the implications for many of the things that we care about. Tackling climate change  he says its invented by the Chinese, climate change, its a hoax. His attitude to Russia.

And then this fantasy about trade. I mean, this guy is anti-trade. Hes an odd combination of protectionism, plus the old trickle-down formula that has got us into a lot of this mess in the first place.
Schools did not know where a great many young people were or what they were doing during the Covid-19 pandemic, an inquiry has heard.

The Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry heard on Wednesday that children not attending school in person during the pandemic made it much harder for teachers and other staff to perform their social care role, in which they identified pupils experiencing problems outside school and put support in place.

Graham Hutton, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland (SLS), told the inquiry: One of the advantages of the school was that young people came to school, they were in the building.

He continued: Hence, there was a point of contact there. If there was a concern, then case meetings would be set up, parental visits would take place, various other agencies would be contacted, and we would start to look at working around the child.

That work started to fall away as soon as you could not get physical contact with people who were out there.

Jim Thewliss, retired SLS general secretary, echoed this, saying that if they were not at school then young people were out in the community where they might be experiencing problems.

He said: If they were in school for five-and-a-half hours a day, we knew where they were, and we knew what to do, and we knew that we could support them.

It became a huge, huge challenge, and we didnt know for a great many young people where they were and what they were doing.

Mr Hutton also described a number of ongoing negative effects of the pandemic on families, in relation to the behaviour and attendance of young people, and a decline in parental engagement with schools.

He explained some young people had stopped attending school altogether, or were truanting within the school by refusing to go to classes and going round the building and disrupting lessons.

Even in the best schools, he said, if you want to call them that, theres usually not been a lot of discipline issues, these have still arisen, and the young people have been turned off by the curriculum and been turned off by their experiences and the gaps in their knowledge that they are not playing ball with.

The challenge, he added, was to make sure that the curriculum we are offering our young people meets their needs and suits their needs.

He also said since the pandemic there had also been an increase in low level indiscipline at schools, due to pupils not adjusting back into a routine of school attendance.

Young people had been left in many ways to their own devices. They were lonely. They had a lack of social involvement. And therefore, when we came back into a routine, that was almost anathema to some, he said.

He continued: The vast majority of young people fell back into school very easily. A large majority were absolutely relieved to get back to school.

He added: Theres always been a small minority in the schools whom you have to coax and put more support in. And that grew in many ways as a result of the pandemic.

He said schools were also experiencing more conflict with parents over issues with the attendance and behaviour of children, with parents not seeing anything wrong with that and taking their childs point of view.

Mr Thewliss concluded his evidence by saying the pandemic had shown there needed to be a fundamental change in how education is delivered in Scotland, saying a model of education dating back to the Education Act of 1740 was not fit for the 21st century.

We cannot carry on doing what were doing just now in the way in which were doing it, he said.

If we meet another pandemic, we may be slightly better prepared, but we will not be as prepared as we could be.

And any good [that has] come out of this, what it has done, is made us look at, understand and reflect upon the quality, standards, effectiveness, relevance of education that we are providing in Scotland just now.

The Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry is hearing evidence about the impact of the virus on education and early years learning.

The inquiry before Lord Brodie continues.
Stacey Dooley is to front a new BBC Three documentary exploring the rise in shoplifting across Britain.

It comes as the presenter is to receive the trustees gong at this years Grierson Awards, taking placing on Wednesday evening, and celebrating the best of documentary.

The corporation also announced that there are further projects in the pipeline, including an additional single documentary and two series.

Stacey Dooley attends the Bafta Television Craft Awards 2024 (Ian West/PA)

In the hour-long programme, Stacey Dooley: Shoplifting, the presenter will meet staff who have been subject to violence from shoplifters, witnessing the impact it is having on their lives.

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published last month, the number of shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales has risen to a 20-year high.

Dooley, 37, said: Im incredibly honoured to receive the Grierson Trustee Award. With a significant rise in shoplifting, it feels more important than ever to spend proper time with the people and complexities involved.

This recognition fuels my commitment to keep telling these stories, and Im thankful for all the support  and those who have backed me from the start  that allows me to keep pushing forward.

Dooley has presented Panorama episode Stacey Meets The IS Brides and documentaries including Locked Up With The Lifers, and Stalkers.

The Luton-born presenter has explored a wide range of subjects in her BBC documentaries with an emphasis on social-issue themes such as child labour, women in developing countries, slavery and the illegal narcotics trade.

She was crowned the winner of Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 and made an MBE for services to broadcasting that same year.

Clare Sillery, head of commissioning, documentaries, said: Stacey Dooley has taken documentary viewers into some of the most challenging places and so Im delighted to see her talent recognised as the recipient of this years Grierson Trustees Award 2024.

In this latest film Stacey explores a high street epidemic, spending time with young shoplifters and the shop staff on the front line.

This, along with other films were working on with Stacey, will bring a unique insight into the changing face of modern Britain.

Stacey Dooley: Shoplifting will air on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in 2025. More details will be announced in due course.
Gaza City, Gaza (PANA) - The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory appealed on Tuesday for an end to the war and suffering in Gaza during his first visit to the area since Israel launched its latest military operation in the north a month ago
Sir Keir Starmer said the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper following Donald Trumps historic election victory.

Mr Trump declared he had won a magnificent victory for the American people once it was clear he was on track to return to the White House as 47th president of the United States.

That victory was later confirmed as a win in Wisconsin tipped him over the 270 electoral votes needed to defeat Kamala Harris.

Sir Keir will be keen to build bridges with Mr Trump after the Republican politicians campaign filed a legal complaint about Labour activists supporting Ms Harris.

The Prime Minister said: Congratulations president-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

(PA Graphics)

The return of Mr Trump to the White House could cause diplomatic headaches for the UK, with potential splits on trade policy and US support for Ukraine and Nato.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he is looking forward to working with Mr Trump and his running mate JD Vance.

Mr Lammy has spent time seeking to form a close relationship with the Trump campaign, despite a history of outspoken criticism of his record  including calling him a racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser in 2017 and a tyrant in a toupee a year later.

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on your victory. The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years. We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.  David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 6, 2024

The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years, Mr Lammy said on Wednesday.

With projections showing Mr Trump was on course for a spectacular return to the White House, the Republican candidate told his supporters that America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.

He said that he would not let his backers down and that it is time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us, as he looks likely to win the presidency for the second time.

Donald Trump kisses former first lady Melania Trump at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Centre in Florida (Evan Vucci/AP)

Addressing a campaign party in Florida in the early hours of Wednesday, Mr Trump pledged to fight for every citizen and promised the golden age of America.

He said: Every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.

I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve.

He added: This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.

Mr Trumps power at the start of his second presidency could be untrammelled, with the Republicans also appearing on course to win a Senate majority and retaining control in the House of Representatives.

The president-elect has long complained about US tax dollars funding European security and has been highly critical about Nato members not spending enough.

He has also repeatedly claimed he would bring the war in Ukraine to an end, although he has not set out how he would achieve this.

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to congratulate Mr Trump and said: I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.

We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said Mr Trumps leadership will again be key to keeping our alliance strong, adding: Through Nato, the US has 31 friends and allies who help to advance US interests, multiply American power and keep Americans safe.

Addressing Mr Trumps concerns about burden-sharing, he added: Two-thirds of Allies now spend at least 2% of their GDP (gross domestic product) on defence, and defence spending and production are on an onward trajectory across the alliance.

I just congratulated @realDonaldTrump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through #NATO.  Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) November 6, 2024

Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace said the return of Mr Trump should spur European Nato members to commit more to security, with a pledge to spend 3% of GDP.

Whatever your feelings about the US election are, the best insurance for all our security is to invest in our own defence and security right across Europe, he said.

Reform UKs Nigel Farage, a leading supporter of Mr Trump, said the president-elect would be a genuine radical.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today: What you are going to see from this Trump administration, and Im guessing that Elon Musk will be the man that is tasked to do it, is there will be a big fightback against the administrative bureaucratic state which is far too big, far too powerful and actually very undemocratic.

What is very interesting about the Trump movement is that its critics call it all sorts of nasty names, the truth is in many ways its bringing Americans together.
The Prime Minister has welcomed King Abdullah II of Jordan to Downing Street, where the two leaders discussed the Middle East.

The Jordanian king was visiting No 10 for the second time since Sir Keir Starmer was elected in July.

Sir Keir and King Abdullah reflected on the situation in the Middle East in recent days and reiterated the need for ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Sir Keir Starmer and King Abdullah II discussed the situation in the Middle East (Frank Augstein/PA)

The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of Israel allowing UNRWA, the main provider of aid in Gaza, to continue operating.

Israel passed a law last month to sever ties with the UNRWA agency and prevent it from operating in Israel.

The leaders expressed concern about the situation in the West Bank, including increased settler violence and the expansion of settlements.

They also agreed on the need to support a political solution to end the bloodshed in Lebanon.

The Prime Minister updated the king on the UKs recent delivery of ration packs and battlefield medical kits to Lebanese Armed Forces.

Israeli forces and the Hezbollah militant group have been clashing for more than a year, since Hezbollah started firing rockets across the border with Lebanon.

That was soon after a deadly Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza in October last year.

The war on the Lebanese front has substantially escalated since mid-September, with Israel launching a massive aerial bombardment and ground invasion.
Starmer offers hearty congratulations to Trump in first call since election win

Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Donald Trump and offered hearty congratulations in their first conversation since the president-elects election win.

The Prime Minister is seeking to secure close ties with Mr Trump amid tensions over Labour activists campaigning for his rival and past comments Cabinet ministers have made about him.

Sir Keir congratulated Mr Trump on his historic victory after US voters returned him to the White House, Downing Street said.

The Prime Minister offered his hearty congratulations and said he looked forward to working closely with President-elect Trump across all areas of the special relationship.

The leaders agreed that the US-UK relationship, from defence and security to growth and prosperity, was incredibly strong and would continue to thrive for many years to come, No 10 said.

The leaders fondly recalled their meeting in September and President-elect Trumps close connections and affinity to the United Kingdom, and looked forward to working with one another.

Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary David Lammy had dinner with Mr Trump at Trump Tower in New York several weeks ago.

Since then, the Republicans campaign filed a legal complaint about Labour activists backing rival Kamala Harris.

Donald Trump on election night (Alex Brandon/AP)

There are also fears that relations could be strained due to past comments from senior party figures, including Mr Lammy, who previously described the Republican politician as a neo-Nazi sympathiser.

Downing Street on Wednesday stood by Mr Lammy, saying he would remain in post for the rest of the parliamentary term.

No 10 said Sir Keir reflected on the situation in the Middle East and underscored the importance of regional stability in his conversation with Mr Trump on Wednesday, but there was no mention of Ukraine.

The Prime Minister has said the UKs support for Kyiv will remain ironclad amid a lack of clarity on Mr Trumps plans.

Mr Trump has refused to explicitly say if he wants Ukraine to win the war with Russia, insisting he wants the conflict to end in a day but declining to set out the specifics of how this would be achieved.

Mr Trumps proposals to impose hefty tariffs on goods imported into America which could hit the UK economy and could cause a headache for Sir Keirs Government, which has just announced a Budget that is banking on growth.

New Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called on Sir Keir to back an invitation for Mr Trump to address Parliament and revive talks on a UK-US trade deal.

Nigel Farage, a longtime supporter of the president-elect, has said that such tariffs could be avoided if Sir Keir carries out direct negotiations with Mr Trump and that he would be glad to assist in bridging the divide that exists between Starmers Government and Trump.

Britain is really going to have to roll out the red carpet for Trump very quickly. If we dont, a great opportunity will be squandered, the Reform UK leader wrote in The Telegraph.
UK could attempt to talk Trump out of tariff war, Reeves tells MPs

The UK will make strong representations to Donald Trump about plans for tariffs which could hit British economic growth, Rachel Reeves said.

The Chancellor added she is not sanguine about the president-elects plans, but is optimistic about the UKs ability to shape the global economic agenda.

Mr Trump has said he wants to increase tariffs on goods imported from around the world by 10%, rising to 60% on goods from China, as part of his plan to protect US industry.

Ms Reeves said the UK will use the months before Mr Trumps inauguration in January to prepare for different eventualities.

Higher US import tariffs would reduce global economic growth by about one percentage point over the next two years, according to analysis from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr).

For the UK, Niesr estimates economic growth would slow to 0.4% in 2025, down from a forecast of 1.2%.

At the Commons Treasury Committee, Ms Reeves was told Goldman Sachs had downgraded its forecast for UK growth next year from 1.6% to 1.4% because of the tariff risk.

Ms Reeves said: I think it is too early to start making changes to forecasts for our economy because of the election of a president in the United States.

But I would say this, our trading relationship, our economic relationship with the United States, is absolutely crucial. The US are our single biggest trading partner. 

She said in Mr Trumps first term we continued to have a strong and healthy economic relationship with the US.

Ms Reeves added: Were not just a passive actor in this.

Its a trade relationship with the United States and we will make strong representations about the importance of free and open trade, not just between ourselves and the United States, but globally.

The US also benefits from that access to free and open trade with us and other countries around the world, and its what makes us richer as societies, to benefit from that open trade.

Asked by Tory former Treasury minister John Glen if it is realistic to seek to influence Mr Trump, the Chancellor said: Weve got another couple of months before the inauguration.

Obviously we will begin those conversations. Well prepare for different eventualities.

I absolutely do not want to sound in any way sanguine. On the other hand, I am optimistic about our ability to shape the global economic agenda, as we have under successive governments.

The FTSE 100 surged on opening after the US election result, rising by as much as 1.6% at one stage, but later lost most of these gains amid volatile afternoon trading.

Sterling was around 1% lower against dollar and nearly 1% higher against the euro.
A Donald Trump supporter in the UK has shared her delight at the US election result, while a Democrat voter said he is floored.

Republican Mr Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States after a win in Wisconsin, which gave him the 270 electoral votes needed to defeat Democrat Kamala Harris.

Linda Impey, 77, from Maryland, said the Republican presidents win is very good for the world.

Linday Impey,77, from Maryland thinks Donald Trumps win is very good for the world (Linda Impey/PA)

I think its a great thing, and I think because its going to be good for the economy and its going to sort out the immigration, Mrs Impey, a retired school matron living in Essex in south-east England, told the PA news agency.

I think JD Vance is an absolutely great pick for vice president because hes the polar opposite to Donald Trump.

Hes led a very meagre young life, whereas Donald Trump has come from a privileged background.

Mrs Impey, who was unable to vote as her absentee ballot didnt arrive in the post, also thinks Mr Trumps friendship with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage would be helpful for the UK.

I do think itd be very good for the world, maybe not so good for China, because hes going to put a lot of tariffs on and I think because weve left the EU, I think this country will be more fair, much better than the EU with import tax, she said.

Im thrilled with the result.

Meanwhile, Democrat voter Pete Lawler, who has spent the last two months campaigning across the city to get fellow Americans in the UK to vote, said he was floored by the result.

The 46-year-old teacher from Pennsylvania who lives in Walthamstow in east London said he was still processing what had happened on Wednesday morning.

Democrat voter Pete Lawler, who has been out campaigning for the last few weeks, said he was floored by the election result (Pete Lawler/PA)

Im feeling emotional frustration right now, Ive already cried once this morning. Im just settling into processing things, Mr Lawler told PA.

Mr Lawler said his colleagues were looking at him with a sense of bereavement on Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday night, he joined fellow Democrat supporters at an event at the London School of Economics campus in Holborn in central London.

People were quite happy, excited and jubilant. There was a sense of their sense of giddiness. There was a sense of anticipation, he said.

There was a sense that we were all kind of pulling together towards the same positive outcome.

However, after chatting to his brother on Tuesday night, that hope shifted.

I was chatting to my brother, who was working last night, I think he was helping to cure ballots, he said.

We were kind of texting back and forth. And about 3.10am last night, he texted me to say things (were) not looking good.

I think as Democrats, as progressives, we havent quite got to the point where weve been able to articulate or figure out why the lived reality of people in America doesnt match up with the objective reality of the way the economy is going.

I think that the right has been able to steer the conversation, thats meant that people have been able to blame that feeling of not doing well on the outsider or people who are not like them.
The boss of Wetherspoon has warned over price rises after the autumn Budget, as he said the pub chains tax bill will jump by two thirds next year.

Tim Martin, Wetherspoons chairman, said he believes all hospitality businesses are planning to pass on higher costs through price hikes.

He said: Cost inflation, which had jumped to elevated levels in 2022, slowly abated in the following two years, but has now jumped substantially again following the Budget.

All hospitality businesses, we believe, plan to increase prices, as a result.

Wetherspoon will, as always, make every attempt to stay as competitive as possible.

Wetherspoon, which runs nearly 800 pubs across the country, said its tax and business costs are expected to increase by about 60 million over the next tax year.

This includes an estimated 67% increase in national insurance contributions.

Founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, warned over price rises following the Budget (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Last week Chancellor Rachel Reeves presented her first Budget, which she said met the Governments promise not to increase taxes for working people.

But she introduced 40 billion a year in extra taxes to put more money into schools, hospitals, transport and houses.

This included plans to increase the rate of employer national insurance from April next year, which would raise 25.7 billion by 2029 to 2030.

On Tuesday, the chief executive of Primarks parent company said he felt the weight of tax rises in the Budget were falling on the UK high street, as he said the companys national insurance bill would rise by tens of millions of pounds.

Meanwhile, Wetherspoon said its sales grew about 6% in the 14 weeks to November 3, compared with the same period last year.

Mr Martin said this marked record sales for the first quarter of the groups financial year.

The company will open nine pubs this year, including at London Bridge station and Fulham Broadway underground in London and Manchester Airport, and has sold five pubs in 2024.
KOTOIMAGES // Shutterstock

Going for an adventure outdoors is one of the best ways to spend time together as a family. Not only does it offer a chance to bond and create lasting memories, but it's also good for children's health. According to Harvard Health, outdoor activities can improve a child's creativity and executive function, and, of course, increase their appreciation for nature.

Taking up an activity like fishing offers its own specific benefits, too, as it teaches important skills such as patience and perseverance. Plus, there's nothing more rewarding than celebrating a young angler's first catch.

Boatzon put together a list of 10 unforgettable fishing trips across the United States to get your family outside. This list is by no means exhaustive; with 277,209 square miles of water in the U.S., there are plenty of great places for fishing. A few hot spots get the most attention, such as the Great Lakes, Mississippi River, and Ozarks. But if you'd like to create a bucket list-worthy fishing trip for your family, read on for some of the most exciting places in the country to make it happen.

Wes Lund // Shutterstock

Bighorn River (Montana)

If you're after trout on your family fishing trip, head to Montana's Bighorn River. Brown trout are most common in this cool, clear river, while rainbow trout are a bit more elusive. Round out your trip by camping in Black Canyon and taking a boat out on Bighorn Lake; the views of the sandstone cliffs above the lake are spectacular.

Billy McDonald // Shutterstock

Cape Cod (Massachusetts)

On Cape Cod, you'll find good fishing year-round and a wide variety of options, from freshwater to deep-sea fishing. Saltwater fish in the area include striped and sea bass, bluefish, and tuna. You can also find trout, bass, and perch in the freshwater ponds. If you're willing to brave winter temperatures, you can even try your hand at ice fishing.

SR Productions // Shutterstock

Florida Keys (Florida)

The archipelago stretching 125 miles long from mainland Florida into the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico makes for a wondrous, tropical vacation. Book a private villa in the Florida Keys for extra tranquility or a family-friendly spot such as the Isla Bella Beach Resort. Choose your angling adventure inside the islands' arc for bonefish, redfish, permit, snook, and tarpon. Outside the arc in the Atlantic, you'll find swordfish, marlin, and sailfish.

Michael Ryno // Shutterstock

Fryingpan River (Colorado)

Focus on finding the perfect spot along the lower part of Fryingpan River, beneath the Ruedi Reservoir, for some of the country's best trout fishing. You can also venture to nearby streams, such as the Roaring Fork and Crystal Rivers, which are about 15 minutes away from the river. Once you've gotten your fill of fishing, try some of the area's hiking or natural hot springs.

Billy McDonald // Shutterstock

Kailua-Kona (Hawai'i)

You'll find plenty of anglers casting their rods alongside the beaches and piers of Hawai'i's Big Island, but for the ultimate fishing experience, consider renting a charter from Honokohau Harbor off the Kona coast. The deep ocean waters are great for mahi-mahi, marlin, 'ono, and more. After your expedition, check out the shops and restaurants along Alii Drive in the historic fishing village of Kailua.

Alita Xander // Shutterstock

Ketchikan (Alaska)

The "salmon capital of the world" is a quaint fishing village in the southeastern part of the state, home to Alaska's Native Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples. Hundreds of thousands of salmon return to Ketchikan to spawn year after year. Area fishing enthusiasts know all the best tricks to sustainably harvest the wild fish.

Lourens Botha // Shutterstock

McCloud River (California)

The McCloud River is one of the best spots in the world for rainbow trout. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly monitors and stocks the upper portion of the lake near Lower Falls and the McCloud Reservoir. Other parts of the river are catch-and-release only to protect endangered species and maintain wild trout streams.

Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

South Padre Island (Texas)

With warm temperatures year-round and charters for every experience level, South Padre Island is a great family-friendly destination for fishing. Anglers catch everything from mahi-mahi and grouper to tuna and kingfish. There are also several local restaurants that will prepare your catch of the day.

GCC Photography // Shutterstock

Thousand Islands (New York)

Known for its best-in-class bass fishing, the eastern edge of Lake Ontario is also full of salmon, trout, and walleye. Families looking for a wide range of activities will have plenty to do in upstate New York. Diving to explore shipwrecks, kayaking around more than 1,800 islands, and visiting lighthouses are just a few of the options.

CactusPilot // Shutterstock

White River (Arkansas and Missouri)

The White River features the region's best trout fishing, with rainbow trout and monster-size brown trout. Winter fishing below Bull Shoals Dam in Arkansas provides a chance to catch some of the latter. For the younger anglers in your crew, consider planning your trip during the warm months, between April and October.

Additional research by Nicole Caldwell. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass and Elisa Huang. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

This story originally appeared on Boatzon and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Voters in Missouri cleared the way to undo one of the nation's most restrictive abortion bans in one of seven victories for abortion rights advocates, while Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota defeated similar constitutional amendments, leaving bans in place.

Abortion rights amendments also passed in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland and Montana. Nevada voters also approved an amendment, but they'll need to pass it again it 2026 for it to take effect. Another that bans discrimination on the basis of pregnancy outcomes prevailed in New York.

The results include firsts for the abortion landscape, which underwent a seismic shift in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a ruling that ended a nationwide right to abortion and cleared the way for bans to take effect in most Republican-controlled states.

They also came in the same election that Republican Donald Trump won the presidency. Among his inconsistent positions on abortion has been an insistence that it's an issue best left to the states. Still, the president can have a major impact on abortion policy through executive action.

In the meantime, Missouri is positioned to be the first state where a vote will undo a ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with an amendment that would allow lawmakers to restrict abortions only past the point of a fetus viability  usually considered after 21 weeks, although theres no exact defined time frame.

But the ban, and other restrictive laws, are not automatically repealed. Advocates now have to ask courts to overturn laws to square with the new amendment.

Today, Missourians made history and sent a clear message: decisions around pregnancy, including abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care are personal and private and should be left up to patients and their families, not politicians, Rachel Sweet, campaign manager of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, said in a statement.

Roughly half of Missouris voters said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 2,200 of the states voters. But only about 1 in 10 said abortion should be illegal in all cases; nearly 4 in 10 said abortion should be illegal in most cases.

Bans remain in place in three states after votes

Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota became the first states since Roe was overturned where abortion opponents prevailed on a ballot measure. Most voters supported the Florida measure, but it fell short of the required 60% to pass constitutional amendments in the state. Most states require a simple majority.

The result was a political win for Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican with a national profile, who had steered state GOP funds to the cause. His administration has weighed in, too, with a campaign against the measure, investigators questioning people who signed petitions to add it to the ballot and threats to TV stations that aired one commercial supporting it.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, said in a statement that the result is a momentous victory for life in Florida and for our entire country, praising DeSantis for leading the charge against the measure.

The defeat makes permanent a shift in the Southern abortion landscape that began when the states six-week ban took effect in May. That removed Florida as a destination for abortion for many women from nearby states with deeper bans and also led to far more women from the state traveling to obtain abortion. The nearest states with looser restrictions are North Carolina and Virginia  hundreds of miles away.

The reality is because of Floridas constitution a minority of Florida voters have decided Amendment 4 will not be adopted, said Lauren Brenzel, campaign director for the Yes on 4 Campaign said while wiping away tears. The reality is a majority of Floridians just voted to end Floridas abortion ban.

In South Dakota, another state with a ban on abortion throughout pregnancy with some exceptions, the defeat of an abortion measure was more decisive. It would have allowed some regulations related to the health of the woman after 12 weeks. Because of that wrinkle, most national abortion-rights groups did not support it.

Voters in Nebraska adopted a measure that allows more abortion restrictions and enshrines the state's current 12-week ban and rejected a competing measure that would have ensured abortion rights.

Other states guaranteed abortion rights

Arizona's amendment will mean replacing the current law that bans abortion after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. The new measure ensures abortion access until viability. A ballot measure there gained momentum after a state Supreme Court ruling in April found that the state could enforce a strict abortion ban adopted in 1864. Some GOP lawmakers joined with Democrats to repeal the law before it could be enforced.

In Maryland, the abortion rights amendment is a legal change that wont make an immediate difference to abortion access in a state that already allows it.

It's a similar situation in Montana, where abortion is already legal until viability.

The Colorado measure exceeded the 55% of support required to pass. Besides enshrining access, it also undoes an earlier amendment that barred using state and local government funding for abortion, opening the possibility of state Medicaid and government employee insurance plans covering care.

A New York equal rights law that abortion rights group say will bolster abortion rights also passed. It doesnt contain the word abortion but rather bans discrimination on the basis of pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy. Sasha Ahuja, campaign director of New Yorkers for Equal Rights, called the result a monumental victory for all New Yorkers and a vote against opponents who she says used misleading parental rights and anti-trans messages to try to thwart the measure.

The results end a win streak for abortion-rights advocates

Until Tuesday, abortion rights advocates had prevailed on all seven measures that have appeared on statewide ballots since the fall of Roe.

The abortion rights campaigns have a big fundraising advantage this year. Their opponents efforts are focused on portraying the amendments as too extreme rather than abortion as immoral.

Currently, 13 states are enforcing bans at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions. Four more bar abortion in most cases after about six weeks of pregnancy  before women often realize theyre pregnant. Despite the bans, the number of monthly abortions in the U.S. has risen slightly, because of the growing use of abortion pills and organized efforts to help women travel for abortion. Still, advocates say the bans have reduced access, especially for lower-income and minority residents of the states with bans.

The issue is resonating with voters. About one-fourth said abortion policy was the single most important factor for their vote, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide. Close to half said it was an important factor, but not the most important. Just over 1 in 10 said it was a minor factor.

The outcomes of ballot initiatives that sought to overturn strict abortion bans in Florida and Missouri were very important to a majority of voters in the states. More than half of Florida voters identified the result of the amendment as very important, while roughly 6 in 10 of Missouris voters said the same, the survey found.

___

Associated Press reporters Hannah Fingerhut and Amanda Seitz contributed to this article.

___

This article has been corrected to reflect in the other states section that Montana, not Missouri, currently allows abortion until viability.
Jorge Tarazona stands next to a car in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2024, where his three-year-old niece and sister-in-law died in last week's floods in eastern Spain. (AP Photo/Paolo Santalucia)

PAIPORTA, Spain (AP)  The mangled car in which Jorge Tarazonas 3-year-old niece and sister-in-law perished in last week's catastrophic flooding in Spain now hangs halfway off the ragged edge of road.

His brother managed to survive, clinging to a fence. He and his family had been caught in traffic driving home to Paiporta on Valencia's southern outskirts, Tarazona said. They had no chance to escape when the tsunami-like wave quickly overflowed the nearby drainage canal and swept away everything in its path.

They did not have time to do anything, Tarazona told The Associated Press, a week after the Oct. 29 flash floods. My brother was dragged away and ended up clinging to a fence." His sister-in-law "could not get out and died with her little girl.

Tarazona had ridden a bike back to the site and taped a note on the car asking for whoever eventually removed the wreck off the side of the highway, to call him.

It all happened so fast, he said, tears coming to his eyes. In half an hour the current had carried away the car. There was no time, no time. She managed to send me the location of their car hoping for a rescue.

The next day she was found dead inside, he said.

It's unclear if the two are included in the official toll of the 217 confirmed dead as fatalities tick up, eight days after the deadliest floods in Spain this century.

Paiporta has been labeled by Spanish media as the ground zero of the natural disaster that has also left 89 people still missing, while officials say the real figure could be higher.

Over 60 people perished in Paiporta when a wave of water rushed down the Poyo canal that cuts through its center. Frustration over the survivors sense of abandonment exploded in Paiporta on Sunday when a crowd greeted Spains royals and officials with a barrage of mud and other objects.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was rushed away and the royal couple had to eventually cancel the visit after speaking to several distraught neighbors amid a chaotic scene.

The mayor of Paiporta, a middle-class community of 30,000, on Tuesday pleaded for a higher authority to step in and take control of her municipality because the floods had made it impossible to go on. Mayor Maribel Albalat said all the municipal buildings, from town hall to the local police, had been severely damaged and that many of the local civil servants are in a state of shock.

Paiporta is a strong village, but this overwhelms out capacities as a local administration, she said.

The air-throbbing thup, thup, thup of the huge, two-propeller Chinook helicopters that have flown overhead with the arrival of the army has added to the post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

The destruction, however, went far beyond Paiporta and covers a huge swath of municipalities, above all on the southern flank of Valencia city on the Mediterranean coast. Seventy-eight localities had at least one person die from the floods. Police have expanded their search to the nearby marshes and coastline, where the waters carried some away.

The residents, businesses and town councils of the affected localities can apply for financial help from a 10.6-billion-euro relief package from Spain's government. The regional Valencia government, which is being slammed for not alerting the populace of the danger in time, has asked the central government in Madrid for 31 billion euros to ensure the recovery.

Over a week later, the cleanup goes on to get rid of tons of mud and debris that clog street after street, filling thousands of ground floors, destroying living rooms and kitchens. Neighborhoods were left without shops and supermarkets after all their products were ruined. Many houses still dont have drinking water.

An impromptu army of volunteers were the first helpers on the ground, shoveling and sweeping away the sticky brown mire covering everything, and helping to start removing pile after pile of debris that made access to cars impossible in many areas.

Authorities eventually mobilized 15,000 soldiers and police reinforcements to help firefighters search for bodies and start extracting thousands of wrecked cars strewn over streets and sunk in canal beds.

At every corner, cars are piled on top of one another or smashed into buildings, light poles, trees and bridge overpasses.

There is still so much to do," said volunteer Juanma Baztan Lopez, who is helping churn through the muck in Catarroja, which borders on Paiporta, in his four-wheel drive. He has helped transport doctors to people in need, deliver essential products, and tow away wrecked cars.

"It will take a year to get this back to normal, he said.

___

Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.
Migrants sit by the iron fence in San Diego.

The Biden administration is making contingency plans for a possible surge in border crossings ahead of a Trump presidency, as more would-be immigrants say they are concerned President-elect Donald Trump will shut down the border, according to two U.S. officials and exchanges between immigrants on WhatsApp groups.

On Monday afternoon, nearly 36 hours before Trump declared victory, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas held a virtual meeting with his top advisers and the heads of Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in which the participants raised concerns about what a possible Trump victory would do to border security.

The questions posed to the group were not unusual, according to two officials with direct knowledge of the call: How was the Department of Homeland Security operationally prepared to deal with a potential spike in immigration? Was there enough bed space in ICE detention to hold immigrants before deporting them? Would the agencies be able to continue placing migrants who do not qualify for asylum on a rapid path toward removal, or would numbers overwhelm the system and force agents to release migrants into the U.S. with court dates set years into the future?

The officials reiterated that the DHS has not yet seen a surge in migrants heading to the U.S. But the concern was raised: If Donald Trump were to be elected, they would predict an increase in migrants trying to enter the country at the last minute, and CBP and ICE needed to be prepared.

A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said "migrants should not believe the lies of smugglers."

"The fact remains: the United States continues to enforce immigration law, and migrants should use safe, lawful, and orderly pathways to come to the United States," the spokesperson added.

During the campaign, Trump vowed to deport millions of undocumented migrants should he win election.

As Tuesday night brought news of a decisive victory for Trump, immigrants began to talk on WhatsApp, a common channel for smugglers to advertise their services to people in Central and South America looking to come to the U.S. A common theme emerged among multiple users: The time to come to the U.S. is now.

After the 21 of January hell close the borders with extreme security, said one person on WhatsApp on Wednesday morning, referring to the day after Trump takes office.

Until the 10th of January there is a chance, said another, erroneously claiming Jan. 10 was the date Trump would take office, instead of Jan. 20.

My sister is still in Mexico. I couldnt sleep thinking of her, another WhatsApp user worried.

He takes power on the 21 of January. He cant make any decree yet, said a messenger. Another replied: Theres not a lot of [time] left. He has the decrees already in his mind.

You have until January to enter, one person declared.

The operator of a shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, where migrants wait before they enter the U.S., said he expects smugglers, known as coyotes, to pressure immigrants to start crossing now.

Of course, the coyotes will arrive, they are going to say that they need to get in before Donald Trump arrives, said Gustavo Banda, operator of Templo Embajadores de Jesus, which is housing about 1,400 migrants.

Banda said there is a feeling of uncertainty among migrants at his shelter, but he tries to keep them calm. No one knows what is going to happen, Banda said. Thats why you have to talk to them, that for the moment, absolutely nothing changes.

In another part of Mexico near the U.S. border, Francisco Loureiro, a shelter operator in Nogales, said he talked to migrants yesterday about the election outcome and their concerns.

We have migrants who are worried, who dont know what is going to happen now with their [CBP ONE] appointment, Loureiro, who runs the San Juan Bosco shelter in town, said, referring to the app that migrants can use to apply for asylum without entering the U.S.

The shelter operator said that hes aware of a recent caravan of migrants who left the Mexican state of Chiapas, an area that sits along the border of Guatemala, and have made their way to the northern part of Mexico. And while caravans like these are nothing new, he said, hes ready for more migrants to potentially head to the Nogales area before Trump takes office.

I am fortunately prepared to receive more people, obviously within our capacity, but yes, we are prepared, Loureiro said.
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - In a historic health milestone, Sudan has launched its first malaraia vaccination campaign amid 18 months of civil conflict, aiming to protect thousands of children from the deadly disease
SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Bitcoin surged to a record high in Asian trade as investors leaned towards Donald Trump winning the U.S. presidential election.

The world's biggest cryptocurrency rose 7% to $75,060, topping March's peak, with the prospect of Trump's return to the White House seen ushering in a softer line on cryptocurrency regulation.

Republican Trump won 15 states while Democrat Kamala Harris captured seven states and Washington, D.C., Edison Research projected, and though the race remained too early to call financial markets began moving in the Asia session to price a victory for the former president.

Matthew Dibb, chief investment officer at cryptocurrency asset manager Astronaut Capital, said markets expected a change in attitude at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to remove a choke point for crypto innovation and speculation.

"(A) Democrat win would have felt like a short term nail in the coffin," he said. "Probably not the case long term but the market is placing high importance on it."

Smaller cryptocurrency ether also jumped 7.5% but at $2,593 remained well below its 2021 high of $4,867.

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Kim Coghill and Shri Navaratnam)
U.S. Sen. Mike Braun United States Senate

(The Center Square)  U.S. Sen. Mike Braun won the Indiana governors race Tuesday, retaining the seat for the Republican Party by defeating former state education superintendent Jennifer McCormick.

The Associated Press called the race for Braun at 7:01 p.m. ET, immediately after polls closed in the states Central Time Zone counties in the northwestern and southwestern corners. A McCormick spokesperson at that time said the news services projection seemed too early. However, McCormick, a former Republican who switched to the Democratic Party three years ago, would eventually concede defeat when speaking to her supporters just before 10 p.m. ET.

With 72% of the vote counted as of 10:06 p.m. ET, Braun had received more than 1.2 million votes, or 55% of the unofficial count. McCormick won more than 923,500, or 40.4%, and Libertarian Donald Rainwater garnered more than 106,000 votes, or 4.7%.

Braun will succeed current Gov. Eric Holcomb, a two-term incumbent ineligible for re-election. With the victory, Republicans have won each of the states gubernatorial races since 2004.

The governor-elect told his supporters that he planned to draw from his experiences as a businessman, a congressman and a U.S. Senator to help all Hoosiers succeed.

Were going to take Indiana to places weve never seen before, he said to cheers.

Holcomb won re-election four years ago with 56.5% of the vote and beat Democrat Woody Meyers by more than 24 percentage points. This year, Democrats were hopeful they could make McCormick the states first Democratic governor since Joe Kernan, who became governor upon the death of Frank OBannon in 2003 and lost to Mitch Daniels a year later.

What gave Democrats hope was the Republican Partys selection of pastor Micah Beckwith as the lieutenant gubernatorial candidate over state Rep. Julie McGuire, an Indianapolis lawmaker and Brauns preferred candidate. McCormick and her supporters hoped Beckwiths stances on abortion and other social issues would steer more moderate voters their way.

Just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, she urged her supporters to continue the fight for reproductive choice and affordable health care.

Although tonight wasnt the result we were looking for, we have so many wins, so many wins, McCormick told supporters at her campaigns party. But its up to us to take advantage of them.

Brauns victory was part of a sweep for Republicans in Indiana statewide races. Former President Donald Trump won the states 11 votes by handily defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. U.S. Rep. Jim Banks won the Senate race to succeed Braun, over Democratic candidate Valerie McCray, and incumbent state Attorney General Todd Rokita also beat Democrat Destiny Wells to win re-election.
A California girl was awarded $300,000 in a settlement with police who went out of their way to seize and butcher her beloved pet goat, according to reports.

Jessica Longs daughter  who was just 9 years old when her goat, Cedar, was hauled off to the slaughter in 2022  reached the settlement Friday with the Shasta County Sheriffs Office and several of its officers, Courthouse News Service reported.

The mother sued the department in 2023, a year after officers traveled about 500 miles roundtrip to seize the goat without a warrant, all in the name of a state fairs supposed rules that had no legal binding.

Jessica Longs daughter was awarded $300,000 in a settlement with police who went out of their way to seize and butcher her beloved pet goat Cedar. Advancing Law for Animals

Her daughter was given Cedar in April 2022 and tended to him daily for months with plans to raise him for a livestock auction at the Shasta District Fair as part of a youth program.

But when Cedar was handed over to the fair around July of that year, the girl found she couldnt part with the animal  especially since the auction he was slotted for was selling the animals for meat.

After the auction, [the daughter] would not leave Cedars side. the lawsuit read, according to Courthouse News.

[She] loved Cedar and the thought of him going to slaughter was something she could not bear. While sobbing in his pen beside him, [she] communicated to her mother she didnt want Cedar to go to slaughter.

But when Long tried to intervene, the fair said its rules wouldnt allow Cedar to be removed from auction  despite there being nothing legally binding before sales in its auction code. So Cedar was sold  to Republican California State Sen. Brian Dahle  at a gavel price of $902, 7% of which was to go to the auction.

Dahle later agreed to nullify the purchase  no funds were ever exchanged  and Long offered to pay the fair its $63 commission.

Long sued the Shasta County Sheriffs Office in 2023, a year after officers traveled about 500 miles roundtrip to seize the goat without a warrant. Advancing Law for Animals

Despite this, the fair refused to release Cedar, so the mother snatched the goat away and secreted him away to a farm in Sonoma County  and the Shasta County Sheriffs Office obtained a warrant to seize the goat for the fair.

Police drove about 500 miles roundtrip to take back Cedar, only to find that they had a warrant for the wrong farm.

They finally located the goat and seized him without a warrant, according to Longs lawsuit.

Exactly what became of Cedar is unclear  but it is believed he was handed over to fair personnel, who slaughtered him and threw his meat in among the selections at a community barbecue.

Despite the settlement, Long said her daughter, who is now 11, remains heartbroken.

The young girl who raised Cedar lost him, and Cedar lost his life, the lawsuit read.

Now plaintiffs can never get him back.

The settlement will be put in a trust for the young girl, according to Courthouse News.

Litigation with defendants from the Shasta District Fair and the youth program involved is still ongoing.

The Shasta District Fair and Shasta County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond do a request for comment.
Marsha Molinari of West Hollywood, Calif., holds a cell phone at a polling place at the Connie Norman Transgender Empowerment Center on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Hollywood, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California voters decided on 10 ballot measures including one that would turn some nonviolent crimes, like shoplifting, into felonies again, and another that would make the states minimum wage the highest in the nation.

Heres a look at some of the most consequential propositions put before voters:

Proposition 36

Frustrated with what they see as rampant retail crimes, voters approved an initiative making shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders again and increasing penalties for some drug charges, including those involving the synthetic opioid fentanyl. The tough-on-crime ballot measure also gives judges the authority to order people with multiple drug charges to get treatment.

The measure partly rolls back a progressive law passed by voters in 2014 that downgraded several nonviolent crimes to misdemeanors, including theft under $950 in value and some drug offenses. The reversal reflects widespread anger among voters who are increasingly pinning the blame for homelessness and retail theft on criminal justice reform and progressive district attorneys.

Its hard to quantify the retail crime issue in California because of the lack of local data. But many point to videos of large groups of people stealing in plain sight, such as at a boarded-up Nike store in Los Angeles after the Dodgers won the World Series last week, as evidence of a crisis.

Proponents said the initiative is necessary to close legal loopholes that have made it challenging for law enforcement to punish shoplifters and drug dealers.

This is a resounding message that Californians are ready to have safer communities, said Anne Marie Schubert, co-chair of the coalition supporting the measure.

Opponents, including Democratic state leaders and social justice groups, said it will disproportionately imprison poor people and those with substance use issues rather than target ringleaders who hire large groups of people to steal goods for resale online. The initiative will also take away drug and mental health funding that comes from savings from incarcerating fewer people.

Voters wanted solutions, but they were sold a false promise, said Tinisch Hollins, executive director of the coalition that co-authored the 2014 law. With this initiative passing and potentially threatening hundreds of millions of dollars to stabilize those programs, were going to be a lot worse off than we were before.

Proposition 32

This would increase the minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026, up from the current rate of $16 per hour for most people. It was too early to call as of Wednesday afternoon.

Fast food workers already got a pay boost this year to at least $20 an hour, and some health care workers now make a minimum of $23 an hour.

If approved, California would have the countrys highest statewide minimum wage. In 2016 it became the first state to pass a $15 an hour minimum wage. About 40 cities and counties already have minimum wages higher than the statewide rate, and six of them require minimums above $18 per hour as of this year.

Hawaii passed a law in 2022 raising its minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2028.

Proponents of the California measure estimate that it would benefit 2 million workers including hotel and grocery employees. Opponents say it would increase costs, lead to higher taxes and push businesses to cut jobs.

Proposition 4

California voters approved a plan to borrow $10 billion for various climate programs, the states largest investment to date in fighting climate change.

The largest chunk of the money, $3.8 billion, will go to improving drinking water systems and preparing for droughts and floods. Wildfire preparedness programs will get $1.5 billion, while $1.2 billion will be targeted to combating sea-level rise.

The rest will be divided among programs on parks and outdoor recreation; air quality; extreme heat preparedness; protecting biodiversity; and farm and ranch sustainability.

Proponents of the measure say it will help the state better prepare for a changing climate and increasing threats of wildfires, water pollution and extreme heat.

Californians are taking charge, choosing to invest in climate solutions now to protect us from fires and floods, build a more resilient future, and preserve the iconic California resources that make our state special, Liz Forsburg Pardi, California policy director at the Nature Conservancy, said in a statement.

But opponents called the bond the most expensive way to pay for programs that could have been funded through the state budget.

California voters are rightly concerned about clean water and wildfire mitigation, but these are problems because the legislature and the governor have failed to adequately fund these important priorities in the budget, while spending (or wasting) taxpayer dollars on other things, Susan Shelley, spokesperson for Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said in a statement.

It will cost taxpayers about $16 billion to pay off, in annual installments of $400 million.

Proposition 6

This would change the state constitution to ban forced labor in any form. The constitution currently bans it except as punishment for crime. It was too early to call as of Wednesday afternoon, but neighboring Nevada passed a similar measure.

That exemption has become a target of criminal justice advocates who are concerned about prison labor conditions. People who are incarcerated are often paid less than $1 an hour to fight fires, clean cells and do landscaping at cemeteries.

The initiative is included in a package of reparations proposals introduced by lawmakers as part of an effort to atone and offer redress for a history of racism and discrimination against Black Californians.

Several other states, including Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont, have in recent years approved constitutional amendments removing slavery and involuntary servitude exceptions.

___

Austin is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on Twitter: @ sophieadanna
Chinas space agency has unveiled an updated design of its first super-heavy reusable rocket which looks eerily similar to SpaceXs Starship launch vehicle.

New images of the rocket, released at a major airshow in Zhuhai, China, indicate that the plan for the countrys Long March 9 rocket is a departure from the original design.

Instead of the initially proposed design of three stages and solid motors, the new model presented at the airshow is a two-stage launch vehicle closely resembling SpaceXs reusable Starship rocket.

The design for the 114m-long rocket features a reusable first stage with 30 YF-215 engines that use methane and liquid oxygen as fuel, similar to the Raptor engines of SpaceX.

Long March 9 design with flaps and reusable upper stage (Weibo)

The engines are said to have a thrust of approximately 200tonnes, compared to Starships 33 Raptor engines that each offer thrust of about 280tonnes.

The second stage also looks like Starships with similar aerodynamic flaps positioned at a similar place on the rocket.

China puts a Starship clone on its critical path for long-term settlement of the Moon, American space journalist Eric Berger posted on X.

The airshow presentation suggests China intends to debut the rocket in 2033 along with a heavy-duty launch vehicle system and a return test at sea.

This isnt the first time the Chinese space agency seems to have found inspiration from American designs.

In 2021, China unveiled a drone helicopter for future Mars missions that looked remarkably similar to Nasas Ingenuity chopper.

Last year, the Chinese agency revealed that its Mars helicopter design was a foldable quadcopter dubbed MarsBird-VI designed to have enhanced lift and performance in the thin Martian atmosphere.

Unlike Ingenuity, China said its chopper is even capable of collecting samples weighing up to 100g and returning them to its mission lander.

These developments come as China and the US are locked in a tight space race with both countries eager to set up bases on the lunar South Pole where there is likely to be water ice.

The US is teaming up with Elon Musks SpaceX for its upcoming lunar ambitions to put boots on the Moon.

Meanwhile, China is poised to use its conventional rocket for initial missions but is betting on its more powerful, reusable, Long March 9 for subsequent launches.

We will work with our partners on joint demonstration of overall mission plans, joint design of the International Lunar Research Station, technical cooperation on projects, implementation of overall mission planning, and the sharing of scientific data, Yang Xiaoyu, director of the system engineering department at Chinas space agency, said.
As the title character in "Oppenheimer," Cillian Murphy was at the center of existential questions about death and destiny as physicists raced to develop the atomic bomb in a quest to end World War II.

In his latest film, "Small Things Like These" (in theaters Friday), Murphy is at war with himself.

Based on the Orwell Prize-winning novel inspired by true events, "Small Things" is set in 1980s Ireland at a time when the Catholic Church wields absolute power over the faithful. When taciturn coal and timber merchant Bill Furlong (Murphy) discovers a sobbing girl being held captive by nuns because she's pregnant and unmarried, he is caught between a desire to help and a fear of being shunned by his community.

"This is a very familiar type to me, the silent Irish male who is a deep thinker," says Murphy, 48, himself a thoughtful, introspective presence. "In the novel, it says Bill walks with his eyes toward the ground and he finds it difficult to make eye contact with people. I know that type of Irishman."

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Cillian Murphy plays Irish coal merchant Bill Furlong in "Small Things Like These," which is based on a novel that explores dark secrets held by the Irish Catholic Church.

Murphy says serendipity was involved in bringing "Small Things" to the big screen. He had been looking for a project that would allow him to collaborate with Belgian director Tim Mielants, whom he had met while filming his popular Netflix series "Peaky Blinders."

When Murphy's wife Yvonne McGuinness suggested the 2021 Claire Keegan book, a resonant bestseller, he was stunned to find the rights available.

"It was a miracle in a way, and meant to be," says Murphy. "It had already become a modern classic in Ireland, everyone it seems had read it. But we knew if we were going to do it, it had to have the same space and tone the book has. It needed to be a quiet film."

That it is. If you wonder what it feels like to live in a small Irish village that almost seems stuck in time, surrounded by good people who are all cowed by local Catholic officials, watch "Small Things." Murphy's character is painfully reserved, and the actor's restrained performance captures how the church kept locals silent as they hid pregnant girls brought to them by embarrassed parents.

Director Mielants also felt a personal pull to the story, although he declines to elaborate. "I will say there's a theme of grief that comes back to me a lot, and I like investigating that," he says. "In a way, it's like going through my own personal trauma, beat by beat, together with Cillian. With the Catholic Church, there's always this sense that if you're silent, you're complicit."

Cillian Murphy confers with director Tim Mielants on the set of "Small Things Like These."

Mielants adds that Belgian Catholic officials have also been accused of coercing women to give up their children for adoption. But the practice in Ireland has gained the most notoriety as revelations suggested many young women lived and died within the confines of what essentially was their church imprisonment.

What were the Magdalene Laundries?

In 1993, a mass grave was discovered on the site of a convent laundry just north of Dublin, touching off a scandal now known as the Magdalene Laundries. For more than 100 years, so-called fallen women were brought to church officials across the country to be rehabilitated through forced labor, with their children given up for adoption.

In many such Irish towns, locals who suspected anything largely stayed mum. Mielants says he was eager to have his star "explore the depth that silence can have. You get the denial, the anger, the paranoia and the acceptance. You see the tip of that iceberg, but it's what's underneath that is so layered."

Emily Watson as Sister Mary, Zara Devlin as Sarah Redmond and Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong in a tense scene from "Small Things Like These," the fictional version of true events surrounding the Irish Catholic Church.

Murphy brings an intensity to this role that recalls equally striking performances from fellow Irish actors, including Barry Keoghan ("The Banshees of Inisherin"), Saoirse Ronan ("Lady Bird"), Colin Farrell ("In Bruges") and, of course, three-time Oscar winner, Daniel Day-Lewis ("Lincoln").

So what's in the Irish water that turns out such stars?

Murphy just laughs. "I get asked that often, and I don't have an answer," he says softly. But he does have an explanation of sorts.

"Have you been to a small pub in a small town in Ireland? If you have, you know that it's a place where people are there just telling stories, and who we are as a people is talking through story," he says. "I'm sure that has to do with the church, with being colonized, with the hardships of the famine and emigration.

"I don't know the answer to your question. But I do know we're good at story."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cillian Murphy's 'Small Things Like These' confronts Catholic sin
DETROIT (AP)  Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin has won Michigans open U.S. Senate seat, giving Democrats a bittersweet victory in a swing state that also backed Republican President-elect Donald Trump in his successful bid to return to the White House.

Slotkin, a third-term representative, defeated former Republican congressman Mike Rogers. Democrats have held both Senate seats in Michigan for decades, but were left without retiring incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow this year.

Michigans was among a handful of Senate races Democrats struggled to defend. They lost their U.S. Senate majority despite Slotkins narrow win.

The race was incredibly close. Just minutes before it was called for Slotkin, she addressed supporters in Detroit, acknowledging that many voters may have cast their ballots for her while also supporting Trump, who won the states electoral votes over Democrat Kamala Harris.

It's my responsibility to get things done for Michiganders. No matter whos in office, just as I did in President Trumps first term," said Slotkin. Im a problem solver and I will work with anyone who is actually here to work.

Slotkins win provides some solace for Democrats in the state, many of whom entered Election Day with high confidence following sweeping victories in the 2022 midterms. Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer still controls the executive branch and Democrats held onto the Senate, but Republicans won a majority of state House seats this election.

And Republicans also captured a mid-Michigan seat vacated by Slotkin, considered one of the most competitive races in the country.

The presidential race at the top of the ticket was expected to heavily influence the outcome, but Slotkin became the second Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in a battleground state that also backed Trump for president, following Wisconsin incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin earlier Wednesday.

Trump won Michigan in 2016 by just over 10,000 votes, marking the first time a Republican presidential candidate had secured the state in nearly three decades. This time, he expanded that margin to about 80,000 votes.

Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, launched her Senate campaign shortly after Stabenow announced her retirement in early 2023. With a largely uncontested primary, Slotkin built a significant fundraising advantage and poured it into advertising. Her high-profile supporters included former President Barack Obama and Stabenow, who helped her on the campaign trail.

On the Republican side, Rogers faced multiple challengers for the partys nomination, including former Reps. Justin Amash and Peter Meijer, the latter of whom withdrew before the Aug. 6 primary. Rogers served in the U.S. House from 2001 to 2015 and chaired the House Intelligence Committee.

Rogers called Slotkin to concede soon after The Associated Press called the race, both campaigns confirmed.

Congratulations to Congresswoman Slotkin on her victory, I wish her the best as she serves the people of Michigan in the Senate," Rogers said in a statement.

Slotkins victory extends the Republicans losing streak in Michigan U.S. Senate races, where no GOP candidate has won since 1994. Michigans other Democratic senator, Gary Peters, is serving a term that ends in 2027.

Slotkin and other Michigan Democrats focused much of their campaigns on reproductive rights, arguing that Republican opponents would back a national abortion ban, although Rogers said he wouldn't. How effectively the issue motivated voting in a state where reproductive rights were enshrined in the constitution by Michigan voters in 2022 remained to be seen.

About 4 in 10 Michigan voters said the economy and jobs is the top issue facing the country, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 110,000 voters nationally, including about 3,700 voters in Michigan. About 2 in 10 Michigan voters said immigration is the most pressing issue, and roughly 1 in 10 named abortion.

Slotkin used her funding advantage to establish her narrative early, aiming to connect both with her base and disillusioned Republicans.

We all know that its been a tough election season, Slotkin said Wednesday in Detroit. I believe in my bones that America is at its best when we have two healthy parties that push and pull and debate on issues of policy and substance and make our laws better.

She added, Thats what our founding fathers intended, and its what makes our country great.
A month after Dr. Dre's former marriage counselor sued him for harassment, the music producer has scored a legal victory.

Psychotherapist Dr. Charles Sophy, who worked with Dre and his ex-wife Nicole Young throughout their divorce process, alleged in a $10 million lawsuit filed Oct. 11 that the Grammy-winning rapper incited a "malicious" and "sustained" campaign of harassment, which included "threats of intimidation and violence," "homophobic rhetoric" and "late-night texts."

The lawsuit included a temporary restraining order that prohibited Dre from contacting Sophy.

During a hearing Tuesday, Judge Melanie Ochoa ruled that Sophy's request for a permanent restraining order against Dre was denied after the counselor's legal team failed to "sustain the applicable burden of proof" needed for the order's approval, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. The temporary restraining order was subsequently terminated.

Dr. Dre lawsuit: Music producer sued by former marriage counselor for harassment, homophobic threats

Sophy's case was dismissed without prejudice, which means he retains the ability to refile his original claims in a new lawsuit.

Dre declined to comment on Tuesday's ruling, attorney Howard E. King said in an email to USA TODAY.

Young filed for divorce from Dre in 2020 after 24 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

Dr. Dre's former marriage counselor claims producer sent threatening text messages

Fourteen months after Dre's divorce settlement with Young, Sophy claimed in his lawsuit that he began receiving harassing texts from the producer out of nowhere. According to a text screenshot cited by Billboard and Rolling Stone, Dre texted the doctor in February 2023, saying he was told something "disturbing" and that Sophy was "going to have to pay for that."

Also that month, the doctor alleged that fake FBI agents showed up at his gated community in an attempt to enter his home and "talk" to him but were stopped by a security guard, the outlets reported. The incident made Sophy "fearful for his life" and led him to wear a bulletproof vest for protection, according to the suit.

In another alleged text, Dre wrote, "You're going to have to give me a written apology. If not, I'm moving forward. I'm not playing, trust me," per Rolling Stone.

Celebs in legal trouble: Sean 'Diddy' Combs' attorneys seek gag order after 'outrageous' claims from witness

In a statement at the time, King claimed Sophy only filed his suit after he failed to push Young into dropping a 2023 "confidential complaint" to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California for "dereliction of duties and incredible incompetence."

"That complaint seeks revocation of Dr. Sophy's license ..." King said. He added that Sophy was allegedly fired because the counselor encouraged one of the couple's children "to take sides against (Dre), even encouraging his son to go to the press with false allegations" to "force a financial settlement that he recommended."

Sophy also claimed some of Dre's alleged threats were based on his sexual orientation.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dr. Dre lawsuit: Former counselor's restraining order terminated
Polls have closed in some states and the first results are coming in in the high-stakes presidential match-up between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. According to 538's forecast, both candidates have a roughly equal chance to win.



Voters are still at polling places around the country, casting ballots to decide who controls not only the White House, but also Congress, state and local governments.



Reporters from 538 and ABC News will be following along every step of the way with live updates, analysis and commentary on the results. Keep up to date with our full live blog below!





Latest Developments





Nov 6, 12:51 AM

Uniform swings are not uncommon

Many presidential elections have seen most states swing in the same direction. Here's a figure showing what fraction of states swung towards the Democrats (or GOP in red) between each pair of elections. Tonight's outcome is not unusual. pic.twitter.com/GhZV21fwwf  Dan Hopkins (@dhopkins1776) November 6, 2024









Nov 6, 12:47 AM

Trump wins back Georgia for the GOP and inches closer to victory

PHOTO: (R) Key Race Projected (ABC News)

ABC News has projected that Trump will carry Georgia and its 16 electoral votes. In 2020, Georgia was the closest state in the country, going for Biden by just 0.24 points. This time around, with 97 percent of the expected vote reporting, Trump leads by 2.3 points over Harris, 50.7% to 48.4%. The Georgia win puts Trump at 246 electoral votes, with just 24 more needed to win.





Nov 6, 12:44 AM

Republicans have won 50 Senate seats

With ABC News' projection that Republican businessman Bernie Moreno will win Ohio's Senate seat, a flip for the GOP, the Democrats have lost any real chance at keeping control of the chamber. While they started the night holding 51 seats (including the independents who caucus with them), Democrats can hope now to win at most 50  tying the Republicans in an environment where Trump is overwhelmingly likely to be the next president (and thus, JD Vance will supply Republicans the tie-breaking vote in the Senate).



But things could get even worse for Democrats. Montana's incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester currently trails Republican opponent Tim Sheehy by 20 points in Montana, though just 16 percent of the vote is in. If the votes there go the way they are going in other red-state Senate seats, Tester doesn't stand a chance. And Republicans currently lead the Senate races in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.



If you were waiting up to see who would win the Senate ... go to bed.





Nov 6, 12:44 AM

Republicans pick up seat in northeast Pennsylvania

PHOTO: (R) Key Race Projected (ABC News)

Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright had managed to hold onto a GOP-leaning seat for three cycles, but his ability to win enough conservative voters to hold the seat appears to have run its course. ABC News has projected that Republican Robert Bresnahan will defeat Cartwright, making it a GOP pickup. The win is part of a stronger GOP showing in northeast Pennsylvania, which is part of the broader Democratic weakness in Pennsylvania that has put Harris in a trailing position.





Nov 6, 12:39 AM

Conservative Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar faces a dangerously close reelection bid



As election results are tabulated, the results we have so far for Texas's 28th District suggest that Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar might win reelection  but only barely so. With 80% of the vote in, Cuellar only leads his challenger, Republican Jay Furman, by four percentage points.

If this trend continues, it would represent a marked shift to the right for the district, which stretches from San Antonio to the southernmost point of the Texas-Mexico border. In 2022, Cuellar sailed to reelection by 14 points. At the time, his overwhelming win was viewed as somewhat surprising since Cuellar's home and office were raided by the FBI in the week's before the 2022 primary election. Cuellar has long denied any wrongdoing.

It seems like Cuellar, who was first elected in 2004, might be able to hold onto his seat tonight. But he'll have to work for it. And  who knows  maybe winning by a narrow margin tonight will convince Cuellar to fall in line with his party more. Though he's a relatively reliable vote for the House Democratic Caucus, he's distanced himself from his more-liberal colleagues on a number of issues, including abortion. Notably, Cuellar is the only Democrat in the chamber who is anti-abortion. While his colleagues have called for federal protections for abortion, Cuellar has said that abortion-related policies should be left up to the states.

It's unclear how much of Cuellar's current vote margin is due to a rightward shift among Texas's voters who live along the state's southern border. It's also possible that Cuellar is suffering in the polls due to his own personal issues. He was indicted in May on charges of bribery and money laundering.





Nov 6, 12:32 AM

Wither the House?

Right now, the presidential race is looking good for Trump and the Republicans, who have already taken North Carolina and have more votes in all three Blue Wall states. In the Senate, the question mainly remains over the size of their gains.



But the House looks a bit different so far  with the caveat that it's early. But in wave elections, you often see seemingly safe members of the losing party go down to defeat, and so far, the Democrats are only behind in a single seat that was rated by the Cook Political Report as one that Democrats were expected to win (narrowly). That may well change as more ballots are counted  but it is also a quirk of American electoral geography that winning a trifecta means winning in a variety of different types of communities.





Nov 6, 12:48 AM

Republicans hold Wisconsin's 1st District

ABC News projects that Rep. Bryan Steil will win reelection in Wisconsin's 1st District. Our forecast rated this seat "Likely Republican," so this isn't necessarily a surprise, but Democrats were hopeful they could make inroads in this suburban district.







PHOTO: U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) speaks at a campaign event Oct. 28, 2024 in Racine, Wisconsin. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)





Nov 6, 12:30 AM

Republicans hold top Utah seats

Both incumbent Republican Gov. Spencer Cox and Senate candidate John Curtis have been projected to win their races in Utah by ABC News. While some early polls suggested that Republican write-in candidate Phil Lyman might cut into Coxs lead in the gubernatorial race, ultimately Lyman is only taking 8 percent of the vote with 35 percent of the expected vote reporting.







PHOTO: Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, speaks to the fans after the final round of the Black Desert Championship 2024 at Black Desert Resort on Oct. 13, 2024 in St George, Utah. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images, FILE)





Nov 6, 12:52 AM

Harris projected to win New Mexico

ABC News is projecting that Harris will win New Mexico's five electoral votes. ABC News is also projecting the state's U.S. Senate race for the Democratic incumbent, Martin Heinrich.





Nov 6, 12:20 AM

Why Senate seats are worth so much

Blue Wall Democratic Senate seats seem to be on the knife's edge. Here's why they are so key: Senate seats are held for six years, and there are only 100 of them, versus 435 House seats held for two years. So that makes each Senate seat worth roughly 13 House seats. And the Senate looks very different with, say, 55 Republican Senators than with 52 Republican Senators. With 52 Republican Senators, moderates like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski are key. But with 55 Republican Senators, more expansive GOP policy goals are well within reach.

Click here to read the rest of the blog.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  Dozens of European leaders will be assessing a new global outlook on Thursday, during a one-day summit bound to center on the concerns of many and the jubilation of a few in the wake of the election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president that could have far-reaching consequences for the continent.

During his election campaign, Trump has threatened anything from a trade war with Europe to a withdrawal of NATO commitments and a fundamental shift of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia  all issues that could have groundbreaking consequences for nations across Europe, especially the 27-nation European Union.

It was already beyond doubt that the transatlantic relationship would change after Tuesday's vote. But under a Democratic president, that was expected to be gradual. Based on Trump's own campaign promises, seismic changes may lie ahead.

And for the populist and hard-right forces within the EU, who have already opened fissures with the political establishment, the election of Trump reinforces their position.

For summit host and ardent Trump fan, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Wednesday was a day of celebration  even if EU relations were extremely turbulent during Trump's first term, from 2017-2021.

I see a brilliant victory, perhaps the biggest comeback and giant struggle in Western political history," Orban said. For the world, it means the hope for peace.

Serbias populist leader Aleksandar Vucic, who will be another high-profile guest at Thursday's summit in Budapest, was equally enthusiastic.

Serbia is committed to cooperation with the USA on stability, prosperity and peace, Vucic said.

The EU had prepared for months for a potential return of Trump, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated him once his victory became clear.

She said that the EU and the United States are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens.

Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens. Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship, she said.

Von der Leyen can only hope for better. Trump's administration slapped tariffs on EU steel and aluminum in 2018, based on the claim that foreign products, even if produced by American allies, were a threat to U.S. national security. Europeans and other allies retaliated with duties on U.S.-made motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans, among other items.

The impact of the U.S. election result could be felt in Europe for years to come, on issues including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as migration or climate change.

The string of geopolitical conflicts is putting peace, stability and prosperity at risk in our region, said the summit invitation letter to the leaders of the European Political Community, which unites almost 50 nations across Europe, barring Russia and Belarus.

Among the leaders likely to attend on Thursday is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is expected to make another plea for more aid as his country fends off Moscow's invasion. The timing is laden with significance as Trump has vowed to end the war within 24 hours of being elected  something leaders in Kyiv interpret as an impending evaporation of U.S. support should Trump win.

Orban makes plain his support for Trump

Not so long ago, such a meeting  which is also expected to include leaders from non-EU countries like Turkey, Serbia and the United Kingdom  would end with praise for European unity and a common political direction. Yet with Orban as the host of the summit, friction is as good as assured.

Orban predicted a Trump victory and suggested that civil and criminal cases against him were the result of a politically motivated U.S. Justice Department  a common Trump refrain.

Orbans foreign policy dream came true, said Peter Kreko, the head of the Political Capital think tank in Budapest.

Having played the obstructionist for years within the 27-nation EU, Orban now holds the bloc's rotating presidency, giving him a more prominent platform and making him the host of Thursday's EPC summit, as well as another gathering of leaders in the EU Council on Friday.

He always uses these international meetings to promote his own agenda. And also he pretty much has taken hostage the whole Council presidency, Kreko said.

The presidency under Orban caused turmoil from day one, when he declared Make Europe Great Again the motto of his six months in charge. It was a strikingly clear reference to his affection for Trump, which he followed up with unannounced visits to Moscow and Beijing, angering EU leaders who said he wasn't acting on their behalf.

While Orban has cast the result of U.S. elections as pivotal for Europe's future  he's even delayed passing Hungary's 2025 national budget until after a new president is elected  not all EU leaders are comfortable with the bloc's fate being so tightly bound up with the movements of American politics.

Donald Tusk, the center-right prime minister of Poland, said that Europe must forge a more independent path that is less sensitive to changes across the Atlantic.

"Some claim that the future of Europe depends on the American elections, while it depends first and foremost on us, on the condition that Europe finally grows up and believes in its own strength," Tusk said in the days before the summit. Whatever the outcome, the era of geopolitical outsourcing is over.
The parents and brother of a 14-year-old child with disabilities have been arrested after the South Carolina teen died in one of the "absolute worst case of child neglect," according to reports.

Heather Baynard, 14, suffered from cerebral palsy. She died after her father, David Eugene Baynard, brought her listless and unresponsive to the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Her body was already cold, and her skin was gray when she was brought in.

Medical staff who treated Heather said her father did not show any emotion or urgency when he brought his daughter to the hospital that night. He only sat in the waiting room and looked through his phone. Heather died from her injuries and infections on April 11, 2022, per WYFF 4 in Greenville.

Autopsy, Subsequent Investigation on 14-Year-Old's Death

Following Heather's death, an autopsy was performed on her body. The medical examiner found evidence that she had been neglected for many months. A witness who spoke in the court trial for her parents and brother also said her legs had rotted to the point where they looked like raw meat, as reported by the New York Post, citing Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler.

Apart from the autopsy, authorities also searched the teen's family home and found it full of junk, garbage, urine, and feces, which caused Heather's skin to break down and rot.

Furthermore, there were at least 40 malnourished, flea-infested animals living inside the home, contributing to the poor conditions. In fact, investigators had to wear safety suits and respirators to search the home.

Fowler described Heather's case as the "absolute worst case of child neglect."

Parents, Brother Sentenced for Murder, Neglect

Her father, 55-year-old David, and her mother, 45-year-old Bobbie Joe, were sentenced to life in prison for murder. That was in addition to 20 years for infliction of great bodily injury upon a child and another 10 for child neglect.

Her brother, 22-year-old Edward, was convicted of the same crimes as his parents and was given 30 years for murder, 20 years for inflicting great bodily injury, and 10 years for unlawful neglect.

It was noted that Edward was hired as his sister's personal care aid through Axcess Homecare and made more than $25,000 in the 18 months he was employed to provide care for Heather.
Broad economic discontent, sharp divisions about the nation's future and polarized views of the major-party candidates mark voter attitudes nationally in ABC News preliminary exit poll results of the 2024 election.

Nationally, the share of people saying they've gotten worse off under the current administration (45%) is the highest in presidential exit polls that have asked the question -- even surpassing the 42% "worse off" in 2008, in the teeth of the Great Recession.

The state of democracy narrowly prevailed as the most important issue to voters out of five tested in the exit poll.

Preliminary results may change as exit polls are updated throughout election night and beyond.

MORE: What you need to know about Election Day exit polls

The country and democracy

Voters broadly express more negative than positive views about the country's direction: Just 26% are enthusiastic or satisfied with the way things are going, versus 72% dissatisfied or angry.

More voters see American democracy as threatened (73%) than secure (25%). Still, about 6 in 10 in these preliminary exit poll results say the country's best days are ahead of it, versus about a third who say the country's best days are in the past.

Across the seven swing states, anywhere from 68% to 73% of voters think democracy in this country is threatened.

Extremism and candidate favorability

Fifty-five percent call Trump's views "too extreme," and he's underwater in personal favorability, 44%-55%. Fewer call Harris' views too extreme (46%), though she's also underwater in personal favorability, albeit slightly, 48%-50%.

Trump, in the preliminary results, is slightly less apt in the seven swing states to be seen as "too extreme" than he is nationally, but still more so than Harris.

Favorability isn't determinative: Just 40% saw Trump favorably in 2016, when he won the Electoral College (albeit not the popular vote). One reason is that almost as few, 43%, had a favorable view of his opponent that year, Hillary Clinton. (In 2020, Trump's favorability rating was 46%; Joe Biden's was 52%.)

Underscoring the emotion associated with the contest, preliminarily 36% of voters say they'd be "scared" if Trump were elected, while 29% would be scared by a Harris win.

In terms of personal attributes, voters in preliminary results pick having the ability to lead as tops among four that were tested in the exit poll.

PHOTO: Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump takes part in a roundtable discussion in Drexel Hill, Penn, on Oct. 29, 2024 | Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in Charlotte, on Nov. 2, 2024. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)

The economy and Biden

The economy remains a key irritant. Voters say it's in bad shape by 67%-32%. And 45% say their own financial situation is worse now than four years ago, versus 30% the same, with just 24% doing better. The "worse off" number exceeds its 2008 level, then 42%, and far outpaces its shares in 2020 (20%) and 2016 (28%).

President Joe Biden takes the heat, with just a 41% job approval rating (58% disapprove). It's been a challenge for Harris to persuade voters she's taking a new direction from Biden's. (Biden's approval rating is the lowest for an incumbent president in exit polls since George W. Bush's 27% as he left office in 2008. Trump managed 50% job approval in 2020, yet Biden beat him anyway.)

Biden is underwater in favorability in the seven swing states.

In Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin, more than half of voters said they were worse off now than they were four years ago. In the other four swing states, the percentage of voters who said the same ranged from 45% to 49%.

Top issues

The state of democracy prevails narrowly as the most important issue to voters out of five tested in the exit polls. Thirty-five percent of voters ranked it as their top issue, followed by 31% who said the economy, 14% who said abortion, 11% who said immigration and 4% who said foreign policy.

Abortion stands out in importance to women, at 19% in preliminary results, versus 8% among men, and rises to 42% among women younger than 30. (Women account for 53% of all voters, preliminarily; men, 47%.)

Trump is more trusted than Harris on immigration and the economy in the preliminary exit polls while Harris leads Trump in trust on abortion.

Sixty-six percent overall say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, a central focus of Harris's campaign. (Support for legal abortion hit a low in exit polls, 51%, in 2020; its previous peak was 63% in 1992.)

Legal abortion wins majority backing in all seven swing states from 60% to 69%.

On immigration, a central focus for Trump, 39% say most undocumented immigrants should be deported, up from 26% in 2016 and 28% in 2012. Fifty-seven percent say undocumented immigrants instead should be offered a chance to apply for legal status.

Swing states

Georgia

President Biden's 11,779-vote victory four years ago made him the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1992. Post-election, a recorded call of Trump pressuring Georgia's secretary of state to "find" the votes Trump needed focused the nation on Georgia's election integrity.

In preliminary exit poll results, 81% of Georgia voters say they're very or somewhat confident the state's elections are being conducted fairly and accurately, more than say so nationally (68%). These views are bipartisan, ranging from 94% of Democrats to 78% of independents and 72% of Republicans.

Regardless, 68% of Georgia voters overall see U.S. democracy as somewhat or very threatened.

Moreover, 42% of Trump voters in these preliminary results say that if he loses Georgia's official vote count, he should challenge the results rather than accept them. Half as many supporters of Kamala Harris say she should challenge a losing result, 21%.

Forty percent of Georgia voters rate the economy as the most important issue in their vote, tops among five issues tested and more than the 31% who say so nationally. That's driven in part by the 52% who say they're worse off financially than four years ago, up considerably from just 16% in 2020 and surpassing a previous high of 33% in available exit polls since 1992. About three-quarters (73%) say the national economy is in not so good or poor shape, surpassing the 67% who say so nationally.

Thirty percent of Georgia voters in these preliminary results are Black, on par with the share in 2020 (29%) and the most of any swing state. Georgia voters overall divide evenly between Harris and Trump in trust to handle racial issues, 50%-48%; 32% of white voters pick Harris on this question, rising to 89% of Black voters.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, voters are split on whether federal hurricane aid is going to the people who need it: 47% think it is, while 50% say it's not.

North Carolina

North Carolina has voted Republican in all but two presidential elections since 1968 (2008 and 1976), including by 1.3 percentage points for Trump in 2020 (his narrowest victory that year). Biden improved on Hillary Clintons results among college-educated white voters, moderates and men, making it a closer contest than in 2016, but Trump was bolstered by strong support from conservatives, evangelical white Christians and white voters without college degrees.

Forty-seven percent in the state say they're worse off now than when Biden became president, the most in available North Carolina exit polls since 1992. Four years ago, fewer than half as many, 20%, said they'd gotten worse off under Trump.

It follows that the economy is cited by 36% as the most important issue in their vote, although about as many, 32%, cite the state of democracy as their top issue. Among attributes, 32% cite "the ability to lead" as most important; 27% pick "can bring needed change."

Nearly 4 in 10 voters are conservative and 31% are white evangelical Christians, 9 points more than their share nationally, At the same time, 60% of North Carolina voters say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania may be this years tipping-point state. After voting for Trump by less than 1 percentage point in 2016, the aptly nicknamed Keystone State flipped to Biden in 2020, when he edged out Trump by just over 1 point -- or roughly 80,500 votes.

Trump is underwater in personal favorability in preliminary exit poll results, with 47% expressing a favorable opinion of him overall, 51% unfavorable. (Still, thats slightly better than his ratings nationally, 44%-54% favorable-unfavorable.) Trump did even worse in favorability when he won the state in 2016 -- but benefited that year from an equally unpopular opponent in Hillary Clinton. In this years preliminary results, Kamala Harris is equally as unpopular as Trump, 46%-53%, favorable-unfavorable.

Issues can matter as much or more than personal ratings -- and 33% say the state of democracy is the most important issue in their vote for president, about even with the 35% who say so nationally. Thirty percent in Pennsylvania pick the economy as their top issue, again similar to the share who say so nationally (31 percent).

In a liability for Harris, 50% of voters say their familys financial situation is worse today compared with four years ago, more than 45% who say so nationally and a high in available exit polls since 1992. Just 22% say their financial situation has gotten better.

More voters favor than oppose the use of fracking in Pennsylvania, 55%-36%. Harris has said she wont ban fracking if elected; shes been criticized for reversing her position on the issue since her first presidential run.

Michigan

Trumps narrow victory in Michigan in 2016 marked the only time a Republican presidential candidate carried the state since 1988. Biden won it back by 3 points in 2020, improving on Hillary Clintons results among independents, voters from union households and suburban voters. All three groups may be key again this year.

Again, the democracy was the top issue for most voters, according to preliminary results: 35% of Michigan voters said the state of democracy mattered in deciding their votes. Fewer, 25%, said the economy.

A plurality of Michigan voters (38%) say U.S. support for Israel is about right; the rest divide between saying it's too strong (29%) or not strong enough (27%). Michigan has the countrys highest proportion of Arab Americans, a small but potentially important group from which Harris and Trump have vied for support.

Arizona

Arizona has voted for the Democratic candidate for president just twice since 1952: in 1996 and in 2020, when Biden won the state by 10,457 votes, his narrowest victory. One initiative is on the ballot that may draw voters especially concerned about abortion, as is another that may attract those favoring a crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

Fifty-one percent of Arizona voters say they've gotten worse off financially under the Biden administration, more than the 45% who say so nationally and up dramatically from 15% in Arizona in 2020.

Sixty-seven percent of Arizona voters in preliminary exit poll results say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, up from 53% in 2020 (and a slight increase from 62% in 2022). On the ballot this year is Proposition 139, which would add the right to an abortion to the Arizona state constitution.

Fifty-five percent say most undocumented immigrants in the U.S. should be offered a chance to apply for legal status, while 41% say they should be deported to the countries they came from. This is similar to a 57%-39% result nationally. (This years proposition would give state and local law enforcement the right to question, arrest, detain and prosecute anyone suspected of having crossed the border outside a legal port of entry.)

Wisconsin

Thirty-five percent of Wisconsin voters in preliminary exit poll results say the economy mattered most in their choice for president, slightly more than 31% nationally. Fifty-two percent say their familys financial situation has worsened in the past four years, surpassing the previous high of 35% in 2012 and more than 45% who say so nationally. Just 21% say their financial situation has improved.

The state of the democracy virtually matches the economy as the top issue, with 33% saying it mattered most in their vote for president. A broad 72% of Wisconsin voters say democracy in the U.S. is threatened. At the same time, 80% are confident that elections in their state are being conducted fairly and accurately -- more than say so nationally, 68%.

With the legality of abortion under dispute in the state, 17% of voters say abortion was the most important issue in their choice for president, ranking behind the economy and democracy as most important issues. Sixty-eight percent of Wisconsin voters think abortion should be legal in all or most cases, up sharply from 54% in 2020.

Exit polls 2024: Deep economic discontent with Biden drove voters to Trump originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
This undated photo provided by the U.S. Marshals Service shows Leonard Francis, also known as "Fat Leonard." (US Marshals Service/AP)

Former military defense contractor Leonard Fat Leonard Francis was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for masterminding a decade-long bribery scheme that swept up dozens of U.S. Navy officers, federal prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino also ordered Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy and a $150,000 fine, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office. He was also ordered to forfeit $35 million in ill-gotten proceeds from his crimes, the statement said.

Prosecutors said the sentence results from Leonards first guilty plea in 2015 concerning bribery and fraud, his extensive cooperation with the government since then, and another guilty plea Tuesday for failing to appear for his original sentencing hearing in 2022.

Shortly before he was due to be sentenced in September 2022, Leonard cut off a GPS monitor he was wearing while under house arrest and fled the country. He was later arrested in Venezuela and brought back to the U.S. in December 2023.

Sammartino sentenced him to more than 13 1/2 years for the bribery and fraud charges plus 16 months for failing to appear, to be served consecutively.

Leonard Francis lined his pockets with taxpayer dollars while undermining the integrity of U.S. Naval forces, U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in Tuesdays statement. The impact of his deceit and manipulation will be long felt, but justice has been served today.

Prosecutors said Francis actions led to one of the biggest bribery investigations in U.S. military history, which resulted in the conviction and sentencing of nearly two dozen Navy officials, defense contractors and others on various fraud and corruption charges.

An enigmatic figure who was 6-foot-3 and weighed 350 pounds at one time, Francis owned and operated his familys ship servicing business, Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd. or GDMA, which supplied food, water and fuel to vessels. The Malaysian defense contractor was a key contact for U.S. Navy ships at ports across Asia for more than two decades. During that time, Francis wooed naval officers with Kobe beef, expensive cigars, concert tickets and wild sex parties at luxury hotels from Thailand to the Philippines.

In exchange, officers, including the first active-duty admiral to be convicted of a federal crime, concealed the scheme in which Francis would overcharge for supplying ships or charge for fake services at ports he controlled in Southeast Asia. The officers passed him classified information and even went so far as redirecting military vessels to ports that were lucrative for his Singapore-based ship servicing company.

In a federal sting, Francis was lured to San Diego on false pretenses and arrested at a hotel in September 2013. He pleaded guilty in 2015, admitting that he had offered more than $500,000 in cash bribes to Navy officials, defense contractors and others. Prosecutors say he bilked the Navy out of at least $35 million. As part of his plea deal, he cooperated with the investigation leading to the Navy convictions. He faced up to 25 years in prison.

While awaiting sentencing, Francis was hospitalized and treated for renal cancer and other medical issues. After leaving the hospital, he was allowed to stay out of jail at a rental home, on house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor and security guards.

But three weeks before his scheduled sentencing in September 2022, he snipped off his monitor and made a brazen escape, setting off an international search. Officials said he fled to Mexico, made his way to Cuba and eventually got to Venezuela.

He was arrested more than two weeks after his disappearance  caught before he boarded a flight at the Simon Bolivar International Airport outside Caracas. Venezuelan officials said he intended to reach Russia.

The cases were handled by the U.S. Attorneys Office in an effort to be independent of the military justice system. But they have came under scrutiny.

The felony convictions of four former Navy officers were vacated following allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. Sammartino agreed to allow them to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and pay a $100 fine each.

Last year, Sammartino ruled that the lead federal prosecutor in the officers case committed flagrant misconduct by withholding information from defense lawyers, but that it was not enough to dismiss the case.

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The photos are happy occasions. A dad with two kids on holiday. Family pets with tails wagging. Teen daughters posing for selfies.

This is a gallery of the missing. DANA Desaparecidos is a social media effort to find those still unaccounted for in the devastating flash floods that swept through eastern Spain. At least 217 people are confirmed dead and the toll may climb higher.

In one miraculous rescue, a woman was found alive on Saturday after being trapped in her car for three days. Hopes are fading for those that remain missing, however.

At least 89 people are unaccounted for, the high court of the Valencia region said Tuesday, marking the first time officials have released data on the missing. Those numbers only include cases where families have provided information or biological samples to identify their relatives.

There are still missing people to find, homes and businesses destroyed, buried under mud, and many people suffering from severe shortages, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, pledging 10.6 billion euros to help victims.

Social media accounts such as DANA Desaparecidos have received dozens of reports of distressed families searching for their loved ones. Many communities have been cut off from communication for days.

The government hotline to report missing persons from the floods has been completely overwhelmed. Instead, their families and friends have turned to social media to get the word out.

On DANA Desparecidos, each photo has a description of one of those currently unaccounted for and details of their last known location. Others post photos of missing pets, their owners desperate to find animal companions.

One photo shows a woman linking arms with a friend, with a caption that reads: Her name is Mila. She left yesterday at 1900 from Picanya to get to her home in Silla. She never arrived.

unknown content item

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Alba Lozano Asencio created the account with her boyfriend Luciano Esguerra. So far, about 30 people have been located and a number of pets, according to the DANA Desaparcideo organizers. Posts labeled Localizado  or located  are published to let users know when someone has been found, often simply cut off from communication. Now they are also getting requests for help with flood clean up.

People feel helpless and the emergency services are overwhelmed, Asencio told CNN. I think an important part of the page is that it gives some kind of hope to people at this time.

The slow and uncoordinated response to the crisis has angered and frustrated many here in Valencia.

Spains King Felipe and Queen Letizia were berated by angry residents in a visit on Sunday to the hard hit area of Paiporta. Letizia, in particular, seemed shaken by the shouts of murderers as mud was flung at the royal couple. Prime Minister Sanchez was also there but was quickly whisked away by security.

The Spanish government announced Monday it was deploying 2,500 more troops to the eastern region, in response to the fury from residents.

By Monday night, the military expects to have some 7,800 troops present in the area, according to Spains Military Emergencies Unit chief Francisco Javier Marcos. Thats on top of the 5,223 Civil Guard personnel and 4,256 National Police officers that have already been mobilized.

Security forces have been searching for victims in ravines and underground garages, including a large parking lot at the Bonaire shopping center in Aldaia.

The military has also deployed a warship to Valencia, bringing helicopters, watercraft, trucks, food and emergency supplies.

Search and rescue team members look for bodies following flooding in Chiva, Spain, on November 2. - Bruna Casas/Reuters

Meanwhile, thousands of volunteers also continue to make their way into affected areas, many of them hiking long distances through mud to help their neighbors.

Pedro de Juan, 18, had seen scenes like this only in the movies but he showed up with a broom and bucket to help.

Its amazing how the government says its not our fault. Its someone elses fault. But at this time we have to put our hands together and help each other, he told CNN. The military and police are helping but not as much as we hoped and they are days late.

Frustrating is the word, said Francisco Bosque, another volunteer who is hoping to help friends in flooded areas. You feel completely powerless. All you can do is come here and show up.

The weather system that triggered the floods is still impacting the area and some volunteer buses were turned back as a precaution.

Spains AEMET service issued a red alert for the Barcelona area due to heavy rain through Monday afternoon, but the alert has since passed. Barcelona City Council also issued a flood warning on its website, urging people to take care and avoid areas where flooding may occur.

Airport operator AENA said 70 flights from Barcelonas El Prat Airport had been canceled or severely delayed, while 18 others had been diverted due to the storm. The weather was also affecting train and metro services accessing the airport, the operator said.

Video on social media showed one of the airport buildings partially submerged due to the heavy downpour, with water streaming through parts of the roof and some passengers wading through ankle-deep water.

AEMET also issued a new yellow and orange alert for the areas of Castellon, Valencia and Alicante, warning that sudden, heavy rains could cause more flooding in already-devastated areas.

CNNs Lauren Kent, Stephanie Halasz, Lauren Said-Moorhouse and Michael Rios contributed reporting.

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Angela Alsobrooks won a U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday to become the first Black candidate to be elected senator in Maryland, as the Democrat prevailed in a blue state against popular Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan.

The race had been widely watched with control of the Senate potentially at stake, but Democrats ended up losing their slim Senate majority despite her victory.

Alsobrooks campaigned heavily on abortion rights in a year that Maryland voters approved a ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Alsobrooks, who is the chief executive of Prince George's County in the suburbs of the nation's capital, told supporters that her neighbors hosted a pep rally for her as she left home on Tuesday. She said that's the county she has known, the people who cheer each other on, where greatness grows.

At times we struggle together, and we work to build a better future for all of our children, Alsobrooks said. "And to those Marylanders whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I want you to know that I hear your voice, and I will be your senator, too.

Hogan, speaking to supporters in Annapolis, said he congratulated Alsobrooks on her victory and that we can all take pride in electing Alsobrooks as the first Black U.S. senator in Maryland.

Now is the time for us to come together and to move forward as one state and one nation, to respect the will of the voters and the outcome of the democratic process, Hogan said.

Alsobrooks won the clear support of women, Black and Latino voters, urban voters and college graduates over Hogan, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 3,700 voters in the state. Even though Alsobrooks underperformed Vice President Kamala Harris among suburban and moderate voters, majorities backed her over Hogan in the heavily blue state.

Alsobrooks deftly used television ads to emphasize that the race could determine Senate control, putting Maryland in the unusual position of a potential swing state in a year of high political stakes.

Voters for Alsobrooks frequently mentioned the significance of fending off a challenge by the popular Republican in order to keep the seat blue with the control of the Senate potentially at stake.

I dont want to see the Senate go Republican, said Donald Huber, a 72-year-old Democrat voting in Annapolis on Tuesday. Simple as that. I dont want to see it turn.

Alsobrooks supporters noted she would bring greater diversity to the Senate, and they said she is better positioned to address problems facing the state and the nation.

Angela is really down-to-earth, and she has real solutions, real answers, to the real problems, and I feel Hogan does not have that, said Zack Buster, a 22-year-old Democrat from Glen Burnie, who voted for Alsobrooks during the early voting period.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat and the state's first Black governor, said the state is better because of Alsobrooks and that the U.S. Congress will be better because of her presence, too.

Angela Alsobrooks will fight every single day for the values we cherish as Americans  from the ability to have economic mobility and own more than you owe, to the freedom of feeling safe in your own skin and your own community, to having control over personal health care decisions, the governor said after her victory.

Hogan, who has been one of former President Donald Trumps fiercest Republican critics, campaigned on providing an independent voice in Washington. But Alsobrooks challenged that constantly in her ads, which included video clips of the former governor saying he opposed abortion and praising the Supreme Court justices who enabled Roe v. Wade to be struck down in 2022.

While a Republican has not won a Senate race in Maryland in more than 40 years, Hogan was the most formidable candidate fielded by the GOP in the state in years. The two-term former governor had won over enough Democratic voters to win two statewide races in 2014 and 2018 in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1.

Still, Hogan had a difficult needle to thread. This election was the first time Hogan ran on the same ballot as Trump, who is deeply unpopular in Maryland.

Alsobrooks also campaigned on gun control. Vice President Kamala Harris, a friend of Alsobrooks, made a campaign stop in Maryland for her, where they both spoke about the significance of taking action against gun violence.

Since 2018, Alsobrooks, 53, has served as the county executive of Prince Georges County, Marylands second most populous jurisdiction in the suburbs of the nations capital. Before that, she served as the countys top prosecutor.

We created more businesses, she said in AP interview in September about her local government experience. Ill be doing that for the whole state and transferring the skills that I have developed not just as executive, but as chief law enforcement officer as the prosecutor in Prince Georges County.
As the Radio City Christmas Spectacular returns this Friday, meet the 17 new Rockettes who will debut their famous "eye-high" kicks.

Meet the new dancing queens.

This Friday, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular returns for another magical holiday season  with a slew of fresh faces joining the shows famed Rockettes this year.

Following open-call auditions in the spring, which saw more than 800 women kick their way into Midtown to show their best tap, jazz and ballet moves, 17 exceptional ladies will join the illustrious dance battalion of 84 total.

Having my two dance teachers grow up to be Rockettes, to see them living out their dreams onstage, it made me want to become one even more, eager Kayla Hsu, 21, of Scotch Plains, NJ told The Post  just days before her first performance.

Kayla Hsu, 21 of Scotch Plains, NJ, told The Post that her dance teachers from her youth were Rockettes. Tamara Beckwith/N.Y.Post

And while it may seem as if the weight of the world has now landed on their shoulders, the group of 17  all freshly graduated from the Rockettes Conservatory development program  is anything but on their own, according to fellow newcomer Tamia Strickland, 23, of Silver Spring, Md.

She said that the troupe is going above and beyond to welcome the new women to the line.

Following open-call auditions in the spring, 17 exceptional ladies will join the illustrious dance battalion of 84 total. The group of 17 are all graduates of the Rockettes Conservatory development program. Tamara Beckwith/N.Y.Post

Tamia Strickland, 23, of Silver Spring, Md., said Rockette veterans help mentor the newbies. Tamara Beckwith/N.Y.Post

Were in this together and even all the vets are like old sisters to us, theyre our mentors and have been like helping us in supporting us along the way in the rehearsal process, Strickland, inspired to pursue the gig after seeing the show for the first time as a 17-year-old, told The Post.

The best advice Danielle Esposito, 22, of San Diego got from senior members was simply to remember to breathe.

I have some dancers on either side of me and I have one dancer who constantly puts her hand on my back and says its OK,' Esposito, formerly of the Houston Ballet, shared. She switched professional gears out of love for Christmas, she told The Post.

Just having the little reminders from them that it is OK and to stay calm and focused is whats going to get you through the show.

Danielle Esposito, 22, of San Diego, was formerly a Corps de Ballet member of the Houston Ballet. Tamara Beckwith

The senior support even comes in the form of commuter advice for 19-year-old Danicka Torres, who is taking the bus in from her home of Boonton, NJ, for rehearsals.

Theyve been telling me all the best ways and best times, Torres, who took a semester off from school in London, England, told The Post.

Its been very helpful and very beneficial, she said with a smile.

19-year-old Danicka Torres is from Boonton, NJ, but taking off a semester from school in London to kick up her heels. Tamara Beckwith/N.Y.Post

As far as commuting goes, one new member, Sole Mitchell, 22, from the Dallas area, might be the No. 1 fan of the New York City subway.

I dont like driving and have to do it all the time in Dallas, Mitchell, whose family will see the spectacular for the very first time with their daughter as a star, told The Post.

Being able to take the subway its so convenient. I love that. So I think thats my favorite thing about New York.

Sole Mitchell, 22, from the Dallas area, said the ease of commuting around the Big Apple has been a highlight so far. Tamara Beckwith/N.Y.Post

Making the list

New member Avery Ambrefe, 24, is most thrilled to become a role model for younger girls, just as they were to her in sixth grade during a Rockette experience at Radio City.

I still remember the exact choreography we were shown and I think I practiced it every single day of sixth grade, the Boxford, Mass., native told The Post.

Ambrefe distinctly remembers getting her call that she made the roster cutting in and out while on the subway  ultimately breaking down with excitement at 86th Street.

Avery Ambrefe, 24, of Boxford, Mass., has been practicing Rockette choreography since she was in the sixth grade. Tamara Beckwith/N.Y.Post

Growing up with the Rockettes as my role models, I think really shaped who I am as a person and getting to be that for another young audience or growing up is just amazing.

For others, like 26-year-old Jaclyn Salerno, Friday night has been a long time coming  six years and 13 auditions to be exact.

The Manahawkin, NJ, native fell in love with the idea of being a Rockette as a sixth grader when her mom had a coupon for a Rockette experience coupon, but after initial years of not making the final cut, she had the backup plan of being a high school math teacher.

Manahawkin, NJ, native Jaclyn Salerno, 26, has been trying to be a Rockette for six years  13 auditions to be exact. Tamara Beckwith/N.Y.Post

Salerno said about four to five years into routine auditions that her supportive family gently would let her know that some things arent meant to play out  but she persevered.

I was like, No, Im doing this,' Salerno told The Post, recalling that each time she failed, friends who made the Rockettes encouraged her to keep pushing as she was so close.

Now, finally, the dream comes true.

Back row (standing), L-R: Gracie Epperson, Annabel Hiben, Sole Mitchell, Tamia Strickland, Danielle Esposito. Middle row, L-R: Jaclyn Salerno, Jessalyn Ward, Mia Larkin, Hannah Hawkins, Emily Willett, Avery Ambrefe. Bottom row (seated), L-R: Nicole Xides, Danicka Torres, Svetha Nallapaneni, Paige Litle, Rose Hinoul, Kayla Hsu. Tamara Beckwith/N.Y.Post

When I got the call I made it my family and I were just all crying. It was a full-circle moment. I cant believe it you did it, you really did it.'

Yes, I did.

My little American dream

Rose Hinoul, 22, who came to Manhattan by way of Belgium as a child, will never forget the moment she told loved ones the good news of making the cut. It was as she boarded a plane to her native nation to see her grandparents.

It is something so iconic, especially if you arent from the US, said Rose Hinoul, 22, who is from Belgium. Tamara Beckwith/N.Y.Post

Hinoul had the magic moment of letting them know the second she touched down in Europe a few short months ago.

They were in complete shock, Hinoul told The Post. It is something so iconic, especially if you arent from the US.

For her at age 8 and her family, the Thanksgiving parade became a major tradition in adjusting to life in the States. It also served as her introduction to the Rockettes, as they danced in Herald Square.

After years of hard work at dance plus studying sociology at Fordham, she gets to shine on camera come Turkey Day for her family close and abroad to appreciate.

Its like my little American dream come true, she said, fighting back tears.
It was like being a prisoner in solitary confinement, but worse, Jake Haendel tells PEOPLE

Courtesy of Jake Haendel, Ahoi Jake Haendel while recovering from locked-in syndrome

Jake Haendel was diagnosed with a terminal brain illness that triggered locked-in syndrome, which left him unable to move or speak

The 36-year-old was in the coma-like state for 10 months as doctors believed he was brain dead

Initially given six months to live, hes opening up about his painful yet remarkable years-long recovery journey

Jake Haendel had everything going for him. He was newly married and working as a head executive chef in Boston when he received a devastating and life-changing diagnosis.

In May 2017, Haendel noticed that his voice started to become higher pitched than normal. Initially brushing it off, it wasnt until he started having balance issues that he decided to visit the emergency room on Memorial Day weekend.

Doctors believed he was having stroke-like symptoms, so he was admitted and given IV fluids. Haendel, now 36, had been to the hospital many times before and expected to be monitored for a few hours and then simply sent home with antibiotics. And he was right.

They were actually about to discharge me when my wife came in and said, You cannot discharge him. This is not my husband. She played an old voicemail for them. My voice and the voice I had been using were completely different, he tells PEOPLE. So the doctors and nurses and emergency room staff were like, Whoa, and ordered an emergency MRI.

One day later, Haendeal was diagnosed with acute toxic leukoencephalopathy (ATL), a rare and often fatal brain disease caused by exposure to toxic substances. He was given six months to live.

I woke up and there was a whole team of people in the room, he recalls. A doctor was sitting on the foot of my bed, put his hand on my knee and was like, Jacob, we're extremely sorry. You have a rare terminal and progressive brain illness.'

Courtesy of Jake Haendel, Ahoi Jake Haendel in the hospital

Related: 'I Was a Prisoner in My Own Body': One Man's Incredible Recovery From Locked-In Syndrome

Haendel immediately thought about his late mother, who died of breast cancer when he was 19. He remembered watching her struggle to fight the disease for 10 years before her death, a time where he struggled mentally and turned to drugs to cope.

Doctors told Haendel that in his case, the ATL was attributed to that past substance abuse. I literally said out loud, I am fed. My first thought was how disappointed my mom would be in me, he says. There were very powerful emotions all at once.

I told my wife, I watched my mom die. You shouldn't have to watch me die, he adds.

After revealing his diagnosis, doctors pulled out a whiteboard and broke down exactly how Haendels disease was expected to progress. The first month he wouldnt be able to walk, even with the help of assistive devices. Month two, he would be confined to a wheelchair until hes unable to tolerate it due to chronic pain. By month three, he would be bedridden and lose the ability to eat, swallow and talk. In the fourth and final stage of the disease, he would slip into a coma and eventually die.

And no one had ever survived stage four, Haendel says.

Courtesy of Jake Haendel, Ahoi Jake Haendel in the hospital

Unfortunately, Haendels doctors were right on the money with that timeframe, and his health took a turn for the worst. I underestimated the amount of pain I would be in, he admits, comparing his body to a car thats gone haywire.

By November, Haendels speech was fully gone. He was admitted to the neuro ICU at Massachusetts General Hospital as he continued to deteriorate. Around this time, he slipped into what doctors believed was a coma, which was consistent with the natural progression of the disease.

December 1, 2017 was the first time he heard someone refer to him as brain dead.

One of the doctors told my wife, We're really sorry Mrs. Haendel, but your husband will not make it till Christmas. In my head, I was bummed because I had no illusion that I was going to die. But I'm in so much pain that it was also a relief that this constant struggle was going to be over, he explains.

But then I heard them say I was brain dead and it's time to start considering withdrawing life support. I was contemplating, am I brain dead? How can I think, how do I have memories? he continues. So even though I was having those thoughts that this is going to be over soon, I was like, Oh, don't do that, I'm still in here.

Related: Dad with Rare Locked-In Syndrome Is Only Able to Move His Eyes

Haendel appeared to be in a vegetative state. However, unknown to his doctors, his disease caused locked-in syndrome, a rare and serious neurological disorder where damage to the brain stem leads to complete paralysis over all voluntary muscles except for the ones that control the eyes, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). While he can still feel touch, pain, an itch and other sensations, and he is entirely aware of his environment and surroundings, Haendel is locked inside his body, as the name of the syndrome implies.

It was the worst you can imagine, he explains. It was like being a prisoner in solitary confinement, but worse. You're totally paralyzed, you can't move, talk or signal. I was just talking to myself in my head. It was more of survival to keep my brain going and kind of talk myself out of a full panic attack.

Everything in my body was failing and the one thing that seemed to be fully intact was my brain, which is always strange to me considering I had a brain illness and the damage was really catastrophic, he adds.

Haendel remained in this state for 10 months, which he recalls being a brutal time. He was transferred to hospice care; however, he was eventually admitted back to the hospital because insurance only covered six months of care.

I wasn't dying, but I wasn't getting better, which was a frightening thought, he shares. I kept overhearing them say I wouldn't make it out of this state. And I was like, Oh my god. I could be stuck like this forever, which was actually more terrifying than dying.

Courtesy of Jake Haendel, Ahoi Jake Haendel in the hospital

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In June 2018, Haendel was transferred from hospice care back to Mass Gens neuro ICU. While there, he experienced the first glimpse of hope that hed come out of locked-in syndrome.

Around 4th of July, I heard the familiar voice of Dr. Levinson, who was in charge of my complex care. He was like, You guys see that? He's moving something. And the other doctors were like, No, that's involuntary.

It was the first time medical staff had talked to me directly in a while. He just said, Hey, I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can, do that again. I kind of had this rush go through me and I was like, Wow, this is my one and only shot. I don't even know what I moved, but just do something, he recalls. I tensed up my entire body and I didn't think it was working, but then I heard, Wow, he is actually doing it.

Haendels doctors immediately brought in a specialist in nonverbal augmented speech therapy, who started working with him regularly to relearn how to blink. Over the next two weeks, he was able to blink. Medical staff then created a system where he was able to communicate yes and no by blinking and sticking out his tongue, which eventually progressed to him using a letter board to create sentences. The first thing I spelled out was, I can hear you, he says.

Courtesy of Jake Haendel, Ahoi Jake Haendel using the letter board to communicate during recovery

Related: Celine Dion Details Scary Stiff-Person Syndrome Symptoms Going Back 17 Years: I Was Going Down, Down, Down' (Exclusive)

One day, Haendel recalls overhearing a conversation about moving him to a rehabilitation facility.

I heard crosstalk of how I wouldn't be accepted because I can't participate in the mandatory three hours of physical, occupational and speech therapy. I could only participate in speech. I started freaking out. I heard my heart machine going off.

They were like, Calm down, calm down. Do you want to use the letter board? And I just spelled out I can do three hours. I heard them say, Oh my God, he's actually tracking our conversations. And that was really the moment they realized how intact I was. And that was when I first felt like, okay, they actually know I'm in here.

Days later Haendel was transferred to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. It was very motivating for me and at that point I was like, I am going to do everything in my power to get out of this.

Courtesy of Jake Haendel, Ahoi Jake Haendel

The next few years were a very grueling, slow process, as Haendel went through intense therapy retraining his brain to communicate with his body at Western Massachusetts Hospital.

I thought I'd been through the worst. Not that it was any worse than being locked in, but it was a new type of pain that I hadn't experienced, he explains on his recovery. It was quite bad, but I kept telling myself if you want to get out of the hospital, if you want to have a life again, this is what it takes.

By 2019, Haendel started coming out of his paralysis and making baby sounds. The following year, he started talking in sentences and was able to get out of bed and into a wheelchair for the first time.

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In December 2020, he officially returned home and has since been doing outpatient therapy, which he will continue as his recovery remains ongoing.

Now, I'm walking with a walker at home. I can also transfer in and out of cars. I navigate my community on a scooter, but in therapy I'm using a cane. I can also feed myself and hydrate myself, he says. In 2021, I was still not able to take care of myself whatsoever. And in the last year I've been able to take care of myself.

Courtesy of Jake Haendel, Ahoi Jake Haendel

Related: Celine Dion Shares Raw Video of Stiff-Person Syndrome Crisis in Never-Seen Footage from New Documentary

Haendel, who is now divorced, says its unbelievable that hes come so far in his recovery. Hes been sharing his journey on social media to help others understand the importance of determination when things get tough. The 36-year-old also co-founded an accessibility-focused app, Ahoi, which helps users find places that meet their specific needs like accessible parking, entry ramps, elevators, automatic doors, etc.

I have such a different perspective on what's important in life. And going through what I went through has definitely made me stronger, he tells PEOPLE. It feels amazing and a big part of why I'm telling my story and have this company is to help people and help the world.

I want people to not give up in recovery when they hear they have terminal disease, Haendel says. That's a lot of what I want to do with my life now is just help and motivate people.


Malaysia is preparing to relaunch the search for the long-lost Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 which vanished in 2014 with 239 people aboard, following what officials describe as a credible proposal pinpointing a new area in the southern Indian Ocean.

On 5 November, transport minister Anthony Loke confirmed to parliament that Malaysia is in advanced talks with Ocean Infinity, a US-based marine exploration company, over a plan submitted in June 2024 to resume the search in a 15,000sqkm zone off the coast of Western Australia.

The proposal adheres to a no find, no fee structure, meaning that Malaysia would only incur costs if wreckage is located.

Based on the latest information and analysis from experts and researchers, Ocean Infinitys search proposal is credible and can be considered by the Malaysian government as the flights official registrar, said Mr Loke, adding that the company is requesting a fee of $70m if successful  an amount similar to what was proposed in an earlier attempt.

The terms and costs requested are in the same draft agreement currently being negotiated between the government and Ocean Infinity. Should it be finalised, cabinet approval will be required, and I will make a public announcement, he said.

File: A relative reacts during an event held by relatives of the passengers and supporters to mark the 10th year since the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 carrying 239 people disappeared (AFP via Getty Images)

Since its disappearance during its flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, it has become the biggest mystery in aviation history and theories of what happened to the 227 passengers and 12 crew members have been extensively evaluated.

Satellite data analysis showed the plane likely crashed somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean, off the coast of western Australia. However, two major searches failed to come up with any significant findings.

After the original search led by Malaysia, China, and Australia was suspended in 2017, and a private effort by Ocean Infinity concluded without success in 2018, interest in reopening the search has gathered momentum.

The latest effort comes as a Beijing court considers compensation claims from over 40 families of Chinese passengers aboard the ill-fated flight. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin recently expressed gratitude for Malaysias continued attention to the case, encouraging close collaboration on the renewed effort.

Dr Lam Choong Wah, a defence analyst at Universiti Malaya, suggested Malaysia could deepen its cooperation with China, which has advanced underwater search capabilities, for the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. As most of the passengers on MH370 were Chinese, Malaysia should not hesitate to collaborate with Beijing, Dr Lam told Strait Times, highlighting Chinese research vessels like the Xiang Yang Hong that have regularly surveyed the Indian Ocean since 2016.

A person holds a balloon during an event held by relatives of the passengers and supporters to mark the 10th year since the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 carrying 239 people disappeared (AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier, Malaysia, Australia and China launched an underwater search in a 120,000 sqkm area in the southern Indian Ocean, based on data of automatic connections between an Inmarsat satellite and the plane.

The search, which cost about $143m, was called off after two years in January 2017 with no traces of the plane found.

In 2018, Malaysia accepted a "no-cure, no-fee" offer from US exploration firm Ocean Infinity for a three-month search, meaning the company would only get paid if it found the plane.

That search covered 112,000sqkm north of the original target area and also proved fruitless, ending in May 2018.

More than 30 pieces of suspected aircraft debris have been collected along the coast of Africa and on islands in the Indian Ocean, but only three wing fragments were confirmed to be from MH370.

Most of the debris were used in drift pattern analysis in the hopes of narrowing down the aircrafts possible location.

A 495-page report into MH370s disappearance, published in July 2018, said the Boeing 777s controls were likely deliberately manipulated to take it off course, but investigators could not determine who was responsible.
An Iowa mom was shot dead and her husband left critically injured when their daughters ex-boyfriend allegedly opened fire on them as they tried to move her out of his home, authorities said.

Ruth Sue Ann Robison, 45, and her spouse Tony Ray Robison, 52, both took bullets to the head when the shooting erupted at the home in Des Moines last Friday, the Des Moines Register reported.

They had gone to the house to help their 24-year-old daughter, Jasmyne, pack up her belongings after she recently dumped her boyfriend, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Office.

Ruth Sue Ann Robison, 45, was shot dead last Friday trying to move her daughter out of her exs Iowa home. Polk County Sheriff's Office

The scorned ex, Hamza Smajlovic, 24, is accused of opening fire on the couple with a 9mm pistol.

He then allegedly tried to shoot his former lover, according to authorities.

The Robisons were rushed to a nearby hospital where Ruth was pronounced dead. Her husband remains hospitalized in a critical condition.

The ex-boyfriend, Hamza Smajlovic, 24, is charged with murder and attempted murder. Polk County Sheriff's Office

Smajlovic was nabbed at the scene and has since been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and intimidation with a dangerous weapon.

He is being held in the Polk County Jail on a $750,000 cash bond.
A breakdown of the biodynamic winemaking philosophy and the world's best wines to try right now.

Food & Wine / Getty Images

Have you ever noticed that a bottle of wine you loved one day tasted flat the next? Some believe the culprit may be the lunar calendar.

Biodynamic winemaking goes beyond organic or sustainable farming. Some producers believe it also influences when wine tastes its best. Central to this philosophy is the idea that the lunar calendar divides into fruit, flower, leaf, and root days. Proponents say each affects how wine expresses itself. They compare the moons pull on wine to its influence on ocean tides.

Fruit days are believed to showcase a wines structure and intensity, emphasizing its fruit-forward character. Flower days are said to bring floral notes to the forefront. In contrast, leaf days tend to mute flavors, while root days are considered least favorable for tastings. Wines may appear earthy and closed off.

Many winemakers believe that these cycles create a deeper connection between nature and wine.

It's not about better or worse, says Erika Widmann, sales and brand manager for Rootstock Wine Imports in Texas, but about which qualities are accentuated.

The lunar calendar can offer wine lovers a new way to explore how a bottle evolves over time.

Biodynamic wine: a brief history

Biodynamic farming, introduced in 1924 by Rudolf Steiner, promotes an agricultural approach in which land, crops, and farmers function as a holistic ecosystem in tune with the moon, sun, and planetary cycles. Steiner proposed that to align vineyard tasks with these rhythms would allow crops to thrive, as they could channel natural energies at the right time.

Biodynamic winemaking goes further than organic farming. Practices include preparing compost in cow horns, which is later mixed with water and sprayed to boost soil health and microbial life. Other preparations include herbal compost teas designed to enhance vine resilience. Advocates say these methods, alongside minimal intervention winemaking and the avoidance of synthetic additives, lab-grown yeasts, and excessive sulfur, allow a wine to authentically reflect its vineyard's terroir.

PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP / Getty Images

Winemakers follow the lunar calendar to synchronize their work with nature's rhythms. The biodynamic certification body, Demeter, ensures compliance with these principles with certified estates in regions worldwide.

There is, of course, more nuance to tasting and why wines evolve, says Erika Widmann, brand manager for Whole Foods. But wines made biodynamically tend to ebb and flow more cohesively with the lunar calendar, and it's one way we can make sense of it all.

A pioneer in the Loire Valley: Nicolas Joly

In the 1980s, Nicolas Joly, of Coulee de Serrant in the Loire Valley, was among the first to embrace biodynamics.

Most people don't realize that the transformation from bud to grape involves cosmic influences from the sun, planets, and moon, says Joly.

He draws from the work of Maria Thun, a German farmer whose 1950s research laid the groundwork for biodynamic agriculture. Thuns studies, published in The Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar, theorized that fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) enhance fruiting. Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) support flowering, while water signs (Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio) foster leaf growth, and earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) aid root development.

Joly aligns tasks like harvesting grapes and bottling wines with the biodynamic calendar to harmonize with the vines energy.

Domaine du Nozay: A family estate in Sancerre

Jolys cosmic approach represents a philosophy shared by legendary French winemaker Aubert de Villaine of Domaine Romanee Conti. The family estate, built in 1971 around a 17th-century chateau in Sancerre, France, has inspired countless winemakers such as the influential Cyril de Benoist of Domaine du Nozay.

When de Benoist took over the property from his parents, he slowly began to introduce biodynamic practices and observed how lunar phases affected the vineyard. It was amazing to see how the vines responded, he says.

PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP / Getty Images

The shift improved soil health and biodiversity, and it deepened the expression of the estate's terroir. He noticed that lunar phases impact tasting.

It's better to drink our Sancerre Blanc on fruit and flower days for a more aromatic, dense, and balanced experience, says de Benoist.

On these days, de Benoist says he experiences vibrant notes of citrus, white flowers, and elegant minerality. Through these practices, Domaine du Nozay exemplifies the belief that biodynamics can elevate vineyard health and wine quality. Its a way to reinforce the connection between nature, winemaking, and the glass of wine.

Gerard Bertrand and the cosmic design of Clos du Temple

In the south of France, Gerard Bertrand applies these principles across his many estates in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. One of his most remarkable projects is Clos du Temple, a winery that reflects his deep belief in the connection between nature and the cosmos.

Its barrel room features pyramid-shaped vats aligned with the stars, designed to channel cosmic energy during the wines aging process. Bertrand believes this structure helps the wine reach its potential.

Tradition meets innovation in Chianti Classico

Biodynamics extends far beyond France. In Italy's Chianti Classico, a region steeped in tradition, biodynamics is making an impact.

Querciabella, located in the heart of central Tuscany, has practiced biodynamic viticulture since 2000. Its winemaker, Manfred Ing, has employed biodynamic practices for about a decade.

While we do not strictly adhere to its principles, we embrace the concept of the farm as a living organism with a holistic approach that sees fields, plants, animals, soil, and even people as interconnected elements, all working together to create a harmonious environment, says Ing.

Querciabellas wines are often described as true expressions of terroir that reflect the nuances of their environment and the effects of biodynamic practices.

Millton Vineyards: New Zealand's biodynamic pioneer

Millton Vineyards is the first biodynamic vineyard in New Zealand, led by Annie Millton. Since the 1980s, Millton has championed biodynamic practices. She believes that cosmic rhythms and lunar cycles influence both vineyard health and the wines expression.

Millton encourages experimentation with lunar tasting days, as she believes that they can enhance the wines vitality.

Millton Vineyards has long reflected the principles of natural farming. It leverages the adage that they farm as if they are the rooftop to another kingdom, one that includes microbes, fungi, and essential nutrients. This approach highlights that a self-sustaining ecosystem can contribute to healthier vines and more expressive wines.

Limited Addition Wines: Intentional winemaking in Oregon

In Oregon's Willamette Valley, master of wine Bree Stock produces low-intervention bottlings under the appropriately named label Limited Addition Wines. Stock highlights the value of observation and timing in biodynamic winemaking to best align vineyard activities with natural shifts.

A lot of the time when flower days or fruit days are occurring, I also observe that they tend to be less cloudy or stormy days, she says. Barometric pressure also plays a big role. I won't taste or do blending exercises when a big shift is coming because it hampers the aromatics and fruit components in the wine.

Stock also points to other Oregon producers like Troon Vineyard and Kelley Fox Wines for their efforts in biodynamics.

A global phenomenon

While lunar tasting days remain niche, they intrigue many wine lovers. Whether the effects are scientific or psychological, the practice can add depth to wine appreciation. The next time you open a bottle, check the lunar calendar. It might be a fruit day. Your wine just might taste a little more alive.

Biodynamic wines to try

2022 Famille Joly 'Clos de la Coulee de Serrant' Monopole Coulee de Serrant. Loire Valley, France ($170)

The 2022 Clos de la Coulee de Serrant Chenin Blanc offers a layered expression of its Loire Valley origins. Grown biodynamically by the Joly family on steep, schist- and quartz-rich slopes, this wine reflects a balance of richness and structure. Melon and quince flavors lead, accompanied by dried tea leaves, bitter orange, and herbs. Earthy white mocha notes and subtle hints of cider appear on the finish, with alpine herbs that lend freshness. Perceptibly sweet, the wine's 32 grams of residual sugar provide depth without overpowering its savory energy. It makes the wine textured and precise, with excellent aging potential.

2022 Domaine du Nozay Clos du Nozay ($65)

The 2022 Clos du Nozay offers a vibrant expression of Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre's Terres Blanches soils. Grown on steep, sun-soaked southern slopes, the wine develops beautifully through vinification in terracotta jars, which allow slow, natural aeration that enhance purity and aromatic complexity. Expect layers of citrus zest, white flowers, and wet stone, with a bright, mineral-driven palate and crisp acidity. This cuvee captures the essence of its terroir, as it delivers elegance, energy, and a long, refined finish.

2022 Gerard Bertrand Clos du Temple ($160)

This pale, glimmering rose is crafted in the Cabrieres region of Languedoc, known as the birthplace of rose. Grown biodynamically, the vines benefit from the sites mix of schist, limestone, and natural water circulation, which supports balanced growth. Harvested by hand at sunrise to preserve freshness, the wine reveals notes of fleshy apricot, rose, and pepper. Aged on fine lees in new barrels, it offers delicate structure with a refined finish of matchstick and wet stone. An excellent pairing for grilled lobster.

2020 Querciabella Chianti Classico Riserva ($59)

This Riserva exemplifies the elegance of Chianti Classico. Sourced from organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards in the villages of Greve, Radda, and Gaiole, this wine balances complexity and finesse. The bright magenta hue opens to notes of savory herbs, fennel seed, ripe Bing cherry, and minerality. Medium-bodied with fine tannins, this wine showcases refreshing vibrance and a lingering orange peel finish. This Riserva promises longevity, aging gracefully for 15-plus years.

2020 Millton Vineyards Clos de Ste. Anne La Bas Chenin Blanc ($78)

The Clos de Ste. Anne showcases Millton's commitment to terroir-driven winemaking, as it draws from volcanic ash-rich loam and calcareous soils on northeast-facing slopes. This vineyard, the first to greet the sun each day, produces wines with aromas of honey, pear, and beeswax, alongside savory notes of wool and starched linen. Its fermented with native yeasts and aged sur lie for nine months in large barrels. The wine offers crisp acidity, clipped stone minerality, and refreshing, textured tannins. It finishes with a lift of quince and great length.

2021 Limited Addition Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon, ($58)

Limited Addition Wines was created on the notion that the Willamette Valley has the potential to grow many different global grape varieties, including Gamay. This juicy red wine shows quite differently from its Beaujolais counterparts. Grown in the marine sedimentary soils of Chehalem Mountain, this wine is rich in color, heft, and vibrancy. It offers notes of blueberries and plum, and it has a peppery spice on the finish.
People at an election night watch party react after an abortion rights amendment to the Missouri constitution passed, in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 5, 2024. Credit - Charlie RiedelAP

The 2024 election was a mixed bag for abortion rights.

Voters in seven states moved to protect abortion access by passing ballot initiatives to include protections for reproductive rights in state constitutions. But similar measures in three other states faileda blow to abortion-rights supporters. And the country ultimately decided to reelect the man who has claimed credit for the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade: former President Donald Trump.

Measures meant to protect abortion rights passed in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and New York, but failed in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota. This election saw the highest number of statewide abortion-related ballot measures in a single year, surpassing the previous record of six in 2022. The results break a previous trendbefore this year, voters had sided with abortion rights every time the issue has been on state ballots since the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision two years ago.

While reproductive rights advocates celebrated the wins, they were dismayed by the measures that failed and worried about the potential threats a Trump Administration would pose to abortion access nationwide. But overall they argued that the ballot measure results indicate, once again, strong support for abortion rights across various states.

We have seven big wins in states that are really different from each other, and that brings the total of abortion or reproductive freedom state constitutional amendments to 11, says Elisabeth Smith, director of state policy and advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights, referring to three previous ballot measures that passed in 2022 in California, Michigan, and Vermont, and one that passed in 2023 in Ohio. Eleven state constitutional amendments in two years  is a huge success. (Smith adds that, in 2022, voters also protected abortion rights by rejecting three measures meant to restrict access in Montana, Kansas, and Kentucky.)

Many polls have shown that most Americans support abortion rights, but 21 states have either banned or restricted abortion since the Dobbs decision that overturned the constitutional right to abortion. As state lawmakers have taken steps to curtail abortion rights, advocates have turned to state ballot initiatives to try and protect access. The majority of the statewide abortion-related measures that appeared on the ballot this year were citizen-led initiatives.

Here are the results of the statewide abortion-related ballot measures in 2024.

Arizona

In the battleground state of Arizona, voters approved a measure that will establish a fundamental right to abortion under Arizonas constitution, allowing abortions until fetal viability or later if an abortion is needed to protect the pregnant persons life or health.

Nearly 62% of voters supported the measure, while about 38% voted against it, with about 60% of votes counted as of 9:40 a.m. ET on Wednesday. The Associated Press called the race at 3:31 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Currently in Arizona, abortion is banned after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for medical emergencies. But the newly-passed amendment is expected to upend the states existing restrictions on abortion.

We are excited for the future of Arizona, says Chris Love, spokesperson for the campaign behind the states ballot measure. Were pleased that Arizonans who have supported us from the beginning of our effort really turned out yesterday and showed the country that Arizonans truly believe that patients should have the freedom to make their personal and private decisions about abortion with their healthcare providers and without government interference.

Colorado

Voters in Colorado supported a ballot measure that will enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, with more than 61% voting in favor and nearly 39% voting against it, as of 5:40 a.m. ET on Wednesday when about 73% of votes were counted. The AP called the race at 10:26 p.m. on Tuesday.

The state already allows for abortion at any stage of pregnancy, but supporters of the measure have said that the amendment will ensure that future state lawmakers wouldnt be able to roll back abortion rights. The amendment will also repeal a nearly 40-year-old ban on state and local government money being used to pay for abortion services.

Florida

In Florida, a measure that would have amended the state constitution to guarantee the right to abortion up until fetal viability or when necessary to protect the health of the pregnant person, failed. The measure needed the support of at least 60% of voters to pass, but fell short, with about 57% of Floridians voting in favor and nearly 43% voting against, as of 9:49 a.m. ET on Wednesday when about 99% of the votes were counted. The AP called the race at 9:06 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Florida has banned abortion beyond six weeks of pregnancy, which is before many people know theyre pregnant. The restriction carries some exceptions, such as when the life of the pregnant person is at risk. With the failure of the proposed amendment, the states existing six-week ban will remain in place.

The lead-up to Election Day was contentious for the ballot initiative. Those behind the measure launched an extensive campaign to reach voters, sharing the stories of many people who were unable to receive care because of the states restrictions. But state officials tried to keep the initiative off the ballot and repeatedly attacked the campaign.

Lauren Brenzel, director of the campaign behind the ballot measure, said at a press conference Tuesday night that the vote breakdown showed that the majority of Florida voters supported it, even though the measure ultimately failed. Brenzel called on Florida politicians to repeal the six-week ban, given the vote breakdown.

They are tired of women dying because of abortion bans. They are tired of women being forced to give birth to children who died in their arms because of abortion bans, Brenzel said. A bipartisan group of voters today sent a clear message to the Florida legislature.

Maryland

Maryland voters passed a measure that will enshrine the right to reproductive freedom in the state constitution. The AP called the race at 9:28 p.m. on Tuesday. About 74% of Maryland voters supported the measure and nearly 26% rejected it, as of 4:34 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 76% of votes were counted.

Unlike most of the other statewide abortion-rights measures this year, this initiative was placed on the ballot after a vote from Marylands Democratic-controlled legislature. Abortion is already legal in the state until fetal viabilityor after that if necessary to protect the pregnant persons life or health, or if the fetus has a serious abnormalitybut, as with the initiative in Colorado, supporters have said that this amendment will prevent the possibility of state lawmakers restricting access in the future.

Missouri

In a major win for abortion-rights supporters, Missouri voters decided to amend its state constitution to guarantee the right to abortion until fetal viability, with exceptions after that if the pregnant persons life or physical or mental health is at risk. Nearly 52% of voters backed the measure, while 48% rejected it, with about 99% of the vote counted by 9:34 a.m. ET. on Wednesday. The AP called the race at 11:24 p.m. on Tuesday.

The newly-passed amendment is expected to invalidate Missouris existing near-total ban on abortion, which is one of the strictest in the country and was the first to be enacted after the Dobbs decision in 2022. The result marks the first time that a citizen-initiated ballot measure will overturn an abortion ban in the wake of the Supreme Courts controversial ruling.

This is the first time that voters in a state with a total abortion ban have voted to enshrine abortion rights in their state constitution, and they did that to repudiate their elected officials who have put a draconian abortion ban in place against the will of their constituents, Smith says. The win in Missouri cannot be overstated.

Montana

In Montana, more than 57% of voters supported amending the state constitution to guarantee the right to abortion until fetal viability, or after that if necessary to protect the pregnant persons life or health. The measure passed, since it only needed a simple majority, with nearly 43% of voters rejecting it, as of 9:47 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 87% of the votes were counted. The AP called the race at 6:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Abortion is currently legal until fetal viability in Montana, and the Montana Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that abortion is protected under the state constitution. But state lawmakers have tried to restrict abortion in the past few years, and reproductive rights advocates have said that the measure would protect abortion rights if lawmakers continue those attempts in the future.

Montana voters previously weighed in on reproductive healthcare in 2022, when they rejected a legislative referendum that would have further restricted abortion by classifying an embryo or fetus as a legal person entitled to medical treatment if they are born prematurely or in the rare case that they survive an attempted abortion.

Nebraska

Unlike the other states voting on the issue this year, Nebraska had two competing abortion-related measures on the ballot.

Ultimately, voters backed the measure that will amend the state constitution to include a ban on abortion in the second and third trimesters, with exceptions for medical emergencies, rape, or incest. About 55% of Nebraskans voted in favor of the measure, while nearly 45% voted against it, as of 6:52 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 99% of votes were counted. The AP called the race at 1:02 a.m. on Wednesday.

The other initiative, which would have enshrined the right to abortion until fetal viability in the state constitution (with exceptions beyond that in situations when an abortion is necessary to protect the pregnant persons life or health), failed, with more than 51% of voters rejecting it and nearly 49% supporting it, as of 6:52 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 99% of the votes were counted. The AP called the race at 3:27 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

In Nebraska, abortion is currently prohibited beyond 12 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest, and to save the pregnant persons life. The failure of the abortion-rights initiative allows the states existing restriction to remain in place, and the passing of the anti-abortion amendment will enshrine the restriction into the states constitution.

Nevada

Voters in Nevada took the first step to enshrining the right to abortion until fetal viability, or later when necessary to protect the pregnant persons life or health, in the state constitution. About 63% of voters supported the abortion-rights measure and about 37% rejected it, as of 5:09 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 84% of the votes were counted. The measure only needed a simple majority to pass, but voters will need to approve it again in 2026 in order to officially amend the state constitution. The AP called the race at 3:21 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Nevada currently allows abortions until the 24th week of pregnancy.

New York

New York will amend its state constitution to include equal rights protections, such as declaring that no one should be discriminated against because of pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy. Nearly 62% of people voted in favor of the measure, while almost 39% voted against it, as of 9:49 a.m. ET on Wednesday, with about 88% of the vote counted. The AP called the race at 9:31 p.m. ET on Tuesday. New York was the only other state, in addition to Maryland, that had a legislative abortion-related initiative on the ballot.

Abortion is allowed until fetal viability in New York. The New York initiative didnt explicitly mention abortion, but was a broad equal rights amendment that included protections for reproductive healthcare, as well as factors like ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

South Dakota

South Dakota voters rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have guaranteed the right to abortion in the first trimester. The measure needed a simple majority to pass, but only about 40% voted in favor, while nearly 60% voted against it, as of 9:55 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 90% of the votes were counted. The AP called the race at 2:49 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

The initiative would have also amended the state constitution to allow the state to regulate abortion in the second trimester only if reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman, and permit the state to regulate or prohibit abortion in the third trimester except in situations where abortion is necessary to protect the pregnant persons health or life.

Because the measure failed, South Dakotas near-total abortion ban will remain in place.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
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The Hamilton County Democratic Party has filed a complaint with their county election board over an issue that prevented some polling sites from opening on time Tuesday morning.

Not only does state law require polling sites in every precinct to open at 6 a.m., but the party argues that the 15-30 minute delay disenfranchised some voters who had to abandon the line for various reasons, such as needing to get to work.

Election Day live updates: Most Indiana polls close at 6 p.m. Here's what voters are saying

The problem stemmed from a technical issue and affected at least six sites, according to the complaint.

"The Hamilton County Democratic Party wants all voters to have the opportunity to vote in a manner that is consistent with applicable law," chair Jocelyn Vare wrote in her complaint. "We submit this correspondence because, to an extent, voters were initially deprived of voting time."

The party requested that the election board remind polling places that all voters in line by 6 p.m. can vote, and to investigate the technical malfunction that occurred.

"We want to make sure every registered Indiana voter has the ability to fairly and equally cast their ballot, and that was not the case this morning, state party executive director Dayna Colbert said.

Election administrator Beth Sheller did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

There's no shortage of intrigue on the ballot this Election Day, especially in Hamilton County, where there are multiple competitive statehouse districts and some highly politicized school board elections.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Hamilton County Democrats file complaint over late poll openings
By Ariba Shahid

KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) -Two Chinese nationals were wounded on Tuesday by a security guard who opened fire at a garment factory in Pakistan's commercial hub Karachi, in the latest in a string of attacks that have spurred Beijing to demand better security for its citizens.

Large contingents of police were deployed at the site of the factory in Karachi's industrial area, and forensic teams could be seen entering the premises, which had been cordoned off.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility and no official confirmation of the details of the incident. Senior superintendent of police Faizan Ali told Reuters that the Chinese nationals had been shot at, but gave no further details.

One police official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the shooting had been carried out by a security guard. The guard had not yet been arrested and it was difficult to ascertain the motive for the shooting, the official said.

A spokesperson for Liaquat National Hospital in the southern port city said it was treating the two victims, one of whom was in serious condition.

The attack follows other incidents including a bombing near Karachi's international airport that killed two Chinese engineers last month, which was claimed by separatist militant group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

China has stepped up longstanding demands for better security for its citizens in Pakistan. Ambassador Jiang Zaidong told a gathering in Islamabad last month that the rising number of deadly attacks was unacceptable.

The Pakistan foreign office responded that Islamabad was fully committed to providing security for Chinese nationals, projects and institutions. It said in a statement on Oct. 31 that the commitment had been conveyed at the highest levels of the Chinese government.

A decades-long insurgency in the southwestern province of Balochistan has led to frequent attacks against the government, army and Chinese interests. The militants say they want a greater share of regional resources.

The region is home to the deep-water Gwadar port built by Beijing as part of $65 billion in investments for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under President Xi's Belt and Road Initiative.

(Reporting by Ariba Shahid, writing by Sakshi Dayal, Charlotte Greenfield and Asif Shahzad; Editing by YP Rajesh, Clarence Fernandez, Peter Graff)
By Francesco Guarascio, Khanh Vu and Ben Blanchard

HANOI/TAIPEI (Reuters) - Elon Musk's SpaceX asked Taiwanese suppliers to transfer manufacturing off the island, leading to some relocating portions of their supply chain, according to sources employed by and close to the equipment makers and corporate documents.

A source at a company that is one of the numerous subcontractors that provide components for SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet products said SpaceX asked their manufacturers to produce outside of Taiwan because of geopolitical risks, pushing at least one to move production to Vietnam.

A second source who collaborates with Taiwanese satellite component makers on the island said suppliers were directly asked by SpaceX to transfer manufacturing abroad.

Chin-Poon Industrial, a satellite component maker which said it was recently a SpaceX supplier, told Reuters the U.S. company requested they move their manufacturing from Taiwan to Thailand for new orders "mostly due to geopolitical considerations". It did not elaborate.

The sources declined to be identified because the information was not public. SpaceX did not reply to requests for comment.

SpaceX's requests place a renewed focus on the contentious relationship Musk has had with Taiwan, especially after he said last year it is an "integral part" of China, drawing sharp criticism from the Taiwanese government.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has staged almost daily military drills around it over the past five years and has never renounced taking the island by force. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims.

China's drills have increased in intensity since 2022, with the latest war games it carried out last month replicating a blockade of the island. Amid the potential for devastating disruptions to their supply chains, some Taiwanese companies in the strategic satellite and semiconductor industries are taking steps to reduce their reliance on domestic manufacturing.

A Vietnam-based investment adviser told Reuters in October SpaceX representatives said in a private meeting in March 2023 the company was interested in setting up a manufacturing hub for satellite equipment in Vietnam and sought advice on protecting intellectual property.

When contacted by Reuters about Taiwanese SpaceX suppliers moving abroad, Taiwan's economy ministry responded, "Short-term political factors should not affect the supply chain relationship between international satellite companies and Taiwan manufacturers."

VIETNAM EXPANSION

Taiwanese SpaceX supplier Wistron NeWeb Corporation (WNC) this year began producing routers and other network gear for Starlink at its factory in the northern Vietnamese province of Hanam, about an hour south of Hanoi, two of the plant's workers and a contractor said.

WNC's expansion in Vietnam is largely due to orders from SpaceX, said one of the workers.

The Hanam factory plans to at least double its 3,000-strong workforce, the contractor and one of the workers said. Outside the factory, several banners advertised job offers at the plant, Reuters reporters observed in mid-October.

The first source familiar with SpaceX's requests to move out of Taiwan is an employee of a Vietnam-based foreign-owned supplier whose components for printed circuit boards are in Starlink's ground equipment through WNC-made components.

The source said a SpaceX vendor they work with that supplies WNC was directly told by SpaceX to produce outside of the island.

WNC declined to comment, citing customer confidentiality. Its latest annual report in April said: "In the face of geopolitical risks and ever-changing customer requirements, WNC has continued to expand its global manufacturing capabilities".

Universal Microwave Technology, another SpaceX supplier and manufacturer of satellite components, invested in a factory in Vietnam this year, according to a Taiwanese official and public documents from the company.

Universal Microwave Technology declined to comment on individual customers, citing confidentiality agreements, but said it was expanding its presence in Southeast Asia, including new factories in Thailand and Vietnam.

"The planning of overseas production capacity will help customers reduce their doubts about geographical risks, gain customer recognition, and increase the breadth of cooperation with customers," it said.

Taiwan has a large satellite industry, with about 50 companies producing ground equipment and sensitive components, according to the economy ministry and industry data. The government estimates the sector's output exceeded T$200 billion ($6.23 billion) last year.

SpaceX has about a dozen direct suppliers from Taiwan, which rely on dozens of domestic vendors, the source who collaborates with the island's satellite industry said.

Vietnam's government in September said SpaceX wanted to invest $1.5 billion in the country, though the timing and purposes of the actual investments remain unclear.

Shenmao Technology, a supplier of soldering materials for printed circuit boards, which has provided components to SpaceX, said in April it would spend $5 million to set up a unit in Vietnam, without saying who its clients would be for products from that facility. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio and Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Hanam and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; additional reporting by Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi; editing by Gerry Doyle and Christian Schmollinger)
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein was elected governor on Tuesday, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and maintaining Democratic leadership of the chief executives office in a state where Republicans have recently controlled the legislature and appeals courts.

Stein, a Harvard-trained lawyer, former state senator and the states chief law enforcement officer since 2017, will succeed fellow Democrat Roy Cooper, who was term-limited from seeking reelection. He will be the states first Jewish governor. Robinson's campaign was greatly hampered by a damning report in September that he had posted messages on an online pornography website, including that he was a black NAZI."

Democrats have held the governors mansion for all but four years since 1993, even as the GOP has held legislative majorities since 2011.

As with Coopers time in office, a key task for Stein likely will be to use his veto stamp to block what he considers extreme right-leaning policies. Cooper had mixed success on that front during his eight years as governor.

Otherwise, Steins campaign platform largely followed Coopers policy goals, including those to increase public school funding, promote clean energy and stop further abortion restrictions by Republicans.

Steins campaign dramatically outraised and outspent Robinson, who was seeking to become the states first Black governor.

For months Stein and his allies used television ads and social media to remind voters of previous inflammatory comments that Robinson had made about abortion, women and LGBTQ+ people that they said made him too extreme to lead a swing state.

The people of North Carolina resoundingly embraced a vision thats optimistic, forward-looking and welcoming, a vision thats about creating opportunity for every North Carolinian," Stein told supporters in his victory speech after Cooper introduced him. "We chose hope over hate, competence over chaos, decency over division. Thats who we are as North Carolinians.

Robinsons campaign descended into disarray in September when CNN reported that he made explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography websites message board more than a decade ago. In addition to the black NAZI comment, Robinson said he enjoyed transgender pornography and slammed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as worse than a maggot," according to the report. Robinson denied writing the messages and sued CNN and an individual for defamation in October.

In the days following the report, most of Robinson's top campaign staff quit, many fellow GOP elected officials and candidates  including presidential nominee Donald Trump  distanced themselves from his campaign and outside money supporting him on the airwaves dried up. The result: Stein spent millions on ads in the final weeks, while Robinson spent nothing.

Stein had a clear advantage among women, young and older voters, moderates and urban and suburban voters, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 3,600 voters in the state. White voters were about evenly divided between Stein and Robinson, while clear majorities of Black voters and Latino voters supported Stein.

Fifteen percent of those who voted for Trump also backed Stein for governor, while just 2% of those who cast ballots for Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris backed Robinson.

Patrick Stemple, 33, a shipping coordinator attending a Trump rally last week in Greensboro, said he voted early for Trump but also chose Stein for governor.

Stemple mentioned both Steins ads talking about how he has fought illegal drug trafficking and his dislike for Robinsons rhetoric. Stemple said the graphic language that CNN reported was used in Robinsons posts reinforced his decision not to back Robinson.

Before, I used to like him. But then once I started seeing and hearing about this, and seeing him talking about it on TV, I was like, Too much, Stemple said.

The son of a prominent civil rights lawyer, the 58-year-old Stein grew up in Chapel Hill and went to Dartmouth and Harvard Law School. He managed John Edwards winning 1998 U.S. Senate campaign and worked in the 2000s as Coopers consumer protection chief while Cooper was attorney general.

Stein succeeded Cooper as attorney general, but his 2016 and 2020 general election victories were extremely close: fewer than 25,000 votes both times.

While attorney general, he promoted his efforts to protect citizens from polluters, predatory student loans and high electric bills.

Stein took credit with lawmakers for eliminating the backlog for testing thousands of sexual assault kits in police custody, saying it led to additional DNA matches for unsolved crimes. He also sued TikTok, alleging the company designed the app to be addictive and misrepresented the risks it posed to young users.

Stein angered Republicans with his decision to end the states defense of a 2013 voter ID law that was struck down and of some abortion restrictions.

Robinson, who was elected the state's first Black lieutenant governor in 2020 in his first bid for public office, campaigned largely on a platform of boosting rural economies, supporting law enforcement and teachers and substituting basic skills instruction for what he labeled political indoctrination in the public schools.

In a speech Tuesday night, Robinson made indirect references to the commercials run by Stein, saying that during his campaign he didn't spend millions of dollars demonizing anyone.

"Im disappointed for you because I wanted this so bad for you," Robinson told supporters, adding that he was glad to have run a race that was upright and decent."

Unaffiliated voter Joe ONeill, 58, of Wingate, said he favored Robinson because hes actually more for people like me, the working class. He called television ads against Robinson a misrepresentation and pushed back on the CNN report.

I absolutely do not believe it, said ONeill, who works for a textile equipment manufacturer. To me, he seemed like a man of his word.

___

This story has been edited to correct a word in Robinson's quote to run, not won.

___

Associated Press writers Makiya Seminera in Raleigh and Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report.
The New York state trooper who claimed he was shot during a Long Island traffic stop is now under criminal investigation  as authorities continue to probe whether he lied about the entire saga.

Trooper Thomas Mascia, 27, was suspended without pay this week after police launched an internal review into his claims of getting shot during a traffic stop in West Hempstead on Oct. 30.

We have reason to believe that the incident did not occur the way it was reported, State Police Major Stephen Udice told a news conference Wednesday.

He added the probe was far from over as cops try to piece together exactly what unfolded when the trooper reported he was shot in the leg after stopping to help the driver of a black Dodge Charger on the Southern State Parkway.

New York State Trooper Thomas Mascia in an undated photo.

We still have many questions that require additional information to answer and we will continue working to answer those questions about this incident, Udice said.

Police declined to release further details about the investigation but confirmed they were not searching for any other persons of interest tied to the case.

The latest revelation comes after investigators on Monday abruptly canceled the alert theyd issued for the vehicle Mascia said was involved in the incident. Investigators then executed a search warrant at his West Hempstead home.

Large amounts of cash and weapons were seized from the property at the time, according to police sources.

NY State Trooper Thomas Mascia leaving the Nassau University Medical Center. Brigitte Stelzer

Udice said Wednesday that the troopers shield, ID and service weapon were confiscated as part of his suspension.

Police, meanwhile, are continuing to work alongside the Nassau County District Attorneys office to determine if any charges should be filed, he added.

Mascia was released from hospital last Friday after undergoing surgery for the gunshot wound he said he sustained during the ordeal.

The trooper claimed the motorist opened fire on him as he approached the vehicle on the median at about 11:30 p.m.

Cops arrive at the scene of the shooting. Diego Luzuriaga (FreedomNewsTV)

In the wake of the incident, police launched a manhunt for the purported gunman and put out a $10,000 reward for any information tied to the case.

The Post reached out to Mascia but didnt hear back.

Mascia is believed to be the son of Thomas Mascia Sr., a former partner of NYPD Officer Michael Dowd  one of the most corrupt officers in the Big Apples history, multiple sources said.

The pair were both busted in the 1990s for running a cocaine ring linking Brooklyn to Suffolk County.
Spanish police said Wednesday that they had seized 13 tons of cocaine -- the country's largest-ever haul of the drug -- and made one arrest.

Police and customs agents intercepted the cocaine in the southern port of Algeciras on October 14 from a container ship that had arrived from Ecuador's largest city Guayaquil, a drug-trafficking hub.

The ship carried crates of bananas that concealed identically designed boxes containing the cocaine, and intelligence from Ecuadoran police tipped off the Spanish authorities, national police said in a news release.

Spanish police display the 13 tons of cocaine, which was seized at the Algeciras port, hidden in banana shipments after it was transported in a container from Ecuador, at the port in Algeciras, Spain, November 6, 2024. / Credit: Jon Nazca / REUTERS

A woman believed to be a partner of the importing company was arrested in the central Spanish city of Toledo and two other suspects are on the run, police said.

Spain is a main entry point for drugs into Europe because of its close ties with former colonies in Latin America and its proximity to Morocco, a top cannabis producer.

Massive hauls of drugs have been hidden in banana shipments throughout Europe before. In February, British authorities said they had found more than 12,500 pounds of cocaine hidden in a shipment of bananas, shattering the record for the biggest single seizure of hard drugs in the country. Last August, customs agents in the Netherlands seized 17,600 pounds of cocaine found hidden inside crates of bananas in Rotterdam's port. Three months before that, a police dog sniffed out 3 tons of cocaine stashed in a case of bananas in the Italian port of Gioia Tauro.

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The coffee chain's holiday drinks hit stores on Thursday, Nov. 7

Starbucks The Cran-Merry Orange Refresher comes in three options

Starbucks is ready to deck the halls.

The coffee chain announced the new and returning holiday menu items, all of which will be landing in stores on Thursday, Nov. 7.

For the first time ever, the coffeehouse is launching a holiday Refresher: the Cran-Merry Orange Refresher. The drink comes in three varieties  the original, Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher and Cran-Merry Drink  and each is meant to scratch a specific holiday itch.

The Cran-Merry Orange Refresher has flavors of orange, cranberry and warm spices, according to a press release. Green coffee extract gives the beverage a slightly caffeinated kick, dried cranberries add a festive look and a shake with ice adds a chill to the drink. The OG version is combined with water, too.

The Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher has all the same elements as the original but swaps out water for lemonade. Similarly, the Cran-Merry Drink is a copy of the other two but with coconut milk instead of water for a tropical twist and a rich, creamy texture.

Starbucks The Starbucks holiday line-up

PEOPLE staffers got a first taste of the fruity, festive beverages and were pleasantly surprised that the drinks still brought the wintery vibes we look for in a holiday drink. The Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher was a favorite for one tester, who said the tartness of the lemonade really complemented the cranberry flavor.

The classic holiday drinks will be available on Thursday, including the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte and Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai. Seasonal cold foams like peppermint chocolate are making a comeback. Plus, newbies gingerbread cold foam and salted pecan cold foam can be added as a customization to any drink.

Starbucks Starbucks' Holiday Menu food items

When it comes to the festive food, there are more new items than there are returning ones. The Sugar Plum Cheese Danish and Cranberry Bliss Bars that fans know and love will be available, as will three new sweets and one savory option.

Related: Wendys Introduces New Salted Caramel Frosty and Gives a Makeover to One Beloved Item for Its New Fall Menu

The Dark Toffee Bundt is a personal-sized baked good. The treat is described as having deep toffee flavors and is coated in merry sprinkles. The Penguin Cookie is a shortbread covered with frosting to make a penguin face. Similarly, the Snowman Cake Pop combines vanilla cake with buttercream before being dipped in white chocolate icing and decorated with snowman elements.

The Turkey Sage Danish is the only salty choice for fans looking to get in the spirit. The flaky pastry is filled with turkey sausage and bechamel sauce.

The hot drinks will all be served in this seasons new holiday cups in green, red and pink hues. The iced drink cups are adorned with illustrations of ornaments so every sipper can get into the spirit.

Starbucks Starbucks Reserve Holiday Menu

While these holiday goodies are available nationwide, there are a few items available exclusively at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries. There, fans can sip on an Iced Caramel Brulee Eggnog Latte, Eggnog Espresso Martini, Fog Nog Tea Latte, Peppermint Mocha and Peppermint Mocha Espresso Martini. For food options, customers can choose between a Pistachio Raspberry Tart, Coffee Eggnog Holiday Cookie, Cranberry Cheese Danish, Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Cake, Classic Panettone and Potato Truffle Pizza.

Also starting on Nov. 7, the coffee chain will no longer charge extra for customizing drinks with non-dairy milk, a change that can save up to $0.90. The change goes into affect at all locations in the U.S.


A toddler has gone viral for her adorable response when asked to identify her grandfather and great-uncle.

In a TikTok video that has picked up over 16 million views since it was first shared back in September, 3-year-old Naomi calls her grandfather Leslie "Papa," when asked his name.

The camera then pans to Leslie's identical triplet brother, and when asked who he is, Naomi replies, "Another papa," as the siblings break into laughter.

PHOTO: Jovan Gordon recorded the moment her daughter Naomi, 3, met her great-uncle Lenny for the first time. The video clip has since gone viral on TikTok. (TikTok/@linglinglh )

88-year-old goes viral sharing walk with great-granddaughter in heartwarming video

The adorable moment was captured by Naomi's mom Jovan Gordon and shared on TikTok by her aunt Leah Lai-Hing.

The video clip features Lai-Hing's father Leslie and her uncle Lennox, also known as Lenny. Their brother Leroy is not seen in the video. The trio are identical triplets.

Lai-Hing told "Good Morning America" it can be easy to mistake the brothers.

"It is very easy to mix them up," Lai-Hing said. "They don't correct people, sometimes.  Because people mix them up all the time anyway, they just go along with it."

PHOTO: Three-year-old Naomi is pictured with her great-uncle Lenny, whom she calls another papa. (Courtesy of Jovan Gordon)

Lai-Hing and Gordon said the video captured Naomi's first time meeting her great-uncle Lenny.

Fewer triplets are being born in the US. Researchers have a theory as to why

"Before we decided to record her saying what she said, she was in the background asking me, 'Why are there two papas?' She was so confused," Gordon recalled. "I was like, 'You know what? This is the perfect moment to record her.' So then they decided to ask her who was who and that happened."

Gordon said she wasn't surprised by her daughter's response and suspects she'll continue calling her great-uncles "another papa" or "other papa" for a while.

"She's silly, outgoing, and she loves just her papa, her family, everyone in her family," Gordon said.

Toddler has best names for grandpa and great-uncle in viral video originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
FILE  President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands at the Israel museum in Jerusalem, Tuesday, May 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File)

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Donald Trump will return to the U.S. presidency at a time of unprecedented conflict and uncertainty in the Middle East. He has vowed to fix it.

But Trump's history of strong support for Israel coupled with his insistence during the campaign that the war in Gaza should end quickly, the isolationist forces in the Republican party and his penchant for unpredictability raise a mountain of questions over how his second presidency will affect the region at this pivotal moment.

Barring the achievement of elusive cease-fires before the inauguration, Trump will ascend to the highest office in the country as a brutal war in Gaza still rages and Israel presses its offensive against the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group. A conflagration between Iran and Israel shows no signs of abating  nor do Israels conflicts with Iranian proxies in Iraq and Yemen  and Irans nuclear program remains a top concern for Israel.

Trump says he wants peace, but how?

Throughout his campaign, Trump has vowed to bring peace to the region.

Get it over with and lets get back to peace and stop killing people, Trump said of the conflict in Gaza in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in April.

Israel launched the war in response to Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, when militants killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250, with dozens still in Gaza. Israels offensive has killed more than 43,000 people, according to Gaza health officials, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, though they say more than half of the dead are women and children.

The war has ignited a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, driven Israel into increasing international isolation, with two world courts examining charges of war crimes, and has sparked a wave of protests on American campuses that have fueled debate over the U.S. role as Israel's key military and diplomatic supporter.

International mediators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have tried unsuccessfully to bring about a lasting cease-fire.

Yet Trump has repeatedly urged to Israel finish the job and destroy Hamas  but hasnt said how.

Does finish the job mean you have a free hand to act in dealing with the remnants of Hamas? Or does finish the job mean the war has to come to an end now? asked David Makovsky, director of the program on Arab-Israel Relations at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Thats part of the enigmas here."

Netanyahu is pinning his hopes on a pro-Israel Trump administration

Uncertainty also shrouds how Trump will engage with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During his first term, Trump offered broad support for the Israeli leaders hard-line policies, including unilaterally withdrawing from a deal meant to rein in Irans nuclear program that Netanyahu long opposed.

Trump also recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital, bolstering its claim over the disputed city, and Israels annexation of the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. He presented a peace plan with the Palestinians widely seen as favoring Israel. Settlement-building in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, seen as an obstacle to Palestinian statehood, surged under his presidency.

Trump also helped secure agreements between Israel and four Arab countries to normalize ties that were not contingent on progress toward Palestinian statehood  a major victory for Netanyahu. The Israeli leader hopes to replicate those successes with a deal with Saudi Arabia.

The leaders had a falling out after Netanyahu congratulated President Joe Biden following the 2020 elections  a move Trump viewed as a slight from his loyal ally, though Netanyahu visited Trump in Florida this year.

Under Biden, the U.S. has been critical at times and slowed some weapons deliveries in response to Israel's conduct in Gaza. Netanyahu is likely hoping that Trump's return will loosen any restraints on Israel to pursue its war goals. The American leader could also work to challenge a potential international war crimes arrest warrant for Netanyahu. And a smoother relationship with Washington could help improve the Israeli leader's own popular support.

He has the most pro-Israel record of any president, said Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington. The hope is here that therell be more of the same.

Neither Netanyahu nor Trump has a clear vision for postwar Gaza

Netanyahu leads a far-right government whose key members have vowed to topple his rule if the war in Gaza ends with anything short of Hamas' destruction. They support resettling Gaza and are enthusiastic about a Trump presidency  and their influence will only grow now that Netanyahu has fired his defense minister over his more pragmatic approach to the conflict.

Their grip on the government and over Netanyahus political future helps explain why Netanyahu has not spelled out a clear vision for a postwar Gaza.

The Biden administration has favored having the war-ravaged territory governed by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank. Netanyahu has rejected that idea and insists on the right for the Israeli military to operate there.

Trump has not outlined a clear vision, although he has said developers could make Gaza better than Monaco because it has the best location in the Middle East, the best water, the best everything.

Diana Buttu, a former adviser to Palestinian leaders, said a lack of a firm U.S. vision for Gaza, coupled with a politically powerful Israeli far right, made the future for people in Gaza and for Palestinians in general grim.

I dont see this as a president who is going to care about Palestinians, she said.

Will Trump help defend Israel against Iran or choose America first?

In Lebanon, Israel is battling the Iranian-backed Hezbollah with both a ground invasion and strikes on Hezbollah targets. The militant group has fired thousands of rockets and drones at Israeli communities, killing dozens and displacing 60,000. Israels offensive, meanwhile, has displaced over 1 million people in Lebanon and killed more than 3,000.

U.S. mediation efforts there too have been fruitless. Trump, who has a Lebanese-American son-in-law, recently posted on the social platform X that as president he would stop the suffering and destruction in Lebanon.

But a key question is how much Trump will be swayed by his America First instincts.

The U.S. has played a central role in diplomatic efforts throughout the war, and an even more robust role in helping Israel defend itself against Iran and its allies.

The U.S. has sent military assets to the region, helped Israel thwart two missile attacks by Iran and even has U.S. soldiers in Israel to operate a sophisticated air defense system. But any effective Israeli attack on Irans nuclear facilities, a target it avoided in its strike last month, will likely need greater U.S. military involvement.

Accusations that Iran has hacked campaign associates and concerns about the potential for Tehran to carry out violence against Trump or members of his administration could deepen his antipathy toward the country.

While Trump has indicated he will focus on domestic affairs, the Mideast could be an outlier.

He enjoys a wide base of support from evangelical Christians, who are staunchly pro-Israel, and his son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner was a prominent voice in support of the country in his first administration.

As Trump is likely to navigate between those forces mostly based on his intuition," said Udi Sommer, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations at Tel Aviv University, "uncertainty will likely define his approach.
Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Washington for Election Day, while former President Trump will host his watch party in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Harris, a graduate of Howard University, will be back at her alma mater as results start rolling in. Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will join her in Washington this evening.

Oct 29, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Democratic Presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a campaign speech at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. The location is the site where Donald Trump encouraged his supporters to fight like hell on Jan. 6, 2021 before rioters attacked the U.S. Capitol as Congress was convening to certify Joe BidenAaas victory.. Mandatory Credit: Megan Smith-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Trump campaign is hosting supporters at the Palm Beach Convention Center, according to a media advisory. Trump himself will be among a smaller gathering at his Mar-a-Lago resort to watch for results.

His Republican running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, was in his home state earlier today, to cast his vote in the Cincinnati area. He will head down south to join Trump in the Sunshine State tonight.

And before Harris was made the Democratic presidential candidate, her boss, President Joe Biden, had been the presumptive nominee. Tonight, Biden will be at home in the White House with no public events on his schedule.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris, Trump head to Washington, Florida for watch parties
Tiffany Zhang was arrested in connection with the killing of her mother, 63-year-old Guichun Hu

Getty Images

A woman in Maryland is under arrest after she allegedly called 911 and led police to the body of her mother.

Emergency services in Gaithersburg, Md., received a call from Tiffany Zhang on Monday, Nov. 4, when she allegedly confessed to killing her mother, the Montgomery County Department of Police said in a news release.

Zhang, 29, allegedly said she killed 63-year-old Guichun Hu the day prior and that the womans body was in a nearby grass field outside their residence, according to the news release.

Responding authorities found Zhang outside the house and located Hus body, declaring her deceased at the scene.

Aerial photos of the residence shared by WJLA show the area has several houses sparsely located, each with grass fields surrounding them. Further details  such as the condition of Hus body, the nature of any injuries, or where the alleged crime took place  have not been revealed.

Gus body was transported to the Medical Examiners Office for authorities to determine her cause of death.

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Authorities did not comment on a possible motive.

Zhang was detained and charged with first-degree murder, police said in their news release.

Online court records did not indicate whether she had entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on her behalf.


A Staten Island, New York, family has experienced a whirlwind of emotions after police incorrectly told them that their loved one had been killed in a car crash.

The day after a deadly Oct. 30 crash involving a pedestrian, police told Sheila Nagengast, of Staten Island, that her sister Denise Owens, 44, had been killed, according to Glen Devora, who is Nagengast's attorney.

Devora said the family was devastated" by the news and did not learn until 36 hours later that it was another woman, not Owens, who had died.

They had to notify the rest of their family members, including their kids, about what happened. They even went as far to start planning funeral arrangements and discussions of whether or not they would have an autopsy, decisions you would make when discussing the death of a loved one, Devora said.

Justine Perez, 37, of Staten Island, was killed in the crash, police said.

Police acknowledged the mistake Wednesday.

During the course of our initial investigation, the NYPD misidentified the victim of a fatal vehicle collision," police said in a statement. "Upon further investigation, a proper identification and subsequent family notification was made. We apologize for the unfortunate grief we may have caused.

The crash occurred about 10:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Staten Island intersection of Hyland Boulevard and New Dorp Lane, police said in a separate statement that incorrectly identified the victim as a 44-year-old woman.

An 18-year-old man driving a Nissan Maxima struck the pedestrian, police said. The driver remained on the scene, and there were no arrests, but an investigation was ongoing, the statement said.

The pedestrian was declared dead at the north campus of Staten Island University Hospital, police said.

Police did not specify how the mistake happened in their statements.

The police department hasn't fully explained how the mix-up happened, Devora said. They havent fully explained why they notified the first family of the mistake," he said, adding that because of the fatal crash and how police responded, two families were in disarray.

Devora said he is also representing the Perez family, who were in the process of planning a funeral.

Devora said hes trying to piece together how the mistake was made because Owens wasnt walking in the area at the time [of the collision]. She had no knowledge of the incident."
Cloud, cyber security, retail and managed services provider Canary Technology Solutions has boosted its Queensland presence through the acquisition of Brisbane-based managed IT services provider Wyntec.

The acquisition of Wyntec reflects Canarys commitment to expanding its managed IT services and solidifying its position as a key player in the Australian market.

This acquisition is a strategic move to increase our presence in Queensland and further enhance our managed IT services capabilities, Canary CEO Steve Parsonage said.

By bringing together our expertise and resources, were taking a significant step towards our vision of delivering smarter, more responsive IT solutions for businesses across Australia.

As part of our commitment to both organic and inorganic growth strategies, this partnership allows us to grow strategically while staying true to our mission of using technology as a catalyst for business transformation. We are excited to welcome Wyntec into the Canary Technology Solutions family.

Wyntec was founded in 2010 by current CEO Tom Freer offering local expertise in Brisbane.
by Fady Noun

The displacement of refugees from the war between the Jewish State and Hezbollah and the political-community tensions threaten the country's stability. The Maronite Patriarch calls for the liberation of occupied catholic schools, but his words have triggered further controversy. The Druze community calls for hospitality. Walid Jumblatt: The war seems destined to be prolonged.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - The Israeli offensive launched on 23 September has plunged Lebanon into deep chaos. And if, at the moment, the priority is reserved for the relocation of the hundreds of thousands of displaced people, at the same time there are a series of other problems that must be tackled with the same urgency: the drama of food security, health care and the school year for the pupils of all schools and grades, public and private.

In this regard, the expropriations and invasions of private property, the illegal constructions in some villages and the forced occupations of Beirut's educational institutes severely test the resilience of the social bond between the displaced Shiites and the Christian community hosting them. At the same time, they pose a serious threat to internal stability in the medium term.

With regard to this very sensitive issue, the vice-president of the Shia High Council, Sheikh Ali el-Jhatib, reacted vehemently in recent days to a verb used by the Maronite primate in his Sunday homily. The public schools used to house the thousands displaced by the war between Israel and Hezbollah must be liberated and returned to their educational vocation, the patriarch and Card. Beshara Rai in his speech at the centre of the attacks.

In circles close to the cardinal, attempts are being made to downplay the significance of the word used. It, they explain from Bkerke, should be placed in a context, and according to a meaning, purely civil, assuring at the same time that it has been interpreted incorrectly, as if there was a desire to forcibly expel displaced families from private Catholic schools.

An episcopal source in the Maronite patriarchate explained to AsiaNews: It is obvious that alternative accommodation must be found for the families before these schools are reopened to pupils. But it is equally obvious that it is everyone's responsibility to look for and find these places'.

In fact, some schools in Beirut, such as the Saint-Vincent de Paul school run by the Daughters of Charity in rue Clemenceau, and the school run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph de l'Apparition, both belonging to the Latin community, have been occupied without any qualms by the displaced Shiites.

The assault is also linked to the panic caused by the evacuation order issued by the Israeli army (IDF) to the inhabitants of the southern suburbs of Beirut. Two other schools, one belonging to the Greek Orthodox community in the capital and the other to a secular mission are in the same situation, sources connected to the institution said.

The office of the headmaster of the Saint-Vincent de Paul school was violated, the source said. Some nuns, the Maronite Episcopal source continued, have been kicked out of their rooms. However, an independent voice assures AsiaNews that this has not prevented the nuns and staff at the facility from being extremely helpful. Nevertheless, it must also be added that the 800 displaced people occupying the facility prevent as many families from sending their children to school and attending classes.

If neglected, the issue of the evacuees will become a source of social and economic problems for citizens, Patriarch Rai warned. Private property and coexistence, he added, must be protected. These few incidents, such as the blockade of illegal buildings in Lassa, a Shia village in the Jbeil region, or the resistance to the order to evacuate a disused hotel on Hamra Street in Beirut, are symptomatic of the chaos into which the Israeli offensive has thrown Lebanon.

In Dekouane, a northern suburb of Beirut, a Christian political stronghold, the presence of a truck carrying sandbags near the state-run hotel school, which has been turned into a reception centre, raised the fears of a deputy of the Lebanese Forces, Razi Hage.

The Christian politician said he fears the reconstitution of a Hezbollah security perimeter. According to the information provided, the sacks, transported by the international NGO Action contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger), were to be used to install water tanks on high ground.

Druze mediation

So far, friction has been contained. However, since the police cannot be everywhere, the Druze community has seen fit to take the initiative and establish some rules for the reception of displaced persons, which the municipalities are obliged to enforce. To this end, a general meeting of the Druze was held on 2 November in Baadaran (Chouf), where their wise men live, in the presence of all the rival political leaders of the community, in particular Walid Joumblatt and Talal Arslan.

We do not accept any security breach, whatever its origin. We are working with the army and the security forces to ensure stability,' said Sheikh Akl of the community. The Druze leader also stressed the importance of the principle of hospitality, warning against the risk of massive land purchases by middlemen, which would alter the demographic balance in the Druze mountains.

For his part, the former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party (SPP), Walid Jumblatt, declared: The war seems destined to continue. Therefore, he concluded, we must be ready to offer the maximum number of services to both the displaced and the residents.
In Wednesday's general audience in St Peter's Square, Francis shared the pain for the civilians "gunned down" in Gaza and Valencia, invaded by mud. He laid a flower in front of the Virgin of the Forsaken, patroness of the Spanish city, reciting the Hail Mary with the faithful. Todays catechesis was centred on prayer, "sanctifying action of the Holy Spirit", advocate before God.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis began his Wednesday General Audience this morning in St Peter's Square with Gaza and Valencia (Spain). The pontiff said that he was very sad and pained about deaths in Gaza. The other day 153 civilians were gunned going down the street, he lamented. He also spoke about Valencia, on its knees due to a weather phenomenon called DANA, which caused 222 deaths, with 89 people still missing.

The pope laid a flower in front of the image of the Virgen de los Desamparados (Virgin of the Forsaken), patroness of Spain's third-largest city, Spanish city in St Peters Square. Our Lady who takes care of the poor, Patroness of Valencia; Valencia, which is suffering greatly, and also other parts of Spain, he said at the start of the audience.

In his greetings to Italian-speaking pilgrims, Holy Father together with the faithful from many nations of the world recited a Hail Mary to Valencias patroness while the city, where government officials were recently met with little favour, is still covered in mud

"I urge you to pray for Valencia," Francis said. "Let us pray to the Lord to always live with hope." Together with the other call to pray addressed today to those who are listening: the one for peace. Likewise, Let's not forget the martyred Ukraine, which suffers so much. Let's not forget Gaza and Israel," he said. "Let's not forget Myanmar".

Today's catechesis was also dedicated to prayer, which is even more necessary in times of tragedy. Yet, Francis warned: [D]o not pray like parrots, please! Do not say, Blah, blah, blah. No. Say Lord, but say it with your heart. Help me, Lord, I love you, Lord.

The pontiff continued the cycle of reflections dedicated to the Holy Spirit and its bride", the Church. Todays meditation was The Spirit intercedes for us", starting with a passage from the Letter to the Romans (Rom 8:26-27).

The sanctifying action of the Holy Spirit, in addition to the Word of God and the Sacraments, is expressed in prayer, and it is to this that we wish to dedicate today's reflection: prayer, the pope said, emphasising two fundamental traits of prayer: freedom and spontaneity.

You pray when you feel the need to pray in your heart, and when you do not feel anything, you stop and ask: Why do I not feel the wish to pray? What is happening in my life? But always, spontaneity in prayer is what helps us the most. This is what is meant by praying as children, not as slaves.

We must learn to pray. [W]e do not know how to pray, we do not know. We must learn every day. It is also important to train ourselves to pray because It is the only power we have over the Spirit of God. The power of prayer: He does not resist prayer. We pray, and He comes, he said.

The "weakness" that is experienced with respect to prayer is motivated by a word in the past "used in three different ways: as an adjective, as a noun and as an adverb", which "contains an entire treatise".

We human beings, according to that saying, mali, mala, male petimus, which means, being bad (mali), we ask for the wrong things (mala) and in the wrong way (male).

This weakness is met by the Holy Spirit, who becomes the "paraclete", that is, the advocate and defender, of every human being. He does not accuse us before the Father, but defends us. Yes, He defends us, He convinces us of the fact that we are sinners (cf. Jn 16:8), but He does so in order to make us able to savour the joy of the Fathers mercy, Francis said.

And all of us can receive divine forgiveness, for God is greater than our sin. Indeed, We are all sinners, but think: perhaps some of you  I dont know  are very afraid because of the things they have done, afraid of being reproached by God, the Holy Father said.

Pray, call to the Holy Spirit, and He will teach you how to ask for forgiveness. And do you know something? God does not know much grammar, and when we ask for forgiveness, He does not let us finish! For and there, He does not let us finish the word forgiveness. [. . .] the Father always forgives us.

The Holy Spirit intercedes for those who invoke him, but also teaches them to intercede for their brothers and sisters. He teaches us the prayer of intercession: praying for this person, praying for that sick person, for the one who is in prison, praying even praying for ones mother-in-law! And pray, always.

A prayer is most "pleasing to God" because it is "free and disinterested". Indeed, When someone prays for everyone, it happens  as Saint Ambrose used to say  that everyone prays for someone; prayer multiplies, Francis said.

This is how prayer is. This is a task that is so precious and necessary in the Church, particularly during this time of preparation for the Jubilee: to unite ourselves to the Paraclete who intercedes for all of us according to God's plans.
Today's news: for the first time in the United States, a senator of Korean descent is elected; In Taliban-held Afghanistan, opium poppy production rises (slightly) again; In Delhi, ritual bathing in the Yamuna river is banned for pollution; 1500 soothsayers and sorcerers arrested in Tajikistan,.

ISRAEL

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chose election day in the United States to sack Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, his antagonist within the government, who is very close to the military leadership. In his place, he appointed loyalist Israel Katz to be replaced by Gideon Saar as Foreign Minister. Netanyahu's move provoked street demonstrations in Israel, with the families of the hostages seeing it as a further closure to the negotiations for the liberation: dozens of people who wanted to camp outside the prime minister's residence were detained, while water cannons intervened to clear the roadblocks. Gallant's exit is also a setback on the issue of the recruitment of the ultra-Orthodox, opposed by the Jewish religious parties.

UNITED STATES-SOUTH KOREA

Among the results of the vote in the United States is also the election of the first senator of Korean descent. Andy Kim, 42, in his third term in Congress, won a Senate seat for New Jersey, beating his Republican rival Curtis Bashaw. Kim's victory was expected: New Jersey had not elected a Republican as senator since 1972.

AFGHANISTAN

Opium poppy production in Afghanistan increased by a fifth in the second full year since the Taliban banned it, but remains a small fraction compared to pre-ban levels. This is according to the annual survey by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC): opium cultivation in the country had plummeted by 95% in 2023; according to new estimates it has increased by 19% this year to 12,800 hectares with the centre of production having moved from the country's traditional heartland, the southwest, to the northeast. Opium poppy cultivation, however, remains far below 2022, when 232,000 hectares were estimated to be cultivated.

INDIA

The Delhi High Court banned devotees in the capital from celebrating the Chhath Puja - an important holiday for immigrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand - on the bank of the Yamuna river, in Geeta Colony, due to the high level of pollution of the river. The local government's lawyer, Santosh Kumar Tripathi, said that if devotees were allowed to celebrate the Chhath Puja on the riverbed, they would probably fall ill, pointing out that the Delhi local government has designated another 1,000 areas to celebrate the Chhath Puja. Yesterday, the first day of the festival had seen many devotees dipping into the Yamuna River, despite the thick layers of toxic foam covering its surface.

CHINA

China has opened up loan access to local and international researchers to the first batch of lunar samples brought to Earth by the Chang'e-6 mission and the eighth batch of samples from the Chang'e-5 mission. Researchers interested in accessing these samples can submit their requests to the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) through an official data and sample release system by 22 November.

RUSSIA

In a lake in Karelia, Northern Russia, the corpse of Andrej Tkacenko, one of the early partners of Wagner Company founder Evgenij Prigozin, was found. It seems that he died in a storm while fishing, with the boat capsizing 400 metres from the shore, but there are many doubts about this.

TAJIKISTAN

Some 1,500 diviners and sorcerers have been arrested in Tajikistan, and more than 5,000 people with no official religious education have been arrested, offering consultations to clients in the name of combating illegal occult practices and rituals, and President Emomali Rakhmon himself has expressed his concern about the increasing spread of superstition in Tajik society.
by Alessandra De Poli

What are the repercussions in Asia of the deployment of Kim Jong-Un's troops in Ukraine? Prof Andrew Yeo told AsiaNews that geopolitical lines are being redrawn. Ukraine may be encouraging North Korean soldiers to desert, but support for Ukraine in South Korea is a divisive issue. For its part, China is trying to avoid being identified as part of the Russia-North Korea bloc.

Milan (AsiaNews)  While war in Europe has overshadowed the conflict in East Asia, the latter has been simmering for several years. Now, with North Korea deploying some 10,000 troops in Russia, tensions are rising again on the Korean peninsula, this according to Andrew Yeo, senior fellow at the Brookings Institutions Center for Asia Policy Studies and professor of politics at The Catholic University of America.

Initial reports noted that North Korean soldiers were being sent to Russia's Far East, and now they're dispatched to the front lines in Kursk where Ukraine launched an offensive in August. When that story broke out, there were several things happening between North and South Korea, the expert told AsiaNews. North Korea blew up inter-Korea railroad and roads. Although These weren't being used, they had been established in the hopes that there would be more engagement.

The North Koreans have been continuing to use what we sometimes call grey zone tactics launching balloons filled with trash into South Korea. Grey zone means that they're not so dangerous to provoke necessarily a counterattack from South Korea, but bad enough that they are a concern to the South Koreans.

How much are these actions related to the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia? I think they're separate issues, Prof Yeo said. Yet, they are connected in a sense that North Korea basically has a new direction in terms of how it sees, how it engages South Korea.

North Korea has shifted its direction from four or five years ago when they were holding these high-level summits with South Korea and the United States. Now, they made a turn to other countries like Russia, perhaps Iran, while China provides a lot of economic support.

According to Prof Yeo, there are several reasons for this change of course, emerging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thats when I think Kim Jong-un took a different tack. He decided that negotiations with the US had failed.

The reference is to the Hanoi summit, held in 2019 in Vietnam between then-President (and newly elected) Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

The summit ended without an agreement due to differences between the two sides. Pyongyang sought the lifting of some sanctions, while Washington wanted a total termination of North Koreas nuclear programme, demands neither side could accept.

After this failure, North Korea began to look inward again. There were changes in domestic laws. Increased punishment and fines for being caught with outside information. Above all, It seemed like, Kim Jong-un was trying to reassert his authority.

He began to see the South Korean government as more and more hostile to the point where, at the end of 2023, he said that he no longer sought unification, and South Korea was like a foreign enemy state. This constitutes a shift in North Korea's thinking and strategy.

Meanwhile, South Korea saw a change in government, with the election in 2022 of conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol. Once in office, Yoon chose Kim Yung-Ho as Unification Minister. He's a professor, and used to talk about regime collapse in North Korea, collapsing and being unified with South Korea.

South Korea has been very keen in providing more information to North Korea, i.e. information warfare as they call it. In 2020, Pyongyang blew up the Inter-Korean Liaison Office in Kaesong in response to propaganda leaflets and increased its aggressive rhetoric.

Meanwhile, North Korea stopped talking to South Korea and the US even before the change in government [in Seoul]. The previous Moon government was progressive, and very much wanted engagement with North Korea.

Finally, the geopolitical context of the region has also changed. For Kims regime, the Ukraine conflict is as real as the one along the Taiwan Strait. What is happening is that new geopolitical lines are being redrawn.

With the tightening of relations in the West between the United States, NATO and Indo-Pacific countries, North Korea is more inclined towards confrontation. In fact, it finds that it's much better to be aligned in this new Cold War with Russia.

The fact that North Korean soldiers are not in the rear but on the front line in Ukraine raises the question of whether we are not witnessing the dress rehearsal of a conflict that will then be replicated in the Pacific. For Andrew Yeo, the answer is no.

The North Korean regime is very opportunistic. I think, first and foremost, they could receive cash with economic support, like food, fuel, you know, economic assistance. On the longer term, there are definitely other benefits that North Korea could receive.

For example, they can test their weapons on a battlefield. And since North Korean soldiers have not really fought in a war since 1953, the end of the Korean War, this would give some of their soldiers battle experience.

Nevertheless, I think that's more of a secondary rationale for the regime as opposed to what are the immediate gains and benefits. But that again is one of the concerns in the West because they know that as North Korea deepens ties with Russia, it has other implications about Russians helping North Koreans improve their rocket and missile technology.

It is not clear whether Pyongyang will send more troops; much will depend on what happens on the ground, on how this first group performs before more are sent.

These soldiers have probably received some type of indoctrination from the regime; for this reason, the Ukrainians could engage in psychological warfare. I wouldn't be surprised if Ukrainians use loudspeakers, speaking in Korean, telling North Koreans that they're being used as pawns in this conflict to induce them to desert.

A recent meeting between South Korea and NATO officials in Brussels [. . .] was extremely useful. At the same time, further South Korean support for Ukraine is likely to be divisive domestically.

There's definitely going to be a debate. Opposition politicians are protesting even Yun's language about support for Ukraine and people holding signs saying that we should stay out of the Ukraine war. For their part, conservatives and those who support Yung frame the issue as democracies versus autocracies.

The next few weeks of fighting in Ukraine will be crucial to understand how the North Korean (and possibly South Korean) commitment in Russia will evolve. In the meantime, in the East, China is carefully watching developments in Ukraine as well.

The Chinese have been, at least publicly or officially, fairly silent. For China, the North Koreans have this threat from the United States, so they're going to do what they can to protect themselves, but there are some concerns.

The US assumes that Beijing has much more influence than they actually do over North Korea. In reality, the Chinese signed on [. . .] for sanctions, but do not want to be associated with North Koreas newfound relationship with Russia.

Beijing is concerned that Russian-North Korean relations will be destabilising, giving reason for the US, Japan, Korea to further strengthen their alliance at its expense.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

While the country's Religious Affairs Committee claims positive results, international organisations denounce violations against radical Islam, but also against minorities such as the Ismailites, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Bahai.

Dushanbe (AsiaNews) - A meeting was held in Dushanbe between representatives of various religions, to discuss respect in Tajikistan for citizens' right to freedom of religious confession. The meeting was attended by the head of the country's Religious Affairs Committee, Sulaymon Davlatzoda, who said that in recent years we have achieved many positive results in the field of religious freedom, and we now have great experience in coexistence among the followers of different religious communities and movements.

In fact, Tajikistan is frequently criticised by international organisations, including the US Congressional Commission on Religious Freedom, for its many failures to respect these rights and especially for its violations of the rights of Muslims, the country's majority religion, and its persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Davlatzoda challenged the audience to recall any examples of discrimination for one's religious beliefs, referring to cases of forced beard trimming or bans on wearing religious clothing and attributes in state offices as mere personal beliefs, as these are not legal obligations, but in every office there are its own internal rules, for which we are not responsible.

These statements sound rather hypocritical, considering the law signed in June by President Emomali Rakhmon On the Order of Holidays and Rituals, which among other things provides for a ban on introducing, selling and wearing the clothes of foreign national cultures in public places. The law does not make it clear exactly what is meant by clothes that contradict the national culture, but all commentators agree in interpreting these expressions as referring to Muslim fashions, with the prohibition of the hijab or the satr, and the long-standing practice of forcing beards to be shorter in various ways.

The Norwegian non-governmental organisation Forum-18 had reported in January on a series of violations of Ismailis' religious rights in the Gorno-Badakhsan autonomous region. The authors of the report noted how after the mass protests of the local inhabitants in 2022, the authorities continued to put pressure on this very religious community, to which the majority of the ethnic minority in the Pamir region refers. Continuous searches and confiscations of religious objects linked to the Aga Khan have been carried out, banning collective namaz gatherings even in private homes.

Two Ismailist centres in Dusanbe and Khorug (the capital of Gorno-Badakhsan) remain formally open, where, however, it is forbidden to organise educational and cultural meetings, allowing only the celebration of namaz under strict control. However, the head of the Ishmaelite community in the capital of Tajikistan, Makhrambek Makhrambekov, told the religious forum that the creation and activities of an Ishmaelite community of Shia tendency in Dushanbe is the result of intense work for the recognition of constitutional guarantees and the achievement of independence in the religious field.

Mekhranzes Mamadova, a follower of the Tajik community of the Baha i faith, said that although the State does not formally put obstacles in their way, the Baha'is remain rather intimidated and perplexed by the behaviour of the country's central and regional authorities, perceiving a strong prejudice against them even from a large part of the population.

Bahaism professes the unity of the sources of all religions and the universal unity of humanity, a movement born a century and a half ago in Iran thanks to its founder Mirzo Husein Ali Nuri, called Bakha-ulla, and today gathers more than five million followers in 188 countries around the world, while in Tajikistan its followers number about a thousand and are part of religious minorities, such as Orthodox Christians and those of other traditions, including a few Catholics and Protestants.
In the town of Bando, Ibaraki prefecture, at least 20 men and women lived in a community. There was also a restaurant and a karaoke bar in the disused facilities. There are 600,000 Vietnamese working in Japan, but they are also the largest group among the nearly 10,000 trainees who have disappeared in the country over the past year.

Tokyo (AsiaNews) - The authorities' first version was that they were people who had nowhere else to go and had overstayed their regular residence permits. At least that is what was said by a source close to the investigators, who opened an investigation after the police found a group of 20 men and women of Vietnamese origin earlier this year. The group was spotted by officers during a search of some abandoned motels in a town 50 km north-east of Tokyo, living together in a sort of community that also included a restaurant and a karaoke bar.

According to police reports, the Vietnamese - who have since been deported - were living scattered around a dozen disused motels in Bando, a town in Ibaraki Prefecture. It is believed that some of them had fled from Japanese companies where they worked as interns and internal trainees in the technical sector. The accommodation facilities were originally owned by a 40-year-old Vietnamese business executive, who was indicted in late October on charges of facilitating their illegal stay by providing them with makeshift accommodation.

According to an investigative source, the executive told the police that she provided the accommodation after being requested to do so by a group involved in the illegal stay business. Two to four people lived in each motel, who paid a rent of 40,000 yen (about 2) per month for overnight accommodation.

Situated along the Tone river, the town of Bando has a population of about 50,000 and the main source of income in the area is the harvesting of vegetables. At the end of October, a Kyodo News reporter visited the area, characterised by a group of single-storey, U-shaped buildings, with one of the buildings still bearing the old sign, which read Vietnamese Restaurant.

According to investigative sources, most of the migrant workers in the area had moved to Japan with the prospect of skilled employment in the technical sector and with the aim of being able to earn money in the Land of the Rising Sun. However, most of them left their jobs within a short time due to low wages or after being assaulted by their bosses and department managers; hence the decision to move to disused motels after living together in the neighbouring prefecture of Chiba and exchanging information about this opportunity via social media.

In Japan, many foreign technical trainees have disappeared from their jobs due to an unsuitable environment or one characterised by abuse and exploitation. According to data from the Japanese Ministry of Justice, as many as 9,753 trainees disappeared in 2023 alone. Breaking down the ranking by country, Vietnam tops the list with 5,481 people, followed by Myanmar with 1,765 and China with 816. Almost half of all the missing were engaged in construction-related work, sources said. A woman living near the motels recalls: I couldn't sleep because of the sounds of karaoke and voices echoing throughout the night.

By the end of October 2023, the number of foreign workers in the country had reached a record level of 2 million. However, a number of factors, including the unfavourable exchange rate and an increasingly critical economic situation, have made the Rising Sun less and less attractive. In particular, there has been a significant drop among Vietnamese, who represent the largest group of foreign workers, with 600,000 expatriates living, studying or working in 47 prefectures and cities.


Donald Trump Republican candidate Donald Trump has clinched three out of seven key swing states and is leading in three others, giving him a critical advantage over Democrat Kamala Harris in the closely watched US presidential election, according to the latest trends. The seven decisive swing states -- Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, and Nevada -- are pivotal as they lack consistent Democratic or Republican dominance, often determining the outcome of the election.



Trump narrowly claimed victory in North Carolina, where he received 2,852,981 votes compared to Harris's 2,676,410, and in Georgia, winning 2,643,396 votes against Harris's 2,528,271. He also won Pennsylvania; however, he fell short by three electoral votes in winning the presidency, as per media reports.



He could easily win the race to the White House by securing a win in any other swing state.



To reach the necessary electoral count, Trump could achieve the majority by winning either Pennsylvania or a combination of Michigan and Wisconsin. Other potential paths to victory include combinations involving Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada.



The contest has intensified in the so-called "Blue Wall" states -- Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania -- which have traditionally been Democratic strongholds but flipped to Trump in 2016, contributing to his victory over Hillary Clinton.



Both Michigan and Pennsylvania hold 16 electoral college votes each, making them critical targets.



For either candidate to secure the presidency, 271 of the 538 electoral college votes are required. Over 82 million Americans cast their ballots before Election Day, either in person at early voting stations or through postal voting -- a turnout surpassing 51 per cent of the 158 million votes cast in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.



Harris and Trump ended their campaign with rallies in Pennsylvania and Michigan, respectively, also both battleground states. Unlike others, these swing states are neither solidly Democratic nor Republican, and they can swing between the two and are, therefore, also called the Swing States.



In 2020, Joe Biden won all of these states except North Carolina to secure his victory against Trump.




6 November 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The 11th Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is taking place in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic. Featuring the motto "Empowering the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, Digital Future, and Security for All," the summit is expected to provide a vital platform for high-level discussions on the Organization's comprehensive agenda.

Hosted by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, the summit is attended by presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan.

In addition, heads of state and government from OTS Observers and its Secretary General were not left out of the summit. With some hot discussion on key issues, the participants are looking to finalise agreements and approve official documents related to OTS projects in the fields of economy, trade, digital transformation, transport, and security.

The agenda of the 11th summit is as comprehensive as its discussions are multifaceted. Here, the economic and political problems of not only the regional states but also the observer states are kept in the foreground. In general, the structure of the OTC serves to strengthen mutual relations with all partners around it.

Azerbaijan, a key player in OTS

Being a sovereign Turkic state, Azerbaijan is a full member of the SCO. Therefore, the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the 11th SCO summit can be considered one of the important events.

It should be especially noted that strengthening relations with the Organization of Turkic States is one of the directions that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to. Undoubtedly, Azerbaijan sees this organization, which it created together with the brotherly Turkic republics, as its own family and proudly demonstrates its belonging to the great Turkic world. This was once again expressed in the words of President Ilham Aliyev during his speech at the inauguration ceremony on February 14, 2024. By saying, For us, the OTS is the main international organization, because this is our family. We have no other family. Our family is the Turkic world, President Ilham Aliyev sent a message to the world that Azerbaijan belongs to the great Turkic family, this family is strong, invincible and reliable, and that relations with Turkic states and organizations will be further strengthened and joint successful steps will be taken. This statement was also an expression of the strength and power of Turkic unity, an indicator of its unshakable character.

Throughout history, the Turks have been distinguished by their power, strength, and rich statehood traditions, and have been one of the world's most valuable civilizations. When we say Turkish civilization, we mean a civilization that has made countless contributions to the development of humanity, has an ancient culture, art, comprehensive science and knowledge, as well as robust strength. Turkish civilization, which has a unique place in the history of human civilization, has travelled a glorious path for centuries and reached its current level of development.

The Azerbaijani people, as an important part of the great Turkic world, are also very proud to benefit from the rich Turkish civilization with fundamental values and to make their own contribution to this civilization. Azerbaijan is interested in developing its relations with Turkic states in the highest form and becoming even closer to the single Turkic family and continues its activities in this direction successfully.

Azerbaijan's contribution to unity of Turkic world - Nakhchivan Agreement

Azerbaijan has always contributed to the close unity of the Turkic world and continues to take confident steps towards the unity of the Turkic world.

Certainly, the existence of close friendly and fraternal relations between the member countries of the OTS is one of the main factors determining the future development prospects of the organization. It is thanks to this that the Turkic States Organization is currently recognized as a reputable organization by the countries of the world, and the organization's prestige is increasing day by day with the close cooperation and joint efforts of the member countries.

In addition, the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States (CCTS) plays a fundamental role in the close integration of the organization. It should be noted that the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States was established based on the Nakhchivan Agreement on the Establishment of CCTS signed by the Heads of State of the Turkic-speaking countries at the Summit held in Nakhchivan on October 3, 2009. In addition, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkiye are the founding members of the organization. In 2019, Uzbekistan also became a member of the CCTS. The signing of the Nakhchivan Agreement, which laid the foundation for the formation of the institutional structure of the Turkic states and brought them together for stronger integration, is of great historical and political importance. With this agreement, successful activities were launched towards further development of relations between the brotherly Turkic states in various fields and the creation of a single cooperation platform.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the OTS' activities. The organization, which is based on a common language, history, and traditions and gets stronger year by year, has made a significant contribution to the development of cooperation between Turkic-speaking states in various forms over the past period. It has accelerated integration between the states of the Turkic world as a whole and succeeded in establishing itself as an influential organization among international organizations. Currently, the OTS has become an effective cooperation platform where brotherly Turkic peoples proudly share their interests and values.

Values that bind Turkic-speaking states: Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan relations

The development of bilateral relations with the Central Asian republics, including Kyrgyzstan, in all areas is one of the main priorities of Azerbaijan's foreign policy.

The historical, cultural, and religious commonalities existing between the Azerbaijani and Kyrgyz peoples form the basis for strengthening relations between the two countries.

The services of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in establishing and developing mutual trust in Azerbaijani-Kyrgyz relations are unmeasurable.

On August 27, 1995, the former President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev paid a visit to the capital of Kyrgyzstan. During the visit, the National Leader participated in the festivities held in Bishkek on the occasion of the thousandth anniversary of the Kyrgyz people's epic "Manas", as well as in the next Summit of the heads of state of Turkic-speaking countries.

With the political will and special attention of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, relations with Kyrgyzstan have now reached a high level of development and comprehensive cooperation relations have been formed in all areas. President Aliyev paid his first state visit to Kyrgyzstan on October 11-12, 2022.

In addition, the high-level personal relations between the President of Azerbaijan and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, based on mutual trust and confidence, give a significant impetus to the development dynamics of these relations and play a special role in expanding cooperation. It is no coincidence that 6 mutual high-level visits have been carried out in the last 3 years.

The contractual and legal basis between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan is quite extensive. So far, 105 documents have been signed. The most important document among them is the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic, signed during the official visit of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to our country, and this document laid the foundation for strategic partnership relations between the two countries.

Azerbaijan also actively cooperates with Kyrgyzstan within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States. In general, both states have traditionally always defended each other's interests in all international organizations.

In recent years, cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy and transport has further expanded. Currently, more than 70 Kyrgyz companies operate in Azerbaijan.

In 2022, the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund was established to promote economic cooperation, modernization of the economy, and effective use of opportunities.

In addition, cargo transportation is carried out between the two countries along the East-West International Transport Corridor and the Asia-Pacific countries  China  Kyrgyzstan  Uzbekistan  Turkmenistan  Azerbaijan  Georgia  Europe international multimodal route and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

The high level of relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan has also contributed to the intensification of contacts between the two brotherly peoples. AZAL has been operating regular flights on the Baku-Bishkek-Baku route once a week since September 17, 2024.

The two brotherly countries are implementing projects mutually at the expense of their financial resources. With the financial support of our country, an Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan friendship park was built in Bishkek and a school building for 550 students was built.

With the financial support of the Kyrgyz side, a school building for 528 students is planned to be built in the liberated village of Khidirli in Aghdam. The groundbreaking ceremony of the school took place during the state visit of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Republic of Azerbaijan (April 24-25, 2024). Currently, construction work is ongoing.

It is no coincidence that during the 11th summit, the Chairmanship-in-Office will pass from Kazakhstan to the Kyrgyz Republic, and the signing of the Bishkek Declaration and several key resolutions by heads of sate are expected before the closing ceremony.
6 November 2024 10:21 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

A memorandum establishing the Council of Central Banks for the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was signed during the 11th OTS summit held in Bishkek, Azernews reports.

This new initiative aims to enhance collaboration among the central banks of member countries, focusing on shared expertise in monetary policy, financial stability, payment systems, and financial technologies.

The agreement was signed by representatives from the national banks of Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, including Taleh Kazimov, Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan. This council is set to facilitate joint consultations and research, promoting the exchange of experience in key areas vital to economic resilience and regional financial integration.

The 11th OTS summit will officially commence on November 6, further solidifying cooperative efforts among the member states in various sectors.
6 November 2024 12:03 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

A conference was held in Baku to introduce a unified platform and national standards for environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), organized by the Commission for Business Environment and International Ratings and the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA), with support from IBA and Azercell Telecom LLC, Azernews reports.

Vusal Shikhaliyev, head of the presidential administrations sector, opened the event, emphasizing that the acceleration of sustainable development is central to state policy. He stated, "The creation of a sustainable ecosystem remains a priority within our national agenda."

The conference highlighted that Azerbaijan plans to further expand ESG principles, with targeted state-level measures anticipated to promote responsible business practices. Key attendees included Sadiq Gurbanov, Chairman of the Milli Mejlis Natural Resources, Energy, and Ecology Committee; Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Vladanka Andreeva, UN Resident Coordinator; and deputy ministers from the Ministries of Ecology and Natural Resources and Labor and Social Protection.
6 November 2024 17:06 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Nizami Cinema Center will host a multimedia show "CineConcert" on December 27 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Mosfilm on the eve of the New Year, Azernews reports.

This spectacular concert, featuring modern multimedia effects, will bring together the beloved soundtracks from unforgettable Russian films. What makes the evening truly special are the classic melodies and film clips that transport us back in time.

If youd like to embark on a musical journey through the most memorable scenes in cinematic history and share the New Year spirit with your loved ones, CineConcert is your destination.

The concert repertoire includes "Carnival Night", "Prisoner of the Caucasus", "The Diamond Arm", "Office Romance", "My Tender and Affectionate Beast", "At Home Among Strangers", "Gentleman of Fortune", "Operation Y and Shurik's Other Adventures", "Beware of the Car", "Irony of Fate", "Gypsy", "The Land of Sannikov'", "The Twelve Chairs", "Station for Two", "Seventeen Moments of Spring", "Ivan Vasilievich Changes His Profession", "Grandads-Robbers " and "Amphibian Man".

The event starts at 19:00.

To buy tickets, please click the following link:

https://iticket.az/en/events/concerts/mosfilm-100-multimedia-show-cineconcert/132458

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.
6 November 2024 10:10 (UTC+04:00)

Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye, on November 6 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Azernews reports.

The meeting reaffirmed the successful development of the friendly, brotherly, and allied relations between the two nations across all sectors. The leaders emphasized that the 11th Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States in Bishkek plays a significant role in strengthening cooperation among Turkic nations.

They also highlighted the importance of the upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan.

Both presidents expressed confidence that relations between their countries would continue to advance in various areas and exchanged views on bilateral ties and mutual interests.
6 November 2024 11:32 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

A Permanent Representatives Office will be established at the Turkic States Organization, Azernews reports.

This decision was signed at the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Bishkek.

It was announced that during the meeting, the foreign ministers of the member states of the organization signed two documents: the "Decision on the Approval of the Charter on Permanent Representatives at the Turkic States Organization" and the "Decision on the Awarding of the Alisher Navoi International Prize to the Turkic States Organization for Contribution to the Unity of the Turkic World."
6 November 2024 11:12 (UTC+04:00)

On November 6, the 11th Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Azernews reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived at the Presidential Administration to participate in the event.

President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov welcomed President Ilham Aliyev, along with other heads of state and government.

A group photo was taken.

Then, a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States took place.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the meeting.

Speech by President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear Sadyr Nurgojoyevich,

Dear heads of state and government,

First of all, I would like to thank the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Nurgojoyevich Zhaparov, for his hospitality and the high-level organization of the event.

This is my third visit to the Kyrgyz Republic in the last two years. Each time I come here, I witness the development of the country under the leadership of Sadyr Nurgojoyevich. I congratulate brotherly Kyrgyzstan on all the successes achieved.

I would also like to congratulate Kazakhstan on its successful chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Nakhchivan Agreement, which laid the foundation for the Organization of Turkic States. Our organization has followed a successful path of development during this period. The Garabagh Declaration, signed at the Informal Summit of Heads of State in Shusha in July, contributes to further deepening cooperation.

Azerbaijan will continue its efforts to strengthen the Organization of Turkic States.

The current budget of the Organization of Turkic States is insufficient to achieve our goals. I do hope that Azerbaijans financial support of $2 million for the Secretariat of the Organization of Turkic States and $100,000 for the Council of Elders will contribute to further strengthening the organizations capacity.

Given the growing global threats, our cooperation in defense, security, and the defense industry is of tremendous importance. Cooperation among our law enforcement and security agencies has expanded in recent times.

Military exercises are held with the participation of the armed forces of our countries. The education of cadets from brotherly countries at our military educational institutions is a sign of mutual trust and friendship.

Recently, transportation through Azerbaijani territory via the East-West transport corridor has increased even more. Azerbaijan is increasing investments to raise the transmission capacity of this corridor, which connects Central Asian countries and Turkiye through Azerbaijan.

From January to September 2024, transit shipments with member and observer states increased by about 15 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

Several projects aimed at digitalizing the Middle Corridor and simplifying trade are currently in progress. These projects will increase logistical efficiency and reduce costs.

In September last year, Azerbaijan fully restored its sovereignty. During the 30-year period of occupation, Armenia completely destroyed nine of our cities and hundreds of villages in these territories. Large-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation projects are now taking place in the liberated areas, and former IDPs are returning to their homeland as part of the Great Return Program.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank the heads of state and government of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Hungary for their gifts of fraternity, including the school and the creativity center, as well as for the schools to be built in the liberated territories.

Azerbaijan will soon be hosting the COP29 climate conference. Last December, nearly 200 countries unanimously supported Azerbaijan's candidacy. This is a manifestation of the great respect and support that the international community has for our country.

I am sure that the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States will actively participate in the COP29 conference.

Thank you for your attention.

X X X

The event included the signing of documents.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman ORANGEBURG, S.C.  South Carolina State Universitys Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will provide Election Day television commentary and analysis of todays U.S. presidential and congressional elections for Bengali speakers worldwide.

Rahman, a professor of journalism/communications in SC States Department of English and Communications, will address about 300 million Bengali-speaking viewers all over the world via TBN24TV-New York.

He has worked for decades with Voice of America, National Public Radio, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and other global outlets, providing political and social coverage and analysis. His contributions have included U.S. election coverage for Bangali language speakers and frequent commentary on the state of media ethics.

Before coming to the United States, Rahman was a television producer in his South Asian country of origin, Bangladesh. Migrating to North America, he earned his doctorate in communications and media management from Simon Fraser University Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1987.

He taught a year at Louisiana State University before landing at Alcorn State University, a historically black institution in Lorman, Mississippi. After 17 years at Alcorn, Rahman arrived in 2005 at SC State and went on to lead the launch of the universitys Communications Program.

In 2023, Rahman was elected as a board member of the South Carolina Fulbright Association for another three-year term.

As a Fulbright Specialist Fellow, Rahman helped develop the Department of Radio, TV and Film Studies at Dhaka University in Bangladesh. He visited Dhaka University twice in 2013 and 2014 for six weeks each year to help the program with its goals, course curriculum, TV studio plan, and faculty/student recruitment.

The SC State Department of English and Communications is a unit of the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences.
6 November 2024 14:27 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (Middle Corridor) project will continue to contribute to the development and economic prosperity of the Turkic world, Azernews reports, citing Report.

This was stated by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his speech at the 11th Summit of the Heads of State of the Turkic States Organization (TSO).

He noted that the Middle Corridor is also actively developing within the framework of the TSO today, which positively impacts the prosperity of Turkic countries.

Tokayev emphasized that TSO summits contribute to strengthening cooperation between the countries, and this meeting is being held in an atmosphere of friendship and good-neighborliness.

"I am confident that the agreements we will reach at the end of the summit will also contribute to expanding cooperation," he said.

The Kazakh President also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its presidency in the TSO. "We are pleased to hand over the presidency of the TSO to Kyrgyzstan," he added.
6 November 2024 15:05 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

The final document of the Global Summit of Religious Leaders held under the slogan World Religions for a Green Planet within the framework of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been adopted, Azernews reports. This document is known as the Baku Declaration.

The declaration states:

"Expressing deep concern over global climate change, loss of biodiversity, desertification, drought, land degradation, forest fires, pollution, food security, and water scarcity, and emphasizing the need for accelerating joint efforts to discuss the causes of these problems, and the creation and improvement of healthy ecosystems;

Praising the COP28 Interfaith Declaration signed at the 2023 Global Summit of Religious Leaders in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates;

Recognizing the importance of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together signed by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, on February 4, 2019, in Abu Dhabi, for interfaith cooperation;

Expressing gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan for his patronage, special attention, and deep meaningful address to the event during the COP29 Religious Leaders Global Summit, and wishing success in the proceedings of COP29;

Emphasizing the importance of strengthening intercultural and interfaith relations, national and cultural values, and knowledge, including the traditions of multiculturalism, in promoting mutual trust, unity, harmony, and climate change awareness;

Praising Azerbaijan's leadership in combating the climate crisis and solving ecological problems, and welcoming the declaration of 2024 as the "Year of Solidarity for a Green World";

Highlighting the significance of initiatives such as the Baku Process, the Global Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, the Baku International Humanitarian Forum, the World Religious Leaders Summit, the UN Alliance of Civilizations' 7th Global Forum, and the Baku International Conference on Interreligious and Intercultural Cooperation;

Acknowledging the importance of other significant religious forums, including the World and Traditional Religious Leaders Congress in Astana, the Bahrain Dialogue Forum, the G20 Interfaith Forums, previous Global Summits of Religious Leaders held under COP, and the Saudi Media Forum, and emphasizing their contributions to mutual trust, unity, and harmony;

Stressing the necessity of regular interfaith events where representatives of different religionsincluding Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and othersgather to express a unified position on global threats;

Expressing deep concern over armed conflicts, acts of terrorism, and violence based on religious and ethnic grounds, which not only cause human casualties but are also accompanied by ecological disasters, the plundering and destruction of cultural and religious heritage, ecocide, and urbanocide, as well as their negative impact on the fight against climate change;

Calling on states, international, regional, religious, and civil organizations, and religious leaders to:

- Actively participate in public discussions dedicated to climate change, strengthen global support for a greener future, and engage in collective efforts to tackle the climate crisis;

- Recognize the sanctity of human life and nature, respect the values of protecting all living beings and nature, and advocate for ecological equality and justice;

- Play an active role in maintaining the global rise in temperature to no more than 1.5C in the process of mitigating the global climate crisis and protecting nature;

- Recommend the responsible use of artificial intelligence technologies to solve ecological problems and manage natural resources;

- Warn against the irresponsible use of artificial intelligence and promote cooperation between scientists, legislators, policymakers, religious leaders, and international and public organizations to prevent exacerbating ecological crises;

- Support the implementation and advancement of the long-term goals of the Paris Climate Agreement;

- Encourage inclusive processes in the fight against climate change, with a focus on engaging representatives from different faiths, political leaders, academics, religious scholars, women, youth, local communities, civil society, business sectors, and other stakeholders in discussions;

- Call for the cessation of armed conflicts, violence, and eco-destructive actions, such as the destruction of water reservoirs and ecosystems, which undermine collective climate efforts and contribute to ecological harm;

- Reject attempts by terrorist and extremist groups to misuse religion for their own purposes and take a unified stance against such acts;

- Promote cooperation to prevent harmful ideologies that incite violence and hatred via media and information technology;

- Condemn acts of vandalism against religious symbols and sacred objects, ensuring such acts are not justified under the guise of democracy and freedom of speech;

- Encourage the active participation of youth in combating xenophobia and discrimination and advocate for their education on climate change, environmental protection, and human brotherhood;

- Give special attention to ensuring human rights in clean, stable, and sustainable societies;

- Condemn the irresponsible and excessive use of natural water reserves and ecosystems, which contribute to the climate crisis, and advocate for the protection of these critical resources;

- Make better use of the potential of religions and beliefs in addressing climate change challenges;

- Support the preservation of religious, cultural, and ethnic diversity, and promote eco-ethics based on the moral and spiritual values of the world's religions."

The COP29 Religious Leaders Global Summit took place on November 5-6, 2024, under the patronage of President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan in Baku. The event, held under the slogan "World Religions for a Green Planet, was organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Committee for Religious Affairs, the Council of Muslim Elders, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Caucasian Muslims Office. Nearly 300 prominent religious leaders, representatives of foreign countries, senior UN officials, leaders of international organizations, and experts in science and religion participated in the summit.
6 November 2024 13:35 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the event.

On November 6, a ceremony was held in Bishkek to award Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, the Supreme Order of the Turkic World, Azernews reports.

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6 November 2024 14:50 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated Donald Trump on his reelection as the President of the United States of America, Azernews reports.

In his congratulatory letter, the head of state stated: The confident victory you gained in the elections is the clear reflection of a big support and confidence the friendly American people places in you personally and the political course you pursue.

The Republic of Azerbaijan attaches a particular importance to the comprehensive development of its relations with the United States of America.

During your first presidency, you were very attentive to the solidification of friendly and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and the United States, and the continuous and consistent development of our collaboration. I am pleased to note that our partnership based on mutual trust and support, including our interaction in several important areas, and particularly, fighting global challenges and terrorism, fostering international peace and security, and ensuring Europes energy security, is characterized by dynamic and ever increasing development. I would like to note in particular your constant resolute support in Azerbaijans energy strategy.

Benefiting a vast potential of our joint activities with the United States, we are determined to further expand and deepen our bilateral partnership in all areas, including political, economic-commercial, security, energy, green and digital transition and others. We do believe that during your new presidency, the relations between Azerbaijan and the United States will further strengthen as the new cooperation areas will be defined.

Azerbaijan will further continue its actions to foster peace and security in the South Caucasus. I am confident that we will continue to put joint efforts to the fostering of Azerbaijan-the United States friendly relations to advance our partnership based on national interests of our countries, including those of national security.
6 November 2024 14:12 (UTC+04:00)

Israel's IDF reports that approximately ten rockets were launched from Lebanon. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said in a statement that it targeted a vital target in Eilat by drones.

The alerts are activated in Tel Aviv and numerous surrounding towns. Sirens also sound in some towns close to the border with Lebanon. The IDF says the details are being looked into.

Sirens are sounding across central Israel following long-range rocket fire from Lebanon, Azernews reports via Israeli media.

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6 November 2024 19:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The United States has sent the first batch of the latest version of Abrams tanks to Poland, Azernews reports.

"Another batch of Abrams tanks is being sent to Poland. This time, we are talking about the latest version of the M1A2 SEPv3 vehicles," the publication states.

According to the authors of the article, the transportation of the military equipment is being carried out under strict secrecy. In particular, the tank manufacturer has not disclosed the departure date of the ship carrying the Abrams tanks or the name of the vessel. Additionally, the exact number of vehicles being sent to the European country remains unknown.

Nevertheless, journalists have managed to learn that the tanks are expected to arrive in Poland within a few weeks. Initially, it was expected that Washington would transfer the first batch of M1A2 SEPv3 tanks to Warsaw in early 2025, but the timeline has been moved forward.
6 November 2024 21:19 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Kazakhstan remains the leader among Central Asian countries in trade turnover with China, Azernews reports.

This was stated by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov during the opening ceremony of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

"In order to strengthen cooperation between Kazakhstan and China, it is crucial to focus on developing barrier-free trade, e-commerce, transport and logistics, and the introduction of advanced AI technologies," Bektenov said.

He emphasized the potential for further collaboration between the two countries in creating the Silk Road E-Commerce pilot zone.

"Kazakh pavilions are already successfully operating on major platforms such as Alibaba and JD.com. Work is underway to open a pavilion on the Douyin platform, build bonded warehouses, and develop comprehensive warehouse infrastructure in Kazakhstan to streamline logistics through digital trade channels," the prime minister added.

Bektenov also noted that Kazakhstan handles more than 80% of land transportation from China to Europe.

"Major infrastructure projects, such as the Western EuropeWestern China international transit corridor, a logistics center in the port of Lianyungang, a cargo terminal at the dry port of Xi'an, and the third railway checkpoint on the border with China, are all being implemented. These initiatives are aimed at improving the system of transcontinental economic corridors," he said.
Emily Baden, 40, moved to San Francisco in 2021 after making headlines for a spat with conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, her then-neighbors in Alexandria, Va. Courtesy of Emily Baden

Emily Baden made national headlines for a spat with Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, her then-neighbors in Alexandria, Va., over an anti-Trump sign Baden planted in her yard following the 2020 election.

Now, Badens traded the Virginia suburbs for the urban fabric of San Franciscos Mission District, where she has lived with her husband and son since 2021. Thats where Baden, 40, voted for Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday morning  her first in-person ballot as a California resident  and thats where she will attend an election watch party Tuesday night.

Badens conflict with the Alitos energized her to organize for Harris this election cycle  and she used the small following she gained from the spat to do so, she told the Chronicle. In the run-up to Election Day, Baden posted multiple videos a day denouncing Trump on her TikTok account, where she has over 24,000 followers. Shes also phone banked and joined campaigns sending postcards to voters in swing states.

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I feel great today because I know that I did everything in my power to prevent a dictator from taking office, Baden, referring to former President Donald Trump, told the Chronicle through tears outside a polling station on Guerrero and 19th streets Tuesday morning.

Baden was thrust into the spotlight earlier this year, after the New York Times reported that the Alitos flew an upside-down American flag outside their home in January 2021, a Stop the Steal symbol favored by Trumps supporters. The display prompted cries for the justices resignation or impeachment, and renewed calls for a stronger code of ethics imposed on justices. Alito, who was appointed to the court by Republican President George W. Bush, was the author of the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision in 2022 that overturned the constitutional right to obtain an abortion.

Alito told the Times that his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, flew the flag in response to a dispute sparked by a neighbors lawn sign she found offensive. That neighbor was Baden. The lawn sign in question read F Trump in sparkly silver paint on one side, and Bye Don on the other.

Alito told the Times that someone at Badens home had called his wife a lewd term, spurring her to fly the flag. Baden gave an alternative version of events; she told the Times she did use the term to insult Martha-Ann Alito, but only after the justices wife confronted Baden first and called her and her now-husband fascists and used an expletive.

Baden maintains that she never instigated the conflict. They repeatedly initiated contact with me and harassed me, and I literally never initiated contact with them, she told the Chronicle. I was like, I have a sign in my yard. Im minding my own business. Why dont you mind yours?  She said she has not been in contact with the Alitos since.

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Baden and her now-husband moved out of Alexandria in the summer of 2021, shortly after the conflict. Leaving Virginia was always the plan, Baden said; she had moved back to her hometown from New York City in 2020 after losing her job during the pandemic, but the stay was meant to be temporary. The pairs choice of San Francisco, though not a direct reaction to the kerfuffle with the Alitos, was in part motivated by the citys progressive reputation.

My decision to move out here certainly was colored by the fact that this is probably the most progressive city in the entire country, Baden said. Her partner also got a job in San Francisco, and Baden has some family in the area, factors that persuaded them to make the spontaneous decision.

We were like, Should we do something crazy and move to San Francisco?  Baden said. So we packed up the station wagon and drove across the country.

Three years later, Baden has almost only good things to say about what she called an iconic city, like its distinctive neighborhoods, its walkability and its tradition of political organizing.

I think this is a great city, and I always join the chorus of people defending it, Baden said. Whatever Fox News says liberal hellscape or whatever, this is actually a wonderful place to live.

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Still, Baden sees plenty of room for improvement. It may be the most progressive city in the country, but its not progressive enough, she said. Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskins progressive reputation earned Badens vote in the mayoral race.

Baden no longer puts up lawn signs  her Mission District home doesnt have a lawn  but she is active in local politics. After the Alito debacle, she made her social media accounts public, began creating content denouncing Trump and phone-banking in swing states.

Asked about her mood going into election night, Baden said she feels at peace. I dont feel nervous because Im like, I did everything I could, she said. If this country happens to elect a dictator for president, Ill know that I had nothing to do with that, and Ill sleep soundly.
Ghost Forest of Hug Point, Near Cannon Beach: 4,000-Year-Old Oregon Coast Rarity

Published 11/04/24 at 6:25 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Cannon Beach, Oregon)  They've turned the world upside down for some, but more often than not they've made for numerous surprised expressions when people find out what these crusty ol' things are. Even more frequently, unfortunately, they've spawned a load of internet misinformation overload, even from most respectable organizations. (Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

The ghost forests along the Oregon coast are one of the region's most headscratching finds, and even though there's a ton of them hiding all over the place, Neskowin's ghost stumps get all the attention. They're by far and away not the most interesting of the bunch.

In fact, one of the rarest sets of them are hiding at Hug Point just south of Cannon Beach. It takes a lot of sand to get removed from this spot for its ghost forests to show, but when they do it's spectacular. They're often accompanied by other oddities called red towers: small, reddish concretions of sand and iron that create intricate patterns or blobs. That's another story. Rare, Surreal Find Along Oregon, Washington Coast: Red Towers

Hug Point's ghost forests are nearly 4,000 years old, twice as old as Neskowin's. How do they know that? Funny you should ask. The sources were geologists Roger Hart and Dr. Curt Peterson back in the 2000s. They carbon dated most if not all the 45 locations they have listed (though some have been uncovered since the publication of their paper in 2006). See the full list of ghost forests.



Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection

In fact, back in 2007 Hart talked to Oregon Coast Beach Connection (it was our first year of publication), when the Hug Point and neighboring Arch Cape ghost forests popped up, making major publicity for the first time.

Curt Peterson and I published a radiocarbon on a sample taken from the Arch Cape stumps in 1998, Hart said. The age is 3,660 with an error of 70. This means these trees died at that time, were buried in sand, and have been preserved under a cover of sand until now.

Hart died within a few years of the conversation. (Ghost forest photo courtesy Seaside Aquarium's Tiffany Boothe)

It's all curious because Hart was one of the original geologists who claimed the ghost forests here  especially Neksowin  were from a massive quake that buried the trees. That, unfortunately has been the story that stuck, with major media and Oregon travel sites claiming this is their origin story.

It's not.

Yet Hart and Peterson's paper, Late-Holocene buried forests on the Oregon Coast," said otherwise. It was a slow, gradual process  not the big quake everyone loves to shout about. The landscape simply changed over decades.

Hart told Oregon Coast Beach Connection back then he was in the middle of retracting the quake theory. Now, when you see a media organization mention the origin of the ghost forests you'll notice they always say scientists say.... without ever quoting a single geologist.





Later interviews with Curt Peterson and others dig even further into the slow process story, and show how no one is getting this origin right. See the real story Explanations of Neskowin Ghost Forest Wrong, Say Oregon Coast Geologists

Seaside geologist Tom Horning is another who has weighed in on this publicly.

That controversy aside, the Cannon Beach-area ghost forests are exceptionally cool, but they don't come out every year. Hug Point and Arch Cape have to get really scoured out by winter storms. If they appear, it's usually around December or January and often only briefly.

The stumps at Hug Point are numerous, Horning said. Back in 2007. The trees are up to several hundred years in age. They have wide growth rings, indicating ideal growing conditions at the time. They extend to within 60 feet of the cliffs.

Back then, Hart noted the 2007 event showed them more exposed than in the '90s, and indeed that winter saw the erosion of some ghost forest stumps at Neskowin. Oregon State Parks reported some that had been torn out of the beach ended up at Cape Lookout.

Days of the Neskowin ghost forest may be numbered somewhat. Those south of Cannon Beach are likely safe for awhile.

Horning told Oregon Coast Beach Connection back then that drilling for water wells in the area has revealed other such entombed forests, sometimes 50 feet below the sand, and 14 feet below sea level. Some of these buried stumps go on for about a mile north of Hug Point, deep beneath the cliffs or sands.

It's entirely possible there were massive forests of spruce and cedar  maybe even from the same time  that were entombed along here.

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Newport Gets New Sea Jelly Tanks and Glowing Tanks at Oregon Coast Aquarium

Published 10/30/24 at 5:55 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Newport, Oregon) - Newport's Oregon Coast Aquarium (OCA) is about to make more waves. (All photos OCA)

On October 31, theyre unveiling their revamped Connected Coasts gallery and the brand-new, totally epic Sea Jelly gallery. The Connected Coasts gallery, previously known as Coastal Waters, now highlights the intricate web of ocean ecosystems, showcasing a variety of marine life from both local and distant waters. This gallery is home to some tropical stars like potbelly seahorses, lionfish, and live corals, all carefully reared over the years for this grand reveal.

Dive into the new Sea Jelly gallery, where a dimly lit passageway with glowing tanks creates an underwater dreamscape. Marvel at the Pacific sea nettles, blue blubbers, and spotted lagoon jellies  and then there's that central sphere filled with moon jellies, inviting you to feel the soothing flow.

Both galleries are home to unique species and educational signs in English and Spanish. Plus, updated life support systems ensure that all the new and improved tanks are in top shape. It creates a whole new vibe for the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

See the antique locomotive coming to Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad in Garibaldi / Rockaway Beach.

You could say, it's going to be jelly good fun.

OCA President and CEO Carrie Lewis said the opening of Connected Coasts and the Sea Jelly gallery represent their commitment to marine life and visitors.

We cant wait for our visitors to explore these new spaces and be inspired by the beauty of our coastal ecosystems, she said.

Because it's Halloween weekend, the Oregon coast attraction is celebrating with Dress Like a Jelly for October 31  November 3. Show up like your fave jellyfish  a chance to create a very unique costume.





These galleries are made possible thanks to contributions from major donors, including the State of Oregon, Jeanette Bertea Hennings Foundation, Dave and Julie Shafer, Al Gleason, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation, Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, John & Nancy Dennis Family, Jim Pattison/Roth's Fresh Markets, Clark Foundation, Travel Oregon, Hillman Family Foundations, Marta & Ken Thrasher, Christine & David Vernier, Miller Family Holdings, and Aquarium Volunteers.

Also see Florence's Fall Fest Includes Kites, Circles in the Sand - and Coast's Exploding Whale.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for the latest updates.







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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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Beaufort County Schools are building a new school on the same ground where Eastern Elementary already exists, at a cost of $10,500,000.00 to Beaufort County's Taxpayers. Is this a wise expense of taxpayer dollars at this time?

22.73% Yes, Beaufort County has been awarded a 42 million dollars of grant money from the state of North Carolina (FREE MONEY) to construct school at 3.00 per squ. ft.65.91% No, this is the wrong time, to build the wrong school, on the wrong placement - its lowest point - of Eastern Elementary's existing location, when community schools work best.11.36% Why should I care about the public's education?
Nine states voted on the controversial "rnaked choice" election system Tuesday, and voters shot it down in all nine. Missouri voted on a Constituional amendment to prohibit it in their elections. Alaska voted to repeal a ranked choice system narrowly adopted a few years ago. Most states voted to reject proposals to implement ranked choice. In most cases, the vote to reject ranked choice was overwhelming.

Ranked choice is a confusing election system often favored by leftists and globalists. In Alaska, wealthy liberals spent lots of money to try to save ranked choice, outspending its opponents by 100 to 1 but still losing.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ranked-choice-voting-initiatives-massively-162042840.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

British voters also soundly rejected ranked choice voting in a referendum a decade ago. Australia has used it for years and trading preferences among small parties has led to the tiny Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party winning a federal senate seat a decade ago and the Sex Party narrowly falllng short of winning a federal senate seat more recently.
Dr. Eddy attended Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans for his medical training before joining Anesthesia Associates, where he practiced for 20 years. At 60, he completed a fellowship in interventional pain. Following his fellowship, Dr. Eddy opened a clinic and ambulatory surgery center in Lake Charles, where he practiced until his retirement in 2013.

Aside from his talents as a physician, Dr. Eddy was a notable classical guitarist. He studied classical and flamenco guitar in both Spain and Mexico, and he gave a number of concerts in the U.S., including a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City, according to the American Press.

Dr. Eddy was a member of the Calcasieu Parish Medical Society, the Louisiana State Medical Society, the Louisiana Society of Anesthesiology, the American Society of Anesthesiology, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and the International Spinal Injection Society.
Here are 10 more things to know about the anesthesia provider shortage.

1. Texas and Georgia have the highest anesthesiologist interest levels, followed by Louisiana and South Dakota, according to the Rivanna study, which looked at weekly interest levels on Google Trends from September 2019 to September 2024.

2. The highest interest level was observed in March 2023.

3. A 2024 Medicus white paper forecasts a shortage of 6,300 anesthesiologists by 2036.

4. Currently, there are 51,492 active anesthesiologists in the U.S., with 56.9% aged 55 or older and over 17% nearing retirement age.

5. The report highlights that the number of residency positions is insufficient to meet growing demand. In 2024, there were 1,695 available anesthesiology residency positions, leaving around 44% of medical students pursuing this specialty unmatched.

6. Demand for anesthesiologists is expected to rise, driven by a projected 2% to 3% increase in surgical service needs over the next decade.

7. Overall employment of anesthesiologists is anticipated to grow by 2.6% from 2022 to 2032.

8. More than 2,872 anesthesiologists left the workforce from 2021 to 2022, according to a report from Definitive Healthcare.

9. Over 50% of anesthesiologists said they felt burnt out or both burnt out and depressed, according to a 2024 Medscape survey.

10. The rapid growth of ASCs has spread the existing pool of anesthesiologists across more facilities.

Now, youre not just running 12 operating rooms, youre running 12 operating rooms and six rooms over at that ASC, Mark Thoma, MD, and chair of anesthesia at San Francisco-based The Permanente Medical Group told Beckers. Maybe you need at least 18 people in the morning instead of 12, and where are they coming in? Whether its an anesthesia practice or whether an anesthesia care team with [certified registered nurse anesthetists], you just need those bodies. Within the hospital, were seeing the horizontal explosion of non-OR anesthesia  so catheterization labs, gastroenterology, interventional radiology, etc..
The Associated Press called the race at 5:34 a.m. EST Nov. 6.

Here are 15 things for ASC leaders to know about the election and its expected impacts on healthcare and small businesses:

1. Mr. Trumps win in Wisconsin put him over the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the presidency. As of 10 a.m. EST Wednesday, he earned 277 votes and Vice President Kamala Harris, 224. In total, approximately 83.7 million early votes were cast nationwide, including both mail-in and early in-person ballots, according to NBC News. This tally was higher in 2020.

2. Republicans won back the U.S. Senate, while control of the House has yet to be determined, as more than 100 races remain uncalled.

3. Mr. Trump is the second U.S. president to win a nonconsecutive term. The first was Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States.

4. Health analysts also predict Medicare Advantage could see significant growth under Mr. Trump.

5. Shares of U.S. health insurers UnitedHealth Group, Humana and CVS Health climbed following Mr. Trumps election victory, rising by as much as 7.9%, 10%, and 7.2%, respectively, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 6.

6. Mr. Trump has spent his campaign reiterating that abortion rights will be left up to the states. He has repeatedly denied support for a national abortion ban.

7. Reproductive rights were on the ballot in 10 states, including Arizona, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota.

8. Mr. Trump has vowed to make the tax cuts from his first term permanent, including a lower corporate tax rate.

9. Mr. Trump has mentioned replacing individual income tax with tariffs. His plan would eliminate taxes on Social Security income as well, according to AP.

10. Mr. Trump pledged to end all taxes on overtime pay as part of his broader tax cuts.

11. During Mr. Trumps former presidency, he decreased the average monthly plan premium for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, bringing it down to the lowest MA plans had seen since 2007.

12. A second Trump administration could take a more permissive view toward major mergers and acquisitions. The administration approved CVS Healths $69 billion acquisition of Aetna in 2018. A Republican administration may favor a more lenient regulatory approach. This could mean a higher likelihood of approval for health system mergers.

13. In a Nov. 3 interview with NBC News, former president Donald Trump said he would make a decision on whether to ban some vaccines based on Robert Kennedy Jr.s recommendations. If elected for a second term, Mr. Trump has hinted at a healthcare role for Mr. Kennedy, who has been an outspoken critic of vaccines for children for years.

14. Nonpartisan think tank the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that Mr. Trumps economic plans would raise debt by $7.5 trillion.

15. During his presidency, Mr. Trump backed a bipartisan bill that would have set a $3,100 cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare.
Here are eight things to know about the case and its potential effects on the states healthcare market:

1. Jay Singleton, MD, an ophthalmologist and owner of Singleton Vision Center in New Bern, N.C., filed a lawsuit in April 2020 challenging the states certificate-of-need law after being denied a CON to perform eye surgeries at his clinic. According to the report, state planners projected no need for the service in the area.

2. In truth, banning Dr. Singleton from offering surgeries to all patients at his clinic serves one purpose only: protecting established providers from competition, the suit claimed. That is unconstitutional.

3. Richard Saver, a law professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law, told The Herald that the case could trigger significant change when it returns to trial court. He also noted that he expects the case to reach the North Carolina Supreme Court if appealed.

4. If the law is overturned, it could increase competition among healthcare providers, particularly between Novant and Atrium. The rival health systems were recently competing to offer a 3D body scanner in Mecklenburg County, N.C., as CON regulations also apply to medical equipment acquisitions.

5. Mr. Saver highlighted that, while an overturn of certificate of need laws could foster a more robust market, it might also result in service duplication and a medical arms race, where facilities rush to acquire advanced technology to attract patients without regard for costs.

6. In Charlotte, this could intensify competition for specialized services and complex surgeries, according to the report.

7. Mr. Saver pointed out that competition between Novant and Atrium would persist regardless, but the potential repeal of CON laws would escalate competition in some market segments.

8. North Carolina lawmakers have recently considered limiting CON laws, such as removing requirements for ambulatory surgery centers in urban areas, contingent on meeting Medicaid and self-pay patient thresholds. Certain psychiatric and chemical dependency facilities are now exempt from certificate of need laws, and Mr. Saver suggested that an overturn in North Carolina could have national implications.
Chinese premier meets Serbian PM

Xinhua) 10:04, November 06, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, who is in China to attend the 7th China International Import Expo, in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

SHANGHAI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic in Shanghai on Tuesday, who is here to attend the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Noting that China always attaches great importance to its relations with Serbia, Li said that China stands ready to work with Serbia to further implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain close strategic communication, deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, take bilateral cooperation in various fields to a new level, and advance the building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future in a new era with high quality.

Li said that China is willing to work with Serbia to strengthen the docking of development strategies, jointly implement the China-Serbia free trade agreement, build and operate key cooperation projects, accelerate cooperation in green, digital and artificial intelligence innovation areas, and achieve more mutually beneficial and win-win results.

It is hoped that Serbia will continue to provide a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Serbia, Li said, adding that the two sides should further deepen exchanges and cooperation on culture, tourism, education, sports, media and youth to consolidate popular support for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future.

Vucevic said Serbia firmly abides by the one-China principle, appreciates China for its firm support on issues concerning Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and looks forward to closer exchanges with China, well implementing the bilateral free trade agreement under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, deepening practical cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, education, science and technology, medical and health care, transportation and agriculture, and strengthening people-to-people exchanges.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, who is in China to attend the 7th China International Import Expo, in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
A rescue helicopter and a crew from the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office searched for missing boaters Sunday off Bodega Bay. Sonoma County Sheriff's Office

A victim in a fatal boating accident near Bodega Bay over the weekend was identified as a teenager who previously survived the Rancho Tehama Reserve mass shooting in 2017, authorities said.

Authorities began searching for three adults and three juveniles Saturday night after their boat did not return from a crabbing trip off the Bodega Bay coast, according to the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office. During an initial search, one person was found alive and received medical treatment and another person was found dead.

That person was identified Monday as 17-year-old Johnny Phommathep II, of Corning. Phommathep was a survivor of a shooting in Rancho Tehama Reserve on Nov. 14, 2017, according to Sara Lobdell, a friend of the Phommatheps who started a GoFundMe for the family.

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That November day, Phommatheps mother was driving three of her children to school when Kevin Janson Neal, the Phommatheps neighbor, drove up next to her and fired into her car, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Tiffany Phommathep, Johnnys mother, used her body to shield then-10-year-old Johnny and was shot four times in her shoulder in the process. Neal also shot Johnny twice in the calf and 6-year-old Jake in the foot, the Times reported. Two-year-old Nikos was not shot but was cut by glass during the shooting. All four were hospitalized but eventually recovered.

Neal also killed five people and wounded 10 others, including five elementary school students, during the rampage in rural Tehama County that began just before 8 a.m. that day, according to the FBI. Law enforcement chased Neal and shot him before the 44-year-old gunman took his own life.

The U.S. Coast Guard shifted to a recovery mission for the four remaining boaters Monday afternoon. An update on the recovery effort was not immediately available.

The cause of the boating accident was under investigation Tuesday. The boat, a 21-foot white Bayliner, was last heard from at about 3 p.m. Saturday in the area of Carmet Beach, according to the sheriffs office.

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Another fatal boating accident occurred near Bodega Bay on Monday when a boat carrying two men capsized by Mussel Point, according to the sheriffs office. One man was pronounced dead on the scene and authorities were searching for the other man. The dead mans identity was not immediately available.
Patient data at a New Mexico health system has been breached in a cybersecurity incident involving its law firm, the Albuquerque (N.M.) Journal reported.

Thompson Coburn, a firm that works with Albuquerque-based Presbyterian Healthcare Services on government billing and repayment, experienced the data breach in late May during which patient information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth and health insurance info was accessed or stolen by a hacker, according to the Nov. 5 story.

"While Thompson Coburn is sending letters to potentially impacted patients this week, the law firm does not have any indication that identity theft or fraud has occurred related to this incident," a spokesperson for the nine-hospital system told the newspaper.

Third-party data breaches have exploded in healthcare in recent years as health systems have strengthened their own cybersecurity and healthcare data has become more valuable on the black market, at a time of increasing interconnectedness.
Mass General Brigham's hospital-at-home program is the first to expand outside the home.

The Somerville, Mass.-based health system is partnering with the New England Center and Home for Veterans and healthcare innovation group Ariadne Labs to offer acute hospital care at home at Safe Haven, a homeless shelter for veterans in Boston.

"The Home Hospital care model offers an opportunity to promote health equity. By bringing high-quality care directly to veterans experiencing homelessness  a historically marginalized population facing significant barriers  we can ensure they receive the necessary care and support, ultimately transforming their health outcomes and bridging the gap in care access," said David Levine, MD, clinical director for research and development for Mass General Brigham Healthcare at Home, in a press release shared Nov. 6 with Becker's. "This program will help inform future implementation practices for providing care to this population."

Mass General Brigham already has the largest hospital-at-home program in the country, with the capacity to treat 70 patients at a time. Veterans at the shelter will now be eligible for the care model, which includes 24/7 remote monitoring and communication capabilities as well as at least two daily visits from a paramedic or nurse and a minimum of one virtual or in-person appointment a day with a physician or advanced practice provider.
When Stephen DelRossi joined Northern Inyo Healthcare District in 2022, one thing was apparent.

"My first board meeting, I walked in and said, 'Hi, my name is Stephen. Here's the finances, and oh, by the way, we're going to be bankrupt in 12 months,'" he told Becker's, adding that it took time to fully convince the board that the organization's finances needed to be addressed.

Mr. DelRossi is CEO of Northern Inyo, a healthcare organization that operates a 25-bed critical access hospital in Bishop, Calif. He joined the organization in August 2022 as CFO before assuming the additional role of interim CEO in May 2023. In November 2023, the NIHD board of directors elevated him to permanent CEO, leaving his dual role as CEO and CFO intact while the organization began recruiting for a permanent CFO.

Since Mr. DelRossi began his tenure, he focused on improving the hospital's financial picture. Specifically, he noticed a need to boost revenue, reduce non-staff expenses, and ensure efficiency in terms of handling of supplies and waste or distribution processes.

"How do you fix that? That became the question," he said.

He realized part of increasing revenue involves ensuring patients receive quality services and care, then billing correctly for that service.

To improve revenue cycle management, Northern Inyo brought in new hires to boost the collection rate.

Mr. DelRossi said he also sought to grow existing services. For example, he asked a cardiologist who was conducting basic heart exams, "What can you do to increase revenue streams?"

"He thought about it for a month or so," Mr. DelRossi said. "He was only coming in three days a month. He returned and told the medical committee, the chief medical officer and me, 'I can do XYZ [procedures or services] in addition to what I'm doing, and it pays much higher.'"

Northern Inyo then engaged the community, asking, "What do we need?" and assessing which services would create the best contribution margin.

"We also asked, 'What do we not need?' That was the first part of the turnaround  revenue," Mr. DelRossi said.

The second part of the hospital's turnaround involved labor and other expenses. Northern Inyo increased average payroll for employees by about 27%.

"You ask, 'How can you do that?' Well, we were using about 65 contract full-time equivalents. We figured if we cut employees, we could offer raises. The union said 'yes' when we explained and showed them the reasoning," Mr. DelRossi said.

The hospital's total personnel costs  employee salaries, hourly wages, overtime and benefits  grew by 14% but decreased significantly when measured per adjusted patient day.

"We also addressed benefits, retirement contributions and cost control for medical, dental and vision," Mr. DelRossi said. "We funded 100% of everyone's retirement, which is unusual nowadays, but we adjusted this so employees shared costs, and the union supported it after reviewing the numbers."

About 75% to 80% of Northern Inyo's staff are unionized.

On the non-labor expense side, Northern Inyo reviewed and renegotiated contracts. For example, it saved 10% on a $1.3 million GE Healthcare contract "after proving we were serious about finding new vendors," Mr. DelRossi said.

"Improving reputation, maintaining high-quality service, capturing revenue and controlling expenses are essential for success," he added. "We're fortunate to serve a service desert with a captured population, but keeping patients in town was also key."

Still, he acknowledged room for improvement, particularly in administrative functions such as registration and billing, which can affect reputation and patient satisfaction.

"We have more work to do, but we've made significant progress," Mr. DelRossi said.

Northern Inyo ended fiscal 2024 with a net income gain of around $4 million and an operating loss of a few hundred thousand dollars. Over the two-year period, the district saw a $17 million turnaround, strides that Mr. DelRossi attributed to efforts made by the staff and leadership. For 2025, the hospital expects $5 million growth, around 2.5% to 3%, while holding expenses flat.

Improving community relations and business development are also part of the hospital's strategic plan. That means ensuring the right leadership team is in place.

In October, Northern Inyo promoted Chief Human Resources Officer Alison Murray, who is now also chief business development officer, and Interim Associate Financial Officer Andrea Mossman, who now serves as CFO.

"Getting the right people in the right roles at the right time is crucial," Mr. DelRossi said. "We emphasize the five rights: right person, right place, right time, right training and right attitude."
Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the U.S., potentially signaling significant health policy changes.

Voters in several states also considered healthcare-related initiatives on their ballots. Here are updates on six of those measures:

1. Paid sick leave approved in Missouri, Nebraska

Missouri voters approved Proposition A, which guarantees workers paid sick leave and will gradually raise the state minimum wage to $15 per hour, the Missouri Independent reported Nov. 5.

Nebraska voters approved paid sick leave through Ballot Initiative 436, entitling employees at businesses with more than 20 workers up to 56 hours of paid sick leave each year, Nebraska Public Media reported Nov. 5.

A ballot measure in Alaska also proposes a gradual minimum wage increase to $15 per hour and requires employers to provide paid sick leave. The measure led by 12.46 percentage points with about 70% of ballots counted, the Alaska Beacon reported Nov. 6.

2. Seven out of 10 states approve abortion access measures, CNN projects

Voters in Arizona and Missouri approved measures expanding abortion access, while those in Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Nevada and New York voted to maintain access, CNN projected Nov. 6.

Expanded abortion access measures did not pass in Florida and South Dakota, according to CNN.

Nebraska voters approved one of two competing abortion measures, passing a restriction on second- and third-trimester abortions with certain exceptions, according to the Associated Press. The other measure, which would have established a right to abortion until fetal viability, did not pass.

3. Medi-Cal physicians to receive a raise

California voters approved a measure to make an existing tax on health insurers permanent, which will increase funding for Medi-Cal, Cal Matters reported Nov. 5. Medi-Cal includes more than 15 million California residents.

4. South Dakota supports Medicaid work requirements

Amendment F would allow South Dakota to require Medicaid recipients to work, with exceptions for those who are physically or mentally disabled. With 88% of the votes counted, 56.4% of voters supported the measure, according to AP results.

5. Denver Health could be on track to receive sales tax funding

Denver's Ballot Issue 2Q would implement a 0.34% sales tax increase to support Denver Health, a system that has faced financial challenges.

As of late Nov. 5, about 57% of voters supported the measure with about 70% of the votes counted, the Colorado Sun reported Nov. 6. The measure requires 50% to pass.

6. New Mexico voters likely to renew hospital property tax funding

Bernalillo County voters approved an extension of a tax levy supporting University of New Mexico Hospital for another eight years, according to unofficial results, the Albuquerque Journal reported Nov. 5.

Residents have supported the measure for 72 years. The levy makes up about 10% of the hospital's budget.






Kelley Tiernan has been appointed CEO of River Hospital in Alexandria Bay, N.Y.

Ms. Tiernan has served as interim CEO since March, according to a Nov. 6 news release from the hospital. She succeeds Emily Mastaler, who left to pursue a new role.

In her more than 27 years of experience, Ms. Tiernan has supported service line and operational development and provided oversight of finance, revenue cycle, information technology and human resources, the release said.
From Walgreens agreeing to pay $100 million to settle overcharging allegations, to another payer suing over Medicare Advantage star ratings, here are 10 healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements and legal developments that Becker's has reported since Oct. 24:

1. Jersey City, N.J.-based CarePoint Health Systems was partially denied a request to delay its antitrust lawsuit against West Orange, N.J.-based RWJBarnabas Health by a New Jersey federal magistrate judge due to the health system's Nov. 3 filing for Chapter 11 protection

2. Walgreens agreed to pay $100 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the pharmacy chain of inflating prescription drug prices for insured customers.

3. Horizon Medical Center of Denton (Texas) agreed to pay $14.2 million to settle potential Medicare regulation and Stark Law violations.

4. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging how HHS calculates disproportionate share hospital payments for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

5. Louisiana healthcare workers filed a lawsuit against a new state law that classifies abortion medications as controlled substances, a designation the plaintiffs say will delay care and harm patients.

6. Elevance Health is the latest insurer challenging CMS' 2025 Medicare Advantage star ratings.

7. A second physician in Texas is facing a lawsuit from Attorney General Ken Paxton for allegedly violating state law by prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapy drugs to minors.

8. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry sued Prospect Medical Holdings for years of "mismanagement and neglect" of Upland, Pa.-based Crozer Health, which has disrupted healthcare services and resulted in various facility closures

9. Providence St. Joseph Hospital agreed to California Attorney General Rob Bonta's stipulation that the hospital will provide emergency abortion care in the future.

10. The American Medical Association and the Illinois State Medical Society filed a lawsuit against MultiPlan alleging the data analytics firm is colluding with with commercial payers in a price-fixing scheme that has "undercut fair payment for out-of-network health care services and eliminated market competition, resulting in harm to patients and physicians."
Raising physician assistants' scope of practice to align with that of nurse practitioners does not worsen patient outcomes, according to a report from New Hampshire legislators.

In late July, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 1222 into law, removing the collaboration agreement requirement between physicians and some PAs.

Under the new law, PAs with more than 8,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours can request a waiver from this requirement. Starting in 2027, PAs with more than 8,000 clinical hours can practice without a collaboration agreement entirely.

The law also established a committee to study PA scope of practice. The committee's report, published Nov. 1, found "no decline in safety or quality of care in states where collaboration agreements between physicians and PAs have been relaxed or eliminated."

Committee members included state Sen. Suzanne Prentiss and state Reps. Sherry Gould, Karen Calabro, Peter Schmidt and Erica Layon.

Additionally, the committee "did not receive any information indicating an increase in adverse outcomes for patients receiving care from PAs practicing without collaboration agreements. In fact, the committee received a 2023 study that shows there have been no upticks in malpractice cases against PAs in states where collaboration agreements are relaxed or eliminated."

The lawmakers called for legislation to change the profession's name from "physician assistant" to "physician associate." Lisa Gables, CEO of the American Association of Physician Associates, told Becker's in 2023 that this title change will take years to complete as it moves through state laws and hospital policies.
The new Nando's store at Lesley Forestside

Nandos has opened its latest outlet here, creating around 40 jobs.

The peri-peri chicken chain opened the doors to its new restaurant at Lesley Forestside in south Belfast.

It joins a number of new openings at the shopping centre, including Starbucks and Popeyes, with Greggs launching later this year.

The restaurant has also partnered with community group L'Arche  a charity that helps a network of people in the community with and without disabilities.

Were delighted to be opening the doors to our brand-new Belfast restaurant! This is a really exciting opening for us, and we cant wait to be serving up Nandos peri-peri and vibes at a new spot in Belfast, restaurant manager, Colm Regan said.

Nandos now has 10 restaurants here, with plans for a further site at Sprucefield.

Starbucks has also just opened up a new large cafe at Lesley Forestside Shopping Centre in the south of the city.

The brand joins cafes such as Caffe Nero and Jamaica Blue at the centre at Upper Galwally, where NI coffee shop business Ground has also opened recently.

It is the Ballymoney-based firms 32nd opening since it was established in 2014 by Darren and Karen Gardiner.

Ground has been joined by Muffin Break, a sister company of coffee shop Jamaica Blue, which opened in a concession unit inside the centre.

Forestside Shopping Centre was bought for 42m last year by Belfast property entrepreneurs Michael and Lesley Herbert.
The stage is set for the arrival of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida (Alex Brandon/AP)

If Donald Trumps win the US election is confirmed the implications for Irelands economy look stark.

The core of Donald Trumps economic policy has always been America First and in a second term in office hell been in a position to execute key aspects of that plan including on corporation tax and trade tariffs.
Firefighters with the Ventura County Fire Department reposition their fire engine at a home during the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A house is engulfed in the flames of the Mountain Fire as the wildfire scorches acres in Camarillo Heights, Camarillo, California, on November 6, 2024. A wildfire fanned by powerful winds was burning out of control near Los Angeles on November 6, with scores of residents ordered to evacuate and some taken to hospital. Fierce gusts up to 80 miles (130 kilometers) an hour were pushing smoke sideways and fueling flames that were tearing through farmland. (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP) (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images) ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images In this aerial still image provided by KABC-TV, shows Los Angeles County Fire Department crews scrambled to contain a small blaze fed by erratic wind gusts that pushed flames through dry brush near Broad Beach along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. AP A firefighter walks on a path engulfed in smoke and embers as high winds push the Mountain Fire in Camarillo Heights, Camarillo, California, on November 6, 2024. ETIENNE LAURENT/ETIENNE LAURENT AFP via Getty Images Firefighters battle the Mountain Fire burning in the Camarillo Heights area of Ventura County. Ventura County Fire Department Wildfire cameras captured the Mountain Fire burning in Ventura County. Alert California / UC San Diego Wildfire cameras captured the Mountain Fire burning in Ventura County. Alert California / UC San Diego Wildfire cameras captured the Mountain Fire burning in Ventura County. Alert California / UC San Diego

CAMARILLO, Ventura County  A fast-moving wildfire exploded in size and ferocity in Southern California northwest of Los Angeles on Wednesday, forcing residents of Ventura County to evacuate as flames spread over more than 14,000 acres of vegetated hillsides dotted with homes.

The Mountain Fire broke out Wednesday morning 15 miles north of Thousand Oaks and posed an immediate threat to life, Cal Fire announced. It was 0% contained Wednesday evening and threatened at least 3,500 homes, according to the Ventura County Fire Department and federal officials. The blaze started within minutes of a separate grass fire that engulfed two homes on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

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Firefighters struggled to make progress amid heavy winds that derailed efforts to fight the flames from above and threatened to worsen conditions overnight.

This fire is moving dangerously fast, Trevor Johnson, a fire captain with the Ventura County Fire Department told reporters at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters were right off the bat pulling people from their houses and saving lives. It was as intense as it gets.

Smoke from the Mountain Fire is seen from a commercial flight near Ventura County, California, Wednesday Nov. 6, 2024 Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Aerial video footage provided by the department Wednesday afternoon showed dozens of homes burning in several neighborhoods as embers spread. Horses and other large animals were being taken to several established evacuation areas, county officials said. Fire officials said they would not know how many structures were affected until Thursday at the earliest.

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Two residents were hospitalized with injuries after inhaling smoke, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andy VanSciver said. No major injuries were reported among firefighters as of Wednesday afternoon.

An evacuation shelter for displaced residents was opened at Padre Serra Parish at 5205 Upland Road in Camarillo, Cal Fire said. An evacuation center for large animals was opened at the Ventura County Fairgrounds and a center for small animals was opened at the Ventura County Animal Services, officials said.

The Camarillo evacuation shelter was a relatively quiet atmosphere Wednesday night, with staff serving pizza and other food to evacuees. Some evacuees had been there since mid-day, while others showed up later in the afternoon.

Dave Wagner, a volunteer with the American Red Cross, told a Chronicle reporter that the shelter would remain open overnight to accommodate evacuees that had nowhere to go.

They (evacuees) can come, they can meet their family members here, said Wagner. They can get information about what the fire is doing, what roads are closed. We have the Salvation Army here feeding them. We have some nurses from the Ventura County Volunteer Corps. Theyve been treating things like minor burns and and scratches and bruises from people evacuating in a hurry. We also had a nursing home that was in the line of the fire and it was too smoky. So they moved some of the nursing home residents here.

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Evgeniya Lautt, 22, an evacuee at the shelter on Wednesday, described the fire as personal since her family had to evacuate from their home.

I have processed it emotionally very well, said Lautt. And I got to understand that firefighters have to do their job. And whatever they do, if my house survives, its great. If my house does (not) survive, then its got to be we have to take it as a loss. Theres some stuff I wish I could have grabbed, but, you know, you have to choose what is important. So, food is important. Medicine is important and clothes are definitely important. Other stuff I can replace later on.

Another evacuee at the shelter, April Laycock said she and her partner were new residents in West Camarillo and received an evacuation alert between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

At the time we were at a doctors appointment, so I had to send a message to him (her partner) to get the pets, and get them out, said Laycock. Then we actually drove around for a couple of hours because we werent sure what we were supposed to do, and then I finally found the instructions to come here. And then where to take the pets as well. But the cats actually did much better than the dog did! She was whining the whole time.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the use of federal funds for firefighting equipment and supplies Wednesday afternoon as the footprint expanded into residential and commercial districts of the densely populated urban area, the agency announced.

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Powerful wind speeds complicated firefighting efforts, however, with gusts topping 80 mph that were expected to continue until Thursday evening. Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner called conditions a classic Santa Ana wind event with high wind warnings and advisories issued for much of Central and Southern California.

Bushes are burning, hedgerows are burning, agricultural fields are burning and structures are burning, Gardner said. Agencies are doing everything they can to protect lives.

A structure is seen engulfed in flames during the Mountain Fire in Camarillo, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Robbie Munroe, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Oxnard, called wind conditions fairly rare and said they resembled those that ignited the destructive 2018 Woolsey and 2019 Thomas fires.

As of 3 p.m., Caltrans said the flames were approaching Highway 101 and were moving west toward Camarillo, a city with 71,000 residents. Traffic on Highway 101 slowed due to limited smoke visibility as evacuations continued in the area, Caltrans said.

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Earlier in the day, the blaze moved south toward the populated communities of Moorpark and Thousand Oaks, hopping several lanes of traffic on Highway 118 shortly before noon. Rescue crews were helping to evacuate residents, with Los Angeles FOX-affiliate KTTV airing footage of Ventura County Sheriff deputies pushing an older adult in a wheelchair from a home inside the smoke-filled fire zone.

Its like trying to put out a blowtorch with a squirt gun, Tony McHale, captain of the Ventura County Fire Department, told KABC.

In the 15 minutes before the Mountain Fire was first spotted around 8:55 a.m. along Balcom Canyon Road, strong easterly winds began blowing down branches and electrical equipment, according to Ventura County Fire Department radio traffic reviewed by the Chronicle.

Firefighters responded to at least four reports of electrical hazards in Somis, Oxnard, Ventura and Simi Valley in the minutes before the fire ignited.

The first firefighter on the scene radioed dispatch requesting Southern California Edison to report to the scene due to downed power lines in the area.

According to its website, the utility had cut electricity to nearly 70,000 customers in seven Southern California counties as of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 24,000 of them in Ventura, and nearly 260,000 more were being considered as part of a public safety power shutoff to prevent its equipment from sparking blazes during the extreme fire weather conditions. The planned shutoffs could last through Thursday, officials said.

One woman who lives off of Balcom Canyon Road and declined to give her name said she received a notification from SoCal Edison on Tuesday warning that power could be shut off to her property. But on Tuesday morning, when the fire hit, she still had electricity.

The morning was super, super, super, super windy, she said. Smelling smoke, she gathered her animals and immediately evacuated, passing hot spots of flame as she drove off the mountain.

It was hard to tell where it started because it happened so fast, she said.

Strong winds are predicted to continue through at least Thursday morning in Ventura County. The National Weather Service in Oxnard forecasts gusts of 60 to 70 mph and relative humidity as low at 8%. The weather service has since evacuated its office in northeast Oxnard, according to meteorologist in charge, Ariel Cohen.

The Moorpark Unified School District, with nearly 6,000 students in total, announced that several schools evacuated their campuses and canceled classes on Wednesday.

The Ventura County Fire Department reported that 140 firefighters were on the scene, supported by 58 fire vehicles. Additional helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were requested to assist, but the fixed-wing aircraft were ultimately grounded due to high winds.

The California Highway Patrol issued mandatory evacuation orders for areas south of Highway 118, where the fire jumped the highway. Ventura County was under a red flag warning Wednesday due to dry conditions, fire officials said. The warning was expected to last until Thursday evening.

Weather conditions in the Santa Susanna mountains were brutal Wednesday morning, with several stations around the Mountain Fire reporting wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph, Chronicle staff meteorologist Greg Porter said. Another wildfire broke out Wednesday morning along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, burning at least 40 acres.

At least one seaside home was reported to be engulfed in flames as a result of another blaze, the Broad Fire, according to local media reports, and the highway was closed in both directions. Malibu officials urged residents to prepare for potential evacuations.
Award-winning VR experience to bring Belfast audiences into heart of Acid House movement

The film features euphoric rave anthems and brings the viewer back in time

Pic: David Rowan

Liam Tunney Wed 6 Nov 2024 at 20:15







Ravers in Belfast are to be given a chance to relive their youth as an award-winning VR experience transporting them into the heart of the Acid House movement comes to the city next year.
Just six restaurants and hotels on this side of border are listed in Irelands Blue Book hospitality bible, but expert is confident this will increase in near future

Dromoland Castle is a new addition to Ireland's Blue Book

The Old Inn at Crawfordsburn

Dunluce Lodge will employ more than 80 people

This side of the border is under-represented in a list of the most characterful country houses, hotels and restaurants on the island, a travel writer has said.

The 2024 Irelands Blue Book features six local venues, all of which have appeared on the list before.

There are two new entries for 2024 from the Republic: Dromoland Castle in Co Clare and The Station House Hotel in Co Meath.

Pol O Conghaile, travel editor at the Irish Independent, said the half dozen accounted for just below 10% of 65 Blue Book members.

They are: Bishops Gate Hotel and Browns restaurant in Derry; Ardtara House in Maghera; Newforge House near Moira; the Old Inn Crawfordsburn, and the Bushmills Inn on the north coast.

Bishop's Gate Hotel in Derry

He said: Members pay for inclusion, but must also be accepted into the collection, and the standards are quite exacting.

Its a brand built over a half-century, with a very loyal audience, who have come to expect luxurious stays that are strong on heritage, charm and high-end, but warmly personal, hospitality. They tend to lean towards smaller stays and away from resorts, but there are a few exceptions  Dromoland Castle and Mount Juliet (Kilkenny) for example.

Ardtara Country House in Upperlands, Co Londonderry

He said while accommodation here was improving, it was a tough niche to fill.

He added: To me, Regency House, The Culloden, and perhaps the forthcoming Dunluce Lodge, could be good fits.

You could see a future case for The Harrison, perhaps Killeavy Castle, and possibly places like Ballygally Castle.

It would be lovely to see more added in the future.

Dunluce Lodge will employ more than 80 people

Drone footage shows progress of five-star venue on north coast

Ballygally Castle and The Culloden Estate and Spa are owned by the Hastings family, while Regency House is owned by Anthony Kieran.

Killeavy Castle in Co Armagh is owned by Australian couple Mick and Robin Boyle, and Harrison Rooms of Distinction on Malone Road in Belfast is owned by Melanie Harrison.

Dunluce Lodge is due to open on the north coast this year  the areas first five-star venue.

Culloden Estate (Darren Kidd/PressEye)

Mr O Conghaile said: Like many hotel collections, Blue Book members pay annual fees.

The calculus is that, in return, they benefit from the cachet of being included, exposure to the Blue Books customers and vouchers, and its marketing and promotional heft.

Michelle Maguire, chief executive of Irelands Blue Book, said: We have fantastic Northern Ireland properties in the collection.

The Old Inn is a recent addition, but Bushmills Inn, Ardtara Country House, Newforge House and Browns Bond Hill are in the collection for many years.

The Old Inn at Crawfordsburn

And she welcomed the arrival of Dromoland Castle and The Station House to the list: Irelands Blue Book prides itself on being a trusted collection of hotels and restaurants, and we are thrilled to expand the collection.

With the introduction of these two new additions, I am so excited for our customers to enjoy what makes both these very different properties so special.

Harrison Chambers of Distinction on Malone Road, Belfast

Blue Book is chaired by Marcus Roulston, owner of Ardtara Country House.

Lynsey Gordon, associate director of The Old Inn Crawfordsburn, said: Galgorm Collection is thrilled to have The Old Inn recognised by Irelands Blue Book, a prestigious hallmark that celebrates the finest of Irish hospitality, charm, and heritage.

Being part of Irelands Blue Book is a valued badge of quality, one that highlights the unique character and historic significance that make The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn a truly exceptional destination.

We are proud to be counted among such distinguished properties across the island, each committed to excellence.

Dromoland Castle is a new addition to Ireland's Blue Book

Dunluce Lodge will employ more than 80 people

News Catch Up - Wednesday 6 November
A disgusting liar: Woman abused as a child hits out at NI paedophile

Man was jailed for 18 months for sex attacks that took place in nineties

Robert Anderson. Credit: Alan Lewis

By Claire Williamson and John Cassidy Wed 6 Nov 2024 at 07:30

A woman who was repeatedly sexually abused as a young girl has told of her anger at a Co Antrim paedophiles continued denials after he was jailed for 18 months.
A Belfast man allegedly filmed his naked ex-partner while she was asleep and sent footage to his father, the High Court heard today.

The 32-year-old defendant is also accused of threatening to kill the woman during a row over the contents of his phone.
Residents evacuated from a Belfast apartment block over safety concerns are to seek a rehearing in their failed multi-million pound compensation claim.

Property owners at the Victoria Square complex have already lodged an appeal against a High Court decision to strike out their actions for being out of time.
Police confirmed they attended the scene of a sudden death

Tributes have been paid to gentleman Brian McCusker after his body was found following a search in west Belfast.

Volunteers conducted a search on Tuesday in the Distillery Street area for Mr McCusker after he was last seen on November 4.

In an updated statement on Wednesday, a spokesperson from the PSNI said: Police attended the scene of a sudden death of a man in the Distillery Street area of Belfast on Tuesday 5th November. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Paying tribute to Mr McCusker, the Unison Royal Victoria Hospital and Muckamore branch committee page on social media said they were devastated at his passing and described him as their dear comrade and member.

"Brian was a passionate dog lover and Man Utd fan. All have described Bap as a gentleman and someone always willing to help, Bap would regularly attend UNISON demos and picket lines, they wrote.

Bap played a key role in the delivery of patient care, he took his role seriously in the delivery and picking up of blood products throughout the hospital.

He was very much respected by all professions and disciplines across the RVH. With almost 30 years service I know all members will join us in expressing our deepest condolences, love and solidarity to Bap's wonderful and very well respected family at their devastating loss. They are all in our thoughts and prayers.

All of us working in the hospital have gone through very hard times, individually and collectively, however looking after yourself doesn't make sense if we're not looking after each other.

We ask all members to attend Baps funeral mass. Details to follow RIP comrade.

Posting an update to their social media accounts last night, the Community Rescue Service (Belfast District) said: Sad news to share. CRS volunteers were tasked today (Tuesday) to search for a person missing in the Belfast area.

We regret to inform you that this afternoon one of our teams located a body believed to be that of the missing person.

The management and volunteers of the Community Rescue Service extend our prayers and deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased.

It comes after police earlier on Tuesday said they were increasingly concerned for the welfare of the 50-year-old man.

Brian McCusker (50)

News Catch Up - Wednesday 6 November
Donald Trump waves as he walks with wife Melania at his election night party at the Palm Beach Convention Centre (Evan Vucci/AP)

Donald Trump was still fighting four legal battles as he declared victory in the US presidential election.

The criminal cases are quite different and carry varying penalties for the defendant if found guilty.

Trump denies all the charges.

For all their complexities, the four cases were ultimately leading to the same outcome if Trump succeeded in beating Kamala Harris on November 5.

As president, and president-elect, he effectively gets a get out of going to jail card, even before re-entering the White House in January, as the court cases seem likely to be stopped, either by him back in power in his second term, or by state judiciary systems themselves.

If he hadnt won, then it could have been a very different world for the property tycoon.

The four cases are:

Stormy Daniels hush money trial

In a historic ruling, Trump was found guilty by a New York state court of 34 counts of fraud under election campaign finance laws.

A six-week trial heard from 22 witnesses, including former porn star Stormy Daniels, whose alleged sexual encounter with the former president was at the centre of the case.

Each of the charges carries a maximum of four years in jail.

Trump has sought to get the case dismissed after a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, and if he fails is still expected to pursue his legal fight.

His lawyers will also be able to argue that a lone state should not use its power to derail the functioning of the United States so as president, Trump looks safe, for at least four years.

If he hadnt won, many but not all legal experts believe the ex-president is more likely to be fined rather than imprisoned given he is a first time offender.

He is due to be sentenced on November 26, but that could be pushed back further, and most experts agree it would be practically impossible to impose a custodial term on him as incoming president.

Capitol January 6 riots and conspiring to overturn 2020 election result

Trump has been charged with four criminal counts including conspiracy to defraud the US and conspiracy against the rights of citizens.

The Supreme Court has ruled that as president he had limited immunity so prosecutors have amended the charges to be against someone acting as a political candidate/private citizen.

But Trump, back in the White House, could order the charges against him be dismissed in this federal case, or even pardon himself.

If Ms Harris had won, conspiring to defraud the US can lead to jail of up to five years or a fine, obstructing an official proceeding up to 20 years behind bars or a fine, conspiring against rights of citizens up to ten years in prison or a fine.

So, if he is eventually found guilty, more than four years from now, a jail term cannot be ruled out but it would still be a mega-octane move by a judge to imprison a former president.

Georgia 2020 election

Trump and 18 other defendants were accused of criminally conspiring to overturn his defeat in the key swing state of Georgia where he lost by a narrow margin.

He faced 13 criminal charges, which was reduced to ten, including alleged violation of Georgias Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

People can be jailed for up to 20 years if found guilty of racketeering, and for between five years and one year for making false statements, or a fine.

After a second election victory, Trump looks safe from jail as his lawyers could again argue that a lone state should not use its power to derail the functioning of the United States. In addition, federal guidelines say that a president should not stand trial while in office.

But if he hadnt won, America would then have been in unprecedented and dangerous territory.

Classified documents case

In the second federal case, Trump has been accused of wilful retention of national defence information at his Mar-a-Lago Florida estate, under the Espionage Act, with eight counts including conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record and making false statements.

Alleged offences carry possible prison sentences of up to ten or 20 years.

But the case was dismissed by a Florida judge, a Trump appointee.

The special prosecutor bringing the case has appealed but it is doubtful whether it will proceed after the Supreme Court immunity ruling, so any prospect of jail is looking a long way off, if at all in this case, even after a second Trump term.
Around 500 people have taken to the streets of Belfast, calling for action to make the city a safer place for all.

The Walkie Talkie Girlies Society marched from Queens University to City Hall in the city centre, where the building was lit up in the groups adopted colour of pink to welcome them.

Leading the march, Aisling Cannon (20) said she was overwhelmed at how quickly the student-led campaign was gathering pace.

Imogen Davis-Pugh, Meabh Whitty and Caitlin Devlin, all students at Queen's University, who were among the 500 people marching through Belfast city centre to highlight the dangers faced by women

This started out as a few friends wanting to do something to make the streets of Belfast safer. I cant believe weve already reached the stage were almost 500 people want to come out and show their support, the Queens student said.

This isnt just about making Belfast a safer place for women and girls.

This is about making Belfast safer for everyone. When women and girls feel safe, everyone will feel safe.

Among those out supporting the march was Imogen Davis-Pugh. She said the numbers gathering in the city centre showed the depth of feeling that exists after a number of recent incidents in which women were the victims of physical and sexual violence.

We wanted to be involved as something needs to be done to try to make things better, she said.

The more people who join in, the less likely it is our concerns are going to be ignored.

You can see by the number of people out here that the feeling is growing that something has to be done to make the streets safer. If we have a big enough voice we have to be heard and we all need to stick together on this.

With City Hall lit up pink to support the groups march, Belfast Lord Mayor Micky Murray lent his voice to those taking to the streets.

Belfast used to be a no-go area in the past for a completely different reason, he said.

I wanted to show that we support the girls in the message they are delivering tonight. There should be no no-go areas in Belfast. We just have to look at what has happened in our own city over these past number of months to know that something has to change.

Theres no point having strategies if we are not educating people and that starts in local communities and in schools. We need to empower communities to bring an end to violence against women and young girls and to make our streets the safe place we want them to be.

City Hall is lit up pink to support the Walkie Talkie Girlies group as they marched through Belfast on Wednesday night calling for action to protect women and girls on the streets of Belfast

Another major parade is planned for Londonderry later this week when hundreds more are expected to call for urgent action to ensure people feel safe walking the streets across the whole of Northern Ireland. There is momentum behind us now, Aisling added.

We have to keep on pressing home the message. We want our streets to be somewhere we all feel safe and we will keep on making our voices heard.

A Rally for Womens Safety will be held in Guildhall Square, Derry on Friday at 6.15pm.

Walkie Talkie Girlies Society organisers, students Shauna McKee (left) and Aisling Cannon, with Belfast Lord Mayor Micky Murray

News Catch Up - Wednesday 6 November
Life appeared to go on as normal on the streets of Belfast following the re-election of Donald J Trump as the 47th President of the United States of America.

However, just a mention of his name provoked a strong response from the public revealing fear and anxiety which is simmering below the surface.

Queens University student Joy (26), who is doing a PhD in translation, was hoping to celebrate Kamala Harris becoming Americas first female president on Thursday morning  but instead she woke up to a shock.

I just have no idea how people want to vote for him, with such a capable woman in power, she said.

Im just so disheartened they would vote for a felon over her.

QUB student Joy (26)

The scholar said she believes sexism and racism both played a role in Harriss defeat and expressed concerns that people have become entrenched in extreme views and ideology.

She worries about the consequences on foreign affairs, including the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East.

With such a resounding win for the Republicans across the board, it seems that theres very little power left for the Democrats, Joy said.

It seems scary  and the effects it will have on the world after this.

I dread to think what will happen he has free rein now to bring in all his terrifying ideas.

QUB postgrad student Ethan Crawford (23)

Physics PhD student Ethan Crawford (23) was also shocked by what has been dubbed the greatest comeback in political history.

He did it before, and did it again, he said.

I had a hunch US politics seems to influence general world [events], so I hope Trump will do something good.

Mr Crawford expressed hope that Trumps good links with Russian President Vladimir Putin will help resolve the situation in Ukraine  but was sceptical of the president-elects claim he could do so within a day.

Fingers crossed  but thats me probably being too optimistic, he said.

I think 12 months would be a good shout, but if he can do it in 24 hours who could complain?

I think if he can resolve it, it will be a good mark for his presidency.

Acknowledging the role of social media during the campaign, Mr Crawford said Trumps stint serving fries at McDonalds, his time in the drivers seat of a garbage truck and his three-hour sit-down with Joe Rogan on the worlds biggest podcast managed to get voters out the door.

It was an incredible idea I think it was a good promotional campaign, he added.

Anne Tannahill (82)

Anne Tannahill (82) was depressed as she made her way to a lecture at QUB just hours after Trumps victory speech, but she said she wasnt surprised.

It was a big ask of the Democrats to put up a woman of colour, she said.

There are going to be a lot of people in the privacy of a poll booth wholl find it impossible to vote for a woman and wont vote for a woman of colour.

So that made it a bit easier for Trump.

Ms Tannahill said Trump and his campaign team, including former adviser Steven Bannon, who was released from jail last week, were successful at brainwashing voters into believing they have been victims of political targeting referred to as lawfare in the run-up to the election.

I believe they are crooks. And Trumps a crook, she said.

Bannon, a conservative podcast host who was key to Trump's 2016 win, was convicted of two counts of contempt of Congress in 2022 for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to a January 6 Capitol riot investigation.

Ms Tannahill also cited Israel and Ukraine as her key concerns, in addition to the impact of Trumps trade policies on Ireland.

QUB pharmacy student Lydia Alttyr (19)

QUB pharmacy student Lydia Alttyr (19), who is from Kuwait, didnt even know the election was happening and was appalled when she woke up and saw the headlines.

America is destroying itself, she warned.

Im shocked they let him [Trump] run again. I dont like either of them, but I especially dont like Trump.

Ms Alttyr said she would have avoided the ballot box entirely if she was a US voter.

Im not sure if Kamala would have brought abortion rights back, she added.

If that was the case, I probably would have voted for her because abortion is healthcare and I believe in pro-choice.

A 40-year-old female member of staff at QUB, who did not want to be identified, described the result as really shocking as she expressed concerns about the implications.

Its going to be scary to see where all this goes, she said.

I do wonder who these people are who vote for him. I can only imagine they live a very different life to me, if this is a viable option for them.

Sean McErlean (76) expected to be disappointed when he woke up to learn that the electorate have been bluffed.

America is an absolute mess, he said.

Trump is a dangerous man and I think he could cause havoc. Hes nuts.

Trump triumphant by a landslide - how and why did he win the American people

The pensioner was critical of the Biden/Harris administrations handling of the war between Israel and Gaza and accused Kamala of totally ignoring genocide.

Meanwhile, Jim McDermott (73) expressed the same sentiment as he admitted he resigned himself to the worst possible scenario before going to bed on Tuesday night.

[Trump] seems to be in cognitive decline, which can only get worse  and his authoritarian instincts will sharpen with that.

He has a compliant Supreme Court and control of Congress, which will back him to the hilt.

There are very little checks and balances any more; its a terrible situation for the world.
The National Weather Service in Oxnard issued a somewhat rare fire weather warning on Tuesday as an extreme Santa Ana Wind event is set to impact places in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard

Updated forecast: Bay Area braces for intense winds as fire danger and outage risks climb

The National Weather Service in Oxnard warned of extremely critical and highly volatile fire weather conditions in portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with dry, damaging winds in the forecast Wednesday.

A particularly dangerous situation tag was added to a red flag warning  language the weather service reserves only for the most extreme fire risk. The red flag warning was set to begin at 2 a.m. Wednesday, with the particularly dangerous situation beginning at 9 a.m. The particularly dangerous situation was expected to continue until 9 a.m. Thursday.

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Some cities included in the particularly dangerous warning include Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Oxnard, Ventura, Malibu, Burbank and Glendale. In Northern California, elevated fire weather was also forecast  including parts of the Bay Area and Central Valley  although the risk was relatively lower than Southern California. Red flag warnings were scheduled to go into effect Tuesday afternoon and continue until Thursday morning.

Residents can check their address below to see if they are impacted.

The strongest Santa Ana wind event in four years was expected in Southern California. In Ventura and Los Angeles counties, forecast 70-plus mph wind gusts combined with relative humidity in the lower teens to single digits are predicted to bring extremely critical fire-weather conditions atop receptive fuels, according to the weather service. Any fires that do start have the potential to spread extremely quickly.

Its been nearly four years since the Oxnard weather service office last issued a particularly dangerous situation red flag warning, in December 2020.

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These are very volatile conditions for the spread of wildfires, said Ariel Cohen, the meteorologist in charge at the weather service office in Oxnard.

As of Tuesday morning, there were no ongoing wildfires in Ventura County, with only the smoldering Bridge Fire in Los Angeles County, according to Cal Fire.

To prevent new fires from starting, Southern California Edison had scheduled outages to more than 55,000 customers in high-risk areas. The utility also considered shutting off power to an additional 164,000 customers.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced planned power shutoffs to more than 20,100 customers in Northern California. A full list of planned shutoffs is available at PG&Es website and at the Chronicles power outage map.
Tributes to members of the Ulster Defence Regiment at the opening of the field of remembrance at Belfast City Hall, ahead of Armistice Day commemorations (Liam McBurney/PA)

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly offered no comment on the move  which will be the first time a senior Sinn Fein figure will attend such an event in Northern Ireland  saying the focus should be on Remembrance Sunday.

In an interview with the PA news agency earlier this week, Ms ONeill said her attendance was a demonstration of her determination to fulfil her pledge to be a First Minister for all.

The First Minister said she appreciated some republicans would be uncomfortable with her being there, but insisted it was nevertheless the right thing to do.

Michelle ONeill said she wanted to be a First Minister for all (Liam McBurney/PA)

Speaking to media in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, on Wednesday, Mr Benn said he very much welcomes the decision by the First Minister.

He said: Remembrance Sunday is about the whole of society remembering the sacrifice of our ancestors and there is barely a family in the United Kingdom that hasnt been touched by loss or injury in the First and Second World Wars, and the conflicts that have happened since, and we come together to recall the sacrifice of those who fought so hard so we can enjoy the freedom that we have today, and that is worth remembering always.

Ms ONeill, who will lay a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast in her role as First Minister, is to attend the event with DUP deputy First Minister Ms Little-Pengelly.

Asked for her view on the move, Ms Little-Pengelly said: For me, Remembrance Sunday is all about that focus on those who gave so much, many, many thousands, of course, who gave all and made the ultimate sacrifice, but almost all those that were injured over the many decades and of course those many tens of thousands who mourn the loss of their loved ones.

So, for me, Remembrance Sunday is very much about focusing on remembering those who gave so much and, of course, it will be a huge honour to be there to lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland in my role as deputy First Minister.

Asked whether she welcomed that Ms ONeill would be attending, Ms Little-Pengelly said: The focus of this weekend will of course be on remembering those who gave so much. It is Remembrance Sunday and, of course, we all must remember what the focus of this weekend is all about.
Congratulations are due: Mixed reaction as NI politicians send post-election messages to Donald Trump

The First and Deputy First Ministers have issued a statement through the Executive Office

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Liam Tunney Wed 6 Nov 2024 at 18:11







NI First Minister Michelle ONeill has said congratulations are due for President-Elect of the United States Donald Trump following the conclusion of the presidential election.
A man whose father and uncle were shot dead by the Provisional IRA has accused First Minister Michelle ONeill of engaging in a PR stunt without any substance.

It comes after Ms ONeill announced that she will be attending a Remembrance Sunday event in Belfast, marking the first time a senior Sinn Fein figure will take part in such an event in Northern Ireland.
President Trump, again? Five reasons why Donald Trump is on the verge of winning

Donald Trump is inching towards a second presidential win and heres why, writes Irish Independent's Adrian Weckler from Pennsylvania

Supporters react as Fox News projects former U.S. President Donald Trump is elected (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Adrian Weckler Wed 6 Nov 2024 at 08:15

Its 12.45am on Wednesday as I write this and Donald Trump is inching toward a presidential win.
Sinn Fein has claimed there will be an additional two million euro annual cost for the controversial school phone pouch scheme (Jane Barlow/PA)

There will be an additional two million euro annual cost for the controversial school phone pouch scheme, Sinn Fein has claimed.

The Irish Government allocated nine million euro in the budget for a fund for schools to purchase pouches for mobile phones for pupils aimed at minimising disruption.

On Wednesday, Mary Lou McDonald said it is an example of the Government being a serial waster of the publics money.

Speaking during Leaders Questions, Ms McDonald said the public is angry at the lack of accountability on spending.

This shows, again, that your Government cant be trusted to spend the publics money wisely.

You cant be straight with people about your waste and you refuse to be accountable for your mess.

Ms McDonald said documents obtained by her colleague, Pearse Doherty, show the Government was presented with several options for dealing with mobile phone use in schools.

She said these included leaving phones in bags or lockers, or having them handed into a central point  each at zero cost.

Instead, you have gone with an option that will cost the taxpayer nine million euros initially, and then a further two million euros every single year, she said.

Ms McDonald said the money for the phone pouches should instead be invested in youth mental health services.

Taoiseach Simon Harris defended the plan, which he said would cost 20 euro per student.

He said the policy came from engagement with school principals and the mental health concerns of students themselves.

He also said the scheme is not obligatory or mandatory, adding: Nobodys going to demand a school take pouches  this is if a school wants to avail of this.

While not responding to Ms McDonalds central claim, he added: Its about 20 quid per student. A 20 euro investment in the mental health and wellbeing of a student.

A similar scheme has been rolled out in Northern Ireland, where Sinn Fein is in Government.

Mr Harris asked whether it is Ms McDonalds policy that the pouches are good in Northern Ireland but not appropriate in the Republic.

The most breathtaking thing about your presentation is that youre rolling out a similar initiative but, you know what, its costing a hell of a lot more.

He added: Will you call on the Sinn Fein Minister for Finance in Northern Ireland today to speak to her Executive colleague and stop the rollout of the phone pouches in Northern Ireland?

Because in Northern Ireland, youve already spent a quarter of a million pounds sterling on the provision of phone pouches.

He said if this is not the case, Ms McDonald should stop.
The next general election in Ireland will be held on November 29, Irish premier Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris will travel to Aras an Uachtarain on Friday, the official residence of Irish president Michael D Higgins, to seek the dissolution of Irelands Dail parliament.

The Taoiseach said he was looking forward to starting the campaign following the passage of key pieces of legislation.

Mr Harris said: Its my intention then to seek dissolution of the Dail by President Higgins on Friday.

Speaking to RTE News on Wednesday, he added: As I would have discussed with the other coalition leaders, its my hope that we will have polling day on this country on November 29.

After refusing to be drawn on the election date for weeks, Mr Harris made the announcement less than an hour after his coalition partner-turned-campaign rival Micheal Martin revealed that the election would be called on Friday.

The highly-anticipated announcement will formally kick off a truncated campaign which will last mere weeks.

It cuts the sitting of the parliament just months shy of its full five-year maximum term  and comes after the Irish Government progressed legislation it had identified as priorities to conclude following Octobers Budget.

The upcoming election brings to an end the historic coalition which was formed in mid-2020, bringing together Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in an agreement which ended a rivalry dating back to the Civil War.

The talks to form a Government were carried out over five months, influenced by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Green Party leader Roderic OGorman, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA)

Joining with the Greens to hold a majority in the Dail, ministries were divided across the parties and an agreement for a rotating taoiseach was formed.

It saw Mr Martin, the Fianna Fail leader, taking the Taoiseach role for the first half of the lifetime of the Government, later replaced by then-Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar.

Mr Harris became Taoiseach earlier this year after Mr Varadkar decided to step away from his stewardship of the party.

The lifetime of the Government has been characterised by its response to several challenges, from the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, the inability to accommodate rising numbers of asylum seekers and compounding pressures in housing  including record levels of homelessness.

A ballot box during recent referenda in Ireland (Damien Storan/PA)

More recently, the Government has faced criticism for its public spending after it emerged 336,000 euro had been spent on a bike shed at the parliament, on top of other issues such as the spiralling cost of a multibillion-euro childrens hospital in Dublin.

It also suffered a knock when referendums it put forward were overwhelmingly rejected by the public in early 2024.

However, Government figures hail a range of measures for families including reducing the cost of childcare, the introduction of hot school meals and free school books as key policies.

They also point to efforts to accommodate of more than 100,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine and the overall management of the public purse as among its successes.

Elsewhere, senior ministers are proud of the coalitions record on increasing housing delivery and the recognition of Palestinian statehood amid Israels war in Gaza. However, detractors feel that the scale of Government action in these areas was insufficient.

The election comes shortly after what was characterised as a giveaway Budget, which included additional child benefit, pension, and other social welfare payments occurring before polling day.

The results of the last election left Fianna Fail with a narrow seat lead ahead of Sinn Fein and Fine Gael. Sinn Fein had the highest percentage of first-preference votes, but came in second ahead of Fine Gael.

It was seen as both a monumentally successful result for Sinn Fein, the largest opposition party, and among the worst performances for the other two major parties.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Brian Lawless/PA)

At the time, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald faced criticism for not running more candidates which would have capitalised on its large share of first-preference votes.

Since then, Sinn Fein has admitted that it achieved worse-than-expected results in local and European elections in the Republic of Ireland  which took place earlier this year.

The challenge for the Government parties, particularly Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, will be putting forward a convincing message on policies that distinguishes them from their erstwhile colleagues.

However, members of the coalition will be buoyed by a string of controversies that have beset Sinn Fein in recent weeks.

Ms McDonald addressed the Dail on a series of scandals, including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes.

In the election, Ireland will choose more members of parliament, known as TDs, than ever before.

It comes after a recommendation to increase the number of TDs from 160 to 174 to account for a boom in the population. The number of constituencies has increased from 39 to 43.

After polling day, the protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin. As Ireland uses a system of proportional representation, the voting slips need to be counted several times  an undertaking which can last for days.
Irelands leaders have sent their congratulations to Donald Trump (Jane Barlow/PA)

Irelands leaders have congratulated Donald Trump as clinched the US presidential election.

Mr Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes required on Wednesday morning to be elected as the 47th President of the United States.

Irish premier Simon Harris and deputy premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin have pledged to work to maintain and strengthen the historic links between Ireland and the US.

In a statement the Taoiseach said: I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.

Ireland and the United States have deep and historical bonds of people, and we will work to make these even stronger in the years ahead.

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The world faces many challenges and needs leadership to meet them.

With the US and Irelands shared commitment to democracy and international law, we can, and will, tackle these challenges.

The Tanaiste said regular high-level political engagement with the new US administration and on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill will be a high priority for the Irish Government.

We look forward to working with him and his new administration in a constructive manner, as we did during his previous administration, he said.

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This year marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States.

Irelands relationship with the United States draws its strength from our deep, historical people-to-people connections, the support of the US to peace on this Island, as well as our significant, and mutually beneficial, economic relationship.

As we prepare to engage with a new US administration, we do so building on the strong legacy of the last 100 years.

The high level of political bipartisan interest in Irish issues among US politicians and officials is, and will continue to be, invaluable.

Regular, high-level political engagement, both with the new US administration and on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill, will be a high priority for the Government.
Funeral details have been announced for a man who died after a suspected severe allergic reaction to a wasp sting he sustained while cutting hedges.

It is believed 56-year-old Michael Sheehan inadvertently disturbed a wasp nest as he worked on Tuesday.

Before he could get away from the scene, he was stung multiple times.

Mr Sheehan went to his home outside Macroom in Co Cork where he complained of feeling unwell.

A short time later he collapsed and the emergency services were alerted by an alarmed relative.

Paramedics were at the scene within minutes but the man was already unresponsive.

He was treated at the scene but, despite desperate efforts to stabilise his condition, he was pronounced dead before he could be rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH).

It is feared he died from acute anaphylactic shock.

Mr Sheehans body will repose in Fitz-Geralds Funeral Home Macroom (P12KX79) On Thursday from 6pm to 8pm.

His requiem mass will be held on Friday at 1.30 pm in St Colmans Church, Macroom (P12VP20), which will also be streamed live, followed by private cremation at 4pm in The Island Crematorium, Ringaskiddy.

Gardai are treating the death as a tragic accident.

The man had no underlying health conditions and it is understood he was unaware he was allergic to wasp stings.

A full post mortem examination will be conducted at CUH morgue by the State Pathologist's Office.

On average, three in every 100 adults can suffer a life-threatening reaction if they are exposed to certain types of insect venom.

Severe allergic reactions are most common from the stings of bees and wasps.

However, reactions can also result from the bites of certain species of spiders and ants.

In the US, it is estimated that up to 7pc of the adult and juvenile population can be hypersensitive to certain types of insect stings and bites - with a high risk of anaphylactic shock.

The UK has recorded several deaths each year from such types of severe allergic reactions.

People who are known to have such allergic reactions carry an Epinephrine (EpiPen), an auto-injection device which introduces adrenaline into the system in a bid to offset the immune-system's reaction to the sting toxins.

Beekeepers are known to be at a much higher risk of anaphylaxis.

Michael Sheehan

News Catch Up - Wednesday 6 November
Conor McGregor arriving at the High Court in Dublin this morning. Photo: Collins Courts

Conor McGregor pinned down and violently raped a young woman in a Dublin hotel after taking cocaine, the citys High Court has been told.

Mother-of-one Nikita Ni Laimhin (35) was left with extensive bruises and abrasions, including black and blue wrists, a bloodied scratch to her breast, and neck pain after being placed in a stranglehold by the mixed martial arts star.

The hair colourist claims she tried to fight off McGregor (36), but submitted to him after he three times put her in an armlock until she could not breathe.

She claims he pinned her down on a bed after she had earlier refused to perform a sex act on him.

During the assault he is alleged to have told her: Now you know what it was like in the Octagon when I had to tap myself out three times.

The rape is alleged to have occurred after McGregor picked her up from her Christmas party and brought her to a penthouse suite in the Beacon Hotel in Dublin.

The court heard she later presented at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit of the Rotunda Hospital, an absolute wreck, constantly weeping, and in pain.

A tampon embedded in her vagina had to be removed with a forceps, a jury was told.

Details of the alleged rape were outlined on the opening day of Ms Ni Laimhins civil action against McGregor and his associate, James Lawrence of Rafters Road in Drimnagh.

She claims to have been raped by both men at the hotel on December 9, 2018. She was 29 at the time.

The two defendants deny her claims and say they each twice had consensual sex with Ms Ni Laimhin.

They say the claims made in her lawsuit were false, malicious and patently made in bad faith and that a claim for damages so she can relocate to a new home amounted to extortion.

Ms Ni Laimhins counsel John Gordon SC said McGregor had claimed he and Ms Ni Laimhin were just having fun and a bout of rough sex.

He said the defendants would try to portray her as a gold-digger and a fraud.

But the barrister said this would be contradicted by medical evidence. He said the rapes had left her suffering from depression, stress and panic attacks, frightened of the area she was living in and frightened of McGregor.

A jury of four men and eight women was sworn in this morning to hear the case, which is expected to last two weeks.

Prior to the opening of the case, Mr Justice Alexander Owens told jurors: Essentially the allegation in the statement of claim is Mr McGregor sexually assaulted Ms Ni Laimhin and in effect raped her on December 9, 2018 and Mr Lawrence did likewise.

Mr Justice Owens said the case was not a criminal trial but rather a civil action for damages.

He told jurors they would be judges of fact.

The law acts on your decision on the facts one way or another, he said.

McGregor and Lawrence sat at the back of the court either side of McGregors father Tony as the jury was selected and the case opened.

After the jury was selected, Mr Justice Owens said their first task would be to appoint a foreman or forewoman. Any questions the jury might have would be conveyed to the judge through the foreman or forewoman, he said.

Mr Justice Owens said the jury would have to decide what happened by reference to the evidence they will hear.

He warned them that this was confined to what they would hear from the witness box and may potentially involve documents introduced into evidence.

Anything you hear or see about this trial that is not received by you in court is not evidence, he said.

The judge said that when jurors return home each evening, they should not discuss the evidence with their loved ones or seek opinions.

You dont do that. You should also discourage other people from offering their opinions, he said.

Mr Justice Owens said jurors were not in the business of acting as a private detective and he warned them not to seek out information on the internet or on social media.

He said jurors should accept there is a lot of nonsense on the internet and should not bother during this trial with looking up opinion pieces or posts on Twitter or other social media sites.

Stay away from that because there are enormous temptations to get into that, he said.

The judge said his directions were most important.

A failure by a juror to abide by the directions of the judge is a contempt of court, he said.

The plaintiff is being represented in the action by barristers John Gordon SC, Ray Boland SC and Siun Leonowicz BL, instructed by solicitors Coleman Legal.

McGregor is represented by barristers Remy Farrell SC and Shelley Horan BL, instructed by Michael J Staines & Company Solicitors.

Lawrence is represented by the same solicitors. His senior counsel is John Fitzgerald SC.

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Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has been told to apologise to the Commons (Maja Smiejkowska/PA)

Lee Anderson has been ordered to apologise to the Commons for breaking bullying and harassment rules after a standards watchdog found he twice swore at a security guard when his parliamentary pass did not work.

The Reform UK MP allegedly told the officer f*** off, everyone opens the door to me, you are the only one when he was told he needed to have his card checked at the gates to the Westminster estate.

When the guard repeated that the pass had to be examined, Mr Anderson approached them before saying f*** you, I have a train to catch and walking out of the search post.

A complaint about the incident on November 3 was upheld by Parliaments standards commissioner.

Mr Anderson initially appealed against the finding to the Independent Expert Panel, but his case was dismissed on the basis that it failed to raise any substantive grounds.

Since then, he has accepted the commissioners finding that he had sworn at the complainant and that his behaviour had been a breach of the bullying and harassment policy, the panel said.

It added: He had also expressed a desire to apologise.

The sub-panel accepted Mr Andersons evidence that he had faced challenging personal circumstances on the day in question and his unacceptable behaviour was not planned or premeditated.

In its findings, the watchdog highlighted the power imbalance between the prominent MP and the security officer and noted the importance laid out in Parliaments behaviour code not to abuse his influence or authority.

Mr Anderson should apologise both to the complainant in writing and to the House of Commons by way of a personal statement, the watchdog concluded.

At the time of the incident, the MP had been deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, a position from which he later resigned to vote against the government on an amendment to its Rwanda asylum plan.

Mr Anderson was later stripped of the Tory whip in February after refusing to apologise for stating that Islamists had got control of London Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan, and in March defected to Reform UK.

He has served as the partys chief whip since July.

Mr Anderson and Reform UK have been contacted for comment.
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price was trailing in early results in her bid to survive a recall election. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

Just a few years ago, the criminal justice reform movement was ascendant in the Bay Area and across California.

Crime was falling, reliance on incarceration was losing support and anger over the police murder of George Floyd propelled momentum from years of Black Lives Matter protests.

But the results of Tuesdays election signaled, once again, that the pendulum of public opinion has swung back.

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With the attempted recall of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price ahead by a wide margin in early returns and Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon beaten badly in his reelection bid, voters favoring a tougher approach to crime were poised to all but excise Californias cast of progressive prosecutors not long after they thundered into office.

The defeats, if they hold, would continue a losing streak that began with the 2022 recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and may sideline an agenda that would be without its highest-profile standard bearers.

Combined with Tuesdays passage of Proposition 36, a measure to increase punishments for theft and drug crimes, the election results show California voters have soured on that agenda, pushed rightward by forces including the fentanyl crisis, a pandemic surge in crime  including hate crimes against Asian Americans  and organized attacks against reform.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who helped lead the recall campaign against Boudin before succeeding her former boss, attributes the shift to voters judging what she deemed radical reforms in action  and determining they didnt work.

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What they have seen with Chesa and with DA Price is a complete rejection of the role of district attorney and an otherwise complete focus on dismantling the system, Jenkins told the Chronicle before the election. And that is not something people want to see happen, because they now understand what that means for their everyday lives.

Taken together, its a dramatic shift from a decade ago, when Golden State voters approved a sweeping reduction in penalties for theft and drug crimes through Prop 47.

That measure, which passed with nearly 60% of the vote, downgraded thefts under $950 and drug possession crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, intended to ease overcrowding in California prisons that prompted federal judges to rule the system was violating prisoners civil rights.

In passing Prop 36, voters elected to move in the opposite direction, undoing parts of Prop 47 and reauthorizing felony punishments for repeat theft and drug crimes. Another statewide measure that sought to ban forced prison labor was trailing in early returns.

The sea change in criminal justice has been on display among the states Democrats in the past year. Gov. Gavin Newsom sent state police into California cities to crack down on crime and initiated new efforts to charge drug dealers with murder.

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Though Newsom opposed Prop 36, arguing it was overly punitive and will funnel money away from drug addiction treatment, many of his fellow Democrats embraced it, with San Francisco Mayor London Breed and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan emerging as faces of the campaign.

Breeds advocacy for the measure came on the heels of her successful efforts in San Francisco to pass local ballot measures to expand police power and require drug screening of welfare recipients.

Of the five elected DAs who were members of the Prosecutors Alliance, a statewide coalition created in 2020 to advocate for reform policies, only one, Diana Becton in Contra Costa County, would remain in office if Price and Gascon are ousted.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, a leader in the states criminal justice reform movement, was far behind in his reelection bid. Eric Thayer/Associated Press

Why voters in the nations bluest state have been so eager to discard these leaders is a matter of debate, representing either a public fed up with perceived permissiveness or the result of well-heeled opposition groups and alarmist messages online and in the media.

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Cristine Soto DeBerry, the founder and executive director of the Prosecutors Alliance, said she believes the latter to be true, asserting that the coalitions values  if not those of some of its candidates  continue to remain popular with voters.

What (critics) have succeeded at is demonizing a few of the leaders of that work, but not the work itself, she said. While we appreciate having courageous leaders who lean into this work with us, it continues whether we have those folks in office or not.

DeBerry said the coalition has expanded to more than 4,000 members, who include line prosecutors and victims advocates from 22 counties, and is expanding membership to other states.

Similar to the campaign to oust Boudin, those looking to unseat Gascon and Price worked to blame the district attorneys for crime in their respective counties. Gascon previously served as San Franciscos district attorney and police chief.

Criminologists say crime trends are far more a product of factors such as poverty and national events like the COVID pandemic than a local policy or individual. Moreover, quality of life issues such as homelessness, vandalism and open-air drug use  long-standing problems in many large California cities  can breed a sense of lawlessness.

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But Gascon, Price and Boudin also took heat for what many viewed as unduly lenient treatment of violent offenders. Meanwhile, Price and Boudin both struggled to make good on promises to hold police officers accountable for misconduct.

Price and Gascon also had high-profile stumbles unique to them and their offices, said David Sklansky, a Stanford law professor who focuses on policing and prosecution. Gascon, he noted, was consistently battered by his own employees  line prosecutors who are part of a powerful and vocal union.

DAs races are local races, and they are always heavily influenced by local factors, Sklansky said in a recent interview.

Sklansky said this was particularly true in the case of Price, who was accused of retaliation against employees and hired her boyfriend, and whose office missed deadlines to file charges in more than 1,000 misdemeanor cases as well as charges against two Alameda officers she accused of manslaughter.

Its hard to read that as about progressive prosecution, Sklansky said. Although certainly her politics cant be taken out of the equation.

On Tuesday night, dozens of parents, spouses and children of Alameda County murder victims gathered at a San Leandro buffet to cheer for Prices ouster. The group had fueled the recall with stories about what they saw as denials of justice, recounting what they saw as lax plea deals for their loved ones killers.

Virginia Nishita, whose husband, Kevin Nishita, was fatally shot in 2021, termed the deals a slap in the face and called for the next district attorney to reverse Prices policies that allowed for them.
Newly-appointed shadow Welsh secretary Mims Davies has described Labours Port Talbot steelworks deal as identical to the previous Tory governments.

The Conservative former minister said the money for the deal had been sitting there the whole time and it was ludicrous of the Government to claim otherwise.

Meanwhile, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the Tories owe the people of Port Talbot an apology for failing to deliver a single penny.

Shadow Welsh secretary Mims Davies (Flora Thompson/PA)

Traditional steel production ceased in Port Talbot in September, with thousands of workers losing their jobs.

The Tata Steel plant will enter a transition phase until 2027, when steelmaking will resume through the electric arc furnace, part-funded by a 500 million grant from the UK Government.

Nearly 2,000 jobs will be lost as a result of the transition. The Government has said about 500 jobs are expected to be available during the construction of the electric arc furnace.

In her first contribution in the role, Ms Davies said: The Secretary of State very clearly needs to acknowledge to this House that the deal for Tata Steel, recently re-announced by her UK Government, is, frankly, identical to the one negotiated by (Kemi Badenoch), now the leader of the Opposition.

Ms Stevens replied: I think (Ms Davies) needs to read the deal reached by this Government. The 1.25 billion transformation project at Port Talbot will deliver a state-of-the-art electric furnace, the contract for which has just been signed.

In just under 10 weeks, without providing any additional funding beyond the 500 million previously announced, we delivered a better deal. It secures the immediate future of Port Talbot, lays the foundations for future investment, and enhanced protections for the workforce.

Ms Davies then said: Delighted (Ms Stevens) read the deal that we wrote, but the facts are simple, despite the protesting, this is the same deal as previously negotiated by the last Conservative government, involving the same amount of money to build the electric arc furnace, the same cash for that transition board.

Its ludicrous, frankly, for her or others to continue to claim there was no support in place and that it has somehow appeared that she found it down the back of the sofa.

Shes fully aware the cash had been sitting there the whole time. Perhaps an apology is needed?

Ms Stevens replied: I think if an apology is due, its due to the people of Port Talbot, for promising 80 million for a transition board that operated, I think, for nine months under the previous secretary of state for Wales, and delivered not a single penny to the people of Port Talbot.

The newly-appointed shadow minister was congratulated by Plaid Cymrus Liz Saville Roberts for taking one for the team after taking the role.

Elsewhere during Wales questions in the Commons, Liberal Democrat MP Clive Jones (Wokingham) urged the Government to review the Australia and New Zealand trade agreement, and get it right for our farming communities.

Wales Office minister Dame Nia Griffith said: He knows as well as I do that the new leader of the Opposition is the one who sold our farmers down the river, negotiating deals with countries like Australia, leaving our farmers open to increasing quotas of imported meat.

I can assure him that this Government is committed to promoting robust standards nationally and internationally, to protect consumer interests and to ensure that consumers have confidence in the food that they can buy.

We will consider a full range of tolls at our disposal to uphold the UKs commitment to high standards. This includes using our influence in the World Trade Organisation and other multilateral bodies to argue for better and fairer trading rules.
Sir Keir Starmer said the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper following Donald Trumps historic election victory.

Mr Trump declared he had won a magnificent victory for the American people once it was clear he was on track to return to the White House as 47th president of the United States.

That victory was later confirmed as a win in Wisconsin tipped him over the 270 electoral votes needed to defeat Kamala Harris.

Sir Keir will be keen to build bridges with Mr Trump after the Republican politicians campaign filed a legal complaint about Labour activists supporting Ms Harris.

The Prime Minister said: Congratulations president-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

(PA Graphics)

The return of Mr Trump to the White House could cause diplomatic headaches for the UK, with potential splits on trade policy and US support for Ukraine and Nato.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he is looking forward to working with Mr Trump and his running mate JD Vance.

Mr Lammy has spent time seeking to form a close relationship with the Trump campaign, despite a history of outspoken criticism of his record  including calling him a racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser in 2017 and a tyrant in a toupee a year later.

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The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years, Mr Lammy said on Wednesday.

With projections showing Mr Trump was on course for a spectacular return to the White House, the Republican candidate told his supporters that America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.

He said that he would not let his backers down and that it is time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us, as he looks likely to win the presidency for the second time.

Donald Trump kisses former first lady Melania Trump at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Centre in Florida (Evan Vucci/AP)

Addressing a campaign party in Florida in the early hours of Wednesday, Mr Trump pledged to fight for every citizen and promised the golden age of America.

He said: Every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.

I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve.

He added: This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.

Mr Trumps power at the start of his second presidency could be untrammelled, with the Republicans also appearing on course to win a Senate majority and retaining control in the House of Representatives.

The president-elect has long complained about US tax dollars funding European security and has been highly critical about Nato members not spending enough.

He has also repeatedly claimed he would bring the war in Ukraine to an end, although he has not set out how he would achieve this.

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Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to congratulate Mr Trump and said: I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.

We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said Mr Trumps leadership will again be key to keeping our alliance strong, adding: Through Nato, the US has 31 friends and allies who help to advance US interests, multiply American power and keep Americans safe.

Addressing Mr Trumps concerns about burden-sharing, he added: Two-thirds of Allies now spend at least 2% of their GDP (gross domestic product) on defence, and defence spending and production are on an onward trajectory across the alliance.

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Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace said the return of Mr Trump should spur European Nato members to commit more to security, with a pledge to spend 3% of GDP.

Whatever your feelings about the US election are, the best insurance for all our security is to invest in our own defence and security right across Europe, he said.

Reform UKs Nigel Farage, a leading supporter of Mr Trump, said the president-elect would be a genuine radical.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today: What you are going to see from this Trump administration, and Im guessing that Elon Musk will be the man that is tasked to do it, is there will be a big fightback against the administrative bureaucratic state which is far too big, far too powerful and actually very undemocratic.

What is very interesting about the Trump movement is that its critics call it all sorts of nasty names, the truth is in many ways its bringing Americans together.
Donald Trumps impending return to the White House means he will want to set up an entirely new administration from the one that served under Joe Biden, and his team is also pledging that the second will not look much like the first one after Mr Trumps 2016 victory.

The president-elect has a 75-day transition period to build his team before Inauguration Day on January 20.

One top item on the to-do list is filling around 4,000 government positions with political appointees, people who are specifically tapped for their jobs by Mr Trumps team.

That includes everyone from the secretary of state and other heads of cabinet departments to those selected to serve part time on boards and commissions.

Around 1,200 of those presidential appointments require Senate confirmation, which should be easier after the Senate shifted to Republican control.

 What will the transition look like?

Though the turnover in the new administration will be total, Mr Trump will be familiar with what he needs to accomplish. He built an entirely new administration for his first term and has definite ideas on what to do differently this time.

He has already floated some names.

Mr Trump said at his victory party early on Wednesday that former presidential hopeful and anti-vaccination activist Robert Kennedy Jr will help make America healthy again, adding that were going to let him go to it.

Robert Kennedy Jr (Morry Gash/AP)

Before the election, Mr Trump did not reject Mr Kennedys calls to end fluoridated water. The president-elect has also pledged to make South African-born Elon Musk, a vocal supporter of the Trump campaign, a secretary of federal cost-cutting, and the Tesla chief executive has suggested he can find trillions of dollars in government spending to wipe out.

The transition is not just about filling jobs. Most presidents-elect also receive daily or near-daily intelligence briefings during the transition.

In 2008, outgoing president George W Bush personally briefed president-elect Barack Obama on US covert operations. When Mr Trump was preparing to take office in 2016, Mr Obamas national security adviser, Susan Rice, briefed Michael Flynn, her designated successor in the new administration.

In 2020, Mr Trumps legal challenges to the elections results delayed the start of the transition process for weeks, and presidential briefings with Mr Biden did not begin until November 30.

 Who is helping Trump through the process?

The transition is being led primarily by friends and family, including Mr Kennedy and former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, as well as the president-elects adult sons, Donald Jr and Eric, and his running mate JD Vance.

Vice president-elect JD Vance (Evan Vucci/AP)

Transition co-chairs are Cantor Fitzgerald chief executive Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led the Small Business Administration during Mr Trumps first term.

Mr Lutnick said this years operation is about as different as possible from the 2016 effort, which was first led by Chris Christie. After he won eight years ago, Mr Trump fired Mr Christie, threw out plans the former New Jersey governor had made and gave the job of running the transition to then-vice president-elect Mike Pence.

At the start of his first term, Mr Trump assembled an original cabinet that featured some more mainstream Republicans and business leaders who ultimately disappointed, or broke publicly with him, or both.

This time, he has promised to value loyalty as much as possible  a philosophy that may ensure he makes picks that are more closely aligned to his ideological beliefs and bombastic professional style.

Unlike the campaign of Democratic vice president Kamala Harris, Mr Trumps team did not sign any pre-Election Day transition agreements with the General Services Administration, which essentially acts as the federal governments landlord.

He has therefore already missed deadlines to agree with the GSA on logistical matters like office space and tech support, and with the White House on access to agencies, including documents, employees and facilities.

 New transition rules

In 2020, Mr Trump argued that widespread voter fraud  which had not actually occurred  cost him the election, delaying the start of the transition from his administration to Mr Bidens for weeks.

Four years ago, the Trump-appointed head of the GSA, Emily Murphy, determined that she had no legal standing to determine a winner in the presidential race because Mr Trump was still challenging the results in court. That held up funding and co-operation for the transition.

It was not until Mr Trumps efforts to subvert election results had collapsed across key states that Ms Murphy agreed to formally ascertain a president-elect and begin the transition process. Mr Trump eventually posted on social media that his administration would co-operate.

To prevent that kind of hold-up in future transitions, the Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 mandates that the process begin five days after the election  even if the winner is still in dispute.

That is designed to avoid long delays and means that an affirmative ascertainment by the GSA is no longer a prerequisite for gaining transition support services, according to agency guidelines.

The uncertainty stretched even longer after the 2000 election, when five weeks elapsed before the Supreme Court settled the contested election between Republican George W Bush and Democrat Al Gore.

That left Mr Bush with about half the usual amount of time to manage the transition from the outgoing Clinton administration, which ultimately led to questions about national security gaps that may have contributed to the US being underprepared for the September 11 attacks the following year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wanted to work with Donald Trump (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

The verdict of US voters was more decisive than most pundits had predicted and now the world is waiting to see whether the election of Donald Trump as president is as destabilising as many US allies fear.

Here is how leaders and others around the world are reacting:

 Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!

Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump had a tight relationship during the former presidents first term, but the ties soured when Mr Netanyahu congratulated President Joe Biden for winning in 2020.

 Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership.

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The future of US support for Ukraines fight against Russian invasion is one of the biggest unknowns about Mr Trumps foreign policy.

 Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban

They threatened him with prison, they took his property, they wanted to kill him  and he still won.

Hungarys nationalist leader, one of Mr Trumps most ardent foreign supporters, welcomed a result he said would have a transformative effect on the world and bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

We have many plans that we can execute in the coming year with President Donald Trump, said Mr Orban.

Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte

We face a growing number of challenges globally, from a more aggressive Russia, to terrorism, to strategic competition with China, as well the increasing alignment of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. Working together through Nato helps to deter aggression, protect our collective security, and support our economies.

Mr Trump was a strong critic of the Atlantic military alliance during his first term, accusing its other members of failing to pull their weight. Mr Rutte praised Mr Trump for his work persuading member states to ramp up defence spending, saying Nato was now stronger, larger, and more united.

 European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen

I warmly congratulate Donald J Trump. The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens.

 French president Emmanuel Macron

Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

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 German chancellor Olaf Scholz

I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens.

Italian premier Giorgia Meloni

Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakeable alliance, common values and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even more.

 Indian prime minister Narendra Modi

Heartiest congratulations my friend Donald Trump on your historic election victory.  Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

Lets not forget that we are talking about the unfriendly country that is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.

Dmitry Peskov (Alexander Nemenov/AP)

No congratulations were forthcoming from Moscow, where President Vladimir Putins spokesman declared that Russia-US relations were at the lowest point in history.

 Mexicos president Claudia Sheinbaum

Ms Sheinbaum told Mexicans there is no reason to worry, despite Mr Trumps previous threats to impose trade tariffs on Mexican products unless the country does more to stem the flow of migrants and drugs to the US.

 Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau

A man previously derided by Mr Trump as weak and dishonest wrote on X: The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations.

 Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

He congratulated Trump, despite having endorsed Kamala Harris days ago.

Democracy is the voice of the people and must always be respected, Mr Lula said on X.

 Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi

Another key player in Middle East peace efforts, who had close ties to Mr Trump during his first administration, said Cairo looked forward to arriving together at achieving peace and preservation of stability in the region.
Republicans have taken control of the US Senate and are fighting to keep their majority in the House of Representatives, which would produce a full sweep of power in Congress alongside Donald Trump in the White House.

A unified Republican grip on Washington would set the course for Mr Trumps agenda or if Democrats wrest control of the House, it would provide an almost certain backstop, with veto power over the White House.

Speaking early on Wednesday at his election night party in Florida, Mr Trump said the results delivered an unprecedented and powerful mandate for Republicans.

(PA Graphics)

He called the Senate victory incredible and he praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, who dashed from his own party in Louisiana to join Mr Trump.

Vote counting in some races could go on for days, and control of the House is too early to call.

The rally for Republicans started early on election night in West Virginia, when Jim Justice, the states wealthy governor, flipped the seat held by retiring Senator Joe Manchin.

Republicans toppled Sherrod Brown in Ohio, the first incumbent senator to fall, with luxury car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur Bernie Moreno winning.

(PA Graphics)

The unexpected battleground of Nebraska pushed Republicans over the winning line as incumbent Senator Deb Fischer brushed back a surprisingly strong challenge from independent newcomer Dan Osborn.

One of the most-watched Senate races, in Montana, was decided early on Wednesday.

Democrat Jon Tester, a popular three-term senator and dirt farmer in the fight of his political career lost to Trump-backed Tim Sheehy, a wealthy former Navy Seal, who made derogatory comments about Native Americans, a key constituency in the Western state.

All told, Senate Republicans have a chance to scoop up more seats, potentially delivering their most robust majority in years.

The fight for control of the House became a state-by-state slog, much of which unfolded far from the presidential race.

House races are focused in New York and California, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years.

Other House races are scattered around the country, with some of the most contentious in Maine, the blue dot around Omaha, Nebraska, and in Alaska.

To gain control of the House, Democrats need to flip four seats from Republicans, while holding all of their own, a tall task especially in congressional districts where Mr Trump has won.

It could come down to just a handful of seats, or as little as one, to determine House control.

Voters elected two black women to the Senate, Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, who defeated Republican Larry Hogan, the former governor, in Maryland.

Just three black women have served in the Senate, and never before have two served at the same time.

And in New Jersey, Andy Kim became the first Korean American elected to the Senate. The seat opened when Bob Menendez resigned this year after his federal conviction on bribery charges.

In the House, candidate Sarah McBride, a Democratic state lawmaker from Delaware who is close to the Biden family, became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.

Sarah McBride has become the first openly transgender person elected to Congress (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

What is still unclear is who will lead the new Republican Senate, as long-time leader Mitch McConnell prepares to step down from the post.

South Dakota Senator John Thune, the number two Republican, and Texas Senator John Cornyn, who previously held that post, are the front-runners to replace Mr McConnell in a secret-ballot election scheduled for when senators arrive in Washington next week.

Billions of dollars have been spent by the parties, and outside groups, on the narrow battleground for both the 435-member House and 100-member Senate.

If the two chambers do in fact flip party control, as is possible, it would be rare.

Records show that if Democrats take the House and Republicans take the Senate, it would be the first time that the chambers of Congress have both flipped to opposing political parties.
Keith Baillie, Brett Campbell, Margaret Canning and Olivia Peden join Ciaran Dunbar

Donald Trump declared he had won a "magnificent victory for the American people" as he is set to become the 47th President of the United States.

Donald Trump has won the US Presidency by a landslide.

Trump is now the oldest person to win the presidency, the only convicted felon to do so, and the only won to have incited an insurrection.

But none of that matters now  the American people have spoken and democratically chose him to lead them.

How did the night play out, how surprised are we, and what happens now?

Belfast Telegraph journalists Keith Baillie, Brett Campbell, Margaret Canning and Olivia Peden join Ciaran Dunbar to discuss all.
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From pastors to parishioners, apologists to eschatologists, and billions of Christians, Muslims, and Jews worldwide, there are few sacred artifacts more revered and studied than the Ark of the Covenant. Also known as the "Ark of the Testimony" (Aron Ha-Edut { } in Hebrew), this seat of holiness is first mentioned in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 25.

The Bible describes the Ark of the Covenant as a sacred artifact crafted under Gods instructions to house the Ten Commandments, yet its final location remains a mystery following its last known placement in Solomon's Temple, with theories ranging from divine concealment to its possible relocation to Ethiopia.

The Ark of the Covenant was built during Moses' 40 days on Mount Sinai. The Spirit of the Lord provided detailed instructions for constructing this beacon of Gods presence, including the materials to use and who should build it. In Exodus 31, God led Moses to two master craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiabone from the tribe of Judah and the other from the tribe of Dan, respectively.

"I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship."

God provided Bezalel's qualifications in verses 2-5. In verse 6, God appointed Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, as Bezalels assistant. With these two skilled builders, Moses had his project team. Then, God provided a list of materials and specific instructions in Exodus 37 that any general contractor would appreciate.

Covered in gold and crafted with acacia wood, the Ark was the sacred resting place for the Ten Commandments. Using todays conversion, with one cubit equal to approximately 1.5 feet, the Ark was around 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high. It was ornate and extravaganta priceless creation (though a movie prop in Raiders of the Lost Ark was valued between $80,000 and $250,000).

Following its final known resting place inside King Solomons temple in 586 BCE, the fate of the sacred Ark became uncertain after the Babylonian captivity.

Biblical Context of the Ark

The last mention of the Ark of the Covenant in the Bible before Johns vision in Revelation 11:19 is in 2 Chronicles 35:3:

"Then he said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to the Lord: 'Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. It shall no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and His people Israel.'" (2 Chronicles 35:3, NKJV)

This occurred during Josiahs reign, estimated by historians to be around 622 BCE. Four decades later, King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian armies invaded Israel twice, ultimately burning the city to ashes (2 Kings 24, NKJV).

Did the Babylonian king disregard such a precious artifact? Did the Levitical priests hide the Ark to protect it from the invading forces? These questions remain unanswered. Some scholars, citing Hebrews 9:20-25, suggest that the Ark John saw in his vision wasnt the earthly Ark but a heavenly one.

"It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in Gods presence."

The reference to "copies of heavenly things" implies that the Ark seen in John's vision might have been the true Ark in heaven, while the earthly one remained lost.

Some other biblical references to the Ark of the Covenant include:

Ezekiel 10:4-18, where the prophet spoke of the Glory of the Lord departing between the Cherubim during Jeconiahs exile in 593 BCE.

Lamentations 2:1 refers to God's "Footstool" (Chronicles 28:2, NKJV) not being remembered during the fall of Jerusalem, suggesting it was "abandoned."

Other Theories About the Ark

The most popular theory, albeit often debunked, is that the Ark was moved to a church in Aksum, Ethiopia, now known as St. Mary of Zion Cathedral. According to this theory, only one man, known as "the Guardian," is allowed to see it, and no one else is permitted to confirm its authenticity.

Another theory, mentioned in the deuterocanonical book of 2 Maccabees 2:1-8, suggests that the prophet Jeremiah hid the Ark in a cave, intending for Moses to retrieve it before his death.

However, those who hid the Ark reportedly failed to mark the location, and it was lost. Many theologians believe that God does not want the Ark to be found now that Jesus Christ has risen and fulfilled all the Ark symbolized.

This perspective is rooted in Jeremiah 3:16: "And when you shall be multiplied and increase in the land, saith the Lord, they shall say no more: 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord'; neither shall it come upon the heart, neither shall they remember it, neither shall it be visited, neither shall that be done anymore." (Jeremiah 3:16, DRA)

The Ark of the Covenant was a divine concept, a holy place, but it is not equivalent to the Cross of Calvary. There were no superpowers within the structure itself, but Christs redeeming power, displayed on the Cross, has bought our lives.

Although the Ark was a magnificent artifact built by Moses, Bezalel, and Oholiab under Gods direction, it held two tablets of stone.

Today, we have access to something greaterthe everlasting masterpiece of Christ's resurrection, a truth we can revisit anytime.

Shawn Paul Wood, Th.D., is an award-winning copywriter, storyteller, and best-selling ghostwriter of several faith-based articles, books, speeches, and columns for some of the most admirable brands in their respective industries for more than 20 years. As Founder of Woodworks Communications with a doctorate in Theology, he leads teams of content strategists and marketing professionals to expand the brands and audiences of corporate leaders, serial entrepreneurs, and respected ministers of the Gospel. Read his Patheos column Close to Home here.
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To understand the role of women according to the Bible, it is essential to consider God's intentions as revealed in the creation account of Genesis 12 and to see how the New Testament illustrates the Kingdom of God restoring those original purposes. Women are seen playing pivotal roles throughout both the Old and New Testaments, revealing a biblical emphasis on equality in spiritual significance and value.

Women in the Ministry of Jesus

Throughout the ministry of Jesus, women played notable roles, revealing His countercultural approach to gender in religious life. The first two chapters of Luke emphasize the faithfulness of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, both of whom demonstrate strong faith and spiritual insight. Jesus continuously elevated women in his teachings and actions. In Mark's Gospel, for instance, women often display faith and understanding in contrast to the men around them. Luke 10:39 provides a significant moment where Mary is seen sitting at the feet of Jesusa posture of discipleship traditionally reserved for men. This act reflects Jesus' openness to women as disciples, unheard of in that era.

The Gospels further highlight women as the first to witness and proclaim Jesus' resurrection. Each Gospel records that women, rather than the male disciples, were the first to encounter the risen Christ and share the news, a fact with profound implications in a culture where women's testimonies were often undervalued.

Women in the Early Church

The role of women continued to be prominent in the early Church, as seen in the Book of Acts and New Testament letters. Peter's sermon on Pentecost included Joel's prophecy of the Spirit coming equally upon men and women (Acts 2:1718). Luke, the author of Acts, mentions Philip's four daughters, who were prophetesses (Acts 21:9), and the couple Aquila and Priscilla, who worked closely with Paul in ministry. Interestingly, Priscilla's name often precedes her husband's, which some scholars interpret as a sign of her prominence. Priscilla and Aquila are noted for instructing Apollos, an influential teacher, about Jesus (Acts 18:2428).

Paul's letters offer additional insights, such as the commendation of Phoebe in Romans 16:12: "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well." Phoebe is not only described as a servant or deacon of the church but also as someone of influence. Scholars widely accept that she was entrusted with delivering Paul's letter to the Romans, an act that included answering questions and expounding on Paul's words, given the complex nature of the letter.

Understanding Women's Roles Through the Biblical Narrative

What does all this mean for understanding the role of women in the Bible? The biblical narrative, from creation to the early church, suggests that women are entrusted with significant roles alongside men. This perspective is best understood by looking at the entirety of Scripture.

The Genesis creation account, for instance, establishes men and women as equal in worth and value. Genesis 1:2627 states that both were created "in the image of God," which is remarkable given the patriarchal context of the Ancient Near East, where only kings were typically seen as bearing a divine image. Genesis 2 further emphasizes their equality in how Eve is described as Adam's companion, taken from his side rather than his head or feet, symbolizing partnership.

The harmony between Adam and Eve is illustrated in Genesis 2:25: "And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed." The verse highlights that their relationship was one of unity and equality, where they could be fully known and accepted by one another without fear or shame.

Restoration of Equality in the New Creation

The New Creation, as depicted in the New Testament, restores the equality seen in Genesis. Paul's words in Galatians 3:28"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus"suggest that the coming Kingdom of God brings about the restoration of unity and equality for all. This passage calls for a reevaluation of human divisions and emphasizes that believers are all equally valued in the body of Christ.

This approach challenges interpretations of women's roles based only on Genesis 3 through Revelation 20, which primarily detail a world impacted by sin. Such interpretations often overlook God's original intent in Genesis 12 and the New Testament's redemptive work to restore humanity. With the arrival of God's Kingdom in Jesus, the unity of creation is renewed, allowing men and women to serve together in a way that reflects God's initial design.

God's Intent For Women as Equals

If equality is part of God's original design, then women's role is inherently equal to that of men. While our world may not always reflect this, such disparity reflects its fallen state. The question then arises: Should God's people live by His original design or conform to a fallen world's standards? Scripture calls God's people to live in light of His intent.

This assertion leads to questions, such as the significance of Eve being described as a "helper" (Hebrew: ezer) for Adam in Genesis 2:18, 20. Importantly, the term "helper" does not imply inferiority. In fact, ezer is often used to describe God's role as Israel's helper in the Old Testament, which conveys strength and support rather than subordination.

Addressing Genesis 3:16 on Gender Hierarchy

Genesis 3:16 is sometimes cited to support gender hierarchy, where it states, "Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." However, two points clarify this interpretation:

First, this verse speaks to the consequences of human disobedience rather than God's will. Genesis 3:16 describes how the harmonious relationship between Adam and Eve is disrupted by sin, leading to conflict rather than unity.

Second, in the same way that God describes the ground as being cursed with thorns as a consequence of sin, this passage reveals a broken relationship. God's intention is shown in Genesis 12, while Genesis 3 reveals the fallout of the fall.

Restoring Women's Role as God's Image Bearers

The role of women in light of the biblical story is to serve as equal image-bearers alongside men. This perspective aligns with how the New Testament elevates women, reflecting the restoration of God's intent. In God's Kingdom, unity among all peopleincluding men and womenis ultimately restored as humanity is reconciled through Christ. By following God's design, women and men together reflect His glory and His love for all.
Clockwise from top left: Sam Liccardo, Evan Low, Lateefah Simon and Jennifer Tran ran for two open Bay Area congressional seats. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle, Jonah Reenders/Special to the Chronicle, Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi speaks on the third night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 21. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Two new Bay Area lawmakers will be heading to the U.S. House of Representatives in January, joining Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who secured her 20th election to Congress to represent San Francisco in early results.

Sam Liccardo will be one of them. He defeated a fellow Democrat, Assemby Member Evan Low, 59.9% to 40.1%. In the other Bay Area open seat  to replace retiring Rep. Barbara Lee  Lateefah Simon led Jennifer Tran 63% to 37%, according to early results. Pelosi is led her Republican opponent Bruce Lou by 62 percentage points.

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Liccardo, former mayor of San Jose, and Low had been locked in a tight race to fill outgoing Rep. Anna Eshoos seat. The two Democrats advanced in the primary after a recount found Low beat Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian by five votes.

During the campaign, Low attacked Liccardo over the recount, which was requested by Liccardos former mayoral staffer Jonathan Padilla. Liccardo has denied any involvement in the request.

Low faced criticism from Liccardos campaign and other local officials over his use of more than $500,000 from his Assembly account on ads highlighting Lows accomplishments as a lawmaker. Liccardos campaign argued that they were campaign ads for a federal campaign, meaning that using state account funds was prohibited. Defend the Vote, a voting rights organization, filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission over Lows usage of the money.

Low, who got a last-minute endorsement from Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 28, has criticized Liccardos leadership while mayor of San Jose, including accusing him of being anti-labor, citing union leaders contentious relationships with Liccardo.

Low was endorsed by the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Labor Unions. Liccardo was endorsed by the Laborers International Union of North America and Nor Cal Carpenters Union.

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Liccardos support of Prop 36, a tough-on-crime ballot measure, contrasted with Lows criticisms of the proposition, which received support from Republicans as well as Democratic mayors like London Breed and San Joses Matt Mahan. Newsom vocally opposed Prop 36.

Low was outspent by Liccardo in the election, with OpenSecrets estimating that he raised nearly $3.5 million while the former mayor raised just under $6 million. Outside groups spent more than $4 million in the election.

In the race to represent Oakland and Berkeley, Simon was long considered to be the front-runner to fill Lees seat. The Oakland resident, who serves on the Bay Area Rapid Transit District board, was a former employee and mentee of Vice President Kamala Harris. Simon was a featured speaker at the Democratic National Convention in August, highlighting the role Harris played in uplifting her career in public service.

Tran and Tim Sanchez, neither of whom have held elected office, took tough-on-crime positions, as seen across various Democrat-versus-Democrat races. In October, LPAC, an LGBTQ organization, rescinded its support of Tran, who is queer, over comments it said were anti-trans when she voiced concerns with gender transitioning care for minors.

Elsewhere in the state, tight congressional races in the Central Valley and Southern California have received national attention because theyre considered crucial to Democrats attempts to flip control of the House of Representatives.

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Former Assembly Member Adam Gray had a slight lead over incumbent Republican Rep. John Duarte in the 13th Congressional District, which includes Merced County and parts of Madera, Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Fresno counties. Further south, in the 22nd District, including parts of Bakersfield and much of the farming region north of it, Republican Rep. David Valadao led over former Assembly Member Rudy Salas.
In this Nov. 6, 2018, file photo, registered voters mark their ballots at a polling place at Fire Station No. 4 in Berkeley. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Berkeley mayoral candidate Kate Harrison stands for a portrait on Oct. 30. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Berkeley mayoral candidate Adena Ishii stands for a portrait near Adeline and Alcatraz streets in Berkeley on Oct. 30. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin stands for a portrait at his office on Sept. 25. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

A Berkeley council member who has centered her campaign on promising to revitalize the citys downtown maintained her lead early Wednesday.

Sophie Hahn, who was elected in 2016 and was endorsed by the current mayor, had received nearly 53% of the vote after ranked-choice voting was applied in results released early Wednesday. Adena Ishii, the former president of the local League of Women Voters, garnered 47% of the vote. Kate Harrison, a former council member who abruptly resigned in February, saying that the council doesnt think through decisions, was disqualified after ranked-choice voting was applied because she didn't receive enough votes.

The results are preliminary and could change as more votes are counted.

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Mayor Jesse Arreguin, who has held the position for the past eight years, gave up his seat to run for state Senate. He was leading with 62% of the vote in his race.

Arreguin oversaw the city as it went through a massive transformation with thousands of new housing units and a homeless crisis that has exploded in recent years despite some success  the citys unsheltered homeless population plummeted 45% from 2022 to 2024.

Two ballot measures that would fund street safety and sidewalk repairs were on the ballot: Measure EE was failing and Measure FF was passing based on results released early Wednesday. Both require a simple majority to pass.

Other ballot measures:

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Measure X

This measure, which had received 76% of the vote in early returns, would create a special parcel tax to maintain Berkeley Public Libraries services and facilities. It requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

Measure BB

This measure, which requires a majority to pass, would fund housing retention and homelessness prevention programs. It would also limit the maximum annual rent increase to 5%. The measure had received 52% of the vote in early returns.

Measure CC

This measure, which had 38% of the vote in early returns, would redirect 20% of business taxes on rental properties in Berkeley to a fund that property owners can use to help tenants pay rent. It requires a majority to pass.

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Measure DD

Measure DD, which had 59% of the vote in early returns, would ban the establishment or expansion of livestock facilities. It needs a simple majority to pass.

Measure GG

This measure, which had 31% of the vote in early returns, would establish a special tax on natural gas consumption in nongovernment-owned buildings. It requires a simple majority to pass.
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PITTSFIELD  The Berkshire County Historical Society's yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the publication of Herman Melville's "Billy Budd, Sailor" is coming to a close.

Before the celebrations conclude, BCHS has a set of final events that honor the novel and its discovery  a screening of the 1962 British film, "Billy Budd," and two opportunities to record a piece of your family's oral history.

'BILLY BUDD' ON THE BIG SCREEN

Catch the critically-acclaimed British film, "Billy Budd"  starring Terence Stamp as Billy Budd, Robert Ryan as John Claggart and Peter Ustinov as Captain Vere  with a special screening, 7 p.m. Nov. 13, at the Beacon Cinema. Tickets are $20 general admission; $15,BCHS members, and can be purchased at berkshirehistory.org.

Nominated for four British Academy of Film and Arts awards including Best Film, the film earned Stamp, in his feature film debut, a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Male Newcomer and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Arrowhead docent Richard Matturro will introduce the film. Matturro, who taught literature at the University of Albany for 14 years, is the author of numerous newspaper articles and six novels.

Hot Plate Brewing Co., located across the street from Beacon Cinema, continues to offer "The Handsome Sailor," a limited-release traditional English ale brewed for the centennial celebration.

SHARE YOUR STORIES

Melville owes his status as a literary giant to his granddaughter, Eleanor Melville Metcalf, and the 1924 publishing of his lost novella, "Billy Budd, Sailor."

Metcalf found the manuscript for "Billy Budd" in 1906, tucked inside a tin bread box her grandmother, Elizabeth, had hidden in the attic. "Billy Budd, Sailor" remained unknown until 1918, when Metcalf showed the handwritten manuscript to Melville biographer Raymond M. Weaver. Weaver edited it and published it posthumously in a new collection of Melville's works. The publishing of "Billy Budd" coincided with a renewed literary interest in Melville and in "Moby-Dick." The revived interest in his works gained Melville a place among the literary giants of his time, most of whom he had known and written alongside.

Written during the last five years of Melville's life, at his 26th Street home in Manhattan, "Billy Budd, Sailor," was left unfinished by Melville. His wife, Elizabeth, who transcribed and edited his works, had attempted to complete it, but abandoned the project when she was left with too many unanswered questions. The bread box in which she tucked the manuscript can be seen in the Melville Room at the Berkshire Athenaeum.

To honor Metcalf and her relationship with her grandfather, BCHS is partnering with the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College and the Berkshire Athenaeum to record and archive stories of grandparents and grandchildren. Both sessions, noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 16 at Herman Melville's historic home, Arrowhead, 780 Holmes Road, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave., will feature a story scavenger hunt for children and their families, which will include tasty treats and art projects. All participants will receive a recording of their story. Both recording events are free.
Eagle Archives, March 13, 1957: Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wynne brought their family of three from Leeds, England, to Pittsfield in 1951, looking for security from nuclear fission and greater opportunity for their children. Six years later, they're not sure about the security; they are about the opportunity.
PITTSFIELD  When the Robersons moved to Pittsfield in 1976, Zion Lutheran Church was their anchor in the unfamiliar city.

The children spent Sunday mornings up on the second floor studying scripture before joining their parents for worship. On special evenings, theyd help cook and serve dinner downstairs in the parish hall.

Lynne Roberson, 85, fondly remembers the semi-annual German dinners  heaping plates of sauerbraten, red cabbage, spatzle and black forest cake.

Nearly 50 years later, a lot has changed. The church still hosts that semi-annual German dinner, but the General Electric Co. no longer drives the countys economy and the congregation has 180 members, not 1,200.

And soon, those Sunday school classrooms will be apartments and the parish hall will be converted to a housing resource center.

As peoples relationship to faith has changed over the decades, many congregations are looking for creative ways to use their often vast physical spaces. Doing so can provide a source of revenue, help them hold onto their historic buildings and meet community needs.

In Berkshire County, where housing prices are rising and inventory remains low, Zion Lutheran Church has settled on an answer that dovetails closely with their own vision and values: affordable housing.

Last week, representatives from the church signed a lease with regional housing nonprofit Hearthway after years of planning. Hearthway is leasing two floors of the church building, where it will build nine apartments for people experiencing homelessness and a housing resource center. The congregation will continue to worship on the first floor.

Construction was slated to begin Monday and is expected to wrap up in early 2027.

The new center will augment the services offered by The Pearl, a homeless shelter run by ServiceNet in the nearby the First United Methodist Church.

Thinking creatively about their space isnt new for members of the congregation at Zion Lutheran Church. Seven years ago, they made the first transformation to the building: renovating their sanctuary.

[We used it] one hour a week. A beautiful space, wonderfully pointed ceilings  one hour a week, said church Vice President Jim McGrath. So in 2014, the congregation had a reckoning and said, What can we do here? How can we make this income generating?

In the reimagined sanctuary, fixed pews are replaced by chairs that can be quickly rearranged or cleared away for one of the rooms other uses: a concert hall, a winter farmers market, a birthday gathering place.

That transformation got the congregation thinking bigger.

Before the sanctuary renovation, the buildings second floor and basement werent getting much use. After, they were closed off entirely.

When public buildings make renovations that exceed 30 percent of their assessed value, state law requires them to bring the whole building to ADA compliance. Zion Lutheran Church didnt have the funds to make the adaptions, so the floors couldnt be publicly used.

That was also a reckoning, McGrath said. Were caring for a building and the major parts we cant use.

Costs were stacking up, too. The window panes were foggy. The roof was leaking and needed to be repaired.

The congregation tossed around various ideas: a school, an art gallery, a coworking space. When Pastor Joel Bergeland joined the congregation in 2021, he picked up the project.

My first six or seven months here was cold calling people and saying, Hey, Im new in town. Im the new pastor, and do you need a building? he recalled.

One of the people who picked up the phone was Eileen Peltier, CEO of Hearthway.

In the church building, Peltier saw the potential for a project she was already brainstorming  permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness and a resource center where folks could stop in to eat a meal, charge their phone and take a shower.

In February 2022, Hearthway and Zion Lutheran Church officially began negotiations on the project.

Those negotiations finally wrapped up last week when the two signed the lease. Hearthway will pay the church a one time payment of $260,000 in return for use of the basement for the next 20 years and the second floor for the next 60 years.

Their plan is this.

Upstairs, the open light-filled classrooms will be transformed into nine permanent supportive housing units for people experiencing homelessness who have incomes of up to 30 percent of Pittsfields area median income.

Downstairs, the basement will house a resource center, offering a day space where people can sit down, shower, do their laundry and eat a meal.

The concept of permanent supportive housing is two-pronged. In permanent housing, unlike transitional housing, residents can stay as long as they would like, given they abide by the lease agreement, Peltier said.

Recognizing that housing is often not the sole issue people are grappling with and that living in an apartment can be an adjustment, Hearthway is pairing that permanent housing with optional supportive services.

The housing resource center will be open to the nine residents and anyone in the community who needs its services.

Hearthway also is building 28 permanent supportive housing units on West Housatonic Street, and will manage 16 at the Terrace 592 apartments.

Funding for the projects comes from a variety of sources, including the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, CEDAC and Pittsfields ARPA funds. Together, the projects are expected to cost a total $6.2 million.

Members of the congregation have had a voice at every step in the process.

We had three votes. First vote was, do we even explore this with Hearthway? said McGrath, the church vice president. Then we had a memorandum of understanding vote.

The congregation voted for a third and final time Oct. 20 to approve the leases and greenlight the project. It was unanimous.

Hearthways vision for the space dovetails neatly with the community work the congregation has practiced for decades, McGrath said.

Weve always been concerned about homelessness in our community. Weve been working with the homeless community for years in various ways as part of our ministry, McGrath said. And we said, we have this building, how can we be using it for good? Theres a larger life for this building.

The details of what that cohabitation will look like are still evolving. The church will need to learn how to balance the hats of landlord and neighbor, Bergeland said. But they want to be involved in the building's growing community, even in small ways.

I really think that its going to be these unscripted, informal interactions that happen by virtue of two different populations sharing one physical space thats going to communicate dignity and welcome, Bergeland said. Its going to be recognizing each other in the parking lot or greeting each other and learning the names of the nine people and them learning ours.
Heather McCarty, a professor of history and gender and womens studies at Ohlone College in Fremont, was the top vote-getter in the race for four seats on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees. Provided by Heather McCarty Incumbent Luis Zamora won a seat on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees. The community relations director for City Attorney David Chiu was appointed to the board in September by Mayor London Breed when Trustee Murrell Green left. Richard Tamayo Aliya Chisti, who has served as a City College of San Francisco trustee since 2021, won re-election. Alain McLaughlin/415 517 6033 alain@alainmclaughlin.com City College Trustee Alan Wong speaks during a press conference at San Francisco City Hall in 2022. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Ruth Ferguson was one of eight candidates who ran for a seat on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees. In the end, she came in fifth, missing a spot on the board. Mark Mosher Ben Kaplan, a higher education advocate and author of books on college scholarships, ran for a seat on the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees. Jason Martineau

(This story has been updated with final election results.)

Heather McCarty, an East Bay history professor, will join incumbents Aliya Chisti, Alan Wong and Luis Zamora on the seven-member Board of Trustees for City College of San Francisco.

Voters showed overwhelming support for McCarty, a newcomer to City College, who took the top spot early in the race and never gave it up. Despite continuing leadership challenges at City College, voters also handed victories to three incumbents seeking reelection in the field of eight contenders.

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The leadership choices come at a critical time for the school of 44,000 full- and part-time students, which accreditors placed on warning in January. The regulators said the trustees had neglected the colleges long-term fiscal health, failed to follow their own policies and ignored the chancellors authority in violation of three accreditation standards. They have until March 1 to show how they will fix the violations.

The trustees will also have to navigate stagnant finances, possibly for years, until enrollment and academic metrics grow enough to unfreeze state funding. The board will also need to hire a permanent chancellor  the schools 12th leader since 2012  following the recent departure of David Martin and the appointment of interim chancellor Mitchell Bailey.

Although none of the incumbents ever outpaced McCarty, San Franciscans expressed confidence in the current trustees ability to continue leading City College.

Just behind McCarty was Chisti, who became a trustee in 2021. She is the senior policy analyst at the citys Department of Human Resources. Chisti is the citys first Muslim elected official and holds a masters degree in education policy from Columbia University. She has said her priorities are repairing the colleges accreditation violations and restoring its fiscal stability.

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Wong, the trustees current president, also joined the board in 2021. A former union organizer, he was education adviser to former Supervisor Gordon Mar. In his leadership role at City College, Wong has created ad hoc committees to address the boards accreditation troubles and recently called City College a place of hope and opportunity for San Franciscans.

Zamora, the newest trustee, was appointed in September by San Francisco Mayor London Breed to fill the seat of Murrell Green, who stepped down. Zamora is director of community relations and executive affairs for City Attorney David Chiu.

Yet it was an outsider, McCarty, who surged ahead and held the top spot. A professor of history, gender and womens studies at Ohlone College in Fremont, McCarty has said that City College needs a more concrete plan to comply with state requirements for enrollment and academic achievement  such as increasing the number of transfers to four-year universities  that are needed to unfreeze its state funding.

I am honored to receive support from so many San Franciscans, McCarty said, as the votes poured in. She called City College the best pathway to economic and social uplift in the city and said she looked forward to working with the board to stabilize the colleges accreditation and finances, grow enrollment and ensure that this incredible institution thrives for generations to come.

Just behind Zamora in fifth place was Ruth Ferguson, a policy analyst and former staffer in the California Legislature.

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GREAT BARRINGTON  Leigh Davis has won the race for 3rd Berkshire District in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday night, according to The Associated Press.

While results from some of district's 18 towns were not yet available, The Associated Press called the race for Davis early Wednesday morning. With 78 percent of votes counted, AP reported Davis had 11,492 votes to 8,007 for Lenox Select Board member Marybeth Mitts.

"I am hopeful, excited, and incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and Im ready to get to work on behalf of the 3rd Berkshire District," Davis told The Eagle by text message Wednesday morning. "I want to extend my congratulations to Marybeth Mitts on a well-run campaign and thank her for her commitment to the issues we all care about.

"Im determined to hit the ground running, so Ill be dedicating time to research, meetings and preparation in the lead-up to taking office," she said.

As of press time Tuesday night, Davis, a housing advocate and vice chair of the Great Barrington Select Board, was leading Mitts with votes from both candidates' home towns yet to be reported to The Eagle.

One of the towns not reporting Tuesday night was Lenox, where 3006 of the town's 3988 registered voters  75 percent of the eligible electorate  cast ballots. Mitts won Lenox with 1,.638 votes to 1,362 for Davis, but it wasn't the decisive victory Mitts needed to overcome Davis' wins across the rest of the district.

Turnout was strong elsewhere, as officials in Becket said they were running out of ballots as of 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The AP also declared U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, the winner in his race for reelection against independent Nadia Milleron of Sheffield.

In a statement, Neal called it the honor of a lifetime" to represent the district in Congress and expressed his gratitude to voters.

"This is my 25th election, and I could not be prouder of our record of delivering for the people of western and central Massachusetts  and all Americans," Neal said. "For the next two years I will keep fighting to lower costs, protect Social Security and deliver resources to our communities."

The winner in the 3rd Berkshire District will succeed Rep. William Smitty" Pignatelli, a Lenox Democrat, who is stepping down this year after representing South County for 22 years on Beacon Hill.

The district serves 18 central and southern Berkshire County towns from south of Pittsfield to the Connecticut border, as well as Dalton, which was added to the district in 2022.

Davis won in Dalton, Lee, Richmond, Sheffield, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge, according to results reported to The Eagle. She also prevailed in Becket, Egremont, Mount Washington and New Marlborough. Mitts won in Otis.

Davis made remarks to supporters and campaign workers at a post-election event at Barrington Brewery & Restaurant in Great Barrington, but did not claim victory, given the lack of results from Lenox. Her campaign huddled around the phone as results were called in.

While Davis said she felt "very good," around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, she was "not ready to claim victory until Lenox comes in ... I guess I'm a bit superstitious."

Mitts, who celebrated at the Olde Heritage Tavern in Lenox, told The Eagle late Tuesday night that she "feels really good about it ... I think it's really competitive." She was also waiting to see how Lenox shook out.

"I ran a good race. I'm happy with the platform and everything that I did," she said.

Davis was the first candidate to declare for the seat after Pignatelli announced in February he would not be seeking another two-year term on Beacon Hill.

She was joined in the race for the Democratic nomination by two members of the Stockbridge Select Board, Jamie Minacci and Patrick White, and finished first in the Sept. 3 Democratic primary.

Both Mitts, a member and past chair of the Lenox Affordable Housing Trust, and Davis, the communications director of Construct, an affordable housing nonprofit company in Great Barrington, made housing availability and affordability key issues in their campaigns.

In an Eagle interview, Davis said shes driven to make a case for the 3rd Berkshire District that hasnt been made and cited affordability, sustainability and dignity as priorities. Mitts told the Eagle that in addition to housing, her priorities included health care and infrastructure.

Davis is the daughter of Lloyd Davis, a Civil Rights activist who advocated for the national holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., and Mary Kay Davis, a longtime deputy of Sargent Shriver, founder of the Peace Corps and Jobs Corps, and a major supporter of the Special Olympics.

She was endorsed by several prominent state politicians, including U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, and a number of labor unions.

 Matt Martinez and Claire O'Callahan contributed to this report.
ALFORD  Local voters soon will be asked to approve the use of up to $2 million in borrowed state funds mostly to bring the town's historic buildings into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Nov. 19 special town meeting warrant puts forth the question of obtaining the money through State House Notes, a low cost alternative for the issuance of debt for cities, towns, counties, and districts. The bulk of the money will go toward updating town buildings with ramps, walkways and widening doors. Some funds will also go toward other capital projects.

The town has several capital needs, according to Roxanne Germain, treasurer/tax collector, who is also the Select Board secretary.

Instead of borrowing for them individually, we wanted authorization from the townspeople to borrow $2 million, she said.

The warrant also includes two articles related to affordable housing, the main inspiration for holding the meeting according to Select Board member Peter Puciloski.

Voters are being asked to amend the zoning bylaw to accept the state's definition of accessory dwelling units and allowing for these units to be up to 80 percent of the gross living area or 900 square feet, whichever is smaller.

Puciloski said the town currently has no affordable housing. Without a grocery store, public water or sewer system, it doesnt meet state criteria for adding it, except in the form of alternative dwelling units, which is why this vote is so important, he said.

As for the list of town buildings needing funds to meet ADA compliance, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission helped identify the projects.

We have a report and it told us all the buildings that we own, what needs to be done," Germain said. "And so that's some of this."

Here is the list of projects that would be funded by the $2 million if passed by voters:

 An ADA-compliant ramp at Town Offices, along with a new parking area and walkway leading to it, a push-button for the access door, leveling the threshold and widening a door to the bathroom. Exterior granite stairs will also be replaced leading to the main door. This project has been designed by EDM Engineering at a cost of about $30,000. In June, the town applied for a grant through the Massachusetts Office of Disability to pay for $250,000 of construction costs and is awaiting word. The ramp and exterior improvements are estimated at $500,000, with the interior work estimated at $100,000.

 Across the street, at Town Hall, bathrooms will need to be expanded to meet ADA requirements as well and an exterior ramp will be added, along with a parking space. Thats estimated to cost $250,000.

 Built in the 1990s, the Highway Garages roof is nearing the end of its lifespan. The new roof is estimated at $100,000.

 The fire station will get a 20-by-30-square-foot renovation on the back side for equipment storage. This will allow the station to be used for public gatherings without having to move apparatus out of the station. In addition, the stations bathrooms will be updated to meet ADA standards, as well as eliminating a step up and widening doors. Construction is estimated at $250,000.

 The town bought the house at 9 Alford Road about five years ago to be part of the Historical Commission and partly to tie the Town Hall into its septic system. The house has since been gutted. The building will be used for town offices for Conservation Commission, Planning Board and building inspector. It will also house a fireproof vault for town records. Construction is estimated at $500,000.

 Engineering, design and escalation costs for all projects are estimated at $300,000.

Among other items voters will be asked to approve:

 Spending $15,000 in free cash to put a new roof on the cupola of Town Hall, built in the 1800s;

 Spending $20,000 in free cash for appraisal software for the assessors;

 Spending $1,500 in free cash to pay the assistant town treasurer/collector;

 Spending $20,000 in free cash to pay for an audit. The towns last audit was done in 2020, and this request is to allow the town to borrow the State House Notes for the capital items;

 Establishing a $2,000 minimum for business owners and second home owners subject to paying personal property tax.

The town meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at the fire house at 86 North Egremont Road.
How do you begin an article like this? I believe you do it by making a definitive, declarative statement. As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we have a lot to be thankful for. As the old song used to say, count your blessings, name them one by one. That is the right place to begin when writing about beautiful hymns to sing this thanksgiving. Arent you glad that for us as believers, we celebrate thanksgiving all year round because every day is a day to give God thanks?

One thing I know is that thankful people sing. When there is joy in your heart and you are enraptured with a spirit of thankfulness, you will sing. Today I want to help you give thanks to the Lord in song.

This is a moment in our nation where we stop to say thanks. I am going to share with you 15 beautiful hymns to sing this Thanksgiving. I will give the disclaimer now, my list might be just a little bit biased because these are some of my favorite songs, but I believe they will be a blessing to you anyway.

These are not ranked in any order, and contain both classic and contemporary songs. Also, because I appreciate all types of music, I decided to include different styles because thanksgiving hymns comes from all different genres of music. I have also included links to the songs, and where possible, tried to give you the original versions recorded by the artist who wrote it. I pray this is a blessing to you and reminds you to be thankful every day for all God has done for you.

Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages
A passage from Lamentations is not one that people would usually consider during Thanksgiving  a day of rejoicing filled with festivities. Yet, we should consider these verses. Not everyone is in a positive situation during the holidays. Someone may have experienced the death of a loved one, been affected by a natural disaster, or recently lost a job. Mixed with all of this is the suffering we see in the world. The question could arise in our minds, (though maybe not directly expressed to others): How can I be thankful when there are terrible events around me and people are suffering?

Jeremiah, the author of Lamentations, was no stranger to suffering. Known as the weeping prophet, he saw the desolation of Jerusalem after its fall. He had prophesied for years about the coming destruction, but the people did not heed the Lords warning. In seeing all the suffering and devastation, he wrote, my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is (Lamentations 3:17).

Amid the lament for Jerusalem and the Israelites, though, he turned his focus back to God. He chose to remember the Lords faithful love. A few verses later, we read, The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Many of us may be going through challenging times of pain or sorrow this Thanksgiving. For those who are finding it hard to celebrate and express gratitude, the book of Lamentations shows us that we need time to grieve. There is terrible suffering in life  a fact that none of us should ignore. But even as we grieve, we can have hope because of the Lords enduring love and faithfulness. For that, we can give thanks.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Mitchell McCleary


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As Tuesdays early voting results looked progressively bleak for Vice President Kamala Harris, the mood at an election watch party in Oakland shifted from upbeat to tense.

By 9:30 p.m., the party  organized by Harris Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters at downtown Oakland bar Oeste  was filled with anxious supporters increasingly expressing fear about her chances.

Shamello Jackson, an Oakland resident whod been invited to the watch party by a friend, had felt nervous most of Tuesday night, and by 9 p.m., she had bitten her nails all the way down. She was texting with friends and family and obsessively checking election results on her phone.

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This is a different type of anxiety. Its fear, Jackson said. What do the next (four) years look like ... for people of color?

Karlos Barlow, 52, of Oakland, a member of Omega Psi Phi, and Shamello Jackson, center, watch results at an election night watch party hosted in Oakland by the Xi Gamma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority on Nov. 5, 2024. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Aaron Phipps, an Oakland resident, spent much of the night sitting at the bar with his eyes glued to a blue and red election map on his laptop. Around 8 p.m., he said he was not yet worried but feeling cautious and stressed. He noted the length of time it will take to count ballots in different parts of the country. Its a close race, he said.

An hour later, he said he was still holding out hope.

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The somber mood was a marked change from the beginning of the evening. Before polls closed, the bar was full and energetic, decorated with salmon pink and bright green balloons  the sororitys colors  as well as Harris 2024 flags. Tables were strewn with signs reading from Oakland to the White House with photos of Harris as a graduating senior at Howard University, the historically Black college she graduated from in 1986. Harris had been expected to appear at a party on Howards campus on Tuesday evening, but did not attend.

In addition to AKA sisters, local members of the Divine Nine, a group of nine historically Black Greek organizations, also attended the watch party.

Lauren Peebles, president of the Xi Gamma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, watches results with Marques Williams of Oakland on election night. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

The sorority is officially nonpartisan, but members expressed support for Harris and began the night feeling optimistic about her chances.

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Lauren Peebles, president of one of two Oakland chapters of Harris sorority, organized the party. The attorney and Oakland native, wearing a T-shirt that reads This is a serious matter, said she still felt cautiously optimistic about the election despite Trumps early gains.

Were just here to ride it out, she said later in the evening.

Camille Stroughter, 49, of Oakland, was feeling pensive and nervous after a news outlet called Georgia for Trump.

I just feel like its a repeat of 2016, she said. I just wanted something better.

She was thinking about how to talk about a potential Harris loss with her 15-year-old daughter.

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Im disappointed because its just a different standard, she said. As a Black woman, you have to be almost perfect up against an imperfect white man. Do I say that to my daughter?

Kamala Harris supporter Yamina Roland watches results during an election night gathering at Fluid 510 in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Jonathan Bouligny, president of Alpha Phi Alphas Oakland and Berkeley chapter, Gamma Phi Lambda, felt nervous and full of uncertainty. He voted in person after work today.

Its such a knifes edge difference in terms of outcome, he said.

Also in attendance were Nichelle Rachal, an AKA sister wearing a sweatshirt with a photo of a young Harris as a child, and Brenda Wyatt, wearing a gray sweatshirt that reads I was one of the 44k  a reference to the July 21 Zoom call of Black women mobilizing for the vice president.

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Both women were on that call. They were also part of a Zoom call on Sunday night organized by Win with Black Women, a volunteer group, that they said Harris called into. They were reminiscing about rushing to Lake Merritt on Election Night in November 2020 with crowds excited that Harris had just been elected vice president. Wyatt showed a photo on her phone of the two friends smiling in front of a sign that said Oakland in the White House.

Were ready for that again, Wyatt said.

Rachal added that she was feeling this sense of community with all the other Black women across the country.

Harris, a self-proclaimed daughter of Oakland, spent much of her childhood living in the East Bay, and was born at an Oakland hospital in 1964.

Janine Nixon of Oakland holds a Kamala Harris sign at an election night party at Oeste in downtown Oakland. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Her parents, Shyamala Gopalan Harris and Donald Harris, met as postgraduate students on UC Berkeleys campus. Both immigrants, the pair shared progressive politics, participating in the universitys famous 1960s Free Speech movement and protests.

When Harris was almost one, she moved with her family to the Midwest, where her father obtained professorships at three different universities in his attempt to climb the tenure ladder. Harris returned to Berkeley at age five with her sister and mother, who by then had separated from her husband.

Despite living mostly in rental homes in West Berkeley, then a redlined neighborhood, Harris spent much of her youth attending protests in Oakland, and her mother bought a house there when Harris was in high school in Montreal. And when Harris began her career as a prosecutor, working out of the Alameda County District Attorneys Office, she returned to the Town, buying a condo near Lake Merritt.

The election remained too close to call by 9:30 p.m., with Harris still having a sliver of a chance of a win through the blue wall states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, though Trump was leading her in all three. By morning, Trump would emerge as the victor.

Meanwhile, an Oueste server said it was the bars busiest Tuesday night in years.
The latest updates on Oakland election results, including the status of key ballot measures and City Council races, show some expected results and some surprises. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Two incumbents and a newcomer won City Council seats in Oakland, while two other candidates continued battling it out for the councils sole at-large position, according to the latest results released Monday afternoon.

Carroll Fife and Noel Gallo successfully retained their positions on the City Council representing West Oakland and Fruitvale respectively. Zac Unger, the president of the firefighters association and an Oakland firefighter, won the seat representing North Oakland, which was open.

The council members will take office at a critical time for the city as it deals with a massive budget deficit that could lead to cuts in public safety departments. The city will also hold a special election in the spring to replace Mayor Sheng Thao, who was recalled.

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Its equal parts exciting and terrifying, Unger said of looming budget decisions. Its going to take up most of our attention Im eager to start getting into the weeds and doing this difficult work.

Fife said she wasnt celebrating her win just yet and planned to wait for the registrar to certify the vote on Dec. 5.

Rowena Brown, an experienced political hand in Oakland, and LeRonne Armstrong, the citys former police chief, continued to battle it out for the at-large seat representing the whole city, with Brown in the lead as of Monday afternoon.

After calculating ranked choice voting, Brown, the legislative director for Assembly Member Mia Bonta, had secured 56% of the vote. Armstrong had nearly 44% of the vote.

Separately, Ryan Richardson, a longtime assistant city attorney, won the city attorneys race  beating Brenda Harbin-Forte, a retired judge and the leader of the successful recall campaign against Thao.

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Measure NN, a parcel tax that would fund violence reduction services in Oakland and increase police and fire minimum staffing, passed last Tuesday evening with 71% of the vote. It needed 50% to pass. The nine-year program will impose an annual tax of $198 on single-family residential parcels, $132 per unit for multiple-family residential properties, and a varying amount on nonresidential parcels based on a formula.

Both the City Council and city attorneys races used ranked-choice voting. If a candidate received a majority of first-choice votes, he or she won. If not, the last-place candidate was eliminated, and voters who selected that candidate as their first choice had their No. 2 choice votes counted  a cycle that repeated until a candidate got a majority of votes.

A breakdown of the other races:

District 7

Four people ran for the District 7 seat that represents parts of East Oakland. The incumbent, Treva Reid, who was elected in 2020 after her father gave up the seat to retire, opted not to run for reelection. The candidates included Iris Merriouns, a chief of staff to current District 4 Council Member Janani Ramachandran, and Ken Houston, founder and director of Oaklands Beautification Council, a nonprofit organization that addresses graffiti and illegal dumping.

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Houston held 52.4% of the vote and Merriouns held 47.6% on Monday after ranked-choice voting tabulations were applied.

Alameda County District 5

Oakland Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas continued to trail John Bauters, an Emeryville council member. In returns as of Monday, Bas had secured 48.1% of the vote while Bauters had 51.9%. Bas is currently slated to be interim mayor starting in mid-December after voters recalled Thao, but if she wins the Alameda County post, the new council will pick another interim mayor until a special election is held in April.

Measure MM: Wildfire prevention

Measure MM was leading in the latest returns, with more than 71% of the vote. The measure is a special parcel tax that would last for 20 years in the citys Wildfire Prevention Zone and would implement wildfire prevention plans in Oakland. The tax would be at a rate of $99 per single-family parcel, $65 per condominium or multifamily unit and a formula-based amount for nonresidential parcels. It needs a two-thirds majority to pass.

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Measure OO: Charter amendment
Elon Musk and Donald Trump have shifted from critics to unlikely allies over the span of one election cycle.

Mr Musk, who became a US citizen in 2002, described himself as a moderate Democrat until recently but became a vocal critic of the party during the Biden administration.

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In 2022, the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive said they had become the party of division & hate and confirmed he would shift to voting Republican.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day (AP/Evan Vucci)

But he remained critical of Mr Trump, tweeting in July 2022: I dont hate the man, but its time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset.

He followed this up by saying there would be too much drama if Mr Trump tried to run for the White House again, adding: Do we really want a bull in a china shop situation every single day!?

The former president accused Mr Musk of lying to him about who he had voted for in the previous presidential election  a claim the tech entrepreneur denied.

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And although Mr Musk told a New York Times interviewer in 2023 that he would not vote for Mr Biden, he stopped short of endorsing Mr Trump, saying: This is definitely a difficult choice here.

Mr Musk lifted the ban on the former presidents Twitter account after successfully buying the company in 2022 and changing its name to X.

He later formally endorsed Mr Trump two days after his assassination attempt in July 2024.

He went on to undertake much of the get-out-the-vote effort for Mr Trump through his political organisation, America PAC, which can raise and spend unlimited sums of money.

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Mr Musk was reported to have joined the former presidents election night watch party at his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

Mr Musks father Errol Musk said this shift in opinion came as a result of his son seeing common sense.

He told TalkTVs US Election 2024 programme: Ive been telling him for many years that he should support Donald Trump. He didnt listen to me in the beginning.

He was quite upset about the idea in the beginning  more than upset. He was very anti-Trump a few years ago and hes changed now.

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He in fact is doing what I would be doing if I was his age. I would be doing what hes doing.

Common sense (changed his mind). He saw what was happening and he didnt realise it before that you cant put government in the hands of people who have no knowledge of business and no knowledge of running anything simply because they were elected by a so-called democratic majority of similar people.

No, you need proper people who know what theyre doing.

Youve got to have people like Trump with a business mind. Running a country is a business. Its nothing else.

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Its simply a gigantic business operation and youve got to have people like that running the country. Not people who havent got a clue what theyre doing.

Mr Trump previously said he would create a government efficiency commission to audit the entire federal government, an idea suggested by Mr Musk  who would lead it.

When asked whether he could see his son working in government, Mr Musk said: I do actually. I think Trump has actually said so.

The problem is Elons time is very, very limited. But I imagine he would find time 

I certainly see Elon very much involved with Trump in getting the United States back to the country that it was and away from the insanity that has been ruling it in recent times.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao listens to a question from the media during an election night gathering at Fluid 510 in Oakland on Tuesday night. In preliminary returns Tuesday night, the effort to recall her was ahead with 65% of the vote. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao talks to Walter Riley outside an election night gathering at Fluid 510 in Oakland on Tuesday night. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Recall supporters hold signs during an election night watch party held by Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) & Safe Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) on Tuesday evening. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle City attorney candidate Brenda Harbin-Forte with supporters of the Sheng Thao recall during an election night watch party held by Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) & Safe Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) on Tuesday evening. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Campaign signs supporting the recall stand at ready awaiting election night results at an election night watch party held by Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) & Safe Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) on Tuesday. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

The recall of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was ahead in early returns on Tuesday, with 65% of voters backing her removal from office. Around 35% of voters opposed the recall.

If the vote trend continues, Thao would be the first Oakland mayor ever to be recalled. The last attempt, in 1917 against Mayor John Davie, was unsuccessful.

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Earlier in the evening, Thao spoke to the press briefly at the front door of a Harris-Walz election night party.

Im very optimistic, she said, her voice drowned out by the music and sound of the crowd.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao on Oct. 11. In preliminary returns Tuesday night, the effort to recall her was ahead with 65% of the vote. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

She said she had faith in Oakland voters and said that the citys more progressive votes often come in later in the evening.

The mayor said she was proud of her record as mayor. Thao also said she did not regret not having mounted a stronger anti-recall campaign.

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Absolutely not, she said. I dont have any regrets.

Later in the evening, as returns showed the recall effort against Thao growing, the election party of supporters quickly dispersed. They headed home or to nearby bars in Jack London Square to watch national returns. Some chanted bye bye and waved  as if bidding Thao farewell  as they departed. But there were no speeches or statements.

Facing a recall, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao addresses the media at an election night watch party at Fluid 510 in Oakland. Scott Strazzante

Thao, a progressive, was elected in 2022 with a margin of fewer than 700 votes, beating moderate Loren Taylor. She is the daughter of refugees, formerly homeless and the citys first Hmong mayor. In her first speech after winning the election, Thao promised to bring unity to the city, working with the City Council and other groups to tackle the citys most pressing issues.

But within months, Thaos critics started blaming her for rising crime and casting doubt on her ability to do the job. Her tenure was thrown into turmoil after the FBI raided her home last June in connection with a corruption investigation just two days after the recall petition was certified. She has not been accused of a crime, and the FBI has said little about what it was after.

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If Thao is recalled, she would have to leave office as soon as the election results are certified and the City Council declares the office vacant several weeks later. The City Council president, Nikki Fortunato Bas, would become the interim mayor. Bas, who was an ally of the mayor but did not take a position on the recall, is running for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. If she wins her race, the City Council will have to select a new council president, who will serve as interim mayor until a special election is held in April.
A decision to refuse planning permission on account of a site being insufficiently serviced is irrational given it was hit with a tax applicable to ready-to-develop lands, a building firm has alleged in the High Court.

The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) was introduced in the Finance Act 2021. The tax is an annual tax calculated at a rate of 3 per cent of the market value of land.

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Jolview Limited says An Bord Pleanala has on the one hand determined there are no capacity issues or other impediments to the development of its lands at Holmpatrick, Rush Road, Skerries, thus making it liable for the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT).

The developer says the board, in considering whether to apply for RZLT, took into account the relevant infrastructure and servicing of the site and its suitability for residential development.

On the other hand, it says, the board later refused to grant it permission to build 18 houses on the greenfield site about 2km from Skerries town centre based on a report from its inspector that found there were insufficient services and facilities to support future occupants of the proposed development.

The board also found residential development on the site would be contrary to the Fingal Development Plan, it says.

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The Drogheda-based company is asking the High Court to find that the planning refusal is contrary to natural justice and that the board is bound by its decision of last February to apply the RZLT to the site.

It says the planning refusal is invalidated by the boards failure to have regard to its earlier tax decision and by its misinterpretation of the Fingal Development Plan.

The company notes the RZLT decision cannot guarantee a grant of planning development for any residential development on the site, but, it claims, An Board Pleanala cannot revisit or reconsider its earlier determination that the site is suitable for residential development in principle.

The developer also maintains that sections of the Taxes Consolidation Act, which underpins the RZLT scheme, contravene articles of the Constitution as an unjust and disproportionate attack on the companys private property rights.

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The RZLT levy, set at 3 per cent of a sites value, was introduced in the 2022 budget in an attempt to encourage the use of land for building homes. It was due to apply to eligible lands from last February, but the Minister for Finance has delayed its activation by one year.

The case came before Mr Justice Richard Humphreys this week.

The developers senior counsel, Jarlath Ryan, instructed by Vincent Hoey & Company Solicitors, was granted permission to continue with the High Court judicial review proceedings against An Bord Pleanala, which has not yet had
There will be an additional two million euro annual cost for the controversial school phone pouch scheme, Sinn Fein has claimed.

The Irish Government allocated 9 million in the budget for a fund for schools to purchase pouches for mobile phones for pupils aimed at minimising disruption.

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On Wednesday, Mary Lou McDonald said it is an example of the Government being a serial waster of the publics money.

Speaking during Leaders Questions, Ms McDonald said the public is angry at the lack of accountability on spending.

This shows, again, that your Government cant be trusted to spend the publics money wisely.

You cant be straight with people about your waste, and you refuse to be accountable for your mess.

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Ms McDonald said documents obtained by her colleague, Pearse Doherty, show the Government was presented with several options for dealing with mobile phone use in schools.

She said these included leaving phones in bags or lockers, or having them handed into a central point  each at zero cost.

Instead, you have gone with an option that will cost the taxpayer nine million euros initially, and then a further two million euros every single year, she said.

Ms McDonald said the money for the phone pouches should instead be invested in youth mental health services.

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Taoiseach Simon Harris defended the plan, which he said would cost 20 per student.

He said the policy came from engagement with school principals and the mental health concerns of students themselves.

He also said the scheme is not obligatory or mandatory, adding: Nobodys going to demand a school take pouches  this is if a school wants to avail of this.

While not responding to Ms McDonalds central claim, he added: Its about 20 quid per student. A 20 investment in the mental health and wellbeing of a student.

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A similar scheme has been rolled out in Northern Ireland, where Sinn Fein is in government.

Mr Harris asked whether it is Ms McDonalds policy that the pouches are good in Northern Ireland but not appropriate in the Republic.

The most breathtaking thing about your presentation is that youre rolling out a similar initiative but, you know what, its costing a hell of a lot more.

He added: Will you call on the Sinn Fein Minister for Finance in Northern Ireland today to speak to her Executive colleague and stop the rollout of the phone pouches in Northern Ireland?

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Because in Northern Ireland, youve already spent a quarter of a million pounds sterling on the provision of phone pouches.

He said if this is not the case, Ms McDonald should stop.
More than 100 people have given evidence to a probe into historic mother and baby homes, Magdalen institutions and workhouses.

Research has indicated that more than 14,000 women and teenage girls passed through those institutions in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1990.

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Many were found to have been mistreated, held against their will and forced to give up children for adoption.

In 2021, Stormont was urged to establish a public inquiry to investigate the institutions and deliver financial redress to survivors.

The research report on Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene laundries in Northern Ireland at Stormont following its publication in 2021. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Images

A 10-person panel led by co-chairs Professor Leanne McCormick and Professor Sean OConnell, is carrying out an independent investigation focused on those affected by the institutions and their pathways and practices.

First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met with the co-chairs to discuss progress on their work to help victims and survivors.

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They were told that, to date, more than 100 people have provided testimony to the Panel.

Ms ONeill urged others to come forward and share their testimony.

Victims and survivors have waited far too long to have access to the truth, acknowledgement and accountability, she said.

We welcome the progress made by the Independent Panel and would encourage more people to come forward and share their testimonies.

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It is vitally important that all victims and survivors have the opportunity to share their experiences, and this process offers a safe and supportive forum for them.

I want to thank all those people who have come forward and I hope it will make others feel empowered to speak to the panel so that we can shine a light on this dark and shameful period of our past.

Ms Little-Pengelly added: The work of the independent panel is so important as it is vital we hear the personal testimonies of those who have been impacted by what happened in these institutions.

I welcome the fact that over 100 people have shared their experience so far but we know there are others who may be considering making a contribution, which is why we have agreed to extend the timeframe for sharing those experiences by six months.

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It will also allow for the continuation of the panels work in relation to the 4,500 archival items identified, working closely with the Public Records Office, ahead of the public inquiry.

In a statement, the co-chairs of the panel said they have a specialised testimony team, who have been trained to support people in sharing their experiences.

We encourage all those with knowledge or experience of the institutions or their pathways and practices, to contact our testimony team, they said.
Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters have staged a demonstration outside a US election event in Dublin.

Activists were protesting over the holding of a watch party for the early stages of the election results, which was being staged by the US embassy in Dublin at the Guinness Storehouse.

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Activists partially disrupted passing traffic as a queue of taxis dropped off some of the expected attendees from the 1,000-long guest lists.

The demonstrators were raising concerns about the US states support of Israel during its ongoing war in Gaza and the expanding nature of the conflict in the Middle East.

Waving Palestinian flags and using megaphones, they chanted: Genocide supports, shame on you.

The event was hosted by US Ambassador to Ireland Claire D Cronin.

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Large screens were set up to broadcast breaking news coverage of the election.

Approximately 1,000 guests from the diplomatic corps, Irish government, cultural and media sectors, and civil society, were slated as amongst attendees.
A criminal defence solicitor accused of theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice told a garda he was worried other members of the force would ask him to change his evidence, a court has heard.

On Wednesday, the court heard that Cahir OHiggins (49) recorded a conversation he had with Garda Tao Yu around May 2020. Gda Yu was not aware that a recording was being made at the time.

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Mr O'Higgins has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft of 400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017.

It is the State's case that Mr O'Higgins, who was representing a Spanish national in district court on July 30th, 2016, volunteered to use his client's bank card and withdraw 200 to make a payment to the court.

It is alleged that Mr O'Higgins then made three withdrawals totalling 600 from the ATM in the Londis shop on Parkgate Street and allegedly placed 400 into his pocket. A payment of 200 was made to the court and the accused man's case was struck out.

It is further alleged that Mr O'Higgins provided gardai in December 2017 with a copy of notes he claimed to have made on July 30th, 2016. The prosecution say that Mr O'Higgins was aware these notes contained untrue information, and that they were not made on July 30th, 2016.

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Mr O'Higgins, of Cahir O'Higgins and Company, Kingsbride House, Parkgate Street, Dublin denies all the allegations against him.

Gda Yu was taken through sections of a transcript of this May 2020 recording by defence counsel and accepted that the transcript was a discussion about a conversation he had with the defendant on July 30th, 2016, after the judge indicated he would strike out the case against the Spanish national if 200 was paid.

CCTV footage shown to the jury on Tuesday showed Gda Yu and Mr O'Higgins talking outside a courtroom on the ground floor of the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Gda Yu on Wednesday agreed that the transcript states he intended to raise the issue of compensation with the judge, but said he could not recall the exact words he used.

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Reading from the transcript, Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, said his client told Gda Yu this was the biggest existential risk to my life.

His client continued that he was worried when the case came to court, another garda would say we want to get this guy and ask Gda Yu to forget parts of his evidence. Id lose a vital witness, Mr O'Higgins said, with Gda Yu replying he wouldn't do that.

Defence counsel put to Gda Yu that he told his client that his memory was rock solid. Gda Yu disagreed with this reading of the transcript. I said Im not changing the facts, Gda Yu said, emphasising that his intention was to bring the judge's attention to the issue of compensation if it had been possible.

For whatever reason, your memory has let you down, its nothing to do with your colleagues, defence counsel asked. Absolutely not. Not today, not ever, Gda Yu replied.

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He agreed with defence counsel that the transcript states that he recalls seeing Mr O'Higgins pass something to his client in the courtroom.

Mr O'Higgins said, I gave him an envelope with his money in it, to which the transcript records Gda Yu replying, That might explain why it was a sealed envelope.

The witness accepted the transcript states he saw Mr O'Higgins pass something to his client, but said he didn't have a memory of this.

Gda Yu agreed he was later made aware of the recording and asked by gardai investigating the allegations against Mr O'Higgins to make a statement about his dealings with the defendant. He said he hadn't read the transcript prior to attending court.

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In other evidence, Raul Sanz Quilis told Eoin Lawlor SC, prosecuting, that he was in Ireland in July 2016 in order to learn English. He gave evidence via videolink with the assistance of a Spanish interpreter.

He confirmed he was arrested in the early hours of July 30th, 2016, taken to a Garda station and later interviewed with a legal aid solicitor present.

He said he was brought to a courthouse to pay the fine where he was placed in a cell with other prisoners. He was then taken to a courtroom where he met a different legal aid lawyer who said he was going to pay the fine of 200.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has previously heard that the solicitor Mr Sanz Quilis met was Mr O'Higgins. In evidence, the witness said he couldn't recall the lawyer's name.

Mr Sanz Quilis said he met this lawyer for the first time in the courtroom and a Spanish interpreter was present.

After the hearing, Mr Sanz Quilis said he was taken back to the cell and a garda asked for his debit card and PIN.

He said he thought he was giving the garda his bank card and pin to take out money from the account to pay the fine, adding nothing was said to him at this point about paying legal fees.

When asked what he had agreed to do at this point, Mr Sanz replied nothing, just to pay the fine.

Mr Sanz Quilis told Mr Lawlor he only consented to money being withdrawn from his account to pay the fine.

Mr Sanz Quilis said he saw the lawyer in the foyer of the court building after his release and the lawyer told him, I was very lucky, if it wasnt for him, I would have been in jail.

The lawyer told him he took money out for his services but, the witness's focus was to leave and return to Spain. He said the lawyer didn't give me any money.

Mr Sanz Quilis later clarified that the lawyer referred to a quantity of money, adding that his English was limited and I didnt know what he said.

He said the lawyer only provided him with a contact number on a piece of paper, but nothing else.

Mr Sanz Quilis was taken through a copy of his bank statement and confirmed that three withdrawals of 200 were made on July 30th, 2016.

Under cross-examination, Mr Sanz Quilis agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, that he had been socialising on the night of July 29th with friends and they went to a nightclub in the early hours.

He described himself as happy when asked if he had been intoxicated.

Defence counsel suggested to the witness that he deliberately started a fire in a toilet cubicle at Dicey's nightclub with a lighter. The witness insisted it was not intentional.

Mr Sanz Quilis told Mr O'Higgins SC that he didn't remember what happened inside the courtroom and that he didn't understand the language.

Defence counsel suggested that the lawyer handed Mr Sanz Quilis money in an envelope or wrapped in paper after his release. I didnt receive any money. If he did offer anything, I would have say no.

Mr Sanz Quilis accepted it was possible his lawyer told him that he had taken extra money out and he replied he didn't want it as he wanted to leave.

He further accepted the defence's suggestion that it is possible that the absence of cash withdrawals in the days following July 30th, 2016 meant he had cash.

Mr Sanz Quilis said he understood legal aid meant the services of a solicitor were free, but emphasised he'd have paid any amount his lawyer asked for because he wanted to leave.

Mr O'Higgins SC suggested to him that he received the money back and either spent it or lost it. I never received any money, he replied.

Counsel put it to the witness that he lied to gardai about how the fire started in the toilet cubicle. I told the truth to gardai as here now, nothing was intentional, he responded.

Mr Sanz Quilis rejected a suggestion from defence counsel that he didn't wish to return to Ireland as he realised he had been lucky to avoid a conviction and because he has a poor recollection of events.

I am actually afraid to return to Ireland because of the lawyer that he would do something against me, the witness replied.

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When re-examined by Mr Lawlor, the witness said he was afraid to return to Ireland because of how he was treated by the gardai and the lawyer. I do not know the power that lawyer has against a person like me who is a nobody.

Mr O'Higgins has pleaded not guilty to the theft of 400 on July 30th, 2016 at Londis shop, on Parkgate Street.

He also pleaded not guilty to four counts of perverting the course of public justice contrary to common law, on December 8th and December 17th, 2017, within the State and at the Bridewell Garda Station in Dublin.

The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
Three young men accused of the "savage" murder of gunman Tristan Sherry at a busy Dublin steakhouse last Christmas Eve entered not guilty pleas at the Special Criminal Court on Wednesday morning.

Noah Musueni (18), Michael Andrecut (22), and David Amah (18) each formally entered not guilty pleas to the murder of Tristan Sherry.

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The court has heard that a hooded Sherry entered Browne's Steakhouse with his face covered and shot and killed Jason Hennessy Snr, before moments later being dragged to the ground.

Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC opened the trial, saying that Sherry was subjected to "savage levels of violence".

She said the prosecution intends to prove that each of the three murder accused engaged in unlawful violence with the intention to kill or cause serious injury and Tristan Sherry died as a result.

Following the opening speech, lawyers for each of the three admitted that their clients were present at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown when Sherry died.

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They also accepted that Sherry died as a result of injuries sustained during violence at the steakhouse and that the accused men were correctly identified on CCTV footage of the fatal incident that is relied on by the prosecution.

There were further admissions relating to the lawfulness of the arrests of the three, the seizure of exhibits, DNA samples and fingerprints, and that the crime scene was properly preserved.

Jonas Kabangu, Brandon Hennessy and Diarmuid O'Brien are charged with violent disorder arising from the same incident. Their lawyers also accepted that Sherry's death was as a result of injuries sustained during the violence.

Wayne Deegan (26), Linnetsfield Avenue, Phibblestown, Dublin 15, is also charged with murder but is awaiting a report by a neuro-psychologist and will be tried at a later date.

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Jonas Kabangu (18), Corduff Park, Blanchardstown, is charged with violent disorder at the same location on that date, as is 18-year-old Diarmuid O'Brien from Corduff Place in Blanchardstown.

Brandon Hennessy (21) of Sheephill Avenue, Dublin 15 is also charged with violent disorder.

All the accused pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.

18-year-old Jaures Kumbu of Brookhaven Grove, Blanchardstown has previously pleaded guilty to removing from the scene the sub-machine gun that was used by Sherry to kill Hennessy. The gun has not been retrieved.
Two men, including a former Soviet fighter pilot, who flew heroin worth 8.4 million into Dublin on a light aircraft last year, have been sentenced to 10 and eight years in prison.

Aradi Ignac (50), of Kecskemet, Hungary, and Zoltan Nemeth (63), of Sukosd in Hungary, pleaded guilty to smuggling heroin into Weston Airport on dates between November 28th and December 1st last year.

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A further charge against Aradi, of facilitating or enhancing organised crime, was taken into consideration.

In a ruling at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday, Judge Elma Duffy set a headline sentence of 13 years for Aradi, imposing an actual term of 10 years.

Judge Duffy said Aradi was higher up in what she described as a sophisticated operation, as he had been involved in the planning of bringing a planeload of drugs into Ireland on a light aircraft, effectively by the back door.

Its clear there was a big operation behind this, and he was part of this big operation, said Judge Duffy.

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She set a headline sentence of 10 years for Nemeth, a retired army pilot with 25 years of public service, as she said he may not have been involved in planning and had turned something of a blind eye as to what was being transported.

Nemeth told gardai that he was aware that what they were carrying was illegal, but that he thought it was some kind of prohibited earth or metal material used in the making of microchips.

Judge Duffy said it was particularly tragic that Nemeth, who put in many years of public service in the former Soviet Union and Hungary, retiring at the level of major, had found himself engaged in illegal activities.

Both accused have been in custody since their arrest last December where they are on 23-hour lock up for their own protection, the court heard.

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Detective Sergeant Leo Clayton told Jane Horgan-Jones BL, prosecuting, that the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) had received confidential information about the scheduled landing of a specific Cessna 210 light aircraft.

The court heard that staff at Weston airport noted that the aircraft piloted by Nemeth appeared to be tail-heavy as it was coming in to land, and that men requested a hangar, which was unusual.

Both men indicated to airport staff that they would be staying for a few days, before they left the airport in a taxi.

Gardai then found 60kg of suspected diamorphine in blocks inside black bags, hidden in the tail of the aircraft.

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The haul was analysed by Forensic Science Ireland as comprising 120 packages of heroin, each weighing approximately half a kilo, with a total estimated street value of 8.4 million.

The aircraft and the men were kept under observation for a few days before Nemeth was arrested after he arrived back at Weston Airport intending to fly to a smaller airfield in Celbridge, Co Kildare.

Aradi was arrested when the car he was driving was stopped on Hazelhatch Road in Celbridge.

Nemeth told gardai he was a qualified pilot and instructor who had served in the Hungarian military between 1979 and 2005.

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He said he didnt know what was in the plane, although he knew the packages were illegal.

Gardai confiscated the sums of 3,270 found on Aradi and 630 found on Nemeth.

Aradi said he had owned a number of construction companies but had fallen into debt to unnamed, but very dangerous, individuals, to the tune of around 1 billion euro.

Photos of the drugs were found on his mobile phone and he admitted that he was aware he was transporting controlled drugs and that he was the person with the keys for the aircraft.

Aradi said he was to have 200,000 cleared from his debt for transporting the drugs.

The court heard that both men had landed in Weston Airport several times in the two months prior to the offence, travelling either together or with a different pilot, once using the same plane and once using a different plane.

Both Aradi and Nemeth outlined their flight route, giving details of travelling via the Netherlands and France en route to Ireland.

Nemeth has no previous convictions in any jurisdiction.

Aradi has 10 previous convictions, including theft, criminal damage, fraud, obstructing the operation of public interest and smuggling counterfeit goods.

Sgt Clayton agreed with Michael Bowman SC, defending Aradi, that he had been mannerly with gardai and had answered all questions, although he had refused to give details on any third parties involved in the operation as he feared for his familys safety.

My family is in danger, Aradi said, apologising for not being able to say to whom he owed money or where he was to deliver the drugs.

Aradi told gardai he had fallen into debt and had borrowed about 200,00 from a loan shark, but that interest was added to the loan almost every day and he ended up owing a billion.

He said he felt he had been tested by doing a few trial runs to Ireland in the months before the delivery, to see if he was someone that could be used to transport a large amount of drugs.

Commenting on the operation behind the offence, Sgt Clayton said: Drugs go hand-in-hand with money-laundering and hand-in-hand with violence.

The court heard that Aradi has five children, one of whom died in a car crash two years ago at the age of 21.

He began abusing pain medication and was diagnosed with a brain tumour, although he appears to be in remission.

Fiona Murphy SC, defending Nemeth, said he had also answered all questions, cooperated with gardai and pleaded early.

Counsel said Nemeth had spent a significant portion of his life in public service, initially training as a fighter pilot in the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.

He then worked his way back up in the Hungarian military where he served for 25 years and raised five adult children before an amicable divorce, the court heard.

Nemeth also has a young child with his second wife.

On his retirement from the army, Nemeth worked as an instructor in an aerobatic school.

Letters of reference speaking highly of both accused were handed into court from family members, friends and former employers, including a testimonial for Nemeth from the former president of an aviation association.

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The court heard that both men have received four visits from family since they went into custody and that they find being in an Irish prison a very lonely and very isolating experience.

Both have very little English and Nemeth suffers from chronic heart and kidney issues, the court heard.

Judge Duffy directed that Nemeth receive medical assistance for his conditions. She said he was a man of previous good character and was lower down the ladder in the offence but added that he had brought his piloting skills to bear in this operation.

Both sentences were backdated to December 1st last year, when the men went into custody.
Irish newspapers

A civil damages claim against Conor McGregor by a woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by him and another man dominates Irish front pages on Wednesday.

The Irish Times lead with a story saying that according to a new report, gangland informants should be allowed to commit crimes in certain circumstances, a story about Brendan Mullin being found guilty of stealing from Bank of Ireland, and a story about eating disorders being a key reason for child psychiatric admissions.

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The Irish Examiner leads with a court story about a woman who is claiming civil damages against Conor McGregor and another man, alleging she was sexually assaulted in December 2018, a story about the Green Party being accused of "running riot" with finances, a report which says garda informants should be allowed to engage in crime, and the future of a proposed tented encampment for asylum seekers in north Dublin being in doubt.

The Echo leads with stories about the private rental sector pushing Cork people into homelessness and inmates in Cork Prison having no beds.

The Irish Independent lead with a story about just 26 per cent of top-paying jobs being held by women.

The Herald, the Irish Daily Mail, Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star all lead with court stories about the woman claiming civil damages against Conor McGregor and another man by a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted.

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British newspapers

One story dominates the front pages of Wednesdays UK newspapers with the US presidential election featuring across the board.

The UK Times carries pictures of rival candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump as it declares World awaits Americas fate, while the Financial Times simply says America decides.

A picture of Ms Harris dominates the front of The Guardian under the headline Hope and fear while The UK Independent asks if the vice president will prevent four more years of Donald Trump as it reports both candidates have made late gains in swing states.

The UK Daily Mirror also centres on a picture of the vice president with the headline pray for victory brace for chaos, the i taking a similar line as it says the US was braced for election unrest in the wake of the result as the country votes for its future.

Tomorrow's front page: Pray for victory: brace for chaos https://t.co/ONboY1IfeY pic.twitter.com/RRPBOzG2Vz  The Mirror (@DailyMirror) November 5, 2024

Wednesday's front page: America votes for its future - and braces for election unrest #TomorrowsPapersToday



 Follow our live blog for the latest updates: https://t.co/Dxlu7bpsQF pic.twitter.com/goMLB7SHo0  The i paper (@theipaper) November 5, 2024

The UK Daily Mail says the result is a coin toss, but says Tinderbox America was holding its breath with Washington locking down in case of civil unrest.

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Issues with voting machines in Pennsylvania occupy the front of the Metro, which reports both sides are confident of victory in one of the closest presidential races.

Tomorrow's Papers Today 



MELTDOWN



 New Trump vs Harris drama#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/gZZT6PBDyr  Metro (@MetroUK) November 5, 2024

The UK Daily Star also focuses on potential unrest as it recalls one of Mr Trumps past quotes with the headline Bigly Trouble.

Not every title leads on the election, The Daily Telegraph carrying a picture of Mr Trump and a story about bomb threats at polling stations in swing states, alongside a warning from food suppliers that the Governments inheritance tax raid will put the UKs food security at risk.

 The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'IHT raid puts food security at risk'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletter https://t.co/fRkXGjgS4s pic.twitter.com/1MULHn5SMi  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 5, 2024

The Daily Express also carries pictures of the presidential rivals, but leads on domestic issues with a prediction of huge increases in the next five years.

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Ms Harris and Mr Trump also feature on the front of The Sun, which says the race is neck and neck, with the main focus on Colleen Rooney possibly being ruled out of trials during Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! due to arthritis.
The verdict of US voters was more decisive than most pundits had predicted and now the world is waiting to see whether the election of Donald Trump as president is as destabilising as many US allies fear.

Here is how leaders and others around the world are reacting:

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 Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!

Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump had a tight relationship during the former presidents first term, but the ties soured when Mr Netanyahu congratulated President Joe Biden for winning in 2020.

 Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership.

The future of US support for Ukraines fight against Russian invasion is one of the biggest unknowns about Mr Trumps foreign policy.

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 Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban

They threatened him with prison, they took his property, they wanted to kill him  and he still won.

Hungarys nationalist leader, one of Mr Trumps most ardent foreign supporters, welcomed a result he said would have a transformative effect on the world and bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

We have many plans that we can execute in the coming year with President Donald Trump, said Mr Orban.

Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte

We face a growing number of challenges globally, from a more aggressive Russia, to terrorism, to strategic competition with China, as well the increasing alignment of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. Working together through Nato helps to deter aggression, protect our collective security, and support our economies.

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Mr Trump was a strong critic of the Atlantic military alliance during his first term, accusing its other members of failing to pull their weight. Mr Rutte praised Mr Trump for his work persuading member states to ramp up defence spending, saying Nato was now stronger, larger, and more united.

 European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen

I warmly congratulate Donald J Trump. The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens.

 French president Emmanuel Macron

Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

 German chancellor Olaf Scholz

I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens.

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Italian premier Giorgia Meloni

Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakeable alliance, common values and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even more.

 Indian prime minister Narendra Modi

Heartiest congratulations my friend Donald Trump on your historic election victory.  Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

Lets not forget that we are talking about the unfriendly country that is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.



Dmitry Peskov (Alexander Nemenov/AP)

No congratulations were forthcoming from Moscow, where President Vladimir Putins spokesman declared that Russia-US relations were at the lowest point in history.

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 Mexicos president Claudia Sheinbaum

Ms Sheinbaum told Mexicans there is no reason to worry, despite Mr Trumps previous threats to impose trade tariffs on Mexican products unless the country does more to stem the flow of migrants and drugs to the US.

 Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau

A man previously derided by Mr Trump as weak and dishonest wrote on X: The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations.

 Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

He congratulated Trump, despite having endorsed Kamala Harris days ago.

Democracy is the voice of the people and must always be respected, Mr Lula said on X.

 Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi

Another key player in Middle East peace efforts, who had close ties to Mr Trump during his first administration, said Cairo looked forward to arriving together at achieving peace and preservation of stability in the region.
Republicans have taken control of the US Senate and are fighting to keep their majority in the House of Representatives, which would produce a full sweep of power in Congress alongside Donald Trump in the White House.

A unified Republican grip on Washington would set the course for Mr Trumps agenda or if Democrats wrest control of the House, it would provide an almost certain backstop, with veto power over the White House.

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Speaking early on Wednesday at his election night party in Florida, Mr Trump said the results delivered an unprecedented and powerful mandate for Republicans.

(PA Graphics)

He called the Senate victory incredible and he praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, who dashed from his own party in Louisiana to join Mr Trump.

Vote counting in some races could go on for days, and control of the House is too early to call.

The rally for Republicans started early on election night in West Virginia, when Jim Justice, the states wealthy governor, flipped the seat held by retiring Senator Joe Manchin.

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Republicans toppled Sherrod Brown in Ohio, the first incumbent senator to fall, with luxury car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur Bernie Moreno winning.

Democrat Sherrod Brown failed to win another term in Ohio (Jeff Dean/AP)

The unexpected battleground of Nebraska pushed Republicans over the winning line as incumbent Senator Deb Fischer brushed back a surprisingly strong challenge from independent newcomer Dan Osborn.

One of the most-watched Senate races, in Montana, was decided early on Wednesday.

Democrat Jon Tester, a popular three-term senator and dirt farmer in the fight of his political career lost to Trump-backed Tim Sheehy, a wealthy former Navy Seal, who made derogatory comments about Native Americans, a key constituency in the Western state.

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All told, Senate Republicans have a chance to scoop up more seats, potentially delivering their most robust majority in years.

The fight for control of the House became a state-by-state slog, much of which unfolded far from the presidential race.

House races are focused in New York and California, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years.

Other House races are scattered around the country, with some of the most contentious in Maine, the blue dot around Omaha, Nebraska, and in Alaska.

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To gain control of the House, Democrats need to flip four seats from Republicans, while holding all of their own, a tall task especially in congressional districts where Mr Trump has won.

It could come down to just a handful of seats, or as little as one, to determine House control.

Voters elected two black women to the Senate, Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, who defeated Republican Larry Hogan, the former governor, in Maryland.

Just three black women have served in the Senate, and never before have two served at the same time.

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And in New Jersey, Andy Kim became the first Korean American elected to the Senate. The seat opened when Bob Menendez resigned this year after his federal conviction on bribery charges.

In the House, candidate Sarah McBride, a Democratic state lawmaker from Delaware who is close to the Biden family, became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.

Sarah McBride has become the first openly transgender person elected to Congress (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

What is still unclear is who will lead the new Republican Senate, as long-time leader Mitch McConnell prepares to step down from the post.

South Dakota Senator John Thune, the number two Republican, and Texas Senator John Cornyn, who previously held that post, are the front-runners to replace Mr McConnell in a secret-ballot election scheduled for when senators arrive in Washington next week.

Billions of dollars have been spent by the parties, and outside groups, on the narrow battleground for both the 435-member House and 100-member Senate.

If the two chambers do in fact flip party control, as is possible, it would be rare.

Records show that if Democrats take the House and Republicans take the Senate, it would be the first time that the chambers of Congress have both flipped to opposing political parties.
China committed to further opening-up as 7th CIIE opens

10:16, November 06, 2024 By Wang Cong, Qi Xijia and Zhao Juecheng ( Global Times

People visit the China Pavilion during the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, November 5, 2024. The newest edition of the CIIE opened on Tuesday and will last through Sunday. (Photo: Xinhua)

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum on Tuesday, saying China has continued to walk the talk in expanding opening-up and that the country is capable of promoting sound and steady economic growth, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

On Tuesday, Shanghai officially entered the "CIIE moment," which has become an annual feast of global trade cooperation, and the colorful billboards on the streets of Shanghai and bustling scenes at the exhibition halls put on vivid display of the strong vibrancy and attractiveness of the Chinese market, in stark contrast to rising protectionism in some advanced economies.

In interviews with the Global Times at the CIIE on Tuesday, many foreign businesses, including multinational companies, praised the CIIE as a critical platform to reach the vast Chinese market and showcase China's market prospects and openness, while vowing to further expand investment in China.

Continuous opening-up

During the keynote speech on Tuesday morning, Li said China is willing to open up its enormous market further and will continue to expand market access to sectors in an orderly fashion, including telecommunications, the internet, education, culture, and healthcare.

Li said the country has fully implemented all the opening-up measures announced at the previous six CIIEs, including scrapping all items in the manufacturing industry on the national negative list for foreign investment.

First launched in 2018, the CIIE, described on its official website as the world's biggest import expo, has become an influential global trade event and a barometer of the Chinese market. This year, several record-breaking numbers highlighted the continued success of the CIIE.

A total of 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions are attending the CIIE, exceeding the numbers of the previous session. Notably, a new record number of 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders are in attendance, among which 186 enterprises and international organizations will have attended all seven editions of the CIIE so far, according to official data.

China's message of continuous opening-up and sound development offered a great boost of confidence for global businesses that have gathered at the CIIE.

"I am very inspired and encouraged by China's commitment to continue high-level opening-up and to sharing development opportunities with the rest of the world," Toshinobu Umetsu, president and CEO of Shiseido China, a unit of Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido, told the Global Times after the opening ceremony on Tuesday morning. "Shiseido has been in the China market for over 40 years now, and throughout this time, we have never wavered in our confidence and determination to invest in China."

Poh-Yian Koh, senior vice president of FedEx and president of FedEx China, a unit of US-based logistics giant, also said the CIIE has reaffirmed China's firm determination to uphold high-level opening-up and to build an open world economy. "On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of FedEx's development in China, it further solidifies our commitment to the Chinese market and our confidence in working together for long-term development," Koh told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Further highlighting China's commitment to opening-up, the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, which also opened on Tuesday in tandem with the CIIE, issued its flagship publication, the World Openness Report, which stated that the status quo and the trend of opening up worldwide is worrying with an obvious shrinkage. However, the report commended China's opening-up efforts.

"China's determination to expand opening-up is as solid as a rock, and the pace of expanding opening-up has never stopped," the report said, noting that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China drew up a new blueprint for reform and opening-up.

In addition to China's continuous opening-up, many foreign businesses also expressed profound optimism about China's economic prospects at the CIIE on Tuesday.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Li said the sound fundamentals of the Chinese economy remain unchanged, noting the country is capable of promoting sound and steady economic growth. He added that China is confident in achieving this year's economic and social development goals and the future development of its economy.

"The next China is China, and investing in China is investing in our future. Our consistent 7-year participation in CIIE shows our deep commitment to Chinese consumers, our long-term commitment to China, and our profound commitment to the Sino-French relationship," Jean-Paul Agon, chairman of France-based international beauty company L'Oreal, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Important role

Many global businesses also praised the increasingly important role of the CIIE for global businesses to explore and expand in the Chinese market.

"The CIIE acts as a 'catalyst' for transforming innovations into impactful outcomes and serves as a vital platform for multinational corporations to foster collaboration and strengthen local partnerships," Marc Horn, executive vice president of German conglomerate Merck KGaA and president of Merck China, told the Global Times at the CIIE on Tuesday.

More than just an opportunity for global businesses to showcase their latest products and services, the CIIE also provides a platform for business deals, with the previous six editions witnessing the introduction of nearly 2,500 new products, new technologies, and new services, and the signing of intended deals worth more than $420 billion.

This year, more than 400 new products, new technologies, and new services are set to be unveiled at the CIIE. On Tuesday afternoon, the first deal of the 7th CIIE was signed between purchaser Shanghai Nuoyin Electromechanical Technology Co and exhibitor HIWIN GmbH. Valued at $50 million, the contract covers goods in the semiconductor, automotive, and 3C (computer, communication, and consumer electronics) sectors.

In another key feature, the CIIE is not just providing business opportunities for multinationals, but is also helping small businesses and farmers from some of the world's least-developed countries to access the Chinese market.

At this year's CIIE, the organizers offered more than 120 free exhibition booths for vendors from 37 least-developed countries to participate in the expo. The CIIE is just one component of China's broader efforts to support the world's least developed countries, especially those in Africa. In a recent announcement, China said that it would give all the least developed countries having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 African countries, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines.

China's move to offer zero-tariff treatment to least-developed African countries is very conducive for African products to enter the Chinese market. The CIIE has provided a great opportunity to introduce African products to Chinese consumers, said Xing Xian, a representative of Mpundu Wild Honey Limited, a Zambian honey processing company, adding that at the first CIIE in 2018, the company only brought one honey product from Zambia, but this year it has brought over 20 honey products from different African countries.

"We hope to help promote the products of our African brothers in the Chinese market in a better, faster, and more comprehensive manner," Xing told the Global Times at the CIIE on Tuesday.

Tu Lei contributed to the story.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Carl Chan (right), President of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, and Brenda Grisham (left) react after hearing the early results during a pro-recall of Alameda DA Pamela Price election night watch party in San Leandro on Tuesday. Behind stands Ana Civil. Laure Andrillon/Special to the Chronicle Homicide victims relatives Angel Santos (center, pink hair), Virginia Nishita (background) and Ana Civil (right) hug after hearing the early results during a pro-recall of Alameda DA Pamela Price election night watch party in San Leandro. Laure Andrillon/Special to the Chronicle Seneca Scott talks with recall supporters during an election night watch party held by Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) & Safe Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) in Oakland on Tuesday. The organizations were supporters of the recall movements against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Oakland city attorney candidate Brenda Harbin-Forte, hugs Len Raphael, candidate for District 1 supervisor, during an election night watch party held by Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) & Safe Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) in Oakland on Tuesday. The organizations were supporters of the recall movements against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle A supporter of the recall walks by signs for preferred candidates during an election night watch party held by Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) & Safe Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) in Oakland. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price faces a recall after critics accused her of not aggressively prosecuting crimes. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

The fate of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price was in jeopardy Tuesday night as initial ballots showed voters leaning toward ousting her in a historic recall election.

In early returns of just over 200,000 votes, 65% were in favor of recalling Price. The results were expected to serve as a barometer not only of support for Price, but for the criminal justice reform movement in the Bay Area and beyond. Price trailed in early results in 2022 before she won 53% of the vote.

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Price and her supporters said the recall was an attempt to obstruct much-needed changes that aimed to make the criminal justice system fairer and to address root causes of crime. Her critics have said she was too lenient toward those her office prosecuted.

Price faced challenges in fundraising and in securing endorsements. The groups behind the recall raised more than $3.7 million, far more than the Price campaigns $340,000, records show.

The countys 14 police unions and the union that represents county prosecutors supported the recall. So did Prices predecessor, Nancy OMalley. Support for Price came from organizations that back criminal justice reform, such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.

If Price is recalled, the county Board of Supervisors will appoint a successor after the election is certified.

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In a banquet room in a San Leandro restaurant, dozens gathered to cheer on the recall, the overwhelming majority of whom were family members of murder victims. Poster-size photos of the deceased lined the walls, punctuated by signs demanding justice for murdered victims.

The room burst out in cheers and hugs at 8:17 p.m., when the first early count showed strong support for the recall. Were winning! Pamela Price is losing! a woman announced into her phone.

People celebrate during a pro-recall of Alameda District Attorney Pamela Price election night watch party in San Leandro on Tuesday. In the center are Carl Chan (in blue suit), President of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, and Brenda Grisham (brown suit). Laure Andrillon/Special to the Chronicle

The crowd was buoyant even before the first drop of the results, confident that they had succeeded in ousting the first-term prosecutor.

People are listening now, said Patricia Harris, whose son, Jarin Purvis, was fatally shot in Oakland in 2020.

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With thousands of votes not yet counted Wednesday, Price asked the public to be patient and said she remained optimistic.

There are still so many more ballots to be counted, and in areas that I know we did well in getting our message out, she said in a statement. I am optimistic that when all the votes are counted, we will be able to continue the hard work of transforming our criminal justice system.

Prices campaign did not host a public watch party on election night. In a last-minute plea before polls closed Tuesday, she urged voters to vote against the recall attempt.

Despite the relentless opposition, over-the-top scrutiny, and criticism of every decision, I have been keeping my promises, Price said. I have not wavered in my commitment to racial justice, gender justice, youth rehabilitation, holding rogue police and prosecutors accountable, and ending both gun violence and mass incarceration.

Price, who ran unsuccessfully in 2018, was elected two years ago on a platform that aligned with a broader progressive movement across the nation. The longtime civil rights attorney pledged to seek shorter sentences, stop charging children as adults, reduce incarceration, expand restorative justice programs and prosecute police officers for misconduct.

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Price defeated Chief Assistant District Attorney Terry Wiley to replace OMalley, who retired. Prices win was historic: She became the countys first Black district attorney.

The election came six months after San Francisco voters recalled District Attorney Chesa Boudin, a former public defender. Both votes tested voters appetite for a reform-minded approach to criminal justice.

Price said she took her 2022 election as a mandate.

I was elected to disrupt the system and transform the system, she told the Chronicle in the days before she took office. That isnt lost on me.

Prices first set of policies included a ban on special-circumstance allegations and sentencing enhancements that seek to add extra time to prison sentences, with exception for extraordinary situations. She also directed prosecutors to offer probation rather than seek jail time whenever possible.

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Pushback and scrutiny was immediate and intense. Six months into her term, the recall attempt was well under way.

People celebrate during a pro-recall of Alameda District Attorney Pamela Price election night watch party in San Leandro on Tuesday. Laure Andrillon/Special to the Chronicle

Opposition came from prosecutors in her office who disagreed with the shift and community members who worried about a lack of accountability for criminals as crime was on the rise, particularly in Oakland. Several veteran prosecutors resigned.

Superior Court judges pushed back, too. In a case that raised eyebrows, a triple-murder case, Prices office struck a deal with the defendant that called for him to be sentenced to 15 years in prison if he pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and a gun enhancement in one of the three fatal shootings. But Judge Mark McCannon rejected  and blasted  the deal.

As part of other campaign promises, Price reopened eight police shooting and in-custody cases and started a review of the countys 35 death sentences at the direction of a federal judge after they said there was evidence that prosecutors had excluded Jewish and Black jurors in several of the cases.

In one of the in-custody cases, her office charged three Alameda police officers with involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 death of a man they pinned to the ground in a park. But the charges against two of the officers were dismissed after a judge determined prosecutors didnt meet the deadline to file the charges.

Some believed Price, who focused on civil cases as an attorney before she ascended to the countys top law enforcement position, was not fit for the job. She is not qualified nor competent to hold that position, OMalley said last month when she announced her support for the recall.

Even as Price said she bolstered victim services in her office, her critics said she prioritized reform over victims calls for justice and accountability.

Brenda Grisham (left) and Angel Santos (right) hug while they wait for the early results during a pro-recall of Alameda DA Pamela Price election night watch party in San Leandro, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Laure Andrillon/Special to the Chronicle

Price released data in May that showed her office filed criminal charges in 63% of the cases reviewed last year, compared with 64% in 2019 and 61% in 2022 under OMalley, but Price did not provide a breakdown of charges or data on how the cases were resolved. Price said the detailed information was unavailable because of the offices poor data management system.

The Chronicle reported last month that about 1,000 misdemeanor cases that dated to the start of last year passed the deadline for prosecutors to file charges. Price said she inherited the backlog from OMalley, who denied the claim.

At the pro-recall party Tuesday night, Harris said her family was gutted when, after Prices administration inherited her sons case, prosecutors significantly lightened the charges and brokered a plea deal that amounted to about a four-year prison sentence. Hes already out, Harris said of the defendant.

Virginia Nishita, whose husband Kevin Nishita was fatally shot in 2021 while working as a private security guard for KRON-TV, said she fears that her husbands accused killers would receive the types of excessively lenient plea deals as others convicted under Prices administration.
Special counsel Jack Smith is evaluating how to wind down the two federal cases against Donald Trump before he takes office in light of Justice Department protocol that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, a source has said.

Mr Smith charged Mr Trump last year with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

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But Mr Trumps election defeat of Kamala Harris means the Justice Department believes he can no longer face prosecution in accordance with decades-old department legal opinions meant to shield presidents from criminal charges while in office.

By moving to end the cases before the inauguration in January, Mr Smith and the Justice Department would avert a potential showdown with Mr Trump.

The president-elect said as recently as last month that he would fire Mr Smith, who was appointed in November 2022 by attorney general Merrick Garland, within two seconds of taking office.

NBC News first reported Mr Smiths plans.

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Mr Smiths two cases charge Mr Trump in a conspiracy to undo the election results in the run-up to the Capitol riot, and with retaining top secret records at his Mar-a-Lago estate and obstructing FBI efforts to recover them.

The classified documents case has been stalled since July when a Trump-appointed judge, Aileen Cannon, dismissed it on grounds that Mr Smith was illegally appointed.

He has appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals, where the request is pending.

In the 2020 election interference case, Mr Trump was scheduled to stand trial in March in Washington, where more than 1,000 of his supporters have been convicted of charges for their roles in the Capitol riot, but the case was halted as Mr Trump pursued his sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution that ultimately landed before the US Supreme Court.

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The president-elect could be emboldened by the Supreme Courts ruling in July which granted former presidents expansive immunity from prosecution for acts taken in the White House and explicitly put off-limits any alleged conduct involving his discussions with the Justice Department.

That included his efforts use the Justice Department to conduct sham election fraud investigations as part of his bid to stay in power.

The conservative-majority Supreme Court sent the case back to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which of the other allegations in the indictment, if any, could move forward to trial.

In response, Mr Smiths team last month filed a 165-page brief laying out new evidence to persuade the judge that the actions alleged in the indictment were taken in Mr Trumps private capacity as a candidate  not as commander-in-chief  and therefore can remain part of the case. Mr Trumps lawyers are scheduled to file their response later this month.

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Whatever Judge Chutkan rules is expected to be the subject of another appeal to the Supreme Court, meaning a possible trial would be likely to be a year or more away.

In New York, meanwhile, Mr Trump is fighting to overturn his felony conviction and stave off a potential prison sentence for falsifying business records related to a 130,000-dollar hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election. It is the only one of his criminal cases to go to trial.

A judge is expected to rule next week on whether to uphold or throw the verdict in the wake of the US Supreme Courts July ruling that presidents have broad protections from prosecution.

Judge Juan M Merchan has said he will issue a ruling on Mr Trumps dismissal request on November 12. The judge has pencilled in November 26 for sentencing, if necessary. Punishments range from a fine or probation to up to four years in prison.

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Though Mr Trump technically has no authority as president to shut down a state-level prosecution like the one in New York, his victory calls into question that case as well as a separate pending case in Fulton County, Georgia, charging him with plotting to subvert that states election in 2020.
Donald Trump has spent his first day as president-elect receiving congratulatory phone calls from his defeated opponent, world leaders and President Joe Biden as he began the process of turning his election victory into a government.

He was keeping a low profile, staying out of the public eye after addressing supporters in Florida during the early hours of Wednesday.

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Vice president Kamala Harris called Mr Trump to concede the race and to congratulate him, while Mr Biden invited the man he ousted from the White House four years ago to an Oval Office meeting to prepare to return the keys.

Mr Bidens chief of of staff later nudged the Trump team to sign the federal agreements necessary to begin an orderly presidential transition, a White House official said.





A source with knowledge of the Trump campaign said transition talks to take over power on January 20 had not begun in earnest.

Instead, the president-elect was busy taking calls from leaders, domestic and international, donors and key supporters.

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Transition discussions are expected to ramp up later in the week as attention turns to naming an inaugural committee and a formal transition team.

Mr Bidens chief of staff Jeff Zients contacted Trump transition co-chairs Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon to reiterate the important role the agreements with the White House and the General Services Administration play in beginning a presidential transition.

The delay is holding up the federal governments ability to begin processing security clearances for potential Trump administration national security appointees, which could limit the number of his staff who could work on sensitive information by Inauguration Day.

It also means they cannot yet access federal facilities, documents and personnel to prepare for taking office.

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The agreements are required by the Presidential Transition Act, and require the president-elects team to agree to an ethics plan and to limit and disclose private donations.

Explained Who is UFC owner Dana White and what is his relati... Read More

Congress, in the Act, set a deadline of September 1 for the GSA agreement and October 1 for the White House agreement, in an effort to ensure that incoming administrations are prepared to govern when they enter office on January 20.

The White House announced that Mr Biden had spoken to the president-elect and expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition, while emphasising the importance of working to bring the country together.

Mr Biden also called Ms Harris to salute her for her campaign, and Mr Trump and Ms Harris spoke on a call where the president-elect acknowledged her strength, professionalism and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country, according to Trump spokesman Steven Cheung.
Summary

Donald Trump has been declared the 47th president of the United States after winning the swing state of Wisconsin.

He hailed the "greatest political movement of all time" as he addressed supporters in West Palm Beach Florida.

He had been on the verge of the presidency after extending his early lead by winning battleground states North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Taoiseach Simon Harris congratulated Trump on X, in a post where he promised to strengthen "unbreakable" bonds between the two countries.

Republicans have seized control of the US Senate after flipping Democratic-held seats, wresting away the majority for the first time in four years.

Results map

10.45am

Donald Trump has been elected President of the United States, capping a remarkable comeback four years after he was voted out of the White House and ushering in a new American leadership likely to test democratic institutions at home and relations abroad.

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Trump, 78, recaptured the White House on Wednesday by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency, following a campaign of dark rhetoric that deepened the polarisation in the country.

The former president's victory in the swing state of Wisconsin pushed him over the threshold.

As of 5.45 am ET (10.45 GMT), Trump had won 279 electoral votes to Harris' 223 with several states yet to be counted.

He also led Harris by about 5 million votes in the popular count.

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Sky News called it "an historic moment for America but also for the world."

He is the first US President in 132 years to have not served consecutive terms, and is the oldest person in US history to be elected president.

10.10am

Tanaiste Micheal Martin congratulated Trump, saying he looks forward to working with him in a constructive manner, as we did during his previous administration.

I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on his election. We look forward to working with him and his administration in a constructive manner, as we did during his previous administration. Our relationship builds on the strong legacy of the last 100 years. pic.twitter.com/qwfEkEZO8e  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 6, 2024

The high level of political bipartisan interest in Irish issues among US politicians and officials is, and will continue to be, invaluable.

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Regular, high level, political engagement, both with the new US administration and on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill, will be a high priority for the Government., he said.

9.45am

Iran's Revolutionary Guards deputy chief Ali Fadavi said Tehran is ready for confrontation with Israel and does not rule out a pre-emptive strike by the U.S. and Israel, the Iranian Student News Agency reported on Wednesday, after Donald Trump claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election

9.36am

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was not aware of any plans by Vladimir Putin to congratulate Donald Trump on his election victory and people should not forget that the United States was an unfriendly country towards Russia.

Moscow is watching closely and analysing statements made by American politicians about Russia, Peskov told reporters.

Peskov said relations between the two countries were at a historic low, and it was practically impossible for them to get worse.

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He said the U.S. was capable of changing the trajectory of its foreign policy, but "we'll see in January", when Trump takes office, if that happens.

9.19am

Poland's foreign minister said on Wednesday that Europe must take more responsibility for its security, adding that he was in contact with Donald Trump's team after the Republican claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election.

"The American people have made a decision, which we respect," Radoslaw Sikorski told reporters. "I am in ongoing contact with the highest security officials in Donald Trump's camp. Europe urgently needs to take greater responsibility for its security ... Poland will be a leader in increasing the resilience of the European Union."

8.50am

Taoiseach Simon Harris congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday after he claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election, and promised to strengthen "unbreakable" bonds between the two countries.

"The people of the United States have spoken and Ireland will work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and our nations in the years ahead," Harris said in a post on X.

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Congratulations to US President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your victory. The people of the United States have spoken and Ireland will work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and our nations in the years ahead.  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) November 6, 2024

8.45am

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday after he claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election, adding that the European Union and the United States are "more than just allies".

"I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump. The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them," she said in a post on X.

8.35am

Iranians' livelihood will not be impacted by the U.S. election, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Wednesday according to semi-official Tasnim news agency, after Donald Trump declared victory in the U.S. presidential election.

8.28am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday on what he hailed as an "historic return" to the White House.

"Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America," Netanyahu said on X after Trump claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election.

8.24am

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated Donald Trump after the Republican claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election, and said he looked forward to working with him.

"I look forward to working with you in the years ahead," Starmer said on X on Wednesday.

"I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come."

It is worth noting, however, that Donald Trump has not officially won the election as of yet, even though he has claimed victory.

8.22am

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday on his "impressive" victory.

"I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer," Zelenskiy said on X social network.

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

8.21am

NATO chief Mark Rutte congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday after the Republican claimed victory in the US presidential election.

"I just congratulated Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO," he said in a post on social media platform X.

Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and former US first lady Melania Trump walk on stage during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 6th. Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

8.04am

French president Emmanuel Macron congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday after the Republican claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election.

"Congratulations, President Donald Trump," wrote Macron on social media platform X.

7.40am

Mr Trump hails the "greatest political movement of all time", adding that he will "help our country heal".

"We've achieved the most incredible, political... look what happened, it's a political victory our country has never seen before. I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president."

Mr Trump promises to bring the "golden age of America".

Mr Trump says "winning the popular vote was very nice", adding there is a "great feeling of love in this large room".

He goes on to hail the "group of great people" around him.

"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate, we [Republicans] have taken back control of the Senate".

Mr Trump thanks his wife Melania, before plugging her book, the "best-selling book in the country".

He now thanks his running mate JD Vance, and his "absolutely remarkable and beautiful wife" Usha Vance.

Mr Trump now invites Mr Vance to address the crowd. Mr Vance hails the "greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America". He promises to lead the "greatest economic comeback in American history" with Mr Trump.

Mr Trump says "a new star is born", referring to Elon Musk.

He has now invited UFC boss Dana White on stage to speak. White calls Mr Trump's win "karma".

Mr Trump said "this will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country".

Mr Trump says Robert F Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccine advocate, will "make America healthy again" in his administration.

He says Republicans are the "party of common sense" and repeats pledges on the border. Mr Trump adds that his win is a "massive victory for democracy and freedom".

Referring to the assassination attempt, Mr Trump says "God spared my life for a reason", before promising to bring "every ounce of energy in my soul" to "the most important job in the world".

"We will make America safe, strong, powerful, prosperous and free again", Mr Trump says. "It's time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us, and unite, success will bring us together".

He adds: "Success will bring us together, we have to put America first, at least for a period of time, we have to fix it."

7.26am

Donald Trump is about to address his supporters.

7.12am

CNN has called Pennsylvania for Donald Trump, bringing him up to 265 Electoral College votes, and on the verge of the presidency.

6.59am

Billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk has shared a picture of himself in conversation with the Republican candidate and UFC boss Dana White.

The future is gonna be so   pic.twitter.com/x56cqb6oT5  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

6.45am

Kamala Harris is the projected winner of Connecticut, worth 7 electoral votes.

6.30am

Fox News projected that Republican Donald Trump has won the battleground state of Pennsylvania, which would all but close off Democrat Kamala Harris' chances of winning the US presidency.

Other networks and data providers had yet to make a call in the state.

Trump has already won the swing states of North Carolina and Georgia in Tuesday's US presidential election, according to Edison Research, taking him closer to completing a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House.

He was showing strength across broad swaths of the country. The former president was headed to a convention center near his home in Palm Beach, Florida, to address supporters, a campaign aide told Reuters.

5.58am

Donald Trump has left his Mar-a-Lago home to address supporters at West Palm Beach Convention Center.

A supporter of US vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris reacts during an election night event at Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 5th, 2024. Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

5.50am

Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond thanks the crowd at Howard University in Washington DC, and says she will not address them tonight. Mr Richmond said Ms Harris will address her supporters tomorrow.

5.38am

CNN has called Georgia for Donald Trump. It is the second swing state he has claimed, after he took North Carolina earlier. This means Kamala Harris' path to victory has narrowed once again, and winning Pennsylvania is crucial if she is to stay in the race.

5.25am

Republicans have seized control of the US Senate after flipping Democratic-held seats, wresting away the majority for the first time in four years.

The unexpected battleground of Nebraska pushed Republicans over the top. Incumbent Senator Deb Fischer brushed back a surprisingly strong challenge from independent newcomer Dan Osborn.

Democrats watched their efforts to salvage their slim majority slip out of reach as tallies rolled in across a map that favoured Republicans.

Early in the night, Republicans flipped one seat in West Virginia, with the election of Jim Justice, who easily replaced retiring Senator Joe Manchin.

5.19am

Voters have defeated a measure to add abortion rights to the Florida state constitution but sided with abortion rights advocates on ballot measures in Colorado, Maryland and New York.

Results were still pending in six other states with abortion measures on the ballot.

Most voters supported the Florida measure, but it fell short of the required 60% to pass constitutional amendments in the state. Most states require a simple majority.

The result was a political win for Republican governor Ron DeSantis that will keep in place the states ban on most abortions after the first six weeks of pregnancy.

5.05am

Trump was earning a bigger share of the vote than he did four years ago in nearly every corner of the country, from suburban Georgia to rural Pennsylvania.

By 11pm ET, officials had nearly completed their count of ballots in more than 1,200 counties  about a third of the country  and Trump's share was up about 2 percentage points compared to 2020, reflecting a broad if not especially deep shift in Americans' support for the president they ousted four years ago. He had improved his numbers in suburban counties, rural regions and even some large cities that are historically bastions of Democratic support.

Control of both chambers of Congress is also up for grabs. Democrats had only a narrow path to defend their Senate majority after Republican Jim Justice flipped a West Virginia seat on Tuesday. The House of Representatives looked like a toss-up.

In Florida, a ballot measure that would have guaranteed abortion rights failed to reach the 60 per cent threshold needed to pass, according to Edison, leaving a six-week ban in place. Nine other states have abortion-related measures on the ballot.

Nearly three-quarters of voters say American democracy is under threat, according to the exit polls, underscoring the depth of polarisation in a nation where divisions have only grown starker during a fiercely competitive race.

Trump employed increasingly apocalyptic rhetoric while stoking unfounded fears that the election system cannot be trusted. Harris warned that a second Trump term would threaten the underpinnings of American democracy.

Hours before polls closed, Trump claimed on his Truth Social site without evidence that there was "a lot of talk about massive CHEATING" in Philadelphia, echoing his false claims in 2020 that fraud had occurred in large, Democratic-dominated cities. In a subsequent post, he also asserted there was fraud in Detroit.

"I don't respond to nonsense," Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey told Reuters.

A Philadelphia city commissioner, Seth Bluestein, replied on X, "There is absolutely no truth to this allegation."

'Am I going to win?'

Trump, whose supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021, after he claimed the 2020 election was rigged, voted earlier near his home in Palm Beach, Florida.

"If I lose an election, if it's a fair election, I'm gonna be the first one to acknowledge it," Trump told reporters.

Millions of Americans waited in orderly lines to cast ballots, with only sporadic disruptions reported across a handful of states, including several non-credible bomb threats that the FBI said appeared to originate from Russian email domains.

Trump was watching the results at his Mar-a-Lago club before speaking to supporters at a nearby convention center, according to sources familiar with the planning. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, a prominent Trump backer, said he would watch the results at Mar-a-Lago with Trump.

Trump attended a morning meeting about turnout but appeared bored by the data talk, according to one source briefed on the meeting. All Trump wanted to know, the source said, was: "Am I going to win?"

Harris, who had previously mailed her ballot to her home state of California, spent some of Tuesday in radio interviews encouraging listeners to vote. Later, she was due to address students at Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington where Harris was an undergraduate.

"To go back tonight to Howard University, my beloved alma mater, and be able to hopefully recognise this day for what it is, is really full circle for me," Harris said in a radio interview.

Tuesday's vote capped a dizzying race churned by unprecedented events, including two assassination attempts against Trump, president Joe Biden's surprise withdrawal and Harris' rapid rise.

No matter who wins, history will be made.

Harris, 60, the first female vice president, would become the first woman, Black woman and South Asian American to win the presidency. Trump, 78, the only president to be impeached twice and the first former president to be criminally convicted, would also become the first president to win non-consecutive terms in more than a century.

4.48am

Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in the battleground state of North Carolina in Tuesday's US presidential election, Edison Research projected, moving him one step closer to completing an improbable political comeback.

The outcome remained uncertain in six other states expected to determine the winner.

But Trump was showing strength across broad swaths of the country. He had won 227 Electoral College votes to Harris' 165 as of 11.30pm ET (0430 GMT on Wednesday). A candidate needs a total of at least 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency.

Decision Desk HQ projected Trump would also win Georgia, narrowing her path to victory through the Rust Belt trio of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, though she was behind in all three states.

Trump picked up more support from Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and among lower-income households that have keenly felt the sting of price rises since the last presidential election in 2020, according to exit polls from Edison.

Trump won 45% of Hispanic voters nationwide, trailing Harris with 53% but up 13 percentage points from 2020.

Voters whose top issue was the economy voted overwhelmingly for Trump, especially if they felt they were worse off financially than they were four years ago.

About 31% of voters said the economy was their top issue, and they voted for Trump by a 79%-to-20% margin, according to exit polls. Some 45% of voters across the country said their family's financial situation was worse off today than four years ago, and they favoured Trump 80% to 17% for Harris.

US stock futures and the dollar pushed higher while Treasury yields climbed and bitcoin rose, a sign that investors were reading early results as favouring Trump. Still, investors said it was too early and the trades lacked conviction.

"Everyone's trying to take the few inches of data we've got right now and turn it into a mile," said Alex Morris, president and CIO of F/M Investments in Washington.

Supporters react to election results during an election night event for US vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 5th, 2024. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

4.21am

AP has called North Carolina for Donald Trump, the first swing state to be won.

4.06am

Republican Donald Trump was leading in the US presidential election on Tuesday, broadly drawing more support than he did in his failed 2020 campaign, though the result remained unclear in battleground states that will decide the winner.

Trump, bidding to become the first former president to return to the White House in more than 100 years, had won 211 Electoral College votes compared with 145 for his Democratic rival, vice president Kamala Harris, with a third of the vote counted.

With Trump holding leads in battleground states Georgia and North Carolina, Harris' clearest path to victory remained through the "Blue Wall" of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. A candidate needs a total of at least 270 votes in the 538-member, state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency.

Decision Desk HQ was alone in projecting Trump would win Georgia and North Carolina. Other media outlets and Edison had yet to call the two races.

Trump picked up much more support in the polls from Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and among lower-income households that have keenly felt the sting of price rises since the last presidential election in 2020.

Trump won 45% of Hispanic voters nationwide, trailing Harris with 53% but up 13 percentage points from 2020, according to the provisional exit polls.

Currency and bond markets appeared to bet on Trump returning to power.

But the race, as expected, was coming down to seven swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

A pro-Trump campaign signs sit across the intersection from the voting location in Benders Mennonite Church on Election Day in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania on November 5th, 2024. Photo: Samuel Corun/AFP via Getty Images

Supporters wave US flags during an election night event for US vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 5th, 2024. Photo: AFP via Getty Images

3.40am

The New York Times' Live Presidential Forecast now gives Donald Trump an 88 per cent chance of winning the presidency.

3.30am

CNN has called Iowa for Donald Trump.

3.15am

Donald Trump appeared to take an early lead over his presidential rival Kamala Harris as polls closed across US states.

The Republican candidate inched ahead in the early hours of the race, with predicted wins in solidly red states including Florida, Texas and Alabama outnumbering Ms Harris wins in Democrat strongholds including New York and Illinois.

There have been no major surprises in the election so far, but crucial battleground states including Georgia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina are yet to be called, and could tip the balance in the contest to be the next US president.

Seven states are considered so-called swing states in this years election, with Nevada, Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin also among them.

If the results of voting follow predictions by the Associated Press, Mr Trump will have gained 198 votes in the electoral college, and Ms Harris 99 with the current states which have been called.

Under the US voting system, a total of 270 votes in the college are needed to win the presidency.

Members of the Navajo tribe participate in the event "Ride to the Polls" in Kayenta, Arizona, on November 5th, 2024. Photo: Ernesto Benavides/AFP via Getty Images

Buildings of the New York skyline, including the Empire State Building (C R), and viewed from West New York, New Jersey, are illuminated in red, white and blue to mark Election Day, November 5th, 2024. Photo: Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images

2.45am

Following are preliminary results from an exit poll conducted by Edison Research. Results will be updated as additional poll responses are gathered.

* Harris wins 53% of women voters in Georgia; Trump wins 46%. Trump's share is up 1 percentage point from a 2020 exit poll.

* Trump wins 71% of white voters in Georgia; Harris wins 28%. Trump's share is up 2 percentage points from a 2020 exit poll.

* Harris wins 86% of Black voters in Georgia; Trump wins 12%. Trump's share is up 1 percentage point from a 2020 exit poll.

* Trump wins 74% of white men voters in Georgia; Harris wins 24%. Trump's share is up 2 percentage points from a 2020 exit poll.

* Harris wins 31% of white women voters in Georgia; Trump wins 69%. Trump's share is up 2 percentage points from a 2020 exit poll.

2.35am

The Electoral College vote count currently stands at 178 for Donald Trump, and 99 for Kamala Harris, according to AP.

An Amish man stands next to a horse and buggy outside a polling location in the Leacock Township Municipal building in Intercourse, Pennsylvania, on Election Day, November 5th, 2024. Photo: Ryan Collerd/AFP via Getty Images

2.20am

Democrat Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Edison Research projected on Tuesday, winning election to Delaware's at-large seat.

McBride, a 34-year-old state senator, won a competitive primary for Delaware's at-large congressional district, considered safely Democratic, in September.

She became the first openly transgender person to serve as a state senator when she was elected in 2020, first to speak at a U.S. national political party convention in 2016, and first to intern at the White House in 2012, under Democratic former president Barack Obama.

2.02am

In battleground Pennsylvania, Kamala Harris currently leads with 64.4 per cent of the vote, to Donald Trump's 34.7 per cent of the vote.

2.02am

CNN has projected Donald Trump will win Texas (40 electoral votes).

Women with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc sit together ahead of an election night event held by Democratic presidential nominee, US vice president Kamala Harris at Howard University on November 5th, 2024 in Washington, DC. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, attends the election night watch party for Republican presidential nominee former president Donald Trump at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on November 5th, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Democratic presidential nominee, US vice president Kamala Harris drops by a phone bank event at the Democratic National Committee headquarters on Election Day November 5th, 2024 in Washington, DC. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

1.09am

Republican Donald Trump won eight states in Tuesday's US presidential election while Democrat Kamala Harris captured three states and Washington, DC, Edison Research projected, but the outcome of the race remained uncertain with critical battleground states unlikely to be called for hours or even days.

The early results were as anticipated, with the contest expected to come down to seven swing states: Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin. Opinion polls showed the rivals neck and neck in all seven going into Election Day.

As of 8pm ET (0100 GMT on Wednesday), polls had closed in 25 states.

Trump had 90 electoral votes after winning Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri and Tennessee; Harris had gained 27 electoral votes from Vermont, Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington, DC. A candidate needs a total of 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency.

Nearly three-quarters of voters say American democracy is under threat, according to preliminary national exit polls from Edison, reflecting the nation's deep anxiety after a contentious campaign.

Democracy and the economy ranked by far as the most important issues for voters, with around a third of respondents citing each, followed by abortion and immigration. The poll showed 73 per cent of voters believed democracy was in jeopardy against 25 per cent who said it was secure.

12.45am

Democrat Josh Stein won the North Carolina governor's race on Tuesday, Fox News projected, defeating Republican Mark Robinson, whose candidacy imploded following a CNN report that he had called himself a "Black Nazi" and made other offensive remarks on a pornographic website.

Robinson, the Southern state's lieutenant governor, has denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against CNN.

Robinson was endorsed by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who previously praised him as "Martin Luther King on steroids" but whose campaign distanced itself after the scandal broke in September.

12.40am

Republican Donald Trump won Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia in Tuesday's presidential election while Democrat Kamala Harris captured Vermont, Edison Research projected, as polls closed in the first nine US states, including critical Georgia and North Carolina.

The early results were expected, with the race likely to come down to seven battleground states: Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Opinion polls showed the rivals neck and neck in all seven going into Election Day.

Nearly three-quarters of voters say American democracy is under threat, according to preliminary national exit polls from Edison, reflecting the nation's deep anxiety after a contentious campaign.

Democracy and the economy ranked by far as the most important issues for voters, with around a third of respondents citing each, followed by abortion and immigration. The poll showed 73 per cent of voters believed democracy was in jeopardy against 25 per cent who said it was secure.

The data underscored the depth of polarisation in a nation where divisions have only grown starker during a fiercely competitive race. Trump employed increasingly apocalyptic rhetoric while stoking unfounded fears that the election system cannot be trusted. Harris warned that a second Trump term would threaten the underpinnings of American democracy.

12.32am

CNN has projected Donald Trump as the winner of West Virginia, worth four electoral votes.

12.25am

Polls have closed in the swing state of Georgia.

Donald Trump currently has 19 Electoral College votes with Indiana (11 electoral votes) and Kentucky (8 electoral votes), while Kamala Harris has 3 electoral votes from Vermont.

A dog looks on as people vote at a polling station in New York City on Election Day, November 5th, 2024. Photo: Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images

12.10am

Donald Trump is in the lead in George with 50 per cent of the vote, according to CNN.

12.06am

Donald Trump is projected to win Indiana (11 electoral votes) by CNN, Edison Research and AP.

11.50pm

Both candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, have posted on X, formerly Twitter, ecnouraging voters to "stay in line" even if they are still waiting as polls close.

If you are in line before the polls close, stay in line. It is your right to make your voice heard. If you have any trouble casting your ballot, call our Voter Assistance Hotline: 833-336-8683. pic.twitter.com/Y6KeIDU4lq  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 5, 2024

11.30pm

Nearly three-quarters of voters in Tuesday's presidential election say American democracy is under threat, according to preliminary national exit polls from Edison Research, reflecting the nation's deep anxiety after a contentious campaign between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

Democracy and the economy ranked by far as the most important issues for voters, with around a third of respondents citing each, followed by abortion and immigration at 14% and 11%, the data showed. The poll showed 73% of voters believed democracy was in jeopardy, against just 25% who said it was secure.

The data underscores the depth of polarization in a nation whose divisions have only grown starker during a fiercely competitive race. Trump has employed increasingly dark and apocalyptic rhetoric while stoking unfounded fears that the election system cannot be trusted. Harris has urged Americans to come together, warning that a second Trump term would threaten the underpinnings of American democracy.

11pm

A senior US cyber official on Tuesday said her agency had not seen any major incidents reflecting foreign interference in Tuesday's presidential election as voting moved into its final hours.

As of 1.30pm ET (1830 GMT), there was little evidence of significant disruption to election infrastructure, Cait Conley, a senior official at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told reporters.

"At this point, we are not currently tracking any national level significant incidents impacting security of our election infrastructure," said Conley, whose agency is responsible for protecting critical American infrastructure, including election infrastructure, which can include voter databases, tabulators and vote counting software.

Earlier Tuesday, the FBI warned Americans about two new fake videos falsely citing terror threats and voter fraud, the latest in a string of disinformation that officials expect will intensify, especially if uncertainty over the winner lingers past Election Day.

One fabricated video purporting to be from the federal law enforcement agency falsely cited a high terror threat and urged Americans to "vote remotely," while another video includes a fake press release alleging to be from the agency and claiming rigged voting among inmates in five prisons.

Both are inauthentic, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.

Hoax bomb threats hit a series of polling locations in three battleground states, the bureau said later Tuesday.

"None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," the FBI said. At least two polling sites targeted by the hoax bomb threats in Georgia were briefly evacuated on Tuesday. Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger blamed Russian interference for the Election Day bomb hoaxes.

"They're up to mischief, it seems. They don't want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election, and if they can get us to fight among ourselves, they can count that as a victory," Mr Raffensperger told reporters.

10.35pm

Initial exit poll results for some of the key swing states are in, conducted by Edison Research.

47% of voters in Pennsylvania said they had a favourable view of Trump, while 46% said they had a favourable view of Harris

30% of voters in Pennsylvania said the economy mattered most in deciding how to vote in the presidential election. 12% said immigration, 15% abortion, 33% the state of democracy, 3% foreign policy.

46% of voters in Georgia said they had a favourable view of Trump, while 49% said they had a favourable view of Harris

40% of voters in Georgia said the economy mattered most in deciding how to vote in the presidential election. 11% said immigration, 14% abortion, 28% the state of democracy, 3% foreign policy.

45% of voters in Michigan said they had a favourable view of Trump, compared to 48% with a favourable view of Harris

25% of voters in Michigan said the economy mattered most in deciding how to vote in the presidential election. 13% said immigration, 18% abortion, 35% the state of democracy, 5% foreign policy.

47% of voters in Nevada said they had a favourable view of Trump, compared to 44% of voters who said they had a favourable view of Harris

33% of voters in Nevada said the economy mattered most in deciding how to vote in the presidential election. 14% said immigration, 11% abortion, 34% the state of democracy, 4% foreign policy.

Exit polling reflects just a slice of the tens of million of people who have voted, both before and on Election Day, and the preliminary results are subject to change through the course of the night as more people are surveyed.

National exit-poll results provide an important window into the thinking of the nation, but may not directly align with the seven battleground states expected to decide the presidential election.

Exit polls capture variations among turnout in various demographic groups, such as men vs women voters or college-educated vs non-college-educated voters, and can provide insights into how turnout has changed from past elections.

One key advantage of exit polls is all the people surveyed, by definition, are people who cast ballots in this election.

10.10pm

The first exit polls have been released by the major US news networks.

Unlike in European elections, US exit polls don't indicate results but instead reveal how voters are feeling on a wide range of issues.

The state of democracy and the economy were top of mind for voters as they cast ballots in the presidential election, according to early results from the NBC News poll.

Democracy was ranked first by voters, with 35 per cent saying it was the issue that mattered most in deciding how they voted for president, followed by the economy at 31 per cent. Voters ranked abortion (14 per cent) and immigration (11 per cent) as next important, while just 4 per cent named foreign policy.

National exit-poll results provide an important window into the thinking of the nation, but may not directly align with the seven battleground states expected to decide the presidential election.

9.55pm

Welcome to our live coverage of the US presidential election.

Millions of Americans lined up at polling stations today to choose between two sharply different visions for the country  Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.

After a race marked by unprecedented events  two assassination attempts against Trump, president Joe Biden's surprise withdrawal and Harris' rapid rise  the two candidates have remained neck and neck throughout, even after billions of dollars in spending and months of frenetic campaigning.

The first exit poll is expected at 10pm Irish time. The ballot boxes will begin to close in some states from 11pm Irish time, with more to follow after midnight.

Follow along here as we find out who will be the next president.

Results map

With reporting from Reuters and PA.
Eighty-nine people are confirmed to be missing one week after the catastrophic floods in the eastern Valencia region, Spanish authorities said.

It is the first figure of the missing to be made public.

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The number only corresponds to the eastern Valencia region, where 211 of the 217 confirmed deaths took place.



Volunteers and residents clean the mud from the streets in an area affected by floods in Paiporta, Valencia (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

The Superior Court of Valencia said the figure was based on those cases whereby families had provided information and biological samples of their unlocated loved ones.
Polling day has unfolded relatively smoothly across the United States with only scattered disruptions and delays.

A series of bomb threats turned out to be hoaxes in parts of Georgia and Arizona, two presidential battleground states, and federal officials warned that Russia was seeking to sow chaos and uncertainty into Americas vote for president.

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And despite no evidence of widespread problems, former president Donald Trump made unsubstantiated claims related to Philadelphia and Detroit, the biggest cities in two states that will be crucial for deciding the presidency.

Local officials were quick to pour cold water on the claims Mr Trump made on his social media platform, saying they had seen nothing amiss.



An election worker processing postal votes at the Philadelphia Election Warehouse (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

It was expected that at least half of all votes to be cast had already come in by Tuesday, with more than 84 million Americans voting early. There were just a few hiccups and frustrations during early voting in the presidential battlegrounds of Pennsylvania and Michigan.

The problems that cropped up on the final day of voting were largely expected, routine and planned-for events, said Cait Conley, senior adviser to the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The agency was not seeing any significant national incidents affecting election security, she said.

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In Milwaukee, election officials said they were recounting more than 30,000 postal votes out of an abundance of caution after it was discovered that doors on the back of ballot scanners were not properly sealed. The effort, which drew the attention of Mr Trump and the Republican National Committee, was expected to delay the count there.

Voters also faced some more typical election mishaps. In Arizonas Maricopa County, one voting location was slightly delayed when a worker forgot to bring a key. In Pennsylvanias Allegheny County, an election judge failed to show up at the polls.

Some voters were delayed around the country because of problems checking-in at polling stations. Ballot printing mistakes in some areas required voting hours to be extended. And extreme weather across the middle of the country caused flooding and isolated power outages, including one that forced a polling station to use a generator to keep voting up and running.

In the western part of the key swing state of Pennsylvania, a few counties saw reports of issues with tabulator machines that scan and count paper ballots filled in by voters. A Pennsylvania state judge ordered polls to remain open for two extra hours in Cambria County, which voted 68% for former president Donald Trump in 2020. The county sought the extension after a software malfunction affected the ballot-scanning machines, though county officials said no one was turned away from the polls and all ballots would be counted.

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Bomb threats mobilised law enforcement in Arizona and Georgia. They were reported at various times throughout the day in three metro Atlanta counties, all with large numbers of Democratic voters. About a dozen polling places in all three counties stayed open late. Bomb threats also were reported at three voting locations in Navajo County, Arizona, according to the secretary of states office.

The FBI on Tuesday afternoon said it was aware of multiple hoax bomb threats to polling locations in several states and said many of them appeared to originate from Russian email domains.



An independent observer at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Centre in Georgia (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The massive early voting turnout before Tuesday  slightly more than half the total number of votes in the presidential election four years earlier  was driven partly by Republican voters, who cast early ballots at a higher rate than in recent previous elections after a campaign by Mr Trump and the Republican National Committee to counter the Democrats long-standing advantage in the early vote.

The early voting period faced minimal problems, even in western North Carolina, which was hammered last month by Hurricane Helene. State and local election officials, benefiting from changes made by the Republican-controlled legislature, pulled off a herculean effort to ensure residents could cast their ballots as they dealt with power outages, lack of water and washed out roads. That appeared to continue on Tuesday, with the North Carolina Board of Elections reporting no voting issues.

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Besides the hurricanes in North Carolina and Florida, the most worrisome disruptions to the election season so far were arson attacks that damaged ballots in two drop boxes near the Oregon-Washington border. Authorities there were still searching for the person responsible.

The absence of any significant, widespread problems has not stopped Mr Trump, the Republican nominee, or the RNC, from making numerous claims of fraud or election interference during the early voting period, a possible prelude to challenges after polling day.



Donald Trump has said he will accept the result of the election if its fair (Evan Vucci/AP)

Mr Trump on Tuesday suggested he would not challenge the results of the election  as long as it is fair.

If its a fair elections, Id be the first one to acknowledge the results, Mr Trump said. It was not clear, hpowever, what he sees as meeting that definition.

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As Election Day voting neared its end, the former president began making unsubstantiated claims about voting and law enforcement in the biggest cities in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

He said on his social media platform that there was talk about massive cheating in Philadelphia and said law enforcement was on the way. He did not provide details, and there was no immediate indication of what he was referring to.

Philadelphia district attorney Larry Krasner issued a statement responding to Mr Trumps post, saying the only suggestion of cheating was coming from the Republican presidential nominee.

There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation, Mr Krasner said. We have invited complaints and allegations of improprieties all day. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath.

One of three Philadelphia election board members, Seth Bluestein, a Republican, said on social media there is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in the city is safe and secure, he said.

Police in Detroit were equally puzzled by another post by Mr Trump that said: Philadelphia and Detroit! Heavy Law Enforcement is there!

Detroit police said there were no reported issues inside or outside of Huntington Place, the massive convention room where election workers were to count ballots.

Evening traffic outside the centre was light with no protesters in sight. Barricades were up outside the room and escalators to and from the area were shut off. Police also reported no major problems in the citys more than 400 voting precincts.



Kamala Harris spent Tuesday helping at a phone bank with volunteers (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Mr Trumps Democratic opponent, vice president Kamala Harris, has urged voters not to fall for Mr Trumps tactic of casting doubt on elections. She was spending Tuesday afternoon turning out her own vote at a phone bank hosted by the Democratic National Committee, and said phone banking represents the best of who we are.
Polls have closed in the swing states of Georgia and North Carolina as voters decide whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will be the next US president.

Tens of millions of Americans added their ballots on Election Day to the 84 million cast early as they chose between the two candidates with drastically different temperaments and visions for the country.

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Mr Trump and Ms Harris each notched early wins in reliably Republican and Democratic states, respectively. Mr Trump won Kentucky, West Virginia and Indiana, and Ms Harris took Vermont.

(PA Graphics)

The economy and immigration are the top issues facing the country, voters said, but the future of democracy was also a leading motivator for many Americans casting a ballot in Tuesdays presidential election. AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, found a country mired in negativity and desperate for change.

Those casting Election Day ballots mostly encountered a smooth process, with isolated reports of hiccups that regularly happen, including long queues, technical issues and ballot printing errors.

Ms Harris has promised to work across the aisle to tackle economic worries and other issues without radically departing from the course set by President Joe Biden. Mr Trump has vowed to replace thousands of federal workers with loyalists, impose sweeping tariffs on allies and foes alike, and stage the largest deportation operation in US history.

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Ms Harris and Mr Trump entered Election Day focused on seven swing states, five of them carried by Mr Trump in 2016 before they flipped to Mr Biden in 2020  the blue wall of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Arizona and Georgia. Nevada and North Carolina, which Democrats and Republicans respectively carried in the last two elections, are also closely contested.

Mr Trump voted in Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago club, and said afterwardd that he was feeling very confident.

Ms Harris, the Democratic vice president, did phone interviews with radio stations in the battleground states, then visited Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC carrying a box of Doritos  her go-to snack.

This truly represents the best of who we are, Ms Harris told a room of cheering staffers. She was handed a mobile phone by supporters doing phone banking, and when asked by reporters how she was feeling, the vice president held up a phone and responded, Gotta talk to voters.

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Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, right, phone banks with volunteers at the DNC headquarters on Election Day in Washington (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

The closeness of the race and the number of states in play raised the likelihood that, once again, a victor might not be known on election night.

Mr Trump said on Tuesday that he had no plans to tell his supporters to refrain from violence if Ms Harris wins because they are not violent people. His angry supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, after Mr Trump tried to overturn his loss in 2020.

Asked on Tuesday about accepting the 2024 races results, he said: If its a fair election, Id be the first one to acknowledge it. He visited a nearby campaign office to thank staffers before a party at a nearby convention centre.

Donald and Melania Trump after they voted on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Centre in Palm Beach, Florida (Evan Vucci/AP)

After her DNC stop, Ms Harris planned to attend a party at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington DC.

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Federal, state and local officials have expressed confidence in the integrity of the nations election systems. They nonetheless were braced to contend with what they say is an unprecedented level of foreign disinformation  particularly from Russia and Iran  as well as the possibility of physical violence or cyber attacks.

Both sides have armies of lawyers in anticipation of legal challenges on and after Election Day. And law enforcement agencies nationwide are on high alert for potential violence.
The upper house of Russias parliament has ratified a treaty with North Korea envisioning mutual military assistance, a move that comes as the US confirmed that 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia.

The comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, which Russian President Vladimir Putin signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on a visit to Pyongyang in June, obliges Russia and North Korea to immediately provide military assistance using all means if either is attacked.

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It marked the strongest link between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.

The pacts endorsement by the upper house, the Federation Council, follows its ratification by the lower house, the State Duma, on October 24.



Vladimir Putin greets North Korean foreign minister Choe Son Hui during their meeting at the Kremlin (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

On Monday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russias Kursk region and were preparing to join Moscows fight against Ukraine in the coming days.

If they engage in combat, it would be North Koreas first participation in a large-scale conflict since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

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Moscow and Pyongyang have responded vaguely to South Korean and Western claims of the North Korean troop deployment to Russia, emphasising that their military cooperation conforms with international law, without directly admitting the presence of the Norths forces in Russia.

On Monday, Mr Putin met North Korean foreign minister Choe Son Hui, who was on an official visit to Russia since late last week.

During her talks with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, Ms Choe reiterated Pyongyangs support for the just fight of Russias military and people to defend their countrys sovereign rights and security interests in Ukraine.

Russia and North Korea have previously rejected assertions by the US and its allies that Pyongyang has given Moscow ballistic missiles and millions of artillery shells for use in Ukraine.

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South Korean and Western officials voiced concerns about Russias possible transfer of technology to North Korea to enhance its nuclear and missile programmes in exchange for its troops.

On Tuesday, North Korea fired a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles into the sea in a demonstration of its military capability hours before the US presidential election.
A divided America weighed a stark choice for the nations future on Tuesday as a presidential campaign marked by upheaval and rancour approached its finale.

Voters were deciding whether to send Republican Donald Trump back to the White House or elevate vice president Kamala Harris to the Oval Office.

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As the first polls began to close in parts of Kentucky and Indiana, tens of millions of Americans added their ballots to the 84 million cast early as they chose between two candidates with drastically different temperaments and visions for the country.

Voters said the economy and immigration are the top issues facing the country, but the future of democracy was also a leading motivator for many Americans casting a ballot in Tuesdays presidential election.

AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, found a country mired in negativity and desperate for change.

Those casting Election Day ballots mostly encountered a smooth process, with isolated reports of hiccups that regularly happen, including long lines, technical issues and ballot printing errors.

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Ms Harris stands to be the first female president if elected and has promised to work across the aisle to tackle economic worries and other issues without radically departing from the course set by President Joe Biden.

Mr Trump has vowed to replace thousands of federal workers with loyalists, impose sweeping tariffs on allies and foes alike, and stage the largest deportation operation in US history.

Donald and Melania Trump after they voted on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Centre in Palm Beach, Florida (Evan Vucci/AP)

Ms Harris and Mr Trump entered Election Day focused on seven swing states, five of them carried by Mr Trump in 2016 before they flipped to Mr Biden in 2020: the blue wall of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Arizona and Georgia.

Nevada and North Carolina, which Democrats and Republicans respectively carried in the last two elections, were also closely contested.

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Mr Trump voted in Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago club, and said afterwards that he was feeling very confident.

Ms Harris, the Democratic vice president, did phone interviews with radio stations in the battleground states, then visited Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters in Washington carrying a box of Doritos  her go-to snack.

This truly represents the best of who we are, Ms Harris told a room of cheering staffers.

She was handed a mobile phone by supporters doing phone banking, and when asked by reporters how she was feeling, the vice president held up a phone and responded: Gotta talk to voters.

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Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, right, phone banks with volunteers at the DNC headquarters on Election Day in Washington (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

The closeness of the race and the number of states in play raised the likelihood that, once again, a victor might not be known on election night.

Mr Trump said on Tuesday that he had no plans to tell his supporters not to refrain from violence if Ms Harris wins, because they are not violent people.

Asked about accepting the races results, he said: If its a fair election, Id be the first one to acknowledge it.

Mr Trump visited a nearby campaign office to thank staffers before a party at a nearby convention centre.

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After her DNC stop, Ms Harris planned to attend a party at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington.

Federal, state and local officials have expressed confidence in the integrity of the nations election systems.

They nonetheless were braced to contend with what they say is an unprecedented level of foreign disinformation  particularly from Russia and Iran  as well as the possibility of physical violence or cyber attacks.

Both sides have armies of lawyers in anticipation of legal challenges on and after Election Day.

And law enforcement agencies nationwide are on high alert for potential violence.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the November 9 edition of Good Weekend. See all 11 stories . I wrote a story recently with five f---s in it and when the story was published, sure enough, three of the four letters in each f--- had been removed. On publication, it just read as f---, not f--- with the c, k and u in there. Credit: Illustration by Simon Letch It always happens. You write f--- because someone says f--- and you want to quote them accurately, but you know that as soon as you commit that word to the page, those three offending letters will be removed. Fine to write luck, duck, suck, pluck and muck, but not f---. Why is that? Is it that in 2024 were still too squeamish to read one of the most commonly used words in the English language? Is the reading public scandalised by this word because it contains a clear and penetrating sexual inference, one that renders it an obscenity? Why so easily offended? The subject of my story had used the f word a number of times during our interview and Id quoted her faithfully. Shed said, No f---ing way. What the f---. Holy f---. And What the actual f---. Then a bit later, Oh you beautiful thing. Holy f--- Im sorry. It was arresting the way she used the word, almost a form of haiku one could dance to. But then the story appeared and the affronting letters had been deleted. I mean, seriously, WTF. By all means show on the nightly news cities devastated by relentless bombing campaigns, hospitals overrun by the sick and dying, mass graves being dug for entire families, children begging for food or wandering

aimlessly through the moonscape of their destroyed homes.

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Allow social media networks to disseminate scenes of torture, murder, public execution. Give us unregulated hardcore porn in which men often take pleasure in hurting women. Allow misogyny, public shaming and hate speech to flourish. Stream every conceivable act of blood-curdling awfulness that a scriptwriter can dream up for our already creeped out, sleep-deprived bodies. Allow all this, but dont on any account write f--- in full, even though its one of the most widely used words in the English language, certainly the most supple and versatile. Years ago, I listened to an Indian spiritual teacher do a meditation on this word. Listening to him, I realised Id heard it before  from an Australian scientist, the late, great geneticist and theologian, Professor Charles Birch, whom Id interviewed for this magazine back in the 1980s. One of the most interesting words in the English language today is the word f---, Birch told me. It is one magical word. Just by its sound, it can describe pain, pleasure, hate and love. It falls into many grammatical categories. It can be used as a verb, both transitive John f---ed Mary  and intransitive  Mary was f---ed by John  and as a noun: Mary is a fine f---. It can be used as an adjective: Mary is f---ing beautiful. As you can see, there are not many words with the versatility of f---. Besides the sexual meaning, there are also the following uses: Fraud: I got f---ed at the used car lot.

Ignorance: F---ed if I know.

Trouble: I guess Im f---ed now!

Aggression: F--- you!

Displeasure: What the f--- is going on here?

Suspicion: What the f--- are you doing?

Enjoyment: I had a f---ing good time.

Request: Get the f--- out of here!

Greeting: How the f--- are you?

Apathy: Who gives a f---?

Surprise: F---! You scared the shit out of me!

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It is one magical word. Just by its sound, it can describe pain, pleasure, hate and love, noted the late Australian professor, Charles Birch. Credit: Getty Images Around the same time that Birch was waxing lyrical on the merits of f---, I watched Eddie Murphy perform his one-man show, Delirious. It was his breakout, stand-up comedy special for television and it was to end up catapulting him into the celebrity stratosphere. Twenty-two years old and stalking the stage in skin-tight red leather, Murphy used the f word 230 times  he used shit 171 times as well  and I remember lying on my couch thinking I might actually die from laughing because of all the f---ed-up motherf---ers Murphy was hurling at us, his scandalised  but thoroughly delighted  audience. It was a seminal moment in stand-up comedy and, quite possibly, a seminal moment in the history of this rather extraordinary word. According to Wikipedia, although the etymology of f--- is uncertain, it seems to have ancestral links to the German word ficken, which means to f---. It might also derive from the Dutch word fokken, which means to breed, or possibly the Icelandic word fokka  to mess around  or the Norwegian word fukka, meaning to copulate. All this suggests that people are much the same the world over. We like to ficken and to fokken. I read, too, about a man called John le Fucker [note to editors: this is really his name, so please dont amputate the word], who lived in 13th-century Britain and whose name might be the earliest recorded instance in English of the word f---. Thats according to John Ayto, chief etymologist for the Bloomsbury English Dictionary, although historical linguist Dr Kate Wiles claims that, while the name is excellent, it is probably apocryphal. So, too, the proposition that f--- might have emerged as an acronym born from the very British royal permission to have sex, i.e Fornication Under Consent of the King.

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Our own Macquarie Dictionary refers to fuk, fokken, fukka, focka and ficken as possible origins of f---, although our national dictionary has no problem spelling out the word, while giving full rein to its variety of usages. Loading In the first instance, f--- is a colloquial verb which means 1. to have sexual intercourse with or 2. to make a sexual thrust as with the penis. But then our national dictionary runs rampant with other opportunities for self-expression: You can be a f--- up. You can be a f---wit. You can f--- around. You can f--- someone off and you can certainly f--- someone over. You can also f--- off or go f--- yourself, or  as the case may be  not give a flying f---. You can also be a f---er [big, little or attached to a mother]. You can be a f---head, a f---face, a f---knuckle, a f---up and a f---nose. At the same time, you can also get into a f---load of trouble by saying as much, depending on the tone and context in which you use f---. Apparently, when the crime comedy The Big Lebowski was first broadcast on American television in 2000, the censors saw fit to change the words of John Goodmans character Walter Sobchak from, This is what happens when you f--- a stranger in the ass to, This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps. I mean, seriously? What kind of linguistic f---ery is that?

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From slang to colloquial to everyday usage, the word passes through time and fashion, depending on how its used. We have left the Victorian era. We have gone from Newtonian physics to quantum physics. We have sent space probes to Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. We have seen languages become endangered, flame out, get reborn, because thats the thing about languages. They never stand still. They change as we change. We now google, blog, text and DM; we use abbreviations like u for you, gr8 for great, IMHO for in my humble opinion [I just read that in David Crystals A Little Book of Language.] We refer to unwanted junk email as spam even though spam was once execrable, tinned meat. We think of a villain in todays world as a scoundrel when it used to refer to a peasant or farmhand. Loading So it is with f---. Far from it being a uniformly offensive word, it is often a fabulous word that  like other words  goes through a natural evolution. One moment these four letters constitute a profanity, another moment they are in service to something else. From slang to colloquial to everyday usage, the word passes through time and fashion, depending on how its used. Look at this sentence from a trucker. Four of the six words he employs have f--- in it, as in: F---, the f---ing f---er is f---ed. I love that. Only today I got a $320 parking ticket for parking in my street across a driveway that seems to be unused, save for the garbage bins that are wheeled out once a week. I found the council fine on my windscreen, along with a note saying, Please dont park across my driveway. I use it. Which must mean my neighbour dobbed me in to the council.

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Recall supporters hold signs as seen through a stairway screen during an election night watch party held by Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) & Safe Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The organizations were supporters of the recall movements against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle A supporter of the recall walks by signs for preferred candidates during an election night watch party held by Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) & Safe Alameda For Everyone (SAFE) in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The organizations were supporters of the recall movements against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

Precinct-level results showed Tuesday night that the East Bay cities that put progressive Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price into office two years ago could be turning on her as voters decided whether to oust her in a historic recall election.

In early returns with just over 200,000 votes counted, 65% of voters were in favor of pushing Price out of office, though the election may well get closer as additional ballots are tallied.

Price also trailed in early results when she was elected in November 2022 as part of a national movement of progressives pushing district attorneys to focus more on rehabilitation over punishment, reducing incarceration and increasing police accountability in the aftermath of the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement. She ended up winning with 53% of the vote.

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But Tuesdays early results showed that Price could be losing some of the support she saw when she was elected. While progressive strongholds like Berkeley and Emeryville voted against her recall so far, the early results indicated that she lost some of her support in Oakland.

The results from the countys suburbs and inland areas, which have typically leaned less progressive, have also weighed in favor of the recall.

In the 2022 election, Prices strongholds were in Alameda Countys urban areas like Berkeley, Emeryville and much of Oakland. She also won more narrowly in precincts in Hayward, Newark and Fremont.

Her opponent, prosecutor Terry Wiley, meanwhile, was more successful in the suburbs and outskirts of the county, including areas like Piedmont, Dublin, Castro Valley, Livermore and Pleasanton. Wiley was also a reform-leaning candidate but was slightly less progressive than Price.

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But Price, then a civil rights attorney, was elected just months after the successful recall of another Bay Area progressive district attorney, San Franciscos Chesa Boudin, whose opponents argued that his progressive reforms made the city less safe. Boudin was also blamed for issues outside of a district attorneys control, like increasing homelessness.

The recall campaign against Price began just months after she took office, fueled in large part by rising crime in Oakland, though crime in Oakland has since declined. It is the first time Alameda County voters will decide whether to recall a district attorney.

Prices promises included seeking shorter sentences, reducing mass incarceration and prosecuting police officers for misconduct. But critics say that her policies mean less accountability for criminals and fuel crime. Some have also said that Price lacks concern for victims and their families.

If the recall fails, Price will stay in office until 2026. But if voters decide to remove her from office, the countys Board of Supervisors will appoint a temporary successor, who will hold office until the next general election in 2026, when voters will elect a new district attorney. The chosen candidate will serve the rest of the term.
With Queensland in the grip of a heatwave, Brisbane wont be spared the high temperatures and may also get hail and severe thunderstorms on Friday.

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said the forecast 34-degree maximum in Brisbane would be six degrees above November averages, with night-time temperatures not expected to drop below 24 degrees.

The Queensland heatwave stretches across the state. Credit: Bureau of Meteorology

Heat wont be the only focus for Brisbane tomorrow though, with severe thunderstorms possible in south-east Queensland on Friday, he said.

[There is] a chance of large hail, greater than two centimetres [in] diameter, damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall.

Queensland Health has warned the conditions in the south-east, and other parts of the state, could pose a health risk.

Stormy conditions were expected to bring in a humid weekend, meaning uncomfortable conditions would continue into the weekend, despite temperatures beginning to ease.
Two people fled their burning home in Melbournes north early on Wednesday morning after a car rammed into an adjoining shop and was set alight.

Neighbours scrambled to wake the man and woman after a Meadow Heights milk bar was rammed with a ute and torched shortly before 1am.

A milk bar in Meadow Heights was torched in a ram-raid firebombing shortly before 1am. Credit: Nine News

Volkan Sahinkaya, who lives nearby, said he ran outside after he heard a big bang and saw a car speed away. He then heard another explosion and spotted smoke rising from the milk bar on Magnolia Boulevard as another neighbour ran outside.

We were just screaming to each other: Theres people in the back! Sahinkaya said. The neighbours rushed to alert those inside, but initially heard nothing.
Madrid: Some families in Spain are planning funerals, days after their relatives bodies were found in the aftermath of floods that killed at least 217 people. Others are still waiting for news, caught between grief and the hope that a missing relative could still be alive somewhere in the muck.

A full week after the catastrophic rains, the civil guard and national police said in a provisional tally that 89 people were unaccounted for, the first official count of missing people. The number could rise.

Tania hugs her brother-in-law Baruc after rescuing some of their belongings from their flooded house after the floods in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday. Credit: AP

The central government also approved a major relief package of 10.6 billion ($17.4 billion).The relief package includes payments of up to about 60,000 to people whose homes were damaged and additional aid for people with serious injuries.

There are still missing people to be found, and more companies, businesses and families affected, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. That is why we must continue working.
Trumps motorcade left Mar-a-Lago about 1am for the short drive across the lagoon to West Palm Beach, but Trump kept the raucous Convention Centre crowd waiting until 2.30am, moments after the networks called the crucial state of Pennsylvania in his favour, just about sealing victory. When the victor finally appeared, flanked by his family and a slew of senior aides, it was almost as though it were any of his countless campaign rallies. Trumps anthem, God Bless the USA, played as he lingered by the podium; he went on a lengthy tangent about Elon Musks rockets, and there were the usual remarks about MAGA being the greatest political movement of all time. But in between all that, Trump claimed the win and tried to strike a more conciliatory, optimistic tone than was his custom in this highly negative and divisive campaign. Were going to help our country heal  Success will bring us together, he pledged. We have a country that needs help. We made history for a reason tonight  We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible. Look what happened. Is this crazy?

It was also a massive victory for democracy and for freedom, Trump said, while his running mate and vice president-to-be, J. D. Vance, dubbed it the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States. (Farage described it similarly, posting on X: Hes done it again. The most incredible political comeback of our lifetime.) The crowd included Trump loyalists of many stripes. Televangelist Paula White, who delivered an invocation at Trumps inauguration and later became his special faith adviser, arrived flanked by her rocker husband, Jonathan Cain, keyboardist and guitarist for the band Journey. I watched her do amazing things; we fed the hungry during COVID, and we got Jerusalem to be the capital [of Israel]. She did a lot of great things with him and whispered in his ear a couple of good things, Cain said. Pola LoBello (right), of conservative lobby group Moms for America, with her daughter at the Trump teams official election watch party in Palm Beach, Florida. Credit: Michael Koziol Pola LoBello, from the conservative lobby group Moms for America, attended with her daughter and said a Trump win was necessary to save the country. Shes going to give me grandkids in the future, and I want this to be a safe America, she said. The way its going right now, I dont feel its safe at all.

While most guests donned cocktail dresses and frocks, many wore jeans, chinos, or colourful suits or clothing in the pattern of the American flag, lending the event a more relaxed vibe. Many more were accessorised with red MAGA caps and badges. Inside, upwards of 15 American flags adorned the stage, and small tables stocked with bottles of wine and plastic tumblers dotted the room (though NBC reported it was a cash bar). At first, Rupert Murdochs Fox News played on the big screen, but it was later switched to CNN, prompting a small group to chant CNN sucks. Still, the favourable calls kept coming, no matter the channel. Palm Beach local Teresa Kelly celebrates Donald Trumps win. Credit: Michael Koziol Plenty of ordinary Trump supporters wandered past the entrance to try to get inside, but security was tight for the invite-only event. Most of the worlds media was also refused accreditation, with journalists and camera operators camped on the streets interviewing punters and attendees. It was also reported that a number of journalists initially approved to cover Trumps election night events had their credentials revoked after writing stories critical of Trump and his campaign in a continuation of his long-standing animosity toward the press.

At a nearby bar, Florida real estate developer and Trump supporter Patrick Jones drank a vodka soda and watched PBS on the big screen. Im going to vote Republican every election, no matter what, he said. I dont want them [the Democrats] to take away the money Ive earned. Loading Jones, 31, said Trump was not the greatest guy, but it did not matter. There are probably people with better character, but I dont really care about that. Its more about the Republican ideals, he said. Later, as Trumps cheery guests spilled out onto the streets chanting and singing, a handful of Palm Beach locals rocked up to catch a glimpse of the action. One woman, wearing a T-shirt saying Im voting FELON, led her young children forward for a better view. Nearby, Palm Beach resident Teresa Kelly waved a flag with Trumps face emblazoned over the American Stars and Stripes. Im relieved, she said. Hes done so much for this country in the past, and I believe hes going to do that again.
Donald Trump is on track to defeat Kamala Harris in a dramatic victory that would make him just the second person in American history to return to the White House after suffering a defeat.

A Trump victory will send shockwaves around the world, including in Canberra, as it did when he won the White House in a stunning upset over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Trump, who was impeached twice by the US House of Representatives, would make history as the first convicted felon to serve as president, having been found guilty of 34 felony counts in a May trial over hush money payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels.

Donald Trump at an election rally in North Carolina, the first crucial swing state that he won. Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

As of Wednesday afternoon, Australian time, the Associated Press had called the battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia for Trump and the former reality television star was leading the count in five other key swing states: Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Arizona.
A new generation of space materials have docked at the International Space Station (ISS), where they will undergo testing in the brutal conditions of low Earth orbit.

Developed at the University of Bristol, these high-performance materials could be used to build future space bases, spacecraft for interplanetary travel or a new ISS.

They will be placed on the Bartolomeo platform, located on the front of the ISS, where they will orbit Earth up to 9,000 times over the next 12 to 18 months at speeds of 17,000 mph.

The carbon fibre reinforced composites will need to survive temperatures between -150C and +120C, space debris travelling seven times faster than a bullet, severe electromagnetic radiation, high vacuum and atomic oxygen, which erodes even the toughest materials.

Prof Ian Hamerton, Professor of Polymers and Sustainable Composites in the University of Bristols world-leading Bristol Composites Institute, said:

Space is the most challenging environment for which to design new materials. Youre pitting your materials expertise, skills and ingenuity against extremes of temperature, mechanical stress, radiation, high speed impacts and more.

Any one of those might be difficult, and, unfortunately, gaining access to repair them is not an easy option, so the materials we build must survive without maintenance.

The opportunity to test our materials in the proving ground of space is priceless and will help our University of Bristol scientists on the ground improve fibre-reinforced materials for next-generation space missions.

There are four laboratory-made polymers being tested on the ISS, each of which has been reinforced with carbon fibres and two contain nanoparticles. All four are the result of University of Bristol research and one is patented.

If the materials cope in the harsh environment, they could be used to create longer-lasting space components, allowing spacecraft to travel further, and spend more time in space.

Future communities on new planets will need protection against galactic cosmic radiation.

Dr Ali Kandemir, Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol, is one of several Bristol researchers, supported by the UK Space Agency (UKSA), examining the effects of simulated galactic cosmic radiation on the materials, in a European Space Agency (ESA) project.

Dr Kandemir said: We want materials that are resilient in the space environment and, importantly, materials that can shield humans from that radiation.

We also want to make these materials sustainable, so that when they reach the end of their life they can be recycled and used again for the same purpose.

Dr Kyungil Kong, another Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol, said: "I'm pleased to see the news about the Space X Dragon CRS-2 spacecraft.

"This launch is a significant milestone in space materials research. With the support of the UK Space Agency, high-performance, durable composites have been specifically designed for the extreme conditions of space and this mission will be essential in validating the resilience of these materials.

"I am celebrating alongside my colleagues who have put so much effort into making this a reality. Were all excited to see how our materials perform in actual space conditions and eager to continue supporting innovations that make long-term space exploration possible."

The launch of the Space X Dragon CRS-2 spacecraft this morning is the culmination of five years of work for Prof Hamerton and his team.

It has included the efforts of early career researchers, postgraduates and several Aerospace Engineering undergraduates at the University of Bristol, whose final year research projects have been linked to the space materials project.

The practical support of the University of Bristol-hosted National Composites Centre (NCC) was crucial to the scale up of the composite materials.

Prof Kate Robson Brown, Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact at University College Dublin, and a collaborator on the project, said:

After nearly five years of research to develop novel composite materials for space applications it is very exciting to see our experiment launch to the International Space Station.

I am proud to be part of this mission, and to be working with the multidisciplinary and multisector research team to deliver integrated real world and digital testing for innovative materials which will help to drive growth in the new space economy.

This mission also demonstrates how space research funding creates career changing opportunities for early career researchers and PhD students in a sector of huge value to both Ireland and the UK.

Funding to support the project was supplied by the ESA, the UKSA, Oxford Space Systems and others.

The University of Bristols MSc in Advanced Composites is based at the BCI. Find out more about the course here.
We took this case because directors have responsibilities under the law to act in the best interests of their company, and this includes considering the interests of creditors when the company is facing insolvency, ASIC deputy chair Sarah Court (pictured above) said.
If all young people have access to their super, then all we're doing is effectively raising house prices by the amount that they can borrow, ONeil said, cautioning against policies that would transfer wealth from young buyers to older homeowners.
Mayoral candidate Daniel Lurie greets supporters during his Election Night watch party at the Chapel in San Francisco on Tuesday. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Mayoral candidate Daniel Lurie poses as Fely Tchaco takes a selfie during Luries Election Night watch party at the Chapel in San Francisco on Tuesday. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Janet Macks, center, attends an Election Night watch party for Mayor London Breed at Little Skillet in San Francisco on Tuesday. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Tyra Fenell, center, watches as Mayor London Breed gives an initial speech after election results show she might lose at an Election Night watch party at Little Skillet in San Francisco on Tuesday. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Mayoral candidate Aaron Peskin gives a TV interview after initial results placed him third in the race for mayor of San Francisco at Bimbos in North Beach on Tuesday. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle A supporter and friend of mayoral candidate Mark Farrell, Valerie Houts showed her Moms for Mark hat as she waited for local election results at bar Campus in the Marina on Tuesday. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

UPDATE: Daniel Lurie elected San Franciscos next mayor, in rebuke to Breed

Mayor London Breed was trailing badly early Wednesday morning in her battle to retain her seat, with nonprofit founder Daniel Lurie ahead in the San Francisco mayors race and many more votes left to be counted in the ranked-choice election.

By the time voters ranked-choice preferences were accounted for, Lurie had 56% to Breeds 44%. But the race remained too close to call as election officials must still process tens of thousands of ballots.

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Live Results + Maps: See full San Francisco Election Results

In the tally of first-choice votes early Wednesday morning, Lurie led the field with 28% compared with 25% for Breed, 22% for Supervisor Aaron Peskin, 18% for former interim mayor Mark Farrell and 3% for Supervisor Ahsha Safai. Under the citys ranked-choice system, if no candidate gets a majority on the first round, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated and those ballots are reevaluated to tally those supporters next-ranked choices. The process proceeds through more rounds and eliminations until one candidate has a majority.

The results could shift significantly as more tranches of ballots are tallied and the entire process repeats with the newly grown pool of votes, particularly since San Franciscos progressive voters have a history of voting later than their moderate or conservative counterparts. For example, in the successful 2022 recall of progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin, the campaign to oust him led 61% to 39% at the start of Election Night. The final margin was much tighter: 55% to 45%.

This election marks the first mayors race since voters in 2022 passed a ballot measure moving mayoral contests from odd-numbered years to even-numbered presidential election years. The change gave Breed another year in office and was expected to drive higher turnout.

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Lurie addressed the crowd at his election night party at the Chapel, a music venue in the Mission District, after early returns showed him ahead.

Mayoral candidate Daniel Lurie speaks to supporters during his Election Night watch party at the Chapel in San Francisco on Tuesday. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Its going to be a long night, he said, adding that his team was feeling very optimistic.

We believe strongly that its time for accountable leadership in City Hall, he said, to cheers.

Breed, who was first elected mayor in 2018, faced a tough reelection fight against four serious challengers who argued that her leadership failures were among the chief reasons why San Francisco has struggled to rebound from the pandemic.

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Speaking to supporters at a packed China Basin restaurant, Breed struck a confident tone about her reelection prospects after early returns showed her trailing nonprofit founder Lurie.

It aint over till its over, Breed told the standing-room only crowd. But a few hours later, the mayor left the party with one more round of results still expected later in the night.

Mayor London Breed gives a speech during an Election Night watch party at Little Skillet in San Francisco on Tuesday. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

While Breed once publicly shared some of the pessimism that took root amid those troubles, she campaigned on a distinctly positive message. She sought to remind voters of her leadership during the early days of the pandemic, when she won praise for swiftly agreeing to order residents to stay home. Breed also said San Francisco was beginning to turn around because of her policies, citing as evidence the citys declining crime reports, a reduction in homeless encampments, mass arrests of drug users and dealers, and new downtown events.

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I know some people inside and outside of San Francisco feel these challenges have overwhelmed us, Breed said in her State of the City address in March. I dont dispute these have been a tough five years, but rather than destroying our city, these storms have revealed our strength.

Yet, residents remained persistently skeptical of Breed. Each of the Chronicles mayoral polls this year found that most likely voters disapproved of her job performance. Her approval rating fell by six points to 35% in the final survey in October. Polls also consistently showed that some of her challengers were threatening to unseat her.

Lurie, a nonprofit founder and heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, pledged to bring an outsiders perspective that he said was sorely lacking in local government. He argued that San Francisco had been let down for many years by a group of City Hall insiders that included Breed and the other major candidates. Lurie poured more than $8.6 million of his own money into his campaign, and he was further aided by millions in spending from a political action committee financed in part by his wealthy mother, Mimi Haas.

Lurie and Farrell shared Breeds moderate politics and therefore had few major policy differences with her. All three agreed, for example, that San Francisco should grow its police force and that officers should more aggressively crack down on people using or dealing drugs in public. But Lurie and Farrell told voters that Breed was ineffective and they could do a better job restoring San Francisco to its pre-pandemic booming economy.

Brian Sugar of Pacific Heights was one of dozens of Lurie supporters who came out to his watch party Tuesday night.

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Sugar said he was frustrated after seeing conditions in the city deteriorate over the last few years and was excited about Lurie, whom he called a little bit of a disrupter and an outsider.

Sugar said he was feeling very optimistic that Lurie would become San Franciscos next mayor.

He doesnt owe anyone any favors, he said.

Progressives rallied behind Peskin, the Board of Supervisors president who ran with the goal of expanding rent control and passing other policies favorable to current tenants. He was a vocal critic of Breeds efforts to sweep homeless encampments from the streets without a more ambitious expansion of the shelter system. He also opposed her decision to order police to arrest some people using drugs in public.

Mayoral candidate and Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin addresses his supporters during his watch party at Bimbos in North Beach on Tuesday. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

In a message to volunteers at a packed Bimbos 365 nightclub on election night, Peskin said that the progressive ideals that fueled his campaign were under attack.

People say, Is San Francisco becoming more conservative or moderate city? Absolutely not. This campaign absolutely proved it, he added.

Farrell, a venture capitalist and former supervisor, conceded Tuesday night at his watch party. As the most conservative of the major candidates, he wanted to send armed National Guard troops to the Tenderloin. He served as interim mayor for six months in 2018, following the death of the late Mayor Ed Lee, until Breed won the special election to finish Lees term that year. A two-term supervisor before his brief mayorship, Farrell immediately entered the race as one of Breeds most formidable challengers.

With his wife at his side, Mark Farrell conceded in the San Francisco mayors race after the first round of results showed him trailing far behind his opponents. Michael Barba

Yet, Farrell has repeatedly faced questions about his ethics, including over a ballot measure fundraising committee that critics said he was using to funnel large donations from wealthy backers into his mayoral bid, circumventing campaign finance restrictions.

On Monday, officials revealed that Farrell had agreed to pay a $108,000 fine after an investigation by the San Francisco Ethics Commission substantiated those concerns, finding that his ballot measure committee repeatedly overpaid his mayoral campaign for expenses shared by the two campaigns. The investigation found that those overpayments amounted to illegal contributions to his mayoral campaign beyond the $500 per person limit.

Former San Francisco interim mayor Mark Farrell speaks during a mayoral candidate debate at KQED hosted by the station and the Chronicle in San Francisco on Sept. 19. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

If approved Friday, the proposed settlement would mark the largest fine over campaign finance violations imposed by the Ethics Commission in its history. Farrell described the settlement as resolving an accounting error and a disagreement about staff time allocation. He said he took full ownership of these issues but also urged the commission to establish clear guidance around campaigns sharing expenses.

The Chronicle also revealed that Farrell had failed to disclose a $675,000 personal loan he used to finance the purchase of his home. Breed separately accused him of trying to pressure her administration into fast-tracking renovation permits at the same residence. Farrell denied seeking preferential treatment from Breeds staff but acknowledged that he failed to disclose the loan, which he called an oversight.

Lurie and his allies spent heavily to ensure that critical headlines about Farrell were spread widely through mailers and advertisements. Seeing Farrell as a top threat, Lurie painted him as someone who took advantage of a corrupt bureaucracy he helped create. Farrell, in turn, blasted Lurie as an ill-prepared heir seeking to buy his way into office despite being dangerously unqualified to lead San Francisco in a time of crisis.

Farrell wasnt the only candidate facing scandal. The Chronicle and San Francisco Standard published investigations into Breeds signature program, the Dream Keeper Initiative, which she created to invest tens of millions of dollars a year in taxpayer funds to help the citys Black community. While the initiative has been hailed for helping people buy homes, start businesses and get jobs, its leadership was roiled by reports of fiscal mismanagement and conflicts of interest, leading to the resignation of its top overseer, Sheryl Davis.

Safai, the fifth major mayoral candidate, was elected to the Board of Supervisors as a moderate but tacked left in his campaign against Breed. He came out sharply against her successful March ballot measure to expand police power and, like Peskin, objected to the arrests of drug users she ordered. But, despite strong union backing, he gained little traction in the polls and also trailed the rest of the field in fundraising.
Burjeel Holdings, a leading super-specialty healthcare provider in the MENA region, and Response Plus Medical Services (RPM), the largest pre-hospital care and emergency medical services provider in the region, have jointly launched the $1 million Human Energy Health and Wellbeing Award at ADIPEC 2024 to boost workplace wellness across the global Energy sector.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241105689488/en/

Burjeel Holdings and Response Plus Medical launch $1mn Human Energy Health and Wellbeing Award (Photo: AETOSWire)

The global energy sector has made significant strides in prioritising the health and wellbeing of its workforce. Building on this, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder & Chairman  Burjeel Holdings, and Omran Al Khoori, Chairman  RPM Holding, announced the award during ADIPEC 2024, encouraging CEOs from major global energy organisations to further advance wellbeing across the industry.

The award focuses on initiatives using AI to enhance mental and physical health, and features two categories: a $1 million Wellbeing Investment supporting SMEs developing scalable health solutions, and an Excellence Recognition category celebrating large organisations for their innovative employee wellbeing initiatives.

The inaugural winners will be announced at ADIPEC 2025. Projects will be evaluated based on creating supportive workplace environments, demonstrating innovative approaches, and showing measurable impact.

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, said: The Energy sector, a cornerstone of global economies, has made significant strides in prioritising the physical and mental health of its workforce. As a trusted, long-standing healthcare partner to the sector, we believe it is our responsibility to foster a culture of holistic wellbeing across the sector. This award celebrates and inspires innovative and technology-driven solutions that address the diverse health challenges across some of the most challenging and rigorous work environments in the world.

Omran Al Khoori, Chairman of RPM Holding, commented: This award serves as recognition for companies and innovators coming up with new ideas to promote physical and mental wellbeing in the Energy sector. It is also a platform for translating ideas into concrete solutions that can reinforce workforce resilience in a critical global sector at a time when energy is undergoing a profound transformation.

Aligning with We the UAE 2031 vision and the UAE National Wellbeing Strategy 2031, it reinforces the nations role as a hub for creating solutions to global challenges. The https://hewaward.com/ portal is now open for potential nominees. Further details on application dates and more will be shared later.

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241105689488/en/
Mayor London Breeds election night watch party, as well as for San Francisco Propositions B and O, at Little Skillet in San Francisco on Tuesday. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle A resident casts votes at a poll box in the basement of San Francisco City Hall in March. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

San Francisco voters considered 15 ballot measures Tuesday, including charter amendments and bonds. The San Francisco propositions would create an inspector general position, consolidate city commissions and fund school upgrades, among other things.

Ten measures passed, including the $790 million school bond, a sweeping tax overhaul and a controversial closure of the Upper Great Highway. Two measures failed and another three measures were still too close to call in early returns, as of Saturday afternoon.

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Heres a look at early election results, with votes still left to be counted:

Proposition A: SFUSD bond

A bond measure that would pump $790 million into fixing aging classrooms and campuses at San Francisco public schools as well as create a hub to prepare fresh meals for students passed, with nearly 74% of voters supporting it with the majority of projected votes counted.



The bond needed 55% of the vote to pass.

Proposition B: San Francisco infrastructure bond

A $390 million infrastructure bond proposed by Mayor London Breed passed, with a majority of expected votes counted. The bond, which had 72% share of votes supporting it, needed a two-thirds majority to pass.



The bond would fund renovations and expansions at the Chinatown Public Health Center, Laguna Honda Hospital and San Francisco General Hospital. The bond also includes $71 million for planned improvements at Harvey Milk Plaza and Hallidie Plaza as well as $50 million for shelters and interim housing, including for homeless families. Approximately $64 million would be spent to repave streets and revamp roads and sidewalks.

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Proposition C: Inspector general

A proposal asking San Franciscans to create an inspector general position to root out public corruption passed, with 60% of voters supporting the proposal as of Saturday afternoon, which needed more than 50% of the vote to pass.



The inspector general will investigate fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct in city government and by city contractors, following corruption scandals that have tarnished San Franciscos reputation. The city controller will pick the inspector general, subject to approval by the mayor and Board of Supervisors.

Proposition D: Commission reform

A proposal to cut the number of appointed boards and commissions in San Francisco failed. Prop D, which needed a simple majority to pass, had 43.6% of the vote in late returns.



Experts agree that San Francisco has too many appointed boards, commissions and advisory bodies, with more than 100 overseeing various city functions. The proposition would have retained 45 essential commissions but would cap the total at 65 in the future. A task force would then recommend which commissions should be reauthorized or restructured.

The proposition would also have increased the power of the mayor. It would have stripped decision-making authority from all commissions, making them advisory and giving more power to department heads. Under Prop D, the mayor would have appointed two-thirds of commission members, while the Board of Supervisors would have appointed one-third. The mayor would have sole authority to appoint and remove department heads. The measure would also have stripped the police commission of its oversight of police officer conduct.

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Proposition E: Competing commission reform measure

A competing commission reform proposition by Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who ran for mayor, passed, with 52% of the vote in favor. The proposition needed more than 50% of the vote to pass.

The proposition establishes a task force charged with making recommendations to the mayor and Board of Supervisors about how to modify, eliminate or combine the citys appointed commissions and boards. Prop E gives the task force up to two years to issue a report on streamlining the citys commissions. The city administrator, the controller, the city attorney, the president of the board and the mayor would each appoint one task force member.

Proposition F: Police deferred retirement program

A proposition that would allow police officers with 25 years of experience to defer retirement in exchange for a five-year compensation bump failed with 46% of the vote. The proposition needed more than 50% of the vote to pass.



Supporters say it would have helped with police staffing amid an unprecedented officer shortage and could have saved the city money in overtime costs. But opponents said it was an expensive giveaway to law enforcement as the city struggles with looming budget deficits.

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Proposition G: Affordable housing fund

A proposition asking voters whether the city should start an Affordable Housing Opportunity fund for seniors, families and people with disabilities passed with 58% of the vote with the majority of votes counted. The proposition needed more than 50% of the vote to pass.



The fund would support rental subsidies for extremely low-income households and would require the city to put $8.25 million into the fund annually starting in 2026.

Proposition H: Fire department pension changes

A proposition that would lower the retirement age for firefighters to 55 passed with 52% of the vote. The proposition needed more than 50% of the vote to pass.

The proposal would allow firefighters to access the highest potential pension at that age but cost the city more money amid upcoming budget deficits.

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Proposition I: Nurse and 911 operator retirement plan

A proposition that would allow eligible registered nurses to boost their retirement benefit passed with 71% of the vote. The proposition needed more than 50% of the vote to pass.



The proposition will allow eligible nurses to buy up to three years of service credit for time previously worked as a temporary nurse and put it toward the citys retirement system. It will also allow 911 dispatchers, supervisors and coordinators to move to a different retirement plan starting in 2025. This proposition will create an incentive for nurses to accept positions with the city by allowing them to tap into its robust retirement plan, supporters said.

Proposition J: Accountability for education and youth spending

A proposition that would require coordination between City Hall and the San Francisco Unified School District on services for children, youth and families passed with 81% of the vote. The proposition needed more than 50% to pass. This proposition will require that officials use objective and measurable outcomes to evaluate spending for children and youth by city departments. It would also bring more accountability to spending from an existing voter-backed fund that supports schools. The proposition will require the school district to submit a proposal once every five years describing how it will spend city money.

Proposition K: Turning the Upper Great Highway into a park

A proposition that would close the Upper Great Highway to vehicles and establish a park passed with 54% of the vote. The section of road affected is the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard. The proposition needed more than 50% of the vote to pass.

Proposition L: Ride-hailing vehicle tax to fund Muni

A proposition that would create a tax on Ubers and Lyfts passed but will not go into effect because it received fewer votes than Proposition M.

The proposition would have generated a gross receipts tax on ride-hailing companies and autonomous vehicle businesses, such as Waymo, that provide passenger service in San Francisco. A provision of Prop M required that Prop L receive more total votes in favor than Prop M to take effect, which Prop L failed to do.

Proposition M: Business tax reform

A sweeping tax overhaul plan passed with 70% of the vote with the majority of projected votes counted. The proposition needed more than 50% of the vote to pass.

The proposition will cut taxes and fees for small companies and shift the citys main business tax away from payroll expenses and toward sales, which advocates say will spur job growth and encourage employers to have more workers in the office. Business leaders say the tax changes are critical as San Francisco struggles with a slow post-pandemic economic recovery.

If voters passed both Props M and L, Prop L would be nullified if Prop M received more votes. If both passed but Prop L got more votes, both measures would go into effect.

Proposition N: First responder loan forgiveness

A proposition establishing a fund to pay outstanding student loans and job-related education and training expenses for first responders passed with 51% of the vote. The proposition needed more than 50% of the vote to pass.

Proposition O: San Francisco Reproductive Freedom Act
San Francisco City Hall Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston conceded the race Sunday. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle Connie Chan was a candidate running for the Board of Supervisors in District 1. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Marjan Philhour ran for the District 1 seat on the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Roberto Hernandez ran for supervisor in District 9 in San Francisco, hoping to succeed Hillary Ronen. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle Stephen Torres was a candidate for District 9 supervisor in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Jackie Fielder ran to replace Hillary Rosen as supervisor of District 9 in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Trevor Chandler ran for supervisor in District 9 in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

The fate of San Franciscos progressive-majority Board of Supervisors was more settled Saturday after more results rolled almost two weeks after the election. Of the three incumbents seeking reelection for another four years, Supervisors Myrna Melgar and Connie Chan won, while Dean Preston lost in the ranked-choice elections.

Progressives chalked up another win Saturday when Chyanne Chen was declared the winner of termed-out Supervisor Ahsha Safais old seat in District 11, bringing the number of progressives on the 11-member board to five.

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All six supervisor races were considered competitive as political moderates tried to re-create the wins they achieved in 2022, when Joel Engardio ousted a progressive incumbent in District 4 and became the first person in about 20 years to unseat an elected San Francisco supervisor, and Matt Dorsey beat his progressive challengers in the District 6 field.

GrowSF, a moderate advocacy group with close ties to the tech industry, hoped to defeat Preston and Chan this election.

District 1

In one of the most hotly contested supervisor races, Chan won Monday against moderate opponent Marjan Philhour. Chan was up 51.5% to Philhours 48.5% after ranked choice voting, with ballots counted as of Saturday. District 1 covers the Richmond District and Sea Cliff.

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Philhour, a moderate ally of Mayor London Breed, was looking to oust Chan thanks in part to a boost from the wealthy Sea Cliff neighborhood, which was added to the district during the recent redistricting process and leans moderate.

District 3

Danny Sauter won in the race to replace Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who termed out of his board seat and ran for mayor, with 55.36% of support as of Saturday after ranked choice voting, Sharon Lai had 44.64% of the vote.

Six candidates were vying to represent District 3, which encompasses Chinatown, North Beach, Fishermans Wharf, Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill, Russian Hill and the Financial District. Voters in Chinatown were hoping to seize the moment to secure representation on the board that better reflects their community.

The candidates included civil rights attorney Wendy Ha Chau, Deputy City Attorney Moe Jamil, economic nonprofit director Lai, urban designer Eduard Navarro, businessman Matt Susk and neighborhood center director Sauter.

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Chinatown has never had a Cantonese-speaking supervisor despite a large monolingual population. Lai is a native Cantonese speaker and both Jamil and Sauter were working to learn the language and pledged to hire staff who speak it.

District 5

Preston lost the race to his closest challenger, former state Assembly candidate and climate nonprofit director Bilal Mahmood. Mahmood had 52.7% of the vote, while Preston had 47.3% after ranked choice calculations. The campaign to represent District 5  which includes the Tenderloin, Haight-Ashbury and Western Addition  was the most expensive supervisor race this election.

Preston, a democratic socialist, faced off against four moderate candidates: Mahmood, drafter Allen Jones, former grocery industry analyst Scotty Jacobs and community organizer Autumn Looijen. Mahmood argued Prestons adversarial relationship with many top city leaders was a disservice to the district.

District 7

Melgar was leading the field in the race to represent the citys largest supervisorial district, spanning the Inner Sunset to the Ingleside. Melgar had 52.64% compared to challenger Matt Boschettos 47.36% after ranked choice voting as of Saturday.

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Melgar, who has been a swing voter between her moderate and progressive colleagues on the board, faced off against firefighter Stephen Martin-Pinto, Dr. Edward Yee and flower shop owner Boschetto, who outraised Melgar.

District 9

Progressive Jackie Fielder won in the race to represent District 9, which includes the Mission, Bernal Heights and Portola, with 58.83% of support after ranked choice voting as of Saturday. Teacher Trevor Chandler came in second with 41.17%.

Candidates included former state Senate candidate and climate nonprofit director Fielder and journalist Stephen Torres, who ran as progressives, while community organizer Roberto Hernandez and Chandler leaned moderate.

The chosen candidate will have to help the district grapple with public drug dealing and drug use, stolen-goods sales on the streetswe, homeless encampments and public safety concerns, including sex work.

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District 11

In a field of six candidates, Chyanne Chen will fill the District 11 seat vacated by Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who is termed out. Chen had 50.4% of the vote as of Saturday, edging out Michael Lai with 49.6%.

In the diverse district  which includes the Excelsior, Outer Mission, Crocker-Amazon and Ingleside  Chen, Lai and third-place finisher Ernest Jones all agreed that the biggest issues in the district are housing, public safety and support for seniors and families.
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November 6, 2024  Ottawa, Ontario

Today, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, made the following statement:

As a result of a multi-step national security review process, which involves rigorous scrutiny by Canadas national security and intelligence community, the Government of Canada has ordered the wind up of the Canadian business carried on by TikTok Technology Canada, Inc. The government is taking action to address the specific national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd.s operations in Canada through the establishment of TikTok Technology Canada, Inc. The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canadas security and intelligence community and other government partners.

The government is not blocking Canadians access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content. The decision to use a social media application or platform is a personal choice. It is important for Canadians to adopt good cyber security practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which countrys laws apply. The government encourages Canadians to consult the guidance issued by Communications Security Establishment Canadas Canadian Centre for Cyber Security to help them assess these risks.

The governments decision was made in accordance with the Investment Canada Act, which allows for the review of foreign investments that may be injurious to Canadas national security. The government applies enhanced scrutiny to investments that fall within the jurisdiction of the Investment Canada Act for a number of business sectors and activities, including the interactive digital media sector as outlined in the March 2024 Policy Statement on Foreign Investment Review in the Interactive Digital Media Sector.

While Canada continues to welcome foreign direct investment, the government will act decisively when investments threaten our national security.

Associated links
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 6:05AM

Screenshot: Android Police

WhatsApp is helping you verify links you receive. Android Police reports seeing a beta feature last month that allows you to verify links and URLs through a Google Search. The Meta messaging app seems to be rolling out to more beta testers and should be working on every URL online. When you long-press a link you receive in the app, there's an option saying: "Get link info on Google." That will take you to the Google app's search window showing relevant details about the selected URL.

A different version of this feature shows a "Search on web" option above frequently forwarded messages. It's unclear when WhatsApp will roll out this feature to all users. It is an important safety feature, so we hope it becomes widely available soon.

Source
Friday, November 1, 2024 at 1:01PM

Image: Google

Waze will make it easier to see busy school areas on the map soon. When driving near a school, you'll get information about that school zone and a reminder to be extra cautious. This feature will come to the Google-owned app globally later this year on Android and iOS devices.

SOURCE
Candidates for San Francisco mayor, shown here during a Sept. 19 debate, were awaiting the results of the election on Tuesday as results continued to be released. Carlos Avila Gonzalez

UPDATE: Daniel Lurie elected San Franciscos next mayor, in rebuke to Breed

Nonprofit executive Daniel Lurie took an early lead over Mayor London Breed in the San Francisco mayoral election, shoring up support in much of the west and northeast neighborhoods in the city. But the remaining ballots could still shift the results, depending on how voters ranked their preferred candidates.

Lurie had about 29% of first-place votes when the initial results were released Tuesday evening, when nearly 200,000 ballots were counted. But when accounting for San Franciscos ranked-choice voting system, the contest showed Lurie with 57% of the vote and Breed with 43%.

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The voting system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. When ballots are counted, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their ballots go to the competitor named as the next-highest pick, and so on until one candidate has a majority of votes.

Lurie, a Levi Strauss heir, has argued his background as a moderate City Hall outsider makes him a prime candidate to reform the citys systems. Hes framed his main opponents as career politicians whove failed to deliver on their promises to improve the city. Initial vote results showed him leading in first-pick votes in precincts in the Sunset and Richmond neighborhoods, as well as in the Financial District and Visitacion Valley.

A Chronicle-commissioned poll in October showed Luries favorability rating among likely voters was easily the highest of any of the major candidates. His largely self-funded campaign has been bolstered by large donations to a committee backing his candidacy, which have helped make this mayoral race the most expensive in modern San Francisco history.

Breed, a moderate, was leading in the Western Addition, Hayes Valley and Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhoods. She has shored up backing from some of San Franciscos progressive leaders, including former Supervisor Jane Kim and Supervisors Hillary Ronen and Shamann Walton. But with public safety a key issue of the race, she has also touted stats showing San Francisco crime is down and directed police to start arresting some drug users.

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Those policies have put off some progressives, who in previous polling have generally favored Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who had the highest share of first-place support in the Mission District and Bernal Heights, as well as parts of the Tenderloin and Telegraph Hill  included in San Franciscos progressive crescent. Armed with the backing of the citys largest public-sector union, hes gained support in recent polls, pledging to greatly expand the citys rent control ordinance and prioritize affordable housing. Still, Peskin has had to contend with a lackluster favorability rating and strong opposition from San Franciscos moderate groups.

Precincts where Black residents made up the largest share of the population overwhelmingly supported Breed, while those where Latino residents comprised the largest group most often picked Peskin or Breed as their top pick. Majority-white and majority-Asian precincts tended to be more split.

Early polling showed former supervisor Mark Farrell as a frontrunner, but initial results showed him leading only a handful of precincts in first-place support, mostly around the Cow Hollow and Marina District neighborhoods. Farrell, who proposed closing troubled public areas after dark and sending armed National Guard troops to the Tenderloin, conceded the election within two hours of polls closing.

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The U.S. governments potential withdrawal of a veterinary drug due to cancer concerns isnt yet ripe for a court challenge, according to a federal judge.

U.S. District Judge John Bates in Washington, D.C., has dismissed a lawsuit the Phibro animal health company filed earlier this year against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The complaint argued that FDAs determinations regarding the cancer-causing potential of carbadox, an antimicrobial used to treat swine illnesses, were arbitrary and capricious in violation of federal laws.

Veterinary drugs with the potential to cause cancer in humans or animals cannot win the FDAs regulatory approval unless they meet certain conditions, such as a lack of pharmaceutical residue in the meat of slaughtered livestock.

Carbadox has repeatedly been granted approval over the past half-century, but more than a decade ago, the FDA began asking for more data about potential health risks and reconsidering its earlier findings.

Last year, the agency revoked the regulatory method that had concluded no cancer-causing residues remain in swine three days after theyre treated with carbadox, though the drug can still be sold.

Phibro objected to the FDAs decision through an administrative process and a federal lawsuit, arguing its inconsistent with the evidence and has deprived the company of due process rights, among other allegations.

However, the judge has now thrown out that complaint because Phibro still has a hearing request pending before the FDA and the matter is entitled to further agency review, which means theres no agency denial to challenge in federal court.

This circumstance favors judicial restraint, the judge said.

Though Phibro claims the agency has tarnished the companys reputation and undermined the goodwill built up in the carbadox brand, it hasnt demonstrated sufficient hardship to justify the lawsuit, he said.

The company is still allowed to market the drug, and the FDAs determinations dont require it to adjust conduct immediately, as enforcement proceedings and penalties are only possible once carbadox itself is formally prohibited, the ruling said.

The FDA hasnt recommended people make changes in their food choices during the regulatory process, and a letter from several lawmakers that criticized the agencys actions didnt damage the drugs reputation, the judge said.

Nothing in the letter supports Phibros unsubstantiated claim of reputational harm, he said.
A LECTURE about a saint that lived in an ancient monastery in Clonmelch, Co Carlow in the seventh century will take place this Thursday to mark his feast day. The fourth St Willibrord biennial lecture will focus on connecting the patron saint of the Netherlands back to his medieval roots in Co Carlow.

The lecture marks the feast day of St Willibrord, who is the patron saint of Luxembourg and is known as the first apostle of the Netherlands.

However, his roots are local to Co Carlow after he spent 12 years at a monastery, Rath Melsigi in Clonmelsh, before he was ordained at the famous monastery of Old Leighlin, on the site of todays present cathedral.

Rath Melsigi was the most important Anglo-Saxon ecclesiastical settlement in Ireland in the seventh and eighth centuries.

Willibrord left Co Carlow to embark on a European mission in 690AD when he travelled extensively, converting people to Christianity. He was made bishop and archbishop of Utrecht in the Netherlands before establishing his major monastery and scriptorium in Echternach, Luxembourg.

He is remembered each year in Echternach with a UNESCO World Heritage Status hopping procession.

In 2017, the town of Echternach presented a relic of St Willibrord to the county and it is permanently displayed in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Carlow town. There is still ongoing contact and events between Co Carlow and Echternach in Luxembourg.

The lecture will take place in St Laserians Cathedral, Old Leighlin on Thursday at 7pm. It is hosted by St Laserians Cathedral and was co-ordinated by Carlow County Museum in partnership with the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, the diocese of Leighlin and Carlow Co Council.

The speaker will be Dr Immo Warntjes from the department of history at Trinity College, speaking on Rath Melsigi (Clonmelsh), Co Carlow and politics in the late seventh century. Dr Warntjes is a medieval historian and he has studied the impact of Irish people abroad during the seventh and eighth centuries.

All are welcome to attend and admission is free.
ITS official  Carlow has some of the best hair salons in Leinster.

Salons in Carlow town and in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow cleaned up at this years Irish Hair and Beauty Awards that took place last week in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin. Lavish Studio on Kennedy Avenue, Carlow was named as Local Salon of the Year, while Olivias Hair Studio in Baltinglass scooped Hair Salon of the Year.

Were absolutely delighted. It was such an honour to be nominated, so to win was incredible. Were a small, hardworking team, so to be recognised for that is great. We had a fabulous night at the awards  it was fantastic to meet all the other hairdressers there. It was great, said Kelly Hogan, manager of Lavish Studio.

Olivia's Hair Studio scooped the Salon of the Year award for the Leinster area. Pictured are Bernadette Sinnott, Michelle Moore, Michael Donegan, owner Olivia Donegan and her daughter Rebecca Donegan

Having secured salon of the year and local salon of the year accolades, plenty more awards were won by talented local hairstylists, with Hair by Aine, also in Baltinglass, winning Colour Technician of the Year.

Rebecca Long in the Beauty Boutique, Rathwood, Tullow was highly commended in the Stylist of the Year category and in the Hair Extensions category, Hair by Linda Cummins in Carlow was also highly commended. Darque studio in Carlow town was highly commended in the Team of the Year category.

The awards were sponsored by Creative Oceanic and focused exclusively on Leinster. Three more awards ceremonies will be held place, taking in the rest of the country.

Now in its seventh year, the awards aim to showcase the best hair salons, stylists, barbershops, extensions specialists and bridal experts, among others, in Ireland that exhibit excellence and professionalism in their craft.
Eva Osborne

There's a call for gardai to be allowed to carry out sting operations or "integrity tests" to catch corrupt politicians and officials.

It is one of 68 recommendations made by the Garda Siochana Inspectorate that has also proposed allowing gangland informants, who are providing intelligence to gardai, to commit criminal offences in certain circumstances.

It would give officers the power to sanction illegal conduct by sources in order to help bring down criminal gangs.

According to the Garda Siochana Inspectorate, this would mirror systems in other countries that allow law enforcement to sanction certain illegal conduct by intelligence sources in order to dismantle criminal organisations.

The Irish Times reported that the inspectorate, whose rule includes monitoring Garda performance, made the recommendation in a broad assessment of how An Garda Siochana handles organised and transnational crime.

It was the inspectorates final report before the office is folded into the new Policing and Community Safety Authority.
By Rebecca Black, PA

Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill said she wishes US President-elect Donald Trump well in the role.

However, the Sinn Fein vice-president declined to say if she would accept any future invitation to meet him and emphasised her focus with any US administration is its role in the peace process and the situation in Gaza.

During Mr Trumps last service in the White House in February 2017, Ms ONeill said she would not have invited him to Northern Ireland if she was in the Executive Office at that time.

Asked about that statement by the media in Cookstown on Wednesday and whether she would go to Washington DC to meet him, Ms ONeill said: The election result has just been announced, and we are where we are.

US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office during his previous term as president. (PA)

The American people have voted, and they have voted for President Trump. I wish him well in his new role.

She added: My priority when it comes to engaging with the American administration, as it always has been, is the role that they play in terms of our peace process here and in particular protection of the Good Friday Agreement but also given everything that is happening in the Middle East and the genocide in Gaza, that would be my strong engagement with any American administration.

But I think the one thing we have in our favour here is that we have bipartisan support across the American system which has obviously stood well to us over the years and will continue to stand well to us.

Speaking separately, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said she congratulates Mr Trump on a resounding result.

Of course we want to establish a positive working relationship with the President of the United States. We have always a very long and historic bond and links to the United States and not just in terms of trade but with our history and heritage.

We look forward to working with him in the years ahead.

There was a mixed reaction from parties in Northern Ireland to the election of Mr Trump.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson congratulated Mr Trump.

Elections can be divisive, as this election has been, but the conclusion has been decisive, he said.

The American people have given a strong mandate to President Trump to serve as the 47th president.

I congratulate him, the vice-president elect JD Vance, and their team for achieving what has rightly been described as the greatest political comeback of all time.

In President Trumps last term, the door of the White House was open, and indeed many regarded his presidency as one of balance and fairness regarding our own local political divisions.

I trust he adopts the same approach to the 47th presidency as he did the 45th, and the ties between the US and Northern Ireland remain strong.

I wish him well.

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt also congratulated Mr Trump.

He said: With America preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence in 2026, there is a unique opportunity for the President-elect to celebrate, considering his family ties, the profound contribution people from these islands made to shaping the United States, particularly through the two massive waves of immigration from this island, by the Ulster Scots in the 1600s and what became the Irish Americans in the 1800s.

However, SDLP leader Claire Hanna said there is serious concern about what Mr Trumps election will mean for the US.

My thoughts today are largely with people in the United States who are fearful about what this might mean for their future, she said.

Donald Trump has repeatedly shown himself as someone with little respect for most people or the high office that he once again holds.

Its very disheartening that his divisive brand of politics has been so widely endorsed, but we acknowledge the clarity of the election outcome.

SDLP Leader @ClaireHanna has responded to the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States.



"The SDLP will continue to champion inclusive, forward looking and internationalist politics."



Read more:https://t.co/ckvgvF5T52 pic.twitter.com/EJ5t1ucJB9  The SDLP (@SDLPlive) November 6, 2024

There is serious concern about what this means for the United States, Gaza, Ukraine and indeed the world.

In each, the most vulnerable will likely bear the brunt of the decisions the Trump administration will take.

TUV leader Jim Allister said, however, that he believes Mr Trump had been the better candidate.

Its for the American people to make their choice and I do envy the fact that they are entitled to elect those who make their laws, unlike us in 300 areas where laws are made in a foreign parliament, he said.

Donald Trump was better than the alternative of (Kamala) Harris.

On the issues which impact Northern Ireland, I trust that the historic premise of the United States, no taxation without representation, is something which could give him something to think about when it comes to us.

As a man who respects borders, when he comes to deal with the United Kingdom I suspect he may be surprised we have a partitioning border down the middle of the UK and that may dissipate the inclination to do trade deals.
Gerard Couzens

Gerry The Monk Hutch left Lanzarote for his Costa del Sol hideaway the same day he was released from prison after stumping up 100,000 bail.

Court officials confirmed yesterday the 61-year-old had not had a travel ban slapped on him as part of his jail release conditions while he continues to be investigated for alleged money laundering after he argued it would harm his right to stand as a candidate in the upcoming General Election.

Locals living near his 450,000 penthouse in the popular holiday resort of Fuengirola saw him going into the building on Monday afternoon.

The property was raided a fortnight ago around the same time Hutch was being arrested at his family home in Lanzarote, before being remanded in prison by an investigating magistrate.

Police broke down the front door of the swish flat in a quiet tree-lined street to get in and left a gaping hole in its place after their court-authorised search.

Hutch was seen in Fuengirola, the first sighting of him there since summer, hours after court officials confirmed he had been allowed to walk free from Lanzarotes tough Tahiche Jail.

A local who asked not to be named said: Im 100 per cent sure the man I saw was Gerry Hutch.

Hes definitely been up to his apartment because I saw him walking into the block where he owns his penthouse.

Another added: At a guess Id say he would have been clearing up the mess police left when they smashed down his door with a battering ram.

It was not immediately clear today if Gerry was still on the Costa del Sol.

He bought the Fuengirola hideaway in July 2020. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property is on the top floor of a modern six-storey apartment block a short drive away from the place he bunkered down in ahead of his August 2021 detention at an Italian restaurant called Limoncello on a European Arrest Warrant.

He was subsequently extradited to Dublin to face trial for the Regency Hotel murder of David Byrne but ended up being acquitted.

Hutch is the sole owner of the penthouse and also owns an underground car park space in a communal garage at the end of the road which he purchased around the same time.

The immaculate state of the apartment block where Gerrys top-floor flat is makes it stand out from some of the more dated buildings surrounding it.

A sign in Spanish above the glass-plated front door warns: Area controlled by security cameras.

It leads into a short corridor lined with a large mirror above a grey-marble chip floor and a lift beyond it giving access to the five floors of residential flats above shops and other commercial premises on the ground floor.

Hutch was one of two of the nine suspects held in Lanzarote during dawn raids on October 23rd who were remanded in custody after a behind-closed-doors court hearing in the island capital Arrecife two days later.

The other is believed to be an alleged British associate who is still behind bars.

The Canary Islands High Court press office said yesterday in a new statement, confirming Hutch was free to travel to Ireland and revealing he had used his political aspirations to secure his freedom.

With regards to the alleged leader of an international criminal gang who yesterday was provisionally released on bail of 100,000, Court of Instruction Number Two in Arrecife informs that apart from the aforementioned bail to ensure his presence at the trial, no other precautionary measures have been imposed.

One of the main arguments taken into account by both the prosecutor in his favourable report on the conceding of bail and the investigating magistrate when taking the decision is that the person under investigation alleged in his appeal the withdrawal of his passport or other measures limiting his movements would prevent his free access to the elections.

He alleged that would cause irreparable damage to his right to passive suffrage, which remains intact.

Only a conviction can prevent him from standing for election. The other person remanded in prison on October 25th remains in prison. A secrecy order over the case is still in place."

Court officials have confirmed the Irish criminal is being investigated on suspicion of money laundering. Spanish police have yet to make any official comment and are not expected to do so all the time a judge-imposed secrecy order is still in place.

It was first reported last month that Hutch has been considering running as an Independent candidate in Dublins north inner city when the country goes to the polls.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

The Government cannot ram through a Bill banning imports from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land if it is unconstitutional, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said.

There is a disagreement between the Government and opposition parties over how quickly the Occupied Territories Bill can be amended and passed ahead of a general election.

It is expected that the Dail parliament will be dissolved by the end of the week and polling day will be at the end of the month.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the Occupied Territories Bill needs to be substantially amended to make it legally robust and will not be ready by the end of the week.

Opposition politicians have accused the Government of delaying the passage of the Bill after years of stalling.

Independent Senator Frances Blacks Bill, tabled in 2018, has been frozen for years in the legislative process due to concerns that it would breach EU law.

Frances Black tabled the Bill in 2018. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Images

But the Government has said that an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the summer, that declared Israels occupation of Palestinian territories illegal under international law and that countries should not aid nor assist the illegal settlements, has changed the context.

The opposition has urged the Government to pass the Bill before an election is held, with Sinn Fein and the Social Democrats offering time in the Dail this week to do so.

Speaking on Tuesday, Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Martin said it was an extraordinary position to ram a Bill through that is, as currently written, unconstitutional.

In an appearance before the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs committee, Mr Martin told TDs and Senators that while the ICJ opinion changed the legal context for the Bill, it did not make it legally airtight or a slam dunk.

I cannot ram a Bill through that is unconstitutional, he said.

This will be challenged, this could go right into the European courts, and the least we could do is produce a Bill that would be robust enough to navigate such a potential journey.

He said that the advice from the attorney general several years ago was that if the EU does not take measures to limit or prevent trade with illegal Israeli settlements, there are exceptional grounds in EU law that could allow countries to take action.

He said they had been advised that the provision in EU law can only be compromised on exceptional grounds of public policy, but it would be unusual to use that argument to comply with international law.

Mr Martin said: What has not changed is the European Unions exclusive competence in the field of trade for all of its member states, including Ireland. It is against this background that the Taoiseach asked the Attorney General to provide updated advice in relation to this Bill.

However, it is important to understand that these grounds have never been used by a member state before in similar circumstances. There therefore remains a legal risk if we do take our own domestic measures.

The author of the Bill, Frances Black, also addressed the committee, telling members that passing the Bill should not have taken this long.

If (the ICJ ruling) is what can finally unlock things, then I truly welcome it.

We shouldnt waste any more time, we must focus on getting this legislation passed as soon as humanly possible.

After decades of theft, dispossession and displacement, and in the context of an ongoing genocide in Gaza, this Bill is the absolute least we can do.

Sinn Fein foreign affairs spokesperson Matt Carty accused the Government of attempting to delay and frustrate the passage of the Bill.

You have told us that substantive amendment needs to be made to most, if not all of, the provisions of the Bill.

In fact, you have already directly contradicted Senator Frances Black, who says that the requirements are technical changes.

Chairman of the committee and former justice minister Charlie Flanagan asked Mr Martin for correspondence from the attorney general Rossa Fanning to explain the reasoning for the amendments to the Bill.

Mr Martin responded that because Mr Fannings advice points to potential lines of attack from people who might want to undermine the Bill, it should not be shared.

So you furnish that with more than 10 people or whatever and it gets into the hands of those who might take a case against it, that would weaken our position collectively as a nation in defending such a Bill.

He added: Passing this Bill will not stop Israels behaviour, unfortunately.
Vehicles during the morning commute drive on the Great Highway next to Ocean Beach in San Francisco in September. Proposition K, if it passed, would ban private vehicles on the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard. The road has been closed intermittently to traffic on a trial basis, making the road accessible to foot traffic. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Supervisor Myrna Melgar, left, holds a sign in favor of Proposition K during an August rally in support of turning the Great Highway into a park. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle Josephine Zhao, president of the Chinese American Democratic club and one of the organizers ofa No to Prop K rally, holds a sign against Proposition K in August. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

A ballot measure that would close a 2-mile stretch of San Franciscos Great Highway was leading in early returns Thursday with 53% of the vote in favor and 47% against. The controversial measure would ban vehicles on the citys westernmost coastal boulevard between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard. It needed more than 50% of the vote to win.

The ballot measure divided westside residents who viewed it as either a bane or a boon for their neighborhood.

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Supporters of Proposition K envisioned turning the section of roadway, also known as the Upper Great Highway, into a transformative oceanfront park for pedestrians and cyclists. Opponents argued that closing the major thoroughfare, which many residents depend on, would cause traffic congestion on alternate routes and increase commute times.

Younger and progressive residents were particularly supportive of closing the Great Highway to cars, according to an October poll commissioned by the Chronicle, while older, moderate and Asian residents were more likely to oppose it. Early returns showed a stark eastside vs. westside divide with precincts on the westside and southside of San Francisco, where residents say they rely on the highway to drive places, mostly opposed to the measure and those on the eastside mostly for it.

Five city supervisors, with the backing of Mayor London Breed, put the measure on the ballot. For the past three years, the highway has been closed to cars on weekends as part of a pilot program that is scheduled to end on Dec. 31, 2025.

If Proposition K passed, District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, who championed Proposition K, said that the city would first have to initiate a public process to establish a full-time park, implement traffic improvements and obtain California Coastal Commission approval before the park becomes a reality.

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If Proposition K was defeated, the Board of Supervisors could still take legislative action to determine how the highway will be used after the pilot program ends. The question could also be put to voters again in the June or November 2026 elections.

Due to worsening coastal erosion, the southern section of the Great Highway from Sloat to Skyline boulevards is already slated for permanent closure to cars by early 2026. In its place, the city plans to build a milelong trail and plaza.

Supporters of Proposition K, including Engardio, argued that the southern closure means that the Great Highway has already lost its primary use. Engardio said most drivers have historically used the highway to travel between San Francisco and Daly City, citing a 2022 San Francisco County Transportation Authority report.

Engardio told the Chronicle in August that Proposition K was a once-in-a-generational opportunity to create a renaissance for the Sunset District, saying, For the last hundred years, weve had the Great Highway and its been useful for folks, but its lost its greatest utility because part of it is falling into the ocean.

Westside resident Robin Pam, co-founder of advocacy group Kid Safe SF, told the Chronicle in August that a Great Highway park would be an important option for parents who want a place for their children to play without fear of cars.

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I dont think anyone is saying that we dont want people to drive, she said. What were saying is that there are lots of alternate routes.

Opponents have argued that the highway is still widely used by westside residents, particularly multigenerational households, to drive kids to school and elders to medical appointments.

Sunset District resident Albert Chow said at a No on K rally on Market Street in August that it was not a community-led compromise.

Sacrificing the Great Highway is an unnecessary move and only benefits a few, he said.
High Court Reporters

A solicitor has been struck off the professional register by the High Court after being found to have allowed a 72,000 deficit in client funds and failed to maintain any books of account at his practice.

Mr Justice Micheal P OHiggins said a strike-off order for Sean Brown was necessary to protect the public, to maintain the reputation of the profession and to mark the courts disapproval of his conduct.

Ruling on Wednesday, the judge said it may be possible for Mr Brown to have his name restored to the roll of solicitors after taking steps to address certain personal issues that affected his work.

Mr Brown practised at Sean Brown Solicitors, in Siena, Clonmore, Togher, Co Louth, until he was suspended by High Court order in late 2017.

Mr Justice OHiggins said the lawyer, to his credit, accepted the allegations made against him by the Law Society and agreed these amounted to professional misconduct.

Following a hearing in February 2023, an independent Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal made various misconduct findings, including regarding his failure to maintain books of account at all and his having allowed an apparent deficit of 71,991 in client funds.

The tribunal also said he caused the beneficiaries of a clients estate to successfully claim from the Law Societys central compensation fund due to Mr Browns failure to distribute the estate despite being requested to do so.

The judge said there were other claims on the compensation fund arising from Mr Browns practice. He sent the Law Society a cheque for 5,000, which reduced the funds net deficit to just under 35,000.

His failure to pay stamp duty on behalf of separate clients and failure to register six of his clients titles to properties also amounted to misconduct, the tribunal found.

The Law Society submitted to the tribunal that anything less than Mr Brown being struck off would expose clients, the public and the profession to great jeopardy.

Mr Justice OHiggins said Mr Brown asked the tribunal for a more lenient sanction than a strike-off. He admitted he had never been very good at accounts and balances, the judge said.

The judge said a report to the tribunal outlined factors in Mr Browns personal life that were contributing very negatively to his business life.

The report said the solicitor has been trying his best to overcome these issues.

The tribunal recommended to the High Court that Mr Brown was not fit to practise as a solicitor, that his name should be struck from the solicitors roll and that he should be ordered to pay 5,000 as a contribution towards the Law Societys investigation.

The Law Society, represented by barrister Eoghan OSullivan and solicitor David Irwin, asked the court to make the recommended orders.

Mr Brown did not participate in the High Court application and was not in court for the judgment.

Mr Justice OHiggins said mitigating factors included Mr Browns efforts to overcome his personal difficulties that appear to lie at the root of [his] offending. He had also shown some level of insight by making admissions and has no previous misconduct findings, the judge said.

However, he said, a strike-off order was reasonable and proportionate and made the orders sought.

He added that he sincerely hope[s] Mr Brown will in future be in a position to apply to restore his name to the professional register.
David Raleigh

A 17-year-old boy has been jailed for a year and a half for carrying out a sustained and vicious attack on a homeless man in Limerick City Centre.

The victim, Declan Quinlivan, was kicked and punched a total of 109 times by the boy and two others, as he lay defenceless on the ground, said sentencing judge, Colin Daly, at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

The boy, who cannot be named because of reporting restrictions imposed by the court, had pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder.

The completely unprovoked attack occurred around 5am, and lasted over five minutes, at Wickham Street, Limerick City, on May 8th, 2022.

The boy, who was aged 15 at the time, along with two others aged 17 and 20, were part of a feral group that set upon Mr Quinlivan who was sleeping on the street.

The gang also robbed Mr Quinlivan of his mobile phone, cigarettes and a small amount of cash.

The boy and two accomplices repeatedly kicked and punched Mr Quinlivan in his head and body despite him pleading with them to stop, please stop, the court heard.

CCTV footage of the appalling and protracted attack was played in court in which Mr Quinlivan was heard pleading for mercy and telling the three males take what ye want lads, but please, stop beating me, I beg ye.

Judge Daly said the three accused momentarily stopped attacking Mr Quinlivan as a taxi car drove past the scene but they returned and continued punching and kicking him.

The accused delivered 36 kicks and 13 punches on the victim.

The judge added that despite being the youngest of the three, the accused played the most significant role in it.

It was a cowardly attack on a homeless man who was no match for them physically and who had no friends to help him.

The attack was very mean and heartless and the victim can be heard pleading with them to stop.

Prosecuting counsel told the court: The behaviour of the three accused was feral, all three perpetrators were acting in a common design and actively participating in a violent attack on a defenceless person.

The court heard that investigating gardai were hamstrung in bringing further charges in relation to the assault on Mr Quinlivan as he declined to cooperate with the garda investigation.

As he was being viciously set upon by the three males, Mr Quinlivans shaky voice poignantly rang out in the court on the CCTV recording begging the three males please stop, please stop, please stop.

In court, the boys barrister, Yvonne Quinn, acknowledged that the attack was appalling. Ms Quinn said the boy was ashamed of his behaviour on the morning in question, and he had written a letter of apology to the victim.

The judge said he was satisfied that a headline sentence of five years was appropriate. However, after taking into account the boys early guilty plea, expression of remorse, his previous good character, as well as a relatively positive probation report, the judge eventually reduced the boys sentence to 18 months detention at Obertstown Childrens Detention Campus, Lusk, Co Dublin.

The accused had a very high level of culpability in what was a sustained and vicious attack on a vulnerable person, Judge Daly said.

The judge explained that a suspended sentence was not available to young persons in the circuit criminal court. He said he was satisfied that a community service sanction was not appropriate and that a period of detention is necessary.

A co-defendant, Aaron Holland, (19), of Marian Road, Templemore, Co Tipperary, who also previously pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder on the night, was given a fully suspended two-year jail sentence by Judge Tom ODonnell, now retired, last June.
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Tabuk Cement Co (Saudi Arabia) reported a significant boost in its financial performance for the 3Q24, with notable increases in sales, profits and total comprehensive income compared to the same period the year previous and in the last quarter. The companys sales reached SAR90.12m (US$24.03m), a 66.5 per cent increase compared to the same period the year previous.

In the nine-month period, the companys revenue climbed to SAR262.60m, up 32.1 per cent from last year, while net profit soared by 180.21 per cent to SAR70.5m. According to information available from the Saudi Exchange, the substantial improvements in quarterly and nine-month financial results can be attributed to an increase in sales quantities and other income. Gross profits for the quarter rose dramatically by 411.1 per cent to SAR28.16m, with operational profits also turning positive. The period's total comprehensive income was SAR21.16m, reflecting a 350.2 per cent increase.

The company has attributed its quarterly revenue and profit increases to expanded sales volumes and enhanced other income streams. However, compared to the previous quarter, there was a decrease in net profit, primarily due to a reduction in other income, despite the revenue growth.
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Cement consumption in Spain rose a robust 7.1 per cent YoY in September 2024, to come in at 1.219Mt, according to the latest data from Infocemento. The Spanish cement association, Oficemen, had anticipated a slight improvement from the summer onwards on the back of an increase in building permits and public work tenders, though they note we must wait to see if these works are actually carried out in the short term.



Exports also rose versus year-ago data in September, increasing 15.9 per cent YoY to 464,378t. Spain is the third most important European cement exporter after Turkey and Germany.

January-September 2024

Cement consumption was down 0.5 per cent YoY by the end of the third quarter of 2024, amounting to 10.87Mt, down from 10.921Mt in the same period a year earlier. Spanish cement demand is forecast to contract by 0.5 per cent YoY for 2024 as a whole, before rebounding in 2025. Exports fell by 617,855t or 14.7 per cent YoY in the January to September period, coming in at 3.582Mt.



12-month moving average

The data show that in the last 12 months (October 2023-September 2024) cement sales fell 1.8 per cent YoY to 14.417Mt, 261,863t less than the previous period, while exports contracted 17.1 per cent YoY to 4.642Mt, a loss of 955,590t.
Supervisor Dean Preston speaks at an election watch party at Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco on Tuesday. Preston conceded his District 5 seat to Bilal Mahmood on Sunday. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle

In a stunning upset, Supervisor Dean Preston lost to moderate challenger Bilal Mahmood on Monday in the race to represent San Franciscos District 5.



Preston already conceded the race in a statement Sunday night. The district, which includes the Tenderloin, Haight-Ashbury and Western Addition, is one of the citys most progressive, and Preston was the most left-wing supervisor on the board.



Preston told his supporters via Instagram that, We cant win every battle, but well continue the fight, and thanked his staff and supporters.



We received the most first-place votes of any candidate and Im proud of my record, especially on tenants rights and affordable housing, Preston wrote. I will continue that work to make housing in our city a human right for all. We continue fighting for every working person, struggling neighbor and everyone relegated to the sidelines in our city.

Preston finished by saying, We have big plans coming which we will announce soon. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

By the time voters ranked-choice preferences were accounted for, Mahmood won with 52.7% of the vote compared with Prestons 47.3%.

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Bilal Mahmood will represent District 5 after Dean Preston conceded the race Sunday. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

Mahmood is a former Obama administration staffer who lost his bid for state Assembly in 2022.



In addition to District 5, a moderate candidate, Danny Sauter, won in District 3 where Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin was termed-out.

Mahmood told the Chronicle on Sunday night he hadnt gotten a call from Preston conceding the race but that hes excited to govern with a unity coalition.



"Its a culmination of what we have seen this whole time that the district wanted change, they wanted unity and a progressive who gets results and delivers on progressive values, Mahmood said. They felt that a change was necessary to achieve those goals. Thats what were looking to deliver.



Prestons campaign consultant Jen Snyder said on Instagram she has felt heartbroken over the past few days and called Preston the best elected SF has ever had.



The District 5 race was the most expensive supervisor contest this election with over $1.5 million raised by all candidates, including public financing. Mahmood, a Tenderloin resident, raised more than $496,000 and was aided by moderate political advocacy group GrowSFs Dump Dean PAC, which raised nearly $300,000. Preston raised more than $511,000 for his reelection bid.

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The district has often been at the center of the drug and homelessness crisis, frustrating many residents and merchants. Debates about how to handle the fentanyl trade, unhoused people and the shortage of affordable housing were at the center of the race.

Democratic socialist Preston, a former tenants rights attorney, painted himself as a champion of renters who would tackle the overdose crisis by opening supervised injection sites, while investing in more street teams to help with homelessness and addiction. He touted his push for a public bank and affordable housing.



He has been a rare critic of the police department at times, arguing it is not accountable for results despite big increases in funding in recent years.



Unions, tenant groups and national leaders like Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Bernie Sanders backed Preston, important endorsements in District 5s progressive neighborhoods.

You elected me to be an independent voice in City Hall, standing up against the status quo, and weve been heard, Preston told a crowd when he began his reelection campaign in March. Weve been heard so loud, apparently weve ruffled some feathers.

Supervisor Dean Preston stands at an election watch party at Mad Dog in the Fog in San Francisco on Tuesday. Preston conceded his seat to Bilal Mahmood Sunday. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle

Mahmood argued that he would cut red tape for all kinds of housing, support the ongoing push to arrest drug dealers and cut homelessness through increased shelter, better data and more coordination in City Hall.

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Throughout the campaign, Mahmood attacked Preston for his at times adversarial relationship with the police force and for not fully backing market-rate housing projects, such as the proposal at a former car wash site on Divisadero Street. He also attacked Preston for not being collegial during his time on the board.



We need a collaborative relationship with other supervisors and with the mayor, and I think thats been lacking, Mahmood said in an October interview with the Chronicle. Hes getting into sensationalist fights. Im going to focus on the details.

Though many moderates in San Francisco support the recent increase in homeless sweeps, Mahmood agrees with Preston that moving tents is counterproductive. Both are also big backers of tenant protections.
Incumbent Lizzy Schmidt has captured the hotly contested Walden alderman race.

Challenger Lou Ziebold, after the early votes were counted, was ahead 293 to 279.

However, with Tuesday's ballots, the final tally was:

Lizzy Schmidt 654

Lou Ziebold 592

Lee Davis had 1,053 complimentary votes to return as Walden mayor.

The contest between Ms. Schmidt and Mr. Ziebold filled up the letters to the editor and brought in substantial financial contributions as well.

Ms. Schmidt reported $9,810 in gifts for the recent financial reporting.

Mr. Ziebold, a former member of the town's planning commission, almost doubled that at $18,235.

The controversy stems around what type of town center Walden should have. Town officials have not voted on a specific town center proposal at the Line Orchard property. There was a vote on what the maximum size buildings could be at a town center. The Walden Planning Commission, which included Mr. Ziebold, recommended in September 2023 that there should be no cap on the size of the buildings. Ms. Schmidt, during the October 2023 monthly town meeting, made a motion for a 15,000-square-foot cap. It was passed 2-1.

Ms. Schmidt got sued after the town center vote, but all complaints against her were dismissed.

Mayor Lee Davis, though he disagreed with Ms. Schmidt's town center vote, recently endorsed her. He said on all other issues they have been in agreement over the past four years.
Third District Congressman won another term in the U.S. House after leading in Hamilton County and polling far ahead in outlying counties.

In the latest returns, it was:

Chuck Fleischmann 233,879

Jack Allen 101,608

Stephen "Scooter" King 5,781

Jean Howard Hill 5,055

Congressman Fleischmann said, Thank you for trusting me once again and sending me back to Washington to be your voice. I am deeply honored and grateful to you for your continued trust and support. Bringing Tennessee values to Washington is the honor of a lifetime. I will never stop fighting for our freedoms, for secure borders, for safe communities, a strong economy, and for a stronger America. This victory reflects our shared commitment to tackling the issues that matter most to our community, and I am excited to continue this important work.

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn coasted to an election victory over state House member Gloria Johnson.

Latest returns had the totals at:

Marsha Blackburn 1,874,181

Gloria Johnson 993,208

Rep. Diane Harshberger declared victory early in the First Congressional District.

Her campaign said, "With gratitude and a renewed commitment, she celebrates this victory as a resounding endorsement of her promise to defend conservative values, promote economic growth, and fight for the freedoms of East Tennesseans."

Congresswoman Harshbarger said, I am truly humbled by the trust and confidence the people of East Tennessee have placed in me once again. We have important work ahead to protect our freedoms, support our families, and continue pushing back against government overreach. I look forward to returning to Washington to be the strong voice for faith, family, and conservative values that Tennessee deserves.

She also "conveyed her hopes and prayers for a victory in the presidential race, noting how important President Trumps leadership is for our nation:

Tonight, we are hopeful that President Trump will join us in victory. Our country needs his bold leadership and commitment to America First values. I am praying for a successful outcome for President Trump and am ready to work alongside him to make our nation stronger, safer, and more prosperous.

With her re-election, Congresswoman Harshbarger pledges to remain focused on delivering results for Tennessee families, fighting to bring down healthcare costs, and standing firm on issues that matter most to her constituents. From East Tennessee to Washington, D.C., she remains committed to ensuring our voice is heard loud and clear.
Marjorie Taylor Greene easily retained her Georgia House District 14 seat.

The Republican defeated Democrat Shawn Harris.

The total was:

Marjorie Taylor Greene 240,731

Shawn Harris 132,549

Dade County's Colton Moore won re-election in Georgia Senate 53.

It was:

Colton Moore 70,251

Bart Alexander Bryant 18,891

Senator Moore said, I am proud to announce that we have won tonights election. This victory is not just mine; it belongs to each and every one of you who stood by me, who volunteered their time, who shared our message, and who voted for our conservative America-First values.



"Together, we have shown that the spirit of true conservatism is alive and well in Northwest Georgia. As your Senator, I pledge to continue fighting for what is best for the people of Georgia. I will keep fighting for the principles that matter most to us: protecting our economy, defending our Bill of Rights, preserving the innocence of our children, and securing our southern border.



"I will stand up to the RINO establishment and the radical Democrats who seek to destroy our way of life and continue to do whatever it takes to protect our citizens.I want to thank my family for their unwavering support throughout this campaign. To the volunteers who tirelessly worked to spread our message and mobilize voters, your dedication has been the backbone of this campaign. Thank you for your commitment to our fight.



"To the voters of Northwest Georgia, thank you for placing your trust in me. You have delivered a resounding message that we will not stand idly by while our economy is destroyed, our constitutional rights are legislated away, our children are corrupted, and our southern border is left wide open. You have shown that we will not tolerate corruption and complacency in our government.

"There is a lot of work to be done, and I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work on behalf of the people of Northwest Georgia. Together, we will drain the swamp, restore integrity to our government, and ensure that our voices are heard."
San Francisco Unified School District building in San Francisco on Sunday. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle New San Francisco Unified School District President Matt Alexander speaks during a school board meeting on Aug. 27. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Three newcomers and one incumbent secured the four available seats on the San Francisco school board.

Jaime Huling won the first seat after pulling well ahead of the other 10 contenders while Parag Gupta took the second seat with the majority of projected votes counted. Supryia Ray prevailed next as more ballots were processed and incumbent Matt Alexander, who is currently board president, secured the final seat Monday with the all votes tabulated.



As the final ballots were tallied in recent days, John Jersin and Alexander were in a tight race for the final spot. Alexander landed in the winner's spot with 122,588 votes, just 287 more than Jersin.

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Candidate Ann Hsu, who was appointed to the school board following the 2022 recall and then ousted by voters in the general election months later, was trailing well behind.

The four winners will join the board at a critical juncture for the district. In the months ahead, the board will face huge budget cuts, a revamp of the school assignment process and the devastation left by systemic dysfunction. Those deeply embedded problems include a payroll fiasco, hiring and budgeting missteps and the inability to track staffing and vacancies.

The incoming board members will inherit a new superintendent, Maria Su, who is on loan from City Hall and tasked with balancing the budget and calming the chaos.

When they take their seats in early January, the seven-member board will include four political newbies. Current board member Phil Kim joined the board only in late August after he was appointed to fill the vacant seat left by former board President Lainie Motamedi, who resigned. Alida Fisher and Vice President Lisa Weissman-Ward have two more years on their terms.

Board members Jenny Lam, Mark Sanchez and Kevine Boggess opted not to run for reelection.

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The three candidates who won are considered more moderate on San Franciscos political scale, with Alexander falling more toward progressives.

The school boards primary responsibilities are to set policy, approve the annual budget and oversee their one employee: the superintendent.

The current board orchestrated the resignation of Superintendent Matt Wayne after a series of blunders, including the botched rollout of the school closure process. They appointed Su as his replacement in a 6-1 vote, with Boggess opposing.

As the district continues to navigate difficult decisions ahead, we need a steady hand on the tiller, Alexander said of the selection of Su.

Su, who is on leave from her job as director of the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, is under an agreement that lasts through June 2026, though she or the board could opt to part ways at any time before that.

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Was it Bidenomics, the border, the coup or the rise of anti-Semitism? Polls cited the economy as the number one concern so Trump looked to Elon Musk for help there. Harris looked to rapper Cardi B. This should be a wake-up for Democrats and their media allies.

Voters are fed up with hoaxes, lawfare, a candidate who wouldnt give straight answers and comments from people like Oprah who said, if they lose, we may never get to vote again (WCHS lol 11/5/24)? So much foolish talk like that along with their New Green socialism were rejected by the popular vote.

The outcome became clear to me when an Apple News Spotlight popped up on my phone last Saturday. It said the nine best countries for Americans to move to. Another clue was when Taylor Swift chose a Chiefs game over Harris last rally.

The big question now is will Democrats accept the will of the majority? Will Jack Smith be sent packing back to Holland to chase dictators around his World Court playhouse? Will Kamala Harris concede and become the first female in an exclusive club with Alton Brooks Parker, James M Cox and Horatio Seymour?

Ralph Miller
Kezia King, a senior at Chattanooga Arts and Sciences (CSAS), has secured a $108,000 scholarship package to Agnes Scott College.

Marie Mott of Hutchins Academy said, "This latest triumph continues Hutchins Academy's unprecedented streak of cultivating exceptional black scholars who are shattering academic ceilings and redefining excellence in higher education. The comprehensive award includes $27,000 annually through the Agnes Scott Honors College program and an additional $3,000 yearly as an out-of-state student award.

"A standout student leader at CSAS, Kezia serves as president of the Black Student Alliance, varsity cheer captain, and performs with the CSAS chamber choir. Her dynamic leadership and academic excellence exemplify the values fostered by both CSAS and Hutchins Academy's mentorship program.

"At Hutchins Academy, we're not just celebrating individual victories  we're witnessing the emergence of a powerful movement in Black academic excellence.

"Kezia's magnificent achievement follows the footsteps of Jamaal Ricks Jr.'s scholarship success and Nalani Sims' advancement in the national college match. This isn't a coincidence; it's the result of deliberate, focused mentorship that recognizes and nurtures the brilliant minds within our community. We're not just preparing students for college; we're cultivating a generation of Black scholars who are rewriting the narrative about academic excellence. Our students aren't just meeting standards  they're setting them. This continuing wave of success proves what we've always known: when you combine Black brilliance with strategic support and unwavering belief, there are no limits to what our scholars can achieve."

Kezia, who plans to earn a Bachelor's degree in Nursing followed by a Master's in Nursing with a pediatric specialization, said, "I am so grateful and excited about receiving the $27,000 scholarship to Agnes Scott College. It's amazing to be recognized this way, making me feel more confident about my future. This scholarship helps make college more affordable and takes some pressure off my family, which means a lot. I'm honored to have this opportunity, and it motivates me to keep working hard as I prepare for college."

The Agnes Scott Honors College scholarship is awarded to high-achieving students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and leadership potential.
Lee Universitys U-Church will host An Evening of Worship, led by LeeU Worship, on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the Conn Center.

This U-Church is a student-led night where the Lee University community comes together to worship God, remembering how He has helped us overcome the past and anticipating the good things He will continue to do through us for His Kingdom, said Wesley Lutes, campus pastor at Lee.

This semester, the theme is centered around Joshua 4, highlighting the moment when God commanded Israel to build an altar as a memorial of His deliverance.

Following the U-Church service, a mixer will take place at the Paul Conn Student Union for everyone in attendance as a time for further fellowship and connection.

An Evening of Worship is a free, non-ticketed event, open to students, alumni, and the community. Seating is first come, first served.

For more information about U-Church, contact Campus Ministries at 614-8420.

For more information about LeeU Worship, visit their website at leeuworship.com.
Lee Universitys School of Music will welcome pianist Dr. Alan Woo for his performance on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Squires Recital Hall, located in the Humanities Center on Lees campus.

The performance will feature selections such as Schuberts Piano Sonata in G Major, D. 894 and Mussorgskys Pictures at an Exhibition.

Praised by the New York Times as a pianist with assurance and vitality, Dr. Woo made his Lincoln Center debut at Alice Tully Hall performing with the Julliard Orchestra under the baton of Yannick Nezet-Seguin. He has since collaborated with conductors Daniel Hege, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, and Tito Munoz in solo appearances with the Houston Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, and Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra.

Dr. Woos recent engagements include solo recitals throughout the U.S., Brazil, Europe, and Asia. He has been featured on The McGraw Hill Financial Young Artists Showcase broadcasted on WQXR in New York and has performed in venues such as Carnegies Weill and Zankel Recital Halls. As chamber musician, he has made appearances at the New York Philharmonic Ensembles, Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta, Lake George Music Festival, Chamber Music Athens, Brooklyn Chamber Music Society, and La Jolla Music Societys SummerFest series, among others.

Born in Arlington, Va., Dr. Woo is a graduate of The Julliard School and Peabody Conservatory where he completed degrees in piano performance under Robert McDonald and Yong Hi Moon. He currently teaches at the University of Georgia as an assistant professor of piano, having previously held positions at Elizabeth City State University and Peabody Institute.

Dr. Woo is also hosting a masterclass on Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. in Pangle Hall.

Both events are free, non-ticketed, and open to the public.

For more information, contact the School of Music at 614-8240 or email music@leeuniversity.edu.
Drivers traveling on I-24 in Hamilton County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic. As part of Phase 2 (the second of two projects) to widen and improve the I-75 at I-24 interchange, Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will reduce I-24 West to two lanes (from Spring Creek Road to Germantown Road) from 9 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Tuesday. I-24 East will not be affected by this work.

When the roadway is fully reopened to traffic, the three lanes on I-24 West will have been shifted to a new alignment. Drivers should use extreme caution when navigating this new traffic pattern.

Drivers should consider an alternate route and are encouraged to avoid the area during these times. Significant delays are expected. Trucks over 10 feet high should avoid using the Bachman Tunnels on Ringgold Road as a detour. Drivers should follow all posted signage and remain alert to changing traffic conditions.

This work is weather-dependent. Should inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances cause delays, it will be rescheduled to take place at a later date. Uniformed police officers will be present to assist with traffic control and law enforcement.
Lee Universitys Mock Trial won first place at the Chucky Mullins Invitational, hosted by the University of Mississippi, and five members brought home individual awards.

Lee's Mock Trial team has been so tremendously focused and driven all semester that I am not at all surprised by how well they performed, said Dr. Mark Scully, associate professor of political science and faculty sponsor for LUMT. That does not mean, however, that I am any less proud of what they accomplished. I think this is a great example of what students can do in a cooperative, supportive environment where they are holding each other accountable, while also encouraging and supporting each other.

LUMT faced off against 20 teams from a variety of states, including Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and Kentucky, among others. The Lee team scored a perfect 8-0-0, making it the top-ranked team in the entire tournament.

Not only did we rank first, but we were the only team to acquire all eight of the ballotswe swept the entire field, said Paul Atherton, a senior political science major and president of Mock Trial. The team is more motivated than ever before.

Mr. Atherton; Aiden Giavelli, a senior chemistry major; and Nolan Wallace, a junior political science major; each won the Outstanding Witness Award. Mr. Atherton and Victoria Lee, a senior history major, each brought home Outstanding Attorney awards.

This was a good invitational to introduce what Mock Trial truly is to our new members and show them how it works, but also to put our hard work to the test, said Mr. Giavelli. I can confidently say that our team has gotten better and grown together as a mock family.

Following the success at the University of Mississippi, LUMT also competed at Emory University's Peach Bowl. The team prepares to compete at Georgia State University's Downtown Derby in November.

This years competing Mock Trial team includes Mr. Atherton, Madelyn Ballew, Josh Cope, Shelby Flanigan, Mr. Giavelli, Lee, Grace Polikowski, Matthew Shackelford, and Nolan Wallace. The team also includes non-active members Rachel Atherton and Sydney Fant.

Lee University Mock Trial is a student-led organization for those interested in litigation and the law, acting and improvisation, critical thinking, and public speaking. LUMT comprises approximately 10 Lee students of various majors. Students participate as attorneys or witnesses in multiple competitions during the academic year.

For more information about the LUMT team, contact mocktrial@leeuniversity.edu.
Donald Trump's 2024 presidential win might mean trouble for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Here's what a source said regarding how the royal couple feels.

Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, bringing him back into the White House. While conservatives country-wide rejoice, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are allegedly worried about what might happen. Trump publicly stated in the recent past that he wouldnt help Prince Harry stay in the U.S. if he became president. Heres what a source said about Prince Harry and Meghans fears.

A royal expert says Prince Harry and Meghan Markle worry what Donald Trump might do with them

Its no secret that Donald Trump doesnt like Prince Harry. Trump criticized Harry for leaving Britain in 2020, calling it an unforgivable betrayal to Queen Elizabeth II. Additionally, in March 2024, Trump brought up admissions that Harry made in his memoir, Spare. Harry admitted that he took drugs in his younger years. If Harry didnt declare his previous drug use on his visa application, it could result in deportation.

I wouldnt protect him, Trump said of Harry regarding the visa, according to DailyMail.com. He betrayed the Queen. Thats unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.

Donald Trump doesnt like Harry and Meghan, Greg Swenson, Chairman of Republicans Overseas U.K., told The Sun. He loves the King but doesnt care for Harry at all. They indicted Trump for misrepresenting a bookkeeping entry; you could argue misrepresenting drug use on a visa form is more serious.

Royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Sun that Trumps anger might impact Harry and Meghans lives. Trump is pretty mad, isnt he, she said. So maybe he will pick on them. I dont think Harry and Meghan will be too worried about what Trump might say; its what he might do thats the issue. If he suddenly wanted to make an impact, it would definitely do that. He knows better than anyone that would get worldwide coverage. There is that danger.

Prince Harry might be showing signs that he wants to return to the UK

Royal family members Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor | Toby Melville/Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back as working royals in 2020 and moved to California. Harry officially changed his country of residence to the U.S. in April 2024. Royal expert Phil Dampier told The Sun that Harry was likely using Joe Bidens administration as protection from heading back to the U.K.

At the moment, hes hanging on a bit by the skin of his teeth, Dampier explained. Its the sort of thing which, if it goes the other way, it might push him back into coming back to the U.K.

I think hes definitely been showing in recent weeks and months that he does want to come back to the U.K. and see some of his old friends build some bridges again, and long term, possibly make it up with his family, Dampier continued.

As for Meghan, she likely will never return to the U.K. I dont think Meghan, if she had her way, would set foot again in this country, he continued. She knows shes fairly unpopular. I think she sort of burnt too many bridges.

Will the royal couple move to Portugal?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle bought a home in Alentejo, Portugal  not far from Harrys cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank. Harry and Eugenie maintained a close bond despite Harrys move to the U.S. A royal source told DailyMail.com that Harry must know his children are not going to grow up as friends of Williams children, George, Charlotte, and Louis. However, Harry and Meghans kids could grow close to Eugenies.

A bond for Lilibet and Archie with Eugenies kids will be the only royal friendship they will have, the source continued. Most likely, August and Ernest are the only cousins they are going to ever spend time with. So time in Portugal, even just for holidays, means that Harry is keeping the only door to the royal family just a little bit open for himself and for the next generation, and raising them as royal children, at least in some way.

Royal expert Hugo Vickers told The Sun that Harry and Meghan might use living in Portugal as their back-up plan.

It would give them a European base, and would enable him to come and go to the U.K. fairly frequently to do his Invictus Games, duties, and still all sorts of other things, Vickers said.

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheets Instagram.
A sign opposing Measure J, a measure to ban factory farming in Sonoma County, is seen in Petaluma. In early returns, only 15% of voters in Sonoma County supported the proposed ban, which would have affected about 20 larger producers. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Measure J would have banned factory farming in Sonoma County. In early returns, only 15% of voters in Sonoma County supported the proposed ban, which would have affected about 20 larger producers. Brian L. Frank/Special to The Chronicle Sunrise Farms in Petaluma was among a group of producers at risk of closing if Measure J, a measure to ban factory farming in Sonoma County, had passed. In early returns, only 15% of Sonoma County voters supported the measure. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Measure J, the controversial Sonoma County proposition to ban factory farming, was trailing overwhelmingly in early returns Tuesday, with 85% of voters saying no and just 15% saying yes. It needed more than a 50% tally to pass.

The measure was expected to affect fewer than 20 large farms in the county, but those huge producers enjoy broad support in a region where agriculture is a major economic driver. Dairy farmers Clover Sonoma and Straus Family Creamery, as well as egg producer Weber Family Farms, would have been hit by the ballot measure.

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Backers say the farms are a source of pollution and can harbor animals in conditions that are inhumane and spread disease.

The proposition would limit the size of animal production facilities that meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys description of large concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. Those parameters cover dairies with 700 or more mature dairy cattle, and egg farms with more than 125,000 laying hens. The federal regulations also have size thresholds for facilities raising turkeys, lamb, ducks, horses, swine and broilers  chickens raised for food.

The measure would force those large farms to close or downsize within three years. No new farms that exceed the thresholds would be allowed.

Opponents of Measure J viewed the ballot measure as an existential threat that would shut down family-owned farms across Sonoma County.

Supporters, including the Berkeley group Direct Action Everywhere, said the ballot measure would close facilities that harm animals and pollute air and water. A Johns Hopkins University study from 2019 found CAFOs  where 90% of all U.S. livestock are raised  produce half of the countrys animal waste and represents a public health hazard.

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Tensions over the measure intensified in the weeks leading up to the election. Sonoma dairy company Clover put messaging on its milk cartons urging voters to support the countys farmers, including a QR code that directed shoppers to a No on Measure J page.

The Press Democrat reported Oct. 22 that an email sent Oct. 21 from a fictitious account threatened violence against the strategic committee behind the No on J campaign. A Yes on J spokesperson condemned the threat, the paper reported.
Home News Group unveils plan to launch 54 mission associations, track spread of the Gospel in Africa

The Africa Mission Association is on a mission to help churches in Africa establish mission associations in all 54 countries from the current seven in the continent.

Stephen Mbogo, the vice chair of Africa Mission Association (AMA) is alive to the enormous task but equally aware of the great opportunity to formalize country mission associations that would be a source of coordinating and supporting missions in respective countries.

Speaking to Christian Daily International on the sidelines of the Christ Over Asia Africa and Latin America (COALA 2.5) meeting in Busan, South Korea, last month, Mbogo said AMA is strategically working to establish national mission associations in each African country by fostering a sense of ownership and coordination at the national level.

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One of the key challenges the AMA is tackling head-on, said Mbogo, is the historical under-representation of Africa's significant contributions to the global missionary movement. This under-representation is often reflected in mission statistics and reports, which tend to overlook the extensive missionary activities undertaken by African churches and organizations.

He said the continental association will learn from the experience of more established mission bodies, such as the Nigeria Mission Association, which has been in existence for 40 years, and the 30-year old Ghana Mission Association.

We were challenged by these other countries because we realized that unless you have a national association, reaching the unreached remains very disjointed, said Mbogo.

This unity of purpose brought about by an association, added Mbogo, is what has enabled Latin America through COMIBAM (Ibero-American Mission Cooperation) to have detailed and up-to date information about the number of missionaries they have sent or the number of unreached people groups which cannot be said the same of Africa.

In 2023, COMIBAM mobilized 2,750 pastors across 24 LATAM countries for global missions, 850 churches engaged and close to 1,000 women and youth mobilized for missions, according to the organizations 2023 report.

Mbogo, however, said this does not negate the impact African churches are having in sending missionaries to other regions of the world, thereby challenging the traditional notion of missions as a primarily Western-led enterprise.

We have a long way to go but it also shows the need is there because if no one can substantively say this is where we are in Africa, unless you measure it, you'll not know if you're achieving it or not, said Mbogo.

Despite facing various challenges, such as limited resources and infrastructure, Mbogo is optimistic about the future of Africa-led and Africa-funded missions. He emphasized the immense potential that lies within the passion, commitment, and spiritual vitality of African Christians, particularly the youth.

Africa, with its young and rapidly growing population, is now the continent with the most Christians, a fact that Mbogo sees as an opportunity to double down on mission activities for the benefit of the African Church and the global Christian community. He observed that as Africa continues to be a force in sending missionaries to the rest of the world, discipleship and specifically youth discipleship, will be a very key factor in expanding the Kingdom of God.

AMA is looking within the continent for partnerships and impactful mission strategies, added Mbogo, who cited the work of African Enterprise, a pan-African urban-focused mission organization where he serves as the CEO. African Enterprise, with its extensive experience and expertise in urban missions, is playing a crucial role in equipping and mobilizing African churches to effectively engage with the complexities of urban environments.

With a presence in 12 African countries, Africa Enterprise follows an elaborate prayer-led plan backed by Gods people to establish missions in some of Africas big cities. Mbogo said it takes up to two years to prepare a new mission.

We have what we call the three Ps: Preparation can take one or two years gestation where we are groaning and praying for the city and also mapping the city, identifying the various areas where we will be targeting with the Gospel, explained Mbogo.

The second stage is proclamation where Africa Enterprise partners with different churches, professional groups, para church organizations and government agencies to deliver a demand-driven need with a missional objective. The third is preservation, where new believers are attached to local church partners for discipleship and training of pastors and churches.

We call it stratified evangelism where you reach everybody at their level. So we say from statehouse to the streets. We ask ourselves: how will I reach the top leaders, the politicians, the movers and the shakers in town? But you also ask yourself, how do I reach the street boy who is in the streets? explained Mbogo.

Taking a holistic approach to missions has allowed Africa Enterprise to impact more people and has provided an opportunity to demonstrate Kingdom principles in different social-economic spheres. Mbogo offered an example of the organization's microfinance institution in Kigali, Rwanda, which has 300,000 members and has won multiple awards for being one of the best performing para-church NGOs in the country.

The mission ministry has also partnered with medical institutions in different countries to provide free medical camps and the construction of clinics in informal settlements as part of missions to the unreached in the urban areas. This, and missions to prisoners and through sports, has provided an opportunity to minister to people of other faiths and create contact points for discipleship.

In Africa we must address the social side deliberately without assuming [that the physical needs have been met], said Mbogo who is trusting God that the impact of the national mission associations will be felt at the spiritual level, primarily, but also at the social-economic level.

Originally published at Christian Daily International
Home News Muslim vigilantes colluding with authorities to entrap Christians in blasphemy charges

LAHORE, Pakistan  Muslim vigilante groups are working with federal authorities to lure young people into sharing blasphemous content on social media in order to put them behind bars, according to an investigation by Pakistans National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR).

A steep increase in blasphemy cases this year, many of them filed against Christians and other religious minorities, is tied to collusion between Muslim vigilantes and federal investigators, according to the NCHR report. Pakistan saw three times as many blasphemy cases in the first seven month of this year compared with all of last year, according to the NCHR investigation.

As of July 25, there were 767 people accused of blasphemy languishing in jails across Pakistan, whereas in 2023 there were 213 suspects incarcerated for blasphemy, 64 in 2022, nine in 2021 and 11 in 2020, according to the data gathered by the NCHR.

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Most of the blasphemy cases were registered with the Federal Investigation Agencys Cybercrime Unit in collaboration with a private entity, the NCHR noted, adding that young men were targeted through entrapment tactics involving females using pseudonyms to lure them into blasphemous activities online.

At least 594 blasphemy suspects were imprisoned in Punjab Province alone, followed by 120 in Sindh Province, 64 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and two in Balochistan Province, the NCHR added.

The report follows a study by the Special Branch of the Punjab Police released in January, which for the first time revealed the presence of a blasphemy business that exploits the controversial blasphemy laws to entrap victims for extortion.

According to the Special Branch report, a majority of the cases were being brought to trial by private vigilante groups led by lawyers and supported by volunteers who scour the internet for offenders.

One such group was responsible for the conviction of 27 people who have been sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty over the past three years, the report revealed. It recommended the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launch a thorough inquiry to determine the source of the vigilante groups funding, but the agencys response was unknown.

The most active vigilante group is the Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan, which is prosecuting more than 300 cases, led by Shiraz Ahmad Farooqi, the complainant in the blasphemy conviction of a 40-year-old Christian woman, Shagufta Kiran. Kiran was handed the death sentence by a special judge in Islamabad on Sept. 18.

The NCHRs report called for a comprehensive review of the roles and accountability of both government and private entities. It also noted the inhumane conditions of blasphemy suspects in jails.

Individuals accused of blasphemy are housed together in single, severely overcrowded barracks to protect them from potential harm by other inmates who may attack or threaten them, the NCHR reported. However, this arrangement results in inhumane living conditions, as the barracks lack adequate facilities and are grossly overcrowded.

Detainees also face coercion, extortion and pressure from the vigilantes involved in their entrapment, who sometimes encourage them to engage in further criminal activities within the prison, according to the report.

The NCHR recommended engaging the highest levels of government and judiciary to address the FIAs involvement with Muslim individuals and vigilante groups entrapping people. It also urged constituting a Joint Investigation Team comprising officials from the Special Branch of the Intelligence Bureau, the ministries of Law and the Interior, the FIA, and other relevant departments to investigate blasphemy cases.

Mere allegations of blasphemy in Muslim-majority Pakistan can ignite public outrage and sometimes result in mob violence. Hundreds of people have been accused and jailed for alleged blasphemy, and some were handed the death penalty, though none has been executed so far.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee on Oct. 17 observed that Pakistani authorities have failed to curb a range of human rights violations, including a sharp increase in blasphemy-related violence. Expressing serious concern over frequent attacks against religious minorities, including accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, lynchings, mob violence, forced conversions, and desecration of places of worship, the committee stated that Pakistani society has become increasingly intolerant of religious diversity.

Religious minorities are facing a constant threat of persecution and discrimination amid the rise of religious radicalism, the committee stated.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.

Originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News
Home News 9 Christian leaders' reactions to Trumps reelection as 47th president of the United States

In a historic political comeback on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was reelected for a second, nonconsecutive term to serve as the 47th president of the United States, and he has promised to help our country heal after a bruising campaign during which he escaped two assassination attempts.

This is a movement like nobody's ever seen before and, frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There's never been anything like this in this country, and maybe [...] now it's going to reach a new level of importance because we're going to help our country heal, Trump said in his victory speech.

We're going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly. We're going to fix our borders, we're going to fix everything about our country, and we've made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that.

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Trump, who was also happy about winning the popular vote this time around, promised to make all the people who supported him happy about their decision.

Winning the popular vote was very nice, very nice, I will tell you. It's a great, a great feeling of love. We have a great feeling of love in this very large room with unbelievable people standing by my side. These people have been incredible; they've made the journey with me, and we're going to make you very happy; we're going to make you very proud of your vote, he said. I hope that you're going to be looking back someday and say, that was one of the truly important moments of my life when I voted for this group of people beyond the president, this group of great people.

Many of the people who supported Trump were outspoken Christian leaders who were quick to publicly congratulate him on his victory. Here are nine reactions from Christian leaders across the country on Trumps reelection victory.
Home News Trump vows to 'help our country heal' in post-election victory speech 'This will truly be the golden age of America,' says president-elect

Former President Donald Trump vowed to help our country heal as he prepares to take office as the 47th president of the United States.

Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election early Wednesday morning. Unofficial results show Trump securing 277 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 electoral vote threshold required to clinch the presidency.

Addressing his supporters in a victory speech, Trump described his presidential campaign as the greatest political movement of all time. Insisting that theres never been anything like this in this country, the former president predicted that the movement was going to reach a new level of importance because were going to help our country heal.

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We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly, he added. Were going to fix our borders. Were going to fix everything about our country.

Trump thanked the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president. He also pledged to serve on behalf of every citizen, signaling his intention to fight for you, for your family and your future.

Every single day I will be fighting for you, and with every breath in my body I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve, he said. This will truly be the golden age of America.

Trump described the results of the 2024 presidential election as a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to Make America Great Again. He gave shout outs to the states that helped him win the 2024 election, specifically North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. He also projected confidence that he would win Alaska, Arizona, Michigan and Nevada. The former president leads in all four states but the races are too close to call.

America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate, he proclaimed. We have taken back control of the Senate.

After acknowledging his family, campaign staff and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, in addition to taking shots at the mainstream media, Trump added that this will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country. He defined his political coalition as based on a common core of common sense.

Were the party of common sense, he maintained. We want to have borders. We want to have security. We want to have things be good, safe. We want great education.

Addressing the assassination attempt against him earlier this year that resulted in a bullet grazing his ear and one of his supporters losing his life, Trump told the audience, Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason. He identified that reason as to save our country and to restore America to greatness.

We are going to fulfill that mission together. Were going to fulfill that mission, he asserted. The task before us will not be easy, but I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit and fight that I have in my soul to the job that youve entrusted to me.

Trump concluded his remarks by asking every citizen all across our land to join me in this noble and righteous endeavor. Stressing his desire to put the divisions of the past four years behind us and unite, he anticipated that success will bring us together and that Americas future will be bigger, better, bolder, richer, safer and stronger than it has ever been before.
Home News 2 poll workers among 5 dead in Missouri Election Day floods

The bodies of two poll workers, who were among the five people killed in Missouri after flash floods swept through the state, were discovered early Wednesday. Their deaths occurred amid widespread heavy rains and dangerous flooding affecting multiple regions, according to reports.

The two poll workers, a 73-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man, were on their way to a polling location in Wright County when their vehicle was swept off Highway H by floodwaters, reported KY3. Both individuals attempted to swim to dry ground but drowned.

Their bodies were recovered early Wednesday, although authorities have not yet released their names.

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The flooding throughout the St. Louis region led to several incidents beginning Monday afternoon.

In Iron County, a 66-year-old man died when his car was carried away by floodwaters. The vehicle was later located a half-mile downstream, with the mans body inside, according to KSDK.

Later on Tuesday, a womans body was discovered inside her vehicle on Bayless Avenue after floodwaters receded. Hours afterward, a second fatality was confirmed along the same creek. The identities of these victims have also not been released.

The flooding on Election Day created significant challenges for poll workers, complicating their efforts to carry out their duties.

Voters have yelled at deputies on flash flood assignments suggesting that they are intentionally suppressing votes, Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said, according to Fox Weather. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are trying to keep everyone updated on road closures so you can go around and vote. Simply ask the deputy for an alternate route if we dont have it posted.

Meanwhile, the Missouri Department of Transportation issued a statement warning about the dangers of floodwaters, pointing to the potential hazards lurking beneath the surface.

Floodwaters can be deeper than they appear and can hide such hazards as sharp objects, electrical wires, sewage and chemicals, the statement read.

The department added that roads submerged by floodwaters might be heavily damaged or even completely washed away.

Tips shared by the department urged drivers not to attempt to cross flooded areas, suggesting that taking a detour is far safer than risking the dangers of moving water. Turn Around! Dont Drown! was among the emphatic warnings issued, reminding drivers that even a small depth of water could render a car uncontrollable.

The historic flooding in Missouri has left multiple communities grappling with significant losses, with officials and residents now facing the task of assessing damage and ensuring public safety as waters gradually recede.
Home Opinion Are we seeing an education reformation?

During this election season, Christians have been rightly discouraged about the ground lost on the issues of life. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, numerous states have protected and even extended abortion rights through laws and ballot initiatives, with more likely to follow in November. And, of course, the Republican Party scrubbed its long-standing pro-life policy position from the official party platform.

On the other hand, theres much for Christians to be encouraged by on issues related to education. For example, parents are increasingly in favor of education that respects religion and religious conviction. According to the 2023 Becket Religious Freedom Index, a majority of Americans support a right to religious education. Also, 67% of Americans think that parents should be allowed to opt out children from content they find morally objectionable, and 54% think that students who attend private religious schools should have access to federal funds.

This follows years of growing momentum for school choice, or policies that allow public funds to follow students to the schools they choose in order to receive the best education. By putting parents and students before schools, these programs empower families to pursue the education that is not only academically superior, but also respects their spiritual and moral convictions. A number of states have passed school choice legislation in recent years. Currently, 16 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, offer vouchers, and 17 states offer publicly funded education savings accounts or ESAs. Also, for the first time, the Republican Party added universal school choice to its platform.

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Wherever they have passed, school choice laws have been a boon for Christian education. As one AP News article reported, vouchers have even made it easier for Christian schools to get off the ground, including for churches to meet congregants growing demand for Christian education. Conservative Christian schools accounted for 12% of the nations private education options during the 2021-22 academic school year. While not the largest of private education options, conservative Christian schools saw enrollment jump by 15% between 2019 and 2021.

Theres also significant momentum for religious education within public schools. Just as more private Christian schools have multiplied, religious release time programs have too. In 1952, the Supreme Court ruled that religious education during public school hours was legal if a program is privately funded, is held off school property, and secures parental consent. One group that has capitalized on this amazing opportunity in recent years is LifeWise Academy, which has plug and play resources to help churches and Christians launch Christian release time education programs in local public schools. Since 2018, LifeWise programs have launched in over 12 states for students at over 300 public schools. Every school week, 35,000 public school students are being taught about Jesus in LifeWise programs.

Perhaps the best way to describe whats happened in education in recent years, which also includes growing dissatisfaction with the dominant public system, along with its ideologically aggressive curricula and teachers, is a reformation. Parents are speaking up more than ever, alternatives are being imagined and launched, and things once hidden in the status quo have been revealed. Christians should thank God and lean in for more. After all, we have an incredible opportunity right now to make the future better for generations to come, and Christian history is rife with educational innovation, renewal, and reform. We believe in education because we believe God made truth knowable and people to be knowers. With that in mind, lets get to work.

Originally published at BreakPoint.
Home Opinion Why Christian faith often produces an unshakable certainty

A new movie, Conclave, revolves around the secretive process of selecting a new pope. In the trailer to the film, Ralph Fiennes (Cardinal Lawrence) says, "There is one sin which I have come to fear above all others ... certainty. If there was only certainty, and no doubt, there would be no mystery. And therefore, no need for faith."

Unfortunately, this idea essentially summarizes how some people seem to view Christian faith. They gladly embrace doubt, while assuming that certainty is unattainable. For some reason, they elevate mystery above evidence. And they wrongly equate Christian certainty with spiritual arrogance, rather than viewing certainty as an attainable goal rooted in factual historical evidence.

Science, we are told, can be known, whereas Christianity can only be believed, but not known. As atheist Richard Dawkins put it: "Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence."

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Imagine telling something so preposterous to Christ's apostles. These men experienced the Messiah's sinless life and embraced His powerful message. They spoke with their Lord and Savior after He rose from the dead, and they knew that the Old Testament Messianic prophecies were fulfilled in the Person they had walked with for three years. Christ's apostles placed their faith in Jesus based upon what they witnessed firsthand. Rather than being opposed to evidence as Dawkins suggests, Christian faith in the hearts of believers today actually rests upon historical events, eyewitness accounts and Gospel promises presented in Scripture.

Imagine sharing Dawkins' erroneous definition of "faith" with believers in Heaven today, who currently experience the absence of sickness and death, never-ending joy in a place of perfection, purity of heart and perpetual peace. The Apostle Paul, while still on Earth, "was caught up to Paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell" (2 Corinthians 12:4). It was the strongest evidence of Heaven that Paul could have been given.

And yet today, many people view Christian faith as a nebulous concept without real evidence to support its premises and promises. The fact of the matter is that nothing could be further from the truth. If you remain unaware of the evidence for Christianity, you really should read the hugely popular, Evidence that Demands a Verdict.

Millions of believers have discovered the truth and confidently stand on God's promises. Those who possess a closed mind, however, miss out on discovering what followers of Christ have come to learn about God's free gift of everlasting life in Heaven.

Alister McGrath is a Northern Irish theologian and a former atheist who came to know Christ. He said, "Atheism, I began to realize, rested on a less-than-satisfactory evidential basis. The arguments that had once seemed bold, decisive, and conclusive increasingly turned out to be circular, tentative and uncertain."

William Ramsey (1851-1939) was a Scottish archaeologist and New Testament scholar. "By his death in 1939 he had become the foremost authority of his day on the history of Asia Minor and a leading scholar in the study of the New Testament." He said, "Christianity did not originate in a lie; and we can and ought to demonstrate this as well as believe it."

When a person comes to faith in Christ, belief in Jesus as Savior often produces an unshakable certainty. The Apostle John offered sincere followers of Christ this assurance: "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). Faith first, and certainty later. I refer to this knowledge as "sanctified reason." It is an assurance given to you by the Holy Spirit as you trust completely in the truthfulness of God's Word and rely fully upon the promises God offers in the Gospel.

Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

In a 2017 CP op-ed titled, "Can Faith Lead to Abiding Certainty?" I wrote, "Human reason produces certainty that two plus two equals four. And sanctified reason produces certainty that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and will bring me to Heaven when I die." Evangelist D.L. Moody (1837-1899) stated it beautifully when he said, "Faith is the root. Assurance is the flower." Assurance is another word for certainty.

The Holy Spirit is the only person who can give you sanctified reason, as you humble yourself at the foot of the cross. Like all of us, you are a sinner who needs the Savior to wash away all of your sins. You can examine the evidence and then come to Christ, or you can remain lost in your sin forever.

While some people wrongly assume that arrogance is what leads a believer to be fully assured he is going to Heaven, it is the exact opposite. You see, arrogance actually exists within the person who is striving to be good enough to earn eternal life in Heaven. Humility, on the other hand, is present in the heart that trusts Christ alone for salvation, rather than relying upon good works to get into Heaven. I hope you understand the difference between salvation by grace through faith, (see Ephesians 2:8-9) as compared to "salvation by works," which results in no salvation at all (see Galatians 3:10-11).

Here is one more thought regarding certainty my friend: You are certainly going to spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. (see Matthew 7:13-14; John 3:36; Luke 16:19-3; John 5:25-29; Matthew 13:47-50) Jesus would never have said so if it wasn't true! And thankfully, "God our Savior wants everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth!" (1 Timothy 2:4).
Home News 7 people who wrongly predicted Kamala Harris victory

Republican former President Donald Trump defeated Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris on Election Day in what many described as a historic comeback for the polarizing political figure.

In the months and days leading up to Election Day, many columnists, political strategists, commentators, and polling organizations offered predictions for who would win.

Some relied on polling data, others used a complex assortment of social and political indicators, while others simply believed that their preferred candidate ran a flawless campaign.

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Here's a list of seven people who wrongly predicted that Harris was going to win the presidential election. They include a widely respected election predictor, a veteran Democrat strategist and a conservative columnist.
Home News Christian attorney warns 'tearing down' religious freedom in US is 'spirit of the age'

An attorney dedicated to upholding religious freedom said hes greatly disturbed by the growing hostility toward the exercise of religion in the public square, particularly in Michigan.

An attorney dedicated to upholding religious freedom stated that he is greatly disturbed to see what Michigan has become, warning of a growing hostility in the state toward the exercise of religion in the public square.

Louis Brown, a lawyer and the executive director of the Catholic healthcare nonprofit Christ Medicus Foundation, spoke during an Oct. 25 webinar discussing the Napa Legal Institutes release of its 2024 Faith and Freedom Index.

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The report ranked states based on religious and regulatory freedom, finding that various parts of the country over-burden and are even hostile toward faith-based nonprofits.

According to the index, Michigan, Washington, Massachusetts and West Virginia are some of the worst states for religious freedom. Michigan received a religious freedom score of 22% and a regulatory freedom score of 49%, earning an overall score of 32%.

Washington state earned a combined score of 35%, while Massachusetts and West Virginia each had an overall score of 38%.

States that received the highest overall rankings for protecting religious freedom and creating an environment for faith-based nonprofits to thrive included Alabama (72%), Indiana (68%), Texas (64%) and Kansas (64%).

The Faith and Freedom Index is a natural and important extension of Napa Legals work, Napa Legal Counsel Frank DeVito, who also spoke during the webinar, said in a statement provided to The Christian Post.

By analyzing the laws that affect faith-based nonprofits and publishing the results, Napa Legal can better educate nonprofits, lawyers and state policymakers on the state laws that affect religious organizations, he added. This education leads to better awareness and compliance for faith-based nonprofits, better legal training for the lawyers who serve those organizations and the possibility of state lawmakers passing better laws to help faith-based nonprofits thrive.

For Brown, Michigans ranking was not surprising, but he still expressed dismay over what his former home state had become. The lawyer remembered with fondness the Michigan he grew up in during the '80s and '90s, noting that the protection of religious exercise at the time advanced [his] growth and development as a child.

Browns mother taught at a Catholic high school that served students from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. The attorney also attended Catholic schools throughout his childhood, and the neighborhood where he lived was also home to what he described as a vibrant Orthodox Jewish community. According to Brown, two of his Orthodox neighbors became his surrogate grandparents.

At the time in Metro Detroit, you had a backbone of that larger community that was significantly made up of a beautiful tapestry of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish communities, he said. African Americans, Hispanics and European Americans who shared a common belief in God-given human dignity and the beauty of religious faith.

Unfortunately, however, over the last several years, I have been greatly disturbed by the local and state policies that have been passed by state legislatures, and in some cases, local elected leaders at the municipal level in Michigan that have failed to respect and protect religious freedom, the sanctity of life and human dignity.

There seems to be generally a growing hostility in Michigan towards the exercise of religion in the public square, Brown stated. A discouragement not only in rhetoric but also in law and policy, of Michiganders exercising their religious faith to love and care for Gods people in the public square.

Highlighting the index, Brown urged spiritual leaders, elected officials, university presidents and attorneys general to study the report and understand their states ranking.

Brown also advised churches and faith-based nonprofits to structure themselves in a manner that provides maximum protections for their religious mission under state and federal law. Lastly, he urged community leaders and state policymakers to support changes to state law that more robustly protect the exercise of religion.

Religious freedom is vital to human dignity, to all other civil rights in America and to a healthy civil society, Brown said. What were seeing, and particularly in the states that rank towards the bottom of this index, is a spirit of the age in our country that is tearing down the very foundations of the human freedoms that we enjoy.

The challenge we have today is to defend our human dignity and our human freedom, not just as a tribal community, were not here as a tribe but we're here as people of faith to love, care, serve and uplift Gods people so that they can thrive, live life fully alive and fully enjoy the freedom that God intended for His people, Brown stated.
Interview: CIIE to continue to unlock opportunities for local businesses: Malaysian business leader

Xinhua) 10:19, November 06, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian businesses seek to unlock the huge potential and opportunities available at the Seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), according to a Malaysian business leader.

To realize this, it will be especially important for these business to identify and take advantage of emerging business trends, Ng Yih Pyng, president of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview.

"I am confident the CIIE will continue to unlock opportunities for Malaysian businesses...Some young entrepreneurs mentioned that their businesses are still small, with progress to make before entering the Chinese and international markets," Ng said.

"I told them the CIIE serves as a vital platform for trade and economic cooperation in China. By participating in the expo, companies can broaden their perspectives and enhance collaboration opportunities through engagement with exhibitors and global delegations," he explained, adding that the importance of the CIIE is underscored by the fact that the association has been a consistent participant at the expo.

"Since the inception of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), we never missed it during the past seven years," he said.

The seventh CIIE is running in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. This year ACCCIM brought 18 companies with 31 booths featuring specialty products such as coffee, bird's nest, and durian, with the delegation growing to nearly 250 individuals.

Ng also said the CIIE offers Malaysian companies direct access to Chinese buyers, bolstering brand visibility and fostering robust business networks, thereby deepening bilateral trade and economic ties especially in conjunction with the historic 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Ng views the CIIE as a pivotal platform underscoring China's commitment to high-level opening-up, with the Chinese market being indispensable for global enterprises: "In my view, no company can afford to overlook the Chinese market. With 1.4 billion people and immense purchasing power, China represents a substantial market for numerous Malaysian businesses," he said.

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, with Malaysia as one of guest countries of honor at the CIIE. We hope the expo will deepen economic ties, strengthen people-to-people connections, and promote sustained growth in bilateral relations," Ng said.

He also commended China's pragmatic and efficient economic policies, particularly its emphasis on high-tech industries for economic upgrades, as well as measures to stimulate domestic consumption and tourism as engines of growth.

"Malaysia can look forward to greater opportunities for economic and investment collaboration with China in sectors such as electronics and electrical engineering, electric vehicles, renewable and green energy, healthcare, agriculture, and tourism," he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Two different burgers from Malibus Burgers, as seen at its previous location in Oakland. The popular plant-based burger spot will open a new restaurant this month. Cesar Hernandez / The Chronicle

A well-loved plant-based burger spot is returning to the East Bay.

Our customers would have conversations in our comments like, Businesses say they will come back to Oakland and never do,  Preston said. Im honored to come back.

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Fans can anticipate much of the same menu that defined the popular vegan fast-food restaurant, including powerful ube chocolate milkshakes and Hella Hella fries smothered in sauce. Even longtime staff members will join the ranks again. But the space also offers equipment that will allow for some upgrades. At the original location, food was made in advance and kept on hot plates; here, with ample burners, the team will be able to work more freely on a larger menu and Preston hopes to build a much more decadent brunch menu than hes run in the past. Expect beer and wine and cooking classes for Oakland youth.

Moreover, Preston plans to invite vegan cooks and bakers to pop up in the new Malibus thanks to all the extra room. He cites Lion Dance Cafe, the Butchers Son, and Roasted and Raw as some of the plant-based whiz kids putting clout on the scenes name. But, Preston pointed out, the East Bays vegan landscape has suffered recently. The original Soulely Vegan in Oakland closed this year, and although Lion Dance lives on as a popup, that ventures permanent space closed, too. Lets make some magic happen, Preston said.

Prestons riffs on fast-food classics, including tots coated in Follow Your Heart American cheese and caramelized onions, are oft-cited by fans as tasting as good as or better than the real thing. The Ghost Town Burger, a nod to a neighborhood in West Oakland, jams onion rings alongside the patty and dairy-free cheese between two sesame buns; in the midst of a parking lot feast, one wouldnt discern any difference between this sandwich and one with animal products. His handiwork even earned the stamp of approval from Chris Ying and celebrity chef David Chang in their Hulu series The Next Thing You Eatfor creating the right balance of texture and taste that so many Impossible Burgers fail to strike.

At one point, Preston looked at the Uptown location as a possible joint Casa Borinquena-Malibus space, a combo deal like Taco Bell-Pizza Hut. Thats because Lourdes Lulu Marquez-Nau, owner of the vegan Puerto Rican outfit, is Prestons mom. When Lulu saw the all-black facade of the Hi Felicia space, however, she turned to her son and apparently said, This is all Malibus. Borinquena set up shop in downtown San Franciscos new Saluhall instead.

The empty interior of the new Malibus Burgers, which is significantly bigger than its previous location. Provided by Malibu's Burgers

In between Piedmont Avenue and the next iteration of Malibus, Preston briefly slung burgers in the former Lumpia Company space, a tiny takeout window in Uptown Oakland. That three-month trial could have extended, but Preston said the numbers werent working out. Ultimately, he said, customers didnt want just a to-go option.

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The new home for Malibus holds significance: Hi Felicia gained attention for wanting to break down barriers for Black and marginalized food and beverage pros. Now, as Malibus readies the space, Preston has been scraping wax off the walls and floors  Hi Felicia was full of candles. But outside, he said, the aesthetic matches Malibus vibe. The storage room is bright pink, and hes excited to build off of the existing color scheme.

And his mission, he said, is not too dissimilar: Make room for food and food-makers who have been historically looked down upon.

Malibus Burgers. Opening in November. 326 23rd St., Oakland. instagram.com/malibusburgers
Home News Candace Cameron Bure challenges followers to 'vote like Jesus'

Full House alum Candace Cameron Bure has encouraged her followers to vote like Jesus on Election Day as the race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris nears the finish line.

On her Instagram stories, the 48-year-old actress  known for her outspoken Christian faith  re-shared a link to a YouTube video from a church service that offered guidance on "how to vote like Jesus."

In her post, Bure urged her fellow Christians to consider the message. "Christian  if you are undecided on whether to vote or who to vote for, please watch!!" she wrote, adding an American flag emoji. She also included a sticker reading, "please VOTE." Bure did not endorse any specific candidate or political party.

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The video was posted by Lakepointe Church in Rockwall, Texas, and features Pastor Josh Howerton, who called on Christians to engage politically. If the church wont disciple people, the world will, Howerton said.

So what's going to happen? Check this out: if godly leaders, godly pastors and godly voices all go silent or refuse to be clear on issues related to politics and government, then the only voices that are left are the godless ones. So we have to understand this, that if we don't do this, they will, he said in his sermon.

Lakepointe Church captioned the sermon with a message aimed at mobilizing Christians to vote in line with their faith.

Your vote is your voice, and it has the power to slow the decay of society, the post read. Remember, when we step up, were not just participating in politics; were making a divine impact. Jesus is Lord over all government! Lets stand firm in our faith and make a difference.

The churchs hashtags included: #VoteLikeJesus, #FaithInPolitics and #Election2024.

In his sermon, Howerton added that though it might feel like the church is getting more political, that isnt whats happening. Rather, politics are getting more theological, and politics are getting more spiritual.

When the government moved past things like building roads, issuing driver's licenses and teaching math to things like redefining marriage, erasing gender, reframing abortion as reproductive rights, and then using the government school system to indoctrinate everybody's kids into believing those things, hey guys, the Church didn't move. Politics did, he said.

That's what happened. Politics moved. So when that happens, it's the job of Bible-believing churches to grab a Bible in their hand, Holy Spirit of their heart, wisdom in their head, courage in their bones.

Bure previously shared with The Christian Post how the older she gets, the more she feels called to take on projects that align with her Christian faith and inspire the next generation.

And though shes taken bullets for her beliefs, Bure later said in a podcast interview that her brother, fellow actor Kirk Cameron, kept her grounded and edified when she needed it most by telling her she is now part of the "James 1 Club."

The Scripture states that Christians are to "take joy when their faith is tested because it produces perseverance and spiritual growth and maturity."

"That James 1 Club has been really important for me because I faced some trials that I haven't faced before. I know they are still going to come. They are still there. They are waiting for me."

"I could have bailed and just said, 'You know what? I'm totally done with this,' or 'I don't want to be a public figure anymore,'" Bure added. "You have to be ready for some of those fiery darts to be thrown at you in a bigger public platform.
Home News Fulani herdsmen kidnap Christians in attack on villages in Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria  Fulani herdsmen on Friday kidnapped four Christians in an attack on villages in north-central Nigeria, sources said.

One woman was among the four Christians abducted from two predominantly Christian villages, Mai-Iddo and Arikon, in Kachia County, Kaduna state, said area resident Festus Audu. He identified the assailants as Fulani herdsmen and called them bandits.

The bandits, wielding deadly weapons, kidnapped the four Christians at about 5 p.m. on Nov. 1 as the Christians were working on their farms, Audu told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News in a text message. This is a second invasion of Mai-Iddo village in the past two months.

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The herdsmen also attacked Mai-Iddo village in Oct. 17, kidnapping four Christian women and a child, he said.

Women and girls abducted at gunpoint

Fulani herdsmen on May 19 attacked another predominantly Christian community in Kachia County, Mai-Goro village, kidnapping seven Christian girls and women at gunpoint, said area resident Peter Madaki.

He identified those kidnapped as Elizabeth Markus, 13; Alheri Maichibi, 13; Lydia Iliya, 6; Bridget Obadiah, 4; Amama Hassan, 3; Godiya James, 30; and Beauty Mandela, 23.

In Bishini village on April 14, herdsmen kidnapped five Christians, said area resident Abraham Bishini.

The bandits invaded the community and kidnapped Samuel Danbayi, our community leader, alongside four of his children in his house at about midnight, Bishini said. The herdsmen demanded the payment of a ransom of 15 million naira [$9,070 USD] before they can release the Christians from Bishini, our community.

In the countys Goshe village, Fulani herdsmen on April 3 killed a Christian and kidnapped 13 others, said area resident Musa Bala.

The herdsmen shot and killed a Christian, Philibus Andrew, a community leader of Goshe village, Bala said. The incident occurred at about 11 p.m. The herdsmen first attacked the house of Philibus Andrew and shot him dead. They then moved to the house of another Christian, Abraham Dangana, where they kidnapped him, his wife, eight children and three other Christian relatives of his.

The herdsmen also attacked neighboring Badeko village, another predominantly Christian community, on the same day, where they kidnapped 10 Christians, he said.

Hassan Mansur, a spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, answered inquiries by Christian Daily International-Morning Star News about the attacks with a brief statement.

The incidents youre inquiring about occurred, Mansur said. However, security agencies, including police personnel, are in the affected areas working to end the activities of the bandits.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.

Originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News
Home News Conservative commentator banned from CNN for joke blasts 'religious' fervor of Left Ryan James Girdusky founded 1776 Project PAC in 2021

The conservative commentator and political consultant who was banned from CNN last week over a joke said he believes the political Left has been overtaken by a seemingly religious fervor.

Ryan James Girdusky, 37, drew attention last week when he appeared on CNN anchor Abby Phillip's show and said he hopes pro-Palestinian journalist Mehdi Hasan's "beeper doesn't go off" after Hasan accused Trump supporters of behaving like Nazis.

Girdusky's quip, which was an apparent reference to the pagers of Hamas terrorists exploding in September, prompted immediate backlash from the other panelists and an accusation from Hasan that Girdusky wanted him to die, which Girdusky denied.

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Footage of the exchange received tens of millions of views on X, though neither Girdusky nor Hasan appeared during the next segment, and CNN later released a statement saying that Girdusky would not be allowed back.

Girdusky to Hasan: I hope your beeper doesnt go off pic.twitter.com/YmHhYnkDZ3  Acyn (@Acyn) October 29, 2024

In the wake of his comment and subsequent ban from the network, Girdusky made several prominent media appearances, including with Glenn Beck and Megyn Kelly. Speaking with The Christian Post in a recent interview, he pushed back against accusations that have been hurled against him, such as that from journalist Matthew Sheffield, who accused him of being a "radical Christian supremacist."

Girdusky, who worked for the Protect Ohio Values PAC that helped elect Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, said Sheffield's accusation was one he had neither heard nor cared about, and said he "doesn't even know" what a Christian nationalist is.

"If you look on social media, you'll see everything from that I am a Jewish activist to a Christian supremacist," he said. "I'm just a regular Catholic conservative who is not far-right. I'm just me. I feel like I'm pretty middle of the road as far as politics go."

"People try to label people with slogans so they don't ever have to hear what you say, and I just reject that entire thing, and that's all," he added.

In 2021, Girdusky founded the 1776 Project PAC, which aims to assert political change at the local level by "electing school board members nationwide who want to reform our public education system by promoting patriotism and pride in American history," according to its website. They claim to have helped elect more than 200 school board candidates in more than a dozen states.

The PAC opposes encroaching critical race theory, transgenderism, and other radical ideologies that Girdusky said have seeped into even the smallest school districts.

Though he noted his PAC is not religious, Girdusky acknowledged a spiritual aspect to his fight against leftist indoctrination in the public school system. He noted the political Left appears to be driven by an almost religious fervor, especially regarding the school system.

"I think that it's a spiritual issue and a religious issue in the sense that the indoctrination of the Left and how fervently they believe it is almost like a religious position," he said. "The goal of the public school system should not be to make everyone Christian, or make everyone Catholic, or make everyone anything."

He said the role of schools to challenge students has largely given way to enforcing "an ideological standard that is horrific and does not help them."

"If we didn't have a single culture war issue in schools  school prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, CRT, trans issues, you name it  if we had none of those things, we still have failing schools," he said. "The essential thing they're supposed to be doing is broken, and so often the people who advocate for issues in schools are doing so on behalf of adults who work there, not children who learn there."

Despite his at-times acerbic rhetoric, Girdusky said his Catholic faith has taught him humility.

"I think that what plays at the center of my Christian and Catholic faith is, like every other person, I can think really negative things about people. I can have biases. I can fall into stereotypes and angry feelings, and I have so many personal shortcomings," he said.

"And it is only because I understand people have a soul  and sometimes they are broken, but they are made in the likeness of Christ  that I work really hard at overcoming every single thing that is a sin; all those things are a sin. And that is really where the center of my faith comes into it."

Girdusky said he has hated the attention he has gotten since last week's incident on CNN, but that he feels called to the work he's doing, even if it brings him unwanted attention. He silenced his mentions on X after he went viral and said he has been inundated on Instagram with thousands of unsolicited friend requests, though he is reluctant to delete the app because he uses it to find cooking recipes.

"I have a million very well-intentioned good people in my life who love me and say, 'Why don't you just stop? Why do you have to say anything? Why do you have to do this? You can have a nice, quiet life. Why do you have to just put yourself out there?'"

Girdusky was reluctant to characterize his work as a divine calling, but noted that his faith drives him as an individual.

"I don't know, but I find myself seeing idiots saying lies all the time, and I want to scream at the top of my lungs," he said. "I have a fundamental allergy to people who talk to adults like they are children and who promote narratives over facts. It drives me literally out of my mind."

"Where I got that from, I don't know. It's not genetic, so it has to be from somewhere else. So if that's a divine thing, fine. I would never call myself a Christian nationalist. I'm certainly not the best Catholic in the entire world. I'm never going to be canonized as a saint. That's OK."

"But I hope that with what I do and how I do it, I make some people's lives a little better," he added.
Home News Evangelicals for Harris leader: 'The Lord is with us' despite polls

No matter what the polling might say, Baptist minister and longtime Christian environmental advocate, the Rev. Jim Ball, says momentum will carry Vice President Kamala Harris to victory in Tuesday election.

Ball, who has spent the past few months leading the charge for Evangelicals for Harris, which was previously known as Evangelicals for Biden, is working to win over support for Harris in the 2024 presidential race. He told Vanity Fair hes optimistic despite most polls showing the presidential race as a statistical toss-up.

"The Lord is with us, even if the polls arent," he told the magazine. "It would be more comforting if the polls were better, but the momentum is definitely on our side."

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The group aims to tap into a minority of Evangelicals who have consistently voted Democratic, even in an election cycle where Evangelical voters  and particularly white Evangelicals  identify as Republican voters.

Since its launch, Evangelicals for Harris has invested over $1 million in ads designed to make the Christian case for Harris, drawing on biblical teachings that emphasize love, justice and care for the vulnerable. One of those ads, which featured the likeness of the late evangelist Billy Graham, drew scrutiny from Franklin Graham, who sent a cease-and-desist letter to Evangelicals for Harris in October demanding the group remove the ads.

But for Ball, Billy Graham is the quintessential spokesman for the Harris campaign.

Reverend Graham is reminding us what Jesus taught, which is everybodys neighbor, especially the person in distress. Thats the point of the parable of the Good Samaritan, and that is also what has guided Vice President Harris, he told Vanity Fair. In terms of reaching out to those who are vulnerable and protecting the vulnerable, thats what her career has been about.

Ball said his team is particularly focused on swing states where Evangelical voters could make a decisive difference in tight races, and he believes Harris will prevail in the end.

So my gut sense of how things are going is that were going to win this thing, he said. So Id love for it to be not so close right now in the polls and all that, but I think the momentum is definitely on our side. I think theres going to be a lot of Harris voters turning up to the polls. The motivation is high.

When it comes to mobilizing Evangelicals, he said the Harris campaigns strategy is actually based on a high watermark from former President Barack Obamas 2008 campaign, which drew Evangelical participation to about 26%.

One of the issues Ball and his group are hoping will yield results at the ballot box is abortion, particularly since the Dobbs decision in 2022. Ball believes that Harris pro-family policies and commitment to healthcare, along with Trumps vision of leaving the abortion issue up to the states, could be pivotal for motivating Evangelicals to vote for the Democratic ticket.

Theres no truly anti-abortion candidate in this race," Ball was quoted as saying. "Trump has said its up to the states, and that leaves room for states to allow abortion. Many pro-life voters are disappointed by that, and I think it could depress a lot of Evangelical votes for him."

In the interview, Ball said his group's mission was to put forward a positive vision of Christianity by electing Democrat candidates.

The simplest way for us as Christians to think about this is to remember that Jesus is Lord, and Caesar is not. That was an important message in the New Testament, he explained. Weve been given this gift of citizenship. Because were in a representative democracy, we get to elect those who are the head of the government in that way.

We also have this awesome responsibility as citizens of representative democracy to cast our votes in keeping with loving our neighbor and protecting the vulnerable.
Home News Kamala Harris promises 'peaceful transfer of power,' talks 'loyalty to Constitution, conscience and God' Harris says she concedes the election but not the fight

Vice President Kamala Harris has conceded the election, promising Americans that there will be a peaceful transfer of power and stressed loyalty to our God, while also promising to keep fighting.

By early Wednesday morning, Republican former President Donald Trump was projected the winner of the presidential election, being the first person to win nonconsecutive presidential races since Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century.

In a speech Wednesday afternoon at Howard University before her supporters, Harris stated that we must accept the results of this election and vowed to help with a peaceful transfer of power.

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A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results, she stated. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny.

And anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it. At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States.

Harris also stated that Americans also owe loyalty to our conscience and to our God, adding that my allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.

Harris said that this included fighting for the dignity of all people, democracy and the rule of law, noting that she will never give up and that the fight for our country is always worth it.

During the Democratic Party primary season, President Joe Biden had initially won enough delegates to secure the presidential nomination and run a reelection campaign.

However, many progressive activists and Democrat officials called on the 81-year-old Biden to drop out of the race due to questions regarding his mental fitness, especially following a widely panned debate performance against Trump in June.

In July, Biden announced that he was quitting the race and would instead focus all my energies on my duties as president for the remainder of my term.

Biden endorsed Harris for the nomination, with many party officials and politicians eventually deciding to support the vice president, installing her the new Democratic presidential hopeful.

The decision to replace Biden with Harris was criticized by groups like Black Lives Matter, who argued that giving her the nomination without a public voting process made the Democrats a party of hypocrites.

In advance of the Howard University speech, Harris said she had called Trump on the phone to concede the race and congratulate him on his victory.

At his victory speech, Trump said his presidential campaign was the greatest political movement of all time and that theres never been anything like this in this country.

We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly, he added. Were going to fix our borders. Were going to fix everything about our country.

Every single day I will be fighting for you, and with every breath in my body I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve.
Home News What America would look like under Trump vs. Harris: Reliability of polls, election news and forecasts

What would a second term look like for former President Donald Trump? What would a Kamala Harris presidency look like?

The Christian Post's Ryan Foley joins "The Inside Story" to break it all down, explaining how reliable the polls are, what shocks him most about the 2024 campaign:

The Inside Story takes you behind the headlines of the biggest faith, culture, and political headlines of the week. In 15 minutes or less, Christian Post staff writers and editors will help you navigate and understand whats driving each story, the issues at play  and why it all matters.

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Listen to more Christian podcasts today on the Edifi app  and be sure to subscribe to The Inside Story on your favorite platforms:
Home Opinion A safe place in the midst of these volatile elections (part 1)

Whoever wins today, of this we can be sure: America will be in turmoil, and emotions will run high. But for those who have a personal relationship with God, there is a place of refuge from the storm. It is Gods hiding place  or secret place  and it is described in Psalm 91 (unless otherwise noted, the NIV is used below).

Verse 1: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This first verse lays the foundation for everything that follows. The opening Hebrew word is yoshev, which is an active participle. This refers to continuous action, to life habit, to what one does all the time. Used as a noun, it can refer to someone who lives in a particular place, as in, Im an inhabitant of New York City. So, Psalm 91 is giving promises to someone who lives in Gods shelter and protection. Put another way, if I asked you, Where do you live? your answer would be, I live in the shelter of the Most High.

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But theres more to that Hebrew word for shelter, which is seter. It is not just as a shelter; it is a hiding place; it is a covert; it is a secret refuge. It is found in verses like Isaiah 32:2, which says, Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. (Isaiah 32:2, my emphasis) It is also found in verses like 2 Samuel 19:2, when Saul is threatening to kill David, and which emphasizes the aspect of hiding place, secret place, even more: And Jonathan told David, Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself (ESV, my emphasis).

This is where God is calling us to live. In that hiding place, that divine shelter, that secret place where no one can touch us, and nothing can harm us. And even though that place is spiritual rather than physical, it is even more than a physical shelter or hiding place. The Lord Himself is impregnable.

You see, this is not just the hiding place of any god or higher power. This is the hiding place of the Most High God, a term that is found dozens of times in the Old Testament, especially in the Psalms (starting in Psalm 7:17) and Daniel (where the one true God is contrasted with the false gods of the nations, starting in Daniel 3:26). As expressed in the Song of Moses in Exodus 15:11, Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you  majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

There may be other so-called gods and powers, but there is none like our God. He alone is eternal. He alone is immortal. He alone is omnipotent and omniscient and omnipresent. He is the Most High God, the only one worthy of being called God. Even the demons understand this, crying out to Jesus in the New Testament, What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In Gods name dont torture me! (Mark 5:7; see also Acts 16:17). In fact, when Gabriel announces to Miriam (Mary) that she will give birth to the Messiah, he says, He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David (Luke 1:32). This psalm is for those who live in His divine shelter, in His hiding place.

The second half of verse one describes this person as someone who regularly spends the night lodging in the shadow of Shaddai, normally translated Almighty. And while scholars debate the exact meaning of the word, it seems that the aspects of power and provision are clearly associated with Shaddai. As for shadow, this image speaks of covering as well as refreshing, a place away from the heat of the day.

The obvious question is: How do I live there? I cant pray and read the Bible and worship 24 hours a day. I have a job to work. I have kids to raise. I have responsibilities.

The answer is simple (but challenging). First, we take serious time, committed time to meet with God daily. We put our roots down deep, alone and with Him. This is the foundation. Second, we live in obedience to His commands, seeking to please Him in our daily conduct.

Verse 2: I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.

Now an unnamed individual speaks, but the intent is that it could be you or me. Let these be your words and mine! So, say this about Yahweh (Jehovah), the only true God. He is your refuge, the safe place to which you run and hide where the enemy cannot find you. He is your fortress, that impregnable place where the enemy cannot touch you. He is your God, and you place your trust in Him.

Verse 3: For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence (ESV).

This verse indicates that we are still living in a dangerous world, even while we live in Gods hiding place. In other words, He doesnt take us out of the world but rather delivers us from evil and disaster. This is in harmony with the Lords prayer for the apostles in John 17:15: My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one (John 17:15).

Just as a fowler puts out his snare (Hebrew pakh is a trappers net), the enemy will set traps for us, including destructive plagues. But our God will deliver us.

Verse 4: He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler (ESV).

Here the image changes to that of a protective bird  pointing to Gods personal and gentle care for us  with His faithfulness serving as a large shield and a small shield (or, a shield and protective wall; see NET). We stand behind His truth, and we are safe.

To be continued!

(Adapted and excerpted from Michael L. Brown, When the World Stops: Words of Hope, Faith, and Wisdom in the Midst of Crisis).
Home Opinion How to help the Jewish community in this election

I am often asked by Christian friends and colleagues how they can support the Jewish community or the Jewish state. I deeply appreciate their allyship, which is sadly all too rare from non-Jewish communities in a post-Oct. 7th world. Normally, I can offer them many different answers, like fact-checking the information they share on social media to ensure that it isnt uninformed propaganda or simply checking in on your Jewish friends.

But this historic election, after one of the worst years for the American Jewish community on record, is not normal. Right now, the advice I can offer Christians who want to support Jews is simple  go out and vote this year, and vote for the Republican Party.

Politicians have long courted the support of Christian voters, and for good reason  they are an influential and civically engaged bloc in America. Demographic studies show that about two-thirds of adult Americans identify as Christian, and that about 55% of this group considers themselves practicing Christians. Moreover, research shows that this group of practicing Christians are significantly more likely to vote than the general voting-eligible public, and that this holds true across racial groups in America. In other words, since practicing Christians comprise a large part of the American electorate and vote at a much higher rate, they can have an outsized influence on the outcome of elections.

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Christians are also more likely to hold conservative political views and therefore to ally with the Republican Party, a trend that also continues across most racial groups in America. Even in 2016, when the Christian vote was moderately divided by the Never Trump movement, practicing Christians still turned out for Trump in significantly greater numbers than the general public and were undoubtedly part of his eventual victory.

Unfortunately, a study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University estimates that as many as 41 million Christians  32 million of whom attend church regularly  will not be voting this year. This is an enormous missed opportunity. Even if the choices arent perfect, voting is still the best way to champion deeply held values and do your part to shape an American future you believe in. This sometimes entails making approximations or compromises, because our two-party system makes it nearly inevitable that the viable options wont be a total reflection of all our opinions, but settling on the closest candidate and casting a vote for him is a responsibility that comes with faith  Christian, Jewish, or anything else.

I understand the objections some Christians may have about Donald Trump  he is not a perfect candidate. But the reality is that the Trump-Vance ticket offers a significantly better version of America than the Harris-Walz platform, and that failing to exercise your sizable political influence may well lead to a Democratic victory that will be a disaster and threat to your closely held beliefs.



The Democrats have been waging an assault on religious liberty for years, trying to chip away at the First Amendment right to practice ones religion in any way we see fit through decisions like forcing Christian business owners to pay for employees abortions. They have touted ideas about gender and trans ideology that directly contradict Christian beliefs about male-female relations. They espouse rhetoric at every turn that diminishes the role of American Christians at the expense of religious minorities, including subsets like the radical Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan who openly profess to hate America and its values.

And this is to say nothing of the Democratic positions on Israel and antisemitism. Anyone who has watched the news with horror over the past year has seen how the left has embraced an ugly, vitriolic form of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hate. Rather than expunging terror apologists, jihadist cheerleaders, and anti-American radicals from their ranks, the Democrats have created space for them in their party and in the elite institutions they control.



Democrats have gone out of their way to curtail Israels war effort by withholding weapons, issuing ultimatums, platforming virulent anti-Zionists, and condemning the Jewish state at every turn  thereby making it easier for violent terrorists to wage a war that threatens not only Israel but also the west and its civilizational values. Forget their lip service  these people are not Jewish allies, and they do not have our best interests at heart. Handing them a resounding loss this November is the best way to force a course correction for the party, which has had an outsized role in creating the antisemitic climate in America today.

This is why I tell Christian allies that the best way to support the Jewish people is by casting the right vote this November, and standing alongside us in our battle against discrimination, double standards, and radical Islamist values. Despite our differing religions, our interests are aligned  a version of America rooted in our love for faith, family, and country, which opposes the radical ideologies on the left and firmly casts out anyone who rejects the American values that we hold dear.

This election, there is only one party that offers this vision, and it is incumbent on us to throw our support behind it  or risk facing the steep consequences of a victory for the other side.
Home Opinion I will not vote for hypocrites. I am not voting for Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris, the most pro-abortion presidential candidate in history, is a hypocrite.

So was I.

In 1982, my girlfriend, Sandy, was pregnant. I was the father.

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Sandy and I were in graduate school. She believed in a womans right to choose, and that abortion was a reproductive choice. We spoke in clinical terms, referring to that growing human inside her as a thing. She had plans and raising a child  then  would destroy them. She feared she would resent our baby. I am afraid I will end up hating him, she said.

Sandy was brilliant, decent and kind. She would have been a great mom. And I know if I had given her encouragement, rather than silence, she would not have aborted our baby.

But I accepted her reasoning though I knew, deep down, it was a lie. I was in my mid-twenties. I too had plans and a pregnancy would interfere.

The night of the abortion, I was lying in bed. The silence outside was painful. I heard an animal crying and moaning. I think it was dying.

That animal was speaking to me. You are the worst type of hypocrite, it said. I had let a woman make a horribly wrong decision while keeping my hands clean. I had no defense.

In 2006, long after Sandy and I broke up, she called me. I had not spoken to her in 23 years. We spoke easily. Then she brought up our baby. Sandy no longer used terms like womans right to choose, or clump of cells.

She was crying. Our baby would be 25 now, she said.

Im sorry how it turned out, I said, not knowing what else to say.

Those who speak of abortion as a good thing, even virtuous, never mention this kind of anguish.

In 1987, I married Ellen. We believed our relationship was special.

In 1993, Ellen became pregnant with Kevin and Daniel. As they grew, she would rub her belly and say, I have two babies. She was happy and proud.

Then at 24 weeks, Ellen began having abdominal pain.

She was hospitalized and then went into labor. It was busy in the maternity ward. She was neglected for the first two hours of her labor. When the staff finally checked, they rushed her into surgery and performed an emergency C-section.

Our boys lived 70 and 90 minutes. They were perfect. Tiny, 1  pounds each. Fingers and hands and closed eyes. Lying side-by-side. A nurse took them to Ellen. She was drugged. She said they were so beautiful.

We had one daughter, born in 1996. Then Ellen suffered two more miscarriages. We gave up trying to have children.

Our marriage began to die when we lost our twins. We claimed to be Catholics but had no relationship with God. Without faith to help us, we handled our grief in destructive ways. We divorced.

Politicians who reduce babies in utero to cells or choices or abstractions show no real empathy for such agony, no understanding that every human life has incalculable value in Gods eyes.

In 2015, I married Kim. She had adopted six children from the foster system, ranging from 8 months to 4 years of age. I could not say, No, when a social worker called, she said. When she was forced to divorce her husband, she became a single mother raising six children. All are now adults.

I am now a believer in Christ. I do my best to follow His example  and my wifes  and not be hypocritical. Hypocrisy has no place in a Christ-centered life.

Being a believer does not mean cherry-picking the rules you like while ignoring the rest. It does not mean presenting yourself as devout for political gain.

Kamala Harris is actively courting black voters at their places of worship. She has a unique and interesting religious identity, said Nathan Finn of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Referring to her Baptist and Hindu roots, he added, I dont know that weve had another president who is this religiously diverse ...

Diverse or not, Harris does not follow the teachings of either religion. She is being lauded as something she is not, a woman of faith.

Her childhood church, the 23rd Avenue Church of God in Oakland, is affiliated with Church of God Ministries. The Church of God opposes abortion, except when the health of the mother is at risk. Abortion is not the will of God, the church says.

The Hindu religion similarly condemns abortion.

Abortion opposition is not a minor tenet of these faiths. They believe in the sanctity of human life.

Yet during a 2022 speech to the National Baptist Convention, Harris branded those believers opposed to abortion, people fighting for the sanctity of human life, as extremists. In effect, she was describing those who attend church beside her.

Harris has been presenting herself as devout while condemning the teachings of her own church. This is hypocrisy of the highest order. She does not deserve our vote.
Home Opinion The overuse of 'fascism' by the Left is a dangerous game

In the well-known Aesops Fable of yesteryear, a young boy repeatedly tricks his village into thinking a wolf is attacking his flock, only to laugh as they come running. When the wolf actually does appear, his cries are met with indifference and disaster ensues.

Today, were witnessing a political parallel, with the incessant cries of fascism coming from the Left and their echo chambers in the mainstream media.

For more than eight years, this has been the go-to epithet for anyone to the right of center on the political stage in America. This is not because any recent candidates actually exhibit any of the traits of fascist leaders but because some of them have challenged the status quo with an unorthodox style and conservative policies.

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But herein lies the rub: By branding everything from tax cuts to immigration enforcement as fascism, the term has been stripped of its historical gravitas, becoming nothing more than a rhetorical cudgel.

Fascism, actual fascism, is characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of political opposition, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

Now, lets juxtapose this with the modern American conservative movement.

Conservatives advocating for secure borders isnt a call for racial purity or nationalistic supremacy; its a plea for sovereignty and security, principles enshrined in every nations right to protect its citizens. And it was something that most American leaders, both left and right, used to advocate for.

The desire for clean and safe cities? This isnt an authoritarian crackdown but a basic expectation of any functioning society. Upholding the First and Second Amendments isnt about suppressing dissent or arming a militia; its about preserving the very freedoms that define America. And lower taxes? Thats not an economic clampdown but a belief in less governmental control over personal wealth.

To be clear, fascism is a specific ideology with historical hallmarks like authoritarianism, the deification of the state, and the suppression of political rivals and dissenting views. But none of these are uniquely present in todays conservative movement. Yet, every policy disagreement, every election challenge, and every conservative justice appointed is met with hyperbolic accusations of an impending fascist regime.

But what happens when we cry wolf too many times? The real danger is twofold. First, it desensitizes the public to genuine threats of totalitarianism. When every conservative is a fascist, then no one really is, and we risk ignoring real authoritarian impulses where they might actually exist.

And heres where the plot thickens: Often, the accusation functions as a confession. While the Left points one finger at the Right, three fingers point back at them.

Contrast this with the actions taken by the so-called progressives. In the Lefts zeal to enforce radical gender ideology or expand abortion access  and crush any Christians who object  theres a clear move to silence or coerce those with religious objections. Isnt this, in essence, a form of totalitarianism? When universities, once the bastions of free thought, become echo chambers where only one set of ideas can be safely expressed, were not just flirting with incipient fascism  were setting the table for it.

Consider just a few other examples of the Lefts budding totalitarianism:

Targeting political opponents: Under the guise of justice, weve seen an unprecedented targeting of political opponents. From the aggressive pursuit of January 6 attendees, some charged with nothing more than trespassing, to Tulsi Gabbard being put on a terror watchlist for air travel to the reams of political investigations into Elon Musk and his high-tech companies after he bought Twitter and refused to act as a censorship platform.

Silencing pro-lifers: The recent crackdowns on pro-life activists, with some sentenced to severe jail time for engaging in peaceful sit-in protests or sidewalk counseling, reveal a coordinated effort to chill dissent and free speech. When did defending life become synonymous with crime in America?

Religious liberty under siege: The threats to remove First Amendment exemptions from Christian hospitals and doctors who refuse to perform abortions or from Christians who refuse to embrace or celebrate radical gender ideology isnt just an attack on religious freedom, its a move towards compelled speech and action, eerily reminiscent of totalitarian mandates.

For any fair observer, it is plain as day that it is the Left that shows a worrying inclination towards fascist tendencies. This, of course, includes their growing desire for hate speech regulations that target Christian and conservative viewpoints or their efforts to force social media platforms to carry out content moderation policies that disproportionately affect right-leaning voices.

The irony is rich. While the Left accuses the Right of being fascists, theyre the ones who actually engage in behavior that edges dangerously close to the very definition of total control over public and private life. Theyve become the architects of a soft totalitarianism, where conformity is enforced not just by jackboots but by social ostracization, deplatforming, and economic punishment.

The overuse of fascism by the Left isnt just a disservice to political discourse  its a dangerous game. By diluting the term, they not only desensitize us to real tyranny but also, perhaps unwittingly, shine a light on their own authoritarian leanings.

We must be vigilant, not against the phantom fascists of media hysteria but against the real encroachments on our freedoms, wherever they may come from. Lets not be the village that ignores the wolf when it truly arrives, all because we grew tired of false alarms.

Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center.
. Jack Ohman/The Chronicle

As we reach the final hours of the presidential campaign (it feels like it started in 1860 in more ways than one), the time has come for the closing arguments.

Vice President Kamala Harris gave one of her final pitches on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., the staging site of so much love on Jan. 6, 2021. In her speech on Tuesday evening, she noted that the founders did not struggle, sacrifice and lay down their lives, only to see us cede our fundamental freedoms, only to see us submit to the will of another petty tyrant. These United States of America, we are not a vessel for the schemes of wannabe dictators. The United States of America is the greatest idea humanity ever devised.

Oh, most important to the Arnold Palmer-minded crowd-size aficionado former President Donald Trump, she had 75,000 people there. Thats huge, as one might say.

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To sum up, she acted and sounded like a future president of the United States.

Honestly, I am not sure precisely how to characterize Trumps closing argument  but heres an attempt:

Ban pet-eating in Central Ohio? Im not a Nazi? Puerto Rico is a floating island of garbage? Im glad Steve Bannon is now free? Kamabla isnt Black? Hitlers generals were totally awesome? The United States is a leaking septic tank?

In some other world, where America was a little greater than it happens to be at this fraught moment, a GOP presidential candidate might have said something like, We need to be fiscally responsible, stand up to Russia, encourage personal liberty, and America is a shining city on a hill. God bless America and our troops.

Anything other than the bilious brain burps of the current Republican candidate would suffice. Anything. In the words of political analyst John Belushi: But nooooooooooo!

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Heres more:

Such a big, beautiful Bund rally, I mean crowd. So much bigger than 1939. And, hey, Charles Lindbergh has a hell of a wingspan, let me tell you. Makes me proud to be a Drumpf.

Honestly, and I always say honestly when Im lying, people, I really am, trust me, which is another thing I always say when I am saying something untrustworthy, I can tell you what my closing message is: My closing message is me.

Thats right, people. Me. Why me? Well, my policies are so unpopular, Im all I have to give you, and for some reason, a lot of you are eating me up.

Take Project 2025, which I have absolutely no knowledge of at all except for the fact that much of my senior staff wrote it, and J.D. Vance  remember him? So hypocritical, so lugubrious, like me, thats why I love him  and I completely disavow all of it, except for the parts written in the English language, which, by the way, are also available in a handy German translation.

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May I interrupt my weaving  I call my obvious late-stage dementia weaving, people, so very, very brilliant, everyone says, including all my English professor friends  where was I? Oh, my weaving around my obvious plans to ship 11 million immigrants back to Mexico, which will pay for the camps, the transportation, and completely subsidize all the California Central Valley fruit and vegetable growers.

Also, we might accidentally pick up a few Puerto Ricans, who, as you know, live on a floating island of garbage. But I can throw them a few more rolls of paper towels to help them clean it up. Dont forget: America is the greatest failing nation garbage can ever, and I cant believe Biden said what I actually think. Plagiarism Joe!

Oh, the closing argument? Was in mid-weave there. Kamabladingdong Harris, who we call a Hoe on our T-shirts we sell at our Bund  I mean, MAGA rallies  is a communist, a fascist, is also BUH-LACCCK and also possible Indian, incidentally, I learned that on a helicopter ride with Willie Brown, and I think it was Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Kanye.

Closing argument, closing argument. Yes, I dont talk about making billionaires great again, unless they jump up and down at my rallies exposing their guts, but thats definitely one of my closing arguments, besides me. We can get crypto, and my sons happen to have a crypto business, surprise.

I forgot about the transgender bathrooms, the centerpiece of my campaign. Not on my watch. Speaking of watches, I have one for $100,000, if youre interested, and theyre so fantastic, we dont even know what they look like yet, and we dont even have any physically. But if you bought me, youll buy anything. Speaking of family values, I had three families. Eric, is Melania still on the payroll? Buy her book, its got great Christmas decoration hints from The Shining.

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In closing, Biden Biden Biden. Hes eating  hes eating the pets, while illegals come in and eat our delicious golden McDonalds French fries, which I can also make in front of cameras.

About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

You may ask what closing argument did I make? Im exhausted. Ask me after the totally rigged election Im claiming victory in is over, and what the little surprise I have with Speaker Mike Johnson is. Itll be fantastic, no matter whatever it is the Democrat communist fascist lunatics anti-Arnold Palmers who inflame rhetoric say.
(Photo: Unsplash)

(CP) A religious freedom group has called on the Mexican government to protect clergy after a priest was assassinated in Chiapas State.

Fr. Marcelo Perez Perez, who was shot to death after officiating Mass, had been a prominent advocate for peace and human rights in the region.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) last week urged the government to conduct a thorough investigation into the Oct. 20 assassination in the city of San Cristobal de las Casas.

Two days after the assassination, Mexican authorities announced the arrest of one suspect. The Chiapas public prosecutor's office identified the alleged "material author" of the crime as Edgar "N," following the usual practice of not giving full names, CBS News reported.

In September, Fr. Perez Perez led a public march calling for peace and spoke out against the growing presence of organized crime in Chiapas, according to CSW, which noted that he had received threats after speaking out against drug trafficking and related violence in the state.

Chiapas State has been gripped by a cartel turf war between powerful groups like the Sinaloa and the Jalisco New Generation Cartels.

"Although an arrest has been made in the case, a thorough investigation is imperative to ensure that all those responsible for Father Perez Perez's death  including those at the very top of transnational organized criminal groups  are held to account," said CSW's Head of Advocacy, Anna Lee Stangl.

"President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and Chiapas State Governor Rutilio Escandon Cadenas must take swift and coordinated steps to eradicate these organized criminal groups spreading terror across the state, and this includes aggressively combatting corruption."

The Mexican Bishops' Conference lamented the "brutal murder" of the priest, noting that the act "not only deprives the community of a dedicated pastor but also silences a prophetic voice that tirelessly fought for peace with truth and justice in the Chiapas region," said Catholic News Agency.

According to the Diocese of San Cristobal de las Casas, the priest had faced a long period of threats, persecution, harassment, slander and defamation. "Even knowing that his life was in danger, he lived a profound faith in God and a great love for the people that took him to the ultimate consequences," the diocese stated.

Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi, who ordained Father Perez Perez, described him as a man "committed to justice and peace among Indigenous peoples." He added that the priest was "very focused on his vocation, very prayerful and spent a lot of time before the tabernacle."

The United Nations Human Rights Organization in Mexico also condemned the assassination. Jesus Pena Palacios, deputy representative, noted that since 2015, Father Perez Perez had been under precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights due to the constant risk to his life and personal safety because of his work in defense of human rights.

"The murder of Father Marcelo is absolutely unacceptable," Pena said. "Despite having protective measures and constant complaints about the attacks he faced, these were insufficient to prevent his murder."

Religious leaders have been targets of organized criminal groups in Mexico for many years. Mexico has been designated one of the most dangerous in the world for Roman Catholic priests, CSW noted.

The ongoing conflict has forced thousands to flee for their lives, including more than 500 villagers who fled Chiapas into Guatemala in July, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The governor of Chiapas shared a video on social media assuring that investigations began immediately "so that this homicide does not go unpunished and that the guilty parties face justice."

At a press conference, the Mexican President said, "We are coordinating to be able to make progress in the investigation and ensure that this crime does not go unpunished."

The Latin American Bishops' Council recognized Father Perez Perez as a "tireless seeker of peace and justice for his people, the fruit of his faithful commitment to the Gospel and his total dedication to Christ present among those who suffer the most."

Hundreds of mourners attended the priest's funeral in his hometown, chanting, "Long live Father Marcelo, priest of the poor!" CBS News reported, noting that Mexico has seen more than 450,000 murders since a controversial military anti-drug operation was launched in 2006.

 The Christian Post
St. Luke's United Church of Christ hosted a polling place for the election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Lititz, Pennsylvania. (Photo: RNS/Jack Jenkins)

At Brethren Village, in a retirement community with historic ties to the Church of the Brethren, voters of all ages quietly milled in and out of a chapel that had been converted into a polling location. Decked out in a suit, bright red tie and golden cross necklace, Stephen Shenk said he cast his ballot for Trump. So did Madison Bellanca, who stood next to him.

"The big thing for me is the border and the economy," Shenk said. "I feel the border was a lot safer during Trump's reign in 2016, and I also feel the economy was in a better spot. We're a younger generation that's looking to buy a home, and it's become much more difficult to buy a home in the past four years than it was previously."

Describing himself only as a Christian, Shenk said he attends Victory Church, a nearby evangelical congregation, and that his faith "definitely plays a role" in how he votes.

"My morals stand with a lot of policies that Donald Trump falls under, and the Republican Party as a whole," he said.

Standing nearby with his dog was John Byers, who said he voted for Harris. He has supported Republicans in past elections, he said, but Trump was a bridge too far this year.

"After Jan. 6, I can't vote for Trump," he said, referring to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Byers explained that, as a member of a local Church of the Brethren congregation, he has helped resettle refugees in the region through Church World Service, one of six faith-based groups that partner with the federal government to help resettle refugees. The experience made him wary of Trump's plans to implement mass deportation.

"After working so hard to resettle people in this country, I don't want to see a bunch of people deported," Byers said.

Both candidates leaned on faith in the waning days of the campaign, calling on religious voters to support them. Trump, who hosted a rally in Lancaster on Monday, his final day of campaigning, focused on evangelicals, a constituency that has long supported him. Harris appealed to several religious groups, including Black Protestants and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Questions about Trump's character resonated with Rhoda Mast, a voter at Brethren Village on Tuesday who said she backed Harris. She was concerned about Trump's character, she said, noting she "could not vote for a convicted felon." What's more, Mast said, her Mennonite beliefs precluded her from supporting a candidate known for regularly spreading falsehoods.

"We believe, as people of faith, as Christians, we need to tell the truth and be kind and be honest and love everyone, not just Americans," Mast said.

Down the street at St. Luke's United Church of Christ, where Diana, who asked to only be identified by her first name, said she voted for Trump. Standing outside the church around midday as a trickle of voters filed in on their lunch hour, she said Trump  who, like her, identifies as a nondenominational Christian  "stands more for our biblical beliefs and our Christian beliefs."

Following her out of the church was Neil Wilson, a health care worker and veteran. He said he sat out the 2020 election but didn't want to miss it this go-round, so he cast his ballot for Harris.

"I just like what she's representing  the people, the middle class. It inspires me to get out and vote," Wilson said. Raised in a Baptist family that included a pastor as an uncle, he said his faith inspired him "to get out and try to make a difference this year, just to think that my vote will count."

Over at the funeral home polling station, Katie Pasic, a Catholic, said she believes abortion "is terrible" but cast her vote for Harris, who has made protecting abortion rights a focus of her campaign.

"I don't think anybody wakes up in the morning thinking 'I'd love to have an abortion,'" said Pasic, whose husband, an agnostic, also voted for Harris. "I can't speak for all Catholics, but I feel like you can be anti-abortion, but pro-choice."

Although the Catholic Church formally opposes abortion, the majority of U.S. Catholics believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to multiple polls.

Not everyone was comfortable discussing their vote. One couple refused to reveal the contents of their ballot, but only because they "cancel each other out" and "didn't want to get into it" in front of a reporter.

Another couple, Jenna and Alex Moyer, said they recently moved to Lancaster County from Philadelphia and attend a nondenominational church. But while Alex Moyer said he believes "Judeo-Christian ethics" inform who he thinks "will make a good leader for our country," he declined to say who that might be.

Jenna Moyer was similarly reticent, saying, "We just want to see the country be led in a way that supports our values, but also allows there to be good morals and values for our children to be brought up in."

Both also insisted coverage depicting the Pennsylvania electorate as deeply divided is overblown.

"When you walk the streets, very often people are treating one another with dignity and respect," Jenna Moyer said.

For others, faith wasn't a factor at all. Royce Stout, who identified as Christian and wore a shirt emblazoned with a founding-era American flag, said he voted for Trump because he wants "a secure border." Asked if his faith informed his vote, he offered a one-word response: "No."

Walking away in the other direction from the funeral home, Amar and Vara Nuri said they voted for Trump. "We want to see changes, we got tired of Democrats," said Amar Nuri. Vara Nuri, standing beside him in a headscarf, nodded in agreement. But both insisted their faith did not play a role in the decision.

But religion was a big part of what drove others to the polls. At the UCC church, Evony Otero said she was raised Catholic but now identifies simply as Christian. Ahead of her vote, Otero said, she had a "couple conversations with God about it," but is now "confident" in her decision.

"I'm a woman. I'm a single mom. I know what it's like to struggle. I know what it's like to feel like your back is against the wall," she said. "I wanted somebody who I can relate to, that has been in maybe that same situation, or a family member of theirs has went through the same thing too."

She was voting for Harris, she said, and leaving the rest up to God.

"We're just gonna put it in his hands," she said.

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Searches for move to Canada spike in election years and were up again Wednesday, according to Google Trends. Angie Wang/Associated Press

Election Day is over in America. The results are in  and they have a lot of people thinking about their next move.

According to Google Trends, searches for move to Canada spike in election years and were up again Wednesday.

Plenty of celebrities pledged to immigrate north when Donald Trump was first elected in 2016. However, while an increase in Americans seeking permanent residency in Canada was reported, it was mostly among students and asylum seekers, not the rich and famous. And conservatives have recently been on the rise in Canadian politics.

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Whether you might seriously ponder pulling up stakes or simply entertain the fantasy, moving to Canada is obviously not as easy as moving to, say, Maine, or Miami, or Montana. If you were looking to immigrate, how would you go about that? Heres a look at the process, the cost and other considerations.

Your occupation matters

The first question you need to answer, said Hugo ODoherty, the director of partnerships for online immigration resource Moving2Canada, is: Does Canada want me?

Just in the past few months, our neighbors to the north have clamped down on the number of new permanent residents the country will accept. The change was spurred in part by the high cost of living and concerns about immigrants taking up jobs and housing  one of the ways in which a move there may not get you as much distance from America as you might think.

The main route to permanent residency in Canada is the Express Entry program. To be eligible, you have to be in a high demand occupation. Family physicians and software developers are highly in demand. ODoherty said other priorities include architects, engineers, web designers and health care professionals. Canadas official immigration website maintains a full list of 370 eligible job categories.

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After three years of permanent residency over a five-year period, you become eligible for citizenship. If you want to take that step, the process includes paying income taxes in Canada, demonstrating language proficiency in English or French, and passing a citizenship test.

How much would it cost to immigrate?

OK, lets say you have one of those 370 jobs. (Hey, journalist is on the list!) How much does it really cost?

The mandatory legal process  which includes a medical exam, an English or French language test (even if youre a native speaker), biometrics, validating your educational background and other fees  costs $1,807 in U.S. dollars for an individual, or $4,349 for a family with two adults and two children, according to figures shared by ODoherty from Moving2Canada.

You also need a certain amount of money in your bank account to demonstrate you can afford to live there for the first few months, called settlement funds. You get to keep (and presumably spend) this money, but you have to have it before you can move. That minimum is $10,577 for individuals and $19,653.84 for that family of four.

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Many people who immigrate choose to employ an immigration attorney or consultant to help them with the process, which Moving2Canada estimates at $2,800 to $3,600.

Then theres the cost of international movers, estimated at $720 to $1,800.

All in all, the bare minimum cost of a move to Canada, including the settlement funds you need saved up, adds up to roughly $15,264 for individuals and $27,603 for a family of four.

The Canadian flag flies atop the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa last week. In recent months, Canada has reduced the number of new permanent residents it will accept. Sean Kilpatrick/Associated Press

Advice from Bay Area expats

Jay Rosenthal and his wife started the immigration process to be closer to family when their first child was born in 2009, and made the move to Toronto from San Francisco in 2012. He said in addition to the legal costs, they were on the hook for massive taxes to import two cars from the U.S. And there are recurring costs as well, like renewing his and his childrens American passports, and paying someone to help file his American state and federal income taxes every year.

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But he said those things were more of a drain on his time and energy than his finances.

Its just a lot of paperwork, he said.

Rebecca Friedland wrote about moving from the U.S. to Canada on her blog, the Adventure Beckons. She and her husband made the move from the Bay Area in 2022 after he got a job offer in Vancouver. She estimates they paid about $20,000 Canadian on their move, half of which went toward the cost of inspections, repairs and taxes for importing their car.

Honestly, my advice for any American who wanted to move to Canada would be to sell your car and then buy another one in Canada, she said, calling the process the most convoluted part of the immigration process.

She said the biggest unexpected expense was health insurance. Yes, health care is free at the point of service for Canadians, but under most circumstances you have to reside there for 90 days before youre eligible. Friedland paid out of pocket to have private insurance for those first three months. (The Canadian immigration website Arrive In estimates insurance costs at $239 U.S. dollars per month, or $333 Canadian, though that will vary a lot based on your age, health and other factors.)

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Like Rosenthal, she pays someone to file her U.S. taxes, which she said requires specialized knowledge of international tax treaties and costs around $2,000 a year. She pays a small amount to maintain a mailbox in the U.S. and had some small fussy expenses pop up related to starting a life in a new country, like a $100 fee to obtain her driving history to qualify for Canadian auto insurance.

Alternatives to Canadian residency

Of course, Canada isnt the only country out there. It actually ranked last in Expat Insiders 2024 best and worst countries for your wallet index due to the high cost of living. The websites top recommendations for affordable living are Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia. Most countries allow immigration under certain circumstances, but the costs, process and requirements vary widely.

What if youre looking not just for residency in another country, but naturalization? This also can vary. Some countries set the bar very high for factors including your length of residency, job situation and language proficiency, and some do not allow dual citizenship.

But some countries make naturalization easy  for a price.

For people with deep pockets seeking a backup citizenship in case conditions in America deteriorate, some countries offer investor immigration programs. In short, in exchange for a considerable amount of money, you get full citizenship and a passport. Nuri Katz is the founder of Apex Capital Partners, which helps wealthy people achieve financial freedom and global mobility through investor immigration. Katz, whos Canadian, says Canada used to have an investor visa program, but its no longer active.

He said his clients typically have net worths somewhere in the range of $3 million to $15 million  rich, but theyre not crazy rich, he said. Though he used to serve a lot of clients from the Middle East, Russia and Asia, he said thats changed since 2020. Now, most of the demand comes from Americans seeking what he calls a Plan B in the case of financial or political instability. He said most of his clients have no immediate plans to actually pull up stakes and move to these countries.

The price tag can vary: In some countries in the Caribbean, Katz said, you can become a citizen with an investment of around $200,000 U.S.; in Greece, its $250,000; $500,000 for Portugal and around $1,000,000 for Malta.

The homesickness factor

But sticking closer to home has its benefits too.

I was four blocks from Trader Joes in San Francisco when I lived there and I went, like, never, Friedland said. And now Ill drive an hour to go  over the border, back into the U.S.

Friedland said she got weirdly sentimental about some American traditions and comforts she hadnt really noticed before. Though it has its own Thanksgiving, people treat it like just another day in Canada, she said. And while Vancouver has many excellent restaurants, she said the Mexican food offerings in particular dont hold up to what she was used to in the Bay Area.
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Former charities minister Stuart Andrew has been appointed shadow culture secretary, a move that has been welcomed by the charity sector.

Andrew was the minister for civil society as part of the previous Conservative government for two years before the general election in July.

He changed seats at the election, as his previous Pudsey constituency was replaced, and is now MP for Daventry.

After a brief stint as shadow chief whip following the election, the new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch appointed Andrew this week as shadow culture secretary, with responsibility for charities.

Deep understanding of the charity sector

The Charity Finance Groups head of policy Richard Sagar said: We congratulate Stuart Andrew on his appointment to Shadow Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

As the previous minister for civil society for two years, who brought extensive experience of the charity sector to the role, were pleased that we will have to opportunity to continue working with him.

Sarah Elliott, chief executive of NCVO, said: Our congratulations go to Stuart Andrew on the announcement of his appointment as shadow secretary of state at DCMS.

Having previously served as charities minister, Stuart brings a deep understanding of the charity sector, and the challenges and opportunities we face.

We look forward to working with him in the future to ensure the charity and voluntary sector continues to make a lasting impact on the people and communities they support.

ACEVO chief executive Jane Ide also congratulated Andrew on his appointment.

As someone who has worked constructively with our sector before in his time in government, we know he understands the sector well and the opportunities and challenges that face us, she said.

We look forward to resuming discussions and working with him to ensure that the voice of civil society leaders is heard across government.

Meanwhile, New Philanthropy Capital head of policy and external affairs Leah Davis said: We hope that his knowledge of the sector can provide a foundation for constructive engagement in the years to come.

The sector is open to a conversation that moves on from the culture wars and towards building the infrastructure for civil society to work effectively with government.

Excited to take on my new role

Andrew posted on social media : Excited to take on my new role as shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport after serving as the shadow chief whip.

Looking forward to holding the Labour government to account and developing the Conservative vision for these vital industries.

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy congratulated Andrew on his appointment on social media.

We both share a passion for the richer, larger lives music, art, sport and culture unlocks. Looking forward to working with you, she said.

Last month, Andrew signed a petition calling on the government to allocate the Financial Conduct Authoritys annual fines to UK hospices.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) has announced plans to distribute at least 3bn across England by 2030.

NLCFs latest pledge forms part of its previously announced seven-year strategy that aims to give out at least 4bn across the UK in that time.

While 3bn will be distributed across England, the remaining 1bn will be distributed across communities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The funders plans for England include 275m to support the building blocks of community-led change with an emphasis on those who feel least empowered.

It also includes a 100m, 10-year Community Power Fund designated to local organisations, a 50m programme to support informal community leaders who are making a difference in their area and a You Decide funding stream, where communities get to decide which good causes should be supported.

In addition, 4m will be available for civil society organisations and communities who would like to take part in the development phase of You Decide and the Community Power Fund.

Bigger, long-term impact

The latest plan comes as a survey conducted on behalf of NLCF by Ipsos found that 45% of 2,192 adults aged 16 to 75 in the UK said that residents have too little say in making their local area better.

Some 56% said that local residents and associations should help decide how funding in their area should be used.

John Mothersole, NLCF England chair, said: Were rooted in communities and thats key to our strategy.

Last year, we listened far and wide to understand what the key issues are in areas, and the potential for positive change.

Now, across our funding in England well partner for bigger, long-term impact, as we recognise that not all communities start from the same place.

Well give them more of a say in where our support goes, to build from their strengths and go where their aspirations take them.

Phil Chamberlain, NLCF England director, said: There is great pride in communities, and the expertise to tackle local issues.

Yet too often people lack the power or resources to take action. Despite this, they show up every day with a passion for doing good, with a relentless commitment to making a difference.

We are ambitious about the power of communities and connection, and were focused on helping them where we see the biggest challenges  and the greatest potential to build a fairer, stronger society.

By making communities more inclusive. Supporting children and young people. Taking on health inequalities. And tackling environmental injustice and access to nature.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
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Since he entered politics, a decade ago, Donald Trump has castigated journalists for their skepticism and independence, calling the media the enemy of the people, a threat to democracy, fake, and crooked bastards whom he vows to prosecute. Now that he has secured a second term, he will be free to make good on his promises. Already, during his first term, the Department of Justice conducted surveillance of reporters and charged Julian Assange with espionage; regulators seemingly sought to block a merger of AT&T and TimeWarner as retribution for critical coverage by CNN; the White House arbitrarily denied access to veteran journalists. All of that fostered an environment of media suppression, leading to more than six hundred physical attacks on journalists nationwide in 2020 alone. Trump has welcomed the violence. To get to me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news, he told a crowd in Pennsylvania this week. I dont mind that so much.

Next year, Trumps assault on the press will become a fusillade of discrete attempts to quash whatever reporting he views as antagonistic. Access to the West Wing will be limited, perhaps by aides only credentialing journalists from conservative outletsor even closing the White House briefing room outright. More consequential are the plans of Trump and his allies to turn the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission against the media, which will entail a raft of leak investigations, the politicization of broadcast licenses and antitrust litigation, and the potential indictment of journalists for espionage. Reporters covering protests and immigration enforcement will face detention from not just local police, but the Department of Homeland Security. Its possible that Trump may even seek congressional action to reform libel laws or otherwise criminalize dissent.

This onslaught against the press will be destabilizing. Rather than wilt under the pressure, the news media needs to use the next two months to prepare for all the potential challenges we will face in 2025.

In the early weeks of the new administration, the most urgent threat against the press will be the prosecution of reporters covering mass demonstrations. When Trump was inaugurated in 2017, nine journalists were arrested while covering the protest that ensued in Washington, DC, including several who were charged with rioting. That set a tone for the next four years, over which more than two hundred reporters faced criminal charges for covering protests. The vast majority of those charges came in 2020, after the police murder of George Floyd, as journalists scrambled to chronicle the racial-justice protests that seized the nation. According to Kirstin McCudden of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, it was a year of unprecedented attacks, with a record shattering six hundred and forty assaults on journalists, and nearly a hundred and fifty arrested.

Expect a return of the massive national demonstrations that characterized that year, particularly if Trump makes good on his campaign promise to execute the largest deportation program in American history. The first time around, in 2017, Trumps executive order preventing the entry of citizens from seven majority-Muslim nations into the United States triggered protests at airports across the country. A year later, demonstrations proliferated in response to his child-separation policy. If and when mass protests are organized against the new administrations hard-line immigration orders, journalists will be at extreme risk of police assault or arrest for covering the storyparticularly the photographers and videographers who need to be within arms reach of law enforcement to capture their confrontations with demonstrators.

Gabe Rottman, from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, sees particular danger for journalists covering immigration, because of the lack of clear guidelines on handling the press at the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Border Patrol as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Elements of DHS dont operate under the same types of internal constraints that you see at the Justice Department, he said. Were concerned you could see issues related to the border. As an example, he brought up a 2019 report from NBCs San Diego affiliate, describing how DHS had compiled a list of ten journalists whom agents were instructed to detain for questioning at local ports of entry.

The DOJ has historically had a stronger tradition of what Rottman called internal constraints on targeting the press. But that may go out the window once a new attorney general is in place. As Kash Patel, a Trump devotee and contender for that role, put it last year, We will go out and find the conspirators not just in government, but in the media. Were going to come after you.

The most obvious early consequence of the DOJs new regime will be pursuit of leak investigations. In Project 2025, the policy blueprint drafted by members of Trumps first administration, Dustin Carmack, a former chief of staff to Trumps director of national intelligence, wrote, The Department of Justice should use all of the tools at its disposal to investigate leaks and should rescind damaging guidance by Attorney General Merrick Garland that limits investigators ability to identify records of unauthorized disclosures of classified information to the media. The Garland guidance, dating to 2021, was issued as something of a trust-building gesture, given that the DOJ under Trump had surveilled at least eight journalists (at the New York Times, Washington Post, and CNN) as part of 334 leak investigations. In the coming years, we can expect that number to rise. And if a reporter wont talk? Before a crowd in Texas in 2022, Trump suggested that the threat of rape in prison might be enough to compel a journalist to identify an anonymous source: When this person realizes that he is going to be the bride of another prisoner shortly, he will say, Id very much like to tell you exactly who that was.

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Legislation that would create a federal shield protecting reporters from these sorts of abusesthe PRESS Actwas passed unanimously in the House of Representatives in January, but has been waylaid by the Senate Judiciary Committee ever since. That is largely because of Tom Cotton, the Arkansas senator and Trump ally, who has justified his opposition by saying too many journalists are little more than left-wing activists who are, at best, ambivalent about America and who are cavalier about our security and truth. That leaves the PRESS Act seemingly destined to die in committee.

Trumps Justice Department is likely not only to threaten journalists who defy subpoenas with imprisonment but also to weaponize the precedent set by the case of Assangethe founder of WikiLeaks, who identifies as a member of the press and was charged with espionage in 2019. More traditional reporters may be vulnerablenot only those who follow the Pentagon or the intelligence community, but anyone covering the Trump administration. In the federal cases concerning Trumps role in the deadly insurrection of January 6, 2021, and his storing of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, his lawyers have argued that all internal White House communications fall under executive privilege. The Espionage Acts language is ambiguous about what constitutes a state secret, which has led many legal scholars to believe that the table has been set for a federal prosecutor to charge a journalist with espionage merely for reporting on Oval Office deliberations.

The federal governments vast regulatory power offers Trump another potential avenue to quell the press. In 2017, the DOJ tried to prevent a merger between AT&T and TimeWarner just months after Trump reportedly yelled, to the director of his National Economic Council, Gary Cohn, I want that deal blocked! Its unclear whether Cohn exerted any pressure on the DOJ; regardless, Trump will soon have more opportunities to use antitrust litigation as a cudgel. Take Skydance Medias plan to acquire CBSs parent company, Paramount Global. That deal is currently being reviewed by the FCC, since it involves the transfer of twenty-eight local stations. If that review bleeds into 2025, a Trumpist FCC can seek to block or delay approval in order to exert influence over CBS.

Indeed, a politicized FCC is likely to become a feature of Trumps second administration, as he has personally vowed to bring the independent regulatory agencies such as the FCC and the FTC back under presidential authority. In Project 2025, Brendan Carr, the current ranking Republican of the FCCand the man now in line to become chaircalled for eliminating many of the heavy-handed FCC regulations, namely the media ownership rules that prevent any one broadcaster from acquiring more than one TV station per market. Removing that rule would allow corporations such as Sinclair Broadcast Groupwhose chairman, David Smith, once told Trump we are here to deliver your message across the roughly two hundred stations he ownsto further consolidate control of local broadcast media. Suppose the FCC requires Skydance to sell off its CBS stations in order to complete its acquisition of Paramount. Without the existing ownership rules in place, Sinclair will be free to swoop in and buy all of them.

The FCC under Carr will also have the ability to make good on Trumps constant refrain that networksvirtually all of which draw his ireshould have their broadcast licenses revoked. After Septembers ABC debate, which included a degree of live fact-checking from the moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, Trump told Fox News, They ought to take away their license. As of now, there is no licensing process for national broadcast networks. But local affiliates do have to prove to the FCC that their programming serves the public interest, convenience or necessity in order to maintain their right to the airwaves. The FCC has wide discretion for what the public interest actually entails. When Carr was asked by two Democratic congressmen if he agreed that the licenses of ABC stations should be revoked after the debate, he refused to answer.

Beyond staffing the federal government with loyalists who will restrict the press as much as possible under the law, Trump may also seek more structural reforms. In 2016, he promised to open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money. Since then, he has personally sued the Times and CNN for defamation in cases that were eventually dismissed, as well as ABC and the Pulitzer Prize board, in suits that are still pending. Loosening the federal libel laws that Trump has called a shame and a disgrace will require an act of Congress. But, failing that, Trump prevailing in his open defamation cases could prompt other outlets to shy away from publishing harsh criticism.

When, before the election, I spoke with Heidi Kitrosser, a legal scholar at Northwestern, she posed a rhetorical question: Does something have to have merit to be destructive? Even if something would eventually be shut down in court, it could still be incredibly destructive. To her point, Trump filed a bizarre case against CBS last week seeking ten billion dollars in restitution for how 60 Minutes edited an interview with Kamala Harris. Frivolous lawsuits, espionage charges, arbitrary detainmentall of these strategies for constraining the press will be damaging. Perhaps the least palpable consequence of Trumps return to the White House will be the most widespread: journalists self-censoring or otherwise altering their coverage. That phenomenon, which Timothy Snyder, a history professor at Yale, has called anticipatory obedience, is a feature of societies with repressive governments. With Trump returning to office, it is hard not to count ours among them.

If Trumps first term prompted a wave of forceful resistance to his authoritarian tendenciesincluding, notably, the Posts adoption of the slogan Democracy Dies in Darkness weeks after his inaugurationthat is no longer the case. The billionaire owners of both the Post and the Los Angeles Times spiked plans from their editorial boards to endorse Harris, and Gannett likewise declined to offer a presidential endorsement in USA Today or any of its two hundred local newspapers. (That followed previous guidance issued by Gannett against making political endorsements outside of local races; in 2016, after Gannetts Arizona Republic endorsed Hillary Clinton, the editors received death threats.) Recently, on The Kicker, Martin Baron, who served as the Posts executive editor from 2013 to 2021, called the last-minute move by Jeff Bezos to pull the papers endorsement a betrayal of the core principles of the Post. I fear that this decision, Barron continued, communicated that the Post can and would yield to pressure. I have actually no doubt that Donald Trump sees this as evidence that his bullying works.

Journalists seeking to uncover the inner workings of the second Trump administration will have to face the threat of retribution with resolve, by not shying away from protecting the identity of sources, offering clear-eyed criticism of the president, or engaging in confrontations with immigration officerseven if doing so means enraging the owner of their outlet, greater exposure to civil lawsuits, detention, or jail time. Given how many Trump appointees now staff the federal judiciary, the lack of legal precedent undergirding his strategies for criminalizing reporting provides cold comfort. This is not, perhaps, the job that many members of the political press thought they were signing up for. But it is the one theyve got. The task now is immense, intimidating, and essential.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Democratic U.S. Congress members Emilia Sykes and Marcy Kaptur were counting on incumbency and lots of campaign money to secure reelection despite representing GOP-leaning congressional districts in a year when GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump was expected to win Ohio.

On Wednesday morning, Toledos Kaptur, the longest serving woman ever to serve in Congress, had a narrow lead in her race, while Akron freshman Sykes seemed more likely to win her second two-year term with a sizeable edge over her GOP rival.
Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks during an announcement of new action by Gov. Gavin Newsom to protect women from other states who come to California seeking abortion services on June 24, 2022, in Sacramento. Andri Tambunan/Special to the Chronicle

With Donald Trump now preparing to return to the White House, its not hard to forecast where Californias legal representatives are headed: back to court.

From 2017 to 2020, the state and the Trump administration sued one another over Californias sanctuary cities and other immigration policies as well as abortion and motor vehicle emissions, and those issues will again face judicial review  including Trumps promise to conduct the largest deportation program in American history. Any attempt to send soldiers into California streets to quell protests is certain to be challenged in court.

Practically the only legal dispute in which Californians will be just interested spectators is his challenge to criminal charges for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents, challenges based on the Supreme Courts recent ruling that presidents cannot be prosecuted for official acts they took while in office. He is still scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 26 on 34 felony convictions in New York for falsifying records of hush money payments to a porn star with whom he had sex in 2006.

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I expect that California will play a crucial role in challenging the policies of his administration, said Erwin Chemerinsky, the law school dean at UC Berkeley and a liberal legal scholar. And he said the state would most likely sue in federal districts like the San Francisco-based Northern District of California, where nearly all of the judges were appointed by Democratic presidents.

California will represent the resistance to Trump policies, with a return to its emphasis as a sanctuary state, said UC Davis Law School Dean Kevin Johnson, who has written extensively on immigration law.

As the election results became evident Tuesday night, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu recalled that under the first Trump administration, we were part of the legal resistance. And if the worst comes to be, well be right there again.

Sanctuary city laws in San Francisco and other communities prohibit local law enforcement officers from informing federal immigration officials about the immigration status of someone in local custody. Californias 2018 sanctuary state law bars local and state officials from notifying immigration agents about the jail or prison release dates of undocumented immigrants, which would allow them to be deported.

Federal courts, including the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, have upheld those laws, ruling that California had no obligation to aid in federal immigration enforcement, and rejected the Trump administrations attempt to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities. The U.S. Supreme Court denied review of the Trump administrations appeal in 2020. But the court has become more conservative since then and could reconsider the issue.

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In June, the court ruled that a U.S. citizen had no right to challenge the governments refusal to allow her noncitizen husband to enter the country. In 2022, the court allowed the government to keep noncitizen migrants locked up indefinitely while awaiting deportation hearings.

In 2020, the court rejected Trumps challenge to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, the program established under President Barack Obama that allows more than 500,000 undocumented migrants who were brought to the United States before age 16 to remain in the country and receive work permits. But the 5-4 majority included Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died three months later and was quickly replaced by Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett.

And after rejecting two versions of Trumps Muslim ban, which prohibited U.S. entry of immigrants or travelers from a group of nations with largely Muslim populations, the court voted 5-4 in 2018 to uphold his ban on entrants from five mostly Muslim nations as well as North Korea, saying the president was acting to protect national security.

Trump, whose mother and paternal grandfather were immigrants, escalated his verbal attacks during this years campaign, referring to undocumented migrants as animals who were poisoning the blood of our country. His promise of an immediate mass deportation drew cheers from campaign crowds but may receive a less enthusiastic reception in courts, particularly in California.

Its hard to execute at that scale without pressing state and local officials for assistance, said David Driesen, a professor at Syracuse University College of Law and author of the 2021 book The Specter of Dictatorship: Judicial Enabling of Presidential Power. The Constitutions Tenth Amendment, he noted, prohibits the federal government from commandeering state and local officials to carry out federal programs.

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Pratheepan Gulasekaram, an immigration law professor at Santa Clara University, said Trumps plan for mass deportations cannot be achieved without significant coercion and economic leverage against so-called sanctuary jurisdictions like California and its local governments. Any reasonable federal court, he said, would reject most of the efforts to coerce and mandate state and local participation in immigration enforcement.

Legal challenges might be difficult, however, if Trump carried out his threat to deploy the National Guard, or U.S. military troops, to get crime out of our cities, as he promised at a rally last year. Federal law generally prohibits using government troops to conduct local policing, but an 1807 U.S. law, the Insurrection Act, allows the president to use National Guard or military forces to combat civil disorder a state or local government cannot control.

While lawsuits are already being drafted to contest any such deployments, the 1807 statute grants essentially limitless discretion to the president to decide whether an insurrection is taking place and how to combat it, said Joseph Nunn, an attorney with the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, at a meeting in July calling for changes in the law.

No one can question it, including the courts, Nunn said, based on standards the Supreme Court set in an 1827 ruling, Martin v. Mott.

As for abortion and reproductive care, the legal disputes will be overseen by a Supreme Court that in June 2022, with crucial votes from three Trump appointees, overturned a constitutional right to abortion that the court had established in 1973. But abortion remains legal in California  under a law signed initially by Gov. Ronald Reagan in 1967, and a state constitutional amendment approved by two-thirds of its voters in November 2022  and the state is preparing for more litigation.

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This June, the justices voted unanimously to preserve womens access to mifepristone, the pill used in nearly two-thirds of all U.S. abortions  but solely on the grounds that a group of anti-abortion doctors who filed the suit had not shown they were being harmed by use of the pill.

Now several Republican-led states have stepped in, claiming increased medical costs and seeking to prohibit suppliers from sending the pills to women in states that have restricted or banned abortions. And nearly 25 years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found mifepristone to be safe and effective, Trump could seek to appoint FDA members who would reverse that decision.

California has sought to serve as a haven for women from other states and to preserve funding for reproductive care. In 2020, however, a 9th Circuit panel with a majority of Republican appointees upheld Trump administration rules that banned organizations receiving federal family-planning funds from referring any of their 4 million low-income patients to providers of abortions. California, which provides its own funding for abortions under Medi-Cal, was one of 21 states that had challenged the Trump rules.

President Joe Bidens administration withdrew the ban in 2021 before the Supreme Court could decide its legality, but Trump is likely to restore it. The same dynamics have accompanied Californias battle to set its own limits on vehicle emissions of planet-heating greenhouse gases.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed in 1967 to let California impose stricter emissions standards than the EPA standard for new vehicles sold in the state, rules that effectively regulated much of the national market. Californias waiver remained in effect for most of the next 50 years, except for three years during the George W. Bush administration, but was withdrawn in 2019 by Trumps EPA, which also reduced nationwide regulation of emissions.

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Donald Trump was re-elected as president four years after he was defeated by Joe Biden. Evan Vucci/Associated Press

WASHINGTON  In the end, Kamala Harris framing of the presidential race didnt work: The felon beat out the prosecutor.

With his win Tuesday, Donald Trump will become only the second person to win nonconsecutive presidential terms, following Grover Cleveland in 1892. His election also marks the second time he has blocked a female opponent from becoming the first woman president in the countrys 248-year history.

And while Trump made misogynistic comments in each of his three presidential campaigns, this was the first time he ran as a convicted felon and after he was found liable for sexual assault.

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Harris urged her supporters Wednesday to hold on to their resolve.

The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, she said in a speech at Howard University in Washington D.C. But hear me when I say the light of Americas promise will always burn bright. As long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.

And she directly addressed womens freedoms and reproductive rights, issues she made central to her campaign.

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I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions and aspirations. Where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body and not have their government telling them what to do, she said.

Though Harris ran a much different campaign than Hillary Clinton in 2016, both started at a disadvantage. While Clinton faced decades of vitriol from the right that weakened her campaign before it began, Harris launched hers after a party-wide effort to pressure President Joe Biden to end his reelection bid amid concerns he wasnt fit to serve another term.

That meant Harris had to run a campaign at warp speed  with just 107 days before ballots would be counted  with little time for adjustments or errors.

She also had less opportunity to introduce herself to the electorate, and struggled to articulate both her policy differences with Biden and why she had moderated some of her own positions.

In the final weeks of the campaign, she spent extensive time and energy courting Republicans and independents and returned to Bidens ineffective messaging that focused on the threat to democracy that Trump posed, rather than what she would do for the country.

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An accelerated timeline

While Harris tied up her partys nomination within 48 hours of Biden dropping out, she had a big task: introducing herself to the American public.

Americans rarely know much about who vice presidents or vice presidential candidates are. About one-third of Americans polled couldnt identify Dick Cheney and Joe Biden as vice president during the time each served. Just before the 2016 vice presidential debate, nearly half of the respondents to a poll couldnt name Tim Kaine or Mike Pence as the candidates, and nearly half had no discernable opinion of either candidate.

Harris history of performing poorly in interviews exacerbated the challenge.

Weeks into her campaign, she did her first sit-down interview with CNN, where she was methodical and risk-averse with occasionally winding answers.

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Voters, however, found the interview helpful. Polling from Democratic firm Blueprint found that clips from her early interviews with journalists were viewed positively by at least 60% of viewers and at least 56% felt they knew more about her after.

It took several more weeks for her to do interviews with any regularity, and many were with celebrity hosts rather than journalists.

Lack of differences with Biden

Although she benefited from Bidens campaign infrastructure and the tens of millions of dollars already raised for their joint campaign, the enthusiasm for her candidacy peaked early on, and appeared to wane after she declined to break with him in any meaningful way.

She repeatedly made the case that her presidency would be different because she offered a new generation of leadership. However, she didnt provide any specifics.

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Her inability to articulate differences with Biden was most apparent during an Oct. 8 appearance on The View.

Initially, she said there is nothing she would have done differently than Biden, telling the hosts, There is not a thing that comes to mind  and Ive been a part of most of the decisions that have had impact.

Later, she corrected that.

You asked me whats the difference between Joe Biden and me? Well, that will be one of the differences. Im going to have a Republican in my cabinet because I dont feel burdened by letting pride get in the way of a good idea, Harris said.

Just over a week later, she told Fox News Bret Baier: Let me be very clear: My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Bidens presidency. And like every new president that comes into office, I will bring my life experiences, my professional experiences and fresh new ideas.

Her most significant break with Biden came after he told a Latino group that the only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters  his  his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and its un-American, comments that were referencing a comic calling Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage during a Trump rally less than two weeks before Election Day.

Harris told reporters, I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for.

Most importantly for progressives, Harris didnt express any policy differences with Biden on Gaza.

Although the drumbeat of concerns about the U.S. role in the Israel-Hamas war appeared quieted by Bidens exit from the race, Harris decision not to break with him on how to handle the war led to a resurgence in vocal frustration from progressives, some of whom voted for third-party candidates.

Harris also struggled to explain why she moderated some of the positions she took during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, including rescinding her support for a federal ban on fracking and decriminalizing illegal border crossings.

When asked about those changes, Harris told CNN Aug. 29 that her values have not changed.

She was asked about it again during an Oct. 23 town hall with CNN, where she said her experience and perspective from being vice president taught her the importance of compromise.

Our country deserves to have a president of the United States who is not afraid of good ideas and does not stand on pride if a perspective needs to be informed by different points of view to build consensus and to have a commonsense approach, Harris said.

Courting Republicans

Democrats traditionally have a big tent that seeks to welcome a wide array of voters, but that has rarely included Republicans. Within a few weeks of launching her campaign, Republicans began expressing their support publicly for her candidacy as a repudiation of Trump and his lack of fidelity to the Constitution.

Her campaign banked on Republican and independent voters to move the needle enough to bring her victory, like former President Barack Obama did in 2008.

Harris focus on flipping Republican and independent voters, however, turned off some of the young voters and voters of colors that made up her base.

Threat to democracy messaging

An initial groundswell of grassroots support for Harris candidacy came as she created a campaign focused on joy and optimism, along with positive messaging about her own political agenda.

Ads about her efforts to protect abortion and health care access were most effective, polling found, when they didnt mention Trump or when they focused on her efforts in contrast with his.

In the final weeks of the campaign, however, she pivoted to a more somber and serious tone and used the same messaging that Biden campaigned on  that Trump represented a serious threat to democracy.

During an Oct. 29 rally in D.C., Harris spoke from the same spot Trump had nearly four years prior when he falsely claimed he won, a speech that caused a mob of his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol in a bid to overturn the loss.

America, this is not a candidate for president who is thinking about how to make your life better. This is someone who is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, and out for unchecked power. Donald Trump has spent a decade trying to keep the American people divided and afraid of each other. That is who he is, Harris said.

Later in the same speech, she talked about her own plans, but in far less detail.

On day one, if elected, Donald Trump would walk into that office with an enemies list. When elected, I will walk in with a to-do list full of priorities of what I will get done  to help Americans who are working hard and still struggling to get ahead, Harris said.

Her final campaign ad pivoted back to optimism.

Ive seen the best of America, and Ive seen what is holding you back and weighing you down. High costs, fundamental rights taken away, and politics that have driven fear and division. You deserve better, Harris said.
Stacey Johnson-Baptiste, left center, Vice President Harris best friend, and Rep. Barbara Lee, right, watch poll numbers during a live broadcast at the Harris Walz Election Night event at The Yard on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Jared Soares/Special to the Chronicle Kamala Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond informs supporters that Vice President Harris will not be appearing at the Harris Walz Election Night at the Yard on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Jared Soares/Special to the Chronicle Supporters exit after being informed by Kamala Harris campaign co-char Cedric Richmond that Vice President Harris will not be appearing at the Harris Walz Election Night event at the Yard on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Jared Soares/Special to the Chronicle Trash left after supporters exited after being informed by Kamala Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond that Vice President Harris will not be appearing at the Harris Walz Election Night event at the Yard on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Jared Soares/Special to the Chronicle Supporters watch poll numbers come in during a live broadcast at the Harris Walz Election Night event at the Yard on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Jared Soares/Special to the Chronicle Supporters file in at the Harris-Walz campaign election night event at the Yard on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Jared Soares/Special to the Chronicle Members of the press assemble ahead of the Harris-Walz campaign election night event at the Yard on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Jared Soares/Special to the Chronicle Performers dance in the backstage area ahead of the Harris-Walz campaign election night event at the Yard on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Jared Soares/Special to the Chronicle

WASHINGTON  Minutes after the news began trickling out that Kamala Harris would not appear at her election night party in the early hours of Wednesday morning, a familiar song began to play.

Freedom, the Beyonce song that has become synonymous with Harris campaign and typically signals her arrival onstage, was quickly cut off, but it was an awkward moment that exemplified how the mood at the event shifted from hope and excitement to gloom and worry as returns began to show fewer and fewer viable paths to victory for Harris.

Early on in the evening, the crowd was energetic, dancing along to the music that was so loud you could feel the bass reverberate in your chest.

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As results began rolling in, however, attendees were overheard worrying that the night appeared to be turning into a redux of 2016 rather than 2020.

Supporters watch poll numbers come in during a live broadcast at the Harris Walz Election Night event at the Yard on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Jared Soares/Special to the Chronicle

Everybody here wants to feel really optimistic about this election, but were just left on this cliffhanger, so were just trying to get through it right now, Howard University student Malik Rolle said as results began to turn against Harris.

But the math required for Harris to eke out a victory began to look forbidding on Tuesday night. With Trump declared the victor in Georgia and North Carolina, Harris path ran through the three northern Blue Wall states. In each, Harris was behind by at least 130,000 votes, with scant hope that outstanding returns from Democratic areas could overcome the deficits. By early morning Wednesday, the election had been declared for Donald Trump.

As the stone-faced and subdued crowds in Washington, D.C., watched the results, images of Trumps party at the Palm Beach County (Fla.) Convention Center played on screens around the Yard, the large grassy area at the center of Howard Universitys campus.

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Howard is Harris alma mater. The historically Black university is where Harris launched her first campaign for freshman class representative, her failed 2020 presidential campaign and gave her first speech of the 2024 campaign.

Im honestly feeling incredibly anxious, very upset, Janella Laurio, a Howard University student from Colorado, said. I wasnt expecting to be coming here tonight with so much anxiety; I had a lot of hope for North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Crowds began emptying out around 11:30 p.m., as it became clearer Trump was on track to win. Several people leaving early said they did so because they were cold or tired and denied that it was because of the results.

Supporters exit after being informed by Kamala Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond that Vice President Harris will not be appearing at the Harris Walz Election Night event at the Yard on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Jared Soares/Special to the Chronicle

Im very optimistic about the results and I just hope to see, once everything is finalized  maybe tomorrow, for some good news, Howard student Leah Peterson said as she was leaving. Although we may not be winning the majority of very important states, tomorrow well come back stronger.

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Instead of addressing the crowd filled with women in white, the color associated with suffragettes; pink and green  the colors of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha; and a lot of Howard apparel, Harris didnt make any public appearances after 4 p.m. Like a lot of Americans, she watched on TV, in the comfort of her home and surrounded by her family, as her path to victory got narrower and narrower.

Just before 1 a.m., Harris-Walz Campaign Co-Chair Cedric Richmond came out to address the small crowd still gathered on the Howard campus.

Thank you for being here, thank you for believing in the promise of America. We still have votes to count, we still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, Richmond said.

Richmond told the crowd that Harris wouldnt appear that night, but would address the nation from the university campus the following day.

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Barbed wire lines the entrance to San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Despite Proposition 6 having no organized opposition and no money spent against it, voters seem to be rejecting the measure that would have ended unpaid forced labor in California jails and prisons. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Tough-on-crime advocates scored some expected victories in Tuesdays California elections, increasing prison sentences with passage of Proposition 36 and unseating District Attorneys George Gascon in Los Angeles County and likely Pamela Price in Alameda County. One victory that hadnt been predicted was the voters apparent rejection of Proposition 6, which would have ended 175 years of unpaid, forced labor in California jails and prisons.

Prop 6 had no organized opposition, no money was spent against it and the official voter guide mailed by Secretary of State Shirley Webers office to voters homes said no arguments against the measure had been submitted. But with more than half the vote counted Wednesday, Prop 6 was trailing by more than 900,000 votes, with 54.9% of the voters opposing it.

Since Californias Constitution was enacted in 1849, it has prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude  except as a punishment for crime. That exception, also included in the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1865, has allowed prisons to require inmates to work in kitchens, bathrooms, yards and wherever else theyre ordered, with or without pay.

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All but 15 states have removed such language from their constitutions, including Nevada, where a measure similar to Prop 6 was approved by 60% of the voters Tuesday.

Prop 6 would not have entitled California prisoners to minimum wages or any specific amount of pay, but would have prohibited prisons from requiring them to work without pay or from punishing them if they refused. It was placed on the ballot by a two-thirds vote of the state Legislature, after having been rejected by lawmakers in 2022.

The voter guides official summary of the measure said it would remove the constitutional language allowing involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime, and did not mention slavery. That may have been one reason for its defeat, said Christian Grose, a political science professor at the University of Southern California.

I would suggest part of it is the ballot language, and a lack of a strong campaign, said Grose, who also expressed surprise at the results. Voters sometimes will vote no on ballot initiatives to which they have learned very little to maintain the status quo.

Esteban Nunez, a former prisoner who was a leader of the campaign for Prop 6, said the omission of slavery from the states ballot summary removed the moral urgency that could have mobilized voters. He said the word had been included in ballot materials of other states that had passed similar measures.

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The campaign placed advertisements in some online outlets and newspapers, held news conferences in cities across California, and engaged in meaningful conversations about forced labor and the need for a rehabilitative justice system, Nunez said by email.

However, our limited budget meant we couldnt achieve the extensive reach often necessary to engage voters on a statewide issue, he said.

A ballot measure focused solely on prison labor may not have captured public attention like other issues, said Kellie Walters, an attorney with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, which supported Prop 6. Some measures receive little notice in busy elections, and low voter turnout can impact results when the public isnt fully engaged.

But it may have been no coincidence that the same voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36, which imposed felony prison sentences for repeated small-scale thefts and drug sales and overturned provisions of Proposition 47, a 2014 ballot measure that had reduced those crimes to misdemeanors.

Gascon was defeated for reelection in Los Angeles County, and Prices recall was drawing support from nearly two-thirds of Alameda County voters Wednesday, after campaigns that accused both district attorneys of encouraging crime by reducing their predecessors sentencing policies.

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Previously, despite polls indicating the death penalty was losing favor among Californians, ballot measures to repeal the states death penalty law were rejected by the states voters in 2012 and 2016. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a moratorium on executions after taking office in 2019 but has not sought clemency for any of the states 612 condemned prisoners, who could face execution under a future governor.

Grose, of USC, said a recent poll he helped to conduct found that more than half of likely voters believed crime was on the rise in California, and that more than 27% thought it was at historically high levels. In fact, statewide crime rates have been relatively unchanged in the last several years but are well below record levels.

Perceptions of increasing crime affected support for Prop 36, and by extension may have trickled down to support of Prop 6, Grose said. Prop 6 may have failed because voters with perceptions of increasing crime may have generally opposed criminal justice reforms at the ballot box.

Kent Scheidegger, legal director of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, a nonprofit that favors increased sentencing, said he was pleasantly surprised that the voters saw through this fraud without an opposition ballot or an opposition campaign.

No people are reduced to the status of property in California prisons, which is what slavery is, Scheidegger said. A requirement that prisoners work is a longstanding one. The proceeds may be used to partially offset the cost of incarceration, partially compensate the victim, or paid to the inmate (as) wages.

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Students and supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, also known as DACA, rally in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 12, 2019. The program came under attack from President Donald Trump, who wants it terminated. Frederic J. Brown/Getty

Its not your fault, California.

Blame the 67 million (and counting) Americans who voted for Donald Trump, even after he inspired an insurrection, was convicted of multiple felonies, was found liable for sexual assault, and continued to spout rhetoric that was racist, authoritarian and typically false. Californians did all they could to avoid another Trump presidency. They wrote postcards to blue wall states, knocked on doors in Arizona and Nevada, and collectively contributed $208 million to Kamala Harris campaign. But now Californians will have to take on a different role  one theyre familiar with now.

For a roadmap of how to act, lets return to Harris last election night victory speech  when she was elected to the Senate in 2016. She, like many Americans, was expecting Hillary Clinton to become president. When Trump won, she tore up the speech she was prepared to deliver and spoke to the despair of the moment: We know that we have a task in front of us, Harris said. We know the stakes are high. When we have been attacked and when our ideals and fundamental values are being attacked, do we retreat, or do we fight? I say we fight!

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In conceding the election Wednesday afternoon in a speech at her alma mater, Howard University, Harris again urged supporters to continue to fight. She mentioned the word "fight" 19 times in her speech. While "I concede this election," Harris said, "I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign."

So Californians, get ready to fight. Again.

You will be the bulwark against Trumps anti-Democratic and xenophobic tendencies. When he enacts his plan to deport 2 million or 21 million (even he doesnt know how many) undocumented immigrants on Day One of his presidency, as promised, you are going to be the ones who link arms and protect your fellow Californians from unjust actions. You will be the ones to prevent families from being torn apart through Trumps stated desire to conduct the largest deportation effort in American history.

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said on election night that his office had several dozen legal matters with the Trump administration. We were part of the legal resistance. And if the worst comes to be, well be right there again.

And when Trump turns the force of the U.S. military and law enforcement against the kind of peaceful, constitutionally protected demonstrations that we witness seven days a week in the Bay Area  but that threaten Trump enough that he promises will be easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military  you will be the protectors of free speech.

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Californians will be on the front lines of those demonstrations of social consciousness, as we always are. And other Californians, maybe the folks who believe in the same things but dont feel comfortable demonstrating on the street, will support you through their contributions, their legal efforts, their political pressure and their comfort as your neighbors, friends and family. When Trump threatens to withhold emergency federal aid for victims of the next wildfire, as promised  unless Gov. Gavin Newsom allocates more water to California farms or whatever ransom he demands  you will have to ramp up the pressure on behalf of your neighbors whose homes and businesses were destroyed.

This will have to be a bipartisan effort. In 2018, Trump wanted to withhold disaster aid for California, Mark Harvey, the senior director for resilience policy on Trumps National Security Council, told E&E News. Trump only relented after being told that Orange County had more Trump supporters than the entire state of Iowa. Harvey is one of more than 100 Republican national security officials who endorsed Harris.

And when Trump attempts to fulfill his promise to punish specific Californians he deems the enemy within, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (who Trump came close to calling an offensive term during a rally on Tuesday) or Sen.-elect Adam Schiff, it will be up to Californians to stand in his way.

Trump told his friends at Fox News that Schiff is one of the radical-left lunatics and called Pelosi evil during the campaign. We have already seen the power that years of verbal attacks on Pelosi spawned: When David DePape broke into her Pacific Heights home in October 2022, he burst into the bedroom where her husband was sleeping, stood over his bed with a hammer and zip ties, and asked, Wheres Nancy? Then he bludgeoned Paul Pelosi with a hammer, an attack that has left the 84-year-old with a metal plate in his head, dizziness and nerve damage in his left hand  not to mention a lot of trauma.

Schiff used the word fight four times in his seven-minute victory speech Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

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We are going to fight to protect abortion access and defend democracy and our freedoms, Schiff said.

California has other levels of power it can wield as well. When states emboldened by Trump enact discriminatory policies, it can restrict state-funded travel to those places. When Trump weakens federal regulations on climate or clean air and water, California can pass its own policies  providing a progressive template for others to follow.
Stand With Crypto's bus tour through five battleground states kicked off last week in Phoenix and Las Vegas. Logan Dobson/Stand With Crypto Alliance

LAS VEGAS  In Nevada's 4th Congressional District, a crypto PAC spent nearly $2 million on ads this cycle to support the reelection of Steven Horsford, a Democratic congressman who's voted in favor of some major pro-crypto bills. But watching the ads, you'd learn nothing about that agenda. "He's leading on jobs, bringing good paying union jobs to Nevada and rebuilding our infrastructure," one 30-second commercial says. "He capped insulin prices at $35 a month" and "worked multiple jobs to support his hard-working single mother and siblings." The ad wraps up with the disclosure, "Fairshake is responsible for the content of this ad." Fairshake was the largest crypto-aligned super PAC in the 2024 election cycle, spending piles of cash to support crypto allies and vote out antagonists across the country. The group brought in $170 million, accounting for a huge chunk of the amount raised by crypto-related PACs and other groups, which totaled more than $245 million, according to Federal Election Commission data.

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Crypto has accounted for nearly half of all corporate money flowing into the election, according to a report from nonprofit watchdog Public Citizen. No other sector is close. That includes oil companies and banks, which have historically been big political contributors. Crypto even outpaced Elon Musk, the world's richest person, who spent tens of millions of dollars to try to get Republican nominee former President Donald Trump back in the White House in his contest against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. A big part of the crypto industry's strategy when it came to distributing cash was to identify key races and then flood the zone. Industry advocacy group Stand With Crypto Alliance, launched by Coinbase last year, developed a grading system for the presidential race and for House and Senate candidates across the country, helping it determine where to spend. Horsford received an A grade based on his public comments and his voting history while in office. His campaign received money from Fairshake as well as individual donations from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, venture capitalist and longtime crypto investor Reid Hoffman, and billionaire twins Cameron Winklevoss and Tyler Winklevoss.

Nevada is home to two of the thirteen "critical elections" singled out by Stand with Crypto, a designation the group defines as races that are "critical to the future of crypto in America." In addition to Horsford's election, the other Nevada race is the Senate contest between Democratic incumbent Jackie Rosen and Republican challenger Sam Brown. Both candidates received an A grade. According to data shared by Stand with Crypto, 385,000 Nevadans are crypto owners, and more than 16,000 people in the state have signed up to be advocates for the group, which made a stop in Las Vegas in September as part of a multi-state tour. The other races deemed critical were for Senate in Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin and Maryland, and for specific House contests in Colorado, Iowa and Oregon. To reach potential voters, Fairshake isn't talking a lot about crypto. Nor are its affiliate PACs, which have names like Defend American Jobs and Protect Progress. They've collectively spent more than $135 million this cycle, mostly on ads. "Not mentioning crypto assets explicitly is probably a savvy move to avoid alienating voters who prefer traditional currencies and might be put off by connections to crypto," said David Nickerson, an associate professor of political science at Temple University who worked in the analytics department for President Barack Obama's reelection campaign in 2012.

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The biggest single target of crypto money this cycle was Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Democratic chair of the Senate Banking Committee. Brown backed Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., in holding hearings on whether digital tokens were tied to terrorism. In December, Brown told journalists that he wasn't concerned about the crypto industry's rumblings against him. "Bring 'em on," Politico quoted Brown as saying to a crowd of reporters. Some $40 million of crypto money has been directed at defeating Brown, and one PAC has paid for five ads designed to boost awareness of Republican rival Bernie Moreno, a blockchain entrepreneur. The race is crucial in determining which party will control the Senate. Protect Progress, a PAC affiliated with Fairshake, has given more than $10 million apiece to Senate candidates in Arizona and Michigan. In Arizona, the group favors Democrat Ruben Gallego, who is vying for the seat being vacated by Kyrsten Sinema. In Michigan, the preferred choice is Elissa Slotkin, who is currently a Democratic House member. Democratic Rep. Katie Porter of California lost in the primary for Senate after Fairshake spent over $10 million in ads against her. Defend American Jobs spent more than $3 million to support Republican Jim Justice in West Virginia, who has been declared the winner, replacing exiting Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. WATCH: Jay Clayton on regulation
Google has been moderating and removing employees' internal election-related conversations, CNBC has learned.

Ahead of Tuesday's U.S. elections, Google executives warned employees to keep political opinions and statements away from a popular internal discussion forum called Memegen, according to correspondence viewed by CNBC. Despite the warnings, employees continued posting memes related to the election and criticizing the company's policies on Tuesday.

The most recent leadership guidance shows the company is taking expanded action to temper internal political discussions. Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Monday sent a memo reminding employees that people turn to the company's services for "high-quality and reliable information." That includes through the company's Google Search, Google News and YouTube services.

"Whomever the voters entrust, let's remember the role we play at work, through the products we build and as a business: to be a trusted source of information to people of every background and belief," Pichai wrote. "We will and must maintain that."

As one of the most important tech leaders in the U.S., Pichai himself has been pulled into the broader political discussions of late. Republican nominee Donald Trump claimed to have multiple phone calls with Pichai in recent weeks.

Google has been cracking down on internal conversations since 2019 when the company introduced a policy barring employees from making statements that "insult, demean, or humiliate" their colleagues. The rules also discouraged employees from engaging in a "raging debate over politics or the latest news story."

That policy signaled a significant culture shift for the company. Some employees pushed back against the restrictions, saying they were too broad, and in 2020, the company said it was expanding its internal content moderation practices, requiring employees to more actively moderate internal discussions, CNBC found at the time.

Since 2021, Google has dealt with internal dissent regarding Project Nimbus, which is a $1.2 billion joint contract with Amazon to provide the Israeli government and military with cloud computing and AI services. Google briefly shut down an internal message board this March after employees posted comments about the company's Nimbus contract.

In a 2019 settlement, the U.S. National Labor Board ordered Google to post a list of employee rights at its headquarters that included the right to discuss workplace conditions. That came after a former Google employee filed a complaint alleging that the company restricted free speech and fired him for expressing conservative views, which Google refuted.

The company declined to comment.
As Americans cast their votes in a history-making presidential race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, CNBC's Jim Cramer explained that few sectors are currently obvious winners or losers under either candidate's administration.

"This presidential prognostication game is meaningless until we start hearing about cabinet appointments, those will tell us a lot," he said. "Right now, though, there are just too many political angles to every single stock story."

Cramer first looked at tech giant Apple , noting that under the Biden administration it's facing an antitrust lawsuit from the Department of Justice. But the iPhone maker's stock has rallied since the lawsuit, he said, and suggested there may not be reason to assume Apple will fare better with Trump at the helm. Trump has promised to significantly raise tariffs, especially on goods coming in from China. The duties could hurt Apple's earnings, as the company relies heavily on imports from the country.

He looked at Amazon through a similar lens, saying that even though Biden-appointed Federal Trade Commission leadership has accused the company of wielding illegal monopoly power, the stock has seen immense gains over the past few years. He even posed that Wall Street might like spin-offs of the company. But during Trump's previous term, he seemed to show disdain for the online retailer and its tax practices even as his FTC leaders may be more lenient towards big business.

"When it comes to many stocks that seem obvious for one candidate or another, there's a Yin and Yang dynamic that doesn't get enough attention," Cramer said.
The S & P 500 could rally nearly 23% into 2025 if the Republicans sweep the election, according to Jay Hatfield, founder & CIO of InfraCap. Specifically, Hatfield said he sees the broad market index climbing to 7,000 next year. The benchmark closed at 5,782.76. A Republican-controlled presidency and Congress could mean lower taxes and regulation more favorable to businesses. The odds of that scenario grew overnight, as former President Donald Trump took the lead in the U.S. presidential race over Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump won battleground state North Carolina, while Harris took Virginia, NBC News projects . The GOP also appeared on track to be making inroads in Congress. To be sure, NBC News still sees several states as too close to call or too early to call. Hatfield also noted that concerns around Trump's aggressive tariff stance may be overblown. "We think that people are way too nervous about the tariffs, because they always ignore that they produce a lot of revenue. If you take that revenue and cut corporate taxes or even individual taxes, that's a big offset to that, and it's actually pro-investment," he said. Some investors have expressed their concerns that universal tariffs under a Trump administration might impair companies that heavily source their goods from overseas markets. Despite the current electoral backdrop, Hatfield cautioned he's not as confident as the market is about Trump regaining the presidency. Absentee ballots and late report could wipe out Trump's current advantages, he said. "It seems like the odds might be a little bit ahead of the data so far," he told CNBC.
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump dances after speaking following early results from the 2024 U.S. presidential election in Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024.

Shares in former President Donald Trump's media company pushed higher as NBC News results projected him winning the contentious presidential election.

Trump Media & Technology Group shares closed 5.9% higher on Wednesday, after paring gains from earlier in the session when the stock was up more than 30% above $45 a share.

The stock extended its run overnight as Trump gained a solid Electoral College lead, and narrowed the path to victory for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trading was halted multiple times Wednesday morning due to volatility.

The stock, seen as a market proxy for the former president, rallied despite a surprise earnings statement after the bell Tuesday that showed the company lost $19.2 million in the third quarter. The operator of Truth Social is majority owned by Trump.

Shares have been volatile during the election season, rising and falling as Trump's fortunes swirled during his neck and neck race with Harris.

The shares were down more than 34% over the past five trading sessions as Harris seemingly picked up momentum in the race's final days. However, the stock, with ticker DJT after the Republican's initials, has soared about 118% over the past month.

In Tuesday's session, as the candidates made their closing push, the stock burst more than 18% at its session high, only to close down 1.2%.
A landmark decision from outdoor clothing brand Patagonia to dedicate its profits to fight the climate crisis didn't surprise its employees  but that's not to say the process has been stress-free.

Just over two years ago, founder Yvon Chouinard and his family announced that they were giving away their ownership of the company to climate-focused groups that would use the profits to help protect nature and biodiversity.

The move, which made headlines for being a novel marriage of capitalism and charity, prompted some to question whether the transformation would encourage others to follow suit.

"I don't think, internally, anyone was surprised. It was obviously a very inspiring and uplifting moment because I think it became clear that now our values will be enshrined forever into the company and the way that we do business," Nina Hajikhanian, general manager for Patagonia EMEA, told CNBC via video call.

"They didn't want to sell the company because at the end of the day, yes, they could take the profits out but then it is a one-off situation," Hajikhanian said.

"What it was really all about was to create a new way of capitalism, you know, to turn capitalism upside down and inspire other businesses to do things differently  and it felt like a real natural step," she added.

"It may have been a really big moment, but for us, it was quite normal."
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday he had dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner, bringing an end to Germany's ruling coalition after months of political wrangling and raising the possibility of snap elections in March.

The three-year-old union between Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens and Lindner's Free Democratic Party (FDP) had been on shaky ground for some time, with differing budget and economic policy positions causing tensions and clashes.

Speaking at a press conference late Wednesday, Scholz launched a tirade against Lindner, saying he was not concerned about serving for the common good and he was dismissed to prevent harm to the country. Scholz said he would call for a vote of no confidence on Jan. 15 in parliament, raising the possibility of elections earlier than scheduled in March.

"Anyone who joins a government must act responsibly and reliably, they cannot run for cover when things get difficult," Scholz said at the press conference, according to a Reuters translation. "They must be willing to make compromises in the interests of all citizens ... But that is precisely not Christian Lindner's focus right now, he is focused on his own clientele."

Both the FDP and the Greens confirmed late Wednesday that Lindner's departure would mean an end to Berlin's fractious coalition, although the latter said it would remain in office.
Donald Trump (L) and Russia's Vladimir Putin arrive to attend a joint press conference after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018.

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin has no immediate plans to congratulate Donald Trump, who emerged as president-elect in the U.S. on Wednesday  but senior Russian officials pointed to the win for the Republican as a change for a "reset" in relations.

"I am not aware of the president's plans to congratulate Trump on his election," Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday, according to Google-translated comments from state news agency Interfax.

"Let's not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country that is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state," he added.

Peskov was then reportedly asked whether he thought Trump might be offended if Putin did not congratulate him on his victory, and whether this would worsen already-poor relations between Russia and the U.S.

"It is practically impossible to worsen things further; relations are at their historical lowest point. And what happens next will depend on the next U.S. leadership. President Putin has repeatedly said that he is open to constructive dialogue based on justice, equality and a willingness to take each other's concerns into account. And President Putin maintains this attitude," Peskov said.

"At the moment, the U.S. administration is diametrically opposed. We will see what happens in January," he added.

The Kremlin's reaction came after Trump declared victory in the presidential election early Wednesday, as he headed toward securing the full 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House. Since then, NBC News projected him as president-elect, putting him on the path to become the 47th president of the United States.
President-elect Donald Trump is returning to the White House , and shares of regional banks are surging on his Election Day victory. Republicans have also secured a new majority in the Senate , but the House of Representatives remains a toss-up . Nevertheless, the development thus far is a largely positive one for the regional banks. "The group's story could certainly change meaningfully under greater Republican control," wrote R. Scott Siefers, managing director at Piper Sandler, in a Wednesday note. "From capital requirements (where fears of punitive increases were already being dialed back, anyway), to areas such as 'junk fees' and overdraft, to M & A, the list of burdens that could be eased seems extensive," he wrote. Indeed, the SPDR S & P Regional Banking ETF (KRE ) jumped more than 13% on Wednesday, soaring on hopes for less regulation in the sector and further merger-and-acquisition activity. CNBC Pro used FactSet data to screen the KRE ETF for names with a dividend yield that's greater than the S & P 500's 1.3%. These names must also be rated buy or overweight by at least 55% of the analysts covering them, and have upside of at least 15% based on their average price targets. The data below is based on Tuesday's close. Western Alliance Bancorp turned up on the list, with a dividend yield of 1.8% as of Tuesday's close. Shares are up 44% in 2024. In all, about 93% of analysts covering the stock rate it a buy or overweight, per FactSet. D.A. Davidson's Gary Tenner stuck with his buy rating after the company reported its third-quarter results in October. Earnings of $1.80 per share missed the Street's call for $1.89 a share, per FactSet. Still, net interest income came in at $696.9 million and beat consensus estimates for $689.1 million, according to StreetAccount. "While 3Q results came in below expectations, and we modestly lowered our 2025E (by 2%), we expect positive balance sheet momentum, and lower [earnings credit rate] costs to result in an upward trajectory of adjusted [net interest income] beginning 4Q," Tenner said in an Oct. 21 note. WAL YTD mountain Western Alliance in 2024 Popular also made it onto CNBC Pro's screen. The stock offers a dividend yield of 2.8% as of Tuesday's close. In October, Popular posted earnings of $2.16 per share, missing the Street's estimate of $2.30, per FactSet. Net interest income also fell short of expectations, coming in at $572.5 million, versus the StreetAccount consensus estimate of $585.1 million. Piper Sandler analyst Frank Schiraldi has a buy rating on the stock, and he dialed back his expectations for 2025. "We reiterate our [overweight] rating though note it may take a quarter of stabilization for investors to get more comfortable in the updated target and earnings power," he said, noting that he also trimmed his price target to $100 from $112. On the upside, however, loan growth came in nearly double the firm's expectations. Shares of Popular are up more than 20% on the year. BPOP YTD mountain Popular shares in 2024 Provident Financial Services turned up on CNBC Pro's screen. The company reported its third-quarter figures last week, with earnings that fell short of analysts' estimates. Provident posted a profit of 36 cents per share, versus analysts' call for 47 cents a share, per FactSet. Net interest income also missed the mark, arriving at $183.7 million compared with consensus estimates of $187.5 million. Piper Sandler's Mark Fitzgibbon reiterated his overweight rating on the stock last week, but he dialed back his 2025 EPS estimate by five cents to $2.18. "The company has the scale to compete on product and price with the nation's largest banks and is still small enough to be nimble and responsive to customers," Fitzgibbon wrote on Oct. 30. He added that he expects the bank's profitability to "steadily improve each quarter." Shares are up more than 21% in 2024, and as of Tuesday's close, it had a dividend yield of 5%.  CNBC's Fred Imbert contributed reporting.
San Francisco officials blamed high winds after scaffolding appeared to break away from a building on Russian Hill, and they warned the public to avoid the 1200 block of Broadway. San Francisco Fire Department

San Francisco Fire Department officials warned the public to avoid the 1200 block of Broadway on Wednesday morning after a scaffolding failure that resulted in no injuries.

Fire department officials said on social media that windy conditions were likely what caused the scaffolding to rip away from a building apparently under construction.

Officials posted a video to social media showing the scaffolding dangling precariously from the building.

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Intense winds billowed across the Bay Area early Wednesday morning, with gusts of 38 mph measured in San Francisco. The winds were expected to calm by the afternoon.
Former President Donald Trump won a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, sweeping the battleground state map by margins that surprised even Trump's closest allies.

Markets overall posted sharp gains Wednesday, with the Dow rising more than 3% and closing at a new record high. Stocks that investors believed would benefit under a Trump administration soared, while solar stocks plunged.

"We're going to help our country heal," Trump said late Tuesday night. "We're going to fix everything about our country."

"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," he said, a reality underscored by NBC News' projection that Republicans won control of the Senate. The GOP was well positioned as of late Wednesday to keep its House majority, too, although NBC News had not called House control as of 7 p.m. ET.

Harris phoned Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on the win, then formally conceded the race and called on her supporters to mobilize and "roll up your sleeves" in a rousing speech at Howard University.

Highlights:
Three global alcoholic beverage makers are likely to see a "negative impact" from a Republican victory in the U.S. election due to the potential for trade tariffs, according to TD Cowen analysts. The investment bank, a subsidiary of Canada's Toronto-Dominion Bank, said that Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman and Corona beer brewer Constellation Brands are "most negatively exposed" to the introduction of higher tariffs on trade , a key policy proposed by Donald Trump. Guinness maker Diageo would be one of the companies to be impacted by a "smaller degree," according to the bank's analysts. Brown-Forman "In the event of a Republican victory, we see a high likelihood of the EU reinstating tariffs on American whiskey," said TD Cowen's Robert Moskow in a note to clients on Nov. 5, just before polls closed in the U.S. During Trump's presidency in 2018, the European Union hit American whiskey with 25% import taxes to retaliate against Trump's tariffs on European steel and aluminum imports. These tariff measures were relaxed by the EU in early 2022, but are expected to be reinstated and doubled to 50% in 2025. BF.B 5Y line Constellation Brands The brewer behind Corona produces its beers exclusively in Mexico and would be faced with a "significant challenge" if Trump introduced tariffs on goods from Mexico. However, the company also sources key ingredients, such as corn and barley, from American farmers, which might deflect some of the pressures the company may face. "While there may be some government goodwill afforded to the company due to its reliance on U.S. farmers, we believe that a tariff on Mexico would negatively impact the company's margin structure and disrupt its supply chain," said the bank's analysts. "That said, the headwinds would be partially offset by devaluation of the Mexican peso, given that approximately 25% of the company's [cost of goods sold] is peso-denominated." STZ 5Y line Diageo Tariffs could "hit multiple areas of the business" at Diageo, TD Cowen analysts said. The company, which makes the Don Julio tequilas in Mexico, has nearly a quarter of its total sales in the U.S. reliant on tariff free trade at the southern border. "We would expect Diageo to pass a portion of the 25% potential tariff along to the consumer, however with the spirits category still weak, the elasticity impact of a large tariff-related price increase could be substantial," the analysts said. DEO 5Y line
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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will defeat his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, and return to the White House for another four years, NBC News projects. After losing his reelection bid to President Joe Biden in 2020, Trump, the 45th president, will now become the 47th. Trump's victory marks a series of historic firsts. At 78, he is the oldest person ever to win a U.S. presidential election. He will be the first president in 132 years  since Grover Cleveland  to serve two nonconsecutive terms in office. And he emerged victorious from what is likely the most expensive presidential race in history. He is also the first president, current or former, ever to be convicted of crimes. He is the first twice-impeached president ever to win back the White House. He is the first president ever to take office while fending off criminal charges in multiple active federal and state cases. Trump's win denies Harris, the vice president, what would have been her own historic milestone: becoming the first woman president of the United States.

Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign event at the Erie Insurance Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 14, 2024. Dustin Franz | Afp | Getty Images

It also represents a staggering political achievement for Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, who won his first election just two years earlier. Just 40 years old, Vance, a former Trump critic turned loyalist and top advocate for the president-elect's right-wing populist movement, is now first in the presidential line of succession. If Trump pursues his campaign promises, his second administration will soon set out to enact an ambitious, controversial agenda centered on deep tax cuts, mass deportations and reshaped relationships with foreign leaders. Trump has also vowed to impose heavy tariffs, claiming that they will simultaneously boost U.S. revenues, strengthen domestic industries and deter unwanted foreign competition. Mainstream economists have repeatedly warned that the tariffs, which are taxes paid by U.S. importers, will raise prices on American consumers. It remains to be seen to what extent Trump's presidential agenda will resemble the sum of his many claims as a candidate. He has vowed to pardon his supporters who violently rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He has assured that he will quickly broker an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a vague stance that threatens to undo the Biden administration's policy of strong support for Kyiv. He has said he would put Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal vaccine skeptic, in charge of health policy, and tap billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk to propose trillions of dollars in government spending cuts. He has denied Democrats' warnings that he will behave in office like a dictator, "except for Day One."

A campaign like no other

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. Evan Vucci | AP

The campaign that delivered Trump's election was no less historic. Trump survived an assassination attempt in mid-July, when Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old registered Republican who had donated to a Democratic group, opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Crooks fatally shot one rally attendee, and one of his bullets grazed Trump's ear, streaking his face with blood. Trump's immediate reaction to the shooting  pumping his fist and defiantly telling his supporters to "fight!" as Secret Service agents rushed him off stage  instantly became a defining moment of the campaign. Just a few days later, the race was shaken up again. In late July, Harris, 60, was catapulted to the top of the Democratic presidential ticket after Biden announced he would no longer seek reelection.
Former US President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) as they pose for a photo within their meeting at Mar-a-Lago estate, in Palm Beach, Florida, United States on July 26, 2024. Amos Ben-Gershom | Anadolu | Getty Images

A flurry of world leaders on Wednesday sent their congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump after the 78-year-old triumphantly declared a "magnificent" victory. NBC News has projected Trump will win the presidential race. Addressing his supporters in Florida, Trump said his return to the White House would usher in the "golden age" of America. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated Trump on his "historic" election victory, saying the U.K.-U.S. "special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come." Likewise, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban all offered their congratulations to Trump.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of European Commission, at a news conference following a meeting of the Christian Democratic Union party in Berlin, Germany, on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on what he described as his "impressive election victory." "I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together," Zelenskyy via social media. "We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump's decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States," he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, shake hands during a meeting on September 27, 2024 in New York City. Alex Kent | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Zelenskyy's comments come as tensions are likely to be running high in Kyiv, with the U.S. vote regarded as a potentially make-or-break moment in the country's yearslong fight against Russia. Ukrainian officials were said to be closely watching the result amid concerns that future military aid to the Eastern European country could be cut  a move that would significantly curtail Kyiv's ability to fight back against Russia's full-scale invasion. Russia, meanwhile, appeared to be buoyed by news that Trump has secured a White House victory. "Trump has one quality that is useful to us: as a businessman to the core, he mortally dislikes spending money on various hangers-on and freeloaders  on idiotic allies, on stupid charity projects and on gluttonous international organizations," Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president, said via Telegram, according to an NBC translation. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said via Telegram: "Kamala Harris was right when she quoted Psalm 31:5: 'Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.'" "Hallelujah, I'd add from my part," Zakharova said, according to an NBC translation

Mark Rutte, incoming secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), during a transition ceremony at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Mark Rutte, the affable and meticulous former Dutch premier, has a daunting task ahead to keep the defense alliance a global force. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Separately, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Trump's leadership would be key to keeping the military alliance strong. "I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through #NATO," Rutte said.

Turkey, India, Australia, Israel and Iran

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Trump on his election victory. "In this new period that will begin with the elections of the American people, I hope that Turkey-US relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end; I believe that more efforts will be made for a more just world," Erdogan said. "I hope that the elections will be beneficial for our friendly and allied people in the United States and for all of humanity," he added.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan delivers a national statement at the World Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 1, 2023. Thaier Al-sudani | Reuters

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Trump on his "historic election victory." "As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let's work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," Modi said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also offered his congratulations to Trump. "Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future," Albanese said.
Another Donald Trump presidency could get a little tricky for Apple . The news Trump's decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election comes with varying implications for Apple investors. Trump is seen as being more lenient on regulatory issues, which would be a boon to Apple and its Big Tech brethren. However, Trump has also promised hefty tariffs on imported goods from China where Apple does nearly 20% of its business and manufactures many of its key products. Bank of America analysts feel Trump could help fix Apple's regulatory woes in the U.S. and abroad. Earlier this year, the Justice Department sued Apple  alleging the company's iPhone ecosystem is a monopoly. At the time, Apple said the lawsuit had no merit and would defend against it. European regulators have also accused Apple of breaching their new tech rules  imposing billions of dollars in fines for allegedly thwarting competition. BofA analysts said an incoming Republican administration may be "more inclined to favorably resolve" these cases and push European officials for less regulation. Trump's proposed tariffs could spell trouble for Apple's flagship device. That's because not only is the iPhone Apple's biggest money maker but the majority of the company's products are made in China. Trump has proposed a 60% or higher tariff on U.S. imports of Chinese goods. That's compared to the 7.5% to 25% rates levied during his first term. Apple got exceptions in Trump's first term that muted the impact of tariffs on Apple. Without similar accommodations this time around, Apple might need to more move of its manufacturing to countries like India. Management would face a choice of raising prices on iPhones and other devices or accepting lower margins. Bernstein analysts considered the options, saying, "IT hardware companies could combat tariffs by accelerating their supply chain migrations away from China, and look to reduce [operating expenses]  but neither would be easy nor quick to do." Shares of Apple were basically flat in afternoon trading Wednesday, considerably underperforming the market and other large tech players, such as Amazon , Nvidia and Microsoft. We own all three for the Club. Big picture These complex issues facing Apple come as CEO Tim Cook has strived for a good working relationship with Trump over the years. In a note to employees in 2016, Cook wrote, "I've never found being on the sideline a successful place to be," explaining why he showed up to talk to Trump despite supporting Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in that election. Cook's efforts to build relationships with the Trump administration worked in Apple's favor at the time, according to Rosenblatt analysts. "Trump, in his first term was moving ahead with 15% duties on imports of Chinese-made consumer goods to be imposed starting in December 2019 into the holiday shopping period," they said in a note Wednesday. "At the last minute, the administration backed down and announced a 'Phase One' trade deal with China." The Rosenblatt analysts recalled that Trump credited Cook with "making a 'good case' about how Apple would be impacted, but its rival Samsung would not. 'It's tough for Apple to pay tariffs if it's competing with a very good company that's not,'" Trump said at the time. Trump and Cook also have appeared to maintain ties going into the 2024 election. Most recently, Trump claimed that he received a call from Cook over the financial penalties imposed on Apple by European regulators. During a podcast appearance last month, Trump said Cook called him personally. Trump said he told Cook: "I'm not going to let them take advantage of our companies. ... That won't be happening." Apple never confirmed that exchange and was not immediately available to respond to CNBC's request for comment Wednesday. However, Cook was among the tech executives to congratulate Trump in social media posts Wednesday. Bottom line Apple deftly navigated a first Trump term, but it's way too early to say with certainty what Trump's second term in office will mean for the California tech giant. Still, we're maintaining our "own, don't trade" thesis on this long-held portfolio stock. On the regulatory front, investors have largely been able to handle Apple's antitrust risk. While Apple shares fell 4.1% on the day the DOJ lawsuit was filed in March , the stock began to largely trend higher a few weeks later. As recently as October, shares of the iPhone maker hit a record high, and are up 16% since the start of 2024. To be sure, that doesn't mean a regulatory crackdown won't present challenges down the line. But it's too soon to worry as these cases typically years to play out. Plus, it can't hurt that Cook and Trump have seemingly maintained a solid business relationship for years. As for tariffs, Apple has wisely expanded its manufacturing capabilities outside of China in markets like India, and it should continue to do so. This will help diversify its supply chain to hedge against potential geopolitical risk. In Trump's second term, "Apple is going to need what I call special pleading," Jim Cramer said during the Morning Meeting. "They are going to have to go to the government and say, 'Look, we are going to have to move out of China into India. [But] it can't be done overnight.'" "They will get their special pleading because they're not regarded as a political company," Jim predicted. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AAPL, MSFT, NVDA, AMZN. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

Donald Trump speaks alongside Apple CEO Tim Cook (L) during the first meeting of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, March 6, 2019. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
Donald Trump's return to the White House sparked a big move higher in small-cap stocks. The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) , which track the small-cap index, surged 6% in the premarket. That gain would mark the exchange-traded fund's best day since 2022. The fund is also on track for its fourth-largest opening gap  the difference between its open price and the previous close  on record, SentimenTrader founder Jason Goepfert noted. Small-cap stocks were seen as potential winners under a second Trump presidency, as investors expect it would ease regulations on businesses, which tend to weigh more heavily on smaller businesses. "The biggest catalyst for sustained outperformance for small caps would be a Trump win next week due to: (i) Trump's domestic focused agenda, (ii) deregulation policy increases small business confidence, (iii) higher M & A/sponsor activity with weaker DOJ/FTC (iv) extension of individual/pass-through tax cuts, (v) a larger fiscal package passed by Congress in 2025 removing downside to U.S. growth," wrote Wolfe Research chief investment strategist Chris Senyek in a note last week. Wednesday's gains in small caps were led by private prison stocks Geo Group and CoreCivic , which were up roughly 20% each. Crypto-related stocks Riot Platforms and TeraWulf surged 12% each. Small-cap stocks have trailed their large-cap counterparts this year. IWM is up 11.7% in 2024, while the S & P 500 has soared more than 21% in that time. IWM .SPX YTD mountain IWM vs SPX year to date Wells Fargo strategist Chris Harvey noted last week that the outlook for small caps was improving due to a strong economy, "absorption of higher rates, and fading election risk. Notably, small caps outperformed in the 3mos after both the Trump 2016 and Biden 2020 wins." Elsewhere on Wall Street this morning, UBS raised its price target on U.S.-listed shares of Ferrari to $513 from $478. That implies upside of 16.3%. The bank also kept its buy rating on the stock. "Q3 was widely expected to be the weakest quarter for Ferrari in 2024, primarily due to temporary headwinds, yet the company's performance was still ahead of many peers in Luxury as well as Autos sectors," analyst Robert Krankowski wrote.
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DUNEDIN, New Zealand  Cancer diagnostics company Pacific Edge (NZX, ASX: PEB) today advises that its half year results for the six months ending 30 September 2024 will be released on Tuesday 26 November 2024, prior to 10am.

This will be followed by an Investor and Analyst conference call at 11.00am (NZST). This investor briefing will be available via webcast by the following link: www.virtualmeeting.co.nz/pebhy25 or by phone on the following toll free numbers:

New Zealand: 0800 005 652

Australia: 1800 953 093

Questions

Questions can be submitted online in writing via the Webcast platform or verbally via the audio call system when prompted.

If you have any queries regarding the results announcement or the conference call, please contact Stacey Stanley on 0800 555 563 or stacey.stanley@pelnz.com.

Approved for release by:

Grant Gibson

Chief Financial Officer

Pacific Edge Ltd

P: +64 (3) 479 5800

OVERVIEW

Pacific Edge: www.pacificedgedx.com

Pacific Edge Limited (NZX/ ASX: PEB) is a global cancer diagnostics company leading the way in the development and commercialization of bladder cancer diagnostic and prognostic tests for patients presenting with hematuria or surveillance of recurrent disease. Headquartered in Dunedin, New Zealand, the company provides its suite of Cxbladder tests globally through its wholly owned, and CLIA certified, laboratories in New Zealand and the USA.

Cxbladder: www.cxbladder.com

Cxbladder is a urine-based genomic biomarker test optimized for the detection and surveillance of bladder cancer. The Cxbladder evidence portfolio developed over the past 14 years includes more than 20 peer reviewed publications for primary detection, surveillance, adjudication of atypical urine cytology and equivocal cystoscopy. Cxbladder is the focal point of numerous ongoing and planned clinical studies to generate an ever-increasing body of clinical utility evidence supporting adoption and use in the clinic to improve patient health outcomes. Cxbladder has been trusted by over 4,400 US urologists in the diagnosis and management of more than 100,000 patients, including the option for in-home sample collection. In New Zealand, Cxbladder is accessible to 75% of the population via public healthcare and all residents have the option of buying the test online.

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Chang'e-6's lunar samples open for domestic applications

Xinhua) 10:25, November 06, 2024

This photo shows lunar samples retrieved by the Chang'e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's space agency has started the borrowing application for the first batch of lunar scientific specimens returned by the country's Chang'e-6 mission.

The lunar samples are now accessible to domestic applicants through an official data and sample release system, where they can submit their research proposals, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center under the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the first time in human history.

The eighth batch of Chang'e-5 mission lunar scientific samples is also now open for applications. The Chang'e-5 probe retrieved about 1,731 grams of lunar samples.

The deadline for these two applications is November 22.

In January 2021, China unveiled regulations on lunar sample management, encouraging international joint research on lunar samples.

The application of the seventh batch of Chang'e-5 samples in 2023 was accessible to applicants from both domestic and international backgrounds, according to the CNSA.

China has maintained a positive and open attitude and welcomes scientists from all countries to submit applications following relevant procedures, said Ge Ping, deputy director of the center.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Its possible to keep every word of your promise without quite staying true to its spirit

You should aim to keep your word. There is a big difference, however, between keeping your word and following the promises exact words. The first means youre dependable and honest, while the second may mean youre an evil genie, who responds to requests for riches by dropping so much gold on someone that they die.

Kings of old loved the second option. They probably also did a bunch of stuff related to tax rates and horse parking permits, but we really remember those times they kept the exact words of their promises. Historians love stories of trolling.

5 I Will Not Put You in Irons Don't Miss Richard the Lionhearts queen was Berengaria of Navarre, whos remembered for never actually setting foot in England and for barely meeting Richard at all. She came from Spain and married him in Cyprus, and her journey to Cyprus came with a bit of a hiccup. She got herself shipwrecked and then captured by Cyprus emperor, Isaac Komnenos. Richard conquered Cyprus in revenge. Rijksmuseum The surrender didnt look exactly like this, but this is how one Dutch guy chose to portray it. Now, Komnenos feared that he was going to be the one held captive. He requested that Richard not put him in irons. Richard agreed. He did still put Isaac in chains, but he made sure they were chains made of silver, not iron. Of course, the material didnt matter, and nor did presence of literal chains, since the real point was Richard was taking the rival leader into captivity, despite his assurances. But then, later on, Richard himself got shipwrecked and became prisoner to Leopold of Austria, who freed Komnenos. And so, the circle of karma and people locking each other up went on.

4 If I Lose, Ill Come Back in a Coffin Warlords must project confidence. Consider Zhang Zongchang, who ruled Shandong in China in the 1920s. He had the nickname Three Things Not Known because no one knew how much money he had, how many soldiers he had or how many combines he had. What they did know, or at least what they heard, was that he had an enormous penis. This led to two other nicknames of his  72-Cannon Chang (because his penis was as big as a cannon) and General 86 (because his penis was like a stack of 86 Mexican silver dollars). via Wiki Commons His fourth nickname was Dogmeat General. The less said about that, the better. Zhang would transport his troops by rail prior to entering battle, and he affixed a coffin to the roof of his own private car. He announced that if his men should ever lose, they should bring him back home in that coffin. These trains didnt exactly travel at breakneck speeds, so Zhang would sometimes safely ride on the roof, in the coffin itself, while puffing a cigar to impress onlookers. Advertisement His men eventually did lose a battle. The first loss after hed made that promise, Zhang didnt die in combat, and he didnt take his own life. He instead had some of his men parade him through town, with him sitting upright in that coffin, still very much alive. This was a big hit with the crowds, apparently, because you dont stop supporting the troops just because they lose.

3 If You Surrender, There Will Be No Bloodshed The Mongol emir Timur spent the second half of the 14th century doing a whole lot of conquering. Then came the year 1400, and as he approached Anatolia, the people there knew they didnt stand much of a chance. The local army, 36,000-strong, assembled but agreed to yield to Timur, so long as he promised their blood wouldnt be shed. Timur agreed. And so, Timur now merely had all these men tied up, trussed up in such a way that their heads were between their thighs. Then he had them all dumped in a pit and buried them alive. Technically, he hadnt shed any of their blood, right? Advertisement Advertisement Kamal ud-Din Behzad He could also have promised, Each of you will soon have a mouth touching your cock. This is perhaps where you start to question how many of these stories really happened and how many are just legends. Thats a valid question to ask when reading these tales, but you need to know that burying 36,000 people alive isnt an implausible thing to happen historically. These old-time conquerors killed a whole lot of people, in brutal ways. In fact, Timurs armies killed an estimated 17 million, which was five percent of the worlds population. The burial story isnt even the most evil thing he did during the Anatolia attack (that would be trampling the children holding Qurans); it was just the most trollish.

2 You Can Choose the Manner in Which You Will Die Advertisement People can get in a lot of trouble for insulting leaders. Jesters are supposed to be an exception to this. The jester was allowed to mock the king to his face, providing an essential service. The 16th-century French king Francis I, for an example, had a jester named Triboulet, who was sentenced to death after one day slapping the kings ass. No, the slap wasnt a capital offense. It appeared to anger the king, but everyone in the court laughed, and there seemed very little chance that Francis would follow through on any of his threats to wreak vengeance on the jester. But then, when apologizing, Triboulet dug himself much deeper. Im so sorry, your majesty, that I didnt recognize you! he said. I mistook you for the queen! The joke here was that the king looked like a woman, and the king is fair game for a jesters insults. But you might instead interpret that as a joke as the expense of the queen, who already has the misfortune of having the name Claude. The queen was off-limits, and for this offense, the king sentenced Triboulet to death. Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Bernhardt Heres Triboulet holding a skull, most appropriately. Francis said the jester would be allowed to choose the exact manner of his death, which was some mercy. Poisoning, for example, or a swift axe chop would be less painful deaths than slow torture. Good sire, said Triboulet, I ask to die from old age. The king really did grant this request, dismissing the jester from his position but letting him live. Triboulet went on to die at the age of 57, which is quite an old age for any comedian to reach, even today.
There are a lot of religious folks, historians and curio collectors who are desperate for more evidence that Jesus was a handsome white guy, or that ancient Hebrews taught native North Americans everything they know.

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14 The German Lullaby What could be more peaceful than an ancient poem written in Old High German about the murdering wolf and swift, hard spears? It starts with sleep speedily / leave off crying, then really goes off the deep end. Historian Georg Zappert claims to have found it in the binding of a pre-Christian manuscript, which he then bought so he could cut it up and retrieve the full lullaby. But Zappert is suspected of a few other forgeries, each of which contain subtle similarities. Advertisement

13 Sinaia Lead Plates In the 19th century, someone claimed to have found 200 lead plates that were essentially inscribed with Simlish in a Romanian museum warehouse. The figures look mostly like the Greek alphabet, but with some extra letters no one recognizes and a language thats overall unreadable. It might be a chronicle of ancient Transylvanians, which would rule, but it also might be a forgery made by famous contemporary liar Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu.

12 Newark Holy Stones Coshocton, Ohios Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum proudly displays a bunch of artifacts found in 1860 that support the Lost Tribes theory, wherein Hebrew people made their way over to the Americas and interacted with ancient native peoples. When scholars started dunking on the museum for supporting a batshit theory that purposely denies native heritage, the museum changed its tune. They havent disavowed the authenticity of the artifacts, but they now frame them as a slice of 1860 Ohio, not ancient mythical Hebrew Ohio.

11 The Secret Gospel of Mark In 1960, a Columbia professor announced that hed found an unabridged, original edition of the Biblical Gospel of Mark at a monastery in the West Bank. He snapped a couple of pictures, but wouldnt you know it, the actual document got lost in transportation. In 2003, some Guy (his name is actually Guy) came forward and said that he totally saw them too, back in 1977. Case closed! Advertisement Advertisement

10 Majestic 12 A British ufologist announced in 1987 that he had evidence that Harry Truman had put together a super team of scientists and military dudes to find and hide evidence of an alien spacecraft that crashed in 1947. It blew up in conspiracy circles, to the point that the government got involved and inspected the documents. The FBI literally wrote BOGUS in marker across one of the pages, so, I guess we have our answer.

9 Kensington Runestone This is a big ol slab of graywacke stone that was supposedly carved by Vikings in 1362. The only catch is that it was found in Wisconsin in 1910, which is a bit convenient, because theres a huge Scandinavian population up there. A Swedish immigrant named Olof Ohman found it, and a lot of scholars think he planted it in his field. Advertisement

8 Letter of Lentulus This is supposed to be a letter from a 1st-century Roman official who got a good long look at Jesus, and wrote about how he looked and acted. When Italians got their hands on it in the 15th century, they copied it far and wide, and its likely the reason Jesus looks like he does in modern depictions. Advertisement

7 The Shroud of Turin Similarly, a linen cloth that went on display in a French church in 1354 is purported to have been wrapped around Jesus face, and recorded his features, like when Forrest Gump wiped his face with a T-shirt and left a smiley face. A local bishop almost immediately declared it a forgery, but it makes for such a cool story that scholars still like to debate whether its real to this day. Advertisement

6 Jordanian Codices Twenty books made out of lead and copper were ostensibly found by a Bedouin farmer in a cave in the early 20th century, and his great-grandson alerted the press to them in 2011. They were said to predate St. Paul, and would be as important as the Dead Sea Scrolls. The BBC immediately called bullshit, but the Jordanian and Israeli departments of antiquity still maintain theyre totally real and totally awesome.

5 Jehoash Inscription Hey cool, someone found a historical document that corroborates a detail from the Bible, literally carved in stone. Discovered during construction near the Temple Mount of Jerusalem in 2001, its said to confirm Jesus-era repairs made to the temple. Advertisement

4 James Ossuary The James Ossuary is a small stone box with the inscription James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus. No ones saying when it was actually found, but the guy who owns it only announced its existence in 2002  on the Discovery Channel. The Israeli government has weighed in, announcing after a scientific study that the box and the bones are real, and its merely the inscription thats a forgery. Advertisement

3 Isleworth Mona Lisa Several copies of the Mona Lisa exist, painted or sketched by Da Vincis students, often with help from the big man himself. This one caught peoples eyes, because it appears to show a younger version of the subject being all demure and mindful. Da Vinci may have had a hand in this, or it could just be an extremely successful cheap knock-off. Advertisement

2 The Bat Creek Inscription Before anyone figured out how to make reinforced steel, ancient peoples in North America were fond of making mounds, or big artificial hills. In 1889, archaeologists found a tablet with a cryptic inscription in one of these mounds in Tennessee. Scholars debate whether the writing was ancient Cherokee, or maybe 1st-century Hebrew, or maybe just cryptic gibberish from a 19th century Tennessee prankster.
At one point, the idea was that the American president was supposed to be the very best of us. Thats gone to shambles and then micro-shambles again over the past couple decades, but we still like to think that theyre someone we can see a bit of ourselves in. The fact is, though, that humans are a weird species. And every president, at least so far, has been human, so its unavoidable that weve had a few with quirks that were a little out there.

Here are five examples of big weirdo behavior from past presidents

5 Herbert Hoover Didn  t Want to See or Be Seen By White House Staff While in office, both Hoover and his wife made it known that at no point did they want to see the White House staff. They also didnt want the staff to ever see them. The exact reason is probably rooted in some good old racism, but maybe they just wanted to pretend it was a magic house that cleaned itself, or that it was staffed by a crew of mysterious, invisible elves. Whatever their motivations, what this created was an incredibly weird dynamic where staff would jump into closets and behind bushes when they heard one of the Hoovers coming.

4 Andrew Johnson Was Friends With A Family of Mice Being impeached is probably a pretty friendless, lonely feeling. That at least seemed to be the case for Johnson, who took over the presidency after Abraham Lincolns assassination and was later impeached. Suddenly, though, a group of possible pals that had absolutely zero political interests presented themselves in the form of a family of white mice. Johnson reportedly fed them grain from a mill he owned, left out dishes of water for them, watched them do their little micey business and called them the little fellows.

3 Jimmy Carter Claimed He Saw A UFO This isnt some late-night bar tale or poker-table shit-shooting, either. While he was the Governor of Georgia, Carter filed a full-on official report about a time he saw a UFO in 1969. I cannot emphasize enough how much I am not exaggerating how serious Carter was about having seen an unidentified flying object. If you want further proof that Im not cherry-picking offhand remarks, take it from Carter himself, who said: If I become president, Ill make every piece of information this country has about UFO sightings available to the public, and the scientists. I am convinced that UFOs exist because Ive seen one.

2 Ronald Reagan Had An Astrologer on Retainer You wouldnt think Reagan and Brooklyn women had much in common, but on one point they do meet: a respect for astrology. It was his wife, Nancy, who sought out the otherwordly advice of an astrologist named Joan Quigley, but Reagan played along. Quigley was consulted and gave instruction, dutifully followed by the Reagans, on what days were safer for travel, what days were better to hold public events and even had a hand in the scheduling of the State of the Union addresses. For her stargazing, she received a $3,000 monthly retainer.
In case you hadnt noticed, America is currently bursting at the seams with anxiety and stress, thanks to an election that may or may not hand the country over to an administration that will no doubt include Secretary of State Hulk Hogan, which would undoubtedly be a lot less awesome than 1980s me imagined.

Things are so scary right now, even the Muppets are giving America an impromptu wellness check on social media  which, upon closer inspection, is easily the least horrible thing on social media right now.

Members of the iconic Sesame Street gang have taken to social media in order to ensure that all of their followers are more or less keeping their shit together this week. Earlier today, Elmo re-posted a video from the Sesame Street account, in which he is seen enjoying the tranquil calm of an empty neighborhood. Stop scrolling, take a deep breath and use the next few minutes to escape to a place where the air is sweet, the original post suggested.

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As long as you ignore the anti-vaxxers posting Muppet-based conspiracy theories in the replies, it was a lovely message.

Meanwhile, earlier in the week, lovable, furry old Grover took a break from his busy schedule to let the world know that hes proud of me. Thanks, Grover! Im trying my best!

Similarly, Abby Cadabby posted a message about how I, and I alone, am making community so magical!

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Clearly, this was all part of a coordinated strategy in which the Muppets, specifically the Sesame Workshop Muppets, essentially teamed up to become the Avengers of mental health for this stressful day (presumably to the chagrin of Jerry Seinfeld). Even Mr. Snuffleupagus posted a message promoting meditative calming exercises.

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Yesterday, Bert and Ernie stressed the importance of friendship, and implicitly long-term same-sex partnership.

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And Cookie Monster suggested that folks should take the occasional cookie break. Coming from literally anyone else, cram cookies in your face to temper the creeping dread of fascism would be pretty terrible advice.

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Meanwhile, the Count has just continued counting for the sake of counting. Thanks for nothing, Count.

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Followers of these entirely fictional characters seem to be enjoying the random emotional support. We need some wholesome content! one fan responded to Elmos post. Thanks @elmo. Today was a good day to hear that! Have you voted yet? another asked despite the fact that Elmo is just three-and-a-half years old.

While none of the Muppets mentioned the election specifically, or expressed preferences for either political party, presumably their support lies with the candidate who wouldnt try to deport most residents of Sesame Street on day one.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
When Dave Chappelle hosted SNLs first show after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, he appeared in a sketch called Election Night as a Black man who saw a very different country than his white, liberal friends. When they fill champagne glasses to celebrate the countrys first female president, Chappelle warns his pals to pump the brakes. It might be a historic night, he concedes, but dont forget its a big country.

What happens next in the sketch no doubt played out in liberal living rooms across America last night  viewers citing media pundits predicting a Democratic victory, rationalizations that Latino voters would save the day and the denigration of Southern voters as racists who know no better. Its inconceivable to everyone at the election party that the election wont go their way.

When Chris Rock shows up, the incredulous voters inform him that Trump might actually win. To the sketchs two Black characters, that was always the likely outcome. Of course, what are you talking about? laughs Rock.

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I tried to tell them that, says Chappelle.

As more states are called for Trump, a realization slowly comes over Cecily Strongs character. Oh my God, she says in hushed tones. I think America is racist.

Oh my God, echoes Chappelle. You know, I remember my great-grandfather told me something like that. But he was like a slave or something, I dont know.

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Once Trump is officially elected, Strong laments, This is crazy. I mean, do you know what its like to be a woman in this country where you cant get ahead no matter what you do?

Oh geez, I dont know, chuckles Chappelle. Ill put my thinking cap on for that one and get back to you.

Finally, Chappelle advises the forlorn partygoers to pack it in. Get some rest, he advises. You got a big day of moping and writing on Facebook tomorrow.

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The sketch concludes with Beck Bennett calling Trumps election the most shameful thing America has ever done, causing the two Black comics to break into hysterics.

Several users on Twitter/X noted the sketchs continued relevancy:

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Bill Burr is hosting SNL this weekend, so we (probably) wont get to see Chappelle and Rock reprise the sketch. Not that they need to  SNL could rerun the eight-year-old sketch and it would be just as timely.
BOSTON  A jury on Tuesday found a Bremen, Alabama man not guilty of killing an 11-year New Hampshire girl more than 35 years ago.

The case came down to whether the jury believed DNA found under Melissa Ann Tremblays fingernails was from Marvin Skip McClendon Jr. After telling a judge Monday they were deadlocked, the jury returned Tuesday and found McClendon not guilty on the sixth day of deliberations.

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Mr. McClendon was greatly relieved by the verdict, McClendons lawyer, Henry Fasoldt, told The Associated Press, adding that he would return home to Alabama after being held for two-and-a-half years. We appreciate the jurys careful and thoughtful deliberations.

Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said he disappointed with the verdict but praised the efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement officers in the case.

I recognize the work and dedication of the jury during their long deliberations in this case, Tucker said. My thoughts are with the family of Melissa Ann Tremblay, who have suffered greatly due to the crime that took her life.

Last year, a judge declared a mistrial in McClendons prosecution after a jury deadlock. The body of the Salem, New Hampshire, girl was found in a Lawrence, Massachusetts, trainyard on Sept. 12, 1988, a day after she was reported missing.

The victim had accompanied her mother and her mothers boyfriend to a Lawrence social club not far from the railyard and went outside to play while the adults stayed inside, authorities said last year. She was reported missing later that night.

The girls mother, Janet Tremblay, died in 2015 at age 70, according to her obituary. But surviving relatives have been attending court to observe the latest trial.

After initially ruling out several suspects, including two drug addicts, early on, authorities turned their attention to McClendon.

He was arrested at his Alabama home in 2022 based in part on DNA evidence.

Essex County Assistant District Attorney Jessica Strasnick told the jury that comments McClendon made during his arrest showed he knew details of the crime and that he was fixated on the fact that she was beaten, ladies and gentlemen, because he knew that she wasnt just stabbed that day, that was she was beaten.

A left-handed person like McClendon stabbed Tremblay, Strasnick said. She told jurors that the carpenter and former Massachusetts corrections officer was familiar with Lawrence, having frequented bars and strip clubs in the city. He also lived less than 20 miles away at the time of the killing.

Strasnick told the jury that the DNA evidence taken from under Tremblays fingernails excludes 99.8% of the male population.

But Fasoldt said there was no proof the DNA came from under Tremblays fingernails or was from McClendon.

Fasoldt also said evidence shows that a right-handed person, rather than a left-handed person, could have stabbed Tremblay.

He also argued that McClendon had no meaningful connection to Lawrence  other than that he lived 16 miles away in Chelmsford. He moved to Alabama in 2002 to a plot of land his family owned.
Six service members who gave their best for their nation have been inducted into the Cullman County Veterans Hall of Fame, honored at a special Oct. 22 ceremony that paid tribute to veterans with local ties.

The ceremony marked the second induction for the local veterans hall of fame, an organization that launched with the induction of its inaugural class last year. Nominations for potential HOF members are submitted by the community before being elevated through a vetting process conducted by the groups selection committee, with equal consideration given to veterans both living and deceased.

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Two of this years new hall of fame memberships were awarded posthumously, while the remaining four inductees attended this years ceremony to receive the honor in person.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Julian R. Campbell and U.S. Army Infantry Rifleman James T. Watts, Jr.  each a combat veteran of WWII  were posthumously inducted into the hall of fame, with family members in attendance to accept the honor on their behalf. Present to receive their inductions firsthand at the event were Clarence E. Benefield (U.S. Air Force), Hollis W. Baggett (U.S. Army), Van T. Hutchins (U.S. Army), and Richard L. Leigeber (U.S. Army).

Clarence E. Benefield

 United States Air Force 1965 to 1971  CH-3E Helicopter Flight Engineer and Door Gunner, 21St Special Operations Squadron, 56th Air Commando Wing  Nakhon, Thailand 1967 to 1968  78 Combat Missions Operating in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos

 Awards Include the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Two Oak Leaf Clusters  Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Good Conduct Medal  National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Silver Star  Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device  Also Recognized with the Winged S for his Role in Rescuing Two Downed Pilots

 Life Member and Chaplain of the Disabled American Veterans  Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars  American Legion  Life Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America  Cullman Veterans Park Board  Cullman Veterans Hall of Fame Committee  County Republican Executive Committee

Staff Sergeant (ret.) Hollis W. Baggett

 US Army from 1965 to 1988  Combat Medic Republic of Vietnam; April 1966 to March 1967 with Company A, 4th Battalion, 23rd Mechanized Infantry, 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning)  91C Clinical Specialist  Recognized for Exceptional Performance while assigned as the NCOIC of the ICU at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York

 Awards include the Combat Medical Badge  Bronze Star Medal  Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and V Device for Valor  Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm  National Defense Service Medal  Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars  Army Good Conduct Medal (6th award)  Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

 Disabled American Veterans Chapter 101 in Cullman (Senior Vice) and Chapter 28, Oneonta (Chapter Service Officer)  Veterans of Foreign Wars  Active Participant in all County Veterans Events

Van T. Hutchins, Jr.

 US Army  Engineer with the 544th Engineer Company, 36th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, US Army Pacific  Vietnam 1967- 1968  Army Commendation Medal  National Defense Service Medal  Good Conduct Medal  Vietnam Service Medal  Vietnam Campaign Medal

 Disabled American Veterans Chapter 101 (Life Member)  VFW Post 2214 (Life Member) Sergeant of Arms  Director of Flags and Member of the Burial Honor Guard  American Legion Post 4  Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 416 (Life Member)  Chairman of the Alabama Veterans Vietnam Wall  Wreaths Across America for Cullman Country  Cullman County Rescue Squad -Charter Member of the Crane Hill Fire Department  Charter member of Smith Lake Baptist Church

 He is most proud of the fact that he is a Christian and knows that God is in charge of his life.

Richard L. (Rick) Leigeber

 US Army from 1967 to 1969  Served with Company A, 4th Battalion, 23rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade in the 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning)  11B (Light Weapons Infantryman)  Vietnam 1968-1969, Cu Chi Valley  Tet Offensive

 Combat Infantryman Badge  National Defense Service Medal  Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device  Vietnam Service Medal  1st Class Gunner (M60  Machine Gun)  Sharpshooter (M16 Rifle)

 Life member of VFW and the American Legion  Member of the American Flag Detail for Highway 31  Led the effort for the White Crosses Memorial for Cullman Honoring our Fallen Heroes  Led Fundraising Efforts Though his love for Fishing  Supported the Veteran Memorial Burial Team with the Slow Salute for our Fallen Heroes

Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Julian R. Campbell, USAF

 Army Air Corps and United States Air Force from 1941 to 1969  B26 Pilot (his plane was named Campbells Caravan)  40 Combat Missions in World War II against Nazi Germany over Sicily and Italy  Pacific Theater supporting the 11th Airborne Division  Flew Transport and Medical Evacuation Missions during the Korean War from 1950  1954  Flew the C-47 in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967  Authored Memories That Must Not Vanish which resides in the Alabama Department of Archives  Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Five Air Medals, World War II Victory Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two Battle Stars and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

 Deacon at Seventh Street Baptist Church  Lifetime Member of Cullman Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars  Grand Marshall of the 2022 Veterans Day Celebration  Active Member of the Cullman County Republican Party

James T. Watts, Jr.

 US Army from 25 August 1944 to 11 April 1946  Infantry Rifleman in World War II  Rhineland and Central Europe with G Company, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division  Wounded in Action Three Times in 21 Days  Participated in the Ebensee Concentration Camp Liberation in Austria  Suicide Watch Guard Duty at the Palace of Justice, Nuremburg Germany

 Awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge  Three Purple Hearts  European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars  World War II Victory Medal  Army of Occupation Medal  Good Conduct Medal

 Disabled American Veterans  Holly Pond Lions Club  Deacon at New Hope #2 Missionary Baptist Church  Board Member Cullman Electric Cooperative

Whether in WWII or in Vietnam, each of this years inductees saw active deployment during a time of war. But combat service is only one of many criteria that qualify a candidate for entry into the hall of fame, as co-founder and event emcee Col. (ret.) Don Fallin explained.

A successful candidate must have distinguished him or herself in the military, have an honorable discharge, be a native of or a citizen of our county for around 10 years, and have served his or her fellow veterans and our community in some way since leaving the military, Fallin told the ceremonys large crowd of local elected and business leaders, families and colleagues. As you will learn tonight when these honorees are recognized, youll see that each of these folks today have done that  and more.

As new members of the Cullman County Veterans Hall of Fame, each of this years inductees will receive a distinctive name tag and a plaque. The plaques, which each feature a photograph and brief summary of an inductees life and service, will be displayed inside the Cullman County Courthouse for one year.

The names of each inductee also will be added to the hall of fames perpetual plaque housed at the courthouse. The perpetual plaque serves as an ongoing memorial; one that expands annually as new members are added. In keeping with the hall of fames mission to honor both its current and past inductees, Fallin also recognized last years inaugural class, which consists of the following veterans:

 Lt. Col. (ret.) Johnnie R. Strickland, U.S. Navy / U.S. Army Reserves.

 Donald Michael (Mike) Martin, U.S. Marine Corps.

 Steven L. Larsen, U.S. Marine Corps.

 Robert R. Turner, U.S. Marine Corps.

 Col. (ret.) Ken Brown, U.S. Air Force.

 Tech. Sgt. (ret.) Jerry La Otto Willibey, U.S. Air Force (Posthumous).

Affordable Automotive, Kelly Duke

Apel Steel, Ronny Apel

Chairman of the County Commission  Jeff Clemmons

County Commissioners:

Commissioner Kelly Duke

Commissioner CSM (ret.) Garry Marchman

Commissioner Cory Freeman

Commissioner Kerry Watson

Cullman Savings Bank, John Riley and Clara Kent

DAV Post 101  CDR Chris Dutton

Bill Floyd

Gary Sinese Foundation  Gary Sinese and Cristin Barten

Dave and Judy Grissom

Lions Club (Randy Kraft)

Gloria Williams (Freedom Insurance)

Raymond Williams  Cullman Savings Bank

Redstone Technologies  CEO LTC (ret.) Mike Litwinowicz

Representative Randall Shedd

Colonel (ret.) Scott Rauer, US Army, Akima

Rotary Club of Cullman

VFW Post 2214  CDR Brian Monk (including the Brick

Donations at the Veterans Park

Alan and Terry Walker  Walker Brothers Ltd.

Alabama State Trooper (ret.) Ron Wood

LTC (ret.) Matt Hanson, US Army
FAIRVIEW  Two Cullman County schools have been preparing a new generation of voters by discussing the importance of civic engagement and teaching students how Alabama elections work before, during and after Election Day.

The last three national elections have produced some of the highest voter turnout results in decades, but Alabamas numbers have begun to lag behind national averages according to a recent report from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama. Roughly two-thirds of the population turned out for the 2020 presidential election  more than any national election since 1900  Alabamas participation rate fell below the national average for the first time since 2004. Midterm elections have fared worse. Only 37 percent of the states eligible voters cast a ballot in the 2022 general election.

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Teachers at both Holly Pond and Fairview High Schools are hoping that by educating their students on the election process, those numbers may soon begin to turn around.

Fairview High School students held an election of their own Monday, Nov. 4, the day before the U.S. General Election, but History teacher Leedell Cook said the lesson had been an ongoing one for the past several months. She said years ago the schools history teachers began conducting mock elections every four years to coincide with presidential elections. Leading up to Mondays mock election, classes covered different aspects of the voting process such as how to register to vote, how to find your polling place and what students would need to do in order to cast a ballot on Election Day.

We hope that if they can learn how the process works and what they will experience when they go to the polls, that it will encourage them to get out and vote and become a part of the process, Cook said.

Classes were brought into the schools auditorium throughout the day on Monday where they were required to present their student IDs in order to receive a sample ballot. They then entered into makeshift voting booths in order to fill out their ballots much like they would during a real election.

Josie Earl and Janie-Claire Pace are both Fairview students who both said they are feeling much more confident about their desire to become civically engaged after having learned more about the voting process.

Im about to turn 18 and I had no idea how to do any of this. So, now I know how to actually vote and how to bubble everything in. We also learned about all of the steps your vote has to go through with the state and how many electoral votes each state gets, Earl said.

I definitely learned a lot. I always thought that you would just go in and write down the name of the President and just turn in a little slip of paper. I did not know you had to bubble everything in and fill out this whole entire thing, Pace said.

Alabama Rep. Randall Shedd (R-Fairview) visited the school during the mock election. He said he developed an appreciation for politics at a very early age by watching the election results come in at the Cullman County Courthouse with his father. He also said he understood not every childs parents were as engaged as his were and was pleased with the schools efforts to help students understand the importance of their voices.

They are certainly our future, but I think they are our present as well in terms of whats important and whats on their minds, Shedd said. I saw a lot of them asking questions here today and thats good for them to learn in this setting so that they wont feel intimidated when they go tomorrow or when they get the chance to legally vote.

Holly Pond High School history teacher Morris Williams said he still remembers casting his first vote during the 1988 Presidential Election and has spent the past 20 years of his teaching career encouraging his students to participate in the voting process. Williams said he has shied away from discussing specific political issues, but also spent the day walking his classes through the voting process.

Im not politicking, I dont do that. I just want people to be aware, Williams said.

Several of Williams students said they have come to understand the importance of their votes as they begin preparing to transition into life after high school.

These choices we make can help our futures depending on the path that you choose, Evan Roden, a Holly Pond High School senior, said.

Cook said the teachers have steered clear of discussing individual candidates or political issues during their lessons, but have encouraged students to conduct their own research on issues they find important. She said they have also helped students familiarize themselves with down-ballot candidates and local amendments to be as informed as possible when they go to the polls.

We have been able to talk about the importance of getting to know your candidates and paying attention to the issues. If something is important to you then you need to speak your voice and this is the way you speak your voice, Cook said. I dont know if students understand the importance and that their vote really matters. That is something that we are also trying to convey.

Pace said that was a lesson she has taken to heart.

I kind of thought that if you dont like either candidate then you just shouldnt vote at all, but there is always going to be one who is better and you need to get your opinion out there no matter what, Pace said.
Donald Trump made sure to recognize GOP wins in down ballot races in his speech in the early morning Wednesday.

The number of victories in the senate was absolutely incredible, Trump said.

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Republicans have so far won 51 seats, giving them a majority. But Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Nevada have not been called, and its possible Republicans could pick up more seats.

Trump also said he expected Republicans to hold the House and complimented House Speaker Mike Johnson.

There are over 70 House races across the country that have not been called, and neither party has a convincing edge in the tally of House races.

Trump vows in his election night speech to fight for your family and your future

He promised that he would not rest until we have delivered the strong safe and prosperous America.

Every single day, Trump said, I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.
Cullman County voters rejected a ballot referendum Tuesday, Nov. 6, which would have placed an additional 15 percent tax on local medical cannabis sales.

Local Amendment 1  initiated by a bill carried through the Alabama Legislature by the Cullman County Delegation in 2023  would have increased the total tax rate on medical cannabis products sold in Cullman County to more than 30 percent. Sixty-three percent of the revenue generated from the tax would have funded additional personnel Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker said were needed to work through an extensive backlog of cases. The remaining 33 percent would be given to the Delegation in order to fund local mental health initiatives.

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As the first ballots began trickling into the Cullman County Courthouse just under an hour after polls closed on Tuesday, Nov. 5, those voting in favor of the amendment took a sizable lead of more than 11 percentage points. However, as more ballots began to be counted, the vote almost immediately began trending in the opposite direction and by 8:30 p.m. the no-votes had overtaken the majority.

Joey Robertson, head of operations and public relation for Wagon Trail Hemp Farm, was present as the final ballot box of the evening was counted around 10:30 p.m. With only provisional ballots  which are typically counted the week following an election  remaining, he said he was pleased to see the measure had failed by 1,091 votes (No-19,660. Yes-18,569).

Obviously were excited to see these results. Were also grateful for all of the support weve received from everyone and for them to have wanted to learn more about this amendment and eventually vote against it which will allow patients in Cullman County to have more affordable healthcare with this new tool, Robertson said.

Amanda Taylor, a local medical cannabis patient advocate, has been active in advocating against the proposal due to the barrier she said it would create between patients and their medicine. Speaking to The Times Wednesday, Nov. 6, she pointed to those early votes favoring the tax as validation in the power of educating voters.

Referencing a series of articles and an editorial by The Times detailing the proposal and its effect on patients, Taylor said, If you look at the absentee ballots you see where the numbers were at before the people became truly aware and educated.

The difference between those and those that were cast after this issue was brought to the publics attention  you can clearly see that the key was education. By educating the people it was truly put into their hands and we the people said Lord no, this isnt right.
Russian & Chines Affiliated Hackers Attack The Netherlands

The Dutch National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism and Security (NCTV) has warned that both Russia and China are intensifying their cyber attacks against the Netherlands and NATO allies.

China's activity is no longer just espionage but appears to be extending pepartions for sabotage.

These hackers are focused on penetrating critical infrastructure for potential future sabotage, as well as to obtain sensitive information, the NCTV said in its recently published research.

According to the NCTV, the Chinese-originated offensive cyber operations are in collaboration with businesses, universities, and Chinese intelligence services. While Chinese state-sponsored hacker groups have long conducted large-scale and persistent cyber espionage campaigns against the Netherlands and its allies, there has been an increase in the intensity, scope and technical sophistication of these campaigns over the past year.

One of the latest Chinese government hacking operations, known as Volt Typhoon, shows that although China has hitherto focused on espionage, the latest activity has targeted critical infrastructure to potentially take destructive action.

In a related development, the Dutch national police have reported that unidentified hackers stole work-related contact details, including names, email addresses, phone numbers and private information from thousands of its officers.

The police have said that it is very likely that a state-sponsored threat actor was behind the data breach.

NCTV | NCTV | Security Delta | The Record | SCWorld | Security Affairs

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by Luxman Aravind





Sri Lankas Ministry of Foreign Affairs has become synonymous with corruption, betrayal, and political cronyism. A retired high-ranking official described the Ministry as one of the biggest cans of disgusting worms, a pit of snakes where treachery reigns supreme. This is not hyperbole; its a stark indictment of an institution that should embody national loyalty but instead epitomises self-serving ambition. Career diplomats and political appointees alike have transformed Sri Lankas diplomatic corps into a feeding ground for personal gain, with the interests of the nation falling by the wayside.





Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka [File Photo]

The selfish greed festering within the Ministry is staggering. Career diplomats, ostensibly appointed to serve the nation, have instead used their positions to bolster their private fortunes. Many have manoeuvred to establish their families comfortably overseas, raising an important question: how do government officials, on relatively modest salaries, afford luxurious lifestyles in Western countries? Their children thrive abroad, enjoying lives bankrolled by public funds, while these diplomats, whose contributions are minimal at best, continue to reap rewards. For them, public service is not a dutyits a loophole to secure privilege.





Recent events illustrate the deeply political nature of these foreign appointments. A list of political appointees has recently surfaced in the media, revealing the Ministrys bias. Numerous ambassadors, high commissioners, and heads of missions have been instructed to return to Colombo by December 1, mere two weeks after the upcoming parliamentary elections. Interestingly, some distinguished military officers and other government officials, who have honourably served the country, have been recalled, while certain politically secure figuressuch as Sri Lankas ambassador to the United Statesare conspicuously absent from the recall list. This glaring inconsistency screams of cronyism and raises an urgent question: who prepared this list? How were these individuals chosen, and what kind of vendetta fuelled this purge?





The answer is dishearteningly clear: personal vendetta and political calculations, not merit or service to the country, dictate the Ministrys decisions. Among those recalled are highly respected military figures whose dedication to the country is unquestionable.





Consider the case of the Sri Lankan mission in Islamabad, for instance. Generals Anton Muthukumaru, H.W.H. Wijekoon, G.H. de Silva, and Srilal Weerasooriya each served with distinction, were honoured during their diplomatic postings, and allowed to complete their terms. Alongside figures like Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody and Major General Jayanath Lokukatagoda, they were appointed for their expertise, not political affiliations. Most recently, Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, former Navy Chief of Staff and Eastern Province Governor, served as High Commissioner from 2020 to 2023, demonstrating exceptional integrity. None of these officials endured the humiliation of an early recall. For successive governments, retaining retired military commanders in Islamabad has been a deliberate, strategic choice aligned with critical national interests.





The case of Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne, however, is an exceptionand a shameful one at that. Admiral Wijegunaratne, a former Navy Commander and Chief of Defence Staff who earned the prestigious Nishan-e-Imtiaz medal from Pakistan, was recalled after only ten months. In stark contrast to his predecessors, who were allowed to complete their terms, he was abruptly pulled back, a slap in the face for a man whose service to Sri Lanka is unmatched. His recall is not just an insult; its a blatant display of political vendetta. Unlike his predecessors, who enjoyed the respect they deserved, Admiral Wijegunaratne has been treated with contempt, his dignity trampled by bureaucrats and politicians acting out of sheer malice.





Adding to the outrage, this recall list omitted certain diplomats with questionable records but strong political ties. The Ministrys decision to remove some ambassadors while sparing others reeks of cronyism. The embassy in the United States, for example, remains untouched, its politically favoured ambassador secure in a post protected by backroom deals. Meanwhile, Admiral Wijegunaratne, whose appointment strengthened ties with Pakistana crucial allyhas been sacrificed on the altar of petty politics. It is an act of disgrace, illustrating the Ministrys systemic corruption and utter disregard for merit or service.





This political vendetta extends beyond Admiral Wijegunaratne and permeates Sri Lankas diplomatic corps. In Cuba and Nepal, for instance, former military leaders, individuals with rich experience in defence and security, serve as ambassadors. These are not political appointments but strategic placements of individuals who understand the intricacies of security, an invaluable skill in regions where Sri Lanka has critical strategic interests. Both countries have benefitted from these appointments, as the former Air Force and Navy leaders posted there bring unparalleled expertise. However, these positions are precarious in a Ministry that views all non-career diplomats with suspicion and contempt.









Sri Lankas foreign missions have long been tainted by political interests, and this manipulation only deepens the crisis. Political appointees treat their posts as personal assets, exploiting public funds for private gain with shameless audacity. But the issue goes further: many so-called career diplomats are equally complicit, using their paper qualifications to climb the ranks without ever serving the nations interests. They may submit token reports to Colombo for annual appraisals, but their true contributions are virtually nil. In host countries, they engage minimally with the local community, foster no strategic ties, and build no beneficial networks. They are diplomats in title alone, filling their time with personal indulgences rather than advancing Sri Lankas interests.





The Foreign Ministrys decision to recall non-career diplomats is not only short-sighted but self-sabotaging. History has shown that, in times of national crisis, non-career diplomats have stepped in to achieve what their career counterparts could not. Figures like Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, who represented Sri Lanka during the civil war, understood the nuances of his role and advocated effectively for the nation on the world stage. Non-career diplomats often bring a level of expertise, pragmatism, and integrity sorely lacking among many career diplomats. The Ministrys dismissal of these appointees is nothing short of suicidal; its as if they would rather protect their insular circle than allow capable outsiders to contribute.









The global norm supports the strategic use of non-career diplomats. Nations like India routinely appoint non-career professionals, providing them the freedom and authority necessary to serve effectively. In Sri Lanka, however, the Ministrys bureaucratic elitism resents such appointments. Career diplomats, many of whom are unfit for their roles, view non-career appointees as threats to their privileged positions. This resentment breeds hostility, making it impossible for Sri Lankas foreign missions to operate as cohesive units. Instead, the Ministry is rife with scheming and backstabbing, leading one official to describe it as a vicious pit of snakes where personal vendettas are prioritised over national duty.





These early signs of immaturity and vindictiveness in the governments foreign policy approach are alarming. The Ministrys bias, its political patronage, and its continuous failure to prioritise competence over connections all signal a looming crisis for Sri Lankas foreign relations. If this government persists in manipulating the diplomatic corps to advance short-term political goals, it will jeopardise the nations stability and security. As Sun Tzu aptly stated, In war, the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory. By treating diplomacy as a mere tool for political games, the Ministry is setting Sri Lanka up for failure on the international stage. Their petty battles may bring fleeting wins, but the cost will be borne by the Sri Lankan people, who deserve a foreign service that protects and represents their interestsnot one that feeds off their sacrifice.





The Ministrys toxic culture and the governments disregard for meritocracy threaten not just Sri Lankas diplomatic reputation but its future. By prioritising personal vendettas and party loyalty over genuine talent and service, the Ministry has betrayed the public trust. Incompetent career diplomats and politically connected appointees will continue to squander public funds, indulge in self-promotion, and exploit their positions while the nations true interests are left to languish. The latest unjust recall and the humiliation endured by numerous dedicated non-career diplomats highlight the betrayal within the Ministrya betrayal that poisons Sri Lankas future with each new act of political retribution.





Until the Foreign Ministry undergoes a drastic overhaul and shifts its focus to genuine merit, integrity, and national service, it will remain what it is today: a cesspool of corruption, manipulation, and incompetence. Without immediate reform, Sri Lankas diplomatic corps will continue to function as a private club for the well-connected, where public funds are squandered, and the nations reputation is tarnished. The Foreign Ministry, a vipers nest as it stands, will keep poisoning Sri Lankas future one corrupt decision at a time, while the people pay the price of their leaders insatiable greed.
EQS-WpUG: Ventrifossa BidCo AG / Tender Offer

Tender Offer / Target company: STEMMER IMAGING AG; Bidder: Ventrifossa BidCo AG 06.11.2024 / 09:11 CET/CEST

Dissemination of an announcement according to the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpUG), transmitted by EQS News  a service of EQS Group AG.

The bidder is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, SINGAPORE, OR SOUTH AFRICA OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH OFFER PURSUANT TO LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS IN SUCH RELEVANT JURISDICTION WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW. Publication of the decision to launch a public delisting tender offer (freiwilliges offentliches Ubernahmeangebot) in accordance with Sec. 10 para. 1 of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz) in conjunction with Sec. 39 para. 2 s. 3 no. 1 of the German Stock Exchange Act (Borsengesetz)  Convenience Translation  Bidder: Ventrifossa BidCo AG c/o Apex Corporate Products (Germany) GmbH Eschersheimer Landstrae 50-54 60322 Frankfurt am Main Germany registered with the commercial register (Handelsregister) of the local court (Amtsgericht) of Munich under HRB 294069 Target: STEMMER IMAGING AG Gutenbergstr. 9-13 82178 Puchheim Germany registered with the commercial register (Handelsregister) of the local court (Amtsgericht) of Munich under HRB 237247 ISIN: DE000A2G9MZ9 (WKN: A2G9MZ) Today, on 6 November 2024, Ventrifossa BidCo AG (Bidder), a holding company controlled by funds managed or advised by MiddleGround Management, L.P., has decided to offer to the shareholders of STEMMER IMAGING AG (STEMMER) by way of a public delisting tender offer (Delisting Offer) to acquire all no-par value bearer shares in STEMMER not yet held by the Bidder with a proportionate interest in the share capital of EUR 1.00 per share (STEMMER Shares). The Bidder intends to offer a cash consideration in the amount of EUR 48.00 per STEMMER Share. The Delisting Offer will not be subject to any offer conditions. After the closing having taken place on November 5, 2024 of both, the share purchase and transfer agreement with PRIMEPULSE SE dated July 22, 2024 and the public takeover offer announced on July 22, 2024, the Bidder currently holds 5,429,829 STEMMER Shares, which corresponds to approx. 83.54% of STEMMERs share capital. The Bidder today entered into a delisting agreement with STEMMER regarding the principal terms and conditions of the Delisting Offer as well as the application for the revocation (Widerruf) of the admission of the STEMMER Shares to trading on the regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierborse). The management board and the supervisory board of STEMMER, which have approved the conclusion of the delisting agreement today, explicitly support the Delisting Offer and undertake to apply for the revocation (Widerruf) of the admission of the STEMMER Shares to trading on the regulated market of Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierborse), subject to their review of the offer document yet to be published by the Bidder and their fiduciary duties. The offer document for the Delisting Offer (in German and a non-binding English translation) and further information on the Delisting Offer will be published and available on the internet at www.project-oculus.de. Munich, 6 November 2024 Ventrifossa BidCo AG Important Notice This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares in STEMMER, whether directly or indirectly in or into Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore or South Africa, in jurisdictions where such offer pursuant to legislation and regulations in such relevant jurisdictions would be prohibited by applicable law. The Delisting Offer itself as well as its terms and conditions and further provisions concerning the Delisting Offer will be set out in the offer document in detail after the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) has permitted the publication of the offer document. Investors and holders of shares in STEMMER are strongly advised to thoroughly read the offer document and all other relevant documents regarding the Delisting Offer upon their availability since they will contain important information. Shareholders not resident in Germany wanting to accept the Delisting Offer must make inquiries on relevant and applicable legislation, including but not limited to whether governmental consent is required and possible tax consequences. The Delisting Offer is not made, directly or indirectly, and sale will not be accepted from, or on behalf of, shareholders in any jurisdiction where presenting the Delisting Offer or acceptance thereof would be in conflict with the laws of such jurisdictions. The Delisting Offer will be implemented exclusively on the basis of the applicable provisions of German law, in particular the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz  WpUG) and the German Stock Exchange Act (Borsengesetz  BorsG), and certain securities law provisions of the United States of America relating to cross-border takeover or delisting offers. The Delisting Offer will not be conducted in accordance with the legal requirements of jurisdictions other than the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States of America (as applicable). Accordingly, no notices, filings, approvals or authorizations for the Delisting Offer have been filed, caused to be filed or granted outside the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States of America (as applicable). Investors and holders of STEMMER shares cannot rely on being protected by the investor protection laws of any jurisdiction other than the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States of America (as applicable). Subject to the exceptions described in the offer document and, where applicable, any exemptions to be granted by the respective regulatory authorities, no Delisting Offer will be made, directly or indirectly, in those jurisdictions in which this would constitute a violation of applicable law. This announcement may not be released or otherwise distributed in whole or in part, in any jurisdiction in which the Delisting Offer would be prohibited by applicable law. Ventrifossa BidCo AG reserves the right, to the extent permitted by law, to directly or indirectly acquire additional STEMMER shares outside the Delisting Offer on or off the stock exchange, provided that such acquisitions or arrangements to acquire are not made in the United States, will comply with the applicable German statutory provisions, in particular the WpUG and the BorsG, and the Offer Price may be increased in accordance with the WpUG to match any consideration paid outside of the Delisting Offer if higher than the Offer Price. If such acquisitions take place, information on such acquisitions, including the number of STEMMER shares acquired or to be acquired and the consideration paid or agreed, will be published without undue delay if and to the extent required under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction. The Delisting Offer will relate to shares in a German company admitted to trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierborse) and will be subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices applicable to companies listed in the Federal Republic of Germany, which differ from those of the United States and other jurisdictions in certain material respects. The financial information relating to Ventrifossa BidCo AG and STEMMER included elsewhere, including in the offer document, will be prepared in accordance with provisions applicable in the Federal Republic of Germany and will not be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States; therefore, it may not be comparable to financial information relating to United States companies or companies from other jurisdictions outside the Federal Republic of Germany. The Delisting Offer will be made in the United States pursuant to Section 14(e) of, and Regulation 14E under, the Exchange Act, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. Shareholders from the United States should note that STEMMER is not listed on a United States securities exchange, is not subject to the periodic requirements of the Exchange Act and is not required to, and does not, file any reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Any contract entered into with Ventrifossa BidCo AG as a result of the acceptance of the planned Delisting Offer will be governed exclusively by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. It may be difficult for shareholders from the United States (or from elsewhere outside of Germany) to enforce certain rights and claims arising in connection with the Delisting Offer under United States federal securities laws (or other laws they are acquainted with) since Ventrifossa BidCo AG and STEMMER are located outside the United States (or the jurisdiction where the shareholder resides), and their respective officers and directors reside outside the United States (or the jurisdiction where the shareholder resides). It may not be possible to sue a non-United States company or its officers or directors in a non-United States court for violations of United States securities laws. It also may not be possible to compel a non-United States company or its subsidiaries to submit themselves to a United States courts judgment. The Delisting Offer and the information and documents contained in the offer document are not being made and have not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the FSMA). Accordingly, the information and documents contained in the offer document are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom unless an exemption applies. The communication of the information and documents contained in the offer document is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that it is a communication by or on behalf of a body corporate which relates to a transaction to acquire day to day control of the affairs of a body corporate; or to acquire 50 per cent or more of the voting shares in a body corporate, within article 62 of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005. The Delisting Offer described herein is made on the basis of the exemptions to publish a prospectus in Switzerland set out in article 36 para. 1 lit. b of the Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA). None of the offering documentation or information relating to the Delisting Offer constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA. No such documentation or information has been nor will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. End of WpUG announcement 06.11.2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com Language: EnglishListed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munchen, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange

End of News EQS News Service 2023207 06.11.2024 CET/CEST

EQS-WpUG: Ventrifossa BidCo AG / Tender Offer

Tender Offer / Target company: STEMMER IMAGING AG; Bidder: Ventrifossa BidCo AG

06.11.2024 / 09:11 CET/CEST

Dissemination of an announcement according to the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (WpUG), transmitted by EQS News  a service of EQS Group AG.

The bidder is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, SINGAPORE, OR SOUTH AFRICA OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH OFFER PURSUANT TO LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS IN SUCH RELEVANT JURISDICTION WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW. Publication of the decision to launch a public delisting tender offer (freiwilliges offentliches Ubernahmeangebot) in accordance with Sec. 10 para. 1 of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz) in conjunction with Sec. 39 para. 2 s. 3 no. 1 of the German Stock Exchange Act (Borsengesetz)  Convenience Translation  Bidder: Ventrifossa BidCo AG c/o Apex Corporate Products (Germany) GmbH Eschersheimer Landstrae 50-54 60322 Frankfurt am Main Germany registered with the commercial register (Handelsregister) of the local court (Amtsgericht) of Munich under HRB 294069 Target: STEMMER IMAGING AG Gutenbergstr. 9-13 82178 Puchheim Germany registered with the commercial register (Handelsregister) of the local court (Amtsgericht) of Munich under HRB 237247 ISIN: DE000A2G9MZ9 (WKN: A2G9MZ) Today, on 6 November 2024, Ventrifossa BidCo AG (Bidder), a holding company controlled by funds managed or advised by MiddleGround Management, L.P., has decided to offer to the shareholders of STEMMER IMAGING AG (STEMMER) by way of a public delisting tender offer (Delisting Offer) to acquire all no-par value bearer shares in STEMMER not yet held by the Bidder with a proportionate interest in the share capital of EUR 1.00 per share (STEMMER Shares). The Bidder intends to offer a cash consideration in the amount of EUR 48.00 per STEMMER Share. The Delisting Offer will not be subject to any offer conditions. After the closing having taken place on November 5, 2024 of both, the share purchase and transfer agreement with PRIMEPULSE SE dated July 22, 2024 and the public takeover offer announced on July 22, 2024, the Bidder currently holds 5,429,829 STEMMER Shares, which corresponds to approx. 83.54% of STEMMERs share capital. The Bidder today entered into a delisting agreement with STEMMER regarding the principal terms and conditions of the Delisting Offer as well as the application for the revocation (Widerruf) of the admission of the STEMMER Shares to trading on the regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierborse). The management board and the supervisory board of STEMMER, which have approved the conclusion of the delisting agreement today, explicitly support the Delisting Offer and undertake to apply for the revocation (Widerruf) of the admission of the STEMMER Shares to trading on the regulated market of Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierborse), subject to their review of the offer document yet to be published by the Bidder and their fiduciary duties. The offer document for the Delisting Offer (in German and a non-binding English translation) and further information on the Delisting Offer will be published and available on the internet at www.project-oculus.de. Munich, 6 November 2024 Ventrifossa BidCo AG Important Notice This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares in STEMMER, whether directly or indirectly in or into Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore or South Africa, in jurisdictions where such offer pursuant to legislation and regulations in such relevant jurisdictions would be prohibited by applicable law. The Delisting Offer itself as well as its terms and conditions and further provisions concerning the Delisting Offer will be set out in the offer document in detail after the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) has permitted the publication of the offer document. Investors and holders of shares in STEMMER are strongly advised to thoroughly read the offer document and all other relevant documents regarding the Delisting Offer upon their availability since they will contain important information. Shareholders not resident in Germany wanting to accept the Delisting Offer must make inquiries on relevant and applicable legislation, including but not limited to whether governmental consent is required and possible tax consequences. The Delisting Offer is not made, directly or indirectly, and sale will not be accepted from, or on behalf of, shareholders in any jurisdiction where presenting the Delisting Offer or acceptance thereof would be in conflict with the laws of such jurisdictions. The Delisting Offer will be implemented exclusively on the basis of the applicable provisions of German law, in particular the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz  WpUG) and the German Stock Exchange Act (Borsengesetz  BorsG), and certain securities law provisions of the United States of America relating to cross-border takeover or delisting offers. The Delisting Offer will not be conducted in accordance with the legal requirements of jurisdictions other than the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States of America (as applicable). Accordingly, no notices, filings, approvals or authorizations for the Delisting Offer have been filed, caused to be filed or granted outside the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States of America (as applicable). Investors and holders of STEMMER shares cannot rely on being protected by the investor protection laws of any jurisdiction other than the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States of America (as applicable). Subject to the exceptions described in the offer document and, where applicable, any exemptions to be granted by the respective regulatory authorities, no Delisting Offer will be made, directly or indirectly, in those jurisdictions in which this would constitute a violation of applicable law. This announcement may not be released or otherwise distributed in whole or in part, in any jurisdiction in which the Delisting Offer would be prohibited by applicable law. Ventrifossa BidCo AG reserves the right, to the extent permitted by law, to directly or indirectly acquire additional STEMMER shares outside the Delisting Offer on or off the stock exchange, provided that such acquisitions or arrangements to acquire are not made in the United States, will comply with the applicable German statutory provisions, in particular the WpUG and the BorsG, and the Offer Price may be increased in accordance with the WpUG to match any consideration paid outside of the Delisting Offer if higher than the Offer Price. If such acquisitions take place, information on such acquisitions, including the number of STEMMER shares acquired or to be acquired and the consideration paid or agreed, will be published without undue delay if and to the extent required under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction. The Delisting Offer will relate to shares in a German company admitted to trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierborse) and will be subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices applicable to companies listed in the Federal Republic of Germany, which differ from those of the United States and other jurisdictions in certain material respects. The financial information relating to Ventrifossa BidCo AG and STEMMER included elsewhere, including in the offer document, will be prepared in accordance with provisions applicable in the Federal Republic of Germany and will not be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States; therefore, it may not be comparable to financial information relating to United States companies or companies from other jurisdictions outside the Federal Republic of Germany. The Delisting Offer will be made in the United States pursuant to Section 14(e) of, and Regulation 14E under, the Exchange Act, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. Shareholders from the United States should note that STEMMER is not listed on a United States securities exchange, is not subject to the periodic requirements of the Exchange Act and is not required to, and does not, file any reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Any contract entered into with Ventrifossa BidCo AG as a result of the acceptance of the planned Delisting Offer will be governed exclusively by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. It may be difficult for shareholders from the United States (or from elsewhere outside of Germany) to enforce certain rights and claims arising in connection with the Delisting Offer under United States federal securities laws (or other laws they are acquainted with) since Ventrifossa BidCo AG and STEMMER are located outside the United States (or the jurisdiction where the shareholder resides), and their respective officers and directors reside outside the United States (or the jurisdiction where the shareholder resides). It may not be possible to sue a non-United States company or its officers or directors in a non-United States court for violations of United States securities laws. It also may not be possible to compel a non-United States company or its subsidiaries to submit themselves to a United States courts judgment. The Delisting Offer and the information and documents contained in the offer document are not being made and have not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the FSMA). Accordingly, the information and documents contained in the offer document are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom unless an exemption applies. The communication of the information and documents contained in the offer document is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that it is a communication by or on behalf of a body corporate which relates to a transaction to acquire day to day control of the affairs of a body corporate; or to acquire 50 per cent or more of the voting shares in a body corporate, within article 62 of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005. The Delisting Offer described herein is made on the basis of the exemptions to publish a prospectus in Switzerland set out in article 36 para. 1 lit. b of the Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA). None of the offering documentation or information relating to the Delisting Offer constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA. No such documentation or information has been nor will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, SINGAPORE, OR SOUTH AFRICA OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH OFFER PURSUANT TO LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS IN SUCH RELEVANT JURISDICTION WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Publication of the decision to launch a public delisting tender offer (freiwilliges offentliches Ubernahmeangebot) in accordance with Sec. 10 para. 1 of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz) in conjunction with Sec. 39 para. 2 s. 3 no. 1 of the German Stock Exchange Act (Borsengesetz)

 Convenience Translation 

Bidder:

Ventrifossa BidCo AG

c/o Apex Corporate Products (Germany) GmbH

Eschersheimer Landstrae 50-54

60322 Frankfurt am Main

Germany

registered with the commercial register (Handelsregister) of the local court (Amtsgericht) of Munich under HRB 294069

Target:

STEMMER IMAGING AG

Gutenbergstr. 9-13

82178 Puchheim

Germany

registered with the commercial register (Handelsregister) of the local court (Amtsgericht) of Munich under HRB 237247

ISIN: DE000A2G9MZ9 (WKN: A2G9MZ)

Today, on 6 November 2024, Ventrifossa BidCo AG (Bidder), a holding company controlled by funds managed or advised by MiddleGround Management, L.P., has decided to offer to the shareholders of STEMMER IMAGING AG (STEMMER) by way of a public delisting tender offer (Delisting Offer) to acquire all no-par value bearer shares in STEMMER not yet held by the Bidder with a proportionate interest in the share capital of EUR 1.00 per share (STEMMER Shares). The Bidder intends to offer a cash consideration in the amount of EUR 48.00 per STEMMER Share.

The Delisting Offer will not be subject to any offer conditions.

After the closing having taken place on November 5, 2024 of both, the share purchase and transfer agreement with PRIMEPULSE SE dated July 22, 2024 and the public takeover offer announced on July 22, 2024, the Bidder currently holds 5,429,829 STEMMER Shares, which corresponds to approx. 83.54% of STEMMERs share capital.

The Bidder today entered into a delisting agreement with STEMMER regarding the principal terms and conditions of the Delisting Offer as well as the application for the revocation (Widerruf) of the admission of the STEMMER Shares to trading on the regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierborse). The management board and the supervisory board of STEMMER, which have approved the conclusion of the delisting agreement today, explicitly support the Delisting Offer and undertake to apply for the revocation (Widerruf) of the admission of the STEMMER Shares to trading on the regulated market of Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierborse), subject to their review of the offer document yet to be published by the Bidder and their fiduciary duties.

The offer document for the Delisting Offer (in German and a non-binding English translation) and further information on the Delisting Offer will be published and available on the internet at www.project-oculus.de.

Munich, 6 November 2024

Ventrifossa BidCo AG

Important Notice

This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares in STEMMER, whether directly or indirectly in or into Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore or South Africa, in jurisdictions where such offer pursuant to legislation and regulations in such relevant jurisdictions would be prohibited by applicable law.

The Delisting Offer itself as well as its terms and conditions and further provisions concerning the Delisting Offer will be set out in the offer document in detail after the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) has permitted the publication of the offer document. Investors and holders of shares in STEMMER are strongly advised to thoroughly read the offer document and all other relevant documents regarding the Delisting Offer upon their availability since they will contain important information. Shareholders not resident in Germany wanting to accept the Delisting Offer must make inquiries on relevant and applicable legislation, including but not limited to whether governmental consent is required and possible tax consequences. The Delisting Offer is not made, directly or indirectly, and sale will not be accepted from, or on behalf of, shareholders in any jurisdiction where presenting the Delisting Offer or acceptance thereof would be in conflict with the laws of such jurisdictions.

The Delisting Offer will be implemented exclusively on the basis of the applicable provisions of German law, in particular the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz  WpUG) and the German Stock Exchange Act (Borsengesetz  BorsG), and certain securities law provisions of the United States of America relating to cross-border takeover or delisting offers. The Delisting Offer will not be conducted in accordance with the legal requirements of jurisdictions other than the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States of America (as applicable). Accordingly, no notices, filings, approvals or authorizations for the Delisting Offer have been filed, caused to be filed or granted outside the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States of America (as applicable). Investors and holders of STEMMER shares cannot rely on being protected by the investor protection laws of any jurisdiction other than the Federal Republic of Germany or the United States of America (as applicable). Subject to the exceptions described in the offer document and, where applicable, any exemptions to be granted by the respective regulatory authorities, no Delisting Offer will be made, directly or indirectly, in those jurisdictions in which this would constitute a violation of applicable law. This announcement may not be released or otherwise distributed in whole or in part, in any jurisdiction in which the Delisting Offer would be prohibited by applicable law.

Ventrifossa BidCo AG reserves the right, to the extent permitted by law, to directly or indirectly acquire additional STEMMER shares outside the Delisting Offer on or off the stock exchange, provided that such acquisitions or arrangements to acquire are not made in the United States, will comply with the applicable German statutory provisions, in particular the WpUG and the BorsG, and the Offer Price may be increased in accordance with the WpUG to match any consideration paid outside of the Delisting Offer if higher than the Offer Price. If such acquisitions take place, information on such acquisitions, including the number of STEMMER shares acquired or to be acquired and the consideration paid or agreed, will be published without undue delay if and to the extent required under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States or any other relevant jurisdiction. The Delisting Offer will relate to shares in a German company admitted to trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierborse) and will be subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices applicable to companies listed in the Federal Republic of Germany, which differ from those of the United States and other jurisdictions in certain material respects. The financial information relating to Ventrifossa BidCo AG and STEMMER included elsewhere, including in the offer document, will be prepared in accordance with provisions applicable in the Federal Republic of Germany and will not be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States; therefore, it may not be comparable to financial information relating to United States companies or companies from other jurisdictions outside the Federal Republic of Germany. The Delisting Offer will be made in the United States pursuant to Section 14(e) of, and Regulation 14E under, the Exchange Act, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. Shareholders from the United States should note that STEMMER is not listed on a United States securities exchange, is not subject to the periodic requirements of the Exchange Act and is not required to, and does not, file any reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Any contract entered into with Ventrifossa BidCo AG as a result of the acceptance of the planned Delisting Offer will be governed exclusively by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. It may be difficult for shareholders from the United States (or from elsewhere outside of Germany) to enforce certain rights and claims arising in connection with the Delisting Offer under United States federal securities laws (or other laws they are acquainted with) since Ventrifossa BidCo AG and STEMMER are located outside the United States (or the jurisdiction where the shareholder resides), and their respective officers and directors reside outside the United States (or the jurisdiction where the shareholder resides). It may not be possible to sue a non-United States company or its officers or directors in a non-United States court for violations of United States securities laws. It also may not be possible to compel a non-United States company or its subsidiaries to submit themselves to a United States courts judgment.

The Delisting Offer and the information and documents contained in the offer document are not being made and have not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the FSMA). Accordingly, the information and documents contained in the offer document are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom unless an exemption applies. The communication of the information and documents contained in the offer document is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that it is a communication by or on behalf of a body corporate which relates to a transaction to acquire day to day control of the affairs of a body corporate; or to acquire 50 per cent or more of the voting shares in a body corporate, within article 62 of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005.

The Delisting Offer described herein is made on the basis of the exemptions to publish a prospectus in Switzerland set out in article 36 para. 1 lit. b of the Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA). None of the offering documentation or information relating to the Delisting Offer constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA. No such documentation or information has been nor will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority.

06.11.2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com

2023207 06.11.2024 CET/CEST

2023207 06.11.2024 CET/CEST
November 5, 2024: Israel has been under attack by rockets and missiles since the nation was founded in 1948. So far Israel has had to deal with 19 wars with its Arab neighbors Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Jordan. After 1979 Iran went from ally and trading partner to the principal enemy of the new religious dictatorship that has misruled the former Israeli friend. Iranian efforts to destroy Israel have led to a series of Iranian failures. The latest one is the October 1 st missile attack on Israel that employed over 200 missiles. Israel intercepted nearly all of them and the few that got through caused little damage and only one fatality, a Palestinian man killed by a large component so an intercepted Iranian missile. Israel had some help from three American destroyers off the coast using their anti-aircraft weapons. There was also an attack from Yemen, where the Yemeni Houthi rebels, who are supplied with Iranian weapons, fired drones at Tel Aviv and Ashkelon. Some of these were intercepted by American destroyers off the Yemen coast.

In July a Houthi drone hit Tel Aviv and killed one Israeli and wounded four others. In response an Israeli air strike against the Yemen port of Hodeidah killed six and wounded over 70 people. This attacks did extensive damage to the port and surrounding areas. The U.S. Navy also launched cruise missiles at Houthi targets in Yemen. On October 16th American B-2 bombers attacked Houthi targets outside the Yemen capital of Sanaa . This was in response to a September attack when over 30 Houthi missile and drones attacked three American destroyers in the Red Sea. The ships intercepted all the incoming missiles and drones.

Then there is Hamas, an associate but not an ally of Iran, and Hezbollah which is an ally and client of Iran. Earlier this year Israel used exploding pagers and portable radios, plus airstrikes, to decapitate Hezbollahs leadership. Israel also killed several senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders including the elusive Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas supreme leader and one of its founders. Sinwar was moving about in Gaza when he and some aides were confronted by some Israeli soldiers. There was a brief gunbattle and the Israelis discovered that one of the dead men was the elusive Yahya Sinwar. Within a day, DNA tests confirmed that Sinwar was dead. His death was a catastrophe for Hamas which had recently suffered the loss of several leaders. Sinwar had spent two years planning and organizing the October 2023 Hamas offensive in Gaza that left over a thousand Israeli dead. This was the largest number of Israelis ever killed in one day, let alone one action. With Sinwar gone, several lesser Hamas leaders are feuding with each other to determine who will replace their departed leader. You cant replace someone like Sinwar and his aides who are finding that out as their succession disputes leave Hamas paralyzed and starting to fall apart.

Now virtually leaderless, Palestinians are unsure of what the future will bring. Most Palestinians live in or immediately adjacent to Israel. Two million of Israels 9.8 million population are Palestinians. The Gaza Strip contains 365 square kilometers of territory and 2.1 million Palestinians. The West Bank contains 5,655 square kilometers and 4.1 million Palestinians. Gaza has had many rulers over the last century. A century ago Gaza was administered by British officials and occupied by British troops. After 1945 Gaza was ruled by Egyptian officials. In 1956 a war between several Arab states and Israel was won by the Israelis, who also captured Gaza but then withdrew. The 1967 Arab Israeli war saw Gaza once more captured by the Israelis and administered by them until 2005 when, after an 11 year process, Israeli forces withdrew and a local Palestinian government, initially Al Fatah, which also ruled the West Bank, took over Gaza.

While some Arab groups, and Iran, developed an intense hatred for Israel, the Israelis created the most affluent and technologically advanced state in the region. Eventually neighboring Arab nations realized that it was much better to have Israel as a trading partner rather than the target of many attacks that always failed and earned the attackers heavy losses.

One of the major defensive systems Israel developed was Iron Dome. This system has, for over a decade, been the principal weapon that kept Israel safe from missile and drone attacks.

Iron Dome missile launchers hold 20 Tamir missiles. Each 160mm diameter Tamir weighs 90 kg and is three meters long. Tamirs guidance system has a radar and a proximity fuze which detects the size and speed of a nearby target and detonates the warhead only if the right type of target like drone, cruise missile or rocket is detected. Because of recently added features for destroying cruise missiles and drones, the cost per Tamir missile went from $50,000 to nearly $150,000.

In 2020 Tamir proved its ability to down cruise missiles and drones using the Iron Dome radar and fire control system. In that test Iron Dome systems on land and Israeli ships were integrated into a multi-layer air defense system that included Davids Sling, which is similar to the American Patriot, and Israels own Arrow ABM (anti-ballistic missile system). Iron Dome can use other air defense search, fire control and target management systems. With that Israel began offering the Tamir missiles and launchers to export customers.

Continuous Israeli upgrades of Iron Dome enabled it to shoot down various types of drones. This required some software modifications and was done at the request of the U.S. Army. Iron Dome was already capable of shooting down aircraft and helicopters. The drones were often much smaller, but so are the rockets and mortar shells Iron Dome can knock down. The United States has contributed over a billion dollars to development and procurement of Iron Dome. Periodically adding new features like this helps export sales.

Israel initially designed Iron Dome to only defend stationary targets. By 2014 Israel had fifteen batteries of Iron Dome and over 2,000 Tamir missiles. That was enough to shut down a Hamas effort to hit Israel with thousands of rockets. Each battery has radar, fire control equipment, and 3-4 missile launchers each with 20 missiles) and cost about $37-50 million for the basic, no anti-aircraft capability model, and depending on how many missiles it is shipped with. With the new system, a battery with two radars and three launchers costs about $100 million and can protect an area of about 150 square kilometers.

In 2014 the U.S. Army purchased an Iron Dome anti-rocket battery from Israel, mainly to determine if Iron Dome would be worth getting for deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan where American troops were still stationed. This American purchase was the first export sale of Iron Dome. The U.S. bought two more batteries in 2020 and 2021. Israeli efforts to export their Iron Dome anti-rocket system were slow initially but eventually succeeded with Azerbaijan, India and several other counters placing orders. The Israeli manufacturer of Iron Dome thought this would make Iron Dome a hot export item. After all, Israel is one of the top ten weapons exporters in the world. This is because the Israeli system works well and is usually combat tested. Although the Iron Dome system had succeeded in shooting down about 85 percent of the rockets headed for Israeli populated areas, that was a unique situation.

Continued success eventually made Iron Dome exportable, especially after the anti-aircraft, drone and cruise missile capabilities were added. The U.S. was willing to buy more Iron Dome systems but wanted access to the fire control source code. Israel refused because American security is less strict than Israels and a leak of that source code would enable an enemy to determine exploitable weaknesses in Iron Dome. This software dispute was eventually resolved.

The main problem is that Iron Dome was designed to deal with an enemy that is a terrorist organization like Hamas operating out of an area like Gaza that is basically home for Palestinian refugees who have been there for over 60 years. Hamas wants nothing less than the destruction of Israel. Hezbollah, a similar organization, controls southern Lebanon and is also dedicated to the destruction of Israel, using 100,000  150,000 unguided rockets and guided missiles it received from Iran. This is the unique situation that Iron Dome was designed to deal with. When faced with a massive launch of rockets at once, Iron Dome is unable to shoot down all of those headed for populated areas. While the intercept rate is lower, Iron Dome has shown it can still reduce Israeli casualties and property damage. Iron Dome recently added a high-powered laser device that can knock down many rockets but at shorter ranges.
Not even 100 hours after being named Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch today faces the sternest test so far of her political career.

She will confront Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Ministers Questions for the first time  an occasion likely to set the tone for her future as head of His Majestys Opposition.

This experience, in the febrile Commons chamber, will be challenging. But Mrs Badenoch can rise to the big occasion.

Her opponent, after all, is not a peppery, pugnacious and penetrating parliamentarian in the mould of Tony Blair.

Sir Keir is the other side of that coin: Leaden-footed, uncharismatic and thin-skinned. With her blend of courage and ideological self-assurance, Mrs Badenoch could routinely outperform him at the despatch box.

New Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will confront Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Ministers Questions for the first time  an occasion likely to set the tone for her future as head of His Majestys Opposition

Sir Keir is leaden-footed, uncharismatic and thin-skinned. With her blend of courage and ideological self-assurance, Mrs Badenoch could routinely outperform him at the despatch box

Perhaps her greater challenge will be keeping Tory MPs in lockstep.

To that end, her first shadow cabinet seems to have been constructed in the spirit of unity.

She has appointed people from all wings of the party. Even so, with only 121 MPs after Julys shattering defeat, she couldnt have excluded too many even if shed wanted to.

She has been sensible to concentrate on Tory principles rather than detailed policies.

With more than four years before the next election, she must focus on repairing her misfiring party, developing her agenda and holding the Government to account.

She has a glorious opportunity to seize the initiative. Far from enjoying a honeymoon period, Labour is firmly on the back foot.

Chancellor Rachel Reevess Budget is widely loathed. Labours policies on farmers, pensioners, businesses and students have gone down like a lead balloon

Chancellor Rachel Reevess Budget is widely loathed. Labours policies on farmers, pensioners, businesses and students have gone down like a lead balloon.

So has releasing prisoners early, handing over the Chagos Islands and Net Zero.

It will inevitably take time for the Tories to regain the trust of disillusioned voters. But proving the party is on their side on major issues will be a good start.

Still no deterrent

Labour fought the election insisting it had a fully fleshed out plan to stop the small boats crossing the Channel.

But its efforts to tackle illegal immigration by smashing the gangs, rather than deterring their human cargo, has proved a predictable disaster.

So far, 18,000 migrants have arrived unlawfully on Sir Keirs watch.

This week, his partys flawed logic on ending the crisis has been on full display.

Migrants are pictured arriving at Dover after being brought ashore by UK officials. So far, 18,000 migrants have arrived unlawfully on Sir Keirs watch

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The PM announced plans to spend 75million on international policing to dismantle the trafficking gangs.

Yet simultaneously, the Home Office revealed it would fast-track asylum claims from Afghanistan, Iran and Syria, while requisitioning more hotels to accommodate all-comers.

Thats an invitation  not a deterrent. Until migrants know that cheating their way into Britain will not be a golden ticket to a new life, this criminal trade will never be crushed.

Losing the flock...

The Archbishop of Canterbury routinely wrings his hands about the Church of Englands dwindling congregations.

But does Justin Welby seriously think that the way to reverse falling numbers is to tell worshippers that theyre racist?

This is the suggestion of the Commission for Racial Justice he set up to stamp out imagined bigotry in the C of E.

Does Justin Welby seriously think that the way to reverse falling numbers is to tell worshippers that theyre racist?

The unit is steeped in critical race theory, a deeply divisive concept which originated in the US.

Instead of pursuing damaging doctrines, shouldnt the church focus on promoting Christianity to all and filling its pews?
As Democrats all over the world weep into their kombucha, Im afraid I have only one thing to say: you brought this on yourselves. Im sure Kamala Harris is a perfectly nice woman but at no point during this campaign did she demonstrate the strength of character, vision and sheer star power required to win the White House.

Many Americans  certainly most Americans I know  have deep reservations about Donald Trump. They find him distasteful, divisive, deeply dodgy. And indeed, he can be all of those things. But even the staunchest of liberals felt deeply disappointed and let down by this Biden administration and, in particular, its stubborn refusal to acknowledge the current Presidents evident shortcomings.

Harris was a poor choice of candidate  but perhaps more significantly she was also an establishment choice on the part of an elite desperate to stay in power, a human box-ticking exercise who, whatever her own personal merits, was always going to stick in the craw of the ordinary American.

She was tense, didactic, finger-wagging and, above all, reductive and politically one-dimensional. She aligned herself with a narrow segment of the electorate, again its own kind of elite, comprised of people obsessed with identity politics and other liberal hobby horses, not realising  or perhaps not wanting to realise  that to win over the whole country you need to sell yourself as a broad church.

The moment Trump put on that hi-viz jacket and climbed, somewhat unsteadily, into a garbage truck was a piece of political genius, writes SARAH VINE

Bracketing all women together in this way was a bad miscalculation  as was that final, cringeworthy advert voiced by (yet another multimillionaire celebrity) Julia Roberts, with two soccer moms defying their redneck husbands to put a tick in Kamalas box. Life is not a Hollywood script.

Bottom line, people dont want to be told that their concerns about important political issues such as immigration and law and order make them bad people. The job of a good politician above all else is to listen, even if they dont like whats being said.

One of Harriss biggest mistakes, I think, was to assume that just because she was a woman of colour, that meant all women, of colour or otherwise, would naturally side with her, especially given Trumps ongoing problems with the likes of Stormy Daniels et al. This is a lazy assumption that those on the left in Britain also make (see Labours Dawn Butler MP sharing a social media post that described the newly-crowned Tory leader Kemi Badenoch as white supremacy in blackface).

They assume that they somehow own certain demographics, which again speaks of entitlement and arrogance. Women are far more complex and nuanced than that. In particular, Harris showed spectacularly poor judgment on the issue of abortion.

This was felt to be her so-called trump card, the idea that women would come out to vote for her in their droves to protect reproductive rights. But that seems to have backfired. Abortion rights are indeed an important issue for many women  but the idea that its the ONLY thing they care about is, once again, reductive and patronising.

There are just as many who think that the safety of women is equally at risk from gender politics and the dangers and injustices posed by male-bodied individuals invading their sporting fields and safe spaces in the name of inclusivity. And lets face it, Harriss track record on protecting THOSE sorts of womens rights was not great.

It is also insultingly patronising to assume that women are not concerned about big issues such as the economy, immigration and law and order.

This was clear in the difference between her supporters and Trumps: the latter a rag-tag bunch of political all-sorts, hers blue-haired harridans or hand-wringing billionaire celebrities in their ivory limousines.

Wheeling out the likes of Oprah, J-Lo and Cardi B to lecture voters on why it was their duty to do as they were told was beyond cringeworthy and guaranteed to produce the opposite effect, as was her sycophantic appearance on Saturday Night Live, surrounded by fawning comedians and celebrities.

Former President Obamas (late and somewhat reluctant) endorsement only served to remind people what a successful Democratic candidate looks like.

Insulated in her echo chamber, Harris utterly failed to reach beyond the dinner parties of the Upper West Side and Hollywood. But in the end, it was not she who struck the killer blow to her own campaign: it was Biden himself.

In response to an admittedly very off-colour joke about Puerto Ricans, the President described Trump voters as garbage. It was a turning point, a bald, visceral statement, an unguarded moment that became a clarion call to all those who, if not exactly Trump supporters, were damned if they were going to be told they were trash for not buying into the Kamala Kool-Aid.

It was a slip as bad as Hillary Clintons basket of deplorables  and ultimately showed that nothing had changed: this Democratic elite was suffering from a seemingly incurable superiority complex. Harris should have immediately and decisively distanced herself, but she didnt  leaving an open goal into which Trump danced with characteristic flourish.

Wheeling out the likes of Cardi B to lecture voters on why it was their duty to do as they were told was beyond cringeworthy

The moment he put on that hi-viz jacket and climbed, somewhat unsteadily, into a garbage truck was a piece of political genius. It was funny, clever and above all self-depreciating, a quality rare in politicians but one that always connects with the public.

Afterwards, at a rally, he poked fun at his own vanity and told the story of why he decided to keep his garbage uniform on: I said, NO WAY! but they said, If you did, it actually makes you look thinner. I said, Oh... and they got me, when they said I look thinner.

I remember thinking then: hes just won the election.

Trumps killer line about needing to actually like America and Americans in order to be President really hit home: it was clear all along that plenty of Harriss fellow countrymen and women made her and her partys toes curl. Once again, the lessons of the Brexit referendum play out.

So Trump wins, and deservedly so. But is he the right man for the job? That remains to be seen. Winning is the easy part; delivering a successful political agenda so much harder.

He has cast himself as the champion of the reviled and the disenfranchised, an advocate for ambition and aspiration and an antidote to the wave of wokery in which America seems to be drowning.

Whether he can indeed Make America Great Again remains to be seen: the obstacles are many and varied, from crippling national debt to illegal immigration to the situation in the Middle East and, of course, the war in Ukraine.

As he himself has put it, it will be nasty a little bit at times, and maybe at the beginning in particular. My sense is that he will focus on domestic issues to begin with, as thats where he will feel hes on the most solid ground. But you never know.

This Trump seems rather different to the Trump who won in 2016. Older, of course, if not exactly wiser - but certainly a more practised politician, and a man who seems ready to take a second term in office deadly seriously.
For Sir Keir Starmer, this is the worst possible result. Donald Trump is the most thin-skinned politician on the planet, a man who determines his foreign policy on the basis of whether other leaders suck up to him personally.

Yet Labour, far from flattering the egomaniac, have called him every rude name under the sun.

He is 'a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper' (Ed Miliband, 2016).

He is 'an odious, sad, little man' (Wes Streeting, 2017).

He is a 'neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath' (David Lammy, 2018).

Sadiq Khan, London's Mayor, even repeated his ludicrous criticisms after the result came in, claiming that Londoners would be 'fearful' about what the result meant 'for women's rights'.

Newly re-elected President Donald Trump despises weakness and seems to despise Starmer

Seriously? Londoners are more worried about women's rights in America than in Iran or Afghanistan? What a virtue-signalling twerp.

Lammy has since forced himself to congratulate Trump, declaring that 'the UK has no greater friend than the US'.

He is right, of course. But Trump judges foreign leaders by whether they (in one of his favourite phrases) 'have said nice things about me'.

And, unhappily for the current government, many of them have not only said rude things, but even sent their canvassers to help the Democrats at the last election.

To be fair, this happens at every vote, and on both sides of the aisle. No one thought it outrageous when Nigel Farage campaigned for Trump. But a badly-phrased LinkedIn post from a Labour source in October  since deleted  made it look as though the party was using official resources to help Kamala Harris, prompting accusations of 'foreign election interference' by the Trump campaign and a formal complaint with America's Federal Election Commission.

This is not only a terrible start  it could have lasting impact on relations between our two governments. Bill Clinton never quite forgave the Tories for looking into his cannabis-smoking past at Oxford  and Clinton is a saint compared to Trump when it comes to grudges.

Trump also took against Canada's liberal premier Justin Trudeau early on and, throughout his first term, gave Canada a raw deal on trade  even though doing so hurt US interests, too.

Speaking of trade, Trump wants to impose a 60 per cent tariff on China and a 10 per cent tariff on everyone else. This would be cataclysmic: It was precisely such an approach that turned the Wall Street crash of 1929 into a global depression.

The rest of the world traditionally looks to Britain to restrain its ally in these situations. But Trump despises weakness and seems to despise Starmer. He was very clear, as the results came in, that he would govern on the basis of 'promises made, promises delivered'.

Might Britain be able to escape the 10 per cent Trump Tariff? It would be a huge Brexit benefit as EU countries would see levies on their own exports rise from rates of generally less than 3 per cent, and often zero.

I fear not. Yes, Trump has a nostalgic affection for this country, describing himself as half-Scottish. He was pro-Brexit, and sought a trade deal in 2016. Theresa May then frittered away the opportunity and, although Boris Johnson pursued it after 2019, there was not time to conclude talks before Biden came in.

But Starmer seems unlikely to finish that deal. Even if Labour overcame the bogus scares that resentful Europhiles have raised against US chicken and beef, Remainer ministers will not want to diverge from the EU, and their supporters will be horrified at the idea of doing a deal 'with Trump'.

Then there is foreign policy. Britain has led the world's support for Ukraine since 2014, along with the US, which had wanted to step away from Europe so as to be able to concentrate on defending Taiwan.

But Trump is bizarrely in awe of Vladimir Putin, and promises to end what he sees as a wasteful war. How can that be done without rewarding Russian aggression and encouraging every other warmonger on the planet? It won't be easy.

What, then, can Starmer do? He could appoint Nigel Farage as our ambassador to Washington

As for the war in Gaza, Labour desperately wants to bring it to an end, because every day that it lasts, the party haemorrhages support to various anti-Israel independents and campaigns such as the Muslim Vote.

Oddly enough, Trump has the same aim, having won overwhelming support from American Muslims on the basis that he will stop the fighting. Even so, Israel always has the potential to be a source of tension between the two Atlantic allies  and many senior Labour figures remain implacably opposed to the sole democracy in the Middle East.

What, then, can Starmer do? Actually, there is one thing. He could appoint Farage as our ambassador to Washington  something that both Trump and Farage have suggested.

Given Trump's toddler-like neediness, having someone he likes in that role could make all the difference, delivering not just a trade deal, but a continuation of the Anglo-American alliance on which freedom has rested these past 80 years.

Of course, appointing Farage would, as Starmer would see it, hurt Reform UK  who would lose their only political star  and so help the Tories. Which is why he will be too small to do it.

Labour ministers will spend today oscillating between anger and anxiety  with, perhaps, a dash of guilt thrown in. For, deep down, they will know that this is a crisis they themselves created.
Broadcasters on both sides of the Atlantic accepted Donald Trumps victory with as much grace as cats swallowing paraffin to remove a fur ball.

As it became clear that the former president was romping to victory their tone soured from initial confidence in a Democrat win to one of pouting petulance. We had more moues than a dairy farmyard.

ITVs Susanna Reid, normally such a shiny sausage, wore the very face of thunder. Her co-presenter Ed Balls got into a spat with Hollywood Trump supporter Rob Schneider, who returned fire with gusto.

Mr Schneider said he had heard some anti-Trump off-mike banter between the Good Morning Britain duo. For goodness sake, Rob, move on, said an embarrassed Balls. Mr Schneider: You guys move on! He has a mandate.

ITV s Susanna Reid, normally such a shiny sausage, wore the very face of thunder. Her co-presenter Ed Balls got into a spat with Hollywood Trump supporter Rob Schneider , who returned fire with gusto

Over at Channel 4 it was the Meltdown Maitlis Show. Election-night coverage there was being fronted by Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Emily Maitlis but little Krishnan was soon on his own after a distraught Maitlis had to be shown to a padded cell and given soothing medicaments.

Guru-Murthy was forced to tell his co-presenter to 'stop swearing'.

In earlier exchanges, when a Harris win was still on the cards, Maitlis had tossed her mane from side to side and become decidedly dismissive of former prime minister Boris Johnson, who defended Mr Trump and called him a friend. Maitliss eyes boinged out on springs at that.

When did you last speak to Donald Trump? asked Guru-Murthy, in the tone of a barrister asking an accomplice when he last saw a murder suspect. When Mr Johnson said he would happily leave his daughter in the same room as Mr Trump, Maitlis and Guru-Murthy gasped.

Sean Spicer, a former Trump White House spokesman, was asked for his views but before he could say much he was interrupted and accused of factual inaccuracies by Maitlis. Mr Spicer stood for no nonsense and told her: Youre lying. Its you that just lied to the viewers.

Maitlis (right with co-host Krishnan Guru-Murthy) had become decidedly dismissive of former prime minister Boris Johnson (left)

Meanwhile the US election map was turning Republican red and MSNBC commentator Joy Reid snapped that Trump would bring in an extremist, Right-wing, fascist-type government. The F-word was everywhere. Even nice Tom Bradby on ITV used it.

Even spikier language was used by Cardi B, a celebrity rap musician who had starred at one of Kamala Harriss closing campaign rallies. When one of her social-media followers enquired if she would be attending Mr Trumps presidential inauguration, Ms B replied: I swear to God Im gonna f*** you up, get away from me! Im sick of you! Burn your f***ing hats motherf***er.

This was the same Cardi B who before voting day had reacted crossly to opinion polls that suggested Ms Harris was trailing in certain southern states. This, she averred, is why some of yall states be getting hurricanes. The video remark was later deleted but it may be harder to remove the acidic taste it left.

In the land of podcast self-styled grandees, Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart went rigid  backs as stiff as broomsticks  as the results swung Mr Trumps way.

Both men had been full of pro-Kamala confidence on social media earlier, Mr Stewart attacking proper media stars such as Andrew Neil and claiming that they were talking up Mr Trumps chances simply to create suspense.

So confident was Remainer Rory that he bet a substantial sum on a Harris victory and said he would have made it 100,000 had he been allowed. Bang goes the advance for his next book.

While Messrs Campbell and Stewart resembled Statler and Waldorf from the Muppet Show, the grief was more restrained, though still palpable, at the BBC.

In the land of podcast self-styled grandees, Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart went rigid  backs as stiff as broomsticks  as the results swung Mr Trumps way

Co-host John Kay was doing a lot of blinking behind his Harold Lloyd spectacles and after Mr Trumps victory speech there was a discussion not of the future but of the presidents numerous past faults.

Kays co-anchor Sumi Somaskanda looked as if she had swallowed an iffy sardine. Caitriona Perry may have worn a blinding yellow dress but her manner was anything but sunny.

On the notoriously anti-Trump CNN each new Republican advance win was met with flexed jaws and a faint hint of disappointment. Jake Tapper looked fit to kick the nearest waste paper bin. Some claimed to have spotted tears in the eyes of political analyst Van Jones but it was hard to be sure, there was so much smoke rising from his grinding teeth.

And in the la-la world of X, formerly Twitter, electoral sage and sometime television star Carol Vorderman greeted the new Trumpian dawn by ranting about Right-wing hatred and predicting economic disaster for Britain.

Only hours earlier the same Mystic Meg had been confidently predicting a Harris landslide and a prison sentence for Mr Trump. You had to be an idiot  or the now impoverished Rory Stewart  to believe her.
Well that was different. At six minutes to noon the chambers rear double-doors were flung open and in stepped Clint Eastwood. In a manner of speaking. The gait was certainly the same, even if Clint never wore his hair in braids.

A minute, solitary figure unencumbered by clutter made her way to the opposition despatch box. There was none of the normal politicians bustle, no retinue of hombres and unctuous Herberts. As Kemi Badenoch arrived for the first PMQs her sole outrider was parliamentary private secretary Julia Lopez.

The two women had to walk past a phalanx of tall, powerfully built Labour men behind the Speakers chair. Navendu Mishra, Luke Pollard and Mark Tami were dressed in dark suits, exuding the status quo. This is bruiser territory, their presence seemed to say. This is the combat zone. If Mrs Badenoch, who is no taller than a National Hunt jockey, felt daunted by their presence she little showed it. Cool cat Kemi.

The most noticeable thing was that slow, insouciant walk. It was a tread that seemed to say hit me with your worst, guys. Speaker Hoyle from his throne threw her a word of welcome. She waggled an amused eyebrow back at him and then took her seat beside Priti Patel, awaiting the onslaught.

Kemi Badenoch waggled an amused eyebrow at the Speaker and then took her seat beside Priti Patel, awaiting the onslaught, writes QUENTIN LETTS

The noise of the Commons at full bray has always been enough to curdle cream but the din this Labour majority generates is louder than any I can recall from previous parliaments. Against them, at the opposition box, there just stood this composed figure clad in blue, a smile breaking to reveal that gap in her front teeth.

She allowed the argy-bargy to subside before thanking the Prime Minister for his almost warm words of welcome. Now she quietly set about her business. The optics were instantly theatrical: one small woman against a bawling horde.

Odd to think that Nigel Farage last week claimed she was just the same old Tory. Mr Farage (Reform, Florida) is not often wrong but on this he was sorely mistaken. Everything about Mrs Badenochs presence felt different.

Was a tremor discernible in her fingertips? Yet Sir Keir Starmers hands were shaking more, and he has years of experience. He tried giving her advice  one thing I learned as leader of the opposition... he honked from a height. It sounded patronising.

Sir Keir and his Cabinet ministers pointed at her and cackled and accused her of student politics. Almost every backbench Labour MP on the speaking list had been programmed to attack her. Far from diminishing her, they made her more significant.

Sir Keir and his Cabinet ministers cackled and accused her of student politics

She kept her cool and persisted in a smoky contralto. She soon had David Lammy squeezing his knees by reminding the House of the derogatory and scatalogical remarks the Foreign Secretary made about Donald Trump. Ouch.

Sir Keir insisted that a dinner he had with Mr Trump recently had been a tremendous success. The Commons tried to imagine Donald clinking glasses with his new friend Sir Keir. The image remained elusive.

Sir Keir had opened the session by congratulating President-elect Trump. This was met with a remarkable, cold, sullen silence from the Labour benches.

Torcuil Crichton (Western Isles) would later salute Mr Trump as a son of Lewis, though admitted he would have rather the result had gone to the Isle of Harris. Mr Crichton was the only Labour backbencher to show respect to the newly elected leader of the Western world.

Mrs Badenochs debut was not without peril. She accused Sir Keir of relying on scripted answers and the House noticed that she herself was using some sparse notes. Reading! Reading! shouted the Labour numpties. Mrs Badenoch stayed calm under fire.

Gatesheads oafish Mark Ferguson roared abuse and scratched his wobbling belly. His fellow Labour hecklers included Torsten Bell (Swansea West), Graeme Downie (Dunfermline), Alex Barros-Curtis (Cardiff West) and the not altogether genteel Kevin McKenna (Sittingbourne and Sheppey).

Its almost as if Labour is scared of her. Rightly so, perhaps.
Five decades ago, the 7th Earl of Lucan vanished without a trace amid a bitter custody battle  and an unsolved murder that shocked Britain.

Richard John Bingham  better known as Lord Lucan  was 39-years-old when he disappeared on November 7, 1974, leaving behind his three young children and estranged wife, Veronica Mary Duncan, in Belgravia, London.

Before his disappearance, Lord Lucan was facing multiple personal struggles, including a gambling addiction, spiraling debt, and a bitter custody battle that led to an unhealthy fixation on his wife.

Even more chillingly, on the night he went missing, the nanny of his and Veronica's three children, Sandra Rivett, was found murdered at the Lucan family home.

Her death was reported by a wounded Lady Lucan, covered 'head to toe in blood', after she staggered into a pub to announce her husband had attacked her and Sandra.

Now, as the 50th anniversary of Lucan's disappearance approaches, a three-part BBC docuseries will follow one man's untiring quest for justice.

Five decades ago, the 7th Earl of Lucan vanished without a trace, leading to dozens of conspiracy theories surrounding his disappearance

The 7th Earl of Lucan, Lord Richard John Bingham) with his fiancee Veronic Duncan on the day their engagement was announced in 1963

The first episode of Lucan will air on BBC Two tonight at 9pm and chronicle Hampshire builder Neil Berriman's mission to secure justice for Sandra by solving the cold case that has captivated the nation for nearly 50 years.

The case has also consumed Neil for the last two decades, but his obsession with Sandra's murder is deeply personal.

She was, after all, his birth mother.

Speaking about the moment he discovered his connection with Sandra, the 57-year-old recalls in the documentary: 'I remember it was difficult to breathe. It was horrendous.'

The nanny to Lord Lucan's children was bludgeoned to death at the family home in Belgravia in 1974, aged 29.

Neil was seven at the time but he wasn't living with her, and didnt even know she was his mother.

He had been adopted as a baby and didn't learn about Sandra until his adoptive mother died 17 years ago, by which time he was a middle-aged man.

Now, groundbreaking new evidence revealed in the BBC programme offers an explanation for the Earl's disappearance - and, even more sensationally, his current whereabouts.

On the night of Sandra's murder, Lord Lucan had telephoned his mother asking her to collect his children, before driving to visit a friend in Uckfield, East Sussex.

The nanny to Lord Lucan's children, Sandra Rivett (pictured) was bludgeoned to death at the family home in Belgravia in 1974, aged 29

On 8 November 1974, the Earl drove off, before abandoning the car in Newhaven, which was found with its interior stained with blood and its boot containing a piece of lead pipe

Lord Lucan had been facing a series of personal struggles prior to his disappearance, including a gambling addiction, spiraling debt and a bitter custody battle that further led to an unhealthy fixation on his wife

Pictured: Daily Mail article on 13/11/1974

Neil Berriman, who is the son of Sandra Rivett, stars in new BBC Two documentary, Lucan

In his conversations with both his mother and friend, Lucan claimed that an assailant had attacked his family, causing him to intervene.

The following day, on 8 November 1974, the Earl drove off, before abandoning the car in Newhaven.

There, it was discovered the Ford Corsair's interiors were stained with blood and the car's boot contained a piece of a lead pipe - similar to one that was discovered at Sandra's murder scene.

A police warrant was issued for Lucan but, despite a nationwide manhunt, the absconding earl was never found.

At Sandra's inquest in June 1975, a jury was directed to name who was responsible for her death - and they named Lord Lucan, who wasn't present to defend himself.

This would be the last time in England when a suspect could be found guilty by an inquest jury. One month later, and as a direct result of the inquest hearing, a bill was passed which stopped the coroners courts from passing a guilty verdict.

Lord Lucan was declared legally dead in 1999, 25 years after Sandra's brutal murder, and a death certificate was issued in 2016 that allowed his titles to be inherited by his son George.

But Neil believes Lucan is still alive, and in the documentary, he can be seen tracking down and coming face-to-face with a pensioner he's convinced is now hiding under a false name in Brisbane, Australia.

The pensioner is reported to have once confessed to a friend that he was the killer.

'Even now, at nearly 90 years old, hes an arrogant, powerful, horrible old man who's ripped off people over Australia, upset a lot of people, and hes full of lies and deceit,' says Neil in the documentary. 'Im confident, full stop, that man is Lord Lucan.'

His fury is evident in the documentary as he walks away from the house and says to his investigative partner, journalist Glen Campbell, 'Id f****** murder him, wouldnt you?'

Instead, they are shown to continue gathering evidence, hoping to persuade the police to make an arrest.

On the night Lord Lucan vanished, Sandra Rivett was murdered in the Lucan family home - reported by a wounded Lady Lucan who burst into a pub to announce her husband had attacked her

A police officer outside 46 Lower Belgrave Street in Belgravia, London, the home of John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, after his disappearance on November 8, 1974

Lady Lucan in 'Lord Lucan: My Husband the Truth' TV Series - June 2017, before she died by suicide that year

The man they know by a Buddhist name, who is also called Chris by his carer, has denied confessing to being the murderer and has previously said: 'Im not Lord Lucan.'

The Australian police have said they do not believe it is him, but Neil is determined to prove them wrong and finally get justice for his mother.

The first episode of Lucan will air on BBC Two tonight at 9pm.
On the night of November, 8, 1974, Richard John Bingham  better known as Lord Lucan  vanished into thin air, leaving behind his three children and estranged wife.

The 7th Earl of Lucan was 39-years-old when he disappeared from East Sussex, just one night after the family's nanny, Sandra Rivett, had been found bludgeoned to death in their home in Belgravia, London.

The case is shrouded in mystery, as Lord Lucan had been facing a series of personal struggles prior to his disappearance, including a gambling addiction, spiraling debt and a bitter custody battle that further led to an unhealthy fixation on his wife.

Little did the Lucan brood know, the Earl's disappearance would only mark the beginning of a series of tragic and unfortunate events that devastated the family.

On the night before he vanished, Lord Lucan's estranged wife, Veronica Mary Duncan, burst into a pub covered 'head to toe in blood' and revealed her husband had attacked her.

On the night of November 8, 1974, Richard John Bingham  better known as Lord Lucan (left)  vanished into thin air, leaving behind his three children and estranged wife (right)

On the same evening, the young children's nanny, Sandra Rivett, was found dead in the familial home.

Lord Lucan fled to a friend's property in East Sussex, where he told them and his mother that he had intervened when an assailant attacked his family earlier that night.

The Earl vanished the following day, when his abandoned car was found in Newhaven.

Its interiors were stained with blood and the boot contained a piece of taped-up lead pipe that was similar to one found at the murder scene.

Police issued a warrant for his arrest, but Lord Lucan was never found, and he was later declared dead in absentia in October 1999.

Over the years, a bitter feud ensued between the remaining family and it was reported that Veronica didn't speak to her children for more than 35 years.

Tragically, in 2017, Veronica died by suicide at the age of 80 from a lethal cocktail of drugs and alcohol.

She died alone in the very home where Sandra was murdered, after previously self-diagnosing herself with Parkinson's disease and admitting she would kill herself if her health continued to deteriorate.

In a shocking turn of events, Veronica left nothing to her children  Frances, 52, George, 50, and Camilla, 47  after refusing to speak to them for more than three decades.

Lord Lucan was 39-years-old when he disappeared from East Sussex

1963: John Richard Bingham, Earl of Lucan, and Veronica Duncan pictured after their marriage

The family's nanny, Sandra Rivett, was found bludgeoned to death in their home in Belgravia, London

Pictured: Sandra Rivett

Lady Veronica Lucan leaves 46 Lower Belgrave Street, the family home in London, UK, on November 15, 1974. She had called the police after being attacked by her husband on November 7, 1974

Over the years, a bitter feud ensued between the remaining family and it was reported that Veronica didn't speak to her three children for more than 35 years

Instead, she left her entire 576,626 estate to the homelessness charity Shelter. George, who married Anne-Sofie Foghsgaard, the daughter of a wealthy Danish industrialist, in 2016, said: 'I applaud the decision.'

The size of her fortune would have left Lady Lucan's friends bewildered as she did not own her mews house and lived in such squalor that the lavatory didn't flush properly and her wallpaper was peeling.

She said she needed the 50,000 she hoped to earn from her memoirs to buy a new kitchen.

In one final jab from beyond the grave, she explained in her will why she refused to leave a penny of her children.

In a document released by the probate office, she wrote: 'In view of the lack of good manners and reverence shown to me as their parent, I do not wish any of my three children to benefit from my death any more than they have to.'

Lady Lucan told the Daily Mail in 2015 that her son had bartered 'the accidental privilege of his birth' by abandoning her to live with his aunt and uncle.

She accused George  who was seven when his nanny, Sandra Rivett, 29, was beaten to death with a lead pipe at the family's townhouse  of withholding important belongings from her.

George and his sisters lived with their mother in Belgravia following Lucan's disappearance in 1974. Veronica was hurt in the attack and her husband was named as the murderer at Rivett's inquest.

Lady Lucan in 'Lord Lucan: My Husband the Truth' TV Series - Jun 2017, just before she died by suicide that year

Custody of the children was ransferred to Veronica's sister, Christina Shand Kydd and her husband, Bill, eight years later, when Lady Lucan reportedly began suffering mental health illness.

However, Veronica refuted: 'I did not suffer a mental breakdown. Custody of my children was transferred to the Shand Kydds because my son declared in an affidavit that he would find it much more congenial to live as part of the family of his aunt and uncle.'

George said he had no alternative as he was only 14 and had to move, under the direction of his guardian-in-law, the Official Solicitor.

As the 50th anniversary of his disappearance descends, a three-part BBC docuseries will follow one man's hunt for the truth about the murder of Sandra Rivett.

The case has consumed Neil for the last two decades, and it has done so for one reason in particular: Sandra Rivett was his birth mother.

In the BBC programme, Neil will offer a shocking new theory about Lord Lucan's whereabouts, as the Hampshire builder remains convinced he is still alive.

The first episode of Lucan will airs on BBC Two tonight at 9pm.
The country may be divided over the 2024 presidential election, but there seems to be one thing everyone can agree on: their mutual love of MSNBC anchor Steve Kornacki.

NBC News' Political correspondent Steve, 45, was shot to stardom after he broke down the 2020 election results on air four years ago.

He captured the hearts of millions across the globe thanks to his sweet personality, handsome looks, and charming choice of clothing, and he instantly became a viral sensation.

Now, as America gears up to find out if Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will become our next President, many people on the web have confessed that they can't wait to see him on their screens again.

X, formerly Twitter, has been flooded with posts about Steve all throughout Election Day, as millions gushed over the reporter.

The country may be divided over the 2024 presidential election, but there seems to be one thing everyone can agree on: their mutual love of MSNBC anchor Steve Kornacki

'Happy Steve Kornacki Day to all those who celebrate,' one person wrote, alongside a GIF that said, 'Steve Kornacki you are my snack.'

'Don't forget to leave milk and cookies out for Steve Kornacki tonight,' joked someone else on Monday evening.

'This is Steve Kornacki's time to shine,' another person added.

'Steve Kornacki is the Mariah Carey of election season,' read a fourth tweet.

A fifth said, 'My favorite part of election season is watching Steve Kornacki electrify America like only he can.'

'My daughter can't wait for Steve tonight. She calls him her emotional-support, election boyfriend,' shared a different user.

NBC anchor Craig Melvin even got in on the fun by sharing a snap of Steve in the studio on Tuesday.

'We're caffeinating and hydrating him. We're making sure he's eating,' he captioned it.

NBC News' Political correspondent Steve, 45, was shot to stardom after he broke down the 2020 election results on air four years ago (seen)

Now, as America gears up to find out if Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will become our next President, many people on the web have confessed that they can't wait to see him again

'@SteveKornacki, the national treasure, is rested and eager for his quadrennial Super Bowl.

'He also just reported the overwhelming majority of Georgia's vote should be reportable shortly after polls close.'

Steve was arguably the breakout star of the US presidential election in 2020, covering the results for days on end with seemingly little to no sleep.

During his wall-to-wall election coverage, he wore khaki pants from the brand Gap, a white button down shirt, and a navy blue and white striped tie.

The week after the election, a spokesperson for Gap said there was a 'dramatic increase in online traffic' and within one day, the company 'saw around 90 per cent unit sale increase online' for Steve's khakis.

X, formerly Twitter, has been flooded with posts about Steve all throughout Election Day, as millions gushed over the reporter

In addition to acting as the MSNBC's election coverage map correspondent since 2014, Steve also co-hosts the 4pm edition of MSNBC Live with Nicolle Wallace

His coverage not only endeared those on the internet but also celebrities like Leslie Jones, Arianna Huffington, and even Chrissy Teigen - who all publicly praised his ceaseless work ethic and ability to streamline an enormous amount of information for viewers.

Steve captured the hearts of millions across the globe

After dutifully parsing out the vote tally from his touch-screen map, Steve - who publicly came out as gay in 2011 - was named by People as one of the sexiest men alive.

The journalist, who was branded as 'map daddy,' told DailyMail.com afterwards that he had become an internet sensation until several days after election night because things were so chaotic.

'It was so frantic, I would say probably Thursday, somewhere around there, I started getting texts from friends and family,' he recalled. 'I was very surprised, taken aback by it.'

In addition to acting as the MSNBC's election coverage map correspondent since 2014, Steve also co-hosts the 4pm edition of MSNBC Live with Nicolle Wallace.
See all the other times she wore clothing items with hidden meanings

Many people on the web believe she was sending a message with the ensemble

You can certainly make a statement with your choice of clothing, and First Lady Jill Biden appeared to do just that when she stepped out to vote on Tuesday.

The mother-of-one, 73, was spotted at the ballot wearing a bright red pantsuit, and many people on the web are convinced that she was sending a bold message with her ensemble.

If so, it certainly wouldn't be the first time that Jill made a statement with her outfits.

In fact, the former educator has donned items that contained hidden meanings numerous times in the past.

Just one day prior, she re-wore a very-controversial gown while out and about in North Carolina that had previously divided the internet thanks to its powerful message.

Uncover all the times First Lady Jill Biden sent a secret message with her clothes

Back in 2021, when her husband Joe Biden was inaugurated as the President of the United States, she opted for a custom gown that contained a secret tribute sewn into it.

In addition, she once wore a jacket with a word etched onto the back that many believed was a swipe at Donald Trump's wife Melania Trump.

As the internet continues to debate her latest look, FEMAIL has rounded up all the other times that Jill sent a secret message with her clothes.

Jill left many social media users scratching their heads with her outfit when she went to vote on Tuesday

Jill left many social media users scratching their heads when she wore a bright red pantsuit - despite red being the color of republicans - as she hit the polls to vote on Tuesday

Jill left many social media users scratching their heads with her outfit choice when she hit the polls to vote on Tuesday.

She opted for a bright red pantsuit - despite red being the color often associated with the Republican party - and people on the web wondered if it was a snub towards Kamala.

Her eyebrow-raising outfit choice came after news hit the web that she and her husband, Joe, will not attend Kamala's Election Night watch party.

'As the wife of a Democrat politician there's no was she doesn't know how this looks,' one person wrote. 'Joe and Jill are pissed.'

'Jill Biden knows exactly what she did. Her outfit was on purpose,' another theorized.

Someone else used the hashtag #DemocratsForTrump and suggested Jill was 'sending them a sign.'

The First Lady re-wore her controversial 'vote' dress while campaigning for Kamala on Monday

When Jill arrived in Durnham, North Carolina, to campaign for Kamala on Monday, she re-wore a very controversial dress that has the word 'vote' written all over it

When Jill arrived in Durnham, North Carolina, to campaign for Kamala on Monday, she re-wore a very controversial dress that previously divided the web thanks to its strong message.

She previously stepped out in the gown when she attended a rally following the presidential debate between her husband, Joe, and Donald Trump in June

The First Lady donned a custom navy blue frock from designer Christian Siriano, which has the word 'vote' written all over it, along with a matching blazer.

She previously stepped out in the gown when she attended a rally following the presidential debate between her husband, Joe, and Donald in June.

At the time, the dress drew a mixed reaction on social media, with some users loving the message and others admitting that they were not pleased.

'I was very offended that Jill Biden wore that "vote" dress. As if we need to be reminded by an article of clothing. It was very narcissistic,' one user complained.

'Jill Biden with the VOTE dress. YASSS,' exclaimed another.

Jill donned a gown to the inaugural concert that paid tribute to every state and territory in the United States

When Jill's husband, Joe, was inaugurated as the President of the United States in 2021, she chose an outfit that had multiple hidden tributes sewn into it

The mother-of-one wore a custom ivory Gabriela Hearst gown, which contained floral embroidery that represented 'the federal flowers from every state and territory of the US'

When Jill's husband, Joe, was inaugurated as the President of the United States in 2021, she chose an outfit that had multiple hidden tributes sewn into it.

The mother-of-one wore an ocean blue tweed coat and dress by New York-based designer Alexandra O'Neill to the inauguration, before switching into a custom ivory Gabriela Hearst gown and matching jacket for the concert.

'The message of "unity" is the main inspiration for the creation of the ensemble,' the brand wrote. 'Unity makes strength and it is needed for the road ahead'

The latter contained floral embroidery that represented 'the federal flowers from every state and territory of the United States of America,' a press release from the label revealed.

'The message of "unity" is the main inspiration for the creation of the ensemble,' the brand wrote. 'Unity makes strength and it is needed for the road ahead.

The designer added that the gown also paid homage to Jill's home state, explaining: 'The Delaware flower is positioned at the heart level of The First Lady, from there, all the other flowers branch out.'

And the flowers weren't the outfit's only secret message, as her coat also featured a hidden quote from Benjamin Franklin.

'Inside of the coat, representing the lifelong calling and service of Dr. Biden as an educator, is a hand embroidery on the lining with a quote from Founding Father Benjamin Franklin,' Gabriela Hearst added.

'"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."'

Some thought Jill's 'love' jacket was a swipe at Melania Trump's infamous 'I really don't care, do you?' coat

Jill made headlines when she attended a lunch in June 2021 and donned a Zadig & Voltaire blazer with the word 'love' etched onto the back

Some wondered if she was taking a swipe at her predecessor Melania Trump and her infamous jacket, which featured the words 'I really don't care, do you?' splashed across it

Jill made headlines when she attended a lunch with then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife, and Joe Biden in June 2021 and donned a Zadig & Voltaire blazer with the word 'love' etched onto the back.

Some wondered if she was taking a swipe at her predecessor Melania and her infamous jacket, which featured the words 'I really don't care, do you?' splashed across it.

Melania, who wore the coat in 2018, later said that the message was 'for the people and for the left-wing media who are criticizing her.'

Commenting on her own fashion choice, Jill said: 'Were bringing love from America This is a global conference, were trying to bring unity across the globe.

'I think its needed right now, that people feel a sense of unity from all the countries and feel a sense hope after this year of the pandemic.'

She paired the coat with a Brandon Maxwell Resort polka dot dress and black high heels.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked radiant this morning as she delivered a speech at a tech festival in Singapore.

Maxima, 53, donned a stunning checkered black and white suit as she arrived at Singapore FinTech Festival on Wednesday to deliver a speech in the southeast Asian country.

The Dutch royal gave a speech as part of her role as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA) before meeting with Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

The mother-of-three looking glowing in a stylish distressed suit as she stepped up to the podium.

She wore a matching blazer with an accompanying knee length skirt in a tweed material with distressed black and white tassels.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (pictured) looked radiant this morning as she delivered a speech at a tech festival in Singapore

The Dutch royal gave a speech as part of her role as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA) before meeting with Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (pictured right)

She accessorised with a silver banded bangle on her right arm, along with a thick black leather bracelet.

The queen wore a chunky pearl necklace and a matching pair of three beaded white earrings.

Typically glamorous, Maxima donned a full makeup look with bronze swept across her cheeks and a black smoky to accentuate her beautiful round eyes.

She kept her blonde tresses down by her shoulders, straightening her locks for a sleek finish.

As part of her trip to the southeast Asian country, the Dutch royal also met with Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the nation's Istana presidential palace.

Before meeting the President, Maxima had the chance to sign the guest book.

The two were pictured sitting down together to chat, while they enjoyed a tea together.

The Singapore FinTech Festival is the largest in the world of its kind. The annual events seeks to recognise innovative FinTech solutions, financial institutions, technology companies.

The Dutch royal has previously given speeches at the annual tech festival in Singapore, having been a guest speaker in both 2017 and 2019.

The tech festival kickstarted today at the Singapore EXPO venue and will go on until Friday.

Maxima, 53, donned a stunning checkered black and white suit as she arrived at Singapore FinTech Festival on Wednesday to deliver a speech in the southeast Asian country

She wore a matching blazer with an accompanying knee length skirt in a tweed material with distressed black and white tassels

The mother-of-three looking glowing in a stylish distressed suit as she stepped up to the podium

Before meeting the President, Maxima had the chance to sign the guest book

The two were pictured sitting down together to chat, while they enjoyed a tea together

Maxima was recently appointed the UN Secretary-Generals Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA).

In her new role, she continues to campaign for equitable access to financial tools and literacy to help people secure their future.

As part her former role in the UN as Secretary-Generals Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, Maxima previously discussed the importance of tech innovations in improving access to financial services at the annual tech festival.

She advocated for better access to current or savings accounts, insurance, loans, pensions and digital payments - for the 1.7 billion adults worldwide who lack access to these basic financial services.

It comes after the royal was spotted during a number of official engagements in her native Holland in late October.

The Dutch royal greeted onlookers warmly during a visit to a not-for-profit organisation in Hoofddorp in the province of North Holland.

The royal accessorised her all-red ensemble, comprising a sleeveless, knee-length dress and an elegant coat, with a pair of suede beige heels and a clutch bag.

Maxima was recently appointed the UN Secretary-Generals Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA)

The Singapore FinTech Festival is the largest in the world of its kind. The annual events seeks to recognise innovative FinTech solutions, financial institutions, technology companies

Typically glamorous, Maxima donned a full makeup look with bronze swept across her cheeks and a black smoky to accentuate her beautiful round eyes

The Dutch royal has previously given speeches at the annual tech festival in Singapore, having been a guest speaker in both 2017 and 2019

Maxima, who campaigns for financial literacy and inclusion, attended a workshop hosted by the Stronger Together programme against poverty on Wednesday.

During one heartfelt moment, a group of young children at the workshop gathered around the royal in a giant embrace, with others offering her bouquets of flowers.

Maxima completed her red outfit with a pair of ruby earrings, and wore her hair in an effortlessly chic bun.

She also wore a pair of diamond bracelets, a watch, and her wedding ring, with Maxima opting for a subtle smokey eye to pull the whole look together.

Her flawless makeup base was accentuated with a pop of colour on the cheeks and a simple, nude lip.

On the same day as her visit to Hoofddorp, Maxima also travelled to the Northwest Hospital Group in Alkmaar, where she attended a program focussed on the 'Future of Healthcare'.

The mother-of-three posed for selfies with hospital staff, before meeting patients and addressing the gathering at the Northwest Hospital Group.
The South Korean Navy has 17 frigates, all of which entered service between 1992 and 2024. There are thirteen destroyers, three corvettes and 34 patrol boats. There are also 22 submarines and 21 amphibious warfare ships. The frigates and submarines are the first line of defense along South Korean coasts. The patrol boats patrol and report what they encounter. Its up to the larger warships to deal with any threat. The most prominent ships defending the coasts are the frigates. The destroyers and larger submarines operate much farther from Korea.

Since 2017 all South Korean navy ships have been built in South Korea. At the end of 2016 South Korea retired the last U.S. built warship in its fleet, a support vessel, a 3,000 ton salvage and rescue ship that entered U.S. service in 1972 as the USS Beaufort. This ship retired from American service in 1996 and was transferred to South Korea, where it served as the Pyeongtaek (ATS-27) for another 20 years. South Korea put two locally designed and built ATS ships into service in 2014 and 2016.

South Korea began designing and building its own warships in the late 1970s. This began with patrol boats, advanced to corvettes and frigates in the 1980s, to amphibious ships, submarines and destroyers in the 1990s and after 2000 to larger destroyers similar to the American Aegis destroyers. By the 1990s South Korea began to export warships to other Asian nations and that continues to expand. The latest South Korean warship is the 4,200-ton frigate Chungnam, the first of six FFX-III ships of this class.

In 2013 South Korea commissioned its first FFX frigate. The FFXs are 3,200 ton ships and are each armed with a 127mm gun, eight anti-ship or cruise missiles, three torpedo tubes, a RAM anti-missile launcher, and a Phalanx anti-missile gun system. There is space aft for two helicopters. FFXs are for coast defense. FFX replaces older Ulsan class frigates and Pohang class corvettes. In 1986 one of the Pohangs confronted and sank a North Korean gunboat that entered South Korean waters and refused to obey signals to withdraw. In a similar 1996 incident, two North Korean warships withdrew as ordered.

The 24 Pohang-class corvettes came in two variants. The first is an anti-ship version which has two Exocet anti-ship missiles, a 76mm gun, and a twin 30mm anti-aircraft gun. The second is an ASW version , which has two 76mm guns, two triple 12.75-inch torpedo tubes, and two twin 40mm anti-aircraft guns.

The FFX ships are highly automated, requiring a crew of only 140. Top speed is 61 kilometers an hour. Range is 8,000 kilometers. Most of the equipment (including electronics) and weapons are locally built. South Korea plans to build at least fifteen of these ships. The first six were all in service by 2015. The first ship in the class, the Ulsan, cost over $110 million. South Korea hoped to export the FFX to many navies who want a quality, low cost, warship. Meanwhile, South Korea has also built larger warships and is getting more into submarine production.

South Korea has also paid a lot of attention to amphibious operations, which would be essential if there were ever a war with North Korea. In 2018 the South Koreans put the last of four LST II class amphibious assault ships into service. These 7,100 ton vessels can carry 300 troops as well as 10-20 vehicles. There is a landing pad that can hold 2 helicopters. Two smaller landing craft that can run up on a beach are also carried. The ship is 126 meters long, 19 meters wide, and has a crew of 120. Top speed is 42 kilometers an hour. Cruising speed is 32 kilometers an hour, and at that speed the ship can stay at sea for 18 days. Weapons consist mostly of anti-missile systems plus a 76mm gun. The first ship entered service in 2015. The navy has four 1990s LST I class ships as well as two larger 18,000 ton Dokdo class LPH helicopter landing ships that carry 720 marines and ten helicopters as well as 200 vehicles put ashore via landing craft or hovercraft. The navy has eight of these and four can operate from LPHs.

These LST II class ships are part of an expansion of South Korea amphibious forces. The South Korean Marine Corps was expanded from 25,000 men to 29,000. The South Korean marines were initially organized into two divisions and a brigade. As part of the expansion, a new brigade and helicopter squadron were formed to help guard the North Korean border on the west coast. The aviation battalion uses 30 of the new KUHs (Korean Utility Helicopter). Nicknamed Surion, KUH carries 2 pilots and 11 passengers. It can be armed with 7.62mm machine-guns. Some 60 percent of the components are made in South Korea. The 8.7 ton KUH can hover up to 3,000 meters and has a top speed of 240 kilometers an hour.

Currently, the South Korea marines are equipped with 60 LVTP-7 amphibious vehicles, 42 AAV-7A1s, and 60 K-1 tanks. This force is officially under the control of the South Korean Navy but usually operates under command of the army. Currently, about 5,000 marines are stationed on the west coast, including nearby islands. The new brigade will expand this force.

In 2016 the marines were ordered to form a special rapid deployment brigade called Spartan 3000. This unit has 3,000 marines assigned and is trained and ready to move anywhere in the Korean peninsula within 24 hours. Marines rotate into and out of Spartan 3000 because the work is particularly demanding. Spartan 3000 is meant to quickly respond to any North Korean attack by defeating any North Korean special operations forces that get into South Korea and also go after key targets in North Korea. To assist with that there are about another thousand South Korean special operations troops involved.

The South Korean marines are considered an elite force, even though many of the troops are draftees. But all the marines are volunteers and the training is tough. It's considered an honor to be a marine, and their original mentors, the U.S. Marine Corps, have long acknowledged that their Korean counterparts learned their lessons well.
Queen Camilla, 77, has been forced to cancel her forthcoming engagements

Queen Camilla has been forced to cancel her forthcoming public engagements after suffering a nasty chest infection - but it's not the first time it's affected her.

In 2019, she pulled out of a gala dinner at the London Library on medical advice after contracting a chest infection. The event in had been planned to mark the 200-year anniversary of Prince Albert's birth.

A day later, she missed an event at Westminster Abbey's Field of Remembrance with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with Clarence House saying the infection had got progressively worse.

Camilla, then 72 and Duchess of Cornwall, was due to visit the Field of Remembrance in the grounds of Westminster Abbey.

It was set to be her first public outing with Harry and Meghan without being accompanied by her husband, then Prince Charles - and was Meghan's first appearance at the event.

Queen Camilla has been forced to cancel her forthcoming public engagements after suffering a nasty chest infection. Pictured on October 25

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during a visit to the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in Westminster, London, November 7, 2019

Two days later, Camilla was luckily well enough to attend the annual Festival of Remembrance, alongside William, Kate, Harry and Meghan.

This year, Camilla, 77, has also been forced to withdraw from the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance, due to take place on Thursday.

The Field of Remembrance is where former servicemen and woman and members of the public can leave a cross and personal memories to remember those who lost their lives.

As the daughter of decorated war hero Major Bruce Shand, who earned two military crosses in the Second World War for his bravery, it is a duty she takes extremely diligently and will be seen as a sign of how poorly she is feeling. The Duchess of Gloucester, 78, will step in for her.

Camilla is understood to be recovering at home in Wiltshire and is being monitored by doctors. She is still reportedly hoping to attend the weekend's Remembrance events, as she was able to in 2019, including the ceremony at the Cenotaph on Sunday.

The update comes after a year of health troubles for the Royal Family, with both the King and the Princess of Wales being diagnosed with cancer.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest.

'With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend's Remembrance events as normal.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex paid their respects as they visit the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in 2019

Meghan cut a demure figure in a Sentaler navy coat and a pair of 620 knee-length heeled boots by Tamara Mellon

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex plants a cross carrying a personal message in memory of those who lost their lives in the service of others

Meghan the Duchess of Sussex holds a Cross of Remembrance before placing it

The event was set to be the first time Camilla had joined Harry and Meghan without her husband - but she had to pull out of the event due to illness

The Duchess of Sussex was pictured smiling after leaving the engagement

'She apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.'

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer posted a get-well message to the Queen on social media. He wrote: 'On behalf of the whole country, I wish Her Majesty The Queen a speedy recovery.'

Camilla will also have to cancel her appearance at a reception at Buckingham Palace in honour of the nation's Olympic and Paralympic stars this Thursday.

The King will still attend, accompanied by his sister Princess Anne.

At the 2019 event, Prince Harry, wearing his Household Division ceremonial uniform, and Meghan planted tiny crosses to pay their respects to servicemen and women.

The couple bowed their heads after placing a cross on a larger version made of poppies, as they looked out at a sea of crosses erected by military units and other groups associated with the First World War and other conflicts.

Later that week, on November 9, 2019, Camilla was luckily well enough to attend the Festival of Remembrance alongside other senior royals

Harry and Meghan are pictured at the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance in 2019

King Charles III and Queen Camilla on a beach in Apia during their trip to Samoa on October 25

Queen Camilla waves while boarding an Royal Australian Air Force plane ahead of departing from Faleolo Airport in Samoa after the royal visit to Australia and Samoa on October 26

Meghan cut a demure figure in a Sentaler navy coat and a pair of 620 knee-length heeled boots by Tamara Mellon. She also wore a slim belt over a black dress and a navy Philip Treacy hat, with an elegant veil detail.

Harry and Meghan also visited the plots for regimental and other associations, meeting veterans from all areas of the Armed Forces, including 20 D-Day veterans, and stood still as the Last Post was played by a bugler.

Meghan crouched down to chat to Elizabeth Herschel, 96, who proudly wore the Second World War medals of her husband Stanley, a former Royal Engineer, and her own medals from her time with the Auxiliary Territorial Service.

Mrs Herschel, from Newcastle, spoke to Prince Harry and offered him some advice , saying: 'I told him you can't pick your family, but you can pick your friends, and he said 'I will remember that'.'

The couple arrived two minutes late for the event after their convoy apparently went to the wrong entrance.
Sarah Ferguson has said the Queen was 'more my mother than my own mother' as she paid tribute to the 'legendary' late monarch.

The Duchess of York, 65, spoke fondly of her former mother-in-law while promoting her new book A Woman of Intrigue in Australia.

Appearing on The Jess Row Big Talk Show, Sarah - whose own mother died in a car accident in Argentina in 1998 - explained how the royal was a maternal figure in her life.

She said: 'The thing about the Queen was that she was more my mother than my own mother.

'The Queen was an iconic, legendary, stalwart, steadfast, invisible hand of love behind your back.'

Pictured: Sarah Ferguson with her ex-husband Prince Andrew and the late Queen outside Clarence House in 1986

Although they had a loving relationship, Sarah did admit that she had to 'keep her wits about her' while around the Queen.

She continued: 'I mean, she was the grandmother of the nation. She was the steadfastness of an extraordinary pillar of strength for the Commonwealth, for the nation, for Australia, for the world.'

What's more, the Duchess also gave an update on the Queen's two beloved corgis Muick and Sandy, who now live with Sarah and Prince Andrew at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

'They are national treasures,' Sarah said. 'So they are very spoiled.'

On the one year anniversary of the late royal's death, Fergie called the Queen her 'second mother' in an emotional tribute and added: 'I will miss her more than words can express.'

The Duchess' parents Ronald Ferguson and Susan Wright divorced after 18 years of marriage in 1974 - when Fergie was 15 years old.

According to BBC News, the marriage ended as a result of the Major's affair with one of his wife's best friends.

The following year, Susan caused a stir in British social circles when she eloped with Argentinian polo player Hector Barrantes and left her daughters in the care of their father.

Pictured: The Duchess of York with her late mother Susan Barrantes at Buenos Aires airport in May 1997

The Duchess of York (pictured), 65, spoke fondly of her former mother-in-law while promoting her new book A Woman of Intrigue in Australia

Polo player Hector Barrantes with his wife Susan talking to the press in Argentina following the announcement that her daughter is to marry Prince Andrew

Pictured: Sarah Ferguson holding Princess Beatrice while on board the Royal Yacht with Prince Andrew and Queen Elizabeth in 1989. The Duchess has said in a new interview that the late royal was 'more my mother than my own mother'

During their 15 year marriage, Susan - who had earned the nickname 'the bolter' - travelled the world following Hector's polo career and set up the Estancia El Pucara range, which they later developed into a equestrian centre.

Despite the Falklands War making it difficult to visit the UK, Susan and Hector both attended Sarah's wedding to Prince Andrew in 1986.

After Hector died of cancer in 1990, Susan remained in Argentina - where she set up her own TV production company and would regularly commute to Buenos Aires for work.

While returning home from a lunch with friends in September 1998, Sarah's Land Rover collided head-on with a truck on a provincial highway.

Tragically, Susan - who was 61 at the time - died instantly while her nephew Rafael Barrantes and the other driver Jose Maria Rodriguez both sustained minimal injuries.

Earlier this year, the Duchess marked the anniversary of her mother's death on Instagram - and said she was 'far too young to be taken from us'.

Pictured: Sarah Ferguson arriving back in Sunninghill, Berkshire, with her daughter Princess Eugenie shortly after her mother's death in Argentina

Susan caused a stir in British social circles in 1975 when she eloped with Argentinian polo player Hector Barrantes and left her daughters in the care of their father

Undated photograph of the Duchess of York's late father Major Ronald Ferguson, who died of cancer in 2003

Sarah Ferguson called the late Queen (left, with Sarah's mother) 'a second mother' in touching tribute to mark the one year anniversary of her death

Sarah's emotional Instagram post said: 'My much-loved mother Susie died 26 years ago today.

'She was far too young to be taken from us and I often reflect on the fact that at just 61, she was younger than I am now when she died in a cruel accident.

'I think constantly of her zest for life and her shining spirit. Like all of us, she made mistakes but she taught me to value each and every day and to always seek to treat people with kindness. I miss her greatly.'

In an interview with Hello magazine in 2011, Sarah said that she had a premonition that her mother would one day die in a car accident.

She said: 'She was a wonderful mother and I loved every moment with her . . . I used to leave messages for her when I was little, saying, I'm frightened you're going to die in a car crash.'

The Duchess has also apparently had second thoughts about her relationship with her father, Major Ron Ferguson, whom she had called cruel in her reality show Finding Sarah.

She told the magazine: 'I loved my mother and father. They gave me the most idyllic childhood.'
The discount supermarket chain will open 11 new stores across the country

Aldi has announced it will open 11 new stores across the country between now and Christmas 2024.

From this week, the discount supermarket chain, which already has more than 1,000 branches nationwide, will welcome customers to new stores in Sedgley in the West Midlands and Castle Douglas in Scotland.

Consistently voted the UK's cheapest supermarket by watchdog Which?, the German-born brand will also open shops in Muswell Hill in north London, Horsham in West Sussex and the Scottish county of Midlothian later this month.

The run-up to the festive season will see additional openings in Totton in Hampshire, Cribbs Causeway in Bristol and Pwllheli in Gwynedd, Wales.

Branches in Tyne and Wear, Greater Manchester and Banffshire are also due to open before Christmas.

Discount supermarket chain Aldi has announced 11 new openings in the run-up to Christmas 2024

ALDI'S NEW OPENINGS The Aldi stores opening before Christmas: November 2024 Bilston Street, Sedgley, West Midlands

Oakwell Road, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway

Tanbridge Retail Park, Horsham, West Sussex

Straiton Road, Loanhead, Midlothian

Muswell Hill, Haringey, Greater London

Caernavon Road, Pwllheli, Gwynedd December 2024 Salisbury Road, Totton, Hampshire

Cribbs Causeway, Bristol

Colliery Lane, Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear

Princess Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester

Duff Street, Macduff, Banffshire Advertisement

The new locations are part of Aldi's long-term target of 1,500 stores across the UK.

Jonathan Neale, Real Estate Managing Director at Aldi UK said: 'Our new store openings are a testament to our ongoing investment in the UK, and we're thrilled to bring Aldi's unbeatable prices to even more communities ahead of the festive season.'

At the end of October, Aldi launched its Christmas menu, with one product in particular leaving shoppers stumped.

Available for 1.99, the supermarket is selling hollow chocolate eggs in festive packaging - which they are calling 'Chreaster Eggs'.

After catching shoppers' attention in Aldi's aisles, some expressed enthusiasm for the new eggs, with one X user commenting: 'I'll take them all thank you!'.

Another said: 'I love Aldi. Just when you think they can't do better. This is so cursed I actually love it.'

But others were less impressed. One person wrote: 'Eggs! Just no, Aldi. We all know that Christmas chocolate is either sphere, triangular, circular or hexagon shaped!'

Equally dismayed, someone else said: 'I saw these in my Aldi on Saturday and I was so confused.'

The controversial Christmas product is available in red foil as Garry the Gingerbread Man and blue foil as Parker the Penguin, with Aldi suggesting they make for the 'perfect stocking filler'.

This year the budget supermarket was awarded winner of the Good Housekeeping annual Christmas Taste Test, beating rivals including Waitrose, Tesco, M&S and Lidl in multiple categories.

But it's victory was not without controversy.

Eggs are typically seen as a symbol of rebirth and life, and have long been a feature of Easter celebrations marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Some shoppers criticised Aldi's creation of 'Chreaster' with one saying: 'May as well cut the Christmas story short and "roll the stone away" immediately with a Chreaster Egg, no point in prolonging it all.'

Aldi cheekily replied: 'We could turn the entire year into one big festive event'.

A shopper questioned how far Aldi would go in its merging of holidays and teased: 'Where's the Chreasterween eggs?'

In response, Aldi said its 'final destination' is 'Easumalloweemas eggs'.

After catching shoppers' attention in Aldi's aisles, some have expressed enthusiasm about the eggs online - while others were unimpressed by the festive treat

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, argued that the 'Chreaster Egg' trend has 'taken off' because of its blending of holidays.

She said: 'At Aldi we're always looking for fun and creative ways to enhance our Christmas range.

'The "Chreaster egg" trend has really taken off because it blends Easter's most popular treat, the Easter Egg, with the beloved season of Christmas.

'Whether it's a stocking filler or a conversation starter, we hope shoppers love our charming Dairyfine Hollow Character Eggs.'
Viewers were left 'holding their breath' at a 'terrifying' scene in Netflix's latest true crime hit, Woman of the Hour - and it was nowhere close to being the goriest or most violent scene in the film.

It tells the story of The Dating Game contestant Cheryl Bradshaw (written as Sheryl in the movie), who nearly went on a date with American serial killer Rodney Alcala in 1978 - recounts many of the prolific murderer's horrific crimes.

Actor Daniel Zovatto portrayed his many violent encounters, including moments where unsuspecting victims are brutally assaulted.

But many women took to social media to praise one chilling scene in the movie which left them on 'the edge of their seat'.

It took place in a dark, empty parking lot, after Sheryl - played by the thriller's director Anna Kendrick - goes to her car after grabbing a drink with Rodney.

While the pair appeared to hit it off at the dating show - leading her to pick him as the victorious 'bachelor' - she began to find his presence and comments unsettling, and decided against going to a date with him, giving him a fake number before walking away.

But a terrifying Rodney suddenly asked her to repeat the digits back to him, claiming: 'I just want to make sure I have the right one... You know sometimes the fours, they kind of look like nines.'

When Sheryl asked to see the paper again, he taunted: 'You can't repeat it from memory?'

Viewers were left 'holding their breath' at a 'terrifying' scene in Netflix 's latest true crime hit, Woman of the Hour - and it was nowhere close to being the goriest or most violent scene in the film

Many women took to social media to praise one chilling scene in the movie which left them on 'the edge of their seat'

The stand-off continued and she eventually admitted she's 'not going anywhere' with Rodney.

The intimidating killer said 'alright, fair enough, maybe I'll see you around' - before under his breath adding: 'Then you'd get your f***ing head bashed in.'

It followed with a horrifying sequence that saw Sheryl trying to calmly make her way back to her car, while Rodney creepily paced behind her.

The panicked 'bachelorette' began to slightly jog, and while she eventually reached her vehicle, the killer managed to menacingly make his way behind her, clearly primed to attack - before the pair were interrupted by a group of men suddenly arriving in the parking lot.

Sheryl took advantage of the situation and sped away, as viewers on X admitted they 'held their breath' amidst the scary tension.

Many women also took to the comments of the clip shared by Netflix's account, to remark on the chilling fear of having an unknown man walk behind you, when there's no one around.

'Every woman knows the dread of walking to her car at night in a parking lot or a garage,' one penned.

'Every woman has had this feeling and some of us the experience of a creep following you. It exists to this day and it sucks,' another added.

'So terrifying actually,' a third wrote.

It took place in a dark, empty parking lot, after Sheryl - played by the thriller's director Anna Kendrick - goes to her car after grabbing a drink with Rodney

It followed with a horrifying sequence that saw Sheryl trying to calmly make her way back to her car, while Rodney creepily paced behind her

Sheryl took advantage of the situation and sped away, as viewers on X admitted they 'held their breath' amidst the scary tension

Despite the scary encounter between Rodney and Cheryl not happening in real life - in reality it is understood they also never went for a drink together - people dubbed the scene as 'fearful and gripping', admitting they felt 'scared' for Sheryl.

'Anna Kendrick really managed to make this scene look like something straight out of a horror movie and give us chills,' one said.

Woman of the Hour has been highly praised by terrified fans who know the true story behind the new film.

Alcala's crime spree started years before he killed his alleged first murder victim in 1971.

He assaulted several young women while he was in the army in the 1960s, and nearly killed eight-year-old Tali Shapiro in 1968.

Alcala escaped law enforcement, and murdered at least four more women before appearing on The Dating Game.

It took years for law enforcement to finally capture 'The Dating Game' killer for good in 1979, but he had already murdered Jill Parenteau and 12-year-old Robin Samsoe before they arrested him.

He was eventually linked to eight murders, but law enforcement believe his victim count is much higher.

Despite the scary encounter between Rodney and Cheryl not happening in real life - in reality it is understood they also never went for a drink together - people dubbed the scene as 'fearful and gripping', admitting they felt 'scared' for Sheryl

Woman of the Hour has been highly praised by terrified fans who know the true story behind the new film

Rodney Alcala appeared on an episode of The Dating Show in 1978, and won a date with its bachelorette, Cheryl Bradshaw (left)

Alcala died of natural causes while on death row in 2021, and Bradshaw seemingly lives a quiet life after having moved away from California.

Critics who've watched the film since its Netflix debut have praised the film, and its Tomatometer hiked up to 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

It's also left them a bit frightened, and one reviewer insisted it was 'entertaining and troubling in turns.'

'More a social commentary than a pulpy thriller, the film spends longer listening to the women who were long ignored - those who suspected him, those who trusted him, those who reported him - than ogling his crimes,' a critic wrote for Empire.

'You dont need to see evil inflicted on a woman to feel her suffering.'

'Woman of the Hour will surely send many looking up this stranger-than-fiction story,' wrote a critic from the Associated Press.

'But Kendricks achievement is in capturing, from a womans point of view, just how hard it can be to pick a serial killer out of an all-male line-up.'

During an appearance on The View last month, Anna spoke about how it was important for her to make sure the story was led by a female perspective.

During an appearance on The View last month, Anna (pictured last month) spoke about how it was important for her to make sure the story was led by a female perspective

'I knew, going into it, there were a couple of things that didn't interest me, one being really graphic violence,' she explained.

'But the other being I didn't want to make a whole movie about why he does this, it doesn't matter and we can't know.

'And I really wanted to hopefully make something that talked about the kind of fear that most women have to operate with every day, every interaction that we have is like, how do I survive this interaction emotionally, maybe financially or physically and make a movie that was more about that.'

Host Sara Haines then said: 'Well, and how many times you have to stuff the creepy feeling down until it could cost you your life,' as Anna replied: 'Right, and smile through it because if I seem uncomfortable, maybe that will trigger you.'

Elsewhere last week, Anna revealed that she donated all the money she made from Woman of the Hour to charity.

She said she didn't expect the film to make any money and it was only up until the premiere that she began to think about how popular it would be.

Speaking to Ashley Flowers, host of SiriusXM's Crime Junkie AF podcast, the actress said: 'This was never a money-making venture for me.

'Eventually, Netflix bought the movie. But it wasn't until, like, the week before TIFF [Toronto International Film Festival] that I thought, "Oh, this movie's gonna make money."

The star said explained that this is when her conscience began to kick in. 'I asked myself the question of, "Do you feel gross about this?" And I did,' she said.

At the time, Netflix was reported to have paid $11m (8.5m) for the rights.

While Anna didn't disclose her fee, she said she donated to charities Rainn (the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) and the National Centre for Victims of Crime.

'That felt like the least that I could do,' she added.
The royal returned to work to present the Ebbe Munck award in Copenhagen

Queen Margrethe of Denmark appeared in very positive spirits on Tuesday as she undertook her first engagement since being hospitalised two months ago.

The royal, 84, who abdicated from the throne in January in favour of her son King Frederik, returned to work to present the Ebbe Munck award at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

The Queen suffered a fall at Fredensborg Castle in September, injuring her neck vertebrae and sustaining fracture to her left hand.

She was discharged from hospital after one day, but has since been recovering in private.

Margrethe looked the picture of health as she made her first public appearance since the fall to present the award, of which she is patron.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark appeared in very positive spirits on Tuesday as she undertook her first engagement since being hospitalised two months ago

The royal, 84, who abdicated from the throne in January in favour of her son King Frederik, returned to work to present the Ebbe Munck award at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen

Looking elegant in a blue silk blazer and matching dress, the Queen was beaming as she shook hands with delegates.

She carried a walking stick with her - which she often carries in public - and there was no sign of a cast on her arm.

She presented the award to Danish politician Margrethe Vestager.

It was set up in 1975 to commemorate the life of the World War II freedom fighter, and now honours people who work in fields related to her interests, which include fashion.

'If you feel good enough, then you feel good enough. Even though I have now fallen down a flight of stairs and am not quite as mobile as I used to be, I feel well enough,' she told Danish paper Kristeligt Dagblad this week, in her first interview since the fall.

King Frederik, 55, the eldest of Margrethe's two sons, spoke publicly on the news that his mother had been hopsitalised shortly after news broke.

Speaking to reporters, he revealed he had spoken to his mother and was confident she was 'in good hands'.

He added: 'We take it day by day. The doctors are the ones who decide.'

She carried a walking stick with her - which she often carries in public - and there was no sign of a cast on her arm

Margrethe looked the picture of health as she made her first public appearance since the fall to present the award

Denmark's Queen Margrethe (L) presents Ebbe Munck's honorary award to Margrethe Vestager at an event at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark

Margrethe, who is patron of the award, gave a round of applause to Ms Vestager

The award was set up in 1975 to commemorate the life of the World War II freedom fighter, and now honours people who work in fields related to her interests, which include fashion

Denmark's Queen Margrethe arrives for the presentation of Ebbe Munck's honorary award

The Queen suffered a fall at Fredensborg Castle in September, injuring her neck vertebrae and sustaining fracture to her left hand

She was discharged from hospital after one day, but has since been recovering in private

Looking elegant in a blue silk blazer and matching dress, the Queen was beaming as she shook hands with delegates

Margrethe abdicated in January in favour of her son King Frederik but still attends royal engagements

The King was speaking as he arrived at the Danish capital's City Hall to attend celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir.

Despite resigning in her New Year's Eve speech last year, the monarch remains active and performs royal duties alongside her son.

Fredensborg Castle, on the Dutch island of Zealand, is the royal family's country seat where they spend the summer.

Margrethe shocked the nation with the announcement of her abdication during her New Year's Eve live television segment.

Just 14 days later, Margrethe, who ruled for 52 years, signed away the throne at a Council of State meeting and her son, Frederik, was crowned King of Denmark.

She said one of the reasons why she chose to give up the throne was because of her health issues, adding that she underwent surgery for her back in February 2023.

She said: 'It went well, thanks to the skilled healthcare staff who took care of me. Of course, the operation also gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation.'

She is still known as Her Majesty Queen Margrethe and can fill in as regent if King Frederik, Queen Mary and Crown Prince Christian are abroad, ill or on holiday.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark is pictured a week before her fall at the Karen Blixen Museum in Copenhagen in September

The Danish Queen (right) was succeeded by her eldest son Frederik (centre) pictured with his Australian-born wife Mary

In her broadcast on New Year's Eve, Queen Margrethe II stated: 'I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark.'

Margrethe II was the eldest of the three daughters of King Frederik IX of Denmark, and succeeded him to the throne in 1972

Just one week after giving up the crown, the royal went to a special church service at Aarhus Cathedral with her son, King Frederik and his wife Queen Mary.

In Denmark, formal power resides with the elected parliament and its government. The monarch is expected to stay above partisan politics, representing the nation with traditional duties ranging from state visits to national day celebrations.

Born in 1940, Margrethe has throughout her life enjoyed broad support from Danes, who are fond of her tactful and yet creative personality, the Prime Minster has previously described her as 'the epitome of Denmark'.

The monarch hit the headlines in 2022 when she removed royal titles from the four children of her younger son Prince Joachim.

She enjoyed a close relationship with her third cousin Queen Elizabeth II, both descendants of Queen Victoria, having bonded during several state visits to each other's countries down the decades - most recently in 2000, when Margrethe was received at Windsor.

The six-feet-tall Margrethe has been one of the most popular public figures in Denmark. She often walked the streets of Copenhagen virtually unescorted and won the admiration of Danes for her warm manners and for her talents as a linguist and designer.

A keen skier, she was a member of a Danish women's air force unit as a princess, taking part in judo courses and endurance tests in the snow.
The corner of SoHo occupied by New York eatery Balthazar should have been awash with the sound of corks popping overnight - after the restaurant's British owner said he would gift every table with a bottle of Taittinger if Kamala Harris made it to the White House.

Instead, Keith McNally will have to keep the champagne - a bottle of Taittinger which is listed on the menu at 490 (around 380) a bottle - firmly on ice for another four years, after Donald Trump romped to a second term.

An optimistic McNally, 73, who famously banned James Corden from his restaurant after a spat last year, told those who'd booked at the celebrity favourite: 'If at some point during the night it appears that Kamala Harris is going to win, I'm going to offer every table at Balthazar a free bottle of Taittinger Champagne.'

Trumped! An optimistic Keith McNally, who had generously offered each table at his New York restaurant Balthazar an expensive bottle of champagne should Harris win, has had to keep the bottles on ice

Staying put: A photo posted by McNally showing champagne bottles in the restaurant

McNally, who is publishing his autobiography later this year, added 'Bar customers and all my staff - from the servers to the dishwashers - will be given a glass of champagne also.'

The restaurateur is often known as the man 'who invented downtown' thanks to his success with the Parisian-style brasserie

He had previously laid his cards on the table, saying he had been impressed by Harris after meeting her years earlier.

He wrote: 'Kamala Harris left such a powerful impression on me that I'm definitely going to vote for her to be the next president of the United States,' the caption wrote.

McNally has been in the restaurant scene since the 1980s and is the owner of New York City's Balthazar along with dozens of sister restaurants

McNally recalled being dragged to Jim Belushi's fourth of July party at his house on Martha's Vineyard in 2008 despite 'loathing' parties and fireworks.

But he ran into a surprise on his way out.

'Jim or his wife, Jenny, introduced me to a woman in her mid-forties,' he wrote. 'The woman was African-American and alarmingly intelligent.

'She was also sassy, attractive and extremely witty. Even though I was anxious to leave the party, I wanted to talk with this woman more.'

The woman's name was Kamala Harris.

In McNally's most recent post to Instagram, he told his thousands of followers that he would definitely be voting for Harris

This past June, McNally offered free dinner to any one of his 131,000 followers who could name the celebrity he singled out in a post that was immediately deleted for 'violent or graphic content'

McNally recalled clicking with the now-Vice President, who was the District Attorney of San Francisco at the time.

He noted how despite Harris being far more intelligent than him, she was interested in talking with him - so much so that they had a conversation for about 20 minutes and agreed to meet for coffee later that week.

Although they never did get around to a coffee meet-up, the two exchanged emails a few times over the next year.

'One of the endless things I regret in life is not staying in touch with her,' McNally wrote.

'If it looks like Harris is going to win before the night's over, I plan to give every table at the restaurant a great bottle of champagne. It's the very least I can do.'

But this wouldn't be the first time he's offered to give out free items from his eatery.

Despite being considered 'New York's most provocative restaurateur' due to his dozens of internet feuds throughout the years, the comments under his most recent post supporting Kamala Harris were mostly positive

McNally - who is also considered 'New York's most provocative restaurateur' - has been the center of a slew of 'internet beef' throughout the years, including with Adam Platt, a restaurant critic, and comedian James Corden.

In June of this year, the sharp-tongued owner spilled the beans on the celebrity whose identity was censored by Instagram after he offered the 'raw truth' about them.

He was inundated with guesses after offering a free dinner to anyone naming the person he had singled out in a post that was immediately deleted for 'violent or graphic content'.

'Judging by the amount of individuals you have fallen out with, this bet has worse odds than the Euro lottery,' wrote one user.

His 131,000 Instagram followers may have had in mind his torrent of abuse against Lauren Sanchez, fiancee of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who he called 'absolutely revolting' in an April post.

'What an ugly and f***ing SMUG - LOOKING couple they make,' he added. 'Is this what having 1000 Billion dollars does to people?'

In September of this year, he took to the platform again, slamming Lauren Sanchez and some of the Kardashian clan by calling them 'repulsive.'

McNally is no stranger to internet beef and has used his 'razor sharp tongue' to call out food critics, comedian James Cordon and most notably Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos' fiancee

McNally said that a free bottle of champagne for the customers of his Parisian-style brasserie is the least he can do after Harris left a powerful impact on him 16 years ago

But the comments under his most recent post were mostly filled with support, despite making headlines dozens of times throughout the years for savage social media posts.

'See you on Tuesday for that champagne!!!' one user wrote.

Another said: 'FILL MY FLUTE!'

'Amazing!' another wrote. 'I sure hope it goes the way you are thinking! I'll be having champagne too!!!!! Cheers to that!!!'
Catherine Warrilow was told she couldn't board her flight to Seville at Stansted

Ryanair has been slammed for charging a woman an extra 75 for her luggage due to a 'mind-bendingly ridiculous' reason.

Catherine Warrilow, 45, was flying to Seville from London Stansted last month when she was told she couldn't board the plane with her suitcase.

Despite paying in advance for priority boarding with one cabin bag, Catherine was told it was 2cm 'too big' due to her suitcase's expandable zip.

However, when the suitcase was zipped shut, it fit within the sizing rack and met the budget airline's luggage requirements.

Catherine paid 170 for the airfare and eventually was charged more than 100 extra for her baggage, including paying to put it in the hold on her return flight.

She has now shared her story in a TikTok video which has racked up more than 400,000 views, saying: 'Ryanair have taken their bag charge scandal to a whole new level.'

Ryanair has been slammed after charging a woman an extra 75 for her luggage

Catherine said she was told at the check-in desk she either had to pay 75 or leave her suitcase behind.

The travel brand consultant, who lives in Oxford, claims she was told she couldn't board with it in case she had to 'kneel on it' to get it in the overhead locker.

She said: 'It had the potential to be bigger than the size allowance even though it fit within their sizing rack when closed. They weren't having it whatsoever.

'It doesn't make any sense. It seems like loads of other people are having problems with expandable zips and also just being picked on at random in the queue. Some people are getting on without any problem and some people are getting fined.'

When Catherine went to take her luggage to put it in the hold, nobody was there - even after paying the 75 fee. Once on the plane, she said it fit in the overhead locker after all.

'It's just mind-bendingly ridiculous,' she said, adding in another video: 'It seems like hundreds and hundreds of people have been impacted by rip-off decisions.'

People rushed to the comment section to share their own experiences and despair at Ryanair's policies.

Catherine Warrilow, 45, was flying to Seville from London Stansted last month when she was told she couldn't board the plane with her suitcase (pictured)

They said: 'That's like getting pulled by the police for speeding even if your not because your car has potential to go faster';

'Happened to us at Liverpool John Lennon because I put it in back to front, he wouldn't let me turn it round because he'd seen it. On the tarmac yellow sticker was removed by ground crew as nothing...';

'And paying the 75 makes it fit ok in the overhead locker?';

'So does that mean they'll be checking if you're All Inclusive or Self Catering & fining you because you have the potential to expand?';

'This is why I don't fly Ryanair';

'Once you add on these money-making fines then surely Ryanair and easyJet aren't any cheaper. Might as well use a proper airline?';

'Yup this happened to me in Krakow, same suitcase I took from London but apparently on the way home it was too big, fuming.'

People rushed to the comment section to share their own experiences and their despair at Ryanair's policies

In a recent update, Catherine shared that she'd managed to get a refund for the charges from the budget airline, plus 35 for the amount she paid to put it in the hold on the way home.

She said: 'I think it's absolutely time that Ryanair stop taking the mick and ripping people off. It's not fair.'

She told BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine: 'This "added extra" culture that we find ourselves wrapped up in is crazy.

'The problem is, it's very unclear. If I'd contacted Ryanair... to check that my case met the standard, then they would have said yes based on the measurements.

'I work in the travel sector, I travel a lot, I know the industry well. And I fear we're making it very difficult for people to travel without this huge added layer of stress.'

Taking to TikTok, she showed how it 'fit perfectly' in the checker with the zip done up

Researchers from Which? previously found that some British Airways flights proved cheaper than Ryanair and Wizz air once extra costs have been factored in.

Meanwhile passengers have been forced to take 'desperate' measures for their luggage, as airlines continue to raise the price of checked bags.

The moves have caused some passengers to get creative, stuffing whatever they can under their seat - which varies from airline to airline. Moreover, planes are getting smaller and smaller each year, at the cost of space for carry-ons.

In a previous statement, Ryanair said: 'This passenger purchased a Priority Fare which permits a small personal bag and a 10kg bag.

'As this passenger's bag exceeded the dimensions allowed for a 10kg cabin bag, she was correctly required to pay a standard gate baggage fee.'

FEMAIL has approached Ryanair for further comment.
King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark put on a united front last night as they announced a major rebrand of their Crown Prince Couple's Awards - one year after the monarch's 'affair' scandal.

The couple - who have been plagued by rumours of marital strife over the past year - attended the annual awards, which celebrate 'outstanding performance and innovative thinking' in the arts, culture and social work sectors, in Copenhagen.

Following a series of solo engagements this week, Queen Mary posed for photos with her husband on the red carpet at the VEGA concert hall - before later taking to the stage with him to announce a new chapter in the awards' history.

For the occasion, the royal mother-of-four, 52, opted for an elegant black tuxedo jumpsuit with silk lapel by MaxMara.

Adding a pop of colour to her ensemble, Mary opted for a pair of yellow silk high heels by Manolo Blahnik - a variation of the pair made famous by Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex and the City franchise.

King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark (pictured) put on a united front at the Crown Prince Couple's Awards last night

The stylish royal teamed her designer heels with a matching yellow satin bag with chunky embellishment, which she tucked under her arm on the red carpet.

What's more, Mary slicked back her long brown hair to show off her dangly diamond earrings and opted for a glitzy grey smokey eye.

Meanwhile, King Frederik, 56, was dapper in a navy suit and white shirt for the occasion.

During the evening, the royal couple took to the stage to present awards live on television and also spent time speaking to winners and runners up afterwards.

The awards were first established in 2004 as a wedding gift to Frederik and Mary from the Bikuben Foundation - an independent organisation that specialises in creative schemes for young people.

During last night's event, Frederik and Mary announced the Crown Prince Couple's Awards will now be known as the Royal Couple's Awards - to signify their new royal status following their ascension in January.

In a joint speech, the pair explained: 'Tonight we say goodbye to the Crown Prince couple's Awards and welcome something new. Cause it doesn't stop here for us. We have new titles, but we carry our values with us.

'Therefore, in the future, we will also support social initiatives, art and culture, and communities that bind us together. We'll salute those who fascinate, excite and move us.

The couple (pictured) - who have been plagued by rumours of marital strife over the past year - attended the annual awards, which celebrate 'outstanding performance and innovative thinking' in the arts, culture and social work sectors

For the occasion, the royal mother-of-four, 52, opted for an elegant black tuxedo jumpsuit with silk lapel by MaxMara

During the evening, the royal couple (pictured) took to the stage to present awards live on television

Adding a pop of colour to her ensemble, Mary opted for a pair of yellow silk high heels by Manolo Blahnik and a matching clutch bag

During last night's event, Frederik and Mary (pictured) announced the Crown Prince Couple's Awards will now be known as the Royal Couple's Awards

Queen Mary (pictured) slicked back her long brown hair to show off her dangly diamond earrings and opted for a glitzy grey smokey eye

Queen Mary of Denmark (pictured) also spent time speaking to winners and runners up afterwards

'We want to hold on to a prize for arts and culture and a prize for social initiatives, and as something new in 2025 we will introduce a prize for communities.'

In November 2023, pictures of Crown Prince Frederick enjoying an evening out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casnova sent shockwaves through Denmark.

The Palace have dubbed it a 'private visit' but otherwise refused to speak about the nature of the now infamous incident. Meanwhile his wife, Mary, was over 5,000km away on official royal business in New York.

In the photos, the royal and the former daughter-in-law of the billionaire Duchess of Alba were seen walking through Madrid before heading to her apartment building, changing clothes and heading out again for the evening.

The publication of the photos resulted in Genoveva, 47, issuing a statement denying any kind of romantic relationship between herself and the royal and slamming the 'malicious' rumours.

In January, Queen Margrethe became the first Danish monarch to abdicate in over 500 years - with experts claiming the royal made the decision to 'save her son's marriage'.

Royal commentators have told MailOnline that Margrethe 'deliberately' dropped a 'massive bombshell' at the right time to secure the future of the Danish Royal Family, and its 'greatest asset', Crown Princess Mary.

King Frederik spent time with friend Genoveva Casanova (pictured) in Madrid last November, sparking affair rumours which she had vehemently denied

Crown Prince Frederik and his then fiance Mary Donaldson seen walking through a park in Australia three months before their wedding in 2004

King Frederik and Queen Mary pictured on their wedding day in Copenhagen in May 2004 - four years after they met

Two weeks beforehand, Australian-born Mary had been spotted in tears and shared a cryptic post about loneliness just weeks after her husband was pictured on a night out in Madrid with a Mexican socialite, sparking rumours of an alleged affair with Genoveva Casanova.

British royal author Phil Dampier, also an expert on European monarchies, told MailOnline: 'I think Margrethe may have worried that their marriage was in trouble and therefore she had to act.

'The Queen always thought Mary was a fantastic asset to the royal family and if she thought she might leave it would have been a disaster. She will now hope that Frederik and Mary patch up any differences and work together as the new King and Queen'.

In his memoir The King's Word, Frederik revealed that his wife - who he describes as a 'woman of the times' - isn't afraid to challenge him.

He explained: 'As previously mentioned, my father was very patriarchal, and he tried to pass that pattern on to his two sons.

'Here, however, I have learned a lot from having a wife who, from time to time, reminds me that of course I am not always right, and that my words are not automatically believed, just because I am the man of the house.'

Frederik said Mary is his 'partner and wing woman' with whom he has a 'super dynamic'.

Appearing to shut down the infidelity rumours, Frederik says he and Mary have reached a 'stable point' in their lives together.

He said: 'I love marriage, my wife, our children and the whole happy base that arises for the people who manage to stay together and persevere.'

Delving into their roles as King and Queen, Frederik admitted that they 'will approach many things differently' from his mother. He added: 'Mary and I are children of our time.'
Barron Trump is all grown up - and these photos prove just how much the 18-year-old has matured in a few short years.

When his father, Donald Trump, took the White House in 2020, Barron was just 14 years old, and towered over both of his parents with a height that was over 6 feet tall, according to reports.

Now, Barron is 6'7, and looked like a full-blown adult as he joined his dad, mom Melania, and other family members on stage at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday evening as Trump accepted his presidential victory.

The youngster is taller than his parents, with his mom, Melania, measuring at 5'11 and his dad measuring at 6'3.

Looking as proper as ever, Barron wore a sharp black suit, red-and-blue striped tie, and an American flag pin on his lapel, standing a head above the rest of the Republican cohort.

Barron Trump is all grown up - and these photos prove just how much the 18-year-old has matured in just a few short years, as he's seen on stage last night with his parents Donald and Melania

Barron is 6'7, and looked like a full-blown adult as he joined his Dad, mom Melania, and other family members on stage at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday evening as Trump accepted his Presidential victory

When his Dad took office in 2017, Barron remained in New York City and finished out his year at the elite Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School on the Upper West Side

When Trump was elected in 2016, Barron was just 10 years old and lived in New York City

The youngster is taller than his parents, with his mom, Melania, measuring at 5'11 and his dad measuring at 6'3

Barron wore a sharp black suit, red-and-blue striped tie, and an American flag pin on his lapel

The NYU student even flashed a rare smile to onlookers as his dad accepted rounds of applause from the large crowd.

And, speaking on Tuesday, Trump even blamed his wife's late mother, Amalija Knavs, for Barron's height.

Paying tribute to her, he laughed: 'They're great people, great parents to all of us really. Great parents, but also to Barron. Boy did she take care of Barron.

'Thats how he got so tall  he only ate her food.'

When his dad took office in 2017, Barron remained in New York City and finished out his year at the elite Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School on the Upper West Side.

He then attended St. Andrews Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, close to where his father was in The White House.

Barron finished high school at Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida, after Trump finished his term in office in 2021, and now, back at home as a freshman at New York University's Stern School of Business.

And, while he wasn't seen on Trump's campaign trail much this year, he was apparently working behind-the-scenes to help his dad 'break the internet.'

Speaking on Tuesday, Trump even blamed his wife's late mother, Amalija Knavs, for Barron's height

When his Dad took office in 2017, Barron remained in New York City and finished out his year at the elite Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School on the Upper West Side

While Barron wasn't seen on Trump's campaign trail much this year, he was apparently working behind-the-scenes to help his Dad 'break the internet.'

Barron, seen here in 2020, still towered over both of his parents, Melania and Donald

Barron finished high school at Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida, after Trump finished his term in office in 2021, and now, back at home as a freshman at New York University's Stern School of Business

The 18-year-old was allegedly the mastermind behind some of Trump's podcast appearances that are favored by Gen-Z, according to ABC News.

Barron first suggested his father appear on YouTuber and wrestler Logan Paul's podcast, Impaulsive, and sure enough the podcast was the first one Trump appeared on back in June, an insider with the campaign told the outlet.

He even sat down with popular podcaster Joe Rogan just a mere week before the election.

Just one day before election day, Trump also revealed the advice his son gave him ahead of the polls.

'I have a guy whos home with the first lady,' Trump told a crowd in North Carolina about his son.

'Hes very smart ... Hes 18 years old. And he gives me good advice.'

Then Trump did a quick impression of his son, telling the crowd, 'Dad: take it easy, now. You just take it easy dad, alright? You dont have to go too much here. He gives me good - hes very wise,' Trump said.

Trump won on Tuesday night, taking home key battleground states like Pennsylvania and Michigan.

He will be the 47th President of The United States come January.
McDonald's has introduced a brand-new burger to its saver menu - which fans are already saying 'could be special' - as well as bringing back an old-favourite.

The American fast food chain released the Chilli Double Cheeseburger as part of its saver menu in most locations across the UK and Ireland today.

The brand-new sandwich, which is already a fan-favourite in South Africa, boasts a double burger patty with 100 per cent pure beef, featuring a tangy nacho cheese sauce and melted American cheese.

Adding a touch of spice to the succulent burger are a handful of tasty jalapeno slices with a generous dousing of spicy hot sauce - all sandwiched between two freshly toasted buns.

The Double Big Mac Cheeseburger is also making a return to all 1,400 UK stores -although it won't be part of the saver menu. It features four beef patties with double the sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun.

The Chilli Double Cheeseburger joins the McDonald's saver menu, which recently saw a shake up, adding soft drinks and milkshakes

The spicy sandwich and the Double Big Mac are both available for McDonald's lovers to get their hands on from today

Despite only being released today, fast food fans have taken to social media to praise the new menu addition.

Posting a picture of a man chowing down on the spicy burger, one user said: 'If McDonald's wants an image of how delicious their new Chilli Double Cheeseburger is, then here you go!'

Another added: 'Looks lovely! I'll order quadruple and Coca-Cola!'

A third said: 'I have to be honest...I don't like McDonald's but this could be special.'

As of today the spiced cheese delicacy is brand new to the UK but McDonald's munchers from South Africa will recognise the much-loved burger.

One South African customer, who has already tried the burger, excitedly wrote on X: 'McDonald's Chilli cheese double is hands down the best burger to ever exist.'

But other foodies were not as convinced.

One social media user said: 'Be better doing your own at home. McDonald's is rubbish!'

Another penned: 'Bet it's still bland though!'

The brand-new sandwich boasts a double burger patty with 100 per cent pure beef, featuring a tangy nacho cheese sauce and melted American cheese

Fans have hailed the 2.49 sandwich as the 'best burger to ever exist' on social media

The Chilli Double Cheeseburger joins the McDonald's saver menu which recently saw a shake-up with nearly a dozen new items added including milkshakes and soft drinks.

Prices of the new saver menu start from just 1.19 and the new chilli burger retails at 2.49, which McDonald's promises will 'tantalise taste buds without breaking the bank'.

Meanwhile, the classic Double Big Mac has returned to stores and costs 5.39 to enjoy on its own but can also be eaten as part of a meal alongside fries and a drink for 7.19.

Sadly it is not part of the saver's menu.

The original Big Mac features two patties, alongside the buns, sauce and dressings - compared to the Double Big Mac which features four beef patties.

Reacting to the announcement that the Double Big Mac had returned, one X user wrote: 'Music to my ears!'

While another demanded: 'Sort the cheese ratio!'

If you want to get your hands on the mega-burger, you need to get down to the Golden Arches as soon as possible because it is only available until November 19.

The revamped McDonald's Saver's menu in full Hamburger - 1.19 Cheeseburger - 1.39 Double Cheeseburger - 2.29 Mayo Chicken - 1.39 Small Fries - 1.19 Mini Core McFlurry - 1.29 Chilli Double Cheeseburger - 2.49 Small Milkshake - 1.99 Small Drinks - 1.19 Americano - 1.39 White Coffee - 1.39 Advertisement

The classic Double Big Mac has returned to stores and costs 5.39 to enjoy on its own

The original Big Mac features two patties, alongside the buns, sauce and dressings - compared to the Double Big Mac which features four beef patties.

Last month, the fast food giant announced a huge menu overhaul including the reintroduction of a former favourite sandwich - the McRib.

Following years of pleas from fans across the nation, the McRib - a pork patty topped with tangy barbecue sauce, pickles, and onions in a soft bun - has made a long-awaited return.

The McRib was first introduced to UK McDonald's menus in 1981, but was axed just four years later.

The burger, which features a boneless pork patty dipped in barbeque sauce and topped with onions and pickles, has made sporadic returns for a limited time since.

McDonald's munchers saw more than just the return of the McRib with a total of four new items being added their delicious menu.

One of the four new items includes Mini Hash Brown Bites - smaller versions of the fried breakfast staple - available in a portion of five or as part of a 15-piece Sharebox.

Joining the new tiny treats are Cheese and Caramelised Onion Bites, served with Barbecue Dip.

The chain also recently introduced a 5 meal deal to help hungry fans working on a tight budget - and customers can even choose to customise the deal themselves.

Following years of pleas from fans across the nation, the McRib - a pork patty topped with tangy barbecue sauce, pickles, and onions in a soft bun - has made a long-awaited return

The chain also recently introduced a 5 meal deal to help hungry fans working on a tight budget - and customers can even choose to customise the deal themselves

They can choose a cheeseburger or a mayo chicken, plus a medium drink, fries and four chicken nuggets.

A cheeseburger alone costs 1.39, the same as a mayo chicken. A medium soft drink is 1.59, medium fries are 1.69 and four chicken McNuggets costs 2.79 (based on a pro-rata of the price for six Chicken McNuggets).

Buying these items individually would cost around 7.46, meaning diners save 2.46 with the offer.

The meal deal is now available in most branches, with customers able to order it from 11am - after breakfast is finished.

But foodies will not be able to order it from the comfort of their own home, as it is only available to purchase in store.
November 6, 2024: Even before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Russian leaders believed they were at war with western nations, especially NATO and the United States. NATO nations were not really aware of this Russian attitude, even after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The official Russian interpretation of the situation is that Ukraine is under the control of the Americans. For that reason, Russian propaganda directed at Russians considers Ukraine a puppet state controlled by the United States.

Russian leaders are dismayed that when Russia threatens the United States for one reason or another, the Americans ignore them. Russian leaders get the impression that the Americans dont take them seriously. There are reasons for that and the most obvious one is the rampant corruption in Russia.

The government is particularly concerned about the extent of corruption in the military. This alone should have prevented the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The invasion was ordered to proceed by Vladimir Putin despite the poor state of the Russian military. Russian troops stumbled forward into Ukraine and suffered such heavy losses that the invasion force was withdrawn and the survivors sent to eastern Ukraine to reinforce troops in Luhansk and Donetsk provinces.

Ukraine appealed to NATO for military aid and the response was impressive. Over 100 billion dollars worth of weapons soon arrived followed by billions of dollars worth of economic aid. The Americans provided Ukraine with satellite photos of what the Russians were up to. It was later discovered that the Russians had no similar satellite services. The Ukrainians had a better picture of what was happening on the ground than the Russians did.

It got worse when the Ukrainians got Starlink communications kits. This gave them far better and more reliable communications than the Russians had. Some Russian troops got hold of black market Starlink gear and got past the security system to discover what they were missing. For Russian troops who knew about this, it explained why the Ukrainians always seemed to know more about what was going on in the combat zone and were able to act more quickly to deal with opportunities.

Putin saw all this as an American ploy to embarrass him and show the Russian military that their boss was unable to supply them with anything similar to what the Americans were providing to the Ukrainians. This was true but Putin warns Russians to know that they were dealing with an American colossus that was determined to destroy Russia.

The reality was that United States leaders, military and political, didnt consider Russia or the Russian military very formidable. This was all revealed in Ukraine. Putin yearned for the pre-war times when he could portray the Russian military as a mighty force that was not crippled by corruption and incompetent and corrupt leadership.

The United States does not pay much attention to Russia. Instead the Americans are fixated on China and its new aircraft carriers and a fleet that is larger, in number of ships than the U.S. Navy. Putin does not pay much attention to the Chinese. He should because the Chinese are talking about taking back most of the Russian Far East province and renaming cities like Vladivostok with their original Chinese names like Yongmingcheng. This was a Chinese city that had been in this location for over a thousand years until the Russians forced China to surrender the territory to them in 1859 and renamed Yongmingcheng Vladivostok.

China wants its stolen territories back and Putin fears that while Russia is busy in Ukraine the Chinese might make a move. Putin notes that Western nations are not objecting to China regaining the territories taken by Russia 165 years ago. The Chinese have long memories and the Russians dont, until it is too late. In this case Putin may not be paranoid. He may be right.

At the same time Putin is forced by his generals to pay attention to what NATO nations bordering Russia are up to. Poland and the Baltic States are welcoming American troops who visit and the U.S. proposal that the Americans build a base in Poland. The Poles consider that a great idea. Putin sees it as an old Russian nightmare come to life.
Women have been taking to social media to urging others to boycott men

American women have vowed to never date, marry, have sex or have kids with men in an attempt to take back control after Donald Trump was elected President, including one woman going so far as shaving her head.

Millions of Americans were glued to the TV on the night of November 5 as they watched in shock as Trump pulled off a jaw-dropping political comeback and regained his seat in the White House.

Trump's defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris marks a startling return for the twice-impeached president who was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records and left the office in 2021 on the heels of claims that he ignited an attack on the US Capitol.

The 78-year-old's red sweep of the nation, which saw him gaining 277 Electoral College votes, sparked a wave of emotions through the country as MAGA supporters celebrated while Democrats wept for the future of the nation.

Now, women across the country are showcasing their frustration at the result of the election by taking to social media and giving themselves a buzzcut while boycotting men and refusing to get romantically involved with them.

One woman has shaved her head to showcase her frustration over Donald Trump's election win

Others are vowing to never date, marry, have sex or have children with men in an attempt to take back control

Millions of Americans were glued to the TV on the night of November 5 as they watched in shock as Trump pulled off a political comeback and regained his seat in the White House

The plan, which sees women saying no to marriage, childbirth, dating and sex with men, is a recreation of South Korea's 4B Movement.

The 4B Movement began after a woman was murdered when she rejected a man's advances. Despite confessing to killing her because he was ignored, local police refused to brand it a hate crime.

Frustrations soared when the country launched a National Birth Map, which outlined what it expected from its female citizens, prompting women to become outraged as they claimed officials viewed them as 'livestock.'

Women ultimately banded together and decided that the surest way to avoid pregnancy was to avoid men.

Now, American women are following the same ideology in an attempt to get revenge on men who voted Trump back into the White House.

One woman left people stunned as she took an electric razor to her head and chopped off her locks.

The unnamed New York-based woman shared a video of herself shaving her head down to a buzzcut on social media.

She urged people to 'f***ing stop dating men' as she revealed she would no longer be 'giving her money to the beauty industry.'

One woman left people stunned as she took a razor to her head and chopped off her long locks

Many women took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to urge others to boycott men altogether

'Women stop f***ing dating men, stop having sex with men, stop talking to men, divorce your husbands, leave your boyfriends, leave them,' she said.

She added: 'They don't give a s**t about you.'

The woman added that she was shaving her head in support of the 4B Movement.

Many other women took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to urge others to boycott men altogether.

One person said: 'Ladies, we need to start considering the 4B movement like the women in South Korea and give America a severely sharp birth rate decline: No marriage, no childbirth, no dating men, no sex with men. We cant let these men have the last laugh we need to bite back.'

Someone else wrote: 'American women it's time to learn from the Koreans and adopt the 4B Movement as a matter of fact, women from all over the world should adopt the 4B Movement I'm so serious.'

Another user added: 'Ladies, this impossible task must be made possible.'

'Its a bold move, but women reclaiming control could send a powerful message,' a fourth wrote.

Other women urged people to adopt extra safety measures as they noted that they feared that Trump would find a way to make 'rape legal.'

'If youre not on some form of birth control get on it. one of the repercussions of 4B is men trying to gain back control through assault, so also carry weapons on you and learn how to shoot,' one user said.

Trump supporters also rushed into the comments section to slam women who were suggesting they take away their sexual pleasure

Both Harris and Trump campaigned into the dead of night on Monday to try and win over final votes

'I fear if women do this, Trump just might make rape legal, I wish I was kidding, on God I wish I was kidding, but he kind of has that power now, and he's also a rapist,' another person commented.

Trump supporters also rushed into the comments section to slam women who were suggesting they take away their sexual pleasure.

One man commented: 'Good luck with that. The MAGA movement is filled with sexy, sane women. Were gonna be just fine. Maybe you can get some Groupons for kitty litter and food though.'

'Good. We need to breed the women dumb enough to fall for the current liberal ideology out of the gene pool. The future will be right wing,' another man wrote.

Someone else added: 'Yes take yourself out the gene pool, thank you.'

The plan comes after the President Elect pushed for Roe v. Wade to be overturned, which stripped away the federal constitutional right to abortions.

Trump's win left many women across the country in fear of what's to come as they have been taking to social media to express their concerns about the state of their reproductive rights.

The 47th President's victory was announced after he won the three swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Associated Press called the race at 5:34am (EST) on Wednesday.
In a viral video, they revealed that they voted against their mom

The daughter of Iowa Representative Brooke Boden has admitted that they voted against their mom, who has been a lead supporter in the Trump campaign.

Emily Boden - who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns - has tried to stay out of the spotlight while their mom, 51, acts as the Iowa state representative.

Brooke - who has been vocal about her support for Donald Trump - has frequently been invited to belt out the National Anthem at the Trump rallies and was running for re-election of a House seat this year.

Now, Brooke's daughter has admitted that they 'canceled out' their mom's vote because she is not 'a good representative.'

In a viral TikTok, which has so far amassed over 3.6 million views, Emily confessed that they had been using their voice to try to convince others to cast their vote for anyone other than Brooke, who ultimately ended up winning the House seat.

The daughter of Iowa Representative Brooke Boden has admitted that she voted against her mom, who has been a lead supporter in the Trump campaign

Brooke - who has been vocal about her support for Donald Trump - has frequently been invited to belt out the National Anthem at the Trump rallies and was running for re-election

The clip was captioned: 'On my way to LITERALLY vote against my own mother.'

'I'm on my way to go cancel out my mom's vote. No, literally, my mom is on the ballot,' Emily said.

The daughter of the Republican Representative then shared an image of their mom posing next to the 47 President Elect.

'I got 7.3 million views about how my mom's not a good representative. I'm not okay,' Emily added.

Emily was referring to a previous clip they posted, in which they revealed that they are nonbinary and that Brooke is a 'Republican legislator who is asked to sing the national anthem every time Trump comes to Iowa.'

In a follow-up clip, Emily once again slammed their mother as they said the 'trans and queer community are being attacked by none other than my OWN mother!'

People flooded the comments section and expressed their support for Emily.

One person said: 'Ooo I can't stand Brooke Boden!!!!'

Someone else added: 'Im so sorry, that must hurt a lot. But I want you to know Im proud of you for thinking independently and being brave enough to break free of how your home environment was.'

People flooded the comments section and expressed their support for Emily

Another user wrote: 'Sending you so much love.'

'Sending all the hugs your way,' someone else commented.

Brooke ultimately ended up winning the House seat, marking the third time that the Republican has been elected to fill the seat for Warren and Marion counties.

Brooke ran against Democrat Spencer Waugh of Indianola and won 58.7 percent of the vote.

The 51-year-old is a self-employed small business owner who has previously served as the co-chair of the Warren County Republican Central Committee.

Millions of Americans were glued to the TV on the night of November 5 as they watched as Trump pulled off a jaw-dropping political comeback and regained his seat in the White House.

Both Harris and Trump campaigned into the dead of night on Monday to try and win over final votes

Millions of Americans were glued to the TV on the night of November 5 as they watched in shock as Trump pulled off a political comeback and regained his seat in the White House

Trump's defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris marks a startling return for the twice-impeached president who was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records and left the office in 2021 on the heels of claims that he ignited an attack on the US Capitol.

The 78-year-old's red sweep of the nation, which saw him gaining 277 Electoral College votes, sparked a wave of emotions through the country as MAGA supporters celebrated while Democrats wept for the future of the nation.

The 47th President's victory was announced after he won the three swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Associated Press called the race at 5:34am (EST) on Wednesday.

Harris has conceded the race in a private phone call made to Trump, in which she emphasized the importance of a peaceful transfer of power.
King Charles appeared in good spirits as he hosted an international sustainability reception at Buckingham Palace this evening.

Charles, 75, welcomed business leaders and climate organisations to the palace for the event in London on Wednesday, November 6.

Attendees included Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband and Environment Secretary Steve Reed.

The aim of the talks was to increase action across climate issues before the end of negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty at the end of the year, and in advance of the UN climate change conference Cop29, which will be held in Azerbaijan.

During the reception in London on November 6, the King also revealed his regret at not visiting Fiji on his recent royal tour of Australia and Samoa after being advised against it for medical reasons.

King Charles appeared in good spirits as he hosted an international sustainability reception at Buckingham Palace this evening

Charles, 75, welcomed business leaders and climate organisations to the palace for the event in London on Wednesday, November 6

Speaking to the High Commissioner of Fiji, Jovilisi Vulailai Suveinakama, Charles admitted, 'I felt so bad we couldn't get to Fiji (on the royal tour), the doctors wouldn't let me.'

Charles visited the region in October, but the tour was pared down on doctors' advice due to the 75-year-old monarch's recent cancer diagnosis, with trips to New Zealand and Fiji removed from the plans.

However, Charles looked upbeat and positive during Wednesday's reception, with the king picking a smart navy suit for the occasion.

He fastened a remembrance poppy pin on the lapel of his jacket, and picked a printed tie and matching pocket square as accessories for the evening.

During the event, Charles was seen greeting guests, including Lammy and retired English yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur DBE.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs led a discussion about ending plastic pollution, which was hosted in partnership with the Ellen McCarther Foundation.

Emma Hardy, the minister for water and flooding, hosted the talk, noting: 'The King is clearly very passionate, both the plastic treaty and his support are really important as we build momentum in the next few weeks.'

Sophie Westlake, deputy director for the government's international energy team added: 'There was a real interest in the UK stepping up. It was about trying to work out who from financing is willing and ready to go on that journey with us.

'The King is keen to encourage and be a part of the mission that we set out.'

Attendees included Foreign Secretary David Lammy

Charles in conversation with Dame Ellen MacArthur

King Charles shakes hands with Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband (second right)

The King brought together leading voices from the public and private sectors at the reception to highlight progress and opportunities for collaboration on international sustainability issues, including climate change and plastic pollution

Queen Camilla was notably absent from the reception after she cancelled her public engagements on Tuesday, November 5, so she can recover from a nasty chest infection.

The 77-year-old royal is understood to be recovering at home in Wiltshire and is being monitored by doctors.

Earlier this week, Country & Town House magazine honoured Charles on its annual list of 'Future Icons Power People' for his long-standing commitment to highlighting the effects of climate change.

The Prince of Wales was also included on the list of sustainability changemakers, in recognition of launching the Earthshot Initiative, with the Princess of Wales' support.

Earlier this week, Country & Town House magazine honoured Charles on its annual list of 'Future Icons Power People' for his long-standing commitment to highlighting the effects of climate change

Charles' most recent official engagement comes days it after it was revealed that the king is making millions out of the cash-strapped NHS,

Meanwhile, the king and queen are set to take a visit to Italy next year - if health permits.

Charles, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is said to have felt 'lifted' by his recent trip to Australia and Samoa, where he carried out up to 10 engagements a day.

The king is now set to return to a 'full programme' of overseas tours next year following a new vote of confidence in his health from his doctors.

And sources close to Charles, who paused treatment to undertake the 30,000-mile, 11-day round-trip, have explained it was all part of his 'mind, body and soul' approach to his cancer battle.

Travelling in particular is seen as a tonic for the king, who will likely visit the capital city of Rome and schedule an audience with the Pope at the Vatican.

Charles was so buoyed by his Australia tour - as were his doctors - that he is looking at a return to normality next year.

'We're now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour programme for next year,' a senior royal official said, suggesting that the traditional spring and autumn tours will be back on the cards.

Speaking about a potential visit to Italy, one royal source told The Mirror: 'The King is raring to go and incredibly positive about making plans for the future.

'Although in the early stages, a visit to Italy would provide a fantastic opportunity for the King and Queen to represent the UK and take in some of the incredible sites of one of our closest neighbours.'

King Charles meets Environment Secretary Steve Reed at the reception at Buckingham Palace

Another insider said the King was 'keen to make up for lost time', having taken a step back to undergo treatment for cancer.

Charles is said to be optimistic and see the future as 'bright', which could not always be said to have been the case after the King was diagnosed earlier this year.

After the initial shock of such a 'striking' diagnosis, he realised 'in a heartbeat' how much he had in common with so many millions of people in the UK and across the Commonwealth.

It's been a huge source of strength, they say, for him to talk to others about their shared experiences.

And he hopes others have taken comfort from the fact that even 'a king can get cancer'.
Fashionable Australians are rushing to their nearest Target stores to get their hands on an 'It' girl two-piece set for only $70.

The linen blend scallop hem shorts ($35) and scallop hem top ($35) have been flying off the shelves ahead of summer.

The outfit has been compared to designs by Australian labels Seed Heritage and Posse.

Seed Heritage's scallop shell set retails for $240.

Australians have been tightening their purse strings in recent months as the country slowly climbs out of the cost of living crisis, which is why Target's bargain dupe of the trendy design has been such a hit.

Shoppers claim the scallop hem adds a layer of chic detailing to an otherwise classic staple.

'I'm really loving these designs - they're so gorgeous,' one said.

'Adding to cart!' another wrote.

Target's linen blend scallop hem shorts ($35) and scallop hem top ($35) have been flying off the shelves ahead of summer

Seed Heritage's scallop shell set retails for $240

A similar design was recently dubbed the 'ultimate summer dress' - and it's another bargain dupe of a high-end item worth over five times the price.

The Target linen-blend scallop hem midi dress ($70) has stunned Australian women looking to spruce up their wardrobes.

It has been compared to Posse's Zayla dress ($399) which sold out immediately and another design by Seed Heritage ($229).

Both dresses are available in black and white, and have scallop hems across the chest and length of the skirt.

The trendy detail elevates the outfit above a simple strapless dress.

'Target's cut is the best, it's gorgeous!' a shopper raved.

'I am so here for the banging Kmart and Target dupes that have been dropping lately,' another said.

A third wrote, 'I really like Target's European linen range - I find that it's so well made.'

The Target linen-blend scallop hem midi dress ($70) has stunned Australian women looking to spruce up their wardrobes

Target's clothing ranges have been praised as some of the best value for money pieces on the market with thousands raving about the superior design and quality.

Target's recent clothing lines have also been going viral on Australian fashion TikTok with thousands of women sharing their clothing hauls.

'I'm obsessed with the new summer and linen collection at Target,' one said.

'The work wardrobes are just the best,' another added. 'It's always the first place I go nowadays when I need new clothes.'
A mother of-three has revealed the unlikely symptoms of her deadly lung cancer  which didn't include a cough.

Melanie Erwin, 57, from London, believed she was suffering Long Covid, as her main sign something was wrong was terrible fatigue.

The vegetarian yoga enthusiast, who has never smoked, visited her GP towards the end of 2020, who referred Ms Erwin for an X-ray.

Devastatingly, the scans revealed a 'mass' in her left lung, which was later found to be non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)  the most common type of the disease.

Despite being treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, another growth was discovered in March 2024, which indicated the disease had returned. Doctors concluded her disease was stage 4 and incurable.

Lung cancer is the UK's biggest cancer killer, according to the Lung Cancer Coalition, claiming more than 35,000 lives every year.

Around a quarter of those diagnosed with the disease every year are non-smokers.

'People tend to be very surprised when I tell them what type of cancer I have,' Ms Erwin told The Mirror. 'They look at me and my very healthy lifestyle, having never smoked and they can't understand how I have this disease.'

Melanie Erwin, 57, from London , pictured with her partner Sarah, 39, believed she was suffering Long Covid, as her main sign something was wrong was terrible fatigue

The vegetarian yoga enthusiast, who has never smoked, visited her GP towards the end of 2020, who referred Ms Erwin for an X-ray, but she was later diagnosed with lung cancer

Ms Erwin said she believes that having Covid 'saved her life' and she is grateful her GP sent for an X-ray.

But it wasn't long before the disease became a problem again.

In April 2022, several tiny nodules were spotted in her right lung during routine scans  but they were too small for a biopsy to check if they were cancerous.

It wasn't until March this year that the nodules grew big enough for a biopsy to be performed, and it was revealed that her disease was at the most advanced stage.

Ms Erwin was diagnosed with a specific mutation called EGFR positive, which affects about 10 to 15 per cent of the 39,000 people diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK.

While many assume those with lung cancer are smokers, this strain is more common in people who have never smoked, and also affects a higher proportion of people in Asian countries.

The symptoms are similar to other types of lung cancer and can cause chest pain, weight loss, shortness of breath, fatigue and a cough.

Lung cancer in never-smokers is the eighth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the UK with more deaths each year from never-smoking lung cancer than from ovarian cancer, cervical cancer or leukaemia, according to EGFR UK.

Ms Erwin is now taking daily medication which is designed to inhibit the growth of tumour cells

The diagnosis came as a 'shock' to Ms Erwin who assumed the news was a 'death sentence'.

However, she is now taking daily medication that is designed to inhibit the growth of tumour cells.

Speaking about the drug which has only been available in the UK for a few years she said: 'There'll come a point when it stops working, because my cancer cells will get wise to it and my hope is that by then another drug will be available.

'My goal is to live with stage 4 lung cancer and eventually die with it, not of it.'

Alongside her medication she lives a healthy lifestyle, avoiding sugar, meat and alcohol.

Ms Erwin has also started writing about her experience online, which she confesses has been very 'therapeutic'.

But she stresses that she is 'proof' that 'anyone with lungs' can get lung cancer, irrespective of your age or lifestyle.

Although people who have never smoked can develop the condition, most cases of lung cancer are caused by smokers. The habit is linked to more than six in 10 lung cancer cases in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK.
Follow DailyMail.com's presidential election live blog for all the latest news and updates

READ MORE: Voters reveal what they'll be stress eating on election night

Dr Janette Nesheiwat, a family and emergency medicine physician and contributor at Fox News Medical, shared her tips for coping with election stress

A top doctor has shared their tips for de-stressing after one of the most tumultuous presidential elections in modern American history.

Donald Trump was elected President for a second time over Vice President Kamala Harris after several states saw record voter turnouts.

It was also one of the most stressful elections in recent history.

A survey from the American Psychological Association (APA) found that nearly eight in 10 Americans considered the future of the nation a significant source of stress in their lives.

And 69 percent said they were specifically anxious about the election, with more than half reporting that they think the election could end democracy in with US.

Dr Janette Nesheiwat, a family and emergency medicine physician and contributor at Fox News Medical, said the phenomenon, dubbed election stress syndrome, is not just being overly sensitive but 'a real medical condition that must be addressed.'

She added: 'The fact is that political issues impact all of us both mentally and physically, but it's important we maintain our health throughout.'

Left untreated, intense stress can also cause an influx of 'fight-or-flight' hormones that trigger physical symptoms like high blood pressure, diarrhea, and even stroke.

Donald Trump pulled off an astounding political comeback and was elected President for the second time. He is pictured on stage to address his supporters on November 6

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Dr Nesheiwat said: 'Election stress can stem from a range of psychological and social factors. The stress surrounding elections especially in today's environment can create or exacerbate health issues like anxiety or depression.

'Factors such as uncertainty, fear of the unknown, fear of change, and a lack of control over outcomes play significant roles.

Dr Nesheiwat's coping tips 1. Stay connected with supportive people and engage in your favorite activities- read, run, bake your favorite foods, or try a new sport like pickleball or hiking. Isolation can make stress feel worse so reach out to someone you trust. 2. Focus on self care: pray, meditate, breathe 3. Limit election conversations and set boundaries 4. Most importantly, get physical! Exercise and activity releases endorphins, your happy hormones which help reduce stress. Advertisement

'Combine that with 24/7 news coverage and constant social media updates, and people are bombarded with information that can feel drastically overwhelming.'

Dr Nesheiwat noted that political differences can create tension and social pressures to take a stance on certain issues, especially in the immediate aftermath of the election.

She suggests staying connected to supportive people like friends and family.

She said: 'Isolation can make stress feel worse, so reach out to someone you trust.'

However, make sure to carve out time with that support system to talk about anything other than politics and set boundaries to avoid dwelling too much on negative emotions.

Dr Nesheiwat recommends taking the time to focus on hobbies like reading or baking, or even picking up a new sport 'like pickleball or hiking.'

She said: 'Exercise and activity releases endorphins, your happy hormones which help reduce stress.'

A 2017 study, for example, found that endorphins increased the most with at least an hour of vigorous exercise like high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

However, even light exercise like walking has been associated with decreases in anxiety and depression after a stressful event, according to a study published last year.

If you're still overwhelmed with anxiety after the election, Dr Nesheiwat recommends seeking professional help.

She said: 'Reach out to your doctor or a therapist to help cope with the emotional and mental stress. Therapy and sometimes medications can help you manage these challenges.'
Breastfeeding rates for young babies have reached a record high with over half of new mothers continuing to nurse at six to eight weeks, figures show.

Some 52.7 per cent were still breastfeeding their infant at this stage in 2023/24 - the highest since comparable records began in 2015/16.

This is up from 49.2 per cent in 2022/23 and 48.0 per cent in 2019, according to the governments Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

But England fares worse than other nations, with 71 per cent of children globally still being breastfed at one year old.

Health officials say breastfeeding provides the best possible nutritional start in life for a baby, protecting them from infection and offering important health benefits for the mother.

The governments advice is that infants should be exclusively breastfed, receiving only breastmilk for the first 6 months of life (file image)

Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests and are less likely to be overweight or obese later in life.

Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of cancer and type 2 diabetes.

The governments advice is that infants should be exclusively breastfed, receiving only breastmilk for the first 6 months of life.

Following this, other drinks and foodstuffs can be introduced.

However, many women struggle to start or continue breastfeeding and others give up earlier than they would like because of a lack of appropriate facilities at work.

Of the 72 local authorities with valid data for 2023/24 and 2022/23, 46 significantly increased their breastfeeding rates, 26 were stable and none significantly decreased over this period.

However, there is wide variation across England, ranging from 27.6 per cent in Halton to 81.2 per cent in Hertfordshire.

Mothers living in affluent areas remain more likely to breastfeed than mothers living in more deprived areas.

But the gap between the most and least deprived areas has decreased from 15.8 per centre points to 10.7 percentage points over the past year.

Most deprivation groups have seen an increase year on year apart from the most affluent areas, which have seen a marginal decrease.

Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests and are less likely to be overweight or obese later in life (file image)

Clare Livingstone, professional advisor for policy and public health at the Royal College of Midwives, said: Its good to see an increase in the number of women choosing to breastfeed, although we know there is an underlying variation in these rates, with significant implications for health inequalities.

We recognise that breastfeeding can sometimes be challenging.

Thats why we have long called for proper investment into specialist and tailored support for all women, no matter where they are located, both during their pregnancy and the postnatal period.

Women returning to work also need to be better supported, with access to places to express and store breastmilk.

Alison Morton, chief executive of the Institute of Health Visiting, said breastfeeding has profoundly positive impacts on health.

She added: Sadly, the headline national statistic masks huge variation in breastfeeding rates between different parts of the country that cannot be justified.

We know that women are much more likely to succeed at breastfeeding when they have access to good breastfeeding support  unfortunately, this is not universally available and too many families are missing out.

Urgent action is needed to end the postcode lottery and rebuild postnatal healthcare for all women and their babies  we need more health visitors and midwives.

Shereen Fisher, director of the Baby Friendly Initiative at the UK Committee for UNICEF, said: Support for infant feeding should not be a postcode lottery; it should be guaranteed for all babies and their families.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson has said the benefits of breastfeeding for child and maternal health are 'significant and well-established'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: The benefits of breastfeeding for child and maternal health are significant and well-established.

Its positive to see that in some areas more mothers are breastfeeding and the gap between families living in the most and least deprived areas has reduced.

It is important that all families are supported to make the right choice for them.

We are committed to giving every child the best start in life and that includes helping families to access support to feed their baby.
Allegations have emerged involving a London-based beauty parlour said to have performed liposuction that's left several women 'injured and disfigured'.

One woman is reported to have been hospitalised after the instrument used during the procedure 'hit' one of her internal organs, according to a BBC investigation.

Campaigners have warned these shocking allegations expose an alarming loophole in UK law that they've long highlighted, which enables beauticians to perform surgery without medical qualifications.

In fact, according to UK law, it is not illegal for any non-medic to attempt an operation  so long as the person doing it does not claim to be a surgeon, and the client consents.

Regulatory bodies such as the General Medical Council and the Care Quality Commission cannot prosecute or 'strike off' aestheticians or beauticians.

Ashton Collins from Save Face, a charity that helps victims of cosmetic surgery injury, told MailOnline beauticians could 'technically' be charged with assault for injuring a client.

'But it's a struggle to get the police to take cases seriously,' she said. 'Most police forces adopt the attitude of; you consented to the procedure, it's your own fault.'

Daria Barbara Wisniewska is one of the owners of Luxury Medical Aesthetics and Academy.

Clips from the establishment's Instagram profile page show the beauticians injecting what appears to be filler into a patient's face.

Sarah Guy, a beautician from South Wales told the BBC she paid 1,500 to the clinic, called Luxury Medical Aesthetics and Academy, for a 'one day fat reduction masterclass'

Allegations made against the London establishment came to light after one client was so 'shocked' about what she saw during an appointment, she contacted the BBC.

Sarah Guy, a beautician from South Wales told the broadcaster she paid 1,500 to the clinic, called Luxury Medical Aesthetics and Academy, for a 'one day fat reduction masterclass'.

She was enticed by advertisments seen on Instagram that offered training in a new type of fat-dissolving procedure called Lipolysis.

Lipolysis is also known as 'fat-sculpting', and is a minimally invasive procedure that involves breaking down fat cells using lasers, injections or a cold probe that 'freezes' the tissue.

But videos taken by Ms Guy of the training session  and shared with the BBC  do not show appear to show a typical lipolysis procedure.

The BBC reports that in the videos, one of the owners, Daria Wisniewska [pictured above] is seen injecting a solution into a womans chin who has agreed to be a model for the procedure.

The woman said to be Ms Wisniewska then makes a small hole in the area using a scalpel, before inserting a long cannula attached to a suction machine. She then begins to suck out fat.

Ms Guy said the same method was used on another models chin, and a third womans stomach.

Ms Collins from Save Face, who has been supporting those who say they were injured by Luxury Medical Aesthetics, said the women were told they were having non-surgical fat dissolving treatment not liposuction.

She said: 'It's only when they've been numbed and they see the actual device coming out and they feel it prodded in their skin, do they realise what's actually going on.'

Sarah Guy passed the training course and was given a certificate from Luxury Medical Aesthetics, despite refusing to perform procedures on the models, according to the BBC.

The salon owners Daria and Monika Wisniewska reportedly did not respond to the BBC's messages about the complaints.
Ten people have died and 100 have been hospitalized after taking pharmacy-made copycat versions of Ozempic, its manufacturer has revealed.

These compounded weight loss drugs, which are often cheaper, were sold by 'med spas' and pharmacies during nationwide shortages of the branded drugs over the last two years.

Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk claims these off-brand versions of its drugs are made with little regulation or oversight which raises the risk that someone could fall ill after using them.

Few details on the patients have been revealed, including their locations, ages or the adverse reactions they suffered.

But the FDA said reactions to compounded versions are often linked to overdosing or people accidentally administering the wrong dose, which may lead people to be hospitalized for complications including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation.

Experts have also previously warned that an overdose can leave someone at risk of seizures and even a coma  because the drug can trigger very low blood sugar.

Novo revealed the cases after asking the FDA to ban compounded versions of its drugs Ozempic and Wegovy last month. It says they are too complicated to be made by pharmacies.

The weight loss medications, which use the drug semaglutde, have been in shortage for more than two years in the US after a Hollywood-charged surge in use for their promise to help someone lose weight with nothing more than a weekly injection.

Compounded versions of Ozempic, those made by pharmacies, have been linked to deaths

The FDA still has to make a final decision on whether to ban compounded versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.

US regulations allow pharmacies to make their own, or compounded, versions of branded drugs when they are out of stock in order to fill prescriptions.

Supporters say this is necessary to ensure people continue to receive potentially life-saving medication and keep up with doses.

But, arguing against the practice for Ozempic, Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen said it was 'puzzling' that people in the US were being allowed to inject themselves with a product that was not regulated, approved or inspected.

'It beats me up', he said in an interview with Reuters, before adding: 'I think this is something that will change over time'.

Copycat versions were often sold online and through so-called 'health spas', rather than through the formal supply chain, Novo Nordisk said.

It has also been investigating a number of compounded products which it says have multiple safety concerns, although these were not detailed.

The Novo Nordisk tally is lower than the FDA's, with the agency saying it had received 346 reports of adverse events linked to compounded semaglutide by the end of August this year. It did not give a figure for fatalities.

It is also lower than the number of deaths linked to semaglutide, the drug used in Wegovy and Ozempic, reported in the FDA's adverse events reporting system (FAERS)  which was 94 at the start of September this year.

The system only suggests a link, and does not definitively prove that the fatalities were caused by the medication.

Trish Webster, 56, from Australia, died after injecting herself with Ozempic to lose weight for her daughter's wedding. She is pictured above with her husband Roy

There were also 68 deaths linked to tirzepatide, the drug used in weight loss shots Mounjaro and Zepbound.

Novo Nordisk has now ramped up production to meet demand in the US, with all of its Wegovy and Ozempic now back in stock nationwide.

But the drugs still remain on the FDA's shortage list, allowing pharmacies to continue to make compounded versions.

Novo Nordisk chief financial officer Karsten Munk Knudsen said: 'This is an ongoing dialogue with the FDA.

'I don't want to speculate tody whether we're completely off the shortages list, but this is a first step and we're hopeful that we'll be getting off in future.'

Nearly five million Americans were prescribed semaglutide in 2023, according to Penn Medicine, with four in ten using it for weight loss.

One month of Ozempic costs $935.77-a-month out of pocket, while a month's supply of Wegovy costs up to $2,000.
It wasn't just Donald Trump or Kamala Harris on the ticket last night - there were also important referendums on abortion.

Americans in 10 states had their say on whether to enshrine abortion rights into their local constitutions, and the results have dramatically redrawn the map for abortion access across the US.

Voters approved the ballot measures in seven states - including in deep red areas like Missouri where women can now abort at up to around 23 weeks - while three rejected them, including South Dakota, where the only exception for an abortion is to save the life of the woman.

The new votes mean that 30 states and the District of Columbia allow abortion up to 18 weeks of pregnancy, while 20 states restrict the procedure in early pregnancy or ban abortion entirely.

There are nine states with no limit on the gestational age including Oregon, Michigan and New Jersey, meaning doctors in these states are able to provide late-stage abortions.

On the opposite end, there are 12 states with near-total bans on abortion, including Texas, Idaho and West Virginia.

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Dr Lisa Harris, an OB-GYN and professor at the University of Michigan told NPR that the changing landscape of laws is confusing for both providers and patients, and makes reproductive care more challenging overall.

Dr Harris said: 'It's very frightening and confusing for physicians and the whole team that cares for patients to know, what can we do, what is OK and what's not OK'

The issue of abortion was thrown to the states in 2022 when the Supreme Court overturned the national right to an abortion in the case of Dobbs v Jackson.

The decision triggered a cascade of action by individual states either to protect or restrict abortion access.

As the issue was taken to voters in state's like Kansas, it became clear it doesn't always fall along party lines.

Experts say yesterday's ballot measures were similarly surprising, we look at how all 10 states voted below:

Missouri - allowed up to 24 weeks

In The Show-Me State, when Roe v. Wade was overturned, a 2019 law that banned abortions except in cases of medical emergency went into effect. Violating the law was punishable by five to 15 years in prison.

But on the 2024 ballot, Missourians approved an amendment to their constitution that guarantees 'the right to make and carry out decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care.'

This includes allowing abortions up to the point of viability, which doctors place around 24 weeks.

Florida - despite majority vote, six-week ban remains

In the Sunshine state, abortion was made illegal by a 'Heartbeat Protection Act' which bans most abortions past six weeks of gestation.

Advocates moved to expand access with a ballot initiative that would've codified the right to an abortion in the state's constitution.

But there was a threshold built into the initiative - which meant it needed to earn at least 60 percent of the vote to pass.

So though a majority of voters, totaling 57 percent, were in favor of the initiative, it didn't pass.

Therefore, abortion is still illegal past six weeks, except in cases where the fetus has fatal abnormalities or the mother suffers from emergency complications.

South Dakota - near-total ban

In South Dakota, voters moved to reject an initiative that would've expanded abortion rights.

After the Dobbs ruling in 2022, a trigger a law went into effect that banned all abortions except when the pregnant woman's life is in danger.

The 2024 measure would have enshrined the right to an abortion through the first trimester of pregnancy in the Mount Rushmore State's constitution. A majority of voters, 59 percent, voted against the Amendment.

This means that the near-total ban on abortion in the state is upheld.

Nevada - allowed up to 24 weeks

In 1990, Nevada passed a law that guaranteeing abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, so that even after the Dobbs decision in 2022, citizens had access to the medical procedure.

Still, abortion rights activists moved to put the issue to the voters in order to guarantee access to the medical procedure in the state's constitution.

Sixty-three percent of Nevadan voters approved the measure, enshrining the right to an abortion up to fetal viability, around 24 weeks.

However, they will have to vote on the issue again in 2026 to officially amend the constitution, per state law.

Arizona - allowed up to 24 weeks

Abortion rights in Arizona have been flip flopping over the past few years. In April 2024, the state supreme court upheld a total-ban on abortion that was originally created during the Civil War.

State senators blocked the law from taking effect, but the situation mobilized abortion activists in the state, who added a ballot measure to 2024's election.

Arizonan voters approved the ballot measure, which approved an amendment to state constitution protecting abortion up to 24 weeks.

Nebraska - 12-week ban

In Nebraska, there were two opposing ballot measures in 2024's election.

Initiative 439 would've add the right to abortion up to 24 weeks to the state's constitution.

Approximately 51 percent of voters were against the amendment, so it didn't pass.

By contrast, Initiative 434, which enshrines the state's current 12 week ban into the constitution, won 55 percent of the voters.

The 12 week ban, which is within the first trimester, was originally signed into law in May 2023 by Governor Jim Pillen.

This means that in Nebraska, abortions are prohibited after the first trimester, unless someone is in medical emergency or the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest.

Montana - allowed up to 24 weeks

Montanans had the right to an abortion before the election because of a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling.

However, state legislators have challenged that precedent a number of times since, passing laws that ban abortion and remove Medicaid coverage for the procedure.

In the 2024 election, 58 percent of voters approved a ballot initiative to amend the state constitution. The amendment states it will: 'expressly provide a right to make and carry out decisions about ones own pregnancy, including the right to abortion.'

This protection extends to 24 weeks of pregnancy, but allows for medical professionals to perform one past that threshold in medically necessary cases.

New York - allowed up to 24 weeks

Similarly to Nevada, New Yorkers haven't had their abortion laws challenged in recent years. Still, reproductive rights groups moved to put the issue to the people with proposition one.

The proposition added language to the equal protection clause of the state constitution about pregnancy. It states that someone may not be discriminated against or denied rights because of: 'pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.'

Voters approved the addition, maintaining abortion rights in the state up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. The state also allows abortion after 24 weeks if the woman's life is endangered.

Maryland - allowed with no limits

In Maryland, 74 percent of voters approved of of a measure to add reproductive protections to their constitution.

This cements the access that women in the state already had to abortion.

The Old Line State has been progressive with it's abortion protection in the past years, even enacting shield laws that protect abortion providers in the state from being prosecuted by other states.

Colorado - allowed with no limits

In the Centennial State, abortion has been widely protected. Yet there was concern that local governments in more rural parts of the state were moving to restrict access to the procedure, according to NPR.

So the issue was put to voters. Approximately 61 percent of voters in the Centennial state voted to approve Amendment 79, earning more that the 55 percent required.

The Amendment essentially takes a 2022 law signed into law by Governor Jared Polis which enshrines the right to an abortion with no gestational limit and allows Medicaid to cover the procedure.
November 6, 2024: Ukraine wants peace and NATO membership to discourage future Russian aggression. Russia wants to absorb Ukraine into a revived Russian empire. When the Soviet Union collapsed and split into fifteen different nations. This was the end of an empire that was created in the 1700s as an imperial state and reached its largest size in 1721 and maintained that size until a Russian republic was declared in 2017 after Russia admitted defeat in World War I and withdrew from the conflict. That led to a civil war and lasted into the 1920s after the establishment of a communist government in 1917. That government took control of a communist empire that lasted 69 years. When the empire collapsed in 1991, many Russians resented the loss of their imperial status. Men like Vladimir Putin, who was an intelligence officer when the end came in 1991, began working to restore the empire. In 1999 Putin took control of Russia and began his campaign to rebuild the empire. His first major success was in 2014 when he managed to take Crimea and two other provinces from Ukraine. He got all of Crimea but only half of the territory in Luhansk and Donetsk provinces in eastern Ukraine. For Putin, it was a start. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine was supposed to quickly complete the absorption of Ukraine back into the new Russian empire.

In 2021 Russia occupied 42,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, thats 27 percent of Ukraine. As of October 2024 Russia occupied 18 percent. While Russia gained some ground in the last two years, Ukrainian offensives have clawed back large swatches of Russian occupied Ukraine. In addition, an August 2024 Ukrainian offensive into Russia seized 1,200 square kilometers of Russian territory. In the last two months Russian forces have reduced that to 540 square kilometers.

Ukraine is asking NATO nations to provide more military support so that Ukrainian forces can continue their offensive. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is willing to make peace if Russia can keep the Ukrainian territory they already occupy. Meanwhile Russia has declared portions of Russian occupied Ukraine as part of Russia while other portions have been declared independent states guarded by Russian troops.

Putin believes continued military action in Ukraine will work. Thats because Putin has declared occupied parts of Ukraine as annexed by Russia while some areas are now recognized as independent statelets. All of these annexations and declarations of independence are illegal according to the UN and international law. The UN cannot declare the Russia actions void because Russia is one of the five permanent members of the UN security council that have veto power over decisions by a majority of UN members. The other permanent members are China, France, Britain and the United States. These four members do not approve of Russian territorial ambitions in Ukraine and even if the UN condemned Russian actions, Russia would simply ignore this criticism and continue fighting.

Ukraine believes the only way to deal with Russian aggression is to fight back and thats what Ukrainian forces are doing. With more military aid from NATO, especially guided bombs and missiles as well as anti-aircraft systems and armored vehicles, Ukraine can defend itself from Russian air strikes on civilian targets while continuing to advance into Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia. Ukraine also takes better care of its soldiers, who suffer lower casualties and have higher morale than their Russian counterparts. Russia is running out of soldiers, Ukraine is not.

Theres another factor to consider. The damage the sanctions have done to the Russian economy and growing disapproval of the war by Russians, especially military age men, has led to millions of Russian men leaving Russia. Many of these exiles expect to return after the war, but for now they cannot be involuntarily mobilized into the Russian army. The shortage of Russian troops has been so acute that Russia obtained 12,000 North Korean soldiers. These troops have never experienced combat and dont speak Russian. Its also been discovered that North Korea soldiers receive very rudimentary military training and many of them spend their time farming or working in factories. Russia is trying to deal with these shortcomings but it will take time. That means a few North Korean combat brigades will not be ready until early 2025, if then. South Korea fears that Russia has aided the North Korean weapons program. This is the payment for North Korean troops sent to Ukraine.

NATO is providing more than $40 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine in 2024 along with assurances that the aid will continue at these levels for as long as the war does. Putin believes that NATO states will tire of supporting Ukraine and eventually reduce aid to a trickle. The war will be decided by whether Putin or NATO is right. There are some fundamental realities to consider. While NATO nations and Ukraine continue to enjoy economic military progress, Russia is burdened by an economy ravaged by economic sanctions and labor shortages. With so many Russian men in the military or in exile, even hiring North Korean soldiers will not last long because Russia is running out of cash and popular support for a war Russia has been losing.

Ukraine wants to join NATO but cannot do so until the war ends. Putin intends to maintain some state of war indefinitely. NATO may eventually declare the war over and just ignore Putin.
Another case of the new deadly mpox strain has been detected in the UK, health officials confirmed today.

The clade 1b mutation, which experts have called 'the most dangerous one so far' kills one in ten of those infected and is believed to be behind a wave of miscarriages.

It takes the total number of confirmed cases now in Britain to four. All are household contacts of the first case.

Officials don't yet know how the unidentified first patient became infected with the strain  though skin-to-skin contact is suspected.

They had travelled back to the UK from a holiday in Africa on an overnight flight on October 21 before developing symptoms a day later.

The latest patient is under specialist care at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London.

However, health chiefs say they still consider the threat clade 1b poses to the public as 'low'.

It takes the total number of confirmed cases now in Britain to four. All are household contacts of the first case

The latest patient is under specialist care at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London

Vials of single doses of the Jynneos vaccine for mpox are seen from a cooler at a vaccinations site in Brooklyn, New York on August 29, 2022 as the disease swept through the United States

Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UKHSA, said: 'Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household.

'The overall risk to the UK population remains low.

'We are working with partners to make sure all contacts of the cases are identified and contacted to reduce the risk of further spread.'

The UKHSA said all contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.

The first case was detected after the unidentified patient developed flu-like symptoms 24 hours later, followed by a rash, and attended A&E on October 27 where they were tested for mpox.

They were then transferred to a high-level isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in North London  the same facility where imported cases of Ebola were treated in 2015.

On Monday, a officials confirmed a further two patients were being treated at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust with the strain.

A global outbreak of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, began in Africa in May 2022.

But the latest Clade 1b strain is considered far deadlier.

It has swept through central Africa killing at least 1,000 people, since the outbreak began.

Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo have been hit especially hard with cases also spotted in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya.

However, experts say fatality rates of clade 1b from central Africa are unlikely to be replicated in developed nations like the UK due to better access to higher quality healthcare.

Britain's four cases means it joins countries such as Sweden, Thailand, India and Germany in having cases outside of Africa.

In July, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an ongoing mpox outbreak across several central African nations as a 'public health emergency of international concern'.

This is the same designation the WHO gave Covid in late January 2020, just a few weeks before the virus ripped across the world, and some scientists have compared the current outbreak to the 'early days of HIV'.

Mpox causes characteristic lumpy lesions, as well as a fever, aches and pains and fatigue.

It is a far cry from the 2022 outbreak where thousands of cases were recorded, mostly in London

A woman cares her baby suffering from a severe form of mpox in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

However, in a small number of cases, it can enter the blood and lungs, as well as other parts of the body, when it becomes life-threatening.

Current mpox vaccines, which are designed to work on smallpox a close relative of the mpox virus, were used during the 2022 outbreak against the milder strain.

But they have yet to be widely tested against the more potent clade 1b strain.

The WHO and the NHS recommends a vaccine within four days of contact with someone who has the virus or within up to 14 days if there are no symptoms.

Healthcare workers and men who have sex with men are advised to receive a vaccine even if they have had no mpox exposure.

There are no direct treatments available with medics focused instead on supporting a patient to help their body fight off the virus.

Last week, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the Government was working with UKHSA and the NHS 'to protect the public and prevent transmission'.

He added: 'This includes securing vaccines and equipping healthcare professionals with the guidance and tools they need to respond to cases safely.

'We are also working with our international partners to support affected countries to prevent further outbreaks.'
All eyes are on the latest collection from Anya Hindmarch for Uniqlo this month  quite literally.

Not only has Hindmarch successfully opened a whole row of shops in London  her five-store takeover in Belgravia is known as the Anya Village and has become a tourist attraction in its own right  but the designer has now brought her quirky aesthetic to the high street for a second collaboration with Uniqlo.

In this latest offering Hindmarch, who launched her eponymous label in 1987, has adorned numerous Uniqlo staples with cute little pairs of eyes. The range spans both womenswear and kidswear.

From cashmere crew neck jumpers to Puffertech jackets, Anya Hindmarch has brought winter essentials to life with her fun designs. There are lots of accessories in the collection too, including scarves, beanies and striped socks baring the trademark Hindmarch cartoon eyes.

In miserable winter months, such joy-bringing garments are already proving to be a hit  especially with children. The kids collection encompasses cold weather clothing and winter woollies, available in a range of colours including blue, pink, cream and khaki. In a first for Uniqlo, shes created merino wool sweaters for kids, which Anya says have a comfortable feel and are easy to clean.

Speaking of her link-up with the Japanese superbrand, Anya Hindmarch said: Ive loved collaborating with Uniqlo again, working with their iconic knits and outerwear. Once again, weve played with their silhouettes; deconstructing and then rebuilding them with darning stitches, knitted-in patches, and unexpected details, creating special designs, always with a touch of fun.

The full range is now available in selected Uniqlo stores and online, with selected items available in all stores. Prices start at 5.90 for the kids socks, going up to 109.90 for an adult cashmere jumper.

WOMENSWEAR

Merino crew neck jumper, 34.90

Heattech gloves, 19.90

Padded jacket, 79.90

Heattech scarf, 24.90

Socks, 7.90

Heattech beanie, 24.90

KIDSWEAR

Heattech cap, 12.90

Merino crew neck jumper, 24.90

Puffertech jacket, 34.90

Heattech socks, 5.90
How many times have you looked at your favourite celebrity wearing yet another stunning outfit and thought: I wish I had their wardrobe. Its especially true in the run-up to Christmas, when trying to find outfits for all your festive bashes can feel like a second job (only one that drains, instead of fills, your bank account).

But what if you had the chance to get your hands on your favourite A-listers' outfits, for a fraction of the price? Well, thats exactly what rental platform Hurr is offering this party season, having plucked a selection of iconic pieces  now available for users to borrow  from the wardrobes of Nicola Coughlan, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lily James and many more.

Thirteen fashion-forward celebs have offered outfits to Hurr, with 100% of rental proceeds going to Choose Love, a UK-based refugee charity. For those with red tie balls this Christmas, theres Rosie Huntington-Whiteleys red Antonio Berardi gown which she wore to the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party (144.55 for 4 days) and a blue Roland Mouret dress worn by actress Gemma Chan at the 2015 British Independent Film Awards (144.55 for 4 days).

There are also plenty of pieces were eyeing up for our festive work do. Sex Educations Aimee Lou Wood is loaning a House of CB mini (35.79 for four days), with cut-out detailing across the chest for a cheekier take on the little black dress formula. Bel Powley, meanwhile, is putting a full Burberry patterned suit up for rent (107.18 for four days), with a plunging V-neck and gorgeous open cape sleeves that scream high fashion.

Youll find all 41 pieces, including brands like Richard Quinn, Zimmerman and Valentino, listed on the Hurr website. Weve compiled some of our favourites below, and wed suggest you reserve them fast  plenty of people are going to be after them!

The best pieces to rent from Hurr x Choose Love

From 144.55, Hurr

From 107.18, Hurr

From 126.61 (Coat Only), Hurr

From 88.89, Hurr

From 126.61, Hurr

From 55.89, Hurr

From 35.79, Hurr

From 62.44, Hurr
The Financial Conduct Authority has approved AO World's planned 10million takeover of MusicMagpie.

White goods retailer AO World agreed to buy the secondhand electronics seller last month in a 9.1 pence per share deal under plans to broaden its mobile and customer technology offering.

It thinks the acquisition will 'mitigate the risk of a shift' in the consumer tech market towards repair and sustainability as the refurbished tech industry's growth expands.

Approval: The Financial Conduct Authority has greenlighted AO World's planned 10million takeover of MusicMagpie (Pictured left: MusicMagpie co-founder Steve Oliver)

MusicMagpie was founded in a Stockport garage in 2007 by Steve Oliver and Walter Gleeson as a used CD and DVD seller.

The company now sells everything from textbooks to laptops, smartwatches, mobile phones, and Xbox consoles and provides subscription services allowing Britons to rent electronics.

Three years ago, it was listed in London with a 200 million-plus valuation, with plans to use money from the flotation to reduce debts and expand its smartphone rental division.

However, its worth has since plunged to under 10million due to the end of Covid-related restrictions, stiff competition in the secondhand sector, and cost-of-living pressures dampening sales and profitability.

In the six months ending May, MusicMagpie's revenue declined by 13 per cent year-on-year to 53.8million, while its losses flatlined at 2.9million.

'Amidst an increasingly competitive environment for second-use technology, and with consumers continuing to feel the squeeze on their wallets, the market has undoubtedly been challenging,' said chief executive Steve Oliver.

Last year, telecoms giant BT Group and Body Shop owner Aurelius entered talks to buy the firm before walking away without explanation.

While the FCA has approved AO World's purchase of MusicMagpie, it still requires approval from the court and a majority of shareholders.

Once that happens, the takeover should be finalised during the final quarter of 2024 or in the first three months of next year.

AO World was started by John Roberts in 2000 after a friend bet him 1 in a pub that he could start a business.

The Bolton-based group enjoyed significant growth during the early stages of the pandemic when onerous trading restrictions on shops encouraged many people to obtain their fridges, washing machines and electrical appliances online.

Like MusicMagpie, it endured major struggles after lockdown curbs were loosened, but the firm rebounded to profit by cutting jobs, closing its German division, and introducing delivery charges.

AO World shares were 2.1 per cent up at 106.2p on late Wednesday morning.
Republican Bernie Moreno just flipped the Ohio Senate race, managing to win a highly-coveted seat from incumbent Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown.

The GOP businessman ran on his close ties to Donald Trump to beat the three-term senator.

Brown's defeat helped propel Republicans to a new Senate majority.

Moreno had the backing of Trump ahead of what was a tight Republican Senate primary.

The businessman, who is an immigrant from Colombia and once owned car dealerships, argued immigration was the biggest issue in the race.

'We're tired of being treated like second class citizens in our own country,' Moreno said celebrating his victory Tuesday night. 'We're tired of leaders that think we're garbage, and we're tired of being treated like garbage.'

Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno celebrating his victory on Tuesday

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Moreno called it a 'new dawn of Republican leadership' and celebrated Senator Chuck Schumer being 'fired' with Republicans retaking the majority.

Brown was first elected to the Senate in 2006, but his reelection in 2012 and 2018 were both in election years when Democrats had some momentum, first with Obama on the ticket and then in the midterm backlash to Trump.

The senator ran with a focus on bringing down costs for working families as well as protecting health care and women's reproductive rights.

Moreno with supporters on Election night

He had the strong support of labor unions and outreach to union members as well as outreach to more moderate Republicans as he needed some GOP support to help him get across the finish line.

During the campaign he painted his opponent as an extremist who was in the pockets of special interests and would give tax breaks to big corporations at the expense of working people.

'This is a disappointment, but is not a failure,' Brown said in a concession speech Tuesday night.

Senator Sherrod Brown surrounded by his family while giving his concession speech

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While Brown was for the bipartisan immigration deal, Moreno was against it and backed the mass deportation of millions of immigrations in the country illegally.

As the race ran into the final stretch, polls showed Brown's lead slowly dwindling but he maintained a small advantage in the average of polling.

The Ohio Senate race was the most expensive Senate race in the 2024 election season with more than $470 million spent on ads.

'Congratulations to Bernie Moreno on his hard-fought victory,' said NRSC Chair Steve Daines in a statement.

'Bernie is a true patriot and the living embodiment of the American Dream. As Ohios next senator, Bernie will put Ohio first every day and fight to secure our borders, cut taxes, and restore American strength abroad,' Daines went on.

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One issue that proved challenging for Moreno to navigate in the race was abortion rights as it has been a motivating issue for women and Democrats.

Brown ran on protecting access to abortion and fertility treatments since the overturning of Roe v Wade.

Voters in Ohio passed a ballot initiative protecting access to abortion in the state last year, but the issue was not held against Moreno.

Moreno previously backed a federal 15-week abortion ban but walked it back during the general election claiming the issue should be left to states.

Sherrod Brown on election night with his family

Voters chatting at an election night watch party in Cincinnati

However, Moreno found himself in hot water after he was caught on tape making controversial comments about women over fifty and abortion in September.

In the video, Moreno criticized women being single issue voters on abortion calling it 'a little crazy' and 'especially for women that are like past 50.'

Even some Republicans including Nikki Haley blasted him for the remarks. His campaign claimed he was joking, but the comment made its way into a series of ads and trended online.

Moreno happens to be the ex-father-in-law of GOP Rep. Max Miller who was married to his daughter Emily. Miller filed for divorce from his wife in August.
Republican Tim Sheehy won the Montana Senate race ousting Democratic Senator Jon Tester, who was considered the most vulnerable Democrat in the Senate.

The GOP was able to successfully take control of the chamber after losing power four years ago.

Republican Jim Justice captured outgoing Independent Sen. Joe Manchin's seat in West Virginia and GOP's Bernie Moreno ousting Sherrod Brown in Ohio put Republicans on the path to power.

Those two flips, in addition to Sheehy's victory, were enough to give the GOP the outright majority as several other race results are still incoming.

In the final weeks of the Senate race, a series of polls showed Sheehy taking a sizable lead ahead of Tester.

But there were questions over whether Tester's deep ties in the state and reputation as a lawmaker who can work across the aisle could help carry him to victory in an election year where Donald Trump was ensured to carry the top of the ticket.

Sheehy had the strong backing of former President Donald Trump

It would have meant a significant number of voters in Montana would have had to split their tickets to vote for the Republican presidential nominee and the Democratic senator in a divisive election year.

Sheehy is a businessman, decorated combat veteran and father of four who moved to Montana ten years ago.

He ran as a 'common sense' candidate aligned with former President Trump who has created jobs in his state. He was against the bipartisan border deal.

Sheehy is married to his wife Carmen, a former Marine Corps officer, and they have four kids together.

However, his Senate campaign was dogged by a series of controversies.

Sheehy is married to his wife Carmen, a former Marine Corps officer, and they have four kids together

Republican Montana Senate candidate Tim Sheehy speaking at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July

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Sheehy speaking at a Trump rally in Bozeman, MT on August 9. He ran as an ally of the former president in a state Trump won by double-digits

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He faced scrutiny over his financials with reports that his company Bridger Aerospace, founded in 2013, which secured $160 million in bonds meant to hire more workers and expand used the money it to pay $134m in debt.

Separately, questions were raised over how Sheehy received a bullet wound.

During the campaign and in a book, the veteran claimed he received it during a firefight in Afghanistan. It was not reported at the time.

But three years after his deployment in 2015, he told a park ranger that he accidentally shot himself in the arm.

The inconsistencies in the story were first reported in April by The Washington Post. Sheehy said he lied about receiving the wound at Glacier National Park because he did not want to spark a military investigation.

Tester is a third-generation Montana farmer

In the final weeks of the Senate race, a series of polls showed Sheehy taking a sizable lead ahead of Tester

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However, more recently the park ranger who spoke to Sheehy about what was reported as an accidental gunshot wound disputed his claim stating he is 100 percent sure Sheehy shot himself.

Sheehy has also faced criticism after a recording of him from last year captured him perpetuating a racist stereotype for Native Americans at a private fundraiser.

In unearthed audio, he also described women as being 'indoctrinated' on the issue of abortion.

He has also repeated Trump's false claims that Democrats support killing babies after they are born.

Democratic Montana Senator Jon Tester preparing for the debate on September 30 in Missoula, MT

Tester is a third-generation Montana farmer.

He was first elected to the Senate in 2006 and is the last Democrat serving statewide in Montana.

He was considered the most vulnerable Senate Democrat up for reelection this cycle, running for a fourth term in a state that Trump won by more than sixteen points in 2020.

He ran on bringing down costs including prescription drug costs, keeping public land public, protecting women's rights to privacy in their health care decisions as well as delivering for veterans in the Senate.

But his opponent accused him of being in the pocket of special interests as well as covering for President Biden.

The Montana Senate race was among the most expensive Senate races with more than $225 million spent on advertising in the race.
North Carolina's Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson failed in his bid to become governor after a series of scandals plagued his campaign.

Democrat Josh Stein won in a landslide when the race was called on Tuesday night by ABC News - at 58 percent to 38 percent.

Robinson was unable to recover after the latest bombshell revelations that he shared several controversial comments on a pornographic forum called Nude Africa  including calling himself a 'black Nazi' and a 'perv.'

Gov. Roy Cooper, a beloved Democrat in the state, could not run for reelection after serving his two consecutive terms in office.

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson lost his bid for the Governor's Mansion on Tuesday

Democrats were initially worried about losing the seat to a Republican in the red-leaning state.

But when Robinson emerged as the GOP's scandal-ridden candidate, those fears almost immediately dissipated.

The nail-in-the-coffin for Robinson was the CNN report that revealed his history of crude internet activity.

The report, which first aired September 19, said Robinson left comments over a decade ago on the message board where he referred to himself as a 'black Nazi,' said he enjoyed transgender pornography, said he preferred Hitler to then-President Barack Obama and slammed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as 'worse than a maggot.'

The network report said it matched details of the account on the message board to other online accounts held by Robinson by comparing usernames, a known email address and his full name.

CNN reported that details shared by the account holder matched Robinson's age, length of marriage and other biographical information.

The network also said it compared figures of speech that came up frequently in his public Twitter profile that also appeared in posts made by the account on the pornographic website.

Republicans urged the Lt. Gov. to end his bid for governor after the claims emerged in mid-September before it was too late for them to put forward another candidate. But Robinson denied authoring the messages and refused to step aside.

And now, the right-leaning state will have a Democrat for at least four more years.

Robinson, who if elected would have been the state's first black governor, sued CNN over its report about his online activity on the porn forum.

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Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper was unable to run for reelection in North Carolina after serving two consecutive terms

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The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court, was announced by Robinson at a news conference in Raleigh with a Virginia-based attorney.

Robinson called the report a 'high-tech lynching' of a candidate 'who has been targeted from Day 1 by folks who disagree with me politically and want to see me destroyed.'

About a week after the initial CNN report emerged, most of Robinson's staff quit.

He was left with only two campaign spokespersons and a bodyguard left on his team by September 23.

Separate allegations also emerged earlier in the campaign claiming Robinson frequently stopped in at a sex shop.

A former employee of the shop said that the Lt. Gov. would bring free pizza and tell jokes in the style of '80s comic Andrew 'Dice' Clay.
The race for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin tightened dramatically in recent weeks

Democrat Tammy Baldwin held onto her Wisconsin Senate seat after being given a run for her money by Republican businessman Eric Hovde.

The Associated Press projected that Baldwin won, holding back the strong Republican challenge by Donald Trump-backed Hovde.

It was a nail-biting race that had the candidates neck-and-neck leading into Election Day.

Trump won the swing state of Wisconsin in a stunning victory over Kamala Harris that gave him enough Electoral College votes to secure him another White House term.

Republicans had hoped to flip the seat red this cycle as the GOP looks to expand their new Senate majority.

Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate Eric Hovde, reacts during a campaign for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump in Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. October 30, 2024

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Polls had indicated that Baldwin held a one-point advantage going into Election Day.

She was polling ahead in the race for nearly the entirety of the cycle except a few surveys here and there that found Hovde with a lead.

However, in the waning summer months Hovde began to surge.

Around that time Baldwin's team began airing ads slamming the Republican for comments he made in 2012 about single motherhood leading to detrimental effects like higher rates of poverty, incarceration and drug use.

The Democrat's attack ad on this topic featured a man raised from a single mother questioning 'What is wrong with this guy?'

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Wisconsin Senate candidates Republican Eric Hovde and Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin shake hands before a televised debate Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin

This screen shot from cell phone video provided by Eric Hovde's campaign shows the candidate for U.S. Senate shirtless in the cold waters of Lake Mendota in Madison, Wis. on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. He was hoping to show he's more of a hardy Wisconsinite than a soft Californian. He also challenged his Democratic challenger, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, to take a cold plunge as well

But the Republican's wife, Sharon, whom Hovde wed when she was a single mother, later came out on the attack against the ad, accusing Baldwin of running a 'dirty campaign.'

'Sen. Baldwin, your dirty campaign has gone too far,' Sharon Hovde says in the ad.

'Your latest attack on my husband is about single mothers? I was a single mom when I met Eric. It was hard. Eric saw the difficulty I faced just trying to afford child care.'

Following the ad the race began to narrow and just weeks in early October a Cook Political Report shifted the U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin from 'lean Democrat' to a 'toss up.'

The analysis found Baldwin held a two-point lead over Hovde, showing that the incumbent had lost major ground.

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U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin delivers remarks at a campaign rally for Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 20, 2024

Hovde is an entrepreneur who was born in Madison, Wisconsin

Baldwin had reliably polled much better than Hovde this entire campaign cycle.

Baldwin has maintained at minimum a 3.5 point lead over Hovde at all times, some polls even showed her up close to eight points, the RealClearPolitics Poll Average showed in early October.

For example, a survey done by Marquette University at the end of September found that Baldwin led Hovde 53 percent to 46 percent, a seven point cushion for the Democrat.

A spokesperson for her campaign told DailyMail.com then Baldwin was not worried about her lead being erased.

'This race was always going to be a toss up, thats why Tammy Baldwin is working every day to unite Wisconsinites of all stripes and win,' the spokesperson said.

'Next month, voters will reject California bank owner Eric Hovde's insults, lies, and extreme policy positions and send Tammy Baldwin to the US Senate to keep fighting for them.'

Wisconsin has been at the center of a contentious fight between the Republicans and Democrats now for years as it is one of the most closely politically divided states in America.

Voters there sided with President Joe Biden by a narrow margin in 2020.

In fact, the race was so close it was decided by roughly 20,000 votes in the state.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump listens as Senator Ron Johnson speaks during a rally at Dodge County Airport on October 6, 2024

Eric Hovde speaks during the Republican National Convention, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee

Senator from Ohio and 2024 Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance (R) gives a thumbs up as he shakes hands with ex-president and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 16, 2024.

In the last 30 years only one Republican has won a Senate seat in Wisconsin, that being Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who has served since 2011.

Johnson won reelection in 2022 by around 27,000 votes, squeaking out a victory with a one point margin ahead of his challenger.

Signifying the state's growing importance to the GOP, the Republican National Convention was held in Milwaukee in July.

Donald Trump and his vice presidential pick Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, have also countless campaign stops in the state, including last week.

Trump traveled to Green Bay and Milwaukee with under a week left until the November 5 contest.
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan sought a job in national politics, but was unable to move past a state-wide position in Tuesday's elections.

The Republican tried to make a comeback in Maryland politics after completing his second consecutive gubernatorial term last year.

But Hogan was bested by Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, who in 2018 was elected the first black female Executive of Prince George's County in Maryland.

Alsobrooks was well over 54 percent when the race was called by the Associated Press on Tuesday evening.

For the remaining more than 48 percent of voters who did not cast their ballot for Alsobrooks in the 2024 election, the senator-elect had a message: 'And to those Marylanders whose support I have yet to earn  I may not have won your vote, but I want you to know that I hear your voice and I will be your Senator, too.'

Former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan failed to earn a U.S. Senate seat in the state in Tuesday's election. Pictured: Hogan speaks at an election watch party Tuesday, November 5

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Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks delivers a victory speech in College Park, Maryland on November 5 after receiving a congratulatory concession call from former Gov. Hogan

The campaign between Hogan and Alsobrooks commenced when Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, 81, announced in May 1, 2023, that he would retire after three terms in the upper chamber and not seek re-election in 2024.

Hogan's victory would have turned the Senate more red, but he is known as a more moderate member of the Republican Party. Instead, Alsobrook's victory keeps the seat blue.

Hogan was term limited as Maryland's governor in the 2022 race and left office in January 2023.

After leaving office, Hogan first considered a run for the White House under the third-party No Labels party, which sought in 2024 to launch bipartisan bid but failed to gain enough traction or big names for a competitive ticket.

Instead, Hogan endorsed Nikki Haley in her Republican primary. She was the last one standing in a series of GOP challenges against Trump.

And on February 9, 2024, the former governor launched his campaign for U.S. Senate in Maryland. He won the Republican primary in May this year.

Through the summer, Hogan was polling considerably ahead of Alsobrooks, but that turned in September when she took a gradually increasing lead that stood around an average 10 percent before polls opened on Election Day.

Hogan delivered a concession speech that gave a glowing assessment of his rival.

'I just spoke with County Executive Alsobrooks and I congratulated her on a hard-fought victory,' Hogan said at his watch party on Tuesday night.

'And in our nation's history only three African-American women have ever served in the United States Senate,' he continued. 'Tonight, regardless of who you voted for, we can all take pride in the election of the first black woman to represent Maryland in the United States Senate.'

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Angela Alsobrooks is the first black candidate ever elected to represent Maryland in the upper chamber and only the third black woman ever elected to the Senate. Pictured: Alsobrooks celebrates with her daughter at her election night victory party in College Park, Maryland on Tuesday night

'As governor, I had the privilege of working closely with Angela,' Hogan said. 'She's a dedicated public servant and all of us should wish her much success.'

Alsobrooks also noted the historic nature of her victory during her speech.

'In two years, America will celebrate its 250th birthday,' she told a roaring crowd. 'And in all those years there have been more than 2,000 people who have served in the United States Senate and only three have looked like me.'

She continued: 'And so I want to salute all of those who came before me who made it possible for me to stand on this stage tonight.'

In a nod to Trump refusing to accept the 2020 presidential election results and the prospects of it happening again this year, Hogan said in his speech: 'Now is the time for us to come together and to move forward as one state and one nation  to respect the will of the voters and the outcome of the Democratic process.'

Hogan hugs a supporter during an election night watch party in Annapolis, Maryland on Tuesday, November 5

Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (right) campaigns for the seat of retiring U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (left) during an event in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on October 24, 2024

Hogan called Alsobrooks before she delivered her victory speech.

'Just a moment ago, I received a call from Governor Hogan congratulating me on tonight's victory,' the Democratic victor noted at the top of her remarks in College Park, Maryland.

'And I know that we both share a very deep love of Maryland and commitment to Maryland so I certainly want to thank him for his service,' she said in tribute to the former governor.

Alsobrooks was the State's Attorney of Prince George's County from 2011 through 2018.

She became the Prince George County's Executive in December 2018 and has served there since.

Alsobrooks defeated Maryland's 6th congressional district Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) in the Democratic primary earlier this year.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin squeaked by with a victory against former Rep. Mike Rogers in the swing state Senate race.

The margin of victory was much too-close-for-comfort for the Democratic representative in an increasingly blue-leaning state as she was 4.2 percent behind with 66 percent of the vote tabulated around 1:30 a.m. on Election Night.

When the race was called on Wednesday afternoon, Slotkin edged out Rogers by less than one percent.

She hung onto the win despite Donald Trump tearing down the 'blue wall' with sweep of battleground states Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Rogers had hoped to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, helping Republicans grow their new majority in the U.S. Senate.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin is promoting to the Senate after defeating former Rep. Mike Rogers in the 2024 election on Tuesday. Pictured: Slotkin speaks to supporters at her watch part in the early hours of Wednesday morning at MotorCity Casino in Detroit, Michigan

Former Rep. Mike Rogers speaks at his election night watch party in Novi, Michigan on November 5

Polling in the days ahead of the election showed Rogers closing the gap with his Democratic rival.

An average from FiveThirtyEight had the two at a 4 percentage point gap over the weekend.

Slotkin, 48, served for two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives for Michigan's 8th congressional district from 2019 through 2023 and in her third term served for the state's 7th congressional district.

Rogers, 61, previously served as a U.S. congressman for Michigan's 8th district from 2001 through 2015. He was the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 until the end of his tenure in the lower chamber.

After retiring from Congress, Rogers was hired by CNN as a national security commentator.

He tried to stage a comeback in the 2024 elections, but fell short.

In January, Slotkin will officially be promoted when she is sworn in as the new Senator for Michigan to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow who announced January 5, 2023 that she would not run for another term.

Slotkin's victory helps make sure the Democratic party doesn't give up seats in the upper chamber as Leader Chuck Schumer tries to hang onto their razor thin majority margin.

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Retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow spoke in support of Rep. Slotkin at the MotorCity Casino on November 5, 2024 as results were tabulated in the crucial swing state

Rola Makki wears an 'Arab Americans for Trump' crew neck at Mike Rogers' election night watch party on November 5, 2024

Former Rep. Mike Rogers speaks at a campaign event with vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance in Flint, Michigan on November 4, 2024

She will serve in the Michigan delegation alongside Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who is not up for reelection until the 2028 elections after winning a second term in the 2022 midterms.

While there are 47 Democrats and 49 Republicans in the Senate, the four independent senators caucus with the Democrats and therefore maintain the party's majority.

Michigan has a growing number of Muslim electorate and other Democrats who support their opposition to the party leaders backing Israel in its war with Hamas terrorists operating out of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

This has helped the state move more liberal over the last few years  though Michigan remains a battleground swing state in presidential elections.
Donald Trump has won the critical swing state of North Carolina and its 16 Electoral College votes in a pivotal moment in the election.

The Tar Heel state was a key target for both campaigns and was the scene of frenzied campaigning, with Trump making stops there in each of the last three days of the race.

In a major boost to the Republican it was the first of the seven swing states, that will ultimately determine the winner, to be decided.

The result has seen Trump soar to an all-time high in the betting markets with his chances of reaching the required 270 Electoral College votes passing 90 per cent.

And it prompted 'silence' among Team Harris as their hopes now rest on pulling off victories in a number of close contests.

A Democrat presidential candidate has not claimed victory in North Carolina since Barack Obama in 2008. Trump has now won it in three straight elections.

Donald Trump has won the critical swing state of North Carolina and its 16 electoral votes in a pivotal moment in the election

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A woman votes during the 2024 U.S. presidential election on Election Day, in Arden, North Carolina

More than 4.2 million North Carolinians voted early before Election Day, breaking the record turnout in 2020.

Turnout in some western counties hit by Hurricane Helene outpaced the rest of the state as election officials made sure victims could cast their ballots.

Trump's victory came despite an exit poll showing only 43 percent of voters in North Carolina had a favorable view of him, while 48 said that of Harris.

It found 36 percent of voters in North Carolina said the economy mattered most in deciding how to vote in the presidential election.

Meanwhile, 32 percent said the state of democracy, 13 percent abortion, 12 percent immigration, and 4 percent foreign policy.

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An election worker shows 'I Voted' stickers, during the 2024 U.S. presidential election on Election Day, in Arden, North Carolina

Voting signs direct people to Biltmore Forest Town Hall on November 5, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina

Kamala Harris reacts as she talks on the phone at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters in Washington

Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, speaks to reporters after voting at Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach, Florida

Some 47 percent of North Carolina voters said their family's financial situation was worse than it was four years ago.

The exit poll found 69 percent of North Carolina voters were white, up four points from 2020. The percentage of white men was up five points.

Trump, 78, was seeking to become the oldest person ever elected president.

He would also be the first defeated president in 132 years to win another term in the White House, and the first person convicted of a felony to take over the Oval Office.

Harris, 60, would be the first woman, black woman, and person of South Asian descent to serve as president.

She would also be the first sitting vice president to win the White House in 36 years.

With North Carolina decided all eyes turned to the other six swing states.

Trump was showing strength across broad swaths of the country.

By 11.30pm Eastern Time he had won 227 Electoral College votes to Harris' 165.

A candidate needs a total of at least 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency.

Buildings are lit in Red, White and Blue on election night in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 5, 2024

A worker at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, in Charlotte, North Carolina, marks off precincts as their materials are checked in on November 5, 2024

Trump picked up support from Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and among lower-income households that have keenly felt the sting of price rises since the last presidential election in 2020, according to exit polls from Edison.

Trump won 45 percent of Hispanic voters nationwide, trailing Harris with 53 percent, but up 13 percentage points from 2020.

Voters whose top issue was the economy voted overwhelmingly for Trump, especially if they felt they were worse off financially than they were four years ago.

About 31 percent of voters said the economy was their top issue.

And 45 percent of voters across the country said their family's financial situation was worse today than four years ago.

Trump was earning a bigger share of the vote than he did four years ago in nearly every corner of the country, from suburban Georgia to rural Pennsylvania.

By 11pm officials had nearly completed their count of ballots in more than 1,200 counties, about a third of the country, and Trump's share was up about 2 percentage points compared to 2020.
Donald Trump absolutely obliterated the Midwest 'blue wall' Democrats were hoping would hold in the 2024 election and deliver a victory to Vice President Kamala Harris.

The race was called for the new president-elect overnight after he won the battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia and Wisconsin.

Then Wednesday afternoon, the Associated Press called the race in Michigan as Trump prepares to sweep all seven of the swing states.

Harris's campaign had hope the VP could take at least some of the rust belt, but Trump's blue collar base showed up and handed him a victory in all three states.

According to calls made by the Associated Press, Trump won Pennsylvania by 2.2 percent, Wisconsin by 0.9 percent and Michigan by 1.4 percent.

Donald Trump swept all three 'blue wall' midwest swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The former president held his final rally before Election Day in Grand Rapids, Michigan in keeping up a tradition that goes back to his 2016 campaign

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Michigan's GOP Chair Pete Hoekstra told DailyMail.com: 'We will not have created a crack in the wall. We will have obliterated the wall.'

Trump's victory in Michigan was finally declared Wednesday afternoon after he was able to secure a vote haul in populous Oakland and Kent Counties, as well as improving his numbers across almost the entire state.

Michigan played an outsized role in the primaries and again in the general election as one of the most competitive battleground states.

It has 15 electoral votes but looms large in the national consciousness as the heart of the U.S. auto industry.

The state is a key plank in the 'blue wall' that Trump cracked in 2016  after Hillary Clinton famously failed to visit the state until days before Election Day.

But the real nail-in-the-coffin for Harris' campaign happened when the vital blue wall state of Pennsylvania was called for Trump over night.

Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin all voted red in the 2016 election by tiny margins, then flipped blue for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Trump and Harris were on a mission their entire campaigns to win over voters in the rust belt swing states.

Voters celebrate in Madison, Wisconsin in the early hours of November 6 after hearing fellow blue wall swing state of Pennsylvania was called for former President Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris also held her final campaign rally of the 2024 election cycle in Michigan

Republicans applaud at an election night watch party in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Green Party candidate Jill Stein addresses supporters in Dearborn, Michigan on Election Day, November 5, 2024 as she encouraged her supporters in the vital swing state to 'abandon Harris' and vote for her instead

The first sign that Michigan would pose trouble for Democrats came in the primary, where Israel's war in Gaza was proving increasingly unpopular.

That began a push for a protest vote for 'uncommitted' in the primary. There are about half a million Arab American voters in Michigan, and Detroit has the largest concentration of Arab and Muslim voters.

Although Biden won the state with 618,000 votes, more than 100,000 went for 'uncommitted' in the Democratic primary.

Both parties poured money into the race and lavished it with attention from candidates.

Not all the attention worked out as planned.

Trump at the Detroit Economic Club warned that 'our whole country will end up being like Detroit if (Harris is) your president '  spurring an immediate backlash and pushback from the Harris camp.

Trump doubled down on the comments despite new growth and construction in the Motor City. The state also featured a top-tier Senate race between Mike Rogers and Elissa Slotkin.

'We are now winning in Michigan,' Trump said during his victory speech before the race was called

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Trump held his last rally in Grand Rapids - the site of his final 2016 and 2020 rallies.

He also visited Traverse City in the final week of campaigning, making his crowd wait for three hours when he appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast. His supporters were streaming out of the venue after word spread of his long delay.

But the ploy may have worked: Rogan gave his endorsement Monday on the election eve.

And he tried to peel away Arab American and Muslim voters, saying October 7 wouldn't have happened on his watch and blaming Biden and Harris for calamities in the Middle East.

Trump brought an imam and local Muslim officials who endorsed him onstage at a rally outside Detroit.

A pro-Trump PAC ran ads in the state featuring older women in a Philly diner talking about Israel and the race, in a play to get Jewish voters 'permission' to back him. One of the women says she 'never cared for' Trump, 'But at least he'll keep us safe.'

Trump also made repeated appeals to black men in a race where Democrats count on running up big margins from African American supporters in Detroit.

President Joe Biden called himself the most pro-union president in history, and is believed to be the first to walk a picket line when he joined U.A.W. workers.

Harris tried to mitigate Trump's push by meeting with Arab American groups and talking up the administration's union support.

She tried to run up the score among younger voters, scheduling big rally in the college towns of Ann Arbor and East Lansing.

But in another factor making the race competitive, some prominent unions failed to issue an endorsement. Trump featured Teamsters head Sean O'Brien at the Republican convention in nearby Milwaukee, and the national union ultimately made no endorsement.

That prompted locals, including in Detroit, to break away and back Harris.

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Trump and Harris both spent a good chunk of time in Wisconsin and the other 'blue wall' states over the last several months.

His victory in Wisconsin puts him over the 270 Electoral College votes needed to capture the presidency.

The 'Badger State' was regarded as a toss-up in 2024, with neither Donald Trump or Kamala Harris expected to have dibs on the 10 Electoral College votes up for grabs.

According to polling averages, Trump was up nearly three points over Harris in the week leading to the election.

And the now President-elect's victory in Pennsylvania, the biggest 2024 swing state prize.

Harris performed worse than expected in the commonwealth.

Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, react as results are displayed

Meanwhile at Trump's watch in Florida, Tucker Carlson took pictures with supporters and the crowd was lively

Trump supporters were enthusiastic to hear the race called early Wednesday morning

Her decision not to choose Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate may have hurt her in her final effort, despite criticism from Democrats who thought it would help her win the state.

Harris made her final push in Pennsylvania on election eve, holding three rallies in the commonwealth and concluding her campaign in Philadelphia with Oprah, Lady Gaga, and a host of celebrities.

Republicans, also aggressively pursued problematic voting issues in polling places, filing legal challenges to keep the voting honest.

The Republican National Committee filed legal challenges in Cambria County after voting machines were not working properly.

In other counties, Republicans engaged with local polling places to ensure that Republican poll watchers were allowed access to the counting process.
Mica Miller's pastor husband laughed off reports that he remarried the woman he had been seen with shortly after his wife's suicide when Daily Mail caught up with him at the weekend.

Pointing to his wedding ring, Pastor John Paul JP Miller, who was accused of driving his wife to end her life, said: Im still dealing with Mica.'

Miller was also out with that woman, Suzie Skinner, 49, on Saturday just 24 hours after the FBI raided his home. They had lunch together in Myrtle Beach but kept their distance as they entered McAlister's Deli.

They stayed for around 20 minutes, looking tense both on the way in and coming back out.

Pastor JP Miller kept his distance from rumored girlfriend Suzie Skinner as they went for lunch in Myrtle Beach at the weekend

Mica Miller, 30, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Lumber River State Park across the state border in North Carolina on April 27

JP Miller was spotted days after his wife's suicide with Suzie Skinner, 49, pounding drinks, joking and smiling in Lil Tokyo restaurant in Myrtle Beach on May 1, four days after Mica's death

Social media has been full of reports that Miller and Skinner had married. Locals in Myrtle Beach also say they have heard the same thing. However DailyMail.com can find no evidence of a marriage.

Miller declined to comment on last week's raid, insisting inquiries go to his lawyer. You would be shocked if you knew the truth versus what is out there,' he said.

One hard truth: Daily Mail has learned Mica's divorce attorney received a subpoena to provide documents to the Grand Jury investigating Miller before the FBI raid, indicating the raid could have been connected to his doomed marriage.

Lawyer Regina Ward confirmed that she was given the subpoena to produce documents well before Fridays surprise raid by officers wearing Evidence Response Team uniforms.

The FBI is obviously a very professional agency, she said. They make sure they dot their Is and cross their Ts.

Mica's divorce attorney Regina Ward told DailyMail.com she received a subpoena to produce documents before the Grand Jury investigating Pastor JP Miller

They would not have been here unless they were absolutely ready to execute that search warrant.

Ward represented Mica in her split from Miller, 45, with court filings showing she alleged he had abused her during their relationship.

The lawyer had spoken to her client about Millers behavior, previously telling DailyMail.com that she was terrified he would get away with' his alleged abuse.

While the former pastor is not currently facing criminal charges, the subpoena implies that the federal agency is taking the allegations Mica made seriously  potentially putting her claims at the center of the probe.

Mica filed for divorce in October 2023, claiming that her husband  14 years her senior  had multiple affairs.

She shot herself dead in Lumber River State Park across the state border in North Carolina on April 27 using a gun she had bought less than three hours earlier. Supporters claim Millers actions drove her to kill herself.

The case gained national attention when a video emerged of JP casually announcing Mica's death in a bizarre sermon. He said her death was self-induced.

You all know she wasn't well mentally and that she needed her medicine and it was hard to get to her,' he said.

The couple were estranged at the time and Mica had filed for legal separation a week prior.

Security camera footage showed Mica buying a gun in Myrtle Beach less than three hours before she killed herself across the state border in North Carolina

The case gained national attention when a video emerged of JP casually announcing her death in a bizarre sermon. He said her death was self-induced

The FBI confirmed they conducted a court-authorized law enforcement activity' at Miller's home Friday. Officials have refused to comment on the investigation.

Ward said she could not speak any further on the summons, but she has previously branded JP as a narcissist who controlled his wife.

Mica Miller, 30, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Lumber River State Park across the state border in North Carolina on April 27

Speaking to DailyMail.com in May, Ward said Miller would take away anything from Mica that would bring a little glimmer of happiness to her life, adding he wanted her 100% focused on him at all times.

I've done a lot of divorces over the years, she added. I know the traits of a narcissist, and this is textbook.

They're very dangerous people. And they are conniving, controlling, manipulative and abusive.

Multiple trucks were pictured outside Miller's home as the raid began. Agents were seen putting on gloves and bringing bags from one of the trucks while preparing to enter the home.

A crowd of supporters gathered outside the home wearing Justice for Mica T-shirts and handing out small purple rubber ducks, according to The Sun News.

Allegations of abuse and infidelity began to swirl shortly after JP announced Mica's passing at Market Common Church in Myrtle Beach.

He was seen 'drinking shots' and having dinner with Skinner, a member of his congregation, just four days after his wife's suicide,

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show him out for lunch with a visibly distressed Skinner last weekend.

The FBI confirmed they conducted a court-authorized law enforcement activity' at Miller's home on Friday

Miller's church is worth $5.9 million and has a four-seat plane worth $430,000

Skinner was widowed in 2021 when her husband Chris, 41  who was paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair  drowned in a neighborhood swimming pool. She has previously denied that she was dating Miller, insisting they were just friends.

But several locals told DailyMail.com they had heard that the couple have married but Miller is adamant they have not.

No marriage license for Miller or Skinner has been filed in South Carolina.

The raid on Millers Myrtle Beach home comes just months after Micas family reached a settlement with JP and ended legal action against him. The terms of the settlement have been sealed by the court.

Sierra Francis, Micas sister and appointed special administrator of her estate, had asked the court to grant the appointment of a forensic expert to conduct a financial investigation into the marital estate.

In May this year, DailyMail.com revealed how Miller's church has a property portfolio worth at least $5.59 million, and a four-seat plane worth $430,000.

Miller has since filed to create a new non-profit organization following the scrutiny of Solid Rock Ministries, rebranding as Living Water Church at Market Common Inc., according to online records.

This week he has been seen clearing items from his Faith First School, telling former members of his congregation to take what they wanted.

Boxes of items were seen piled up in the car park, with Miller and other members packing chairs and tables into a removal van as well as members cars.

The school was set up by Miller and the leadership team at Solid Rock, but has had dwindling student numbers following the allegations made against the pastor.

His first wife Alison filed for divorce, claiming Miller 'confessed' to her that he had sexual encounters with young females 'under the age of sixteen' from the church. It was revealed to her that he was having an affair with Mica  who regularly babysat his four children  in 2015.

Skinner was widowed in 2021 when her husband drowned in a neighborhood swimming pool. She previously denied that she was dating Miller

Miller was accused of grooming Mica from the age of 14 while he was married to first wife Alison. He denies the allegation

The investigation is to account for any fraudulent transfers of marital property including money and accounts, according to a May 7 filing.

Mica accused JP of grooming her in the church from the age of 14 before their affair, something he denies.

But he admitted to posting a nude photograph of her on Facebook weeks before her death.

In affidavits previously filed by Mica's family, they express their concern over her relationship with Miller.

'When someone hurts me, I try to hurt them back rather than forgive', Miller told his wife in a November 2022 email, according to an affidavit filed by Mica's brother Nathaniel Francis on May 2.

First wife Alison filed for divorce, claiming Miller 'confessed' to her that he had sexual encounters with young females 'under the age of sixteen' from the church

Attorney Ward's office flew an anti-domestic violence banner across its window

Mica called police at least eight times in the weeks leading up to her death, claiming her husband had placed a tracking device on her car and slashed her tires

'Instead of me forgiving you, I just attack and try to cause pain', he added.

Mica called police at least eight times in the weeks leading up to her death, claiming that her husband had placed a tracking device on her car and slashed her tires.

Police reports show the couples marriage had been in freefall dating back to February 2023, when Mica accused Miller of stealing her car.

The couple initially split on September 20, 2023, but Mica's divorce filing was dismissed on February 13.

Later that same month Miller filed against his wife for separate support and maintenance in a motion withdrawn March 11.

But on April 15, just 12 days before she was found dead, Mica filed for divorce once more and sought a no-contact order against her husband.
Donald Trump has won the state of Georgia in a massive boost for his chances of returning to the White House.

His win at 50.7 percent of the vote to Harris' 48.5 percent, came just after his first battleground state victory in North Carolina.

The Associated Press officially projected the former president as the winner of the Peach State in a huge blow for Kamala Harris in a sign her path to the White House is rapidly narrowing.

The call came after pre-election polls had suggested Georgia was on a knife edge.

Trump and Harris were neck-and-neck in the state for weeks, with the most recent average putting the ex-president up just 1.3 points above the VP.

The state's 16 Electoral College votes will now count toward the 270 Trump needs to win the presidency.

Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a campaign rally at McCamish Pavilion on October 28, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Trump once again won the state of Georgia after securing it in 2016 and losing it in 2020

Trump's election watch party was still raging on just after the Georgia call as the former president is expected to take the stage soon.

Meanwhile, Harris' Election Night event at Howard University started to unravel.

Her supporters left in droves after hearing that the VP would not be addressing the crowd tonight.

Former Rep. Cedric Richmond - a Harris campaign co-chair - said after midnight Wednesday that the vice president would not be coming out.

Richmond made the announcement to the stragglers at the party, as many attendees had already gone home after results around the country tilted toward the reelection of former President Donald Trump.

Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger admitted that Trump had an 'insurmountable lead' in the state hours before the race was called.

Raffensperger, a Republican, sparked fury for making the admission before all votes had been counted in the state.

Harris supporters left in droves after hearing that the VP would not be addressing the crowd tonight

Supporters of Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris react to election results

Meanwhile, Republicans were cheering at Trump's watch party in Palm Beach, Florida

The closely divided swing state voted for President Joe Biden in 2020 by just a slim 12,000 vote margin.

It was so close that Georgia's 2020 results were challenged in court by Trump's camp, though Biden's victory ultimately stood.

Former Rep. Cedric Richmond - a Harris campaign co-chair - said after midnight Wednesday that the vice president would not be coming out

Trump's battle with the Georgia election result is still ongoing after he accused the state of unsubstantiated claims of 'widespread fraud.'

He was ultimately indicted for his alleged role in an organized operation to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

That case, brought by embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, is currently on hold after it was revealed she hired her lover to help prosecute the former president.

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In 2016 the former president similarly won over Democrat challenger Hillary Clinton 50.3% to 45.3%.

The two candidates zigzagged across the state for weeks leading to the election.

Georgia had a string of bomb threats called into polling places throughout the state on Tuesday.

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The FBI confirmed that fake 'Russian bomb threats' had been made to polling places in several states - including Georgia - as Americans cast their ballots in one of the closest elections in U.S. history.

Polling places in swing states Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin were also targeted in the plot by the Russians.

But none of the threats have been 'determined to be credible thus far,' the FBI said in a statement on Election Day.

'The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains.'

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After an early morning bomb scare in Atlanta, Georgia, shuttered two polling locations, another round of threats came in the evening halting voting and prompting evacuations.

Police have responded to Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library due to a bomb threat on Tuesday evening.

DeKalb County had evacuations at seven different locations - five of them polling stations. Officials there are requesting extensions in voting times and saying those in line there will be allowed to vote.

Police have done multiple bomb sweeps at different areas as threatening calls have come in.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said earlier Tuesday that Russians were involved in the threats, particularly one that shuttered a school and polling location in nearby Fulton County south of Atlanta.
A finalist in New York City's multimillion dollar doggie mayoral race dropped out due to a slew of extremely vulgar and threatening 'negative comments'.

Oliva Caputo, 28, entered her two-year-old Shih Tzu Enzo in the NYC Dog Mayor race with hopes of having her beloved pup participate in his first-ever competition, but just one day before the final vote, she decided to pull him out.

Flags were raised on Saturday night when Caputo discovered what she described as something like a 'public Telegram group' - a crypto community that swayed voters into choosing the winner - Enzo's competition, Bertram the Pomeranian.

By Sunday, she took to Enzo's Instagram, which boasts more than 92,000 followers, and announced that he was 'bowing out' because of the crypto group who 'do not care about the Dog Mayor of NYC' with 'their valueless sh**coin.'

But that wasn't the only reason she decided to pull him out, as she described many 'threats of violence towards Enzo' following the Bert Crypto 'election fraud' scheme.

One user in the shady crypto group message said they wanted to 'smash this f*** Enzo,' according to a screenshot Caputo shared with the DailyMail.com.

Oliva Caputo, 28, dropped her beloved two-year-old Shih Tzu Enzo out of the NYC Dog Mayor race after discovering a shady crypto community that swayed voters into choosing his opponent Bertram the Pomeranian

Soon after bowing out and bringing it to the head of the organization, Caputo and Enzo started to receive extremely harsh threats online

'Stupid a** dog kill it n****,' another wrote.

Caputo, who struggles with mental health herself, told DailyMail.com that because of Enzo, her condition has improved incredibly.

Once she saw the horrid messages targeting him and even attacking her, she knew she had to speak up about it.

The dog mom decided to contact Stephen Calabria, the founder of NYC Dog Mayor, and shared some of the threats she and Enzo were receiving, but he denied it was happening, Caputo said.

In a statement to DailyMail.com regarding Caputo's claims, Calabria wrote, 'We were disappointed that the Honorary NYC Dog Mayor competition, a fun, inclusive, and entertaining project to help dogs, would encounter interference from, of all things, the crypto world.

'Despite some printed claims, the NYC Dog Mayor election has no corporate or personal affiliations  and our lawyers have sent letters to a crypto company in question demanding that they not infringe our registered trademark nor interfere in our competition.

'We are reaching out to the dogs involved in the competition to remind them they are all good dogs.'

In addition to his statement, Calabria also responded to mentions of such threats on Instagram, saying: 'Enzo received literally zero threats to our knowledge,' and asked screenshots to be forwarded to him as proof.

'So now there's like a bunch of people on the Internet that think I'm a liar because he's implying I'm a liar, which I think is really gross.' Caputo said.

'I don't know why he would rather imply I'm a liar than come out with a public statement to condemn the hateful messages I've been getting.'

She explained that she started to send him proof of the threats, but soon grew frustrated in doing so, wondering why he couldn't just help protect her and her dog.

One of her friends even reached out to Calabria about the hateful messages, and according to Caputo, he said those comments weren't 'sent by anyone affiliated with us'.

In an Instagram post, Calabria said he is committed to running a 'fun, inclusive, negativity-free election'.

'We dont condone negativity directed towards anyone, canine or human, and do not support anyone trying to buy or pay for votes,' he added.

'That said, we cant moderate every conversation on the internet [and] cant control whether people in the global crypto marketplace organize for a candidate for dog mayor.'

The dog mom decided to contact Stephen Calabria (middle), the founder of NYC Dog Mayor, and shared some of the threats she and Enzo were receiving, but he denied it was happening, Caputo said

Caputo told DailyMail.com that throughout the whole ordeal, Calabria blocked and unblocked her multiple times on social media.

She added that he even blocked some of Enzo's loyal followers.

'I can't even tell you how many of Enzo's followers have told me that they got blocked, but quite a lot and you know they're getting blocked for calling him out on his corruption,' she said.

Despite the crypto group banking on Bertman to beat Enzo, the dog's owner, Kathy Grayson, told PIX 11 she had no idea what was taking place.

Caputo said she and Enzo had been preparing for the race since July, and that she has been 'truly busting my a** to promote his platform.'

She told DailyMail.com she is beyond disappointed in how this whole ordeal was handled, and will not be entering Enzo in this race ever again

Now, she plans to keep Enzo away from any competitions following this debacle, including the mayoral dog race.

'It's disheartening. It's, you know, beyond disappointing. I just cannot believe it turned into this.

'And you know other people, including him, you know, like his camp is all saying, it's not that serious and lighten up,' she added.

Although she agrees that this is not some 'life changing event,' Caputo said Calabria has 'led it to be anything but that.'

On November 11, Bertman will go up against his new opponent Simon, whose owner told the outlet 'he doesn't care if he loses to crypto bros next week.'
With a plump, barrel-shaped body and eight stubby legs, the water bear may not be a beauty  but it is almost indestructible.

The creatures, also known as tardigrades and measuring less than one millimetre long, can survive being frozen, boiled, exposed to the vacuum of outer space or whacked with X-rays at a dose 500 times that which would kill a person.

So when Chinese scientists recently claimed to have combined tardigrade genes with human DNA  to produce a human gene resistant to radiation  it set alarms ringing in the West.

It may sound far-fetched, but China has made little secret of its mission to win the race to corner the essence of everything

It seemed to confirm the sci-fi ambition of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to harness the power of genomics to create super soldiers who are faster, healthier, smarter and stronger than their adversaries.

Genomics, the study of genes, can be used in multiple ways  from tailoring cancer treatments for an individual to testing someones susceptibility to developing a certain disease. But in the wrong hands it has chilling implications.

There are fears it could be employed to surveil entire ethnic groups or target them with bespoke weapons. Or used to turn super-human combatants  the likes of which we assumed belonged only in Marvel movies  from a nightmare into a reality.

It may sound far-fetched, but China has made little secret of its mission to win the race to corner the essence of everything  as the countrys BGI Group (formerly the Beijing Genomics Institute) has characterised efforts to harvest DNA and build the worlds largest database of genetic material. Its a startling goal.

Policymakers in the West are only just waking to the disturbing economic and military dangers of CCP control over the very building blocks of life.

US intelligence shows that China has even conducted human testing on members of the Peoples Liberation Army in the hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities, according to John Ratcliffe, former US director of national intelligence. There are no ethical boundaries to Beijings pursuit of power.

One enhanced capability would be the ability to fight at high altitudes. To this end, the Chinese state is studying the genes of its repressed Tibetan population, to discover how they are adapted for life on the Tibetan plateau.

One of the key participants in this research is the Kunming Institute of Zoology, which is also a founding member of the Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT), established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

With few of the ethical constraints that govern genomic research in the West, China has made the greatest strides towards that terrifying goal

All Chinese companies are compelled by law to share data and support, assist and cooperate with national intelligence efforts

The head of GCHQ, Britains signals intelligence agency, has warned that synthetic biology and genetics, alongside artificial intelligence, are technologies in which China is seeking to dominate in order to gain control of the global operating system.

Compare that to Beijings great ally Vladimir Putin, who has waxed lyrical about the prospect of creating a Russian soldier who can fight without fear, compassion, regret or pain.

With few of the ethical constraints that govern genomic research in the West, China has made the greatest strides towards that terrifying goal.

In September, the US House of Representatives was sufficiently worried about national security to pass the Biosecure Act to restrict business with the BGI Group, which manages Chinas National Gene Bank on behalf of the government, as well as several other Chinese biotech companies.

BGI pioneered an advanced genetic sequencing system, which is being promoted worldwide as a medical tool.

Called Huo-Yan, or Fire Eye in English, the name derives from the story of a mythical Chinese monkey king with the capacity to see through disguises to spot imposters in the royal palace.

Fire eyes can see the essence of everything, says the companys website. The US National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence has warned that the system may be a global collection mechanism for Chinese government genetic databases, providing China with greater raw numbers and diversity of human genome samples as well as access to sensitive personal information about key individuals around the world.

BGI has worked with the Chinese army on at least 12 research projects that include efforts to improve population quality and on genetic research to combat hearing loss and altitude sickness in soldiers, according to a review of research, patent filings and other documents obtained by the Reuters news agency.

When it comes to gaining an economic or military edge, the size and diversity of genetic data is crucial  which is why harvesting it beyond China is so important to the CCP. For example, BGI produces a best-selling prenatal Non-Invasive Fetal Trisomy (or Nifty) test, which involves the analysis of blood samples and can cost as much as 500 in fertility clinics.

The test is used by millions of pregnant women globally and was reportedly developed in collaboration with the Chinese military.

It is one of the worlds top-selling non-invasive tests to detect abnormalities such as Downs Syndrome, and is sold in at least 52 countries, including the UK, raising fears that the data is being transferred to China for possible military research.

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Policymakers in the West are only just waking to the disturbing economic and military dangers of CCP control over the very building blocks of life

When it comes to gaining an economic or military edge, the size and diversity of genetic data is crucial

The Covid-19 pandemic proved especially useful for the mass collection of DNA within China, but Beijing was also able to export testing facilities in the name of helping fight the virus globally, donating mobile labs to 20 countries on four continents, including Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

In the words of a slick company video, the program claimed to provide comprehensive solutions for precision medicine globally in the new era. And despite BGIs insistence that data remained private, there are fears information could have been passed back to Beijing.

Latvias domestic security agency has warned customers using BGI facilities to be cautious and not swayed by the companys assurances about data security.

A European Union-funded project to build a genomic map of Poland vetoed the use of BGI gene-sequencing equipment over similar concerns.

In contrast, the UK has resisted calls to investigate the firms activities, despite China being suspected of multiple attempts to hack genetic data centres in the NHS. Some 16 British universities have collaborated with BGI or its subsidiaries in the past decade, including Oxford, Bath, Exeter, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Several projects were reportedly funded by UK Research and Innovation, a government body that issues science and technology grants. In 2021, the Department of Health even granted BGI an 11million Covid testing contract.

BGI denies it is harvesting genetic data on behalf of the CCP. None of BGI Group is state-owned or state controlled, and all of BGI Groups services and research are provided for civilian and scientific purposes, it claims.

Yet all Chinese companies are compelled by law to share data and support, assist and cooperate with national intelligence efforts. There is no mechanism for Chinese companies to refuse a Communist Party request for data.

In addition, BGI is regarded as a champion in Beijings efforts to lead the world in biotechnology and has received massive government support.

Transferring tech from nominally civilian researchers to the military  so-called military-civil fusion  is a key CCP doctrine. The Peoples Liberation Army, meanwhile, sees bioweapons as part of future warfare, what it refers to as biological deterrence and militarisation of biotechnology. Its scientists have already genetically engineered pigs, monkeys, mice, rats, rabbits and dogs.

President Xi Jinping is seen on a billboard in Xinjiang. The western province of Xinjiang, where the CCP has been accused of genocide against the ethnic Uighur population, has been a key testing ground for Chinas genomic ambitions

With the computing power of artificial intelligence to process data, the potential of genomics in targeted warfare becomes especially alarming

The western province of Xinjiang, where the CCP has been accused of genocide against the ethnic Uighur population, has been a key testing ground for Chinas genomic ambitions.

Here, harvesting of DNA for surveillance and control took place under the guise of physicals for all  free health checks. It was part of a vast scheme to collect biometric data, feeding photographs, DNA samples, fingerprints, iris scans and blood types of all residents aged 12 to 65 into a central searchable database.

Officials were told to ensure [information from] every household in every village, every person in every household, every item for every person is collected.

Scientists looked at ways to use a DNA sample to create an image of a persons face. The process, called DNA phenotyping, analyses genes for traits such as skin colour, eye colour and ancestry. It could considerably enhance facial recognition and surveillance systems.

The health check model has since been extended elsewhere in China, while saliva swabs or blood samples are routinely gathered from those arrested for even minor misdemeanours. These include failing to carry identity cards or writing blogs critical of the state, according to documents presented to a national police DNA conference.

Were transforming DNA technology from simply a criminal investigation tool into an important initiative for social control and safety keeping, according to a conference paper from police in the northern city of Ningxia. The CCP is now aiming to build the worlds largest DNA database, a target turbo-charged under the cover of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cyber espionage has been a reliable tool in this endeavour, too  the US Justice Department has indicted Chinese operatives for allegedly stealing patient databases at four companies, including DNA information on more than 80 million Americans.

When China was recently accused of hacking Britains Electoral Commission and a payroll system used by the Ministry of Defence, No 10 played down the significance of the breaches.

In reality, the danger lies not in individual hacks, but their use with other data  including DNA  to identify individuals and groups and their vulnerabilities and potentially target them for surveillance, manipulation or even elimination.

Coupled with the computing power of artificial intelligence to process and cross-reference data on a vast scale, the potential of genomics in targeted warfare becomes especially alarming.

Workers during a Coronavirus lockdown in Shanghai in January 2021. The Covid-19 pandemic proved especially useful for the mass collection of DNA within China

Members of the emergency services in green biohazard suits in Salisbury. The clumsy and crude poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter by Russian spies using the nerve agent novichok in 2018 would look amateur compared to the nightmare of perfectly tailored and hard-to-detect genetic weapons

The USs National Counterintelligence and Security Center has warned: Vulnerabilities in specific individuals revealed by genomic data or health records could be used to help target these individuals.

The fear is that the data reveals how different population groups have differing susceptibilities to diseases or other disorders.

The clumsy and crude poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter by Russian spies using the nerve agent novichok in 2018 would look amateur compared to the nightmare of perfectly tailored and hard-to-detect genetic weapons.

Many Western scientists are horrified by research that modifies human genes in potentially dangerous and unpredictable ways  such as with the water bear and earlier research that claimed to have edited the DNA of babies supposedly to make them more resistant to HIV. Not least because of the danger posed by the worrying characteristics of Chinese research  woeful ethics and sloppy standards  that many suspect led to the leaking of the Covid-19 virus from a lab in Wuhan.

The notorious Wuhan Institute of Virology contains the worlds largest collection of bat viruses and for more than a decade it carried out research on coronaviruses, including risky gain of function tests  essentially enhancing the potency of a virus in relation to humans, supposedly to better learn about combating it.

Neither the suspected leak from that lab, which is assumed to have killed more than seven million people worldwide, nor the protests of Western institutions and lawmakers are preventing China from pressing ahead with its chilling plan to capture the world of genomics.

And ultimately, whether the CCP creates a monster by design or accident, it is extremely dangerous for the rest of the world.

Ian Williams is the author of Vampire State: The Rise And Fall Of The Chinese Economy, which was published by Birlinn on September 5.
An unruly passenger attempted to open the doors of a Copa Airlines aircraft moments before it landed in Panama City.

All appeared to be well on Copa Airlines flight CM204, which departed from Brasilia, Brazil, when the man rushed to the back of the airplane and confronted a flight attendant.

Travelers Marcelo Ribeiro and Everaldo Torres leaped into action when the passenger attempted to take woman hostage.

'He tried to take the flight attendant hostage with a plastic knife from the food that was served on the plane,' Ribeiro told Brazilian news outlet G1.

'The flight attendant called for help. When he went to take her hostage, I stepped in front of her and tried to hold her back.'

Passengers jumped into action on a Copa Airlines flight traveling from Brasilia to Panama City on Tuesday and stopped a man from opening one of the doors after he took a flight attendant hostage with a plastic knife. The plane landed safely and the man was removed by Panamanian security forces at Tocumen International Airport

The unruly passenger is surrounded by crew members and staff after he was restrained with plastic handcuffs

Ribeiro attempted to reason with man and then brawled when he noticed him trying to open door open.

'I went over there, I went to talk to him, that's when he let go of the girl and went to the door to open the door,' Ribeiro said. 'I held him, I tried to hold him, we got into a physical fight, four other passengers also came to hold him and he was upset.'

Maria Ferraz, who was also on the flight, said the man was swearing a lot.

'He swore a lot and it was really tense because he came back two or three times,' she said. 'Twice, I think. Twice to actually try to open the plane door.'

A video filmed by a passenger showed one of the customer passengers placing the man in a headlock and a crew member trying to restrain him with plastic handcuffs.

A photo showed the man sitting in his seat with his blood stained around his lips and nose while a man stood near him.

One of the passengers on the Copa Airlines flight told Brazilian news outlet G1 that he attempted to talk to the man after he released the flight attendant being held hostage

Copa Airlines said that a unruly passenger was removed from flight CM204, which was traveling from Brasilia, Brazil to Panama City, Panama on Tuesday, after he attempted to open one of the doors

The captain took a couple of more minutes than usual to land the aircraft at Tocumen International Airport, where Panamanian authorities arrested him.

'On Copa Airlines flight CM204 from Brasilia to Panama, today, November 5, 2024, there was a situation during the landing phase in which an unruly passenger tried to open one of the aircraft doors,' the airline said in a statement.

'The crew acted quickly and, with the assistance of some passengers, applied the necessary safety protocols to control the situation until landing in Panama.'

Copa Airlines said that 'thanks to the professionalism of the crew, the safety of the flight and passengers was protected.'
Sunrise host Natalie Barr was stunned when she learned that the Presidential candidates were still personally calling prospective voters on election day.

With the polls closing, Barr, who is reporting from Washington DC, asked former Obama aide Peter Loge about what the candidates were doing.

'What's happening in each of the camps right now?' Barr asked.

To her surprise, Mr Loge said: 'By all accounts, the Vice President (Kamala Harris) is still making calls, reaching out to people.'

Almost in disbelief that a presidential candidate would do that, Barr asked, 'Who's she calling?'

'Unlikely voters, those who might not normally vote,' Mr Loge replied.

'Vice President Harris is reaching out to mobilise as many voters as possible, maybe contacting people at state headquarters.'

Still shocked at what she was hearing, Barr asked 'Do candidates usually call people directly?'

Sunrise host Natalie Barr (left) got a shock when interviewing Peter Loge (right) who served under former president Barack Obama

Sunrise host Natalie Barr is leading Channel Seven's coverage of the American election

'Yes, she's going through the list,' Mr Loge said.

The Sunrise veteran replied 'I didn't know they did that'.

Mr Loge said the time between the closing of the polls and when the results start coming in is 'a weird time to be in campaign headquarters'.

'If you're a senior staffer, you've done everything you can do, maybe making phone calls, ordering pizza,' he said.

'Now you're just waiting. If there are calls left to make, you make them. But mostly, you wait for results. It's a strange feeling.'

Barr asked if it was 'stressful'.

'Yes, you're running on adrenaline and pizza,' Mr Loge replied.

'There's nothing more you can do except wait.'

He said that Donald Trump 'is reportedly waiting, watching TV, snacking, probably what I'd be doing'.

Having worked for a previous president, Barr asked, 'Did Obama do that? Do they make last-minute calls themselves?'

'I wouldn't be surprised. You don't want to lose by one vote and then regret not making that one extra call,' Mr Loge said.

With the result likely to hinge on which candidate seven so-called swing states vote for, Mr Loge said 'As polls start closing around 7, 8, or 9 eastern (US time), if we see big numbers in states like Georgia, where over 5.5million people are expected to vote, then it could favor Harris, and we might be in for an early night.

'But if it's close on the east coast, we could be waiting longer, especially with states like Arizona and Nevada coming in later.'

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris is pictured making last minute phone calls to voters on election day, November 5, 2024

With Trump suggesting that if he loses it will be because of cheating through 'a big dump' of votes, Mr Loge explained what the former president meant.

'He's referring to inner-city areas where polling numbers tend to favour Democrats,' he said.

'When these results come in all at once, it can look like a surge, but it's just vote counting. Once polls close, there's no more voting.

'They simply count what's already been cast.'

Finally, Barr asked Mr Loge for a prediction on who will win.

'I think it'll either be a strong win for Harris or a prolonged counting period,' he said.

'I don't see Trump having a path to sweep (the election). Many polling models might be underestimating female voters, which could swing it decisively for Harris.'
A truck driver has told the William Tyrrell inquest that he saw a woman 'acting suspiciously' near where the toddler disappeared on the morning he vanished.

Peter Bashkurt was picking up an excavator from Batar Creek Road, a few hundred metres from the house in the NSW mid-north coast town of Kendall where the three-year-old boy was last seen.

Appearing via audio visual link at the inquest in Sydney, Mr Bashkurt said he had called Radio 2GB and the police after William was reported missing from his foster grandmother's home at 48 Benaroon Drive, Kendall.

Asked where he had seen the car 'you considered acting suspiciously' and driven by a woman, Mr Bashkurt said he saw it twice, in Kendall and nearby Kew.

He described a black Toyota Camry driven by an overweight blonde woman.

But the reported police theory for William's disappearance is that his foster mother allegedly drove her mother's grey Mazda 3 to dispose of the boy's body that day.

Mr Bashkurt told police that he had seen the black Toyota parked across the road from him at an old bus stop and that she had unnecessarily crossed the road in her car and parked too closely in front of him.

'I dont know what triggered her to move from the location she was at. She didnt need to come and park in front of me,' he said.

'Something must have triggered her to do that. I actually pulled out from behind her, because she was so close, I had to back up a bit. That was a bit odd for me.'

William's foster mother (centre, maroon jacket) was seen throwing an object from her mother's car which she drove on the morning the toddler disappeared in 2014

Police seized the car driven by the foster mother on the morning that William vanished in September 2014, but the grey Mazda 3 (above) does not resemble one of the vehicles sighted by the truck driver in the street on that morning

When he saw the car again in Kendall, he saw a blonde, overweight woman exit it and go into the town's Op Shop.

'Then five to 10 minutes later to turn up at the same location where I was meeting [his contact for collecting the excavator].

'Why would she be there killing time? What was her purpose? I have no idea.'

Mr Bashkurt's third sighting of cars came as he exited with the excavator loaded on his truck along Batar Creek Road, where police conducted extensive searches in 2021.

He saw an approaching 'gunmetal grey' tradies' dual cab ute loaded with tools, and an early 1980s model BMW which he told police at the time was black with a ladder on top of it.

But testifying on Wednesday, he said it was 'dark red, maybe burgundy'.

Mr Bashkurt said he reported the sightings because he 'thought, maybe I can help, dont know whether that black car had anything to do with it.'

The inquest is currently investigating the police theory that William Tyrell's foster mother buried his body in bushland after he fell from a balcony and died on the morning he vanished.

Counsel assisting the inquest, Gerard Craddock SC, told the inquest when reopening on Monday that the police theory was that 'William must have died at [his foster grandmother's home at] 48 Benaroon Drive [in Kendall].

'The theory... police assert, is that she must have quickly resolved that if the accidental death of William was discovered she might lose 'Lindsay'.'

Lindsay - not her real name, which can't be revealed for legal reasons - was another foster child in the care of the foster mother at that time, who also can't be named.

'Police assert that in that frame of mind, [the foster mother] placed William in her mother's car,' Mr Craddock said.

'After alerting [a neighbour] to William's disappearance, [she] drove her mother's car to Batar Creek Road and placed William's body somewhere in the undergrowth.'

Mr Craddock has said the area around Batar Creek Road had been extensively searched by police who did not believe any trace of William was left there.

The latest hearings in the William Tyrrell inquest are investigating the police theory that William fell from the balcony of his grandmother's house and his remains were buried in bushland

Police searching the bushland along Batar Creek Road, Kendall, where a truckie said he saw a woman throw an object from a car on the morning William Tyrrell disappeared

He also said that in the search for William after his disappearance - with police, fire fighters, cadaver dogs, chainsaws and hydraulic equipment  meant that the little boy had not simply just been lost in the search area.

'William under his own steam could not travel beyond the area of the intensive search,' he said.

'The conclusion there must have been human intervention.

'It's beyond argument that no eye eyewitness can provide an account about how he left the boundaries of 48 Benaroon Drive.'

Forensic anthropologist Dr Jennifer Menzies gave evidence that William's skeletal remains might have survived in the bush, or could have been disintegrated by weather, rain or predation by 'rabbits, wombats, dogs, or foxes'.

Water science expert, Professor Jon Olley, described how he combed a local rubbish dump and creeks in the search for William, whose body he said would have snagged and been caught if washed downhill.

On Tuesday, police intelligence analyst Sergeant Robyn Ross testified that a mountain of tips which had poured in since William's disappearance had resulted in a list of 6000 persons' names.

Originally called the 'persons of interest spreadsheet', the identities were triaged into low, medium and high risk of possible involvement in the case, and investigated by the task force.

Sgt Ross said even when the inquest was concluded, detectives would continue to accept and analyse tips coming in.

The inquest, which began in 2019 but has been beset by protracted delays has now entered its final block of hearings, is being held this week, and over the week before Christmas.

Taskforce commander Detective Chief Inspector David Laidlaw (above at the search site in 2021) will not give evidence at the latest and final part of the inquest

A forensic anthropologist gave evidence that William's skeletal remains could have survived in the bush, or been disintegrated by weather, rain or predation by 'rabbits, wombats, dogs, or foxes'

William's disappearance has become one of Australia's most notorious missing persons cases.

The inquest before Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame  examining William's disappearance and suspected death  was delayed last year when prosecutors weighed up charges against the boy's foster mother.

Police handed a brief of evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions that recommended William's foster mother be charged with perverting the course of justice and interfering with a corpse.

Around that time, the foster parents' solicitor Rylie Hahn called for police to disclose any evidence.

'William's foster mother maintains she had nothing to do with his disappearance  and asks the police to continue to look for William and what happened to him,' Ms Hahn said.

In August this year, Ms Grahame was handed a letter from the DPP, outlining the status of a request for advice.

In the letter, the Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling SC said that NSW Police had in April asked her office to 'suspend' its request for advice until the conclusion of the final block of inquest hearings.

In 2022, William's foster mother was found not guilty of lying to the NSW Crime Commission.

In November last year, William's foster father was also acquitted of five counts of lying to the NSW Crime Commission.

The court was told at the time that during the Crime Commission hearing, counsel assisting Sophie Callan SC questioned the foster mother about whether William had fallen from the balcony and she had disposed of the body.

The couple has denied any wrongdoing or disposing of his corpse.
A statue of Israel's first president stolen by pro-Palestinian activists has now been 'beheaded' in a move that one peer described as 'designed to terrorise British Jews.'

Campaigners from Palestine Action were filmed on Saturday violently smashing their way through a glass cabinet with hammers before grabbing a pair of statues portraying Chaim Weizmann.

Now tonight the group has posted an image of one of the busts without a head and have declared the statue 'dead'.

They said on X: 'First bust of Weizmann is dead. Soon, his Zionist project will be too!'

The incident has prompted outrage and been deemed as provocative by critics.

Activists from Palestine Action have tonight posted an image of one of the busts of Chaim Weizmann stolen on Saturday night from the University of Manchester without its head chopped off and have declared the statue 'dead'

A day after the statues were 'abducted', the group showed an image appeared of the busts, one wrapped in a red keffiyeh, the other in a white one, with the group saying 'Weizmann is now under Palestine Action's control'

Video footage showed the moment two activists smashed through the glass and stole the statues of Chaim Weizmann

The action coincided with the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration of 2 November 1917

Politician and life peer John Woodcock, known as Lord Walney, said the chilling action by the activists 'may be interpreted as incitement'.

He said: 'The latest provocation from Palestine Action - 'beheading' the statue of President Weizmann while the memory of terrorist atrocities on 7 October is fresh and hostages are still held. It may be interpreted as incitement.

'It is certainly designed to terrorise British Jews.'

Author Aviva Klompas described the stunt as 'sick'.

She wrote: 'The sick psychos who stole the bust of Chaim Weizmann from the University of Manchester posted a picture showing they cut off his head.

'What do you think these lunatics would do if they could get their hands on a living Jew?'

Advocacy group Campaign Against Antisemitism denounced the incident as 'macabre' and said the authorities had failed to clamp down on a group now 'terrorising' the Jewish community.

A spokesperson said: 'Palestine Action is now carrying out a macabre mock beheading.

'It is a criminal enterprise operating freely in the UK and terrorising the Jewish community.

'The authorities have been too lax on Palestine Action. Given the events of this weekend, it is clear that Palestine Action will only continue to escalate its campaign of criminality, and the authorities are failing to stand in its way.

'Whether that's due to an unwillingness to take action or an inability to do so due to the constraints of existing legislation, the result is that a group of petty vandals continue to terrorise the British public and, in particular, the Jewish community and its institutions.

'This has got to change. We are talking to the Government and our legal team is reviewing existing legislation to assess its effectiveness in tackling what has become essentially a criminal organisation that wrecks businesses and charities, and terrorises the Jewish community.

'The police and the Government must take urgent steps to ensure that Palestine Action faces enforcement action.'

The beheading of the statue follows its audacious theft from the Chemistry Building at the University of Manchester in the early hours of Saturday, which coincided with the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration of 2 November 1917.

On that date, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour supported the establishment of a 'national home for Jewish people'.

Prior to becoming an Israeli statesman, Weizmann was a renowned biochemist and a lecturer at Manchester University during the early 1900s.

Palestine Action took responsibility for the stunt, saying on X they had 'abducted' the busts.

In the campaign group's X page, formerly Twitter, it said: 'Palestine Action abduct sculptures of Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann, from the University of Manchester.

'Weizmann secured the Balfour Declaration, a British pledge written 107 years ago, which began the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by signing the land away.'

Lord Walney has warned the action of beheading the stolen statue could be 'interpreted as incitement' and was 'designed to terrorise British Jews'

Prior to becoming an Israeli statesman, Weizmann was a renowned biochemist and a lecturer at Manchester University during the early 1900s

A day later, an image appeared of the busts, one wrapped in a red keffiyeh, the other in a white one, with the group saying 'Weizmann is now under Palestine Action's control'.

On Monday, the group posted again on X, showing a video of the busts which were now defaced with the words 'Smash' and 'Zionism' written on each of them in red paint.

Just hours later, the group have beheaded one of the busts.

In a longer statement posted on its website, Palestine Action said on Saturday: 'Today, Palestine Action have marked, by taking two sculptures of Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann, from its display case at University of Manchester.'

The statement went on to say: 'Over several meetings, Weizmann who as 'the rocks of Judea, obstacles that had to be cleared on a difficult path', lobbied Balfour into assisting the Zionist colonisation of Palestine.

In other actions, red paint was thrown over the charity Jewish National Fund in Hampstead

Police are investigating the incident as a suspected hate crime

The Metropolitan Police received reports of criminal damage in Hampstead at 9.29am on Saturday morning

The pictures were shared by the Palestine Action on their X, formerly Twitter, account

Jewish National Fund's office in Hendon was also covered in red paint

'In 1917, a year after Balfour was appointed UK foreign secretary, he penned the Balfour Declaration, promising a 'Jewish homeland in Palestine'.

'The public pledge by Britain came in the form of a letter dated 2nd November 1917 to Lord Rothschild, a close friend of Weizmann. On behalf of Britain, Balfour promised away the land of Palestine  which he never had the right to do.'

The incident coincided with further actions by the group on Saturday, which included red paint being thrown at the University of Cambridge's Institute for Manufacturing building, as well as the offices of charity Jewish National Fund (JNF) in Hampstead and Hendon, London.

Concerning the spray painting of the University of Cambridge's building, which they say was done in collaboration with students, the group said in a statement: 'Cambridge educated Balfour and, until direct action destroyed it, his portrait was hung in Trinity College.

'Our university's complicity in the genocide of the Palestinians runs deep; the criminology department at Cambridge University helps train 'Israeli' police and military; the Department of Material Science partners with 'Israeli' arms companies to produce armoured vehicles; Rolls-Royce operates out of the Institute for Manufacturing.

'We must challenge complicity wherever we see it, so today we showed the world the true colours of these institutes of death; blood on the institution's walls for blood on the institution's hands.'

As regards to the vandalism of the charity buildings, the group said: 'The JNF raise funds to demolish Palestinian homes and build settlements on top of stolen Palestinian land - a recognised war crime. Amongst their honorary patrons is the prime minister of Israel.'

Following the incident in Hampstead, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley said: 'I know that incidents like this cause significant concern in the community.

'I want to offer my full reassurance that this incident will be robustly investigated. We have been clear that we have zero tolerance for hate crime.'

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police told MailOnline earlier this week: 'Shortly before midnight last night (1 November 2024), we received a report of a burglary at a university building on Oxford Road, Manchester.

Officers have attended the scene and liaised with the university and their security team as part of their ongoing enquiries.

An investigation is underway and anyone with any information is asked to contact police via 101 or gmp.police.uk, quoting log 4035 of 01/11/24.

'You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.'

Duncan Ivison, the President and Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester said: 'On the evening of Friday, 1 November, intruders to the Chemistry Building smashed the window of a display cabinet and stole a bust of former University of Manchester academic, Chaim Weizmann, who later became the first President of Israel. It was one of several incidents committed around the country.

'We have notified the police, who are investigating. This was an act of vandalism and makes no contribution whatsoever to a better understanding of the current conflict in the Middle East.

'Over more than a year, we have seen peaceful protests on campus and the exchange of strongly held views. We welcome this as part of our fundamental role as a university  a place dedicated to the discussion of often difficult ideas and beliefs.

'Alongside our deep commitment to academic freedom is our commitment to the values of community, tolerance and respect. Freedom and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do.

'We regularly host many events which discuss all sides of the current conflict in the Middle East, including a debate last week in Whitworth Hall. Although attempts were made to stop the event, it proceeded in full, and as difficult as the discussion was, different perspectives on the conflict were aired and debated, as they should be.

'We know these issues are of great concern to our University community, particularly those with friends, family or close ties to the region, and we express our sympathy for all those caught up in the escalating conflict, as well as our hope for peace.

'None of these discussions are easy. They can cause discomfort and pain to many in our community. However, it is crucial in a free society that they occur, within the law, and always with the aim of seeking mutual understanding, and not vilification or hate.'

Greater Manchester Police have tonight been contacted for further comment.
Unmanned delivery sees rapid development in China

People's Daily Online) 10:46, November 06, 2024

An unmanned food delivery drone works in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

The express delivery industry serves countless households, and as smart logistics continues to advance, the application of drones, unmanned vehicles, and unmanned warehouses at an accelerated pace is propelling China's express delivery sector into the era of intelligence.

Enhanced capacity, more scenarios, and broader coverage

At 10 a.m. on Oct. 25, along the shores of Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, hairy crabs were harvested. A drone of Phoenix Wings, a cargo drone company under Chinese courier enterprise SF Express, loaded with the fresh crabs took off, swiftly reaching a transit hub in just four minutes at top speed.

Since the start of the lake's hairy crab harvest season on Sept. 25, drones have completed over 300 flights, transporting more than 2,700 kilograms of the crabs.

According to Chen Xiaohui, a director at Phoenix Wings, drone delivery service has not only boosted the efficiency of collecting fresh products, but it has also better met customers' demands for the timely delivery of fresh products. Through a delivery method combining drones and cargo planes, 10 tonnes of hairy crabs are transported from Yangcheng Lake to Southeast Asia daily, with an expedited delivery timeframe of just 48 hours.

"By the end of September this year, Phoenix Wings has set up 523 routes, conducted over a million flights, and delivered more than 5.2 million items," Chen said.

In April, express delivery company ZTO Express launched an unmanned vehicle operation platform, connecting over 100 branches in more than 40 cities with a fleet of over 200 unmanned vehicles in operation.

Unmanned technology has also made significant strides in warehousing.

In a smart warehouse of JD Logistics, the logistics arm of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, shelves loaded with goods move around. Upon closer inspection, the shelves are equipped with "legs" -- intelligent picking and handling robots powered by 5G technology.

"Don't be fooled by their small size; they are smart and strong. Once they receive an order, they can precisely navigate to the bottom of the shelf, lift it steadily, and deliver it to the designated area," explained an executive from JD Logistics.

The equipment can handle over 600 orders per hour, increasing efficiency by three to five times compared to traditional manual methods. It has been employed in over 10 smart industrial parks.

Policy support propels unmanned delivery into commercialization phase

"Unmanned delivery has evolved through three stages: initial exploration, technological breakthroughs, and commercialization," said an official from the State Post Bureau of China.

Unmanned technology has firmly taken root and flourished in the postal and express delivery sector, propelled by the surging market demand for deliveries. This demand has created a fertile environment for the effective adoption of unmanned technology.

"In recent years, China's e-commerce express delivery sector has experienced explosive expansion. This, together with the increasing consumer demand for fast delivery services, underscores the need to develop unmanned warehouses equipped with high-capacity storage and cutting-edge processing technologies," said an executive from JD Logistics.

Since 2014, JD Logistics has established over 40 intelligent logistics parks in more than 20 provinces, substantially reducing logistics costs and enhancing delivery efficiency.

"The development of the drone industry is closely tied to policy support," Chen noted.

In August 2017, Phoenix Wings completed the research and development (R&D) of the first generation of logistics drones with support of the East China Regional Administration of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Later, the company was granted the first operating license to conduct experimental drone deliveries.

Enhanced technological capabilities unleash market potential

Data reveals that by Sept. 29, the revenue of China's express delivery sector exceeded one trillion yuan (about $140 billion), reaching the milestone nearly one and a half months earlier than in 2023.

Driven by rising demand, proactive efforts made by the industry, and a growing level of public acceptance, significant progress has been achieved in unmanned technology. This includes notable developments in autonomous navigation, intelligent control systems, and obstacle avoidance capabilities, according to an official from the State Post Bureau of China.

Technological innovation has empowered companies to quickly respond to market demands.

Drones have evolved significantly over the years, with better flight stability, longer flight times, precise positioning, and enhanced payload capacity. These improvements have made drones more efficient and safer for managing logistics delivery tasks, according to the person in charge of drone operations at China's e-commerce platform Meituan.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
A former female impersonator who converted to Buddhism has denied claims he is missing British peer Lord Lucan in a new BBC documentary.

Cameras followed Neil Berriman  the son of murdered Lucan nanny Sandra Rivett  as he tracked down the man he believed to be the missing aristocrat, now living in Australia.

Mr Berriman accused Old Etonian Christopher Bell, 87, of being Lucan and of having killed his mother on November 7, 1974, before going on the run for decades.

In a bizarre confrontation over a WhatsApp video call, Mr Bell initially appears to confirm his suspicions, but then later tells the BBC: I do not know who the hell Lord Lucan is. He adds: I can assure you, Im not that man, never have been, never will be.

The brutal murder of Ms Rivett in the Lucan family home in Belgravia, London, shocked Britain and prompted a five-decade manhunt for the prime suspect, the 7th Earl of Lucan.

Neil Berriman accused Old Etonian Christopher Bell (pictured), 87, of being Lucan and of having killed his mother on November 7, 1974, before going on the run for decades

Lord Lucan with his fiancee Veronica Duncan in 1963. The brutal murder of Ms Rivett in the Lucan family home in Belgravia, London, shocked Britain and prompted a five-decade manhunt for the prime suspect, the 7th Earl of Lucan

Neil Berriman, son of Sandra Rivett, the murdered nanny that worked for Lord Lucan

Sandra Rivett was brutally murdered in the darkened basement kitchen of Lord Lucan's family Belgravia home

Pictured: Police dog handlers search for Lord Lucan on the downs above Newhaven Harbour following the aristocrat's disappearance

Mr Berriman, who Ms Rivett gave up for adoption as a baby, spent years attempting to trace the missing peer, and the new BBC Two documentary shows the dramatic moment when he confronts Mr Bell.

During the exchange, Mr Berriman told Mr Bell: I know that youre Lord Lucan, but added, I dont want to do anything about it.

Mr Bell responds: There actually isnt much you can do about it, its all in the hands of the divine.

Mr Berriman, a builder from Hampshire, asks about the woman that you killed, and Mr Bell replies: She came from a background that was very horrendous. She was in a great deal of pain and stress.

During the often confused exchange, Mr Bell continues: I have no memory of killing anybody, of terminating anybodys life... As far as I know Ive never taken the life of anyone.

Mr Bell claims to be descended from English aristocracy, to have been educated at Eton and to have been friends with Princess Margaret. But he also says he left Britain in 1966, eight years before the Lucan murder, and that he worked as a female impersonator in Canada before travelling to India and meeting the Buddhist spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

In the documentary, Mr Bell says he was conceived at a magical ritual at Stonehenge, and that his biological father was a puppeteer who performed at Buckingham Palace for Princess Elizabeth (the late Queen) and her sister Princess Margaret.

His birth certificate names him as Derek Crowther, born in Islington, north London, in 1936, the son of a railway carriage cleaner.

At one point Mr Berriman, 57, is convinced his suspicions have been confirmed by artificial intelligence facial recognition technology which matches Mr Bells features to those of Lord Lucan.

It has been almost 50 years since British aristocrat Lord Lucan (pictured), 39, vanished without a trace

He disappeared after nanny Sandra Rivett (pictured) was bludgeoned to death in the family home

The Plumbers Arms, where Lady Lucan ran to after finding Sandra dead in her house

Lord Lucan's wife Veronica Mary Duncan (pictured here with him)

Lady Lucan (pictured) later died age 80

But analysis by a Home Office-approved team of recognition experts ruled him out in 2022. The documentary also showed investigative journalist Glen Campbell telling Mr Berriman he believes they have got it wrong, and Mr Bells vehement denial that he is the missing peer.

The three-part documentary follows Mr Berriman as he reveals how he learnt he was adopted and that Ms Rivett was his biological mother.

Her battered body was discovered in a mail bag in the blood-stained basement of the Lucan home after his wife Lady Veronica Lucan ran into a nearby pub screaming that their nanny had been murdered.

Lucans car was found abandoned, soaked in blood, in Newhaven, East Sussex.

An inquest jury later declared him the killer, but he has never been found.

- The first episode of Lucan is on BBC Two tonight at 9pm and then on BBC iPlayer.
A toddler was found naked and locked inside of a dirty cage in a Kentucky house of horrors.

The two-year-old boy was found by police 'unclothed and locked behind a wooden and metal enclosure that was secured with a padlock' in northern Kentucky on Monday, according to the Carrollton Police Department.

The grim discovery led to the arrests of five people who are all being charged with first-degree child abuse and wanton endangerment.

Brenda Chilton, 71, William Mahoney, 72, Codey Johnson, 29, Tammy Simmons, 52, and Shelby Turocy, 28, are all currently being held in the Carroll County Jail.

Police arrived to 700 block of 7th Street in Carrollton on Monday in response to a prior tip from a delivery driver who made a stop at the home, WDRB reported.

A 2-year-old boy was found unclothed and locked inside a cage surrounded by human urine and feces inside a Carrollton, Kentucky, home on Monday afternoon

Five suspects were arrested after the grim discovery, including Brenda Chilton, 71, and William Mahoney, 72, who are charged with first-degree child abuse and wanton endangerment

An image of the house shows worn white wooden panels with a grey roof and a red garage beside it. Detective Dave Roberts of the Carrollton Police Department confirmed the address with the DailyMail.com.

The whistleblower claimed that a young child was being 'caged like an animal' inside the home, The Mirror reported.

A search warrant led officers further into the home and directly to the grisly scene - a naked toddler locked inside a cage surrounded by human urine and feces, which was reportedly all over the room he was being held in.

Jeremiah Reed, a neighbor, recalled hearing police telling the residents, 'You're under arrest for child endangerment,' WDRB reported.

Two young children, including the two-year-old boy, were removed from the home by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and are now under the care of another family member.

Eight to ten dogs were also found inside the home - all of which were in poor health.

'There were, like, five or six dogs in one cage over there,' Reed added.

Tammy Simmons, 52, and Codey Johnson, 29, were among the five arrested on Monday and are also charged with first-degree child abuse and wanton endangerment

Shelby Turocy, 28, was also arrested for first-degree child abuse and wanton endangerment but also faces three additional charges

All five suspects were booked into Carroll County Detention Center without bond.

The child's great-grandmother, grandmother and father were among the five suspects arrested, WDRB reported.

'It's a shock!' Darlene Simmons, another neighbor, told WDRB. 'I never seen the kids' mother, I think they gave them away to the father.'

They are all facing charges of first-degree child abuse for a child 12 or under and first-degree wanton endangerment - a charge which occurs when a person creates a substantial risk of serious injury or death on another while showing extreme disregard for human life.

One of the suspects, 28-year-old Turocy, was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and marijuana.

It is unclear whether the toddler needed any medical treatment following the shocking discovery or what the relationship between the five adults were.

The home, which is roughly 50 miles northeast of Louisville, has since been declared unlivable by the city, WDRB reported.

The arrests come just months after Joshua Bowen, a 20-month-old baby boy, was found dead inside his Centre Parkway home in Lexington, Kentucky, in July, Fox 56 reported.

Bowen was found malnourished and underweight with facial bruises in various stages of healing.

Turocy was additionally charged with possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and marijuana

He suffered a 'serious blunt force injury to his eye which could have led to his cause of death,' which prompted the arrests of Kyle Guindon, 22, and Brianna Johnson, 27, for charges of first-degree child abuse of a child under the age of 12.

Kentucky continues to rank as one of the highest states in the nation for child abuse and neglect.

Roughly 15 out of every 1,000 children in Kentucky experienced some form of maltreatment in 2021, according to a report by the US Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau.

'We have been number one as recently as a few years ago and are still one of the worst in the nation,' Ben Kleppinger, the CASA of Lexington Communications Director told Fox 56 in July of this year.

'We're almost double the national average for the number of children who get abused and neglected here in Kentucky.'

'It can range from everything from a child not getting enough food, not having appropriate clothing or not a safe place to sleep at night all the way to very extreme cases of sexual and physical abuse,' he added.

'Unfortunately, our family court system is so overloaded that social workers, judges and attorneys all have many many cases all at once and they can't really dedicate as much time.'

The state heavily relies on CASA volunteers - people who advocate through the family court system to ensure victims of child abuse and neglect are safe and thrive in a permanent home.

Following the five arrests, authorities of the Carrollton Police Department emphasized the importance of community vigilance.

'If you see something, say something,' Dave Roberts, a detective who was on the scene, told WDRB.

'This case serves as a reminder of the vital role that bystanders can play in ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable children.'

The five suspects are set to be arraigned for their charges on Wednesday.
A mother who jumped to her death off Niagara Falls alongside her two children was suffering from postpartum depression at the time of the murder-suicide, it's claimed.

Chianti Means, 33, stepped over the Luna Island guardrail with her two kids, Roman Rossman, 9, and Mecca Means, four months, before pushing them off the ledge and jumping after them.

Rumors surrounding the October 28 deaths have stemmed from Means' social media posts about her split with her daughter's father, in which she hinted at her anguish sadness and regret.

And now her cousin, Bierra Hamilton says the young mom was suffering from postpartum depression.

'Understand this - postpartum [depression] is very real and needs a cure,' Hamilton told the New York Post. 'Her death wasnt over a man. My cousin was silently fighting depression alone.'

Mom Chianti Means, 33, who jumped from Niagara Falls pushed her two children off first, according to a report

The mother of two stepped over the railing at Luna Island on Monday night, with her two kids Mecca and Roman

Hamilton has taken to Facebook to defend her beloved cousin - who also went by the name Diamond Scott - responding to people spreading false information about the situation.

She wrote: 'Diamond Scott did not end her life over no man. Let's just be clear. It's no evidence of that.

'YALL BE LOUD AND WRONG.'

Before her Saturday discussion with the Post, Hamilton wrote on Facebook that her family did not know the 'real reason' for Means' actions.

Other friends and relatives have been left reeling over the tragedy.

'You really never know what anybody is going through.RIP,' wrote Niesha Eukeya.

Mitch Molina said: 'I cant even bare to write a post about her and share memories.

Means' cousin, Bierra Hamilton, revealed why the mother plunged to her death with her two children

Means, along with her two children, are understood to have crossed over the 'safety guide rail' at Luna Island around 9pm on Monday night (stock image of the rail)

'I am literally sick to my stomach and I cant even deal with the emotions I am feeling. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children.

'My cousin had a beautiful soul,' Hamilton told the Post. 'She loved her children and her family very much. I never had a bad memory with her. [She was] so full of life and wisdom. She and her kids will be missed so much.'

Officials have said the plunge was 'intentional.'

State Park Police said based on the reviewed security footage capturing the series of events, Roman was the first to go over the railing, then Mecca and Means at around 9pm.

State Police Public Information Officer Trooper James O'Callaghan said that it did not appear as though the mom was chasing after her children at the time they plunged to their deaths.

Means, who lived in Niagara Falls with her family, worked as a domestic violence counselor, according to her LinkedIn profile.

On Friday, loved ones hosted a candlelit vigil to mourn the untimely deaths.

Means worked as a domestic violence counselor and lived in Niagara Falls

The bodies of Means, Roman and Mecca have not been found by police - and they may never be.

Many of those who have jumped to their deaths in Niagara Falls or fallen in by accident have never been recovered from the bottom of the waterfall, over which 3,610 tons of water rage every second.

Some are pushed far from the falls by its ferocious currents, with one man who fell to his death discovered 140 miles away in Lake Ontario years later.
Britain's lowest earners will see their tax burden rise by 600 a year as a result of the Chancellors personal tax threshold freeze, economists have warned.

Rachel Reeves announced in her Budget last week that she would continue to freeze the amount of money people can earn tax-free until 2028.

The stealth tax will make the bottom 10 per cent of earners hundreds of pounds a year worse off, according to analysis by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR).

Low-income families will be penalised further as living standards for the poorest 40 per cent of households will not return to pre-2022 levels until the end of 2026-27 at the earliest, the institute said.

Professor Adrian Pabst, NIESRs deputy director for public policy, said some of the Governments tax decisions risk discouraging more business investment and hitting poorer households.

Stock photo of female barista making coffee with a coffee machine. Britain's lowest earners could see their tax burden rise by 600 a year

Rachel Reeves announced in her Budget last week that she would continue to freeze the amount of money people can earn tax-free until 2028

Keeping the personal tax thresholds frozen for another three and a half years will make the bottom 10 per cent of earners about 600 per year worse off, he said.

It would be better for the living standards of those households that have been hit hardest by the shocks over the past few years if the Government raised income tax for top earners while unfreezing the thresholds.

Its time to throw off the self-imposed fiscal straitjacket and do the right thing for the economy and society.

It came as the boss of Primark yesterday claimed the high street would bear the brunt of Rachel Reevess ill-judged Budget - which will saddle his business with tens of millions in extra costs.

George Weston said the weight of tax rises announced by the Chancellor - including her 25bn raid on employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) - would fall on stores.

Retailers are also facing a 6.7 per cent increase in the minimum wage and a 140m increase in business rates.

The comments came as a leading economic think-tank warned that the NICs hike would cost jobs.

And the Office for Budget Responsibility said growth-boosting measures in the Budget would not move the dial. Meanwhile, separate monthly data suggested the economy was running out of steam.

It comes after reports that the bosses of large retail and hospitality companies and trade associations told the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds that the Budget risked damaging consumer confidence and exacerbating challenges facing the UK economy.

Sky News reported that companies including Burger King UK, Fuller Smith & Turner, Greene King, Kingfisher and the supermarket chain Morrisons were represented on the call.

Elsewhere yesterday the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned MPs that the Budget and Labours workers rights overhaul could force people to become self-employed.

IFS director Paul Johnson told the Commons Treasury Committee: The more employment rights, the more automatic enrolment, the more national living wage and the more national insurance you layer onto these things - each of those adds to the incentive to move into self-employment or indeed set up an independent company.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has welcomed a second Donald Trump presidency, saying it would lead to a 'rejuvenation of the US economy'.

Mr Morris said the Republican candidate had given a 'stellar' performance during the election campaign.

All but declaring the win for the former businessman, Mr Morrison said Mr Trump had 'won this election,' and believed a result would be called by Wednesday night Australian time.

Mr Morrison, who left politics to join a US-based security and defence think tank, dashed claims Mr Trump was a 'scary' character, following unearthed 2017 footage of Anthony Albanese who said the leader 'scares the sh*t out of me'.

'Vladimir Putin is scary. Xi Jinping is scary. Ayatollah Khomeini is scary. Donald Trump is not scary,' Mr Morrison told Sky News on Wednesday.

'I think the three places that will be most unhappy with this result tonight will be in Tehran, will be in Beijing and will be in Moscow.'

Mr Morrison's prime ministership coincided with Mr Trump's first presidency between 2018 to 2021, with Mr Morrison sharing effusive praise for the leader.

'The US is an entrepreneurial animal ... and I think we'll see great confidence come into that economy,' he said.

Former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison (pictured) was full of praise for Donald Trump and refuted claims the US President is 'scary'

Trump and Scott Morrison got along well when the pair were both in office (pictured together)

Mr Morrison also backed former Labor PM Kevin Rudd to continue in his role as Australia's ambassador to the US, and said Mr Rudd had been 'building those relationships across the aisle'.

Touching on international matters, Mr Morrison also said he was 'confident' he would pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Morrison said Mr Trump 'won't want to negotiate or enter into an arrangement from a position of weakness,' and expected to see the 'issue resolved'.

'If Vladimir Putin thinks he's going to get an easy ride out of Donald Trump, he's got another thing coming,' said Mr Morrison.

'He will know very quickly that any arrangement that he ends up agreeing to isn't the one that he has in mind right now and one that he believes he will achieve by pressing on with this murderous war.'

Ambassador's call on US election

Earlier on Wednesday, United States' ambassador Caroline Kennedy said relations between Australia and the US would continue to deepen regardless of who was president, calling Australia 'the most trusted capable ally'.

The former Australian prime minister also believes Trump will pressure Putin to end the war in Ukraine (pictured Scott Morrison and Donald Trump)

'One of the things that I say every single day here in Australia is how strong its alliance is and how unshakeable and how much stronger it's growing everyday,' she told the ABC.

'I have seen that first-hand since I have been here.

'So no matter who wins the election, the fundamentals are there and only getting stronger.'

US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy (pictured) says bilateral relations will deepen regardless of who wins the White House and pointed to AUKUS and the two-way trade deal between Australia and the USA

She pointed to the trilateral AUKUS security pact between Australia, the US and the United Kingdom, as well as two-way trade and Australia's role in supplying critical minerals to the US.

'So there's just so many things to bring us together,' Ms Kennedy said.

'That's not going to change.'

Meanwhile, questions have been looming about Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd in the event of a second Trump presidency.

The former Labor prime minister has called Mr Trump 'nuts', the 'most destructive president in history' and a 'traitor to the West'.

Questions are looming over the future of both Australia's ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd (left) and the US's ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy (right) if Donald Trump wins the White House. In the past, Rudd and Trump have criticised each other

Mr Trump has called Mr Rudd 'nasty' and 'not the brightest bulb'.

'If he's at all hostile, he will not be there long,' the former president said in an interview earlier this year.

The verbal barbs have prompted the opposition to question if Mr Rudd would be able to serve Australia effectively if the Republicans won.

Election eve polling put Mr Trump and Ms Harris neck and neck ahead of the vote on Tuesday (local time).

Candidate need to secure 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
The celebration was in full, frenzied swing.

Concession stands were starting to run low on alcoholic seltzers. In Donald Trumps campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach, his most ardent supporters had been drinking for hours.

As it crept past midnight, a shoeless woman in a short white dress emptied her guts on to the bare concrete floor of the convention center.

Yet, there was one man in this vast crowd who had not come to party.

Trump strode on to the stage at around 2.30am (ET), stern-faced and somber, the weight of history upon him.

Concession stands were starting to run low on alcoholic seltzers. In Donald Trumps campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach, his most ardent supporters had been drinking for hours.

Trump strode on to the stage at around 2.30am (ET), stern-faced and somber, the weight of history upon him.

As it crept past midnight and Trump supporters celebrated, a shoeless woman in a short white dress emptied her guts on to the bare concrete floor of the convention center.

In 2016, he had greeted supporters in disbelief. Some reports even suggested his wife Melania had been brought to tears by the shock of it all.

He was a surprise victor then. Now, he was a conqueror  a hero returning to claim what was his, flanked by his family and closest allies: the elusive Melania decked out in Dior; daughters Tiffany and Ivanka, in blue velvet alongside her husband Jared Kushner; sons Barron, Eric and Don Jr; and Trumps ebullient granddaughter Kai.

'This was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time,' Trump said, standing in front of 47 flags to denote his new numerical position in the list of U.S. presidents.

The crowd went wild, fists and phones raised in the air as chants of USA! USA! USA! boomed to the ceiling.

But gone was Trump the brash carnival-barker of the campaign trail. Nor was he the snarling counterpuncher of his press conferences, or the sullen courtroom defendant.

This was another role entirely. This was Presidential Trump.

'He's no longer a candidate,' one of his key allies told me. 'He's the President-elect.'

This victory, however, was hardly assured.

For weeks, Trumps campaign team had clung to internal polling that suggested victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. But few outside his circle shared their optimism.

After all, Trump had left the White House almost four years ago with historically low approval ratings, his presidency tarnished by scandal and chaos  and, of course, the ignominy of January 6.

In contrast, Harriss Democrats believed they had the perfect formula for success: a proven turnout machine and a fired-up base, particularly women, driven to the polls by the abortion issue.

The race, most analysts said, was too close to call  a coin toss that could go either way.

But, as election night unfolded in the blustery Floridian heat, Trumps allies began to express cautious optimism.

Nigel Farage, the British leader of the populist Reform Party, was on his way to Trumps Mar-a-Lago home when he spoke to the Mail just before the East Coast polls closed: The turnout in rural and non-urban areas has been exceptionally high,' he said.

'And if you add that to the big numbers were seeing in postal voting, the Trump team is feeling very good about tonight.

At about the time Farage was enjoying his first gin and tonic, Trump supporters began trickling into the Trump HQ convention center, just across the water from the millionaires' paradise of Palm Beach.

Women in shimmering dresses, men in red MAGA hats  the crowd began to swell, nervous energy building in the air.

Trump superfan Blake Marnell, easily identifiable in his brick-print suit designed to resemble a border wall, was among the first to arrive.

Women in shimmering dresses, men in red MAGA hats - the crowd began to swell, nervous energy building in the air.

Now, he was a conqueror - a hero returning to claim what was his, flanked by his family and closest allies. (Trump is pictured here with his 17-year-old granddaughter Kai).

The elusive Melania decked out in Dior; daughters Tiffany and Ivanka, in blue velvet alongside her husband Jared Kushner; sons Barron, Eric and Don Jr; and Trumps ebullient granddaughter Kai.

Trump superfan Blake Marnell, easily identifiable in his brick-print suit designed to resemble a border wall, was among the first to arrive.

He was coming to the end of his own campaign odyssey, having driven 15,000 miles in a rental car in recent months, following Trump from rally to rally across America.

The mood is positive, Marnell said, his eyes gleaming with quiet confidence. We have more paths to victory than she does.

At 7:00 pm, the first major call was made. Indiana, a red state, fell into Trumps column. A muted cheer rippled through the crowd.

Corey Lewandowski, a senior advisor to Trump, stood near the stage and outlined the strategy: Our path is three states, he said, while pointing to various key battlegrounds on a map. She has to win them all.

But as the night wore on, nerves began to fray. The stakes were high, and no one could yet predict the outcome.

Rose Rououluis, a passionate supporter draped in a red-sequined coat, summed up the MAGA mood: If they do anything to him, the people will take to the streets. We love him for his heart, and we wont let anything happen to him.

Trump himself had spent the day dialing in to get-out-the-vote events, his aides noting that he had taken executive time to rest before the long night ahead.

At 7:00 pm, the first major call was made: Indiana, a red state, fell into Trumps column. A muted cheer rippled through the crowd. (Lara and Eric Trump are pictured on Election Night in Palm Beach).

Meanwhile, in Mar-a-Lago, key figures in his campaign gathered. Farage and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk mingled with a handful of club members awaiting the first signs of victory.

A source present told me the former president had addressed about 250 Mar-a-Lago members soon after midnight with his family alongside him. 'He told them it's looking good,' the insider said.

Others described Trumps demeanor as remarkably composed, sitting in the middle of the room watching the results roll in on television, surrounded by people frantically checking their phones.

'Trump himself was as calm as a cucumber,' said Farage. 'Literally, he was sitting in the middle of the ballroom with people partying all around him, just sitting there, casually chatting, eating an ice cream. Very relaxed.

When Floridas results came in at 8.01pm, it was the first real sign that Trump might be on track to defy expectations.

Long lines at polling stations in the Sunshine State had triggered fears that an amendment to overthrow Governor Ron DeSantiss controversial six-week abortion ban had mobilized Democrats.

But exit polls showed that not only had Trump outperformed his 2020 numbers in the state, he was on pace to win Democratic strongholds like Miami-Dade County, an omen that his internal polling might have been right all along.

A wave of relief swept over the crowd.

A few of hours later, things were looking even better. Trump had won Iowa, in spite of an extraordinary survey at the weekend by respected pollster Ann Seltzer that showed Harris up three points in the reliably red state. In the end, his lead surged to double digits.

A source present told me the former president had addressed about 250 Mar-a-Lago members soon after midnight with his family alongside him. (Donald and Melania are pictured during the election night event).

Meanwhile, in Mar-a-Lago, key figures in his campaign gathered. Farage and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk mingled with a handful of club members, awaiting the first signs of victory. (Musk is pictured, right, talking to Dana White and Trump).

At about the time Nigel Farage (right) was enjoying his first gin and tonic, Trump supporters began trickling into the Trump HQ convention center just across the water from the millionaire paradise of Palm Beach

A wave of relief swept over the crowd. (Trump supporters rally outside of the Palm Beach Convention Center as they await the final results of the 2024 presidential elections).

F*** Ann Selzer, one staffer shouted.

The celebration was, certainly, starting to warm up. The bars were heaving, the crowd pressing closer to the convention-center stage.

The mix of attendees was a spectacle: the Ride for 45 biker crew in leather vests, the high-heeled Palm Beach set and young men dressed as mini-Trumps in dark suits, white shirts and long red ties.

With every subsequent call, the energy in the room reached a fever pitch. North Carolina, the first swing state to be called, went Trumps way.

Then Pennsylvania  with its coveted 19 electoral votes  followed suit. The crowd erupted in a chorus of disbelief that quickly morphed into wild jubilation.

'It's a vindication, an example of what everybody felt and knew,' said Alexandra Preate, a prominent political strategist, clutching a glass of red wine and high-fiving anyone in sight. Everyday Americans felt it. The polls didnt show it, but we knew it, he said.

The room swelled with the crowds roars  quickly replaced by the kitschy 70s hit and classic Trump rally anthem, YMCA.

By the time the man himself took the stage, victory was all but assured.

For Trump, this was more than a political win. It was a personal redemption, a return to power after a turbulent chapter. Just like in 2016, before the legal battles, the impeachment proceedings, and the assassination attempts that followed, his family stood as one.

And as the confetti rained down and cheers reverberated through the hall, Trump vowed to bring healing to a fractured America: Success is going to bring us together.
A Pennsylvania man has been charged by the Department of Justice over online threats he allegedly made to kill Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.

Gregory Mitzel wrote the offending posts just after the Butler, Pennsylvania assassination attempt on Donald Trump's life.

He allegedly wrote: 'Hey Hillary, you missed the next ones coming for you and Joe.'

The next day, Mitzel continued his threats: 'Joe you are going down you and Hillary are going down. You will be in a crosshairs. Thank you.'

In another post, he warned that the 'next step in this process has to be somebody put a bullet in Joe Bidens head.'

A Pennsylvania man has been charged by the Department of Justice over online threats he allegedly made to kill Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton

Mitzel wrote the offending posts just after the Butler, Pennsylvania assassination attempt on Donald Trump's life

Mitzel is also accused of threatening to kill the US attorney who was leading the investigation into his threats.

The charges against him include threatening to kill the president and threatening a federal official, according to CNN.

Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20,was able to get just a few hundred feet within the former president with an AR-15 rifle on July 13.

Crooks was able to discharge several shots in the direction of Trump  one even grazing his right ear  before he was shot dead by the detail protecting the 2024 Republican presidential nominee.

One rally goer was shot dead and two others were critically injured.

The first results have been called in states for the 2024 presidential election in what could be the closest race in history.

Donald Trump has secured victories in Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia, while Kamala Harris has won in Vermont, according to the Associated Press.

The declarations come as votes start to be counted in the crucial swing state of Georgia where polls closed at 7pm.
An ex-paramedic is accused of using eyedrops to poison his wife and daughter only to then try pin the atrocities on his in-laws.

Joshua Lee Hunsucker, 39, has been charged over the death of his wife Stacy, 32, in 2018 and sending his 11-year-old daughter to the hospital in 2023.

Hunsucker was originally arrested on a first-degree murder charge in December, 2019 - over a year after Stacy died in their Mount Holly home.

Her death was initially ruled a heart attack, but alarms were raised by Stacy's mother, Suzie Robinson, who claimed her son-in-law was acting suspiciously and had been cheating.

Once Stacy died, Hunsucker refused an autopsy, acted quickly to have her cremated and collected $250,000 in insurance money.

Stacy Hunsucker was allegedly murdered by her husband, Joshua Lee Hunsucker, in 2018 after he poisoned her with eyedrops. He is accused of using the same method to poison his eldest daughter the same way

Hunsucker, 39, had his bail revoked at the Gaston County Courthouse on Monday

According to an affidavit from his wife's death, Joshua gave different versions of where he was before he discovered his wife in their home slumped over, not breathing and blue on September 23, 2018.

Stacy was rushed to a hospital, where she later died. Despite his refusal to have her body looked over by a coroner, Hunsucker, a blood sample was preserved because Stacy was an organ donor.

An insurance investigation was launched following outcry from Stacy's mother. Hunsucker's co-workers at Atrium Health's MedCenter Air, were interviewed who said they were surprised how unaffected he seemed by his wife's death.

They were also shocked by how fast he began publicly dating another girlfriend less than six months after his wife's death.

But he was bailed out of jail when his $1.5million bond was posted just before Christmas in 2019 and has since gone to great lengths to try and frame his in-laws for Stacy's death.

The accused murder was acting suspiciously and had a secret girlfriend before his wife died, his mother-in-law said

He was arrested again in August for allegedly spiking his then-10-year-old daughter's drink with the same toxic ingredient - tetrahydrozoline, found in Visine eyedrops - leaving her hospitalized in September 2023.

According to ABC 7, the girl suffered from low blood pressure, low heart rate, severe exhaustion and constricted blood vessels.

By allegedly poisoning his daughter, investigators believe he was trying to incriminate the devastated grandparents.

Hunsucker is also accused of staging his own kidnaping in February 2023 and blaming it on his father in-law, John Robinson.

The police report said, according to FOX 8: 'He reported that he stopped to change a flat tire and was pistol-whipped in the head multiple times.

'His hands were then zip tied and he was injected with an unknown substance.'

Hunsucker faces multiple charges in addition to the murder charge for harrassing his in-laws and poisoning his daughter

Along with harassing and following the Robinsons, reports of Hunsucker abusing and neglecting the daughter he poisoned and neglecting his other daughter, nine, came to light.

In addition to the murder charge, he was hit with four counts of misdemeanor obstruct justice and four counts of felony intimidate witness. He is also faced with an insurance fraud charge.

On Monday, the accused murderer was deemed a danger to his in-laws and his children at the Gaston County Courthouse.

He was ordered to stay in jail after his bail was revoked, according to Law & Crime.

While he is being held without bond for murder, he received a $25,000 bond for the charged related to harming his daughter and harassing his in-laws.

But even if his $25,000 bond is paid, he will not be released from jail.

In an unrelated incident, Hunsucker allegedly set a medical helicopter on fire in 2019. He was charged with felony burning personal property.

In an unrelated incident, Hunsucker was arrested for setting a helicopter on fire in 2019

While working as a paramedic, Hunsucker allegedly intentionally set fire to a syringe pump while in flight over Charlotte

Hunsucker was working as a paramedic aboard an Atrium Health patient-transport helicopter when police say he intentionally set fire to a syringe pump while in flight over Charlotte that November.

The helicopter was forced to land, interfering with flight operations, authorities said.

This incident came just a month after he was arrested in connection to his wife's death.

The case involving Stacy has yet to go to trial.
Food security could be at risk following the Labour Budget, a leading farm industry figure has warned.

There are fears changes to farm inheritance rules could impact on the countrys ability to grow its own food.

It came as unions said farmers were considering military action - including a sewage strike.

One of the UKs largest animal feed producers yesterday warned that the changes will have a negative impact on food security.

George Weston, boss of Associated British Foods, which supplies farmers with feed and technology services, said the death taxes on farms pose a threat to the countrys ability to grow its own food.

Farmers demonstrated in London in March over food security fears - and it is feared they could do so again

After Rachel Reeves' (pictured) Budget, the government was warned the new measures could stop an entire generation from farming

Food security could be at risk following the Labour Budget, a leading farm industry figure has warned (file image)

A field of potato crops. There are fears changes to farm inheritance rules could impact on the countrys ability to grow its own food

Crop pickers in Chichester. Farmers have not said what form this action will take, but a protest is planned in Westminster on November 19, which hundreds of farmers are expected to attend

He said: Its only the latest of a series of pressures that have been imposed on particularly our large scale farmers from whom we get most of our food.

If we are to grow more of our own food and benefit from the food security of growing things ourselves, then I think policymakers have got to create a more attractive environment for that farming community.

These changes to inheritance tax obviously operate in a very different direction.

Mr Weston added: I dont think that government decision makers, for some while, have really thought about what you need to do to maintain a viable farming community, without which is very hard to maintain a good level of food security.

AB Foods, which also owns fashion retailer Primark, sells to farmers and food manufacturers in more than 100 countries, including feed ingredients for livestock.

Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), has warned that three quarters of the food produced by British farmers will be hit by the tax raid.

He said it was logical to assume that this also meant that 75per cent of the food they produce would cost more, impacting food security.

The Government announced in the Budget that inheritance tax will be charged at 20per cent on farms worth more than 1 million.

Sheep and lambs grazing in a field. The Government announced in the Budget that inheritance tax will be charged at 20per cent on farms worth more than 1 million

There are fears fresh protests or blockades could bring vital parts of the UK's food industry to a standstill

Ministers claim that in practice, only farms worth more than 3million could be affected, and said more than 70per cent would not have to pay the charge.

But the NFU claim this figure is wrong and that the Governments own figures show two-thirds of farms could be at risk.

Farmers have reacted in fury to the plans, with many warning they could be forced out of business and fears it could further fuel a mental health crisis in the community.

They rounded on Labour and threatened militant action yesterday, according to Mr Bradshaw.

While the NFU does not back military action, Mr Bradshaw warned that he had never seen the weight of support, the strength of feeling and anger that there is in this industry today.

Farmers have not said what form this action will take, but a protest is planned in Westminster on November 19, which hundreds of farmers are expected to attend.

Yesterday it emerged that some are threatening to stop spreading biosolids - known as sewage sludge and made from treated human waste - on their land as fertiliser in protest at Labours plans.

The strike could be hugely disruptive for water treatment companies and could create a mountain of waste, the Telegraph reported.

Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union. Ministers claim that in practice, only farms worth more than 3million could be affected, and said more than 70per cent would not have to pay the charge. But the NFU claim this figure is wrong

It said that in online message forums, farmers are encouraging others to contact their sludge suppliers and notify them of a temporary halt to all deliveries.

Every year, farmers in the UK take about 3.6million tonnes of sewage sludge from water treatment plants and spread it on agricultural land.

Yesterday, it also emerged that farmers could end up paying thousands of pounds more in car tax after a loophole that benefits pick-up truck drivers was closed in the Budget.

Vehicles such as the Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara will be classed as cars rather than vans from next April when the benefit-in-kind tax break for commercial vehicles ends, the paper reported.
Legendary actor Brian Cox has branded Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump a 'monster' in an excoriating interview.

Cox, who famously played Logan Roy in the hit HBO show Succession, told Channel 4's US election coverage when asked how he felt about the upcoming results of the race that he was a 'crazy... insane [and] wants to be a dictator.'

He also got into a verbal spat with former British prime minister Boris Johnson over Trump's rhetoric, and whether he would act on the promises he has made.

'It's the most crucial election... in my lifetime, and we have to make sure that that [Donald Trump] doesn't get in because he is a monster. He really is', Cox said.

'He's crazy, he's insane, he wants to be a dictator. It's all been so clear, I don't know why the American people aren't listening. Some of the American people are, but a lot of the American people aren't.

'The kind of nonsense he's been talking... I think he's lost it. He's deeply mentally unstable, and I think he has been for quite some time. This is not a man who should be president of the United States.

Legendary actor Brian Cox has branded Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump a 'monster' in an excoriating interview

He also got into a verbal spat with former British prime minister Boris Johnson over Trump's rhetoric, and whether he would act on the promises he has made

'He's unreliable, he's a convicted felon, I'm horrified. I'm a lapsed Catholic, and I read today that he's got huge support among Catholic voters. I find that extraordinary, Catholic voters voting for such a man who is... a big sinner.'

'I find it all depressing and curiously ridiculous.'

When asked about how much of Trump's fiery rhetoric would become reality, he chuckled as he said: 'He'll do what suits Donald Trump. He's not interested in... making American great again.

'The man is completely self-serving, he is only interested in one thing, and that's Donald Trump.

'He doesn't give a damn about America. He really doesn't.'

Cox then got into a scrap with former British prime minister Boris Johnson, who claimed that Trump's views on Ukraine and its president Volodymyr Zelensky would be changed by him entering the Oval Office.

Johnson said he disagreed with Cox regarding Mr Trump's response to the Ukraine Russia war if he was elected president.

'I think he will come to it and he will see that if he surrenders, if he allows (Vladimir) Putin to win - for his pride, for his ego, it's a disaster - it's a disaster for America, it's a disaster for the world,' Mr Johnson said.

'You can say that I'm wrong and I'm starry-eyed, and it's not going to work out like that, and he'll find a way of surrendering to Putin that somehow protects his reputation, his legacy.

'I don't see how you do that - it's a pretty unpolishable turd to be frank.'

The Succession star said: 'I don't buy it. I don't buy any of it, and... it's a very hard thing for Boris to talk about.

'We witnessed, during the whole of his last term, how much he was in Putin's pocket.'

'He's crazy, he's insane, he wants to be a dictator. It's all been so clear, I don't know why the American people aren't listening', Cox said

'He doesn't give a damn about America. He really doesn't', Cox said of Trump

Johnson later said that as a British Conservative politician he did not agree with Mr Trump's position on female reproductive health, gun control and tariffs.

'I'm not here to stick up for any particular presidential candidate, the 60-year-old said.

He continued: 'I think when you look at what Donald Trump actually did in office on the foreign policy front, which is what obviously I care about primarily as the former UK prime minister - from the Abraham accords to Ukraine to Iran - you can make a very strong case that he brought peace and relative stability and I think that's a very, very important consideration.'

Cox concluded saying he would never play Mr Trump in a film or TV series because 'it's a terribly bad part, nobody would want to play Donald Trump because it's such a terrible role... how do you find any redeeming feature in the human being'.

Their comments came after Stormy Daniels, the woman at the centre of Mr Trump's hush money trial following an affair, asked Mr Johnson: 'Would you leave your daughter alone with Donald Trump?' after Mr Johnson described their friendship.

'I don't see why not...yes,' Mr Johnson said, before describing his experience of Mr Trump as 'courteous' and 'polite'.

During Channel 4's coverage, Stormy Daniels, the adult film star who accused Donald Trump of paying her to stop her revealing their dalliance, has admitted she has been living in an RV since July over fears for her safety.

Daniels, the 45-year-old adult film star, told Channel 4's special US election programme of her anxieties about how Trump's supporters behaved since she became publicly linked with the former president.

She also publicly clashed with former British prime minister Boris Johnson, needling him over his relationship with the Republican presidential candidate.

'It was scary in the beginning, then it got quiet for a while. During this election, it kind of picked up again.

'The biggest difference between this time and the first time around is that people aren't hiding. Part of that has to do with January 6 at the Capitol.

'[Trump supporters] aren't hiding anymore. They're using their real screen names, they're using their real phone numbers.

Stormy Daniels, the 45-year-old adult film star, (pictured with Boris Johnson) told Channel 4 's special US election programme of her anxieties about how Trump's supporters behaved since she became publicly linked with the former president

Daniels clashed with Boris Johnson over his relationship with Trump

'The threats are more graphic, more targeted, and as we all know when I testified back in May, Trump's attorneys 'accidentally' put a document on the screen of the courtroom that had nothing to do with the case that we were trying that day with my unredacted home address.

'So I haven't been home since July, I have been living in an RV and travelling.'

Daniels was referring to the leak of her home address earlier this year.

She said at the time that 'it's become unsafe for her family and her pets,' including her horses that have been shot twice.

When asked whether she feared a Trump win or loss, she said: 'To be completely honest with you, I don't know.

'He's made it very clear he plans to go after after anyone who was against him and those who helped him.'

Daniels also claimed that Trump supporters had been calling in bomb threats to live comedy shows she was hosting.

She pointedly asking him: 'If you were prime minister and you and Donald Trump got into a disagreement, as people do with Donald Trump, would you have any fear for the ladies in his life?'

Johnson said: 'Nothing like that came up. When you're talking to the US president, the relationship you have as UK prime minister is one of great formality and importance'

'Trump supporters were calling in droves and threatening club owners [with] burning down the clubs.'

She later squabbled with former British prime minister Boris Johnson over Trump's character, pointedly asking him: 'If you were prime minister and you and Donald Trump got into a disagreement, as people do with Donald Trump, would you have any fear for the ladies in his life?'

Johnson said: 'Nothing like that came up. When you're talking to the US president, the relationship you have as UK prime minister is one of great formality and importance.

'Of course you develop a friendship, but actually, and I can say this in all sincerity, I never in my time with him was treated with anything other than courtesy and friendliness.'

Speaking to Daniels, he said: 'Now you had a very different experience, but I can only talk about mine.'
Ankle bracelets and curfews on former immigration detainees will be stripped, with Australia's highest court ruling them invalid.

The measures stemmed from a High Court decision that ruled indefinite detention was illegal and resulted in 215 immigration detainees being released as of October 18, 2024.

Of those, 143 have electronic monitoring bracelets and 126 are subject to a curfew after the Albanese government passed emergency legislation to add extra restrictions to the cohort.

The legislation overreached the separation of powers between the courts, that administer criminal punishment, and the commonwealth government, the High Court found.

Breaking bridging visa conditions, including electronic monitoring restrictions or a curfew, would result in a mandatory minimum one-year prison sentence.

'The imposition of each of the curfew condition and the monitoring condition on a (bridging visa R) is prima facie punitive and cannot be justified,' the High Court's decision on Wednesday said.

The High Court bid was launched by a stateless Eritrean released from immigration detention under the previous court ruling in November 2023 and was charged with six offences for failing to comply with curfew and monitoring.

The federal government had planned for all possible outcomes of the High Court case, including the possibility of further legislation, Home Affairs Department legal counsel Clare Sharp said.

A detainee released after last year's High Court decision that indefinite detention is unlawful is pictured

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has been under pressure to resign since the release late last year of more than 150 detainees including murderers and sex offenders. Mr Giles (left) is pictured with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right)

Neither curfew nor electronic monitoring applied to 64 people - 56 of whom previously had at least one of the restrictions, which has cost the taxpayer more than $73million.

But the removal of restrictions includes 28 people being taken into police custody.

Of the 215, there are 12 people convicted of murder or attempted murder, 66 for sexual offences, 97 for assault, 15 for serious drug offences, 15 for domestic violence, five for people smuggling and five had low-level or no offences.

Since their release, 62 people have been re-detained at some point.

State and territory police have charged 65 people since their release - 20 of whom are in remand. The rest were in the community either on bail or because their case had been finalised.

In a joint statement, leading opposition figures, including Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan, described the High Court's latest ruling as an embarrassing loss for the Albanese government.

'The Albanese Labor Government must explain what they will do to keep the Australian people safe,' the statement read.

'The effect of this decision will be that 215 dangerous non-citizen offenders, including 12 murderers, 66 sex offenders, 97 people convicted of assault, 15 domestic violence perpetrators and others will be free in the community without any monitoring or curfews.

'65 of these former detainees have been charged with new offences at the state and territory level since their release, 45 of which remain free in the community.

'This loss compounds the failure of the Albanese government to use the preventive detention powers the parliament rushed through almost 12 months ago to re-detain any high-risk offenders.'

The Opposition said the Albanese government had 'repeatedly assured' them that the amendments were constitutionally sound, and called on Immigration Minister Tony Burke to take urgent action.
Chaos erupted in a New York City airport after a raccoon fell through the ceiling and scurried past fearful Spirit Airline passengers waiting for their flight.

Travelers in New York's LaGuardia airport were seen freaking out after the raccoon's sudden arrival ceiling created mayhem at the departure gate early Monday morning.

The bushy-tailed creature made its dramatic plunge into the Marine air terminal, also known as Terminal A, shortly after 8am - a small, six-gate terminal only used by discount airlines, including Spirit and Frontier.

The wild animal's abrupt appearance was captured by a witness who took to X to share the footage.

Chaos erupted in New York's LaGuardia airport after a raccoon fell from the terminal ceiling shortly after 8am on Monday

A witness of the incident posted the footage to social media, which showed staff and travelers running away from the wild animal and screaming as dogs barked and a fire alarm blared in the background

'Dead a***, just seen a raccoon fall from the ceiling in LaGuardia Airport,' the post read, accompanied by three skull emojis to indicate the absurdity of what he had just witnessed.

'Can't make this up,' he added in a second post which was attached to the video of the ordeal.

The video shows the animal seemingly clinging to an electric wire dangling beneath a ceiling tile before plopping to the ground.

The moment the raccoon hits the floor and scuttles behind the check-in desk, people can be heard screaming while anxious-looking staff attempted to chase it.

As the raccoon makes his way around the tiny terminal, travelers and employees can be seen running away in all different directions.

Screaming people, barking dogs and a blaring fire alarm can be heard in the midst of the havoc.

At one point, a traveler in a green jacket holding a plastic garbage can appears to be approaching the wild animal in an attempt to capture it by the terminal's TSA security checkpoint.

But the Port Authority Police Department was ultimately able to track down the raccoon and safely release it back outdoors without any injuries or further sightings, TMZ reported.

The bushy-tailed creature made its dramatic plunge into the Marine air terminal, also known as Terminal A, which was not included in the airport's $8 billion renovation and is only used for discount airlines including Spirit and Frontier

The airport also teamed up with a 'professional wildlife control company' to monitor the area and put necessary precautions in place to avoid any similar future incidents from happening.

Viewers on social media took to the comments to make fun of the situation, highlighting that they aren't shocked it happened at LaGuardia.

'This is both the most LaGuardia thing and the most Spirit Airlines thing to happen. Perfect,' one viewer wrote.

'Spirit AND LaGuardia make all the more sense for this scenario,' another wrote accompanied by a laughing face emoji.

An investigation is now under way to figure out how the raccoon entered the airport and ended up in the terminal, The Guardian reported.

LaGuardia airport has long been known for its run-down facilities and leaky ceilings - even being compared to a 'third-world country' by Joe Biden when he was vice president in 2014, Gothamist reported.

But just last month, it was referred to as the 'best airport' in the country by Forbes Travel Guide following a major $8 billion renovation that was completed in 2023.

'LaGuardia is no longer a national laughingstock, but something our entire region and country can be proud of,' Rick Cotton, the Port Authority Executive Director, told Gothamist in a statement this past October.

Despite billions of dollars being dumped into its massive make-over, the Marine Air Terminal, or Terminal A, was not included in the project.

The terminal is considered a city landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for its small size which allows passengers to embark on a quick trip through its security checkpoint.

Despite absolute chaos and fear being seen in the footage, witnesses of the situation said that airport staff handled the situation like pros and quickly got everything under control, TMZ reported.

Employees of Spirit Airlines also told the outlet that they acted so fast because they're all about making sure guests at LaGuardia have a positive experience overall.

It is still unclear where the raccoon was planning to travel to.
Arizona's Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said the state is monitoring threats made, but he assured voters and poll workers they are unsubstantiated on Tuesday.

The bomb threats were made to four specific Arizona locations in Navajo County as millions of people are headed to the polls for Election Day.

These are unsubstantiated threats. We have no reason to believe that any of our voters or any of our polling places are in any sort of jeopardy,' Fontes told reporters in a briefing.

He was briefed by his security team and state law enforcement is working with the feds.

An Arizona 'vote here' sign. The state's Secretary of State said Tuesday that threats in Navajo County are 'unsubstantiated'

Earlier in the day, Fontes said it is believed the threat came from overseas and specifically mentioned Russia.

In a second briefing, he said the threats came from a '.ru' email address indicating it could mean the threat came from Russia, but he said that had not been confirmed yet.

'The motive appears to be to ensue chaos, not to impact any political outcome,' he said in the second briefing.

No polling locations were closed due to the threat, he said.

Fontes said overall, Election Day is going very well across most of the state.

It comes as there have been threats in Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan as well.

'The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains,' the FBI said in a statement.

'None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far,' the feds added.

The FBI called election integrity among its highest priorities. They are working closely with state officials and local law enforcement to respond to any threats to the elections.

In Arizona, thousands of people have been lining up to cast their ballots throughout the day.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes speaking on the status of voting across the state on November 5

Polls in the state are open until 7pm.

The Secretary of State reminded voters earlier that if they are in line by 7pm, they will be able to vote in the election.

Apart from the bomb threats in Navajo County, there were some locations in Apache County which had issues with printers. Technical teams were assisting with getting those up and running, but most locations there were running without issues.

In Maricopa County, which includes more than half the state's population and is considered one of the biggest bellwethers in the country, operations were largely running on time.

Some locations reported lines running about an hour long to cast a ballot there, but the average wait time Tuesday afternoon was just two minutes.
A letter to a local newspaper in Victoria with an unusual proposal has led to a wild debate on the future of science, space travel and even humanity.

Maureen Sharpe of Bittern, which is 80km southeast of Melbourne's CBD, wrote to her local publication to express her great concern about where the world is headed.

'It has been around 60 years since man first walked on the moon. What an achievement that was at the time,' Ms Sharpe wrote, easing into the topic.

'Since then, hundreds of spacecraft have been launched at great cost, not to mention astronaut training costs amounting to billions of dollars.

'What benefits has this provided for us humans here on Earth? Any cures been found? The common cold? Cancer?'

The letter then kicked up a notch with a suggestion no one saw coming.

'I was thinking that a group of scientists and experts in their field should take off into space with enough chemicals to create a big bang and start a new world for humans.

'It could have seasons, cheap food, of course a new sun, and rain and seas to provide food. The cost would be irrelevant. Any takers?'

A letter to a local newspaper in Victoria with an unusual proposal has led to a wild debate on the future of science, space travel (pictured) and even humanity

Maureen Sharpe of Bittern, which is 80km south-east of Melbourne's CBD, wrote to her local publication (pictured) to express her great concern about where the world is headed

When a photo of her letter was posted to Reddit, the response was quick, and mostly unkind.

'Maureen sounds like someone who hasn't done enough schooling and reading, and doesn't understand the world,' one person wrote.

Others made a play on her name, with one writing 'More like Maureen Dull', and another saying she was 'Certainly not the sharpest'.

Another wrote that: 'This is the kind of thing you would expect to see in a 1950s sci-fi pulp mag, not a newspaper in 2024.'

Some people refuted her suggestion that the space age had not benefitted humanity.

'Would've thought satellite positioning and communication systems have been pretty beneficial for modern society,' wrote one.

Another said that 'reliable weather predictions' were the result of humans exploring space.

But there were some who took Ms Sharpe's suggestion at face value, though suggesting a few tweaks.

'Scientists and experts in their field should take off into space with enough chemicals to create a big bang and start a new world for humans'

'She really hasn't thought this through very well,' said one commenter.

'You could speed up this whole process by taking the chemicals to Mars and just make seasons and oceans there. No need for a whole new Big Bang.'

Sadly, in the midst of a cost of living crisis, a commenter pointed out that 'In her utopia she still has to pay for food'.

Perhaps anticipating that her suggestion may not be met with the reverence she had hoped for, Ms Sharpe ended her letter by writing 'What fools we are'.

But even that was met with mockery, with one person writing: 'She got one thing right, what fool she is.'

That person, though, should have read their post before pressing send - it's missing the word 'a' between what and fool.
A real estate agent has been counselled after sending a shocking late night text labelling a client a 'pig'.

Gold Coast couple Giorgina and Tom Stewart claimed they had received the insulting message from Coastal Property real estate agent Christine Tucker.

The couple had engaged the agency to sell their property and had reached a settlement when they received a message at 11.45pm on September 13.

'Pig. Shame. Absolutely disgust how you left that home,' the text read.

'The oven wasn't even cleaned. Brian advised me what kind of person you are. Your husband should be ashamed. He's class.

'I'll be telling the neighbours. Pig. Being a female just thought you'd like to know that. My mum taught me cleanliness, not sure about yours.'

Ms Stewart said she was 'dumbfounded' by the text, as the buyers of their property had accepted the pre-settlement inspection of the home just the day before.

'When selling your house you don't have to do a bond clean like with a rental, but we left the house clean and tidy,' she said.

Ms Stewart said during the sales process which began in May, Ms Tucker had been 'pleasant'

Ms Stewart said during the sales process, which began in May, Ms Tucker had been 'pleasant'.

'We had signed a contract with her and we needed the house to be sold as we had purchased elsewhere,' she said.

Ms Stewart said when she had not received an apology from Ms Tucker, she complained to Coastal Property managing director Dane Atherton on September 16.

She said Mr Atherton replied in writing and 'conveyed my disgust and apologised', the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Mr Atherton told Ms Stewart he had handled the matter internally.

'I am confident our measures will ensure Christine will learn from the experience and will not behave in this manner again,' he wrote.

'Once again I ask you to accept my sincerest apologies.'

Mr Atherton said he repeatedly apologised to Ms Stewart.

Ms Stewart said she received a text message from real estate agent Christine Tucker at 11.45pm on September 13 that left her 'in shock, offended and disappointed'

'It was viewed as unacceptable behaviour and it was dealt with internally where we had counselling and warnings to the agent,' he said.

Mr Atherton said he would not sack Ms Tucker.

'She is a human being who did something wrong  and that is not how I work,' he said.

'I had felt my conversation (with the complainant) was well received.'

Daily Mail Australia contacted Coastal Property for comment.
Boris Johnson has backed Donald Trump for President as he clashed with Channel 4 presenters during a US election special.

The former UK PM and Mail columnist clashed with fellow panellist and ex-adult film star Stormy Daniels when she pushed him on whether he would feel comfortable leaving his children alone with the Republican candidate.

'My experience of Donald Trump is that when I've known him... I hear what you say and maybe I'm wrong but he has been courteous, he has been polite,' Johnson said, before being cut off by Emily Maitlis.

'He denied an election that he lost. What does it matter if he's courteous if he can't accept the results of democracy and the American voter?' she retorted.

'And you've heard several people, including me, say that they think that was a terrible thing to do,' Mr Johnson replied.

He later came back to the point, reifying that there was 'the orderly transition of power from one administration to the next under the Constitution'.

'Whatever you say about Donald Trump now he has been contesting this election democratically, fighting for every vote he can get... and as we speak tonight we don't know what the outcome is going to be,' he said.

Boris Johnson shows his book while appearing on the Channel 4 election coverage

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Boris Johnson appears on the show alongside adult film star Stormy Daniels (C) and author Stacey Johnson-Batiste

Host Krishnan Guru-Murthy said Mr Johnson had been 'fired' for 'banging on' about his book

Daniels, 45, also spoke candidly of her anxieties about how Trump's supporters behaved since she became publicly linked with the former president in the coverage overnight.

'[Trump supporters] aren't hiding anymore. They're using their real screen names, they're using their real phone numbers.'

'The threats are more graphic, more targeted, and as we all know when I testified back in May, Trump's attorneys "accidentally" put a document on the screen of the courtroom that had nothing to do with the case that we were trying that day with my unredacted home address.

'So I haven't been home since July, I have been living in an RV and travelling,' she revealed.

Ms Daniels also claimed that Trump supporters had been calling in threats to live comedy shows she was hosting.

'Trump supporters were calling in droves and threatening club owners [with] burning down the clubs.'

Mr Johnson was also harangued by the stations presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy for promoting his memoir, which has been serialised by the Mail, before he joked after Mr Johnson had left that he had been 'fired for banging on about his book'

When asked by fellow presenter Emily Maitlis if he still wanted Trump to win, the Mail Columnist joked: 'Well, as I say in my book Unleashed..', to which Mr Guru-Murthy interjected saying 'put it away, stop it, enough'.

During the panel discussion, Mr Johnson said he met with former US president and Republican nominee Donald Trump after his attempted assassination in July.

'In case I failed to mention this, I am promoting my book Unleashed, and I had a talk with him about Ukraine,' he joked to the camera, as he held up a copy of his book.

When asked about following in Mr Trump's footsteps regarding a political comeback if he was to win the presidential election, Mr Johnson said: 'The answer is obviously contained in Unleashed where you'll find the full discussion of this subject.'

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Mr Johnson, 60, spoke on meeting Donald Trump, before again mentioning Unleashed

The former PM appears on FOX News' The Story on October 31, also with his book

Co-host Emily Maitlis told him: 'We are not all going to read your book, so just tell us, do you want to have a political comeback... You can't actually answer a single question.'

Mr Johnson responded: 'By the way Emily I've answered all your questions all night.

'Currently I am blissfully engaged promoting my book Unleashed, available in all good book stores.'

Mr Johnson, 60, has been promoting his new memoir titled Unleashed after it was released last month.

The 784-page book looks back on Mr Johnson's time as prime minister - from 2019 to 2022 - including Brexit and the Covid pandemic.

Channel 4 newsreader Guru-Murthy is at the helm of the channel's first overnight US election programme since 1992 alongside former Newsnight presenter Maitlis.

Political pundits, and a number of famous faces including Mr Johnson, joined the hosts in the Washington DC studio as the American public decides whether Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or Mr Trump becomes president.

Guests on the programme include Republican supporter and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner, and Stormy Daniels, the woman at the centre of Mr Trump's hush money trial following an affair between the two.

She appeared on Channel 4's election coverage

At one point, Ms Daniels pointedly asked: 'If you were prime minister and you and Donald Trump got into a disagreement, as people do with Donald Trump, would you have any fear for the ladies in his life?'

Mr Johnson said: 'Nothing like that came up. When you're talking to the US president, the relationship you have as UK prime minister is one of great formality and importance.

'Of course you develop a friendship, but actually, and I can say this in all sincerity, I never in my time with him was treated with anything other than courtesy and friendliness.'

Speaking to Ms Daniels, he said: 'Now you had a very different experience, but I can only talk about mine.'

MailOnline contacted Channel 4 for comment.
CNN anchor Jake Tapper looked stunned after hearing early election results in Georgia are favoring Donald Trump.

After CNN political director David Chalian told Tapper that Independent voters in Georgia favored Trump by 54 percent to 43 percent, according to exit polls, the anchor was shocked.

Four years ago, the exit poll showed Joe Biden leading Trump by nine points among Independents.

But preliminary results showed Trump up 11 points with the crucial voter group in the Peach State - a staggering 20-point swing to Trump this time.

'Wow!' Tapper exclaimed.

Jake Tapper was shocked to hear that Donald Trump was surging early among Georgia independent voters

'That independent swing is wild,' he said.

'Some headwinds for Harris in these exit polls.'

Notably, President Biden flipped Georgia to the Democrats for the first time in a presidential election since 1992 when Bill Clinton won.

Tapper's co-host Chris Wallace was equally stunned by the Georgia results.

'I'm trying to figure out why,' Wallace said, adding he was at 'a loss as to how you would explain' it.

With 36 per cent of the vote counted, Trump was ahead 57 per cent to 43 per cent.

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A CNN exit poll shows that independents in Georgia have swung towards Trump by 11 points after siding with Biden by nine in 2020

Voters arrive at a polling station to cast their ballots for the presidential and congressional elections in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States on November 5, 2024

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Initial totals have shown Trump with an early lead.

However bomb threats throughout the Atlanta area have delayed the closure of polling locations, meaning counting will go late.

Fulton County and DeKalb County were impacted by bomb threats, according to local authorities.

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Earlier in the day, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said that Russians were involved in unsubstantiated bomb threats on polling sites that forced them to shutter as the threats were investigated.

A DeKalb County judge has since ordered polling locations in the area to be opened for additional time following the bomb threats.
This is the moment a cat surprised David Miliband on live television as he was quizzed on whether he would take the UK ambassador job in Washington.

Labour's former Foreign Secretary was appearing on Channel 4's live coverage of the US election where he was asked if he was 'considering a job change' if Kamala Harris won.

Speaking from New York, where he moved to in 2013, Miliband broke out into a smile as he dodged the question, saying it was for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to answer.

'For goodness sake there is an election going on here there's plenty to talk about,' he said, before a puzzled look spread across his face.

A black and white cat then a-mews-ingly comes into view much to Mr Miliband's embarrassment.

He said: 'Oh look I've got a cat visiting me, this is not a good moment. Sorry, the perils of live TV.'

David Miliband was appearing on Channel 4's live coverage of the US election where he was asked if he was 'considering a job change' if Kamala Harris won

A black and white cat then a-mews-ingly comes into view to Miliband's surprise. He said: 'Oh look I've got a cat visiting me, this is not a good moment. Sorry, the perils of live TV'

Mr Miliband and presenters Emily Maitlis and Krishnan Guru-Murthy could see the funny side as they all broke out into laughter

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Miliband was being interviewed on Channel 4's 'America Decides: US Presidential Election' programme.

Presenters Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Emily Maitlis both broke out into laughter as Mr Miliband picked up the furry intruder and placed the moggy on the ground.

Ms Maitlis quipped: 'Oh good diversion, get the cat out.'

Mr Miliband then appeared to make a sly dig at Donald Trump's baseless claims during the campaign trail that illegal immigrants from Haiti have been eating domestic pets in Springfield, Ohio, as he said: 'It's not a dead cat, it's not a dead cat.'

People on X could see the funny side as one said: 'David Miliband avoiding a tough question on a future ambassadorial role by having his cat walk in front of the webcam, what an operator, a true pro.'

While another added: 'First surprise swing goes to David Miliband's cat.'

Earlier on Channel 4's coverage Boris Johnson was told off for holding up his memoir and plugging it within minutes of the show going on air.

Guru-Murthy told Mr Johnson to 'put it away' and 'stop it, enough' as he referenced his new book and tried to hold it up to viewers.

Guru-Murthy described the former prime minister's actions as 'so cheap'.

Mr Johnson retorted: 'There's absolutely nothing you can do to stop me... I'm allowed to plug my book.'

Later during the panel discussion, Mr Johnson said he met with former US president and Republican nominee Donald Trump after his attempted assassination in July.

Boris Johnson was earlier told off for promoting his book while appearing on the Channel 4 election coverage

Boris Johnson appears on the show alongside adult film star Stormy Daniels (C) and author Stacey Johnson-Batiste

Mr Johnson, 60, spoke on meeting Donald Trump, before again mentioning Unleashed

'In case I failed to mention this, I am promoting my book Unleashed, and I had a talk with him about Ukraine,' he said.

When asked about following in Mr Trump's footsteps regarding a political comeback if he was to win the presidential election, Mr Johnson said: 'The answer is obviously contained in Unleashed where you'll find the full discussion of this subject.'

Co-host Emily Maitlis told him: 'We are not all going to read your book, so just tell us, do you want to have a political comeback... You can't actually answer a single question.'

Mr Johnson responded: 'By the way Emily I've answered all your questions all night. Currently I am blissfully engaged promoting my book Unleashed, available in all good book stores.'

Later in the programme, Mr Johnson was replaced on the Channel 4 panel by Michael Cohen - who served as a lawyer to former president Mr Trump.

Channel 4 newsreader Guru-Murthy is at the helm of the channel's first overnight US election programme since 1992 alongside former Newsnight presenter Maitlis.

Political pundits, and a number of famous faces including Mr Johnson, joined the hosts in the Washington DC studio as the American public decides whether Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or Mr Trump becomes president.

Guests on the programme include Republican supporter and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner, and Stormy Daniels, the woman at the centre of Mr Trump's hush money trial following an affair between the two.
READ MORE: Jumping castle operator in tragedy that killed six kids faces court

A building supplier has been fined $450,000 for insufficient safety systems after one of their employees was crushed to death by falling stone slabs.

Anton Bauer, 56, was working at Avant Stone's warehouse in Beresfield, Newcastle, on August 20, 2022, when he was crushed beneath two stone slabs, each weighing 315kg, after they fell from an A-frame storage system.

The District Court of NSW fined the company $450,000 on October 30 for failing to comply with its safety duty under the state's Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

'Avant Stone should have known of the risk of slabs falling,' SafeWork NSW said.

'The risk was clearly present when unrestrained stone slabs were stored on A-frames, without any means of restraining them if they tipped over.

'The potential consequences of the risk were death or serious injury. Each stone slab weighed 315kg.'

At about 9am, Mr Bauer commenced working, while his colleague, a sales representative, started work in the warehouse showroom.

Throughout the morning, the sales representative met with clients and instructed Mr Bauer to move stone slabs between the A-frames to help clients make their selections.

Anton Bauer, 56, was working at Avant Stone's warehouse in Beresfield, Newcastle, (pictured) when he was crushed beneath two stone slabs - each weighing 315kg -

At about 11.15am, Mr Bauer's colleague left the warehouse showroom to use the bathroom, the court heard.

When the sales representative returned to the showroom at 11.19am he found Mr Bauer lying on the floor, partially crushed under two stone slabs.

Emergency services rushed to the warehouse but Mr Bauer was unable to be revived and was declared dead at the scene.

There were no witnesses to the stone slabs falling, however the last thing the worker saw was Mr Bauer operating the remote control to move a crane holding the slabs.

Avant Tone pleaded guilty to failing to comply to its duties under the NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and therefore exposing Mr Bauer to the risk of serious injury or death.

'The risk was the risk of workers, in particular Mr Bauer, suffering serious injury or death as a result of being struck and/or crushed by a stone slab being unloaded by the overhead travelling crane, whilst undertaking work in the warehouse,' the court heard.

'Avant Stone was not a company which took safety lightly.

'However, it is apparent that they did not have appropriate systems in place in the warehouse (or indeed in the Sydney factory) to eliminate or minimise the risk of stone slabs tipping.'

The court found Avant Stone failed its duty on multiple counts including failing to provide an adequate racking system to prevent stone slabs from failing and failing to implement a documented job safety analysis specific to lifting and moving slabs.

It also was found it was failing to enforce a supervisory/spotting system to ensure safe systems of work are followed when moving or lifting slabs and failing to provide training and instructions on how to implement these.

Mr Bauer had been working at the company for about a month before he died and was reported to have been provided with induction and training when he started.

There were no written procedures for safely handling the heavy stone slabs and was given oral instruction instead.

The court heard that Avant Stone took steps to improve its safety systems after Mr Bauer's death.

Avant Stone pleaded guilty to failing its safety duty and was fined $450,000 by the District Court of NSW (pictured, Avant Stone's warehouse in Beresfield, in Newcastle)

The company commissioned specially designed A-frames with fall prevention barriers to minimise slabs from potentially falling during the handling process.

The improved A-frames were installed in both the Sydney and Beresfield warehouses.

Avant Stone also implemented safety documentation since Mr Bauer's death and introduced risk assessment procedures and forms.

The court also found one of Avant Stone's two directors showed 'genuine remorse and contrition'.

He also 'gave details of steps taken after the incident to deal with emotional and psychological impact of the incident upon workers,' the court heard.

The District Court of NSW initially fined Avant Stone $600,000 which was reduced by 25 per cent following the company's early guilty plea.
A voter in the crucial swing state of Arizona says Kamala Harris' decision to shun an appearance on Joe Rogan drove him to vote for Donald Trump.

The unidentified Arizona State University student told MSNBC's Gadi Schwartz that the VP's refusal to appear on the popular show ended up deciding his vote.

'We've actually been hearing a lot of talk about the Rogan podcast,' Schwartz said. 'A little while ago we were talking to two guys.

'One of them said he was on the fence, when Kamala did not go on the Joe Rogan podcast that was what influenced his vote, he ended up voting for Trump.

Kamala Harris' decision to shun Joe Rogan's podcast cost her at least one swing state voter, MSNBC revealed

MSNBC's Gadi Schwartz says someone at a polling station at Arizona State University told him that Kamala not going on Joe Rogan influenced his vote for Trump. pic.twitter.com/z1JoaLQjJC  The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 6, 2024

MSNBC reporter Gadi Schwartz said one Arizona State University student told him he'd avoided voting for Kamala because she didn't appear on Joe Rogan's podcast

'He said he was open to listening to Kamala on the podcast and when she didn't, not necessarily all the issues. She didn't seem like a real person because she couldn't talk for an extended period of time. '

Schwartz said many of the young men he'd spoken to had also been put off Kamala Harris and the Democrats by 'feelings of attacks on masculine identity.'

Arizona polling stations close at 7pm MT. The swing state is one of seven seen as vital for Trump or Harris to win to keep their White House ambitions alive.

Joe Biden snatched the Grand Canyon State from Trump in 2020.

Harris wanted to do The Joe Rogan Show - but only on her terms, Rogan revealed last week.

Rogan says Harris was in discussions over appearing on his hugely-popular show - but refused to travel to his studio or sit for the usual three-hour interview

JD Vance made an appearance on Rogan's show days before the election

Donald Trump also sat down with Rogan just before the election, with Rogan subsequently backing Trump for the White House

He said the VP said she'd only do 45 minutes and wanted Rogan to fly to meet her and film outside his usual Austin studio.

Rogan's shows last for between one and four hours and are almost always recorded in his famous, neon-lit Austin production center.

Donald Trump and JD Vance both made appearances on the podcast in recent weeks and happily chatted to Rogan for three hours apiece.

Harris has been widely-criticized for limiting her off-script public appearances, with the VP accused of spouting 'word salads' during head-to-head chats with journalists.

Rogan's show is hugely popular among men - a vital demographic that Harris has struggled with.

The podcaster is frequently branded right wing and accused of spreading 'misinformation.'

But Rogan says he's a progressive who voted for hard-left Democrat senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democrat primaries.

Rogan announced he was backing Donald Trump on election eve during a podcast with Elon Musk.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr thanked his actress wife Cheryl Hines, for standing by him amid allegations of his 'digital affair' with reporter Olivia Nuzzi.

The former presidential candidate, 70, spoke to Trump campaign supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, with the Curb Your Enthusiasm star by his side.

He expressed gratitude for 'the most supportive person in this room who has sustained me throughout my campaign, Cheryl Hines.'

She later responded by echoing his message of thanks, but added: 'Ooh, it has been a journey.'

Hines has publicly stood by her husband as he dropped out of the presidential election and endorsed former President Donald Trump.

She has also said she is not concerned with allegations of her husband's affair with the former New York Magazine reporter, despite rumors suggesting she was planning to divorce him.

Former presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr. thanked his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, for standing by his side amid allegations of his 'digital affair' with reporter Olivia Nuzzi

RFK Jr. thanks supporters in West Palm Beach #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/hSPh3XtfW0  Jayne Zirkle (@JayneZirkle) November 5, 2024

Nuzzi, 31, the Washington DC political correspondent for New York Magazine, acknowledged in September she had a sexting relationship with Kennedy, 70, while covering his campaign.

'Earlier this year, the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal,' she said.

'During that time, I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source.

'The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict.

'I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I've disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York.'

But Kennedy has insisted he only met the political journalist once, when she did a profile on him.

Nuzzi, 31, the Washington DC political correspondent for New York Magazine, acknowledged in September she had a sexting relationship with Kennedy, 70, while covering his campaign

In that profile, Nuzzi described meeting the former presidential candidate at the $7 million California home he shares with his wife.

She painted a picture of RFK Jr. as an anti-establishment candidate, 'turning the presidential election upside down'.

'Fear  and denial  is what Kennedy seems to inspire among the staid Washington Establishment supporting the incumbent president and the gangland anti-Establishment Establishment supporting the former president,' she wrote.

She touched on conflict in RFK Jr.'s marriage over his appearance on Steve Bannon's show and those of other right-wing personalities.

'Bannon was only the beginning. Poor Cheryl,' Nuzzi wrote.

At the time the piece was published, RFK Jr. was in the election race as an independent candidate, but has since dropped out and endorsed Trump.

New York magazine has since acknowledged an inappropriate relationship in a statement about Nuzzi's hiatus, deeming it 'a violation of the magazine's standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures'.

'Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign,' the statement read.

Hines has said she is not concerned about the reports of her husband's affairs

Despite news of the affair, Hines and RFK Jr. have been seen together multiple times, with the 59-year-old actress immediately dashing to her husband's side in Massachusetts after his mother, Ethel Kennedy, passed away.

The couple was photographed holding hands at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, in photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.

The actress was also seen holding onto RFK Jr's arm as they walked into the church where the politician's mother Ethel Kennedy's funeral was taking place.

She later told US Weekly that she was not concerned about the reports of her husband's affair.

'Lots of emotions with rumors,' she said, noting she will be writing a book about her experiences.

'People have a lot of feelings about politics, especially in Hollywood, and I don't know. I mean, so far I feel like it's OK,' she said.

'I'm OK to have conversations like that with people and, to me, it doesn't define somebody. To some people it does and it's like you can't control it. There's nothing I can do about it, so I have to let it wash over me.'

The Emmy-nominated actress, best known as Cheryl in HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, went on to tell the outlet she's focusing on her family.

'They're fun. I mean, if I had a boring family it would be tough. And I think just trying to embrace the unknown and instead of fighting against it, is sort of trying to embrace it and just say yes to whatever comes your way,' she said.

'Just to let it flow and to find the little moments and not take anything too seriously. Even though I find myself in very serious situations.'
Gina Rinehart is in the United States to support Donald Trump in the race to the White House and is expected to attend his election dinner tonight.

'I'm still nervous, but very much I am hoping for a Trump victory,' Mrs Rinehart told The Australian last week.

She warned that if Kamala Harris won the election, she would 'be more socialist, and worse than (Joe) Biden'.

She described Trump as 'patriotic and courageous' and said he was a model for other world leaders.

If Trump wins office, the former president wants to cut US reliance on income taxes - and make up the shortfall from increasing import tariffs.

He is proposing a 60 per cent tariff on all Chinese goods, and a 10 per cent 'across-the-board' tariff on all $3trillion worth of US imports.

Mrs Rinehart, who opposes tariffs, said she believed this was a bargaining position and Trump would not impose such blanket measures but look at it from a country by country basis.

However, the Aussie mining magnate strongly approves of Trump's other policies.

'He understands if you include policies that welcome investment, like less government tape, less tax, you get investment back, you bring growth, you raise living standards,' Mrs Rinehart said.

Gina Rinehart is in the United States to support Donald Trump in the race to the White House and is expected to attend his election party tonight. Pictured together in 2019

Mrs Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting last week announced it was buying the Lockyer/North Erregulla Conventional Gas Project located in Western Australia's mid-west Perth Basin as part of $1.1billion deal with previous owner MinRes.

Mrs Rinehart told Daily Mail Australia projects such as this were critical for Australia's future because 'so-called renewable energy' can only make electricity between 10-25 per cent of the time for solar and up to one-third of the time for wind.

'Gas can produce electricity much more reliably, even when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing,' she said.

'Each rational observer recognises the need for more gas supply.'

She labelled renewables as 'so-called' because she stated they were 'actually more minerals intensive than fossil fuels, and those minerals must be constantly found and developed, they do not renew themselves each year'.

Ms Rinehart warned that if Kamala Harris won the election, she would 'be more socialist, and worse than (Joe) Biden'

She said the 'old but true laws of supply and demand cannot be changed' with Australia hungry for ever more gas as it grows in its share of electricity generation.

'Without additional supply, prices will rise, harming consumers and businesses who need gas as a reliable source of energy and baseload electricity generation,' Mrs Rinehart said.

Ms Rinehart said the Albanese government is driving investors away from natural resources projects, including gas.

'Reducing unnecessarily complex and duplicative tape and excess regulations can unlock investment,' she said.

She warned that many Australians overlook the fact that their high living standards are largely supported by the nations resource exports.

'When people start experiencing blackouts and brownouts, which, yes, I see on the horizon, because we're closing or not maintaining so many of our power stations, they will understand.

'Nuclear is great although, let's face it, it's going to take a long time, there'll be lots of tape and approvals.'
EXCLUSIVE

A 12-year-old schoolgirl who took her own life after months of relentless bullying on Snapchat poured out her heart in gut-wrenching videos just before her death.

Ella Catley-Crawford died in hospital on Saturday a week after her attempted suicide, following nine months of misery at the hands of students who catfished her.

The bullying began after Ella, from Manly in Brisbane, took up an academic scholarship at Lourdes Hill College, an elite private girls school in February this year.

Her 'hyper-vigilant' mum Julie Crawford, 55, moved her to public school Redlands College after just one term, but says the damage had already been done.

'She was immediately happier, and the new school was great, but the bullies still got to her via the apps,' Ms Crawford told Daily Mail Australia.

In the lead up to her death, Ella shared her daily struggles through multiple emotional TikTok posts on a secret account she had kept hidden.

Posting a selfie of a single tear on her cheek, Ella's heartbreaking captions revealed her pain, but with each one, she added: 'Other people have it worse.'

'No-one really likes me but other people have it worse,' she wrote just three days before she tried to take her own life.

Ella's secret TikTik account posts show her heartbreaking struggles days before she took her own life

Tormented schoolgirl Ella Catley-Crawford, 12, (pictured with her mother, Julie) has donated her vital organs to save others after evil online bullies drove her to her death

Talented Ella Catley-Crawford won an academic scholarship to high school

'Literally struggling so much but other people have it worse,' she added. 'Can barely get out of bed but other people have it worse.

'Not really eating but other people have it worse. Crying nearly every day, but other people have it worse.'

With other tragic posts referring to losing friendships, her appearance and self-harm, friends have since flooded the comment sections.

'The signs we all missed - I'm so sorry Ella you didn't deserve any of this,' commented one friend.

'This is making me tear up, the signs were there,' added another.

Ella's final post was at 3am on the morning her mother found her lifeless body at home.

'I have nothing to post, #Imissyou,' it read.

The 12-year-old's torment came as no surprise to her devoted mum who had given Ella her old phone for Christmas to entertain her on the bus to and from school.

She had banned her from using apps like Tiktok and Snapchat, but when Ella started Year Seven, she saw her daughter was glued to her phone screen.

'I thought she was just texting her new friends at first,' she said.

'I knew they had a Year Seven group chat, but it was Snapchat.

'I made her delete it straight away even though she told me she was being safe.

'I don't know how but she made another account and hid it from me.'

Despite Ms Crawford's repeated attempts to stamp out Ella's social media use, the bullying quickly escalated and regularly left her daughter in tears.

Then in March Ms Crawford, an HR manager, received a call from the school alleging concerns had been raised that Ella, who was then 11, had been bullying other students online.

'I told them "I don't think so", that they had it wrong and they investigated it further,' she said.

Days later, three Year Seven girls were suspended from Lourdes College for bullying Ella online.

Julie Crawford regularly found Ella in tears about messages she was receiving, but the worried mum couldn't see them because of the app's automatic message deletion

Julie Crawford, 55, says she knew her only child was suffering but was powerless to stop it, despite trying everything she could to protect her daughter

The school never gave Ms Crawford the details of their findings, but the damage was already done, her mum said.

'I don't know exactly what it was all about,' she added.

'People had pretended to be people they were not, one girl pretended to be a boy and messages Ella sent to them were shared around to others.

'Friends started to pull away from her and she was uninvited to a birthday party with some of the kids saying they needed a break, that it was too much, that she was too much.'

Parents of students at Lourdes Hill College were emailed by principal Kay Gleeson on Tuesday alerting them to Ella's death, calling it 'devastating news'.

She added: 'We have a zero-tolerance policy against bullying.

''Our students' wellbeing remains our highest priority, and we are committed to providing a caring, safe and supportive environment.

'The next few weeks will be particularly difficult, and members of the community may have different responses to this tragedy.

'We understand our community will have many questions about this. However, out of respect to those affected, I ask that we avoid any speculation or discussion.'

Ms Crawford moved her 'bright and quirky,' daughter to Redlands College at the end of the first term in April.

But although Ella was instantly happier and making new friends, she couldn't escape the online abuse which followed her.

'Ella was so down I took her to the doctors, and she was diagnosed with depression and on medication,' her mother told Daily Mail Australia.

'But I made sure I was always around and that we had things to do to keep her busy.'

Ms Crawford says that when her daughter was distracted with things to look forward to, her 'best friend and love of her life,' was her former happy self.

But as soon as she was left with her phone, things quickly changed.

'Some days in the holidays she wouldn't get out of bed,' said her mum.

'I just hoped it wouldn't get worse but I never expected her to kill herself.'

Julie Crawford found Ella apparently lifeless on Sunday October 27 and began resuscitation while waiting for paramedics

Ella was on life support for a week before she lost her fight on Sunday

Ms Crawford found her daughter apparently lifeless on Sunday, October 27 and began CPR while waiting for paramedics.

Ella was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane and spent a week on life support before doctors confirmed she had no brain activity.

Queensland Police have Ella's phone and iPad and are now investigating her death.

On Monday, Andrew Johnson, principal at Redlands College, sent a text message to parents of Year Seven students with details of a special counselling service.

Students in Ella's year were told of her death on the same day.

'The college will not make any formal announcements to other year levels but will invite parents to make the decision about if and when they share this news with their son or daughter,' Mr Johnson added.

Ella's heartbroken mum says without her, she has nothing left, so will now dedicate herself to raising awareness in the hope she can help others.

Her family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral costs, time off work to grieve and to facilitate more awareness.

'Social media bullying is real,' the fundraising appeal adds.

'If you ask if we are angryyes, we are. If you ask if we are sadabsolutely. And if you ask if the system let her downit did.

'This catastrophic reality has changed our family's history forever.

'Social media and online presence pose real dangers, and despite our efforts to keep our children safe, technology can become an addictive lifeline, especially when they feel isolated.'

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36.
Naomi Biden announced her pregnancy on the night of the 2024 presidential election.

'(we) voted,' she wrote on her Instagram story, displaying a prominent baby bump with an 'I voted' sticker on it.

Naomi, 30, is the oldest grandchild of President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. This will be their first great grandchild.

DailyMail.com exclusively revealed in May that Naomi and her husband Peter Neal were expecting their first child.

Naomi Biden announces her pregnancy

Speculation has been rampant for months that she was expecting. It was the talk of a state dinner in May.

Naomi, who is known for wearing fitted clothes to her slim figure, donned loose fitting gowns during multiple occasions when she was seen in public.

As she and Neal entered a state dinner at the White House for Kenya in May, Neal appeared to be gesturing at his wifes stomach as they posed for photos.

As she leaned into him, what appeared to be a baby bump was seen in her long, roomy pleated metallic cape and dress set from Diana Ayad.

When the couple went with President Biden to the G7 conference in Italy, Naomi donned baggy black clothes when in sight of the cameras.

At the Democratic National Convention in August, she was careful to stand behind other family members when the Biden clan joined the president on stage after his speech.

Naomi Biden, with husband Peter, at a state dinner for Kenya in May

Peter Neal and Naomi Biden with President Biden and Maisy Biden in Italy in June

In April, Naomi wore a loose-fitting gown covered in cherry blossoms to a state dinner for Japan.

Naomi was coy about her condition.

She posed for photos with her handbag placed strategically over her stomach at the Japanese state dinner. She repeated the pose when she attended the White House Correspondents Association dinner a week later.

The baby would be the first Biden great-grandchild.

If President Biden had stayed in the race, it would have given him the moniker of great-grandpa ahead of the November election. His grandkids call him Pops.

Voters had expressed concern about Biden's age. And it was his disastrous performance in a debate with Donald Trump in July - where he fumbled for words and stared into space - that resulted in party leaders pressuring him out of the presidential race.

The couple at the April state dinner for Japan (left) and Naomi and Peter at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner (right)

Noami Biden (in the blue dress in the back) hid behind family members at the Democratic National Convention in August

Peter Neal and Naomi Biden have been married two years

Naomi Biden and Peter Neal with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at their November 2022 wedding at the White House

President Biden turned 82 in November. He is the oldest American ever elected president.

Naomi Biden is the eldest daughter of Hunter Biden and his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle.

She and Peter Neal married in an opulent ceremony on the White House lawn on November 19, 2022. She was the first presidential grandchild to be married at the White House.

Naomi's sisters Finnegan and Maisey were part of the ceremony as was her half-brother Beau, who is the son of her father's second wife Melissa Cohen.

Naomi and her sisters are often seen holding Beau at family events and at the White House.

She works as a lawyer in Washington D.C.

She and Neal lived in the White House ahead of their wedding. They now live in Georgetown.
Elon Musk's mother has sparked fury over an ugly comment she made criticizing a reporter's ethnicity as the race for the White House heats up.

Maye Musk, 76, slammed New York Times tech reporter Ryan Mac, claiming he was planning to publish a 'hit piece' on her son on Wednesday, in the wake of the presidential election.

Musk has been open about his support of Donald Trump, with the pair developing a 'bromance' during the last months of campaigning and appearing together at rallies across the nation.

'I've heard there is going to be an Elon hit piece by @RMac18 in the [New York Times] tomorrow. Sadly, Ryan is an American Vietnamese reporter,' Maye wrote on Tuesday night.

Elon Musk's mother (pictured together) has sparked fury for an ugly comment she made criticizing a reporter's ethnicity as the race for the White House heats up

Maye defended her remarks after she was publicly slammed, reposting Kingkade's critical comments onto her own feed on Tuesday night to slam the New York times for 'lying about [Elon] for 15 years

The comment was shared on X but appeared to be swiftly deleted. Another journalist who saw the post republished it and slammed Maye.

'For the record, Ryan Mac was born and raised in California. Not that it matters,' NBC reporter Tyler Kingkade wrote.

'Calling out a reporter for their ethnic heritage is never appropriate... He also won a Polk Award. No one should ever bet on his stories being inaccurate.'

Maye, a published author and former Democrat voter, said she has fans in Vietnam who she does not think will 'believe the article if it is hateful and/or dishonest.'

Mac himself hit back with a pointed post of his own, writing: 'Anyone doing any American Vietnamese s**t tonight?' He also added the phrase 'American Vietnamese' to his X bio.

The award-winning journalist has covered Musk's exploits since he purchased Twitter and rebranded to X in 2022, and that coverage has ramped up since the billionaire's endorsement of Donald Trump during this election cycle.

Mac (pictured) is an award-winning journalist who has covered Musk's exploits since he purchased Twitter and rebranded to X in 2022, and that coverage has ramped up since the billionaire's endorsement of Donald Trump during this election cycle

Mac himself hit back with a pointed post of his own, writing: 'anyone doing any American Vietnamese s**t tonight?' He also added the phrase 'American Vietnamese' to his X bio

Musk revealed he was supporting Trump after the assassination attempt in July, and has since been one of the Republican nominee's most outspoken supporters and generous donors.

He has spent a whopping $119 million on his pro-Trump political action committee, America PAC, during this election alone.

Maye defended her remarks after she was publicly slammed, reposting Kingkade's critical comments onto her own feed on Tuesday night to slam the New York Times for 'lying about [Elon] for 15 years.

'Ha!' she wrote. 'I mentioned this on X Spaces with Elon and everyone. They laughed so much.

'Nothing new. It must be hard to be hateful and dishonest continuously. Hope Ryan is paid well.'

Musk revealed that he will be with Trump on Tuesday night as the results roll in.

He announced his support for the former president earlier this year after the July 13 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania , despite saying in 2022 that 'it's time for Trump to hang up his hat and sail into the sunset'

Elon Musk will join Donald Trump for his election night party in Mar-a-Lago, continuing his aggressive campaigning for the Republican candidate

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Speaking on a Spaces livestream, the world's richest man said: 'I'll be there with President Trump and JD and a bunch of other cool people. They have a great sense of humor.'

Musk promised last month to give away $1 million daily until Election Day to people in swing states.

According to the America PAC website, 16 people, including four in Pennsylvania, have received the $1 million awards. The winners were reportedly randomly selected among those who signed a petition pledging support for free speech and gun rights.

The offer was limited to registered voters in one of seven states that will likely decide the outcome of the Nov. 5 election - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The Justice Department warned Musk and his America PAC last month that the sweepstakes may violate federal law, which prohibits paying people to register to vote.

Trump is leading Harris as of late Tuesday night in the polls.
Five young Minnesota brothers were left critically injured in a freak accident involving a horrific explosion.

Aged from six to 14 years old, the brothers were all severely burned at a Bagley storage unit after a man lit a cigarette near a leaking propane tank on Monday.

The adult was identified as their father, KROC reported.

In a GoFundMe page created by the boys' older sister, Kyra Frank, it was revealed that all five boys were airlifted to a burn unit in Hennepin County.

Frank wrote: 'My mom is a single working parent and is now taking time off to be with her boys. She could use any and all the help given.'

Five brothers, Keegan, Kaeto, Braedyn, Tannen and Zander, aged six to 14, were left badly injured by an explosion on Monday

Inside the storage unit was completely charred and destroyed by the freak accident

She said between the children, the burns cover a range from five percent to 55 percent of their bodies.

All the boys will need surgery at some point during their treatment. Based on her latest update, the brothers are all now in stable condition.

The brothers are named Keegan, Kaeto, Braedyn, Tannen and Zander, according to a CaringBridge page made to raise money for their care.

Liddy DeWulf, who started the CaringBridge, wrote on Tuesday that all the boys were 'intubated in critical but stable condition.'

More than 500 people have made donations towards the children's care. Over $39,00 has been raised so far.

A GoFundMe for the children's care has raided over $39,000 so far. The condition of their father is unclear

The brother's injuries are severe and they are reportedly in critical condition, with burns covering anywhere from 5 percent to 55 percent of their bodies

The social media pages of loved ones are flooded with prayers and well wishes for the boys.

The horrific incident occurred at about 12.30pm, the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Police and emergency services arrived at the scene and transferred all the victims to the hospital. Before responders arrived, the Sheriff's office noted that bystanders stepped in to help.

The statement reads: 'Once on scene it was discovered that one adult male and five children, ranging in ages from six to fourteen years old, had all been involved in an explosion and were all suffering from burns.

'Preliminary indications are that a propane tank had been leaking inside the metal storage unit and when the doors were opened the adult male lit a cigarette and an explosion ensued.

'People passing by were able to help the burned victims until first responders arrived.'

First responders said the man was also injured, but his condition is unclear.

Inside the storage unit, black debris covered the walls and everything appeared to be completely wrecked.

The incident is currently under investigation.

The incident is still under investigation, but the cause has been confirmed

The explosion was caused by their father lighting a cigarette near a leaking propane tank

According to data from the US Fire Administration, there were 7,800 fires, 275 deaths, 750 injuries and more than $300million lost in cigarette-started fires in 2021.

Monday's explosion comes after a Pennsylvania couple was killed in a propane-related explosion earlier this year.

The explosion destroyed their Crescent Township home and showered the neighborhood with debris.

All that remained was the burning foundations with a plume of black smoke visible from everywhere in the town and surrounding area.

All of the items inside the storage unit were burned and the scene was left in shambles

Local businessman John Bundy said he felt the massive explosion shake the town and rushed to help.

'I ran outside and saw the mushroom cloud so I got in my truck and drove over,' he told DailyMail.com.

'It was an end of the world situation, everything was just shredded or on fire, there was nothing left.'
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Flanked by his family and key supporters, former President Donald Trump took the stage at a convention center in West Palm Beach, Florida in the wee hours of Wednesday morning and declared victory, cementing an extraordinary political comeback.

Minutes earlier news organizations called the 2024 presidential race for him in an astonishing night for Republicans and devastating evening for Vice President Kamala Harris.

'We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,' Trump said. 'And it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing.'

The moment of truth came when Fox News called Pennsylvania, the biggest of the battleground prizes - and by that point in the evening a near must-win for Harris - followed by Wisconsin, and then the entire race in his favor.

The Associated Press had still not called the election for Trump by 5am, but he claimed victory onstage nonetheless alongside wife Melania, 18-year-old son Barron and his most loyal staff and supporters.

Former President Donald Trump took the stage and declared victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning, cementing an extraordinary political comeback

'It's real,' screamed one young supporter who raced to the front of the crowd as if it were a mosh pit, high fiving friends and strangers.

Trump was joined on stage by family - including daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner who had been absent from the campaign - along with aides and some high-profile and deep-pocketed political supporters.

He thanked his supporters and promised a 'golden age for America.'

When he invited is running mate to the microphone, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance said the election result marked a remarkable turnaround in political fortunes.

'I thank you for the trust that you placed in me,' he said, 'and I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.'

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Sealed with a kiss: Trump embraces his beaming wife Melania at his rally at the Palm Beach Convention Center

Trump holds hands with wife Melania and stands alongside 18-year-old son Barron before delcaring victory

Trump went on to paint a positive vision for the next four years under his control

Trump was joined on stage by family - including daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner who had been absent from the campaign - aides and political supporters

Trump thanked his 'beautiful' wife and again promoted her book in his jubilant remarks at 2am on Wednesday morning

Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner watch as Trump vowed to bring the U.S. back to greatness

Trump raises his fist in the air to the roaring MAGA crowd as he braced for a return to the White House

Four years ago, Trump was a defeated man. Within months, he had left Washington, D.C., under a cloud after his supporters ransacked the U.S. Capitol.

Allies deserted him and he headed for exile at Mar-a-Lago.

On Tuesday night, he was surrounded by supporters, friends and family at his Florida home as he regained his crown.

He led them out on stage at the Palm Beach County Convention Center after the Associated Press called Pennsylvania for the Republican at 1:30 am, where he delivered his victory speech in front of hundreds more supporters who had waited hours to see him.

'Most of all, I want to thank the millions of hard working Americans across the nation who have always been the heart and soul of this really great movement,' he said.

'We've been through so much together, and today, you showed up in record numbers to deliver a victory like really ... probably ... like no other. This was something special.'

The first big call was broadcast in the hall at 11:25pm, when North Carolina went to Trump.

The crowd's energy went quickly from nervously excited to joy mingled with relief.

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Trump, wife Melania and son Barron walk out on stage as he prepares for his remarks after an astonishing election night

Kamala Harris' victory party at Howard University in Washington D.C. was deserted by midnight on Tuesday

Harris supporters look on in despair as the results start to go away from the Democratic candidate

All that was left at Howard University was trash as the outlook for Harris started to look bleak

Harris supporters look on in despair as the historic night for Trump unfolds

The contrast was clear at Trump's victory party as supporters in red MAGA hats went wild

Melania Trump walks out onto the stage at her husband's rally and watches as he thanks the crowd

'This was something special', Trump told the crowd as he declared victory in the election

And for supporters called 'garbage' and 'deplorables,' who had stuck with the candidate through election defeat, court cases, impeachments and the fall-out from the Jan. 6 riot, it carried a dose of political redemption.

Trump used his speech to promise a positive vision.

'Together we're going to unlock America's glorious destiny and we're going to achieve the most incredible future for our people.'

'It's time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us, it is time to unite. And we're going to try, we have to try, and we're going to be successful at bringing us together... Success is going to bring us together, and we are going to start by putting America first.'

Hours before polls closed, Trump claimed on his Truth Social site without evidence that there was 'a lot of talk about massive CHEATING' in Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold.

It echoed his 2020 claims of election fraud in Democratic-controlled cities.

Barron watches as his parents share a touching moment on stage at his rally

Nervous excitement gave way to joy at the Trump watching party as Tuesday evening turned to morning

Supporters of former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump cheers near his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach

And it led to worries that he and his team could be preparing for a repeat of the legal and political challenges that ended with hundreds of his supporters storming the U.S. Capitol.

'If I lose an election, if it's a fair election, I'm gonna be the first one to acknowledge it,' Trump told reporters after voting on Tuesday.

Allies said he may try to claim victory on election night even with millions of ballots to be counted and states to be called, as he did at the White House four days ago.

But as the evening wore on it appeared that Democratic hopes of undecideds breaking their way evaporated, as result after result suggested Trump

Roger Stone, longtime Republican provocateur and Trump ally, said he was on course for an extraordinary comeback, fueled by four criminal indictments.

Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos, left, Donald Trump Jr. and his fiance Kimberly Guilfoyle with his daughter Kai watch during the victory party

Trump leans in for a kiss with wife Melania after telling reporters: 'Together we're going to unlock America's glorious destiny and we're going to achieve the most incredible future for our people'

Ivanka and Jared beam as they watch the former president urge Americans to put the 'last four years of division behind us'

UFC CEO Dana White made a surprise appearance on stage after Trump thanked him for his support during the campaign

NEVADA: Guests at a party for Democrats in Nevada can't contain their emotions as Harris' grim prospects materialize

Folding chairs and discarded bottles lay on the ground at Howard University, where Harris had planned to hold a victory party

'It's a story of perseverance. It's a story of resilience and just grit,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I mean, just grinding it out'.

Kamala Harris' victory party meanwhile was completely deserted by midnight.

The campaign first told staff to go home and then top Harris advisor Cedric Richmond came out and confirmed the vice president would not be speaking.

As of 3.45am on Wednesday morning the Harris camp hadn't reacted to the results as the Associated Press waited to make the final call.

The reaction was swift from the network TV pundits who called it a 'shellacking' for the Democrats.

In Palm Beach it was a jubilant family affair for Trump who invited hoards of family members and staff on stage.

Donald Trump's eldest granddaughter Kai donned a dazzling sequined dress alongside dad Don Jr. during her grandfather's celebratory speech Wednesday

(From left to right) Melania Trump, Barron Trump, Melania's father Viktor Knavs, Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner listen to the presidential nominee

Michael Bulous (far left) and his wife Tiffany Trump listen as the presidential nominee declares victory in Florida

Ivanka Trump, his granddaughter Kai, 17, his pregnant daughter Tiffany, 31, and his sons Eric, 40, and Donald Trump Jr, 46, were beside him.

His daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, was also in attendance at the celebration, as was Donald Trump Jr's fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Wearing a blue velvet suit, Ivanka beamed alongside her husband, Jared Kushner, as she listened to her father declare: 'Frankly this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time.'

Mr Trump thanked his 'beautiful wife' Melania, who was stood by his side, and his 'amazing' children.

Trump said: 'I want to thank my whole family, my amazing children  and they are amazing children. Now we all think our children are amazing. Everybody here thinks their children are amazing  but that's a good thing when you think they are. But Don, Eric, Ivanka, Tiffany, Baron, Lara, Jared, Kimberly, Michael  thank you all.'

Ivanka and her husband have remained noticeably absent from Trump's campaign, with some even mocking Ivanka when she posted the 16 lessons she has learned as she turned 43 just hours before the election, while her siblings were out campaigning.

She had earlier vowed to stay away from politics, after she and Kushner became two of the former president's most trusted advisers and principal gatekeepers during his first administration.

But sources have suggested the former First Daughter may once again stand by her father's side if he retakes the White House.

Following Trump's loss in the 2020 election, Ivanka and Jared decided to lay low in Miami with their three young children.

Ivanka concentrated on her role as a mother and on her old socialite lifestyle, earning her way back into the good books of pro-Democrat celebrity circles.
Boris Johnson and Stormy Daniels have clashed while appearing on a TV election panel, with the former British prime minister telling the adult film star that he would happily leave his children alone with Donald Trump.

'Would you leave your daughter alone with Donald Trump?' Daniels quizzed Johnson after he described his friendship with the Republican presidential nominee.

'I don't see why not... yes,' Johnson said, before adding that he had found Trump to be a 'courteous' and 'polite' person.

Daniels has been a vocal critic of the former president for years, and in May he was convicted of covering up a hush-money deal with her over an alleged sexual affair.

She appeared unimpressed with Johnson's response to her question, raising her eyebrows and gesturing at the hosts.

'I hear what you're saying, maybe I'm wrong,' Johnson then said, before going back to his defence of Trump, who he once described as a 'very good friend'.

Stormy Daniels raised her eyebrows at Boris Johnson's response to the question: 'Would you leave your daughter alone with Donald Trump?'

The adult film star looked over at the hosts of the Channel 4 election coverage as Johnson responded to her question

Johnson said that he had found Trump to be a 'courteous' and 'polite' person (pictured together in 2019)

When asked if while working with Trump he had feared for the women in his life, Johnson added: 'Nothing like that came up, of course not, because when you're talking to the US president, the relationship you have as UK prime minister is one of great formality and importance.

'And yes of course you develop a friendship, but actually, and I can say this in all sincerity, I never in my time with him was treated with anything other than complete courtesy and friendliness.'

During his appearance on Channel 4's special US election programme, the Mail columnist was at one point told off by the host for holding up and plugging his memoir.

Johnson was later replaced by Michael Cohen, a former lawyer to Trump, who was sat next to Daniels.

Elsewhere in the programme, Daniels also revealed that she has been living in a camper van since July over fears for her safety.

The 45-year-old told of her anxieties about how Trump's supporters behaved since she became publicly linked with the former president.

She said of the backlash she received from Trump supporters: 'It was scary in the beginning, then it got quiet for a while. During this election, it kind of picked up again.

'The biggest difference between this time and the first time around is that people aren't hiding. Part of that has to do with January 6 at the Capitol.

'[Trump supporters] aren't hiding anymore. They're using their real screen names, they're using their real phone numbers.

Daniels said: 'I haven't been home since July, I have been living in an RV and travelling'

The 45-year-old appeared on Channel 4's election coverage

Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump dances off stage at the conclusion of a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena on November 04, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina

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'The threats are more graphic, more targeted, and as we all know when I testified back in May, Trump's attorneys 'accidentally' put a document on the screen of the courtroom that had nothing to do with the case that we were trying that day with my unredacted home address.

'So I haven't been home since July, I have been living in an RV and travelling.'

Daniels was referring to the leak of her home address earlier this year.

She said at the time that 'it's become unsafe for her family and her pets,' including her horses that have been shot twice.

When asked whether she feared a Trump win or loss, she said: 'To be completely honest with you, I don't know.

'He's made it very clear he plans to go after anyone who was against him and those who helped him.'

Daniels also claimed that Trump supporters had been calling in bomb threats to live comedy shows she was hosting.

Daniels told Channel 4 's special US election programme of her anxieties about how Trump's supporters behaved since she became publicly linked with the former president

Stormy Daniels has admitted she has been living in an RV since July over fears for her safety

People stand ahead of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump's watch party in Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 5, 2024

People cast their ballots for the 2024 United States Presidential Election at a polling station on November 5, 2024 in New York City

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'Trump supporters were calling in droves and threatening club owners [with] burning down the clubs.'

She later squabbled with Johnson over Trump's character, asking him: 'If you were prime minister and you and Donald Trump got into a disagreement, as people do with Donald Trump, would you have any fear for the ladies in his life?'

He replied: 'Nothing like that came up. When you're talking to the US president, the relationship you have as UK prime minister is one of great formality and importance.

'Of course you develop a friendship, but actually, and I can say this in all sincerity, I never in my time with him was treated with anything other than courtesy and friendliness.'

Daniels clashed with Boris Johnson over his relationship with Trump

She pointedly asking him: 'If you were prime minister and you and Donald Trump got into a disagreement, as people do with Donald Trump, would you have any fear for the ladies in his life?'

Johnson said: 'Nothing like that came up. When you're talking to the US president, the relationship you have as UK prime minister is one of great formality and importance'

Speaking to Daniels, he said: 'Now you had a very different experience, but I can only talk about mine.'

It comes after voters have revealed the staggering amounts of money they have been placing on the 2024 presidential election.

DailyMail.com took to Times Square in New York City to ask those just how much they had been lumping on either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.

One person told us they backed Harris with $500 while another man said he had put $5,000 down on Trump to win the race to the White House.

His friend jokingly added that he 'did not have $5,000', and one woman said that she would put a million dollars on Harris if she had the money to do so.

Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi have allowed punters have been able to back the two prospective presidents, with both platforms taking in staggering sums.
Liberals bemoaned the New York Times' election needle, which has predicted a win for Donald Trump over Kamala Harris.

The needle is meant to predict what will happen in elections based on the partial results available as they arrive on election night.

'Our election night forecast shows an extremely close race. Almost all of the vote counted so far points toward a very close election, as anticipated,' wrote the paper's chief political analyst, Nate Cohn, earlier Tuesday.

However, the paper's Democrat-leaning readership began to bemoan the numbers as it showed Trump as likely to take the entirety of the 'Blue Wall' - Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan - and the election.

'Anyone got a timelapse of the NYT needle from the last election? Because looking at it in its current state has me NERVOUS AS F***,' wrote one social media user.

Liberals bemoaned the New York Times' election needle, which is currently predicting a win for Donald Trump over Kamala Harris

However, the paper's Democrat-leaning readership began to bemoan the numbers as it showed Trump as likely to take the entirety of the 'Blue Wall' - Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan - and the election

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Journalist Glenn Greenwald noted at the time that Trump has a 77% chance of taking Georgia, with a 65% chance of winning North Carolina.

Those results would make the 'blue wall' midwestern states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan Harris' only path to the White House.

Liberals have gone into further overdrive from the needle's very existence.

Another added: 'Seriously F*** The NY Times needle. Its just clickbait for hysterical election followers.'

A California-based voter cited a possible 'red mirage' stating: 'This is why I wont look at the stupid NYT needle. All it does is increase anxiety across-the-board.'

'Oh for f**k's sake the NYT election needle is back. NOBODY WANTS THIS,' posted Rachel Sklar.

'Advice I gave to comrades abroad: Exit polls are meaningless, they are fake news, ignore them, ignore the stupid NYT needle, no one has ever known anything about the outcome and no one knows anything now.'

The needle was thought to be endangered by a strike by technical workers at the newspaper.

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The needle was thought to be endangered by a strike by technical workers at the newspaper

Despite the concerns, the needle was working early on election night.

As its name suggests, the needle is a graphic that uses voting results and other calculations to point toward the likelihood of either presidential candidate winning.

Trump is leading Kamala Harris in Georgia with 75% of the votes there counted.

Donald Trump has 52.1% of the vote compared to Kamala Harris who has 47.3%.

Most counties around liberal-leaning Atlanta have above 70% of their results reported.

However, the areas surrounding Savannah which also tend to be more blue than the state have not reported many votes yet.

As it stands, Trump holds a nearly 200,000 vote lead, 2,103,900 to 1,899,561 in the key battleground state.

Georgia's critical 16 electoral votes are seen as necessary in most scenarios for either candidate to secure a victory.

The Harris campaign still feels like there are pathways for her to pick up crucial battleground states Georgia and North Carolina.

In Georgia, rural turnout largely matches what the campaign expected, while the suburban early vote count was higher than the Harris camp anticipated.

In North Carolina, there were long lines at two large colleges - UNC-Charlotte and UNC-Wilmington - and late-arriving mail-in ballots were breaking the vice president's way.

Donald Trump has soared to an all-time high in the betting markets with a 72 per cent chance of winning as the former president takes the lead in the crucial swing state of Georgia.

Trump has picked up victories so far in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Arkansas.

While Kamala Harris has won Vermont, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey and New York.
A bitter row over bamboo plants has landed two neighbours in an upmarket Sydney street in court.

Nicholas and Lisa-Maree Beswick bought a $2.5million, four-bedroom property in the leafy Upper North Shore suburb of St Ives Chase, north west Sydney, in October 2020.

Their home shares a rear boundary with a property owned by David Sandig, whose family has lived there for 30 years.

In 2015, five years before the Beswicks moved into the area, Mr Sandig planted four clumps of slender weavers bamboo near the fence line between the two properties.

Although they were planted one-two metres apart, they grew quickly to form a 'dense screen', a judgement published this week by the NSW Supreme Court stated.

'The (Beswicks) alleged the bamboo was 3-4m tall upon their occupation and had subsequently grown to a height of 8-10m to severely obstruct their former view,' the judgment added.

The Bewsicks spoke to Mr Sandig and his son over the fence in 2023 about the bamboo privacy screen before emailing him in November of that year to request that the bamboo be trimmed and also that the fence be replaced.

'On 2 January 2024, Mr Sandig replied that the applicants had previously acknowledged his "need for privacy screening given your upstairs windows look directly down into our living and bedroom windows",' the judgment noted.

Nicholas and Lisa-Maree Beswick bought a $2.5million, four-bedroom property (pictured) in the leafy Upper North Shore suburb of St Ives Chase, north west Sydney, in October 2020

In 2015, five years before the Beswicks moved into the area, Mr Sandig planted four clumps of slender weavers bamboo near the fence line between the two properties (pictured: the properties from above)

'Mr Sandig said he had extensively pruned his trees and boundary vegetation recently and noted an existing tree in the applicants' back yard that was taller than the bamboo and was screening the applicants upstairs windows.'

He said he would remove individual stems as necessary, but would not reduce the bamboo's height.

Mr Beswick responded later that day to say his hedge pruning had reduced their own privacy and he reiterated his request for Mr Sandig to cut the bamboo 'to a height that allows you privacy and reinstates our view across the valley'.

But Mr Sandig did not reply to this email, nor to a third repeating the same request.

The Beswicks then launched their legal battle.

In July, the court visited the properties to view the offending bamboo plants, which had been trimmed to a height of 2.5m just five days before.

But the court relied on photographs taken in 2023 and this year which 'show tall bamboo growing along the common boundary and arching into the applicants property, apparently reaching a height of 8-10 m, a height around the top of the applicants' first floor windows'.

As a result, Acting Commissioner John Douglas said she was 'satisfied the applicants view obstruction was recently severe'.

Although the application was refused, the Judge encouraged the Bewsicks to submit another application with more conclusive evidence if the bamboo returned to its 'prior "wild" state' (stock image)

However, Mr Douglas was critical of the 'inadequacy' of the Beswick's evidence that their views had significantly deteriorated since they moved in, compared to Mr Sandig's 'evidence displaying the presence of substantial common boundary trees before and after this time'.

'While I accept the bamboo grew to obstructed the applicants views to a greater extent than upon the applicants occupation, my sense of the situation is that the applicants may have initially gained broad but narrow short views over their trees, but the respondent retained a high degree of privacy in his dwelling and yard as a result of the trees,' the judgment noted.

The Beswick's case was refused.

However, Mr Douglas encouraged Mr Sandwick to 'manage and maintain the bamboo more effectively than in the past by removing stems growing towards the applicants and pruning the bamboo's height'.

'Clearly, the maintenance regime of individual stem removal was inadequate, and it is not difficult to alternatively connect a hook to the end of a cut previously pruned stem and use this to arch long stems down and reduce their length,' the judgement said.

The judge encouraged the Bewsicks to submit another application with more conclusive evidence if the bamboo returned to its 'prior "wild" state'.

Attempts were made to contact both parties.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch last night told her new shadow cabinet to take the fight to Labour, as she prepared for her first Commons clash with Sir Keir Starmer this afternoon.

She said it was time to get to work holding Labour to account following a four-month leadership contest which has focused on the future direction of the Conservative Party.

Allies said she would rely on her Tory principles when she takes on Sir Keir for the first time at Prime Ministers Questions today. She completed her senior team yesterday with the appointment of former policing minister Chris Philp as shadow home secretary.

In a statement, Mr Philp accused Labour of being soft on crime and on criminals and called for a tougher approach to immigration.

We need to very substantially reduce legal migration, aim to end illegal entry to the UK and remove those with no right to be here  especially criminals, he said. Nothing can be allowed to stand in the way of this critical mission.

Kemi Badenoch gathered her shadow cabinet for the first time today as she moves to unite the Tories

The new leader has given Mel Stride the key Treasury brief and signalled a stunning comeback for Priti Patel - who will be covering foreign affairs

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is preparing for her first Commons clash with Sir Keir Starmer this afternoon

Other senior figures also heeded Mrs Badenochs instruction to challenge Labour, with shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho launching an excoriating attack on Ed Milibands wildly optimistic bid to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030, which she said risked higher bills and energy shortages.

New shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said Labours Budget of broken promises will hurt rural and coastal Britain and has shown that Labour does not understand the pressures we face.

And Mrs Badenochs former leadership rival Robert Jenrick started his role as shadow justice secretary by demanding an apology from Labour for releasing prisoners early, adding: The only group this Labour Governments popularity has increased with is criminals.

Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said: Britains businesses need a government that has their backs, not one that brings them down. Rather than cutting red tape, this Government has decided to burden businesses and treat them like cash cows.

New shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon added: Labours plans, whether its renationalising our railways... or hammering motorists with needless taxes such as Ulez... are poor.

Mrs Badenoch said her team draws on the talents of people from across the Conservative Party, based on meritocracy.

Mrs Badenochs former leadership rival Robert Jenrick started his role as shadow justice secretary by demanding an apology from Labour for releasing prisoners early, adding: The only group this Labour Governments popularity has increased with is criminals

New shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said Labours Budget of broken promises will hurt rural and coastal Britain and has shown that Labour does not understand the pressures we face

She added: Our partys problems will only be solved with a team effort, and I am confident my shadow cabinet ministers will deliver effective opposition as

we seek to win back the trust of the public. We will now get to work holding Labour to account and rebuilding our party based on Conservative principles and values. The process of renewing our great party has now begun.

Her cabinet contains only two of Mr Jenricks supporters  Ms Atkins and the new shadow health secretary Edward Argar.

But allies of the new Tory leader strongly denied suggestions that she had packed her top team with her own backers, pointing out that neither the shadow chancellor Mel Stride, nor the shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, had publicly backed her.

Mrs Badenoch told Tory officials that she could turn this around in one term and win the next election. But Sir Iain Duncan Smith warned the shadow cabinet to brace themselves for a slog.

Sir Iain, a supporter of Mrs Badenoch who gave a presentation at yesterdays meeting, told the Mail: It is grinding hard work in opposition  you just have to keep going and grab your moments when they come.

A lot of these people have been ministers but they will no longer have the fleets of civil servants they used to rely on.
A drug addict who savagely beat a female police officer over the head with a brick before leaving her for dead in Sydney's Kings Cross will be released on parole despite pleas from his victim.

Sergeant Samantha Barlow was on her way to work in the nightlife district in 2009 when she was attacked by Roderick Holohan, who fractured her skull, broke her nose and injured her neck.

Holohan was sentenced in 2010 to 21 years behind bars over the horrific attack but after becoming eligible for release fronted the Parole Authority last week in a desperate bid to leave prison.

In a statement, the State Parole Authority said its 'paramount concern is always the protection of the community' but that in granting parole there was a 'balancing exercise that it must undertake'.

'The Authority thoroughly and diligently considered substantial reports provided by Community Corrections and the Serious Offenders Review Council, and expert psychiatric opinion,' the statement read.

'It carefully considered the statement and submission of the victim, Samantha Barlow, and those made on behalf of the Commissioner CSNSW.

'The Authority has come to the view that community safety is better protected by monitoring this offender on a very lengthy period of supervised parole with strict conditions, to manage his reintegration and reduce his risk of reoffending.

'If the offender were released at the end of sentence, there would be no risk mitigation plan in place and no supervision, and the danger posed to community safety would be substantially greater.'

Sergeant Samantha Barlow (pictured) was on her way to work in the nightlife district in 2009 when she was attacked by Roderick Holohan, who fractured her skull, broke her nose and injured her neck

Samantha Barlow and Laurence Barlow are pictured as they leave the Trial Court in Parramatta

Ms Barlow, who left the force after the attack, was vocal in her opposition at Sydney West Trial Court to Holohan being granted bail, calling him an 'animal' who endangered the community.

'He bashed me until I was unconscious. When he went through my bag and discovered I was a sergeant he went back and kept smashing me in the head until he thought he killed me,' she said.

She went on to tell the court: 'So, why are we even considering letting him back into the community we all live in? He ruined my life. I lost my career. I cannot smell or taste food and never will.'

State representative Ghassan Kassisieh argued in court for an incremental release program rather than the immediate granting of parole, which would follow from him being 'reclassified'.

He told the court Holohan had been rated having a 'high risk of violent reoffending' and had allegedly offended while in custody, including intimidation and having a weapon within his cell.

'Those are warning signs the state would say would need to be given due weight and consideration, and a more cautious approach may be taken at this juncture,' the representative said.

Holohan's lawyer, Bill Agha, told the parole authority that his client had completed all custodial program pathways while behind bars and had 'reduced the amount of custody misconduct'.
The Albanese government has suffered another major setback in its ill-fated series of court tussles over the release of criminally convicted immigration detainees - but it all stems from an original act of self-sabotage.

The High Court, which initially ruled indefinite detention of detainees who could not return to their country of origin was illegal, on Wednesday outlawed electronic ankle bracelets and curfews for those who had been released.

The latest ruling referenced the original decision, where the Albanese government shot itself in the foot by helping to finance the case against the Commonwealth, as revealed by Daily Mail Australia back in March.

Official documents revealed Attorney General Mark Dreyfus had personally approved publicly funded lawyers in taking the controversial case to free a child rapist from indefinite detention to the High Court.

Although the man's case was against his own government, Mr Dreyfus gave taxpayer funded lawyers the green light to assist him on the condition they were representing the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and not the Commonwealth.

AHRC's lawyers helped win the case, which subsequently triggered the release of the other detainees and influenced the latest High Court decision this week.

Both lost cases are on the basis of legislation overreaching the separation of powers between the courts that administer criminal punishment and the Commonwealth government, the High Court found.

'The imposition of each of the curfew condition and the monitoring condition on a (bridging visa R) is prima facie punitive and cannot be justified,' the ruling stated.

Albanese government Attorney General Mark Dreyfus (pictured) signed off on publicly-funded lawyers fighting the High Court case against indefinite illegal detention

The letter from Mr Dreyfus authorising the use of publicly funded lawyers to argue against the Commonwealth in a case that eventually saw the release of 215 foreign national offenders

For those in breach of bridging visa conditions, including electronic monitoring restrictions or a curfew, there would be a mandatory minimum one-year prison sentence.

The High Court bid was launched by a stateless Eritrean released from immigration detention under the previous court ruling in November 2023 and was charged with six offences for failing to comply with curfew and monitoring.

The Coalition were quick to label the latest ruling as an 'embarrassing loss for the Albanese government' and called on Labor to explain what action it will take to protect the Australian community.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson, immigration spokesman Dan Tehan and opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash have urged the government to introduce legislation in response to the ruling.

'This loss compounds the failure of the Albanese government to use the preventative detention powers the parliament rushed through almost 12 months ago to re-detain any high-risk offenders,' they said in a joint statement.

A former detainee wearing an ankle monitor released after last year's High Court decision that indefinite detention is unlawful is pictured

Home Affairs Department legal counsel Clare Sharp said the federal government had planned for all possible outcomes of the High Court case, including the possibility of further legislation.

Of the 215 detainees released, 143 have electronic monitoring bracelets and 126 are subject to a curfew with 65 charged with various crimes since their release.

The removal of bracelets and curfews will include 28 people who have been taken into police custody since their release.

Of the 54 people charged, 20 are being held on remand while the rest are are either out on bail or their case had been finalised.

Out the 215 detainees released, 12 had been convicted of murder or attempted murder, 66 for sexual offences, 97 for assault, 15 for serious drug offences, 15 for domestic violence, five for people smuggling and five had low-level or no offences.
Voters in the state of Florida have rejected motions to create a constitutional right to abortion and to legalise recreational marijuana in a conservative seen as a double win for Republican governor Ron DeSantis.

Florida's 30 electoral votes unsurprisingly went in favour of Donald Trump in today's presidential election, but Floridians supported their Republican governor in his opposition to Amendment 3, which proposed the legalisation of recreational use and in-state manufacturing of marijuana.

Trump said earlier this year he would support legalising recreational pot in the state provided it would come with 'smart regulations'.

State law currently permits the use of cannabis for medical purposes if signed off on by a doctor after Florida voters expanded rights with a vote in 2016.

For the foreseeable future, however, recreational use of the drug will remain illegal in Florida after a constitutional amendment proposed on the ballot failed to reach the 60 per cent threshold of positive votes required to pass.

'It would be everywhere. The state would smell like it. We don't need that in Florida,' DeSantis said of the drug during his campaign against it.

Florida also rejected a planned measure that would have overturned the state's ban on abortion after six weeks and allowed the procedure until fetal viability at 24 weeks.

The measure, Amendment 4, failed to clear the required 60 per cent voter approval threshold - higher than in other states - marking a hard blow for abortion rights advocates.

It also signifies the first ballot measure victory for abortion opponents in any state since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

That decision ended the nationwide right to abortion and opened the door to bans in most Republican-controlled states, protections in Democrat-dominated ones - and ignited new political and legal battles across the country.

Florida's voters have rejected motions to create a constitutional right to abortion and to legalise recreational marijuana in a conservative seen as a double win for the state's Republican governor Ron DeSantis

Floridians - whose 30 electoral votes unsurprisingly went in favour of their native son Donald Trump in today's presidential election - rejected a planned measure that would have overturned the state's ban on abortion after six weeks

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Anti-abortion activists (R) protest near the "Rally for Our Freedom" to protect abortion rights for Floridians

Campaign posters in support of recreational marijuana legalisation and ending Florida's abortion ban are seen on a sidewalk

Abortion rights proved a central issue in the run-up to today's elections, according to AP VoteCast which conducted a sweeping survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide.

About a quarter of respondents cited abortion policy as the single most important factor for their vote, and close to half said it was an important factor.

Florida was one of ten states with abortion referendums on the ballot Tuesday, almost all of which were aimed at safeguarding the right to the procedure or reversing restrictions adopted since the overturning of Roe v Wade.

DeSantis, a Republican with a national profile, had steered state Republican funds against the abortion cause - part of a ballot initiative held alongside the presidential election.

The DeSantis administration launched a campaign decrying Amendment 4, questioning people who signed petitions to add it to the ballot and delivering threats to TV stations that aired one commercial supporting it.

The legislation's defeat marks a permanent shift in the Southern abortion landscape that began when the state's six-week ban took effect in May, and removed Florida as a destination for abortion for many women from nearby states with deeper bans.

The nearest states with looser restrictions are North Carolina and Virginia - hundreds of miles away.

The bans on abortion are also part of a key argument in the presidential race.

Vice President Kamala Harris calls them 'Trump abortion bans,' noting former President Donald Trump's role in overturning Roe v. Wade.

Harris, meanwhile, has portrayed herself as a direct, consistent advocate for reproductive health and rights, including Black maternal health.

Trump has struggled to thread a divide between his own base of anti-abortion supporters and the majority of Americans who support abortion rights, leaning on his catch-all response that abortion rights should be left up to individual states.

His shifting stances on reproductive rights include vowing in October to veto a national abortion ban, just weeks after the presidential debate when he repeatedly declined to state his position on the issue.

After voting in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, Trump was asked twice how he voted on the abortion measure there - and didn't answer directly.

The first time he said he did 'a great job bringing it back to the states.' The second time, he snapped at a reporter, saying 'you should stop talking about that.'

The DeSantis administration launched a campaign decrying Amendment 4, questioning people who signed petitions to add it to the ballot and delivering threats to TV stations that aired one commercial supporting it

Though the vote against cannabis legalisation was a victory for DeSantis, presidential candidate Trump in September came out in support of legalisation in Florida

Florida voters rejected 'Amendment 3', a proposed measure that would have legalised recreational marijuana use and in-state manufacturing of the drug

Emily Bishop and Keaton Spitser watch poll results during an election night party for Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 05, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida

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Currently, 13 states are enforcing abortion bans at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions.

Four more bar abortion in most cases after about six weeks of pregnancy - before women often realise they're pregnant.

Despite the bans, the number of monthly abortions in the US has risen slightly, because of the growing use of abortion pills and organised efforts to help women travel for abortion.

Still, advocates say the blanket bans have reduced access, especially for lower-income and minority residents of the states with bans.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, said in a statement that the result is 'a momentous victory for life in Florida and for our entire country,' praising DeSantis for leading the charge against the measure.

Ten states had abortion-related measures on Tuesday's ballot.

Arizona, a battleground in the presidential election, bans abortion after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.

The ballot measure there gained momentum after a state Supreme Court ruling in April found that the state could enforce a strict abortion ban adopted in 1864.

Some GOP lawmakers joined with Democrats to repeal the law before it could be enforced.

In Democratic-controlled Colorado and Maryland, the ballot measures would largely put existing policies into the state constitutions, though Colorado's version could also remove financial barriers to abortion. It would take 55% of the vote to pass there.

Measures maintaining abortion access are also on the ballot in Montana, where a US Senate race could help determine control of the chamber, and Nevada, a battleground in the presidential election.

In Nevada, where control of the state government is divided, the ballot measure would have to be passed this year and again in 2026 to take effect.

New York also has a measure on the ballot that its supporters say would bolster abortion rights.

It doesn't contain the word 'abortion' but rather bans discrimination on the basis of 'pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.'

Sabrina Dennis, 36, watches one of several television screens showing election results during the Yes on 4 Election Day watch party, in support of abortion reform in Florida, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024

Voters in the US state of Florida cast their ballots on November 5, 2024 against a measure that would have overturned the state's ban on abortion after six weeks and allowed the procedure until fetal viability

Supporters of former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wait for results of the US 2024 presidential elections

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Though many states held votes for constitutional amendments on a range of hot-button issues, the presidential race is unquestionably the biggest ticket in town.

Donald Trump appeared to take an early lead over his presidential rival Kamala Harris as polls closed across US states at 2am GMT (9pm ET).

The Republican candidate inched ahead in the early hours of the race, with predicted wins in solidly red states including Florida, Texas and Alabama outnumbering Ms Harris' wins in Democrat strongholds including New York and Illinois.

There have been no major surprises in the election so far, but crucial battleground states including Georgia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina are yet to be called, and could tip the balance in the contest to be the next US president.

The neck-and-neck race will have a sweeping impact on global politics, including in the UK where Sir Keir Starmer's Government may have to grapple with upheaval in America's security and defence approach if Trump wins.

Seven states are considered so-called swing states in this year's election, with Nevada, Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin also among them.

If the results of voting follow predictions by the Associated Press, Trump will have gained 177 votes in the electoral college, and Harris 99 with the current states which have been called.

Under the US voting system, a total of 270 votes in the college are needed to win the presidency
The Commonwealth Bank has sparked outrage over plans to close a branch that has been operating for more than 60 years.

The Big Four bank announced it will permanently close the Doonside branch, in western Sydney, at 4pm on November 29.

The branch opened on September 21, 1964.

The bank blamed a 50 per cent decline in customers over the past five years for the closure, the Blacktown Advocate reported.

The branch is the latest to close in the area in recent years which includes Blacktown's Main Street, Kings Langley, Rooty Hill, Pendle Hill and Toongabbie.

An online petition was created last month in an attempt to keep the Doonside branch open labelling it a 'pillar of the community'.

The branch is an integral part of life in Doonside, oftentimes functioning at peak capacity due to its pivotal role in the community,' it read.

'Other branches have been unable to adequately accommodate the needs of the local population, as demonstrated by their frequently long lines.

Local residents are outraged the Commonwealth Bank is closing the Doonside branch (pictured) in Sydney's west after over 60 years

Local residents who have signed the petition expressed their anger at the branch closing.

Many mentioned the area's aging population who prefer to go into a branch.

Not everyone uses internet banking! We need to ensure those in our community are still able to access essential services such as a bank,' one wrote.

This bank should remain open due to a large pensioner population the area also the Commonwealth Bank at Westpoint is always very busy with long wait times & customers lined outside the bank which is an annoyance,' another added.

Doonside CBA services a community greatly made up of the elderly and disabled who are unable to use technology or have the mobility to travel to other branches, a third wrote.

Blacktown MP Stephen Bali addressed NSW Parliament last month about the closure.

'For a bank that in 2023-24 generated $9.48 billion in profits, it is preposterous to shut down the Doonside branch, which provides services to so many people,' he said.

'In its correspondence, the bank said that customers can use the brand-new, larger Westpoint branch.

A petition has been created with many Commonwealth Bank customers expressing their anger at the closure of the Doonside branch

'There were two branches in Blacktown but they were merged into one smaller branch, which is atrocious.

'We, the people of 2767, will stand up and make sure that branch stays open.'

Commonwealth Bank's general manager of Sydney region Irene Rowlands told Daily Mail Australia other branches would remain open.

'Our Westpoint Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Seven Hills Shopping Centre branches are popular banking centres for the Doonside community, and as a result weve invested $5.1million to expand our services for customers in the area,' she said.

'These are larger branches, with more staff at each location, including home lending specialists, business bankers, and access to convenient self-service technology.'
Former President Donald Trump dramatically improved his support among African American supporters in Wisconsin  a crucial battleground that is part of the Democrats' 'Blue Wall.'

Donald Trump was getting about a 20 percent support among black voters, according to an NBC exit poll.

That is more than double the 8 percent he got in 2020. He has been making a major play for minority support, encouraged by pre-election polls.

At the same time, he was getting 38 percent among Hispanic / Latino voters, according to the exits.

Former President Donald Trump made a big play for Black and Hispanic voters, and made gains in Wisconsin, according to early exit polls

That group backed Joe Biden over Trump by a 23 point margin, 59 to 36.

He is also seeing gains among Latino men among a group of 10 key states. They backed Democrat Kamala Harris 54-44, a healthy margin, but perhaps not what she needs in major battlegrounds where they make up a big share of the Democratic coalition.

Back in 2020, they supported Joe Biden over Trump by a much larger 23-point margin, 59 to 35.

During his campaign Trump repeatedly spoke about illegal migrants taking what he termed 'black jobs' and Hispanic jobs. He promised to slap tariffs on imports and said it would drive up U.S. manufacturing.

In Michigan, which has a larger minority share of the population, Trump was getting just 9 percent of the black vote, according to exit polls there.

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Donald Trump speaks on stage next to former boxer Thomas 'Hit Man' Hearns, during a rally at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan

Bishop John Drew Sheard, center left, leads a congregation in prayer overKamala Harris, center right, during a church service at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ, Sunday, Nov. 3

Pew Research estimates there are 34 million black eligible voters in the U.S., an increase of 7 percent from the 2020 election, and making up about 14 percent of eligible voters.

They are a crucial part of the Democratic coalition, helping propel Barack Obama to become the first Black president.

Black voters in South Carolina also helped propel Joe Biden to his primary victory, in part with the support and organization of Rep. James C. Clyburn.

Harris would be the first black woman president.

Trump injected debate about her racial background into the campaign when he questioned her ethnicity during a contentious interview with a group of black journalists in Chicago.

Although Harris has enjoyed strong support among African American voters, the question Tuesday was whether she could maintain Biden's margins.
Americans are making an election night killing on a popular stock as pollsters predict former President Donald Trump will secure a second term.

Stocks of Elon Musk's Tesla soared in after-hours trading on Tuesday, climbing 7.5 points to an increase of more than three percent.

The after-hours volume of trades was over 4.65million, according to Market Watch.

The surge in Tesla's stock price comes as Musk sits next to Trump at his election night party at Mar-a-Lago.

Musk had spent a whopping $119 million on his pro-Trump political action committee, America PAC, during this election alone. He has even gone as far as to claim he might announce the election result on X with Trump 'if the votes are clear enough that there is victory.'

Pollsters have predicted that former President Donald Trump will win a second term

Stocks of Elon Musk's Tesla soared in after-hours trading, climbing more than three percent and 7.5 points

The Tesla CEO had announced his support for the former president earlier this year, following the July 13 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.

He has claimed that his rocket company's ability to colonize Mars rides heavily on the Republican nominee getting back into office.

'I feel more optimistic about it with a Trump White House than a non-Trump White House,' the 54-year-old billionaire said, likely due to Trump's big push into space during his first term, signing an order that aimed at returning Americans to the moon and being the first to Mars.

If Musk's vision comes true, the first crewed mission to the Red Planet would launch in 2027, with the first human boots landing on the Martian landscape two years later.

He has admitted the timeline is ambitious, but suggested that electing Kamala Harris would not result in the deregulation needed to clear the way for his goal.

The SpaceX CEO argued that under President Joe Biden's administration, it has become 'almost illegal' to launch space missions, despite the fact that SpaceX has launched over 300 rockets since 2020 - more than any other commercial spaceflight company.

'It takes longer to get the permit to launch than to build a giant rocket,' he claimed.

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Musk announced his support for the former president earlier this year, and is sitting next to him at his election night party at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate

Since publicly endorsing Trump, Musk has appeared at his rallies and has posted incessantly in support of the former president on his X social media platform.

He claimed in one post on Monday that 'men are voting in record numbers,' as he predicted a 'massive sea change' in Trump's support.

Musk also shared posts from other Trump supporters and peppered his replies with American flag emojis.

He even shared a photo of himself wearing a leather jacket adorned with a voting sticker. 'Just voted in Cameron County, Texas, home of Starbase!' he added, referring to a facility for SpaceX.

In a controversial move, Musk also promised last month to give away $1 million daily until Election Day to people in swing states.

According to the America PAC website, 16 people, including four in Pennsylvania, have received the $1 million awards. The winners were reportedly randomly selected among those who signed a petition pledging support for free speech and gun rights.

The offer was limited to registered voters in one of seven states that will likely decide the outcome of the Nov. 5 election - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The Justice Department warned Musk and his America PAC last month that the sweepstakes may violate federal law, which prohibits paying people to register to vote.

In a controversial move, Musk promised last month to give away $1 million daily until Election Day to people in swing states

Meanwhile, the former president has taken the 30 Electoral College votes in his home state of Florida.

He has also picked up wins in Kentucky, Indiana , West Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Utah and Arkansas, earning 210 electoral votes as of 11pm EST.

Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, has won Vermont, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado and New York, earning 113 electoral votes.

If the results remain on track, Trump is set for a much larger margin of victory against Harris this election cycle.
The ABC has sent four of its biggest stars to cover the 2024 US election, despite having three correspondents permanently based in America.

Sarah Ferguson, Michael Rowland, John Lyons, and David Speers were flown to the United States at taxpayers' expense to lead the network's coverage.

Many Aussies have called out the network for it's 'extravagant' coverage, especially since the ABC already has three journalists based in the US: Jade Macmillan, Carrington Clarke, and Barbara Miller.

By contrast, cash-strapped Channel 10 only sent The Project host Waleed Aly and 10News reporter Hugh Riminton to the US for the election.

One critic said: 'The ABC has foreign correspondents in the USA, perfectly capable of reporting on the upcoming election.'

A second said: 'Sarah Ferguson, David Speers, and Michael Rowland are in the USA for the election, in addition to the esteemed John Lyons. Why don't they just give their whole crew a trip to the US?'

A third said: 'Huge waste of taxpayers' money sending people to the US when they have reporters on the ground there.'

Commercial networks haven't escaped criticism either, with Nine and Seven both sending high-profile teams despite having laid off dozens of journalists this year.

Nine sent Karl Stefanovic, Liz Hayes, and Charles Croucher to Washington DC, with its US-based reporters Jonathan Kearsley, Alison Piotrowski, and Lauren Tomasi reporting from battleground states.

Many Aussies have called out the ABC for sending its biggest stars to the US

ABC star Michael Rowland and Nine's Karl Stefanovic

Seven has sent Natalie Barr to lead its coverage, supported by the network's US-based correspondents David Woiwod in Washington, and Tim Lester and Mylee Hogan in key swing states.

Sky News has Peter Stefanovic at Trump's headquarters, and its US correspondent, Annelise Nielsen, covering key events.

Many Australians have questioned why the networks feel the need to send big-name presenters overseas.

Nine sent Karl Stefanovic, Liz Hayes, and Charles Croucher to Washington, DC, with it's US-based reporters Jonathan Kearsley, Alison Piotrowski, and Lauren Tomasi reporting from battleground states

Seven sent Natalie Barr to lead its coverage

'It would be far more relevant if Australian television presenters concentrated on problems and events at home,' one said.

'Channel 7 & 9 already have Australian reporters in the US covering the election. Why did they have to send over Natalie and Stefanovic? What value do they add,' a second added.

The ABC has been contacted for comment.
CNN viewers have been predicting that political analyst Van Jones will break down in tears if Kamala Harris loses the presidential election.

Jones, who worked for President Obama, has been a regular guest on CNN as the presidential election entered its final days.

The 56-year-old has been overcome with emotion live on air on several occasions, with social media users expecting the election result to give a similar reaction.

The remarks came as Trump soared to an all-time high in the betting markets, and Democrat strategist James Carville conceded Harris had lost ground.

One person posted on social media: 'Van Jones is preparing his cry as we speak', with another adding: 'Regardless of the result he's gonna cry'.

Jones, who worked for President Obama, has been appearing on CNN recently as the presidential election entered its final days

The remarks came as Trump soared to an all-time high in the betting markets, and Democrat strategist James Carville conceded Harris had lost ground

Another posted: 'Whatever happens at the end of this election, one thing for sure is Van Jones is going to cry live [on] CNN.'

On Monday night he said that the Harris campaign had looked eerily similar to Hillary Clinton's devastating loss in 2016.

With Harris holding rallies featuring A-list stars like Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry in various swing states, Jones sees parallels.

'The other thing that makes me nervous, in 2016, we had a big star-studded event right on the edge of the election, and we lost the state,' Jones said.

'I don't think people understand, working people sometimes have to choose. Am I going to go to the big, cool concert and pay for babysitting for that or am I going to figure out a way to get to the polls? I don't like these big star-studded events.'

The former Special Advisor for Green Jobs for the Obama White House said that these events are more of a hindrance to turning out voters than an asset.

'I don't want people going to concerts. I want people out there knocking on doors, I want people out there fighting for this thing. I'm just nervous, nervous, nervous.'

Jones, a lifelong liberal and star Democrat pundit, had slammed Harris after a high-stakes CNN town hall just 13 days out from the election.

Harris' inability to provide clear answers on both domestic and foreign policy, and trademark meandering responses throughout the 90-minute session, had CNN's left-leaning panelists ripping her afterwards.

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In November 2020 he broke down in tears as he delivered a highly emotional reaction to Joe Biden winning the presidency.

Jones was asked for his thoughts seconds after CNN and multiple other TV networks called the race and projected that Biden as president elect.

He immediately had to compose himself as he began his impassioned take and stopped on several occasions to wipe his tears.

As votes continue to be counted Trump has picked up victories in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida , South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Utah, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas.

While Harris has won Vermont, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Illinois , New Jersey, Colorado, Washington D.C., and New York.
Aussies have been told to brace for two major weather events this week - a sweltering heatwave and a thunderstorm that could prove fatal for asthmatics.

An extremely hot air mass is causing temperatures to soar across Australia with extreme fire danger anticipated in southwest Queensland and northwest Victoria.

The multi-day heatwave is gripping parts of Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Western Australia this week.

Temperatures were expected to reach a blistering 44C in parts of five states on Wednesday - NSW, QLD, SA, WA and the NT.

By 9.40am on Wednesday, temperatures had exceeded 40C in parts of southwest Queensland with the mercury hitting 42.5C at Birdsville on Tuesday.

'The hot weather will elevate fire danger ratings in some parts of the country, with extreme fire danger ratings predicted in Queensland's Channel Country and the Mallee in Victoria,' Weatherzone's Ben Domensino said.

'Fire authorities and emergency services in several states are closely watching a number of fires that were already burning as the sun rose on Wednesday.'

Residents from Dirranbandi in southwest Queensland were evacuated from their homes as firefighters battled a towering fire heading towards the town.

Australians have been given two major weather warnings on Wednesday - a heatwave across the country and a thunderstorm in Victoria that could be troublesome to asthmatics

Residents with asthma in Melbourne and regional Victoria have been warned of a moderate risk of an epidemic thunderstorm asthma event on Wednesday.

The warning extends across Central, North Central, North East, South West, Wimmera, South and West Gippsland regions, as well as Melbourne.

The epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecast runs during the Victorian grass pollen season from October 1 to December 31 each year.

Thunderstorm asthma events can prove fatal with 10 Victorians losing their lives in a catastrophic event in 2016.

Those who suffer from hay fever or asthma are warned to be extra cautious during high pollen days, as the mixture of pollen, strong winds and rain can trigger severe asthma symptoms.

Shortly before a thunderstorm, tiny pollen grains can become swept up in gusts of wind, burst, and get caught in a person's lungs and cause breathing difficulties.

Even those without asthma or hay fever may experience breathing issues, including wheezing, chest tightness, coughing and shortness of breath.

A global heatmap showing the forecast for Wednesday, with Australia among the hottest areas in the world

A severe heatwave warning has been issued for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Sydney

Wednesday

Min 18 Max 27 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent.

Sydney area: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening.

Sun protection recommended from 8.50am to 4.20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 (very high).

Thursday

Min 20 Max 32 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 6mm. Chance of any rain: 70 per cent.

Sydney area: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northerly 15 to 20km/h shifting southerly 20 to 30km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening.

Friday

Min 18 Max 31 Sunny. Chance of rain: 10 per cent.

Sydney area Sunny. Light winds becoming westerly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then turning south to southwesterly during the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 8:40 am to 4:30 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 (very high).

This summer is also expected to be hot despite the bureau saying a La Nina weather pattern could be declared, which indicates a higher possibility of rainfall (pictured, Bondi Beach)

Residents with asthma in Melbourne (pictured) and regional Victoria have been warned of a moderate risk of an epidemic thunderstorm asthma event

Melbourne

Wednesday

Min 19 Max 33 Possible shower. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1mm. Chance of any rain: 40 per cent.

Melbourne area: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northerly 35 to 50km/h shifting south to southwesterly 20 to 30km/h in the late afternoon.

Sun protection recommended from 9.20am to 4.50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 (very high).

Thursday

Min 14 Max 22 Possible shower. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1mm. Chance of any rain: 40 per cent.

Melbourne area: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 25km/h becoming light during the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 9.10am to 4.40pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 (very high).

Friday

Min 13 Max 20 Partly cloudy.

Melbourne area: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. Winds north-westerly 20 to 30 km/h turning west to south-westerly 25 to 35 km/h during the day.

Sun protection recommended from 9.20 am to 4.50 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 (very high).

Brisbane

Wednesday

Min 21 Max 31. Sunny. Chance of any rain: 5 per cent.

Brisbane area: Mostly sunny. The chance of a thunderstorm in the west in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 20km/h in the morning then tending northeasterly 20 to 3 km/h in the middle of the day.

Sun protection recommended from 7.40am to 3.20 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 (very high).

Authorities have urged Aussies to take care in the heat by drinking plenty of water and not leaving children or animals in hot cars (pictured, Bondi Icebergs)

Thursday

Min 21 Max 32 Sunny. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent.

Brisbane area: Sunny day. The chance of a thunderstorm in the west in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 20 to 30km/h during the morning.

Sun protection recommended from 7.30am to 3.20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 11 (extreme).

Friday

Min 23 Max 35 Shower or two.

Brisbane area Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h increasing to 25 km/h before shifting east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 7.40 am to 3.20 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 (very high).

This weekend looks to be perfect for beach trips with little rain along with hot and dry air

Adelaide

Wednesday

Min 18 Max 25 Partly cloudy. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1mm. Chance of any rain: 30 per cent.

Adelaide area: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30km/h shifting southwesterly 15 to 25km/h in the late morning.

Sun protection recommended from 9am to 4.50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 (very high).

Thursday

Min 13 Max 22 Shower or two. Possible rainfall: 0 to 2mm. Chance of any rain: 60 per cent.

Adelaide area: Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Light winds becoming westerly 25 to 35km/h during the morning.

Sun protection recommended from 9am to 4:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 (very high).

Friday

Min 13 Max 21 Morning shower or two.

Adelaide area Medium chance of showers in the morning. Sunny afternoon. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h tending southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 9.10am to 4.50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 (very high).

Perth

Wednesday

Min 13 Max 21 Cloudy. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent.

Perth area: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and early afternoon. Winds southwesterly 20 to 30km/h becoming light in the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 8.10am to 3.50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 (very high).

Thursday

Min 9 Max 23 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent.

Perth area: Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 20 to 30km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 8.10am to 3.50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 (very high).

Friday

Min 12 Max 25 Partly cloudy.

Perth area Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning.

Sun protection recommended from 8.10am to 3.50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 (very high).

Canberra

Wednesday

Min 10 Max 32 Partly cloudy. Chance of any rain: 10 per cent.

Canberra area: The chance of fog in the early morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 25km/h in the middle of the day then tending north to northwesterly 15 to 20 m/h in the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 8.50am to 4.40pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 (very high).

A large hot air mass will collect over the centre of Australia this week causing temperatures to soar across the country (pictured, bathers at Bondi Beach)

Thursday

Min 16 Max 29 Showers. Possible rainfall: 1 to 10mm. Chance of any rain: 80 per cent.

Canberra area: Cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 25km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 8.50am to 4.40pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 (very high).

Friday

Min 9 Max 24 Sunny.

Canberra area Sunny. Winds northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h tending westerly 25 to 40 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 8.50am to 4.40pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 (very high).

Darwin

Wednesday

Min 26 Max 35 Mostly sunny. Chance of any rain: 20 per cent.

Darwin City and Outer Darwin area: Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 20km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late afternoon.

Sun protection recommended from 8.40am to 4.20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 13 (extreme).

Thursday

Min 27 Max 34 Partly cloudy. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1mm. Chance of any rain: 30 per cent.

Darwin City and Outer Darwin area: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds.

Sun protection recommended from 8.30am to 4.20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 13 (extreme).

Heatwave conditions will hit huge swathes of the country stretching from western NSW up to Queensland, through SA and the NT and over to northern WA (pictured, heat on Wednesday)

Friday

Min 27 Max 35 Partly cloudy. Shower or two. Chance of rain is 50 per cent.

Darwin City and Outer Darwin area Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Light winds becoming northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 8.30am to 4.20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 13 (extreme).

Hobart

Wednesday

Min 9 Max 19 Possible afternoon shower. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1mm. Chance of any rain: 40 per cent.

Hobart area: Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 25km/h during the morning then shifting northeasterly 15 to 20km/h during the evening.

Sun protection recommended from 9.20am to 4.20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 7 (high).

Thursday

Min 10 Max 28. Possible afternoon shower. Possible rainfall: 0 to 1mm. Chance of any rain: 40 per cent.

Hobart area: Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and early evening. Winds north to northwesterly 25 to 35km/h turning west to southwesterly 20 to 30km/h in the late afternoon.

Sun protection recommended from 9.10am to 4.30pm, UV Index predicted to reach 8 (very high).

Friday

Min 10 Max 17. Shower or two. Becoming windy. Chance of rain is 60 per cent.

Hobart area Sunny morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending east to south-easterly in the late afternoon then tending north-easterly in the late evening.

Sun protection recommended from 9.20am to 4.30pm, UV Index predicted to reach 7 (high).
A lawmaker in Delaware has become the first openly transgender woman elected to Congress.

Democrat Sarah McBride was the favorite to win the only congressional district in Delaware - which is traditionally a Democratic stronghold.

Speaking tonight, Ms McBride said: 'Tonight is a testament to Delawareans that we are a fair-minded state where voters judge candidates based on their ideas and not their identities.'

The New York Times reported that Ms McBride believed her victory was a sign that she had earned the support of voters by leading efforts to improve their everyday economic lives through measures like paid family and medical leave.

Her opponent, James Whalen III, was a former state police officer who has never held political office.

Democrat Sarah McBride was the favorite to win the only congressional district in Delaware - which is traditionally a Democratic stronghold

Ms McBride believed her victory was a sign that she had earned the support of voters by leading efforts to improve their everyday economic lives through measures like paid family and medical leave

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Mr Whalen's campaign focused on slashing federal spending and reducing illegal immigration.

He has also previously endorsed Project 2025 at a debate in the state in September.

Ms McBride's victory comes after the Republican presidential campaign focused heavily on transgender issues.

Former President Trump falsely claimed on numerous occasions that public schools urge students to undergo gender-transition surgeries.

Meanwhile his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, suggested that white, upper-middle-class families view transgender identities as a way to improve their childrens chances of admission to elite colleges.

Ms McBride will replace fellow Democrat Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester after she won the Democratic primary in September.

Ms McBride will replace fellow Democrat Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester after she won the Democratic primary in September

The 34-year-old has become a trailblazer within the Democratic Party.

She was the first openly trans woman to intern at the White House in 2013. In 2016, she was the first to speak at the Democratic National Convention.

And she was the first to be elected to a State Senate in 2020.

However, in Congress Ms McBride said she hopes to be known not just for her identity as as a trans woman but also for her ability to champion issues such as increasing funds for Medicaid on a national scale.
Liberal commentator Joy Reid has slammed Trump voters and described Florida as 'extremely right-wing fascist' after the Sunshine State was called for the Republican nominee.

Reid took part in the MSNBC election night panel on Tuesday and lashed out as votes rolled in, with Trump taking a the lead.

'Think about the last two weeks and the things that Donald Trump has said into the TV that people could hear him say and do,' she said.

'The vulgarity in front of families with young children and the threats to do mass deportation and a violent start to his dictatorship on day one, you name it.'

Reid took part in the MSNBC election night panel on Tuesday and lashed out as votes rolled in, with Trump taking the lead

Reid said she couldn't fathom that Trump (pictured) could still secure support from half the population in spite of his often controversial stances , noting it reflects poorly on the American public

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Reid said she couldn't fathom that Trump could still secure support from half the population in spite of his often controversial stances, noting it reflects poorly on the American public.

'If all of that gets you half of the votes... what does it tell you?

'We need to really take a step back and think about what does that say about us.'

After Florida was called for Trump early in the evening, Reid said: 'It's a pure Project 2025 in miniature in Florida.

'That extremist sort of right-wing, fascist type government in Florida, does that make it more of an attractive place?'

And when Texas was called for Trump, Reid described black voters in Houston as 'deeply suppressed.'

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Her comments sparked a wave of outrage online from outspoken Trump supporters, some of whom said they wanted her 'removed from the panel.'

Political commentator Collin Rugg said: 'Joy Reid is looking increasingly more concerned, appears to suggest that half the country is sick.'

'And the meltdown begins,' another noted.

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter said: 'This is turning out to be a good night to watch MSNBC.'

Reid has been scathing in her assessment of Trump in the months leading to the election.

Back in July, she implied Trump was partly to blame for the assassination attempt on him, and warned black voters they were going to look 'real weird and real lonely' if they do not back 'woman of color extraordinaire' Kamala Harris.

Harris' path to victory as of late Tuesday night is narrow.

Liberal commentator Joy Reid has slammed Trump voters and described Florida as 'extremely right-wing fascist' (Trump supporter is pictured on election night)

Reid has been scathing in her assessment of Trump in the months leading to the election

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Trump has soared to an all-time high in the betting markets with his chances of reaching the required 270 Electoral College votes passing 90 per cent.

He has picked up victories in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Utah, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas.

The former president's surge has prompted 'silence' among Team Harris as hopes rest on pulling off unlikely victories in a number of close contests.

Harris has won Vermont, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado, Washington D.C., California, Maine and New York.
The price of the Bitcoin cryptocurrency has hit an all-time high as Trump appeared to be leading the US election.

As of early Wednesday morning, Trump was given between 85% and 91% chance of winning by several forecasting and political betting sites.

This emboldened cryptocurrency investors, who have largely seen Trump as the pro-crypto candidate, while Kamala Harris, the Democrat nominee, has largely said little about them.

Bitcoin is priced at 57,889.85 ($74578.63) as of 04:00GMT, with its peak reaching 57,935.96 ($74638.03) at its peak at 03:10GMT.

Trump reportedly made wild promises to Bitcoin investors, including firing the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission Gary Gensler, who has previously said that it was 'unlikely' cryptocurrencies would ever become widely accepted.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during his final campaign rally before election day at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November 5, 2024

Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris drops by a phone bank event at the Democratic National Committee headquarters on Election Day November 05, 2024 in Washington, DC

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The Republican candidate, meanwhile, promised to establish a strategic reserve of Bitcoin if elected again.

Potential Trump cabinet member Elon Musk is also an avowed supporter of cryptocurrencies.

At a Trump campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, last month, Musk said: 'I think cryptocurrency is an interesting and probably valuable bulwark against centralised control.'

'Crypto by its very nature helps with individual freedom', he added, though he was quick to say at the time that he 'wasn't actively involved in crypto.'

Despite this, he was intimately involved in the rise of the Dogecoin cryptocurrency.

Earlier this year, he agreed to lead a so-called Department of Government Efficiency, whose acronym, DOGE, is a reference to the cryptocurrency.

He helped Dogecoin grow massively in 2020 and 2021, posting tweets in its favour that sent its price through the roof.

In 2023, he unexpectedly changed Twitter's icon from the recognisable blue bird to a badly cut-out image of the doge meme.

The Bitcoin rally comes as the mood in the Harris camp was gloomy in the face of likely defeat.

CNN anchor Abby Phillips said just before 11pm in New York (04:00am UK time): 'I think the operative word is silence.

'There's not a lot being said, because the Harris team appears to be searching for bright spots in the map, as these results very very, very slowly come in.'

Phillips said that early on in the evening they got a lot of positive spin from Harris team sources, but said that they would be looking into the numbers.

There were still a number of large population centers in some of the 'blue wall' states like Wisconsin, Georgia, and Pennsylvania that had yet to come in.

'There's been a slowdown in that spin, because they really are digging into these numbers as they are coming in and trying to understand what's left out there for them, especially in these big urban centers,' she said.

Phillips later reported that Kamala campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon sent a memo to staff that said their path is the blue wall and that with the margins so small and so slow to come in 'we'll see you tomorrow.'
Two very different watch parties have been going on in Florida and Washington DC, with Donald Trump supporters celebrating and Kamala Harris backers desperately trying to cling on to hope.

There were scenes of jubilation at the Make America Great Again event near Mar-a-Lago, where hopes have been rising that the former president could sweep all seven of the battleground states.

As positive projections for the GOP candidate rolled in, Trump supporters broke into cheers and began dancing, with video showing supporters in Florida cutting shapes to his favourite song YMCA.

Meanwhile, Harris backers looked downcast and even broke into tears while watching the results come in at the Vice President's alma mater, Howard University, in DC.

Supporters of the Democratic candidate were optimistic as the watch party got underway, but as the evening went on and Harris' path to victory narrowed, the atmosphere became dramatically more subdued.

Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump react at the site of the Election Night rally for Trump, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach

A supporter of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts while watching early results at the site of the Election Night rally for Trump

Supporters react while watching returns come in during an election night watch party for Republican presidential nominee

Ecstatic Trump supporters clap and cheer while watching returns come in during the watch party in West Palm Beach

A Harris supporter is seen in tears at the election night event at Howard University in Washington DC

Shocked Kamala Harris supporters watched on as the unfavorable results poured in

Worried election watchers had their fixed on the TVs at the Harris event in DC

Some Harris supporters were even seen burying their heads in their hands as the optimism waned

A Harris-Walz supporter grimaces at the projections while attending the watch party in DC

Dancing stopped and attendees fixed their eyes on the large CNN screen mounted outside for the event, some covering their mouths in shock and even burying their heads in the hands.

The watch party fell silent as the VP appeared to fall behind across the key battleground states.

The Harris campaign then reportedly shut off the sound on the TVs, replacing it with music after a guest on CNN said tonight felt 'more like 2016 than 2020.'

Dejected supporters began leaving before midnight, according to reports, with the crowd thinning out.

The sullen faced supporters who remained gazed up at the big screen as they took in the unfavourable projections for their candidate.

Some were even seen sobbing as the news broke that Trump was projected to win key swing states.

Supporters of Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wait for results of US 2024 presidential elections during the Election Night watch party in the West Palm Beach Convention Center

Trump supporters wave MAGA flags near his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida

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'We're still hoping for Pennsylvania,' said Makeda Haughton. 'This is disappointing of course. Not what I wanted to hear, but I'm not calling it until it's fully called.'

Cautious optimism was replaced by concern, with many attending the watch party heading home to monitor the race on TV.

'I feel... kind of anxious,' said first year student Amar Zarif.

Meanwhile there were massive cheers at watch parties across the country as projections that the Republicans would gain control of the Senate were announced.

There has been a party atmosphere at the convention center at downtown West Palm Beach.

The Red hat-wearing faithful cheered and drank late into the night, with many hopeful that their candidate would turn up to celebrate with them.

They waited excitedly as they anticipated a visit from Trump, who is expected to address the crowd soon.
A party atmosphere kicked off at Mar-a-Lago as Donald Trump was announced as the winner of the presidential election by the networks.

The former president's Florida estate was filled with excitement Tuesday night as Trump captured a wave of swing states throughout the evening, with Fox News calling the race for him at around 2am ET.

Mar-a-Lago erupted in cheers as Trump won the race, while Kamala Harris cancelled her election party and refused to speak opposite Trump's victory speech.

Earlier in the evening, images from Trump's event saw him appearing entirely at ease, chatting it up with Elon Musk and Dana White while guests shared a number of smiling selfies from Mar-a-Lago's ballroom.

A party atmosphere has kicked off at Mar-a-Lago's election night party as images from the event showed a relaxed Trump chatting it up with Elon Musk and Dana White

The party was filled with Trump allies and insiders celebrating as RFK Jr. was all smiles

British politician Nigel Farage (right) also showed face at the glitzy Florida bash, sat alongside the world's second richest woman Gina Rinehart (center) and spokeswoman Teena McQueen

Donald Trump's attorney Alina Habba (left center) and Israeli TV personality Siggy Flicker (right) appeared in high spirits at the event

Supporters of Kamala Harris break down in tears as they react to early election night results at the vice president's watch party at Howard University

Harris' watch party scattered as they realized the vice president was falling behind in the race

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The Mar-a-Lago election night party saw a number of Trump allies and GOP influencers to watch the results pour in, with Musk also bringing one of his eleven children to the event.

Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville and Trump's attorney Alina Habba have all shared smiling pictures from the party.

Trump's early dominance in the presidential race on Tuesday evening was cemented shortly before midnight when he was projected as the winner of the first swing state, North Carolina.

When it was announced that Trump had clinched North Carolina, the Harris campaign reportedly turned the sound off TVs at her watch party, as attendees admitted it 'felt more like 2016 than 2020.'

Despite six other swing states still counting around midnight, Musk was so confident that he proclaimed early victory for Trump on X, tweeting 'game, set and match' while results still hung in the balance.

And supporters who couldn't swing an invite to Trump's election night watch party set of fireworks and waved flags outside his Florida estate in anticipation of a possible victory.

Supporters waved flags and set off fireworks outside Mar-a-Lago in celebration

Elon Musk brought one of his eleven children with him to Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday evening

Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (center) with Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville (right) and Ohio Senator Mike Lee (left)

Trump's former press secretary and current Governor of Arkansas Sarah Huckabee-Sanders (center) was all smiles at the party

A Kamala Harris supporter puts his head in his hands after watching the race slip away

But while the Republicans felt primed for victory, CNN anchor Abby Phillip reported before 11pm that Kamala Harris' party was feeling the race slip away.

'I think the operative word is silence,' Phillips reported. 'There's not a lot being said, because the Harris team appears to be searching for bright spots in the map, as these results very very, very slowly come in.'

With results still pouring in late Tuesday evening, Harris' camp admitted the 'blue wall' of states including Pennsylvania and Michigan would be vital to any victory.

Harris' campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon reportedly sent a memo to staff assuring them that they still had a path to victory, and that with the margins so small and so slow to come in 'we'll see you tomorrow.'

The crowd at Harris' watch party significantly thinned out as supporters appeared to lose confidence in a historic win.

Makeda Haughton, 32,, told the Washington Post as she left the party that she was 'still hoping for Pennsylvania' but admitted her confidence was waning.

'This is disappointing of course. Not what I wanted to hear, but Im not calling it until its fully called,' she said, adding as she left the event that she would keep the news on at home and did 'not plan on sleeping tonight.'
MSNBC has been ridiculed for insisting former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris were still in a 'dead heat' as the former president secured 230 electoral votes.

A panel of commentators and analysts were discussing the election results Tuesday night, when former White House Communications Director Nicole Wallace made the absurd claim.

'I mean, I guess a slice of good news is that the polls have accurately captured this dead heat,' she said.

The liberal commentator had suggested Harris still had a path to victory through the so-called 'blue wall' states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin - despite Trump's lead.

'It was always going to be a blue wall night, and I think, I mean, I tried to speak a little bit to some of these fantasies about a landslide victory that would eradicate the threat of something drawn out.'

Former White House Communications Director Nicole Wallace claimed on Tuesday that former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris were still in a 'dead heat' even though Trump had secured 230 electoral votes

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She went on to quote former US Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld by saying, 'You go to the polls with the country that we have, and the country that we have lives in two totally separate ecosystems.

'Whatever happens, we really have to understand the information consumption that young men have and why they think the economy will be better under Donald Trump, when it never was,' Wallace said of a large voting bloc for the former president.

'I think that waiting on these blue wall states to come in because they're so close, because households are divided, right? There could be a yard sign in the house that doesn't represent everyone in the house will vote in either direction, and so I think it's going to be a long night,' the liberal news host said.

Many online soon seized on her comments, with one X user responding: 'Dead heat? It's a blowout.'

Colin J Smothers, the executive director of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, noted that the left-leaning network declared the presidential race a dead heat 'when the NYTimes needle is reading 88 percent Donald Trump.'

A third X user said he was 'watching MSNBC, which I never do, and [am] just completely blown away by the sheer idiocy of these show hosts.

Many online seized on Wallace's comments as Trump had a clear lead ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris

'Are we really to believe that our Dem betters get their news from these low IQ nitwits,' he asked. 'They're still calling it a "dead heat."'

Meanwhile, yet another social media user suggested: 'If you want to know what media bias looks like... there it is.'

Trump won the critical swing state of North Carolina and its 16 Electoral College votes in a pivotal moment in the election late Tuesday night.

The Tar Heel state was a key target for both campaigns and was the scene of frenzied campaigning, with Trump making stops there in each of the last three days of the race.

In a major boost to the Republican it was the first of the seven swing states, that will ultimately determine the winner, to be decided.

He has also won in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Utah, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas - earning 230 electoral votes by midnight Wednesday.

Trump won the critical swing state of North Carolina and its 16 Electoral College votes in a pivotal moment in the election late Tuesday night

Harris' campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon told staff in a memo that, after losing North Carolina, the 'blue wall' northern industrial states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were now the Democrat 's 'clearest path' to victory.

Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, has picked up votes in Vermont, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado, Washington D.C., California, Maine, Virginia, New Mexico, Oregon - earning 210 electoral votes.

Harris' campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon told staff in a memo that, after losing North Carolina, the 'blue wall' northern industrial states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were now the Democrat's 'clearest path' to victory.

She suggested the race was 'not going to come into focus until the early morning hours.'
A senior Trump advisor exploded at an ITV reporter for asking him whether the Republican party would accept the outcome of the vote, while counting it still ongoing.

US correspondent Dan Rivers had bagged an interview with Tim Murtaugh, head of communications for Donald Trump's press operation, at the Florida count.

Everything seemed to be going just fine, until Murtaugh was asked if Trump 'going to accept the result if it is called against him?'

To which Murtaugh furiously responded: 'Hold on a second. You're going to ask me an hour and a half into this, whether we are going to accept this result. Do you ask any democrats that question?

As he then shouted at Mr Rivers multiple times: 'When was the last time you asked a Democrat that question?

Adding: 'You brought me up here to ask about the results and what's coming in and now you are asking these ridiculous questions.

'I stood here and waited for you for twenty minutes. And this is the question you are going to ask me.'

US correspondent Dan Rivers had bagged an interview with Tim Murtaugh (right), head of communications for the Republican candidate's press operation, at the Florida count

Donald Trump has won the critical swing state of North Carolina and its 16 electoral votes in a pivotal moment in the election

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Later in the interview, he did claim: 'In a free and fair election we will accept the results absolutely.'

A similar line to one Trump had said a few weeks ago, claiming he would accept the result as long as it was 'fair'.

However, earlier tonight the former President voiced his concerns about Democrats cheating in Philadelphia and Detroit on social media, as voters were still going out to the polls.

'A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia,' Trump wrote on social media. 'Law Enforcement coming!!!'

The Republican candidate did not immediately cite evidence to back his claim, which earned a sharp rebuke from City Commissioner of Philadelphia Seth Bluestein, a Republican.

'There is absolutely no truth to this allegation,' he wrote on social media. 'It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure.'

Bluestein added he was in 'regular contact' with the Republican National Committee and was 'responsive to every report of irregularities at the polls.'

Trump again made his claim, citing problems in Detroit, Michigan, as well.

'Philadelphia and Detroit! Heavy Law Enforcement is there!!!' he wrote.

Trump's concerns about Philadelphia may be a result of reports of higher than expected turnout for Harris.

Kamala Harris reacts as she talks on the phone at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters in Washington

There is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure. pic.twitter.com/wMiPnAgO17  Seth Bluestein (@SethBluestein) November 5, 2024

Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania, speaks to reporters after voting at Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach, Florida

This comes as Donald Trump cements his lead, winning the critical swing state of North Carolina and its 16 Electoral College votes in a pivotal moment in the election.

The Tar Heel state was a key target for both campaigns and was the scene of frenzied campaigning, with Trump making stops there in each of the last three days of the race.

In a major boost to the Republican, it was the first of the seven swing states, that will ultimately determine the winner, to be decided.

Harris' campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon told staff in a memo that, after losing North Carolina, the 'blue wall' northern industrial states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were now the Democrat's 'clearest path' to victory.

She suggested the race was 'not going to come into focus until the early morning hours.'

A Democrat presidential candidate has not claimed victory in North Carolina since Barack Obama in 2008. Trump has now won it in three straight elections.
The Empire State Building sparkled red for Donald Trump late on Tuesday night as he secured victory in crucial swing states North Carolina and Georgia.

From 11.22pm to 11.27pm, the top of the iconic New York City building twinkled red for the first time of the evening, commemorating Trump's win.

'We will be sparkling red for the next 5 minutes,' the official X account for the tourist hotspot read.

The decision sparked outrage among devastated blue voters in New York, who were already mourning Harris's poor showing in NYC.

The Vice President won just 67.8 per cent of the vote in all five boroughs - the worst result for a Democrat in the Big Apple since 1988.

'Celebrating the potential end of democracy is pretty wild for New York,' one critic said.

The Empire State Building sparkled red for Donald Trump late on Tuesday night as he secured victory in crucial swing state North Carolina

The decision sparked outrage as devastated blue voters in New York said the building was 'celebrating the potential end of democracy'

But the official X account clarified that a decision was made ahead of time to light up either blue or red for the winner of each swing state.

'As a reminder we will be sparkling for all battleground state calls from the Associated Press,' a spokesperson said.

Along with North Carolina, the other six battleground states are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

These seven states have a combined 93 electoral college votes - making them crucial for both campaigns.

Within minutes of the Empire State lighting up, critics began slamming the decision online.

The official X account clarified that a decision was made ahead of time to light up either blue or red for the winner of each swing state

Devastated Democrats have been left shocked as votes pour in for Trump

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'Wow, now I even hate the Empire State Building,' one person wrote.

Another said: 'What is wrong with you?'

A third argued that he 'didn't win NY so this shouldn't be relevant.'

'This does not look cute on you,' another heartbroken voter wrote.

Joe Biden won New York City with 76 per cent of the vote in 2020 and Hillary Clinton - who served the city in the Senate - won it with 79 per cent in 2016.

Harris' disappointing numbers in NYC were the worst since Michael Dukakis garnered 66.17 per cent of the vote versus George H.W. Bush's 32.82 per cent.

North Carolina was the first swing state to be called on Tuesday night, with 92 per cent of the votes counted and Trump ahead with 50.8 per cent of the vote.

Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania are all leaning red, while Georgia has now also been called for Trump.

In Nevada, it's too early to predict at all.

North Carolina was the first swing state to be called on Tuesday night, with 92 per cent of the votes counted and Trump ahead with 50.8 per cent of the vote

Supporters react to election results during an election night event for US Vice President Kamala Harris

The result has seen Trump soar to an all-time high in the betting markets with his chances of reaching the required 270 Electoral College votes passing 90 per cent

North Carolina was a key target for both campaigns and was the scene of frenzied campaigning, with Trump making stops there in each of the last three days of the race.

The result has seen Trump soar to an all-time high in the betting markets with his chances of reaching the required 270 Electoral College votes passing 90 per cent.

And it prompted 'silence' among Team Harris as their hopes now rest on pulling off victories in a number of close contests.

A Democrat presidential candidate has not claimed victory in North Carolina since Barack Obama in 2008. Trump has now won it in three straight elections.

More than 4.2 million North Carolinians voted early before Election Day, breaking the record turnout in 2020.

Turnout in some western counties hit by Hurricane Helene outpaced the rest of the state as election officials made sure victims could cast their ballots.

Trump's victory came despite an exit poll showing only 43 percent of voters in North Carolina had a favorable view of him, while 48 said that of Harris.
Liberal commentator Joy Reid has blamed the Democrats' loss in North Carolina on 'white women.'

Reid had been speaking on the MSNBC election night panel when the critical swing state went in favor of Trump.

She said: 'In the end, they didn't make their numbers. We have to be blunt about why, black voters came through for Harris, white women voters did not.

'That is what it appears happened in the state. That message was not enough to get enough white women to vote for Vice President Harris.

'This will be the second opportunity that white women in this country have to change the way they interact with the patriarchy.'

The Tar Heel state had been a key target for both campaigns and was the scene of some frenzied campaigning.

Reid had been speaking on the MSNBC election night panel when the critical swing state went in favor of Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally in Memorial Hall at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania on November 4

Reid was instantly slammed online for her comments, with the majority criticizing her of being a racist.

One person commented: 'For Joy Reid, its always about white people instead of people. She will never change that mindset.'

Another posted: 'I wish Joy Reid and Kamala Harris were a package deal. We could get rid of both these racist in one night.'

Speaking earlier on the show she had also lashed out at the state of Florida, branding it 'extremely right-wing fascist'.

'Think about the last two weeks and the things that Donald Trump has said into the TV that people could hear him say and do,' she said.

'The vulgarity in front of families with young children and the threats to do mass deportation and a violent start to his dictatorship on day one, you name it.'

After Florida was called for Trump early in the evening, Reid said: 'It's a pure Project 2025 in miniature in Florida.

'That extremist sort of right-wing, fascist type government in Florida, does that make it more of an attractive place?'

And when Texas was called for Trump, Reid described black voters in Houston as 'deeply suppressed.'

Donald Trump has won the critical swing state of North Carolina and its 16 electoral votes in a pivotal moment in the election

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Trump has soared in the betting markets and now has more than a 90 per cent chance of winning the presidency.

Several markets are now reporting his presidency as a dead-on certainty, with Polymarket giving Harris a six percent chance.

British outfit Betfair have given Harris even less, with a meager one percent chance of winning, after the company took in $325 million following exit polls.

Betfair spokesperson, Sam Rosbottom said: '[Trump's] heavily backed to win all seven swing states, there's a good chance that this could be a landslide if things go the way the punters are predicting.'

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His win in North Carolina also prompted a 'silence' amongst those in the Harris campaign who have announced she won't be speaking tonight.

A Democrat presidential candidate has not claimed victory in North Carolina since Barack Obama in 2008. Trump has now won it in three straight elections.

Trump, 78, is seeking to become the oldest person ever elected president.

He would also be the first defeated president in 132 years to win another term in the White House, and the first person convicted of a felony to take over the Oval Office.

Harris, 60, would be the first woman, black woman, and person of South Asian descent to serve as president.

She would also be the first sitting vice president to win the White House in 36 years.
Conservatives are already predicting Donald Trump will file federal charges against Anthony Fauci.

The conjecture comes as figures like Elon Musk have called for the arrest of the infectious disease expert who served as one of Trump's leading medical advisors during the Covid pandemic.

At the height of his power, bobblehead doll figures of Fauci appeared in the windows of liberal New York bookshops.

However, demands for his methods to be fully investigated have grown louder since the National Institutes of Health admitted to Congress earlier this year that it funded risky 'gain of function' research in Wuhan, China, under Fauci.

Newly uncovered emails went on to show attempts from top aides to evade public record laws and a potential 'conspiracy at the highest levels... to avoid public transparency regarding the COVID-19 pandemic', said Rep. Brad Wenstrup.

Conservatives are already predicting Donald Trump will file federal charges against Anthony Fauci once he becomes president. Fauci is seen at the White House with a then president Trump in 2020

Wenstrup, a Republican from Ohio, is the chair of the House GOP-led investigation into the origins of the crisis.

Former Levi's exec Jennifer Sey, who was fired for slamming COVID restrictions in schools in 2022, and prominent molecular biologist Richard. H Ebright were among those Wednesday already anticipating a Trump win - and prosecutions to follow.

'This will not go well for Fauci,' wrote Sey, who was kicked out of Levi's following a conversation with CEO Charles Berg where she was told she was 'too problematic' to be his successor. She had criticized NIH-recommended restrictions put in place at the time.

'Good,' she added.

'Very bad night for unindicted felon Fauci...who now is on an fast track to becoming indicted and convicted felon Anthony Fauci,' added Ebright, who has a degree in microbiology and molecular genetics from Harvard.

He added that with figures like Rand Paul as Chair of the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs and Robert F Kennedy Jr. an almost assured role at the White House, the 'indictment and conviction' of Fauci is coming.

Both believe Fauci violated federal policies on gain-of-function and enhanced potential pandemic pathogen research as part of a conspiracy to defraud and commit perjury, and is culpable for a pandemic that killed 20million.

When an onlooker posited that Fauci 'likely has immunity' due to being in possession of federal security clearances, Ebright explained why this would no longer the case.

'No,' the credentialed scientist sniped, as New York Times statistics put Kamala Harris's chances of winning the presidential election at a paltry 7 percent.

Former Levi's exec Jennifer Sey, who was fired for slamming COVID restrictions in schools in 2022, and prominent molecular biologist Richard. H Ebright were among those Wednesday already anticipating a Trump win - and prosecutions to follow

Calls for the infectious disease expert to be indicted have grown since the National Institutes of Health admitted it funded risky 'gain of function' research in Wuhan under Fauci

'His protection from prosecution has, at all times, depended on the whim of the DoJ and the White House. Which now will be in different hands.'

Fauci, meanwhile, remains at the center of an escalating probe into the virus's origins, which has uncovered carefully designed efforts to conceal official government correspondence - and public scrutiny.

They have shown that at least some agency officials, including a top advisor to then-director Fauci, deleted messages and used personal emails to skirt public records laws.

David Morens, a former Fauci aide and career NIH scientist, conceded to the committee this past May that he may have sent information on government business to Faucis personal email, as Wenstrup said the evidence 'suggests a conspiracy at the highest levels.'

'I can either send stuff to Tony on his private gmail, or hand it to him at work,' Morens wrote in a 2021 email released by the committee.

'He is too smart to let colleagues send him stuff that could cause trouble.'

Elon Musk is among those calling for the former NIH head's prosecution, amid claims the agency served as a bloated bureaucracy

Back in June, the former head of the NIAID, who stepped down at the end of 2022, appeared before the committee to insist to lawmakers he never used a personal email to discuss work.

He continues to maintain that stance, as he also faced backlash over research he signed off on beagle puppies by his National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID).

The project saw innocent hound dogs tormented and killed in a lab in Tunisia to learn more about a parasitic disease, something the NIAID initially denied funding before Fauci confirmed this year that was a fib.

It also saw the hashtag #ArrestFauci trend on the site formerly known as Twitter, as he faced backlash over his handling of the pandemic. The now-retired expert faced a grilling about this in June as well.

In a statement offered Monday in response, Fauci's attorney David Schertler said his client 'stands by his June 3rd testimony'

He further claimed the email 'was a personal matter and not a matter related to government business', as many conservatives - including allies of former President Trump - continue to frame the NIH as a bloated bureaucracy that protected unaccountable officials.

A former Fauci aide conceded to the committee this past May that he may have sent information on government business to Faucis personal email, as the rep overseeing the probe said the evidence 'suggests a conspiracy at the highest levels'. Fauci is seen testifying in June

Fauci also faced backlash over research he signed off on beagle puppies by his National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., left, holds up a photo of the experiments at a June hearing

Fauci has become the focal point of the scandal, and was widely viewed as the public face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Historically, the NIH enjoyed unquestionable bipartisan support, but the grant money used during the pandemic - well in the trillions - has put it under rare outside scrutiny.

Leading the charge are House Republicans, who will be further emboldened by a Trump win.
MBABANE  Nkonyeni Pre-Cast Limited was able to reach 78 per cent of the targeted revenue in seven months while using nearly E7 million of invested funds.

According to the information memorandum which outlines the companys strategic plan after listing on the Eswatini Stock Exchange (ESC), the company anticipated raising up to E75 million in the first year of investment funds being used. The anticipated funds were E50 million from the sale of shares and E80 million from the bond. The companys Managing Director (MD), Marissa van Zuydam, revealed how the company received only E6 935 102 raised through the selling of shares and bonds to realise remarkable progress towards attaining targets within the first six months of receipt of proceeds.

Using this money to recapitalise the group of companies, the company was able to achieve E50 million in revenue, which is a 17 per cent increase from the previous financial year.

She stated how instead of the E1.7 million originally targeted for Chemical Solutions blending plant and its recapitalisation, E1.4 million was used and the subsidiary was able to increase its revenue by 181 per cent when compared to the previous years. Highlighting some of the achievements, she stated that the company was able to use E3.3 million towards commercialising sand mining, plant upgrades and increase stock within the NPC plant, E0.5million towards transaction fees and E1 million towards increasing stock levels at Hardware Solutions.

The difficulty in raising funds through equity and bond impacts the progress of strategic plan and growth plans, she said. Other factors included increases in fuels prices, electricity and the costs of maintaining aging vehicles and the two plants. She relented that the inclement weather which saw widespread destruction of roof tiles country-wide caused a decline in demand because of misconceptions in market. The group reported a 17 per cent growth in revenue compared to prior year.

Interest paid increased to E1.2 million in 2024 as a result of cashflow constraints.

Listing fees also had an impact on the profitability of the business with E1.4 million allocated towards the listing, through an increase in marketing and advertising costs, consulting and transactional fees, and costs associated with ensuring legal compliance of the business.

Audit fees increased by 340 per cent to E463 000 factoring in the amended reporting system as well as six month interim fee costs.

NPC has taken a cost of E295 000 to write off bad debts in the year. These are currently in litigation.

While the business has maintained an average growth of 44 per cent, the increase in operational costs contributed to the business making a loss. Major operational costs that increased were fuel by 11 per cent, electricity 36 per cent and an increase in plant and vehicle maintenance costs 89 per cent.

However, the volatile industry/market has stabilised and is exhibiting signs of corrective momentum.

NPC achieved 78 per cent of its projected revenue budget. This budget was based on E50 million investments from equity and E80 million proceeds from the bond. NPC achieved this within a seven month period post receipt of proceeds from listing. Overall, there has been an improvement in the balance sheet compared to financial 2023.
Former First Daughter Ivanka Trump has made an appearance at her father's Mar-a-Lago election party as insiders reveal she is considering a return to politics.

An unidentified source told Page Six that Ivanka would join former President Donald Trump at his private club for the election results, and another source later confirmed she was present with her husband, Jared Kushner.

The two have remained noticeably absent from Trump's campaign, with some even mocking Ivanka when she posted the 16 lessons she has learned as she turned 43 just hours before the presidential election, while her siblings were out campaigning for their father.

She had earlier vowed to stay away from politics, after she and Kushner became two of the former president's most trusted advisers and principal gatekeepers during his first administration.

But sources have suggested the former First Daughter may once again stand by her father's side if he retakes the White House. Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump was also in attendance at the Mar-a-Lago celebration.

Former First Daughter Ivanka Trump reportedly made an appearance at her father's Mar-a-Lago election party on Tuesday

Lara Trump with her husband Eric at Mar-a-Lago on Election night

Following Trump's loss in the 2020 election, Ivanka and Jared decided to lay low in Miami with their three young children.

Ivanka concentrated on her role as a mother and on her old socialite lifestyle, earning her way back into the good books of pro-Democrat celebrity circles.

Meanwhile, Jared concentrated on making lots of money from investors in foreign countries, people he'd met while in government and who have since piled millions into his private equity firm.

The former First Daughter later released a carefully-worded statement after failing to attend her father's announcement in November 2022 that he would once again run for president.

'I love my father very much,' she said at the time. 'This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family.

'I do not plan to be involved in politics.'

She and her husband, Jared Kushner, have been noticeably absent from the former president's campaign

Kushner reiterated that message again last week, telling the New York Times that there was 'zero' chance of Ivanka joining the Trump campaign in the final stretch of his campaign.

He added that Ivanka 'made the decision when she left Washington that she was closing that chapter of her life. And she's been remarkably consistent.

'Obviously the world is different for us over the next four years if her father is president,' Kushner said.

'We're rooting for him - obviously we're proud of him. But you know, either way, our life will just continue to move forward.'

Ivanka was also noticeably absent from his 2024 election campaign and didn't turn up to his historic trial in May, where he was convicted of felony crimes over the Stormy Daniels hush-money scandal.

The couple decided to lay low in Miami with their three young children

But in May, news website Puck reported that Ivanka was 'itching to return' to the spotlight.

A source close to the Trump family also suggested to DailyMail.com that Ivanka may have a minor role in her father's administration.

'I can't see her doing anything that would take her away from Florida and her family,' the insider said. 'But perhaps Donald would deputize her on a foreign trip, she could travel with him occasionally, or she could work on a special project. Nothing day-to-day.'

The source continued: 'She will enjoy the pomp and pageantry. She would be at the inauguration. But Ivanka is concerned with what the "taste makers" think and it suits her to say that she no longer works with her father fulltime after January 6, and after his indictments and convictions.'

Finally, added the insider: 'Everything also has to be looked at through the lens of her husband and his [private equity] business.'

An insider told DailyMail.com, Ivanka may have a minor role in her father's administration

Kushner set up the firm Affinity Partners after leaving the White House, where he oversaw the administration's Middle East peace efforts.

It now has a $3.1 billion fund bankrolled by the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as Taiwanese billionaire Terry Gou.

Kushner made those top-level Arab contacts while in the Trump administration and is estimated to have personally earned at least $112 million in fees since 2021.

He has argued that, as a private citizen, he has the right to pursue international real-estate and business deals - even if they involve foreign governments.

A spokesman for the firm also denied any financial impropriety or exploitation.

However, Kushner is the first to admit that, the closer his father-in-law gets to the Oval Office, the more scrutiny his business dealings will face.

He knows, too, that the spotlight would be even more intense were he or Ivanka to join Trump in government once again.

The firm is also already providing him and Ivanka with access to powerful and super-wealthy people and the means of enriching themselves from those contacts.
An Australian schoolboy has today undergone emergency heart surgery at a NSW hospital after a judge at the last moment overruled his parents' protests that the procedure could violate the family's religious beliefs.

The 16-year-old had been diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopath - a rare life-threatening genetic condition that weakens the heart and can cause sudden death in otherwise healthy young people.

Determined to save the high school student's life, his paediatric surgeon insisted on operating on the boy to implant a 'cardioverter defibrillator' to maintain his heart's normal rhythm.

While the boy's parents consented to Wednesday's operation, they refused to give surgeons permission to perform a blood transfusion on their son in the event something went wrong during the procedure.

The devout Jehovah's Witness adherents said they opposed a transfusion on religious grounds because it contravened a biblical precept 'to abstain from blood'.

Although the boy's treating physician said the risk of requiring a transfusion was low, he believed his surgeons should not be forced to 'hold back' if something went wrong and one was needed.

A 16-year-old high school student has undergone urgent, life-saving surgery in a NSW hospital after a court overruled his parents claims it could violate their religious beliefs

With the schoolboy scheduled to go under the knife on Wednesday, the NSW Health Department rushed the impasse to the state's Supreme Court.

After an urgent hearing, Justice David Hammerschlag gave medical staff the go-ahead to perform a blood transfusion against the family's wishes if required.

In handing down his findings on Monday, Justice Hammerschlag said he had reflected on the fact both the boy and his parents had objected to a transfusion on biblical grounds.

However, he ruled the boy - who cannot be legally identified - was too young to appreciate the full, potential consequences of his stance and that the principal concern was saving his life.

'This judgment is being delivered in the urgent circumstances...surgery is scheduled for the day after tomorrow,' Justice Hammerschlag said.

'The general risk associated with this procedure is low, but if something were to go wrong, and bleeding caused, (the boy) may need a blood transfusion.

'His mother and father are devoted adherents to the Jehovah's Witness faith.

The boy's parents said they were unwilling to let doctors give their son a blood transfusion on biblical grounds - even if it was needed to save his life

'I give due weight to their and (the boy's) religious beliefs.

'(The boy) himself conveyed his stance in a written statement introduced by way of an attachment to an affidavit by the solicitor appointed his legal representative.

'The contents and articulation of his statement convey intelligence and understanding commensurate with his age.

'I recognise the importance of attributing to him an appropriate level of autonomy in his decision to withhold consent to a blood transfusion.

'In this context, however, there is also a comprehensive report by a clinical psychologist which concludes that (the boy) is not yet at a level where he can function autonomously or independently in the specific area of medical decision making.

'Despite his otherwise, generally, good age-appropriate maturity, in the specific area of medical decision making he continues to lack appropriate competence.

The NSW Supreme Court gave doctors the go-ahead to perform a transfusion - if required - because the principal concern was saving the teenager's life

'The overriding consideration is the welfare and best interests of (the boy).'

While Justice Hammerschlag said there were alternative options to a blood transfusion, he found they might cause long-term damage to his organs.

Justice Hammerschlag said that the risk associated with the surgery was so low it was unlikely doctors would need to violate the family's religious beliefs.

'The fact that the risk of something going wrong is low, and that the risk of requiring blood only arises if the original risk comes home and, even then, is not an inevitability, is a factor which in my opinion strongly favours the order sought,' he said.

'Because of these circumstances, it is unlikely that RJ's wishes and those of his parents will be overridden. It is therefore unlikely that there will be non-observance of the tenets of their faith.

'But if the situation arises where those wishes must (in the judgment of the plainly highly competent doctors in whose care he finds himself) be overridden, his safety and wellbeing are paramount.'
The Palm Beach sugar heir who beat up his girlfriend because he was mad about sitting near a gay couple has received a shockingly light sentence for his crimes.

Alexander Nicholas Fanjul, 39, also known as Nico, reportedly became 'irate' over being sat next to a gay couple in a restaurant in January.

In a fit of rage, he lashed out on the unnamed woman, leaving her in a fetal position with her face bloodied and bruised. Aside from this attack, the socialite has previously faced accusations of domestic violence.

The eldest son of Alexander Fanjul Sr - a director and senior vice president of major sugar producer Florida Crystals - was arrested for domestic battery, robbery, false imprisonment and cocaine possession.

But in court on Monday, despite being charged with and pleading guilty to petit theft, criminal mischief and felony battery, Fanjul was let off with four years of probation and 200 hours of community service, according to Page Six.

Alexander Nicholas Fanjul, 39, was let off easy with just four years of probation and 200 hours of community service

He was ordered to serve 'concurrent probation terms of four years for the battery charge, and one year for each of the misdemeanor offenses'.

His probation may even be cut down if he does not break any new laws after three years.

Fanjul's spokesperson said in a statement: 'We thank all the parties for this resolution. Nico has been very clear that he has and will continue to focus on improving himself and being a positive influence in his community.'

According to Page Six, Fanjul went to a rehab in March and continued treatment at a different location in April.

He was subjected to regular drug screenings and breathalyzer testing.

According to a police report from the January incident, officers arrived at his home at 11pm after neighbors called 911 over a woman screaming.

Officers at the scene reported that they heard a woman scream 'get off me', and that Fanjul was standing over the woman who was 'in a defensive fetal position.'

The officers say that the woman's face was bleeding, and she later told police she had bee physically assaulted by Fanjul and 'thought she was going to die.'

According to the woman, the pair had dined at the swanky Flagler Steakhouse at the Breakers Hotel when Fanjul 'became irate because the two were sat by a homosexual couple'

Tinsley Mortimer, 49, socialite and ex-girlfriend, was allegedly left with a black eye after a fight with Fanjul in 2013

According to the woman, the pair had dined at the swanky Flagler Steakhouse at the Breakers Hotel when Fanjul 'became irate because the two were sat by a homosexual couple.'

After dinner, she said that Fanjul 'became increasingly irate and continued to speak about his frustration with the restaurant'.

When outside his home, the woman allegedly told 'Fanjul to drop the subject and that is when he began to punch her in the face.'

The attack is said to have caused her 'bruising, bleeding and swelling of the facial area.'

Fanjul is also accused of ripping her purse from her shoulder after she threatened to call for help and then smashed her hand and phone.

The sugar heir reportedly became enraged and beat up his girlfriend in January, but he has a history of domestic disputes

After she began screaming he 'forcibly dragged her inside the residence to prevent her from receiving aid or escaping.'

The officer noted redness and bruising on the woman's neck and a 'trail of blood', when he allegedly dragged her.

Fanjul was let free on a $180,000 bond following his arrest.

During a hearing on Tuesday, an attorney representing Fanjul told the outlet that he denies the allegations.

Circuit Judge Donald Hafele ordered that he refrain from using nonprescribed drugs and contacting his accuser and that he surrender his firearms.

Fanjul previously had brushes with the law when he dated socialite Tinsley Mortimer, 49, who later went on to join 'The Real Housewives of New York City.'

Police were called multiple times due to bust ups between the couple, which on one occasion left Mortimer needing hospital treatment.

On another occasion, police were called for domestic violence to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Fort Lauderdale in 2014.

Mortimer did not press charges.

In 2016, she was then arrested for trespassing on his property, and reflected on the relationship in an interview with DailyMail.com.

She said: 'Once youre caught up in that sort of cycle, its really hard to break out of it. I definitely was not myself during that time and it wasnt until the arrest that I was able to break free from it  the cycle was broken, thank God.'

Fanjul's probation stint may be minimized if he does not break any more laws for three years

In November of last year, Mortimer and businessman Robert Bovard tied the knot in Palm Beach.

In 2023, another unnamed ex-girlfriend claimed Fanjul 'charged at her and tackled her to the ground, causing her to land on her back and told her, "Youre not fking going anywhere,"' according to Page Six.

The woman told police he had 'a history of unreported physical violence against her, often times physically restraining her'.
An attractive Aussie's public appeal for help in finding a place for he and his beloved dog to live has been overwhelmed by the response from swooning admirers.

Jonathon Eaton, 30, posted to a Gold Coast rentals Facebook page that he was moving from interstate for work and was 'bringing my best mate with me'.

'Wolfie is a very quiet one-year-old German shepherd who is super chill and friendly - it's actually impossible not to love her,' he wrote.

'I'm very laid back. I like to watch the footy, train in the gym but also have a beer and socialise from time to time.'

But Mr Eaton, who captioned the post with two photos of himself with Wolfie, told Daily Mail Australia he didn't get the response he was expecting after many women - some from overseas - commented on his looks.

'So cute,' one wrote.

Another added: 'If you wanna be my roommate in the US let me know.'

A third quipped: 'I'm moving to the Gold Coast, bye'.

Jonathon Eaton (pictured), posted on a local Facebook group that he was looking for a place to live - but he was shocked by the response that saw many women comment on his looks and tag their single friends

But it was the civil technician's girlfriend, Sophie, who actually wrote the post (pictured the couple)

Many comments were strewn with love heart emojis and with some tagging their single friends, asking them things like 'you have room in your bed - it's a queen?'.

But the civil technician said even though he found the response 'unexpected', he thought it was 'hilarious' - mainly because of one reason.

'It's funny because my girlfriend actually wrote the post,' he said.

'We've been having a laugh about it ever since.'

The Sydneysider said his girlfriend Sophie had urged him to post because he needed to find a place to live by November 15.

'It was just an innocent little reach out. We've got to move up there next week, so we put it out there,' he said.

'But ever since then, it's been mayhem.'

Mr Eaton was shocked when he checked the post, because he doesn't get notifications from messenger or Facebook and had no idea it 'all went silly'.

The civil technician (pictured with his dog Wolfie) has to move to the gold Coast for work and the post looking for accommodation attracted not just places to rent but 300 friend requests from around the world

The couple (pictured) have had a good laugh about the post which has helped Mr Eaton finda place to live

'I've had 300 friend requests, from overseas as well,' he said.

'It's really funny'.

And for women getting their hopes up as to why Mr Eaton's girlfriend isn't moving to the Gold Coast with him and Wolfie: she will be meeting him up there at a later date.

And as 'crazy' as the response has been, the civil technician said the post turned out to be helpful.

Although there are a few properties he likes, he will 'probably choose' one that had been mentioned to him by a man within the first hour of the post.

'And I have received nice and genuine messages as well.'

Despite Mr Eaton's friends starting to be aware of the post and teasing him, he decided not to have it removed.

'I was keen to delete it but Sophie said 'you should keep it, it's pretty funny',' he said.
Tom Bradby is leading the British liberal meltdown as Trump continues to cement his victory in the US, as he claimed Brits will not believe that the world's most important democracy has elected someone people are calling a 'fascist'.

The ITV presenter joined his station for their election special tonight and while speaking to his guest panel said: 'There will be a lot of people watching at home who will not be able to conceive that the most powerful democratic country in the world has elected somebody, who people closest to him called a fascist.'

This came as Donald Trump won the state of Georgia in a massive boost for his chances of returning to the White House. It came just after his first battleground state victory in North Carolina.

The Associated Press officially projected the former president as the winner of the Peach State in a huge blow for Kamala Harris in a sign her path to the White House is rapidly narrowing.

Other Brits followed Bradby's suit, including fellow TV presenter Emily Maitlis who mysteriously had to leave her Channel 4 show after it was alleged by her co-host that she swore, allowing her emotions got the better of her.

Tom Bradby is leading the liberal meltdown as Trump continues to cement his victory in the US, as he claimed Brits cannot believe that the world's most important democracy has elected a 'fascist'

The ITV presenter joined his station for their election special tonight and made the commenters while speaking to his guest panel

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TV presenter Emily Maitlis who mysteriously had to leave her Channel 4 show after it was alleged by her co-host that she swore, allowing her emotions got the better of her

Krishnan Guru-Murthy (right) had to apologise to his panel saying: 'I will tell Emily off later because I know she started the swearing and it may be the middle of the night in Britain but I know they are still quite sensitive about that stuff'

Her co-host Krishnan Guru-Murthy had to apologise to his panel saying: 'I will tell Emily off later because I know she started the swearing and it may be the middle of the night in Britain but I know they are still quite sensitive about that stuff.'

This comes as a party atmosphere has kicked off at Mar-a-Lago as results from the presidential election continue to indicate Donald Trump may recapture the White House.

The former president won a wave of states early Tuesday night and looked set to retake several swing states he lost to Joe Biden in 2020, with Trump's camp saying they were 'confident' of victory.

In comparison at Harris' watch party in Washington D.C. silence descended and supporters were seen hugging as they began to contemplate possible defeat.

Actor Brian Cox also spoke out as his despair at the way the vote was heading while on Channel 4 earlier tonight, giving a bleak outlook on a Trump victory.

'It is the most crucial election there has been in my lifetime and we have to make sure that he [Trump] doesn't get in, because he is a monster, he really is.

'He is crazy. He is insane. He wants to be a dictator.

'It has all been so clear what he has been talking about, I don't know why the American people aren't listening to him.

'The kind of nonsense that he has been talking. I think he has lost it. I think he is deeply mentally unstable. This is not a man who should be the President of the United States.'

He continued: 'I find it depressing and curiously ridiculous.'

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Never before in my lifetime has a vote raised so many questions about so many fundamental issues - the wars in Ukraine & the Middle East, global free trade, tensions with China, the defence of Europe, respect for the rule of law & democracy, the rights of women & so much more  Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) November 6, 2024

Radio 4 presenter of the Today Programme Nick Robinson also chimmed into the latest result in the US, writing on X warning people 'fasten their seatbelts'.

He added: 'Never before in my lifetime has a vote raised so many questions about so many fundamental issues - the wars in Ukraine & the Middle East, global free trade, tensions with China, the defence of Europe, respect for the rule of law & democracy, the rights of women & so much more.'

Trump picked up support from Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and among lower-income households that have keenly felt the sting of price rises since the last presidential election in 2020, according to exit polls from Edison.

Trump won 45 percent of Hispanic voters nationwide, trailing Harris with 53 percent, but up 13 percentage points from 2020.

Similarly as audiences tuned into their TVs this morning British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan completely lost his composure on Good Morning Britain when discussing the 'very different Trump now to 2016'.

He firmly told Ed Balls: 'It is worse. Much worse. He has a mandate. He is angrier. He has promised vengeance. He is going to go after his enemies. He is going to everything that he accused the democrats of doing'

He firmly told Ed Balls: 'It is worse. Much worse. He has a mandate. He is angrier. He has promised vengeance. He is going to go after his enemies. He is going to everything that he accused the democrats of doing.

'He will weaponise the government. Target opponents. Go after people, one of his aides said we are going to target the media. This is a man who will come in and there will not be any grown-ups in the room.

'He is a racist. A conman. A drifter.'

Voters whose top issue was the economy voted overwhelmingly for Trump, especially if they felt they were worse off financially than they were four years ago.

About 31 percent of voters said the economy was their top issue.

And 45 percent of voters across the country said their family's financial situation was worse today than four years ago.

Trump was earning a bigger share of the vote than he did four years ago in nearly every corner of the country, from suburban Georgia to rural Pennsylvania.

By 11pm officials had nearly completed their count of ballots in more than 1,200 counties, about a third of the country, and Trump's share was up about 2 percentage points compared to 2020.
Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election provoked an anguished reaction from the left liberal news media and Kamala Harris supporters.

MSNBC commentator Joy Reid launched a tirade live on air as Florida turned out overwhelmingly in favor of Trump, slamming voters and describing the state as being under the power of an 'extremist, right-wing, fascist-type government'.

'Think about the last two weeks and the things that Donald Trump has said into the TV that people could hear him say and do,' she said, becoming increasingly more irate.

'The vulgarity in front of families with young children and the threats to do mass deportation and a violent start to his dictatorship on day one, you name it.'

Reid told her fellow MSNBC panelists that she couldn't fathom that Trump was securing support from half the population in spite of his often controversial stances.

'If all of that gets you half of the votes... what does it tell you? We need to really take a step back and think about what does that say about us.'

After Florida was called for Trump early in the evening, Reid said: 'It's a pure Project 2025 in miniature in Florida.

'That extremist sort of right-wing, fascist type government in Florida, does that make it more of an attractive place?'

When Texas was called for the former president, Reid described black voters in Houston as 'deeply suppressed' and went on to blame 'white women' voters after North Carolina became the first swing state to plump for Trump.

Reid took part in the MSNBC election night panel on Tuesday and lashed out as votes rolled in, with Trump taking the lead

Former White House Communications Director Nicole Wallace claimed on Tuesday that former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris were still in a 'dead heat' even though Trump had secured 230 electoral votes

CNN's Jake Tapper could not hide his anger and frustration as the results rolled in

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CNN political analyst and former Obama staffer Van Jones looked on the verge of tears while delivering a somber speech as the vote counts stacked up in Trump's favor

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves at supporters at the end of a campaign rally, November 5

Supporters of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump react at the site of the rally for Trump, in Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Florida

That performance on the MSNBC 'Election Night' panel was followed by former White House Communications Director Nicole Wallace insisting Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris were still in a 'dead heat' - even as the Republican candidate pulled ahead in the polls and won two swing states in North Carolina and Georgia.

'It was always going to be a blue wall night,' she said, refusing to acknowledge that lynchpin state Pennsylvania, with 19 Electoral College votes, was leaning toward Trump with more than 90% of ballots checked - and ultimately awarded all its votes to the Republican.

Meanwhile, CNN political analyst and former Obama staffer Van Jones looked on the verge of tears while delivering a somber speech as the vote counts stacked up in Trump's favor.

The 56-year-old has been overcome with emotion live on air on several occasions, and viewers had joked on social media in advance of election night that he was likely to burst into tears regardless of the result.

Jones was clearly fighting against choking up as he condemned the vote and painted a dystopian picture of America under Trump.

CNN presenter Jake Tapper was also on air for much of the election night and on several occasions seemed flabbergasted by voting results.

Tensions flared on CNN as panelists performed a post mortem on Harris' performance even before the result had been officially declared

Meanwhile, the scum at CNN (who lied to us for 4 years that Biden was "as sharp as ever") are descending into chaos and fingerpointing.



"Don't look at me like that."pic.twitter.com/B7W5OPuWtq  Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 6, 2024

He performed double takes when looking at polling numbers and stumbled over his words when reporting the voter turnout in favor of Trump in the likes of Georgia, New Carolina and Virginia.

Hours before the race was formally called, trepidation was growing on the channel as the results of several swing states rolled in.

'This is a shellacking for the Democrats tonight,' analyst John King said. 'The question is how bad. A shellacking for the vice president.'

Shortly after, tensions flared among panelists as they performed a post mortem on the loss - again before it had been officially declared.

The reactions were gleefully shared across social media by joyous Trump supporters, who point out that much of America's mainstream media outlets lean left and claim they often misrepresent, misquote and unfairly target the Republican candidate.

A torrent of memes poked fun at the aforementioned liberal media personalities while others delighted in Trump's success.

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Memes delighting in Harris' failure were gleefully shared across social media by joyous Trump supporters

Memes delighting in Harris' failure were gleefully shared across social media by joyous Trump supporters

A supporter reacts to election results during an election night event for US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at Howard University in Washington, DC

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris takes part in a phone bank at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC, on November 5, 2024

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by former U.S. first lady Melania Trump, visits his campaign headquarters to thank the campaign workers on Election Day, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 5, 2024

The race initially appeared neck-and-neck as Americans went to the polls Tuesday after a tense months-long build-up that peaked when Joe Biden abandoned his quest for a second term and the Democratic party ushered Vice President Harris to the fore.

But as night fell, Trump steadily began pulling ahead thanks to support from solidly red states including Florida, Texas and Alabama.

Democrat candidate Harris' support came from her party's strongholds on the East and West coast in states like New York, Delaware, and California.

A notable difference between this year's election night and that of 2020 is that fewer voters - which leaned Democrat - used mail-in ballots, while states have been quicker to process those votes.

Four years ago, that meant Trump's votes were often counted first as his supporters voted in-person, before Biden votes piled in later and helped the incumbent president to a late victory.

This year, however, the number of voters from both sides using mail-in ballots are more even, meaning the Harris campaign cannot count on large batches of outstanding votes to put her over the line in the key battleground states.

That prompted many election watchers and political experts stateside to predict a Trump victory as early vote counts suggested a favorable result across several swing states, leaving Kamala's supporters at election watch parties in for a long night.

Under the US voting system, a majority of 270 out of 538 electoral college votes are needed to win the presidency.

Supporters react to election results during an election night event for US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 5, 2024

Supporters arrive at an election night watch party for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024

Supporters attend an election night watch party for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla

Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris sit down in Howard University's quad and watch as election results point to a potential Donald Trump win

By 2:30am ET, Trump had won Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina, capturing three of the seven heavily contested battlegrounds and coming within a few electoral votes of winning the presidency.

He declared victory and took to the stage in Florida to deliver a lengthy speech to legions of adoring fans, that also featured shout outs to the likes of his vice presidential pick JD Vance, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Elon Musk and UFC President Dana White.

'We are going to help our country heal, we are going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help and it needs help very badly,' Trump said in Florida.

The Republicans also reclaimed control of the Senate, picking up seats in West Virginia and Ohio.

Top House races are focused in New York and California, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years.

The upset led CNN Strategist Scott Jennings delivered a stinging indictment of the 'political information complex', noting that the story that had been portrayed about Harris' chances was, 'not true'.

'We were told Puerto Rico was going to change the election, Liz Cheney, Nikki Haley, women lying to their husbands,' Jennings said.

'Before that it was Tim Walz and the camo hats. Night after night after night we were told all these things and gimmicks were going to somehow push Harris over the line and we were ignoring the fundamentals - inflation, people feeling like they were barely able to tread water at best - that was the fundamentals of the election.'

Analyst Scott Jennings delivered a searing indictment of the 'political information complex' and the ways in which pundits got things wrong

He also chastised the demonization of Trump supporters and encouraged Democrats and the media to enter into a more constructive dialogue.

'I think that both parties should always look at the results of an election and figure out what went right and what went wrong, but for those of us that cover elections we have to figure out how to understand, talk to and listen to the half of the country that rose up tonight and said, "we've had enough",' Jennings added.
Tapes detailing a secret grilling of William Tyrrell's foster mother about the toddler's disappearance and her possible cover up and dumping of his body will be played in open court for the first time.

The foster mother was asked point blank questions about 'what she did with William's body' during the interrogation by the NSW Crime Commission, a secretive government body, in 2021.

Although an account of some of the questions she was asked during the four-hour hearing have previously been revealed at a court hearing, today the video of the session will be played at the coroner's inquest into William's believed death.

The missing boy's foster parents previously both faced charges of lying to the Crime Commission and were both acquitted in court.

During the foster mother's court hearing on the charge, a series of questions that she was asked at the Crime Commission hearing were read out, including: 'Did you find his body in the ferns and in the foliage under the verandah that day?

The foster mum - who cannot be identified for legal reasons except by the initials 'SD' - was also asked: 'Did you find his body and realise he has died and there's no point calling emergency services?'

Another question asked was: 'I want to suggest to you what happened that day was William went around on that verandah and toppled over and it was nobody's fault.'

Each of the questions were accompanied by SD's steadfast denials of having any knowledge of William's disappearance in September 2014.

William disappeared when he was aged three and hasn't been seen since September 12, 2014, with the mystery becoming Australia's most notorious missing person's case.

It had been suggested to the foster mother at the Crime Commission hearing that she 'may have dumped William's body near a riding school'.

Counsel assisting the Crime Commission, Sophie Callan, asked the foster mother: 'Did you take his body down (to the riding school at Kendall, on the NSW Mid North Coast)?'

She answered: 'No.'

William Tyrrell's foster mother was grilled at the NSW Crime Commission about whether the three-year-old fell from the verandah of his grandma's house and his body was disposed of in bushland

William was playing on the verandah of the Kendall house (above) before he vanished, according to his foster mother

SD was then asked: 'Did you decide to take care of the situation that was beyond remedy?' and 'did you decide to take care of the situation and hide his body rather than let your (SD's) mother take .. responsibility.'

SD denied both of the propositions put to her. They related to William's foster grandmother, who owned the home where he disappeared from, and has since died.

Ms Callan then put to the foster mother that she found William's body 'and you put his body in your mother's car, and that's why you took the drive (to the nearby Kendall riding school) that day?'

Ms Callan then said: 'Just to be clear there is no suggestion you injured him or caused his death, just that you moved his body.'

The foster mother denied Ms Callen's allegations: 'No, I didn't.'

The Crime Commission's questioning of the foster mother came after she had been door-stopped by two detectives with a summons for her to appear before it three years ago.

The 2021 questioning of both foster parents about William's case came just before police renewed efforts to find the remains of the missing boy.

William's foster mother was found not guilty of lying to the Crime Commission following a hearing where police alleged she had falsely stated during her evidence that she did not strike a child - who is not William - with a wooden spoon.

Both foster parents (above, left and second right) were interrogated by the secretive NSW CRime Commission and charged with lying, but later acquitted

William Tyrrell was playing at his foster grandma's house in Kendall (above) when he went missing in 2014 and no trace of him has ever been found

When Detective Sergeant Andrew Lonergan served the summons on SD at her home to appear before the Crime Commission, another detective Scott Jamieson told her: 'We're not here to f***ing bluff, let me tell you that.

'We aren't guessing. We aren't bluffing. We know how, we know why, we know where he is.'

Detective Lonergan said to SD: 'I can tell you something ... it's not personal it's about finding what happened to William', to which Det. Jamieson added, 'make a decision for William today and no-one else. We know you're a good person'.

Lonergan told SD that 'We know William was loved, dearly loved' and SD responded, 'I'm trying to breathe. So you are now effectively saying you believe I hurt William'.

The inquest is currently investigating the police theory that William's foster mother buried his body in bushland after he fell from a balcony and died on the morning he vanished.

Counsel assisting the inquest, Gerard Craddock SC, told the inquest when it reopened on Monday that the police theory was that 'William must have died at [his foster grandmother's home at] 48 Benaroon Drive [in Kendall].

'The theory... police assert, is that she must have quickly resolved that if the accidental death of William was discovered she might lose 'Lindsay'.'

Lindsay - not her real name, which can't be revealed for legal reasons - was another foster child in the care of the foster mother at that time.

'Police assert that in that frame of mind, [the foster mother] placed William in her mother's car,' Mr Craddock said.

'After alerting [a neighbour] to William's disappearance, [she] drove her mother's car to Batar Creek Road and placed William's body somewhere in the undergrowth.'

The inquest into the toddler's disappearance is entering its final stages and will be wound up before Christmas

Mr Craddock has said the area around Batar Creek Road had been extensively searched by police who did not believe any trace of William was left there.

He also said that in the search for William after his disappearance - with police, fire fighters, cadaver dogs, chainsaws and hydraulic equipment  meant that the little boy had not simply just been lost in the search area.

'William under his own steam could not travel beyond the area of the intensive search,' he said.

'The conclusion there must have been human intervention.

'It's beyond argument that no eye eyewitness can provide an account about how he left the boundaries of 48 Benaroon Drive.'

The inquest, which began in 2019 but has been beset by protracted delays has now entered its final block of hearings, is being held this week, and over the week before Christmas.

The inquest before Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame  examining William's disappearance and suspected death  was delayed last year when prosecutors weighed up charges against the boy's foster mother.

Police handed a brief of evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions that recommended William's foster mother be charged with perverting the course of justice and interfering with a corpse.

William's foster father was also acquitted of five counts of lying to the NSW Crime Commission.

The couple has denied any wrongdoing or disposing of his corpse.
Donald Trump supporters last night claimed he was the first president to have won the election three times.

MAGA fans celebrated Trump's almost-certain victory before the result was announced and claimed that the 2024 election represented his third win, despite his loss to Joe Biden in 2020.

One user wrote on X: 'Congrats to three time presidential election winner, Donald Trump.'

Another said: 'Well done MAGA. Trump is now a THREE TIME WINNER.'

Trump refused to acknowledge the result of the 2020 election, claiming that it had been rigged - and many of his supporters maintain the same belief.

MAGA fans celebrated his almost-certain victory before the result was announced and claimed that the 2024 election represented his third win, despite the fact he lost to Joe Biden in 2020

It comes as Trump stands on the brink of an historic political comeback.

Trump won the key battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia. He also took a string of other states including Texas, Florida and Iowa. Kamala Harris secured states including California and Colorado.

Trump soared on betting markets as the count continued and the New York Times forecast suggested a 95 percent chance of a Republican victory.

North Carolina was called for Trump by the Associated Press at 11.19pm Eastern time. Just over an hour later, it also called Georgia for Trump.

It came as Republicans were celebrating retaking control of the Senate for the first time in four years.

That gives the party important power in confirming the next president's Cabinet, and any Supreme Court justice if there is a vacancy.

At Harris' watch party in Washington D.C. silence descended and supporters were seen hugging as they began to contemplate possible defeat.

In a memo seen by Dailymail.com, Harris' campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon told staff: 'It takes time for all the votes to be counted - and all the votes will be counted. What we do know is this race is not going to come into focus until the early morning hours.'

Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Tuesday

Supporters react while watching results come in during an election night watch party for Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Palm Beach Convention Center

A series of positive signals for Trump began shortly after 7pm Eastern time when polling stations closed in Georgia.

An exit poll there showed him winning 54 percent of independent voters compared to Harris's 43 percent.

In 2020 Trump had lost Georgia independents by nine points to Joe Biden. On CNN, an anchor looked visibly stunned as the finding was announced.

Meanwhile, exit polling also showed Trump had dramatically improved among Hispanic voters nationally by 13 points from 2020. That included even bigger swings among the group in the key states of Pennsylvania and Michigan.

It suggested Harris had won the Latino vote by only 53 percent to 45 percent nationally, despite a massive pre-election controversy when a comedian at a Trump rally compared Puerto Rico to a 'floating island of garbage'.

Another encouraging early sign for Trump came out of Florida, where he became the first Republican since 1988 to win Miami-Dade county.

And in the battleground state of Wisconsin, exit polls showed his share of the black vote more than doubling to 20 percent from nine percent in 2020.

Harris won 54 percent of women voters nationwide, and 86 percent of black voters, according to exit polling.

She also narrowly beat Trump by one point among voters aged over 65, with Trump's share down three points from 2020.
Billionaire Kamala Harris supporter Mark Cuban has conceded defeat and congratulated Donald Trump for 'winning the election fair and square.'

The election is yet to be formally called for Trump but any path to victory to Harris is rapidly narrowing as swing states continue to be called red. Fox News has already announced Trump as the victor.

North Carolina and Georgia have both been called for Trump, and he is ahead in critical battleground states Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada and Arizona.

Harris's team have warned fans she will not address the public this evening, while Trump spoke to his watch party crowd in Florida - and declared victory.

The writing, it seems for some of Harris's biggest supporters, is on the wall.

'Congrats @realDonaldTrump,' Shark Tank star Cuban wrote on X.

'You won fair and square. Congrats @elonmusk as well.'

Billionaire Kamala Harris supporter Mark Cuban has conceded defeat and congratulated Donald Trump for 'winning the election fair and square'

Cuban supported Trump during his successful 2016 bid for the White House, but 'grew out of it'

Cuban's decision to also congratulate Musk comes after the billionaire poured a whopping $119 million on his pro-Trump political action committee, America PAC, to help secure Trump's return to the White House.

Musk revealed he was supporting Trump after he survived an assassination attempt in July, and has since been one of the Republican nominee's most outspoken supporters and generous donors.

Cuban sparked fury last week when he appeared on The View and criticized Trump's inner circle.

He told the panel, which included Whoopi Goldberg: 'Donald Trump  you never see him around strong, intelligent women, ever. It's just that simple.'

'It's just that simple. They're intimidating to him. He doesn't like to be challenged by them,' Cuban added.

Musk and Trump spent Tuesday night together as the results began rolling in after forming a 'bromance' during the campaign

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Trump's campaign immediately seized on the remarks as evidence to back its claim that Democrats, including Kamala Harris, despise voters who support the former president.

Trump's national press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the comments were 'extremely insulting to the thousands of women who work for President Trump, and the tens of millions of women who are proudly voting for him.'

Cuban later apologized, saying he 'didn't get it out exactly the way I thought I did.'

The 66-year-old Dallas-based investor, who made his wealth in computer software, supported Trump during his successful 2016 bid for the White House, but 'grew out of it.'

Cuban said that 'whenever you try to get into a conversation about details' with Trump 'it never worked.'

But Trump and Musk supporters both appreciated his 'gracious' - and early - concession in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

'Mature response,' Trump can Isabella DeLuca said.

'Said like a true gentleman, Mark. We have to hope they'll make good decisions for America,' another said.

Elon Musk will join Donald Trump for his election night party in Mar-a-Lago, continuing his aggressive campaigning for the Republican candidate

Musk announced his support for the former president earlier this year after the July 13 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, despite saying in 2022 that 'it's time for Trump to hang up his hat and sail into the sunset'

Musk and Trump spent Tuesday night together as the results began rolling in after forming a 'bromance' during the campaign.

Speaking on a Spaces livestream, the world's richest man said: 'I'll be there with President Trump and JD and a bunch of other cool people. They have a great sense of humor.'

Musk promised last month to give away $1 million daily until Election Day to people in swing states.

According to the America PAC website, 16 people, including four in Pennsylvania, have received the $1 million awards. The winners were reportedly randomly selected among those who signed a petition pledging support for free speech and gun rights.

The offer was limited to registered voters in one of seven states that will likely decide the outcome of the Nov. 5 election - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The Justice Department warned Musk and his America PAC last month that the sweepstakes may violate federal law, which prohibits paying people to register to vote.
More than 3,000 Mexican migrants marched towards America on Election Day as after Donald Trump vowed to carry out the 'largest deportation operation in American history'.

Men, women and children were seen marching towards the southern US border Tuesday carrying banners that read 'no more migrant blood' and images of the Virgin of Guadalupe, an important religious and cultural symbol in Mexico, as Americans headed to their local polling stations.

US Border Patrol was aware the election could trigger mass migrations of asylum seekers, according to sources who told The New York Post that the migrants want to arrive in the country as 'one last f*** you to America' before Trump takes office.

Trump, 78, made immigration a top issue throughout his campaign, promising mass deportations, the end to birthright citizenship and an expansion of a travel ban on people from certain countries.

During his speech at his election watch party early Wednesday morning the president-elect vowed to 'seal up those borders', adding: 'We want people to come back in, but they have to come back in legally.'

More than 3,000 Mexican migrants marched towards America on Election Day

A migrant coordinates the advance of a caravan, in Tapachula, Mexico, on November 5, 2024

The large caravan gathered in Tapachula, the capital of the southern Chiapas state, before heading northward Tuesday on the 2,000-mile journey to America

Two caravans of asylum seekers left from the southern Chiapas state, which borders Guatemala, on Tuesday to embark on the 2,000-mile journey to America.

The first caravan left from Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital city of Chiapas. The second gathered in Tapachula, a small municipality that sits at the edge of the state and is a main point of entry for migrants south of the Mexican border, before heading northward.

The groups are headed Mexico City in hopes of reaching the US border wall.

Immigration officials are anticipating a surge of migrant crossings as President Joe Biden's term nears its end.

'We knew that was coming because they want to get in before 'orange bad man' wins,' a Border Patrol source, seemingly unsurprised by the caravan, told the newspaper.

Another added: 'If Trump wins, they are gonna try to get here before he's in office. It's one last f*** you to America.'

In recent years, several caravans with people hoping to enter the United States have attempted to reach the US-Mexican border, traveling in mass groups for safety. Most have dispersed along the way.

Men, women and children were seen marching towards the southern US border Tuesday carrying banners that read 'no more migrant blood' and images of the Virgin of Guadalupe, an important religious and cultural symbol in Mexico

Two migrant caravans with hundreds of Latin American asylum seekers left Tuesday from the Chiapas border state with Guatemala and are headed to Mexico City in their journey to reach the US border wall

Migrants walk in a caravan during the US Election Day in an attempt to reach Mexico's northern border

The first caravan left from Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital city of Chiapas, while a second is departing from Tapachula, a small municipality that sits at the edge of the state, a main point of entry for migrants south of the Mexican border

A man carries a migrant woman who fainted due to heat stroke while walking to the United States in a caravan along a highway in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas State, Mexico, on Tuesday

A man carries a woman while walking in a caravan along a highway in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas State, Mexico on Tuesday

Migrants and representatives of the state government stand next to a woman who fainted due to heat stroke while walking to the United States in a caravan along a highway in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas State, Mexico, on November 5, 2024

Migrants coordinates advance in a caravan heading to the United States, in Tapachula, Mexico, on November 5, 2024

Honduran migrant Roy Murillo, who joined the caravan with his two children and his pregnant wife, said he and his family are seeking asylum in America to escape crime in his homeland.

'I'm afraid to travel alone with my family. Here, the cartels either kidnap you or kill you. ... That's why we're coming in the caravan,' Murillo said.

Murillo recounted his unsuccessful attempts to secure an asylum appointment through a mobile app developed by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency.

'We want US authorities to see us, to see that we are people who want to work, not to harm anyone,' he added.

Venezuelan migrant Thais, who spoke on condition that her surname not be used due to safety concerns, joined the caravan with her husband and 3-year-old daughter.

'I feel suffocated here. That's why we decided to leave,' she said.

'I wish Mr. Trump...would see that we are human beings, that we want to live and support our families,' the 28-year-old mother added.

Tapachula, a mandatory crossing point for tens of thousands of migrants, has become one of Mexico's most violent cities in recent months, with migrants frequently targeted by organized crime, according to official data.

Migrants traveling in a caravan take a break in Alvaro Obregon, Mexico while they attempt to reach the US southern border on Election Day

A migrant carrying a long object marches with a caravan as it heads to the US southern border

Migrants walk a banner which reads 'No more migrant blood' as they walk in a caravan on Tuesday as America casts its vote for the next president

Migrants leave in a caravan to the US, in the municipality of Tapachula, in the state of Chiapas, Mexico on Tuesday to coincide with the American Presidential elections, conscious that US immigration policies would be further tightened after the elections

A member of the National Guard stands guard as migrants walk in caravan through a checkpoint in Viva, Mexico on Tuesday

A Venezuelan migrant helps a female migrant prepare for the 2,000-mile walk to the southern US border on Tuesday

Since Biden took office, the CBP has encountered roughly 8.5 million migrants seeking asylum or illegally crossing the southern border into the US.

Trump made migration and illegal immigration a centerpiece of his campaign ever since he first ran for president in 2016, though critics say he made limited progress addressing the concern during his time in office.

Last month the CBP reported the lowest numbers or border crossers since 2020 with just 54,000 apprehensions in September.

As Trump campaigned for the Oval Office he called the border the 'biggest problem' and vowed to stage the 'largest deportation operation in American history'.

He pledged to expel 'maybe as many as 20 million' people from the US and also took aim at the Biden administration, falsely claiming the Democrats were flying 'big, beautiful Boeing jets right over the border with hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants'.

A migrant father transports his children on a bicycle as they advance in a caravan heading to the United States in Tapachula, Mexico, on November 5, 2024

A migrant carries a religious statuette on his way to the United States in Tapachula, Mexico, on November 5, 2024

: A migrant child sleeps on backpacks after advancing in a caravan towards the US

Migrants traveling in a caravan take a break while they attempt to reach Mexico's northern border during the US presidential election

Soldiers patrol the advance of a migrant caravan in Tapachula, Mexico, on November 5, 2024
MBABANE - The Eswatini Intellectual Property Office convened with key stakeholders to draft regulations for the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Acts, marking a significant step towards strengthening the creative sector in the country.

Melusi Masuku, Acting Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, stated that the government aims to address gaps in existing copyright legislation, streamlining operations to benefit all involved. We aspire to develop a leading copyright system on the continent. Achieving this ambitious objective requires decisions grounded in solid evidence. We are currently assessing copyrights contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), employment rates and national exports. Preliminary findings suggest that this sector could represent our nations greatest comparative advantage.

The forthcoming regulations aim to fortify our creative economy and facilitate the export of our intangible assets globally, he remarked. Mmeli Hlanze, Executive Director of the Eswatini Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Society (ESWACOS), emphasised that copyright protection is not simply a legal technicality; it is fundamental to a flourishing creative economy. Copyright empowers creators by granting them control over their works and ensuring they receive equitable remuneration. In Eswatini, where creativity thrives across diverse fields, the importance of copyright cannot be overstated, he asserted.

Safeguarding

Hlanze further noted that safeguarding copyright and neighbouring rights cultivates an environment conducive to innovation and creativity. As we draft these regulations, let us remain focused on our ultimate aim: to empower creators and uphold their rights. This, in turn, stimulates economic growth by generating employment, attracting investment and enriching our cultural identity, he added. Dr. Celucolo Dludlu, Registrar of the Intellectual Property Office, highlighted the importance of consulting with creators during the drafting of the copyright

Essential

It is essential to strike a balance between the interests of creators and users. Creators must be able to earn a living from the utilisation of their works. The proposed draft copyright tariffs seek to find a compromise that benefits everyone involved. Our discussions today will centre on achieving an equitable balance, he explained. Dludlu also referenced the challenges faced by local musicians, pointing out that the new legislation will provide artists with clarity on potential earnings when their music is played on radio stations for specified durations.
Britain's farmers launched their first protest today against Labour's farm inheritance tax rule changes, amid fears a strike could cause shortages on supermarket shelves.

Banners reading 'No farmers, no food, no future' were held at the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham, Northumberland, as anger grows at the shock tax raid.

Under plans announced in last week's Budget, inheritance tax will be charged at 20 per cent on agricultural assets above 1million - although Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that in some cases the threshold could in practice be about 3million.

While the 20 per cent figure still represents a relief of 50 per cent compared to the standard rate, farming unions and opposition parties have criticised the move.

They argue it will make British farms uncompetitive - and, as the backlash continues to intensify, a group of plotters are now considering strike dates around a rally being organised by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) in Westminster on November 19.

Merseyside arable farmer Olly Harrison, an unofficial spokesman for the group, told MailOnline today: 'Never before have farmers been so united - sadly it's in anger over this issue and they will not take it lying down, especially after the worst harvest ever.

The YouTube and Instagram star added: 'Most don't do this job for the money, they do it for the kids, and taking this right away through poorly thought out Government policy is horrifying. We already risk our home with the weather every day playing snakes and ladders, and now the Government has just cut the rungs off the ladders.

Farmers protest today outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham, Northumberland

Merseyside arable farmer Olly Harrison (pictured), a YouTuber and unofficial spokesman for the plotters, said the Chancellor 'doesn't understand how fragile the food supply chain is'

'This decision has already proved itself to be costing farmers more than money.'

Farmer John Charlesworth, 78, was found dead in an apparent suicide 24 hours before the Budget - with his son accusing the Prime Minister of having 'blood on his hands'

Mr Harrison also told The Times: 'They say we are only ever four meals away from anarchy.

'What Rachel Reeves doesn't understand is how fragile the food supply chain is, and we saw in Covid how it only took a few days of panic buying to cause shortages.

'If we stop goods leaving farms for a day or two it will happen faster than you think.'

Mr Harrison added that there would be no strike action just yet, given that the US presidential election is currently 'taking up all the headlines'  and there were also no plans to 'interfere' with Remembrance Day or 'wreck' Christmas.

He was speaking after a farmer's son accused the Prime Minister of having 'blood on his hands' over the inheritance tax raid after his father's apparent suicide 24 hours before the budget.

Banners held outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham, Northumberland, today

John Charlesworth, 78, ran a 70-acre farm on the outskirts of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, which had been in the grandfather-of-six's family since the 1950s.

What changes to farm inheritance tax were revealed in the Budget? Under plans announced in the Budget, inheritance tax will be charged at 20 per cent on agricultural assets above 1million, although Rachel Reeves has said that in some cases the threshold could in practice be about 3million. The 20 per cent figure still represents a relief of 50 per cent compared to the standard rate. But there are fears it will make British farms uncompetitive. The Chancellor used her first Budget last Wednesday to announce a change to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) from April 2026 in a bid to secure more money for public services. Budget documents state the Government wants to restrict the 'generosity' of APR and BPR for the 'wealthiest estates'. The first 1million of combined business and agricultural assets will continue to attract no inheritance tax. But for assets over 1million, inheritance tax will apply with 50 per cent relief, at an effective rate of 20 per cent. The Chancellor said 'only a very small number of agricultural properties' will be affected, although the National Farmers' Union warned the reforms could force farmers to sell their family farms to pay the inheritance tax bill. Ms Reeves said many 'difficult decisions' were needed in the Budget in order to fix public services and place the economy on a firmer footing. Advertisement

But pre-Budget chatter predicting the tax raid had 'eaten away' at him, according to his 46-year-old son Jonathan, who has been running the farm in recent years.

Mr Charlesworth Jr told the Daily Mail: 'I'm not sure you could publish what I'd say to [Sir Keir Starmer]. He's got blood on his hands. He's totally destroying an industry we rely on.'

He also said worries about the impact of inheritance tax was his father's 'main topic' of conversation in recent weeks, adding: 'This Government has absolutely zero understanding of agriculture.

'They think we're just jumped-up millionaires riding around in Land Rovers but that's not true. This Government has killed ambition  what's the point of building up a business if it's all going to be taken away?'

Mr Charlesworth Jr also told the Daily Telegraph: 'I think [my father] just woke up and thought, 'You know what, the Government aren't taking our farm, I've worked too hard to keep this for my kids and my grandkids'.'

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said today: 'Losing anyone to suicide is a tragedy and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with Mr Charlesworth's family and friends.'

It has also emerged some farmers are threatening to stop spreading biosolids - known as sewage sludge and made from treated human waste - on their land as fertiliser in protest at Labour's plans.

The strike could be hugely disruptive for water treatment companies and could create a mountain of waste, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Reports claimed that in online message forums, farmers are encouraging others to contact their sludge suppliers and notify them of a temporary halt to all deliveries.

Every year, farmers in the UK take about 3.6million tonnes of sewage sludge from water treatment plants and spread it on agricultural land.

Yesterday, it also emerged that farmers could end up paying thousands of pounds more in car tax after a loophole that benefits pick-up truck drivers was closed in the Budget.

Vehicles such as the Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara will be classed as cars rather than vans from next April when the benefit-in-kind tax break for commercial vehicles ends, the paper reported.

It comes after the new shadow environment secretary said the 'crass decision' to remove some inheritance tax relief for farms had betrayed the Government's lack of knowledge about the countryside.

Farmers protest today outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham, Northumberland

Victoria Atkins said the move had 'consigned family farms and businesses to being sold off and split up as families cannot afford massive tax bills'.

Writing in the Telegraph, she added: 'This is a serious mistake that Labour has made in their Budget. Their lack of understanding of the realities of farming was revealed in the crass decision to slash years of careful tax policy to keep family farms intact and protected from inheritance tax.'

She suggested the move would make the UK more reliant on imports, adding: 'If farmers have to set aside money for a potential tax raid rather than investing in the farm, it will no doubt impact food production, increase prices and make British farmers less competitive.'

Ms Reeves has defended her proposed reforms to inheritance tax on farms by claiming it is not 'affordable' to keep the current system.

Meanwhile one of the UK's largest animal feed producers yesterday warned that the changes will have a 'negative' impact on food security.

Empty shelves are seen in a Sainsbury's in Telford when the pandemic began in March 2020

George Weston, boss of Associated British Foods, which supplies farmers with feed and technology services, said the taxes on farms pose a threat to the country's ability to grow its own food.

He said: 'It's only the latest of a series of pressures that have been imposed on particularly our large scale farmers from whom we get most of our food.

'If we are to grow more of our own food and benefit from the food security of growing things ourselves, then I think policymakers have got to create a more attractive environment for that farming community.

'These changes to inheritance tax obviously operate in a very different direction.'

Mr Weston added: 'I don't think that government decision makers, for some while, have really thought about what you need to do to maintain a viable farming community, without which is very hard to maintain a good level of food security.'

Empty shelves at a Tesco Extra store in Worthing when the pandemic started in March 2020

AB Foods, which also owns fashion retailer Primark, sells to farmers and food manufacturers in more than 100 countries, including feed ingredients for livestock.

Tom Bradshaw, the president of the NFU, has warned that three quarters of the food produced by British farmers will be hit by the tax raid.

He said it was logical to assume that this also meant that 75 per cent of the food they produce would cost more, impacting food security.

After last Wednesday's announcement, farmers took to social media to share their horror at the tax hike which they said threatens to end family farming in Britain.

They also called the move 'bonkers' and warned that unaffordable tax bills faced by the inheritors of family farms will lead to them going under.

Emma Gray, a shepherdess from Argyll and Bute in Scotland, declared the policy 'a disgusting land grab'.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves outside 11 Downing Street ahead of the Budget last Wednesday

'A lot of family farms are going to go under when they have to pay the death duties,' she said in a TikTok video.

'And you might think a farm being worth 2million sounds like a lot of money, but a lot of the time the person who has the farm has already been paying out siblings who also have a stake in the farm.

'So they spend their whole life paying it off and are ready to pass it on to the next generation - but now they're going to be hit with inheritance tax, which is going to make the whole thing completely unaffordable.

'What's going to happen is farmers won't be able to pass their farms onto the next generation - at least not easily - so they'll come onto the market and be snapped up by non farmers like those big corporations who want to offset their carbon.'

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit thecalmzone.net/get-support
Donald Trump's glamorous daughter-in-law Lara has secured her place as the President's right hand woman after months of relentless campaigning.

As Trump's nearest and dearest took to the stage with him in the early hours of Wednesday to declare victory over Kamala Harris, it was Lara who drew focus.

The 78-year-old's daughter Ivanka has taken a step back from politics after being heavily involved in both her father's two previous campaigns - allowing 'ambitious' Lara to step up.

However, was seen back on stage Wednesday morning, although to the side, amid rumors she's looking to re-enter politics in the wake of her Trump's convincing victory.

On Wednesday, as Trump told the American people he had 'made history', Lara stood proudly to his right, wearing a long sleeved sheer black top and black slacks.

Donald Trump 's glamorous daughter-in-law Lara (left) has secured her place as the President's right hand woman after months of relentless campaigning

Ivanka (pictured with her husband Jared Kushner) took to the stage with her father, but was relegated to the far corner after sitting out much of the campaign this time around

Donald Trump 's glamorous daughter-in-law Lara has secured her place as the President's right hand woman after months of relentless campaigning

As Trump's nearest and dearest took to the stage with him in the early hours of Wednesday to declare victory over Kamala Harris , it was Lara who drew focus

Lara beamed as she stood by her father-in-law's side in the early hours of Wednesday morning

Republican voters flooded social media with praise for the new MAGA star, noting she 'deserves so much credit for this victory' after 'saving the Republican party.'

'Lara Trump deserves every bit of praise for her relentless dedication and hard work. Shes proven herself to be a powerhouse, showing up day after day with integrity and focus,' one supporter wrote.

Lara, 41, is married to Trump's son Eric, and has been tirelessly campaigning on behalf of her father-in-law since he became the Republican nominee.

The former television producer is the co-chair of the Republican National Committee and has risen within the family during the campaigning, often appearing at her father-in-law's rallies.

She was front and center of Trump's relief efforts in North Carolina following the devastation of Hurricane Helene, and has been sounding the alarm about Harris as a woman who 'failed upwards' for months.

On Tuesday night, Eric congratulated his wife for her efforts during the campaign.

'You put your heart and soul into the job and proved them all wrong,' he wrote alongside a picture of he and his wife as votes were being counted.

The 78-year-old's daughter Ivanka took a step back from politics during this campaign after being by his side during his last presidential run, paving the way for Lara to step up

Lara, 41, is married to Trump's son Eric, and has been tirelessly campaigning on behalf of her father-in-law since he became the Republican nominee

Republican voters flooded social media with praise for the new MAGA star, noting she 'deserves so much credit for this victory' after 'saving the Republican party'

During his 2016 victory speech Ivanka was front and center with her father, offering an early glimpse into the crucial role she would play in his first presidential term.

She and her husband Jared Kushner became two of Trump's most trusted advisers and principal gatekeepers during his first administration.

But the couple were noticeably absent from this campaign, vowing to stay away from politics and focus on their family in Miami.

But even from the sidelines of the stage, Ivanka looked glamorous in a bright blue matching pant suit and bold red lip.

In his victory speech, Trump thanked wife Melania for standing by his side, gushing about her number one bestselling self-titled memoir

Even from the sidelines of the stage, Ivanka still managed to steal the show on Wednesday morning in a bright blue matching pant suit and bold red lip

Melania wore a tailored grey suit as she stood by her husband's side

'We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,' Donald Trump said during the speech.

'And it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing.'

Trump suggested during the speech at Mar-a-Lago that God spared his life during the July assassination attempt at his Butler rally.

'Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason: And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness. And now we are going to fulfil that mission together, he said.

Trump also thanked wife Melania for standing by his side, gushing about her number one bestselling self-titled memoir.

Melania seemed happy on stage, wearing a tailored grey suit as she stood by her husband's side.

Trump's 18-year-old son Barron towered over the remainder of Trump supporters on stage, hours after casting a vote for the first time.

His mother shared a photograph of Barron as he hit the polling booths in Florida, telling voters on X she was 'proud' that he had the opportunity to vote for his dad.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump alongside Lara at the Republican National Convention in July

Lara Trump and Women for Trump teamed up with Goya to deliver relief to Hurricane Helene victims

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Newly minted Vice President-elect J.D. Vance spoke for many when he said the result marked a remarkable turnaround in political fortunes.

'I thank you for the trust that you placed in me,' he said, 'and I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.

'We are going to make the greatest economic comeback, too.'

The path to victory became clear for Trump about 11.25pm, when North Carolina was officially called for Trump.

From there, a second swing state in Georgia turned red, and Pennsylvania later followed, blocking Harris from seizing power.
Donald Trump has been congratulated by world leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu, Volodymyr Zelensky and Sir Keir Starmer, as the Republican is set to become the 47th president of the United States.

Trump claimed victory in the contest after Fox News projected that he had defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House.

High-profile allies of the Republican - as well as top figures who have a history of clashing with the former president - have hailed the result as a decisive and historic victory for Trump.

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban declared it 'the biggest comeback in US political history' in a triumphant post on X.

The hard-right politician - who is widely seen as being soft on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin - congratulated Trump on an 'enormous win' and labelled his success 'a much needed victory for the world'.

The hard-right politician - who is widely seen as being soft on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin - congratulated Trump on an 'enormous win'

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Ukraine's president Zelensky also shared his congratulations, saying on X that Trump's 'peace through strength' approach could bring 'just peace' closer in the war against Russia.

NATO chief Mark Rutte said Trump's return to power would help keep the alliance 'strong', despite the former president rattling the bloc during his 2024 electoral campaign by threatening not to protect members who do not spend enough on defence.

France's president Emmanuel Macron said that he stands 'ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.'

At a glance: Who has congratulated Trump and what are they hoping for? Israel: 'Powerful recommitment'

Ukraine: 'Just peace'

NATO: 'Peace through strength'

EU: 'Strong transatlantic agenda'

France: 'Respect and ambition'

Germany: 'Remain reliable allies'

Qatar: 'Security and stability'

Turkey: 'Strengthened relations'

Egypt: 'Reaching peace'

India: 'Renewing collaboration'

South Korea: 'Brighter alliance'

Italy: 'Unshakeable ties'

UK: 'Special relationship to prosper' Advertisement

Addressing Trump as the 'president-elect', Britain's prime minister Keir Starmer wrote on social media that he looks forward to working with him in the years ahead, adding 'I know the special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come'.

Meanwhile, Israeli prime minister Netanyahu shared a highly personal message, writing on X: 'Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history's greatest comeback!'

'Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!'

Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been vocal in his condemnation of Israel during its war in Gaza and attacks on Lebanon, also called Trump his friend as he delivered his congratulatory message.

'I hope Turkey-US relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end,' the Turkish president wrote on X.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he hoped Trump's return to the White House could help bring peace to the Middle East.

'I wish him all the success... and I look forward to reaching peace together, upholding regional stability and strengthening the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States and their friendly peoples,' Sisi said on X.

India's prime minister Narendra Modi offered his 'heartiest congratulations' to his 'friend', saying he looked forward to working together 'for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.'

Italy's right-wing prime minister Giorgia Meloni shared 'sincere congratulations' on behalf of her and her government, hailing the 'unshakeable' ties between the two countries.

'Italy and the United States are 'sister' nations, linked by an unshakeable alliance, common values and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond which I am sure we will now strengthen even more,' she wrote on X.

Spain's left-wing prime minister Pedro Sanchez congratulated Donald Trump Wednesday after he claimed victory in the US presidential election and pledged to work on a 'strong transatlantic partnership'.

'Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your victory and your election as 47th President of the US. We will work on our strategic bilateral relations and on a strong transatlantic partnership,' Sanchez wrote on X.

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz shared his congratulations and wrote: 'Germany and the USA have been working together successfully for a long time to promote prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the benefit of our citizens.'

El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele, one of the first to share his congratulations before the result was called by most outlets, shared a picture of himself shaking hands with Trump on X.

'Congratulations to the President-Elect of the United States of America, May God bless and guide you,' he wrote.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated Donald Trump and posted on X to say: 'Under your strong leadership, the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance and America will shine brighter. Look forward to working closely with you.'

Israel's President Isaac Herzog responded to the result by vowing to strengthen his country's 'ironclad bond' with the US.

'Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on your historic return to the White House... I look forward to working with you to strengthen the ironclad bond between our peoples, to build a future of peace and security for the Middle East, and to uphold our shared values,' Herzog said in a statement.

Far-right ministers in Netanyahu's government celebrated, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir writing on X: 'Yesssss, God bless Trump,' and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich saying: 'God bless Israel, God bless America.'

Another member of the government, Culture Minister Miki Zohar, said: 'We are looking forward to the next four years.'

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi shared a gallery of photos of him and Trump as he called him a 'friend'

Dutch politician Geert Wilders also shared his congratulations to both Trump and America, writing on X: 'Never stop, always keep fighting and win elections!'

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that a Donald Trump win in the US election would probably be bad news for Ukraine, but said it was unclear how far Trump would be able to cut US financing for the war.

'Trump has one useful quality for us: as a businessman to the core, he mortally dislikes spending money on various hangerson and stupid hanger-on allies, on bad charity projects and on voracious international organisations,' Dmitry Medvedev, a senior security official, posted on his official Telegram account.

He said that the Ukrainian authorities fell into the category of people Trump was likely to not want to spend too much money on and suggested the Ukrainian leadership would be doing what it could to console itself if it was confirmed he had won.

'The question is how much Trump will be forced to give to the war. He's stubborn, but the system is stronger,' said Medvedev.

However, many governments and world leaders have remained quiet on Trump's victory, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he was not aware of any plans for Putin to congratulate Trump, adding that relations between the US and Russia are at a historic low.

Meanwhile, without directly mentioning Trump, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing that China hopes for 'peaceful coexistence' with the United States.

'We will continue to approach and handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation,' she said.

'We respect the choice of the American people.'
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This video is no longer available

Van Jones became emotional as he thought of the marginalized Americans who feared what Donald Trump would do as president.

Sitting on the CNN election night panel just before 1am EST, knowing Trump was almost certain to win, Jones' voice cracked as he spoke.

'I'm thinking about the people who are not part of anybody's elite, who are hurting tonight,' he said.

'There are African-American women who know a little bit about being talked down to. They know about having their economic dreams crushed.

'They tried to dream a big dream over the last couple of months. Tonight, they are trading in a lot of hope for a lot of hurt.'

Van Jones became emotional as he thought of the marginalized Americans who feared what Donald Trump would do as president

'There are African-American women who know a little bit about being talked down to. They know about having their economic dreams crushed,' Jones said

Jones mourned that American voters had rejected a black, female presidential candidate and elected a white man yet again.

'They were hoping that maybe this time, this time, one of their own could be seen as worthy. And, once again, they are facing rejection, and that hurts,' he said.

'They thought tomorrow morning they are going to walk out with their shoulders back a little bit. Maybe be able to breathe for the first time, and belong someplace.'

Instead, it would be 'harder than it should be' for them to 'hold their heads up' on Wednesday, after doing everything they could.

But they weren't the only ones hurting, Jones said, as other minorities Trump disparaged during the campaign were afraid of what he would do.

Jones mourned that American voters had rejected a black, female presidential candidate and elected a white man yet again

'If you are a parent of a trans kid, your child's face was used as a springboard to power for somebody. That doesn't feel good,' he said.

'There are going to be people tomorrow were going to be handing clothes at the dry cleaners to people who don't have papers. There are going to be people cleaning your teeth tomorrow, who don't have papers.

'They are terrified tonight.'

Jones said it was easy for Trump supporters to brag that 'the elites will get their comeuppance' when he took over, but it wasn't them who would actually suffer.

'It is the people who woke up this morning with a dream and are going to bed with a nightmare,' he said.

'Those people will pay the price for whatever Donald Trump decides to do.'

Another panelist asked Jones how he knew that many the people he was talking about didn't actually help Trump's likely victory, but Jones didn't get a chance to answer

Another panelist asked Jones how he knew that many the people he was talking about didn't actually help Trump's likely victory.

'The democratic party let those black women down,' he claimed.

Jones said he was 'going to try to' answer that point, but before he could get a word in, the coverage had to move on to a new result.

Jones served as former president Barack Obama's special advisor for green jobs in 2009 and was a civil rights advocate and lawyer.
Parents of a prestigious school where a young girl was driven to suicide from online bullying are frustrated by its lack of action to prevent further attacks and claim that the saga wasn't a one-off.

The family of Brisbane schoolgirl Ella Catley-Crawford, 12, made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support on Saturday after she attempted to take her life a week earlier.

She had spent nine months being targeted by ruthless online bullies over popular photo sharing app, Snapchat.

Ella had received an academic scholarship at Lourdes Hill College, an elite private girls school, in February this year.

She spent one term there before she moved to nearby coeducational school Redlands College in a desperate bid to escape her tormentors.

Several parents at Lourdes Hill College were shocked to hear the 'horrendous' news of Ella's passing while others blamed the school's policies on bullying and say more needs to be done to address the issue.

One mother, who wished to stay anonymous, claimed she heard about Ella's death on her way to school drop-off on Wednesday.

'I just felt sick in the stomach,' she told the Courier Mail.

The family of Ella Catley-Crawford (pictured) turned off her life support on Saturday after she attempted to take her life a week earlier due to online bullying

The school Ella (pictured) attended, Lourdes Hill College, has been accused of failing to help victims of bullying

'This is the second time something like this has happened since we have been at the school and I asked her how is the school responding to this and she said there hasn't been any conversations about it yet.'

The mother's daughter, who knew Ella, learnt of the 12-year-old's death through social media and discussions with classmates earlier in the week.

'My daughter is happy at the school but she also hasn't had the best experiences to be honest, not as much bullying but with some of her teachers,' the mother said.

'I think there are issues that aren't handled very well and it's happened before, but I even see it at work, today's society is not very well prepared to handle mental health and all those feelings, especially among young kids - so we've got lots to learn.'

Lourdes Hill College principal Kay Gleeson emailed parents on Tuesday afternoon to advise them of Ella's tragic death and to offer students support from on-campus counsellors.

'We understand that the next few weeks will be particularly difficult, and members of the community may have different responses to this tragedy,' Ms Gleeson wrote.

'We understand that our community will have many questions about this matter, however, out of respect to those affected, I ask that we avoid any speculation or discussion.

'Our students' wellbeing remains our highest priority, and we are committed to providing a caring, safe and supportive environment. We have a zero-tolerance policy against bullying, and all students participate in our age-appropriate Stella Wellbeing Program.

'Our College values remind us of our strength as a community to support each other during challenging times.'

However, the Lourdes Hill mother claimed the school wasn't doing enough to address ongoing bullying issues.

She also welcomed tougher age restrictions.

'I think the 16 age cap is 100 per cent needed, they're way too young, their brains are not developed, they don't know what's wrong and they still need adult supervision,' she said.

Ella's torment began shortly after she took up an academic scholarship at the school.

'Hyper-vigilant' mum Julie Crawford (pictured with Ella) moved her daughter to public school Redlands College after just one term, but the damage had already been done

Three Year Seven girls were suspended from Lourdes Hill College for bullying Ella (pictured) online

Her 'hyper-vigilant' mum Julie Crawford, 55, moved her to Redlands College after just one term, but says the damage had already been done.

'She was immediately happier, and the new school was great, but the bullies still got to her via the apps,' Ms Crawford told Daily Mail Australia.

The 12-year-old's torment came as no surprise to her devoted mum who had given Ella her old phone for Christmas to entertain her on the bus to and from school.

She had banned her from using apps like TikTok and Snapchat, but when Ella started Year Seven, she saw her daughter was glued to her phone screen.

'I thought she was just texting her new friends at first,' she said.

'I knew they had a Year Seven group chat, but it was Snapchat.

'I made her delete it straight away even though she told me she was being safe.

'I don't know how but she made another account and hid it from me.'

Despite Ms Crawford's repeated attempts to stamp out Ella's social media use, the bullying quickly escalated and regularly left her daughter in tears.

Then in March Ms Crawford, an HR manager, received a call from the school alleging concerns had been raised that Ella, who was then 11, had been bullying other students online.

'I told them 'I don't think so', that they had it wrong and they investigated it further,' she said.

Days later, three Year Seven girls were suspended from Lourdes College for bullying Ella online.

The school never gave Ms Crawford the details of their findings, but the damage was already done, her mum said.

Lourdes Hill College principal Kay Gleeson emailed parents on Tuesday afternoon to advise them of Ella's (pictured) tragic death and offer students support from on-campus counsellors

'I don't know exactly what it was all about,' she added.

'People had pretended to be people they were not, one girl pretended to be a boy and messages Ella sent to them were shared around to others.

'Friends started to pull away from her and she was uninvited to a birthday party with some of the kids saying they needed a break, that it was too much, that she was too much.'

Ms Crawford moved her 'bright and quirky,' daughter to Redlands College at the end of the first term in April.

But although Ella was instantly happier and making new friends, she couldn't escape the online abuse which followed her.

'Ella was so down I took her to the doctors, and she was diagnosed with depression and on medication,' her mother told Daily Mail Australia.

'But I made sure I was always around and that we had things to do to keep her busy.'

Ms Crawford says that when her daughter was distracted with things to look forward to, her 'best friend and love of her life,' was her former happy self.

But as soon as she was left with her phone, things quickly changed.

'Some days in the holidays she wouldn't get out of bed,' said her mum.

'I just hoped it wouldn't get worse but I never expected her to kill herself.'

Ms Crawford found her daughter apparently lifeless on Sunday, October 27 and began CPR while waiting for paramedics.

Ella was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane and spent a week on life support before doctors confirmed she had no brain activity.

Queensland Police have Ella's phone and iPad and are now investigating her death.

On Monday, Andrew Johnson, principal at Redlands College, sent a text message to parents of Year Seven students with details of a special counselling service.

Students in Ella's year were told of her death on the same day.

'The college will not make any formal announcements to other year levels but will invite parents to make the decision about if and when they share this news with their son or daughter,' Mr Johnson added.

Ella's heartbroken mum says without her, she has nothing left, so will now dedicate herself to raising awareness in the hope she can help others.

Ella's (pictured with her mother) family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral costs, time off work to grieve and to facilitate more awareness

Her family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral costs, time off work to grieve and to facilitate more awareness. More than $133,000 has been raised within three days.

Ella mum's issued a heartfelt plea to supporters on the online fundraiser on Wednesday, vowing to lobbying the government.

'Thank you to all of the wonderful people who took the time and their hard earned money to read our beautiful Ella's story, cut so short. Our hearts are broken and our lives changed for ever,' Ms Crawford wrote.

'Your kind and generous donations will help us to give Ella a beautiful funeral, medical bills, time to grieve and to also fund education programs about social media and children.

'If you can write to Snapchat and get them to change some settings to stop bullies and block them. We plan to rally the government in Australia for this to help save the lives of our children.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lourdes Hill College for comment.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline Australia 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36.
Dana White shocked the crowd by delivering a speech after basically commandeering the microphone during Donald Trump's victory speech.

While Trump invited the UFC boss to the stage to speak, many criticized the way he went about - although some called on the UFC boss to become the new combative White House press secretary.

White, 55, a long time friend and ally of Donald Trump, delivered a high-energy speech on Tuesday night as he joined family on stage to celebrate.

'This is what happens when the machine comes after you, what you've seen over the last several years, this is what it looks like,' White said, in reference to the hostile coverage Trump's campaign has received from the mainstream media and Democrats.

He also took the opportunity to call out several YouTubers and podcast stars.

'I want to thank some people real quick. I want to thank the Nelk Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Von, Bussin' With The Boys, and last but not least, the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan.'

Some critics slated White's speech as inappropriate for such a historic moment, but others commented the fight mogul worth $500 milllion would be perfect in a senior role in the new Trump administration.

Dana White raised eyebrows with an outlandish and brash speech during Donald Trump 's presidential acceptance rally

White was welcomed to the stage on Tuesday to a raucous reception.

'Nobody deserves this more than him,' White opened, pointing at Trump. 'And nobody deserves this more than his family does.

'This is what happens when the machine comes after you, what you've seen over the last several years, this is what it looks like.

'Couldn't stop him, he keeps moving forward. He doesn't quit, he's the most resilient and hardworking man I've ever met in my life, his family are incredible people, this is karma ladies and gentlemen he deserves this. They deserve it as a family.'

White then turned his speech towards several YouTubers and social media influencers who supported Trump during his run, a move that drew backlash from some online.

'Dana White shouted out Adin Ross and the Nelk Boys on Trump's presidential victory speech, we are so over as a nation,' one pundit said on X.

Another said: 'If you ever needed a single frame to explain the mess that is America... Dana White is on stage.'

White delivered the remarks as he joined the Trump family on stage at the victory rally

It came after Trump declared victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning as he cemented an extraordinary political comeback.

'We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,' he said. 'And it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing.'

Trump was joined on stage by family - including daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner who had been absent from the campaign - aides and political supporters.

He thanked his supporters and promised a golden age for the nation.

When he invited is running mate to the microphone, Sen. J.D. Vance said the result marked a remarkable turnaround in political fortunes.

'I thank you for the trust that you placed in me,' he said, 'and I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.'
Keir Starmer congratulated Donald Trump on his 'historic victory' today as he scrambles to prop up the Special Relationship.

The Republican is set for an extraordinary return to the presidency, with the world braced for his bullish approach.

And Sir Keir is facing a huge challenge after tensions flared over Labour supporters helping to campaign for the Democrat contender.

The PM has also repeatedly clashed with billionaire Elon Musk, who looks certain to end up playing a key role in the Trump administration.

Sir Keir said in a statement this morning: 'Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

'As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

'From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.'

Foreign Secretary David Lammy - who once branded Mr Trump a 'neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath' - said: 'The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years. We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.'

Sir Keir ordered Cabinet ministers to stay silent on the election for fear of further inflaming the situation. But MPs have been unable to resist expressing their dismay on social media this morning.

Nigel Farage has warned that Britain must 'roll out the red carpet' for Mr Trump to repair the damage.

Meanwhile, jubilant Reform MPs have been demanding that Sir Keir uses Mr Farage's close friendship with Mr Trump.

Keir Starmer is braced for the fallout from a possible Donald Trump presidency today as Labour MPs quietly hope for a Kamala Harris win

The PM has also repeatedly clashed with billionaire Elon Musk , who could end up playing a key role in a Trump (pictured) administration should the Republic emerge victorious

Sir Keir said in a statement this morning that he 'looks forward to working with' Mr Trump 'in the years ahead'

Nigel Farage said the UK must 'roll out the red carpet' for Mr Trump

Labour MPs took to social media to respond to the Trump victory in the US election

Tory frontbencher Andrew Griffith mocked Labour for sending activists to help the Harris bid

MPs have been unable to resist expressing their dismay at Kamala Harris's (pictured) defeat on social media this morning

Government sources have been playing up a private dinner Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary David Lammy had with Mr Trump in New York in September, insisting they had struck up a good relationship.

But during the bitter campaign Mr Trump's team filed an official complaint with federal election authorities accusing Labour of making 'illegal foreign national contributions'.

Around 100 activists travelled to swing states to canvass for the Harris ticket - although Labour insisted they went at their own expense.

There was also anger that senior figures from the party went to the Democratic National Convention in August and met Harris aides. The two parties have long-term ties.

In interviews at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa last month, Sir Keir tried to gloss over fears the spat could derail the Special Relationship if Mr Trump wins.

He insisted that the situation needed to be 'put in perspective' as volunteers from parties have gone to help out in 'every previous election'.

As a backbench MP in 2018, Mr Lammy wrote in Time magazine: 'Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.

'He is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long.'

And in a 2018 Times article ahead of Trump's first visit to the UK, Lammy committed to be one of 'tens of thousands on the streets, protesting against our government's capitulation to this tyrant in a toupee.'

In a round of interviews yesterday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting was asked for his views on the election.

A 'Neo-Nazi sympathiser' and a 'sad little man': The rash comments about Trump that Labour ministers are trying to forget KEIR STARMER Last year, Sir Keir compared the Conservative Party with Mr Trump as he accused the Tories of falling far from Churchillian values. 'Is there anybody in the Government now who feels a sense of obligation to anything other than their own self-interest? To democracy, the rule of law, serving our country?' he asked in a speech in Buckinghamshire. 'An entitlement to power totally unchecked by any sense of service or responsibility - that's the cultural stain that runs through the modern Conservative Party.' He added: 'These aren't Churchill's Tories any more. If anything they behave more and more like Donald Trump. They look at the politics of America and they want to bring that here. 'It's all woke, woke, woke. Wedge, wedge, wedge. Divide, divide, divide.' In June, the prime minister said following Mr Trump's hush money trial conviction that it was an 'unprecedented situation'. 'We will work with whoever is elected president ... that's what you'd expect,' Sir Keir said. 'We have a special relationship with the US that transcends whoever the president is, but it is an unprecedented situation, there is no doubt about that.' In the lead up to this year's US presidential election, Sir Keir maintained that the Government will work with whoever is president. FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID LAMMY In 2017, Mr Lammy called Mr Trump a 'racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser'. A year later, the Tottenham MP wrote in Time magazine that he would be protesting against the then-government's 'capitulation to this tyrant in a toupee', in reference to Mr Trump's first official visit to the UK. 'Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath,' Mr Lammy wrote, 'he is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long.' Asked about his past comments earlier this year, Mr Lammy said: 'Where I can find common cause with Donald Trump, I will find common cause'. He offered his congratulations to Mr Trump on Wednesday morning, saying: 'We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.' DEPUTY PM ANGELA RAYNER Ms Rayner has publicly criticised Mr Trump more than once in posts on X, formerly Twitter. On the day of the Capitol Hill riots in 2021, she tweeted: 'The violence that Donald Trump has unleashed is terrifying, and the Republicans who stood by him have blood on their hands.' Later in January that year, Ms Rayner said of the inauguration of Joe Biden as president: 'I am so happy to see the back of Donald Trump, but even more so to see @KamalaHarris as VP.' HEALTH SECRETARY WES STREETING In 2017, Mr Streeting called Trump an 'odious, sad little man' in a post on X. 'Imagine being proud to have that as your president,' he added. Asked on Tuesday about the social media post, the Health Secretary told Good Morning Britain: 'The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have been working hard to build a relationship with President Trump and his team, so that in the event that he is elected as the next president of the United States, we start with the strong working relationship which is in our national interest and in the interests of the United States as well.' ENERGY SECRETARY ED MILIBAND Mr Miliband labelled Mr Trump a 'groper' and a 'racist' in November 2016. 'The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper beggars belief,' Mr Miliband told the BBC. 'And I think we should be deeply worried about the implications for many of the things that we care about. Tackling climate change - he says it's invented by the Chinese, climate change, it's a hoax. His attitude to Russia. 'And then this fantasy about trade. I mean, this guy is anti-trade. He's an odd combination of protectionism, plus the old trickle-down formula that has got us into a lot of this mess in the first place.' Advertisement

Tory MPs ridiculed Mr Lammy for his abrupt shift on Mr Trump

He joked 'I've got lots of thoughts but not ones I'm going to share as a government minister.'

Mr Streeting was challenged about a 2017 social media post where he described Trump as an 'odious, sad, little man', adding: 'Imagine being proud to have that as your President.'

He told Good Morning Britain: 'The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have been working hard to build a relationship with President Trump and his team, so that in the event that he is elected as the next president of the United States, we start with the strong working relationship which is in our national interest and in the interests of the United States as well.

'And it's not often I would pray and aid Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party but, as he said overnight, President Trump, you know, he speaks as he finds.

'He had a very good meeting with Keir Starmer not too long ago, and of course, he'll be aware of things that we've we've all said in the past'

Mr Streeting said: 'The important thing about this relationship, this transatlantic relationship, is one of the most important alliances that Britain has.

Jubilant Reform MPs have been demanding that Sir Keir uses Nigel Farage's close friendship with Mr Trump to prop up the Special Relationship.

Some Labour MPs were unable to resist reposting pro-Democrat messages during the campaign - despite Sir Keir urging people to keep their counsel

'We have shared values and shared strategic interests, and with war on our continent, in Ukraine, war in the Middle East and wider geopolitical threats, it is in the UK and United States' national interests to work closely together.

'That won't change, whoever the occupant of the Oval Office is, and we only have hours now to wait until polls close.'

Senior government sources have poured cold water on Mr Farage's suggestion that he could act as a 'conduit' between his old ally Mr Trump and the UK government.

'That's good of him,' one said witheringly.
Embattled Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and DA Pamela Price are both almost certain to be out of a job by sunrise.

Neither of the progressive duo will last even two years as early counts of recall votes have them down about 30 per cent each with about a third of ballots tallied.

Thao is facing a huge defeat after two years of failing to address mounting city debt and the worst crime rates in two decades.

She squeaked into power in 2022 with just 50.3 per cent of the vote, but as of 12.30 on election night 64.6 per cent of voters now want her gone.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao (picture don election day) is facing a huge defeat after two years of failing to address mounting city debt and the worst crime rates in two decades.

Oakland is spending about $100 million a year more than it raises in revenue, a situation that showed no signs of improving.

The city has for as long as anyone can remember been plagued by crime, but reports rose sharply since the pandemic and are only inching down.

Should the results, which are expected to tighten somewhat, hold, Thao would be the first Oakland mayor to be recalled in the city's history.

Thao barely addressed the vote count when asked about it at her event in Oakland, instead touting selected statistics.

'Zero homicides in going on seven weeks, that has not been heard of for decades... the most streets being paved this year, not just that but we're cleaning up our streets,' she said.

'We're really proud of the work we've done, no matter what.'

Thao also insisted the budget deficit was 'inherited' and blamed it on Covid.

She claimed the recall attempt was orchestrated by a 'millionaire, who doesn't even live here, who was about to collect signatures and put out false facts'.

'But I know Oaklanders are going to be able to see through that and vote to make sure that we are in office,' she continued.

'All of the major decisions that I've made, I don't regret them.'

Pamela Price, the Alameda County district attorney whose jurisdiction includes Oakland, is similarly toast with 64.8 per cent voting to recall her

Price, the Alameda County district attorney whose jurisdiction includes Oakland, is similarly toast with 64.8 per cent voting to recall her.

She is the first black woman to serve as the county's DA, a reform candidate elected with 53 per cent of the vote on the back of Black Lives Matter.

Her agenda included rehabilitation over punishment, reducing prison population, and going after police heavy-handedness - but is already unpopular.

Barring a dramatic comeback, she will be the first Alameda County DA to ever be recalled.

Price's likely defeat followed that of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, also elected as part of the same wave of demand for reform.

He is down 38 to 62 per cent in his reelection bid against former US assistant attorney general Nathan Hochman.

Price was attacked by conservative opponents as being too soft on crime with her attempt to reduce mass incarceration by seeking shorter sentences.

Crime rose last year across California, and much of the US, and was falling again in Alameda County this year - but likely too late to save her.

Criticism of Thao was much broader, including her disastrous failure to prevent the city's finances from spiraling.

A big reason for the 2023 budget deficit was a $50 million drop in real estate transfer tax - a percentage tax on property sales.

This is volatile at the best of times, but is further hampered by the perception that Oakland is crime-ridden and in decline, so no one wants to move in.

Instead of using any kind of caution, Thao assumed the tax revenue would rebound, but of course it didn't - and the city is even deeper in debt.
Russia has boasted that Donald Trump's victory is bad news for Ukraine as France has warned Europe must 'take charge of our own destiny'.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said today that a Donald Trump win in the U.S. election would probably be bad news for Ukraine, but said it was unclear how far Trump would be able to cut U.S. financing for the war.

Trump, a Republican, claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest after Fox News projected that he had defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House.

'Trump has one useful quality for us: as a businessman to the core, he mortally dislikes spending money on various hangerson and stupid hanger-on allies, on bad charity projects and on voracious international organisations,' Dmitry Medvedev, a senior security official, posted on his official Telegram account.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has no immediate plans to congratulate Donald Trump on his election victory, according to the Kremlin, as it continues to view the United States as being 'unfriendly' towards Russia.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a fist as he takes the stage with his wife Melania and son Barron, following early results from the 2024 U.S. presidential election in Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024

Former U.S President Donald Trump, right, responds to a question during an impromptu press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, at Trump Tower, September 27, 2024

Russian president Vladimir Putin (pictured) has no immediate plans to congratulate Donald Trump on his election victory, according to the Kremlin, as it continues to view the United States as being 'unfriendly' towards Russia

The dictator's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said relations between the two countries were at a historic low, and that it was practically impossible for them to get any worse.

Moscow is watching events closely and analysing statements made by American politicians about Russia, he said, urging people not to forget that the US is 'directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.'

Peskov said the US was capable of changing the trajectory of its foreign policy, but 'we'll see in January', when Trump takes office, if that happens.

Meanwhile, Medvedev said that the Ukrainian authorities fell into the category of people Trump was likely to not want to spend too much money on and suggested the Ukrainian leadership would be doing what it could to console itself if it was confirmed he had won.

'The question is how much Trump will be forced to give to the war. He's stubborn, but the system is stronger,' said Medvedev.

But Sam Greene, Professor of Russian Politics at King's College London, said Ukraine is 'unlikely to be the most important thing on Trump's agenda'.

'He will quickly find himself embroiled in the push and pull of politics in Washington.

'An abject American capitulation to Russia's ambitions in Ukraine would, of course, be disastrous to American national security and its broader interests. Whether Trump actually cares about that is a different story.'

Dr Zeno Leoni, lecturer in defence studies at KCL, said: 'EU's officials have been preparing for a Trump victory. They see two main consequences, such as the end of US support for Ukraine and a new wave of tariffs.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev (left), now a senior Kremlin security official, pictured with Vladimir Putin (right)

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump points to his wife former US First Lady Melania Trump during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, early on November 6, 2024

Vladimir Putin has no immediate plans to congratulate Donald Trump on his election victory, according to the Kremlin

'Many believe that this might weaken the relationship with the US and accelerate a process of defence integration across the EU.'

He added: 'But it is also unlikely to win him any political capital in DC, and in fact it is likely to cost him quite a bit, and that's something he does care about, or at least something he has cared about in the past.'

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump and highlighted the 'strong bipartisan support' in the US for his country in its fight against Russia.

There are concerns among Ukraine's allies that US support for Ukraine could wane under a Trump presidency.

Mr Zelensky said: 'I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.

'We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump's decisive leadership.

'We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations.

'Ukraine, as one of Europe's strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the transatlantic community with the support of our allies.

'I am looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's strategic partnership with the United States.'

Ukrainians have expressed worry over Trump's victory, saying they fear the US aid could start to dry up.

US presidential election hopeful Kamala Harris (left) with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (right)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump (right), shake hands during their meeting in the Trump Tower in New York, New York, USA, 27 September 2024

Natalia Pichakchi, who fled the southern city of Mariupol that is now controlled by Russian forces after a brutal siege in 2022, said: 'It's worrying. It's disturbing. Something will change; there will not be the same kind of support as before.'

Behind closed doors, some Ukrainian officials have remained optimistic about a Trump presidency and have advocated a wait-and-see-approach.

That cautious optimism was echoed by Tetiana Podleska, who works in IT and speculated that future US support for Ukraine did not hinge entirely on who was president.

'I think his role is a bit exaggerated that he will drastically change something for the worse,' she said, conceding however that Trump was unlikely to improve Ukraine's position in the conflict.

'It won't change for the better, that's for sure. But I don't think it will stop completely,' she added, referring to American backing.

Olga Prykhodko, a teacher in Kyiv, said the election results underscored that Ukraine had to make even greater efforts at home to make sure it could prevail in the war.

'Because our lives, our country's future is in our hands,' she said.

Yet she was still hoping that Ukraine's allies abroad would make good on promises to stand with the war-battered country.

'I'm concerned that support could decrease, but I hope that reason and democratic principles will prevail in the world,' she said.

Igor Stryzheus, a 52-year-old resident of the Ukrainian capital, was less upbeat about the outlook for Ukraine with Trump in the White House.

'It worries everyone. It worries the whole world - not only Ukraine,' he said. 'We'll have to wait and see what happens next.'

It comes as the French government said that Europe must be willing to 'take charge of its own destiny' as Trump appeared close to winning the US presidential election.

French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) said on Wednesday that he had held talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the phone, over working to defend Europe's interests following a suspected Trump victory

'It was agreed to coordinate closely with each other on this issue,' Olaf Scholz's (pictured) spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said

'We must not ask ourselves what the United States will do, but what Europe is capable of doing,' Maud Bregeon told the RTL broadcaster.

'In a number a key sectors - defence, industrial recovery, decarbonisation - we must take charge of our own destiny.'

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that he had held talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the phone, over working to defend Europe's interests following a suspected Trump victory.

'It was agreed to coordinate closely with each other on this issue,' Scholz's spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said.

Macron said he and Scholz will work on 'a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe' after the US presidential election.

They would do this while 'cooperating with the United States of America and defending our interests and values,' he said on X.
A Hollywood actor who was freed from prison during Keir Starmer's controversial early release scheme is on the run just weeks later.

Jason Hoganson, 53, gave a thumbs up in September after he was released halfway through an 18-month sentence for assaulting his ex girlfriend.

He was freed on the same day 1,700 other prisoners were released under measures to tackle overcrowding.

But the actor was rearrested just 48 hours later on suspicion of two counts of breaching a restraining order and one count of assault.

Police have struggled to find him after he breached his licence conditions and officers are now hunting for the actor to put him back behind bars.

Officers have published a photo of his very distinctive face to ask for the public's help locating him - but warned them not to try to harbour the wanted man.

Jason Hoganson, with his face crisscrossed with angry scars and his head covered in distinctive tattoos, gave a jubilant thumbs up to the camera as he left prison

Jason Hoganson was released after being jailed for 18 months at Newcastle Crown Court

Police have struggled to find him after he breached his licence conditions and evaded the force that is hunting for the actor to put him back behind bars

With a face crisscrossed with angry scars, a head covered in tattoos and a big chunk of his ear missing, his is not a face you would soon forget.

Posting a photo of him on social media, Northumbria Police said: 'We are asking for help to locate Jason Hoganson. Hoganson, 53, is wanted for recall to prison for breaching his licence conditions.

'It is believed that Hoganson is actively evading arrest and that he could be anywhere in our Force area or County Durham.

'Anyone who sees Hoganson should not approach him and instead contact us immediately. Please be aware that harbouring a wanted person is an offence and those involved could face prosecution.'

Hoganson - who rose to fame after starring in cult 80s film Empire State - was jailed for 18 months in HMP Durham after brutally attacking his ex-girlfriend in the street.

But the fallen star gave a jubilant thumbs up to the camera as he left prison just 19 days later.

The 53-year-old actor seen outside HM Prison Durham on September 10

Jason Hoganson pictured at the time of his appearance in 1987 movie Empire State

Originally from Wallsend, Hoganson - who now has 109 convictions on his record - struggled with his movie career and fell into a life of drink, drugs and crime.

Hoganson had a leading role in the 1988 Hollywood movie Empire State, alongside Irish actor Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and US star Martin Landau.

Playing an enigmatic Geordie drifter living among mobsters in London, Hoganson had been talent-scouted by producers who contacted his drama teacher looking for a youth to play the part in the 1987 movie.

Newcastle Crown Court previously heard Hoganson was caught on doorbell video camera when he attacked his former partner in Newcastle on December 11 last year.

Prosecutor Amy Levitt said he already had a restraining order to keep him away from the woman when he attacked her.

Miss Levitt told the court at the time: 'Footage shows the defendant assaulting the complainant. He slaps her to the face and she walks away. He walks after her.

'There are further hits and a push, where she falls to the floor. The assault continues while she's lying on the floor.

'She describes him, having pushed her, hit her, kicked her and put his body weight on her. The assault lasted around three minutes.'

Ian Crook, defending, told the court: 'He was an accomplished actor. He actually secured a role, quite a leading role, in a film, a crime thriller.

Hoganson struggled with his early success after starring in Empire State, and his life descended into crime and addictions

After auditioning more than 100 teenage hopefuls, producers offered Hoganson the part of Geordie drifter Pete, and he starred alongside Irish actor Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and US star Martin Landau. Pictured is a scene from the film

'At that point the future was bright.'

Mr Crook said Hoganson already had personal struggles at that point and added: 'Being thrown into the spotlight wasn't easy for him to cope with. He turned to drink and drugs and that led to a downward spiral.'

He said Hoganson has a complex mental health history but has been a mentor for others while in prison on remand.

Hoganson, of no fixed address, admitted assault by beating and breach of a restraining order.

Judge Tim Gittins sentenced Hoganson to 18 months behind bars, most of which he has already served on remand.

Miss Levitt said Hoganson had been given a restraining order to keep him away from the victim after he was convicted of offences of battery and criminal damage in May last year.

He was due to stand trial on October 30 at South Shields Magistrates' Court.
LOBAMBA  Members of Parliament called to question the budget allocation to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), yet the institution has not achieved any successful prosecutions.

The ACC is investigating 254 cases and registered 28 complaints in the current second quarter. Though it registered 28 complaints in the past three months, 22 of those cases were converted to investigations and three were referred to other agencies, such as the Royal Eswatini Police service, Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

The ACCs current budget allocation for the financial year 2024/25 is E24 460 839. Dvokodvweni MP Sifiso Shabalala, said it is worrying that no case was finalised in court.

Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba wanted to know why there was no progress in the investigation of cases at the ACC. Mafutseni MP Sabelo Mtetwa said the statistics on cases dealt with by the ACC were too low, despite that corruption is rampant.

They must not only arrest dagga dealers, but many other criminals, he said. On another note, Members of Parliament (MP) have raised concern that the judicial system must be adequately funded from government coffers, to avoid State capture by agencies with deep pockets. Hhukwini MP Lushaba said the director of public prosecution has 10 units aimed at investigating and curbing crime, but they all rely on being supported by the international community with funding.

He warned that the saying; he who pays the piper calls the tunes could hold true for Eswatini, after those who invested their money in the judicial system start dictating the course of justice to be taken. During the debate of the performance report for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the MPs challenged Minister Prince Simelane, to ensure that the Judiciary addresses the concerns raised by MPs.

MP Lushaba said he is certain that if another Sibaya (Peoples Parliament)was to be called, all that the people said about the justice system last year would be repeated. He said if the Judiciary continues to fail to implement recommendations of Parliament, while hiding under the guise of Section 141 (a regulation presumed to avoid public officials interference into the Judiciary), Parliament also reserves the right to act likewise.

Budget

If the concerns we have about the Judiciary are not rectified, we wish to say that we will also apply Section 141 and withhold their budget until they comply. MP Lushaba said the ministry did not even sanction the Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) into the Master of the High Court yet it continued. He wondered which budget was being used for the work of the JCI.He said at the JCI, those in the Judiciary were merely investigating themselves, such that there is little hope of a substantial breakthrough in the cases brought to it.

Nothing at the Ministry of Justice has been done to make emaSwati happy. These are merely administrative accounts of the state of affairs in the ministry and do very little to address the concerns on the Judiciary. It has been a year since Sibaya said things, but I wonder if the ministry is happy about progress. Lushaba wondered why the ministry was allocated a lesser budget than the Judiciary. On another note, he said it is wrong for Parliament to be continually expected to approve monies for the Judiciary, even if it does not respond to Parliament concerns.

Tension

People say Parliament is for sale, but we refute this. We are not for sale, he said. MP Thandeka Mavuso asked the minister if he had done something to resolve the tension between the chief justice (CJ) and the Law Society of Swaziland. The minister appealed with Lushaba not to withhold the budget, saying there was a lot of progress in the ministry. He also said his ministry had good relations with the Judiciary. The minister said the Judiciary was allocated E110 million and is released on a quarterly basis. The released funds by the end of the second quarter amounted to E62 615 801 and the total expenditure plus commitments was E45 585 563.91.
Donald Trump's dominant victory in the US presidential election over Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris has split opinions and triggered strong reactions from the world's media.

While one European newspaper represented the new president-elect with an image of Sesame Street character 'Oscar the Grouch' emerging from a dustbin coloured orange, others lauded the Republican's 'historic' success at the polls and poked fun at Harris as her bid for the presidency 'sank into the ground'.

Trump, who at 78 becomes America's oldest president-elect and the first to ever win re-election after suffering a defeat, pulled out a commanding lead early on as votes trickled in and went on to comfortably secure a second term in the White House.

The first domino fell hours after voting concluded at around 4:30am GMT (11:30pm ET) when North Carolina became the first of the seven battleground states to plump for Trump, awarding all 16 Electoral College votes to the firebrand Republican.

Georgia quickly followed, giving Trump the support of two out of seven swing states as Kamala's hopes of securing a first presidential term began slipping away.

Upon securing all 19 electoral college votes from lynchpin state Pennsylvania, the Republican candidate jumped the gun and declared victory even before achieving the 270-vote majority needed to seal his next stint in the Oval Office.

That move was seized upon by many outlets across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, while other media organisations chose to highlight the collapse of Harris' campaign.

Here, MailOnline reviews the global reaction to what is seen by many as the world's most important political contest.

Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine featured a picture of Oscar the Grouch in his original orange colour in a reference to Donald Trump

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Norway's Dagbladet

Italy's La Repubblica

The Times of Israel

Europe

The possibility of a Trump victory was a divisive topic in Europe.

Many governments and media outlets were wary of the 45th President of the United States also becoming the 47th, primarily over fears he could row back support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

There are also concerns over Trump's attitude to trade deals, given he has floated the idea of a 10% tariff on all goods imported into the US, threatened to impose a 200% tariff on some imported cars, and suggested that the European Union could see even higher duties placed on its goods.

Germany's Der Spiegel took perhaps the most bleak view of the result, writing that America was 'on the brink of tipping into authoritarianism' and claiming Trump had 'sown hatred'.

Spanish paper El Pais wrote: 'Trump declares himself the winner' and quoted a line from his speech in Florida that read 'we are going to fix everything that is wrong with this country'.

Italy's La Repubblica, France's Le Parisien and the Netherlands' De Telegraaf all went in on Trump 'self-proclamation' that he had won the election, explaining how he had told supporters: 'Thank you for electing me 47th president of the United States'.

De Telegraaf and La Repubblica also pointed out Trump's high praise of Tesla, SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk - one of the Republican's most high-profile supporters.

Musk's X social media platform is seen as having contributed significantly to the election result, and Trump referred to the South African-born tech mogul as a 'super genius' in his premature victory speech.

Critics say it has amplified Republican voices and was used by Musk and associates to promote Trump, while supporters say X is simply acting as a counterweight to the heavily left-leaning American mainstream media.

Prior to Musk's takeover, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter was accused of suppressing free speech and Republican commentators while preventing the sharing of news stories deemed counter to the Democratic narrative.

Germany's Der Spiegel

Germany's Bild

France's Le Parisien

Russia's RIA Novosti

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Other outlets chose instead to focus on the apparent downfall of Kamala Harris after most polls leading up to yesterday's election projected a close race that was well within the margin of error.

'Brutal night for Harris', Germany's Bild wrote, as Norway's Dagbladet piled in with a picture of the Democratic nominee looking defeated with the simple headline: 'That sunk into the ground,' above the strapline: 'The last message from Kamala Harris' campaign came even before anyone declared Donald Trump the winner.'

Harris' campaign declared late Tuesday that the Vice President would not be speaking at her official election party until the next day, perhaps in recognition her chances at the White House were dwindling by the minute.

In Ukraine, the homepages of the Kyiv Post and Kyiv Independent both featured several articles about the US election.

The Post led with President Volodymyr Zelensky's comments in which he congratulated Trump on his election win.

'We Look Forward to Era of Strong United States,' he said - a quote that featured at the top of the page on Wednesday morning.

The Kyiv Independent, meanwhile, led with Trump's claim in his victory speech that he was 'going to stop the wars'.

Russian news site RIA also chose to focus on Harris' downfall, building their main article around former Russian president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev's comments that the Democrat was 'finished'.

Finally, as Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban congratulated Trump on a 'much-needed victory for the world', leading political and economic magazine HVG wrote that 'a golden age is coming'.

Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at King's College London, told MailOnline: 'If Trump does indeed implement very large across-the-board tariff increases, this will be a severe shock to the global economy, including the UK.

Sam Greene, Professor of Russian Politics at Kings College London, added with respect to Moscow's war with Kyiv: 'Ukraine is unlikely to be the most important thing on Trump's agenda, and he will quickly find himself embroiled in the push and pull of politics in Washington.

'An abject American capitulation to Russia's ambitions in Ukraine would, of course, be disastrous to American national security and its broader interests. Whether Trump actually cares about that is a different story.'

Military Sciences Director at the RUSI think tank, Matthew Savill, added: '(Trump's) desire for a deal  and probably a quick one  does not bode well for sustained US support, especially with the current pressure on Ukraine.

'Trump will have to contend with Congress, but there is significant scepticism about Ukraine amongst many Republicans, and a general US focus towards China.'

Spain's El Pais

The Netherlands' De Telegraaf

South China Morning Post

The Japan Times

The Kyiv Post

The Kyiv Independent

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Asia

Recent years have seen competition between the US and China across the political, economic, technological and military realms intensify significantly.

Under Trump, this rivalry is expected to heat up even more, with the Republican declaring intentions to dramatically reduce America's reliance on products manufactured and exported by Beijing.

He has proposed phasing out Chinese imports of goods such as electronics, steel and pharmaceuticals over his four years in office and seeks to implement significant restrictions to crack down on Chinese companies seeking to buy American real estate and invest in energy and tech infrastructure.

Asia's biggest English-language media outlet, the South China Morning Post, went in on the threat of tariffs, writing that China would 'serve' on higher fees for exports and pointing out that Beijing communicated it would 'respect the choice of the US' to elect Trump.

China's Global Times also wrote a single article stating that China's foreign ministry would 'handle US ties based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation' in the wake of Trump's success.

Elsewhere, the Japan Times said Trump was set to defeat his rival Harris but declined to praise the Republican, adding such a scenario could 'usher in another era of uncertainty'.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency focused on Trump's talking points, lauding his 'magnificent victory' and his promise to deliver a 'strong, safe and prosperous' America.

Seoul and Washington have collaborated closely in recent years in tech and defence amid the threat of North Korea and competition with China.

India Today, the largest English-language outlet and one of the most widely circulated papers in the most populous country on Earth, appeared to approve of the US election result.

The outlet covered in detail Trump's victory, lauding the historic nature of his campaign as the oldest president-elect and pointing out that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his 'friend'.

Dr Philip Shetler-Jones, RUSI's Senior Research Fellow for Indo-Pacific Security, told MailOnline how a second Trump presidency could impact the region.

'A second Trump Presidency will cause concern in the region about disruption flowing from intensification of the ''America first'' principle in US trade policy. Economic policy has always been a weakness of the US 'pivot' to the Indo-Pacific, and the Trump victory may widen the economic divide across the Pacific.

'American allies in the region will anticipate renewed pressure to contribute more for their security. Leaders will seek to establish good personal relations with the President elect to make a good case for stable relations, and to control the risk of sharp changes of direction.

'Competition with China is likely to be the priority of a second Trump term and shape security policy in the region, but the intention will be to avoid conflict under an approach of ''peace through strength''.'

India Today

China's Global Times

Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabiya

Iran International

Middle East

The US election comes with the Middle East mired in conflict and concerns that the chaos could soon engulf the entire region.

Israel's ongoing war with Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon - not to mention the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran - mean that a Trump presidency could have significant consequences for the regional security landscape.

The Times of Israel reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump's success after defeat in 2020 as 'history's greatest comeback'.

It also wrote about how Trump vowed to 'stop wars' rather than start them and said that God had 'spared his life' in a recent assassination attempt to 'restore America to greatness'.

Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabiya called the former president's win over Harris a 'stunning comeback' and praised Trump's effort to bounce back after losing out in 2020 to Joe Biden.

Qatar-owned Al-Jazeera followed the tack of many European outlets and chose simply to focus on Trump's premature declaration of victory - though his presidency has now been confirmed.

In Iran meanwhile, most of the press were reluctant to cover the election at all after Tehran played down the importance of the US election.

At the time of writing, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency had not published any stories about Trump's victory, only a small article acknowledging that votes were being counted.

The Mehr news agency meanwhile simply shared an article by US outlet The Hill before going on to publish stories about Iranian satellites coming online.

But opposition news organisation Iran International published a large spread on Trump's success and highlighted Tehran's dismissal of the impact the election may have in the region.

'Although the Biden administration has been unable to rein in Netanyahu's assertive security policy, a Trump administration will be even more inclined to let him and any incoming prime minister in Israel continue to pursue a military offensive to securitise Israel's border,' Dr Zeno Leoni, Lecturer in Defence Studies and Lau China Institute affiliate at King's College London, told MailOnline.

This can be evidenced by Trump's support for a US embassy in Jerusalem and for Israel's settlers to further expand into the West Bank.

'Given his track record on Iran  he scrapped the Iran nuclear deal  it is unlikely that Trump will seek to prevent an Israel attack on Iran.'
Donald Trump was joined by his glamorous daughter on stage for the first time this campaign as he declared a historic victory in the US election.

Ivanka Trump, 43, made an appearance at her father's Mar-a-Lago election party to witness the Republican leader's astonishing political comeback.

President-elect Trump had a huge circle of support with him on stage, including from his other daughter Tiffany, 31, his sons Eric, 40, and Donald Trump Jr, 46, and his granddaughter Kai, 17.

The Republican leader's daughters-in-law, Lara Trump, the wife of Eric, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr's fiancee, also joined in the jubilant celebrations.

Wearing a blue velvet suit, Ivanka beamed alongside her husband, Jared Kushner, as she listened to her father declare: 'Frankly this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time.'

Mr Trump thanked his 'beautiful wife' Melania, who was stood by his side, and his 'amazing' children.

He said: 'I want to thank my whole family, my amazing children  and they are amazing children. Now we all think our children are amazing. Everybody here thinks their children are amazing  but that's a good thing when you think they are. But Don, Eric, Ivanka, Tiffany, Baron, Lara, Jared, Kimberly, Michael  thank you all.'

Donald Trump was joined by his glamorous daughter Ivanka (pictured) on stage for the first time this campaign as he declared victory in the US election

Donald Trump smiles on stage as he is flanked by his wife Melania (right) and his daughter-in-law Lara (left)

Tiffany Trump is pictured on stage with Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr's fiancee

Donald Trump's granddaughter Kai Madison was supporting her father as he delivered his speech

(L-R) Former US First Lady Melania Trump, Barron Trump, Viktor Knavs, Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner listen to the Republican leader

It comes amid rumours that Ivanka is considering a return to politics.

Ivanka and her husband have remained noticeably absent from Trump's campaign, with some even mocking Ivanka when she posted the 16 lessons she has learned as she turned 43 just hours before the election, while her siblings were out campaigning.

She had earlier vowed to stay away from politics, after she and Kushner became two of the former president's most trusted advisers and principal gatekeepers during his first administration.

But sources have suggested the former First Daughter may once again stand by her father's side if he retakes the White House.

Following Trump's loss in the 2020 election, Ivanka and Jared decided to lay low in Miami with their three young children.

Ivanka concentrated on her role as a mother and on her old socialite lifestyle, earning her way back into the good books of pro-Democrat celebrity circles.

Meanwhile, Jared concentrated on making lots of money from investors in foreign countries, people he'd met while in government and who have since piled millions into his private equity firm.

The former First Daughter later released a carefully-worded statement after failing to attend her father's announcement in November 2022 that he would once again run for president.

Former US First Lady Melania Trump held hands with her husband as he declared victory

Usha Vance, the wife of Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, was also on stage

Ivanka Trump and her husband look on as Donald Trump addresses supporters at his rally

Donald Trump declares victory in the US election, supported by family members on stage at Mar-a-Lago. His daughter Kai, 17, is seen on the left

Lara and Eric Trump pose for a photo as Donald Trump declares victory in the US elections

Trump's granddaughter Kai shared this tweet from the celebration, posting: 'No one works harder or cares more about the American people. Congratulations Grandpa, I love you!'

'I love my father very much,' she said at the time. 'This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family.

'I do not plan to be involved in politics.'

Ivanka listened to her father telling the crowd at West Palm Beach: 'Look what happened - is this crazy?' - adding: 'I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president.

'I will fight for you and your family and your future, every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.'

But she appeared to be on the sidelines as Trump's daughter-in-law Lara flanked him alongside Melania.

As Trump told the American people he had 'made history', Lara stood proudly to his right, wearing a long sleeved sheer black top and black slacks.

Trump's granddaughter Kai quickly congratulated the Republican leader on his victory, sharing a photo of them at Mar-a-Lago with the caption: 'No one works harder or cares more about the American people. Congratulations Grandpa, I love you!'

Kai has surfaced as a social media sensation, largely due to the quality of her golf game.
Aldi today revealed the locations of 11 new supermarkets it plans to open across Britain over the coming weeks before Christmas, including a store in London.

Doors will open at new outlets at Sedgley in the West Midlands and Castle Douglas in Scotland this week as the German discount chain battles for festive shoppers.

Further stores are also set to open later this month at Muswell Hill in North London, Horsham in West Sussex, Loanhead in Midlothian and Pwllheli in North Wales.

And the expansion continues next month with supermarkets set to open at Totton in Hampshire, Cribbs Causeway in Bristol and Macduff in Banffshire before Christmas.

There will also be new Aldi stores welcoming customers in December at Hetton-le-Hole in Tyne and Wear and Ashton-in-Makerfield in Greater Manchester.

Aldi was named the cheapest supermarket of 2023 by consumer group Which? (file image)

The supermarket said it was also refurbishing more than of its existing 15 stores within the next two months, as the fight for Christmas shoppers intensifies.

11 Aldi stores opening before Christmas 2024 Bilston Street, Sedgley, West Midlands  November 2024

Oakwell Road, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway  November 2024

Tanbridge Retail Park, Horsham, West Sussex  November 2024

Straiton Road, Loanhead, Midlothian  November 2024

Muswell Hill, Haringey, Greater London  November 2024

Caernavon Road, Pwllheli, Gwynedd  November 2024

Salisbury Road, Totton, Hampshire  December 2024

Cribbs Causeway, Bristol  December 2024

Colliery Lane, Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear - December 2024

Princess Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester - December 2024

Duff Street, Macduff, Banffshire - December 2024 Advertisement

Aldi has already announced a 'long-term target' of 1,500 UK stores, and said it was investing 800million in expanding its presence in the country this year.

Jonathan Neale, Aldi UK's real estate managing director, said: 'At Aldi, we're committed to making high-quality, affordable food accessible to everyone.

'Our new store openings are a testament to our ongoing investment in the UK, and we're thrilled to bring Aldi's unbeatable prices to even more communities ahead of the festive season.'

Aldi also said in today's announcement that its store assistants receive starting pay of 12.40 per hour, with those based in London earning 13.65 per hour.

In addition, the firm claimed it remains the only supermarket to give staff paid breaks, which is worth more than 900 a year for the average store worker.

It comes two days after Sainsbury's revealed it will price match up to 200 Aldi products in its smaller stores  saying it was becoming the first UK supermarket group to extend such a scheme into its convenience stores.

Sainsbury's confirmed its Aldi Price Match scheme would become available in 1,400 of its shops - now including 800 smaller stores in addition to 600 supermarkets already.

The firm said Sainsbury's Local stores would now carry up to 200 products price matched to Aldi, including milk, bread, butter, pasta, rice and chicken.

Aldi was named the cheapest supermarket of 2023 by consumer group Which?. Tesco, Asda, and Morrisons all price match Aldi on some products in their larger stores.

In September, an investigation by the BBCs Panorama claimed that dozens of Tesco products the supermarket price-matched to Aldi were not like-for-like.

Sainsbury's said this week its Aldi Price Match scheme would become available in Local stores

Items including chicken nuggets, blackcurrant squash and chicken kievs were found to contain less of their main ingredient compared to their Aldi equivalents, according to the study.

Tesco said at the time that it constantly reviewed the quality of its products and had clear processes in place to ensure its price-match products were comparable to Aldi.

While Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons also offer Aldi price-matched products, Panorama did not find clear evidence of a pattern of consistent differences in the amounts of main ingredients in their items compared with the discounter's equivalents.

Last month, Sainsbury's said it would be hiring 20,000 more shop workers, warehouse staff and drivers for the Christmas period as the retailer prepares for festive shoppers.

Hourly pay for in-store and warehouse employees ranges from 12 to 13.50, depending on the location and the role, and between 13 and 14.65 for drivers.
The US Presidential election hadn't even been declared yet, but right on cue the Australian Greens were already frothing at the mouth about Donald Trump's imminent political success.

For some, democracy is only a wonderful thing when your people win.

The minor party, most likely to control the balance of power in the event Anthony Albanese loses his majority at the next federal election, has led the charge attacking the soon to be US President-elect.

Greens leader Adam Bandt, unusually, was the most reasonable Green parliamentarian on social media, tweeting 'this is a pretty terrifying outcome for many of us'.

But once his team started to take aim at Trump, it didn't take long for Bandt as leader to follow them.

Senator Jordon Steele-John led the charge, simply tweeting 'end AUKUS' - a reference to Australia's $368bn nuclear submarine deal with the UK and the USA - as though isolating Australia from its number one ally is the best way to go, especially if you think re-electing Trump will only add to global instability.

Soon afterwards Bandt issued a media release demanding Labor cancel the AUKUS agreement altogether.

Senator Larissa Waters posted: 'Like many of you, I'm still in shock that a misogynist, sexist and racist conman who doesn't accept climate science looks likely to have been elected to lead a global power that Australia has so many ties to.'

Greens Senator Larissa Waters (pictured) said she was in 'shock that a misogynist, sexist and racist conman' looked likely to be the next president

Donald Trump (pictured with his wife Melania) claimed victory, saying 'this is the greatest political movement of all time'

Unless you decide to emulate Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden and label Trump supporters 'deplorables' or 'garbage', surely the more useful thing to understand is why so many mainstream Americans are prepared to vote for Trump despite all his failings.

Many who voted for Trump are sick of the political class and the way many on the left choose to lecture the mainstream with a contempt that they can barely hide - such as the Greens are doing again now.

At time of publication Trump looks set to even win the popular vote - not just a majority of the Electoral College, the state-based voting system that determines who is elected President.

The attitude dismissing the mainstream is not limited to US political decision making. Trump isn't the cause of political problems in the US, he is a symptom of them. Understanding what they are, in a bid to address them, is the cure.

That includes understanding the attitude in voter-land that gets Trump elected, twice now, and therefore allows the likes of Trump to succeed despite his well-documented failings.

The problem with such an approach is it would require some self reflection on the part of the self appointed guardians of what is right and wrong. Self-reflection isn't exactly a strong suit for the Greens.

Nor is it for the cabal of commentators who were also quick to attack the looming democratic result in the world's most famous and powerful democracy.

Greens leader Adam Bandt (pictured) has taken aim at Trump by declaring the Labor party should cancel the AUKUS agreement

Mike Carlton, presumably joking at least, tweeted 'it might just be possible for us to seal a defence treaty with our biggest customer. CHINAU.'

I'm not sure holding military hands with a genocidal dictatorship is necessarily the lesser of evils compared with tolerating another four years of a democratically elected Trump as US President.

Legal blog Justinian's tweet delineating between Democrat and Republican states - with the South labelled 'dumbf***istan' while the Democratic west and east coast along with the and Great Lakes regions described as 'America' - neatly summarises the elites' contempt for the mainstream.

I personally would rather Trump didn't return as President, not least of all because of the way he carried on when he lost four years ago.

But at least he knows how to upset the right people.

That said, the outrage brigade is always easily upset.

Perhaps they should be grateful for Trump's return. He'll give them plenty more to whinge about, that's for sure.
Using nuns and monks as human shields does sound like a tactic of Johnny Depp's swashbuckler Captain Jack Sparrow.

But this was no Hollywood storyline, it was what famed Welsh-born pirate Captain Henry Morgan was accused of in the foundational text for the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Now, an 'extremely rare' complete copy of De Americaensche Zee-Roovers, by Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin, which was published in 1678, has emerged for sale.

The Dutch book, which is expected to sell for up to 70,000 when it comes up for auction at Bonhams, is regarded as the first witness report of life on board a pirate ship.

However, the work led to a high-profile libel trial that pitted Exquemelin against his former ship mate Morgan, who was furious at the author's depiction of him as a torturer.

An extremely rare complete copy of the foundational text of the Pirates of the Caribbean has emerged for sale. In De Americaensche Zee- Roovers, author Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin accused English pirate Henry Morgan of using nuns and monks as human shields. Above: The book; right, its depiction of Morgan

Johnny Depp seen as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Morgan successfully sued the publishers of the English edition, and the passage about him having used nuns and monks as human shields in what is now Panama were removed.

But Exquemelin's book still sparked a fascination with pirates that still endures to this day.

The hugely popular Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, which starred Depp and began in 2003, was the ultimate culmination of that interest.

De Americaensche Zee- Roovers was also the main text that revealed the so-called Golden Age of Piracy to the world.

The copy being sold in London is the first to appear for 130 years. Only a handful of Dutch editions are held by institutions around the world.

The Dutch book, which is expected to sell for up to 70,000 when it comes up for auction at Bonhams, is regarded as the first witness report of life on board a pirate ship

Matthew Haley, managing director of Bonhams, said: 'The image of a pirate with a Johnny Depp-like moustache and goatee beard and the whole myth of a pirate really comes from this book.'

He added: 'The author was on board buccaneering ships in the Caribbean, so it is an eyewitness account.

'While copies of the other editions and other translations have come up for auction, we haven't been able to find this edition coming up in more than 130 years.

'There are a handful in public libraries but it is an extremely rare book.'

Exquemelin's book sparked a fascination with pirates that still endures to this day

Although he was regarded as a pirate in the Caribbean, Morgan was working for the English Commonwealth to facilitate British trade.

He led buccaneer missions to take over Spanish strongholds in the Caribbean, but fell out of favour with King Charles II when he attacked Panama in 1671, in defiance of a peace treaty.

But he soon regained the monarch's affections and was later appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, where he died in 1688.

The copy of De Americaensche Zee-Roovers is being sold by a US-based seller via Bonhams in London on November 20.
Sadiq Khan insisted Londoners will be 'fearful' about the Donald Trump's stunning US election win today.

The mayor risked stoking his long-running feud with the Republican president-elect as the historic results poured in from states.

Mr Khan and Mr Trump clashed as recently as May when he slammed the American politician's jibe that London was 'unrecognisable' because the city had 'opened its doors to jihad'.

As he celebrated winning a third term as mayor earlier this year, Mr Khan said Londoners had 'slammed the door shut' on Mr Trump's 'hard-right populism'.

Mr Khan voiced concerns over the summer that a Trump victory would spark a surge in hate towards himself and his family.

He has urged Keir Starmer to take a more openly critical approach to his foe over issues such as women's rights, saying Labour 'shouldn't pretend' they were not supporting Kamala Harris.

Sadiq Khan risked stoking his long-running feud with the Republican president-elect as the historic results poured in from states

Mr Khan and Mr Trump (pictured with wife Melania) clashed as recently as May when he slammed the American politician's jibe that London was 'unrecognisable' because the city had 'opened its doors to jihad'

In a statement released this morning, Mr Khan pointedly did not offer any congratulations, saying: 'I know that many Londoners will be anxious about the outcome of the US Presidential election.

'Many will be fearful about what it will mean for democracy and for women's rights, or how the result impacts the situation in the Middle East or the fate of Ukraine. Others will be worried about the future of NATO or tackling the climate crisis.

'London is - and will always be - for everyone. We will always be pro-women, pro-diversity, pro-climate and pro-human rights.

'London is a place where we're proud of our diversity, proud of the contribution of all our communities and proud of our spirit of unity. These are some of the values that will continue to bind us together as Londoners.'

'The lesson of today is that progress is not inevitable.

'But asserting our progressive values is more important than ever - re-committing to building a world where racism and hatred is rejected, the fundamental rights of women and girls are upheld, and where we continue to tackle the crisis of climate change head on.'

In an interview with the New Statesman in August, Mr Khan voiced support for Mr Trump's rival Kamala Harris.

He praised the Democrat nominee's pick of running mate Tim Walz, as he compared it to Mr Trump's choice of JD Vance as his vice-presidential hopeful.

Mr Khan also urged his Labour colleagues not to be shy in publicly voicing their support for Ms Harris and the Democrats during the campaign.

'It's obvious what my politics are. I'm a member of the Labour Party  we're a social democratic party. I want the Democrats to win,' he said.

He added: 'It's no secret many Labour Party members go and volunteer for the Democrats during presidential elections.

'We shouldn't pretend otherwise. Many of my staffers helped all three: [Barack] Obama, [Hillary] Clinton and [Joe] Biden.'

Mr Khan's stance contrasts with that of Sir Keir Starmer, who since becoming PM has vowed to work with whoever is in the White House over the coming years.

Mr Khan previously said Labour 'shouldn't pretend' they were not supporting Kamala Harris

Sir Keir last month spoke with Mr Trump in the wake of the assassination attempt on the ex-president.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, recently said he could find 'common ground' with Mr Vance as he sought to temper his past remarks about Mr Trump - who he once called a 'woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath'.

But Mr Khan did not moderate his stance towards Mr Trump when considering a possible return to the White House for the former president.

'The last time we had a Trump presidency, as a matter of public record, there was a massive increase in hate crime towards me,' he said.

'I worry about what a second Trump presidency would mean for me and my family, but I'm not going to allow these people to cower me.

'It makes me even more determined to do my job.'
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has congratulated Donald Trump on winning the US election.

Mr Albanese took to X to express his sentiments following Trump's successful bid on Tuesday night to win the race to the White House for a second term as president.

'Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory,' he wrote.

'Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies.

'Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future.'

Mr Albanese reiterated the government's firm commitment to maintaining a strong relationship between Australia and the United States.

'Our government will work closely with the new Trump Administration to realise the benefits of our strong economic partnership,' the statement continued.

'The United States has long played a leadership role in the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has congratulated Donald Trump (pictured left) on winning the US Election

'Australia will strive to strengthen the co-operation between our to nations in the region.'

Trump declared victory in front of a large group of his supporters in Florida in the early hours of Wednesday morning US time

He has so far secured 267 Electoral College votes out of the 270 needed to win the election.

His democratic rival Kamala Harris has secured 224 votes as counting continues.

Former Prime Ministers Tony Abbot and Scott Morrison also took to social media to congratulate Trump on his sensational come back to the Oval Office.

Mr Albanese (pictured with fiancee Jodie Haydon) reaffirmed his government's commitment to maintaining a strong relationship between Australia and the United States

The statement indicated (pictured) that the government is looking forward to working closely with the new Trump Administration

'Congratulations to President Trump on his return to the leadership of the free world,' Mr Abbott wrote on X.

'Self belief is what the West needs right now and Trump has that in spades'.

Mr Morrison simply wrote 'Congratulations President Trump' and posted a picture of the two leaders at the White House during their previous terms in office.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also recognised the result on behalf of the Coalition.

Mr Dutton said the two nations have an enduring security alliance that will be bolstered by the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the US and the UK.

The deal, which was announced under the Morrison government in 2021, will enable Australia to acquire materials to arm its nuclear powered submarine fleet.

Former PM Scott Morrison (pictured right) was among several Australian politicians, who congratulated Donald Trump (pictured left) on his sensational come back to the Oval Office

Trump (pictured left with wife Melania) declared victory in front of a large group of Republican supporters early Wednesday morning US time

Earlier, Mr Trump proudly declared victory in an address in an address to his supporters.

He was joined on stage by family - including daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner who had been absent from the campaign.

'We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,' he said.

'And it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing.'

The devastating moment of truth came for the Harris campaign when Fox News called Pennsylvania - the biggest battleground state - in Trump's favour.

The network also called another battle ground state of Wisconsin before they called entire race in his favour.

Trump has also won the other key states of Georgia and North Carolina.

Trump will become the 47th President of the US- four years after he was ousted from power.

He will be the first president in almost 130 years to be elected the leader of the US after losing a bid to be re-elected into office.

Trump was joined on stage by his family - including daughter Ivanka (pictured left) and son-in-law Jared Kushner (pictured right)
Kamala Harris suffered a massive election loss on Tuesday night, but the warning signs that her campaign was in trouble were evident in the days and weeks before.

In the wake of the vice-president's crushing defeat, many pointed to an ominous rally she held the day before election day where she spoke on the famed 'Rocky steps' in Philadelphia.

While Harris may have been hoping to embody a fighting spirit for her supporters, some noted that Rocky loses his fight to Apollo Creed in the 1976 film, foreshadowing Harris' loss to Donald Trump.

Other fateful signs that the election would not swing her way included losing the small New Hampshire town of Dixville Notch, the first in the nation results that went for Joe Biden in 2020, and liberal pundits admitting their doubts in days before.

Kamala Harris suffered a massive election loss on Tuesday night, but the warning signs that her campaign was in trouble were evident in the days and weeks before

The day before the election, Harris held an ominous rally on the famed 'Rocky steps' in Philadelphia - with observers noting that Rocky loses his fight in the 1976 film

Supporters of Kamala Harris were downcast as results came in showing the vice president was on course for a crushing defeat

At her Philadelphia rally, Harris drew a huge crowd of tens of thousands of supporters, and appeared alongside Oprah Winfrey and Lady Gaga.

Although she admitted in her speech that she saw herself as the 'underdog', forecasters had consistently given her a slight edge in what was intended to be razor-thin election.

But the cracks began to show before election day had begun, with CNN contributor Van Jones- a steadfast Democrat supporter who worked for President Obama - saying the 'Rocky Steps' rally was a mistake as he cast doubt over Harris' chances

Jones told CNN on Monday that the final days of the 2024 election have looked eerily similar to Hillary Clinton's devastating loss in 2016.

Namely, he questioned holding rallies with A-listers like Oprah and Lady Gaga in crucial states, just as Clinton had done in the election she lost to Trump eight years ago.

In another warning sign to Harris' candidacy, reliably liberal CNN contributor Van Jones drew parallels between her election odds and Hillary Clinton's failed 2016 race

Jones slammed Harris' decision to appear at her rallies with A-listers including Oprah Winfrey and Lady Gaga (both pictured at her 'Rocky steps' rally)

'The other thing that makes me nervous, in 2016, we had a big star-studded event right on the edge of the election, and we lost,' Jones said.

'I don't think people understand, working people sometimes have to choose. Am I going to go to the big, cool concert and pay for babysitting for that or am I going to figure out a way to get to the polls? I don't like these big star-studded events.'

Jones' fears over a Harris underperformance came true in the very first results from the 2024 election, in the small New Hampshire town of Dixville Notch.

The town has just six residents, and has a tradition dating back to 1988 of voting at the stroke of midnight on an election year to become the first county to produce results.

In 2020, it was a clean sweep for Biden.

This year, however, the vote was split - three for Trump, and three for Harris.

The small town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, where six registered voters cast their ballots first in the nation in a tradition dating back to 1988, voted 50/50 for Harris and Trump despite giving Biden a clean sweep in 2020

Although Dixville Notch's tiny electorate was hardly enough to swing the election, it ended up serving as an omen for the rest of Harris' night.

The vice-president was relying on college educated voters in the suburbs to bolster her support in liberal cities.

But in results across the East Coast, she failed to bring in enough voters, and it appeared early on that proclamations of the election taking up to a week to be decided were short-sighted.

By 10:30pm, Fox News' Bret Baier was already talking of a Trump victory, saying his campaign was 'probably the biggest political phoenix from the ashes that we have ever seen in the history of politics.'

After Trump's victory sent shockwaves across the world, Van Jones led the liberal media meltdown on election night as he joined a throng of pundits taking Trump's victory badly.

Donald Trump completed a historic political comeback as he cruised past Kamala Harris

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The 56-year-old has been overcome with emotion live on air on several occasions, and viewers had joked on social media in advance of election night that he was likely to burst into tears regardless of the result.

Jones was clearly fighting against choking up as he condemned the vote and painted a dystopian picture of America under Trump.

MSNBC's Joy Reid also unleased into a furious rant as Trump stormed to victory as she branded him an 'extremist, right-wing fascist.'

'Think about the last two weeks and the things that Donald Trump has said into the TV that people could hear him say and do,' she said, becoming increasingly more irate.

'The vulgarity in front of families with young children and the threats to do mass deportation and a violent start to his dictatorship on day one, you name it.'

Reid unleased into a furious rant about Donald Trump as he took the lead on Tuesday night

After Florida was called for Trump early in the evening, Reid said: 'It's a pure Project 2025 in miniature in Florida.

'That extremist sort of right-wing, fascist type government in Florida, does that make it more of an attractive place?'

When Texas was called for the former president, Reid described black voters in Houston as 'deeply suppressed' and went on to blame 'white women' voters after North Carolina became the first swing state to plump for Trump.
Outgoing Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant blasted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhyahu's 'corrupt' policies in an emotional speech Tuesday night after he was sacked over a breakdown in trust during the Gaza war against Hamas.

Addressing the nation just hours after his dismissal, Gallant suggested that a 'moral darkness' had fallen on Israel and claimed that his removal was due to disagreements over contentious issues faced by Israel's government.

This, he said, included disagreements over a new hostage deal and a 'corrupt' bill to exempt Orthodox Jews from completing IDF military service.

Referring to the hostage deal, Gallant said that Israel would have to make 'some painful compromises' in order to return the remaining hostages to their families and called on the government to bring home hostages while they are 'still alive'.

'The State of Israel will know how to withstand these compromises, and the IDF will know how to secure them', he said, stressing its 'moral and ethical commitment to bringing back our sons and daughters'.

He also noted how the IDF military service exemption was 'discriminatory' as Israelis will have to deal with several security challenges in the years to come.

Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks to members of the press shortly after he was sacked by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who cited a lack of trust. Gallant slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhyahu's 'corrupt' policies

Israeli protestors block a road in Tel Aviv after the dismissal of the defence minister, on November 5, 2024

Anti government protesters take to streets after the Israeli prime minister announced that he had fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant

'Everyone must serve in the IDF and participate together in the mission of defending the State of Israel,' he said.

'We must not allow a corrupt and flawed law to pass in the Knesset (Israel's parliament) that would exempt tens of thousands of citizens from bearing the burden.'

Gallant was referring to members of the ultra-Orthodox community who were historically exempted from mandatory service until a Supreme Court decision in June.

The decision to oust Gallant came amid controversy over the decision to draft 7,000 more ultra-orthodox Haredi Jews into the military.

The order came after a first round of 3,000 draft orders were sent out in July, sparking protests from the ultra-Orthodox community.

Gallant also cited Netanyahu's unwillingness to form a National Commission of Inquiry for October 7, which the outgoing minister said was necessary for the truth to 'see the light of day'.

Netanyahu fired Gallant yesterday night, stating that 'over the past few months [trust] has eroded. In light of this, I decided today to end the term of the defence minister'.

Gallant, who only returned to the post in April after being sacked last March, will be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, the office reported.

Hundreds took to the streets to protest in a march through Tel Aviv as news broke of the decision.

The mother of a hostage said: 'Gallant's dismissal sends a clear message - there is no one left to prevent the foiling of hostage deal; it's time to take to the streets.'

sraeli forces intervene with protesters blocking the Ayalon Highway (Highway 20) while people take the streets to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dismissal of Defense Minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Oct 31

Netanyahu posted on social media after issuing the pithy statement, writing on Twitter/X: 'We must all stand strong against refusal.'

Netanyahu said in his video statement that in spite of 'fruitful work' with Gallant at the beginning of the war in Gaza, trust had 'cracked' in recent months.

'I made many attempts to bridge these gaps, but they kept getting wider,' he continued.

'They also came to the knowledge of the public in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy  our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it.'

Minister without Portfolio Gideon Sa'ar will replace Katz as Foreign Minister.

Gallant had also voiced concerns that divisions within society were hurting morale in the military and empowering Israel's adversaries.

'I see how the source of our strength is being eroded,' he said last Saturday.

Netanyahu insisted in his announcement that most politicians agreed with him on the decision to sack Gallant, opposing the conscription order.

He did not give a specific reason why trust had broken down.

But National Unity lawmaker Orit Farkash Hacohen said of the decision to sack Gallant: 'There is no low to which this government will not sink.

'A Defense Minister who announces conscription orders for thousands of Haredim is fired in the middle of a war on the eve of an [expected Iranian] attack for the sake of the evasion law.'

Members of the Israeli security personnel detain an ultra-Orthodox Jewish protester during a demonstration against conscription in Jerusalem on October 31

A protester attends a rally demanding the release of hostages in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 4

National Unity chair Benny Gantz, formerly of Netanyahu's war cabinet, posted: 'Politics at the expense of national security.'

Gantz announced he was resigning his post over frustrations surrounding Netanyahu's handling of the war in June.

Yair Golan, leader of The Democrats party, called on the public to 'hit the streets' and strike in light of the decision.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir supported Netanyahu's decision.

'I congratulate the prime minister on the decision to dismiss Gallant. With Gallant, who is still deeply trapped in his own conception, it is impossible to achieve a complete victory.'

The United States meanwhile praised Gallant as an 'important partner'.

'Minister Gallant has been an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel. As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israel's next minister of defense,' a State Department spokesperson said.

Gallant had clashed with Netanyahu over the future of the war in Gaza in recent months.

In his eyes, Israel should have shifted its focus more squarely to the northern border with Lebanon, where the military launched a major campaign to stop Iran-backed Hezbollah militants from launching cross-border attacks.

While in sync with Gallant on Lebanon, Netanyahu disagreed with him on the future of Gaza, where the fired defence chief thought Israel should be looking for ways to end the war.

Nearly a year into the war in Gaza, Gallant declared that 'the centre of gravity' of Israel's military campaign was 'shifting north' to Lebanon, calling it 'the beginning of a new phase of the war, which requires courage, determination and perseverance'.

Days later, Israel announced ground troops had begun raids against Hezbollah inside Lebanon, after a spate of attacks that had decimated the powerful group's leadership.

'Gallant was one of the first to support the idea that Israel needed to take the initiative in the north, just days after the October 7 attacks,' said Michael Horowitz, a geopolitical expert at the Middle East-based security consultancy Le Beck.

Calev Ben-Dor, a former analyst at Israel's foreign ministry, said the 'reasoning was that in a war, it is preferable to fight the more powerful foe first, and Hezbollah's strength far outweighed Hamas's'.
MBABANE - A police officer endured it all when he was strangled, and his private parts squeezed, by his girlfriend at the police camp in Mbabane.

Information gathered was to the effect that Sergeant Raymond Nxumalo is still being treated for complications after Cebile Masina, who had visited him at the police camp, squeezed his private parts. It is said that the couple had a misunderstanding after they had just returned to the house, after a drinking spree late in the night. It has been gathered that Nxumalo opted for patience and reported the matter to the police.

Masina was subsequently arrested and charged for contravening Section 77 (1) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act of 2018. It has been gathered that she had been in custody since Sunday. She pleaded guilty when she appeared before Mbabane Principal Magistrates Fikile Nhlabatsi yesterday. Asked why she assaulted her lover, Masina said she was revenging, after Nxumalo allegedly slapped her in the face. She told the court that the fight ensued after Nxumalo had refused to allow her to buy cigarettes. She said she was desirous to lay a charge against Nxumlao, however, she did not get a chance after Nxumalo approached the police first.

She claims to have been assaulted first before she retaliated. How far have you gone with your investigations? Did you lay a charge against the complainant for assaulting his lover? Justice should prevail and it should not be seen as if you are taking sides because the complainant is a police officer, said Nhlabatsi. Nhlabatsi also asked Masina if she had the guts to strangle and squeeze a mans private parts at 39 years old. One day he will die at your hands and you will be facing a murder charge. Why the violence after a lot has been said about it. The Bible says alcohol is not good before God, because it leads people astray. I know I will be bashed for my statement but the truth wont change, she said. Nhlabatsi said alcoholism is not a good idea and it never benefits the users. She asked Masina if she had other plans apart from alcohol. She also asked Masina if she has children.

Mother

Masina responded that she has children with another man. She told the court that her children stay with her mother. You hold a mans private parts instead of holding your childrens cheeks, said Nhlabatsi, to the laughter of those present in court. The judicial officer also warned Masina against prioritising relationships, which got her squeezing a mans private parts, instead of taking of care of her children, who need her the most in life. She asked Masina who monitored and guided her children when she spent time with the police officer at the camp. Nhlabatsi warned Masina to re-align herself and go back to her children. She said there was no need for Masina to add an unnecessary burden to her mother.

The more you spend time with your children, the more you realise that smoking is not good for their health. You wouldnt like your children to learn smoking and drinking alcohol from you as a parent, Nhlabatsi told Masina. Masina was remanded in custody pending the recovery of the complainant. She is expected back in court on November 15. In another SODV case, Celumusa Magongo admitted to have bitten the mother of his child. Principal Magistrate Nhlabatsi, when he appeared in court charged for contravening Section (77) (1) of the SODV Act, 2018, asked why he assaulted and bit his childs mother. Magongo told the court that he acted in self-defence when *Sindi squeezed and pulled him by his private parts.

He said biting Sindi was the only thing he could do to restrain her. He submitted that they had a misunderstanding, after his lover lied to him about her whereabouts prior to the incident. Magongo told the court that they have a four-year-old child in their seven-year-old relationship. The principal magistrate said: Utamcuya ngalamatinyo akufele. Magongo was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E5 000. One year or E4 000 fine was wholly suspended for three years on condition that Magongo is not convicted for a similar offence.
Former Blair spin doctor Alastair Campbell led the luvvie breakdown over Donald Trump's election win today.

The ex-Labour aide turned podcast host accused the hard right Republican of 'weaponising' voter anger with the help of billionaire X owner Elon Musk.

Speaking to the BBC after Trump beat Kamala Harris to secure a second term in the White House, Mr Campbell said:

'I think he weaponised it in the usual way, not least helped by Elon Musk but also by the way he campaigned, which is a unique form of campaigning, which a lot of people, people like me, find distasteful and unpleasant and full of lies, racism and misogyny and so forth.

'But the Democrats have to look deep to see how they managed to lose this'.

As the perm-tanned 78-year-old swept to power a host of leftwingers and celebs vented their woe on social media, invoking everyone from God to Prince to find an outlet for their anger and disappointment.

TV host Carol Vorderman lashed out at right-wing Brexiteers who 'cheered on' Trump.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer let rip at him, saying that 'a dangerous bigot, bully, and liar is once again set to become the leader of the most powerful country in the world'.

'A climate change denier, a proud racist and misogynist, and a man who has sought to subvert elections and incite insurrection,' she added.

'On this dark day, we stand in solidarity with all US citizens who fear a convicted criminal and a fascist in the White House. And we stand with all those around the world who dreaded this moment and must now live with its consequences, including those in Gaza and Ukraine.

Together, those of us who believe in democracy must work together to overcome authoritarianism and the politics of hate.'

And Lib-Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said branded it a 'dark, dark day for people around the globe', adding: 'The world's largest economy and most powerful military will be led by a dangerous, destructive demagogue.'

Meanwhile on the leftwing Labour backbenches there was similar anguish. Vauxhall and Camberwell Green MP Florence Eshalomi tweeted a picture of Prince, captioned: 'This is exactly why the Doves cry.'

As the hard right populist swept to power they vented their woe on social media, invoking everyone from God to Prince to find an outlet for their anger and disappointment.

TV host Carol Vorderman lashed out at right-wing Brexiteers who 'cheered on' the populist Republican after he declared victory over Kamala Harris.

And Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer let rip at Trump, saying that 'a dangerous bigot, bully, and liar is once again set to become the leader of the most powerful country in the world'. And Lib Dem leader Ed Davey branded it a 'dark, dark day for people around the globe'.

Mr Campbell's co-host on The Rest Is Politics, Rory Stewrat, is facing the loss of a huge sum of money after he placed a big bet on Kamala Harris to win the US election.

The ex-Cabinet minister confidently told his nearly 600,000 social media followers earlier this week that Ms Harris would 'win comfortably'.

He even revealed he had 'bet the maximum I was allowed to bet' on the Democrat candidate to win the battle for the White House.

But, following Donald Trump's historic victory, Mr Stewart was this morning forced to admit he was 'completely wrong'.

The former Tory MP, who was once a Conservative leadership contender, added it was 'heartbreaking' that Mr Trump would now be returning as US president.

Mr Trump declared he had won a 'magnificent victory for the American people' as he appeared on track to return to the White House as 47th President of the United States.

The return of Mr Trump to the White House could cause diplomatic headaches for the UK, with potential splits on trade policy and US support for Ukraine and Nato.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he is looking forward to working with Mr Trump and his running mate JD Vance.

Mr Lammy has spent time seeking to form a close relationship with the Trump campaign, despite a history of outspoken criticism of his record  including calling him a 'racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser' in 2017 and a 'tyrant in a toupee' a year later.

'The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years,' Mr Lammy said.

With projections showing Mr Trump was on course for a spectacular return to the White House, the Republican candidate told his supporters that 'America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate'.

Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, a committed Christian, urged people not to 'panic', adding: 'All empires are temporary, God is sovereign.'

Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, a committed Christian, urged people not to 'panic', adding: 'All empires are temporary, God is sovereign.'

And senior Tories could not resist poking fun at Labour figures who have been anti-Trump, and the row over 100 party staffers doing to campaign for Harris in the summer.

A cohort of Sir Keir Starmer's politicians, aides and other party members headed to the United States to help the Democrats, their unofficial sister party.

At the same time Nigel Farage was a high-profile apparatchik for Mr Trump, as he was in 2016.
Americans have vowed to move to Australia to 'escape' after Donald Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election.

Shortly after the Republican leader declared himself the next president on Wednesday night (AEDT), American supporters of Democratic leader Kamala Harris took to X, formerly Twitter, revealing their plans to ditch their homeland.

'If anyone has the 'concept of a plan' for moving to Australia, I'm here and waiting!' one wrote.

Another added: 'So sick of this country. I'm moving to Australia.'

A third wrote: 'Boarding now boat to Australia to leave America forever who's boarding?' another wrote.

Aussies also weighed into joking Americans could seek 'refugee' status.

'Any US citizens wishing to escape from Trump and his bunch of criminals are welcome in Australia,' one said.

A second added: 'Australia is standing by to accept refugees from the United States,' another wrote.

A third tried to be helpful by googling the shortest distance between the US and Australia.

Many Americans have vowed to move to Australia to 'escape' following Donald Trump's (pictured with his wife, Melania) claim to victory in the US presidential election

American supporters of Democratic leader Kamala Harris joked about moving to Australia (pictured, audience of the election livestream in Sydney)

Several Democrat supporters were upset in Sydney on Wednesday night while watching a livestream of the election (pictured, audience of the election livestream in Sydney)

'For all my American friends who may no longer feel safe where they live. Australia is a good option to get as far away.'

Australian presenter and comedian Dan Ilic also poked fun at the situation, writing: 'That's it... I'm moving to Australia.'

Several Democrat supporters were similarly upset in Sydney on Wednesday while watching a livestream of the election.

Concerned pubgoers watched on as the results trickled in, with some shedding tears as Trump gained traction in the polls.

Former President Donald Trump took the stage and declared victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning - local time, cementing an extraordinary political comeback.

Minutes earlier news organisations called the 2024 presidential race for him in an astonishing night for Republicans and devastating evening for Kamala Harris.

'We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,' he said. 'And it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing.'

The moment of truth came when Fox News called Pennsylvania, the biggest of the battleground prizes, followed by Wisconsin and then the entire race in his favor.

The Associated Press had still not called the election for Trump by 3am (local time), but he claimed victory onstage nonetheless alongside wife Melania, 18-year-old son Barron and his most loyal staff and supporters.

'It's real,' screamed one young supporter who raced to the front of the crowd as if it were a mosh pit, high fiving friends and strangers.

Trump was joined on stage by family - including daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner who had been absent from the campaign - aides and political supporters.

He thanked his supporters and promised a golden age for the nation.

When he invited his running mate to the microphone, Sen. J.D. Vance said the result marked a remarkable turnaround in political fortunes.

Trump declared himself the winner of the 2024 presidential election on Wednesday ngiht, AEDT (pictured, audience of an election livestream in Sydney)

Pubgoers in Sydney watched as the results trickled in, with some shedding tears as Trump gained traction in the polls (pictured, audience of an election livestream at Sydney's Kent Street Hotel)

In his victory speech, Trump said: 'We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,' (pictured, a Trump supporter in Sydney)

'I thank you for the trust that you placed in me,' he said, 'and I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.'

He was surrounded by supporters, friends and family at his Florida home as he regained his crown.

He led them out on stage at the Palm Beach County Convention Center where he delivered his victory speech in front of hundreds more supporters who had waited hours to see him.

'Most of all, I want to thank the millions of hard working Americans across the nation who have always been the heart and soul of this really great movement,' he said.

'We've been through so much together, and today, you showed up in record numbers to deliver a victory like really ... probably ... like no other. This was something special.'

Trump used his speech to promise a positive vision.

'Together we're going to unlock America's glorious destiny and we're going to achieve the most incredible future for our people.'

'It's time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us, it is time to unite. And we're going to try, we have to try, and we're going to be successful at bringing us together... Success is going to bring us together, and we are going to start by putting America first.'

Hours before polls closed, Trump claimed on his Truth Social site without evidence that there was 'a lot of talk about massive CHEATING' in Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold.

It echoed his 2020 claims of election fraud in Democratic-controlled cities.

And it led to worries that he and his team could be preparing for a repeat of the legal and political challenges that ended with hundreds of his supporters storming the U.S. Capitol.

'If I lose an election, if it's a fair election, I'm gonna be the first one to acknowledge it,' Trump told reporters after voting on Tuesday.

Roger Stone, longtime Republican provocateur and Trump ally, said he was on course for an extraordinary comeback, fueled by four criminal indictments.

'It's a story of perseverance. It's a story of resilience and just grit,' he told Daily Mail. 'I mean, just grinding it out'.

Kamala Harris' victory party meanwhile was completely deserted by midnight.

As of 3.45am on Wednesday morning in Washington, the Harris camp hadn't reacted to the results as the Associated Press waited to make the final call (pictured, audience of an election livestream in Sydney)

Trump told his supporters on Wednesday: 'Together we're going to unlock America's glorious destiny and we're going to achieve the most incredible future for our people' (pictured, audience of an election livestream in Sydney)

Australians joked they would accept Americans as 'refugees' (pictured, audience of an election livestream in Sydney)

Supporters react to election results during an election night event for US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at Howard University in Washington, DC

The campaign first told staff to go home and then top Harris advisor Cedric Richmond came out and confirmed the vice president would not be speaking.

As of 3.45am on Wednesday morning, in Washington, the Harris camp hadn't reacted to the results as the Associated Press waited to make the final call.

The reaction was swift from the network TV pundits who called it a 'shellacking' for the Democrats.
This is the moment an apparent Ukrainian drone slammed into Russia's Caspian Sea flotilla in a strike hundreds of miles behind the frontline.

Footage purportedly shows a Ukrainian drone flying low over the port of Kaspiysk in Dagestan before smashing into a Russian military ship this morning.

The crash sparked a huge fireball explosion, with clouds of smoke billowing into the sky from the harbour while civilians watched on from a nearby pier.

The drone covered a distance of 650 miles (1,052km) from the frontline in Ukraine to the Russian port, according to OSINT experts.

Video from a neighbouring ship in the Caspian Sea flotilla shows panicked sailors running away from the alleged drone attack before the massive explosion was sparked just a few feet away from them.

This is the moment before an apparent Ukrainian drone slammed into Russia 's Caspian Sea flotilla in a strike hundreds of miles behind the frontline

Footage purportedly shows a Ukrainian drone flying low over the port of Kaspiysk before smashing into a Russian military ship this morning

Shortly after the drone crashed into the ship, a massive cloud of smoke was seen above the flotilla

The crash sparked a huge fireball explosion, which is pictured above

Video from a neighbouring ship in the Caspian Sea flotilla shows panicked sailors running away from the alleged drone attack

The massive explosion was sparked just a few feet away from the sailors who ran to safety

Clouds of smoke billowed into the sky from the harbour while pedestrians watched on from a nearby pier

It comes as Kyiv said today that Ukrainian forces captured more than 700 Russian soldiers since they launched a surprise offensive into Moscow's border region of Kursk in Augusty.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said one of the objectives of the shock, cross-border attack was to replenish Ukraine's stocks of war prisoners, to exchange for captured Ukrainian troops.

Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, wrote in a social media post that his troops had captured 717 Russian troops in all.

Moscow and Kyiv, despite being at war for nearly three years, still coordinate on the exchange of prisoners of war and have held dozens of swaps since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February, 2022.

Russian military officials and bloggers have claimed the Russian military has been pushing Ukrainian forces back from the Kursk region.

Kyiv said this week it had engaged North Korean troops for the first time in Kursk since its allies in the United States and Europe sounded the alarm over the deployment of thousands of Pyongyang's forces to bolster the Kremlin's war efforts.
Australian election watchers have been glued to their screens as Donald Trump claimed a remarkable return to the US presidency.

Just after 6pm AEDT on Wednesday, the outspoken Republican took to the stage to declare victory over Democratic opponent Kamala Harris.

US expats and Aussie political junkies had earlier watched on from the other side of the world as Americans cast their votes.

As the first polls closed on the US east coast, the crowd started to swell inside a Sydney watering hole in the late morning.

Maggie Donahue was an earlier arrival at the Kent Street Hotel and scored a prime spot near a screen tuned to CNN.

Ms Donahue, who worked for the US government over six years spanning the Trump and Biden administrations, was cautiously hopeful of a Harris win.

'I was in a federal government building the day of January 6, 2021,' she said, referring to the date a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol.

Amy Saha, a committee member of Democrats Abroad Australia, said she was also quietly 'but absolutely optimistic'.

Amy Saha had been hoping for a Kamala Harris victory

Emotions ran high as viewers watched the live coverage of the US election at Sydney's Kent Street Hotel

Ms Saha wore a star-spangled top hat and attendees could take photos with a cardboard cut-out of Ms Harris at the Sydney event.

The pub served American-brand beers and food including bagels and Buffalo wings, while the steak carried a side of 'Freedom fries'.

Sharing a bucket of Coors in the back of the Sydney pub, Ben, who declined to give his last name, said the beers were 'alright' but not the main point of attending.

'We're coming here to support our president ... it's a Trump victory, unless they rig it of course,' he said.

Sitting across the table, Dean Thorby said the Republican candidate's vacillation on abortion might cost him votes from women, but he still expected a Trump victory.

'Just because he's way more populist, she's way more of a drone,' he said.

Dismayed US expats and Aussie political junkies ponder a second term of Donald Trump as US president

Hundreds gathered at Sydney's Kent Street Hotel to watch the live election coverage

In Melbourne, more than 50 people attended an American Chamber of Commerce watch party.

The room at the Hawthorn Hotel was abuzz at 3pm as the election picture started to become clearer.

Melbourne resident Gavin, who has US business interests and did not wish to have his surname published, said results in the swing states were breaking Trump's way.

'I haven't seen Harris flip a state,' the septuagenarian said with beer in hand.

Brisbane-based management consultant Emilia Gallo, who has worked for American companies in Asia and was firmly in the Harris camp, remarked on the ramifications of either outcome.

'It's either going to make us go 'oh my God, what the hell is going on' or 'thank God, they've came to their senses',' she said.

Trump supporters were also among the crowd glued to the TV screens at Kent Street Hotel
Vladimir Putin has no immediate plans to congratulate Donald Trump on his election victory, according to the Kremlin, as it continues to view the United States as being 'unfriendly' towards Russia.

The dictator's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said relations between the two countries were at a historic low, and that it was practically impossible for them to get any worse.

Moscow is watching events closely and analysing statements made by American politicians about Russia, he said, urging people not to forget that the US is 'directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.'

Peskov said the US was capable of changing the trajectory of its foreign policy, but 'we'll see in January', when Trump takes office, if that happens.

Meanwhile Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to congratulate Trump, saying on X that his 'peace through strength' approach could help to bring 'just peace' closer as the war against Russia drags on.

Vladimir Putin has no immediate plans to congratulate Donald Trump on his election victory, according to the Kremlin

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to congratulate Trump

Trump declared victory in the presidential race as he addressed crowds in Palm Beach this morning

The statement is widely being seen as a shrewd political move by Zelensky, as he aims to shore up US support and aid to Ukraine.

'We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States,' he wrote in a pointed line.

He recalled the 'great meeting' he had with Trump in September, despite the very public tensions between the two politicians at the time.

Standing next to Zelensky, Trump had touted his working relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Trump boasted during his campaign that he could 'end the war' in 24 hours if elected, insinuating that he could pull US funding and force Ukraine to negotiate with Russia.

He labelled Zelensky 'the greatest salesman in history' back in June, and his running mate JD Vance has been a fierce critic of giving Ukraine more aid.

While Democrat candidate Kamala Harris has taken a hard line against Russia during her term as Vice President, Trump is known to admire Putin.

The influential head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund said as the results emerged today that Trump's victory opened up new opportunities to reset relations between Moscow and Washington.

Kirill Dmitriev, who has had contacts with the Trump team in the past, claimed that the Trump victory 'shows that ordinary Americans are tired of the unprecedented lies, incompetence, and malice of the Biden administration.'

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Putin not speaking out on the result will not come as a surprise - the Russian leader rarely comments on elections in the US, and has previously vowed to 'work with any US leader'.

But he blasted America's judicial and political systems back in July following Trump's felony conviction, saying it was being used by the former president's enemies to damage his chances of re-election.

'They [the US] are burning themselves from the inside, their state, their political system,' he said.

It has been widely suggested that Trump could be a more favourable choice for Putin as he is more likely to reduce the flow of Western munitions to Kyiv.

Timothy Colton of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies said that the Kremlin leadership is 'by and large convinced nothing good is going to come in the election from Russia's point of view.'

But he added that on the whole, Trump 'is probably their preference; he's more of a known quantity.'

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) speaks during a ceremonial presentation of credentials by ambassadors in Moscow, Russia, 05 November 2024

Putin caught listeners off-guard in September when he gave a teasing reply to the question of who he would prefer as president, which also included a jab at Joe Biden.

'Our 'favorite,' if you can call it that, was the current president, Mr Biden,' he told the audience at an economic forum in the Far East port of Vladivostok.

'But he was removed from the race, and he recommended all his supporters to support Ms Harris.

'Well, we will do so  we will support her,' he said sardonically, citing her 'expressive and infectious laugh' that shows 'she's doing well.'
A radio presenter who claimed she was a victim of racism after she was replaced because of her Indian accent, has lost her discrimination case after bosses say she was axed for being 'dreary'.

Soma Sarkar told a tribunal that she had been a victim of race discrimination when managers at Lyca Radio dropped her from a daily show she had presented for two years.

But the CEO of Lyca Radio, which broadcasts music in London for British Asians, said the decision to appoint a new host who speaks with an English accent was because Ms Sarkar's performance had been deemed 'dreary'.

Three other presenters were sacked as part of a shake up in order to bring in new radio hosts and give the station 'more energy and a higher public profile'.

Ms Sarkar rejected a settlement offer of 10,000 from Lyca Radio in order to take the station to an employment tribunal, it was heard.

Now, her case has been dismissed by the East London Employment Tribunal.

Soma Sarkar (pictured) told a tribunal that she had been a victim of race discrimination when managers at Lyca Radio dropped her from a daily show she had presented for two years

The hearing was told Ms Sarkar worked for Lyca Radio between February 1, 2019, and June 3, 2021.

Presenters on the station are all 'of either British Indian, British Pakistani, Indian or Pakistani heritage', it was heard.

Ms Sarkar had been presenting a show on weekdays between 7pm and 10pm.

In early January 2021, Lyca Media II Ltd appointed a new CEO who reviewed the business.

Raj Baddhan told Ms Sarkar that she was being temporarily removed from her show on February 5, 2021, but this ended up being the date of her last show.

Mr Baddhan's strategy was to bring in new people with 'more energy and a higher public profile' than the current presenters, it was heard.

Ms Sarkar was replaced by a presenter known professionally as Radio Walli.

The tribunal was told: '[Ms Sarkar] identified as being of Indian origin and said she speaks with an Indian accent.

'She said that she was replaced on her radio show by a presenter with an English accent.'

Ms Sarkar was replaced by a presenter known professionally as Radio Walli (pictured)

However, by March 2021 Ms Sarkar denied that she was claiming her sacking was due to racism, and made accusations of nepotism, claiming the CEO was related to the new presenter.

She said: 'I have always maintained that the cessation was on grounds which were strictly not based on performance as it is understood that the

presenter who replaced me used to do radio shows either on very late nights or on late weekends but definitely not on prime evening like me.

'This act of ignoring an established radio presenter of two years for a not similarly placed person can only happen when the new person is related to the CEO somehow, irrespective of race or ethnicity of the person concerned*

'Indeed it can be construed as a clear case of discrimination on grounds of an attempt to take care of one's own and known.'

Ms Sarkar turned down an offer of 5,000 then an improved offer of 10,000 to settle the dispute, it was heard.

At tribunal, Ms Sarkar still pursued a race discrimination claim as well as an unfair dismissal claim.

Employment Judge Stephen Shore ruled that Ms Sarkar was unreasonable to keep making her claim after receiving the initial settlement offer.

He said: 'The value of [Ms Sarkar]'s claim was nowhere near the sum set out in [Ms Sarkar]'s Schedule of Loss.

'5,000 and 10,000 were both reasonable offers.

'In all the circumstances, we found that [Ms Sarkar]'s conduct was unreasonable in continuing her claims after the [station's] email of 29 April 2024.'

The tribunal said it did not have jurisdiction to consider her race discrimination complaint as she was not technically an employee but a freelancer.

Ms Sarkar lost claims of unfair dismissal, failure to pay notice pay and holiday pay, and direct and indirect race discrimination.

Lyca Radio was recently awarded Radio Station of the Year at the 2023 Asian Media Awards following its takeover from Greater Manchester's Asian Sound Radio.

It also earned nominations in three other categories including Best Radio Show and Radio Presenter of the Year.
As Donald Trump is elected the 47th president of the United States he is now set to compile a revolutionary White House cabinet of billionaires and MAGA allies.

Trump could begin the process of choosing a cabinet and selecting other high-ranking administration officials in the coming weeks.

But the Republican president-elect is also looking to create new positions, including a committee to audit the entire federal government which he has said would be headed by Tesla billionaire Elon Musk.

Trump, 78, has also promised to put rival-turned-endorser Robert F. Kennedy Jr in charge of the nation's health agencies, but not in a job with the Department of Health and Human Services. The position would be that of a self-styled health-czar.

Fans are also urging Trump to give UFC boss Dana White a role in his administration after his shocking speech during the president-elect's victory speech early Wednesday morning.

It is understood that Trump's sons Eric Trump and Don Jr are playing a significant role in helping the president choose his second cabinet.

DailyMail.com takes a look at the top contenders for some of the key posts in Trump's second administration...

Donald Trump, pictured early Wednesday morning, has been elected the 47th president of the United States and is now set to compile a revolutionary White House cabinet of billionaires and MAGA allies

Donald Trump is seen chatting it up with Elon Musk and Dana White at Mar-a-Lago's election night party on Tuesday. Both Musk and White are expected to receive roles in his cabinet

Elon Musk brought one of his eleven children with him to Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday evening

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY

ELON MUSK

Trump has vowed to establish an independent government efficiency panel that would audit the entire federal government, an idea suggested by Elon Musk.

He has not detailed how the body would function. The government already has watchdogs such as the Office of Management and Budget, and investigators general at federal agencies.

But Trump has said the Tesla and SpaceX billionaire would head the commission.

Musk was one of the biggest donors to Republican Party causes over this election campaign, and joined the former presidents watch party at his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on Tuesday evening.

Trump said he would seek to decimate what he terms the "deep state" - career federal employees he says are clandestinely pursuing their own agendas - through an executive order that would reclassify thousands of workers to enable them to be fired. That would likely be challenged in court.

He would crack down on federal whistleblowers, who are typically shielded by law, and would institute an independent body to "monitor" U.S. intelligence agencies.

SELF-STYLED HEALTH CZAR

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR

Trump, 78, has also promised to put rival-turned-endorser Robert F. Kennedy Jr in charge of the nation's health agencies. Kennedy is pictured at Trump's Mar-a-Lago's election night party

Trump rival-turned-endorser Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will also get a role in the new cabinet.

'The key, which President Trump has promised me, is control of the public health agencies, which is HHS and its sub-agencies, CDC, FDA, NIH and a few others,' RFK Jr. said on a Zoom call with supporters.

Kennedy said the weekend before the election that Trump had 'promised him' control of the 'public health agencies'.

One of his first policies, Kennedy said, would be to advise all public water systems in the U.S. to remove fluoride from its water.

At his rallies, Trump has touted Kennedy's focus on healthy food and said he would let the former independent presidential candidate 'go wild' with his oversight.

PRESS SECRETARY

DANA WHITE

MAGA fans have called on UFC boss Dana White to become the new combative White House press secretary after he basically commandeered the microphone during Trump's victory speech and delivered a speech of his own (pictured)

MAGA fans have called on UFC boss Dana White to become the new combative White House press secretary after he basically commandeered the microphone during Trump's victory speech and delivered a speech of his own.

White, 55, a long time friend and ally of Donald Trump, delivered a high-energy speech on Tuesday night as he joined family on stage to celebrate.

'This is what happens when the machine comes after you, what you've seen over the last several years, this is what it looks like,' White said, in reference to the hostile coverage Trump's campaign has received from the mainstream media and Democrats.

He also took the opportunity to call out several YouTubers and podcast stars.

'I want to thank some people real quick. I want to thank the Nelk Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Von, Bussin' With The Boys, and last but not least, the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan.'

While Trump invited the UFC boss to the stage to speak, many criticized the way he went about addressing the crowd.

Some critics slated White's speech as inappropriate for such a historic moment, but others commented the fight mogul worth $500milllion would be perfect in a senior role in the new Trump administration.

SECRETARY OF STATE

ROBERT O'BRIEN

Robert O'Brien, pictured campaigning for Trump in October, is likely in the running for secretary of state or other top foreign policy and national security posts

Robert O'Brien, Trump's fourth and final national security adviser during his first term, maintains a close relationship with Trump, and the two often speak on national security matters.

He is likely in the running for secretary of state or other top foreign policy and national security posts.

He has maintained close contacts with foreign leaders since Trump left office, having met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel in May.

His views are somewhat more hawkish than some of Trump's advisers.

He has, for instance, been more supportive of military aid for Ukraine than many of his Republican contemporaries, and he is a proponent of banning TikTok in the United States.

BILL HAGERTY

Bill Hagerty, a US senator from Tennessee who worked on Trump's 2016 transition effort, is considered a top contender for secretary of state. He is pictured at Trump campaign rally in Reading, Pennsylvania on Monday

A US senator from Tennessee who worked on Trump's 2016 transition effort, Hagerty is considered a top contender for secretary of state.

He has maintained solid relations with essentially all factions of the Republican Party, and could likely be confirmed with ease in the Senate.

He served as US ambassador to Japan in the first Trump administration at a time when the president touted his warm relationship with then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Hagerty's policies are broadly in line with those of Trump.

Earlier in the year, he voted against a major military aid package for Ukraine.

MARCO RUBIO

Marco Rubio, pictured speaking at a Trump rally on Monday, is also a top secretary of state contender whose policies hew closely to those of Trump

Marco Rubio, a US senator from Florida and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, is also a top secretary of state contender whose policies hew closely to those of Trump. Like Hagerty, he was a contender to be Trump's 2024 running mate.

Rubio has long been involved in foreign affairs in the Senate, particularly as it relates to Latin America, and he has solid relationships throughout the party.

TREASURY SECRETARY

LARRY KUDLOW

Fox News personality Larry Kudlow, pictured in 2021, has an outside shot at becoming his treasury secretary and would likely have an opportunity to take a separate economics-focused position if he is interested

Fox News personality Larry Kudlow, who served as director of the National Economic Council for much of Trump's first term, has an outside shot at becoming his treasury secretary and would likely have an opportunity to take a separate economics-focused position if he is interested.

While he is privately skeptical of broad tariffs, there is publicly little daylight between the policies Kudlow advocates and those of the president-elect.

JAMIE DIMON

JPMorgan Chase & Co CEO Jamie Dimon, pictured with his wife Judith Kent at a White House dinner honoring Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in April this year, is considered a strong candidate for treasury secretary, though it is far from clear that he would actually take the job

The chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co, Jamie Dimon is considered a strong candidate for treasury secretary, though it is far from clear that he would actually take the job.

Dimon is an opponent of what he describes as unnecessarily burdensome regulations that have been imposed by the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies.

He would likely push for a broad rollback of those regulations should he join the administration.

The New York Times reported in October that Dimon privately preferred Harris for the presidency, and that he viewed then-President Trump's actions around the Jan. 6 attack as close to disqualifying for public office.

SCOTT BESSENT

Longtime hedge fund investor Scott Bessent, who is a key economic adviser to Trump, is widely seen as a top candidate for treasury secretary. Bessent is pictured speaking at a Trump rally in Asheville, North Carolina in August

Scott Bessent, a key economic adviser to Trump, is widely seen as a top candidate for treasury secretary.

A longtime hedge fund investor who taught at Yale University for several years, Bessent has a warm relationship with the president-elect.

While Bessent has long favored the laissez-faire policies that were popular in the pre-Trump Republican Party, he has also praised Trump's use of tariffs as a negotiating tool.

He has praised the president-elect's economic philosophy, which rests on a skepticism of both regulations and international trade.

JOHN PAULSON

John Paulson, a billionaire hedge fund manager and major Trump donor, is another top contender for treasury secretary. He is pictured with his wife Alina de Almeida, Melania Trump and Donald Trump on April 6, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida

John Paulson, a billionaire hedge fund manager and major Trump donor, is another top contender for treasury secretary. The longtime financier has told associates he would be interested in the job.

A longtime proponent of tax cuts and deregulation, Paulson's profile is broadly similar to that of other potential members of Trump's economic team.

He has publicly supported targeted tariffs as a tool to ensure U.S. national security and combat unfair trade practices abroad.

One high-profile fundraiser hosted by Paulson in April raked in over $50million for the former president.

ROBERT LIGHTHIZER

A loyalist who served as Trump's U.S. trade representative for essentially the then-president's entire term, Robert Lighthizer will almost certainly be invited back. He is seen in 2019 shaking hands with then-Chinese Vice Premier Liu He

A loyalist who served as Trump's U.S. trade representative for essentially the then-president's entire term, Robert Lighthizer will almost certainly be invited back.

Though Bessent and Paulson likely have a better shot at becoming treasury secretary, Lighthizer has an outside chance, and he might be able to reprise his old role if he's interested.

Like Trump, Lighthizer is a trade skeptic and a firm believer in tariffs.

He was one of the leading figures in Trump's trade war with China and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, with Mexico and Canada during Trump's first term.longtime financier has told associates he would be interested in the job.

SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

TOM HOMAN

Tom Homan, who served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for a year and a half during Trump's first term, is a contender for secretary of homeland security. He is pictured with Trump during a law enforcement roundtable on sanctuary cities in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Tom Homan, who served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for a year and a half during Trump's first term, is a contender for secretary of homeland security.

Trump made cracking down on illegal immigration the central element of his campaign, promising mass deportations.

Trump frequently praised Homan during the campaign, and Homan often hit the trail to rally supporters.

During Trump's first term, Homan was a leading advocate of the administration's controversial child separation policy, during which children of immigrants who had entered the country illegally were detained separately from their parents.

CHAD WOLF

Chad Wolf, who served as Trump's acting secretary of homeland security for roughly 14 months during his first presidency, may have a shot at heading back to DHS. Wolf (left) is pictured with former Attorney General Matt Whitaker (center) during the Team Trump bus tour across North Carolina on October 17, 2024

Chad Wolf, who served as Trump's acting secretary of homeland security for roughly 14 months during his first presidency, may have a shot at heading back to DHS.

Wolf loyally carried out Trump's hardline immigration policies, and he deployed federal agents to Portland, Oregon, to control protests during the riots that followed the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer. He may have some strikes against him.

He resigned on Jan. 11, 2021, just days after the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Trump has expressed misgivings about bringing back those who resigned in the final days of his term. Wolf, however, cited the legal controversy around his appointment as DHS secretary - rather than the Capitol attack - when he stepped down.

Multiple judges ruled that his appointment by Trump, which effectively circumvented the Senate, was illegal.

MARK GREEN

A former Army flight surgeon and the current chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, Mark Green (pictured on January 30, 2024) is considered by some Trump allies in Washington as a contender for the top job at DHS

A former Army flight surgeon and the current chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, Mark Green is considered by some Trump allies in Washington as a contender for the top job at DHS.

His supporters describe him a Trump loyalist and immigration hardliner who also has significant legislative experience.

Green was nominated by Trump during his first term to serve as secretary of the Army, but he withdrew his name as past statements, which were widely seen as transphobic and Islamophobic, drew more scrutiny.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

MIKE WALTZ

Congressman Mike Waltz, pictured speaking at the Republican National Convention in July, is widely considered to be a serious contender for secretary of defense

A former Army Green Beret who is currently a US congressman from Florida, Mike Waltz has established himself as one of the foremost China hawks in the House of Representatives.

Among the various China-related bills he has co-sponsored are measures designed to lessen US reliance on critical minerals mined in China.

Waltz is on speaking terms with Trump and is widely considered to be a serious contender for secretary of defense.

MIKE POMPEO

Mike Pompeo, who served as CIA director and secretary of state during Trump's first term, is considered a top contender for secretary of defense but could land in various slots involving national security, intelligence or diplomacy. He is pictured at Trump's rally on Monday

Mike Pompeo, who served as CIA director and secretary of state during Trump's first term, is considered a top contender for secretary of defense but could land in various slots involving national security, intelligence or diplomacy.

While he flirted with a Republican primary challenge against Trump, Pompeo never pulled the trigger, and he is now back on friendly terms with the president-elect after a period of awkwardness.

He stands out as possibly the fiercest defender of Ukraine among Trump's close allies, a position that puts him at odds with most high-ranking figures in his potential boss's camp.

TOM COTTON

Tom Cotton, a Harvard College and Harvard Law School-educated Army officer-turned-US senator from Arkansas, is well-liked among Trump donors and is a serious contender for secretary of defense. He is pictured introducing his son Daniel to Trump at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 16, 2024

A Harvard College and Harvard Law School-educated Army officer-turned-US senator from Arkansas, Tom Cotton is well-liked among Trump donors and is a serious contender for secretary of defense.

Like Hagerty, he emerged as a dark-horse contender to be Trump's running mate in the final weeks of the vice presidential selection process in June and July.

Cotton represents the shrunken hawkish wing of the Republican Party, having consistently supported military aid for Ukraine.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

JOHN RATCLIFFE

A former congressman and prosecutor who served as director of national intelligence during Trump's last year in office, John Ratcliffe (pictured in 2020) is seen as a potential attorney general, though he could also take a separate national security or intelligence position

A former congressman and prosecutor who served as director of national intelligence during Trump's last year in office, John Ratcliffe is seen as a potential attorney general, though he could also take a separate national security or intelligence position.

The president-elect's allies view Ratcliffe as a hardcore Trump loyalist who could likely win Senate confirmation.

Still, during his time as director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe often contradicted the assessments of career civil servants, drawing criticism from Democrats who said he politicized the role.

MIKE LEE

US Senator Mike Lee, pictured speaking before Trump arrived at the Tucker Carlson Live Tour in Arizona on October 31, is widely seen as another top candidate for attorney general

A US senator from Utah, Mike Lee is widely seen as another top candidate for attorney general.

Though the former prosecutor declined to vote for Trump during the 2016 election, he later become an unwavering ally, and he has become something of an intellectual hero among some factions of Trumpworld.

Lee was a key figure in attempts by Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, and has spread unfounded conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF

BROOKE ROLLINS

The former acting director of Trump's Domestic Policy Council, Brooke Rollins (pictured speaking at his Madison Square Garden rally on October 27) is a contender for chief of staff

The former acting director of Trump's Domestic Policy Council, Brooke Rollins is also a contender for chief of staff.

Trump has a close personal relationship with Rollins, and often compliments her in private settings.

She was generally considered one of Trump's more moderate advisers while in office. Among other policies she supported during Trump's first term were criminal justice reforms that lessened prison sentences for some relatively minor offenses.

SUSIE WILES

One of Trump's two co-campaign managers, Susie Wiles is seen as the odds-on favorite to be Trump's White House chief of staff. She is pictured with Trump during his victory speech

One of Trump's two co-campaign managers, Susie Wiles is seen as the odds-on favorite to be Trump's White House chief of staff.

While the specifics of her political views are somewhat unclear, she is credited with running a successful and efficient campaign.

Supporters hope she would instill a sense of order and discipline that was often lacking during Trump's first term, when he cycled through a number of chiefs of staff.
A dog owner who had a firework thrown at him in a frightening attack has been left devastated after his pet fled during the incident.

Greg Connelly fears he'll never see his wire-haired fox terrier Millie again after she bolted from the scene close to Renfrew Ferry port, near Glasgow.

The 66-year-old described the town as a 'war zone' in the lead up to Bonfire Night after a thug launched a firework 'banger' device at him while he was walking his two dogs on Monday, October 28.

Greg reported the incident to cops and has spent the last seven days desperately hunting for Millie, with drones being used in the search.

Greg Connelly fears he'll never see wire-haired fox terrier Millie again after she bolted when he had a firework thrown at him near the Renfrew Ferry port, Glasgow

Drones are being used in the search for Millie. Grey said: 'With every day that passes, I'm starting to think she's gone and she's not coming home'

A rescue group has also travelled from Ayrshire to offer their help.

The distraught dog owner told the Record: 'I was out walking Millie and my other dog, Zac. Then I heard this loud, deafening bang as the firework landed a couple of feet from us.

'It all happened in a split second. The dogs panicked and Millie ran.

'I tried my best to hold onto the leash but she wriggled out of her collar and ran off.

'I tripped over the lead and crashed onto the pavement, when I stood up I was in agony I could barely move.

'I didn't see who threw the firework, but I noticed a young man dressed in dark clothing. He turned and started quickly walking away.

'I felt completely hopeless and my heart was racing. But I couldn't think about anything other than getting Millie back.

'My biggest fear was her running onto a road and getting killed by a bus or a car.'

Greg says he can't understand why people are choosing to use fireworks as 'weapons', and fears other people and dogs are at risk.

He added: 'The town is like a war zone. I've heard horror stories about other people out walking their dogs and having fireworks thrown at them.

'Someone told me there were boys throwing fireworks out of a car. Something catastrophic is going to happen.

'They are dangerous weapons in the wrong hands and they are clearly getting into the wrong hands.

'If it happens to anyone else then they need to report it to the police. Strong action needs to be taken to stop this.'

Greg says the whole experience has left him shattered and that he is constantly worrying about Millie.

He added: 'I'm worried I'll never see her again and with every day that passes, I'm starting to think she's gone and she's not coming home.

'She's a rescue dog and has probably already been through trauma in her life.

'To think she is somewhere petrified just makes me sick. It was the worst thing that has ever happened in my life.

'There was absolutely nothing I could do.

'I've been handing out posters and we are getting drones out in the hope we can trace Millie.

'Ayrshire Drone Dog Rescue have kindly travelled up and got permission to fly over the area.'

Police Scotland has confirmed the force has received a report of Greg's missing dog.
Rory Stewart is facing the loss of a huge sum of money after he placed a big bet on Kamala Harris to win the US election.

The ex-Cabinet minister confidently told his nearly 600,000 social media followers earlier this week that Ms Harris would 'win comfortably'.

He even revealed he had 'bet the maximum I was allowed to bet' on the Democrat candidate to win the battle for the White House.

But, following Donald Trump's historic victory, Mr Stewart was this morning forced to admit he was 'completely wrong'.

The former Tory MP, who was once a Conservative leadership contender, added it was 'heartbreaking' that Mr Trump would now be returning as US president.

Rory Stewart (right) is facing the loss of a huge sum of money after he placed a big bet on Kamala Harris to win the US election

The ex-Cabinet minister confidently told his nearly 600,000 social media followers earlier this week that Ms Harris would 'win comfortably'

But, following Donald Trump 's stunning victory, Mr Stewart was this morning forced to admit he was 'completely wrong'

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter , on Monday morning, Mr Stewart had set out the reasons why he thought Ms Harris would 'win comfortably'

The former Tory MP was asked by one X user whether he would back up his prediction with a 100,000 bet

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday morning, Mr Stewart had set out the reasons why he thought Ms Harris would 'win comfortably'.

This included the 'solid' performance of Joe Biden's administration, in which Ms Harris serves as vice-president, and that Mr Trump had 'lost ground' since his 2016 election victory.

He also claimed the Republican candidate had failed to win the support of young black male voters, while young women were backing Ms Harris.

Mr Stewart, who served as international development secretary when Theresa May was prime minister, told his 598,000 social media followers to 'ignore polls'.

Asked by one X user whether he would back up his prediction with a 100,000 bet, Mr Stewart replied: 'UK and US sites didn't allow me to bet that amount - but I have bet the maximum I was allowed to bet - let's see.'

This morning, after Mr Trump delivered a triumphant victory speech in Florida, Mr Stewart admitted he was 'completely wrong about Kamala Harris'.

'It is heartbreaking that Trump is now the President,' he added.

Speaking on The Rest Is Politics podcast this morning - which he co-hosts with ex-Downing Street director of communications Alistair Campbell - Mr Stewart tried to explain how he had been 'totally wrong' on the election result.

'I got it totally wrong, I thought Kamala Harris would win and I believed she would win comfortably,' he said.

'I thought it would be over quite quickly, despite the polls showing 50-50.

'Why? I can repeat my arguments, they were technical arguments about young African-American voters and how they would turn out, her ground game, the money, the performance of Biden's administration.

'It's all turned out wrong, completely wrong. I don't think though that I was fundamentally wrong because I'm patronising towards people.

'I never felt that, I never felt that as a politician in Britain - I didn't feel I was patronising towards by Brexit-voting constituents.

'I think I was wrong because I am an optimist and I hate the idea of being right pessimistically.'

He added: 'My bet on Kamala Harris was a bet on the American people, it was a bet on liberal democracy, it was a bet against populism, it was a bet on hope.'

Speaking later to Times Radio, Mr Stewart admitted he had been 'guilty of massive wishful thinking' when predicting Ms Harris would win.

Reflecting on Mr Trump's victory, he added: 'This is the world's largest, greatest democracy.

'And it's just voted for a man who is committed to mass deportations, to stripping away people's right for abortion, who is a multiple convicted felon, who's about to set up horrendous economic policies and he's about to betray Ukraine to Russia.

'So yeah, I'm pretty cross.'
A comedian suing Steve Coogan's production company over claims it copied his groundbreaking show says he has been 'ostracised' from the comedy industry for taking on such a big name player.

Harry Deansway, whose real name is Joshua Rinkoff, claims Coogan's Baby Cow Productions pinched the format of his YouTube show 'Shambles', repurposing it for Baby Cow's 2022 series 'Live at the Moth Club.'

Mr Deansway says the two shows bear striking similarities, both featuring a blend of actual stand-up with a sitcom set in a real-life club.

But Baby Cow are fighting the High Court claim, arguing that their show - a mockumentary broadcast on Dave - is not a copy of Shambles.

They also claim Mr Deansway's show is not original but reproduces ideas already used in comedy classics including Seinfeld and The Muppet Show.

Giving evidence before Recorder Amanda Michaels this week, Mr Deansway said taking on such a big name player Mr Coogan's company has had dire consequences for his career.

A comedian suing Steve Coogan's, pictured, production company has claimed producers 'obviously copied' elements of a sitcom he created

Joshua Rinkoff, pictured, who created, wrote and directed two series of Shambles said producers working on LATMC 'would have seen some or all' of his show

'As a result of the legal action, I have been ostracized from the comedy industry,' he said in his evidence.

'I am no longer invited to various comedians' parties and in general am out of the comedy loop. It is not considered the done thing to stand up to a big production company.

'It seems that the practice of stealing comedians' ideas is widely practised. Quite a few people have messaged me saying that similar things have happened to them and congratulated me on standing up for the principle.

'I was in the process in trying to arrange a syndication deal for the format which has had to be put on hold until the trial is concluded.

'By standing up for myself, I have put myself in a very difficult position, which has led to an almost certain loss of work and friendships within the industry.'

He also defended the originality of Shambles and denied it is similar to The Muppet Show, telling the judge: 'The Muppet Show takes place in a theatre setting and features an array of puppets. There are no comedy promoter characters to my knowledge in The Muppet Show.'

The court previously heard this week that Mr Deansway's Shambles show was based on his own experiences as a promoter in a London comedy club.

Broadcast in two series on YouTube in 2013 and 2015, it features a blend of real life stand-up comedy with a sitcom based backstage and involving the performers.

Lawyers for Mr Deansway say that Shambles is protected as a 'dramatic work' under the Copyright Designs and Patent Act 1988 and that his copyright has been infringed.

Mr Rinkoff says the series bears a striking similarity to his web series, Shambles (pictured), which is also set in a run-down comedy club

Barrister, Dr Timothy Sampson, said Mr Deansway had identified 170 similarities between the two shows, which 'simply could not all have arisen by coincidence.'

They included the setting in a real comedy club, blending of live acts with sitcom elements, the use of a fly-on-the-wall documentary style and numerous 'parallel characters.'

There were also 'similar/identical running jokes' in the two shows, including the owner of the club attempting to fix the dilapidated state of it.

'The obvious inference to be drawn is that the individuals who were producing LATMC for the defendant had both seen and directly copied the Shambles format - characters, setting, plotlines and filmic style  and the burden is now on the defendant to explain how those similarities arose, if not by copying,' he said.

'It can readily be seen that LATMC has copied a substantial part of the Shambles format and has thereby infringed the claimant's copyright as a dramatic work in that format.'

In his evidence, Mr Deansway said his Shambles show was widely known in comedy circles and would have been seen by very many people in the industry.

'I came up with different characters based on my own experiences as a live promoter. These characters are not generic as they are the product of my unique experiences of individuals I have dealt with as a live promoter that are then amalgamated into the various protagonists in Shambles, making them entirely original to the Shambles series.'

'I would say that Shambles was very widely seen within the industry and had a lot of exposure with lots of people in the industry telling me they had seen it,' he said.

'Before Shambles was produced, no one had tried to combine a live stand-up showcase featuring acts performing their own original material with a narrative sitcom.

'I came up with different characters based on my own experiences as a live promoter. These characters are not generic as they are the product of my unique experiences of individuals I have dealt with as a live promoter that are then amalgamated into the various protagonists in Shambles, making them entirely original to the Shambles series.'

Live at the Moth Club is set in a run-down comedy club. Pictured: Seb Cardinal (left) and Dustin Demri-Burns (right), who appeared in the show

He said he pitched an early version of Shambles to a friend at the BBC, Rupert Majendie, in 2010 and that after that 'it is entirely possible, in fact probable' that Mr Majendie - now head of development at Baby Cow - later 'pitched it again to his boss Steve Coogan.'

But for Baby Cow, barrister Jonathan Hill denied that Baby Cow had copied Shambles in the production of Live at the Moth Club.

'While it is true that the claimant and Rupert Majendie know each other and Mr Majendie acknowledges he may have seen some of Shambles upon release, as may some others involved in LATMC, it is utterly implausible that Shambles would have been used as any kind of basis for developing LATMC,' he said.

He continued: 'There are no substantial similarities between the two shows that would lead one, in context, to believe one has been copied from the other.

'As regards the general allegation that LATMC has striking similarities with Shambles and gives rise to a sitcom with a markedly similar tone and feeling to it, Baby Cow submits that these propositions are simply incorrect.

'LATMC is a mockumentary, not a sitcom, and one of its key features is that it presents substantial passages of actual stand up, which Shambles does not.

'Further, the tone and feel of LATMC is very different. Unlike Shambles, there is no substantial streak of darkness - as exemplified by the drug spiking in Shambles - or failure running through the show.

'The Moth Club is a success and well-attended. Humour arises from the challenges it faces in being put on, but it is not under threat from its lack of success. '

He added: 'The one has evidently not been copied from the other.'

After a two-day trial, the judge reserved her decision on the case, to be given at a later date.
MBABANE  For E100, consumers will now get only 32 units of electricity, that is if the 25.51 per cent tariff hike is approved on February 1, 2025.

Currently, for the same amount, domestic users of electricity are getting 42 units at E100. This is because Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) has tendered a request to increase electricity tariffs to the regulator  Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA). EEC requested for an average tariff increase of 25.51 and 27.06 per cent for 2025/26 and 2026/27, respectively. This hike proposed by the utility, if approved, will result in the value of electricity units depreciating significantly in 2026. The proposed increment is against the backdrop of an 8.02 per cent tariff hike, which was implemented on April 1, 2024. The 2023/24 financial year tariff increase saw a downward spiral in the value of units, as E100 was at the time equivalent to 47 units of electricity.

Proposed

However, following the tariff hike, the value of the electricity units at E100 became equivalent to 42 and with the proposed two-year multi-year price determination (MYPD), for domestic users, if the proposed tariff hikes are approved, the same money will buy 32 units in 2025/26 and then in 2026/27, it will give a mere 24 electricity units. On the other hand, small commercial users for the same amount currently get 36 units. However, the units are accompanied by a E189 facility charge. With the proposed increment, their units will decrease to 28 units, while their facility charge will increase with E10 and tally to E199. In the subsequent year (2026), the value of units bought at E100 shall decline to 22, while the facility charge will increase to E280.

Meanwhile, for lifeline tariff customers, the amounts of units bought with E100 are currently 72; however, with the proposed 25.51 per cent, they shall decrease to 53 and when the proposed 27.06 per cent increase, if approved, is implemented in 2026/27, they shall decline further to 39. The projected value of units is to be determined by the input of the public and the findings of the regulator. This follows that as part of the process, ESERA will solicit input from the public and interested stakeholders, to incorporate into the review.

The public and all interested stakeholders are, therefore, invited to submit their comments on the application for review by December 14, 2024, said the ESERA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sikhumbuzo Tsabedze. Tsabedze said the authority will further hold public hearings to gather comments on the review. He said members of the public and various stakeholders are encouraged to attend the public hearings. He said this when announcing EECs application for the tariff review, during a press briefing yesterday morning, held at the Mountain View Hotel. Tsabedze stated that EEC requests for a revenue requirement of E4 219 416 214 for the financial year 2025/26, and a revenue requirement of E4 570 140 772 for the financial year 2026/27.

This translates to an average tariff increase of 25.51 per cent for the financial year 2025/26 and 27.06 per cent for the financial year 2026/27, excluding the 2.5 per cent electrification access fund levy and 15 per cent value-added tax (VAT), said Tsabedze. In terms of Section 5 (1) (f) of the Energy Regulatory Act, read with Section 32 of the Electricity Act, together with Section 5 and 6 of the Tariff Methodology, ESERA is mandated to undertake a review, once the request is received, by November 1. The authority is expected to announce a decision not later than February 1, of the following year, after a three months review process. According to the tariff review proposal, this is to fully cover its costs for each of the financial years being applied for. Once approved by ESERA, the increases will be effected on April 1, 2025 and April 1, 2026 respectively.

Deducted

EEC is requesting the regulator to consider a total of approximately E11.6625 million as an over recovery to be deducted in the upcoming years tariffs. The proposal is to spread these recoveries over the two-year application period as part of the revenue requirement. The utility mentioned through its proposal that currently, electricity prices do not cover the full costs of supplying electricity across the various tariff categories. This application, therefore, continues the migration to cost-reflective tariffs, read the proposal in part. The company said it recognises the impact of tariff increases on the economy and households, especially the small businesses and the indigent. It said this tariff proposal considers the adoption of the subsidy framework by legislators, which includes an inclining block tariff for the companys lifeline customers who are considered to be low-income consumers.
Just Stop Oil supporters have sprayed the US embassy building in London in orange paint on the morning that Donald Trump was elected for a second term to the White House.

Two protestors from the environmental activist group were videoed dousing the entrance of the building in Nine Elms with the luminous coloured paint before being detained by armed police.

The act of protest was done so under the guise of demanding that governments 'work together to end the extraction and burining of oil, gas and coal by 2030', according to the group.

A Just Stop Oil spokesperson stated the only real winner of yesterday's seismic US elections were the 'corporate powers' who they claim 'control the major parties in both the US and UK'.

'Regardless of who sits in the White House, corporations and billionaires will ensure that the interests of the fossil fuel industry will continue to be prioritised over the wellbeing of ordinary people,' the spokesperson said.

Two Just Stop Oil protestors sprayed the US Embassy in London this morning in luminous orange paint this morning before being detained by armed police

Two Just Stop Oil protestors sprayed the US Embassy in London this morning in luminous orange paint this morning before being detained by armed police

Two Just Stop Oil protestors sprayed the US Embassy in London this morning in luminous orange paint this morning before being detained by armed police

Two Just Stop Oil protestors sprayed the US Embassy in London this morning in luminous orange paint this morning before being detained by armed police

Two Just Stop Oil protestors sprayed the US Embassy in London this morning in luminous orange paint this morning before being detained by armed police

Two Just Stop Oil protestors sprayed the US Embassy in London this morning in luminous orange paint this morning before being detained by armed police

Two Just Stop Oil protestors sprayed the US Embassy in London this morning in luminous orange paint this morning before being detained by armed police

Two Just Stop Oil protestors sprayed the US Embassy in London this morning in luminous orange paint this morning before being detained by armed police

The infamous environmentalist group went on to call for people to pool together and disrupt the 'business as usual' political system, arguing that it is the only way to force governments to intervene and minimise the effects of climate breakdown.

Going on to cite the mass flooding endured by large parts of eastern Spain over the last week, the spokesperson claimed that the hundreds of deaths in cities such as Valencia were just the start of climate-related disasters to come.

'In Spain this week, hundreds of bodies continue to be dragged from the mud - this is just a small portent of what is to come if we don't change course immediately,' they stated.

Choosing today as the day of protest outside the US embassy was apparently a pointed act, with the group referencing newly-elected Donald Trump in their statement by branding him a 'fake populist'.

'As long as democracy is hijacked by corporate interests and billionaires, it will fail to deliver the change ordinary people are crying out for. This will always leave the door open for fake populists like Trump to exploit the disaffection many feel.

The group concluded their statement on the spray paint attack by urging 'ordinary people' to step up and influence change because 'no political leaders are coming to save us'.

The Metropolitan Police have since released a statement confirming that the two men, aged 25 and 72, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and are currently being held in custody.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: 'Officers from the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit arrested these two men within minutes, ensuring that they could not cause any further damage to the embassy.

'This activity is vandalism purporting as protest and we will continue to have a zero tolerance attitude to actions such as this.'
A suspected drug dealer overdosed and died when a packet of cocaine split in his mouth when he tried to hide it during a police raid, an inquest heard.

Charles 'Chad' Allford attempted to conceal the Class A substance when he was confronted by an officer during a raid in Derbyshire.

But the parcel then broke in his mouth leading the 23-year-old to ingest a large quantity of the drug.

Police officers tried 'various methods' to get the cocaine out of Mr Allford's mouth, including asking him to spit it out, and a coroner recommended more 'guidance or training' to help officers in these situations.

When they realised he had swallowed the drug, one of the officers called an ambulance to treat Mr Allford for an overdose.

An investigation found there was 'no evidence' the police contributed to Mr Allford's death.

Father-of-one Chad Allford, 23, died in police custody when trying to hide drugs in his mouth

Whilst they waited for the paramedics Mr Allford was taken onto the driveway of the house where his health 'quickly declined', he began convulsing and struggled to breathe.

He was then taken from the house in Alfreton, Derbyshire, to King's Mill Hospital in Nottinghamshire where he passed away on the evening of October 27, 2021, the same day as the arrest.

The inquest, held at Chesterfield Coroner's Court, Derbyshire, last month heard from a pathology report that it was 'highly unlikely' any medical intervention would have helped Mr Allford because of the 'significant levels' of cocaine in his blood.

The inquest jury ruled that Mr Allford had died from the effects of cocaine and recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure.

Now the Area Coroner for Derbyshire, Susan Evans, has issued a warning on the training officers receive on carrying out drug arrests.

She was concerned that officers had put their hands in to Mr Allford's mouth which could have caused him to choke on the plastic bag.

Hundreds of people attended an emotional vigil for Mr Allford

In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report Ms Evans said: 'Police attended [an address] in Alfreton following a planned operation involving the supply of class A drugs, in order to effect an arrest.

'After failed attempts to gain entry using keys and an enforcer, police officers gained access through an open door at the rear of the property. Following confrontation with a police officer [he] placed a package of cocaine into his mouth.

'[Police] employed various methods to try and control Mr Allford and although each instructed Mr Allford to spit the drugs out, none of them warned him of the risks to his life of not doing so.

'It was not clear that officers understood the importance of communicating the dangers.

'Attempts were made by officers to open his mouth and sweep the drugs out of the mouth with their hands.

'A number of officers gave evidence that they were not aware of some of the risks inherent in placing their hands in someone's mouth, including the risk of packages entering the airway and therefore choking.

'I am concerned that there is no standard provision for guidance or training for police officers in units tasked to make arrests for drug offences, to equip them to make informed decisions when faced with this situation.

Dozens of floral tributes and balloons were placed at the end of Morewood Drive

'In the Personal Safety Manual, it is described as a 'common tactic used by some subjects during arrest to conceal controlled drugs in their mouths'.

'In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.'

Derbyshire Constabulary and the College of Policing have until December 19 to respond to the report.

An investigation by the Independent Panel for Police Conduct also concluded the day after the inquest.

They found that officers used 'reasonable force' to try and stop Mr Allford ingesting the drugs and that there was 'no evidence' the police contributed to Mr Allford's death.

IOPC Regional Director Derrick Campbell said: 'Our thoughts remain with Mr Allford's family and all of those affected by his tragic death.

'When someone dies either during or following detention it is important that the circumstances are thoroughly and independently investigated.

'From the evidence we gathered we were satisfied that the force used by officers in trying to arrest and restrain Mr Allford, was necessary, reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances, as was the force used to try to prevent him from ingesting what were believed to be class A drugs.'
This is the moment Kamala Harris' team announced that she would not be conceding on election night after it became apparent Donald Trump was the winner.

Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Harris campaign, made the announcement at her alma mater shortly after midnight, as it became clear Harris would not become the first female president.

'Thank you for being here. Thank you for believing in the promise of America,' the former congressman told the crowd that had gathered to celebrate a Harris win.

'We still have votes to count, we still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, so you won't hear from the vice president tonight.

'But you will hear from her tomorrow, she will back here tomorrow to address the HBCU family her supporters and the nation.'

Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Harris campaign, made the announcement at her alma mater shortly after midnight, as it became clear Harris would not become the first female president

Hillary Clinton also waited until the following day to concede when she lost the 2016 election to Trump.

Trump pulled out a landslide win and became the first president in over 130 years  and only the second in history  to win a non-consecutive second term.

Harris is yet to make a concession speech as of 6am EST.

The pivotal moment came when North Carolina was called for Trump at 11:19pm (ET).

His defeat of Harris marks a remarkable return for a twice-impeached president, who left office in 2021 on the back of claims that he had incited an assault on the U.S. Capitol building, and who was convicted earlier this year on multiple counts of business fraud.

Trump pulled out a landslide win and became the first president in over 130 years  and only the second in history  to win a non-consecutive second term. Harris party at her alma mater pictured above

Audience members watch election results as they wait for the arrival of Kamala Harris

Trump, 78, will also become the oldest president ever inaugurated, beating President Joe Biden's record by five months.

He pulled off his remarkable victory on a night reminiscent of 2016, sweeping the key swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Associated Press called Wisconsin at 5.34am (ET) Wednesday and the race just three minutes later.

The race initially appeared neck-and-neck as Americans went to the polls Tuesday after a tense months-long build-up that peaked when Joe Biden abandoned his quest for a second term and the Democratic party ushered Vice President Harris to the fore.

But as night fell, Trump steadily began pulling ahead thanks to support from solidly red states including Florida, Texas and Alabama.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris takes part in a phone bank at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves at supporters at the end of a campaign rally, November 5

Harris' support came from her party's strongholds on the East and West coast in states like New York, Delaware, and California.

A notable difference between this year's election night and that of 2020 is that fewer voters - which leaned Democrat - used mail-in ballots, while states have been quicker to process those votes.

Four years ago, that meant Trump's votes were often counted first as his supporters voted in person, before Biden votes piled in later and helped the incumbent president to a late victory.

This year, however, the number of voters from both sides using mail-in ballots are more even, meaning the Harris campaign cannot count on large batches of outstanding votes to put her over the line in the key battleground states.

That prompted many election watchers and political experts stateside to predict a Trump victory as early vote counts suggested a favorable result across several swing states.
Reform UK's Lee Anderson today made a grovelling apology in the House of Commons for telling a parliamentary security officer to 'f*** off'.

The Ashfield MP admitted breaking Parliament's rules on bullying and harassment after using 'totally unacceptable' language.

Mr Anderson, known as '30p Lee' due to his past comments about food bank users, said he had 'learned significant lessons' and vowed never act in the same way again.

The 57-year-old had been ordered to issue an apology to the Commons, as well as to the security officer, over an incident in November last year.

He was unsuccessful with an appeal against a watchdog's ruling, which found he swore twice at the security officer when his pass did not work at one of Parliament's entrances.

Reform UK's Lee Anderson today made a grovelling apology in the House of Commons for telling a parliamentary security officer to 'f*** off

The Ashfield MP admitted breaking Parliament's rules on bullying and harassment after using 'totally unacceptable' language

According to a report by Parliament's Independent Expert Panel (IEP), the security officer lodged a complaint after being told to 'f*** off' by Mr Anderson

At the time of the incident, Mr Anderson was deputy chairman of the Conservative Party. He later quit the Tories amid an 'Islamophobia' row and then joined Reform.

He was re-elected to the Commons at July's general election as a candidate for his new party, which is led by Nigel Farage.

According to a report by Parliament's Independent Expert Panel (IEP), the security officer lodged a complaint after being told to 'f*** off' by Mr Anderson.

The incident occurred at the Derby Gate entrance to Parliament on 3 November, 2023.

Mr Anderson asked the security officer to 'open the door' and allow him access to the parliamentary estate, before the security officer asked to check the MP's pass, the report said.

'The respondent replied, 'F*** off, everyone opens the door to me, you are the only one',' the IEP report added.

'The complainant again explained he would need to check the respondent's pass.

'The respondent then approached the complainant and said, 'F*** you, I have a train to catch', before walking out of the search post.'

In a personal statement to the Commons this afternoon, Mr Anderson said: 'I accept the findings of the IEP and the Parliamentary Commissioners for Standards in full and without reservation.

'On 3 November 2023 at the Derby Gate entrance I was involved in an incident with a security guard.

'During the incident I spoke to the complainant in a manner that was totally unacceptable and which included swearing and other language that goes against the House of Commons bullying and harassment policy.

'I would like to apologies to the complainant and to this House for my behaviour.

'Our security staff do an incredible job and should always be treated with the utmost of respect.

'The standards of an MP's behaviour must always be at a higher standard.

'I give you and this House my firm assurance that I've learned significant lessons through this process, and a firm undertaking that such behaviour on my part will never happen again.'

After upholding the complaint against Mr Anderson, the IEP had told Mr Anderson to apologise to the security officer and to the Commons.

A sub-panel accepted the MP's evidence that he had 'challenging personal circumstances' on the day in question and his 'unacceptable behaviour' was 'not planned or premeditated'.

In his appeal, the MP had claimed the allegations were 'untrue' and said there was 'absolutely no evidence at all to prove or disprove what I said during the brief exchange I had with the security guard'.

Mr Anderson added it was 'really quite astonishing' that there had been a 10-month investigation into an incident 'which lasted for around 20 seconds'.

But the sub-panel dismissed the MP's appeal and ordered him to make an apology to the Commons by means of a personal statement, as well as sending a written apology to the security officer.

They noted that Mr Anderson had already completed 'Valuing Everyone' training.
A British woman who died after travelling to Turkey for weight-loss surgery was left with three potentially life-threatening conditions, a coroner has revealed.

Hayley Butler, 40, flew abroad for the gastric sleeve operation in September but died in hospital last month.

A coroner has now described how the dog groomer was allowed to return home just two days after the gruelling procedure and was already ill when she got back to the UK.

Samantha Goward told a preliminary hearing: 'The circumstances were that she had a sleeve gastrectomy in Turkey. She was deemed fit to fly back to the UK 48 hours later.

'On arrival, she was suffering from abdominal pain and vomiting and was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital where a CT scan showed perforation of the oesophagus.

'She was transferred to Luton and Dunstable Hospital's bariatric centre on October 11 and was found to have a bowel perforation and anastomotic leak, for which she had a laparotomy [incision into the stomach to diagnose or treat conditions].

Hayley Butler, 40, flew abroad for the gastric sleeve operation in September but died in hospital last month

Ms Butler was allowed to return home just two days after the gruelling procedure and was already ill when she got back to the UK - pictured is Hayley with her mother Gillian Moore

Flowers left in tribute to Hayley Butler outside her dog grooming business

'She sadly continued to deteriorate and passed away on October 24.'

Mortality rates for oesophageal perforation are 30 per cent after 30 days in England, rising to nearly 40 per cent after 90 days, according to one study.

Death rates caused by bowel perforations are typically 30-50 per cent but can rise to 70 per cent if it causes peritonitis, an infection which can lead to sepsis.

Anastomosis is a connection between two tubular part of the body during gastric bypass surgery  either stomach pouch to intestine or intestine-to-intestine. An anastomotic leak can cause bleeding, infection and sepsis.

Norfolk area coroner Mrs Goward, who was sitting in Norwich yesterday, gave the primary cause of Ms Butler's death as refractory multiple organ failure.

A full inquest will take place on March 19 next year.

Norfolk area coroner Mrs Goward, who was sitting in Norwich yesterday, gave the primary cause of Ms Butler's death as refractory multiple organ failure

Flowers left in tribute to Hayley Butler outside her dog grooming business Diva Dogs in Norwich

An announcement which was placed on the dog grooming salon entitled Rest In Peace, Hayley

Hayley Butler's last Facebook post to her customers which reads 'I'm now off until the 14th October'

Ms Butler, who lived in Norwich, flew to Turkey for the operation on September 24.

In a tragic final post on her Facebook page, she wrote: 'Hi!! Just to let everyone know I'm now off until October 14.

'I won't have my diary with me when I'm away, so I'll reply to any message when I return on October 14. See you all soon!'

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline after her death, her mother, Gillian Moore, said: 'There is a lot I could say  but I want to bury her first. I want to get justice for her.'

In an online tribute, she added: 'Hayley was the most happy-go-lucky, caring person  she was always worrying about other people.

'I am heartbroken. She was my soul mate, my friend and my rock. My life will never be the same without her.'

Ms Butler was the owner of Diva Dogs, which opened in 2017 and was named after her chihuahua.

Her friend and colleague, Jessica Carter, said: 'There's so much to say about Hayley it's impossible to fit it all into words.

Ms Butler, who lived in Norwich, flew to Turkey for the operation on September 24

Ms Butler ran the dog grooming business Diva Dogs - she is pictured here with a Chihuahua

'She was just unapologetically Hayley. She was amazing at her job and so knowledgeable. I've been a groomer for ten years and I learned so much from her.

'But she wasn't just a dog groomer  she was really funny, she was bright, she was bubbly, she had this contagious laugh and could make anyone laugh.

'It's a shock to everyone. She was so young and it just feels so cruel.'

Customers of the grooming salon also paid tribute, with one saying: 'There are some people in this world that make everything seem better. Hayley was one of them.

'She always smiles and we would usually have a giggle about something or other. She was lovely to our furry girls and us.

'I feel lucky that I met Hayley. It's a privilege to have known such a lovely person.'

A sleeve gastrectomy involves the removal of about 80 per cent of the stomach.

Surgeries in countries such as Turkey are cheaper than private procedures carried out in the UK but experts have warned of health risks of cut-price operations abroad.
Emily Maitlis was told off by co-host Krishnan Guru-Murthy after she swore live on air during Channel 4's US Election coverage.

The ex-BBC journalist was slammed by her fellow presenter on two separate occasions for swearing during the station's eight-hour broadcast, leading to calls for Ofcom to step in and sanction her behaviour.

Just a few hours in, Ms Maitlis mysteriously vanished from the screen before Mr Guru-Murthy alleged that she 'started swearing' and promised to 'tell her off later'.

But after returning to the studio, she sparked outrage again after letting a swear word slip as she laid into Donald Trump's claim that illegal immigrants in the US were eating cats and dogs - which she described as 'bats***'.

Mr Guru-Murthy was forced to step in again by telling the 54-year-old to 'stop swearing', before Ms Maitlis then apologised, adding: 'How else could you describe it?'

Emily Maitlis (pictured) was told off by co-host Krishnan Guru-Murthy after she swore live on air during Channel 4's US Election coverage

Boris Johnson, Carol Moseley Braun, Sean Spicer, Emily Maitlis and Krishnan Guru-Murthy during the Channel 4 US election coverage

At around 5am this morning, Maitlis left the Channel 4 coverage for another work project, which saw Mr Guru-Murthy address his co-host's on screen behaviour.

He said: 'Ill tell Emily off later because I know she started swearing. It may be the middle of the night in Britain but theyre still a little bit sensitive about that stuff.'

Later in the show, the former Newsnight presenter was again told off by her co-host after letting a swear word slip.

She said: 'It's not that they disagree about one thing. The whole thing is asymmetric.

'When Donald Trump talked about eating cats and dogs half of America was thinking, "This is bats***. I can't believe what he's saying. This is going to be the end of him".'

Mr Guru-Murthy then stepped in by saying: 'Stop swearing. I have to tell [the guests] off for swearing and then you do it' before Maitlis then apologised.

Elsewhere, during the show former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was harangued for promoting his memoir Unleashed, which has been serialised by the Mail.

When asked by Maitlis if he still wanted Trump to win, the Mail Columnist joked: 'Well, as I say in my book Unleashed..', to which Mr Guru-Murthy interjected saying 'put it away, stop it, enough'.

The former Newsnight presenter (left) was told off by her co-host (right) earlier in the night after letting a swear word slip

Mr Johnson, 60, spoke on meeting Donald Trump, before again mentioning Unleashed

Mr Johnson said he met with former US president and Republican nominee Donald Trump after his attempted assassination in July.

'In case I failed to mention this, I am promoting my book Unleashed, and I had a talk with him about Ukraine,' he joked to the camera, as he held up a copy of his book.

When asked about following in Mr Trump's footsteps regarding a political comeback if he was to win the presidential election, Mr Johnson said: 'The answer is obviously contained in Unleashed where you'll find the full discussion of this subject.'

Maitlis then told him: 'We are not all going to read your book, so just tell us, do you want to have a political comeback... You can't actually answer a single question.'

Mr Johnson responded: 'By the way Emily I've answered all your questions all night. Currently I am blissfully engaged promoting my book Unleashed, available in all good book stores.'

Mr Johnson, 60, has been promoting his new memoir titled Unleashed after it was released last month.

The 784-page book looks back on Mr Johnson's time as prime minister - from 2019 to 2022 - including Brexit and the Covid pandemic.

Results from the presidential election continue to indicate Donald Trump may recapture the White House.

The former president won a wave of states early Tuesday night and looked set to retake several swing states he lost to Joe Biden in 2020, with Trump's camp saying they were 'confident' of victory.

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In comparison at Harris' watch party in Washington D.C. silence descended and supporters were seen hugging as they began to contemplate possible defeat.

Actor Brian Cox also spoke out as his despair at the way the vote was heading while on Channel 4 last night, giving a bleak outlook on a Trump victory.

'It is the most crucial election there has been in my lifetime and we have to make sure that he [Trump] doesn't get in, because he is a monster, he really is.

'He is crazy. He is insane. He wants to be a dictator.

'It has all been so clear what he has been talking about, I don't know why the American people aren't listening to him.

'The kind of nonsense that he has been talking. I think he has lost it. I think he is deeply mentally unstable.

'This is not a man who should be the President of the United States.'
A woman on the island of Guadeloupe believed to have decapitated her two small children had to be Tasered by police and was admitted into a psychiatric hospital after she was found wandering the streets naked and singing.

The bodies of the mutilated four-year-old and 13-month-old siblings were found in a bathtub in their home in Sainte-Rose by their father at around 3.25am on Tuesday.

The children's father, who had just returned home from work, alerted emergency services, which was when police found the woman 'in a state of delirium', according to commander of the Guadeloupe gendarmarie General Christophe Perret.

French outlet Le Parisien reported that the woman was speaking incoherently and was unable to explain the reasons for her actions when approached by cops.

Public prosecutor Caroline Talbo said that the mother was initially taken into custody and then released due to her mental state, and has since been hospitalised.

The police have opened a murder investigation, but further details have not been disclosed.

A woman in the island of Guadeloupe believed to have decapitated her two small children had to be Tasered by police and was admitted into a psychiatric hospital after she was found wandering the streets naked and singing

According to outlet Ouest France, autopsies of the two bodies will be conducted today and tomorrow.

In addition, a bladed weapon was discovered at the scene of the murders, which will now be analysed, Calbo confirmed.

Meanwhile the father had to be treated by emergency services as he was in a state of shock.

The horrific killing of two innocent children comes just days after a woman killed herself and her two children last week after jumping off Niagara Falls.

Chianti Means, 33, stepped over the guardrail at Luna Island on Monday night, with her two kids Roman, 9, and Mecca, four months.

Police said last Wednesday that after sweeping the area thoroughly for days that search and rescue efforts were unsuccessful.

Since her passing, previous Facebook posts she had made have resurfaced online in which she expressed a desire to get back with the father of her daughter.

Just days before jumping to her and her kids' deaths, Means marvelled about her daughter, writing online that she was beautiful.

On October 14, Means expressed regret that she and her daughter's father were no longer together.
Waleed Aly has blamed US presidential candidate Kamala Harris' loss on not providing voters with a direct message- after previously boldly declaring that she would win.

The Project host, who is in the states covering the election, explained his theory on Wednesday night while speaking with US political commentator Steve Clemons.

The pair spoke an hour after Trump took to the stage in Florida to address the nation in the early hours of the morning US time.

'This is as bad a loss as they could probably have conceived,' Aly said.

'When you lose like this, everything was wrong,' Mr Clemons replied.

'Kamala was vice president of the United States, but was not well known to the public.

'Joe Biden stepped out too late. She didnt tend to wing it very well when asked about her economic plan - the nuts and bolts of policy.'

Aly added his own theory about Vice President Harris losing because of a lack of clarification.

The Project host (pictured) said the 'Democrats message tended to be more theoretical, like democracy', whereas Trump was direct

US political commentator Steve Clemons (pictured right with Waleed Aly) said Harris wasn't well known to the American voters and that Biden should have stepped down sooner

'Trump's message was very direct. Jobs, immigration, crime,' he said.

'The Democrats message tended to be more theoretical, like democracy.'

The American political commentator believed Harris felt like part of the Biden bland package.

'I think it was one of the downfalls of Joe Biden,' Clemons continued.

'Im going to say something controversial here though, I think Biden would have done better in the battleground states.'

'People cared about the price of eggs, butter and toast.'

Aly admitted he was surprised at the speed of the outcome as the results of some of the 'key' battleground states were predicted to take longer to reveal.

The Republicans have also won the House, Senate and Congress and Trump is set to win the popular vote (pictured Trump with wife Melania and son Baron)

'For the whole thing to be done just tells you how overwhelming the result is,' Aly said.

'And we should point out that the Republicans have taken the lot.

'The House, the Senate, Congress, its an extraordinary level of power that they will enjoy.'

A day earlier, Aly was singing to a different tune and stunned his fellow panellists on The Project when asked on the spot on who would win the race to the White House.

'Kamala Harris. There's a name,' he said without hesitation.

'My theory is, Trump has fewer ways to win. Kamala has a bit more room for error in the people she is targeting and who might turn out,' he said.

'Where as Trump is really going for a particular kind of voter - especially a male voter [and] especially a young voter.

'The problem he has is that they are not people who typically turn out and vote.'

Aly went on to concede that Trump may win if certain factors swing in his favour, including whether the voters he targeted during the election campaign turned up and voted for him.

Trump's victory doesn't stop there - he is on track to win the popular vote.

If successful, this will be the first time a Republican has won it since George W Bush in 2004.

Aly said he was surprised at the speed of the result that handed victory to Trump over Kamala Harris (pictured)

In Trump's victory speech, he said he would fight for a 'golden age of America'.

'Every single day I will be fighting for you, with every breath in my body,' he said.

'I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve.

'We also have won the popular vote, which is great.

'Winning the popular vote is very nice.'
The bickering over who was to blame for Kamala Harris' defeat at the presidential election began in earnest even before the result was declared.

Democrats blamed Tim Walz for being too left wing, too folksy, and too tainted by the Kenosha riots, while others blamed every demographic possible.

Not enough white women showed up, too many black men switched to Donald Trump since 2020, and Hispanic voters abandoned the party.

Media analysts also speculated Joe Biden should have pulled the plug on his candidacy well before his disastrous debate performance.

This would have either given Harris more time to establish herself, or allowed for an open primary to select a stronger candidate, they argued.

The bickering over who was to blame for Kamala Harris' defeat at the presidential election began in earnest even before the result was declared

Then many on the left claimed Harris refusing to break with Biden's support for sending weapons to Israel cost her voters who either stayed home, or supported Greens candidate Jill Stein.

The Israel argument started on social media almost as soon as Harris became the nominee, firstly as a reason not to pick Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, as her running mate.

Former Democratic National Committee official Lindy Li by contrast argued picking Shapiro could have got Harris over the line.

'People are wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket. And not only in terms of Pennsylvania,' she told Fox News.

Li, who worked for Shapiro last year, argued that choosing a moderate like Shapiro would have shown Harris wasn't the 'San Francisco liberal' Trump claimed she was.

'But she went with someone actually to her Left. In the eyes of the American people, Walz was the governor who oversaw the protests,' she said.

Some Democrats and commentators - and many more on social media - blamed white women for helping cost Harris the election

Some Democrats blamed VP candidate Tim Walz for being too left wing, too folksy, and too tainted by the 2020 Kenosha riots

Walz, the governor of Minnesota, was in office during Black Lives Matter riots after police shot dead Jacob Blake in August 2020.

MSNBC commentator Joy Reid blamed white women for not showing up to the polls in the large numbers they were expected to.

'In the end, they didn't make their numbers. We have to be blunt about why, black voters came through for Harris, white women voters did not,' she claimed.

However, black voters - particularly men - also moved to Trump compared to 2020 numbers, according to exit polls at each election.

Trump had about 13 per cent of black voters, compared to just eight per cent in 2020, and his Hispanic support rose from 32 to 45 per cent.

MSNBC commentator Joy Reid blamed white women for not showing up to the polls in the large numbers they were expected to

Others speculated that if Joe Biden had pulled the plug on his candidacy well before his disastrous debate performance (pictured) Democrats would have had a much better chance

NBC Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker suggested it was Biden's fault as he should have dropped out much earlier than July.

She said during election night coverage that Biden's timing would be 'something that if she does, in fact, lose will be under a microscope'.

'Because of course there was so much discussion, even over the summer, about potentially having an open primary and having that fight play out within the Democratic Party,' she said.

'So I think it's one of the big questions moving forward.'
A British mother has said she will wear a Make America Great Again hat with pride and plans to move to the US after Donald Trump's election win today.

Carla Bellucci, who has been referred to as Britain's 'most hated' woman, is 'on top of the world' this morning and even celebrated by setting off fireworks.

The 42-year-old from Hertfordshire said 'I'm ready to pack my bags and leave immediately' and she wants to move her family to Tampa in Florida.

She claimed her neighbours 'despise' her because they support Kamala Harris but she 'couldn't care less'.

The mother-of-four believes that the UK is 'quickly becoming a third world country' and needs 'someone like [Trump]' who is 'fearless' to run it.

Carla previously declared she wanted to leave the country after Labour's Budget made her 'scared' for her children's future.

Carla Bellucci, who has been referred to as Britain's 'most hated' woman is 'on top of the world' this morning andsays she will wear her MAGA hat with prde

The 42-year-old from Hertfordshire said 'I'm ready to pack my bags and leave immediately' and says will move her family to Tampa in Florida now that Trump has won the election

The mother-of-four believes that the UK is 'quickly becoming a third world country' and needs 'someone like [Trump]' who is 'fearless' to run it

Posting a jubilant Instagram story, the internet personality expressed her joy

Donald Trump, now the US President, seen at a campaign rally in November

Posting a jubilant Instagram story, the internet personality said energetically: 'Morning guys and girls - what a day to be alive. I'm so happy that Trump is back in power.

'Oh my days, I can finally wear my MAGA hat with pride. It's wonderful. I'm buzzing for America.

'Trump needed to win and the people have spoken. I want to be in America right now. It's all true, we do want to get out. I'm happy and I'm smiling.'

The former glamour model said: 'I've been watching the election unfold all night, it's been on non-stop.

'Every minute, we are screaming at the television. I am on top of the world - in fact, I'm f***ing ecstatic.

'As it was Bonfire night yesterday, we were setting off fireworks until one in the morning. I couldn't care less.'

For now, she's planning an all out American celebration.

She said: 'I'm so happy, we're getting ready to have the biggest party of our lives.

'My American flags will be hanging from the windows and I'll be jamming to YMCA all day long.

'I'm inviting my friends over and we'll be drinking with some BBQ food.'

She thinks he will 'finally put the country in order', adding: 'I just love the fact that I took so much s**t for supporting him and now, he's back.

Carla (pictured) previously said she is scared for her children's future after the Budget

Former Glamour model Carla is preparing to move to the US and believes Donald Trump would make a better Prime Minister than Keir Starmer

Internet personality Carla with one of her children on a bouncy castle

'I think he will do what he says and will control the country properly.

'That's what we need here -someone who is fearless. What a man.'

Carla has been dubbed 'Britain's most hated mother' over a series of controversial moves, including faking depression to get a nose job on the NHS and charging her family 150 per head for Christmas dinner.

She was previously criticised for her parenting techniques after revealing she walks around topless around her children.

The ex-glamour model caused even more controversy when she slammed parents for producing 'moron kids' who just want to become social media influencers.

She recently made headlines when she claimed she splashed 5,000 on a Halloween bash, much to the anger of her neighbours.

And in 2022 she was banned from another Halloween party for dressing up her baby, Blu, as serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
Global brands debut new products in Chinese market

Xinhua) 10:58, November 06, 2024

This photo shows a view of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

SHANGHAI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- From Honeywell and BMW to L'Oreal and Lindt &Sprungli, many renowned global brands have launched new innovative products to entice Chinese consumers, exposing themselves in the spotlight at a high-profile trade promotion event.

The seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's first import-themed national-level expo, being held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10, has become a major launchpad for new products, technologies and services, demonstrating global companies' great interest in exploring the lucrative Chinese market.

Political and business leaders from 152 countries, regions and international organizations attended the opening ceremony. Around 3,800 Chinese and foreign journalists from more than 400 media outlets are participating in the coverage of this event.

At the booth of Lindt &Sprungli, a 4-meter tall "waterfall wall" made of eight different flavors of the brand's bestselling LINDOR chocolate is catching the eyes of many. Founded in 1845, the Swiss chocolate brand is participating at the expo for the first time.

The company has recognized the significant potential of the Chinese market since its entry in 2012. It aims to strengthen its connections with Chinese consumers, explore the market more thoroughly, and create a wider range of high-quality chocolate products through participation in the CIIE, said a booth staff.

At the expo, the company is showcasing dozens of chocolate varieties, including some new products, and will conduct tasting activities throughout the expo. One of the five Lindt Swiss master chocolatiers, Thomas Schnetzler, will be present to share chocolate-making expertise and engage participants in the process of creating chocolates via a master class.

Nippon Paint, a popular choice for many Chinese for home furnishing, is a first-time exhibitor at the CIIE, and has debuted a suite of new products, with a focus on smart road construction and urban air purification.

"We hope to comprehensively show our extensive business and global strength via the CIIE. We will continue to increase investment in China and firmly believe that investing in China is investing in the future," Eric Chung, CEO of Nippon Paint China, stated in a written interview with Xinhua.

The BMW, a beloved brand among China's middle-income group, is also participating in the CIIE for a seventh consecutive year. At its booth, six models from the BMW M series are on display. The exhibited vehicles include gasoline cars, plug-in hybrid models and pure electric vehicles.

Sean Green, President and CEO of BMW Group Region China, said the company firmly believes in open innovation. It is willing to collaborate with China's top research forces in cutting-edge technology fields to create products that meet the needs of Chinese consumers, thereby providing users with a more personalized and intelligent travel experience.

L'Oreal, another company to participate in the CIIE for seven successive years, is amplifying its presence in 2024, unveiling over 220 exhibits across 21 brands. In its exhibition area, a revolutionary hairdryer made its debut, attracting many expo attendees who stopped by to give it a try.

Jointly developed by L'Oreal and a Chinese startup, the AirLight Pro hairdryer, which combines infrared light technology with high-speed airflow, is said to be more friendly to both the health of hair and the environment.

"CIIE is the only event like this in the world, where L'Oreal is so involved, where we introduce new brands and innovations," remarked Jean-Paul Agon, L'Oreal Group Chairman. "We are very excited to be part of it, and we have a great belief in the opportunities in the Chinese market."

L'Oreal has already inked a deal to participate in the eighth CIIE, underscoring its commitment to this platform.

At the Honeywell exhibition booth, the company debuted a brand new type of gas detector which is able to detect more than 35 types of gases in the field of semiconductor processing and manufacturing, aiming to help enterprises reduce operating costs required for gas detection.

It is the seventh time Honeywell is participating in this expo. Over the past six years, the company's exhibition space has expanded tenfold, from some 50 square meters during its first attendance to the current 500 square meters, with more than 160 innovative technologies, products and solutions showcased during this period.

This year the company is exhibiting a record 100 technologies covering areas such as aviation, smart buildings, energy transition and smart manufacturing, according to a company employee at the booth.

Over the years, the CIIE has become an important platform for global companies seeking to make big profits in the Chinese market. The previous six editions of the expo saw nearly 2,500 new products, technologies and services make their debuts -- with combined intended turnover reaching over 420 billion U.S. dollars.

The 7th CIIE has attracted about 3,500 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions, and achieved a new record with 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders attending the event. More than 400 new products, new technologies and new services are set to be unveiled during the 2024 expo.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
THE textile industry is under immense pressure for its own survival and sustainability. Global, regional and domestic conditions are staked against the sector. While, we have a government that seems to be nonchalant about the fate of the industry, its beneficiaries and the benefits to the economy as a whole. We have become accustomed to reading about lay offs or closure of firms within the industry. This is a vital sector for the economy, holds so much potential for growth. South Africas textile master plan will kill the sector if our government does not assist the sector, through coordinated efforts, in a document akin to a master plan. We seem to be shifting priorities to new areas without putting in place mechanisms that ensure that we are able to reap and sustain the gains we have made in other industries.

Shifting focus

Industry shifting or strategic focus is an inevitable reality of commerce. The question we should be asking is what then needs to happen to the industries that are becoming obsolete. I often make reference to the Taiwan story and how they managed shifting needs in industry and ensuring that existing industries are assisted to adapt. Following the economic miracle of Taiwan, pivotal to their success strategy was the ability to handle the metamorphosis within industry.

In Taiwan, the planning ensured that when new industries come to light, old industries are assisted to remain profitable, training and re-training programmes were always aligned with the needs of industry and the skills level in the country. Furthermore, support to industries was provided by the government to ensure that they survive. I make the same point, that our industrialisation strategy does not have to be forward looking only, it is also incumbent on us as a country to ensure that within the same strategy we are able to consider existing industries and how they should be supported.

Safeguarding the sector

I call on the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to do more towards assisting the sector to survive and thrive. The sector creates and skills its own labour force, this imposes an additional cost to the firm. Government can come in through the Ministry of Education and Training to support the training endeavor. Resulting in improved productivity and ultimately margins for the industry, providing much wiggle room for the sector. Also, trainings can also be extended to service personnel so that the machinery used in the sector can also be serviced domestically.

There are multiple ripple effects to this move. Firstly, a critical mass of skilled personnel would be spread across the country, making it relatively easy to decentralise the industry as the costs of entry would be relatively lowered. Secondly, emaSwati with the skills will be put in a better position to start and run cottage factories, living bigger firms to sourcing orders and maintaining quality control. This is a very low hanging fruit as all that is required is some capital injection which can be sourced from the RDF and other existing government loan schemes.

This level of decentralisation has the potential to open up new markets and new uses for what ideally would be referred to as waste within the textile industrial complex, improving on the environmental impacts and the general wellbeing of emaSwati. Lastly, a master plan which has these components will also create a service value chain and that is an entire industry we have not exploited as a country, all these services are imported.

Cost support

A comprehensive strategy also requires government to provide a cost subsidy in the form of reduced taxes and lowered rentals to mention a few. At the onset, this might seem to be a loss of revenues for government. However, I argue that most likely, this would be made up in the VAT collections as more people are employed in the sector and their propensity to spend is skewed for the domestic market. Also, decentralisation may also lead to a rise in local industries in the rural areas, increasing on the vat collected and the corporate taxes collected. I see an entire textile and apparel industry dominated by locally produced commodities.

The multiplier effect from these cost concessions will likely be greater than the revenue that government is currently collecting. Another implicit cost to consider is making the tax system relatively easy for the smaller firms so that they can benefit from AGOA and other regional and international trade dynamics. Make it easy for the people to access such markets.

Rationale

I imagine you are asking yourselves why should we go through all this trouble. Well, the sector is the 3rd biggest employer of labour or the biggest employer if you account for seasonality in other sectors. Employment in the sector is 80 per cent women and 20 per cent men. The sector contributes on average 11 per cent to manufacturing output and on average 2.9 per cent to GDP in nominal terms and accounts for over 50 per cent of the manufacturing sectors labour complement. A textile industry value chain can do for the country in terms of job creation, poverty alleviation, youth and women empowerment.
Many Aussies have tipped that Peter Dutton and the right-wing Liberal Coalition could win next year's federal election following Donald Trump's shock presidential win.

Voters took to social media to reveal their early predictions after the US election result was confirmed late Wednesday night Australian time.

Some claimed the divide between Anthony Albanese's left-wing Labor Party and the Dutton-led Coalition will become more apparent at the next election.

Many believe Liberals could return to power when voters return to the polls in May next year.

'I am confident that the lesson the Australian Labor Party will learn from the events in the United States is to do exactly the same things the Democrats did and lose to Peter Dutton next year,' one said.

Another wrote: 'Peter Dutton - now it's our turn to Make Australia Great Again'.

A third commented: 'What a wonderful victory for the people of the USA - and we Australians will also taste this victory when Peter Dutton becomes our next Prime Minister.'

A fourth remarked: 'Guy whose country is about to elect Peter Dutton: 'Can't believe these idiots voted Trump.'

Australian voters predict the divide between Anthony Albanese's (left) left-wing Labor Party and Peter Dutton's (right) right-wing Liberal Coalition will become more obvious at next year's federal election

Australians believed Mr Dutton could be the next prime minister after seeing right-wing Donald Trump (centre) win the US presidential election on Wednesday

Even Mr Albanese's congratulatory tweet to Mr Trump on his victory was quickly inundated with comments from right-wing supporters.

'Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory,' the Prime Minister wrote.

'Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies.

'Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future.'

One voter wrote: 'Now make Australia great again. Stop the woke stuff.'

Another added: 'Start packing your bags Albo, change is sweeping the planet and you're next on the list.

However, not all Aussies were onboard with the real possibility of a Coalition government returning to power just three years after they were booted from office.

'All Australians need to stay awake bc this is us next. The Liberal Party are becoming increasingly right-wing, and we will have an election next year. No time for funny business,' one Aussie warned.

Another added: 'Hey Albo... remember you are a Labor PM and are meant to be about the left and social equality. Dutton has your number, you need to shape up boofhead.'

Similar comments were left under Mr Dutton's congratulatory statement to Mr Trump.

'The United States has been an overwhelming force for good in the world. When our close ally is strong and at its best, the world is at its best,' the Opposition leader said.

Commenters slammed Mr Albanes (pictured with fiance Jodie Haydon) for being too 'woke'

'May the years ahead be some of the most defining for our Alliance in which, driven by tests of our times, the necessity of deterrence, and the cause of securing peace through strength, we unleash the defence, industrial and economic opportunities of AUKUS at speed and scale.

'In this endeavour, may we draw renewed energy and confidence from the things that unite the American and Australian people: the principles we hold dear, the patriotism that drives us, and the pragmatism that defines us.'

Commenters said: 'Mr Dutton, I sincerely hope that you will be key to taking this momentum forward in our country. You have my vote.'

'Spoken like a TRUE leader,' another wrote.

Meanwhile, others were left shaking their heads at the American voting system.

Unlike Australia, the US doesn't have mandatory voting, which means many Americans skip casting a ballot altogether.

'Not much I like about Australia but you know what's great? Preferential compulsory voting. I'm a s**t for it,' one said.

Several Australians called for left-wing voters to be more vocal in the upcoming election, saying it's 'no time for funny business'

A second asked: 'Why is voting not mandated in America?'

A third commented: 'Isn't it sad that a democracy sausage sizzle and mandated voting might actually be the key?'

A fourth wrote: 'Also as an Australian it is BIZARRE to me that voting is not mandated.'

Another said: 'Australia has many issues but in general our electoral and political system is something I'd rather over the USA.'
A headmaster featured on TV's Educating Greater Manchester has been banned from teaching indefinitely after a tribunal heard the school was like a 'zoo' with 'dangerous' behaviour worsened by his refusal to exclude pupils.

Andrew 'Drew' Povey, 47, former executive head of Harrop Fold School, Worsley, was accused of 'off-rolling' three pupils before the January 2018 census to boost performance data by marking them as having attended when they were absent.

Phil Ince, a senior staff member, said in a statement read to the panel that he'd heard Povey using walkie-talkies to order staff that 'kids be sent home'.

A professional misconduct panel heard that Povey caused or failed to stop data being amended to record that two of the pupils had attended when they hadn't.

Pupils regularly sent home before the end of the school day were also not logged properly, according to claims put to the Teaching Regulation Agency panel in Coventry, which they found proven.

Povey's deputy, his elder brother Ross, was also found guilty of the same allegations relating to the 2017-18 academic year and was likewise banned from teaching indefinitely.

Phil Ince, a senior staff member, said in a statement read to the panel that he'd heard Povey using walkie-talkies to order staff that 'kids be sent home'.

Andrew 'Drew' Povey, 47, former executive head of Harrop Fold School, Worsley, was accused of 'off-rolling' three pupils before the January 2018 census to boost performance data

Faux said that occasionally, when a pupil was 'having a meltdown, in mental distress, parents would be called and with their agreement the child would go home before the end of the school day'.

Ince told the hearing Povey's refusal to exclude pupils and alleged withdrawal to focus on external projects led to a breakdown in pupil behaviour.

'Towards the end it was a zoo,' he said.

He claimed the behaviour policy was not followed, and that staff had considered striking over safety concerns while Povey was in charge.

'From around about 2015 it started to deteriorate fast and first it would be small things but then it became a snowball coming down a hill.' Ofsted rated Harrop Fold 'inadequate' after inspecting it in October 2018 and it reopened as the Lowry Academy in 2021.

The hearing was told three pupils were off-rolled in an 'inappropriate way' in a 'certain window' ahead of the statutory census in January 2018, and then put back on soon afterwards.

Two were in alternative provision and the third was 'missing in education'.

Andrew Cullen, for the TRA, asked the panel to consider whether there was 'some calculation hereto make the school look better'.

Andrew Povey on Educating Greater Manchester in 2017 (pictured) - he helped turn the school around after his stewardship saw it rated by Ofsted as 'good' in contrast to a government official telling the chairman of governors it was 'the worst school in the country' in 2003

In a statement, Drew Povey said he held his hands up for 'administrative mistakes that were made involving two children, and as the leader of that school, I take full responsibility'.

But to conclude that there was a 'deliberate plan to off-roll to benefit the school's performance as a whole is completely wide of the mark'.

Povey, who featured in the Channel 4 fly-on-the-wall documentary in 2017, announced his resignation in a letter published on social media in September 2018.

He alleged a 'heavy-handed' approach from Salford City Council, which he claimed had 'completely ignored the best interests of the pupils, staff and school'.

Mr Cullen claimed attendance data was 'inflated to create a distorted picture of attendance'.

Colleague Gary Chambers, the school's director of attitudes and learning in the 2017-18 year, told the Salford-backed investigation, that he was 'vaguely aware' of some pupils being taken off roll around census time, the panel heard.

Drew Povey, 40, (Centre) starred in television programme, 'Educating Greater Manchester'

Parents protested against the suspension of headteacher Drew Povey at Harrop Fold School in Little Hulton, Greater Manchester, in 2018

Ofsted has defined off-rolling as removing a pupil from the school roll without using a permanent exclusion, when this is primarily in the best interests of the school, not the pupil.

Chambers said in the statement this was done to 'artificially amend the figures relating to school performance and I think that means artificially improve the figures', said Andrew Faux, representing Drew Povey.

If pupils were not recorded in the January census, their GCSE results would not have counted for the school's performance that year, Faux said.

However, he claimed Chambers was not being 'wholly truthful'.

Povey's 'mantra' was about being inclusive, not excluding pupils and taking on challenging children from other schools.

Faux said Povey wasn't 'bothered' by taking on pupils who would 'never' get five A*s to C grades, and asked why he would then off-roll children to boost statistics.

Parents protested against the suspension of headteacher Drew Povey at Harrop Fold School in 2018

The panel included extracts from good character witnesses from peers and colleagues on behalf of Drew Povey, which included:

'Drew's kindness and his desire to support colleagues was astounding'

'He is a breath of fresh air with his leadership knowledge combined with his front facing style'; 'Drew is the type of person, friend and colleague whom you can rely on'

'He was, and still is, an exceptional charismatic leader, who works tirelessly in his pursuit for improvement of self and others'

Ross Povey did not attend the hearing and was not represented.

Finding the charges proven, the panel, in its decision published today said that both men would be prohibited from teaching indefinitely at any school, sixth-form college or children's home in England.

In the case of Drew Povey, the panel concluded: 'The findings of misconduct are serious as they include a teacher failing to protect pupils from risk of potential harm, as well as conduct which lacked integrity and was dishonest.'

In the case of both men the panels found their conduct fell 'significantly short of the standards expected of the profession'.

In the case of Ross Povey, the panel cleared him of dishonesty, but concluded: 'The findings of misconduct are serious as they include failing to protect pupils from risk of harm and acting in a way which lacked integrity.'

Neither of the men would be able to apply for the prohibition order to be lifted for two years.
Keir Starmer tried to distance himself today from a Labour backbencher who shared a tweet saying Kemi Badenoch 'represents white supremacy in blackface' - but refused to take any disciplinary action against her.

Former minister Dawn Butler was widely criticised at the weekend for a post made shortly before Ms Badenoch became the new Tory leader, and the first black female leader of a Westminster Party.

The Brent East MP, 55, shared an X post by Nigerian journalist Nels Abbey offering 'tips for surviving the immediate surge of Badenochism (i.e. white supremacy in blackface)'.

She later removed the post. But it was raised at Ms Badenoch's first Prime Minister's Questions today by Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty.

He asked the PM if the comments were acceptable, and if not, why Ms Butler had not been suspended.

Sir Keir simply replied: 'No' and sat down without addressing the issue of disciplinary action.

The Brent East MP, 55, shared an X post by Nigerian journalist Nels Abbey offering 'tips for surviving the immediate surge of Badenochism (i.e. white supremacy in blackface)'.

She later removed the post. But it was raised at Ms Badenoch's first Prime Minister's Questions today by Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty.

He asked the PM if the comments were acceptable, and if not, why Ms Butler had not been suspended. Sir Keir simply replied: 'No' and sat down without addressing the issue of disciplinary action.

Ms Badenoch used her debut to demand that Keir Starmer apologises to Donald Trump for jibes by Labour figures today.

The new Tory leader slammed Sir Keir, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and other senior figures for their comments about the president elect in her debut at PMQs.

She insisted that Sir Keir must invite Mr Trump to visit the UK and address both Houses of Parliament.

The attack came after the premier opened the exchanges by congratulating the Republican. 'Having had dinner with president-elect Trump just a few weeks ago I look forward to working with him in the years to come,' he said.

But Ms Badenoch pointed to remarks such as Mr Lammy describing the resurgent politician as a 'Neo-Nazi sympathiser'.

She asked whether they had said sorry to Mr Trump over dinner in New York - saying that he should be doing so.

Sir Keir is facing a major headache with Mr Trump's stunning US election win, after tensions flared over Labour supporters helping to campaign for the Democrat contender.

The PM has also repeatedly clashed with billionaire Elon Musk, who looks certain to end up playing a key role in the Trump administration.

When Mr Trump was last president Labour MPs including Mr Lammy signed an early day motion arguing he should not be allowed the honour of addressing both Houses of Parliament during a state visit.
Though Republicans have been named the winners of the White House and Senate, dozens of races in the House of Representatives may take days if not weeks to call.

Donald Trump was projected as the winner of the 2024 election by the Associated Press at 5:34 am ET on Wednesday morning after the outlet declared the Republican had won the critical swing state of Wisconsin.

The GOP also gained control over the Senate after flipping multiple seats red, with some races still yet to be finalized and pick-up opportunities still on the table.

Republicans now need to maintain control over the House to have a full supermajority in Washington, D.C., which would have major consequences for Democrats.

Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election and Republicans have taken control of the Senate. If Speaker Mike Johnson and the GOP maintains control of the House, Republicans will have a supermajority in Washington, D.C., meaning they will be able to advance many of their top policy priorities

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If conservatives win the House, they would control the legislative, executive, and the judicial branches of the federal government fully during Trump's first years in office, giving him sweeping control after he was voted out just four years ago.

Washington, in the case of a Republican supermajority, could pass an extension to Donald Trump's tax cuts that he passed during his first term.

They also may look to pass legislation to make Trump's tariff proposals a reality.

Republicans may also take more robust action against transgender issues involving schools and sports, which Trump and the GOP have spoken about often on the campaign trails.

Already with control of the Senate Republicans will be able to dictate approvals of federal judges and cabinet positions like Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.

If a Supreme Court vacancy arrises, the Senate handles that too.

During Trump's last presidency the Senate was controlled by the GOP, and the former president was able to help appoint three of the court's nine sitting justices - which has had a major impact on the ideological slant of the body.

But a huge swath of the races an the House have yet to be called as of Wednesday morning, and some could take a while.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump makes a speech during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States, on November 06, 2024.

Currently there are still over 50 House races yet to be called, and how they go will ultimately decide whether Republicans have a super majority or not.

As it stands Republican hold just under 200 seats while Democrats control 180.

Whichever party secures 218 seats will have control of the House.

Still, races from coast to coast are still too close to call but some seats have already flipped control.

In Michigan a seat held by Democrat Rep. Elissa Stlotkin, who is currently battling for the state's still undecided Senate seat, was flipped red after Republican Tom Barrett bested Democrat Curtis Hertel.

Democrats in New York, meanwhile, were able to take several seats from the GOP.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) applauds on stage as Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump holds an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 06, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Johnson has boasted about traveling to over a hundred towns and cities to raise money for Republican races across the country.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has previously been bullish that Democrats will take control of the chamber

Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., lost his central New York seat to Democrat John Mannion 46 percent - 54 percent.

Williams had originally won the seat with 51 percent of the vote in 2022 in a seat Joe Biden took with an 18 point margin.

New York Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro also lost his reelection race to Democrat Josh Riley by a hairsplitting vote.

The two gains for Democrats show that the liberal flank of the House has shown unexpected strength in ongoing races.

Democrats will need to flip four seats in total while keeping all of their seats.

So far, Democrats have been able to flip one, and many races are still counting votes.

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Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, meanwhile, is already declaring victory.

'We have saved America,' the Republican leader posted early Wednesday morning.

'The American people have spoken, and President Trump and Senator JD Vance are going to the White House. We are ready to get to work for the American people,' his statement on X read.

Despite his victorious claim though, many races in California and New York could prevent Johnson from controlling the speaker's gavel.

It's just unclear when exactly that could be.
A fiery and fatal Michigan interstate crash horrifically killed four people, injuring an additional 17, including a family of three who were left fighting for their lives.

The Lansing-based VanHorn family were on their way home from what was supposed to be a celebratory night following a successful outing for their son Alex's marching band.

Instead the night took a grim turn, ending in an unexpected fire-riddled nightmare.

Around 11:40 pm on Sunday, a semi-truck loaded to the brim with bananas came up on stopped traffic along 1-96 in Webberville and was unable to brake in time - resulting in a deadly explosion and 15-vehicle pile-up.

'We remember fire and screaming for each other,' Alex's mother, Kim VanHorn, said adding that none of them remember the initial impact.

A fiery crash ensued just before midnight on Sunday on Michigan's I-96 when a semi truck with a trailer full of bananas failed to brake in time, crashing into stopped traffic, killing four and injuring 17

The VanHorn family (from left, Kim VanHorn, Alex VanHorn and Sam VanHorn) were among the 17 injured as a result of the crash

The VanHorn family were on their way home from what was supposed to be a celebratory night following a successful outing for their son Alex's marching band. Instead the night took a grim turn, ending in an unexpected fire-riddled nightmare. Pictured: The VanHorn's at their son Alex's marching band event at Ford Field in Detroit

A nearby gas station caught the incident on film via a surveillance camera. The crash, taking place on Michigan's I-96, resulted in a 15-car pile-up, leaving four dead, 17 injured, including the truck's driver who is being treated for burns amongst other injuries

'The next thing I know, I woke up and had my head to the left, and I remember feeling like a big rush over my head. I looked up and saw a lot of fire and I remember screaming "help," and I couldn't find my husband and I could hear my son screaming that he couldn't get out,' she told WXYZ Detroit.

What Kim does remember is the haunting images of her husband lying off in a ditch after being ejected from their vehicle and her son's face inked with blood.

'My husband was in the ditch and he doesnt remember how he got there. A police officer brought him to me, and I remember hugging him and I remember hugging my son and my son had blood all over his face,' Kim recalled.

A nearby gas station's surveillance cameras captured the crash and the resulting explosion that engulfed several cars.

The gruesome accident claimed the lives of four, who remain unidentified as per Michigan State Police policy, though Troopers have revealed that three of the people killed were two women, aged 20 and 43, and a 47-year-old male.

The driver of the semi-truck, whose name was also not released, was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor for the treatment of burns and other injuries from the crash

Kim remembers the haunting images of her husband lying off in a ditch after being ejected from their vehicle and her son's face inked with blood

The gruesome accident claimed the lives of four, who remain unidentified as per Michigan State Police policy, though troopers have revealed that three of the people killed were two women, aged 20 and 43 and a 47-year-old male. Pictured: Michigan State Department of Transportation crews clean up the wreckage and totaled vehicles after the Sunday night crash

The three victims killed in the crash were traveling in a Chevy Trax and were related, police say.

The fourth victim was a 29-year-old man from Carson City who was driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck, The New York Times reported.

The driver of the semi-truck, whose name was also not released, was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor for the treatment of burns and other injuries from the crash.

As the investigation remains in the early stages and is ongoing, a State Police spokesman said it 'was not immediately clear' what charges, if any, the driver may face.

Following the near-midnight crash, Kim's husband, Sam VanHorn, was admitted to the hospital.

Due to the crash and fire, Sam was treated for a head injury, neck injury, lung injury, fractured ribs, spinal pain, left shoulder pain, right elbow pain, chest wall pain and glass in his eyes.

Kim has since posted an update on her loved ones current conditions on both Facebook and a GoFundMe page created to help the struggling family through their 'very long road of recovery', especially for her husband who suffered the most extreme injuries.

Kim has since posted an update on her loved ones current conditions on both Facebook and a GoFundMe page created to help the struggling family through their 'very long road of recovery', especially for her husband who suffered the most extreme injuries of the three of them

'I was able to see Sam (pictured) tonight. He has multiple things going on. TBI, low blood circulation to his brain, possible neck injury, spinal injury, multiple broken ribs, lung contusion, inflammation, multiple bruises, scrapes and cuts,' she said of her husband's condition

The reason for the fatal traffic build-up was said to be a result of a near $9 billion plan to update equipment to improve the electric reliability of DTE Energy - a Detroit-based energy company - as crews blocked portions of the roadway to string power lines across the interstate

'I was able to see Sam tonight. He has multiple things going on. TBI, low blood circulation to his brain, possible neck injury, spinal injury, multiple broken ribs, lung contusion, inflammation, multiple bruises, scrapes and cuts,' she said of her husband's condition.

Her son however is faring better and was placed on bed rest to help treat the spinal breaks he suffered from the accident. 'He also has severe cuts and bruises on his body,' she wrote.

'I am sore, bruised all over and many cuts and scrapes, including burns on my body,' she said of her own condition.

'But.. we are ALIVE.'

Crews have since been seen clearing heaps of debris and totaled, burned and dismembered vehicles on the westbound lanes of the I-96.

The overpass where the crash happened will reportedly remain closed indefinitely as the State Department of Transportation will inspect it for structural integrity, authorities said.

'I am sore, bruised all over and many cuts and scrapes, including burns on my body,' she said of her own condition. 'But.. we are ALIVE.' Pictured: Fire can be seen from neighboring roadways as onlookers film the aftermath of the devastating accident

While the road to recovery is far from over, Kim expresses sincere gratitude for all those who have donated to help support the family as well as the rest of the 'band community' as she says, that have provided much needed aid to the VanHorns. Pictured: The VanHorn's at their son Alex's marching band event at Ford Field in Detroit

The reason for the fatal traffic build-up was said to be a result of crews blocking portions of the roadway to string power lines across the interstate.

This roadwork is part of a near $9 billion plan to update equipment to improve the electric reliability of DTE Energy - a Detroit-based energy company.

While the road to recovery is far from over, Kim expressed sincere gratitude for all those who have donated to help support the family as well as the rest of the 'band community' as she says, that have provided much needed aid to the VanHorns.

'The band community, the state of Michigan, I cant even describe the overwhelming support we have from all of them. Its just, its been amazing,' she said.

'I will continue to keep everyone updated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.'

The VanHorns' GoFundMe has raised $25,000 toward its $15,000 goal.
Friends and family rallied around him as he fights for life

A devoted father-of-two made a kind offer to a stranger moments before he was allegedly king hit in broad daylight outside a popular beachside restaurant.

Glen Cahill, 43 was waiting outside Hillarys Beach Club, in Perth's north-west, around 4pm on Tuesday, with his wife Tarryn when they were approached by a stranger.

The man was allegedly acting in an intimating manner before he got involved in a physical confrontation with Mr Cahill.

WA Police allege that Matthew Anthony Jennings, 40, punched the father-of-two in the face, which caused Mr Cahill to lose consciousness after he fell backwards onto the road and landed on his head.

Mr Cahill was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with serious head and facial injuries.

A hospital spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia late Wednesday that he remains in a critical condition.

Mr Cahill and his wife had earlier celebrated Melbourne Cup Day.

He's understood to have offered Jennings a spot in the ride-share vehicle the couple were waiting for at the time before tensions escalated, Nine News reported.

Glen Cahill, 43 (pictured left with his wife Tarryn ) is fighting for life following an alleged one-punch attack

The alleged attack unfolded outside Hillarys Beach Club (pictured)

Security staff at the venue detained Jennings until police arrived, The West Australian reported.

He was charged with grievous bodily harm.

Mr Cahill's loved ones released an emotional statement on Wednesday as family and friends rallied around them.

'Glen is a devoted dad to two girls aged four and six and a loving husband to Tarryn,' the statement read.

'He has an army of family and friends surrounding him with love and support at this tough time.'

Mr Cahill and his wife have been together for eight-and-a-half years.

Mr Cahill (pictured right) was allegedly punched in the face, which caused the father-of-two to lose his consciousness before he fell backwards and landed on his head

Jennings didn't apply for bail when he appeared in Joondalup Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on November 22, where he's expected to make a bail application.
A Los Angeles woman accused of murdering her famed hairdresser husband was seen smirking in court as her trial continues to be delayed.

Monica Sementilli, 51, was taken into custody six years ago for allegedly murdering her husband Fabio 'Big Daddy' Sementilli in 2017.

Her boyfriend, Robert Baker, 62, was sentenced to life without parole after he admitted to stabbing the hairstylist and leaving him in a pool of blood on a back patio in 2023.

In late October, prosecutors further alleged that a man named Christopher Austin, 38, was also involved in the murder conspiracy and was at the crime scene.

Since her arrest, Monica has pleaded not guilty, and her attorney, Leonard Levine, has claimed that she was falsely accused.

In images obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, the widow was seen smirking at her latest court appearance on November 5 as both sides argued over a new motion.

Monica Sementilli, 51, was seen smirking at her latest court appearance on November 5

Defense attorney argued that they should have been informed about the arrest of Austin, saying the arrest could impact her impending trial.

Judge Ronald S. Coen has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to discuss a trial date.

According to ABC News, her trial is currently scheduled to begin in December, but many believe it may change in light of the new arrest.

Fabio, a professional hairdresser and vice president of cosmetic giant Coty, was found stabbed several times in the face and body on the patio of his Woodland Hills home in January 2017.

His vehicle, a 2008 black Porsche Carrerra 911, was also reported missing and is believed to have been be used as a getaway car.

His home at the 5000 block of Queen Victoria Road is heavily protected with a gated entry, home surveillance and night vision security cameras.

She was taken into custody six years ago for allegedly murdering her husband, Fabio 'Big Daddy' Sementilli, in 2017

Since her arrest, Monica has pleaded not guilty, and her attorney, has claimed that she was falsely accused

Judge Ronald S. Coen has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to discuss a trial date

Officials have previously accused Monica of plotting to kill her husband to claim her share of his $1.6million insurance policy.

The couple, who had previously lived in Toronto before relocating to Los Angeles, had been married 20 years.

Prosecutors had told the grand jury that Monica was the opposite of a grieving widow in the aftermath of her husband's death, according to the transcript obtained by LA legal blog Trials & Tribulations.

'She's a liar, she's a manipulator, she's a cheater and everything that comes out of her mouth has to be taken with a large grain of salt... Large enough so that you could choke on it,' prosecutors said.

Officials have previously accused that Monica plotted to kill her husband to claim her share of his $1.6million insurance policy

The defense argued that they should have been informed about the arrest of Austin - claiming that the arrest could impact her impending trial

Her boyfriend, Robert Baker, 62, was sentenced for life without parole after he admitted to killing the hair stylist and leaving him in a pool of blood on a back patio in 2023

They described Sementilli as an 'Academy Award-winning actress' because she posted to Facebook saying how much she missed her husband and a day later allegedly kissed her lover in a bar.

That same day in the bar, prosecutors said Sementilli was caught on surveillance going out for a cigarette, where she proceeded to grab the bouncer's thigh and then make out with him.

'This p****s off Baker... because of course, he's gotten rid of the husband and this is how she repays him, right in front of his face,' prosecutors told the jury.

According to testimony given before the grand jury, Baker had allegedly told friends that Sementilli was demanding in bed and that she had a preference for anal sex.

Her attorneys have argued that parts of the testimony, particularly the sexual elements, are not relevant to her murder charge and could jeopardize a fair trial.
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Kamala Harris officially conceded the election to Donald Trump in a speech to her devastated fans in Washington D.C. - after President Joe Biden called his new successor to congratulate him.

Harris thanked her supporters and said her 'heart is full of trust and love of our country' and said she's 'so proud' of the race she ran.

'The outcome of this election is not want we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,' she said, adding that America's light won't go out as long as 'we never give up and we keep fighting.'

Trump's political comeback was hailed as the 'greatest in history' after the former president successfully destroyed the 'blue wall' of traditionally Democratic stronghold midwestern states, securing wins in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Follow all the developments in our live blog:
As Donald Trump celebrates a crushing victory in the presidential elections he is also in the unlikely position of facing four criminal court cases.

He has been found guilty in one  which also makes him the first convicted felon to become president - and is awaiting sentencing in New York on November 26.

And still faces three more  in Washington, DC, Florida and Georgia.

Hours after his election win on Wednesday, DOJ sources told ABC News Special Counsel Jack Smith - who had been voracious in his prosecutions - was now thinking of ways to wind them down.

Here, MailOnline looks at what could happen in each of these cases now that Trump has been re-elected as US president.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 6, 2024

Conviction in Stormy Daniels 'hush money' case in New York

Trump was dramatically found guilty on all counts in his historic criminal trial over the 'hush money' paid to Stormy Daniels in New York City in May.

The jury of seven men and five women at Manhattan Criminal Court deliberated for nearly 10 hours before convicting the former President of 34 charges of falsifying business records.

It was the first time a former U.S. President has faced a criminal trial.

Trump is due to appear in court in New York on November 26 for sentencing, but the charges could be dismissed by Judge Juan Merchan if he decides to follow a Supreme Court ruling giving Trump partial presidential immunity.

The charges Trump was convicted of each carry a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison, but Merchan could also impose a lesser sentence on the president-elect like probation, home confinement, community service or even a fine.

Merchan has given himself until November 12 to decide whether to drop Trump's conviction altogether following the Supreme Court ruling.

Trump's lawyers are expected to ask for a delayed sentencing so they can appeal should Merchan decide to upkeep the conviction.

If this should prove unsuccessful, they would likely go to state appellate courts to appeal the immunity decision, which would also delay Trump's sentencing, possibly by several months.

Trump's lawyers are likely to use their appeals in the case to raise whether a state judge can even sentence a president-elect. This could see the case being fought out in courts for years.

But even once Trump is sworn in the office, he won't have the power to pardon himself due to it being a state case.

Donald Trump appears in Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as the verdict is read in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. May 30, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

Trump is due to appear in court in New York on November 26 for sentencing, but the charges could be dismissed by Judge Juan Merchan (pictured)

Federal case in Washington, DC, over election fraud claims

Trump faces four charges in federal court in Washington accusing him of spreading false claims of election fraud to try to block the collection and certification of votes following the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump asked federal courts to grant him presidential immunity, which delayed the DC case for months, although the federal judge overseeing the case is still deciding how much Trump is actually covered by presidential immunity for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Since Trump will only be sworn into office on Inauguration Day on January 20, U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith has time to think about his next steps before Trump will likely follow through on his promise to fire Smith.

One question is whether Trump as president-elect would have the same legal protection against prosecution like a sitting president, which would be decided by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel.

Insiders told CNN that the guidance resulting from this would determine the next course of action.

Since Trump will only be sworn into office on Inauguration Day on January 20, U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith has time to think about his next steps for the unprecedented situation before he will likely be fired by Trump once he is sworn into office

A mob of supporters of then-U.S. President Donald Trump climb through a window they broke as they storm the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021

Donald Trump supporters face off with police inside the US Capitol during a protest meant to stop the transfer of power to Joe Biden, on January 6, 2021

Federal case in Florida over January 6 attack on US Capitol

Smith had also charged Trump with unlawfully holding onto classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after his first term ended in 2021 and obstructing efforts by the U.S. government to retrieve the records.

Florida-based U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, dismissed all charges in July after finding that Smith was improperly appointed to the role and did not have the authority to bring the case.

The ruling brought an abrupt halt to the case, ensuring there would be no trial before the presidential election.

Smith's team is appealing the ruling, but Trump's vow to fire Smith 'within two seconds' upon taking office likely signals the end of the case, as it would allow the Department of Justice to drop the charges.

Florida-based U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon (pictured), who was nominated to the bench by Trump, dismissed all charges in July after finding that Smith was improperly appointed to the role and did not have the authority to bring the case

FBI agents seized boxes of materials marked classified from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate

Georgia election tampering case

Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, last year used state racketeering laws - developed to fight organized crime - to charge Trump in an alleged conspiracy to reverse his defeat in the battleground state in the 2020 election.

Trump will not be able to end the prosecution, but his lawyer has already said in court he will seek to pause any activity related to Trump based on an argument that a president should not face the burden of a criminal prosecution while in office.

Trump and eight of his 14 co-defendants in the case are asking a Georgia appeals court to disqualify the lead prosecutor, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, over alleged misconduct stemming from a romantic relationship she had with a fellow prosecutor.

Oral arguments are scheduled for December 5. The criminal charges against Trump are effectively on hold while the appeals court is considering whether to disqualify Wallis, which could take until 2025.

Trump and eight of his 14 co-defendants in the case are asking a Georgia appeals court to disqualify the lead prosecutor, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (pictured), over alleged misconduct stemming from a romantic relationship she had with a fellow prosecutor

If that effort fails, the case will be able to proceed against the other co-defendants, who include Trump's former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and White House chief-of-staff Mark Meadows.

But legal experts expect that the case against Trump will not progress while he remains in the White House and sources told CNN that even if Willis is removed, they believe it is unlikely another prosecutor would step in and take up the case.

Willis is now also facing a constitutional question over whether a state-level prosecutor can even prosecute a sitting president, which adds another legal roadblock for the success of the Georgia case.

Civil cases

Trump is also facing several civil cases, which include two defamation E. Jean Carroll defamation suits and a civil fraud case.

The president-elect lost two defamation cases against E. Jean Carroll in 2023 and 2024, with Carroll being awarded $5million and $83million after a jury in federal court found him liable for sexually abusing and later defaming Carroll.

In September, Trump's appeal for the first of the two defamation cases was heard in federal appeals court in September, but the court has not yet decided on the appeal.

Another case concerning a $454million fraud judgement against Trump was also heard in a state appeals court in September.

The civil case was brought by New York state Attorney General Letitia James.

Trump has been trying to have the case dismissed after a judge found he, his two adult sons Don Jr. and Eric Trump and his company used an inflated value of Trump's assets to get better rates for a loan and insurance.

The state appeals court judges appeared open to lowering the fine, but no decision has been announced yet.
Former president Donald Trump stormed to victory in the 2024 presidential election, securing another four years in the White House - but could he make it eight?

In short, probably not.

The 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution, introduced 1951, prohibits presidents for running more than two total terms.

The rule states that 'no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice' and 'no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once.'

Since Trump was 45th President of the United States from 2016 to 2020 and will soon be the 47th President from 2024, he will have maxed out the tenure by 2028.

However, the incoming leader has suggested that a third term isn't completely off limits for him.

Former president Donald Trump stormed to victory in the 2024 presidential election, securing another four years in the White House - but could he make it eight?

Trump's election victory on Wednesday also makes him the first president in over 130 years  and only the second in history  to win a non-consecutive second term

Supporters of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, Stephanie Smith, left, Sandi Steinbeck, center, and Thomas Brewer, right, cheer during a GOP election watch party at the Ahern Hotel, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Las Vegas

The 78-year-old mused about being a 'three-term president' during a National Rifle Association event in May.

To achieve this, he would need to overturn the 22nd Amendment - entailing an arduous political process that would be unlikely to succeed.

Trump would have to secure a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures to even propose a new amendment.

This would then require approval from three-quarters of state legislatures or state conventions.

The former president has also previously indicated that he would retire after 2028 rather than challenge the 22nd Amendment.

'I wouldn't be in favor of a challenge. Not for me. I wouldn't be in favor of it at all,' he told Time magazine in April this year.

'I intend to serve four years and do a great job. And I want to bring our country back. I want to put it back on the right track.'

Donald Trump regained the White House on Wednesday after being declared the winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election just after 5.30am

Supporters of Republican Party candidate Donald Trump celebrate as Republican candidate Donald Trump surpassed 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the 2024 US presidential election in New York, United States on November 06, 2024

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Trump's election victory on Wednesday makes him the first president in over 130 years  and only the second in history  to win a non-consecutive second term.

Only one other American president was re-elected after a gap of four years between terms.

That was Grover Cleveland, who served as the 22nd president after the 1884 election, and as the 24th president after the campaign of 1892.

Cleveland was governor of New York when he was tapped as the Democratic Party's nominee for president in 1884.

He was known for pushing for a reduction of tariffs that had been put in place during the Civil War, though his second term was marred by economic depressions and industrial strikes.

The 78-year-old politician will also become the oldest president ever inaugurated, beating President Joe Biden's record by five months.
A small jet crashed into a car just after take off just outside of Phoenix, Arizona, leaving five people dead.

The fatal incident occurred around 4:40 pm on Tuesday as a Honda HA-420 jet collided with a vehicle just outside of the Falcon Field Airport in Mesa.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the aircraft 'impacted the airport perimeter fence' before skidding into a car 'during an aborted takeoff', the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said.

Five passengers were aboard the plane, though it is unclear if they were among those that died.

It is also unclear how many people were in the car at the time of the crash. Their identities have not been released.

Five people died on Tuesday after a small jet crashed into a car just outside of Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, Arizona

The fatal incident occurred around 4.40pm Tuesday as a Honda HA-420 jet 'impacted the airport perimeter fence' before skidding into a car 'during an aborted takeoff.' (Pictured: Stock image of Honda HA-420)

Terrifying video and images showed a large plume of smoke coming from the scene as orange flames billowed.

A slew of emergency vehicles were present at the scene as well.

As of Wednesday morning, Greenfield Road - where the fiery collision took place - remains closed in both directions from McKellips to McDowell Road, the Mesa Police Department said on X.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB are currently investigating the cause of the crash.

DailyMail.com contacted the Mesa Police Department and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.

A preliminary report of the incident will be released in 30 days and a final report is expected in one to two years, the NTSB said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the aircraft 'impacted the airport perimeter fence' before skidding into a car 'during an aborted takeoff'

As of Wednesday morning, Greenfield Road - where the fiery collision took place - remains closed in both directions from McKellips to McDowell Road

Five adults lost their lives in a small engine plane crash on October 8 on Catalina Island in Los Angeles.

The twin-engine Beechcraft 95 departed the airport with five passengers and later crashed just off the coast of LA County around 8 pm, leaving every person on board dead at the scene.

The aircraft was reportedly not cleared for takeoff by the island's airport.

The victim's identities have since been revealed as 73-year-old, Ali Reza Safai of West Hills, Haris Ali, 33, of Fullerton, Margaret Mary Fenner, 55, and famed artist manager Gonzalo Lubel, 34, and Joeun Park, 37.

Safai, a previous flight instructor at Santa Monica Aviation, was the registered owner of the plane, according to the FAA.

Flight records show that the plane took off around 5:45 pm that day and according to the National Weather Service there were no thick fog advisories at the time.

The Avalon Sheriff Station was notified of a 911 S.O.S. emergency from a cellular device around 8:08 pm on October 8 after the plane crashed.

The agency said a probable cause of the crash will be released in one to two years.
Three teenage boys have been killed in a horrific shootout at a Houston apartment complex laundromat.

The Houston Police Department said officers were called to the Tierra Del Sol apartments at 8000 Cook Road around 8.45pm on Tuesday when gunfire broke out.

Police found two young men dead inside the laundry room, and a third victim with a gunshot wound outside. He was rushed to the hospital and later pronounced dead.

Assistant Chief Alvaro Guzman said two of the men were in the laundromat when a group of three others arrived and a dispute broke out. Two men fled the scene and remain at large.

'The only thing that we have is that there was some type of altercation disagreement that led to a shootout between two parties where a total of three males were deceased,' Guzman said.

Three teenage boys were killed during a shootout inside a Houston apartment complex laundromat

Assistant Chief Alvaro Guzman (right) said two of the men were inside the laundromat when a group of three others arrived and a dispute broke out that led to the shooting

'A very tragic event here. We have family that's here. You know, we have young lives that have been lost. So if y'all can please keep the families in your thoughts and prayers.'

A weapon was found inside the laundromat and police believe the shooting was an isolated incident.

Police are searching for the two men who fled the scene, but there is limited information available.

'All we have is that it appears everybody here at the scene is juvenile, Hispanic male... and the two people of interest are also Hispanic males, late teens and possibly young adults,' Guzman said.

Footage taken by KHOU showed a large police presence with lines of crime scene tape blocking off the parking lot.

The shooting occurred in a laundromat that is used by the apartment complex's residents.

One weapon was found inside the laundromat and police believe the shooting was an isolated incident

'It's a stand alone room separate from the apartment complex, just kind of a common area laundromat,' Guzman said.

Tierra Del Sol's website lists six different apartment layouts, but not all of them have to ability for in-unit washer and dryer connections.

One witness told KTRK he heard gunshots before leaving for church.

'I heard the gunshot. It was so loud. When I heard that one, I thought, "Oh, what is that? Maybe [because it's] Election Day, it's just some celebration." I turned off the lights and tried to see what's going on,' the man said.
An airline passenger captured the frightening midair moment a piece of luggage slipped out of the plane's hold and struck a propeller during a flight in Chile.

The Aerocord Airlines plane was flying over the Pacific Ocean from Chaiten to Puerto Montt in the southern region of Los Lagos last Thursday when the bag became dislodged.

Video of the incident showed the bag flying into the plane's right propeller, causing its blades to momentarily stall.

A passenger on board an Aercord Airlines flight recorded the moment a bag hit the aircraft's propeller, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing

The pilot was able to avert disaster and safely land the aircraft, which was carrying one crew member and 18 passengers, at Chaiten Airport.

One of the passengers told Chilean television station Canal 13 that they 'felt a loud bang and then everything started to vibrate.'

Before the flight, the passengers spent four hours at the airport, where an attempt to take off was delayed because one of the aircraft's doors was not closing properly.

Shortly after the incident, Aerocord Airlines said in a statement that a bird hit the aircraft's fuselage, 'which caused the cargo doors to come loose.'

'The incident was reported to the corresponding aeronautical authorities and after activating the respective protocols, the company decided to return to Chaiten,' the airline added.

Aerocord Airlines said in a statement that a bird hit the aircraft's fuselage, 'which caused the cargo doors to come loose'

However, the passenger who took video of the incident offered a different explanation.

'When they took off, a suitcase fell from the aircraft hitting the propellers and they had to make an emergency landing,' Luis Aguila said.

'The aircraft was full of passengers and the incident occurred because they left a trunk door poorly closed. Fortunately, the pilot knew how to contain the emergency and managed to land.'

The incident took place less than a week after an unhinged passenger attempted to open the door of a Copa Airlines airplane mid-flight.

Customers sprung into action and helped the crew subdue the man, who initially held a female flight attendant hostage with a plastic knife as the plane traveling from Brasilia, Brazil was set to land in Panama City, Panama on Monday.

The passenger was beaten and placed in plastic handcuffs and the pilot was able to safely land the aircraft at Tocumen International Airport, where authorities placed him under arrest.
Hamas has warned Donald Trump that it will continue to 'resist' Israel's 'hateful occupation' as the terrorist group urged the president-elect to 'work seriously to stop the war' in Gaza.

Trump, 78, has expressed support for Israel's fight to destroy Hamas in the Palestinian enclave but has said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must finish the job quickly.

He even asked Netanyahu, a Trump ally widely believed to have favoured his return to power, to conclude the war by his inauguration on January 20, reports claim.

Palestinians, who have been locked in war with Israel for more than a year, have expressed fear over Trump's return to the White House and warn it could be 'new catastrophe in the history of the Palestinian people'.

However, they are also begging him to make good on his promise to help bring peace to the Middle East.

Hamas has warned Donald Trump, pictured Wednesday morning after his election win, that it will continue 'resist' Israeli occupation as the terrorist group urged the president-elect to 'work seriously to stop the war' in Gaza

Trump, 78, has expressed support for Israel's fight to destroy Hamas in the Palestinian enclave but has said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must finish the job quickly. He is understood to have asked Netanyahu in July - when the Israeli leader visited him at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida (pictured) - to wrap up the war by his inauguration

Hamas said the United States election was a matter for the American people but it called for an end to the 'blind support' for Israel from the US.

'We urge Trump to learn from Biden's mistakes,' Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said after Trump's victory was declared early Wednesday.

Abu Zuhri also said Trump would be tested on his statements that he can stop the war within hours of taking office as US president.

Trump, who has expressed a desire to end the war, is understood to have asked Netanyahu in July - when the Israeli leader visited him at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida - to wrap up the war by his inauguration.

Hamas, in a statement Wednesday morning, said the incoming Trump Administration must 'work seriously to stop the war of genocide and aggression our Palestinian people' in Gaza and 'stop the aggression against the brotherly Lebanese people', Fox News reported.

They urged him to 'stop providing military support' and 'political cover' to Israel, which they branded the 'Zionist entity', and to 'recognize the legitimate rights of our people'.

'[The] new US administration must realize that our Palestinian people will continue to resist the hateful [Israeli] occupation and will not accept any path that detracts from their legitimate rights to freedom, independence, self-determination, and the establishment of their independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,' the terrorist group added.

Hamas also stated they believed Trump is 'required to listen to the voices that have been raised by the US public for more than a year regarding the [Israeli] aggression on the Gaza Strip'.

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri (pictured in 2020) issued a statement Wednesday saying, 'We urge Trump to learn from Biden's mistakes'

Hamas said the United States election was a matter for the American people but it called for an end to the 'blind support' for Israel from the US. Pictured are Hamas terrorists from the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades marching with their rifles a long the streets of Nusseirat refugee camp in Gaza in May 2021

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - a rival of Hamas - congratulated Trump on his election as US president. He said he would cooperate with the new administration to reach regional peace.

'We will remain steadfast in our commitment to peace, and we are confident that the United States will support, under your leadership, the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people,' Abbas said in a statement.

But Palestinian residents are not as optimistic, with some expressing fear over Trump's election victory.

Abu Osama, who has been displaced by unrelenting Israeli bombardments, called Trump's win a 'new catastrophe in the history of the Palestinian people'.

'Despite the destruction, death, and displacement that we have witnessed, what is coming will be more difficult, it will be politically devastating,' he told reporters in Khan Younis.

Some Palestinians said they did not see much difference between Trump and defeated candidate Kamala Harris, but Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel during his first term showed he was more biased towards Israel.

'We, as Arabs and Palestinians, will not be naive enough. We have to deal with him as an enemy. We have to determine who is the enemy. They are enemies,' said Khaled Dasouso, owner of a grocery in Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, some held on to some hope.

'I think (Donald) Trump if he wins, what he doing, he promised the Muslim people in America to stop the war in Gaza. 'We hope that happens,' said Gaza engineer Mohammed Barghouthi.

Palestinians flee towards Gaza from Beit Lahia on Wednesday, carrying the belongings they could take with them, as the Israeli army continues to force their displacement

Palestinians try to salvage items from the rubble of a house damaged aftermath of an Israeli attack in Khan Younis city, southern Gaza, on November 6, 2024

More than 43,300 Palestinians have been killed in more than a year of war in Gaza, health authorities in the enclave say, and much of the territory has been laid to waste.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Efforts by the United States and Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt have so far failed to arrange a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that would end the fighting and see the release of Israeli and foreign hostages in Gaza as well as Palestinians jailed by Israel.

President Joe Biden's administration has provided Israel with unflinching diplomatic support and military aid even as Secretary of State Antony Blinken worked on ceasefire proposals. Trump's future policy is not yet clear although he was supportive of Israel in his previous term as president.
A Canadian influencer who was accused of colluding with Russia in a propaganda campaign refused to answer officials' questions as she's being facing potential charges in the US.

Lauren Chen appeared before the Canadian House of Commons' Public Safety and National Security Committee on Tuesday after she was linked to allegations from the US Justice Department.

To the fury of parliamentarians, Chen continuously uttered the same nine words after every question for 45 minutes: 'For the reasons already given, I have no comment,' according to CBC.

The reason behind her silence was the US indictment of influencers and an unnamed company believed to be Tenet, which is owned by Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan.

The DOJ accuses two Russian nationals of setting up a conservative media outlet to push pro-Kremlin propaganda in the States.

Lauren Chen appeared before the Canadian House of Commons' Public Safety and National Security Committee on Tuesday after she was linked to allegations from the US Justice Department.

She uttered the same nine words after every question for 45 minutes: 'For the reasons already given, I have no comment.' Her and her husband's company, Tenant, is believed to be the unnamed company in the DOJ indictment that was pushing Kremlin-focused material

'Both Canada and the United States strongly value the right to be free from self-incrimination,' Chen said in her opening statements, according to CBC.

Chen gave the nine-word response even when asked to confirm her name and citizenship, leading to many politicians to become frustrated with her refusal to cooperate.

'Ms. Chen, unfortunately I feel, is making a farce of this committee,' Raquel Dancho said during the meeting.

Pam Damoff, a liberal MP, said she was 'deeply, deeply disturbed' by Chen's behavior.

Due to her refusal to answer, the committee sent a vote to the House of Commons on a breach of privilege against Chen, who may be forced to appeal in front of them.

If the House agrees, she could be ordered to appear 'before the bar,' according to CBC.

The DOJ have alleged conservative influencers were 'duped' into working with Russian assets as they raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars for their videos under a sprawling $10 million 'covert project' by Kremlin-backed RT, federal officials said.

The bombshell indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York in September accuses RT employees Konstantin Kalashnikov and Elena of Afanasyeva of implementing a plan to shell out nearly $10 million to a Tennessee-based company to churn out videos 'consistent' with the Kremlin's 'interest in amplifying US domestic divisions.'

Though the indictment does not name the Tennessee-based media company, its details match up exactly with Tenet Media - which employs well-known conservative personalities like Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson.

The influencers were unaware of the scheme, and at least two of them were provided false information about the source of the company's funding.

Conservative influencers including Dave Rubin and Tim Pool were allegedly 'duped' into working with Russian assets through Tenant

The bombshell indictment accuses two RT employees of implementing a plan to shell out nearly $10million to a Tennessee-based company to churn out videos 'consistent' with the Kremlin's 'interest in amplifying US domestic divisions'

'The company never disclosed to the influencers or to their millions of followers [its] ties to RT and the Russian government,' Attorney General Merrick Garland said as he announced the charges against the RT employees for conspiracy to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

'Instead, the defendants and the company claimed that the company was sponsored by a private investor, but that private investor was a fictitious persona,' Garland said.

They were told that the company was sponsored by a private investor named 'Eduard Grigoriann,' whom the defendants described as an 'accomplished financial professional' who held positions at a multinational bank in both Brussels and France, according to NBC News.

In their own online communications, however, the founders of the company allegedly referred to their backers as 'the Russians.'

The indictment claims the conservative voices were raking in large sums of money from the Russian duo.

It said that a whopping $8.7 million was sent 'to the production companies of Commentator-1, Commentator-2 and Commentator-3 alone.'

Commentator-1 is now believed to be Dave Rubin, while Commentator-2 is likely Tim Pool. It is unclear from the description in the indictment who Commentator-3 may be.

An exchange cited in the indictment also claims Commentator-1 said the contract 'would need to be closer to $5 million a year for him to be interested,' while Commentator-2 said it 'would take $100,000 per weekly episode to make it worth his while.'

One of Tenet's founders allegedly said the $100,000 fee would be 'very hard' for the company to 'recoup the costs' based on ad revenue from web traffic or sponsors alone, but they decided to move forward with the agreement anyway, NBC reports.

Due to her refusal to answer, the committee sent a vote to the House of Commons on a breach of privilege against Chen, who may be forced to appeal in front of them

Another unidentified influencer's contract, meanwhile, reportedly included a $400,000 monthly fee, a $100,000 signing bonus and an additional performance bonus.

Eventually, payments from the Russians allegedly made up 90 percent of the deposits made to the company's accounts.

As the money poured in, the indictment claims the Russian backers pushed Tenet's US commentators to share Russian-funded content with their larger audiences.

They even openly worried about how few of their 'raw videos' were being posted by certain of the company's talent, the indictment says.

Still, Tenet became a home for staunch pro-Trump voices, with many of its commentators interviewing the former president and his family while railing against US funding for Ukraine and downplaying the events of January 6, 2021.

Pool, who hosted Trump on his podcast earlier this year, posted on X last month that 'Ukraine is our enemy' in response to an allegation that a Ukrainian man was involved in the 2022 undersea explorations that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.

Rubin, a self-described libertarian who was previously part of the liberal news commentary show The Young Turks, has also been a vocal critic of Ukraine, arguing they 'can't win' the war against Russia.

But the conservative influencers have since insisted they had no knowledge of the Tenet's ties to Russia, as its six main conservative voices amassed more than 7million subscribers on YouTube and more than 7 million followers on X.
Kemi Badenoch today blasted Labour's 'cruel family farms tax' as she demanded Sir Keir Starmer ditch changes to inheritance rules.

During her first appearance at PMQs as Tory leader, Ms Badenoch pledged to reverse the controversial Budget measures if her party returned to power.

Sir Keir is caught up in a row after Rachel Reeves last week announced that agricultural assets worth more than 1million will no longer be exempt from inheritance tax.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor have been warned the change, slated to come into force in April 2026, will devastate many family-run farms.

It has been claimed that a number of farmers are now looking to sell off land because they believe the new tax rules threaten the vialbility of their farms.

Previously, agricultural property tax relief allowed family farms - including land, buildings, and housing - to pass between generations tax-free.

Kemi Badenoch today blasted Labour's 'cruel family farms tax' as she demanded Sir Keir Starmer ditch changes to inheritance rules

Sir Keir is caught up in a row after Rachel Reeves ' last week announced that agricultural assets worth more than 1million will no longer be exempt from inheritance tax

Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, Ms Badenoch asked for the Government to 'reassure' farmers who are worried about the move.

'What does he say to farmers who are facing uncertainty about their futures as a result of the increased taxes announced by the Chancellor?,' she asked the PM.

Ms Badenoch added that the Tories would 'reverse Labour's cruel family farms tax'.

Moments before the new Conservative leader had claimed the PM's 'scripted lines are showing that he has not even listened to the Budget himself'.

Sir Keir responded: 'I'm happy to help the leader of the Opposition. If she's going to complain about scripted answers, it's probably best not to read that from a script.

'I'm glad she's raised farmers. Because the budget last week put 5 billion over the next two years into farming. That's the single biggest increase, unlike the 300 million which was underspent under the last government.

'But when it comes to inheritance, the vast vast majority of farmers will be unaffected, as she well knows; as they well know.'

From April 2026, a tax of 20 per cent will be raised on the value of inherited farming assets above 1 million - although the Chancellor has said that in some cases the threshold could in practice be about 3million.

While this still represents a tax relief of 50 per cent compared with the standard rate, the move has been attacked by farming unions and Opposition MPs who have argued it would make Britain more reliant on imports.

Earlier, Britain's farmers launched their first protest against Labour's farm inheritance tax rule changes, amid fears a strike could cause shortages on supermarket shelves.

Banners reading 'No farmers, no food, no future' were held at the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham, Northumberland, as anger grows at the shock tax raid.

Critics argue it will make British farms uncompetitive - and, as the backlash continues to intensify, a group of plotters are now considering strike dates around a rally being organised by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) in Westminster on November 19.

Farmers protest today outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham, Northumberland

Merseyside arable farmer Olly Harrison (pictured), a YouTuber and unofficial spokesman for the plotters, said the Chancellor 'doesn't understand how fragile the food supply chain is'

Merseyside arable farmer Olly Harrison, an unofficial spokesman for the group, told MailOnline today: 'Never before have farmers been so united - sadly it's in anger over this issue and they will not take it lying down, especially after the worst harvest ever.

The YouTube and Instagram star added: 'Most don't do this job for the money, they do it for the kids, and taking this right away through poorly thought out Government policy is horrifying. We already risk our home with the weather every day playing snakes and ladders, and now the Government has just cut the rungs off the ladders.

'This decision has already proved itself to be costing farmers more than money, with reports of at least four suicides that I'm currently aware of. It urgently needs to be reconsidered.'

Farmer John Charlesworth, 78, was found dead in an apparent suicide 24 hours before the Budget - with his son accusing the Prime Minister of having 'blood on his hands'

Mr Harrison also told The Times: 'They say we are only ever four meals away from anarchy.

'What Rachel Reeves doesn't understand is how fragile the food supply chain is, and we saw in Covid how it only took a few days of panic buying to cause shortages.

'If we stop goods leaving farms for a day or two it will happen faster than you think.'

Mr Harrison added that there would be no strike action just yet, given that the US presidential election is currently 'taking up all the headlines'  and there were also no plans to 'interfere' with Remembrance Day or 'wreck' Christmas.

He was speaking after a farmer's son accused the Prime Minister of having 'blood on his hands' over the inheritance tax raid after his father's apparent suicide 24 hours before the budget.

John Charlesworth, 78, ran a 70-acre farm on the outskirts of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, which had been in the grandfather-of-six's family since the 1950s.

But pre-Budget chatter predicting the tax raid had 'eaten away' at him, according to his 46-year-old son Jonathan, who has been running the farm in recent years.

Mr Charlesworth Jr told the Daily Mail: 'I'm not sure you could publish what I'd say to [Sir Keir Starmer]. He's got blood on his hands. He's totally destroying an industry we rely on.'

He also said worries about the impact of inheritance tax was his father's 'main topic' of conversation in recent weeks, adding: 'This Government has absolutely zero understanding of agriculture.

'They think we're just jumped-up millionaires riding around in Land Rovers but that's not true. This Government has killed ambition  what's the point of building up a business if it's all going to be taken away?'

Mr Charlesworth Jr also told the Daily Telegraph: 'I think [my father] just woke up and thought, 'You know what, the Government aren't taking our farm, I've worked too hard to keep this for my kids and my grandkids'.'

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said today: 'Losing anyone to suicide is a tragedy and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with Mr Charlesworth's family and friends.'

Banners held outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham, Northumberland, today

What changes to farm inheritance tax were revealed in the Budget? Under plans announced in the Budget, inheritance tax will be charged at 20 per cent on agricultural assets above 1million, although Rachel Reeves has said that in some cases the threshold could in practice be about 3million. The 20 per cent figure still represents a relief of 50 per cent compared to the standard rate. But there are fears it will make British farms uncompetitive. The Chancellor used her first Budget last Wednesday to announce a change to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) from April 2026 in a bid to secure more money for public services. Budget documents state the Government wants to restrict the 'generosity' of APR and BPR for the 'wealthiest estates'. The first 1million of combined business and agricultural assets will continue to attract no inheritance tax. But for assets over 1million, inheritance tax will apply with 50 per cent relief, at an effective rate of 20 per cent. The Chancellor said 'only a very small number of agricultural properties' will be affected, although the National Farmers' Union warned the reforms could force farmers to sell their family farms to pay the inheritance tax bill. Ms Reeves said many 'difficult decisions' were needed in the Budget in order to fix public services and place the economy on a firmer footing. Advertisement

It has also emerged some farmers are threatening to stop spreading biosolids - known as sewage sludge and made from treated human waste - on their land as fertiliser in protest at Labour's plans.

The strike could be hugely disruptive for water treatment companies and could create a mountain of waste, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Reports claimed that in online message forums, farmers are encouraging others to contact their sludge suppliers and notify them of a temporary halt to all deliveries.

Every year, farmers in the UK take about 3.6million tonnes of sewage sludge from water treatment plants and spread it on agricultural land.

Yesterday, it also emerged that farmers could end up paying thousands of pounds more in car tax after a loophole that benefits pick-up truck drivers was closed in the Budget.

Vehicles such as the Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara will be classed as cars rather than vans from next April when the benefit-in-kind tax break for commercial vehicles ends, the paper reported.

It comes after the new shadow environment secretary said the 'crass decision' to remove some inheritance tax relief for farms had betrayed the Government's lack of knowledge about the countryside.

Victoria Atkins said the move had 'consigned family farms and businesses to being sold off and split up as families cannot afford massive tax bills'.

Writing in the Telegraph, she added: 'This is a serious mistake that Labour has made in their Budget. Their lack of understanding of the realities of farming was revealed in the crass decision to slash years of careful tax policy to keep family farms intact and protected from inheritance tax.'

She suggested the move would make the UK more reliant on imports, adding: 'If farmers have to set aside money for a potential tax raid rather than investing in the farm, it will no doubt impact food production, increase prices and make British farmers less competitive.'

Ms Reeves has defended her proposed reforms to inheritance tax on farms by claiming it is not 'affordable' to keep the current system.

Meanwhile one of the UK's largest animal feed producers yesterday warned that the changes will have a 'negative' impact on food security.

Farmers protest today outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham, Northumberland

Empty shelves are seen in a Sainsbury's in Telford when the pandemic began in March 2020

George Weston, boss of Associated British Foods, which supplies farmers with feed and technology services, said the taxes on farms pose a threat to the country's ability to grow its own food.

He said: 'It's only the latest of a series of pressures that have been imposed on particularly our large scale farmers from whom we get most of our food.

'If we are to grow more of our own food and benefit from the food security of growing things ourselves, then I think policymakers have got to create a more attractive environment for that farming community.

'These changes to inheritance tax obviously operate in a very different direction.'

Mr Weston added: 'I don't think that government decision makers, for some while, have really thought about what you need to do to maintain a viable farming community, without which is very hard to maintain a good level of food security.'

Empty shelves at a Tesco Extra store in Worthing when the pandemic started in March 2020

AB Foods, which also owns fashion retailer Primark, sells to farmers and food manufacturers in more than 100 countries, including feed ingredients for livestock.

Tom Bradshaw, the president of the NFU, has warned that three quarters of the food produced by British farmers will be hit by the tax raid.

He said it was logical to assume that this also meant that 75 per cent of the food they produce would cost more, impacting food security.

After last Wednesday's announcement, farmers took to social media to share their horror at the tax hike which they said threatens to end family farming in Britain.

They also called the move 'bonkers' and warned that unaffordable tax bills faced by the inheritors of family farms will lead to them going under.

Emma Gray, a shepherdess from Argyll and Bute in Scotland, declared the policy 'a disgusting land grab'.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves outside 11 Downing Street ahead of the Budget last Wednesday

'A lot of family farms are going to go under when they have to pay the death duties,' she said in a TikTok video.

'And you might think a farm being worth 2million sounds like a lot of money, but a lot of the time the person who has the farm has already been paying out siblings who also have a stake in the farm.

'So they spend their whole life paying it off and are ready to pass it on to the next generation - but now they're going to be hit with inheritance tax, which is going to make the whole thing completely unaffordable.

'What's going to happen is farmers won't be able to pass their farms onto the next generation - at least not easily - so they'll come onto the market and be snapped up by non farmers like those big corporations who want to offset their carbon.'

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit thecalmzone.net/get-support
A woman who has accused Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor of raping her has told a court she thought she would never see her young daughter again when the MMA star was 'choking' her.

Nikita Ni Laimhin, who is also known as Nikita Hand, is claiming civil damages against Mr McGregor and another man, alleging she was sexually assaulted in December 2018.

Ms Ni Laimhin has accused Mr McGregor of pinning her to a bed and raping her in a hotel in Dublin.

On her second day of giving evidence to the High Court in Dublin, she said that, as she was being attacked, she 'froze and couldn't move or breathe'.

Ms Ni Laimhin broke down several times as she gave evidence and sought a number of breaks.

Conor McGregor outside the High Court in Dublin on November 6

The plaintiff Nikita Ni Laimhin (pictured) outside the High Court on Wednesday November 6

Co-defendant of mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, James Lawrence, arrives at High Court in Dublin on November 6

The court heard that Ms Ni Laimhin had to leave her job as a hairdresser and has not been able to work since due to her mental health, that her relationship with her partner ended months after the alleged incident, she had to move out of her home in Drimnagh, and her mortgage is now in arrears.

She also told the court she had to stop seeing a counsellor because she could no longer afford to pay for the sessions.

The court also heard that she has spent more than 4,000 euro on GP, pharmacy and psychotherapist costs.

The mother-of-one was left with extensive bruises and abrasions over her body, including purple and blue bruising along her hands and wrists, a bloodied scratch to her breast and tenderness to her neck after she was placed in a 'choke-hold' by Mr McGregor, the court was told.

The court previously heard that lawyers for Mr McGregor will say that what took place between him and Ms Ni Laimhin - who has no automatic right to anonymity - was consensual.

Ms Ni Laimhin had been at the hotel with Mr McGregor, second defendant James Lawrence, her friend and a number of the MMA star's security guards in December 2018.

Nikita Ni Laimhin, who is also known as Nikita Hand, at the High Court in Dublin on November 6

Mixed Martial Arts fighter Conor McGregor with his father Tony McGregor (left)

Conor McGregor was seen arriving in court on Tuesday over a civil assault claim stemming from an alleged rape at a hotel in Dublin in 2018

Nikita Ni Laimhin (centre) outside the High Court in Dublin on Tuesday, where Mixed Martial Arts fighter Conor McGregor is appearing for a personal injury case against him

A spokesperson for McGregor at the time claimed it was a 'rumour' and 'absolutely false'

The woman making the claim said the incident occurred at Dublin's Beacon Hotel

Nikita Ni Laimhin (left) outside the High Court in Dublin on Tuesday, where Mixed Martial Arts fighter Conor McGregor is appearing for a personal injury case against him

In response to questions from John Gordon SC, her defence barrister, Ms Ni Laimhin said she was 'disappointed and upset' that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to prosecute both defendants after she made a complaint to the Irish police.

In a letter sent to Ms Ni Laimhin in August 2020, the DPP said there was 'insufficient evidence' and there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction.

Ms Ni Laimhin asked the DPP to review the decision, saying she felt she was being treated differently because one of the suspects was a famous person.

On the second day of her evidence, Ms Ni Laimhin struggled as she described how Mr McGregor had pinned her to the bed in the hotel and pressed his whole body weight on her.

Visibly shaking, she apologised to the court, saying she was upset.

She said Mr McGregor's body weight was on top of her and she could not breathe.

She said she had held up both hands and was trying to get away from him, but the more she struggled, the more he appeared to like it.

'I'm trying my best, I'm really sorry', she told the court.

The former UFC champion arriving at the High Court on Tuesday

The proceedings are expected to last two weeks and the judge has asked the jury to make themselves available for three weeks

'The only thing I could move was my head. I bit him but I can't remember where. He didn't like it so he flipped me around and put his arm around my neck and choked me.'

She added: 'I'm really struggling with this. I am sorry.'

Following a break, she told the court she had been standing against the bed and Mr McGregor had tried to come on to her.

She said she told him she 'wasn't there for that'.

'He pinned me to the bed and I held my hands to my chest and he put his whole body weight on top of me and I couldn't breathe,' she said.

'The only thing I could move was my head and I bit him and tried my best to get away from him. I tried to shove him and wiggle and do whatever I could.

'I remember biting really hard and then his arms were around me and choking me.

'I was trying to fight as much as I could. He put his arm around my neck and choked me three times.

'I just froze and I couldn't move or breathe and I kept looking at the bedpost and thinking of my daughter.

'I just kept thinking I would die and not see my daughter again.

'He let me go and I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again.

'Then he said that's how he felt when he was in the Octagon and had to tap out three times. I thought it was such a weird thing to say.

'I promised I wouldn't tell anybody anything.

'Then I just let him do whatever he needed to do so I could survive. My mind was completely gone and I wasn't myself anymore.

Nikita Ni Laimhin is claiming civil damages against Mr McGregor and another man

McGregor has been in a relationship with Dee Devlin since 2008. They have four children

Conor McGregor (second right) with his father Tony McGregor (second left) outside the High Court in Dublin on November 6

'He was really aggressive and pulling at my clothes and shoving my head down to do things and I kept pulling head back.

'He was trying to push my head down to his penis but I pushed my head back.

'He was pulling my clothes down. He then raped me. I felt like it was going on for ages.'

She paused to add: 'I'm finding it really hard. I am sorry.'

Ms Ni Laimhin went on: 'Then it was over. It was done.

'When he was raping me I was completely numb. I didn't feel anything. I completely froze.'

She said she fell asleep on the bed in the hotel room and woke up later.

She said the group had all left the hotel room, with Mr McGregor leaving with her friend, but she returned to the room with Mr Lawrence, where she saw the bruises on her body and broke down.

She told the court she told Mr Lawrence: 'You all turn a blind eye to what Conor does to women.'

She showed him the bruises on her body, to which she claimed he said: 'I can't believe you were in that room and I was here while that was happening to you.'

Ms Ni Laimhin said she was shocked when she learned that Mr Lawrence had claimed the pair of them had consensual sex in the hotel room.

She told the court she thought he was being nice to her and looking out for her.

The case continues.
Kamala Harris has been slammed for waiting hours to concede the 2024 election to Donald Trump as the results painted a bleak picture at the scale of her loss.

The vice president finally called the president-elect just before 2pm Eastern Time on Wednesday and told him about the importance of the 'peaceful transfer of power'.

As it stands, the vice president is on track to do worse than Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential election. She could even be on pace to have the worst Electoral College result of any Democrat since the 1988 race.

The world was shocked as the results favoring Trump trickled in Tuesday night as many polls indicated that Harris had a slight lead heading into Election Day.

Trump has blown that prediction up completely and has so far taken in the lion's share of the popular vote too, securing 51 percent to Harris 47.5 percent as of Wednesday morning with most of the nation's votes counted.

If that lead stands, it would mark the first time a Republican has won the popular vote in 20 years, since George Bush's 2004 win, indicating a high-water mark of Republican enthusiasm the party has not seen in decades.

Vice President Kamala Harris has not conceded the presidential election to Donald Trump despite multiple news outlets claiming the Republican has won. Her campaign has announced she will speak Wednesday afternoon at Howard University.

Trump now becomes the first president in over 130 years  and only the second in history  to win a non-consecutive second term.

His beating Harris marks a remarkable return for a twice-impeached president, who left office in 2021 on the back of claims that he had incited an assault on the U.S. Capitol building, and who was convicted earlier this year on multiple counts of business fraud.

His victory included winning all of the traditional 'Blue Wall' states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Michigan was called by the Associated Press for Trump on Wednesday afternoon.

Nevada, which split for Biden in 2020, has yet to be called by the Associated Press, though Trump looks poised to win the Silver State's six Electoral College votes with 85 percent of the vote counted there.

Still, the Democratic nominee has not addressed the outcome of the presidential election, which the Associated Press called as a victory for Trump around 5:30 am ET on Wednesday morning.

The Democrat deliver a speech at her alma mater Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday around 4 pm ET, nearly 12 hours after the race was called.

Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump points to his wife Melania at Trump's Election rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024.

Trump pumped his fist while taking the stage early Wednesday morning alongside his son Barron Trump and wife Melania.

Disappointed supporters of Kamala Harris react to the election results.

People talk with each other, amid the chairs and trash in an empty field after the election night watch party for Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at Howard University on November 06, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris attend an election night campaign watch party Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington.

Chairs and trash sit in an empty field after the election night watch party for Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

Members of the press were photographed waiting outside of the vice president's residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday afternoon awaiting their chance to catch a glimpse of the Democratic candidate.

Early on in the evening, around 11:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Trump won the critical battleground state of North Carolina, infusing his camp with excitement and sucking the life out of liberal's hopes for a second consecutive term.

The Democrat was supposed to make a cameo at the college on Tuesday evening but opted not to leave her vice presidential residence as results came in showing Trump ahead.

Harris's delay in addressing her own supporters have left some furious.

Barbara Heineback, a former White House staffer and the first black press office employee for the First Lady's office, said she was disappointed with the Democrat.

Members of the media wait near the entrance to the U.S. Naval Observatory, the official residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Washington.

Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris react as election results come into Harris' campaign watch party

'I am so disappointed and really insulted that Im a Howard alum and that she didnt have the decency to walk out and say to her, to her university, make a comment to the United States,' Heineback said. 'Things were not looking well for her. It wasnt completely over.'

'I mean, it shows us how classless she actually is, a sore loser,' the former White House staffer continued. 'Even though its painful for her, for the Democrats, I think America might be relieved at recognizing and realizing they dont have to put up with this any longer.'

Venture capitalist and noted GOP donor David Sacks also criticized the move, writing on X: 'Waiting a day to give her concession speech was a big mistake. By tomorrow, Kamala will literally be yesterdays news. No one will even tune in.'

US President Joe Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris attend an event on gun violence in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 26, 2024. The lights in the executive mansion repotedly cut off pretty early on election night.

Eric Brown picks up trash left behind from Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris' election night campaign watch party.

Jill Biden was spotted voting in Delaware on Election Day as Joe was reportedly huddled at the White House

'Harris hasn't conceded the loss yet,' another X user wrote. 'Despite it being such a huge loss.'

'No traditional concession call or speech I feel like something is up. Where are the mainstream politicians offering congratulations and enabling a peaceful transfer of power.'

President Joe Biden has been conspicuously silent after the election as well.

The sitting president was reportedly watching the results come in with family and close friends at the White House late on Tuesday evening.

But Fox News' Peter Doocy reported around 11 pm ET that lights within the executive mansion had been slowly turning off room by room, indicating that its occupants were heading to bed before the race was called.

There has still been no comment from the White House on the presidential race.

US President Joe Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris attend an event on gun violence in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 26, 2024. Biden has not made a statement since the election was announced a victory for Donald Trump

In 2020, a firestorm was set off after former President Trump refused to accept the election results.

The Republican held off on publicly conceding the election to President Joe Biden until after his supporters violently attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

'A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20,' Trump stated in a video recorded on January 7, 2021. It was his first time admitting he would not get a second consecutive term.

'My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power,' the Trump video continued.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump makes a speech during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States, on November 06, 2024.

Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Harris campaign, made the announcement at her alma mater shortly after midnight, as it became clear Harris would not become the first female president

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In 2016, Hillary Clinton conceded the race to Trump the morning after Election Day.

She said after calling the Republican she hoped 'he will be a successful president for all Americans.'

Clinton won 227 Electoral College votes in total.

Harris, meanwhile, has so far only secured 224.

Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Harris campaign, made the announcement Tuesday night at Howard University shortly after midnight that Harris would not make an appearance.

It was becoming clear Harris would not become the first female president.

'Thank you for being here. Thank you for believing in the promise of America,' the former congressman told the crowd that had gathered to celebrate a Harris win.

'We still have votes to count, we still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, so you won't hear from the vice president tonight.

'But you will hear from her tomorrow, she will back here tomorrow to address the HBCU family her supporters and the nation.'

The pivotal moment came when North Carolina was called for Trump at 11:19 pm ET.

His defeating Harris marks a remarkable return for a twice-impeached president, who left office in 2021 on the back of claims that he had incited an assault on the U.S. Capitol building, and who was convicted earlier this year on multiple counts of business fraud.

Trump pulled out a landslide win and became the first president in over 130 years  and only the second in history  to win a non-consecutive second term. Harris party at her alma mater pictured above

Audience members watch election results as they wait for the arrival of Democratic presidential nominee and United States Vice President Kamala Harris

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris takes part in a phone bank at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC, on November 5, 2024

The 78-year-old Trump will also become the oldest president ever inaugurated, beating President Joe Biden's record by five months.

He pulled off his remarkable victory on a night reminiscent of 2016, sweeping the key swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Associated Press called Wisconsin at 5.34am ET on Wednesday and the race just three minutes later.

The race initially appeared neck-and-neck as Americans went to the polls Tuesday after a tense months-long build-up that peaked when Joe Biden abandoned his quest for a second term and the Democratic party ushered Vice President Harris to the fore.

But as night fell, Trump steadily began pulling ahead thanks to support from solidly red states including Florida, Texas and Alabama.

Nikki Haley, Trump's former Ambassador to the United Nations who briefly ran against the Republican in the primaries earlier this year, congratulated the former president on his win before Harris.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley congratulated her former boss and political opponent Donald Trump on winning the election on Wednesday morning

'The American people have spoken,' she wrote on X. 'Congratulations to President Trump on a strong win.'

'Now, its time for the American people to come together, pray for our country, and start the process of a peaceful transition.'

'That begins with Kamala Harris conceding. You cant just talk about unity in a campaign, you have to show it regardless of the outcome,' the Republican pointedly wrote.

The 78-year-old Trump will become the oldest president ever inaugurated, beating President Joe Biden's record by five months.

He pulled off his remarkable victory on a night reminiscent of 2016, sweeping the key swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Trump cracks a slight smile at his election watch party

'This was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time,' Trump after walking out on stage to relish his win.

'This is a magnificent victory for the American people, that will allow us to make America great again.'

Certainly, Trump's resounding win brings an end to a tumultuous 2024 campaign  punctuated with Biden's dramatic withdrawal from the race in July, as well as two shocking attempts on Trump's life.

After announcing he would run again back in November 2022, Trump comfortably saw off other Republican hopefuls  including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley  to secure the Party nomination in March this year.

Entering the summer, he held a comfortable polling lead over President Biden, 81, whose record on the economy and immigration, as well as the obvious problem of his advancing age, were proving disastrous among voters.

Trump's victory brings an end to a tumultuous 2024 campaign - punctuated with Joe Biden's dramatic withdrawal from the race in July, as well as two shocking attempts on Trump's life (Trump is pictured after surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania).

The now notorious CNN television debate between the two presumptive nominees on June 27  in which Biden froze and mumbled, appearing unable to clearly answer even basic questions  only helped Trump further.

On July 13, while addressing crowds at rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the bullet of would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks ripped through Trump's right ear. After being swarmed by Secret Service agents, Trump rose to his feet  his shoes missing and his face bloodied  pumping his fist in the air and shouting: 'Fight! Fight! Fight!'

Just days later, he received a hero's welcome in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Republican National Convention.

MAGA fans donned mock bandages on their ears in solidarity with the former president and, in a stirring speech on the final night, Trump told a packed-out convention center that he would be a 'president for all of America'.

Fast forward through several tumultuous months of non-stop campaigning through swing states punctuated by another assassination attempt and a shift worked at McDonald's, Trump is in position to make good on his word.
Democratic Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, an Iraq War veteran, took an early lead over well-known former television news anchor and staunch Donald Trump ally Kari Lake in Tuesday's election for U.S. Senate.

Gallego is leading 50.4% of the vote to Lake's to 47.7% as of Wednesday morning, with 60% of the vote counted.

The race in a state with a recent history of close elections is among a handful of contests that will determine how large a Republican majority Trump will work with in the Senate when the president-elect returns to the White House next year.

The GOP clinched the Senate majority Tuesday night, retaking it from Democrats who held it for four years.

Democratic Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, an Iraq War veteran, took an early lead in Arizona

Kari Lake, a Trump supporter and former news anchor, on November 5

It is a test of the strength of the anti-Trump coalition that has powered the rise of Democrats in Arizona, which was reliably Republican until 2016.

Arizona voters have rejected Trump and his favored candidates in every statewide election since then. The presidential contest was too early to call in Arizona after Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in most of the seven other battlegrounds.

Gallego led Lake in early returns, which included a combination of mail ballots received and counted before Election Day and those cast in-person on Tuesday.

Gallego expressed confidence when he spoke to Democrats on Tuesday night in Phoenix, though the race remained too early to call early Wednesday with about a million ballots remaining to be counted.

'We had a mantra on this campaign: Go everywhere and talk to everyone,' Gallego said. 'And that's exactly what we did. We didn't take one vote for granted.'

In a break with tradition, Lake and the Arizona Republican Party did not hold an election night party.

She posted about results in the presidential race and shared complaints from others about the pace of vote counting in Maricopa County but did not say anything about her own race.

The winner of the Senate race will replace Kyrsten Sinema, whose 2018 victory as a Democrat created a formula that the party has successfully replicated since.

Sinema left the Democratic Party two years ago after she antagonized the party's left wing. She considered running for a second term as an independent but bowed out when it was clear she had no clear path to victory.

Gallego maintained a significant fundraising advantage throughout the race. He relentlessly attacked Lake's support for a state law dating to the Civil War that outlawed abortions under nearly all circumstances.

Lake moved to the middle on the issue, infuriating some of her allies on the right by opposing a federal abortion ban.

Gallego portrayed Lake as a liar who will do and say anything to gain power.

He downplayed his progressive voting record in Congress, leaning on his up-by-the-bootstraps personal story and his military service to build an image as a pragmatic moderate.

The son of immigrants from Mexico and Colombia, Gallego was raised in Chicago by a single mother and eventually accepted to Harvard University. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and fought in Iraq in 2005 in a unit that sustained heavy casualties, including the death of his best friend.

If elected, he would be the first Latino U.S. senator from Arizona.
A married couple who were volunteering as poll workers drowned during flash flooding in Missouri on Election Day.

The pair were traveling to an election site in Wright County at around 4.30am on Tuesday when rising floodwaters from Beaver Creek swept away three vehicles on State Route H, the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) reported.

The victims, a 70-year-old man and 73-year-old woman from Manes, attempted to swim to safety, with a witness describing how they were seen clinging onto a bush.

But the couple did not survive and their bodies were located at around 8.45am following a drone search.

A married couple volunteering as voting poll workers drowned during flash flooding while headed to an election site in Missouri, authorities said

The victims, a 70-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman from Manes, attempted to swim to safety, with a witness claiming they were clinging on to a bush, but were unable to survive

Officials said the couple were in one of the three vehicles overtaken by floodwaters.

The two other vehicles were 'carried off the roadway by floodwater from Beaver Creek,' they added.

A man, mother, and three-month-old baby were also stranded while crossing but were saved by two marine division troopers who waded into the flooded Lick Creek low water crossing, MSHP reported.

The Wright County Clerk's Office mourned the loss of the couple as 'dedicated citizens who valued fair and honest elections' and said they would be deeply missed by the community.

'This is a terrible loss for Wright County,' said county clerk Loni Pedersen.

'They were wonderful people who donated their time to serve our community. We will miss them dearly.'

The names of the couple have not been released out of respect or their families.

The flooding has claimed the lives of at least five people, including the couple, according to state officials.

Two of the fatalities occurred in St. Louis County, where a submerged SUV was found near the flooded Gravois Creek, close to Interstate 55, on Tuesday morning.

Three other individuals - a man, a mother, and a three-month-old baby, had become stranded while crossing, but were saved by two marine division troopers

Sgt. Young described the flooding as comparable to a '10-year flood,' with widespread damage and ongoing evacuations in the region.

Wright county experienced extreme flooding in low water areas and bridges beginning November 4, the Sheriff's office reported.

Donald Trump won against Kamala Harris in the popular vote in Missouri by a landslide, winning ten electoral votes.
Four migrants have died while attempting to cross the English Channel this week, authorities say.

It comes as a Border Force boat carrying a group of migrants could be seen arriving at the Port of Dover today, following a large operation in the Channel involving both British and French authorities.

A man's body was pulled from the water near Dover by RNLI and Coastguard crews yesterday and police said enquiries are underway to identify him.

But it is understood the man does not match the description of anyone reported missing locally.

A Kent Police spokesperson, said: 'Kent Police was called to Dover Lifeboat Station at 2.54pm on Tuesday November 5 2024, after the body of man was recovered from the English Channel by the RNLI and HM Coastguard.

'Enquiries are underway into the circumstances and to identify the deceased.'

The discovery comes after two bodies were found adrift in the shipping lane yesterday evening and taken to Calais where legal proceedings were opened.

And another body was found washed up on a French beach this morning.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent on Tuesday

A total of 31,533 small boat migrants in 602 dinghies have successfully made it to the UK in 2024.

Official figures show 263 people were brought to the Port of Dover from four boats yesterday - a shocking average of 65 people crammed into each inflatable. The average for the year is 52 per boat.

This is up 18% on this time last year (26,699) but down 21% on 2022 (39,929), a record high year for crossings.

Some 50 people have died while trying to cross the Channel this year, according to incidents recorded by the French coastguard.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has also reported 11 more migrant deaths believed to be linked to crossing attempts so far in 2024. This figure does not include Tuesday's incident.

Border Force vessels Volunteer and Defender could be seen out in the Channel this morning. The MCS Blue Norther and Osprey111 which are used to collect the inflatable vessels were operating alongside them.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.

'The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.'

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel

Some 50 people have died while trying to cross the Channel this year, according to incidents recorded by the French coastguard

A group of people thought to be migrants are driven away from the Border Force compound in Dover

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Yesterday, the bodies of two suspected migrants were reportedly found adrift in the English Channel. A recovery operation was launched by French authorities after a ferry crew spotted one floating off the French coast.

The French Navys Cormoran vessel was launched to carry out a search - and in the afternoon reported it had found two bodies. Both were taken back to Calais, where they were placed into the care of French police.

An investigation was opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutors office into the deaths. The two victims are said to be suspected migrants according to French newspaper Voix Du Nord.

This year has been the deadliest year on record in the shipping strait - amid overcrowding on boats and a reduction in the quality of the vessels used for the journey.

Refugee charities have warned deaths in the Channel have become 'appallingly regular' and have repeatedly called for safe, alternative routes of passage to be established to stop more fatalities during the perilous crossing.

In the Commons on Wednesday, Mr Philp lashed out at ministers for scrapping the previous government's plan to send migrants to Rwanda 'before it had even started'.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel

Four migrants have died while attempting to cross the English Channel this week, authorities say

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'The first flight was due to take off, I believe from memory, on the 24th of July, but they cancelled it.

'Now, had they allowed that flight to go ahead, had they allowed the scheme to continue, the deterrent effect would by now have started', he told MPs.

Citing comments made by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, he also urged the Government to 'urgently implement offshore processing', adding: 'Because of their failings, Labour is breaking their manifesto pledge to end hotel use' as he called for a pledge to not open any more hotels to house asylum seekers.

Border security and asylum minister Dame Angela Eagle replied: 'On Rwanda, from when it began to when we scrapped it, during that period, 83,500 people crossed in small boats.

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'If that's a deterrent then I think (Chris Philp) has got a peculiar view of what the meaning of deterrence is in the English language.'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has so far not committed to a target or timeframe for curbing Channel crossings but pledged the Government would 'try and make progress as rapidly as possible'.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed the Government would 'treat people smugglers like terrorists' as he announced an extra 75 million for his border security command during a speech at the Interpol general assembly in Glasgow on Monday.

The next day the ringleader of a 'prolific' people smuggling gang thought to be behind 10,000 Channel crossings was jailed for 15 years in a French court, with 17 other members of the network also convicted.

The group was prosecuted in the wake of a 2022 police operation across Europe which led to dozens of arrests in Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands, with more than 100 boats, 1,000 life jackets, engines and cash being seized.
The Chair of the Democratic National Committee has announced he will not seek to lead the party again following Kamala Harris' crushing election defeat.

Jaime Harrison is not expected to bid for re-nomination next year, sources told Reuters.

Harrison, who came under criticism for his strong backing to keep Joe Biden in the 2024 race, signaled his plans to leave the position before Tuesday's disappointing results for Democrats, the insiders said.

He is expected to hold an all-staff meeting on Wednesday to discuss the results and why they fell short of his public expectations.

He will also discuss a potential timeline for a leadership vote, which is expected to come before April.

Jaime Harrison is not expected to bid for re-nomination for Chair of the Democratic National Committee next year

The announcement comes after Harris suffered a shocking defeat to Donald Trump.

Trump declared victory after Fox News projected him as the overall winner following decisive victories in three swing states to leave 270 Electoral College votes out of Harris' reach.

Official confirmation came when the battleground state Wisconsin was called for Trump to push him into an unassailable lead.

Harris has yet to concede the race, with her team stating that she will speak Wednesday afternoon at Howard University where her victory party was due to be held.

But the bickering over who was to blame for her stunning defeat began in earnest even before the result was declared.

Democrats blamed Tim Walz for being too left wing, too folksy, and too tainted by the Kenosha riots, while others blamed every demographic possible.

Vice President Kamala Harris has not conceded the presidential election to Donald Trump despite multiple news outlets claiming the Republican has won. Her campaign has announced she will speak Wednesday afternoon at Howard University

Harris, 60, lost to Trump, 78, in the early hours of Wednesday after the Republican nominee managed to sweep the key swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania

Not enough white women showed up, too many black men switched to Donald Trump since 2020, and Hispanic voters abandoned the party.

Media analysts also speculated Joe Biden should have pulled the plug on his candidacy well before his disastrous debate performance.

This would have either given Harris more time to establish herself, or allowed for an open primary to select a stronger candidate, they argued.

Several pundits suggested that Harris should have chosen Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate.

Walz, the governor of Minnesota, was in office during Black Lives Matter riots after police shot dead Jacob Blake in August 2020.

MSNBC commentator Joy Reid blamed white women for not showing up to the polls in the large numbers they were expected to.

'In the end, they didn't make their numbers. We have to be blunt about why, black voters came through for Harris, white women voters did not,' she claimed.

A supporter reacts to election results during an election night event for US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at Howard University in Washington, DC

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However, black voters - particularly men - also moved to Trump compared to 2020 numbers, according to exit polls at each election.

NBC Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker suggested it was Biden's fault as he should have dropped out much earlier than July.

Harris took over the reins amid mounting scrutiny over whether Biden, 81, had the mental capacity to continue campaigning and a potential second term.

Despite an initial uptick in support, the vice president was unable to sustain her momentum and she was criticized for being unable to provide evidence she represented a change from the Biden administration.

NBC has reported that VP Harris will be calling president-elect Trump on Wednesday to concede the election, before delivering a speech at 6pm ET.

Trump becomes the first president in over 130 years  and only the second in history  to win a non-consecutive second term.

His defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris marks a remarkable return for a twice-impeached president, who left office in 2021 on the back of claims that he had incited an assault on the U.S. Capitol building, and who was convicted earlier this year on multiple counts of business fraud.
Former president Donald Trump stormed to victory in the 2024 presidential election, securing another four years in the White House - but he won't take office for another couple months. So what happens next?

In the immediate aftermath of the election, Kamala Harris must formally concede the contest. The defeated VP has been laying low since Trump's triumph - but she's expected to break her silence this afternoon in an address to the nation.

Meanwhile, state officials are working to formally certify the election results as the final votes are still being counted.

Trump's journey back to the White House entails several procedural milestones in the build-up to Inauguration Day scheduled for January 20 - and this interim period will be punctuated by his still-standing court appearances.

DailyMail.com breaks down the key dates in the diary for the president-elect.

Donald Trump regained the White House on Wednesday after being declared the winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election just after 5.30am

This week

Republicans have taken the White House and Senate, but the House is still very much in play.

With nearly 60 House elections still undecided, either party could gain control of the chamber.

For Democrats, a House majority is the last hope of gaining a toehold in Washington and putting a check on Donald Trumps power.

Yet if Republicans win a House majority, theyll be able to implement Trumps agenda with more ease, including extending tax cuts, funding hardline border measures and dismantling parts of the federal government.

Still, it might take some time before House control is decided. Neither party so far has a convincing advantage in the tally of key House races.

There are tight races all over the country, including many in slow-counting California.

November 7

On Thursday, election officials in each state will begin ratifying the election results.

Each state has a different deadline - starting with Delaware, which must certify the count by November 7, up to Arizona where the deadline is December 2.

On Thursday, election officials in each state will begin ratifying the election results

November 11

By law, transition briefings for the new Republican administration must start by Monday.

Current officials will brief incoming lawmakers about ongoing projects and the top positions that need filling.

November 26

Trump is due to be sentenced in his hush-money case in New York after jurors found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The 78-year-old's presidential election victory will essentially end the criminal cases brought against him during his second tenure in the White House - but he doesn't have the same control over his civil cases in New York and Georgia.

December 11

Once the election results have been verified, state governors will sign official documents to hand the electors to the winning candidate.

Congress has until December 11 to sign the documents, which will also contain the names of the electors expected to case votes in the Electoral College poll.

Harris has been laying low since Trump's triumph - but she's expected to break her silence this afternoon in an address to the nation

December 17

This poll unfolds six days later. Electors from each state will cast their votes for president and vice president, before these selections are passed on to Congress.

December 25

Christmas Day is the deadline for the Electoral College votes to arrive in Washington DC.

January 3

The incoming Congress will convene for the first time at noon on January 3. They must also select a speaker before this date.

January 6

A memorable date thanks to the 2021 Capitol riot, January 6 marks the deadline for Congress officially counting the Electoral College votes to verify the election result.

President Biden is expected to be present for Trump's swearing in as the keys to power are handed from him to his Republican rival

January 20

The dawn of a second Trump term begins on January 20, 2025.

President Biden is expected to be present for Trump's swearing in as the keys to power are handed from him to his Republican rival.

The day will also see Biden move out of his home for the last four years, and Trump move in via a hyper-organized effort traditionally orchestrated by the White House chief usher.

Melania Trump may also move back in to the White House, as she is expected to stay by her husband's side during his tenure after four years of avoiding the spotlight through his numerous scandals.
Donald Trump stormed to a resounding election victory after riding a huge wave of support that saw him win both the popular vote and electoral college.

Pollsters continually forecast the race as being 'on a knife edge' but Trump, 78, won in a landslide with a surge of support from black and Latino Americans, as well as women voters - who liberal pundits had hoped would push Kamala Harris to victory.

The president-elect is also set to win all seven of the crucial swing states that were central to his battle over Harris. Republicans also reclaimed control of the Senate.

Now, as the red wave sweeps the nation, the president-elect's eldest son Don Jr has called on MAGA fans to 'show me the memes' as they bask in their victory.

'Show me the memes!!! It's my second all nighter in a row and I'm too tired to search for them. Send them below!!!' he tweeted. 'This is going to be glorious.'

To no surprise, the replies did not disappoint, with fans highlighting some of the funniest moments from the campaign trail.

One X user shared a meme of Sesame Street character Oscar the Grouch, who lives in a trash can. The meme evoked how Joe Biden branded Trump supporters as 'garbage'

In this meme, Trump can be seen taking out a trashbin with Kamala Harris inside

This AI-generated image appears to show Trump waving Harris out of the White House as she carries a box of her things

This AI-generated image shows Trump in futuristic armour next to what appears to be a humanoid version of Peanut the Squirrel, the Instagram-famous pet who was euthanised by New York wildlife officials

Another shared a meme of Trump sporting an orange vest as he drives what appears to be a garbage truck all the way to the Oval Office

One meme used Will Ferell's Anchorman character Ron Burgundy to take aim at all the Hollywood A-listers - including Ferrell - who backed Kamala Harris' presidential bid

An X user joked that the most popular toys this Christmas season would be a Leggo Trump garbage truck and a set depicting his one-day employment at McDonald's

This meme references how a liberal news website fell for a fake statement attributed to Trump's camp that appeared to condemn the seizure and subsequent death of an Instagram-famous squirrel named Peanut

This meme shows Tesla CEO Elon Musk making himself at home in the Oval Office. Musk become Trump's most vocal fan and one of his biggest financial backers during the US election. His transformation of X into a political machine supporting Trump could see the billionaire rewarded with a place in the president-elects new administration

One X user praised Trump's astonishing political redemption by changing the title of his book The Art of the Deal to The Art of the Comeback

Instead of Wednesday, November 6th being 'hump day', one user declared it Trump Day

This meme says that the possibility of Taylor Swift leaving America is 'another great reason to support president Trump'

This meme shows Trump using his iconic line from The Apprentice against Kamala Harris

In this meme, Kamala Harris is compared with a 'Karen', while Trump, seen at a McDonald's drive-through is described as the manager
The Princess of Wales is expected to attend Remembrance Sunday events this weekend after her husband Prince William said she was 'doing really well'.

Kate is making a gradual return to public duties after completing a course of cancer treatment, with her last high-profile appearance at Trooping the Colour in June.

She has stayed home with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis this week while William is in Cape Town for his Earthshot Prize awards.

Now, Kate is hoping to join other senior members of the Royal family at the annual Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in honour of the war dead this Sunday.

Kensington Palace is yet to confirm the Princess's attendance at what is an important date in the royal calendar in London, but according to the Press Association she is expected to be present as it stands.

Kate attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on November 12, 2023

Queen Camilla too has pledged to be there after pulling out of the annual Field of Remembrance opening at Westminster Abbey tomorrow due to a chest infection.

Kate has also spoken with aides about staging her annual Christmas carol service in December, holding a meeting with her team at Windsor Castle on September 24.

Today, William gave an update on Kate during an interview before tonight's awards, saying: 'She's doing really well thanks. And hopefully she is watching tonight.

'So cheering me on. She's been amazing this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success.'

He added that he hoped George, Charlotte and Louis be would watching along with Kate when the ceremony is screened online this evening on BBC iPlayer.

The Princess travelled to Merseyside four weeks ago with William to meet privately with bereaved families of the Southport stabbing victims before greeting emergency responders in front of the cameras.

OCTOBER 10: The Princess of Wales was most recently seen during a visit to Southport

OCTOBER 10: Kate and Prince William meet an air ambulance paramedic in Southport

That visit on October 10 was her first joint public appearance alongside her husband since her cancer treatment ended, marking a major milestone in her gradual journey back to public duties.

Kate delivered a bombshell video message in March revealing she was undergoing chemotherapy after post-operative tests following major abdominal surgery showed she had cancer.

Well-wishes flooded in from around the world and King Charles III  who has also had treatment for cancer following his own diagnosis - was said to be 'so proud' of his 'beloved daughter-in-law' for her courage in speaking out.

In June, Kate made a welcome brief return to the royal frontline at Trooping the Colour, after saying in an update that she has 'good days and bad days', but was 'not out of the woods yet'.

SEPTEMBER 9: The Prince and Princess of Wales in Norfolk with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a handout still issued by Kensington Palace

Kate also presented the men's trophy on a day out to Wimbledon with Princess Charlotte in July, which saw her given a standing ovation from the crowd.

The Princess announced she had finished her chemotherapy course in a heartfelt video in September, in which she spoke about her experience while footage played of the Waleses and their children enjoying time together outdoors.

She said she was entering 'this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life'.

'The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family,' she said.

She added: 'Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long.'

JULY 14: The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte in the royal box at Wimbledon

JUNE 15: William and Kate with George, Louis and Charlotte at Trooping the Colour in London

Then on September 17, Kate was listed in the official record of royal events for the first time since her cancer treatment ended.

She featured in the Court Circular after holding a meeting at Windsor Castle about an issue that aides in the past have described as her life's work  the early years development of children.

As for Queen Camilla, Buckingham Palace announced yesterday that she had withdrawn from engagements this week due to being unwell with a chest infection and has withdrawn from her engagements this week.

Camilla, 77, who has not long returned from a busy official overseas tour to Australia and Samoa and a spa break in India, is understood to be resting at her Wiltshire home, Ray Mill.

MARCH 23: The Princess of Wales reveals she has cancer in a bombshell video message

The Queen is said to be sad and disappointed to miss the opening of the annual Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey this Thursday.

But she hopes to attend the annual Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening at the Royal Albert Hall, and the national service at the Cenotaph on Sunday.

A documentary focusing on Camilla's work raising awareness of domestic violence is airing next Monday.

The Queen was followed over the course of a year for the ITV1 and ITVX programme Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors, and in it she vows to 'keep trying' to end domestic violence, describing it as a 'heinous crime'.
Lucy Letby told her union rep she could give her 'tips' on how to get away with murder, the public inquiry heard today.

Hayley Griffiths admitted she became close friends with the killer nurse when she was moved off the neo-natal at the Countess of Chester Hospital amid suspicions she was murdering and harming babies in her care.

The Royal College of Nursing representative told the Thirlwall Inquiry, which is investigating Letby's crimes, that she regretted starting an 'unprofessional' text conversation with her, which began: 'I'm currently watching a programme called how to get away with murder, I'm learning some good tips.'

Letby replied: 'I could have given you some tips.'

Ms Griffiths added: 'I need someone to practice on to see if I can get away with it.'

Letby said: 'I can think of two people you could practice on and we'll help you cover it up x.'

Ms Griffiths replied: 'Deal, I will get thinking of a plan, get the cruise booked as our getaway.'

Williams told the inquiry Letby (pictured) was more likely to be on duty during the incidents

Letby is serving 15 whole-life orders after being found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to end the lives of seven more between 2015 and 2016

The message exchange about murder tips took place in March 2017.

Ms Griffiths also sent comforting messages to Letby after the police were called in to investigate, in May 2017, and told her they would be 'friends for life.'

The inquiry heard that, four months later, in September 2017, Letby was allowed to attend a 'life support' course on the neo-natal unit of Glan Clwyd Hospital, 30 miles away from Chester, across the border in North Wales. The inquiry has heard that Letby wasn't suspended from working as a nurse even after she was redeployed.

She later messaged Ms Griffiths: 'Just finished my course in Glan Clwyd & passed so really pleased after all the effort. Finally, I've done something neonatal X.'

The following year, around the second anniversary of the death of two triplet brothers, who were murdered on consecutive shifts, and just days before she was first arrested by police, in July 2018, Letby also sent a text to Ms Griffiths saying she was thinking about their parents.

She wrote: 'I can't help but think of them and that they'll be celebrating a birthday with only 1 out of their 3 boys. X'

No evidence was presented to the inquiry about which two people Letby was referring to, but the hospital's lead paediatricians, Dr Stephen Brearey and Dr Ravi Jayaram, had lobbied senior managers to remove her from the ward.

Ms Griffiths said she 'truly and deeply regretted' starting the text conversation with the serial killer.

But she said she didn't think the exchange, which took place before Letby was arrested, was anything 'more than a conversation' or that 'she was telling me anything.'

'It was completely unprofessional and poor judgement on my part,' Ms Griffiths said.

'It was completely insensitive and I can only apologise from the bottom of my heart.'

In another message, Ms Griffiths described Letby as 'my lovely criminal mastermind.'

Court artist drawing of Lucy Letby giving evidence during her trial at Manchester Crown Court

Lucy Letby worked at the neonatal unit of the The Countess of Chester Hospital (pictured, file)

The 34-year-old is currently serving 15 whole life tariffs for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more at the Cheshire hospital, between June 2015 and June 2016.

The inquiry heard that Letby's parents, John and Sue Letby, repeatedly telephoned Ms Griffiths, hospital bosses, other unions reps and Dr Christopher Green, the medic who investigated Letby's employment grievance against the Trust, after she was redeployed.

They also sent a statement to senior managers, in December 2016, which claimed their daughter had told them she 'wouldn't hurt anything, let alone a tiny baby.'

The statement revealed that Letby initially didn't tell her parents about her redeployment because she was worried it might 'upset them.'

But when they did find out, they described being 'shocked to the core' and 'heartbroken' about the 'sickening allegations.'

They wrote: 'To say we were shocked to the core is the understatement of the century. As parents the sickening allegations made against our daughter became a game changer.

'Our daughter has been to hell and back since July. Can you imagine what it is like to know that colleagues are calling you a murderer? She has frequently said to us during the last four months, 'I wouldn't hurt anything let alone a tiny baby'.

'It has broken our hearts especially as we live a hundred miles away and we are so proud of how Lucy has conducted herself and endured this nightmare. I have often said to Lucy, 'how do you keep going' and she says quite simply 'because I haven't done anything wrong'.'

The statement also said their daughter was 'losing weight' and 'suffering inside.'

Image of the corridor within the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit (showing the entrances to nurseries 2,3 & 4)

Body worn camera footage issued by Cheshire Constabulary of the arrest of Lucy Letby

Mr and Mrs Letby claimed they had been kept awake worrying about the allegations and were at a 'loss' to understand why 'certain consultants have a personal grudge against Lucy.'

They concluded: 'The overlying question that has kept us awake since the day all this started and no one has come up with an answer is 'why Lucy?'

Ms Griffiths described how she broke news of the serious allegations being made by the doctors to Letby during a 'frank' conversation in a country park, two months after she was removed from the unit, in September 2016.

She admitted that Letby's reaction  to stand up calmly, ask to be alone and to go on her phone  rather than to 'burst out crying' or to ask questions about who was making the allegations did appear 'a little strange.'

But she insisted 'everybody deals with things differently.'

The inquiry heard that when Letby was redeployed into Ms Griffiths' office, in the hospital's risk and patient safety department, in July 2016, the pair became so close that Ms Griffiths later told her she 'loved her as a friend.'

But she denied their friendship 'clouded' her professional judgement. Instead, she insisted that she'd personally seen no evidence of wrongdoing and her job was to support Letby at that time.

Ms Griffiths added: 'This wasn't an employment issue and it should never have been an employment issue. They (senior managers) should have called the police in straight away. But we were being told on a weekly basis, 'There is no evidence, we support you, we're going to get you back to the unit,' every week.'

The message exchange about murder tips took place in March 2017.

Ms Griffiths also sent comforting messages to Letby after the police were called in to investigate, in May 2017, and told her they would be 'friends for life.'

Lucy Letby appears by video link during an appeal against her conviction for trying to murder a newborn baby, at the Court of Appeal in London, Britain, October 24

The inquiry heard that, four months later, in September 2017, Letby was allowed to attend a 'life support' course on the neo-natal unit of Glan Clwyd Hospital, 30 miles away from Chester, across the border in North Wales. The inquiry has heard that Letby wasn't suspended from working as a nurse even after she was redeployed.

She later messaged Ms Griffiths: 'Just finished my course in Glan Clwyd & passed so really pleased after all the effort. Finally, I've done something neonatal X.'

The following year, around the second anniversary of the death of two triplet brothers, who were murdered on consecutive shifts, and just days before she was first arrested by police, in July 2018, Letby also sent a text to Ms Griffiths saying she was thinking about their parents.

She wrote: 'I can't help but think of them and that they'll be celebrating a birthday with only 1 out of their 3 boys. X

The inquiry, at Liverpool Town Hall, continues.
The owner of the Washington Post and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his sweeping victory - after the billionaire's decision not endorse Kamala Harris sparked a major backlash.

Trump's political comeback was hailed as the 'greatest in history' after the former president sealed a stunning return to the White House by defeating Kamala Harris in the 2024 US election.

Bezos, 60, had previously provoked a liberal meltdown during the election cycle when he spiked his newspaper's endorsement of the Democrat presidential candidate, which spawned boycotts from employees and subscribers.

Now Bezos, who is one of the richest men in the word, has issued a public message to Trump on X.

'Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities,' he said.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his sweeping victory

'Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love,' he added.

The Washington Post has publicly backed the Democrat presidential candidate for decades.

But Post CEO Will Lewis released a memo on October 25 announcing Bezos' decision to axe the endorsement for the first time since 1988.

Critics speculated that Bezos was trying to curry favor with Trump and avoid retribution should the ex-president be re-elected.

Trump has surrounded himself with loyal billionaire friends during his campaign, with many of them hoping to lock in an executive branch cabinet position.

Trump sealed a stunning return to the White House by defeating Kamala Harris in the US election

Trump's cabinet during his first four-year term, which was the wealthiest in history, was hit by a series of scandals including resignations and investigations into the alleged misuse of government aircraft and pricey furniture expenditures.

The fallout from Bezos' endorsement decision saw the billionaire, who is worth some $206.2 billion, publish an op-ed defending the decision, citing growing 'distrust' of media.

'What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias,' he wrote on October 28.

'A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it's the right one,' he added.

However, endorsements in presidential elections by newspapers are not written by news teams but rather completely separate editorial boards which create opinion content.

By October 30, the Washington Post had reportedly lost at least 250,000 subscribers - roughly 10 percent of its digital following.

The Washington Post had reportedly lost at least 250,000 subscribers after it announced the paper would not be endorsing a presidential candidate

Critics speculated that Bezos was trying to curry favor with Trump and avoid retribution should the ex-president be reelected

Bezos published a lengthy op-ed explaining his newspaper's decision not to endorse Kamala Harris for the election

Columnist Robert Kagan, a conservative Trump critic, resigned from his position on the editorial board.

The response from the Post's staff has been 'uniformly outraged,' NPR's David Folkenflik said at the time.

The Washington Post Guild also issued a statement denouncing the move.

'We are deeply concerned that The Washington Post would make the decision to no longer endorse presidential candidates, especially a mere 11 days ahead of an immensely consequential election,' it read.

Bezos has also instructed editors at the Washington Post to hire more conservatives as readers cancel their subscriptions in droves, according to a source.

The New York Times reported that the outlet's billionaire owner is interested in boosting its right wing readership.
Eleven years ago, a hunting enthusiast was accidentally shot in the face with a hunting arrow and left completely blind.

The near-fatal shot seemingly put an end to 34-year-old hunter TJ Cartwright's passion, leaving him depressed and without inspiration.

'I never really thought about killing myself because I dont believe in that. I got really depressed and down and thought that hunting would never be part of my life again,' Cartwright, who lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho, told Cowboy State Daily.

Yet, years later, with time and loads of practice, the blind hunter would fulfill one of his wildest dreams - gunning down a whitetail deer buck.

Cartwright, whose hearing drastically improved after the loss of his sight, began to sharpen this sense, finding birds location by sound and slowly started shooting down ducks and geese.

Years after a hunting accident that left then-23-year-old TJ Cartwright of Idaho completely blind, the passionate huntsman shot-and-killed a whitetail deer buck, fulfilling one of his wildest dreams

Cartwright, whose hearing drastically improved after the loss of his sight, began work to sharpen his skills, finding birds location by sound and slowly started shooting ducks and geese. Pictured: Cartwright killed a big game animal after his blinding accident 11 years ago

Eventually, with the aid of specialized devices that help an observer line up rifle shots, the blinded hunter finally started on big game again.

Along with a disability group, Wyoming Disabled Hunters, Cartwright and his father took a trip to the Cowboy State where for the first time since the accident, he shot and killed a whitetail deer buck in Park County.

'I dumped him [the buck]. He didnt take a step, my dad told me that he was probably dead before he even hit the ground,' he said, adding that going after a Wyoming antelope tops his list of his dream hunts.

Hunting was all the then-23-year-old Cartwright knew when he was near fatally struck in the face by his girlfriend at the time with a retractable broadhead arrow.

Following the near-fatal accident, Cartwright believed his passion for hunting would never be satisfied

With ample practice and convincing from loved ones, Cartwright began hunting big game again with the assistance of specialized devices that help an observer line up rifle shots. Pictured: Cartwright with a mentor helping him toward realizing his hunting dreams

The hunting arrow, set with three razor sharp blades, was spring-loaded and designed to open upon impact to create a wider wound in a big game animals body.

For Cartwright this meant the worst, as two of the three spring-loaded blades opened when he was struck, causing severe and irreversible damage to his eyesight.

However, in a stroke of luck, the third and final spring failed to open, which doctors believe may have been the difference in life and death for Cartwright that day.

'If that blade would have functioned properly, it would have severed a major artery,' he said. 'It would have been "good night, TJ."'

Immediately after the accident, Cartwright still had his sight as he and his then-girlfriend hiked to the nearest road, where he collapsed before an ambulance arrived.

While he was in the hospital, 'they told my mom and dad that I had 12 hours to live,' he recalled.

Anybody who needs to be here, you need to get in here now, because TJ's not going to make it through the night.'

In light of his inspiring journey, the fervent huntsman helped found The Blind Hunter network, which includes a podcast that he and another blind hunter host

Cartwright was then wheeled off into surgery before he went into a coma, only to wake up blinded from a blood clot that crushed his optic nerves, taking his sight completely.

It took ample time and convincing from loved ones to get Cartwright back out into the woods as he did not believe hunting would ever be possible for someone with his injuries.

'I just sat around the house. I wasnt doing anything. I was kind of playing the pity party game,' he said.

It was his father, Randy, that had done the convincing, explaining to the younger Cartwright that he 'knows where to point' and should at least 'give it a try'.

'It was probably one of the best days of my life,' he said of his initial experience back out in the woods.

'I shot quite a bit, and didnt hit any geese, but I had so much fun.'

In light of his inspiring journey, the fervent huntsman helped found The Blind Hunter network, which includes a podcast that he and another blind hunter host.

'I just want everybody to look past the disabilities and realize that its not right to think that they cant hunt. Just because you have a disability and do things a different way doesnt mean that you cant do it. Everybody deserves to be out there and to have fun,' he said.
Rachel Reeves today pleaded with Donald Trump not to go ahead with trade tariffs amid fears of a hammer blow to UK growth.

The Chancellor said she would make 'strong representations' to the president-elect about the damage a protectionist regime would inflict.

Ahead of his bombshell victory in the US election overnight, Mr Trump has boasted that 'tariff' is his favourite word. He has floated a 10 per cent hike in levies on goods imported from around the world - potentially rising to 60 per cent for China.

The aggressive approach has sparked concerns that the new administration will spark a trade war, with analysts already trimming Britain's growth predictions.

It is another major headache for Keir Starmer as he scrambles to prop up the Special Relationship in the wake of Mr Trump's triumph.

The PM is facing a huge challenge after tensions flared over Labour supporters helping to campaign for Democrat contender Kamala Harris.

Tories are demanded he apologises for previous comments by David Lammy and other senior figures, branding Mr Trump a 'Neo-Nazi sympathiser'.

The PM has also repeatedly clashed with billionaire Elon Musk, who looks certain to end up playing a key role in the Trump administration.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she would make 'strong representations' to the president-elect about the damage a protectionist regime would inflict

Ahead of his bombshell victory in the US election overnight, Mr Trump has boasted that 'tariff' is his favourite word

It is another major headache for Keir Starmer as he scrambles to prop up the Special Relationship in the wake of Mr Trump's triumph

Sir Keir said in a statement this morning that he 'looks forward to working with' Mr Trump 'in the years ahead'

Tory frontbencher Andrew Griffith mocked Labour for sending activists to help the Harris bid

Giving evidence to the Treasury Committee this afternoon, Ms Reeves said: 'We're not just a passive actor in this.

'It's a trade relationship with the United States and we will make strong representations about the importance of free and open trade, not just between ourselves and the United States, but globally, and the US also benefit from those that access to free and open trade with us and other countries around the world, and it's what makes us richer as societies to benefit from that.'

Tory former Treasury minister John Glen highlighted that Goldman Sachs had alredy cut UK growth forecasts from 1.6 per cent to 1.4 per cent.

Challenged if it was realistic to seek to influence Mr Trump, Ms Reeves said: 'We've got another couple of months before the inauguration.

'Obviously, you know, we will begin those conversations. We'll prepare for different eventualities.

'I absolutely do not want to sound in any way sanguine. On the other hand, I am optimistic about our ability to shape the global economic agenda, as we have under successive governments.'

Downing Street refused to be drawn on 'future policy discussions' when asked whether Sir Keir was concerned about the prospect of future trade restrictions.

The PM's spokesman said: 'We look forward to working with President-elect Trump including on a wide range of his policy priorities to improve the UK-US trading relations and to support the significant investment relationship that supports millions of jobs across our two countries.

'I'm not going to get into future policy discussions.'

Asked whether Sir Keir would want Mr Trump to refrain from launching a 'trade war', the spokesman said: 'I'm not going to get into policy discussions that we're yet to have with President-elect Trump, but as I say the UK and US have a strong relationship on economic and trade issues and we look forward to continuing to work (together).'

New Tory leader Kemi Badenoch slammed Sir Keir, Mr Lammy and other senior figures for their comments about the president-elect in her debut at PMQs.

She insisted that Sir Keir must invite Mr Trump to visit the UK and address both Houses of Parliament.

When Mr Trump was last president Labour MPs including Mr Lammy signed an early day motion arguing he should not be allowed the honour during a state visit.

The attack came after the premier opened the exchanges by congratulating the Republican.

'Having had dinner with president-elect Trump just a few weeks ago I look forward to working with him in the years to come,' he said.

Sir Keir said in a statement this morning: 'Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

'As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

'From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.'

Foreign Secretary David Lammy - who once branded Mr Trump a 'neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath' - said: 'The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years. We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.'

Sir Keir ordered Cabinet ministers to stay silent on the election for fear of further inflaming the situation. But MPs have been unable to resist expressing their dismay on social media this morning.

Nigel Farage has warned that Britain must 'roll out the red carpet' for Mr Trump to repair the damage.

Meanwhile, jubilant Reform MPs have been demanding that Sir Keir uses Mr Farage's close friendship with Mr Trump.

Government sources have been playing up a private dinner Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary David Lammy had with Mr Trump in New York in September, insisting they had struck up a good relationship.

But during the bitter campaign Mr Trump's team filed an official complaint with federal election authorities accusing Labour of making 'illegal foreign national contributions'.

Around 100 activists travelled to swing states to canvass for the Harris ticket - although Labour insisted they went at their own expense.

There was also anger that senior figures from the party went to the Democratic National Convention in August and met Harris aides. The two parties have long-term ties.

In interviews at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa last month, Sir Keir tried to gloss over fears the spat could derail the Special Relationship if Mr Trump wins.

He insisted that the situation needed to be 'put in perspective' as volunteers from parties have gone to help out in 'every previous election'.

As a backbench MP in 2018, Mr Lammy wrote in Time magazine: 'Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.

'He is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long.'

And in a 2018 Times article ahead of Trump's first visit to the UK, Lammy committed to be one of 'tens of thousands on the streets, protesting against our government's capitulation to this tyrant in a toupee.'

In a round of interviews yesterday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting was asked for his views on the election.

MPs have been unable to resist expressing their dismay at Kamala Harris's (pictured) defeat on social media this morning

A 'Neo-Nazi sympathiser' and a 'sad little man': The rash comments about Trump that Labour ministers are trying to forget KEIR STARMER Last year, Sir Keir compared the Conservative Party with Mr Trump as he accused the Tories of falling far from Churchillian values. 'Is there anybody in the Government now who feels a sense of obligation to anything other than their own self-interest? To democracy, the rule of law, serving our country?' he asked in a speech in Buckinghamshire. 'An entitlement to power totally unchecked by any sense of service or responsibility - that's the cultural stain that runs through the modern Conservative Party.' He added: 'These aren't Churchill's Tories any more. If anything they behave more and more like Donald Trump. They look at the politics of America and they want to bring that here. 'It's all woke, woke, woke. Wedge, wedge, wedge. Divide, divide, divide.' In June, the prime minister said following Mr Trump's hush money trial conviction that it was an 'unprecedented situation'. 'We will work with whoever is elected president ... that's what you'd expect,' Sir Keir said. 'We have a special relationship with the US that transcends whoever the president is, but it is an unprecedented situation, there is no doubt about that.' In the lead up to this year's US presidential election, Sir Keir maintained that the Government will work with whoever is president. FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID LAMMY In 2017, Mr Lammy called Mr Trump a 'racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser'. A year later, the Tottenham MP wrote in Time magazine that he would be protesting against the then-government's 'capitulation to this tyrant in a toupee', in reference to Mr Trump's first official visit to the UK. 'Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath,' Mr Lammy wrote, 'he is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long.' Asked about his past comments earlier this year, Mr Lammy said: 'Where I can find common cause with Donald Trump, I will find common cause'. He offered his congratulations to Mr Trump on Wednesday morning, saying: 'We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.' DEPUTY PM ANGELA RAYNER Ms Rayner has publicly criticised Mr Trump more than once in posts on X, formerly Twitter. On the day of the Capitol Hill riots in 2021, she tweeted: 'The violence that Donald Trump has unleashed is terrifying, and the Republicans who stood by him have blood on their hands.' Later in January that year, Ms Rayner said of the inauguration of Joe Biden as president: 'I am so happy to see the back of Donald Trump, but even more so to see @KamalaHarris as VP.' HEALTH SECRETARY WES STREETING In 2017, Mr Streeting called Trump an 'odious, sad little man' in a post on X. 'Imagine being proud to have that as your president,' he added. Asked on Tuesday about the social media post, the Health Secretary told Good Morning Britain: 'The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have been working hard to build a relationship with President Trump and his team, so that in the event that he is elected as the next president of the United States, we start with the strong working relationship which is in our national interest and in the interests of the United States as well.' ENERGY SECRETARY ED MILIBAND Mr Miliband labelled Mr Trump a 'groper' and a 'racist' in November 2016. 'The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper beggars belief,' Mr Miliband told the BBC. 'And I think we should be deeply worried about the implications for many of the things that we care about. Tackling climate change - he says it's invented by the Chinese, climate change, it's a hoax. His attitude to Russia. 'And then this fantasy about trade. I mean, this guy is anti-trade. He's an odd combination of protectionism, plus the old trickle-down formula that has got us into a lot of this mess in the first place.' Advertisement

Tory MPs ridiculed Mr Lammy for his abrupt shift on Mr Trump

Nigel Farage said the UK must 'roll out the red carpet' for Mr Trump

He joked 'I've got lots of thoughts but not ones I'm going to share as a government minister.'

Mr Streeting was challenged about a 2017 social media post where he described Trump as an 'odious, sad, little man', adding: 'Imagine being proud to have that as your President.'

He told Good Morning Britain: 'The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have been working hard to build a relationship with President Trump and his team, so that in the event that he is elected as the next president of the United States, we start with the strong working relationship which is in our national interest and in the interests of the United States as well.

'And it's not often I would pray and aid Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party but, as he said overnight, President Trump, you know, he speaks as he finds.

'He had a very good meeting with Keir Starmer not too long ago, and of course, he'll be aware of things that we've we've all said in the past'

Mr Streeting said: 'The important thing about this relationship, this transatlantic relationship, is one of the most important alliances that Britain has.

Jubilant Reform MPs have been demanding that Sir Keir uses Nigel Farage's close friendship with Mr Trump to prop up the Special Relationship.

Some Labour MPs were unable to resist reposting pro-Democrat messages during the campaign - despite Sir Keir urging people to keep their counsel

'We have shared values and shared strategic interests, and with war on our continent, in Ukraine, war in the Middle East and wider geopolitical threats, it is in the UK and United States' national interests to work closely together.

'That won't change, whoever the occupant of the Oval Office is, and we only have hours now to wait until polls close.'

Senior government sources have poured cold water on Mr Farage's suggestion that he could act as a 'conduit' between his old ally Mr Trump and the UK government.

'That's good of him,' one said witheringly.
Only one-in-five Brits is happy that Donald Trump has won a second term in the White House and more than half believe his return to power will be bad for the UK.

A new poll today sheds light on just how unpopular the hard-right Republican is in the UK, after he cruised to victory over Kamala Harris.

Just 11 per cent of Brits said they were very happy he was back, and a further nine per cent were fairly happy.

In contrast some 45 per cent said they were 'very unhappy' and 12 per cent more were fairly unhappy, while almost a quarter (23 per cent) either didn't know how they felt or were ambiguous.

In a sign that supporting Trump may cause problems for the new Tory opposition under Kemi Badenoch, just a quarter (26 per cent) of Conservative voters said they were happy and 51 per cent were unhappy.

The only party more happy than unhappy with the result was Reform, whose leader Nigel Farage is a loud supporter of the president and is currently in the US despite having a constituency in Essex.

And even among that party's voters, just 52 per cent said they were happy about the Trump win.

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Ms Badenoch demanded that Keir Starmer apologises to Donald Trump for jibes by Labour figures today.

The new Tory leader slammed Sir Keir, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and other senior figures for their comments about the president elect in her debut at PMQs.

She insisted that Sir Keir must invite Mr Trump to visit the UK and address both Houses of Parliament.

The attack came after the premier opened the exchanges by congratulating the Republican. 'Having had dinner with president-elect Trump just a few weeks ago I look forward to working with him in the years to come,' he said.

But Ms Badenoch pointed to remarks such as Mr Lammy describing the resurgent politician as a 'Neo-Nazi sympathiser'.

She asked whether they had said sorry to Mr Trump over dinner in New York - saying that he should be doing so.

Sir Keir is facing a major headache with Mr Trump's stunning US election win, after tensions flared over Labour supporters helping to campaign for the Democrat contender.

The PM has also repeatedly clashed with billionaire Elon Musk, who looks certain to end up playing a key role in the Trump administration.

When Mr Trump was last president Labour MPs including Mr Lammy signed an early day motion arguing he should not be allowed the honour of addressing both Houses of Parliament during a state visit.

Government sources have been playing up the private dinner Sir Keir and Mr Lammy had with Mr Trump in New York in September, insisting they had struck up a good relationship.

But during the bitter campaign Mr Trump's team filed an official complaint with federal election authorities accusing Labour of making 'illegal foreign national contributions'.

Around 100 activists travelled to swing states to canvass for the Harris ticket - although Labour insisted they went at their own expense.

There was also anger that senior figures from the party went to the Democratic National Convention in August and met Harris aides. The two parties have long-term ties.
An estimated 40,000 partygoers attended the famous Lewes Bonfire Night despite local authorities pleas not to travel to the East Sussex town.

The historic market town holds an annual burning of effigies and is remarkably popular amongst bonfire night celebrants.

This year, effigies included depictions of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage alongside a rioter and former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells who resided over the infamous Horizon IT scandal.

Southern water were also poked fun at, receiving their own burning effigy just days after sewage disruption impacted water supply in West Sussex.

Thanking revellers for a 'successful night', a police spokesperson described the 'unique and challenging' planning preparations undertaken by multiple local authorities and the local community.

An effigy of Nigel Farage and a rioter makes its way through the streets of Lewes, East Sussex

An effigy of Paula Vennells makes its way through the streets of Lewes, East Sussex

Southern Water were also poked fun at and earned their own effigy from revellers in attendance

Over 40,000 people attended Bonfire night in the quaint market town of Lewes

Over 40,000 people attended Bonfire night in the quaint market town of Lewes

Despite calls from local authorities for non-residents not to attend due to fears of overcrowding, tens of thousands of people descended on Lewes

Despite attendees rejections of warnings to avoid the area over fears of overcrowding, the festivities seemed to go off nearly without a hitch.

In a statement, Sussex Police said that whilst the event was even busier than last year, that there were just three recorded hospitalisations and four arrests made.

On Tuesday, paramedics treated 46 people at the celebrations, with three of those hospitalised.

In total over the previous five years, there have been 212 injuries reported and a further 17 hospitalisations.

These injuries usually stem from improper use of fireworks, according to authorities.

Police also confirmed the arrest and de-arrest of a teenage boy, the arrest of two men in their 20's over common assault and the a fourth on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.

Sussex Police Chief Superintendent Howard Hodges said: 'We thank the public for their support to ensure the Lewes bonfire celebrations were once again a spectacular event that have been enjoyed safely.'
A Senate race that pitted two former national security officials against each other has them separated by just a few hundred votes in Michigan, with the strength of Donald Trump's Senate majority still to be set.

Republican Mike Rogers, a former FBI official who has voiced Trump criticism in the past but has closely aligned with him in his election battle, was leading in the count into the early hours of Wednesday morning.

But Democratic rival Rep. Elissa Slotkin passed him in the late morning, as votes from Wayne County, which includes Detroit, finally came in.

With 95 percent of the vote in, Slotkin was leading Rogers 48.5 to 48.4 percent, as the lead went up and down between a few hundred and 1,000 votes.

The photo-finish continues hours after Republicans seized control of the Senate  allowing Donald Trump to push through his court nominees and cabinet secretaries with minimal interference.

'I do believe this is going to be a nail-biter,' Rogers told a few hundred supporters at a state GOP watch party in Novi, a Detroit suburb Tuesday night, speaking was inside the same venue where he joined a Donald Trump rally days ago.

'We always knew that this was going to be a tight race,' said Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin

'This is going to be a very long night,' he predicted, correctly, although Rogers went home without giving another update on the race.

Democrat Elissa Slotkin, who rallied with supporters at the Motor City Casino in downtown Detroit, also spoke about the closeness of the contest.

'We always knew that this was going to be a tight race, and that is exactly what we are seeing unfold in front of us,' she told them.

'I've had three tough elections, and we'll be here till the wee hours of the night. So my message to you all is to get some rest, hunker down. We've got a long way to go.'

j'We have had difficult periods in our history before,' she told supporters, who were also processing Donald Trump's electoral college drubbing of Kamala Harris.

Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers said the race would be a 'nail-biter'

'Over the next few days, the results will come into focus and the task before us will be to come together.'

State law provides for an automatic recount if a race is decided by fewer than 2,000 votes, and a candidate can request one if they have a 'good-faith' belief in fraud or error, so long as they have a reasonable chance of winning.

'After tonight, we still have to care about our democracy, we still have to care about our state,' said retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who holds the seat.

Another razor-close contest in Nevada had the candidates, Republican Sam Brown was leading Sen. Jackie Rosen 47.3 to 47.2. But there was still outstanding vote in Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, and Washoe. Rosen is leading in both.

View the results of the 2024 US presidential election in Michigan with our unrivalled catalogue of live-updating maps and charts.

All of our graphics are synchronised with a database manned by Associated Press (AP), which has tallied millions of ballots and determined which candidates have won their races since Zachary Taylor was elected President in 1848.

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A 16-year-old girl tragically took her life in Iran after she was threatened with expulsion by her school after she was recorded dancing without a hijab.

An image of Arezoo Khavari's final moments, which shows her balancing on the edge of a building, has been circulating on X, with several social media users condemning Iran's strict dress code laws.

The death of Arezoo, who was an Afghan citizen living in the Iranian city of Shahrari, was confirmed by the General Department of Education of Tehran in a statement that said that the girl was 'injured due to a fall from the height of a residential building'.

'After being immediately transferred to the hospital and despite the efforts of the medical team, she died', the statement explained.

While the department said that the 'motivation and reasons for this action' had not been determined, respected Persian human rights activist Masih Alinjad said in a post on X that Arezoo was driven to her death after 'being sent back from a school trip for violating the dress code by wearing jeans instead of the prescribed uniform'.

16-year-old Arezoo Khavari' tragically took her life in Iran after she was sent home from a school trip for not wearing a hijab

The teen had also faced repeated harassment from the school for not complying with its dress code policy, Masih alleged and also claimed that Arezoo had been threatened with expulsion after she was filmed dancing without a hijab.

Following Arezoo's death, her father has lodged a formal complaint against the school accusing them of negligence and insensitivity, activist Masih said.

Commenting further on the teenager's death, Masih said: 'The Taliban strip girls of education, and Irans clerics crush a girls spirit for letting her hair flow in the wind, for dancing, for choosing her own clothes.

'Arezoo's voicelike so many otherswill be buried beneath the worlds louder headlines. Shame on Western leaders who shake hands with the Islamic Republic and the Taliban, thinking they can reform this cruelty.

'We the women of Iran and Afghanistan want an end for this gender apartheid regimes. Stand with us not our killers!'.

The teen's tragic death and the circumstances around it comes just days after an Iranian woman who stripped down to her underwear in protest over hijab laws was arrested.

The young unidentified woman was seen in footage walking around the campus of Tehran's Islamic Azad University science and research branch on Saturday before security guards detained her.

An unidentified female student was arrested on Saturday in Iran after she was spotted walking around the campus of Tehran's Islamic Azad University science and research branch in her underwear

The student reportedly sustained severe injuries following the assault during her arrest

People in support of the Iranian community take part in the Freedom Rally for Iran demonstration against the Iranian regime on February 22, 2023 in Rome, Italy

Mahsa Amini, 22, died on September 16, three days after falling into a coma following her arrest

The widely circulated video on social media shows the woman sitting and pacing back and forth with her arms crossed around the campus in her underwear.

Growing numbers of women have defied authorities by discarding their veils after nationwide protests that followed the death in September 2022 of a young Iranian Kurdish woman in the custody of the morality police for allegedly violating hijab rules.

Mahsa Amini, 22, died after being captured by morality police for not wearing her hijab correctly.

Her death spearheaded mass protests known as 'Women. life, freedom' which lasted months in the country.

A year later, in October 2023, an Iranian teenager named Armita Geravand was injured in a suspicious incident on Tehran's metro while not wearing a head covering.

She later died in the hospital after falling into a coma.
The Georgia State Capitol was evacuated just a day after the election after a gas leak caused chaos in the state legislature.

Construction crews struck a main gas line on Piedmont Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday morning, forcing the State Capitol to evacuate its staff, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The leak comes just a day after presumed President Elect Donald Trump won the state of Georgia in a tight race against Vice President Kamala Harris.

Atlanta Gas Light, which is at the scene, said a six-inch gas main was damaged, it said in an X post.

'Our crews are onsite working with first responders to get the gas shut off and the area secure as safely and as quickly as possible,' it said in a statement.

Fire crews on scene are taking air quality readings near the impacted area as crew work to repair the leak.

The roadways in the area are closed off to commuters and are expected to reopen around 1 pm, according to The Journal.

Construction crews struck a main gas line on Piedmont Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday morning, forcing the State Capitol to evacuate its staff

Atlanta Gas Light, which is at the scene, said a six-inch gas main was damaged. The roadways in the area are closed off to commuters and are expected to reopen around 1pm

'Vehicle and pedestrian traffic are being redirected around the affected area as Atlanta Fire and Atlanta Gas Light assess the line,' Georgia Department of Public Safety spokesperson, Courtney Lund, told The Journal.

While the leak is being repaired, nearby people with respiratory issues are being asked to take precautions, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

Everyone is being asked to avoid the area.

Crews were seen inside and outside the Capitol performing tests and work, while government employees were seen leaving the building.

On Election Night, Trump won 50.8 percent of the tallied votes in the state, while his Democratic counterpart was right behind him at 48.5 percent, according to AP numbers.

It comes just a day after presumed President Elect Donald Trump won the state of Georgia in a tight race against Vice President Kamala Harris

The Associated Press officially projected the former president as the winner of the Peach State in a huge blow for Harris.

The call came after pre-election polls had suggested Georgia was on a knife's edge.

Currently, 97 percent of the votes have been counted in Georgia.

Trump and Harris were neck-and-neck in the state's polling numbers for weeks, with the most recent average putting the ex-president up just 1.3 points above the VP.

The state's 16 Electoral College votes counted toward the 270 Trump needed to win the presidency. As of Wednesday afternoon, the former president had garnered 277 votes.
A town in Virginia has now squandered two contracts with garbage collection companies because there's simply too much trash - sometimes several feet high - outside residents' homes.

Updike Industries terminated its contract with Gordonsville six months before it was due to expire in June 2025, meaning the tiny town of less than 1,500 people will have to find a new trash collection service by January.

Updike accused the town of not honoring the terms of their deal, stating that its drivers routinely arrive at homes with three-foot high stacks of garbage. According to the company, this far exceeds the 64-gallon-per-week limit per household.

The company said they've been collecting three times that amount every week, which had them filling up an extra truck, according to The Daily Progress.

'We were showing up at houses and there were multiple full trash cans and piles of trash were expected to pick up,' Updike operations manager Karl Thornhill told the local outlet. 'It was more than 64 gallons at multiple houses and was becoming unsafe for our drivers who must get out and collect the trash instead of using the automated arm to lift the cans.'

Pictured: An Updike trash truck. Employees with the company said the amount of garbage Gordonsville residents had was frequently too burdensome for the automated arm to lift

Pictured: South Main Street in Gordonsville, a tiny town northeast of Charlottesville

This comes two years after another garbage collecting company refused to renew its contract with Gordonsville 'due to increasing operational expenses that are no longer supported by the current contract disposal rate.'

Due to the sheer amount of trash at certain homes, Updike said it has had to leave some behind.

The company said it has reached out to town officials a dozen times over the past two years to strike a possible compromise but to no avail.

The office manager for the company, Audrey Updike, told The Daily Progress that the town hasn't communicated the 64-gallon limit to residents.

Gordonsville Mayor Bobby Coiner, who has led the town since 2004, instead puts the blame at the feet of Updike.

Coiner felt the need to explain the situation when residents began complaining about their garbage not getting picked up.

He put out a statement on social media saying that Updike was fine picking up more than 64 gallons of trash until their drivers began to complain.

Mayor Bobby Coiner is pictured in October 2018 with then-congressional candidate Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat

'Updike was never picky about enforcing that [the 64-gallon limit] before, so it wasnt a problem. After complaints they started going by the letter of the contract and holding households to the contract amount,' he wrote. 'If Updike will do their very simple job of picking up the trash, there will be no problems going forward.'

When accusations began to fly about Updike missing stops, it responded by saying excess trash beyond the limit not being collected didn't count as missed stops.

'We have a one-half-of-1% margin of error in the town of Gordonsville,' Thornhill said.

Before it gave up on the town entirely, Updike reportedly offered residents whose trash couldn't be lifted by the truck's arm a larger 95-gallon can for free.

'Switching to the 95-gallon cans allowed our trucks automated arms to safely grab the cans and load into the trucks,' Audrey Updike said.

'We tried to solve the problem when the town would not communicate with us or residents about what were contracted to pick up. We went above and beyond and paid for cans out of pocket at no charge to the town or residents.'

But according to the company the larger cans didn't solve the problem for long, as their drivers were still inundated with too much trash to pick up.

And last month, Updike began removing those new cans.

Shops and businesses are pictured on North Main Street of Gordonsville

Once residents caught wind of this, some of them reportedly began camouflaging their trash cans so Updike wouldn't take them away. Others went online to accuse the company of stealing their personal trash cans.

Updike said they reminded residents they don't own the 95-gallon cans and that they should contact the company if they believe their personal property was removed by accident.

Coiner once again blamed Updike for this fiasco, before warning residents that they should only trust town officials when it comes to trash pickup matters.

Some residents have hit back at the mayor, saying they don't trust the town if it doesn't tell them what's going on.

'The most frustrating part is the lack of communication on the part of the town,' lifelong Gordonsville resident Michelle Johnson told The Daily Progress.

DailyMail.com approached Coiner for comment.

Updike employees said they don't have a grudge against the residents and are disappointed in how town officials haven't worked with them to solve this issue.

'Updike purchased and delivered the bigger cans last year, and it just wasnt enough,' Audrey Updike said.

'We continued to service everyone when the amounts of trash continued to increase, even though it was more than our contracted amount, and that wasnt enough either. We want to provide great customer service, but the town has just not worked with us.'
A Hollywood actor who went on the run after being released during Keir Starmer's controversial early release scheme has been found.

Jason Hoganson, 53, gave a thumbs up in September after he was released halfway through an 18-month sentence for assaulting his ex girlfriend.

The actor, who was the leading man in the cult 1980's film Empire state, was freed on the same day 1,700 other prisoners were released under measures to tackle overcrowding.

But he was rearrested just 48 hours later on two counts of allegedly breaching a restraining order and one count of assault.

Appearing at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on September 12, he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on conditional bail.

After he allegedly breached his licence conditions once again, Northumbria Police were on the hunt for the ex-actor who was 'actively evading' arrest.

The force have now confirmed they are no longer searching for Hoganson and that he has been located.

Jason Hoganson, with his face crisscrossed with angry scars and his head covered in distinctive tattoos, gave a jubilant thumbs up to the camera as he left prison

Jason Hoganson was released after being jailed for 18 months at Newcastle Crown Court

Jason Hoganson pictured at the time of his appearance in 1987 movie Empire State

Previously posting a photo of his very distinctive face, the force had asked the public for their help in locating Hoganson, but urged them not to approach him.

With a face crisscrossed with angry scars, a head covered in tattoos and a big chunk of his ear missing, his is not a face you would soon forget.

Northumbria Police said in November: 'We are asking for help to locate Jason Hoganson. Hoganson, 53, is wanted for recall to prison for breaching his licence conditions.

'It is believed that Hoganson is actively evading arrest and that he could be anywhere in our Force area or County Durham.

'Anyone who sees Hoganson should not approach him and instead contact us immediately.

'Please be aware that harbouring a wanted person is an offence and those involved could face prosecution.'

Hoganson - who rose to fame after starring in cult 80s film Empire State - was jailed for 18 months in HMP Durham after brutally attacking his ex-girlfriend in the street.

But the fallen star gave a jubilant thumbs up to the camera as he left prison only 19 days later.

Police have struggled to find him after he allegedly breached his licence conditions and evaded the force that is hunting for the actor to put him back behind bars

The 53-year-old actor seen outside HM Prison Durham on September 10

Originally from Wallsend, Hoganson - who now has 109 convictions on his record - struggled with his movie career and fell into a life of drink, drugs and crime.

Hoganson had a leading role in the 1988 Hollywood movie Empire State, alongside Irish actor Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and US star Martin Landau.

Playing an enigmatic Geordie drifter living among mobsters in London, Hoganson had been talent-scouted by producers who contacted his drama teacher looking for a youth to play the part in the 1987 movie.

Newcastle Crown Court previously heard Hoganson was caught on doorbell video camera when he attacked his former partner in Newcastle on December 11 last year.

Prosecutor Amy Levitt said he already had a restraining order to keep him away from the woman when he attacked her.

Miss Levitt told the court at the time: 'Footage shows the defendant assaulting the complainant. He slaps her to the face and she walks away. He walks after her.

'There are further hits and a push, where she falls to the floor. The assault continues while she's lying on the floor.

'She describes him, having pushed her, hit her, kicked her and put his body weight on her. The assault lasted around three minutes.'

Ian Crook, defending, told the court: 'He was an accomplished actor. He actually secured a role, quite a leading role, in a film, a crime thriller.

Hoganson struggled with his early success after starring in Empire State, and his life descended into crime and addictions

After auditioning more than 100 teenage hopefuls, producers offered Hoganson the part of Geordie drifter Pete, and he starred alongside Irish actor Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and US star Martin Landau. Pictured is a scene from the film

'At that point the future was bright.'

Mr Crook said Hoganson already had personal struggles at that point and added: 'Being thrown into the spotlight wasn't easy for him to cope with. He turned to drink and drugs and that led to a downward spiral.'

He said Hoganson has a complex mental health history but has been a mentor for others while in prison on remand.

Hoganson, of no fixed address, admitted assault by beating and breach of a restraining order.

Judge Tim Gittins sentenced Hoganson to 18 months behind bars, most of which he has already served on remand.

Miss Levitt said Hoganson had been given a restraining order to keep him away from the victim after he was convicted of offences of battery and criminal damage in May last year.

He was due to stand trial on October 30 at South Shields Magistrates' Court.
George W. Bush has broken his silence on the presidential election after refusing to reveal who he was voting for.

Bush, 78, was criticized for not endorsing either candidate with his team instead confirming he'd chosen focus on keeping the Senate under GOP control rather than weighing in on than White House race.

But on Wednesday, the 43rd president congratulated Donald Trump on his resounding win in the election, thank workers on the frontline - and even praise Biden and Harris for their service.

'I congratulate President Trump on his election as 47th President of the United States of America, as well as Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and their families,' Bush posted on Instagram

'I also thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for their service to our country.

George W. Bush has broken his silence on the presidential election after refusing to reveal who he was voting for

'The strong turnout in this election is a sign of the health of our republic and the strength of our democratic institutions. Laura and I are grateful to the election officials, poll workers, and volunteers who oversaw a free and fair election.

'We join our fellow citizens in praying for the success of our new leaders at all levels of government. May God continue to bless our great country.'

While contemporaries of his administration such as former vice president Dick Cheney controversially endorsed Kamala Harris, Bush remained silent.

President Bill Clinton previously defended Bush, saying he had made his stance on issues like immigration clear.

He also said the Republican had expressed support for his local congressman Colin Allred, who was challenging Senator Ted Cruz in Texas.

'He'll tell anybody that, that he's a good guy,' Clinton said of Bush's feelings toward Allred, CNN reports.

'He also knows, beginning with our relationship, it's very different when you're out of political life, when there is no competition, no consequence.

The former president took to Instagram to congratulate Donald Trump and JD Vance on their win

It came after he was criticized for failing to declare his allegiance in the presidential race. Pictured: Trump and wife Melania at an election night watch party in Palm Beach, Florida

Bush offered his congratulations on behalf of himself and wife Laura in a post which also thanked election workers

'And I think he believes that since he was a proud Republican all those years, it's enough for him to make clear what he believes with all this, without giving up the party he's been with all his life.'

By contrast, Clinton made his allegiance clear as he hit the campaign trail for Harris.

However, his efforts were in vain since the vice president suffered a crushing defeat to Trump on Wednesday.

The president-elect's victory was hailed as the 'greatest in history' after it was announced by the Associated Press at around 5.30am ET.

Trump declared victory after Fox News projected him as the overall winner following decisive victories in three swing states to leave 270 Electoral College votes out of Harris' reach.

Official confirmation came when the battleground state Wisconsin was called for Trump to push him into an unassailable lead.

Vice President Harris is yet to concede the election

Donald Trump at his election night event in Florida

Sources close to the Republican nominee said that he had so far spent his first day as president-elect taking calls from world leaders.

Trump stormed to victory in both the popular vote and the electoral college last night in an undeniable sign of enthusiasm from the American people.

While the final votes are still being tallied, Trump has so far won 277 electoral college points - seven more than he needed

Vice President Harris is yet to concede the election. It is understood she will also call Trump to do so before making a speech at 6pm ET.
A Hezbollah rocket landed in Israel's main airport today as the group launched waves of projectiles across the Lebanese border.

Ben Gurion airport was struck during a blistering assault this morning as the IDF battled to intercept the initial salvo of projectiles. the military reported.

Flights were delayed and disrupted as a result of the attack, as Hezbollah claimed it was targeting the IDF's Tzrifin base, south of the airport.

Debris from an intercepted rocket also hit an empty car parked in Ra'anana, some 13 miles from the airport in Tel Aviv.

Sirens rang out again east of the city this afternoon after a single rocket was flagged and intercepted, according to the IDF.

The military claimed 120 projectiles were launched from Lebanon today altogether.

A view of damage on a car in Ra'anana hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon on November 6

Bystanders look at the car hit by Hezbollah rocket debris on Wednesday

A grabloader removes part of a projectile that protrudes from a car, after Israel's military said rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel, in Raanana, Israel, November 6, 2024

A barrage of rockets fired from a position in south Lebanon toward Israel on November 6

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike in the Dahieh district in Beirut, Lebanon earlier today

The IDF reported ten were fired in the morning, claiming to have intercepted 'most'.

The Israel Airports Authority announced later that the airport was 'open and working normally for arrivals and departures' again, following the initial attack.

Images from Ra'anana showed the aftermath of a separate attack, in which debris ostensibly from a Hezbollah rocket landed in a parked car, destroying it.

Footage showed the roof of the car caved in and the windshield cracked, with glass around the vehicle as bystanders took photos.

Hezbollah later said it had launched attack drones at a base south of Tel Aviv, adding it was targeting this military position for the first time.

Fighters launched a 'squadron of attack drones at the Bilu base (belonging to the reserve paratroopers brigade...) south of Tel Aviv, for the first time,' Hezbollah said in a statement.

The group also said it had targeted a naval base near the Israeli city of Haifa with drones and missiles, the fourth attack on the base in as many weeks.

Hezbollah fighters 'targeted the Stella Maris naval base northwest of Haifa with a salvo of high-quality missiles and a squadron of attack drones,' the group said in a statement.

The barrage comes after months of exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy group based in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has launched rockets into Israel since the onset of Israel's campaign in Gaza in solidarity with its ally in Hamas.

With focus shifting to the north, Israel has intensified strikes into Lebanon in a bid to push back Hezbollah and allow tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return to their homes and jobs in northern Israel.

This has not been without controversy, as both sides are bound to maintain a demilitarised zone, with only the Lebanese military and UNIFIL peacekeepers allowed to station troops south of Lebanon's Litani River under UN Resolution 1701.

Hezbollah and other armed groups in southern Lebanon have not withdrawn, per the agreement, prompting a sharp reaction from Israel after months of conflict.

More than a year of clashes that escalated into war in September have killed at least 3,050 people in Lebanon, according to health ministry figures.

Israeli strikes continued to pound south Beirut today, as the military targeted what it said was Hezbollah infrastructure set up in the capital.

The strikes came about an hour after Israel issued evacuation warnings for three areas of the Hezbollah bastion.

'Enemy warplanes launched nine strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs,' the official National News Agency said, listing at least six districts that were hit.

One of the strikes triggered a loud explosion which was heard across much of the capital, witnesses said.

Israel's army said it hit 'Hezbollah targets' in the area including 'command centres, weapons storage facilities, and terrorist infrastructure'.

Israeli military vehicles during an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, November 6

Palestinian children collect aid food at Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, on November 6, 2024

A plane of the Israeli national airline El AL takes off from the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on November 6 after the airport resumed flights

A search and rescue team looks for possible victims around a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in Barja, Lebanon on Wednesday

A Palestinian woman holds a sleeping child as people say goodbye to patients and the wounded before they are transferred for medical treatment abroad, Khan Younis, November 6

Earlier Wednesday, Lebanon's official National News Agency reported Israeli air strikes on the Bekaa Valley in the east and in the southern city of Nabatiyeh.

Israel's army had issued evacuation warnings for Nabatiyeh but not for the Bekaa Valley.

The Israeli army said Hezbollah had fired about 120 projectiles across the border.

The Israeli military separately announced today it had intercepted a projectile fired from central Gaza towards southern Israel.

'A short while ago, the IAF (air force) intercepted a projectile that crossed from the central Gaza Strip into the area of Kissufim in southern Israel. Sirens sounded in accordance with protocol,' the military said in a statement.

The UN reported today, meanwhile, that its Gaza child polio vaccination drive was now complete, with more than half a million children vaccinated despite the war.

The World Health Organization and the United Nations children's agency UNICEF launched a second round of vaccinations in northern Gaza on Saturday after Israeli bombing halted an earlier attempt to do so.

'The second round of the polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip was completed yesterday, with an overall 556,774 children under the age of 10 being vaccinated with a second dose,' said a joint statement.

It 'is a remarkable achievement given the extremely difficult circumstances the campaign was executed under'.

Israel's military has pounded northern Gaza for weeks in a major offensive it says is aimed at stopping Hamas militants from regrouping.

An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 children are stuck in 'inaccessible areas' in the north and 'remain unvaccinated and vulnerable to the poliovirus', the UN organisations said.
A GP who tried to murder his mother's partner with a fake Covid jab was jailed for more than 31 years today as new details were revealed about his motive for the 'audacious plan.'

The judge said Dr Thomas Kwan, 53, had 'struck at the heart of public confidence in the healthcare profession' by his 'masquerade' in setting up a home booster jab appointment, disguising himself as a community nurse and injecting a poison that almost killed Patrick O'Hara, 72.

The money obsessed GP saw Mr O'Hara as an impediment to his inheritance and the judge also disclosed today how he felt his mother had cheated him out of his rightful inheritance as the eldest child on the death of his wealthy father.

Mr O'Hara broke down as he left the court. He thanked doctors and nurses at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary and asked about the sentence, he replied: 'I believe that justice has been done.'

Kwan, a married father-of-one, was a man of considerable means with earnings of 140,000 a year and he had put in an offer on a house for 2 million.

Thomas Kwan, 53, has been jailed for 31 years and five months at Newcastle Crown Court.

Kwan disguised himself as a community nurse and injected a poison that almost killed Patrick O'Hara, 72 (pictured here leaving Newcastle crown court)

Yet the court heard he was willing to murder to bolster his bank account further.

Mrs Justice Lambert said his relationship with mother Jenny Leung was 'strained and difficult' for many years.

It 'worsened when your mother divorced your father 27 years ago,' she said.

She told Newcastle Crown Court: 'Your mother had, you said, withdrawn 1 million from the joint account which she held with your father and had then forced him to divorce her.

'In Chinese culture you said that it was usual for the eldest child to receive the largest proportion of the financial proceeds of a parent's will.

'However, when your father died your younger brother received the largest proportion. You considered this to be unfair.'

Kwan, originally from Hong Kong, wrote a letter to his mother a year before the poison bid in which he referred to her 'having stolen money from your father and family and told her you had never given up your rights to your inheritance,' the judge said.

He wrote: 'You say that I am selfish or greedy, but I would like you to make me the sole executor of your will, as well as giving me the most and largest proportion of the properties and inheritance as... you have told me many times that I am the one you love the most out of all children.'

In his trial the court heard how Mr O'Hara had a life interest in Ms Leung's flat in Newcastle and had the legal right to live there after Ms Leung's death  thereby preventing it from being sold to the benefit of her children.

Kwan pleaded guilty to attempted murder after hearing the prosecution case against him.

He was jailed for 31 years and five months and the judge imposed a restraining order to prevent him contacting Mr O'Hara, who is still battling the aftermath of the attack that left him fighting for life with the flesh-eating bug necrotising fasciitis.

In his victim impact statement Mr O'Hara said he had been left 'a shell of an individual' by the ordeal and had been 'to hell and back.'

Thomas Kwan can be seen answering the door wearing a pair of striped pyjamas and a woolly hat, as he calmly lets the officers into his house before they arrest him.

Kwan is seen in a selfie wearing a disguise of a fake hairpiece, beard and moustache. He took this selfie in order to create a fake ID under the name 'Raj Patel'

The court heard Kwan had an encyclopaedic knowledge of poisons, researched making the deadly chemical ricin before opting to inject his victim with a little-known pesticide that was difficult to treat.

It was two years in planning and he went to great lengths to forge NHS documents and convince Mr O'Hara he was having a routine Covid booster at home.

Kwan disguised himself with a hat, mask and coat and even took his mother's blood pressure without her realising who he was.

However, days later when hospital doctors realised he had been poisoned, police using CCTV and other technology tracked the 'nurse' and traced him back to Kwan's home.

After the case Detective Chief Inspector Jason Henry of Northumbria Police praised the victim and said now Kwan has been jailed Mr O'Hara 'can begin to move on with his life.'

A body-worn camera shows police's dawn raid on Kwan's home, after they swooped when he had injected O'Hara with a pesticide.

Callous Kwan looks the picture of calm as he answers the door in his striped pyjamas and woolly hat.

And once inside his face barely even registers a flicker when the officers tell him they are there to arrest him.

Kwan's mother, Wai King - also known as Jenny Leung - is pictured outside court during an earlier hearing

The successful GP set up an appointment to offer Mr O'Hara a booster jab using fake NHS documents and went to his mother's flat in Newcastle disguised in a hat, mask and coat - pretending to be a nurse called Raj Patel.

A few days after he was injected with the pesticide, Mr O'Hara was admitted to hospital and was diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis in his left arm.

Kwan chose the poison iodomethane, which is used in pesticides, as it would be difficult for medics to detect, the judge said.

Recalling his ordeal in court, Mr O'Hara said the jab caused 'excruciating pain', and led to him being in hospital for five weeks for a series of operations.

Surgeons cut away large sections of his arm to halt the disease and he underwent two skin grafts to move skin from his thigh to his arm.

After initially recovering he recently relapsed dramatically, losing all his hair and suffering complications including fatigue, weight loss and hallucinations.

He told the court last month: 'Overall, this incident should have been the end of me. The nature of what occurred to my body has left me speechless.

'Had it not been for medical intervention I am positive that not only would I have lost my left arm but my life as well.'

Mrs Justice Lambert told the defendant today: 'You were certainly obsessed by money and more particularly, the money to which you considered yourself entitled.

'No doubt you tried to kill Mr O'Hara for financial gain.'

Details of the 'strained and difficult' relationship between the poisoner and his mother emerged, as the judge said there might well have been 'bad blood' between the pair going back to Kwan's childhood.

The GP, who carried a large bag, is seen making his way up the stairs

Kwan gave his mother, Jenny Leung, a laptop computer in 2020.

Unbeknownst to her, Kwan had installed spyware on it so he could check her financial dealings, and watch her home life on its camera.

And on one occasion Kwan burst into his mother and Mr O'Hara's home in central Newcastle to pester her about finances, causing her to call the police.

Officers gave Kwan a warning about his future conduct but Ms Leung did not want to damage his medical career by taking the matter further.

The judge told him: 'Following this incident contact between you and your mother was minimal and only indirect.

'But even following your arrest, intercepted correspondence from you to your wife demonstrated a continued interest in your mother's finances.

'You referred to your mother and her partner taking all of "our hard-earned money and home".'

Kwan's obsession with money led him to try to murder Mr O'Hara in the audacious plot, the judge said.

Mrs Justice Lambert added: 'You described your mother as being "money obsessed".

'Whether she was or not I do not know. You however were certainly obsessed by money and more particularly by the money to which you considered yourself to be entitled.

Recalling his ordeal in court, Mr O'Hara (pictured outside court on Tuesday) said the jab caused 'excruciating pain', and led to him being in hospital for five weeks for a series of operations.

'I have no doubt that the reason why you tried to kill Mr O'Hara was for financial gain.

'You knew that your mother had left the house at St Thomas Street to her children, but you also knew that she had changed her will to give Mr O'Hara a life interest in the house.

'By killing him you would have removed the obstacle which lay between you and your immediate recovery of your share in the property following your mother's death in the event of her pre-deceasing him.'

She added: 'Whatever the deep-rooted cause, by 2024 and well before, your resentment and bitterness towards your mother and Mr O'Hara was all to do with money and your belief you were not being given money which you thought you were entitled to.'

Assessing his dangerousness, the judge told Kwan he displayed 'distorted thinking', a sense of entitlement and a 'capacity for most extreme behaviour in order to meet your own needs'.

The judge said he had a 'morbid obsession' with toxic chemicals.

Mr O'Hara previously said despite a career as an environment analyst, working in buildings with asbestos, he had been in good health until tricked into having a Covid booster at home in January.

Mr O'Hara said that day 'my life completely changed forever.'

Kwan getting out of his car (middle) after arriving at the underground car park in Newcastle on the day of the attempted murder

Police officers were seen carrying boxes of evidence away from a large property in Ingleby Barwick

He said: 'I had never in my life felt anything that painful before [when the needle went in his arm]. I instantly thought that something had gone wrong.'

Mr O'Hara trusted the nurse's opinion that it was 'an allergic reaction' and never suspected he was his partner's son Thomas in disguise.

The judge said Mr O'Hara read his victim statement with 'great dignity and composure' at the last hearing.

'It was clear to me that he has been transformed from a tough, stoical person that he was before the act,' Mrs Justice Lambert said.

'His emotional reaction is due in part to his disbelief that this terrible act could be perpetrated by the son of his partner under the guise of a trusted health professional.'

The judge found Thomas Kwan still posed a risk to Patrick O'Hara and his own mother.

She imposed a restraining order preventing the GP from contacting his victim.

Outside court, Christopher Atkinson, head of the Complex Casework Unit for CPS North East, said: 'Kwan's attempt on the life of Patrick O'Hara, while unsuccessful, has left his victim with life-changing injuries.

'As a result of the necrotising fasciitis caused by the chemical, significant amounts of soft tissue had to be surgically removed from around the site of the injection.

Emergency services outside Kwan's 300,000 home in Ingleby Barwick, Teesside, earlier this year

'Beyond the physical effects, this incident has also been psychologically traumatic for Mr O'Hara, whose mental health has been significantly impacted as a direct result.

'The Crown's case has always been that Kwan's horrific actions were motivated by financial greed. When Kwan's mother withdrew her financial support of him, he felt that harming Mr O'Hara would be a way of getting revenge.

'He also saw Mr O'Hara as a barrier between himself and part of his inheritance, one which he wanted desperately to remove.

'We welcome the judge's finding of Thomas Kwan's dangerousness. This finding recognises that Kwan still poses a significant risk of serious harm to others, which is appropriately reflected in the sentence passed on him.'

'Our thoughts remain with Patrick O'Hara at what remains a difficult time, and we sincerely hope that seeing the perpetrator of this horrific plot jailed today provides some measure of comfort to him.'
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will wait until all votes are finalized in the US election before she acknowledges Donald Trump as the winner.

Sheinbaum, who took office last month, told reporters at her daily press briefing in the National Palace in Mexico City Wednesday that she preferred to wait until several states completed the vote count.

'There is news that President Trump won, but we are going to wait, anyway, until today when some states finish counting and we can give the official announcement,' Sheinbaum said.

'We will still wait until today to see how the remaining states progress, and also the position of both candidates, President Trump has already expressed himself, but it is prudent to wait,' she added.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that she is waiting for all votes to be counted in the presidential election before she officially recognizes Donald Trump as the winner

Trump speaks during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida

Trump secured a resounding victory over Vice President Kamala Harris and a return to the White House.

The president-elect holds a lead over Harris in Alaska, Arizona and Maine, where election officials are still counting votes.

Trump's win stoked fears in Mexico and sent its local currency tumbling.

At one point on Wednesday, the peso was trading 20.80 per dollar, a level not seen since August 2022. The peso peaked at 20.26 on Tuesday.

Trump secured a resounding victory over Vice President Kamala Harris and a return to the White House

Former President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka (left), and then Mexico City Mayor-elect Claudia Sheinbaum are seen together at the presidential inauguration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico City on December 1, 2018

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele celebrated Donald Trump's victory as the Republican candidate's lead over Vice President Kamala Harris was growing

Sheinbaum soothed any existing fears by telling residents and business owners that they had no cause to be worried.

'Mexico always moves forward, we are a free, independent, sovereign country and there will be a good relationship with the United States, I am convinced of that,' she said.

While Sheinbaum waited for the remaining votes to be counted, some of her counterparts in Latin American were already congratulating him.

'There's a smell of a new president in the US and it's @realDonaldTrump,' El Salvador President Nayib Bukele wrote on X on Thursday night as Trump began to sweep the battleground states.

When it was clear that Harris had no chance of overcoming Trump's sizable lead, Bukele was back on X celebrating Trump.

'Congratulations to the President-Elect of the United States of America, @realDonaldTrump,' he wrote while placing an emoji of the United States flag. 'May God bless and guide you.'

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro championed Trump's victory with a long rant Wednesday morning, alluding to Trump's claims of voter fraud four years ago.

'Today, we witness the resurgence of a true warrior. A man who, even after facing a brutal electoral process in 2020 and an unjustifiable judicial persecution, has risen again, as few in history have managed to do,' he wrote on X.

'Against all opposition from globalists and the deep state, @realdonaldtrump will return to the Presidency of the United States of America to complete his mission: restore the greatness of his nation, protect the interests of his people, and work toward a world that is freer, more peaceful, and more secure.

'Congratulations, my friend, on this epic victory that marks not only your return to the White House but also the triumph of the people's will over the arrogant designs of an elite who disdain our values, beliefs, and traditions.'
Donald Trump's blowout win has been a replay of 2016  down to an underwhelming female candidate, nonetheless heavily favored by the mainstream media, who couldn't even show her face to concede on Election Night.

Doesn't that say it all?

Kamala Harris thought she had what it took to be President of the United States, yet lacks the integrity, humility and strength of character to admit defeat.

Indeed, just as Hillary Clinton did during her epic loss, an emissary was sent out to tell all those faithful fans gathered at Kamala HQ to pack it up and go home.

Their dear leader would not be joining, now or ever.

Donald Trump's blowout win has been a replay of 2016 - down to an underwhelming female candidate, nonetheless heavily favored by the mainstream media, who couldn't even show her face to concede on Election Night.

Kamala Harris thought she had what it took to be President of the United States, yet lacks the integrity, humility and strength of character to admit defeat.

Yet we were told that this was the candidate of class. This was the candidate of character.

She didn't even have the grit or grace to admit defeat in a timely manner. Guess who the Dems are blaming for that?

Women. White women, specifically.

Here was Joy Reid on MSNBC last night, self-soothing the only way she knows: 'We have to be blunt about why black voters came through for Harris [but] white women voters did not This will be the second opportunity that white women in this country have to change the way they interact with the patriarchy.'

Sunny Hostin, in funereal black on The View, pointed out that 'white women' broke for Trump before clarifying: 'Uneducated white women.'

The New York Times, having spent what little capital remained trashing Trump as Hitler, called the result a 'stunning return to power after a dark and defiant campaign.'

Funny  I doubt his supporters found it anything but optimistic, forward-looking and sane.

Over at the NYT podcast 'The Daily' on Wednesday morning, the prime talking point of the resistance emerged: How to deal with the first American president to be a convicted felon and twice impeached?

Jon Stewart over at Comedy Central's The Daily Show: 'I promise you, this is not the end we have to continue to fight and continue to work day in and day out to create a better society for our children, for this world, for this country, that we know is possible. It's possible.'

Truly, the mainstream media has learned nothing. Again, just as with Hillary  and Joe Biden  they ignored or discredited stories harmful to their candidate, disparaged Trump and his supporters at every turn ('garbage', per Joe), cried sexism and, now, racism, then watched in disbelief as this very same electorate gave them the middle finger.

Make no mistake: This thumping victory was as much a repudiation of Joe Biden as Kamala Harris.

Just as Hillary Clinton did during her epic loss, an emissary was sent out to tell all those faithful fans gathered at Kamala HQ to pack it up and go home. Yet we were told that this was the candidate of class. This was the candidate of character.

It was a cri de coeur for a return to normalcy, law and order, a secure border, an economy that works for the middle class and strong foreign policy.

It's also a rejection of race-baiting, wokeism, trans madness and the kind of DEI orthodoxy that brought us Kamala Harris herself  a candidate so lazy, unoriginal and patronizing that she thought she'd win the female vote on one issue alone: abortion.

How wrong she was. How very, very wrong.

Voters in Florida ratified the controversial six-week abortion ban. That so-called 'hidden Kamala voter'  you know, the kind of strong, independent woman who lies to her husband about not voting for Trump  failed to emerge, because she doesn't exist.

If anything, Trump had as many, if not more, hidden voters than in 2016.

He won the night early and has won the popular vote, a congruence that leaves no doubt what the American people think, feel and want.

And it's nothing that the left has to offer.
A victim in a shooting on Tuesday has been identified after a gunman opened fire at the Chicago tourist hot spot.

Lamont Johnson, 51, of Lansing, was killed in the shooting at Chicago's Navy Pier, which left also another left another man dead.

Both were said to be working for a subcontractor in the area. The other victim, 47, is yet to be identified.

Police described the suspect as a 'disgruntled former employee' who fired multiple shots and is thought to have sought out the two victims around 1:20pm at a loading dock.

Lamont Johnson, 51, of Lansing, was identified as one victim of the shooting at Chicago's Navy Pier

A shooting at Chicago's Navy Pier left two men dead as others scrambled for shelter Tuesday afternoon

Both victims succumbed to their injuries at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago Police Chief Jon Hein announced at a news conference.

'We have identified who we believe the suspect is,' Hein said, 'and were hoping to have him in custody very shortly.'

Dispatchers said the suspect was seen on video at 1:21pm but had possibly changed into a black North Face sweater, white or beige pants and was wearing a black beanie.

The suspect, a 36-year-old employee of one of the restaurants at the tourist destination, was fired on October 14 and still had access to an administrative office.

Court records obtained by CWB Chicago show the suspect was previously convicted of armed robbery in 2008 and had a gun charge dropped in 2017.

Chicago Police Chief Jon Hein said officers are 'actively seeking' a person of interest in the case

Police arrived in tactical gear around 2pm while officials at Navy Pier asked for everyone to shelter until an all-clear was given.

Navy Pier COO Brian Murphy said that police do not believe members of the public were ever at risk.

The lockdown alert was immediately sent to the pier's 70 tenants through an internal communications system.

According to the Chicago Tribune, as of Wednesday morning the gunman was still at large, and police have said the shootings appear to be an isolated incident.

Murphy added that his thoughts were with the victims 'who just came to work today.'
A racist yob who stopped drivers during the summer riots to check if they were 'white' or 'English' has been jailed for 38 months.

Jake Wray, 23, of Middlesborough, admitted violent disorder in the town on August 4, including trying to set a car on fire, making racist chants and pushing a flaming wheelie bin into police lines.

He was serving a 24-week suspended sentence for spitting at a police officer and carrying a knife at the time.

Judge Richard Bennett, sentencing at Teesside Crown Court, told Wray: '(Your) behaviour was disgraceful and in no way reflects the values of the decent people of Middlesbrough.'

The judge said Wray's offending was violent, 'overtly racist' and included arson that day.

Jake Wray, 23, of Middlesborough, admitted violent disorder on August 4, including trying to set a car on fire, making racist chants and pushing a flaming wheelie bin into police lines. He is pictured with his partner, Megan Davison, who has also been jailed for violent disorder

The couple are now serving jail time for their part in the violence that erupted in the summer

The court were told Davidson (pictured with Wray) is the mother of two children aged five and six who are being looked after by her aunt

Wray, with an England flag wrapped around his neck and shoulders, is seen kicking a car during the riots in Middlesborough on August 4

Jake Wray (circled in red) was arrested for stopping vehicles at a road junction and grilling the drivers about their ethnicity, asking them: 'Are you white? Are you English?'

Wray, wearing a distinctive red top and an England flag around his shoulders, stopped cars at a junction in the town centre and was caught on mobile phone footage asking drivers about the colour of their skin.

On the clip which was played in court, while he stood blocking traffic, Wray could be heard asking: 'Are you white, are you English?'

The judge said the incident was so shocking it was played on the national TV news.

Further clips showed him setting fire to a wheelie bin which was pushed towards police lines and helicopter video captured him interfering with a red hatchback which minutes later burst into flames.

Wray told police that he was merely stopping cars to warn drivers, but he no longer stood by that account.

Judge Bennett said: 'You were clearly enjoying the attention and power of being masked during a frightening event for those drivers.'

A clip was played in court of Wray, with his England flag over his mouth as a mask, approaching a police video operator and shouting: 'You can stick you chicken tikka up your arse. Tee-Tee-Teessiders.'

Wray, wearing a distinctive red top and an England flag around his shoulders, stopped cars at a junction in the town centre and was caught on mobile phone footage asking drivers about the colour of their skin

Harry Crowson, defending, said Wray initially denied the racial motive for stopping the cars 'out of embarrassment and shame'.

Mr Crowson said the defendant had repeatedly watched the clips in court over several hearings, adding: 'In the cold light of day, he doesn't even believe the things that came out of his mouth that day.

'He is quite appalled by it.'

In September, Wray's partner and her mother were also jailed for violent disorder.

The pair were captured on footage smashing up a car while out on a family dog walk during the riots in Middlesbrough on August 4.

Amanda Walton, 51, was caught on CCTV throwing a missile, damaging a car wing mirror and rummaging through a bin, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Further footage showed her daughter Megan Davison, 24 - the partner of Wray - jumping up and down on a car roof, smashing windows and sticking her finger up at a police officer, prosecutors said.

They participated in the riot accompanied by their pet chow chow and a video showed both women holding the pet's lead as the mob made its way up Parliament Street in the town.

The street, which is at the heart of the town's asylum and refugee community, was the worst targeted by the race hate mob, with vehicles, homes and businesses smashed and set ablaze.

Davison's mother Amanda Walton, 52, has also been jailed for violent disorder after throwing a missile, damaging a car wing mirror and rummaging through a bin during a riot in Middlesborough on August 4

A car set alight by far-right thugs on Parliament Road on August 4. The street, which is at the heart of the town's asylum and refugee community, was the worst targeted by the race hate mob, with vehicles, homes and businesses smashed and set ablaze

The pair were seen walking their dog through the riot on August 4

Amanda Walton (left) and her daughter Megan Davison during the riots

The court heard that Walton brought her chow chow (pictured in right of the photo) to the riot in Middlesbrough on August 4

Both women admitted violent disorder and were jailed for more than three years in total at Teesside Crown Court.

Walton was sentenced to 22 months while her daughter received a 20-month sentence.

The court was told Davison is the mother of two children aged five and six who are being looked after by her aunt.
A furious former Biden staffer has blamed Kamala Harris and the Democratic party for their electoral loss.

MSNBCs Symone Sanders-Townsend appeared on Morning Joe on Wednesday to discuss president-elect Donald Trump's landslide electoral win.

The former advisor to president Biden and Harris said ousting Biden from the election was one of the reasons Harris lost the election/

'The people that said Joe Biden was the problem Wheres my camera?' Sanders-Townsend said,

'I will just note that it is probably not the best idea that Democrats orchestrated a stab fest, a proverbial stabbing in the front of the sitting president of the United States of America, and then didnt use him in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania!'

MSNBCs Symone Sanders-Townsend appeared on Morning Joe on Wednesday to discuss president-elect Donald Trump's landslide electoral win

Sanders-Townsend clarified that she believed Harris 'left it all on the field,' but added she has 'an indictment of some of the strategy.'

Biden dropped out of the 2024 in July after facing pressure from the Party following a disastrous debate performance against Trump and questions about his cognitive abilities.

Trump was elected the 47th president on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

Biden dropped out of the 2024 in July after facing pressure from the Party following a disastrous June debate performance against Trump and questions about his cognitive abilities

Sanders-Townsend clarified that she believed Harris 'left it all on the field,' but added she has 'an indictment of some of the strategy'

With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.

He won Michigan on Wednesday afternoon, sweeping the 'blue wall' along with Pennsylvania  the one-time Democrat-leaning, swing states that all went for Trump in 2016 before flipping to Biden in 2020.

While Harris focused much of her initial message around themes of joy, Trump channeled a powerful sense of anger and resentment among voters.

He seized on frustrations over high prices and fears about crime and migrants who illegally entered the country on Bidens watch. He also highlighted wars in the Middle East and Russias invasion of Ukraine to cast Democrats as presiding over  and encouraging  a world in chaos.

It was a formula Trump perfected in 2016, when he cast himself as the only person who could fix the countrys problems, often borrowing language from dictators.

The vice president, who has not appeared publicly since the race was called, was set to speak Wednesday afternoon at Howard University, where her supporters gathered Tuesday night for a watch party while the results were still in doubt

Trump was elected the 47th president on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago

Trump's win against Harris, the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket, marks the second time he has defeated a female rival in a general election. Harris, the current vice president, rose to the top of the ticket after Biden exited the race amid alarm about his advanced age.

Despite an initial surge of energy around her campaign, she struggled during a compressed timeline to convince disillusioned voters that she represented a break from an unpopular administration.

The vice president, who has not appeared publicly since the race was called, was set to speak Wednesday afternoon at Howard University, where her supporters gathered Tuesday night for a watch party while the results were still in doubt.
An Iowa mother was shot dead and her husband gravely injured while they helped their daughter move out of an ex-boyfriend's home.

Ruth Sue Ann Robinson, 45, and husband, Tony Ray Robison, 52, were allegedly shot in the head in Des Moines on Nov. 1 by Hamza Smajlovic, 24, the ex-boyfriend of their daughter, Jasymyne, 24, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Emergency responders rushed both parents to a nearby hospital, where Ruth died from her injuries. The father remains in critical condition.

Smajlovic has since been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and intimidation with a dangerous weapon.

Investigators said that Jasmyne and Smajlovic had broken up due to a 'domestic situation' which is why both parents decided to help her move out, according to KCCI.

Ruth Sue Ann Robinson, 45, and her husband, Tony Ray Robison, 52, were allegedly shot in the head by their daughter's ex-boyfriend

Hamza Smajlovic, 24, has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and intimidation with a dangerous weapon

Two other people were also in the house at the time of the shooting, The Independent reported.

The suspect also allegedly attempted to shoot his ex-lover but was unsuccessful, the New York Post reported.

Officials believe that a 9mm gun was used in the shootings.

Smajlovic is being held in an Iowa jail on $750,000 bond. A court date has not yet been set.

Emergency responders rushed both parents to a nearby hospital, where Ruth died from her injuries. The father remains in critical condition. Pictured: The couple with their three children

Officials believe that a 9mm gun was used in the shooting

Ruth's aunt, Sandy March Jacobs, took to Facebook to post a loving tribute to her niece.

'So many emotions and hard to find words for the huge loss of my beautiful niece Ruth and the pain this precious family is going thru. Ruth, you will be missed by everyone who was blessed to know you.

'We will all be here for your family & I know you will be watching over them. I love you, miss you & I will see you again someday, sending love & hugs to you in heaven,' she said.

The suspect also allegedly attempted to shoot his ex-lover but was unsuccessful

A GoFundMe has been launched to help support the family

A GoFundMe has also been launched to help support the family.

'After the tragic events of Friday, November 1, we are all devastated by Ruth Robison's loss as well as the hospitalization of Tony Robison,' the campaign's organizer wrote.

'Because of the circumstances, the family was not prepared for the high cost of a funeral service for Ruth and the hospital bills for Tony. We want to help their family to give Ruth the memorial she deserves, to honor her memory.

As of now, crowdfunding page has raised $15,036 out of its $25,000 goal.
The small Washington state county that has successfully picked the winner of the past 11 presidential elections has officially lost its title as America's last 'bellwether.'

'Bellwether counties' are known as areas where the majority of voters choose the winner of elections regardless of party.

Located on the far northwest tip of Washington about two hours from Seattle, Clallam County had got every election 'right' since 1980 - until now.

Donald Trump pulled off a remarkable victory in the 2024 presidential election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris with a 'red wave' across key swing states.

But the majority of voters in Clallam County voted for Harris to win, and she leads in the county by 11 points, according to KING 5.

Clallam County, Washington successfully picked the winner of the past 11 presidential elections - until now

In October, DailyMail.com visited the small, rural region of the country where the tight nature of the 2024 election was on full display

While the results are not yet official, over 35,000 ballots have been counted and 12,000 remain.

Census data shows the county's population was 77,616 in 2023, and there was a reported 59.8 percent voter turnout for the 2024 election.

The local news outlet reported that Clallam County voters largely favored Democratic candidates this election, with more voters picking Bob Ferguson for governor, Nick Brown for attorney general and Emily Randall for the District 6 representative seat.

Between Ronald Reagan's win in 1980 and Donald Trump's victory in 2016, just 19 of the several thousand counties across the country always picked the winner.

Then in 2020, 18 of them stuck with Trump, who lost the election. Only Clallam County voted for Joe Biden.

The majority of voters in Clallam County voted for Harris to win, and she leads in the county by 11 points

Donald Trump pulled off a remarkable victory in the 2024 presidential election, defeating the vice president

In October, DailyMail.com visited the small, rural region of the country where the tight nature of the 2024 election was on full display.

I think one of the things that makes us different from a lot of places is we are still a small town at 70,000 people, said Clallam County Republican Party Chair Pam Blakeman, who has lived in the community for more than 40 years. I can't go to the grocery store without running into somebody I know.

Port Angeles is the largest city in the county and is home to around 20,000 residents. Based on the signage around town, it appears deeply purple.

Visitors heading west into town on Highway 101 are met with a series of Harris-Walz yard signs, shortly before a massive Trump-Vance banner shows up in the same stretch of field.

I think people are careful to remember that we are all neighbors here living, working and playing on the peninsula, and so for the most part, we try and be respectful of everybodys views, said Erin Kirkland who is on the marketing team for the Dungeness Crab Festival.

The count is also home to Forks, Washington, of Twilight fame, where the books and movies are set

There were numerous signs for both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump throughout the county

The county is also home to Forks, Washington, of Twilight fame. The vampire books and blockbuster movies were set in the town of less than 4,000 and fans pilgrimage to the area on a regular basis.

However, besides the name and a few referenced locations, the town bears little resemblance to the one featured in the movie franchise with a surprising number of Trump signs plaster around.
Mansions in Malibu are under threat from the Broad brush fire that is raging long the Pacific Coast Highway as some are already being engulfed in flames.

At least one mansion was seen burning from the Malibu fire as firefighters fought hard to keep it from spreading to nearby homes along the coastline on Wednesday.

Thick flames were seen escaping the upper windows of the home as large, white plumes of smoke filled the air.

The Broad Fire erupted Wednesday morning near PCH and Malibu Canyon Road and has grown to 50 acres, according to Cal Fire, according to ABC 7 and Cal Fire.

PCH is closed in both direction and officials are already warning Malibu residents about preparing for evacuations, according to ABC 7.

The fire had already burned around five acres when it was first reported around 9 am, LA County Fire Department spokesperson, Jonathan Torres, told KTLA.

At least one mansion was seen burning as firefighters fought hard to keep it from spreading to nearby homes along the coastline of Malibu on Wednesday

Thick flames were seen escaping the upper windows of the home as large, white plumes of smoke filled the air.

Strong winds are setting firefighters' efforts back and a high wind warning is in place until 4 pm on Thursday. The winds could reach up to 45 mph with gusts up to 75 mph, according to KTLA.

However, the wind is blowing toward the ocean, which Torres called 'one of our saving graces'.

Residents were urged to shelter in place while aircraft dropped water on the 40-acre Broad Fire. Fire officials said two structures burned.

Meanwhile, northwest of Los Angeles, the fast-moving Mountain Fire prompted evacuation orders for multiple communities in an agricultural area near Santa Paula in southern Ventura County.

Andrew Dowd, a county fire spokesperson, said he did not have details of how many people were under evacuation orders or how many structures had been damaged.

The National Weather Service office for Los Angeles amended its red flag warning for increased fire danger with a rare 'particularly dangerous situation' label.

The Broad Fire erupted Wednesday morning near PCH and Malibu Canyon Road and has grown to 50 acres

With predicted gusts between 50 miles and 100mph and humidity levels as low as eight percent, parts of Southern California could experience conditions ripe for 'extreme and life-threatening' fire behavior into Thursday, the weather service said.

Officials in several counties urged residents to be on watch for fast-spreading blazes, power outages and downed trees amid the latest round of notorious Santa Ana winds.

'Those in canyon, mountain, and foothill communities should be ready to evacuate at a moments notice,' the LA County Office of Emergency Management said on X.

Some canyon roads were closed as a precaution and fire departments positioned resources in areas prone to fires.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said it preemptively turned off power to a small number of customers late Tuesday in areas where strong gusts could damage electrical equipment and spark blazes.

More than 20,000 customers in 17 Northern California counties were without electricity Wednesday morning after Pacific Gas & Electric shut off power to prevent its equipment from sparking fires amid dry and windy conditions.

Southern California Edison also preemptively shut off power for more than 46,000 customers, including more than 12,000 in Los Angeles County on Wednesday.

Power shutoffs are being considered for more than 200,000 customers due to the risk, the company said on its website.
Greens leader Adam Bandt has slammed Donald Trump's presidential win as a 'bad day for the world' - especially for women, people of colour and the LGBTIQ community.

Following one of the most eventful campaigns in recent memory, Trump claimed victory on Wednesday evening Australian time after the key swing state of Pennsylvania was called in his favour.

Bandt shared his disappointment in a post on social media shortly after Trump announced his victory.

'This is a pretty terrifying outcome for many of us,' Bandt wrote.

'In times like these, it can be easy to feel defeated. But there's too much at stake to give up hope.

'We must come together and continue our fight for people and the planet.'

Bandt claimed Trump's administration would encourage hate and far-right extremism.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt labelled Trump's win as 'terrifying' and called for the federal government to urgently cut ties with the United States

Trump declared victory in the US presidential election on Wednesday night (AEDT)

'President Trump will embolden hate and far-right extremism in the USA and abroad,' Bandt wrote.

'We've seen far-right extremism rise around the globe and time and time again it has been fortified by Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric.'

He also called on the Albanese government to cancel AUKUS - a trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK and the US aimed at deterring Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific - claiming the country 'cannot be tied to a dangerous demagogue'.

'The Greens call on the Australian government to urgently cancel AUKUS. We must be able to make our own decisions about defence and foreign policy.'

He further admonished people to not be disheartened by Trump's election win, adding 'hate will not win' and political change is still possible.

'My heart is with every person in the USA and around the world who feels justifiable terror tonight. Hold your loved ones close,' Bandt wrote.

'Tomorrow we pick ourselves up and we continue the fight. Hate will not win.

'Politics doesn't start and end at the ballot box. It happens in our neighbourhoods, schools, workplaces, homes, and on the streets every single day.

'Today we should ask ourselves what we're willing to do for the change we need.'

It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated Trump on his victory.

Albanese expressed his sentiments on Wednesday night following Trump's successful bid to win the race to the White House for a second term as president.

'Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory,' he wrote.

'Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future.'

Trump defeated his democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris (pictured, embraced by current President of the United States Joe Biden) in key battleground states

Albanese reiterated the government's firm commitment to maintaining a strong relationship between Australia and the United States.

'Our government will work closely with the new Trump Administration to realise the benefits of our strong economic partnership,' the statement continued.

'The United States has long played a leadership role in the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific.

'Australia will strive to strengthen the co-operation between our to nations in the region.'

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also extended his congratulations to the Republican leader on behalf of the federal coalition.

He described the US as an 'overwhelming force for good', declaring the world was at its best when Australia's close ally was strong and at its best.

'May the years ahead be some of the most defining for our alliance in which, driven by tests of our times, the necessity of deterrence, and the cause of securing peace through strength, we unleash the defence, industrial and economic opportunities of AUKUS at speed and scale,' he said.

'In this endeavour, may we draw renewed energy and confidence from the things that unite the American and Australian people: the principles we hold dear, the patriotism that drives us, and the pragmatism that defines us.'
Donald Trump is poised to face a mere 'dressing down' from a judge as his return to the White House looks set to ensure he does not end up doing jail time, according to legal experts.

Trump's stunning election victory was a gamechanger for his legal entanglements and will probably end the various criminal cases brought against him.

In May, a jury in New York found Trump guilty of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, making him the first former U.S. president convicted of a felony.

He is due to be sentenced in that case on November 26 by Judge Juan Merchan. Trump, potentially, faces a sentence of up to four years in prison.

Judge Merchan has reportedly set himself a deadline of November 12 to decide whether to toss the case out.

The judge's decision will be based on his interpretation of a previous U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

'I think now the judge is probably going to give him some sort of dressing down,' New York lawyer Arthur Aidala told DailyMail.com.

Former President Donald Trump is in a considerably better position with respect to the legal cases against him. He faces sentencing within weeks in his New York hush money case. He is soon to take over the levers of the Justice Department

Giving Trump probation looks more complicated now that he is set to run the country, reclaiming one of the busiest jobs in the world. Another option would be community service.

However, jail isn't out of the question, in part because of how Trump repeatedly violated the judge's 'gag' order during the trial.

Aidala predicted there would be a blistering statement from the bench.

He suggested that would be something like: 'I think what you did here and how you handled this and how you lied and covered up is horrible. The position you're about to take leading this country, I hope you're more honest.'

Aidala added: 'I think he (the judge) is going to give him (Trump) a big tongue lashing, and then probably just punt it.'

In another development the Justice Department is now looking for ways to 'wind down' its efforts in other cases against Trump.

The Justice Department, through Special Counsel Jack Smith, has spent years building a case against Trump for seeking to overturn the 2020 election results and allegedly absconding with classified documents.

A source close to Trump's legal defense predicted Smith would now step down.

'I see everything pointing to dismissal and a resignation,' the source said. 'I would not be surprised if in the next two or three days the government moves to dismiss. Were likely seeing the end of lawfare.'

DOJ guidelines weigh against prosecuting a sitting president, and the Presidential Transition Act could wrap in a president-elect as well.

A source close to Trump's legal defense predicted Special Counsel Jack Smith would resign and the government would move to dismiss charges against him

Judge Juan Merchan could give Trump a 'tongue lashing'  or jail time

In the New York hush money sentencing matters are complicated by how Merchan lectured Trump co-conspirator Allen Weisselberg, the longtime Trump Organization CFO, when handing down his five-month sentence, saying he wished he could give the cooperator more time.

'How do you sentence the guy who cooperated and was acting at the main guy's urgency or direction  how do you give Trump less time than you give Weisselberg?' a legal expert said.

But he maintained that because of the election, 'I think now that's all behind us.'

The case could wind up at the Supreme Court, where Trump installed a 6-3 conservative majority.

That is in part due to the way prosecutors found a way to link Trump's porn star payoffs to felony campaign finance violations.

But some legal experts were already predicting in advance that victory at the ballot box would be Trump's 'get out of jail free' card.

The judge now must contend with sentencing the leader of the free world.

It follows a bitter process in which Trump spent a year going after the judge, prosecutors, court staff, and even the judge's daughter.

Meanwhile, Smith, the special prosecutor in the other cases has tried to race the calendar to bring charges and keep Trump lawyers from stalling.

Trump calls Smith 'deranged' and has said should be kicked out of the country.

Now, DOJ officials see no point in continuing litigation Trump has vowed to shut down as president.

'Sensible, inevitable and unfortunate,' former federal prosecutor Chuck Rosenberg told NBC News.

It all adds up to a stunning turnaround for Trump, who a year ago was facing 91 criminal charges.

By the fall, that number was down to 12, after a complex legal strategy that involved delay, venue shopping, complex arguments about presidential power, and relentless public attacks by the defendant himself.

'It was a three-pronged attack,' said the source close to Trump's defense. 'It was to attack the legitimacy of the of the actual charges.

'It was to focus on executive immunity, and then to raise those issues in a criminal case, which you're entitled to do. And then finally, it was focused on his core First Amendment rights.'

Trump has vowed to take 'retribution' against his political enemies, including those who prosecuted him, after he returns to the White House.
A lawyer close to president-elect Donald Trump's circle has claimed he wants to drag the 'political bodies of Democrats through the streets' following an Republican electoral win.

Mike Davis, a controversial right-wing lawyer and commentator, is reportedly on the running to serve as Trump's attorney general, as reported by Politico and the Washington Post.

'Here's my current mood,' Davis wrote on X on Wednesday.

'I want to drag their dead political bodies through the streets, burn them, and throw them off the wall. (Legally, politically, and financially, of course.)'

Davis, who was a clerk for supreme court justice Neil Gorsuch, had previously said: 'F**c unity... We have the votes. And they tried to kill Trump.'

Mike Davis, a controversial right-wing lawyer and commentator, is reportedly on the running to serve as Trump's attorney general

The Washington Post reported las month that Trump was considering combative lawyers who appear on TV like Davis for the top job at the Justice Department.

Trump had reportedly told advisers and donors 'that his picks for the job were a mistake in the first term because they were weak or defied him.'

The president-elect praised Davis at a campaign event in Colorado, saying: 'This guy is tough as hell... We want him in a very high capacity.'

Davis was chief council for Trump's judicial nominations during his first term.

On Wednesday Davis also said New York attorney general Letitia James should 'go to gulag.'

Davis, who has been described by Politico as Trump's 'troll-in-chief,' has often spoken of sending journalists and political opponents to the gulag. He has claimed he is joking.

The provocateur told DailyMail.com he is 'too charming to get confirmed as Attorney General.'

Davis was chief council for Trump's judicial nominations during his first term. Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has a word with aide Mike Davis, during testimony by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh

'Id like to serve as the Viceroy,' he added.

Davis was one of millions of Trump supporters celebrating his win on Wednesday.

Trump was elected the 47th president on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

He won Michigan on Wednesday afternoon, sweeping the 'blue wall' along with Pennsylvania  the one-time Democrat-leaning, swing states that all went for Trump in 2016 before flipping to Biden in 2020.

While Harris focused much of her initial message around themes of joy, Trump channeled a powerful sense of anger and resentment among voters.

He seized on frustrations over high prices and fears about crime and migrants who illegally entered the country on Bidens watch. He also highlighted wars in the Middle East and Russias invasion of Ukraine to cast Democrats as presiding over  and encouraging  a world in chaos.

Trump had reportedly told advisers and donors 'that his picks for the AG job were a mistake in the first term because they were weak or defied him'

It was a formula Trump perfected in 2016, when he cast himself as the only person who could fix the countrys problems, often borrowing language from dictators.

Trump's win against Harris, the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket, marks the second time he has defeated a female rival in a general election. Harris, the current vice president, rose to the top of the ticket after Biden exited the race amid alarm about his advanced age.

Despite an initial surge of energy around her campaign, she struggled during a compressed timeline to convince disillusioned voters that she represented a break from an unpopular administration.

The vice president, who has not appeared publicly since the race was called, was set to speak Wednesday afternoon at Howard University, where her supporters gathered Tuesday night for a watch party while the results were still in doubt.

She finally phoned Trump on Wednesday afternoon to concede the election, hours after the race was called and her devastating defeat was confirmed.

But she had a warning for the president-elect, lecturing him even as she congratulated him.

'She discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans,' a senior Harris aide said.
Two more bodies have today been found in the English Channel, bringing this week's migrant death toll to six, after authorities said earlier today that four migrants were found dead in the sea.

On Wednesday morning a pleasure boat crew reported to the French coastguard that they had spotted a human body adrift off Calais.

Rescue vessels were launched and the body was recovered and brought back to the quay in Calais.

And on Wednesday afternoon the crew of a passenger ship reported to French coastguard that they had seen another body adrift off the coast in front of the port of Calais.

The person recovered and brought back into the port of Calais, as an investigation was opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor's office.

Two more bodies have today been found in the English Channel, bringing this week's migrant death toll to six

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel. Picture date: Tuesday November 5, 2024

It comes as a Border Force boat carrying a group of migrants could be seen arriving at the Port of Dover today, following a large operation in the Channel involving both British and French authorities.

A man's body was pulled from the water near Dover by RNLI and Coastguard crews yesterday and police said enquiries are underway to identify him.

But it is understood the man does not match the description of anyone reported missing locally.

A Kent Police spokesperson, said: 'Kent Police was called to Dover Lifeboat Station at 2.54pm on Tuesday November 5 2024, after the body of man was recovered from the English Channel by the RNLI and HM Coastguard.

'Enquiries are underway into the circumstances and to identify the deceased.'

The discovery comes after two bodies were found adrift in the shipping lane yesterday evening and taken to Calais where legal proceedings were opened.

And another body was found washed up on a French beach this morning.

A total of 31,533 small boat migrants in 602 dinghies have successfully made it to the UK in 2024.

Official figures show 263 people were brought to the Port of Dover from four boats yesterday - a shocking average of 65 people crammed into each inflatable. The average for the year is 52 per boat.

This is up 18 per cent on this time last year (26,699) but down 21 per cent on 2022 (39,929), which was a record high year for crossings.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent on Tuesday

Some 50 people have died while trying to cross the Channel this year, according to incidents recorded by the French coastguard.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has also reported 11 more migrant deaths believed to be linked to crossing attempts so far in 2024. This figure does not include Tuesday's incident.

Border Force vessels Volunteer and Defender could be seen out in the Channel this morning. The MCS Blue Norther and Osprey111 which are used to collect the inflatable vessels were operating alongside them.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.

'The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.'

Some 50 people have died while trying to cross the Channel this year, according to incidents recorded by the French coastguard

A group of people thought to be migrants are driven away from the Border Force compound in Dover

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Yesterday, the bodies of two suspected migrants were reportedly found adrift in the English Channel. A recovery operation was launched by French authorities after a ferry crew spotted one floating off the French coast.

The French Navys Cormoran vessel was launched to carry out a search - and in the afternoon reported it had found two bodies. Both were taken back to Calais, where they were placed into the care of French police.

An investigation was opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutors office into the deaths. The two victims are said to be suspected migrants according to French newspaper Voix Du Nord.

This year has been the deadliest year on record in the shipping strait - amid overcrowding on boats and a reduction in the quality of the vessels used for the journey.

Refugee charities have warned deaths in the Channel have become 'appallingly regular' and have repeatedly called for safe, alternative routes of passage to be established to stop more fatalities during the perilous crossing.

In the Commons on Wednesday, Mr Philp lashed out at ministers for scrapping the previous government's plan to send migrants to Rwanda 'before it had even started'.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel

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'The first flight was due to take off, I believe from memory, on the 24th of July, but they cancelled it.

'Now, had they allowed that flight to go ahead, had they allowed the scheme to continue, the deterrent effect would by now have started', he told MPs.

Citing comments made by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, he also urged the Government to 'urgently implement offshore processing', adding: 'Because of their failings, Labour is breaking their manifesto pledge to end hotel use' as he called for a pledge to not open any more hotels to house asylum seekers.

Border security and asylum minister Dame Angela Eagle replied: 'On Rwanda, from when it began to when we scrapped it, during that period, 83,500 people crossed in small boats.

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'If that's a deterrent then I think (Chris Philp) has got a peculiar view of what the meaning of deterrence is in the English language.'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has so far not committed to a target or timeframe for curbing Channel crossings but pledged the Government would 'try and make progress as rapidly as possible'.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed the Government would 'treat people smugglers like terrorists' as he announced an extra 75million for his border security command during a speech at the Interpol general assembly in Glasgow on Monday.

The next day the ringleader of a 'prolific' people smuggling gang thought to be behind 10,000 Channel crossings was jailed for 15 years in a French court, with 17 other members of the network also convicted.

The group was prosecuted in the wake of a 2022 police operation across Europe which led to dozens of arrests in Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands, with more than 100 boats, 1,000 life jackets, engines and cash being seized.
John Swinney was yesterday accused of insulting emergency workers and communities after a desperate bid to downplay another Bonfire Night of chaos and violence.

Terrified residents in areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow were forced into hiding as masked yobs threw fireworks, bottles and bricks.

The chaotic scenes, which have become an annual event in parts of the country, saw the riot police battling to restore order become the main targets of the bombardment.

But firefighters, ambulance crews and even members of the public came under attack on Tuesday night.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs has condemned the scenes, and said it was unacceptable that people feel intimidated and threatened in their own communities.

Thugs terrorised communities across Scotland by setting off fireworks

But, as communities and businesses cleared up after another anarchic Bonfire Night, the First Minister said it was important to recognise the assessment of police which said incidents were of a lesser degree of significance than they have been previously.

He added: I think the fact that weve had a lower incidence of events as a consequence of fireworks gives me encouragement that the steps that we are taking are having an effect.

But the Government will always be mindful of ensuring that all possible steps are in place to protect communities and our emergency services.

His response was greeted with anger by opposition politicians.

Niddrie in Edinburgh was blighted by firework mayhem during Bonfire Night

Sharon Dowey, community safety spokesman at the Scottish Conservatives, said: John Swinneys desperate bid to downplay the scenes of violence across Scotland is insulting to the emergency workers and communities targeted by firework-wielding louts.

The First Ministers complacent patting himself on the back shows how out of touch he is with the reality faced by police and firefighters.

The SNPs fireworks laws have failed to work as a deterrent to such violence.

Rather than ignoring the problem year on year, the SNP must apply a zero-tolerance approach to this unacceptable behaviour.

Police Scotland claimed its Operation Moonbeam was a success.

ACC Mairs, gold commander of the anti-firework-related disorder operation, said: The policing operation was designed to protect the public, officers and colleagues in the emergency services, and we succeeded in that.

But, if I was a member of the community experiencing what folks in Edinburgh and parts of Glasgow experienced on Tuesday night, I would still be really concerned and nervous, and its my job to provide them with that reassurance and we will be back out in the streets doing that.

Police stop and search a youth in Niddrie, Edinburgh during a night of chaos

Riot police were called to the worst incidents of firework mayhem across Scotland

Over eight hours on Tuesday the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service control rooms were inundated with calls, with more than 1,000 reaching handlers.

They responded to 347 bonfires and 598 incidents across Scotland between 3.30pm and 11.30pm.

Six crews were attacked within just three hours but there were no injuries.

Police Scotland said the number of incidents of serious disorder fell this year, with Moonbeam officers having been deployed 18 times on Tuesday compared to 26 times in 2023 on Bonfire Night.

And, unlike last year when 62 officers were injured over the Halloween and Bonfire Night periods, the number hurt was significantly down with just one officer reporting an injury.

There were pockets of disorder in Glasgow, with youths throwing fireworks at members of the public, vehicles and officers.

Footage of disorder was shared on social media

In Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, a pyrotechnic device was lit within a skate park, and as those responsible made off in a van they hit a 33-year-old man and fled the scene.

But it was Edinburgh which saw the most significant disorder, with clashes in Niddrie, Sighthill and Moredun.

In Sighthill, Calder Road was closed after youths lit a fire in the road just yards a petrol station.

Significant damage was caused to vehicles at the nearby Macklin Motors dealership, with several windscreens smashed by the yobs.

In Niddrie riot officers faced down youths, footage of which was broadcast live on social media by residents who took to the streets to watch on.

A police helicopter was hovering over the estate for hours, and at points fireworks were fired in its direction.

Just days before the estate had seen Halloween clashes. One officer was injured after a brick was thrown through the window of her police vehicle.

One person has been arrested and charged in connection with that incident.

Cammy Day, leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: I am today repeating my calls for a complete ban on the public sale of fireworks and stronger penalties for those who inflict fear and alarm in our communities.

There has to be consequences for behaving like this and I will be writing to the Lord Advocate and both the UK and Scottish Governments to call for urgent change.

Siobhian Brown, community safety minister, said: I understand why there are a calls for a fireworks ban, and although this is a reserved matter and not currently within the Scottish Governments powers, I have written to the UK Government asking for a meeting to discuss what more can be done on fireworks regulations.
Flashing blue lights lit up the dark streets of downtown Phoenix. Police tape cordoned off sections of road as a drone hovered high above. Police combed the scene, investigating a bomb threat in the heart of Arizona.

These were the scenes in Maricopa County last night as the votes rolled in, the air thick with suspicion, anxiety, and fear.

This county has long been seen as a tinderbox in a country smoldering with political resentment and division. It was ground zero for Donald Trumps big lie  the false claim that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen  where, four years ago, an armed mob took to the streets attempting to overturn Joe Bidens victory in the state.

America was on a knife edge last night - and this morning, despite Donald Trumps sweeping victory, the US remains dangerously divided, with rival Republican and Democrat camps accusing each other of violent rhetoric and worse.

So tense was the atmosphere in the city that minutes before the end of last nights polling, there were snipers on standby in case trouble kicked off.

Flashing blue lights lit up the dark streets of downtown Phoenix. Police tape cordoned off sections of road as a drone hovered high above. Police combed the scene, investigating a bomb threat in the heart of Arizona.

This county has long been seen as a tinderbox in a country smoldering with political resentment and division. (Supporters of Trump protest in front of the Maricopa County Election Department in 2020).

It was ground zero for Donald Trump s big lie  the false claim that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen. (Trump supporters protest in front of the Maricopa County Election Department in 2020).

Maricopa is Americas fourth-largest county with a population of 4.5 million and was previously staunchly Republican. Biden was the first Democrat to win it since Harry S. Truman in 1948.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Trump was reported to be nearly four percentage points head, with about 60 percent of the votes counted.

Officials have warned it might take up to two weeks to count all the votes in a county that could decide which way Arizona tips.

Nearly 160 pairs of counters, one a Republican and the other a Democrat, are working in three shifts round the clock to deliver the results from the 249 voting centers when the ballot boxes  delivered by armed guard  are emptied out.

Meanwhile, the alert in Maricopa County  which targeted the Superior Court Building  was just one of five bomb threats made by email in the Grand Canyon State yesterday.

In a news conference, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said the emailed bomb threats were false  and, though they came from an email address associated with Russia, they didnt necessarily originate overseas.

The motivation appears to be to invoking chaos, not to impact any political outcome, he said. And, in a place like the crucible of Maricopa County, that goal was certainly achieved.

Four years ago, an armed mob took to the streets attempting to overturn Joe Biden s victory in the state. (Armed Trump supporters stand outside of the Maricopa County Recorder's Office in 2020).

Maricopa is Americas fourth-largest county with a population of 4.5 million and was previously staunchly Republican. (Trump supporters gather to protest outside the Maricopa County Election Department in 2020).

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, one of the senior officials tasked with the smooth running of the poll, had particular reason to be concerned.

It was his office  contained within the county supreme court building  that was targeted.

Richer worked closely with county supervisor Bill Gates, a man administering his final election after deciding to quit following a PTSD diagnosis, itself the result of sickening death threats four years ago.

Back then, armed men massed outside Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center, where votes are counted, egged on by conspiracy theories after Trump lost to Joe Biden by a tiny margin, fewer than 11,000 votes.

One anonymous caller later threatened Gates with execution by firing squad. Another said they would rape his daughter. Richer, too, received death threats.

The mood of the countys 2.6 million active registered voters remains charged, which is why the authorities took no chances this year.

County sheriff Russ Skinner promised to use snipers and SWAT teams should law and order break down.

We are on high alert we have a lot of resources out there, a lot of staff, a lot of equipment, he warned. We hope people do not cross the line. It will be zero tolerance to anything related to criminal activity

As far as snipers go, all my staff are on call. Do I have snipers on standby? Absolutely.

There was razor wire at the rear of the election center. New fencing surrounded the compound and concrete blocks prevented vehicles from smashing their way in.

Anxious voter Scott Eller cast his ballot at the Burton Barr library voting center in downtown and appealed for calm and common sense.

I believe in the Second Amendment, so I know very well how to protect myself. But I am not willing to fight for either party in an extreme way like that, he told us.

So, I just have to hope that common sense wins and we can all just have a smooth transition of power or retention of power. But I have no idea if that will happen, or what will happen here.

Lets hope cooler heads will prevail. We should be appealing for calm right now. The state of division in our country had gotten to an extreme level. Our politicians have pushed it to a level that doesnt feel healthy.

Eller, a 51-year-old pet food company boss, declined to say who he voted for.

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer had particular reason to be concerned. It was his office  contained within the county supreme court building  that was targeted. (Deputies stand at the door of the Maricopa County Recorder's Office in 2020).

Nearly 160 pairs of counters, one a Republican and the other a Democrat, are working in three shifts round the clock to deliver the results from the 249 voting centers when the ballot boxes  delivered by armed guard  are emptied out.

Anxious voter Scott Eller (pictured) cast his ballot at the Burton Barr library voting center in downtown and appealed for calm and common sense.

I live here in a swing state and my views probably tend to be a bit liberal, but yet I'm from the rural south in North Carolina, he continued.

Most of my family is on one side of the aisle. I'm more somewhere in the middle. Most of my friends are on the opposite side of that aisle.

So, I spend lots of time with people with extreme positions on both sides and I often feel like the odd man out. But I can see the very real frustration on both sides.

Last night in his victory speech, Donald Trump promised to heal a divided America. Citizens of Maricopa County  and elsewhere in the Republic  are praying he succeeds.
Its a low-profile, non-descript cottage, perhaps ninety years old, obviously erected by folk of limited means and replacing a traditional thatched blackhouse, not ten minutes drive from my home.

I often take the sharp right-hand turn past it to walk my little dogs on a certain Lewis beach, but would not dream of troubling its retiring occupants whose mothers cousin has just been restored as leader of the free world.

Theyre good people, say immediate neighbours darkly. Decent people. Theyre just sick of being asked about Trump.

We have just seen a remarkable election in these great United States where three people, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, tried to do something that had never or seldom been done before.

Kamala Harris - talks gibberish; laughs like a hyena - tried to be the first woman ever elected to the Presidency, with not a third of the brains or experience of Hillary Rodham Clinton, effortlessly defeated by Donald John Trump eight years ago.

The house on the Isle of Lewis where President Donald Trump's mother was raised

Harris, her grin and her trouser-suits are now consigned - with George McGovern, Michael Dukakis, Bob Dole and many more - to the ranks of the pub-quiz question, rather than studied history.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden did his sort of best to be only the second President since Andrew Jackson - the last was Ronald Reagan - successfully to bequeath the White House to his Veep.

If less than convincingly: Biden remarks in recent days were, let us say, sub-optimal for the Harris dream. (One suspects his senility will be regaled by one gloating thought: he, and only he, beat The Donald in a national election.)

And Trump sought to become only the second ex-President in American history - the first was Grover Cleveland, in 1892 - to be returned for another, non-consecutive term.

To understand Trump you have to grasp certain things. An adoring mother regardless, it is is his late father he reveres: he only installed a framed Oval Office photo of the late Mary MacLeod Trump when her absence drew acerbic comment.

He has only twice visited his ancestral Lewis, once when I was in my threes and fours, and once, in 2008, when cynical reporters timed his entire presence in the ancestral Aird Tong haunts at 97 seconds.

I should also confide that Lewis is not merely the haunt of steepled-fingers journalists, Free Church ministers, apprentice-joiners eager to discuss theology at the tea-break and the sort of folk who keep the Sabbath from Friday till Tuesday.

We also produce a certain kind of brash, braying heathen. Loud, shouty exuberant men reflecting far less their Celtic genes than their Viking forebears.

And out of that Norse DNA - no doubt hardened by German-American paternity, the play-pen whining, the confected hair-dont, the pancake-orange make-up notwithstanding - emerged The Donald.

President Trump's mother, Mary Anne, in 1932

It is the unpredictability, the hint of possible, even explosive male violence, that has endeared him to millions of Americans sick of being told what to think; just to sit at the back of the bus and shut up, as trumpeted globalisation marmalises their given economies, factories shut down and rust, and the opioid crisis quietly wastes and slays their young.

Trump has an extraordinary knack for tapping into the frustrations of what we used, this side of the Atlantic, to call the respectable working class - the quiet, skilled or semi-skilled man paying for the food on the family table; his wife in undisputed and canny control of the budget, entrusted with the unopened pay-packet every Thursday.

The mounting despair of Americans recalling a past, not so long ago, when even an unskilled worker could afford to buy and run a car and when no one presumed to sanction their speech.

Or decree how - and there were some outrageous instances in recent weeks, from Barack Obama down - they ought to vote, by given gender or ethnicity.

Donald Trump, himself, is canny enough to outrage the elites of our day in another sense - expressing, bluntly and sometimes crudely, things many ordinary people think, but are afraid to say.

Its difficult to think of a recent parallel in Scottish politics since the late, great Teddy Taylor, Tory MP till 1979 for Glasgow Cathcart.

President Trump's mother, Mary Anne, on the Isle of Lewis during the 1930s

He memorably said of Ted Heaths ill-judged bid to bail out the Rolls-Royce work at Hillington, that it would have been cheaper to fly over Greater Glasgow throwing tenners out of a helicopter - and enthused about hanging as if he had shares in rope.

In the shrewdest one-liner about Trump ever penned, a wise man once observed that his admirers take him seriously, but not literally - his outraged detractors literally, but not seriously.

Such ill-judged ravings have proved as useful, and potent, to Trumps ends as the happy nods of his base.

I mentioned Michael Dukakis there, the Governor of Massachusetts who in 1988 briefly threatened to succeed Ronald Reagan to the Presidency.

In scant weeks that autumn, Dukakis was effortlessly skewered by attack-ads from George H W Bush surrogates and an appalling televised debate when the moderator threw out a caveman question: how might the Governor feel about the death-penalty if Kitty Dukais were raped and murdered?

Michael Dukakis quailed, quivered, temporarised, all but pre-channeled Ed Miliband - even as appalled off-stage aides screamed at the monitors, Hes talking about your WIFE, for any sake! - and the spirit of his political future quietly evaporated from his body.

Months afterwards, another Democrat, Governor Mario Cuomo of New York state - whom, it is only fair to record, never had the guts to run for the Oval Office himself - thought, aloud, about how Dukakis should have answered.

By delicately tapping the worst male rhetoric of American politics.

How dare you speak about my wife in that way? You should be ashamed of yourself for dishonouring her like that.

But I tell you this. If I caught the man who did those things to my wife, Id grab him by the neck, rip out his throat and tear him limb from limb.

Then Cuomo deftly changed his tone. But this is not about me. This is about the state. And the state has to be better than me. Thats why we have laws...

That sort of thoughtful reflection is probably beyond my Aird Tong kinsman.

But not the sense of danger. The physical presence. The probing curiosity, the endearing talent for self-mockery and an unfeigned sense of fun - be it playing at a shift in McDonalds, which cut deliciously through because Trump genuinely loves the food.

Or last weekends clowning about with a garbage-truck, after President Biden almost casually insulted a majority of Americans.

Trump is that rare beast: a knacky billionaire with essentially blue-collar pleasures.

Not that far removed from many family-man, Sunday-roast Stornoway entrepreneurs of my acquaintance, or shouty sweary types in every Lewis building- concern I know.

That authenticity is why he is back.

And that sincerity is how he won.
Robert F Kennedy Jr. became involved in a fiery on-air spat with an NBC reporter over his calls for the removal of fluoride in the US water supply.

The one-time presidential hopeful lost his cool amid a debate with news journalist Vaughn Hillyard in Palm Beach, Florida.

Kennedy claimed the mineral is lowering children's IQs during the interview which took place following Donald Trump's election win.

The reporter cut him off - prompting an on-air explosion.

'Listen to me!' he fumed.

Robert F Kennedy Jr. got into a fiery on-air spat with an NBC reporter over his calls for the removal of fluoride in the US water supply

RFK J has pledged to remove the substance from the public water supply in his first act as an official in a possible member of the Trump administration.

He insisted the mineral is 'lowering IQ in our children'.

'I think fluoride is on its way out' Kennedy exclaimed on Wednesday, before being pressed by Hillyard on what he would actually do.

'How would you make that happen?,' Hillyard demanded. 'This is your chance is what you're suggesting to me. How would you make that happen?

'I think the faster that it goes out, the better,' he said.

'I'm not going to compel anybody to take it out, but I'm going to advise the water districts about their legal liability, their legal obligation to their service, to their constituents.

'And I'm going to give them good information about the science. And I think fluoride will disappear.'

The former presidential hopeful was being interviewed by news journalist Vaughn Hillyard in in Palm Beach, Florida

Kennedy claimed the mineral is lowering children's IQs during the interview which took place following Donald Trump 's election win

Robert F Kennedy Jr is a staunch anti-vaxxer and declared he would pull fluoride from public water systems if given a position in a possible Trump White House

Kennedy has been outspoken against fluoride, claiming it causes bone cancer, IQ loss and neurodevelopmental disorders.

The Staunch anti-vaxxer has been eying a position within Trump's administration ever since he dropped out of the presidential race in August and endorsed the Republican nominee.

Adding fluoride to water has been touted as a great public health achievement, but doubt over its benefits and concerns of its health impact have been on the rise.

Water fluoridation is standard national policy in the US, England and Canada, but other developed countries such Germany, Sweden, Scotland and Switzerland have discontinued it, arguing people now get enough fluoride through other sources, like toothpaste and mouthwash.

And earlier this year, a US federal judge ruled the EPA should reevaluate national fluoride regulations based on a study performed by a federal organization that provided evidence 'with moderate confidence' that fluoride was linked to lower IQ in children.

The Staunch anti-vaxxer has been eying a position within Trump's administration ever since he dropped out of the presidential race in August and endorsed him

The US started adding fluoride to their tap water in the 1940's. Roughly 72 percent of Americans that use public utilities get fluorinated drinking water

Still, Dr Paul Offit, a physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, told NPR that Kennedy's claims are misleading.

Dr Offit said: 'Fluoride has been well tested. It clearly and definitively decreases cavities, and is not associated with any clear evidence of the chronic diseases mentioned in that tweet'.

Other health authorities side with Offit, listing water fluoridation as one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century.

The NIH says it helps to prevent cavities, stave off illnesses and avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in associated medical costs for Americans.

Much of the literature around water fluoridation, which began in the US in 1944, shows the practice is safe.
A teen girl from Maine mysteriously vanished over a month ago after she was last seen leaving her home in New Sweden and walking into the nearby woods.

Stefanie Damron, 14, was last seen on September 23 'walking out of her house and into the woods located on the West Road in New Sweden,' the Maine State Police Department said in a statement.

Her family, who locals say have not joined search efforts, reported her missing the following day on September 24.

After a near month of 'extensive' efforts by Maine State Police and the FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Response Team, an October 23 report revealed that the girl remains missing.

State police added that all available resources have been utilized in order to find the missing girl, including collaborations with the state's Computer Crimes Unit and the FBI.

Stefanie Damron, 14, was last seen on September 23 'walking out of her house and into the woods located on the West Road in New Sweden,' the Maine State Police Department said

After a near month of 'extensive' efforts by Maine State Police and the FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Response Team, an October 23 report revealed the girl remains missing

Pictured: New Sweden, Maine, where Stephanie disappeared

Ongoing search efforts for the missing girl have also inspired locals of the small town and those in the surrounding areas to come together and search for anything that may lead them to the missing teen.

Despite the community's push to find the girl, searchers say that the Damron family has declined to become involved.

'Were not going to stop until we find her,' Whittni Nichols, who has helped to lead the citizen search parties, said.

The disappearance comes years after after the Damron family moved to New Sweden from Texas following what one member called a 'CPS fiasco'.

Stefanie's father, Christopher Dale Michael Damron, said in a 2019 Facebook post that the family would 'be heading to Maine away from these bad memories.'

While the family was living in Rusk, Texas, Stefanie's parents were arrested after officers found them allegedly intoxicated inside of a McDonald's while two of their children were in the car, according to a police report obtained by DailyMail.com.

The children involved were not identified.

Following the incident, Stephanie's mom, Lisa Marie Damron, was initially charged with abandoning a child with intent to return, but she later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of deadly conduct and received a deferred sentence.

In a post after Stephanie's disappearance, Lisa Marie claimed 'Stefanie got into an argument with her sister' while her parents were away and she 'walked off.'

Ongoing search efforts for the missing girl have inspired people within and around the small town to come together and search for anything that may lead them to the missing teen. Searchers say that the Damron family have declined to become involved, yet, their group wants to do what they can to bring the girl home safely

In a post after Stephanie's disappearance, Lisa Marie claimed 'Stefanie got into an argument with her sister' while her parents were away and she 'walked off'

'We live a half mile back in the woods and our kids are very comfortable in their surroundings so there was nothing to raise flags the first few hours,' Lisa Marie added, concluding the note saying 'we just want our baby home'.

The search remains ongoing as 'investigators have conducted many interviews and followed up on leads in Maine, nationally, and in Canada,' police wrote in a statement.

'The Maine Warden Service and Maine State Police K9 Unit have searched large parcels of land near Stefanies last known location.'

New Sweden is located in Aroostook County about 200 miles from the Canadian border, boasting a population of a little more than 500.

Stephanie who was 13 at the time of her disappearance but has since turned 14 - is 5-feet tall, weighs 130 pounds and has green eyes and shoulder-length brown hair.

She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a long sleeve blue shirt and black Harley Davidson hiking boots, according to Maine State Police.

Maine police ask that anyone with information about Stefanies whereabouts contact the Maine State Police at 1-800-924-2261 or 207-532-5400.
A New York City family was initially told by police that Denise Owen, a sister and daughter, was fatally struck by a car in the early morning hours on Halloween.

After spending the next 18 hours coming to terms with her death and getting prepared to file a wrongful death suit, the heartbroken Staten Island clan found out Owen hadn't actually died.

It was a case of mistaken identity, ABC New York reported.

Police arrived at the door of Sheila Nagengast, Owen's sister, at 1:30 am on October 31 to deliver the terrible news.

'They said, "I'm sorry to inform you but your sister has been killed fatally in a car accident,"' Nagengast said.

Sheila Nagengast, Denise Owen's sister, was visibly emotional recounting how she found her sister supposedly died

Pictured: Police stand in Nagengast's foyer at 1:30 am on Halloween to tell her that her 44-year-old sister was killed by a speeding car on Hyland Boulevard

They said Owen, 44, was hit by a car on Hyland Boulevard, a major busy road on Staten Island, and was thrown in the air on impact.

'My question was: how did you identify my sister? They said that there was some sort of ID there, that they were able to identify her,' Nagengast said.

Nagengast also explained that Owen suffered from schizophrenia and was homeless during certain times of her life.

With the relative certainty projected by the NYPD, news reportedly spread fast on Facebook, where people shared a Staten Island Advance article reporting on Owen's supposed death.

Nagengast ran around like crazy for the next day or so, rushing to the hospital morgue and also meeting with attorney Jonathan D'Agostino to discuss filing a lawsuit.

While Nagengast was talking with D'Agostino, she got a call from her other sister, who spotted Owen alive and well at the 7-Eleven near where police had said she was killed.

Nagengast went so far as to begin discussing filing a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of her sister. Here, she's pictured with attorney Jonathan D'Agostino

During that meeting, Nagengast was informed by her other sister that Denise Owens, pictured, was actually alive

'[My sister] FaceTimed me, and my sister Denise, who was pronounced dead by NYPD, Staten Island Hospital North, the morgue who has all her information and everybody else... the newspapers, is standing directly in front of my sister... alive and well,' Nagengast said.

The NYPD has apologized to the Nagengast and said they corrected the records.

The original Staten Island Advance piece that reported Owens' death has been updated to include the NYPD's error.

'During the course of our initial investigation, the NYPD misidentified the victim of a fatal vehicle collision,' Assistant Commissioner Carlos Nieves said in a statement. 'Upon further investigation, a proper identification and subsequent family notification was made.'

The outlet reported that the victim was actually Justine Perez, 37, of New Springville.

'In 35 years of handling accident cases, I've never had this mix-up, I've never seen this mix-up,' said D'Agostino, who is now shifting the focus of the lawsuit to focus on possible NYPD negligence and the emotional distress that the family suffered.

'Nobody should go through what I've been through in the last 24 hours... nobody,' Nagengast said.
Angered activists have descended outside the US Embassy in London to stage a protest against Donald Trump following his re-election.

Donald Trump made a shock political comeback and regained the White House after being declared the winner of the 2024 US presidential election today.

He becomes the first president in over 130 years  and only the second in history  to win a non-consecutive second term, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris.

Although some Americans may be pleased to see him back at the helm of the oval office - not everyone is happy, including those on British soil.

Campaign group Stand Up To Racism called their supporters to action earlier today following Trump's re-election via X (formerly Twitter).

Police Liason Officers remove a banner reading 'Trump Climate Disaster' from the hedge as a small group of demonstrators hold a protest against the new Trump Presidency

A group of demonstrators called Stand Up To Racism hold a protest against the US Embassy tonight

Signs scattered alongside the protest that read 'No To Racism No To Trump' outside of the US Embassy in South London

In their call to arms in collaboration with other activist groups such as Abortion Rights and Stop The War Coalition, they announced the emergency demonstration called 'No To Trump'.

Alongside a bright pink and yellow graphic, their message read: 'Emergency protest. Tonight 6pm at the US embassy in London.

'Stand against Trump and his racism, bigotry and hatred.'

Campaign group Abortion Rights also called their supporters to action writing: 'Say NO to Trump!

'Join us for a crucial gathering to stand against the dangerous resurgence of anti-abortion efforts and other threats fuelled by Trump's influence.'

In videos that have since emerged on social media, crowds outside of the embassy can be heard chanting: 'Donald Trump here us say immigrants are here to stay'

Metropolitan Police confirmed no arrests were made at the demonstration.

It is understood the gathering was not one of a violent nature.

However the group has come under fire from some online social media users, with some branding them 'pathetic' for demonstrating against the US election result.

The emergency demonstration was organised in collaboration with a number of groups including Abortion Rights, Stand Up To Racism and the Stop The War Coalition

The protesters descended to the demonstration at around 6pm this evening

It is understood there were no arrests made, and the gathering was not one of a violent nature

In videos that have since emerged on social media, crowds outside of the embassy can be heard chanting: 'Donald Trump here us say immigrants are here to stay'

'The people have voted get over it,' one user responded to one of their posts.

'You're aware your behaviour isn't normal. I hope others have told you that,' a second quipped.

Another slammed the group branding them 'embarrassing,' while another chimed in saying: 'Have a day off.'

Earlier in the day Reform UK MP Nigel Farage, who has openly spoken of his support of Trump, told GB News: 'I understand there's a demonstration planned in London by a bizarre left-wing organisation called Stand up to Racism, who clearly don't even like democracy.'

MailOnline has approached Stand Up To Racism for comment.

It comes as Rachel Reeves pleaded with Donald Trump to not to go ahead with trade tariffs amid fears of a hammer blow to UK growth today.

The Chancellor said she would make 'strong representations' to the president-elect about the damage a protectionist regime would inflict.

The group have come under fire online from social media users who have branded their protest as 'embarrassing'

Demonstraters stand with signs that read 'No To Racism. No To Trump'

The crowd listened intently as speakers took to the stage to speak out against the new president-elect

MP Nigel Farage said earlier: 'I understand there's a demonstration planned in London by a bizarre left-wing organisation called Stand up to Racism, who clearly don't even like democracy.'

Ahead of his bombshell victory in the US election overnight, Mr Trump has boasted that 'tariff' is his favourite word.

He has floated a 10 per cent hike in levies on goods imported from around the world - potentially rising to 60 per cent for China.

The aggressive approach has sparked concerns that the new administration will spark a trade war, with analysts already trimming Britain's growth predictions.

It is another major headache for Keir Starmer as he scrambles to prop up the Special Relationship in the wake of Mr Trump's triumph.

The PM is facing a huge challenge after tensions flared over Labour supporters helping to campaign for Democrat contender Kamala Harris.

Tories, including Kemi Badenoch have demanded Starmer apologise for previous comments by David Lammy and other senior figures, branding Mr Trump a 'Neo-Nazi sympathiser'.

Ms Badenoch insisted that Sir Keir must invite Mr Trump to visit the UK and address both Houses of Parliament during her debut PMQs today.

The PM has also repeatedly clashed with billionaire Elon Musk, who looks certain to end up playing a key role in the Trump administration.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she would make 'strong representations' to the president-elect about the damage a protectionist regime would inflict

Ahead of his bombshell victory in the US election overnight, Mr Trump has boasted that 'tariff' is his favourite word

MPs have been unable to resist expressing their dismay at Kamala Harris's (pictured) defeat on social media this morning

It is another major headache for Keir Starmer as he scrambles to prop up the Special Relationship in the wake of Mr Trump's triumph

Giving evidence to the Treasury Committee this afternoon, Ms Reeves said: 'We're not just a passive actor in this.

'It's a trade relationship with the United States and we will make strong representations about the importance of free and open trade, not just between ourselves and the United States, but globally, and the US also benefit from those that access to free and open trade with us and other countries around the world, and it's what makes us richer as societies to benefit from that.'

Tory former Treasury minister John Glen highlighted that Goldman Sachs had already cut UK growth forecasts from 1.6 per cent to 1.4 per cent.

Challenged if it was realistic to seek to influence Mr Trump, Ms Reeves said: 'We've got another couple of months before the inauguration.

'Obviously, you know, we will begin those conversations. We'll prepare for different eventualities.

'I absolutely do not want to sound in any way sanguine. On the other hand, I am optimistic about our ability to shape the global economic agenda, as we have under successive governments.'

Downing Street refused to be drawn on 'future policy discussions' when asked whether Sir Keir was concerned about the prospect of future trade restrictions.

Sir Keir said in a statement this morning that he 'looks forward to working with' Mr Trump 'in the years ahead'

Kemi Badenoch is making her debut at PMQs today as Keir Starmer struggles with Budget backlash and the US election fallout

The PM's spokesman said: 'We look forward to working with President-elect Trump including on a wide range of his policy priorities to improve the UK-US trading relations and to support the significant investment relationship that supports millions of jobs across our two countries.

'I'm not going to get into future policy discussions.'

It comes as Kamala Harris phoned Donald Trump this afternoon to concede the election - hours after the race was over and her devastating defeat was confirmed.

In doing so, she issued a warning to the new president-elect as she offered her congratulations.

'She discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans,' a senior Harris aide said.

She will officially concede to the nation at Howard University later today - which will be 12 hours after the election was called for her Republican rival.
Protests erupted across Israel after Benjamin Netanyahu appointed a hawkish new defence minister.

Activists took to the street as the country's prime minister dismissed Yoav Gallant, citing a 'crisis of trust', and replaced him with Israel Katz.

They lit fires, blocked traffic and demanded Netanyahu resign as they called on the far right government to prioritise a hostage deal to end the war.

But the appointment of Mr Katz, known as the 'Bulldozer', suggests the administration will take an even more aggressive stance to Iran and its proxies.

He is a staunch ally of Netanyahu and seen as unlikely to push back on key decisions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new defence minister is one of his staunchest allies and seen as unlikely to push back on key decisions

The appointment of Israel Katz (pictured), known as the 'Bulldozer', suggests the administration will take an even more aggressive stance to Iran and its proxies, ana;ysts say

Activists took to the streets as Israel's prime minister dismissed Yoav Gallant as defence minister, citing a 'crisis of trust', and replaced him with Mr Katz

One protester, Yair Amit, said the PM should 'step down from his office and let serious people lead Israel'.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents relatives of those taken, described the dismissal of Gallant as part of continued efforts to 'torpedo' a release deal for the hostages taken captive by militant group Hamas on October 7 last year.

Gallant's departure has been slated for months after he had taken Netanyahu to task for not prioritising the hostages.

He was also unhappy at plans to continue to allow Israel's Ultra Orthodox citizens to be exempt from serving in the military.

Months before the start of the war in Gaza in October last year, Netanyahu had fired Gallant over political differences, before reinstating him following a significant public outcry.

But on Tuesday, Netanyahu said: 'In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and the minister of defence.'

He said that although there had been trust and 'fruitful work' in the first months of the war, 'during the last months this trust cracked'.

The decision to do so on the eve of the US elections has been viewed by some as a message to Washington that it would not dictate Israeli policy.

Katz has held multiple positions in Israeli government in one shape or form since 2003, including stints as transport minister and most recently as foreign minister.

He was quick to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory yesterday.

He said: 'Congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump on his historic victory. Together, we'll strengthen the US-Israel alliance, bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran.'

Trump has a long friendship with Netanyahu from when the Israeli PM studied in the States during the 1980s.

Yoav Gallant's departure has been slated for months as he has taken Netanyahu to task for not prioritising the hostages taken captive by Hamas on October 7 last year

Trump has a long friendship with Netanyahu and the Israeli PM studied in the US in the 1980s

Katz has held multiple positions in Israeli government in one shape or form since 2003 including stints as transport minister and most recently as foreign minister

However while the President-elect is a firm friend of Israel, he has also called for the war to end - saying too many have died.

Gallant has said his firing was due to disagreements over exceptions for military service, the needed for a national inquiry into October 7 failings and that the hostages must be prioritised.

In reference to the latter, he said: 'I determine that it is possible to achieve this goal. It requires painful concessions, which the state of Israel can carry and the IDF can bear.'

The new appointment comes as Israel is braced for Tehran to attack, as the Iranian regime has threatened to strike after the US election.
A popular DJ was shot while performing at a party in Colombia as gunfire left another person dead.

Daniel Salinas, who goes by DJ Exotic, was in the DJ booth at a hotel in Cali when he was struck during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Video captured the moment Salinas was seen reaching for his chest as several shots rang out in the background.

Surveillance footage showed a person resembling Salinas being carried out the hotel entrance.

Daniel Salinas, who is known at DJ Exotic, survived after he was shot while performing at a party at the Rey de Corazones hotel in Cali, Colombia on Sunday

Moments later, a group men could be seen stepping out of the property and walking towards where Salinas had been taken.

The suspects, including one man carrying a rifle, then walked back to their cars before fleeing.

Two suspects were later arrested in connection with the shooting.

Cali Police commander Carlos Oviedo said one of the individuals, who was identified only by his nickname, 'La Maravilla,' was had two illegal firearms when his vehicle was pulled over.

'He (La Maravilla) was found with two Glock-type pistols in the vehicle he was using and had a criminal record,' Oviedo said.

One of the suspected shooters was seen walking with a rifle outside the Rey de Corazones hotel where the shooting took place early Sunday morning

'We are verifying whether the other person also has a criminal record. He was arrested for co-authorship of the murder of the person found inside the motel.'

Authorities identified the fatal gunfire victim as Andres Cuertas, 23.

The other wounded victim, a woman who dated another local DJ, suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound on her leg.

Oviedo said it appeared that the gunmen were targeting Salinas.

DJ Exotic is carried out of the hotel moments after he was shot on the chest

Daniel Salinas was performing after a concert by Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Arcangel in Cali on Saturday

Colombian authorities believe that the gunmen were targeting DJ Exotic

The Cali Police said at least 200 people attended the private event that was held at the Rey de Corazones hotel following a concert by Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Arcangel at the Plaza de Toros on Saturday.

Investigators with the Attorney General's Office are looking into whether the motel had the necessary permits to hold parties.

Salinas was transferred to a clinic in Bogota, his former girlfriend revealed in a social media statement. His medical condition has been kept private.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India sells 5,97,711 units in Oct

Gurugram, Nov 5 (UNI) Continuing the year on a high note with positive momentum and double-digit growth in the festive month, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) on Tuesday announced its overall sales for the month of October 2024.

During the month, the companys overall dispatches stood at 5,97,711 units, registering 21% YoY growth. This includes domestic sales of 5,53,120 units and 44,591 units exports. The domestic sales registered 20pc YoY growth while the exports grew by a massive 48% over the same period of last year.

It is worth mentioning that HMSIs YTD April  October 2024 total sales is 37,56,088 units. This includes domestic sales of 34,34,539 units and exports stood at 3,21,549 units.

HMSI has achieved the remarkable feat of 1 crore cumulative two-wheeler sales in Central Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand & Chhattisgarh. The company also achieved the milestone of selling 5 million units in Karnataka, underscoring its position as the preferred choice for two-wheeler buyers in this dynamic South Indian state.

HMSI launched the new CB300F Flex-Fuel, marking a significant stride in the country's transition to greener mobility solutions. Attractively priced at Rs. 1,70,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), it is Indias first 300cc flex-fuel motorcycle.



Expanding road safety awareness in India, HMSI conducted awareness campaigns in 10 cities across India  Bikaner (Rajasthan), Palghar (Maharshtra), Dr. Ambedkar Nagar (Madhya Pradesh), Shillong (Meghalaya), Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu), Nellore (Andhra Pradesh), Hoshiarpur (Punjab), Tumkur (Karnataka), Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) and Muzaffarpur (Bihar).

The company also celebrated the 7th anniversary of its Traffic Training Park in Karnal (Haryana) & 4th anniversary of its Safety Driving Education Centre in Bangalore (Karnataka). Additionally, HMSI organized Road Safety Conventions with school principals in Karnal (Haryana) as a part of ongoing project - Mindset Development for our Future Generation.

UNI XC GNK
America's famously private Amish people are unreachable by phone or email and refuse to have TVs in their homes.

But that didn't stop members of the conservative Christian group turning out on polling day in a trend that appears to have helped Donald Trump win Pennsylvania.

In Lancaster County, the heart of the state's Amish community, one member reportedly rode his horse and cart through the roads carrying a billboard proclaiming: 'Pray for God's Mercy for Our Nation.'

What sparked the voting rush? Government agents had stormed a local farm early in the year in a row over unpasteurised milk that left the Amish community absolutely enraged.

Donald Trump Jr tweeted at the time: 'Imagine what law enforcement could accomplish if they went after members of elite paedophile rings rather than farmers selling to their neighbours??'

Pennsylvania's traditionally private Amish community, which some estimate numbers around 100,000, then registered to vote in 'unprecedented numbers'. Experts have said that the movement could have won Mr Trump tens of thousands of new votes in the crucial swing state.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture raided Amos Miller's farm on January 4, sparking outrage among the state's Amish population, a source familiar with the matter told The New York Post.

'That was the impetus for them to say, 'We need to participate,'' the source said. 'This is about neighbors helping neighbors.'

Raw milk is widely consumed by Amish people. And since the 2010s, influencers and even Gwyneth Paltrow have made it a staple for their breakfasts and morning coffees.

Amish voters appear to have turned out for Trump after a row sparked when the Biden government raided a milk farm in Pennsylvania (pictured on polling day)

A voting advertisement geared toward the Amish population of Lancaster County is displayed on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Strasburg, Pa

An Amish man arrives to vote in Ronks

Pennsylvania 's traditionally private Amish community have registered to vote in 'unprecedented numbers' after government agents stormed a local farm in Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania. This Amish man is seen voting in Witmer

The raid by state officials came after reports of children falling ill from raw dairy products purchased at the farm in Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania.

'If you think about Amish people and their connection to nature, I mean, some of these people work in the fields barefoot to be closer to the earth,' the source told The Post.

While exact numbers of Amish voters remained unclear as of Tuesday night, horse-and-buggy rigs were spotted at polling locations across the state.

This comes as Donald Trump won Pennsylvania, the biggest 2024 election swing state.

Conservative activist Scott Presler, known for his outreach to Pennsylvania's Amish community, has been credited for the voter turnout.

An Amish buggy rides in Lancaster past a billboard encouraging people to vote

An Amish man walks past supporters of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as he approaches a polling station at the Ronks Fire Department in Ronks, PA

An Amish horse-drawn buggy passes by signs reading 'Stop Illegal Voting' and 'Trump 2024' signs in Strasburg, Pa

Donald Trump at his election night event in Florida

Pressler has been engaging with voters by emphasizing local issues, particularly regarding agricultural practices and religious freedoms, the Express Tribune reported.

Beyond the Amish community, Presler has expanded his campaign to include union laborers and hunters, emphasizing job security and Second Amendment rights.

His engagement with these diverse voter groups has earned him widespread recognition among supporters.

Dr. Jan Halper-Hayes expressed gratitude for his efforts on X, writing: 'If Trump wins Pennsylvania, we all owe it to this man! @ScottPresler Registered's 180,000 Amish first time voters. He worked tirelessly! Please send a thank you to Scott!'

Donald Trump stormed to victory in both the popular vote and the electoral college last night in an undeniable sign of enthusiasm from the American people.

Trump also made gains with nearly every voting bloc he lost in the 2020 election and put together a coalition of multi-ethnic working-class voters to defeat Kamala Harris.

And Harris did worse on Tuesday than Joe Biden in the 2020 contest among key voting groups including women, the working class and Latinos.

That is what the numbers from exit polls show.

But the election results also comes down to this: Trump had vision for America while Harris had word salad, voters trusted him more to fix the economy, and the American people thought Biden put the country on the wrong track.

It all added up to Donald Trump overcoming a criminal conviction, indictments, and an assassin's bullet to return to the White House.

And Trump did it in a landslide. The election that was predicted to be a nail biter instead was a red tsunami.

Trump didn't just win the electoral college but the popular vote, garnering 71.2 million votes to Harris' 66.4 million. Tellingly, Harris garnered less overall votes than Biden in 2020. That year their ticket won 81 million votes.

The popular vote is still being tallied but Trump could be the first Republican president since George W Bush to win it.

'A major reason why President Trump run won because he made it clear how he will improve the lives of every American and the fact that he can do it right away. He doesn't need one or two or three years to figure out where things are and how Washington works. We have that economy and that secure border. He can do it right away,' Trump adviser Jason Miller told The Today Show on Wednesday.

In the end Trump had a near-mirror win of his 2016 campaign. Here's a breakdown of how he did it:

Trump won white working-class voters in the 2016 contest and took it a step further this cycle, bringing in black and Latino working-class voters to increase his vote count.

Early on his campaign had the goal of putting together this expanded coalition. Working-class voters were the key to Trump's win in 2016, just as they were key to Biden's win in 2020.

Trump's campaign built on those numbers to incorporate black and latino voters.

Those two groups, particularly men, tilted more toward Trump this year than in 2020, with black support nearly doubling to 15% and Latino support growing by 6 points, to 41%, according to preliminary results from AP VoteCast.

The biggest movement among these men was those without college degrees, commonly referred to as working-class voters, who broke heavily for Trump.

Trump made massive shifts toward winning minority voters  an important new chapter for the Republican Party and a warning sign for Democrats, who have been taking the group for granted.

The president-elect won noncollege voters of all racial backgrounds by 12 points over Harris, compared with a 4-point lead in 2020.

Chief among Trump's gains compared with his performance against Biden in 2020 was Latino men.

The numbers show the late focus on comedian Tony Hinchcliffe mocking Puerto Rico at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally didn't cause the damage Harris' campaign hoped it would.

The gains were concentrated most heavily among Latinos under age 65.

In Florida, the heavily Latino Miami-Dade County had backed Democrat Hillary Clinton by 30 points in 2016 and Biden by 7 points in 2020. On Tuesday, Trump won it by nearly 12 points.

Trump also made gains in key places among black men, more than doubling his 2020 performance in North Carolina.

Harris performed slightly worse with black voters than Biden did four years ago. She won the support of 86% of black voters compared to the 90% Biden won in 2020.

Kamala Harris did worse than Joe Biden among black voters and women voters

Trump made major gains among young voters  particularly among men, who made a dramatic shift to the right after backing Biden four years ago.

He courted the group hard and it paid off.

Trump appeared on numerous podcasts and at other events - mixed martial arts matches and car races - that appealed to young men, selecting many of those options on the advice of his 18-year-old son Barron.

Trump won 18- to 29-year-old men by 13 points. Harris lost ground for Democrats among that group, which went Biden won by 15 points in 2020.

Young voters were plainly divided among gender lines.

About 6 in 10 women between 18 to 29 voted for Harris, and more than half of men in that age group backed Trump.

Barron Trump - seen above with parents Donald and Melania on Election Night - helped his dad win over young male voters

In what may be one of the most shocking results of the night, Biden outperformed Harris among women voters.

Harris didn't make gender a centerpiece of her campaign, banking on accusations of misogyny from Trump to hand her that voting bloc.

She won the group but not by enough to hand her the White House.

Women favored Harris by 10 points on Tuesday but they favored Biden by 14 points in 2020.

Men preferred Trump by 10 points, up from nine points four years ago.

The only segment of the electorate with which Harris made notable gains over Biden's 2020 performance was with college-educated women  those are the same voters that helped Democrats in the 2022 midterm election.
Three people were injured after an Indiana school bus filled with students crashed into a home with family members inside.

The crash occurred Wednesday at around 8:15am in the area of Jackson Street and Hickory Street in Union City.

The bus was carrying 20 students and a driver when it hit the home, according to a press release from the Randolph Eastern School Corporation.

Neal Adams, the school district's superintendent, later confirmed that two students and the driver sustained injuries and were transported to a hospital for treatment.

Three people were injured after an Indiana school bus filled with students crashed into a home with family members inside

Other students were either taken to school or released to their parents.

According to WHIO, an elderly woman was in her bed on the second floor inside the house at the time of the crash. It remains unclear if she sustained any injuries.

The crash has caused severe structural damage to the multi-story house.

The Union City Police and Randolph County Sheriff's departments are currently investigating the incident.

This comes a month after a school bus with at least 20 kids on board overturned in Minnesota.

An elderly woman was in her bed on the second floor inside the house at the time of the crash

The bus was carrying 20 students and a driver when it crashed into the home

Twelve children were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries following the crash outside Hibbing, Northern News Now reports.

A car T-boned the St. Louis County School District vehicle on Town Line Road and Hwy. 5 at 7.49am.
A man in Pennsylvania has been charged for fatally stabbing his girlfriend with a kitchen knife over her haircut.

Benjamin Garcia Gual, 49, was charged with homicide after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend, Carmen Martinez-Silva, 50, her brother and attempting to stab two others on Sunday in East Hempfield Township.

Police were called to the scene around 1:40pm and found Martinez-Silva in the front yard, where she was pronounced dead.

According to an affidavit, Martinez-Silva's daughter, Yamaris Knight, told police that Gual stabbed her mother because he was upset that she cut her hair.

Carmen Martinez-Silva, 50, was stabbed and killed outside of her brother's home by her boyfriend, Benjamin Garcia Gual, allegedly over her haircut

Benjamin Garcia Gual, 49, was charged with homicide after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend, Carmen Martinez-Silva, 50, her brother and attempting to stab two others on Sunday in East Hempfield Township

Knight told police that her mother said Gual had threatened to stab her over the haircut, and she had spent the night at Knight's house because she was scared of his threats.

Police said a witness, Hector Burgos, had been contacted by Martinez-Silva and told him to go to her home and tell Gual their relationship was over.

Burgos was also asked to instruct Gual to remove his belongings from her home, but Burgos said he couldn't find Gual when he got there.

Gual had traveled to Martinez-Silva's brother's house and asked for her. Her brother, Luis Martinez-Silva told Gual that Carmen was not home, and Gual left.

However, he then returned a few minutes later and stabbed Luis Martinez-Silva, who had answered the door, Penn Live reported.

Luis Martinez-Silva had wounds at the base of his head, chest and abdomen, as well as lacerations to his arm, and is expected to survive.

The outlet reported that Burgos told police Carmen Martinez-Silva had tried to pull Gual away from her brother, but then Gual began stabbing her before attempting to stab Burgos and missed.

A call to 911 was made and police arrived to find Gual in a car with a knife on the passenger seat with 'brownish red staining', according to court documents.

Yamaris Knight, Carmen Martinez-Silva's daughter, told police that he had stabbed her mother because of her haircut

A GoFundMe has been organized by Jarline Rivera, who remembered Carmen as a 'loving mother, sister, aunt [and] friend'.

'The family is devastated by this loss we would've never imagined a tragedy like this would happened to our beloved Carmen,' Rivera wrote.

'We know this time is hard for a lot of us, but we are please asking if you feel it in your heart to donate, anything will help for the family to be able to put her to rest as she deserves,' she added.

Gual is currently being held in Lancaster County Prison without bail.
Nat Barr has suggested Anthony Albanese might need to apologise to Donald Trump after footage emerged of him saying Trump 'scared the sh** out of him.

The Prime Minister made the remarks when he was the opposition transport and infrastructure spokesman in 2017, but they resurfaced this week ahead of Trump's overnight victory in the US election.

The Sunrise host spoke to Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday morning and asked whether the PM had personally called to congratulate the President-elect.

'When he calls him, will he say, ''Look, I'm really sorry, Donald, for those [comments] years ago [when] I said you scare the sh** out of me?"'Barr asked.

Senator Wong replied that the PM would concentrate on Australia's strategic partnership with the US rather than his personal comments.

'I think they'll probably focus on the issues critical to Australia's interest, obviously AUKUS and we've been pleased to see bipartisan support for that.'

The AUKUS deal is a $368billion security pact between Australia, the US and the UK that will deliver a fleet of nuclear submarines to Australia from 2040.

Barr noted that Trump's former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, previously said the AUKUS pact could be torn up under a second Trump presidency.

'Now that Trump is back in, do you think the deal will survive?' Barr asked.

Nat Barr interviewed Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday following Donald Trump's election win

Anthony Albanese said back in 2017 that Donald Trump 'scared the sh**' out of him

'We're confident in the bipartisan support for AUKUS,' Wong replied.

'It's been a priority for the Government and our ambassador leading up to the election and we were pleased to see legislation passed in Congress to support AUKUS.

'This project spans many governments and decades, so it needs strong political support across all three countries.'

Barr then pointed out Australia's ambassador the US, Kevin Rudd, had made comments slamming Trump.

'Kevin Rudd once called Donald Trump ''nuts'' and ''a traitor to the West'', do you think given those comments and our Prime Minister's past remarks, Trump will see us as a bunch of wild Aussies?' Barr asked.

Kamala Harris delivers her 2024 US election concession speech

Donald Trump will return to the White House for another term as US President

Wong replied that President Trump struck her 'as a pretty robust individual' and wouldn't be offended by the comments.

'I'd say the alliance is bigger than any individual or past comments. Kevin Rudd has been an excellent ambassador, delivering a great deal for Australia, and I have full confidence in him,' Wong said.

Asked how he would 'deal with Trump' in 2017 at a Splendour in the Grass Q+A, Mr Albanese replied: 'With trepidation.'

But pressed further, he expanded his answer.

'Well, you've got to deal with who is elected,' he said, six months into Trump's first administration.

'We have an alliance with the US, we've got to deal with him, but that doesn't mean that you're uncritical about it.

'He [Trump] scares the sh** out of me and I think it's of some concern the leader of the free world thinks that you can conduct politics through 140 characters on Twitter overnight.'

Asked if he would say that to Trump's face, the PM said he would 'probably be more polite than that.'
The father of Sara Sharif wept in court saying he curses himself for going on the run abandoning his daughter like an orphan after her alleged murder.

Urfan Sharif accepted he had called 999 from Pakistan to admit killing the 10-year-old, but he claimed yesterday it was a false confession to protect his family.

The 42-year-old said he had lied to police and his wifes family: I told them Im responsible for Saras death.

Naeem Mian, KC, defending, asked: Why did you say that you were responsible for Saras death?

Sharif replied: To protect my family.

Urfan Sharif (pictured) accepted he had called 999 from Pakistan to admit killing the 10-year-old, but he claimed yesterday it was a false confession to protect his family

Following Sharifs 999 call, police raced to his home in Woking, Surrey on August 10 where Sara was found dead having suffered at least 71 external injuries, including dozens of broken bones

Today the defendant told jurors he was not at home that day and couldnt have been responsible for her alleged murder on August 8 last year.

When asked why he rang police two days later in an emotional state after fleeing the country, Sharif said: I was cursing myself for leaving my daughter, I was cursing myself for abandoning my daughter like an orphan and she has no one else.

The Old Bailey heard that Sharif had previously complained Sara was making his life hell 18 months before her death.

He allegedly messaged his wife Beinash Batool, 30, threatening her and Sara, saying: Im losing my calm. Both of you make hell of people who care and love you. Im done with you and now it will be her turn if she does anything silly.

But Sharif insisted today that he only intended to talk to Sara about her silly behaviour when he sent the message in February 2022.

He said he was unaware his wife had bought 12 rolls of parcel tape allegedly to construct home-made hoods, taping plastic bags around the victims face.

Sharif broke down in tears as he was asked whether he loved his daughter, sobbing: Yes I did, she was my daughter.

The defendant was asked about messages Batool sent to her sisters alleging that Sharif had beaten Sara up like crazy for at least two years, including waking the schoolgirl in the middle of the night to attack her.

But Sharif said it was not true.

He added: Everything happened at home while I was at work. I did not beat her, do anything to her.

The Old Bailey heard that Sharif had previously complained Sara was making his life hell 18 months before her death

allegedly messaged his wife Beinash Batool (pictured), 30, threatening her and Sara, saying: Im losing my calm. Both of you make hell of people who care and love you. Im done with you and now it will be her turn if she does anything silly

Sharif, Batool, and Sara's uncle Faisal Malik (pictured), 29, denies murder and causing or allowing the death of a child

Following Sharifs 999 call, police raced to his home in Woking, Surrey on August 10 where Sara was found dead having suffered at least 71 external injuries, including dozens of broken bones.

Today Sharif suggested his wife was possessed by a black magic spell.

He told jurors that Batool was very, very crazy, claiming he was forced to jump out of windows to escape her.

Batool wept in the dock as Sharif suggested her own relatives believed she was crazy, adding: Her family said she is possessed [like] someone has done black magic on her.

Jurors were shown two video clips from Sharif which he claimed was evidence of her abusive behaviour.

He said: I used to jump through the kitchen window as she would lock the front door.

Most of the time when she was angry I jumped through the living room window.

But later the court heard that Sharif loved his wife so much that he spent 7,500 on gold jewellery for her.

Sharif, Batool, and Sara's uncle Faisal Malik, 29, denies murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

The trial continues.
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough has claimed 'racist Hispanics' and 'sexist black men' are to blame for Kamala Harris' electoral loss.

The Morning Joe host made the controversial claim on Wednesday as he discussed Donald Trump's landslide win for the White House.

Speaking to rev Al Sharpton, Scarborough - who earlier appeared to accept the result - said 'Democrats need to be mature, and they need to be honest.

'And they need to say, "Yes, there is misogyny, but its not just misogyny from white men...

'Its misogyny from Hispanic men, its misogyny from black men - things weve all been talking about - who do not want a woman leading them.'

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough has claimed 'racist Hispanics' and 'sexist black men' are to blame for Kamala Harris' electoral loss

Scarborough, an ex-Republican, continued his rant: 'but is not just misogyny from Hispanic men, from black men,

'[There] might be race issues with Hispanics that don't want a black woman president of the United States.'

'Its time for the Democrats to say  a lot of Hispanic voters have problems with black candidates,' Scarborough said.

Sharpton, a civil rights leader, then stepped in and spoke of the misogyny he has apparently seen among black men.

'Some of the most misogynist things Ive heard, going on this Get Out the Vote tour, came from black men,' the activist continued.

'So youre absolutely right, its not simplistic.'

Sharpton, a civil rights leader, then stepped in and spoke of the misogyny he has apparently seen among black men

Social media users have been slamming Scarborough for his comments on people of color, with many arguing his words were racist.

Journalist Jonathan Choe wrote: 'I love how this White guy Joe Scarborough is now the expert on the topic of Black and Hispanic men.

'You can see left-wing corporate media losing its hold of America in real-time.'

Others said the TV star's comments are further evidence that Democrats still do not understand why they have now lost twice against Trump.

'Still playing the race card. They haven't learned a thing,' said Kevin Waterbury on X.

Black voters  men and women  have been the bedrock of the Democratic Party, and in recent years, Latinos and young voters have joined them.

All three groups still preferred Democrat Kamala Harris. But Trump made significant gains.

Black and Latino voters appeared slightly less likely to support Harris than they were to back Biden four years ago, according to AP VoteCast.

About 8 in 10 Black voters backed Harris, down from the roughly 9 in 10 who backed Biden.

More than half of Hispanic voters supported Harris, but that was down slightly from the roughly 6 in 10 who backed Biden in 2020.

Trumps support among those groups appeared to rise slightly compared to 2020. Collectively, those small gains yielded an outsize outcome.

Trump was elected the 47th president on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

He won Michigan on Wednesday afternoon, sweeping the 'blue wall' along with Pennsylvania  the one-time Democrat-leaning, swing states that all went for Trump in 2016 before flipping to Biden in 2020.

While Harris focused much of her initial message around themes of joy, Trump channeled a powerful sense of anger and resentment among voters.

He seized on frustrations over high prices and fears about crime and migrants who illegally entered the country on Bidens watch. He also highlighted wars in the Middle East and Russias invasion of Ukraine to cast Democrats as presiding over  and encouraging  a world in chaos.

About 8 in 10 Black voters backed Harris, down from the roughly 9 in 10 who backed Biden. More than half of Hispanic voters supported Harris, but that was down slightly from the roughly 6 in 10 who backed Biden in 2020

It was a formula Trump perfected in 2016, when he cast himself as the only person who could fix the countrys problems, often borrowing language from dictators.

Trump's win against Harris, the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket, marks the second time he has defeated a female rival in a general election. Harris, the current vice president, rose to the top of the ticket after Biden exited the race amid alarm about his advanced age.

Despite an initial surge of energy around her campaign, she struggled during a compressed timeline to convince disillusioned voters that she represented a break from an unpopular administration.

The vice president, who has not appeared publicly since the race was called, was set to speak Wednesday afternoon at Howard University, where her supporters gathered Tuesday night for a watch party while the results were still in doubt.

She finally phoned Trump on Wednesday afternoon to concede the election, hours after the race was called and her devastating defeat was confirmed.

But she had a warning for the president-elect, lecturing him even as she congratulated him.

'She discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans,' a senior Harris aide said.
Transgender patients are threatening legal action against the NHS after delays have left them with half-built penises.

Some remain in limbo between surgeries  leaving them with indeterminate genitalia  while others are still waiting to undergo their first operation.

Patients say this has caused physical and psychological distress and affected their work and personal lives.

Problems with treatment arose after NHS England commissioned St Peters Andrology Centre  a private clinic in London  to carry out surgery but did not renew the contract when it expired at the end of March 2020.

A new provider  New Victoria Hospital in London  was not appointed until September 2021.

Legal firm Leigh Day has now sent a letter to NHS England and St Peters, claiming their failures led to the collapse in commissioning arrangements and contributed to delays.

Transgender patients are threatening legal action against the NHS after delays have left them with half-built penises (File image)

One patient, Matthew [not his real name], said: I have now been living for three years with an incomplete penis reconstruction. This continues to have a vast negative impact on my mental health' (File image)

It said there are thousands of people on the waiting list for masculinising surgery. Many of them consented to the first stage of their surgeries before 2020 without being told of the long waiting times and are still waiting to finish their treatment.

Others are yet to receive a referral to see a surgical consultant, or have been referred but havent been added to the waiting list. The law firm is representing 16 people over the treatment delays. One patient, Matthew [not his real name], said: I have now been living for three years with an incomplete penis reconstruction. This continues to have a vast negative impact on my mental health.

My confidence has disappeared. I havent been able to socialise like I used to, travel or gain new employment. I find it hard to trust people now.

I have been hugely affected by stress which has resulted in other knock-on health issues, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, hair loss and suicidal thoughts.

The surgeries  including metoidioplasty (hysterectomy and genital reconstruction) and phalloplasty (the creation of a penis from existing genital tissue or skin grafts)  are available to trans men who were born female. They are complex procedures which often require three stages of surgery.

St Peters website said there would normally be at least a three-month wait between surgeries and patients were told they could expect to wait from six to 12 months between procedures, according to Leigh Day. Patients now face delays of up to three to four years, the law firm says.

Patients could be entitled to compensation worth tens of thousands of pounds each, Leigh Day says (File image)

They have also now been told that New Victoria Hospital will perform the second stage of metoidioplasty surgery in two procedures rather than one. So they face another procedure that they previously did not expect or consent to.

The hospital is also reportedly not accepting any new surgical referrals.

Patients could be entitled to compensation worth tens of thousands of pounds each, Leigh Day says.

The firm wants to hold those responsible to account and prevent such mistakes from being repeated.

Solicitor Kate Egerton said: Being left in between surgeries or for the procedures to commence has created intense physical and emotional turmoil for our clients who are facing increased gender dysphoria  the very thing that the surgeries were supposed to mitigate.

The defendants have been negligent in their provision of the surgeries and have breached our clients human rights.

Chay Brown, from campaign group TransActual, said: Those on the list have been left in limbo for far too long. Not only have their mental and physical health been impacted but also their careers, life plans and personal relationships.

A spokesman for NHS England said: This is an ongoing potential legal matter and we are therefore unable to comment at this time.
The Foreign Office has pleaded with private schools to offer discounted fees to diplomats children amid Labours tax raid.

Many parents working for the department send their youngsters to British boarding schools while they undertake postings in other countries.

Data shows more than 13.8million of taxpayer cash went on subsidising private school fees for 500 diplomats children last year.

However, it is feared the Governments new VAT on private school fees, which comes into effect in January, will now impact its own staff.

The subsidy for fees is capped, so any fee rises above this resulting from the levy may be passed on to families.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has written to dozens of top boarding schools asking for them to offer diplomats a discount on their childrens fees.

Private school fees will be subject to VAT from January when Labour ends an exemption for the provision of education, Rachel Reeves has said (pictured with Kemi Badenoch)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office government building on Whitehall in the Westminster district of London in June 2022

In an email, the FCDO said: I am enquiring whether you would consider providing a discount to include FCDO families.

As you may be aware, FCDO staff and their families are subject to regular movements to and from overseas postings, in the same way as military families.

By offering a discount, inclusion on this list would help make your school more attractive to prospective parents.

The letter also asked schools to provide details of their plans to deal with the Governments tax raid, which will hit private schools with VAT from January 1, 2025.

Separately, we are hearing concern from our families about [the] impact of the Governments proposal to remove the exemption from VAT for private school fees, the email said.

It added that staff would find it helpful to understand any plans your school may be considering in relation to this.

It is understood the email in question was sent by the FCDOs HR department and was never approved by ministers.

The FCDO denied any link between the requests for discounts and the VAT policy change.

A spokesman for the Independent Schools Council said: It is somewhat surprising for the Government to ask that it be effectively exempted from the fee rises it has caused.

The extra costs to the Government are because of the VAT policy it rushed through against the advice of tax and teaching experts.

An FCDO spokesman said: There will be no exemptions for diplomats on VAT for private school fees and the FCDO is not asking schools for special treatment in relation to this policy.

This is not and has never been government policy.
READ MORE: Tragic theory on what happened to William Tyrrell

Two people have died and six people have been rushed to hospital after a horror truck rollover on a busy Queensland highway.

Two trucks were travelling in opposite directions on the Cunningham Highway in Tregony, in the state's Southern Downs region, when they collided, causing both trucks to roll at about 2.20am on Thursday.

The driver and a passenger in one of the trucks died at the scene.

Six other people sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital including four to Ipswich Hospital and two to Warwick Hospital.

The Cunningham Highway is closed in both directions and is expected to be shut for several hours while emergency services clear the scene.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the circumstance of the crash.

Anyone with information has been urged to contact police.
Donald Trump's victory yesterday sparked a barrage of calls for a hike in UK defence spending amid fears the US could pull out of NATO.

A string of former defence secretaries said ministers should set a timetable for increasing military funding to 3 per cent of GDP in case Mr Trump reduces support for UK-backed campaigns, such as the war in Ukraine.

And new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch rounded on Sir Keir Starmer over the issue during her first Prime Minister's Questions, challenging him to commit to hiking spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP.

During the US election campaign, Mr Trump criticised the scale of support that his country was giving to Ukraine, pledging to 'have that settled'.

He has also signalled that he could pull America out of NATO and said he would encourage Russia to do 'whatever the hell they want' to any member that doesn't meet its defence spending obligations.

File photo. Labour will be pressed to meet its defence obligations under Trump - but European leaders will fear the 47th President may pull the US out of the bloc altogether

Trump takes the stage for his last rally of the election year at Van Andel Arena on November 5

Rachel Reeves (C) operates a drone with Defence Secretary John Healey at the Stanford Training Area near Thetford on October 20

A Ukrainian soldier with a machine gun in his hands rides along a dirt road on a Challenger-2 tank on August 3, 2023

Countries who belong to the Western military alliance are supposed to spend at least 2 per cent of GDP on defence. The UK currently spends around 2.3 per cent.

Sir Ben Wallace, who was defence secretary for four years under Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, led calls for an increase by capitals across the Continent.

He posted on X, formerly Twitter: 'Whatever your feelings about the US election are, the best insurance for all our security is to invest in our own defence and security right across Europe.

'We don't need ridiculous 'European armies' or an EU defence rival to NATO. We need to all invest 3 per cent of GDP across the [NATO] Alliance..'

Grant Shapps, another former defence secretary, said: 'Given the US election and continued global uncertainties, the UK now needs to establish itself as the European leader of NATO.

'I believe we must bring together the European big three - UK, France and Germany - to lead our continent's defence together.

'We simply cannot afford to have our security decided by the vagaries of another continent's election cycle.'

Sir Gavin Williamson, who held the post under Theresa May, said: 'Whichever way you look at this, the need for greater long-term commitment to defence spending has just increased overnight and the reality is that the threats we are facing, both near and far, are increasing exponentially.

'We've been seeing a pivot from the US for the last sort of 25 years from the theatre of Europe to the Pacific. But what we have seen over the last ten years also, is that the threats in Europe have grown substantially. And at some point there is going to be a blunt conversation [with Washington].'

Labour peer Lord West, a former First Sea Lord, said: 'Trump has always been very clear that European nations are not spending enough on defence. I think quite rightly he's been saying that.

'We've actually got to put our money where our mouth is. Three per cent is certainly not a radical and stupid idea.'

Fear mounts Trump could isolate Europe to stand off against Russia alone if he leaves NATO

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a 2.9billion boost for defence spending in the Budget

A Russian BTR-82A armoured personnel carrier and Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems drive in Red Square during a 2022 parade

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a 2.9billion boost for defence spending in last month's Budget.

But the proportion of national wealth spent on the military will in fact decline slightly, from 2.33 per cent of GDP to 2.3.

The Daily Mail's Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign has repeatedly highlighted shortages and weaknesses in the Armed Forces and has been calling for an immediate rise in spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, increasing to at least 3 per cent by 2030.

The Labour government also says it wants to complete a defence review before making any more spending announcements.

During the UK election campaign, the Tories pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030.

But Labour has not matched this and is refusing to set a timetable for hitting 2.5 per cent.

Rounding on Sir Keir at PMQs, Ms Badenoch said: 'President Trump is right to argue that Europe needs to increase its defence spending.

'The last Conservative government committed to raising defence spending to 2.5 per cent by 2030.

'Will the Prime Minister finally match this commitment?'

But Sir Keir refused to commit to it, saying: 'There is no more important duty than keeping the people of this country safe. It was the Labour government that signed the NATO treaty in the first place and we are strong supporters.

'We have a strategic defence review. We are committed to 2.5 per cent. But I would remind that...the last time 2.5 per cent was met was under the last Labour government.'

Ms Badenoch replied: 'He will not make that commitment, that is very clear.'

Sir Liam Fox, defence secretary under Lord Cameron, said: 'The peace dividend that came with the end of the Cold War is now a historical relic.

'Defence is not a discretionary spend but needs to be at a level proportionate to the risks we face in the world.'
A suspect in a shooting at Santa Monica College died by suicide during a tense standoff with law enforcement in El Segundo on Tuesday.

Davon Durell Dean, 39, an employee at Santa Monica College, was suspected of shooting a co-worker on Monday night at the SMC Center for Media & Design, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

On Tuesday afternoon, officers from the Hawthorne Police Department spotted Dean's vehicle near El Segundo and Aviation boulevards, according to LA Times. After a brief chase, police surrounded the car, leading to a standoff.

Dean was found dead inside his car from a self-inflicted gunshot wound despite efforts by crisis negotiators to de-escalate the situation, the outlet said.

In 2011, Dean was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and in 2019 he faced charges of alleged assault with a deadly weapon, the LA Times reported. However, his convictions were limited to misdemeanor property crimes.

The investigation into the circumstances leading to his death is ongoing, but authorities do not believe there are any additional suspects involved.

The victim of Monday's shooting remained hospitalized in critical condition as of Tuesday, according to the police.

All Santa Monica College campuses were closed on Tuesday as well.

"As we try to make sense of this horrific act of workplace violence, the safety of our community is our primary focus," Johnnie Adams, chief of police for the Santa Monica Community College District, said a statement. "We are deeply grateful to SMCPD personnel and all our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to apprehend the suspect."
New deals to crack down on migrant smugglers will be signed with three Balkan countries tomorrow, Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed.

The Prime Minister will finalise agreements for closer co-operation with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo - which all lie on key trafficking routes to Britain and western Europe.

A No10 spokesman said the deals would increase intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation in a bid to smash organised crime gangs behind the small boats crisis.

The PM will also press for a major upgrade in international co-operation between the UK and Europe when he attends the European Political Community (EPC) meeting in Budapest, Hungary, today THU.

Labour scrapped the previous Tory governments Rwanda asylum deal as soon as it entered office in July, and claims it will tackle small boats by boosting border teams and working more closely with other European countries.

However, the number of migrants to have reached Britain so far this year - at 31,535 - is up 18 per cent on the same period in 2023, including 17,961 since the election.

Keir Starmer speaking during the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) at the House of Commons in London on Wednesday. The Prime Minister will finalise agreements for closer co-operation with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo

An inflatable dinghy carrying migrants makes its way towards England in the English Channel, Britain, August 6

A Border Force vessel carrying around 100 migrants, including several children arrives at Dover port on October 31, 2024 in Dover, England

The PM said: There is a criminal empire operating on our continent, exacting a horrendous human toll and undermining our national security.

Backed by our new Border Security Command, the UK will be at the heart of the efforts to end the scourge of organised immigration crime - but we cannot do it in isolation.

We need to go further and faster, alongside our international partners, and take the fight directly to the heart of these vile people smuggling networks.

I will be making this the central feature of my discussions at the EPC meeting today.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: Our work with our partners in the Western Balkans is absolutely key to dismantling the criminal networks that orchestrate the exploitation of vulnerable people for financial gain.

Working more closely with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo we will share information and intelligence, and work across borders to map out what is happening and where, to break the business models of these unscrupulous gangs at source.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel. Picture date: Tuesday November 5, 2024

A group of people thought to be migrants are driven away from the Border Force compound in Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. Picture date: Monday November 4, 2024

Through our intensified work, criminals will soon realise they have nowhere to hide.

It came as French authorities discovered two bodies - thought to have belonged to small boat migrants - adrift in the Channel.

A further body was found on a beach in Calais yesterday WEDS, according to French media reports.

Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutors office has launched an investigation.

Kent Police said another body was pulled from the Channel as officers were called to Dover lifeboat station on Tuesday.

The circumstances of the mans death were unclear, and an investigation is underway.

At least 60 migrants are thought to have tragically died in the Channel this year - already the most deadly on record.

More than 50 migrants were rescued in the Channel after a dinghy got into difficulty when its engine failed off the coast of Audresselles, northern France, overnight into Tuesday.
Oil and gas companies will welcome Donald Trumps return to the White House  especially after his repeated use of the phrase drill, baby, drill! during the election campaign.

And the result is sending shudders down the spines of environmentalists who have frequently heard him call global warming a hoax.

Mr Trump has promised the oil and gas industry unhindered access to drilling on public lands and in federal waters  including the Alaskan Arctic national wildlife reserve.

He has stated his intention to end the offshore wind industry on day one, arguing it is too expensive and poses a threat to whales and seabirds.

His election triumph could also weaken efforts to limit global warming as the nations of the world meet at the COP29 UN climate summit which kicks off on Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The president-elect has already promised to withdraw from the Paris Agreement which commits signatories to cut greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5C.

Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Wednesday in West Palm Beach, Florida

Oil production in Prudhoe Bay, which is just outside Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

This 2019 photo provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska's North Slope

Americans have historically been less worried about climate change, and more skeptical of the science underpinning it, than their counterparts in Europe

Oil pumpjacks at the Inglewood Oil Field, in Culver City, California. US oil production broke records last year, and it's on track to surge to a new high of 13.21 million barrels per day this year

He withdrew once before  during his previous White House term  but Joe Biden rejoined the pact on the day of his inauguration.

The US is the worlds second-biggest producer of greenhouse gas CO2 after China but is also highly influential in climate talks. A Trump administration committed to burning fossil fuels without restrictions could mean other big countries such as India and China weaken their own efforts to combat global warming.

Johan Rockstrom, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said:With Trumps win, we now face, at best, a repeat of his last terms climate inaction  a four-year pause we simply cant afford in this critical decade.

With a climate sceptic back in the White House, the pressure on the world, and especially on EU leadership, to act will intensify enormously.

Laurence Tubiana, architect of the Paris deal said: It will take an unprecedented mobilisation so that the shock of the American decision does not impact other countries that have become reluctant to accelerate action.

The US is committed to halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. By 2023, its emissions had fallen by 18 per cent.

Targets to boost electric car usage are also in Trumps sights  although Elon Musk, boss of EV maker Tesla, is one of Trumps top supporters
Ukraine could be forced to strike a deal with Vladimir Putin after Donald Trump's victory, a senior Conservative has warned.

Lord Hammond, who served as the UK's defence secretary and foreign secretary, also claimed the world was more dangerous following the US presidential election result.

The Tory grandee insisted the outcome was a boost for Russia and added: 'I suspect some of the biggest celebrations will have been in the Kremlin.

'There is also no doubt [Trump] will have a deal brokered by himself in mind that will resolve the situation in Ukraine.

'For the rest of us in Europe, it is a lot more than Ukraine; it is about our ability to live in peace, to live without a continuous threat from our large and aggressive eastern neighbour.

'If Putin is allowed to win in Ukraine, I do not think Nato's eastern border is stable and secure.'

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks as he attends a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting on September 6, 2024

Russia boasted that Trump's election would probably be bad news for Ukraine. Pictured: Vladimir Putin, applauds during a remote ceremony to launch the Arktika-class nuclear-powered icebreaker Chukotka, from the Kremlin on Wednesday

Donald Trump (pictured on Wednesday) previously threatened to withdraw from NATO and could cut funding to Ukraine

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Volodymyr Zelensky was among the first international leaders to congratulate Mr Trump, saying he appreciated his 'commitment to peace through strength' approach in global affairs. The Ukrainian president added: 'This is exactly the principle that can bring just peace in Ukraine closer.'

However, senior security sources fear the offer presented to Ukraine could be far from 'just'.

Additionally, a Trump administration would also likely oppose Ukrainian membership of Nato, which Mr Zelensky has repeated called for since the Russian invasion in 2022.

Lord Hammond also called for Britain and other Western states to increase support for Ukraine should, as is widely feared, the United States reduces or cancels military aid.

He served as defence secretary from 2010 to 2014, the year Russia invaded Crimea.

Subsequently as the UK's foreign secretary in 2016, Lord Hammond criticised Russia's annexation of the peninsula and called for the Kremlin to return Crimea. The UK also supported sanctions against Russia for its initial offensive into Ukrainian territory.

In an alarming indication of how Mr Trump's return to the White House could influence Russian foreign policy, Kremlin officials celebrated his election victory. Writing on messaging app Telegram, Russian foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said: 'Weeping may remain in the night, but joy comes in the morning. Hallelujah, I would add for myself.'

Leonid Slutsky, head of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee, predicted Mr Trump's victory could trigger the collapse of the Ukrainian government and an end to Western aid.

He said: 'Judging by the pre-election rhetoric, the Republican team is not going to throw more and more American taxpayer money into the furnace of the proxy war against Russia.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last night said he had an excellent call with Donald Trump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory and tremendous campaign made this result possible.

He added: I praised his family and team for their great work.

We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace.

Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, the US has spent 40billion on security aid to Ukraine.

Pro-Trump Republican lawmakers held up recent assistance packages, while Vice President-elect JD Vance has been one of the leading voices in the US opposing continued support for Ukraine. He has also called for the country to concede territory to Russia as part of a peace deal  a suggestion that Mr Zelensky dismissed as 'too radical'.

A Kremlin official said yesterday Russia would aim to 'achieve its goals' in Ukraine following Mr Trump's victory.

Ukrainian troops fire a Leopard 2A4 tank during training in Ukraine on October 27

Rescuers teams inspect the remains of a building after a strike in Kharkiv, on November 1, 2024

Residential buildings, damaged in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, is seen in a village of Pisky in the Donetsk region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, November 1, 2024

A Ukrainian soldier places a claymore landmine along the frontline in Donetsk region, Oct 30

Putin has no immediate plans to congratulate Trump on his victory, according to the Kremlin (pictured: The pair at the G20 summit in June 2019)

Kamala Harris (left) with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) in September

Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine's foreign affairs committee, said his country had no choice but to go on resisting Russia, with or without US support.

He said: 'We will continue in any case because it is about our survival. We don't have any choice. If we stop, we lose our state and we will be exterminated as a nation.'

Ukraine is at a precarious stage, having lost around a third of the territory it seized in the southern Russian province of Kursk while Kremlin troops are continuing to make gains in eastern Ukraine.

Putin remains committed to capturing the 'Donbas' region of eastern Ukraine in full, an objective he may be able to achieve in 2025 should the US reduce or withdraw military aid.

Ukrainian commanders have repeatedly stressed the situation on the frontline is 'difficult' and say that certain areas require a constant renewal of resources.

Such a replenishment would be difficult without US support.

Meanwhile, Russia is bolstering resources with as many as 10,000 North Korean troops, as well as rockets from Iran and technological components from China.
Prisoners have better access to free NHS dentistry than millions of law-abiding patients, an investigation has revealed.

Murderers, rapists and paedophiles are among those able to get care as quickly as the same day - at taxpayers expense.

Only around half (52 per cent) of the British public are registered with an NHS dentist, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Meanwhile, 97 per cent of people without a dentist who tried to get an NHS appointment in September were unable to do so.

But inspection reports reveal prisons housing some of the countrys most notorious criminals, including Belmarsh, Pentonville and Frankland, offer routine and urgent dentist appointments within weeks - if not the same day.

Dentists say there are better incentives for them to do prison work, which is outsourced to private firms. This includes higher pay, better hours and fewer targets.

Prisoners have better access to free NHS dentistry than millions of law-abiding patients, an investigation has revealed (File image)

Murderers, rapists and paedophiles are among those able to get care as quickly as the same day - at taxpayers expense (File image)

Meanwhile, 97 per cent of people without a dentist who tried to get an NHS appointment in September were unable to do so (File image)

Reports by HM Inspectorate of Prisons reveal routine waits at HMP Oakwood in Staffordshire were less than four weeks but patients experiencing pain were able to see a dentist within one working day.

At Buckley Hall prison in Rochdale there were virtually no waits to access assessment and support, the Telegraph found.

Meanwhile at HMP Frankland in Co Durham - a high-security jail housing Wayne Couzens, the former Metropolitan Police officer who is serving a life sentence for the kidnap, rape and murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard - inmates can expect to be seen on the same day for urgent appointments or if they are in pain.

One inmate at a category B prison told the paper: After years of searching for an NHS dentist, I have finally found a very good one in prison.

The majority of people, including those who have retired, have to pay a minimum 26.80 for a routine NHS check-up, if they can get one, while prisoners are exempt.

Prisoners across the 122 jails in England and Wales also have their fillings, dentures and other procedures paid for by the taxpayer, with some treatments costing hundreds of pounds.

Murderers, rapists and paedophiles are among those able to get care as quickly as the same day - at the taxpayers expense (file image)

At HMP Frankland in Co Durham, inmates can expect to be seen on the same day for urgent appointments or if they are in pain

Dennis Reed, the director of over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, said: There may well be prisons that get NHS dentistry in areas which are NHS dental deserts - a little oasis in the middle of a whole area.

Its completely warped priorities, and that needs to change.

An official report on Belmarsh - one of the countrys highest security prisons - found waiting times were good, with most people getting an initial assessment within seven days and ongoing treatments within a similar timeframe.

Urgent appointments were quicker if needed and prisoners received treatments including dentures, root canal work, scales, fillings, and promoting oral health with six sessions a week.

Convicts serving time there have included Charles Bronson, once labelled Britains most dangerous man, Abu Hamza, the fundamentalist Islamic preacher, as well as Michael Adebolajo, who murdered soldier Lee Rigby, and Tory MP David Amesss killer, Ali Harbi Ali.

A Government spokesman said: This government is committed to rebuilding NHS dentistry, but it will take time.

We will start with an extra 700,000 urgent dentistry appointments to help those who need it most, and reform the dental contract to encourage more dentists to offer NHS services to patients.

An NHS spokesman said: As commissioners for prison healthcare, NHS England is legally tasked with ensuring dental care is provided to patients in prison.

The NHS recognises that there is a lot of work to do to boost every day NHS dental care for right across the country and thats why we are working with the Government on measures to boost access, such as incentivising dentists to work in underserved areas.
Benjamin Netanyahu last night hailed a 'new beginning' in the alliance between Israel and America after Donald Trump's election victory.

The Israeli Prime Minister has clashed publicly and privately with outgoing US President Joe Biden over the conduct of Israel's military campaign.

Senior Israeli figures also feared another Democrat administration would have led to further US threats to restrict supplies of weapons and ammunition.

But Mr Trump's return to the White House is expected to free Israel from US oversight regarding its military operations in the occupied territories, Lebanon and across the Middle East.

Trump's policy toward Israel likely will have no strings attached for humanitarian concerns

Netanyahu hailed Trump's victory in the hard-won election as a 'new beginning'

Katz has held multiple positions in Israeli government in one shape or form since 2003 including stints as transport minister and most recently as foreign minister

Trump has a long friendship with Netanyahu and the Israeli PM studied in the US in the 1980s

Anti government protesters take to streets after the Israeli prime minister announced that he had fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant earlier this week

Israeli protestors block a road in Tel Aviv after the dismissal of the defence minister on Tuesday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Oct 31

Netanyahu described Mr Trump's victory as 'a new beginning for America and a powerful re-commitment to the great alliance between Israel and America'.

President Biden temporarily halted specific arms donations to Israel earlier this year following concerns about alleged war crimes.

The move led to furious rows between Biden and Netanyahu.

As Harris's support base within her party included pro-Gaza fringe groups, she may have taken a tougher stance than her predecessor.

The Israeli PM had previously blamed Biden for denying Israel the 'total victory' it has sought against Iranian-backed militia following the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.

Mr Trump could also sanction Israeli air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, an option which Mr Biden strongly opposed.

Defence minister Israel Katz said the countries would 'stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran'.

While former president Isaac Herzog described Trump as a 'true and dear friend of Israel' and 'a champion of peace in our region.

It comes as protests erupted across Israel after Mr Netanyahu appointed a new defence minister.

Activists took to the streets as the country's prime minister dismissed Yoav Gallant, citing a 'crisis of trust', and replaced him with Mr Katz.
Sen. Bernie Sanders issued a blistering statement criticizing the Democratic party after another loss to President-elect Donald Trump.

'It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,' the 83-year-old senator from Vermont wrote on social media.

Sanders, who identifies as a Democratic socialist, shared his statement just before Vice President Kamala Harris' concession speech.

Sanders said that it was the white working class who first delivered turned on Democrats, but that they had now been joined by black and Latino workers.

'While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change,' he wrote. 'And theyre right.'

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. issued a statement sharply critical of the Democratic party after Vice President Kamala Harris lost to President-elect Donald Trump

It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.



While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change.



And theyre right. pic.twitter.com/lM2gSJmQFL  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 6, 2024

Sanders also specifically referred to the struggle of young people, facing a working environment threatened with the rise of artificial intelligence and robotics.

'Today, despite an explosion in technology and worker productivity, many young people will have a worse standard of living than their parents,' he wrote.

The former presidential contender also condemned the billions of dollars sent by the Biden-Harris administration to the Israeli government to fund the war in Gaza, leading to a 'humanitarian disaster.'

Sanders also condemned the 'big money interests' and 'well paid consultants' that he claimed controlled the Democratic party, saying that they had refused to learn the lessons of past campaigns.

'Do they have any idea as to how we can take on the increasingly powerful oligarchy which has so much economic and political power?' He asked. 'Probably not.'

He vowed to participate in 'some very serious political discussions' and concluded by urging his supporters to 'stay tuned.'

The statement immediately sparked speculation that Sanders was considering running again for president, however he would be 87 in 2028.

The race initially appeared neck-and-neck as Americans went to the polls Tuesday after a tense months-long build-up that peaked when Joe Biden abandoned his quest for a second term and the Democratic party ushered Vice President Harris to the fore.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on stage as she concedes the election, at Howard University

Throughout the night, the campaign highlighted data points that could spell surprise good news for Harris - higher-than-expected turnout in Philadelphia, votes yet to be counted in Detroit.

But in the end Harris didn't improve upon President Joe Biden's performance against Trump four years ago.

Democrats had been counting on holding the trio of states - Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania - to give Harris the White House. Biden won them in 2020.

But Trump won them instead, giving him 292 electoral votes to Harris's 224. It takes 270 to win the presidency.

Harris is now on track to do worse than Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. She could even be on pace to have the worst Electoral College result of any Democrat since the 1988 race.

Trump is the first president in over 130 years, and only the second in history, to win a non-consecutive second term.

Exit polls show his victory came after he made gains with nearly every voting bloc he lost in the 2020 election and put together a coalition of multi-ethnic working-class voters.

And Harris did worse on Tuesday than Biden in the 2020 contest among key voting groups including women, the working class and Latinos.

Trump won the popular vote in 2024, a reversal from his fortunes in 2020 and even his electoral college win in 2016

The statement immediately sparked speculation that Sanders was considering running again for president, however he would be 87 in 2028

The exit polls suggested voters trusted Trump more to fix the economy.

They overwhelmingly believed the Biden-Harris administration had put the country on the wrong track.

Democrat candidate Harris' support came from her party's strongholds on the East and West coast in states like New York, Delaware, and California.

A notable difference between this year's election night and that of 2020 is that fewer voters - which leaned Democrat - used mail-in ballots, while states have been quicker to process those votes.

Four years ago, that meant Trump's votes were often counted first as his supporters voted in-person, before Biden votes piled in later and helped the incumbent president to a late victory.

This year, however, the number of voters from both sides using mail-in ballots are more even, meaning the Harris campaign cannot count on large batches of outstanding votes to put her over the line in the key battleground states.

That prompted many election watchers and political experts stateside to predict a Trump victory as early vote counts suggested a favorable result across several swing states, leaving Kamala's supporters at election watch parties in for a long night.

By 2:30am ET, Trump had won Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina, capturing three of the seven heavily contested battlegrounds and coming within a few electoral votes of winning the presidency.

He declared victory and took to the stage in Florida to deliver a lengthy speech to legions of adoring fans, that also featured shout outs to the likes of his vice presidential pick JD Vance, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Elon Musk and UFC President Dana White.

The Republicans also reclaimed control of the Senate, picking up seats in West Virginia and Ohio.

Top House races are focused in New York and California, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years.

The upset led CNN Strategist Scott Jennings delivered a stinging indictment of the 'political information complex', noting that the story that had been portrayed about Harris' chances was, 'not true'.
Barack Obama finally reacted to the 2024 presidential election results after Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech.

The former president and former first lady Michelle Obama's statement congratulating Donald Trump but acknowledging 'this is obviously not the outcome we hoped for.'

The couple got increasingly involved in the 2024 race and hit the campaign trail for Harris in the final weeks leading up to November 5.

But even the Obamas' coattails, and the star power that came with it, couldn't bring Harris over the finish line.

Barack Obama released joint statement with wife Michelle reacting to 2024 presidential election results

The joint statement from Barack and Michelle Obama noted that 'America is not immune' to having an electorate that reacts accordingly to the conditions of the country, which ultimately led to sweeping victories for Republicans across the country and in national and state-wide races.

'America has been through a lot over the last few years,' the former first couple wrote.

'In a country as big and diverse as ours, we won't always see eye-to-eye on everything,' the statement admits. 'But progress requires us to extend good faith and grace  even to people with whom we deeply disagree.'

The statement was released to X shortly after Harris delivered remarks from her alma mater Howard University in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday afternoon where she officially and publicly conceded the election to Trump.

Vice President Kamala Harris publicly conceded the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump during somber remarks at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday afternoon

Former first lady Michelle Obama also appeared on the campaign trail for Harris as she advocated for the election of the first female U.S. president. Pictured: Michelle Obama campaigns in Norristown, Pennsylvania on November 2, just three days before the election

Barack Obama holds up Harris' hand during a campaign rally together at James R. Hallford Stadium in Clarkston, Georgia on October 24

Harris told her tearful fans in D.C. on Wednesday to keep fighting as she conceded defeat.

The devastated and emotional vice president admitted 'this is not what we wanted' as her voice shook when speaking almost 12 hours after the race was officially called for her Republican opponent.

She vowed to help with the peaceful transfer of power and said she had spoken with the former president, which earned her some boos from her loyal supporters gathered at Howard University.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the former president swept five of the seven swing states and in the final two  Arizona and Nevada  the odds are leaning in his favor. He's well on his way to taking 300 Electoral College votes, which will further cement his commanding victory.

'While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,' Harris said.
China pledged to work with the US on the basis of mutual respect today as Donald Trump closed in on victory in the presidential election.

When asked how Trump returning to the Oval Office would affect US-China relations, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press conference in Beijing: 'Our policy towards the US is consistent.'

'We will continue to view and handle China-US relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation.'

But strategists have warned that the election of Donald Trump could spell challenging times ahead, given his proposed tariffs on Chinese imports - and an isolationist foreign policy that could give China more room to otherwise expand its influence.

The President-elect raised the prospect of introducing higher tariffs as part of his bid to get back into the White House.

Trump has threatened to impose harsh tariffs on Chinese imports (Pictured November 6)

Xi Jinping (pictured in 2017) reportedly called Trump to congratulate him

Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019

Mr Trump previously described China as a strategic competitor and imposed tariffs of up to 25 per cent on its imports, triggering reprisals by Beijing.

This time Trump has threatened tariffs of 60 per cent on Chinese goods, a move which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned would impact severely on GDP levels.

China sells goods worth more than $400 billion annually to the U.S. and hundreds of billions more in components for products Americans buy from elsewhere.

Major US manufacturers could be hit by additional costs as many companies import materials and components for their goods from China.

'Beijing is particularly wary of a potential revival of the trade war under Trump, especially as China currently faces significant internal economic challenges,' said Tong Zhao, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

'China also expects Trump to accelerate the decoupling of technologies and supply chains, a move that could threaten China's economic growth and indirectly impact its social and political stability.'

In response, China is likely to intensify its push for greater technological and economic self-sufficiency, while feeling more pressure to bolster economic ties with countries like Russia, he added.

'Going forward, Beijing would likely be drawing up a list of clear bargains and interest tradeoffs that it could float with Washington, in hope that it can focus on its much needed domestic economic concerns whilst Trump's attention is occupied elsewhere,' said Brian Wong, assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong who studies grand strategy.

President Biden was furthermore committed to protecting Taiwan, the independent island close to China which Beijing regards as part of its territory.

It remained unclear last night whether Trump, on his return to office, would be as steadfast.

He has previously accused Taiwan of stealing technology from the US semiconductor industry.

Experts warn Trump is unlikely to continue the same support to Taiwan (File photo, 2021)

Trump's re-election will have implications affecting China, Taiwan, Russia and Ukraine

Military troops march during a welcoming ceremony for Donald Trump on November 9, 2017 in Beijing, China

Taiwan would also be hit by US tariffs, as soon as March 2025 according to economic sources. This move could affect the supply of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips and other products.

'The Biden administration applied high-pressure tactics to China on Taiwan, with U.S. troops stationed in Taiwan and even giving weapons to Taiwan ... in a huge break with the former Trump administration's Taiwan policy,' said Shen Dingli, an international relations scholar in Shanghai.

Washington last month approved a US$2 billion arms sale to Taiwan.

'Trump is not too likely to give Taiwan the same support in future.'

Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly called Mr Trump to congratulate him last night.

'The Chinese leadership will likely strive to maintain an appearance of a cordial personal relationship with Trump, while intensifying efforts to project China's power and strength,' explained Zhao.

Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said Trump's victory 'may pose a relatively large challenge to Sino-U.S. relations' based on his policy proposals and actions in his previous term.

'Due to Trump's high unpredictability, I think it is difficult for China to say that there is a fully formed plan to do "x" when Trump comes to power. It also depends on what policies the Trump administration implements.'
The German government has collapsed after the chancellor sacked his finance minister.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz cited persistent disagreements with finance minister Christian Linder for the breakdown of his centre-left coalition.

Mr Scholz's adminstration has been the head of a so-called 'traffic light coalition - which include his Social Democratic Party (SPD) , the Greens and the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) - since 2021.

However, the quarrelsome government has stumbled from disagreement to disagreement ever since then with Mr Linder and Mr Scholz often at loggerheads over how to tackle Germany's economic woes.

Now finally their disagreements have reached a boiling point and after a 'make or break' meeting the coalition has collapsed.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz cited persistent disagreements with finance minister Christian Linder for the breakdown of his centre-left coalition

Euronews reported that the chancellor said Mr Linder (pictured) 'has broken my trust too many times'

Chancellor Scholz with Mr Linder in the German parliament. The quarrelsome government has stumbled from disagreement to disagreement with Mr Linder and Mr Scholz often at loggerheads over how to tackle Germany 's economic woes

Euronews reported that the chancellor said Mr Linder 'has broken my trust too many times'.

He added that there was 'no more basis of trust for further cooperation' because the minister was 'more concerned with his own clientele and the survival of his own party'.

Mr Scholz is expected to cobble-together a minority government with the Greens in order to pass legislation before a parliamentary confidence vote in his government on January 15.

This could pave the way for early elections in Germany which would likely be bruising for the former coalition partners.

Scholz's SPD are currently polling third behind the conservative CDU and the right-wing populist AfD. Meanwhile, the FDP polling at below the five per cent threshold to even enter parliament.

The government crisis comes at a critical juncture for Germany, with a flatlining economy, aging infrastructure and an unprepared military.

A political shake-up could fuel growing frustration with Germany's mainstream parties to the benefit of younger populist movements, including the anti-immigrant AfD.

With France also facing political uncertainty after snap elections this year, turmoil in the European Union's two largest economies could hamper efforts to deepen the bloc's integration at a time when it is facing challenges from east and west.

Olaf Scholz is seen through the window in Berlin. After a 'make or break' meeting the coalition has collapsed

Mr Scholz and his coalition partners in 2021. He has been the head of a so-called 'traffic light coalition - which include his Social Democratic Party (SPD) , the Greens and the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) - since 2021

Speaking after the chancellor, Mr Lindner said the chancellor had tried to strong-arm him into breaking a constitutionally-enshrined spending limit known as the debt brake, a move that Mr Lindner, a fiscal hawk, refused to support

The move comes a day after the election of Republican Donald Trump as US president, with Europe scrambling to form a united response on issues from possible new U.S. tariffs to Russia's war in Ukraine and the future of the NATO alliance.

Many members of the coalition had hoped that in the aftermath of the US election internal strife could be put aside to focus on the geopolitical challenges ahead.

But the result across the Atlantic was not enough to crush disagreements to one side.

The coalition has been at odds over how best to rescue Europe's largest economy, which is facing its second year of contraction and a crisis in its economic model after the end of cheap gas from Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and amid increasing competition from China.

Mr Scholz said he had proposed capping energy costs for companies to bolster Germany's appeal as a place to do business. He wanted a package to help save jobs in the ailing auto industry, as well as increased support for Ukraine.

The FDP had proposed public spending cuts, lower taxes and less regulation as the answer to the malaise. It also wants to slow Germany's shift to a carbon-neutral economy.

Mr Scholz is expected to cobble-together a minority government with the Greens in order to pass legislation before a parliamentary confidence vote in his government on January 15

Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party co-leader Alice Weidel. A political shake-up could fuel growing frustration with Germany's mainstream parties to the benefit of younger populist movements, including the anti-immigrant AfD

Speaking after the chancellor, Mr Lindner said the chancellor had tried to strong-arm him into breaking a constitutionally-enshrined spending limit known as the debt brake, a move that Mr Lindner, a fiscal hawk, refused to support.

'Olaf Scholz refuses to recognise that our country needs a new economic model,' he told reporters. 'Olaf Scholz has showed he doesn't have the strength to give his country a new boost.'

The SPD and the Greens, while at odds on some issues, agree that targeted government spending is needed.

Mr Scholz said Mr Lindner was focused on the short-term survival of his own party. 'Especially today, one day after such an important event as the U.S. elections, this kind of selfishness is utterly incomprehensible.'
A desperate Keir Starmer has congratulated Donald Trump in their first phone call since the Republican's shock election win as he tries to repair ties.

The premier sent his 'hearty congratulations' to the president-elect amid tensions over Labour activists campaigning for Trump's rival Kamala Harris, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy previously calling Trump a 'neo-Nazi' sympathiser.

Sir Keir congratulated Mr Trump on his 'historic victory' after US voters returned him to the White House, Downing Street said.

'The Prime Minister offered his hearty congratulations and said he looked forward to working closely with President-elect Trump across all areas of the special relationship.'

The leaders agreed that the US-UK relationship, from defence and security to growth and prosperity, was 'incredibly strong' and 'would continue to thrive for many years to come', No 10 said.

A desperate Keir Starmer has congratulated Donald Trump in their first phone call since the Republican's shock election win as he tries to repair ties

Sir Keir congratulated Mr Trump on his 'historic victory' after US voters returned him to the White House , Downing Street said

Foreign Secretary David Lammy previously calling Trump a 'neo-Nazi' sympathiser

Sir Keir and Mr Lammy had lunch with Trump at Trump Tower in New York several weeks ago.

'The leaders fondly recalled their meeting in September and President-elect Trump's close connections and affinity to the United Kingdom, and looked forward to working with one another,' No 10 added.

The PM is facing a huge challenge after tensions flared over Labour supporters helping to campaign for Democrat contender Ms Harris. It sparked the Republican's campaign team to file a legal complaint with accusations of 'foreign interference'.

Tories are demanding Sir Keir apologises for previous comments by Mr Lammy and other senior figures.

The PM has also repeatedly clashed with billionaire Elon Musk, who looks certain to end up playing a key role in the Trump administration.

One senior minister described Mr Trump's return as a 'nightmare', adding: 'We are going to have to deal with a whole new world order. Whether you look at defence or trade or Ukraine or climate change, everything is going to change in ways that are unpredictable and difficult to navigate.'

Clem Cowton, a board director at trade body Energy UK, warned ministers to learn a 'stark lesson' from the experience of the Biden administration that tackling climate change could not come at the expense of the cost of living.

He added: 'You don't get the chance to make grand plans about climate or anything else if people feel poorer when they go to the polls in five years.'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was in Mar-a-Lago last night for Trump's historic victory and says Sir Keir will need to roll out the red carpet

Ahead of his bombshell victory in the US election overnight, Mr Trump has boasted that 'tariff' is his favourite word

Labour's former shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged Sir Keir to move further to the Left, saying: 'The key lesson of the Trump victory for us is that Labour has to deliver the significant improvement in quality of life that people can feel or we face the rise of right wing populism that has swept America. Half measures won't be enough.'

Nigel Farage, who has close links to Mr Trump, said the PM would have to 'roll out the red carpet' and hope to find the President-Elect in a forgiving mood.

He told the Mail: 'They are a long, long way apart on most things. Trump does forgive people - although perhaps not straight away. Starmer is going to have to work very hard at it because that relationship is absolutely crucial for trade, defence and intelligence sharing.'

He added: 'Starmer is going to have to make a choice - he can try and strike a tariff reduction deal with Trump or he can cosy up to the EU. He can't do both.'

One senior Labour figure urged the PM to abandon his plan to appoint a Labour grandee to Washington and stick with US ambassador Karen Pierce, who has forged good relations with the Trump team.

'The last think Keir needs now is to have David Miliband blundering in and trying to lecture Trump about his responsibility to the planet,' the source said.

Rachel Reeves yesterday pleaded with Trump not to go ahead with trade tariffs amid fears of a hammer blow to UK growth.

The Chancellor said she would make 'strong representations' to the president-elect about the damage a protectionist regime would inflict.

Ahead of his bombshell victory in the US election overnight, Mr Trump has boasted that 'tariff' is his favourite word. He has floated a 10 per cent hike in levies on goods imported from around the world - potentially rising to 60 per cent for China.

The aggressive approach has sparked concerns that the new administration will spark a trade war, with analysts already trimming Britain's growth predictions.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she would make 'strong representations' to the president-elect about the damage a protectionist regime would inflict

It is another major headache for Keir Starmer as he scrambles to prop up the Special Relationship in the wake of Mr Trump's triumph

Sir Keir said in a statement this morning that he 'looks forward to working with' Mr Trump 'in the years ahead'

Tory frontbencher Andrew Griffith mocked Labour for sending activists to help the Harris bid

Giving evidence to the Treasury Committee yesterday afternoon, Ms Reeves said: 'We're not just a passive actor in this.

How UK could clash with US Trade Keir Starmer: Labour wants more trade to boost growth, with Sir Keir looking to strengthen trade with the EU and reverse parts of the Brexit deal. Britain will press Mr Trump to maintain free and open trade. Donald Trump: He says tariff is his favourite word and plans to tax all imports, which experts warn could halve UK growth. Allies say he is open to reviving trade talks with the UK, but warn a deal would be incompatible with closer EU-UK links. Defence Keir Starmer: Britains support for Ukraine is iron clad. Labour has also re-oriented defence policy to a Nato-first posture. But, despite pledging to increase defence spending, it will fall as a proportion of GDP next year. Donald Trump: He said he will end the Ukraine war in a day, raising fears that President Volodymyr Zelensky could have to sue for peace, potentially emboldening Vladimir Putin to attack other states. He has criticised states that dont pay their way in Nato, saying he would let Putin do what he wants to any that dont. Climate Keir Starmer: He wants to decarbonise the UKs electricity system by 2030, including a ban on new North Sea drilling licences, and will pour billions into subsidising green energy. Donald Trump: He calls climate change one of the great scams of all time and doubts the need for the US to cut its 12.5 per cent share of global emissions. He wants to halt spending on clean energy and pursue a drill, baby, drill approach to fossil fuels. Diplomacy Keir Starmer: It is a priority to rebuild international alliances, particularly with the EU and through forums like the G7 to counter threats from hostile states like Russia, China and Iran. Donald Trump: He backed Brexit and has an antipathy to the EU, second only to his dislike of China. British attempts to rebuild ties with Brussels would strain the special relationship. He is sceptical of alliances, preferring an isolationist approach. Advertisement

'It's a trade relationship with the United States and we will make strong representations about the importance of free and open trade, not just between ourselves and the United States, but globally, and the US also benefit from those that access to free and open trade with us and other countries around the world, and it's what makes us richer as societies to benefit from that.'

Tory former Treasury minister John Glen highlighted that Goldman Sachs had alredy cut UK growth forecasts from 1.6 per cent to 1.4 per cent.

Challenged if it was realistic to seek to influence Mr Trump, Ms Reeves said: 'We've got another couple of months before the inauguration.

'Obviously, you know, we will begin those conversations. We'll prepare for different eventualities.

'I absolutely do not want to sound in any way sanguine. On the other hand, I am optimistic about our ability to shape the global economic agenda, as we have under successive governments.'

Downing Street refused to be drawn on 'future policy discussions' when asked whether Sir Keir was concerned about the prospect of future trade restrictions.

The PM's spokesman said: 'We look forward to working with President-elect Trump including on a wide range of his policy priorities to improve the UK-US trading relations and to support the significant investment relationship that supports millions of jobs across our two countries.

'I'm not going to get into future policy discussions.'

Asked whether Sir Keir would want Mr Trump to refrain from launching a 'trade war', the spokesman said: 'I'm not going to get into policy discussions that we're yet to have with President-elect Trump, but as I say the UK and US have a strong relationship on economic and trade issues and we look forward to continuing to work (together).'

New Tory leader Kemi Badenoch slammed Sir Keir, Mr Lammy and other senior figures for their comments about the president-elect in her debut at PMQs.

She insisted that Sir Keir must invite Mr Trump to visit the UK and address both Houses of Parliament.

When Mr Trump was last president Labour MPs including Mr Lammy signed an early day motion arguing he should not be allowed the honour during a state visit.

The attack came after the premier opened the exchanges by congratulating the Republican.

'Having had dinner with president-elect Trump just a few weeks ago I look forward to working with him in the years to come,' he said.

Sir Keir said in a statement said: 'Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

'As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

'From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.'

Mr Lammy - who once branded Mr Trump a 'neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath' - said: 'The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years. We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.'

Sir Keir ordered Cabinet ministers to stay silent on the election for fear of further inflaming the situation. But MPs have been unable to resist expressing their dismay on social media this morning.

Meanwhile, jubilant Reform MPs have been demanding that Sir Keir uses Mr Farage's close friendship with Mr Trump.

Government sources have been playing up a private dinner Sir Keir and Mr Lammy had with Mr Trump in New York in September, insisting they had struck up a good relationship.

But during the bitter campaign Mr Trump's team filed an official complaint with federal election authorities accusing Labour of making 'illegal foreign national contributions'.

Around 100 activists travelled to swing states to canvass for the Harris ticket - although Labour insisted they went at their own expense.

There was also anger that senior figures from the party went to the Democratic National Convention in August and met Harris aides. The two parties have long-term ties.

In interviews at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa last month, Sir Keir tried to gloss over fears the spat could derail the Special Relationship if Mr Trump wins.

He insisted that the situation needed to be 'put in perspective' as volunteers from parties have gone to help out in 'every previous election'.

As a backbench MP in 2018, Mr Lammy wrote in Time magazine: 'Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.

'He is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long.'

And in a 2018 Times article ahead of Trump's first visit to the UK, Lammy committed to be one of 'tens of thousands on the streets, protesting against our government's capitulation to this tyrant in a toupee.'

In a round of interviews yesterday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting was asked for his views on the election.

MPs have been unable to resist expressing their dismay at Kamala Harris's (pictured) defeat on social media this morning

A 'Neo-Nazi sympathiser' and a 'sad little man': The rash comments about Trump that Labour ministers are trying to forget KEIR STARMER Last year, Sir Keir compared the Conservative Party with Mr Trump as he accused the Tories of falling far from Churchillian values. 'Is there anybody in the Government now who feels a sense of obligation to anything other than their own self-interest? To democracy, the rule of law, serving our country?' he asked in a speech in Buckinghamshire. 'An entitlement to power totally unchecked by any sense of service or responsibility - that's the cultural stain that runs through the modern Conservative Party.' He added: 'These aren't Churchill's Tories any more. If anything they behave more and more like Donald Trump. They look at the politics of America and they want to bring that here. 'It's all woke, woke, woke. Wedge, wedge, wedge. Divide, divide, divide.' In June, the prime minister said following Mr Trump's hush money trial conviction that it was an 'unprecedented situation'. 'We will work with whoever is elected president ... that's what you'd expect,' Sir Keir said. 'We have a special relationship with the US that transcends whoever the president is, but it is an unprecedented situation, there is no doubt about that.' In the lead up to this year's US presidential election, Sir Keir maintained that the Government will work with whoever is president. FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID LAMMY In 2017, Mr Lammy called Mr Trump a 'racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser'. A year later, the Tottenham MP wrote in Time magazine that he would be protesting against the then-government's 'capitulation to this tyrant in a toupee', in reference to Mr Trump's first official visit to the UK. 'Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath,' Mr Lammy wrote, 'he is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long.' Asked about his past comments earlier this year, Mr Lammy said: 'Where I can find common cause with Donald Trump, I will find common cause'. He offered his congratulations to Mr Trump on Wednesday morning, saying: 'We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.' DEPUTY PM ANGELA RAYNER Ms Rayner has publicly criticised Mr Trump more than once in posts on X, formerly Twitter. On the day of the Capitol Hill riots in 2021, she tweeted: 'The violence that Donald Trump has unleashed is terrifying, and the Republicans who stood by him have blood on their hands.' Later in January that year, Ms Rayner said of the inauguration of Joe Biden as president: 'I am so happy to see the back of Donald Trump, but even more so to see @KamalaHarris as VP.' HEALTH SECRETARY WES STREETING In 2017, Mr Streeting called Trump an 'odious, sad little man' in a post on X. 'Imagine being proud to have that as your president,' he added. Asked on Tuesday about the social media post, the Health Secretary told Good Morning Britain: 'The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have been working hard to build a relationship with President Trump and his team, so that in the event that he is elected as the next president of the United States, we start with the strong working relationship which is in our national interest and in the interests of the United States as well.' ENERGY SECRETARY ED MILIBAND Mr Miliband labelled Mr Trump a 'groper' and a 'racist' in November 2016. 'The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper beggars belief,' Mr Miliband told the BBC. 'And I think we should be deeply worried about the implications for many of the things that we care about. Tackling climate change - he says it's invented by the Chinese, climate change, it's a hoax. His attitude to Russia. 'And then this fantasy about trade. I mean, this guy is anti-trade. He's an odd combination of protectionism, plus the old trickle-down formula that has got us into a lot of this mess in the first place.' Advertisement

Tory MPs ridiculed Mr Lammy for his abrupt shift on Mr Trump

Nigel Farage said the UK must 'roll out the red carpet' for Mr Trump

He joked: 'I've got lots of thoughts but not ones I'm going to share as a government minister.'

Mr Streeting was challenged about a 2017 social media post where he described Trump as an 'odious, sad, little man', adding: 'Imagine being proud to have that as your President.'

He told Good Morning Britain: 'The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have been working hard to build a relationship with President Trump and his team, so that in the event that he is elected as the next president of the United States, we start with the strong working relationship which is in our national interest and in the interests of the United States as well.

'And it's not often I would pray and aid Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party but, as he said overnight, President Trump, you know, he speaks as he finds.

'He had a very good meeting with Keir Starmer not too long ago, and of course, he'll be aware of things that we've we've all said in the past'

Mr Streeting said: 'The important thing about this relationship, this transatlantic relationship, is one of the most important alliances that Britain has.

Jubilant Reform MPs have been demanding that Sir Keir uses Nigel Farage's close friendship with Mr Trump to prop up the Special Relationship.

Some Labour MPs were unable to resist reposting pro-Democrat messages during the campaign - despite Sir Keir urging people to keep their counsel

'We have shared values and shared strategic interests, and with war on our continent, in Ukraine, war in the Middle East and wider geopolitical threats, it is in the UK and United States' national interests to work closely together.

'That won't change, whoever the occupant of the Oval Office is, and we only have hours now to wait until polls close.'

Senior government sources have poured cold water on Mr Farage's suggestion that he could act as a 'conduit' between his old ally Mr Trump and the UK government.

'That's good of him,' one said witheringly.
Harvard University will face a lawsuit for encouraging antisemitism after accusations that they made it difficult for Jewish students to study on campus.

Recently, a US judge ruled that two advocacy groups could continue their lawsuit, which accuses Harvard of fostering a hostile environment for the group.

According to US News, the University received complaints from Jewish students dating back to the spring and fall of 2023, saying their case was mishandled by Harvard. Human Rights and Jewish Americans for Fairness and Education want Harvard tried in court to see if they indeed ignored or mishandled antisemitic incidents.

Harvard Sued Over Antisemitism

The lawsuit will proceed on claims of 'deliberate indifference' to harassment, especially after a 'die-in' protest near Harvard Business School, where antisemitic slogans were chanted, and another incident involving a Jewish lecturer who allegedly pressured students to abandon a project because of its connection to Jewish democracy.

The judge, however, dismissed claims of direct discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students and accusations that Harvard retaliated against students who reported antisemitism.

Based on the violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the case will be included in the part where it is prohibited to discriminate based on race, religion, or national origin at institutions that receive federal funding.

It's one of the many lawsuits filed against universities across the US after the October war in Gaza, which the University Herald called a speech suppression. Harvard has taken the hit the most with criticisms that it did not take strong enough action against antisemitism.

Harvard has long emphasized that antisemitism has no place on its campus and they are now taking steps to support Jewish students through stronger disciplinary policies and encouraging civil dialogue.
Anthony Albanese claimed he is 'looking forward' to working with Donald Trump and has already spoken to the US President-elect to congratulate him, after he was quizzed over past comments in which he was critical of the American leader.

The Prime Minister was recorded saying Trump 'scares the s*** out of me' while he was shadow minister for transport and infrastructure in 2017, insisting Australia should approach him with 'trepidation'.

Sunrise host Nat Barr suggested Mr Albanese may need to apologise after Trump was voted in as president of the United States on Wednesday night with Mr Albanese further probed on the matter by reporters on Thursday morning.

'No, I look forward to working with President Trump,' he insisted.

'I've demonstrated, I think, my ability to work with world leaders and to develop relationships with them, which are positive.

'And I think that I've demonstrated in the two-and-a-half years that I've had the honour of being Prime Minister.'

Mr Albanese reportedly spoke to Trump over the phone a short time after the press conference, where he congratulated him on his victory.

In 2020, Mr Albanese described Joe Bidens 2020 election victory over Trump as a 'triumph of hope over fear'.

Anthony Albanese has said he is 'looking forward' to working with Donald Trump after he was asked if he would apologise over past comments

Sunrise host Nat Barr suggested Mr Albanese may need to apologise after Trump was voted in as president of the United States on Wednesday night

On Wednesday night, shortly after Trump took to the stage at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida to declare victory, Mr Albanese shared his congratulations on social media.

'Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory,' Mr Albanese wrote.

'Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies.

'Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future.'

Mr Albanese insisted he was not worried about any potential impact of a Trump presidency on Australian trade.

'Australia is a supporter of trade. We are a trading nation and we will and continue to be advocates for free and fair trading,' he said.

The Prime Minister was also quizzed about the wisdom of having former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as Australia's ambassador to the US given his many critical comments about Trump.

Mr Rudd has previously described Trump as 'nuts', a 'traitor to the West' and 'the most destructive president in history'.

In an interview with UK political figure Nigel Farage earlier this year, Trump described Mr Rudd as 'nasty'.

'I don't know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty,' Trump said.

'I hear he's not the brightest bulb, but I don't know much about him. If he's at all hostile, he will not be there long.'

But Mr Albanese sought to downplay any suggestion that Mr Rudd will struggle to work with the Trump administration.

Australia's ambassador to the US, Mr Rudd (pictured, red tie) has previously described Trump as 'nuts', a 'traitor to the West' and 'the most destructive president in history'

But Mr Albanese sought to downplay any suggestion that Mr Rudd will struggle to work with the Trump administration (pictured: Mr Albanese with Vice President Kamala Harris)

'Kevin Rudd is doing a terrific job as Australia's ambassador to the United States,' Mr Albanese told reporters.

'And it says a lot about how important we regard the relationship with the United States that we appointed a former Prime Minister.'

Since being appointed as US ambassador last April, Mr Rudd has been actively working on relationships with both Republicans and Democrats.

'In terms of the ability of the Australian government to manage the relationship with whoever wins the next election, Republican or Democrat, we are well equipped for that task,' Mr Rudd told News Corp earlier.

But many political commentators believe Mr Rudd's time in Washington is limited and he will not survive a second Trump presidency.

On Thursday morning, The Australian reported that Mr Rudd had deleted his past critical comments of Trump, in which he described the President-elect as the 'most destructive president in history'.

'He drags America and democracy through the mud. He thrives on fomenting, not healing, division. He abuses Christianity, church and bible to justify violence,' Mr Rudd added.

Elly Lawson, the deputy secretary of the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade, read out a statement written by Mr Rudds private office.

'Out of respect for the office of President of the United States, and following the election of President Trump, Ambassador Rudd has now removed these past commentaries from his personal website and social media channels,' the statement read.

'This has been done to eliminate the possibility of such comments being misconstrued as reflecting his positions as ambassador and by extension, the views of the Australian Government.

'Ambassador Rudd looks forward to working with President Trump and his team to continue strengthening the US-Australia alliance.'
Passions ran high in the Victorian world, and nowhere higher than in royal circles.

Wayward Irish aristocrat Lady Olivia Fitzpatrick was a sexual predator who was dismissed from the royal court by Queen Victoria for trying to seduce her husband Prince Albert. But pretty soon Olivia was back - with her eyes now firmly set on Victoria's son, the Prince of Wales. He was 17 years her junior.

That didn't happen either  but the undaunted Lady Olivia pushed her teenage daughter Patsy forward into the lustful Prince's path.

At the time Patsy  born Mary Adelaide Virginia Eupatoria FitzPatrick - was just 16 years old while the prince was 29 and should have known better. But passion was Edward's thing,

Though he'd married at the age of 23, within a year the future King Edward VII was having an affair with a woman called Mary Ross and, according to the historian Anthony J. Camp, Edward had already had at least 13 mistresses before Patsy was wheeled into the royal presence.

He was unstoppable. In his lifetime, there would be many more high-born ladies only too willing to submit to his unquenchable lust - but Patsy was the youngest.

And so he took Patsy's virginity with encouragement from the teenager who has been described as 'sexually lawless'.

Irish socialite Mary 'Patsy' Cornwallis-West became mistress of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII until she was replaced by Lillie Langtry and Queen Camilla's great grandmother, Alice Keppel

Mary Cornwallis-West (1958 - 1920) with a young girl, probably one of her daughters, circa 1880. It's rumoured the Prince of Wales fathered at least one of her childrn

The Prince of Wales, son of Queen Victoria and future King Edward VII had an affair with 'Patsy' Fitzpatrick when she was a 16 year old girl and had already had 13 mistresses before he met her

The only rule in Victorian times was 'thou shalt not be found out'  and so some scheme had to be quickly devised by the wily Lady Olivia to allow the Prince access to her daughter without tongues beginning to wag.

Step forward the unwitting William Cornwallis-West, 19 years Patsy's senior, whose home Ruthin Castle in Denbighshire was a convenient ride away from a favourite country house where Edward often stayed - making him an ideal husband.

And while William went travelling, the prince would come to call.

There was something extra-special about Patsy which made Edward, over the years, keep coming back for more. With golden hair, an hour-glass figure and 'a complexion like apple blossom' she oozed sex appeal.

Socially, after her marriage she rode the crest of a wave  her husband was Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire  and even after Edward became king, the couple would still meet clandestinely.

Irish socialite Mary 'Patsy' Cornwallis-West became mistress of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII until she was replaced by Lillie Langtry and Queen Camilla's great grandmother, Alice Keppel

Lady Olivia, Patsy's mother devised a plan to allow the Prince access to her daughter without tongues beginning to wag. Step forward the unwitting William Cornwallis-West, 19 years Patsy's senior

William's family home was Ruthin Castle in Denbighshire which was a convenient ride away from a country house that Edward often visited

Urged on by her ruthlessly ambitious mother, Patsy used her closeness to the throne to engineer advantageous marriages for her children  one daughter wed the fabulously wealthy Duke of Westminster, another a German prince, and her son tied the knot with Lady Randolph Churchill  mother of wartime prime minister Winston Churchill  as her second husband.

It's said that the father of at least one of these children was the King himself.

But as the passion faded from her relationship with Edward  her place as his mistress first taken by actress Lillie Langtry and then, lastingly, by the present Queen Camilla's great-grandmother Alice Keppel  Patsy looked for love elsewhere.

As the First World War raged in Europe Patrick Barrett, a young working-class soldier, was invalided home suffering from wounds and shell-shock. Of 3,000 men in his regiment, the Royal Welch [NB correct spelling] Fusiliers, all but 80 were dead in the first six months of the war,

Patsy also used her royal connections to make other advantageous matches for her other children and her daughter Mary Cornwallis-West was married to Prince Henry von Pless, one of Germany's richest noblemen

As the passion faded from Patsy's relationship with Edward  her place as his mistress was taken by actress Lillie Langtry

After Lillie Langtry came the famous Alice Keppel, Queen Camilla's great-grandmother

When the 'sexually lawless' Patsy looked for love elsewhere she fell for a common soldier which ballooned intoa high-profile and devastating sex scandal which destroyed both Patsy and her husband

Patsy's husband William was the honrary colonel of the Fusiliers, so the young soldier was invited to come and recuperate on the family estate.

And the 'sexually lawless' Patsy fell for him. She was 59, Barrett was just 25  and what happened next ballooned into a high-profile and devastating sex scandal which would ultimately destroy Patsy and her husband.

That a woman in her position chased a common soldier was scandal enough. That the soldier was from her husband's regiment made it worse - she was dubbed 'the aristocratic tart'. And when the whole story came out, it emerged that Patsy had bombarded the unworldly young man with cocktail of letters, poetry, and promises of promotion  he was powerless to resist her amorous onslaught.

Using her influence  as the upper classes were able to do in those days  she had Barrett promoted to officer rank. But in those class-obsessed days Barrett's blue-collar origins made him an alien figure in the officer's mess, and soon the story began circulate that he'd seduced a woman old enough to be his mother to get his undeserved promotion.

The story was the other way round, of course  but nobody believed Barrett was the innocent party. Deeply shamed by the malicious gossip, he called off the relationship, not guessing the scandal his rejection would trigger.

Humiliated, Patsy went back to the high-ranking officers she'd persuaded to make Barrett an officer and demanded they reverse his promotion. A Court of Inquiry was set up in January 1917 to look into her meddling in army affairs during the height of war  and the story became public.

The Cornwallis-Wests were humiliated by the subequent publicity and the shame and disgrace which enveloped them both killed Patsy's husband within weeks  he died that summer.

And she, once the mistress of a king and the toast of high society - 'the most beautiful woman in all four kingdoms' her husband had called her - disappeared from view and, at the age of 64, died also.
Despite warnings from police not to decriminalize marijuana, voters in a Democratic stronghold in Texas voted to do so anyway.

With 66% support, voters in Dallas supported Proposition R, which amends the city charter to decriminalize possession of four ounces or less of the drug, reported local outlets.

The moves makes going after offenders the lowest priority for the Dallas Police Department.

The city's police chief pleaded with citizens in August not to do it, saying that the law would help drugs dealers, not casual drugs users.

'And who prospers: drug dealers and drug houses prosper-- drug houses and dealers that are already tarnishing the quality of life in our most at-risk neighborhoods,' former police chief Eddie Garcia said in August.

Former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia publicly warned against decriminalizing marijuana, arguing that the move would make going after drug dealers more difficult

He held up a huge plastic bag filled with the narcotic, showing Dallas' city council exactly what that amount of pot looks like.

'Four ounces is approximately 113 grams, which equates to 113 dime bags,' Garcia explained, adding that amount equals 138 drug transactions.

The city's top cop linked pot to 17 murders in Dallas in 2023 and 12 this year.

'The conversation pertaining to marijuana is not victimless,' he said. 'Not only will it lead to increased traffic at drug houses in our most vulnerable neighborhoods, but in my 32 years in law enforcement-- in my opinion-- could lead to increased illegal sales.'

The measure ended up on the Nov. 5 ballot after a group called Dallas Action gathered 20,000 signatures-- requiring the prop to go in front of voters.

Dallas' police chief linked dozens of murders in the city to marijuana sales

Prop R's approval means police in Dallas will make prosecuting drug offenders caught with 4 ounces of pot the lowest priority

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton has sued several Texas cities who have tried to pass similar law decriminalizing pot

'Our jail is full of people arrested for misdemeanor arrests,' Changa Higgins with Dallas Action told the local Fox station earlier this year.

'When you look at misdemeanor possession of marijuana, it's no different.'

Similar measures have been successfully passes in Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, and Denton by the same group.

However, state Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued to those cities, saying the measures cannot become law as they violate Lone Star Sate law.
A disused toilet block with 'picturesque riverside views' has sold for ten times the asking price.

The shabby structure, in Malpas, Cornwall, was initially put on the market at 30,000 but went under the hammer for a staggering 258,000.

There were 232 bids when the detached block went to auction at Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers with many envisioning a bright future for the spot.

Auctioneer David Henwood told CornwallLive: 'Bidders were undoubtedly attracted by the potential of this site within the sought after riverside community of Malpas.

A former toilet block with 'picturesque riverside views' has sold for ten times the asking price at 258,000

The view from where the toilet block is positioned in Malpas, Cornwall. Here the River Fal can be seen

'It enjoys picturesque views across the River Fal in a location close to Truro.

'The new owner may have a number of different future uses in mind, including some form of residential project, subject to the necessary planning consents.'

The block sits on an overgrown site, off Trenhaile Terrace and Scobie's Terrace, facing the water.

It was among 173 lots in the most recent sale by Clive Emson Auctioneers, one of the top five property auctioneers in the UK.

One local wasn't surprised that the former toilet block sold for so much and wrote: 'Good to get rid of another eyesore.

'Great spot for the lucky buyer.knew it would go for much more than 30,000!'

And another joked that the buyer was someone 'flush with cash'.

Pictures show the entrance to the toilets is overgrown and the outside walls are discolored. CornwallLive last year reported how the loos were to remain closed after a change in plans regarding their ownership and running

There were 232 bids when the detached block went to auction with Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers with many envisioning a bright future for the spot

Last year Cornwall Council revealed that the loos were to stay closed after a change in plans regarding their ownership and running.

A local man said they were in a 'neglected' state and had been shut.

At the time the council said the toilets had been agreed to be transferred to Truro City Council but this never happened.



Images of the building show the entrance is overgrown and the outside walls are discolored.

The closure of the block means the nearest public toilets to the area are two kilometres away at Boscawen Park.

Malpas village is a scenic walk away from Truro's Boscawen Park and leads along a beautiful woodland.

Ferries and boat trips still operate from Malpas and the famous Cornish love story of Tristan and Iseult, tells how Tristan crossed the river at La Mal Pas, the early name for today's Malpas.
An 87-year-old quest to find Amelia Earhart's missing plane looked like it had finally come to an end earlier this year.

Following an extensive expedition, explorers at South Carolina firm Deep Sea Vision said they'd found an 'aircraft-shaped object' in the same region of the Pacific where the legendary aviator vanished in 1937.

However, a second expedition now reveals the object is not an aircraft at all, but simply a bunch of rocks.

Tony Romeo, founder of Deep Sea Vision, said in a statement: 'This outcome isn't what we hoped for.

'The global response to our initial discovery has been truly inspiring, a testament to Amelia and the pull of her incredible story.'

Amelia Earhart was the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and one of the first aviators to promote commercial air travel.

The Kansas native was flying a Lockheed Model 10 Electra with navigator Fred Noonan when the aircraft vanished near Howland Island on July 2, 1937.

At the time, she was attempting to become the first woman to complete a circumnavigational flight of the globe  but exactly what happened may forever be a mystery.

Amelia Earhart was an American aviation pioneer who was a widely known international celebrity during her lifetime - but the circumstances of her death remain a mystery. She's pictured here in 1931 in the cockpit of her gyroplane

Earlier this year Deep Sea Vision released sonar images (pictured) they said may be the remains of the plane that Earhart was flying when she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. They're now revealed to be a bunch of rocks

Deep Sea Vision set off on its initial search in September 2023 in an area of the Pacific to the west of Earhart's planned destination, the remote Howland Island.

The crew spent 90 days searching 5,200 square miles of the Pacific Ocean floor  'more than all previous searches combined'.

To their delight, blurry images of what appeared to be an aircraft were captured by an underwater drone at a depth of around 16,000 feet.

Back in January, when Deep Sea Vision released the imagery, Mr Romeo was confident that they'd solved the 87-year-old mystery.

He said: 'You'd be hard-pressed to convince me that's anything but an aircraft, for one, and two, that it's not Amelia's aircraft.'

However, he did admit that the drone's camera failed so they wanted to return to the site to prove that it was Earhart's plane.

Possibly getting ahead of himself, Mr Romeo reiterated his ultimate goal of pulling the plane out of the water.

He said this summer: 'We need to see...is it still intact? Are the wings folded down. We need to see how it's sitting in the sediment, is in mud, is it in sand?

Sonar images were captured by an unmanned underwater submersible at a depth of 16,000ft after an extensive search in an area of the Pacific to the west of Earhart's planned destination, remote Howland Island

Tony Romeo (left) is seen with DSV operations chief Corey Friend upon leaving Tarawa, Kiribati on September 8, 2023

'And then we need to see if there's a debris field  are there shoes outside the plane, are there pieces of the plane nearby that we need to worry about salvaging?

'The plane is sitting there, and it's slowly disintegrating just like the Titanic.'

Wasting no time, the team's second expedition this year used the same Hugin 6000 underwater drone as the first expedition in December 2023.

Sadly, it identified 'an unfortunate rock formation' shaped like an aircraft  meaning the search for the truth once again continues.

But Deep Sea Vision resolves to continue its search 'for another 30 days to cover over 1,500 square nautical miles', the company said in a statement.

Exactly what happened to Amelia Earhart has long been a source of fascination for Mr Romeo, a former US Air Force intelligence officer who sold his commercial property investments to fund his search.

He's reportedly spent $11 million (8.5 million) on the search for the aircraft's wreckage.

Earhart  who won fame in 1932 as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic  was on one of the final legs of the circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937 when her plane tragically crashed.

Earhart (born 1897) standing in front of the Lockheed Electra in which she disappeared in 1937

Earhart was flying a Lockheed Model 10 Electra when the plane vanished on July 2, 1937. In the last in-flight radio message heard by Itasca, Earhart said: 'We are on the line 157 337 . We are running on line north and south.' The numbers 157 and 337 refer to compass headings  157 and 337 - and describe a line that passes through the intended destination, Howland Island.

This final fatal flight departed Lae Airfield in Papua New Guinea and was heading east with a destination of Howland Island, a trip of 2,556 miles.

Both Earhart and Noonan, 44, were communicating with a nearby Coast Guard ship, USCGC Itasca, before their plane lost contact.

In the last in-flight radio message heard by Itasca, Earhart said: 'We are on the line 157 337 . We are running on line north and south.'

The numbers 157 and 337 referred to compass headings  157 and 337  and described a line passing through their intended destination, Howland Island.

A popular and relatively straightforward theory is that the plane crashed into the sea when it ran out of fuel and then sank.

Both Earhart and Noonan were either instantly killed upon impact or were unable to get out and drowned, the theory goes.

The tragic loss has spawned more fantastical theories, including that they were eaten by the crabs and imprisoned by the Japanese.

It's generally agreed that the wreckage lies beneath the waves near the planned destination Howland Island or another island around 350 miles southeast called Nikumaroro.

Experts recently detected code on an aluminium panel that was found washed up on Nikumaroro in 1991, thought to have been part of Earhart's missing plane.

However, analysis found the panel did not belong to Earhart's Lockheed Electra but instead was part of a plane that crashed during World War Two at least six years later.
Chinese scientists claim to have created a 'real-life Death Star' capable of devastating enemy satellites in orbit.

The science-fiction-inspired weapon combines pulses of microwave radiation into a single powerful beam - just like the planet-destroying lasers shown in Star Wars.

In order to merge, the electromagnetic pulses must hit the exact same target within 170 trillionths of a second.

That requires levels of timing more precise than the atomic clocks on advanced GPS satellites - a feat previously thought to be impossible.

However, the weapon has now completed experimental trials for potential military applications thanks to breakthroughs in 'ultra-high time precision synchronisation'.

This could be used for 'achieving multiple goals such as teaching and training, new technology verification, and military exercises,' experts say.

While the exact details of the weapon remain highly classified, Chinese academic journals suggest that microwave weapons like this are being developed for use in space.

And while it might not have the power to blow up a planet, it could wreak havoc on enemy communications or GPS satellites.

Chinese scientists claim to have created a real-life Death Star weapon which merges pulses of microwave energy to create a beam strong enough to wipe out enemy satellites

According to the South China Morning Post, the secretive space weapon uses an array of seven microwave-firing 'vehicles'.

These vehicles are positioned over a large area but fire together to hit their target with a single, powerful attack.

The scientists behind the device say that most microwave weapons 'have not formed effective combat capabilities' due to power limitations.

But, by merging several waves into a single pulse, the resulting power can be strong enough to overwhelm an enemy satellite.

What makes this challenging is that combining microwave pulses requires synchronising the bursts with never-before-seen levels of precision.

Even the atomic clock aboard the Chinese Tiangong space station, which only misses one second every few billion years, cannot reach the required levels of precision.

However, Chinese scientists say they have now been able to overcome these challenges by connecting each of the vehicles with fibreoptic cables.

While the exact specifications remain secret, last year Chinese scientists managed to achieve a time synchronisation accuracy of just 10 trillionths of a second over a distance of 1,100 miles (1,800km).

Just like the Death Star in Star Wars (pictured), this weapon combines separate beams of energy into a single directed pulse

How does the 'real-life Death Star' work? Seven microwave 'vehicles' are connected by fibreoptics The vehicles use lasers to measure their exact position The vehicles fire a pulse of microwave energy with extremely precise timing All seven beams hit the target at precisely the same moment Enemy satellite communications are wiped out Advertisement

To ensure the microwave pulses hit the exact same point, the weapon also uses laser positioning devices to achieve millimeter-level navigation.

By analysing timing and positional data, a mobile command centre can then issue an attack command - triggering each of the seven vehicles to fire at once.

The researchers say that the microwave beams can achieve a combining effect of '1+1>2', hinting that the combined power could be higher than the sum of its parts.

This won't be quite as strong as the devastating power of the Death Star, but the resulting energy pulse could be more than enough to knock out an enemy satellite.

Studies have found that a weapon capable of delivering just one gigawatt of power would be enough to do serious damage to satellites in near-Earth orbit.

In recent years, milliaries around the world have been racing to develop a new generation of 'direct energy weapons'.

Unlike conventional weapons which use projectiles or explosives, these use powerful blasts of electromagnetic radiation to disrupt or destroy their targets.

There have already been significant advances in direct energy weapons which use lasers to burn through the hulls of missiles and drones.

Although it won't be strong enough to blow up a planet like in Star Wars (pictured), the weapon can use its microwave beams to knock out enemy satellites to disrupt communications and navigation

More national militaries are investigating so-called 'direct energy weapons' which use bursts of high-intensity radiation to destroy or disrupt their targets. These include the British DragonFire laser weapon (pictured)

For example, the British Dragonfire laser weapon is strong enough to shoot a drone out of the air and accurate enough to hit a 1 coin from half a mile away.

Instead of burning through their targets, microwave weapons use intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation to disrupt electrical circuits.

Trials of microwave weapons have already shown that they can be effective against small targets like drones.

The Tactical High-Power Operational Responder (THOR), developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Lab, uses wide bursts of energy to take out entire swarms of drones.

The advantage is that the weapons are cheap to operate and don't use any projectiles, reducing the risk of collateral damage.

However, microwave weapons have proven difficult to target and use at longer ranges.

By overcoming the power limitations, combined microwave energy weapons could be the key to bringing these potentially devastating weapons into the frontier of space warfare.

As militaries become more reliant on satellite observations and communications there has been a growing interest in weapons which can target satellites.

Declassified footage of secret trials (pictured) at the MOD's Hebrides Range, showed that the British laser weapon system proved so accurate it could hit a 1 coin half a mile away

As low-Earth orbit becomes more important for military use nations are developing more weapons to target satellites. This includes the Chinese 'Death Star' microwave weapon and the American 'Meadowlands' satellite jammer revealed last month (pictured)

These satellite networks provide the infrastructure which supports deadly GPS-guided missiles, drone strikes, and troop movements on the ground.

This means that knocking out enemy communication, by electronic or physical means, could provide a decisive advantage in a conflict.

Last month, the US revealed its powerful new satellite jamming weapon designed to shut down Russian or Chinese communications at the start of a conflict.

The weapon has been developed by the Xian Navigation Technology Research Institute under the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation.

This organisation has been a major provider of electronic warfare weapons for the People's Liberation Army in the past.

However, it isn't yet clear when, if at all, this weapon will be deployed.
READ MORE: Experts claim to solve mystery of how Egypt's pyramids were built

An 'extraordinary' burial chamber containing the remains of an ancient Egyptian priestess has been unearthed after nearly 4,000 years.

Idy, the daughter of a wealthy governor who lived around 1880 BC, was found in a coffin within another coffin in a tomb in the city of Asyut, 200 miles south of Cairo.

Described as 'some of the most amazing coffins ever found', they're covered with text and illustrations 'describing the journey of the deceased in the afterlife'.

Following her death, Idy's internal organs  her liver, spleen, lungs and intestines  were removed and place into jars.

Idy's body was then mummified  a process of preserving the body after death by deliberately drying or embalming the flesh.

Preliminary study of her bones indicate that she died before the age of 40 after suffering from a congenital foot defect.

She was also found with grave goods including a dagger and wooden figurines, which may have been intended for her use in the afterlife.

Professor Jochem Kahl, an archeologist at Freie Universitat Berlin who led the discovery, called it 'both aesthetically and scientifically extraordinary'.

Idys 'beautifully-decorated' coffins are among the most impressive finds in the burial chamber

Idy - depicted in this engraving - was the only daughter of Djefai-Hapi I, a regional Egyptian governor who was worshiped in antiquity

Excavations took place between August 18 and September 17 this year.

'The uncovering of this shaft began in 2022, took three excavation campaigns and has now ended with a sensational discovery  the burial of Idy in two nested wooden coffins with numerous grave goods,' Professor Kahl said.

Idy was the only daughter of Djefai-Hapi I, a regional Egyptian governor who was worshiped in antiquity.

He was 'one of the most important rulers of the territories in ancient Egypt', the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a Facebook statement.

Professor Kahl added: 'Djefai-Hapi I was deified in ancient times and his tomb was an integral part of the cultural memory of ancient Egypt for more than 2000 years.'

'Idy was a priestess of the goddess Hathor and was called "mistress of the house", which identifies her as a woman from a wealthy family.'

While the resting place of the father had been known, this new discovery of his daughter's remains in the same building at Asyut is unprecedented.

The tomb, dating from around 1880 BC, is impressive due to its 'monumental' rock architecture with rooms over 36 feet (11 metres) high carved into the rock.

Excavations took place between August 18 and September 17 this year. Pictured, Idy's burial chamber when discovered

Pictured, a close-up of the outer coffin of Idy, showing remarkable illustrations that were made nearly 4,000 years ago

Asyut, a city in Egypt that sits comfortably along the west bank of the Nile river, was a prosperous regional capital and port city

Idy had been placed in a coffin inside a coffin and then sealed in a side chamber in a vertical shaft about 45 feet deep that had been dug in the tomb of her father.

Her coffins, weighing around 200-300 kg each, are above average in size with a length of 8.59 feet (2.62 metres) and 6.66 feet (2.03 metres).

Professor Kahl said both coffins seem to be made out of 'foreign wood', meaning wood sourced from outside of Egypt.

He said they are both 'completely decorated with wonderful images and texts' describing the journey of the deceased in the afterlife.

Their study will allow 'new and far-reaching statements to be made about the position of women and the transfer of knowledge in ancient Egypt'.

While Idy's resting place has until now been unnoticed by researchers, it's thought the chamber was ransacked by thieves thousands of years ago.

Her remains were robbed of all jewelry and metal objects in the search for treasures, but other grave goods seem to have been of no interest to the ancient looters.

'Remnants of Idy's garment and her bones, which were completely torn to shreds by ancient looters, provide information about her person,' added Professor Kahl.

Idy was found in two nested wooden coffins with numerous grave goods, including wooden figurines. Pictured, a female figure made of wood

According to an initial visual inspection of the bones, Idy was probably around 40 years old and suffered from a foot problem, he added.

Somewhat gruesomely, a box of jars were also found containing Idy's internal organs removed during mummification  liver, spleen, lungs and intestines.

This was customary during mummification, as the ancient Egyptians learned the internal organs would decay quickly.

Typically, mummification in ancient Egypt then involved desiccating the body with a mixture of salts and then wrapping it in cloth soaked in a balm of plant extracts, oils, and resins.

Older mummies are believed to have been naturally preserved by burying them in dry desert sand and were not chemically treated.

Professor Kahl said further study of the discovered remains will continue in an effort to shed more light on the lives of the governor and his daughter.

'After an initial conservational consolidation of the wooden objects in the burial chamber and the subsequent laborious recovery from the narrow, 14-metre deep shaft, the finds will be handed over to the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism,' he added.
A controversial election day missile launch by the US military was a success, according to officials who insist the test had nothing to do with 'world events.'

The intercontinental ballistic missile exercise took place at 11pm PT (2am ET) last night from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California - just hours after Donald Trump declared victory in the presidential election.

While the timing of the launch raised eyebrows, officials insisted the test is routine and was scheduled years in advance.

Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, said: 'These tests are demonstrative of what Striker Airmen bring to the fight if called by the president.

'An airborne launch validates the survivability of our ICBMs, which serve as the strategic backstop of our nation's defense and defense of allies and partners.'

He added: 'Such tests have occurred over 300 times before, and this test is not the result of current world events.'

But the test comes as Trump claims the world is close to nuclear war, claiming he will withdraw America's support for Ukraine in war with Russia before he is sworn in on January 20.

The US military conducted a test launch of its hypersonic nuclear missile on election night

The exercise kicked off at 11:01pm PT (2:01am ET) on Wednesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

The nuclear missile took off in the dead of night, traveling 15,000 miles per hour to a test range near Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

It completed the 4,200 mile journey in about 22 minutes.

Military officials collected radar, optical and telemetry data in the terminal phase of flight to evaluate system performance.

The weapon is capable of carrying three Mk 12A nuclear warheads, each packing up to 350,000 tons of TNT.

While the Associated Press called Wisconsin at 2:34am (5:34amET) on Wednesday and the PRESIDENTIAL?? race just three minutes later, Newsmax made the projection at about two hours earlier.

However, the official call was not made until Wednesday after Trump collected 277 electoral votes.

Trump has received over 71 million votes as of Wednesday morning, compared to Kamala Harris' 66 million, becoming the first republican to win the popular vote since George Bush in 2004.

The hypersonic weapon was designed to hit any target worldwide in just 30 minutes after launch.

Moscow sits about 5,900 miles from California, while Beijing is about 6,000 miles away - the two nations deemed a threat to the US.

The test came less than a week after North Korean vowed to stand by Russia until its victory in Ukraine.

And just days of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the US and Russia are very close to engaging in 'direct military conflict.'

The test kicked off shortly after Donald Trump declared victory in the presidential election

Military officials, however, ensure Americans that the test was not the result of current world events'

A report from the Wall Street Journal in May claimed that the US Marines and the Philippines had been carrying out ominous war games on small islands a short distance from Taiwan.

The exercises included deploying teams of marines from Chinook helicopters, readying unarmed assault rifles, and scoping out terrain that would hypothetically be used if conflict erupted.

However, military officials involved with the ICBM test assured Americans that Tuesday's exercise was not due to growing fears of WWIII.

Col. Dorian Hatcher, Space Launch Delta 30 deputy commander, said: 'This Minuteman III test launch exemplified the mission readiness, agility and professionalism of the personnel at Vandenberg, Global Strike Command and the US Navy.

'Every test of this deterrent system at Vandenberg underscores the nations robust capabilities and highlights the indispensable support our Airmen and Guardians provide to ensure national security.'

The weapon traveled more than 4,000 miles at speeds over 15,000 miles per hour to a test range on the Marshall Islands in the central Pacific Ocean

ICBM is one of two currently used by America - the other is submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that are deployed from underwater submarines.

The weapon is a vital component of the US military's nuclear forces, capable of delivering a nuclear payload to targets around the world, but is scheduled to be phased out by 2029 and replaced with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM.

The US Air Force said that 'the Sentinel weapon system is the most cost-effective option for maintaining a safe, secure, and effective land-based leg of the nuclear triad and would extend its capabilities through 2075.'

The LG-35A Sentinel will replace the Minuteman III ICBM with an initial capability of 2029.

Until full capability is achieved in the mid-2030s, the Air Force is committed to ensuring Minuteman III remains a viable deterrent.

Army Lt. Col. Casel Rumfelt, Range Director, said: 'This range and testing facilitate America's technical advantage on the global stage.

'Our team brings decades of experience and a level of professionalism that makes the impossible seem easy in a no-fail environment. I couldn't be prouder of this incredible team.'
A rare November Hurricane is barreling toward the US and could hit as early as this weekend.

Storm Rafael was upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane today and could make landfall anywhere from the Texas coast to the Florida Panhandle.

The storm expected to hit western Cuba and the Isle of Youth within the next 12 hours.

From there, experts predict Rafael will emerge into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight as a hurricane.

Tropical storm conditions are anticipated in Florida Keys, with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issuing a warning to residents.

Americans have been advised to secure loose outdoor objects due to strong winds and flooding.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger said that small changes in Rafael's strength and the winds around it can make a big difference in where it goes next.

The storm gets a bit stronger or if the winds that push it change direction, its path could shift.

A spaghetti model - so-called because the lines resemble strands of pasta - revealed Rafael has four possible paths to the US, but has the highest probability of making landfall in Louisiana.

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As of 10:00am ET, Rafael was located roughly 130 miles south-southeast of Havana and tracking northwest at 14 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph

However, the NHC has issued a tropical storm warning for the Lower and Middle Florida Keys today, as Rafael could deliver up to three inches of rainfall and increase tornado risk as it passes by the Sunshine State.

'Bands of rain containing gusty winds will impact this area through Wednesday night. A few tornadoes cannot be ruled out in the Keys and far southwestern Florida as well,' The Weather Channel reported.

The NHC stated that it's still too early to determine when and how Rafael will impact the Gulf Coast of the US, but residents should continue to monitor the forecast for updates.

As of 10:00am ET, Rafael was located roughly 130 miles south-southeast of Havana and tracking northwest at 14 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph, according to the NHC.

A hurricane warning is in effect for this region, and locals should brace for 'damaging hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge and destructive waves,' according to the advisory.

The storm will also drop heavy rain over parts of the Western Caribbean through early Thursday, the NHC stated, including Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and western Cuba.

Once the system moves into the Gulf of Mexico, Rafael is expected to weaken as the environment becomes increasingly less conducive for the hurricane to maintain its intensity, the NHC stated.

'It is also possible Rafael is torn apart by strong winds high in the atmosphere and dissipates in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall,' Deger said.

An alternate path prediction has Rafael tracking westward across the Gulf instead of heading north toward the US. If that happens, the impact to the US would be minimal, according to AccuWeather.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Cuba, and locals should brace for 'damaging hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge and destructive waves'

If Rafael weakens, but remains intact, and turns toward the northern Gulf Coast, it could enhance rainfall along a cold front this weekend into early next week, The Weather Channel reported.

Rafael is the 17th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Though it is not expected to directly impact Florida, tropical storm conditions could put added strain on local communities still reeling from hurricanes Helene and Milton, which ravaged the state within two weeks of each other.

These storms caused widespread damage in the Sunshine State, killing an estimated combined total of 54 people.

According to the Office of Insurance Regulation, estimated insurance claims as a result of both Helene and Milton have exceeded $4 billion in Florida.

The National Hurricane Center is tracking Category 2 Hurricane Rafael as it moves northwest through the Caribbean with potential to impact the Gulf of Mexico this week

Though this storm is not expected to directly impact Florida, a tropical storm warning has been issued for the Lower and Middle Florida Keys

As Rafael tracks toward the US, Floridians should regularly monitor updates to the weather forecast, the NHC advised.

It is very rare for hurricanes to hit the US in November.

That's because this is the last month of the Atlantic hurricane season, and favorable conditions for tropical storm formation have decreased.

A total of 287 hurricanes have made landfall in the US since record keeping began in 1851, and of those, only four hit in November, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) database.

The most recent one - Hurricane Nicole - hit Florida in November 2022. Before that, the US hadn't seen a November hurricane since Katie in 1985.

Rafael is the strongest hurricane to move through the northwestern Caribbean in November since 2009, according to NOAA.

As the storm closes in on Cuba, experts say it's possible that it could still strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall.

Nine storms - including Rafael - have rapidly intensified in the Atlantic basin this year, fueled by unprecedentedly high ocean temperatures.

Rapid storm intensification is becoming more common as the atmosphere and oceans warm due to climate change, according to NOAA.
Jon Stewart tore into pollsters who predicted Kamala Harris would be crowned President of the United States.

Just before word came in that Donald Trump became the 47th president of the United States, The Daily Show host slammed election pollsters.

'It hasn't been completely called yet, we don't exactly know what all the results are gonna be. Our time is running out,' Stewart, 61, said.

'I do want to very quickly send a quick message to all the pollsters, the election pollsters - blow me!

'I don't ever want to f***ing hear from you again. I don't ever want to hear "We've corrected for the over correction"... You don't know s*** about s*** and I don't care for you,' he added with a big smirk on his face as the audience applauded.

Stewart's comments came just before Trump regained the White House, and after the 'Nostradamus of US presidential elections', Professor Allan Litchman, said he was certain that Harris would win.

The Daily Show host Jon Stewart, 61, tore into pollsters Tuesday night just before Donald Trump was declared president

On Wednesday, the 'Nostradamus of US presidential elections', Professor Allan Litchman, who said he was certain Harris would win, was left speechless as he watched Trump's victory

Litchman was heard saying: 'I don't get it' on his since-wrapped election livestream, as Trump's victory became clear.

Lichtman, 77, has successfully predicted nine out of ten elections since 1984.

He was certain Kamala Harris would win, at first by a landslide, and then by a trickle.

But as Trump stormed to victory last night, Lichtman's miscalculation was unavoidable.

'I'm not doing any interviews, I'm done,' he said.

'Good thing I have nothing to do tomorrow,' the 77-year-old who predicted a Trump win in 2016 continued.

He then went full throttle against Trump, claiming the president won't see out his second term.

'You know what happens if Trump wins? He won't serve a full term, he'll turn it over to JD Vance,' he said, citing Trump's advanced age.

Trump took to the stage in West Palm Beach, Florida with his family and wife Melania and promised to usher in the 'golden age' of America

His son, Sam, appeared similarly stumped by the results playing out in real-time.

Lichtman thanked his fans for tuning in, before signing off for the night.

'I'm heartened from all the kind emails I've been getting, a lot of people say we should keep doing this show.

'I'm going to sleep all day tomorrow,' he added immediately after.

At several points, the seasoned professor appeared to grimace and cradle his face -as he tracked the results on-screen.

Just last month, Lichtman came forward to claim Harris had met what he believed to his critical objectives for victory - telling CTV News how his made-up metrics are 'based on a fundamental understanding of how American presidential elections really work.

The forecasts raised eyebrows - as it had come from a man who has accurately predicted nearly every single US presidential election for decades.

Still, Lichtman has been wrong in the past - albeit just once, in 2000, when he erroneously predicted a win for Al Gore.

In that case, part of the prediction did come true, in the sense that Gore snagged the popular vote.

However, this time around, that was far from the case.

Stewart went on to give viewers some reassurance as he ended his election night coverage with a plea to 'continue to fight.'

He also lashed out at pollsters and pundits, declaring: 'You don't know sh** about sh**'

The political commentator told his late night viewers, 'This is not the end', adding, 'we have to continue to fight', before Fox News called the election for Trump.

'We're going to make it seem like this is the finality of our civilization. We're all going to have to wake up tomorrow morning and work like hell to move the world to the place that we prefer it to be.'

'And I just want to point out, just as a matter of perspective, that the lessons that our pundits take away from these results, that they will pronounce with certainty, will be wrong. And we have to remember that.'

He then played a number of clips pointing out previous predictions of what America would look like following prior elections that didn't pan out, such as moving towards 'a post-racial America' following Barack Obama's election in 2008.

'Yeah, that lasted a day!' he quipped.

He then played a clip of a number of reporters saying Trump would leave Washington, D.C., a 'pariah' after the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, and would 'never be allowed to step foot in the Capitol again. Never.'

'Ever,' Stewart exclaimed. 'My point is this: f**k!'

Stewart added: 'But this isnt the end! I promise you, this is not the end.'

'And we have to regroup and we have to continue to fight and continue to work day in and day out to create the better society for our children, for this world, for this country that we know is possible. It's possible.'

Stewart's message came before Fox News called the election for Trump after the network declared he had won in Pennsylvania, leaving Harris unable to catch him

His message came before Fox News called the election for Trump after the network declared he had won in Pennsylvania to leave Harris unable to catch him.

Trump took the stage in West Palm Beach, Florida and declared victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning, cementing an extraordinary political comeback.

'We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,' he said.

'And it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing.'

He told his supporters, 'every single day I will be fighting for you'.

Trump was joined on stage by members of his family and his wife, Melania Trump, as well as his running mate, JD Vance, and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Vance briefly took center stage to describe Trump's victory as the greatest political comeback in history.
Until I Kill You viewers have slammed the latest episode of the ITV thriller.

During Tuesday's episode, fans witnessed the aftermath of Delia Balmer being attacked and abused by serial killer John Sweeney.

Delia managed to move on with her life after leaving the hospital with life-changing injuries, but Sweeney was still on the run and police hadn't managed to find him for several years.

It took seven years after the attack for Sweeney to be arrested in 2001.

Viewers couldn't believe how it took so long to have caught the serial killer and took to X, formerly Twitter, to say that it was an 'absolute joke.'

Until I Kill You viewers slam 'absolute joke' moment in latest episode of ITV thriller as lead star is 'let down badly'

During Tuesday's episode, fans witnessed the aftermath of Delia Balmer being attacked and abused by serial killer John Sweeney

One person wrote: 'Until I Kill You is a horrific true story which shows mistakes made by police &the justice system but the worst thing is that NOTHING HAS CHANGED. Police still don't listen to women who are being abused & stalked and the courts still give the criminal more rights than the victim.'

Another said: 'Delias right, she was let down badly, he probably would be let off again.'

'They let her [down] in every way possible #UntilIKillYou,' echoed a third.

A fourth penned: 'How the f**k was he allowed to get back into the country without being pulled ??! The Judicial system is all f**ked up!'

'The Police on this case are totally incompetent #untilikillyou,' A fifth added.

The series first landed on the box on Sunday and has had viewed glued to their screens.

Until I Kill You follows Ms Balmer, one of Sweeney's ex-girlfriends who is seeking justice over the attacks she was subjected to by her former lover.

The synopsis for the drama reads: 'In 1991, Delia leads an itinerant and solitary life in London working as an agency nurse. When she meets fellow free-spirit John Sweeney in a local pub, it seems like the connection she has been searching for.

Fans took to X and shared their thoughts on the latest episode

The new series stars Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Balmer in the show inspired by Balmer's book about living with serial killer John Sweeney

'As the relationship develops, Sweeney's artistic, anti-establishment persona gives way to a darker side, culminating in a series of violent attacks on Delia, during which he tells her he killed his former girlfriend and disposed of her body in an Amsterdam canal.

'Sweeney is arrested but, due to a catastrophic failure by the court to realise how dangerous he is, granted bail.

'He immediately pursues Delia and subjects her to a horrific, near-fatal attack.

'She survives, but Sweeney evades capture and disappears.'

Sweeney returns seven years later, and is arrested for the murder of another girlfriend - 31-year-old Paula Fields - in north London.

This leads to Ms Balmer having to face her tormentor in open court, as her testimony was 'vital to the prosecution case against him'.

Agency nurse Delia meets John who confesses to killing his ex-girlfriend and attacks her before evading capture

Sweeney was handed a life sentence for the murder of Fields and another woman, Melissa Halstead, whose body was found in a canal in Rotterdam in 1990, in 2011.

Discussing the role, Evans told Radio Times: 'The story that we are telling takes place over about 15 to 20 years, over the course of a womans life - called Delia Balmer.

'It is essentially about how this woman fell victim in one of her personal relationships to coercive behaviour, gaslighting, domestic abuse and violence.

'She was ultimately let down by the judicial system until they really needed her as a linchpin in their case against the guy. Thats basically the gist of the story.'

Until I Kill You is available to stream on ITVX now.
Don Gilet has been pictured for the first time in Death In Paradise as the lead detective, Mervin Wilson.

The former EastEnders star, 57, will make his debut in a feature-length Christmas special later this year, before a brand-new series in 2025.

Mervin arrives on the idyllic isle of Saint Marie from his home in London.

While assisting with a case following a short trip, the team discover he may have an ulterior motive for being on the island.

Excited for fans to see what's in store, Don said: 'I am delighted to have returned to the wonderful island of Guadeloupe and this time to be stepping into the well-worn shoes of the Detective Inspector.

Don Gilet has been pictured for the first time as Death In Paradise's lead detective, Mervin Wilson

The former EastEnders star, 57, will make his debut in a feature-length Christmas special later this year, before a brand-new series in 2025

'It's been a real pleasure filming such a beloved series alongside the hardworking cast and crew.

'I can't wait for the fans to see how DI Mervin Wilson fares on the island, how he fits within the Saint Marie police team and what secrets may unfold...'

Don has taken over the role from Ralf Little, who played Neville Parker for four years.

Announcing the news earlier this year, the official Death Of Paradise Instagram account shared: 'We've got some really exciting news... there's a new detective in Saint Marie!

'Please give a very warm welcome to Don Gilet who will play DI Mervin Wilson!'

And Ralf was quick to send his support to the star as he replied: 'Have a wonderful time Don! It's a magical experience.'

Ralf's character DI Neville Parker said farewell to the island of Saint Marie at the end of March - leaving viewers in tears.

His departure came as a shock to fans, with the BBC only confirming the actor had left the show after the finale aired.

Excited for fans to see what's in store, Don said: 'I am delighted to have returned to the wonderful island of Guadeloupe and this time to be stepping into the well-worn shoes of the Detective Inspector'

Don has taken over the role from Ralf Little, who played Neville Parker for four years (pictured Ralf in Death In Paradise)

As the official Death Of Paradise Instagram account announced the news earlier this year, Ralf was quick to send his support

Speaking about his exit on BBC Breakfast last month, the star admitted he had always planned for this series to be his last and felt he had to walk away for the sake of his character.

He told hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt: 'You know, this last series was always going to be my last series. I spoke to the BBC and Red Planet, the production company, and we all agreed.'

'If it was just a heart decision I would have wanted to do it for 20 more years.

'But just for the show and for my character Neville it just sort of felt like his story was finished and his journey deserved to be completed. He deserved a happy ending and it just felt right.'

As Ralf passes the torch to Don, the latter said: 'Being offered the new lead role in Death in Paradise feels like a deeply loved and incredibly precious jewel has been placed in my hands.

'This is a big show, with a big heart and the love continually grows for it. It is my intention to never lose sight of that and to remain grateful, humbled and dedicated.

Speaking about his exit on BBC Breakfast, Ralf admitted he had always planned for this series to be his last and felt he had to walk away for the sake of his character

Fans were confused by the choice after Don first appeared on the show in 2015 - when Kris Marshall was the detective - playing a murderer who killed the owner of a rum distillery during a seance

'Even during those testing times when every sinew is screaming at me to run off the set and dive into the sea, swimming pool or an ice-cold beer  whichever happens to be closer at the time!'

However, Death In Paradise fans have been left feeling confused with the decision to cast Don as he has already starred in the series in a different role.

Don first appeared on the show in 2015 - when Kris Marshall was the detective - playing a murderer who killed the owner of a rum distillery during a seance.

Eagle-eyed fans took to X - formerly Twitter - to share their confusion as Don now returns as a detective.

Previous episodes of Death In Paradise are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
Oti Mabuse recounted the 'traumatic' birth of her daughter, that left her battling sepsis and diabetes, as she appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday.

The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 34, joined panellists Judi Love, Charlene White, Coleen Nolan, and Brenda Edwards to discuss the health woes she faced after welcoming her first child prematurely last year.

Oti and her husband Marius Lepure, 41, became parents in November 2023 after their newborn was born prematurely with an infection and spent six weeks in intensive care.

She is pre-diabetic and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 28 weeks, before also experiencing complications after the birth when she contracted sepsis.

Gestational diabetes is when you have high blood sugar during pregnancy, whereas pre-diabetes is when blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed.

Oti Mabuse recounted the 'traumatic' birth of her daughter, that left her battling sepsis and diabetes , as she appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday

The former Strictly Come Dancing pro revealed she welcomed her daughter with her husband Marius Lepure, 41, (pictured) in November 2023

Charlene told the Dancing On Ice judge: 'What I love about Oti is on your socials, you you have been so honest and open that it's not about weight loss since having the baby, it's about feeling fit and healthy and strong.

'You've been so open about that. Why was it important for you that people understood that it's not about a weight loss thing? Which a lot of women feel like they're under pressure to do.'

Oti, who is reportedly lined up for the upcoming series of I'm A Celeb, explained: 'When I fell pregnant I got gestational diabetes and we have diabetes in the family but I didn't really know what happens after you give birth.

'Does it go away? Do you have to keep working? Years ago I would see pictures of models who would have a baby and within three weeks they're back and walking the runway.

'I'm in the bathroom, I'm crying, I probably haven't washed in like three days. How am I going to snap back?'

'It's so difficult and my sister and I talk about this all the time. It's really about being healthy.'

She revealed: 'My reason for getting back into fitness was that I found out I was pre-diabetic actually.'

Shocked, Charlene quipped: 'Really?' to which Oti responded: 'Yeah I am still pre-diabetic and it's about trying to get back to a point where I feel strong, I can handle my food, my sugar levels are right.'

Oti joined panellists Judi Love, Charlene Whit , Coleen Nolan, and Brenda Edwards to discuss the health woes she faced after welcoming her first child prematurely last year

She is pre-diabetic and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 28 weeks, before also experiencing complications after the birth when she contracted sepsis

Discussing her daughter's birth, which came eight weeks early, the TV personality recalled walking to the shops with her husband when her waters broke out of nowhere

Discussing her daughter's birth, which came eight weeks early, the TV personality recalled walking to the shops with her husband when her waters broke out of nowhere.

'I was like "something is happening" and he thought I was joking,' she told the panel, 'he thought I was pranking him.'

Oti gave birth naturally and said she was 'singing Chicago the whole time,' with the problems arising afterwards.

She explained: 'Once I gave birth to her it became more traumatic, I had sepsis and I didnt know. I had all these things, I had the diabetes, I had pelvic pain so turning and getting up and walking was very painful.

'Then I found out that I had sepsis. It was one thing over the other. We spent 10 minutes together and she was taken away with my husband and the doctors.

'She was in the incubator and that was the first time we actually saw her. She was covered up and she had all these machines and wires and everything covering her face....

'This premature world only comes to light when youre going through it.... It was a really, really scary time.'

Oti has always been candid about her birthing struggles and last month admitted she feels 'very lucky' that her baby daughter survived.

Oti has always been candid about her birthing struggles and last month admitted she feels 'very lucky' that her baby daughter survived

Oti told the panel: 'This premature world only comes to light when youre going through it.... It was a really, really scary time'

The former Strictly star, who was born in South Africa, and Marius, who was born in Romania, feel very fortunate that her daughter lived because babies raised in their native countries don't help children who are born very prematurely.

Opening up on her tough road into motherhood, Oti revealed she holds a lot of 'guilt' that her baby arrived early.

Speaking to Paul C Brunson in his We Need To Talk podcast, she said: 'There were moments where she wouldn't eat, feeding her was really tough. In South Africa and Romania, they don't help children who are born as young as she was, so we were very, very lucky.'

Marius said: 'I knew there was nothing better we can do. I saw babies where if it would have been that week in Romania they would not have saved the baby. We are lucky.'

The dancer admitted she was at 'her lowest' just after she gave birth because of the state her baby daughter was in.

Oti said: 'The baby was sick. She couldnt breathe on her own, she couldnt eat on her own. She was really small. We couldn't hold her. That was incredibly, incredibly tough. I cried for an hour.'

Elsewhere on Wednesday's Loose Women, Oti was of course quizzed on whether she would be entering the jungle.

Keeping her cards close to her chest, she simply smirked, quipping: 'I love I'm a Celeb, since I came to the country it's been one of the shows I've watched and been a huge fan of.'

Elsewhere on the show, Oti was of course quizzed on whether she would be entering the jungle

Coleen Rooney and Maura Higgins will also reportedly be heading Down Under for the new series later this month, alongside longtime soap star Alan Halsall and legendary sportsman Barry McGuigan.

Rounding out the lineup are Loose Women star Jane Moore, DJ Dean McCullough, Tulisa, radio presenter Melvin Odoom, Reverend Richard Coles and podcast presenter GK Barry.

A source told The Sun: 'Oti is a brilliant name for Im A Celebrity, shes hugely popular and well liked by the ITV audience so bosses are over the moon she could be a campmate this year.

'Shes very much seen as being part of the ITV family of stars and is always guaranteed to be great fun.'

MailOnline has contacted ITV and Oti's representative for comment.
The broadcaster, 52, had fronted the network's coverage on Tuesday night

She returned to NBC on Wednesday to continue the network's election coverage

Savannah Guthrie has left viewers seriously impressed after she returned to NBC on Wednesday morning following around-the-clock election coverage  with many shocked at how she was still awake.

The broadcaster, 52, had hosted Tuesday's episode of Today as normal before going on to lead the network's primetime coverage of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris's race to the White House later that night.

There was no rest for Savannah, who was back on screens at the top of the morning to announce that Trump had pulled off a political comeback after being declared the winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Introducing the special edition of Today alongside cohost Hoda Kotb, Savannah made a note of pointing out her trio of coffee cups, which have no doubt been fueling her energy.

Addressing viewers, she said: 'Hi, everybody. We're back at 8 a.m. on the east coast, 5 a.m. in the west.

Savannah Guthrie returned to NBC on Wednesday morning after around-the-clock election coverage overnight

The broadcaster, 52, is hosting the Today show alongside Hoda Kotb

'If you are just waking up, a long election night stretching into the morning.

'I've had three cups of coffee lined up here.'

She added: 'The race is still too close to call in some of those western battlegrounds in Michigan.

'But the bottom line is clear as day. Donald Trump once again the President-Elect, the 45th president set to return to the White House.'

Stunned viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, where they voiced surprise at Savannah being back on their screens.

One said: 'OMG Savannah, how are you still awake?'

Another wrote: 'The amount of caffeine that has to be pumping through Savannah Guthrie's body is probably alarming. Girl has been killing it on TV for 24 hours. Toasting my coffee to her.'

'I wake up, I see @SavannahGuthrie on TV... come home from work she's on TV. I wake up today, she's STILL on TV. Has she slept!?' a third said.

On Tuesday night, Savannah led NBC News Now's breaking news and real-time election coverage alongside Lester Holt

Trump has pulled off a political comeback after being declared the winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election

Stunned viewers took to X where they voiced surprise at Savannah being back on their screens

Echoing a similar sentiment, a fourth continued: Mad respect to @SavannahGuthrie, on air all night after polls closed and back on air this morning on the @TODAYshow  give the woman some sleep!'

'Oh @SavannahGuthrie how do you do it?! You must be exhausted. Thank you for keeping us informed,' a fifth said.

A sixth wrote: 'Major respect to @SavannahGuthrie who worked early in the morning on the @TODAYshow and now is working super late on @NBCNews Election coverage.

'Major respect. That's impressive and a true professional.'

On Tuesday night, Savannah led NBC News Now's breaking news and real-time election coverage alongside Lester Holt.

They were also joined by journalists reporting from battleground states.

Ahead of the broadcast, Savannah took to Instagram where she said she was 'always so proud to walk into NBC News on election night.'
Julia Roberts is delighted after getting a 'reaction' from Donald Trump to the political campaign ad she voiced in support of Kamala Harris.

The 30 second campaign shows a woman, who appears to be a Republican, secretly voting for Harris and Tim Walz - despite leading her husband to believe that she had cast her vote for Trump.

'In the one place in America where women still have a right to choose, you can vote any way you want and no one will ever know,' Roberts, 57, says in a voiceover.

'Remember, what happens in the booth stays in the booth. Vote Harris-Walz.'

Trump, 78, blasted the Hollywood A-lister over the ad, calling her a 'disappointment' - which has delighted the star's inner circle.

Julia Roberts is delighted after getting a 'reaction' from Donald Trump to the political campaign ad she voiced in support of Kamala Harris

Trump, 78, blasted the Hollywood A-lister, 57, over the ad, calling her a 'disappointment' - which has delighted the star's inner circle

'Donald Trump's reaction to the ad is giving it the kind of attention and impact it was intended to have,' a source close to Roberts told DailyMail.com.

'The response shows just how deeply it has resonated with him, which is precisely the reaction she had hoped for.'

They continued: 'If the ad hadn't had such an emotional sting or failed to make a significant impression, he likely wouldn't have felt compelled to comment on it at all.

'Those close to Julia are very proud of her for this powerful political statement.'

It comes after Trump himself responded to the ad on Fox & Friends, claiming that Roberts would live to 'regret' taking part.

He said: 'I'm so disappointed in Julia Roberts  she's gonna look back on that and she's gonna cringe, like, "Did I really say that?" It doesn't say much about her relationship, but I'm sure she has a great relationship.

'But the wives and husbands, I don't think that's the way they deal. I mean, can you imagine a wife not telling her husband who she's voting for? You ever hear anything like that?

'Even if you have a horrible  if you had a bad relationship, you're gonna tell your husband. It's a ridiculous ad, it's so stupid.'

The ad shows a woman, who appears to be a Republican, secretly voting for Harris and Tim Walz over Trump - despite leading her husband to believe that she'd cast her vote for Trump

'The response shows just how deeply it has resonated with him, which is precisely the reaction she had hoped for,' an insider told DailyMaill.com

The ad provoked the ire of conservatives, with Jesse Watters comparing the idea of his wife voting for Harris to 'having an affair.'

'That violates the sanctity of our marriage,' he raged on Fox News. 'What else is she keeping from me? What else has she been lying about? That would be D-Day.'

Talk-show host Charlie Kirk also eviscerated the 'repulsive' video on Megyn Kellys podcast.

'I find that entire advertising campaign so repulsive,' he said. 'It is so disastrous. It is the embodiment of the downfall of the American family.'

Christian-backed group Vote Common Good were the brains behind the ad. The group aim to break down the stereotype that Evangelical and Catholic voters should always vote Republican.

On Tuesday, Roberts reiterated her support for Harris in a post on Instagram.

'There is a time to Hope, there is a time to Pray and there is time to VOTE. TODAY IS THE DAY,' she wrote alongside a selfie shortly after casting her vote.

Roberts' former costar George Clooney, one of the Democratic Party's leading fundraisers who urged Joe Biden not to seek re-election, also voiced an ad for Vote Common Good in support of the Harris-Walz ticket.

Roberts' former costar George Clooney, 63, also voiced an ad for Vote Common Good in support of the Harris-Walz ticket (pictured with his wife Amal in September)

A group of Republican men are seen casting their ballots together with their families before one man looks over at his young daughter before deciding to secretly vote for Harris

A group of Republican men are seen casting their ballots together with their families.

'Come on boys. Lets make America great again,' one of the men tells the group.

One of the others looks at a family photo as he decides who to vote for, as Clooney narrates: 'Before you cast your vote in this election, think about how it will impact the people you care about the most.'

The man then looks over at his young daughter before deciding to secretly vote for Harris.

The friend asks him, 'You do your patriotic duty?', to which he responds: 'You bet I did, brother.'

Harris has emphasized her support for abortion rights after the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion services.

The Vice President's campaign is hoping abortion is a key issue that can hurt Trump, especially with woman voters, while Trump has focused on migrants and the economy and dubbed political opponents the 'enemy from within.'

Drea de Matteo recently lambasted voters who were prioritizing women's reproductive rights ahead of the election.

'I feel that women that are hanging on so tightly to this one idea are very short sighted because they are,' she told DailyMail.com just days after voting for Trump.

'It's almost like it's a religion. It's almost like they have to hang on to this, and that it excuses them from actually understanding what's happening all over the place. There are so many things that are so much bigger.'
David Beckham and Gisele Bundchen have unveiled BOSS' eye-catching new festive collection by posing for a stylish new shoot.

The pair posed for a series of dazzling images to promote the collection, which features everything from sophisticated eveningwear to seasonal gift ideas, alongside hitmaker Burna Boy and South Korean star Lee Jong-Suk.

Showcasing his famously suave sense of style, David, 49, cut a dapper figure in a sharp black suit with a satin lapel as he posed for images.

Meanwhile Gisele, 44, posing before it was revealed she's expecting her third child, slipped into an elegant black dress, with a matching blazer and a leather clutch bag.

Gisele is reportedly 'five or six months along' in her pregnancy, and has been dating boyfriend Joaquim Valente since June 2023 - shortly after divorcing Tom Brady, with whom she shares two children, son Benjamin, 14, and daughter Vivian, 11.

David Beckham (pictured) and Gisele Bundchen have unveiled BOSS' eye-catching new festive collection by posing for a stylish new shoot

Meanwhile Gisele, posing before it was revealed she's expecting her third child, slipped into an elegant black dress, with a matching blazer and a leather clutch bag

It comes after David's wife Victoria spoke out on the viral 'Rolls Royce' moment from husband David's Netflix documentary, insisting cameras captured an unrehearsed, candid interraction.

The family had fans in hysterics last October thanks to a scene in the documentary which saw David poke fun at his wife's claim about her 'very working, working class' roots.

David interrupted, incredulous, and asked Victoria to be honest to which she replied: 'I am!' He then repeatedly asked Victoria to reveal what car her dad used to drive her to school in.

The Spice Girl eventually gave in and said: 'OK. In the '80s, my dad had a Rolls-Royce.' 'Thank you.' David replied, and immediately left and closed the door behind him, his job done.

Victoria has revealed in a new interview with Harper's Bazaar magazine that the scene was completely candid, explaining: 'David was in the other room watching the monitor, and then he put his head in the door.'

'It was not rehearsed. Like the dancing in the tent. None of it was rehearsed.'

Victoria has captalised on the moment with a 110 'My Dad Had A Rolls Royce' T-shirt as part of her self-titled clothing range.

The couple also spoofed the scene in a Super Bowl advert debut for Uber Eats.

Nigerian hitmaker Burna Boy was also among the stars chosen to front BOSS' new campaign

South Korean actor Lee Jong-Suk also cut a dapper figure as he posed for the brand's new Christmas-themed shoot

According to Netflix's own data, Beckham was the most-watched show for two weeks when it was released a year ago, with 11,600,000 fans watching globally.

Elsewhere in her Harper's Bazaar interview Victoria admitted she no longer cares about being a celebrity after turning 50 as she passes the baton to her daughter Harper.

The fashion designer discussed how she has nativated being in the public eye since she soared to stardom as part of the Spice Girls in the nineties.

Speaking about protecting her privacy, she said: ''You have to go through those times to make you, ultimately, who you are. We've kind of figured out how to be quite discreet, which is just how we want to conduct our lives right now.

'I suppose it used to be fun to go out and be chased by paparazzi walking down Bond Street  and you would dress knowing you were going to get that. I don't want that any more.'

'I've been doing this too long. I suppose I did when I was growing up but, nowadays, there's just too much going on; too busy; too many kids to worry about. I woke up at 50, and I gave a s*** less.'

While she may be keen to step away from the spotlight, it has been reported that Victoria and David have plotted a secret multi-million pound career move to launch daughter Harper, 13, into the industry.
She recently professed her love for her new beau in a heartfelt Instagram post on his birthday.

But their relationship was put to the test on Tuesday when Rachael Lee was forced to wash her dishes in the toilet sink with Bra Boys beau Evan Faulks.

The ex-fiancee of NRL star Braith Anasta and Evan, who is a 'high-ranking member' of the Bra Boys, shared a video to Instagram during their stay at a caravan park.

In the video, Evan can be seen pouring food scraps and washing the couple's dishes into a toilet sink.

'This guy... there is nothing wrong with washing your dishes in the toilet,' the post was captioned.

The new couple have been spending most days together and recently got into meditation as Evan waits for several months before learning if he has to go back to prison.

The accused gang member was arrested in March last year as part of an investigation into an alleged drug importation ring and won't face a hearing until next February.

Evan was granted $200,000 bail last November and three weeks later uploaded to Instagram a video of himself carrying a bag of belongings as he left custody jumping for joy.

Rachael Lee and her Bra Boys beau Evan Faulks' relationship was tested on Tuesday when they were forced to wash dishes in a toilet sink

The video was captioned: 'The best feeling I have ever experienced and I never want to do feel it again [sic].'

In May, Evan uploaded a black and white image of himself walking out of court which Rachael then reposted to her own social media.

Rachael and Evan, who reportedly met at Crown Plaza in Coogee over Christmas, were photographed together in public for the first time in May celebrating her 36th birthday.

The couple arrived at Hijinx Hotel in Sydney's inner-city Alexandria with Rachael's son Addison and little girl Gigi, who she shares with TV presenter Braith Anasta.

Evan's court case was listed in Downing Centre Local Court in May, but he did not have to appear in person because he was represented by a solicitor.

He was extradited last year from Queensland following an 18-month investigation into cocaine and meth consignments allegedly intercepted by US authorities.

In the video shared to Instagram, Evan can be seen pouring food scraps and washing the couple's dishes into a toilet sink

'This guy... there is nothing wrong with washing your dishes in the toilet,' the video was captioned

Evan, who police allege is a 'high-ranking member' of the Bra Boys, was originally accused of running a criminal operation which imported and distributed drugs worth $12.6million around Sydney.

On March 19, police withdrew a charge that Evan had knowingly directed the activities of a criminal group and another that he knowingly dealt with the proceeds of crime with intent to conceal.

The same day he pleaded not guilty to dealing with property worth $266,954 which was suspected to be the proceeds of a crime between September 2016 and May 2017.

Rachael and Evan, who reportedly met at Crown Plaza in Coogee over Christmas, were photographed together in public for the first time in May celebrating her 36th birthday

In May, magistrate Daniel Covington heard Evan maintained his not guilty plea to the proceeds of crime charge and set the matter down for a four-hour hearing on February 4.

Evan faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted.

Rachael and former footy player-turned-television presenter Braith a split in November 2022.

He went on to date Evie Tziomakis, but a source confirmed they had parted ways earlier this year in June.
Demi Moore showed off her impeccable sense of style as she was joined by French film director Coralie Fargeat at The Substance photocall in Paris on Tuesday.

The American actress, 61, exuded elegance in a pink and blue floral embellished dress as she posed up a storm at the event.

She teamed the ensemble with a smart black blazer before further accessorising with a pair of silver diamond drop earrings.

Meanwhile, the French filmmaker stunned in a deep burgundy strapless dress.

To complete her look, she opted for a black-and-gold choker necklace as she posed up a storm next to Demi.

Demi Moore showed off her impeccable sense of style at The Substance photocall in Paris on Tuesday

The American actress, 61, exuded elegance in a pink and blue floral embellished dress as she was joined by glamorous French film director Coralie Fargeat

In the film Demi stars as Elisabeth, an ageing TV fitness instructor a la Jane Fonda who signs up for a mysterious medical regime called The Substance that promises to create the perfect version of herself - played by Margaret Qualley.

Unceremoniously sacked as she hits her 50th birthday, Elisabeth discovers a black-market drug which can create a 'younger, more beautiful, more perfect' version of its user.

The drug's strict conditions are gruesome, however, and Elisabeth's need for youth to sustain her career talks directly to Hollywood's abandoning of actresses as they age.

But it's The Substance's 'deliciously unhinged and dread-inducing' levels of gore that have really commanded the critics' attention, with one describing it as 'a shocking assault on the senses'.

The one rule to follow is that Elisabeth and her better self Sue (Margaret Qualley) must trade places every seven days.

So for one week at a time, she is forced again to live as her 50-year-old self.

Demi said the vulnerability required for her role in the body horror film was both demanding and exciting.

The role required Demi to be completely naked as well as transform into a deteriorating old woman through prosthetics.

Her stylish ensemble boasted a sheer mesh neckline and featured a black bow at the centre

She added inches to her frame with a pair of black-and-white pointed heels before further accessorising with a pair of silver diamond drop earrings

Meanwhile, the French filmmaker stunned in a deep burgundy strapless dress as she joined Demi and director Thierry Fremaux for several snaps

To complete her look, she opted for a black-and-gold choker necklace as she posed up a storm next to Demi

Demi stars as Elisabeth, an ageing TV fitness instructor a la Jane Fonda, who signs up for a mysterious medical regime called The Substance

Demi inevitably commanded attention as she poised for photos on the red carpet

The actress said: 'All of it at different times had moments that were challenging. The level of vulnerability that this role called for on all the different levels - emotionally, physically - were as demanding as it was exciting because it was really pushing me to step out of my comfort zone.'

Critics were positive about her performance, with Variety calling it 'nothing short of fearless' and The Hollywood Reporter praising how she 'imbues her character with a visceral desperation.'

Director Coralie said that her goal for the film was to explore women's toxic relationships with their bodies and how they are taught that their worth is tied to their appearance.

She said: 'The way I wrote the movie really sticks to what we experience as women with our bodies. So, it's the way our body is seen, but also the way we see our own body.'
Infamous Australian sex worker Annie Knight has laughed off claims that her showing up at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday means the race has lost its prestige.

Yahoo Lifestyle reported on Tuesday that the change in calibre of race day attendees has been an issue 'repeatedly discussed' among members of the Victoria Racing Club, who all pay thousands of dollars for their annual membership.

The 27-year-old, who has become known as 'Australia's Most Sexually Active Woman', told Daily Mail Australia she's attended the races since childhood.

'I've been going to the races every year since I was 8-years-old,' she said.

'Yes, I became a sex worker four years ago, but I've been attending the Melbourne Cup my whole life. The only difference is that you know who I am now and think that's a problem.'

The adult star and aspiring real estate mogul attended one of the most prestigious private schools in Australia.

'When I was younger my family used to organise a marquee in The Nursery every year. I had a junior membership first, when I was 15, and then I got a full membership as soon as I was able to,' she continued.

'I've been going every year since, sometimes to The Nursery, sometimes to the Birdcage.'

Infamous Australian sex worker Annie Knight has laughed off claims that her showing up at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday means the race has lost its prestige

Knight said she was first invited to the exclusive Birdcage in 2019 and agreed with Jana Hocking's assessment of the 2024 celebrations falling a little flat.

'I will say it seemed a lot quieter and it wasn't as fun as previous years. In the past, there's been lots of dancing and everyone gets excited and has a great time. But this year, it was a little bit more boring.'

For the occasion, the slender blonde chose the same colour palette as celebrity guest Nicky Hilton, and donned a pale yellow Hansel and Gretel frock.

'It has a high neck but a low back,' she said, adding that she paired the dress with a Brie Leon handbag and maroon stilettos.

For the occasion, Annie Knight chose the same colour palette as celebrity guest Nicky Hilton, and donned a pale yellow Hansel and Gretel frock

Nicky Hilton wore a buttercup yellow Rebecca Vallance frock to the 2024 Melbourne Cup

Annie, 27, says she has been a member of the VRC since she was 15 and attended the Melbourne Cup since the age of 8 with her family

The Melbourne Cup Carnival used to draw big names such as Paris Hilton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lindsay Lohan, and Snoop Dogg to the Bridcage Enclosure.

However, some local celebrities have complained to the VRC about the number of influencers and OnlyFans creators like Knight, now attending.

The adult entertainer took in the race that stops the nation from the Birdcage.

Knight also had some choice words for the 17,000 people who've signed a change.org petition calling for British sex worker Bonnie Blue to be banned from Australia.

The blonde and fellow OnlyFans model Blue have invited 'barely legal 18-year-olds' attending schoolies on the Gold Coast to film adult content with them.

To the Aussie mums who've issued stern PSA warnings to the parents of Year 12 school leavers, and the Gold Coast mayor who tried to warn young men off this week, Knight said: 'The amount of energy you're putting into this is ridiculous. Keep on hating, keep on making me rich.'

Several concerned mothers have taken to TikTok to issue warnings to the parents of Year 12 school leavers, with their videos racking up tens of thousands of likes and hundreds of hostile comments.

Such is the level of hysteria and public outrage about Knight and Blue's Schoolies plans, Coast Mayor Tom Tate also spoke out against them this week.

'These cougars (are trying to) get on to young men who are vulnerable, their adrenaline is pumping  and we were all young once  and enticing them to make mistakes that will be on the internet forever,' he said.

'At the moment they dont understand that, they dont know in 20 years when they are going to stand up to be a justice of the Supreme Court that they have got this digital video when they were 18 hanging around.

'I say to the young guys, if it looks too good to be true, dont touch it.'

Knight called the petition 'silly' and a 'waste of time'.

'Everything Bonnie's doing is completely legal,' she said.

'Do you think we're going to risk jail? Obviously not. We're only filming with people that are over the age of 18,' Knight told Daily Mail Australia.

Knight also had some choice words for the 17,000 people who've signBrited the change.org petition calling for fellow sex worker Bonnie Blue to be banned from Australia. Knight and her fellow OnlyFans model Blue - have invited 'barely legal 18-year-olds' attending schoolies on the Gold Coast to film adult content with them

'We're putting a call out and they're willingly rocking up. That's up to them.'

One concerned mother, whose PSA TikTok has racked up more than 30,000 likes, said: '[Bonnie] states that teen content is lucrative and she wants to exploit and abuse these children. She is a predator and she is way out of line.'

Knight stressed that all male participants have to be sober, over the age of 18, and provide multiple forms of Government-issued identification, and can withdraw consent to have their videos shared at any point.

'The videos are anonymous and don't show faces. They can withdraw consent for use to use their video at any time. So if they want us to take down the video in one, two, or 10 years, then we will.'

She also hit back at the middle-aged Aussie mothers who had threatened physical or verbal violence against her in the comments.

'We're not forcing them. It's not our problem, talk to your son. If you don't want them to do that, tell them! Not us,' she said.

'Bonnie and I are providing them a safe environment to experience women for the first time. As Bonnie said, they really should be thanking us. It's a much safer environment than the alternative.'
Luke Hemsworth has ditched the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and returned to his Australian roots for his latest role in a smash hit comedy series.

The actor, 44, is taking on a new role as a charismatic croc-wrangler and wildlife park owner in the second series of the hugely popular Australian Prime Video series.

The older brother of Liam and Chris Hemsworth will portray Jason Wade, a Territory legend set to inject fresh danger into the mystery series.

Photographs from filming show Luke in character as the star of Jason Wade's Adventures Down Under, flaunting his muscular frame in his wildlife park uniform.

The first series of Deadloch followed a small town in Tasmania as it was rocked by tragedy when a local man turned up dead ahead of the Winter Festival.

Two detectives and an eager junior constable then have to investigate the grizzly crime and are faced with some unexpected twists in the hit black comedy series.

Luke, best known for his role as Ashley Stubbs in HBO's Westworld, is joining returning stars Kate Box, Madeleine Sami and Nina Oyama in the second series.

In the new season, Dulcie (Kate) and Eddie (Madeleine) are in Darwin investigating the death of Eddie's former policing partner Bushy, when they are thrown into a new investigation when a body is discovered.

Luke Hemsworth has ditched the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and returned to his Australian roots for his latest role in a smash hit comedy series

The actor, 44, is taking on a new role as a charismatic croc-wrangler and wildlife park owner in the second series of the hugely popular Australian Prime Video series

Production has already kicked off in the Northern Territory and has since moved to Brisbane, Queensland, to shoot in less crocodile-invested waters.

'We're feeling very happy with ourselves about this because he's perfect. It's perfect casting,' show creators Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan said of Luke's casting.

Luke previously worked alongside his brother Chris after nabbing a cameo role in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok.

While his younger brother Chris, 41, famously depicts the titular Marvel superhero in the franchise, Luke hilariously played an actor depicting Thor in a play.

In a comedic moment where Loki (Tom Hiddleston) hires actors to play him, Luke appears as the thespian portraying an unfavourable version of Thor.

He appeared in the play alongside Matt Damon, who took on the role of Loki, with Marvel fans going wild over the celebrity cameos.

The play-within-a-film storyline then reappeared in Thor: Love and Thunder, with Luke once again making a brief appearance in the release.

Chris' brother Liam was also linked to the Thor franchise with Chris previously admitting his brother nearly nabbed the leading role.

Luke previously worked alongside his brother Chris (both pictured in November 2022) after nabbing a cameo role in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok

While his younger brother Chris, 41, famously depicts the titular Marvel superhero in the franchise, Luke hilariously played an actor depicting Thor in a play during the movie

Back in 2015, Chris revealed he originally failed to make the final four casting call, losing out to his younger brother Liam.

'I had an audition with Ken [Branagh, for Thor] that didnt go very well. I remember walking out thinking, "Oh well, there goes that opportunity",' he told Vanity Fair.

He said there was no competition between him and Liam and he recalled thinking 'if one of us get it, that's cool' before discovering his brother had made the cut over him.

'One day Joss [Whedon] was reading the trades, and on the front was the final four for Thor, and they pointed to Liam and said, "Hey, is that your brother?" and I said, "Yeah",' he explained.

Chris said he remembered the screenwriter and director asking: 'Why the hell arent you in the mix? to which he simply replied back: ''I didnt get a callback''.'

'They were like, "This is crazy"..."No way, that should be you".'

Chris' brother Liam was also linked to the Thor franchise with Chris previously admitting his brother nearly nabbed the leading role (he is pictured with Chris and Luke)

Chris said Liam ultimately lost out on the role because he was 'a bit young' with his manager then managing to secure another audition for him.

'I came back in, re-auditioned a few times, and just had a different attitude. Maybe I had a little more sort of motivation that my little brother got a look in and I hadn't,' he told Wired.

He said being ultimately picked for the role was a 'dream scenario' because he is now involved in a regular series that helps him keep 'relevant' in the acting world.

After losing out to Chris on the role in the superhero flick, Liam secured his role as Gale Hawthorne in the adventure franchise The Hunger Games just months later.
China's desertified land area shrinks by 65 million mu since 2012

Xinhua) 11:03, November 06, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The area of desertified land in China has decreased by 65 million mu (about 4.3 million hectares) since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, according to an afforestation work report.

The report on the country's efforts in desertification prevention and control was on Tuesday submitted for deliberation to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Since the CPC national congress 12 years ago, China has effectively rehabilitated 53 percent of its treatable desertified land, the report said.

The country has been implementing major desertification control projects, such as the "Three-North" (northern, northeastern and northwestern) Shelterbelt Forest Program, and promoting scientific and technological innovation to help tackle the problem.

Efforts have also been made to utilize the unique resources of desertified areas to develop industries that boost local incomes, while simultaneously improving the ecology, the report added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The intensity of their first encounter has remained an indelible memory. People thought I was ill...I was so smitten I couldnt say anything, recalled Maggi Hambling, the ebullient artist most popularly known for her giant scallop shell sculpture  a tribute to composer Benjamin Britten  on the shingle coast at Aldeburgh, Suffolk.

But today Hambling is in mourning. Victoria Tory Lawrence, who inspired such feelings of longing in her  and with whom she would share four decades of her life  has died, aged 86.

The couples romance was a cause of joy to their many friends, as well as, in time, to Victorias two children, Patrick and Sara. But, given that Tory Lawrence was married when Hambling met her  and given, also, that her husband was Lord Oaksey, known to millions as acclaimed racing commentator John Oaksey  the early days of their love affair inevitably attracted widespread attention.

Indeed, even after her marriage to Oaksey had ended in what was described as unhappily public fashion, there were after-shocks which neither Hambling nor Tory could have envisaged.

While Tory moved to Hamblings farmhouse near Saxmundham in Suffolk, Oaksey turned to friends for support  among them, Frank Crocker, a farmer, and his wife, Rachel, known as Chicky.

Months later, Chicky left Frank and their two children and moved in with Oaksey. The following year, 1988, Chicky and Oaksey married, causing Oaksey to be denounced for ungentlemanly behaviour.

Maggi Hambling is in mourning after Victoria Tory Lawrence (left), who inspired such feelings of longing in her  and with whom she would share four decades of her life  has died, aged 86

The intensity of their first encounter has remained an indelible memory. People thought I was ill...I was so smitten I couldnt say anything, recalled Maggi Hambling

Hambling and Tory were spared similar opprobrium  and proved capable of weathering occasional squalls of their own. The untameable Hambling had an affair with Henrietta Moraes, whod enjoyed three marriages and a number of affairs, including one with Lucian Freud and another with Princess Margarets great friend Lord Glenconner, with whom Moraes had a son.

That affair lasted the final year of Moraess life. Six years later, Hambling celebrated her 60th birthday by buying a Bentley and ha[ving] an[other] affair.

But there was never any question of her leaving Tory, for whom she cared devotedly as Tory, in her final years, stoically endured an inoperable brain tumour.

Life's going swimmingly for Holly and Adam

Adam Peatys ex-girlfriend Eirianedd Munro gave Holly Ramsay her blessing when the Olympic swimmer proposed to her in September, saying: I couldnt wish for a better stepmother for my son.

Indeed, Holly, the podcaster daughter of potty-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay, appears to be bonding well with four-year-old George, Peatys son with Eirianedd.

Adam Peatys ex-girlfriend Eirianedd Munro gave Holly Ramsay (pictured with Peaty) her blessing when the Olympic swimmer proposed to her in September, saying: I couldnt wish for a better stepmother for my son

During a holiday in Greece, Holly, 24, was snapped sitting with Peaty, 29, and George on a paddleboard.

Grateful, Holly wrote alongside this picture she shared online.

She met Peaty when he was competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 in the same series as her sister Tilly.

King Charles has warm words for former spook Andrew Parker

King Charles will no doubt have had some warm words for former spook Andrew Parker during their talks at Buckingham Palace on Monday.

The ex-MI5 boss has stepped down as Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the Royal Household, and delivered up his wand and insignia of office. He has been a useful extra pair of eyes and ears for the King.

It may have been pure coincidence, but Lord Parker was seated directly behind Prince Harry and Meghan at St Pauls Cathedral for the 2022 Platinum Jubilee service.

The missing ingredient in One Day? Sex

His best-selling 2009 novel One Day was turned into a film starring Anne Hathaway and, more recently, a hit Netflix series. Yet author David Nicholls now believes it has something missing: sex scenes.

David Nicholls' best-selling 2009 novel One Day was turned into a film starring Anne Hathaway and, more recently, a hit Netflix series

Id try to be more frank about sexual relationships because it is a love story  there are things to say, reflects Nicholls, inspired by Irish novelists Sally Rooney and Anne Enright.

Im reading Intermezzo [by Rooney] and The Wren, The Wren [by Enright]. These are people who are smart about sex and love. I would give myself the note to be more frank on that.

Tom Parker Bowles tries lucky snake blood shot

Queen Camillas son Tom Parker Bowles has gone to extraordinary lengths to find the best aphrodisiac.

I found myself in Kowloons Snake Alley, he recalls of one trip to a Hong Kong backstreet in Country Life.

Queen Camillas son Tom Parker Bowles has gone to extraordinary lengths to find the best aphrodisiac. I found myself in Kowloons Snake Alley, he recalls of one trip to a Hong Kong backstreet in Country Life

Referring to a restaurant, he says: Once Id selected my dinner, the furious serpent was removed from its home and proffered before me.

The bile duct and blood were drained into a shot of baijiu, which I had to down. Your lady very lucky tonight, the owner whispered with a grin. There was, I hasten to add, no effect whatsoever.

Chef Skye Gyngell loses sense of taste due to cancer treatment

Celebrated chef Skye Gyngell wept earlier this year as she predicted that she would lose her sense of taste while undergoing radiation therapy for a recurring skin cancer. And, sadly, her worst fears have now been realised.

Terrible for me as a chef, reflects the Australian, 61, who, turned the Petersham Nurseries in London into a Michelin-starred restaurant.

She is, however, being comforted by her daughters Holly, 34, and Evie, 27. Theyve been an amazing support, she says.

Beas got a bump buddy

Society nutritionist Gabriela Peacock is delighted to be pregnant at the same time as her chum Princess Beatrice.

Society nutritionist Gabriela Peacock is delighted to be pregnant at the same time as her chum Princess Beatrice

Im so excited for Beatrice. Its fun to share my pregnancy with my friend, says Gabriela, 45, godmother to the Princesss daughter Sienna, three.

The Czech model is expecting her fourth child with hedge fund manager David Peacock.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu sent pulses racing as she went braless in a sheer lacy dress for the Unstoppable UK Special Screening at Cineworld Leicester Square on Tuesday.

The former Love Islander, 30, looked sensational as she wowed in a burgundy floor-length gown.

Her garment featured feature trimmed sleeves and a faint miss match of animal print.

Adding inches to her curvy frame, Ekin-Su flipped into a pair of black strappy sandals.

Finishing her red carpet look with a touch of glamour, she accessorised with a brown Mini Kelly dupe.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu sent pulses racing as she went braless in a sheer lacy dress for the Unstoppable UK Special Screening at Cineworld Leicester Square on Tuesday

The former Love Islander, 30, looked sensational as she wowed in a burgundy floor-length gow

Unstoppable follows the true story of 'Anthony Robles, born with one leg, who defies expectations to become a champion wrestler in college, competing against the very school that rejected him.'

The blockbuster stars Jennifer Lopez, Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Don Cheadle and Michael Pena.

Ekin-Su first found fame on Love Island in 2022 where she won the dating show with Davide Sanclimenti.

The pair went on to date for 18-months, and even had their own spin-off reality show, but their relationship wasn't plain sailing after the Italian hunk was accused of cheating with an OnlyFans model.

Last year, Ekin-Su entered the Big Brother house and left to jeers and boos, where she was so upset by the reaction she didnt attend the final.

Speaking about the backlash she received, the reality star recently insisted she is 'better than ever'.

Speaking in a new interview with OK! Magazine, she explained: 'In the last few months, especially around my birthday, I felt this shift between 29 to 30. You see things differently. Its true what they say: things can change overnight.'

She continued: 'I feel like life is so short, the little things dont really bother me any more. That was the past and I dont regret anything. I just smile at it now.'

Her garment featured feature trimmed sleeves and a faint miss match of animal print

Adding inches to her curvy frame, Ekin-Su flipped into a pair of black strappy sandals

Finishing her red carpet look with a touch of glamour, she accessorised with a brown Mini Kelly dupe

Ekin-Su first found fame on Love Island in 2022 where she won the dating show with Davide Sanclimenti

'Im great. At the time, you blame yourself for things not going right, and you take accountability  Ive used that word a lot: accountability  but now Im kind of at the stage where Im past everything. Backlash is just a part of being in the public eye.'

Ekin-Su entered therapy after the show and previously said that it was the 'wrong decision' for her to enter the house following the split from ex boyfriend a Davide.

Speaking to Fabulous magazine in August she said: 'I made a wrong decision to go in there and I know that. But as much as Celebrity Big Brother was bad for me, I need to take ownership of how I was. I didn't do enough research and didn't expect it to be so intense.

'I arrived jet-lagged with no sleep. I wasn't in the right headspace and I admit I wasn't myself. I didn't speak to anyone about Davide cheating on me  I was lying to everybody about my mindset, but the public could see I wasn't being honest. They were right saying that I was fake.'

Ekin-Su insisted she doesn't have an issue with OnlyFans but the topic did 'hit a nerve' because she was 'vulnerable' at the time.

She has since made a name for herself as a successful beauty brand entrepreneur, recently launching a collection with BPerfect Cosmetics.
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard has finally revealed the father of her baby after her estranged husband Ryan Anderson agreed to a paternity test.

Blanchard, 33, joyfully announced this July that she is pregnant by her boyfriend Ken Urker, 31, and in August they shared that they are expecting a daughter.

However, because Blanchard is still legally married, Anderson had to take a DNA test to establish the baby's paternity or run the risk that he, rather than Urkel, would be listed as the father on the birth certificate under a little-known Louisiana law.

Anderson stated this August that he planned to undergo the test, saying: 'I don't have a choice,' and adding: 'I hate being in this situation.'

Now Urker has also had his DNA examined, and Blanchard confirmed on Instagram this Tuesday that he is indeed the biological father of her baby.

Gypsy-Rose Blanchard has finally revealed the father of her baby after her estranged husband Ryan Anderson agreed to a paternity test; pictured last week

She wrote: 'Theres been a lot of chatter around the paternity of our baby and while weve known for sure from the beginning, I feel that its finally time to put all these theories to rest. Here are the results showing Ken is the father.'

Blanchard added: 'Ken is going to be an incredible dad and we are so excited to welcome our baby girl into the world.'

Her message was accompanied by a screenshot of the results, which stated that based on DNA evidence, Urker had more than a 99.9% probability of paternity.

Urker's test will now enable him to be listed as the father on the baby's birth certificate, in accordance with a Louisiana law that would have otherwise classified Anderson as the 'presumed father.'

The law states: 'If the mother is married to someone other than the biological father when the child was conceived or has been divorced for less than 300 days at the time of birth, the husband/ex-husband shall be the presumed father, unless paternity is established for the biological father.'

Anderson declared on a TikTok livestream on August 10 that he was going to undergo a paternity test to put the matter to rest.

His social media announcement came later on the same day that Blanchard and Urker revealed the sex of the baby.

'I have to get a DNA test. I don't have a choice,' Anderson said in the social media clip, before adding, 'I hate being in this situation.'

Blanchard, 33, joyfully announced this July that she is pregnant by her boyfriend Ken Urker (right), 31, and in August they shared that they are expecting a daughter

Blanchard posted Urker's test results and wrote that 'while weve known for sure from the beginning, I feel that its finally time to put all these theories to rest'

Anderson says he's taking a DNA test to confirm the paternity of his estranged wife's pregnancy, which she and current boyfriend maintain is a girl

Anderson maintained he has to 'take a DNA test for court,' and then followed-up by offering up his opinion before he got the final results.

'The way the timeline matches up  I don't think it's mine, but I don't know. The DNA test is going to prove it,' he shared. 'Crazier things have happened. I just don't know. I have my thoughts and I have my opinions.'

Blanchard announced on July 9 that she's expecting a baby with Urker, her current boyfriend, with a due date around January 2025.

This would put the date of conception to be around April.

Blanchard (born Gypsy-Rose Alcida) filed for divorce from Anderson on April 8 shortly after they publicly announced their split.

'I have to get a DNA test. I don't have a choice,' Anderson said in the social media clip, before adding, 'I hate being in this situation'

Louisiana law states that Blanchard may have to name her estranged husband, Anderson, on the birth certificate if she is still legally married to him by the time the baby arrives

Anderson and Blanchard obtained a marriage license in Chillicothe, Missouri, in late June 2022, while she was still serving time in prison, as reported by Springfield News-Leader.

And then, less a month later, they decided to tie-the-knot in a small prison ceremony without any guests.

The pair would end up calling it quits about three months after Blanchard was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri in March 2024.

'Unfortunately my husband and I are going through a separation and I moved in with my parents,' she shared on Facebook at that time. 'I have the support of my family and friends to help guide me through this. I am learning to listen to my heart. Right now I need time to let myself find who I am.'

Soon after revealing her discovery process to find out 'who I am' she was spotted spending time with Urker, her ex-fiance.

Some four months later she and Urker would make the announcement that they're expecting their first baby together on July 9.

'The way the timeline matches up  I don't think it's mine, but I don't know. The DNA test is going to prove it,' he shared. 'Crazier things have happened. I just don't know. I have my thoughts and I have my opinions'; the estranged couple are seen together in NYC in January

Blanchard rose to prominence when she was convicted of second-degree murder in Springfield, Missouri, for the death of her mother Dee Dee Blanchard.

Her death came in the wake of what Blanchard described as a 'lifelong physical, mental, and medical abuse,' and ended up being sentenced to 10 years in prison.

She was paroled at the end of December 2023 after serving eight years behind bars.

Given the sensational aspects of Blanchard's childhood, including her mother forcing her to pretend to be disabled and terminally ill, she gained widespread media attention as a Munchhausen-by-proxy survivor.

Basically, the definition translates to 'someone with a mental health disorder in which a caregiver creates the appearance of health problems in another person, typically their child,' according to Wikipedia. 'The caregiver or partner then presents the person as being sick or injured.'

The Munchausen-by-proxy victim took to her Instagram in August to share a video of an adorable gender reveal party she and Urker held

'It's a girl,' the couple announced on Instagram following their gender reveal party

The result of a factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA), which it's also known as, can result in permanent injury or death of the victim.

The behavior might be motivated by the caregiver or partner seeking sympathy or attention.

Despite all the back and forth legal wrangling, Anderson said, 'I'm always going to have love for [her],' in one of his latest TikTok live posts.

He then proceeded to try and quell all the hate being thrown at his estranged wife, saying, 'If anyone is going to bash her, it should be me... If Im not bashing her, why yall need to?'
Chris Hemsworth and wife Elsa Pataky kicked up controversy on Tuesday when they starred in a tourism advertisement for Abu Dhabi.

The couple filmed a high-budget flick for the United Arab Emirates capital but were slammed by fans concerned about 'human rights abuses' in the country.

Some brutally accused the Thor star, 41, and his Spanish wife, 48, on Instagram of taking 'blood-soaked advertising money' and told them to 'do better'.

'Just got to ignore all the human rights abuses,' one person said of their post, as another wrote: 'A commercial for a state with few human rights?'

'You are a great family, so why don't you use your reach for something meaningful?' a third added.

'How lovely. A country without women's rights and workers' rights. An amazing thing to promote with your huge celebrity [status],' someone else commented.

One user noted: 'Not much of a vacation if you're a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.'

'Yo, Thor, you made like a gazillion marvel dollars. Do you really need blood-soaked, advertising money?' a follower wrote.

Chris Hemsworth, 41, (right) and wife Elsa Pataky, 48, (left) kicked up controversy on Tuesday when they starred in a tourism advertisement for Abu Dhabi

'O dear, no! Just no! Do better,' someone else added, as one commented: 'Is he running out of money?'

UAE has long been criticised for its human rights abuses, including against women and the LGBTQIA+ community.

According to AMERA International, a website for refugee legal aid resources, the UAE Penal Code says any sexual acts outside of heterosexual marriage carry a penalty of a minimum one-year 'confinement'.

However, it goes on to say: 'The Arabic of article 354 is written in such a way that it could be taken as condemning all male homosexual intercourse to the death penalty or only forced male homosexual intercourse.

'Amnesty International interprets the article as condemning perpetrators of rape of both men and women to death, but it can also be translated: "Whoever commits rape on a female or sodomy with a male."'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Chris and Elsa's representatives for comment.

The advertisement the couple shared to Instagram saw the pair running alongside each other on what appeared to be an action film set.

As they leapt from a skyscraper onto a hanging platform, Chris appeared to cling to his wife's legs before daydreaming about going on a holiday.

'Could really use a vacation right now,' the Hollywood star mused as Elsa struggled to hold him up while they hung in the air.

The couple filmed a high-budget flick for the United Arab Emirates capital, but were slammed by fans who were concerned about 'human rights abuses' in the country

'Somewhere warm, adventurous, with fun activities for the kids,' he continued as he began to daydream about the couple and their twin boys on holiday in Abu Dhabi.

What followed were clips of Chris, Elsa and their youngest children, Tristan and Sasha, 10, going horse riding and driving dune buggies through the desert.

They could be seen enjoying a myriad of other fun activities in the advertisement, including surfing, racecar driving, and visiting a theme park and aquarium.

'Something more relaxing, too?' Elsa said in a hilarious shot which showed her still out of breath as she held up Chris.

Some brutally accused the Thor star and his Spanish wife on Instagram of taking 'blood soaked advertising money' and told them to 'do better'

The Fast and Furious star was then shown enjoying a relaxing massage and a calm kayak trip with her family before visiting a museum.

It follows Chris sharing a rare health update after revealing that his career could be 'killing' him earlier this year.

The Thor star is working with Dr. Adeel Khan, a global leader in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy.

'Really enjoyed meeting Dr. Khan. His work with MUSE cellsan incredible type of regenerative stem cellis unique,' Chris wrote on Instagram Saturday.

Dr. Kahn, who posed for a picture with Chris, has treated Royal families, celebrities like Zac Efron and Justin Baldoni, and elite athletes with his cutting-edge stem cell therapy.

The advertisement saw Chris and Elsa acting out an action seen as the Thor star daydreamed about going a holiday to Abu Dhabi

Muse cells, which are found in the bone marrow and connective tissue of nearly every organ, have a tremendous capacity to function as restoring cells for a wide range of tissues and organs.

They are able to recognise damaged tissue and selectively accumulate at the site of the damage by intravenous injection.

In May, it was reported beloved actor Chris was filming the Limitless series in 2022 when he found out he is 'between eight and 10 times' likelier to develop Alzheimer's than the general population.

Shortly after the news broke, Chris took a step back from Hollywood to focus on his health and spend more time with his family.
Loyal Sunrise fans are speculating longtime co-host Natalie Barr is preparing to retire.

Barr, 56, is currently reporting in Washington DC for the presidential election, while reporter Monique Wright is guest hosting alongside Matt Shirvington.

And as Monique steps in for Natalie at Channel Seven's breakfast show studio in Sydney, viewers are suggesting that retirement may be on the horizon for Natalie.

'Monique is so excellent - I love how much they use her on the weekday show now,' one fan gushed on Media Spy.

'Could she be next [to become host] and Nat be retiring soon?' someone asked.

However, one dedicated Sunrise enthusiast dismissed the rumours.

'I don't see Nat retiring soon,' they wrote.

'Sunrise is just doing what they've always done - building a strong b-team so presenters can slot easily in and out without missing a beat.

Sunrise fans are speculating longtime co-host Natalie Barr (pictured) is preparing to retire

Barr, 56, is currently reporting in Washington DC for the presidential election, while reporter Monique Wright is guest hosting alongside Matt Shirvington

'While I think Mon is great, I personally think she's happier on weekends and just filling in where needed.

The user then weighed in on their preferred replacement if Nat were to ever retire.

'I think the eventual replacement will come in the form of someone younger like a Sarah Greenhalgh or Teegan Dolling (down the line of course),' they added.

Daily Mail Australia has contact Channel Seven for comment.

Nat has been in the hosting chair at Sunrise since 2021, following Samantha Armytage's resignation.

Monique (right) is usually hosting weekend Sunrise, but has stepped into weekday duties this week. Pictured with Matt Shirvington

And as Monique steps in for Natalie at Channel Seven 's breakfast show studio in Sydney, viewers are suggesting that retirement may be on the horizon for Natalie

It comes after Natalie had an embarrassing moment with Joe Biden on the eve of the US election.

She was at the White House on Tuesday when Marine One - the helicopter carrying the President - landed on the South Lawn.

As Biden exited Marine One and walked to the Oval Office, Nat tried to ask the President if he was sorry for calling Trump supporters 'garbage'.

Nat has been in the hosting chair at Sunrise since 2021, following Samantha Armytage's resignation. Pictured: Nat and Matt at the 2024 Logie Awards

President Biden ignored the question, which Nat claimed he would have heard because she was 'pretty loud'.

'He (President Biden) sort of put his head down, looking away from us,' Nat said.

Photos show President Biden looking unimpressed following the encounter.

'Other reporters were calling out questions too, but mine was pretty loud. He just put his head down and headed for the Oval. Ignored me,' Nat said.

Co-hosts Monique and Matt mocked Nat's hair going wild as the President's chopper landed.

'Okay, it's really windy. We're really so close, the President is somewhere that way,' Nat laughed.

'This is about as close as you get to the President of the United States. Joe Biden. Right there.'

Monique and Matt joked that President Biden ignored Nat because he watched her as she was almost blown away from the helicopter.

Despite the wind, the Sunrise host labelled the experience 'one of the most exciting moments' of her life.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr has had an embarrassing moment with the President of the United States Joe Biden on the eve of the US election

'Cam, the cameraman, and I were out there, and I couldn't believe I was there,' Nat said.

'They let you in, all the hard-pass journos who are here all the time. It's just like another day at the office for them. I was shaking with excitement.

'You've seen this in movies, on the news, in reports worldwide, and I thought, 'Wow, I'm here!' My hairpiece nearly fell out. It was a bit of a disaster, but I was there.'
Chrishell Stause has hit back at wild claims that she was 'paid' to say she voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 US election.

The Selling Sunset star, 43, took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday to double down her endorsement of the Democratic presidential nominee.

Just hours before the polls closed, she confirmed she had voted for Harris in the 2024 election.

Stause also heaped criticism on Republican nominee Donald Trump as she insisted she 'never' would have voted for him, making her election stance very clear.

In an impassioned post, she penned: 'You know how I voted. The accusations of some that I was in any way paid to say that is a joke.

'As in in any realm of any world, I would EVER vote for he who shall not be named is ridiculous.'

'Putting a man in charge of women's health, walking back women's rights and LGBTQ rights. Absolutely NOT,' she added.

Stause's post came in response to some fans wildly accusing her of being 'paid' to say she backed Harris in an earlier post where she urged people to register to vote.

Chrishell Stause has passionately hit back at claims that she was 'paid' to say she voted for Kamala Harris in the US election

The Selling Sunset star, 43, took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday night to double down her endorsement of the Democratic presidential nominee (Harris is pictured on November 4)

On October 5, she shared a photograph of herself smiling and holding up 'vote' paddles as she shared the reasons she would be voting for Harris in the election.

She said on Instagram at the time: 'Make sure you're registered and ready to vote by November 5thour rights and our future depend on it.

'Stances on a women's right to govern her own body and access to healthcare, IVF, contraception, Plan B, LGBTQ+ rights, lowering healthcare costs, and taxing the rich to pay their fair share for the greater good are a few of the reasons I will be voting for @KamalaHarris.

'Politicians work for us, and so although I am voting for Kamala, that doesn't mean I back every policy she has ever had or may have.

'It means I've done my research and I believe she is easily the best candidate to lead our country to a brighter future.

'I love my country and I am sending love to you even if we disagree.'

Stause was not the only celebrity to head to the polls to cast her vote in one of the nation's most historic presidential races.

A whole host of famous faces took to social media to share their voting stances and encourage others to head down to the polls.

Reese Witherspoon, Demi Moore, Brooks Shields, Valerie Bertinelli and Chelsea Handler were just some of the many stars urging their fans to vote.

Stause also slammed Republican nominee Donald Trump (pictured on November 1) as she insisted she 'never' would have voted for him as she made her stance very clear

She was not the only celebrity to head to the polls to cast her vote in one of the nation's most historic presidential races as Julia Roberts and many others also shared statements online

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Julia Roberts also cast her vote as she wore a POTUS female T-shirt, writing: 'There is a time to Hope, there is a time to Pray and there is time to VOTE. TODAY IS THE DAY!'

Meanwhile, Halle Berry said: 'I hope you all exercised your fundamental right to vote and have your voice heard today! I DID!'

Gigi Hadid also posed for a car selfie wearing her 'I Voted' sticker after casting her ballot in Pennsylvania.

And Jennifer Lopez urged followers to vote, saying: 'Your voice is your power! Make sure every voice is heard by stashing with me.'
Giuliana Rancic has been labeled a 'nightmare' to interview by top podcaster Taylor Strecker, who hosts the show Taste of Taylor.

The former E! News correspondent, 50, once chatted with Strecker, 41  along with longtime husband Bill Rancic  and left a lasting impression.

'Giuliana Rancic was a nightmare,' the radio personality told Page Six at Saturday's Dear Media IRL event in New York City.

Strecker admitted that she spoke with Giuliana 'as a favor' to someone in her circle who had hoped to do a fashion segment with her.

Recalling the experience, Taylor said: 'You know when a couple is fighting and youre, like, in the middle of it? Thats what happened. I was in the middle of a wasps nest.'

Giuliana Rancic has been labeled a 'nightmare' to interview by top podcaster Taylor Strecker, who hosts the show Taste of Taylor; Rancic pictured in 2021

'Giuliana Rancic was a nightmare,' the radio personality told Page Six at Saturday's Dear Media IRL event in New York City

Taylor revealed that she knew the interview was 'not even going to air,' so she 'didnt prepare for her conversation with the Rancics.

'Its not going anywhere, so I guess thats not really fair to her,' she acknowledged.

But she said the former Giuliana & Bill stars arrived at the studio amid a disagreement.

Strecker noted that the couple, who tied the knot in 2007, were 'clearly not in a bad place' in their marriage but were working through their issue 'like any couple having a fight.'

Describing her point of view, the pop culture enthusiast shared: 'She was almost, like, using me to take potshots at him.

'It was the most uncomfortable podcast ever, and then she went and complained about me to the other interviews that she had for the rest of the day, and I was like, "Oh my God, Giuliana, youre obsessed with me!"'

Wrapping up the story, the host said: 'It was traumatic to say the least.'

Giuliana's face became nearly synonymous with E! as she starred as an anchor on the network for 20 years before leaving in 2021.

Taylor said the former Giuliana & Bill stars arrived at the studio for their interview amid a disagreement; pictured in 2019

The couple tied the knot in 2007 and share 12-year-old son Duke

Giuliana and Bill celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary on September 1

Giuliana and Bill celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary on September 1.

They are parents to 12-year-old son Duke, who often appears with them in photos shared to social media.

Marking their only child's birthday in late August, the proud mom uploaded a carousel of photos of the family.

She wrote, 'Duke, your smile fills our hearts with a love that we didnt know existed before you. Every day, every year, every moment is better with you in it. Youre our main guy forever and ever. We  you!!!'

On Giuliana's birthday just days earlier, Bill gushed in an Instagram tribute: 'August 17, 1974! What a beautiful journey you have been on. The lives you have touched, the memories you have made and all the laughter along the way. So proud to be your husband.God has blessed you with so many beautiful gifts, thank you for sharing them me and our son. Heres to a lifetime together! I love you so much!!'
Maria Shriver told her followers to 'breathe' on Election Tuesday, after she was seen waiting in line to vote with her kids in Los Angeles.

Shriver, 68  the niece of 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy  was joined by her son Christopher Schwarzenegger, 27, and daughter Christina, 33.

While in line, she also bumped into her other son Patrick, 31, who was on his way out of their local polling place.

Afterwards, Maria shared a statement to X, writing: 'If you are watching results, breathe. It's going to be a long nightjust breathe.'

It comes following her son-in-law Chris Pratt's, 45, election controversy. The actor received backlash for his neutral approach toward the presidential election between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

Maria Shriver, 68, was pictured waiting to vote with son Christopher Schwarzenegger, 27, and daughter Christina, 33, in Los Angeles on Tuesday. While in line, she also bumped into her son Patrick, 31, who was leaving

Patrick showed off his laid-back style in a pair of green cargo pants and a long-sleeve grey shirt

Afterwards Maria shared a statement to X, writing: 'If you are watching results, breathe. It's going to be a long nightjust breathe'

Later on, as Harris started to trail in the results and Trump secured a win in the critical swing state of North Carolina, Maria returned to X writing, 'These margins are so slim it's stunning. The is a super close race. We're probably not going to know results tonight. Breathe.'

Earlier in the day Maria looked chic in a beige coat as she waited to vote.

Christina stood next to her in a white sweater and black pants, while Christopher rocked bleach blonde hair and a white t-shirt.

Meanwhile Patrick showed off his laid-back style in a pair of green cargo pants and a long-sleeve grey shirt.

He completed the look with an Alo hat and black and white sneakers.

The proud mom was pictured snapping a selfie with her kids while waiting in line, and later shared her experience on her Instagram Stories, saying the line was about 45 minutes long.

She also shared a clip with all her kids, saying, 'We're making history today.'

Earlier in the day she posted another video, revealing she voted for Harris.

In the caption she said: 'On this historic day, I am feeling emotional. I am feeling excited. I am feeling ready.'

'I am honored to have cast my vote for @kamalaharris and @timwalz. I am grateful that we live in a country where we all get to cast our vote. Where we all get to make our voices heard and be part of the process.'

Later on, as Harris started to trail in the results and Trump secured a win in the critical swing state of North Carolina, Maria returned to X writing, 'These margins are so slim it's stunning. The is a super close race. We're probably not going to know results tonight. Breathe'

The proud mom shared her experience on her Instagram Stories, saying the line was about 45 minutes long

In a clip with all her kids, she said, 'We're making history today'

Earlier in the day she also shared another video, revealing she voted for Harris

'I am honored to have cast my vote for @kamalaharris and @timwalz. I am grateful that we live in a country where we all get to cast our vote,' she wrote in the caption

'Where you and I get to decide who we want to lead and how we want to live. No matter where you live, your vote matters! Make sure you vote by the end of the day. Head to iwillvote.com to get all the information you need! #electionday.'

In the lengthy video she shared she was 'emotional' about voting for a 'woman President.'

'There's so many women like me who have lived a long time, and who have been told "Not yet, wait your turn. Go over there. This job is not for you." And I think we're gonna go to the polls by the millions and say "We're not going back, we're going forward."'

'Tomorrow will be a new beginning for our country,' she added.

Missing from Tuesday's outing was her fourth child, daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger, 34. She shares all four of her kids with ex-husband Arnold Schwarzenegger, 77.

Arnold and Maria were married from 1986 until 2021. Aside from their four kids, the Austrian born actor also fathered son Joseph Baena with their family housekeeper Mildred Baena.

Schwarzenegger made a rare presidential endorsement just six days before the 2024 election.

The former Republican Governor of California - who refused to vote for Donald Trump in 2016 - announced that he will be voting for Harris and Tim Walz.

In the shocking endorsement, the actor wrote: 'I dont really do endorsements. I'm not shy about sharing my views, but I hate politics and don't trust most politicians.'

Missing from the outing was her fourth child, daughter Katherine, 34, whose husband Chris Pratt, 45, received backlash for his neutral approach toward the presidential election; the pair seen in May

Pratt shared a selfie of himself after voting, posting it on Election Tuesday, though he did not reveal who he voted for

In an essay he wrote for Maria's website, Pratt said he wanted to remind people that whoever the winner of the election is - and which side wins - 'we are fellow countrymen'

Despite that, the Terminator star said that it's time for the country 'to move forward', and that 'the only way to do that is with Harris and Walz'.

Along with his endorsement, the actor made a blistering assessment on Trump - and predicted the havoc he would wreak if he was to become president again.

Schwarzenegger wrote: 'We need to close the door on this chapter of American history, and I know that former President Trump wont do that.

'He will divide, he will insult, he will find new ways to be more un-American than he already has been, and we, the people, will get nothing but more anger.'

Meanwhile his son-in-law, who is Katherine's husband, is under fire for taking a more neutral approach.

In an essay he wrote for Maria's website, Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper, Pratt said he wanted to remind people that whoever the winner of the election is - and which side wins - 'we are fellow countrymen.'

The Guardians Of The Galaxy leading man wrote: 'It's ok to take a moment to lick your wounds when you lose. Heck, go ahead and cry in the mirror.'

'But if we become too paralyzed by defeat or too pompous in victory, allegiance to our "team" can blind us to the fact that we are fellow countrymen.'

Maria's ex-husband, and Katherine's father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 77, announced that he will be voting for Kamala (L-R) Pratt, Katherine, Arnold, and Christina seen in 2023

The Terminator star said that it's time for the country 'to move forward', and that 'the only way to do that is with Harris and Walz'; seen in April

Arnold and Maria were married from 1986 until 2021. Aside from their four kids, the Austrian born actor also fathered son Joseph Baena with their family housekeeper Mildred Baena; Arnold and Maria seen in 2003

Multiple users on Reddit slammed Pratt, saying the actor's relatively noncommittal political statement came off as vapid and low-value.

'What a nothing burger of a statement,' one user said, while another added, 'What an insipid, nothing burger of an article. Thanks for nothing, Chris.'

He then caused further division among his fans after sharing a cryptic post to go alongside a selfie of himself after voting on Election Tuesday.

Rather than announcing an endorsement as many other celebrities have done, the movie star wrote in the caption: 'I got a sticker. Scratch and sniff. Smells like freedom.'
Kathy Hilton is sharing her thoughts on when her half-sister Kyle Richards might be ready to start dating again.

While chatting with People, Hilton, 65, indicated that her 55-year-old Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills costar wasn't in a big hurry to get back on the scene after splitting from her husband Mauricio Umansky, 54.

'I think she's just taking her time. We just wrapped a month ago, and so she's spending a lot of time with her girls and they were,' Hilton opined, referencing their film at the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS for RHOBH.

'So she's really spending a lot of time with the girls,' she added.

Reports of marital strife between Kyle and Mauricio in the summer of 2023, and she revealed the separation in July of that year.

Kathy Hilton is sharing her thoughts on when her half-sister Kyle Richards might be ready to start dating again

While chatting with People , Hilton, 65, said her 55-year-old RHOBH costar is 'just taking her time' after her split from husband Mauricio Umansky, 54, last year

Kathy also revealed that she and Mauricio still catch up occasionally, though their relationship isn't as strong as it was prior to his separation from Kyle.

'We're family. I want it all to be nice,' she said of the real estate agent. 'I have my nieces I love and adore and I like everybody to get along.'

Since separating more than a year ago, Kyle and Mauricio have been dogged by rumors that they would be divorcing shortly.

However, neither party appears to have yet filed to end their marriage, though there's also no hint so far of a reconciliation.

Kylie didn't give any clarity on the future of her relationship with Mauricio when speaking with Us Weekly last month.

'I dont know what the future holds right now with Mauricio and me,' she said at the time.

'We love each other. So that part is easy. Whats not easy is figuring out whats next. Were not divorced; he doesnt live here, but were still figuring things out,' she continued.

'On the show, people felt they were owed answers and thought I was withholding stuff  but Im figuring it out myself.'

Kyle had said on RHOBH that Maurio had done something to make her 'lost trust' in him, but she didn't specify what transpired between the two, defiantly adding that it was 'nobody's f***ing business.'

Their future seems to be on even shakier footing, as Kyle confirmed in May of this year that Mauricio had moved out of their home in Encino, California, and moved into a new house in West Hollywood.

Kathy also revealed that she and Mauricio still catch up occasionally, though their relationship isn't as strong as it was prior to his separation from Kyle. 'We're family,' she said; seen with Sutton Stracke (L) and Dorit Kemsley (R) in 2021 in Pasadena, Calif.

Kylie didn't give any clarity on the future of her relationship with Mauricio when speaking with Us Weekly last month. 'I dont know what the future holds right now with Mauricio and me,' she said at the time

Kyle was recently wrapped up in another separation controversy on RHOBH after Garcelle Beauvais claimed that the estranged husband of Dorit Kemsley (R) 'texts her'; still from RHOBH

However, she's not alone, as her two daughters  Portia, 16, and Sophia, 24  are still living under her roof.

She also has two older daughters  Alexia, 28, and Farrah, 35  who live on their own.

Kyle was recently wrapped up in another separation controversy on RHOBH.

In a season 14 teaser released late last month, Garcelle Beauvais claimed to Sutton Stracke that Kyle had confessed to her that Dorit Kemsley's estranged husband PK 'texts her.'
Kiernan Shipka has dished on a holiday incident that led to her waking up with a facial injury.

The 24-year-old Mad Men alum recalled the moment while promoting her upcoming Christmas movie Red One at its Berlin premiere.

Chatting with People, she remembered: 'I drank so much with my friends one night, and I woke up the next day and I had  I tell you  a massive hump on my nose.'

She descriptively noted, 'My nose literally went out a little and then back in.'

The actress said, 'I don't know if I fell,' before adding that it was 'unclear how it happened' and that it 'lasted a couple of weeks.'

Kiernan Shipka has dished on a holiday incident that led to her waking up with a facial injury; pictured October 19

The 24-year-old Mad Men alum recalled the moment while promoting her upcoming Christmas movie Red One at its Berlin premiere; pictured November 3 in Berlin

'It was a big Christmas mishap. You know, we live, we learn, we have fun,' the Twisters star, who turns 25 on November 10, summed it up.

Red One will hit theaters on November 15 and also stars Chris Evans, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, and Bonnie Hunt.

Jake Kasdan directed the lighthearted film and it was written by Chris Morgan and Hiram Garcia.

It follows a modern day Santa whose undercover gift-delivering organization is compromised by Gryla  a spiteful medieval force played by Shipka.

'I never really played a classic villain before,' Shipka said at her November 3 German premiere.

She expressed, 'It felt like intimidating shoes to fill. I drew inspiration from a lot of different places. A lot of random stuff.'

JK Simmons, 69, stars opposite the former child star, depicting Santa Claus.

Shipka praised the Hollywood vet, calling him an 'amazing' scene partner.

Red One will hit theaters on November 15 and stars Chris Evans, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, and Bonnie Hunt

She emphasized, 'He's so supportive. I mean, everyone  it's heavyweights, this whole cast. Everyone is so good. And I was just watching, observing, exploring.'

And JK teased that his portrayal of Saint Nick is 'not what people might expect.'

He told People magazine, 'It says in the script in the first description of Santa that he's not exactly... jolly. And I thought that really helped me.'

The acclaimed actor admitted that the role was 'intimidating' because it's 'been played by some wonderful, wonderful actors.'

'I was glad that this was a very different take on it,' he shared.
The Block has been rocked by theories that the 'flirtgate' scandal on the show was staged amid a slew of very telling clues.

And further evidence emerged on Tuesday which seemed to prove that things aren't as frosty between the show's controversial stars as it appeared on screen.

Photographs taken at the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse showed couple Kylie and Brad Baker posing alongside Mimi Belperio despite the flirting drama.

A playful video of Kylie with The Block bidder Adrian Portelli inside the G.H. Mumm marquee has also sparked theories their friendliness could be hinting at the winner of the 2024 show.

The latest clues come after Kylie and Brad were seen rubbing shoulders with Channel Nine producer Julian Cress despite a supposed falling out with the network.

The drama first kicked off when Brad told fellow contestant Mimi - who is married to Kristian - that he would follow her OnlyFans account if she had one in a flirty chat.

The controversial conversation came as Brad and Mimi shared a drink at his house while Kylie napped beside them and kicked off the now-infamous 'flirtgate' scandal.

Kylie then sensationally stormed off set and threatened to 'break the f**king camera' if the crew kept filming in a dramatic exit.

The Block has been rocked by theories that the 'flirtgate' scandal was staged amid a slew of very telling clues, including pictures of Kylie and Brad posing alongside Mimi and Kristian

A playful video of Kylie with The Block bidder Adrian Portelli inside the G.H. Mumm marquee has also sparked theories their friendliness could be hinting at the winner of the 2024 show

While Sunday's tense scenes showed things as being very frosty on The Block, an entirely different picture was painted at Tuesday's event.

Despite storming off the show, Kylie and Brad were seen flashing huge grins as they posed alongside their The Block co-stars at the races, including Mimi and Kristian.

The two couples appeared to be on very good terms as they stood directly beside one another in the group photograph, flashing huge grins.

The upset from the dramatic 'flirtgate' scandal appeared to be non-existent as the two married couples rubbed shoulders during the fun-filled day out.

Fans were quick to take to the comments section to point out how friendly the couples seemed with one another following the huge on-screen upset.

One wrote: 'Wow so good to see Kylie n Brad,' while another said: 'Kylie and Brad are there too - that's good.'

A third commented: 'Great to see all the teams back together,' and a fifth remarked: 'Glad to see Kylie and Brad back in the mix!'

Elsewhere at the Melbourne Cup, Kylie was also seen putting on a very friendly display with The Block's controversial bidder Adrian.

The drama first kicked off when Brad told fellow contestant Mimi - who is married to Kristian (pictured with Mimi) - that he would follow her OnlyFans account if she had one in a flirty chat

In a video shared to his Instagram Stories, Adrian was seen smiling and laughing with all The Block contestants before tapping Kylie on the back to get her attention.

She then turned around and flashed a huge smile before flipping the bird in a playful gesture which sent Adrian into hysterics.

Adrian is well-known for attending The Block's annual auctions when the contestants' homes go up for sale, and has put in some impressive bids over the years.

And his playful appearance alongside Kylie has sparked speculation that he could be hinting she and her husband are set to win the 2024 program.

Kylie and her husband Brad were also seen avidly chatting to The Block's co-creator and executive producer Julian Cress at the Melbourne Cup.

They are said to have had a massive falling out with Channel Nine following the show's 'flirtgate' scandal, but the latest pictures have proved they are on good terms.

Kylie and Brad, who are still together after the 'flirtgate' drama, were seen smiling and laughing with Julian, proving things are now not as strained as shown on screen.

Despite Kylie's vow to boycott auction day, sources also claimed the duo would consider returning for the sale if the reserve was for the right price.

Kylie and Brad were embroiled in scenes on The Block which seemed to show strained relationships between them and the production team.

On Sunday, Kylie's journey on the show came to an explosive end when she spectacularly clashed with the show's judges, host Scott Cam, and even her own team of tradies.

The latest clues come after Kylie and Brad were seen rubbing shoulders with Channel Nine producer Julian Cress despite a supposed falling out with the network

In a dramatic lead-up to the final round of judging, tensions reached boiling point when Kylie ordered her team to stop work just hours before the last reveal.

'F**king leave it, all of you. I want everyone gone, I'm not kidding,' she instructed, before telling Brad to 'get them OUT. GET. THEM. OUT. Tell them to leave! I don't want their help.'

Brad, left with no choice, then relayed her orders to their stunned tradies, who reluctantly packed up and left.

The following day, as host Scott Cam called 'tools down' for the final time, Kylie was noticeably absent from the celebration.
Wendell Pierce said he was still holding out hopes for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris amid long odds as incoming election results came in Tuesday.

The 60-year-old actor took to X/ Twitter with a series of posts during Tuesday's elections, and as of 11 p.m. ET - amid a commanding lead for Republican candidate Donald Trump, Pierce stayed optimistic, saying, 'Its not over.'

Pierce, who played Detective William 'Bunk' Moreland on The Wire from 20022008, said, 'MILWAUKEE, DETROIT, and PHILADELPHIA WILL DECIDE THIS RACE.

'COUNT THE VOTES. 80% of Americans live in cities. 100k leads are a fraction of the millions in those cities and suburbs.'

The New Orleans-born actor earlier said he would be at Harris' campaign headquarters in Washington, D.C. watching the results come in.

Wendell Pierce, 60, said he was still holding out hopes for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris amid long odds as incoming election results came in Tuesday. Pictured October 20 in NYC

Pierce stayed optimistic, saying, 'Its not over,' as Republican candidate Donald Trump appeared to be surging toward a second term Tuesday

'At this moment, my family is headed to the yard at Howard University to witness history!' Pierce said. 'Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver a speech that is immediately a part of the American legacy. A profound and iconic moment. Once in a lifetime.'

The optimism of Pierce - who has also appeared in films such as Selma and Confirmation - was not reflected in the responses to his comment.

'It's just very upsetting that people know exactly who he is now (no excuses) and we're here again,' said one user, while another said, 'I hope you're right. I feel sick right now.'

Some users made inside references to The Wire to reflect their pessimism in Harris' chances with one saying, 'Its over Bunk,' while another said, 'Rawls just called McNulty into his office my friend'

The New Orleans-born actor earlier said he would be at Harris' campaign headquarters at Howard University in Washington, D.C. watching the results come in.

'At this moment, my family is headed to the "yard" at Howard University to witness history!' Pierce said. 'Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver a speech that is immediately a part of the American legacy. A profound and iconic moment. Once in a lifetime.'

Pierce, who's been seen on shows such as Suits, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan and Elsbeth, also celebrated election night wins for Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angela Alsobrooks, who won Senate seats respectively in Delaware and Maryland.

The victories marked the first time in history that the American public elected two Black women to the Senate at once. Only three other Black women have served in the chamber until now, two of them elected and one who was appointed.

Harris supporters at her campaign headquarters at Howard University in Washington, D.C. were upset watching the results come in

The optimism of Pierce was not reflected in the responses to his comment

The New Orleans-born actor earlier said he would be at Harris' campaign headquarters

A post from Pierce read: 'History: 2 Black Women U.S. Senators in Congress for the first time! Sen. Blunt-Rochester & Sen. Alsobrooks.'

Blunt Rochester said in a victory speech Tuesday, 'The people have spoken, and we're bringing bright hope to the United States Senate,' to supporters who greeted her with chants of 'LBR! LBR!'

'I stand before you tonight extremely humbled, and with a heart filled with gratitude to God and to the people of Delaware who put their trust in me,' Rochester said.

She acknowledged the trail previously 'blazed by three strong Black women senators,' but said her run was not about making history.

'It's about making a difference,' she said.

Blunt Rochester defeated Republican Eric Hansen. She was considered a virtual shoo-in for the Senate against businessman Hansen, a political newcomer. Democrats hold a significant voter registration advantage over Republicans in solid-blue Delaware, which last sent a Republican to Washington in 2008.

Blunt Rochester raised some $8 million for her Senate campaign, while Hansen's campaign receipts totaled only about $1 million, including more than $800,000 in loans he made to his campaign.

Blunt Rochester will fill the seat left vacant by fellow Democrat Tom Carper, who handpicked her as his preferred successor when he announced his retirement last year. Blunt Rochester once interned for Carper when he was in the House and also served in his cabinet when he was governor.

Pierce celebrated election night wins for Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angela Alsobrooks, who won Senate seats respectively in Delaware and Maryland

Delaware Maryland Senator-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester celebrated during an election night watch party Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware

Maryland Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks cheered during an election night watch party Tuesday in College Park, Maryland

Blunt Rochester has served four terms at Delaware's lone representative in the House. According to the Congressional Record, she has sponsored 90 bills and seven resolutions during her House tenure, many aimed at improving or expanding access to health care, especially for women and minorities.

The only measure sponsored by Blunt Rochester to become law is a resolution naming a Wilmington post office in honor of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, a 19th-century anti-slavery activist and publisher.

Blunt Rochester began her political career as a case worker for Carper and served in appointed positions as Delaware's labor secretary, state personnel director and deputy secretary of Delaware's Department of Health and Social Services. She also has served as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.

Alsobrooks won a U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday to become the first Black candidate to be elected senator in Maryland, as the Democrat prevailed in a blue state against popular Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan.

The race had been widely watched with control of the Senate potentially at stake.

Alsobrooks campaigned heavily on abortion rights in a year that Maryland voters approved a ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Alsobrooks, who is the chief executive of Prince George's County in the suburbs of the nation's capital, told supporters that her neighbors hosted a pep rally for her as she left home on Tuesday. She said that's the county she has known, 'the people who cheer each other on, where greatness grows.'

'At times we struggle together, and we work to build a better future for all of our children,' Alsobrooks said. 'And to those Marylanders whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I want you to know that I hear your voice, and I will be your senator, too.'
Adrian Portelli has exposed the depths of Australia's cost of living crisis by drawing mass crowds to Coles supermarkets in Adelaide.

The Melbourne billionaire, 35, announced he was going to be giving away hundreds of dollars to Coles shoppers on Tuesday.

Long queues stretched outside the door of the Munno Para supermarket, with Portelli claiming he had given away $75,000 to those in need at the first grocery store he visited.

'First Coles, $75,000 into the hands who need it,' he shared to his Instagram Stories.

The wealthy businessman then visited the Port Adelaide store on Commercial Rd at midday.

Videos shared to his Instagram Stories showed Portelli being applauded and cheered on by the families whom he was donating money to.

Portelli rose to fame on The Block Australia in 2022 when he pulled up to the televised auction day in a yellow Lamborghini and purchased Omar and Oz's house.

He has splashed $16.65million on four The Block houses over two years.

Adrian Portelli has exposed the depths of Australia's cost of living crisis by drawing mass crowds to Coles supermarkets in Adelaide. Pictured

The Melbourne billionaire , 35, announced he was going to be giving away hundreds of dollars to Coles shoppers on Tuesday

'First Coles, $75,000 into the hands who need it,' he shared to his Instagram Stories

The car enthusiast made his fortune by running his own promotions and giveaway business, and through property investing.

On Tuesday, he lapped up the Melbourne Cup from the exclusive Birdcage enclosure.

Then on Wednesday, the rich lister influencer invited his 382,000 followers to watch him give away thousands of dollars to Aussie families doing it tough.

Portelli announced the giveaway on his Instagram Story feed on Tuesday, saying he would be at Coles Munno Para and Port Adelaide on Wednesday handing out $100 and $200 vouchers.

Although the original post has disappeared, it was widely shared.

Adrian, 35, announced the surprise giveaway on Instagram and travelled from Melbourne to Adelaide using his private plane

In the first video posted to his Instagram Stories today, 'Lambo Guy' Adrian Portelli showed off his Lamborghini collection of at least seven luxury vehicles.

In the first video posted to his Instagram Stories today, Portelli showed off his Lamborghini collection of at least seven luxury vehicles.

'Today's going to be an absolutely massive day. We are off to Adelaide,' he said.

'A lot of people ask me if I can justify the cost of owning a private plane,' he said while providing an inside view to his lavish lifestyle.

'I actually charter the plane out. I don't like pouring money down the drain. It makes an income for me and I get the convenience out of it. To put in perspective, I was asleep 20 minutes ago. The plane's due to leave in 10 minutes and I'm pulling in now.'

Portelli used his private plane to fly from his home in Melbourne, to Adelaide for the day, and back.

At the second supermarket he visited, Adrian said that he had handed out a total of $150,000 to the large crowds of families that he filmed in time lapse videos.

Coles and Woolworths, Australia's two biggest supermarket chains, are currently facing court over allegations they intentionally misled customers with fake discounts.

The Block bidder Adrian 'Mr Lambo' Portelli (pictured) is preparing to make a bold and game-changing move that will leave fans stunned

Despite the happy music being played over Portelli's video of the queues snaking around the Port Adelaide store  the footage also showed the sheer volume of Australians willing to line up in the middle of a work day for one of the billionaire's handouts.

The upcoming Block auction is already shaping up to be one for the history books.

TV insiders have revealed how billionaire entrepreneur Portelli is gearing up to make an unprecedented move that could rewrite the show's history.

'The word is Adrian Portelli has his sights set on buying every single property,' the insider disclosed.

Kristian and Mimi posed for a photo at Melbourne Cup ahead of The Block AU auction

The source said Portelli is serious about making a statement and cementing his position as The Block's most powerful buyer.

'He's been talking to the producers about this for weeks and is very confident the deal will go through.'

Portelli, who became a household name after his high-profile purchases on previous seasons, is no stranger to turning Block homes into major publicity stunts.

His company, LMCT+, has frequently raffled off properties from the show, including last year's $5 million purchase of Steph and Gian's winning home.

The millionaire entrepreneur is planning to purchase all five of the Phillip Island homes at this year's auction for a whopping $15million  a first in the show's long-running history

While the initial winner of the raffle chose a $2.5 million cash prize over the property, the house was eventually awarded to Bryan, a 42-year-old from Victoria, during a re-raffle in July.

A close friend of Portelli's told Daily Mail Australia, 'Adrian is keen to snap them all up. He's not just in this to win one house - he's aiming to take them all and then flip them for his business. It would be the biggest single sale in Block history.'

'He loves the drama, and this auction will be no exception,' the friend added. 'He's ready to steal the show.'

What makes his potential purchase even more striking is the uniform price guide for all five homes.

The properties have been listed with price guides between $1.7 million and $1.85 milliona significant drop from last year's season, where reserve prices ranged from $2.97 million to $3.35 million.
Riverdale star Lili Reinhart hurled an expletive at a fan after sharing her 'heartbreak' for Donald Trump's sexual assault accusers as he leads in the U.S. presidential race against Kamala Harris.

The actress, 28, took to X (formerly Twitter) to react to 'millions' of Americans voting for the Republican candidate, 78, despite him being found liable of sexual abuse in 2023.

'I cannot fathom the feeling of the women who came forward about their sexual assault at the hands of Trump. Seeing millions of people vote for their abuser. 'My heart absolutely breaks for these women,' she wrote.

Speaking directly to Trump's alleged victims, Reinhart  a staunch Harris supporter  concluded: 'I believe you, and I am so sorry.'

The Ohio native was soon flooded with comments urging her to 'stay out of politics.'

'Lili You're a great actor, stay only acting. Stay out of politics,' one fan wrote, to which Reinhart fired back: 'Suck my d**k'

Riverdale star Lili Reinhart had some choice words for a fan after sharing her 'heartbreak' for Donald Trump's sexual assault accusers as he leads in the U.S. presidential race against Kamala Harris

She then took to her Instagram Story, where she re-posted her original tweet and called out the 'Trump bots' and doubled down on Trump being a 'rapist.'

'The Trump bots on Twitter are loving me. You can keep defending the CONVICTED rapist and call it fake news,' Reinhart penned.

'I will always believe these women.'

As of 2024, Trump has been publicly accused of rape, groping and other nonconsensual sexual acts by at least 26 women, with some accusations dating back to the 1970s.

In May 2023, the former president was found liable of sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll, a journalist who claimed Trump sexually assaulted her at Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room and later defamed her when he publicly denied her allegations, by a jury in New York City.

Trump has vehemently denied all of the 'made-up' sexual assault allegations against him.

In September 2024, his lawyers argued that the $5million verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing Carroll should be overturned.

They said key evidence should have been excluded and other bits of evidence were improperly barred.

Judges have twice awarded millions of dollars of damages against him for claiming Carroll's story was not true.

The Ohio native was soon flooded with comments urging her to 'stay out of politics,' to which she replied: 'Suck my d**k'

Trump blamed his own attorneys for his predicament, saying to DailyMail.com at a press conference at Trump Tower in September: 'I'm disappointed in my legal talent.'

He insisted the allegation that he had assaulted Carroll in a changing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store across the road from Trump Tower, was a 'fabricated' story.

'Never happened,' the MAGA leader said.

'Total phony story, and I feel sad that I have to come up here and explain that I have all this legal talent, but legal talent cannot overcome rigged judges.'

He went on to claim that 'Law and Order' was one of Carroll's favorite T.V. shows. 'And there's an almost exact story as her story in 'Law & Order' about being attacked in the dressing room of a department store,' he said.

On Tuesday, Trump  who previously declared that his campaign was 'doing great with women'  faced off against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the historic 2024 U.S. presidential election.

The election is still officially too close to call after but Donald Trump appeared to have the early advantage.

In a major boost, Trump won the key battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia.

He also took a string of other states including Texas, Florida and Iowa. Harris secured states including California and Colorado.

Trump soared on betting markets as the count continued and the New York Times forecast suggested a 95 percent chance of a Republican victory.

She then took to her Instagram Story, where she re-posted her original tweet and called out the 'Trump bots' and doubled down on Trump being a 'rapist'

'The Trump bots on Twitter are loving me. You can keep defending the CONVICTED rapist and call it fake news,' Reinhart penned. 'I will always believe these women'

Trump has been accused of sexual assault by 26 women and he was found liable of sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll (pictured in September) in May 2023

North Carolina was called for Trump by the Associated Press at 11.19pm Eastern time. Just over an hour later, it also called Georgia for Trump.

It came as Republicans were celebrating retaking control of the Senate for the first time in four years.

That gives the party important power in confirming the next president's Cabinet, and any Supreme Court justice if there is a vacancy.

At Harris' watch party in Washington D.C. silence descended and supporters were seen hugging as they began to contemplate possible defeat.
Amelia Gray Hamlin put her svelte figure on display when she was spotted heading to dinner in Miami Beach on Monday night.

The 23-year-old model nearly blended into the night thanks to her semi-sheer black mini dress, which she wore without a bra.

Amelia  who recently set temperatures soaring by posting a series of racy nude photos  was on her way to the to the upscale Italian restaurant Forte dei Marmi, which is a favorite of celebrity guests.

Her striking evening outfit showcased her long, trim legs, while featuring long sleeves.

She appeared to wear a nearly identical white dress under her black one, perhaps to prevent it from becoming dangerously translucent.

Amelia Gray Hamlin put her svelte figure on display when she was spotted heading to dinner in Miami Beach on Monday night

The 23-year-old model nearly blended into the night thanks to her semi-sheer black mini dress, which she wore without a bra on her way to the celeb-friendly Italian restaurant Forte dei Marmi

The daughter of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin matched her outfit with a set of chic black leather boots with thick buckles running up her calves.

She stuck to the monochromatic color scheme by carrying a black Hermes Birkin bag, though she added some personality to it by tying a tiny stuffed doll and some white lace around the handle.

Amelia's raven tresses perfectly matched her ensemble, and the long strands, which reached halfway down her back, fluttered about in the breeze.

The catwalk star completed her look with a pair of oval-shaped tortoiseshell sunglasses that gave her a sizzling nerd-chic look.

She previously displayed the same set of glasses in a carousel posted to Instagram earlier in October.

In one image, she displayed the fancy eyewear while seemingly going shirtless and displaying her black bra as she spread out on a pile of blankets on a sofa.

Other shots from her post were far more risque, including a nude mirror selfie in which she posed topless and just barely preserved her modesty thanks to her voluminous dark hair.

She contrasted the pin-up look with another more naturalistic nude in which she stood with her bare backside to a French door after apparently going skinny dipping in a lake.

She paired her revealing dress with tall black leather boots featuring thick buckles, and she stayed on the monochrome theme with a black Birkin bag

The catwalk star completed her look with a pair of oval-shaped tortoiseshell sunglasses that gave her a sizzling nerd-chic look, which she previously displayed in an Instagram post in October

Other shots from her post were far more risque, including a nude mirror selfie in which she posed topless and just barely preserved her modesty thanks to her voluminous dark hair

She contrasted the pin-up look with another more naturalistic nude in which she stood with her bare backside to a French door after apparently going skinny dipping in a lake

Amelia was slightly more dressed up in an accompanying photo that showed her from behind as she wore a pale purple string bikini with 'I [heart] ME' print all across the bottom half

Another image showed the nepo baby preparing for a photoshoot while displaying incredibly long, lustrous hair and a fully made-up face

Amelia was slightly more dressed up in an accompanying photo that showed her from behind as she wore a pale purple string bikini with 'I [heart] ME' print all across the bottom half.

Another image showed the nepo baby preparing for a photoshoot while displaying incredibly long, lustrous hair and a fully made-up face.

She included two versions of the photo, one with a sultry pout and another with a more humorous cringing face.

'Sometimes I forget to show you when Im silly,' she joked in her caption.
Dean Wells was more MAGA than MAFS on Wednesday when he took to social media to celebrate Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election.

Donald Trump was re-elected President of the United States on Wednesday (AEST), defeating opponent Kamala Harris in a dramatic and hard-fought race.

And Dean, 46, who was dubbed a 'supervillain' on season five of Married At First Sight, was quick to show his support for the victorious Republican candidate.

Taking to his Instagram story on Wednesday, after victory was declared, Dean shared a photo that showed him proudly wearing a bright red Make America Great Again cap - a trademark of the MAGA movement.

Adding an air of cool to the snap, Dean also wore a pair of blue reflective wrap around sunglasses.

'Aaaand we're back,' Dean cooly captioned the pic celebrating Donald Trump's impending return to the White House after losing to Joe Biden in 2020.

Dean shared another pic that was a still of the Nine News election coverage.

Despite the still clearly showing Trump victorious, sitting at 312 electoral college votes - 42 more than needed for victory, Dean took the chance to rehash claims of election interference and fraud that plagued the 2020 election.

Dean Wells (pictured) was more MAGA than MAFS on Wednesday when he took to social media to celebrate Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election

'Holy s**t,' Dean wrote as he watched the results come in.

'Looking good for the Don but I remember last time when a bunch of last minute mysterious votes popped up and he lost.'

Dean also shared a video that showed him watching Donald Trump's victory speech and he further cemented his support with the caption: 'very humble speech. Legend'

Taking to his Instagram story on Wednesday, after victory was declared, Dean shared a photo that showed him proudly wearing a bright read Make America Great Again cap - a trademark of the MAGA movement

Despite the still clearly showing Trump victorious, sitting at 312 electoral collage votes - 42 more than needed for victory, Dean took the chance to rehash claims of election interference and fraud that plagued the 2020 election

Dean also shared a video that showed him watching Donald Trump's victory speech and he further cemented his support with the caption: 'very humble speech. Legend'

Dean was labelled a MAFS 'supervillain' after he was involved in a 'dalliance' with co-star Davina Rankin behind on-screen bride Tracey Jewel's back.

It emerged during a tense dinner party that Davina had sent Dean a string of X-rated text messages, much to the chagrin of Davina's beau Ryan Gallagher and Tracey.

The controversy proved too much for both couples who all split before the cameras stopped rolling.

More recently though, Dean revealed, back in May that he was baptised in Sydney Harbour after turning over a new leaf.

The reality TV star took to Instagram with a video explaining he has been reading the Bible 'for about eight years now' and wanted to make his Christian faith official.

Dean was labelled as the 'supervillain' on season five of MAFS after he was involved in a 'dalliance' with co-star Davina Rankin behind on-screen bride Tracey Jewel's (pictured) back

In the footage, Dean could be seen standing in the waters of Port Jackson with a member of his local church clergy who helped immerse him.

Dean is also planning to walk down the aisle with fiance Amy Woolley after announcing their engagement in 2023 after just one year of dating.

The controversial groom told Yahoo Lifestyle at the time he was finally ready to tie the knot again after his disastrous stint on reality television.

'MAFS is different for everyone but for me it was a total stitch up and left me with a bitter taste about marriage. I was a bit scarred from the experience but when I met Aimee she renewed my faith in real, honest, true love,' Dean said.

'She is the sweetest, funniest, craziest and most genuine person I have ever met. We dived in head first and moved in together after just a few weeks and the next natural step was to propose.'
EastEnders legend Cheryl Fergison has secured a new role after she was forced to sell old BBC scripts to 'keep food on the table.'

Cheryl Fergison, who played Heather Trott, was axed from the soap in 2012 when her character was murdered during a whodunit storyline.

The actress admitted that she struggled to find acting work after leaving the soap and has been seen selling memorabilia on Instagram.

However, Cheryl has now revealed he will be starring as the Fairy Godmother in a production of Cinderella in Peterborough for Christmas.

Sharing an update to Instagram, she uploaded a poster of the pantomime and some backstage photos.

EastEnders legend Cheryl Fergison has secured a new role after she was forced to sell old BBC scripts to 'keep food on the table' (pictured in May)

Cheryl Fergison, who played Heather Trott, was axed from the soap in 2012 when her character was murdered during a whodunit storyline

Earlier this week in an interview with OK! Magazine, the soapstar explained how she had been selling items online to 'keep herself afloat.'

Cheryl said: 'There is unofficial merchandise being sold either online or in various places, I wanted to give true fans a chance to have something of my era at EastEnders.

'I think that people need to get their heads around the fact we have to earn a living, we are not always fortunate to be filming all the time and working in our chosen and trained profession.

'I do not want to get into trouble in any way and maybe 50 to some people is not a lot of money, but when it can help to pay an ever-increasing bill or help put a roof over your head and food on the table, just like any other person earning a living, I will continue to buy and sell - and pay tax on it.'

Cheryl previously revealed that she burst into tears after being told she was out of the fictional Walford -based soap.

She told Best magazine at the time: 'It was a bittersweet day. What you get with one hand, you get taken away with another!

'When they told me Heather was for the chop, (the boss) had to get me a tissue.

Cheryl's character Heather was murdered by Ben Mitchell after he robbed her while trying to flee Walford and late served four years in prison for the crime.

The actress admitted that she struggled to find acting work after leaving the soap and has been seen selling memorabilia on Instagram

However, Cheryl has now revealed he will be starring as the Fairy Godmother in a production of Cinderella in Peterborough for Christmas

Earlier this week in an interview with OK! Magazine , the soapstar explained how she had been selling items online to 'keep herself afloat'

Previously discussing a return to the Square, Heather has suggested that she could come back as her character's twin sisters who she was separated from at birth.

In an interview with Good Morning Britain in 2012, Cheryl teased upcoming soap roles, saying she would like to appear in Emmerdale or Corrie.

She said: ' You've got people with funny bones up there.I wouldnt mind getting in another one of those soaps again. Corrie or Emmerdale. A long lost Dingle.'

'It seems many of the soap-watching public would like to see me on the cobbles or in the dales. Now it's time to create a new character. Time to see a completely different character in one of the other continuing dramas.'
Cara Delevingne launched a furious tirade urging friends to inflict 'four years of hell' on Republicans as Donald Trump was elected President.

The supermodel, 32, led a legion of liberal luvvies in the UK including Paloma Faith and Dawn O'Porter, who shared their 'devastated' reactions as they woke to the news of Trump's election night victory.

Cara, who has a home in Los Angeles, sent out a defiant 'message to her friends' not to despair, but rather to focus on defeating Republicans, who she described as 'fascists, misogynists, bigots and liars'.

Her post said: 'A message to my friends: 'Trump will win the White House. The GOP has control of the Senate. This is gutting yes, but freeing too. We get to make every day over the next four years hell for fascists, misogynists, bigots and liars.

'This is not the time to shrink. Nor the time to despair. This is the time for that classic Disney, larger than life, kinda gay, impossibly well dressed, unbelievably cool villainy. That punk rock, black parade guerrilla s***. This is our villain era.

'Make art. F** s** up. Build power. They are about to learn the hardest thing about gaining power is keeping it.'

Cara Delevingne launched a furious tirade where she urged her friends to inflict 'four years of hell' on Republicans as Donald Trump is elected President

The supermodel, 32, led a legion of liberal luvvies in the UK including Paloma Faith and Dawn O'Porter, who shared their 'devastated' reactions as they woke to the news of Trump's election night sweep

As the country awoke to the news that Trump had won most of the major swing states and had already declared an early victory, stars shared their shock online

Sharing a red-covered map of the United States, Dawn, who lived in the US for 16 years and is married to actor Chris O'Dowd, wrote: 'Feel like I'm going to cry for the rest of my life.'

Underneath, she added: 'This is breaking my heart. After all that, still this.'

After hearing the news, Paloma Faith said the country would be saying goodbye to 'women's rights, liberalism and freedom of speech', adding: 'Hello racism, hello capitalism, hello climate change, hello war, hello end of days.'

Comparing the news to waiting for a sexual health screening test the day before, she said: 'Today feels like the whole country is waiting for an STD result.'

This morning she added another post, which read: 'Sadly the results came back positive.'

Also sharing her anguish on social media was activist Livia Firth, who made her despair known as she wrote: 'What is a word bigger than heartache?'

She said: 'Agony anguish bitterness despair grief heartache pain remorse sorrow suffering torment woe. Strong matches. affliction bale care desolation distress heartsickness regret rue torture.'

While some were disappointed by the news, other celebs shared their support for Trump and celebrated him steaming towards victory.

During the night, Victoria Baker-Harber shared a selfie of herself in bed sipping wine with the words 'world peace may just be one step closer' and pictures of Trump.

After hearing the news, Paloma Faith said the country would be saying goodbye to 'women's rights, liberalism and freedom of speech'

She added: 'Hello racism, hello capitalism, hello climate change, hello war, hello end of days'

Comparing the news to waiting for a sexual health screening test the day before, she said: 'Today feels like the whole country is waiting for an STD result

Dawn O'Porter, who lived in the U.S. for 16 years, wrote: 'Feel like I'm going to cry for the rest of my life'

Underneath, she added: 'This is breaking my heart. After all that, still this'

Hours later the former Made In Chelsea star shared a news headline that read 'Donald Trump will be president again', and 'yay!'.

Former Towie star Suzie Wells was also seemingly celebrating Trump, as she shared a video of supporter celebrating the win with the words: 'Were sooooo back!!!!'

Trump took the stage and declared victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning, cementing an extraordinary political comeback.

Trump pulled off an astounding political comeback and regained the White House after being declared the winner of the 2024 US presidential election.

He becomes the first president in over 130 years  and only the second in history  to win a non-consecutive second term.

'We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,' he said.

'And it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing.'

His defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris marks a remarkable return for a twice-impeached president, who left office in 2021 on the back of claims that he had incited an assault on the US Capitol building, and who was convicted earlier this year on multiple counts of business fraud.

Also sharing her anguish on social media was activist Livia Firth, who made her despair known as she wrote: 'What is a word bigger than heartache?'

Carol Vorderman shared her thoughts on Trump on Wednesday morning

While some were disappointed by the news, other celebs shared their support for Trump and celebrated him steaming towards victory

Former Towie star Suzie Wells was also seemingly celebrating Trump, as she shared a video of supporter celebrating the win with the words: 'Were sooooo back!!!!'

The 78-year-old Trump will also become the oldest president ever inaugurated, beating President Joe Biden's record by five months.

He pulled off his remarkable victory on a night reminiscent of 2016, sweeping the key swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Associated Press called Wisconsin at 5.34am (ET) Wednesday and the race just three minutes later.

Harris never conceded the race. Instead former Rep. Cedric Richmond - her campaign co-chair - said after midnight Wednesday that the vice president would not be addressing supporters until 'tomorrow'.

The pivotal moment came when North Carolina was called for Trump at 11:19pm (ET).

Then, the quiet crowd at the official Republican watch party, held in a convention center in Florida's West Palm Beach, erupted in a release of nervous energy.

At the same time, the mood at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort  where he was sat amid friends and family watching the results roll in  switched from cautious optimism to 'a sense of destiny', one attendee said.

Later at the convention center in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Trump was joined on stage by his jubilant family and campaign staff, as he addressed his adoring fans and declared: 'We're going to help our country heal.'

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He becomes the first president in over 130 years to win a non-consecutive second term (Pictured: Donald, wife Melania and their son Barron on stage in West Palm Beach as Trump delivered his victory speech on Tuesday night)

'This was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time,' he said. 'This is a magnificent victory for the American people, that will allow us to make America great again.'

Certainly, Trump's resounding win brings an end to a tumultuous 2024 campaign  punctuated with Biden's dramatic withdrawal from the race in July, as well as two shocking attempts on Trump's life.

But his inflammatory rhetoric and propensity for personal attacks means he will now lead a divided country that shows little sign of healing.

After announcing he would run again back in November 2022, Trump comfortably saw off other Republican hopefuls  including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley  to secure the Party nomination in March this year.

Entering the summer, he held a comfortable polling lead over President Biden, 81, whose record on the economy and immigration, as well as the obvious problem of his advancing age, were proving disastrous among voters.

The now notorious CNN television debate between the two presumptive nominees on June 27  in which Biden froze and mumbled, appearing unable to clearly answer even basic questions  only helped Trump further.

On July 13, while addressing crowds at rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the bullet of would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks ripped through Trump's right ear. After being swarmed by Secret Service agents, Trump rose to his feet  his shoes missing and his face bloodied  pumping his fist in the air and shouting: 'Fight! Fight! Fight!'

Just days later, he received a hero's welcome in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Republican National Convention.

MAGA fans donned mock bandages on their ears in solidarity with the former president and, in a stirring speech on the final night, Trump told a packed-out convention center that he would be a 'president for all of America'.
Harper Beckham awarded her mother Entrepreneur Of The Year on Tuesday night in front of a room full of celebrities and fashions elite.

It's the latest step in the Beckham's youngest being branded into a successful dupe of her parents as they continue to push the thirteen-year-old out into the world.

Introduced onto stage wearing one of her mothers dresses, Harper began her speech with: 'I'm so nervous'.

Standing in front of the likes of Maya Jama, Jodie Comer and Jilly Cooper at the fitting names Harpers Bazaar Women of the Year awards in London, she began to praise Victoria for being a present mum.

'Good evening everyone, Im so excited to be here presenting the entrepreneur award,' Harper said.

Harper Beckham awarded her mother Entrepreneur Of The Year on Tuesday night in front of a room full of celebrities and fashions elite

Introduced onto stage wearing one of her mothers dresses, Harper began her speech with: 'I'm so nervous', before she welcomed her mum Victoria onto the stage

Accepting the honour for her contribution to fashion with her eponymous clothing line, Victoria said: 'I am so, so proud of you' and later showed off the glass gong

'Especially as tonight is a school night. And hopefully this isn't going to get me into trouble.

'The winner is someone I have always looked up to. Shes built an incredible business from the ground up and has showed me the value of working hard, dreaming big and setting my standards.

'Shes taught me so much about what it takes to succeed. But above all else shes taught me to always be kind and even though she has a million things to do, she rarely misses school.

'Tonight I am so proud to present the Entrepreneur Of The Year award to a truly inspiring woman who means the world to me, my amazing mummy, Victoria Beckham.'

Entering the stage to accept her award, Victoria said to Harper: 'I am so, so proud of you.

'Getting up on stage in front of a room full of people is scary and you did it with such poise and such elegance.

'I am so proud of the young lady you have become. You keep me grounded and inspire me every day.

'You teach me to see the world through fresh eyes. And as busy as I am, being a mum is the most important job to me. So thank you.'

Harper's appearance at the awards is the latest stint from her parents in launching her career into the world of showbusiness

Victoria looked typically stylish in an elegant ivory silk trouser suit while posing with her award shortly after accepting the accolade

Last week it was revealed Victoria, 50, has plotted a secret career move to help their daughter launch into the world of showbusiness after the teen spoke of her dreams to create a brand

The Spice Girl, 50, received the award for her 'innovation and dedication to the British and global fashion industry' at the event (Pictured with Editor-in-Chief Lydia Slater)

Victoria and Harper posed for a photo together, with Posh revealing to her followers on Instagram the evening was being filmed for her Netflix documentary

Harper's appearance at the awards is the latest stint from her parents in launching her career into the world of showbusiness.

Harper has already made known she wants to follow in the footsteps of her fashion designer mother and hopes to create an 'amazing brand' when she's older.

Victoria has incorporated a business called H7B Limited, which matches the teenager's full name, Harper Seven Beckham.

H7B also has the former Spice Girl and a solicitor listed as a director.

And a number have brands have reportedly reached out to collaborate.

Victoria admitted she no longer cares about being a celebrity after turning 50 as she passes the baton to her daughter Harper

The fashion designer discussed how she has navigated being in the public eye since she soared to stardom as part of the Spice Girls in the nineties during a new interview

Victoria's sister Louise Adam was at the award ceremony showing her support

Victoria's mum Jackie and sister Louise posed for a photo together

Rivals' Dame Jilly Cooper, winner of the Writer award, and Aidan Turner posed for a photo

Katarina Johnson-Thompson, winner of the Sportswoman award, and Jodie Comer smiled for the camera

Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan (left) won the Television Actress award, while Joan actress Sophie Turner (right) scooped the Performance award

Raye was awarded the Musician gong at the bash and appeared delighted as she posed with Maya Jama

Bella Maclean was also in attendance and looked glamorous in a black dress

Maya, Archie Madekwe and Raye enjoyed a glass of bubbly in a booth during the ceremony

Vick Hope looked incredible in a figure-hugging lime green silk dress

Aidan, Bella and Alex Hassell all posed for a photo together during the glamorous evening

For the ceremony, Victoria looked typically stylish in an elegant ivory silk trouser suit while posing with her award shortly after accepting the accolade, with Harper wearing one of her designs - a pale blue silk dress.

As she was interviewed by Harper's Bazaar ahead of the event, Victoria admitted she no longer cares about being a celebrity after turning 50 as she passes the baton to her daughter Harper.

The fashion designer discussed how she has navigated being in the public eye since she soared to stardom as part of the Spice Girls in the nineties.

The mother of four admitted it 'used to be fun' getting dressed up and being snapped by the paparazzi in a stylish outfit, however she admitted she no longer cares for it.

The cast of Rivals were out in force to support Dame Jilly's win

Aidan and Jilly had a giggle as they enjoyed a glass of champagne

Speaking about protecting her privacy, she said: 'You have to go through those times to make you, ultimately, who you are. We've kind of figured out how to be quite discreet, which is just how we want to conduct our lives right now.

'I suppose it used to be fun to go out and be chased by paparazzi walking down Bond Street  and you would dress knowing you were going to get that. I don't want that any more.'

'I've been doing this too long. I suppose I did when I was growing up but, nowadays, there's just too much going on; too busy; too many kids to worry about. I woke up at 50, and I gave a s*** less.'

Harper has already made it known she wants to follow in the footsteps of her fashion designer mother and hopes to create an 'amazing brand' when she's older.

And it appears her famous parents are edging her one step closer by setting up a business to funnel any future earnings for the rising star.

Discussing Harper's upcoming appearance in her new Netflix documentary, she said: 'It's slightly more targeted on the entrepreneur, the designer of the brand. It's not going to be as personal. I realise that I am a bit of a travelling circus, even when I'm at work, but this is very fashion-focused.

'And, obviously, there'll be elements of the kids, you know  Harper's going to come in on Monday and do her fitting for the show.

'So they'll film that. But it's really shining a light on the business, especially for America. That's the main reason for doing this.'
David Beckham has congratulated his wife Victoria Beckham after she was given the Entrepreneur Of The Year Award on Tuesday.

The fashion designer, 50, was given the award by her daughter Harper, 13, in front of a room full of celebrities at Harper's Bazaar's Women Of The Year ceremony.

Taking to his Instagram Stories, David shared a photo of Victoria and Harper posing together at the event, saying they were the 'women of the year'.

David wrote: 'So proud, woman of the year. Maybe it should be women of the year, you both look so beautiful.'

The event was the latest step in the Beckham's youngest being branded into a successful dupe of her parents as they continue to push the thirteen-year-old out into the world.

David Beckham has congratulated his wife Victoria Beckham after she was given the Entrepreneur Of The Year Award on Tuesday

Taking to his Instagram Stories, David shared a photo of Victoria and Harper posing together at the event, saying they were the 'women of the year'

Introduced onto stage wearing one of her mothers dresses, Harper began her speech with: 'I'm so nervous'.

Standing in front of the likes of Maya Jama, Jodie Comer and Jilly Cooper, she began to praise Victoria for being a present mum.

'Good evening everyone, Im so excited to be here presenting the entrepreneur award,' Harper said.

'Especially as tonight is a school night. And hopefully this isn't going to get me into trouble.

'The winner is someone I have always looked up to. Shes built an incredible business from the ground up and has showed me the value of working hard, dreaming big and setting my standards.

'Shes taught me so much about what it takes to succeed. But above all else shes taught me to always be kind and even though she has a million things to do, she rarely misses school.

'Tonight I am so proud to present the Entrepreneur Of The Year award to a truly inspiring woman who means the world to me, my amazing mummy, Victoria Beckham.'

Entering the stage to accept her award, Victoria said to Harper: 'I am so, so proud of you.

'Getting up on stage in front of a room full of people is scary and you did it with such poise and such elegance.

'I am so proud of the young lady you have become. You keep me grounded and inspire me every day.

'You teach me to see the world through fresh eyes. And as busy as I am, being a mum is the most important job to me. So thank you.'

The fashion designer, 50, was given the award by her daughter Harper, 13, in front of a room full of celebrities at Harper's Bazaar's Women Of The Year ceremony

Introduced onto stage wearing one of her mothers dresses, Harper began her speech with: 'I'm so nervous', before she welcomed her mum Victoria onto the stage

Accepting the honour for her contribution to fashion with her eponymous clothing line, Victoria said: 'I am so, so proud of you' and later showed off the glass gong

Harper's appearance at the awards is the latest stint from her parents in launching her career into the world of showbusiness

Victoria looked typically stylish in an elegant ivory silk trouser suit while posing with her award shortly after accepting the accolade

Last week it was revealed Victoria, 50, has plotted a secret career move to help their daughter launch into the world of showbusiness after the teen spoke of her dreams to create a brand

The Spice Girl, 50, received the award for her 'innovation and dedication to the British and global fashion industry' at the event (Pictured with Editor-in-Chief Lydia Slater)

Victoria and Harper posed for a photo together, with Posh revealing to her followers on Instagram the evening was being filmed for her Netflix documentary

Harper's appearance at the awards is the latest stint from her parents in launching her career into the world of showbusiness.

Harper has already made known she wants to follow in the footsteps of her fashion designer mother and hopes to create an 'amazing brand' when she's older.

Victoria has incorporated a business called H7B Limited, which matches the teenager's full name, Harper Seven Beckham.

H7B also has the former Spice Girl and a solicitor listed as a director.

And a number have brands have reportedly reached out to collaborate.

Victoria admitted she no longer cares about being a celebrity after turning 50 as she passes the baton to her daughter Harper

The fashion designer discussed how she has navigated being in the public eye since she soared to stardom as part of the Spice Girls in the nineties during a new interview

Victoria's sister Louise Adam was at the award ceremony showing her support

Victoria's mum Jackie and sister Louise posed for a photo together

Rivals' Dame Jilly Cooper, winner of the Writer award, and Aidan Turner posed for a photo

Katarina Johnson-Thompson, winner of the Sportswoman award, and Jodie Comer smiled for the camera

Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan (left) won the Television Actress award, while Joan actress Sophie Turner (right) scooped the Performance award

Raye was awarded the Musician gong at the bash and appeared delighted as she posed with Maya Jama

Bella Maclean was also in attendance and looked glamorous in a black dress

Maya, Archie Madekwe and Raye enjoyed a glass of bubbly in a booth during the ceremony

Vick Hope looked incredible in a figure-hugging lime green silk dress

Aidan, Bella and Alex Hassell all posed for a photo together during the glamorous evening

For the ceremony, Victoria looked typically stylish in an elegant ivory silk trouser suit while posing with her award shortly after accepting the accolade, with Harper wearing one of her designs - a pale blue silk dress.

As she was interviewed by Harper's Bazaar ahead of the event, Victoria admitted she no longer cares about being a celebrity after turning 50 as she passes the baton to her daughter Harper.

The fashion designer discussed how she has navigated being in the public eye since she soared to stardom as part of the Spice Girls in the nineties.

The mother of four admitted it 'used to be fun' getting dressed up and being snapped by the paparazzi in a stylish outfit, however she admitted she no longer cares for it.

The cast of Rivals were out in force to support Dame Jilly's win

Aidan and Jilly had a giggle as they enjoyed a glass of champagne

Speaking about protecting her privacy, she said: 'You have to go through those times to make you, ultimately, who you are. We've kind of figured out how to be quite discreet, which is just how we want to conduct our lives right now.

'I suppose it used to be fun to go out and be chased by paparazzi walking down Bond Street  and you would dress knowing you were going to get that. I don't want that any more.'

'I've been doing this too long. I suppose I did when I was growing up but, nowadays, there's just too much going on; too busy; too many kids to worry about. I woke up at 50, and I gave a s*** less.'

Harper has already made it known she wants to follow in the footsteps of her fashion designer mother and hopes to create an 'amazing brand' when she's older.

And it appears her famous parents are edging her one step closer by setting up a business to funnel any future earnings for the rising star.

Discussing Harper's upcoming appearance in her new Netflix documentary, she said: 'It's slightly more targeted on the entrepreneur, the designer of the brand. It's not going to be as personal. I realise that I am a bit of a travelling circus, even when I'm at work, but this is very fashion-focused.

'And, obviously, there'll be elements of the kids, you know  Harper's going to come in on Monday and do her fitting for the show.

'So they'll film that. But it's really shining a light on the business, especially for America. That's the main reason for doing this.'
Strictly's JB Gill shared a steamy clip with his new dance partner Lauren Oakley as they attempted the viral Dancing With The Stars lift during rehearsals on Tuesday.

JLS star JB, 37, is now paired with Lauren, 33, after his original dance partner Amy Dowden was forced to pull out of the competition this week due to a foot injury.

JB posted the clip as he tried the move with Lauren as they took some time off learning their routine for Saturday night's upcoming live show.

The move was first performed by this season's contestant Danny Amendola and his partner, Witney Carson, as he lifted her from the ground by the ankle.

The elaborate choreography has now gone viral on TikTok, with thousands of people trying it out for themselves at home - including last season's DWTS contestant Ariana Madix, Nick Cannon and Summer House stars Amanda Batula and Kyle Cooke.

Strictly's JB Gill shared a steamy clip with his new dance partner Lauren Oakley as they attempted the viral Dancing With The Stars lift during rehearsals on Tuesday

JLS star JB, 37, is now paired with Lauren, 33, after his original dance partner Amy Dowden was forced to pull out of the competition this week due to a foot injury

JB pulled Lauren up slowly by her leg as part of the move until they ended up in a close embrace.

He shared the video to his Instagram and wrote in the caption: 'You know we had to try this challenge!'

It comes after a back and neck surgeon sounded the alarm on the dangerous move last week.

It could cause a whole host of problems for your neck and back, according to board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Rahul Shah out of New Jersey's Premier Orthopaedic Associates.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Dr. Shah explained why the move is so dangerous, and warned that it could result in serious injury.

'In the process of going from a laying down to a standing position, muscles that folks don't typically use may be recruited, potentially resulting in injury,' Dr. Shah told DailyMail.com.

'Specifically, if one doesn't have enough core strength to allow the individual pulling on the leg, one may torque through the spine and cause injury,' he added.

JB is now permanently partnered with Lauren after Amy withdrew from the series.

JB posted the clip as he tried the move with Lauren as they took some time off learning their routine for Saturday night's upcoming live show

JB pulled Lauren up slowly by her leg as part of the move until they ended up in a close embrace

He shared the video to his Instagram and wrote in the caption: 'You know we had to try this challenge!'

The move was performed by this season's contestant Danny Amendola and his partner, Witney Carson, as he lifted her from the ground by the ankle (seen)

JB is now permanently partnered with Lauren after Amy (seen) withdrew from the series this week

The Welsh dancer, 34, who is understood to be in remission from breast cancer and has Crohn's disease, was forced to pull out of last weekend's show after collapsing backstage.

Fellow professional Lauren was drafted in as her replacement to perform with JLS star JB for Saturday's night's show.

It was confirmed on Monday's episode of It Takes Two that Amy will not return for the rest of the series, as she recovers from a 'foot injury'.

A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson said: 'Sadly, Amy Dowden MBE will not be partaking in the rest of the competition this year.

'Whilst Amy focuses on her recovery following a foot injury, fellow Professional Dancer, Lauren Oakley, will step in as JB's dance partner.

'The health and wellbeing of everyone involved in Strictly are always the utmost priority. The whole Strictly family sends Amy love and well wishes.'

Amy was just 32 when, in May last year, she was given the earth-shattering news she had stage 3 breast cancer.

At the time she was filming the BBC series Dare To Dance and said she realised 'something wasn't right'. She found a lump on her breast the day before she was going on a second honeymoon with her husband Benjamin.

Later that year, she was diagnosed again with another unspecified type of cancer and underwent a course of chemotherapy.

Amy returned to hospital in August 2024 for more tests where, finally, she was given the all-clear.

It was confirmed on Monday's episode of It Takes Two that Amy will not return for the rest of the series, as she recovers from a 'foot injury'

Fellow professional Lauren was drafted in as her replacement to perform with JLS star JB for Saturday's night's show

Amy was just 32 when, in May last year, she was given the earth-shattering news she had stage 3 breast cancer

After a year of scandal, BBC bosses were delighted that Amy was able to return to the show following her cancer battle as she was paired with JB.

But during the live Halloween special last month, she was admitted to hospital following a reported collapse at Elstree Studios - the BBC show's Hertfordshire base - after suffering a 'medical emergency' backstage.

Moments before her hospital dash, Amy had performed the Foxtrot to Toploader hit Dancing In The Moonlight with her celebrity partner JB - but fans noted the dancer was partially seated during her latest performance.

On Sunday night's Strictly, viewers watched JB and his temporary partner Lauren Oakley avoid the dance off and make it through to another week.
The Rivals' cast threw their support behind author Jilly Cooper at the 2024 Harper's Bazaar Women Of The Year Awards in London on Tuesday.

Aidan Turner, Bella Maclean and Alex Hassell proudly posed for photos backstage at Claridges Hotel after Dame Jilly, 87, won the writer award.

The Disney+ series, which is an adaption of a 1988 novel of the same name, follows the lives and loves of two fierce rivals and has seen rave reviews from critics.

During a night which celebrated Britain's biggest female stars and their respective contributions to the arts, Jilly scooped the prize for 'her extraordinary half-century contribution to literature' which was presented by Aidan.

The author wore a black satin slip dress teamed with a sheer, ruffled jacket and a classic pearl necklace for the event.

The Rivals' cast threw their support behind author Jilly Cooper at the 2024 Harper's Bazaar Women Of The Year Awards in London on Tuesday

Aidan Turner, Bella Maclean and Alex Hassell proudly posed for photos backstage at Claridges Hotel after Dame Jilly, 87, won the writer award (Jilly and Aidan pictured)

Aidan, who stars as Declan O'Hara in the eight-part series, looked smart in a black velvet suit by Mr P.

The actor recently told of how he threw himself into his racy scenes with friend and co-star Victoria Smurfit, who plays his wife Maud.

Rivals has its fair share of raunch-packed scenes, with husband and wife Declan and Victoria also baring all.

But speaking to The Sunday Times, Aidan revealed that both he and Victoria had no qualms about the intimacy. 'Victoria is such a legend, she's a pal, I love her,' he said.

'We didn't care, we just got straight involved,' Aidan added, as he admitted Victoria wasn't aware there were even going to be intimacy coordinators until the pair arrived on set.

The Poldark star said: 'It's technical but you do have to have a sense of fun about it as well, it can't just be laborious.

'It's like a dance. There are 50 hairy men hanging around with cameras.'

His admission comes after it was revealed that younger writers on Rivals had rallied for the groping scene to be removed from the eight-part Disney adaptation.

During a night which celebrated Britain's biggest female stars, Jilly scooped the prize for 'her extraordinary half-century contribution to literature'

The award was presented by Aidan who posed for photos with Jilly afterwards

Bella, who stars as Taggie O'Hara in the series, wrapped an arm around the author for a photo

Jilly wore a black satin slip dress teamed with a sheer, ruffled jacket and a classic pearl necklace for the event

The Disney+ series, which is an adaption of a 1988 novel of the same name, follows the lives and loves of two fierce rivals and has seen rave reviews from critics (Aidan pictured with Victoria Smurfit in the series)

It was a scene in Rivals that made viewers' blood run cold when Dame Jilly Cooper's dark-haired lothario Rupert Campbell Black put his hand up 19-year-old Taggie's skirt.

Dominic Treadwell-Collins, the show's executive producer and writer, said: 'We talked a lot about the groping scene between Taggie and Rupert and whether we could show that on screen and, yes, we sat in the writer's room and wriggled that out.

'Some of the younger writers said, 'You can't keep that in because we would never want Rupert and Taggie to get together if he has groped her.'

'And we said well he's got to change, that's got to stay in, it's a comment on the 80s and these men.'

Rivals has since been widely praised for its loyal adaptation to Dame Jilly's original storyline, not shying away from the more uncomfortable truths of the pre-MeToo 1980s.
Bec and Lleyton Hewitt's daughter Mia was enjoying some fun in the sun on Wednesday.

The indie rocker, 18, was joined by a gal pal as they happily soaked up some rays beachside on a sunny Sydney day.

Mia opted for a mismatched bikini for her day at Gordon's Bay, wearing a turquoise coloured top and a pair of orange and black floral patterned bottoms.

She also wore a pair of brown tinted sunglasses perched on top of her head and a pair of white lacy pants.

She accessorised with a large red and white striped beach bag and a pair of navy blue sandals that she carried in her hands.

Mia was also flaunting a range of what appeared to be new tattoos as she worked on her tan.

Her left forearm now bears an array of artwork, including a heart design, four cryptic symbols, and what appeared to be a short sentence, written in cursive.

Mia's left bicep also featured some new ink, including a barbed wire design underneath a classic arrow piercing a love heart.

Bec and Lleyton Hewitt's daughter Mia was enjoying some fun in the sun on Wednesday

The indie rocker, 18, was joined by a gal pal as they happily soaked up some rays beachside on a sunny Sydney day

Mia opted for a mismatched bikini for her day that the beach, wearing a turquoise coloured top and a pair of orange and black floral patterned bottoms

The heart appeared to contain the name 'Tiarne'.

Mia also appeared to be sporting another tattoo above her right knee.

She appeared to be very much in relaxation mode, lazing on a towel that was draped over a large rock.

She happily sat next to her gal pal as the pair took in the scene.

While it is unclear when Mia acquired the new ink, she appeared tattoo-free back in September when she was spotted on another beach date with rocker boyfriend Vanda Eric.

Also when Mia was snapped in Sydney's inner-west prior to her band Father's Favourite in October, she was similarly ink free.

Mia's band, a duo with friend Cherise Combrink, performed their first gig back in August.

Mia was also flaunting a range of what appeared to be new tattoos as she worked on her tan

Mia's left bicep also featured some new ink, including a barbed wire design underneath a classic arrow piercing a love heart that appeared to contain the name 'Tiarne'

Mia appeared to be sporting another tattoo above her right knee

And with Mia stepping into the musical spotlight, her former Home and Away star mum Bec is reportedly keen to steer her in the right musical direction.

While she is best known for playing Home and Away fan favourite Hailey Smith Lawson from 1998 to 2005, the actress also had a brief pop career.

On the back of her television fame, Bec released an eponymous solo album in 2002 and her debut single All Seats Taken hit number 10 on the ARIA chart.

Mia appeared to be very much in relaxation mode, lazing on a towel that was draped over a large rock

She happily sat next to her gal pal as the pair took in the scene

Her album however was met with mixed reviews and her music career effectively came to an end in 2004 when she parted ways with label Warner Music.

A source told New Idea recently that Bec is keen to ensure that her daughter avoids the pitfalls that can befall new and inexperienced artists.

'Bec knows how to deal with bad people, dodgy managers, and doesn't want Mia making some of the mistakes she made early in her career like being too optimistic about certain jobs,' the source said.

They added that while music is Mia's current consuming passion, she hasn't ruled out a career in front of the camera, like her actress mum.

'Mia is very savvy. She knows you can't just be good at one thing and that entering the music industry will ultimately see her having to create social media content and putting herself forward,' they said.

'Ultimately that can lead to more work like modelling, acting and even presenting.

'Bec just wants Mia to be happy and working on a career that is going to sustain her.'
Trevor Sorbie has revealed he plans to spend his final days spending quality time with his wife Carole, watching films and eating pizza together.

The hairdresser, 75, to the stars shared the sad news that he had terminal bowel cancer last month and has since been told he may not see Christmas.

He said at the time: 'I lost a lot of blood one night and was unusually disturbed so went to hospital. They told me I had bowel cancer and I had a little panic attack.'

Speaking about his plans for the coming weeks, he told The Times: 'I want to live every day enjoying what I've got and making the most if it.

'I never knew dying could be this much fun.'

Trevor Sorbie has revealed he plans to spend his final days spending quality time with his wife Carole, watching films and eating pizza together

Speaking about his plans for the coming weeks, he told The Times: 'I want to live every day enjoying what I've got and making the most if it'

Trevor also insisted he does not want a funeral, describing it as 'too upsetting'.

He said: 'When the time comes my ashes will be interred with [his wife] Carole's and our little dog.'

Trevor met Carole, his third wife, in 2007 when he was in his fifties. The couple split their time betwen London and their home in Gosport, Portsmouth.

The pair also work together, running the charity My New Hair which supplies wigs to people with cancer.

Appearing on This Morning last month alongside his wife Carole, Trevor revealed the sad news and said he found out in June he has around six months left.

He said: 'I lost a lot of blood one night and was unusually disturbed so went to hospital. They told me I had bowel cancer and I had a little panic attack.

'I looked at Carole and she looked at me, we were both speechless, I didn't know what to say. So I went and had a big gin and tonic.'

It then spread to his liver and he had a six and a half hour operation, he came back and he had another six and a half hour operation.

Trevor met Carole, his third wife, in 2007 when he was in his fifties. The couple split their time betwen London and their home in Gosport, Portsmouth

The hairdresser, 75, to the stars shared the sad news that he had terminal bowel cancer last month and has since been told he may not see Christmas

Carole spoke candidly about how she has coped with her husband's diagnosis, saying: 'It's totally overwhelming most days.

'But I get my strength through this man - he's guiding me through a good death - living a good life and dying a good death - and up until then I hadn't thought about that.

'But what we do every day now is show thanks for every day that we have and wake up together and it's all the simple things.

'Our little dog is pure medicine, we have a wonderful family, and we are supported by the whole Trevor Sorbie family and we are all being guided by Trevor.'

She added: 'I did struggle and was crying a lot but Trevor and my son encourage me to go to counselling.

'I've actually started bereavement counselling which I didn't know you could do before.

'They are going to guide me through and hold my hand and up until two years, or however long it takes after the event.

'So I do feel very supported and feel lucky I have that support but more so from Trevor than anyone because he's incredible.'

Meanwhile, Trevor told Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard: 'I never wake up thinking, 'Oh poor me, I've got cancer' or feel sorry for myself.

Trevor insisted he does not want a funeral, describing it as 'too upsetting' (pictured in 1994)

'Sixty years I've worked passionately to achieve beyond my wildest dreams. When I go in it's my staff, I've had them for 30 years, I'm just one of the team.

'I had a nurse come round the other day to assess me and as I asked 'Will I make Christmas?' She said 'I don't know Trevor'.

'I said 'I damn well will'. The brain rules the body. The heart plays a big part as well but that is the engine.'

Trevor has one child, daughter Jade from his first marriage to Sue. He was later married to a woman named Kris.

A message posted on Trevor's official Instagram on Wednesday paid tribute to his incredible career.

'This morning, Trevor Sorbie MBE will be appearing on This Morning on ITV to reflect on his remarkable 45-year career and the journey he's been on since his cancer diagnosis five years ago.'

A message posted on Trevor's official Instagram last month paid tribute to his incredible career

'From creating the revolutionary haircut that became The Wedge 50 years ago to opening his first salon in 1979, Trevor's creativity, kindness, and passion have transformed the world of hairdressing. His influence, from trend-setting styles like The Scrunch and The Wolf, to mentoring countless hairdressers, continues to inspire us all.'

'As Trevor now reaches the end of his cancer treatment, we know his time with us is limited, but his spirit remains focused on celebrating life and the remarkable legacy he has built.'

Trevor is the creator of the wedge haircut and a four-time British Hairdresser of the Year winner. He was appointed an MBE in 2004.

His celebrity clients include Paul McCartney, Helen Mirren, Grace Jones, Bryan Ferry, and The Beach Boys.

The hairdresser was also a regular on daytime shows such as This Morning and The Wright Stuff, offering advice or giving makeovers.

Following his emotional interview, viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, to commend him on his bravery and said urged him to 'keep fighting'.

They wrote: 'sending hugs to Trevor and his wife xx'

'what a man! a genuine true legacy of a man! & the 2 of them, this team! Carole & Trevor are just the dream team. two awesome humans. Trevor, we love you. & we will never ever forget. thankyou thankyou thankyou for your work, your talents ie: that 'wedge' & more important, your beautiful smile'.

'So lovely to see you today Trevor, happy memories of the makeovers back in the day. By being on the show you have no doubt helped others. Sending lots of love to you and your lovely wife. x'

'Honestly God bless Trevor. I don't know how Ben and Kat held it together. What a gorgeous man and it's so so sad he will be gone soon... God bless'.

'What an emotional/uplifting interview. What an incredible man keep fighting Trevor'.

Looking back on his incredible career Trevor revealed he didn't plan to be a hairdresser originally.

He said, 'I wanted to be an artist. But I got bullied at school and my dad was a barber, and he said come into the salon and I found hairdressing easy! I was cutting people's hair within three months, so I was still quite creative.'

Of his statement styles from the 70s and 80s, Trevor admitted, 'At the time you have no idea you are creating anything groundbreaking. You're just doing what you feel comes natural. I mean I invented scrunch drying as a bit of an accident - to speed up the process a little bit.'
Jeremy Clarkson has denied an effigy he burned on Guy Fawkes Night was a replica of Donald Trump after it sparked outrage among his fans.

The TV presenter, 64, shared an image of a dummy bearing a strong resemblance to Trump as it was engulfed in flames at his pub The Farmer's Dog in Oxfordshire on Guy Fakes Night, the same day as the US presidential election.

The effigy was dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt and tie and it also appeared to featur Trump's distinctive hairstyle.

Alongside the snap, Jeremy wrote: 'Bonfire night at @thefarmersdogpub'.

However, Jeremy has strongly denied the effigy was meant to be Trump, writing on Instagram: 'Utter horses**t. If I was going to burn someone contemporary on our fire, it would be someone closer to home. But it was actually just Guy Fawkes.'

Jeremy Clarkson has denied an effigy he burned on Guy Fawkes Night was a replica of Donald Trump after it sparked outrage among his fans

The TV presenter, 64, shared an image of a dummy bearing a strong resemblance to Trump as it was engulfed in flames at his pub The Farmer's Dog in Oxfordshire

Jeremy has strongly denied the effigy was meant to be Trump, writing on Instagram: 'Utter horses**t'

The eggify was dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt and tie and it also appeared to featur Trump's distinctive hairstyle

Jeremy shared the original image a few hours before it was confirmed Donald Trump had defeated Kamala Harris to become the 47th president of the United States.

His post did not go down well with many of his Instagram followers who said they were supporters of Trump.

They wrote: 'Extremely disappointed'... 'At this point Clarkson has clearly lost it'... 'This is absolutely rubbish and astonishing'.

Others added: 'Anyway... looking forward to voting for TRUMP today!'... 'Thought you supported the working class. We support Trump.'

'Wild thing about this is that Trump actually supports farmers'... 'Sigh, this is disappointing.'

It comes afer Cara Delevingne launched into a furious tirade where she urged her friends to inflict 'four years of hell' on Republicans as Donald Trump was elected.

The supermodel, 32, led a legion of liberal luvvies in the UK including Paloma Faith and Dawn O'Porter, who shared their 'devastated' reactions as they woke to the news of Trump's election night sweep.

Supermodel Cara, who has a home in Los Angeles, sent out a defiant 'message to her friends' not to despair, but rather to focus on defeating Republicans, who she described as 'fascists, misogynists, bigots and liars'.

Her post said: 'A message to my friends: 'Trump will win the White House. The GOP has control of the Senate. This is gutting yes, but freeing too. We get to make every day over the next four years hell for fascists, misogynists, bigots and liars.

His post did not go down well with many of his Instagram followers who said they were supporters of Trump

'This is not the time to shrink. Nor the time to despair. This is the time for that classic Disney, larger than life, kinda gay, impossibly well dressed, unbelievably cool villainy. That punk rock, black parade guerrilla s***. This is our villain era.

'Make art. F** s** up. Build power. They are about to learn the hardest thing about gaining power is keeping it.'

Sharing a red-covered map of the United States, Dawn, who lived in the U.S. for 16 years, wrote: 'Feel like I'm going to cry for the rest of my life.'

Underneath, she added: 'This is breaking my heart. After all that, still this.'

After hearing the news, Paloma Faith said the country would be saying goodbye to 'women's rights, liberalism and freedom of speech', adding: 'Hello racism, hello capitalism, hello climate change, hello war, hello end of days.

Comparing the news to waiting for a sexual health screening test the day before, she said: 'Today feels like the whole country is waiting for an STD result.'

Cara Delevingne launched into a furious tirade where she urged her friends to inflict 'four years of hell' on Republicans as Trump was elected President

The supermodel, 32, led a legion of liberal luvvies in the UK including Paloma Faith and Dawn O'Porter, who shared their 'devastated' reactions as they woke to the news of Trump's election night sweep

As the country awoke to the news that Trump had won most of the major swing states and had already declared an early victory, stars shared their shock online

This morning she added another post, which read: 'Sadly the results came back positive.'

Also sharing her anguish on social media was activist Livia Firth, who made her despair known as she wrote: 'What is a word bigger than heartache?'

She said: 'Agony anguish bitterness despair grief heartache pain remorse sorrow suffering torment woe. Strong matches. affliction bale care desolation distress heartsickness regret rue torture.'

While some were disappointed by the news, other celebs shared their support for Trump and celebrated him steaming towards victory.

During the night, Victoria Baker-Harber shared a selfie of herself in bed sipping wine with the words 'world peace may just be one step closer' and pictures of Trump.

After hearing the news, Paloma Faith said the country would be saying goodbye to 'women's rights, liberalism and freedom of speech'

She added: 'Hello racism, hello capitalism, hello climate change, hello war, hello end of days'

Comparing the news to waiting for a sexual health screening test the day before, she said: 'Today feels like the whole country is waiting for an STD result

Sharing a red-covered map of the United States, Dawn, who lived in the U.S. for 16 years, wrote: 'Feel like I'm going to cry for the rest of my life'

Underneath, she added: 'This is breaking my heart. After all that, still this'

Hours later the former Made In Chelsea star shared a news headline that read 'Donald Trump will be president again', and 'yay!'.

Former TOWIE star Suzie Wells was also seemingly celebrating Trump, as she shared a video of supporter celebrating the win with the words: 'Were sooooo back!!!!'

Former President Trump took the stage and declared victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning, cementing an extraordinary political comeback.

Minutes earlier news organizations called the 2024 presidential race for him.

'We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,' he said.

'And it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing.'

The moment of truth came earlier when Fox News called Pennsylvania, the biggest of the battleground prizes, followed by Wisconsin and then the entire race in his favor.

The Associated Press had still not called the election for Trump, but he claimed victory onstage nonetheless.

Also sharing her anguish on social media was activist Livia Firth, who made her despair known as she wrote: 'What is a word bigger than heartache?'

Carol Vorderman shared her thoughts on Trump on Wednesday morning

While some were disappointed by the news, other celebs shared their support for Trump and celebrated him steaming towards victory

Former TOWIE star Suzie Wells was also seemingly celebrating Trump, as she shared a video of supporter celebrating the win with the words: 'Were sooooo back!!!!'

It meant Trump had won three of the key states, making victory inevitable.

'It's real,' screamed one young supporter who raced to the front of the crowd as if it were a mosh pit, high fiving friends and strangers.

Trump was joined on stage by family - including daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner who had been absent from the campaign - aides and political supporters.

He thanked his supporters and promised a golden age for the nation.

When he invited is running mate to the microphone, Sen. J.D. Vance said the result marked a remarkable turnaround in political fortunes.

'I thank you for the trust that you placed in me,' he said, 'and I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.'

Four years ago, Trump was a defeated man. Within months he had left Washington D.C. under a cloud after his supporters ransacked the U.S. Capitol.

Allies deserted him and he headed for exile at Mar-a-Lago.

On Tuesday night, he was surrounded by supporters, friends and family at his Florida home as he regained his crown.

He led them out on stage at the Palm Beach County Convention Center where he delivered his victory speech in front of hundreds more supporters who had waited hours to see him.

'Most of all, I want to thank the millions of hard working Americans across the nation who have always been the heart and soul of this really great movement,' he said.

'We've been through so much together, and today, you showed up in record numbers to deliver a victory like really ... probably ... like no other. This was something special.'

The first big call was broadcast in the hall at 11:25pm, when North Carolina went to Trump.

The crowd's energy went quickly from nervously excited to joy mingled with relief.
F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone today led the celebrations from pro-Donald Trump stars in the UK following the Republican leader's historic victory in the US election.

The British socialite, 35, posed in a red MAGA hat to encourage her more than 85,000 followers to vote for Trump - who has now been re-elected as President.

Made in Chelsea star Victoria Baker-Harber also boasted about the historic victory as she posed on Instagram with a glass of wine in hand, with the caption 'world peace may just be one step closer'.

Other vocal Trump supporters included actor and comedian Russell Brand as well as TV presenter Piers Morgan who congratulated the Republican leader on the 'greatest comeback in political history'.

Their celebrations came amid anguished reactions from left liberals and Kamala Harris supporters in the UK including TV host Carol Vorderman and Former Blair spin doctor Alastair Campbell.

F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone also pledged her support to Donald Trump as he made a historic return to the White House

Made in Chelsea star Victoria Baker-Harber was also celebrating Trump's win, sharing a selfie with the caption 'world peace may just be one step closer'

TV presenter Piers Morgan, another loyal Trump fan, wrote on X: 'Congratulations Donald Trump on the greatest comeback in political history

Writing on Instagram ahead of the historic result, Petra said: 'Okay so it's election day so please go out and vote. As you can tell I'm a Trump supporter, and I'm not ashamed to say I know other people who support Trump and they're kind of scared to say that they do.

'But let's protect our children let's make America great again, let's make it safe the crime here is appalling, there's criminals out on the street, I've known two people in the last two years that have been shot.

'They're not tough enough on crime, the economy is beyond terrible, it's not safe anymore here, the quality of living and how expensive everything is is a joke.

'We need Trump to come back, we need him to sort the economy out and we need him to sort the country out so please please please vote for Trump.'

Victoria Baker-Harber was also celebrating Trump's win, sharing a selfie with the caption 'world peace may just be one step closer'.

Boxer Derek Chisora shared a photo today of him posing alongside Holly Valance, Nick Candy, Nigel Farage, Donald Trump Jr and his fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle

Actor and comedian Russell Brand said: 'DONALD TRUMP WON.' He added: 'The world is about to be a very different place.'

Petra Ecclestone with her estate agent husband Sam, 40, - who she married in 2022 and lives with in LA

Petra and Sam tied the knot in July 2022, enjoying a lavish ceremony at Petra's 170 million London mansion, but now live together in Los Angeles

Hours later the former Made In Chelsea star shared a news headline that read 'Donald Trump will be president again', and 'yay!'.

Former TOWIE star Suzie Wells was also seemingly celebrating Trump, as she shared a video of supporter celebrating the win with the words: 'We're sooooo back!!!!'

There were also a number of British male celebrities who were gloating about Trump's victory.

Actor and comedian Russell Brand wrote: 'DONALD TRUMP WON.'

He added: 'The world is about to be a very different place.'

TV presenter Piers Morgan, another loyal Trump fan, wrote on X: 'Congratulations Donald Trump on the greatest comeback in political history.

'A testament to your resilience, mental strength & never-give-up mentality as your enemies tried to kill you, jail you & brand you the new Hitler. Good luck in your 2nd term. Unity > revenge!'

Boxer Derek Chisora shared a photo of him posing alongside Holly Valance, Nick Candy, Nigel Farage, Donald Trump Jr and his fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle, seemingly celebrating Trump's win also.
Abbie Chatfield has revealed that she is leaving the internet following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election.

Donald Trump was re-elected President of the United States on Wednesday (AEST), defeating opponent Kamala Harris in a dramatic and hard-fought race.

The news did not sit well with the FBoy Island host, 29, who took to social media to voice her displeasure over Democrat candidate Vice President Kamala Harris' defeat.

Abbie shared a short clip that showed her staring blankly into the camera while a 'tweet' was superimposed over the image which read: 'I saw a tweet that said the only thing an American hates more than a rapist is a woman.'

Captioning the clip, Abbie revealed that the news of Trump again ascending to the White House was enough to walk away from all internet-related media - albeit for a short period of time.

'This is why it hurts (and much more),' Abbie wrote. 'Anyway I will not be on the internet the next 2 days or so'

Abbie's post was met with a flurry of support from fans with many telling the media personality they sympathised.

'Sending hugs and wise move to take a break. This is going to be wild. Im so so so devastated and I dont even know how to console people,' one fan wrote.

Abbie Chatfield has revealed that she is leaving the internet following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election

'What do you say about this?' they added, summing up the sentiment of many.

Abbie, who had been posting about the US election at a steady pace on Wednesday, also shared a picture that showed her with her hands covering her eyes, while the caption admitted that she had been 'sobbing'.

She shared another long-winded post following Trump's victory, with an open 'apology letter' to the US titled 'America I am literally so f***ing sorry'.

Abbie shared a short clip that showed her staring blankly into the camera while a 'tweet' was superimposed over the image which read: 'I saw a tweet that said the only thing an American hates more than a rapist is a woman.'

'This is why it hurts (and much more),' Abbie wrote. 'Anyway I will not be on the internet the next 2 days or so'

'I'm sorry to anyone who now lives in a country where a convicted felon was voted into the top job,' the post began.

'I'm sorry to anyone who now lives in a country where needing an abortion could cost them their livelihoods (or literal lives).

Continuing, Abbie also singled out podcast King Joe Rogan and X owner Elon Musk, who both gave Trump their endorsement.

'I'm sorry to anyone who lives in a country where young men don't seem to have any proper role models...on the left and are instead left with the likes of Joe Rogan and Elon Musk to teach them what masculinity looks like,' the expansive post continued.

She shared another long-winded post following Trump's victory

'I'm sorry to anyone who lives in a country where young men don't seem to have any proper role models...on the left and are instead left with the likes of Joe Rogan and Elon Musk to teach them what masculinity looks like,' Abbie wrote

Donald Trump was re-elected President of the United States on Wednesday (AEST), defeating opponent Kamala Harris in a dramatic and hard-fought race.

Finishing, Abbie also found some time to lay some blame at the Democrats feet, arguing Kamala Harris' team did not change tactics that had 'failed them' in the past.

'I'm sorry to anyone who worked tirelessly to campaign against Trump, using the same playbook that has failed the Democratic Party in the past, yet still continued to operate with hope,' she concluded.

Abbie also recently slammed Donald Trump in a foul-mouthed rant on her podcast.

Taking to Instagram in September, Abbie shared a very profane clip from the latest episode of It's A Lot.

The Bachelor star, who studied property economics at university, took issue with Trump's foreign import tariff policy.

'He thinks he is charging China a tariff! But tariffs go towards the f***ing wholesaler who's importing the goods,' Abbie raged. That isn't how a tariff works!'

Later, the podcaster went on to call Trump a serial liar.

'I'm not saying you're stupid for not knowing this, but as a Presidential candidate, he repeatedly lies.

And then people say "Trump's economic policy is the one thing I agree with" and I go "the c**t doesn't know what tariffs are!"' she said in the clip.
Christina Applegate has apologized for anti-Donald Trump rant on X, formerly Twitter.

The actress' apology came after she said her daughter Sadie Grace, 13, was 'sobbing' following Trump's win.

The 52-year-old actress had urged fans to 'unfollow' her on social media if they disagree with her over the reaction to Trump beating Kamala Harris to secure an historic return to the White House for a second non-consecutive term.

She wrote on X: 'Why? Give me your reasons why?????'

'My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away. Why? And if you disagree, please unfollow me.'

The actress' apology came after she said her daughter was 'sobbing' after Donald Trump won the election; seen with daughter Sadie on January 15, 2024

The 52-year-old actress had urged fans to 'unfollow' her on social media if they disagree with her over the reaction to Trump beating Kamala Harris to secure an historic return to the White House for a second non-consecutive term; seen February 26, 2023

Christina took to X, formerly Twitter to explain her frustrations before apologizing

Her rant continued: 'Please unfollow me if you voted against female rights. Against disability rights. Yeah that. Unfollow me because what you did is unreal. Don't want followers like this. So yeah. Done. Also after today I will be shutting down this fan account that I have had for so many years because this is sick.'

'I apologize. I'm still reeling and sobbing. But I'm not angry anymore. Just going to go back to my bubble and watch a s**t ton of Bravo shows So peace to all. I suggest you do the same. Very soothing,' Christina wrote soon after she shared her rant.

Christina is battling chronic autoimmune disease Multiple Sclerosis, which she was diagnosed with in 2021.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the nerve sheaths in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can include numbness, speech impairment, difficulties with muscular coordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue.

In 2023, Christina said she may never act in front of a camera again amid her battle with multiple sclerosis.

The actress reflected on what her future might look like - two years after her diagnosis during an interview with Vanity Fair.

'I can't even imagine going to set right now,' the Emmy winner told the magazine.

'This is a progressive disease. I don't know if I'm going to get worse,' she explained.

Adjusting to her new life as a person with multiple sclerosis has been difficult for the star who has been acting since she was five months old.

'With the disease of MS, it's never a good day. You just have little sh**ty days.'

'There are just certain things that people take for granted in their lives that I took for granted. Going down the stairs, carrying thingsyou can't do that anymore. It f**king sucks.'

'I can still drive my car short distances. I can bring up food to my kid. Up, never down.'

The Bad Moms actress has turned to a friend to help her care for her daughter, Sadie, 13, whom she shares with husband Martyn LeNoble, 55.

She wrote on X, formerly Twitter : 'Why? Give me your reasons why?????'

'My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away. Why? And if you disagree, please unfollow me'

A caretaker comes on the weekend to do what is needed.

'I actually don't want to be around a lot of people because I'm immunocompromised,' she explained.

'I also don't want a lot of stimulation of the nervous system because it can be a little bit too much for me. I like to keep it as quiet and as mellow as possible.'

The actress has previously shared that she gained 40lbs after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

'I gained 40 pounds because of inactivity and medications, and I didn't look like myself, and I didn't feel like myself,' said the Married... With Children actress.

Applegate had to film her Netflix dark comedy Dead To Me even though her body was changing. She was so upset with how she looked, she refused to watch the show, she shared.

The star said: 'At some point I was able to distance myself from my own ego, and realize what a beautiful piece of television it was.

'All the scenes I wasn't in were so much fun to see and experience for the very first time,' the LA native continued.

The actress received her diagnosis in August 2021, just before production on the third and final season of Dead to Me began.

Iconic horror writer Stephen King described Trump's victory as an attack on democracy.

He wrote: 'There's a sign you can see in many shops that sell beautiful but fragile items: LOVELY TO LOOK AT, DELIGHTFUL TO HOLD, BUT ONCE YOU BREAK IT, THEN IT'S SOLD. You can say the same about democracy.'

While British author Philip Pullman, the writer behind the 'His Dark Materials' books, said: 'Goodbye, America. It was nice knowing you.'

'The Wire' actor Wendell Pierce warned that Trump's victory could have serious 'consequences' as he gains control of the Supreme Court.

He added: 'The damage he is about to inflict on our institutions in the next two years will be irreparable.'

Hunger Games and Westworld star Jeffrey Wright was surprised by the results, after claiming before the results that America was 'not as crazy as Trump'.

The Bad Moms actress has turned to a friend to help her care for her daughter, Sadie, 12, whom she shares with husband Martyn LeNoble, 54; seen February 26, 2023

He said: 'Let me just say 'I was wrong.' '

YouTuber and boxer Jake Paul disagreed, branding Trump's victory a 'step in the right direction'.

He wrote: 'A massive step in the right direction to heal the major issues going on in the world currently.'

Trump declared victory in a speech at his watch party in Florida.

He told his supporters: 'I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.'

Trump also vowed to 'help our country heal', insisting he would fix the borders.
Victoria Beckham shared a behind the scenes look at her makeup routine ahead of the Harper's Bazaar Awards on Tuesday evening.

The former Spice Girl, 50, who was presented the Entrepreneur Of The Year Award during the evening, wrapped up in her personalised VB dressing gown as she revealed the secret to her look.

Speaking to her fans she began: 'We are just getting ready for the Harper's Bazaar Awards, I have just finished my smoky eye.'

Detailing the products from her own beauty line she explained: 'So we have used Pecan and Shroom eyewear, Cinnamon on the inside of my eye.

'Lots and lots of Vast Lash I am really enjoying a very very spiky eyelash right now.'

Victoria Beckham has revealed the secret to her smoky eye look as she shared behind the scenes getting ready snaps from the Harper's Bazaar Awards on Tuesday evening

The former Spice Girl, 50, who was presented the Entrepreneur Of The Year Award during the evening, wrapped up in her personalised VB dressing gown prior to getting changed

Finishing the look with concealer and bronzer she added: 'My concealer under my eyes around my nose, on my jaw and Cheeky Posh, lots of bronzer.'

She captioned the clip: 'Im at Claridges in London getting ready for @bazaaruks Women of the Year awards. Ive decided to keep it simple with sun-kissed skin and my signature smoky eye. Victoria x'.

Victoria made sure to steal the show at the event as she looked typically stylish in an elegant ivory silk trouser suit while posing with her award shortly after accepting the accolade from her 13-year old daughter, Harper.

Her proud mother Jackie Adams and sister Louise were also present to watch her receive the honour, presented in recognition of the global fashion empire she developed from the ground up following her departure from The Spice Girls.

It comes after her husband David congratulated his wife after she received the prestigious accolade.

Taking to his Instagram Stories, David shared a photo of Victoria and Harper posing together at the event, saying they were the 'women of the year'.

David wrote: 'So proud, woman of the year. Maybe it should be women of the year, you both look so beautiful.'

The event was the latest step in the Beckham's youngest being branded into a successful dupe of her parents as they continue to push the thirteen-year-old out into the world.

Detailing the products from her own beauty line she explained: 'So we have used Pecan and Shroom eyewear, cinnamon on the inside of my eye'

She continued: 'Lots and lots of Vast Lash I am really enjoying a very very spiky eyelash right now'

It comes after her husband David congratulated his wife after she received the prestigious accolade, presented to her by the pair's daughter Harper, 13

Introduced onto stage wearing one of her mothers dresses, Harper began her speech with: 'I'm so nervous'.

Standing in front of the likes of Maya Jama, Jodie Comer and Jilly Cooper, she began to praise Victoria for being a present mum.

'Good evening everyone, Im so excited to be here presenting the entrepreneur award,' Harper said.

'Especially as tonight is a school night. And hopefully this isn't going to get me into trouble.

'The winner is someone I have always looked up to. Shes built an incredible business from the ground up and has showed me the value of working hard, dreaming big and setting my standards.

'Shes taught me so much about what it takes to succeed. But above all else shes taught me to always be kind and even though she has a million things to do, she rarely misses school.

'Tonight I am so proud to present the Entrepreneur Of The Year award to a truly inspiring woman who means the world to me, my amazing mummy, Victoria Beckham.'

Entering the stage to accept her award, Victoria said to Harper: 'I am so, so proud of you.

Introduced onto stage wearing one of her mothers dresses, Harper began her speech with: 'I'm so nervous', before she welcomed her mum Victoria onto the stage

Accepting the honour for her contribution to fashion with her eponymous clothing line, Victoria said: 'I am so, so proud of you' and later showed off the glass gong

Harper's appearance at the awards is the latest stint from her parents in launching her career into the world of showbusiness

Victoria looked typically stylish in an elegant ivory silk trouser suit while posing with her award shortly after accepting the accolade

Last week it was revealed Victoria has plotted a secret career move to help their daughter launch into the world of showbusiness after the teen spoke of her dreams to create a brand

She received the award for her 'innovation and dedication to the British and global fashion industry' at the event (Pictured with Editor-in-Chief Lydia Slater)

Victoria and Harper posed for a photo together, with Posh revealing to her followers on Instagram the evening was being filmed for her Netflix documentary

'Getting up on stage in front of a room full of people is scary and you did it with such poise and such elegance.

'I am so proud of the young lady you have become. You keep me grounded and inspire me every day.

'You teach me to see the world through fresh eyes. And as busy as I am, being a mum is the most important job to me. So thank you.'

Harper's appearance at the awards is the latest stint from her parents in launching her career into the world of showbusiness.

Harper has already made known she wants to follow in the footsteps of her fashion designer mother and hopes to create an 'amazing brand' when she's older.

Victoria has incorporated a business called H7B Limited, which matches the teenager's full name, Harper Seven Beckham.

H7B also has the former Spice Girl and a solicitor listed as a director.

And a number have brands have reportedly reached out to collaborate.
Harry Styles and Paul Mescal fans have been left convinced they could meet their A-list crushes this weekend after lookalike competitions were announced.

The idea was sparked after a Timothee Chalamet lookalike competition was held in New York over the weekend and the Hollywood actor shocked fans by turning up.

Events held in honour of Harry and Paul have now been planned in the hope that the hunks will make an appearance just like the actor did.

After fans joked that they would host lookalike events for the stars 'in the own homes', official events have now been set up for both.

A post for the Harry Styles contest revealed that the event would be taking place on November 9 at Soho Square from 1pm with 'prizes to be won'.

Reacting to the announcement, one person excitedly said: 'Trying to copy NYC in hopes that Harry, like Timmy C, will also show up lolol.'

Others declared it was a 'genius idea', and said: 'Hahahaha stop (I'll be there)'; 'This is gonna be chaos, I can't wait!!!'

Paul's competition announcement featured a picture of him wearing his signature GAA shorts and revealed the event would be hosted in Dublin.

Harry Styles and Paul Mescal fans have been left convinced they could meet their A-list crushes this weekend after lookalike competitions were announced

A post for the Harry Styles contest revealed that the event would be taking place on November 9 at Soho Square from 1pm with 'prizes to be won'.

The description read: 'Paul Mescal lookalike competition. November 7 at 1pm. Smithfield Square three pints or 20 euro prize'

The description read: 'Paul Mescal lookalike competition. November 7 at 1pm. Smithfield Square three pints or 20 euro prize.'

Teasing a potential appearance from Paul, Lovin Dublin wrote: 'In today's silly news, there will be a Paul Mescal lookalike competition held in Smithfield Square this Thursday November 7 at 1pm.

'The winner of the competition will win the grand prize of either 3 pints or 20 euro - and bragging rights of course. The actor will be in Smithfield that evening for the Gladiator 2 premiere - so here's hoping he takes a page from Timothee Chalmet's book and shows up at the event.'

The Light House cinema, where the Irish premiere is being held announced they would be closed for the event, but one person joked: 'Real ones know it's closed for the Paul Mescal lookalike competition.'

It comes after Timothee sparked pandemonium among screaming fans in New York by unexpectedly showing up to his own lookalike contest.

Flanked by bodyguards, the actor posed for photographs with his curly-haired doppelgangers - some of whom had dressed as his characters, including Willy Wonka and Dune protagonist Paul Atreides.

At times, adoring fans accidentally heaped their attention on the lookalikes, apparently thinking they were face-to-face with the real Chalamet.

The frenzied event, advertised on flyers around New York, was one of several doppelganger competitions hosted by YouTube personality Anthony Po.

As word spread on social media, thousands of people RSVP'd to the competition, which promised $50 for the winner.

Reacting to the announcement, one person excitedly said: 'Trying to copy NYC in hopes that Harry, like Timmy C, will also show up lolol'

Teasing a potential appearance from Paul, Lovin Dublin wrote: 'In today's silly news, there will be a Paul Mescal lookalike competition held in Smithfield Square this Thursday November 7 at 1pm.

But minutes after the competition began - and before the actor made his entrance - police ordered the large group to disperse from Washington Square Park on Sunday afternoon.

Organizers were slapped with a $500 fine for an 'unpermitted costume contest', and at least one doppelganger was dragged away in handcuffs as the crowd screamed: 'Let him go!'

Witnesses and competitors told DailyMail.com the scenes that unfolded were 'insane'.

'It was really funny, like a spectacle,' bystander Megan Hattie Stahl, 33, said.

'The people filming it and the people reacting to the cops became another layer of spectacle. It was just absurd.'

Competitors at the Manhattan event on Sunday told DailyMail.com the Wonka star arrived unexpectedly - triggering 'insane' scenes. (Pictured: Competitors at the doppelganger event)

Timothee Chalamet has sparked pandemonium in New York after shocking fans by showing up to his own lookalike contest. (Pictured: Some of the competitors before the actor showed up)

Anthony Po, right, deliberates with the judges at the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest near Washington Square Park, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York

The crowd went wild when Chalamet showed up, sparking pandemonium in Manhattan

Fans traveled from as far as St Louis, Missouri and River Falls, Wisconsin for the wacky competition, where the best lookalike won $50.

Competitor Noah Wilde, 23, said the contest was ranked by crowd vote, with people shouting for their favorite Chalamet.

He told DailyMail.com the crowd was 'thick' when police swooped in to try to disperse the young people.

'They pushed one kid and then they started yelling like 'why the f*** would you push me,' and made a little circle,' he said.

'They ended up getting arrested'.

But the drama was far from over, and stunned fans were shocked when the real actor showed up unannounced.

'Then the actual Timothee Chalamet showed up and gave [the winner] a hug. It was insane,' Wilde said.

At least one shaggy-haired Chalamet lookalike was arrested at Washington Square Park

Miles Mitchell, 21, winner of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest, holds his trophy

Timothee Chalamet has caused chaos in New York by showing up to his own lookalike contest

The contest was widely advertised in New York City earlier this month, with a $50 prize up for grabs for the winner

Niege Borges, 34, also attended the contest in lower Manhattan.

She described the scenes to DailyMail.com as 'chaotic and intense,' with 'people passionately screaming,' as they voted for their favorite Chalamet.

On a makeshift stage, the look-alikes were asked about their romantic plans with Chalamet's girlfriend Kylie Jenner.

They were also asked to demonstrate French proficiency and what theyd do to make the world a better place.

Eventually, the audience picked a winner: Miles Mitchell, a Staten Island resident and college senior.

Dressed in a purple Willy Wonka outfit, he tossed candy from a briefcase to throngs of young admirers.

'I'm excited and Im also overwhelmed,' Mitchell said. 'There were so many good lookalikes. It was really a toss-up.'

After the cops moved in, members of the competition moved on to the Mercer Playground, where they launched a speed-dating session with female admirers.

The NYPD told DailyMail.com one person was arrested for disorderly conduct. They were bailed ahead of a court appearance.

Chalamet is best known for playing the protagonist in hit movies like Call Me By Your Name, Dune and Wonka.
Ben Affleck's older brother, Casey, was seen looking scruffy as he left Stephen J. Cloobeck's Election Night Watch party at Papillon Estates on Tuesday night.

The Oscar winner, 49, who previously characterized Donald Trump as 'a dangerous fool' during the 2016 presidential campaign, looked a bit exhausted as he exited the political event solo before news broke of who won the 2024 presidential election.

For the occasion, the Gone Baby Gone star, who is dating Caylee Cowan, wore a dark navy jacket over a crewneck sweatshirt, light-wash jeans and boots.

He was among a number of celebrities at the Election Night Watch Party, where Cloobeck announced his run for California Governor 2026.

In addition to Casey, Zac Efron Tom Arnold and Jeff Ross were all in attendance.

Ben Affleck's older brother, Casey, was seen looking scruffy as he left Stephen J. Cloobeck's Election Night Watch party at Papillon Estates on Tuesday night

Earlier in the day, Cloobeck announced his candidacy for Governor of California.

Back in 2016, Casey called Trump supporters a 'few loudmouth idiots.'

'I think most people look at him and can tell hes a dangerous fool,' Casey said as he inaccurately predicted that Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 presidential election over Trump.

While accepting the best actor award for Manchester by the Sea at the Independent Spirit Awards in 2017, Casey slammed Trump and his policies.

'The policies of this administration are abhorrent, and they wont last,' he said. 'You dont have to clap out of obligation... Theyre really un-American.'

On Tuesday, Trump regained the White House after being declared the winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

He becomes the first president in over 130 years  and only the second in history  to win a non-consecutive second term.

His defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris marks a remarkable return for a twice-impeached president, who left office in 2021 on the back of claims that he had incited an assault on the U.S. Capitol building, and who was convicted earlier this year on multiple counts of business fraud.

The Oscar winner, 49, who previously characterized Donald Trump as 'a dangerous fool' during the 2016 presidential campaign, looked a bit exhausted as he exited the political event solo before news broke of who won the 2024 presidential election

He was among a number of celebrities at the Election Night Watch Party, where Cloobeck announced his run for California Governor 2026 (Cloobeck pictured with Tatiana Cloobeck and Zac Efron)

The 78-year-old Trump will also become the oldest president ever inaugurated, beating President Joe Biden's record by five months.

He pulled off his remarkable victory on a night reminiscent of 2016, sweeping the key swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Associated Press called Wisconsin at 5.34am (ET) on Wednesday and the race just three minutes later.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds returned to Manchester with a bang on Tuesday evening as they brought their Wild God tour to the AO Arena.

The rock musician, 67, looked to be giving it his all as he took to his stage in his signature dapper suit to perform a mixture of both new and original material.

Returning to the stage, Nick's latest album, which he first began writing on New Year's Day in 2023, allowed the star to channel the grief he suffered in the wake of losing two of his sons.

Putting the emotion into his performance, reviews deemed the band's performance as 'nothing short of amazing' as they commented 'it's hard not to be astonished by his performance'.

Manchester Evening News wrote: 'Finding solace through his grief, he's become a high priest of redemption.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds are deemed 'nothing short of amazing' after a sensational show in Manchester as part of the Wild God Tour

Returning to the stage, Nick's latest album, which he first began writing on New Year's Day in 2023, allowed the star to channel the grief he suffered in the wake of losing two of his sons

'Each time he reached into the crowd, hundreds of hands reached back, both grasping  whether it's for the sublime or oblivion  at the empty space between one another.'

Meanwhile Soundsphere penned: 'Now if youve never seen Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds you have to  its not just a concert its an experience.

'Like an eccentric suit clad preacher, Cave has you in the palm of his hand and what he gives you is nothing short of amazing.'

Elsewhere The Yorkshire Times described it as 'one of the most astonishing, revelatory gigs you could ever wish to see.'

They wrote: 'I am spellbound by the mesmeric presence and realise that Im witnessing something special, that this is simply as good as live music gets.'

Fans have gone wild for Nick's recent Europe and UK tour as they took to Instagram after he posted recent snaps from the shows.

They wrote: 'Whooh. Manchester was a building shaker of a show. Fantastic'; 'Great show Nick!!';

'Astoundingly moving & joyous concert in Leeds! We all were wrapped in the swirling rapture of their brilliant dark gospel! Thank you thank you Nick and the Seeds';

In 2015, his son Arthur, 15, died after taking LSD for the first time and 'freaking out' before falling 60ft from a cliff near his home in Brighton (Pictured are Nick with his twin sons Arthur [right] and Earl [left])

Another of the popstar's sons, Jethro, died in Australia in May 2022 just days after being released from jail (Nick and Jethro pictured in 2017)

The rock musician, 67, looked to be giving it his all as he took to his stage in his signature dapper suit to perform a mixture of both new and original material

Reviews deemed the band's performance as 'nothing short of amazing' as they commented 'it's hard not to be astonished by his performance'

The fans went wild for the star as they crowded the stage at the AO arena

'Obscenely good. A complete treasure of a band.'; 'It was truly amazing'; 'Such an amazing show, Biblical'; 'Exceptional night with Nick cave and the bad seeds AMAZING'.

In 2015, Nick's son Arthur, 15, died after taking LSD for the first time, before falling almost 20 metres from a cliff near his home in Brighton, England.

Seven years later, in 2022, Nick's son Jethro, 31, who had schizophrenia and battled drug addiction, died in Melbourne two days after he was released from jail.

At the time of its release the album Wild God was praised by critics, who lauded the 'deeply human' record as a 'gospel rock riot' and 'a ferocious celebration of love'.

Lyrics on the album offer insight into the pain Nick has suffered from his losses, as he sings in Song Of The Lake: 'Cause all the king's horses and all the king's men. Couldn't put us back together again.'

He also alludes to being visited by the spirit of his late son, singing in the song Joy: 'A ghost in giant sneakers, laughing, stars around his head  a flaming boy.'

Singing about the physical impacts of his beliefs, he added in the album's titular song: 'Oh Lord, well, if you're feeling lonely and if you're feeling blue; And if you just don't know what to do; Bring your spirit down.'

And: 'Weve all had too much sorrow / Now is the time for joy.'

Nick also reflects on his grief in the song Long Dark Night, opening with the words: 'I was long inside a dream, I could not get loose.'

Fans have gone wild for Nick's recent Europe and UK tour as they took to Instagram after he posted recent snaps from the shows

Elsewhere The Yorkshire Times described it as ' one of the most astonishing, revelatory gigs you could ever wish to see'

Speaking about the the record at an album playback in August, Nick said: 'I hope the album has the effect on listeners that it's had on me'

He added: 'It's a complicated record, but it's also deeply and joyously infectious'

Speaking about the the record at an album playback at London's King's Hall in August, Nick said: 'I hope the album has the effect on listeners that it's had on me. It bursts out of the speaker, and I get swept up with it.

'It's a complicated record, but it's also deeply and joyously infectious.'

The album, which his first with The Bad Seeds since 2019, has also been praised by critics with a string of positive reviews.

Writing a gushing a five-star review, The Guardian branded the album a 'masterpiece,' before adding: 'Packed with remarkable songs, its mood of what you might call radical optimism is potent and contagious.

'You leave it feeling better than you did previously: an improving experience, in the best sense of the phrase.'

Wild God: The tracklist Song of the Lake Wild God Frogs Joy Final Rescue Attempt Conversion Cinnamon Horses Long Dark Night O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is) As the Waters Cover the Sea Advertisement

The Independent said that 'the album that will have you believing in the transformative power of love,' while The Sunday Times described it as 'a gospel rock riot, The Bad Seeds at their most raucous in 20 years.'

NME awarded the album four stars, and said: 'With a lust for life, the once-dark prince is letting the light in.'

Nick spoke about religion at the playback and said: 'My religious nature is not predicated on belief or not having belief really.

'There's something I get from it affects me in a way that I don't get anywhere else. It's a place I can take certain feelings that I can't take elsewhere.

'I don't like self-help groups. Whether I believe, is a secondary thing.'

Nick previously spoke about the album in an interview with The Sunday Times, and told the publication that the prospect of an afterlife was at the forefront of his mind while writing the record, especially in the wake of his son's deaths.

'I'm very uncertain about what happens after you die, but it concerned me how the spirit of Arthur would feel if he saw the misery his mother and father were going through  because of his passing. It was the anniversary of his death yesterday'

'And one thing we can say to him now is that things are OK. I say that cautiously. There's no closure. Things haven't settled back to the place they were, before Arthur or Jethro died. However, we are happy.'

The Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds star, known for hits such as Into My Arms and One More Time With Feeling, moved to Los Angeles soon after Arthur died with his wife Susie and Arthur's twin Earl because they were 'triggered too much' by living just down the road from where it happened.

The tragedy was widely reported and Nick said previously that this resulted in him being 'forced to grieve publicly'.

Nick alludes to being visited by the spirit of his late son on the album, singing in the track Joy: 'A ghost in giant sneakers, laughing, stars around his head  a flaming boy'

Speaking on his blog The Red Hand Files, where Nick answers questions from fans, in June, he replied to a woman whose daughter was killed.

He wrote: 'A parent should never have to bury their child, it makes no sense, it sits outside the natural order of things.

'Yet here we are, you and me, living within these ghastly vacuums left behind by those we have lost.

'I love your honesty in laying bare the biblical-sized fury we sometimes feel toward a world that has the audacity to keep on turning, regardless of our suffering.

'How dare the world be so beautiful, we think. These are the divergent feelings of grief.'
In honor of 'Stranger Things Day' on Wednesday, Netflix unveiled the titles of the eight episodes from the fifth (and final) season of its hit show.

Due to the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes last year, production on season five didn't even begin until January 8 so fans were expecting a time jump, which will be 'the fall of 1987.'

Eagle-eyed fans might have deduced the timeline considering co-creator Ross Duffer teased glimpses from the Atlanta set of props like an Alf poster (sitcom debuted in 1986) and a Halley's Comet bumpersticker (also 1986).

Episode two is called 'The Vanishing of ...' with the name blurred out, and word has it that the mystery abducted character will be Mike Wheeler's (Finn Wolfhard) younger sister Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher).

Nell Fisher - who replaced twins Tinsley & Anniston Price - was photographed on June 4 shooting a surreal-looking scene with baddie Henry Creel/Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).

In honor of 'Stranger Things Day' on Wednesday, Netflix unveiled the titles of the eight episodes from the fifth (and final) season of its hit show

SEASON 5 EPISODES Chapter One: The Crawl Chapter Two: The Vanishing of ... Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap Chapter Four: Sorcerer Chapter Five: Shock Jock Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz Chapter Seven: The Bridge Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up Advertisement

'It's been such a joy!' the London-born, Kiwi-based 13-year-old gushed to Comic Book Resources on Tuesday.

'It's incredible, you know, I love the show. Everyone on there has been so kind and so welcoming. They made me feel right at home. It's such an incredible production and so many people make it happen.'

Episode five is called 'Shock Jock' which is likely a reference to fictional Hawkins, IN radio station WSQK 94.5.

The 40-year-old showrunner has posted several snaps of Joe Keery on set as Steve Harrington in and around the radio station where someone called 'Jimmy Fasthands' Lee hosts weeknights 7-11pm.

On March 15, Duffer posted an advertisement for Turnbow Land Development & Realty, which likely takes center stage in episode three 'The Turnbow Trap.'

Other titles this season include The Crawl, Sorcerer, Escape from Camazotz, and The Bridge.

The Stranger Things series finale is fittingly called 'The Rightside Up' as a full-circle nod to the 2016 pilot titled 'The Upside Down.'

'It's the best episode they've ever done. They land the plane,' David Harbour - who plays Jim Hopper - gushed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast on October 17.

Due to the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes last year, production on season five didn't even begin until January 8 so fans were expecting a time jump, which will be 'the fall of 1987'

Eagle-eyed fans might have deduced the timeline considering co-creator Ross Duffer teased glimpses from the Atlanta set of props like an Alf poster (sitcom debuted in 1986) and a Halley's Comet bumper sticker (also 1986)

Episode two is called 'The Vanishing of ...' with the name blurred out, and word has it that the mystery abducted character will be Mike Wheeler's (Finn Wolfhard) younger sister Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher)

Nell Fisher (pictured in 2023) - who replaced twins Tinsley & Anniston Price - was photographed on June 4 shooting a scene with Henry Creel/Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower)

Episode five is called 'Shock Jock' which is likely a reference to fictional Hawkins, IN radio station WSQK 94.5

The 40-year-old showrunner has posted several snaps of Joe Keery on set as Steve Harrington in and around the radio station (pictured July 26)

On March 15, Duffer posted an advertisement for Turnbow Land Development & Realty, which likely takes center stage in episode three 'The Turnbow Trap'

Other titles this season include The Crawl, Sorcerer, Escape from Camazotz, and The Bridge

The Stranger Things series finale is fittingly called 'The Rightside Up' as a full-circle nod to the 2016 pilot titled 'The Upside Down'

Everyone from the SAG Award-winning ensemble will return for 'the last adventure,' which debuts Terminator alum Linda Hamilton (pictured January 8) as a mystery military character

'The end of this episode when we were reading it  just us reading it  about halfway through, people started crying. Then about the last 20 minutes, it was just uncontrollably crying, waves of different people. Noah Schnapp being my favorite.

'I think part of that also is the fact that these kids, it was their childhood. Like, they started the show when they were 11 and 12, and here we are reading [the finale].'

The 49-year-old Emmy nominee added: 'It's such a great episode, and it's such a great season. You guys will love it.'

At the end of season four, the Hawkins group watched aghast as 'destroyed' Vecna opened the gates between the real world and the Upside Down causing what local officials labeled 'an earthquake'

Jane 'Eleven' Hopper (2-L, Millie Bobby Brown) used her newly-regained psychokinetic powers to help restart her friend Max Mayfield's (R, Sadie Sink) heart, but she remained in a coma 'brain dead, blind, with all of her bones broken'

Everyone from the SAG Award-winning ensemble will return for 'the last adventure' of the critically-acclaimed binge-watching favorite, which debuts Terminator alum Linda Hamilton as a mystery military character.

At the end of season four, the Hawkins group watched aghast as 'destroyed' Vecna opened the gates between the real world and the Upside Down causing what local officials labeled 'an earthquake.'

Jane 'Eleven' Hopper (Millie Bobby Brown) used her newly-regained psychokinetic powers to help restart her friend Max Mayfield's (Sadie Sink) heart, but she remained in a coma 'brain dead, blind, with all of her bones broken.'
Billie Eilish was among the numerous liberal stars reacting to Donald Trump's election victory over Kamala Harris.

Amid concerns over the future of female reproductive rights in light of the results, Eilish, 22, who publicly endorsed Harris, posted a powerful statement to her Instagram Stories simply stating 'it's a war on women.'

The message, typed in white lowercase font, was written against a black backdrop.

Numerous other celebrities reacted in shock and despair to the outcome, including Ariana Grande, who shared a similarly styled message to her Instagram Stories stating: 'holding the hand of every person who is feeling the immeasurable heaviness of this outcome today.'

English model Cara Delevingne re-posted a message with a slightly optimistic tone: 'A msg to my friends,' the entire post read. 'Trump will win the White House. The GOP has control of the Senate.

Billie Eilish was among the numerous liberal stars reacting to Donald Trump's election victory over Kamala Harris

Amid concerns over the future of female reproductive rights following Trump's win, Eilish, 22, posted a powerful statement to her Instagram Stories stating 'it's a war on women'

Trump, pictured in September, won the 2024 presidential election

'This is gutting yes, but freeing too. We get to make every day over the next four years hell for fascists, misogynists, bigots and liars. This is not the time to shrink. Nor the time to despair.

'This is the time for that classic Disney, larger than life, kinda gay, impossibly well dressed, unbelievably cool, villainy. That punk rock, black parade, guerrilla s**t. This is our villain era. Make art. F**k s**t up. Build power.

'They're about to learn that the hardest thing about gaining power is keeping it.'

Jamie Lee Curtis uploaded a painting of an eagle clutching the American flag as she responded to the results.

She captioned the post: 'So the results are in. Many will be celebrating, possibly even gloating over their victory. Many will be stunned and sad with the terrible feelings of the loss. That is the same result despite who wins because that's what America and democracy looks like. Has always looked like.

'So what does it mean? It means a sure return to a more restrictive, some fear draconian time. Many fear their rights will be impeded and denied. Many, minority groups and young people will be afraid. Gay and trans people will be more afraid. We know that many women will now find it difficult to get the reproductive healthcare that they need and deserve. For all those people there will be those who will help you. Me included.

'But what it really means is that we wake up and fight. Fight for women and our children and their futures and fight against tyranny, one day at a time. One fight at a time. One protest at a time. That's what it means to be an American. That's what it has always meant and will always mean regardless of the outcome.

'Be gentle with people today. Be gentle with yourself today. Feel your feelings today but most of all.....Be an American today.'

Kamala Harris lost the presidential election against Trump; pictured November 4

Ariana Grande was among the many celebrities reacting in despair to the results

English model Cara Delevingne re-posted a message with a slightly optimistic tone

Jamie Lee Curtis uploaded a painting of an eagle clutching the American flag as she responded to the results

Kerry Washington urged fans to 'be kind to yourself today' as she shared a slew of meaningful messages

Mandy Moore gave a 'shout out' to all those unhappy with the outcome

Kerry Washington posted a series of moving statements as she urged followers, 'Be kind to yourself today. There is more work to do.'

Mandy Moore shared a photo of one of her sons as she addressed those unhappy with the results.

'Shout out to all of us processing our grief, disbelief, anger, fear, uncertainty, devestation (sic) while simultaneously carrying on with life and putting on a brave face for our families... I see you. Let's be tender with ourselves and one another.'

She followed it up with a second message stating, 'The world is heavy. I lift what I can.'

Hailey Bieber re-posted a message stating, 'Supporting a convicted felon over a woman is f**king insane.' She added her own thoughts, 'That's really all there is to say.'

Viola Davis shared a photo of vice president Harris to her account and thanked her for her work.

'Thank you for your bravery @kamalaharris. Thank you for loving America's promise. I am and will forever be proud,' she captioned the post.

Hailey Bieber re-posted a message stating, 'Supporting a convicted felon over a woman is f**king insane.' She added her own thoughts, 'That's really all there is to say'

Bette Midler also posted a lengthy quote from H.L. Mencken before deleting her X account: 'When a candidate for public office faces the voters he does not face men of sense; he faces a mob of men whose chief distinguishing mark is the fact that they are quite incapable of weighing ideas, or even of comprehending any save the most elemental  men whose whole thinking is done in terms of emotion, and whose dominant emotion is dread of what they cannot understand.

'So confronted, the candidate must either bark with the pack or be lost All the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre  the man who can most adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men.'

The quote continued: 'As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal.

'On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.'

Lili Reinhart tweeted: 'I cannot fathom the feeling of the women who came forward about their sexual assault at the hands of Trump. Seeing millions of people vote for their abuser. My heart absolutely breaks for these women. I believe you, and I am so sorry.'

A jury in New York found Trump liable for the sexual abuse of writer E Jean Carroll last May.

Meanwhile, Christina Applegate posted on election night: 'Why? Give me your reasons why????? My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away. Why?And if you disagree , please unfollow me,' she tweeted.

She tweeted several hours later: 'Please unfollow me if you voted against female rights. Against disability rights. Yeah that. Unfollow me because what you did is unreal. Dont want followers like this. So yeah. Done. Also after today I will be shutting down this fan account that I have had for so many years because this is sick.'

Trump was elected last night again for president; pictured November 1 in Michigan

She later apologized on Wednesday morning: 'I apologize. Im still reeling and sobbing. But Im not angry anymore. Just going to go back to my bubble and watch a shit ton of Bravo shows So peace to all. I suggest you do the same. Very soothing.'

Andy Cohen shared video of him asking his son Ben about the election. 'We love our country, don't we?' Andy said. 'We will persist. We will move forward,' he said.

Horror author Stephen King described Trump's victory as an attack on democracy.

He wrote: 'There's a sign you can see in many shops that sell beautiful but fragile items: LOVELY TO LOOK AT, DELIGHTFUL TO HOLD, BUT ONCE YOU BREAK IT, THEN IT'S SOLD. You can say the same about democracy.'

While British author Philip Pullman, the writer behind the 'His Dark Materials' books, said: 'Goodbye, America. It was nice knowing you.'

The Wire actor Wendell Pierce warned that Trump's victory could have serious 'consequences' as he gains control of the Supreme Court.

He added: 'The damage he is about to inflict on our institutions in the next two years will be irreparable.'

Trump declared victory in a speech at his watch party in Florida.

He told his supporters: 'I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.'

Trump also vowed to 'help our country heal', insisting he would fix the borders.
Kim Kardashian slammed for seemingly posting an out of touch Instagram reel on her page - hours after Donald Trump won the presidential election.

Fans theorized that her son Saint West, eight, somehow posted the message - with the star deleting it less than an hour after it appeared.

On Wednesday morning, Kim's Instagram had a reel that simply read: 'Please subscribe to my son's Fortnite channel on YouTube he will pick the best players to be in his clan,' sharing his handle for the Fortnite page.

The odd post comes just one week after Kim, 44, 'deleted' Saint's YouTube page following his anti-Kamala posts.

Kim Kardashian slammed for seemingly posting an out of touch Instagram reel on her page - hours after Donald Trump won the presidential election

Fans theorized that her son Saint West, eight, somehow posted the message - with the star deleting it less than an hour after it appeared

In the comments section, fans were shocked at the post - even using her sister Kourtney Kardashian's famous line to her 'Kim, there's people that are dying,' - which is in reference to when she lost her diamond earrings in the ocean and Kourtney called her out for being so out of touch.

Another said: 'Babes, read the room.'

One Instagram user sarcastically said: 'Nah this post wins Most out of touch human award lol.'

One questioned her making it public her son has a page where 'people on the internet' can 'interact with your son at his age.'

Fans speculated that it may have been Saint putting up the reel promoting the page - due to the ill timing and the message of the post - just one week after she 'deleted' his YouTube page for his anti-Kamala posts.

In the comments section, fans were shocked at the post

Kim was famously devastated when she lost a pricey piece of jewelry before it was found a short while later, with Kourtney telling her, Kim, there's people that are dying'

The YouTube account for the 8-year-old Saint West - which was under the handle @TheGoatSaint - was 'allegedly taken down' by Kardashian, 44, in the wake of the politically-charged posts, according to The Daily Beast.

'This page isn't available. Sorry about that. Try searching for something else,' a message from YouTube read when clicking on the page.

Social media posts claimed Saint posted a meme of Kamala's picture on the bottom of a shoe worn by a cartoon character who says, 'I stepped in s***.'

The reality star said last month that she made Saint agree to a contract if he wanted a channel on the platform. It appeared he breached the terms of the deal just a week before election day.

According to social media posts, Saint had purportedly posted a meme that depicted a picture of Harris in an inflammatory manner

A number of X/Twitter users tied Saint's posts to his father's longstanding support for Trump.

Reactions included: 'Smart like his father;' 'kanye is so proud rn;' 'Kanye so proud of bro;' and 'Like father like son.'

One user said, 'Saint is baby ye i aint worried bout him' while another added, 'That young boy is very intelligent. Raised right!'

Another user said, 'Saint West a Donald Trump fan. 'Kayne smiling rn.'

One user tagged in Kardashian, writing, '@KimKardashian undelete please. Saint West doing right things.'

Said one user: 'I strongly disagree with the decision by Kim Kardashian to delete Saint West's YouTube channel over the shared videos. The censorship of opposing views is concerning and sets a dangerous precedent. Doesn't everyone expose Kamala, What is wrong with it? lol.'

Another added a GIF of West looking glum, writing, 'So, #KimKardashian deleted Saint West's #YouTube channel for posting how he felt politically, and she didn't agree. Got it.'

The contract, posted on September 3 on Kardashian's Instagram Stories, read: 'I, Saint West, agree to follow my moms rules in order to have a YouTube channel. I am not allowed to comment any personal family information.'

Kardashian last month posted an image of the contract that on her social media platform with the caption: 'I finally allowed Saint to have a YouTube Channel after signing an extensive contract. Please Subscribe!'

A number of X/Twitter users tied Saint's posts to his father's longstanding support for Trump

Saint also agreed to not film any footage containing 'any personal information' or 'while North is recording music.'

It continued: 'I must show my mom or guardian all videos before I post them.

'I give permission to any grown up if mom says to delete my video for any reason. If I dont listen to all of the rules, mom could make my page private or delete my account.'

She posted an image of the contract that on her social media platform with the caption: 'I finally allowed Saint to have a YouTube Channel after signing an extensive contract. Please Subscribe!'

She added that 'Saint signed a solid contract for this YouTube Channel' and 'he better not breach' the agreed-upon terms.

Kardashian - who shares daughters North, 11, and Chicago, six, and sons Saint, eight, and Psalm, five, with ex-husband Kanye West , 47 - has ties to both presidential candidates amid her criminal justice reform efforts in recent years.

Kardashian has ties to both candidates amid her criminal justice reform efforts in recent years and had a meeting with Harris at the White House this past April

Kardashian worked extensively with Republican candidate Trump on previous efforts. Pictured in June of 2019

She had a meeting with Harris at the White House this past April and worked extensively with former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump on previous efforts.

Kardashian initially went to the White House in 2018 on behalf of Alice Marie Johnson, a woman who received a life sentence in 1996 over nonviolent drug charges.
Amanda Bynes was spotted for the first time since giving an update on her weight loss journey during an outing in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The She's The Man actress, 38 - who had gained 20 pounds amid her struggles with depression - kept it casual as she enjoyed a quick Starbucks stop during an errand run.

The former Nickelodeon star donned a white, hooded sweatshirt as well as a black shirt underneath.

She additionally slipped into a pair of black, leather pants as well as black and white-colored Converse sneakers to complete the monochromatic look.

Bynes - who recently debuted her striking new hairstyle - pulled back her locks into a half up do, allowing loose strands to fall down naturally past her shoulders.

Amanda Bynes, 38, was spotted for the first time since giving an update on her weight loss journey during an outing in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Amanda easily carried a small, black purse over her left shoulder to hold a few items she needed during the daytime excursion.

She opted for minimal accessories and added a silver nose ring and flashy bracelet on her left wrist.

While strolling outdoors in the cooler weather, Bynes sported a pair of black shades for a finishing touch.

After stopping by Starbucks, she exited the coffee chain while holding an iced drink in her hand as she headed to her next destination.

The star's latest outing comes after she also gave her fans an update on Tuesday in regards to her weight loss journey.

While taking to her Instagram stories, she uploaded a screenshot from a health tracking app and typed out, 'Down 6lbs! 154lbs now!' followed by a shocked face emoji.

The picture also showed that on Tuesday, she had walked a little over six miles and 14,895 steps.

Earlier this year in March, Bynes also opened up to her followers on her Instagram account and revealed that she 'gained over 20 lbs. in the past few months from being depressed.'

The former Nickelodeon star donned a white, hooded sweatshirt as well as a black shirt underneath and leather pants

While taking to her Instagram stories, she uploaded a screenshot from a health tracking app and typed out, 'Down 6lbs! 154lbs now!' followed by a shocked face emoji

'I'm doing a lot better now and have learned to do opposite action when I don't feel like working out or eating clean.'

The Easy A actress continued, 'I weigh 162 lbs. right now and want to get back to 110 lbs.'

During a past interview with Paper Magazine in 2018, Bynes talked about her body insecurities - which she said began after she starred in the 2006 film, She's The Man.

'When the movie came out and I saw it, I went into a deep depression for 4-6 months because I didn't like how I looked when I was a boy.'

She explained that having a short hairstyle and sideburns had, 'a super strange and out-of-body experience. It just really put me into a funk.'

Her insecurities later led to her drug addiction - and Amanda explained to the outlet that she started taking Adderall to help with losing weight.

Earlier this year in March, Bynes also opened up to her followers on her Instagram account and revealed that she 'gained over 20 lbs. in the past few months from being depressed'

'I definitely abused Adderall,' she admitted, after 'reading an article in a magazine that [called Adderall] "the new skinny pill."'

'And they were talking about how women were taking it to stay thin. I was like, "Well, I have to get my hands on that."'

Bynes also reflected on filming the 2010 project titled, Hall Pass, which she later dropped out of.

'[I] remember seeing my image on the screen and literally tripping out and thinking my arm looked so fat because it was in the foreground or whatever and I remember rushing off set and thinking, "Oh my God, I look so bad."'

While filming at the time, she would chew Adderall tablets and explained quitting the movie was due to a 'mixture of being so high that I couldn't remember my lines and not liking my appearance.'

Amanda also recalled her role in Easy A alongside Emma Stone, and stated, 'I literally couldn't stand my appearance in that movie and I didn't like my performance. I was absolutely convinced I needed to stop acting after seeing it.'

'I was high on marijuana when I saw that but for some reason it really started to affect me.'

During a past interview with Paper Magazine in 2018, Bynes talked about her body insecurities - which she said began after she starred in the 2006 film, She's The Man; seen in 2011 in Universal City

Last year in 2023, she was placed on a 5150 hold and later checked herself into a mental health facility

'I don't know if it was a drug-induced psychosis or what, but it affected my brain in a different way than it affects other people. It absolutely changed my perception of thing.'

After stepping away from acting, the star had multiple arrests for reckless driving, drug possession and also a DUI.

In 2013, she was hospitalized for an involuntary psychiatric hold and was later placed on a nine-year conservatorship which came to an end in 2022.

Last year in 2023, she was placed on a 5150 hold and later checked herself into a mental health facility.
Artem Chigvintsev has claimed he lost out on $100k in income after his domestic violence arrest - and doubled down on claims his estranged wife Nikki Garcia is the real abuser.

Chigvintsev, 42, was arrested August 29 in Yountville, California in connection with domestic violence, but prosecutors in Napa County ultimately decided against filing criminal charges in the case.

Garcia, 40, later filed for divorce and unsuccessfully requested sole custody of their son Matteo, four, with the pair granted temporary restraining orders against each other.

In legal documents obtained by DailyMail.com and filed October 31 in Napa Superior Court, DWTS pro Chigvintsev - who was axed from the show's latest season - says the trauma of the arrest and false allegations led to him losing substantial income.

The documents read: 'It is not true that I have not been able to find other work as a dancer. I normally start jobs in November and it goes for 20 weekends. After the mug shot and the arrest based on her false allegations, I was taken off the website faculty list resulting in loss of over $100k in income.

Artem Chigvintsev has claimed he lost out on $100k in income after his domestic violence arrest - and doubled down on claims his estranged wife Nikki Garcia is the real abuser - pictured 2019

Chigvintsev was arrested and jailed on domestic violence charges in Napa County on August 29 - but prosecutors in Napa County ultimately decided against filing criminal charges in the case

'I also lost the social media promotion revenue, which she continues to benefit from as she was more worried about her career when she lied to the police, than mine.'

He is seeking Nikki to pay his out-of-pocket expenses because the TRO was granted without enough supporting facts. He is asking her to pay for his rent because 'I was kicked out of the home.' The dancer also wants Nikki to pay for some or all of his lawyer's fees and costs.

The pair's temporary restraining orders against each other have been extended until December 6 - before they are due back in court.

Chigvintsev claims in the documents that Garcia has 'anger issues' and says: 'She is the one with the temper. I try to stay quiet and avoid it. She yells, and on 8/29/24 was yelling, pursuing me, and was the one who attacked me.'

'It is further a lie that I was growing increasingly angry, snapping at her, and yelling.

'I was not violent with her and did not violently grab or yell at her.'

He claims the pair had an argument when he was due to to have surgery but she had to go to New York.

He claims: 'We had an argument, but it's not how she describes it. We agreed months before my surgery that she would be there with Matteo. I was supposed to fly to have my surgery on 5/19/24, she forgot about it and booked herself for work in New York.

In legal documents obtained by DailyMail.com and filed October 31 in Napa Superior Court, DWTS pro Chigvintsev - who was axed from the show's latest season - says the trauma of the arrest and false allegations led to him losing substantial income

Garcia, 40, later filed for divorce and unsuccessfully requested sole custody of their son Matteo, four, (pictured) with the pair granted temporary restraining orders against each other

'She then told me that her work was more important than my medical procedure, so she ended up leaving. Our son was left with nanny. I canceled my ticket and stayed behind. She then started sending me texts for different flight I could take, so I ended up going because she insisted I go. I have texts to prove this.'

In response to the request for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order he claimed: 'She abused me, not the other way around. She threw shoes at me, followed me and tried to break her way into the bedroom.'

He disagrees with Nikki's initial request to include their son on the temporary restraining order.

He writes: 'I cannot trust her anymore. Not only did she lie to the police so that her career remains intact, ruining mine, but she used the court proceeding to keep our son away from me for almost a month, not letting me see him until this Court issued its 50/50 orders on 10/15/2024, which I am very grateful for.

'Almost a month without Matteo was miserable for me, and I am sure for him as well, and selfish of Wife.'

Last month Chigvintsev claimed the former WWE wrestler was 'the aggressor' in their domestic violence dispute, which led to his arrest on August 29.

In images, submitted to the Superior Court of California, Chigvintsev showed marks and bloody scratches on his elbow and hands as well as behind his ear that he alleges were inflicted upon him by Garcia.

The dancer is seen with Garcia on the show in 2017

In a statement, obtained by Page Six, his attorney, Ilona Antonyan, claimed: 'Mr. Chigvintsev contacted law enforcement on 8/29/24 seeking protection from his wifes persistent aggression.'

'While he was on the phone with the police, Ms. Garcia-Colace made a pointed statement, saying, "Do you understand where this is going now, Artem? You just ruined my career, and you know it."' Antonyan continued.

In her original filing, Nikki claimed that Chigvintsev had 'tackled me multiple times and pinned me to the ground while our child was present' during an argument over breakfast.

She claimed that Chigvintsev had become 'increasingly angry, snapping at me and yelling' after not being asked to return to Dancing With The Stars for season 33.

Chigvintsev in September told People that he was 'incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against [him] have been dropped.

'This has been an extremely difficult time for me. I am thankful that the truth has prevailed. My focus has always been and will always be, our son Matteo.'

The ballroom dance expert said that he considers fatherhood 'the greatest blessing' and is focused on caring for his son moving forward.

'All along, my main concern has been for him,' Chigvintsev said. I am committed to continuing to provide him with the love, support, and care he needs as we move forward.'

He said to the publication that he was 'hopeful that securing an equal custody arrangement will help us move on' in life.

'I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family, friends, and legal team for standing by me during this challenging time,' Chigvintsev said. 'Your support has been invaluable, and I am thankful to everyone who believed in me and saw the truth for what it was.

'I look forward to moving past this chapter and focusing on what truly matters - continue being the best father I can be.'

On October 16 the judge ruled that the pair will share custody of their son Matteo, , TMZ reported citing court docs, more than a month after Garcia filed for divorce .

The former couple was pictured in December of 2019 in LA

Garcia had petitioned the court for sole custody of their son; asked for the court to appoint a supervisor for Matteo's visits with the Izhevsk, Russia native; and asked that Chigvintsev be ordered to attend anger management courses; all requests were denied by the court, according to the outlet.

Chigvintsev told the court Tuesday that he doesn't have anger-related issues, the outlet reported.

Both Chigvintsev and Garcia were ordered by the court to enroll in parenting classes to help them remain cordial as they raise their child following their split.

Chigvintsev and Garcia's trial in their divorce is slated for December and will span two days, according to TMZ.
Natalie Portman isn't 'surprised' her ex-husband Benjamin Millepied has moved on quickly.

Natalie, 43, was married to Benjamin, 47, for 11 years, with Natalie filing for divorce in July 2023; their divorce was finalized in March 2024.

Their split came after it was alleged that Benjamin cheated on Natalie with a woman 21 years his junior.

Benjamin was seen kissing a woman on October 15 in Paris, according to Us Magazine, with the outlet's source revealing the star's feelings about him getting back to the dating field so quickly.

'Natalie isn't surprised that Benjamin has moved on because of how their relationship ended,' the outlet's insider said.

Natalie Portman isn't 'surprised' her ex-husband Benjamin Millepied has moved on quickly; seen October 28

Adding: 'She thought he'd move on pretty quickly.'

The insider said that the actress 'hopes Benjamin is happy' and that his 'dating life doesn't really have any bearing on Natalie.'

'She's super happy in her life right now and has been prioritizing family and friends,' the source said.

The outlet's source revealed that Natalie heard about the images of Benjamin and the woman kissing in Paris before they were first revealed.

They share two children: son Aleph, 13, and daughter Amalia, seven.

Last year French outlet Voici released an explosive report claiming Millepied had an affair with 25-year-old climate activist Camille Etienne.

Natalie was married to Benjamin for 11 years, with Natalie filing for divorce in July 2023; their divorce was finalized in March 2024; pictured February 9, 2020

In July, Natalie appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she revealed that meeting Rihanna was a 'formative moment' in her life.

I think everyone going through a divorce should get Rihanna to say to her that she's a bad b****h. It was exactly what I needed.'

During her appearance on the late night show, Natalie reflected on meeting Rihanna in January 2024 - during Paris Fashion Week.

Rihanna told Natalie that she was 'one of the hottest b****s' in Hollywood.'

'Are you kidding me?' Natalie had replied to Rihanna.

'It was a formative moment in my life,' she told Jimmy after the clip aired.

The moment in January was documented by photographer Stephane Feugere.

They saw each other in January while heading into the Haute Couture Dior show in Paris, with Natalie gushing to Rihanna: 'I love you.'

Rihanna then told her: 'I am a proper fan.'

Their split came after it was alleged that Benjamin cheated on Natalie with a woman 21 years his junior; seen February 24, 2019

Natalie appeared shocked as he said: 'Are you kidding me?' before the stars shared a hug.

Rihanna said to her: 'You are one of the hottest b*****s in Hollywood forever. You have the most innocent look and I'm like "uhhh."'

Natalie told her: 'I'm going to faint. I love you and I listen to your music all the time, your're such a queen and just thank you.'

Rihanna said: 'Can somebody take a picture? So I like remember this happened tomorrow,' with Natalie adding 'Please!'

The songstress said: 'I don't get excited to meet anybody, but I love you!'
Katie Holmes appeared downcast while running errands in Manhattan on Wednesday after publicly expressing her disappointment in Kamala Harris losing the US presidential election.

The 45-year-old Dawson's Creek alum's long hair was still wet and she wore tortoiseshell sunglasses over her make-up free complexion.

Katie was wearing a white T-shirt beneath a pink unbuttoned blouse, which she French-tucked into baggy blue jeans and red Mary Janes.

Holmes also carried a $2,400 brown Khaite 'Amelia Envelope Pleat Medium Tote Bag.'

The Rare Objects director-star's street sighting came as the 60-year-old Vice President called newly-reelected President Donald Trump to officially concede ahead of her big speech.

Katie Holmes appeared downcast while running errands in Manhattan on Wednesday after publicly expressing her disappointment in Kamala Harris losing the US presidential election

Katie - who boasts 2.9M Instagram followers - later reshared Mia Farrow's post featuring the Samuel Beckett quote: 'I must go on, I can't go on, I'll go on.'

Holmes also reshared Spike Lee's Instagram post featuring the Toni Morrison quote: 'This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self pity, no need for silence, no room for fear.

'We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.'

The Alone Together director-star never formally endorsed a candidate, but she proudly donned a $380 Lingua Franca 'Harris Walz 2024 Crewneck' sweater in Manhattan one week ago.

Katie has been getting used to life as an empty nester after 18-year-old daughter Suri Noelle began her freshman year at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA in August.

'I'm proud of my daughter. Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I'm really proud of her and I'm happy,' Holmes gushed in her Town & Country cover story that same week.

'I remember being this age, this time of beginnings. It's exciting to learn about yourself, and I loved that time, so it makes me happy to think about it like that.'

The Ohio-born beauty's ex-husband Tom Cruise pays for his youngest child's $65K/year tuition as well as medical, dental, and insurance expenses despite not being pictured with her since their six-year marriage ended in 2012.

The 45-year-old Dawson's Creek alum's long hair was still wet and she wore tortoiseshell sunglasses over her make-up free complexion

Katie was wearing a white T-shirt beneath a pink unbuttoned blouse, which she French-tucked into baggy blue jeans and red Mary Janes

Holmes also carried a $2,400 brown Khaite 'Amelia Envelope Pleat Medium Tote Bag'

The Rare Objects director-star's sighting came as the 60-year-old Vice President (pictured Tuesday) called newly-reelected President Donald Trump to concede ahead of her speech

Katie - who boasts 2.9M Instagram followers - later reshared Mia Farrow's post featuring the Samuel Beckett quote: 'I must go on, I can't go on, I'll go on'

Holmes also reshared Spike Lee's Instagram post featuring the Toni Morrison quote: 'This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair'

The Alone Together director-star never formally endorsed a candidate, but she donned a $380 Lingua Franca 'Harris Walz 2024 Crewneck' sweater in Manhattan one week ago

Some speculate the 62-year-old Oscar nominee's alleged estrangement has to do with the mother-daughter duo 'disavowing the Church of Scientology' and devotees don't associate with SPs (suppressive people).

Katie - who received no spousal support - went on to date Tom's Collateral co-star Jamie Foxx from 2013-2019.

Holmes has been single since ending her eight-month romance with bass player Bobby Wooten III in 2022.

The former Holmes & Yang designer currently stars as Myrtle Webb in Kenny Leon's Broadway revival of Thornton Wilder's 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Our Town, which runs through January 19 at the Barrymore Theatre in Midtown Manhattan.

Katie has been getting used to life as an empty nester after 18-year-old daughter Suri Noelle (R, pictured October 17) began her freshman year at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA in August

Holmes' ex-husband Tom Cruise pays for his youngest child's $65K/year tuition as well as medical, dental, and insurance expenses despite not being pictured with her since their six-year marriage ended in 2012

The Ohio-born beauty (3-R, pictured October 10) currently stars as Myrtle Webb in Kenny Leon's Broadway revival of Our Town, which runs through January 19 at the Barrymore Theatre in Midtown Manhattan

The 28-strong, multi-racial cast of the strictly-limited engagement includes Big Bang Theory alum Jim Parsons and Juror #2 actress Zoey Deutch (R)

The 28-strong, multi-racial cast of the strictly-limited engagement includes Big Bang Theory alum Jim Parsons and Juror #2 actress Zoey Deutch.

It marks Katie's first professional acting gig since playing movie star Julia Cheever in Roundabout Theatre Company's off-Broadway play Wanderers, which ran from January 26, 2023April 2, 2023 at the Laura Pels Theatre in Manhattan.

Holmes also previously starred in two prior Broadway productions for The Shubert Organization - Arthur Miller's All My Sons at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in 2008-2009 and Theresa Rebeck's comedy Dead Accounts at the Music Box Theatre in 2012-2013.

The brunette beauty is also penning several screenplays and signed on to star in Dito Montiel's thriller Captivated alongside Al Pacino, and she'll guest star in the second season of Peacock's murder mystery Poker Face lead by Natasha Lyonne.
Disgraced celebrity chef Pete Evans has stripped down again for a gloating social media post.

The former My Kitchen Rules judge, 51, went shirtless on Instagram on Wednesday to celebrate Donald Trump's win in the US election.

Evans displayed his graying chest hair as he enjoyed a gin and tonic and a cigar, all while wearing Trump's iconic red 'MAGA' hat.

'Another cracker of a day,' he captioned the post, alongside three orange heart emojis.

His fans flooded Pete's comments section with messages of jubilation and congratulations.

'First time i have smiled and meant it for a long time. Let's go!!!!' wrote one.

'Now to Make Australia Great Again,' added another.

Trump now has 292 electoral votes to Harris' 224. It takes 270 to win the presidency.

Disgraced celebrity chef Pete Evans (pictured) has stripped down again for a gloating social media post

He is the first president in over 130 years, and only the second in history, to win a non-consecutive second term.

It comes after Evans went shirtless to advertise tickets for his fasting retreats.

The website for Pete's Evolve Sanctuary advertises tickets for the fasting retreat at $2250 per person.

The January retreat is already sold out.

'Join Pete for a 5 day juice, water and broth fast in a beautiful rainforest setting to bring in the new year,' the website reads.

Evolve Sanctuary, currently owned by Evans, is located an hour's drive inland between Byron Bay and Coolangatta.

In the comments on the post, the former TV star revealed the property was currently on the market.

Trump now has 292 electoral votes to Harris' 224. It takes 270 to win the presidency. Pictured with wife Melania yesterday

It comes after Evans, 51, went shirtless to advertise tickets for his fasting retreats

'Are you guys selling your place though?' asked one fan.

'It is on the market, but we are running retreats,' Pete replied.

This isn't the first time the controversial chef has rocked the party-in-the-back hairdo.

Pete first decided to swap his cut clean hair style for a mullet back in June 2023.

Once a small screen star, Pete has all but vanished into obscurity in recent years, following a string of controversies stemming from his belief in anti-vaxxer conspiracy theories.

After being banned for several mainstream social media sites, Pete now communicates with his fanbase via Telegram, an encrypted messaging app that is often used by conspiracy theorists to broadcast their beliefs.

The former My Kitchen Rules judge looked worlds away from his days as a clean cut TV star in a new Instagram post in which he recorded himself shirtless in his car. Pictured in 2010

Pete's new appearance is worlds away from the squeaky-clean image he maintained while starring on Seven cooking show My Kitchen Rules.

In fact, the once youthful-looking restaurateur appears to have aged decades since quitting his television career two years ago.

In May 2020, it was announced that Pete had parted ways with Channel Seven after 10 years as a judge on MKR alongside Manu Feildel.

It effectively marked his break from the mainstream after years of flirting with off-the-wall ideas during his tenure at the network.

Now free from the contractual constraints of mainstream television, Pete began spouting his non-scientific beliefs about vaccines and the Covid-19 pandemic on social media.

Pete was kicked off Facebook for sharing misinformation in December 2020.

He was also dropped by 15 sponsors and companies in the space of 48 hours last November, after posting a neo-Nazi meme on social media.
Sir Steve McQueen is possibly up for a new role involving the iconic spy legend that is James Bond.

The 12 Years A Slave director, 55, has reportedly sparked an interest among the 007 bosses, according to the Sun.

Given his stellar reputation in the movie-making business, producers are said to be hoping he will share some of his production talents in any upcoming films.

A source told the production: ' 'Steve is one of the UK's best filmmakers and has an incredible vision.

'The word is that the Bond producers wanted to see if Steve would ever consider having a hand in one of the films and they got a positive response.

Sir Steve McQueen is possibly up for a new role involving the iconic spy legend that is James Bond

The 12 Years A Slave director, 55, has reportedly sparked an interest among the 007 bosses, according to the Sun

'It would be incredible if it came off.'

It is also believed that casting for the new 007, who was last played by Daniel Craig, has also restarted.

But who will fulfil this role is still undecided and in recent months has caused quite the controversy among stars.

One A-lister who was bombarded with rumours was Edris Elba who had shut down rumours of him fulfilling the role earlier this year.

The Luther actor, 51, revealed that he will not be following in Daniel Craig's shoes in the coming 007 hit and is not getting a license a kill.

He admitted that he is 'ancient' and while he appreciated the compliment of being considered back in 2009, the opportunity is now 'dead'.

Speaking to Chris Moyles on his Radio X morning show in April, Idris joked that the longstanding rumours surrounding the agent role have made him 'more famous for not playing Bond' than 'some of the actors who did'.

Chris quipped: 'There were loads of rumours flying around a few years ago about you and a certain infamous role of a British agent, right? James Bond. Right? Was that ever a thing? Was that ever close to being a thing? Did you ever want it? There were rumours, but I don't know if you ever spoke out about it one way or the other.'

Given his stellar reputation in the movie-making business, it is believed that the curators are hoping he would be up for sharing some of his production talents in any upcoming films

One A-lister who was bombarded with rumours was Edris Elba who had shut down rumours of him fulfilling the role earlier this year

The Luther actor, 51, revealed that he will not be following in Daniel Craig 's shoes in the coming 007 hit and is not getting a license a kill

Idris replied: 'I have several times, several sort of half-a-million times. No, it was definitely one of the biggest rumours.

'I'm arguably more famous for not playing Bond than some of the actors who did!

'And you know, it's been one that I've taken lightly at times. You know, everyone loves Bond. Such a fantastic character, and just to me, I found it as a compliment to be considered all those years ago.'

Chris persisted: 'But listen, you never know. It's not dead', but he was shot down by the acting sensation who responded: 'Well, I mean yeah, it is. The rumour has definitely done.

'And I mean, I'm ancient now. I don't know what kind of Bond I'd be.'

The radio host replied: 'But there's always Yeah, you're probably right, actually.'

Not giving up on the thought of Idris getting involved in the highly-anticipated motion picture, Chris added: 'Well, what about Bond villains? Bond villain?'

Idris said: 'Well, I think probably, if I'm really honest, I did the Luther movie. And my instinct about doing the movie version verses the TV, is to take it bigger. Bigger, bigger landscapes and maybe fill that void.'

He admitted that he is 'ancient' and while he appreciated the compliment of being considered back in 2009, the opportunity is now 'dead'

Speaking to Chris Moyles on his Radio X morning show, Idris joked that the longstanding rumours surrounding the agent role have made him 'more famous for not playing Bond' than 'some of the actors who did'

It followed chatter over who will be the next man to take on the iconic role.

It was recently believed that Aaron Taylor-Johnson could be getting himself a license to kill in four James Bond films after 'endless discussions' with studio execs - who insiders claim are hoping he can replace Daniel Craig to lead the franchise into a new age with a 'fantasy' twist.

The British actor, 33, has reportedly been formally offered the chance to play 007, with sources claiming bosses have already taken extraordinary lengths to secure him.

Producer Barbara Broccoli, 63, is not considering anyone else, according to insiders, who have claimed costume fittings for Aaron are already allegedly underway.

'It is all in the details and agents and lawyers are going through all the red tape and how many movies Aaron will sign up for.

It comes following the recent chatter over who will be the next man to take on the iconic role

It was recently believed that Aaron Taylor-Johnson could be getting himself a license to kill in four James Bond films after 'endless discussions' with studio execs - who insiders claim are hoping he can replace Daniel Craig to lead the franchise into a new age with a 'fantasy' twist

The British actor, 33, has reportedly been formally offered the chance to play 007 , with sources claiming bosses have already taken extraordinary lengths to secure him

'It is currently looking to be a three-picture deal with the option of a fourth.

'They have done all the fittings, they have the haircut they have in mind for him, and he's already in tremendous shape.

'Barbara Broccoli and the rest of the producers are going to make a huge deal out of the announcement.'

Earlier this year, it was reported that the Kick Ass actor is on the verge of inking a deal to take over from Daniel as the titular spy after he retired from the role following his swansong in 2021 blockbuster No Time To Die.

Aaron was coy when questioned previously about the rumors, telling Numero magazine earlier this month: 'I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role. I take it as a great compliment.'

A recent poll suggested Idris is still the public's number one choice to replace Daniel, despite being 51 - old for a Bond candidate - and already ruling himself out of the running in order to focus on his crime drama, Luther.

Back in August 2022, it was reported he had walked away from 'years of talks' with movie bosses to take over the famous role.

Last summer, Idris admitted that he used to be 'super complimented' by the idea of playing Bond, saying it was the 'pinnacle.'

But he told Variety that he was turned off, when 'those that weren't happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense and I got the brunt of it.'

Meanwhile, Michael Fassbender has also ruled himself out, saying he thought a younger star should take on the role.

When asked by GQ magazine if he would be up for the part, the actor, 46, said: 'To be honest, no.'

A recent poll suggested Idris is still the public's number one choice to replace Daniel, despite being 51 - old for a Bond candidate - and already ruling himself out of the running in order to focus on his crime drama, Luther

Meanwhil, Michael Fassbender, 46, has also ruled himself out, saying he thought a younger star should take on the role

Aaron is yet to officially accept the role or make a formal comment on his standing but in March he spoke out in an interview with Rolling Stone UK , insisting he won't be a part of the 'pop culture studio film' machine

In a cover shoot to promote his latest role in Sony's next Marvel film Kraven the Hunter, Aaron muses on the direction his stellar career is heading after two decades on the big screen.

Asked directly about the reports that he is in talks to be Bond, the actor coyly replied that he 'can only really talk about the things I'm going to show and tell,' before tellingly adding:

'I don't feel like I need to have a future drawn out for me. I feel like, whatever's drawn out for me, I can f**kin' do better.'

Aaron is yet to officially accept the role or make a formal comment on his standing but in March he spoke out in an interview with Rolling Stone UK , insisting he won't be a part of the 'pop culture studio film' machine

Asked directly about the reports that he is in talks to be Bond, the actor coyly replied that he 'can only really talk about the things I'm going to show and tell'

While he hasn't been cast as Bond, Aaron has taken on the lead in another big budget action franchise.

But the actor insists he can find the nuances in any character, even in Kraven - a big-game hunter whose singular goal in life is to beat Spider-Man.

'I think there was something unique about this character, and something grounded,' he insists, adding: 'We've all had enough of seeing certain studio films, a certain kind of pop culture where they're churning out stuff that dilutes wanting to go to the cinema'.

'I wouldn't have signed onto it if I felt there wasn't something to really bring to life with this character.'

The star adds that the extreme physical transformation he undertook to play the Marvel villain made him ponder if he wanted to put himself through it for film after film, explaining: 'I wanted to approach it like an actor, and I'm not someone who's just juicing up and going to the gym.'

'I don't necessarily want this to be my brand, doing one action movie after another. But I trained to the point where I was 200 pounds of muscle. I ate so much f**king food. I was so big.'

James Bond producers have still not made a formal announcement to confirm who will be the next 007.
Diddy's son Christian 'King' Combs has been slammed for taking over the jailed rapper's Instagram to spread 'positivity' amid his sex trafficking charges.

The rapper, 55, was arrested in September on federal charges of racketeering, conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation for purposes of prostitution - and is incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn.

Christian, 27, whose mom is the late Kim Porter, took to Diddy's Instagram on Wednesday, which boasts 19.8million followers and said: 'Right now I'm taking over my pop's Instagram

'We gonna be posting videos, spreading good energy, taking y'all down memory lane, all the positive things he did.

'So stay tuned and watch this. We love you pops, happy birthday.'

Diddy's son Christian 'King' Combs has been slammed for taking over the jailed rapper's Instagram to spread 'positivity' amid his sex trafficking charges - pictured 2020

Christian, 27, whose mom is the late Kim Porter, took to Diddy's Instagram on Wednesday, which boasts 19.8million followers and said: 'Right now I'm taking over my pop's Instagram'

Fans quickly flooded the comment section with vitriol amid Diddy's legal woes and hours after Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris in the US presidential election.

One wrote: 'We dont trust you either Lil Diddy' while a second typed: 'Today is not the day little boy go sit down' and 'Bruh your timing is absolutely terrible.'

Another penned: 'What people fail to realize is, he can love his dad and support him to the fullest. But dont try to push a narrative on us like, the evidence, footage, outcries, lawsuits and subliminals for years are excusable. Support him, love him but dont try to get us to do the same.'

Others wrote: 'Your pops done bro, he ain't seeing the light of the day anytime soon', 'kamala just lost not right now' and 'Honey we dont wanna hear this s**t today.

Another referenced his hotel corridor beating of ex Cassie Ventura, writing: 'No. We saw him stomp on Cassie in 4K. Go to hell.'

This comes after Diddy broke his silence from behind bars as his children called to wish him a happy 55th birthday on Monday, November 4.

In a video shared by his son Justin Dior Combs, 30, Diddy is heard telling his children he is proud of all of them and 'looking forward to seeing them soon' after they sing happy birthday to him.

Diddy's daughter Love, two, who he shares with Dana Tran, joined siblings D'Lila and Jessie, 17, Quincy, 33, Christian and Justin in the clip - in which they sang 'happy birthday to daddy' with a birthday cake for the jailed star.

'We gonna be posting videos, spreading good energy, taking y'all down memory lane, all the positive things he did. 'So stay tuned and watch this. We love you pops, happy birthday' - pictured with Diddy and brothers Justin and Quincy and grandmother Janice in 2022

Fans quickly flooded the comment section with vitriol amid Diddy's legal woes and hours after Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris in the US presidential election

Diddy broke his silence from behind bars as his children called to wish him a happy 55th birthday on Monday

In the video shared by his son Justin Dior Combs, Diddy is heard telling his children he is proud of all of them and 'looking forward to seeing them soon' after they sing happy birthday to him

An upbeat Diddy said: 'I love y'all, I can't wait to see y'all. I'm proud of y'all, especially the girls, all of y'all, but just for being strong, thank you for being strong.

'Thank you for being by my side and supporting me, I got the best family in the world

'My birthday, I'm happy for you giving me this call, I'll see you in a couple of days.'

Love told her father she loved him to which he responded: 'I love you too baby.'

Diddy's daughter Chance, 18, was not present but spoke to her father via video call, with Diddy saying: 'hey Chance, love you baby.'

Diddy shares Chance with ex Sarah Chapman, while Christian, Jessie, D'Lila and Quincy's mom is the late Kim Porter.

Justin's mom is stylish Misa Hylton.

This comes as Diddy faces a new lawsuit alleging sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl .

The same night Jennifer Lopez and Diddy were pictured arguing at a party together before leaving later on alongside his entourage.

The alleged incident is said to have occurred at a house later that night, but the timing adds a troubling layer to the evening's events and raises questions about the dynamics of Diddy and Jennifer's relationship during a time now overshadowed by serious allegations.

The couple stayed together for another five months, eventually splitting in February 2001.

Diddy's daughter Love, two, who he shares with Dana Tran joined siblings D'Lila and Jessie, 17, Quincy, 33, Christian, 27 and Justin in the clip - in which they sang 'happy birthday to daddy' with a birthday cake for the jailed star

An upbeat Diddy said: 'I love y'all, I can't wait to see y'all. I'm proud of y'all, especially the girls all of y'all, but just for being strong, thank you for being strong'

Diddy's daughter Chance, 18, was not present but spoke to her father via video call, with Diddy saying: 'hey Chance, love you baby'

Diddy is pictured with his twins, daughter Chance and son Justin in 2023

Last week Diddy's children wrote on Instagram: 'The past month has devastated our family. Many have judged both him and us based on accusations, conspiracy theories, and false narratives that have spiraled into absurdity on social media' (pictured in 2022)

The new legal filing seen by DailyMail.com claims Diddy had allegedly 'aggressively approached' the young girl with a 'crazed look in his eyes' before sexually assaulting her.

She claims an unidentified male celebrity also raped her while Diddy and an unnamed female celebrity watched. There is no suggestion this woman was Jennifer.

Diddy has denied the allegations. His attorneys told DailyMail.com he 'never sexually assaulted anyone' and said the most recent 'barrage of filings' were nothing but 'clear attempts to garner publicity'.

Diddy was arrested last month on federal charges of racketeering, conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation for purposes of prostitution - and is incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, a prison that previously held Jeffrey Epstein , Ghislaine Maxwell and R Kelly .

In May 2024 a 2016 video would emerge of the rapper shirtless with a towel wrapped around his waist, chasing Cassie down the hall at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City before grabbing and kicking her (seen together in 2016)

The rapper is filmed kicking Cassie as she lay on the ground

Appearing on DailyMail.com's hit podcast The Trial Of Diddy, prison expert Larry Levine said Diddy is visited by a psych team everyday.

'He's not really on suicide watch but my inside source there tells me that there is someone coming by to visit with him several times a day, you know, to make sure that he's okay,' Levine remarked on the podcast.

'My sources are telling me that [Diddy] is getting extra showers a week,' he alleged. 'I don't know how many. It probably varies. They're giving them extra privileges.'

Meanwhile, Combs' lawyers are still trying to get him out of jail and filed an appeal to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court after two judges rejected his release on bail. The matter will be discussed at a hearing on November 4.

Last week Diddy's seven children shared a joint statement supporting him on Tuesday morning ahead of his May 5th federal sex-trafficking trial.

'The past month has devastated our family,' they wrote on Instagram .

'Many have judged both him and us based on accusations, conspiracy theories, and false narratives that have spiraled into absurdity on social media. We stand united, supporting you every step of the way. We hold onto the truth, knowing it will prevail, and nothing will break the strength of our family. WE MISS YOU & LOVE YOU DAD.'

The family statement came two days after the Buzbee Law Firm, AVA Law Group, and Curis Law filed seven more lawsuits (four men and three women) in the US District Court in Manhattan against the three-time Grammy winner alleging aggravated sexual assault, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation between 2000-2022.

Lead counsel Tony Buzbee has gathered enough evidence to file 120 victims' (as young as nine and 13) lawsuits thanks to a hotline he set up for victims and witnesses which amassed 12K calls in 24 hours.

'He is being treated like any other detainee awaiting trial. As with all public figures in his position, he was placed on suicide watch upon admittance to the facility as a precaution'; seen in a court sketch from September 18

Diddy's attorney Marc Agnifilo dismissed the latest lawsuits as 'clear attempts to garner publicity' and they 'have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process.'

The Emmy-nominated producer - who was arrested September 16 in Manhattan after a grand jury indictment - 'has never sexually assaulted anyone - adult or minor, man or woman,' they added.

Diddy has pled not guilty to charges alleging he coerced and abused women for years, aided by associates and employees, and silenced victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.
Devastated Democrats have rounded on George Clooney after the actor demanded that Joe Biden quit before Donald Trump's election victory.

A furious blame game has erupted in the wake of Trump's emphatic win over rival Kamala Harris, with lifelong Democrat Clooney being especially criticised for his influence during the election.

The Ocean's Eleven actor, 63, notably penned an op-ed for the New York Times in July where he called on Biden, 81, to abandon his presidential campaign, writing: 'We are not going to win in November with this president.'

Clooney later praised Biden for being 'selfless' when he announced he would be stepping aside on July 21, leaving Kamala Harris to embark on a 107-day campaign to try and overcome Trump.

That campaign came to a bitter end on Wednesday as Trump secured a stunning comeback to the White House. He currently holds 295 electoral votes and is also winning the popular vote.

Democrats have since sought to blame Clooney for calling on Biden to step down from the presidential race months earlier.

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George Clooney, 63, has been slammed by fans after he demanded that Joe Biden quit ahead of Donald Trump's election victory. Pictured: Clooney and his wife Amal in New York on September 26

Kamala Harris delivers a speech at Howard University, where she conceded the 2024 presidential race

Trump made a stunning return to the White House with a convincing win over Harris. He is pictured declaring his victory early on Wednesday morning

Back in July, Clooney notably penned an op-ed for the New York Times where he demanded Biden to drop out of the presidential race; seen in October in Washington D.C

A veteran-led, political commentator group called altNOAA typed on X, 'Someone bring me George Clooney. We need to have a...talk.'

Journalist Joshua Hartley uploaded a screenshot of Clooney's op-ed piece and added, 'Thank you George Clooney.'

One X user penned, 'Trump should not forget to thank the Hollywood celebrities. Especially George Clooney.'

A fan of Donald Trump also referenced to the actor, and wrote, 'It's just occurred to me, we have failed to acknowledge George Clooney's roll in this victory!'

'What did George Clooney change his mind!!' another fan shared, possibly referencing to the actor's silence on social media following Trump's win on Tuesday.

Another added on X, 'I blame George Clooney he said no more money... and now look...'

'Since I'm in a deep depression and feel like lashing out at someone, what's the plan now George Clooney?' one social media user typed out, while another simply added, 'It's all George Clooney's fault!'

It comes as the blame game went into overdrive last night, as Biden confidants told senior White House reporters they hold former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi responsible for him leaving the race.

'Bidenworld' sources claim that not only should the president have stayed in the race but that he would have won the white working class voters who Harris largely ceded to Trump.

The claim that Pelosi got him out of the race is comparable to how Biden blames Barack Obama for demanding he not run in 2016 against Hillary Clinton.

However, there was also a sense of treachery within the president's ranks, as sources told

Senior White House correspondent Kayla Tausche that he himself 'was more deeply unpopular than anyone grasped.'

Other Democrat insiders have blamed Tim Walz for being too left wing, too folksy, and too tainted by the Kenosha riots, while others blamed every demographic possible.

Not enough white women showed up, too many black men switched to Donald Trump since 2020, and Hispanic voters abandoned the party.

Media analysts also speculated Biden should have pulled the plug on his candidacy well before his disastrous debate performance.

This would have either given Harris more time to establish herself, or allowed for an open primary to select a stronger candidate, they argued.

Kamala Harris departs the stage after conceding the election during a speech at Howard University

Democrats were left distraught by the election result which will see Trump return to power. Pictured: A student in tears at Howard University

However, after months of campaigning from both parties, Donald J. Trump became the U.S. 47th president-elect after a major victory - currently holding 292 electoral votes and also winning the popular vote; seen in September in New York

A veteran-led, political commentator group called altNOAA typed on X, 'Someone bring me George Clooney. We need to have a...talk'

Journalist Joshua Hartley uploaded a screenshot of Clooney's op-ed piece and added, 'Thank you George Clooney'

One X user penned, 'Trump should not forget to thank the Hollywood celebrities. Especially George Clooney'

A fan of Donald Trump also referenced to the actor, and wrote, 'It's just occurred to me, we have failed to acknowledge George Clooney's roll in this victory!'

It comes as a professor at New York University named Laurence F. Maslon opened up to The Guardian about the role of celebrity endorsements - including from Clooney.

'I think endorsements have probably always done more for the celebrity than the person being endorsed.'

Maslon added: 'It's a way to hitch your star to somebody who seems to be good for you, and maybe there's a certain kind of reflected glory in that.'

'There's probably not a Republican candidate for any office in the last 20 years who didn't append the word liberal before the word Hollywood when speaking about it...People like George Clooney and Robert De Niro, I mean, who cares, frankly?'

Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Will Ferrell and even Arnold Schwarzenegger were among those to endorse Harris. Meanwhile, Trump was backed by the likes of Elon Musk, Kanye West, Hulk Hogan and Mel Gibson.

Margaretha Bentley, a professor at Arizona State University, also told the outlet, 'In the academic literature, research has shown that, while celebrity endorsements can increase civic engagement and voter registrations, it has not proven to have a direct impact on how people make their voting decisions.'

She also added, 'Voters may do more research after a celebrity endorses, but they will vote based on their own values and not necessarily the values of the celebrity endorser.'

Clooney's backlash has come just months after he wrote an op-ed calling for President Joe Biden to step aside.

He also first threw his support behind Harris in July - only two weeks after he said it was time to move on from Biden in the scathing article for the New York Times.

'President Biden has shown what true leadership is. He's saving democracy once again,' he said in a statement to CNN, two days after Biden made the extraordinary decision to drop out of the race.

He also first threw his support behind Harris in July - only two weeks after he said it was time to move on from Biden in the scathing article for the New York Times; Harris seen on Wednesday in Washington D.C.

He endorsed the Vice President to succeed him as the Democratic nominee to take on Trump, saying: 'We're all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris in her historic quest.'

Biden had faced an increasingly frenzied clamor to step aside after a disastrous debate performance against Trump in June.

Less than a month before he dropped out of the race, Clooney had raised $30million at a fundraiser for Biden.

However, the megastar, who hosted multiple fundraisers for Biden, wrote on July 10 that the president couldn't win the 'battle against time.'

The brutal opinion piece was seen as one of the turning points against Biden's bid to cling onto the nomination in a bid to secure a second term.

The actor condemned Democratic party leaders for ignoring 'every warning sign' of Biden's declining physical and mental health and for trying to defend his car-crash debate performance against Trump.

However, the megastar, who hosted multiple fundraisers for Biden, wrote on July 10 that the president couldn't win the 'battle against time'; seen in 2023 in L.A.

He added that Democrat voters 'collectively hold our breath or turn down the volume whenever we see the president, who we respect, walk off Air Force One or walk back to a mic to answer an unscripted question.'

And earlier this month ahead of the election, the actor doubled down on his endorsement of Kamala Harris in a campaign advertisement urging men to consider how voting for Donald Trump will affect the women in their lives.

The ad, released by left-wing Christian organization Vote Common Good, reminded men that they can lie to their Trump supporting friends about how they voted.

And it also urged them to think about how their vote will 'impact the people you care about the most' before casting their ballots.

The first ad, starring Clooney's Ocean's Eleven co-star Julia Roberts, urged women to keep their votes secret from their husbands and was branded 'nauseating' and 'condescending' by critics

The clip followed a father and his masculine-looking friends into the polls as they encourage each other to 'make America great again.'

Clooney - who narrates the short video - then urged voters to think about their families and reminds them that 'you can vote any way you want and no one will ever know' before the man is seen voting for Harris.'

The ad is the second released by Vote Common Good that encourages voters to hide their choices from their families or friends.

The first ad, starring Clooney's Ocean's Eleven co-star Julia Roberts, urged women to keep their votes secret from their husbands and was branded 'nauseating' and 'condescending' by critics.

Questions continue to be asked over the Democrats' downfall as they prepare to transfer the power to the Republicans.

President-elect Trump has been revelling in his victory, partying at Mar-a-Lago with campaign aides, celebrities and family members.

The 78-year-old was serenaded by two women as he celebrated his election victory last night.

Donning his signature red Make America Great Again (MAGA) cap, he grinned and tapped along as the Natasha Owens song 'Trump Won' was played over the speakers and belted out to him by guests.

Alina Habba, Trump's famous attorney, and another female campaign aide were seen jubilantly throwing their hands in the air and doting over the election winner, who was sat down with them enjoying what appeared to be a glass of Coke.

One of the woman could be seen dancing and pointing at Trump as she tried to get the crowd going, while Ms Habba leaned forward to tell him something while brushing his arm.

As the song came to an end with the lyrics 'Everybody knows Trump won!', the Republican winner joined in by tapping his fingers on the dining table where the three were sat.

The Florida estate was filled with excitement as Trump continued to ride a wave of capturing swing states throughout the evening.

Images emerged from the estate early in the evening of Trump chatting with Elon Musk and Dana White, while guests shared snaps from its ballroom.

The race initially appeared neck-and-neck as Americans went to the polls after a tense months-long build-up.

Democrats had been counting on holding the trio of states - Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania - to give Harris the White House. Biden won them in 2020.

But in the end Harris didn't improve upon President Joe Biden's performance against Trump four years ago.

Harris is now on track to do worse than Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

She could even be on pace to have the worst Electoral College result of any Democrat since the 1988 race.

Exit polls show his victory came after he made gains with nearly every voting bloc he lost in the 2020 election and put together a coalition of multi-ethnic working-class voters.

And Harris did worse on Tuesday than Biden in the 2020 contest among key voting groups including women, the working class and Latinos.

Biden, who watched the astonishing results from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on Tuesday night, is also planning to address the nation on Thursday.

He said he talked to President-elect Trump today and invited him to the White House after the final results rolled.

In a shock olive branch, the 81-year-old commander-in-chief congratulated Trump a week after calling his supporters 'garbage'.

The White House confirmed Biden and Trump spoke on the phone on Wednesday afternoon and 'emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together' as well as a 'smooth transition'.

It was a similar tone Kamala Harris took when she called Trump to to finally concede the election after Trump swept the majority of the swing states.

Trump and Biden frequently exchanged very personal jabs during the campaign, with the Republican targeting the president's decline and the Democrat saying he was the sort of person he would like to 'smack in the a**'.

Biden has said he will go to Trump's inauguration, after the president-elect skipped his in 2020 and instead flew straight to Mar-a-Lago.

Harris had a warning for the president-elect, lecturing him even as she congratulated him.

'She discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans,' a senior Harris aide said.

Harris, during her campaign, repeatedly vowed to a be a president 'for all Americans.'

Trump will begin the process of choosing a cabinet and selecting other high-ranking administration officials in the coming weeks following his victory. He is set to take office on January 20.
With the upcoming CoP 29 summit in Azerbaijan, world leaders face mounting pressure to deliver on pledges for climate finance and reduced fossil fuel reliance

Back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton originating from the Gulf of Mexico, that have battered the western coast of Florida in the United States have led to political debates and blame games ahead of the US Presidential election. The Republican team targeted the Biden-Harris duo for not doing enough to save lives and restore electricity. More than 200 people have perished in each of the hurricanes and also people have lived without electricity for more than 24 hours. Tropical typhoon Trami over the South China Sea claimed more than 150 lives in the Philippines, and 10 in Vietnam, injured thousands and damaged properties and infrastructures in both countries. Further, the deadliest flood in 50 years in Spain has also claimed more than 250 human lives. As against this, Indias disaster management response during cyclones has been praiseworthy.

Whether it was cyclone Nisarga on our West coast in 2020 cyclone Fani in West Bengal in 2019, or the recent Dana in Odisha and West Bengal we have evacuated million of people on each occasion in a record time of 24 to 48 hours and as a result, there has hardly been any loss of life. Recent images from Valencia and other regions of Spain, last months image from Italy where vehicles were swept away as roads became rivers, and before that similar flooding in France, Poland, Austria, and Czech are reminders of frequent flooding and associated misery to people. The global physics of fossil fuels has destabilised the world. The warmer the atmosphere gets; the more moisture it can hold. This would mean more intense downpours and longer drought.

In Spain, a years worth of rain was dumped in half a day. While Indias track record in dealing with disasters is good, what it should relook is its decisions to sacrifice natural forests for infrastructures, development projects and mining. Consumption of coal, oil and natural gas is swelling worldwide, despite leaders knowing that the surge in emission of greenhouse gases leads to increased warming of the planet and we face more destructive and frequent climatic catastrophes. Forests are the best sink for carbon and sacrificing them for GDP is only to invite more frequent disasters. Earth is already warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius. The year 2023 has been the warmest in the recorded history of post-industrialisation.

The trend from 2024 till July suggests that we are on course to break the 2023 temperature record. Developed countries are responsible for the warming so far. Scientists are consistently forecasting that beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius warming, part of many countries especially island nations will be submerged in the Sea. United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) has provided a forum for World leaders to meet annually and decide on actions to be taken to keep the warming within 1.5 degrees.

In the annual conference (CoP 25) in Paris in 2015 countries pledged their nationally determined contributions (NDC) to cut the consumption of fossil fuel and to develop renewable energy at speed and scale by 2030. Among G20 countries India is the only one, which is on course to fulfil the pledge. Donald Trump as US President in 2017 refused to toe the line with the Paris Agreement and said that climate is a hoax.

No CoP meeting took place till he was in office. Corona pandemic delayed it further even after Biden took over and CoP 26 at Glasgow was held in November 2021.

Here again, leaders reiterated their pledge at Paris and also revived climate finance of $100 billion that developed countries would contribute towards the cost of climate adaptation in the developing world annually. Another rhetoric was started during CoP 27 at Sharm el Sheikh that developed and some developing countries like China would pay for loss and damage in global south countries. This has again not been complied with. The climate finance of $100 billion annually has been agreed upon in Copenhagen CoP in 2009 but has not been complied with so far. African countries and island nations are suffering from extreme climate events like droughts and floods as well as supply chain disruptions owing to geopolitical tensions in West Asia and Ukraine.

Countries like Namibia and Zimbabwe have ordered to cull of thousands of wild elephants (a threatened species) for food. If climate finance and loss and damage funds were made available, there was no need to cull threatened species and endangering the ecological security of the region further. The pledge regarding cutting fossil fuel consumption and transition to renewable energy especially by Western nations and China has been overlooked. There has been unprecedented growth in oil and gas drilling in the US and coal production in China.

Biden and other European leaders are not on course to fulfil their commitment to bring down fossil fuel consumption by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. China has pledged net zero by 2060 and India by 2070. Scientists are telling us to keep the warming within 1.5 degrees lest we face the consequences. 2050 and 2060 are far ahead and the question is whether we will be able to stand the disasters till then.

During the nomination as Republican presidential candidate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Trump in his address said to abandon climate - drill baby drill. He cut jokes in his election rallies saying that if the Sea level rises due to warming, the people will have more buildings facing the Sea. The transfer of technology from developed countries to developing and third-world countries for transition to renewable energy at speed and scale is another key to climate mitigation. India, China and Western nations have gone ahead substantially, yet they need to step up their efforts.

Renewable energy transition should take place at such a pace that we automatically cut fossil fuel consumption. Countries' demand at Glasgow CoP 26 to phase out fossil fuel did not have total acceptance and was modified to phase down on the insistence of China and the support of India. Further at Dubai CoP 28 another phrase transition away from fossil fuel was agreed upon. Irrespective of the phrases used in the CoP resolutions, leaders are only concerned about the growth and GDP and are not inclined to bring down fossil fuel consumption.CoP 29 is scheduled to commence in Baku, Azerbaijan on November 13th, when world leaders will again take stock of the situation and roll out further actions.

Unfortunately, the host country along with its neighbours Armenia and Georgia is experiencing relatively more warming as compared to the global average. While every nation should put in their efforts to cut emissions, India should have relook at the projects requiring the sacrifice of natural forests, whether for linear infrastructures in the Himalayas, in Western Ghats or deforestation of 130.75 sq km forests for great Nicobar Development projects.

Indias track record for growing compensatory afforestation for the trees lost is very poor. Supreme Court recently threatened contempt against agencies for not taking up planting ten times the trees lost in the project. 3700 trees were sacrificed in 2015 for the widening of NH 123 Bharatpur Dholpur road and Apex courts condition to plant up 37000 trees has not been fulfilled so far.

(The writer is retired principal chief conservator of Forests-Head of Forest Force- Karnataka; views are personal)
Six Indian Americans have won the elections to the House of Representatives, increasing their number from five in the current Congress.

Indian-American lawyer Suhas Subramanyam created history by becoming the first from the community to be elected from Virginia and the entire East Coast.

Subramanyan defeated Mike Clancy of the Republican Party. He is currently a Virginia State Senator.

There is a possibility that the number of Indian Americans in the House of Representatives increased to seven as Dr Amish Shah was leading by a slender margin against his Republican incumbent in the first Congressional District of Arizona.

I am honoured and humbled that the people of Virginia's 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress. This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honour to continue serving this district in Washington," Subramanyam said.

Subramanyam, who previously served as a White House Advisor to President Barack Obama, is a Hindu by faith and is popular among Indian Americans nationwide. He joins the 'Samosa Caucus' in the Congress that currently comprises five Indian Americans  Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar.

All the five existing Indian American members were re-elected to the House of Representatives.

Shri Thanedar was re-elected for the second consecutive term from the 13th Congressional District of Michigan. He won it for the first time in 2023.

Raja Krishnamoorthi won the seventh Congressional District of Illinois for the fifth consecutive term.

While the battles for control of the White House and Congress remain close, I am honoured that the people of Illinois' 8th District have extended my contract to represent them in Congress, Krishnamoorthi said.

My parents came to this country with little more than a dream for their family's future and the faith that they could achieve it here in America, Krishnamoorthi concluded.

Despite some hard times, we did.

My mission in Congress is to fight for all the other families that are pursuing their dreams, no matter where they come from, how they worship, or the number of letters in their names... There are 29 in mine.

So did Ro Khanna who represents the seventeenth Congressional District of California and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who represents the seventh Congressional District of Washington State.

A physician by profession, Dr Ami Bera is the senior-most Indian American Congressman representing the sixth Congressional District of California since 2013. He was re-elected for the seventh consecutive term.

In Arizona, Shah from the Democratic Party was slightly ahead of his Republican Party's incumbent David Schweikett.

He has 132,712 votes as against his rival's 128,606 votes when 63 per cent of the votes were counted.
Donald Trump was Wednesday elected the Unite States President for a second term in one of the greatest political comebacks in American history, four years after an election loss in 2020 that sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol. The 78-year-old Republican leader, convicted of felony charges and awaiting sentencing in a hush-money case in New York, defeated his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in a bitterly fought election.

According to races called by the Associated Press up to 7 pm (IST), 277 electoral votes had gone to Trump and 224 to Harris. Trump, the oldest person in US history to be elected president, crossed the halfway 270 votes-mark in electoral college votes with victory in the battleground state of Wisconsin.

Addressing his supporters at West Palm Beach in Florida, Trump declared his victory in the presidential election, calling the mandate "unprecedented and powerful". "Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason," Trump said, referring to the two assassination attempts on his life during the election campaign this year.

Amid cheers of his jubilant supporters and his family by his side, Trump declared that this will be the "golden age" of America. "This is a magnificent victory for the American people. This was a movement like nobody's ever seen before, and frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There's never been anything like this in this country, and maybe beyond," Trump said.

"And now it's going to reach a new level of importance because we're going to help our country heal. We'll help our country...We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly," he said. Soon after projections indicated Trump's victory, congratulatory messages started pouring in from world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, for his "historic return to the White House".

After President Grover Cleveland (1885-1889 and 1893-1897), Trump is the only person to return to the White House for another term after a gap of four years. Trump served as President from January 2017 to January 2021. "We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, and it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing," Trump said in his speech.

"I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president," he said. "I will fight for you, for your family and your future." "Every single day, I will be fighting for you and with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America," said Trump, who wrapped up his speech with a playful dance to the song YMCA by the band Village People.

The victory by Trump is being seen as a remarkable comeback after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden, which seemed then to be the end of his political career. Trump challenged the election results and even indirectly urged his supporters to march on the US Capitol that reportedly triggered the violent attacks and clashes inside the seat of American democracy, sending shockwaves across the globe.

In the following months, Trump unsuccessfully challenged the results in court. A grand jury found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The Biden-Harris campaign said at the time that no one is above the law while Trump called the verdict the result of a "rigged" political system.

In effect, he became the first former president to get the nomination for the top office on the planet after being convicted of a felony. Trump won the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Counting of votes was still underway in the swing states of Arizona, Michigan and Nevada. Earlier, Harris cancelled an election watch party in her alma mater Howard University after a clear trend in the counting of votes emerged.

The results are a big disappointment for Harris. She joined the race after President Biden dropped out from his reelection campaign in July, weeks after he came under severe scrutiny following his incoherent performance at a televised debate with Trump. The nomination itself was historic as she became the first woman of colour in the US to be fielded by a major party in the presidential race.

In her address after formally accepting the nomination, Harris vowed to "chart a new way forward" far devoid of bitterness, cynicism and divisive politics. The US has 50 states and most of them vote for the same party in every election, except the swing states. Generally, there is not much surprise over the candidates picking up victories in states other than the pivotal battleground ones. Overall, a total of 538 electoral college votes are up for grabs.

The swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, known as part of the Rust Belt, have been traditionally the strongholds of the Democratic Party. An exit poll by CNN said roughly three-quarters of the electorate holds a negative view of the way things are going in the US today. Only about one-quarter called themselves enthusiastic or satisfied with the state of the nation, with more than four in 10 dissatisfied and roughly three in 10 saying they are angry, according to the poll. Voters remained generally optimistic, with more than six in 10 saying America's best days are in the future, and only about one-third that they're already in the past, the CNN poll found.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday announced that under the Mukhyamantri Gramin Awas Yojana, the state government will soon give 100-square-yard plots to two lakh eligible beneficiaries as directions have been given to complete the necessary procedures. Under this scheme, five lakh people in the state applied for plots, and all eligible beneficiaries will be allotted 100-square-yard plots in a phase-wise manner, he added.



The Chief Minister further said that to fulfill the election promise of providing Rs. 2,100 to women, officers have been directed to put the necessary systems in place, and women across the state will soon receive this benefit. He said this after visiting various villages namely Umri, Mathana, Dabkhera, Wadechpur, and Chhaulundi of Ladwa assembly constituency following a decisive election win in the recent assembly election. He also expressed his gratitude to the people for giving their mandate to the present state government.



During his visit, he interacted with the sparanches, and village people and announced grants of Rs 21 lakh each for the villages namely Mathana, Dabkheda, Wadechpur, and Chhaulundi.



Saini said the governments efforts to extend the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana schemes to the last person in society, purchase crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP), provide timely compensation to farmers, and strengthen road infrastructure. Also, as soon as the state government was formed, free dialysis facilities were provided for patients.



He said that to fulfill electoral promises, the state government took a decision to offer government jobs to 25,000 youth, without any recommendations, before the official swearing-in. Taking a jibe at the opposition, the Chief Minister said that many leaders had promised government jobs to their favourites during the elections, but the public made its stance clear by voting in favour of the present state government.



He said that under the Mukhyamantri Shehri Awas Yojana, the state government has issued offer letters to provide 30-square-yard plots to 15,430 people across 14 cities and is implementing a plan to provide 50-square-yard plots to 10,000 people in large villages. The Haryana government has also fulfilled its promise to provide gas cylinders for Rs. 500 to families with an income below Rs. 180,000. He said that due to the government's welfare policies, the BJP will form the government again in 2029, and Congress will again be shown doors by the people of state.



Saini said that during the assembly elections in Haryana, every single grain of the farmers' crops was procured hassle-free at Minimum Support Price (MSP). Meanwhile, despite there being no elections in Punjab, the Punjab government neither purchased the farmers' crops nor provided them with the designated price.
Sikhisms highest temporal seat, the Akal Takht, on Wednesday convened a meeting to discuss the political and religious future of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and Punjabs former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. The gathering, which included several prominent Sikh scholars and intellectuals, was organized by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh at the Sri Akal Takht Secretariat with the meeting focusing on Sukhbirs being declared tankhaiya  one who has violated Sikh religious codes  a status conferred on August 30 due to actions taken during his leadership from 2007 to 2017.

Sukhbirs status as tankhaiya stemmed from his alleged role in decisions that the Akal Takht believed harmed the image and interests of the Sikh panth (community). His actions during his tenure as SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister have been criticized for purportedly causing a rift within the Sikh community and leading to SADs political decline. This designation marked a significant setback for Sukhbir, as it impacted both his religious standing and his leadership within the SAD, challenging his influence among Sikh voters and supporters.

While the Akal Takht has withheld specifics, a detailed letter from SAD dissidents highlighted controversial decisions that contributed to Sukhbirs tankhaiya status. Chief among these is his alleged involvement in securing an attempted pardon for Dera Sacha Sauda leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who faced serious backlash within the Sikh community for imitating the tenth Sikh Guru in 2007. The attempt to seek forgiveness for Ram Rahim, seen as a blasphemous act by many, reportedly left lasting damage on the SADs relationship with Sikh voters, especially in rural Punjab.

Additionally, detractors accuse Sukhbir of insufficient action following the 2015 sacrilege incidents in Bargari, where sacred texts were desecrated  a pivotal issue in Punjab politics. As the Home Minister at the time, critics claimed Sukhbirs inaction deepened mistrust among Sikhs, who felt the sacrilege cases were inadequately investigated. These incidents, critics argued, not only undermined Sikh faith but also damaged the SADs standing as a panthic (Sikh-centered) political party.

During the meeting, the Sikh scholars and intellectuals presented their views on Sukhbirs case, emphasizing the importance of holding leaders accountable to Sikh values, particularly those holding high office within the panth.

Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, along with Jathedars from Takht Sri Damdama Sahib and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, stressed that discussions with Sikh scholars was aimed at gathering collective insights before making any formal decisions. The meeting represented a broader consultation process within Sikh leadership aimed at ensuring community sentiments are reflected in the Akal Takhts ultimate decision.

Akal Takht to hold further consultations to decide on punishment

The Akal Takht intended to continue consultations with other Sikh organizations, Gurdwara committees, and panthic entities before announcing Sukhbirs fate. The next phase of deliberation will involve the five Singh Sahibans (the heads of Sikh Takhts) who may convene a conclusive meeting to decide on Sukhbirs punishment. Soon, the Jathedars (head priests) of all five Sikh Takhts are expected to convene, and Sukhbir Badal may be summoned to discuss further actions.

Understanding Tankhaiya

In Sikhism, Tankhaiya status is given to those who have violated religious principles. This decision is made by Akal Takht, Sikhs highest temporal seat. Once declared tankhaiya, individuals can request forgiveness in front of the Sikh community and have their actions reviewed in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib, with punishments decided accordingly.

Receiving a tankhaiya punishment can result in social exclusion, with Sikhs refraining from socializing, conducting marital arrangements, or participating in events at the individuals home. Recently, SAD decided against contesting bypolls to four assembly segments in Punjab after Akal Takht clarified that Sukhbir Badal cannot campaign for his party.

Possible Punishments Under Sikh Religious Code for Tankhaiya

According to Akal Takht guidelines, those declared tankhaiya in the Sikh community often receive duties in Gurdwaras as a form of penitence. Such tasks may include cleaning shoes, washing utensils, or sweeping floors.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, on Tuesday, took a jibe at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after the state cabinet approved new rules for the appointment of the director general of police.

With the enforcement of the new Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh Selection and Appointment Rules, 2024, the approval of the Union Home Ministry will not be needed for the appointment of the new DGP. Under the new rules, the selection and appointment of the states police chief will be done by a committee chaired by a retired judge of the High Court.

I have heard that arrangements are being made to grant a senior official a permanent position and extend his tenure by two years. The question is, will those making this arrangement themselves be around for two years? Could this be an attempt to take control from Delhi into their own hands? "Delhi vs Lucknow 2.0, the SP chief said in a post on X while responding to the UP governments new guidelines for selection and appointment of the DGP.

"The policy requires a nomination committee headed by a retired judge of the High Court to appoint the police chief in the state. It also establishes a minimum tenure of two years for the DGP.

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a new set of rules giving itself the authority to appoint the DGP at the state level. Seeking the approval of the Union Public Service Commission for the appointment will no longer be required.

In a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh Selection and Appointment Rules, 2024 was approved.

As per the new manual, the DGP will be appointed only when there are at least six months left in the officers service. To be eligible for selection, candidates must have six months of service remaining on the date of creation of the vacancy and only those officers who are currently serving as DG at Level 16 of the Pay Matrix will be considered for the new role.

The next UP assembly elections are due in March 2027, nearly two years from now. The Samajwadi Party, which gave a noteworthy performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, is hoping to continue the winning streak in the 2027 assembly polls.
Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday directed the state Education Department to prioritize resolving the legitimate demands of the Unaided Staff Front (Aided Schools). The directive came during a series of meetings with employee unions, where Cheema emphasized the need to address the regularization of school office staff. He instructed the Officers Committee to consider this matter and submit a report within one month.

In addition, Cheema responded to concerns raised by the Murr Bahal Adhiyapak Union, directing the School Education Department to expedite the reinstatement process for sacked teachers and ensure that unjustified dismissals are sympathetically reconsidered. He also addressed the 2364 ETT Selected Adhiyapak Unions demand to lift the ban on selecting stations of posting, informing them that the portal has been reopened for this purpose.

Furthermore, Cheema addressed the issues of Veterinary Officers, including concerns about their lower basic pay scale compared to Medical and Dental Officers and the demand for house rent allowances similar to those in the Health Department. He instructed officials from the Animal Husbandry Department to meet with the Finance Secretary to explore solutions and assess financial implications.

Additionally, Cheema directed the Director of Rural Development and Panchayats to establish committees at the block level to address concerns raised by the Gram Panchayat Water Supply Pump Operators Association and to submit a request to the central government to modify the qualifications required for their training.
Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said that the State Government has urged the Union Ministry of Railways to explore the possibility of converting the Kalka-Shimla UNESCO World Heritage train to run on green hydrogen. In a letter written to the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, he urged the ministry to consider transforming this historic rail line into a green energy-powered route.

He added, The state government aims to make Himachal Pradesh a green energy state by March 31, 2026 and has undertaken several initiatives to achieve this goal. He said that the State government is working on a six-pronged strategy to transform the State into a certified Green Energy State, contributing significantly to Indias climate commitments and aligning with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This strategic transition will ensure a fair and just shift towards sustainable energy while also boosting the states economy.



Sukhu stated that the State is on track to replace its current thermal power consumption of 1,500 Million Units (MUs) with renewable sources, including hydro, solar, and wind power. He said that currently, the state consumes 13,500 MUs of power, with a large portion already derived from renewable sources. Achieving 90 percent renewable energy consumption in the power distribution network will enable Himachal Pradesh to be certified as a fully Green State of the country. This transition is expected to be completed within a year and will also allow industries in the State to apply for the Eco Mark, enhancing the value of their products.



The CM stated that the Government is also laying a strong focus on solar power generation, with plans to establish a capacity of 2,000 MW over the next four to five years. Solar power generation has doubled in the last two years, reflecting the governments commitment to this clean energy source, he added.



Sukhu said that, in addition, the Government has launched the Green Panchayat scheme, a decentralized renewable energy initiative in the State. Under this scheme, 500 KW grid-connected ground-mounted solar power plants are being set up at the Panchayat level. Income from the sale of this power will be used to fund eco-friendly and sustainable development projects.



He further said that the State is also making significant progress in the production of Green Hydrogen. The first facility, in collaboration with Oil India Limited (OIL), is underway and discussions with private investors for more such facilities are ongoing.



The CM said that as part of the States efforts to promote electric vehicles (EVs), 1,500 buses from the State Transport Corporations fleet of 3,200 buses will be replaced with electric buses over the next two to three years. He said that the government is also transitioning its own fleet of diesel and petrol vehicles to electric. Additionally, six major National Highways have been developed as green corridors for EVs. Under the Rajiv Gandhi Startup Yojana, unemployed youth are being provided with a 50 percent grant to purchase EV taxis and buses, ensuring the deployment of environment-friendly vehicles within government services.
As the Delhi Assembly elections approach, the BJP and Congress are placing the issue of pollution at the forefront of their campaigns, while also highlighting concerns like corruption, water shortages, and poor infrastructure. Both opposition parties aim to use these issues to challenge the ruling AAP in the upcoming polls, which are slated to be held in February, 2025.

The BJP and Congress have been constantly criticizing AAP for the deteriorating air quality in Delhi and the toxic froth seen in the Yamuna River. With AAP having held power in the Capital since 2015, both parties are eager to turn the tide.

The Congress, which failed to secure any seats in the last two elections despite a strong history in the city, is looking to regain its footing.

Meanwhile, the BJP hopes to break its 26-year streak without power in the national Capital.

The BJPs central leadership on Tuesday met with its Delhi unit to review election preparations and fine-tune its campaign strategy. Alongside relying on Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal, the party plans to make pollution one of its key issues. According to a party source, as campaigning ramps up in the winter months, worsening air quality will play a significant role in their attack on AAP.

Congress, under the leadership of Delhi unit chief Devender Yadav, is set to launch an aggressive campaign called the Delhi Nyay Yatra on November 8.

The campaign is modeled after Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra.The yatra will kick off at Rajghat and is seen as an effort to reconnect with the people of Delhi. It is expected that senior Congress leader and Raebareli MP Rahul Gandhi will join the yatra in its first phase that will start from Rajghat. Apart from Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi, who is eyeing on the Wayanad seat which was left vacant, is also expected to join the yatra. Additionally, senior leaders from different states of the party will also make an appearance in the campaign which is expected to rekindle the disconnection between the citizens of Delhi and the party leadership.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra did prove to be a game changer for Rahul Gandhi and we are hoping that it has the same impact in Delhi. It is expected that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will also join the yatra.

However, the exact date is not decided yet. Also different leaders from across India will also likely make an appearance in the constituencies that are best suited according to the demographic, a senior party leader said.

The Congress has also initiated a public consultation process for its manifesto, seeking suggestions from citizens.

For Congress, pollution is a significant election issue. The party is reminding voters of Sheila Dikshits 15-year tenure, during which Delhi saw improvements in public transportation, the metro system, and pollution control, as well as the transformation of government schools. Congress leaders argue that under AAPs governance, Delhi has deteriorated, with unfulfilled promises and rampant corruption damaging the citys progress.
Hitting the campaign trail in poll-bound Budhni, a host of top Congress leaders on Tuesday participated in electioneering at Bhairunda and Rehti areas of the constituency and sought support for party candidate Rajkumar Patel.

The party brass, including AICC General Secretary in charge for Madhya Pradesh, Jitendra Singh, MPCC chief Jitu Patwari, former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijay Singh, former Union MoS Arun Yadav, and former state minister Sajjan Singh Verma, addressed Congress workers and the public as part of the campaign schedule.

In his address, Jitendra Singh appealed to voters to defeat the BJP, which he said only deceives the public with lies and misleads them to secure votes.

Once they get the votes, they forget the promises made to the people.He described the party candidate, Rajkumar Patel, as a true soldier of Congress, stressed his local roots, and promised that his victory would definitely result in development in the area.

State Congress unit chief Jitu Patwari said that Budhni used to be a stronghold of Congress, where the Congress symbol  the hand  would always win. In later years, the people of Budhni voted for Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the vain hope for development, jobs, and roads. "But ask the people here, did even 20 people get jobs? Did roads get built?" he questioned.Persisting with the attack on the ruling party, Patwari questioned the BJP over its unfulfilled promises.

He raised several issues, including the MSP for soya, wheat, and paddy farmers, and the prices of LPG gas for housewives.

Targeting BJP candidate Ramakant Bhargava, Patwari said that the former bank employee had ruined the bank and cast doubts over his candidature while insinuating that he was a proxy for the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister.

Patwari said that Budhnis single seat does not even count for the BJPs health, but the people of Budhni can save democracy by voting for the Congress party.

Former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh said that the BJP never acts on its promises. Whether at the state level or the national level, an atmosphere of lawlessness prevails. Women are not safe in the state, farmers are being cheated, and the future of the youth is being toyed with.

Former Union Minister Arun Yadav said that although "Shaurya Dwar" (Gateways of Bravery) have been built at various places in Budhni, he couldnt even tell if there were roads or just potholes."After 20 years of being the Chief Minister, Chouhan hasnt developed Budhni; he has only developed himself," he claimed.
A fresh controversy has erupted in Punjab following a recent directive by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) which bans Sikh employees at Indian airports from wearing the kirpan due to security concerns. Issued on October 30, this order has raised significant protests, with prominent religious and political figures condemning it as a violation of religious freedom.

The directive, which was communicated to airport staff just a day prior, has ignited widespread outrage. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), known as Sikhs mini parliament, on Wednesday condemned the directives barring Amritdhari Sikh employees from wearing religious symbols, including the kirpan, while on duty at airports.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami called the move discriminatory, stating that it infringes on religious rights and undermines Sikh contributions to Indias independence. He described the decision as a push against Sikhs and a violation of their religious rights.

In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, he urged the Government to revoke the order immediately, asserting that such policies disrespect the Sikh community and its sacrifices. Dhami emphasized the importance of respecting religious freedom in Indias diverse society.

The Government of India should remember the sacrifices Sikhs made for the countrys freedom. It is disheartening to see the very community that fought for this nation facing such discrimination on its own soil, he said, adding that policies infringing on religious sentiments should be avoided, and governments should uphold respect for the diverse faiths within the nation.

Takht Sri Damdama Sahib jathedar (high priest) Giani Harpreet Singh also voiced his strong opposition to the order, stating that the kirpan is a sacred symbol in Sikhism, representing both spiritual and physical readiness.

He argued that forbidding Sikh employees from wearing it while on duty violates their constitutional rights to practice their faith. He further emphasized that such decisions had previously caused distress within the Sikh community, and he called for a more respectful handling of religious symbols.

The controversy is not just confined to religious circles. Youth Akali Dal (YAD) president Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer has also criticized the BCAS order, describing it as an attack on Sikh identity and an infringement on the religious freedoms guaranteed under Indias Constitution.

Jhinjer urged both the Civil Aviation Ministry and the BCAS to revoke the directive, asserting that the kirpan is one of the five articles of faith (the Five Ks) central to Sikhism, and banning it would only perpetuate religious discrimination.

This is not the first time that Sikh religious symbols have been at the center of airport-related controversies. In 2022, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a similar order prohibiting Sikh employees from carrying kirpans at airports. After facing backlash, including from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Ministry had to retract its decision.

Historical incidents further highlighted the sensitivity of this issue. In 2017, farmer leaders traveling through Delhi Airport were stopped from boarding their flight due to their kirpans, with security citing safety concerns. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, sparking protests from the Sikh community, which claimed that such restrictions are rooted in a broader pattern of intolerance.

Religious groups, along with political and social organizations, are also questioning the need for such directives. The Amritsar Vikas Manch and Fly Amritsar Initiative have stressed that while security is paramount, it must not come at the cost of religious freedom. They argued that any policy should strike a balance between safety concerns and the rights of individuals to freely practice their religion.

In line with current regulations, Sikh passengers are allowed to carry kirpans on domestic flights within India, provided that the length of the kirpan does not exceed 23 cm (nine inches) and the blade is no longer than 15 cm (six inches). However, the new order barring Sikh employees from wearing the kirpan, while on duty, has only fueled further debate.

As the controversy continues to unfold, the Sikh community and its supporters are demanding that the government and aviation authorities rethink their stance, respecting both security protocols and religious freedoms.
Jharkhand Congress Minority Department Secretary Shahzad Qureshi has requested the Election Commission to bar Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning in the Jharkhand Assembly elections. According to Qureshi, Sarma has repeatedly used inflammatory language that targets a specific community, violating the spirit of fair campaigning.

Qureshi alleged that Sarma has been making baseless and misleading statements about "infiltration," using unverified data to mislead voters. "Since the 2011 census, no new census has taken place, yet he is presenting fabricated statistics to create confusion among people," Qureshi said.

He further accused the Assam CM of spreading communal tensions to gain political advantage, arguing that such statements openly violate the Model Code of Conduct. In his appeal to the Election Commission, Qureshi urged for immediate action to ensure fair and peaceful elections by restricting Sarmas participation in the campaign.

"For a neutral and peaceful election process, the Election Commission should take steps to ban Sarmas campaigning and initiate appropriate action," Qureshi stated.
Under its zero-tolerance policy towards crime, the Uttar Pradesh government is not only apprehending criminals but also ensuring they face proper justice by strengthening prosecution efforts in court through effective advocacy. Over 80,000 criminals have been brought to justice so far, thanks to robust advocacy, with modern technology playing a crucial role.

The prosecution department has made significant strides in securing convictions by utilising tools such as video conferencing, e-reporting systems, mafia management system monitoring, the e-office system, and the e-prosecution portal.

The prosecution department is now using video conferencing to record statements from police officers, government employees, and other officials directly at their place of residence or workplace, in accordance with the Indian Civil Code-2023.

This approach has streamlined both administrative and police systems, while also saving government time and resources.

As of October 17, the department has recorded testimony from 4,450 police officers and government witnesses via video conferencing.

This initiative, which has been implemented across five districts in just four months, has already saved Rs 15 lakh, with projected annual savings expected to reach Rs 7 crore.

Moreover, this technology-driven approach has accelerated the prosecution process, ensuring quicker convictions and enhanced witness security.

The prosecution department has also gathered strong evidence against criminals through its e-reporting system, which uses data analytics.

A data profile for each case is now created and recorded in the computer system, eliminating errors and ambiguities.

In addition, the review of prosecution-related work has become more efficient through an app that is connected to the CM Dashboard (Darpan 2.0).

This system has made high-level reviews of various cases much easier.

The day-to-day progress and proceedings of cases related to the identified mafia are being closely supervised through the mafia management system monitoring app at the directorate level.

The directorate has adopted a 100% paperless system, ensuring timely proceedings through the e-office system.

Furthermore, in the first phase, a target has been set to connect 18 regional additional director prosecution offices and 18 joint director prosecution offices to the e-office system within the next three months.

The directorate is continuously feeding data related to judicial proceedings through the e-prosecution portal.

To date, data for more than 75 lakh judicial proceedings has been entered into the portal as of September 2024.

In addition, Uttar Pradesh has maintained its position as the top state in the country for feeding data into the e-prosecution portal for the past three years2021, 2022, and 2023.

Special training is being provided to officers and employees to improve their advocacy skills and ensure criminals are punished effectively.

This training includes guidance on the use of new technical equipment and software, increasing the capacity of prosecution officers to perform their responsibilities more accurately and effectively.
In a significant move to strengthen Uttar Pradeshs forensic capabilities, the Yogi Adityanath government has fast-tracked the construction of a state-of-the-art forensic science laboratory in Lucknow.

This cutting-edge facility, designed as a 7-storey complex (B+S+5) with a basement, will cover a built-up area of 20,572.80 square metres at an estimated cost of Rs 87.50 crore.

The EPC cell of the Planning department has been entrusted with overseeing the project, and work has commenced on the detailed project report, architectural design and other critical assessments. Notably, this facility will be built on land provided by the UP State Forensic Institute and connect to the Lucknow-Kanpur highway via Ranipur road.

Under Chief Minister Yogis vision, this forensic lab is being designed with a forward-looking approach to meet future needs. Located 20 kilometres from Charbagh railway station, the complex will be solar-powered and will feature a range of facilities, including an underground tank, incinerator, compost plant, acoustic wall paneling, gas-based fire fighting system, DG set, electric sub-station, and landscaped grounds.

Advanced amenities like high-capacity lifts, HVAC systems, VRV and VRF systems, an IP-based EPABX system, IP-based CCTV, and an audio-visual system will ensure a modern infrastructure. This lab will significantly enhance criminal and other investigative processes.

The EPC cell of the Planning department has already initiated the construction process, with a detailed action plan in place. The entire project is set to be completed in 18 months.

A master plan, to be finalised within 90 days, will include a comprehensive project report covering architectural design, topography, site survey, and sub-soil analysis. Renowned institutions like IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Roorkee, IIT-BHU and NIT-Prayagraj will lend their expertise to ensure the facility meets the highest standards.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will unveil a towering 20 feet metal statue of Birsa Munda weighing 3,000 kg at his 150th Birth Anniversary at the entrance of Baansera Park on Ring Road on November 15.

The statue is being installed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on the same day, which is being celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas across the country. A statement by the authority said, After the Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Birsa Munda in a befitting manner, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had decided on getting this statue installed.

It added, Its strategic location at a site where the Ring Road, RRTS Station, ISBT, Nizamuddin Railway and Metro Station, NH-24, Barapullah Flyover and DND Flyway converge to form a multi-modal transport hub, will ensure that lakhs of visitors and travellers get an opportunity to see the towering statue.

Largely unsung till now in these parts of the country, the installation of the statue of Birsa Munda in the National Capital itself, will provide an opportunity to the people to learn about his pioneering contribution towards Indias struggle for independence, upholding of tribal rights and forest conservation amongst others, the statement said.

An official said that the statue has been crafted by two experienced sculptors from West Bengal, who have been trained in fine arts. Their craftsmanship has ensured liveliness in its entire form, it said.
PGI to holds its annual conference of GI Oncology society-GIOS 2024 on Nov 8

Chandigarh: GI Oncology Society and the Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology PGIMER Chandigarh will organize the annual conference of the GI Oncology society-GIOS 2024 from November 8 November 10 2024. The Organizing Chairman of the conference, Prof Rakesh Kapoor said that the theme of the conference is Bridging Horizons: Integrative Approaches to Upper Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Pancreaticobiliary Malignancies. This conference is planned for the first time where all the stakeholders involved in the diagnosis, management and prevention of upper GI cancers are involved. Dr Kapoor further said that more than 300 delegates including renowned international and national faculty will participate and deliberate on various topics related to upper GI Cancers. The galaxy of eminent scientists from Oxford Cancer Centre UK, VelindreUniversity - UK, Duke University - NHS Singapore, Khon KaenUniversity Thailand as well as eminent faculty from India in the field of Surgical Oncology, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Gastroenterology, Immunohistopathology as well as molecular pathology will dwell upon the current issues and the controversies related to the management of GI Cancers, he added.

Hry CM grants Rs 2673.62 lakh for water supply & sewerage infrastructure in villages of Rohtak



Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday granted administrative approval for Rs 2673.62 lakh to further enhance the water supply and sewerage infrastructure in Baniyani, Kharenti, Jassia and other villages in Rohtak district. This approval is granted under the Rural Augmentation Water Supply Programme for the financial year 2024-25. Public Health Engineering Minister Ranbir Gangwa said that in Baniyani, a new RCC water storage tank and a 1 MLD water treatment plant will be constructed, along with arrangements for pumping raw water from the canal, at an estimated cost of Rs 430.26 lakh. Similar arrangements for pumping raw water from the canal will be made for both Kharenti and Lakhan Majra. This project includes the construction of an RCC storage and supply tank as well as the laying of an internal distribution system in village Kharenti. A sum of Rs 1084.23 lakh would be incurred on these development works.



Develop new industrial townships in industrially backward blocks C and D: Hry Minister asks officials



Chandigarh: Haryana Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Wednesday directed officials to streamline the process for starting industries and obtaining all necessary permissions, aiming to encourage the establishment of more industries in the state and boost employment. He said that there is no better state than Haryana for setting up industries in the country and emphasized the need to develop new industrial townships in the industrially backward blocks C and D. Chairing a review meeting with senior officials from HSIIDC and the Industries and Commerce Department to discuss departmental operations, he stressed that manufacturing entrepreneurs, rather than mere investors, should be encouraged to establish themselves in HSIIDC's industrial townships and estates. He highlighted the importance of initiating production promptly, as many investors often leave industrial plots vacant, hindering timely development.



Officers asked to meet 100-day target & submit progress report: Shruti Choudhry



Chandigarh: Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Department Minister Shruti Choudhry on Wednesday directed the officers to expedite the development works and submit their progress report swiftly. Presiding over a meeting with the concerned officers, Choudhry said that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has set a target of 100 days for the completion of the developmental works and for the submission of the progress report. The Minister emphasised the importance of not only cleaning and maintaining of the canal but also the consistent water supply through canals. She said that officers should tell her without any hesitation the challenges faced by them while executing the plans on ground level. During the meeting, she also reviewed the status of projects with budgets exceeding Rs.10 crore. She further stated that officers should work swiftly to promote new technologies such as micro-irrigation at the state level to ensure effective water supply to fields. She further stated the need for coordination among different departments to ensure that public funds are used effectively without wastage due to lack of synchronisation.



CCTV Cameras to be installed at all Ration Depots in Hry: Minister

Chandigarh: Instructing the concerned officials to install CCTV cameras at all ration depots in the State, Haryana Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Rajesh Nagar on Wednesday said that all depot holders in the state should distribute rations as promptly as possible. Action will be taken against those depot holders who deliberately delay distribution. Any irregularities in the distribution of rations to the underprivileged will not be tolerated, he warned. Nagar said this after presiding over a meeting with senior officials from the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department here in Chandigarh, spanning from the district level to headquarters. Additional Chief Secretary Dr Sumita Misra was also present on this occasion. The Minister reviewed all departmental activities during his inaugural meeting and instructed officials to ensure that no eligible poor person is deprived of their rights. He urged officials to cooperate in delivering the proper quantity of rations to the underprivileged through AAY and BPL cards in a timely manner. Additionally, he warned officials who protect errant depot holders that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty upon receiving complaints.



Complete works on time: Hry Cabinet Minister direct officials

Chandigarh: Haryana Cabinet Minister Vipul Goel on Wednesday directed the officials not to be negligent in work and complete the development works on time. There should be no compromise on quality in development works and action should be taken against the concerned official if the work is not completed on time, he added. After holding a meeting with officials of the Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA), the Minister said, Our aim is to take Faridabad further by completing the development works on time and providing maximum facilities to the general public. The minister instructed the officials to expedite the development works related to roads in the meeting. Daily efficiency should be increased to complete the works so that Faridabad residents do not face inconvenience in commuting. Every officer should visit the concerned area to know the persisting problems in order to resolve them. He also reviewed the development works related to multi-level parking, the Minister added.
A prisoner lodged in Bhopal Central Jail attacked an ISIS-supported prisoner by hitting him on the head with a handcuff, incident took place at 7.30 am on Tuesday. An FIR has been registered in the Gandhinagar police station in the case.

Prisoner Rajesh has committed such crimes inside the jail earlier as well. He attacked prisoner Shahid. Shahid was arrested by the NIA from Jabalpur in June 2023 on charges of links with ISIS.

According to the police, Rajesh and Shahid were lodged in the mental ward of the jail. Here they are kept chained. Shahid did not suffer serious head injury in the attack. The negligence of the jail administration has also come to the fore. Shahid was taken to Hamidia Hospital for treatment without Hawk-Force and security arrangements.

Both the prisoners are said to be mentally ill. In the morning, Rajesh saw the opportunity and hit Shahid on the head with a handcuff. However, Shahid did not suffer serious injury in this incident. The incident happened at 7.30 in the morning. Rajesh is serving a sentence in jail under section 302. He injured Shahid while he was taking a bath in the morning. A case of assault has been registered.
In a fiery campaign rally on Tuesday in Jharkhands Koderma, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on the JMM-led coalition government in the state, accusing it of fostering corruption and protecting mafia activities and allowing infiltration.

Adityanath urged voters to bring the BJP to power, promising a crackdown akin to that in Uttar Pradesh.

The JMM-led coalition is patronising the mafia in sectors such as land, sand, forest, mining, and liquor. Like UP, bring the BJP to power in Jharkhand to bulldoze the mafia, the CM said.

At another rally in Jamshedpur, Adityanath accused the JMM of allowing Bangladeshi infiltrators into the state, claiming they are involved in love jihad and land jihad. He also alleged a conspiracy to change Jharkhands demography and said.

The growing Rohingya infiltration in Jharkhand is changing the states demography. If this continues, those who are blocking processions today may not allow the sound of bells and conches in homes tomorrow. Unite under BJPs leadership, ensure a safe Ram Navami Yatra, and protect your traditions. History has shown that whenever we are divided along caste, regional, or linguistic lines, we have suffered greatly, he added.

Yogi urged the people to assert their strength, suggesting that if they stand united, stone-pelters would clear the roads for you and Bajrangi Pataka would proudly wave on every home.

Appealing to the people of Jharkhand to resist divisions based on caste, region, and language, CM Yogi Adityanath remarked, Those who divide in such ways are the same people who will not stand by you in times of crisis. Since 1947, Congress has inflicted wounds on the country; RJD did the same in Bihar, and JMM in Jharkhand.

Adityanath didnt spare the Congress, accusing the party of obstructing the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Ram Lalla now sits in that temple after 500 years. The consecration has paved the way for Mathura and other temples, he said, emphasising the BJPs commitment to religious and national pride. He contrasted this with the BJPs governance.

Highlighting PM Modis leadership, Yogi said: PM Modi abrogated Article 370 from Kashmir. Under his regime, nations like Pakistan now claim India is a threat, and Chinese forces have been pushed back.

Adityanath appealed to voters to bring a double-engine government for rapid development. He cited the BJPs victory in Haryana as a testament to the partys governance, where it won 48 of 90 seats.

The UP chief minister campaigned for BJP candidates Neera Yadav (Koderma) and Amit Yadav (Barkatha), reinforcing the BJPs promise of development, security, and good governance. Jharkhands assembly elections are scheduled for November 13 and 20, with counting on November 23.




A city court has sentenced a juvenile to rigorous imprisonment of 10 years for raping a 10-year-old girl in 2017, saying he could not be released at the present stage and required reformation. Observing that there was "absolute chaos, confusion and uncertainty" regarding the role of various officers in rehabilitating the children in conflict of law (CCL), the court also directed the Delhi government to issue a standing order to address various concerns regarding juvenile cases.

Additional Sessions Judge Susheel Bala Dagar was hearing the arguments on sentencing against the juvenile, who was earlier convicted under Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was also convicted of the penal offence of kidnapping.

According to the prosecution, the child in conflict with law who was around 17 years old at the time of committing the offence forcibly took the victim to his house and raped her on June 4, 2017. In its verdict pronounced on Tuesday, the court after considering the mitigating and aggravating circumstances sentenced the child in conflict with law to 10 years rigorous imprisonment under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and seven years rigorous imprisonment for the offence of kidnapping.

The court said the sentences would run concurrently.The court also awarded Rs 10.5 lakh compensation to the victim.

Meanwhile, the court while castigating the authorities concerned said that despite the juvenile staying in an observational home for 79 days, his Individual Care Plan (ICP) and rehabilitation card were not prepared nor did any probation officer work on the case after his release on bail.

"This demonstrates the failure of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) system and non-adherence to the legal provisions of the JJ Act and JJ Model Rules. Perfunctory reports in the name of ICP and periodic review have been submitted from time to time on the initiative of the court and they are of limited value because they are not a product of any rehabilitative process...," the court said.

The court said that there was "absolute chaos, confusion and uncertainty" regarding the roles of the various officers in implementing the scheme of rehabilitating CCLs.

"There seems to be no role clarity and neither here appears to be any attention accorded to such matters at the operational level," the court said. The court directed the secretary of Delhi government's women and child development (WCD) to issue a detailed standing order to address "operational difficulties, issues of non-compliance with the provisions of JJ Act and its rules, procedural ambiguities, suitability of various forms and reports etc. And other issues of concerns pertaining to cases of CCL coming before children's courts".

Citing the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, the court noted that when a CCL was being tried as an adult offender, the court had to determine whether the juvenile had been reformed at the time of passing the final order, and that a reformed CCL could be released at the age of 21 years based on the reformations. According to the act, while sentencing a CCL, reformation and rehabilitation were prime concerns and the court was not required to provide a maximum sentence.

"Keeping in view the facts and circumstances and as per the earlier reports received from the concerned superintendents, the CCL has not undergone any correctional therapies for his reformation and rehabilitation nor undergone any vocational courses or continued his studiesThe CCL cannot be released, rather he requires reformation," the court said.

Staff Reporter n New Delhi

A city court has sentenced a juvenile to rigorous imprisonment of 10 years for raping a 10-year-old girl in 2017, saying he could not be released at the present stage and required reformation. Observing that there was "absolute chaos, confusion and uncertainty" regarding the role of various officers in rehabilitating the children in conflict of law (CCL), the court also directed the Delhi government to issue a standing order to address various concerns regarding juvenile cases.

Additional Sessions Judge Susheel Bala Dagar was hearing the arguments on sentencing against the juvenile, who was earlier convicted under Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was also convicted of the penal offence of kidnapping.

According to the prosecution, the child in conflict with law who was around 17 years old at the time of committing the offence forcibly took the victim to his house and raped her on June 4, 2017. In its verdict pronounced on Tuesday, the court after considering the mitigating and aggravating circumstances sentenced the child in conflict with law to 10 years rigorous imprisonment under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and seven years rigorous imprisonment for the offence of kidnapping.

The court said the sentences would run concurrently.The court also awarded Rs 10.5 lakh compensation to the victim.

Meanwhile, the court while castigating the authorities concerned said that despite the juvenile staying in an observational home for 79 days, his Individual Care Plan (ICP) and rehabilitation card were not prepared nor did any probation officer work on the case after his release on bail.

"This demonstrates the failure of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) system and non-adherence to the legal provisions of the JJ Act and JJ Model Rules. Perfunctory reports in the name of ICP and periodic review have been submitted from time to time on the initiative of the court and they are of limited value because they are not a product of any rehabilitative process...," the court said.

The court said that there was "absolute chaos, confusion and uncertainty" regarding the roles of the various officers in implementing the scheme of rehabilitating CCLs.

"There seems to be no role clarity and neither here appears to be any attention accorded to such matters at the operational level," the court said. The court directed the secretary of Delhi government's women and child development (WCD) to issue a detailed standing order to address "operational difficulties, issues of non-compliance with the provisions of JJ Act and its rules, procedural ambiguities, suitability of various forms and reports etc. And other issues of concerns pertaining to cases of CCL coming before children's courts".

Citing the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, the court noted that when a CCL was being tried as an adult offender, the court had to determine whether the juvenile had been reformed at the time of passing the final order, and that a reformed CCL could be released at the age of 21 years based on the reformations. According to the act, while sentencing a CCL, reformation and rehabilitation were prime concerns and the court was not required to provide a maximum sentence.

"Keeping in view the facts and circumstances and as per the earlier reports received from the concerned superintendents, the CCL has not undergone any correctional therapies for his reformation and rehabilitation nor undergone any vocational courses or continued his studiesThe CCL cannot be released, rather he requires reformation," the court said.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, on Tuesday, said the Supreme Courts verdict on the madrasa law in Uttar Pradesh would end the controversy over education imparted in such institutes and the uncertainty surrounding them.

In view of the decision of the Supreme Court, there is a possibility of madrasas getting recognition, especially in Uttar Pradesh, and stability in their smooth functioning, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh said.

In a post on X in Hindi, the BSP supremo said, Welcoming the decision of the Honble Supreme Court today declaring the UP Madrasa Education Board Act, 2004 as valid and constitutional. This will surely end the controversy over madrasa education in UP and the uncertainty of thousands of madrasas.>

Its proper implementation is essential, she added.

The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Law, 2004 and set aside an Allahabad High Court verdict quashing it on the grounds of being violative of the principle of secularism.

The BSP chief also welcomed the Supreme Courts decision on private properties.

The decision of the 9-judge bench of the Supreme Court to not consider every private property as a part of community property under Article 39 (B) of the Constitution and to prevent its acquisition is also welcome, the former chief minister of UP said.

Until now the government had the right to acquire all private properties for the common good. In a majority 7:2 ruling, the Supreme Court held that states are not empowered under the Constitution to take over all privately-owned resources for distribution to serve the common good.

Meanwhile, the BSP released the list of its star campaigners on Tuesday for the by-elections to be held on nine seats of the UP assembly. It includes 40 names, including BSP supremo Mayawati and Satish Chandra Mishra.

These maharathis will campaign for the victory of BSP in the by-elections.

By-elections are to be held for Ghaziabad, Mirpur, Kundarki, Khair, Karhal, Sismau, Phulpur, Katehari, Majhawan constituencies of UP assembly. Voting for these seats was earlier scheduled on November 13. But, on Monday, the Election Commission of India extended the date of voting on all these seats by a week. Now voting will be held on these nine seats on November 20. The BSP is contesting all these seats on its own.
As the city's air quality continued to languish in the very poor category for the seventh consecutive day, the Central for Science and Environment (CSE) on Wednesday claimed that the mobility crisis is behind the pollution in Delhi. This means vehicular emission is the top contributor to Delhi's pollution during winter season--more than stubble burning, road dust or bursting of firecrackers -- with over 50 per cent of pollution from local sources linked to the city's fragmented transportation system. An estimated 1.1 million vehicles enter and exit Delhi daily, further worsening the air quality. The traffic caused by this vehicle influx intensifies pollution, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOx), which account for 81 per cent of NOx pollution in Delhi.

Even after implementing the largest ever CNG programme for the public transport and local commercial transport, phasing out of 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles, restrictions on entry of non-destined trucks, introduction of Bharat Stage 6 emissions standards, and onset of the fleet electrification, vehicles are still the key polluter due to the growing mobility crisis", according to a data presented by the CSE.

According to data presented by the CSE, local pollution sources in Delhi account for 30.34 per cent of the city's air pollution (50.1 per cent of which is contributed through transportation), while 34.97 per cent originates from the neighbouring NCR districts and 27.94 per cent from other areas. Stubble burning contributes only 8.19 per cent to Delhi's pollution levels.

As per data, even though the long term PM2.5 levels have shown a downward trend, since 2022 the annual levels have remained and even shown an upward trend. The annual PM2.5 levels show an improvement of 7 per cent in 2023 when compared to the 2019 levels. Delhi requires another 60 per cent reduction to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5. Similar trend is reflected in the winter pollution, even though the winter peaks have declined the average level for the winter months have stayed elevated and also seen an increase. These data points are based on the CSE's analysis from different bodies, including the IITM, TERI-ARAI, CPCB's real-time air quality data and traffic data from Google map, among others.

Currently, public transport in Delhi is costly for the users, with around 50 per cent of public transport users spending 18 per cent of their annual income on transit, compared to 12 per cent for private vehicle owners. The CSE highlighted the need for an integrated transportation system focused on improving public transport to address these issues.

Despite the demand, Delhi's public transport system remains inadequate. Although the city has added buses, reaching 7,683 buses (including 1,970 electric buses) by July 2024, it still falls short of the Supreme Court's 1998 directive to deploy 10,000 buses. Currently, Delhi operates about 45 buses per lakh population, below the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' benchmark of 60 buses per lakh population. Bus breakdowns are also on the rise, with cases increasing from 781 in 2018-19 to 1,259 in 2022-23. Bus ridership, despite increasing, remains 25 per cent lower than pre-pandemic levels for DTC buses and seven per cent lower for cluster buses. Meanwhile, metro ridership has shown some recovery, though counting methods were revised in 2019-20 to reflect the number of corridors used instead of unique trips by commuters.

Data shows that during peak traffic hours (5 PM - 9 PM), when average traffic speed drops to 15 km/h, NO2 levels are 2.3 times higher than noon levels (12 PM - 4 PM) when traffic speed averages 21 km/h. These congestion-related emissions worsen air quality, especially during winter when inversion layers trap pollutants close to the ground. To achieve its clean air targets, Delhi must reduce emissions by 62 per cent. However, urban sprawl has increased travel distances, while public transport usage continues to decline, with a 20 per cent drop in bus travel over the past decade.

The high cost of congestion affects Delhi's workforce, with unskilled workers losing an estimated Rs 7,500 to Rs 20,100 annually and skilled workers Rs 9,900 to Rs 26,600 due to traffic delays, amounting to 4 to 12 per cent of their income.

The PM2.5 winter peak has reduced by almost 35 per cent in 2023-24 compared to the 2019-20 level but the average PM2.5 concentration has almost stagnated and is the highest in the last 5 years. In the last five years, the winter average of PM2.5 concentration was the highest in 2023-24 at 189 g/m3. There is a 9 per cent increase in the winter average concentration in 2023-24 compared to 2019-20. This upward trend needs immediate action. This reflects elevated levels of pollution and high impact of atmospheric conditions.

The cost of congestion extends beyond delays to include loss of productivity and fuels. Sparse indicative assessments are available for Delhi.Yearly fuel waste cost due to congestion was estimated by the University of Leeds at USD 1.6 million in 2010 in in 2013. IIT Madras projected in 2015 that by 2025, USD12,003 million, and by 2030, USD 14,658 million will be the cost of congestion in Delhi, which includes productivity loss, air pollution loss and damage cost, it said.
Amritsar Commissionerate Police has dealt a significant blow to the gangster-narco nexus, busting a trans-border narcotic smuggling operation. Three drug smugglers were arrested, and a substantial haul of narcotics, including one kg of ICE (Methamphetamine) and one kg of heroin, was recovered from their possession, confirmed the state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Wednesday.

The arrested individuals, Karandeep Singh (22), Jeewan Singh (19), and Manjinder Singh (21), were detained in Amritsar with their vehicle, a Toyota Etios, impounded by authorities. Preliminary investigations revealed Karandeeps extensive connections with Pakistan-based drug smugglers.

DGP Yadav shared that Karandeep Singh, who had lived in Dubai and Moscow for six years, returned to Punjab and made contact with Pakistan-based smugglers through social media platforms. These smugglers have reportedly been using drones to smuggle narcotics into India across the border. In addition, the investigation has uncovered that Karandeep was in touch with notorious foreign-based gangster Gurdev alias Jaisal, a key figure linked to the Canada-based terrorists Lakhbir alias Landa and Satbir Singh alias Satta, known for their involvement in violent activities in Punjab, including the RPG attack on Police Station Sarhali, and targetted killings.

Amritsar Commissioner of Police (CP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar explained that the breakthrough came after the police team, led by the CIA Staff-1 team under DCP Investigation Harpreet Singh Mander, acted swiftly on a tip-off, leading to the interception of the three accused near Puli Sua on Ajnala road. Police believe that this is just the beginning, with further arrests and drug recoveries expected in the coming days.

DGP Yadav confirmed that further investigations are underway to uncover more linkages within the smuggling network, with additional arrests expected soon. A case under the sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at the Police Station Airport, Amritsar.
The Punjab Raj Bhavan on Monday celebrated the Foundation Day of Punjab and Chandigarh. On this occasion, the foundation day of the states of Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and UTs Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Puducherry was also celebrated.



The celebration highlighted Indias vibrant cultures, diverse languages, rich histories, and enduring traditions, which form the foundation of our nations strength and resilience.



On the occasion, students from the Post Graduate Government College for Girls-11 presented Shiv Stuti, Giddha and Luddi while the students of Chandigarh University performed Haryanvi dance, Mohiniyattam and Bhangra. Performances on Bharatnatyam and Tamil folk by the Chandigarh Tamil Sangam and Karnataka Mahabharat performance by Kannad Sangha Chandigarh also enthralled the audience.



Speaking on the occasion, Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Union Territory, Chandigarh said that "Unity in Diversity" is the identity of India, which has been formed by the rich history of freedom struggle and cultural development based on the principles of diverse language, culture, religion, non-violence and justice. The spirit of mutual understanding of the people enables unity in diversity, which comes out as a flame of nationalism and it needs to be nurtured in the future also.



Kataria remarked that now the Statehood Day has now become as special as the national festival. He said that the celebration of State Foundation Days in Punjab Raj Bhavan since the last one year, is a symbol of our countrys social, economic and cultural development which inspires us to walk on the path of unity, self-pride and progress. All the states of the country are blessed with a great culture and hardworking people who have contributed to national progress in various fields. He said that this country is one from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Any soldier who lays down his life for the country, is a martyr and hero of whole country, irrespective of the state he was born in. On this occasion, the Governor called upon all to work unitedly to participate in the progress of the state and the nation.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attended a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA), inaugurated a beautification project and laid the foundation stone for the construction of roads in his parliamentary constituency here in Uttar Pradesh.

Gandhi, who maintained a distance with the media during his visit, later said in a post on Facebook that the people of Rae Bareli told him about their problems with full authority.

On the way to Rae Bareli, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha paid obeisance at a Hanuman temple at Churwa and met party workers.

Soon after his arrival in Rae Bareli, Gandhi inaugurated a beautification project undertaken by the municipal corporation in Rae Bareli at the Degree College intersection.

Subsequently, the Congress leader later laid the foundation stone for road-construction projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and then attended the DISHA meeting.

The meeting focused on various public welfare issues, including schemes such as MGNREGA, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and others, officials said.

Gandhi presided over the meeting with administrative officials. A blueprint for the development of the district was prepared at the meeting and central schemes were reviewed.

This was Gandhis first meeting with local officials since becoming an MP.

According to the Union Ministry for Rural Development, DISHAs were formed to ensure better coordination among members of Parliament, state legislatures and local governments. Gandhi left for Lucknow after the meeting.

In his Facebook post in Hindi, the Congress leader said: No matter how old my relationship with Rae Bareli is, it deepens every time I visit the place. All the people of the area have given me a lot of love and told me about their problems with full authority.

As an MP, while presiding over the first DISHA committee meeting of Rae Bareli, I discussed the problems and progress of the entire area with all the public representatives and officials. I also unveiled the newly-constructed Shaheed Chowk and roads, he said.

Rae Bareli has honoured me by making me their voice  I am always eager to ensure their prosperity, fulfil their needs and solve their problems, he added.

Asked about Gandhis visit, Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma said central schemes of 52 departments were reviewed at the DISHA meeting, in which representatives of all the parties and block heads were also present.

Later, Uttar Pradesh minister Dinesh Pratap Singh showed a poster to reporters. In the poster, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader took potshots at Gandhi for spending less time in his constituency.

It has been more than six months, the MP (Gandhi) has not spent a night in his constituency, he said.

In the last six months, (Gandhi spent) only five hours. Then in five years, it will be 50 hours. It means in five years, only two days? the poster, titled Raebareli ke Rahulji, said, requesting the Congress leader to spend a night in his constituency.
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has entered into an academic collaboration with the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at its Corporate Office in New Delhi. This partnership will enable customized Management Development Programs for SAILs newly promoted executives, aimed at enhancing leadership capabilities.

As part of SAILs broader Learning & Development (L&D) strategy, this initiative seeks to offer executives enriched academic exposure and training to support their growth into higher roles. The ceremony was attended by KK Singh, Director (Personnel) and B.S Popli from SAIL and Nirmalya Bagchi, Director, ASCI, Hyderabad, marking a joint commitment to fostering professional excellence and managerial expertise.
A fortnight after the sensational killing of a college principal in Bhadohi, yet another principal was allegedly shot dead while on his way to school in the Majhola police station area of Moradabad district on Tuesday morning.

In a similar modus operandi, this incident was carried out by two assailants riding a motorcycle. As per reports, Sababul Hasan, who was the principal at a private school, was walking to his workplace from his house. Suddenly, two bike-borne accused appeared.

The one sitting behind the rider allegedly shot the principal in the head, causing him to fall to the ground. The entire incident was captured on CCTV footage from a nearby camera. The attack took place just a few metres from the school. After the shooting, the area was thrown into chaos.

Local residents rushed the principal to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

Upon receiving information about the murder, the police reached the scene and cordoned off the area.

Senior police officers, along with a forensic team, began their investigation. The police have formed several teams to identify and apprehend the attackers.

SP, City, Ranvijay Singh confirmed that the incident occurred at approximately 8 am on Tuesday.

Principal Sababul was on foot, heading to school from his home, when the assailants attacked. After the shooting, the culprits fled the scene. The police have intensified their investigation based on the CCTV footage and are optimistic about making arrests soon.

The school where the victim worked is owned by senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shammi Bhatnagar. It has also emerged that a case had been filed against Sababul Hasan a few days prior to the attack.

A family had accused the principal of mistreating a student, and the police are looking into this angle as part of their investigation.

It is worth noting that on October 29, Yogendra Bahadur Singh, the principal of National Inter College in Bhadohi district, was also shot dead by unidentified bike-borne assailants while he was on his way to college in his car.

The attackers had also punctured the tyres of his vehicle. Singh was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he was later declared dead.




Uttar Pradesh has claimed the nations top spot in the Veergatha Project 4.0, demonstrating exceptional achievement with over 45 lakh student nominations. Uttar Pradesh has surpassed Delhi, which once celebrated its achievements but now ranks second in this years project standings.

With this achievement, UP has set a new standard in the Veergatha Project, not only enhancing students respect for bravery but also fostering their creativity and motivation. Through this effort in the field of education, the state has achieved the nomination target of 45,24,559 students. UP has surpassed last years nomination of 39 lakh in the Veergatha Project 3.0, marking an increase of 6,24,559 this year. The data for this year indicates that every district has contributed to this increase in participation, making this success possible.

In the Veergatha Project 4.0, Delhi secured the second position with 18,08,556 nominations, and Bihar the third position with 13,91,187 nominations. Uttar Pradesh achieved this accomplishment with 27,16,003 more nominations than Delhi and 31,33,372 more nominations than Bihar.

The data indicates that this years enrolment is the highest ever, with all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh recording more enrolments compared to the previous year. Under the leadership of the Yogi Adityanath government, the state has not only set a new record by increasing participation across all its districts this year, but has also successfully established a distinct identity in the fields of bravery and inspiration nationwide.

According to the latest data, 18 districts of UP have secured positions among the 50 districts with the highest participation in the country. The leading districts in Uttar Pradesh include Pilibhit (2,92,756), Bulandshahr (2,68,852), Sant Kabir Nagar (2,35,934), Lakhimpur Kheri (1,32,414), Siddharthnagar (1,24,950), Hardoi (1,22,973) and Lucknow (1,19,908).

Additionally, Maharajganj (1,14,227), Prayagraj (1,12,041), and Varanasi (1,04,460) also made it to the list of the top 50 districts in the country.

The presence of UP is further reinforced by Chitrakoot (95,583), Sambhal (92,953), Unnao (89,358), Deoria (83,292), Bijnor (82,300), Rampur (79,180), Kanpur Dehat (78,641) and Muzaffarnagar (69,086) participation.

Minister of State for Basic Education (Independent Charge) Sandeep Singh stated that online nomination for the Veergatha Project 4.0 took place from September 16 to October 31, 2024. Students from classes 1 to 12 were invited to participate in creative activities based on bravery award winners, including poetry, essays, storytelling, painting and video competitions. This success was achieved through the participation of all schools across the state.

The Veergatha Project is a joint initiative of the Defence Ministry and the Union Education Ministry, launched in 2021 under the Gallantry Awards Portal (GAP). Its primary aim is to connect students with the inspiring stories of brave soldiers from the armed forces.
Addressing a massive gathering at Aam Bagan Maidan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged the people of Jharkhand to support the formation of a double engine government, a coalition of state and central BJP leadership similar to Haryanas model. Adityanath emphasized that this alignment was essential to drive Jharkhands growth and tackle ongoing issues of poverty, joblessness, and infrastructure needs.

Adityanath announced a series of pledges aimed at empowering women, youth, and the underprivileged if the NDA returns to power. Key promises included a monthly 2,100 stipend for women under the Gogo Didi scheme, filling 1.5 lakh government posts immediately upon taking office, and creating nearly 2.9 lakh jobs. He also vowed to provide housing for 21 lakh families under the PM Awas Yojana, give free sand for home construction, and provide graduate youth with an allowance of 2,000.

In a bid to make essential resources more affordable, Adityanath pledged free LPG cylinders for Diwali and Raksha Bandhan and promised subsidized LPG at 500 for all households under the proposed Laxmi Johar Yojana. He encouraged support for NDA candidates in Jamshedpur West, Jamshedpur East, Potka, and Jugsalai.

Yogi Adityanath criticized the incumbent government, warning against repeating the mistakes of five years ago. He claimed that Jharkhand is grappling with poverty and corruption under the current administration. He also raised concerns about demographic shifts in Santhal Pargana and alleged land jihad and love jihad incidents in the state. Adityanath warned that the current administration, which he labeled as the ghosts of destruction, serves narrow political agendas rather than development.

Elect NDA candidates, and bring a government focused on progress, not division, he urged, calling for Jharkhand to follow Haryanas lead in uniting state and central BJP administrations for effective governance.

Highlighting the achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, Adityanath stated that Indias infrastructure was growing rapidly, contrasting the nations progress with Pakistans economic struggles. India, under PM Modi, has ensured food security for 80 crore people and provided medical care, education, and sanitation. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, even basic necessities are scarce, he stated.

Adityanath also emphasized BJPs efforts to uphold tradition, citing the revival of the Kanwar Yatra and the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. He pointed out that Uttar Pradesh now conducts the Kanwar Yatra without conflict, attributing this to BJPs decisive governance.

In a pointed remark, Adityanath stated that the only solution to stone-pelters disrupting religious events, such as Ram Navami processions, is a BJP government. He noted that Jharkhands religious processions had faced disruptions and alleged that infiltration had risen since the opposition alliance took office.

Concluding his speech, Adityanath extended Chhath greetings to the people of Jamshedpur, encouraging them to vote for a prosperous Jharkhand with a double engine BJP government. He also thanked Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar, who was present, for his support. The rally saw speeches from BJP leaders including MP Bidyut Baran Mahto, who emphasized the need to uproot corruption in Jharkhands current administration.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to participate in the inaugural day of the state unit's month-long 'Delhi Nyay Yatra' on Friday, according to party officials.

The Nyay Yatra, set to begin on November 8, will see the participation of several other senior leaders from the party.

Senior leaders from other states will also join the Yatra and plans are underway to schedule their visit accordingly, a senior Delhi Congress leader said.

On the first day, the yatra will likely be joined by advocates, while doctors are expected to take part on the second day, another party official mentioned.

Recently, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav held a meeting with the party workers, former MPs and MLAs, municipal councillors, district and block committee presidents, social media volunteers, and office-bearers of frontal organisations to discuss the yatras plans.

Earlier, Yadav said they have invited senior party leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal. The yatra will kick off on November 8 from Rajghat and pass through all 70 Vidhan Sabha constituencies before its conclusion on December 4.

"Around 250-300 Congress workers will engage directly with the public, listen to their grievances, and bring these issues to the forefront. We will also consider their suggestions," the senior leader added.

The yatra will be conducted on foot, covering 20-25 kilometres each day. It will begin at 8 AM daily, with scheduled breaks for lunch and tea. Each day will conclude with a public meeting, after which the 200-250 permanent participants will return to their camps.
A Delhi court is likely to decide on November 13 on the cognisance of a charge sheet filed against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi Waqf Board case.

Special Judge Jitendra Singh on Wednesday sought certain clarifications from the central probe agency in relation to the prosecution complaint (ED's equivalent to a charge sheet) and posted the matter on November 13.

The ED had on October 29, filed a 110-page first supplementary charge sheet, claiming Khan laundered money that was allegedly generated through corruption in the Delhi Waqf Board.

The charge sheet named one Mariam Siddiqui, who hasn't been arrested as an accused by the ED in the case.

The ED said there was sufficient evidence to prosecute Khan and others in the case registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

His bail plea is scheduled to come up on November 7.

Khan was arrested on September 2 under the provisions of the PMLA by the ED, which conducting a search at his house in Delhi's Okhla area.

The AAP MLA was accused of being "evasive" when questioned by the probe agency.

The money laundering probe against him stems from two FIRs -- the Central Bureau of Investigation's case in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Waqf Board and an alleged disproportionate assets case registered by the Delhi police anti-corruption unit.
As Donald Trump was elected the US president for a second term, Russia on Wednesday said President Vladimir Putin remained open to engaging in a "constructive dialogue" with the US, asserting that the future of Washington-Moscow relations depends on the American administration.

The remarks by Krelim spokesperson Dmitry Peskov came after 78-year-old Republican leader Trump defeated his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris in a bitterly fought election.

Peskov was responding to a question about whether relations between the US and Russia would deteriorate if Russian President Vladimir Putin did not congratulate Trump, the state-owned TASS news agency reported.

Peskov said that Putin was willing to engage in dialogue with the US but it will be clear whether Washington's stance on talks changes after Trump takes office.

"President Putin has repeatedly said that he is open to a constructive dialogue based on justice, equality, and mutual respect for each others concerns. And President Putin remains committed to this position and has reiterated it multiple times," the report quoted Peskov as saying.

He, however, added that the US administration today holds a "contrary position". "Lets wait and see what happens in January," Peskov said.

Trump will be sworn in as president after his inauguration on January 20, 2025.

"It is practically impossible to make relations between the United States and Russia any worse as they are already at their lowest point in history," he said.

Peskov also refrained from answering a question about Putins reaction to the outcome of the US presidential election. "The presidents reaction? Well, I cannot say anything," he said.

"But, of course, we take into account reports coming from Washington," he added.

According to races called by the Associated Press up to 7 pm (IST), 277 electoral votes had gone to Trump and 224 to Harris. Trump, the oldest person in US history to be elected president, crossed the halfway 270 votes-mark in electoral college votes with victory in the battleground state of Wisconsin.
Philippine forces retook an island in the South China Sea Wednesday in the first such combat exercise in the disputed waters as Chinese navy ships kept watch from a distance, the Philippine military chief said.

Gen Romeo Brawner Jr, who witnessed the drills from a navy frigate, said the exercise underscored the readiness of Filipino forces to defend the countrys sovereignty at all costs.

We are warning our neighbours or whoever or any external forces that we are capable of defending our islands, Brawner told a small group of journalists, including The Associated Press, invited to the exercises.

There were no immediate comments from Chinese officials, but they have opposed past war drills in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety.

The long-seething territorial disputes that also involve other claimants are a delicate fault line in the US-China rivalry in Asia and likely will remain a major foreign policy concern for the next American president.

China has rapidly expanded its military and become increasingly assertive in pursuing territorial claims in the South China Sea. The tensions have led to more frequent confrontations, primarily with the Philippines and Vietnam, though the Chinese coast guard has had recent territorial tiffs with Indonesia and Malaysia.

In the drills, a Philippine navy frigate approached Loaita Island, which the Philippines calls Kota Island, while four speedboats with marines and navy sailors landed on its beach. A Philippine air force aircraft later dropped food and other supplies to the forces that retook the island.

Brawner said Chinese navy ships observing from a distance added realism to the exercise.

The US has been regarded as a crucial counterweight to China and has supported the Philippines as it faces Chinese aggression.
by David Winner

Im writing on Halloween, but by the time this is published the election will have passed, and we may even know the identity of our next president. Whether shes won or lost, I wanted to suggest something that I think could have helped Kamala.

But first a little background. In the Charlottesville, Virginia, of my growing up (the 1970s) everyone appeared to be coded as either white or Black. I didnt really understand distinctions between Jamaicans, Jews, Bengalis, Asians, Mexicans, Italians, West Africans. All I grasped was that basic racial binary.

While in later years I began to see my peculiar parents peculiar brand of racism, they did not express what I understood to be racist sentiments when I was a child. A fellow white kid at summer camp somewhere else in Virginia thought I was liberal because I did not hate Black people, but the first real prejudice I became aware of back home in Charlottesville was a pseudo beach club in high school at an artificial lake outside of town that would not admit poofs.

In my progressive hippie-dippy private high school, most students were white like me, and most came from middle-class or upper middle-class backgrounds: the children of professors, lawyers, businesspeople. Most of us did not have heavy southern accents or real southern identities. Every member of my core group of friends, my clique as it were, were from those similar backgrounds.

But not everyone in school was like us. There were students with southern accents and markedly different tastes. In clothes, in vehicles, in drugs, but most significantly in music. We moved quickly through classic rock (Henrix, The Who) into punk, new wave (The Clash, David Bowie, Gang of Four) whereas they liked more heavy metal and country rock.

I was not a member of the beach club, but my friends and I were not epithet-free. Our epithets involved class and culture rather than race, gender, religion, or sexuality.

We didnt directly insult people by calling them r*d n*ks to their face, but we used their musical taste to stick that to them.

The name of a certain Australian band popular at the time never crossed our lips without a broad fake southern accent, implying something very clear about the people in our school who listened to AC/DC. And Led Zeppelin, who we rejected once we got all punk, were called Red Zeppelin. While Im sure our school and our world were mired in prejudices, the R word is the only epithet I remember being commonly used, and classism was the only bigotry that we felt comfortable expressing.

And when I went away to college at Oberlin, where all prejudices were very much scorned, the only southern accent I remember hearing belonged to a guy from Kentucky who got mocked behind his back for it. Having a working-class southern accent meant you were stupid. Im not making any sort of equivalence between classism/regionalism and racism. Veiled condescending comments about musical taste were not what murdered George Floyd. Rather, Im trying to make the claim that our type of classism was and is all too easily tolerated by progressive people.

Unfortunately, the major text that comes closest to addressing this sort of classism/regionalism was written by the man who may be our Vice President Elect. J.D. Vances Hillbilly Elegy, according to Silas Vance, an Appalachian Studies professor at Berea College is woven through with dog whistles about class and race, gender. And if your ears are attuned to those dog whistles, you know exactly what hes saying. If youre not, then it can read like a heartwarming rags-to-riches story.

This writing has only personal anecdotes, and very old ones, but I think they hint at the sort of primal classism among progressive people (coastal elites) that the MAGA movement has managed to exploit. Many Americans who may have been called the R word at some point in their lives and Americans who may embrace the term the way members of the LGBTQ community have embraced queer have just voted for a rich man from Manhattan who couldnt be less country if he tried.

White dudes, sure, but quite a few of us already support her, more effective would have been R*d N*ks for Kamala, an effort to cut through classism and regionalism to reach a maligned group of people utterly neglected by the Republicans that they tend to support.
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In the heart of Derry, a women's self defence class has seen unprecedented demand, selling out just two days after the initial announcement.

Lifestyle Combat and Healing Centre, located on the Whitehouse Road, confirmed that they would be hosting the classes.

Taking to social media, the centre said, "In lieu of recent events in our city, we will be providing free women's self defence classes to help support local women in developing awareness, confidence, and self defence techniques."

The classes, which will be taking place on Monday, November 11, and Friday, November 15, will focus on using your voice as a defence, situational awareness, weapons defence, and body positioning, along with techniques, such as striking, kicking, escaping, and more.

READ MORE: Man charged with theft, possession of cannabis, and possession of a knife remanded

Following a concerning rise gender-based violence in the county, women from all walks of life have come together to take action and reclaim a sense of safety.

The demand for self defence classes was greater than anticipated, with both events selling out, resulting in a waiting list.

One user, took to social media, declaring that the "Council ought to fund similar classes, and across the country should do the same."

The class seems to be a statement of resilience and solidarity, following a slur of recent sexually motivated attacks on women in Derry, one of which saw a young woman in her 20s be assaulted at knifepoint in Drumahoe.

An atmosphere of dread can be felt throughout the county, and Lifestyle Combat acknowledges this, by confirming that their self defence courses will resume in January of 2025.
A new solar report by KPMG revealed that the industry has the potential to contribute up to 426 million to the Northern Ireland economy, gross value added, over the next five years.

There is clear solar potential, with the economic benefits for Northern Ireland showing that the industry could support 1,800 jobs by 2030.

Many of these will be located outside of Belfast, in rural communities, where utility-scale solar farms and solar panel installers are located.

Co Derry has a pipeline of seven utility-scale solar PV projects, totalling approximately 271 MW.

Across Northern Ireland, the solar energy industry could contribute 13 million in revenue through local and regional business rates.

READ MORE: Two men arrested as part of Derry dissident republican investigation

With district rates, which are paid to local authorities, this can contribute to the funding of Derry public services including leisure facilities, council growth and regeneration and protecting jobs.

The sector could make the potential contribution of 815m from capital expenditures and operating expenses, if the solar industry achieves 900 MW by 2030.

To reach their goal, investment in the retraining and reskilling of workers from the renewable energy sector is required.

Steven Agnew, Director of RenewableNI, said, Every solar panel connected helps to reduce electricity bills. Unfortunately, a policy vacuum has meant that the solar industry in NI hasnt grown to its full potential. However, the 80 per cent by 2030 renewables target has changed that, and we are on the cusp of a solar resurgence,

The Solar Potential report highlights the significant benefits that solar can bring to the NI economy, in addition to its environmental and social impacts. Its fair to say that in Northern Ireland, the sun generates more light than heat, he added.
There has been a mixed reaction to the election of Donald Trump as US president by political leaders in Northern Ireland.

The former president was elected for his second non-consecutive term in the White House after defeating current vice-president Kamala Harris.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson congratulated Mr Trump.

Elections can be divisive, as this election has been, but the conclusion has been decisive, he said.

The American people have given a strong mandate to President Trump to serve as the 47th president. I congratulate him, the vice-president elect JD Vance, and their team for achieving what has rightly been described as the greatest political comeback of all time.

In President Trumps last term, the door of the White House was open, and indeed many regarded his presidency as one of balance and fairness regarding our own local political divisions.

I trust he adopts the same approach to the 47th presidency as he did the 45th, and the ties between the US and Northern Ireland remain strong. I wish him well.

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt also congratulated President Trump.

He said: With America preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence in 2026, there is a unique opportunity for the President-elect to celebrate, considering his family ties, the profound contribution people from these islands made to shaping the United States, particularly through the two massive waves of immigration from this island, by the Ulster Scots in the 1600s and what became the Irish Americans in the 1800s.

However SDLP leader Claire Hanna said there is serious concern about what Mr Trumps election will mean for the US.

My thoughts today are largely with people in the United States who are fearful about what this might mean for their future, she said.

Donald Trump has repeatedly shown himself as someone with little respect for most people or the high office that he once again holds.

Its very disheartening that his divisive brand of politics has been so widely endorsed, but we acknowledge the clarity of the election outcome.

SDLP Leader @ClaireHanna has responded to the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. "The SDLP will continue to champion inclusive, forward looking and internationalist politics." Read more:https://t.co/ckvgvF5T52 pic.twitter.com/EJ5t1ucJB9  The SDLP (@SDLPlive) November 6, 2024

There is serious concern about what this means for the United States, Gaza, Ukraine and indeed the world. In each, the most vulnerable will likely bear the brunt of the decisions the Trump administration will take.

TUV leader Jim Allister said however that he believes Mr Trump had been the better candidate.

Its for the American people to make their choice and I do envy the fact that they are entitled to elect those who make their laws, unlike us in 300 areas where laws are made in a foreign parliament, he said.

Donald Trump was better than the alternative of Harris.

On the issues which impact Northern Ireland, I trust that the historic premise of the United States  no taxation without representation  is something which could give him something to think about when it comes to us.

As a man who respects borders, when he comes to deal with the United Kingdom I suspect he may be surprised we have a partitioning border down the middle of the UK and that may dissipate the inclination to do trade deals.
Tourism, culture help cement China-Tanzania ties: officials

Xinhua) 11:18, November 06, 2024

Chinese artists perform at the closing ceremony of the 2024 China-Tanzania Tourism and Culture Year in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Emmanuel Herman/Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials from the Chinese and Tanzanian governments have identified tourism and culture as two factors that helped cement ties between the two countries.

A closing ceremony of the 2024 China-Tanzania Tourism and Culture Year and celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries was held in the port city of Dar es Salaam Monday night.

Speaking at the event, the officials observed that tourism and culture not only helped stimulate economic development but also promoted people-to-people exchanges and understanding between the two countries.

Lu Yingchuan, vice minister of culture and tourism in China, said cooperation between the two countries has reached new heights as more Chinese tourists visit Tanzania.

"From exchanges of art performances, tourism promotions, food tasting, to the creation of artworks and personnel training, an array of diverse and colorful activities triggered a fresh surge of cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation between our two countries," Lu noted.

Chen Mingjian, the Chinese ambassador to Tanzania, said China and Tanzania have a long history of rich culture and harmonious coexistence in a peaceful atmosphere.

"At the same time, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Tanzania keeps on growing, with more than 54,000 of them visiting Tanzania between January and September this year," she told the gathering that featured cultural performances from China and Tanzania.

Pindi Chana, Tanzania's minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, said China-Tanzania relations have continued to develop, with fruitful results in practical cooperation and rich cultural exchanges.

"The development of tourism can not only drive growth and create jobs, but also promote consumption and stabilize confidence," she told the gathering co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, and Tanzania's ministries of Natural Resources and Tourism, Culture, Arts and Sports, and Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.

The event was preceded by the "Nihao! China" China Tourism Promotion Conference, which was attended by tourism stakeholders from China and Tanzania. At this conference, they explained their experiences in the industry.

The event also saw the relaunch of the film Amazing Tanzania, which was first launched in China in May 2024.

The film starring Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania's Zanzibari President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, and Chinese actor Jin Dong has served as a catalyst to attract more tourists from China to visit the East African nation, according to the African country's Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Hassan Abbasi.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
HIGHLIGHTS Amazon has released a new strict policy that requires Amazon employees to return to the office five days a week. This new policy is coming into action starting January 2025. Previously, Amazon asked its employees to work from the office three days a week.

For a couple of months now, Amazon has been urging its employees to return to the office and has been facing resistance on that front. Now, the e-commerce giant has strictly asked its employees to return to the office full-time. The company has released a new strict policy that requires Amazon employees to return to the office five days a week starting from January 2025. This was announced by Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman. He said that in-person collaborations are vital to Amazons culture and innovation and those who dont agree with this can find other jobs that offer better working environments for their needs.

Previously, Amazon asked its employees to work from the office three days a week, but this was met with resistance from some. The announcement was made during a company-wide meeting. Speaking to Reuters, Garman said, If there are people who just dont work well in that environment and dont want to, thats okaythere are other companies around. He further added, When we want to really innovate on interesting products, I have not seen an ability for us to do that when were not in person.

He also shared that even though some employees are not really supportive of the move, nine out of ten employees were in favour of the change. The employees have voiced concerns over the shift, citing the added stress and lengthy commutes associated with a full-time office schedule. To back their concerns, employees also showed studies that show remote work can be just as effective, if not more so, in boosting productivity.

Even though fellow tech giants like Meta, Google, and Microsoft allow flexibility to their employees and offer hybrid options, Amazon seems to apply the work-from-office rule pretty strictly now.
HIGHLIGHTS The AI Sensor feature is available for smart TVs that use JioTV+ service. JioTV+ is a service bundled with Jio set-top boxes and offers access to over 800 TV channels. The service is available to subscribers of Jio Fiber and Jio AirFiber plans.

Often when we watch movies/web series with our families, certain scenes make the entire situation awkward and you would not want them to be streamed in front of the family. To address this, JioTV+ has introduced a new feature called AI Sensor for family-friendly viewing. For this, the company uses an AI-powered sensor that automatically censors adult scenes and mutes audio when needed.

How does this feature work?

The AI Sensor feature is available for smart TVs that use JioTV+ service. To make things possible, it uses AI sensors to intelligently detect explicit content in real time. It then automatically blurs adult scenes and, if necessary, mutes the audio to avoid uncomfortable situations.

How to get JioTV+?

For those unaware, JioTV+ is a different service from JioTV. It is a service bundled with Jio set-top boxes and offers access to over 800 TV channels, including top OTT platforms like Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, and Zee5. It is an exclusive app specifically for smart TVs and is available through platforms such as PlayStore, Galaxy Store, and LG Content Store.

The service is available to subscribers of Jio Fiber and Jio AirFiber plans. You get access to different services on the basis of the plan that you have chosen. To use JioTV+, the smart TV must be connected to a JioFiber-powered network.

With this new feature, Jio plans to make the family viewing times more comfortable and stress-free for everyone and avoid any unnecessary exposure. This will make family time more enjoyable. Let me know how you feel about this new feature. Do you think it is helpful, or do you think it was not really needed? Also, should it become a norm in the future?
AMD has added another successful X3D processor in its kitty with the addition of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Its a great performer for everyday productivity, content creation and when it comes to gaming, it knocks it out of the park yet again. The only place where the 9800X3D takes a hit is in the value for money aspect because the price is a little too much to justify the added gains with gaming performance. Wed have preferred it to be a tad above the Ryzen 7 9700X and not this far apart. In India, the USD 120 difference works out to more than INR 12,000 which can be quite discouraging for gamers.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a much more exciting launch than the initial Ryzen 9000 series Granite Ridge desktop processors for a very simple reason  3D V-Cache. Not only do the X3D chips bring all the goodness of the new core microarchitecture but the additional cache memory slapped on (or should we say, Slapped under) the chip. Workloads benefitting from the added cache tend to perform really well with the X3D chips and one of the major workloads that gets a massive boost are video games. Moreover, theres the added power-efficiency of having switched to a more efficient TSMC 4nm process node. So how well does the new AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D fare in benchmarks? Lets find out.

3D V-Cache, now down-under

No, AMD is not making its chips in Australia. The 3D V-Cache is now placed underneath the CPU dies. With the first implementation of TSMCs CoWoS technology, the additional cache layer was placed on top of the CPU dies. While cache memory does run hot, its nothing as compared to heat generated by the CPU cores themselves. So flipping the little silicon pancakes makes a lot of sense. Why AMD chose to go with the cache on top or why TSMC might have advised them to do so or why  it doesnt matter. They flipped the pancake, and its supposedly running much better. The hotter cores are now close to the heatsink, and therefore, the CPU cooler as well. AMD states that the move has resulted in a massive benefit when looking at the thermal. Also, the 3D V-Cache has up to 46 per cent better thermal resistance. And since the cores are running a little cooler, they can be pushed to run at higher clock speeds. AMD has managed to run the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D at a 500 MHz higher base clock and 200 MHz higher boost clock compared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. They also state that multi-core residency has improved a lot and the multi-threaded performance is much closer to the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X which runs at 105W. This is purely because the 9800X3D can better use the power thats provisioned for it.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Specifications

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has some specs similar to the Ryzen 7 9700X with the same 8 Cores and 16 Threads, L1 and L2 Caches. The base clock speed goes up by 900 MHz and the boost clock drops by 300 MHz. 3D V-Cache adds 64 MB of L3 Cache on top of the existing 32 MB to give 96 MB of L3 Cache. Thats the same amount as the 7800X3D. The TDP has gone up because there are more components running in the same space and theres also the higher base clock speed leading to more heat on average.

The DRAM speeds are still at 5600 MT/s so not much has changed on the memory front. Intels recent Core Ultra 200S processors raised the non-OC memory speeds to 6400 MT/s and also added support for CUDIMMs / CSODIMMs. We feel that this seems to have been an easy addition with 6400 MT/s being the memory sweet spot for AMD Zen 5 chips. Aside from these things, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has nothing different from the recently launched Ryzen 9000 chips.

On the platform front, weve got the X870E motherboards for enthusiasts available right now. The X870, B850, B840 chipset based motherboards will be launched later on.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Test Rig

We received a full kit with new 9800X3D processor, SSD, and memory sticks. We didnt use the provided SSD and stuck to our own storage drives. Heres the full specs:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Motherboard: X870E AORUS MASTER

RAM: 2x G.Skill Trident Z5 16 GB

SSD: Kingston Renegade PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD

Cooler: ASUS ROG RYUJIN III 360 ARGB

PSU: Cooler Master MWE Gold 850 V2

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Performance

Cinebench 2024

Cinebench 2024 is based on Maxons Cinema 4D software, designed to evaluate a processors performance in rendering complex 3D scenes. It tests both single-core and multi-core capabilities, highlighting how efficiently a CPU handles multi-threaded tasks common in professional rendering workflows. The benchmark utilizes modern instruction sets and large datasets, providing an up-to-date assessment of CPU performance in contemporary applications.

Cinebench 2024 Multi-threaded

Cinebench 2024 Single-threaded

Cinebench R23

Cinebench R23 is the older version based on the same Cinema 4D engine and it too measures a processors ability to render photorealistic 3D scenes. Though replaced by Cinebench 2024, we retain it to compare against processors launched a few years prior. It also focuses on both single-threaded and multi-threaded performance, simulating real-world tasks relevant to content creators and professionals in 3D rendering.

Cinebench R23 Multi-Threaded

Cinebench 2024 Single-Threaded

Blender

The Blender Benchmark assesses a processors performance by rendering scenes using Blender, a popular open-source 3D creation suite. It evaluates both CPU and GPU capabilities in handling complex rendering tasks. This benchmark provides insights into how well a processor performs in real-world 3D modeling, animation, and rendering scenarios. An interesting aspect is that it highlights the efficiency of different CPU architectures in multi-threaded workloads, as Blender can effectively utilize multiple cores. Its particularly useful for professionals and enthusiasts relying on Blender, indicating how hardware upgrades might impact workflow efficiency and rendering times.

Blender

V-Ray

V-Ray is another benchmark that measures a processors performance in rendering but it uses the V-Ray engine, widely used in visual effects, architecture, and design industries. It tests both CPU and GPU rendering capabilities, focusing on multi-threaded performance and handling complex calculations involved in ray tracing. CPUs with higher core counts and multi-threading technology tend to excel here as V-Ray efficiently utilises available threads.

WinRAR

WinRAR Benchmark evaluates a processors performance in data compression and decompression tasks, common in file archiving and management. It tests single-threaded performance, memory bandwidth, and latency, as these factors influence compression speed. While WinRAR isnt fully optimized for multi-core CPUs, processors with higher Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) and clock speeds perform better. For more modern algorithms, we use 7-Zip.

WinRAR

AIDA64

AIDA64 Memory Benchmark measures the memory bandwidth and latency of a system, highlighting how quickly data transfers between the CPU and RAM. It tests read, write, and copy speeds, providing insights into the efficiency of the memory subsystem, including RAM speed, timings, and memory controller performance. AIDA64 also has benchmarks to evaluate how well a processor can handle AES, ZLib and SHA3 encryption and decryption tasks.

AIDA Memory

AIDA64 ZLib, AES and SHA3 Encryption

y-cruncher

The y-cruncher benchmark computes mathematical constants like Pi to a high number of digitsin this case, 2.5 billiontesting a processors multi-threaded performance and memory subsystem under heavy computational load. It stresses the CPUs integer and floating-point units, cache hierarchy, and memory bandwidth. Its particularly useful for evaluating system stability under sustained heavy workloads, making it valuable for users who are overclocking their systems.

Procyon Office

The Procyon Office Benchmark measures a processors performance in real-world office applications like the Microsoft Office suite, testing tasks such as document editing, spreadsheet calculations, and presentation creation. It focuses on both single-threaded and multi-threaded performance, providing insights into how a CPU handles everyday productivity tasks.

Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and Powerpoint

Mozilla Kraken & Google Octane

Mozilla Kraken and Google Octane are JavaScript benchmarks evaluating a processors performance in executing complex web-based scripts, reflecting real-world web application usage. It tests single-threaded performance and the efficiency of a CPUs instruction pipelines in handling dynamic scripting languages.

Mozilla Kraken

Google Octane

Procyon AI Computer Vision

The UL Procyon AI Computer Vision benchmark measures the performance of AI inference engines to understand how well processors can handle machine-vision tasks using popular neural networks.

3DMark Time Spy (iGPU)

3DMark Time Spy is a DirectX 12 benchmark evaluating graphics performance. We use it primarily to test the relative performance of the iGPU to discrete GPUs and where iGPUs stand amongst their peers. With both companies improving their integrated graphics stack, it allows us to measure how well the iGPU performs and if it can handle popular eSports titles.

3DMark Time Spy iGPU

7 Game Average

While 3DMark is an excellent synthetic benchmark, its not really indicative of real-world gaming performance and thats why we have to rely on popular AAA video games to assess how well the processor deals with contemporary video game engines. We revise the video games once every two years based on whats most popular as per Steam and we also maintain a mix between different game engines.

Gaming 1080p Relative Performance

Core to Core Latency  AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Core-to-Core Latency measures the time it takes for data to transfer between different cores within a CPU. It highlights the efficiency of the processors inter-core communication pathways and cache coherency mechanisms. An interesting insight is that lower core-to-core latency can improve performance in multi-threaded applications where threads need to synchronize or share data frequently. It can reveal architectural differences between CPUs, such as the impact of chiplet designs versus monolithic die layouts, affecting inter-core communication efficiency.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Core to Core Latency

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D only has 8 Cores so its easier to keep the median core-to-core latency low and thats definitely beneficial for a lot of computing tasks. Also, it seems like theres only one CCD so theres no added penalty of switching to another CCD. Again, this is also beneficial for quite a lot of workloads.

Power and Thermals

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D peaked at 150 Watts over a 10-minute throttling run. And the average wattage was a little lesser than that. Compared to the 9700X, this is a bit higher but at no time did we ever see any throttling. Even when we swapped out the cooler for a single-fan air cooler, the CPU ran just fine. Average temperatures were at 93 degrees Celsius and peak was at 95 degrees.

Power consumption over time  AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Average Core Temperature  AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Verdict

AMD has added another successful X3D processor in its kitty with the addition of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Its a great performer for everyday productivity, content creation and when it comes to gaming, it knocks it out of the park yet again. The only place where the 9800X3D takes a hit is in the value for money aspect because the price is a little too much to justify the added gains with gaming performance. Wed have preferred it to be a tad above the Ryzen 7 9700X and not this far apart. In India, the USD 120 difference works out to more than INR 12,000 which can be quite discouraging for gamers.
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Health experts in Ireland have issued an urgent warning as cases for the "100-day cough" continue to rise.

Over 500 cases of Pertussis (whooping cough) have been identified in Ireland in 2024 with 402 cases confirmed. Numbers have been lower in the years prior due to the pandemic.

Pertussis is a serious illness and can be quite dangerous in young children and infants, with symptoms lasting up to three months, hence the nickname the "100-day cough".

According to the HSE, the disease causes long bouts of coughing and choking in children making it hard to breathe.

Worryingly, the child may turn blue from lack of air, or vomit after a coughing spell. Between these coughing spells a child gasps for air causing the characteristic whoop sound. Not all children get the whoop. A child with whooping cough can have difficulty eating, drinking or even breathing.

The disease can last up to three months. Whooping cough is most serious in babies under 12 months of age, often requiring admission to hospital and may be fatal.

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The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) issued this urgent warning last week:

"Pertussis (whooping cough) is a serious illness, especially in young children. Young infants are at highest risk of severe complications.

"There have been 514 cases of pertussis in 2024 in Ireland including 402 confirmed, 59 probable and 53 possible cases. This is compared with very low numbers in recent years due to the pandemic (2021  5 cases, 2022  7 cases, 2023  18 cases).

"Cycles of increased pertussis typically occur every five years. We last saw high numbers of cases in 2016 and 2017. Therefore, considering the impact of the pandemic, it is not unexpected to see this increase in 2024. Similar increases are being seen across Europe.

"Since mid-2023, several EU countries have reported an increase in the number of pertussis cases notified. This increase has continued into 2024, and some countries have reported pertussis-related deaths.

"As of 12th September, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported there have been 12,200 laboratory confirmed pertussis cases between January and July 2024. In Northern Ireland, between 1st January 2024 to 22nd September, there have been 2,949 confirmed pertussis cases.

"Amongst the 514 cases notified in Ireland to date in 2024, children predominate with:

101 cases (20%) in the 05 month age group (i.e. too young to have received their full three dose primary immunisation course)

87 cases (17 %) aged 1-2 years, 53 cases (10%) aged 5-9 years and 53 (10%) aged 10-14 years

"One hundred and fifty three of the 514 cases (30%) were hospitalised including 68 of the 101 cases (67%) in infants aged 0-5 months.

"The best way to protect against pertussis is vaccination. In Ireland, pertussis containing vaccines are offered as part of national immunisation programmes.

"Information on immunisation is available from the National Immunisation Office website at www.immunisation.ie."
Thousands of Irish people noticed a cash boost in their bank accounts this week after a number of Budget 2025 measures came into effect.

678,000 families across Ireland received a double child benefit payment this week. The normal rate of 140 per child was upped to 280 in October's Budget. The payment was made on November 5.

Another double payment of child benefit will land in accounts from December 3, but a number of Social Welfare recipients are also receiving a financial boost this week.

400,000 households on the fuel allowance are due a 300 lump sum to help with heating bills as winter sets in.

A 400 payment is due this week for 46,000 households on the Working Family Payment, while 213,000 people with disabilities receive a 400 support payment for rising costs.

The first of the two 125 Government energy credits will also be applied to bills this month with the second one landing early in the new year.

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The credits totalling 250 were announced as part of the Budget in early October and continue a trend over the last few years as the Government aims to address the cost of living crisis and rising energy bills in particular.

Every billpayer in the country will receive the energy credits with no means tests and the Government have given an update on when they might land on bills, however, some customers must take a number of steps to get the credits taken off their bill.

Citizens Information says: "The energy credit will be paid in two instalments of 125. The first payment will be made before the end of 2024, the second will be made in the new year. The Government is aiming for the first 125 to come off bills in November with the second off the first bill in January.

Standard pay as you go customers with Electric Ireland must purchase credit and take additional steps to see the credit funds applied.

In a statement, they said: "On October 1st, 2024, the Government announced that electricity credits for households totalling 250 (229.36 + 20.64 VAT) will be available in two instalments of 125 (114.68 + 10.32 VAT). The Government Electricity Credit will be automatically available to residential electricity customer accounts and no action will be required from the customer.

"The first credit instalment of 125 (114.68 + 10.32 VAT) will start to be available from November 1, 2024. Some households may not be able to view this credit on your bill until December or January depending on when you are due to bill.

"The second credit instalment of 125 (114.68 + 10.32 VAT) will start to be available from January 1, 2025. Some households may not be able to view this credit on your bill until February or March depending on when you are due to bill."

They warn that for PAYG customers the application of the Government Electricity Credit will follow a different process.

Smarter Pay as You Go Meters

The Government has stated that the credit will be a 250 (inc. VAT) and will be available in two instalments of 125 (inc. VAT).

The first credit instalment of 125 will be automatically applied to your Smarter PAYG meter from November 1, 2024.

The second credit instalment of 125 will be automatically applied to your Smarter PAYG meter from January 1, 2025.

Standard Pay As You Go meters

The Government has stated that the credit will be a 250 (inc. VAT) and will be available in two instalments of 125 (inc. VAT).

The first credit instalment of 125 will be available from November 1, 2024.

The second credit instalment of 125 will be available to customers from January 1, 2025.

"Our standard PAYG meters have limitations that do not allow us to apply the credit automatically," Electric Ireland said.

"The steps required to avail of the electricity credit are outlined below. There is no expiry date on the vend codes, so you can vend when it suits you to collect the credit.

"Topping up is easy and there are multiple flexible ways to Top Up your PAYG meter.

1. Buy a 10 electricity top up. This purchase will provide you with a vend code.

2. Go to your PAYG meter and input your vend code, this code will add 125 government credit and your 10 top up to your account (total 135).
Tell us about yourself;

I am a Cork-based theatre maker. I have lived in Cork since I came here to go to college in 1977. I took my first acting role in the early 80s and have worked in all areas of the theatre in the intervening years.

Where were you born?

Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.

Where do you live?

In the St Lukes area of Cork city.

Family?

I come from a family of seven (one died in infancy). I am married (to Ita) and we have one daughter, Fiona.

Best friend?

I am blessed with a plethora of brilliant and loving friends. When I came to Cork in 1977, the first new person that I met was Mr John Talty. He has been like my guardian angel in the intervening years.

Earliest childhood memory?

1963. My family had moved to the town of Fethard in south Tipperary. I was three. Everything about that time I remember. JFK was shot in November of that year. I remember a big crowd outside the window of the shop that sold the TVs, watching footage of the funeral.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Pazenas, south of France with family!

Favourite TV programme?

Frasier.

Favourite radio show?

Anything on Lyric.

Your signature dish if cooking?

Pasta!

Favourite restaurant?

Issacs Cork, which is our go-to place. Cafe Paradiso where we go less often.

Last book you read?

Songs For A Burning City by my great friend Mr Ger Fitzgibbon.

Best book you read?

War And Peace.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

Just Another Diamond Day by Vashti Bunyan.

Favourite song?

Penny Lane.

One person you would like to see in concert?

Mozart.

Do you have a pet?

No.

Morning person or night owl?

Oddly, both!

Your proudest moment?

Several, all associated with my daughters (Fiona) achievements.

Spendthrift or saver?

Spendthrift (if I had money!).

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

Nothing. Its perfect!!

What makes you happy?

Being with family, especially my grandchildren.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a helpful person who brought a bit of joy into the world.

What else are you up to at the moment?

I teach acting classes at UCC. I am writing a book about acting called Acting In A Cosmic Context.

CURRENT PLAY

Fight2Flight Theatre present: Declans Got Talent by Peter Gowen.

Declan lives on his own, but he is not alone. He wants to prove to himself and his constant companion that he has got what it takes. After years of suffering from a lack of confidence, hes decided to Go for it!

Fight2Flight Theatres latest offering is a new dark comedy for two actors by Peter Gowen. We see Declan trying to prepare for his upcoming audition on a talent show, but there is someone else there. And as Declan tries to silence this other voice, we are dragged back into east Cork/west Waterford in the late 1960s. We follow Declan attempting to enter the Church, cope with his infatuations, and watch him triumph.

Declans Got Talent, starring Peter Gowen and Jack Healy, received its world premiere at the newly re-opened Briery Gap, Macroom before touring Ireland for three weeks, with a final night at The Palace, Fermoy.

It will be also revived in January, 2025, at Smock Alley as part of First Fortnight Festival.

Declans Got Talent is supported by Cork and Waterford County Councils and First Fortnight Festival.

TOURING INFORMATION

THE GLENS, Manorhamilton, Wednesday Nov 6, 8pm

BALLINA ARTS, Thursday Nov 7, 8pm

BALLYDUFF, Waterford, Friday Nov 8, 8pm

St DECLANS HALL, Ardmore, Saturday Nov 9, 8pm

KILL COMMUNITY HALL, Sunday Nov 10, 8pm

St JOHNS, Listowel, Thursday Nov 14, 8pm

SKIBBEREEN TOWN HALL, Friday Nov 15, 8pm

FERMOY, Saturday Nov 16, 8pm

For more see http://fight2flight.com/
Fifty inmates in Cork Prison are without a bed, as daily figures show the facility was at 117% capacity as of the start of this week.

There were 346 people in the prison, which has a capacity of 296, on Monday, down from 349 on Friday and 351 on Thursday of last week, with almost 70 prisoners currently out on temporary release.

The figures represent an increase of more than 10% from this time last year. The Irish prison system as a whole is at 113% capacity, with 5,069 people in custody and only 4,519 beds.

A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service (IPS) told The Echo the IPS must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the courts and that it makes makes every effort to find solutions when overcrowding occurs.

As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time, the spokesperson said.

The Irish Prison Service is working closely with the Department of Justice to ensure a safe working environment for staff, and the safety and security of all those in custody.

Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, the Irish Prison Service makes every effort to deal with this, through a combination of inter-prison transfers and appropriate use of structured temporary release.

Each application is considered on its individual merits, and the safety of the public is paramount when decisions are made.

IPS identified short-, medium-, and long-term opportunities to deal with increases in the number of people in custody, including the development of infrastructure to meet capacity requirements.

Ms McEntee secured record funding of 525m to tackle overcrowding in the prison system in Budget 2025, the spokesperson said.

The Irish Prison Service continues to engage with the Department of Justice to progress plans to bring on stream accommodation for over 1,100 prisoners between 2024 and 2030, they added.

Old Cork Prison

One plan that is being considered is the reopening of the old Cork Prison, which closed in 2016, following the transfer of prisoners to the new facility, built on a site adjacent to the former prison.

The old facility would likely require significant work to get it up to standard.

The spokesperson explained that the former prison had been subject to criticism in a number of reports and a 2012 feasibility study highlighted that the facilities fell short of expected standards for health and safety.

The facility... is in a poor physical state and unsuitable for use in its current form, the spokesperson said, but added that a detailed assessment of the site began late last year.

A feasibility report on the site was completed last month, with Ms McEntee confirming previously that they are considering its use as prisoner accommodation.

The spokesperson said the draft report has been received by IPS and it is currently being considered, with future consultations with the Department of Justice on any decision, if viable options are to be progressed.
Two cousins have blended their shared passion for fitness, fashion and wellness to launch their own range of fitness wear.

Amerie OShea, of Blarney, and Noelle McElhinney, from Rathpeacon, are the dynamic duo behind MimiNell  which is what theyre known as to their family and close friends.

Their main motivation for launching the business was because they couldnt find active wear where they could move freely and be both comfortable and stylish  so they decided to design their own.

Both mums-of-three, they are very active on a daily basis. Noelle recently completed her yoga teacher training while Amerie got her yoga teacher qualification four years ago, and opened her own studio in Blarney called The Yoga Space, two years ago.

Amerie OShea and Noelle McElhinney say theyve been overwhelmed by the support they've received from the people of Cork.

Amerie has worked in Peter Mark for over two decades as a manager and Noelle has worked as a hairstylist for over three decades, which equipped them with a range of valuable skills, but nonetheless, designing their own clothing line was a massive learning curve.

They have spent the past two years working consistently on their ideas, designing and tailoring the various styles of active wear for MimiNell.

We set out to design active wear for ourselves, with our own practice and lifestyles in mind.

"We wanted to create a clothing range, that would be suitable for both social and leisure activities, whether youre a busy mom on a school run, heading for coffee, out running, or heading to gym or a class, said Noelle.

Our initial product focus was on designing a multi-purpose fitness top, with a built-in bra to offer support to women of all sizes, along with high rise leggings to offer maximum support.

From having our initial idea and brainstorming, we contacted lifestyle clothing suppliers both home and abroad to check the various options available to us.

Once we found a suitable supplier, we began the arduous task of tailoring our styles, choosing what materials work best, focusing on sizings, quality and hold.

We left no stone unturned in relation to getting the quality of our product exactly how we wanted it, said Amerie.

The journey so far has been both exciting and challenging, with lots of ups and downs. From gaining insights into manufacturing, learning how to grow our business, along with enhancing our digital skills, including the daunting task of designing our website (which would have been totally out of our comfort zone).

We have had plenty of challenges to overcome along the way, but are very lucky to be supported by such a great support system in our families, and have found LEO Cork City to be of great assistance also, said Amerie.

The leisure wear market is a busy one  what sets them apart?

Without a doubt, the high quality materials that we use, along with our attention to detail in our designs.

Our active wear is designed for women to move freely in both comfort and style. We aim to empower and inspire women to express their creativity through movement, they said.

The cousins say theyve been overwhelmed by the support of the people of Cork.

We launched our website Miminell.com in July, and we have been shipping both nationally and internationally since then.

We have been running pop-up shops monthly in The Yoga Space in Blarney, said Noelle.

The biggest lesson theyve learned in the last two years is to stay true to our authentic selves and listen to our gut feelings.

It would have been much easier to take short cuts, or settle for things, but we stayed focused on our vision. We are now so proud of our products, Amerie said.

Noelle added: I just turned 50 in December of last year and I just had a gut feeling there was something else in me... and there was!

Since launching, they have already expanded their range of clothing and are currently working on their next range for summer, 2025.

It would have been much easier to take short cuts, or settle for things, but we stayed focused on our vision. We are now so proud of our products.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The Canadian government has issued a draft of new regulations for greenhouse gas emissions produced by oil and gas. The rules would limit Canadas emissions to 35 percent below 2019 levels by 2030.

Most fossil fuels coming from Canada are produced in the oil sands of Alberta, with the United States as the largest importer.

Were asking the oil and gas sector to invest their record profits into pollution cutting projects, Steven Guilbeault, Canadas minister of environment and climate change, told a news conference, as The New York Times reported. Every sector must do its part. Oil and gas companies are no exception.

Guilbeault said profits from the oil and gas sector reached roughly $48 billion in 2022, reported Reuters.

Weve worked carefully to develop what is technically feasible for the sector, to keep industry accountable to their own promise to be carbon neutral by 2050, Guilbeault said, as Reuters reported.

The cap-and-trade system created by the regulations is designed to recognize companies that perform better, while incentivizing higher polluters to invest in cleaner production, a press release from the Canadian government said.

Canadians and their communities bear the brunt and pay the costs from increased extreme weather events due to climate change  costs that are reflected in the price of groceries, insurance, and local taxes. They understand that all sectors must do their fair share to decrease pollution and address climate change, the press release said.

The oil and gas sector is the largest contributor to Canadas greenhouse gas emissions, making up 31 percent in 2022, according to the newest National Inventory Report.

The oil and gas greenhouse gas pollution cap would regulate upstream oil and gas facilities, including offshore facilities, and would also apply to liquefied natural gas production facilities. These subsectors represent the majority of emissions from the oil and gas sector, with the upstream subsector representing about 85 percent of sector emissions in 2022, the press release said.

Canada is the fourth-largest oil producer in the world, as well as the fifth-largest gas producer. As oil and gas demand peaks and starts to decline, the highest demand will be for fuels that are extracted while producing the lowest levels of pollution.

The proposed regulations put a limit on pollution, not production, and have been informed by extensive engagement with industry, Indigenous groups, provinces and territories, and other stakeholders, the press release said. The climate decisions we make today will help contribute directly to a cleaner, safer environment and good jobs for future generations.

Government consultations on the final regulations  which will be published next year  are ongoing.

Every sector of the economy in Canada should be doing its fair share when it comes to limiting our countrys greenhouse gas pollution, and that includes the oil and gas sector. We are asking oil and gas companies who have made record profits in recent years to reinvest some of that money into technology that will reduce pollution in the oil and gas sector and create jobs for Canadian workers and businesses. The science is clear  greenhouse gas pollution must be reduced significantly and urgently to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change, Guilbeault said in the press release.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The Scout Moor wind farm in Ramsbottom above the town of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England on Jan. 28, 2019. Anthony Devlin / Getty Images

Plans for Englands largest onshore wind farm will be submitted this week, in the first progress since the countrys Labour government removed the de facto ban Conservatives put in place nine years ago, reported The Guardian.

Independent renewable energy developer Cubico Sustainable Investments has submitted plans to build 21 wind turbines beside the Scout Moor wind farm to the north of Manchester.

Our proposal for Scout Moor II reflects our strong confidence in the UK renewables sector and Britains potential to become a global clean energy powerhouse. Were encouraged by the Governments vision to accelerate the build out of renewable energy infrastructure across the country, and we are committed to delivering projects that decarbonise our power system, enhance energy security, and benefit local communities, said CEO of Cubico David Swindin, in a press release from the company.

The 100-megawatt wind farm could be up and running by 2030, generating enough clean power for more than 100,000 homes and providing roughly 10 percent of the domestic energy needs for Greater Manchester.

Scout Moor II would bring an estimated $260.7 million in investment, as well as hundreds of jobs over the projects lifetime.

The proposed wind farm would help the British government meet its goal of doubling its onshore wind capacity by 2030. The government also has a target of tripling solar capacity and quadrupling offshore wind capacity on its journey to creating a net zero electricity grid, The Guardian reported.

Plans to develop the Scout Moor site were postponed nearly a decade ago following backlash against Englands onshore wind farms, which prompted the government to instigate planning rules that effectively prevented new developments.

Swindin said plans had been in the works for new projects for about four years in anticipation of the rules changing, reported The Guardian.

It was obvious that there was going to be pressure to change the rules, even for the Conservatives. And for some time it seemed likely that Labour would come to power. So we have been eagerly waiting for the moment that we can press the button, Swindin added.

Project development manager Peter Rowe said the sites close proximity to Greater Manchester and high wind speeds make it one of the most ideal locations for a windfarm.

Along with the new wind development, Cubico is proposing a Moorland Restoration and Management Plan, along with a Community Wealth Fund, to promote biodiversity and support local initiatives across the region, the press release said.

Clearly we will be going into a public consultation [with the local community] very sensitively. The site itself has been used in the past for mining and quarrying, and the area has been at the heart of Britains industrial story. So what were putting forward is a modern reinterpretation of how the moors and uplands have been used historically, Rowe said, as The Guardian reported.

If approved, Scout Moor II would be the fifth largest producer of onshore wind power in the United Kingdom. The rest are located in Scotland.

Were excited about the opportunity for Scout Moor II to play a key role in helping the UK achieve its net zero ambitions and enhance the North Wests position as a national hub for clean energy generation. As we progress, were looking forward to engaging with local communities and ensuring their participation helps shape a project that leaves positive social, economic and environmental benefits for all, said James Pinney, Cubicos head of Northern Europe, in the press release.
As Election Day 2024 intensifies and voters continue to get their votes in, actress Anne Hathaway is encouraging those still waiting to vote to stay in line by singing her own rendition of Sabrina Carpenter's "Please Please Please."

Anne Hathaway delivers an Election Day rendition of Sabrina Carpenters Please, Please, Please, urging voters to stay in line. pic.twitter.com/xvazZJYFnz  Pop Base (@PopBase) November 5, 2024

Hathaway cleverly tweaked the lyrics, changing the chorus to "Please please please stay on the line / Especially in UPENN and Temple, just wait out your time / Voting is magic but also annoying / You waited this long, let's not make it boring."

As waits intensify following the post-work rush, Hathaway emphasized to her followers the importance of not abandoning the polls and staying the course. The Devil Wears Prada star confirmed she voted for democratic candidate Kamala Harris early Tuesday, noting "I voted like half of the country's lives depended on it."

Anne Hathaway shares she has voted for Kamala Harris. pic.twitter.com/MryJbZxQLm  Pop Base (@PopBase) November 5, 2024

Hathaway is one of the many celebrities to get involved during Election Day chaos. Paul Rudd, who has also publicly endorsed Harris, made a surprise appearance at Temple University in Philadelphia Tuesday afternoon. The Ant Man star handed out water bottles to exasperated students who had been waiting to vote for hours.

While Carpenter has yet to respond to the homage, the popstar has done her own civic duty: HeadCount announced that Carpenter has helped engage the most voters out of all artists who partnered with them in 2024.

Carpenter helped register 27,000 new voters and engaged over 183,000 voters.

Read more: Billy Baldwin Has Some Strong Thoughts About Trump and His Family on Election Day 2024

Article originally published on Music Times
Seasoned radio host Taylor Strecker has opened up about the time she had "the most uncomfortable" interview experience ever with famous TV personality Giuliana Rancic.

Over the weekend, the "Taste of Taylor" podcast host attended the Dear Media IRL event in NYC, where she got asked about her unforgettable experiences while working.

Strecker did not shy away from discussing a "traumatic" experience she had with Page Six that all started when she did someone from her team a favor to do a fashion segment with Rancic.

According to Strecker, the interview was with Giuliana and her husband, Bill Rancic, and the two seemed like they just had a disagreement before coming into the studio.

"You know when a couple is fighting and you're, like, in the middle of it? That's what happened. I was in the middle of a wasp's nest," she told Page Six.

Read more: Video of Joe Rogan Opposing Donald Trump Surfaces After Endorsing Republican Candidate

Though she admitted that she did not really prepare for the interview since it was "not even going to air," there was something far worse to be said about how Giuliana acted that day.

"She was almost, like using me to take potshots at him. It was the most uncomfortable podcast ever, and then she went and complained about me to the other interviews that she had for the rest of the day," Strecker told the outlet.

She then quipped, "And I was like, 'Oh my God, Giuliana, you're obsessed with me!' It was traumatic, to say the least."

Strecker said that Giuliana and Bill were not really "in a bad place" in their marriage, so their little disagreement wasn't a big deal to her.

The radio vet did not disclose when the interview exactly happened and other specifics about the unpleasant experience.

Page Six reached out to the "E! News" host and her husband for clarifications but to no avail.
Amanda Bynes has shared a new milestone in her journey toward better health.

On November 5, Bynes posted an update on her Instagram Stories featuring a screenshot from her step counter app. The app showed she had walked 14,895 steps, covering 6.60 miles, and burned 481 caloriessurpassing her daily workout goal. Alongside the screenshot, the 38-year-old wrote, "Down 6lbs! 154lbs now," highlighting her recent progress.

Earlier this year, Bynes opened up about the impact of her mental health on her physical state. In March, she shared that her struggle with depression had caused her to gain over 20 pounds. At the time, she wrote on Instagram, "I've gained over 20 lbs. in the past few months from being depressed. I'm doing a lot better now and have learned to do opposite action when I don't feel like working out or eating clean." She also revealed her weight was 162 pounds at the time and expressed her goal of returning to 110 pounds.

Bynes has a long history of challenges with body image and mental health. In 2018, she admitted that during the peak of her acting career, she grappled with severe insecurities that contributed to her decision to leave Hollywood. Reflecting on her role in 'She's the Man,' Bynes told 'Paper magazine' that portraying a character disguised as a boy led to a deep depression. "When the movie came out and I saw it, I went into a deep depression for 4-6 months because I didn't like how I looked when I was a boy," she said. The experience of wearing short hair and sideburns felt "super strange and out-of-body" and had a lasting impact.

Struggles with body image also led to dangerous behaviors. During her time filming 'Hall Pass' and 'Easy A,' Bynes became addicted to Adderall and experimented with substances like ecstasy and cocaine. By 2012, these pressures prompted her to step away from acting altogether.

Bynes faced legal and psychiatric challenges in the years that followed, including a six-month involuntary hospitalization in 2013. Her parents later revealed concerns about her obsession with cosmetic surgery and its impact on her health.

Now sober and focusing on recovery, Bynes continues to rebuild her life, sharing her progress with fans along the way.
Tom Hanks was caught red-handed using what many would deem a gay slur in the middle of a rant focused on film critics.

During the legendary actor's interview with Conan O'Brien, Hanks unapologetically detailed receiving harsh critiques after his highly-anticipated projects, even those which would later become cult classics.

The Oscar Award-winning actor appeared on O'Brien's 'Need A Friend' podcast to discuss his new film 'Here' when he was asked about his debut of 'That Thing You Do!' dating back to 1996.

The question prompted the actor to dig a little deeper than fans may have expected.

"Let me tell you something about these c**ksuckers who write about movies..." Hanks began, going on to explain a time when a writer who criticized the classic comedy musical for looking like it was "shot on TV and not much of anything," but deemed a "cult classic."

Despite being irritated by the commentary, the 68-year-old reconciled the tension by acknowledging that those instances are simply the nature of the business.

"But you know, that's the thing we all signed up for," he added. "That's the carnival, that's the contest, right? I've got faith in that," he concluded.

In March 2014, CNN host Anderson Cooper explained on the Howard Stern radio show why that term is considered an anti-gay slur.

"When he called the person a ... a ... c**ksucker," Cooper began, referring to Alec Baldwin being caught on video calling paparazzi "c**ksucker" back in 2013. "And then said he didn't know 'c**ksucker' was an anti-gay  I mean, what adult does not know calling a guy a 'c**ksucker' " he continued, before Stern interrupted him, admitting he has used the term, too.

"The worst thing you can possibly think of to say, which is what this situation was, to talk about a sexual act between two guys as being the worst thing you can possibly think of," Cooper said. "That seems to indicate  but I never said he was homophobic. I have no idea what's in his head."

"My point is anybody can say anything they want [...] but then don't lie about it afterward and claim you don't know this was an antigay slur," Cooper added. "I don't know how old he is, in his 50s or whatever, but if you attain that great age and claim you don't know calling a guy a 'toxic little queen' is an antigay reference or calling someone a 'c**sucking f*g'... that's just a lie. I mean, come on!"

Cooper, 57, added: "If Alec Baldwin had yelled the N-word at that photographer, or yelling an anti-gay slur -- it'd be over!"
Lil Pump is a rapper who makes his support for Donald Trump unmistakable. That's especially clear after the artist went gloating around social media about Trump's win in the 2024 presidential election, with Pump calling out some fellow musicians with some very strong language in stride.

Following the nation's voting results from Tuesday (Nov. 5), former President Trump is now newly president-elect after besting Democratic nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris at the polls and surpassing the required 270 votes for the electoral college, with Trump becoming the first convicted felon to be president, as the CBC reported.

After the win, Lil Pump clearly felt emboldened to praise Trump and call out others on the internet, thanks to his allegiance, and the musician obviously had two specific high-profile artists in mind when he went on his tirade online.

"All these rappers that got paid to endorse Kamal Harris you're f--king losers you can't pay me to endorse Donald Trump," Lil Pump said on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday (Nov. 6) amid a flurry of posts celebrating Trump's win. The rapper added, "I stand on what's right."

All these rappers that got paid to endorse Kamal Harris youre fucking losers you cant pay me to endorse Donald Trump. I stand on whats right.  Lil Pump (@lilpump) November 6, 2024

He followed that up with two unsubtle jabs: "F--k Taylor swift," he said. In another post, he added, "F--k Eminem."

Fuck Taylor swift  Lil Pump (@lilpump) November 6, 2024

Fuck Eminem  Lil Pump (@lilpump) November 6, 2024

Lil Pump has previously expressed his fierce support of Trump. In November 2020, Trump invited the rapper to speak at his rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as Variety reported, and Lil Pump gave his speech at the event wearing a red MAGA hat. You can see video from that event below. (Trump also mistakenly called him "Lil Pimp" at the rally.)

However, that same year, The Daily Dot reported that Lil Pump had deleted a tweet he wrote in 2016 that said "F--k Donald Trump" after it resurfaced and went viral on Twitter.

Thank God, Donald Trump won because if not, I wouldve left the country  Lil Pump (@lilpump) November 6, 2024

Among Lil Pump's subsequent X posts for Election Day 2024, he continued, "Thank God, Donald Trump won because if he didnt we were going to World War III."

I was the only one that that stood my neck out for Donald Trump as a rapper. Everybody was bashing the fuck out of me now look  Lil Pump (@lilpump) November 6, 2024

Read more: Roseanne Barr Admits She Voted Wearing Just a Bra After Being Asked to Remove Trump Shirt

He also wrote, "I was the only one that that stood my neck out for Donald Trump as a rapper. Everybody was bashing the f--k out of me now look," as well as, "They rigged the last selection, but this time they couldn't do it. They tried but failed now it's time to make American great again."

Everybody was so pussy to endorse Trump, but guess what I speak what was on my mind and I dont give a fuck  Lil Pump (@lilpump) November 6, 2024

He also said, "Everybody was so p--sy to endorse Trump, but guess what I speak what was on my mind and I don't give a f--k."

Article originally published on 'Music Times.'
Big Time Rush star Carlos PenaVega and his wife, Spy Kids actress Alexa PenaVega reveal how they spent the evening of the 2024 Presidential Election.

In an Instagram post celebrating President-elect Donald Trump's victory, the couple shared their 5-year-old song Kingston's interesting prayer request.

"Last night something special happened while putting Kingston to sleep. We had just ended our prayer and he asked if he could add a prayer for Donald Trump (we had all just been watching the election together). He began to pray a sweet prayer for him and then stopped and said 'I also want to pray for the people that are losing. I feel really badly for them.'"

They continued, "No wonder Jesus told us to be like little children. So unbelievably pure and caring. THAT is the America I know we can be. Regardless of our differences, LEAD WITH LOVE." Before monitoring and filtering comments, the couple received an outpouring of hate in response, finding the post to be tone-deaf amidst the post-election political climate.

The couple, who wed in 2014, has made social media a major avenue of their lives, sharing personal bits of their day-to-day as a family of five through YouTube family vlogs. Their Christian faith has been the centerpiece of all that they do, informing the social media post that ultimately led many to unfollow.

The parents don't seem to be bothered, as they're booked, busy, and rooted in their faith. Carlos is currently embarking on a national tour with Big Time Rush, in addition to making Christian music with his new band ANGELS + KINGS, alongside musician Alex Marshall.

Alexa is continuing to act, even starring alongside her husband in the Great American Family Network's upcoming holiday film, Get Him Back For Christmas.

In response to the public reaction to the couple's post, Carlos shared via Instagram story, "Makes me sad how so many people can write hurtful things about such an innocent and beautiful story."
Lil Scrappy is walking back his words of wanting his kids DNA tested and blasting Black Donald Trump supporters.

In an emotional Instagram Live session, the rapper offered a heartfelt apology to Erica Dixon and his ex-wife Bambi Benson, the mothers of his children.

"I have to apologize for saying certain things [...] I know my babies are my babies, they look like me, act like me when I was a baby, and they're mine, and I don't do all that," he began. "But I was on Instagram and I was talking s**t to people who was talking s**t to me on live. [...] Y'all see me with me kids, y'all see how I adore my kids, how my kids adore me. That's not even a real thought on getting them tested."

He added: "I'mma apologize to both of my kids' moms. Man, I'm sorry for any disrespect I ever caused y'all 'cause I know I've been disrespectful as f**k in the past years. It's a new year. I'm turning over a new leaf. But still. I know I've been disrespectful. I don't give a f**k if you disrespected me or not. I'm sorry."

The "No Problem" rapper expanded his apology beyond his children's mothers, addressing all women he may have wronged. Scrappy acknowledged his poor treatment of women in the past, holding himself accountable and committing to better behavior moving forward.

During the livestream, Scrappy, real name Darryl Raynard Richardson III, also discussed broader societal issues, referencing the backlash surrounding Remy Ma and Papoose's rumored infidelity as an example of gender bias.

Read more: Gypsy Rose Blanchard Confirms the Father of Her Baby After Divorce Drama

The 40-year-old urged listeners to prioritize unity and understanding, emphasizing the importance of building up both Black men and women, especially as parents. "How you gon' deplete a man, and you got a whole man you got to raise?" he asked. "You should be trying to build men up 'cause you got a whole son. The f**k is wrong with you? You should be trying to build women up. You got a whole daughter... a whole woman you gotta raise!"

Admitting to his past as a "whole f**k n***a," Scrappy said his behavior stemmed from pain and frustration but vowed to break the cycle and change for the better.

During his apology video, posted on Wednesday, November 6, the Atlanta, Georgia, native also addressed Black Trump supporters after Trump secured the 2024 presidential election on Tuesday, November 5.

"I want to hit on another fact, another thing I said, I want to apologize... I said, 'If you vote for Trump you ain't Black, we aint messing with you,' I shouldn't have said that," he added. "I should've said vote for who you voting for."

He captioned the video: "Just want to make this clear cause a lot of social media got if Fd up , I wasn't being serious but if I was that would be my choice and I Dnt have nothing against trump supporters that are black or any ethnicity your vote is your choice and your voice, and to those that voted blue cheer up God is the real true king and president keep praying and pushing."
Could the proposed re-sentencing and even possible parole of the Menendez brothers be up in the air now that a new Los Angeles County District Attorney has been elected?

George Gascon, the incumbent L.A. County D.A. who had recommended that Erik and Lyle Menendez be re-sentenced and made eligible for parole, was voted out in favor of incoming D.A. Nathan Hochman on Election Day in Los Angeles on Tuesday (Nov. 5).

Does that mean his recommendation for the Menendez brothers will now go unheeded?

The controversial brothers, 21 and 18 at the time, murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home in 1989. Erik initially claimed intruders were responsible as a potential mob hit, but after authorities investigated, their suspicions grew after the brothers lavishly spent their multimillion-dollar inheritance.

But earlier this year, Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story illustrated how the brother's actions also stemmed from a lifetime of alleged physical and emotional abuse.

As such, Gascon had announced his interest in reviewing the convictions of the Menendez brothers weeks after the Netflix series dropped and new evidence was submitted, backing up the allegations of the sexual abuse the siblings suffered at the hands of their own father.

Hochman came away with 61.3% of the vote in the Los Angeles elections on Tuesday, deftly defeating the incumbent, who had been in the position since 2020.

But the switch in D.A. doesn't necessarily mean the brothers will officially stay incarcerated, as OK! reported this week, with the magazine pointing out that it's ultimately up to the judge in the case to make any final decisions. (It also reported that Hochman had criticized Gascon for his "suspicious" timing in reviewing the case ahead of the election.)

At a press conference last month, via Lawyer Herald, Gascon cautioned, "There's people in the office that strongly believe the Menendez brothers should stay in prison for the rest of their life. They do not believe they were molested."

However, he added, "After careful review... [...] under the law, resentencing is appropriate, and I'm going to recommend that to the court tomorrow. What that means in this case, [...] life without the possibility of parole will be removed."
As medical supplies arrived in communities devastated by flash floods in eastern Spain, authorities advised those involved in the clean up operations to wear gloves and facemasks to protect themselves from potential infections.
SEWICKLEY, Pa.  Enter here you gorgeous bastard is the first greeting visitors are met with as they ascend the ramp to McLaughlin Distillery in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. For veteran business owner Kim McLaughlin, starting with a laugh is the best way to ensure a good moonshine-tasting experience.

McLaughlin grew up around moonshine and, after an unexpected turn of events, he was thrust into the world of distillery-making full-time. The opportunity turned out to be divine intervention and in 2016 McLaughlin Distillery officially opened.

Alongside serving laughs, moonshine and bourbon, McLaughlin makes it his mission to give back to his veteran community every year on Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day.

Its pretty cool having the Marines come in because once a Marine, always a Marine, McLaughlin said. I am really grateful as far as everybody thanks you for your service. But to me, it was an honor to serve.

McLaughlin Distillery

McLaughlin grew up with eight siblings on a small dairy farm in northern New York. After graduating high school, he joined the Marine Corps in 1976 and served on embassy duty for four years. He moved back to upstate New York in 1980 with the hopes of running his own dairy operation.

In 1983, he bought 300 acres of land to farm 200 acres of alfalfa and milk 120 Holsteins cows. In the beginning, he sold the milk to local milk processors but eventually transitioned into running his own processing and bottling operation.

But, with no one to take over the dairy farm, he sold it in 2006 to embark on a new journey working for the oil and gas industry in western Pennsylvania. McLaughlin plugged wells for 10 years before he felt another calling: making neutral grain spirits, also known as moonshine.

In the midst of constructing the facility and brewing his first few batches of moonshine, McLaughlin was laid off from the oil and gas industry in 2016. But this would only ignite his passion and focus for making spirits.

Right after I got my last permit, 10 days later, I got laid off. So it pushed me into it, kind of like divine intervention, McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin Distillery officially opened its doors in 2016, selling three different types of clear spirits.

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For the first couple of years, the distillery could only deliver its products. But today, the distillery sells bottles in-house as well as offers tours, cocktail classes and in-store and home tastings.

Its menu has also expanded, which includes 42 different types of moonshines, bourbons and vodka. All of McLaughlins products are made from a moonshine base, which uses corn from Heritage Cooperative in Columbiana County, Ohio. He also makes maple syrup for his Maple Flavored Whiskey and Bourbon Barrel-aged Maple Syrup.

McLaughlin recently won a double gold medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for his Creamy Limoncello Moonshine and a gold medal in the same contest for his Cask Strength Baby Barrel Whiskey.

Alongside making award-winning moonshine and bourbons, McLaughlin likes to honor his fellow veterans. Since the distillery opened, he has given Marines and veterans a free bottle of vodka on Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day.

McLaughlin gave away less than 20 bottles when it first started. Today, he gives away 200-300 bottles.

On Marine Corps birthday, you have different generations, the grandfather, the father, the son and the grandson, all Marines come in at the same time. And of course, all of them think theyve had it the worst, McLaughlin laughs. But then everybodys talking Hey, whered you serve? We have a lot of fun with it, thats a couple of the nicest days of the year.

McLaughlin Distillery, 3799 Blackburn Road, Sewickley, Pennsylvania, is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.mclaughlindistillery.com/.

Park Family Farms Distillery

Inspired by the love of his family history and other veteran-owned distilleries, Nick Park opened Park Family Farms Distillery in 2021 with help from his cousins Jesse and Allen Park and his dad Bill Park. The distillery is located on his familys farm in Stahlstown, Pennsylvania, where they currently grow hay. The Park farm dates back to 1912 and still contains the original farmhouse.

However, the Park family history in Pennsylvania dates back even further than the 20th century, to Nicks great great great great great grandfather Zebulon Park who served in the Revolutionary War at Valley Forge.

For his service, he was given a land grant in western Pennsylvania. He died in Westmoreland County and was buried about one mile from where the distillery is today.

Were really proud of our family history, Nick said. Our name used to be Park with an e, thats the old English spelling. Cornelius Park, a couple of generations after Zebulon, hated the British so much that he dropped the E.

Following in his fifth great-grandfathers footsteps, Nick and Jesse both joined the military. Nick, an active duty Army officer, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh ROTC program in 2011, and after attending army training school from 2011-2013, he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 for a year.

Nick conceived the idea of opening a distillery with his cousins in 2016 while stationed at Fort Campbell near the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Nick and his cousins began clearing out the warehouse in Stahlstown and applied for an LLC.

But the venture was put on pause while Nick was stationed in Hawaii for four years. He moved back to western Pennsylvania in 2021 when he was stationed in Pittsburgh. The close proximity allowed Nick and his family to continue setting up the distillery.

To do this, they converted their uncles old sawmill building into a tasting room and warehouse. The distillery officially opened in late 2021, and is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for tasting and bottle sales. Park Family Farms Distillery also travels to festivals in Somerset County and Westmoreland County to sell their products.

All of the distillerys bourbons are made from grain. Its first whiskey, called Ridge Water, was made from 80% corn, 20% malted barley and water from a fresh spring on the property.

Its second whiskey, Stahlstown Tea Party, represents Nicks ties to Zebulon Park and the Revolutionary War. The whiskey is made using Bohea tea, a popular tea prior to the Revolutionary War, which was the most tea, by volume, thrown into the Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party.

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Today, Park Family Farms Distillery sells four different types of whiskey and is currently aging four more whiskeys, including a single malt oat whiskey, a coffee bourbon sourced from a local coffee shop and a mint bourbon from mint grown on the farm.

The distillery is a certified PA-Preferred business, meaning all of its ingredients are locally sourced in the state. Its malted barley comes from Dancing Star Farm in Somerset, Pennsylvania, is malted by CNC Malt in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the corn comes from various farms in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania.

Nick recognizes hes no expert in making bourbon, which has come with a learning curve, but hes ambitious for the future. He has plans to expand into Allegheny County, sell his products in more stores, turn the old farmhouse into a tasting room and one day grow his own grains.

On top of everything else, Nick is proud to be a veteran business owner.

I like to put veteran-owned business on all of our products, and its not because I want to sell more products because I served, or my cousin served. It is a matter of pride, Park said. It doesnt mean like, hey, buy this because I served, so give me your money. It means that that work ethic and that level of service is in that product, and I try to build that into all of the things that we do.

Park Family Farms Distillery is located at 3891 PA-130, Stahlstown, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit https://www.parkfarmsdistillery.com/.

(Liz Partsch can be reached at epartsch@farmanddairy.com or 330-337-3419.)
A campaign exposing misleading 'farmwashing' practices adopted by retailers, who are 'exploiting' farmers with fake farm brands, has received overwhelming public support.

Over 11,000 people have sent letters to their MPs to express concern over this supermarket practice, after an industry campaign was launched in late September.

The aim of it is to expose farmwashing - the use of fake farm brands and British flags to give shoppers a false impression of local, family-farmed produce.

However, campaigners warn that many of the products are increasingly being sourced from US mega farms and is masking the decline of Britains family farms.

The campaign was launched by organic veg box company Riverford, led by founder and farmer Guy Singh-Watson.

The farm's research showed that 61% of farmers are concerned they will have to give up their farms within the next 18 months.

Despite claims from the UKs Big Six supermarkets of supporting British farmers to the tune of billions, only 1 in 4 (25%) farmers believe these claims are credible and backed up by supermarket buying behaviour.

Guy Singh-Watson said the publics response to the 'Farmers Against Farmwashing' campaign showed how much people cared about where their food came from.

He said: Over 11,000 letters have already been sent to MPs, demanding tighter regulation of supermarkets and better protection for farmers.

"This supportfrom the public, industry experts, and farmers alikeproves people care deeply about the future of British food and want a fairer, more honest system.

Weve got a real opportunity for change. Its time for supermarkets and the new government to listen and act so British farms can thrive, not just survive.

The launch of the campaign was supported by an open letter addressed to the CEOs of the Big Six supermarkets, calling for an end to the practice of farmwashing.

The letter asked for retailers to honour their promises of supporting British farmers with better buying practices, especially the smaller-scale family farms who are 'struggling to survive'.

Will White, sustainable farming co-ordinator at Sustain, said the new Labour government must act swiftly to ensure a fairer deal for farmers.

"A crucial step would be addressing the broken food supply chain regulations. Farmers deserve fair compensation for the risks they take to produce the food we all depend on.

"With over 11,000 letters sent to MPs urging action on supermarket behaviour, it's clear that the public deeply cares about the livelihoods of farmers.

"And with 61% of farmers fearing they could go out of business within the next 18 months, theres no time to waste.
Defra has announced it will proceed with the appointment of a commissioner for the tenant farming sector in England following industry lobbying.

Defra said that the commissioner would largely be looking at dealing with complaints on a confidential basis and would report to the Farm Tenancy Forum.

The expectation is that the identity of the new commissioner will be announced in the spring of next year following an open competition.

Depending on the workload, it is envisaged that the new commissioner will work between three and five days per week.

The idea for the appointment of a commissioner came from the recommendations of the Rock Review into agricultural tenancies, conducted by Baroness Kate Rock in 2022.

That recommendation was accepted by the previous government, which announced that it would proceed with the appointment of a commissioner this year.

However, the subsequent calling of the election put that on hold. Nevertheless, the idea to appoint a commissioner did have cross-party support.

Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner said today: Food security is national security  and tenant farmers are essential to our countrys food production.

That is why I am delighted to confirm that this government will appoint a commissioner to advocate for the tenant farming sector.

I look forward to working alongside our new commissioner, tenants, landlords and the wider industry to boost Britain's food security and support natures recovery.

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) said it was 'delighted' with the announcement, especially after a 'dark week' following the autumn budget.

TFA chief executive, George Dunn said: Following the publication of the code of conduct for landlord/tenant relationships within agriculture, it was vital that government took the extra step of appointing a commissioner to oversee that code."

Mr Dunn said he hoped the individual appointed would display similar characteristics to the current incumbent of the role in Scotland, Bob McIntosh.

Bob McIntosh has shown what can be achieved in what has been a pretty fraught landlord/tenant environment north of the border," Mr Dunn explained.

"And with a TFA survey concluding that 30% of tenants felt bullied or harassed by their landlords and 37% by their landlords agents, clearly there is some very important work to do south of the border.

"The TFA looks forward to working with whoever Defra appoints to this important role to ensure we have a resilient and fair landlord tenant sector within agriculture for England."

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said it was crucial for the tenant sector that the commissioner was independent from Defra, as well as fair and balanced for landlords, agents and tenants.

It added: The commissioner must be a well-respected neutral party with a good understanding of the agricultural world, and have the resources to properly assess any cases that reach them.
The Conservative Party has confirmed that former Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has now become the Shadow Defra Secretary, replacing Steve Barclay.

The MP for Louth & Horncastle in Lincolnshire takes up the role following the election of Kemi Badenoch as the party's new leader.

Speaking on social media, Ms Atkins said he was delighted' to become the Shadow Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

She added: "Labour's Budget of broken promises will hurt rural and coastal Britain and has shown that Labour does not understand the pressures we face.

"I look forward to holding them to account on food security, climate change, flooding and the survival of family farms."

I am delighted to be the new Shadow Sec for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Labour's Budget of broken promises will hurt rural and coastal Britain and has shown that Labour does not understand the pressures we face.

I look forward to holding them to account on food  Victoria Atkins (@VictoriaAtkins) November 5, 2024

Meanwhile, Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore, who is also a farmer, has been reappointed to the role of Farming Minister.

He said on social media: "Having spent my whole life in the sector, delighted to be reappointed Shadow Farming & Rural Affairs Minister working with Victoria Atkins.

Having spent my whole life in the sector, delighted to be reappointed Shadow Farming & Rural Affairs Minister working with @VictoriaAtkins as our new Shadow DEFRA Sec of State.

We will work tirelessly holding this Labour Gov to account, backing our farmers every step of the way.  Robbie Moore MP (@_RobbieMoore) November 5, 2024

"We will work tirelessly holding this Labour gov to account, backing our farmers every step of the way."
Farmers in Scotland have organised a rally in late November outside the Scottish parliament to send a message of the importance of the industry.

NFU Scotland has today unveiled plans for the Holyrood rally after the UK government 'threatened' food production and farming businesses with its budget.

The protest will take place outside the Scottish parliament on 28 November, ahead of the Scottish governments own budget which is due to take place on 4 December.

The union also confirmed it would be attending the rally in central London, which is being organised by the NFU, on 19 November.

NFU Scotlands President Martin Kennedy has called on all members and the wider agricultural industry to support both events.

"We are organising a rally to send a clear message to the Scottish government about the importance of securing future, multi-annual, ring-fenced funding for Scottish agriculture," he said.

"Our rally will highlight all that farmers and crofters deliver, including high-quality food production, climate and nature restoration, and thriving rural communities.

The Scottish government and parliament now have a real opportunity to demonstrate that they do understand and will fully support a thriving Scottish agriculture sector."

NFU Scotland said it would be sending its presidential team and board of directors to Westminster to join the other UK farming unions on 19 November in London.

Concerns mainly centre on the 'devastating' reform of agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) announced in last weeks budget.
The Book

The Book and the Knife: Thegn of Berewic by Paul Cobb

In 1031, an Arab scientist, a Jewish astronomer and a Christian monk gather under the dome of an observatory in Spain.

A foretelling written on the blade of a knife tells of a new ruler, whose power will come from the knowledge in a centuries old book. As its guardians begin to covet this knowledge for themselves, the book is drawn into the conflict between the houses of Wessex and Godwin, and Englands destiny. It will carry a secret at the heart of the succession to the English throne. But the book is in danger, from those who will use it for the wealth and power it can bring  or who want to destroy it.

From Spain to Normandy and England, The Book and the Knife: Thegn of Berewic is the story of the power of knowledge, of a generationspanning blood feud, and of the struggle for control of England before the Norman invasion of 1066. A story of loyalty and treachery, love and hate.

The Author

Author Paul Cobb

Paul Cobb grew up on a farm in the Yorkshire Dales and lives in Kent. After studying languages and environmental science he worked as a farm conservation adviser for 40 years, helping farmers look after the countryside, in England and some of the time in France. Paul has also published poetry and is a former magazine columnist. You can find out more by looking at Pauls website: https://paulcobb.com

How The Book Came About

Paul explains: The Book & The Knife began with an image I couldnt get out of my head; a country devastated in a single day, leaving its future in the hands of an occupying army. But where, and when? I went to Battle in Sussex, and found the answer was close to home; it had to be England, on the 14th of October 1066. Now it all fell into place  the story of a book of wisdom, of a knife with a strange foretelling on its blade, and of the 50year struggle between two families that leads up to that October day, and that begins in Thegn of Berewic.

Im a farmer by birth, a conservationist by profession and a historian by interest. I have lived and worked in my characters landscapes, in Sussex and Kent and Normandy, and the Book & The Knife series will take my characters to Yorkshire and the Fens, places of my childhood and youth. I know the hills and vales, the tracks and fields, the woods and streams, the towns and abbeys. I see them as they would have been a thousand years ago, and I enjoy weaving my fictional characters around these landscapes as much as around the real figures from history.

RELEASE DATE: 28/11/2024 ISBN: 9781836280699 Price: 10.99

What We Thought

Powerful medieval book that becomes caught up in the struggle between the two leading English families of the time and leads to the follow up of the Norman invasion of 1066. Fiction based around real events and historical figures a perfect novel for lovers of historical adventures, an enthralling read.

Female First

by Matt Shine for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Brooklyn Beckham loves going on double dates with Selena Gomez and her boyfriend Benny Blanco.

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz tied the knot in 2022

The 25-year-old star and his wife, actress Nicola Peltz, are both close friends of Selena, and Brooklyn has revealed that they relish spending time with the brunette beauty and her record producer boyfriend.

During an appearance on 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen After Show', Brooklyn shared: "I love them both. They're both so amazing.

"We've gone on a few double dates with them. Me and Benny cook and Selena and Nicola just sit and wait."

Asked what they serve up for their double dates, Brooklyn replied: "He makes a really good cheeseburger.

"For the girls, they have pasta and fish sometimes. Whatever they're feeling."

In October, Brooklyn took to social media to celebrate his latest anniversary.

The designer - who is the son of David and Victoria Beckham - admitted that he feels like the "luckiest guy in the world" to be married to Nicola.

Brooklyn - who tied the knot in 2022 - wrote on Instagram: "Happy anniversary baby xx Im the luckiest guy in the world to have you by my side everyday and wake up to your gorgeous face everyday xx I love you with all my heart (sic)"

Nicola also took to Instagram to celebrate the occasion.

The 29-year-old actress - who got engaged to Brooklyn in 2020 - posted a bouquet of white roses on the photo-sharing platform.

The 'Last Airbender' star - who is the daughter of billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz and model Claudia Heffner - captioned the snap on Instagram: "I love you so much."
Christina Applegate says her daughter was "sobbing" after Donald Trump won the election.

Christina Applegate has reacted to the Donald Trump victory

The 52-year-old actress - who has Sadie Grace, 13, with ex Johnathon Schaech - has urged fans to "unfollow" her on social media if they disagree with her over the reaction to Trump beating Kamala Harris to secure an historic return to the White House for a second non-consecutive term.

She wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Why? Give me your reasons why?????

"My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away. Why?And if you disagree , please unfollow me. (sic)"

Iconic horror writer Stephen King described Trump's victory as an attack on democracy.

He wrote: "Theres a sign you can see in many shops that sell beautiful but fragile items: LOVELY TO LOOK AT, DELIGHTFUL TO HOLD, BUT ONCE YOU BREAK IT, THEN ITS SOLD. You can say the same about democracy. (sic)"

While British author Philip Pullman, the writer behind the 'His Dark Materials' books, said: "Goodbye, America. It was nice knowing you.

'The Wire' actor Wendell Pierce warned that Trump's victory could have serious "consequences" as he gains control of the Supreme Court.

He added: The damage he is about to inflict on our institutions in the next two years will be irreparable.

'Hunger Games' and 'Westworld' star Jeffrey Wright was surprised by the results, after claiming before the results that America was "not as crazy as Trump".

He said: "Let me just say I was wrong. 

YouTuber and boxer Jake Paul disagreed, branding Trump's victory a "step in the right direction".

He wrote: "A massive step in the right direction to heal the major issues going on in the world currently."

Trump declared victory in a speech at his watch party in Florida.

He told his supporters: "I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president."

Trump also vowed to "help our country heal", insisting he would fix the borders.
Donald Trump is projected to have won the United States presidency.

Donald Trump is the next US President

The 78-year-old businessman turned politician is expected to have claimed Wisconsin to earn 276 electoral college votes, which is more than the 270 needed to win the election overall.

Trump declared victory in a speech at his watch party in Florida, saying: "I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president."

The former president - who was the 45th man in the White House - is projected to be returning for another term, as reported by CBS.

He added: "This is a magnificent victory for the American people, that will allow us to make America great again."

Trump also vowed to "help our country heal", insisting he would fix the borders.

During his speech, he described X owner Elon Musk as a "new star" of the Republican Party.

UFC boss Dana White appeared on stage, and insisted Trump "deserves" his victory over Democrat candidate Kamala Harris.

He said: "He keeps going forward. Never quits."

Politicians around the world have spoken out to congratulate Trump on hist victory, including the UK's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

He said: "I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban added: "The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!"

French President Emmanuel Macron insisted he is "ready to work together" with Trump for a second time, after his initial spell in the White House from 2016 to 2020.

And Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky congratulated Trump, praising his dedication to "peace through strength" as he insisted that commitment will "bring a just peace in Ukraine closer".
World leaders hail CIIE's role in promoting trade, development

Xinhua) 13:04, November 06, 2024

SHANGHAI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from various countries and global organizations speak highly of the China International Import Expo's (CIIE) role in promoting multilateral trade and common development.

The seventh CIIE, running from Tuesday to Sunday in Shanghai, hosts 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions, as a world business gala.

World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala noted that since joining the WTO in 2001, China has been a strong supporter of the organization and played a key role in building capacity for least-developed countries.

"As geopolitical tensions intensify and signs of fracturing and fragmentation emerge in global trade and investment, it is crucial for political and business leaders around the world to collaborate on preserving and reforming the multilateral trading system to reflect the changing economic landscape," she said.

Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, said China's export and import activities have dramatic effects "even very far from its shores."

The expo sent a message of openness that businesses worldwide can connect, forge partnerships, and contribute to a more prosperous and interconnected global economy, she said.

The CIIE offers companies worldwide, regardless of their sizes, a platform to showcase their capabilities and attract new investments, said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Multinational cooperation for free trade and sustainability should serve as a tool to actively advance global progress, rather than as a means to suppress competition, promote unfair advantages, or create conflict, he said.

Calling the CIIE a platform to support international trade development, cooperation, and new types of global partnerships, Denisa Sakova, deputy prime minister and minister of economy of the Slovak Republic, said her country has benefited greatly from participating in the expo, a place to showcase best and latest products and innovations to Chinese consumers.

The CIIE has become an important platform for strengthening international economic integration, said Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. For Kazakhstan, the expo helps to expand international cooperation with foreign partners and offers new opportunities for distributing Kazakh goods in international markets.

Uzbekistan is taking advantage of opportunities such as the CIIE and striving to promote its position in the rapidly growing and attractive Chinese market, which will definitely deepen cooperation and development in trade, economy, investment, and other areas, said Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov.

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said that as a platform for enterprises, people, and cultures to come together from around the world, the CIIE fosters not only business and commerce but also friendship and mutual understanding.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Adrian Grenier is set to become a dad again.

Adrian Grenier is set to become a dad for a second time

The 48-year-old actor - who is best known for playing Vincent Chase in the hit TV series 'Entourage' - and his wife Jordan Roemmele have announced that they're expecting their second child together.

Jordan - who already has a 16-month-old son called Seiko with the actor - wrote on Instagram: "Overjoyed for our incoming [baby chick emoji] #springbaby #babyannouncement #roundtwo #bigbrother #surprisegender #momanddad (sic)"

Jordan - who married Adrian in 2022 - also posted a photo of her growing baby bump online. However, the loved-up couple haven't yet revealed the gender of their new baby.

Despite this, Adrian previously admitted that he's relished the challenge of fatherhood.

The actor acknowledged that his lifestyle has changed dramatically since he became a dad for the first time.

During an appearance on 'Today with Hoda and Jenna', Adrian said: "I was flying high for many years, two decades in Hollywood and growing up in New York and I live a much more grounded lifestyle now.

"I decided I was going to live closer to nature and commit to my wife and have a family, and have a child, which Im so excited about."

The actor revealed that he's already built a strong bond with his son, admitting that he feels "so proud" of his baby boy.

He explained: "I dont know if my body can contain the love. I need more [space]. Its so expansive that I feel like my body is going to burst. Im so in love with this kid. Hes just absolutely beautiful. And Im so proud of him already and all he does is poop."
Chrishell Stause hit back after she was accused of being paid to say she voted for Kamala Harris.

Chrishell Stause insists she was never paid to say she voted for Kamala Harris

The 'Selling Sunset' star took to social media to share that she had voted for the Democrat in the 2024 US election on Tuesday (05.11.24) and branded accusations she received money for her support of Kamala "a joke".

The 43-year-old realtor refused to name Kamalas Republican rival Donald Trump and said she would never give him her vote because of his lack of respect for women rights and LGBTQ+ rights.

She wrote on her Instagram Story: "You know how I voted. The accusations of some that I was in any way paid to say that is a joke.

"As in in any realm of any world, I would EVER vote for he who shall not be named is ridiculous.

"Putting a man in charge of women's health, walking back women's rights and LGBTQ rights. Absolutely NOT."

Chrishell - who is married to rapper G Flip - had posted to the social media app to remind Americans to cast their votes and reeled off the reasons why she would be voting for Kamala over Trump.

She wrote alongside pictures of herself holding paddle boards with "vote" on them: "Make sure you're registered and ready to vote by November 5thour rights and our future depend on it.

"Stances on a women's right to govern her own body and access to healthcare, IVF, contraception, Plan B, LGBTQ+ rights, lowering healthcare costs, and taxing the rich to pay their fair share for the greater good are a few of the reasons I will be voting for @KamalaHarris.

"Politicians work for us, and so although I am voting for Kamala, that doesn't mean I back every policy she has ever had or may have.

"It means I've done my research and I believe she is easily the best candidate to lead our country to a brighter future.

"I love my country and I am sending love to you even if we disagree."
Paul Rudd went viral after he handed out bottles of water to queuing US election voters in Pennsylvania.

Paul Rudd handed out bottles of water to those queuing to vote in the US election

The Marvel star, 55, wanted to do his bit to support those voting at Temple University in Philadelphia on Tuesday (05.11.24) and admitted it was "wonderful" to see so many young students casting their votes.

Speaking to news outlet MSNBC, he said: Weve been doing lots of stuff today here in Pennsylvania and we wanted to come out and tell these students theyre doing really great things.

I just wanted to give people water.

Theyre waiting in line for a long time, and its a wonderful thing that all these young people are out voting.

Asked about the election, he smiled: I feel good about handing out some waters.

The 'Ant-Man' star previously handed out sweet treats to voters in 2020 at the Barclays Centre in New York, when President Joe Biden beat Donald Trump.

Several other celebrities showed their support for young voters by FaceTiming them.

Actress Jennifer Garner, 52, jumped on video call to students at Villanova University, 'Frozen' star Josh Gad, 43, at Lehigh University, and pop star Demi Lovato, 32, at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Republican Donald Trump, 78 - who was previously in office from 2017 until 2021  beat Democrat Kamala Harris, 60, in a landslide vote and will become the 47th president when he is sworn in on January 20, 2025.
Dr Karan Gupta stands as a beacon of hope and guidance for aspiring students, particularly looking to study abroad at Ivy League universities. In a world where education is often the key to unlocking a better future,stands as a beacon of hope and guidance for aspiring students, particularly looking to study abroad at Ivy League universities.

Each year, his students get admission to the world's best universities including all Ivy Leagues universities in the US.





View this post on Instagram A post shared by Femina (@feminaindia)

This commitment to womens rights is reflected in his educational work, where he has provided scholarships to underprivileged women and girls. He firmly believes that education is the most powerful tool for uplifting communities and achieving gender equality: When you educate a girl, you educate an entire generation. Ive seen firsthand how access to education transforms lives.

Dr. Guptas journey into education counselling was born from his recognition of a critical gap in accessible, high-quality guidance for students aspiring to study overseas. Through his organisations, Karan Gupta Consulting and the Karan Gupta Education Foundation (KGEF), established in 1999, he has guided over 50,000 students toward success in global education and provided over 92,000 students access to primary education. What sets him apart is his holistic approach to education; he believes in nurturing the entire individual. His services extend beyond mere admissions assistance to encompass career guidance, scholarship advice, visa application support, and interview preparation.When asked about his motivation, Dr Gupta shared, The joy of watching students succeed is unmatched. When they return with stories of growth and achievement, I know my work is making a real difference. His extensive knowledge and personal commitment have made him a trusted figure for aspiring international students, especially in a landscape that can often feel overwhelming.However, his contributions extend far beyond education consulting. His foundation is deeply committed to social causes, particularly womens empowerment. One of his key initiatives, I Am Woman, celebrates women who have made significant contributions across various fields. This initiative has honoured notable personalities like Sonali Bendre, Sonam Kapoor, and Sushmita Sen, recognizing their efforts in empowering others. The I Am Woman initiative started because I realised the lack of recognition women often face, despite their immense contributions to society, he explained. I wanted to create a platform where these unsung heroes could be celebrated and recognized for their work.His remarkable efforts have garnered numerous accolades, including recognition from Wharton Business School and Times of India for his outstanding service in education. His global influence has also been recognized with awards from international platforms, such as the World Leaders Asia Award in London.A key highlight of Dr. Guptas work is his belief in the role of technology in shaping education and empowerment. He advocates for integrating tools like artificial intelligence in learning, which has proven essential in democratising access to global education opportunities.Ahead, find excerpts from an exclusive Q&A with Dr Karan Gupta:Getting into an Ivy League school is extremely competitive. My approach is personalised  starting with understanding the students strengths, interests, and unique story. We then focus on building a compelling application through strong essays, standout extracurriculars, and academic excellence. I help students not only navigate the admissions process but also prepare for interviews, ensuring they present their best selves to the admissions committee.Scholarships are available if you know where to look. My consulting firm and foundation have helped many students, especially women, secure scholarships and financial aid. Dont let financial barriers stop you from dreaming big. Seek guidance, research opportunities, and be persistent.It celebrates women who have broken barriers and inspired change. The stories of resilience and success that we showcase inspire others, and the ripple effect is tremendous. Women need platforms that highlight their achievements and empower others to follow suit.We plan to expand the scope of KGEF by offering even more scholarships and making career counselling accessible to more students from underprivileged backgrounds. As for I Am Woman, I want to take it global. Womens empowerment is a global issue, and we need to foster a network of strong women who support and uplift each other.Whether hes guiding a student to the university of their dreams or empowering women to break new ground, Dr Karan Guptas impact is tangible and far-reaching. He embodies the power of education, empathy, and action in transforming the world one student and one cause at a time.
Critic's rating 3.0 /5

Produced by the Russo brothers and directed by Raj and DK, Citadel: Honey Bunny expands the scope of the Citadel spy universe, taking us to India in a prequel that tells the story of a young Nadias parents. We follow Honey (Samantha Ruth Prabhu), an aspiring actress, and Bunny (Varun Dhawan), a film stuntman, as they navigate a world of secrets and betrayals. As their violent past catches up with them, they must do everything they can to protect their daughter.



Honey Bunny is more of a love story than a series about spycraft. It could also be described as a series about parenting. Honey does a wonderful job of raising her daughter single-handedly. Nadia is fearless, just like her namesakethe famous Fearless Nadia of '30s stunt films. Shes fluent in three languages, well-versed in karate, and calm and controlled in situations that would give an adult a headache. Kashvi Majumdar, portraying Nadia, adds a layer of credibility to the series. Unlike many child actors who can seem unconvincing when asked to play characters beyond their years, Kashvi brings a maturity and charm to Nadia that feels entirely natural. Her portrayal of the characters confidence, especially as she gradually learns about the complex world her parents inhabit, is effortlessly convincing. Her scenes with Samantha Ruth Prabhu are a joy to watch, and we wish there were more moments of Kashvi and Varun Dhawan togethersadly, these occur only in the sixth and final episode of season one. As mentioned earlier, it's a love story framed within the ever-shifting dynamics of the spy world. The romance between Honey and Bunny, which should have served as the emotional anchor for the series, is, unfortunately, underdeveloped. The lack of depth in their relationship makes it difficult to care about their struggles on a deeper level.



Baba (Kay Kay Menon) plays mentor to both Bunny and KD (Saqib Saleem) as well as other orphaned children. He runs a semi-military organisation with a global reachthough it is unclear who is funding him or what his motivations are. Until a certain point in the series, we arent sure of its morals. Then theres another organisation, run by Zooni (Simran), which supposedly counters their moves. However, the mystery soon fizzles out due to an over-reliance on tired spy tropes, making everything feel achingly predictable. Much better writing was expected from Raj, DK, and their team, who were so successful with The Family Mana similar product where an agent tries to live a normal life when not hunting criminals. And whats with the low lighting, which neither does justice to the proceedings nor to the good-looking cast? Thankfully, the action is top-class. It might be better to watch it at 2x speed and then slow it down to normal during the action scenes. The sequence where Bunny and a colleague decimate an entire army unit is slick as hell, Honeys one-on-one fights are choreographed well, and the climax, where Honey and Bunny face off against wave after wave of enemy soldiers, is the real highlight of the series.



While the plot fails to inject anything particularly fresh or exciting into the spy genre, the actors succeed in making the story watchable. Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan deliver compelling performances, displaying great chemistry that helps carry the show through its more uninspired moments. Samantha, in particular, brings both vulnerability and strength to her role as Honey, while Varun navigates the character of Bunny with an emotional undercurrent. Kay Kay Menon delivers a standout performance as the antagonist. Known for his ability to bring nuance to complex characters, his portrayal here is no different. His performance is one of the few aspects of the series that feels carefully crafted. Saqib Saleem comes into his own in the last episode, while Sikander Kher makes his presence felt as the good soldier. Simran, unfortunately, is vastly underutilised.



Ultimately, Citadel: Honey Bunny feels like a missed opportunity. Despite the potential for an exciting and original addition to the Citadel franchise, the series gets bogged down by tired spy tropes and a lack of an innovative narrative. The cast does its best to elevate the material, but its hard to overcome a script that never quite rises to the occasion. The nonlinear storytelling doesnt help either. Watch it for its creatively shot action sequences and for the chemistry between Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan, as well as the performances from Kashvi and Kay Kay. The series is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

TRAILER : Citadel: Honey Bunny
SOUTHLAKE, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 5, 2024 / Transition Capital Partners ("TCP") is pleased to announce the acquisition of Port Arthur Texas Tank ("PAT Tank"), a provider of repair, maintenance and fabrication services for above ground liquid storage tanks ("ASTs"), located in Port Arthur, Texas. TCP partnered with the management team and Plexus Capital. This transaction marks TCP's eighth investment with Plexus Capital, who provided debt and an equity co-investment to support the acquisition.

About PAT Tank:

PAT Tank is a leading, turnkey provider of repair, maintenance and fabrication services for above ground liquid storage tanks ("ASTs") to a variety of industrial end markets across the United States. The Company's capabilities include design, fabrication, delivery, installation and coating services. The Company is ideally positioned in the heart of the Gulf Coast with ready access to the most highly concentrated region for hydrocarbon ASTs in the U.S.

To learn more please visit www.pattank.com

About Transition Capital Partners:

TCP is a Southlake, TX-based private equity investment firm. Founded in 1993, TCP has successfully invested in over 50 middle market companies spanning a diverse array of industries. TCP partners with management teams to build sustainable value in businesses over the long term. With three decades of proven success, we have a long track record of collaborating with our partners to accelerate the growth of middle market companies.

To learn more, please visit www.tcplp.com

Contact Information

Jace Foskey

Associate

jace@tcplp.com

SOURCE: Transition Capital Partners, LLC

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Nium becomes first fintech to join the blockchain-based network, enabling faster cross-border payments, added market reach, and greater transaction transparency

SINGAPORE, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nium, the leading global infrastructure for real-time cross-border payments, today announced a partnership with Partior, the blockchain-based fintech for clearing and settlement at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2024. The partnership makes Nium the first fintech payment service provider (PSP) on the Partior network. Financial institutions will be able to connect with Nium via Partior for 24x7, transparent, real-time payouts, clearing, and settlement to over 100 markets worldwide. Importantly, the connection will require no additional API integration work, streamlining what historically took months of resource-intensive work.

This new partnership builds on Nium's recent strategy to connect more networks to its real-time payments' infrastructure. By joining the Partior network, Nium is extending its connectivity to one of the most innovative networks in the industry. Partior's blockchain-powered platform effectively resolves longstanding inefficiencies in global payments, such as settlement delays, high costs, and limited transaction transparency. In today's global landscape, where companies operate around the clock, effective liquidity management is essential for both corporate and financial institutions. This collaboration allows Nium to offer its clients the ability to execute real-time multi-currency payments and Payments versus Payments (PvP) settlements, further simplifying access to its global payments network.

"Nium's partnership with Partior brings us closer to becoming the most connected payments network globally. By integrating with advanced networks, such as Partior, we are ensuring that financial institutions can quickly and easily access our real-time payments infrastructure without the need for complex technical integrations," said Alexandra Johnson, Chief Payments Officer at Nium. "Recognizing how resource-constrained financial institutions are, we're eliminating barriers to using our network and increasing interoperability to deliver on our mission of having seamless and streamlined real-time payments to anyone, anywhere."

Humphrey Valenbreder, Chief Executive Officer at Partior said, "Partnering with Nium marks a significant step in our journey to further advance the global payments landscape. By combining Partior's real-time blockchain settlement network with Nium's vast global reach, we're empowering financial institutions to break down long-standing barriers. Imagine a world where cross-border payments are instantaneous, transparent, and accessible to all. This is the future we're building together."

As part of its continued expansion, Nium's partnership with Partior enhances its ability to facilitate frictionless global transactions and unlock new services such as intra-day FX swaps, cross-currency repos, programmable enterprise liquidity management, and Just-in-Time multi-bank payments for financial institutions worldwide.

Nium's growing network, supported by these strategic partnerships, is setting a new standard for how financial institutions can access and benefit from global payments, paving the way for a more efficient and transparent financial ecosystem.

About Nium

Nium, the leading global infrastructure for real-time cross-border payments, was founded on the mission to deliver the global payments infrastructure of tomorrow, today. With the onset of the global economy, its payments infrastructure is shaping how banks, fintechs, and businesses everywhere collect, convert, and disburse funds instantly across borders. Its payout network supports 100 currencies and spans 220+ markets, 100 of which in real-time. Funds can be disbursed to accounts, wallets, and cards and collected locally in 40 markets. Nium's growing card issuance business is already available in 34 countries. Nium holds regulatory licenses and authorizations in more than 40 countries, enabling seamless onboarding, rapid integration, and compliance - independent of geography. The company is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore.

About Partior

Partior, the blockchain-based fintech for clearing and settlement, is redefining the way value moves globally. Founded in 2021, Partior is backed by founding shareholders DBS, J.P. Morgan, Standard Chartered, and Temasek, and Series B lead investor Peak XV. Partior is addressing the operating inefficiencies experienced by industry players, including settlement delays, limited transaction transparency and high operating costs, and facilitates the movement of liquidity for financial institutions and their customers. Its network offers real-time multi-currency payments, and Payments versus Payments (PvP) settlement. Additionally, it is exploring new services including Intra-day swaps, Delivery versus Payments (DvP) settlement and enterprise solutions.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1678669/5007806/Nium_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nium-and-partior-partner-on-real-time-cross-border-payments-clearing-and-settlement-302296465.html
HIGHLIGHTS

Agreement signed to acquire the Glenburgh Gold Project and the Mt Egerton Gold Project, located in Western Australia, from Spartan Resources Limited (ASX: SPR).

Acquisition transforms Benz into a multi-jurisdictional gold focused company, aligned with the Company's strategy of growing and developing high-grade gold assets in top-tier mining regions.

Glenburgh has a granted mining lease and a Mineral Resource Estimate of 16.3Mt at 1g/t Au for 510,100 ounces within an 786km 2 largely untested package. 1

Transaction complements and strengthens Benz's existing high-grade resource at Eastmain, which currently stands at 5.1Mt at 6.1g/t Au for 1,005,000 ounces . 2

Benz plans to apply proven advanced geoscientific techniques to unlock the high-grade gold potential at Glenburgh and Mt Egerton; two high-growth-potential projects that have been largely underexplored by modern exploration techniques.

While previous exploration efforts at Glenburgh focused on shallow lower-grade open pit resources, Benz will focus on the vast underexplored high-grade potential. Recent results from high-grade Zone 126 deposit at Glenburgh illustrates wide high-grade zones open in all directions: 8m at 11.6g/t Au 28m at 5g/t Au 24m at 9.1g/t Au 14m at 8.9 g/t Au

Glenburgh shares very similar geological characteristics and setting to the world class Tropicana gold discovery.

The Mt Egerton Project, also on granted mining leases, includes the high-grade Hibernian Underground Mine. Previous high-grade intercepts for immediate follow up include: 5m at 96.7g/t Au 4m at 91.9g/t Au 4m at 75.3g/t Au 11m at 42.5g/t Au

To fund the Acquisition, Benz will use existing cash and funds raised from a placement to sophisticated, professional and institutional investors for which the Company has received firm commitments for approximately A$4 million (before costs).

Spartan will become a strategic cornerstone shareholder, owning approximately 15% of Benz upon completion of the transaction, and will provide ongoing geological support to Benz.

Spartan's General Manager, Nick Jolly, to join the Board as Spartan's Director-elect.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 5, 2024) - Benz Mining Corp. (ASX: BNZ) (Benz or the Company) is pleased to announce it has entered a binding, conditional share purchase agreement (SPA) to acquire 100% of the Glenburgh Gold Project (Glenburgh) and Mt Egerton Gold Project (Mt Egerton) (together, the Projects) located in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia from Spartan Resources Limited (ASX: SPR) (Spartan) (Acquisition). Completion of the Acquisition is subject to certain conditions precedent which are summarised in Appendix 1.

In connection with the Acquisition, the Company has also received binding firm commitments from new and existing shareholders of the Company, each of whom is an institutional and/or sophisticated investor, to raise approximately A$4 million (before costs) through a placement of approximately 18.2 million fully paid CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs), each CDI representing one underlying common share in the Company on a one for one basis (New CDIs) at an issue price of A$0.22 per New CDI (Placement).

Benz Executive Chairman, Evan Cranston, commented:

"We are delighted to announce this strategic acquisition for Benz, marking our evolution into a multi-jurisdictional, pure gold-focused company. The addition of the Glenburgh and Mt Egerton Gold Projects in Western Australia, alongside our high-grade Eastmain Gold Project in Quebec, solidifies our position as a leading explorer in premier gold regions.

"At Glenburgh, with its historical Mineral Resource of 16.3Mt at 1g/t Au for 510,100 ounces of contained gold, we see substantial untapped potential. Our focus will be on the high-grade zones that remain underexplored, applying advanced geological techniques to unlock the Project's full value. Mt Egerton, which includes the high-grade Hibernian Underground Mine, adds significant opportunity for rapid high grade resource growth through targeted exploration.

"We welcome Spartan as a strategic cornerstone investor with aligned interests to extract value from these great projects. We thank our loyal shareholders for their continued support and welcome new shareholders to an exciting journey ahead."

Spartan Interim Executive Chairman, Simon Lawson, commented:

"We're excited to partner with Benz to unlock the incredible potential of the Glenburgh and Mt Egerton assets as well as gaining exposure to the incredibly high-grade opportunity at Benz's Eastmain Gold Project. Bring on the results!"

Figure 1: Regional Location of Glenburgh and Mt Egerton Projects.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Details of the Placement

The Placement is being made to sophisticated and institutional investors (within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)). The New CDIs will be issued using the Company's existing capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1. Accordingly, shareholder approval is not required to undertake the Placement.

The issue price represents a 10.97% discount to the 5-day volume-weighted average price of the Company's CDIs prior to the date of this announcement.

Net proceeds raised from the Placement will be used to:

Complete the Acquisition;

Support a rapid scale-up in gold exploration activities, including resource drilling and regional exploration target generation activities on the Glenburgh and Mt Egerton Projects; and

General working capital.

The Placement is not conditional on completion of the Acquisition. If the Acquisition does not complete, the funds raised from the Placement will be used to undertake drilling activities on the Company's Eastmain Project and for general working capital purposes.

The New CDIs offered under the Placement are expected to be issued and commence trading on the ASX on or about 14 November 2024 and, upon issue, will rank equally with existing CDIs on issue. Euroz Hartleys Limited (Euroz Hartleys) acted as Sole Lead Manager and Bookrunner to the Placement. The Company will pay Euroz Hartleys a fee equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Placement.

Acquisition Overview and Strategic Rationale

Benz has entered into the SPA to acquire a 100% interest in each of Gascoyne Resources (WA) Pty Ltd (Gascoyne) (the owner of the Glenburgh Project) and Egerton Exploration Pty Ltd (Egerton) (the owner of the Mt Egerton Project) from Spartan. The Projects are considered to be highly prospective for gold and are complementary to Benz's strategy to generate value from underexplored gold assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions. The Company's strategic rationale for the Acquisition:

The Projects are complementary to Benz's existing Eastmain high-grade gold asset: The Eastmain Project remains an exciting growth and development opportunity for the Company, with 1,005,000 ounces at 6.1g/t Au. The addition of Glenburgh and Mt Egerton is a strategic decision to expand our growth opportunities in a market environment where gold prices are reaching all-time highs.

Australian gold projects offer premium valuation multiples.

Ability to leverage and apply Benz's expertise: Benz's application of high-grade metamorphic terrane knowledge to Glenburgh is a key differentiator, leveraging expertise to unlock the true value and mineral endowment of the Glenburgh Project.

Bolstering Board and adding significant technical capability: Spartan's General Manager, Nick Jolly, will join Benz as a Non-Executive Director on closing of the Acquisition. Nick has been instrumental in Spartan's transformational discovery at Dalgaranga and will provide a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Benz. Spartan to also advise Benz through a technical advisory team and assist with ongoing exploration across Glenburgh and Mt Egerton.

Strategic Alignment with Spartan Resources: Spartan will hold an approximate 15% stake in Benz post completion of the Acquisition and Placement (together, the Transaction), closely aligning their interests with Benz, enhancing collaboration and mutual benefit.

OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECTS

Glenburgh: Initial JORC 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate: 16.3Mt at 1.0g/t Au (510,100 ounces contained gold)

Glenburgh is a substantial 786km land package situated 250km east of Carnarvon, Western Australia. Strategically positioned near the craton margin suture zone between the Glenburgh Terrane and the Yilgarn Craton, hosted within a Paleoproterozoic metamorphic gneiss belt.

Huge exploration upside over 50km of strike: 786km over highly fertile craton margin, metamorphic belt terrane. Limited gold exploration plays of this size in WA.

Metamorphic belts - next generation of discoveries: The potential of the gneissic metamorphic belts surrounding the Yilgarn craton were only recognised in the last few decades - they remain highly underexplored presenting a substantial opportunity.

Target package identified: Generally characterized by ~100-metre-thick horizon of gneissic rocks with anomalous gold mineralisation encompassing significant high-grade gold zones.

Mining lease in place: A massive permitting hurdle already cleared.

Tropicana look-a-like: Glenburgh shares very similar geological characteristics and setting to the world class Tropicana gold discovery. Primed for Australia's next Tropicana style discovery.

Figure 2: Geology overview of the Glenburgh Project

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/229010_043d24de7408a95b_002full.jpg

High-Grade Exploration Focus

Benz's immediate exploration efforts will concentrate on the high-grade zones within the interpreted "Target Package" (see Figures 2 and 3). Six high-priority targets with shoots exceeding 50 gram-metres (Icon, Apollo, Shelby, Hurricane, Zone 102, Zone 126) have been identified within the existing resource footprint, presenting a compelling opportunity for rapid high grade resource expansion. Importantly, drilling on average has only tested the top 100m from surface, leaving incredible upside potential at depth.

5km Soil Anomaly

In addition to these high-grade zones, the Glenburgh Project features an exciting 5km long, 100 ppb geochemical gold anomaly indicating the continuation of the main mineralising structure along strike. Benz's geological modelling indicates that the prospective Target Package will likely extend through this area, but at a shallow plunge to the northeast beneath surface cover rock. Current shallow drilling efforts to test this anomaly would have been ineffective. The Target Package is modelled to be present between 100-200m depth. This presents an exciting opportunity to delineate an additional 5km of target package and associated high-grade zones.





Figure 3: Detailed geological map of the Glenburgh Project



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Zone 126 - High-Grade Gold

Drilling results from high-grade Zone 126 deposit at Glenburgh illustrates wide high-grade zones open in all directions:

8m at 11.6g/t Au

28m at 5g/t Au

24m at 9.1g/t Au

14m at 8.9 g/t Au

Figure 4: Long section of Zone 126 at Glenburgh Project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/229010_043d24de7408a95b_005full.jpg

Rapid targeting with geophysics

Strong association between high-grade lodes and increased sulphide mineralisation, enabling potential for downhole electromagnetic (EM) targeting. This relationship can enable downhole EM techniques to rapidly accelerate discoveries and extension of high-grade shoots.

Figure 5: Cross section A-A at Zone 126, Glenburgh Project

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Preliminary metallurgical results

In 2013, Asburton Hall Metallurgical Consulting managed test work performed at ALS. Three recovery tests were conducted on 1kg sub samples of homogenised RC chips from hole VRC579 metres 210 to 240 (Zone 126).

The samples were subjected to a primary grind of 75m, then put through a Knelson concentrator for gravity recovery. The gravity tail was then subjected to standard cyanide bottle roll leach test with residence of 24 hours. The results demonstrated an average extraction recovery of 96.8% after 24 hours. The results are summarised in Table 1 below. These results show very encouraging metallurgical characteristics, with a high percentage of gravity recovery gold.

Table 1: Gold Extraction Results for Zone 126 Composite

Test ID Primary Grind Size

(m) Gravity Gold Recovery

(%) Total Gold Extraction

(%) JS1988 75 58.2 97.4 JS2194 75 72.6 97.6 JS2195 75 75.9 95.4 Average - 68.9 96.8

Mt Egerton Gold Project

Mt Egerton comprises two granted mining leases and five exploration licenses, covering a total area of 179.59km in the Lower Proterozoic Egerton inlier. Located in the Gascoyne province, approximately 200km northwest of Meekatharra, the Project hosts the high-grade Hibernian Mine and the Gaffney's Find prospect.

Previous drilling at Mt Egerton has revealed exceptional high-grade intercepts, including:

5m at 96.7g/t Au

4m at 91.9g/t Au

4m at 75.3g/t Au

11m at 42.5g/t Au

These intercepts are associated with quartz veining in shallow southwest-plunging shoots. The Hibernian Mine, which has only been drill-tested to a depth of 70m, shows strong potential for expansion through deeper drill testing and targeting new shoot positions.

In addition to depth extension potential at the Hiberinan Mine, there is a roughly 8km strike extension to the Hibernian trend under shallow cover that remains underexplored.

Mt Egerton hosts an initial Mineral Resource Estimate of 0.28Mt at 3.1g/t Au for 27,000 ounces.3 The resource is within trucking distance to several operating mills for potential toll treating options.

Figure 6: Mt Egerton Project geology overview

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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For more information relating to the Glenburgh and Mt Egerton Projects, please click on the following link:

https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02877480_PS-6A1236304

Next Steps

Benz and Spartan are actively working to fulfil the remaining conditions precedent to the Acquisition (see Appendix 1 for details), paving the way for an exciting new chapter in this partnership.

In parallel with finalising the transaction, Benz is conducting a detailed geological analysis using advanced lithogeochemistry. This approach will enable Benz to identify key target horizons and generate high-conviction drill targets, setting the stage for a maiden drill program at the Glenburgh Project in Q1, 2025.

We look forward to sharing more details on our forward exploration strategy in the coming weeks as we continue to build momentum on these exciting developments.

This announcement has been approved for release by the Board.

About Benz Mining Corp.

Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV: BZ) (ASX: BNZ) is a pure-play gold exploration company dual-listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and Australian Securities Exchange. The Company owns the Eastmain Gold Project in Quebec, with a NI 43-101 and JORC (2012) compliant mineral resource of 1,005,000 ounces at 6.1g/t Au, showcasing Benz's focus on high-grade, high-margin assets in premier mining jurisdictions.

On 6 November 2024, Benz announced a binding agreement to acquire the Glenburgh and Mt Egerton Gold Projects in Western Australia from Spartan Resources Limited (ASX: SPR). This acquisition, once completed, will mark a transformational step, establishing Benz as a multi-jurisdictional gold exploration company with a focus on unlocking value in underexplored assets. The Glenburgh Project features a Mineral Resource Estimate of 16.3Mt at 1.0 g/t Au (510,100 ounces of contained gold).

Benz's key point of difference lies in its team's deep geological expertise and the use of advanced geological techniques, particularly in high-metamorphic terrane exploration. The Company aims to rapidly grow its global resource base and solidify its position as a leading gold explorer across two of the world's most prolific gold regions.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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For more information, visit: https://benzmining.com/.

Historical Mineral Resource Estimates

All mineral resource estimates in respect of the Glenburgh and Mt Egerton Projects in this news release are considered to be "historical estimates" as defined under NI 43-101- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). These historical estimates are not considered to be current and are not being treated as such. These estimates have been prepared in accordance with the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves prepared by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Minerals Council of Australia (JORC Code) and have not been reported in accordance with NI 43-101. A qualified person (as defined in NI 43-101) (Qualified Person) has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources. A Qualified Person would need to review and verify the scientific information and conduct an analysis and reconciliation of historical data in order to verify the historical estimates as current mineral resources.

Qualified Person (NI 43-101)

The disclosure of scientific or technical information in this news release is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Dr Marat Abzalov. Dr Abzalov, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, and member in good standing as a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (#202718). Dr Abzalov has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. Dr Abzalov has shares in Benz Mining Corp.

Competent Person's Statement (JORC Code)

The information contained in this announcement that relates to the Exploration Results and Mineral Resource Estimates of the Glenburgh and Mt Egerton Gold Projects, is based on and fairly reflects, information compiled by Dr Marat Abzalov. Dr Abzalov is an independent consultant of the MASSA Geoservices and was engaged by Benz Mining Corp. Dr Abzalov is a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (#202718) and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration. Dr Abzalov has shares in Benz Mining Corp. Dr Abzalov consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

The Mineral Resource Estimate for the Eastmain Project was previously reported in accordance with Listing Rule 5.8 on 24 May 2023. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcement and confirms that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward looking statements" (collectively Forward-Looking Information) as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding the Acquisition and the anticipated benefits thereof, planned exploration and related activities on the Glenburgh and Mt Egerton projects, the anticipated timing of completion of the Acquisition and Placement and the planned use of proceeds from the Placement. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases or variations of such words and phrases or statements such as "anticipates", "complete", "become", "expects", "next steps", "commitments" and "potential", in relation to certain actions, events or results "could", "may", "will", "would", be achieved. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that all requisite approvals in respect of the Acquisition and the Placement will be received, and all conditions precedent to completion of the Acquisition and Financing will be satisfied, in a timely manner; the Company will be able to raise additional capital as necessary; the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Company's Projects (including Glenburgh and Mt Egerton) can be achieved; and the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions, and operations.

Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, that occurrences such as those referred to above are realized and result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, and delays in regulatory approval, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and www.asx.com.au. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. The Forward-looking information in this news release is based on plans, expectations, and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Appendix 1: Summary of Key Acquisition Terms

The key terms of the Acquisition are summarised in the table below. Consideration for the Acquisition has been structured to include an upfront cash payment and share issuance, as well as deferred milestone payments up to A$6m (cash or shares) subject to the satisfaction of certain resource milestones (for further details, see below). Refer to the Investor Presentation released by the Company on 6 November 2024 for a summary of the key risks in relation to the Acquisition, which is also available on the Company's website at https://benzmining.com/.

KEY ACQUISITION TERMS The Company is proposing to acquire a 100% interest in each of Gascoyne Resources (WA) Pty Ltd and Egerton Exploration Pty Ltd from Spartan Resources Limited in accordance with the terms of the SPA for the following consideration:

A$1 million cash payable to Spartan, with A$500,000 payable upon completion of the Acquisition (Completion) and the remaining A$500,000 payable to Spartan on the date that is 12 months after Completion; 33,000,000 fully paid CDIs in the Company (Consideration CDIs) to be issued to Spartan at Completion, and subject to voluntary escrow for a period of 12 months from Completion; and Deferred consideration of up to A$6 million, to be paid in cash or issued in fully paid CDIs (Milestone CDIs) (at the Company's election) to Spartan upon Benz satisfying each of the following milestones: A$2 million, payable upon the first to occur of (i) the Company declaring an inferred, indicated and/or measured Mineral Resource Estimate from the Projects containing 500,000oz Au at a cut-off grade of at least 2.0g/t Au and (ii) production of 500,000oz Au from the Projects. A$2 million, payable upon the first to occur of (i) the Company declaring an inferred, indicated and/or measured Mineral Resource Estimate from the Projects containing 1,000,000oz Au at a cut-off grade of at least 2.0g/t Au and (ii) production of 1,000,000oz Au from the Projects; and A$2 million, payable upon the first to occur of (i) the Company declaring an inferred, indicated and/or measured Mineral Resource Estimate from the Projects containing 1,500,000oz Au at a cut-off grade of 2.0g/t Au and (ii) production of 1,500,000oz Au from the Projects,

(together, the Milestone Payments). If the Company elects to issue Milestone CDIs to satisfy a Milestone Payment, the number of Shares to be issued will be calculated using a deemed issue price of the higher of the 20-day VWAP of the Company's shares and A$0.088 per share. If the Company's 20-day VWAP falls below A$0.088 per share at the time the Milestone Payment is due, the Company may elect to satisfy the Milestone Payment by issuing such number of shares to Spartan (as approved by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting) and the balance of the payment in cash. The Company may only elect to issue Milestone CDIs subject to certain conditions being met, including that any issuance of Milestone CDIs to Spartan will occur before 15 December 2029, following which any Milestone Payment must be paid to Spartan in cash, and the Company having obtained all necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals to issue the relevant Milestone CDIs to Spartan. TERMS OF CDIs: The Consideration CDIs and any Milestone CDIs will rank equally with existing shares on issue. SPARTAN INVESTOR RIGHTS: From Completion, subject to Spartan (or its related bodies corporate) holding, in aggregate, at least 10% of the Shares on issue (on an undiluted basis): Spartan is entitled to appoint a nominee director to the Board. If Spartan's holding falls below this threshold, or there is a change of control of Spartan, Spartan must procure that its appointed director resigns from the Board; and

Spartan has a right to participate in future Benz equity raisings. Spartan expects to nominate Mr Nicholas Jolly as its nominee director from Completion.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT Completion of the Acquisition is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions precedent.

the Company obtaining confirmation from ASX that ASX Listing Rule 11.1.3 does not apply to the Acquisition; the Company completing an equity raise (Capital Raising) and demonstrating that it has (or will have) A$5 million cash in bank immediately after Completion; the Company and Spartan agreeing, in principle, to a preliminary budget for exploration on the Projects for the 24 months immediately following Completion, which will provide for a minimum of A$3 million being spent on exploration on the Projects; the Company obtaining all required regulatory approvals including the requisite final acceptance from the TSXV in respect of the Acquisition and the Capital Raising; the issuance of the Consideration CDIs are exempt from the prospectus and registration requirements under applicable securities laws; and Spartan: obtaining a deed of release to secure the release of Gascoyne and Egerton from the Tembo Royalty Deed, Tembo Mortgage and Taurus Royalty Deed (and, if applicable, any mining mortgage registered pursuant to the Taurus Royalty Deed, and all conditions precedent in that deed of release having been satisfied or waived; procuring that Egerton, Gascoyne and the relevant counterparties enter into new royalty and security arrangements: (A) with the Tembo parties (or Osisko Gold Royalties (Australia) Pty Ltd (Osisko), as applicable) on substantially the same terms as the Tembo Royalty Deed and the Tembo Mortgage; and (B) with Taurus Mining Royalty Fund LP (Taurus) on substantially the same terms as the Taurus Royalty Deed (and if applicable, any mining mortgage registered pursuant to the Taurus Royalty Deed); procuring that Egerton, Gascoyne and the relevant counterparties enter into a tripartite deed governing the exercise of the respective royalty buy-back rights under the: (A) Tembo Royalty Deed and the new royalty arrangements between Egerton, Gascoyne and Osisko or the Tembo parties (as applicable); and (B) Taurus Royalty Deed and the new royalty arrangements between Egerton, Gascoyne and Taurus, and all conditions precedent in the tripartite deed having been waived, in each case on terms acceptable to Spartan and the Company. As at the date of this announcement, the conditions precedent contained in paragraphs (a), (c) and (e) have been satisfied. The Company expects to be in a position to satisfy the condition precedent in paragraph (b) following completion of the Placement and the condition precedent in paragraph (d) after its Annual General Meeting which is expected to be held on 17 December 2024. The conditions precedent must be satisfied or waived by no later than 3 February 2025 or such later period as agreed between the parties. WARRANTIES: Under the SPA, Spartan has given standard warranties with respect to title, capacity, solvency, compliance with laws and Gascoyne and Egerton's assets. Similarly, Benz has given standard warranties with respect to authority and capacity and compliance with the ASX Listing Rules and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). TERMINATION: The SPA contains standard termination provisions which provide for either party to terminate the agreement prior to Completion. Termination events include where the conditions precedent have not been satisfied or waived by the 3 February 2025; if either Benz, Spartan, Gascoyne or Egerton suffer an insolvency event; if a party fails to perform and comply, in all material respects, with its material obligations under the SPA, or if a 'Material Adverse Change' occurs in respect to either party. A 'Material Adverse Change' includes any event or circumstance which has, or could be reasonably expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, operations, financial or trading position or prospects of the relevant party as a direct result of, among other things, this announcement and/or implementation of the SPA.

1 Indicated: 13.5Mt at 1.0g/t Au for 430.7koz; Inferred: 2.8Mt at 0.9g/t Au for 79.4koz

2Indicated: 1.3Mt at 9.0g/t Au for 384koz; Inferred: 3.8Mt at 5.1g/t Au for 621koz

3 Indicated: 0.23Mt at 3.4g/t Au for 25koz; Inferred: 0.04 at 1.5g/t Au for 2koz

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229010

SOURCE: Benz Mining Corp.
BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Jenoptik AG (JNPKF.PK), a German photonic and smart mobility solutions provider, announced that it expects a delayed recovery in the semiconductor equipment industry. As a result, the company has postponed its financial targets for 2025 by one year. However, Jenoptik has confirmed its revenue and earnings forecast for 2024.The company currently assumes that the cyclical upturn in the semiconductor equipment industry will take place later than originally expected and that the present high level of overall market uncertainty will continue.For fiscal year 2024, the company has confirmed its previous revenue and earnings guidance, supported by a strong order backlog. Revenue is expected to grow in the mid-single-digit percentage range (2023: 1.066 billion euros), with an EBITDA margin forecasted between 19.5% and 20.0% (2023: 19.7%), including an anticipated impact of approximately 0.5 percentage points due to the relocation to the new semiconductor facility in Dresden. However, order intake for 2024 is expected to be slightly lower than the previous year.Jenoptik had previously targeted revenue of around 1.2 billion euros and an EBITDA margin of 21 to 22 percent for fiscal year 2025. Due in particular to the expected delay in the upturn in the semiconductor equipment industry, the targets are now expected to be achieved in 2026, the company said.Jenoptik noted that it will publish its business figures for the first nine months of the current year on November 12, 2024.For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Die Hamburger Biotechfirma Evotec verzeichnete in den ersten neun Monaten des Jahres 2024 einen leichten Umsatzruckgang von 1% auf 575,7 Millionen Euro. Das bereinigte EBITDA rutschte auf minus 6 Millionen Euro, was deutlich unter dem Vorjahreswert von 50,2 Millionen Euro lag. Diese enttauschenden Zahlen fuhrten zu einem drastischen Kurseinbruch der Evotec-Aktie, die im XETRA-Handel zeitweise um mehr als 12% auf 7,45 Euro fiel. Trotz des herausfordernden Marktumfelds betonte Evotec-Chef Christian Wojczewski die Fortschritte in strategischen Partnerschaften und hob das robuste Wachstum im Bereich Just - Evotec Biologics hervor, dessen Umsatz um 74% auf 128,7 Millionen Euro stieg.

Transformationsprogramm soll Wachstum ankurbeln

Das Unternehmen halt trotz der aktuellen Herausforderungen an seiner Jahresprognose fest und erwartet einen Konzernumsatz zwischen 790 und 820 Millionen Euro. Wojczewski sieht in dem beschleunigten Transformationsprogramm den Schlussel zu langfristigem profitablem Wachstum. Die erfolgreiche Umsetzung des Prioritaten-Reset-Programms soll zu einer jahrlichen EBITDA-Verbesserung von uber 40 Millionen Euro fuhren und die Wettbewerbsposition starken. Anleger reagieren jedoch skeptisch auf diese Aussichten, was sich in der aktuellen Kursentwicklung widerspiegelt.

Evotec Aktie: Kaufen oder verkaufen? Hier weiterlesen...
Fintech leader strengthens position in cross-border B2B payments and trade finance, eyeing rapid growth across Asia, including China and India

AMSTERDAM and SINGAPORE, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MODIFI, a leading global platform in B2B Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions, today announced the successful completion of a $15 million funding round led by SMBC Asia Rising Fund with participation from existing investors Maersk, IntesaSanPaolo, Heliad and other top-tier global investors. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), one of Japan's leading banks and a major financial force in the APAC region, brings both capital and strategic alignment to the partnership. Beyond the equity investment, MODIFI and SMBC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly advance digital solutions that support SME exporters across Asia in expanding their international trade operations. Through a series of joint initiatives, MODIFI and SMBC aim to empower SMEs with innovative cross-border financing solutions.

The announcement comes on the sidelines of Singapore Fintech Festival, showcasing MODIFI's drive for innovation in the global fintech landscape. This new capital infusion will accelerate MODIFI's expansion, particularly in high-growth markets like China and India, where the company has already made significant inroads. MODIFI's platform delivers critical liquidity and flexible payment terms to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), helping them optimize cash flow and expand their international reach.

"The funding underscores the strength of our business and the confidence our investors have in our vision for the future," said Nelson Holzner, CEO and Co-founder of MODIFI. "As global commerce evolves, MODIFI is at the forefront, providing innovative solutions that empower businesses to scale and succeed across borders."

MODIFI's exponential growth has solidified its position as a market leader in cross-border payments and trade finance. Recognized by Financial Times and Statista as one of the Fastest Growing European Fintech Companies in 2024, MODIFI has facilitated over $3 billion in global trade for more than 1,800 companies since it was founded in 2018. The platform offers instant working capital approval, alongside integrated risk management tools that shield businesses from buyer defaults and fraud.

"Our mission is simple: We empower SMEs to compete and thrive in the global market with fast, flexible, and secure payment solutions," added Holzner. "With this fresh funding, we're set to redefine global trade finance-ensuring businesses of all sizes can unlock the liquidity and get the protection they need to grow internationally."

"By transforming cross-border supply chain finance for the digital age with their global presence, we believe MODIFI supports SMEs to scale their export businesses with ease. We look forward to collaborating with MODIFI to empower our corporate clients to expand their businesses globally with agility and financial flexibility overcoming traditional trade barriers," said Keiji Matsunaga, General Manager of Digital Strategy Department, SMBC.

About MODIFI

MODIFI is redefining global trade finance as a leader in B2B Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions. Trusted by businesses across 55+ countries, MODIFI provides cutting-edge tools that optimize working capital and streamline cross-border payments. Through its extensive global network, MODIFI delivers fast, flexible, and secure financial solutions, helping companies expand their international footprint with ease. By integrating advanced risk management features and seamless payment processes, MODIFI is setting new benchmarks in global commerce, empowering businesses of all sizes to thrive in a rapidly evolving market.

About SMBC and SMBC Asia Rising Fund

SMBC, one of the leading banks in Japan, co-funded SMBC Asia Rising Fund with Incubate Fund which is a corporate venture capital fund, for the purpose of accelerating business development and partnerships through investments in high potential start-ups operating actively in Asia. Through this fund, SMBC Group will enhance its business and provide clients with new solutions by uncovering/ applying new technologies via partnerships with investee firms and the development of new business models and products.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549272/MODIFI_Strategic_Investment.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549327/Modifi_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/modifi-secures-strategic-investment-from-smbc-asia-rising-fund-to-fuel-asian-exports-by-smes-302297108.html
New data calls for innovative harm reduction solutions as smoking rates persist

New analysis of data by Smoke Free Sweden from the Europe Union's leading research body reveals how the EU's outdated tobacco control strategy is losing the war against smoking.

The landmark report by global public health experts reveals:

At current rates, the EU will not meet its 'smoke free' target for another 76 years.

Only the adoption of innovative solutions is significantly reducing the deadly toll of cigarettes in countries such as Sweden, which is on the brink of becoming smoke free

Widespread resistance to safer alternatives in other nations has pushed the EU's average smoking rate five times higher than Sweden's.

Misguided restrictions on vapes have seen Estonia's smoking rate soar by almost 40% in just three years.

Dr. Delon Human, lead author of the report Missing The Targetsays: "It is time for the EU to recognise that restrictive policies on safer nicotine alternatives are costing lives.

"The data clearly show that countries prioritising harm reduction are achieving the smoke free goals that remain a distant dream for other member states."

"Only by embracing safer alternatives can the EU hope to reverse the current trends, save lives and achieve its long-awaited smoke free goal."

Missing The Target uncovers fundamental flaws in the EU's approach to achieving its goal of a 5% smoking rate by 2040 the internationally recognised benchmark for 'smoke free' status.

Its findings paint a stark picture of the EU's stalled progress:

A missed milestone - At its current rate, the EU will fall short of its 2040 smoke free goal by a staggering six decades. Smoking prevalence is only projected to drop below 5% by the year 2100, underscoring an urgent need for rethinking policies.

Strict regulations, rising smoking rates - In nations with severe restrictions on safer nicotine alternatives, cigarette smoking has not only persisted but, in some cases, increased. Estonia, where vape flavours are banned, has seen a staggering 38.89% rise in smoking evidence that restrictive policies may be backfiring dramatically.

Sweden's success story - Sweden is on the brink of achieving its smoke-free target an impressive 16 years ahead of the EU's goal. The key to its success lies in making safer nicotine alternatives accessible, acceptable and affordable. The widespread availability of alternatives such as snus, nicotine pouches and vapes has driven smoking rates down to near smoke-free levels.

Czechia's progressive policies drive down smoking - Czechia has similarly embraced Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) principles, fostering a liberal approach to vapes and other smokeless nicotine products. The country has witnessed a remarkable 23% drop in smoking rates over the past four years, showing that pragmatic policies can accelerate progress.

Report co-author Dr. Anders Milton, a physician and former president of the Swedish Medical Association, said: "The EU's current tobacco control policy relying heavily on taxation, smoking bans and product regulations has produced only incremental reductions in smoking.

"A growing body of evidence points to the need for a modernised, evidence-based framework that embraces safer alternatives as part of a comprehensive THR strategy."

ENDS

About Smoke Free Sweden

Smoke Free Sweden is a campaign encouraging other countries to follow the Swedish model of Tobacco Harm Reduction. Sweden is about to become the first 'smoke free' European country, with a smoking rate of below 5 percent. This remarkable achievement can be attributed to Sweden's open attitude towards alternative products.

For more information on Sweden's successful approach to becoming a smoke free nation, please visit www.smokefreesweden.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241105477767/en/

Contacts:

Smoke Free Sweden

info@smokefreesweden.org
TOKYO, Nov 6, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Yoshimoto Kogyo Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Yoshimoto Kogyo) and Mitsubishi Corporation have agreed to consider business co-creation, including solving consumers' health issues through "laughter", overseas development of "comedy content", and content production using digital transformation, and have concluded a business partnership agreement.With the advent of a super-aged society in Japan, there is a renewed focus on the health benefits of laughter, as people seek to prevent dementia and brain aging, and achieve well-being. Yoshimoto Kogyo and MC will work together to solve the health issues faced by consumers through laughter and health care. In addition, MC intends to widely promote Japan's excellent intangible assets as brands in the overseas markets and will jointly deliver Yoshimoto Kogyo's Japanese comedy content as an attractive intangible asset to the rest of the world. The companies will utilize MC's digital transformation expertise to capture and monitor consumer health data and to produce comedy content, aiming to co-create new added value through the combination of comedy and digital technology.Based on this agreement, Yoshimoto Kogyo will be responsible for the planning and production of content and collaborative goods that it has cultivated through its business to date, while MC will utilize its human resources and networks both in Japan and overseas, its business expertise in digital and health care, and its manufacturing and sales network for retail and miscellaneous goods. In addition, the two companies will aim to create new businesses through the exchange of human resources.Specifically, the companies will begin joint discussions on (1) new services based on solving health issues through laughter, (2) joint production and distribution of new content utilizing digital technology, (3) overseas development of comedy content, (4) regional revitalization utilizing the business platforms of both groups, (5) production and sales of merchandise, and (6) other new services.Through this initiative, Yoshimoto Kogyo and MC aim to provide "Smart Life," a healthier and better lifestyle, to people around the world.About Yoshimoto Kogyo Holdings Co., Ltd.Head office: 11-6 Sennichimae, Namba, Chuo-ku, OsakaRepresentative: Akihiko Okamoto, President and Chief Executive OfficerEstablished: 1912Business description: Theater operation, talent agency, production and sales of video and other content, other businessesAbout Mitsubishi CorporationHead office: 3-1, Marunouchi 2-Chome, Chiyoda-ku, TokyoRepresentative: Katsuya Nakanishi, Representative Director, President and CEOEstablished: 1954Business description: The company develops diversified businesses in a wide range of industries through its eight groups: Environmental Energy, Materials Solution, Mineral Resources, Urban Development & Infrastructure, Mobility, Food Industry, S.L.C. (Smart-Life Creation), and Power SolutionInquiry RecipientMitsubishi CorporationTelephone: +81-3-3210-2171Source: Mitsubishi CorporationCopyright 2024 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian dollar weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday.The Australian dollar fell to nearly a 3-month low of 0.6512 against the U.S. dollar, from an early nearly a 2-week high of 0.6642.Against the Canadian dollar, the aussie slid to nearly a 2-month low of 0.9073 from yesterday's closing value of 0.9174.The aussie edged down to 1.1002 against the NZ dollar, from Tuesday's closing value of 1.1045.Against the euro and the yen, the aussie edged down to 1.6494 and 100.28 from an early 8-day highs of 1.6416 and 101.02, respectively.If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.63 against the greenback, 0.93 against the loonie, 1.11 against the kiwi, 1.67 against the euro and 98.00 against the yen.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC) (TRADEGATE: 9SC) (OTCQB: MNXXF) (the "Company" or "Manganese X") is pleased to announce that starting later this week, it will drill several portions of the Battery Hill deposit near Woodstock, New Brunswick, to upgrade specific areas of Inferred Mineral Resources to the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories.

This resource upgrading drill program is important so these areas of higher grade, near surface mineralization which would be mined in the early years of production can be included and optimized in the upcoming Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS"). Depending on results, 4 holes will test the recently discovered Moody Hill Northwest mineralization, two holes will test the Sharpe Farm Northwest portion of the deposit, and 4 holes are planned to test the Sharpe Farm Northeast mineralization.

The drill program which will provide approximately 1250 metres of core for analysis, is designed to finalize grade and tonnage information for a new NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource estimate that will be part of the upcoming PFS. .

Ore Sorting

The Company has selected 100 representative pieces of core from its Battery Hill deposit and shipped them to the TOMRA Ore Sorting Solutions laboratory in Germany. This testing is a variation of testing undertaken by the Company in 2017 as reported in the 2022 Battery Hill Preliminary Economic Assessment and, if successful, would positively impact the mining, processing and environmental footprint of the project. Samples were received in Germany in early October and preliminary results are expected by year end.

Metallurgical and High Purity Test Samples

Kemetco Research Inc. (Kemetco) located in Richmond, B.C., continues to operate the Manganese X Energy Pilot Plant to provide samples of its battery-grade compliant high purity manganese sulfate product ("HPMSM") to potential customers. Kemetco is also continuing to detail all operating parameters of the Battery Hill Project's metallurgical and purification flow sheet required for the Company's upcoming Battery Hill PFS. Testing also includes investigating additional possible products from the same ore feedstock.

Martin Kepman, CEO of Manganese X, states, "We are pleased that these programs will be completed in the near future since they are critical for the economic optimization of the project during the upcoming pre-feasibility study and the forward planning of the mine permitting process. We remain totally committed to be at the forefront of a domestic supply of EV compliant high-purity manganese for the North American battery manufacturers. The Company anticipates releasing further updates from US Battery Technology Leader C4V and Kemetco Research Inc. within the next two weeks."

C4V is a global leader in renewable battery technology, as well as involved in some of the world's largest Gigafactory developments.

About Manganese X Energy Corp.

Manganese X's mission is to advance its Battery Hill project into production, thereby becoming the first public actively traded manganese mining company in Canada and US to commercialize EV compliant high purity manganese, potentially supplying the North American supply chain. The Company intends on supplying value-added materials to the lithium-ion battery and other alternative energy industries, as well as striving to achieve new carbon-friendly more efficient methodologies, while processing manganese at a lower competitive cost.

For more information visit the website at www.manganesexenergycorp.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

MANGANESE X ENERGY CORP.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operations and activities of Manganese X, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to the Company's goals and plans for 2024, including, among other items, its pilot plant project and PFS. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Manganese X, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filings on SEDAR+, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Manganese X does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229001

SOURCE: Manganese X Energy Corp.
Founders of the business to return to rebuild the company and recreate value

NAPLES, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Melrose Ventures

Take-Over Bid Circular

Form 62-104F1

Item 1. Name and description of offeror

Name of offeror: Melrose Ventures

Description: Melrose Ventures is a Florida LLC involved in investment and acquisition activities.

Item 2. Name of offeree issuer

Name of offeree issuer: Hank Payments Corp. Hank.v HNKPF- OTC

Item 3. Securities subject to the bid

Class and number of securities: Common shares

Number of securities: 8.5 million shares or the number of shares necessary to bring Melrose Ventures' stake above 51%.

Item 4. Time period

Commencement date: November 2, 2024

Expiration date: 12/31/2024

Item 5. Consideration

Consideration offered: CAD $0.09 per share in cash

Item 6. Ownership of securities of offeree issuer

Direct Melrose Venture Group of Joint Actors: 0 shares (prior to the takeover) Intelligent Payment Processing Inc: 6,836,767 shares directly owned and controlled FOUNDERS SHARES Shawn Carden: 950,000 shares directly owned and controlled FOUNDERS SHARES First Canadian Capital Corp: 500,000 shares directly owned and controlled Total Direct ownership by Melrose Ventures Group Joint Actors: 8,286,767 shares, approximately 11.33% of the 73.15MM issued & outstanding shares

Indirect Intelligent Payment Processing Inc: 29.95% of Uptempo Incs 17,420,243 shares = 5,217,362- FOUNDERS SHARES Shawn Carden: 8.58% of UpTempo Incs 17,420.243 shares = 1,494,647- FOUNDERS SHARES Total indirect ownership by Melrose Ventures Group Joint Actors:6,712,018 shares approximately 9.2% of the 73.15MM issued & outstanding shares

Total Direct and Indirect Ownership 20.53%



Item 7. Trading in securities of offeree issuer

No securities were purchased or sold by the persons referred to in item 6 during the 6-month period preceding the date of the take-over bid.

Item 8. Commitments to acquire securities of offeree issuer

No additional agreements, commitments, or understandings to acquire securities of the offeree issuer beyond the current tender offer.

Item 9. Terms and conditions of the bid

Terms: The offer is subject to due diligence regarding the number of shares required for control and the management's public statements about the business's revenue and nearing cash flow positivity from operations.

Item 10. Payment for deposited securities

Method and time of payment: Payment will be made in cash upon acceptance and closing of the offer.

Item 11. Right to withdraw deposited securities

Withdrawal rights: Security holders may withdraw their deposited securities by sending a written notice to the designated depository, effective upon receipt by the depository.

Item 12. Source of funds

Source of funds: Melrose Ventures LLC

Item 13. Trading in securities to be acquired

Principal market: TSX Venture Exchange (TSX.V)

Volume of trading and price range: 6 month avg volume (3M)- 17,786 & $0.04 - $0.065 CAD

Date of announcement: November 2, 2024

Market price before announcement:$0.045 CAD

Item 14. Arrangements between the offeror and the directors and officers of offeree issuer

No agreements, commitments, or understandings between the offeror and any of the directors or officers of the offeree issuer.

Item 15. Arrangements between the offeror and security holders of offeree issuer

No agreements, commitments, or understandings between the offeror and any security holder of the offeree issuer.

Item 16. Arrangements with or relating to the offeree issuer

No agreements, commitments, or understandings between the offeror and the offeree issuer that could affect control of the offeree issuer.

Item 17. Purpose of the bid

Purpose: To acquire a controlling interest in Hank Payments Corp, Change Board of Director and Management. Replace with founders to build back the business and its share value.

Item 18. Valuation

Not applicable as the take-over bid is not an insider bid.

Item 19. Securities of an offeror or other issuer to be exchanged for securities of offeree issuer

Not applicable as the consideration is in cash.

Item 20. Right of appraisal and acquisition

Rights of appraisal: N/A

Right of acquisition: N/A

Item 21. Market purchases of securities

The offeror may purchase in the market securities that are the subject of the take-over bid.

Item 22. Approval of take-over bid circular

The take-over bid circular has been approved and its sending has been authorized by the Manager of Melrose Ventures LLC.

Item 23. Other material facts

No other material facts concerning the securities of the offeree issuer or other matters not disclosed in the take-over bid circular.

Item 24. Solicitations

Disclose any person retained by or on behalf of the offeror to make solicitations in respect of the take-over bid and the particulars of the compensation arrangements.

Item 25. Statement of rights

The following statement of rights is provided under the securities legislation of the jurisdictions relating to this circular: Securities legislation in the provinces and territories of Canada provides security holders of the offeree issuer with, in addition to any other rights they may have at law, one or more rights of rescission, price revision or to damages, if there is a misrepresentation in a circular or notice that is required to be delivered to those security holders. However, such rights must be exercised within prescribed time limits. Security holders should refer to the applicable provisions of the securities legislation of their province or territory for particulars of those rights or consult a lawyer.

Item 26. Certificate

The foregoing contains no untrue statement of a material fact and does not omit to state a material fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in the light of the circumstances in which it was made

Item 27. Date of take-over bid circular

The date of the take-over bid circular is 11/05/2024

CONTACT:

Michael C Trimarco

Principal

Melrose Ventures LLC

Intelligent Payment Processing Inc

Contact Information:

Michael Trimarco - Principal Melrose Ventures & Intelligent Payment Processing

Phone: 516-848-3388

mtrimarco@mba1997.hbs.edu

SOURCE: Melrose Ventures

View the original press release on accesswire.com
BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Vonovia SE (VONOY), a German private residential real estate company, reported Wednesday that its third-quarter net loss attributable to shareholders was 74 million euros, compared to prior year's profit of 404.5 million euros. Loss per share was 0.09 euro, compared to profit of 0.44 euro a year ago.The company noted that the previous year's figures for 2023 adjusted to the current definition of key figures and segments.The company recorded earnings before tax of 86.3 million euros, sharply lower than prior year's 518.7 million euros.In the quarter, revenue from property management was flat at 1.321 billion euros.Looking ahead, Vonovia reaffirmed its fiscal 2024 guidance, and continues to expect adjusted EBITDA to be at the upper end of the range, between 2.55 billion euros and 2.65 billion euros. The Adjusted EBT is also likely to be at the upper end of the range, between 1.7 billion euros and 1.8 billion euros.In 2025, Vonovia expects to generate rental income of 3.3 billion euros to 3.4 billion euros. The Adjusted EBITDA is likely to be between 2.7 billion euros and 2.8 billion euros and the adjusted EBT between 1.75 billion euros and 1.85 billion euros.The sustainability targets are expected to be fully met in both 2024 and 2025.For 2025, the company plans to invest 1.2 billion euros in energy-efficient modernization, new construction and expanding solar panel and heat pump installations.By 2028, Vonovia aims to have doubled its annual investments to up to 2 billion euros, in climate action initiatives, technological innovation, and new construction.By 2028, the company is also looking to generate an adjusted EBITDA of 3.2 billion euros to 3.5 billion euros, representing an increase of around 30 percent compared to 2024.The growth is expected to be driven primarily by additional business segments, with 20-25 percent EBITDA contribution from new construction, value-added residential services, and sales.For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BAD HOMBURG VOR DER HOEHE (dpa-AFX) - Fresenius SE (FSNUF.PK, FSNPF.PK), a German health care company, on Wednesday posted a net profit of 326 million euros or 0.58 euros per share for the third quarter. This compares to last year's net loss of 406 million euros or 0.72 euros per share.The company attributed the profit to Fresenius Medical Care's positive net income contribution, while last year's loss was due to non-cash valuation effect of Fresenius Medical Care in accordance with IFRS 5.Before special items, the company's Group net income increased by 12 percent to 388 million euros, and earnings per share rose by 12 percent 0.69 euros, driven by operating strength.Group EBITDA before special items grew 4 percent to 814 million euros and Group EBIT before special items rose 8 percent to 552 million euros.Fresenius' revenue for the quarter improved by 3 percent to 5.366 billion euros from last year's 5.187 billion euros. The company's last year's results are restated.Meanwhile, Group revenue before special items increased by 7 percent to 5.303 billion euros. Organic growth was 9 percent, driven by Kabi and Helios' ongoing strong performance. Currency translation had a negative effect of 2 percent on revenue growth, the company said.Looking ahead to the full year, the company said it is upgrading its revenue and earnings guidance. It now expects organic revenue to grow between 6 and 8 percent and EBIT growth, at constant currency, to be between 8 and 11 percent. Earlier, the company had projected organic revenue growth of 4-7 percent and EBIT growth of 6-10 percent.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Senior executives from leading European enterprises to provide strategic guidance on pricing lifecycle innovation

Zilliant, the leader in pricing lifecycle management, today announced the formation of a new European Customer Advisory Board (CAB) to serve as a strategic forum and provide regional insights as Zilliant continues to drive pricing lifecycle innovation in the European market.

The European CAB includes finance, operations, sales and marketing executives from prominent manufacturing and distribution companies across Europe, including Moody Pruss, CFO at Kafrit Industries and Kathrin Gasser, Head of Pricing BPM at Elektro-Material AG.

"Kafrit is about driving innovation, including for data and analytics, and pricing optimization is a critical part of our strategy forward," Pruss said. "We are honored to be a part of the Customer Advisory Board to contribute our feedback and insights."

"We have appreciated our three-year partnership with Zilliant and their willingness to listen and learn from our business and vision," Gasser said. "They deliver the pricing and revenue intelligence we need to continue to move our business forward and innovate."

This European CAB will meet several times a year to share their perspectives on regional market dynamics, the implications for pricing strategy and business operations in Europe and the adoption of AI technologies in compliance with European regulations.

"At Zilliant, we're committed to delivering value and strong returns for our customers, with a focus on regional needs," said Zilliant Chief Product Marketing Officer Kylie Fuentes. "Collaborating with European leaders will help us tailor our technology and services to the European market's specific requirements."

About Zilliant

Zilliant helps businesses put pricing at the heart of their business by managing the entire pricing lifecycle. Zilliant's data science, cloud-native software and passion for customer success deliver the highest ROI, fastest time to value and highest customer satisfaction. Learn more about how Zilliant helps businesses unlock the full power of pricing at zilliant.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241105608889/en/

Contacts:

Treble

Matt Grant

zilliant@treblepr.com
Die Snowflake Aktie verzeichnete am 5. November 2024 einen bemerkenswerten Anstieg von 1,17% und schloss bei 105,43 EUR. Dieser Kurssprung unterstreicht die positive Dynamik des Cloud-Datenspeicherspezialisten, der trotz eines leichten Ruckgangs von 0,50% im letzten Monat nun 8,33% uber seinem 52-Wochen-Tief notiert. Das Unternehmen profitiert von der wachsenden Nachfrage nach cloudbasierten Datenmanagementlosungen und seiner Fahigkeit, nahtlos verschiedene Cloud-Anbieter zu integrieren.

Finanzielle Kennzahlen im Fokus

Obwohl Snowflake weiterhin Verluste schreibt, bleibt das Umsatzwachstum beeindruckend. Mit einem aktuellen Kurs-Umsatz-Verhaltnis (KUV) von 12,59 und einem prognostizierten KUV von 23,29 fur 2024 zeigt sich die hohe Bewertung des Unternehmens. Anleger sollten jedoch beachten, dass diese Kennzahlen im Kontext des schnell wachsenden Cloud-Marktes zu betrachten sind und Snowflakes langfristiges Potenzial widerspiegeln konnten.

Hier weiterlesen

[...]
BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Germany's factory orders rebounded in September on strong growth in aircraft and other transport equipment orders, data from Destatis showed on Wednesday.Factory orders advanced 4.2 percent on a monthly basis in September, in contrast to the revised 5.4 percent decline in August.Economists had forecast orders to grow moderately by 1.6 percent after September's initially estimated decline of 5.8 percent.Destatis said the growth in new orders in manufacturing was mainly attributable to the substantial growth in the 'manufacture of other transport equipment' sector. The increase in new orders in the automotive industry also had a positive effect.Domestic orders climbed 3.6 percent and foreign orders grew 4.4 percent, with orders from the euro area rising 14.6 percent. Meanwhile, new orders from the rest of the world declined 1.6 percent.On a yearly basis, new orders in manufacturing gained 1.0 percent, reversing a 3.4 percent decrease in the prior month.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Regulatory News:

ACTICOR BIOTECH (FR0014005OJ5 ALACT), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing glenzocimab, an innovative drug for the treatment of cardiovascular emergencies, today provides an update on the current receivership proceedings.

To enable the Company to continue its search for new investors or partners to support its new development plan in STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction), the court-appointed administrator had granted mid-October 2024 an extension until Tuesday November 5, 2024, to the call for bids published on September 13, for a continuation or disposal plan.

To date, the court-appointed administrator has received no proposal from a buyer. The Company is therefore pursuing its search for a solution to support the development of glenzocimab in STEMI, and the 6-month observation period opened on August 6, 2024, is ongoing.

As a reminder, on 6 August 2024, the Paris Commercial Court had ordered the opening of receivership proceedings. The purpose of these proceedings is to enable the Company to assess all the options available to it to pursue its development, the development of its product, glenzocimab, and its search for financing and partners. As already mentioned, this procedure will also enable the Company to finance its operations until January 2025.

The Company will continue to keep the market informed of developments in the current receivership proceedings and calls on investors to follow closely future communications concerning its progress.

About ACTICOR BIOTECH

ACTICOR BIOTECH, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2013 from the work of INSERM, is developing glenzocimab, a humanized monoclonal antibody fragment (fab) targeting the GPVI platelet receptor for the treatment of cardiovascular emergencies and acute thrombotic diseases.

The main clinical indication being evaluated is acute ischemic stroke, due to the strong need for safer treatments, particularly those that do not increase the risk of bleeding, and its high incidence. In three international clinical trials involving over 600 stroke patients, no significant impact on neurological improvement (mRS score at 3 months) was demonstrated, with the exception of a sub-population of patients with intracerebral haemorrhage, where mortality was significantly reduced by a factor of 3 (p=0.035) (Mazighi et al. 2024).

LIBERATE, a Phase 2 clinical trial in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (STEMI), is currently being recruited through an academic partnership with the University of Birmingham (UK). This study aims to demonstrate the efficacy of glenzocimab in reducing the size of myocardial infarction, a critical factor for long-term cardiac function.

In all, more than 800 subjects were included in the clinical trials, over 400 of whom were exposed to glenzocimab without safety concerns.

The use of glenzocimab in thrombotic diseases is covered by 3 patent families, with an expiry date in 2036 for the first family. ACTICOR BIOTECH also has the right to develop a biomarker for stroke patients.

Acticor Biotech is backed by a panel of European and international investors (Mediolanum farmaceutici, Karista, Go Capital, Newton Biocapital, CMS Medical Venture Investment (HK) Limited, A&B (HK) Limited, Anaxago, and the Armesa Foundation) and has been listed on Euronext Growth Paris since November 2021 (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5 ALACT).

For further information, visit: www.acticor-biotech.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to Acticor Biotech and its business. Acticor Biotech believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions. However, no assurance can be given that the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct, as they are subject to risks, including those described in the Universal Registration Document as filed with the Autorite des marches financiers on July 9, 2024, and to changes in economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Acticor Biotech operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks that are unknown to Acticor Biotech or that Acticor Biotech does not currently consider material. The occurrence of some or all of these risks could cause Acticor Biotech's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241105824773/en/

Contacts:

ACTICOR BIOTECH

Gilles AVENARD, MD

CEO and Founder

gilles.avenard@acticor-biotech.com

Sophie BINAY, PhD

General Manager and CSO

Sophie.binay@acticor-biotech.com

NewCap

Mathilde BOHIN

Investor Relations

acticor@newcap.eu

T. : +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95

NewCap

Arthur ROUILLE

Media Relations

acticor@newcap.eu

T. : +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15
Multi-year agreement ensures ORF programming and numerous satellite customers of ORS Group will continue to distribute their channels via SES's satellites

SES announced today it has extended its multi-year contracts with Austria's largest media provider and public broadcaster ORF and its content distribution subsidiary ORS Group on SES's prime TV neighbourhood at 19.2 degrees East.

The agreement covers the satellite transmission of ORF's offerings, including the distribution of ORF 1 HD, ORF 2 HD, ORF III HD, ORF Sport plus HD, regional programmes from the Austrian states, as well as ORF's portfolio of radio channels.

"Satellite remains the leading platform for TV reception in Austria and is therefore crucial for the distribution of ORF's TV and radio programmes," said Harald Krauter, Director of Technology and Digitization at ORF. "With this contract extension, we are able to provide our audience with the highest quality programming via satellite as part of our distribution strategy, underscoring that linear TV will continue to be a key reception method for many years to come."

"For many years, SES has been a key partner in the distribution of ORF's linear programming and for numerous national and international channels carried by ORS," said Michael Wagenhofer, Managing Director of ORS. "I am very pleased that we will continue this trusted partnership in the future."

"The long-term extension of our agreement reaffirms the importance of satellite broadcasting for Austria," said Norbert Holzle, Global Head of Media at SES. "For a country with such diverse topography, satellite TV provides the ideal solution to reach every household with content in the highest image quality something that is even more critical for a public broadcaster like ORF."

With over 50% of Austrian households relying on satellite TV, SES's satellites at 19.2 degrees East play a key role in directly delivering a diverse bouquet of TV channels to 2 million TV households, ensuring that viewers can enjoy prime content from broadcasters like ORF and ORS's national and international partners for many years to come.

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About SES

SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on Earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless data connectivity services around the world. As a provider of global content and connectivity solutions, SES owns and operates a geosynchronous orbit fleet and medium earth orbit (GEO-MEO) constellation of satellites, offering a combination of global coverage and high performance services. By using its intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES delivers high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners around the world. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241105354707/en/

Contacts:

Suzanne Ong

Communications

Tel. +352 710 725 500

suzanne.ong@ses.com
Zilch, the world's first ad-subsidized payments network (ASPN), transforms its underwriting infrastructure with Taktile's risk decision platform, boosting efficiency and lowering provider and usage costs.

Zilch, the fintech payments innovator of the world's first ad-subsidized payments network (ASPN), has revolutionized its underwriting infrastructure, achieving savings by reducing provider and usage costs by over half by transitioning to Taktile, a cutting-edge decisioning platform. This strategic shift not only enhances Zilch's operational efficiency but also supports the company's sustained growth in the highly competitive financial technology sector.

Pioneering Change in Consumer Payments

As a frontrunner in consumer payments, Zilch's vision is to eliminate the high cost of consumer credit, for good. It empowers consumers to make purchases anywhere, anytime, without the burden of falling into revolving debt traps that cost consumers $150bn in interest and fees in just the US and UK alone. Having saved its 4m+ customers over $600m since launch in 2020 and as the first regulated credit product of its kind in the BNPL industry, Zilch's ambitious target is to reduce that $150bn to zero, to Zilch. To continue delivering on this vision and recognizing the rapid advances in decisioning software, Zilch saw the need to modernize its credit underwriting processes to provide greater resilience, flexibility, and scalability.

The Solution: Taktile's Transformative Platform

Under the leadership of Zilch's Chief Risk Officer, Des Mcnamara, Chanuka Perera, Head of Credit Risk at Zilch, led the search for a platform that could align with Zilch's ambitious growth plans. After an extensive evaluation of several automated decisioning tools, Taktile emerged as the clear choice, offering the flexibility and innovation that Zilch needed.

"Taktile's platform has empowered our teams to take control of our automated underwriting processes, allowing us to build, test, and optimize decisions with unprecedented speed and independence," said Chanuka Perera. "This shift has not only streamlined our operations but has also resulted in significant cost savings, freeing up resources for further innovation."

Seamless Integration and Empowerment

The transition to Taktile was swift and seamless, with Zilch completing the migration and going live with the new system in just four weeks. Taktile's intuitive user interface, featuring pre-built "Nodes," enables Zilch's subject matter experts to create and refine underwriting decisions without the need for external support or technical expertise.

Taktile's Data Marketplace, which includes a vast library of pre-built data integrations, further simplified Zilch's operations by providing easy access to essential data providers. This self-serve capability has empowered Zilch's credit and risk teams to rapidly develop, test, and optimize decision flows, significantly reducing reliance on external consultants.

A Strategic Move for Long-Term Success

The impact of adopting Taktile extends beyond immediate cost savings. With a flexible, scalable platform, Zilch is now more robustly equipped to navigate the complexities of its rapidly scaling global operations and respond to evolving market demands.

"We see our partnership with Taktile as a notable driver of our success to date and one that'll grow stronger. By reducing costs and increasing agility, we are now more prepared than ever to meet the needs of our customers and expand our reach," added Perera.

About Zilch

Zilch's vision is to eliminate the high cost of consumer credit. For good.

Zilch is a multi-award-winning pioneer of the world's first direct-to-consumer, ad-subsidised payments network (ASPN). Leveraging its unique, vertically integrated, first-party-data business model, Zilch sets itself apart from the incumbent fintech industry with a profitable global revenue source, bringing unrivalled value to customers and marketers alike. Today, Zilch is revolutionising the $50 trillion advertising and payments industries by merging the very best of debit, credit, and savings.

Co-founded by Philip Belamant, Sean O'Connor, and Serge Belamant, Zilch provides millions of customers the freedom to go anywhere in the world (online or offline) and, when they pay, earn up to 5% cashback rewards on debit payments ('Pay Now') or spread interest-free credit repayments over six weeks or three months. In the process, Zilch helps customers build their credit profiles with the major credit agencies. Within 44 months since its launch in 2020, Zilch amassed more than 4 million registered customers.

In September 2024, four years after its public launch in 2020, Zilch announced that in July 2024, it had achieved first-month profitability in record time while surpassing $130 million in revenue run rate, keeping pace with European fintech giants like Revolut, Starling Bank, and Monzo.

In 2023, Zilch launched its proprietary ASPN service, which allows merchants worldwide instant connection with Zilch's first-party-data, closed-loop network of millions of high-intent customers, while offering customers personalised savings, deals, and discounts codified to their habitual daily spend.

In January 2023, Zilch struck a ground-breaking reporting agreement with the UK's prime credit reference agencies, transforming the UK lending ecosystem by enabling all adults to build their credit records using interest-free credit rather than high-cost revolving credit products.

Since April 2020, Zilch has been regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), obtaining a consumer credit licence through the Regulatory Sandbox Programme.

Driven by innovation and a commitment to excellence, Zilch is setting new benchmarks in the industry to create a more inclusive and efficient ecosystem, empowering millions of users to budget and manage their financial lives more effectively and transparently.

For more information, visit: www.zilch.com.

About Taktile

Taktile is a next-generation decision platform that empowers subject matter experts to build, monitor, and optimize automated risk decisions across the entire customer lifecycle-from credit underwriting and onboarding KYC/KYB to transaction monitoring and collections. With its low-code UI and best-in-class marketplace of third-party data integrations, Taktile enables credit, fraud, and risk teams to reduce reliance on engineering, adapt quickly to market changes, and ultimately drive growth while lowering operational costs.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106270583/en/

Contacts:

Zilch Ryan Mendy, Chief Communications Officer: Comms@zilch.com

For any Press Media enquiries, please contact: zilch@hawthornadvisors.com

Taktile Ashley Baird, ashley.baird@taktile.com
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Syngenta Crop Protection, a global leader in agricultural innovation, and Maersk, a global integrator of logistics, announced today the extension of their fourth-party logistics (4PL) partnership for an additional five years. This renewed collaboration underscores both companies' commitment to responsible logistics through continuous supply chain optimization and innovation.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106622910/en/

Syngenta and Maersk underscore their commitment to responsible logistics through continuous supply chain optimization and innovation. (Photo: Business Wire)

A 4PL provider takes third-party logistics further by managing resources, technology, infrastructure, and other logistics providers to design, build, and deliver customised supply chain solutions. This concept is integral to Maersk's Logistics Services product offering and a key element of its strategy to provide its customers with leading supply chain management solutions from factory to final destination.

A cornerstone of the collaboration is the constant focus on more sustainable logistics, with both companies highly committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the supply chain. Maersk aims to achieve net zero GHG emissions across its entire business by 2040, while Syngenta's sustainability priorities are accelerating efforts to decarbonize its operations and set clear targets for sustainable operations. Under the collaboration, regular reporting on emissions and ongoing dialogue on sustainability outcomes are key determinants of business performance.

Over the past eight years, Syngenta and Maersk have successfully navigated major disruptions thanks to significantly increased resilience, including the Covid pandemic and the Red Sea crisis and identified opportunities for reducing GHG emissions from Syngenta's supply chain.

Mike Hollands, Global Head of Production Supply at Syngenta Crop Protection: "We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Maersk, a company that shares our commitment to sustainability and innovation. Syngenta and Maersk have a strong alignment in prioritizing sustainability and driving innovation. Our partnership has proven its value, and we look forward to achieving new milestones together by continuing to develop and implement cutting-edge solutions that optimize our supply chains, leveraging digital logistics and artificial intelligence."

Dimitris Armenakis, Global Head of Managed by Maersk Product: "The journey we are on together with Syngenta underpins Maersk's position as an integrated logistics provider. We thrive by the success of our customers and contribute to this by developing solutions that optimise and simplify their supply chains. We are always looking to innovate on behalf of our customers and add further value to their business."

The extended partnership reinforces Syngenta's and Maersk's shared commitment to sustainability and innovation as industry leaders in driving efficient, resilient, and environmentally responsible supply chain solutions.

About Syngenta Crop Protection

Syngenta Crop Protection is a leader in agricultural innovation, bringing breakthrough technologies and solutions that enable farmers to grow productively and sustainably. We offer a leading portfolio of crop protection solutions for plant and soil health, as well as digital solutions that transform the decision-making capabilities of farmers. Our 18,300 employees serve to advance agriculture in more than 90 countries around the world. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and is part of the Syngenta Group. Follow us on X (@Syngenta, @SyngentaUS), and on LinkedIn.

About Maersk A.P. Moller Maersk

A.P. Moller Maersk is an integrated logistics company working to connect and simplify its customers' supply chains. As a global leader in logistics services, the company operates in 130 countries and employs more than 100,000 people. Maersk is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2040 across the entire business with new technologies, new vessels, and green fuels.

Data protection is important to us. You are receiving this publication on the legal basis of Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR ("legitimate interest"). However, if you do not wish to receive further information about Syngenta, just send us a brief informal message and we will no longer process your details for this purpose. You can also find further details in our privacy statement.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

2024 Syngenta. Rosentalstrasse 67, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106622910/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts

Syngenta Media Relations

media@syngentagroup.com

Maersk Media Relations

Rainer Horn, Senior Press Officer

Regions Europe IMEA, A.P. Moller Maersk,

+49 1525 452 14 62, rainer.horn@maersk.com

Web Resources

Syngenta Group Media Library
Ada Health's AI health assessment and care navigation technology is integrated into Groupe Mutuel's app. It helps members better understand their symptoms and care needs and directs them to relevant care options 24/7.

Ada incorporates users' Groupe Mutuel insurance plans when making care recommendations, enabling personalized care journeys that include the most appropriate support and services.

The announcement continues Ada's strong growth in the insurer and payer segment following the recent renewal of its partnership with French health insurance aggregator Santeclair.

BERLIN and MARTIGNY, Switzerland, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ada Health, the leading global AI health assessment and care navigation platform, and Groupe Mutuel, the comprehensive insurer, have launched a partnership to support quicker and easier access to affordable, effective care for up to 1.4 million Groupe Mutuel members across Switzerland.

Through this partnership, Ada's clinically validated AI helps Groupe Mutuel offer tailored healthcare experiences for their members. For these members, Ada's on-demand, trustworthy health assessments support them by navigating them to a wide array of services, 24/7. Facilitating quick, round-the-clock access to clinically appropriate services across Groupe Mutuel's extensive care and partner network can improve time-to-treatment and potentially reduce unnecessary primary care visits.

Following an assessment, members will receive a recommendation for appropriate care options included in their policy and a referral voucher for reimbursement. Ada assessments are integrated into a member's Groupe Mutuel single sign-on and are available in Italian, French, German, and English.

Since taking effect, Ada has already demonstrably improved member confidence, with a 59% reduction in members who are unsure of what care they should seek for their concerns. Members are also able to access guidance and services through Ada 24/7, with more than half of members utilizing Ada outside of normal clinical hours.

In addition to supporting members in understanding their health and navigating to care, Ada also helps highlight existing or unknown risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, informing potential prevention campaigns to improve long-term member well-being.

Nicholas Altebrando, Chief Product Officer at Ada, said: "At Ada, we believe that AI can help care-seekers everywhere access the right care at the right time. Partnering with insurance services enables us to provide tailored care pathways for members, helping us achieve this vision. We're pleased to be extending our partnership with Groupe Mutuel to navigate its members to the right treatment and provide access to tailored, affordable, and efficient care for individuals across the Swiss healthcare system."

Nicolas Hofler, Head of Digital Services & Ecosystems at Groupe Mutuel said: "By integrating Ada's AI, Groupe Mutuel is the first health insurer in Switzerland to take an innovative and forward-looking approach to healthcare. It does not replace a doctor, but offers our members immediate and reliable assistance by orienting them to next steps.

"Offering a high level of diagnostic accuracy, Ada contributes to Groupe Mutuel's aim of relieving the burden on the healthcare system by avoiding unnecessary visits to the doctor or guiding to more suitable services for their personal needs. Minor cases, which in the past caused overloads, can now be handled more specifically and efficiently - an advantage for members and the entire healthcare system."

Groupe Mutuel users with questions about their symptoms can conduct a free AI-powered Ada health assessment directly through the Groupe Mutuel app. Based on their responses, Ada then provides users with tailored next steps based on their needs and personal insurance plan.

Ada assessments are available for any Groupe Mutuel member in Switzerland via the Groupe Mutuel app. For more information, visit www.groupemutuel.ch/en/private-customers/our-services/ada.html

About Ada Health

Ada Health is a global health company founded by doctors, scientists, and industry pioneers to create new possibilities for personal health and transform knowledge into better outcomes. Its core system connects medical knowledge with intelligent technology to help tens of millions of people actively manage their health and health systems to deliver more effective care.

Ada Health's powerful AI-based health assessment platform helps users better understand their mental and physical symptoms through a thorough series of questions based on clinically validated AI and protocols, and based on their responses, navigates them to the most appropriate available services and support. The platform's medical knowledge covers an industry-leading range of symptoms and conditions, while the platform itself prioritizes user safety and accuracy and is designed to be as inclusive as possible.

The company also works with a range of leading health providers and organizations internationally to help direct users to the right care, support overburdened systems, and help manage diseases with the ultimate aims of improving health outcomes and delivering seamless end-to-end healthcare journeys.

About Groupe Mutuel

With over 2,800 employees across Switzerland, Groupe Mutuel serves more than 1.4 million individual customers and over 29,500 companies. As the only multiline insurer in Switzerland, Groupe Mutuel is the reference partner in the field of health and retirement benefits for private and corporate customers. Its turnover exceeds CHF 5.8 billion.

Thanks to tailored solutions, whether in basic insurance (LAMal/KVG) or supplemental insurance (LCA/VVG), it is the third largest health insurer in Switzerland. Groupe Mutuel also offers an extensive range of products in individual retirement benefits and patrimony insurance.

Based in Martigny, the insurer provides companies of all sizes with solutions for loss of earnings in the event of illness, accident insurance (LAA/UVG) and occupational pension plans (LPP/BVG). In the field of corporate health insurance, Groupe Mutuel is ranked fifth nationwide.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/groupe-mutuel-integrates-ada-healths-ai-powered-care-navigation-into-their-member-experience-across-switzerland-to-support-personalized-streamlined-access-to-care-302296805.html
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Phoenix Group Holdings Plc (PHNX.L), an insurance company, on Wednesday announced the appointment of Nic Nicandrou as its new Group Chief Financial Officer or GCFO elect and as an Executive Director of the Board, with effect from December 2.Nicandrou will be appointed GCFO subject to regulatory approval. Stephanie Bruce, Interim GCFO, will remain in role until such a time that an orderly handover has been completed.The new CFO, most recently, worked as Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Asia & Africa, the largest division of Prudential plc. Previously, he had held the role of Chief Financial Officer of Prudential plc for eight years.Formerly, he spent eleven years at Aviva plc in various senior finance roles.Andy Briggs, Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix said, 'His broad sector experience will be invaluable as we fulfil our purpose of helping people secure a life of possibilities.'Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Spirent Communications Plc (SPT.L, SPM), a provider of automated test and assurance solutions for devices and networks, on Wednesday reported that revenue growth in the third quarter was 5 percent, resulting in an improved performance since the first half.Eric Updyke, Chief Executive Officer, said the firm saw positive trading momentum in the third quarter and will carefully monitor how this develops in coming months.In its trading update for the nine-month period up to September 30, the company, which is in deal for a recommended cash offer from Keysight Technologies Inc., noted that challenging market conditions have continued but performance in the third quarter shows an uptick compared to last year.Order intake gathered momentum with important wins for Lifecycle Service Assurance and High-Speed Ethernet Testing.Looking ahead, Spirent said, 'Although market conditions remain challenging and are expected to continue in the near term, the recent momentum may deliver an improved second half trading performance. Looking forward, our confidence in 5G as an enduring growth driver remains intact as demand-side drivers increase.'Regarding the takeover offer, Spirent said the companies are continuing to actively engage and work constructively with the relevant regulatory authorities in order to satisfy the regulatory conditions in relation to the deal.Keysight and Spirent currently expect the Scheme of arrangement for the deal to become effective during the first half of Keysight's 2024/2025 fiscal year being the period up to April 30, 2025, as previously announced.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
LONDON, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Crown Aesthetics, a Crown Laboratories company and leading innovator in the dermatologic and aesthetics industry, is proud to announce that Cavendish Clinics, one of the United Kingdom's ("UK") premier aesthetic clinic groups, has upgraded their microneedling devices to the award-winning SkinPen Precision . This upgrade significantly enhances the treatment options available to Cavendish Clinics' clients, ensuring they benefit from a best-in-class skin remodeling technology. SkinPen Precision Microneedling System is a medical device intended to treat facial acne scars in adults aged 22 years or older. SkinPen Precision Microneedling System is also intended to help improve the cosmetic appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, surgical scars, enlarged pores and pigmentation conditions (dyschromia).*

With nine locations, Cavendish Clinic is a leading provider of aesthetic treatments in the UK, offering a wide range of services designed to enhance natural beauty. With a strong focus on patient care and cutting-edge technology, Cavendish Clinic has earned its reputation as a trusted destination for advanced skin treatments. Also known for its commitment to staying at the forefront of the aesthetics industry, the upgrade to SkinPen Precision represents a pivotal step in ensuring Cavendish Clinics' patients receive the most advanced skin rejuvenation technology available. With SkinPen Precision's demonstrated ability to improve the look of skin, Cavendish Clinics' patients can now enjoy a proven, results-driven experience. Cavendish Clinics are offering SkinPen Precision in selected John Lewis stores.

"We are thrilled to support Cavendish Clinics in bringing the advanced capabilities of SkinPen Precision to their prestigious client base," said Andy Moulton, Vice President of International for Crown Aesthetics. "This offering aligns with our mission to deliver high-quality, innovative solutions for skin rejuvenation and restoration."

Cavendish Clinics founder and leading Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Matt James commented, "At Cavendish Clinics, we constantly seek to elevate the standard of care we provide. Working with Crown Aesthetics to integrate SkinPen Precision into our clinics' offerings allows us to continue our promise of delivering top-tier treatments with clinically proven results. This device is a game-changer for patients who want safe, effective skin treatments with minimal downtime."

This arrangement underscores Crown Aesthetics' commitment to expanding its reach within the UK and highlights Cavendish Clinics' dedication to staying at the forefront of the aesthetics industry. With SkinPen Precision, Crown Aesthetics and the Cavendish Clinics are set to raise the bar for microneedling treatments and offer clients the very best in advanced skincare solutions, significantly impacting the UK market.

*Indications and body treatment areas for SkinPen Precision may vary based on country. Please visit www.skinpeninternational.com .

About Crown Aesthetics

Crown Aesthetics, a premier medical aesthetics company, is dedicated to helping leading practices around the world grow their businesses. We do that by delivering dramatic results in rejuvenation and restoration. Our minimally-invasive innovations - SkinPen, the first FDA-cleared microneedling device; MicroPen EVO, also FDA-cleared; BIOJUVE, a novel skin biome brand; a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) system ProGen Eclipse PRP; and VOTESSE, a hair health system - act as "gateway" products that drive new and highly satisfied patients into practices. Based in Dallas, Texas, Crown Aesthetics sets industry standards for efficacy, safety, and innovation. As a result, our customers consistently deliver the best aesthetic care in the business. For more information, please visit www.crownaesthetics.com .

About Crown Laboratories, Inc.

Crown, a privately held, fully integrated global skincare company, is committed to developing and providing a diverse portfolio of aesthetic, premium, and therapeutic skincare products that improve the quality of life for its consumers throughout their skincare journey. An innovative company focused on skin science for life, Crown's unyielding pursuit of delivering therapeutic excellence and enhanced patient outcomes is why it has become a leader in Dermatology and Aesthetics. Crown has been listed on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies List for eleven years and has expanded its distribution to over 60 countries. For more information, visit www.crownlaboratories.com .

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1457834/Crown_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/crown-aesthetics-provides-cavendish-clinics-with-award-winning-skinpen-precision-to-upgrade-its-microneedling-device-offering-302296919.html
GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 136th Canton Fair has concluded successfully, with the number of overseas buyers hitting a record high. The event significantly promoted high-quality development of international trade and further expanded China's opening up to the global market.

As of November 3, a total of 253,000 overseas buyers from 214 countries and regions attended this session, a 2.8 percent increase compared with the previous session in spring and hitting the 250,000 milestone for the first time. Buyers from the "Belt and Road Initiative" countries accounted for over 60 percent, with a total of 165,000, which represents a 3.7 percent increase.

The number of buyers from Europe, US and Canada rebounded significantly as well, with 54,000 attending the Fair, an increase of 8.2 percent - of which, 22,000 buyers were from the European Union, an increase of 22.5 percent; and 8,919 buyers were from the US, a 5.2 percent increase. A total of 146 industry and commercial organizations participated in the 136th Canton Fair with delegations, an increase of 18.5 percent. The number of leading multinational sourcing companies reached 300 for the first time, with a total of 308.

Overseas buyers have come to the Fair with clear sourcing targets and a strong willingness to cooperate with Chinese enterprises. The export turnover has improved with intentional orders reaching USD24.95 billion, a 1 percent growth compared with the previous session. The turnover of "Belt and Road" countries accounted for more than half of the total.

The 136th Canton Fair has showcased latest achievements of New Quality Productive Forces with a wide variety of innovative products emerging. About 1.15 million new products were presented at the trade show, and overseas buyers especially favored digital, intelligent, and green products.

In the meantime, 730 companies from 49 countries and regions participated in the International Pavilion of the 136th Canton Fair, among which 65.5 percent were from "Belt and Road" countries, and 33 percent were from RCEP member countries. Companies from countries around the world, including Turkey, South Korea, Egypt and more have expressed that they've gained a lot at the Canton Fair and will continue to participate in the next session.

The 137th Canton Fair will be held from April 15 to May 5, 2025 in Guangzhou.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549992/image_969985_26588490.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-136th-canton-fair-advances-high-quality-development-of-international-trade-with-overseas-buyers-attendance-hitting-record-numbers-302297373.html
Biosynth, a global supplier of critical raw materials and services to the life sciences industry, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Matt Gunnison as the company's new Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. The Board has also appointed Kieran Murphy as Chairman, effective as of the same date.

Matt Gunnison will succeed Urs Spitz, under whose guidance Biosynth has achieved remarkable growth and strengthened its position in the life sciences sector. Urs Spitz will remain a member of the Board of Directors.

"We are grateful to Urs for his significant contributions in shaping Biosynth into the innovative and thriving company it is today. We are now excited to welcome Matt as CEO, whose vision and extensive experience will be pivotal in leading the company through its next chapter," said Kugan Sathiyanandarajah, Partner at KKR and Head of Europe for KKR's Health Care Strategic Growth strategy.

"I am thrilled to join Biosynth at such an exciting time in its journey. The company has built a strong foundation under Urs's leadership, and I look forward to working with the talented team to further accelerate our growth and innovation. Together, we will continue to deliver critical raw materials and services that drive advancements in the life sciences and make a real impact on global health outcomes," said Matt Gunnison.

"It's a privilege to be appointed Chairman of Biosynth. I am excited to work alongside Matt and the entire team as we chart the course for the company's continued growth. Biosynth is at the forefront of innovation in the life sciences industry, and I am confident we have the right leadership and vision to drive our success forward," said Kieran Murphy.

"I'm immensely proud of what Biosynth has accomplished. I would like to congratulate Matt and Kieran on their new roles and wish them, along with the whole Biosynth team, great success in the years ahead. I look forward to continuing to support them in my role on the Board as they lead Biosynth into this new chapter," said Urs Spitz.

Matt currently serves as CEO of Gamma Biosciences, a life sciences investment platform that he co-founded with leading global investment firm KKR. He brings nearly two decades of experience in the healthcare and life sciences industries. At Gamma, Matt oversaw the acquisition and management of a portfolio of growth stage businesses serving the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Prior to Gamma, he served in various positions at GE Healthcare, most recently as head of corporate development for the $19B division of General Electric Co. Matt holds a B.A. in Economics from Georgetown University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan.

Kieran currently serves as a senior advisor to KKR and will transition to Biosynth from Gamma Biosciences, where he has served as Chairman since 2022. He brings decades of corporate leadership and board experience in healthcare and life sciences, including as former President and CEO of GE Healthcare and GE Healthcare Life Sciences.

Joining Matt and Kieran, as Head of Corporate Development for Biosynth, is Eric Simpson, previously Vice President at Gamma Biosciences.

About Biosynth

Biosynth is a supplier of critical materials, securing life science supply chains with global research, manufacturing, and distribution facilities. Supplying the pharmaceutical and diagnostic sectors; where Chemistry meets Biology, Products meet Services and Innovation meets Quality, Biosynth is at the Edge of Innovation. With an unrivaled research product portfolio of over a million products and end-to-end manufacturing services, Biosynth's expertise and capability runs across Complex Chemicals, Peptides, and Key Biologics, all from one trusted partner. Headquartered in Staad, Switzerland, Biosynth is owned amongst others by KKR, Ampersand Capital Partners and management. Find out more about Biosynth at www.biosynth.com.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR's insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group's website at www.globalatlantic.com.

About Ampersand

Ampersand Capital Partners, founded in 1988, is a middle-market private equity firm with $3 billion of assets under management, dedicated to growth-oriented investments in the healthcare sector. With offices in Boston, MA, and Amsterdam, Netherlands, Ampersand leverages a unique blend of private equity and operating experience to build value and drive long-term performance alongside its portfolio company management teams. Ampersand has helped build numerous market-leading companies across each of the firm's core healthcare sectors. For additional information, visit Ampersandcapital.com or follow Ampersand on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106589561/en/

Contacts:

Biosynth

Alannah Wheeler

+44 7984 525560 marketing@biosynth.com

KKR

FGS Global

Alastair Elwen/ Jack Shelley

+44 20 7251 3801/ +44 7917 886 576 KKR-Lon@FGSGlobal.com

Ampersand

Kathleen Toomey kpt@ampersandcapital.com
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Altona Rare Earths (LSE: REE) is pleased to announce the company is participating in the upcoming 121 Mining Investment Conference in London. Cedric Simonet of Altona Rare Earths will be presenting about the Company's recent and future planned activities.

121 Mining Investment London will be hosting over 150 mining companies and more than 500 investors for two days of pre-arranged, targeted 1-2-1 meetings.

Alongside the curated schedule of pre-booked meetings matching investors with appropriate projects, the conference programme will provide expert commentary and the latest market intelligence on key industry developments.

This year's event is being held on November 14-15.

Any investors who would like to attend 121 Mining Investment London can register for a free pass here.

About 121 Mining Investment

The 121 Mining Investment global event series connects portfolio managers and analysts from institutional funds, private equity groups and family offices with mining company management teams for 1-2-1, private in-person meetings.

121 Mining Investment has an ever-expanding global portfolio, currently covering London, New York, Cape Town, Dubai and Singapore, as well as online editions throughout the year.

About Altona Rare Earths

Altona is a junior exploration company focused on building value through the exploration and development of a portfolio of critical minerals assets in Africa. The company has recently produced a maiden JORC mineral resource of 13.6 mt at 2.42% TREO and a positive scoping study at the Monte Muambe rare earths project (Mozambique), acquired in 2021. The project is currently at Prefeasibility stage. Separately, the company is also evaluating the possible short-term production of fluorspar from high-grade fluorite veins also occurring at Monte Muambe. Altona is also involved in copper exploration in Zambia and in Botswana.

SOURCE: 121 Mining Investment Conference
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks rallied on Wednesday as Donald Trump won the United States elections with a clear majority of 270 seats.Prime Minister Keir Starmer has congratulated Trump on his 'historic election victory' and said that 'as the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.'The benchmark FTSE 100 climbed 116 points, or 1.4 percent, to 8,289 after closing 0.1 percent lower on Tuesday.Shares of Lancashire Holdings jumped more than 10 percent. The specialty insurance and reinsurance group has reported a 9 percent year-on-year increase in GWP to $1.7bn for the first nine months of 2024.Lloyd's of London insurer Beazley rallied 3.6 percent after reiterating its full-year undiscounted combined ratio guidance of around 80 percent.Prudential surged 5 percent after it posted a 11 percent rise in new business profit for the first nine months of fiscal 2024.Homebuilder Persimmon slumped 5.2 percent as it flagged concerns around signs of build costs emerging in price negotiations for 2025.Retail giant Marks and Spencer soared 5.2 percent after beating first-half profit expectations.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


EQS Newswire / 06/11/2024 / 17:54 UTC+8

Recently, Chery Group reached a monumental moment in its journey. In four countries-Egypt, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia-Chery vehicles rolled off production lines simultaneously. At the same time, a celebration was held at the Wuhu manufacturing base in China to commemorate the milestone of the 15 millionth vehicle. This series of remarkable achievements signifies Chery's leap across five continents and weaves together an extraordinary 15-million vehicle roll-off event that transcends borders.

At the 15-million vehicle roll-off ceremony, Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Group, remarked: "From 1 to 15 million, it is not just a growth in product quantity or a breakthrough in Chery's speed, but an unyielding innovation to turn the impossible into the possible and to turn the possible into even greater possibilities." Looking ahead to the next 15 million, Chery will focus on the user, build on technology, and take globalization as the direction, striving not only for sales growth but also for advancements in quality, structural optimization, and brand value, bringing global users more delightful, diverse, and differentiated brand options.



TIGGO 8 Shines Globally, Adding Brilliance to the 15 Millionth Vehicle Milestone Celebration

During the global synchronized roll-off ceremony, the TIGGO 8 rolled off the production line at Chery's Brazil manufacturing base, becoming an integral part of the 15-million milestone achievement. In terms of sales, the TIGGO 8 series has achieved over 1 million global sales, gaining recognition from urban elites worldwide. Additionally, various models of the TIGGO 8 series continue to sell well and gain widespread trust in markets such as Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Ecuador. Since its debut in Brazil in 2020, the TIGGO 8 has received high praise, winning recognition from authoritative institutions and the favor of consumers. It maintains strong sales momentum in Brazil and has become an official reception vehicle for the Brazilian president and a key government procurement vehicle.

With globally recognized quality and performance, the TIGGO 8 series has also won multiple awards, including South Africa's "2023 Motor Enthusiasts Choice" award, Mexico's "Top Midsize SUV" and the Philippines' "Best Midsize Crossover in 19th Annual C!" award.



Global Sales: From 0 to 15 Million, Chery's Momentum Accelerates

On December 18th, 1999, Chery's first vehicle rolled off the line. From 0 to 15 million, Chery has maintained its position as China's top passenger car exporter for 21 consecutive years, expanding its business to over 100 countries and regions. From January to September 2024, Chery Group sold 1,752,793 units, representing a 39.9% year-over-year increase, 93% of its total sales for 2023. Of this, exports reached 829,353 units, marking a 24.5% year-over-year increase, making Chery the only automotive company to achieve dual growth in domestic and overseas markets. As of now, Chery has amassed 15 million global users.



Chery has adhered to a "dual-track" approach in both domestic and international markets, achieving dual growth, with exports accounting for nearly 50% of total sales, showcasing its competitiveness in the global arena. At the same time, Chery has demonstrated strong growth momentum in ICE and NEV. Fuel vehicle sales saw a year-on-year increase of 24.9%, Meanwhile, new energy models have surged with a staggering year-on-year growth rate of 186%.

Global Products: Cars That Meet the Needs of World Users

With its global presence, high-standard R&D, stringent quality control, and excellent product performance, Chery has become a truly global car manufacturer that meets the diverse needs of users worldwide. Chery has established eight major R&D centers and over 300+ laboratories globally, bringing together more than 25,000 top R&D experts to form a strong "scientific elite team" dedicated to solving the mobility needs of new-era users.

From global product planning, design, and development to supply chain management, production, marketing, service, and quality system establishment, Chery adheres to a unified system and quality management standard, ensuring synchronized quality upgrades across global products. Through rigorous testing in extreme conditions worldwide, such as the steep slopes of South America in Brazil, the high humidity and heavy rain of Indonesia, the extreme heat of the Middle East, the autobahns of Germany, and China's vast geographic span, Chery vehicles have demonstrated their exceptional adaptability and reliability.

The Chery TIGGO series has been a standout in global markets, with the TIGGO series being named the "2023 Global Sales Champion for Chinese Brand Fuel SUVs." Furthermore, the TIGGO 7 has held the title of the top export champion in the Chinese brand A-segment SUV category for three consecutive years. Many of Chery's celebrated models, tested by global standards, were showcased at the Global Innovation Day event, including the TIGGO 8 Rally champion car.

Deepening International Cooperation,Co-create a New Future of High-Quality Global Expansion

While rapidly expanding in overseas markets, Chery is also building a high-quality, sustainable "going global" model. Adhering to the international development philosophy of "In somewhere, For somewhere," Chery collaborates openly with overseas partners to share achievements. With a commitment to being a top performer in global ESG construction and embracing the concept of being a good global corporate citizen, Chery has gained wider recognition and support in overseas markets. The 2024 Chery International User Summit exemplifies Chery's international influence. The launch of exciting events like Global Innovation Conference(CGIC), International User Summit, Ecology Exhibition and ESG Global Community allows guests worldwide to deeply appreciate Chery's outstanding achievements and firm determination in technology innovation, environmental construction, and public welfare. These events showcase Chery's latest technological achievements and cutting-edge ecological concepts and highlight its responsibility and leadership as a global corporate citizen.

In the face of this magnificent milestone, Chery Group celebrates the rollout of its 15 millionth vehicle and embarks on a new chapter in its globalization development. Behind these impressive numbers lies the crystallization of Chery's 27 years of relentless effort and the testimony of trust and support from 15 million global users. Looking to the future, Chery will continue to deepen international cooperation and produce more global vehicles that meet users' needs worldwide.



Company:Chery Automobile Co., Ltd.

Contact Person: Chery Automobile

Email: cherybrand@mychery.com

Website:https://www.cheryinternational.com/

Country: China

City:AnHui 06/11/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


SUIC and I.Hart are building an innovative marketplace enhanced with collaborative partnerships

NEW YORK, NY and TAIPEI, TAIWAN / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / SUIC Worldwide Holdings Ltd. (OTC:SUIC) today announces that I.Hart signed distribution channel agreements with top industry leaders in Taiwan including Shinkong Mitsukoshi, Far Eastern Sogo department stores, and Formosa Plastics Group's employee welfare association. This comes after SUIC signed certified joint ventures to expand and to serve NYC agencies, airports, and schools with diverse cuisine and full restaurant supply line.

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Stores is the largest high-end department store chain in Taiwan, with 13 branches, 22 stores, and over 100 million visitors every year. It has a revenue of approximately NT$94.5 billion in 2023. To learn more, please visit https://www.shinkonggroup.com/en/group.html

Far Eastern Sogo Pacific Department Stores is a famous department store chain, headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan and owns seven stores in Taiwan and five stores in China. It has a revenue of approximately NT$52 billion in 2023. To learn more, please visit https://www.feg.com.tw/en/business/company.aspx?id=66

Formosa Plastics Group's Affiliates and its Employee Welfare Association is a conglomerate of diverse interests, including biotechnology, petrochemical processing and production of electronics components. It employs more than 110,000 employees. It has a presence in the U.S. Formosa Plastics Corporation since 1978. To learn more, please visit https://www.fpg.taipei/en

In the US, SUIC has partnered with factories in providing sustainable packaging materials, with a particular emphasis on eco-friendly solutions tailored to meet the food packaging requirements of retail grocery stores. Government bans may penalize the prevalent use of polystyrene food trays in grocery stores and food processors. In response to government bans on polystyrene food trays, our partner factories develop and promote PP, PET package solution, which are recyclable and safer for both consumers and the environment. Our partner factories expand their production to include alternative packaging solutions, like biodegradable trays, paper-based containers, or reusable options. We prioritize product safety and quality. Our PP meat trays are designed to meet the highest standards of safety.

"SUIC is the biggest investor, shareholder and major operating partner of Beneway USA. The expanding channel base of our partner I.Hart reinforces our strategy across major retail channels that is expected to boost sales of I.Hart's premium products worldwide. SUIC is committed to continually explore innovative technologies and sustainable materials as support to our partners to minimize our environmental footprint. In parallel, we will drive rapid business growth by expanding our product lines and services and strengthen our market presence through strategic mergers and acquisitions of restaurant chains, suppliers, and distributors. Our ambitious franchising and transformation plan will allow us to extend our reach, enhance operational efficiencies, and establish a lasting impact in the industry," said Hank Wang, CEO.

About SUIC Worldwide Holdings Ltd., USA

SUIC Worldwide Holdings Ltd. provides research and development, venture financing for and investing in private enterprises and the public sector that develop products and services adopting core capabilities of the Internet of Things, cloud computing, mobile payment, Big Data, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence, to enhance and streamline existing processes, and establish new and exciting business models that will create revolutionary products and services. Shareholders of SUIC will be exposed to the diverse application of advanced services in various parts of the economy. Additionally, existing and potential customers can benefit from this company's diversified portfolio of technologies. As one of the pioneering publicly traded technology companies, SUIC will help build tech-enabled businesses of the future. To learn more, please visit www.sinounitedco.com

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results are achieved. This press release is considered considering all Company filings contained in the Edgar Archives of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Contact

SUIC Worldwide Holdings Ltd.

New Release Department

929-391-2550

SOURCE: SUIC Worldwide Holdings Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Val d'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Bonterra Resources Inc. (TSXV: BTR) (OTCQX: BONXF) is pleased to announce the company is participating in the upcoming 121 Mining Investment Conference in London. Marc-Andre Pelletier, President and CEO and Cesar Gonzalez, Executive Chairman of Bonterra Resources Inc. will be presenting about the Company's recent and future planned activities.

121 Mining Investment London will be hosting over 150 mining companies and more than 500 investors for two days of pre-arranged, targeted 1-2-1 meetings.

Alongside the curated schedule of pre-booked meetings matching investors with appropriate projects, the conference programme will provide expert commentary and the latest market intelligence on key industry developments.

This year's event is being held on November 14-15.

Any investors who would like to attend 121 Mining Investment London can register for a free pass here.

About 121 Mining Investment

The 121 Mining Investment global event series connects portfolio managers and analysts from institutional funds, private equity groups and family offices with mining company management teams for 1-2-1, private in-person meetings.

121 Mining Investment has an ever-expanding global portfolio, currently covering London, New York, Cape Town, Dubai and Singapore, as well as online editions throughout the year.

About Bonterra Resources Inc.

Bonterra is a Canadian gold exploration company with a portfolio of advanced exploration assets anchored by a central milling facility in Quebec, Canada. The Company's assets include the Gladiator, Barry, Moroy, and Bachelor gold deposits, which collectively hold 1.24 million ounces in Measured and Indicated categories and 1.78 million ounces in the Inferred category.In November 2023, the Company entered into an earn-in and joint venture agreement with Osisko Mining Inc. for the Urban-Barry properties, which include the Gladiator and Barry deposits. In August 2024, Gold Fields Ltd. announced the acquisition of Osisko Mining for C$2.16 billion. Gold Fields can earn a 70% interest in the joint venture by incurring C$30 million in work expenditures until November 2026. This strategic transaction highlights Bonterra's dedication to advancing its exploration assets, marking a significant step towards development.

For additional information, please contact:

SOURCE: 121 Mining Investment Conference
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) ("Teledyne") announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire select aerospace and defense electronics businesses from Excelitas Technologies Corp. ("Excelitas") for $710 million in cash. The acquisition includes the Optical Systems (OS) business known under the Qioptiq brand based in Northern Wales, UK, as well as the U.S.-based Advanced Electronic Systems (AES) business.

The UK-based OS business provides advanced optics for heads-up and helmet-mounted displays, dismounted tactical night vision systems and proprietary glass used in space and satellite applications. In the U.S., the AES business provides custom energetics, including electronic safe arm devices, high-voltage semiconductor switches and rubidium frequency standards for defense and space applications.

"We are excited to announce this pending acquisition, which will bring us new technology in markets well-understood by Teledyne. Our respective products are highly complementary and not competitive, and we generally serve customers in complementary geographies," said Robert Mehrabian, Executive Chairman. "We look forward to welcoming these businesses and their employees to Teledyne."

"We will be pleased to add these businesses to our aerospace and defense electronics segment, which has performed exceptionally well in recent years," said George Bobb, President and Chief Operating Officer. "Furthermore, we believe the businesses' operations, personnel and culture are very compatible with our U.S. and UK defense electronics organizations."

"We are excited about the new opportunities this acquisition will bring and look forward to a seamless integration that will benefit our customers, employees and Teledyne stakeholders," said Doug Benner, EVP Excelitas and President Defense and Aerospace Segment. "Our journey providing electro-optical solutions designed to keep troops and high-value assets safe continues with an industry leader."

The transaction is anticipated to be completed in early 2025 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Teledyne management expects the transaction to be accretive to GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share, excluding transaction costs.

Evercore and Harris Williams are acting as financial advisors, and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver Jacobson LLP is acting as legal advisor to Excelitas in connection with the transaction. McGuireWoods LLP is acting as legal advisor to Teledyne.

About Teledyne

Teledyne is a leading provider of sophisticated instrumentation, digital imaging products and software, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne's operations are primarily located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne's website at www.teledyne.com.

About Excelitas

Excelitas is the leading provider of advanced, life-enriching technologies that make a difference, serving global market leaders in the life sciences, advanced industrial, next-generation semiconductor, aerospace, and defense end markets. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Excelitas is an essential partner in the design, development, and manufacture of advanced technologies, offering leading-edge innovation in sensing, detection, imaging, optics, and specialty illumination for customers worldwide. Excelitas is at the forefront of addressing many of the relevant megatrends impacting the world today, including precision medicine, industrial automation, artificial intelligence, connected devices (IoT), and military modernization.

Forward-Looking Statements Cautionary Notice

This press release contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, relating to a potential acquisition of a business. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Many factors, including the ability of Teledyne and the acquired businesses to achieve anticipated synergies and Teledyne's ability to integrate the acquired businesses, the ability of the parties to satisfy closing conditions, as well as market and economic conditions beyond Teledyne's control, could change anticipated results. There are additional risks associated with operating businesses internationally, including those arising from United States and foreign government policy and regulatory changes or actions and exchange rate fluctuations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106474084/en/

Contacts:

Jason VanWees

(805) 373-4542
Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSXV:EPL) or ("Eagle Plains") and the Ya'thi Nene Lands and Resource Office ("YNLR"), representing the Athabasca Denesuline First Nations of Hatchet Lake, Black Lake, and Fond du Lac, the Northern Hamlet of Stony Rapids, and the Northern Settlements of Uranium City, Wollaston Lake and Camsell Portage, arepleased to announcethat they have recently signed an Exploration Agreement (the "Agreement"). This partnership will support mineral exploration in Nuhenene, the traditional territory of the Athabasca First Nations in Treaty 8 and Treaty 10 Territories.

The Agreement recognizes Eagle Plains' commitment to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the Athabasca communities. Guided by YNLR's vision for economic growth, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation, the Agreement promotes employment, training opportunities, and respect for local practices, aligning with Eagle Plains' dedication to responsible exploration practices.

"We welcome this opportunity to work collaboratively in ensuring that our land, water, and cultural values are prioritized," said Mary Denechezhe, Board Chair of Ya'thi Nene Lands and Resources. "Through this partnership, we are building not only economic opportunities but a framework that strengthens the community voices in protecting our traditional territory for future generations."

The Agreement enables active participation from Basin Communities through opportunities for employment and training, contracting with northern businesses, contributions to YNLR's community trust, and harvester compensation. Regular communication between Eagle Plains and YNLR will directly inform exploration permitting, environmental monitoring and program implementation, with YNLR's Community Land Technicians providing on-site oversight and assessment of exploration activities.

Eagle Plains has been active in the Saskatchewan uranium exploration space since 2006, currently holding a 100% interest in 19 individual projects comprising a total of approximately 54,598 ha of mineral dispositions covering both basement and unconformity hosted uranium targets. The projects range from early-stage grassroots to drill-ready and are distributed throughout the prospective Athabasca Basin including the Patterson Lake South (PLS), Beaverlodge, and Dufferin-Centennial camps. The Exploration Agreement covers six individual projects - Gulch, Lorado, Beaver River, Black Bay, Don Lake, and Smitty - in the Lake Athabasca region, which are under option to Xcite Resources Inc. (TSXV:XRI).

Chuck Downie, CEO of Eagle Plains commented "We are honoured to have the support of the Basin Communities as we advance our exploration projects. Eagle Plains will continue to build respectful and beneficial relationships with all of the Athabasca communities that we work in. Protection of land and water and direct participation from people who live in our project areas is paramount to our success. The Exploration Agreement will provide a path for a long-term partnership between Eagle Plains, YNLR, and the Basin Communities and ensuremeaningful participation in projects that are conducted on their traditional lands."

About YNLR and the Athabasca First Nations and Municipalities

YNLR is a non-profit organization owned by the Athabasca Denesuline First Nations of Hatchet Lake First Nation, Black Lake First Nation, and Fond du Lac First Nation and the Athabasca Municipalities of Stony Rapids, Wollaston Lake, Uranium City, and Camsell Portage.

YNLR was established in June 2016 with the mandate to promote and enhance the environmental, social, economic, and cultural well-being of current and future Athabasca residents.

About Eagle Plains Resources

Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains is a well-funded, prolific project generator that continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral projects throughout western Canada, with a focus on critical metals integral to an increasingly electrified, decarbonized economy.

The Company was formed in 1992 and is the ninth-oldest listed issuer on the TSX-V (and one of only three that has not seen a roll-back or restructuring of its shares). Eagle Plains has continued to deliver shareholder value over the years and through numerous spin outs has transferred over $100,000,000 in value directly to its shareholders, with Copper Canyon Resources and Taiga Gold Corp. being notable examples. Eagle Plains latest spinout; Eagle Royalties Ltd. (CSE:"ER") was listed on May 24, 2023, and holds a diverse portfolio of royalty assets throughout western Canada.

On October 2, 2024, Eagle Plains announced announce the formation of a separate division within the Company that will give Eagle Plains' shareholders direct exposure to strategic opportunities in Canadian green energy transition. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eagle Plains, Osprey Power Inc. ("OP") will focus on identifying and advancing innovative and diverse clean energy project portfolios in target markets throughout Canada, with an initial focus on Western Canada.

Eagle Plains' core business is acquiring grassroots critical- and precious-metal exploration properties. The Company is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery through collaborative partnerships and development of a highly experienced technical team.

Expenditures from 2010-2023 on Eagle Plains-related projects exceed $38M, the majority of which was funded by third-party partners. This exploration work resulted in approximately 50,000m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development.

Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting relationships through honest and respectful business practices.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Eagle Plains

"C.C. (Chuck) Downie, P.Geo"

President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

Mike Labach

Corporate Development

Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.

1-866-HUNT ORE (486-8673)

mgl@eagleplains.com

www.eagleplains.com

Kathy Hay

Manager of Corporate Affairs

Ya'thi Nene Lands and Resources

306-270-4083

katherine.hay@yathinene.com

www.yathinene.ca

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

SOURCE: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR) (OTCQB: CVGRF) ("City View" or the "Company"), an innovative Canadian-based cannabis-infused edibles manufacturing company, is excited to announce, after a strategic review by Management and the Board, the realignment of its business model that will better position the Company for long-term growth and success in an evolving cannabis industry. City View will now focus on becoming a premier branding and product innovation company. Going forward the Company will operate out of leased licensed facilities.

This strategic transition represents a proactive response to the rapidly changing dynamics of the cannabis sector, allowing City View to operate with greater agility and focus on what it does best: creating high-quality, consumer-driven cannabis-infused edibles. By leveraging licensed facilities, City View will reduce its capital expenditures and operational complexities, allowing the Company to concentrate resources on product development, brand building, and expanding market presence.

City View also announces that it has negotiated debt settlements with arm's length and non-arm's length creditors pursuant to which it will settle aggregate debt of $2,349,623 in consideration for which it will issue an aggregate of 78,320,764 common shares at a deemed price of $0.03 per share. All shares issued in connection with the debt settlements will have a hold period expiring 4 months and 1 day after their date of issuance, in accordance with the policies of the CSE and applicable securities laws.

Certain debt settlements will constitute a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") as certain directors and officers, and a company with common directors and officers, will be issued an aggregate of 20,972,366 shares in settlement of an aggregate $629,171 debt. The Company expects to rely on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the participation in these debt settlement transactions by the related parties will not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101.

Rob Fia, CEO and President of the Company stated: "City View would like to thank our debtholders for working with us to arrive at a settlement. The debt settlement removes a substantial amount of indebtedness from our balance sheet and now clears the path for management to execute on the vision for the Company. After months of analysis in an ever-changing cannabis industry, the Company made the important decision to operate out of leased licensed facilities to focus on branding and manufacturing to react quickly to cannabis opportunities in Canada and Europe. We are excited for the prospect for City View going forward."

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.

About City View Green Holdings Inc.

City View is a leading consumer packaged goods company focused on the development of cannabis infused edibles with the receipt of its Cannabis Act processing license on April 30, 2021. For more information visit: www.cityviewgreen.ca.

For further information contact:

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are not composed of historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, among others, availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, delays in the development of projects, and ability to predict or counteract potential impact of COVID19 coronavirus on factors relevant to the Company's business. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/228998

SOURCE: City View Green Holdings Inc.
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Gold79 Mines Ltd. (TSXV: AUU) (OTCQB: AUSVF) ("Gold79" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has engaged Kin Communications Inc. ("Kin") to assist with its investor relations activities.

Kin Communications is a full-service investor relations agency with a deep understanding and record of accomplishment in the junior mining exploration and development sector. Kin works towards fostering long-term relationships with shareholders, investment professionals, newsletter writers, and media to assist companies in communicating their corporate message to its prospective audience.

Under the terms of the investor relations agreement, Kin has agreed to assist Gold79 with its investor relations activities, including communicating with investment advisors, analysts, portfolio managers and media for a period of 12 months and on a month-to-month basis thereafter. In consideration for the services, the Company has agreed to pay Kin CDN$15,000 per month plus GST for the initial 12-month period and will grant 500,000 stock options having a five year term to expiry from the grant date. Vesting of the stock options will be quarterly following the grant date in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") policy. These stock options will be granted within 90 days of the engagement date.

Kin Communications Inc. is owned by Arlen Hansen of North Vancouver. Neither Kin or Arlen Hansen currently own any securities of Gold79.

The investor relations agreement with Kin and the grant of stock options thereunder are subject to the approval of the TSX-V.

About Kin Communications

Kin Communications is a full-service investor relations agency delivering last-mile IR services across multiple industries including technology, mining, energy, and more since 2007. Through the Kinvestor brand, Kin also creates opportunities for investors and public companies to connect through its virtual investor conferences.

Kin Communications was the agency of record for Ventana Gold, Nevsun Resources, NexGen Energy, ISOEnergy, Sigma Lithium, Potash One, and engages with like-minded, value driven publicly traded companies aiming to create shareholder value with integrity.

For more information about Kin Communications, please visit kincommunications.com, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

About Gold79 Mines Ltd.

Gold79 Mines Ltd. is a TSX-V listed company focused on building ounces in the Southwest USA. Gold79 has four gold projects, two of which are partnered with major gold producers (Kinross at Jefferson Canyon and Agnico at Greyhound). Gold79 is focused on establishing a maiden resource at its Gold Chain project in Arizona and advancing its Tip Top Project in Nevada.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release may contain forward looking statements that are made as of the date hereof and are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions which involve risks and uncertainties associated with our business including the proposed Transaction with Bullet Exploration Inc. and proposed private placement or any future private placements, the uncertainty as to whether further exploration will result in the target(s) being delineated as a mineral resource, capital expenditures, operating costs, mineral resources, recovery rates, grades and prices, estimated goals, expansion and growth of the business and operations, plans and references to the Company's future successes with its business and the economic environment in which the business operates. All such statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. Any statements contained herein that are statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent annual MD&A and the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Gold79 does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229003

SOURCE: Gold79 Mines Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - American Pacific Mining Corp (CSE: USGD) (OTCQX: USGDF) (FSE: 1QC1) ("American Pacific" or "the Company") is pleased to report assay results for the remaining nine (9) drill holes of the Company's sixteen (16) hole drill program at its Palmer Copper-Zinc VMS Project ("Palmer") in Southeast Alaska. The summer drill program was funded by the joint venture partnership between Dowa Metals & Mining Alaska Ltd. ("Dowa") and American Pacific.

The 2024 drilling program was designed to continue testing the extent of the high-grade copper mineralization of the Palmer Deposit South Wall Zone 1 and Zone 2-3 and initial testing of the nearby North Wall Alteration Zone. The assay results provided herein are from South Wall Zone 2-3 and the North Wall Alteration Zone.

Highlights include:

CMR24-181: 18.0 m of 1.5% Cu, 5.4% Zn, 0.40 g/t Au and 59.1 g/t Ag (4.4% CuEq)

including 6.6 m of 3.6% Cu, 7.7% Zn, 0.56 g/t Au and 65.4 g/t Ag (7.4% CuEq)

CMR24-182: 7.2 m of 0.3% Cu, 3.0% Zn, 0.20 g/t Au and 32.7 g/t Ag (1.8% CuEq)

including 2.1 m of 2.8% Cu, 13.2% Zn, 0.27 g/t Au and 67.9 g/t Ag (8.8% CuEq)

CMR24-186: 4.8 metres of 1.4% Cu, 9.9% Zn, 0.15 g/t Au and 34.9 g/t Ag (5.7% CuEq)

Notes: m = metres, Cu = copper, Zn = zinc, Au = gold, Ag = silver and CuEq = Copper Equivalent. CuEq calculated using the same metal prices and recovery assumptions as the Company's NI 43-101 Technical Report (JDS 2022). See Table 1 for all new assay results and corresponding disclosure notes.

"Following-up on last year's exceptional copper results from Zone 1, this year's infill drilling in Zone 2-3 also supports the presence of a higher-grade copper core within the larger mineralized envelope. We are also seeing higher grade zinc intersections in certain areas than are currently reported in the Mineral Resource Estimate, last updated in 2018," stated American Pacific CEO, Warwick Smith. "With all assay results now received, the Palmer Team continues its efforts to remodel the known mineralization in line with local geology ahead of updating a full mineral resource estimate and Technical Report for the property."

The 2024 drill program included a total of 6,035.9 metres (19,650 feet) in nineteen (19) drill holes including three (3) drill holes (125.8 metres; 410 feet) that were recollared and unsampled. Reported below are six (6) of the drill holes (2,411.0 m) that tested for extensions to the upper Zone 2-3 mineralized horizon and three (3) drill holes (1,033.3 m) that tested the North Wall Alteration Zone, a potential fault offset extension of the South Wall mineralization.

Initial Observations and Interpretations

Highlights of the 2024 Zone 2-3 drilling indicate a very well mineralized infill drill hole in the upper part of Zone 2-3, and continuity of the upper Zone 2-3 mineralized horizon to the west and downdip. Drill hole locations are shown on Figure 1 and 2 with assay results provided on Table 1.

CMR24-181 infills a 90-metre drill hole gap in Zone 2-3 with two well mineralized intervals over 12.5 and 18.0 metres. The 18-metre interval intersected semi-massive to massive sulphides over most of its length with significant copper, zinc, gold and silver grades.

CMR24-182 and CMR24-184 confirmed the upper western extension of the Zone 2-3 mineralized horizon with notable base and precious metal mineralization intersected over 7.2 and 6.0 metres, respectively.

CMR24-186 confirmed an interpreted western extension of the Zone 2-3 mineralized horizon downdip of CMR24-184. The drill hole intersected semi-massive sulphides over 4.8 metres with significant copper, zinc and silver mineralization grading 1.4% Cu, 9.9% Zn and 34.9 g/t Ag.

CMR24-179 marks a downdip extension in the central upper portion of the Zone 2-3 horizon with weak base and precious metal mineralization encountered through the projected mineralized zone.

CMR24-195 tested the eastern, upper portion of the Zone 2-3 horizon. The drilling intersected a thick variably altered sediment horizon from 198 to 245 metres downhole, which typically marks the hangingwall to the Zone 2-3 mineralized horizon. Up to 10% pyrite mineralization was noted along the lower part of this horizon. A second, variably altered volcanic interval was intersected from 360 to 506 metres (end of hole) and may represent a lower mineralized horizon that remains to be further tested.

Drilling through the North Wall Alteration zone intersected variably altered basalt with local pyrite stringer zones with weak base and precious metal mineralization (trace to 0.15% Cu, trace to 1.25% Zn and trace to 1.75 g/t Ag). The North Wall Fault, separating the North Wall alteration zone from the South Wall Zone mineralization was intersected from approximately 225 to 250 metres downhole in CMR24-183 and CMR24-185. The altered North Wall stratigraphy and local pyrite stringer zones are encouraging for further investigation along strike of the initial two drill holes.

Figure 1: Isometric Plan view with 2024 drill holes - Palmer Deposit

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10322/229018_d96bcfe854e81a7f_001full.jpg





Figure 2: Projected Long Section - Palmer Deposit



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10322/229018_d96bcfe854e81a7f_002full.jpg





Table 1: Assay Results from Zone 2-3

Drill Hole From To Interval ETT* Cu Zn Pb Au Ag BaSO4 CuEq ZnEq (m) (m) (m) (m) % % % g/t g/t % % % CMR24-179 269.1 273.7 4.6 4.5 0.20 1.07 0.01 0.02 3.6 na 0.7 1.7 includes 269.1 271.3 2.2 2.2 0.24 1.66 0.01 0.02 5.5 na 1.0 2.4

























CMR24-181 179.8 192.3 12.5 11.1 0.19 1.48 0.70 0.38 74.4 na 1.5 3.9 includes 179.8 182.8 3.0 2.7 0.66 3.73 1.23 0.82 184.3 na 4.0 10.0 includes 189.8 192.3 2.5 2.2 0.05 1.28 0.49 0.51 100.6 na 1.6 4.0 AND 203.6 221.6 18.0 16.0 1.53 5.36 0.35 0.63 59.1 29.62 4.4 11.1 includes 203.6 206.0 2.4 2.1 0.05 3.71 1.64 0.18 65.8 15.49 2.1 5.3 includes 207.6 217.7 10.1 9.0 2.28 8.20 0.16 0.98 80.3 44.49 6.6 16.7 includes 212.0 218.6 6.6 5.9 3.59 7.71 0.09 0.56 65.4 32.47 7.4 18.7

























CMR24-182 253.6 260.8 7.2 5.1 0.27 2.99 0.15 0.22 32.7 na 1.8 4.6 includes 254.0 256.8 2.8 2.0 0.32 5.51 0.25 0.41 55.8 na 3.1 7.9

























CMR24-184 299.5 305.5 6.0 3.2 0.14 0.55 0.02 0.04 5.7 na 0.4 1.1

























CMR24-186 371.4 380.2 8.8 4.2 0.78 6.01 0.02 0.09 19.7 2.9 3.4 8.5 includes 371.4 376.2 4.8 2.3 1.37 9.90 0.04 0.15 34.9 3.5 5.7 14.2 includes 372.4 374.5 2.1 1.0 2.84 13.24 0.04 0.27 67.9 3.1 8.8 22.0 AND 416.1 420.9 4.8 2.4 0.72 0.13 0.00 0.05 8.1 na 0.9 2.2

























CMR24-195 240.8 243.6 2.8 2.4 0.00 0.48 0.09 0.01 2.8 na 0.2 0.6

442.7 443.0 0.3 0.3 0.01 1.53 0.00 0.01 0.0 na 0.6 1.6

























*ETT = Estimated True Thickness; na = samples not analyzed by XRF; BaSO4 not included in CuEq or ZnEq

Copper and Zinc Equivalent Notes:

ZnEq = (Cu/100*2204.6*$lbCu*CuREC) + (Zn/100*2204.6*$lbZn*ZnREC) + (Au/31.1035*$ozAu*AuREC) + (Ag/31.1035*$ozAg*AgREC) / (2204.6/100*$lb Zn*ZnREC) CuEq = (Cu/100*2204.6*$lbCu*CuREC) + (Zn/100*2204.6*$lbZn*ZnREC) + (Au/31.1035*$ozAu*AuREC) + (Ag/31.1035*$ozAg*AgREC) / (2204.6/100*$lb Cu*CuREC) Lead (Pb) and Barite (BaSO4) are not included in the CuEQ and ZnEQ values. Assumed metal prices are US$1.15/lb for zinc (Zn), US$3.00/lb for copper (Cu), US$1250/oz for gold (Au), US$16/oz for silver (Ag) (JDS 2022). Estimated metal recoveries (REC) are 93.1% for zinc, 89.6% for copper, 90.9% for silver and 69.6% for gold as determined from metallurgical locked cycle flotation tests completed in 2018 (JDS 2022).

Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC)

There are strict Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) protocols at Palmer covering the planning and placing of drill holes in the field; drilling and retrieving drill core; drill hole surveying; core transport to the Palmer Camp; core logging, sampling and bagging of core for analysis; transport of core samples from site to ALS Laboratory in North Vancouver, BC for sample preparation and analysis; recording and final statistical vetting of results.

Sampling Procedures - The Company's QA/QC drill core sample protocol consists of collection of samples over a minimum 0.3 m interval to a maximum 1.5 m interval (depending on the lithology and style of mineralization) over the mineralized portions of the drillhole. The drill core sample is cut in half with a diamond saw, with half of the core placed in individual sealed polyurethane bags and the remaining half securely retained in the original core box for permanent storage. Drill core samples are shipped by transport truck in sealed woven plastic bags to ALS Geochemistry Analytical Lab facility in North Vancouver, BC for sample preparation and analysis. ALS Geochemistry meets all requirements of International Standards ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015. ALS Global operates according to the guidelines set out in ISO/IEC Guide 25.

Various metals including copper, lead, zinc and silver were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectroscopy, following multi-acid digestion. The elements copper, lead and zinc are determined by ore grade assay for samples that return values >10,000 ppm by ICP analysis. Silver is determined by ore-grade assay for samples that return >100 ppm by ICP analysis. Gold was determined by fire-assay fusion of a 30 g sub-sample with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Barium (BaO) analysis utilized lithium borate fusion into fused discs for XRF analyses, with BaO converted to BaSO4 (barite) using a conversion factor of BaO x 1.52217. Density measurements were determined at the project site by Constantine personnel on cut core for each assay sample.

The Company maintains a robust QA/QC program that includes the collection and analysis of duplicate samples and the insertion of blanks and standards (certified reference material). In addition, prepared samples, sample replicates, duplicates and internal reference materials are routinely used as part of ALS Geochemistry's internal quality assurance program.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical information in this news release regarding the Palmer Project has been reviewed and approved by Michael Vande Guchte, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for the Palmer Project and a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About American Pacific Mining Corp.

American Pacific Mining Corp. is a precious and base metals explorer and developer focused on opportunities in the Western United States. The Company has two flagship assets: the Palmer Project, a Volcanic Massive Sulphide-Sulphate (VMS) project in Alaska, under joint-venture partnership with Dowa Metals & Mining, owner of Japan's largest zinc smelter; and the Madison Project, a past-producing copper-gold project in Montana. For the Madison transaction, American Pacific was selected as a finalist in both 2021 and 2022 for 'Deal of the Year' at the S&P Global Platts Metals Awards, an annual program that recognizes exemplary accomplishments in 16 performance categories.

Also, in American Pacific's asset portfolio are high-grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts in Nevada, USA, including the Ziggurat Gold Project and the Tuscarora Gold-Silver District. The Company's mission is to grow by the drill bit, strategic partnerships, and M&A.

On behalf of the American Pacific Mining Corp Board of Directors:

Warwick Smith, CEO & Director

Corporate Office: Suite 910 - 510 Burrard Street

Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 Canada

Full disclosure can be found in our NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Palmer Project at www.americanpacificmining.com.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229018

SOURCE: American Pacific Mining Corp.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - World leaders began congratulating Donald Trump as he is projected to win the U.S. presidential election.French President Emmanuel Macron was one of the first leaders of major US allies to congratulate Trump. 'I'm ready to work together as we have done for four years. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity,' he wrote on X.In a congratulatory message posted on X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, 'Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!'UK prime minister Keir Starmer congratulated Trump for a 'historic election victory'. 'As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come,' he added.According to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, it was the biggest comeback in U.S. political history, and a much needed victory for the World.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump by saying he appreciates Trump's commitment to 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs.'We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump's decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations,' he wrote on social media.While campaigning, Trump had indicated that he would end U.S. military support for Ukraine, and claimed he could end Russia's war against its neighbor 'in one day.'During election campaign, Trump had also vowed the biggest deportation of migrants in U.S. history, more tariffs on foreign trade and promised to end the war in the Middle East if he wins the election.Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to congratulate Donald Trump, the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that US-Russia relations are currently at their lowest historical point.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - The 2024 Canadian Hedge Fund Awards, the highest honour in Canada's hedge fund industry, were presented yesterday evening at the Gala Awards Dinner at One King West Hotel in Toronto.

The Canadian Hedge Fund Awards help investors identify the most exceptional hedge funds, recognizing winners in 6 categories as well as the Overall Best 2024 Canadian Hedge Fund.

A total of 273 Canadian Hedge Funds were included in the 2024 CHFA program. The awards are based solely on quantitative performance data to June 30th, with Fundata Canada managing the collection and tabulation of the data to determine the winners. There is no nomination process or subjective assessment in identifying the winning hedge funds.

For the full Directory of Canadian Hedge Funds, including performance data, check here: http://alternativeiq.com/hf-directory/.

Average Canadian Hedge Fund Performance as at June 30, 2024

Category Avg

1Yr

Return Avg

3Yr

Return Avg

5Yr

Return Avg

3Yr

Sharpe Avg

5Yr

Sharpe Equity Focused 10.64% 0.23% 7.44% -0.01 0.44 Credit Focused 9.19% 4.36% 5.28% 0.44 0.42 Market Neutral 8.26% 4.86% 5.30% 0.24 0.53 Global Macro/Managed Futures/Multi-Strategy 8.76% 2.71% 5.62% 0.09 0.44 Private Debt 6.29% 6.67% 6.65%



Private Equity 6.82% 5.46% 3.94%



Total 9.77% 1.82% 6.53% 0.10 0.44

Overall Best 2024 Canadian Hedge Fund:

(based on best combined 10-year annualized return and Sharpe ratio).

(based on 10 Year Return AND Sharpe Ratio) Place Fund Name 10 Year

Return 10 Year

Sharpe Ratio 1 AIP Convertible Private Debt Fund LP 22.61% 1.17 2 Lumen Long Short Equity Fund 12.42% 1.15 3 SMI Defensive LP 10.91% 1.22

2024 Canadian Hedge Fund Award Winners by Category are:

Equity Focused Category

1 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 Bedford Park Opportunities Fund 74.63% 2 DKAM Capital Ideas Fund 51.69% 3 Kipling Global Enhanced Growth Fund 33.86%











3 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 Canoe Energy Alpha Fund LP 34.90% 2 Wealhouse Lions Bay Fund 20.93% 3 SMI Defensive LP 16.16%











5 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 Canoe Energy Alpha Fund LP 26.85% 2 Wealhouse Lions Bay Fund 21.42% 3 Pathfinder Resource Fund 17.90%











3 Year Sharpe Ratio Place Fund Name Sharpe Ratio 1 SMI Defensive LP 3.99 2 Wealhouse Lions Bay Fund 1.80 3 Canoe Energy Alpha Fund LP 1.66











5 Year Sharpe Ratio Place Fund Name Sharpe Ratio 1 Wealhouse Lions Bay Fund 1.83 2 SMI Defensive LP 1.31 3 Lumen Long Short Equity Fund 1.21

Credit Focused Category:

1 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 RP Select Opportunities Fund 15.26% 2 East Coast Strategic Credit Trust 14.35% 3 Kipling Strategic Income Fund 13.65%











3 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 NorthStream Credit Strategies Fund LP 12.29% 2 Wealhouse Amplus Credit Income Fund 10.02% 3 East Coast Strategic Credit Trust 8.02%











5 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 NorthStream Credit Strategies Fund LP 14.72% 2 RP Select Opportunities Fund 8.85% 3 East Coast Strategic Credit Trust 7.83%











3 Year Sharpe Ratio Place Fund Name Sharpe Ratio 1 Wealhouse Amplus Credit Income Fund 3.25 2 Access Private Income Fund 2.75 3 NorthStream Credit Strategies Fund LP 1.60











5 Year Sharpe Ratio Place Fund Name Sharpe Ratio 1 NorthStream Credit Strategies Fund LP 1.15 2 Picton Mahoney Special Situations Fund 0.84 3 Kipling Strategic Income Fund 0.75

Market Neutral Category:

1 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity 19.65% 2 CC&L Global Market Neutral 13.93% 3 Waratah One X 10.87%











3 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 Altema Diversified Equity Market Neutral Fund 16.72% 2 RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity 12.47% 3 CC&L Global Market Neutral 9.49%











5 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 Picton Mahoney Arbitrage Plus Fund 11.30% 2 HGC Fund LP (The) 10.93% 3 CC&L Global Market Neutral 8.17%











3 Year Sharpe Ratio Place Fund Name Sharpe Ratio 1 CC&L Global Market Neutral 1.50 2 RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity 1.44 3 Picton Mahoney Market Neutral Equity Fund 0.82











5 Year Sharpe Ratio Place Fund Name Sharpe Ratio 1 Picton Mahoney Market Neutral Equity Fund 1.13 2 CC&L Global Market Neutral 1.00 3 Picton Mahoney Arbitrage Plus Fund 0.98

Global Macro/Managed Futures/Multi-Strategy Category:

1 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 CC&L Absolute Return Fund 24.76% 2 SIA ML Global Tactical Pool 19.30% 3 Level 3 Total Return Opportunities Fund 18.05%











3 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 CC&L Absolute Return Fund 12.76% 2 SMI Opportunities LP 11.97% 3 Level 3 Total Return Opportunities Fund 9.35%











5 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 SMI Opportunities LP 16.12% 2 Level 3 Total Return Opportunities Fund 14.39% 3 CC&L Absolute Return Fund 12.56%











3 Year Sharpe Ratio Place Fund Name Sharpe Ratio 1 Westcourt Performance Portfolio 1.19 2 CC&L Absolute Return Fund 1.13 3 RBC Multi-Strategy Alpha Fund 0.83











5 Year Sharpe Ratio Place Fund Name Sharpe Ratio 1 Forge First Multi Strategy LP 1.15 2 CC&L Absolute Return Fund 1.09 3 Level 3 Total Return Opportunities Fund 1.09

Private Debt

1 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 AGF SAF Private Credit LP 15.52% 2 Purpose Apollo Private Credit Fund 15.01% 3 KIWI Business Credit Fund LP 13.56%











3 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 Merchant Opportunities Fund LP 13.20% 2 Espresso Venture Debt Trust 11.96% 3 Invico Diversified Income Fund 11.70%











5 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 Espresso Venture Debt Trust 11.21% 2 Westbridge Capital Partners Income Trust 10.92% 3 Invico Diversified Income Fund 9.90%

Private Equity

1 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 Purpose Pantheon Private Equity Fund 13.03% 2 Hamilton Lane Global Private Assets 10.78% 3 Canoe Global Private Equity Fund 9.63%











3 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 Hamilton Lane Global Private Assets 14.33% 2 Portland Global Sustainable Evergreen LP 8.75% 3 Canoe Global Private Equity Fund 7.96%











5 Year Return Place Fund Name Return 1 Kensington Private Equity Fund 10.81% 2 Portland Global Sustainable Evergreen LP 7.42% 3 MacNicol & Associates Emergence Fund 4.01%

The 2024 Canadian Hedge Fund Awards program would not have been possible without the generous support of its Sponsors:

Principal Sponsor: Fundata Canada

Table Sponsors: Pinnacle Fund Services, RBC Capital Markets and SGGG Fund Services

Associate Sponsors: National Bank Independent Network, Scotiabank, and TD Bank

Media Partner: Newsfile

The CHFA Winners Showcase 2025 Investor Conference will be held in Toronto in March and will feature award-winning Canadian hedge fund managers.

For more information about the annual CHFA program, go to: www.alternativeiq.com or call:

About Alternative IQ: Alternative IQ produces the annual Canadian Hedge Fund Awards program and its presentation events held in Toronto each autumn (performance as at June 30th), the annual CHFA Winners Showcase Investor Conferences which present managers of award-winning hedge funds to investors, and various other programs and publications serving the hedge fund industry in Canada. Alternative IQ is dedicated to celebrating, supporting and expanding Canada's Hedge Fund Industry. AIQ is a division of Alliance Sales and Marketing, Inc.

About the Annual Canadian Hedge Fund Awards: The Annual Canadian Hedge Fund Awards were first held in 2008 and have a two-fold objective: First, to celebrate the talent and accomplishments of Canada's hedge fund industry, and second, to draw attention to Canada's hedge funds by raising the awareness of that expertise in the media and among the wider investment community.

- 30 -

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/228878

SOURCE: Alternative IQ
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Teledyne Technologies (TDY) has entered into an agreement to acquire select aerospace and defense electronics businesses from Excelitas Technologies Corp. for $710 million in cash. The deal includes the Optical Systems business known under the Qioptiq brand as well as the U.S.-based Advanced Electronic Systems business. Teledyne expects the transaction to be accretive to GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share, excluding transaction costs.Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Excelitas is a provider of advanced, life-enriching technologies, serving global market leaders in the life sciences, advanced industrial, next-generation semiconductor, aerospace, and defense end markets.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
EQS-News: North Peak Resources Ltd. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

North Peak Announces Closing of Private Placement



06.11.2024 / 13:30 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - North Peak Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NPR) (the "Company") announces closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,061,250 (the "Private Placement"). In connection with the Private Placement, 1,414,998 common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") were issued at a price of $0.75 per Common Share. The securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a four-month hold period from the closing of the Private Placement, in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement to continue to explore and develop its mining assets, the continued development of its business and for general and administrative expenses. Under the Private Placement, Brian Hinchcliffe, the CEO of the Company, acquired 166,666 Common Shares at a subscription price of $125,000. His participation in the Private Placement constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61- 101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transaction ("MI 61-101"), which has been adopted by the TSX Venture Exchange pursuant to its Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transaction. This transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of such instrument and policy, pursuant to subsections 5.5(b) and (c) and 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101 as the distribution of securities was for cash and the fair market value of those securities was not more than $2,500,000. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing of the Private Placement because the details of the participation therein by related parties of the Company were not settled until shortly prior to closing of such transactions and the Company wished to close on an expedited basis for sound business reasons. Subject to the final review by the TSX Venture Exchange and in connection with the Private Placement, the Company has agreed to pay cash finder's fees (7%) to each of the following in respect of the aggregate sales to subscribers under the Private Placement that were introduced by them: (i) Canaccord Genuity Corp. ($13,125); (ii) StephenAvenue Securities Inc. ($2,100), and (iii) Haywood Securities Inc. ($32,812.50). In addition, the Company has agreed to issue finder's warrants (7%) to each of the following in respect of the number of Common Shares sold by the Company under the Private Placement that were introduced by them: Canaccord Genuity Corp. (warrants to purchase 17,500 Common Shares); (ii) StephenAvenue Securities Inc. (warrants to purchase 2,800 Common Shares), and (iii) Haywood Securities Inc. (warrants to purchase 43,750 Common Shares). These warrants are non-transferable, have an exercise price of $0.90 per share and expire 24 months from the date of issuance. About North Peak Resources The Company is a Canadian based gold exploration and development company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NPR". The Company is focused on acquiring historic sites, with low cost producing gold and other metals properties, with near term production potential and 8+ year mine life in the northern hemisphere. The Company has acquired an initial 80% interest in the Prospect Mountain Mine complex in Eureka, Nevada (see the Company's May 4 and 23, 2023 and August 25, 2023, press releases). The Company can give no assurances at this time that its properties and interests will fulfil the Company's business development goals described herein. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. For further information, please contact: Brian Hinchcliffe, CEO

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: info@northpeakresources.com

Website: www.northpeakresources.com Chelsea Hayes, Director

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: info@northpeakresources.com This press release is not an offer of the Company's securities for sale in the United States. The Company's securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and applicable U.S. state securities laws. The Company will not make any public offering of its securities in the United States. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to final TSX Venture Exchange approval for the Private Placement, the anticipated use of proceeds of the Private Placement, timing and completion of any exploration on the Company's properties, estimates of mineralization from drilling, sampling and geophysical surveys, geological information projected from drilling and sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones, the potential for minerals and/or mineral resources and reserves, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Prospect Mountain Mine complex and the Company, including with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company that may be described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, accuracy of assay results, geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the period ended June 30, 2024 available at www.sedarplus.ca , many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAWS To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229020 Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser,to view the associated documents http://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229020

News Source: North Peak Resources Ltd.





06.11.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of a merger agreement with Sanctum Therapeutics Corporation to acquire Sanctum Therapeutics and its core technology assets for treating HIV and SARS-CoV-2. This merger will combine the two biotechnology companies' significant resources and expertise, including technology being developed at the Missouri Innovation Center, Columbia, Missouri, where Sanctum Therapeutics' technology developments are conducted. The combination of resources and expertise is anticipated to significantly enhance the research capabilities of the Center, thereby contributing to the local biotechnology ecosystem.

Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc. has a state-of-the-art AI drug discovery and development platform that will be combined with Sanctum Therapeutics' significant assets. This acquisition strengthens Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc.'s HIV drug portfolio. The combination of Adnexus Biotechnologies' short-acting anti-HIV monoclonal antibodies with Sanctum Therapeutics' long-acting HIV capsid inhibitor provides a potent therapy option for patients. This combination of drugs not only enhances potency and reduces the likelihood of the virus developing resistance but also paves the way for significant market growth in the future. The partnering companies are currently advancing several innovative drugs, including inhibitors targeting antimicrobial-resistant infections, all developed using the advanced Sutra AI Drug Discovery Platform.

The two companies' therapeutic technologies combine two advanced therapeutic approaches: a long-acting capsid inhibitor (chemotherapeutic agent) and short-acting monoclonal antibodies (immunotherapeutic agents) designed to target HIV through a dual-action mechanism. This synergy significantly strengthens Adnexus' robust infectious disease portfolio. Sanctum's promising SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor assets also expand Adnexus' capabilities and position it at the forefront of drug discovery and infectious disease treatment. By acquiring Sanctum Therapeutics, Adnexus gains innovative pharmacological expertise and a team of seasoned professionals skilled in navigating the FDA regulatory landscape. This strategic alignment positions Adnexus to accelerate the development of high-impact therapies, driving growth and delivering value for the Company.

The CEO of Sanctum Therapeutics, Pat Krishnan, stated, "The merger with Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc. is an exciting opportunity to join forces with a strong biotechnology company that is pushing the boundaries of drug development with its advanced AI platform, monoclonal antibodies, and AI-empowered biomarkers discovery. We believe there is great synergy and advantage in combining our two companies' complementary technologies and biotech teams. We are confident this combination will result in long-term value and benefit."

Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc.'s CEO, Dr. Gaurav Chandra, added, "Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc. is focused on strengthening its asset portfolio through acquiring and licensing its technologies. Sanctum Therapeutics' HIV capsid inhibitor has shown promising results in neutralizing HIV, making it a valuable addition to Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc.'s therapeutics portfolio. By combining our expertise with that of the members of the Sanctum team, who have advanced expertise in the fields of chemistry, pharmacology, and drug manufacturing, we are confident that Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc. will emerge as a full-fledged biotechnology company with the capability to independently develop valuable therapeutics, resulting in the creation of significant value for our shareholders."

Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc. recently executed a Letter of Intent with 1606 Corp (OTC: CBDW), an AI technology company, to invest strategically in the Company.

About Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc.

Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc. is a leading innovator in biotechnology, specializing in AI-driven solutions for early drug discovery, infectious disease, and neurodegenerative disease research. Its proprietary methods focus on developing therapeutic solutions by leveraging human immune-B cells, offering a cutting-edge approach to creating highly effective treatments. For more information, please visit https://www.adnexusbiotech.com

Industry Information

The HIV drug industry is a significant and rapidly evolving sector within the pharmaceutical market. As of 2024, the global HIV drugs market was valued at approximately $36.11 Billion and is projected to grow to $58.24 Billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. This growth is driven by factors such as the increasing prevalence of HIV, advancements in drug development, and rising healthcare expenditure.

The global market size for artificial intelligence in drug discovery was estimated at USD 1.5 Billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 29.7% from 2024 to 2030. The demand for AI-powered solutions in drug discovery is increasing due to the need for new drug therapies, expanded manufacturing capacities in the life sciences industry, and technological advancements. AI technologies such as machine learning and deep learning are being used at various stages of drug discovery, including initial compound screening and predicting success rates in clinical trials. Additionally, the growth of startups developing AI-powered solutions and increased investments and funding drive market expansion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements under federal securities laws, including projections and expectations regarding business developments, operations, and market conditions. These statements are identified by terms such as "should," "may," "intends," "anticipates," and others. While based on reasonable assumptions, results may differ due to various risks and uncertainties. Please review cautionary statements and disclosures in our filings with the SEC. Adnexus does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law. For inquiries, please get in touch with Dr. Gaurav Chandra, CEO, gaurav.chandra@adnexusbiotech.com

https://www.adnexusbiotech.com

https://www.cbdw.ai

Contact Information

Gaurav Chandra

CEO

gaurav.chandra@adnexusbiotech.com

SOURCE: Adnexus Biotechnologies Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Three Shipments Mark Progress in eHealth Deployment

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / UniDoc Health Corp. (CSE:UDOC)(FRA:L7T)(OTCQB:UDOCF) ("UniDoc," or the "Company"), an innovator in the eHealth sector, is pleased to announce the initial shipment of its first AI-assisted H3 Health Cubes, for three commercial orders. These orders include units for the Aiutamoli a Vivere Foundation in Italy, the Municipality of Aliano, and Hope Ukraine Foundation - Ukraine's largest children's hospital, Okhmatdyt. This milestone marks a significant step in UniDoc's transition from development to commercialization.

Key Features:

UniDoc ships H3 Health Cubes for three orders, marking an expansion in delivering eHealth services.

Shipments include units for the Aiutamoli a Vivere Foundation, the Municipality of Aliano, and Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital.

Clients plan to deploy these cubes before the end of the year, providing immediate patient access in underserved areas.

Tony Baldassarre, CEO of UniDoc, stated, "We are extremely proud and excited to fulfill these initial orders, which represent a milestone step forward for UniDoc as we transition to a revenue generating business. These deployments not only enhance healthcare accessibility in critical regions but also build a strong foundation for the many growth opportunities that we see ahead of us."

The first shipment includes the first of three H3 Health Cubes to be supplied to the Italian aid group Aiutamoli a Vivere Foundation ("AVF"). AVF has indicated further plans to potentially expand to up to fifteen units. These cubes will be deployed in conflict-affected regions at the discretion of AVF, including Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, where they will provide essential healthcare services through advanced AI technology and telemedicine capabilities. AVF will manage the deployment and operation of these units, bringing much-needed healthcare support to these areas.

The second shipment is for the Municipality of Aliano, which includes a single H3 Health Cube that will be installed at the Territorial Health Center, enhancing rural healthcare access to small communities in a region where the nearest hospitals are over 100 kilometers away. This unit will deliver essential healthcare services locally, reducing the need for long-distance travel and providing continuous health monitoring and remote consultations.

Through UniDoc's partnership with HP Inc., the third shipment will be the deployment of an H3 Health Cube to Okhmatdyt, Ukraine's largest children's hospital. This deployment, facilitated by the Hope Ukraine Foundation, addresses the urgent need for healthcare services following a recent missile attack. The AI-equipped H3 Health Cube will enhance medical care accessibility and precision, particularly in pediatric care. This shipment represents the first of 10 initial cubes ordered by HP Inc.

All three units have completed the final stages of fabrication and have now shipped. Clients are planning to deploy these units immediately upon receipt, ensuring that patients in need will have access to critical healthcare services as soon as possible.

This fulfillment of multiple orders marks a significant achievement for UniDoc as the Company continues to gain momentum in the eHealth market. With these successful shipments, UniDoc is working to expand its reach and impact, leveraging its innovative technology to improve healthcare access worldwide.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

~Antonio Baldassarre~

Antonio Baldassarre

CEO, President & Director

UniDoc Health Corp.

About UniDoc Health Corp. (CSE:UDOC)(FRA:L7T)(OTCQB:UDOCF)

UniDoc is developing an eHealth solution which is being designed as a self-contained remote virtual clinic within a private kiosk for patients to undergo full consultations as if they were present in a physician's office. eHealth opens the doors to a large segment of the population challenged by access, experience or understanding of online computer technology. It is the Company's belief that physical accessibility is the key to its business proposition. UniDoc is dedicated to unlocking shareholder value by delivering an excellent product and sophisticated commercial network within an expedited timeframe. The UniDoc team encourages engagement, questions, and interest, so please stay in touch and invite anyone who might be interested in our story to visit our website at www.unidoctor.com and signup to receive the latest information with updates on our activities, events and progress.

For further information, please contact:

UniDoc Investor Relations

Tel: +1 778.383.6731

Email: info@unidoctor.com

Matt Chatterton, Director

Tel: +1 778.613.2082

Email: matt@unidoctor.com

Media Inquiries media@unidoctor.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives, or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "will be", "likely", "except", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook", or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the receipt and timing of revenue from the deployment of the Company's first three H3 Health Cubes, the timing of the deployment of the H3 Health Cubes by the client recipients, the fulfillment of outstanding purchase orders by the Company, and the benefits to be realized by the deployment of the H3 Health Cubes.

Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, key personnel and qualified employees continuing their involvement with the Company; the Company's ability to secure additional financing on reasonable terms; the competitive conditions of the industries in which the Company operates; and laws and any amendments thereto applicable to the Company.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks relating to the future business plans of the Company; risks that the Company will not be able to retain its key personnel; risks that the Company will not be able to secure financing on reasonable terms or at all; as well as all of the other risks as described in the Company's annual management discussion and analysis dated July 31, 2024 under the heading "Risks Factors." Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information.

Further, any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company's management to predict all such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect information or events after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law, including securities laws.

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: UniDoc Health Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Tenet Fintech Group Inc. (CSE: PKK) (OTC Pink: PKKFF) ("Tenet" or the "Company"), an innovative analytics service provider, owner and operator of the Cubeler Business Hub, is pleased to announce that the common shares of the Company will officially begin trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the U.S. at market open November 7, 2024, under the symbol "PKKFF". The Company's common shares will continue to trade under the symbol "PKK" on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

The Company decided to have its common shares cross-traded on the OTCQB Venture Market to provide efficient access to U.S. investors, to continue to enhance liquidity for shareholders and facilitate a fair valuation of its securities going forward. Through trading on OTCQB, companies can engage a far greater network of U.S. investors, data distributors and media partners, ensuring U.S. investors have access to the same high-quality information that is available to investors in Canada, but through U.S. platforms and portals used to conduct research.

About Tenet Fintech Group Inc.:

Tenet Fintech Group Inc. is the parent company of a group of innovative financial technology (Fintech) and artificial intelligence (AI) companies. All references to Tenet in this news release, unless explicitly specified, include Tenet and all its subsidiaries. Tenet's subsidiaries offer various analytics and AI-based products and services to businesses, capital markets professionals, government agencies and financial institutions either through or leveraging data gathered by the Cubeler Business Hub, a global ecosystem where analytics and AI are used to create opportunities and facilitate B2B transactions among its members. Please visit our website at: https://www.tenetfintech.com/.

Follow Tenet Fintech Group Inc. on social media:

X: @Tenet_Fintech

Facebook: @Tenet

LinkedIn: Tenet

YouTube: Tenet Fintech

Forward-looking information

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Tenet to be materially different from the outlook or any future results, performance or achievements implied by such statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, holding company with significant operations in China; general economic and business conditions, including factors impacting the Company's business in China such as pandemics and COVID-19; legislative and/or regulatory developments; Global Financial conditions, repatriation of profits or transfer of funds from China to Canada, operations in foreign jurisdictions and possible exposure to corruption, bribery or civil unrest; actions by regulators; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; timing and completion of capital programs; liquidity and capital resources, negative operating cash flow and additional funding, dilution from further financing; financial performance and timing of capital; and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by Tenet with securities regulators in Canada. Reference should also be made to Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) in Tenet's annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form, filed with Canadian securities regulators and available via the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) under Tenet's profile at www.sedarplus.ca, for a description of major risk factors relating to Tenet. Although Tenet has attempted to identify certain factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event the Company does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that the Company will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/228988

SOURCE: Tenet Fintech Group Inc.
DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / MNA Ventures, a global player in business and technology investments, is proud to hold an event in late November 2024, to celebrate 20 years of growth, innovation, and success. Since its founding, MNA Ventures has become a cornerstone in facilitating business operations and making it possible for its clients to develop and grow across borders, clearing their paths through obstacles in any number of aspects, including financial, legal, and technological. Now, as part of its anniversary event, MNA Ventures is excited to announce the launch of its newest venture - 7th Key, a real estate development subsidiary poised to transform Dubai's property market.



Mostafa Nasser Al-Rashed, Executive Director of MNA Ventures

A Legacy of Growth and Vision

Over the past two decades, MNA Ventures and its subsidiaries, including OTC Business Services, have maintained its position as a leader in fostering business expansion, notably in cross-border operations and blockchain solutions, amongst many others. Commenting on this milestone, Mostafa Nasser Al-Rashed, Executive Director of MNA Ventures, reflected on the company's achievements:

"From the start, MNA was designed to be a company that looks beyond borders, to where the true opportunities for growth lie. We are proud of the role we've played in making business smoother and more accessible for entrepreneurs globally, and we look forward to expanding that vision further with 7th Key."

With a focus on facilitating international business, MNA Ventures has consistently navigated a rapidly changing global business environment, providing clients with the tools and expertise to succeed in complex markets. Al-Rashed added, "The international landscape has changed dramatically over the years, since we started 20 years ago. The challenges have changed too. 16 years ago a bitcoin was worth a dollar, and today the blockchain industry market cap is in the trillions. If you would have told me back then that we would have so many clients that have reached such tremendous success in this nascent industry, I wouldn't have believed you, but it is real and it is here to stay, and so are we."

Introducing 7th Key: A New Era in Dubai Real Estate

As MNA Ventures celebrates its 20th anniversary, 7th Key emerges as a major focus for the company's future. This new real estate subsidiary combines luxury with affordability, a concept that is central to 7th Key's flagship project, the Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) development in Dubai. With its vision of transforming the landscape of urban living, 7th Key is committed to delivering high-end residences that blend elegant UK-inspired design with practical community living.

A Bold Vision for the Future

The JVC project is already making waves in the market, and is receiving great interest from potential buyers. Mostafa Nasser Al-Rashed emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in ensuring 7th Key's success,

"We've secured the financial backing and advice of industry leaders, ensuring that our buyers have full protection throughout the development process. The trust we've built, both locally and internationally, speaks to our commitment to excellence."

7th Key's leadership has prioritized community-centered development, placing strong emphasis on the integration of green spaces, vibrant urban areas, and easy access to amenities. This aligns with the broader goals of MNA Ventures, which has always believed in contributing to the growth of forward-thinking, sustainable communities.

Al-Rashed continued,

"We are not just building properties; we are creating communities where people can thrive. Our developments reflect our values of integrity, innovation, and inclusivity."

Pushing Boundaries with Ready-to-Move-In Market

In addition to its JVC project, 7th Key is set to enter the rapidly growing ready-to-move-in (RTMI) market. These homes, equipped with fully developed physical and social infrastructure, represent a new era of convenience and comfort. 7th Key aims to lead this market with a philosophy centered on delivering homes that are both luxurious and practical, a testament to the company's forward-thinking approach.

Looking Forward

With 7th Key leading the way, MNA Ventures remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible, embracing change, and driving innovation in every sector it touches.

"The launch of 7th Key is just the beginning of what's to come," Al-Rashed stated. "We will continue to lead, to innovate, and to create a brighter future for Dubai's real estate market and beyond."

-

About MNA Ventures

Since the early 2000s, MNA Ventures and its subsidiaries have become a leader in cross-border business facilitation, blockchain technologies, and strategic investments. With a strong emphasis on fostering growth in emerging markets, the company has played a pivotal role in transforming industries across the globe.

About 7th Key

7th Key Developers is an innovative real estate subsidiary of MNA Ventures, committed to combining luxury with affordability in Dubai's real estate market. With a focus on community-centered living, 7th Key is setting new benchmarks for quality urban development in the region.

For media inquiries, please contact

Contact Person: Ilir Valon Kevin Halimi

Email Address: ih@mna-ventures.com

Website: https://mna-ventures.org/

Address: Dubai Digital Park, Dubai, UAE

SOURCE: MNA Ventures

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Christopher Aleo aims to transform the small African kingdom into a global economic center, offering unique incentives for businesses.

iSwiss Bank, through its subsidiary FZ CAPITAL JSC, is proud to announce that it has obtained the first Free Economic Zone license in the Kingdom of Eswatini. This landmark agreement, signed directly with His Majesty King Mswati III, marks a significant step forward for Eswatini, positioning it as one of the most competitive and attractive destinations for international investors and entrepreneurs, with tax incentives reaching as low as 0%.

A Groundbreaking Development Project

The establishment of a zero-tax Free Economic Zone will open Eswatini's market to a wide range of global investors, with projections to register between 600,000 and 1 million new companies by 2025. This favorable fiscal environment, combined with advanced financial infrastructure and global banking connections, promises substantial benefits for both foreign entrepreneurs and the local population. The Free Zone will provide direct access to multi-currency bank accounts, simplifying and streamlining international economic transactions.

The Vision of Christopher Aleo, CEO of iSwiss Bank and Interim President of the Eswatini Free Zone Authority

Christopher Aleo, CEO of iSwiss Bank and the driving force behind this Free Zone initiative, shared his vision for the project: "After spending many years in Dubai and working closely with Middle Eastern royal families, I've had the opportunity to observe and understand the success models that have made cities like Dubai and other economic hubs international benchmarks for business. This experience, coupled with my travels to Georgia, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, and other countries, allowed me to integrate the best aspects of various Free Zones worldwide, always keeping in mind the needs of modern digital entrepreneurs, consultants, and freelancers."

Aleo added, "Today, many entrepreneurs, freelancers, and digital consultants feel lost when faced with complex tax regulations and bureaucratic processes that delay business setup. In Eswatini, we've made it possible to open a business in under three minutes, complete with a multi-currency bank account and global payment services. Thanks to our advanced facial recognition and document verification systems, clients can register quickly and securely without the long, costly trips typically required to open accounts abroad. Our goal is to provide them with the best possible experience while ensuring full compliance with anti-money laundering regulations."

A Global Financial Platform for New Businesses

The Free Economic Zone project goes beyond offering tax incentives; it aims to create a modern and interconnected economic platform. New companies will be able to operate as though they were based in the home country of their commercial counterpart, with fast, secure, real-time transactions that break down geographical barriers and simplify international trade. SEPA, ACH, and SWIFT connections provided by iSwiss Bank will enable money transfers worldwide with the same speed as local transactions, making Eswatini one of the most financially interconnected states in Africa.

Incentives for Industrial Development and Job Growth

The Eswatini Free Zone is also committed to boosting the industrial sector. iSwiss Bank has already allocated significant funds for building state-of-the-art industrial facilities and logistical areas, which will create high-quality job opportunities for the local population and foster skill development in high-demand sectors. In partnership with the Eswatini Free Zone Authority, training programs for the local workforce will be launched, contributing to the creation of a competent, globally aligned labor force.

A Historic Meeting with Eswatini Government Officials

It was a great honor for Christopher Aleo and the entire iSwiss team dedicated to African development to meet personally with key government figures in the Kingdom of Eswatini: Prime Minister H.E. Russell Dlamini, Finance Minister H.E. Neal Rijkenberg, and Commerce Minister H.E. Manqoba Khumalo, along with the entire government team. "We immediately recognized that we could help bring this beautiful nation to ever greater heights, supporting its economic and social growth," Aleo commented.

Looking Ahead: Innovation and Accessibility for Investors and Businesses

This agreement between iSwiss Bank and the government of Eswatini is only the first step in a long-term partnership, with plans to expand into key sectors such as tourism, precision agriculture, and renewable energy. The objective is to establish Eswatini as an economic hub for the entire African continent, following in the footsteps of successful Free Zones like those in Dubai.

Eswatini is on track to become a prime destination for global business, creating a fiscal and financial environment that accelerates new business growth and offers substantial returns for the nation. The innovative approach of iSwiss Bank, combined with the visionary support of the government and His Majesty King Mswati III, is transforming this African nation into a significant international market, providing an unprecedented opportunity for investors, entrepreneurs, and citizens alike.

Media Contact

Organization: iSwiss Bank SA

Contact Person Name: D.ssa Monica Diamanti

Website: https://iswiss.ch/

Email: support@iswiss.ch

City: London

Country: United Kingdom

SOURCE: iSwiss Bank SA

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Lows addition strengthens firm's commitment to driving transformation across UK government, including delivery, quality assurance and risk management

North Highland, the leading change and transformation consultancy, has announced the addition of Jennifer Low ChMC CA as Public Sector UK vice president. In this role, Low will be responsible for leading and developing the Public Sector UK team while driving growth across government accounts, delivery, quality assurance and risk management.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106373952/en/

North Highland Welcomes Jennifer Low as Public Sector UK Vice President (Photo: Business Wire)

"We're delighted to welcome Jennifer to North Highland," said Anthony Shaw, managing director and EMEA Business Lead. "Her proven track record of driving client value and growth in the UK Public Sector, combined with her dedication to leading and developing high performing teams make her the ideal leader for this area of our business."

Low brings 20 years of international experience leading change and operational excellence across complex, global environments. Most recently, she served as senior director in EY UK Consulting's Business Transformation practice, where she focused on national security. Jennifer also mentors emerging leaders and convenes a professional network for senior female executives driving transformation across the UK public and private sectors.

"I'm excited to join North Highland at this pivotal time," said Low. "The firm's people-first approach and commitment to making change happen aligns perfectly with my desire for transforming public services. I look forward to working with our talented team to deliver innovative solutions that create lasting impact across the UK Public Sector."

Low is a Chartered Management Consultant and Chartered Accountant. She holds a master's degree in accountancy and German and is a certified Conscious Connected Breathwork Facilitator.

Learn more about North Highland's Public Sector UK expertise at https://www.northhighland.com/industry-expertise/public-sector-uk.

About North Highland

North Highland makes change happen, helping businesses transform by putting people at the heart of every decision. Partnering closely to design and deliver change, we turn challenges into opportunities. It's how lasting progress is made. As the world's leading change and transformation consultancy, our award-winning services powered by data and digital expertise unleash untapped potential at the intersection of workforce and operations.

Founded in 1992, North Highland is regularly named one of the best places to work. We are a proud member of Cordence Worldwide, a global network of truly connected consultancy firms with the ability to think and deliver together. This means North Highland has more than 5,500 experts in 60+ offices around the globe on hand to partner with you.

For more information, visit www.northhighland.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106373952/en/

Contacts:

Media contact:

Courtney James

PR Director

404-850-2806

courtneylee.james@northhighland.com
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded Indra a contract to replace its current enroute analog radio systems with digital radio equipment capable of analog and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) operation

Should the FAA exercise all options under the contract, the company would produce 46,000 radios, key to facilitating communication between pilots and air traffic controllers, and provide support and maintenance services for a period of 10 years

Resulting from a competitive solicitation issued, under which three (3) companies competed, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded Indra a contract with a total contract value of $244.3M, if all options are exercised, to renew its ground-air communications system, key to air traffic management (ATM) in the country, by replacing its analog radio systems (UHF and VHF) with digital radio equipment capable of analog and VoIP operation.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106780902/en/

(Photo: Indra)

This contract positions Indra as the global leader in radio communications for ATM with roughly 50% market share.

The company envisions the manufacture of up to 46,000 new radio devices at its facility in Overland Park, Kansas, where it will transfer the production of its Park Air radio technology for the United States market.

In addition to developing the equipment, the contract includes producing, testing, and qualifying the radios as well as a 10-year warranty on radios.

Indra's digital radio systems are equipped with IP technology to enable voice and data communication over a secure network (VoIP), which will enable air-ground communications between pilots and air traffic controllers in facilities across the U.S. Furthermore, Indra's technology will help reinforce safety, efficiency, and the resiliency of the nation's air traffic control system.

A sum of capabilities to lead the sky

"This contract constitutes another step in our growth strategy in the United States, which forms part of our Leading the Future plan to expand our global ATM leadership. Key to achieving the above has been the cooperation of our subsidiary in the United States with Indra's Center of Excellence for radios in the United Kingdom 'Park Air', renowned for its leadership and extensive experience in the development of advanced communications systems, which will now have a new production center in Kansas", declared Javier Ruano, director of ATM at Indra.

With this project, Indra will also reinforce its relationship with the FAA, which has recently included Indra's Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) technology on its list of qualified products for the surveillance and monitoring of surface aircraft. The FAA will be able to acquire this technology for any of the nation's 450 towered airports.

In addition to the FAA, Indra has customers in the US market such as the US Air Force and the US Navy.

Indra has equipped more than 11,000 air traffic facilities around the world and it is one of the few companies in the world with a portfolio of next-generation solutions that are capable of managing a flight from gate to gate, from take-off to destination, while its technology guarantees the safety of 85% of the passengers who take a flight every day in the world, making it one of the global leaders within the sector. It has supplied Park Air civilian and military communications systems to customers in over 100 countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106780902/en/

Contacts:

Communication

Elsa Jimenez Blanco

ejimenezbl@indra.es

+34 669 82 93 19
Manchester & London Investment Trust Plc - Result of AGM

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 06

6 November 2024

MANCHESTERANDLONDONINVESTMENTTRUSTPLC

(the "Company")

ResultsofAnnualGeneralMeeting

The Company announces that, at the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of the Company held today, all resolutions contained in the Notice of AGM were duly passed on a poll.

M&M Investment Company Ltd, the controlling shareholder of the Company undertook not to vote on the resolutions dealing with the re-election of the independent Directors and Mr Brett Miller. The proxy votes below therefore reflect the votes submitted by independent shareholders as indicated.

The proxy votes received in relation to the resolutions passed were as follows:

Resolution For (No. of shares) For (%) Against (No. of shares) Against (%) Votes Withheld (No. of shares) Total Votes % of ISC Voted 1.To receive and accept the Annual Report 26,724,508 99.99 3,734 0.01 1,154 26,729,396 66.66 2.To approve the Directors' Remuneration Report 26,715,872 99.96 9,839 0.04 3,685 26,729,396 66.66 3.To approve the Directors' Remuneration Policy 26,712,531 99.95 13,180 0.05 3,685 26,729,396 66.66 4.To declare a final ordinary dividend of 7.0p per Ordinary Share 26,726,023 99.99 3,219 0.01 154 26,729,396 66.66 5. To re-elect Daniel Wright as a Director (independent shareholders) 2,892,607 86.18 463,768 13.82 23,373,021 26,729,396 66.66 6.To re-elect Brett Miller as a Director (independent shareholders) 3,267,413 97.35 88,962 2.65 23,373,021 26,729,396 66.66 7. To re-elect Daren Morris as a Director (independent shareholders) 3,267,413 97.35 88,962 2.65 23,373,021 26,729,396 66.66 8. To re-elect James Waterlow as a Director (independent shareholders) 3,267,413 97.35 88,962 2.65 23,373,021 26,729,396 66.66 9.To re-appoint Deloitte LLP as Auditor of the Company 26,713,196 99.95 13,931 0.05 2,269 26,729,396 66.66 10.To authorise the Directors to determine the Auditor's Remuneration 26,724,393 99.99 3,734 0.01 1,269 26,729,396 66.66 11.To authorise the Directors to offer holders the right to elect to receive optional scrip dividends 26,778,528 99.99 3,734 0.01 3,084 26,785,346 66.80 12.To authorise the Directors to allot Ordinary Shares 26,776,803 99.98 6,574 0.02 1,969 26,785,346 66.80 13.To disapply statutory pre-emption rights in relation to the issue of Ordinary Shares* 26,710,526 99.93 18,716 0.07 154 26,729,396 66.66 14. To authorise the Directors to sell, transfer and allot Ordinary Shares from Treasury at a discount to the net asset value* 26,695,203 99.87 34,039 0.13 154 26,729,396 66.66 15.To authorise the Company to make market purchases of Ordinary Shares* 26,459,243 98.99 269,999 1.01 154 26,729,396 66.66 16. To authorise the Company to hold general meetings on 14 clear days' notice* 26,707,181 99.92 22,061 0.08 154 26,729,396 66.66

*special resolutions

NOTES: 1. All resolutions were passed. 2. Proxy appointments which gave discretion to the Chairman of the AGM have been included in the "For" total for the appropriate resolution. 3. Votes "For" and "Against" any resolution are expressed as a percentage of votes validly cast for that resolution. 4. A "Vote withheld" is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the percentage of shares voted "For" or "Against" any resolution. 5. The number of shares in issue on 4 November 2024 was 40,528,238 ordinary shares (including 431,220 shares in treasury). The number of Ordinary Shares in circulation (excluding treasury shares), carrying one vote each, is 40,097,018. 6. The full text of the resolutions passed at the AGM can be found in the Notice of Annual General Meeting which is available on the Company's website at https://mlcapman.com/manchester-london-investment-trust-plc / . 7. In accordance with Listing Rule 6.4.2, a copy of resolutions 11 to 16 passed at the AGM will shortly be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

LEI: 213800HMBZXULR2EEO10
Vlkanova, Slovak Republic--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - The Board of Directors of the joint stock company GEVORKYAN, a.s., with its registered office at Tovarenska 504, Vlkanova 976 31, Slovak Republic, ID No. 36 017 205, registered in the Commercial Register of the District Court Banska Bystrica, Section: Sa, File No. 1232/S (the "Company"),

hereby notifies the Company's shareholders

that the Company's Extraordinary General Meeting (the "General Meeting") will be held on 10 December 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at: Zizkova 7803/9, 811 02 Bratislava Slovak Republic.

The agenda of the General Meeting will be as follows:

Opening of the General Meeting, election of the General Meeting bodies; Approval and determination of the terms and conditions of the acquisition of treasury shares by the Company; Approval of amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company*; Closing.

* The draft amendments to the Company's Articles of Association are available for inspection at the Company's registered office and are also published on the Company's website at the following link: https://www.gevorkyan.sk/valne-zhromazdenie.

For more information, please visit the Company's website https://www.gevorkyan.sk.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/228920

SOURCE: Gevorkyan a.s.
Vertical Aerospace Ltd. ("Vertical" or the "Company") (NYSE: EVTL; EVTLW), a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero emission aviation, announces that it expects to share a business update pre-market on Tuesday, 12 November.

Vertical will host a webcast at 08:30 am ET (13:30 GMT) the same day to discuss the update. The call will be hosted by Stuart Simpson, Vertical's CEO and he will be joined by other members of the leadership team.

To access the webcast, visit Vertical's Investor Relations website: https://investor.vertical-aerospace.com/events-and-presentations/events/.

If unable to attend the webcast, to listen by phone, please dial +1 646 307-1963 or +1 0800 715 987; Conference ID 8922591.

A replay of the webcast will be available on the company website following the event.

About Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner and quieter way to travel. Vertical's VX4 is a piloted, four passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace companies, including GKN, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world's most advanced and safest eVTOL.

Vertical has 1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers across four continents, including Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Headquartered in Bristol, the epicentre of the UK's aerospace industry, Vertical was founded in 2016 by Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder of the OVO Group, Europe's largest independent energy retailer. Vertical's experienced leadership team comes from top tier automotive and aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbour provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the design and manufacture of the VX4, the features and capabilities of the VX4, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, selection of suppliers, certification and the commercialization of the VX4 and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product with any of our intended regulators on any particular timeline or at all, our ability and plans to raise additional capital to fund our operations, the differential strategy compared to our peer group, expectations surrounding pre-orders and commitments, our future results of operations and financial position and expected financial performance and operational performance, liquidity, growth and profitability strategies, our plans to mitigate the risk that we are unable to continue as a going concern, our plans for capital expenditures, as well as statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "forecast," "estimate," "may," "should," "anticipate," "will," "aim," "potential," "continue," "are likely to" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation the important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 14, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106391217/en/

Contacts:

Media

Justin Bates

Head of Communications

justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com

+44 7878 357 463



Investor Relations

Samuel Emden

Head of Investor Affairs

samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com

+44 7816 459 904
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Maple Leaf Green World Inc. (CSE: MGW) (OTC Pink: MGWFF) ("Maple Leaf" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce it has signed a Joint Venture Agreement ("The JV") with Green Castle Environmental Ltd. ("Green Castle") of Carbon, Alberta to develop the Green Housing Project ("The project") in the Palliser Region of Alberta. Green Castle will be appointed as the Project Manager.

The housing shortage problem in the Palliser Region is serious especially when various industries are planning to establish operational bases in the Region, they need affordable housing for their employees. Maple Leaf is taking the initiative to provide affordable and energy efficient housing in the Region with the assistance of Green Castle.

Under the JV Agreement, Maple Leaf will contribute all the deemed necessary capital and Green Castle will contribute its service, skill, labor and construction expertise for this Project. The net profit of this Project will be split in certain agreed percentage between the parties.

Green Castle has been building commercial, residential and agricultural buildings in Alberta and B.C. since 1996. It has been a licensed builder since August 2022. It is also in the process of building a HE-RTM facility in Oyen, Alberta to facilitate the production of perfricated and Ready To Move (RTM) affordable houses.

In addition, Green Castle has also involved in assisting renowned Canadian Artist; Dean Bauche, to create a series of woven copper sculptures that were featured in an art exhibit at the Chapel Gallery in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, and involved in building solar projects in Diamond Valley, Alberta and Surrey B.C. as well.

"I am excited to joint hand with Maple Leaf to build energy efficient affordable houses in the Palliser Region as the demand for housing has increased significantly due to the invigoration of the Region's economy. "Said Bryce Brodie, the President of Green Castle Environmental Ltd.

Green Castle's first task will be to set up a capital budget and to locate suitable sites for building one or two show homes in the Palliser Region with the collaboration of the town officials in the Palliser Region.

For further information and updates regarding the Company, please visit https://www.mlgreenworld.com/.

About Maple Leaf Green World Inc.

Maple Leaf is focused on green and environmentally friendly business, It aims to contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229036

SOURCE: Maple Leaf Green World Inc.
Revolve Renewable Power Corp. (TSXV:REVV)(OTCQB:REVVF) ("Revolve" or the "Company"), a North American owner, operator and developer of renewable energy projects, announces enhancements to its senior management team and board of directors, which will help position the Company for its next phase of growth and continue to build our senior management presence in the Canadian market.

"Revolve is strengthening our executive management team and board of directors as part of our strategic growth plan," said CEO Steve Dalton. "Revolve has made significant progress developing utility-scale wind, solar, hydro and battery storage projects in the US, Canada and Mexico and these appointments will facilitate even greater progress and growth. Enhancing our leadership team will allow us to capitalize on the growing opportunities we see in the utility and distributed generation renewable energy sector."

Executive Chairman: Steve Dalton, the current CEO of Revolve, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman and continue to remain activity involved in the day-to-day management of the business. This change in role will facilitate Mr. Dalton focusing on the Company's key strategic objectives and initiatives, particularly as the Company rapidly progresses towards having its first utility scale projects at "ready to build" stage in the United States next year. Roger Norwich, the current Chairman of the Company, will step down from this position but will remain an active non-executive Director of the Company. Roger has led the Company as Chairman since it was founded in 2012, providing strong support and guidance to the management team. We look forward to his continued contribution as a non-executive director of the Company.

Chief Executive Officer (or "CEO"): The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Myke Clark as CEO and director of the Company. Myke is a corporate leader with more than 20 years of experience focused primarily on renewable energy, corporate finance and project development. Prior to joining Revolve, Myke was the CEO and Director of a TSX Venture Exchange-listed solar energy company focused on the commercial and industrial solar sector in the United States and Canada, delivering strong growth and profitability. He also brings significant utility scale wind energy development experience to Revolve, having held senior leadership positions with a Canadian wind energy developer where he was responsible for environmental assessment, First Nations engagement and investor relations and helped deliver hundreds of megawatts of wind projects from inception to construction. Myke also has several years' experience as a public affairs professional for several public mining companies and also spent the first decade of his career as a journalist. Myke holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and will be based in the Company's head office in Vancouver.



"I am honored to be joining the Revolve team and I look forward to bringing my passion for renewable energy to the Company," said Myke Clark. "Revolve is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the global shift to renewable energy and I believe my project development, distributed generation and capital markets experience will help accelerate that growth. The prospects for renewable energy in general - and Revolve in particular - are extremely positive and I am thrilled to be joining this team as we execute on our focused strategy and deliver strong shareholder returns."



Chief Operating Officer (COO): Omar Bojorquez, the current President of Revolve, is appointed as Chief Operating Officer (or "COO") assuming specific responsibility for managing and building the Company's internal operational structures and capabilities required to support its strategic objectives. This role will becoming increasingly important as the Company continues to grow its operating portfolio of renewable energy projects, which brings with it higher levels of operating activity including new customers and team members.



Omar Bojorquez, COO, commented: "Our expansion across Canada, the US and Mexico, along with new renewable energy projects and energy efficiency solutions, paves the way for significant growth. As COO, I am committed to ensuring operational excellence, that our projects are executed flawlessly and that our team has the resources to excel. This strategic focus will enable us to create value and strengthen our position as leaders in renewable energy. I am confident that our combination of a strong development portfolio, operational assets, and talented team will lead us toward a prosperous future. I look forward to sharing this journey with our stakeholders, demonstrating our commitment to our business strategy and sustainable growth."



Non-Executive Director: Mr. Jonathan Clare is retiring as a non-executive director of the Company. Steve Dalton, CEO commented: "Jonathan has been a key member of the board of the Company for over 10 years. His insights and experience, particularly in the Mexican market, proved to be hugely beneficial to the Company over the years. I would like to thank him on behalf of the Board for his support and contribution to Revolve."

In connection with Mr. Clark's appointment and pursuant to Revolve's stock option plan, the Company issued Mr. Clark 500,000 stock options to acquire common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $0.50 (an approximate 65% premium to current share price levels) with a term of three years. These stock options will fully vest after one year following his appointment. The stock options are governed by the Company's stock option plan. Mr. Clark's appointment as CEO of the Company is subject to acceptance and approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

All of the executive management and Board of Director changes are effective November 6, 2024.

About Revolve

Revolve was formed in 2012 to capitalize on the growing global demand for renewable power. Revolve develops utility-scale wind, solar, hydro and battery storage projects in the US, Canada and Mexico. The Company has a second division, Revolve Renewable Business Solutions which installs and operates sub 20MW "behind the meter" distributed generation (or "DG") assets. Revolve's portfolio includes the following:

Operating Assets: 11MW (net) of operating assets under long term power purchase agreements across Canada and Mexico covering wind, solar, battery storage and hydro generation;

Under Construction: a 3MW CHP project and a 450kWp rooftop solar project that are both under construction and expected to be operational later this year; and

Development: a diverse portfolio of utility scale development projects across the US, Canada and Mexico with a combined capacity of over 3,000MWs as well as a 140MW+ distributed generation portfolio that is under development.

Revolve has an accomplished management team with a demonstrated track record of taking projects from "greenfield" through to "ready to build" status and successfully concluding project sales to large operators of utility-scale renewable energy projects. To-date, Revolve has developed and sold over 1,550MW of projects.

Going forward, Revolve is targeting 5,000MW of utility-scale projects under development in the US, Canada and Mexico, and in parallel is rapidly growing its portfolio of revenue-generating DG assets.

For further information contact:

Tania Ontiveros, CFO

+1 778 372 8499

IR@revolve-renewablepower.com

Forward Looking Information

Although Revolve believes, considering the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Revolve can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the business plans of Revolve and Revolve's management's expectation on the growth and performance of its business in the United States, Canada and Mexico, including the planned MW capacity of its projects; its continued expansion into the distributed generation market; potential opportunities in the distributed generation market; the completion and timing of the development of its planned portfolio of distributed generation projects; potential revenues and cashflows generated from its Utility Scale and DG division; and the Company's plans to develop, construct and finance rooftop solar, battery storage and energy efficiency projects of up to 5MW and enter into long term power purchase agreements for the sale of electricity from the projects with the underlying customers. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Revolve.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, having regard to the Company's experience and its perception of historical trends, and includes, but is not limited to, expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions relating to the extent of regulations pertaining to the Company's projects and Revolve's ability to continue as going concern. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information, including but not limited to: the effects of weather, catastrophes and public health crises, including COVID-19; labour availability; disruptions to the Company's supply chains; changes to regulatory environment, including interpretation of production tax credits; armed hostilities and geopolitical conflicts; failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals in a timely fashion, or at all; risks related to the development and potential development of the Company's projects; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the availability of tax incentives in connection with the development of renewable energy projects and the sale of electrical energy; as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings on SEDAR. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Revolve. By their nature, forward- looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Revolve as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Revolve does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Revolve Renewable Power Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Honored for Delivering Cutting-Edge Solutions-BankMobile Disbursements and BankMobile Vibe-That Address Key Challenges in Higher Education for Schools and Students

BM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American:BMTX) proudly announces its Tech & Learning Award of Excellence: Back-to-School 2024 win in the higher education category for its innovative products, BankMobile Disbursements and BankMobile Vibe.

The Tech & Learning Awards celebrate products designed to address critical needs in the education sector, offering schools versatile, valuable solutions to specific challenges and significantly enhance teaching and learning outcomes.

BMTX has been providing white-labeled banking services in higher education for nearly 25 years. It offers industry-leading refund management services through BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution that helps over 700 colleges and universities across the U.S. deliver financial aid credit balances to students securely, efficiently, and in compliance with federal regulations. One out of three students in the U.S. receive refunds through BankMobile Disbursements. The mission of BankMobile Disbursements is to help foster the success of higher education institutions and the students they serve.

BankMobile Disbursements introduces students to BMTX and offers a choice to open a competitively positioned BankMobile Vibe Checking Account. The BankMobile Vibe Checking Account is a digital-only, FDIC-insured, interest-bearing account with protection by the Department of Education. After signing up and getting a financial aid refund the same business day,[1] BankMobile Vibe customers can continue using their account for life. Vibe offers an optional savings account, cash back Offers, and the ability to get paid up to two days early.

"We are thrilled to receive the Tech & Learning Award of Excellence," said Jamie Donahue, President, and CTO of BM Technologies (BMTX). "This recognition reinforces our dedication to providing scalable, innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of colleges, universities, and students across the country."

As a leader in EdTech and a pioneer in technology for higher education, BMTX continues to set new standards in secure, efficient, and effective solutions that enhance the educational experience. The company's recognized achievements reflect continuous innovation and significant platform infrastructure transformation. This investment in technology modernization enables BMTX to roll out additional product and service enhancements, increase engagement with colleges and universities, and further advance its customer-for-life strategy.

This transformation enabled BMTX to:

Launch cash back Offers for its BankMobile Vibe Checking Account. This innovative rewards engine aims to financially empower customers while driving loyalty among customers, giving them the opportunity to earn cash back[2] on debit card purchases. There is a merchant network spanning over 50,000 locations around the U.S., including national, local, and online brands.

Introduce BMTX Identity Verification (IDV), a groundbreaking solution addressing higher education institutions' challenges in maintaining secure and efficient enrollment processes and protecting students from fraud. This innovative Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product leverages robust AI and machine learning tools, empowering universities to maintain their risk level preferences with data-driven insights and significantly enhance their fraud detection capabilities, all while improving customer service and employee productivity.

The awards' editorial team shared, "The 2024 awards brought a huge number of high-quality entries. A varied panel of industry experts judged the winning products and solutions to be of the highest standard in supporting effective teaching and learning practices. Every winner should be immensely proud of their accomplishments-congratulations from the entire Tech & Learning Awards team."

About BM Technologies, Inc.

BM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American:BMTX) is one of the largest digital banking platforms in the country, offering access to checking and savings accounts, with a focus on financial wellness. BMTX is committed to providing affordable, transparent, and consumer-friendly banking solutions. More information can be found at www.bmtx.com.

[1] If you open a digital BankMobile Vibe Checking Account (upon identity verification), money is deposited the same business day we receive funds from your school.

[2] Per the Cash Back Terms and Conditions.

Contact Information:

Brigit Hennaman

Rubenstein Public Relations, Inc.

bhennaman@rubensteinpr.com

SOURCE: BM Technologies

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Wi2Wi Corporation ("Wi2Wi" or the "Company") announces that Messrs. Gary DuBroc, Jason Grelowski, Matthew Balazsi, Ted Clark, and Ms. Carol Hess were elected as directors of the Company at the annual and special meetings of the shareholders held on November 5, 2024 (the AGM). Following the AGM, the Board of directors appointed Mr. Gary DuBroc as Chairman of the Board of directors.

Investor & Media Contact

Ted Clark, Chief Executive Office

+1-469-545-3423

ted_c@wi2wi.com

About Wi2Wi Corporation

Wi2Wi is a specialized electronic component supplier with expertise in all aspects of frequency control devices as well as in wireless technologies. Wi2Wi's Precision Devices brand of products has earned a premier spot in numerous key markets including avionics, aerospace, industrial equipment, government, and the US military. Wi2Wi's frequency control products are best-in-class and of the highest quality.

Founded in 2005, Wi2Wi's headquarters, design center and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility are located in the heart of America's industrial belt in Middleton, WI. Wi2Wi can deliver specific solutions using its in-house design and manufacturing expertise, as well as leveraging many tier-1 global partnerships with numerous industry leading silicon and wireless technology suppliers.

Wi2Wi has partnered with best-in-class sales leaders. The company uses a global network of manufacturer's representatives to promote its products and services, and has partnered with world class distributors for the fulfillment of orders all of which augment a US-based direct sales team.

Wi2Wi is extremely proud to serve hundreds of the world's top companies with its made-in-America products.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including management's assessment of future plans and operations, and the timing thereof, that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to access sufficient capital, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and overseas, industry conditions, stock market volatility. The Company's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, that the Company will derive there from. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's operations and financial results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com). Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements and if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Furthermore, the forward- looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Wi2Wi Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Fortitude Gold Corp. (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") declares its monthly dividend of $0.04 per common share payable on November 29, 2024 to shareholders of record as of November 20, 2024. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. offering investors exposure to both gold production and dividend yield.

Dividends may vary in amount and consistency or be discontinued at the Board of Directors' discretion depending on variables including but not limited to operational cash flows, Company development requirements and strategies, construction, spot gold and silver prices, taxation, general market conditions and other factors described in the Company's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Fortitude Gold Corp.:

Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of seven high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and an eighth high-grade gold property in west central Nevada. The Isabella Pearl gold mine, located on the Isabella Pearl mineralized trend, is currently in production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions.

Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release.

Contact Information

Greg Patterson

VP Corporate Development

greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com

7197179825

SOURCE: Fortitude Gold

View the original press release on accesswire.com
West Mining Corp. ("West" or the "Company") (CSE:WEST)(OTC PINK:WESMF) is pleased to announce it has now received final assay results from an extensive historic core resampling program completed on its 100% owned Kena Property.

A total of 66 historic diamond drill holes, from 2001 to 2017, were resampled. 481 core samples were assayed, along with 73 assay standards and 49 blanks. The drill core resampling program was initiated upon the recommendation from the author of West's 2021 Technical Report on the Kena and Daylight Properties, Sue Bird, P.Eng. of Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS"). This Report highlights over 2.77 million ounces of gold in the inferred category as well as over 561,000 ounces of gold in the indicated category (for full details see News Release dated May 11, 2021 and the Company's public disclosure record available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com).

For the 2021 Technical Report, the resource database was verified and deemed acceptable. However, MMTS recommended a robust check assay sampling program to upgrade the QAQC standards of the historic drilling to today's more stringent ones. The goal of this resampling program, including the insertion of additional certified standards and blanks is to allow the author to upgrade a portion of the 2021 resource estimate from the inferred into the indicated category.

As well, the new resource estimate will incorporate 32 diamond drill holes completed since the 2021 Technical Report. New drilling from 2021 and 2022 includes: from the Kena Property - 10 holes in the Gold Mountain Zone, 1 hole on the Kena Gold Zone and 7 holes in the Kena Copper Zone, and from the Daylight Property - 8 holes on the Great Western Zone and 6 holes along the Starlight trend (see News Releases dated: October 13, 2021; January 12, 2022; May 3, 2022; May 24, 2022; January 11, 2023).

For the historic drill core resampling program, samples were shipped to MSALABS facility in Langley, BC. In the laboratory, using PRP-941, samples were dried, crushed to 80% passing 2mm, then pulverized to 85% passing 75um. A 50g pulp split was fire assayed for gold with an atomic absorption finish (FAS-121) and 48 additional elements were analyzed from a 0.25g split utilizing a 4-acid digestion with an ICP-MS finish (IMS-230). Field inserted standards (certified reference materials) and blanks were purchased from CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd. of Langley, BC.

MSALABS maintains the highest quality standards and follow the guidelines of ISO17025 accreditation and ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO45001 certification. In the laboratory, blanks (analytical and method), duplicates and standard reference materials are internally inserted in the sequences of client samples. Using these inserted quality control samples each analytical batch and complete job is rigorously reviewed and validated by MSALABS prior to release. The QA/QC results confirm analytical accuracy and precision.

Sue Bird, P.Eng., of Moose Mountain Technical Services will be contracted to complete the new NI43-101 compliant resource estimation and Technical Report.

Linda Dandy, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

About West Mining Corp.

West Mining Corp. is a mineral exploration company acquiring and developing advanced and early-stage exploration projects. Its flagship project is its 100% owned, 9000-hectare prospective Kena Project located near Nelson, British Columbia. The Kena Project comprises three adjoining Properties: Kena, Daylight and Athabasca. An independent NI43-101 mineral resource estimate for Kena in 2021 reported 561,900 oz Au indicated at a grade of 0.544 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) and 2,773,100 oz Au inferred at a grade of 0.486 g/t Au in the Gold Mountain, Kena Gold, and Daylight Zones (Bird, 2021; www.sedarplus.ca). The Daylight property contains the historic past producing Daylight, Starlight, Victoria, Irene, and Great Eastern gold mines. Along trend to the north is the Athabasca Property, with the historic Athabasca Gold Mine. The Company also holds a 100% interest in its Spanish Mountain and Junker properties.

For additional information, please refer to the Company's public disclosure record available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

Contact Information

Nader Vatanchi

CEO

nadervatanchi@hotmail.com

778-881-4631

SOURCE: West Mining Corp

View the original press release on accesswire.com
TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / EnduraFlood, the leading manufacturer of waterproof removable drywall, is seeing a surge of interest and demand in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton.

EnduraFlood is a waterproof and easy-to-open drywall system designed for homes in flood-prone areas, such as coastal regions and basements. It is engineered to withstand water exposure without deteriorating, eliminating the need for messy sheetrock repairs. This innovative product provides peace of mind in flood-prone areas with simple, durable, and stylish solutions.

Most importantly, EnduraFlood gets homeowners back to normal much more quickly after a hurricane, with some reporting spending only one day per room to restore their homes after a flooding event. Albert V. from Fort Myers, Florida, reports that thanks to EnduraFlood, he fully restored his home in just three weeks after it was inundated with 18 inches of water by Helene and Milton.

EnduraFlood offers homeowners in flood-prone areas a better alternative to traditional drywall, which can take months to remove and replace after a hurricane.

How EnduraFlood Gets Homeowners Back to Normal After a Hurricane Hits

EnduraFlood panels, trim, and fasteners are designed to be quickly and easily removed by any homeowner with basic tools. Thanks to this innovative system, as soon as it is safe to return, homeowners can simply pump out the remaining water, remove the waterproof EnduraFlood paneling, remove the affected insulation, and begin drying the timber frame. Once the timber frame is dried - a process that can take about 24 hours with a fan and dehumidifier - and the insulation is replaced, the EnduraFlood panels can then be reinstalled, and homeowners can go on living.

Compare this to the labor-intensive process of removing and replacing soaked drywall or sheetrock, which often needs to be performed by a professional who may not be available for weeks or months.

The EnduraFlood Guarantee: No More Drywall Replacement

Replacing flooded drywall is one of the most expensive and time-consuming parts of hurricane recovery. Traditional drywall and sheetrock are made from gypsum, which soaks up moisture and needs to be removed and replaced before homeowners can return.

Soaked sheetrock can also transfer moisture to the timber frame, potentially leading to rot, warping, and mold. This is why any flooded portions of drywall need to be removed as quickly as possible.

However, getting professional help to remove and replace flooded drywall can take too long after a devastating hurricane. Trapped moisture can lead to mold growth and structural damage to the wood frame, such as warping or rot.

EnduraFlood's waterproof wall paneling system addresses the challenges of post-hurricane recovery by offering a durable, water-proof solution that eliminates the need for traditional drywall replacement, ensuring peace of mind and rapid recovery for homeowners in flood-prone areas.

EnduraFlood CEO Alexander Lorenz says, "Our first set of customers who installed the system in their homes after Hurricane Ian have now lived through Helene and Milton, and they are raving about the product."

EnduraFlood Customers are Raving About the Product

EnduraFlood customers tell the story best.

Hurricane Ian flooded Albert V.'s Florida home in 2022. The recovery process took nearly two years and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and he learned the worst way possible that "the number one problem  is the drywall."

"The drywall is the cause of all these problems  having to clear the whole house, and destroy the kitchen cabinets, take out your bathtub,  because everything behind those items was drywall. You gotta get the drywall out."

The experience made him think: "If you didn't have a porous material like drywall, then you wouldn't have the extent of damage and you don't have to take everything out." That's when he started researching alternatives to traditional drywall and discovered EnduraFlood.

Then came Helene and Milton, and his home flooded twice again. Although his house was flooded up to 18 inches, Albert reported that he "was able to get things back to normal" by himself in a matter of weeks after spending one day per room in the recovery process. "It's a much easier process than rebuilding with drywall."

He is convinced "installing Endura[Flood] was the best rebuilding decision."

EnduraFlood's system has now been tested both in the laboratory and in the homes of hundreds of satisfied customers.

EnduraFlood Style Options

EnduraFlood's impressive range of style options gives homeowners peace of mind without compromising aesthetics. Available in 12 different styles spanning modern, traditional and contemporary designs, there is an option for every homeowner. All boards are shipped white, allowing homeowners to paint them whatever color they choose. "I was blown away at the aesthetics behind it," says Kevin, a homeowner who installed EnduraFlood after Hurricane Idalia in 2023.

Expanding Contractor Network

Although EnduraFlood products are designed to be DIY-friendly, the company continues to expand its nationwide network of contractors trained in its installation. Contractors interested in offering EnduraFlood products in their area can apply to join EnduraFlood's Approved Contractor Program.

About EnduraFlood

EnduraFlood is a pioneering company dedicated to transforming how homeowners in flood-prone areas manage water intrusion. Offering a unique waterproof and easily removable drywall system, EnduraFlood eliminates the need for messy and costly sheetrock repairs. Driven by a mission to reduce stress and provide peace of mind, our innovative solutions are designed for simplicity and durability, empowering homeowners to regain control over their living environments.

EnduraFlood

800-285-0899

cs@enduraflood.com

Contact Information

Linda Grunewald

Media Relations

cs@enduraflood.com

8002850899

SOURCE: EnduraFlood Systems LLC

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Volatus Aerospace Inc. (TSXV:FLT.V)(OTCQX:TAKOF)(Frankfurt:A3DP5Y, ABBA.F) ("Volatus" or the"Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced commercially reasonable best efforts private placement of an aggregate of 19,766,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.14 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,767,240.00 (the "Offering"). Each Unit consists of one common voting share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one common voting share purchase warrant of the Company (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.20 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for research and development, capital expenditures, inventory and general corporate and working capital purposes.

The Offering was conducted by Ventum Financial Corp. and Cormark Securities Inc., as co-lead agents, together with Desjardins Securities Inc. and Raymond James Ltd. (collectively, the "Agents") pursuant to an agency agreement dated November 6, 2024. The Company paid to the Agents: (i) a cash commission of $193,706.80; and (ii) non-transferrable compensation options of the Company ("Compensation Option Units") exercisable at any time prior to November 6, 2024 to acquire up to 1,383,620 units of the Company ("Compensation Option Units") at a price equal to the Issue Price, subject to adjustment in certain events. The Compensation Option Units have the same terms as the Units sold in the Offering.

The Units sold under the Offering were issued and sold pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). A copy of the offering document under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption dated October 28, 2024, as amended and restated on November 5, 2024 (the "Offering Document") is available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.volatusaerospace.com. All Units issued pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption are not subject to resale restrictions in Canada in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. All other securities not issued pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, including the Compensation Option Units, are subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, expiring on March 7, 2025.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or under any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and applicable state securities laws.

About Volatus Aerospace Inc.

Volatus is a leader in innovative global aerial solutions for intelligence and cargo. With over 100 years of combined institutional knowledge in aviation, Volatus provides solutions for a wide array of industries, including oil and gas, energy utilities, public safety, and infrastructure. The Company is committed to enhancing operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability through cutting-edge aerial technologies. For more information, visit www.volatusaerospace.com.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the timing and ability of the Company to obtain final approval of the Offering from the TSX Venture Exchange; use of proceeds from the Offering; and the business, strategy, products, corporate vision, plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals, including but not limited to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

For further information, please contact:

Abhinav Singhvi,

CFO of Volatus

abhinav.singhvi@volatusaerospace.com

+1 833-865-2887

Danielle Gagne,

Head of Marketing and Communications of Volatus

danielle.gagne@volatusaerospace.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Volatus Aerospace Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (PNW) reported consolidated net income attributable to common shareholders for the third quarter of $395.0 million, or $3.37 per share compared with $398.2 million, or $3.50 per share, a year ago. On average, 13 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report profit per share of $3.49, for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.Third quarter operating revenues increased to $1.77 billion from $1.64 billion, prior year. Analysts on average had estimated $1.87 billion in revenue.The company adjusted 2024 consolidated earnings guidance upward to a range of $5.00 to $5.20 per share. Looking forward, the company estimates 2025 consolidated earnings will be within a range of $4.40 to $4.60 per share on a weather-normalized basis.For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Parvis Invest Inc. (TSXV: PVIS) ("Parvis" or "the Company'), a technology-driven real estate investment platform committed to delivering premier opportunities to investors, announces the addition of three new issuer clients to its platform. Foundation Capital, Azure Properties Group, and Epiphany Legacy join Parvis as issuer partners, extending Parvis's commitment to offering diverse real estate investment options to Canadian investors.

"The addition of these partners strengthens our position as a well-rounded investment platform," said David Michaud, Founder and CEO of Parvis. "With Foundation Capital, Azure Properties Group, and Epiphany Legacy, we're expanding both our geographic footprint and the types of investments available on our platform. This growth enables us to respond to shifting market dynamics, while upholding our mission of making real estate investing more accessible."

These partnerships follow Parvis's recent expansion into Quebec and precede the launch of a new hospitality-focused investment. Each of the new issuers brings unique expertise and a solid track record in their respective markets, contributing to a more comprehensive selection of opportunities for investors across Canada.

New Parvis EMDsolutions Partners:

Foundation Capital (Greater Toronto Area): Specializing in multi-family properties across Southern Ontario, Foundation Capital combines institutional expertise with entrepreneurial insight to deliver asset management solutions for high-demand markets.

Azure Properties Group (British Columbia): With over 30 years of experience, Azure develops residential projects throughout the Lower Mainland and Okanagan. Their deep local expertise and relationships bring added strength to the Parvis platform.

Epiphany Legacy (Ontario): Established in 2018, Epiphany manages a diversified real estate portfolio through various Limited Partnerships. With roots going back to 1980, their integrated approach offers long-term stability and growth.

Through Parvis's EMDsolutions service, these partners benefit from a suite of compliance, back-office, and marketing support, allowing them to focus on investor value and growth. This latest expansion underlines Parvis's commitment to building a streamlined, technology-driven platform that connects investors with carefully selected, high-quality opportunities across Canada.

About the Company

Parvis is a technology-driven investment platform dedicated to democratizing access to institutional-quality opportunities. Utilizing AI and blockchain technology, Parvis streamlines the investment process, making it more accessible and efficient. Headquartered in Vancouver, Parvis operates with experts in Toronto, Vancouver, Kelowna, and Montreal. For more information, visit www.parvisinvest.com and SEDAR+.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuer's prospective financial performance or financial position. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: execution and integration of the investment offerings; and the Company's business plans and role in the investment industry. To develop the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to: prevailing market conditions; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the ability of the Company to execute and achieve its business objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: adverse market conditions; changes in general economic, business and political conditions; changes in applicable laws and regulations; compliance with extensive government regulation; reliance on key and qualified personnel; risks associated with the real estate, investment, and technology industries in general. The foregoing list of material risk factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @ParvisInvest

Facebook: ParvisInvest

LinkedIn: Parvis

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229044

SOURCE: Parvis Invest Inc.
NEWPORT BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Spirits Capital Corporation, a fintech company that merges technology with the alternative asset class of premium American whiskey and other spirits, and the creator of the Distilled Barrels Financial Exchange (DBFEX), announced today that Ray Franklin will serve as Chief Revenue Officer of Spirits Capital Corporation and oversee operations of the Distilled Barrels Financial Exchange (DBFEX).

Prior to joining Spirits Capital, Ray Franklin was the founder and president of Staghorn and Garrard County Distilling Company, one of the nations' largest independent distilleries. Ray also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Kentucky Distillers Association.

Spirits Capital Corporation's CEO and Chairman Todd Sanders states, "We're thrilled to welcome a true luminary from the whiskey industry into our fold. Ray Franklin's industry expertise and entrepreneurial spirit will not only enhance our financial strategies but also bring a fresh, creative perspective that drives innovation. This partnership is a testament to Spirits Capital's commitment to excellence and our belief in the power of diverse experiences."

Ray Franklin, Chief Revenue Officer at Spirits Capital Corporation, enthuses, "I am thrilled to take on the position of Chief Revenue Officer at Spirits Capital and lead the growth of the Distilled Barrels Financial Exchange. This opportunity not only marks a significant milestone in my career but also allows me to drive innovation at the crossroads of technology, finance, and the spirits industry. We will impact growth opportunities and enhance engagement with both our partners and customers."

About Spirits Capital Corporation

Spirits Capital is a fintech company that merges technology with the alternative asset class of premium American whiskey and other spirits. The Company's mission is to develop, utilize and monetize the spirits industry through technology driven platforms that enable investors and institutions to value, invest and profit on maturing spirits. Founded with a focus on premium American whiskey, Spirits has built a platform that provides investors with a secure and transparent way to capitalize on the growth of the spirit while it matures in the barrel. In addition, Spirits has created the Distilled Barrels Financial Exchange ("DBFEX"), a cutting-edge digital platform for the global trading of aged whiskey barrels. DBFEX uses a proprietary pricing tool, known as the Barrel Value Optimizer, to analyze an extensive array of market data and barrel-specific information to suggest optimal price ranges for aged whiskey barrels. For more information about Spirits, visit www.spiritscap.com.

Media Contact

Adam Handelsman

Vice President of Corporate Communications

Spirits Capital

512-363-0596 or Adam@spiritscap.com

Investor Contact

Kelsee Pottorff

Director of Investor Relations

Spirits Capital

949-674-0355 or Kelsee@spiritscap.com

Certain statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements. These statements include the capabilities and success of the Company's business and any of its products, services or solutions. The words "believe," "forecast," "project," "intend," "expect," "plan," "should," "would," and similar expressions and all statements, which are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, any of which could cause the Company to not achieve some or all of its goals or the Company's previously reported actual results, performance (finance or operating) to change or differ from future results, performance (financing and operating) or achievements, including those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no, and hereby disclaims any, obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

No Offer or Solicitation. The information in this communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the proposed transactions or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

SOURCE: Spirits Capital Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Along with Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election, Republicans have taken back control of the Senate.With 52 seats, Republican Party has crossed simple majority in the 100-member Senate, while the Democrats have so far won only 42 seats.The Democratic party lost its razor-thin majority in the Upper House as its candidates lost in two crucial seats. Republican Gov. Jim Justice won the West Virginia Senate seat vacated by Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joe Manchin, while Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown lost in Ohio.The Democrats failed to defeat Ted Cruz in Texas, which was one of their key targets.'America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate. We have taken back control of the Senate - wow that's good,' Trump told his supporters at the Palm Beach Convention Centre.The race is still on for the House of Representatives, which is currently narrowly controlled by the Republicans.The Republican Party has so far won 198 seats in the House, 20 short of majority, while the Democratic Party could win only 180 seats so far.Neither party seemed to have an overall edge in the House, and reports say it could take days before results in all 435 seats are officially declared as processing of absentee and mail-in ballots were delayed in some states, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.Voters also went to the polling stations in 11 states to elect their governor.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Positive Physicians Insurance Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Annie Matincheck to the executive position of Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer. This role reflects Matincheck's extensive experience and leadership highlighting her critical role in shaping the company's strategic vision and operational excellence.

Annie Matincheck

Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer

Matincheck, who joined Positive Physicians in 2022 as Senior Vice President of Underwriting, brings over 25 years of distinguished experience in the insurance industry, with a deep specialization in medical professional liability. Since joining the company, she has played a pivotal role in transforming the underwriting foundation and leading the strategic refinement of policies, systems, and overall corporate operations. Her insights have been crucial in strengthening the company's market position and driving its growth. Her strategic insights have been instrumental in securing the company's market position and accelerating its growth trajectory.

"Annie has been instrumental in enhancing our core capabilities and positioning us for sustained growth," said Michael G. Roque, CEO of Positive Physicians Insurance Company. "In her new role, she will oversee critical initiatives including system integration, product and rate development, state expansion, corporate governance, and other strategic initiatives."

Matincheck's career includes leadership roles across national and regional carriers, where she has consistently delivered strong results. Before joining Positive Physicians, she served as Associate Vice President at NORCAL Group, overseeing underwriting operations and later expanding her responsibilities to include business development, marketing, and agency services.

Annie Matincheck has assumed her new responsibilities as SVP & Chief Strategy Officer, further strengthening Positive Physicians' leadership team. She has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Business from Elizabethtown College and is certified in management by the Yale School of Management Executive Education. She also holds the professional designations as a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and a Certified Risk Manager (CRM).

In her new role as Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, Matincheck will continue to guide Positive Physicians Insurance Company as it adapts to the evolving needs of the medical professional liability industry.

About Positive Physicians Insurance Company

Positive Physicians Insurance Company is a leading provider of medical malpractice insurance, committed to protecting the reputations and practices of healthcare professionals. With a focus on delivering tailored solutions and exceptional service, Positive Physicians supports the medical community through comprehensive coverage options, expert claims handling, and risk management resources.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Susanna Anderson

Marketing Director

Positive Physicians Insurance Company

888.335.5335

sanderson@positivephysicians.com

Contact Information

Susanna Anderson

Marketing Director

sanderson@positivephysicians.com

888-335-5335

SOURCE: Positive Physicians Insurance Company

View the original press release on newswire.com.
CARSON CITY, NV / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Orion Diversified Holding Co, Inc. (OTC PINK:OODH, "Orion"), a revenue generating diversified company, announced today that it has closed on an acquisition of a royalty interest in the SCOOP Stack of Garvin County, Oklahoma. The property consists of a 0.59% royalty interest in 170 acres with active drilling leases already permitted in the area. Orion now has mineral ownership in 34,200 acres in all major US onshore oil and gas regions.

FOUNDERS COMMENTS

"We have received notice from the State of Oklahoma that Citizen Energy is planning to drill multiple well horizontals on our Kingfisher County acreage. We are being pooled into a 320 acre horizontal drilling and spacing unit. We are currently negotiating with several oil companies in the Permian Basin to acquire producing and non producing oil and gas operations." Commented Tom Lull, CEO of Orion. In addition to this we have filed another patent pending product under the Angle Tools Corp. for a crescent wrench designed to work with an electric drill. Finding a socket to fit a ratchet can be challenging and turning a crescent wrench by hand can be frustrating as well. This prototype design works with an electric drill and has a moveable shaft with grooves in the jaws of the crescent wrench to grip any bolt or nut."

ABOUT ORION DIVERSIFIED HOLDING CO INC.

Orion Diversified Holding Co Inc. is a holding company with a primary strategy of creating innovative construction products and investing in operated majority working interest, non-operated working interest, and mineral interests in producing oil & gas properties, with a core area of focus in the premier basins within the United States. Orion receives monthly income from 34,200 mineral acres and receives income from Chevron, Conoco Phillips, Apache, Occidental Petroleum, EOG Resources, Mewbourne Oil, Merit Energy, Hilcorp Oil, Kraken Oil, DCP, Raybaw Operating, and many others. More information about Orion Diversified Holding Co Inc. can be found at www.orionenergyco.com; www.angle-tools.com

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to anticipated revenues, expenses, earnings, operating cash flows, the outlook for markets, and the demand for products. Forward-looking statements are no guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon, among other things, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management, including management's own knowledge and assessment of the Company's industry and competition. The Company assumes no duty to update its forward-looking statements.

CONTACT:

Orion Diversified Holding Co Inc.

Thomas Lull, President

tom@orionenergyco.com

Phone: 760-889-3435

www.x.com/TomLull1

www.instagram.com/ryanlulldad

SOURCE: Orion Diversified Holding Co Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Cognita, the global leader in teaching and learning excellence, has further strengthened its international presence by partnering with Doukas School in Greece, adding 1,700 students and 200 colleagues to its worldwide community

LONDON, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognita, the global leader in teaching and learning excellence, today announced a landmark partnership with Doukas School, its first collaboration in Greece. This alliance brings Doukas School into Cognita's family of over 100 schools worldwide, opening doors to innovative learning and professional growth opportunities for students and educators alike. Through this partnership, Doukas educators will be able to exchange insights with more than 21,000 colleagues globally, benefiting from state-of-the-art professional development programs, including bespoke Team and Leadership courses in partnership with the world-renowned IOE, Faculty of Education and Society at University College London.

A Legacy of Excellence Joins a Global Family

Located in Marousi, near Athens, Doukas School has been a beacon of educational excellence in Greece since 1917. Known for its innovative approach to holistic education, the school serves students from kindergarten through high school, offering the Greek national curriculum, the International Baccalaureate, and A-Levels. Doukas School's commitment to academic distinction, paired with a focus on personal growth, mirrors Cognita's vision of delivering a world-class, well-rounded education that prepares young people to excel in a rapidly evolving world.

Germa Rigau, Managing Director Continental Europe at Cognita, said:

"We are thrilled to welcome Doukas School into the Cognita family as our first partner in Greece. Doukas shares our commitment to empowering students with the skills and resilience they need to thrive in today's fast-paced world. We look forward to collaborating with their exceptional leadership team and educators to drive innovation in education, both locally and across our global community."

Konstantinos I. Doukas, CEO of Doukas School, added:

"We are so proud to join Cognita's global family of schools. This partnership not only reinforces Doukas School's pioneering role in the educational landscape but also marks a new chapter in our 107-year legacy, enhancing our reach and impact within Greece and beyond."

About Cognita

Founded in 2004, Cognita is a global community of over 100 schools across 17 countries, united by a single purpose: empowering students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. With more than 95,000 students and 21,000 dedicated staff across Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the US, Cognita offers a uniquely global education experience. Our schools prioritise academic excellence and then go beyond, fostering resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset to equip young people with the skills they need to succeed. www.cognita.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549411/Cognita.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2244643/Cognita_Logo.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cognita-welcomes-first-school-in-greece-through-partnership-with-doukas-school-302297576.html
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Asia-based investment and wealth management firm, Derwent Investments is excited to announce a new limited intake of interns at its Singapore headquarters. This exclusive program, set to begin in January 2025, is designed to provide a select group of aspiring professionals with a comprehensive grounding in the growing investment and wealth management industry.

A rare opportunity

The internship program at Derwent Investments will offer a unique opportunity for successful candidates to gain hands-on experience in the fast-paced world of finance. Interns will work closely with the firm's senior professionals to gain exposure to a broad range of investment strategies, portfolio management techniques, and wealth management practices.

"We're thrilled to open our doors to the next generation of financial professionals," said Edward Chandler, Director of Private Equity at Derwent Investments. "Our internship program is designed to provide interns with invaluable experience and insights that will serve as a solid foundation for their future careers as professionals in what is one of our region's fastest growing industries."

Highly selective shortlisting process

Due to the highly competitive nature of the program, Derwent Investments will be conducting a rigorous selection process to identify the most promising candidates. Applicants will be evaluated based on their academic achievements, passion for investment, and their ability to function well as part of team. The firm is seeking individuals who are not only academically strong but also eager to contribute to the dynamic working environment at Derwent Investments.

Comprehensive training and mentorship

The successful applicants will benefit from a structured training program that covers key areas of the investment and wealth management industry including due diligence, time horizons, risk tolerance and more. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in real-world projects, attend seminars and workshops and receive mentorship from seasoned professionals within the firm.

"Our goal is to equip our interns with the skills and knowledge they'll need to succeed in this increasingly important industry," added Mr. Chandler. "Using this program, we aim to nurture tomorrow's young investment professionals and provide them with the tools they'll need to excel in their future careers whether they choose to become advisors, analysts or portfolio managers."

Potential permanent careers

Interns who excel during the program may be considered for full-time, permanent positions at Derwent Investments upon graduation, making this an unparalleled opportunity for those looking to launch their careers in investment and wealth management.

"Joining us as an intern is about more than gaining experience; it's about becoming part of a team dedicated to excellence, client service and innovation," said Mr. Chandler. "We're very much looking forward to welcoming the brightest minds to our family and helping them embark on a rewarding career in this industry."

Application procedure

Candidates are initially encouraged to register their interest online through the Derwent Investments website by Saturday, November 30th 2024. Only a limited number of openings are available, so early application is recommended.

About Derwent Investments

Derwent Investments is a leading investment management firm committed to delivering superior investment results and client service that is second to none. With a team of experienced professionals and a disciplined, research-led approach to investing, the firm provides innovative solutions and opportunities for medium-to-long-term capital growth. Derwent Investments' focus on research-driven investment strategies ensures that clients benefit from the latest market insights and technological advancements.

Media Contact Details:-

Organization: Derwent Investments Pte Ltd

Website: https://derwentinv.com/

Email: media@derwentinv.com

Readers may consult the reference article available here.

SOURCE: Derwent Investments Pte Ltd

View the original press release on accesswire.com
by Elysabeth Alfano, VegTech Invest

Did you know - Our global food system accounts for 30% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Included in that is food waste which constitutes 8% and animal agriculture which is 18% of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / With the growing concerns regarding producing enough food for a global population using our resource intensive system and the mounting negative impacts from the food system on the planet, blended capital investment (philanthropic, government, venture capital, and public markets) is beginning to flow into food systems transformation. Family offices, governments, and investors around the world - 99% of whom aren't vegan and have no intention of ever becoming vegan - are looking to make a true impact and understand that protein diversification, complementing animal protein, is a powerful way to do so. Here are three key reasons:

1) Inexpensive: The World Bank is calling for $450-$650 billion in food systems transformation each year for the next 10-15 years. By contrast, new energy innovation needs $3 trillion a year for the foreseeable future.

2) Easy(ier): A foundation for much of the technology of complementary / diversified proteins already exists. Yes, the innovation curve in plant-based innovation and fermented proteins is constantly improving.

3) Quick Impact: Inexpensive and easy solutions mean faster impact compared to other green sectors. Since diversified proteins innovation means reducing methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases, the results will be significant.

Read Elysabeth's insightful article on how to invest in food system transformation here - https://greenmoney.com/the-growth-and-impact-potential-of-investing-in-food-system-transformation

=====





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GreenMoney Journal on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: GreenMoney Journal

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/greenmoney-journal

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: GreenMoney Journal

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Commerzbank demonstrated resilience in the third quarter of 2023, surpassing analyst expectations despite a slight dip in profits. The bank reported a net income of 642 million euros, exceeding forecasts by a significant margin. While revenues experienced a marginal decline of 0.7% to 2.74 billion euros, a boost in fee income nearly offset the reduction in interest-related business. The bank maintains its full-year profit projection of 2.4 billion euros and expresses increased optimism regarding interest and commission income. This robust performance has positively influenced the stock, which reached a 52-week high of 16.97 euros on October 7, 2024.

Potential Acquisition on the Horizon

Amidst Commerzbank's steady performance, the financial institution has become a target for potential acquisition. Italian banking giant UniCredit has already secured over 20% of Commerzbank's shares, signaling strong interest in a complete takeover. However, with a market capitalization of approximately 20 billion euros, Commerzbank remains significantly smaller than UniCredit, valued at around 70 billion euros. This disparity in size could play a crucial role in shaping Commerzbank's future position within the European banking landscape, as industry consolidation continues to be a topic of interest for investors and market analysts alike.

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On a quiet morning in Arlington, Virginia, Julia Martinez takes her golden retriever, Max, for their daily walk. Passing their local dog park, Julia reflects on how Max, a rescue, has thrived thanks to recent animal welfare policies. Like many, Julia sees Max as family, not just a pet. And in an increasingly divided political landscape, there's one surprising area of bipartisan unity: caring for dogs.

Both Republicans and Democrats, often seen as ideological opposites, have found common ground in protecting "man's best friend." From enforcing laws that target animal cruelty to supporting measures that improve pet safety, lawmakers across the aisle acknowledge the importance of animal welfare. As over 60% of American households own pets, including millions of dogs, this shared interest resonates deeply. But pet care doesn't happen in isolation. Just as human health is shaped by government policy, so is the welfare of our pets influenced by laws, regulations, and enforcement measures. That's where PawPro comes in. Committed to creating a healthier, safer world for pets, PawPro not only provides high-quality nutrition but also actively raises awareness of how policies impact animal welfare. From dog parks in New York City to farms in the Midwest, PawPro stands at the forefront of supporting laws and initiatives that help pets like Max thrive.

A Bipartisan History of Animal Welfare

Historically, animal welfare in the United States has benefited from bipartisan cooperation. In 1958, Congress passed the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act with support from both sides, ensuring humane slaughter practices for livestock. More recently, similar bipartisan efforts led to the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, signed into law by President Trump in 2019, making animal cruelty a federal offense. PawPro recognizes these important steps and supports policies like these by offering top-tier supplements, to improve pets' immunity and overall health. Other federal protections, such as the Pets and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, underscore bipartisan commitment. Passed with backing from both parties, this act allows shelters to accommodate pets of domestic violence victims, offering safety to both human and animal survivors. In local communities, states also take their own steps. In Republican-leaning Florida, voters overwhelmingly passed a 2018 ballot measure to ban greyhound racing, marking a win for animal rights. In blue states like California, regulations for improved breeding practices have been implemented, banning the sale of commercially bred dogs in pet stores.

Republicans and Dogs: Enforcement and Accountability

When it comes to protecting pets, Republican policies tend to focus on enforcing existing laws and creating penalties for offenders. Missouri, a state known for its controversial puppy mills, has introduced stricter enforcement to hold breeders accountable for mistreatment, with Republican representatives backing increased penalties for animal cruelty. This approach aligns with a core Republican belief in limited government, focusing on enforcement rather than creating extensive new regulations.

In states like Texas, a 2021 law banned the sale of puppies at flea markets, passed with broad bipartisan support. Rural areas also emphasize community-led efforts, such as spay and neuter clinics, to help manage stray populations. Republican voters, especially in agricultural states, tend to support laws punishing dog abuse, reflecting a sentiment that pets deserve protection without overly complex regulations. These enforcement-focused strategies align well with PawPro's mission to support health in animals who benefit from safe, well-regulated environments.

Democrats and Dogs: Stronger Protections Through Regulation

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats generally advocate for comprehensive regulations aimed at animal welfare. Democratic lawmakers have spearheaded efforts to regulate breeding practices and improve conditions in commercial facilities. For example, California's Assembly Bill 485 prohibits the sale of commercially bred dogs in pet stores, prioritizing animals from shelters or rescue organizations.

"Dogs are family, and it's time we treated them as such in our laws," said Assemblywoman Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), one of the bill's sponsors. Democrats also push for public funding to support shelters and advocate for laws addressing animal cruelty in depth. PawPro understands that robust regulation complements enforcement, providing a balanced approach that ultimately benefits pets nationwide. To this end, PawPro actively champions policies that make environments safer for pets while providing nutrition that keeps dogs healthy and resilient in these well-regulated spaces.

The Role of PawPro in a Changing Landscape

As more pet owners become aware of how policies impact their pets, PawPro has pledged to stay at the forefront of this dialogue. Whether engaging lawmakers on the importance of pet nutrition or supporting initiatives to reduce stray populations, PawPro understands that pet welfare is a community effort. Just as political decisions at all levels shape animal welfare, so too do the everyday choices made by dog owners, including what they feed their pets and how they care for them.

PawPro's line of supplements, rich in Omega-3s, probiotics, and essential vitamins, ensures that pets are better equipped to face the challenges of various environments-urban centers or rural areas alike. And with over 60% of households caring for pets, Common Dreams* recently noted that animal welfare policies remain a rare unifier across the political spectrum. Whether it's through Republican-led enforcement or Democratic-favored regulations, one thing is certain: PawPro will be there to support dogs and pet owners alike.

Moving Forward: Pet Welfare in the Spotlight

Looking to the future, PawPro remains committed to advocating for stronger animal welfare protections, recognizing that love for dogs serves as a powerful unifier in a politically divided landscape. Lawmakers from both parties continue to shape laws protecting our pets, and PawPro will be there to provide the best in pet nutrition while supporting policies that ensure safety and well-being.

As more Americans demand stronger protections for animals, PawPro proudly stands at the intersection of politics and pet health, echoing a sentiment shared across party lines: that dogs deserve the best we can offer, no matter where they live or what political forces shape their environment.

PawPro: Because a nation that cares for its dogs is one that cares for its future.

Contact Information:

Katrina Graue, CEO

Email: Katrina.graue@Paw-Pro.com

Phone: +49 155 61687211

Damon Spiceland, CEO of Health Reasoning

Email: damon@healthreasoning.com

Phone: +1 615 218 7594

About PawPro GmbH

PawPro GmbH is a German PetTech leader, offering bacteria-based nutritional supplements that enhance pet health. Our products use natural ingredients and cutting-edge technology to improve pets' digestive health and overall well-being.

Join PawPro's journey to revolutionize pet healthcare and explore investment and partnership opportunities today.For further details, visit PawPro and connect with us today.

SOURCE: Paw Pro

View the original press release on accesswire.com




SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fresche Solutions, a global leader in IBM i modernization and transformation, acquires Redbourn Business Systems, a UK-based provider of specialized IBM i Synon/CA 2E development and consulting services. This strategic move reinforces Fresche's commitment to customers, partners, and organizations invested in IBM mid-range solutions and expands its footprint to further support clients in the UK and Europe who require specialized Synon/CA 2E expertise.

This acquisition continues to enhance Fresche's portfolio and increase its capacity to meet the demand for Synon/CA 2E comprehensive services. Redbourn's renowned reputation in Synon/CA 2E consulting in the UK complements Fresche's commitment to helping IBM i customers manage, modernize, and maximize their IBM i investment.

"We are thrilled to welcome the Redbourn team to Fresche," stated Joe Zarrehparvar, CEO of Fresche Solutions. "The combined expertise of our teams further strengthens our commitment to provide exceptional support to the IBM i community. With Redbourn's deep knowledge in Synon/CA 2E and a shared passion for innovation, we are well-positioned to address the evolving needs of our clients and partners worldwide. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Fresche's mission as the leading modernization and transformation partner for IBM i organizations."

"This partnership is the perfect fit for Redbourn, our employees, and our customers," stated Steve Cast, Managing Director at Redbourn Business Systems. "Fresche's strong commitment to IBM i solutions and unmatched expertise in modernization give our clients additional options to grow and transform their operations. By joining Fresche, we can deliver an even higher level of support for modernization and application and cloud services. I am excited to embark on this new journey and join Fresche's mission to lead modernization and transformation for IBM i organizations," Cast added.

American Pacific Group (APG), the private equity firm behind Fresche, expressed its enthusiasm for the addition of Redbourn to the Fresche organization. "This acquisition reinforces our strategy to enhance Fresche's global footprint and expand capabilities to serve the IBM i market better," said Fraser Preston, Managing Partner at APG. "The transaction offers substantial momentum and synergies, strengthening our commitment to invest in IBM i modernization capabilities that enhance Fresche's solutions to provide a competitive edge."

In addition to Redbourn's office in the UK, Fresche's global reach spans offices in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and India. Together, the companies remain committed to offering exceptional modernization and transformation services and application support that help organizations protect and advance their IBM i investments.

ABOUT FRESCHE SOLUTIONS

Pioneers in IT modernization, Fresche manages, modernizes, and maximizes the value of IBM i business critical systems. Our winning IP and proven solutions in Modernization, Cloud, Software and Application Services, and Strategy have earned the trust of global leaders from 2500+ companies. Transform your IT challenges into future growth and innovation with Fresche Solutions. Learn more at www.freschesolutions.com (https://freschesolutions.com/).

ABOUT REDBOURN BUSINESS SYSTEMS

Redbourn Business Systems specializes in bespoke development, application support, consultancy, and training for IBM Power Server (AS/400). Redbourn caters to both commercial and not-for-profit clients, providing high-quality products and services with exceptional value. With over 30 years of experience in IBM mid-range, the Redbourn team is committed to client success. Learn more at www.redbourn.co.uk/ (https://www.redbourn.co.uk/).

Media Contact:

Aneta Ranstoller

VP, Marketing

Fresche Solutions Inc.

aneta.ranstoller@freschesolutions.com (mailto:aneta.ranstoller@freschesolutions.com)

+1 800 361 6782

Steve Cast

Managing Director

Redbourn Business Systems

steve.cast@redbourn.co.uk (mailto:steve.cast@redbourn.co.uk)

(01582) 794229

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6136fc3d-7b37-4322-8689-518d612a5a2d (https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6136fc3d-7b37-4322-8689-518d612a5a2d)
Scottsdale, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Greenbriar Sustainable Living Inc. (TSXV: GRB) (OTC Pink: GEBRF) ("Greenbriar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Puerto Rico's current US Federal Resident Commissioner in Congress, Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon, has won yesterday's election to become the next Governor of Puerto Rico. Luis Baco, JD, LLM, Chief Counsel for Greenbriar in Puerto Rico and the future President of Greenbriar in Puerto Rico states:

"With almost 90% of the vote counted, she defeated her closest opponent by nearly 10% of the votes cast. Gonzalez Colon ran on a platform that prioritized energy resilience and the reconstruction of Puerto Rico's obsolete power grid. Luis Baco, who is chief counsel to Greenbriar, is a longtime friend of the new Governor and served as Gonzalez Colon's Chief of Staff during her first term as the Federal Resident Commissioner." (The elected federal member in Puerto Rico for US House of Representatives.)

US Solar and Wind tax credits run for their full value until 2032 (at between 30 to 50% depending on location and content) and reduce to 26% up to 2035. Tax credits for renewable energy have existed since 1997 and have repeatedly received over 80 to 90% bipartisan support from both parties.

Ms. Gonzalez is a life-long Republican with support of the new President-Elect. Ms. Gonzalez and the new President-Elect have full voting determination on selecting and/or replacing members of the FOMB.

About Greenbriar Sustainable Living:

Greenbriar is a developer of sustainable real estate and renewable energy. With long-term, high impact projects and led by a successful industry-recognized operating and development team, Greenbriar targets deep valued sustainable assets directed at accretive shareholder value.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Market conditions could alter the projects of Greenbriar and such potential events like bad credit markets, worldwide economic depression, unforeseen regulatory hurdles or acts of God, could inhibit or prevent some or all of the Greenbriar projects from materializing or completing.

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws (together, "forward-looking statements"). All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to this release. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget", "propose" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: general business and economic conditions. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A (a copy of which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca). The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229052

SOURCE: Greenbriar Sustainable Living Inc.
New data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) says there is no scenario in which Ireland will meet its 2030 solar deployment capacity of 8 GW. With existing measures in place, the reality would be more like 5 GW, the government-run group estimates. Ireland risks under delivering by up to 2. 9 GW on its national 2030 solar PV deployment target of 8 GW. That is according to a new report published by the SEAI. The government-funded group's National Energy Projections 2024 report contains the main findings of its latest national energy projections, which examine future energy use ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Exploring the Opportunities of a Sustainable and Resilient Industrial Future

Mouser Electronics, Inc., the global authorized distributor renowned for providing the latest in electronic components and industrial automation solutions, today unveiled the newest chapter in its Empowering Innovation Together (EIT) technology series, which focuses on the emerging landscape of Industry 5.0. In this next phase of industrialization, human, environmental, and social considerations will factor into the advanced technology, robotics, and smart machines on the factory floor of the future.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106421709/en/

For the last several decades, the manufacturing world has been integrating robots into factory control systems-a move compared to a fourth industrial revolution and named Industry 4.0. Now, Industry 5.0 puts people at the heart of manufacturing bringing technology and humanity closer together. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Building on the technological advancements of Industry 4.0-where artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and machine learning revolutionized the interaction between physical and digital realms-Industry 5.0 shifts the spotlight to a more harmonious balance between humans and technology. It emphasizes societal value, resilience, and sustainability as core pillars. This EIT installment explores the transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 and the technology advancements that await.

In The Tech Between Us podcast, guest host Mark Patrick, Mouser Director of Technical Content for EMEA, and Leonardo Dentone, Program Chair of ISA Denmark, examine key enablers driving Industry 5.0 adoption, including advanced robotics, AI-driven systems, and the cyber-physical frameworks that bridge human and machine collaboration. In the subsequent In Between the Tech podcast, Larry Sweet, Director of Engineering at the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, addresses the practical challenges engineers face in implementing this human-focused industrial model and the pathways to overcoming them.

"Industry 5.0 represents more than just the next phase of technological advancement; it is an intentional shift towards integrating societal progress with industrial innovation," said Patrick. "It challenges engineers to rethink the role of technology in creating a resilient and human-centered industrial environment, where innovation serves both productivity and the well-being of society."

This series delivers comprehensive resources to engineering professionals, including technical articles and use cases, podcasts, an infographic, video and subscriber-exclusive content. Established in 2015, Mouser's Empowering Innovation Together program is one of the industry's most recognized electronic component programs. To learn more, visit https://www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation/industry5/ and follow Mouser on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

For more Mouser news and our latest new product introductions, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

As a global authorized distributor, Mouser offers the world's widest selection of the newest semiconductors and electronic components in stock and ready to ship. Mouser's customers can expect 100% certified, genuine products that are fully traceable from each of its manufacturer partners. To help speed customers' designs, Mouser's website hosts an extensive library of technical resources, including a Technical Resource Center, along with product data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, engineering tools and other helpful information.

Engineers can stay abreast of today's exciting product, technology and application news through Mouser's complimentary e-newsletter. Mouser's email news and reference subscriptions are customizable to the unique and changing project needs of customers and subscribers. No other distributor gives engineers this much customization and control over the information they receive. Learn about emerging technologies, product trends and more by signing up today at https://sub.info.mouser.com/subscriber/.

About Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics is an authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on New Product Introductions from its leading manufacturer partners. Serving the global electronic design engineer and buyer community, the global distributor's website, mouser.com, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 6.8 million products from over 1,200 manufacturer brands. Mouser offers 28 support locations worldwide to provide best-in-class customer service in local language, currency and time zone. The distributor ships to over 650,000 customers in 223 countries/territories from its 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in the Dallas, Texas, metro area. For more information, visit https://www.mouser.com/.

Trademarks

Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106421709/en/

Contacts:

For further information, contact:

Kevin Hess, Mouser Electronics

Senior Vice President of Marketing

+1 (817) 804-3833

Kevin.Hess@mouser.com

For press inquiries, contact:

Kelly DeGarmo, Mouser Electronics

Manager, Corporate Communications and Media Relations

+1 (817) 804-7764

Kelly.DeGarmo@mouser.com
Montigny Le Bretonneux, November 6, 2024

COMPLETION OF THE DOLFINES SHARES CONSOLIDATION

DOLFINES announces the completion today of the consolidation of shares making up its share capital, at the rate of 1 new share with a par value of 1.4 compared to 5,000 old shares with a par value of 0.00028. As a result, 2,959,713,293 old shares with a par value of 0.00028 each were exchanged for 591,942 new shares with a par value of 1.4 each.

As of today, the old shares (ISIN code: FR0014004QZ9) are delisted and the new shares resulting from the consolidation are tradable on the Euronext Growth Paris market under a new ISIN code: FR001400SP13. The mnemonic code (ALDOL) is unchanged.

Article 6 of Statutes  Share Capital  has thus been amended as follows: "The share capital is set at the sum of 828,718.80 euros. It is divided into 591,942 shares with a par value of 1.4, fully subscribed and paid up. 

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DOLFINES noted that the non-consolidated shares were delisted at the end of the consolidation period.

Pursuant to Articles L. 228-6-1 and R. 228-12 of the French Commercial Code, the new shares that could not be allocated individually and corresponding to fractional rights are sold on the stock exchange by the account holders and the sums resulting from the sale will be distributed in proportion to the fractional rights of the holders of these rights within 30 days from November 5, 2024. Each shareholder is therefore invited to contact their financial intermediary for any further information.

It should be noted that shares consolidation is a share exchange transaction, with no impact on the overall value of the DOLFINES shares held in the portfolio by shareholders, with the exception of fractional shares. This consolidation was carried out in accordance with the 5th resolution of the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company's shareholders held on September 16, 2024, as decided by the Board of Directors of DOLFINES at its meeting on the same day, as well as on the basis of Articles L.228-6-1 and R.228-12 of the French Commercial Code and Article 6 of Decree No. 48-1683 of October 30, 1948 fixing certain characteristics of securities.

About Dolfines: www.dolfines.com

Founded in 2000, DOLFINES is an independent specialist in engineering and services in the renewable and conventional energy industry. Faced with the challenges of decarbonizing the energy sector and capitalizing on its strong expertise, DOLFINES wants to play a key role in this energy transition by designing and providing innovative services and solutions for the exploitation of renewable energy sources onshore and offshore, above and below sea level. Respecting the highest standards of quality and safety, DOLFINES is labelled an innovative company certified ISO 9001 for its technical assistance, auditing, inspection and engineering activities.

Euronext Growth TM

DOLFINES is listed on Euronext GrowthTM - ISIN Code: FR001400SP13- Mnemonic Code: ALDOL

DOLFINES is eligible to PEA-PME

Contacts: Delphine Bardelet Guejo, CFO - delphine.bardelet@dolfines.com

Montigny Le Bretonneux, November 6, 2024

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Regulatory News:

The Boards of Directors of Inmobiliaria Colonial, and its 98.24%-owned subsidiary Societe Fonciere Lyonnaise (Paris:FLY), have decided to examine in detail a proposal to merge SFL into Colonial.

The potential merger would be part of the ongoing strategy to simplify the Group's structure, one of the pivotal stages of which was Colonial's public exchange offer in August 2021. It would strengthen further cohesion between SFL and Colonial, which has been SFL's majority shareholder since 2004. For over twenty years, the two companies have shared the deeply held belief that the key to creating long-term value lies in developing prime urban assets and building a unique mixed-use portfolio in Paris, Madrid and Barcelona.

The potential transaction would consist of merging Societe Fonciere Lyonnaise into Inmobiliaria Colonial and exchanging all SFL shares tendered for newly-issued Inmobiliaria Colonial shares. The exchange ratio would be determined based on a multi-criteria valuation and would be subject to the opinion of the merger auditor.

If it proceeds, it is probable that the merger agreement between Colonial and SFL would be signed in the first quarter of 2025, after consulting employee representative bodies about the project, with completion of the merger being subject to the usual conditions precedent.

About SFL

A benchmark player in the prime segment of the Parisian commercial real estate market, Societe Fonciere Lyonnaise stands out for the quality of its property portfolio, which is valued at 7.4 billion and is focused on the Central Business District of Paris (cloud.paris, Edouard VII, Washington Plaza, etc.), and for the quality of its client portfolio, which is composed of prestigious companies. As France's oldest property company, SFL demonstrates year after year an unwavering commitment to its strategy focused on creating a high value in use for users and, ultimately, substantial appraisal values for its properties. With its sights firmly set on the future, SFL is committed to sustainable real estate with the aim of building the city of tomorrow and helping to reduce carbon emissions in its sector.

Stock market: Euronext Paris Compartment A Euronext Paris ISIN FR0000033409 Bloomberg: FLY FP Reuters: FLYP PA

S&P rating: BBB+ stable outlook

About Inmobiliaria Colonial

Inmobiliaria Colonial is the leading platform in the prime commercial Real Estate market in Europe, present in the main business areas of Barcelona, Madrid and Paris with a unique commercial real estate portfolio totalling more than 1 million sqm and a market value of more than 11.3billion. The Group has a long-term focused dedicated strategy on value creation through a top-quality client portfolio and asset repositioning. Regarding the future, the Colonial Group will continue to lead the urban transformation of the city centres in the European market, recognized by its experience and professionalism, its strength and profitability, providing excellent sustainable Real Estate solutions tailored to the needs of customers.

BME Madrid ISIN ES0139140174 Bloomberg: COL:SM Reuters: COL.MC

S&P rating: BBB+ stable outlook

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106836551/en/

Contacts:

SFL Thomas Fareng T +33 (0)1 42 97 27 00 t.fareng@fonciere-lyonnaise.com

www.fonciere-lyonnaise.com
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Oilogix, a Canadian provider of downhole drilling tools and digital solutions, is excited to announce its official launch, extending essential services to the oil and gas industry throughout British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. With a strong focus on high-quality tools and technology, Oilogix is poised to enhance operational efficiency in Canada's energy sector, offering tools and a mobile platform that simplifies resource management for industry operators.





The development of the mobile app represents Oilogix's commitment to combining durable, reliable equipment with innovative technology to improve efficiency.



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Oilogix supplies an extensive line of downhole drilling tools, including hydraulic jars and reamers, that are critical for the success of complex drilling projects. Additionally, Oilogix is set to release a mobile app that will streamline the rental and management of these resources, enabling operators to access online quotes, real-time tool availability, and purchase orders from any location. This platform is designed to meet the industry's need for rapid, accessible, and reliable tool management, helping to reduce downtime and increase productivity.

"Oilogix was founded to address the growing need for high-quality, accessible downhole tools backed by digital solutions," said Rhys Boulanger, Founder and CEO of Oilogix. "Our mobile app will allow companies to manage their equipment needs seamlessly, giving them more control over resources and enabling them to focus on critical operations."

The development of the mobile app represents Oilogix's commitment to combining durable, reliable equipment with innovative technology to improve efficiency. This approach aligns with a larger industry trend toward incorporating digital solutions that streamline processes, reduce resource waste, and improve project outcomes.

With its initial service area targeting key drilling regions across Western Canada, Oilogix aims to support operators by ensuring efficient access to necessary tools and resources. The company's digital and equipment solutions are geared toward the evolving needs of Canada's energy sector, promoting sustainability and operational excellence.

About Oilogix:

Oilogix is a Canadian-owned company specializing in downhole drilling tools and technology solutions for the oil and gas industry. Serving British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, Oilogix is dedicated to enhancing operational efficiency and resource management in Canada's energy sector.

Media Contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229008

SOURCE: GetFeatured
Kolkata, India--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Dedicated VA is proudly participating in The Business Show, which will be hosted in London on 13 & 14 November 2024. This year, the company is all set to enter the show to present the exclusive benefits of having virtual assistants. To mark the way, it announced to offer one-month complimentary VA services to all the attendees of this event.

Virtual assistants can work on any domain just like regular employees. They can perform all the important time-taking tasks remotely. The company is one of the leaders operating from India delivering virtual assistant services. At present, it's covering 200+ service vertices through its remote assistants model. They can work in any domain at any time zone, according to business needs.

Joydeep Singha (Founder) - Dedicated VA

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Mr. Joydeep Singha, the spokesperson of Dedicated VA, described the need for virtual assistants at present as, "increasing labor costs are alarming and small businesses are the most suffering because of this. We assign skilled virtual assistants, for remotely handling tasks, to businesses on a flexible pay range."

Dedicated VA prioritizes data security to the next level. As their trained virtual assistants directly work under the same roof, they implemented a business-grade security system to secure data. Additionally, they maintain data backup, use encrypted credentials, and provide endpoint management.

Business owners who are joining this event will have many insights to get from this virtual assistant service model. This India-based outsourcing company is fully prepared to meet entrepreneurs and business professionals at the Business Show to demonstrate its VA model further.

For more details, please click https://www.dedicatedva.com

About Dedicated VA

Dedicated VA, located in India, provides commitment-free virtual assistant services, across the globe via its flexible outsourcing model. It offers no downtime facilities to assign skilled virtual assistant professionals to businesses in any industry. The company helps businesses minimize labor costs by offering them dedicated virtual assistants, who can easily replace in-house employees. The company will be present at stall number B-2000 at the Business Show London on 13 and 14 November 2024 to elaborate on its VA model further.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229047

SOURCE: United Press
Renowned neurodiversity expert, cognitive scientist, bestselling author and social entrepreneur celebrated for her global impact on Neurodiversity Inclusion

CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Autism Community Ventures ("ACV"), a public benefit corporation with a global network of partner organizations for the Neurodiversity + Opportunity Drives Innovation initiative, is pleased to announce that its founder Dr. Maureen Dunne was honored by the Golden Apple Foundation with the 2024 Impact Award.





Dr. Maureen Dunne, Author of the National Bestseller, The Neurodiversity Edge





Dr. Dunne, a champion for neurodiversity inclusion efforts for decades, is the author of the national bestseller and critically acclaimed book, The Neurodiversity Edge. The book made the USA Today bestselling booklist, was recently named a finalist for the getAbstract International Book Award for Business Impact and has made a significant impact on leaders in multiple sectors, including education, business, and public policy.

A cognitive and learning scientist who earned her doctorate from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, she approaches her work from the perspective of both a trained professional and one who has lived the experience. Her work has been featured in prestigious outlets such as Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Harper's Bazaar, MIT Sloan Management Review, Fast Company, Inside Higher Ed, Forbes, Bloomberg, and Big Think, among many others.

According to the Golden Apple Foundation website, the Impact Award honors a person or organization that has positively and significantly impacted the lives of students. Award criteria include demonstrating fearless leadership in the face of adversity, delivering an aspirational vision for the future and strategies to achieve it, facilitating gatherings of leaders in education, business, philanthropy, and technology to improve the education experiences of students, inspiring entrepreneurial groups to improve student outcomes, demonstrating data-driven decision making while increasing innovation, consistently using sound, unwavering, ethical judgment, and wholly dedicating one's life to better outcomes for all students.

The annual signature award event took place at the Four Seasons in Chicago on October 28.

Contact Information

Rebecca Proulx

Fortier Public Relations

rebecca@fortierpr.com

SOURCE: Autism Community Ventures

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - OpenCart, a leading open-source e-commerce platform, has announced a new partnership with Truly Legit, a provider of trust-enhancing tools for online businesses. The integration of Truly Legit's verification badges into OpenCart offers e-commerce merchants an effective solution designed to build consumer confidence and improve conversion rates.





OpenCart & Truly Legit Announce Their Partnership



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Building Trust to Improve E-Commerce Performance

As e-commerce businesses increasingly look for ways to strengthen their online presence, trust signals have become an essential component of the customer journey. Through this new integration, OpenCart users can now incorporate Truly Legit's verification badges into their stores with a click of a button, helping to establish credibility and improve conversion rates.

Verification badges are widely recognized as powerful tools that can influence consumer behavior, leading to increased trust during the purchase process. By offering this integration, OpenCart aims to help businesses build customer confidence, reduce cart abandonment, and improve conversion rates.

Key Benefits of the OpenCart and Truly Legit Integration:

Visible Trust Signals: Truly Legit's verification badges provide a clear indicator of a business's legitimacy, helping OpenCart store owners prosper in a competitive landscape.

Simple Implementation: OpenCart users can easily integrate Truly Legit's badges into their websites without requiring technical expertise, making it a straightforward solution for businesses of all sizes.

No Monthly Fees: OpenCart remains a free, open-source platform, enabling entrepreneurs to build and manage their online stores without the burden of gouging subscription costs.

Customization and Flexibility: OpenCart's open-source framework allows users to customize their stores extensively, offering the flexibility to tailor each store to their unique needs and preferences.

A Timely Solution for E-Commerce Growth

In today's highly competitive e-commerce landscape, establishing trust with potential customers is more important than ever. The integration of Truly Legit's verification badges within OpenCart helps address this challenge by offering a simple, effective way to enhance shopper confidence and potentially drive higher sales.

"The ability to easily add trust signals to an online store can make a significant impact on customer perception and purchasing behavior," said Ben Ajenoui, Marketing Director at OpenCart. "Our collaboration with Truly Legit helps merchants quickly implement features that can increase confidence, improve conversions, and enhance customer loyalty."

About OpenCart:

OpenCart is famously known for its free website building platform that enables businesses to build and manage online stores. Known for its flexibility, scalability, and extensive customization options, OpenCart empowers entrepreneurs and small businesses to create highly converting e-commerce websites within 5-minutes.

About Truly Legit:

Truly Legit is a provider of trust-building solutions for online businesses. Their verification badges are designed to help increase customer confidence and improve e-commerce conversions. Trusted by online stores globally, Truly Legit's solutions are used by businesses of all sizes to enhance their credibility and drive sales.

For more information, visit OpenCart's blog here: Opencart.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229057

SOURCE: TrulyLegit Inc.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Champion Bear Resources Ltd. (TSXV: CBA) ("Champion Bear" or the "Company") announces that the shareholders of the Company approved the following matters at its Annual General Meeting held on October 24, 2024 (the "Meeting"), as follows:

(i) setting the number of directors at five (5);

(ii) the election of Richard Kantor, John Squarek, James Kalman, and Robert Dunstan as directors of the Company for the ensuing year;

(ii) the appointment of Kenway Mack Slusarchuk Stewart LLO as Auditor for the Company for the ensuing year

(iv) re-approval of the company's Stock Option Plan

(v) approval by the majority of the dis-interested parties of the special resolution for the Company Shares for Debt Plan.

David Haigh wase not elected as director of the Company as he received less than majority support at the Meeting. Richar Kantor, Chair of the Board, commented, "The Board very much thanks David Haigh for his many contributions as a director over the last 27 years, and we wish him well in future endeavours. Given the skill sets of the remaining board members and the Company's current size, the Board does not feel it necessary to fill the remaining director vacancies at this time but may do so in the next few months."

About Champion Bear

Champion Bear is a mineral exploration company focused exclusively on the historically prospective regions of Ontario. The Company's primary targets are platinum group metals, precious metals, and polymetallic base metals deposits. Champion Bear's aim is to create shareholder value through selective property acquisition followed by focused exploration emphasizing drilling. The Company has assembled a large land position in the Dryden and Sudbury areas, totaling over 16,000 hectares. Additional information about Champion Bear can be found on the Company's website at www.championbear.com and on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.com.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future plans, activities, events, or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur are forward-looking information, including statements regarding the potential development of resources and drilling plans which may or may not occur. Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the market price of the Company's securities, metal prices, exchange rates, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, and regulations and other matters. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229099

SOURCE: Champion Bear Resources Ltd.
Huizhou, China--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - BSL Battery - Industrial announced today that it has joined the ECOTEC (Micropower) Charger Compatibility List. This program qualifies California customers for financing under California Edison's "Charge Ready to Transport" program when their fleets transition to lithium-ion electric forklift infrastructure. As an ECOTEC (Micropower) partner, BSL Battery - Industrial can showcase its integration with ECOTEC (Micropower) in a curated network of tested and compatible battery and charging solutions.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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These are the main criteria for program eligibility, applicants must:

be within the SCE service territory;

purchase or lease two or more electric forklifts within 18 months of signing the agreement;

procure, own, install, and operate the charging stations for 10 years;

the easement will be required.

These are the zero-emission voucher incentive benchmarks for clean off-road equipment projects:

Forklift lbs. Lift Cap Funding 8,001 - 12,000 $15,000 12,001 - 20,000 $20,000 20,001 - 33,000 $50,000 >33,000 $150,000

This program will increase BSLBATT's visibility among leading OEMs seeking warehouse lithium solutions that offer electric forklift products with best-in-class performance, extended battery life and maximum uptime. Through this program, OEMs can view optimized BSLBATT battery algorithms with ECOTEC (Micropower), such as the one developed for the forklift lithium battery product shown below with BSLBATT installed in a Yale forklift.





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Haley Ning, Director of Marketing Center at BSL Battery - Industrial, said, "We are delighted to be included in the ECOTEC (Micropower) charger compatibility list. We appreciate the help provided by ECOTEC (Micropower) engineers. We work with many well-known companies that we admire and hope that the cooperation with ECOTEC (Micropower) chargers will take our relationship with OEMs to the next level."

About BSL Battery - Industrial

Founded in 2012, BSLBATT is an innovative high-tech company that designs and manufactures smart lithium-ion batteries (up to 50% more efficient than similar products on the market) for industrial forklifts used in the warehousing and distribution industry. The company's mission is to lead customers to clean, safe and innovative lithium technology platforms. BSLBATT offers a range of high-quality lithium-ion battery packs with UL2580, IEC, CE and UN38.3 certifications, including proprietary Battery Management System (BMS) and cloud platform technologies, providing customers with better performance, lower cost of ownership and greener solutions than traditional lead-acid and propane batteries in many usage scenarios. Lithium-ion battery packs reduce CO2 emissions and help improve fleet sustainability and ESG metrics.

About Ecotec Chargers

Ecotec supplies industrial battery chargers and other power conversion equipment to companies throughout North America. The company imports battery charging equipment from Sweden, Finland, and Italy, then completes the equipment to customer specifications at its Troy, Ohio facility.

Ecotec provides world-class, energy-efficient battery charging solutions for power equipment used in the material handling industry. From forklifts to floor cleaning equipment, and everything in between.

Ecotec chargers are of the highest quality, and feature sets are among the best in the industry. What really sets the company apart is fast, on-time delivery, technical support, and parts availability. The company is focused on fast, on-time delivery and accurate order fulfillment.

Founded in 2012, Ecotec is a subsidiary of Micropower and a member of the Micropower Group.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/228923

SOURCE: 500Newswire, LLC
Management to Host Conference Call Today at 5 p.m. ET

Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE:KFS) ("Kingsway" or the "Company") today announced its operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Third Quarter 2024 Consolidated Financial Highlights

Consolidated revenue increased 9.5% to $27.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $24.8 million in the prior year period Extended Warranty revenue increased 3.4% to $17.8 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $17.3 million in the third quarter of 2023 Kingsway Search Xcelerator ("KSX") revenue increased by 23.3% to $9.3 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $7.5 million in the third quarter of 2023

Consolidated net loss was $2.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of $0.7 million in the prior year period.

Twelve month run-rate adjusted EBITDA for the operating companies of $18.5 million to $19.5 million (which includes the results of Image Solutions); run-rate is intended to capture the 12-month earnings of what the company currently owns or has recently acquired and is not intended to be forward-looking guidance

Adjusted consolidated EBITDA increased 27.8% to $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $2.3 million in the prior year period Extended Warranty adjusted EBITDA was $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $2.1 million in the year ago period. KSX adjusted EBITDA was $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2024 (which excludes the results of Image Solutions) compared to $1.1 million in the year ago period. The prior year period excludes DDI and has only a partial month of SPI.



Recent Business Highlights

Purchased Image Solutions LLC ("Image Solutions"), an information technology managed services provider (IT MSP) for $19.5 million, plus transaction expenses and a working capital adjustment, in an all-cash transaction.

Appointed Rob Casper as the newest Operator-in-Residence ("OIR") in the Company's KSX platform.

Completed the sale of VA Layfette subsidiary, netting cash proceeds of $1.1 million

John T. Fitzgerald, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kingsway, said, "Our acquisition pipeline remains healthy and active. In the third quarter, we completed the purchase of Image Solutions, an attractive information technology services business with compelling economics and an established presence in a growing market. We remain disciplined in our pursuit of acquisition targets while we continue to see great interest from exceedingly talented entrepreneurs in joining our KSX platform. With each new acquisition we are building a robust portfolio of great businesses that are delivering results and are poised for growth and additional upside.

"For the third quarter, our consolidated revenues increased nearly 10% year-over-year. There are emerging signs of strength in our Extended Warranty segment businesses, and within KSX, solid execution is driving solid operational performance as industry-specific headwinds begin to abate."

Balance Sheet Highlights

Year-to-date through November 1, 2024, repurchased 312,850 shares of common stock at a cost of $2.5 million under its securities repurchase program.

Purchased the remaining 10% interest in IWS for $2.5 million; the Company now owns 100% of IWS.

The Company had total net debt of $52.0 million as of September 30, 2024, compared with $35.3 million as of December 31, 2023.

Issued 330,000 shares of convertible preferred stock for proceeds of $8.25 million, which was used in the purchase of Image Solutions.

Conference Call and Webcast

Management will host a conference call at 5 p.m. Eastern Time today to discuss the results and host a live Q&A session. Additionally, investors may also submit questions via email to: James@HaydenIR.com.

Conference Call Information

Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Time: 5 p.m. Eastern Time

Toll Free: 888-506-0062; Code: 427731

International: 973-528-0011; Code: 427731

Live Webcast Link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2928/51576

Conference Call Replay Information

Toll Free: 877-481-4010

International: 919-882-2331

Replay Passcode: 51576

Replay Webcast Link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2928/51576

About the Company

Kingsway (kingsway-financial.com) is a holding company that owns or controls subsidiaries primarily in the extended warranty and business services industries. The common shares of Kingsway are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "KFS."

The company serves the extended warranty industry through its operating subsidiaries:

Auto Warranty

IWS (iwsgroup.com)

Penn Warranty (pennwarranty.com)

Preferred Warranties (preferredwarranties.com)

HVAC/Facility Warranty

Trinity Warranty Solutions (trinitywarranty.com)

The company serves the business services industry through its operating subsidiaries:

B2B Services

Ravix Group (ravixgroup.com), CSuite Financial (Csuitefinancialpartners.com)

Image Solutions (istechology.com)

Healthcare Services

Digital Diagnostic Imaging (ddimagingusa.com)

Secure Nursing Services (securenursing.com)

Vertical Market Software

Systems Products International (spisoftware.com)

Non U.S. GAAP Financial Measure

Management believes that non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, provides useful information about the Company's operating results and enhances the overall ability to assess the Company's financial performance. Management uses non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, together with other measures of performance under GAAP, to compare the relative performance of operations in planning, budgeting and reviewing the performance of its business. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA allows investors to make a more meaningful comparison between the Company's core business operating results over different periods of time. Management believes that non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, when viewed with the Company's results under GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations, provides useful information about the Company's business without regard to potential distortions. By eliminating potential differences in results of operations between periods caused by the factors listed in the attached schedules, Management believes that non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA can provide useful additional basis for comparing the current performance of the underlying operations being evaluated. Investors should consider this non-GAAP measure in addition to, not as a substitute for or as superior to, financial reporting measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP to understand the Company's performance taking into account all relevant factors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. Words such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "seeks" and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements; however, the absence of any such words does not mean that a statement is a not a forward-looking statement. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect Kingsway management's current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Additional Information

Additional information about Kingsway, including a copy of its Annual Reports can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov, on the Canadian Securities Administrators' website at www.sedar.com, or through the Company's website at www.kingsway-financial.com.

For Media Inquiries:

Hayden IR

James Carbonara

(646) 755-7412

james@haydenir.com For Company Inquiries:

Kingsway Financial Services Inc.

Kent Hansen, CFO

(312) 766-2163

khansen@kingsway-financial.com

Kingsway Financial Services Inc.

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA

(in thousands)

(UNAUDITED)

Twelve Months Ended For the Three Months Ended 9/30/2024 9/30/2024 6/30/2024 3/31/2024 12/31/2023 GAAP Net Income (Loss) $ (8,310 ) $ (2,311 ) $ (2,186 ) $ (2,328 ) $ (1,485 ) Non-GAAP Adjustments: Discontinued operations 2,058 135 (167 ) 213 1,877 Changes in fair value; realized gains/losses (1) 512 (176 ) 60 411 217 Employee related expenses (2) 2,624 990 412 467 755 Other items (3) 2,688 956 590 61 1,081 Depreciation, amortization, tax and interest expense 10,459 3,343 3,659 3,280 177 Total Non-GAAP Adjustments 18.341 5,248 4,554 4,432 4,107 Non-GAAP Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA $ 10,031 $ 2,937 $ 2,368 $ 2,104 $ 2,622

Twelve Months Ended For the Three Months Ended 9/30/2023 9/30/2023 6/30/2023 3/31/2023 12/31/2022 GAAP Net Income (Loss) $ 8,158 $ (675 ) $ (1,667 ) $ 27,839 $ (17,339 ) Non-GAAP Adjustments: Discontinued operations 15,339 (122 ) (110 ) (107 ) 15,678 Changes in fair value; realized gains/losses (1) (2,155 ) 174 (1,225 ) 145 (1,249 ) Employee related expenses (2) 1,900 479 368 383 670 Other items (3) 4,090 334 1,633 591 1,532 Gain on extinguishment of debt (4) (31,616 ) - - (31,616 ) - Gain on sale of PWSC (5) (342 ) (342 ) - - - Depreciation, amortization, tax and interest expense 14,447 2,450 2,780 5,164 4,053 Total Non-GAAP Adjustments 1,663 2,973 3,446 (25,440 ) 20,684 Non-GAAP Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA $ 9,821 $ 2,298 $ 1,779 $ 2,399 $ 3,345

(1) Includes realized and unrealized gains and losses on non-core investments; change in the fair value of subordinated debt (net of the portion of the change attributable to instrument-specific credit risk); unrealized gain on the change in fair value of the trust preferred security options; and change in the fair value of the Ravix earn-out (changes in fair value recorded as other income or expense). (2) Employee related expenses includes charges relating to severance and consulting agreements pertaining to former key employees; non-cash expense arising from the grant and modification of stock-based awards to employees; and costs associated with employees assisting during a transition period and are not expected to be replaced once transition period has ended (approximately one year from acquisition date). (3) Other items include: legal expenses associated with the Company's defense against significant litigation matters; acquisition and disposition-related expenses; expense relating to the settlement of all remaining Amigo claims; and other non-recurring items. (4) Gain on extinguishment of debt consists of a $31.6 million gain related to the repurchase of TruPs debt having a principal amount of $75.5 million and results from removing the fair value of the debt ($56.1 million), deferred interest payable ($23.0 million) and accumulated other comprehensive income ($27.2 million) liabilities; the trust preferred debt repurchase options ($17.7 million) and accrued income receivable ($0.6 million) assets. See Note 11 "Debt," to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, for further discussion. (5) Gain on sale of PWSC, net of transaction expenses that are included in consolidated operating expenses, as well as income taxes associated with the sale.

Kingsway Financial Services Inc.

Reconciliation of Extended Warranty Segment Operating Income to

Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA and Pro Forma Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA

(in thousands)

(UNAUDITED)

Twelve Months Ended For the Three Months Ended 9/30/2024 9/30/2024 6/30/2024 3/31/2024 12/31/2023 GAAP Operating Income for Extended Warranty segment $ 6,405 $ 1,704 $ 1,244 $ 1,076 $ 2,381 Non-GAAP Adjustments: Investment income (1) 1,254 327 315 311 301 Gain (loss) on sale of investments (2) 28 - 6 9 13 Depreciation 211 41 56 52 62 Total Non-GAAP Adjustments 1,493 368 377 372 376 Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for Extended Warranty segment $ 7,898 $ 2,072 $ 1,621 $ 1,448 $ 2,757

Twelve Months Ended For the Three Months Ended 9/30/2023 9/30/2023 6/30/2023 3/31/2023 12/31/2022 GAAP Operating Income for Extended Warranty segment $ 7,361 $ 1,778 $ 1,392 $ 1,432 $ 2,759 Non-GAAP Adjustments: Investment income (1) 953 273 256 231 193 Gain (loss) on sale of investments (2) 101 14 12 98 (23 ) Depreciation 244 57 62 64 61 Total Non-GAAP Adjustments 1,298 344 330 393 231 Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for Extended Warranty segment $ 8,659 $ 2,122 $ 1,722 $ 1,825 $ 2,990

(1) Investment income arising as part of Extended Warranty segment's minimum holding requirements. (2) Realized Gains (losses) resulting from investments either held in trust as part of Extended Warranty segment's minimum holding requirements or from the deployment of excess cash.

Kingsway Financial Services Inc.

Reconciliation of KSX Segment Operating Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA

(in thousands)

(UNAUDITED)

Twelve Months Ended For the Three Months Ended 9/30/2024 9/30/2024 6/30/2024 3/31/2024 12/31/2023 GAAP Operating Income for KSX segment $ 4,984 $ 1,144 $ 1,441 $ 1,343 $ 1,056 Non-GAAP Adjustments: Employee costs (1) 525 120 139 138 128 Investment income (2) 117 27 68 10 12 Depreciation (3) 290 22 180 64 24 Total Non-GAAP Adjustments 932 169 387 212 164 Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for KSX segment $ 5,916 $ 1,313 $ 1,828 $ 1,555 $ 1,220

Twelve Months Ended For the Three Months Ended 9/30/2023 9/30/2023 6/30/2023 3/31/2023 12/31/2022 GAAP Operating Income for KSX segment $ 5,322 $ 1,003 $ 1,616 $ 1,577 $ 1,126 Non-GAAP Adjustments: Employee costs (1) 322 87 78 87 70 Investment income (2) 43 15 17 11 - Total Non-GAAP Adjustments 365 102 95 98 70 Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for KSX segment $ 5,687 $ 1,105 $ 1,711 $ 1,675 $ 1,196

(1) Costs associated with employees assisting during a transition period and are not expected to be replaced once transition period has ended (approximately one year from acquisition date). (2) Investment income from interest on client deposits (Ravix, CSuite), as well as imputed interest on long-term software contracts (SPI) (3) The June 30, 2024 quarter includes a one-time catch-up for depreciation associated with the finalization of the DDI purchase accounting

SOURCE: Kingsway Financial Services Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Goldstorm Metals Corp. (TSXV: GSTM) (FSE: B2U) ("Goldstorm" or "the Company") is pleased to report the results from seven drill holes of the 2024 diamond drill exploration program (the "Program") completed on its 100% owned Electrum gold - silver property (the "Property"), located within the Golden Triangle region of British Columbia, Canada.

The Property is located immediately north of Scottie Resources' claims, and along a well-defined trend of former gold-silver producers that includes Ascot's Premier Mine to the south. The project area is road accessible from Stewart, BC. The Program at Electrum totaled 2,233 meters (m) in seven drill holes that tested epithermal veins hosting precious and base-metal mineralization.





Electrum Property - Regional Location Map



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Ken Konkin P. Geo., President and CEO comments; "We are extremely pleased to have safely completed our second drilling program at Electrum. We completed Phase 1 drilling at the Dome Target and then continued with Phase 2 drilling on the newly discovery LP Zone where we identified visible native gold at surface. The objective of the Dome drill targeting was to expand known stockwork mineralization that occurs throughout a topographically distinct dome-shaped knob. During our initial 2023 drill campaign, we discovered significant gold (Au) and silver (Ag) mineralization related to quartz stockwork that may be related to intrusive activity. Drill hole EL-24-17 identified a 48-meter intercept of brecciated volcanic rocks that contained pyrite-filled micro-fractures associated with quartz carbonate veinlets that returned 0.47 g/t Au with 5.00 g/t Ag over the 48m interval. This intercept suggests that the system may be centered further to the southwest of the Dome target. Our best drill hole results clearly came from the LP Zone. Our reconnaissance crews discovered fine-grained visible gold associated with narrow shear-hosted quartz-pyrite veins and surficial stockwork system. We encountered numerous elevated gold grades throughout the holes but the best gold value obtained was from EL-24-15, which yielded 7.78 g/t Au and 3.54 g/t Ag over 1.5 meters from a quartz-pyrite vein. We also encountered an independent high-grade silver-dominant polymetallic vein that returned 1,766 g/t Ag and 1.39 g/t Au over 0.45 meters in drill hole EL-24-16. This is consistent with the geological evidence of a northern trending high-grade silver system associated with lead-zinc sulphide mineralization with minor gold values. This polymetallic system appears to be intertwined with a different hydrothermal pulse of gold-silver mineralization along the same northern trend. Reconnaissance crews discovered strong gold-silver phases adjacent to strong silver-lead-zinc mineralization northwards from Electrum, throughout the Fairweather and Delta Claims, on the eastern part of the 100% owned Crown Claim Group. These precious and base-metal pulses may be explained as peripheral events to an intrusive-related (porphyry-style?) crystalline belt of rocks located immediately to the west, that may trend southwards from the Treaty Creek and KSM Deposits. Crews have also encountered significant copper-gold-silver mineralization on the eastern parts of the Crown Claim Group along the eastern flank of the Orion Spine; these are significant exploration targets that warrant further exploration."

Drill Hole Results

Click to view plan map and cross sections or view images at the end of this release.

Dome Target, Section A:

EL-24-17: The hole intersected 48.00 m of 0.47 g/t Au, 5.00 g/t Ag hosted in fine-grained volcanic rocks containing intervals of dense fracture and breccia textures. Millimeter scale fractures are sealed with fine-grained anhedral pyrite. These textures occur alongside quartz carbonate veining throughout the interval.

LP Zone, Section B:

EL-24-14: Intersected 4.60 m of 0.50 g/t Au and 6.0 g/t Ag including 0.80 m of 1.48 g/t Au and 9.78 g/t Ag. This interval occurs as a moderate hydrothermal breccia hosting semi-massive pyrite in a fine-grained volcanic. Further down the hole at 210.00 m a separate interval of 2.5 m of 0.55 g/t Au and 0.56 g/t Ag was intersected in an epithermal vein hosted in a porphyritic intrusive unit.

EL-24-16: Intersected 1.50 m of 1.02 g/t Au and 94.95 g/t Ag at 39.0 m down hole, observed as a hydrothermal breccia interval hosting galena and semi-massive pyrite. Deeper in the hole at 172.85 m down hole, 0.45 m of 1.39 g/t Au 1,766.00 g/t Ag was intercepted in a polymetallic quartz vein with 2-3% coarse-grained galena + sphalerite (0.63% Pb and 1.08% Zn) in a fine-grained intermediate volcanic host.

Section C:

EL-24-13: The top of hole intersected 5.00 m of 0.53 g/t Au and 3.65 g/t Ag. This interval was expressed as a dense vein zone, hosted in volcanics, which includes a background crackle texture sealed with fine-grained anhedral pyrite. Within the interval, 1.50 m of 1.04 g/t Au and 7.31 g/t Ag occurred at 7.00 m downhole. In separate intervals, 4.50 m of 0.52 g/t Au and 4.27 g/t Ag was intercepted at 83.50 m associated with stockwork veining in fine grained volcanics; and 1.00 m of 1.13 g/t Au and 10.78 g/t Ag at 136.00 m was intercepted in epithermal veins mineralized with sphalerite and galena hosted in a porphyritic intrusive.

EL-24-15: Intersected 6.00 m of 0.65 g/t Au and 5.00 g/t Ag with 1.78% Zn beginning at 12 m down hole. This interval was observed with minor stockwork and vuggy veining ending in a volcanic breccia with a sphalerite cement. In separate intervals, 1.00 m of 2.55 g/t Au and 187.00 g/t Ag with 0.24% Pb and 0.16% Zn was intercepted at 34.85 m associated with discrete polymetallic epithermal veins; and 1.50 m of 7.78 g/t Au and 3.54 g/t Ag at 129.00 m also related to epithermal veining.

Table 1: Drilling Results for the Electrum Property in Press Release November 6, 2024

Hole ID Zone From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) EL-23-02 EXT Dome 451.00 461.10 10.10 0.48 2.03



472.50 484.50 12.00 0.54 2.20 Including

472.50 474.00 1.50 2.50 3.89 Including

481.50 483.00 1.50 0.50 1.79



520.50 537.00 16.50 0.48 4.37 Including

521.95 523.00 1.05 1.67 4.84 Including

534.00 535.50 1.50 1.21 3.49 EL-24-12 Dome 171.50 203.00 31.50 0.43 3.71 Including

183.50 192.50 9.00 0.59 7.29



401.00 402.50 1.50 2.86 8.70



443.00 444.50 1.50 1.63 28.02 EL-24-13 LP 5.00 10.00 5.00 0.53 3.65 Including

7.00 8.50 1.50 1.04 7.31



83.50 88.00 4.50 0.52 4.27



136.00 137.00 1.00 1.13 10.78 EL-24-14 LP 50.20 54.80 4.60 0.50 6.00 Including

50.20 51.00 0.80 1.48 9.78



210.00 212.50 2.50 0.55 0.56 EL-24-15 LP 12.00 18.00 6.00 0.65 5.00 Including

16.00 16.70 0.70 1.57 3.82



34.85 35.85 1.00 2.55 187.00



129.00 130.50 1.50 7.78 3.54 EL-24-16 LP 39.00 40.50 1.50 1.02 94.95



172.85 173.30 0.45 1.39 1,766.00 EL-24-17 Dome 99.00 147.00 48.00 0.47 5.00 Including

109.50 110.65 1.15 1.14 3.29 Including

127.50 129.00 1.50 1.26 7.61



173.50 178.50 5.00 0.49 1.48

All assay values are uncut and intervals reflect drilled intercept lengths.

HQ diameter core samples were sawn in half and typically sampled at standard 1.5 m intervals.

True widths have not been determined as the mineralized body remains open in all directions. Further drilling is required to determine the mineralized body orientation and true widths.

Table 2: Drill data for holes in Press Release November 6, 2024

Hole ID Zone UTM E NAD 83 UTM N NAD 83 Elevation (m) Azi (o) Dip (o) Depth (m) EL-23-02 EXT Dome 433760 6237852 798 50 -80 303 EL-24-12 Dome 433760 6237852 798 51 -61 518 EL-24-13 LP 433476 6238003 897 50 -45 301 EL-24-14 LP 433475 6238002 898 50 -60 238 EL-24-15 LP 433474 6238004 897 35 -53 183 EL-24-16 LP 433476 6238002 897 70 -53 240 EL-24-17 Dome 433693 6237761 770 40 -45 450

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person for this news release for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 is the Company's President and CEO, Ken Konkin, P.Geo. He has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release.

QA/QC

Diamond drill core samples were prepared at MSA Labs' Preparation Laboratory in Terrace, BC and assayed at MSA Labs' Geochemical Laboratory in Langley, BC. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the submission of blanks, certified standards and duplicate samples inserted at regular intervals into the sample stream by Goldstorm Metals personnel. MSA Laboratories quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 17025 and ISO 9001. MSA Labs is independent of the Company.

About the Electrum Project

The Electrum Property is located directly between Newmont Corporation's Brucejack Mine, approximately 20 kilometers (km) to the north, and the past producing Silbak Premier mine, 20 km to the south.

Mineralization at Electrum is controlled by two major fault lines that locally host bonanza gold grades, along with broader stockwork zones, within a complex geological model. Similar to the nearby Brucejack Mine, gold and silver mineralization occurs as coarse electrum in several generations of quartz-carbonate veins and vein breccias hosted within a deformed volcanic-sedimentary sequence. Intermediate-to-low sulphidation gold and silver mineralization is present in many of the veins, accompanied by pyrite, sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite. Precious metal mineralized veins have been traced on surface over lengths of several tens of meters to more than a hundred meters, pinching and swelling along strike. Much of the work at Electrum to date has tested extensions of known epithermal veins that have returned several high silver and gold values from limited underground mining and trench exposures.

Drilling by previous operators encountered gold-silver mineralization at depths of more than 200 meters from surface with several holes intersecting relatively wide zones containing narrow quartz-sulfide stockwork veins that returned moderate precious metal values. These intercepts are located beneath surface exposures that were subsequently blasted, trenched and bulk sampled in an area referred to as the New Blast Zone in 2016 by Tudor Gold (2016 Assessment Report on the Electrum Property, Skeena M.D., BC.171029). Here, a 3.8 tonne bulk sample that was collected from a 5-meter-wide zone averaged 2.82 g/t gold, 539.0 g/t silver, 1.96 % lead and 1.97 % zinc. Localized veins, found within some of the wider drill intervals, contain electrum and silver sulfosalt minerals that have returned much higher silver and gold values over narrow widths.

In addition to high grade gold and silver mineralization targets, Electrum hosts untested geophysical anomalies at depth beneath the main vein zones, as well as an area at the south end of Electrum that shows evidence of potential porphyry-style mineralization.

About Goldstorm Metals

Goldstorm Metals Corp. is a precious and base metals exploration company with a large strategic land position in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, an area that hosts some of the largest and highest-grade gold deposits in the world. Goldstorm's flagship projects Crown and Electrum cover an area that totals approximately 16,469 hectares over 7 concessions, of which 6 are contiguous. The Crown Project is situated directly south of Seabridge Gold's KSM gold-copper deposits and Newcrest Gold's Brucejack/Valley of the Kings gold mine. Electrum, also located in the Golden Triangle of BC, is situated directly between Newmont Corporation's Brucejack Mine, approximately 20 kilometers to the north, and the past producing Silbak Premier mine, 20 kilometers to the south.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

GOLDSTORM METALS CORP.

"Ken Konkin"

Ken Konkin

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please visit the Company's website at https://goldstormmetals.com/ or contact:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance, including without limitation, the statement regarding the expectation geologists are expected to complete a compilation study this winter once all assay results are received. Such statement is forward-looking and contains forward-looking information.

Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by Goldstorm and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release, including that geologists will complete a compilation study this winter once all assay results are received.

These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Goldstorm to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary, include, without limitation that geologists will not complete a compilation study this winter or at all.

Although management of Goldstorm has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Goldstorm does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.





Electrum Project - Section Areas - Plan Map



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Electrum Project - Section A



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Electrum Project - Section B



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Electrum Project - Section C



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SOURCE: Goldstorm Metals Corp.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The research team from the University of California found that by turning male mosquitoes deaf, they could stop the mating process, which has major implications on the spread of insect-borne diseases.The mating process of the mosquitoes occur mid-air, where the male mosquito chases down a female mosquito by listening to its wingbeats.During the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the authors removed a single gene, called trpVA, which is used by male mosquitoes for hearing.'You could leave them together with the females for days, and they will not mate,' senior author Craig Montell, a neurobiology professor at the University of California Santa Barbara.The female mosquitoes are responsible for spreading diseases to people, and so by preventing mating process the breeding process will also be controlled.The researchers used a CRISPR gene editing technique to remove the gene.'If they can't hear the female wingbeat, they're not interested,' Montell said.The scientists expect the innovative method will help in controlling the mosquito population.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - TMX Group staff and their children closed the market to celebrate TMX's Take Our Kids to Work Day event on November 6, 2024.





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Take Our Kids to Work Day is a one-day national event where grade 9 students are able to learn more about what their guardians do for work. Students were given the opportunity to participate in various interactive activities, shadow their parent/student sponsor and ended the day by attending a market close ceremony. At TMX, we believe our students are among the future leaders of the organization. During this event, it was important for students to start thinking about their futures and their career aspirations. This event is a great opportunity to help with the career development of young Canadians and showcase TMX to the next generation as a powerful ecosystem of markets and tools designed to support the diverse needs and goals of global businesses and investors.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229110

SOURCE: Toronto Stock Exchange
TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mandalay Resources Corporation ("Mandalay" or the "Company") (TSX: MND) (OTCQB: MNDJF) is pleased to announce strong financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. The Company reported a robust 35% year-over-year increase in revenue to $55.3 million, along with meaningful improvements in net income and operating cash flow.

The Company's condensed and consolidated interim financial result for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, together with its Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the corresponding period, can be accessed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.mandalayresources.com. All currency references in this press release are in U.S. dollars except as otherwise indicated.

Third Quarter 2024 Highlights:

Strengthened Balance Sheet: Cash balance of $54.7 million as at September 30, 2024, with no debt;

Cash balance of $54.7 million as at September 30, 2024, with no debt; Cash Flow: Generated $20.6 million and $12.9 million in cash flow from operating activities and free cash flow 1 , respectively;

Generated $20.6 million and $12.9 million in cash flow from operating activities and free cash flow , respectively; Revenue Growth: Consolidated revenue up by 35% as compared to Q3 2023, at $55.3 million; Bjorkdal recorded its second highest quarterly revenue of $28.0 million; Costerfield generated $27.3 million in quarterly revenue;

Consolidated revenue up by 35% as compared to Q3 2023, at $55.3 million; Cost: Consolidated cash operating cost 1 of $1,322 and all-in sustaining cost 1 of $1,790 per ounce of saleable gold equivalent production; and

Consolidated cash operating cost of $1,322 and all-in sustaining cost of $1,790 per ounce of saleable gold equivalent production; and Profitability: Consolidated net income was $5.4 million ($0.06 or C$0.08 per share), compared to $4.1 million ($0.04 or C$0.06 per share) in Q3 2023.

Frazer Bourchier, President, and CEO commented:

"Mandalay's Q3 2024 results demonstrate our commitment to a disciplined financial strategy across both operations. This approach has enabled us to continue to generate cash flow and to further fortify our balance sheet. Q3 was always anticipated to be the lowest production quarter of the year, with Bjorkdal facing additional weather challenges and Costerfield experiencing grade variability. At Bjorkdal, will continue focusing on higher-margin ounces and operational efficiency, while Costerfield's mining schedule is set to shift back towards higher-grade areas in the last quarter of this year. Therefore, as we transition into Q4, we anticipate a return to first-half production run-rate levels, and still expect to achieve our full-year guidance of 90,000 to 100,000 ounces."

Hashim Ahmed, CFO commented:

"Revenue growth and free cash flow generation reflect our cost controls and prudent capital management while benefitting from high metal prices. As of the end of Q3 our cash balance was a healthy $54.7 million - more than doubling since December 2023 - and we have fully repaid the $20 million outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility, strengthening our liquidity and financial flexibility. This position supports Mandalay's pursuit of strategic growth opportunities while balancing operational investments.

"Our cash operating cost per ounce rose to $1,322 year-over-year, driven by higher processing expenses and temporarily lower production at both sites. These increased processing costs were primarily related to tailings and water management at Costerfield, and an increased percentage of lower grade surface stockpile throughput to maximize feed at Bjorkdal. Our all-in-sustaining cost also increased to $1,790 per ounce. We remain focused on implementing cost control measures in the coming quarters."

Mr. Bouchier concluded, "Our focus on execution and cost management underpins our broader growth objectives. We are committed to maximizing shareholder value through careful capital allocation, operational rigor, and enhancing our asset base to deliver sustainable, long-term returns for our stakeholders."

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Summary

The following table summarizes the Company's consolidated financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

($ thousands, except where indicated) Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 Revenue 55,289 40,907 173,854 122,756 Cost of sales 25,911 24,245 78,104 80,087 Adjusted EBITDA (1) 27,243 15,422 89,840 37,257 Adjusted net income (1) 10,557 3,654 39,511 943 Consolidated net income 5,352 4,068 27,097 5,146 Capital expenditure 9,004 10,018 30,940 32,889 Total assets 323,728 273,548 323,728 273,548 Total liabilities 96,242 91,669 96,242 91,669 Adjusted net income (loss) per share (1) 0.11 0.04 0.42 0.01 Consolidated net income per share 0.06 0.04 0.29 0.06

1. Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share are non-GAAP performance measures with no standard definition under IFRS. Refer to "Non-GAAP Performance Measures" at the end of this press release for further information.

In Q3 2024, Mandalay generated consolidated revenue of $55.3 million, 35% higher than $40.9 million in the third quarter of 2023. This was mainly due to higher average realized metal prices: $2,557 per ounce for gold and $25,821 per tonne for antimony in Q3 2024 compared to $1,993 per ounce for gold and $12,069 per tonne for antimony in Q3 2023.

Mandalay generated adjusted EBITDA of $27.2 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $15.4 million in the third quarter of 2023. The increase in adjusted EBITDA was mainly due to higher revenue in the current quarter. Adjusted net income was $10.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, which excludes a $5.2 million loss on financial instruments, compared to an adjusted net income of $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2023.

Consolidated net income was $5.4 million for the third quarter of 2024, versus $4.1 million in the third quarter of 2023. Mandalay ended the third quarter of 2024 with $54.7 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Third Quarter Operational Summary

The table below summarizes the Company's production, capital expenditures and operational unit costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:



Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 Costerfield







Gold produced (oz.) 8,218 8,377 31,221 23,041 Antimony produced (t) 252 395 1,015 1,456 Gold equivalent produced (oz.) 10,697 10,808 39,036 32,278 Cash operating cost (1) per oz. gold eq. produced ($) 1,174 975 911 942 All-in sustaining cost (1) per oz. gold eq. produced ($) 1,424 1,265 1,168 1,215 Capital development ($'000) 582 943 2,459 2,791 Property, plant and equipment purchases ($'000) 690 1,030 2,834 2,627 Capitalized exploration ($'000) 2,433 1,962 6,662 6,081 Bjorkdal







Gold produced (oz.) 9,626 11,224 32,595 30,590 Cash operating cost (1) per oz. gold produced ($) 1,487 1,189 1,356 1,375 All-in sustaining cost (1) per oz. gold produced ($) 1,967 1,474 1,776 1,781 Capital development ($'000) 1,941 1,959 6,732 6,529 Property, plant and equipment purchases ($'000) 1,903 3,195 4,607 11,522 Capitalized exploration ($'000) 1,455 929 3,066 3,273 Consolidated







Gold equivalent produced (oz.) 20,323 22,032 71,631 62,868 Cash operating cost (1) per oz. gold eq. produced ($) 1,322 1,084 1,113 1,153 All-in sustaining cost (1) per oz. gold eq. produced ($) 1,790 1,436 1,530 1,583 Capital development ($'000) 2,523 2,902 9,191 9,320 Property, plant and equipment purchases ($'000) (2) 2,593 4,225 11,965 14,149 Capitalized exploration ($'000) 3,888 2,891 9,784 9,420

1. Cash operating cost and all-in sustaining cost are non-GAAP performance measures with no standard definition under IFRS. Refer to "Non-GAAP Performance Measures" at the end of this press release for further information. 2. includes equipment purchased for reclamation activities at non-operating site.

Consolidated cash operating cost per ounce of gold equivalent produced increased by 22% to $1,322 per ounce in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $1,084 in the third quarter of 2023 due to the 8% decrease of gold equivalent production in Q3 2024 with 20,323 ounces produced compared to 22,032 ounces in Q3 2023, combined with a 13% increase in cash costs mainly due to increased costs for tailings and water management at Costerfield and increased process plant throughput (tonnage) at Bjorkdal.

All-in sustaining costs increased by 25% to $1,790 per ounce of gold equivalent produced in Q3 2024, compared to $1,436 in Q3 2023, mainly due to the 22% increase in cash operating costs per ounce of gold equivalent produced. Consolidated general and administrative costs were $0.9 million higher compared to the third quarter of 2023 mainly due to higher business development costs.

Costerfield gold-antimony mine, Victoria, Australia

During Q3 2024, Costerfield produced 8,218 ounces of gold compared to 8,377 ounces in Q3 2023, a decrease of 2% or 159 ounces. The decrease in ounces produced was a result of a decrease in the average milled gold head grade from 9.56 g/t in Q3 2023 to 8.09 g/t in Q3 2024. Production in Q3 2024 was affected by some unplanned overbreak in Shepherd stopes. Antimony production during Q3 2024 was 252 tonnes, a 36% decrease from the 395 tonnes produced in Q3 2023. This was mainly due to a decrease in the average milled antimony head grade from 2.18% in Q3 2023 to 1.33% in Q3 2024 due to an increased mill feed of ore from Shepherd which carries less antimony than ore from Youle ore body.

The cash operating cost per ounce of gold equivalent produced increased by 20% to $1,174 per ounce in Q3 2024 compared to $975 per ounce in Q3 2023, and all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold equivalent produced increased by 13% to $1,424 per ounce in Q3 2024 compared to $1,265 per ounce in Q3 2023, both mainly as a result of a 19% increase in cash operating costs compared to Q3 2023, mainly due to increased processing costs due to higher costs for tailings and water management and increased mining costs due to higher costs for maintenance including unplanned corrective machine maintenance and increased costs for parts. Costerfield generated $27.3 million in revenue and $17.5 million in adjusted EBITDA, which resulted in net income of $8.5 million.

Bjorkdal gold mine, Skelleftea, Sweden

During Q3 2024, Bjorkdal produced 9,626 ounces of gold compared to 11,224 ounces in Q3 2023, a decrease of 14% or 1,598 ounces. The reduction at Bjorkdal was primarily caused by lower mined tonnes due to inclement weather causing flooding in the Main (Eastern) Zone thereby temporarily restricting access to this area. Consequently, the site had to pivot to, and rely on, lower-grade mining areas. With reduced mining flexibility affecting mined tonnes, there was also an increase in low grade surface stockpile feed to maximize plant feed leading to lower production ounces. The gold mill head grade is expected to return to levels of the first half of 2024, as access returns to the Main (Eastern) extension and more material is mined from that more consistent and reliable underground area.

The cash operating cost per ounce produced for Q3 2024 increased by 25% to $1,487 per ounce compared to $1,189 per ounce in Q3 2023 and all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold equivalent produced increased by 33% to $1,967 per ounce in Q3 2024 compared to $1,474 per ounce in Q3 2023, both mainly as a result of the 14% decreased gold production combined with a 7% increase in cash operating costs mainly due to higher throughput post the commissioning of the mill conversion capital investment project in Q1 2024 resulting in increased consumption of grinding media and other mill consumables. Bjorkdal operations also incurred increased consultant costs due to the engagement of a mining optimization group with a focus on improving the utilization of existing technology and systems at the mine going forward into 2025 and beyond. The external group of subject matter experts advised the operations on mine debottlenecking, cost optimization and productivity improvements. Bjorkdal generated $28.0 million in revenue and $11.8 million in adjusted EBITDA, which resulted in net income of $4.7 million.

Conference Call

A conference call with Frazer Bourchier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mandalay, for investors and analysts on November 7, 2024, at 10:00 AM (Toronto time). Interested investors may join by using the following dial-in number:

Participant Number (North America toll free): 1-888-510-2154 Conference ID: 13145

Alternatively, please register for the webcast here. A replay of the conference call will be available until 11:59 PM (Toronto time), November 14, 2024, and can be accessed using the following dial-in numbers:

Encore Number (Canada Toll free): 1-888-660-6345 Encore Replay Code: 13145 #

About Mandalay Resources Corporation

Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with producing assets in Australia (Costerfield gold-antimony mine) and Sweden (Bjorkdal gold mine). The Company is focused on growing its production and reducing costs to generate significant positive cashflow. Mandalay is committed to operating safely and in an environmentally responsible manner, while developing a high level of community and employee engagement.

Mandalay's mission is to create shareholder value through the profitable operation and regional exploration programs, at both its Costerfield and Bjorkdal mines. Currently, the Company's main objectives are to continue mining the high-grade Youle and Shepherd veins at Costerfield, and to extend Mineral Reserves. At Bjorkdal, the Company will aim to increase production from the Eastern Extension area and other higher-grade areas in the coming years, in order to maximize profit margins from the mine.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the Company's anticipated performance in 2024. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, changes in commodity prices and general market and economic conditions. The factors identified above are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Mandalay. A description of additional risks that could result in actual results and developments differing from those contemplated by forward-looking statements in this news release can be found under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mandalay's annual information form dated March 31, 2024, a copy of which is available under Mandalay's profile at www.sedar.com. In addition, there can be no assurance that any inferred resources that are discovered as a result of additional drilling will ever be upgraded to proven or probable reserves. Although Mandalay has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Performance Measures

This news release may contain references to adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, free cash flow, cash operating cost per ounce of gold equivalent produced and all-in sustaining cost all of which are non-GAAP performance measures and do not have standardized meanings under IFRS. Therefore, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

Management uses adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow as measures of operating performance to assist in assessing the Company's ability to generate liquidity through operating cash flow to fund future working capital needs and to fund future capital expenditures, as well as to assist in comparing financial performance from period to period on a consistent basis. Management uses adjusted net income in order to facilitate an understanding of the Company's financial performance prior to the impact of non-recurring or special items. The Company believes that these measures are used by and are useful to investors and other users of the Company's financial statements in evaluating the Company's operating and cash performance because they allow for analysis of its financial results without regard to special, non-cash and other non-core items, which can vary substantially from company to company and over different periods.

The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as income from mine operations, net of administration costs, and before interest, taxes, non-cash charges/(income), intercompany charges and finance costs. The Company defines adjusted net income as net income before special items. Special items are items of income and expense that are presented separately due to their nature and, in some cases, expected infrequency of the events giving rise to them. A reconciliation between adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income, on the one hand, and consolidated net income, on the other hand, is included in the MD&A.

The Company defines free cash flow as a measure of the Company's ability to generate and manage liquidity. It is calculated starting with the net cash flows from operating activities (as per IFRS) and then subtracting capital expenditures and lease payments. Refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" section of the MD&A for a reconciliation between free cash flow and net cash flows from operating activities.

For Costerfield, equivalent gold ounces produced is calculated by adding to gold ounces produced, the antimony tonnes produced times the average antimony price in the period divided by the average gold price in the period. The total cash operating cost associated with the production of these equivalent ounces produced in the period is then divided by the equivalent gold ounces produced to yield the cash operating cost per equivalent ounce produced. The cash operating cost excludes royalty expenses. Site all-in sustaining costs include total cash operating costs, sustaining mining capital, royalty expense, accretion of reclamation provision and tailings dam amortization. Sustaining capital reflects the capital required to maintain each site's current level of operations. The site's all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold equivalent in a period equals the all-in sustaining cost divided by the equivalent gold ounces produced in the period.

For Bjorkdal, the total cash operating cost associated with the production of gold ounces produced in the period is then divided by the gold ounces produced to yield the cash operating cost per gold ounce produced. The cash operating cost excludes royalty expenses. Site all-in sustaining costs include total cash operating costs, sustaining mining capital, royalty expense, accretion of reclamation provision and tailings dam amortization. Sustaining capital reflects the capital required to maintain each site's current level of operations. The site's all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold equivalent in a period equals the all-in sustaining cost divided by the equivalent gold ounces produced in the period.

For the Company as a whole, cash operating cost per gold equivalent ounce is calculated by summing the gold equivalent ounces produced by each site and dividing the total by the sum of cash operating costs at the sites. Consolidated cash operating cost excludes royalty and corporate level general and administrative expenses. This definition was updated in the third quarter of 2020 to exclude corporate general and administrative expenses to better align with industry standard. All-in sustaining cost per ounce gold equivalent in the period equals the sum of cash operating costs associated with the production of gold equivalent ounces at all operating sites in the period plus corporate overhead expense in the period plus sustaining mining capital, royalty expense, accretion of reclamation provision and tailings dam amortization, divided by the total gold equivalent ounces produced in the period. A reconciliation between cost of sales and cash operating costs, and also cash operating cost to all-in sustaining costs are included in the MD&A.

For Further Information: Frazer Bourchier, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer; Edison Nguyen, Director, Business Valuations and IR, Contact: +1 (647) 258 9722

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 6, 2024) - Scryb Inc. (CSE: SCYB) (OTC Pink: SCYRF) (FSE: EIY) ("Scryb' or the "Company"), announces that, further to its press releases of August 6, 2024 and September 23, 2024, it has successfully completed its non-brokered private placement financing through the issuance of 29,696,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.025 per Unit for gross proceeds of $742,400 (the "Offering").

Each Unit was comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one whole Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.05 per Common Share until the date that is eighteen (18) months from the date of issuance. Gross proceeds raised from the Offering will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation.

The Offering constituted a "related party transaction" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), as insiders of the Company acquired an aggregate of 12,046,000 Units. The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the aggregate fair market value of the participation in the Offering by the insiders is less than 25% of the Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of the proceeds of the Offering in an expeditious manner.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

In addition, the Company would like to announce that Mr. Chris Hopkins resigned as the Chief Financial Officer. The Company would like to thank Mr. Hopkins for his contributions to the Company and wishes him success in future endeavours. Following Mr. Hopkins' resignation, Mr. Josh Bald was appointed the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Josh formerly served Ernst and Young in audit and assurance, and has since acquired several years of public company experience including the capital markets and leading strategy, growth and corporate finance. In addition, Mr. James Van Staveren has been appointed the Vice President of Corporate Development of the Company effective the date hereof. Mr. Van Staveren has worked a decade in the capital markets, finance, investor relations and in corporate development.

About Scryb Inc.

Scryb, a leading venture builder, specializes in the development and scaling of high-growth, disruptive businesses within the sectors of cybersecurity, AI and biotech. The approach at Scryb centers on leveraging deep industry expertise to shape and drive the future of technology. Among its notable ventures is a cybersecurity company where Scryb maintains a significant ownership stake. For further information about Scryb's innovative projects and vision, please visit our website at http://scryb.ai.

Contact:

Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement

Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for the technology described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/229112

SOURCE: Scryb Inc.
Concurrently Announces Full Redemption of 4.750% Senior Notes due 2026

Tender Offer and Redemption Continue Coty's Deleveraging Agenda

Regulatory News:

Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY) (Paris:COTY) ("Coty" or the "Company") today announced its offer to purchase for cash up to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount (subject to increase) (the "Notes Cap") of its outstanding 5.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the "Notes"). Such offer to purchase is referred to herein as the "Tender Offer."

Title of Security Security Identifiers Principal Amount Outstanding Tender Offer Consideration(1)(2) Early Tender Premium(1)(2) Total Consideration(1)(2)(3) 5.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 CUSIPs:

222070AE4

U2203CAE1 ISINs: US222070AE41 (144A) USU2203CAE13 (Reg S) $650,000,000 $970.00 $30.00 $1,000.00

(1) Per $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered on or prior to the Early Tender Date (as defined below) and accepted for purchase by the Company.

(2) Does not include Accrued Interest (as defined below), which will also be payable as described below.

(3) Includes the Early Tender Premium (as defined below).

The Tender Offer is being made upon the terms and subject to conditions described in the Offer to Purchase, dated November 6, 2024 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"), which sets forth a detailed description of the Tender Offer. The Company reserves the right, but is under no obligation, to increase or decrease the Notes Cap in its sole discretion at any time without extending or reinstating withdrawal rights, subject to compliance with applicable law.

The Tender Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 6, 2024, or any other date and time to which the Company extends the Tender Offer (such date and time, as it may be extended with respect to the Tender Offer, the "Expiration Date"), unless earlier terminated. Holders of Notes must validly tender and not validly withdraw their Notes prior to or at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 20, 2024 (such date and time, as it may be extended with respect to the Tender Offer, the "Early Tender Date"), and the holder's Notes must be accepted for purchase, to be eligible to receive the Total Consideration (as defined below). If a holder validly tenders Notes after the Early Tender Date but prior to or at the Expiration Date, and the holder's Notes are accepted for purchase, the holder will only be eligible to receive the Tender Offer Consideration (as defined below).

Subject to the Notes Cap and proration, if applicable, the total consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of the Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer will be as set forth in the table above (excluding Accrued Interest (as defined below), the "Total Consideration"). The Total Consideration includes an early tender premium per $1,000 principal amount of Notes accepted for purchase as set forth in the table above (the "Early Tender Premium"). Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date but prior to the Expiration Date and accepted for purchase will receive the Total Consideration minus the Early Tender Premium (the "Tender Offer Consideration").

In addition to the consideration described above, all holders of Notes accepted for purchase in the Tender Offer will receive accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes from the last interest payment date with respect to such Notes to, but not including, the applicable settlement date ("Accrued Interest").

The Company intends to fund the purchase of validly tendered and accepted Notes with available cash on hand and other sources of liquidity. The purpose of the Tender Offer is to purchase a portion of the Notes, subject to the Notes Cap, in order to reduce the Company's total outstanding public debt consistent with the Company's previously announced deleveraging strategy.

The Tender Offer will expire on the Expiration Date. Except as set forth below, payment for the Notes that are validly tendered prior to or at the Expiration Date and that are accepted for purchase will be made on a date promptly following the Expiration Date, which is currently anticipated to be December 10, 2024, the second business day after the Expiration Date. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to make payment for Notes that are validly tendered prior to or at the Early Tender Date and that are accepted for purchase on an earlier settlement date, which, if applicable, is currently anticipated to be November 22, 2024, provided that the conditions to the satisfaction of the Tender Offer are satisfied. The Company is not obligated to conduct any early settlement or have any early settlement occur on any particular date.

Tendered Notes may be withdrawn prior to or at, but not after, 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 20, 2024.

The Tender Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions which are specified in the Offer to Purchase. The Tender Offer is not conditioned on any minimum principal amount of Notes being tendered.

Information Relating to the Tender Offer

The Offer to Purchase is being distributed to holders beginning today. MUFG Securities Americas Inc. is serving as Dealer Manager in connection with the Tender Offer. Investors with questions regarding the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer may contact the dealer manager as follows:

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

1221 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor

New York, New York 10020

Attn: Liability Management

U.S.: +1 (212) 405-7481

U.S. Toll-Free: +1 (877) 744-4532

D.F. King Co., Inc. is the Tender and Information Agent for the Tender Offer. Any questions regarding procedures for tendering Notes or request for copies of the Offer to Purchase should be directed to D.F. King Co., Inc. by any of the following means: by telephone at +1 (800) 714-3306 (toll-free) or +1 (212) 269-5550 (collect) or by email at coty@dfking.com.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of tenders with respect to, the Notes. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Tender Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase made available to holders of the Notes. None of the Company or its affiliates, their respective boards of directors, the dealer manager, the tender and information agent or the trustee with respect to any series of Notes is making any recommendation as to whether or not holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their Notes in response to the Tender Offer. Holders are urged to evaluate carefully all information in the Offer to Purchase, consult their own investment and tax advisors and make their own decisions whether to tender Notes in the Tender Offer, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender.

Full Redemption of 4.750% Senior Notes due 2026

On November 6, 2024, the Company issued a notice of full redemption for the 180.3 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 4.750% Senior Notes due 2026 (the "4.750% Notes"). The 4.750% Notes will be redeemed in full on December 6, 2024 (the "Redemption Date"), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 4.750% Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date. The Tender Offer is not conditioned on the completion of the redemption of the 4.750% Notes.

About Coty Inc.

Founded in Paris in 1904, Coty is one of the world's largest beauty companies with a portfolio of iconic brands across fragrance, color cosmetics, and skin and body care. Coty serves consumers around the world, selling prestige and mass market products in more than 125 countries and territories. Coty and its brands empower people to express themselves freely, creating their own visions of beauty; and Coty is committed to protecting the planet.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

The statements contained in this press release include certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. These forward-looking statements reflect Coty's current views with respect to, among other things, the proposed Tender Offer, the expected source of funds, and the redemption of the 4.750% Notes. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by words or phrases, such as "anticipate," "are going to," "estimate," "plan," "project," "expect," "believe," "intend," "foresee," "forecast," "will," "may," "should," "outlook," "continue," "temporary," "target," "aim," "potential," "goal" and similar words or phrases. These statements are based on certain assumptions and estimates that Coty considers reasonable and are not guarantees of Coty's future performance, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Coty's control, which could cause actual events or results (including Coty's financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and prospects) to differ materially from such statements, including Coty's ability to consummate the Tender Offer or the redemption of the 4.750% Notes on the terms and timing described herein, or at all, and other factors identified in "Risk Factors" included in Coty's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 and its subsequent quarterly report on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release, and Coty does not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking or cautionary statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of events, unanticipated or otherwise, or changes in future operating results over time or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106783175/en/

Contacts:

For more information contact:



Investor Relations

Olga Levinzon +1 212 389-7733

olga_levinzon@cotyinc.com



Media

Antonia Werther +31 621 394495

antonia_werther@cotyinc.com
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - China will on Thursday release October results for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In September, imports were up 0.3 percent on year and exports rose an annual 2.4 percent for a trade surplus of $81.71 billion.Australia will provide September numbers for imports, exports, trade balance and building approvals. In August, imports and exports were both down 0.2 percent on month for a trade surplus of A$5.644 billion, while building approvals sank 4.9 percent on month.Japan will see September figures for overall wage income, with forecasts suggesting a gain of 3.0 percent - up from 2.8 percent in August.South Korea will release September numbers for current account; in August, the current account surplus was $6.60 billion.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Dubai, UAE, November 6th, 2024, FinanceWire

1inch is pleased to announce the appointment of Hedi Navazan as 1inch Groups new Chief Compliance Officer. With a distinguished career spanning both the public sector, digital assets and traditional finance, Hedi brings a wealth of expertise in permissionless security and regulatory compliance and combating financial crime, reinforcing 1inch commitment to legal integrity, principled compliance and robust governance.

1inch places a strong emphasis on user protection, building consumer trust and creating a lasting impact in the Web3 space, says Sergej Kunz, 1inch co-founder. A strong foundation begins with a culture of security, compliance and a dedication to doing things the right way. Were thrilled to have Hedi on board, as her decade of experience and keen insight into evolving regulatory trends will be invaluable to our continued growth and long-term success.

In this landscape, my role as a compliance and policy leader can be instrumental in bridging the gap between DeFi protocols and regulators, comments Hedi. By proactively engaging with policymakers, I can help educate them on the benefits of DeFi and advocate for frameworks that encourage innovation while protecting consumers. I can contribute to creating industry standards and best practices that align with regulatory expectations without compromising on the decentralized ethos of DeFi.

This approach will help shape policies that support the sustainable growth of DeFi while addressing systemic risks, thus building trust and ensuring the ecosystems long-term viability, she adds.

Hedis leadership will be key to guiding the 1inch Group along a sustainable and responsible path for future growth. Hedi brings a wealth of experience from a cross-continental career in traditional finance and banking, having worked with global institutions like HSBC, where she managed financial crime and regulatory teams across Europe.

She also serves as Vice Chair of the Digital Asset Task Force for the Global Coalition on Fighting Financial Crime, founded by the World Economic Forum. As a prominent advocate for public-private partnerships in the digital asset space, Hedi has collaborated closely with Europol and Interpol and has been appointed as a digital asset expert for the UNODC and OSCE, advising and educating regulatory bodies and member states on developing robust regulatory frameworks for the digital asset sector.

In her new role, Hedi will oversee a joint legal, security and compliance team in navigating the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. The team is comprised of a dedicated taskforce of legal and security counsels who cover a wide array of global legal issues and topical research, as well as a versatile security and compliance function including: a permissionless security, a regulatory compliance function looking after licensing and registrations matters across jurisdictions and adherence to local requirements; a global compliance team of Money Laundering Reporting Officers; and specialists in compliance operations focusing on a safe and responsible client onboarding process including rigorous compliance controls throughout the user lifecycle.

About 1inch

1inch is revolutionizing the world of decentralized finance by providing users with the best possible crypto trading experience. Beyond being the top platform for low-cost, efficient token swaps, 1inch offers a range of innovative tools, including a secure crypto wallet, a portfolio tracker for managing digital assets, a developer portal to build on its cutting-edge technology, and even a debit card for easy crypto spending. By continuously pushing the limits of innovation, 1inch is simplifying DeFi for everyone  whether a user is a crypto whale or just getting started  helping to shape the future of finance.

Contact

PR lead

Pavel Kruglov

1inch Labs

[email protected]


Normative, a Stockholm, Sweden-based company which specializes in enterprise carbon accounting across the Nordics, EU, and UK, acquired Eivee, a Danish carbon accounting solution provider.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The acquisition of Eivee will enable Normative to:

Expand its client base to include some of Denmarks most influential companies.

Reinforce its leadership in providing comprehensive carbon accounting and reduction solutions in the Nordic market.

Demonstrate its capability to offer tailored, compliant, and audit-ready solutions supported by expert guidance, for major corporations across the EU and UK.

Further its mission to be the market leader in CSRD compliance.

Eivee is a carbon accounting solution provider for Danish companies to calculate entire GHG emissions across scopes 1, 2, and 3, down to product-level calculations. Its solutions are designed to be compliant and audit-ready.

Led by CEO Kristian Ronn, Normative is an enterprise carbon platform empowering businesses to navigate sustainability disclosures and the net-zero economy. The platform provides comprehensive emissions calculations and ESG data consolidation, enabling companies to set targets, plan reductions, engage suppliers, and report for CSRD and other disclosures. Businesses like Eurostar, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, and Nordea use its auditable calculations and data management solutions, network of supply-chain insights, and climate consultants.

FinSMEs

06/11/2024
QSR Automations, a Lousville, KY-based company providing restaurant technology solutions, received a majority investment from Battery Ventures.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

This company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth, enhance innovation, and expande its market reach.

Founded in 1996, QSR Automationsis provides kitchen automation solutions and guest management services. Restaurant operators use its signature platform, ConnectSmart, to to create customized solutions and improve the guest experience. It is used in 21 of the nations top 25 casual dining chains.

Alongside the new investment, the company announced that Battery Executive-in-Residence Robbie Payne, a longtime software-industry executive, will become the companys new CEO. Angela Leet, who has served as CEO of the company since 2021, will remain involved with the company as a board member.

The company, which also has offices in the United Kingdom, will continue to operate under its existing brand, with no immediate changes to its day-to-day operations.

FinSMEs

06/11/2024
Chinese training program helps Tanzania's Zanzibar improve pediatric treatment

Xinhua) 13:12, November 06, 2024

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday launched a new version of the training program in Tanzania's Zanzibar to improve pediatric treatment capabilities and reduce child mortality rates.

This year's version of the training program, hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and organized by Hunan Children's Hospital, began at the Lumumba district hospital of Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar. Fifty trainees from Unguja and Pemba Island attended Tuesday's opening ceremony of the month-long session. They were all pediatric medical workers in local hospitals, including pediatricians, surgeons, anesthesiologists and pediatric nurses.

"Improving the level of pediatric medical care and protecting children's health are our common responsibilities and missions," said Zhang Ming, the acting consul general of the Chinese Consulate General in Zanzibar, while addressing the opening ceremony.

Zhang said the China-Zanzibar pediatric cooperation has enjoyed a good foundation and yielded preliminary results, and it also embodied the attention and expectations of senior leaders of the two sides.

Deputy Director of the Hunan Children's Hospital Qu Shuangquan said in his speech that the hospital attaches great importance to this training project, they have held several special meetings to review the project implementation plan, and have selected a team of pediatric experts with rich foreign aid experience and professional background to perform the training task. He stressed that the training course is the result of the joint expectations of both sides, and Hunan Children's Hospital will do its best to provide comprehensive and systematic training for the improvement of Zanzibar's pediatric capacity without reservation.

Zanzibar's Deputy Minister for Health Hassan Khamis Hafidh expressed high appreciation for China's support, looking forward to further cooperation between China and Zanzibar in pediatric medicine. The deputy minister also called on doctors and nurses to cherish the training opportunity by studying hard.

Hunan Children's Hospital has sent expert groups to Zanzibar to carry out pediatric training since 2017 and has trained 120 medical experts in Zanzibar.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Warburg AI, a Sharjah, UAE-based artificial intelligence company working across forex and cryptocurrency markets, raised $250K in Seed funding.

The backers were undisclosed.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its product development efforts.

Founded in 2024 by Ben Pfeffer, Lancelot De Briey and Madiyar Ismagulov, Warburg AI specializes in developing adaptive AI and ML technologies for the financial derivatives industry. Its asset management solution predicts market trends with accuracy, helping users make informed investment decisions. The companys solution enables users to customize the trading parameters, the risk and return ratios through a single API.

The company has been invited into the NVIDIA Inception program, which enables them to access to hardware and tools, as well as support from industry experts.

FinSMEs

06/11/2024
Throughout his tenure, the now-unseated Senator Sherrod Brown had been unpopular with crypto enthusiasts for questioning digital tokens links to terrorism and pushing for tighter regulation read more

Blockchain entrepreneur Bernie Moreno defeated three-term incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, in a fiercely contested race with implications for US Senate control.

The Ohio contest became a flashpoint for cryptocurrency advocates who funnelled an unprecedented $40 million to defeat Brown, a leading voice for stricter crypto regulation.

Moreno, a former luxury car dealer with little political name recognition, gained momentum with support from a pro-crypto PAC that funded five ads to raise his profile.

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Browns defeat marks a significant shift, with the Ohio race drawing more ad spending than any other Senate contest in history and becoming the top target for crypto industry contributions this election cycle, CNBC reported.

Crypto supporters jubilant

Crypto supporters, including Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, celebrated Browns loss, linking it to dissatisfaction with President Joe Bidens regulatory approach. This is fallout from Bidens choice to empower Sen. Elizabeth Warren on financial oversight, Larsen said.

Throughout his tenure, Brown had been unpopular with crypto enthusiasts, aligning with Warren in questioning digital tokens links to terrorism and pushing for tighter regulation.

His vocal anti-crypto stance on social media made him a crypto public enemy in the eyes of industry figures like Tyler Winklevoss, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to declare, The crypto army is striking!

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong echoed this sentiment, touting what he called the most pro-crypto Congress ever.

According to a tracker by Coinbases Stand With Crypto Alliance, 224 pro-crypto candidates won House seats, while 14 secured Senate victories, outpacing anti-crypto candidates.

Coinbase, battling the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over allegations of selling unregistered securities, gave more than $75 million to crypto-friendly PACs, including $25 million pledged for the 2026 midterms.

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Armstrong contributed over $1.3 million individually. Industry backers now hope the new Congress will shift regulatory oversight from the SEC to the traditionally lenient Commodities Future Trading Commission.

Americans want clear rules for digital assets, Armstrong said on X. This Congress can deliver that.

The Fairshake-affiliated PAC Defend American Jobs celebrated Morenos win, describing Brown as a top opponent of cryptocurrency. Their statement lauded Ohio voters for choosing a leader committed to fostering innovation and safeguarding Americas technological edge.

As results rolled in, Bitcoin reached an all-time high of over $75,000, Donald Trump.
The diamond and sapphire encrusted pendant was originally designed in the 1920s by the court jeweller, Garrard, and later became part of the collection of Naim Attallah read more

It so happened that American media personality and socialite Kim Kardashian was under the radar when she was spotted wearing Princess Diannas $200,000 cross necklace, a stunning piece of jewelry she acquired in January 2023. One user wrote- Why is she so obsessed with wearing dead or icon celebrities stuff?

During Sothebys annual January Royal and Noble collection sale, US reality TV star Kim Kardashian bought the diamond and amethyst Attallah Cross necklace , previously worn by Diana, Princess of Wales. The pendant, which weighs 5.25 carats, was sold for $197,453 (Rs 1.61 crore)  almost double the pre-auction estimate .

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The diamond and sapphire encrusted pendant was originally designed in the 1920s by the court jeweller, Garrard, and later became part of the collection of Naim Attallah , a Palestinian-British businessman and writer. Attallah was the former chief executive of brands at Asprey and Garrard and a friend of Diana. The necklaces legacy and association with Diana, have secured its place in fashions rich history.

That it has become a part of Kardashians collection is a reminder of the power of celebrity in driving economic value. How an association with the more transient celebrity of the social media age will impact the longevity of fashion memorabilia is less certain.

The Attallah cross is an addition to Kim Kardashians growing collection of celebrity memorabilia  items representative of fashion and popular cultures diverse history. Kardashian has previously bought a jacket worn by Michael Jackson for her daughter North and one of only twoAlexander McQueen oyster dresses in existence, which she altered in order to wear it to the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscars party.

The garment was described by Andrew Bolton, curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, asarguably the most important dress of the 21st century . Kardashian also famously woreMarilyn Monroes JFK birthday dress to the Met Gala in 2022. The move caused controversy over both the dramatic weight loss she underwent to fit into the dress and the alleged subsequent damage to the garment.
The actress recently made an appearance at Citadel: Honey Bunny screening and this is what users said read more

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan have been in the news for quite some time due to their divorce rumours.

In an interview back in 2022 during Dasvi promotions, Nimrat Kaur complimented Abhishek Bachchan on completing 15 years of marriage with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan during Dasvi promotions and the actor blushed.

15 years, really? Abhishek confirmed, 15 years, yeah. 2007 to 2022. Nimrat, equally impressed, responded, Brilliant!

The actress recently made an appearance at Citadel: Honey Bunny screening and this is what users said.

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Netizens react

She is not looking good in this outfit. Shes enjoying all the limelight for no good reasons. Cant beat Aishwarya.

While the duo has yet to address the claims, an old video interview featuring Abhishek and Nimrat Kaur from their Dasvi promotions is going viral on the internet. In it, the actor praises his wife, Aishwarya.

My wife is exceptional at that. Shes always been an amazing emotional support for me. Ive been very lucky, my entire family has been. The wonderful thing about having a life partner like Aishwarya is that she is from the business. She gets it. She has been doing it slightly longer than I have. So, she knows the world. She has been through it all. So, its nice when you come home and if youve had a challenging day, you know that theres somebody who gets it, said Junior Bachchan in an interview with Bollywood Hungama.

She has been somebody that, I have always noticed, has managed to traverse some of the most difficult times of her life with utmost dignity and grace. I really admire that about her. Actors are emotional people, were very, very hyper-sensitive. and there are times when we might just want to lash out and we kind of explode. You can only take so much. Ive never seen her do that, added the Ghoomer star, which made Nimrat and host smile. He also added that he is very, very lucky to have a partner like Aishwarya.

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Former US President Donald Trump clinched victory in the historic US presidential race, vowing to usher in a golden age for America as he defeated his Democrat rival Kamala Harris. As news of the Republican leaders victory reached world capitals, a wave of congratulatory messages poured in from various leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi read more

Its a TRI-UMP!



Former US President Donald Trump clinched victory in the historic US presidential race, vowing to usher in a golden age for America.



As per AP, Trump secured 277 electoral votes  well above the 270 needed to claim the presidencydefeating Democrat Kamala Harris, who garnered 224 votes.

As news of the Republican leaders victory reached world capitals, a wave of congratulatory messages poured in from various leaders, including Indian PM Narendra Modi.

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For Americas allies and rivals alike, a Trump-led White House would bring new opportunitiesand uncertaintieswhen it comes to foreign policy and global alliances.

Heres a closer look at some of the reactions from world leaders so far.

Asia

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Trumps election victory and expressed confidence that with Trump at the helm, India-US ties will reach greater heights.

Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory, Modi wrote on X.

As votes were being counted in the US presidential election, PM Modi congratulated Donald Trump for his win. File image: @narendramodi/X

As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity, he further wrote.

Japan

Japans Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba congratulated Donald Trump and conveyed desire to take the countries alliance to new heights after Trumps White House victory.

I would like to congratulate Mr Trump on his victory and also pay tribute to the democratic choice of the people of the United States, Ishiba was quoted by AFP as saying. I hope to work closely with Mr Trump to take the Japan-US alliance and Japan-US relationship to new heights, he added.

Philippines

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr reacted to the former US presidents victory election.

He said, President Trump has won, and the American people triumphed, and I congratulate them for their victory in an exercise which showed the world the strength of American values.

I have personally met President Trump as a young man, so I know that his robust leadership will result in a better future for all of us, he was quoted as saying by _Reuters.

_

Pakistan

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Trump for his historic victory and expressed his wish to strengthen ties between the two nations.

He wrote in a post on X, Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! I look forward to working closely with the incoming Administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-U.S. partnership.

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Russia

Russia said that relations with the United States were at a historic low with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov giving a rather reserved response to Trumps recent election win.

Further, Peskov said he was not aware of the presidents (Putin) plans to congratulate Trump on the election since the US was an unfriendly country.

He said the Kremlin was open to dialogue and would judge Trump on his actions after he returns to the White House in January.

We will draw conclusions based on concrete steps and concrete words, he added.

Former US president Donald Trump with Russian president Vladimir Putin. File Photo. Reuters

China

Without directly referencing Trumps victory at the recent US election results, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning expressed Chinas hope for peaceful coexistence with the United States.

Speaking at a regular briefing, she stated, We will continue to approach and handle China-U.S. relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. We respect the choice of the American people.

South Korea

President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated Donald Trump and posted on X, Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump! Under your strong leadership, the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance and America will shine brighter. Look forward to working closely with you.

Australia

Australian PM Anthony Albanese congratulated the Republican leader on his victory.

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The election of the President of the United States is always an important moment for the world, for our region and for Australia, he said.

The United States has long played a leadership role in the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific. Australia will strive to strengthen the co-operation between our two nations in the region, added Albanese.

West Asia

Qatar

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, whose Gulf monarchy is a key mediator in the Gaza conflict and hosts the largest US military base in West Asia, in an AFP report conveyed his hopes to work together again in promoting security and stability both in the region and globally.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabias King Salman and his son, de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent cables to Trump with King Salman hailing close relations between the two friendly countries and peoples, which everyone seeks to strengthen and develop in all fields, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

Jordan

King Abdullah II of Jordan congratulated Donald Trump after the Republican leader clinched victory.

Warmest congratulations to President Donald Trump on winning the US presidential election. Looking forward to working with you again to bolster Jordans longstanding partnership with the United States, in service of regional and global peace and stability for all, he said.

Turkey

Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated my friend Donald Trump.

The Turkish President took to X and wrote, I hope Turkey-US relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end.

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Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Trumps greatest comeback signalled a new beginning in US-Israel relations.

Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! said Netanyahu wrote on X.

Former US President Donald Trump meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Image courtesy: X/Benjamin Netanyahu

Hamas

Bassem Naim, a member of Hamass political bureau, told AFP, that under Trump the United States blind support for the Zionist entity must end because it comes at the expense of the future of our people and the security and stability of the region.

Europe

Germany

Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Trump and vowed Berlin would work with him for prosperity and freedom.

Germany and the USA have long been working together successfully to promote prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the benefit of our citizens, he said.

Italy

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conveyed her sincere congratulations in a post on X.

Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakeable alliance, she said. It is a strategic bond which I am sure we will now strengthen even more.

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France

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated President Donald Trump, saying he was ready to work with him with respect and ambition like we managed to do for four years.

In a post on X, Macron said that the relationship with Trump would take account of your convictions, and mine, adding: For more peace and prosperity.

Spain

Spains left-wing PM Pedro Sanchez congratulated Donald Trump and pledged to work on a strong transatlantic partnership.

Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your victory and your election as 47th President of the US. We will work on our strategic bilateral relations and on a strong transatlantic partnership, Sanchez wrote on X.

Leaders from around the world congratulated Donald Trump on winning the US presidential election. AP

Hungary

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban - a close Trump ally - said his election was a much-needed victory for the world.

He wrote on X, The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump

on his enormous win. A much-needed victory for the World!

Nato

NATO chief Mark Rutte congratulated Trump and said his return to power would help keep the alliance strong.

His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO, Rutte said in a statement.

Romania

Romanian PM Marcel Cicolac congratulated Trump on X.

Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on this historic victory! Romania stands ready to work together to enhance our Strategic Partnership. Under your new leadership we hope for peace and prosperity for all our citizens! Looking forward to a fruitful collaboration! he posted.

Sweden

Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson wrote, I congratulate Donald Trump on being elected the next president of the United States. I look forward to working together and continuing the excellent U.S.-Sweden relations as friends and allies.

Norway

Jonas Gahr Stoere, the Prime Minister of Norway wrote, I would like to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election. The U.S. is Norways most important ally and we work closely together in many areas. I look forward to continuing our cooperation with the U.S. under Mr. Trumps leadership.

United Kingdom

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among the first leaders who congratulated the 78-year-old on his historic election victory.

From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic, he was quoted in an AFP report_._

Central & South America

El Salvador

Nayib Bukele, the President of EL Salavador congratulated Trump on his victory.

Congratulations to the President-Elect of the United States of America, @realDonaldTrump. May God bless and guide you, Bukele posted on X.

Argentina

Argentinian President Javier Millei took to X to congratulate Trump for his formidable victory. Now, Make America Great Again. You know that You can count on Argentina to carry out your task, he added.

With input from agencies
The first results of the US presidential election are expected today, following the close of polls in most regions across the country. Heres what else is in store for you from the world of news read more

Kamala Harris during a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In a separate picture, Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reuters

November 6, Wednesday, is set to be an eventful day with several important developments expected across the globe.

The first results of the US Presidential Election are expected today following the closure of polls across most regions.

The UNGA is also likely to meet today after Israel formally informed of its decision to sever ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has been summoned for questioning today in connection with the MUDA site allotment case.

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Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to brief the Parliamentary panel on external affairs regarding India-Canada relations.

Prince William is set to kick off the fourth annual Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town.

Telangana will begin a caste census today, becoming the second Congress-ruling state after Karnataka to conduct this exercise.

Swiggy is set to launch its initial public offering (IPO) today.

Lets take a look at these events in brief:

Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump

Americans cast their ballots on Tuesday, November 5, to select the nations next president in what is expected to be a tightly contested election. The first polling stations closed at 18:00 EST on Tuesday (4:30 am IST, Wednesday), with the last ones closing at 01:00 EST (11:30 am IST, Wednesday).

Kamala Harris in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, August 20, 2024, and Donald Trump in Bedminster, New Jersey, US, August 15, 2024. File Photo/Reuters

In previous elections, some results have been declared late on election night or early the following morning, so the final results are expected today, though a complete tally may take weeks.

ALSO READ | Can Donald Trump challenge the results of the US president election if he loses?

Georgia is likely to be the earliest state called, as it requires all early votes to be counted by 8 pm ET.

UNGA meet after Israels UNRWA ban

The United Nations General Assembly is expected to meet today after Israel formally notified the UN of its decision to end ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

A Palestinian man carries an aid box distributed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. Reuters

ALSO READ | Why has Israel banned UNRWA?

Israel announced on Monday that it has terminated the agreement supporting UNRWAs work in Gaza, where the agency is the primary aid provider. Notably, Jerusalem has accused UNRWA of being influenced by Hamas.

Siddaramaiah to be questioned

The Karnataka Lokayukta police have summoned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for questioning today in the MUDA site allotment case, PTI reported citing sources on Monday.

Notably, the Karnataka CM faces allegations of irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to his wife.

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ALSO READ | What is MUDA scam case?

Key panel to be briefed on India-Canada ties

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to brief the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs today on the recent strains in India-Canada relations.

The tensions arose after Canadian authorities accused Indian officials of involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Earthshot Prize awards

Prince William arrived in South Africa to open the fourth annual Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town, celebrating innovations aimed at environmental conservation.

Prince William, Prince of Wales, meets the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, at his Official Residence in Cape Town, South Africa. Reuters

Alongside a series of events throughout the week, the awards will honour impactful ideas and initiatives that contribute to saving the planet.

Telangana to begin caste census

Telangana will begin its comprehensive caste census today, following Karnataka as the second Congress-ruling state to conduct such an exercise.

Running till November 30, the survey aims to gather detailed social, economic, educational, income, political, and caste-related information across communities.

ALSO READ | Will India begin census process next year? Will caste be included?

Swiggy IPO opens today

Food delivery and quick-commerce leader Swiggy will launch its initial public offering (IPO) today, targeting a valuation of around $11.3 billion.

The Swiggy Limited IPO will open for subscription on November 6. PTI/File Photo

The Bengaluru-based company aims to raise Rs 11,327 crore through the IPO, including a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 4,499 crore.

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With inputs from agencies
Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors, posted PM Modi on X read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called President-elect Donald Trump after the Republicans spectacular victory in the US presidential elections and congratulated him and his party for the strong performance in the Congressional races.

Taking to X, PM Modi said, Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors."

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Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024

According to sources, during the phone conversation, both leaders expressed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties and collaborating for global peace.

PM Modi calls President Trump after his victory in the US elections. PM Modi Congratulates President Trump on the decisive victory and performance of Republican Party in the Congressional elections. Both leaders affirm to work together for World Peace. President Trump says the  ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2024

President Trump lauded PM Modi, describing India as a magnificent country and the Prime Minister as a magnificent man. Trump added that the whole world loves PM Modi, said the sources.

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Trump also emphasised his personal admiration for PM Modi, saying that he considers India and its leader true friends.

According to sources, Trump said that PM Modi is one of the first world leaders he spoke to after his victory.

Trump on Wednesday won the US presidency for a second term in one of the greatest political comebacks in American history, edging past his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in a bitterly fought election.

The 78-year-old Republican leader cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency by securing a victory in the key battleground state of Wisconsin.

According to races called by the Associated Press up to 4 pm (IST), 277 electoral votes had gone to Republican candidate Trump and 224 to Democratic Partys Harris.

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Earlier, Trump addressed his supporters at West Palm Beach in Florida, declaring victory and promising a golden age of America.

With inputs from agencies
Donald Trumps Presidency of the United States will open new opportunities for India though certain sectors, especially pharma and IT, may face the heat if the incoming president decides to impose restrictions on imports and H1B visa regulations, experts said read more

Donald Trumps Presidency of the United States will open new opportunities for India though certain sectors, especially pharma and IT, may face the heat if the incoming president decides to impose restrictions on imports and H1B visa regulations, experts said on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis friendly relationship with Trump will have a positive bearing on Indo-US relations but India may have to adapt its strategies to maintain cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

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Trumps presidency can be a new opportunity for India. Trump will impose tariffs and import restrictions on countries that he thinks are not friendly to the US, like China and even some European countries, and this can open markets for Indian exports, said Former Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar.

Barclays, in a research report on Wednesday, said trade policy is where Trump is likely to be most consequential for emerging Asia, which includes India and China.

We estimate Trumps tariff proposals would subtract 2 per cent from Chinas GDP  and greater pain on the more open economies in the rest of the region, Barclays said. The more domestically oriented economies, including India, Indonesia and the Philippines, would be less vulnerable to higher tariffs, it added.

Kumar said Trump will see India as a friendly country, and it can expect larger investments by US firms into India.

overall, Trumps victory is a very positive development for the Indian economy, he added.

Madras School of Economics Director NR Bhanumurthy said: I doubt, Trump will impose tariff on Indian products because my own feeling is that the concern for the US is not much of India, but more of China. So, maybe there would be little difference in the way they are going to deal with India when compared to the way they deal with China.

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However, some experts feel that his trade protectionist views could have some negative impact on Indias exports and might exert some pressure on the rupee in the short term.

Since Trumps protectionism philosophy of economics is well known, the process of globalisation may become more strategic and less fair to emerging economies, including India, NIPFP visiting Professor Pinaki Chakraborty said.

The Trump administration is likely to bring renewed trade tensions, with potential adverse effects on Indias key export sectors and capital inflows, said Client Associates director (investment, research and advisory) Nitin Aggarwal.

The economic outlook for India will depend on how quickly the US economy adjusts to the policy changes coming after the Trump administration takes charge.

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For India, the consequences of such a policy shift could be two-fold. First, certain sectors like pharmaceuticals and IT may experience challenges. Indian generic drug manufacturers could face increased tariffs on their exports to the US Meanwhile, Indias IT sector might also see a slowdown in demand, as a trade war and its economic impact could reduce discretionary spending in the US, Aggarwal said.
Chinese, who want to win without fighting, are not known for their appetite to accept body bags of Han Chinese for a cause that doesnt give them economic benefit but takes away their dream of national rejuvenation read more

Xi Jinping, on taking over as president of China, started with peaceful reunification of Taiwan as one of his aims and later got it included as a key goal in the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). Specifically, Article 1 of the PRC Constitution states that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Additionally, the preamble emphasises the goal of achieving the complete reunification of the motherland, which includes bringing Taiwan under PRC sovereignty. Xi has called unification with Taiwan the essence of the countrys rejuvenation, which needs to be achieved by 2049, the one hundredth anniversary of the PRC.

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Meanwhile, President Lai of Taiwan (Republic of China), or ROC, spoke on the annual Double Tenth Day, marking the 113th anniversary of ROCs founding on October 10, 2024, that the two sides are not subordinate to each other and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) had no authority to represent the island. He believes that Taiwan is a sovereign country and it was absolutely impossible for the PRC to become motherland of the ROCs people because Taiwan had older political and democratic roots.

Consequently, PLAs military drills like  Joint Sword-2024B launched on October 13, 2024, as a stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces mainly to coerce Taiwan. Beijing continues to brand Lai as separatist and continues coercive military posturing ever since the DPP got elected in 2016.

President Xi had earlier emphasised that the countrys reunification with Taiwan was inevitable in his last New Years address too and also told President Biden that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with mainland China but that the timing has not yet been decided with the peaceful word prominently missing. Despite the fact that Taiwan has never been ruled by the PRC and has operated as a separate political entity since 1949, with its own government, economy, and military, and other parameters to qualify it as an independent state. The inference drawn from Xis assertion is that the PRC will continue to make efforts to reunite it with mainland China, but the question remains: how, when, and at what cost?

One China Principle

The PRC may keep claiming Taiwan to be its domestic issue, but it has external dimensions. Diplomatically, the US may claim to follow One China Policy, but it treats Taiwan no less than an ally. The Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019, effective March 26, 2020, is an indication. The Taiwan Relation Act, 1973; the Taiwan Travel Act signed in 2019; and the National Defence Authorisation Act signed earlier this year to facilitate the sale of state-of-the-art weaponry and joint exercises justify the statement.

The US will always like to trade and strategically partner with democratic Taiwan outside Beijings influence and not Taiwan under CCP. Moreover, in any potential invasion of Taiwan, the spillover of the battle space to Japan is obvious due to geographic proximity, an ally which the US is obligated to defend.

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Chinas Agenda

China is trying to pursue the idea of Winning without Fighting using its Three Warfare Concept, which entails public opinion warfare, psychological warfare, and legal warfare along with aggressive military coercion, air violations, firepower power demonstrations, and some symbolic economic boycott of Taiwan, thus creating heightened tension around Taiwan to put adequate deterrence on DPP leadership. Not to declare independence, and stern message to Washington not to abandon One China Principle. China, therefore, is using its Gray Zone tactics to control Taipei without firing a single shot before escalating to the next level at an appropriate time. In the meantime, the PRC is building its military capability to invade Taiwan in the next few years, should its attempt at peaceful reunification fail.

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The PRCs threat to the US not to arm Taiwan hasnt shown much results, as Taiwan is yet to receive the first batch of F-16 Block 70 jets from the arms deal worth US$7.69 billion for 66 jets due in September 2024, making Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets, besides approving $1.1 billion for upgrading its radars and missiles. The US $2 billion deal includes an advanced air defence system that has been used by Ukraine. In the 2025 budget, the Pentagon seeks US$500 million in arms support, indicating its intention of empowering Taiwan to have a military with a modern arsenal (HIMAR, ATACM, advanced air defences, anti-ship missile batteries) to defend itself against Chinese aggression.

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Is Full-Scale Invasion of Taiwan Viable?

The cost of reunification by full-scale invasion of Taiwan for Xi Jinping would be extraordinarily high, militarily, economically, and politically. Chinese strategist Qiao Liang, a retired PLA Air Force Major General, had warned that taking Taiwan by force is too costly. The Chinese red line of Taiwan going nuclear/declaring independence has not been crossed as yet, giving no worthwhile justification for China to cross the US red line of changing status quo by force.

A military invasion or forced reunification has the bright possibility of direct involvement by the US under the Taiwan Relations Act and other regional powers like Japan, Australia, and South Korea. The capture of Taiwan requires an amphibious assault bigger than Inchon landing or D-Day operations in Normandy in the Second World War, that too in the battle field transparency of modern time, for which the Chinese amphibious fleet is currently relatively inadequate, which its hoping to develop by 2027.

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The analysis of the terrain of Taiwan reveals that besides the complexity of amphibious assault, it poses tremendous challenges for invaders. Taiwans landmass has rugged mountains, built-up areas, and limited beaches, unsuitable for rapid moves by the invader. PLA may be able to cross the strait, but there are only a few deep-water ports and beaches available in Taiwan that can accommodate a large landing force, which will invariably be hindered by sea mines, barriers, obstacles, and anti-ship batteries on rocky terrain, as part of the Porcupine or Honey Badger Defence Concept also referred to as Fortress Taiwan. The East and West coasts of Taiwan have shallow water lined by steep cliffs, posing problems for invading forces. Fighting/movement in built-up areas of Taiwans major population centres is only possible through a few narrow passes and tunnels, which Taiwan can destroy or defend.

For political consolidation of Taiwan, capture of Taipei is inescapable. Its closeness to the islands of Japan (Yonaguni Island is just 110 km from Taiwan) will necessitate PLA to breach Japanese maritime space for a viable amphibious operation, which will drag Japan and its defence partner, the US, into confrontation notwithstanding the strategic ambiguity displayed by the US for decades. Mountainous terrain and street fighting in built-up areas have the potential to prolong the war beyond Beijings expectations.

It may be noted that in case of invasion by the PLA, Taiwanese people will be fighting a just war under an undeterred leadership, vowing to defend the democracy and security of Taiwan. A quick reference to the 1979 Sino-Vietnam War (the last combat experience of PLA) would reveal that PLA, when confronted with well-determined people of Vietnam, fighting a just war under strong leadership and using terrain friction to its advantage got better of them, despite the vast superiority of military assets of PLA.

There is no reason that Taiwan cant replicate it, given the kind of modern weaponry, determined military, and more than adequate warning of PLAs intentions, which it has already received. Taiwan will have to take on the initial weight of the Chinese offensive, hoping US forces with its allies in the region to join at the earliest. Taking Taiwan by force therefore involves mobilisation of PLAs all combat resources, expecting an escalation from limited war to an all-out war.

Numerous think tank wargames on the Chinese invasion of Taiwan have revealed a variety of results depending on the country wargaming it. CSIS (USA) developed one such wargame and ran it 24 times. In most scenarios, the United States, Taiwan, and Japan defeated a conventional amphibious invasion by China and maintained an autonomous Taiwan. However, this defence came at a very high cost to all the parties. PRC is also aware of such consequences that it will put its overarching aim of national rejuvenation out of gear, even if it gets some success in Taiwan.

Chinese Option to Quarantine Taiwan

An option to quarantine Taiwan is a low-cost option, and the cost would keep increasing with the degree of quarantine aimed at.

While China has the capabilities to successfully execute quarantine variations, their success and risk for China would depend on how Taiwan, the US, and others would respond to it. The limitations of such an operation are that even if successfully executed, it can inflict temporary pain on Taiwan, but it will not force it to surrender its sovereignty. A military blockade will certainly be necessary for the PRC to pursue its stated aim.

Cost of Naval Blockades

Most of the military drills of the PLA of the PRC have been to demonstrate the capability to blockade Taiwan and force it to agree to its terms without risking an all-out war with the US. In order to prevent foreign ships from entering or departing Taiwanese seas, naval forces have been used to encircle the island, limiting access to its ports. Establishing air and sea control, exploiting its superiority in a number of military assets, and posturing them to deter any ally of Taiwan has been part of Chinese strategy.

The idea of Joint Blockade Campaign finds mention in Science of Campaigns, a textbook published in 2006 by Chinas National Defence University, which PLA has improved upon incorporating modern capabilities. The PRC might seize one or more Taiwan-administered outlying islands, including Kinmen or Matsu near China, the Penghus near Taiwan, or Pratas in the South China Sea, besides enforcing a blockade of the main island of Taiwan.

A Washington-based think tank, the Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD), held a tabletop exercise in Taipei and mentioned the  Anaconda strategy", in which the PRC could use covert cyberwarfare and non-kinetic disinformation campaigns, economic coercion, followed by a military blockade, or other measures to strangulate Taiwan, rather than attempting an invasion. Prior to imposing a blockade, China might use its cyber capabilities to interfere with communications, vital infrastructure, and logistics, making it more difficult for Taiwan to coordinate its supply chains and defences.

In addition, it could use propaganda, psychological, and misinformation campaigns to undermine public support for the government in Taiwan and discourage external support. A blockade could also include economic measures, such as targeting trade routes and imports critical to Taiwans economy, including food and energy supplies. Taiwans heavy dependence on imported liquefied natural gas and limited energy reserves makes it vulnerable to such a threat. Coercion of countries having diplomatic or trade relations with Taiwan is also part of the blockade planned by the PRC.

The effectiveness of such a blockade would depend on Taiwans readiness in military, economic, and all other domains of warfare, including reserves of critical resources, as well as the response from the international community. Taiwan will have to bear the brunt of Chinas initial onslaught and blockade, but the US and its regional allies could synergise their forces together and utilise their air and sea resources to cut off Beijings maritime lifeline both inside and beyond the South China Sea.

Chinese Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) outside Nine Dash Line are still vulnerable to choking/blockade like in Malacca Strait, and it will draw PLA into conflict outside its comfort zone. The same Anaconda strategy could thus be used in encircling PRC and cutting off its SLOC, trade routes, and essential energy, thereby squeezing it until its economy is crippled. If the US could ensure that Ukraine communications remained functional despite Russian cyberattacks, there is no reason that Star-Link will not do the same for Taiwan in the future.

To this end, the US has signed an Enhanced Defence Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA) with the Philippines to expand US military bases to include four new sites in addition to the five earlier. In addition, a contingent of Marine Rotational Force (MRF-SEA) deployment is likely to continue through March 2025 and includes six additional exercises and security cooperation engagements throughout Southeast Asia. This will ensure swift mobilisation in the event of a Taiwan contingency.

Economic and Political Cost

Economically, the Chinese dependence on the US dollar remains significant, and a conflict over Taiwan would result in a substantial economic setback for China, leading to a rapid exodus of capital and the relocation of companies from the country, occurring at a pace more accelerated than anticipated. This will also destroy the Chinese and Taiwanese economies, which does not suit the Chinese leadership struggling to revive its economy marred by trade wars, failing BRI, real estate crises, and domestic debt. China is the top destination for Taiwanese exports, accounting for approximately 30.7 per cent of total exports in 2024, with Taiwan having an overall trade surplus of $81.7 billion in 2024 with China. Taiwan is the world leader in semiconductor manufacturing, and any conflict that disrupts Taiwans chip production would have a severe impact on global supply chains, including those of China.

In the event of a military invasion, China would likely face severe economic sanctions from Western nations, similar to or even harsher than those faced by Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. Given Chinas deep integration into the global economy, these sanctions would likely target its financial system, technology exports, and key industries. Even after the reunification, China could face long-term isolation from Western markets, which could slow down its economic growth further.

Politically, a forced reunification could damage Chinas relationships with key trading partners and their allies. Asian neighbours may become more aligned with the US and Western countries, undermining Chinas efforts to position itself as a rising superpower and responsible global leader. Such an image can take a beating if the invasion doesnt succeed. An invasion of Taiwan would damage its global reputation and undermine its soft power in many parts of the world.

Domestic unrest could result from a protracted or expensive conflict. The ability of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to sustain stability and economic growth is crucial to Xi Jinpings leadership. Dissension within the party and among the populace could arise from a conflict, particularly one that does not end in an immediate and resounding victory. Significant Han Chinese casualties on both sides of the Taiwan Strait could threaten the CCPs grasp on power. The public will become more democratic as a result of unification with democratic Taiwan, which the CCP has been stifling up until now.

Conclusion

While the leadership under Xi Jinping likely sees reunification with Taiwan as a central part of its national objectives, the costs associated with a forced reunification, especially when considering the Anaconda strategy or US-led containment strategies, could be overwhelming. The potential military, economic, and political blowback could indeed make the operation unbearable for China, depending on how events unfold.

Taiwans geography, modernised military power, resolute capacity, and its vital role within global supply chains and semiconductor dependency, notwithstanding the asymmetry in numbers of military assets with the PLA, will pose a challenge to the PRC. Taiwans determination to defend itself, growing defence spending and military capacity, strengthening the reserve force, training, and diversifying energy sources can increase the cost of PLAs misadventure.

The conflict if imposed by China will be deadly, and Chinese, who want to win without fighting, are not known for their appetite to accept body bags of Han Chinese for a cause that doesnt give them economic benefit but takes away their dream of national rejuvenation.

Even though Chinas military has modernised significantly and maintains substantial numerical advantage over Taiwanese military, a full-scale amphibious invasion does not make any strategic sense for China, with bright chances of reputational loss, globally and domestically, in case the operations fail or get overly delayed.

The current strategic posturing and gaming will continue since neither the US nor China want to go to war, but neither wants to give a walkover either. In all fairness, Taiwan will expect the US and other allies to conduct military exercises/activities close to the Malacca Strait to relieve Chinese pressure and serve as a subtle reminder of their vulnerable SLOC in the event that any aggression (coercion, quarantine, blockade, or use of force) becomes intolerable.

Although Xi Jinping is renowned for taking measured risks, the sum of these costs may lead China to choose a course of sustained pressure and coercion over direct military action. The PRC wants to keep President Lai under pressure to refrain from declaring independence, hope that the DPP loses the next election, and work out advantageous agreements with the opposition that could benefit China.

The author is a global strategic and military analyst. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Defying opinion and exit polls predicting neck-and-neck competition between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the voters have stunned pollsters of all hues read more

As India slept in the night, the United States of America, after one of the most tempestuous, raucous, and divisive campaigns in its history, voted in the general election to elect its 47th president. It is instructive to note that even before the polling started on election day, millions of voters81,937,982 as per the APhad already exercised their voting rights either in person or by mail in the early polling in different states.

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Donald Trump has been projected as the winner of the US presidential elections by various publications and has been congratulated by various leaders around the world, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Americas tryst with history

This election was Americas tryst with history. The return of Donald Trump to the White House means that he would be the only second president in the 250 years of the United States of America to occupy the Oval House two non-consecutive times after Grover Cleveland, who was the 22nd and 24th POTUS. Contrarily, had Vice President Kamala Harris won, she would have been the first woman President of America.

Voting as it happened

The conduct of voting in the US, like in the past, was complicated because the elections there were conducted by local authorities within each state duly adhering to the local, state, and federal laws and guided by the spirit of the Constitution.

India over the past 27 years has perfected voting using electronic voting machines. Contrarily, the US, technologically the most advanced nation, remains in the grip of a complex manual system. Intriguingly, in 2006, about 31 per cent of registered voters were living in areas that used some form of paperless electronic voting. That number is expected to have dwindled to about 5 per cent, according to data from Verified Voting, a US non-profit tracking voting machine technology.

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Here goes the way Americans are likely to have voted:

One, Hand-Marked Paper Ballots: As per Verified Voting, nearly 70 per cent of registered voters live in jurisdictions that primarily use hand-marked paper ballots. Voters fill in an oval or square next to their preferred candidates name.

Two, Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs): Approximately 25 per cent of voters live in jurisdictions that use electronic voting marking devices. Though BMDs are digital devices, they produce a proper paper record of votes, which are used in counting.

Three, Direct Recording Electronic Voting (DREs): A tiny 5 per cent of voters live in jurisdictions where they cast their votes. Voters cast their votes using a direct recording electronic voting system, with which voters press a button or touchscreen to cast their votes, which then go directly into the computer system. In 2020, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas used DRE machines. It will take a while to know the 2024 numbers.

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While in some states DREs leave no paper trail, in others, some DRE systems are connected to a Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail printer, which produces a paper record of each vote that the voters can confirm before their vote is recorded in the computer.

Voters stun pollsters

Almost all the opinion polls leading to the election day as well as the exit polls predicted a neck-to-neck race for Trump and Harris both nationally as well as in key swing states. But voters with their verdict seem to have stunned pollsters of all hues as Trump seems to be cruising to the victory. Likewise, Republicans are dominating the race in elections for House of Representatives, Senate, and the election of Governors.

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Pathway to be the president

In the US presidential elections, it is not the one who secures maximum popular votes who becomes the president. The fate of presidential candidates is decided by the Electoral College votes, and a candidate who wins 270 of the 538 Electoral College votes becomes president.

There have been five presidents in US history who have won the presidency without winning the popular vote, with the most recent being Donald Trump in 2016. Hillary Clinton in that election won over 2.8 million more votes than Trump nationwide, but she lost enough key states to be defeated in the Electoral College, 306 to 232.

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But this time Trump seems to be the winner both with regards to the Electoral College votes as well as popular votes, leaving Kamala Harris far behind.

Winner takes it all

Interestingly, though the US has 50 states, when it comes to presidential elections, some states matter more than others. There are two types of statessafe states that predictably vote for one or the other of the established parties, and there are a handful of states dubbed swing states that often swing between the two partiesthe Republican and the Democrat.

Though safe states reliably vote for one party or the other, swing states are often a toss-up between the Democratic and Republican candidates, and typically the presidential battle is won or lost in the swing states.

This year, seven of the key swing statesArizona (11), Georgia (16), Michigan (15), Nevada (6), North Carolina (16), Pennsylvania (19), and Wisconsin (10)are thought to hold the keys to the White House.

At the end, it all boiled down to securing 270 Electoral College votes. It is for garnering these votes that both Trump and Harris spent most time, resources, and campaign funds in the key swing states. But voters defying poll pundits seem to have stunningly returned Donald Trump to the Oval Office.

Race is called

All other prominent media agencies, CNN, The New York Times, and the Washington Post too, have accepted the reality; it will be Trump all the way. In fact, as per the predictions of the New York Times, Trump may end up winning 312 Electoral College votes, while Harris will win a maximum of 226.

But here comes the bold call of the race. Fox News Channel, the most watched television news channel in America for more than 22 consecutive years, has emerged as the first to make the call, Donald J Trump shall be the 47th president of the United States of America.

The conservative AP waited for few more hours after Fox News to finally call the race. But AP too has now announced that with 277 Electoral College votes, Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept the defeat four year ago, supposedly sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

Curtain down, but well run

The above means it is a curtain down for Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party, which was hoping to install the first woman president in the White House. But I still call it well run, Harris, because it was an unequal fight. She not only had to combat the anti-incumbency but hardly had a few weeks to make her case, while Trump was in campaign mode for at least nine years. Clearly, despite coming close to it twice in 2016 and 2024, America will need to wait more to choose its first woman president.

Advantage to Republicans

The 2024 General Elections, apart from electing president and vice president, also assume salience because it was decided how easy or how difficult it would be for the next president to govern because, along with the president, 469 members of Congressthe 435 member House of Representatives and just over one-third of the 100-member Senatewere also to be elected.

Very much like the race for the president, here too it looks like the winner takes it all; it is a clear advantage for the Republican Party in the election for House of Representatives, Senate, and Governors. Here is how it goes:

One, the Senatein the 100-member Senate, the Republicans have already seized control with 52 members. Democrats are at 42 with 6 races yet to be called.

Two, the Housewith 57 races yet to be calledthe Republican Party leads with 198 as against 180 of Democrats. Though the race may go to wire, the House too may go the Republican way.

Three, Governorsthe race for Governors is likely to end closer, with Republicans likely to end with 27 and Democrats with 23 duly accounting for those already in the office.

The Victory Lap

It was supposed to be an excruciatingly difficult election for Donald J Trump, but he has made it.

His lead seems to be unassailable because he has already both in Electoral College votes (277 votes already in bag and likely to cross 300) as well as popular votes [51 per cent as against 47.5 per cent of Harris].

In retrospect, the election results seem to be a cake walk for Trump.

Unsurprisingly then, true to his spirit, he has taken the victory lap in Florida with a speech to his supporters. Were going to fix everything about our country. We made history for a reason tonight, he said. It is now clear that weve achieved the most incredible political thing.

What Next

Clearly against all predictions, Trump has improved on his performance from 2020 in both red states and blue states. He has flipped Georgia and Pennsylvania. Alaska, which has not voted for a Democrat in 60 years, alone would have put him over the top.

Waiting in the wings

Now it is time for the victory parades and waiting in the wings for the new king because the results shall be officially announced not before January 6. According to the electoral law, the discrepancies in the results in states, if any, shall be likely resolved by December 11. Thereafter, the electors will meet in their state capitals on December 17 and cast their votes for the president and vice president. Finally, the US Congress will convene on January 6, 2025, to formally count the electoral votes and officially declare the winner. And the inauguration ceremony for the president shall take place in Washington on January 20, 2025.

Trump 2.0

Before the election, it was projected that if Trump wins the presidency, it will be a cataclysmic doomsday scenario for America and the world. I posit nothing like that will happen. After the initial convulsions and tremors, it will be business as usual except that many things will change in America domestically, and it will be a brand new Trump-way to internationalism.

Given the last two years of flip-flops of the Biden administration with regards to American relationship with India, my take is that given the strategic and geopolitical importance of the resurgent India in the new world order, the second term of Donald Trump shall be much better for India than what the first term of Kamala Harris could have been.

In Part II of the piece, I take up from here and make a balanced scorecard of why and how Donald Trump won and what its implications are for the US, India, and the world at large.

The author is a multi-disciplinary thought leader with Action Bias and an India based impact consultant. He is a keen watcher of changing national and international scenario. He works as President Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Narendra Modi and Donald Trump are going to dominate the global arena for the rest of the decade, the prospect of which is enough to send the woke, politically-correct Left-liberal world order in a state of meltdown read more

PM Modi and Trump have worked with each other during their first term in office, when they were relatively new in the global arena. Image: Carlos Barria / Reuters

First, they would stubbornly acknowledge them as nobodies. But when they get elected, this very liberal brigade mourns and screams as if its the end of the world. Lord Meghnad Desai, in an interaction with this author way back in 2017, soon after the release of his book Politik Shock, recalled meeting a prominent member of Lutyens Delhi as the latter invited him to a qawwali event in May 2014, in the wake of Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister of India. You must not miss the last qawwali programme in the city, the gentleman told Desai with a tinge of sadness-cum-sarcasm on his face.

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As Donald Trump registers an emphatic win against Kamala Harris in the US presidential elections, the mood in the left-liberal camp is sombre. It kept running a high-decibel election campaign, projecting the contest to be too close to call, with an edge to Harris. But as the Tuesday results show, Trump has not just managed to cross the magical number of 270 but also become the first Republican in 20 years to win popular votes.

Why did most political pundits get it wrong? Because they desperately wanted to see the kind of result they predicted. They became partisan and wrote and reported what they wanted to happen. Part of the failure to gauge the support in favour of Trump also lies in the fact that its not fashionable to be seen to be vouching for Donald. You stand the chance of being cancelled and being called out as fascist, white supremacist, racist Trump, thus, had many silent voters, especially among educated middle classes. In fact, as the numbers show, he managed to get some Latino votes too. The Democrats still get the maximum of their votes, but they dont get all of them now.

Trumps success is also the result of the reaction to obsessive wokeism and political correctness dominating the American landscape. The rise of Kamala Harris saw the Democratic Party being hijacked by the Leftist progressives, the patron-in-chief of wokeism and political correctness in America, alienating a significant section of the Centrists and even Left-of-the-Centre voters as well.

During his second term, Trump will be expected to be wiser and saner. Last time, he was foxed by the American Establishment, which managed to keep him preoccupied with one crisis after another while stalling his disruptive ideas and initiatives.

The truth is, for all his projected impulsiveness, eccentricities, and even villainy, Trump is a pragmatic person who means business and is good at clinching deals. One may paint him as a dark, unstable person, but to his credit, he ensured that during his term America didnt go to war  something which the suave, sophisticated, and peace-loving Democrats failed to do. While on the one hand the Americans under Joe Biden left Afghanistan in an embarrassing situation, they, on the other hand, got themselves entangled in a totally avoidable war in Ukraine.

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Trumps historic comeback, however, wont just cause a liberal meltdown but also put Left-liberal icons like Justin Trudeau and Volodymyr Zalenskyy in a state of shock. Trudeau would find it tough to come to terms with losing an ideological ally in the Oval Office, and worse finding a new president who isnt quite fond of him, especially at a time when he is waging a diplomatic war on India. It wont be surprising if Trudeau sends out truce feelers to Delhi sooner than later.

Its, however, Zelenskyy who would be having nightmarish thoughts. He has leased out Ukraine to the Americans to launch a war against the Russians. The new US Armys Commander-in-Chief isnt keen to continue this war. The very prospect of the Americans leaving Ukraine would be a frightening scenario of Zelenskyy.

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As for other big players, Europe will look at Trump 2.0 with a lot of concern. The president-elect has no time for the Eurocentric worldview and has repeatedly shown his weariness for NATO. China would be watching Trump cautiously. It would expect the US to further firm up its tariff war against Beijing. Also, Trumps Russia and India policy would be keenly watched and analysed in Beijing.

Among other major players, Russia would be relieved, hoping to see the back of the Americans from Kiev; Israel would be elated, especially amid the Gaza war, which was being minutely scrutinised by Kamala Harris, often sending contradictory signals and messages.

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As for India, it would be pleased with the return of Trump. One may now expect tougher economic negotiations between India and the US, and Trumps endeavour to bring factories back to America may clash with Narendra Modis Make-in-India initiative, but there will be greater trust between the two countries. Trump would be an inward-looking president who doesnt like snooping into the internal affairs of other countries, especially those he regards as allies and friends.

There has always been a tendency in the US administration to interfere into the internal affairs of other countries, which gets especially pronounced under the Democrats. However, under the Biden dispensation, especially in the second half of the term, the party was hijacked by the Leftist clique. And during this time, India saw increased and intense meddling attempts from the US administration, whether on the issue of religious freedom or diplomatic/geostrategic autonomy.

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There were also perceived attempts to influence the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India. The presence of Donald Trump, who enjoys good chemistry with Prime Minister Modi, would help shed trust deficits between the two countries.

PM Modi and Trump have worked with each other during their first term in office, when they were relatively new in the global arena. Today, Modi is the third-time Prime Minister, and Trump has made history to be the only second American to become President after a failed re-election bid. The two are going to dominate the global arena for the rest of the decade, the prospect of which is enough to send the woke, politically correct Left-liberal world order into a state of meltdown. The devastated liberals in the US may be rushing in to catch up with the last qawwali err jazz performance!

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
At a time when official legislation gives absolute power to Waqf Boards to spread their boundaries, more than doubling their properties in just over a decade, its a double whammy for Hindus to be even denied the right to judicial recourse read more

It was a show of strength. Thousands of Muslim community members gathered at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi to protest against the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill. The Bill, introduced in Parliament in August and currently being scrutinised by a parliamentary panel, aims to reform the management and utilisation of properties currently overseen by 32 Waqf Boards functioning across the country, each overseeing such properties within their respective state or Union Territory.

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Those present at the Indira Gandhi stadium saw the governments move as an assault on their religious identity and the Constitution of India. Ironically, its a misleading claim on both counts. One, Waqf isnt an integral part of Islam, with the term not even finding a mention in the Quran. Moreover, while India, which swears by a secular constitution, has made Waqf the centrepiece of its Muslim policy, Islamic countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Sudan, etc. havent even bothered to have a Waqf law, far less a Waqf Board.

Waqf, however, doesnt just lack the Qurans sanction; it also goes against the fundamental nature of the Constitution of India. A cursory look will tell us how antithetical the nature of Waqf is to the spirit of the original Constitution, which includes 22 illustrations, made under the guidance of Nandlal Bose, within its main body. The illustrations from the ancient era range from a Mohenjodaro seal to a scene of a Vedic ashram, and from Ramas victory over Ravan to Krishna propounding Gita to Arjun and Buddha delivering a sermon. The illustrations chosen to represent the mediaeval era are far more revealing: It has a Hindu sculpture from Odisha, the image of Nataraj, and a Mahabalipuram scene depicting the penance of Bhagiratha and the descent of Holy Ganga. Among Muslim themes, only the portrait of Akbar finds a space. The other two individuals who could make it to the mediaeval-era list were Shivaji and Guru Gobind Singh. And, in the modern era, Gandhis Dandi March and his visit to riot-hit Noakhali, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army found space, indicating how revolutionaries were not yet pushed on the margins.

The secularisation of the Constitution was thus a Nehruvian mischief that saw its beginning after the death of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in December 1950 and found its ascendency in the 1960s and 70s, pushing the country towards statist socialism and soulless secularism, much against the civilisational moorings of this land. (Those who now fashionably keep a copy of the Constitution in their pocket and swear by its sanctity forget that this text has been amended more than 100 times so far.) Before Independence, there was no Waqf Board in the country, and any Waqf-related dispute would be heard in a civil court. It was the Nehru dispensation that came out with a new Waqf Act, 1954, establishing Waqf Boards for the first time in the country.

The 1954 Act was repealed, and a new Waqf Act was passed in 1995, giving more powers to Waqf Boards. In 2013, this Act was further amended to give unlimited powers to these bodies to snatch anyones property, which could not be challenged in any court of law. Section 85 of the Waqf Act states that if you cannot satisfy the Waqf Board Tribunal that it is your land, then you will be ordered to vacate the land. The decision of the tribunal will be final. No court, not even the Supreme Court, can change the decision of the Waqf Tribunal. Similarly, Section 40 gives the Board power to decide if your land is Waqf or not. In fact, in the event of the Waqf Board laying a claim on a land, it is incumbent upon its owner to prove the ownership of the land, and not the board!

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Is it, therefore, any surprise that the properties of the Waqf Board, which were spread over four lakh acres of land in 2009, have more than doubled in just over a decade, making it the third-largest landowner in the country after the Army and the Railways? To add to it the vote-bank politics, and the Waqf Board becomes an unstoppable force in the country. In March 2014, for instance, just before the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress-led UPA government, realising that it would lose power in Delhi, gifted 123 prime properties in the national capital to the Delhi Waqf Board.

This brings us to the fundamental question: Whats the rationale of a religious law like the Waqf Act in a secular country like India? And if Muslims have a particular law, why is there no such legislation in favour of Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs? Why only for Muslims? In this backdrop, theres a growing clamour for the setting up of a Sanatana Board to look into the issues of temples and temple-related properties across the country.

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There is also a growing demand to do away with the Places of Worship Act, 1991, according to which the religious places in India that existed at the time of Independence will be retained as they are. In other words, Hindus in independent India would have no right to negotiate about their religious sites. It would remain the way it was betrothed to us by the British before leaving the country on August 15, 1947. This will be the case even when Hindus get fresh, clinching evidence of their religious sites being forcibly taken over and converted into mosques in the past.

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At a time when official legislation gives absolute power and authority to Waqf Boards to spread their geographical boundaries, more than doubling their properties in just over a decade, its a double whammy for Hindus to be even denied the right to judicial recourse. This is against the basic tenet of law to deprive a person the right to appeal and get justice if he or she has been targeted or discriminated upon in the past  and more so if theres evidence supporting it. This is nothing but institutionalised discrimination against a section of Indian citizens based on their religious identity. Time has come to do away with this state-sanctioned apartheid.

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Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election signifies more than just a personal triumph; it represents a decisive shift toward a more assertive foreign policy, one that embraces partnerships grounded in shared interests and mutual respect read more

One of the hallmarks of Trump's presidency is his focus on national security, and his victory sets the stage for a robust collaboration with India on counterterrorism. Image: REUTERS

In a stunning political landscape marked by fervent debates and impassioned rallies, Donald Trump has emerged victorious in the 2024 presidential election, reclaiming the White House amid widespread anticipation and speculation about the implications for both the United States and its global relationships.

As the dust settles from a heated electoral battle, the narrative of Trumps second term begins to take shape, weaving a complex web of promises and projections that could redefine Americas role on the world stage, particularly regarding its strategic partnership with India.

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With a renewed mandate, Trump steps back into office, bringing with him a resolute commitment to an America First agenda. This mantra resonates deeply with his supporters, who yearn for a robust American presence in global affairs. His approach to foreign policy is characterised by a determination to strengthen ties with India, a country he recognises as essential to US strategic interests in an increasingly multiplex geopolitical landscape. By sidestepping criticisms of Indias internal mattersparticularly concerning Jammu and KashmirTrump positions himself as a steadfast ally, respecting Indias sovereignty while forging a deeper partnership.

One of the hallmarks of Trumps presidency is his focus on national security, and his victory sets the stage for a robust collaboration with India on counterterrorism. Trump has long championed the importance of addressing security threats emanating from Pakistan, a stance that aligns closely with Indias own challenges. His administrations commitment to enhancing intelligence sharing and joint operations signifies a serious approach to addressing terrorism. This proactive alignment may fortify both nations defences, providing a united front against shared adversaries. As the world grapples with the complexities of security threats, this partnership could emerge as a crucial alliance in maintaining stability in the region.

Trade relations are another area poised for significant enhancement under Trumps leadership. His pro-business policies aim to dismantle trade barriers and promote investment, creating a favourable environment for economic cooperation. American businesses are eager to tap into Indias burgeoning market, which promises growth opportunities across various sectors, from technology to agriculture. Trumps focus on reducing regulatory hurdles could lead to a surge in bilateral trade, fostering economic integration that benefits both countries. This approach stands in contrast to Kamala Harriss proposed policies, which might have introduced stricter regulations and compliance standards that could complicate trade dynamics.

Culturally, Trumps presidency is likely to strengthen the ties between the United States and India. His vocal advocacy for religious freedoms resonates within the context of Indias pluralistic and inclusive society. By condemning religious persecution and supporting the rights of Hindus globally, Trump aligns himself with Indias efforts to promote global inclusivity. This commitment could foster goodwill between the two nations, enhancing their cultural exchange and mutual understanding. In contrast, Harriss approach, while supportive of human rights, may not have addressed the specific challenges faced by different communities in India, particularly Hindus, potentially limiting the depth of the relationship.

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As the geopolitical landscape becomes increasingly competitive, especially with the Chinese Communist Partys rising influence in the Indo-Pacific region, Trumps administration emphasises the need for a strong military presence to counterbalance this threat. His advocacy for the Quad Alliancecomprising the United States, India, Japan, and Australiademonstrates a commitment to collective security and stability. This alliance represents a strategic partnership that is likely to enhance Indias standing in the region while ensuring that the US remains a significant player in the Indo-Pacific. In contrast, Harriss diplomatic approach may have leaned towards multilateral engagement, focusing on dialogue without the same level of assertiveness that many view as necessary in countering regional threats.

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As Trump navigates the complexities of his second term, implications for US-India relations will become increasingly clear. His administrations focus on economic cooperation, security collaboration, and cultural understanding is expected to build a framework for a partnership poised to thrive in the coming years. The world watches closely, recognising that the choices made during this administration will resonate far beyond the borders of both nations.

In this new chapter, Trumps victory signifies more than just a personal triumph; it represents a decisive shift toward a more assertive foreign policy, one that embraces partnerships grounded in shared interests and mutual respect. The journey ahead is illuminated by the shared aspirations of two democracies ready to engage with the complexities of a changing world.

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Looking ahead, the potential for transformative collaboration between the United States and India is immense. As both nations navigate the challenges of the 21st century, they stand at the forefront of a new era of global engagement. The combination of Trumps commitment to economic revitalisation and national security, along with Indias ambitions on the global stage, creates an opportunity for a powerful partnership that can address the pressing issues of our time.

As the Trump administration sets its agenda, it is clear that India will play a central role in US foreign policy. The historical ties between the two nations, steeped in shared democratic values and mutual respect, provide a strong foundation for a future characterised by collaboration. The potential for joint initiatives in emerging technology, defence, and climate change is vast, and as both countries seek to assert their influence on the global stage, the US-India partnership will be a critical component of that strategy.

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Furthermore, Trumps approach to governance may resonate well with Indias leadership style, fostering a sense of camaraderie that extends beyond mere political manoeuvring. As both leaders navigate the complexities of domestic and international challenges, their ability to forge strong working relationships could yield significant benefits for their respective countries and the broader global community.

In conclusion, as Donald Trump embarks on his second term, the implications for US-India relations are profound. The potential for a transformative partnership, built on shared interests and mutual respect, is within reach. With a focus on economic growth, national security, and cultural exchange, both nations are poised to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world together. As history unfolds, the choices made during this critical juncture will undoubtedly shape the future of not only the United States and India but also the global order itself. The story of their collaboration is just beginning, and the world watches with keen interest as these two powerful democracies look to chart their course forward.

Rahul Pawa is an international criminal lawyer and director of research at New Delhi based think tank Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Firstpost.
The Democratic Party underestimated Donald Trumps ability to expand his base and misjudged the priorities of the American electorate read more

In a stunning turn of events, the highly anticipated election results defied expectations as voters delivered a decisive blow to Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite the pre-election polls predicting a tight race, the outcome was far from close. The big question now: What went wrong for Harris, and what went so right for Donald Trump?

Economic Concerns Drive Voters

The central issue driving voters this year was the economy, with 39% of voters listing it as their top concern. From sluggish job growth to ongoing recession fears, to the ever-growing cost-of-living crisis, economic dissatisfaction was palpable across the nation. The second most significant concern was immigration, with 20% of voters identifying the crisis at the southern border as their primary issue. Together, these two issueseconomy and immigrationaccounted for 59% of voter priorities, areas where Trump has long held strong positions.

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By comparison, abortionKamala Harriss key campaign platformranked third, with only 11% of voters placing it at the top of their list of concerns. In other words, while Harris made abortion rights the centerpiece of her appeal, it did little to sway the majority of voters.

A Missed Opportunity

Heading into the election, much of the speculation centered on demographic shifts. Experts predicted a surge of support for Harris among women, but the reality was more complicated.

Harris did win the majority of the female vote, with 54% of women backing her, compared to 44% for Trump. However, Trumps share among women was up 2% from the 2020 election, meaning he successfully expanded his coalition. While Harris maintained a slim advantage among Latino voters, winning 53% compared to Trumps 45%, Trumps support within the Latino community grew significantly, up 13% from 2020.

Among Black voters, Trumps support remained stable at 12%, with a slight increase of 1% among Black men. Harris, despite her position as the first woman of colour to hold the vice presidency, was unable to convince key voter blocs to rally behind her.

The Narrative That Backfired

It was widely assumed that Trumps rhetoric on race and immigration would alienate minority voters, but the reality was quite different. In fact, Trump made significant inroads with communities traditionally less supportive of him. His message on the economy and the border resonated across racial and gender lines, with voters showing more concern for these issues than the Democrats anticipated.

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One of the most striking findings from exit polls was that Trump managed to increase his support among women voters, even as his numbers among White voters dropped slightlydown 3% compared to the last election. Despite facing criticism over controversial comments and rhetoric, including inflammatory remarks about Puerto Rico and migrants, Trumps campaign managed to pivot effectively to focus on broader economic concerns.

The Key Issues

While Harris and the Democrats campaigned on themes of democracy, rights, and the dangers posed by Trumps denial of the 2020 election results, these issues didnt gain traction with voters. Instead, as Trump relentlessly hammered home the themes of the economy and immigration in the final days of the campaign, these issues emerged as the dominant forces in the election.

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Trumps focus on the border crisis, which Democrats largely downplayed, appeared to resonate deeply with voters. Additionally, issues like transgender rights, which became a major talking point for Democrats, failed to strike a chord. In fact, exit polls showed that 50% of voters believed transgender rights had gone too far, a sentiment that seemed to echo Trumps rhetoric on the matter, particularly regarding transgender women in sports.

The Democrats Miscalculation

The most significant takeaway from this election is the failure of the Democratic Party to read the room. While they focused on issues like abortion rights, Trumps appeal to voters concerned about the economy and immigration was spot on. The Democrats, on the other hand, miscalculated the concerns of the electorate, focusing too much on divisive cultural issues and not enough on the pocketbook issues that mattered most.

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Harris, despite being positioned as a figure of hope and change, was seen by many voters as a continuation of the Biden administration. She failed to distinguish herself from the status quo, and in the eyes of many voters, she became part of the problem, rather than the solution.

Conclusion

Ultimately, this election was a repudiation of the current administration, with voters casting their ballots against the status quo rather than in support of Trumps more controversial stances. His team read the electorates mood correctly, focusing on issues that were top of mind for voters, and their efforts paid off.

As the dust settles, the Democrats are left to reflect on what went wrong. The party underestimated Trumps ability to expand his base and misjudged the priorities of the American electorate. As history has shown time and time again, any political party that underestimates the voters does so at its peril.

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Apple may face one substantial fine followed by periodic penalties if it remains out of line with the DMA. However, its uncertain which specific DMA requirements Apple is failing to meet, or which particular actions have provoked the EUs latest scrutiny read more

This isnt the first time Apple has faced pressure under the DMA. Earlier in June, there were similar murmurs about a fine, though no action was taken at the time. Image Credit: Reuters

The European Unions recently enacted Digital Markets Act (DMA) might soon bring Apple its first hefty fine over non-compliance issues related to the App Store. Apple has been under intense scrutiny as it struggles to meet these new regulations, which aim to prevent major tech companies from monopolising digital markets. The heart of the issue lies in Apples anti-steering practices  rules that limit developers from directing users outside Apples ecosystem, which has repeatedly sparked criticism.

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According to Bloomberg, the EU is reportedly considering a significant fine against Apple, though the specifics remain unclear. This decision might be finalised before EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager leaves office in November, although its possible the penalty could be delayed until next year. If implemented, the fines could reach up to 10 per cent of Apples global annual sales or 5 per cent of its average daily revenue, and would likely include follow-up penalties for continued non-compliance.

Anonymous sources told Bloomberg that Apple may face one substantial fine followed by periodic penalties if it remains out of line with the DMA. However, its uncertain which specific DMA requirements Apple is failing to meet, or which particular actions have provoked the EUs latest scrutiny.

In Apples defence, the company has consistently claimed adherence to the DMAs guidelines, though its approach has been to continually adjust its internal policies to stay within legal bounds. Just recently, Apple made a notable move by stripping away almost all of its anti-steering practices and scrapping the Core Technology Fee for the vast majority of iOS apps. Yet, questions linger over whether these changes are sufficient or have even been fully implemented.

This isnt the first time Apple has faced pressure under the DMA. Earlier in June, there were similar murmurs about a fine, though no action was taken at the time. For now, the ball remains in the EU regulators court, as they assess Apples latest efforts and whether they meet both the letter and spirit of the law.

EU regulators argue that Apples tweaks may satisfy the technical requirements but fall short of the DMAs broader intent, which is to foster genuine competition and prevent big players from unfairly stifling smaller developers. The EUs aim is to provide developers with a level playing field and reduce reliance on the App Stores restrictive policies.

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This battle between Apple and the EU seems set to continue, with no clear resolution in sight. As the DMA enforcement intensifies, Apples strategy of incremental policy changes might no longer be enough to placate European antitrust authorities determined to keep big tech in check. For now, Apple faces the challenge of navigating this new regulatory landscape while balancing its commercial interests and compliance demands.
SpaceXs request comes from concerns over potential supply chain disruptions due to regional tensions, which made one supplier to shift to Vietnam. The move comes after one of Musks controversial comments about Taiwan, which he described as an integral part of China last year read more

Earlier this year, SpaceX representatives discussed setting up manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and sought advice on protecting intellectual property. Image Credit: Reuters

Elon Musks SpaceX has asked Taiwanese suppliers to move their manufacturing operations off the island, sparking a shift in production for some companies and highlighting the ongoing geopolitical sensitivities surrounding Taiwan.

According to sources close to the matter and corporate documents, SpaceXs request comes from concerns over potential supply chain disruptions due to regional tensions, prompting at least one supplier to shift operations to Vietnam.

A supplier providing components for SpaceXs Starlink internet satellites confirmed that SpaceX had advised them to relocate outside of Taiwan, with one subcontractor already moving production to Vietnam.

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Similarly, Chin-Poon Industrial, a satellite component maker for SpaceX, noted that it was asked to transition production from Taiwan to Thailand, primarily due to geopolitical concerns. Though SpaceX has not publicly commented on the matter, it appears the company is prioritising production stability in less politically volatile regions.

The move comes against the backdrop of Musks previously controversial comments about Taiwan, which he described as an integral part of China last year. This remark drew criticism from the Taiwanese government, underscoring the delicate nature of SpaceXs interactions with the island nation.

Meanwhile, China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military exercises around the island, a situation that has intensified since 2022 and now includes war games simulating a blockade.

In response, some Taiwanese companies in key industries, including satellite and semiconductor production, are already taking steps to reduce their reliance on domestic manufacturing, aiming to prevent potential supply chain setbacks.

Reports from Vietnam suggest that SpaceX has been considering the country as a new production hub. Earlier this year, SpaceX representatives discussed setting up manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and sought advice on protecting intellectual property.

Several Taiwanese companies have started transitioning production to Vietnam. Wistron NeWeb Corporation (WNC), a supplier to SpaceX, has begun producing Starlink routers and network gear at its Vietnamese facility in Hanam. With demand rising, WNC plans to double its workforce, evidenced by recruitment banners spotted at the factory.

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Other SpaceX suppliers, including Universal Microwave Technology, have also invested in Vietnam, establishing new factories in Southeast Asia to address customer concerns over geopolitical risks.

SpaceXs requests underscore the broader trend of companies diversifying their supply chains. As Vietnam becomes an attractive manufacturing alternative, Taiwans economy ministry has downplayed the potential impact, suggesting short-term political factors should not influence the satellite supply chain. Yet, SpaceXs pivot is a telling sign of how political dynamics are reshaping the tech manufacturing landscape.
LignoSats wooden panels, is made using magnolia wood using a traditional Japanese method that avoids screws and glue. This represents a novel approach to satellite design. Researchers believe wood could one day replace certain metals in space technology read more

Wood is expected to endure space conditions well, as the absence of water and oxygen removes risks of rotting or combustion. Image Credit: University of Kyoto

Japan has taken a step into sustainable space exploration by launching the worlds first wooden-panelled satellite, LignoSat, to test if wood can serve as a viable material for future space missions.

Developed by researchers at Kyoto University, the satellite weighs just 900g and was recently launched aboard a SpaceX mission headed to the International Space Station. Once it reaches its destination, LignoSat will be deployed into orbit around Earth, where it will spend six months testing the durability of timber in the harsh conditions of space.

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LignoSats wooden panels, crafted from magnolia wood using a traditional Japanese method that avoids screws and glue, represent a novel approach to satellite design. Researchers believe wood could one day replace certain metals in space technology, with potential applications for building colonies on the Moon or Mars.

Unlike on Earth, wood is expected to endure space conditions well, as the absence of water and oxygen removes risks of rotting or combustion, noted Professor Koji Murata from Kyoto University.

The concept of using wood in space may not be entirely new. Dr Simeon Barber from the Open University in the UK pointed out that wood, like cork, has already been used on spacecraft as a heat-resistant material during re-entry. The Soviet Union, for example, utilised cork to help lunar rovers grip the surface.

However, Dr Barber emphasised that wood presents challenges due to its unpredictable properties, making it difficult to use in critical structural components where strength needs to be accurately measured.

With LignoSat, scientists are keen to examine how timber holds up against radiation, temperature extremes, and the vacuum of space. The small satellites design combines wood with traditional aluminium structures, along with sensors to monitor the woods behaviour. While its not entirely made of wood, the experiment aims to uncover potential for wood as a sustainable, renewable material in spacecraft construction.

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In addition to its renewable nature, wood could be more eco-friendly than metals when satellites re-enter Earths atmosphere. As space debris has become a growing concern, materials that burn up with less pollution are attractive.

Dr Barber, however, remains sceptical that wood will solve the space junk problem, arguing that even though wood may reduce metal contaminants, more material might need to be carried in the first place just to ensure it burns up completely upon re-entry.

This mission serves as a step towards understanding the possibilities of wood in space technology, potentially inspiring a shift to more sustainable and innovative materials for future exploration.

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By partnering with major firms like Amazon Web Services, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, and Oracle, Meta is aligning its AI resources with the needs of US defence and intelligence operations. Previously, Metas policies strictly barred the use of Llama for military, warfare, or espionage activities read more

Within the tech industry, some employees have opposed their companies involvement in military projects, citing ethical concerns. Image Credit: Reuters

In a significant policy shift, Meta has announced that it will allow US government agencies and defence contractors access to its Llama AI models, citing national security interests. The decision, announced in a recent blog post, addresses concerns that Llamas open-access nature could enable foreign adversaries to exploit the technology.

By partnering with major firms like Amazon Web Services, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, and Oracle, Meta is aligning its AI resources with the needs of US defence and intelligence operations.

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Previously, Metas policies strictly barred the use of Llama for military, warfare, or espionage activities. However, the company has made an exception for national security projects in the US, as well as for similar agencies in allied countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Metas decision follows reports that Chinese military-linked researchers had used an older version, Llama 2, to develop a chatbot for defence purposes, which Meta condemned as an unauthorised use of its technology.

Among the companies integrating Llama for defence applications, Oracle is utilising the model to manage aircraft maintenance documents, while Scale AI is customising Llama to assist with specific mission requirements for national security teams. Lockheed Martin plans to deploy Llama for its defence customers in applications like computer code generation.

Despite Metas endorsement of open AI as a catalyst for innovation in defence, the use of AI in military applications remains contentious. According to a study by the AI Now Institute, AI models currently used for military intelligence and surveillance are vulnerable to biases, misinformation, and security risks.

The report highlights concerns over AIs tendency to hallucinate information and the potential for personal data to be weaponised if intercepted. The AI Now Institute advocates for isolating military AI models from those developed for commercial purposes to prevent risks associated with mixed-use technology.

Within the tech industry, some employees have opposed their companies involvement in military projects, citing ethical concerns. Employees at Google, Microsoft, and other tech giants have previously protested contracts that involve building AI tools for defence, and the debate around AIs ethical implications in warfare continues to simmer.

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Meta, however, insists that opening Llama to US defence agencies can advance the countrys security interests while fostering economic growth. Nevertheless, the US military has proceeded cautiously, with the US Army being the only branch so far to implement a generative AI tool in its operations. As the integration of AI in defence continues to evolve, Metas collaboration with the US government could set a precedent, paving the way for more private-sector tech giants to support military applications with advanced AI.
Around 20 Israeli strikes on the Baalbek-Hermel governorate killed 30 people and wounded 35, governor Bachir Khodr said on X read more

Civil defence members work at a site damaged in the aftermath of an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Barja, Lebanon on November 6, 2024. Reuters

Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed at least 30 people around the eastern city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley on Wednesday, according to the regional governor, and at dusk more strikes hit Beiruts southern suburbs.

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have exchanged fire for over a year in parallel with the Gaza war but fighting has dramatically escalated since late September, with Israeli troops intensifying bombing on swathes of Lebanons south and east and making ground incursions into border villages.

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Around 20 Israeli strikes on the Baalbek-Hermel governorate killed 30 people and wounded 35, governor Bachir Khodr said on X. The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

Israeli strikes have also battered Hezbollah strongholds in the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut. At least four strikes targeted the area on Wednesday after the Israeli military ordered residents to evacuate from several locations.

There was no immediate report on casualties or details on what was hit. The attack happened shortly after Hezbollah secretary general Naim Qassem said he did not believe that political action would bring about an end to hostilities.

He said there could be a road to indirect negotiations if Israel stopped its attacks. When the enemy decides to stop the aggression, there is a path for negotiations that we have clearly defined - indirect negotiations through the Lebanese state and Speaker (of parliament Nabih) Berri, said Qassem.

US diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which included a 60-day ceasefire proposal, faltered last week ahead of the US election in which former President Donald Trump recaptured the White House.

Rescuers dig for survivors

More than 3,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon over the last year, the vast majority in the past six weeks.

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Lebanese rescuers scoured a destroyed apartment building in the town of Barja south of Beirut for bodies or any survivors after an Israeli strike on Tuesday evening that killed 20 people there, Lebanons health ministry said.

Moussa Zahran, who lived on one of the upper floors of the building, returned to sift through the ruins of his home. His burned feet were wrapped in gauze and his son and wife were in hospital after being wounded in the strike.

These rocks that you see here weigh 100 kilos, they fell on a 13 kilo kid, he said, referring to his son and the apartment wall that had collapsed onto him during the strike.

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It was not immediately clear if the strike targeted a member of Hezbollah. There was no evacuation warning ahead of the air raid.

Hezbollah said on Wednesday it had fired missiles at an Israeli military base near Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli media reported a rocket had landed near the airport.

Later, the Israeli military said dozens of projectiles had crossed into Israel from Lebanon, some of which were intercepted.

Efforts to bring a diplomatic end to the conflict have stalled. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday appointed Israel Katz as his new defence minister, who vowed to defeat Hezbollah so that people displaced from northern Israel could return home.

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Berri - a Hezbollah ally and diplomatic interlocutor - met the U.S. and Saudi ambassadors to Lebanon on Wednesday to discuss political developments, his office said, without providing further details.

Lebanons caretaker prime minister meanwhile congratulated the president elect in the U.S., without naming Donald Trump.

Netanyahu hailed Trumps election, while senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Trump would be tested on his statements that he can stop the Gaza war in hours as president.
Trump in his victory speech said he would end all wars adding that there were no conflicts during his previous presidency read more

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at the election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida and declares victory. (Photo: AP)

While Donald Trumps victory came as a reason to celebrate for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas is not so psyched.

A leader of the terrorist group told AFP that the US under Trump should blindly support Israel as Joe Biden did during his presidency.

This blind support for the Zionist entity must end because it comes at the expense of the future of our people and the security and stability of the region, Bassem Naim, a member of Hamass political bureau, told AFP.

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Dont repeat Bidens mistake, Hamas said.

Catch all updates on US presidential election in our live coverage

Meanwhile, Netanyahu called Trumps victory the greatest comeback in history and welcomed a new beginning in the US-Israel alliance.

Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! the prime minister said.

Trump, on the other hand, in his victory speech said he would end all wars adding that there were no conflicts during his previous presidency.

The Republican leader has always maintained and claimed that if he were the president the war between Israel and Hamas would not have begun in the first place.

According to a report by the Times of Israel, Trump had told Netanyahu in one recent conversation that he wants Israel to end the war before he assumes office in the White House.

With inputs from agencies
The two sides are likely to discuss strategy on Ukraine, NATO and EU defence strategy, according to a report, citing officials read more

France and Germany urgently coordinated their response to a return of Donald Trump as US President on Wednesday, with Emmanuel Macron saying on X Berlin and Paris would work for a united, stronger more sovereign Europe within the new context.

In a separate message on X, Macron congratulated Trump and sought to play down previous differences.

France and Germany, the European Unions two main powers, are in delicate positions politically, with French President Macron losing much of his power after defeats in elections earlier this year and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz struggling to keep his coalition together.

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A hastily arranged bilateral between the countries two defence ministers will take place later on Wednesday in Paris, Frances defence ministry said.

The two sides are likely to discuss strategy on Ukraine, NATO and EU defence strategy, officials said.

Calls with Trump like sausages'

In his congratulation to Trump Macron said he was: Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

Macron, who has just over two years left as president, had an up and down relationship with Trump over the four years they were in power at the same time.

He initially adopted a more conciliatory tone, calling Trump a friend and even invited him to dine at the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day.

But as the years passed, policy decisions on climate, taxation and Iran in particular caused friction between the Trump and his European allies.

Macron once said phone calls he and other world leaders had with Trump were just like sausages: better not explain whats inside.

A European diplomat told Reuters on Wednesday, You need France and Germany to drive Europe of course, but France with Macron and Germany with Scholz - it will be difficult.

Commenting on Macrons comment praising the good cooperation he had with Trump, the diplomat added, I dont seem to remember it that way.

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Major demonstrations were held in Tel Aviv, where many thousands gathered and chanted anti-government slogans. Protests were also held in Jerusalem and Haifa read more

A handout photo released by his office on October 26, 2024, shows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF commanders in the bunker below the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv. File Image: Israel Prime Minister's office

Tens of thousands of Israelis marched on the streets of Tel Aviv after Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired the countrys Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The demonstrations were led by protest organizations called for Gallant Night 2, referencing the night of huge protests following the attempted sacking of Gallant during the judicial reform, before the Israel-Hamas war broke out.

Multiple highways and junctions were blocked and protests were held in dozens of locations across the country. Major demonstrations were held in Tel Aviv, where many thousands gathered and chanted anti-government slogans. Protests were also held in Jerusalem and Haifa.

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40 detained in Tel Aviv

According to Ynet News, by 1:30 am (local time), over 40 protesters were arrested in Tel Aviv. A physical confrontation was also recorded between the police and MK Gilad Kariv from the Labor Party at a demonstration in Tel Aviv. As thousands marched on, the police began using water cannons to disperse protesters from the Ayalon freeway.

Meanwhile, another Labour Party minister, Naama Lazimi. said that one of her advisers who serves as an officer was wounded in Gaza and was arrested during protests in Tel Aviv. Lazimi mentioned that he was arrested after he helped hostage families who were blocking roads at the protest.

   .    ,          ,             . @OrSzneiberg   Naama Lazimi -   (@naamalazimi) November 5, 2024

While protesters slammed the Netanyahu administration over Gallants exit, they also called for the immediate release of hostages who are still stuck in Gaza. We are not waiting for the heads of the economy and labour union, starting tomorrow, and without a time limit we are stopping the country, protest organizations said in a statement.

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Meanwhile, the Israeli police said that theyre taking measures to ensure security across the country. The Israel Police are present at protest locations across the country in substantial numbers, ensuring security and maintaining public order. Their objective is to balance protestors legitimate right to protest and the general freedom of movement for all, Israel Police said in a statement.

We urge protesters to adhere to the instructions of officers on the ground and to act in a manner that does not jeopardize the safety of protesters, law enforcement, or other road users, the statement further reads.

Families of Hostages condemn Gallants exit

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called the firing a direct continuation of efforts to sabotage a hostage deal. The families went on to urge Gallants replacement Israel Katz to explicitly commit to ending the war and to a comprehensive agreement for the immediate return of all hostages.

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The Forum went on to describe Gallants dismissal as a sad reflection of the flawed priorities of the Israeli government, insisting that Israel has already achieved its primary military goals in Gaza.

With inputs from agencies.
German Chancellor Scholz sacked his finance minister, Christian Lindner, on Wednesday. Scholz hinted at seeking a vote of confidence in the German parliament in January next year. read more

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired his rebellious Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Wednesday (November 6), effectively ending the nations three-party coalition government.

The decision followed weeks of intense disputes within the coalition, comprised of Scholzs Social Democrats, Lindners Free Democrats, and the Greens.

Scholz later held a press conference saying he would have spared Lindner especially in times like these, when uncertainty is growing, in an apparent reference to Republican leader Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election, but negotiations to salvage the coalition did yield desired results.

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The German chancellor also indicated that he would like to run the government till the end of the year, and seek a trust vote in January. He is unlikely to survive a vote of confidence in parliament after the collapse of the three-party coalition. Such a scenario would necessitate a snap election, which has been a rarity in German politics.

The chancellery confirmed the firing after a high-stakes meeting with senior members of all three parties, according to Scholzs spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit.

Lindner, a vocal advocate for economic reform, had pushed for substantial policy changes to revive Germanys struggling economy, clashing with the Social Democrats and the Greens. He had previously hinted at a possible split from the coalition, warning of an autumn of decisions as tough budget negotiations approached.

The Bild newspaper reported that Lindner expressed frustration during recent talks, stating there was insufficient agreement on economic and financial issues. He reportedly suggested the coalition consider new elections in early 2025, though Scholz dismissed the idea.

Lindner argued that Donald Trumps US election win had thrust into the spotlight the need for Germanys economic shift, making the proposed reforms even more critical.

If Scholzs coalition break-up holds, the Social Democrats and the Greens are expected to continue governing as a minority until the next scheduled election in September 2025.

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(With inputs from agencies)
Lodging a complaint with the UNs International Labour Organization, Lebanese Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram claimed the attack was an egregious war against humanity, against technology, against work read more

Pagers on display at a meeting room at the Gold Apollo company building in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on September 18, 2024. Reuters File/Representative image

Lebanon on Wednesday officially filed a complaint with the United Nations over Israels deadly device attack that killed several Hezbollah members as it exploded their pagers in September.

Lodging a complaint with the UNs International Labour Organization, Lebanese Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram claimed the attack was an egregious war against humanity, against technology, against work.

Its a very dangerous precedent, he told journalists in the Swiss city at an event organized by the UN correspondents association ACANU.

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The device attack of September

The device attacks were a catalyst for the Israel-Hezbollah conflict which has turned deadly with the country launching attacks in several parts of Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah operatives. The attacks followed the death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah along with other top leaders of the terrorist group.

Although Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, Lebanon says it is widely accepted internationally that Israel was behind this heinous act.

In a few minutes, more than 4,000 civilians fell, between martyrs and injured and maimed, Bayram said.

We are in a situation where ordinary objects, objects you use in daily life, become dangerous and lethal. If left unchecked, this crime could become normalized, he says, adding that filing the complaint is meant to prevent such crimes from happening in the future, he added.

Trump wins election

Meanwhile, Donald Trump won the US presidential elections, making a historic comeback to the White House. In his victory speech, the Republican leader touched upon the war and said he would end all wars in the coming years as he assumes office for the second time.

Hamas has said that it expects Trump not to repeat Bidens mistakes and blindly support Israel in its war efforts. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has said a ceasefire deal with Israel would not be dependent on the election results.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, on the other hand, congratulated Trump. He said, We are confident that the United States will support, under your leadership, the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.

With inputs from agencies
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dialed Donald Trump on Wednesday after Republicans stunning US election victory and discussed the Iranian threat to Israels security read more

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dialed Donald Trump on Wednesday after Republicans stunning US election victory and discussed the Iranian threat to Israels security.

The conversation was warm and cordial. The prime minister congratulated Trump on his election victory, and the two agreed to work together for Israels security. The two also discussed the Iranian threat, AFP quoted Netanyahus office as saying in a statement.

According to The Times of Israel report, citing Netanyahus office, he was among the first leaders to call Trump, and the conversation lasted some 20 minutes.

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Earlier today, Netanyahu posted a fulsome message congratulating the former president on his impending return to office.

Dear Donald and Melania Trump,



Congratulations on historys greatest comeback!



Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.



This is a huge victory!



In true friendship, pic.twitter.com/B54NSo2BMA  Benjamin Netanyahu -   (@netanyahu) November 6, 2024

Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! Netanyahu posted on X.

Trump on Wednesday won the US presidency for a second term in one of the greatest political comebacks in American history, edging past his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in a bitterly fought election.

The 78-year-old Republican leader cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency by securing a victory in the key battleground state of Wisconsin.

According to races called by the Associated Press up to 4 pm (IST), 277 electoral votes had gone to Republican candidate Trump and 224 to Democratic Partys Harris.

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With inputs from agencies
North Korean troops recently took part in combat in Russias Kursk region for the first time, according to a report, citing two US officials on Wednesday. read more

North Korean soldiers march during a mass military parade in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square to celebrate 100 years since the birth of North Korean founder, Kim Il Sung on April 15, 2012. AP File

North Korean troops recently took part in combat in Russias Kursk region for the first time, according to a Reuters report, citing two US officials on Wednesday.

According to one of the officials, speaking anonymously, the troops were engaged in fighting on November 4.

The officials did not disclose details about casualties or the nature of the combat, added the report.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that the first battles between the Ukrainian military and North Korean troops open a new page in instability in the world after his defence minister said a small engagement had taken place.

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According to a BBC report, in an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov had earlier confirmed that a small group of North Korean soldiers were attacked.

Ukraine claims that around 11,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in the Kursk border region, where Ukrainian forces have a presence.

In recent weeks, intelligence from South Korea, the US, and Nato has indicated that North Korean troops may be involved in Russias war.

However, both Moscow and Pyongyang have yet to respond to these allegations.

Ukraines top counter-disinformation official Andriy Kovalenko first said in a Telegram post on Monday that North Koreas first military units [had] already come under fire in Kursk, reported BBC.

Umerov confirmed this to South Korean broadcaster KBS, saying he expects a significant number of the North Korean troops to be engaged in combat, though he added it was so far just small contacts, not full-scale engagement.

Most of them are still undergoing training, he added.

Theyre wearing Russian uniforms, theyre undergoing tactical training, and theyre being deployed under various commands of the Russian army on the front lines, Umerov was quoted as saying.

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He said it was likely that five units, each consisting of around 3,000 soldiers, would be deployed across the battlefield.

He did not mention if there were any casualties.

With inputs from agencies
The Kremlin reacted cautiously to Donald Trumps victory in the election, expressing skepticism over his rhetoric on ending the Ukraine war and highlighting the US as a hostile state read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with US President Donald Trump during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. Reuters file

The Kremlin reacted cautiously on Wednesday after Donald Trump declared victory in the US presidential election, saying the US was still a hostile state and that time would tell if Trump rhetoric on ending the Ukraine war translated into reality.

Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis when the Soviet Union and the US came close to nuclear war.

Trump, a Republican, claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest after Fox News projected that he had defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Trump had made some important statements about wanting to end the Ukraine war during his campaign, but only time would tell if they lead to action.

Let us not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country, which is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state (in Ukraine)," Peskov told reporters.

Peskov said he was not aware of any plans by President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump on his victory and that relations with Washington were at an historic low.

We have repeatedly said that the US is able to contribute to the end of this conflict. This cannot be done overnight, but the US is capable of changing the trajectory of its foreign policy. Will this happen, and if so, how  we will see after (the US presidents inauguration in) January.

Russian and US diplomats say relations between the worlds two largest nuclear powers have only been worse during the depths of the Cold War. Russian officials from Putin down said ahead of the election that it made no difference to Moscow who won the White House, even as Kremlin-guided state media coverage showed a preference for Trump.

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Kirill Dmitriev, the influential head of Russias sovereign wealth fund, said a Trump victory could be a chance to repair ties.

This opens up new opportunities for resetting relations between Russia and the United States, added Dmitriev, a former Goldman Sachs banker who has previously had contacts with the Trump team.

In 2009, then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proposed a reset with Moscow, but due to an apparent translation error presented Moscow with a symbolic button labelled overload in Russian instead of reset.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Experts believe Trumps potential return to power would likely bolster Israeli interests, but caution remains due to his unpredictable foreign policy stance read more

Donald Trumps return to power in the United States will have a positive outcome on Israeli interests, several experts interviewed by AFP said on Wednesday.

Still, some were cautiously optimistic at the prospect of a second Trump term, given his unpredictability during his first term from 2017 to 2021, particularly when it came to foreign policy.

Why such enthusiasm over Trumps win?

Former president Trump favoured Israel many times in his first term, and Israeli leaders were among the first to congratulate him on Wednesday as soon as he claimed victory.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump over historys greatest comeback!, and newly appointed foreign affairs minister Gideon Saar hailed him as a true friend of Israel.

Opinion polls showed that 66 percent of Israelis wanted Trump back in power, with pundits pointing to his family ties to Israel and his daughters conversion to Judaism.

During his first term, Trump broke the historic US policy of neutrality over the status of Jerusalem, whose eastern half has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

As early as 2017, he recognised the city as Israels capital and the following year moved the American embassy there.

Trump also recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the strategic northern region annexed by Israel in 1967 and which the international community views as Syrian territory.

Trumps government also said it did not view Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal, despite international law saying they are.

Lastly, American diplomats in Trumps first administration largely facilitated the normalisation of Israeli ties with more Arab states, which Israelis view as a way of securing their countrys future.

What do Israelis expect from him?

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With Israel at war for more than a year and amid several diplomatic setbacks, Trumps win is a big emboldening for Netanyahu, according to Mairav Zonszein, an expert at the International Crisis Group, pointing to the two leaders similar political style.

She added that the result was hailed by the far right and the settler right in Israel, who expect a US policy that is more favourable to settlers in the West Bank.

Analysts noted that Trump will favour Israels interests on the international scene.

Considering what he said and what hes done before, we expect him to be tougher on Iran, said international relations expert Yonatan Freeman of Jerusalems Hebrew University.

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Freeman predicted new talks with Iran pushing for a better deal for Israels security, enabled by the new American president.

Several experts pointed to the issue of US military support. President Joe Biden waved this as a potential pressure point in Gaza war ceasefire talks, but it would no longer be a threat under Trump.

What are the main challenges?

It is sometimes preferable to deal with predictable people even if we dont really like them, rather than unpredictable people,, Yossi Mekelberg, an expert on Israeli geopolitics at Chatham House, told AFP.

Mekelberg pointed to past disputes between Trump and Netanyahu, including in 2020 when Trump saw Netanyahus congratulations to Biden on winning the election as a betrayal.

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Trumps statements since then have sometimes seemed contradictory, between his support for Israel and his wish for an end to the war in Gaza, despite overtures from Netanyahu.

In July, both men met when the Israeli prime minister visited the United States, suggesting that the two may have patched things up.

You cant really analyse someone that has no coherent line of thinking, Mekelberg concluded.

Zonszein said some Israeli leaders appear to have prematurely decided on Trumps position on Israels treatment of Palestinians.

Its not necessarily clear that he would kind of just stand aside while Israel continues to de facto annex the West Bank, she said, pointing to his past opposition to aspects of Israels annexation plan and his support for the Abraham Accords.

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The 2020 Abraham Accords saw Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates establish formal ties with Israel.

Because of strategic alliances and diplomatic dynamics, its not at all certain that Trump will be happy to support Israels war on all fronts, Zonszein said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver a concession speech at her alma mater Howard University at 4 pm on Wednesday, her office announced read more

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally on August 7, 2024, in Romulus, Michigan. AP File

Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver a concession speech at her alma mater Howard University at 4 pm on Wednesday, her office announced.

Kamala Harris hosted her election night watch party at Howard University on Tuesday, which served as her campaign headquarters.

While she did not address her supporters last evening, her campaign co-chair assured them she would speak on Wednesday.

But you will hear from her tomorrow because she will be back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only to address her supporters but to address the nation, NBC News quoted campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond as saying.

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Howard University is Harriss alma mater from where she graduated in 1986 with a bachelors degree in political science and economics.

Harris launched her first campaign on the university campus when she ran for freshman class representative, and returned in 2019 to announce her presidential run in for the 2020 election cycle.

Harris also used the campus as the site to prepare for her August debate against Donald Trump.

The speech comes after Trump won the US presidency for a second term in one of the greatest political comebacks in American history, cruising past Harris in a bitterly fought election.

The 78-year-old Republican leader cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency by securing a victory in the key battleground state of Wisconsin.

According to races called by the Associated Press up to 4 pm (IST), 277 electoral votes had gone to Trump and 224 to Harris.

Earlier, Trump addressed his supporters at West Palm Beach in Florida, declaring victory and promising a golden age of America.

With inputs from agencies
Even as election results have not been announced for any swing states, Republican candidates Donald Trump has a lead and is expected to win, according to top analyst Nate Cohn read more

Even though the election has not been called in any swing state, top election analyst Nate Cohn has said that Republican candidate Donald Trump appears to be the clear favourite to win.

Among the first wave of states where races were called, the results were among the expected lines. While Trump won in the conservative belt of the southern United States, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris won in the Democratic strongholds of East Coast.

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As per the latest tally with the Associated Press, Trump has won 214 Electoral College votes against Harris 179 to reach the victory mark of 270.

Even though results have not been declared for any swing state, Trump is ahead in Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Michigan, according to AP.

In the decisive state of Pennsylvania, Trump has flipped the early lead of Harris.

Catch all updates on the US election results in live coverage

Amid such circumstances, New York Times Chief Political Analyst Cohn said that Trump is running ever so slightly better than he needs to win in Pennsylvania.

Writing for the newspaper, Cohn noted that Trump was a clear favourite to win Georgia as 75 per cent of votes have been counted. He said that Harris would need to outperform in Atlanta to close the gap with Trump in the state.

Overall, Cohn said that Trump stands a narrow but clear favorite to win critical swing states of Georgia and North Carolina.

For the first time tonight, our estimates indicate that the race leans toward Donald Trump. He is a narrow but clear favorite to win Georgia and North Carolina. If he carries those states, Kamala Harris will probably need to sweep Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to win  a real possibility, but a tall order nonetheless. We have very little data from those states, and it will be a long time until we do, noted Cohn.

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China expressed hope for peaceful coexistence with the US as Trump looked set for his second term as the US president. Chinese spokeswomen Mao Ning said Beijing hoped that the two countries would approach bilateral ties with mutual respect read more

China said Wednesday it hoped for peaceful coexistence with the United States as Donald Trump neared a decisive victory over Kamala Harris in the countrys presidential election.

We will continue to approach and handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing.

Our policy toward the United States has been consistent, she added.

Mao did not comment directly on the possibility of Trumps re-election, but said the United States presidential election is an internal affair of the United States.

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We respect the choice of the American people, she said.

After the US election results are released and officially announced, we will handle related matters in accordance with usual practice, she added when asked if Chinese President Xi Jinping would call Trump to congratulate him.

The US election was closely watched in China.

As of 4:00 pm local time on Wednesday, topics related to Trumps election were among the top trending topics on the X-like Weibo platform.

Both candidates in this weeks race had pledged to get tougher on Beijing, with Trump promising tariffs of 60 percent on all Chinese goods coming into the country.

Analysts expect a major stimulus package  set to be unveiled at a meeting of top lawmakers ongoing in Beijing this week  to be larger in the event of a Trump victory.

Beijing as a matter of principle does not comment on other countries elections, though it said it opposes China being used as an issue on the campaign trail.

During his time as president, Trump launched a gruelling trade war with China, imposing swingeing tariffs on Chinese goods for what he said were unfair practices by Beijing such as theft of US technology and currency manipulation.

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Tensions hadnt abated under his Democratic successor, Joe Biden, with relations at their lowest levels in decades and Washington putting sharp new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, EV batteries and solar cells.

(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
The Blue Wall refers to a group of states that have consistently supported Democrats in presidential elections from 1992 through 2012. There are over 18 Blue Wall states and Washington, DC, which provide 238 electoral votes. While Trump is projected to win Pennsylvania, the blue map has surely shrunk for Democratic rival Kamala Harris read more

In the US presidential election, Republican candidate Donald Trump has a solidified lead over Democratic rival Kamala Harris after winning North Carolina, the first of the swing states.

However, the Harris camp remains optimistic about winning, calling the race razor thin. They say that the so-called blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin were her clearest path to victory.

But what exactly are blue wall states? And will they help Harris secure a historic win? We take a look.

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What are blue wall states?

The blue wall refers to a group of states that have consistently supported Democrats in presidential elections from 1992 through 2012. According to media accounts, the blue wall in the US is made up of 18 states and Washington, DC, which provide 238 electoral votes.

In 2016, former US President Donald Trump managed to turn around three of these states  Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania  breaking the long-standing trend. With a combined total of 44 electoral votes, these states helped Trump defeat Hilary Clinton in the 2016 election. Trump received 306 electoral college votes, even though he lost the national popular vote by about 2.9 million.

A voter colors the state of Illinois blue during an election night watch party, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. AP

President Joe Biden was able to reinstate the blue wall in 2020, regaining these states and earning 306 electoral votes  exactly the same number that Trump had received four years prior. The blue wall states were still fiercely contested battlegrounds, but Bidens nationwide lead in the popular vote grew to more than seven million.

The National Archives states that each blue wall state receives the following number of electoral votes: Wisconsin received 10 votes, Pennsylvania 19 votes, and Michigan 15 votes. According to the National Archives, current electoral vote allocations are based on data from the 2020 Census.

The blue wall states are once again too close to call in the ongoing presidential election, according to polls.

Trump has won North Carolina and is leading in all other battleground states. The former US President can reach the magic number (270) by carrying Georgia and Pennsylvania or by carrying Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. He also can win by carrying Wisconsin and Arizona, as well as other combinations involving Nevada. But that would require him to crack the blue wall of northern states.

Trumps lead in Pennsylvania is making it harder for Vice President Harris to win, which makes wins in Michigan and Wisconsin  two other blue wall states  all the more important. She could stand to lose in Wisconsin, but only if she wins Arizona. But the map has surely shrunk for Harris, who cannot lose more than one in the three-state northern arc.

With inputs from agencies
Harris loss points towards a critical shift in the Democratic Party as endorsements from legacy leaders like Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama no longer hold the sway they once did with todays evolving voter base read more

Kamala Harris loss in the 2024 presidential election is more than a setback for the vice president. Its a wake-up call for the Democratic Party. Her defeat highlights a bigger issue: the diminishing influence of legacy Democratic leaders as the partys core voter base shifts. Once-powerful endorsements from figures like Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton no longer resonate with an electorate seeking fresh ideas and bold policies revealing an urgent need for the party to realign with its evolving supporters.

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Waning power of legacy endorsements

Jimmy Carter: Just before his 100th birthday, Carters endorsement of Harris was heartfelt, symbolising his enduring loyalty to the party. But it also pointed out to a stark realitywhile Carter is revered, his influence has faded with time. Known for his commitment to diplomacy and human rights, Carter represented an era when idealism thrived. Yet, in todays polarised climate, his support did little to sway voters, particularly younger ones focussed on immediate issues like economic justice and climate action.

Barack Obama: Once the face of transformative hope and change, Obamas endorsement carried symbolic weight but fell short of bridging the divide between the Democratic establishment and its younger, more progressive base. Though his presidency introduced historic reforms, such as the Affordable Care Act, the political scenario has shifted dramatically since. For many younger voters, Obamas brand of optimism seems less relevant to their current concerns. Harris loss suggests that even Obamas influence is not enough to unify a party grappling with new priorities and internal divisions.

Bill and Hillary Clinton: Known for their centrist New Democrat approach, the Clintons represented a Democratic strategy that once sought to balance economic growth with social progress. Yet their influence now seems disconnected from a base leaning progressive. Bill Clintons policies of deregulation and global markets are increasingly seen as outdated, while Hillarys 2016 loss to Trump revealed her difficulty connecting with a changing electorate. Their endorsement of Harris showed the fading power of the party establishment, especially among younger voters more inspired by grassroots leaders like Bernie Sanders.

A party at a crossroads

Harris defeat sheds light on a critical issue: the Democratic Partys struggle to energise its own supporters. Despite endorsements from key former leaders, Harris failed to galvanise voters who feel disillusioned with a political system they believe is unresponsive to their needs. As Democratic legacy figures recede, the party must decide whether it will evolve with its supporters or risk losing touch altogether.

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Donald Trump has returned to the White House despite facing multiple criminal charges in both federal and state courts. With four major prosecutions ranging from election interference to classified documents, Trumps re-election raises questions about how his legal cases will progress read more

The mugshot of Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump is displayed on screens at a campaign event in Duluth, Georgia, US, October 23, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Donald Trump has returned to the White House despite facing multiple criminal and civil charges, making him the first US president to be elected while under active prosecution.

Trumps election victory has introduced complex questions around presidential immunity, the extent of pardon power, and how his legal battles will unfold during his term.

With four prosecutions covering both state and federal allegations, Trumps reelection has created a few legal uncertainties.

We take a look at the status of each case and any potential legal implications:

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New York hush money case

One of the most prominent cases against Trump involves the hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to these payments.

This conviction, part of a high-profile New York state prosecution, makes him the first former US president to be found guilty of a felony. New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan postponed sentencing until after the election to avoid any perceived impact on voters.

Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump reacts as the verdict is read in his criminal trial at Manhattan state court in New York City, US May 30, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. File Image/Reuters

Now, with Trump as president-elect, his attorneys are expected to request a further delay of the current November 26 sentencing date, seeking to avoid the unprecedented situation of sentencing a president-elect.

Under the US Constitution, the president has the authority to issue pardons for federal crimes, barring impeachment cases. However, this power does not extend to state offenses, and Trumps New York conviction falls under state jurisdiction.

Also Watch:

This means he cannot pardon himself for the 34 state counts against him, limiting his ability to avoid penalties if his conviction is upheld. The case may yet be influenced by recent Supreme Court rulings on presidential immunity, which Trumps lawyers argue should lead to a dismissal of the charges.

Judge Merchan is expected to rule on this argument by November 12. If the conviction stands, Trump could appeal it, potentially delaying a resolution even further.

Federal election interference case

One of Trumps two federal cases involves his alleged attempts to interfere in the 2020 election results. Trump has been charged with spreading misinformation about election fraud and attempting to block the certification of votes following his loss to incumbent President Joe Biden.

Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed to lead this investigation, has been a frequent target of Trumps criticism. Trump has pledged to dismiss Smith within two seconds of taking office, suggesting his intention to end the federal cases by dismissing Smith, a move within presidential authority.

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US Special Counsel Jack Smith makes a statement to reporters after a grand jury returned an indictment of former US President Donald Trump at Smiths offices in Washington, US, August 1, 2023. File Image/Reuters

This case is overseen by Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee. Trumps lawyers have cited a recent Supreme Court ruling, which grants presidents broad criminal immunity for actions related to their official duties, as a basis to narrow the charges against him.

Judge Chutkan will determine how much of the case remains viable under this interpretation, and any decision could be appealed to the Supreme Court before a trial begins. The federal judiciarys stance on prosecuting a sitting president remains ambiguous, especially with the immunity defence potentially shielding Trump from immediate prosecution.

Federal classified documents case

The second federal case centers on Trumps alleged unlawful retention of classified documents after his first term. Trump faces obstruction charges for purportedly attempting to prevent federal authorities from recovering these documents.

In July, US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, dismissed the charges, ruling that Smiths appointment was procedurally flawed. Smiths team has since appealed this ruling, hoping to reinstate the charges.

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Also Read | FBI raids Mar-a-Lago: A look at history and controversies of Donald Trumps Winter White House

The appeal process could prove irrelevant if Trumps promise to fire Smith is fulfilled, as he could effectively terminate the case upon taking office. Additionally, Trump could explore a self-pardon in this case, although the Constitution remains ambiguous on the legality of self-pardons, and no previous president has attempted it.

If the self-pardon attempt fails and Cannons dismissal is reversed, the federal case could proceed in the courts, albeit with Trumps re-election.

Georgia racketeering case

The final case against Trump originates from Georgia, where state prosecutors charged him under racketeering laws in connection with alleged efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis invoked racketeering laws originally used to target organised crime, resulting in charges against Trump and 14 co-defendants, including former associates Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows.

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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a news conference, August 14, 2023, in Atlanta, US. File Image/AP

The Georgia case remains a legal outlier because, as with the New York case, Trump cannot use his federal pardon power here. Moreover, as a state case, it falls outside federal jurisdiction, leaving Trumps ability to influence the proceedings limited.

His lawyers have sought to delay the case and have also moved to disqualify Willis, alleging conflicts of interest related to her personal relationships. Oral arguments on this disqualification motion are scheduled for December 5.

Also Read | Republicans retake the Senate: Why does the US Senate race matter?

Even if the appeal to disqualify Willis fails, legal experts predict the case may remain on hold for the duration of Trumps term.

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Additionally, multiple co-defendants, including Meadows and Jeffrey Clark, have filed separate motions to transfer their charges to federal court, which, if granted, could extend the timeline for proceedings. Meadows motion is due to be considered by the US Supreme Court in its upcoming conference, which will determine whether the court will take up the issue.

Questions remain unanswered as Trump wins

As Trump resumes office on January 20, legal analysts suggest his presidential immunity could prevent any active prosecution against him at the federal level, and a self-pardon attempt could set a controversial precedent.

In state cases, the limits on his powers are clear, although Trumps legal team may still use constitutional arguments to stall proceedings.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump is accompanied by family members as he addresses supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Despite these complexities, Trumps reelection has effectively shielded him from the immediate legal consequences he might have faced outside office. His criminal defence strategy now rests on leveraging the protections and powers of his presidential role.

Winning the election was Trumps strongest defence  and well.

Also Read | Zelenskyys bane, Netanyahus gain: Why Donald Trumps win is bad news for Ukraine but not for Israel

With inputs from agencies
Not only is Donald Trump set to return to the White House, he will also become the first Republican to win the popular vote in two decades. But what is the popular vote? How did he pull it off? And who which Republican won it last? read more

Republican presidential nominee former president Donald Trump speaks at the election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida and declares victory. (Photo: AP)

Donald Trump has been elected the 47th President of the United States.

Trump has become just the second man to win non-consecutive terms after Grover Cleveland.

Perhaps even more impressively, Trump looks set to become the first Republican to win the popular vote in two decades.

Thank you very much. Winning the popular vote was very nice, very nice, I will tell you," Trump said.

But what is the popular vote? How did things work in Trumps favour? And who won it 20 years ago?

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Lets take a closer look:

What is the popular vote?

First, lets briefly look at the Electoral College.

The United States relies on the Electoral College  a relic from its Constitution  to elect the president.

To become president, a candidate must cross the magic mark of 270 Electoral Votes out of an available 538.

Trump did this by clinching the swing state of Wisconsin with its 10 Electoral Votes.

On the other hand, you have the popular vote.

This refers to the number of Americans who vote across all 50 states.

However, the winner of the popular vote nationwide does not necessarily win the presidency.

This is because Americans dont actually vote directly for the president.

When American voters go to the polling place on Election Day, they arent voting for a specific candidate, Harvard Kennedy School explained to NBC. Instead, theyre voting for a group of electors who have pledged to support their candidate of choice. Generally, these electors are picked by state parties. They tend to be individuals who are active in their party, such as elected officials and political activists.

Democrats constant victories in popular vote

In the past 20 years, the Democratic have consistently won the popular vote over the Republicans.

In 2020, Joe Biden beat Trump by 4.5 per cent in the popular vote.

Biden won 81 million votes, while Trump netted 74 million votes.

Meanwhile, Biden got 306 Electoral College votes, while Trump got 232 Electoral Votes.

Trump at the time took over the unwanted distinction from Clinton of becoming the losing candidate who received the most popular votes in history.

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In 2016, Hillary beat Trump in the popular vote by over two percentage points.

Clinton got 65 million votes, while Trump received 62 million votes.

However, Clinton lost the presidency to Trump, receiving just 232 Electoral Votes compared to 304 Electoral Votes for the then Republican candidate.

In 2012, Barack Obama received around 66 million popular votes, while his opponent Romney got around 61 million votes across America.

Obama received 332 Electoral Votes, while Romney got 206 Electoral Votes.

In 2008, Obama received 69.5 million votes compared to 59 million popular votes for his opponent John McCain.

Obama got 365 Electoral Votes compared to McCains 173 Electoral Votes.

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George W Bush was the last Republican to win the popular vote in 2004.

George W Bush was the last Republican to win the popular vote. AP

Bush secured 62 million votes compared to his Democratic opponent John Kerry who won 59 million votes.

Bush, the incumbent, received 286 Electoral Votes, while Kerry got 251 Electoral Votes.

Prior to that, the Republicans last won the popular vote all the way back in 1988.

This was when George HW Bush defeated Michael Dukakis.

How did Trump pull it off?

The vote count is still under way, but according to AP, the vote tally for the popular vote stands at 51 percent votes for Trump and 47.5 percent for Harris.

Out of the swing states, AP has projected a Trump win in North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Michigan and Nevada are yet to be called.

Republican efforts to appeal to Black and Latino voters appear to have paid off.

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White women again seem to have gone for Trump.

According to Politico, Trump has improved his margins over 130 counties in the Blue Wall counties that have reported full or nearly full results.

The average shift to Trump has been 1.3 per cent among all these counties.

Harris also underperformed relative to Biden in 2020.

CNN displayed a map showing that Harris did not outperform the incumbent president in a single county across the country.

With inputs from agencies

Get all the latest updates of US Elections 2024
As Trump improves across a broad swath of the counties, the prospects of Harris winning 270 electoral votes are getting narrower read more

As former US President Trump takes a major lead in the 2024 US Presidential Elections, one trend which is becoming clearer is the fact that the Republican presidential rival is improving on his 2020 margins. According to Politico, while most of the 1,300 counties, where Trump dominated, arent in the battleground states, they seemed to be inclining more towards Trump than they did in 2020 polls.

The early results encompass a range of heavily red, purple and even light blue counties. As Trump improves across a broad swath of the counties, the prospects of Harris winning 270 electoral votes are getting narrower.

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According to The Associated Press, across more than 1,300 counties where at least 95 per cent of votes counted, Trump has improved on his 2020 margin in 92 per cent of them. According to Politico, the median county shifted a bit under two points in Trumps favour. Interestingly, the former presidents greatest improvements came in Florida, the once-competitive state that has shot toward the right over the past few election cycles.

Trump also has improved in Democratic areas such as the blue suburbs of northern Virginia, which had moved against him from 2016 to 2020, including Loudoun and Prince William counties.

Trump wins two key swing states

The chances of Harris to be the first woman to be the President of the United States looked bleak as Trump is projected to win North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania, three of the seven crucial battleground states. While Harris hopes to gain back the lead in Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada, with Pennsylvania going into the hands of Trump, Harris has lost all her cards.

Trumps new government is also expected to be more powerful as Republicans flip the Senate red with wins in West Virginia and Ohio. Counting also continues in Arizona and Nevada, however, the Decision Desk Headquarters already projecting Trump to be the winner of the 2024 race, The Hill reported.

While Trump is all set to address the gathering jubilant gathering in Palm Beach, Harris has decided to not make any speeches today.

With inputs from agencies.

Catch all updates on the US presidential election in our live coverage .
With wins in swing states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Donald Trump has retaken power in America. We take a closer look at how the country voted. Which states picked the former US president and which went Kamala Harris way? read more

Supporters of Donald Trump react next to screens showing him speak from the Palm Beach County Convention Center, as they attend the New York Young Republican Club watch party during the 2024 US presidential election, in Manhattan, New York City. The Republican nominee is on course to win the election. Reuters

Its been a nail-biting US presidential election, with Donald Trump clinching a victory at the polls.

Republican nominee Donald Trump has won 276 Electoral College votes, while Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has won 223, according to media projections.

Winning individual states is a bigger deal in the US election than winning the popular vote. Each state has a set number of electoral college votes based on its population.

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States in the US are also colour-coded. Republican states are red, while Democratic states are blue. However, the most crucial are the purple swing states, which decide the election.

We take a look at the states that Trump and Harris need to win. And where do they stand now?

How swing states voted

Swing states are the most important in the US election. They are not blue or red but are colour-coded purple. They are not aligned to one party and hence play a big role in deciding the elections.

Trump is projected to win in four of the seven states.

North Carolina: CNN and AP have projected Trump will win the battleground state of North Carolina. It has 16 electoral votes. Republican voters in North Carolina cast ballots in greater numbers than four years ago, while Democratic turnout sagged, reports AP.

Trump won the state in 2020 and in this election, his performance has improved in the Republican areas of the state.

Georgia: CNN and AP have projected a Trump victory in Georgia. In 2020, he lost the state by just under 12,000 votes. He reclaimed it by notching microscopic but difference-making improvements in his vote totals in dozens of deeply red counties, many of them small and rural.

Pennsylvania: Trump has been declared the winner in the crucial state of Pennsylvania. It has 19 electoral votes.

President Joe Biden, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, flipped the state in 2020, winning by just over 80,000 votes. In 2016, Trump became the first Republican to win Pennsylvania since George HW Bush in 1988, reports CNN.

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Trump reclaimed Pennsylvania by improving his margins across the state, shaving Democratic President Joe Bidens 2020 win in PDonald Trump is now US president-elect: Which states voted for him?

hiladelphia, expanding his dominance in rural parts of the state, and flipping key suburban counties to the GOP column.

A projection regarding Pennsylvanias electoral votes is shown at Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trumps election night watch party in Palm Beach County Convention Centre, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Reuters

For Harris to stand a chance, she would have needed to win in Pennsylvania, which is a Blue Wall state.

Wisconsin: News agency AP declared Trump the winner in Wisconsin. With this, he secured 10 electoral votes. Wisconsin was one of the three Midwestern blue wall states that supported Trump in 2016 and President Joe Biden in 2020.

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The election is yet to be called for the other remaining states of Nevada with six electoral votes, Arizona with 11, and Michigan with 15.

For Harris to win, she would have needed to sweep the two Blue Wall states of Michigan and Wisconsin. She could afford to lose in Wisconsin, but only if she won in Arizona. However, now there is little hope for the vice president.

Chocolate bars with the faces of Democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump are displayed at a store in John F Kennedy International Airport, New York. File photo/Reuters

How red states fared

Red states are the ones, which are have voted for Republicans over the years and are expected to be won by Trump. Voters in these states largely align with conservative values, individual liberties and limited government intervention and come from predominantly rural and suburban populations.

States like Texas, Alabama, and Wyoming are among those classified as red.

As results are coming in, US media projected that Trump has won in several red states.

Alabama: AP has called this race for Trump, winning nine electoral votes.

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Arkansas: Trump has won in this state, which has six electoral votes.

Florida: The former president has bagged Florida, which was once a swing state but is now reliably red. It has 30 electoral votes.

Supporters of Trump react as Trump speaks from the Palm Beach County Convention Centre, as they attend an election watch party at Maricopa County Republican Committee during the 2024 US presidential election in Chandler, Arizona. Reuters

Idaho: CNN has projected that Trump will win Idaho, which has four electoral votes. Trump won the state in 2020.

Indiana: Trump is projected to win Indiana, which has 11 electoral college votes.

Kansas: The former president will win Kansas, which has six electoral votes. He carried the state in 2020 even though Joe Biden won the presidential election.

Kentucky: Kentucky has gone the way of the Republican nominee, with eight electoral votes.

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Lousiana: Trump has won in Louisiana, according to AP. The red state has eight electoral votes.

Mississippi: Trump has won Mississippi yet again. AP called this race with six electoral votes.

Missouri: With 10 electoral votes, Trump is projected to win Missouri, says AP.

Montana: The Republican presidential nominee is expected to win this state. He won it in 2020 as well.

North Carolina: With 16 electoral votes, AP has called North Carolina for Trump.

North Dakota: Trump has secured North Dakota, which has three electoral votes.

Ohio: AP has called this race with 17 electoral votes for Trump.

Oklahoma: Trump has won Oklahoma with seven electoral votes.

South Carolina: The state has gone to Trump. It has nine electoral votes.

South Dakota: Trump has won this race, according to AP. It has three electoral votes.

Tennessee: AP has called this race in Trumps favour. It has 11 electoral votes.

Texas: Trump has secured Texas in the third election race, winning 40 electoral votes. It has voted for a Republican presidential nominee for the last 50 years.

Utah: With six electoral votes, Utah has gone to Trump.

West Virginia: Trump has won West Virginia, says AP. It has four electoral votes.

Wyoming: Trump has won Wyoming which has three electoral votes.

How blue states voted

Blue states tend to back progressive policies and social justice. These comprise predominantly urban voters. States like California, New York and Illinois are considered blue.

These blue states have gone the Harris way, according to media projections.

California: CNN projected Harris will win California, which boasts the largest number of electoral votes: 54.

Colorado: Harris won in Colorado. It has gone from battleground to blue in recent years. It has 10 electoral votes.

Connecticut: With seven electoral votes, Connecticut has gone to Harris.

A supporter reacts to early election results at Democratic presidential nominee US Vice President Kamala Harris election night rally during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, at Howard University, in Washington. Reuters

Delaware: Harris has won Delaware, which has three electoral votes.

District of Columbia: Harris has won here. It has three electoral votes.

Hawaii: AP has called the race for Harris. The state has four electoral votes.

Illinois: The vice president has won here. It has 19 electoral votes.

Maryland: Maryland, with 10 electoral votes, has gone to Harris.

Massachusetts: With 11 electoral votes, Harris has bagged Massachusetts.

Minnesota: Harris is projected to win this state, which has 10 electoral votes.

New Jersey: The vice president will win New Jersey, according to CNN, where 14 electoral votes are at stake. Biden won the state in 2020.

New Mexico: Harris has won this state which has five electoral votes.

New York: AP has called New York for Harris. It has 28 electoral votes.

Oregon: Oregon has picked Harris with eight electoral votes.

Rhode Island: Harris has won Rhode Island, says AP.

Vermont: This state has gone to Harris with three electoral votes.

Virginia: Harris wins Virginia with 13 electoral votes.

Washington: The vice president has won Washington, garnering 12 electoral votes.

However, with the swing states favouring Trump, Harris stares at a big defeat.

With inputs from agencies
Donald Trump is projected to win the US presidential elections, defeating Kamala Harris. The 78-year-old former president has turned many American states ruby-red. How did he go about making history? read more

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, joined by wife Melania Trump and son Barron Trump, as he arrives to speaks at an election night watch party. AP

It looks like America has made its decision and we are on the path of seeing a comeback of Donald Trump.

US media have thus far projected that the former US president has won in 24 states, including big prizes Texas and Ohio, key battlegrounds Georgia and North Carolina and other reliably Republican-leaning states whereas his rival, Kamala Harris has captured 15 states including big electoral vote prizes California and New York  as well as the US capital Washington.

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Some reports show that the 78-year-old Republican is improving on his 2020 margins. According to a Politico analysis, Trump has improved on his 2020 margin in 92 per cent of them. His greatest improvements came in Florida. He also improved in Democratic areas such as the blue suburbs of northern Virginia, which had moved against him from 2016 to 2020, including Loudoun and Prince William counties.

These results contradict the exit polls that predicted a win for Kamala Harris. But how did this happen? What seems to have worked in Trumps favour?

Strong anti-incumbency feelings

If theres one big reason why Donald Trump is on the path to victory in this White House race it is the strong anti-incumbency feeling that pervaded in the US.

In an ABC/Ipsos poll released on Sunday, voters said they think the country is heading in the wrong direction  74 per cent said so. Since 1980, this number of the number of voters who think the nation is heading in the wrong direction has been a surefire predictor that the party in power would lose the White House.

Notably, this is a trend being seen worldwide. Ruling parties have either lost seats or control of government altogether in Japan, Austria, and Britain, among other nations.

Supporters of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump celebrate as Fox News declares him the next president of the United States during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Centre in West Palm Beach, Florida. AFP

In the US campaign, sensing this anti-incumbency feeling, Harris tried to sell herself as a candidate of change. But, with being the current vice president and Trumps constant attempts to link her to Biden, it seems voters chose otherwise.

It seems that Trumps remarks on the economy have also resonated with the American voter. Prior to the polls, a whopping 62 per cent of people believed that the economic conditions in the country were worsening. This despite prices climbing just 2.1 per cent in September over a year earlier, and the economy growing at 2.8 per cent in the last quarter.

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Immigration

Another factor that swayed in Trumps favour is immigration, or in his case, how illegal immigration poses a threat to the American public. Throughout his campaign, he has emphasised his tough stance on immigration. He has criticised President Biden for not effectively handling the crisis at the southern border and has targeted Kamala Harris, calling her the border czar and blaming her for the issues there.

In a contentious debate, Trump even made a false claim that illegal immigrants in Ohio were attacking pets and harming locals.

A supporter of Donald Trump hugs a cardboard cut-out of Trump as she reacts to election results while attending the New York Young Republican Club watch party during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, in Manhattan, New York Cit. Reuters

And it seems that his message resonated with the US voter. When Gallup recently asked voters which party is better able to handle the issue that matters to them most  whatever that issue may be  they trusted the Republicans over the Democrats by a 46 per cent to 41 per cent margin.

The gender factor

When Donald Trump initially won the US presidential elections, he defeated Hillary Clinton. This time, its Kamala Harris. This suggests that many voters have trouble envisioning a woman in the Oval Office.

A New York Times poll in October found that Trump was more favourable among male voters compared to Kamala Harris  55 per cent to 41 per cent.

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Additionally, Trumps uninhibited style, along with his promises of a booming economy, found a voice with Black and Latino men. That helped him chip away at a vital part of the Democratic base.

Supporters watch returns at a campaign election night watch party for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Palm Beach Convention Centre, in West Palm Beach, Florida. AP

His persona of being a strong man with strong views and putting America first is also a factor contributing to his win. His remarks on ending the ongoing wars  even though he hasnt provided any concrete steps  won the people over, it seems. The Ukraine war has dragged on, powered by huge financial support from the US. However, many Americans dont see value in this spending.

Donald trumps the rural vote

Its not surprising that Donald Trump has won big in the rural areas of the US. However, that Trump was able to extend his lead in the areas is significant. In rural counties across Pennsylvania, for example, the general trend as votes were counted was that Trump was able to both increase turnout and increase his margin of support in the GOP heartland.

One obvious example of this rural surge: Lackawanna County, home to President Joe Bidens hometown of Scranton, swung 5.6 points to the right from 2020  even though Kamala Harris still looked on track to win the county by the smallest of margins, reported Vox.

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With inputs from agencies
With Donald Trump winning another term in the White House, global tensions in Ukraine and Gaza could take a sharp turn. Trump has promised swift action, including ending the Ukraine war within 24 hours, though details remain vague. His stance on Israel hints at fewer US constraints, allowing the Jewish nation greater freedom in Gaza read more

Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, US, September 27, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Former United States President Donald Trump has won another term at the White House as he secures a decisive victory at the 2024 US presidential elections.

Trumps re-election has however sparked intense debate around its potential impact on international conflicts, particularly the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza. When Trump assumes office, stakeholders will wait and see how his administrations policies may reshape US involvement and support in these war zones.

In his victory speech, Trump said, Im not going to start wars, Im going to stop warsWe had no wars, for four years we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS.

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How will Trumps victory affect the Russia-Ukraine war?

Trump has repeatedly claimed he would end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours if re-elected, though he has yet to detail the specifics of his plan. Analysts speculate that Trumps strategy might involve pressuring Kyiv to reach a settlement with Russia, potentially involving territorial concessions to Moscow.

His stance has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials and NATO allies, who fear a possible halt in military support critical to Ukraines resistance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his win in a post on X and recalled their meeting in New York in September.

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory!



I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

Since Russias invasion in February 2022, the US has allocated more than $108 billion in aid to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute of the World Economy. This figure includes military, humanitarian, and economic assistance.

Kyivs reliance on this aid has been essential in holding off Russian advances in both the Donbas and southern Ukraine. Any reduction or cessation of this support would significantly weaken Ukraines defence capabilities.

Also Read: Why a negotiated end to the Ukraine War is difficult now

Trump has also criticised Zelenskyy, calling him the greatest salesman on earth for securing such substantial aid. His running mate, JD Vance, echoes Trumps scepticism regarding continued aid, suggesting that the US should encourage Kyiv to pursue a peace deal with Russia.

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This hard-line stance has led some in Ukraine and Europe to worry that a second Trump administration could pressure Kyiv into making territorial concessions.

Will Trumps presidency end the Israel-Gaza conflict?

Trumps unwavering support for Israel has been a cornerstone of his foreign policy, with direct implications for the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Trump reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to wrap up the current conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon by January.

This request, if acted upon, would likely intensify Israels military operations, potentially leading to further escalations in the region.

Trumps pro-Israel stance was also highlighted in his recent statement: Anybody whos Jewish and loves being Jewish and loves Israel is a fool if they vote for a Democrat.

Netanyahu was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump on winning another term in the White House, writing on X that the development was a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.

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Dear Donald and Melania Trump,



Congratulations on historys greatest comeback!



Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.



This is a huge victory!



In true friendship, pic.twitter.com/B54NSo2BMA  Benjamin Netanyahu -   (@netanyahu) November 6, 2024

Shmuel Rosner, an Israeli commentator speaking to NPR, has noted that Trumps re-election would likely provide Israel with more autonomy in its military strategy against Gaza, with fewer constraints from the US compared to a Democratic administration.

Speaking about Gaza, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner has advocated for cleaning up Gaza, describing its waterfront property as very valuable. Kushners remarks have sparked both intrigue and criticism, with some viewing his statement as an indication of a possible Trump administration policy aimed at reshaping Gazas infrastructure, albeit controversially.

How will Trump approach Iran this time?

Another critical issue is Trumps approach to Iran. During his first term, Trump imposed heavy sanctions on Iran, aimed at curtailing its nuclear program and weakening its influence in the region.

He has indicated that he may resume or escalate these sanctions, targeting nations that trade with Iran. Iran was broke now Iran has $250 billion, Trump said that the Biden administration had revitalised Irans economy through softer policies.

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Also Read: Trump encourages Israel to hit Irans nuclear facilities

Trump has pledged to end what he describes as the crises instigated under Bidens administration, positioning his foreign policy as tougher on Iran.

During his campaign, he declared that any group holding US hostages would face severe repercussions. Currently, at least seven Americans are believed to remain in Hamas captivity, with three reportedly deceased.

Will Trump get along with NATO & EU?

In addition to these regional conflicts, Trumps re-election has generated concerns among NATO allies. During his previous term, Trump frequently criticised NATO members for insufficient defence spending, and he even threatened to withdraw the US from the alliance. Such actions could strain US-EU relations and potentially weaken NATOs collective security.

European leaders, particularly in the EU, are watching closely to assess how Trumps policies might impact European security and economic support for Ukraine.

While Kamala Harris had pledged continued support for Ukraine, analysts warn that funding fatigue in the US could pose challenges for any administration. Congressional dynamics post-election could play a critical role, determining whether aid to Ukraine persists or faces new restrictions.

With inputs from agencies
As Donald Trump prepares for a second term, his potential Cabinet selections offer a mix of loyal allies, former senior officials, and a few surprising names. Brooke Rollins, a former Trump policy adviser, is leading the list for White House chief of staff, while familiar faces like Mike Pompeo and Tom Cotton are contenders for defence secretary. Who will make the final cut? read more

Robert F Kennedy Jr and Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump greet each other at a campaign event in Duluth, Georgia, US, October 23, 2024. File Image/Reuters

As Donald Trump prepares for his second presidential term, speculation is rife about who might fill top roles in his Cabinet.

Trumps first administration faced challenges, particularly due to some officials distancing themselves and publicly criticising him, including his own vice president at the time.

This time, however, Trump aims to surround himself with loyal allies who align closely with his America-First agenda.

We take a look at the top contenders whose names are doing the rounds:

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White House Chief of Staff

Brooke Rollins

Brooke Rollins, a former Trump administration adviser and current head of the America First Policy Institute, stands out as a key candidate. With experience running the Domestic Policy Council during Trumps first term, Rollins is well-versed in Trumps policy agenda and has the presidents trust.

Known for her role in advancing Trumps criminal justice reform initiatives, Rollins has been a close confidante of Trumps inner circle and remains a prominent name.

Kevin McCarthy

Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy is another name floated for the chief of staff role. Despite a sometimes rocky relationship, McCarthy and Trump have maintained consistent communication.

US Vice President Kamala Harris and US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy speak on the podium of the US Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, US, June 22, 2023. File Image/Reuters

McCarthys extensive legislative experience and Capitol Hill connections could be assets for advancing Trumps agenda in Congress.

Susie Wiles

Campaign manager Susie Wiles, who is credited with organising Trumps successful election efforts, is also considered a strong contender. Though Wiles has significant experience within Trumps orbit, close sources indicate she may not be interested in taking the chief of staff role.

United States Secretary of State

Ric Grenell

Trumps former ambassador to Germany, Ric Grenell, earned praise for taking a firm stance on NATO allies and defense spending. Later, as acting director of national intelligence, Grenell further strengthened his relationship with Trumps inner circle.

Supported by Melania Trump and respected within Trumps Mar-a-Lago set, Grenell is a top pick for Secretary of State. Grenell is also in the running for the National Security Advisor position.

Bill Hagerty

US Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, who served as ambassador to Japan, is another potential candidate. Known for his strong views on China and support for America-First policies, Hagerty has garnered the support of Trumps conservative base.

Robert OBrien

Former National Security Advisor Robert OBrien, a trusted Trump adviser, also appears in conversations around the Secretary of State role. However, his support for NATO and Ukraine may work against him in securing a foreign policy position within a Trump administration.

Marco Rubio

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a prominent foreign policy figure and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been a Trump ally since the 2016 elections. While Rubios support for NATO and Ukraine poses a challenge, he remains a viable candidate due to his intelligence experience.

United States Defence Secretary

Mike Pompeo

Mike Pompeo, who previously held dual roles as CIA Director and US Secretary of State under Trump, is a seasoned Trump ally with experience in national security.

Pompeos alignment with Trumps America-First perspective makes him a top pick for a high-ranking position, either as Defence Secretary or returning to State.

Tom Cotton

Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, is also in the running for Defence Secretary. Cotton, an outspoken Trump supporter, brings extensive military experience and a strong stance on defense.

Mike Waltz

A former Army Green Beret and US congressman from Florida, Mike Waltz is a prominent advocate for addressing US-China tensions. Waltzs views align with Trumps foreign policy priorities, making him a strong candidate for Defense Secretary.

United States Attorney General

Mike Lee

Utah Senator Mike Lee, an experienced lawyer with a background clerking for a Supreme Court Justice, is a top contender for Attorney General. Lees unwavering support for Trump, particularly during the 2020 election disputes, makes him a strong candidate.

Ken Paxton

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has earned Trumps praise for his talent and dedication, although Trump has noted that several qualified candidates are interested in the role. Paxtons record of championing conservative causes aligns closely with Trumps platform.

Aileen Cannon

Federal Judge Aileen Cannon, known for dismissing Trumps classified documents case, is also reportedly under consideration for the Attorney General role. Cannon has been a consistent ally in Trumps legal battles.

United States Treasury Secretary

Robert Lighthizer

Trumps former US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is likely to play a pivotal role in economic policy. Known for advocating tariffs and tougher trade stances, Lighthizer could serve in the Treasury or in an advisory role.

Larry Kudlow

Former economic adviser Larry Kudlow, a close Trump ally and influential figure in the America First Policy Institute, is another candidate for Treasury Secretary. Kudlows economic philosophy aligns with Trumps deregulation agenda.

John Paulson

Hedge fund manager and Trump donor John Paulson has been privately discussed as a potential Treasury Secretary. Known for his support of tariffs and tax cuts, Paulsons business expertise could bolster Trumps economic policies.

Jamie Dimon

Though not fully committed, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has been considered for the Treasury role. Dimons regulatory stance and private remarks endorsing alternative candidates, however, cast uncertainty over his potential appointment.

Scott Bessent

Scott Bessent, a prominent economic adviser to Trump and former Yale professor, is considered a strong contender for Treasury Secretary.

A seasoned hedge fund investor with a close connection to Trump, Bessent has historically supported the Republican Partys laissez-faire policies but also appreciates Trumps strategic use of tariffs. He aligns with Trumps economic approach, favouring caution toward both regulation and global trade.

United States Homeland Security Secretary

Several candidates are being considered for the role of Homeland Security Secretary, a key position given Trumps stance on immigration. Tom Homan, a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement known for enforcing stringent immigration policies, is a strong contender.

Chad Wolf, Trumps former acting Homeland Security Secretary, and Mark Green, an immigration hardliner, are also in the mix.

United States Health Policy Czar

Robert F Kennedy Jr, a vocal critic of COVID-19 vaccines and an advocate for removing fluoride from drinking water, has been tapped by Trump for a health policy role.

RFK Jr came in, and hes going to help Make America Healthy Again, Trump stated in his victory speech. Initially an independent presidential candidate himself, Kennedy could oversee US health agencies under Trumps administration.

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Robert F Kennedy Jr speaks during a campaign event at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, October 12, 2023, in Miami, US. File Image/AP

Hes a great guy and he really wants to do some things and were gonna let him go do it," added Trump.

Director of National Intelligence or CIA

Kash Patel, a former national security official and prominent Trump loyalist, may be considered for an intelligence role such as Director of National Intelligence or CIA Director.

Known for his commitment to Trumps agenda, Patels close ties to the president-elect may bolster his candidacy, though Senate confirmation may prove challenging.

Second times the charm?

With the new administration set to begin on January 20, 2025, Trumps Cabinet selections will be closely watched, particularly given his focus on loyalty and alignment with his policy goals.

Trump has openly acknowledged lessons learned from his first administration, telling podcaster Joe Rogan, The biggest mistake I made I picked some people that I shouldnt have picked.

Now, with a focus on trusted allies, Trump is poised to build a Cabinet geared to fully support his America-First vision.

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With inputs from agencies
Is Donald Trump winning the US presidential election or Kamala Harris? How are the two candidates faring in the race to secure 270 votes in the Electoral College? If you are catching up on the election results now, heres all you need to know read more

Supporters of Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump stand holding flags on Election Day, near Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida. Reuters

After a long and hate-filled campaign, the focus of the US presidential election shifts to the American voter as they brave the elements of nature  the rain and the cold  to step out and cast their vote for either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.

While some states continue to poll, others have now closed, including the crucial swing states of Georgia and Pennsylvania. Early results have come in for a few  with the media declaring Donald Trump the winner in the states of Texas, Ohio, North and South Dakota, Louisiana and Wyoming to name a few. Meanwhile, Democrat candidate Kamala Harris has been declared triumphant in the states of Vermont, New York, Delaware.

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For many, the US election is a complicated process. And if you are just waking up to Election Day, theres a lot to take in.

But dont get overwhelmed as we break it down for you.

Trump or Harris? Whos leading?

The one question or perhaps the only question that many are asking as America votes is whos leading.

According to CNN, the votes are tilting in favour of the Republican candidate  Donald Trump. The American media outlet has declared that he has secured 207 of the Electoral College votes while Kamala Harris is trailing behind with 91.

The Guardian, on the other hand, has declared Trump ahead with 210 votes compared to 113 for Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, the BBC reports that the former US president is ahead with 162 wins compared to his rival, Harris, who has 81 votes.

News agency AFP reports that Harris has won 81 electoral votes while Trump is triumphant with 168.

An attendee reacts to early election results at Democratic presidential nominee US Vice President Kamala Harris election night rally during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, at Howard University, in Washington. Reuters

Its important to note that the magic number to win the presidency is 270. Observers expect the hotly contested race for the White House to come down to a handful of key battleground states.

All in all, as of now, Trump is leading overall. However, those who are supporting Kamala Harris shouldnt start fretting. The final results are a long way to go with results from key states such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona still to come.

Which states have been called?

As many wake up from their slumber, especially in India and other Southeast Asian nations, America is edging one step closer to the finish line, as polls have now closed in more than 40 states.

Projections will come quickly in the next hour, but some states will take longer to count than others.

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A voter casts his ballot at a grocery store in Lawrence, Kansas. AP

So far, news networks have declared results for a few states.

States that have voted in favour of Donald Trump are Kentucky, Indiana, Texas, South Carolina, Ohio. Montana, Utah. The AP has also called Florida, a one-time battleground state, in favour of Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Democrat Kamala Harris won the big prize state of Illinois as well as Rhode Island, Delaware, New York, Massachusetts and Vermont.

What did exit polls predict?

The current results contradict the exit polls. Earlier, exit polls showed that most of the voters favoured 59-year-old Harris over her Republican rival. According to an exit poll by NBC News, 48 per cent of voters nationwide expressed a favourable view of Harris, while 44 per cent supported Trump.

Another CNN exit poll showed that roughly three-quarters of the electorate held a negative view of the way things were going in the US today. According to the poll, only about one-quarter called themselves enthusiastic or satisfied with the state of the nation, with more than four in 10 dissatisfied and roughly three in 10 saying they are angry.

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Shamans perform a good luck ritual holding posters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, at the beach in Lima, Peru. AP

Harris, the Democratic vice president, did phone interviews on Election Day. She is quoted as telling a roomful of her staffers, This truly represents the best of who we are. Meanwhile, Trump said, Im watching these results. So far so good.

These elections are historic for a number of reasons. If Harris, the Indian-American who is the first female vice president, wins, she would become the first woman, Black woman and South Asian American to win the presidency.

However, if the US voters choose Trump, the only president to be impeached twice and the first former president to be criminally convicted, he would become the first president to win non-consecutive terms in more than a century.

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With inputs from agencies
Republicans have regained control of the US Senate, securing at least 51 seats and marking a key victory with implications for both domestic and foreign policy. With this power, the GOP can support the Trump administrations agenda. Key victories in West Virginia, Ohio, and other battleground states have ensured the the partys upper hand read more

Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump takes the stage following early results from the 2024 US presidential election in Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Republicans will hold at least 51 out of the 100 Senate seats, as the GOP is set to assume control when the new United States Congress assembles in January next year.

The Senate shift, bolstered by high-profile wins in West Virginia and Ohio, represents the first major victory of the election for Republicans. Republicans early gains position them well to bolster what is now looking like another Trump presidency.

Jim Justice, West Virginias governor, secured the open Senate seat left by Democrat-turned-independent Joe Manchin, marking a decisive GOP capture.

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Governor of West Virginia Jim Justice speaks on Day 2 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, July 16, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Meanwhile, Ohio saw Bernie Moreno, a business magnate and ardent Trump supporter, defeat three-term Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, symbolising Ohios recent swing to a solidly Republican state.

US Senate Candidate Bernie Moreno (R-OH) gestures as he speaks on Day 2 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, July 16, 2024. File Image/Reuters

The Republican Senate majority could profoundly influence presidential appointments, judicial confirmations, and the course of legislative priorities.

With control of the Senate, Republicans are now positioned to advance Trumps potential judicial nominations and proposed policies, from cabinet appointments to judicial picks.

Beyond West Virginia and Ohio, Republican incumbents including Ted Cruz in Texas and Rick Scott in Florida successfully defended their seats against Democratic challengers, thwarting the Democrats hopes of making inroads. Cruz faced a substantial challenge from Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, but ultimately maintained his seat.

In Florida, Scott easily overcame a campaign by former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who focused on opposing the states six-week abortion ban. Despite Democrats efforts, their opportunities to gain ground diminished quickly throughout the night.

Republicans also defended seats in competitive races in Nebraska, where incumbent Senator Deb Fischer won against independent candidate Dan Osborn, and Pennsylvania, where Republicans managed to flip a House district.

Democrats, however, did manage to secure some victories, including a historically significant win in Delaware by Lisa Blunt Rochester.

Why the US Senate race matters

The Senates role extends beyond legislation to crucial oversight of executive appointments, judicial confirmations, and even foreign treaties. One unique Senate power lies in its ability to confirm presidential nominations, shaping everything from the Supreme Court to cabinet-level positions.

In recent decades, the Senates filibuster  a tactic allowing senators to indefinitely prolong debate and delay votes  has become a pivotal tool, requiring a three-fifths majority (60 votes) to end it.

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The US Senate votes on the rules to govern the trial as it begins the second impeachment trial of former US President Donald Trump, on charges of inciting the deadly attack on the US Capitol, on the floor of the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, February 9, 2021. File Image/US Senate TV via Reuters

Beyond domestic matters, foreign policy is also inextricably linked to Senate decisions. With US military and financial aid being sent to allies globally, the Senates new GOP majority holds considerable influence over such allocations.

Also Read: How do the House of Representatives and Senate function?

This change is especially significant for Ukraine, as American support has been vital amid the ongoing war with Russia. Experts note that if Trump returns to office, a Republican-led Senate could significantly reduce US support for Ukraine, altering the countrys military position against Russian forces.

Trump has suggested he would stop the war within 24 hours if reelected, though no further details were provided. Such statements have led analysts to speculate that Trump might use funding cuts as leverage to pressure Kyiv into a peace settlement.

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How a GOP-led Senate will affect Ukraine

US aid to Ukraine, amounting to nearly $108 billion since the war began till August this year, has been instrumental in Ukraines fight against Russian forces. However, rising opposition within Republican ranks signals potential challenges for continued support.

Republican Senate leaders and Trumps running mate JD Vance have expressed opposition to further funding.

Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at Trump Tower in New York, US. File Image/Reuters

A Harris administration, although unlikely, would have been committed to supporting Ukraine, but would still likely face obstacles from a GOP-led Senate. Despite her pledge to sustain aid, securing additional funding through a Republican-majority Senate may prove challenging, leaving Ukraines future reliance on US support uncertain.

European Union member states have contributed more than 161 billion ($175 billion) in total support for Ukraine, underlining the extent of Western commitment. However, many US lawmakers are wary of further allocations, especially given mounting domestic financial concerns and funding fatigue.

Who controls the House?

With Senate control secured, Republicans also made strides in the House of Representatives, though the final outcome remains in limbo. Gains in states like North Carolina, where GOP-favoured redistricting helped secure Republican victories, have bolstered the partys House position.

However, Democrats retained some seats, notably in New York and California, meaning the final outcome may not be known for days due to extended ballot counts. Democrats need at least six additional seats to capture the House, with only about 40 competitive seats in play.

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This slim Republican majority foreshadows a potential era of legislative gridlock. Recent years have already seen Republican divisions create hurdles within their ranks, challenging efforts on immigration reform and spending cuts.

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With inputs from agencies
As media organisations began delivering their early projections, several pollsters gave their final forecasts before the polling closed across the country. Heres a look at which candidate is a favourite among the election forecasters read more

(Left) Kamala Harris speaks during a community rally in Philadelphia. (Right) Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in New York. File Image- AP

As millions rush to polling stations to cast their votes in the intense US presidential elections, pollsters predict that the momentum is slightly tilted towards Vice President Kamala Harris. However, the analysts warned that the Democratic presidential nominee needs a strong showing in key states to get to 270 electoral votes.

The analysis was delivered by the Decision Desk HQ, based on their forecast model. The body concluded that the 2024 race would be extremely close and either side could pull off a win, but they noted that Harriss prospects seemed to tick up a little in the final days of the campaign.

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It is pertinent to note that Harris had been the favourite in the DDHQ model throughout most of her campaign until Trump became slightly more favoured in mid-October. However, the vice president took back the smallest of leads in the final forecast model. The desk stated that Harris has a 50 per cent chance of winning compared to Trumps 49 per cent.

What are the pollsters thinking?

One of the most optimistic forecasts for Harris came from The Economists simulations which gave Harris the win in 56 out of 100 scenarios on Tuesday. This was up from a 50-50 split the day before. Trump was ahead in that model before that, The Hill reported.

Meanwhile, the forecast model from Split Ticket gave Harris a 53 per cent chance of prevailing. These final forecasts come after a handful of uplifting polls and some positive news cycles for Harris in the waning days of the 2024 cycle.

It is pertinent to note that national polls have been a bit mixed in the last couple of weeks. But throughout the cycle, Harris had a slight advantage nationwide. The Democratic presidential nominee saw the largest national lead for either candidate recently from a PBS News/NPR/Marist poll released Monday that had her ahead of Trump by 4 points.

However, the biggest shock was delivered by the final prestigious Des Moines Register/Mediacom survey of Iowa, which found Harris leading Trump 47 per cent to 44 per cent. The state has voted for Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.

The Associated Press is already calling Trump the winner in Kentucky, Indiana and Harris in Vermont. Hence, it will be interesting to see how the race will play out.

Catch all updates on the US presidential election in our live coverage
Former President Barack Obama encouraged the public to not share things before checking sources and respect the hard work of election workers read more

Former US President Barack Obama urged the country on Tuesday to be patient as election workers count ballots to determine the results of the 2024 US Presidential Elections. Earlier, it was stated that some states might not give out the results by today evening due to some delays.

Before the polls closed across the country, the former president took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to urge people to be patient about the results. It took several days to count every ballot in 2020, and its very likely we wont know the outcome tonight either, he wrote in the post.

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The former president encouraged the public to keep a few things in mind as you make your voice heard today. Thousands of election workers around the country are working hard today. Respect them. Thank them. Dont share things before checking your sources. Let the process run its course. It takes time to count every ballot, he added.

It took several days to count every ballot in 2020, and its very likely we wont know the outcome tonight either. So please keep a few things in mind as you make your voice heard today:



 Thousands of election workers around the country are working hard today. Respect them.  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 5, 2024

The challenge of counting early ballots

It is pertinent to note that more than 82 million voters cast early ballots this year, which is slightly more than half the total turnout which was recorded during the 2020 US Presidential Elections, The Associated Press reported. States also have different rules dictating when and how ballots must be counted.

Some states have changed their rules since 2020, which could change the timing of when the results will come in. Interestingly, back in 2020, the race was not officially called for days after the election, leading experts to preemptively warn the public against expecting to know the results of the race on Tuesday night.

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Experts also warned that the early poll returns do not necessarily indicate the trajectory of the entire election. With Trump gaining an early lead, it will be interesting to see how the race will ultimately pan out.

Catch all updates on the US presidential election in our live coverage .
World leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, congratulated Donald Trump on his historic return to the White House, emphasising stronger global ties read more

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined a host of world leaders on X, congratulating former US President Donald Trump on his remarkable victory against all odds. Trump clinched a stunning second term in the White House, overcoming Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, in a fierce battle for the presidency.

Heartiest congratulations my friend on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity, said Prime Minister Modi.

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Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, pic.twitter.com/u5hKPeJ3SY  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron was among the first to extend his congratulations to Donald Trump, despite the growing apprehension across Europe about what a second term for Trump might mean for the continent. Yet, Macron remained focused on the future, expressing his willingness to continue the collaboration that had defined the past four years. Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we have done for four years, he remarked with a spirit of diplomatic resolve.

Felicitations President Donald Trump. Pret a travailler ensemble comme nous avons su le faire durant quatre annees. Avec vos convictions et avec les miennes. Avec respect et ambition. Pour plus de paix et de prosperite.  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 6, 2024

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, joined by his wife Sara, extended heartfelt congratulations to the soon-to-be 47th President of the United States. With Israel is passing through an unprecedented wave of challenges, both internally and on multiple fronts, US support has never been more crucial. Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America, the Israeli first couple shared on X signifying the enduring strength of this important partnership.

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Dear Donald and Melania Trump,



Congratulations on historys greatest comeback!



Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.



This is a huge victory!



In true friendship, pic.twitter.com/B54NSo2BMA  Benjamin Netanyahu -   (@netanyahu) November 6, 2024

Referring to Italy and the United States as sister nations, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took to X to offer her heartfelt congratulations to Trump on his stunning victory, celebrating the triumph of a bond that transcends borders and unites their shared values.

A nome mio e del Governo italiano, le piu sincere congratulazioni al Presidente eletto degli Stati Uniti, Donald #Trump.



Italia e Stati Uniti sono Nazioni sorelle, legate da unalleanza incrollabile, valori comuni e una storica amicizia.



E un legame strategico, che sono certa  Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) November 6, 2024

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended his congratulations to Trump on his impressive election victory, expressing hope for continued unwavering support from the United States. This comes at a time when Ukraine has endured three years of relentless aggression from Russia, with Zelenskyy emphasising the vital importance of steadfast international solidarity in the face of such ongoing adversity.

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory!



I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also joined other global leaders to congratulate the US President-elect.

Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory.



I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. pic.twitter.com/QYHLd4k4EG  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 6, 2024

Describing Australians and Americans as great friends and true allies, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his eagerness to collaborate closely with the newly elected US president. Canberra has even greater incentive to nurture strong ties with the US, especially in light of the AUKUS partnership established during the Biden presidency.

Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory.



Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies.



Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future.  Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 6, 2024

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan hoped that the Turkey-US relations will strengthen in the second Trump presidency and that the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end.

Amerika Birlesik Devletlerinde yaplan baskanlk secimini buyuk bir mucadelenin ardndan kazanarak yeniden ABD Baskan secilen dostum Donald Trump tebrik ediyorum.



Amerikan halknn secimiyle baslayacak olan bu yeni donemde, Turkiye-ABD iliskilerinin guclenmesini, Filistin  Recep Tayyip Erdogan (@RTErdogan) November 6, 2024

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in his congratulatory message expressed hope that there would be prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic during the second edition of the Trump presidency.

I congratulate @realDonaldTrump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens.  Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) November 6, 2024

Fully aware that the bloc must navigate carefully with Trump at the helm of the White House next year, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed anticipation for strengthening ties with the US, despite the discomfort stirred by statements from the President-elect during his campaign trail, which likely unsettled the predominantly European security alliance.

I just congratulated @realDonaldTrump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through #NATO.  Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) November 6, 2024

The Maldives and the United States share a strong partnership based on mutual respect, goodwill, and understanding, said Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.
From stricter eligibility criteria to increased wage requirements and other legislative changes, heres a look at how Trump 2.0 could affect H-1B visa rules as well as the Indian IT industry read more

Donald Trump's return to power is likely to affect rules around H-1B visa approvals in the US. AP file

The H-1B visa program, a lifeline for foreign skilled workers and a crucial part of the U.S. tech and IT sectors, is expected to see significant changes now that Republican Donald Trump has won the election.

During his first term, from 2016-2020, Trump introduced policies aimed at tightening visa restrictions under his Buy American and Hire American executive order, which drove up denial rates for H-1B and L-1 visas.

This shift hit the tech industry hard, especially outsourcing companies that heavily rely on foreign labour to meet US workforce demands.

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Heres how Trumps return to office could impact H-1B visas now:

1. Stricter eligibility criteria and denials

After Trump first came to power, the denial rate for H-1B visas jumped from 4 per cent in 2015 to 17 per cent in 2019.

Trumps administration argued that the visa program was being exploited to displace American workers, especially in IT roles. This stance led to stricter scrutiny on visa applications and denials for roles deemed insufficiently specialised, a recent report by JM Financial noted.

Many expect that another Trump administration would resume these stringent policies, potentially leading to a resurgence in denial rates, particularly impacting companies that rely on H-1B workers for specialised roles, according to a report

2. Narrower definitions of specialty occupations

One of the most debated changes under Trumps first term was a proposed redefinition of specialty occupations for H-1B eligibility. In 2020, his administration attempted to enforce a rule requiring that an H-1B role directly relate to a specific bachelors degree.

This move was aimed at limiting visa eligibility to only the most specialised roles, effectively narrowing the scope for foreign workers. Although the rule was blocked by the courts, Trump could revive this proposal, making it harder for H-1B candidates in less narrowly defined fields to qualify.

3. Increased wage requirements for visa holders

The Trump administration also proposed raising the minimum salary requirements for H-1B visa holders to ensure they were paid above the prevailing wage, arguing this would protect American workers from wage suppression.

Although the wage increase rule did not take effect due to legal challenges, Trump could reinstate it if re-elected. For companies, especially those in IT services, this could increase labor costs, potentially deterring the hiring of H-1B workers, the repot by JM Financial suggested.

4. Broader legislative changes

Current bipartisan immigration bills in Congress, such as the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act, propose reforms intended to prioritise high-skilled workers and safeguard American jobs.

While these bills focus on enhancing compliance and enforcing higher wage standards, they are not strictly tied to the presidential election outcome. However, if Trump is re-elected, his administration might push for tighter regulations or support bills that limit H-1B issuance further, aligning with his policy stance.

5. Impact on Indian IT firms

Indian IT giants such as Infosys, TCS, and Wipro, which previously relied on H-1B visas for a significant portion of their US workforce, have adapted since Trumps first term by localizing more of their hiring.

As a result, while the companies could still feel the impact of stricter H-1B regulations, they are likely to be less vulnerable than before.

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Analysts suggest that the share of H-1B visa holders among their US-based staff has declined significantly in recent years, cushioning them from potential visa-related disruptions.
Donal Trump has won Pennsylvania and is comfortably ahead of Kamala Harris in Wisconsin and Michigan. The former president has already notched 267 Electoral Votes compared to just 224 Electoral Votes for Vice-President Kamala Harris. But how did he dent Harris and the Democrats vaunted Blue Wall? read more

Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, US, October 29, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Donald Trump is looking like he will be the next President of the United States.

The Republican Party candidate has already notched up 267 Electoral Votes compared to just 224 Electoral Votes for Vice-President Kamala Harris.

I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president, Trump, addressing his supporters in Florida, said.

America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate. We have taken back control of the Senate  wow thats good, Trump added. This moment will help the country heal.

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Before the election, the Democrats and Harris were relying on the Blue Wall states  Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin  to carry her to victory.

Trump has been projected carried Pennsylvania and is leading in Michigan and Wisconsin.

But how did Trump dent Harris Blue Wall?

Lets take a closer look:

Blue Wall cracking

Politico has reported that Trump has improved his margins over 130 counties in the Blue Wall counties that have reported full or nearly full results.

The average shift to Trump has been 1.3 per cent among all counties.

Remember, President Joe Biden won both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin by razor-thin margins in 2020.

Trump had cracked the Blue Wall in 2016 in his victory over Hillary Clinton.

Pennsylvania

As per The New York Times, Pennsylvania has been called for Trump with around 95.9 per cent of the votes in.

Trump has received 3.4 million votes compared to Harris 3.2 million votes.

According to Politico, Trump focussed on the economy relentlessly in the state.

He also focussed on tariffs, his plans for mass deportations and hit Harris on fracking  which is a big issue in the state.

The Keystone State, with 19 Electoral Votes, was the largest prize up for grabs among the swing states.

Trump carried the state in 2016  defeating Hillary Clinton  before losing it to Joe Biden in 2020.

It also has a long history of picking the winner of the election.

Trump became just the second Republican to carry the state since 1988 when George HW Bush won it.

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Its the granddaddy of all the swing states, ex-congressman Patrick Murphy, who represented north-eastern Pennsylvania as a Democrat told BBC.

The outlet had quoted election analyst Nate Silver as saying that the candidate that takes Pennsylvania has over a 90 per cent shot at winning the presidential election.

It looks as if Silver was correct.

Michigan

Michigan, which remains too close to call, has 15 Electoral Votes up for grabs.

With 84 per cent of the vote in, Trump has 2.4 million votes compared to 2.1 million for Harris.

The New York Times, at this moment, has the state leaning towards Trump.

As per Al Jazeera, Trump had praised his Muslim supporters in the state the day before the polls, saying, They want peace. They really do. They dont want to be in wars. Theyre very smart.

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A poll worker holds a roll of I Voted stickers at a polling place on November 5, 2024, in Dearborn, Mich. AP

As per NBC, Trump is leading in nearly more than 50 counties in the state including Alcona, Algar, Alpena.

Biden took the state of Michigan by three points  51 to 48  over Trump in 2020.

Trump defeated Clinton in a squeaker in 2016  47.6 per cent to 47.4 per cent.

Wisconsin

Trump is also leading in Wisconsin  which has 10 Electoral Votes up for grabs.

Trump is ahead of Harris in the predominantly white state with significant Black, Asian and Hispanic communities with 1.6 million votes compared to her 1.5 million votes.

Trump here too fixated on economy, immigration and crime.

Harris, on the other hand, argued she would turn the page on the Trump era and made her pitch on abortion rights and democracy.

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Trump in 2016 defeated Clinton by a single percentage point  48 per cent to 47 per cent.

In 2020, Biden defeated Trump by less than a percentage point  49.4 per cent to 48.8 per cent.

With 96 per cent of the vote in, it seems Trump is set to repeat his 2016 victory.

With inputs from agencies

Get all the latest updates of US Elections 2024
Jill Stein is the US Green Party nominee for the ongoing US presidential election. Despite the focus on the two front-runners, the GOPs Donald Trump and Democratic partys Kamala Harris, the 74-year-old attracted people from both main parties to her environmentalist one read more

Voting is underway in the United States.

Donald Trump of the Republican Party and Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party are the two primary contenders in the US presidential election.

However, the influence of third-party candidates is often overlooked.

Jill Stein of the Green Party and Chase Oliver of the Libertarian Party are two major third-party candidates in this election.

Despite the focus on the two front-runners, Stein appears to be having an impact in some states, attracting people from both main parties to her environmentalist one.

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Heres all we know about her and her impact on this election.

Who is Jill Stein?

Stein is the US Green Party nominee for the ongoing presidential elections. The party, which promotes social justice and the environment, is a left-wing federation of US Green State parties.

The 74-year-old, who was born in Chicago and grew up in Illinois, earned degrees from Harvard Medical School in 1979 and Harvard College in 1973. She is listed as a practising physician on her campaign website.

Stein, who is well-known for her progressive views, opposes US vetoes in the UN Security Council and demands an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as well as a stop to arms sales to human rights abusers. Part of her foreign policy agenda is to dismantle NATO and replace it with a modern, inclusive security framework.

On November 9, 2023, she posted a video message on X announcing her candidature. She had previously run for office in 2012 and 2016. She launched her campaign accusing Democrats of betraying their promises for working people, youth and the climate again and again  while Republicans dont even make such promises in the first place.

Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein speaks during a rally in Dearborn, Michigan, US, October 6, 2024. Reuters

According to USA Today, last year, Stein announced her intention to pursue an economic bill of rights for Americans, encompassing the right to a job, health care, housing, food, education, and more.

She also pushed for the elimination of medical and student loans.

Stein came under fire from Democrats during the 2016 presidential election for allegedly taking votes away from Hillary Clinton in significant battleground states. About 1.32 million votes were cast for her in that year.

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Also read: Donald Trump leads Kamala Harris in close US election. But can this change?

How is she impacting the elections?

With ballots still being cast in some states and others  including Georgia and Pennsylvania, two key swing states  closed, it is difficult to predict how Stein is faring in the polls. Yet pre-election polls are a reliable tool to predict the Green Partys influence.

Though she has won zero Electoral College votes, she has gained about 517,318 (0.4 per cent) of votes.

In the first week of October, The New York Times published a poll that showed Steins total national polling at around one per cent.

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A US I Voted sticker at his studio, Sunday, November 3, 2024, in Alamo, Texas. AP

The polling results for Stein and the Green Party in the seven swing states are most likely to determine the outcome of the US elections. According to the Brazilian agency, AtlasIntel, which conducted a study of voters in the swing states from October 30 to October 31, heres how Stein is faring:

Arizona: 1.1 per cent of voters preferred Stein; 50.8 per cent preferred Trump; and 45.9 per cent preferred Harris

Georgia: Two per cent for Stein; 48.8 per cent for Trump; and 47.2 per cent for Harris

Michigan: 1.7 per cent for Stein; 49.2 per cent for Trump; and 48.3 per cent for Harris

Nevada: 1.2 per cent of voters chose Others; 50.5 per cent chose Trump; and 46.9 per cent chose Harris; Stein did not figure on the ballot

North Carolina: 0.7 per cent for Stein; 50.7 per cent for Trump; and 46.7 per cent for Harris

Pennsylvania: One per cent for Stein; 48.5 per cent for Trump; and 47.4 per cent for Harris

Wisconsin: 0.8 per cent for Stein; 48.5 per cent for Trump; and 48.2 per cent for Harris

Also read: Are you just tuning into US Election Day? Heres what you have missed so far

Could Stein swing the election?

Given how close the margins are between Trump and Harris, experts think Steins votes could change the outcome of the race.

Bernard Tamas, professor of political science at Valdosta State University, told The Guardian, The vote right now is so close that a small amount of tipping in one direction or another could swing it.

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The Guardian also quoted Nura Sediqe, an assistant professor in American politics at Michigan State University, as saying, Muslims are split. Theyre not all voting third party, but lets imagine a third are: then youve got up to 50,000 votes that had traditionally gone to the Democrats moving away. So if the margin is as slim as it was last time, it may affect the Democratic party.

A calendar with images of U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is hung outside a house in Thulasendrapuram, November 5. Reuters

In theory, Stein can influence the election, but in reality, it depends on how closely the results are decided, according to Kyle Kopko, an adjunct professor of political science at Pennsylvanias Elizabethtown College, who spoke to Al Jazeera. The expert says it will take an extraordinarily close election for her to win the vote.

According to Politico, European Green politicians, however, have voiced concerns about Steins influence on the election and urged her to drop out and support Harris.

According to the statement released on November 1 by Green parties in Germany, France, and Italy, the race for the White House is too close for comfort, and Harris is the only candidate who can stop Trumps comeback.

Steins campaign dismissed the call to step down. We are committed to this campaign for the presidency and would never betray our legion of supporters regardless of which anti-democratic person or group makes the suggestion, her team responded.

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With inputs from agencies
A man in his 20s was arrested at the US Capitol Visitor Center for carrying a torch and flare gun. Authorities noted that he smelled like fuel during a security check read more

As millions cast their votes, the US Capitol Visitor Center was closed on Tuesday afternoon after police arrested a man who was carrying a torch and flare gun during their security screening process. Following the arrest, the authorities closed the visitors tour at the centre for the day.

The Capitol police said that the man is being questioned and investigation over the matter is currently underway. However, the police noted that as of now there is no indication that the incident has anything to do with the ongoing presidential polls.

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Our officers just arrested a man who was stopped during our screening process at the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC), the Capitol Police wrote in a statement online. The man smelled like fuel and had a torch & a flare gun. The CVC is closed for tours for the day, while we investigate. We will provide more information when we can," the statement further reads.

Our officers just arrested a man who was stopped during our screening process at the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The man smelled like fuel, had a torch & a flare gun.



The CVC is closed for tours for the day, while we investigate. We will provide more information when we can. pic.twitter.com/J5geNud1h2  The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) November 5, 2024

The man drove from Michigan

Following the arrest, a Capitol Police spokesperson noted that the man in his late 20s drove from Michigan to the US Capitol with the flare guns. He submitted to a routine screening at the Capitol Visitor Center when police arrested him.

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Interestingly, the man was carrying documents on him that were described as a manifesto that were referring to the war in the Middle East. The Capitol police also tracked the suspects car near the building and cleared the scene around the car.

The authorities have not released any additional information as of now. It is pertinent to note that Congress is currently not in session, but the US House of Representatives was scheduled to meet for a brief pro forma session at 5 pm (local time). These House sessions usually do not include the full lower chamber but comprise a few members for procedural reasons.

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Meanwhile, security has been heightened across Washington and the nation on Election Day, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warning of the high likelihood of attacks and threats on important institutions and buildings, such as the Capitol.

The FBI and DHS have prepared a series of bulletins in the run-up to the election, warning that domestic violent extremists are considering a range of activities to disrupt the 2024 election and peaceful transfer of power.

DVEs continue to create, exploit, and promote narratives about the election process or legal decisions involving political figures, and we are concerned that these grievances could motivate some DVEs to engage in violence, as we saw during the 2020 election cycle, reads an October bulletin from DHS crafted alongside the FBI.

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With inputs from agencies.

Catch all updates on the US presidential election in our live coverage
With Jim Justices victory in West Virginia, the GOP now needs to flip one more seat to take control of the Senate, if Vice President Kamala Harris holds the White House for the Democrats read more

In a major turn of events, Republicans have managed to flip the West Virginia Senate seat, raising hopes to clinch a Senate majority. According to the latest projection from NBC News, West Virginia Republican Gov. Jim Justice won the states open Senate seat on Tuesday.

Justice faced little to no competition from Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, a Democrat, in a race. The Republicans were favoured in the Senate seat after the retirement of independent Senator Joe Manchin, who left the Democratic Party in May.

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With Justices victory, the GOP now needs to flip one more seat to take control of the Senate, if Vice President Kamala Harris holds the White House for the Democrats. If former US President Donald Trump wins the 2024 race, the Republicans are poised to control the Senate if no other seats change hands, since the vice president breaks ties in the chamber.

The ex-Democrat who flipped the seat for Republicans

Justice won the election as the governor of the state back in 2016, the same year Trump won the state by more than 42 per cent. Interestingly, at that time Justice was running as a Democrat, beating his Republican opponent by 7 percentage points, NBC News reported.

He announced his departure from the Democratic Party one year later, standing alongside Trump at a campaign rally. After easily winning re-election in 2020, speculation quickly began to mount as to whether the term-limited governor would eye a Senate bid in 2024. The rumours turned out to be true after Justice launched his campaign in 2023, as Manchin publicly refused to commit to running again.

Manchin who frequently clashed with the Democrats announced earlier this year that he wouldnt seek re-election. While Justice had been the pick of the Republican establishment, he faced a primary challenge in the spring from GOP Representative Alex Mooney, who was backed by the conservative Club for Growth.

Despite all odds, Justice cruised to victory, defeating Mooney by 35 per cent points in May. Since then he has faced little to no political opposition since then.

With inputs from agencies.
With economic concerns at the forefront, the Rust Belts swing stateshome to 44 electoral votesare once again the heart of the 2024 presidential battleground read more

Pennsylvania is a critical state when it comes to US presidential elections. AP

The Rust Belt states are major battlegrounds because they hold many electoral votes and are known for switching support between Democrats and Republicans in close races. Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin alone have 44 electoral votes, which can be enough to decide the entire election outcome if the race is tight.

Historical shifts in the Rust Belt

These states used to be reliable Democratic supporters due to their strong ties to manufacturing and labour unions. However, in 2016, Donald Trump managed to win over many voters in these states by promising to bring back jobs and support American industries. His populist messages, especially around economic issues, led to narrow but crucial victories in places that Democrats once considered safe.

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The 2020 Election and the Blue Wall

In 2020, Joe Biden successfully recaptured these states by appealing to the working class and addressing economic concerns. This allowed him to rebuild the so-called Blue Wall of Democratic support in the Rust Belt. His win showed that these states could easily swing back to the Democrats if their concerns are addressed.

Stakes in 2024

For 2024, Pennsylvania is a particular focus, with 19 electoral votes that could decide the winner. These Rust Belt states are crucial for both parties. Their swing nature, economic struggles and high electoral value make them the heart of campaign strategies in every close election, including this one.
Even as critical swing states are yet to be called, betting markets have already declared Republican candidate Donald Trump the winner of US presidential election read more

Even as key swing states are yet to be called, betting markets have already declared Republican candidate Donald Trump as the winner of US presidential election.

As per the latest Associated Press tally, Trump has won 246 Electoral College votes against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris 210. He has swing states of North Carolina and Georgia.

However, betting markets cited by Bloomberg have already declared Trump the winner.

Trump has 99 per cent chances to win as per Polymarket, 96 per cent chances to win as per Kalshi, and 96 per cent chances to win as per Predictt.

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Catch all updates on the US election results in live coverage

While Trump was a favourite of betting markets from the onset, now they are nearly-unanimous in their view that his victory is just a matter of time.

On Monday, Polymarket predicted 62 per cent chances of Trumps victory. The latest tally is a surge from earlier in the day when the three markets had 89 per cent, 84 per cent, and 83 per cent confidence in Trumps victory.
From a pariah four years ago, Republican candidate Donald Trump has made a stunning comeback to be the unquestioned leader of the United States for next four years read more

Former US President Donald Trump has the potential to transform the American government institition for decades. (Photo: AP)

In a stunning comeback unprecedented in US history, Donald Trump has returned from infamy to win the presidency.

From a pariah in January 2021 even among his Republican Party when he egged on a mob to attack the US Capitol to illegally overturn the election in his favour, Trump now stands not just as the unquestioned leader of the Grand Old Party but is set to be the most powerful President of the United States in living memory.

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The Decision Desk HQ and Fox News have called the US presidential election in favour of Trump.

In a speech at West Palm Beach, Trump declared his victory and announced the beginning of a golden age.

I will fight for you, for your family and your future every single day. I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America, said Trump.

Stating the obvious, Trump said, Weve achieved the most incredible political thing, political victory, that our country has never seen before  nothing like this.

In a campaign marred by unprecedented assassination attempts, foreign interference, and vitriolic rhetoric, and fears of violence, the US electorate has chosen Trump, a convicted criminal, over his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris, who was hoping to break the ultimate glass ceiling by becoming the first woman president.

That US voters chose Trumps far-right anti-immigrant and isolationist platform built on a litany of falsehood, disinformation, and rhetoric so extremist that it would be unimaginable just few election cycles back is tell-tale of the trajectory that the United States has taken in recent years. The US electorate is no longer offended by a felon politician who boasts of grabbing women by their pussy, labels political rivals and critics as traitors and enemies bigger than foreign adversaries, and announces that he would allow Russia to do whatever the hell they want to allies if they dont do his bidding.

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In the final moments of the campaign, the contrast between the choices before the American voters was clear. After reaching out to moderate Republicans and Independents throughout the campaign, Harris said that she would be the president of all Americans, whereas Trumps running mate JD Vance called Harris trash  days after Trump called Harris shit. Earlier, Trump had called for using military against his critics.

In the end, Harris pitch fell on deaf ears as voters elected Trump.

As the Republicans have won the Senate and are projected to win the House of Representatives as well, Trump is set to have unquestioned hold over the United States. Even though the Legislature is a separate, independent branch of government, the Republican-controlled Congress is set to be a rubber stamp body as Trump has a grip on the party with few if any precedents.

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Ahead of the Election Day, polls had predicted a narrow race between Harris and Trump, but results suggest that its a landslide victory for Trump. However, that was also not unforeseen. Experts had said that even though polls were close, the result could still be a landslide if polls shifted just a little bit.

As per current projections by New York Times, Trump is headed to win 306 Electoral College votes against Harris 232  but thats not all.

In the ultimate seal of approval for Trumps far-right agenda, the US voters have blessed him with popular vote victory as well  unprecedented in successive recent electoral cycles where Democrats won the popular vote even if the Republicans won the Electoral College. As things stand, Trump is headed to winning the popular vote by 1.2 per cent, according to The Times.

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In an all-round defeat of Harris and Democrats, the US electorate embraced the far-right vision of Trump and handed him unquestioned power for four more years  the time he would take to groom Vance into the next MAGA leader and shape the United States into his image for the foreseeable future.
The Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ have called the race in the swing state of North Carolina in favour of Republican candidate Donald Trump read more

The US presidential election result for the first swing state is out.

The Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ have called the election in the swing state of North Carolina in favour of Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Trump had also won North Carolina in 2016 and 2020 but Democrats were hopeful of flipping the state this time.

Catch all updates on the US election results in live coverage

This is the first decisive victory for Trump so far as the first wave of results were along expected lines where Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris won the East Cost and Trump won the conservative belt in the south and the rural Midwest.

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As per the latest tally of AP, Trump has won 230 Electoral College votes against Harris 192 in the race to reach the 270-mark.

While North Carolina has been called, races in the other swing states are yet to be called.

Trump is ahead in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and is almost tied with Harris in Arizona.

READ MORE: As Trump leads in swing states, hes narrow but clear favourite to win, says top analyst
Though Trump has provided few specifics on his foreign policy, his supporters believe his peace through strength approach and forceful personality will restore order to a world they see as on fire, blaming global instability on President Bidens perceived weakness, according to a report read more

Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump gestures as he holds hands with his wife Melania during his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, on November 6, 2024. Reuters

In the run up to the US elections, Donald Trump had claimed that he would end Russias war in Ukraine in 24 hours, warned that Israel would be eradicated if he lost the election and vowed sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports.

Now that Trump has secured a historic second term, the world is asking: Will he follow through on his foreign policy threats and promises?

According to Reuters, though Trump has provided few specifics, his supporters believe his peace through strength approach and forceful personality will restore order to a world they see as on fire, blaming global instability on President Joe Bidens perceived weakness.

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As January approaches, both allies and adversaries are cautious, wondering if Trumps second term will mirror the turbulence and unpredictability of his first.

His earlier presidency was marked by America First protectionism, isolationist rhetoric, and bold moves like withdrawing from NATO talks. At the same time, his deal-making image saw limited success with North Korea and the normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab nations.

Donald Trump remains erratic and inconsistent when it comes to foreign policy, Reuters quoted analysts for the European Council on Foreign Relations as writing in a blog post during the US campaign.

Europeans are still licking their wounds from Trumps first term: they have not forgotten the former presidents tariffs, his deep antagonism towards the European Union and Germany, they said.

Trump and his loyalists dismiss such criticism, insisting that other countries have long taken advantage of the US and that he would put a stop to it.

Ending the Ukraine war

Trumps response to Russias war in Ukraine will set the tone for his foreign policy and shape his approach to NATO and US allies, after Biden worked to repair relationships strained under Trumps first term.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy congratulated Trump, calling his peace-through-strength approach a potential path to peace in Ukraine.

Trump had claimed Putin never would have invaded under his watch and insisted he could end the war in 24 hours, though he has not explained how.

Trump has criticised Bidens Ukraine policy, suggesting the US would reassess NATOs role under his presidency. He also proposed that Ukraine might need to cede territory for peace  an idea rejected by Kyiv and not considered by Biden.

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Trump has long criticised NATO members who fail to meet military spending targets, warning during the campaign that he would not defend those delinquent nations and would allow Russia to act freely.

NATO would face the most serious existential threat since its founding, Reuters quoted Brett Bruen, a former foreign policy adviser in the Obama administration, as saying.

A free hand for Israel?

Trump will also confront a volatile Middle East that threatens to descend into a broader regional conflict. Israel is fighting wars in Gaza and Lebanon while facing off against arch-foe Iran, even as Yemens Houthis fire on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

He has expressed support for Israels fight to destroy Hamas in the Palestinian enclave but has said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a Trump ally widely believed to have favored his return to power, must finish the job quickly.

Trump is expected to continue arming Israel, whose existence he said would have been endangered if Harris had been elected - a claim dismissed by the Biden administration given its staunch support for Israel.

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His policy toward Israel likely will have no strings attached for humanitarian concerns, in contrast to pressure that Biden applied in a limited way. Trump may give Netanyahu a freer hand with Iran.

But Trump could face a new crisis if Iran, which has stepped up nuclear activities since he abandoned a nuclear deal with Tehran in 2018, rushes to develop a nuclear weapon.

When Trump was last in the White House, he presided over the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. But those diplomatic deals did nothing to advance Palestinian statehood in the West Bank and Gaza.

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Still, Trump is likely to push for historic normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, an effort initiated during his first term and which Biden has also pursued.

Mixed message on China

Trump made a tough stance toward China central to his campaign, suggesting he would ramp up tariffs on Chinese goods as part of a broader effort that could also hit products from the EU. Many economists say such moves would lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers and sow global financial instability.

He has threatened to go further than his first term when he implemented a sometimes chaotic approach to China that plunged the worlds two biggest economies into a trade war.

But just as before, Trump has presented a mixed message, describing Chinese President Xi Jinping as brilliant" for ruling with an iron fist.

Trump has also insisted that Taiwan should pay the US for defense. But he has said China would never dare to invade democratically governed Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, if he were president.

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Another unknown is how Trump will craft his national security team, though many critics believe he will avoid bringing in mainstream Republicans who sometimes acted as guardrails in his first term.

Many former top aides, including ex-national security adviser John Bolton and his first chief of staff John Kelly, broke with him before the election, calling him unfit for office.

Trump has been quiet about whom he might appoint but sources with knowledge of the matter say Robert OBrien, his final national security adviser, is likely to play a significant role.

Trump is expected to install loyalists in key positions in the Pentagon, State Department and CIA whose primary allegiance would be to him, current and former aides and diplomats told Reuters.

The result, they say, would enable Trump to make sweeping changes to policy as well as to federal institutions that implement - and sometimes constrain - presidential actions abroad.

With inputs from agencies
Elon Musk was sued in a proposed class action by registered voters who signed his petition to support the Constitution for a chance to win $1 million-a-day giveaway, and now claim it was a fraud read more

Elon Musk speaks during a rally for Republican presidential nominee and former US president Donald Trump, at the site of the July assassination attempt against Trump, in Butler, Pennsylvania, US, October 5, 2024. Source: REUTERS.

As the US votes for the new president, Tesla CEO and X owner - Elon Musk, was sued on Tuesday in a proposed class action by registered voters who signed his petition to support the Constitution for a chance to win his $1 million-a-day giveaway, and now claim it was a fraud.

Musk is a staunch supporter of Republican candidate Donald Trump in the election who is contesting against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

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The complaint filed by a resident of Arizona, Jacqueline McAferty, in the Austin, Texas federal court. She alleged that Musk and his America PAC organisation falsely induced voters to sign by claiming they would choose winners randomly, though they were predetermined.

McAferty further alleged that the defendants profited from the giveaway by driving traffic and attention to Musks X social media platform, and by collecting personal information, including her name, address and phone number that they could sell.

McAferty sued Musk a day after a Philadelphia judge denied a request by that citys district attorney Larry Krasner to end the giveaway, which Krasner called an illegal lottery.

That ruling was largely symbolic because Musk has no plans to give out more money following the 2024 US presidential election.

The worlds richest person opened the giveaway to voters in seven battleground states who signed a petition to support free speech and gun rights. Tuesdays lawsuit seeks at least $5 million in damages for everyone who signed.

Musk is a Texas resident and his electric car company Tesla is based in Austin.

Catch all updates on the US election results in live coverage

With inputs from Reuters.
Democracy and the economy ranked by far as the most important issues for voters, followed by abortion and immigration, the data showed read more

A person votes on Election Day for the 2024 US presidential election between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 5, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)

Nearly three-quarters of voters in Tuesdays presidential election believe American democracy is under threat, according to national exit poll data from Edison Research, reflecting the deep anxiety that the nation faces after a contentious campaign between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

Democracy and the economy ranked by far as the most important issues for voters, followed by abortion and immigration, the data showed. The poll showed 73% of voters believed democracy was in jeopardy, against just 25% who said it was secure.

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The figures reflect just a slice of the tens of millions of people who have voted, both before and on Election Day, and the preliminary results are subject to change through the course of the night as more people are surveyed.

The two rivals were hurtling toward an uncertain finish after a dizzying campaign as millions of American voters waited in calm, orderly lines on Tuesday to choose between two sharply different visions for the country.

A race churned by unprecedented events  two assassination attempts against Trump, President Joe Bidens surprise withdrawal and Harris rapid rise  remained neck and neck after billions of dollars in spending and months of frenetic campaigning.

Trump, who has frequently spread false claims that he won the 2020 presidential election against Biden and whose supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, voted near his home in Palm Beach, Florida.

If I lose an election, if its a fair election, Im gonna be the first one to acknowledge it, Trump told reporters.

Harris, who had earlier sent in her ballot by mail to her home state of California, spent some of Tuesday in radio interviews encouraging listeners to vote. Later, she was due to address students Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington where Harris was an undergraduate.

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To go back tonight to Howard University, my beloved alma mater, and be able to hopefully recognize this day for what it is is really full circle for me, Harris said on a radio interview.

National exit-poll results provide an important window into the thinking of the nation, but may not directly align with the seven battleground states expected to decide the presidential election.

Exit polls capture variations among turnout in various demographic groups, such as men vs women voters or college-educated vs non-college educated voters, and can provide insights into how turnout has changed from past elections.

One key advantage of exit polls is all the people surveyed, by definition, are people who cast ballots in this election.

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Opinion polls before the election showed the candidates running neck and neck in each of the seven states likely to determine the winner: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

No matter who wins, history will be made.

Harris, 60, the first female vice president, would become the first woman, Black woman and South Asian American to win the presidency. Trump, 78, the only president to be impeached twice and the first former president to be criminally convicted, would also become the first president to win non-consecutive terms in more than a century.

The contest reflects a deeply polarized nation whose divisions have only grown starker during a fiercely competitive race. Trump has employed increasingly dark and apocalyptic rhetoric on the campaign trail. Harris has urged Americans to come together, warning that a second Trump term would threaten the underpinnings of American democracy.

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Control of both chambers of Congress is also up for grabs. Republicans have an easier path in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats are defending several seats in Republican-leaning states, while the House of Representatives looks like a toss-up.

Catch all updates on the US presidential election in our live coverage .
Donald Trump has won the US presidency, defeating Kamala Harris in the race to the White House. As the Republican starts to Make America Great Again, lets take a look at his family and the role they played in his victory read more

Donald Trump is set to return to the White House, upstaging his Democratic rival Kamala Harris. He has gained over 270 electoral votes, paving the way for him to become the 47th President of the United States.

Born to Frederick Christ Trump Sr and Mary Anne MacLeod, a Scottish immigrant, the 78-year-old Trump will become the US president for a second time. As Trump emerges victorious in the elections, lets meet his family.

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Melania and Barron Trump

Former US first lady Melania Trump is Donald Trumps third and current wife. Born Melania Knauss in Yugoslavia on April 26, 1970, the supermodel married the Republican leader in 2005.

She maintained a low profile when Trump became the US president in 2017. According to the biography Free, Melania, she pushed Trump to run for president.

This time, Melania remained largely absent from her husbands 2024 campaign trail, appearing only on the last night of the Republican National Convention (RNC). However, she did not give a speech as she had in 2020.

In a memoir released in October, Melania revealed her pro-choice stance on abortion. This was a huge contrast from her husbands position, who has taken credit for helping to overturn Roe v Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion.

Melania and Trumps 18-year-old son Barron stayed out of the limelight during election campaigning.

Donald Trump (R) arrives for an election night event alongside former US First Lady Melania Trump and his son Barron Trump at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 6, 2024. AFP

It was reported in May that Barron would be among the delegates from Florida attending the convention in July, but later Melania said he had declined the offer.

He was present at a Trump rally in Miami in the run-up to the convention, with his father declaring Welcome to the scene, Barron.

Barron Trump is currently studying at Stern School of Business at New York University after graduating from Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida, in May, reported BBC.

Catch all updates on US presidential election in our live coverage

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Donald Trump Junior

Donald Trump Jr is Trumps eldest child with his first wife, Ivana Trump. He is the executive vice president of the Trump Organization.

As per The New York Times (NYT), he served as a close political adviser during Trumps 2016 presidential bid. He and his brother, Eric Trump, oversaw the Trump Organization at the time of their fathers presidency.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, looks at his son Donald Trump Jr at an election night watch party, November 6, 2024. AP

During Trumps first term in office between 2017 and 2021, his sons Donald Jr and Eric helped him in making key decisions, reported AFP.

Donald Jr, who has emerged as a firebrand figure, has been active in his fathers presidential campaigns. During his 2020 convention speech, he described Joe Biden as the Loch Ness Monster of the Swamp and said that Democrats were attacking the very principles on which our Nation was founded.

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He convinced Trump to pick JD Vance as his running mate for the 2024 presidential bid. Its an incredible pick, Donald Jr said RNC. Truly a great choice.

Trumps eldest son has become a favourite of Make America Great Again (MAGA) voters. Donald Jr is expected to have a major say in the new Trump administration.

As per NBC News, Donald Jr is looking to pick political appointees for his fathers government. A person close to him said he wants to make sure that good people will get into good places.

Speaking to The Guardian, Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman, said earlier, What Ive heard is that Junior is hugely active behind the scenes and hugely influential behind the scenes and that, if Trump is to win, Juniors going to be basically the power broker. Hes going to be the big player in the administration.

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Trumps eldest son was married to Vanessa Haydon from 2005 to 2018, with whom he has five children: Kai, Donald III, Tristan, Spencer and Chloe.

Donald Jr is now engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News presenter and a vocal supporter of Trump.

Donald Jrs eldest child, Kai Trump, gained attention during her speech at the RNC about what Trump is like as a grandfather.

The media makes my grandpa seem like a different person. But I know him for who he is. He is very caring and loving. He truly wants the best for this country. And he will fight every single day to make America great again, the 17-year-old said.

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Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner

Ivana Marie Ivanka Trump is Trumps second child with his late first wife Ivana. She has worked with her father at the Trump Organization and even ran her own line of clothing, accessories, handbags and jewellery.

Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, who have three children, played a key role during Trumps first presidency. Both served as his senior advisers at the White House. Despite nepotism concerns, Ivanka appeared on behalf of her father and his administration several times.

During Trumps presidency, she and Jared were portrayed as checks on some more hard-right figures around the president on issues like immigration policy, as per USA Today.

However, the duo was not active during Trumps 2024 presidential campaign. Ivanka and Jared only appeared on the final night of the RNC but did not speak. Afterwards, they joined Trump on stage with other family members.

Donald Trump, Lara Trump, Eric Luke Trump, Carolina Dorothy Trump, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner listen as Eric Trump speaks on Day 4 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, July 18, 2024. File Photo/Reuters

After Trump lost the 2020 election, Ivanka and her family moved to Miami. I am choosing to prioritise my young children and the private life we are creating as a family, she said in a statement.

Eric and Lara Trump

Eric Frederick Trump is the third and youngest child of Trump and Ivana. Eric is married to Lara Yunaska, a TV producer. The couple was highly involved in Trumps 2024 campaign.

In fact, Lara Trump served as the co-chair of the Republican National Committee. Speaking at the convention after an assassination attempt on Trump, she said about her father-in-law, Our family has faced our fair share of death threats none of that prepares you as a daughter-in-law to watch in real time someone try to kill a person you love.

Eric Trump speaks next to his wife Lara Trump during a press conference outside Manhattan state court, May 28, 2024. File Photo/Reuters

Eric, along with his older brother Don Jr, ran the family business when Trump was president. As per reports, he has also lobbied his father about issues important to him, just like his brother.

Both brothers have been active in Trumps political activities since the 2016 run.

Eric has supported his fathers false claims that the 2020 election was rigged.

Don Jr and Erics rise during the 2024 election campaign has coincided with Ivanka and her husbands declining influence. The brothers are seen as MAGA proponents, signalling populist extremism prevailing within Trumps family.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka were never that way. Theyre more polite, kind of high society folks so they were never really meshed with the whole MAGA thing. It parallels with who would work for Trump in the second administration. It would all be much more MAGA crazies, Walsh, a Trump critic, told The Guardian.

Tiffany Trump

Tiffany Trump is the only child Donald Trump shares with his second wife, Marla Maples. She has been married to Michael Boulos since 2022.

Tiffany has not played an active role in her fathers campaigns.

With inputs from agencies

Get all the latest updates of US Elections 2024
Former US President Donald Trump took an early lead in Indiana and Kentucky shortly after the polls closed in both states. The red states which Trump is expected to win also featured RFK Jr on the ballot read more

Former US President Donald Trump took an early lead in Kentucky and Indiana, shortly after the polling closed in both states. However, it is too early to determine who will emerge victorious in both states as many pollsters tout it as one of the closest elections in the countrys history.

In the state of Indiana, only 5 per cent of votes have been counted as of now, according to The Associated Press. Trump has taken the lead with 56.7 per cent votes in the state with Harris trailing behind with 36.5 per cent votes. As of now, Trump has received 1,53,347 votes while 1,13,918 votes went to Harris.

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Interestingly, Trumps new ally, Robert F Kennedy Jr. who was on the state ballot despite quitting the race has received 0.7 per cent votes as of now, i.e. 1,997 votes. Meanwhile, in the state of Kentucky, Trump has managed to gain a 68.7 per cent lead over Harris who stands at 30.2 per cent. According to the Associated Press, only 5 per cent of votes have been counted in the state as of now.

With counting in both states are at very early stages, CNN is already projecting Trump to win Kentucky. There are eight electoral votes at stake in Kentucky.

Trumps campaign feels more confident than the 2016 and 2020 polls

As the countdown to the US presidential election results commences, Trumps adviser Tim Murtaugh told The New York Post that the former president and his campaign feel more confident about this election. Murtaugh said that Trump believes he has a better chance of winning the polls this year than in 2016 and 2020.

Theres tangible evidence of it. This is just polling-wise. Donald Trump has never been in as strong as a position as he is now, the Trump adviser told The New York Post at the Election Day watch party here at Mar-a-Lago.

Meanwhile, the Republican presidential nominee took to TruthSocial to urge last-minute voters to head to the polling stations before they close. GET OUT AND VOTESTILL TIME LEFT! the 78-year-old Republican candidate posted at 6:20 pm (local time). While some polls in Indiana and Kentucky closed roughly 20 minutes earlier, most of the nations voting booths remain open at least until 7 pm (local time)

With inputs from agencies.

Catch all updates on the US presidential election in our live coverage .
Donald Trump claimed victory in the US Presidential election 2024 in the early hours of Wednesday and pledged to heal America. Heres all what he said read more

Donald Trump points to his wife Lady Melania Trump during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, early on November 6, 2024. Source AFP.

Donald Trump claimed victory in the 2024 US Presidential election in the early hours of Wednesday and pledged to heal America.

Trump addressed supporters even when the counting in several key battleground states were underway. He reached out to them at his election headquarters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

He was accompanied by his wife Melania Trump and several of his children as well as his running mate Sen. JD Vance.

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Trump also thanked his wife, family and congratulated Vance.

13 key points from Trumps victory speech

1 - I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.

2 - God spared my life for a reason: To save America at that point of time

3 - Weve made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible

4 - America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate. We have taken back control of the Senate  wow thats good

5 - And every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and for your future. Every single day, I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body

6 - I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve

7 - Its a political victory like our country has never seen before, nothing like this"

8 - This will truly be the golden age of America

9 - We are gonna have to seal up those borders. We are going to help our country heal, we are going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help and it needs help very badly

10 - The number of victories in the Senate was absolutely incredible. Nobody expected that, nobody. We have some great new Senators. It also looks like we will be keeping control of the House of Representatives

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11 - We have a new stara star is born - Elon! He sent a rocket up, I saw it coming down. He (Elon) is a genius. We have to protect our geniuses, we dont have many of them. I love Elon!

12 - China doesnt have what we have

13 - If I lose an election, if its a fair election, I would be the first one to acknowledge it. So far I think its been fair.

Trumps made the speech as jubilant supporters cheered and chanted USA.

A victory for Trump threatens to cause shockwaves around the world, as US allies in Europe and Asia fear a return of his nationalist policies and his praise of autocrats like Russias Vladimir Putin.

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However, the US dollar surged and bitcoin hit a record high. Also, most equity markets advanced as traders bet on a victory for Trump as the results rolled in.

With inputs from agencies.

Catch all the latest updates on 2024 US Presidential election on our live blog .
2024 US Presidential election: Republican nominee Donald Trump has won in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, but do you know when these states last voted for Democrats? read more

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former president Donald Trumps race to White House is getting tougher and exciting with the voting for 2024 US Presidential election drawing close in most states and results being gradually declared.

As per initial results, Trump has won several strongholds, including, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Meanwhile, Harris, so far is seen managing to capture Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont and the US capital Washington, DC.

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Early results gave Harris 27 electoral votes and Trump 105 with the magic number to win the presidency being 270.

As per early trends from the AP dashboard, Harris was leading from the key swing states of Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Trump, on the other hand, continued to lead in key swing state Georgia, with 16 electoral college votes.

When the states on which Trump has won last voted for Democrats

Oklahoma has not been in the Democratic column in a presidential race since 1964, while Alabama last cast its electoral college votes for a Democrat in 1976, when Jimmy Carter was the nominee.

Both Missouri and Tennessee went Democratic for the last time in 1996 with Bill Clinton seeking re-election.

Until recently, Florida was a key swing state, but has trended increasingly Republican and has lost that status. The 2000 election was decided after 36 days and an intensive recount in Florida, where George W. Bush very narrowly prevailed over Al Gore.

Millions of Americans queued up on November 5 to vote in an race with momentous consequences, which will either make Harris the first woman in the worlds most powerful job or handing a historic comeback to Trump and his right-wing America First agenda.

A final result may be known in hours  or could take days.

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Catch all updates on the US election results in live coverage .

With inputs from agencies
2024 US Presidential election result: Nine Indian Americans contested in the US House of Representatives, with five seeking re-election and three making their first attempt at Congressional office. Of these, six won, increasing their number from five in the current Congress read more

Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris is trailing behind her rival Donald Trump in their race to the White House. As US election result 2024 is being declared, the win is seen tilting towards Republican.

Trump has been making modest, but noticeable success with the counting picking up pace. Harris, meanwhile, is trailing, but Indian-Americans who contested the election have been victorious.

In the 2024 US elections, nine Indian Americans contested for the US House of Representatives, of them, five were in a re-election bid. The three others made their maiden attempt into Congressional politics with this election.

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Suhas Subramanyan:

Suhas Subramanyam made history as the first Indian American elected from Virginia  and the entire East Coast  when he became a Virginia State Senator. Representing a district with a large Indian American population in a Washington DC suburb, Subramanyam previously served as a White House Advisor to President Barack Obama.

He defeated Mike Clancy of the Republican Party in the 2024 US election.

A practicing Hindu, Subramanyan become a popular figure among Indian Americans nationwide, admired for his leadership and public service.

I am honoured and humbled that the people of Virginias 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress. This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honour to continue serving this district in Washington," Subramanyam said.

He joins the Samosa Caucus in the Congress that currently includes five Indian Americans  Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar.

All these five existing Indian American members were re-elected to the House of Representatives.

Ami Bera

A physician by profession, Dr Bera is the senior-most Indian American Congressman representing the sixth Congressional District of California since 2013.

He was re-elected for the seventh consecutive term.

Pramila Jayapal

Democrat Pramila Jayapal has won reelection to the US House from Washingtons 7th Congressional District, continuing to represent a district that includes much of Seattle.

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A progressive leader and the first South Asian American woman elected to Congress, Jayapal has been a staunch advocate for healthcare reform, climate action, and workers rights. She secured a strong mandate with a significant margin of votes, further solidifying her influence within the Democratic Party.

Raja Krishnamoorthi

A key Democrat candidate in the 2024 US polls, Raja Krishnamoorthi won re-election to a US House seat representing Illinois.

Krishnamoorthi is currently the ranking Democratic member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

Harvard University-educated lawyer, Krishnamoorthi, was first elected to Congress in 2016.

Before that, he held posts for the state and had served as deputy state treasurer.

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Shri Thanedar

Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar won re-election in Michigan. He contested against Republican candidate Martell Bivings and had a lead of 62.8 per cent votes.

He got elected to Congress in 2022. Before that, he served in the Michigan House of Representatives.

In 1979, Thanedar migrated to the US to pursue PhD in Chemistry at the University of Akron and in 1988, he became a US citizen.

Ro Khanna

Representing seventeenth Congressional District of California since 2017, Ro Khanna won a second term in the US House.

The Indian American contested against Republican candidate Anita Chen in California.

Khanna was first elected to the US House in 2016 after defeating incumbent and democrat Rep Mike Honda.

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He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and on the Oversight and Accountability Committee.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, during Americas bicentennial, to a middle-class family Khannas parents immigrated to the United States in the 1970s from India.

Amish Shah

A Democrat of Indian origin, Amish Shah has gained a narrow lead in Arizonas first Congressional District elections. Currently, he is ahead of incumbent David Schweikert in a district that spans much of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills.

Shah, a Phoenix-based emergency room doctor and former state lawmaker, has emerged as the Democratic nominee in Arizonas 1st Congressional District, challenging seven-term incumbent Republican David Schweikert in a bid to represent the district.

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From 2018 to till February this year when he stepped down to focus on his congressional bid, Shah, a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives, represented District 24. After redistricting in 2020, Shah served the newly formed District 5, which covers parts of Phoenix.

Prasanth Reddy

Republican candidate, Dr Prasanth Reddy is running for the House of Representatives from the third Congressional District of Kansas against three-term Democrat Sharice Davids.

Reddy immigrated from Chennai to Kansas as a child and graduated from public schools. He obtained his bachelors degree from Kansas State University, after which he went on to complete his medical degree, residency, and fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Reddy also got his masters in public health and completed further training at Harvard Business School.

Rakesh Mohan

A Republican, Dr Rakesh Mohan, contested for the House of Representatives from New Jerseys third Congressional District.

He is a quadruple board-certified cardiologist and has over 20 years of experience in healthcare. Mohan has held various leadership roles, including Chief Medical Officer of a New Jersey hospital.

Mohan also serves as the President and Managing Partner of a prominent multi-specialty medical practice.

He holds an MBA and has served as an assistant professor in medical centers across New Jersey and New York. Mohan was also reportedly on the frontlines Covid-19 pandemic for patient care.

With inputs from agencies.
Donald Trump is on the path to reclaiming the post of the President of the United States, defeating his Democratic rival Kamala Harris. However, it could take a while before he is officially declared the winner. Heres why read more

People watch as television screens show Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump addressing supporters on Election Day, November 5, 2024, at Comet Tavern in Seattle. AP

The United States presidential election results have started to trickle in. All eyes are on the seven swing states which will decide who  Kamala Harris or Donald Trump  has won the race to the White House.

While vote counting is underway, it is not certain that the winner will be officially declared today (November 6). Experts say it is likely to take days to count the votes, which is not a sign of malfeasance.

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But why is the counting process so slow? We will explain.

US election results: Whats going on?

Trump is leading the race to the White House but it may take time for the official announcement.

In a setback for Harris, the former US president has won the swing or battleground state of Georgia, which had voted for Democrats four years ago. He has also won the important swing state of Pennsylvania, according to Associated Press (AP).

With his victory in North Carolina, another key swing state, the contest has tilted in favour of Trump, who has to reach the 270 electoral votes needed to become president. The three battleground states voting for the Republican leader have significantly narrowed Harris path to victory.

Besides the presidency, the Democrats and Republicans are also vying for control of the US Congress  House of Representatives and Senate.

The Republicans have secured control of the Senate, ending two years of Democratic rule.

All 435 seats of the House of Representatives are up for grabs. The Republicans currently have a narrow lead over the Democrats.

Why vote counting takes time

Vote counting takes time in the US as states have their own rules about how and when ballots are counted.

In swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, mail-in or absentee ballots cannot be processed before Election Day. This includes opening envelopes, verifying the information of voters and scanning them before the counting can be started. The process can delay the final results.

In battleground states like Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina, mail-in or absentee ballots can be processed but not counted before Election Day.

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Others get a head start by starting the counting process earlier during the early voting period, Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, a professor of law at Stetson University College of Law in Florida, told Al Jazeera. And states have vastly different population sizes. Wyoming has a tiny population while California has more people living in it than Canada. The bigger the population of voters, the longer it takes to count their ballots, which can number in the millions.

Catch all updates on US presidential election in our live coverage .

The states will also have to process provisional ballots, which are cast by people whose voter registration status has to be confirmed first before their vote is counted.

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The booths used for voting are being put away as Michigan polls close, in Kalamazzoo, Michigan, US, November 5, 2024. Reuters

Some states allow absentee ballots to be counted 10 days after Election Day. Nevada accepts mail-in ballots up till the Saturday after Election Day, as long as they are postmarked by November 5, as per The Guardian.

Due to these different rules, some states could take days to tabulate results.

There are a variety of things that have to be done because there are these safeguards in place to try and minimise the possibility of fraud. And so in states that have those rules, it takes a while in order to process all the ballots, Mitchell Brown, a professor of political science at Auburn University, told ABC News.

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Experts emphasise that it could take hours or even days to know the results but that does not mean there is any foul play. Just because it takes a populous state a few days to count millions of votes is not evidence of fraud, Torres-Spelliscy was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

In 2020, Trump had declared victory prematurely even though vote counting was on. At the time, Joe Biden was announced the winner four days after Election Day.

When the results will be declared also depends on how close the race is. Polls have shown Trump and Harris are engaged in a knife-edge race.

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Speaking to Al Jazeera, Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the voting rights project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said, Just like in 2020, its entirely normal for vote counting to take several days. This is particularly true in closely contested states where things are going to be scrutinised and youre going to have to count a lot of votes before youre going to have a sense of whos going to win those states.

The US news organisations often project a winner based on their own methods and after analysing the vote count, known as the election call. However, results are not official until states certify them.

As per the Election Assistance Commission, these certification deadlines vary for states, ven extending into December for some, reported ABC News.

Results could also be prolonged if there are legal challenges over which ballots should be counted. Over 100 lawsuits were already filed before the US election, mostly by Republicans challenging voter eligibility and voter roll management, reported BBC.

Recounts may also hold up final results in case of narrow victories.

The phenomenon of  red mirage and blue shift could influence initial results. It means a Republican candidate has an early lead only to disappear after more votes (mail-in ballots) are counted.

All we now need is patience before the next President of the United States is officially declared.

Get all the latest updates of US Elections 2024
Kamala Harris failed to defeat Donald Trump in the White House bid. If she had won, the Democrat would have been the first woman US president. While that did not happen, her nomination itself gave hope to women read more

It was a heartbreaking defeat for Kamala Harris as she lost the United States presidential election to her Republican rival Donald Trump. If she had won, the Democrat would have broken the last glass ceiling in American politics, becoming the first woman president of the country.

She would have been the first Indian-American and second African-American president of the US. While Trumps victory shattered her dreams of occupying the White House, Harris has other historic firsts to her name.

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Lets take a look.

Kamala Harris many firsts

Harris is the first woman Vice President of the US, along with being the first black woman and South Asian American to occupy the post.

Harris has served as the district attorney for San Francisco, the first woman to do so. She was also the first African-American and the first person of Indian origin to be elected to the position.

When US President Joe Biden picked her as his running mate in 2020, she was only the third woman to be chosen as the vice presidential nominee on a major party ticket.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala speaks as she and US President Joe Biden deliver remarks on gun violence in America, at the White House in Washington, US, September 26, 2024. File Photo/Reuters

Harris was among the only three Asian Americans in the US Senate and the first Indian-American to serve in the chamber. In the Senate, she championed legislation to fight hunger, provide rent relief, improve maternal health care, expand access to capital for small businesses, revitalise Americas infrastructure, and combat the climate crisis.

As president of the chamber, Harris set a new record for the most tie-breaking votes cast by a Vice President in history  surpassing one that had stood for nearly 200 years. And her votes have been consequential.

Comparison to Obama

Harris was once likened to Barack Obama, the US first African-American president.

More than a decade ago, journalist Gwen Ifill called Harris the female Barack Obama on the Late Show With David Letterman. Later, a small businessman from Willoughby, Tony Pinto, called her a young, female version of the president.

She is considered close to Obama, who endorsed her in various elections, including that for the US Senate in 2016, Vice President in 2020 and the presidential election in 2024.

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Kamala Harris family and career

Harris was born to two immigrant parents: a Black father and an Indian mother. Her father, Donald Harris, is from Jamaica, and her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, migrated to the US from Tamil Nadus Chennai in 1958. The US VP, however, defines herself simply as American.

After her parents divorced, Harris was raised primarily by her Hindu mother. She says that her mother adopted Black culture and immersed her two daughters  Kamala and her younger sister Maya  in it. Harris grew up embracing her Indian culture but living a proudly African American life.

My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters, she wrote in her autobiography The Truths We Hold. She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as black girls and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud black women.

Harris was born in Oakland and grew up in Berkeley. She spent her high school years living in French-speaking Canada  her mother was teaching at McGill University in Montreal.

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Harris is a graduate of Howard University, describing her time there as a formative experience of her life. After Howard, she went on to earn her law degree at the University of California, Hastings and began her career at the Alameda County District Attorneys Office.

Harris was raised in a middle-class family by a working mother who taught her to believe in the promise of America. Her mother also taught her the value of hard work, bringing Kamala to her breast cancer research lab and showing her how to clean test tubes as a child, according to the Harris campaign website.

In 2003, she became the top prosecutor for San Francisco before being elected the first woman and the first black person to serve as Californias attorney general in 2010, the top lawyer in Americas most populous state.

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In her nearly two terms in office as attorney general, Harris gained a reputation as one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party.

Harris has been married to Douglas Emhoff, a lawyer, for the past 10 years. She is the stepmother of two children, Ella and Cole, who are her endless source of love and pure joy. Her role as vice president was more than just symbolic. Unlike her predecessors, she wielded considerable power during Bidens presidency.

Harris presidential nomination came after Biden abandoned his re-election bid in July. Her defeat marks the end of her presidency dream (for now) but her nomination has given hope to women that this door in public life is not closed to them.

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With inputs from PTI

Get all the latest updates of US Elections 2024
Donald Trump has scripted a historic comeback by defeating Kamala Harris in the US presidential election. Simultaneously, the Republicans have gained control of the US Senate. Heres how America got here read more

Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald Trump dances as former first lady Melania Trump watches at the Palm Beach County Convention Center during an election night watch party, Wednesday in Florida after he won the US presidency. AP

Election Day is usually a day of shocks. And this one didnt disappoint. Donald Trump won the presidential race over Kamala Harris, scoring a historic win and marking his return to the White House.

With this, Trump will become the second person in American history to serve non-consecutive terms as president, after Grover Cleveland in the late 19th Century. In a victory speech to supporters in Florida, Trump claimed that America will be bigger, better, bolder in his second term in the White House and promised to fight for you, for your family, and your future.

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We have been through so much together and today you showed up and in record numbers to deliver a victory like probably no other, this is something special, he said, adding, We are going to pay you back, we are going to do the best job, we are going to turn it around and it will be turned around fast.

His win is also punctuated by a return of the Republican majority to the Senate, which will ease his path to confirming his choices for key government posts. Its not yet clear which party will control the House.

The results also leave the Democrats facing an urgent and immediate reckoning, with no obvious leader to unite the anti-Trump coalition and no clear plan to rebuild as an emboldened Trump prepares to re-take Washington.

Breaking the Blue Wall

On his way to winning the US presidential election, Donald Trump broke the Blue Wall. The blue wall refers to the collection of states  Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  that had reliably voted Democrat in recent presidential elections through 2012.

A US flag is left by a barrier at the Election Night rally for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris at Howard University, in Washington. Reuters

Trump and the Latino, Black vote

The Trump campaign put a great deal of effort into persuading Black and Latino voters to defect from the Democratic Party  and there were some indications those efforts paid off.

In North Carolina, exit polls showed Trump boosting his share of the Black vote to 12 per cent, from five per cent in 2020. He garnered the support of 20 per cent of Black male voters, the poll said.

According to the Edison national poll, Trumps support among Latino male voters jumped 18 percentage points from four years ago.

Trump was up 11 percentage points with Latino voters in Nevada, according to the poll, and up four points in Arizona from four years ago. He was on track to do as well or better than Republican President George W Bush did 20 years ago when Bush garnered 44 per cent of Hispanic voters.

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According to AP, about eight in 10 Black voters backed Harris, down from the roughly nine in 10 who backed Biden. More than half of Hispanic voters supported Harris, but that was down slightly from the roughly six in 10 who backed Biden in 2020. Trumps support among those groups appeared to rise slightly compared to 2020. Collectively, those small gains yielded an outsize outcome.

Women for Donald Trump show their support in Raleigh, North Carolina. File image/AP

Americas wait for a female president continues

Kamala Harris loss once again shows that America is still not ready for a female president.

The gender divide among voters was much discussed this election, with uncertainty about how this split would play out on polling day and what it would mean for each candidate. However, it seems that the womens voting bloc didnt side with Harris.

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The only segment of the electorate with which Harris made notable gains over Bidens 2020 performance was college-educated women  the voters who had propelled the partys strong suburban performance in the 2022 midterms.

More interestingly, abortion wasnt the main issue driving voters, with the economy and democracy trumping it. It also seems that the Trump campaigns efforts of paying significant attention to male voters, particularly young men, paid off.

Republicans win the Senate

While the focus for many Americans was on the outcome of the presidential race, the Senate race has also been a shocker for the Democrats.

The Republicans gained control of the Senate, ending four years of Democrat leadership in the upper chamber of Congress.

As many as 33 Senate seats were up for grabs this election, making up roughly a third of the 100-seat chamber. Before the polls, the Democrats had a strength of 51 members. However, the Republicans  who previously had 49 members  claimed the Senate by flipping two seats.

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Supporters celebrate and take selfies during an election watch party for Republican US Senate candidate Eric Hovde in Madison, Wisconsin. AP

In Ohio, Democrat incumbent Sherrod Brown lost his seat to Republican Bernie Moreno. In West Virginia, retiring independent Senator Joe Manchins seat was won by Republican Jim Justice, who defeated Democrat Glenn Elliot by a comfortable 41 percentage points margin.

While the results for the Senate are in, the battle for the control of the House of Representatives continues. If the Republicans win both chambers of Congress it will pave the way for Trumps agenda to be enacted in full.

Uncertain future for Democrats

When Kamala Harris entered the race for the White House, just a few months ago, she generated quite a lot of excitement. But in the end, it seems to have fizzled out just when it mattered.

Not only has Kamala Harris lost the election, but the Democrats have lost control of the Senate, with the party now hoping to hold on to the House.

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Now, Democrats will be left to wonder how to reconnect with the voters, especially with the electorate that seems to have largely rejected the Democrats and their messaging.

Supporters react during the Election Night rally for Kamala Harris, at Howard University, in Washington. Reuters

A fractured nation

Trump will become president to the United States of America, which is deeply divided. Before the election, an overwhelming majority of Harris voters  82 per cent  said they were either very or somewhat concerned that an event similar to the January 6, 2021, storming of the Capitol could occur again.

However, most Trump supporters did not share that sentiment, with 38 per cent saying they were very or somewhat concerned about that happening, and a 51 per cent majority saying they were either not too concerned or not at all concerned.

It will be interesting to see now if Trump can unite the voters of America.

With inputs from agencies
The countdown to finding out who will be the next president of the United States  Vice President Kamala Harris or former president Donald Trump  has begun. For many people and political junkies, nothing beats a good election watch party. But what do we know about them? read more

Supporters attend the Pinellas County Republicans Watch Party held at the St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater, during the 2024 US presidential election, in Pinellas Park, Florida. Reuters

The counting of votes in the United States has begun. Media outlets have begun declaring winners for a few states, such as Vermont, Illinois, Delaware, New Jersey for Kamala Harris, while Donald Trump has triumphed in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Carolina.

Now, the countdown to finding out who will be the next president of the United States  Vice President Kamala Harris or former president Donald Trump  has begun.

People across America will spend the next few days glued to their TVs, smartphones and laptops.

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But for many political junkies in the United States, nothing beats a good election watch party.

But why are they such a big deal in America?

Lets take a closer look:

A public affair

According to The Atlantic, Election Night was once a public affair.

Mark Brewin, a media-studies professor at the University of Tulsa and the author of a book on Election Day rituals, told the outlet that people would once congregate at the offices of local papers.

Winners names would be projected on the walls using lanterns, fireworks would be set off and even bands hired to strike up a joyous note.

After the election, members of the victorious party would give their friends who supported other candidates a Salt River ticket.

This gesture, which was in gest, alluded to a river of tears.

It helped people swallow the loss of their preferred candidate with a dollop of good humour.

Brewin said these rites helped demarcate the moment when people stop being partisans and become Americans again, Brewin said.

In the 20th Century, as results became speedier, the celebrations moved to the private domain, as per The Atlantic.

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In recent years, election watching has moved to either peoples homes  where returns are watched with friends and loved ones.

The other option is to take in the results at bars with complete strangers.

Derek Robertson, a journalist at Politico, told Slate the parties were little he attended prior to 2016 were little more than an excuse to drink.

In 2016, Democrats, sure of a Clinton victory, held watch parties all around the country.

Hollywood held a number of shindigs with Clinton supporters ready to go wild.

Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump.

We all know what happened next.

Hollywood, in particular, is still reeling from 2016.

The biggest change for me personally is the understanding that we most likely will not have a confirmed outcome by the end of election night. Weve now seen major swings with vote-by-mail being counted later than in-person voting, so the idea of doing a party on election night doesnt make sense due to that uncertainty, and others probably feel the same way, Jamie Patricof, founder of TV and documentary production company Hunting Lane, told THR.

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The 2016 election was also traumatising for a lot of people, and the fact that 2020 extended until that Saturday has changed the course of election night plans. For me, its now more important to be with friends, family and people who have poured their hearts, time and effort into getting candidates elected that are critical to the policies and issues important to them and us. There are plenty of other days and nights to have parties.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the PTSD from 2016 caused many voters to skip these communal gatherings altogether.

Back to normal

But for some people, things are different this year.

As per Slate, a number of bars in Los Angeles this year are advertising election watch parties.

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A $30 ticket to Maria Bruggeres election party offers those in attendance s an unlimited number of both Pina Kamalas and Kamalaritas.

Hopefully well all get to pop Champagne and go to bed early. But we may be there until one or two in the morning, depending on how fired up people are about what they think is going to happen, said Bruggere. When youre campaigning there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and now there isnt really much more to do than to prepare a fun party. Regardless of what happens on election night, everyone can have a good time and feel like they were together.

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Robertson also said that no matter who prevails, the outcome wont be as shocking as it was in 2016.

I think most people, whether you support Harris or Trump, are pretty immune to shock. There isnt going to be a year-zero moment. A lot of people will be extremely unhappy, but I dont think there will be the same anguish, said Robertson. Donald Trump has already been president. Youre not sailing off into the unknown.

In Washington DC, politics isnt so much a battle as it is a sport.

The biggest change that weve seen is that election night and debates have become more like the Super Bowl, Fritz Brogan of Mission Restaurant Group told NBC Washington.

The vibes in DC, meanwhile, remain unchained.

Ultimately, DC is going to do what D. does. Were going to be engaged. Were going to be enthusiastic. Were going to be educated about our votes, Imani Cheers, an associate professor of media at public affairs at George Washington University, told NBC Washington.

And were going to make sure that we have a good time.

With inputs from agencies

Get all the latest updates of US Elections 2024
The Samosa Caucus refers to the growing number of Indian-Americans in Congress. The informal grouping, named after the popular Indian snack, received a callout from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2023 trip to America. Originally comprising five members, it has now expanded to six on Election Day and may even be adding a seventh read more

Vice President Kamala Harris has lost her bid to become president of the United States.

Harris, who is of Indian-origin, was vying to become the first woman and person of colour to become US president.

However, Harris wasnt the only one running for high office.

This Election Day in the United States witnessed the Samosa Caucus in Congress has expanded.

But what is it? And how has it changed after the US election?

Lets take a closer look:

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What is it?

The term refers to the growing number of Indian-Americans in Congress.

The caucus, which is an informal grouping, is named after the popular Indian snack.

As per Indian Express, Raja Krishnamoorthy, member of the US House of Representatives from Illinoiss 8th District, coined the nomenclature.

The caucus previously comprised five members in Congress  Shamal Thanedar (68) from Michigans 13th District, Dr Ami Bera (58) from Californias 6th District, Ro Khanna from the Californias 17th District of California, Pramila Jayapal from Washingtons 7th District and Krishnamoorthy.

All five members have been re-elected to Congress.

However, the caucus has now expanded to include a sixth member.

As per India Today, Suhas Subramanyam made history by becoming the first Indina-American to be elected from Virginia to the US House of Congress.

(From left to right) Representative Ro Khanna, Pramilla Jayapal, Shri Thanedar, Ami Bera and Raja Krishnamoorthi in the US House of Representatives. Image Courtesy: Ami Bera/X

Subramanyam, presently a Virginia State Senator, defeated Republican Mike Clancy.

He previously served as a White House advisor to President Barack Obama.

I am honoured and humbled that the people of Virginias 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress. This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honour to continue serving this district in Washington, Subramanyam was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

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Thanedar, explaining the reasons for a Harris loss, told News18, Possibly look at the order people, the people who are trying to make a meat they struggling to put food on the table. Theyre struggling to pay for medicine. They have to make hard choices, whether they have to use the money to buy medicine or heat their homes or buy their groceries $100 isnt bringing today the amount of groceries that they used to be able to bring four years ago now you have, Harris was looked as a little more of an elite candidate.

The Samosa Caucus might even get a seventh member.

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This is possible if Amish Shah, who is running in Arizonas 1st Congressional district, wins his election.

Shah, a Democratic, is facing Republican incumbent David Schweikett.

Shah has 132,712 votes compared to Schweiketts 128,606 votes.

Around 63 per cent of the votes were in.

While the battles for control of the White House and Congress remain close, I am honoured that the people of Illinois 8th District have extended my contract to represent them in Congress, Krishnamoorthi said as per India Today.

My parents came to this country with little more than a dream for their familys future and the faith that they could achieve it here in America, Krishnamoorthi added. Despite some hard times, we did.

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My mission in Congress is to fight for all the other families that are pursuing their dreams, no matter where they come from, how they worship, or the number of letters in their names there are 29 in mine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2023 trip to the United States made reference to the Samosa Caucus.

The prime minister, addressing a joint sitting of the US Congress, said, The foundation of America was inspired by the vision of a nation of equal people. Throughout your history, you have embraced people from around the world. And, you have made them equal partners in the American dream. There are millions here, who have roots in India. Some of them sit proudly in this chamber.

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There is one behind me, who has made history! he added referring to Vice President Kamala Harris.

I am told that the Samosa Caucus is now the flavour of the House. I hope it grows and brings the full diversity of Indian cuisine here, he added.

With inputs from agencies

Get all the latest updates of US Elections 2024
The US presidential elections are underway and many voters are complaining of feeling lost and adrift. There is a Mexican term for this - zozobra. Let us tell you what is this concept read more

Ever had the feeling that you cant make sense of whats happening? One moment everything seems normal, then suddenly the frame shifts to reveal a world on fire, struggling with war, climate change and political violence and upheaval.

Thats zozobra, the peculiar form of anxiety that comes from being unable to settle into a single point of view, leaving you with questions like: Is it a lovely autumn day, or an alarming moment of converging historical catastrophes?

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On the eve of a general election in which the outcome  and aftermath  is unknown, it is a condition that many Americans may be experiencing.

As scholars of this phenomenon, we have noted how zozobra has spread in US society in recent years.

Now, in 2024, as crisis fatigue and disorientation are eroding many peoples capacity to believe that life will ever return to normal again, we believe these insights from Mexican philosophy are more relevant than ever.

Ever since the conquest and colonization of the valley of Mexico by Hernan Cortes, Mexicans have had to cope with wave after wave of profound social and spiritual disruption  wars, rebellions, revolution, corruption, dictatorship and now the threat of becoming a narco-state. Mexican philosophers have had more than 500 years of uncertainty to reflect on and they have important lessons to share.

What does Zozobra mean?

The word zozobra is an ordinary Spanish term for anxiety but with connotations that call to mind the wobbling of a ship about to capsize. The term emerged as a key concept among Mexican intellectuals in the early 20th century to describe the sense of having no stable ground and feeling out of place in the world.

This feeling of zozobra is commonly experienced by people who visit or immigrate to a foreign country: the rhythms of life, the way people interact, everything just seems off  unfamiliar, disorienting and vaguely alienating.

According to the philosopher Emilio Uranga (1921-1988), the telltale sign of zozobra is wobbling and toggling between perspectives, being unable to relax into a single framework to make sense of things. As Uranga describes it in his 1952 book  Analysis of Mexican Being:

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Zozobra refers to a mode of being that incessantly oscillates between two possibilities, between two effects, without knowing which one of those to depend on  indiscriminately dismissing one extreme in favour of the other. In this, to and fro the soul suffers, it feels torn and wounded.

What makes zozobra so difficult to address is that its source is intangible. It is a soul-sickness not caused by any personal failing, nor by any of the particular events that we can point to.

Instead, it comes from cracks in the frameworks of meaning that we rely on to make sense of our world  the shared understanding of what is real and who is trustworthy, what risks we face and how to meet them, what basic decency requires of us and what ideals our nation aspires to.

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In the past, many people in the US took these frameworks for granted  but no longer.

The gnawing sense of distress and disorientation many Americans are feeling is a sign that at some level, they now recognize just how necessary and fragile these structures are.

Why do we need a community?

Another Mexican philosopher, Jorge Portilla (1918-1963), reminds us that these frameworks of meaning that hold our world together cannot be maintained by individuals alone. While each of us may find our own meaning in life, we do so against the backdrop of what Portilla described as a  horizon of understanding that is maintained by our community. In everything we do, from making small talk to making big life choices, we depend on others to share a basic set of assumptions about the world. Its a fact that becomes painfully obvious when we suddenly find ourselves among people with very different assumptions.

In our book on the contemporary relevance of Portillas philosophy, we point out that in the US, people increasingly have the sense that their neighbours and countrymen inhabit a different world. As social circles become smaller and more restricted, zozobra deepens.

people become prone to a sense of profound vulnerability that gives rise to apocalyptic thinking. Pixabay

In his 1949 essay,  Community, Greatness and Misery in Mexican Life, Portilla identifies four signs that indicate when the feedback loop between zozobra and social disintegration has reached critical levels.

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First, people in a disintegrating society become prone to self-doubt and reluctance to take action, despite how urgently action may be needed. Second, they become prone to cynicism and even corruption  not because they are immoral but because they genuinely do not experience a common good for which to sacrifice their personal interests. Third, they become prone to nostalgia, fantasising about returning to a time when things made sense. In the case of America, this applies not only to those given to wearing MAGA caps; everyone can fall into this sense of longing for a previous age.

And finally, people become prone to a sense of profound vulnerability that gives rise to apocalyptic thinking. Portilla puts it this way, We live always simultaneously entrenched in a human world and in a natural world and if the human world denies us its accommodations to any extent, the natural world emerges with a force equal to the level of insecurity that textures our human connections.

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In other words, when a society is disintegrating, fires, floods and tornadoes seem like harbingers of apocalypse.

How to cope with this crisis?

Naming the present crisis is the first step toward dealing with it. But then what is to be done?

Portilla suggests that national leaders can exacerbate or alleviate zozobra. When there is a coherent horizon of understanding at the national level  that is to say when there is a shared sense of what is real and what matters  individuals have a stronger feeling of connection to the people around them and a sense that their society is in a better position to deal with the most pressing issues. With this solace, it is easier to return attention to ones own small circle of influence.

Uranga, for his part, suggests that zozobra actually unifies people in a common human condition. Many prefer to hide their suffering behind a happy facade or channel it into anger and blame. But Uranga insists that honest conversation about shared suffering is an opportunity to come together. Talking about zozobra provides something to commune over, something on which to base love for one another, or at least sympathy.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on Nov. 2, 2020.

Carlos Alberto Sanchez, Professor of Philosophy, San Jose State University and Francisco Gallegos, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Wake Forest University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
In addition to US Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, American voters on Election Day also found Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver on their ballots. The 39-year-old openly gay candidate is described by his campaign as a Libertarian activist living in Atlanta read more

Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver looks on as he speaks to the media after participating in a debate at the Georgia Public Broadcasting offices in Atlanta, Georgia, US, October 16, 2022. File Photo/Reuters

Apart from US Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, voters on Election Day have also encountered Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver on the ballot.

A quick Google search for US election results reveals four candidates under the countrys map: Kamala Harris, Donald J Trump, Green Party candidate Jill Stein, and Libertarian Chase Oliver.

Oliver, 39, is described by his campaign as a Libertarian activist living in Atlanta. The openly gay candidate secured the partys nomination in May after a close series of votes at the convention, where divisions among delegates nearly led to the result of no nominee.

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Who is Chase Oliver? And, how could he impact the Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris race in swing states?

1. Chase Oliver, a 39-year-old political activist and sales executive, is running for the US presidency as the Libertarian Partys nominee for 2024. Known for his outspoken Libertarian views, he currently holds less than 1 per cent (over 500,000 votes) of the vote - a possibly influential considering the tight race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, especially in swing states.

Chase Oliver speaks to the media at the Georgia Public Broadcasting offices in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on October 16, 2022. File Photo/Reuters

2. Oliver appears on the ballot in 47 states and qualifies as a registered write-in candidate in three others.

3. Oliver strongly opposes nearly all gun regulations, seeks to abolish the Department of Education and supports a constitutional amendment mandating balanced federal budgets.

ALSO READ | Harris vs Trump: How the 2024 US presidential election is of many historic firsts

4. He also backs abortion rights at the state level, opposes Israels military actions in Gaza, and supports the legalisation of marijuana.

5. Before entering the 2024 presidential race, Oliver previously ran for Congress in Georgias 5th district in 2020. According to his campaign, he did not win the special election, losing to Democrat Kwanza Hall, who secured the seat previously held by the late civil rights leader John Lewis.

6. In 2022, Oliver ran for a Senate seat in Georgia, receiving around 2 per cent of the vote, which led to a runoff between Democrat Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker.

ALSO READ |

7. At a meet-and-greet with Linn County Libertarians in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, attended by eight people, Oliver told The Gazette, a local newspaper, A 39-year-old Libertarian who is ready to speak our principles boldly and loudly to the American public will look so great compared to two 80-year-old decrepit, old-party machine people, who are going to be spouting the same lines and the same mudslinging that they do every four years.

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8. Notably, third-party candidates have often been criticised by both Republicans and Democrats for diverting votes to candidates who are unlikely to win. In response, Oliver told Newsweek, To those in one party or the other who see us as spoilers, I say, the two-party system itself is spoiled rotten. But we welcome being a disruptor to the political binary.

Kamala Harris in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, August 20, 2024, and Donald Trump in Bedminster, New Jersey, US, August 15, 2024. File Photo/Reuters

9. Unlike my two opponents, who focus on using the power of government to solve the problems - which ends up creating more problems - or using the power of government to push their viewpoints onto others, Libertarians are different. We seek to reduce the power of government and empower individual people to make their own choices in life, with regards to the education their kids receive and the medical choices they make, he said. We want to remove governments impact on our lives as much as possible.

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10. The Libertarian Party is present on the ballot in most states, but Oliver currently polls in the low single digits, typical for third-party candidates. Whether his modest share of the vote will impact the Harris-Trump race remains to be seen, as does which candidate might be affected.

Although Chase Oliver is unlikely to directly influence the election results, his vote share could sway the overall outcome in the close contest between Harris and Trump. Democrats had intensified their focus on Oliver as part of a larger group of non-Harris candidates, whose votes they feared might ultimately benefit Trump. On Tuesday, a coalition of progressive groups launched a new seven-figure ad campaign across battleground states, targeting what they described as third-party curious voters and working-class communities, The Hill reported.

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Sarah McBride etched her name in history as she became the first openly transgender individual to win a seat in the US Congress. The Delaware senator triumphed over Republican opponent John Whalen III in the states at-large House district, with around two-thirds of the ballots counted in her favour read more

Delaware Senator Sarah McBride has etched her name in history as the first openly transgender individual to win a seat in the House of Representatives. Image courtesy: Instagram/@SarahMcbride

Delaware Senator Sarah McBride has etched her name in history as the first openly transgender individual to win a seat in the House of Representatives.

McBride, a Democrat, triumphed over Republican opponent John Whalen III in the states at-large House district, with around two-thirds of the ballots counted in her favour.

The results are a testament to Delawareans who have demonstrated that they are judging candidates based on their ideas and not their identities, McBride,34, told People about her historic win.

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She adds, I know how much it would have meant for me as a kid to see something like this happen, but I didnt run to make history with an election, I ran to help make historic progress in Congress for all Delawareans on all of the issues that matter.

Who is Sarah McBride? and why does her win matter? Heres a closer look.

McBrides deep dive into politics

Sarah McBride was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, where her passion for politics began at a young age.

Describing herself as a pretty significant nerd, McBride spent her childhood reading every single book that I could conceivably get my hands on about politics, she told People_._

I found a little glimmer of hope because I saw that the through line of our history is the story of advocates, activists and a handful of courageous elected officials working together to right the wrongs of our past, to address injustice, to bring people from the shadows and the margins of society into the circle of opportunity, she told the magazine, adding, And I found hope in that story, and I got involved.

By 2011, after coming out to her parents, McBride feared there might not be a place for her in politics as a transgender woman. Yet, as she grew older, she realised her dream of becoming a political figure in her own right was not only possible but achievable.

Sarah McBride. Image courtesy: Instagram/ @sarahMcbride

By the time she was 18, she had volunteered or worked on at least three political campaigns, including Joe Bidens son Beau Bidens 2006 campaign for attorney general and his 2010 re-election campaign.

In 2012, she made headlines when she came out as transgender in American Universitys student newspaper, just after completing her term as student body president.

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At the time, I was scared, she said. I worried that my dreams and my identity were mutually exclusive. Since then, I have seen that change is possible, she recalled.

The same year, she became the first openly transgender woman to work in the White House when she interned with the Obama administration, according to her memoir, Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality.

Notably, President Joe Biden wrote the foreword to her book.

President Joe Biden wrote the foreword to Sarah Mcbrides memoir: Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality. Image courtesy: Instagram/ @sarahMcbride

Catch all updates on US presidential election in our live coverage .

Her achievements continued to break new ground. In 2016, she became the first transgender person to speak at a national party convention when she addressed the Democratic National Convention.

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Four years later, McBride made history again by becoming the first transgender person elected to a state Senate, representing northern Delaware.

Also Read: Who is winning the US election? Heres how electoral votes stack up for Trump and Harris

Shes like a hero

Sarah McBride emerged as the clear victor in Delawares race for its sole House seat, defeating Republican John Whalen III, a state police officer and businessman. With 78 percent of votes reported, McBride secured 58 percent, according to the AP.

Thank you, Delaware! she shared on X. Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress.

Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress.



Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all our pic.twitter.com/QgwRkpUlbD  Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) November 6, 2024

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Her victory marks a transition, as McBride takes over from Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester, who had supported her campaign since September.

The win has ignited celebration among her supporters. Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, hailed McBrides success as a landmark achievement on the march toward equality in a report by NBC News.

Jake Carpenter, 42, who works in finance at a college in Delaware, met McBride at a meet-and-greet in August. I asked her, What have you promised, and how have you done it? Carpenter recalled, describing how she explained her policy work in the state Senate. She won me over, he said.

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I knew that she was trans, and being gay myself, I wanted to see someone like me, someone part of my community, be successful, Carpenter told the news outlet. Shes like a hero to me.

McBrides campaign focused on expanding access to affordable health care, protecting reproductive rights, and raising the minimum wage. She also expressed her commitment to advocating for paid family leaves and affordable housing policies.

Reflecting on her historic bid, McBride previously shared her hope that her achievements will outshine her identity.

I think that is the best way to guarantee that while I may be a first, that Im not the last, and that we build a world where its no longer noteworthy when a trans candidate runs and wins, she had told NPR.
A second Trump presidency could bring both opportunities and challenges for India, but New Delhis strategic autonomy ensures its prepared to deal with any shifts in US policy while strengthening long-term ties read more

As world leaders poured in their congratulations to Donald Trump on his re-election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a heartfelt message, emphasising the strength of the India-US partnership. Modi, addressing Trump as my friend, highlighted the potential for the two nations to deepen their collaboration.

As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity, Modi stated.

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Continuity in a long-term strategic partnership

India-US relations rest on a bedrock of bipartisan support in the United States. Both Democrats and Republicans recognise the significance of the India-US partnership, so the fundamentals are unlikely to change with Trumps return. However, changes in leadership do introduce nuances. Modi has witnessed three different US presidents since he became Indias prime minister in 2014, generating productive relationships with each: Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. His rapport with Trump, in particular, was marked by events like the Howdy Modi gathering in Texas and the massive stadium rally in Ahmedabad. This strong personal chemistry with Trump might prove advantageous as they resume working together.

Economic and trade policy

One of the key areas to watch is Trumps stance on tariffs. Trump has long advocated for tariffs on imports, which could impact Indias $75 billion trade with the US, encompassing critical sectors such as pharmaceuticals and engineering goods. While this stance could affect Indian exports, both sides may be able to reach mutually beneficial trade adjustments without escalating to a trade conflict.

Another sensitive issue is H1B work visas. Trumps strict immigration policies previously included curbing work permits for immigrants, arguing that foreign workers reduce opportunities for Americans. Should these policies reemerge, India may face hurdles in securing US work opportunities for its skilled professionals. The two countries also have joint plans to build semiconductor plants in India, but Trumps inclination toward encouraging American firms to produce domestically may test these collaborations.

Geopolitical partnerships: West Asia

Trumps earlier tenure saw groundbreaking shifts in West Asia, notably the normalisation of relations between Israel and several Arab states. This shift benefitted India by opening avenues for cooperation through initiatives like the I2U2 grouping (India, Israel, UAE and the US) and an emerging India-to-Europe shipping corridor via West Asia. Trumps diplomatic success in West Asia could be advantageous for Indias strategic interests in the region.

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However, Iran presents a potential stumbling block. Trumps prior sanctions on Iran forced India to halt its import of Iranian oil, a cost-effective energy source. With Trumps known hardline stance on Iran, Indias ongoing investment in the Chabahar Port might face challenges if sanctions are reinstated. India will be hoping that its strategic interests in Chabahar dont clash with Trumps regional objectives.

Indias neighbourhood: Pakistan and Bangladesh

Indias relations with Pakistan and Bangladesh could also be affected. Trump had previously taken a firm stance against Pakistan, accusing it of failing to meet its obligations in the fight against terrorism and even cutting off military aid. This tough approach contrasted with Bidens resumption of aid and India may hope that Trumps return signals a continuation of his harder stance on Pakistan.

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In Bangladesh, Trumps comments labelling the country as chaotic and drawing attention to attacks on minorities stand in sharp contrast to Bidens engagement with figures like Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. India will be watching closely to see if Trumps rhetoric on Bangladesh translates into policy.

Relations with Russia and China

Trumps approach to Russia and China carries important implications for India. Trump has had a stable relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, even pushing for Russias reinstatement in the G7, which could benefit India by reducing the pressure of balancing its relations between Washington and Moscow. For India, this means fewer diplomatic complications.

With China, Trump has consistently taken a hardline stance, especially during the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020, where he offered to mediate while his officials criticised Chinas aggression. Trumps return could mean continued pressure on Beijing, aligning with Indias interests in countering Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.

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Indias strategic autonomy

In a rapidly shifting global landscape, Indias foreign policy remains rooted in its strategic autonomy. This approach allows New Delhi to engage constructively with major powers while avoiding excessive alignment with any single country. As Trump returns to the White House, India is unlikely to make significant adjustments to its foreign policy approach. Instead, it will continue leveraging its geopolitical position, cultivating partnerships based on mutual respect and shared interests.

Trumps re-election brings both opportunities and challenges for India. Yet, Indias firm geopolitical footing means that New Delhi is prepared to navigate the nuances of another Trump administration. While certain policies may evolve, the underlying strategic alignment between India and the US will continue to serve as a foundation for their collaboration in global affairs.

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Like any other election winner, Trump is also expected to fulfil the promises he made during campaigning, and he made plenty. But, the 78-year-old Republican has very specific plans for the first day of his second presidency read more

FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump gets on stage to deliver remarks during a rally at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada, U.S. October 31, 2024. REUTERS

Donald Trump has won the US elections in a win that will go down in history. He is only the second leader to have returned to the White House after a hiatus of four years. Trumps win in key battleground states including Pennsylvania and North Carolina paved the way to the presidency with the gain in Wisconsin giving him the final push to cross the 270 threshold.

Like any other election winner, Trump is also expected to fulfil the promises he made during campaigning, and he made plenty. But, the 78-year-old Republican has very specific plans for the first day of his second presidency.

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Heres what his first day at the Oval Office would look like:

Be a dictator, just for the day

A Fox News anchor last year asked Trump if he would abuse his power as a president and to that Trump vowed that he would not be a dictator except for Day One.

As a dictator the Republican leader would, close the border and drill, drill, drill. On the first day after taking oath, Trump would seemingly settle the score with the special counsel, Jack Smith, who brought the two criminal cases against him and fire him within two seconds.

We got immunity at the Supreme Court. Its so easy. I would fire him within two seconds. Hell be one of the first things addressed, he said.

The president-elect has also intended to free some of the convicts charged with the January 6 Capitol attacks, who he believes were wrongfully imprisoned.

We got immunity at the Supreme Court. Its so easy. I would fire him within two seconds. Hell be one of the first things addressed, he said earlier this year.

Begin the largest deportation ops

Ever since he began his presidential bid, Trump has always centred his campaign on the issue of immigrants. But the 2024 re-election bid was a bit different in the sense that he made more unique promises about the matter that he would adapt on day one, according to an analysis by The Washington Post.

He said that his administration would begin the largest deportation operation in American history and eliminate every open borders policy of the Biden administration on the first day of his second presidency.

I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail, then kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible, he said.

Cut off federal funds if

Trump seems to be on a warpath against the US education system that teaches what he calls critical race theories and transgender insanity.

On the first day after assuming office, the leader would stop the flow of federal funds to schools that teach and discuss race, gender and sexual orientation with students.

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At the same time, he also wants to cut funding for educational institutions that mandate masks or vaccine.

Repeal some of Bidens orders

Among other things, Trump has said that he would revoke some of his predecessor Joe Bidens executive orders.

These include one related to the expansion of Artificial Intelligence in American society and the increase of background checks on gun purchases.
Elon Musk, who has endorsed and backed Trump all along, received a specific shoutout in Trumps speech as he expressed gratitude to the billionaire read more

Donald Trump called Tesla CEO Elon Musk a star as he addressed his supporters in Florida after winning a landslide victory, paving the way for him to become Americas 47th president.

Musk, who has endorsed and backed Trump all along, received a specific shoutout in Trumps speech as he expressed gratitude to the billionaire. The Republican leader said, We have a new star, a star is born: Elon. Hes an amazing guy. We were sitting together tonight. You know, he spent two weeks in Philadelphia, in different parts of Pennsylvania, campaigning.

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Musk spent the election night with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Earlier today, the Tesla CEO had already started posting on X appreciating Trump as he was leading in most states.

The leader also said I love you, Elon as he praised the billionaire.

US networks have called the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina for the 78-year-old, and he led the Democratic vice president in the others although they have not been called yet.

Gloom swiftly descended on Harriss camp.

You wont hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow, Cedric Richmond, Harris campaign co-chair, told a watch party in Washington as supporters left.

In a further blow to Democrats, Trumps Republican Party also seized control of the Senate, flipping two seats to overturn a narrow Democratic majority.

With inputs from agencies
Xiaomi India today announced that the companys President, Muralikrishnan B will step down at the end of the year. He will pursue an Executive Doctorate in Management, focusing on Consumer Behaviour on Technology Platforms and will continue to support Xiaomi India as an independent Strategic Advisor.

Muralikrishnan joined Xiaomi India in 2018 as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and he was appointed as the President of the company in 2022. Xiaomi said that he played a pivotal role in enhancing Xiaomi Indias brand presence, leading strategic direction across teams, and steering critical public affairs efforts.

Sudhin Mathur who was appointed as COO in September, will continue to guide key functions as COO, and other key leaders including Sameer Rao (CFO), Varun Madan (CPO), and Anuj Sharma (CMO), will further strengthen Xiaomis focus on high-quality technology experiences, said the company.

Regarding this, Adam Zeng, Senior Vice President of the Group and President of International Business Department, said:

Under Muralis leadership, Xiaomi has seen exceptional success in India, continuing to be a key player in the technology landscape and connecting millions to innovative products. We deeply appreciate his contribution, and our commitment to Indias growth journey remains stronger than ever.

Reflecting on his journey, Murali shared:

My experience at Xiaomi India has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career. The values of sincerity and passion that Xiaomi embodies have been central to our journey. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together in such a dynamic market. I am grateful to Xiaomis leadership for their guidance, to my peers and team members for their support, and to our partners and Xiaomi fans who have been integral to our success.
7 Tunisian students receive Chinese Ambassador Scholarships

Xinhua) 13:13, November 06, 2024

TUNIS, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Seven Tunisian high school students received the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship here on Tuesday in recognition of their proficiency in the Chinese language.

The award ceremony, co-hosted by the Chinese embassy in Tunisia, the Tunisian Ministry of Education, and the Confucius Institute at Carthage University, was attended by Chinese Ambassador Wan Li and several Tunisian officials.

The ambassador expressed hope that the scholarship would inspire more Tunisian youth to learn about Chinese language and culture, fostering more talents for friendly exchanges between China and Tunisia.

Nabiha Salhi, an official from the Tunisian Ministry of Education, noted a growing interest among Tunisian students in learning Chinese and emphasized that Tunisia encourages exchanges between educational institutions in Tunisia and China.

The seven recipients were selected from 33 participants in a Chinese language proficiency test held in September.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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To celebrate our hunting heritage in Montana, Gov. Greg Gianforte launched the third annual Youth Hunting Story Contest in August for Montana youth and apprentice hunters ages 10 to 17. The deadline to enter the contest is Monday, Dec. 2.

To enter th...
The Glasgow Schools Board of Trustees, comprised of Blaine White, Stan Ozark, Chrissa Nelson, Derek Beadle (incoming May 24), Ryan Fast (outgoing May 24) and Chair Angie Page (outgoing Oct. 24) was awarded the 2024 Golden Gavel Award by the Montan...
The Town Pump Charitable Foundation has invited our local Valley Community Emergency Food Bank to participate in their 2024 BE A FRIEND INDEED, HELP THOSE IN NEED campaign.

The foundation will match each dollar collected by our food bank up to $5,000 through Saturday, Nov. 30.

All donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 63, Glasgow, Mt 59230. Keep in mind our local food bank relies solely on donated funds.

Also, we would like to let the community know that we are a recipient of the Hunters Against Hunger program. If there are hunters that would like to donate their game to the food bank they are able to do so by taking it to Treasure Trail Processing and let them know that they would like to donate their meat to the food bank. There is no cost for processing, as it is covered by the program. Information regarding the program is located at each site that sells hunting tags.

Also, a quick reminder that we do have drop boxes for any donated food items at the following locations: Albertsons

Reynolds

Lutheran Church

St. Raphaels Parish Center

Evangelical Church

Glasgow High School

Glasgow Middle School

Irle School
Red Ribbon Week is the nation's largest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign. With it's mission to help keep kids drug-free, this year's theme was "Life Is A Movie" and both Glasgow Middle School students as well Opheim students participa...
Community members from Valley County gathered on Oct. 29, at the Glasgow Elks Lodge for the Unity in the Community event, hosted by Two Rivers Economic Growth. The evening brought together local residents and a range of exhibitors, sharing resources...
Parcels That Exploded In Europe Reportedly Part Of Russian Plot

By RFE/RL November 05, 2024

Russia is responsible for an operation aimed at igniting fires on cargo or passenger aircraft bound for North America, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Western security officials.

The newspaper reported on November 5 that the devices that ignited in July in depots of global courier DHL in the British city of Birmingham and the German city of Leipzig were part of a test run in the Russian plot.

Last month, Polish officials said four people had been detained as a result of the investigation into parcels that caught fire while being sent by courier in Europe and bound for the United States and Canada.

"The group's activities consisted of sabotage and diversion related to sending parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials via courier companies to European Union countries and Great Britain, which spontaneously ignited or detonated during land and air transport," Polish prosecutors said in an October 25 statement.

"The group's goal was also to test the transfer channel for such parcels, which were ultimately to be sent to the United States of America and Canada," the statement said, adding that foreign intelligence services were to blame, though it did not directly accuse Russia of involvement.

Reuters quoted Kestutis Budrys, a national security adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, as saying on November 5 that the parcels were "part of unconventional kinetic operations against NATO countries that are being undertaken by the Russian military intelligence."

Russia has not commented on the report.

The report came on the day U.S. voters are heading to the polls in a presidential election. However, the Wall Street Journal did not tie the parcels directly to the balloting.

Many Western intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of involvement in sabotage acts in Europe, which they have said are targeted at destabilizing allies of Ukraine, where Russia is fighting a war after launching the full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/parcels-exploded- russian-plot/33189080.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

November 4, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matt Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today. The Secretary and Prime Minister discussed the 2022 signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) that ended the two-year war between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front. The Secretary reaffirmed U.S. support for Ethiopian efforts to implement the COHA. The Secretary also underscored the need for political dialogue to address Ethiopia's other internal conflicts, and shared U.S. concern about growing violence in Amhara. The Secretary and Prime Minister discussed concerns about rising tensions in the Horn of Africa.

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Minister Cernochova signed military cooperation agreement with Morocco

Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic

5.11.2024

Author: by MoD Press Section

Minister of Defence Jana Cernochova and her Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudyi signed a government-to-government Agreement on Military Cooperation between the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Morocco in Marrakesh. The signing of the agreement was preceded by a bilateral meeting with the Minister Delegate in Charge of National Defence Administration, with topics including defence and industrial cooperation and regional and global security situation. The meeting and the signature ceremony took place as part of the prestigious international Marrakech Air Show.

"I perceive the execution of the agreement as a significant step forward as testifies to solidification of our mutual relationship as well as to our interest to deepen cooperation, especially in the domain of the defence industry," said Minister Cernochova. "I firmly believe it will open up new options for us to strengthen defence and security cooperation and furnish new commercial and investment opportunities for the Czech defence and security industry," she added.

The Agreement on Military Cooperation between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco was approved by the Czech Government in March of last year, and it sets a general framework for mutually beneficial military cooperation. It defines individual fields of cooperation between the two countries, thus establishing conditions for the development of the defence industry, training and exercises, research, protection against weapons of mass destruction and military history.

"The cooperation can for example take the form of high-level visits, exchange of information and experience or academic and field training activities. Specific activities will be developed based on the interest and possibilities of each party and will be subject to further discussions," Minister Cernochova noted.

The agreement also sets a framework for information security, claims settlement and healthcare matters. It is executed for the period of five years after which it will automatically be extended by one year.

The signature of the agreement took place after the very first bilateral meeting of the Defence Ministers of the Czech Republic and of the Kingdom of Morocco. During the meeting, Minister Cernochova extended an invitation for Minister Loudyi to visit the Czech Republic.

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Hezbollah pounds Zionist regime's military bases with heavy rocket attacks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has continued to target Zionist regime's military bases and other facilities in a series of heavy rocket attacks.

Hezbollah said in a Tuesday statement, carried by Lebanese news website Al Ahd, that it had targeted al-Ramtha base, located in the occupied Kafr Shuba Hills in Lebanon, with special rockets.

The statement said the attack on al-Ramtha had been carried out in support of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian resistance, and in defense of Lebanon.

The group said in another statement that it had targeted Ma'ale base, which is the headquarters of the Israeli regime's 810th Hermon Brigade, with a rocket attack earlier on Tuesday.

The Lebanese resistance group also said that salvo of rockets had also been fired at a gathering of the Zionist regime forces in Dovev as well as on an explosives production facility in Hadera, located in the south of the occupied Haifa.

Hezbollah's cross border attacks on Israel come as the regime has expanded a genocidal military campaign that it initially started in Gaza in October last year to Lebanon since September 23 this year.

Hezbollah has retaliated by launching heavy rocket and missile attacks against the Zionist regime's positions and military bases in the north of occupied Palestine.

Fighters of the Lebanese resistance have also been hunting down Zionist regime's invading soldiers, tanks, and armored military vehicles in Lebanon's villages near the border with the occupied Palestine.

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Largest US base in Syria comes under missile attack

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Media sources reported a missile attack on the US military base in the "Al-Omar" oil field in the Deir Ezzurz province of Syria.

Al-Mayadeen news channel reported that the resistance groups targeted the American base in the Omar oilfield with several missiles.

Al-Mayadeen further reported that following this attack, columns of smoke rose into the sky from inside this base. The Omar oilfield base is the largest military base of the US occupation in Syria.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for this attack.

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Iraq's resistance fires drones at six vital Israeli targets

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq says it has carried out six drone operations against vital targets in Israeli-occupied territories.

The group said in a statement that it had carried out three operations in the port city of Haifa early on Tuesday.

Two attacks were also conducted in northern occupied territories on the same day, one of them hitting a military target, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said in another statement.

Another attack was carried out in southern occupied territories, the group said, adding that the operations were in response to the killing of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq is an umbrella group of several movements in Iraq. In the past months, the group has conducted operations against Israel over its acts of aggression in the West Asia region, mainly targeting the regime's key port cities of Haifa and Eilat.

Reports by Israeli media show that the resistance's operations have paralyzed activities at the two ports.

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Drone infiltrates Dead Sea region in occupied territories

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A drone has infiltrated the Dead Sea area in east of the Israeli-occupied territories, near the Jordanian border.

According to a report by Al Jazeera on Tuesday, the Israeli military announced that it had intercepted a drone that entered the Dead Sea area from the eastern part of the occupied territories.

Media outlets said sirens were set off as a result of the infiltration of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

In the meantime, Israeli media reported another UAV infiltration into Kfar Giladi, a settlement in the Galilee region in the northern occupied territories, which also caused sirens to sound.

Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military said that a drone had entered occupied territories from Syria.

No group has claimed responsibility for the reported drone launches against Israel. But they come as resistance groups across the West Asia region have intensified their operations against the Zionist regime in response to its escalation of crimes against the people of Gaza and Lebanon in the past weeks.

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Iraq's IRI fires drones at vital target in Israeli-controlled Haifa

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) says it has carried out another operation against the Israeli regime, targeting a vital target in the port city of Haifa.

The group said in a statement that it had hit the target with several drones early on Tuesday.

The operation was in response to the killing of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, the group said in the statement.

The IRI is an umbrella group of several movements in Iraq. In the past months, the group has conducted operations against Israel over its acts of aggression in the West Asia region, mainly targeting the regime's key port cities of Haifa and Eilat.

Reports by Israeli media show that the resistance operations have paralyzed activities at the two ports.

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NATO Secretary General hails Italy's contributions to Euro-Atlantic security and support to Ukraine

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

04 Nov. 2024

Last updated: 05 Nov. 2024

Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Italy today (5 November 2024), where he met Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella. He underscored the importance of continuing to strengthen deterrence and defence, and step up support to Ukraine.

"Keeping our one billion people safe is NATO's most sacred duty, and that is why we are ramping up our defence industrial capacity," the Secretary General said, adding that "we need to go further and faster, for our own deterrence and to support Ukraine."

The Secretary General underlined that Italy is "a staunch and reliable Ally, contributing in many ways to Euro-Atlantic security." He highlighted Italy's lead of NATO's new battlegroup in Bulgaria, its contributions to NATO's deployments in Hungary and Latvia, and the deployment of Italy's jets to protect Allied airspace and ships to keep crucial seaways open. "Italy is once again leading our peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, helping to foster stability in the Western Balkans," he added.

The Secretary General thanked Prime Minister Meloni "for being such a strong supporter of Ukraine." He underscored that Allies and partners "will continue to stand by Ukraine, because Ukraine's fight is our fight," and welcomed Italy's strong support for the action plan adopted at the Washington Summit for a stronger, more strategic and results-oriented approach towards NATO's southern neighbourhood.

During his visit, Secretary General Rutte also visited the Italian facilities of the defence manufacturing group Rheinmetall.

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Israeli forces kill 7 more Palestinians in West Bank

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 10:59 PM

Israeli forces have carried out fresh raids in several areas of the occupied West Bank, killing at least seven more Palestinians.

The regime's troops laid siege to and fired shells at a residential building in the town of Tammun, killing two Palestinian men.

Local authorities have identified one of the victims as 47-year-old Hani Bani Awda Abu Asif.

Elsewhere in the West Bank, other raids by Israeli forces took the lives of at least two more Palestinians in Jenin and 3 others in the city of Qabatiya.

Israeli operation 'involved lethal war-like tactics'

UN chief's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that "operations carried out by Israeli forces in... Jenin today involved lethal war-like tactics".

Dujarric added that the operation "seems to exceed law enforcement standards".

"This has included air strikes and shoulder-fired explosive projectiles, resulting in fatalities."

Earlier, the Palestinian Health Ministry and eyewitnesses reported four Palestinians had been killed in Israeli attacks on the occupied West Bank.

The latest killing of the Palestinians in the West Bank takes place amid intensified clashes between Palestinian Resistance fighters and the occupying regime's forces.

Since Monday night, Israeli regime forces have been trying to storm the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Also, settlers shielded by Israeli forces stormed the town of Bireh in the occupied West Bank, setting fire to Palestinian property and vehicles.

Meanwhile, "armed clashes" between Palestinian Resistance fighters and Israeli forces took place in other parts of the West Bank, including in Ramallah after Zionist forces stormed the village of Kafr Malik.

The Israeli regime forces have intensified brutal attacks on the Palestinians in the West Bank since the regime launched the campaign of genocide in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

Since tensions escalated in the Palestinian lands, the occupying forces have killed some 770 Palestinians and abducted at least 11,500 more in the West Bank.

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Israeli strike on Lebanon kills at least 15 people

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 11:23 PM

The Lebanese health ministry has said that an Israeli strike on the town of Barja in the Mount Lebanon governorate has killed at least 15 people.

"Rescue and rubble removal operations are still ongoing," it said in a post on X on Tuesday.

The health ministry said one person was killed and 20 others were wounded following another Israeli strike on the coastal town of Jiyeh, south of Beirut.

A security source said the raid targeted an apartment used by Hezbollah in Jiyeh.

The strike destroyed the top floor of a four-story complex, said AFP reported.

The Lebanese official National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli raids also hit southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Syria's official SANA news agency said an Israeli strike hit a Syrian town near the border with Lebanon on Tuesday.

"An Israeli aggression targeted the industrial zone in al-Qusayr" in Homs province, SANA said.

More than 3,000 killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed at least 3,013 people and wounded 13,553 since October 2023, the Lebanese government said on Tuesday.

Earlier, emergency medical services in Lebanon have reported 201 attacks over the past year on rescue workers. The attacks have resulted in 151 deaths and 212 injuries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

Since late September, Israel has launched an intense air and ground onslaught against Lebanon after nearly a year of cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah over the war in Gaza.

Hezbollah has been responding to the aggression with numerous retaliatory operations, targeting the occupied Palestinian territories.

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Hezbollah attacks turn Israel's Haifa into a ghost town

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 7:18 PM

The Israeli-controlled port city of Haifa, once a major business and tourism center for the regime, has been turned into a ghost town amid repeated missile and drone attacks by the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.

Reports published in the Israeli media on Tuesday suggested that Haifa was no longer a bustling city and a tourist hotspot in the north of the Israeli-occupied territories but rather "a city of missiles and drones".

Local officials described the situation in Haifa as disappointing as they pointed to a sharp rise in hotel closures in the Mediterranean port which has prompted owners of businesses to start migrating out of Israel.

For weeks, the Israeli military has been calling on people in Haifa to remain indoors and not venture out unnecessarily.

It comes amid a growing number of attacks by Hezbollah on Haifa. The group fired some 100 rockets from southern Lebanon at Haifa Bay, an area that hosts major industrial units and businesses.

The Israeli government has repeatedly claimed that it has been protecting Haifa from Hezbollah's missile and drone attacks through the use of its modern air defense systems.

However, tourist arrivals in Haifa have completely stopped while only a limited number of foreign ships continue to dock at the port to load and unload cargo.

Israel's Aaron Institute for Economic Policy has estimated that the damage inflicted on the tourism industries based in northern occupied territories amounts to $3.5 billion.

The figure also includes damage seen in Galilee, a region that used to receive some 1.5 million tourists each year before the cross-border confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah began in October last year.

Hezbollah's mass-scale attacks on Haifa began in late September this year after Israel escalated its aggression on Lebanon and launched a ground invasion into areas in the south of the Arab country.

Hezbollah has vowed to continue to fight Israel until the regime fully stops its aggression against Lebanon and ends its more than a-year-long massacre of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

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Hezbollah bombards explosives factory in occupied territories

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 5:55 PM

Hezbollah has announced that it launched rockets at an explosives factory located south of Haifa as part of its retaliatory operations against the Israeli regime.

The Lebanese Resistance movement also reported attacks on the Miron base, which manages aerial operations, and the Ma'aleh Golani base, the command center for the Hermon Brigade 810, utilizing rocket barrages.

In addition, Hezbollah targeted Israeli army artillery systems in the settlement of Neot Mordechai with a squadron of attack drones, successfully hitting their intended targets.

Furthermore, the movement stated that it fired rocket barrages at concentrations of Israeli forces on the outskirts of the Lebanese town of Maroun al-Ras, as well as at various locations including Kiryat Shmona, Nahariyya, the Dovif military base, the Ramtha site, Yiftah settlement, and Margaliot settlement.

Hezbollah also indicated that it launched rockets at several Israeli settlements that had previously been subject to its evacuation orders.

According to Lebanese media reports, hundreds of Israeli troops have been killed since the regime launched its audacious "ground invasion" of southern Lebanon in early October.

The rising death toll of the invading forces has also been acknowledged by the Israeli media.

Meanwhile, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, at least 2,986 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Arab country since October 2023, including 18 dead and 83 injured in the past 24 hours.

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Israel kills 54 Palestinians in various areas of Gaza

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 5:54 PM

Israel has killed at least 54 Palestinians in various areas of the Gaza Strip since dawn.

Of those, 39 were in northern Gaza, where Israel launched a major air and ground assault about a month ago.

The death toll from an Israeli attack on the Masry family home in the town of Beit Lahiya in the north reached 25. The Wafa news agency citing medical sources said the victims included children.

The area has been under intense bombardment since October 6, when Israel's military began a sweeping air and ground assault in northern Gaza, focusing on the towns of Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoon.

Six people including a mother and her two children were also killed in strikes on the central city of Deir al-Balah.

An Israeli strike hit a house in Gaza City, killing two children along with their parents.

Israeli forces also attacked Kamal Adwan Hospital for a second day.

The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza is catastrophic.

Since the onset of the Israeli campaign of genocide in Gaza, nearly 43,400 Palestinians have been killed and over 102,000 injured.

Israel kills 7 Palestinians in occupied West Bank

The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least seven people were killed during an Israeli military raid on the occupied West Bank.

Five were killed in two Israeli attacks in Qabatiya, near Jenin, while the other two were killed in the Tammun area, in Tubas.

Israeli bulldozers have also caused extensive damage to infrastructure and private property in Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps.

Israeli authorities have demolished seven homes in occupied East al-Quds.

Israel has ramped up violence against the Palestinians in the West Bank since it launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza in October 2023.

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Israeli military withdraws several brigades from southern Lebanon: Report

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 2:02 PM

The Israeli military has pulled several brigades out of southern Lebanon following its failure to yield any significant territorial gains in the Arab country, a report says.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, citing informed sources, reported on Tuesday that officials involved in negotiations with the Lebanese movement Hezbollah assess a deal to be reached within a week and a half to two weeks.

The Hebrew-language daily claimed that there has been progress in efforts to reach a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, adding that Israeli forces are waiting for a decision from the regime.

This comes as the Israeli military has failed to gain control over the towns it raided in southern Lebanon as part of a ground invasion against the Arab country.

The Israeli regime's infiltration attempts in different villages have also been met with heroic resistance by Hezbollah fighters.

Meanwhile, Israel's military is facing a critical manpower problem as it runs short of thousands of troops, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Monday.

The report said there has been a 1% average decline in male soldier enlistments over the past few years.

Israel is dealing with the manpower issue at a time when its military faces a debacle in the Gaza Strip.

The military has also failed to achieve its goals meaningfully in southern Lebanon.

Dozens of soldiers have been killed in recent days on both battlefronts.

Since late September, Israel has launched an intense air and ground onslaught against Lebanon after nearly a year of cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah over the war in Gaza.

At least 3,002 people have been killed and 13,492 others injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since October 2023, according to the country's health ministry.

Hezbollah has been responding to the aggression with numerous retaliatory operations, targeting the occupied Palestinian territories.

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Hamas open to any proposal aiming to end Gaza war: Hamdan

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 11:27 AM

A senior Hamas official has expressed the Palestinian resistance movement's readiness to engage with proposals aimed at ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip, a real prisoner swap deal and an end of the aggression.

Osama Hamdan, Hamas's representative in Lebanon and a member of the group's politburo, in a news conference on Monday said that Hamas's "positive" position towards any proposal hinges on the condition that the Israeli regime accepts their legal demands.

Hamas says any proper truce deal has to end the war, bring about complete withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and involve a genuine prisoner exchange deal.

The Israeli regime, however, says it will accept only temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas is "eradicated."

Hamdan emphasized the importance of adhering to prior agreements made on July 2 and Security Council Resolution 3735 as essential steps toward achieving a ceasefire and ending the war.

He described the situation in northern Gaza as dire and noted that northern Gaza has endured a month of intense violence characterized by genocide and ethnic cleansing, as Israel is intensifying efforts to displace residents who remain steadfast on their land, despite the relentless bombardment and destruction of their homes and shelters.

"More than 100,000 Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip are now living with no basics of human survival. Over 1,800 people were martyred in the northern Gaza governorate, mostly women and children," he said.

Hamdan criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and attributed the responsibility for the deaths of Israeli captives to his actions. He further called for pressure to be applied to Israel to prevent obstruction of ceasefire negotiations.

He also accused the US administration and some Western countries of complicity in the Israeli massacres and genocide that are being committed against the Palestinian people, asserting that these actions occur without adequate calls for cessation of hostilities or adherence to international legal standards.

He emphasized that the ongoing atrocities in Gaza are being broadcast live for the entire world to witness, and are perpetrated in defiance of the Security Council resolution demanding an immediate halt to Israel's military actions as well as the International Court of Justice's directives aimed at preventing genocide and alleviating the dire humanitarian crisis in the region.

The senior Hamas official also expressed confidence that the Israeli regime and perpetrators of these atrocities would be held accountable and would stand trial, no matter how long it takes.

So far, Israel's genocide in Gaza has killed at least 43,374 Palestinians and wounded 102,261 since October 7, 2023.

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Four Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on West Bank

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 11:25 AM

Four Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on the occupied West Bank, amid intensified clashes between Palestinian resistance fighters and the occupying regime's forces.

The Palestinian health ministry said in a brief statement on Tuesday that two people were killed in an Israeli bombing of al-Shuhada Village, south of Jenin.

According to eyewitnesses, the two were killed when an Israeli drone bombed a vehicle.

This comes as Israeli forces have been trying to storm Qabatiya town, south of Jenin, since Monday night.

The Jenin Battalion of the al-Quds Brigades, part of the military wing of the Islamic Jihad resistance movement, said its fighters ambushed invading Israeli forces, inflicting casualties on them.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades also said that its fighters were engaged in "fierce clashes" with the Israeli forces in Qabatiyah, adding that casualties were reported among the Israeli forces.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed two other Palestinians in Tammun city, south of Tubas, according to medical sources.

Eyewitnesses said one of them was killed when Israeli forces pounded his home with ENERGA projectiles. The victim was identified as Hani Bani Odeh.

The health ministry noted that the body of the other martyr was seized by the Israeli troops.

The airstrikes in Tubas came after the Israeli forces failed to confront the resistance fighters on the ground, Palestinian reports said.

The al-Quds Brigades said its fighters caused "confirmed casualties" among the Israeli forces in al-Far'a camp in Tubas.

In Tulkarm, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, al-Quds Brigades and al-Asifah Forces reported that their fighters were engaged in "fierce clashes" with Israeli forces who invaded the Nour Shams camp.

"Armed clash" also took place in Ramallah between fighters from the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Israeli forces storming the village of Kafr Malik.

Israel has ramped up violence against Palestinians in the West Bank since it launched a genocidal war in Gaza in October 2023.

The regime forces have killed nearly 770 Palestinians and abducted at least 11,500 others in the West Bank ever since.

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Israeli military made no advances on ground in Lebanon: Report

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 10:43 AM

The Israeli military has failed to gain control over the towns it raided in southern Lebanon as part of a ground invasion that followed almost a year of aerial assaults, a new report says.

Lebanon's al-Manar television channel detailed the situation of the occupation forces on Tuesday, as their ground assault on the Arab country entered its 35th day.

"The Zionist occupation forces have failed to establish a foothold in any of the towns they entered with the aim of full control," the report said.

It added that the enemy soldiers failed to approach the Naqoura town's neighborhoods after losing four tanks in the battle with fighters of the Hezbollah resistance movement.

The Israeli infiltration attempts in Aita al-Shaab and Meis al-Jabal have also been met with heroic resistance, it added.

Clashes in Ramia, al-Qawzah, Yaroun, Aitaroun, and Khiam have also inflicted losses on the Israeli military.

According to the report, the enemy forces were forced to retreat from the towns of Dhahira, Yarine, Bustan, and Houla, as well as the outskirts of Marwahin.

Israeli troops remain stationed in eastern outskirts of Maroun al-Ras, along with Shebaa Farms, the Kfar Shuba hills, Halta, and Kfar Hamam, facing daily rocket attacks by resistance fighters, the report noted.

Israel has been carrying out bloody acts of terror and aggression across Lebanon after the occupying regime unleashed its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

At least 3,002 people have been killed and 13,492 others injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since early October 2023, according to the country's health ministry.

In late September, the regime assassinated Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, head of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, in a strike on southern Beirut.

Since then, Hezbollah has increased its retaliatory attacks against Israeli targets and vowed to continue its fight in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon.

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70 Palestinians killed in Israeli offensives across Gaza Strip, say local authorities

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 9:58 AM

At least 70 Palestinians have been killed and dozens more have sustained injuries in the Israeli military airstrikes and ground offensives across the war-torn Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, with most of them in the northern part of the coastal territory, say local authorities.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa, citing medical officials and local sources, reported that at least 20 people lost their lives when an attack targeted a home in the besieged northern town of Beit Lahiya.

Another four people were killed and several others wounded as Israeli fighter jets bombed a house in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City in the north.

Israeli forces also bombed another tent sheltering displaced Palestinians in the az-Zawayda area of central Gaza.

Six people, including two children - a six-year-old and a four-year-old, were killed in the attack, while an unspecified number were wounded, Wafa reported.

A mother of one of the people killed said they were burned in the attack while they were sleeping.

The assault marked the third Israeli attack on displacement tents in recent hours, following deadly strikes in Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis, which killed five people in total.

Moreover, the Israeli military attacked a tent housing displaced Palestinians in the Maen area east of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

Three people, including a child, were killed in the attack.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israeli soldiers "continue to bomb and destroy" north Gaza's Kamal Adwan Hospital, suggesting that Israel plans to "execute" medical workers who refuse to leave.

Eid Sabbah, the hospital's director of nursing, says several children, including newborns in incubators, are the "direct victims" of Israel's attack on the facility.

"There are 125 patients in the hospital, including children and the wounded. The incubator had eight babies and the Intensive Care Unit has seven newborns and children who all need to be on a ventilator," he said.

Israeli strikes have damaged the upper floors, where the children's ward was located, forcing staff to move the babies and children to the lower floors, which do not have the same equipment.

"So they (the babies and children) are direct victims of these attacks," Sabbah said.

He noted that Israeli forces have detained dozens of the hospital's staff, including surgeons, neurologists and pediatricians, during last week's raid.

"The hospital is extremely understaffed as a result. There are four doctors and 50 volunteers, medical workers and nurses. They can't cope with the huge influx of wounded people and there are no supplies.

"Israeli forces have destroyed warehouses and the pharmacy storing supplies and many of the facilities in the hospital have been destroyed," he said.

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Nov. 4: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 8:59 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 43,400 Palestinians so far, as well as the ongoing genocide in Lebanon, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Monday, November 4, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Nov. 4:

Targeted an Israeli infantry force that had barricaded itself inside a house with RPG and tandem shells near Al-Yemen Al-Saeed Hospital in the center of Jabalia camp, northern Gaza Strip.

Targeted four Israeli soldiers and a Merkava tank with a powerful explosive device in the Qasasib neighborhood of Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

Targeted a gathering of Israeli forces east of the Al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood east of Gaza City with mortar shells.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Nov. 4:

Detonated a previously planted explosive device of the (Thaqib) type on an Israeli military vehicle infiltrating the Civil Administration, eastern Jabalia camp, northern Gaza Strip.

Targeted "Sderot", "Meflasim" and the settlements of the Gaza envelope with a barrage of rockets.

Targeted a convoy of Israeli military vehicles storming the entrance to Qabatiya in Jenin, occupied West Bank, with a heavy barrage of bullets.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on Nov. 4:

In a joint operation with Al-Nasser Salah Al-Din Brigades, targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in the western advance axis of the "Netzarim" axis with two 107mm rockets.

Mujahideen Brigades' operations on Nov. 4:

Targeted the positions of Israeli forces in the advance axis west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip with mortar shells.

Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades' operations on Nov. 4:

In a joint operation with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, targeted the Israeli military's command and control site in the "Netzarim axis" with two 107 mm rockets.

Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades' operations on Nov. 4:

In a joint operation with the Ansar Brigades, targeted an Israeli military command and control site in the Netzarim axis with a barrage of 107 mm rockets.

Hezbollah's operations on Nov. 4:

A squadron of attack drones targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in the settlement of Al-Manara.

A drone attack targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in the settlement of "Netua."

A drone attack targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in the settlement of "Zarit."

A drone attack targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in the settlement of Even Menachem.

As part of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to several northern settlements, targeted the settlement of "Ayelet HaShahar" with a rocket barrage.

As part of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to several northern settlements, targeted the settlements of "Sha'al," "Hatzor," and "Dalton" with a rocket barrage.

A rocket barrage targeted the "Meron" base for aerial operations monitoring and management.

A drone swarm attack targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in the settlement of "Yiftah."

A rocket barrage targeted the "Meron" base for aerial operations monitoring and management.

A large rocket barrage targeted the occupied city of Safad.

A rocket barrage targeted the "Krayot" area north of the occupied city of Haifa.

As part of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to several northern settlements, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the settlement of "Yesod HaMa'ala" with a rocket barrage.

A drone attack targeted a gathering of Israeli forces east of the town of Maroun al-Ras.

As part of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to several northern settlements, targeted the settlement of "Nahariyya" with a rocket barrage.

As part of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to several northern settlements, targeted the settlement of "Kiryat Tsvi" with a rocket barrage.

As part of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to several northern settlements, targeted the settlement of "Ayelet HaShahar" for the second time with a rocket barrage.

A third rocket barrage targeted the Meron base for aerial operations monitoring and management.

A rocket barrage targeted the northern part of the occupied city of Safed.

A rocket barrage targeted the movement of Israeli forces at the northeastern edges of the town of Maroun al-Ras.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq's operations on Nov. 4:

Launched a drone towards a vital Israeli military target in the northern occupied territories.

Carried out a drone operation targeting a vital Israeli military target in the occupied Golan Heights.

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Islamic Resistance in Iraq launches drone strikes on Israeli targets in occupied territories

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 6:49 AM

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq says it has launched a series of new drone attacks on strategic targets inside the occupied Palestinian territories, in response to brutal Israeli offensives against civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

The umbrella group of anti-terror fighters announced in a statement published on its Telegram channel on Tuesday that it had carried out an operation aimed at a vital target in the port city of Haifa, using explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicles.

"In continuation of our approach to resisting the occupation and supporting our people in Palestine and Lebanon, and in response to the massacres committed by the usurping entity against civilians, including children, women and the elderly, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, at dawn on Tuesday 5-11-2024, attacked a vital target in the port of Haifa using drones," the statement said.

The resistance group also reported a second drone strike on another key target located in the same area.

"The fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, at dawn on Tuesday 5-11-2024, attacked a vital target in Haifa for the second time, using drones," the alliance said in a follow-up statement.

The group emphasized that the strike was in retaliation for Israeli acts of aggression, including massacres of women, children, and the elderly in the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon.

The Iraqi resistance vowed to continue its operations against Israeli targets with increasing intensity.

Later, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the third drone attack on a "vital target" in Haifa, stating that they would continue striking significant Israeli installations across the occupied areas.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has been engaged in such operations since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza in early October 2023. The Iraqi resistance group has also targeted US military bases in Iraq and Syria, condemning Washington's support for Israel during its genocidal war.

Since October last year, Israel has intensified its bombardment of Gaza, targeting civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, residential buildings, and places of worship.

The ongoing Israeli war has resulted in the deaths of at least 43,374 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, with another 102,261 people injured.

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US election won't impact AUKUS or Quad, Australian and Indian foreign ministers say

Penny Wong and S Jaishankar held a joint press conference in Canberra hours before polls opened in America.

By Alex Willemyns 2024.11.05 -- The result of Tuesday's U.S. presidential election won't impact the future of the AUKUS or Quad security arrangements that the Biden administration has pushed in the Indo-Pacific, Australia and India's foreign ministers said in a joint press conference in Canberra.

Speaking hours before polls opened in America, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said they believed Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump would continue with both security arrangements.

"We have an understanding on both sides of politics in the U.S. about the importance of AUKUS," Wong told reporters. "In terms of the U.S. election, we will work with whomever the American people choose ... for president, and also for the Congress of the day."

"Historically, we've had an alliance for many, many years," she added, "and it is a relationship that is bigger than the events of the day."

Wong added that Canberra saw the Quad likewise "retaining its importance regardless of the outcome of the election," given that its four member countries share similar visions for global security.

As is hinted by its name, AUKUS ties together Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, while the Quad is the name given to a forum involving Australia, the United States, India and Japan.

Along with the "trilateral" between the United States, Japan and Seoul, AUKUS and the Quad have been pushed by the Biden administration in its efforts to build a "patchwork" of alliances to counter China's rising military aspirations, even if U.S. officials deny that's its explicit aim.

'Nasty' Kevin Rudd

Jaishankar, the Indian external affairs minister, said Indian-U.S. ties would likewise be unchanged whoever is in the White House.

"We have actually seen steady progress in our relationship with the U.S. over the last five presidencies, including an earlier Trump presidency," Jaishankar said. "We are very confident that whatever the verdict, our relationship with the United States will only grow."

"In terms of the Quad, I remind you that actually the Quad was revived under a Trump presidency in 2017," he added, noting that the group's foreign ministers even held a rare in-person meeting during COVID in 2020, when most international meetings were being held virtually.

"That should tell you something about the prospects of it," he said.

However, the prospect of a return of a Trump presidency would likely shake up U.S. alliances with its Indo-Pacific partners at least a bit.

Australia's ambassador in Washington and two-time former prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has a testy relationship with the former president, having - prior to his current diplomatic appointment - called him "nuts," a "traitor to the West'' and the "most destructive president in history."

Trump responded by labeling Rudd "nasty" and suggesting he might need to be removed as Australian ambassador if he wins.

"I don't know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty. I hear he's not the brightest bulb," Trump told British conservative politician and broadcaster Nigel Farage on GB News in a March interview.

"If he's at all hostile, he will not be there long," he said.

But both Wong and Australia's prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who served as Rudd's deputy prime minister in 2013, have said Rudd would not be replaced as ambassador if Trump wins Tuesday's election.

The former prime minister was doing "an excellent job" as ambassador in Washington, Wong told Australian media earlier this year.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Former adviser to Hun Sen jailed following bribery confession video

Ly Sameth is the latest Cambodian to publicly apologize to Senate President Hun Sen in a social media post.

By By RFA Khmer 2024.11.05 -- A former adviser to Senate President Hun Sen who was accused last month of soliciting bribes has been arrested after confessing in a six-minute video that he defrauded millions of dollars from people who sought favors and government positions.

Ly Sameth said in the video, which was posted on Hun Sen's Facebook page on Monday, that he had "made the most serious mistake that affects the honor and dignity" of Hun Sen, who served as prime minister for more than three decades before stepping down last year.

Hun Sen retains power as Senate president and as head of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, or CPP. As party president, Hun Sen appointed Ly Sameth as his personal adviser on Feb. 22, 2022.

"Yes, I used the Samdech's name to get other people's money," an emotional Ly Sameth said in the clip, using an honorific to refer to Hun Sen. "This is true and this is not the first time, and not only that, I even said that all the money was handed over to Samdech."

Authorities arrested Ly Sameth in Sihanoukville on Monday.

A detention order from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's investigating judge described him as "a businessman with no education or illiteracy." He was transferred to Prey Sar prison on the outskirts of Phnom Penh on Tuesday.

Hun Sen wrote on Facebook last month that Ly Sameth had defrauded several Cambodians over the last two years, including one incident in which US$10 million was paid.

That post was apparently prompted by a video message he received from Kan Sok Kay, the recently appointed governor of Kandal province's Lvea Em district, which is located across the Mekong River from Phnom Penh.

Kan Sok Kay said he gave US$30,000 to Ly Sameth to get the appointment, according to Hun Sen.

"I have signed, appointed and promoted tens of thousands of civil servants and members of the Armed Forces," Hun Sen wrote. "I never accepted intervention from anyone, no matter what request or bribe."

Ly Sameth's assets should be frozen, and Phnom Penh court officials should issue an order to return money he accepted from people, Hun Sen wrote at the time. He assigned his lawyer, Ky Tech, to investigate the various complaints.

Other apology videos

RFA was unable to reach National Police Commissioner Sar Thet and Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Ey Rin to ask about the timing of Ly Sameth's arrest.

Ly Sameth's confession video, which was posted before his arrest, was similar to various public apologies and in-person appeals for forgiveness made to Hun Sen in recent years.

Last month, a prominent overseas opposition activist announced in a video that he was switching his allegiance to the CPP, two months after his brother was arrested on incitement charges while trying to flee the country.

Journalist Mech Dara also posted an apology video last month, several weeks after he was jailed and charged with incitement related to social media posts he made in September.

Lawyer Kong Sam Onn, who has represented defendants in many high-profile criminal cases, told Radio Free Asia that authorities should further investigate to see who else was involved in the bribery solicitations.

"The person who bribes, and the person who takes the bribe, are both equally guilty and have the same penalty under Criminal Code and Anti-Corruption Law," he said.

Translated by Sum Sok Ry. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Georgian Opposition Stages Rally Outside Court Of Appeal

By RFE/RL's Georgian Service November 05, 2024

TBILISI -- Georgia's opposition staged a third day of protests on November 5 against the results of last month's parliamentary elections claimed by the ruling Georgian Dream party amid accusations of widespread vote-rigging and irregularities at polling stations.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Appeals Court in Tbilisi before beginning a march through the Georgian capital, where traffic came to a standstill in parts of the city. Along the route, the number of marchers continued to grow.

Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream claimed victory in the election, with preliminary official results showing it received nearly 54 percent of the vote.

The opposition and the country's pro-European president, Salome Zurabishvili, refused to recognize the validity of the results, alleging massive fraud and Russian interference.

The site of the protest was chosen by the opposition as the Appeals Court was due to begin the review of rulings by local courts in the towns of Tetritskaro and Gori regarding irregularities during the October 26 vote.

The Tetritskaro court canceled the election results at 30 polling stations due to the violation of the secrecy of the vote, while the Gori court ordered a recount of invalid ballots from 15 polling stations.

In Tetsikaro, Judge Vladimir Kuchua ruled in favor of the complaint filed by a civic group called the Young Lawyers' Association, deciding to annul the result at 30 polling stations based on evidence presented by the group.

Georgia's Central Election Commission (TsSK) challenged the two courts' decisions, declaring them unfounded, prompting the opposition in turn to challenge the TsSK's ruling at the Appeals Court.

Kuchua has been hailed by the opposition as a rare, courageous magistrate to go against Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012.

One of the leaders of the Coalition for Change opposition bloc, Zurab Japaridze, told RFE/RL that Kuchua was a "decent person."

"They were afraid of the decision made by the judge from Tetsikaro on November 4, who turned out to be a decent person in this corrupt system.... We came here to protest because the entire state system, including the TsSK and the Prosecutor's Office is working to force the citizens of Georgia to make a choice that they did not make," Japaridze said.

"We citizens of Georgia, since we became independent, have always chosen for the country to become part of the civilized world, the West. Now the Russians are forcing another choice upon us," he said.

Nika Melia, one of the leaders of Coalition for Change, has said demonstrations will continue for new elections.

"In the coming days and weeks, our task is to fill Tbilisi with people. All major squares, streets, avenues should be full of people," Melia said.

Another opposition group, the Girchi Party, has also joined the call for fresh elections, arguing that the confidentiality of the vote had been violated on October 26.

The party, which did not pass the 5 percent threshold needed to enter parliament, has scheduled a rally outside the parliament building for November 9 and urged the TsSK to call new elections within one week. It has also appealed to Georgia's Western partners not to recognize the results of the vote.

Thousands demonstrated in the capital for the second night in a row on November 4 to demand new elections.

The thousands of participant in the rally, which included Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, set off from outside the House of Justice and marched about 5 kilometers waving Georgian and European Union flags through the capital, before ending their protest on Tbilisi's Marjanishvili Square.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-tbilisi-protest- tetritskaro-gori-kuchua/33188358.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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South Sudan and Sudan must work together to resolve Abyei's political status: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on UNISFA and Sudan/South Sudan.

5 November 2024

I will make three points.

First, we underscore the importance of UNISFA's work in maintaining peace in a fragile region.

We note that despite ongoing tensions, the SG's report states that there have been no intercommunal clashes since April. This signals an improvement given the alarming number of serious security incidents reported earlier this year.

We must ensure this positive trend continues. That means providing the necessary support for UNISFA so that it can fulfil its mandate.

It is important that the Government of South Sudan and the Sudanese authorities remove obstacles to UNISFA's operations.

We call on the Sudanese authorities urgently to issue visas for UN civilian and police personnel to help UNISFA address increasing crime-related threats in Abyei.

We also re-iterate our calls on the leaders of South Sudan to withdraw the People's Defence Forces from Abyei. These forces compromise Abyei's demilitarised status and violate the 2011 Status of Forces Agreement.

Second, we note with regret the impact of the Sudan conflict on the humanitarian and security situation in Abyei. Around 24,000 refugees and returnees have arrived in Abyei since the outbreak of the conflict.

We have also seen in the SG's report credible evidence of arms proliferation which compromises the security of Abyei.

We urge the parties to open the Athony airstrip to facilitate humanitarian access and to enable UNISFA's operations.

Third, we remain concerned by the lack of progress on a political solution for Abyei. Sudan and South Sudan must re-engage in dialogue towards the resolution of Abyei's political status.

In conclusion, the UK looks forward to engaging constructively on the upcoming mandate renewal for UNISFA. The deteriorating conflict in Sudan and the challenges in South Sudan make the work of the mission more important than ever.

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Statement by UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Director Adele Khodr on the decimation of newborn care in the Gaza Strip

UNICEF

05 November 2024

AMMAN, 5 November 2024 - "The Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza has become a besieged war zone. Its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the last remaining in the north, has reportedly been damaged in heavy attacks in recent days.

"Access to the hospital is incredibly difficult but reports indicate that children who were treated there have been killed and injured in these attacks and its oxygen and water supplies have been damaged, disrupting critical care for the few still clinging to life inside.

"Any newborn baby fighting to sustain its breaths from inside a hospital incubator is entirely defenceless and entirely reliant on specialist medical care and equipment to survive.

"In the Gaza Strip, at least 4,000 babies are estimated to have been cut off from lifesaving newborn care in the past year because of sustained attacks on the hospitals earnestly trying to keep them alive, because electricity supply has been cut off and because the little fuel delivered to power hospitals is woefully inadequate. This has been especially deadly in the northern parts of the Gaza Strip.

"Before the war began in October 2023, there were eight NICUs in the Gaza Strip with a total of 178 incubators. Most of these units had recently received new equipment, including incubators, from UNICEF. Even then, the NICU capacity in Gaza was insufficient to meet the high demand for specialized newborn care.

"Today, three of these NICU units are destroyed - all in northern Gaza - and the number of incubators available has plummeted by 70 per cent to about 54 incubators across the Strip.

"In the northern parts of Gaza, the number of incubators is down from 105 at the three NICUs to just nine, all at Kamal Adwan Hospital. After the heavy attacks sustained by the hospital in recent days, it is unclear if they remain functional.

"At least 6,000 newborn babies need intensive care in the Gaza Strip every year. However, the true number could be higher with doctors telling us that the proportion of babies born premature, undernourished, or with developmental issues and other health complications has risen as the war impacts their fetal development, birth, and care.

"Because aid and commercial supplies are not permitted to enter at scale, and flow to everyone who needs them across the Gaza Strip, sufficient nutritious food is severely lacking for pregnant and lactating mothers, resulting in increased preterm births."

"Health care facilities are protected under International Humanitarian Law, as are providers and humanitarian personnel. "Vulnerable newborns and sick and wounded children in need of intensive care are being killed in tents, in incubators and in the arms of their parents. That this hasn't galvanized enough political will to end the war, represents a fundamental crisis of our humanity."

#####



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Intolerable conditions in northern Gaza 'beyond imagination'

5 November 2024 - The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory appealed on Tuesday for an end to the war and suffering in Gaza during his first visit to the area since Israel launched its latest military operation in the north a month ago.

Muhannad Hadi spoke to UN News from the Al-Mamouniya School in Gaza City run by the UN agency that assists Palestine refugee, UNRWA.

Like the rest of UNRWA's schools that are still standing as war continues, it now serves as a shelter for displaced people seeking safety in the besieged enclave where nowhere is safe.

An 'unbearable' situation

"This is not a place for humans to survive," he said. "This must end. This misery must end. This war must end. This is beyond imagination."

Mr. Hadi stated that what he saw was "very different" from what he saw in northern Gaza in September.

"At this school, I have seen families and people living on top of each other. It is unbearable here. I can't imagine how those people are surviving," he said.

"There were 500 people in this school in September, and now there are more than 1,500 people. There is no access to bathroom. There are shortages of food. The situation is unbearable. Sewage water is everywhere. Waste is everywhere. The place has garbage everywhere."

'Just water and lentils'

From a window on the second floor of the damaged school, mountains of garbage can be seen piling up in the yard - a symbol of the immense health hazards and harsh conditions that the people inside face.

Critical supplies including food are scarce in northern Gaza. As Mr. Hadi walked around the school, whose structure had been damaged by the bombing, he met a man who was preparing lentil soup for his family.

Mr. Hadi was told that the lentils had been provided by UNRWA and that the small pot the man carried was supposed to feed 12 people.

"It's just water and lentils; no garlic or onions," he remarked, noting that "one chili pepper pod costs 10 shekels today."

'We want to have fun'

The senior UN official also visited a temporary learning space called Al-Nayzak on Al-Jalaa Street. Tents have been set up on the destroyed thoroughfare to provide a minimum education and a safe place for local children to deal with the horrors they have endured since the war erupted last October.

At the temporary school, 11 teachers - men and women - provide courses in Arabic, English, maths, science and psychosocial support to 510 students.

Mr. Hadi played with young children, aged between three and five years old. Many were supposed to be in kindergarten, but the war has deprived them of the opportunity to learn in real classrooms.

He met a girl who said she lost her parents and home in the war, and now lives with her cousins who have also become orphans. Her school used to be located near the Al-Nayzak learning space, but like most schools in Gaza it was destroyed by shelling.

The girl told him that they cook rice at home when given the opportunity, but often rely on humanitarian organizations to provide them with meals. When Mr. Hadi asked her what she wanted to do when the war ended, she replied, "We want to have fun and enjoy ourselves, and go where we want to go."

The top UN humanitarian official also visited the headquarters of the Atfaluna Association for Deaf Children, where students taught him sign language.

The association provides lessons in English, Arabic, maths, science, physical education and the arts to 35 children, some of whom are learning how to deal with their new disability after losing their hearing due to heavy shelling.

Stop the war

Mr. Hadi told UN News that he had heard horrific stories from people he met in northern Gaza and stressed the need to stop the war.

"What people are going through here, no one can tolerate. Those are the victims of this war. Those are the ones who are paying the price for this war - those children around me here, the women, elderly," he said.

The heads of 15 UN and international humanitarian organizations recently affirmed that "the entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence."

The officials said humanitarian workers were not safe to do their work, and that Israeli forces and insecurity prevented them from reaching those in need.

Since the war began in October 2023, more than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed and 100,000 injured, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.

The UN estimates that more than 1.9 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes within the enclave, many of whom have fled from one unsafe place to another multiple times.

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War in Sudan, Political Uncertainty in South Sudan Stalling Progress on Final Status of Abyei, Assistant Secretary-General Tells Security Council

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9777th Meeting (AM)

SC/15889

5 November 2024

The war in Sudan and political uncertainty in South Sudan have stalled progress in political dialogue on the final status of Abyei and border issues, a senior UN official told the Security Council today, as Security Council members urged greater support to be lent to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in fulfilling its mandate, ahead of its expiration on 14 November.

"The war in the Sudan continues to have a profound impact on the security, economic and humanitarian situations in both Sudan and South Sudan, including in the Abyei box," reported Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, briefing the Council on the implementation of resolution 2046 (2012), as well as providing an update on developments in Abyei and UNISFA, including its support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism.

Outlining recent developments, she noted that in South Sudan, insecurity had led to disruptions in oil production and exports, worsening its fraught financial situation. On the humanitarian front, hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the fighting in Sudan, and crossed into South Sudan, where they  like the South Sudanese  faced dire conditions, with inadequate access to clear water, food and health services. Meanwhile, in the Abyei box, she noted a continued proliferation of small arms and heavy weaponry, with South Sudanese officials reporting a 21 October incursion of a group of Rapid Support Forces combatants, who looted Aman-Aguak and Mijak counties.

The movement of armed groups is worsening the fragile security situation in South Sudan and Abyei, particularly with respect to pre-existing tensions between the Twic Mayardit and Ngok Dinka communities, she continued, adding that climate change-related challenges, including recent heavy rains and flooding, have displaced more than 18,000 people in Abyei alone, as well as impacted crops and infrastructure, and disrupted health and education services.

Meanwhile, as the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces enters its nineteenth month, it remains a major source of destabilization in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel regions, with dire security, humanitarian and economic consequences on Sudan's neighbours, she continued, underscoring that the full implementation of resolution 2046 (2012) is impossible without resolving the conflict in Sudan.

Turning to UNISFA, she said that, while there was no progress in 2024 regarding dialogue between Sudan and South Sudan on the final status of Abyei and border issues, the mission continues to monitor the situation for conditions that might be conducive to renewed talks, and offers support for the resumption of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism, which last met in January 2023, and the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, whose meetings have not been held since 2017. In the meantime, UNISFA is focusing on the "critical task" of supporting stability on the ground in Abyei, she said, highlighting its prominent role in promoting and deepening reconciliation, which contributed to no clashes being reported between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities.

She went on to voice concern over the concerning presence of South Sudanese security personnel in southern Abyei, in violation of the Agreement of 20 June 2011 between Sudan and South Sudan on the administration and security of Abyei, which has resulted in restrictions on UNISFA's freedom of movement, in contradiction of the status-of-forces agreement. The mission continues engaging Juba authorities to call for their withdrawal, she said, also calling on South Sudanese authorities to work with UNISFA to facilitate the reoperationalization of Joint Political and Security Mechanism Sector 1, as soon as possible.

Also of concern is the increased strain on resources in Abyei, following the arrival of displaced persons fleeing the fighting in Sudan, which has led to an increase in crime, she said, calling on the Council to lend support to UNISFA's ongoing calls to the host countries to enable the fully mandated UN police deployment, given UNISFA's constrained capacity to support the rule of law in Abyei, at a time of increased need.

In the ensuing debate, several Council members voiced concern over the stalled political process, with the representative of the United States emphasizing that unresolved tensions between Sudan and South Sudan continue to limit prospects for engagement between the parties, with no real progress on the resolution of the final status of Abyei. There is a further deterioration of security and governance in the region, while conflict in Sudan impedes UNISFA in carrying out its mandated tasks, as well as restrictions on freedom of movement for peacekeepers and the presence of South Sudanese security forces in the southern Abyei. In that environment, intercommunal violence involving Ngok Dinka, Twic Dinka and Nuer continues to pose major risks in southern Abyei to civilians, he said, recognizing their representatives for their willingness to engage in dialogue.

In a related vein, France's delegate urged the parties to the conflict to respect their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration and act to protect civilians. He recalled the Declaration of Principles adopted during the international humanitarian conference for Sudan and neighbouring countries on 15 April in Paris, which called on the parties and all stakeholders to facilitate unhindered access to civilian populations in need of humanitarian assistance. He voiced regret over the postponement of elections for two years, calling on all stakeholders, especially the South Sudanese authorities, to work through dialogue towards the holding of peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections, as soon as possible.

Other Council members, including China, Japan and the United Kingdom, underlined the importance of supporting UNISFA in fulfilling its mandate in a challenging situation, with the latter  Council President for November, speaking in his national capacity  stressing that Juba and Khartoum ensure they remove obstacles to UNISFA's operations. "We call on the Sudanese authorities to urgently issue visas for UN civilian and police personnel to help UNISFA address increasing crime-related threats in Abyei," he stated, also echoing the Assistant Secretary-General's appeal to the leaders of South Sudan to withdraw the People's Defence Forces from Abyei.

The representative of Mozambique, also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Sierra Leone, stressed the importance of defining the final status of Abyei and holding the planned referendum, as well as ensuring the implementation of the 2011 agreement and respecting Abyei's demilitarized, weapons-free status. Investing in development initiatives is crucial to stabilize the region, he said, also stressing the need to address the impact of the conflict in Sudan. Reiterating support for UNISFA, he called for strengthening community-based reconciliation and protection mechanisms, increasing support for refugees and returnees, and managing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Several other speakers also underscored the importance of UNISFA's role in finding a peaceful resolution in Abyei, including the representative of the Republic of Korea, who also stressed the need to address intercommunal violence in Abyei. Similarly, Switzerland's delegate underscored that UNISFA's presence is crucial to ensure the protection of civilians.

For her part, Slovenia's delegate called on the Government of South Sudan to ensure unrestricted freedom of movement for UNISFA, also noting that the effective implementation of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism continues to be hindered by the conflict in Sudan. The proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the region fuels crime and increases the risk of intercommunal violence, she said, urging Juba and Khartoum to recommence discussions as soon as possible.

Ecuador's delegate also urged the parties to resume dialogue as quickly as possible, and reiterated the call for coordinated humanitarian support in the affected region. Noting that 151 Ecuadorians have contributed as military observers and staff members in the Sudan and South Sudan missions, he said it is unacceptable that members of peace operations, and United Nations personnel and humanitarian workers have been the target of attacks.

The representative of Malta highlighted UNISFA's advocacy sessions on women, peace and security at joint community protection committee meetings, and workshops in coordination with women leaders in Abyei to address harmful practices, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation. She also expressed support for its community-based gender desk, which acts as a referral system for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The protection of women and girls must remain a priority, and these efforts must be matched by strengthened local capacity and resources dedicated to addressing gender-based violence, she added.

In a different register, however, the Russian Federation's delegate noted that both Sudan and South Sudan are targets of political blackmail and external interference, including the use of illegitimate unilateral measures. "We deem unacceptable any destructive external interference in the affairs of Sudan and South Sudan, who are our friends," she stressed  as the peoples of the two countries can and should independently resolve all internal problems, including the final status of Abyei. Any initiatives to restore peace and resolve bilateral disputes "without the participation of Port Sudan and Juba are doomed to failure".

Sudan's representative reaffirmed his Government's commitment to the "political and legal terms of reference governing the current situation in Abyei," calling the 20 June 2011 Agreement an "irreplaceable foundation" for governing the region until a solution is reached for the final status of Abyei, and rejected unilateral measures threatening stability in the region, especially in UNISFA's areas of operation. Welcoming the recommendation to renew UNISFA's mandate, he called on the Council to adopt arrangements to end the aggression by the State sponsoring the Rapid Support Forces militia, which has been implicated in merciless looting, killing, rape and displacement, including in Al-Jazirah. Ending the violence hinges on the implementation of commitments agreed on in Jeddah in 2023, he stressed.

South Sudan's representative reaffirmed her country's commitment to support UNISFA's mandate, and the vital work of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, noting their indispensable roles since 2011 in conducting monitoring and verification activities, easing tensions and facilitating constructive dialogue. She urged the Council to address "severe" humanitarian needs in Abyei, amid the impacts of floods, food insecurity and the influx of displaced persons from Sudan. The deployment of South Sudanese security personnel is a temporary measure to prevent the escalation of intercommunal violence and protect civilians, she stated, adding that Juba is open to collaborating with UNISFA to explore alternative security arrangements that respect communities' needs, as well as the demilitarized status of the region.

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Exercise Phoenix Express 2024 Kicks Off in Tunisia

US Navy

05 November 2024

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/ U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs

TUNIS, Tunisia -- Exercise Phoenix Express 2024 will take place Nov. 5 - 15, 2024, starting in Tunisia and taking place in the Southern Mediterranean Sea.

Phoenix Express is a multinational maritime exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and executed by Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. It brings together North African, European, and U.S. maritime forces as part of a global network of navies to enhance cooperation and expertise in maritime security operations in the Southern Mediterranean Sea.

This year marks the 19th iteration of Phoenix Express. The 10-day exercise is designed to improve regional cooperation as well as enhance maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise, all of which bolster the collective capabilities of participating nations in countering sea-based illicit activity.

"The quality and level of skill the Phoenix Express participants bring to our collective maritime capabilities in the Southern Mediterranean Sea is unparalleled," said Rear Admiral Jason Naidyhorski, Vice Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. "Year after year, nations throughout Europe and Africa return to this exercise to build on already strong partnerships, with a shared goal of reinforcing a safe and secure North Africa, and Mediterranean. The type of training we see here has evolved with each iteration, and this year is no exception."

Phoenix Express demonstrates high-level capabilities, split between land-based and sea-based phases, and will feature the use of maritime operations centers and a multinational coordination center to enhance information-sharing practices among partners, as well as exercises in ship-boarding, and search and rescue drills. The individual events throughout the exercise will provide participating maritime forces the opportunity to work together, share information, and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures to promote maritime safety and security in the region.

"The foundational partnership and the exceptional bilateral cooperation between the United States and Tunisia, especially in the maritime realm, go back over 200 years. In recent years, Tunisia has led the way in fighting illicit maritime activities, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work side-by-side with Tunisia and other regional allies and partners in a variety of critical areas during this exercise," said Joey Hood, U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia.

This year, the Commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet will be working alongside African partners to incorporate the use of unmanned systems to demonstrate their use in deterring and detecting illegal actives in African exclusive economic zones.

Participating nations in Phoenix Express include Algeria, Belgium, Georgia, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkiye, Senegal, and the United States.

Phoenix Express is one of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. Naval Forces Africa as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities to African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns.

Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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Forging the Future: Carrier Air Wing Five's return to USS George Washington

US Navy

05 November 2024

From Petty Officer 3rd Class August Clawson

PACIFIC OCEAN -- "Flight quarters, flight quarters! Man your flight quarters stations now manning for event two," Cmdr. Matthew Voss, head of air department aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), also known as "Air Boss," called out over the flight deck intercom on Oct. 2, 2024. From his perch in primary flight control, Voss watched the deck as the crew aboard George Washington sprang into action and prepared for the second flight deck event of the day.

"Ensure you are in proper flight deck gear - sleeves rolled down and goggles on," Voss continued. The flight deck crew of George Washington and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 responded immediately, assuming their positions across the flight deck. "All right, heads up on the flight deck. We've got a 'Lightning' on a three-mile approach," Voss warned, referring to an incoming F-35C Lightning II Strike Fighter.

Every Sailor on deck recognized the callsign "Lightning." This particular aircraft, from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 the "Argonauts," would soon make history as the first forward-deployed F-35C to land on the George Washington. Sailors, clad in bright flight deck jerseys of varying colors, waited in anticipation; they knew this marked the start of a new chapter for both CVW-5 and George Washington. Together, they form "Team Badman," a powerhouse of naval aviation in the Indo-Pacific.

As the F-35C approached, Sailors from across the ranks shared a singular focus safe air warfare operations. The integration of seven air wing squadrons is the continuing effort to ensure the ongoing success of Navy's mission to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, CVW-5 recently rejoined George Washington for their first round of air operations together since 2015, returning with an upgraded lineup that includes the sleek F-35C supersonic stealth strike fighter. VFA-147 first operated F-35Cs on George Washington earlier this year during a Southern Seas deployment in U.S. 4th Fleet, allowing the crew to familiarize themselves with the fifth-generation fighter, a carrier-based variant of the F-35 with adaptations such as foldable wingtip sections and stronger landing gear.

Among the diverse lineup of aircraft, there are familiar sights to seasoned flight deck Sailors. The E/A-18G Growler, known affectionately as "Grizzly," and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, or "Rhino," continue to dominate the skies and serve as the backbone of the U.S. Navy's strike fighter capabilities. CVW-5 boasts three Super Hornet squadrons, each a welcome return to the flight operations family.

"Alright folks, the 'Lightning' is on a one-mile straight-in approach," said Voss as the aircraft neared. On deck, the Sailors snapped into their positions with razor-sharp focus, prepared for the familiar groove of flight operations. The sound of the F-35C's engine reverberated through the hull and the bones of every Sailor on deck as it touched down. The tailhook grabbed an arresting wire with a metallic screech, signaling the start of the second round of flight operations aboard George Washington.

"The [F-35] is bringing brand new capabilities the air wing," said Capt. Patrick Corrigan, Commander, CVW-5. "The stealth capabilities and sensor fusion is something everyone is talking about, and we have integrated the airwing around the F-35 as much as we have integrated the F-35 around the airwing, making us all together more lethal."

The E-2D Hawkeye, attached to the Tigertails of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 125, is another indispensable player in the air wing.

"We've also picked up brand new hawkeyes," said Corrigan. "The big advantages with the new E-2D model is the air refueling capability and immense sensor upgrade."

The E-2 aircraft are often described as a "mother bear" circling protectively above the fleet, the E-2D provides long-range threat detection and situational awareness.

From strike, airborne early warning, to carrier onboard delivery, CVW-5 returns with a number of upgrades. On the flight deck aboard George Washington, another unique aircraft began its approach.

"Heads up on the flight deck!" Lt. Cmdr. Franklin Santiago, the ship's aircraft handler, warned over the intercom. "We've got an Osprey coming in on Spot Nine."

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRM) 30 Detachment 5 began operating the CMV-22B Osprey on George Washington in July, delivering essential supplies and performing deck landing qualification during the day and night.

"The air wing has recently upgraded to become the air wing of the future," said Corrigan. "We recently picked up the CMV-22B Osprey, a brand new aircraft, which means more reliability to replace the C-2 Greyhounds' carrier onboard delivery mission set."

The Osprey's distinctive tri-rotor hum filled the air as flight deck personnel swiftly cleared the landing zone. A landing signalman enlisted (LSE) guided the Osprey to a smooth vertical rolling landing, no arresting wires needed, a welcome change from its predecessor.

"The Osprey brings a brand new capability that we haven't had before," said Corrigan "Its vertical lift and landing capability without the need for catapults or arresting wires is a game changer."

The Osprey's rotors then shifted from 90 to 45 degrees.

"Heads up on the flight deck, heads up! We got an Osprey moving forward to take off," said Santiago. "Stand clear of the foul line and watch out for propwash."

The LSE signaled for the aircraft to rise, demonstrating its vertical takeoff capability. Moments later, the Osprey soared into the sky, quickly transforming into a turbo-prop aircraft capable of reaching 300 mph.

As the day's operations wound down, Santiago called out again. "Heads up! Helicopters inbound! Last birds for the day."

An MH-60S Seahawk attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 approached in its typical steady fashion, following the LSE's hand signals. These helicopters and its naval aircrewmen are constantly on standby during flight operations, ready for search and rescue missions or to provide protection against any maritime threats.

Nearby Sailors watched with bated breath as the MH-60S teased a landing. It touched down on its rear landing gear and settled right on the marked squares with the kind of precision that marks the signature of Navy pilots. Another Seahawk, this one an MH-60R attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, followed suit. The MH-60R specializes in anti-submarine warfare and safeguards the fleet from undersea threats.

With the final helicopters safely on deck, flight deck personnel began shutting down operations. As jets and helicopters powered down, the sound of spinning rotors and jet engines faded, signaling the end of a successful day for Team Badman.

"What makes the Badman team stand out is that we are permanently forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific," said Corrigan. "This is a dynamic region and maintaining a high state of warfighting readiness is crucial. We have upgraded to the air wing of the future."

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Gray Flag 2024 integrates joint, allied partner testing

US Navy

05 November 2024

POINT MUGU, Calif. -- U.S. and allied forces joined academic and industry partners Sept. 17-23 to conduct Gray Flag 2024, an annual test event hosted by Naval Test Wing Pacific and VX-9 at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California.

This year, more than 3,000 personnel units from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force participated in Gray Flag to conduct more than 60 test initiatives. The complex event featured approximately 600 aircraft sorties and more than 26 unique systems under test on the ground.

The Point Mugu Sea Range, which is a 36,000 square miles of instrumented sea and airspace operated by Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), provided a unique location for Gray Flag's multi-domain, joint test requirements. Leveraging Live, Virtual, and Constructive test elements allowed more complicated, modern warfighting problems to be modeled, tested, and addressed during Gray Flag.

"Gray Flag 2024 was an opportunity to bring together a diverse group of participants from different branches of the military, academic partners, science and technology leaders, and allied partners," said Naval Test Wing Pacific commodore Capt. David Halpern.

"The broad scope of participants allowed us to test and evaluate our systems and how they interact with one another in an operationally relevant environment," he added. "This was the most expansive interoperability event to date, with the data captured informing requirements, tactics, techniques, and procedures for future kill chains."

The inclusion of multiple allied partners during Gray Flag 2024 was critical to ensuring the test event represented how the Navy operates.

"Our nation's success in future conflicts depends on how well we can integrate and jointly operate with our allies and partners," said Rear Adm. Keith Hash, NAWCWD commander and Naval Air Systems Command's Chief of Test. "The CNO said it best in NAVPLAN 2024: The U.S. Navy fights in a warfighting ecosystem. As we continue to deter aggression and protect the freedom of the seas, we aren't operating alone. We shouldn't test alone either."

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More than 100 patients to be medically evacuated from Gaza

By Lisa Schlein November 05, 2024

In a rare and welcome move, the World Health Organization says more than 100 patients, including children, who are suffering from severe trauma injuries and chronic diseases will be medically evacuated from Gaza Wednesday to countries where they can receive medical treatment for their condition.

"These are ad hoc measures. What we have been requesting for repeatedly is a sustained medevac [medical evacuation] outside Gaza, an organized, sustained medevac," Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said in a call Tuesday with journalists in Geneva.

Speaking in Gaza, Peeperkorn said that as many as 113 patients who are "on the Ministry of Health priority list" for medical evacuation will be gathered at the European Gaza hospital tonight "and from six in the morning  that is the plan  they will be brought to Kerem Shalom and then across Kerem Shalom to Ramallah airport."

"The majority of the patients will go to the UAE," he said "and then I think something like 13 patients will go to Romania. So, that is the plan for tomorrow."

While affirming the importance of the operation, Peeperkorn noted the number of people being evacuated from war-torn Gaza paled in comparison to the needs.

"We estimate that approximately 12,000 to 14,000 critical patients need to be medevaced, half of them probably trauma-related  what we call serious trauma cases  amputations, spinal cord injuries, burns, etc., with the other half being chronic cases," including cancer, cardiovascular, blood and liver diseases, he said.

Before the Rafah crossing in South Gaza near the Egyptian border was closed on May 6, nearly 5,000 patients were medevaced outside the Palestinian enclave. Since then, only 282 patients have been evacuated. The last WHO-led operation occurred on September 11 when 97 sick and severely injured patients and 155 companions were transported out of Gaza via Kerem Shalom for medical treatment.

"We cannot continue the way we do now. We need medical corridors," Peeperkorn said. "The first medical corridors we have repeatedly requested to be restored is the traditional referral pathway from Gaza to East Jerusalem and the West Bank to the hospitals that are there already.

"And a second medical corridor to Egypt should be opened again, and maybe to Jordan, and from there when other countries are willing to receive patients, they can go to other areas," he said.

While plans for transporting patients outside the Gaza Strip are moving ahead, a second round of polio vaccinations aimed at reaching more than a half million children under age 10 is winding down.

The World Health Organization says a second dose of novel oral polio vaccine has been administered to more than 450,000 children, and more than 364,000 children have received vitamin A in central and southern Gaza.

Unfortunately, a similar campaign "was compromised" in northern Gaza because of the dire conditions prevailing in the region.

Peeperkorn said the technical committee, which is the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, UNRWA, and NGO partners, decided to postpone the vaccination campaign from October 23 until November 2 "due to the lack of access, the lack of assured humanitarian pauses, the intense bombardment and the mass evacuation orders."

"The committee decided to go ahead after the delay and to do our level best to cover as many kids as possible," he said, noting that between November 2 and 4, the campaign managed to vaccinate 88% of the targeted 119,000 children under 10, and it provided nearly 84,000 children with vitamin A.

"This is an exceptional achievement," he said, while acknowledging it will take weeks if not months "for us to know how successful this campaign has been."

Peeperkorn participated in a mission that reached Kamal Adwan hospital Sunday, managing to deliver medical and surgical supplies, as well as other urgent necessities of fuel, food and water. The team also transferred 25 patients and 37 companions to Gaza City's Shifa Hospital.

The WHO official presented an alarming picture of conditions in northern Gaza and the dangers encountered by medical staff and patients alike.

"There was intense bombardment in close proximity to the hospital even during the mission," he said. "Shortly after the WHO mission to Kamal Adwan Hospital departed, the facility's third floor reportedly was hit, injuring six children who are patients there. One child reportedly sustained a critical injury. Water tanks were damaged."

He said, "The needs are enormous. The Emergency Department is full of patients, more than 40 casualties. The inpatient department also was full of hospitalized patients and their caregivers."

Northern Gaza has three hospitals. Peeperkorn said the Indonesian Hospital is not functional and the other two, Kamal Adwan and al-Awda hospitals, are "only minimally functional. ... There are no functional primary health care centers or medical points in North Gaza."

While an estimated 150,000 people "were forcibly evacuated from the region," he noted that an estimated population of 75,000 people remain.

Given the health situation in northern Gaza, he said, "It is critically vital that these hospitals remain functional."

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Chad president threatens to withdraw from regional force after Boko Haram attack kills over 40 Chad troops

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka November 05, 2024

Chad says it will withdraw its troops from the United Nations-supported Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, which combats Boko Haram in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

Officials from Chad say its military is not getting enough assistance to fight the terrorist group since an attack last week killed more than 40 of Chad's soldiers.

Chad's President Mahamat Idiss Deby says his country will pull out of the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, which has some 11,000 troops, because of the absence of what he calls coordinated efforts among member states troops in jointly fighting Boko Haram terrorism.

A release read on Chad's state TV on Monday says Deby is surprised at the slow pace at which the task force, a regional group that includes rescue workers, reacts to Boko Haram attacks.

The task force was created in April 2012 by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Benin and Nigeria to jointly fight Boko Haram and bring back peace in areas affected by terrorism in Lake Chad Basin shared by the five countries.

The African Union, or AU, authorized the force to operate in February 2015. The force says it receives regular technical support from the United Nations to protect civilians affected by terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin.

Deby did not say when Chad will withdraw troops. The Central African state's president, however, says Chad's military will protect civilians from all forms of terrorism, including Boko Haram.

Remadji Hoinathy is a lecturer at the Department of Anthropology at the University of N'Djamena in Chad and a researcher on strategic development in central Africa and the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

He said Deby is disgruntled because Chad is not receiving the assistance it needs to track and eliminate several hundred Boko Haram fighters who attacked and killed more than 40 Chad government troops in the Lake Chad Basin last week. He said Deby, who is in the Lake Chad area to supervise a security operation to fight the assailants after the deadly attack, is dissatisfied that his troops are not getting immediate assistance from Cameroon, Benin, Niger and Nigeria.

Remadji spoke Monday on Chad state TV.

Chad's government sait it informed the task force after last week's attack on its troops in Ngouboua, a western village in Lake Chad, on the island of Bakaram, near the border with Nigeria.

Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Benin are yet to react to Deby's threats to pull his troops from the task force.

The statement about Chad troops leaving was issued after media reports that the central African state's military recently deployed to fight Boko Haram mistakenly killed at least a dozen fishermen in Lake Chad thinking that they were militants.

Chad's government said reports that its fighter jets bombed the fishermen were unfounded.

Belngar Larme Laguerre is the president of Chad's National Commission on Human Rights. He spoke via a messaging app from N'Djamena.

He said Boko Haram hides among civilians or uses civilians as human shields when attacked, but that Chad troops are well-trained to find terrorists hiding among civilians. He said he has not received complaints from civilians that the Chad soldiers deployed to fight Boko Haram last week disrespected human rights.

Local media reported that the attack on fishermen took place in Tilma, an island on the border with Nigeria.

VOA could not independently verify if there was an attack on civilians.

Some 40,000 people have been killed and 3 million have fled their homes since 2009, when fighting between Nigerian government troops and Boko Haram militants degenerated into an armed conflict and spread to Cameroon, Niger and Chad, according to the United Nations.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 05 November 2024 - Day 986

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that in southern Donetsk oblast, Russian forces have made advances in several areas along a 20km wide front. Russian forces have seized control of several small towns and advanced up to 9km in some areas within the space of a week. These advances follow from Russia gaining control of Vuhledar at the beginning of October 2024.

Also in southern Donetsk oblast, Russian forces seized the town of Hirnyk and claim to have captured Kurakhivka.15km southeast of Pokrvosk, Russia seized Selydove, which likely further sets conditions for Russia to threaten the logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Russia continues to prioritise the southern Donetsk frontlines maintaining favourable force ratios in this sector, which partly explains the increased pace of Russian advances. Despite heavy personnel losses, Russia continues to recruit in high numbers to sustain its operations in southern Ukraine.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively thwart the Russian enemy's attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him an effective fire effect, exhaustion throughout the frontline.

In total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 131 combat encounters.

Russian invaders launched two missiles and 71 aviation strikes on the territory of Ukraine, using two missiles and 101 KABs, in addition, carrying out 596 kamikaze drones strikes, carrying out more than three thousand shelling of settlements and positions of Ukrainian defenders.

In the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces seven times attacked the defensive borders of Ukrainian warriors near lipciv, vovcans ka and starica. All attacks were repelled, the opponent was unsuccessful.

In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces focused the main offensive efforts in the areas of settlements Novoosinove and Lozov, where he attacked seven times, one attack is ongoing so far.

In the Lyman direction during the day Russian zagarbniki nine times attacked the positions of Ukrainians near Zagrizovoye, Grekivka, Novomikhailivka, Terniv and Torsky. All attacks are successfully repelled by Ukrainian defenders.

In the sivers ,komu direction, Ukrainian troops repel one Russian attack near bilogorivka, the situation is controlled.

In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled two assaults near Orihovo-Vasilivka, to the same Russian enemy caused aviation strikes on the Time Yar and Stupockam.

In the Toretsky direction Russians once attacked the defense forces near Toretsk.

Since the beginning of this day on the Pokrovsky direction, the Russian occupiers 31 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense near the settlements of Beam, Fox, Novogrodivka, Krutiy Yar, Selidove and Hrodivka. Three fights in the area of selidovogo still ongoing. The Russian enemy suffers significant losses - today in this direction 219 invaders were defecated, 85 of them - irrevocably. Two cars and one mortar were also destroyed. In addition, the opponent's BTR was damaged.

In the Kurakhiv direction, Russian forces 51 times attacked Ukrainian positions near vovchenko, stepanivka, illinka, berizka, kreminnoi balka, novoselidivka, novodmitrivka, gostrogo, maksimil anivka, antonivka, elizavetivka and katerinivka. According to the information, 24 fights continue. In this direction, 191 Russian occupants were defecated, 76 of them - irrevocably. Also destroyed one car, one combat armored vehicle, one REB trench station, one motorcycle and one enemy mortar.

In the Vremivsky direction, Russian forces carried out nine offensive actions near the settlements of Konstantinopolsk and Trudove. There's still one battle going on.

In the Gulyaipil direction of aviation strikes by uncontrolled missiles suffered a settlement of Bilogiria.

In the Orihiv direction there was one useless attempt of the Russian opponent to advance in the direction of Ukrainian positions near Orihiv.

In the Pridniprovsk direction from the beginning of the day, there were three Russian attacks, which Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled.

In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kharkov direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 71st Jaeger Brigade of the AFU, and 13th National Guard Brigade near Volchansk and Liptsy (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 70 troops, two motor vehicles, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. One ammunition depot was wiped out.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 30th, 116th mechanised brigades, 3rd Assault Brigade, and 77th Airmobile Brigade of the AFU near Kupyansk, Berestovoye, Petropavlovka (Kharkov region), and Petrovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

Five counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the 14th, 28th mechanised brigades of the AFU, and 1st National Guard Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 510 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, three U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, one U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicle, four pickup trucks, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one Anklav-N electronic warfare station. Four AFU field ammunition depots were destroyed.



Units of the Yug Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences and inflicted losses on formations of the 33rd, 54th mechanised brigades, 46th Airmobile Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade, 148th Artillery Brigade of the AFU, 101st Guard Brigade of the AFU General Staff, and 18th National Guard Brigade near Zaliznyanskoye, Chasov Yar, Dalneye, Markovo, Ulakly, Kurakhovo, and Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic). Three counter-attacks launched by formations of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 580 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations, and two ammunition depots.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 93rd, 100th, 151st mechanised brigades, 25th Airborne Brigade of the AFU, 35th Marine Brigade, and 119th Territorial Defence Brigade near Vozdvizhenka, Berestki, Dzerhinsk, Zarya, Leonidovka, Krasnoye, and Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic).

Nine counter-attacks launched by formations of the 42nd, 117th mechanised brigades of the AFU, 37th and 38th marine brigades were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 560 troops, two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, three armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on formations of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade and 152nd Infantry Brigade of the AFU near Velikaya Novosyolka and Razdolnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Two counter-attacks launched by units of the 123rd Territorial Defence Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 120 troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 110th Mechanised Brigade, 141st Infantry Brigade, 124th and 126th territorial defence brigades near Nikolayevka, Belozerka, Tokarevka (Kherson region), and Novoandreyevka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 troops, two motor vehicles, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces delivered strikes at infrastructure of military airfields, missile weaponry workshops, power objects used to supply the AFU, as well as engaged manpower clusters and hardware in 143 areas.??Air defence units shot down one French-made Hammer guided aerial bomb and 17 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 647 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 35,275 unmanned aerial vehicles, 585 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,052 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,484 MLRS combat vehicles, 17,355 field artillery guns and mortars, and 27,992 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces continued offensive actions and inflicted losses on formations of the 21st, 22nd, 41st, 115th mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 82nd, 95th air assault brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 112th and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Daryino, Leonidovo, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka, and Plyokhovo.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces repelled six counter-attacks of the enemy towards Daryino, Nizhny Klin, and Novoivanovka as well as thwarted AFU attacks in the direction of Leonidovo and Plyokhovo. The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 troops killed and wounded, one infantry fighting vehicle, and two armoured fighting vehicles. Two AFU servicemen surrendered.

Army Aviation and artillery strikes inflicted losses on manpower clusters and hardware of the 22nd, 41st, 47th, 61st mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 80th, 95th air assault brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 1st Special Operations Brigade, 112th, 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU, and 17th National Guard Brigade near Bogdanovka, Guyevo, Daryino, Kazachaya Loknya, Kruglenkoye, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Martynovka, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Novy Put, Sverdlikovo, Plyokhovo, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye.

Operational-Tactical Aviation and Missile Troops delivered strikes at concentration areas in Sumy region and reserves of the 22nd, 47th, 115th mechanised brigades, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 1st Special Operations Brigade, and 129th Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU near Belovody, Zhuravka, Miropolye, Obody, Pavlovka, and Khoten.

Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 200 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, four armoured fighting vehicles, two mortars, and one motor vehicle. Two AFU servicemen surrendered.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 29,800 troops, 184 tanks, 107 infantry fighting vehicles, 107 armoured personnel carriers, 1,082 armoured fighting vehicles, 809 motor vehicles, 259 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 11 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 59 EW stations, 12 counter-battery radars, four air defence radars, 26 units of engineering and other materiel including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.





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FBI Statement on Bomb Threats to Polling Locations

Washington, D.C.

FBI National Press Office

(202) 324-3691

November 5, 2024

The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains. None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far.

Election integrity is among the FBI's highest priorities. We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to our elections and to protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote.

As always, we urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to state or local law enforcement, or submit tips to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov.



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Russia Linked To Bomb Threats At U.S. Polling Stations, FBI Says

By RFE/RL November 05, 2024

The FBI said on November 5 that polling locations in several U.S. states have been the target of bomb threats, many of which appear to originate from Russian domains.

At least two U.S. polling stations in the state of Georgia were evacuated because of the threats, officials said.

Both reopened after about 30 minutes and authorities are seeking a court order to extend voting hours beyond the statewide closing time of 7 p.m. to make up for the time lost during the evacuations.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Russian interference was behind the bomb threats and that, after an investigation, they weren't deemed credible by the FBI.

"They're up to mischief, it seems. They don't want us to have a smooth, fair, and accurate election, and if they can get us to fight among ourselves, they can count that as a victory," Raffensperger told reporters.

"I want to make sure that everyone in Georgia understands this: Russia picked on the wrong Georgia. They need to pick on the other one, in the Black Sea," Raffensperger added.

Georgia alone received more than two dozen phony bomb threats on Election Day, an FBI official told Reuters.

U.S. intelligence and security officials earlier accused Russia and Iran of ramping up cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns to sow discord in the tense presidential election.

Russian-linked influence actors "are manufacturing videos and creating fake articles to undermine the legitimacy of the election, instill fear in voters regarding the election process, and suggest Americans are using violence against each other due to political preferences," said a statement issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on November 4.

"These efforts risk inciting violence, including against election officials," it added.

The FBI said in a separate news release on November 5 that it was made aware of two instances of its name and logo being misused in promoting false narratives surrounding the election.

The first is a fabricated news clip purporting to be a terrorist warning issued by the FBI. The news clip reports falsely that the FBI purportedly stated that Americans should "vote remotely" due to a high terror threat at polling stations, the statement said.

"This video is not authentic and does not accurately represent the current threat posture or polling location safety," it said.

The second instance is a video containing a fabricated FBI press release alleging that the management of five prisons in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona rigged inmate voting and colluded with a political party.

"This video is also not authentic, and its contents are false," the FBI said.

The statement didn't say where the fabricated material came from.

U.S. intelligence agencies have warned for months of Russian government-backed efforts to influence the vote that pits former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, and his opponent, Democratic Party nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

Opinion polls ahead of Election Day say the race is too close to call, raising tensions as voters head to the polls after an acrimonious campaign.

Polls opened at 5 a.m. on November 5 in some eastern states and will continue across the country, including in Alaska and Hawaii, until the evening hours in those far western U.S. states in a battle between Trump and Harris.

Highlighting an example of the disinformation tactics being used, the U.S. agencies said in the November 4 statement that Russian influence actors recently posted and amplified an article falsely claiming that U.S. officials across swing states plan to orchestrate election fraud using a range of tactics, such as ballot stuffing and cyberattacks.

They also said Russian influence actors manufactured and amplified a recent video that falsely depicted an interview with an individual claiming election fraud in Arizona, which involved creating fake overseas ballots and changing voter rolls to favor Harris.

The Arizona secretary of state has already refuted the video's claim as false.

While "Russia is the most active threat," the statement said Iran also remains a "significant foreign influence threat" to the election.

"We have assessed that Iran has conducted malicious cyberactivities to compromise former President Trump's campaign," the intelligence agencies said.

"Iranian influence actors may also seek to create fake media content intended to suppress voting or stoke violence, as they have done in past election cycles."

The agencies urged voters to "seek out information from trusted, official sources, in particular state and local election officials" in light of the "continued influence efforts by foreign adversaries and the increasing volume of inauthentic content online."

Both Tehran and Moscow have denied playing a role in any disinformation campaigns during the U.S. presidential election.

The outcome of the election may affect Ukraine more than any other foreign country.

The candidates have staked out two very different positions on support for Ukraine, whose defense against invading Russian troops is heavily dependent on U.S. military, financial, and diplomatic support.

Harris has said she would continue President Joe Biden's policy of aiding Ukraine, clearly expressing the desire to see Russia defeated.

Trump has questioned U.S. support for Ukraine, saying Europe should be carrying the bulk of the burden in backing Kyiv against the Russian invasion, and has left NATO's future in doubt.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-agencies-warn-russia-iran- accelerating-disinformation-campaign-as-u-s-votes/33188155.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Officials: Bomb threats against US voting locations coming from Russia

By Jeff Seldin November 05, 2024

A series of Election Day bomb threats sent to polling locations across the United States appears to be coming from Russia, according to new assessments from federal and state officials.

The initial bomb threats early Tuesday put a temporary stop to voting at some locations in parts of the southeastern state of Georgia. State officials quickly determined the threats were not credible.

"We identified the source, and it was from Russia," Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told reporters.

"They're up to mischief, and it seems they don't want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election," Raffensperger said. "They think if they can get us to fight amongst ourselves, they can count that as a victory."

Only the effort to disrupt the U.S. election appears to be much broader.

The FBI Tuesday said it is "aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states," adding that many of the threats "appear to originate from Russian email domains."

A U.S. official confirmed to VOA that in addition to Georgia, bomb threats were sent to polling locations in the Midwestern swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin.

"None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," the FBI said. "We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to our elections and to protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote."

The suspected Russian ploy builds on other last-minute attempts to disrupt the U.S. election.

Earlier Tuesday, as many U.S. voters prepared to cast their ballots, the FBI warned voters of at least two efforts to use the bureau's name and likeness to promote false narratives.

In one case, FBI officials pointed to faked news clips urging Americans to "vote remotely" because of the increased threats of a terror attack. In the other, the FBI cautioned that social media accounts were spreading video of a fabricated news release about five prisons across the country involved in a vote-rigging scheme.

The bureau said both videos are "not authentic."

The FBI did not say who was responsible for creating the videos, which began to circulate just three days after two other fraudulent videos purporting to be from the FBI began circulating on social media.

The earlier videos falsely stated the bureau had apprehended three linked groups for ballot fraud and made false claims about the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

In recent days, U.S. intelligence officials have assigned responsibility for other videos, not referencing the FBI but claiming to show voting irregularities to Russian influence actors.

Russia has denied any involvement.

The latest incidents are part of what some U.S. officials have described as a "firehose of disinformation" and follow a warning from U.S. intelligence agencies late Monday that Russia, and to a lesser extent Iran, were likely to intensify their influence operations on Election Day and in the days and weeks that follow.

"Influence actors linked to Russia in particular are manufacturing videos and creating fake articles to undermine the legitimacy of the election, instill fear in voters regarding the election process, and suggest Americans are using violence against each other due to political preferences," according to the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

"We anticipate Russian actors will release additional manufactured content with these themes through election day and in the days and weeks after polls close," the CISA statement said. "These efforts risk inciting violence, including against election officials."

But CISA, which helps oversee the security of U.S. election infrastructure, said Tuesday the election was running as smoothly as could be expected.

"At this point, we are not currently tracking any national level significant incidents impacting security of our election infrastructure," CISA Senior Adviser Cait Conley said during a briefing with reporters.

Conley said earlier that CISA has been tracking some disruptions related to weather and other issues such as equipment failures, describing them as "really routine and, honestly, expected types of disruptions."

CISA officials have warned that informational websites and infrastructure related to the election could be targeted by ransomware or distributed denial-of-service attacks. But they have emphasized that while inconvenient, such attacks would have little impact on the ability of Americans to cast ballots, since none of the country's election systems are connected to the internet and because 97% of voting precincts have paper backups.

Still, there are concerns U.S. adversaries may try to seize upon any disruptions to incite panic and even violence.

"We know our foreign adversaries see this window of time, both Election Day and the days immediately following, as an opportunity to stoke further division and undermine American confidence in our democratic institutions," Conley said. "And that is regardless of who wins."

Common Cause, a nonpartisan watchdog and advocacy organization that has election observers stationed across the country, said Monday there has been tension at some polling places.

"We're seeing instances of folks being yelled out at the polls," Suzanne Almeida, the group's director of state operations, said during a call with reporters.

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Russian rocket takes Iranian satellites Kowsar, Hodhod into orbit: Envoy

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's ambassador to Russia has confirmed that Iranian satellites Kowsar and Hodhod have been successfully launched by the Soyuz 2.1b spacecraft blasting off from Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome.

In a message posted on his personal account on the social media platform X on Tuesday, Kazem Jalali hailed the successful launch of the two satellites, which were developed by Iranian engineers at the knowledge-based company Omidfaza, earlier in the day.

"The Iranian satellites Kowsar and Hodhod were launched this morning by the Soyuz 2.1b rocket," he wrote.

Jalali further noted that within hours, the two satellitesone designed for land observation and the other for Internet of Things (IoT) applications in narrowbandwould be injected into their designated orbits.

Kowsar, a high-resolution imaging satellite, is the first satellite developed by Omidfaza, with its design process beginning in 2019. Following the cubic satellite standard, Kowsar weighs 30 kg and has an estimated orbital lifespan of over three years.

Hodhod, a small communications satellite, weighs 4 kg and orbits at an altitude of 500 km, with a lifespan of approximately four years.

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Terrain tests flying skills

By Major Carolyn Barnett

5 November 2024

CH-47F Chinooks of 5th Aviation Regiment took to the skies over the Papua New Guinea highlands for high-density altitude training during Exercise Helicon Luk from September 23 to October 24.

Flying out of Madang, the four aircraft were flown and supported by about 90 personnel, including attachments from medical, engineers and the Royal Australian Air Force.

Troop commander Captain Luke Tesar said PNG provided the perfect terrain to train and enhance flying skills.

"[Helicon Luk] is a valuable training opportunity that teaches aircrews how to handle the aircraft in both challenging atmospheric and weather conditions," Captain Tesar said.

"These new and varied skills and experiences in PNG develop a more capable Chinook workforce, ready to support flying operations in Australia and our region."

An additional 10 pilots and 14 aircrew were qualified in operating Chinooks at high-density altitudes and in mountain flying during the exercise.

"Importantly, the activity has generated broad proficiency across the CH-47F aircrew workforce," Captain Tesar said.

In the mountain ranges of PNG, the weather is unpredictable and can change dramatically, while hot and humid conditions at high altitude reduces air density and changes the way aircraft need to be flown.

Helicon Luk aircraft also integrated with 3rd Brigade's Exercise Wantok Warrior at Wewak, transporting PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) soldiers during air-mobile operations.

Here, Chinooks conducted troop lifts, air assault, aeromedical evacuations and a G-Wagon lift.

"It's been a successful activity with over 40 hours' flight time in support of the detachments and the completion of all tasks," Captain Tesar said.

"Working with the 3rd Brigade from Australia to PNG develops mutual readiness and flexibility to work together in all environments, and further fosters the close relationship the teams have with the PNGDF."

Commanding Officer 5th Aviation Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Lean said partnering with the PNGDF and 3rd Brigade in PNG provided invaluable training for aircrew and support staff.

"We know pilots require support staff to operate the aircraft. The activity gives our maintenance personnel an opportunity to do maintenance in a different location to Townsville, as well as giving our ground crew aircraft support operators practise on hot refuels in PNG," he said.

"Integrating with Wantok Warrior and partnering with the PNGDF has enabled us to provide more complex air-mobile training."

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Italian, Indonesian presidents set to visit China; Intensive visits underscore recognition of China as guardian of stability, win-win co-op amid turbulent intl landscape

Global Times

By Zhao Yusha Published: Nov 05, 2024 09:36 PM

Several foreign leaders, including Italian President and Indonesian President, will visit China this week. Amid a turbulent international political landscape, these visits underscore that many countries regard China as a key guardian of global peace and stability, and as a reliable partner in boosting win-win cooperation, observers said.

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Italian President Sergio Mattarella will pay a state visit to China from November 7 to 12, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Tuesday.

Hua announced the same day that President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto will pay a state visit to China from November 8 to 10.

During President Sergio Mattarella's visit to China, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with him to draw up a blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations, Mao Ning, a spokesperson from Chinese Foreign Ministry announced at a news briefing on Tuesday.

Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress will meet with him respectively. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy. The visits of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella underline the robust growth of China-Italy relations, Mao said.

The spokesperson noted that guided by the common understandings of the leaders of the two countries, China stands ready to work with Italy to further deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, promote mutual learning among civilizations, and provide more stability for a changing and turbulent world.

President Prabowo Subianto visited China in his first overseas trip right after he was elected in March and again chose China as the first country to visit after taking office. This speaks volumes about the great importance he attaches to the growth of China-Indonesia relations and the strength of the bilateral ties, Mao said.

China stands ready to work with Indonesia through the visit to cement high-level political mutual trust, deepen all-round strategic cooperation and elevate the building of the China-Indonesia community with a shared future to a new level, so as to inject strong impetus to our two countries' respective modernization process, and boost regional and global development and prosperity, Mao said.

Meloni visited China in July this year. Similar to that visit, Mattarella's China visit aims to further improve bilateral ties between China and Italy, especially against the backdrop of trade friction between China and EU over tariffs on Chinese EVs, Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Relations at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.

Indonesia has been paying efforts to balance its interests amid the uncertainties of great-power competition. Yet Prabowo's upcoming visit to China underscores that the country has placed special emphasis on strengthening ties with Beijing, seeking collaboration to enhance its own economic development, Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute at Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times. According to Jakarta Globe, China is the first stop of Prabowo's five-country trip which also includes the US.

In addition to state visits, foreign leaders including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene and Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic were set to attend the opening ceremony of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) and relevant events.

The 7th CIIE is being held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10.

The international political landscape is currently marked by significant uncertainties brought about by the US presidential election and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine, Gu said.

He noted that the intensive visits of multiple foreign leaders to China during this period underscore the perception that many countries regard China as a major force in safeguarding peace and stability in the world. Furthermore, they see China as a reliable partner for fostering win-win cooperation.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on November 5, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: November 05, 2024 18:31

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council and Co-chair of the China-Turkiye Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee (ICC) mechanism Zhang Guoqing, Turkish Minister of Treasury and Finance and ICC Co-chair Mehmet Simsek will visit China from November 6 to 8. The two sides will co-chair the second meeting of the ICC.

Dragon TV: The seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai this morning. Premier Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Can you share more details? We've learned that 3,496 exhibitors from 152 countries and regions participated in this year's CIIE, both numbers exceeding those of last year. Also, among the exhibitors there are 297 Fortune Global 500 enterprises and leading firms in the industries, hitting a record high. How do you see the significance of CIIE to China's high standard opening up?

Mao Ning: Hosting CIIE is an important step China takes to expand open cooperation. Over the past seven years, CIIE has become a window for China's new development paradigm, and a platform of promoting high-standard opening up. It shows China's sincerity and inclusiveness in seeking common development with the world. As Premier Li Qiang stressed in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the seventh CIIE this morning, as de-globalization, unilateralism, and protectionism are on the rise, it is all the more important that China stays committed to, expands, and upgrades opening up.

Premier Li Qiang stressed that we should build strong consensus for openness by keeping to our commitment. Only when all parties keep to the pledge of openness with concrete actions can we jointly create a sound atmosphere for open cooperation, and truly make openness a prevailing consensus. On advancing and expanding opening up, China has all along honored its commitment. We will further expand institutional opening up, actively align with international high-standard trade rules, upgrade pilot free trade zones, and sign high-standard free trade agreements and investment agreements with more countries. Throughout China's opening up, we will always honor our words with deeds. Premier Li Qiang stressed that we should broaden the space for opening up by pursuing mutual benefit. Openness based on shared interests is more efficient and sustainable. Zero-sum or winner-takes-all mentality will achieve nothing but hinder development. China is ready to further open up its mega-sized market, including taking unilateral opening up measures, to share its development opportunities with all countries, and make the big market of China a great opportunity for the world. Premier Li Qiang stressed that we should better fulfill the mission of opening up by embracing our shared future. No country can stay immune to the difficulties in global development, and no country can handle them all by itself. China actively advocates and practices multilateralism, firmly upholds the WTO-centered multilateral trade system, and supports developing countries in better sharing in the dividends of globalization.

Premier Li Qiang said that after a batch of incremental policies were rolled out, major economic indicators rebounded across the board, market confidence was significantly boosted, social expectations markedly improved, and many positive changes were seen in the economic performance, showing a sound momentum. This shows that China's sound economic fundamentals are not changed, and the Chinese government has the capability of continuing to grow its economy. We are full of confidence in China's economic prospects.

Opening up is a basic national policy of China. No matter how the international landscape may evolve, China will not change its commitment to expanding high-standard opening up and deeply integrating itself into the world. And we will not stop our efforts. China is ready to work with all parties to jointly build an open world economy.

Antara: President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto will pay a state visit to China from November 8 to 10. Are there any specific agreements that will be signed or any specific topics that will be highlighted by the leaders when they meet this week?

Mao Ning: China and Indonesia are good neighbors facing each other across the sea and good partners with a shared future. Under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, China-Indonesia relations have maintained a robust momentum of growth and entered a new phase of building a community with a shared future.

President Prabowo Subianto visited China in his first overseas trip right after he was elected in March and again chose China as the first country to visit after taking office. This speaks volumes about the great importance he attaches to the growth of China-Indonesia relations and the strength of the bilateral ties. President Xi Jinping will hold a welcoming ceremony for President Prabowo Subianto, and the two heads of state will hold talks. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji will meet with him respectively. China stands ready to work with Indonesia through the visit to cement high-level political mutual trust, deepen all-round strategic cooperation and elevate the building of the China-Indonesia community with a shared future to a new level, so as to inject strong impetus to our two countries' respective modernization process, and boost regional and global development and prosperity.

On the specifics of the visit, we will release timely information. Please stay tuned.

China News Service: The Chinese side announced today that Italy's president will visit China. Could you share with us the program and China's expectation for the visit? How does China view its current relations with Italy?

Mao Ning: During President Sergio Mattarella's visit to China, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with him to draw up a blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress will meet with him respectively.

Both China and Italy are ancient civilizations and important economies in the world. The friendly cooperation between the two countries enjoys profound public support, serves the common interests of both sides and is also conducive to promoting the sound growth of relations between China and the Europe and the stability and prosperity of the world. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy. The visits of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella underline the robust growth of China-Italy relations. Guided by the common understandings of the leaders of the two countries, China stands ready to work with Italy to further deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, promote mutual learning among civilizations, and provide more stability for a changing and turbulent world.

Al Jazeera: Lebanon's Health Ministry said on Monday that more than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, which doubles the death toll of the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. What's China's comment? Can China play a role in the negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah?

Mao Ning: China is following closely the situation in Lebanon. We oppose acts that violate Lebanon's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, oppose and condemn all moves that harm innocent civilians, and call on relevant parties to take immediate measures to ease tensions and prevent further escalation in the region. China will continue playing a constructive role together with the rest of the international community to cool down the situation.

AFP: Leader of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing will travel to China for a meeting this week. Will he pay a state visit to China? What is China's expectations for his visit?

Mao Ning: Myanmar is an important country in the region, and has actively participated in regional cooperation mechanisms. As a usual practice, China invited the leader of Myanmar to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit. As for the specifics, we will release timely information. Please stay tuned.

AFP: US presidential candidate Donald Trump just said he would impose tariffs on China over fentanyl. Do you have any comment?

Mao Ning: We have no comment on campaign rhetoric.

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China focuses on threat of unrest as US voters head to polls

In Chinese propaganda, US democracy is shown to be violent, irresponsible and socially divisive.

By Jenny Tang for RFA Mandarin 2024.11.05 -- As American voters head to the polls on Tuesday, "U.S. election" has emerged as a hot search topic on China's Weibo, with official media mostly focusing on preparations for potential violence and unrest in Washington.

Using the hashtags "#Stores nail up windows ahead of US election#" and "#Iron mesh installed on U.S. streets in case of post-election riots#," state broadcaster CCTV reported on security measures in Washington ahead of the elections.

"Many stores near the White House have boarded up their windows," the station said in a report that headed up search results for "U.S. election" on Weibo on Tuesday, while other media reports focused on "crazy levels" of spending on campaigns.

Throughout the campaign, Chinese state media has been hammering home Beijing's claim that American democracy is messy, violent and inferior to the Chinese authoritarian system, which it dubs "whole process democracy."

(China, in fact, does not have a free, democratic process that reflects popular will, where candidates would face intense public scrutiny as in the United States. President Xi Jinping was given a third term last year in a unanimous vote by the nation's rubber stamp assembly, putting him on track to stay in power for life).

China's messaging on the U.S. election intensified on social media on voting day Tuesday, while ordinary Chinese still seemed to support Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in roughly equal measure.

ChinaNews.com ran a three-minute propaganda video complete with a warring cartoon donkey and elephant that was widely picked up by media accounts across the country.

"As the 2024 US election day approaches amid a hurricane disaster, the Republicans and Democrats fight each other and ignore the needs of the people, staging attempts to win over the public amid verbal promises and mutual accusations," it said in the post accompanying the video.

"All the while, lives are hanging in the balance, and the people are being torn apart by partisan disputes," the video said.

"The American people are living in dire straits," commented Weibo user @old_gun from the eastern province of Shandong under the video, while @DelicateDiceShadow replied: "Maybe the U.S. doesn't feel like it's in dire straits."

Campaign drama

While criticism of China's situation was muted by strict online censorship, some spoke about "irony," with @LiYuyu in northern Shanxi province apparently commenting sarcastically on economic hardship in China: "The Chinese people are so well off and happy, with their per capita income..."

While some social media comments claimed not to care about the outcome of Tuesday's vote, many more have been glued to the campaign for the sheer drama, with some likening the democratic process to "a talent show," and one comment saying they hoped to see "blood running on Capitol Hill" in the event of a Harris victory.

A brief survey of key social media sites by Radio Free Asia found that online comments appeared to show roughly similar levels of support for Harris and Trump.

One user said they wanted a Trump victory, citing the former president's connection with Tesla founder Elon Musk, who has factories in China.

"Musk is more rational, has factories in China, and is more friendly [to China]," they wrote, while another comment argued that the last Trump administration had started a trade war with China. "It seems that many forget the pain once their scars have healed," wrote a Harris supporter.

Some saw a Trump victory as an opportunity for China on the world stage, with one comment saying that "China only has a chance if the Western alliance collapses," while a Harris supporter said the more "confused" Trump appeared to be, the better.

Political commentator Willy Lam said the ruling Chinese Communist Party is keen to play up the negative aspects of a democratic system.

"The party and government in China have always kept very tight controls on public opinion, and any comments praising American democracy will be deleted immediately," Lam told RFA Mandarin in a recent interview.

"The central government narrative is using this election to show how the American democratic system has plenty of shortcomings, doesn't really represent the will of American voters, and is still controlled by powerful groups from behind the scenes," he said.

'Vilify' democracy

Xia Ming, professor of politics at New York's City University, said propaganda chief Wang Huning would be looking to push Beijing's United Front messaging on the election, emphasizing bipartisan discord and portraying American democracy as in "a life-and-death struggle," rather than as a natural part of life on the campaign trail.

"He will want to exaggerate the debates and arguments that are normal within the American democratic system to ... make it seem as if the United States is heading for a fall, with no hope left for it," Xia said. "The main purpose is to completely obliterate the value of democracy, which is all about quarrels, so he can say how [China] is harmonious."

Xia said Beijing wants people to believe that "messy" Western democracy isn't as good as the "full process democracy" that Communist Party leader Xi Jinping claims exists in China.

"They want to make sure the Chinese people never truly understand the operating logic behind American democracy," he said.

Lam said that it makes little difference to Beijing which candidate is victorious, as there is little to choose between them in terms of China policy.

"China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea all have unflattering and sarcastic views on the U.S. election," Lam said. "Their main goal is to vilify the democratic system."

Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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North Korea Launches at Least 7 Ballistic Missiles - Japanese Defense Ministry

Sputnik News

20241105

TOKYO (Sputnik) - North Korea launched at least seven ballistic missiles, the flight altitude of which was about 100 kilometers, and the range about 400 kilometers, all of them fell outside the exclusive economic zone of Japan, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters.

"Today, the DPRK launched short-range ballistic missiles in the northeast direction. They all fell outside the exclusive economic zone of Japan. At least seven missiles were fired. Their flight altitude reached about 100 kilometers, and the flight range was up to 400 kilometers," the minister said.

According to Nakatani, in connection with the missile launches, the Japanese government sent a strong protest to North Korea.

At around 7:30 a.m. Japan time (22:30 GMT Monday), the Japan Coast Guard issued a warning of a possible missile launch by North Korea. Vessels at sea were urged to monitor further information and, if debris is found, not to approach it and to report the relevant information to the Coast Guard.

Last week, North Korea launched its latest intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-19.

 Sputnik

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The FCDO has released a statement following North Korea's ballistic missile launches on 5 November.

5 November 2024

An FCDO spokesperson said:

North Korea's ballistic missile launches on 5 November are another breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). Unlawful ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK strongly urges North Korea to stop such provocations, return to dialogue and take credible steps towards denuclearisation.
Iran vows strong support for resistance front, warns of decisive response

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Brigadier General Iraj Masjedi, the Deputy Coordinator of the IRGC's Quds Force, reaffirmed Iran's unwavering support for the Islamic resistance front, including groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, and warned of a firm response to any threats.

Speaking during a ceremony in Tehran to mark the 40th day following the martyrdom of Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian General Abbas Nilforoushan in Zionist airstrikes near Beirut, the IRGC commander emphasized that the path of resistance and the legacy of the martyrs remains steadfast.

Masjedi stated, "The Islamic Republic has repeatedly informed the Zionist regime and the Americans that if Iran faces threats, our response will be powerful."

He added that Iran will not tolerate threats or aggression without response, stressing that Tehran's stance will be resolute in the face of hostile actions.

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FM Araghchi says Iran not after tension

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Islamabad, IRNA -- Unlike the Israeli regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not seek tension but reserves its right to defend itself based on the UN Charter, Iran's foreign minister has said.

Unlike the Zionist regime, Iran never wants to escalate tensions; however, according to Article 51 of the UN Charter, it has the full right to defend itself and will respond to the Israeli aggression in appropriate time and situation, Araghchi said, speaking in a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Tuesday.

The brutal nature of the Zionists in Gaza and Lebanon has become more prominent with the escalation of aggression and reckless attacks, he added.

He appreciated the Pakistani officials' positions against the Israeli aggression.

Meanwhile, Ishaq Dar condemned the aggressive crime of the Zionist regime against Iran and stressed the strong positions of Tehran and Islamabad against Israel's illegal actions in the occupied territories.

Slamming the continuation of the Israeli regime's crimes in Gaza and their devastating consequences on the Middle East region, Ishaq Dar said Israel has committed a clear violation of international laws, the United Nations Charter, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The current tragedies in Gaza are caused by the deprivation of the Palestinians' legitimate right to freedom and independence, he added.

He also appreciated Tehran's support for Islamabad's membership in the BRICS and stressed developing relations between Iran and Pakistan, especially in regional and international bodies.

He added that the meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is scheduled to be held in Jeddah on November 11, and Iran and Pakistan continue their efforts to help the Palestinians and the ceasefire.

Tehran and Islamabad are determined to cooperate against the threat of terrorism and expand bilateral cooperation, Ishaq Dar said.

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Iran sentences three to death in Fakhrizadeh assassination case

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Iranian Judiciary spokesman has announced that three individuals involved in the 2020 assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the country's top nuclear scientist, have been sentenced to death.

Asghar Jahangir told reporters on Tuesday that while the case in a court in Urmia moves forward, another related case remains open in Tehran's judiciary, and updates will be provided following further proceedings.

He said Iranian security forces have been actively monitoring the Israeli regime's efforts to identify and assassinate Iranian scientists. A total of eight suspects have been arrested, including the three who have been sentenced to death by the Urmia Revolutionary Court, he added.

Their case is currently in the appeals process, Jahangir said.

Legal pursuit against EU sanctions on Iranian airlines

In response to questions about the European Union's sanctions against Iranian airlines, Jahangir said the Judiciary's High Council for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry and the Legal Affairs Department of the Presidential Office, is taking legal measures on the matter.

He assured that the public will be informed as soon as results are available.

On October 15, the EU announced sanctions on Iran Air and two other airlines based on unfounded allegations that Iran has transferred ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the Ukraine war. Tehran has strongly rejected the accusation.

Jahangir rejects France's claims on two nationals in Iran custody

Addressing France's claims about the condition of two of its nationals detained in Iran, Jahangir explained that the individuals were arrested on charges of espionage against the country and conspiracy to commit crimes against national security early in 2022.

Their indictment was sent to the 15th branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in February 2023, and several court sessions have already been held, with the next hearing scheduled for December 24, he said.

Jahangir dismissed any allegations regarding the detainees' conditions, asserting that both individuals are in good health and are in contact with their families through the consulate.

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Aggression on Iran will be met with regretful response: Air Force chief

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Bushehr, IRNA -- The Iranian Army's Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi has warned the Israeli regime that any act of aggression against the Islamic Republic will be met with a response that will make the Zionists regret their mistake.

Iranians firmly believe that they must defend their soil against any aggression, said Brigadier General Vahedi on Tuesday.

He said that the Yasini military base in the southern city of Bushehr plays an important role in the country's defense programs.

The forces in the base were well-prepared to safeguard Iran's security following Operation True Promise II, which took place in early October, he noted.

He praised the preparedness of the pilots of the Yasini base after Iran's response to Israel's adventurous actions.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he questioned foreign states that claim to be advocates of human rights in the world but keep silent on Israel's ongoing crimes in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon.

Since April this year, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes on Israeli regime on two occasions in response to aggression against the Islamic Republic and the assassination of resistance leaders and commanders as well as crimes committed in the region.

Iran has said that it reserves the inherent right to respond to a recent Zionist regime aggression based on the UN charter and international laws.

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Iran FM, Pakistan Army Chief discuss issues of mutual interest

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Islamabad, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held talks with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir on the second day of his official visit to the neighboring country.

Araghchi and General Asim Munir discussed the latest developments related to bilateral relations between Iran and Pakistan, the situation in the region, especially defense-military cooperation and ensuring security on common borders during a meeting they held on Tuesday.

Araghchi is also scheduled to meet with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Meetings between high-ranking delegations of the two countries will also be held simultaneously under the chairmanship of the foreign ministers of Iran and Pakistan.

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Four terrorists killed, 6 others arrested in southeastern Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 5, 2024

Zahedan, IRNA -- A provincial security official in southeast Iran says that four members of a major terrorist group operating in the region group have been killed while six others have been arrested.

Brigadier General Ahmad Shafaei made the announcement on Tuesday.

The killing and the arrest of the terrorists took place after the martyrdom of 10 officers in a deadly attack in Taftan in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan last week.

Shafaei said local security forces, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps forces, and anti-terrorism units of the local police force had delivered a hard blow to the terrorist proxies of the enemy, the general noted.

Since last week, 14 members of the terrorist group have been arrested and eight others have been killed, he said.

Those arrested are key members of the terrorist group who martyred the defenders of security in Taftan, he added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he noted that a large number of weapons, including US-made arms, had been seized during operations by local security forces in the region.

An Iranian police spokesman said last week that the ringleader of the terrorist group responsible for the deadly attack on a police convoy in southeastern Iran had been killed.

"We have fulfilled our promise to avenge the pure blood of our martyrs," Brigadier General Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi said on Saturday.

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IRGC: 10 foreign-backed terrorists killed, arrested in Sistan and Baluchestan

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 8:25 AM

Another 10 terrorists have been killed or arrested during an anti-terror operational exercise in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, following a foreign-backed terrorist attack on a police convoy in the province that claimed the lives of 10 police forces.

Ahmed Shafayee, spokesman for the anti-terror exercise conducted by the Quds Base of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force, said six foreign-backed terrorist elements were arrested and four others perished in the south of Sistan and Baluchestan.

He said security forces managed to deal heavy blows to the terrorists in the "Martyrs of Security" exercise which has been underway since the ten law enforcement forces were killed last month.

Shafayee said the security forces were from the Intelligence Directorate-General of Sistan and Baluchestan, and operational units of the Quds Base of the IRGC as well as the counter-terrorism units of the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The fatalities brings to 14 the number of terrorists who have been arrested and to eight those who have been killed in the south of Sistan and Baluchestan since the past week.

Shafayee noted that "the main elements of the terrorist group who played a role" in the last month's attack in Taftan were among those arrested.

Weapons and ammunition, including American weapons, were also seized during the operation, he said, adding that efforts are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators behind insecurity in Sistan and Baluchestan.

The IRGC Ground Force has staged a counterterrorism exercise, codenamed "Martyrs of Security", in Sistan and Baluchestan Province since November 1.

The drill comes in the wake of a terrorist attack in the Gohar Kuh district of Taftan on October 26, which killed 10 members of Iran's law enforcement forces.

The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, which was one of the deadliest in the province in recent months.

The group has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in Iran, primarily in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Its tactics include the abduction of border guards as well as targeting civilians and police stations within the province to incite chaos and disorder.

In January, Iran launched a military operation during which the headquarters of the Pakistan-based terrorist group was targeted in missile strikes, destroying its infrastructure.

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Iran Sentences 3 To Death Over Assassination Of Nuclear Scientist

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda November 05, 2024

Iran's judiciary says three people have been sentenced to death by a lower court over the killing in 2020 of Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, in what Tehran says was an Israeli-orchestrated operation.

"The sentencing of these three people was carried out in the Revolutionary Court of Urmia, and they were sentenced to death in the initial stage, and the case is currently in the appeal stage," Asghar Jahangir, a spokesman for Iran's judiciary, said at a news conference in Tehran.

Urmia is a town In Iran's northwestern province of West Azerbaijan close to the border with Turkey.

The sentencing of the three, who have not been named, comes at a time of rising tensions between Iran and Israel amid the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

Israel has been blamed for the assassination of at least four other Iranian nuclear scientists suspected of working on Tehran's military nuclear program.

Fakhrizadeh, known as the father of the Islamic republic's nuclear program, had been under U.S. sanctions for his role in Iran's nuclear research and Israel accused him in 2018 of being the architect of Iran's efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.

"After some investigations, three out of eight people arrested in West Azerbaijan province were accused of spying for the occupying regime of Israel," Jahangir said, adding that the case is now in the "appeal stage."

The three were also accused of bringing unspecified equipment from abroad into Iran for the attack "under the guise of smuggling alcoholic drinks."

Jahangir said the case against the other defendants is still ongoing.

Fakhrizadeh was assassinated in a brazen ambush of his vehicle in the town of Absard, near Tehran on November 27, 2020, which Iran at the time blamed on Israel while suggesting the United States also had an indirect or direct role.

The circumstances of the attack remain unclear. Initial reports immediately after the killing suggested Fakhrizadeh was targeted by a truckful of explosives, several gunmen, and a suicide attacker.

Just days later, the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) offered a different account, saying a machine gun equipped with a "satellite-controlled smart system" that employed "artificial intelligence" was used in the pinpointed killing of the scientist that left his wife, who was traveling with him, unharmed.

Israel has not commented on Fakhrizadeh's killing.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-sentences-3-to-death-over- assassination-of-nuclear-scientist/33188667.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Tehran Says German-Iranian Died Before Execution Could Be Carried Out

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda November 05, 2024

Iran's judiciary says a dual German-Iranian national sentenced to death on terror charges died while in prison and was not executed, as previously reported by local media.

Reports from state media that Jamshid Sharmahd was executed surfaced on October 28, sparking a diplomatic row with Berlin that saw Germany shut all three of Iran's consulates in the European nation.

However, Asghar Jahangir, a spokesman for the judiciary, contradicted the reports on November 5, saying a judicial statement on the issue was misquoted as it did not specifically say the death sentence had been carried out. No details on Sharmahd's death were given.

"There was no deadline for the execution of Sharmahd's sentence, he died before the execution of the death sentence," Asghar Jahangir said.

Sharmahd, 69, was accused by Iran of heading a pro-monarchist group that Tehran believes was behind a deadly 2008 bombing and of planning other attacks in the country.

He was in Dubai and heading to India for a business trip when he went missing for several days before Tehran announced it had taken Sharmahd into custody and brought back to Iran.

Fourteen Iranians were killed and 210 others wounded in the attack at the Sayyid al-Shuhada Husseiniya mosque in Shiraz during a ceremony to mourn the death of Imam Hussein, the third imam of Shi'a Muslims.

Iran's Intelligence Ministry accused Sharmahd, who lived in Glendora, California, of planning the bombing, a charge his family dismissed as "ridiculous."

In reaction to the reports of Sharmahd's execution, the European Union put out a statement "strongly" condemning the punishment and accusing Iran of having "illegally" abducting the software engineer, holding him for years "under inhumane conditions without a fair trial."

Western governments and rights groups have long accused Iran of detaining dual citizens to use them as bargaining chips against the West.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tehran-says-german-iranian-died- before-execution-could-be-carried-out/33188654.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran FM: Tehran determined to respond to Israel's attack at 'appropriate time'

By Ayaz Gul November 05, 2024

Iran's chief diplomat said Tuesday that Tehran opposes military escalation in the region but "will certainly respond" to the deadly Oct. 26 strike by Israel against his country.

During an official visit to neighboring Pakistan, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the Israeli attack on Iranian military bases and other installations, resulting in the deaths of at least five people, mostly security personnel.

"Unlike the Israeli regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not seek escalation. However, we reserve our inherent right to legitimate defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter," he told a joint news conference in Islamabad with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar.

"We would certainly respond to the Israeli aggression in a proper time and in a proper manner in a very measured and well-calculated manner," Araghchi said without elaborating further.

Israeli warplanes conducted the October 26 strikes, saying they were in retaliation for Tehran's missile barrage on October 1. Iran described its military action as a response to the killing of militant leaders backed by Tehran and a commander from the Revolutionary Guards.

On Sunday, Iranian state media quoted President Masoud Pezeshkian as saying that a potential cease-fire between its regional allies and Israel "could affect the intensity and type of" Iran's response to the Israeli attack.

Dar stated Tuesday that during discussions with his Iranian counterpart, both sides condemned the "unrestrained Israeli aggression" in the Middle East and emphasized the urgent need for a "cease-fire" and "de-escalation."

Gas pipeline

Araghchi said that during his meetings in Islamabad, he also stressed the need to boost political, economic, commercial, and energy cooperation between Iran and Pakistan. He described terrorism as a mutual threat for both countries and urged enhanced cooperation.

The two foreign ministers did not discuss the status of a long-stalled multi-billion-dollar pipeline, though, intended to export Iranian natural gas to energy-starved Pakistan.

The United States is opposed to the project as a violation of its sanctions on Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Under a 2009 gas sales and purchase agreement for the cross-border pipeline, the Iranian side must supply Pakistan with up to 1 billion cubic feet of gas per day from Iran's South Pars Field. However, the project has been on hold since then.

Iranian officials have long announced that the 900-kilometer pipeline is completed on their side of the border. Pakistani officials say they have not started constructing their portion of the pipeline for fear of being slapped with U.S. sanctions.

Tehran has been pressing Islamabad to uphold its end of the project or pay a reported financial penalty of up to $18 billion for delaying it.

Pakistan has recently hired the services of two U.S.-based law firms to represent the country at the International Court of Arbitration in anticipation of a potential situation in which Iran may compel Islamabad to fulfill its obligations or face financial penalties.

The move followed Tehran's reported final notice to Islamabad in August before seeking arbitration from the Paris-based body.

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US Warns Iraq Against Allowing Iran to Attack Israel From Its Territory - Reports

Sputnik News

20241105

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The administration of US President Joe Biden has warned the Iraqi government against allowing Iran to stage a new attack on Israel from its territory, media reported on Tuesday.

"If you don't [prevent Iran from attacking Israel via Iraq], we won't be able to stop Israel from striking Iraq," a US official told the news portal, citing the Biden administration's message to Iraq.

Last week, media reported, citing two Israeli intelligence officials, that Iran was preparing a major retaliatory strike on Israel from Iraqi territory. On Saturday, the same portal reported, citing sources, that the United States had warned Iran that it would not be able to stop Israel from responding in the event of a strike from Tehran.

On Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) increased combat readiness in anticipation of Iran's possible response to the recent Israeli strike.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

November 5, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani yesterday. The Secretary and Prime Minister discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages. They also discussed diplomatic efforts to reach a resolution in Lebanon that ensures citizens on both sides of the Blue Line can return to their homes. The Secretary called on the Iraqi government to fulfill its commitments to protect U.S. personnel and to pursue those responsible for attacks from Iraq on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria, including from attacks by Iran-aligned militias. The Secretary emphasized it is important that Iraq not be drawn into regional conflict and underscored the need for Iraq to exert control over armed groups launching unauthorized attacks from its territory. The Secretary and Prime Minister committed to continued consultations on regional issues and to advance the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership.

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Israel's Netanyahu dismisses military affairs minister Gallant

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 7:23 PM

Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the Israeli minister for military affairs Yoav Gallant amid the regime's failure in the face of the resistance in Gaza and Lebanon.

In a surprise announcement late Tuesday, the office of the Israeli prime minister said he had replaced Gallant with the foreign minister Israel Katz.

Netanyahu and Gallant have frequently clashed over the campaign of genocide in Gaza.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Tel Aviv and other cities across the occupied territories as Israel's opposition members called for a general strike after Netanyahu sacked Gallant.

Protesters blocked a main highway in Tel Aviv and lit large bonfires, chanting slogans against Netanyahu.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the premier's decision an act of madness.

He said Netanyahu is selling out the regime's security for his "despicable political survival."

Gallant had publically criticized Netanyahu for the breakdown of a Gaza ceasefire agreement, prompting a sharp response from the prime minister's office.

Israeli media had highlighted significant rifts between Netanyahu and key security officials, including Gallant, over the ceasefire, a potential prisoner exchange with Hamas, and the oversight of the Gaza-Egypt border area, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, in addition to the escalating situation along Lebanon's border.

Netanyahu is accused of blocking the Gaza ceasefire deal to advance his personal agenda.

The statement by Netanyahu's office quoted him as saying that Gallant's decisions and public statements increasingly contradicted the regime's collective decisions.

"Although in the first months of the campaign, there was such trust and very productive work, over the past few months that trust has eroded."

Netanyahu said this erosion of trust was not only detrimental to their working relationship but also potentially advantageous to Israel's enemies, who could exploit internal disagreements.

White House says Gallant was 'important' partner

Gallant has been an "important partner" to the US on all matters related to Israel's security, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said.

"As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israel's next Minister of Defense," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Gallant is a prominent figure within the ruling Likud Party and had significant support among the settlers due to his policies.

Netanyahu has a long history of neutralizing his rivals. In his statement, he claimed he had made "many attempts" to bridge the gaps with Gallant.

In March 2023, Netanyahu fired Gallant from the cabinet following his public dissent against the regime's controversial judicial overhaul plan, sparking widespread protests that ultimately prompted Netanyahu to reconsider his stance.

The regime has been committing genocide in Gaza for the past year, killing over 43,000 and injuring more than 100,000 others.

The regime recently launched a brutal war on Lebanon, which has reduced a number of villages in southern Lebanon to rubble and killed or injured thousands.

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Israel's Netanyahu dismisses his defense minister

By VOA News November 05, 2024

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered across Israel to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's firing Tuesday of popular Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

In Tel Aviv, protesters blocked the city's main highway, creating a ruckus with whistles, drums and a bonfire. In Jerusalem, approximately 1,000 protesters, angry about the defense minister's sacking, gathered outside Netanyahu's home. Other demonstrations were reported across the country, as well.

While Netanyahu has kept up Israel's military pressure on Hamas, Gallant has called for at least a temporary deal to bring home the hostages taken during Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Since then, Israel has also engaged in heavy fighting with Lebanon's Hezbollah militia and exchanged long-range attacks with Iran.

Netanyahu said in a statement Tuesday that the trust between Gallant and himself had evaporated over the course of Israel's war on Gaza.

"Over the past few months that trust has eroded. In light of this, I decided today to end the term of the defense minister," Netanyahu said.

"In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and the minister of defense," Netanyahu said, adding that "significant gaps were discovered between me and Gallant in the management of the campaign" in Gaza. Despite "many attempts to bridge these gaps, they kept getting wider."

Like Gallant, the families of the hostages have also been calling for a deal that would bring their loved ones home. They have also mounted massive demonstrations, accusing Netanyahu of thinking more about his career than the hostages held in Gaza.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Tuesday in a statement, "We expect the incoming defense minister, Israel Katz, to prioritize a hostage deal and work closely with mediators and the international community to secure the immediate release of all hostages."

Gallant's dismissal also follows his announcement Monday that he had sent draft notices to thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish young men, a group that formerly enjoyed a blanket exemption from Israel's compulsory military service.

The exemptions have garnered much resentment among other Israelis, and the Supreme Court recently ruled that ultra-Orthodox men were subject to the draft. However, Netanyahu's government has not enforced draft orders.

The ultra-Orthodox parties are a crucial part of the prime minister's governing coalition.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

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China invites Myanmar leader to Greater Mekong Subregion Summit as usual practice: Chinese FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Nov 05, 2024 05:46 PM

As a usual practice, China invited the leader of Myanmar to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, in response to a question related to Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing's visit to China.

Myanmar is an important country in the region, and has actively participated in regional cooperation mechanisms, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a routine press conference.

"As for the specifics, we will release timely information. Please stay tuned," Mao said.

The eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit will be held in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, from November 6 to 7. Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will chair the summit. Leaders of the five Mekong countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, and President of the Asian Development Bank will attend the summit upon invitation, Mao announced on Monday.

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Myanmar rebels try to bomb coup leader at airport in capital

An insurgent militia said it used a drone to bomb Naypyidaw's airport as the junta chief left for China.

By RFA Burmese 2024.11.05 -- A Myanmar insurgent group claimed responsibility for dropping a bomb on the airport in the capital, Naypyidaw, on Tuesday when junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was scheduled to fly to China, the group said.

There were no reports of any injuries and Min Aung Hlaing and his delegation arrived in the southern China city of Kunming for talks on investment opportunities later in the day, military-controlled media reported.

"We bombed the airport today because the junta leader is going to China. We can confirm the bombing," a spokesperson for an anti-military Naypyidaw People's Defense Force told Radio Free Asia, adding that a drone had been used to drop the bomb.

"Those who carried out the mission on the ground are out of danger."

Military authorities have not released any information about the attack and attempts to contact the junta's main spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, went unanswered.

People posting on junta-run channels on the Telegram messaging app said the bomb was dropped between the airport's runway and parking lot at 8:20 a.m. and an initial inspection determined it was made with a PVC pipe.

Since the military seized power in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021, rebel groups have increasingly focused attacks in urban centers, including on administrative centers in the largest city, Yangon, on ceremonies attended by Min Aung Hlaing, regional military bases and the Chinese embassy.

A Naypyidaw resident near the airport told RFA that he heard a blast at around 8 a.m. and security forces immediately began blocking off roads.

"We could hear the explosion loud and clear. Now the airport and all the connecting roads are closed and being inspected," said the resident, who declined to be identified for security reasons.

Min Aung Hlaing met Chinese businessmen at Kunming's Hualuxe Hotel to discuss opportunities for foreign investment in Myanmar, the development of electricity projects, the electric vehicle sector and other sectors, a state-run publication reported.

Min Aung Hlaing was scheduled to attend regional meetings from Wednesday to Thursday, including the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion, 10th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit and the 11th Cambodia-Lao-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit, junta media reported on Monday.

Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by RFA Staff.

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Meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister and Foreign Minister of Iran

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar today received the Foreign Minister of Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two Ministers noted the longstanding ties between Pakistan and Iran and emphasized the need to strengthen these relations through increased trade, energy cooperation, and enhanced border management. They expressed commitment to exploring avenues for enhancing trade, investment and people-to-people contacts.

The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister expressed Pakistan's strong interest in deepening bilateral dialogue and cooperation to explore opportunities for regional connectivity. The Iranian Foreign Minister echoed these sentiments, affirming Iran's readiness to collaborate on mutually beneficial initiatives and promote regional cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Dar and Foreign Minister Araghchi also discussed the situation in the Middle East. They underscored a shared vision for responding to common challenges through coordinated efforts. Both sides strongly condemned the Israeli genocidal acts in Gaza and expressed their common resolve in supporting the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.

Reaffirming the unique relationship between Pakistan and Iran, the two sides committed to working together for mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples.

Islamabad

5 November 2024

192/2024

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Incident involving two Chinese nationals in Karachi

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This morning two Chinese nationals were injured in Karachi as a result of a firing incident following a dispute with a private guard. The injured were immediately taken to hospital and are under treatment.

We extend our sympathies to the families of the injured and offer prayers for their swift recovery.

The incident is under investigation. Pakistan remains resolute in bringing to justice the responsible individual. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in close contact with the Ministry of Interior and the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad.

Pakistan and China are close partners and iron-brothers, united by a bond of mutual respect and shared destiny.

Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD

05 November 2024

193/2024

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Two Chinese nationals shot and injured in southern Pakistan

By Ayaz Gul November 05, 2024

Authorities in Pakistan said Tuesday that a local security guard at a factory in the southern port city of Karachi shot and injured two Chinese nationals, the third attack this year in the country targeting workers from China.

Zia ul Haq Langar, the home minister of the Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, confirmed the shooting incident, saying it took place in an industrial area. He said an investigation was under way.

Police officials reported that a "heated argument" and subsequent "scuffle" with the Chinese workers prompted the guard to open fire on them. The foreigners were taken to a local hospital, where one of them was said to be in "critical condition."

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry pledged to bring "the responsible individual" to justice.

"This morning, two Chinese nationals were injured in Karachi as a result of a firing incident following a dispute with a private guard," the ministry stated in Islamabad. "Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan."

The shooting comes amid Islamabad's rare tensions with close ally Beijing that stem from growing security threats to Chinese workers and engineers working on infrastructure development projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI.

At a seminar in Pakistan's capital last week, the Chinese ambassador criticized the repeated attacks on Chinese citizens in the country, labeling them as "unacceptable" and a barrier to their investments in the South Asian nation.

It is extremely rare for Beijing to publicly admonish Islamabad over the security threats to its workers.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry, in an unprecedented response, described the Chinese envoy's remarks as "perplexing" and inconsistent with "the diplomatic traditions" that exist between the two nations.

Last month, a suicide car bomber in Karachi killed two Chinese engineers and wounded another, along with several local security personnel. The Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

In March this year, a suicide car bombing in northwestern Pakistan killed five Chinese workers and their local driver traveling to a major hydropower project in the area.

The attacks have increased the number of Chinese workers killed in the country to 21 since the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) nearly a decade ago, which is a major infrastructure project stemming from President Xi Jinping's global BRI plans.

Beijing has repeatedly urged Islamabad to improve security for its nationals working in Pakistan.

CPEC has resulted in roads and highways, primarily coal-fired power plants in Pakistan, and the strategic deepwater Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

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World Urban Forum participants praise China's efforts to promote urban greening

Xinhua) 13:15, November 06, 2024

Delegates attend a seminar held during the 12th session of the World Urban Forum in New Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 5, 2024. Participants at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Egypt on Tuesday spoken highly of the Chinese experience in promoting green cities. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

CAIRO, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Participants at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Egypt on Tuesday spoken highly of the Chinese experience in promoting green cities.

"The Chinese steps towards urban greening, with much focus on promoting the concept of nature in cities, are noticeable," said Simon Borelli, urban forestry officer and coordinator of Green Cities Initiatives Forestry Division of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

"Looking at recreating natural ecosystems, and not just rows of trees and plantations, is an essential step forward for making cities more resilient and more prepared for climate change," he added, stressing that China has been working on building park cities with a more holistic view.

Noting China's focus on improving urban living, the coordinator said its experience could benefit Africa, home to the largest number of developing countries.

Shi Nan, secretary general of the Urban Planning Society of China, said, "We are trying to share our experiences and also the lessons regarding sustainable development."

"The city is not only ... a settlement for people, but also the home for animals, forest, trees, and grasses," he said.

Regarding Egypt's urban development, Shi said he was impressed by Egypt's rich civilization, which has played a significant role in the country's urban growth.

There is significant potential for cooperation between China and Egypt, both of which boast ancient civilizations, he added.

Co-organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Egyptian government, the WUF12 commenced on Monday and will continue until Friday.

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows a scene of a seminar held during the 12th session of the World Urban Forum in New Cairo, Egypt. Participants at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Egypt on Tuesday spoken highly of the Chinese experience in promoting green cities. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Shi Nan, secretary general of the Urban Planning Society of China, speaks at a seminar held during the 12th session of the World Urban Forum in New Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 5, 2024. Participants at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Egypt on Tuesday spoken highly of the Chinese experience in promoting green cities. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Simon Borelli, urban forestry officer and coordinator of Green Cities Initiatives Forestry Division of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, speaks at a seminar held during the 12th session of the World Urban Forum in New Cairo, a satellite city on the southeastern edge of the capital Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 5, 2024. Participants at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Egypt on Tuesday spoken highly of the Chinese experience in promoting green cities. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Meeting of the Presidential Council for State Policy on Promoting the Russian Language and Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation

Vladimir Putin held a meeting, via videoconference, of the Presidential Council for State Policy on Promoting the Russian Language and Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation.

November 5, 2024

17:50

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon.

Yesterday, our country marked National Unity Day. This occasion is not merely a homage to a significant historical event and its heroes; it epitomises the unity of our diverse populace unified around shared values. One such fundamental value is and has always been the Russian language.

Supporting Russian as the official language of the Russian Federation, along with the languages of the peoples of Russia, ranks among our foremost priorities. Today, we shall deliberate on what form this support should take, considering the rapid transformations both within our country and globally, and what further measures are necessary to preserve and promote the development of the languages of all our nation's peoples, alongside our common Russian language, the mother tongue of every Russian citizen.

Despite the unique ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity that characterises our nation, it is the Russian language that largely defines our spiritual and national identity. I believe this should underpin the general education programmes in subjects such as Russian Language and the Language of the People, the official language of the Republic of the Russian Federation.

I concur with those experts advocating for the creation of unified national textbooks for these subjects. Their content must be balanced and interconnected, taking into account the unique perceptions and cognitive styles of today's youth. Additionally, we must consider the capabilities of the National Vocabulary Foundation state information system, which is set to commence operations as early as next year, 2025.

The decision to establish this vital database stems from the necessity to create an official repository of knowledge concerning the canonical norms and rules of the contemporary Russian literary language. This public resource, alongside dictionaries in general, is essential for those engaged with language in their professional and social spheres: academic staff, school and university students, government officials, and our lawmakers at all levels.

Another pressing matter is the teaching of Russian language and literature in Donbass and Novorossiya. I am delighted to welcome creative individuals and educators from our historic regions to the new Council. Numerous socially significant facilities are presently being actively constructed and upgraded there, including educational institutions. I firmly believe that classrooms dedicated to Russian literature must be equipped with all necessary resources as a priority.

I urge the Ministry of Education, authorities at all levels, public organisations, and our enterprises and companies that assist in equipping schools to take heed.

Furthermore, it would be fitting to establish centres for the promotion of the Russian language and the works of our renowned writers within public libraries in the Donetsk and Lugansk republics, as well as in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.

Simultaneously, we recognise that the acquisition of language and the cultivation of speech culture commence at preschool age, at home, within the family. Children's books play an immense role in this regard, their importance to the complete development of personality being simply immeasurable.

Respect for books and the desire to introduce children to reading from a young age are deeply rooted in our traditions. Let us collectively ponder how we might assist parents and grandparents in enriching their home libraries with kind, intelligent, and high-quality children's literature.

I would also like to hear your views on what additional support might be necessary for state children's libraries. Such libraries are a unique asset to Russia. I request regional leaders to more actively support libraries in replenishing their collections, repairing and equipping them, and expanding their spaces. I have often stated that our goal is to transform these libraries into genuine centres of education, upbringing, and cultural and social life, especially in rural areas and small towns.

School libraries also warrant special attention. I believe that their role within the contemporary education system can be far more significant. They should become focal points for children, spaces of knowledge, and librarians should become respected, competent mentors, actively engaging in the educational process. They can lead additional educational programmes and organise events related to current occasions and significant dates, such as, for instance, the anniversary of Alexander Pushkin, the creator of the Russian literary language and the foundation of contemporary speech.

This year, the celebration of the 225th anniversary of the birth of the great poet was marked by vibrant forums, events, and programmes. I am convinced that projects dedicated to the works of our literary geniuses should be held on a regular basis and become an integral part of our cultural scene.

Not long ago, reading programmes where popular actors and professional readers read literary pieces at concerts or at field lecture venues were quite popular with the audiences. This practice should be reinstated, primarily at schools and colleges, so that young people can hear and appreciate the perfect sounds of their native language, and absorb its beauty and rich imagery from an early age. I am confident that the Knowledge Society which we recently reinstated will be willing to work on these programmes and will use its newly expanded resources to do so.

Notably, there is more to bringing up younger generations than just literary classics. Even today, many works are being created that combine high artistic value with a civic stance. We should support talented authors who follow contemporary events and lives of real-life heroes in their books, and help their books find their readers both at home and abroad. This can be done through Russian cultural and educational centres that are available in many countries worldwide.

I would like the members of our Council to team up with the Foreign Ministry in order to analyse the activities of these organisations and help them structure their work in a more systematic and high-quality manner, taking into account Russia's long-term interests and our plans for expanding international cooperation with the Global Majority countries.

Additionally, it is important to actively engage with civic societies, writers, and cultural figures, including those from Europe whose ruling elites openly pursue anti-Russia policies. This does not negate our good relations with the people who live in these countries.

I am aware of an idea to establish a special scholarship for young, talented Russian language specialists from other countries who teach the Russian language and literature and promote our culture internationally, often in quite challenging circumstances. This is a great idea, and I fully support it. I suggest naming the scholarship after the outstanding philologist and linguist, Professor Lyudmila Verbitskaya. An excellent teacher, scholar, and a true enthusiast, Lyudmila Verbitskaya was one of people who spearheaded the creation of the Russian Language Council.

The successor to this body is our newly established Council for State Policy on Promoting the Russian Language and the Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation. This Council is intended to serve as the principal coordinator of interagency cooperation in this domain, as well as in addressing the challenges of enhancing the global standing of the Russian language.

We must ensure that all possible conditions are met for those who wish to gain a better understanding of our country and learn our language. In this regard, I would like to address the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Foreign applicants wishing to enter Russian educational institutions must pass a Russian language test. To enable them, like Russian citizens, to apply to multiple universities simultaneously, these tests must adhere to a single standard, common to all universities across the nation. I urge you to resolve this issue.

Uniform rules concerning the knowledge of the Russian language are also necessary for those coming to Russia for work. It is essential to define and set the levels of language proficiency, taking into account the actual requirements of employment, everyday communication, professional demands, and our social and cultural standards of conduct. We should also devise a unified federal strategy for working with the children of immigrants who have limited or no command of the Russian language. I request my colleagues to submit pertinent proposals.

In conclusion, concerning legal regulation in the area of language policy: The law On the Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation, adopted back in 1991, clearly requires substantial amendments, ranging from creating an official register of such languages to aligning the law with contemporary realities and current legislation.

I reiterate: supporting the Russian language and promoting it globally, alongside preserving the languages of all the peoples of Russia, are of paramount significance to our multinational country. They must receive appropriate support - be it legal, resource-based, or substantive and conceptual.

I call upon the Presidential Administration and the Council to outline the fundamental, strategic objectives and areas within this crucial sphere and to draft the Fundamentals of State Policy in this area.

Let us start our work.

<...>

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Russia warns NATO against crossing Moscow's red line on missiles

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 5:04 PM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned NATO countries not to cross Moscow's red line on missiles.

Allowing the Ukrainian military to use Western-supplied long-range missiles for strikes deep inside Russia is Moscow's red line, Lavrov said on Tuesday.

Lavrov pointed out that the Kiev forces lacked the necessary know-how to operate such missiles independently and would need the assistance of NATO specialists as well as intelligence data obtained through the West's satellite systems.

"If such weapons are used, that would mean that not just Ukraine but the NATO nations are openly at war with Russia," he said.

"The nature of this conflict, which the Western leaders sought to conceal... would literally come out."

The top Russian diplomat also raised concern about the pace "Europe is being militarized."

Moscow would use "any means to ensure its security," Lavrov said.

"Our opponents should not be mistaken. In case of any aggressive actions by NATO or its member states against our nation, adequate retaliatory measures will be taken in full compliance with Russia's right for self-defense embodied in the UN Charter."

"No one will be able to sit it out either beyond the Atlantic or the English Channel," Russia's Foreign Minister warned, indirectly threatening the US and Britain with direct engagement and possible strikes against them.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insists on using Western-supplied long-range missiles to hit targets deep inside Russia.

Russia has repeatedly warned against this, saying Ukrainian strikes on targets deep inside its territory using Western-supplied long-range missiles would be treated by Moscow as a direct assault by the US-led Western countries that supplied Kiev with those weapons and ammunition.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in October that he hopes US-led NATO countries have "heard" Moscow's warnings in this regard.

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Engineer At Russian Military Plant Gets Lengthy Prison Term Amid Rising Treason Cases

By RFE/RL's Russian Service November 05, 2024

Danil Mukhametov, a former engineer at the Uralvagonzavod military facility in the Urals city of Nizhny Tagil, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on November 5 on charges of high treason.

Mukhametov, who worked at the plant responsible for producing military equipment, including tanks, was convicted for allegedly providing Ukrainian intelligence with classified materials. The court also imposed a fine of 300,000 rubles ($3,035).

Mukhametov's wife, Viktoria Mukhametova, was previously convicted in a separate case for the same offense, receiving a sentence of 12 1/2 years in prison. During her trial, she admitted to handing over the sensitive information for a payment of 100,000 rubles.

Mukhametova struck a deal with investigators, which led to her case being considered separately. Because the proceedings were held behind closed doors, details of the deal are not known, and it is not known whether Mukhametova was under duress when she agreed to separating the cases.

The couple were detained in March 2023, initially arrested for alleged public misconduct. They claimed they had not been involved in obscene behavior but were nonetheless placed under administrative arrest for 12 days.

Upon release, the couple were rearrested and charged with high treason after further investigation.

More than a dozen scientists and engineers have been arrested in Russia on treason charges since 2018, mostly for activities considered a normal part of their work, such as possessing papers, publishing papers internationally, collaborating with colleagues from other countries, and attending international conferences.

The trial of Mukhametov took place behind closed doors, with details of his defense and plea not made public. The case was overseen by Judge Andrei Mineyev, who also presided over the high-profile espionage trial of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich.

Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in prison in July on charges of espionage, which he and his employer strongly denied. Mukhametov's case, however, has not been directly linked to Gershkovich's situation.

In August, Gershkovich, RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan were released from Russian custody and returned to the United States as part of a major prisoner swap between Russia and the West.

Judge Mineyev, known for handling high-profile cases, also sentenced U.S.-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina in August to 12 years in prison on a treason charge. Karelina was accused of transferring $50 to a Ukrainian foundation, allegedly to support Ukraine's armed forces.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed this act financed Ukraine's military operations against invading Russian troops.

Mukhametov's conviction follows a broader trend in Russia, where high treason charges have led to numerous lengthy prison sentences in 2024. In the first half of this year alone, 52 individuals were sentenced for treason, a significant rise compared to 39 in all of 2023.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia- uralvagonzavod-military-plant-engineer-mukhametov-16-years- in-prison-high-treason/33188495.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with Rossiya Segodnya, Moscow, November 5, 2024

5 November 2024 16:03

2082-05-11-2024

Question: What's your take on the outcomes of the BRICS summit and Russia's BRICS chairmanship which is about to conclude? Which countries are active BRICS partners, and what does this status mean in real life?

Sergey Lavrov: Without exaggeration, the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan came as a landmark international event not only of the year, but in recent history as well. Its success highlighted the futility of attempts to isolate Russia internationally, which some of our foreign policy opponents have recurred to in an attempt to put our country under pressure. At the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, delegations from 35 Asian, African, Middle Eastern, European, and Latin American countries, as well as heads of executive bodies from the UN, the Union State, the EAEU, the CIS, and the SCO, and the president of the New Development Bank, came to Kazan. According to the participants, the summit took place in an atmosphere of friendship, openness, and mutual respect which was in large part facilitated by the coordinated efforts of the federal centre and the Tatarstan authorities, whose hospitality made the summit's work effective and the stay of its guests comfortable.

The BRICS countries leaders' talks, including an expanded BRICS Plus/Outreach format, provided a venue for an exchange of views on all key international issues. Considering the most recent escalation in the Middle East, the participants focused on resolving conflicts in this strategically important region. The prospects for cooperation between BRICS countries and the Global South countries were also explored in the interest of common development and indivisible security.

Russia will chair BRICS through 2024. The Kazan summit has undoubtedly marked the culmination of our watch at the helm of the Association, as it provided the leaders with an opportunity to look back on the year and outline future plans. The outcomes and the plans are clearly outlined in the Kazan Declaration which is the summit's joint document. Among other points, it clearly laid out the participating countries' commitment to promote positive changes in the global economy and politics with an eye towards building a fairer and more balanced international order, reforming global governance institutions, and effectively addressing global challenges.

The declaration also laid out specific and practical results of cooperation, including the BRICS Grain Exchange, the Contact Group on Climate and Sustainable Development, the Working Group on Nuclear Medicine, the Geological Platform, and the Investment Platform, to name a few. Initiating a dialogue in the transport sector is particularly important.

I would like to turn a spotlight on the parts of the declaration that discuss adapting the global monetary system to existing realities, enhancing the role of developing nations, stepping up interbank cooperation, raising the share of national currencies in payments, and establishing independent payment platforms and insurance mechanisms within BRICS. Ultimately, all of the above will help create a payment network that is resistant to external risks, which, as we sensed during the summit, is what non-Western countries are increasingly interested in. To back this up, during the BRICS Plus/Outreach meeting, the heads of multiple delegations from the Global South countries were outraged with the recent US policy seeking to weaponise the US dollar in its sanctions wars against the countries whose policies, for a variety of reasons, do not align with the US interests.

With regard to partner countries, the qualifying variables for this category were approved at the summit. As chairs, we continue coordinating the activities in this area, and look forward to announcing the results during our chairmanship before the end of the year.

Question: What steps do the BRICS countries plan to take to de-escalate the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone and in the broader Middle East region?

Sergey Lavrov: Since the onset of this unprecedented crisis in October 2023, the BRICS countries have come together to support the rights of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. On November 21, 2023, during an emergency summit of the group, a consensus was reached to call for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid for those affected. This collective stance was reiterated in the declaration of the Kazan summit, which included participation from President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas in the expanded format session.

Shortly after the beginning of the Israeli operation in Gaza, we coordinated with our BRICS partners and other like-minded nations to submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council, calling for an end to military actions and for unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. However, this resolution was blocked by the United States and its allies. As a result of Washington's politicised stance, the Council has yet to reach a decision that would facilitate long-term normalisation in the region.

The Americans attempted to justify their unconstructive stance by claiming that adopting such a resolution could impede their efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, as well as to exchange detained persons. However, this negotiation process has stalled, and the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Furthermore, regional tensions are escalating, with the conflict already spreading to Lebanon and sporadic flare-ups reaching Syria, Iraq, and even Iran. It is also important to note the significant destabilisation around the shipping routes of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, where the Americans and the British have formed a multinational naval coalition that has engaged in aggressive actions against Houthi forces, who are retaliating against Israel's military operations against Palestinians in the occupied territories.

The crisis in the Gaza Strip has been the catalyst for all these developments. The quicker this issue is resolved, the sooner the situation in the Middle East will begin to improve. Therefore, we will continue to collaborate with our partners to seek a fair resolution to the Palestinian problem based on widely accepted international legal principles. We will also leverage the full potential of BRICS in this effort.

Question: Recently, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was added to the database of the Ukrainian website Mirotvorets. This marks the first time in history that the leader of the largest international organisation has been placed on such a "hit list." What is your assessment of this action taken by Kiev?

Sergey Lavrov: As far as we know, the UN Secretary-General was later removed from the database of the Ukrainian website Mirotvorets. However, the underlying issue remains: Kiev continues to exert pressure on Antonio Guterres, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the UN Charter in an attempt to compel him and the entire UN Secretariat to align completely with Ukraine and its Western sponsors. This approach directly contravenes the constituent instrument of the Organisation, specifically paragraph 2 of Article 100 of the UN Charter, which prohibits any member state from attempting to influence the Secretary-General or other UN representatives.

The actions of the Zelensky regime are even more perplexing, especially considering that in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, Antonio Guterres and his staff are increasingly expressing solidarity with Western nations and their Kiev proxies, which violates paragraph 1 of the previously mentioned Article 100. This article mandates that the UN must be impartial and equidistant in all situations. We consistently remind Antonio Guterres and his team at the UN Secretariat of this obligation.

Question: In your opinion, how will the outcome of the recent elections in Moldova affect the situation in Transnistria? Could the current Moldovan authorities make rash decisions that might lead to escalation in the region? What role can Moscow play, as an intermediary in the 5+2 negotiation process for a Transnistrian settlement, to prevent a negative scenario from developing? Are there any plans to increase the size of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Transnistria?

Sergey Lavrov: The situation surrounding Transnistria is indeed complex, influenced in part by internal political dynamics in Moldova. I trust that the Moldovan authorities will exercise sufficient common sense to avoid ill-considered actions that could exacerbate tensions.

Prudence is especially crucial now, as the Permanent Conference on Political Issues in the Framework of the Transnistria Settlement Process, known as the 5+2 format since its establishment in 2002, is experiencing a challenging period. Its operations have been "frozen" for the time being, not solely due to Ukraine's obstruction. The pause in the negotiating mechanism has persisted since October 2019, primarily due to the starkly divergent positions of Chisinau and Tiraspol on nearly all key aspects of the settlement.

Amidst this backdrop, there are suggestions that the regional context necessitates new dialogue platforms on the Transnistrian issue, questioning the value of the 5+2 format. We disagree with this view and believe that external assistance to facilitate direct dialogue between Chisinau and Tiraspol is essential. At this stage, we see the primary task as maintaining peace and stability on the Dniester, which is the main prerequisite for resolving the Transnistrian issue through political and diplomatic means. This mission is being undertaken by the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, including the Russian contingent. The 1992 agreements on the principles of a peaceful settlement do allow for the possibility of increasing the number of Russian servicemen on the left bank of the Dniester, but this is not currently necessary.

Question: Previously, some American analysts claimed that Russia had directly and indirectly interfered in the parliamentary elections in Georgia. According to them, the ruling Georgian Dream party has connections with the Kremlin. How does Moscow respond to such assertions?

Sergey Lavrov: As a flagrant falsehood. The Americans are attempting to attribute to us actions they themselves are engaged in. As the saying goes, God marks the crook. Washington continues to actively perpetuate its own myth of Russian interference in any election, whether "at home" or in any third country. If an election results in a victory for forces undesirable to the United States, Russia is immediately blamed for the "wrong" electoral choice of the voters.

We have already expressed our views regarding the unprecedented interference of the West in Georgia's internal affairs and their brazen pressure on the authorities and voters of this country. I can only add that the United States and the EU are artificially trying to frame the current electoral process in Georgia as a strategic choice between Russia and the West, thereby attempting to present Georgia and other post-Soviet states with a false dilemma.

In reality, it is a choice between sovereign development based on national interests and external governance, between traditional values and neo-liberal principles imposed from outside.

The people of Georgia have made their decision. We respect that choice and are prepared to continue the process of normalising bilateral relations.

Question: Yerevan and Baku have frequently announced progress towards drafting a peace treaty, yet its final wording remains unresolved. Why have Armenia and Azerbaijan not reached a consensus on this matter?

Sergey Lavrov: We commend the significant progress made within the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace process. Given the years of animosity, hostilities, and loss of life on both sides, we understand the challenges Baku and Yerevan face in advancing towards normalisation.

Such progress demands not only considerable effort from the parties to identify mutually agreeable solutions but also time. Therefore, unlike Western pseudo-mediators, we refrain from pressuring our partners into hastily concluding a peace treaty. We are convinced that a rushed peace, lacking comprehensive consideration of Baku and Yerevan's positions and the realities on the ground, would be counterproductive, creating additional risks of tension and potential conflict escalation. Russia is keen on fostering sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

We consider it crucial to anchor the peace process within a regional framework, among friends - the countries of the South Caucasus and neighbouring partner nations - while excluding any destructive external interference. Washington and Brussels' attempts to exclude Russia from the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalisation process only heighten security threats in the region.

For the successful conclusion of negotiations between Baku and Yerevan, we remain ready, as always, to provide partnership assistance based on the 2020-2022 trilateral agreements by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, in whatever form and scope both negotiating parties require.

Question: The Kazakhstani Foreign Ministry recently stated that the Republic has not imposed economic restrictions against Russia and does not wish for Kazakhstan's territory to be used to bypass sanctions. How does Moscow view such statements, considering the current level of relations between our countries?

Sergey Lavrov: We are pleased to see Kazakhstan adopting a balanced stance under significant external pressure. We welcome Kazakhstani Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin's recent statement in an interview with an American media outlet, where he expressed Kazakhstan's refusal to blindly follow the unilateral sanctions imposed on our country.

We observe the active efforts by Western emissaries to engage with Astana regarding compliance with restrictions imposed on Russia. We are aware of the threats of secondary sanctions against Kazakhstani companies and banks and the potential blacklisting of economic operators by American and European entities. Thus, we understand our Kazakhstani friends' concerns about the possibility of facing sanctions for trading with Russia. In light of the blackmail and intimidation from Washington and Brussels, Kazakhstan must tread carefully to safeguard its companies. I believe that the Kazakhstani partners' statements are driven by a concern for national economic operators.

Despite the West's attempts to distance Kazakhstan from Russia, cooperation with Astana is progressing successfully. Our countries are collaborating to identify the most effective forms of partnership that will enable us to continue increasing bilateral trade, even under Western restrictions.

Question: Would it be considered open aggression against Russia if certain NATO member countries decide to lift restrictions on Kiev's use of long-range missiles to strike the Russian territory?

Sergey Lavrov: It is not entirely accurate to suggest that Western countries may grant permission for Kiev to use long-range weapons supplied to them for strikes on Russian territory. If such weapons are employed, it would signify that not only Ukraine but also NATO countries are openly fighting Russia, no longer bothering to conceal the presence of so-called mercenaries, volunteers, instructors, and other individuals "under false colours." In other words, the true nature of the conflict, which Western leaders have attempted to obscure (albeit not very effectively), will be exposed. Russian President Vladimir Putin has addressed this issue.

It should be clear to all that Ukrainians cannot operate Western high-tech long-range weapons independently. They will have to rely on Western experts and intelligence, including information obtained from the NATO space group.

We must not overlook the fact that NATO has long ceased to hide its aggressive policies towards Russia. NATO strategies describe our country as "the most significant and direct threat to security." The alliance's leadership frequently speaks of Russia allegedly planning to attack a NATO member state within the coming years. Europe is being militarised at an alarming pace. During their drills, NATO forces practice offensive operations against Russia.

Our opponents should not be under any illusions. In the event of aggressive actions by NATO or its individual member states against our country, an appropriate response will ensue, in full compliance with Russia's sovereign right to self-defence and the use of any means necessary to ensure its security, as stipulated in the UN Charter. And no one will be able to lie low, whether across the Atlantic Ocean or the English Channel.

Question: What does Moscow think about Ankara's proposals to sit down for peace talks with Kiev and a new grain deal that Turkish President Erdogan brought up during a meeting with President Putin? UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also put forward an initiative concerning maritime traffic in the Black Sea. What conditions would make Russia amenable to the idea of revivifying the Black Sea Initiative? Are talks on this matter with Turkiye and the UN still on?

Sergey Lavrov: The Turkish leadership and President Erdogan in particular, have Ukrainian settlement high on their list of priorities and have on many occasions provided a venue for talks with Kiev. During one such contact in the spring of 2022, a draft peace agreement was agreed upon and initialed. In July 2022, two agreements were signed in Istanbul: the Black Sea Initiative covering Ukrainian food exports and the Russia-UN Memorandum on the normalisation of domestic agricultural exports.

All of these agreements were subsequently either rejected or ignored by Kiev. The Ukrainians simply walked away from the initialed draft peace agreement. They used the Black Sea Initiative humanitarian corridor as a cover to launch attacks and provocations against Russian ships and coastal infrastructure. To this day, the Russian part of the deal on normalising Russian agricultural product and fertiliser access to international markets remains unfulfilled.

As confirmed by President Putin during his meeting with President Erdogan on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, we received proposals for continuing contacts related to the Black Sea maritime traffic. UN Secretary-General Guterres has come up with similar ideas. These proposals are under review by relevant agencies. However, so far, we have seen nothing new that would suggest that they are willing to consider Russia's interests.

Question: What kind of Russia-US relations does Russia anticipate to see following the presidential election in the United States? Has Moscow spotted anything in the statements and platforms of the presidential candidates that may signal de-escalation? Should we expect a new Russian Ambassador to the United States to be appointed after the elections?

Sergey Lavrov: The anti-Russia and Russophobic slant of the US policy is rooted in the domestic political consensus and is bipartisan in nature. Ukraine is viewed as a key element of the hybrid war launched against Russia. I don't think we should take seriously whatever either candidate may say in the heat of the election campaign.

Our position was formulated by President Putin and is well known: we are open to an equal dialogue if and when the American side demonstrates a serious commitment to hold honest talks based on recognition of Russia's national interests and the principle of reciprocity.

We are mindful of the fact that our two countries, as major nuclear powers, bear a special responsibility for the future of the world which fact makes indispensable diplomatic contacts and the proper functioning of our respective embassies in Moscow and Washington. Despite the deep crisis tainting our relations, Washington is not severing them altogether. If this approach persists into the future, a new Russian ambassador to the United States will be appointed in due course. The internal procedures are underway.

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Statement by the Representative of the Delegation of the Russian Federation in explanation of vote on a draft resolution "Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons" L.37 in the First Committee of the 79th session of the UNGA, New York, November 4, 2024

5 November 2024 13:15

2078-05-11-2024

Unofficial translation

Madam Chair,

My delegation would like to explain its position on document L.37 "Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons".

Russia is firmly committed to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons as the ultimate goal of the common efforts of the international community, which should be undertaken within the framework of the process of the general and complete disarmament in strict compliance with the provisions of the Preamble of the NPT, as well as its Article VI in its entirety and without singling out its specific elements.

We respect the incentives of those who seek a shortcut to "nuclear zero", but we are convinced that progress is possible only on the basis of a realistic, calibrated and step-by-step approach that promotes international peace and stability and is based on the principle of undiminished security for all. In addition, according to the decisions of the First Special Session of the UNGA in 1978 the reduction of nuclear weapons should be accompanied by the strengthening of the security of all States that are engaged in the nuclear disarmament process.

In our view, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) does not meet these criteria and cannot serve as a framework for the implementation of practical measures to reduce nuclear weapons. Accordingly, we do not believe that this treaty establishes universal norms or contributes to the development of customary international law.

Furthermore, we are convinced that the claims that the TPNW is closely related to and complementary to the NPT in promoting and encouraging nuclear disarmament are unfounded.

In this regard, there is no reason for us to support the TPNW and other radical initiatives in this area. The elaboration and persistent promotion of such ideas in the current circumstances appear to be premature and counterproductive steps, since they do not lead to the actual reduction of nuclear weapons and do not promote the creation of the necessary prerequisites to this end, but at the same time they provoke further split among nuclear and non-nuclear-weapon States, threatening to cause irreversible damage to the NPT regime.

Taking these considerations into account, Russia voted against draft resolution L.37.

Thank you.

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Statement by the Representative of the Delegation of the Russian Federation in explanation of vote on a draft resolution "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction" (L.65) in the First Committee of the 79th session of the UNGA, New York, November 4, 2024

5 November 2024 13:15

2077-05-11-2024

Unofficial translation

Madam Chair,

The Russian Federation remains fully committed to the goals and objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and to preserving and strengthening this important mechanism. However, for several years in a row we have been forced to vote against both specific individual provisions and the UNGA draft resolution on the implementation of the CWC as a whole.

Russia has consistently and categorically opposed the reference in the resolution to the illegitimate decisions of the Executive Council and the Conference of the States Parties of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which are based on the findings of the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) regarding the alleged involvement of the Syrian Armed Forces in the use of chemical weapons on the territory of its own State. We have consistently taken the position that the decision to confer attributive functions on the OPCW Technical Secretariat was taken outside the competence of the principal organ of the Organization. As a consequence, the Russian side does not recognize either the activities of the IIT as a whole or the reports prepared by it, which contain distorted facts and deliberately politicized and false conclusions.

The provisions of the new OP2, introduced this year by the authors of the draft, apparently for purely political reasons, are unacceptable and perplexing. This passage not only imposes a false interpretation of the situation in and around Ukraine, which is beyond the competence of the OPCW, but also contains groundless and politicized accusations against Russia as a bona fide State Party to the Convention. At the same time, it deliberately ignores the facts of numerous violations of obligations under Article I of the CWC by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including the use of toxic chemicals and riot control agents in the special operation zone, as well as preparations for large-scale provocations in order to then accuse Russia of an alleged use of toxic substances. Russia has repeatedly brought to the attention of the OPCW and its Member States, as well as other specialized international bodies and fora, the facts at our disposal regarding the blatant and flagrant violation by the authorities in Kiev of their obligations under international law to prohibit the use of this type of WMD.

The distorted reflection of the situation surrounding the alleged "poisoning" of Mr. Navalny, in respect of which the Russian Federation has not yet received the full information that was requested from the competent German authorities on what actually happened to the Russian citizen after he left the territory of the Russian Federation.

Finally, we object to the confirmation in the core resolution of a ban on the aerosolised use of central nervous system-acting chemicals for law enforcement purposes, which goes beyond the scope of the CWC.

We regret to note that this document is becoming more politicized and divisive every year. It does nothing to strengthen the CWC regime or to consolidate the efforts of the international community to combat this type of WMD. On the contrary, the provisions contained in the relevant draft resolution only make it less likely to resume non-discriminatory and effective cooperation among States Parties in order to resolve by consensus the current issues on the agenda of the OPCW, once an effective and authoritative disarmament mechanism.

Thank you.

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Orruda 2024 first joint naval drills of Russian and Indonesian navies start in Surabaya port

05.11.2024

The Orruda 2024 first joint naval drills of Russian and Indonesian navies have kicked off in the port of Surabaya.

The command of the Indonesian Navy, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Indonesia Sergei Tolchyonov, and representatives of the Pacific Fleet command took part in the opening ceremony of the drills.

'Undoubtedly, the drills will facilitate cooperation between the two fleets, as well as strengthen support in resolving crises, so that we will be able to act efficiently in any scenario,' said senior representative of the Russian side, Commander of the Primorye Flotilla of the Pacific Fleet Rear Admiral Aleksei Sysuyev.

After the opening ceremony, the sides exchanged gifts.

A ship detachment of the Pacific Fleet comprising corvettes Gromky, Rezky, Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, and tanker Pechenga, which had made a business call at the Surabaya port prior to the drills, is to represent the Russian side.

The frigate I Gusti Ngurah Rai and corvette Frans Kaisiepo will represent the Indonesian side.

The drills will last until 8 November. The exercise will consist of a land part in the port of Surabaya and a naval part in the waters of the Java Sea.

During the naval part of the exercise, tasks such as organising interaction, joint manoeuvring, live artillery firing and rescue at sea will be practised. The ships of both countries are to perform search and practise counter-terrorism actions. Ship-borne helicopters will be deployed to perform joint tasks during the drills.

For reference:

An agreement on the exercise was reached in August within the framework of the planning conference. The name of the exercise combines the names of two birds, the eagle as the 'representative' of Russia and Garuda, a bird-like creature from Indonesian mythology.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russia Will Adequately Respond to Aggression of NATO, Member States - Lavrov

Sputnik News

20241105

MOSCOW (Sputnik) -Russia's foreign policy chief Sergey Lavrov delivered comments on the most pressing issues of global politics, including the Ukrainian crisis, Middle East escalation, BRICS future plans, and the situation around Transnistria.

NATO should not be mistaken, as Russia will adequately respond to the aggression of the alliance or its member states, using all means to ensure security, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Sputnik.

"Our opponents should not be mistaken. In the event of aggressive actions by NATO or individual member states against our country, adequate countermeasures will be taken in full compliance with Russia's sovereign right to self-defense and the use of any means to ensure its security, as enshrined in the UN Charter. And no one will be safe either beyond the Atlantic Ocean or the English Channel," Lavrov said.

If Western long-range weapons are used by Kiev to strike deep into Russian territory, then "this will mean that not only Ukraine, but also NATO countries are fighting Russia openly; (they are) no longer embarrassed to hide facts about 'mercenaries,' 'volunteers,' 'instructors' and other guys 'under a false flag'", the minister added.

Lavrov explained that the US ruling elite, driven by russophobic consensus, considers Ukraine a crucial part of the hybrid warfare against Russia. Nevertheless, Russia is ready for equal dialogue with the US as soon as the latter shows its readiness for honest negotiations.

Russia and the US are both nuclear powers, which implies a special responsibility that mandates diplomatic contacts. Despite the deep diplomatic crisis, Washington is not ready to severe ties with Russia - and if this mindset endures, a new ambassador to Moscow will be appointed in due time.

On Ukrainian Attempts to Coerce UN Secretary General

Kiev is putting pressure on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to take Ukraine's side in the conflict with Russia, by adding him to the Ukrainian neo-Nazi website Myrotvorets (Peacemaker), Lavrov added.

"As far as we know, the UN secretary general was subsequently excluded from the database of the Ukrainian website Myrotvorets. However, the fact remains that Kiev, demonstrating its inherent open disrespect for the UN Charter, continues to put pressure on Antonio Guterres to force him and the entire UN Secretariat to finally take the side of Ukraine and its Western sponsors," Lavror said.

Such a step is a direct violation of the UN Charter, namely paragraph 2 of Article 100 of the document, "which prohibits any member state from attempting to influence the secretary general or other UN representatives", the minister added.

On Black Sea Shipping

Russia is studying proposals from Turkiye and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on shipping in the Black Sea, but there is no evidence that Russia's interests will be taken into account, Lavrov stressed.

"As confirmed by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan on the sidelines of the Kazan BRICS summit, we were given proposals to continue contacts related to shipping in the Black Sea. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has similar ideas. They are currently being studied by the competent agencies. But so far we have not found anything new that would indicate a willingness to take Russia's interests into account," Lavrov said.

Russia Will Use BRICS Capacities to Mediate Mideast Crisis

Moscow intends to continue working to solve the Palestinian problem and will use the potential of the BRICS, the Russian foreign policy chief stated.

"The crisis around the Gaza Strip has become the catalyst for all these processes. The sooner it is resolved, the sooner the situation in the Middle East as a whole will begin to improve. Therefore, we will continue to work collectively with our partners in the interests of a just solution to the Palestinian problem on a generally recognized international legal basis. We will make the most of the potential of the BRICS," Lavrov said.

From the first days of this crisis, which began in October 2023, the BRICS countries have stood in solidarity in defense of the rights of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, agreeing on November 21, 2023 at an emergency summit of the association, a call for an early ceasefire and humanitarian assistance to the victims, Lavrov recalled.

"This common position was confirmed in the declaration of the Kazan summit, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas took part in its expanded part," Lavrov said.

The resolution of the crisis around the Gaza Strip will help improve the situation in the Middle East, Lavrov told Sputnik.

US efforts to negotiate an agreement between Israel and Hamas regarding a ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners have reached a dead end, and the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the minister said, adding that the fire of a regional conflict is flaring up and advancing to Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.

"The catalyst for all these processes was the crisis around the Gaza Strip. The sooner it is resolved, the sooner the situation in the Middle East as a whole will begin to improve," Lavrov said.

On BRICS Possible Development Track

Russia continues to coordinate the work on the list of BRICS partner states and plans to publish its results by year-end, Lavrov added.

"Its parameters [categories of BRICS partner states] were approved at the [BRICS Kazan] summit. As chair, we continue to coordinate work in this area. We expect to publish its results during our presidency by the end of this year," Lavrov said.

The summit in Kazan has become one of the landmark international events not only this year but also recently, Lavrov added.

"Its successful holding has clearly highlighted the senselessness of attempts to isolate Russia internationally, undertaken by our foreign policy opponents as one of the elements of pressure on our country," Lavrov said.

On Situation Around Transinistria

The 1992 agreements on the principles of a peaceful settlement in Moldova allow for an increase in the number of Russian military personnel on the left bank of the Dnestr, but this is not necessary, Lavrov stated.

Russia sees the main task at the current stage in maintaining peace and tranquility on the Dniester as the main prerequisite for resolving the Transnistrian problem by political and diplomatic means, the minister said, adding that this mission is carried out by the Joint Peacekeeping Forces with the participation of the Russian contingent.

"The 1992 agreements on the principles of a peaceful settlement allow for the possibility of increasing the number of Russian military personnel on the left bank of the Dnestr, but there is no need for this," Lavrov said.

Commenting on the situation in Transnistria, the minister expressed the hope that Chisinau has enough common sense to avoid steps that could lead to the escalation of the situation.

The pause in the work of the negotiating mechanism has lasted since October 2019, Lavrov said, adding that the main reason is the diametrically opposed positions of Chisinau and Tiraspol on almost all key aspects of the settlement.

"Against this background, there are arguments that the regional context requires the creation of new dialogue platforms on the Transnistrian issue. The value of the '5+2' format is questioned. We do not agree with this formulation of the issue and believe that external assistance to direct dialogue between Chisinau and Tiraspol is necessary," Lavrov concluded.

On Post-Soviet Geopolitics

Commenting on post-Soviet geopolitics, Sergey Lavrov stressed that while Russia is not pushing Armenia and Azerbaijan to conclude a peace treaty hastily, attempts by the US and EU to exclude Moscow from the peace process only aggravate security threats in the region.

Meanwhile, the Russia-Kazakh partnership is thriving despite US attempts to estrange Astana and Moscow. Lavrov added that Moscow notices the active work of Western emissaries in compelling Kazakhstan into compliance with anti-Russian sanctions, and is aware of the threats of Western sanctions facing Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, US statements about Russia's interference in the elections in Georgia are false, and Moscow is ready for further rapprochement with Tbilisi despite Western attempts to cast recent elections as a choice between Russia and the West.

 Sputnik

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Report: Russia deceives OPEC on oil sales to fund Ukraine war

By Henry Ridgwell November 05, 2024

Russia is "flagrantly violating" its agreements with the OPEC oil cartel by concealing the true amount of oil it is producing and selling, according to a new report that says the profits are funding Moscow's war on Ukraine.

The investigation by the Ukrainian Center for Defense Reforms asserts that Russia is breaching an OPEC agreement to cut oil production. The think tank is chaired by Oleksandr Danylyuk, a former chief adviser to the Ukrainian defense minister.

Oil cut

"In 2016, amid declining oil prices and to stabilize the market, OPEC reached an agreement with ten additional oil-producing countries, including Russia. The participants in this expanded format, known as OPEC+, agreed to reduce oil production, leading to a natural rise in global commodity prices," the report says.

However, the authors say that Russia has "flagrantly violated its obligations under the OPEC+ agreement" by concealing the true extent of its production and sales, thereby exceeding its production quota "by no less than 2.57 million barrels per day (28%) on average during the first four months of 2024."

$60 billion

That has enriched the Kremlin, said report co-author Danylyuk.

"It's about $60 billion per year. And it's also important because this is the money which is not seen by anyone," Danylyuk told VOA. "And obviously, this is extra funds Russia can use to support the war efforts in Ukraine. This is actually the money they can use to buy microelectronics, to buy explosives, to buy shells, to pay countries like North Korea and Iran."

The report claims Russia is concealing the true volume of oil sold to its two biggest customers, India and China.

"To disguise these deliveries, Russian authorities list zero value for certain contracts in the customs declarations," says the report. "Over the first four months of 2024, Russia exported at least 789,000 barrels of oil per day more to China than officially reported. During the same period, exports to India exceeded official statistics by at least 280,000 barrels per day."

Shadow fleet

In addition, Moscow is using a so-called shadow fleet of tankers to mask the true scale of its oil sales.

The vessels "frequently change flags or ownership structures, deliberately deactivate the Automatic Identification System, falsify location under the influence of electronic warfare, and use other deceptive shipping practices."

By comparing discrepancies in shipping data, the Center for Defense Reforms estimates that Russia is exporting an unaccounted crude oil volume of around 1.5 million barrels per day above its OPEC quota through the Baltic Sea and Black Sea.

Smuggling

"Paradoxically, because Russia started using those sophisticated methods of smuggling its oil, they are able not just to fool the West and to hide the oil supplies from sanctions, but also to hide them from their partners in the OPEC+ club," Danylyuk said.

"The real scale of the operations is actually much higher than most observers believe  $60 billion literally stolen from other OPEC+ countries," he added. "I don't think that OPEC originally was founded to have members like that, right? So it's not fair. It's not how cartels usually work."

Russia response

Russia has not directly addressed accusations that it conceals oil sales from OPEC. The Kremlin had not responded to VOA requests for comment at the time of publication.

Speaking at September's Russian Energy Week forum in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin insisted his country was a reliable partner.

"Russia fulfills its obligations to supply energy resources to the world market and plays a stabilizing role in it by participating in such authoritative formats as OPEC+," Putin said in a September 26 address to the conference.

OPEC also did not respond to VOA requests for comment. In a press release issued Sunday, OPEC said that Russia  along with Iraq and Kazakhstan  had "strongly reaffirmed" their commitment to cut oil output.

Danylyuk said the interests of the West and OPEC were now aligned, "because the West doesn't want Russia to make money and OPEC doesn't want Russia to steal money from them."

"Obviously, the only way to reduce Russia's ability to make that money is to just reject them from OPEC," he told VOA.

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Israel airstrikes target Syrian town near Lebanon border: State media

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 05 November 2024 4:52 PM

Israeli military aircraft have carried out another act of aggression against Syria, targeting an industrial area and several residential buildings in the country's central province of Homs.

Syria's official news agency SANA reported that Israeli warplanes struck the industrial zone of al-Qusayr city, located about 35 kilometers (22 miles) south of Homs, near the Lebanese border, on Tuesday.

The news agency, citing the Homs province's health director, also noted that there were no injuries as a result of the attack.

The latest attack came after at least five people lost their lives when Israeli aircraft launched multiple strikes against a number of installations and buildings in Jisr al-Daf area south of al-Qusayr on Thursday.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three airstrikes struck several facilities in the city's industrial area, stressing that Syrian air defense systems attempted to intercept and shoot down the incoming Israeli missiles.

The Israeli regime continues its bloody onslaughts in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

Israel frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.

The Tel Aviv regime rarely comments on its attacks on Syrian territories, which many see as a knee-jerk reaction to the Syrian government's phenomenal success in confronting and decimating terrorism.

Damascus has time and again called on the UN Security Council to put an end to the regime's attacks that violate Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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2 'hometown association' heads indicted over China-funded trip

ROC Central News Agency

11/05/2024 04:08 PM

Taipei, Nov. 5 (CNA) Taipei prosecutors on Tuesday indicted the heads of two Chinese hometown associations in Taiwan for organizing a China-funded trip to Anhui Province for local Kuomintang (KMT) officials before Taiwan's January 2024 elections.

The presidents of the Taiwan and Taipei Anhui Province hometown associations, a man and woman surnamed Lee () and Song (), respectively, were indicted for violations of the Anti-Infiltration Act, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office said in a statement.

"Hometown associations" are social organizations for people who came to Taiwan from the same part of China, in many cases during the Chinese Civil War, as well as their descendants.

Prosecutors said Lee and Song had acted at the request of Liao Jian (), head of the Anhui Province Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), to recruit 24 KMT party officials and ward chiefs from Taipei's Wanhua and Nangang districts for the trip.

Under the terms of the Oct. 29-Nov. 5, 2023 trip, participants had to cover their own airfare costs and pay NT$16,830 (US$526.27) for the first night's accommodation.

All other food, hotel and transportation expenses on the trip, totaling around NT$33,000 each, were paid for by the Anhui TAO, as a means of "influencing voting preferences" in Taiwan's Jan. 13, 2024 elections, prosecutors said.

After arriving in Anhui on Oct. 29, the participants were taken on guided tours of Hefei, Lu'an and Huaibei cities, where they met or were accompanied by Anhui TAO officials, as well as the deputy head of the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department in Anhui Province, prosecutors said.

The Taiwanese tour group was also taken to multiple lunch and dinner banquets, where TAO officials gave speeches urging them to oppose Taiwanese independence and think of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait as "one family."

At once such meal on Oct. 31, Lee urged participants to support KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih (), and expressed hope that the election would bring about "major changes" that would allow the KMT to engage more with China.

In the indictment, prosecutors said Lee and Song knowingly violated the Anti-Infiltration Act's prohibitions on accepting funding from "a source of infiltration" to support a specific political party or candidate.

The 24 participants on the trip were not charged, however, since there was insufficient evidence that they understood the quid pro quo relationship between the trip's funding and their support for a political candidate, prosecutors said.

(By Hsieh Hsing-en and Matthew Mazzetta)

Enditem/ASG

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Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union on the deployment of Democratic People's Republic of Korea troops to Russia

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

November 5, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

"We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union express our grave concerns regarding the deployment of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) troops to Russia, potentially for the use on the battlefield against Ukraine.

"Several thousands of DPRK troops have been deployed to Russia. The DPRK's direct support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, besides showing Russia's desperate efforts to compensate its losses, would mark a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific peace and security. It would be a further breach of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including the DPRK's export and Russia's unlawful procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles in breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs), as well as Russia's use of these missiles and munitions against Ukraine. DPRK soldiers receiving or providing any training or other assistance related to the use of ballistic missiles or arms is a direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions 1718, 1874 and 2270. We are also deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology from Russia to the DPRK in violation of the relevant UNSCRs. We urge the DPRK to stop providing assistance to Russia's war of aggression.

"We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to support Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We are working with our international partners for a coordinated response to this new development."

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Council of Europe provides comprehensive support to Republic of Moldova to address needs of war-displaced people from Ukraine

Council of Europe

Council of Europe

Strasbourg

5 November 2024

The Council of Europe has extended comprehensive support to the Republic of Moldova in strengthening human rights protections for refugees and migrants, particularly for those in vulnerable situations, such as women and children displaced from Ukraine by Russia's large-scale military aggression. This was the conclusion of the international conference "Protecting the Human Rights of Displaced Persons: Current Challenges and Ways Forward" held in Chisinau.

In his opening remarks, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Adrian Efros, noted that 1.2 million Ukrainian citizens have crossed the Moldovan border, with over 100,000 choosing to stay long term. "We reaffirm our commitment to protecting human rights and supporting all people in need. We will continue our efforts to build an inclusive legislative framework, ensure access to essential services and integrate refugees into the country's economic and social life. We greatly appreciate the support from the Council of Europe and our international partners and strongly believe that together, we can create a more secure and prosperous future for all those seeking refuge in the Republic of Moldova."

Speaking on behalf of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, Tadas Valionis, the Lithuanian Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova hailed the country's remarkable solidarity with people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, providing them with shelter and support and a safe passage to other countries. "Accountability for such violations is crucial and requires our concerted efforts. Lithuania remains resolutely committed to supporting Ukraine, emphasising the need to intensify pressure on Russia to ensure full accountability for its crimes and pave the way towards a just, sustainable, and lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe", underlined Ambassador Valionis.

For his part, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), David Best, highlighted that the ongoing project Strengthening the Human Rights Protection of Refugees and Migrants in the Republic of Moldova "builds on the rich body of Council of Europe standards, especially the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, and promising practices in the field. It supports national authorities and other actors in addressing the needs of refugees and migrants, while also helping to build resilient and sustainable migration, asylum, and reception systems."

He further noted that the project has also strengthened the capacities of professionals involved in supporting displaced people in many sectors, such as social protection, health, education and law enforcement, who had to be trained and support services as well as information had to be made available to those in need.

The conference brought together representatives of state institutions from the Republic of Moldova and other Council of Europe member states, diplomatic missions, international organisations, civil society activists and experts working in the field. Together, they reviewed the project's achievements and discussed avenues for future cooperation in strengthening the country's migration and asylum systems.

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Cooperation agreement on defence industry development between Lithuania and Ukraine signed

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-11-05

International cooperation | Security and defense policy

Minister of Economy and Innovation Ausrine Armonaite and Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasciunas signed a quadrilateral cooperation agreement of Lithuania and Ukraine on defence industry development. The countries have committed to work together in support and implementation of weapons and ammunition production as well as other prospective defence industry projects of Lithuanian and Ukrainian companies.

"It is smart in terms of mutual security and a quicker Ukraine's victory against the aggressor. Moreover, it is a signal that we are not just ready to supply Ukraine with the necessary weaponry but also to provide assistance with Ukraine's integration of her defence industry in NATO and EU defence and security structures. I have no doubts that by this we are creating more opportunity for Lithuania, Ukraine and the whole Europe," says Minister of economy and Innovation Ausrine Armonaite.

The agreement was signed by Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov and Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin on the Ukrainian side.

"I have just come back from Ukraine with this signed agreement. I have said many times, we cannot make Ukraine fight with one hand tied behind its back - we have to give as many instruments as needed for a confident fight for its independence. By that I mean, if Allies still have doubts about the legitimacy and limits for using the provided weapons, then we have to be creative and help the Ukrainians to manufacture their own weapons. This is one of the areas of the cooperation we are developing. Therefore, this memorandum is a proof of our consistent policy to continue supporting Ukraine and stay until victory," says Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasciunas.

The areas of cooperation identified in the agreement include production of UAV, ground-based and maritime systems, electronic warfare and other technological defence solutions in Ukraine and Lithuania, as well as strengthening production capacity and opportunity for ammunition and principal components, such as explosives and shells, in both countries.

Moreover, it was agreed to pursue common advanced solutions to ensure technological advantage and initiate scientific research and defence industry development projects.

Lithuania has committed to ensure to Ukraine priority rights in defence product, component and material acquisitions. Our country will also help to search for sources of financing to be able to invest in joint projects and cover acquisition of defence products manufactured for Ukraine's defence industry and security and defence forces.

Also, it has been decided to establish a Steering Board formed by representatives of both countries and other governmental interested parties in the nearest future.

The Ministry of Economy and Innovation signed a Letter of Intent with a Ukrainian company back in October on collaboration in construction of a factory of new generation RDX explosives in Lithuania in order to ensure the cooperation in the area of security and defence industry between Lithuania and Ukraine. This would strengthen defence capabilities of Ukraine, Lithuania and Europe.

Besides, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation has initiated amendments to the law this year which cut down the time required to start a defence industry project in Lithuania. By virtue of the procedures simplified in the amendments, construction of the plant could begin as soon as next year.

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Ukraine receives first part of the equipment purchased with the Lithuanian and Icelandic-led Demining Coalition funds

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-11-05

International cooperation | Security and defense policy

Representatives of the Demining Capability Coalition for Ukraine led by Lithuania and Iceland officially handed over to the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Ukraine the first part of the demining equipment, pick-up trucks and mine detectors, paid for from the Demining Coalition Fund.

The demining equipment purchase and transfer supports the goals of the Demining Capability Coalition for Ukraine led by the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland. The Coalition centers on both the urgent needs of and the long-haul financing for Ukraine: standing, well-trained demining units with proper tactical equipment and gear that meet Western standards are planned to be developed.

"The equipment which has been transferred to Ukraine is much more than just a collection of tools, it is a symbol of our unwavering support to Ukraine. It is a step forward in eliminating the damage of war, rebuilding peace and giving back to the people their land. This is not the end of the journey, however, the first delivery of equipment is just the start. We need to continue marshaling resources and expertise, investing in advanced training and technology, and to strengthen Ukraine's military power. We urge other partners, states and organisations to join this mission - we can reach the desired result sooner when we are together," says Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasciunas.

Ukraine is the most heavily mine-contaminated state in the world. According to data of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), unexploded mines and other types of explosive contamination in Ukraine has killed 360 people since February 2022 and wounded approx. 790. Mines not only imperil Ukrainian civilian population and the military but also agriculture - according to data from Tony Blair Institute, mine hazard causes the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Ukraine fall by approx. USD 11.2 billion on a yearly basis.

"Lithuania has rendered to Ukraine military aid worth of over EUR 705 million over the course of the past two and a half years and also committed to ensure a yearly support worth of 0.25% of GDP. This is a significant input in our fight for freedom and peace.

We need to understand that the longer this war lasts, the more territories will be contaminated with mines, that is why we need our partners' help. We have to strengthen our air defence system and we need real long-range capabilities. Key Ukraine's requirements for the battlefield are regular: we always need ammunition, armored vehicles, UAVs, and tactical electronic warfare systems. I would like to express gratitude yet again to the people of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Government and Minister Laurynas Kasciunas for the support and assistance, we will march together till victory. Slava Ukraini!" said Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov.

The Collation Fund was kicked off this September, the first all-terrain vehicles and demining equipment arrived in Ukraine by the end of the month and were immediately put on track in actual demining operations. Pasak According to the Adviser to the Deputy Director on the European Peace Facility and Reconstruction of Ukraine, Central Project Management Agency, Head of Co-Create Future of Ukraine Arturas Zarnovskis, fast delivery of demining equipment is a priority for the Coalition that reflects Ukraine's urgent need for aid.

"We have been implementing projects in Ukraine since 2017. Lithuania has distilled priority areas which could where assistance efforts could be the most efficient over that time, demining is one of such areas. Liife in Ukraine does not hold back even in the face of war, thus mine hazard for people safety and economic development of the country is a massive issue which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency in order to prevent more casualties and pave the way for a quicker and more effective restoration of the country after the victory," said A. Zarnovskis.

According to him, the Central Project Management Agency is implements three more demining projects for Ukraine aside from the Demining Capability Coalition for Ukraine. The experience has given the Agency invaluable competence and skills that it intends to apply for the activities in Coalition framework.

Also, trucks, demining kits and protective gear are going to be delivered in the nearest while on Coalition funds.

Background

The Demining Capability Coalition for Ukraine is led by the ministry of National Defence of Lithuania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland and comprises 22 members. The aim of the Coalition is to strengthen and coordinate the present and future assistance to Ukraine in the area of demining. To achieve that, a Support Fund was established and put under management of the Central Project Management Agency which carries out procurement, oversees procurement contract and implements the projects. The Demining Coalition Fund was inaugurated in September 2024.

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Uzbekistan Jails Migrant Worker For Fighting For Russia In Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Uzbek Service November 05, 2024

A court in Uzbekistan's Ferghana Province has sentenced 51-year-old Alisher Xoliqov to five years in prison for mercenary activities with the Russian armed forces in a landmark case highlighting the growing issue of foreigners enlisting to fight in Ukraine.

The November 4 court ruling shows the risks faced by Central Asian migrants and the harsh legal consequences of their involvement in Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Xoliqov, an Uzbek citizen, initially moved to Russia in search of work.

His troubles began in November 2023, when, after an altercation with a Russian employer over unpaid wages, he was detained by the police.

Facing the threat of criminal prosecution, Xoliqov was coerced into signing a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry. Media reports say he was allegedly pressured to enlist because of his vulnerability as a migrant worker.

Despite only serving a few months in the Russian military, Xoliqov was deployed to the front line in Ukraine in early 2024.

In February, after crossing the Ukrainian border, his unit was attacked by a drone and he sustained serious injuries.

He was hospitalized in Moscow for treatment and after his discharge, Xoliqov was offered Russian citizenship, which he declined, opting instead to return to Uzbekistan.

He received 800,000 rubles (around $8,000) in compensation for his brief service, but back in Uzbekistan he was subsequently charged with mercenary activities.

The case has sparked concern over the growing trend of Central Asian nationals being recruited into Russia's military, often under dubious circumstances.

Central Asian governments, including Uzbekistan, have repeatedly warned their citizens about the risks and legal consequences of participating in the conflict in Ukraine.

However, economic hardship and a lack of opportunities at home continue to drive many migrants to seek work in Russia, where they end up joining the army or mercenary groups fighting in Ukraine.

In recent months, other Uzbek nationals have been sentenced for similar offenses.

In October, a court in Uzbekistan's Samarkand Province sentenced a 56-year-old man to three years in prison for mercenary activities. A month earlier, a Tashkent court handed down a parole-like sentence to an alleged member of the Wagner group, a Russian paramilitary organization, who had not participated in combat but was involved in the group's failed mutiny and march toward Moscow last year.

The judicial response to mercenary activities is part of a broader effort by Central Asian authorities to curb the participation of their citizens in foreign conflicts, especially in Ukraine.

These developments also underscore the complex legal and ethical questions surrounding migrant labor and military recruitment in the context of an ongoing war that has drawn in individuals from many countries, particularly former Soviet republics.

With reporting by Uznews.uz

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/migrant-russia-uzbekistan- mercenary-prison/33188591.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Strikes On Ukrainian Cities Kill 6, Wound Several

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service November 05, 2024

A strike on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhya on November 5 killed at least six people and wounded another nine, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram, as Russia launched a fresh wave of attacks on Ukrainian cities.

"Six people died and nine were wounded," Fedorov said, adding that a fire broke out at the missile's point of impact. He said the attack targeted an infrastructure object, without giving details.

The city, with a pre-war population of more than 700,000, is located some 55 kilometers northeast of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, that has been under Russian control since shortly after the start of Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Earlier in the day, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the Ukrainian capital had been subjected to two waves of Russian drone attacks on the city's northeastern Obolonskiy district and the southern Holosyivskiy district, although it was not immediately clear whether there were casualties or damage.

In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, two women were wounded by Russian shelling early on November 5, Mayor Ihor Terekhov announced. A third person was wounded in a missile attack on the region's Kapitolivka village.

In recent weeks, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other cities have been subjected to Russian strikes on an almost daily basis as Ukraine braces for a third winter of war.

During the two previous cold seasons, Russian attacks largely crippled Ukraine's energy infrastructure, causing electricity shortages that added to the hardships of civilians.

Ukraine's air force separately said Odesa, Ukraine's main Black Sea port, had been targeted by two Kinzhal guided missiles that were shot down. Odesa region is Ukraine's main gateway for the country's grain and other produce exports.

The air force said that its air-defense systems also downed 48 of the 79 drones launched by Russia at 8 Ukrainian regions -- Odesa, Kyiv, Sumy, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, and Khmelnytskiy.

Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its air-defense capabilities destroyed six Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-kharkiv-bryansk-klitschko-- russia-drone/33188255.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Defence Ministry reports on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (5 November 2024)

05.11.2024

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces continued offensive actions and inflicted losses on formations of the 21st, 22nd, 41st, 115th mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 82nd, 95th air assault brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 112th and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Daryino, Leonidovo, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka, and Plyokhovo.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces repelled six counter-attacks of the enemy towards Daryino, Nizhny Klin, and Novoivanovka as well as thwarted AFU attacks in the direction of Leonidovo and Plyokhovo. The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 troops killed and wounded, one infantry fighting vehicle, and two armoured fighting vehicles. Two AFU servicemen surrendered.

Army Aviation and artillery strikes inflicted losses on manpower clusters and hardware of the 22nd, 41st, 47th, 61st mechanised brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, 80th, 95th air assault brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 1st Special Operations Brigade, 112th, 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU, and 17th National Guard Brigade near Bogdanovka, Guyevo, Daryino, Kazachaya Loknya, Kruglenkoye, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Martynovka, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Novy Put, Sverdlikovo, Plyokhovo, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye.

Operational-Tactical Aviation and Missile Troops delivered strikes at concentration areas in Sumy region and reserves of the 22nd, 47th, 115th mechanised brigades, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 1st Special Operations Brigade, and 129th Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU near Belovody, Zhuravka, Miropolye, Obody, Pavlovka, and Khoten.

Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 200 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, four armoured fighting vehicles, two mortars, and one motor vehicle. Two AFU servicemen surrendered.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 29,800 troops, 184 tanks, 107 infantry fighting vehicles, 107 armoured personnel carriers, 1,082 armoured fighting vehicles, 809 motor vehicles, 259 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 11 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 59 EW stations, 12 counter-battery radars, four air defence radars, 26 units of engineering and other materiel including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Briefing by Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, Chief of the Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops, on threat of nuclear provocations by Ukraine

05.11.2024

Materials for briefing on threat of nuclear provocations by Ukraine

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation continues to study Ukraine's violations of radiation safety issues.

It should be recalled that in 2022 the Ukrainian army conducted 49 artillery and drone-launched attacks on the facilities of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP). The strikes targeted nuclear reactors, fresh and spent nuclear fuel storage facilities, and other critical infrastructure.

As a result of these attacks, the station was left without external power on five occasions. There was a real risk of a man-made disaster.

The shelling of the station by the Ukrainian Armed Forces was initially of little concern to the international community, as specialists from Cambridge University concluded that the risk of radiation contamination was minimal.

However, our experts' prediction of the radiation situation, which was later confirmed by the relevant European organisations, showed that the release of radioactive material in the event of an accident would affect virtually the whole of Europe. Only then, and after IAEA experts were sent to the station, the shelling almost ceased.

To date, however, the attacks on the industrial site and the satellite town of Energodar, where the station's staff live, have continued.

The Security Service of Ukraine carries out sabotage-terrorist activities. It also targets officials and ZNPP employees. Those living in the city are constantly subjected to psychological pressure and blackmailed. The threats are directed at the relatives of the staff of the station who live in the areas controlled by Kiev.

I would like to point out that the shelling of critical infrastructure could have irreversible consequences comparable to those of the Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants.

In 1986, one day after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Sweden's radiation monitoring equipment, located more than 1,000 km away, detected a tenfold increase in background radiation levels. As a result of the Chernobyl disaster, more than 20,000 square kilometres of territory in 17 European countries were contaminated with radioactive materials.

I note that the seizure of the Kursk nuclear power plant was one of the priorities of the AFU's invasion of the Kursk region.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has obtained a report of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, which was taken into account in the planning of the operation, according to which only the Russian Federation will be exposed to radioactive contamination in the event of an accident: '...The Kursk nuclear power plant is subject to southerly winds that carry emissions north of the territory of the Russian Federation in the first and next 12 hours. .... In Ukraine, there will be no change in background gamma radiation levels.'

However, it is more likely that things could have turned out in a very different way. Given the various factors involved, a major accident would spread radioactive materials over a large part of Europe, as happened at Chernobyl plant.

Ukraine's attempts at nuclear blackmail raise more serious concerns.

For example, in a meeting with U.S. presidential candidate Trump in October 2024, Zelensky, the head of the Kiev regime, issued an ultimatum demanding accelerated NATO membership or authorisation to possess nuclear weapons.

At the Munich Security Conference in February 2022, he had already announced his intention to restore Ukraine's nuclear status.

The special military operation prevented the Ukrainian side from pursuing its own nuclear programme. The key performers are the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, the scientists of which participated in the USSR nuclear programme, and the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kiev).

It should be noted that since 2021, there has been a significant increase in funding for these institutions and a 20-fold increase in total procurement. Kiev's efforts to implement its nuclear programme are also reflected in this surge in public spending.

Despite the current lack of technical capability to develop nuclear weapons, the existing capabilities allow Kiev to produce a so-called dirty bomb.

Spent nuclear fuel, industrial and radioactive calibration sources can be used to make such devices.

Ukraine has become one of the largest importers of spent nuclear fuel, as we noted in one of the briefings. Main supply routes are organised via Poland and Romania, with organisational, logistical, and financial matters personally managed by Andrei Ermak, the head of the Ukrainian President's office.

Of particular concern is the report by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to Prime Minister Shmyhal. It reports the loss of 68 ionising radiation sources, including highly active ones, located at the Institute of Metrology in Liptsy (Kharkov region). The report states that '...the loss of control over the ionising radiation sources is classified as a radiation accident ....'.

Ukraine's authorities have been reluctant to give IAEA experts full access to all facilities in the Chernobyl exclusion zone and have delayed submitting detailed reports on the quantity and condition of radwastes. Kiev refuses to involve the IAEA in the task of accounting for and controlling nuclear materials arriving at the Central storage facility for spent nuclear fuel (CSFSF).

In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to the training manuals for the Ukrainian Security Service. One area of training is the use of a dirty bomb, such as stealing ionising radiation sources, making an explosive device, and detonating it at a mass gathering place.

It is difficult to imagine that this kind of interaction between Ukrainian intelligence and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) falls within the format of 'security arrangements'.

However, according to the information available to the Russian Defence Ministry, the AFU have not abandoned the plans to seize Russian nuclear power plants by force.

Having failed to take control over the Kursk nuclear power plant, the enemy has returned to attempts to take control over the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. This is evidenced by the operational plans, discovered in October 2024, of the Korotkoye Zamykaniye (Short-Circuit) operation.

Ukrainian special forces were to be involved in the operation. The goal was to be achieved by deploying HIMARS MLRS and attack UAVs.

Thanks to the proactive actions of Russian units, the takeover plan was not implemented.

It should be recalled that such attempts were already made by Ukrainian units in 2022, when special forces of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (Ukraine), with the participation of foreign mercenaries, tried to force the Kakhovka reservoir to create a bridgehead for the capture of ZNPP.

There is another aspect that I would like to draw your attention to.

Before the special military operation, the United States declared that radiological weapons were not weapons of mass destruction. But, in 2023, at a time when the Russian Defence Ministry first expressed its concern about Ukraine's creation of a dirty bomb and its bombing to accuse the Russian Federation, Washington's position changed dramatically. At the initiative of the United States, a resolution condemning the use of radiological weapons was introduced and adopted by the UN General Assembly.

Given the existing network of international radiation monitoring information systems and the capabilities of IAEA-certified radiochemical laboratories to reliably determine the nature of the destroyed device and its isotopic composition, it is impossible to conduct such an operation covertly.

At the same time, since Ukraine uses and stores mainly Russian nuclear fuel, the Kiev regime can resort to provocations against the population of the Russian Federation with the aim of discrediting the state and local authorities, spreading panic and destabilising the situation, and thus countering the objectives of the special military operation.

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, together with the relevant federal executive bodies, will continue to monitor the radiation, chemical and biological situation, as well as the analysis of nuclear threats posed by Ukraine, and will keep you informed.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russia Thwarted Ukraine's Operation to Seize Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant in October

Sputnik News

20241105

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian armed forces thwarted Ukraine's operation, called "Short Circuit," to seize the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in October, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of the Troops of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense of the Russian armed forces, said on Tuesday.

Ukraine's army did not abandon plans to forcibly seize Russian nuclear power facilities, the military said.

"Having failed to achieve success with the Kursk NPP, the enemy returned to attempts to take control of the Zaporozhye power plant. This is evidenced by the plans for operation 'Short Circuit' discovered during operational activities carried out in October 2024," Kirillov said at a briefing.

Ukrainian special operations forces were to participate in this operation, the military said, adding that to achieve this goal, it was assumed that HIMARS MLRS and strike unmanned systems would be used.

"Thanks to the preemptive actions of Russian units, the plan to seize the plant was not implemented," Kirillov added.

Earlier, the Kiev regime also planned to seize control over Kursk nuclear power plant, using 20,000 militants, 27 tanks, 50 armored vehicles, 30 artillery units and 5 MLRS systems.

Russia Thwarted Ukrainian Nuclear Program, Risk of Dirty Bomb Persists

Russia's special military operation prevented the Ukrainian side from implementing its own nuclear program, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov added.

"The special military operation prevented the Ukrainian side from implementing its own nuclear program. Its main executors are the Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology, whose scientists took part in the USSR nuclear program, as well as the Institute of Nuclear Research at the National Academy of Sciences in Kiev," Kirillov told reporters.

Despite the lack of technical potential for creating nuclear weapons, existing capabilities allow Kiev to create a dirty bomb, the military said, adding that representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine are trained in the use of a dirty bomb, its manufacture and detonation in a crowded place.

Ukraine has become one of the main importers of spent nuclear fuel, Kirillov said, adding that delivery routes are organized through Poland and Romania.

"The report of the Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine to Prime Minister [Denys] Shmygal presented on the slide is particularly alarming. It reports the loss of 68 sources of ionizing radiation, including highly active ones, which were located at the Institute of Metrology in ... the Kharkov region. The report notes that '... the loss of control over sources of ionizing radiation is classified as a radiation accident,'" Kirillov said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is refusing to provide International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts with full access to all sites in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, the head of the Troops of Radiological Defense added.

"The Ukrainian authorities are refusing to provide IAEA experts with full access to all sites located in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, and are delaying the submission of detailed reports on the quantity and condition of radioactive waste located there," Kirillov told reporters.

The training manuals of Ukrainian Secret Service touch upon the issues of using a "dirty bomb", Kirillov added.

 Sputnik

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The First Battles with North Korean Soldiers Open a New Page of Instability in the World - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

5 November 2024 - 20:38

Dear Ukrainians!

Today we did a lot of internal work, work on the points of the Internal Strengthening Plan for our state, our society. Today we discussed military proposals - the points concerning the front. Our strategy and tactics. We must direct all our state's resources to ensure that Ukraine's tasks are fulfilled. I held a long meeting. The Military Command, the Government. The Commander-in-Chief, the General Staff, the Ministry of Defense, along with the Prime Minister, the First Deputy Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation and Technology, the Minister of Strategic Industries, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, and the Foreign Intelligence Service. This frontline point of the Plan plus our defense and industrial complex are truly fundamental things, and everything else in our state's life depends on how this is defined. Therefore, a clear certainty about the front - the ways to achieve our goals - and a significant scale-up of Ukraine's domestic defense and industrial complex, tailored to the existing tasks - are something for which every step of our state should and will be calculated.

Today, we also decided on a lot of issues related to our diplomacy. Together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, we discussed the candidates for the vacant posts of Ukrainian Ambassadors in the respective countries, and we also discussed the results of our diplomats' efforts. We are preparing replacements and appointments.

And one more thing.

I want to thank everyone in the world who reacted to the deployment of North Korean soldiers in Russia. And who reacted not only with words, but also by preparing appropriate actions to support our defense here in Ukraine. Terror, unfortunately, can spread like a virus when it does not meet sufficient counteraction. Now, our counteraction must be sufficient. Strong enough. The first battles with North Korean soldiers open a new page of instability in the world. Together with the world, we must do everything to make this Russian step to expand the war - to really escalate it - to make this step a failure. Both for them, and for North Korea. I thank all those who are helping!

I thank all those who are working for the benefit of our state and people!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Zelenskyy: Ukraine fighting 'first battles' with North Korean troops deployed to Russia

By VOA News November 05, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that his country's forces have engaged in battle with the North Korean troops that were deployed to Russia to assist in its war on Ukraine.

"The first battles with North Korean soldiers open a new page of instability in the world," Zelenskyy said Tuesday in his daily address  his first official acknowledgement of the encounter between the two forces.

Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's defense minister, also has confirmed the arrival of the North Korean forces. In an interview with South Korea's public broadcaster KBS, he said the Ukrainian and North Korean forces has engaged in "small-scale" fighting.

"The first North Korean troops have already been shelled in the Kursk region," Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the counter-disinformation branch of Ukraine's Security Council said.

According to a U.S. official quoted by The New York Times late Tuesday, a "significant number" of North Korean troops had been killed, though the report said it was not clear when the fighting had occurred.

Earlier Tuesday, Ukraine's military said it shot down two Russian guided missiles as well as 48 of the 79 drones that Russian forces used in overnight attacks.

The intercepts took place over the Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy and Zhytomyr regions, the Ukrainian air force said.

Ivan Fedorov, governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, said Tuesday a Russian attack killed at least six people and wounded 16 others. Fedorov said on Telegram that Russia hit an infrastructure facility.

Officials in Ukraine's Kharkiv region also reported a Russian attack that injured two people and damaged three apartment buildings.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday it destroyed six Ukrainian aerial drones over the Kursk region.

The governor of Bryansk, Alexander Bogomaz, said on Telegram there were no reports of damage or casualties.

A spokesperson for the South Korean Defense Ministry said at a briefing Tuesday that there are more than 10,000 North Korea soldiers currently in Russia, including a portion deployed to front line areas, such as in Kursk.

The statement, which spokesperson Jeon Ha-Gyu said was based on intelligence authorities, came a day after a similar assessment from the U.S. Defense Department.

Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder told reporters that there could be as many as 11,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops in Russia, with most of them in Kursk.

Ryder said the Pentagon could not corroborate reports that the North Koreans were engaged in combat.

Some information for this story came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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DELAND, Florida, Nov. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Americans cast their votes on Election Day 2024, the Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR) at Stetson University surveyed the public on their confidence in a peaceful transition of power in January 2025.

The survey, conducted nationally by SSRS from Nov. 1  4, 2024, included a sample of 1,006 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of +/-3.7 percentage points.

The survey found that if former President Donald Trump were to lose, only 41% of respondents felt confident in a peaceful transition of power, while a substantial 59% were not confident. Among Democrats, 76% were not confident in a peaceful transition in this scenario, reflecting a clear partisan divide.

In contrast, confidence levels shift if Vice President Kamala Harris were to lose: 64% of Americans expressed confidence in a peaceful transition, with only 36% not confident. Confidence in a peaceful transition following a potential loss by Harris was significantly higher among college-educated respondents (71%).

These findings reveal widespread concerns about stability and potential unrest in certain electoral scenarios, says Steven Smallpage, PhD, Stetson Associate Professor of Political Science and CPOR Director.

While there is always some added anxiety and uneasiness during presidential elections, this cycle feels different and more uncertain for many Americans, he said. Many clearly have in mind the unrest from the outcome of the 2020 election that culminated on January 6, 2021.

The data further reveals stark contrasts along party lines. If Harris were to lose, 77% of Democrats and 58% of Republicans and Independents expressed confidence in a peaceful transition.

However, if Trump were to lose, only 23% of Democrats and 40% of Independents felt confident in a peaceful transition, while 61% of Republicans shared that confidence. In particular, 48% of Democrats reported being not confident at all in a peaceful transition if Trump were to lose.

Methodology

This study was conducted by SSRS on its Opinion Panel Omnibus platform, a twice-monthly, probability-based survey of the U.S. population. Data collection took place from November 1  November 4, 2024, with a sample of 1,006 respondents (976 via web and 30 via telephone). The margin of error for total respondents is +/-3.7 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The margin of error can vary for each question, depending on the response distribution and sample size for that specific question. For further details, including question wording and full crosstabs, visit CPORs website: www.stetson.edu/cpor.

About the Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR)

The Center for Public Opinion Research at Stetson University specializes in nonpartisan public opinion polling and survey research. CPOR provides valuable insights into political, social, and economic issues affecting Florida and the United States. For more information, visit stetson.edu/cpor.

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HONG KONG, Nov. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the beginning of 2025, Jadens will launch its highly anticipated Wireless Tattoo Printer in North America, marking a significant step forward for the brand. In addition, more than just printing, Jadens printer comes with a variety of labels to suit different types of printers. Are you worried about rapidly depleting ink cartridges during printing? As a business owner, especially an entrepreneur, do you find that printing labels and documents consumes much of your valuable time? If so, Jadens thermal printer may be exactly what you neednot only to save time but to enhance your work efficiency.

Founded in 2018, Jadens is dedicated to providing advanced thermal printing and labeling solutions for both shipping and household applications, empowering individuals and businesses to seamlessly address their labeling needs. With headquarters in North Carolina, USA, and Hong Kong, along with multiple distribution and service centers across North America, Europe, and Asia, Jadens offering global support and service. By integrating traditional hardware with innovative, in-house softwaresuch as their own proprietary Jadens Printer applicationJadens enables efficient labeling anytime, anywhere. In addition to thermal printers, Jadens printers range includes portable paper and tattoo printers. Jadens recognizing the importance of sustainability, they are committed to minimizing their environmental footprint by no ink and toner to reduce carbon, and designing printers that reduce energy consumption.

After years of continuous innovation and development, Jadens printer is now fully meeting the diverse printing needs of consumers. Jadens thermal printer covers a wide range of printing needs, from wireless shipping labels of all sizes to paper printing, small label printing, and even tattoo printing.

Jadens 268BT Bluetooth Thermal Shipping Label Printer comes with both USB and Bluetooth connectivity, their proprietary app, Jadens Printer, and a fanfold holder. It can print any label smaller than 4x6 inches, including barcode and circular labels. This shipping label printer is ideal for business owners with shipping needs, such as those on eBay, Shopify, Etsy, Mercari, and Poshmark. One of the founders of eBay, Jhonny, recently shared on TikTok how Jadens' shipping label printer has been instrumental in growing his eBay business, improving his operational efficiency, and how it stands out compared to competing products. As his eBay business steadily expands and orders increase, using Jadens printer has become an essential part of his 'routine' workflow. Through his daily work vlogs, he shares detailed tutorials on how to operate Jadens printer, offering valuable insights to aspiring entrepreneurs and those with shipping label needs. Jadens has been a key witness to the rise of his eBay success, and remains committed to helping more entrepreneurs enhance their productivity.

Jadens Paper Printer caters to home, study, and business printing needs, print anywhere, anytime. Simply connect it to Jadens Printer app, and you can easily print any documents, contracts, to-do lists, study materials, or even recipes. Caroline, a small business owner, who designed her brands logo using Canva and then used Jadens app, 'Jadens Printer', to resize and print it in various styles, ensuring it perfectly matched her products before distributing them to her customers. Her creative approach gained over 2 million views on TikTok, inspiring new ideas for the innovation of Jadens printer and showcasing the diverse printing possibilities available to customers.

The Jadens Small Label Printer is designed to meet all your classification and differentiation needs. Using Jadens Printer app, you can choose your favorite frames, fonts, or even create your own designs for personalized labels.

About the coming soon Jadens wireless tattoo printer, which will offer perfect compatibility with all your devices, including smartphones, iPads, and computers, and is specifically designed for both professional tattoo artists and beginners. This addition will further diversify Jadens brand and offer consumers even more choices.

Jadens is committed to focusing on consumer needs and solving any issues customers may encounter while using Jadens printers. Jadens will continue to innovate, develop new thermal printers and environmentally-friendly labels to enhance your experience. More information about Jadens: https://jadens.com/

Company: JADENS (HK) COMPANY LIMITED

Contact Person: Lea

Email: lea.l@jadens.com

Website: https://jadens.com

Telephone: +1 (833) 470-2950

City: Hongkong China

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b464497c-d501-4043-a20d-d9976205e4ac

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c582da4-00d1-404b-8f1d-c0d73703b05e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84ac8ae0-2998-4c35-8366-efe370de6865

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e547bbf6-7f26-4625-9c60-48b631cce75b
Not for release to US wire services or distribution in the United States

Highlights

Firm commitments received for a Placement to raise approximately $5.5 million (before costs).

The Placement was well supported by both domestic and international, natural resources-focused institutional investors.

The Placement may be expanded to include other potential strategic parties on similar terms, subject to final approvals and formal documentation.

The Company has entered a consultation period with Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd (Zijin) in respect to the Khuiten Joint Venture (JV). As part of these on-going discussions, Zijin will be given an opportunity to participate in the Placement to maintain its 19.4% shareholding in Xanadu Mines, subject to documentation, regulatory and shareholder approvals.

TORONTO, Nov. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xanadu Mines Ltd (ASX:XAM, TSX:XAM) (Xanadu or the Company) is pleased to announce the Company has received commitments for a placement to eligible professional and sophisticated investors of approximately 100 million fully-paid ordinary shares in Xanadu (New Shares) at an issue price of $0.055 each to raise approximately $5.5 million (before costs) (Placement). The Placement is unconditional and will be issued pursuant to the Companys existing placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1.

The Company is in discussion with other potential strategic parties for subsequent participation on similar terms, subject to formal documentation and approvals. This would also be issued pursuant to the Companys existing placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1.

Xanadu has entered a consultation period with Zijin Mining following delivery of the Kharmagtai Pre-Feasibility Study. As part of those discussions, Zijin will be given the opportunity to participate in the Placement on a pro rata basis to maintain its 19.4% shareholding in Xanadu Mines via its wholly owned subsidiary Jinping (Singapore) Mining Pte Ltd. Zijins participation would be subject to formal documentation, internal approvals, completion of the Placement to all other participants, FIRB approval, and Xanadu shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 10.11.

The proceeds of the Placement, together with the Companys existing cash reserves, will be applied towards Xanadus Red Mountain Copper-Gold Project and Sant Tolgoi Nickel-Copper Project, to new project acquisition and exploration, funding for Q1 CY2025 of the Khuiten JV prior to feasibility study commencement, and working capital.

The issue price of $0.055 per New Share represents a 14.1% discount to Xanadus last close (31 October 2024) of $0.064 per share, and a discount of 16.7% to the 5-day VWAP of $0.066 per share.

New Shares will rank pari-passu with Xanadus existing fully paid ordinary shares currently on issue.

New Shares issued in the Placement are scheduled to settle on Thursday, 7 November 2024 with allotment and trading scheduled to occur on Friday, 8 November 2024. Subsequent placement of New Shares to other potential parties who are not yet confirmed, including Zijin, will be announced separately and will occur within 10 business days of completion of documentation, approvals and other applicable conditions for each party.

Ord Minnett and Bell Potter Securities Limited acted as Joint Lead Managers to the Placement and MST Financial and PAC Partners acted as Co-Managers.

Executive Chairman & Managing Director, Colin Moorhead, said, We are pleased with the strong support for this Placement. This provides capital to pursue our broader strategies, as we seek a new discovery at Red Mountain and Sant Tolgoi, to expand our portfolio into new copper and gold projects in Mongolia, and it puts us in a strong position to discuss potential strategic interests in Xanadus share of the Kharmagtai project. I look forward to updating the market with progress on Xanadus exploration portfolio as well as continued news flow from the Kharmagtai project as it moves from Pre-Feasibility into Feasibility stage.

For further information, please contact:

Colin Moorhead Spencer Cole Executive Chair & Managing Director Chief Financial Officer P: +61 2 8280 7497 P: +61 2 8280 7497 E: colin.moorhead@xanadumines.com E: spencer.cole@xanadumines.com W: www.xanadumines.com

This Announcement was authorised for release by Xanadus Board of Directors.

All dollar amounts are in Australian dollars unless otherwise indicated.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until December 23, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD or the Company) (NYSE: TD), if they purchased the Companys securities between February 29, 2024 to October 9, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

What You May Do

If you purchased securities of TD and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-td/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by December 23, 2024 .

About the Lawsuit

TD and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On October 10, 2024, the Company disclosed resolutions reached from investigations by various U.S. Government entities into the Companys anti-money laundering (AML) program compliance with the United States Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), which included a punitive payment of $3.09 billion, an asset cap preventing TDs two U.S. subsidiaries from exceeding a collective $434 billion, and a more stringent approval processes for new bank products, services, markets, and stores to ensure the AML risk of new initiatives is appropriately considered and mitigated.

On this news, the price of TDs shares fell from a closing price of $63.51 per share on October 9, 2024 to $59.44 per share on October 10, 2024, and further to $57.01 on October 11, 2024.

The case is Tiessen v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, et al., No. 24-cv-08032.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nations premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients  including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors  in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:
Dublin, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Data Center Physical Security Market Landscape 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Data Center Physical Security Market was valued at USD 1.31 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 2.57 billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 11.89%.

In terms of competition, the data center physical security market largely depends on the relationship between vendors and data center operators. The product portfolio, cost, and installation services play a vital role. The data center physical security industry has both local and global providers.

Global providers of physical security offer data center infrastructure solutions, such as biometric scanners, video surveillance systems, network cameras, perimeter fences, and motion detectors.

The data center physical security market is moving toward the adoption of customized security solutions, such as access points, video analytics, additional biometrics, and perimeter fencing, depending on the location of the data center facility.

A few examples of such companies leading the data center physical security market are ABB, Johnson Controls, ASSA ABLOY, Legrand, Cisco Systems, Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Bosch Security and Safety Systems, Siemens, Secure IT Environments, Eagle Eye Networks, and Boston Dynamics.

KEY TRENDS

State & Nature of Biometric Monitoring



Operating a data center comes with several challenges. One of these challenges is managing access to the data center while ensuring unauthorized individuals are kept out. In the past, using keys and access cards to control entry to data center facilities was inefficient and difficult to scale.

However, advancements in video surveillance systems connected to cloud services now offer recording, image captures, analytics, and notification services. These cloud-based video cameras continuously upload data and require a reliable connection as they do not have local storage. Cloud-based video analytics is currently a leading trend in the data center physical security market.



Evolving Stage of Robotics in Data Center



The data center physical security industry witnessed several innovations over a period of time. One of them includes the deployment of robots to monitor the data center facilities. Robots have become more capable than before in optimizing operations and efficiency in maintaining the vitals of a data center with advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) by the hour. Apart from the usual inspections and monitoring, it also plays a role in the physical security of a data center and mitigates human intervention, thereby employing fewer people and reducing organizational costs.



Boston Dynamics is a major company developing robot dogs, which data center operators are deploying in their facilities. For example, Novva Data Centers has announced the deployment of robot dogs in its Utah data center facility in the US and plans to deploy them in other data center facilities in the future.



SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

Access control products hold the most significant segmental share and help provide selective access to various areas of data center facilities. They include MFA products, such as biometrics, fingerprint scanners, ID verification, and much more.

Perimeter Security segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 12% during the forecast period in the global market. These are the outermost physical layer and the first point of contact of a data center facility. Perimeter fencing with anti-climb features, security guards, and sensors are a few solutions used in this layer.

The colocation data centers segment holds the most prominent segmental industry share and are data centers that rent or lease out their space to third-party vendors for them to store their data center components. Equinix, Digital Realty, NTT DATA, Vantage Data Centers, and STACK Infrastructure are some prominent colocation operators.

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

In the Americas, North America leads the data center physical security industry, followed by Latin America. North America is considered among the developed and established data center markets and sets the base for other regions, such as Europe and APAC. Latin America is considered among the emerging and developing data center markets with a high potential during the forecast period.

APAC is considered among the fastest-growing markets globally due to increased digitalization among internet users, creating a high demand for data storage facilities. The region has some of the largest and most established markets, such as China, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and India. Some emerging markets include Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, New Zealand, Thailand, and others.

The MEA region has a high potential for growth in terms of the adoption of physical security products in the data center physical security industry. The industry witnesses higher breaches of physical security than other regions. Operators are involved in deploying higher measures of physical security products to reduce unauthorized entry and access into data center buildings.

Europe has the presence of several established markets, such as the UK, France, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The region also witnesses a boom across other markets, such as Spain, Poland, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and other countries. The development of data center facilities will lead to an increased adoption of physical security products and support the data center physical security market growth.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Physical Security Vendors

ABB

Alcatraz AI

AMAG Technology

ASSA ABLOY

Axis Communications

Barkers Fencing

Bayometric

Bosch Security and Safety Systems

BioConnect

Boon Edam

Boston Dynamics

Cisco Systems

Convergint Technologies

CLD Physical Security Systems

Dahua Technology

Digitus Biometrics

Eagle Eye Networks

Genetec

Gunnebo

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology

Honeywell

Horton Automatics

Instor (Accelevation)

Johnson Controls

Kisi

LenelS2 (Carrier)

Legrand

Pacific Controls

Pelco (Motorola Solutions)

Puffins Solutions

Schneider Electric

Secure I.T. Environments

Securitas

Siemens

Southwest Microwave

Suprema

Verkada

WireCrafters

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What is the growth rate of the data center physical security market?

How big is the global data center physical security market?

Which region holds the most significant data center physical security market share?

How big is the global data center physical security market?

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 166 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.31 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $2.57 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 11.8% Regions Covered Global

Report Segmentation:

Segmentation by Product

Video Surveillance

Access Control

Other Physical Security Products

Segmentation by Physical Security Layers

Perimeter Security Layer

Building Security

Data Hall Security

Cabinet Security

Segmentation by End Users

Colocation Data Centers

Hyperscale Data Centers

Enterprise Data Centers

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/h5ouy9

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Kitchener, ON, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DOZR, North Americas leading online marketplace for heavy equipment rentals, has been recognized in the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards program, celebrating the companys impressive 890% revenue growth over the past four years. DOZR ranks 24 in the Technology Fast 50 program.

With over 44,000 equipment rentals managed to date and an extensive network of suppliers, DOZR offers contractors unparalleled access to heavy equipment when and where they need it. Serving construction professionals across Canada and the U.S., the DOZR Marketplace streamlines the rental process, enhancing jobsite productivity across North America.

This recognition is a testament to our teams efforts and our dedication to the construction industry, said Kevin Forestell, CEO of DOZR. As we grow, were focused on pushing the boundaries of whats possible in equipment rentals. Were proud to be a trusted partner for contractors who rely on us to get the job done.

As the construction industry faces mounting demands for speed and efficiency, were dedicated to providing contractors with flexible, dependable access to the equipment they need. Through the DOZR Marketplace, users can compare rental options, track orders in real-time, and access flexible payment solutionsall designed to support project success and help customers tackle every jobsite challenge with confidence.

Recognizing companies that drive innovation and economic impact, the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program highlights Canadas fastest-growing technology leaders. This award reinforces DOZRs commitment to advancing construction technology with contractor-focused solutions that empower the industry and set new standards in construction tech.

About DOZR:

DOZR is North Americas leading marketplace for heavy equipment rentals, connecting contractors with a network of over 4,000 equipment rental suppliers. Founded by construction professionals, DOZR combines industry expertise with a user-friendly platform to deliver seamless rental experiences. DOZR supports thousands of contractors and suppliers across Canada and the U.S., offering real-time access to a wide selection of equipment.

For more information, visit DOZR.com.

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Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Transparency Market Research Inc. -, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The microcatheter market ( ) size stood at US$ 799.7 million in 2022. A CAGR of 5.3% is predicted from 2023 to 2031, reaching US$ 1.3 billion by 2031. Precision during treatments could be increased by integrating microcatheters with cutting-edge imaging technology like augmented reality or artificial intelligence.

Real-time imaging guidance can lower the risks of specific procedures and improve catheter placement efficiency. Future microcatheter solutions might become more individualized and patient-specific. Customizing these devices to each patient's unique anatomy and conditions may enhance treatment results and lower the risk of problems.

A wider number of medical specializations are anticipated to use microcatheters in the future. The range of applications for microcatheters may increase as technology develops and new procedures and interventions that profit from minimally invasive approaches appear. Technological developments in robotics and telemedicine may impact the methods used in microcatheter treatments.

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Interventions that are autonomous or robot-assisted may grow increasingly prevalent, enabling specialists to carry out operations from a distance. As more biocompatible materials are developed and used, the likelihood of negative reactions will decline, and microcatheters' safety records will be enhanced.

The medical device industry is expanding due to investments in hospitals, other outpatient clinics, and healthcare infrastructure. These expenditures foster an atmosphere favorable to the uptake of cutting-edge medical devices like microcatheters. Approvals from regulatory bodies for new and improved microcatheter products enable market expansion. Companies whose goods receive regulatory approval can bring innovations to the market and meet the evolving needs of medical professionals.

Key Findings of the Market Report

The hospital segment is projected to drive demand for microcatheters.

Based on the indication, the neurovascular segment is expected to drive demand for microcatheters in the market.

In 2022, North America dominated the global microcatheter market.

Drugs are delivered to their target areas with the help of microcatheters, which are widely used in the oncology and neurology sectors.

Global Microcatheter Market: Growth Drivers

Heart-related conditions, like peripheral arterial disease and coronary artery disease, are very common. Microcatheters are an essential component of minimally invasive procedures that are frequently required due to the rising occurrence of these illnesses. The preference for minimally invasive procedures has increased due to advancements in medical technology. Several interventional professions, such as cardiology, neurology, and radiology, frequently employ microcatheters to carry out treatments with fewer incisions and less harm to the patient.

Several illnesses, such as cardiovascular disorders, are more common among the elderly population. The need for medical devices, such as microcatheters, increases with population aging. Continuous microcatheter design, materials, and technology improvements lead to increased safety, efficacy, and performance. Advancements improve the capabilities of microcatheters in a range of medical operations in guidewire technology, catheter materials, and imaging modalities.

The advantages of employing microcatheters in specific operations are becoming more widely known among medical practitioners. Microcatheters are, therefore, being used more and more in clinical practice.

Global Microcatheter Market: Regional Landscape

Microcatheters are expected to be in high demand in North America. Cardiovascular therapies such as stenting, embolization, and angioplasty use microcatheters considerably. The demand for these procedures has been fueled by the prevalence of cardiovascular illnesses in North America, which has led to the rise of the market. Microcatheters are essential in neurovascular procedures, such as managing aneurysms and stroke. The need for microcatheters has been bolstered by the rise in neurological illnesses and the use of less invasive procedures in neurosurgery.

The number of minimally invasive procedures performed has increased in North America. Microcatheters are growing in popularity because they allow physicians to perform complex treatments with fewer incisions, less injury to the patient, and faster recovery times.

Ongoing advancements in materials science, microcatheter design, and imaging technologies enhance microcatheter performance, flexibility, and navigation capabilities. These developments enable the application of microcatheters in various medical specialties.

Unlock Growth Potential in Your Industry! Download PDF Brochure: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=35942

Global Microcatheter Market: Key Players

Research and development initiatives by leading microcatheter manufacturers aim to implement new technologies and enhance their product portfolio. They are launching new microcatheters to deliver precise drugs and improve medical imaging. Government approvals enable major players in the industry to capture lucrative microcatheter markets.

Boston Scientific Corporation

Integra LifeSciences

Medtronic

Biometrics Ltd

Asahi Intecc USA Inc.

Merit Medical Systems

Stryker

Terumo Medical Corporation

Tokai Medical Products Inc.

Penumbra Inc.

Key Developments

In November 2023, Utah-based Transit Scientific received FDA clearance of its microcatheter for precisely delivering embolic agents, designed to deliver a wide variety of embolic agents.

Utah-based Transit Scientific received FDA clearance of its microcatheter for precisely delivering embolic agents, designed to deliver a wide variety of embolic agents. In December 2023, Terumo Medical Corporation officially launched its AZUR HydroPack Peripheral Coil System in the United States. The AZUR HydroPack Peripheral Coil System provides a range of benefits, including enhanced stability and precision. Radiologists and vascular surgeons benefit from its versatility and efficiency in ensuring patients' best possible outcomes. Different from other packing coils, it features a state-of-the-art design and is compatible with all microcatheters.

Global Microcatheter Market: Segmentation

By Indication

Coronary

Neurovascular

General Peripheral Vascular

By End User

Hospitals

Specialty Clinics

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Home Care Settings

Others

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

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Liquid Biopsy Market () - The global liquid biopsy market is estimated to flourish at a CAGR of 8.8% from 2023 to 2031. Transparency Market Research projects that the overall sales revenue for liquid biopsy is estimated to reach US$ 7.7 billion by the end of 2031.

Dialysis Equipment Market (   ) - The global dialysis equipment industry was worth US$ 16.0 Billion in 2022. According to estimates, the industry will expand at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2023 to 2031. The market is estimated to reach over US$ 25.2 billion by 2031.

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Dublin, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Newborn Screening Market: Analysis By Product, By Technology, By Test Type, By End User, By Region Size and Trends and Forecast up to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global newborn screening market value in 2023 stood at US$1.24 billion, and is likely to reach US$2.16 billion by 2029. The global newborn screening market value is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.86%, during the forecast period of 2024-2029.

The newborn screening market has experienced significant growth over the years primarily due to advancements in screening technologies. Innovations like tandem mass spectrometry, DNA assays, and pulse oximetry have significantly improved the accuracy, speed, and range of conditions that can be detected in newborns.

These advancements allow for earlier and more reliable diagnoses, which can lead to timely interventions and better health outcomes, ultimately driving the demand for advanced screening tools and equipment in hospitals and government mandates for mandatory screening programs, and growing awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, have further propelled market growth. Other significant trends including AI and machine learning based newborn screening, point-of-care testing, advances in genomic and molecular technologies, expansion of screening panels, emerging markets, telehealth expansion etc. are expected to drive market growth further.

Market Segmentation Analysis:

By Product: According to the report, the global newborn screening market is bifurcated into two segments based on product type: Instruments and Reagents and assays. Instruments segment acquired majority of share in the market in 2023 and is expected to grow the fastest during forecasted period due to the growing adoption of advanced diagnostic equipment and technologies, which enable faster, more accurate, and comprehensive testing for multiple disorders in newborns. Additionally, continuous innovation in screening devices has increased their usage in hospitals and diagnostic labs.

The global newborn screening instruments market is further bifurcated into four segments: newborn disorder screening instruments, pulse oximeters, newborn hearing screening instruments, and other instruments. Newborn disorder screening instruments acquired majority of the share in 2023 and is expected to growth the fastest as well. The global newborn screening reagents and assays market is further bifurcated into two segments: Immunoassay and Enzymatic Assays and DNA-Based Assays. Immunoassay and Enzymatic Assays acquired majority of the share in 2023 and is expected to growth the fastest as well.

By Technology: According to the report, the global newborn screening market is bifurcated into six technologies: tandem mass spectrometry, pulse oximetry screening technology, immunoassays and enzymatic assays, DNA assays, electrophoresis and others. Tandem mass spectrometry segment acquired majority of share in the market in 2023 due to its ability to screen for multiple disorders simultaneously with high precision and speed. Its effectiveness in detecting metabolic and genetic conditions early in newborns has made it a preferred technology in hospitals and diagnostic labs globally.

While, immunoassays and enzymatic assays are expected to be the fastest-growing segment due to their increasing use in detecting specific metabolic and genetic disorders with high sensitivity and specificity. The growing demand for targeted, disease-specific screening and the expanding range of conditions they can detect contribute to their rapid adoption in newborn screening programs.

By Test Type: According to the report, the global newborn screening market is bifurcated into four types of tests: dry blood spot test, critical congenital heart diseases (CCHD) test, hearing screen test, and others. Dry blood spot test segment acquired majority of share in the market in 2023 is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during forecasted period, due to its ability to screen for a wide range of disorders from a single, minimally invasive sample. This test is cost-effective, easy to collect, transport, and store, making it ideal for large-scale screening programs, particularly in resource-limited settings. Additionally, its role in early detection of life-threatening conditions enhances its appeal, driving increased adoption across healthcare systems worldwide.

By End-user: The report further bifurcates the market into two end-users: hospitals and clinics and diagnostic labs. Hospitals and clinics segment acquired majority of share in the market in 2023 and is expected to grow fastest due to the centralized role they play in newborn care. Hospitals and clinics are the primary points for childbirth and immediate postnatal care, making them key locations for initial screenings. Additionally, the increasing number of births, coupled with government-mandated screening programs conducted in hospitals, has led to higher adoption of screening technologies and equipment in these settings, driving growth in this segment.

By Region: The report provides insight into the Newborn Screening market based on the geographical operations, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world. North America Newborn Screening market enjoyed the highest market share in 2023 due to well-established healthcare infrastructure, mandatory newborn screening programs across most states, and significant government support for early diagnosis of congenital disorders. Additionally, the presence of advanced screening technologies, high healthcare spending, and widespread awareness of the importance of early detection among healthcare professionals and parents further fueled the market's dominance in the region.

While, Asia Pacific region has been experiencing the fastest growth in the global newborn screening market due to increasing birth rates, growing awareness about the importance of early diagnosis, and expanding government initiatives to implement mandatory screening programs in countries like China and India. Additionally, improvements in healthcare infrastructure, rising disposable incomes, and a growing demand for advanced diagnostic technologies in emerging economies have driven the rapid adoption of newborn screening across the region.

Competitive Landscape and Recent Developments:

The global newborn screening market is fragmented catering to domestic and international demand. Players operating in the global newborn screening market focus on providing high-quality products to fulfill customer demand. They also focus on strategies such as investments in research and development activities, new product launches, and expanding production capacities.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 152 Forecast Period 2024 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $1.35 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $2.16 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.9% Regions Covered Global



Market Dynamics

Growth Drivers

Rising Birth Rates and Population Growth

Upsurge in Healthcare Expenditure

Rising Burden of Congenital Diseases

Government Initiatives and Mandatory Screening Programs

Increased Awareness and Education

Challenges

Lack of Standardization

Regulatory Hurdles

Market Trends

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Based Newborn Screening

Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)

Advances in Genomic and Molecular Technologies

Expansion of Screening Panels

Growth in Emerging Markets

Telehealth Expansion

Key players of global newborn screening market are:

Agilent Technologies Inc

Revvity Inc.

Waters Corporation

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc.

Masimo Corporation

Medtronic plc

LifeCell International Pvt. Ltd.

Zentech

Trivitron Healthcare

MRC Holland

Natus Medical Incorporated

Baebies Inc.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bwo5yf

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Indonesia Medical Aesthetics Market - Focused Insights 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Indonesian Medical Aesthetics Market was valued at USD 257.05 Million in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 495.64 Million by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 11.56%.

The Indonesia medical aesthetics market report consists of exclusive data on 29 vendors. The market comprises a mix of local and international players, including well-established clinics, emerging startups, and Indonesian cosmetic brands. Local clinics such as Rejuvie Aesthetic & Dermatology Bali and Derma Express leverage their deep understanding of the Indonesian consumer base, offering tailored treatments that resonate well with local preferences.

Meanwhile, international brands like Allergan and Galderma bring advanced technologies and products, raising the bar for quality and innovation - the leading market players like AbbVie, Bausch Health Companies, Candela, Cutera, Cynosure, El.En. S.p.A., Galderma, Johnson & Johnson, Lumenis, Merz Pharma, Sientra, Sinclair, and Sisram Medical continually introduce new aesthetic solutions with superior quality and technological features, contributing to the market's competitiveness. These companies also employ strategic business moves such as collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions of smaller and medium-sized market players.





MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Increasing Demand for Neurotoxins



Adopting neurotoxins, particularly Botulinum toxin (commonly known as Botox), has seen a significant rise in the country, transforming the landscape of medical aesthetics. This surge is driven by the increasing demand for non-surgical, minimally invasive cosmetic procedures that offer effective and quick results with minimal downtime. Neurotoxins are primarily used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the underlying muscles, leading to smoother and more youthful-looking skin. The popularity of these treatments has expanded beyond traditional cosmetic applications to include therapeutic uses, further broadening their appeal and market growth.

One of the major factors contributing to the rise in neurotoxin adoption is the growing awareness and acceptance of aesthetic procedures. Social media platforms, celebrity endorsements, and the proliferation of beauty influencers have played a crucial role in normalizing cosmetic enhancements. This has increased consumer interest and willingness to undergo such treatments, particularly among younger demographics seeking preventive measures against aging. The accessibility and affordability of neurotoxin treatments have also improved, making them more attainable for a broader audience. The therapeutic applications of neurotoxins have also contributed to their widespread adoption.

Beyond cosmetic uses, neurotoxins are employed in the treatment of various medical conditions such as chronic migraines, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), muscle spasticity, and even depression. These therapeutic benefits have been well-documented and accepted within the medical community, leading to increased utilization in clinical settings. Neurotoxins' dual cosmetic and therapeutic applications provide a compelling value proposition, driving their adoption across different medical specialties.



Growing Advancements in Medical Aesthetic Procedures



Advancements in medical aesthetic procedures have revolutionized the field, offering enhanced effectiveness, safety, and patient satisfaction. The industry has seen significant innovation in surgical and non-surgical treatments, driven by technological developments, increased research, and evolving patient expectations. These advancements have broadened the scope of aesthetic procedures, making them more accessible and appealing to a wider range of individuals. One of the most notable advancements is in the realm of non-surgical treatments.

Minimally invasive procedures, such as injectable neurotoxins (like Botox) and dermal fillers, have become incredibly popular due to their ability to provide quick, noticeable results with minimal downtime. The formulations of these injectables have improved significantly, offering longer-lasting effects and more natural-looking outcomes. Additionally, advanced techniques in administering these treatments have enhanced precision and safety, reducing the risk of side effects and complications. Laser and light-based therapies have also seen tremendous advancements. Fractional lasers, intense pulsed light (IPL), and radiofrequency devices have become standard in treating various skin conditions, including pigmentation, scars, and wrinkles.



Increasing Consumer Base for Aesthetics



The increasing consumer base for aesthetics is a testament to the growing demand for cosmetic procedures and treatments across diverse demographics. This expansion is driven by several factors, including societal acceptance, technological advancements, improved accessibility, and shifting cultural perceptions about beauty and self-care. One of the significant factors contributing to the increasing consumer base is the broadening societal acceptance of aesthetic procedures. Once considered a luxury for the wealthy or a taboo subject, cosmetic enhancements have become mainstream. Influencers, celebrities, and social media platforms have played a crucial role in normalizing these procedures, openly discussing their experiences and sharing results. This visibility has reduced the stigma associated with aesthetic treatments, encouraging more people to consider and undergo such procedures. Technological advancements in medical aesthetics have also significantly contributed to the growing consumer base. Innovations in non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures, such as laser treatments, injectables, and body contouring technologies, offer effective results with minimal downtime and reduced risk compared to traditional surgical methods.



INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS

Side Effects Associated With Medical Aesthetic Treatment



After-procedure complications and customer complaints are significant considerations in aesthetic treatments despite technological advancements and practices aimed at reducing risks. Complications can range from minor issues such as swelling, bruising, or temporary discomfort to more serious complications like infection, scarring, or adverse treatment reactions. While aesthetic treatments can enhance one's appearance and confidence, they are not without risks. Practitioners and patients alike must approach these procedures with caution, transparency, and a commitment to safety to minimize complications and address any customer complaints effectively. This ongoing diligence and responsiveness are essential for maintaining trust and credibility in aesthetic medicine. To minimize complications and customer complaints, practitioners must undergo comprehensive training and stay updated on the latest techniques and safety protocols.



SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS BY PRODUCT TYPE



The Indonesia medical aesthetics market by product type is segmented into injectables, energy-based devices, cosmetic implants, and cosmeceuticals/skin care. The injectables product segment dominates and has the largest market share. The rise in injectable procedures mirrors broader trends in the cosmetic industry, where non-invasive treatments continue to gain traction due to their convenience, minimal downtime, and effective results. Consumers are increasingly opting for injectables as a preventive measure against aging or to enhance facial features without undergoing surgery. This shift is supported by ongoing advancements in injectable technologies and formulations catering to diverse aesthetic goals and preferences.

INSIGHTS BY PROCEDURE



The Indonesia medical aesthetics market by procedure is categorized into non-invasive and minimally invasive. The minimally invasive segment shows significant growth, with the fastest-growing CAGR during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including increasing consumer awareness and technological advancements. This surge in demand is driven by several factors, including the increasing desire for anti-aging solutions and the preference for procedures that offer immediate results with minimal downtime.

Technological advancements have also played a significant role, with innovations in laser and light-based therapies, as well as the development of new, more effective dermal fillers and neuromodulators, enhancing the safety and outcomes of these treatments. Technological advancements have significantly impacted the market, making procedures safer, more effective, and more accessible. For example, innovations in laser and radiofrequency technologies have improved the precision and outcomes of treatments, leading to higher patient satisfaction. These advancements also mean that treatments can be tailored to meet individual needs, catering to various skin types and aesthetic goals.

INSIGHTS BY APPLICATION



Based on the application, the skin rejuvenation segment showcases the highest growth in the Indonesia medical aesthetics market. Skin rejuvenation within the medical aesthetics sector in Indonesia is experiencing notable growth as the demand for non-surgical cosmetic treatments continues to rise. This market segment focuses on procedures designed to improve skin texture, tone, and overall appearance, catering to a growing population keen on maintaining youthful and healthy skin. The increasing interest in skin rejuvenation can be attributed to various factors, including heightened skincare awareness, technological advancements, and a rising middle class with more disposable income to spend on cosmetic enhancements.

One of the primary drivers of this market is the evolving understanding and acceptance of skin rejuvenation treatments. Procedures such as chemical peels, laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, and radiofrequency treatments are becoming increasingly popular among Indonesian consumers. These treatments address common skin concerns such as fine lines, pigmentation, and uneven texture. The non-invasive nature of these procedures and minimal downtime make them appealing to individuals seeking noticeable results without surgery.

INSIGHTS BY END-USER



The hospital segment accounted for the largest Indonesia medical aesthetics market share based on the end-user. Hospitals play a pivotal role in the burgeoning medical aesthetics market, offering various services ranging from non-invasive treatments to minimally invasive surgeries. According to the latest data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), there has been a substantial increase in the number of aesthetic procedures performed in Indonesia, underscoring the significant contribution of these healthcare facilities.

Hospitals, with their comprehensive infrastructure and access to advanced medical technology, are at the forefront of delivering high-quality aesthetic services. These institutions often house specialized departments for cosmetic procedures, staffed with experienced healthcare professionals who are well-versed in the latest techniques and innovations. The availability of state-of-the-art equipment and a broad spectrum of services, including laser treatments, injectables like Botox and dermal fillers, and body contouring procedures, positions hospitals as key players in the medical aesthetics market.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE



Key Vendors in the Indonesia Medical Aesthetics Market

AbbVie

Bausch Health Companies

Candela

Cutera

Cynosure

El.En. S.p.A.

Galderma

Johnson & Johnson

Lumenis

Merz Pharma

Sientra

Sinclair

Sisram medical

Other Prominent Vendors in the Indonesia Medical Aesthetics Market

Indonesia Medical Indo

Asclepion Laser Technologies

ADSS Development

MS GLOW

Brera Medical Technologies

BTL Aesthetics

GSD

Revance Aesthetics

Venus Concept

Sikalapa Lasers

CGBio's

Polytech Health & Aesthetics

Biologique Recherche

Kalbe Farma

Fotona

idsMED

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

How big is the Indonesia medical aesthetics market?

What is the growth rate of the Indonesia medical aesthetics market?

What are the drivers of the Indonesia medical aesthetics market?

Who are the major players in the Indonesia medical aesthetics market?

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 135 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $257.05 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $495.64 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 11.5% Regions Covered Indonesia





Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1: Medical Aesthetics Market Overview

Chapter 2: Medical Aesthetics Market

Indonesia: Projected Revenue of Medical Aesthetics Market (2020-2029; $Millions)

Chapter 3: Medical Aesthetics Market Segmentation Data

Indonesia: Projected Revenue by Product (2020-2029; $Millions)

Injectables

Energy-based Devices

Cosmetic Implants

Cosmeceuticals/Skin Care

Indonesia: Projected Revenue by Procedure (2020-2029; $Millions)

Minimally Invasive

Non-Invasive

Indonesia: Projected Revenue by Gender (2020-2029; $Millions)

Women

Men

Indonesia: Projected Revenue by Age Group (2020-2029; $Millions)

Between 34-50 Years

Above 50 Years

Below 34 Years

Indonesia: Projected Revenue by Application (2020-2029; $Millions)

Skin Rejuvenation

Body Contouring & Skin Tightening

Breast Augmentation

Hair Removal

Others

Indonesia: Projected Revenue by End-user (2020-2029; $Millions)

Hospitals

Specialty Skincare Clinics

Beauty/Aesthetic Clinics

Medical Spas

Homecare/Individuals

Chapter 4: Medical Aesthetics Market Prospects & Opportunities

Medical Aesthetics Market Opportunities & Trends

Medical Aesthetics Market Drivers

Medical Aesthetics Market Constraints

Chapter 5: Medical Aesthetics Industry Overview

Competitive Landscape

Key Vendor Profiles

Other Prominent Vendors

Key Strategic Recommendations

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jve3fe

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vietnam Polyethylene Terephthalate(PET) Resin Import Research Report 2024-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a plastic known for its strength, thermal stability, and transparency. As a thermoplastic polyester, it is renowned for its durability and resistance to various chemicals. PET resin's excellent toughness, light weight, impermeability, and resistance to acids, alkalis, water, and oils make it an ideal material for packaging, especially for beverages, food containers, and consumer goods due to its good barrier properties against gases and moisture.







PET-based plastic products are widely used in manufacturing water and soft drink bottles, food packaging, and synthetic fibers for textiles. It is also employed in making bearings, gears, and electrical components like LCD screens. Because of its recyclability, PET resin is extensively used, aiding in producing new PET bottles and other products, supporting environmental sustainability initiatives. Major producers of PET resin in the Asia-Pacific region and globally include Indorama Ventures, Alpek, and SABIC. Vietnam has limited PET resin production capacity, making it highly dependent on imports.



Vietnam's manufacturing sector has been developing rapidly, with substantial expansion potential in the plastic industry and its downstream sectors, such as construction, automotive parts manufacturing, electrical cables, textiles, and daily necessities. According to the publisher, in 2023, Vietnam imported 6.82 million tons of plastic raw materials worth US$ 9.76 billion. The export value of Vietnamese plastic products is expected to reach US$ 3.15 billion in 2024, indicating a strong demand for synthetic resins in Vietnam's downstream industries and an increasing market demand for synthetic resins in the country. Vietnam is highly dependent on imported PET resin.



The analysis indicates that Vietnam's domestic capacity for raw materials in the plastic industry is insufficient, with about 70% of raw materials being imported, showing high reliance on imports. In 2023, the total import value of PET resin in Vietnam was approximately US$ 630 million. According to the publisher's data, from January to May 2024, the cumulative import value of PET resin in Vietnam has exceeded US$ 300 million, indicating a continuous growth in market demand.



Driven by the flourishing beverage and packaging industry, the demand for PET resin in Vietnam is substantial. Vietnam imports large quantities of PET resin to meet the needs of its domestic manufacturing sector. The rapid economic growth and increasing consumption of packaged goods in Vietnam have led to a continuous rise in PET resin imports. Both local enterprises and multinational companies actively participate in this market. Overall, PET resin is a key material in the plastic industry, which is interconnected with various other manufacturing sectors. Its usage is expected to grow alongside Vietnam's industrial and economic development.



According to the publisher, from 2021 to 2024, the main sources of PET resin imports to Vietnam include China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Major companies exporting PET resin to Vietnam include Haining Hailide Fiber Technology Co., Ltd., HYOSUNG, and Tainan Spinning.



The main importers of PET resin in Vietnam are producers, distributors, and logistics companies of plastic materials and products, primarily foreign-funded enterprises. Many of these are subsidiaries of multinational corporations in Vietnam, such as HYOSUNG VIETNAM, HAILIDE VIETNAM, and Formosa Plastics.



In conclusion, with the growth of Vietnam's population and the continuous advancement of its manufacturing industry, the demand for PET resin will continue to increase. The publisher predicts that in the coming years, Vietnam's PET resin imports will maintain a growth trend.



Topics covered:

The Import and Export of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

Total Import Volume of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

Total Import Value and Growth Rate of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

Total Import Value and Growth Rate of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam (January-May 2024)

Average Import Price of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

Top 10 Sources of Polyethylene Terephthalate Imports in Vietnam and Their Supply Volume

Top 10 Suppliers in the Import Market of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam and Their Supply Volume

Top 10 Importers of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam and Their Import Volume

How to Find Distributors and End Users of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam

How Foreign Enterprises Enter the Plastic Raw Material Market of Vietnam

Forecast for the Import of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam (2024-2033)





Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 80 Forecast Period 2024 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $650.8 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $871.67 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.3% Regions Covered Vietnam





Key Topics Covered:



1 Overview of Vietnam

1.1 Geography of Vietnam

1.2 Economic Condition of Vietnam

1.3 Demographics of Vietnam

1.4 Domestic Market of Vietnam

1.5 Recommendations for Foreign Enterprises Entering the Vietnam Plastic Raw Material Market



2 Analysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate Imports in Vietnam (2021-2024)

2.1 Import Scale of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam

2.1.1 Import Value and Volume of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam

2.1.2 Import Prices of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam

2.1.3 Apparent Consumption of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam

2.1.4 Import Dependency of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam

2.2 Major Sources of Polyethylene Terephthalate Imports in Vietnam



3 Analysis of Major Sources of Polyethylene Terephthalate Imports in Vietnam (2021-2024)

3.1 China

3.1.1 Analysis of Import Value and Volume

3.1.2 Analysis of Average Import Price

3.2 Taiwan

3.2.1 Analysis of Import Value and Volume

3.2.2 Analysis of Average Import Price

3.3 South Korea

3.3.1 Analysis of Import Value and Volume

3.3.2 Analysis of Average Import Price

3.4 Japan

3.5 Thailand

3.6 Singapore



4 Analysis of Major Suppliers in the Import Market of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

4.1 Haining Hailide Fiber Technology Co, LTD.

4.1.1 Company Profile

4.1.2 Analysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate Exports to Vietnam

4.2 HYOSUNG

4.2.1 Company Profile

4.2.2 Analysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate Exports to Vietnam

4.3 Tainan Spinning Co., LTD.

4.3.1 Company Profile

4.3.2 Analysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate Exports to Vietnam



5 Analysis of Major Importers in the Import Market of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

5.1 Formosa Plastics Vietnam

5.1.1 Company Profile

5.1.2 Analysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate Imports

5.2 CENTURY SYNTHETIC FIBER CORPORATION

5.2.1 Company Profile

5.2.2 Analysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate Imports

5.3 HAILIDE Vietnam

5.3.1 Company Profile

5.3.2 Analysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate Imports



6. Monthly Analysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate Imports in Vietnam from 2021 to 2024

6.1 Analysis of Monthly Import Value and Volume

6.2 Forecast of Monthly Average Import Prices



7. Key Factors Affecting Polyethylene Terephthalate Imports in Vietnam

7.1 Policy

7.1.1 Current Import Policies

7.1.2 Trend Predictions for Import Policies

7.2 Economic

7.2.1 Market Prices

7.2.2 Growth Trends of Polyethylene Terephthalate Production Capacity in Vietnam

7.3 Technology



8. Forecast for the Import of Polyethylene Terephthalate in Vietnam, 2024-2033

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/w55n9p

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vietnam Ammonium Sulphate Import Research Report 2024-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Ammonium sulphate is primarily used to meet the nitrogen and sulphur nutrient needs of crops during their growth and is considered a high-quality, cost-effective sulphur fertilizer. Sulphur plays various physiological roles in plants, such as participating in protein synthesis. As an ammonium nitrogen fertilizer, ammonium sulphate can be used as a topdressing, seed fertilizer, and base fertilizer, offering quick and stable effects. It is one of the earliest nitrogen fertilizers applied, suitable for various soils and crops, enhancing vigorous growth of branches and leaves, improving fruit quality and yield, and boosting crop resilience to disasters.







Due to its high critical humidity temperature, ammonium sulphate is particularly suitable for rice cultivation. According to the analysis of the publisher, rice is the most important staple crop in Vietnam, with a planting area exceeding 700 hectares. Rice is the main food for the Vietnamese, accounting for 90% of total grain consumption, resulting in a huge and rigid demand for ammonium sulphate in the domestic market of Vietnam.



Vietnam is an agricultural powerhouse, where agriculture plays a significant role in the national economy and is one of its backbone industries. In 2023, agriculture contributed 12% to Vietnam's real GDP growth, with more than 50% of the population in rural. Arable and forest land make up 60% of Vietnam's total land area. The analysis of the publisher has reported that, due to limited domestic fertilizer production capacity, Vietnam needs to import 3-4 million tons of fertilizers annually. Vietnam is one of the largest users of chemical fertilizers globally, heavily relying on imports, with annual chemical fertilizer usage approaching 7.7 million tons. The ammonium sulphate market of Vietnam relies heavily on imported products.



Fertilizer market in Vietnam has been upward over the past five years, with an annual apparent consumption exceeding 6 million tons and a market size of over US$ 2 billion annually. Nitrogen fertilizers are among the most imported fertilizers in Vietnam, accounting for nearly 30% of total fertilizer imports, with an import value of about US$ 300 million, surpassing 20% of the total fertilizer import value. Ammonium sulphate is the most widely used nitrogen fertilizer in agriculture, with Vietnam importing ammonium sulphate worth approximately US$ 180 million in 2023. From January to May 2024, Vietnam has already imported nearly US$ 100 million worth of ammonium sulphate based on the data of the publisher, indicating a continued growth trend in market demand.



Agricultural product exports are also a major source of Vietnam's trade surplus. In 2023, Vietnam's agricultural product export value reached US$ 53 billion, with international Trade surplus accounting for 42.5% of Vietnam's total Trade surplus. The analysis of the publisher expects Vietnam's agricultural exports to exceed US$ 55 billion in 2024, with rice exports likely to surpass 8 million tons. Given the rapid expansion of agricultural production capacity in both international and domestic markets, the demand for ammonium sulphate is also rising.



According to the publisher, the main sources of ammonium sulphate imports in Vietnam from 2021 to 2024 include China, Japan, etc. Key companies exporting this product to Vietnam are CONG TY HUU HAN THUONG MAI CAM THANG HA KHAU, Fibrant (Shanghai) Chemical Co., Ltd., and Sojitz Corporation. Major importers of ammonium sulphate in Vietnam include local fertilizer distributors and logistics companies, as well as foreign enterprises. Those importers include Thuy Ngan Trading Company Limited, Japan Vietnam Fertilizer Company, Agricultural Products and Materials Joint Stock Company, etc.



Overall, with the growing population and continuous agricultural development in Vietnam, the demand for ammonium sulphate will continue to increase. The publisher forecasts that from 2024 to 2033, the import volume of ammonium sulphate in Vietnam will continue to rise, playing an important role in stabilizing and boosting agricultural production in the country.



Topics covered:

The Import and Export of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

Total Import Volume of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

Total Import Value and Growth Rate of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

Total Import Value and Growth Rate of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam (January-May 2024)

Average Import Price of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

Top 10 Sources of Ammonium Sulphate Imports in Vietnam and Their Supply Volume

Top 10 Suppliers in the Import Market of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam and Their Supply Volume

Top 10 Importers of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam and Their Import Volume

How to Find Distributors and End Users of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam

How Foreign Enterprises Enter the Fertilizer Market of Vietnam

Forecast for the Import of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam (2024-2033)

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 80 Forecast Period 2024 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $185.06 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $252.22 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.5% Regions Covered Vietnam





Key Topics Covered:



1 Overview of Vietnam

1.1 Geography of Vietnam

1.2 Economic Condition of Vietnam

1.3 Demographics of Vietnam

1.4 Domestic Market of Vietnam

1.5 Recommendations for Foreign Enterprises Entering the Vietnam Fertilizer Market



2 Analysis of Ammonium Sulphate Imports in Vietnam (2021-2024)

2.1 Import Scale of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam

2.1.1 Import Value and Volume of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam

2.1.2 Import Prices of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam

2.1.3 Apparent Consumption of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam

2.1.4 Import Dependency of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam

2.2 Major Sources of Ammonium Sulphate Imports in Vietnam



3 Analysis of Major Sources of Ammonium Sulphate Imports in Vietnam (2021-2024)

3.1 China

3.1.1 Analysis of Import Value and Volume

3.1.2 Analysis of Average Import Price

3.2 Japan

3.2.1 Analysis of Import Value and Volume

3.2.2 Analysis of Average Import Price

3.3 Hong Kong SAR

3.3.1 Analysis of Import Value and Volume

3.3.2 Analysis of Average Import Price

3.4 South Korea

3.5 Singapore

3.6 Taiwan



4 Analysis of Major Suppliers in the Import Market of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

4.1 CONG TY HUU HAN THUONG MAI CAM THANG HA KHAU

4.1.1 Company Introduction

4.1.2 Analysis of Ammonium Sulphate Exports to Vietnam

4.2 Fibrant (Shanghai) Chemical Co., Ltd.

4.2.1 Company Introduction

4.2.2 Analysis of Ammonium Sulphate Exports to Vietnam

4.3 Sojitz Corporation

4.3.1 Company Introduction

4.3.2 Analysis of Ammonium Sulphate Exports to Vietnam



5 Analysis of Major Importers in the Import Market of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam (2021-2024)

5.1 Thuy Ngan Trading Company Limited

5.1.1 Company Introduction

5.1.2 Analysis of Ammonium Sulphate Imports

5.2 Japan Vietnam Fertilizer Company

5.2.1 Company Introduction

5.2.2 Analysis of Ammonium Sulphate Imports

5.3 Agricultural Products and Materials

5.3.1 Company Introduction

5.3.2 Analysis of Ammonium Sulphate Imports



6. Monthly Analysis of Ammonium Sulphate Imports in Vietnam from 2021 to 2024

6.1 Analysis of Monthly Import Value and Volume

6.2 Forecast of Monthly Average Import Prices



7. Key Factors Affecting Ammonium Sulphate Imports in Vietnam

7.1 Policy

7.1.1 Current Import Policies

7.1.2 Trend Predictions for Import Policies

7.2 Economic

7.2.1 Market Prices

7.2.2 Growth Trends of Ammonium Sulphate Production Capacity in Vietnam

7.3 Technology



8. Forecast for the Import of Ammonium Sulphate in Vietnam, 2024-2033

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f6jtq1

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Farm Automated Weather Stations (AWS) - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global market for Farm Automated Weather Stations (AWS) was estimated at US$101.7 Million in 2023 and is projected to reach US$155.1 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions.







The growth of the global farm automated weather stations market is being driven by several key factors, including the increasing demand for precision farming technologies, rising concerns about climate change, and the growing need for sustainable agriculture practices. One of the primary drivers is the rising adoption of precision farming techniques, which rely on real-time data to enhance farming efficiency and productivity. As farmers seek to optimize crop yields while minimizing resource use, AWS systems provide the crucial weather data needed to implement these techniques effectively. By monitoring variables like temperature, humidity, and rainfall, AWS systems enable farmers to make data-driven decisions about planting, irrigation, and pest management, improving overall farm efficiency and reducing input costs. The expansion of precision farming, particularly in developed regions like North America and Europe, is contributing to the growing demand for AWS systems.



Another significant driver of market growth is the increasing impact of climate change on agriculture. As weather patterns become more unpredictable, farmers are facing greater risks from extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and storms. Farm AWS systems help mitigate these risks by providing real-time weather data and forecasts, allowing farmers to adapt their practices in response to changing conditions. For instance, AWS systems can alert farmers to upcoming weather events, such as frosts or heatwaves, enabling them to take preventive measures to protect crops. This ability to manage climate risks is becoming increasingly important as climate variability intensifies, driving demand for AWS systems that offer accurate and timely data.



The global focus on sustainability is also a major factor driving the growth of the farm AWS market. With growing awareness of the environmental impact of traditional farming practices, there is increasing pressure on the agriculture industry to adopt more sustainable methods that reduce resource consumption and environmental degradation. Farm AWS systems promote sustainability by providing the data needed to optimize resource use, such as water and fertilizers. For example, by monitoring soil moisture levels and weather conditions, AWS systems can help farmers implement more efficient irrigation practices, reducing water waste and ensuring that crops receive the right amount of water. These systems also support sustainable pest management by enabling farmers to apply treatments only when necessary, reducing the use of harmful pesticides. The alignment of AWS systems with sustainability goals is driving their adoption across the agriculture industry, particularly in regions where environmental regulations are becoming more stringent.



Moreover, the increasing affordability and accessibility of farm AWS systems are contributing to market growth. Technological advancements have made AWS systems more affordable for small and medium-sized farms, expanding their reach beyond large commercial operations. As more farmers recognize the benefits of real-time weather data in improving farm management and profitability, the demand for AWS systems is expected to rise. Additionally, government initiatives and subsidies promoting the adoption of smart farming technologies are encouraging farmers to invest in AWS systems, further fueling market growth.



The combination of the rising demand for precision agriculture, the need to manage climate risks, the push for sustainability, and the increasing affordability of AWS systems is driving robust growth in the global farm automated weather stations market. As agriculture continues to evolve in response to environmental challenges and technological advancements, AWS systems will remain a critical tool for optimizing farming practices and ensuring the resilience of agricultural operations worldwide.

Why You Should Buy This Report:

Detailed Market Analysis: Access a thorough analysis of the Global Farm Automated Weather Stations (AWS) Market, covering all major geographic regions and market segments.

Competitive Insights: Get an overview of the competitive landscape, including the market presence of major players across different geographies.

Future Trends and Drivers: Understand the key trends and drivers shaping the future of the Global Farm Automated Weather Stations (AWS) Market.

Actionable Insights: Benefit from actionable insights that can help you identify new revenue opportunities and make strategic business decisions.

Key Insights:

Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Hardware Component segment, which is expected to reach US$118.0 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of a 6.0%. The Software Component segment is also set to grow at 6.8% CAGR over the analysis period.

Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, which was estimated at $26.7 Million in 2023, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 6.0% CAGR to reach $24.9 Million by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific.

Report Features:

Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2023 to 2030.

In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.

Company Profiles: Coverage of major players in the Farm Automated Weather Stations (AWS) market such as AIRMAR Technology Corporation, Ambient Weather, Campbell Scientific, Inc., Davis Instruments, DEGREANE HORIZON and more.

Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 181 Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $101.7 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $155.1 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.2% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:

MARKET OVERVIEW

Influencer Market Insights

World Market Trajectories

Farm Automated Weather Stations (AWS) - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2024 (E)

Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2024 (E)

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Rising Focus on Climate-Smart Agriculture Bodes Well for Farm AWS Market Growth

Case Overview: Growth in Demand for Drought and Flood Monitoring Expands Market for Farm AWS Solutions

Technological Advancements in AI and Predictive Analytics Propel Growth in Automated Weather Stations

Focus on Reducing Crop Losses Due to Weather Variability Strengthens Market Demand for AWS

Increasing Adoption of AWS in Irrigation Management Expands Addressable Market for Precision Farming Solutions

Focus on Integrating Weather Data with Farm Management Systems Expands Opportunities for AWS Adoption

Increasing Use of AWS for Pest and Disease Forecasting Strengthens Market Adoption in Farming

Rising Focus on Sustainable Water Management and Conservation Expands Market Scope for AWS Solutions

Increasing Demand for Automated Weather Stations in Livestock and Dairy Farming Expands Market Reach

Case Overview: Growth in Agri-Tech Investments Bodes Well for Farm Automated Weather Stations Market Growth

FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS:Some of the 52 companies featured in this Farm Automated Weather Stations (AWS) market report include

AIRMAR Technology Corporation

Ambient Weather

Campbell Scientific, Inc.

Davis Instruments

DEGREANE HORIZON

Delta-T Devices Ltd.

Environmental Measurements Ltd.

G. Lufft Mess- und Regeltechnik GmbH

Gill Instruments Limited

Kaizen Imperial

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5x39po

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Charleston, SC, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The latest spy novel from Palmetto Publishing has its secrets rooted in truth. A former intelligence agent-turned-author brings a formidable grasp on criminal justice and a deep study on international espionage to the thriller genreand the results are absolutely unforgettable.

Shortly after he is recruited into the U.S. Secret Service, agent John Quinlan becomes swept up in a mission to bring down a dangerous counterfeit ring that has been a longtime burden on national security. Quinlans work earns him a prestigious appointment to Room 23, the presidential protection division.

But Quinlan soon learns that, tied up with the APEX criminal syndicate that runs the counterfeit operation, there is a deadly conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of governmentone that could endanger the life of the President himself. As the threat evolves to target multiple national leaders, the security of the global order hangs in the balance. To save his nation, Quinlan is forced to navigate the darkest reaches of international intelligence, wading through the murky waters of the CIA, the NSA, and MI-5.

Author Sean Quarmby is a former Secret Service agent, bringing a rare authenticity to the suspense and intrigue of espionage thrillers. Quinlans journey is based on Quarmbys real experiences, creating a penetrating narrative that will please readers of true crime, real-life espionage, and spy fiction alike. For anyone ready to take a plunge into the dark heart of American intelligence, this is a suspense novel you dont want to miss.

Room 23 is available for purchase online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. For more information about the author, please visit any of his social media platforms.

Facebook: Sean Quarmby

Instagram: @seanquarmby

Twitter: @QuarmbySean

Blog: SeanQs Briefing Room  SeanQuarmby.com

About the Author:

Former Secret Service agent Sean Quarmby was a master of physical protection and protective intelligence for the Clinton and Bush administrations and a key player in the preservation of democracy. An accomplished figure in security and investigations, he helped craft legislation on identity theft, made enormous contributions in how the U.S. fights financial crime, and currently teaches as a professor of criminal justice in North Carolina. Now bringing espionage to life with heart-pounding adrenaline and the inescapable ring of truth, Quarmby crafts cant-miss political thrillers that take readers on a journey into the darkest reaches of national intelligence.

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Rockaway, New Jersey, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TOPDON USA, the premier provider of cutting-edge technology and advanced tools for auto repair professionals and enthusiasts, announced today an agreement with Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) to help educate students attending the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program. Through the companys global TOP-UP program, the company has donated over $250,000 in cash and products to prepare the next generation of skilled automotive technicians through education, training and product donations worldwide.

Its exciting to watch our TOP-UP program grow across the U.S. to include one of the most iconic names in automotive racing, design and manufacturing, Carroll Shelby, said Chad Schnitz, Vice President of TOPDON USA. Its an honor to partner with the Northeast Texas Community College in support of Carrolls vision to support the next generation of automotive technicians through the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program.

The announcement, which was made today in the TOPDON US booth during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, was attended by Dr. Jon McCullough, Executive Vice President at NTCC, as well as students from the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program. Students at the press conference were each presented with a complimentary TopScan PRO. TOPDON also presented nearly 100 students from the TechForce Foundation who attended this years APEX Show with TopScan PRO diagnostic tool.

Carroll Shelby was committed to giving young people an opportunity to improve their lives through a career in the automotive industry, said McCullough. Thats why its so exciting to team up with companies like TOPDON who share Carrolls vision by helping students gain the training they need in automotive repair. Their team will provide us with their state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and support educational initiatives with our students. Im confident that Carroll would have welcomed TOPDONs efforts to support the students enrolled in our program.

The Carroll Shelby Automotive Program was created in 2007 and is designed to prepare students for the workforce and offers degrees and certificates to help students meet their individual career goals. Students are trained in the basics of automotive knowledge with input from industry partners to prepare automotive technicians for the future.

TOPDONs TOP-UP program is a global initiative that was created in 2022 and introduced into the U.S. in 2022. The U.S. program supports community colleges and trade schools, as well as programs at higher learning institutions that are dedicated to building up the automotive trade workforce. The two-year agreement with NTCC includes a donation of TOPDONs professional series of tools including jump starters, power supply, thermal cameras and diagnostic scan tools, as well as product discounts for students and alumni of the college.

About TOPDON USA

Founded in 2017 and based in Rockaway, New Jersey, TOPDON USA is a provider of entry-level, mid-level, and advanced tools and solutions for professional technicians, as well as DIY enthusiasts. Globally, TOPDON has over 250 industry-leading engineers and owns over 500 patents and software copyrights. The companys cutting-edge technology helps shops minimize downtime and maximize profits. For more information visit www.topdon.us

About Northeast Texas Community College

Northeast Texas Community College is a public institution in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Its campus is in a rural area with a total enrollment of 3,091. The school utilizes a semester-based academic year. The student-faculty ratio is 20-to-1. The highest degree offered at Northeast Texas Community College is an associate degree. The school has an open admissions policy and offers credit for life experiences. Visit https://www.ntcc.edu/ for more information.

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NEW YORK, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monteverde & Associates PC (the M&A Class Action Firm), has recovered money for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2018-2022 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating Lumos Pharma Inc. (NYSE: LUMO), relating to its proposed merger with Double Point Ventures LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, Double Point Ventures will acquire Lumos Pharmas outstanding shares of common stock for $4.25 per share in cash, plus one non-transferable unsecured Contingent Value Right per share payable on achievement of certain milestones.

Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/lumos-pharma-inc-lumo/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

Do you file class actions and go to Court? When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders? What cases did you recover money in and how much?



About Monteverde & Associates PC

Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholdersand we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com

Tel: (212) 971-1341
Regina, Saskatchewan, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The new kikaskihtanaw Centre for Women and Families, a first of its kind in Canada, has opened in Regina, and Conexus is proud of be part of bringing this important new facility to life. The new YWCA Regina Centre provides a wrap-around hub of crisis and preventative supports, uplifting women, families, and the entire community.

Conexus Credit Union is a proud sponsor of the kikaskihtanaw Centre and committed YWCA Regina partner. Conexus donation of $1.25 million to the project supports the creation of the Conexus Community Support Hub. The Hub is a key feature of the Centre, providing Reginas most vulnerable populations access to educational programs and resources that empower building a sustainable future and gaining access to a more permanent housing solution.

At the official opening ceremony on Nov. 6, Conexus CEO Celina Philpot noted that supporting these services is a natural fit with what cooperatives are all about  people coming together to support each other and to improve their communities.

"At Conexus, we stand for a thriving Saskatchewan where everyone can reach their full potential, says Philpot. This new Centre will be a critical hub for the community, creating safety and new beginnings for some of our most vulnerable women and children.

On behalf of our members, Conexus is proud to continue our long partnership with YWCA Regina and bring this visionary project to life."

"This facility represents a significant milestone in our mission to empower women and families," says Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO of YWCA Regina. "The Centre's comprehensive services will provide a safe haven and essential resources for those in need, fostering healing, hope, and independence."

The 96,000 square foot facility is in the heart of Reginas Cathedral neighbourhood, a few blocks west of Conexus Sherwood Place Branch.

About Conexus Credit Union

Were a forward-thinking, Saskatchewan-based credit union committed to our members and their financial well-being. Were a member-owned cooperative with more than 80 years of serving members and giving back to our community. Conexus purpose is to champion every members success for a thriving Saskatchewan.

About the Centre

The 96,000 square foot kikaskihtanaw Centre for Women and Families will operate with a trauma-informed approach and wrap-around services that provide crisis and preventative supports through the work of YWCA Regina, and partnerships with other community serving organizations and visiting practitioners. These wrap-around supports will address the barriers that keep vulnerable women and children in homelessness and violent situations. The building will also feature two floors of childcare, community multi-purpose spaces, a cafe and clothing store, access to drop-in supports and essential needs, communal kitchens, and indoor and outdoor play areas. Within the Centre, the sacred site space offers a one-of-a-kind healing walkway and ceremonial room stewarded by All Nations Hope Network that will provide access to cultural connection and Indigenous ways of knowing.

kikaskihtanaw - the place we all succeed

Pronunciation: kay-gush-key-dah-know-uh

Syllabics: 

About YWCA

YWCA Regina supports women and families in the realization of their full potential to the benefit of our entire community. They provide childcare, shelter and housing, community programs, family support programs, and outreach. YWCA Regina is a community voice for women and is a trusted partner in addressing the most complex community issues faced by women and our community.

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GRIMSBY, Ontario, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Andrew Peller Limited (ADW.A / ADW.B) (the Company) announced today that it has approved a quarterly common share dividend of $0.0615 per Class A Share and $0.0535 per Class B Share to be paid on January 10, 2025 to shareholders of record on December 31, 2024. The Company has consistently paid common share dividends since 1979. The Company currently designates all dividends paid as eligible dividends for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) unless indicated otherwise.

About Andrew Peller Limited

Andrew Peller Limited is one of Canadas leading producers and marketers of quality wines and craft spirits. The Companys awardwinning premium and ultrapremium Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) brands include Peller Estates, Trius, Thirty Bench, Wayne Gretzky, Sandhill, Red Rooster, Black Hills Estate, Tinhorn Creek, Gray Monk Estates, Raven Conspiracy and Conviction. Complementing these premium brands are a number of popularly priced varietal offerings, wine based liqueurs, craft ciders, and craft spirits. The Company owns and operates 101 wellpositioned independent retail locations in Ontario under The Wine Shop, Wine Country Vintners, and Wine Country Merchants store names. The Company also operates Andrew Peller Import Agency and The Small Winemakers Collection Inc., importers and marketing agents of premium wines from around the world. With a focus on serving the needs of all wine consumers, the Company produces and markets premium personal winemaking products through its whollyowned subsidiary, Global Vintners Inc. (GVI), the recognized leader in personal winemaking products. More information about the Company can be found at ir.andrewpeller.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forwardlooking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the safe harbour provision of the Securities Act (Ontario) with respect to Andrew Peller Limited and its subsidiaries. These forwardlooking statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties discussed in the Risks and Uncertainties section and elsewhere in the Companys MD&A and other risks detailed from time to time in the publicly filed disclosure documents of Andrew Peller Limited which are available at www.sedar.com. Forwardlooking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions which could cause actual results to differ materially from those conclusions, forecasts, or projections anticipated in these forwardlooking statements. The Companys forwardlooking statements are made only as of the date of this news release, and except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forwardlooking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Craig Armitage and Jennifer Smith

ir@andrewpeller.com

Source: Andrew Peller Limited
Press release

Montrouge, 6 November 2024

Credit Agricole Immobilier announces the closing of the acquisition

of Nexity Property Management

and becomes the leader of Property Management in France

Credit Agricole Immobilier is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Nexity Property Management, a Nexity subsidiary specialised in commercial and residential asset management. With this transaction, announced on 25 July 2024, Credit Agricole Immobilier becomes the leader in institutional property management, in France 1.

The acquisition of Nexity Property Management brings additional expertise to Credit Agricole Immobilier, ranging from advisory services to accounting and technical rental management, supervision of works, shopping malls management etc.

In addition, Nexity Property Managements powerful network of over 30 branches and offices across France, comes as an addition to strengthens Credit Agricole Immobiliers own presence. It supports Credit Agricole Immobilier in addressing the needs of its institutional customers, including the customers of the Regional Banks and subsidiaries of the Credit Agricole Group. This increased local footprint, will allow CAI to bring their expertise to clients investment projects, in line with the Universal Customer-focused Banking Model approach.

This new transaction, taking place 18 months after the acquisition of Sudeco, a long-standing Property Management player and commercial property specialist, has established Credit Agricole Immobilier as the market leader with the most comprehensive range of services for institutional customers across all asset categories, from residential to commercial.

Overall, Credit Agricole Immobilier now manages more than 11,000 assets.

For Nexity, this transaction is fully aligned with the groups roadmap, specifically with the refocusing strategy launched in 2023.

This transaction has no significant impact on Credit Agricole S.A.s CET1 ratio and should generate a return on investment that is in line with Credit Agricoles policy.

ABOUT CREDIT AGRICOLE IMMOBILIER

A subsidiary of the Credit Agricole Group, Credit Agricole Immobilier supports its individual, corporate and public authority customers with real estate projects throughout France while upholding three fundamental principles: sustainability and performance of buildings, respect for the environment and decarbonisation, and social cohesion and inclusion.

As a partner in the most ambitious property development projects, we work with our customers to create value throughout their projects: transaction, letting, rental management, co-ownership associations, property strategy, residential and commercial development, refurbishment, renovation, development of spaces, property management and operation.

To find out more, visit: www.ca-immobilier.fr/nous-connaitre

CREDIT AGRICOLE IMMOBILIER PRESS CONTACT

Vanessa Feugeres  +33 (0)7 86 84 19 15  vanessa.feugeres@ca-immobilier.fr

NEXITY, LIFE TOGETHER

With revenues of 4.3 billion in 2023, Nexity, the leading global real estate operator, is present all over France and operates in all areas of development and services. Our strategy as leading global real estate operator allows us to meet all our clients needs, whether they are individuals, corporates, institutions or authorities. Our raison detre life together reflects our commitment to create sustainable spaces, neighbourhoods and towns for them, that help them to build and rebuild connections. For the sixth consecutive year, Nexity was ranked the top contracting authority by Association pour le developpement du Batiment Bas Carbone (BBCA  a French low-carbon building association), is a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, Best Workplaces 2021 and was certified a Great Place to Work in September 2022.

Nexity is listed on Service de Reglement Differe (SRD  Deferred Settlement Service), in Compartment A of Euronext and on the SBF 120.

NEXITY PRESS CONTACTS

Cyril Rizk  Media Relations Manager / +33(0)6 73 49 72 61  presse@nexity.fr

Emma Durel  Media Relations Officer / +33 (0)6 99 14 09 28  presse@nexity.fr

Anne-Sophie Lanaute  Head of Investor Relations and Financial Communications / +33 (0)6 58 17 24 22 - investorrelations@nexity.fr

1 In terms of revenues, source: Xerfi.

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VANCOUVER, Nov. 05, 2024 - Imperial Metals Corp. (the "Company") (TSX:III) reports financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

FINANCIAL

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $63.7 million to $74.2 million in Q3 2024 compared to $10.5 million in Q3 2023.

Total revenue was $146.1 million in the September 2024 quarter compared to $78.5 million in the 2023 comparative quarter.

In the September 2024 quarter, the Red Chris mine (100% basis) had 4.0 concentrate shipments (2023-3.4 concentrate shipments). Mount Polley mine had 2.0 concentrate shipments (2023-1.2 concentrate shipments).

Variations in revenue are impacted by the increased quantity of concentrate sold, timing and quantity of concentrate shipments, metal prices and exchange rates, and period end revaluations of revenue attributed to concentrate shipments where copper and gold prices will settle at a future date.

The London Metals Exchange cash settlement copper price per pound averaged US$4.17 in the September 2024 quarter compared to US$3.79 in the 2023 comparative quarter. The LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) gold price per troy ounce averaged US$2,476 in the September 2024 quarter compared to US$1,929 in the 2023 comparative quarter. The average US/CDN Dollar exchange rate was 1.364 in the September 2024 quarter, 1.7% higher than the exchange rate of 1.341 in the September 2023 quarter. In CDN Dollar terms the average copper price in the September 2024 quarter was CDN$5.69 per pound compared to CDN$5.08 per pound in the 2023 comparative quarter, and the average gold price in the September 2024 quarter was CDN$3,377 per ounce compared to CDN$2,587 per ounce in the 2023 comparative quarter.

A revenue revaluation in the September 2024 quarter was $1.1 million as compared to a negative revenue revaluation of $(3.4) million in the 2023 comparative quarter. Revenue revaluations are the result of the metal price on the settlement date and/or the current period balance sheet date being higher or lower than when the revenue was initially recorded or the metal price at the last balance sheet date and finalization of contained metal as a result of final assays and weights.

Net income for the September 2024 quarter was $32.3 million ($0.20 income per share) compared to net loss of $2.9 million ($0.02 loss per share) in the 2023 comparative quarter. The increase in net income of $35.2 million primarily due to the following factors:

Income from mine operations went from $0.5 million in the September 2023 quarter to an income of $60.4 million in September 2024, increasing net income by $59.9 million

Interest expense went from $8.7 million in September 2023 to $9.2 million in September 2024, reducing net income by $0.5 million, and

Income and mining tax went from a recovery of $9.0 million in September 2023 to tax expense of $14.3 million on September 2024, reducing net income by $23.3 million.



Capital expenditures including leases were $64.4 million in the September 2024 quarter, an increase of $24.6 million from $39.8 million in the 2023 comparative quarter. The September 2024 quarter expenditures included $2.9 million in exploration and development, $22.7 million for tailings dam construction, $12.7 million on stripping costs, and $26.1 million of other capital.

At September 30, 2024, the Company had not hedged any copper, gold or US/CDN Dollar exchange. Quarterly revenues will fluctuate depending on copper and gold prices, the US/CDN Dollar exchange rate, and the timing of concentrate sales, which is dependent on concentrate production and the availability and scheduling of transportation.

OPERATIONS

During the quarter ended September 30, 2024, Imperial's consolidated metal production was 15,515,080 pounds copper and 13,551 ounces gold, of which 9,821,882 pounds copper and 9,527 ounces gold were produced at Mount Polley and 5,693,198 pounds copper and 4,024 ounces gold from its 30% share of Red Chris mine production.

Mount Polley Mine

Mount Polley metal production for the third quarter of 2024 was 9,821,882 pounds copper and 9,527 ounces gold, compared to 9,281,498 pounds copper and 10,009 ounces gold produced during the second quarter of 2024.

Mill throughput in the third quarter was down by 2%, with 1.694 million tonnes being treated compared with 1.714 million tonnes treated in the second quarter of 2024. Copper production in the third quarter 2024 was up by 6% largely on higher copper grade, 0.316% copper versus 0.294% copper in the second quarter of 2024.

Compared to the third quarter of 2023, mill throughput was up 8.6%, with 1.694 million tonnes being treated compared with 1.560 million tonnes treated in the third quarter of 2023. Copper production in the third quarter 2024 was up by 21.9%, compared to the same quarter in 2023, with copper grade, recovery and mill throughput all higher. Gold production was lower at 9,527 ounces in the third quarter of 2024 compared to 11,321 ounces produced in the comparative quarter of 2023 on lower grades and recovery which were partially offset by higher throughput.

For the nine months of 2024, copper production was up 21% compared to the same period last year with 16% increase in throughput while gold production was down 6%, with lower gold grades and recovery offsetting the higher throughput.

Stripping for the Phase 5 pushback of the Springer pit continues and approximately 3.97 million tonnes from this pushback was mined to the end of September 2024, with much of this material hauled to the TSF for buttress construction.

Three Months Ended

September 30 Nine Months Ended

September 30 2024 2023 2024 2023 Ore milled - tonnes 1,694,355 1,560,270 5,080,190 4,380,748 Ore milled per calendar day - tonnes 18,417 16,959 18,541 16,047 Grade % - copper 0.316 0.295 0.287 0.282 Grade g/t - gold 0.251 0.322 0.265 0.320 Recovery % - copper 83.2 79.5 82.2 80.1 Recovery % - gold 69.7 70.1 68.2 69.9 Copper - 000's pounds 9,822 8,057 26,459 21,798 Gold - ounces 9,527 11,321 29,544 31,485

Exploration, development, and capital expenditures in the third quarter of 2024 were $27.8 million compared to $13.1 million in the 2023 comparative quarter.

Red Chris Mine

Red Chris production (100%) for the third quarter of 2024 was 18,977,325 pounds copper and 13,414 ounces gold compared to 20,731,379 pounds copper and 12,531ounces gold during the second quarter of 2024.

The reduction in copper production was primarily due to lower throughput, which was partially offset by the higher recovery. The current quarter throughput was 21,690 tonnes per day compared to 27,357 tonnes per day to the second quarter 2024. There was a 21% decrease in throughput and an 8% increase in copper grade (0.504% vs 0.466%). Gold production in the third quarter 2024 was up 7% (13,414 oz vs 12,531 oz) compared to the second quarter 2024 as result of a 21% increase in gold grades (0.37 g/t gold vs 0.30 g/t gold), which was partially offset by lower throughput.

In the 2024 third quarter, Red Chris copper production was up 38% and gold production was up 33.5% compared to the third quarter of 2023. The increase in copper production was a result of a 45.7% increase in copper grade (0.50% vs 0.35%) and an 8.6% increase in recovery (85.6% vs 78.8%). The increase in gold production was a result of a 41.2% increase in gold grade (0.365 g/t vs 0.258 g/t) and an 8.5% increase in recovery (57.3% vs 52.8%).

For the nine months of 2024, copper production was up 44% compared to the same period last year on higher copper grades and gold production was up 4% on higher gold grades.

Imperial's 30% portion of Red Chris mine for the third quarter of 2024 was 5,693,198 pounds copper and 4,024 ounces gold.

100% Red Chris mine production Three Months Ended

September 30 Nine Months Ended

September 30 2024 2023 2024 2023 Ore milled - tonnes 1,995,442 2,288,860 6,585,328 6,737,288 Ore milled per calendar day - tonnes 21,690 24,879 24,034 24,679 Grade % - copper 0.504 0.346 0.466 0.340 Grade g/t - gold 0.365 0.258 0.308 0.304 Recovery % - copper 85.6 78.8 83.2 77.3 Recovery % - gold 57.3 52.8 54.3 51.9 Copper - 000's pounds 18,977 13,753 56,369 39,072 Gold - ounces 13,414 10,048 35,452 34,224

Imperial's 30% share of exploration, development, and capital expenditures were $36.1 million in the September 2024 quarter compared to $26.0 million in the 2023 comparative quarter.

Several capital projects are underway to improve safety and site efficiency; a coarse ore stockpile cover is being installed, a tailings thickener is being added to the circuit to recycle water to the mill along with other improvements.

Block Cave Project Update

The Red Chris JV permitting group continue work to advance the required permitting approvals for the planned Block Cave mine, as they continue to work collaboratively with both Tahltan and British Columbia governments through the process.

Red Chris Block Cave feasibility study work is focused on permitting, capital cost estimate and schedule refinement to ensure accuracy and execution so that a feasibility study can be delivered in advance of receiving final permitting for the block cave.

The underground development has continued with a total of 10,762 metres (including all vent drives) completed to the end of September 2024, with 266 metres completed in the quarter. The work on the decline to access the extraction level (Nagha decline) did not advance in the quarter. Development work focused on the three conveyor declines which have advanced 2,408 metres to the end of September 2024.

Underground development activities will be aligned to the permitting schedule with the Nagha decline expected to be completed to the extraction level elevation by June 2025

Huckleberry Mine

Huckleberry operations ceased in August 2016 and the mine remains on care and maintenance status.

Site personnel continue to focus on maintaining site access, water management (treatment and release of mine contact water into Tahtsa Reach), snow removal, maintenance of site infrastructure and equipment, mine permit compliance, environmental compliance monitoring and monitoring tailings management facilities.

For the September 2024 quarter, Huckleberry incurred idle mine costs comprised of $1.9 million in operating costs and $0.3 million in depreciation expense compared to $2.0 million in operating cost and $0.2 million in depreciation expense in the comparable quarter of 2023.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

The technical and scientific information related to the Company's mineral projects has been reviewed and approved by Brian Kynoch, P.Eng., President of Imperial Metals, and a designated Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

Jim Miller-Tait, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration with Imperial Metals, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the Red Chris, Mount Polley and Huckleberry mines and greenfield exploration programs.

EARNINGS AND CASH FLOW

Select Quarter Financial Information

expressed in thousands of dollars,

except share and per share amounts

Three Months Ended

September 30 Nine Months Ended

September 30 2024 2023 2024 2923 Operations: Total revenues $146,098 $78,485 $362,397 $256,910 Net income (loss) $32,268 $(2,911 ) $43,473 $(26,213 ) Net income (loss) per share $0.20 $(0.02 ) $0.27 $(0.17 ) Diluted income (loss) per share $0.20 $(0.02 ) $0.27 $(0.17 ) Adjusted net income (loss) (1) $32,268 $(2,955 ) $43,397 $(26,266 ) Adjusted net income (loss) per share (1) $0.20 $(0.02 ) $0.27 $(0.17 ) Adjusted EBITDA (1) $74,243 $10,483 $139,585 $17,333 Cash earnings (1)(2) $72,720 $9,841 $137,174 $16,515 Cash earnings per share (1)(2) $0.45 $0.06 $0.85 $0.11 Working capital deficiency

$(151,915 ) $(152,990 ) $(151,915 ) $(152,990 ) Total assets $1,534,533 $1,369,152 $1,534,533 $1,369,152 Total debt (including current portion) $378,347 $292,419 $378,347 $292,419 (1) Refer to Non-IFRS Financial Measures for further details. (2) Cash earnings is defined as the cash flow from operations before the net change in non-cash working capital balances, income and mining taxes, and interest paid. Cash earnings per share is defined as cash earnings divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Company reports four non-IFRS financial measures: adjusted net income (loss), adjusted EBITDA, cash earnings and cash cost per pound of copper produced which are described in detail below. The Company believes these measures are useful to investors because they are included in the measures that are used by management in assessing the financial performance of the Company.

Adjusted net income (loss), adjusted EBITDA, cash earnings and cash cost per pound of copper are not standardized financial measures under IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers.

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Adjusted net income (loss) is derived from operating net income (loss) by removing the gains or loss, resulting from acquisition and disposal of property, mark to market revaluation of derivative instruments not related to the current period, net of tax, unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses on non-current debt, net of tax and other non-recurring items. Adjusted net income in the September 2024 quarter was $32.3 million ($0.20 income per share) compared to an adjusted net loss of $3.0 million ($0.02 loss per share) in the 2023 comparative quarter. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) helps investors better understand the results of our normal operating activities and the ongoing cash generating potential of our business.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA in the September 2024 quarter was $74.2 million compared to an adjusted EBITDA of $10.5 million in the 2023 comparative quarter. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest expense, taxes, depletion, and depreciation, and as adjusted for certain other items.

Cash Earnings and Cash Earnings Per Share

Cash earnings in the September 2024 quarter was $72.7 million compared to $9.8 million in the 2023 comparative quarter. Cash earnings per share was $0.45 in the September 2024 quarter compared to $0.06 in the 2023 comparative quarter.

Cash earnings and cash earnings per share are measures used by the Company to evaluate its performance however they are not terms recognized under IFRS. We believe that the presentation of cash earnings and cash earnings per share is appropriate to provide additional information to investors about how well the Company can earn cash to pay its debts and manage its operating expenses and investment. Cash earnings is defined as cash flow from operations before the net change in non-cash working capital balances, income and mining taxes paid, and interest paid. Cash earnings per share is the same measure divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.

Cash Cost Per Pound of Copper Produced

Management uses this non-IFRS financial measure to monitor operating costs and profitability. The Company is primarily a copper producer and therefore calculates this non-IFRS financial measure individually for its three copper mines, Red Chris (30% share), Mount Polley and Huckleberry, and on a composite basis for these mines.

Variations from period to period in the cash cost per pound of copper produced are the result of many factors including: grade, metal recoveries, amount of stripping charged to operations, mine and mill operating conditions, labour and other cost inputs, transportation and warehousing costs, treatment and refining costs, the amount of by-product and other revenues, the US$ to CDN$ exchange rate and the amount of copper produced.

Calculation of Cash Cost Per Pound of Copper Produced

expressed in thousands, except cash cost per pound of copper produced



Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Mount Polley Red Chris Composite Cash cost of copper produced in US$ $1,016 $19,263 $20,278 Copper produced - 000's pounds 9,822 5,693 15,515 Cash cost per lb copper produced in US$ $0.10 $3.38 $1.31 expressed in thousands, except cash cost per pound of copper produced



Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 Mount Polley Red Chris Composite Cash cost of copper produced in US$ $14,025 $18,253 $32,278 Copper produced - 000's pounds 8,057 4,126 12,183 Cash cost per lb copper produced in US$ $1.74 $4.42 $2.65





expressed in thousands, except cash cost per pound of copper produced



Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Mount Polley Red Chris Composite Cash cost of copper produced in US$ $21,130 $57,389 $78,520 Copper produced - 000's pounds 26,458 16,910 43,368 Cash cost per lb copper produced in US$ $0.80 $3.39 $1.81 expressed in thousands, except cash cost per pound of copper produced



Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 Mount Polley Red Chris Composite Cash cost of copper produced in US$ $46,987 $55,243 $102,230 Copper produced - 000's pounds 21,798 11,722 33,520 Cash cost per lb copper produced in US$ $2.16 $4.71 $3.05

---

For detailed information, refer to Imperial's 2024 Third Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis available on imperialmetals.com and sedarplus.ca.



About Imperial

Imperial is a Vancouver based exploration, mine development and operating company with holdings that include the Mount Polley mine (100%), the Huckleberry mine (100%), and the Red Chris mine (30%). Imperial also holds a portfolio of 23 greenfield exploration properties in British Columbia.

Company Contacts

Brian Kynoch | President | 604.669.8959

Darb S. Dhillon | Chief Financial Officer | 604.669.8959

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this news release are not statements of historical fact and are "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Company management's expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, specific statements regarding the Company's expectations with respect to its ability to remain on track to achieve 2024 guidance; the continuation of work (including refinements of capital cost estimates and schedules) to advance preparation for the feasibility study and required permitting approvals for Red Chris' planned Block Cave mine; the alignment of Red Chris underground development activities to the permitting schedule and the expectation that the Red Chris Nagha decline will be completed to the extraction level elevation by the end of 2024; the care and maintenance activities at the Huckleberry mine; and more general statements regarding the Company's expectations with respect to its business and operations; metal pricing and demand; fluctuation of revenues; metal production guidance and estimates; and expectations regarding the usefulness of non-IFRS financial measures including adjusted net income (loss), adjusted EBITDA, cash earnings and cash cost per pound of copper.

In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "outlook", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. By their very nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on information currently available to the Company as well as the Company's current beliefs and assumptions. These factors and assumptions and beliefs and assumptions include, the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company's interim and annual financial statements and management's discussion and analysis of those statements, and the risk factors detailed in the Company's Annual Information Form, all of which are filed and available for review on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and all forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements.
Thunder Bay Ontario, November 5, 2024 - Metals Creek Resources Corp. (TSXV: MEK) (FSE: M1C1) (the "Company" or Metals Creek) announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of flow-through and non flow-through units (the "Private Placement"). The Private placement is expected to close on or before November 30, 2024.

The Company intends to issue up to 14,285,715 flow-through units at a price of $0.035 per unit (the "FT Units") for aggregate proceeds of up to $500,000. Each FT Unit will consist of one flow-through common share (the "FT Shares") and one half of a non flow-through common share purchase warrant (the "FT Warrants"). Each full FT Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional non flow-through common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.07 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue. The FT Shares will entitle the holder to receive the tax benefits applicable to flow-through shares, in accordance with provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The Company also intends to issue up to 10,000,000 non flow-through units at a price of $0.03 per unit (the "NFT Units") for aggregate proceeds of up to $300,000. Each NFT Unit will consist of one non flow-through common share and one non flow-through common share purchase warrant (the "NFT Warrants"). Each NFT Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional non flow-through common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.05 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue.

In connection with the private placement, the company may pay finders' fees in cash or securities or a combination of both, as permitted by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period. The Private Placement is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

The proceeds raised from the FT Units will be used for exploration on the companies Tillex Copper Project, the Yellow Fox/Careless Cove/ Clarks Brook Antimony-Gold Property and the Ogden Gold Property and will ensure that such Canadian Exploration Expenses qualify as a "flow-through mining expenditure" for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), related to the exploration of the Company's exploration projects.

About Metals Creek Resources Corp.

Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a junior exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and has its common shares listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol "MEK". Metals Creek has earned a 50% interest in the Ogden Gold Property from Newmont Corp., including the former Naybob Gold mine, located 6 km south of Timmins, Ontario and has an 8 km strike length of the prolific Porcupine-Destor Fault (P-DF). In addition, Metals Creek owns and/or has option agreements in place to acquire a 100% interest in claims in the Shabaqua Corners area of North western Ontario.

Metals Creek also has multiple quality projects available for option which can be viewed on the Company's website. Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact the Company at the number below.

Additional information concerning the Company is contained in documents filed by the Company with securities regulators, available under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/228996
VANCOUVER, Nov. 06, 2024 - Latin Metals Inc. ("Latin Metals" or the "Company") - (TSXV: LMS) (OTCQB: LMSQF), is pleased to announce it has successfully completed payment obligations to the underlying owner (the "Vendor") to vest a 71% ownership interest in the Cerro Bayo and La Flora properties (collectively "Cerro Bayo" or the "Properties") in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, strengthening the Company's precious metals portfolio. Latin Metals has an option for 100% ownership, subject to a 0.75% NSR royalty (of which 0.5% can be purchased for US$1 million).

Exploration Potential at Cerro Bayo

The Cerro Bayo and La Flora properties, previously optioned out to Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: GOLD) ("Barrick"), have undergone extensive surface exploration and drill targeting (Figure 1). Located within the prolific Deseado Massif, a region known for high-grade gold-silver deposits, the properties exhibit evidence for the existence of low-sulfidation epithermal systems. The geological model indicates potential for gold-silver bonanza vein mineralization at accessible depths of 150 to 200 meters.

The district's closest high-grade analog is Newmont's Cerro Negro mine, located 70 kilometers north, where similar ore shoots are found below the palaeosurface, suggesting substantial potential for high-grade discoveries at Cerro Bayo.

A major west-northwest trending dextral structure is interpreted as a transtensional fault defining a favourable structural zone 6km wide, traversing the entire Cerro Bayo property.

Gold and silver grades are related to As, Sb, Hg, and Mo pathfinder elements (Figure 1), indicating a shallow epithermal system. Silver-gold ratios vary from 10:1 to 200:1. Higher grade gold concentrates about 100m to 150m below palaeosurface. Although outcrop is sparse, various veins have been mapped and samples (Figure 2).

Drill Permit and Partnership Strategy

Latin Metals has been working towards a drill permit at Cerro Bayo and expects to conclude that process in Q4 2024. The Company is actively seeking an option partner to complete comprehensive exploration activities, including trenching, gradient array induced polarization (IP), CSAMT, and initial drill testing in 2025.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Adjacent Property

Readers are cautioned that the Cerro Negro mine discussed above is adjacent properties and that the Company has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in the deposit, and that mineral deposits on adjacent or similar properties, and any production therefore or economics with respect thereto, are not in any way indicative of mineral deposits on Latin Metals' properties or the potential production from, or cost or economics of, any future mining of any of Latin Metals' mineral properties.

Figure 1: Summary of key exploration completed by Barrick showing detailed alteration mapping, magnetic data, drill taregt areas, scematic cross sections and interpretation of transtensional basin and estimated depth to target mineralization.

Figure 2: a) channel sample of hydrothermal breccia on Sasha vein where rock ship samples return 1.2 g/t gold and 285 g/t silver. b) Ingrid northwest striking quart vein outcrop grading 2.1 g/t gold and 460 g/t silver. c) Euginia opaline silica replacement. d) northwest trending quartz vein. e) Gabriela crystalline quartz breccia with silicifies volcanosedimentary clasts grading 1.68 g/t gold and 27.4 g/t silver. f) Julia quartz vein with fine saccharoidal texture grading 0.7 g/t gold.

Value Proposition in Santa Cruz Province

Santa Cruz Province, known as Argentina's premier mining region, represents a key area for gold and silver production, contributing approximately 42% of the country's total mineral exports. Supported by robust infrastructure and a skilled workforce, the province boasts six operating mines, including AngloGold Ashanti's (NYSE: AU) Cerro Vanguardia, which has been in operation for over 25 years. This proven mining district offers both stability and significant potential for resource growth, making it an attractive destination for exploration and investment.

The province's precious metals production in 2023 reached notable levels, with over 680,000 ounces of gold and 15.2 million ounces of silver extracted, emphasizing its geological wealth. Since 1990, nearly 600 million ounces of silver and 20 million ounces of gold have been discovered within the region, reflecting a rich exploration history with demonstrable discovery record.

Santa Cruz's mining sector supports approximately 9,000 jobs, accounting for 22.5% of Argentina's national mining workforce, with one in four of the country's miners employed within the Province. This workforce is bolstered by a mining-friendly regulatory environment and established infrastructure that includes well-developed transportation and energy resources. Such factors reinforce the investment value of Santa Cruz, where Latin Metals' Cerro Bayo project is strategically positioned to benefit from this well-supported mining ecosystem and proven discovery potential.

About Latin Metals

Latin Metals is a mineral exploration company acquiring a diversified portfolio of assets in South America. The Company operates with a Prospect Generator model focusing on the acquisition of prospective exploration properties at minimum cost, completing initial evaluation through cost-effective exploration to establish drill targets, and ultimately securing joint venture partners to fund drilling and advanced exploration. Shareholders gain exposure to the upside of a significant discovery without the dilution associated with funding the highest-risk drill-based exploration.

Stay up-to-date on Latin Metals developments by joining our online communities on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Qualified Person

Keith J. Henderson, P.Geo., is the Company's qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for portions of this news release. He has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Henderson is not independent of the Company, as he is an employee of the Company and holds securities of the Company.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

LATIN METALS INC.

"Keith Henderson"

President & CEO

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's web site (www.latin-metals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

For further information, please contact:

Keith Henderson

Suite 890 - 999 West Hastings Street,

Vancouver, BC, V6C 2W2

Phone: 604-638-3456

E-mail: info@latin-metals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Property and otherwise, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, and the Company's expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral properties, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves on the Properties, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious and base metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Company's Argentine projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Company projects, and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities at the Properties, including the geological mapping, prospecting and sampling programs being proposed for the Properties (the "Programs"), actual results of exploration activities, including the Programs, estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, the availability of a sufficient supply of water and other materials, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals and copper, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, any current or future property acquisitions, financing or other planned activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, hedging practices, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual management's discussion and analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f56a3f78-687b-48aa-b61f-e799da0815ff

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ce7af91a-53d3-4937-ac63-78750c059f27
VANCOUVER, November 06, 2024 - SALi Lithium Corp. (CSE: SALI) (the "Company" or "SALi") is pleased to provide a corporate update on its Argentina and Canadian lithium projects.

El Quemado Project, Salta, Argentina

SALi's El Quemado Project in Salta, Argentina spans 58,290-hectares and are host to several lithium-bearing pegmatites. Key highlights from previous exploration activities, including work by SALi, at El Quemado include:

Sample assays* are ranging from nil to 2.02% LiO (n = 283 samples)

Identification of 10 key targets for follow-up exploration.

Satellite imaging revealed 874 potential pegmatites targets with a total strike length of 47.6 km.

The El Quemado district is characterized by pegmatites emplaced mainly in the regional metamorphic basement, associated with numerous small granitic bodies, further confirming the potential for substantial lithium occurrences in the region.

SALi is awaiting approval of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS). Upon receiving the necessary permits, the Company plans to initiate a comprehensive exploration program.

*Considers channel and rock samples of all lithologies

Huaytiquina Project, Salta, Argentina

The Company reports that it has acquired the Huaytiquina Project, a lithium brine project located in the Salar del Rincon basin. The 7,625-hectare project lays within the Altiplano-Puna high plateau known for significant lithium resources. Highlights from historical exploration work includes:

Piezometric wells and hydrochemical analysis of brines conducted to evaluate the radius of influence and the chemical composition of the brine reservoir indicated a high concentration of lithium, among other valuable minerals, in the region's brines.

The Project lies near the Catua Aquifer System and the Volcanic Aquifer Complex, both of which contribute to the area's water resources and are critical for lithium brine extraction.

The concessions are underlain by Miocene-age volcanic rocks, which could be related to the copper-gold metallogenic belt that extends through Chile and Argentina. This belt includes nearby deposits such as Taca-Taca (First Quantum) and Lindero (Mansfield).



Click Image To View Full Size

Sali Lithium Corp. Huaytiquina Concessions

Projects, Quebec, Canada

The Company confirms their significant land package in the James Bay Region of Quebec, Canada, aimed at advancing lithium pegmatite exploration. The claims total 34,442 hectares, positioning SALi to become a leading player in the exploration for lithium-bearing pegmatite properties in what is becoming one of the worlds' more significant hard rock lithium regions.

The Company has secured a 100% working interest in the following areas:

Noyau Project: 87 claims surrounding the Chavamond Project, covering 4,220 hectares.

Doree Riche Project: 613 claims around the Sacred Banana Project, covering 30,222 hectares.

This strategic acquisition aligns with the Company's vision to capitalize on the growing demand for lithium, driven by the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors. SALi intends to initiate early exploration activities on these acquired lands, following positive results from the area conducted by Whiterock Lithium Corp.



Click Image To View Full Size

Sali Lithium Corp. Chavamond Pegmatite Outcrops



Click Image To View Full Size

Sacred Banana Pegmatite Outcrops Adjacent to SALi's claims

Executive Team Update

SALi would also like to take this opportunity to thank Christina Blacker, the Company's outgoing Chief Financial Officer (CFO), for her hard work and dedication during her tenure. We wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Additionally, the Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Grant Smith as CFO, and Lisa Maxwell as its Corporate Secretary. We are confident that both appointments will contribute to the continued success and growth of SALi.

The Company also announces, subject to regulatory approval, it has granted 1,100,000 stock options ("Options") to purchase common shares of the Company to certain officers and consultants pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan. Such Options are exercisable into common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $0.15 per common share for a period of five years from the date of grant.

About SALi Lithium Corp.

SALi Lithium Corp. is a mineral exploration company dedicated to the discovery and development of lithium resources. The Company holds a controlling interest in the El Quemado Project, comprising 46 mining concessions totaling 58,290 hectares in Salta Province, Argentina. Additionally, the Company has a 100% interest in a 7,625-hectare lithium brine project in Huaytiquina, Salta, Argentina, and 34,442 hectares in the James Bay Region, Quebec, Canada which is well known for its potential to host lithium-bearing pegmatites.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Dustin Nanos

CEO and Director

1-587-577-9878

Email: Dustin@SouthAmericanLithium.com

Twitter: @Lithium_SALI

Website: www.SouthAmericanLithium.com

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information or statements (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance, or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements and are not guarantees of the future performance of the Company. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the Company's control and which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; and risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to the Company's operations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements for the reasons outlined above, as the expectations in the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect, and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Toronto, November 6, 2024 - Homeland Nickel Inc. ("Homeland Nickel" or the "Company") (TSX-V: SHL, OTC: SRCGF) is pleased to announce it has closed the previously announced acquisition of an additional 18.5% interest in Homeland Nickel Corporation ("HNC"), the U.S. subsidiary holding the rights to the mining claims at the Company's Cleopatra and Red Flat nickel laterite properties.

During June and July of 2024, Homeland Nickel successfully negotiated with six of the seven minority shareholders of HNC to acquire 85,990 common shares in the capital of HNC (the "HNC Shares"), representing an 18.5% interest in HNC. Following the acquisition, Homeland Nickel's ownership of HNC increased to 98.5% (from the previous 80%). In exchange for the HNC Shares, the Company issued to the shareholders of HNC a total of 3,439,600 common shares of Homeland Nickel (the "Consideration Shares") at an issue price of $0.05 per share. The Consideration Shares are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company was also able to obtain a full release from all parties.

President and CEO Steve Balch stated that "We thank the minority shareholders of what was formerly Red Flat Nickel Corp. We have provided liquidity to these individuals in the form of Homeland Nickel common shares in return for their interest and a full release. Going forward we have no debt on these properties, and we now own a 98.5% interest in Cleopatra and Red Flat, up from the previous 80%. We will work to make that interest 100% over time."

The Acquisition constituted an "Expedited Acquisition" in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.3 - Acquisitions and Dispositions of Non-Cash Assets and remains subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Homeland Nickel

Homeland Nickel is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company focused on critical metal resources with nickel projects in Oregon, United States and copper projects in Newfoundland, Canada. The Company also holds a significant portfolio of mining securities including 2.95 million shares of Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSX-V:CNC), 9.96 million shares of Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:NOB), 13,.8 million shares of Benton Resources Inc. (TSX-V:BEX) and 2.7 million shares of Magna Terra Minerals Inc. (TSX-V:MTT). Homeland Nickel's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "SHL". More detailed information can be found on the Company's website at:

www.homelandnickel.com

Cautionary Statement

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, that are based on assumptions and courses of action, and in certain cases, can be identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur, or the negative forms of any of these words and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include statements related to future plans for the Company, and other forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions including with respect to the anticipated actions of securities regulators, stock exchanges, and government entities, management plans and timelines, as well as results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what the management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, such assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: an inability to develop and successfully implement exploration strategies; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the lack of available capital; impact of the evolving situation in Ukraine on the business of the Company; and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this press release. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.

Contact

Stephen Balch, President & CEO

Phone: 905-407-9586

Email: steve@beci.ca

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
TORONTO, Nov. 06, 2024 - Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd. (TSX:WM, OTCQB:WLBMF) ("Wallbridge" or the "Company") today announced the results of the Phase 2 exploration drilling program at its 100% owned Martiniere gold project ("Martiniere") which returned multiple high grade gold intercepts from three exploration targets along the Bug Lake ("BL") deformation zone located within 500 metres ("m") of the currently delineated mineral resource.

Highlights

Significant high grade gold intercepts returned from the Phase 2 drilling program at Martiniere include:

BL North 5.78 g/t Au over 3.9 m including 21.56 g/t Au over 0.9 m in hole MR-24-099



Horsefly 15.63 g/t Au over 11.0 m including 15.18 g/t over 2.3 m, 37.13 g/t Au over 1.8 m, 41.68

g/t Au over 1.2 m & 23.18 g/t Au over 0.8 m, and 7.24 g/t Au over 6.9 m including 17.56

g/t Au over 1.9 m & 6.88 g/t Au over 1.3 m in hole MR-24-100 Dragonfly 4.22 g/t Au over 4.5 m including 7.99 g/t Au over 1.1 m & 8.97 /t over 1.1 m in hole MR-24-089



3.93 g/t Au over 6.0 m including 12.15 g/t Au over 0.9 m & 5.02 g/t Au over 2.2 m in hole MR-24-092



15.02 g/t Au over 0.7 m & 206.00 g/t over 0.6 m in hole MR-24-102



27.60 g/t Au over 2.3 m including 9.99 g/t Au over 0.6 m & 86.30 g/t Au over 0.7 m in hole MR-24-110

"We are very pleased with the positive results from the Martiniere Phase 2 drilling program, as this marks another significant milestone in advancing the project," commented Brian W. Penny, Wallbridge CEO. "The phase 2 program was targeted at zones of high grade gold mineralization along the Bug Lake deformation zone that were identified as an outcome of a detailed re-interpretation of deposit geology completed as part of the Phase 1 program earlier this year (see Wallbridge news release dated July 31, 2024).

"Various high grade gold intercepts returned from the three targets (Horsefly, Bug Lake North and Dragonfly) clearly demonstrate that the limits of the Martiniere deposit remain to be fully delineated, offering a substantial resource growth opportunity through continued exploration.

"Wallbridge's 2024 exploration results underscore the significant potential of the Martiniere project for future growth. The results of the 2024 drilling program will be incorporated into an updated mineral resource estimate, which the company plans to complete in Q1 2025. The Wallbridge team is eagerly anticipating following up on the positive results from this year's program as we look forward into 2025," concluded Mr. Penny.

Webinar

For additional context to this news release, join Brian W. Penny, CEO, and Mark Peterson, Senior Geological Consultant Thursday, November 7th, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET for a live webinar here.

Martiniere Phase 2 Exploration Analysis

The Martiniere Phase 2 drilling program completed in September 2024, was comprised of 22 diamond drill holes totaling 8,141 m. Together with the Phase 1 program, the company has drilled 17,140 m in 51 exploration holes at Martiniere during 2024.

Building on findings from the Phase 1 program, the strategy for the Phase 2 program was to target potential lateral and vertical extensions of gold mineralization beyond the limits of the currently defined mineral resource. Gold mineralization occurs within a northwest-southeast trending corridor of sub-parallel structures and intrusive dikes and sills that host pyritic silicification and quartz-carbonate veining. To date exploration drilling along the Bug Lake zone has delineated gold mineralization over an approximate 1,500 m by 700 m area, and to an average vertical depth of approximately 350 to 400 m below surface. The Bug Lake zone remains open to further expansion along strike to the northwest and southeast and at depth.

At the Bug Lake North target, two of three drill holes intercepted significant gold grades along the down plunge projection of a strongly mineralized shoot as it extends beyond the currently defined gold resource. At the Horsefly target, roughly 300 m to the northeast of the Bug Lake North target, drilling has likewise returned multiple high grade gold intercepts along structures related to the Martiniere North zone, with three of seven drill holes intersecting significant gold grades beginning within 40 m of surface and outboard of the currently defined mineral resource. Exploration drilling in the Dragonfly area, a satellite target located approximately 600 m southeast of Horsefly and beyond the current resource limits, returned multiple high grade gold intercepts along a zone covering an area measuring approximately 500 m long, 150 m wide, and drill-tested over a vertical depth profile of 75 to 200 m from surface. The Dragonfly zone remains open to further expansion in both directions along strike and at depth below 200 m.

Martiniere Plan View





Click to enlarge.

For more information including representative cross-sections, long-sections and assay summaries of complete drill holes please refer to the links below.

Martiniere Gold Project: 2024 Phase 2 Cross-Sections

Martiniere Gold Project: 2024 Phase 2 Long-Sections

Martiniere Gold Project: Q3 2024 Drill Assay Summary and Drill Hole Location Information

Martiniere Project 2024 Phase 2 Drill Assay Highlights1 From To Length3 Au4 Drill Hole VG* 2 (m) (m) (m) (g/t) BUG LAKE NORTH MR-24-096 No Intercepts with Metal Factor > 5 g/t Au * m MR-24-098 389.4 390.2 0.8 11.30 532.1 537.8 5.7 1.88 Including 532.1 533.4 1.3 2.39 533.4 534.4 1.0 1.05 534.4 535.5 1.1 3.29 535.5 536.8 1.3 0.65 536.8 537.8 1.0 2.06 MR-24-099 94.0 97.1 3.1 2.91 Including 94.0 95.1 1.1 3.97 95.1 96.0 0.9 0.71 96.0 97.1 1.1 3.81 136.5 140.4 3.9 5.78 Including 136.5 137.1 0.6 0.71 137.1 138.0 0.9 21.56 138.0 140.4 2.4 1.14 HORSEFLY MR-24-095 No Intercepts with Metal Factor > 5 g/t Au * m MR-24-100 * 57.8 68.8 11.0 15.63 Including * 57.8 60.1 2.3 15.18 60.1 62.3 2.2 0.58 62.3 64.1 1.8 37.13 64.1 65.9 1.8 0.42 65.9 67.1 1.2 41.68 67.1 68.0 0.9 0.34 68.0 68.8 0.8 23.18 * 114.4 121.3 6.9 7.24 Including 114.4 115.4 1.0 2.05 * 115.4 117.3 1.9 17.56 117.3 119.0 1.7 2.08 * 119.0 120.3 1.3 6.88 120.3 121.3 1.0 1.76 MR-24-100 (cont'd) 124.4 130.0 5.6 3.70 Including 124.4 124.9 0.5 3.18 124.9 125.5 0.6 20.10 125.5 127.7 2.2 0.28 127.7 130.0 2.3 2.45 155.0 155.5 0.5 10.80 MR-24-101A 167.4 170.5 3.1 2.05 Including 167.4 167.9 0.5 2.35 167.9 168.4 0.5 0.03 168.4 169.0 0.6 4.92 169.0 170.0 1.0 0.32 170.0 170.5 0.5 3.99 MR-24-106 233.0 234.0 1.0 9.30 MR-24-107 No Intercepts with Metal Factor > 5 g/t Au * m MR-24-108 No Intercepts with Metal Factor > 5 g/t Au * m MR-24-109 124.0 125.5 1.5 4.35 Including 124.0 125.0 1.0 1.52 125.0 125.5 0.5 >10 402.0 404.0 2.0 2.89 Including 402.0 403.0 1.0 0.48 403.0 404.0 1.0 5.31 473.5 476.5 3.0 3.67 Including 473.5 475.0 1.5 6.88 475.0 476.5 1.5 0.47 517.0 521.5 4.5 2.62 Including 517.0 518.5 1.5 0.46 518.5 521.5 3.0 3.69 558.0 573.5 15.5 1.00 Including 558.0 559.0 1.0 2.60 559.0 559.7 0.7 0.72 559.7 560.5 0.8 2.85 560.5 561.3 0.8 0.33 561.3 562.0 0.7 1.95 562.0 568.0 6.0 0.54 568.0 569.0 1.0 2.34 569.0 572.0 3.0 0.36 572.0 573.5 1.5 1.22 DRAGONFLY MR-24-089 220.5 225.0 4.5 4.22 Including 220.5 221.6 1.1 7.99 221.6 223.9 2.3 0.15 223.9 225.0 1.1 8.97 294.6 295.8 1.2 5.59 MR-24-090 143.5 144.5 1.0 10.42 224.8 226.3 1.5 3.62 374.6 375.9 1.3 9.38 MR-24-091 85.5 88.0 2.5 3.03 Including 85.5 87.0 1.5 0.59 87.0 88.0 1.0 6.70 MR-24-092 273.0 279.0 6.0 3.93 Including 273.0 273.9 0.9 12.15 273.9 275.3 1.4 1.11 275.3 276.8 1.5 0.04 276.8 279.0 2.2 5.02 475.8 477.0 1.2 6.15 MR-24-093 148.1 149.4 1.3 25.01 MR-24-094 210.2 213.2 3.0 1.61 Including 210.2 210.7 0.5 5.34 210.7 212.2 1.5 0.02 212.2 213.2 1.0 2.12 MR-24-102 * 220.8 221.5 0.7 15.02 * 422.8 423.4 0.6 206.00 MR-24-103 82.5 83.2 0.7 6.67 156.0 157.0 1.0 8.57 170.0 171.0 1.0 6.26 MR-24-110 79.3 80.6 1.3 >10.00 * 143.0 145.3 2.3 27.60 Including 143.0 143.6 0.6 9.99 * 143.6 144.3 0.7 86.30 144.3 145.3 1.0 2.16 BERMUDA MR-24-097 223.0 224.7 1.7 4.36 MR-24-104 No Intercepts with Metal Factor > 5 g/t Au * m MR-24-105 No Intercepts with Metal Factor > 5 g/t Au * m Notes 1 Highlighted assay composites have been selected based on a Metal Factor >5 gm*m and/or includes a result >5 g/t (MF = Au g/t * Interval length). 2 Asterisk * denotes visible gold (VG) observed in drill core. 3 True widths are estimated to be 60-90% of the reported core length intervals. 4 Gold results >10g/t Au are pending follow-up overlimit assay analysis. Affected composite Au grades are calculated using 10 g/t Au for the overlimit sample value.

The Martiniere project is a key component of the Company's 830 square km Detour-Fenelon Trend property package located in Northern Abitibi, Quebec, 30 km west of the Company's flagship Fenelon gold project and 50 km east of Canada's largest gold mine, Agnico Eagle's Detour Lake gold mine. Exploration and resource delineation drilling completed at Martiniere has so far intercepted multiple zones of vein-hosted gold mineralization over an approximate 1.5 km by 700 m area along the northwest-southeast trending Bug Lake Zone, and over an approximate 1.5 km by 250 m area along the northeast-southwest trending Martiniere West and Central corridor.





Wallbridge Mining Detour - Fenelon Gold Trend Properties

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Wallbridge maintains a Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") program for all its exploration projects using industry best practices. Key elements of the QA/QC program include verifiable chain of custody for samples, regular insertion of blanks and certified reference materials, and completion of secondary check analyses performed at a separate independent accredited laboratory. Drill core is halved and shipped in sealed bags to SGS in Val d'Or, Quebec where they are re-distributed to other SGS laboratory facilities according to the analytical method being requested by Walbridge. Gold analyses are routinely performed via fire assay with ICP-OES finish methods. For greater precision and accuracy, samples assaying 10 g/t Au or greater are re-assayed via metallic screen fire assay method or fire assay/gravimetric finish, depending on the amount of sample material remaining available. Samples containing visible gold are submitted directly for analysis by metallic screen fire assay method.

SGS Natural Resources analytical laboratories operate under a Quality Management System that conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. All of SGS' Canadian analytical sites are accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for specific mineral tests listed on the scope of accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. ISO/IEC 17025 addresses both the quality management system and the technical aspects of operating a testing laboratory. Physical sample preparation involving accredited test methods as listed on the scope of accreditation may be performed at other sites listed on the SGS Canada Inc - Natural Resources - Minerals group accreditation or at offsite sample preparation laboratories that are monitored regularly for quality control and quality assurance practices, including SGS Canada Inc, Garson, SGS Canada Inc, Val d'Or and SGS Canada Inc, Grand Falls-Windsor.

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this news release is Mr. Mark A. Petersen, M.Sc., P.Geo., Senior Exploration Consultant for Wallbridge.

About Wallbridge Mining

Wallbridge is focused on creating value through the exploration and sustainable development of gold projects along the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend in Quebec's Northern Abitibi region while respecting the environment and communities where it operates.

Wallbridge's most advanced projects, Fenelon Gold ("Fenelon") and Martiniere Gold ("Martiniere") incorporate a combined 3.05 million ounces of indicated gold resources and 2.35 million ounces of inferred gold resources. Fenelon and Martiniere are located within an 830 square km exploration land package in the Northern Abitibi region of Quebec.

Wallbridge has reported a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") at Fenelon that estimates average annual gold production of 212,000 ounces over 12 years.

Wallbridge also holds a 15.8% interest in the common shares of NorthX Nickel Corp. (formerly "Archer Exploration Corp") subsequent to the sale of the Company's portfolio of nickel assets in Ontario and Quebec.

For further information please visit the Company's website at https://wallbridgemining.com/ or contact:

Wallbridge Mining Company Limited

Brian Penny, CPA, CMA

Chief Executive Officer

Email: bpenny@wallbridgemining.com

M: +1 416 716 8346 Tania Barreto, CPIR

Director, Investor Relations

Email: tbarreto@wallbridgemining.com

M: +1 289 819 3012

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

The information in this document may contain forward-looking statements or information (collectively, "FLI") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. FLI is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this document.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are FLI that involve various risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. Generally, FLI can be identified by the use of statements that include, but are not limited to, words such as "seeks", "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "continues", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "predicts", "proposes", "potential", "targets" and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "should" or "might", "be taken", "occur" or "be achieved."

FLI in this document may include, but is not limited to: statements regarding the results of the PEA; the potential future performance of the Common Shares; future drill results; the Company's ability to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated resources; environmental matters; stakeholder engagement and relationships; parameters and methods used to estimate the MRE's at Fenelon and Martiniere (collectively the "Deposits"); the prospects, if any, of the Deposits; future drilling at the Deposits; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results.

FLI is designed to help you understand management's current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such FLI. Although the FLI contained in this document is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained in this document to reflect new events or circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this document has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this document. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI, or information contained herein.

Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI.

Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the results of exploration activities, the Company's financial position and general economic conditions; the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MREs and in the PEA; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the evolution of the global economic climate; metal prices; foreign exchange rates; environmental expectations; community and non-governmental actions; and, the Company's ability to secure required funding. Risks and uncertainties about Wallbridge's business are discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Notes to United States Investors

Wallbridge prepares its disclosure in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Terms relating to mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and economic studies used herein are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended. NI 43-101 differs significantly from the disclosure requirements of the SEC generally applicable to US companies. As such, the information presented herein concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/85750a3d-7c00-48fc-a5c7-d9c39819c17f

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67885748-3e06-4950-a59d-8674c0fb3190
Next article: American influencer Adin Ross wins $1.6m after betting on Trump to win US election

Authorities raid Netflix offices in Paris and Amsterdam amid tax fraud probe

BBC Showbiz News Nov - 06 - 2024 , 18:06 2 minutes read

Offices of streaming giant Netflix in Paris and Amsterdam have been raided by the French and Dutch authorities as part of an investigation into tax fraud, French judicial sources say.

Officials from the two countries have been cooperating on the case since the investigation was opened in November 2022.

Netflix has not as yet made any specific comment on the raids but insists it complies with tax laws wherever it operates.

The Amsterdam office is the headquarters of the companys operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

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The French investigation is being carried out by the National Financial Prosecutors Office (PNF), a special unit used for investigations into high-profile white-collar crime.

It relates to suspicions of covering up serious tax fraud and off-the-books work, according to the PNF.

The company is also under investigation for tax filings for 2019, 2020 and 2021.

The French sources said authorities in the Netherlands were conducting simultaneous searches, and that co-operation between the two countries had been going on for many months.

Last year, French media outlet La Lettre reported that until 2021, Netflix in France minimised its tax payments by declaring its turnover generated in France to the Netherlands.

After it abandoned this arrangement, La Lettre said, its annual declared turnover in France jumped from 47.1m ($51.3m; 39.6m) in 2020 to 1.2bn in 2021.

However, the outlet says investigators are trying to determine whether Netflix continued to attempt to minimise its profits after 2021.

Netflix arrived in France more than 10 years ago, opening its Paris office in 2020. It has some 10 million subscribers in the country, according to AFP news agency.
US Election: We need a Hail Mary  Cardi B speaks amid Kamalas defeat

Hindustan Times Showbiz News Nov - 06 - 2024 , 11:02 2 minutes read

Despite her endorsement of Kamala Harris, Cardi B expresses concern over Trump's lead in the election, tweeting her need for a 'Hail Mary'.

Cardi B is seeing all the US elections trends and not feeling very hopeful about the results. After she endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the top spot, Cardi is feeling nervous about former President Donald Trump leading the race instead.

Cardi B is not feeling very positively about the US elections trends right now.

On result night, Cardi tweeted, We need a Hail Mary.

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Elections trends

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris notched early wins in reliably Republican and Democratic states, respectively, as a divided America made its decision in a stark choice for the nation's future Tuesday.

According to races called by the Associated Press up to 9.34 am (IST), 230 electoral votes had gone to Republican candidate Trump and 179 to Democratic Party's Harris.

Polls closed in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Nevada, the seven closely fought battlegrounds expected to decide the election, but the results there were too early to call.

Cardi B vs Elon Musk

Cardi B also recently reacted to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's comment about her. He called her a "puppet" for supporting the Kamala Harris campaign.

Musk wrote, Another puppet who can't even talk without being fed the words. The Kamala campaign has no authenticity or true empathy. (Related article: Women dont sleep their way to the top, stop discrediting hard work  Cardi B)

To this Cardi B responded, I'm not a puppet Elon.. I'm a daughter of two immigrant parents that had to work their ass off to provide for me! I'm a product of welfare, I'm a product of section 8, I'm a product of poverty and I'm a product of what happens when the system is set up against you....But you don't know nothing about that. You don't know not one thing about the American struggle.... PS fix my algorithm

During her rally appearance, Cardi B delivered a speech about women's rights,: "Just like Kamala Harris, I too have been the underdog, I've been underestimated, my success belittled and discredited.

Let me tell you something: Women have to work ten times harder, perform ten times better, and still people question us, how we got to the top. I can't stand a bully, but just like Kamala, I always stand up to one," reported Deadline.
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British Prime Minister congratulates Donald Trump on his looming election victory

Graphic.com.gh International News Nov - 06 - 2024 , 08:31 2 minutes read

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has congratulated Donald Trump on his looming election victory.

"Congratulations president-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead

Donald Trump is projected to have won Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, three key swing states. He is ahead in the other four and now looks on course for victory. The Republicans are also projected to have won the Senate.

Starmer: 'As closest of allies, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder'

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In his reaction, the British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, congratulated Donald Trump on his looming election victory.

"Congratulations president-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead," he said.

"As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

"From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come."
Next article: Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump: US election set for a cliffhanger

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Trump's claim of 'massive cheating' in Philadelphia rejected by officials

BBC International News Nov - 06 - 2024 , 04:53 5 minutes read

As millions of people cast their ballots in the US election, claims have been spreading online questioning the integrity of the vote.

Election officials have been quick to reject some accusations of voting malpractice - including one from Donald Trump - as well as clarifying some legitimate problems which have been taken out of context.

Most widely shared claims.

1) Trump claim of 'massive cheating'

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Trump has posted on his social media platform, Truth Social saying "law enforcement coming" to Philadelphia because of "massive cheating there.

He did not provide details of the alleged cheating or any evidence.

The Philadelphia Police Department told BBC Verify that they were not aware of what Trump was referring to.

Philadelphias District Attorney Larry Krasner, who is a Democrat, posted on X saying: There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation.

Seth Bluestein, the Republican City Commissioner in Philadelphia, also posted on X saying: There is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure.

2) Claim about power outages and voting

Multiple posts on X have suggested that power outages reported in Pennsylvania earlier today were linked to election interference.

Some of these posts have focused on outages in Northampton County in particular.

One post, which has a quarter of a million views, claimed "they are shutting down the power in Pennsylvania" alongside a power outage map of the county.

According to a power outage tracking website, Northampton County is served by two electricity providers: FirstEnergy and PPL Electric Utilities.

Todd Meyers, spokesperson for FirstEnergy, told BBC Verify that eight polling locations in the county had been affected by outages today, which were caused by an electrical fault.

All polling locations had their power restored within 10 minutes and all had battery backup for voting machines and voters were not impacted, Mr Meyers said.

BBC Verify also contacted PPL Electric Utilities for comment.

3) Viral claim about ballot markings

An image on social media shows a person holding a mail-in ballot paper which they claim already had a mark next to Kamala Harris's name.

The image was originally posted online a few days ago but it has been circulating again on election day.

The person who posted it on X claims that voting for anyone else would render the ballot void.

BBC Verify spoke to the Kentucky Board of Elections which rejected the allegation.

It said it had mailed out 130,000 ballots so far and had not been made aware of any complaints about mail-in ballots having pre-printed marks in any candidate selection boxes.

As no one has presented a pre-marked ballot to election administrators or law enforcement, the claim that at least one ballot may have had a pre-printed mark in Kentucky, currently only exists in the vacuum of social media, it said.

The election board added that for mail-in ballots in Kentucky if more than one candidate choice is marked in ink, then the ballot will still be counted if the voter circles their preferred choice.

4) Claim about absentee ballots for the military

A post on X which claims the Pentagon reportedly failed to send absentee ballots to active military service members before the election has been viewed over 28 million times.

It references a letter to Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, written by three Republican members of congress, expressing grave concern over deficiencies in procedures for overseas military personnel to vote.

However the letter does not accuse the Pentagon of failing to send them absentee ballots.

It is not the Pentagons job to do this - military personnel can vote abroad through the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) and ballots are sent to them by election officials where they are registered in the US.

If the ballot is in danger of not arriving before the voting deadline, personnel can vote via what is called a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).

The letter claims an unspecified number of service members had requested a FWAB but were told their base had run out. However, it is possible to download and sign one through the FVAP website.

We asked the Department of Defense for details about how many people had been affected by the issue, but it would not comment. It did say that it had trained 3,000 Voting Assistance Officers to support personnel with voting.

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5) Claim about voting machine in Kentucky

A video which appears to show someone repeatedly trying and failing to vote for Donald Trump on a voting machine in Laurel County, Kentucky - before a vote appears next to Kamala Harriss name - has gone viral.

The person posting it says: I hit Trumps name 10 times and it wouldnt work I then began recording and you can see what happened. Switched it to Harris.

Another post, viewed nearly seven million times, features the video with the claim: Voting machines in Kentucky are literally changing the vote from Donald Trump to Kamala Harris. This is election interference!

One post, viewed more than 3 million times, said the picture showed weird ballot shenanigans happening.

Election officials confirmed the video was authentic and the machine did malfunction, but said it was an isolated incident and the voter was able to cast their ballot as intended.

After several minutes of attempting to recreate the scenario, it did occur. This was accomplished by hitting some area in between the boxes. After that we tried for several minutes to do it again and could not, the county clerk said in a statement.

The machine in question was taken out of action until it was inspected, and later in the day the county clerk posted a video on Facebook showing the machine working correctly.

"In an election on this scale there are always going to be some problems," said Joseph Greaney, a voting expert at US election website Ballotpedia.

"It can be one or two machines but people are extrapolating those out into a bigger problems, but I would say with a good degree of confidence that they are isolated incidents and they are caught," he added.


Two Ghanaians ordered to repay over $1million in US romance scam sentencing

GraphicOnline International News Nov - 06 - 2024 , 10:08 2 minutes read

Two Ghanaian nationals have been sentenced in the United States and ordered to pay $581,261.67 each in restitution after their involvement in a Ghana-based romance scam targeting elderly Americans.

Sadia Alhassan, 35, and Mohammed Saaminu Zuberu, 39, and Shawn William Smith, 26 were convicted for their roles in a scheme that defrauded vulnerable U.S. citizens by manipulating them into sending money to fictitious romantic partners.

Sadia Alhassan, who resided in Tallahassee on a student visa, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Her co-defendant, Mohammed Zuberu, a dual U.S.-Ghanaian citizen living in Aldie, Virginia, received approximately five-and-a-half months in federal prison, also followed by three years of supervised release.

Smith of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to serve one day in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, to include 150 hours of community service, after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and one count of operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business.

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The scam operated from March 2019 to March 2022, with individuals based in Ghana targeting elderly U.S. citizens through phone calls and online platforms, creating fabricated relationships to deceive the victims. Once trust was established, the victims were convinced to send money to their supposed partners, unknowingly contributing to an elaborate scheme.

Alhassan and her husband, Shawn Smith, served as intermediaries for the funds, receiving packages of money sent via postal services or commercial carriers. The funds were then processed through accounts they controlled and relayed to Zuberu, who communicated with the unknown masterminds in Ghana.

According to court documents, Zuberu acted as an intermediary, coordinating money transfers between Alhassan, Smith, and the Ghana-based orchestrators.

On at least one occasion, Zuberu sent a tracking receipt for a package from one of the victims to Alhassan, notifying the scammers when the funds had arrived.

Alhassan and Zuberu then used some of the money to purchase money orders, later deposited into accounts under their control and quickly withdrawn at ATMs in Ghana.

Targeting the elderly for financial gain is morally reprehensible, stated Nicholas Ingegno, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Tallahassee. Law enforcement agencies noted the rise of such scams exploiting elderly citizens and reiterated their commitment to prosecuting perpetrators to protect the vulnerable.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen, following a joint investigation involving the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, IRS Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Next article: Trump's claim of 'massive cheating' in Philadelphia rejected by officials

Has Trump won? When will we know who has won the US election?

Graphic.com.gh International News Nov - 06 - 2024 , 05:31 6 minutes read

Donald Trump is projected to have won three out of seven crucial swing states in the US presidential election, putting him on the cusp of taking back the White House.

The projected results in three swing states - North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania - come as signs suggest at least one other state is leaning towards the Republican former president.

It could still be some time before we find out the final detailed results in the race between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris.

Results are declared state-by-state, and the BBC is keeping you updated with a running tally as we go.

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What is happening in the battleground swing states?

The race is coming down to results from seven swing states, which before election day experts believed either Harris or Trump could win.

Turnout has been high in early voting, both in-person and by mail, with records broken in some states.

It's worth noting that votes are very much still being counted. Nonetheless, there are some signs of how voting in these key states is going.

Right now, Donald Trump is projected to win:

North Carolina - the first swing state to be projected.Trump looks to be ahead in:

Georgia , where Trump has just under a three percentage point lead with about 90% of votes counted. It means Kamala Harris would have to do very well with the remaining urban votes yet to be counted in order to catch up.The race is very close in:

Pennsylvania , where final results could take some time

Wisconsin , where an overall result may also take some time

Michigan , where a final result is not expected until the end of Wednesday

Arizona , where the overall count could take days

Nevada, where the overall count could also take days

So what does this mean for when the result is expected?

The last polls will close at 01:00 EST (06:00 GMT) early on Wednesday.

In some presidential races, the victor has been named late on election night, or early the next morning.

This time, the knife-edge race in many states could complicate how quickly media outlets project a winner. Narrow victories could also mean recounts.

In the key swing state of Pennsylvania, for example, a recount would be required if theres a half-percentage-point difference between the votes cast for the winner and loser. In 2020, the margin was just over 1.1 percentage points.

But we are getting projected results from states with the most predictable voting patterns.

Legal challenges are also possible. More than 100 pre-election lawsuits have already been filed, mostly by Republicans challenging voter eligibility and voter roll management.

Counting can take some time, with the verification of ballots requiring comparisons with active voter numbers; removing, unfolding and examining every single ballot for tears, stains or damage; and documenting and investigating any inconsistencies.

On the other hand, vote-counting has sped up in some areas, including the crucial state of Michigan, and fewer votes have been cast by mail than in the last election, which was during the Covid pandemic.

Why should we be cautious of early voting data?

In such a tight race, early vote results may not be the best indication of who will eventually win.

In 2020, Trump was leading in some key states on election night but Biden overtook him as mail ballots, heavily favoured by Democrats at the time, were counted.

Though election experts warned beforehand of such a phenomenon, Trump seized upon it to amplify his unfounded claims that the election was stolen.

There could be another so-called "red mirage" this year - or perhaps a "blue mirage" that initially favours Harris but then shifts toward Trump.

More than 83 million Americans voted early, according to the University of Florida Election Lab's nationwide early vote tracker.

But while early voting has typically favoured Democrats, registered Republicans have cast nearly as many early votes this time around.

When have previous presidential election results been announced?

In the 2020 election, US TV networks did not declare Joe Biden the winner until four days after election day, when the result in Pennsylvania became clearer.

In other recent elections, voters have had a much shorter wait.

In 2016, Trump was declared the winner shortly before 03:00 EST (08:00 GMT) a few hours after polls closed.

In 2012, when Barack Obama secured a second term, his victory was projected before midnight the same evening of election day.

However, the 2000 election between George W Bush and Al Gore was a notable exception. The race was not decided for five weeks, when the US Supreme Court voted to end Florida's recount. That kept Bush in place as winner and handed him the White House.

What happens if the presidential election results are challenged?

Once every valid vote has been included in the final results, a process known as the electoral college comes into play.

In each state a varying number of electoral college votes can be won, and it is securing these  and not just the backing of voters themselves  that ultimately wins the presidency.

What is the US electoral college, and how does it work?

How are votes counted in the US election?

Generally, states award all of their electoral college votes to whoever wins the popular vote and this is confirmed after meetings on 17 December.

The new US Congress then meets on 6 January to count the electoral college votes and confirm the new president.

After the 2020 election, Trump refused to concede and rallied supporters to march on the US Capitol as Congress was meeting to certify Biden's victory.

He urged his Vice-President, Mike Pence, to reject the results - but Pence refused.

Even after the riot was cleared and members of Congress regrouped, 147 Republicans voted unsuccessfully to overturn Trump's loss.

Electoral reforms since then have made it harder for lawmakers to object to certified results sent to them from individual states. They have also clarified that the vice-president has no power to unilaterally reject electoral votes.

Nevertheless, election watchers expect that efforts to delay certification of the 2024 vote could take place at the local and state level.

Trump, his running mate JD Vance and top Republican leaders on Capitol Hill have refused on several occasions to state unequivocally that they will accept the results if he loses.



What happens if there is a tie?

It is possible that the two candidates could end up in a tie because they have the same number of electoral college votes  269 each.

In that situation, members of the House of Representatives - the lower chamber of the US Congress - would vote to choose the president in a process known as a contingent election.

Meanwhile the Senate  the upper chamber  would vote for the vice-president.

But that hasnt happened for about 200 years.

When is the presidential inauguration?

The president-elect will begin their term in office after being inaugurated on Monday, 20 January 2025, in the grounds of the US Capitol complex.

It will be the 60th presidential inauguration in US history.

The event will see the new president sworn in on a pledge to uphold the Constitution and then deliver their inaugural address.

credit: BBC
31,000 Women-owned SMEs get support

Maclean Kwofi Nov - 06 - 2024 , 12:07 3 minutes read

Afive-year West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) has ended with a significant impact on improving the businesses of 31,000 women owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The women-led SMEs represented more than 63 percent of the 48,849 businesses that benefited from the project which had continuously improved their competitiveness to access national and international markets.

With a budget of 6.35 million,the initiative aimed to improve the competitiveness of the cassava, mango, pineapple, cosmetics and personal care products value chain.

The project also ensured that more than 500 SMEs could be linked to financial institutions to access appropriate and affordable credit schemes of up to GH4 million. The WACOMP was

implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and funded by the European Union (EU).

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Proof of investments

The Ambassador of the European Union to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, at the closing ceremony in Accra stated that WACOMP would forever stand as proof that investment in SMEs, agro-business and private sector development was a win for the local entrepreneurs, the government and Ghanaians.

He said WACOMP aimed to enhance value-addition and create conditions to increase the access of Ghanaian businesses to regional and international markets.

From ensuring sustainable and green manufacturing practices to awarding matching grants,he said the EU left no stone unturned in its quest to support Ghanas agribusiness

sector.

By promoting sustainable development,fostering a culture of innovation and enhancing the business environment, we have laid a solid foundation for continued growth and prosperity in the region.

Over the past five years, WACOMP supported over 100 projects, benefiting thousands of entrepreneurs, small businesses and communities across the region, he added.

Excellent results

The Project Manager of UNIDO,Ebe Muschialli,said the project had so far achieved excellent results, thanks to the very comprehensive and innovative approach of WACOMP Ghana.

She said the impact on Ghanaian SMEs had been tremendous and would not have been possible without the invaluable contribution of all the national partners and the precious support of the Ministry of Industry and the EU.

Ms Muschialli said the EU funded WACOMP was a partnership initiative between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the EU.

She said it contributed to regional economic integration and underscored the EU's commitment to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with West Africa.

In Ghana, the programme was implemented by UNIDO in coordination with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), she added.

Using UNIDOs five Cs for competitiveness which include coordinate, compete, conform, connect and credit, WACOMP improved production, quality compliance, competitiveness

and market access of SMEs in the cosmetics,personal care, cassava and fruits sectors.

High-quality goods

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), Patrick Yaw Nimo, stated that numerous Ghanaian businesses had enhanced their capabilities to produce high-quality goods through the WACOMP.

He said the businesses were previously struggling to compete globally due to limited guidance on implementing processes and meeting market standards.

New standards

Thanks to the project,16 new standards have been developed and promoted to enhance the quality and consumer protection of cosmetics and personal care, cassava products both in and

outside Ghana.

Also, the Cosmetics Laboratory of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) are now accredited for ISO 17025, allowing Ghanaian

products to be exported with the required certifications.
Give head teachers powers to improve education quality  Prof. Adei

Emmanuel Bonney & Timothy Ngnenbe Nov - 06 - 2024 , 08:22 3 minutes read

The poor quality of education in public basic schools has been attributed to overcentralizing of school management at the national level.

Renowned educationist, Emeritus Prof. Stephen Adei,who made the observation, said the concentration of management power at the Ghana Education Service (GES) headquarters to the disempowerment of head teachers at the school level had led to a breakdown of values and enforcement regimes.

"Give head teachers the right to recruit teachers because if head teachers are empowered to hire and fire,teachers will sit up and do the right things to improve on quality education," he pointed out during a panel discussion at the Graphic National Development Series (GNDS) held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) auditorium yesterday.

Platform

The GNDS is a platform meant to address key national development issues and build consensus on strategic policies. Yesterday's event,which was focused

on education,was on the theme: "A critical look at education and culture in Ghana to chart a course of national development, peace and our prosperity."

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Key issues that emerged were the falling standards of education in public schools,moral decadence in public schools,quality of teachers,and the relevance of the current education system.

Touching on the falling quality of education in public basic schools, Emeritus Prof.Adei said until the issue of leadership in public basic schools was addressed and head teachers given the powers to enforce discipline without fear or favour, the standards would continue to fall.

"Teachers in most of the private basic schools are not trained as compared with those in public schools, yet they deliver better results; and this is because of the leadership problem in public basic schools," he stressed. Again,he said,the training regime for teachers in the colleges of education was not up to standard so graduates from those schools were unable to deliver on the job.

He said apart from knowledge deficiency,the teachers also lacked moral values that would be instilled in students.

"My private school recruited three teachers who had diploma certificates from renowned public universities,but we sacked them within one week because of low quality of their service," he said.

The renowned educationist said education without values was dangerous for national development as it created a leeway for corruption and other social ills to thrive.

"We are at the point where pupils pay money to be given support during their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), and that is why we see corruption everywhere in our national life.Unless we deal with the root causes of this situation, we are going nowhere," he said.

Prof.Adei stressed the need for an education system that engendered change of mindset if the country had to develop.

TVET

Sharing his thoughts on technical and vocational education and training (TVET), Prof.Adei said the country would have to put its money where its mouth was by investing more in TVET.

In the view of the renowned educationist,the country had reached the point where TVET needed to be prioritised to provide the human resource needed for sustainable development.

He emphasised that the time had come for the government to roll out a special scholarship scheme for TVET across all sectors of education.

Prof.Adei underscored the need to establish and equip resource centres for TVET to thrive.

"If we want to make TVET first,our salary structure should also prioritise it above other disciplines," he added.

Responding to a question regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by young people,he said it was important for the national development plan to put TVET at the core of the transformation agenda going forward.
Judiciary, executive colluding to weaken Parliament - Speaker Bagbin

Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Nov - 06 - 2024 , 16:21 3 minutes read

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin has described the current stand off in Parliament, and the matters before the Supreme Court as a collective attempt by the Judiciary and the executive to weaken the legislative arm of government.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra Wednesday afternoon [Nov 6, 2024], to address the state of affairs of Ghanas parliament, Mr Bagbin said Parliament was a repository of the sovereign will of the people.

As such, any act by anybody into its affairs was an interference and therefore posed a direct challenge to the essence, jurisdiction, authorities, powers and functions to the workings of Parliament.

The current brouhaha may be likened to a power play between the arms of government and has the potential to undermine our democracy and the authority of Parliament. It's outcomes could subvert Ghanas constitutional order and the democratic system that Ghanaians have toiled, sacrificed their lives and shed blood to establish for decades, he added.

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It is increasingly becoming clear that the judiciary and the executive are seemingly colluding to weaken parliament, Speaker Bagbin added.

He said the powers of the judiciary ends where the nose of Parliament starts emphasising that the constitution was clear on the freedom of speech and, most importantly, proceedings of Parliament.

Mr Bagbin explained that Articles 115 and 116 of the 1992 Constitution grant MPs the privileges and immunity of speech, debates and proceedings on any matter or thing brought by a member in or before Parliament by petition, bill, motion or otherwise.

Article 115, there shall be freedom of speech, debate and proceedings in Parliament and that freedom shall not be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.

Article 116, subject to the provisions of this article, but without prejudice to the general effect of Article 115 of this constitution, civil or criminal proceedings shall not be initiated against a member of Parliament in any court or place out of Parliament for any matter or thing brought by him in or before Parliament by petition, bill, motion or otherwise, he explained.

He therefore urged the courts to be hesitant in interfering in the proceedings and decisions of Parliament citing a precedent where the Supreme Court affirmed that happening in Parliament were a closed book.

Speaker Bagbin equally urged members of the house to refrain from resorting to the Apex court with issues of parliament stating that it affected the not only the sovereignty of the institution but also the level of respect it commands.

This was exhibited by the President's refusal to even receive the LGBTQ+ bill, duly processed and passed by Parliament without any legal basis. The judiciary is supported of these conducts by the receipt and processing of suit on this subject matter. These are dangerous precedents in our democratic journey, he said.

He stressed that parliament weakens itself when its members keep turning to the courts to settle or seek favorable determinations of not just legal matters but essentially political and governance questions.

He therefore urged MPs settle misunderstandings within the house through mature deliberations and compromises.
Man kills wife, daughter - Jailed for life

Justice Agbenorsi Nov - 06 - 2024 , 12:07 2 minutes read

The High Court in Accra has sentenced a 47- year-old man to life imprisonment for murdering his German wife and daughter at Kokrobitey in Accra.

The convict,Boigouna Aloys,was sentenced by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, after a seven-member jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on the charge of two counts of murder.

This was after the prosecution led by an Assistant State Attorney, Yvonne Yaachie Adomako, had called five witnesses to prove the prosecutions case.

The convict,who hails from Burkina Faso, used a hammerto hit the head of his 53-year-old wife and further strangled his 14-year-old daughter in a bid to prevent her from reporting the matter to the police.

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Background

According to the police after committing the act,the convict buried the two at the extreme end of their 10 plots of land at Kokrobitey in Accra to avoid any suspicion.

The police said it was the neighbours who noticed the sudden disappearance of the German woman and her daughter and a foul stench of a rotten animal emanating from

the compound of the convict; they reported the matter to the police,leading to the arrest of Aloys.

Stench

The police said their investigations discovered that the stench was that of a human being and suspected the Burkinabe of allegedly killing his wife and daughter.

Convict has since confessed to the crime and added that he used a hammer to hit the wife in the head after a misunderstanding, thus killing her instantly and for fear that his daughter would report the matter to the police, he strangled the 14-year-old girl to death after which he buried the two on their compound.

The two decided to move to Ghana to resettle after getting married in Germany. Reports indicate that the couple and their daughter arrived in the country in January 2020 and have been

living in their three-bedroom apartment sited on 10 plots of land located at Kokrobitey.
Rescind premature strike - Fair Wages to CLOGSAG

Daily Graphic Nov - 06 - 2024 , 06:45 3 minutes read

The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has urged the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOSGAG) to rescind its decision to embark on strike and return to the negotiating table for a timely resolution of their concerns.

The commission emphasised that the government was prepared to engage CLOGSAG in finding a lasting solution to its demands without undermining the principles underpinning the Single Spine Pay Policy.

Last Monday,CLOSGAG,in a press release,called on its members to embark on a nationwide strike effective tomorrow (Thursday,November 7,2024), citing the governments failure to

complete a new salary structure and conditions of service.

However,in a statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the commission,the demand by CLOGSAG for a new salary structure and other conditions of service was initially submitted to the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor for consideration and approval.

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It said the Senior Presidential Advisor constituted a technical committee comprised of representatives from the government and CLOGSAG to discuss the proposal.

It must be noted that in a communique dated July 12,2024, issued by CLOGSAG,the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG indicated that The Parties (i.e.Government Team and CLOGSAG)

showed commitment towards the resolution of pertinent issues relating to the salary structure for the staff of the Civil Service and the Local Government Service.

The release said the government had been exploring alternative ways of addressing the demand for a new salary structure by CLOGSAG without injuring the existing pay policy.

The FWSC said that was being done guided by the principles governing the negotiation of Base Pay and the High Court Ruling barring CLOGSAG from opting out of the Single Spine Pay

Policy,Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana Vrs National Labour Commission and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (Suit No.

HRCM.76/11), delivered on April 22, 2011. Ongoing discussions The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission said while discussion by the Technical Committee with CLOGSAG was ongoing, the association on October 22,2024, issued a notice to embark on strike, indicating that several meetings had been held on the matter without any firm offer from the government side.

It is instructive to note that in a meeting held on October 30,2024, the Government Team made an alternative proposal aimed at addressing the concerns of CLOGSAG which they requested the team to put into writing, the commission averred.

The FWSC said being committed to the process,the government team confirmed the alternative proposal in writing as demanded by CLOGSAG on the same day. CLOGSAG is yet to respond to the governments proposal.It is,therefore, surprising to see a notice issued by CLOGSAG to embark on strike when discussions have not reached a

deadlock, the commission stated.

A charge

The commission accused CLOGSAG of being aware of the FWSCs mandate but deliberately decided to undermine it by channelling its demands through the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor for approval, contrary to Section 2 of the FWSC Act 2007 (Act 737).

A case in point is when CLOGSAG decided to opt out of the Single Spine Pay Policy by going to court in 2011 (in the case indicated above) but lost the

case.

We observe that it is CLOGSAGs strategy to achieve its objective of opting out of the Single Spine Pay Policy,that is why it has adopted various tactics, including the demand for a new salary structure, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission stressed
Rule of law must reign supreme - President Akufo-Addo charges public sector legal practitioners

Chris Nunoo Nov - 06 - 2024 , 07:16 4 minutes read

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that the collective effort of public legal practitioners will make Ghana a place where the rule of law is notjustspoken,but also

lived.

He said the role of the public legal service had expanded dramatically in the Fourth Republic and, therefore, awell-trained and well resourced public legal team could protect the assets of the nation, advance the rights of ordinary Ghanaians and ensure that governance of the country operated within the bounds of justice.

Addressing the maiden conference for public legal practitioners in Accra yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said as lawyers serving within the public sector,they stood as pillars of the nations legal framework for which their duty transcended ordinary legal practice.

It is about embedding legal excellence and ethical standards into every facet of public administration. This is no easy feat, but it requires an ongoing commitment to professional development, coordination and a constant engagement with national policy goals, he said.

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Public sector lawyers

As members of the Bar and as public sector lawyers, he said: The path we walk was one that demanded courage, commitment, integrity,and a ceaseless pursuit of excellence.

In that regard, President Akufo-Addo described the conference as a testimony to the value we place on your contributions and the recognition that without a strong legal backbone,our public service cannot function at its highest potential.

He,therefore,stressed the commitment of the government to support the development of public sector lawyers while ensuring that their legal teams were well prepared to face the

challenges of the time.

Together,through coordinated efforts and a shared dedication to ethical practices,we can establish a legacy of legal excellence that will strengthen the foundations of our public service,and thereby of ourstate for generations

to come, he advised.

Let usleave this conferencewith a renewed sense of duty and a clear understanding of our role in advancing and enhancing the rule oflaw,he added.

Conference

The three-day conference,which is on the theme: Coordinating legally for an efficient and cohesive public service, is being held underthe auspices ofthe Office oftheAttorneyGeneral and it is expected to highlight the immense role played by lawyers in the public sector to promote justice and protect the interest of the public and that of the state.

President Akufo-Addo was optimistic that through their efforts,the country would build an efficient, cohesive and legally empowered public service for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

Isupport fully theAttorney-General's drive to develop a modern, resourceful public legal service equipped and empowered to meet these new challenges. Indeed, since 2017, we have made significantstridesto build thisservice.

We have recruited 190 more state attorneys,including 70 whose appointmentswillsoon be finalised,the President said.

He explained that the recruitment represented almost half ofthe lawyers currently in the Office of the Attorney-General. Our efforts have also extended to legal departments across state-owned institutions whose staff spent has more than doubled, adding that today, some 600 public lawyers stand ready to serve.

The President said by enhancing expertise in international commercial arbitration, investor state arbitration and contract negotiation,the country would not only reduce disputes,but also alleviate the financial burden those disputes placed on the exchequer of the state.

Functions

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice,Godfred Yeboah Dame,said the scope of functions of the Office of the Attorney-General dictated that they could not by themselves live up to the expectations of the nation without acting in synchrony with other legal departments of various public institutions working on behalf of the government.

He said state attorneys could not operate like they existed on an island removed from the peculiar needs and demands of the institutions they worked in.

Mr Dame, therefore, called for a regular coordination and comparing of notes with personnel of legal departments in all agencies of the state.

We may not have an office of the legal counsel in the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, but in the spirit of the intellectual development of state attorneys ,he said it was considered very imperative to hold the conference in order to serve asthe building block for continuous training of lawyers in public service, whether they were with his office or another state organisation.

For her part,the President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA),Efua Ghartey,who described her participation in the conference as her first public engagement since taking office, urged the public service legal practitioners to see themselves as advocatesfortheir client and not for themselves alone.

She reminded the practitioners to uphold the highest standard of ethics and integrity, stressing thatyour decisions have far-reaching implications for the nation as you influence policy and set precedents.

It is thus important to act with utmost transparency and accountability,ensuring that your actions reflect your commitment to justice, Mrs Ghartey stated, while urging her learned friends to prioritise ethical considerations, vigilance against conflict of interest situations,unfairness and any corrupt practice
Next article: Ghana records 34,000 new HIV infections in the first nine months of 2024 - GHS

Graphic National Development Series: Reform education now - Sam Jonah pushes for skills-based learning

Emmanuel Bonney & Timothy Ngnenbe Nov - 06 - 2024 , 12:04 5 minutes read

Renowned Ghanaian business brain, Sir Sam Jonah, KBE, has called for a complete overhaul of Ghanas education system, proposing a shift from a focus on grades to nurturing leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs capable of transforming our economy.

He said what the country needed was a new awakening that prioritises community, country and citizenship as a broad plan to transform the countrys circumstances into real

development.

If Ghana is to compete in the global marketplace of ideas, we must reform our educational mindset. Schools should not be places where students simply memorise answers to pass exams; they must become environments that inspire problem-solving, creativity and resilience, the economist knighted by the British Empire said at the Graphic National Development Series on

education in Accra yesterday.

In a comprehensive review of the local education space,Dr Jonah,who is also the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast,offered his frank opinion on the current issues with the education system, including what he viewed as policy defects and state indiscretions, and suggested broad and drastic remedies to chart a path of progress.

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We ought to be troubled by the recent government decision to institutionalise the purchasing of past examination papers for distribution to students.

This must be a very low first. Regrettably, this decision in itself formalises our reliance on rote learning and memorisation at the expense of content comprehension and innovative thinking, he said.

We are training our future leaders to repeat or rehash the past; to rely on shortcuts, and to fear failure rather than embrace learning.We are training them to cut corners to replicate and recite,instead of understanding, innovating and producing.We are lowering the standards of our childrens education, the former Chief Executive of gold mining firm AngloGold Ashanti added.

The Graphic National Development Series is a platform offered by the nations foremost media organisation, Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), to discuss issues of national

interest and to propose solutions for national development. Yesterdays event was attended by the US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E.Palmer, educationists and other stakeholders in the

education sector.

New curriculum

Sir Sam said he was glad that the new primary school curriculum being rolled out by the government prioritised practical skills over theory and rote learning.

"Our children should grow up knowing that education is not a means to escape responsibility, but a tool to equip them to tackle the challenges Ghana faces," he said.

Referencing the words of a former US President, Theodore Roosevelt, that to educate a man in mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society,he said: "We are

seeing the effects of this neglect: a nation grappling with social ills not emanating from a deficit in intellect, but a tragic dip in moral values and collective responsibility".

What we need is a mindset of innovation which can only be triggered by practical learning and thinking on our feet, he said.

Crisis

Sir Sam said the crisis in Ghanas education space demanded a radical shift in the mindset of people, a transformation that should redefine their approach to education which, in turn,would impact the country's governance and community.

"When we assume a mindset of innovation and integrity, we prepare the young ones to be agents of progress our nation dearly needs. "Our educational system must be the first line of defence against our prevailing moral decay.From the earliest stages of education, children should be taught the new Ghanaian mindset; the importance of principles, not just in theory,but through simulation and practical application," he said.

"It is one thing to learn about honesty in a textbook; it is another to live it through everyday actions, nreinforced by the examples set by educators,parents and community leaders," he added.

In order to successfully transform the mindset of the population for the attainment of the desired cultural values, peace and collective prosperity, he said some key stakeholders such as

educators, parents, guardians and policymakers had crucial roles to play.

He said building a nation of empowered minds required a commitment to preserving and promoting the country's culture, values,and morals,and integrating them into the very fabric of its

educational system.

Rationale

The Managing Director of the GCGL, Ato Afful, said the national development event on education was designed against the backdrop that well-educated citizens held the key to sustainable national development.

Mr Afful said drawing inspiration from the GCGLs principle of truth and accuracy every day,it was important to prioritise an education system that was anchored on truth and accuracy,

and tailored to respond to the development needs of the country.

"If we get answers to the education question truthfully, we will be doing ourselves some good and contributing to developing our country," he said.

He stressed that if the country continued to toy with its education, there was no way the sustainable development it so desired could be

achieved.

Mr Afful added that with its objective of building national concensus on strategic issues that would help to shape national policies, the Graphic National Development Series on education needed to be the turning point for educational reforms and change of mindset for development.

He added that when the countrys education was focused on instilling values in citizens,there would be holistic development
Next article: Watch why Sam Jonah believes Ghana's challenges are not solely about prayer?

Mother of 16-year-old killed in stabbing incident involving three teenage girls calls for justice

GraphicOnline Nov - 06 - 2024 , 15:16 2 minutes read

The mother of 16-year-old Dennis Owusu Ansah, who was fatally stabbed in Anloga in the Ashanti region on Monday night, has called for justice as her family mourns the sudden loss of her son.

Dennis, a recent Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduate, was eagerly preparing to start school at Tweneboa Kodua Senior High School later this week.

The tragic incident occurred around 7:30 pm on Monday when Dennis was allegedly involved in a confrontation with three teenage girls while escorting a friend home.

Eyewitnesses recounted that an argument ensued, during which one of the girls reportedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Dennis in the rib, causing severe bleeding.

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Dennis was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival, leaving his family in shock and grief.

His mother, Stella Frimpong, spoke to pressmen about her devastation over the loss, urging authorities to ensure those responsible are held accountable.

"I beg, the child has indeed passed, so please authorities should ensure that justice is served, she pleaded, expressing her heartache and desire for justice.

Stella shared that her son had initially been accepted to Jachie-Pramso Senior High School after the BECE but could not enrol due to financial difficulties.

With the help of a relative, they arranged for him to attend Tweneboa Kodua SHS as a boarding student, where he was due to report on Thursday. "We went to Tweneboa Kodua on Saturday, and we were told to report on Thursday," she said, her voice filled with anguish.

The family is now calling for accountability as the police investigation progresses, hoping for a swift and fair resolution to the tragic case.

The three teenage girls are currently in police custody in connection with Denniss death.
US Ambassador urges Ghanaians to view elections as unity, not rivalry

Jemima Okang Addae Nov - 06 - 2024 , 17:17 3 minutes read

The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, has said elections can be "messy" as they provide a platform for citizens to express their grievances and concerns about their country and what matters to them.

They are messy because they are participatory. Because we are airing grievance and we are airing issues in the way that we feel differently about them, she stated.

She noted the similarities between the American and Ghanaian elections, particularly in having a former president running against a sitting vice-president.

"It is wonderful to see Americans and Ghanaians and other friends from other countries together from civilian life and military life, young and old together witnessing a very important democratic moment for the United States," she added.

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Ms Palmer explained that, in the United States, elections were not managed by a single National Elections Commission and that there were instead a series of separate elections.

In fact, what you see in the United States is not one election managed by a National Elections Commission; its many different elections. The Presidential election is, of course, important, but a third of our senators are also elected, as is the entire lower house, or House of Representatives. In Virginia, where I voted, school board members were on the ballot, along with constitutional provisions and bonds. So, theres a lot more to observe beyond the main event, she explained.

She emphasised the importance of remembering that elections were not battles between enemies but contests between fellow citizens about the country's future and the issues that matter.

I was at the national peace council meeting of stakeholders and the head of the National Peace Council stood up and said, remember that this isn't a battle between enemies. It is a contest between fellow Ghanaians or fellow Americans about the issues and about the future of the country and how we want it to go, she said.

Ms Palmer stressed that once elections are over, it was essential to set aside partisanship and move forward together.

And once elections end, we have to be attentive to that. It is hard to put aside that partisanship that motivates us before an election but it is incredibly important and precious. It is something that I am very proud of as an American -our ability to do that

She highlighted the significance of every vote and encouraged young people to participate in the electoral process.

We need to remember that every vote counts, the young people who voted for the first time are learning crucial elections about democracy as they will in Ghana, she said.

Ms Palmer further noted that, it was through experiences like this, that the youth could learn how fragile democracy could be, how important it is to protect democratic institutions, and how vital it is to fight for them, as they are what makes us Americans or Ghanaians.

It is what makes America and Ghana peaceful and stable and prosperous. It is that democracy and our ability to hold hands as citizens and move forward together, she added.
Botswana oppositions historic election victory

Dr John Osae-Kwapong Politics Nov - 06 - 2024 , 13:26 4 minutes read

Since its independence 66 years ago, Botswana has been governed by the same political party for 58 years.

If the assumptions of path dependency hold true, then two outcomes should have always been true of the countrys elections  a) the ruling party always winning; and b) an incredibly difficult task of changing the political trajectory where an opposition party wins the election.

In fact,this is a country where even though eight out of 10 (79 per cent) on average (nine rounds of Afrobarometer data) disapprove/strongly disapprove of oneparty rule,the same party held on for 66 years.

What happened in the just-ended election and the historic win of the opposition? The sentiments expressed by the people of Botswana over multiple rounds of the Afrobarometer survey

pointed to growing signs of discontent.

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While various pundits focus on the economic factors,youth discontent and the impact of the global diamond market on the countrys economy, I want to look at the signals citizens regularly send through their answers to questions on the Afrobarometer survey. Signals from Afrobarometer survey Economic pinch points.

There were very clear signals that citizens were feeling several economic pinch points. In 2003, only 25 per cent described their personal living conditions as fairly good or very good.

In 2022, this dropped significantly to 10 per cent.In addition,the gains made between 2012 and 2019 in those reporting that they faced cash income deprivation many times/always,which dropped (from 39 per cent to 18 per cent), vanished by 2022.

Between 2019 and 2022, the percentage reporting that they faced cash income deprivation many times/always almost doubled (18 per cent to 35 percent).

Government performance in addressing economic pinch points.

The government was not seen as addressing economic challenges in a satisfactory manner.Citizens evaluation of how well the economy was being managed improved between 2002 and

2008 (+16 percentage points) but dropped between 2008 and 2017 (-17 percentage points).

After a temporary improvement between 2017 and 2019 (+7 percentage points), the percentage rating governments management of the economy well dropped significantly by 2022 (65 per cent to 34 per cent).

On the question of job creation, although the rating of government performance saw periods of improvement (2002 to 2014, and 2017 to 2019), over the long run,between 1999 and 2022, the per cent rating of government performance well dropped significantly from 52 percent to 13 per cent.

The effect of these economic pinch points led citizens to become pessimistic about the future economic conditions of the country.In 2017, six out of 10 (63 percent) believed the economic conditions of the country would get better or much better.

By 2022, only four out of 10 (41 percent) felt the same, signalling a significant decline in the level of optimism.

The other effect was the percentage of citizens who felt the country was heading in the wrong direction  a significant increase from 38 per cent in 2012 to 73 per cent in 2022.

Perceptions of corruption

In 2002, only 16 per cent perceived most/all of the persons in the presidency as being involved in corruption.

By 2022, that had increased significantly to 50 per cent (49.8 per cent).

In 2014, 51 per cent felt the level of corruption had increased somewhat/a lot.

By 2022, that increased significantly to 71 per cent (70.7 per cent).

The growing perceptions of increased corruption coincided with decreasing confidence in how well the government was fighting corruption.In 2008, as many as seven out of 10 (69 per cent) rated the governments handling of the fight against corruption well. By 2022, that had decreased significantly to only three out of 10 (30 per cent).

Dissatisfaction with democracy Citizens may not go to the polls prioritising how they feel about democracy over the economy in terms of their choice of presidential candidate.

However, citizens may link the economic pinch points they face with how well democracy is addressing their basic needs.

And when there is a growing feeling that basic needs are not being met, satisfaction with democracy matters to how they vote,I would argue.

Between 1999 and 2008, satisfaction with the way democracy was working in Botswana increased from 75 per cent to 83 per cent.

Between 2008 and 2022, it decreased from 83 per cent to a historic low of 30 per cent.

This resulted in widening the gap between support for democracy and satisfaction with democracy from -7% to - 44%.

In essence, while the percentage of citizens expressing support for democracy remained high, those expressing satisfaction with it remained very low.

Key Lesson

Surveys such as the Afrobarometer go to lengths to capture the voices of citizens on critically important questions.

These are meant,in my opinion,to send clear signals to leaders with the hope of drawing positive policy and institutional responses to any challenges documented.

Perhaps the biggest lesson from Botswana is this  always pay close attention to the signals from the Afrobarometer survey
Uncertainty over GFPs candidature in Dec.7 polls

Samuel Duodu Politics Nov - 06 - 2024 , 09:48 3 minutes read

There is uncertainty over the participation of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) in the December 7 presidential election after two officials of the party wrote contrasting letters to the Electoral Commission (EC) about the partys continued interest in the contest.

While the General Secretary of the party,George Afful, wrote to the EC last Monday indicating the nomination of Philip Appiah Kubi as the new presidential candidate of the party, a

second letter by the National Organiser of the party, Richard Botchway, informed the EC of the partys decision to withdraw from the race. Amid the apparent uncertainty, the EC yesterday received the relevant forms of the party that named Philip Appiah Kubi as the new presidential candidate of the party for the December 7 elections.

The procedure became necessary following the demise of the partys original presidential candidate,Akua Donkor,on October 28,2024.

The EC consequently gave the party 10 days to file a new candidate for the position if it desired to remain in the race.

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Letters

On Monday,November 4,2024, the General Secretary of the party,George Afful,wrote to the EC,informing it that the party had nominated Mr Appiah

Kubi, popularly known as Roman Fada, who was the running mate of Ms Donkor, as the partys presidential candidate for the elections.

I hereby write to inform the commission that the party has duly nominated Philip Appiah Kubi to replace our late presidential candidate

for the 2024 elections.

His name is hereby submitted to the commission in line with your request, Mr Affuls letter stated.

Within 24 hours of Mr Affuls letter, Mr Botchway wrote separately to the EC indicating that the National Executive Committee of the party had decided to withdraw from the December

parliamentary and presidential elections.

This decision, irrespective of how difficult it may be,has been reached to posthumously honour the commitment and sacrifices by our late founder and presidential candidate as the only

person to send her candidature to the grave.

We are by this letter formally informing the commission of our intention not to participate in the elections.

Any inconvenience this decision may have caused the commission and its calendar for the December 7 elections is deeply regretted, the letter said.

Both letters were confirmed by the Daily Graphic to be authentic. As of press time yesterday, sources within the EC indicated that the elections management body would make its decision on the matter known by tomorrow, Thursday, November 7, 2024.

It said the EC placed premium on the earlier letter submitted by the partys General Secretary,and therefore the Commission was going by that.

The sources added that the commission would vet the new presidential nominee of the party to see whether he met the criteria or not.

Implications

Meanwhile two governance and elections watchers have observed that the state will incur extra cost if the GFP decides to replace its presidential candidate on the ballot paper for the

2024 general election.

The two  the Director for Policy Engagement and Partnerships at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr Kojo Asante,and the National Coordinator of the Coalition for Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), Albert Arhin  expressed the view in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic earlier.

Both Dr Asante and Mr Arhin observed that the EC had already invested heavily in printing ballots for over 18 million voters, adding that If the GFP decides to replace their presidential candidate, the ballots would need to be reprinted, adding to the expense.

They argued that once the party had secured the number three position on the presidential ballot paper it would not change.

The EC suspended the printing of the 2024 presidential ballot papers following the demise of the presidential candidate of the GFP,Akua Donkor,on October 28, 2024 when the printing of the ballots for the elections was ongoing.
PLAYBACK: Speaker Bagbin's media briefing on matters in Parliament

Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Politics Nov - 06 - 2024 , 13:14 4 minutes read

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has planned a media briefing Wednesday afternoon amidst the controversy of which side of the House is now the Majority, pending a Supreme Court interpretation on Article 97 on when a seat can be declared vacant.

The Speaker recently declared four seats vacant on the grounds that, the affected Members of Parliament had crossed carpet, by filing to contest the December 7, 2024 parliamentary elections in different capacities, either as independent or on the ticket of political parties, a development, which is different from the status on which they are currently in the House.

Following that, Speaker concluded that they have crossed carpets and went ahead to declare their seats vacant.

That ruling by the Speaker has since been challenged at the Supreme Court and it is still pending.

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Following that, there is confusion in the House as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) side is claiming that per the Speaker's ruling, they now have majority seats with 136 seats while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) side is now Minority with 135 seats.

The NPP side however disagrees with that position, explaining that per a Supreme Court directive following the application for interpretation of the Article 97, the Speaker's ruling is on hold and therefore they are still the Majority in Parliament.

At the last sitting of the House, the NPP side walked out and rendered Parliament disabled to have the numbers to take decisions even though they had the numbers to start business with only members from the NDC side present.

Following that the Speaker adjourned sitting indefinitely but following a call by members, he has recalled the House to reconvene on Thursday, November 7.

It is prior to this Thursday meeting that the Speaker has opted to speak to the media Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Speaker in an application at the Supreme Court had prayed the court to set aside its directive for his ruling to be set aside, but the court disagreed and threw that application out.

The Speaker had also opposed the panel and had demanded that, one of the Justices, Ernest Gaewu should not be on the case but that objection was also thrown out.

Background

Speaker Bagbin following a statement by the NDC side in Parliament declared four parliamentary seats vacant on the premise that the current occupants had defected by filing to contest the next elections on tickets different from what they represent in the current Parliament.

The ruling, which premised a constitutional provision (Article 97) triggered by former Minority Leader and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, effectively ended the tenure of Agona West Member of Parliament (MP), Cynthia Morrison of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Amenfi Central MP, Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Suhum MP, Kwadwo Asante of the NPP, and Fomena MP, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, an independent MP.

The development at the time immediately turned the then minority of the house into the majority and vice versa which did not sit well with the then majority (members of the governing New Patriotic Party), throwing the legislative arm and the entire country into a state of confusion.

Following this, the Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who was the Majority Leader at the time of the Speakers ruling challenged the declaration at the Supreme Court.

He sought an injunction to prevent the Speaker from declaring the seats vacant or taking any steps to enforce the relevant provisions of the Constitution regarding MPs who change their political affiliations during their term in office.

The Apex Court, led by presided over by Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, on October 18, granted the injunction against the Speaker and effectively halted his vacancy declaration. The court held that the ruling was against the rights of the constituents of the MPs in question.

However, days later when parliament tried to sit, both sides of the house were determined to occupy the majority side of house as the NPP caucus leaned on the Supreme Court ruling to maintain the status quo while the members of the opposition NDC believed per the Speakers ruling they were the new majority.

This caused the NPP members to stage a walkout which forced the Speaker to indefinitely adjourn parliament.

His decision was based on Article 102 of the constitution which per his interpretation, the house didnt have the quorum to take decisions.

With the issue of his declaration of the four vacant seats, Speaker Alban Bagbin again moved to had the decision reversed but his application was thrown out in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel of the apex court on October 30.

RELATED ARTICLES

Drama in Parliament: Speaker declares 4 seats vacant - 2 NPP, 1 Independent, 1 NDC

Afenyo Markin moves to Supreme Court to restrain Speaker from declaring independent seats vacant

Supreme Court halts Speaker's ruling that declared 4 seats vacant

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Overturn your ruling - Speaker of Parliament asks Supreme Court
Jimmys Corner will attempt to enforce its no politics policy tonight. Photo: Yana Paskova/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

This morning, New Yorkers woke up to an unseasonably warm forecast and tension in the air. It is Election Day. You know the stakes, and you know that, just yesterday, the New York Times reported thatthe polls show one of the closest presidential elections in the history of American politics. People remain, generally, unhappy with how the political system is working. No one knows whats going to happen today, but many New Yorkers know where theyll turn up tonight: the nearest bar.

Around the city, a number of bars are hosting Election Night watch parties, including Elmhursts Terraza 7, which is having a Democracy Celebration to which it has invited all voices. The New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America is having three watch parties of its own  in Astoria, Bushwick, and the East Village  and New York Young Republicans are hosting an event (location undisclosed) in the East Village (7 p.m. to late.)

At Cobra Club in Bushwick, there will be live coverage on its projector in the front room and a couple drink specials (a shot for anyone who has their I Voted sticker and a special cocktail called Go Blue!). We have security sitting at the door every night. If that was not something we normally did, I would schedule it, co-owner Nikki Koch says. Even though theres a high level of anxiety in the city, she doesnt expect theres going to be any real trouble, but it might be the case.

Not everyone is expecting issues from customers or even much in the way of additional business. It shouldnt be a big night. Its an average night. You dont want to do politics in bars. Well put the TVs on, says Mario Roselli, the owner of the Subway Inn on the Upper East Side. When asked about the Election Night, a bartender at Jimmys Corner pointed to the sign behind the bar that reads Lets not discuss politics here. Exceptions  even with so much at stake  will not be made.

A different bartender, who works at Nancy Whiskey Pub in Tribeca, says they are preparing for a regular Tuesday. We think itll be busier when its declared, she says. Its going to be the same at PJ Leahys in Long Island City.

Down at Sunset Parks Irish Haven, Matt Hogan says hell have the usual staff (one bartender) on but that hes expecting a crowd. I think there are going to be people who come down to sort of white-knuckle it, to watch the Electoral College roll in, and a crowd draws a crowd. We always have a decently busy night. Our bar is a decent split; its not a partisan bar, he says. The bar has a good flow of people who are just out for the action. Some people are just there to stir up shit, some people are just there to talk and learn.

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Guam hit an all-time low general election voter turnout of 48.3%, at a time when it reached a record-high number of registered voters.

Its the lowest voter turnout of any general election since 1950, based on Guam Election Commission data.

Of the record-high 62,091 voters registered to participate in this years general election, only 29,993 cast a ballot, GECs unofficial results show.

GEC Executive Director Maria Pangelinan noted that the turnout rate is being weighed down by the fact that the island has more voters registered than ever.

Motor voter registration at the Division of Motor Vehicles, and online registration, have made it much easier to register, she said, possibly inflating the numbers of registrants.

However, going to the polls, even with the early voting option, still took effort.

But even if one just looks at the raw number of ballots cast, 2024 saw less voters than almost any other general election going back to 1982.

The 2020 general election, held at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, was only slightly lower with 29,377 votes cast, GEC records show.

Otherwise, Guam hasnt seen lower voting numbers than 2024 since 1980. That year, 25,887 people voted, but that was a turnout of 81% with just 32,140 voters registered.

Weve been discussing this for a long time, said GEC Vice Chairman Joseph Mafnas, a Democrat.

Mid-term elections typically see less votes than gubernatorial races, but Mafnas said it also appears that young voters arent showing up at the polls.

When I go around the precincts and observe, its mostly older people, he said.

Election 2024 and recent elections just dont have the energy of election years past, where big block parties and barbecues drew campaign camps filled up with voters, the GEC vice chair observed.

Its not much fun, Mafnas said, noting that more engagement was needed among the youth.

He also thinks that the old practice of island manamko pushing younger folks to go out and vote is not something seen anymore.

I remember when my mom was telling me, even my grandma said, make sure you vote, he said. Because if you dont vote, youre gonna get it.

Political parties and candidates also have to do more to engage college students on issues that matter to themhigher college tuition was a good exampleand draw them into the political scene, he said.

Elections are for the youth, according to Mafnas.

Whatever candidate, whatever party, it is for the future, for younger generation, it is not for the older people. The older people...they already know where they stand, he said.

Pangelinan recalls more engagement from the community, especially younger voters, with the parties in the past.

When I first started here, there were young Democrats and young Republicans, they were groups...we dont see that stuff anymore, she said.

Mafnas said he was one of those young Democrats before, and it was young, involved voters who got their peers engaged with the political scene.

We tell story and say, hey, you know, if we put this candidate in, this is whats gonna help us, and this is what theyre gonna do, he said.

Pangelinan said GEC is only involved in the administration of elections, and has done a lot to make it easier and remind people of their voting options.

But she said when talking to young potential voters, a lot of them say it doesnt concern them.

Republican Party of Guam Chairman Shawn Gumataotao, a senator-elect based on unofficial Election 2024 results, said Republicans are looking at the need to improve voter turnout.

Its an important right, everyone should vote, Gumataotao said.

Unofficial results for Election 2024 show the GOP winning a majority in the Legislature for the first time since 2006, a reelection for Republican Del. James Jim Moylan, and new mayoral seats for the party.

But the number of people who didnt get off the couch for Election 2024 remains a concern, Gumataotao said.

Were going to work with the Guam Election Commission, the Democratic Party of Guam, the Republican Party of Guam, put our heads together, and find more ways to get people to get out and vote, he said.

Democratic Party of Guam Chairman Tony Babauta said in a statement that the party cannot ignore the concern of low voter turnout in Election 2024.

Though Democrats lost the legislative majority and delegate seat, they did score victories in the mayoral and vice-mayoral races through grassroots participation, he said.

To strengthen our democracy, we are committed to working closely with the Guam Election Commission to explore new ways to increase voter registration and participation in the future, Babauta said. Ensuring that all voices on our island are heard is crucial for a thriving democratic process.
In an effort to make colonoscopies more affordable for Guam residents, Guam Regional Medical City, in partnership with Guam Memorial Hospital, GI Digital, and the University of Southern California, will soon offer a cost-effective alternative using a pill equipped with a camera.

A recent press conference unveiled the new technology called the capsule endoscopy launch, which has been in development for the past three years.

The technology involves swallowing a pill with a camera that transmits images to USC for analysis, allowing for local treatment planning.

Patients will wear a vest with an antenna connected to a small recorder.

There are two types of pills, each containing one or two cameras inside.

So you swallow the capsule, and in real time, it takes images and videos of your intestines. It transmits all this information directly to the recorder via the vest, said Hagen Wenzek, CEO of GI Digital. While the capsule travels through the body, it continues recording. Once its done, the capsule is flushed away, and the patient returns the vest and recorder. We then download the data from the recorder, upload it to our cloud, and send it to a doctor for evaluation.

Eric Plinske, GRMC vice president of corporate affairs, said USC Keck School of Medicine received The Telehealth and Distance Learning grant to fund a two-year project to deliver capsule endoscopy via telemedicine to Guam.

The USDA Rural Development Office is the entity that funded the grant, which is paying for this initiative to get started, he said.

Plinske confirmed that the grant funds 600 capsules  with 300 allocated to GRMC and 300 to GMH.

The initiative is expected to be operational before January.

The project aims to provide high-quality care locally, reducing the need for patients to travel off-island for procedures as well as improved patient comfort to the forefront.

The technology is also beneficial for diagnosing conditions such as anemia, iron deficiency, bleeding, tumors, and ulcers.

However, Plinske emphasized that the pill is not meant to replace traditional colonoscopies but it aims to enhance diagnostic capabilities.

Dr. Paul PJ Aguon, a gastroenterologist at GMH, echoed Plinskes point during a press conference, clarifying that while the pill may offer certain advantages, traditional colonoscopies remain essential.

So the answer right now is no, but in the future, well see what opportunities this capsule can provide, Aguon said.

Despite this, Aguon expressed excitement about the new technology, noting its potential to advance health care on the island.

This is the first phase. Hopefully, in the future, well be able to use it for things like COVID screenings, he said. Were still working on the data in the U.S. and nationwide, but this is definitely exciting technology with huge potential. The applications will only grow, and Guam will be at the forefront for the South Pacific and the entire region.
Republican candidates won a majority in the Guam Legislature for the first time since 2006, based on unofficial results from the Guam Election Commission.

Voters also elected five new senators, including four who have never held elected office before, unofficial results show.

Four sitting senators were voted out.

With an expected 9-6 Republican majority in the 38th Guam Legislature, voters of Guam have elected more GOP candidates than they have in two decades, GEC records show.

Freshmen in the upcoming term include Sabrina Salas Matanane, Shelly Calvo, Vince Borja, and Eulogio Shawn Gumataotaoall Republicans.

Former senator Tony Ada, also a Republican, likewise won his bid to return to the Legislature after an unsuccessful 2022 run on the Camacho-Ada gubernatorial ticket.

Ada won 16,536 votes in the general election, the top-vote getter among Republicans, and third overall in the race.

Freshmen Democrat Sens. Roy Quinata and Dwayne San Nicolas both lost their first reelection bid, as did freshman Republican Sen. Tom Fisher.

Quinata came in 16th in the race, just 260 votes shy of Gumataotao, who made the 15th spot.

Longtime Republican Sen. Joanne Brown, with the second-most terms in office of any sitting lawmaker, was likewise unseated in the 2024 election.

And with the majority party typically deciding the leadership of the Legislature, Democrat Speaker Therese Terlaje will presumptively not retain her speakership.

Terlaje, speaker since 2018, was still the top vote-getter in the 2024 legislative race with 19,995 votes. It is the fourth general election in a row that the speaker has come out at the head of the race, GEC records show.

Democrat Sen. Chris Barnett came in second, with 17,967 votes in his first ever re-election campaign. His spot in second is a repeat of the freshman senators performance in the 2022 election.

With the third-most votes is third-term Democrat Sen. Joe San Agustin, who got 15,328 votes in this years election.

The only newcomer to outperform the incumbents is former broadcast journalist Sabrina Salas Matanane, who came in second among Republicans and fifth overall. She got 14,523 votes, just 30 more than Democrat Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes, a consistent top vote-getter with the most terms in office of any sitting senator.

GEC is expected to meet later this month to confirm the results of the election.

Here are the unofficial results in the legislative race:
The only surefire way to soothe election night anxiety might be with a cold beverage  or at the very least, by sharing the company of dozens of other nail-biting strangers.

While party might be a bit of a misnomer, depending on the results, these New Orleans bars will be pouring beers and broadcasting election coverage all night long.

(Just a heads up: Although the polls close tonight, election experts warn that it might be several days until were certain of our next president. Good thing this city stays up late.)

High Grace Nola

Address: 733 St Peter, New Orleans.

This French Quarter dive is broadcasting the election and serving patriotic drink specials starting at 6 p.m.

Okay Bar

Address: 700 Port St., New Orleans.

Maybe youre the type of person who needs to do something with their hands while life-alteringly stressful events take place.

If so, Okay Bar is hosting open table Tuesdays with free pool tonight, while the election plays in the background. Bring your I voted sticker for a complimentary beverage.

Courtyard Brewery

Address: 1160 Camp St., New Orleans.

Start your election night off with some patriotic trivia at Courtyard Brewery at 7 p.m, followed by an election watch party at 8 p.m.

Twelve Mile Limit

Address: 500 S Telemachus St., New Orleans.

This Mid-City watering hole is serving $5 margs all night while broadcasting election coverage. Although the bar normally closes at midnight on Tuesdays, staff say they may stay open later if thats what feels right.

The Broadside

Address: 600 N Broad St., New Orleans.

The Broadside, the Broad Theaters outdoor venue, is hosting an election watch party from 6 - 11 p.m., with live music, election-themed games and food and drink available for purchase.
Amendment 3, the initiative that would have legalized recreational marijuana in Florida for adults 21 years old and older, failed to pass.

Decision HQ reports that with 97.1% of the votes across Florida counted, 57% of the electorate voted yes on the Florida Marijuana Legalization Initiative  falling short of the 60% supermajority required for approval.

A supermajority is a requirement that a proposal gain a level of support greater than the threshold of one-half used for a simple majority.

Under Florida law, constitutional amendments must receive at least 60% of the vote to pass. This threshold, which applies to all proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution, was established to ensure that significant changes to the state constitution have broad public support and are not enacted based on a simple majority.

If passed, the new law would have allowed individuals to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana (about 85 grams), with up to 5 grams in the form of concentrate  and existing Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers would have been authorized under the initiative to sell marijuana to adults for personal use.

Carma HoldCo Chief Executive Officer Adam Wilks called the failure of Amendment 3 in Florida a major setback for what could have been a transformative shift in the cannabis industry.

While Carma HoldCo remains committed to advancing the normalization and integration of cannabis into mainstream commerce and society, Wilks said, the failure to pass adult-use legalization in Florida slows the momentum toward a broader, more inclusive market.

Smart & Safe Floridas successful drive to bring recreational marijuana to Floridas 2024 ballot was one of the most expensive marijuana legalization campaigns in U.S. history  with a $40 million price tag.

Organizers needed the signatures of 891,523 Florida voters in order for the initiative to appear before the state Supreme Court for its consideration  and they well surpassed the requirement.

Then in a highly anticipated opinion, on April 1, the state Supreme Court gave its nod of approval to the Florida Marijuana Legalization Initiative  confirming it would appear on the November 2024 ballot  giving voters the power to decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida.

Following the close of Floridas 2024 legislative session, Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters he thought the language of the marijuana initiative was some of the broadest language hes ever seen  and claimed it seemed to supersede any other regulatory regime they have.

While Amendment 3 failed to pass, in 2016, Florida voters overwhelmingly supported a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana, with more than 70% in favor, paving the way for a significant number of Floridians to access medical cannabis. As of Nov. 1, 2024, the state had 882,524 registered medical marijuana patients.
The people of New Orleans are making their voices heard on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, arriving in droves to cast their vote at stations across the city.

The mood in Central City felt cautiously hopeful, with residents proudly displaying their yellow, crawfish-adorned I voted stickers as they exited the booths.

A young New Orleans resident displays an 'I voted' sticker  although it will be more than decade until he's able to do so himself.Emily Topping

Voters are concealed by privacy curtains as they fill out their ballots in the polling station at Young Audiences Charter School in New Orleans.Emily Topping

Election workers Sondra Venable, left, and Argyle Wolf-Knapp, center, assist voters in finding their registration. "I tell people: Whether you vote or not is public record, but how you vote is private," says Wolf-Knapp.Emily Topping

It's never too early to learn about democracy: Tracy Ready and her child check in at the polling station in Young Audiences Charter School on Election Day.Emily Topping

Janet Tobias, who began working in New Orleans' polling stations in 1975, says its the most excited shes seen residents in a while.

The main one was President Obama. Seemed like everybody, everybody came out, she says.

Janet Tobias, an election worker since 1975, offers a sticker to a child at a polling location in Central City, on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.Emily Topping

Election workers examine a voter's identification at Warren Easton High School in Mid-City, New Orleans. While Louisiana requests photo ID to cast a ballot in person, voters may sign a form confirming their identity instead.Emily Topping

In her near-50 years at the polls, Tobias says she felt most affected by the civic duty of New Orleanians following Hurricane Katrina, when thousands of residents returned to the city to cast their votes in the 2006 mayoral election.

I was in Arkansas. But we had a caravan coming from all the states, Tobias recalls. First they just took us to Shreveport, and we said No. We want a bus to take us all the way to New Orleans to vote. So we did.

Central City residents Jimmy Carmouche and Connie Knox show off their 'I voted' sticker on Election Day 2024.Emily Topping

Election worker Elyse Toplin takes a mid-morning snack at the polling station in Young Audiences Charter School. "You really get to see how the election process works ... but the other thing is that you get a first-hand view of how dismal turnout is in this state," she says.Emily Topping

Despite the best efforts of election workers, low voter turnout has historically been a problem in Louisiana, where only 64.6% of eligible residents cast their ballot in the 2020.

This November, however, has seen record numbers of early voters.

We anticipate having between 1 and 1.2 million voters turnout (on Election Day), Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry said to KLFY-TV. We anticipate the overall turnout will be between 68% and 71%, which is great for Louisiana.

A voter exits Warren Easton High School in Mid-City, New Orleans, on Election Day 2024.Emily Topping
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.

The victory validates his bare-knuckle approach to politics. He attacked his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, in deeply personal  often misogynistic and racist  terms as he pushed an apocalyptic picture of a country overrun by violent migrants. The coarse rhetoric, paired with an image of hypermasculinity, resonated with angry voters  particularly men  in a deeply polarized nation.

Weve been through so much together, and today you showed up in record numbers to deliver a victory, Trump told throngs of his cheering supporters in Florida. This was something special and were going to pay you back.

As president, hes vowed to pursue an agenda centered on dramatically reshaping the federal government and pursuing retribution against his perceived enemies. Speaking to his supporters Wednesday morning, Trump claimed he had won an unprecedented and powerful mandate.

The results cap a historically tumultuous and competitive election season that included two assassination attempts targeting Trump and a shift to a new Democratic nominee just a month before the partys convention. Trump will inherit a range of challenges when he assumes office on Jan. 20, including heightened political polarization and global crises that are testing Americas influence abroad.

His win against Harris, the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket, marks the second time he has defeated a female rival in a general election. Harris, the current vice president, rose to the top of the ticket after President Joe Biden exited the race amid alarm about his advanced age. Despite an initial surge of energy around her campaign, she struggled during a compressed timeline to convince disillusioned voters that she represented a break from an unpopular administration.

Harris has not publicly spoken since the race was called. Her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, said she would speak Wednesday. You will hear from her tomorrow. She will be back here tomorrow.

Trump is the first former president to return to power since Grover Cleveland regained the White House in the 1892 election. He is the first person convicted of a felony to be elected president and, at 78, is the oldest person elected to the office. His vice president, 40-year-old Ohio Sen. JD Vance, will become the highest-ranking member of the millennial generation in the U.S. government.

Congratulations started pouring in from world leaders even before Trumps victory was announced.

There will be far fewer checks on Trump when he returns to the White House. He has plans to swiftly enact a sweeping agenda that would transform nearly every aspect of American government. His GOP critics in Congress have largely been defeated or retired. Federal courts are now filled with judges he appointed. The U.S. Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-appointed justices, issued a ruling earlier this year affording presidents broad immunity from prosecution.

Trumps language and behavior during the campaign sparked growing warnings from Democrats and some Republicans about shocks to democracy that his return to power would bring. He repeatedly praised strongman leaders, warned that he would deploy the military to target political opponents he labeled the enemy from within, threatened to take action against news organizations for unfavorable coverage and suggested suspending the Constitution.

Some who served in his first White House, including Vice President Mike Pence and John Kelly, Trumps longest-serving chief of staff, either declined to endorse him or issued dire public warnings about his return to the presidency.

While Harris focused much of her initial message around themes of joy, Trump channeled a powerful sense of anger and resentment among voters.

He seized on frustrations over high prices and fears about crime and migrants who illegally entered the country on Bidens watch. He also highlighted wars in the Middle East and Russias invasion of Ukraine to cast Democrats as presiding over  and encouraging  a world in chaos.

It was a formula Trump perfected in 2016, when he cast himself as the only person who could fix the countrys problems, often borrowing language from dictators.

In 2016, I declared I am your voice. Today I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution, he said in March 2023.

This campaign often veered into the absurd, with Trump amplifying bizarre and disproven rumors that migrants were stealing and eating pet cats and dogs in an Ohio town. At one point, he kicked off a rally with a detailed story about the legendary golfer Arnold Palmer in which he praised his genitalia.

But perhaps the defining moment came in July when a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A bullet grazed Trumps ear and killed one of his supporters. His face streaked with blood, Trump stood and raised his fist in the air, shouting Fight! Fight! Fight! Weeks later, a second assassination attempt was thwarted after a Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through the greenery while Trump was playing golf.

Trumps return to the White House seemed unlikely when he left Washington in early 2021 as a diminished figure whose lies about his defeat sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He was so isolated at the time that few outside of his family bothered to attend the send-off he organized for himself at Andrews Air Force Base, complete with a 21-gun salute.

Democrats who controlled the U.S. House quickly impeached him for his role in the insurrection, making him the only president to be impeached twice. He was acquitted by the U.S. Senate, where many Republicans argued that he no longer posed a threat because he had left office.

But from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump  aided by some elected Republicans  worked to maintain his political relevance. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican who at the time led his party in the U.S. House, visited Trump soon after he left office, essentially validating his continued role in the party.

As the 2022 midterm election approached, Trump used the power of his endorsement to assert himself as the unquestioned leader of the party. His preferred candidates almost always won their primaries, but some went on to defeat in elections that Republicans viewed as within their grasp. Those disappointing results were driven in part by a backlash to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that revoked a womans constitutional right to an abortion, a decision that was aided by Trump-appointed justices. The midterm election prompted questions within the GOP about whether Trump should remain the partys leader.

But if Trumps future was in doubt, that changed in 2023 when he faced a wave of state and federal indictments for his role in the insurrection, his handling of classified information and election interference. He used the charges to portray himself as the victim of an overreaching government, an argument that resonated with a GOP base that was increasingly skeptical  if not outright hostile  to institutions and established power structures.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who challenged Trump for the Republican nomination, lamented that the indictments sucked out all the oxygen from this years GOP primary. Trump easily captured his partys nomination without ever participating in a debate against DeSantis or other GOP candidates.

With Trump dominating the Republican contest, a New York jury found him guilty in May of 34 felony charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. He faces sentencing later this month, though his victory poses serious questions about whether he will ever face punishment.

He has also been found liable in two other New York civil cases: one for inflating his assets and another for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996.

Trump is subject to additional criminal charges in an election-interference case in Georgia that has become bogged down. On the federal level, hes been indicted for his role in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election and improperly handling classified material. When he becomes president on Jan. 20, Trump could appoint an attorney general who would erase the federal charges.

As he prepares to return to the White House, Trump has vowed to swiftly enact a radical agenda that would transform nearly every aspect of American government. That includes plans to launch the largest deportation effort in the nations history, to use the Justice Department to punish his enemies, to dramatically expand the use of tariffs and to again pursue a zero-sum approach to foreign policy that threatens to upend longstanding foreign alliances, including the NATO pact.

When he arrived in Washington 2017, Trump knew little about the levers of federal power. His agenda was stymied by Congress and the courts, as well as senior staff members who took it upon themselves to serve as guardrails.

This time, Trump has said he would surround himself with loyalists who will enact his agenda, no questions asked, and who will arrive with hundreds of draft executive orders, legislative proposals and in-depth policy papers in hand.

 By ZEKE MILLER, MICHELLE L. PRICE, WILL WEISSERT and JILL COLVIN Associated Press Associated Press writer Jill Colvin reported from Palm Beach, Florida
Rafael has intensified into a Category 1 hurricane as it marches toward the Cayman Islands and Cuba, according to data from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Hunter aircraft. While the immediate threat is in the Caribbean, the storm is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall in the United States this weekend.

As of 7:20 p.m. ET, Hurricane Rafael had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, with higher gusts. The storm was located about 20 miles southeast of Little Cayman and about 305 miles south-southeast of Havana, Cuba, according to an update from the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

A Category 1 hurricane has sustained wind speeds between 74 mph and 95 mph, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Rafael is moving toward the northwest at nearly 15 mph, a direction its anticipated to follow for the next several days. On the forecast track, the storm is expected to move near or over the Cayman Islands on Tuesday night, be near or over western Cuba on Wednesday and move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday night, forecasters said.

Warm waters and minimal wind shear will contribute to Rafael strengthening before making landfall in Cuba.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the Cayman Islands and the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Ciego de Avila, as well as the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, and Dry Tortugas.

A tropical storm watch was in effect for the Cuban provinces of Camaguey and Las Tunas.

Forecasters warned heavy rainfall will impact areas of the western Caribbean through early Thursday, particularly across Jamaica and the Cayman Islands into southern and western portions of Cuba. Rainfall totals between 3 to 6 inches are expected, with isolated higher totals up to 10 inches anticipated across areas of higher terrain, which could lead to areas of flash flooding and mudslides.

Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected for the Lower and Middle Florida Keys.

Landfall along US Gulf Coast

The probable path of Hurricane Rafael, valid 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 5, 2024, shows the storm moving northwest into the Gulf of Mexico later in the week.Courtesy National Hurricane Center

The tropical threat will spend some time as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane before losing some wind intensity while approaching the U.S. central Gulf Coast this weekend due to progressively cooler waters and increasing wind shear, according to AccuWeather.

The storm and its winds will be strong enough to create rough seas over the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters said. Some coastal flooding will be likely to the north and east of the storm track.

The highest probability of landfall will be along the central Louisiana coast, according to AccuWeather. The approach of a nontropical storm from the south-central U.S. could impact steering winds later this week or weekend, which would in turn influence where Rafael makes landfall. That means the potential zone for landfall will extend from the Florida Panhandle to the Texas coast.

Together with that nontropical storm, Rafael will spread a zone of drenching rain and locally severe thunderstorms over parts of the interior South Central and Southeastern states as it moves inland, according to AccuWeather. Any tropical storm or hurricane that transitions to a tropical rainstorm has the potential for excessive rainfall and flooding.
UPDATE 7:35 p.m. CT on Nov. 4: Rafael has intensified into a Category 1 hurricane, according to data collected by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Hunter aircraft.

###

Tropical Storm Rafael is expected to develop into a hurricane on Tuesday as it approaches the Cayman Islands and Cuba, according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

As of 4 p.m. ET, Rafael was located about 105 miles east of Grand Cayman and about 120 miles west-northwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica. The storm was moving northwest at 15 mph.

That northwestward movement is expected to continue over the next two or three days, according to the hurricane center. The storm is expected to move near or over the Cayman Islands on Tuesday evening and night and be near or over western Cuba on Wednesday.

Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph with higher gusts. Steady to rapid intensification into a hurricane is expected Tuesday as the storm passes near the Cayman Islands. Further strengthening is expected before Rafael makes landfall in Cuba.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the Cayman Islands and the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Jamaica and the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Ciego de Avila, as well as the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, and Dry Tortugas.

A tropical storm watch was in effect for the Cuban provinces of Camaguey and Las Tunas.

Forecasters warned Rafael would unleash heavy rains across the western Caribbean that could lead to flooding and mudslides, with totals of 3 to 6 inches and up to 10 inches expected locally in Jamaica and parts of Cuba.

Heavy rainfall also was expected to spread north into Florida and nearby areas of the southeast U.S. during the middle to late part of the week. A few tornadoes also were expected Wednesday over the Keys and southwesternmost Florida mainland.

By Wednesday night, the storm is expected to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and make landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast over the weekend.

Where will Rafael make US landfall?

The probable path of Tropical Storm Rafael, valid at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 5, 2024, shows the storm moving to the northwest over the next several days.Courtesy National Hurricane Center

The highest probability of landfall will be along the central Louisiana coast, according to AccuWeather.

But the approach of a nontropical storm from the south-central U.S. could impact steering winds later this week or weekend, which would in turn influence where Rafael makes landfall. That means the potential zone for landfall will extend from the Florida Panhandle to the Texas coast.

Together with that nontropical storm, Rafael will spread a zone of drenching rain and locally severe thunderstorms over parts of the interior South Central and Southeastern states as it moves inland, according to AccuWeather. Any tropical storm or hurricane that transitions to a tropical rainstorm has the potential for excessive rainfall and flooding.
World Travel Market London opens with China showcasing rich tourism offerings

Xinhua) 13:26, November 06, 2024

A woman talks with a staff member at the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LONDON, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal.

The pavilion is set to feature a range of destination promotions, business networking sessions, and showcases of intangible cultural heritage. Attendees can also enjoy interactive experiences, including Chinese "baijiu" liquor tastings, Tai Chi workshops, and samples of Chinese cuisine.

This year's Chinese delegation consists of representatives from nine provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Xinjiang and Shaanxi, alongside dozens of airlines and tourism companies.

After browsing brochures and speaking with representatives at the China pavilion, Gary King, head of trade sales at London-based Wendy Wu Tours, told Xinhua that his top two destinations for future trips to China are Zhangjiajie in the central Hunan Province and Guilin in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, both renowned for their "spectacular scenery."

King said he traveled to China for the first time last year and was "absolutely captivated," highlighting the local cuisine, welcoming people, extensive high-speed railway network, and the diversity between cities as the aspects he loved most about the country and his experience.

Since last year, China has been expanding its visa-free entry policies to boost the recovery of inbound tourism, making it increasingly easier and more appealing for foreign tourists to explore the country.

This year's China pavilion at WTM London, themed "high-quality tourism development in China," emphasized green and sustainable tourism, showcasing the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature.

"Tourism businesses and boards have a responsibility to help businesses become greener and more regenerative, while also helping consumers make sustainable choices," Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, the UK's national tourism agency, told Xinhua.

She noted that international tourism not only generates economic value but also enriches people "personally and mentally" by providing opportunities to "speak with different people, understand different cultures, and learn about diverse lives and experiences." High-quality tourism, she added, encourages travelers to stay longer and explore more deeply in their destinations.

Over the decades, China has made remarkable strides in facilitating travel, enhancing various aspects like tourism infrastructure, cultural heritage site accessibility, mobile payment services, and transportation convenience -- including a rail network that spans the entire country.

At the event, Shi Zeyi, an official from China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said that China is dedicated to fostering practical, mutually beneficial partnerships with worldwide tourism professionals and contributing to the growth and prosperity of the global tourism industry.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry.

The 44th edition of WTM London, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

People visit the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A woman talks with a staff member at the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A man visits the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

People visit the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)




Haiti - FLASH : Diplomatic clash between Haiti and the DR





Statements by Haitian Chancellor Dominique Dupuy :

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Dominique Dupuy, Haiti's Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed a reduction in expulsions of Haitians residing in an irregular migratory situation in Dominican territory.



"We welcome the reduction in expulsions, the fruit of our efforts and our solidarity with our [international] allies. Haiti aspires to a frank and respectful dialogue with the Government of the Dominican Republic, for an association where each Nation finds its advantages."



The Chancellor accompanied this message with a video in which she reaffirms previous statements in which she considers the mass expulsions launched by the Dominican Republic as discriminatory and racist and informs that she has brought these cases of mass expulsions before international organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) organizations...



Denial by the Dominican Republic :

Faride Raful, the Minister of Interior and Police of the Dominican Republic, reacted vigorously to the statements of Dominique Dupuy, who declared that Haiti is celebrating a "reduction in deportations" thanks to its efforts and solidarity with international allies.



The Minister categorically denied that the number of repatriations had been reduced at the request of the Haitian Government or international pressure and accused Chancellor Dupuy of spreading inaccurate information. "We categorically deny any allegation regarding an alleged reduction in repatriations at the request of Haiti. The statements of Haitian Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy are false and seek to interfere in our internal affairs." Recalling "Immigration policy is a sovereign right of each State. No country or international organization has the power to interfere in the internal decisions of the Dominican Republic."



Faride Raful clarified that the Dominican Government firmly maintains its commitment to repatriate foreigners in an irregular migratory situation, within the framework of the law and in respect of human rights, but without giving in to external pressures "The DR reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of its plan [...] We will pursue the objective of repatriating 10,000 undocumented migrants per week, in the full exercise of our sovereignty. Protected by national laws and the Dominican Constitution."



Finally, to confirm her remarks, Minister Faride Raful shared precise figures on the number of Haitians returned to Haiti between October 2nd and November 5, 2024, a period during which a total of 60,961 Haitians were deported, repatriated (turned back at the border) including voluntary returns.



Latest official figures from the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) :

The General Directorate of the DGM revealed that last October, 60,961 foreigners in an irregular migratory situation were returned to Haiti. 43,148 were deported and repatriated (turned back at the border) and 14,970 agreed to voluntarily return to Haiti for non-compliance with the regulations established by the General Migration Law 285-04 and its implementing regulation Decree 631-11.



Between January and October, 406,860 foreigners in an irregular migratory situation [mostly Haitians] were returned to their country of origin, said the Director General of Immigration, Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, who stressed that since his first day at the head of the DGM, he has ensured that the processes comply with protocols, respecting the human rights, dignity and integrity of foreigners.



Illustration thumbnail : on the left Mrs. Faride Raful on the right Mrs. Dominique Dupuy



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43511-haiti-flash-30-921-illegal-haitians-deported-and-repatriated-from-the-dominican-republic-in-20-days.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43485-haiti-un-haiti-and-dr-clash-diplomatically-over-mass-expulsions.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43475-icihaiti-dom-rep-27-353-haitians-deported-and-repatriated-since-october-3rd.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43444-icihaiti-dom-rep-illegal-haitians-demonstrate-at-the-haina-detention-center.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43440-icihaiti-dom-rep-major-mobilization-to-welcome-thousands-of-deportees.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43396-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43381-icihaiti-dom-rep-working-group-on-the-reception-and-care-of-thousands-of-deported-haitians.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43376-haiti-flash-mass-deportation-intervention-at-the-oas-by-haitian-ambassador-gandy-thomas-video.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43374-icihaiti-flash-mass-deportation-message-from-the-haitian-consulate-in-santiago.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43371-haiti-flash-7-217-haitians-deported-and-repatriated-to-haiti-in-4-days-by-the-dominican-republic.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43358-icihaiti-mass-repatriations-emergency-meeting-at-mahve.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43343-haiti-politic-mass-deportation-from-the-dom-rep-reactions-from-the-haitian-chancellery.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43334-haiti-flashrepatriation-of-10-000-haitians-per-week-the-great-hunt-has-begun-in-the-dominican-rep.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





83 Haitians arrested in a Dominican Hotel

Following intelligence work, the Las Matas Hotel in Santa Cruz, Montecristi province was sealed off and 83 Haitians in an irregular migratory situation and a Dominican were arrested during an intervention coordinated by the Dominican Army (ERD) and the General Directorate of Migration (DGM), accompanied by the Public Ministry. The Haitians were waiting to be transferred to different destinations on Dominican territory. Our compatriots were handed over to the DGM for the repatriation process.



Training in French and Creole for the 600 Kenyans to come

The International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) organized training in French and Haitian Creole and in interculturality for 600 Kenyan police officers to be deployed to Haiti shortly... The Special Envoy of the Secretary General of La Francophonie for monitoring in Haiti, Domitien Ndayizeye, had the opportunity to present his mission and to present the diplomas to the Kenyan police officers, in the company of the Special Political and Diplomatic Advisor to the Secretary General.



Donald Trump re-elected

Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Donald Trump managed to win the elections, a resounding victory. A return to the White House all the more impressive after a campaign marked by two assassination attempts, four indictments and a criminal conviction...



New Chief of Prosecution in Les Cayes

On Monday, November 4, 2024, Mr. Elioth Pierre Paul, former Commissioner of the Government of Petit-Goave, was officially installed as the new Chief of Prosecution of the jurisdiction of Les Cayes, succeeding Mr. Joubert Amazan.



Solino : 12,619 displaced persons

While the people displaced following the attacks of Tabarre 27 have returned home, the number of those displaced following the attacks in the Solino district and its surroundings has increased considerably. A total of 12,619 people were displaced following the attacks in Solino and its surroundings, the majority of whom (58%) took refuge in 14 sites, including 7 existing ones and 7 newly created following the attacks.



USA : Elections or not, deportations will continue

There will be no change in immigration laws immediately after the November 5 US elections. People who enter the country illegally outside the ports of entry will continue to be expelled quickly, the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince assured on Monday, November 4 on its "X" account.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















With the preference of some federal states and the German government for Microsoft cloud services, "increasingly sensitive citizen data is also migrating into the care of the tech company", warn the Presidential Working Group on Digital Sovereignty and the Data Protection and IT Security Working Group of the German Informatics Society (GI). They see "unacceptable risks for Germany's digital independence" and the protection of citizens' and companies' data: "The worrying dependence on Microsoft is not only being cemented, but further expanded."

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One trigger for the GI's alarm: according to a c't survey, at least six federal states including Bavaria, Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia want to introduce the Teams video conferencing system or the complete Microsoft 365 cloud office package in their administration. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also recently backed the Delos cloud project from SAP, Arvato and Microsoft, which, however, advertises more "sovereignty" than pure US solutions. Such efforts lead the GI to fear that "Germany could soon be trapped in the golden Microsoft cage".

MI6 chief speaks of "data trap"

The GI quotes an interview with British intelligence chief Richard Moore from MI6 from 2021. The espionage expert spoke of a "data trap": "If you allow another country to get access to really critical data about your society, that will erode your sovereignty over time." According to the IT experts, the data trap will close in Germany if the plans of some federal states to migrate to the Microsoft cloud are realized.

This has to do with the Cloud Act, the authors explain. It authorizes US authorities to "legitimately access data held in data centers of US service providers outside the USA". The providers are obliged to maintain confidentiality. In a 2019 study mentioned by the authors, auditors referred to the resulting "pain points for the federal administration". Digital monopolies could brutally increase their prices, it continues. A further explosion is to be expected in the administration. The federal government has increased spending on software licenses from around 771 million euros in 2022 to over 1.2 billion euros in 2023 alone. A large chunk of this will go to Microsoft.

Doubts about security and legal compliance

The GI is pessimistic about serious security incidents in Microsoft's Azure cloud. There are also doubts about the legal compliance of awarding contracts of this size without a prior EU-wide tender. Alternative solutions are sufficiently well known and would be preferable for reasons of data protection, IT security and costs. Schleswig-Holstein is leading the way with its open source approach. "Germany's future must not depend on the arbitrariness of large foreign corporations," emphasize the computer scientists. It is crucial "that we can shape our digital future independently, self-determinedly and securely". The German government must finally implement its guiding principle of strengthening digital sovereignty. The federal states also have a special responsibility here.

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(mma)
"Servus," he greets at the entrance. This day will be a good one for Immanuel Bar. He knows the company premises from satellite images, the building only from the outside. This is his first time here during the day. Determined and without anyone stopping him, he walks past reception and pushes open the door to a conference room. "Good morning, we need to check something here," he says to a member of staff. Yes, no problem, is the reply. Seconds later, Bar is connected to a company network and has the first data on his screen.

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"Missing Link" What's missing: In the fast-paced world of technology, we often don't have time to sort through all the news and background information. At the weekend, we want to take this time to follow the side paths away from the current affairs, try out other perspectives and make nuances audible. All our the "Missing Links"

The employee continues typing on his keyboard and lets the stranger work with a laptop and LAN cable on his arm. Meanwhile, he helpfully answers the odd question. What he doesn't realize is that Immanuel Bar is neither a colleague nor is he supposed to be checking something in the IT infrastructure. The polite, confident man with the patterned shirt is an intruder. His desire: full control of the company's IT. His approach: risky. Brazen. During ongoing operations. His action: a complete success.

The intruder walks past the reception desk and into the building with demonstrative ease. (Image: heise online/Midjourney)

The entrance

Immanuel Bar works for Prosec, a cybersecurity company from Germany. What he shows on this day in the company of a customer from Austria is a reenactment for the press. A few weeks earlier, the real action turned into a near-nightmare for IT manager Gustav Schneider, who actually has a different name. The only consolation: Bar and his colleagues were there as white-hat hackers at Schneider's invitation to discover any security gaps. "I gave them a get-out-of-jail-free card," says Schneider. "They were told to take everything they could  Nobody knew about it except me, not even the management." The extent of the loot shocked Schneider. "I was already expecting that they might get into one of our networks. But I didn't think it was possible that they would double-cross us like this," he explains sadly.

And even at the second attempt, Immanuel Bar  now accompanied by the press  does not arouse any suspicion. He saves the names of more than 276 devices, access to time recording and some manufacturer information on his computer, tidies up and thanks the employee in the conference room. The fact that two people with a camera accompany the stranger does not seem to irritate the employee. Bar sets off to obtain further information. His goal: domain admin rights. By the end of the day, the team will have been in and out of the company several times, stolen several company cars and locked IT out of its own system, and in the evening, with total control over the company system, will have closed the laptop.

The tea kitchen

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"Don't mind me, I just need to check something here," says the intruder in the kitchenette and gets to work on the printer. (Image: heise online/Midjourney)

Bar walks further into the administrative wing, greets oncoming people, takes a look in the open mailboxes next to open office doors. He finds a printer in the kitchenette. He says to his colleagues on site: "Don't let me disturb you, I just need to check something." Bar finds old print jobs and can read the contacts via "send to myself by email". He pulls crumpled up machine data from the garbage can next to the printer. "Crumpled and torn things are always the most interesting," he says, pockets the documents and moves on.

"Eight years ago, we invested 35,000 euros in anti-virus protection and that was the security," says Gustav Schneider. That is now nowhere near enough. "Last year it was 380,000 euros, this year 500,000 euros." At the beginning, the company focused particularly intensively on awareness, sending employees phishing emails, educating them and practising. "Last year, we then strengthened the outer ring in terms of hardware and software, my team was 'fed up'," reports Schneider. "Many of them thought that nothing could happen to us now." To test this, Schneider commissioned the security company to carry out a penetration test. The company is well equipped, he thinks, not much can happen. A short time later, it turns out that Schneider was wrong. And hugely so.

The trust

Bar and his team discovered the company's biggest weakness in advance, which he now shamelessly exploited: Virtually, the company is well equipped against attackers  but the factory premises on site don't even have a fence. In the area, people meet openly and there is mutual trust, says Schneider, explaining the unsecured company premises. IT is not prepared for an attack from the inside. "We planned for one or two days, checked the company premises and looked at where we could come from," explains Bar. An extension, for example, is particularly vulnerable. "The locking system is then often invalid."

The team gathers further information from social media posts. They systematically search for photos and videos in which a printer type can be recognized, a name badge appears or a visitor badge can be seen. "Is there an employee event, a smokers' corner, a supplier entrance, where is a door often open?", Bar lists. "A company often falls through a wooden wedge in the door." The team also went through the garbage in a clandestine moment. "Show me your garbage and I'll show you your identity." Bar and his team found what they were looking for in a video about an event during the coronavirus pandemic. They have a clipboard with the printer manufacturer's logo, fake visitor badges, high-visibility vests and LAN and printer cables with them on D-Day.
Statistics Finland in October forecast that the Finnish population will grow to six million by the early 2030s and by another half-a-million by the 2070s, kindling widespread debate particularly about the projected level of immigration underlying the forecast.

The forecast is considerably more optimistic than its two previous forecasts. In 2021, the bureau forecast that population growth would come to a halt in 2033.

Annual net immigration is currently expected to settle at last years level of around 40,000, according to Statistics Finland. The forecast, it said, reflects the uncertainties associated with immigration, with the self-sufficiency projection  a projection that leaves out immigration  indicating that the population would shrink by almost 475,000 in the next two decades.

While net immigration is expected to sustain population growth in the coming decades, it does not prevent but simply postpones the creeping up of the dependency ratio, it also reminded.

The working-age population, or the number of 1564-year-old people, is forecast to peak in the early 2050s at roughly 3.85 million, representing an increase of almost 400,000 from 2023. Working-age people currently account for 62 per cent of the population, a proportion that will be upheld by immigration until the 2050s.

In 2070, though, working-age people will only account for 58 per cent of the population, while the share of over 65-year-olds will have expanded from the current 23 per cent to 31 per cent.

The Finnish population has grown by roughly 25,000 people this year as a result of roughly 37,000 people moving into the country from overseas. Without immigration, the population would have decreased by almost 10,000 as deaths continue to outnumber births.

This year is set to mark already the seventh consecutive year when fewer than 50,000 children are born in Finland.

Jani Makela, the chairperson of the Finns Party Parliamentary Group, in October expressed his doubts about the accuracy of the forecast, viewing that the high level of immigration must be attributable to refugees from Ukraine.

It doesnt sound like a positive development. I dont think the forecast will become reality, he remarked to Helsingin Sanomat on 24 October.

Makela said the Finns Party has no numerical targets for net immigration and is unconvinced that large-scale immigration could fix the problems in Finland. Statistics tell that unemployment and crime are relatively speaking more common among immigrants than the native-born population. We think that if you come into the country, you have to have a genuine and proper reason.

Net immigration rose last year to almost 40,000 even without refugees from Ukraine, Statistics Finland's Rapo reminded on Monday. It is therefore justified to assume net migration gains could remain at that level also in the coming years.

Finland had registered a net migration gain of about 23,000 in 2021 and 34,000 in 2022.

Rapo added that the forecast depicts demographic development in the event that the birth rate remains at its current historically low level, mortality continues to decrease at the observed rate and international migration flows remain at their current level.

Statistics Finlands population forecast is designed to offer an opportunity to react. If the projected demographic development is undesirable, decision-makers should try to prevent it, he explained in his blog post.

Rapo also conceded that it is clear as day that demographic development will not continue unchanged for decades.

The forecast, he said, utilises the cohort-component method to project how the population would develop if current trends were to persist. Such forecasts have proven relatively accurate: the 2007 forecast, for example, accurately projected the development of the over 50-year-old population but not that of the under 50-year-old population, namely by greatly overestimating the under 10-year-old population.

The forecast indicated that there would be more than 60,000 children in each age cohort under the age of 10, significantly more than the actual numbers. Age cohorts in the 1050-year range have contrastively been a few thousand larger than forecast in 2007.

This is because the birth rate has declined and immigration has increased from the prevalent level in 2007, explained Rapo.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democrats ultimately in decisive fashion, picking up each of the five first crucial swing states to be called: Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

PRESIDENT Alexander Stubb has congratulated the Republicans Donald Trump for his victory in the presidential elections held in the US on Tuesday, 5 November.

Also Arizona and Nevada, the two remaining swing states, are leaning in the direction of the former president  as is the national popular vote. No Republican candidate, including Trump, has won the popular vote in two decades.

American democracy has spoken, the result is clear, Stubb was quoted saying to Finnish journalists by YLE on Wednesday, 6 November.

The US presidential elections captured public attention also in Finland, raising questions, as well as concerns, about the implications of the outcomes, acknowledged Stubb.

Democracy often leads to change, he commented, reminding that elections across the western world ultimately tend to boil down to concrete issues, such as employment and housing loans. Were living in times where were seeing a trend that emphasises slightly different issues than 30 years ago.

He also underscored that the west must look after democracy and the well-being of society.

With Trump promising to negotiate a quick peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, Stubb stressed that any negotiations about peace should respect the sovereignty and right to self-determination of Ukraine.

Well see what kind of a peace plan the Trump administration will pursue, he said. Im pretty sure that the negotiations will now enter a new phase.

FinnishUS collaboration, he assured, will continue also under a second Trump presidency. Finlands foreign policy line is stable. Finland and the US will continue close collaboration based on that also under the new administration, he stated.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen (NCP) similarly assured that the FinnishUS relationship will continue also under a Trump White House.

And it isnt only a question of our bilateral relationship. The transatlantic relationship has significance for Europe, but a lot of significance also for the US. In these times, no one can have too many friends, she was quoted saying to journalists in the Parliament House by Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday.

Valtonen said Finland and the Nordics will continue to emphasise the importance of continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

This is still our message to the US. Its not only about Ukraine, but about a permanent threat from Russia on Europes security and the entire alliance, she commented.

Where Finland agrees with the US is that Europe has to do a better job at doing its share, according to Valtonen. Trumps message in 2016 might have come as a surprise, but in fact the US message to Europe has long been that Europe has to do more about its defence deterrence. Finland is completely on the same page here. Were advocating for Europe to strengthen especially its defence industry.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
In hard-hit Bat Cave, firefighters checked door to door for survivors

Bat Cave Fire Chief Steve Freeman describes his department's response to Hurricane Helene.

BAT CAVE  Bat Cave Fire Chief Steve Freeman joined other first responders for regular briefings in the days leading up to Hurricane Helene. The warnings from Jimmy Brissie, the countys emergency services director, became more dire by the day. Three days of rain from a cold front had saturated the ground and caused flooding already, ahead of the storms steady march north from Floridas Big Bend.

They said this is going to be as bad as the 1916 flood, Freeman said. That kicked us into high gear, and we started going and evacuating people and telling them that this is going to be bad.

Freeman recalled the last major flood in the Hickory Nut Gorge, in 1996. But like everyone else alive, the only image he had of the 1916 flood was grainy black-and-white photos and the lore of mountain natives whose parents or grandparents had shared memories.

The last all-volunteer force in Henderson County, the Bat Cave Fire Department prides itself on a practical, hands-on, personal approach to fire protection. One by one, they knocked on doors.

And we kind of scared them a little bit but it worked, the chief said. We told them, Well, if youre not going to evacuate, at least give us your name and address and next of kin and then handed them a black magic marker and said, How bout writin it on your arm.

That got their attention. And Gerton did the same thing. They went up there and told everybody along the river to leave. I think thats what saved lives.

We took it all serious, he said. Even so, We never dreamed it would be this bad.

A near-death experience

Freeman was at home in Possum Holler, the next holler up from the fire station, with his wife, Joyce, on that Friday morning, Sept. 27, when Hurricane Helene thundered in.

We were standing on the front porch about 8:45 or so watching the driveway wash away and the house shook, he said. I went from the front porch, through the house and went through the back door to see what it was. I had parked my vehicle ahead of time above the house, way away on what he assumed would be high enough ground. I come to the kitchen door to look out. Ive got a 67 Mustang, which is my first car. I looked out my kitchen window just in time to see it get parked right in my wood shed in front of my deck.

Next came his 2001 Ford Ranger pickup, washed down in the mudslide and flipped.

And I heard more racket after that, so I went on out the door, he said It was another slide coming down the rest of the holler. I started running back toward the house, and I had an old backhoe setting there and the shed collapsed on me and pinned my head against the backhoe. And then God just pushed it back enough for me to get my head out. My wifes standing there watching all this. She thought I was dead.

They were alive, but for how long they werent sure.

At that moment, I yelled at her to get in the truck, Freeman said. And we both ran and got in the truck. I just knew the whole mountain was coming down at that point and I figured if we got in the truck, if it washed the house away, we might have a chance of rolling in the truck.

I had my near-death experience and thats when I knew God was here for me.

At that moment, it was time to pivot to his fire chief job. Using radios, firefighters mapped the district into five zones. Freeman got to work in Possum Holler.

We started worrying about everybody else and we couldnt get there (to the fire station) from here, even though its just a mile up the road, he said. We first walked down to the end of Possum Holler (Road) and then we realized we needed to start digging out to check on people above and down. Thats what we spent the next hours doing.

'All those houses were swept away'

At the fire station on Gerton Highway, a handful of firefighters were on duty overnight Thursday, Sept. 26, when the Rocky Broad River rose and rose, a violent torrent carrying boulders and debris and parts of homes. Soon, the rising water threatened the firehouse itself.

Toby Linville talks about the destruction firefighters saw in real time as Hurricane Helene tore through the gorge.The water had come into the building and broke the basement door, Toby Linville said. And then we start smelling propane, and it just ended up being a tank that had floated loose that was spinning around out here in an eddy.

Linville had been assigned as part of the emergency response to stay overnight in Bat Cave. A former Rescue Squad chief, he was an experienced search-and-rescue specialist. (Appropriately, in his day job, he is the countys floodplain administrator. There are 700 houses in the flood plain that Ill have to look at, he told me.)

By Friday morning, the river was rising on one side of the highway while floodwater and mudslides raced downhill on the other.

Water was shooting down on either side of the storage building over here, Linville said. So we didnt really want to be in there, not knowing how bad it would get. It was flowing down the road from the bridge, from the ridge, everywhere.

Those poles were breaking while we were standing there, he said, pointing to power poles along the highway, since replaced. Of course, power had been off since early that morning, probably 3 a.m.

As the hard rain subsided, people found their way to what was left of Gerton Highway and hiked to the fire station.

Folks started coming to us, Linville said. One of the groups brought an elderly lady down from just a couple houses down there, and then everyone else was just kind of walking to us, because (Highway) 9 was caving in.  You look left of the river  those houses are all gone. All those houses were swept away.

My immediate thought was we were in trouble

In the basement of the firehouse, firefighter Sarah Smith tried to salvage personal belongings as the flood surged.

I was just standing on the stairs to see if we could get any of our stuff, she said. But it just came up so quickly we werent able to get the gear. It went from about 4 inches on the floor to more than 6 feet in about 38 seconds, breaking a metal door.

Seeing that, My immediate thought was we were in trouble, she said.

The firefighters feared the firehouse could itself be swept away by the raging river.

You could hear it creaking once the water got in there, because it was just rushing in, Sarah said. You could hear the water sloshing up under the floor. So we just had to move as quick as we could to get the food and supplies and fire trucks and things across road so we could keep everybody we had safe and fed and try to provide them some sort of comfort.

Aside from that, there was nothing anyone could do but observe the relentless power of the flood.

Clay (Freeman) and Dan Hayes from the rescue squad  both of them were praying for the water to go down, Sarah said. I was in a different spot doing the same thing, and the Lord just provided.

The scraggly hero

Bat Cave Fire Lt. Clay Freeman describes how a Marine appeared suddenly and fixed the generator that powered the firehouse.When floodwaters submerged the generator that powered the firehouse, firefighters worried theyd have no power for lights, refrigeration and cooking, no way to support both the emergency personnel and the survivors who had shown up at the station.

All the fire department people tried and we couldnt fix it, recalled Clay Freeman, the chiefs nephew. (Clays claim to fame, when firefighters can look back and grin at a few moments, is having caught a 12-inch trout in the firehouse basement with his hands.)

There was actually a guy that came off of Bat Cave Drive up here. he said. Real long hair like me, scraggly  didnt look like hed know what to do.

He walked up and he said, Im a Marine and I fix generators. He went and got an air compressor, and a couple bottles of water right here and blew this out with an air compressor after rinsing the muddy water out. When he came back, all his beard and a bunch of his hair was burnt off. I was like, Is it making power? He said, Not yet. Give me about 20 minutes. And he got it running in about 20 minutes.

The Marines name was Vincent Wright, assisted by his son, Logan.

Hes famous in Bat Cave: The scraggly Marine who showed up like an angel and got the lights back on.

HART saves the day

As the skies began to clear, Linville and the Bat Cave firefighters saw a sign of hope: choppers in the sky.

Wed seen some kind of some reconnaissance flights that were just flying up and down the river, and then they landed at the church up here on the hill and they walked down, Linville said. Theyre like, Do you have any folks that need to be evacuated?

Weve got a garage full of em, Linville responded. They probably flew six or eight flights.

The rescuers were a Helo Aquatic Rescue Team crew, a special squad of the State Highway Patrol and National Guard known as a HART team. HART crews are made up of highly trained first responders from around the state.

The whole world is falling apart

Herb Klann and his wife, Chelsea, woke before daybreak Friday to no power, trees down, a hard rain. Their home is on a ridge near the Bat Cave firehouse.

Honestly, we kind of thought the worst was over, he said. It kind of let up, and were just going around checking on people, making sure everyone was okay. It looked like a mess, just a bad storm. But we had no idea what was coming. It was maybe 8:30 to noon on that Friday morning. My driveway became a raging river.

Herb Klann and his family were among about 30 Helene survivors who were airlifted to safety.Herb and Chelsea tried their best to show a calm demeanor for the sake of their infant daughter, Hildegard, and 3-year-old son, Guenther.

My kids asking to watch cartoons, and the whole world is falling apart literally in front of us, Herb said. My wife was trying to hold it together for the kids. Hey, lets read a book, try to cook some breakfast or something.

They survived and, like their neighbors, made their way to the firehouse.

That afternoon, everyone started congregating down here. It was a mess, Herb said. There was maybe 20, 30 people, people crawling out of the woods. It was really, really, really bad.

Herb worried about older people, wondered whether people were stranded, maybe badly injured.

Thank God, we had about four search-and-rescue guys that came in the night before, and there was an ambulance here that had not been flooded or anything, he said. So I thought, as far as medical attention goes, were in pretty good shape.

With roads closed in all directions, the HART team would be the Klann familys salvation. The chopper picked up survivors, shuttled them to Edneyville and came back for more until all were carried to safety.

It wasnt an hour later (from when the HART team first landed) that my neighbor knocked on the door. Shes like, Youre next. So, clothes on our back  two kids, two cats and a dog  we were up and out, Herb said. They dropped us off at the Western Justice Academy, and we ended up getting shuttled to Hendersonville, where some family picked us up.

Chelsea and the kids and pets have gone to stay with family in her hometown in Upstate New York. Herb figures he still has weeks worth of work to make the Bat Cave home livable.

Give me shelter

Bryan Rhodes, who was also at the Bat Cave firehouse the day I visited, recalled his adventure. The countys capital projects manager, Rhodes, like every other county employee, was repurposed as part of County Manager John Mitchells massive hurricane rescue and recovery operation. Mitchell ordered Rhodes to get down to Edneyville Elementary School and open an emergency shelter. Armed with a chainsaw, Rhodes set out from Hendersonville.

It took me all day to cut a loop out to get to Edneyville and I opened it up Saturday morning  me and three other community members. I was there for about 17, 18 days straight, he said.

He described his role: Managing all the people that were getting medevaced out of there, keeping detailed records of who was there, working directly with the EOC (emergency operations center), which was command, and dealing with the warehouse, making sure all my assets are here, that I was pushing to the right buttons. It was a logistics nightmare.

I was there to do what I could for the community, he explained. I probably cried a lot more than I thought I would. A fourth generation Edneyville native, he mourned for the families that lost everything, for a familiar landscape wrecked beyond recognition.

Anybody right now standing among us has probably not seen nothing like this in their lifetime, he said. 1916 is what we compare it to, right? Theres very few people that was alive in 1916. Its amazing. You cant combat the power of nature.

He was relieved, at least, that his family was safe.

I was blessed, he said. My home was OK and Ive got a strong wife who was there with my kids. Thats everybodys story, right?

We know everybody

Chief Freeman and other Bat Cave firefighters have neither the time nor the inclination to follow social media chatter  fantasy about how hundreds of people are still missing or conspiracy tales about a government coverup of a high death toll or cadaver dogs still frantically sniffing atop mudslides.

We got a bunch of people out, the chief told me. We were trying to keep track of everybody in our zone. Thats how we were accounting for people as we were getting them out and checking on them from day 1. We knew the first day that everybody was safe, and thats kind of how all that went.

Were all volunteers, and we all live in the district, he added. We know everybody.

There was one fatality, on Edney Inn Road, when a home was swept away in a landslide. Today, no one is missing in Bat Cave. Brissie, the emergency manager, has said the number of missing persons countywide is zero.

I asked Chief Freeman what he made of Facebook or X or TikTok accounts that spread such fantastic exaggerations.

We knew better because we had accounted for everybody, he said. All that social media  I dont know what to think about that. I just know it wasnt true.

With an amused look, he added: We still had people last week come in here from way off (and say), Were here to help rescue people.

That job is done. The 26 members of the all-volunteer Bat Cave completed the search, rescued stranded people, oversaw their evacuation by ground or air.

We knew in the first day, two days, we had done made contact with everybody in Bat Cave-Gerton, the chief said. I cant speak for anywhere else, but I can speak for here.
Steady stream of voters turns out on a drizzly day

Gerton Fire Department was one of the polling places in an area of the county hard hit by Helene.

Before showing up to vote Tuesday morning at Etowah Elementary School, Amelia Jones had to weigh which was more urgent: finding a place to live or deciding the future of her country.

Jones, 31, is a nurse who lost her home in Hurricane Helene and has been staying with friends since the storm. She said she was too focused on her housing search to vote early, but made time today to cast her ballot.

As a woman, Im really afraid of losing specific rights, she said. If more people lose access to abortion, shes worried that things will get desperate. Well see a lot of horrible things, healthcare-wise. She planned to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Jones was part of a slow but steady stream of people who showed up in a misty rain to vote at the school. Nearby at the Etowah Library, a short line had formed just after 8 a.m., but no real crowds, as there had been during early voting.

It was so crazy here last week, said David Buckingham, chief election judge for the precinct. He said 2,800 people voted at the library after the state legislature required the county to open more early voting sites. According to data from the North Carolina Board of Elections, 54.8% of Henderson Countys 92,217 registered voters voted early.

Turnout was light and voters have been respectful. Most people are filling out paper ballots by hand, Buckingham said, because they find it faster than using the voting machines. I dont know what to expect, he said of the turnout. Were prepared for anything.

Henderson County is known to be a Republican stronghold, with 44 percent of its voters registered unaffiliated, 36 percent Republican and 19 percent Democrat. One mother of four, who declined to give her name, said she voted because I just dont want a woman to be president.

At the Gerton Fire Department in Henderson County, voters trickled in one at a time in the early afternoon. Once the rain stopped, the pace picked up, although at most two people waited in line in the back room behind the fire truck bays.

The department was an early voting site as well, replacing the Bat Cave Fire Department after it was damaged in the storm. The precinct has approximately 900 registered voters, according to precinct judge Joy Huntley.

For Gina Tines, it was her first time voting. She said she backpacked for many years in the U.S. and abroad and never felt informed enough about candidates to vote.

I'm not going to vote blindly, she said. But this time, I have a direction that I would like it to go. She wouldnt say how she voted.

Even so, she wasnt completely sure she would make it to the polls. Tines, who lives between Bat Cave and Edneyville, suffered property damage during the storm and still deals with blocked and damaged roads, which have doubled her regular hour long commute into Fairview. Worst of all, her dog died after drinking flood water. My grief cycle is big these days, she said. Voting was a last-minute decision, but she was glad she did it.

For Lucy Taylor, womens health was the issue that mattered most to her and led to her casting a vote for Kamala Harris. She also mentioned climate change, although it didn't really seem to be a big issue in this election. Her house, luckily, escaped damage from Helene, though she said her backyard washed away.

The speed with which the roads have been repaired impressed Taylor, but she lives so close to the Gerton Fire Department that she had no concerns about getting there or waiting to vote.

That's why I didn't early vote, Taylor said. I knew it would be very simple.

Although a steady rain fell outside the Larry T. Justus Western NC Justice Academy in Edneyville, voters streamed in at a steady pace.

Catherine Rausch, 71, said she voted for Democrats up and down the ballot.

Anybody who would align themselves with the Republicans who nominated Donald Trump has no ethics, no morals, and no integrity, and should not be allowed to be in the position of influence or power, she said.

He's turned me into a one issue voter, Rausch added of Trump.

She said that the process of voting had gone smoothly, even though there was trouble with one of the voting machines. A poll worker even swore to Rausch that her vote would be counted, she said, though Rausch said she had no concerns about that. I have no problems with it, she said.

While Rausch voted at her usual precinct, Max Kerlin, 72, was one of the residents of Henderson County who was re-routed to the Justus Academy because of the damage to roads and bridges leading to the Bat Cave Fire Department. In fact, right after the storm, he had been helicoptered from his home in Bat Cave due to the condition of the roads and onto the police academy playing field. So this is a special place, he said.

Once airlifted from his home, Kerlin evacuated to Florida, where he received a forwarded letter with information about the change to his polling site. He returned a couple of days ago, just in time to vote. He has not found any damage to his home. However, I haven't been in the crawl space yet, he said.

While he did not want to say whom he voted for, Kerlin said his experience with disaster relief had been good. I've had contact with FEMA. I got my $750 [FEMA Serious Needs Assistance check]. My insurance company has been great, he said.

* * * * *

Sara Murphy is a freelance writer based outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, and other media. Lisa Rab, whose work has appeared in The Washington Post Magazine and Politico Magazine, lives in Western North Carolina. Find more of her work at lisarab.substack.com. This story was produced by the WNC Election Hub, a project of the NC Local News Workshop, in partnership with The Assembly and funded with generous support from the Knight Election Integrity initiative.
Moffitt re-elected to second term in NC Senate

Republican incumbent Tim Moffitt earned a second term in the state Senate Tuesday, easily defeating Democratic challenger Chris Walters.

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With 36 of 59 precincts reporting, Moffitt earned 66,435 votes or 63.75 percent of the vote to Walters 37,770 votes or 36.25 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results reported by the N.C. Board of Elections Tuesday night.

Moffitt late on Tuesday thanked voters for participating in the election regardless of the candidate they supported.

Its a testament to our resilience and pride as a community  Helene be damned  that we wont let anything keep us down, he said in a text message. Ive never been more proud of being from Henderson County and our North Carolina mountains.

Moffitt, 60, was first elected to the N.C. Senate District 48 seat in 2022. He previously served as a representative for District 116 and 117 in the State House before pursuing election to the state senate. State Senate District 48 includes Henderson, Polk and Rutherford counties.

Moffitt is a small business owner who manages day-to-day operations of several businesses, including a boutique real estate firm, a mountaintop vacation and events venue and an international executive search and management consulting firm. Raised in Henderson County, Moffitt has family roots that go back more than 10 generations in the N.C. mountains. He and his wife, Deanna, have five adult sons, two of whom are U.S. Air Force veterans. They live in the Bearwallow community.

Moffitt said, in response to questions from Lightning before Tuesdays election, that he ran for re-election to the state Senate to improve the lives of the families who call North Carolina home. I will use my legislative experience from serving one term in the Senate and three terms in the House and my nearly four decades in business to pursue conservative, common-sense policies that enhance our economic freedom, our economic opportunities and our economic growth, he said at the time.

Walters, 75, is a retired teacher and former construction worker with a bachelors degree in history. In response to questions from the Lightning before Tuesdays election, Walters said he was running for the state legislature to represent regular working families.

In his second term, Moffitt said he wants to reform the personal property tax and work to end the state income tax. He said he also wants to pursue an aggressive course of regulatory reform to lower consumer costs and free up capital for business. Driving down home prices and increase the housing supply by removing barriers that unnecessarily block the development of new homes and hinder the approval process are also priorities, he said before Tuesdays election. Moffitt said he would also like to find alternative, non-taxpayer revenue sources to stabilize the funding stream for North Carolinas vast transportation infrastructure.
No charges in death of 12-year-old at wilderness camp, D.A. announces

Prosecutors will file no charges in the suffocation death of a 12-year-old camper at the Trails Carolina Wilderness Camp in Transylvania County on Feb. 2, District Attorney Andrew Murray announced on Wednesday.

Clark Joseph Harman was found dead under circumstances initially raising concerns about possible criminal negligence, Murray said in a news releasee.

The Transylvania County Sheriffs Office immediately began an extensive investigation to determine the cause of death and whether criminal charges were warranted after the boy died at the therapy camp for troubled youth. The sheriffs investigators briefed the district attorney and his executive team on the findings of its investigation and provided their comprehensive report.

This is an incredibly heartbreaking case, and our thoughts are with Clark Harmans family and loved ones during this profoundly difficult time, Murray said. His office reviewed autopsy reports, witness statements, the voluntary interviews of four camp counselors who were in the cabin with Harman the night of Feb. 2, numerous crime scene photos, personnel files, camp logs and confiscated physical evidence.

It is uncontroverted from the Medical Examiners report that Clark Harmon suffocated while being required to occupy a personal sleeping bivy his first night at the camp. The investigation revealed that Clark Harmans death was the result of suffocation, which, while tragic, did not involve criminal intent or recklessness sufficient to warrant criminal charges for involuntary manslaughter under the law, the D.A. said.

Protocols of Trails Carolina required camp counselors to place new wilderness campers in a personal sleeping bivy outfitted with a sleeping bag on their first night at the camp. The bivy was zipped closed with an alarm mechanism triggered if the zipper contacts were separated. The purpose of the alarm was to prevent a minor from running away during the night.

The evidence revealed that four adult camp counselors were stationed in the cabin, along with five minor campers, the night Harman died.

Although all four camp counselors reported hearing Clark Harman thrashing about and uttering incoherent gibberish in his sleeping bag at times, none of the counselors reported hearing anything resembling words like, I cant breathe or help, Murray said.

Interviewed by Department of Social Service investigators several days after Harmans death, the other children in the cabin that night corroborated the camp counselors statements that Clark Harman was audibly and physically upset about having to sleep in the bivy; none, however, reported hearing words of distress.

It is apparent from the investigation that although the counselors understood Clark Harman was agitated and distraught with being required to sleep in the bivy, they never perceived him as suffering any type of medical distress until they attempted to awaken him in the early morning hours, Murray said.

The law requires us to meet a high threshold when considering charges of involuntary manslaughter, he said. While we are deeply saddened by this tragedy, we must follow the law and make decisions based on the evidence and our legal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Murray thanked Transylvania County sheriffs officers for their professional and thorough investigation in this extremely difficult and heart-wrenching case.


Tuesday November 5, 2024







Somalias Minister of Finance, Bihi Iman Egeh, delivers remarks alongside US Ambassador to Somalia, Richard Riley, during a press conference at the US Embassy in Mogadishu. The event highlighted the recent announcement of $1.14 billion in debt forgiveness for Somalia, marking a significant step in the countrys economic recovery efforts. CREDIT/ SONNA



Mogadishu (HOL)  The United States has forgiven $1.14 billion in debt owed by Somalia, providing a boost as it works to stabilize its economy and rebuild essential public services. US Ambassador to Somalia Richard Riley announced the debt relief in Mogadishu, describing it as a clear sign of America's commitment to Somalia's future.



"This debt forgiveness is a testament to our unwavering commitment to support the Somali people on their journey toward a brighter future," Riley stated. He noted that this relief is part of a larger $1.2 billion assistance package from the US this fiscal year, focusing on development, economic stability, security, and humanitarian aid.





$4.5 billion in debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA). The relief immediately reduced Somalia's external debt from 64% of its GDP in 2018 to less than 6% by the end of 2023, opening new avenues for economic growth and poverty reduction.





The debt cancellation comes on the heels of a major agreement from the Paris Club, a coalition of creditor nations, which in March 2024 announced the cancellation of 99% of Somalia's debt , amounting to approximately $2 billion. The decision marks a turning point for Somalia, which has endured decades of economic hardship and instability.Somalia's financial challenges are deeply rooted in its tumultuous history, particularly the significant debt accumulated during Siad Barre's military regime, which collapsed in 1991. Today, over two-thirds of the Somali population lives on less than $2.15 a day, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive economic reform and substantial financial assistance to combat pervasive poverty.Minister of Finance Bihi Iman Egeh welcomed the US support, stating, "This agreement will transform Somalia's future, allowing our government to allocate resources to essential public services." The relief is expected to provide vital funds for education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.However, challenges persist. Somalia continues to grapple with security threats from Al-Shabaab and the impacts of climate change, which threaten food security and overall stability. Experts warn that while debt relief is essential, it must be accompanied by robust domestic reforms to ensure sustainable growth. Economist Uweis Abdullahi Ali emphasized the need for the Somali government to enhance its capacity for domestic revenue generation.Looking to the future, debt forgiveness is viewed as a catalyst for attracting private investment, especially in agriculture. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded Somalia's GDP growth forecast, projecting a 4% growth rate for 2024 and 2025, buoyed by agricultural resurgence and remittances. Business leaders like Hersio Abdulle Siad are optimistic, stating, "We're looking forward to investors coming, particularly in the farming sector, so we can produce more and sell more both domestically and internationally."Somalia's fiscal performance remains steady, with a projected overall deficit of 0.2% of GDP for 2024, while the government aims to increase domestic revenue.The planned reintroduction of the Somali Shilling, aimed at enhancing financial stability and inclusion, represents a significant step toward economic reform. However, its full implementation will depend on external financing and effective governance. Somalia's recent admission into the East African Community is expected to open new markets and enhance its potential for economic diversification.
Farmers weather adversity to reap record grain harvests

13:30, November 06, 2024 By Zhao Ruixue and Shi Baoyin ( China Daily

Farmers gather freshly harvested pomelos in Rongshui, a county in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Nov 2, 2024. (LONG TAO/XINHUA)

Harvesting is almost done in the major Chinese agricultural provinces of Heilongjiang, Henan, and Shandong, with a bumper grain crop expected, despite extreme weather this year that caused multiple natural disasters.

China's grain output is projected to hit a record high of 700 million metric tons this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Oct 25.

The anticipated milestone harvest follows nine consecutive years of maintaining grain output above 650 million tons, the ministry said at a news conference.

As of Thursday, northeast China's Heilongjiang province, the country's top grain producer, had harvested more than 90 percent of its crops, or 14.7 million hectares of its planting area, according to the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs.

The grain harvest included 3.4 million hectares of rice, 6 million hectares of corn, and 4.9 million hectares of soybeans. Meanwhile, the harvesting of 80,000 hectares of miscellaneous grains and beans has been completed.

Heilongjiang experienced a cold spell and lingering rain from June to July this year, which hindered the growth of crops in many parts of the province.

Han Zhimin, who leads a grain-planting cooperative in Yilan county, in the provincial capital Harbin, said his cooperative planted 2,000 hectares of corn and soybean this year. Advanced farming techniques and modern agricultural practices helped him cope with the disaster, while crop insurance saved him from financial worries.

"We have hired a full-time agronomist, and used new technology and professional management to increase the soybean planting density while enhancing the crop quality," said Han, adding that the cooperative had spent more than 10 million yuan ($1.4 million) in the past 10 years on purchasing modern farming machinery such as high-powered tractors, harvesters and high-speed precision planters.

From January to August, Heilongjiang had 11.4 million hectares of grain growing area covered by crop insurance, up 4.27 percent year-on-year, with the insurance coverage rate in the province standing at 77.7 percent, according to data from the Heilongjiang branch of the National Financial Regulatory Administration.

The province also leads the country in establishing more than 7.3 million hectares of high-standard farmland. This farmland is characterized by well-leveled, contiguous plots with advanced irrigation, efficient water use, and enhanced soil fertility. Designed to withstand both droughts and floods, it aligns with modern agricultural practices and features chemical-free soils and high yields.

The province's grain output reached 77.88 million tons in 2023, extending its hold on the No. 1 ranking in China for 14 consecutive years.

Nature wreaks havoc

Farmers overcame various disasters to achieve the grain harvest, as the country grappled with extreme weather events occurring with increasing frequency this year, featuring both relentless heat and heavy downpours.

They attribute the hard-earned bumper harvest to the combined effects of the authorities' swift response to disaster relief, the continuous development of high-standard farmland, the promotion of modern and even smart farming methods, and the timely payment of agricultural insurance.

Zhao Zhidong, a farmer in Zhecheng county in central China's Henan province, said that his 13 hectares of farmland suffered from severe drought in June. He hurried to hire more than 10 people to pump water round-the-clock into the field to rescue the corn seedlings.

In the middle of July, the same field was subjected to continuous heavy downpours, and Zhao had to hire people to do drainage work. Under the coordination work of the local authority, they dug a channel to direct the rainwater into nearby rivers.

Half of the annual precipitation occurred during just three days of extreme rainfall that month. The average precipitation in Zhecheng reached 397 mm from July 15 to 18, while the county's annual precipitation over the past 30 years averaged 767 mm, according to the county's meteorological service.

Zhao has since harvested his corn, and the field's per-unit yield is 25 percent less than that of a normal year. However, he is satisfied with the result after the difficulties encountered this year.

In addition, local authorities helped farmers rebuild irrigation and drainage infrastructure following the disasters.

The heavy rainfall resulted in crop failures in nearby Tanghe county, Henan. After the floodwaters receded, however, agricultural experts guided farmers in replanting mung beans, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and other cash crops to compensate for their losses.

Qiao Zhenqun, who lost 6.7 hectares of his 133.3-hectare corn harvest this year, said the replanting was successful.

The income from mung beans and sweet potatoes is expected to be slightly higher than that from corn, based on current market prices.

Data from the Henan investigation group of the National Bureau of Statistics shows that Henan reaped a total summer grain output of 37.9 million tons, 6.64 percent higher than that of last year, safeguarding the province's role as the country's second-largest grain producer.

Although its autumn grain fields suffered losses, harvesting of 5.1 million hectares of crops will soon be completed. Henan's annual grain output is expected to remain stable at more than 65 million tons.

In central Hunan province, Zhang Shunda, a veteran grain grower in Taoyuan county, in Changde, has been busy harvesting rice grown on his 40 hectares of land. Estimating a harvest of more than 300 tons of rice, the farmer let out a sigh of relief.

It was a hard year for rice farmers in Hunan, as the province experienced a snowstorm at the beginning of the year and severe floods in summer.

"All three of my rice seedling greenhouses were toppled by the snowstorm in February, and 40 hectares of early rice was inundated by floods in June," said Zhang.

The heavy rainfall caused severe damage to early rice growth in Taoyuan, the top grain-growing county in Hunan. Local authorities promptly took measures to help farmers overcome the disaster.

Zhang said technicians dispatched by the county and township governments visited him to investigate the damage after the snowstorm and guided him on rebuilding and heating his warehouse. He received 80,000 yuan in disaster relief subsidies and more than 300,000 yuan in policy subsidies for rice planting.

According to Hunan's Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, grain production in the province remained sound this year. The harvesting of more than 1.5 million hectares of mid-season rice in the province has been completed, with an estimated year-on-year yield increase of about 1 percent. Harvesting is nearing completion on more than 1.3 million hectares of late rice fields, which can expect a year-on-year yield increase of 1.5 percent.

A farmer dries persimmons in Handan, Hebei province, on Oct 28. (HAO QUNYING/XINHUA)

Planting for next year

In late October, bustling construction of wells, dredging of waterways and deep plowing of land were in progress in Bandi town of Dingtao district in Heze, Shandong.

"These wells are equipped with pumps. The water pumped from the wells will be transported to farmers' fields through underground pipelines, which will substantially enhance irrigation efficiency," said Pan Luhua, a publicity officer in the town.

In the fields adjacent to the wells, Li Guangli is plowing 6.7 hectares of his farmland in preparation for replanting wheat. Li plans to plant over 33 hectares of wheat and corn in total. Each year, after harvesting his corn in early October, he grows wheat on the same farmland. This year, he noticed some wheat seedlings were growing slowly, so he decided to replant the crop.

"Just after I planted the wheat, there was heavy rain in mid-October which caused the soil to clump, hindering the wheat's growth. So, I am deeply plowing the land to replant, ensuring a bountiful harvest of wheat next year," said Li.

"After the corn harvest, the town government arranged for tractors to deeply plow our land, laying the groundwork for sowing the wheat," he said.

Dingtao district provided free deep plowing for over 2,666 hectares of farmland after the corn harvest in October to create a favorable soil environment for planting winter wheat.

Li said advances in technology have also boosted harvests.

With support from a local government agricultural subsidy, Li bought a new machine equipped with a Beidou navigation system to help plant wheat this year.

Qi Xin contributed to this story.

Villagers harvest rice in Tengchong, Yunnan province, on Oct 27. (GONG ZUJIN/XINHUA)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
New Zealand to boost red meat exports to China

Xinhua) 13:33, November 06, 2024

WELLINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government said it will co-invest 8 million NZ dollars to boost New Zealand beef and lamb exports to the Chinese market.

New Zealand aims to position its beef and lamb as the highest-quality red meats of choice for Chinese consumers, Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said on Tuesday at a signing ceremony during the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

The New Zealand government has launched the "Taste Pure Nature" campaign with the country's red meat sector to strengthen the Kiwi red meat brand in China, differentiating it from competitors, and driving better returns for kiwi farmers and processors, said the minister.

New Zealand's largest red meat exporter Silver Fern Farms has established its presence in China for nearly 30 years, with China being one of the company's key markets, Silver Fern Farms Limited Chief Executive Dan Boulton told Xinhua last week.

This year, Silver Fern Farms has expanded its retail channels to cover China's central and western regions, supplying high-end grass-fed beef and lamb products to local supermarket stores to cater for China's growing middle class, Boulton said.

The Chinese market remains an important growth engine for global meat exporters, Boulton said, adding that he expects to leverage the spill-over effect of the ongoing CIIE to enhance the company's understanding of the Chinese market. (1 NZ dollar equals 0.6 U.S. dollars)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Far from Republican festivities as Donald Trump claimed US election victory, residents of a sleepy Indian village celebrated that their descendant would be the next "Second Lady", hoping to benefit from her success.

Academic highflyer and successful lawyer Usha Vance, the child of Indian immigrants, is the wife of Trump's running mate J.D. Vance.

While 38-year-old Usha Vance was born and brought up in suburban San Diego, those in the village of her paternal ancestors in India's southern Andhra Pradesh state prayed that historic ties would bring improvements to their land.

"We feel happy," said Srinivasa Raju, 53, a resident of Vadluru, a village of white-washed homes scattered amongst palm trees, more than 13,450 (8,360 miles) from the White House in Washington. "We support Trump."

Villagers had offered prayers for a Trump win, and Hindu priest Appaji said he hoped Usha Vance would do something in return.

"We expect her to help our village," the 43-year-old priest said, dressed in flowing saffron robes, after lighting a candle at the idol of Hindu elephant-headed deity Ganesh for Trump.

"If she can recognise her roots and do something good for this village, then that would be great."

Usha Vance's great-grandfather moved out of Vadluru and her father Chilukuri Radhakrishnan -- a PhD holder -- was brought up in the Indian city of Chennai, before going on to study in the United States.

"Every Indian -- not just myself, every Indian -- we feel proud of Usha, because she is of Indian origin," said 70-year-old Venkata Ramanayy. "We hope she will develop our village."

She has never visited the village, but the priest said her father came around three years ago and checked on the temple's condition.

"We have already seen the governance of Trump -- very good," Ramanayy said. "Indian and American relations were very fine during the presidency of Trump."

Little is known about Radhakrishnan's initial years in the United States, but the film of J.D. Vance's memoirs, Hillbilly Elegy, refers to him coming to the country with "nothing".

Millions of Indians have made similar journeys as the Chilukuris, and according to the most recent US census, Indians have become the country's second-largest Asian ethnicity, growing 50 percent to 4.8 million in the decade to 2020.

Usha, a practising Hindu who studied at Yale and Cambridge Universities, married J.D. Vance in Kentucky in 2014. They have three children.

But the story was different around 730 kilometres (454 miles) to the southwest, in Thulasendrapuram, once home to Kamala Harris's grandfather.

T.S. Anbarasu, 63, said the Democrat's "struggle" had encouraged girls to stay in school.

"She is inspiring this village," he said. "Any school in the surrounding area, students know about Kamala Harris."

Harris, 60, was born in California, but was often taken to India by her mother.

"If she comes here, we'll treat her like the president of the United States," Anbarasu said.

"We are still proud of her. She is like family to us. If our family members fail, we don't discriminate against them, or treat them as a loser, right?"
Rotana Hotels & Resorts, one of the Top 10 largest hotel chains in the Middle East according to Forbes Middle East, has announced the promotion of Mr Timur Ilgaz to the role of Area General Manager - Dubai & Northern Emirates.

With a distinguished career spanning over 38 years in the hospitality industry, Ilgaz brings a wealth of experience and leadership excellence to his new position, marking a new milestone in his extensive journey with Rotana. His visionary approach and strong commercial acumen have been key to his many achievements as illustrated by the numerous industry accolades he received, including being named "Best General Manager of the Year" on several occasions.

Since joining the Rotana family in 2007 as General Manager of Jumeirah Rotana, Ilgaz has demonstrated exceptional leadership and business acumen across six properties in the UAE. His contributions have been instrumental in the successful pre-openings and management of some of the most iconic properties, including Amwaj Rotana, Jumeirah Beach, and his current cluster role overseeing Arjaan by Rotana Dubai Media City, Centro Barsha, and Edge DAMAC Hills 2.

The new promotion to Area General Manager reflects Rotana's recognition of Ilgaz's outstanding ability to drive profitability, enhance guest satisfaction, and consistently provide top-tier service across multiple properties.

In his new role, Ilgaz will oversee Rotana properties' operations across Dubai and the Northern Emirates, ensuring that each hotel under his leadership continues to uphold the brand's promise of delivering remarkable guest experiences. His extensive international experience, with a background in Turkey, Canada, Europe, and Asia, combined with his expertise in strategic sales, marketing, and executive management, will further support Rotana's growth in the region, confirming the chain's positioning as a leader in the ever-evolving hospitality landscape.
This year saw the first round of our new event series, Hospitality Horizons. Its mission is to bring together hospitality consultants and technology partners, to forge connections, discuss the latest industry trends, and generally have a great time.

And what a great time it was. Our partner network is a rich source of knowledge and expertise, and it was amazing to see so many experts sharing insights and inspiration from their specific fields and regions.

The series saw us travel to six locations  London, Stockholm, Paris, Munich, Amsterdam and Barcelona  and visit some amazing venues, from meeting rooms to ice bars to the open sea. Hospitality Horizons will return again next year in more locations around the world, but until then, here are some of this years highlights, including talking points, projected industry trends and thoughts from some of the attendees.

Table of contents

What AI in hospitality really looks like

Truly know your guests

Improve offerings

Empower staff

An exciting future

Hospitality Horizons: exploring the new age of hospitality Source: Mews Systems Ltd

What AI in hospitality really looks like

There was plenty of keen discussion around the use of AI. We debunked the myth that AI in hospitality means robots and less human interaction; instead, it will help us shift our focus from human-powered to human-centric.

This will primarily happen in three ways: first, AI parsing will provide immediate and personalized information about guests, processing all sorts of customer data to provide a short, actionable summary for staff. Second, it will improve services to delight guests even more. And third, it will automate countless manual tasks so that hotel teams have much more time to actively focus on guests rather than tick off an administrative checklist.

Truly know your guests

What are the values of the modern guest? They seek authentic experiences and want to feel a part of a community. They prefer contactless, sustainable travel and often blend trips between work and leisure. These attributes are valuable to think about when it comes to the guest experience, but they are still broad brushstrokes.

AI can help connect more informative data from disparate sources. For example, a London hotel may send a marketing email to a past guest in order to get them to return. But they wont know the best time to send that email. However, a flight aggregator like Skyscanner knows that this person has fare alerts set up for London in December. If a hotel can access this information, they can hyper-segment their comms to maximize the chances of rebooking. The segment of one is something that could arrive sooner than people expect.

Hospitality Horizons: exploring the new age of hospitality Source: Mews Systems Ltd

Improve offerings

AI also has a role to play in improving the services and experiences that hoteliers offer to guests  and how they offer them. Research shows that a third of Millennials, Gen Zs and Gen Xs want to use AI tools to create travel itineraries and give personal recommendations. This is something Mews is actively developing following our acquisition of Nomi last year.

Upselling is another key area where AI can make a difference. Hoteliers will be able to use smart, connected data to run bespoke searches like show me our most loyal customers and who is most likely to upgrade their room. This  especially coupled with seamless upselling throughout the stay, or dynamic pricing across multiple space types like parking and co-working desks  can have a big impact on a hotels bottom line.

Empower staff

Hoteliers around the world continue to struggle with staff recruitment. In a survey of Mews customers, 70% told us they have challenges hiring new team members, with front office and housekeeping the hardest roles to fill. There are plenty of economic and socioeconomic reasons for this, but part of the problem is that staff are often left feeling unmotivated, unchallenged and unfulfilled with the repetitive nature of their tasks.

Thats why staff empowerment can have such a huge impact on engagement and turnover. Automation and AI can be harnessed to release teams from the drudgery of administration, freeing them to spend more time being human with guests and showing their real worth.

For instance, a powerful search tool within the PMS can save huge amounts of time and allow staff to better personalize guest experiences. Imagine being able to type or speak a question into your PMS, just as youd ask it to a colleague. Which guests are due to arrive in the next hour? Who is the highest value guest, and can I offer them a free upgrade tonight? What are the most popular upsells among guests and when are the best times to offer them?

Theres a great quote from Jason Birnbaum, Chief Information Officer for United Airlines, that neatly sums up the importance and benefits of staff empowerment. We must help our people  our frontline employees, our customer-service agents, our dispatchers  to make more decisions faster, hopefully eliminating the need to make the most mundane decisions, so they can reserve their expertise for solving really complicated problems.

Hospitality Horizons: exploring the new age of hospitality Source: Mews Systems Ltd

An exciting future

This snapshot of our Hospitality Horizons event only gives a flavor of the excitement and amazing conversations from the in-person events. We plan to return again next year for another series, but until then theres plenty to keep you busy.

Learn more about becoming a Mews partner

See our upcoming events

About Mews

Mews is the leading platform for the new era of hospitality, designed to streamline operations for modern hoteliers, transform the guest experience and create more profitable businesses. Customers include BWH Hotels, Strawberry, The Social Hub and Airelles Collection. Mews was named Best PMS (2024, 2025) and listed among the Best Places to Work in Hotel Tech (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) by Hotel Tech Report, and won the Tech Hero 2024 Award at CIODAY. Mews has previously raised $335 million from investors including Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Kinnevik and Notion to transform hospitality.

www.mews.com

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As the closing part for the Thematic with Oracle Hospitality focusing on how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) will help hoteliers, this latest panel discussion is truly superb 50-minute conversation with Jason Bryant and Tanya Pratt, two senior leaders at Oracle Hospitality.

Covering many different topics, the underlying theme of this discussion is that the nature of labor in hospitality has fundamentally shifted over the past five years. Properties are experiencing, and will continue to experience, labor shortages and high turnover, while the new associates coming into the industry are often not giving the full training resources due to budgetary constraints.

The primary way that GenAI will help is by reducing the busywork or non-guest-facing tasks that these team members dont consider to be the primary draw or motivation for advancing their careers within a hotel setting. Importantly, these tools will be embedded within user platforms rather than bolt-on entities that are likely to make tech matters more complicated for the already harried associate or manager.

In other words, GenAI and its forerunner, machine learning (ML), will help to invisibly connect the dots in real-time so that staff can be even more guest-facing. This will help to motivate teams to stay in their roles while also enabling better guest service, personalization and upselling opportunities. Be sure to listen or watch as we also explore other AI concepts like summarization, categorization and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
Grand Metropolitan Hotels is a leading white-label hotel operator specializing in tailored hotel management, franchise, and affiliation solutions designed to meet the unique needs of hotel owners and investors. The companys portfolio includes well-known brands such as Grand Metropolitan Hotel Collection, Castlewood Hotels and Resorts, Swiss Hospitality Collection, African Heritage Hotel Collection, African Hotel Alliance, 7Pines Hotels & Resorts, Brioni Luxury Hotels, Martinez Hotels and Resorts and TOP INTERNATIONAL Hotels, along with a range of F&B brands. An international team of seasoned hoteliers with comprehensive experience across all facets of the hospitality industry, represented at six strategic locations worldwide, offers hotel investors and owners broad-based support and services. Sustainability and advanced digitalization are central to the companys vision.
Directors Roundtable Group 2024 - Image Credit HSMAI

The Washington, D.C., chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International today invited hospitality professionals from throughout the DMV to attend its annual Directors Roundtable & Conference on Nov. 14 at MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland.

The program will feature five top minds in the hospitality industry, who will engage the audience with presentations on key leadership strategies, innovative marketing techniques, effective sales tactics, operational efficiencies and revenue optimization.

The guest speakers will be Lori Kiel of Pyramid Global Hospitality, chair of the HSMAI Foundation; Thomas McDermott of Tambourine; Holly Zoba of hotelBschool; retired Air Force Lt. Col. Jason Harris of No Fail Trust Solutions; and Kristi White of Groups360. Each panelist will share insights followed by a facilitated roundtable discussion.

Registration and a networking reception will begin Nov. 14 at 8 a.m., and the event will conclude at 2 p.m. The event is $50 for HSMAI DC members and $75 for nonmembers. Continental breakfast and plated lunch are included. Click HERE to register.

Raffle tickets will be sold at the welcome desk for prizes celebrating the approach of HSMAIs century-long dedication to growing the hospitality industry by attracting, developing and engaging talent.

Join us for an exclusive experience designed specifically for professionals who are in leadership roles  or aspire to be  across sales, marketing and revenue optimization, said Christopher Zindash, HSMAI DC president and Amadeus regional vice president. Whether you are on-property or in a regional role, this event offers content that is highly relevant to you.

MGM National Harbor is at 101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Maryland, at the intersection of I-295, I-95 and I-495. Take exit 1B from I-295 south, the National Harbor exit from I-495 east and I-95 north or exit 2A from I-495 west.

The event is sponsored by MGM National Harbor, Tambourine, Amadeus and Booking.com.

About HSMAI Washington DC

HSMAI Washington DC is a chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, an individual membership organization based in McLean, Virginia, composed of more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region.

HSMAI is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing and optimize revenue through programs, including the Adrian Awards, HSMAI Commercial Strategy Events, revenue optimization conferences and Sales Leader Forum.

Click HERE to join HSMAI. For more information, go to www.hsmaidc.org.

Click HERE to access a high-resolution file of the image above.

CONTACT:

Ellen Wilson

Managing Director

HSMAI Washington DC

ewilson@hsmai.org

703-506-3280
Groundbreaking Event Marks Start of Sofitel Dublin Airport Hotel Construction - Image Credit Accor

Accor and the Arora Group have commenced construction on the Sofitel Dublin Airport Hotel, a luxury hotel to be located at Ireland's primary international airport. The hotel, expected to open in late 2026, will offer 412 rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, a tea salon, and a sky bar with panoramic airport views.

The hotel is situated at Dublin Airport and will directly connect with Terminal 2, offering travellers easy access. The Sofitel Dublin Airport aims to enhance the quality of hospitality experiences in Ireland and contribute to the growth of the local tourism industry.

Sebastien Bazin, CEO and chairman of Accor, expressed his enthusiasm about the project and its potential for the Irish market. He noted Ireland's appealing geography, talented workforce, and welcoming culture as factors making it an attractive location for investment.

The Sofitel Dublin Airport will be the first Sofitel hotel in Ireland. Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery and Emblems, highlighted this as a significant milestone and an opportunity to introduce their unique blend of French luxury to Ireland.

The Arora Group, a prominent franchise partner of Accor in the UK and the owner of the Sofitel London Heathrow Airport and the Sofitel London Gatwick Airport, is the developer for this project. Arora was selected to develop the 100 million hotel following a competitive bidding process conducted by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) in 2018.

The hotel is set to offer a range of luxurious amenities, including an executive lounge, a fitness centre, and expansive meeting and event spaces. It will cater to the many travellers passing through Dublin Airport, the 13th busiest airport in Europe, welcoming over 31 million passengers annually.

Surinder Arora, Founder & Chairman of the Arora Group, expressed his excitement about the project, noting it as the group's first development outside of the United Kingdom. Kenny Jacobs, CEO of DAA also shared his enthusiasm about the project's potential to improve standards and options for passengers at Dublin Airport and create hundreds of new jobs.
he Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami - Image Credit Mandarin Oriental

Hotel group Mandarin Oriental is increasing its presence in the United States with its latest project on Miami's Brickell Key. This is part of a series of planned projects in Mexico and Grand Cayman as the company strategizes its expansion in selected markets.

The company recently celebrated a significant development milestone for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, with an exclusive event. The event, featuring renowned chefs and culinary artisans from the Group, highlighted the unique amenities and services that embody the Mandarin Oriental brand.

Prominent chefs present at the event included Antonio Guida, known for his two Michelin-starred restaurants, Seta at Mandarin Oriental, Milan, and Talea at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi. Richard Ekkebus, Executive Chef of the two-Michelin-starred and Green-starred Amber at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, and Dominique Bugnand, Executive Chef of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, were also part of the culinary line-up. Chanel Adams of the Bamboo Bar in Bangkok and Devender Kumar from The Aubrey in Hong Kong delivered world-class cocktails.

CEO of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Laurent Kleitman, stated that the Miami project is an exciting step in their expansion across the Americas. "Over the next decade we intend to double our worldwide portfolio, and are excited to collaborate with leading developers, designers, and artisans who share our dedication to excellence, sustainability, and community engagement, he said.

Francesco Cefalu, Chief Development Officer at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, reiterated the Groups commitment to expanding their presence in North America, particularly the United States, across their hotels and branded residences.

The Group, known for its commitment to sustainable design and business practices, won three key categories at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards. As its footprint in the U.S. market grows, Mandarin Oriental plans to leverage its unique blend of traditional and modern elements from The Oriental, Bangkok and The Mandarin, Hong Kong.
Courtyard by Marriott Detroit Farmington - Image Credit Marriott

Peachtree Group has entered into a long-term partnership with Michigan-based Group 10 Management. The collaboration adds 14 new hotels, accounting for 1,648 rooms, to Peachtree's managed portfolio. This expansion propels Peachtree's managed operations past the 100-hotel mark. The newly acquired properties are majorly Marriott, Hilton, and IHG-branded hotels in the Detroit metro area.

Vickie Callahan, president of Peachtrees hospitality management division, affirmed that the company's vast experience in hotel operations positions it to bring third-party management to a new height with Group 10. Callahan added that a significant part of Peachtree Group's portfolio is third-party managed, which underlines their commitment to achieving robust financial results for their partners and providing outstanding guest experiences.

Peachtrees hospitality management division oversees premium-branded, limited-, select- and compact full-service hotels, mainly within the upper-midscale and upscale segments. It now manages 107 hotels across 27 brands with a total of 13,485 rooms in 27 states, including Washington D.C. With the addition of Group 10 properties, Peachtrees third-party management portfolio grows to 31 hotels.

The partnership will enable Group 10 to leverage Peachtrees extensive expertise in various areas. These include compliance with brand standards, scalable operating efficiencies, expert talent acquisition, digital and marketing initiatives, renovation proficiency, and other cost-saving measures across the portfolio.

Callahan reiterated that Peachtree's expanded portfolio underlines its commitment to delivering superior service and operational excellence for partners and guests across the U.S. Partnering with Group 10 Management is a significant step in Peachtree's continued growth in the third-party hotel management sector.
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Melissa, Josh and Martha Leab of Ioka Valley Farm pose with the Create an Ad winners Paisley Gilman, left, McKinley Michalenko and Sophia Cunningham, second-graders at St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Adams. The Leabs with Rebecca McConnell's second grade class. The Leab family has been operating the farm since 1936. Riding the 'cow train' at the farm. Martha Leab explains the different types of firs the farm grows and sells. On top of the world in Hancock. PreviousNext

Junior Marketers: Ioka Valley Farm



McKinley Michalenko, Paisley Gilman and Sophia Cunningham got to visit the farm on Monday. HANCOCK, Mass.  St. Stanislaus Kostka School second-graders in Rebecca McConnell's class enthusiastically participated in our Junior Marketers Create an Ad series.

We contacted Berkshire County teachers and asked their students to help create an ad for our sponsors and the community delivered. For the next 11 months, we will showcase ads made by our creative next generation.

This month, students depicted life at the four-generation family-owned and operated Ioka Valley Farm at 3475 Hancock Road, specifically highlighting its winter season when they sell Christmas trees.

Generations of families have visited the 500-acre farm to acquire locally grown products, including pumpkins, jams, Christmas trees, and maple products.

The farm has been selling Christmas trees every winter since 1994. Second-generation owner Don Leab and his cousin planted their first trees in 1986.

Every weekend from Thanksgiving to Christmas between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., families can look forward to riding a trailer decorated as a Santa hat to a grove of trees and selecting their favorite one for their holiday celebrations. The farm also offers fresh-cut trees at its farm stand.

On Fridays, from noon to 4:30 p.m., the gift shop and farm stand will be open. You can purchase fresh-cut tree wreaths, handcrafted decorations, gifts, pure maple syrup, and specialty maple products.

The farm offers three varieties of trees: concolor, Fraser and Canaan firs. There are 15,000 trees on 15 acres.

On Dec. 7 and 8, the farm will be hosting breakfast with Santa from 8 to noon.

Some of the farm's owners, Melissa, Josh and Martha Leab, visited the Adams school to meet the students who crafted their ads and presented the winners with a certificate.

The students they selected as the winners for their outstanding design were McKinley Michalenko for first place, Sophia Cunningham for second, and Paisley Gilman for third.

"Each ad was very different, and each one had a really unique piece that you would have loved to have pulled them all apart and put it together because each child had a slightly different focus and their own unique style," Melissa said.

"So it was really neat to see how different they were, but yet they did follow what was asked for a Christmas ad."

Many of the students highlighted the farm's hot chocolate and apple cider doughnuts, she said, and Martha added that most of the students' drawings had snow in the pictures.

McConnell said she was impressed with what the students came up with because many of them have seen advertisements on television, but making an ad is a whole different situation.

"As a Catholic school, Christmas is a huge part of our academic experience. It's a huge season for us. It's a time of celebration. So, I think talking about the Christmas tree farm, that's another aspect of Christmas  that people celebrate, and it's a fun family tradition," McConnell said.

"I think I was just surprised at the details that they came up with, and making it not only as part of the winter season itself, but making it sort of a cozy atmosphere, and talking about what an advertisement was.

McKinley drew trees, a detailed sign showing some sweets for sale, and some goods for sale under a tent, including donuts and hot chocolate.

Cunningham highlighted the sweets under the tent and drew her trees on rolling hills and a red tractor.

"Most of them had a red tractor. And we have red tractors, so they did good on that," Josh said.

Gilman drew a snowy winter day at the farm. Showcasing a brown tractor pulling freshly cut trees in a trailer.

"We were thrilled when [the series was] brought to us to try because to see the world through children's eyes is always amazing, and it's always been very interesting to me to see what they take away when they even come to the farm," Melissa said.

"And for me, having families come and watching the children and paying attention to the children's experience is a focus that I try to do as they come. So, this was a really neat opportunity to pull the children in and let them be a part of what we do."

After school, the winners went to the farm with their families to see their drawings come alive.

They rode the farm's cow train ride, which was driven by uncle Don. Stopping in one of the farm's groves, Don answered some of the students and their families' questions, including the Christmas tree cutting process and how long it takes to grow.

"We plant the trees in the spring, and it takes about eight to 10 years before they're big enough to cut for a Christmas tree," Don said.

Not every tree they plant will survive, so they plant about 1,500 trees a year, give or take, and count the number that were cut down to determine how many they will need, Melissa explained.

Martha ran up the rolling hills with the winners and talked about the different kinds and sizes of trees and what they smell like in the winter.

When she explained how the concolor fir has a more citrusy smell, they excitedly ran over to smell one.

Martha said some of the trees they sell can grow up to 16 feet and helped the students visualize that using examples from what they see and already know, such as the height of herself and her brother.

The girls then ran up to a small tree to see how much taller they were compared to it.

They ran up the hill overlooking the farm and waved to their parents from top, commenting that they looked as small as ants or toys.

During their visit to the school, the Leabs answered some of the students' questions centered around the farm's products, animals, and farming operations and equipment.

One student asked how they get the food to feed their animals and was excited to learn that the hay and the corn are grown and harvested on the farm and the other nutrients they get from an animal feed store to help supplement.

Josh also explained the difference between straw and hay.

"Cows will eat hay, which is like grass, like the lawn in your backyard. [If you let the grass] grow really tall and then cut it and dry it out, it's called hay, and that's what the cows eat," he said.

"Straw is actually what they use [to] sleep on. They sometimes eat it, but it's not very nutritious for them. They spend most of their time sleeping and standing in the straw."

They also explained how the cows on their farm are raised as beef cattle, which is like the meat they would get at the store. They have about 30 cows.

"We do the fun part. We get to take care of them and give them an excellent place to live and eat until they're ready for market," Melissa said.

McConnell said having the students to meet the owners of Ioka Valley Farm allows them to see how farming is vital to America. Having them create an ad for a business also gives students the opportunity to feel part of their community.

"Berkshire County is very fortunate. We have lots of farms, they are smaller in size than traditionally thought of and [what people are] exposed to, but we still have a lot of farms [and] a big, strong farming community. People have the ability to seek out local food and local products directly from the farmer. [There are] tons of farmers markets from one end of the county to the other,"

"'Buy Local' is very strong. So, being a part of that is exciting. We really want people to know and learn where their food and products come from. That's very important because there's lots of children and people who just really think food comes from the grocery store, and if it's not on the shelf, they don't know where else to look for it."

A Brief History of Ioka Valley Farm

Robert and Dorothy Leab opened the farm in 1936 after driving "13 head of cattle over Brodie Mountain" from Lanesborough.

The land previously labeled as a "poor farm" due to its "worn-out soil" became a success thanks to "sustainable farming in soil conservation, water conservation, and forest management" practices.

After finally convincing his parents to sell him the farm, Don Leab revitalized it, bringing the passion for farming that his parents no longer had. He juggled several ideas, and over time, the farm developed with the family's changing passions and knowledge, diversifying with the current economy and demand.

In 1986, he formed a partnership with a cousin who was a forester and started to plant Christmas trees.

In 1996, the dairy herd was sold so that the farm could focus more on diversifying by growing pumpkins, strawberries, and the trees.

Don and Judy Leab also started the educational program by bringing school groups to the farm so children could learn how plants grow.

When they started diversifying, the goal was to encourage people to visit the farm to purchase products while also allowing visitors to see the operation and learn a little about agriculture.
High Turnout as Williamstown Passes Local Tax Exemption

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Sixty-nine percent of registered voters participated in the 2024 election in the Village Beautiful.

But the total number of votes fell short of the 2020 total, when Joseph Biden defeated Donald Trump in the presidential race.

Election workers late Tuesday evening were confirming the results of balloting that drew 3,506 ballots collected early, through the mail and on Tuesday at Williamstown Elementary School.

In addition to the candidates for various offices and five statewide public questions, Williamstown voters had one local question on the ballot. No. 6 sought to confirm a vote at last May's annual town meeting to create a tax exemption for the Community Preservation Act surcharge for low-income residents of any age and seniors of low- or moderate income.

That question passed by a margin of 2,177-977.

In 2020, Trump and Biden split 3,695 votes in Williamstown, with Biden garnering 85 percent in his successful bid to replace Trump in the White House.

Not surprisingly, the Democratic nominee again was the favored candidate in the progressive stronghold.

The Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket took 2,886 votes to just 484 for the ticket of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. That gave Harris about 85.6 percent of the vote in the town of 7,400.

Democrats also won the down ballot races by sizable margins in Williamstown: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (2,855-357), U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (2,652-650), state Sen. Paul Mark (2,790-478).

The one local office on the ballot, the Mount Greylock Regional School Committee, had three incumbents running unopposed for the three seats up this cycle.

Williamstown voters said yes to all but one of the five statewide public questions on the ballot. Question 4, which sought to legalize psychedelic substances, was rejected by local voters by a relatively narrow margin, 1,933-1,414 (58 percent opposed).

Two other statewide questions passed with similar splits.

Question 2, which sought to remove passing the MCAS standardized test as a requirement for a high school diploma, was favored locally by a vote of 1,962-1,400 (58 percent in favor). Question 5, which sought to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers, was favored, 1,822-1,510 (55 percent in favor).

Of those 3,506 votes tallied on Tuesday, 1,803 were cast on Election Day at the elementary school.

Town Clerk Nicole Beverly reported that voters requested 1,998 mail-in ballots, of which 1,234 were completed and mailed back to town hall. An additional 469 voters voted in person during the early voting period. The 1,703 early and mailed-in votes accounted for 49 percent of the total votes cast in the town.
Berkshires, State Return Incumbents & Pass MCAS Question

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Massachusetts voters sent U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren back to Capitol Hill.

She was leading challenger Republican John Deaton with 60 percent of the vote with half the precincts reporting at 11 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal also fended of a challenge from independent Nadia Milleron with 65 percent of the vote in the First Mass District.

State Sen. Paul Mark was leading his opponent, Republican David Rosa, 72 percent to 28 percent with 30 percent of precincts reporting.

State Reps. John Barrett III (North Adams) and Tricia Farley-Bouvier (Pittsfield) were running unopposed as was Tara Jacobs (North Adams) for Governor's Council in the 8th District.

All winning incumbents are Democrats and were the choices for the reporting Berkshire communities.

The Third Berkshire District saw a tighter race as Leigh Davis and MartyBeth Mitts vied to replace outgoing William "Smitty" Pignatelli. Davis was leading with 56 percent of the vote.

Three of the five ballot questions looked to be on track for passage late Tuesday night.

Question 1, on auditing the Legislature, had passed by large margins in reporting communities statewide with the exception of Spencer narrowly defeating it. The issue had been a campaign priority of State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who says it will bring greater accountability and transparency to Beacon Hill.

The Legislature had been regularly audited until the early 1990s. It is not uncommon in other states.

Question 2, on removing passage of the 10th grade MCAS test as a graduation requirement, also seemed to be headed for passage. Reporting Berkshire communities easily passed the question.

Question 3, on allowing drivers of ride services to unionize, was polling at more than 50 percent. Reporting towns in central and southeast Massachusetts were opposed, as was Savoy, the only Berkshire community so voting against.

Question 4, legalizing certain natural psychedelics, was being roundly rejected. Becket and New Marlborough joined Northampton and some hilltowns in approving the measure. Some towns around Boston and Nantucket also voted in favor.

Question 5, that would put tipped employees on minimum wage also appeared to be defeated. Becket and New Marlborough were joined by Williamstown in passing the question, along with some towns near Boston.
Leigh Davis, center, is surrounded by supporters at the Barrington Brewery as they wait for late numbers in the Third District race. Davis ponders the votes coming in from the 18-town district. Marybeth Mitts with Kevin Mitts, Liz Mitts and Matthew Frazier. The whiteboard at Davis' party. PreviousNext

Leigh Davis Will Represent the Third Berkshire District



Marybeth Mitts of Lenox concedes the race after midnight on Wednesday. GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  Leigh Davis will represent the Third Berkshire District on Beacon Hill.

With a handful of precincts not yet reporting, she was leading opponent Marybeth Mitts by 12,603 votes to 9,480, winning 55.5 percent of the vote at as the clock struck midnight.

"This is such a special, historic moment nationally and obviously locally," Davis said, thanking her supporters at the Barrington Brewery earlier on Tuesday night.

"we are going to be loud and we're going to be proud. And we're going to go to Beacon Hill as a unified 18-town district. So, I'm here to work for you."

Davis said she's passionately committed to address several issues including the need for affordable housing and economic development.

"We're gonna look after our seniors, our veterans, and we're going to make sure that this environment is protected and it's something that is sustainable," she said.

Davis came out on top of the three-way Democratic primary in September, winning 56 percent of the vote in the race to replace longtime state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli. The Select Board member racked up a host of endorsements from party luminaries and local unions coming into the general election.

Vote counting in the sprawling South Berkshire district went well into the night, with a few holdouts at the respective parties waiting for numbers to come in from Lenox, Mitt's home base where she is also Select Board member.

In unofficial results, Mitts won her hometown by 276 votes, 1,638 to 1,362, and Otis and Mount Washington.

The district consists of the Southern Berkshire communities of Alford, Becket, Dalton, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, and West Stockbridge.

Alford, Monterey, Washington and Sandisfield had not reported but are too small to make a difference in the outcome.

Davis' son, Sean Macken, drove out from Norwood and her daughter Sage Macken flew from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. for the election. An unexpected surprise was when her daughter Kayleigh Davis walked through the door on Saturday after being approved to leave from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado to support her mother.

Mitts' supporters gathered at the Olde Heritage Tavern in Lenox, listening to a soundtrack of 80s as the party dwindled down. Several visits were made to Lenox Town Hall to find out what the problem was in tallying votes. When the numbers came in, Mitts conceded.

"While the results didn't go our way, I want to start by congratulating my opponent, Leigh Davis, on a hard-fought campaign," she said. "I know she hears deeply about this community, and I wish her all the best as she steps into this important role."

She thanked her "incredible team" and her family for standing by her.

"Thank you so much for your tireless efforts, your time, your unwavering belief in this campaign. I could not have asked for a better group of people by my side," Mitts said. "We may not have won, but we made our voices heard, and I'm so proud of what we accomplished together."

Davis felt her ability to run a campaign for eight months while working full-time and raising three children tied into the issues of concern with voters like affordable housing, child care and economic development.

"These are real issues that I identify with, and I've gone through on a daily basis, and I think that resonated with voters. I think that they saw that I was a hard worker," she said.

She had earlier thanked the "Leigh Team" for their efforts in supporting her campaign.

"I'm gonna hit the ground running, and I'm feeling confident and excited for the future, and thank you so much for your belief in me and your support. And let's go forth and rock this district."
Wednesday 6 November 2024, 07:33

Donald Trump spent the election night in the Mar-a-Lago stronghold with his wife Melania and a close group of loyalists, including Elon Musk. Already First Lady from 2017 to 2020, Melania Trump is preparing to return to the White House. Their relationship began in 1998. The former Slovenian model Melania Knauss, her maiden name, was born in 1970 and has been married to Trump since January 22, 2005, and is still his spouse, with whom she had their last child, Barron William (born March 20, 2006).

Donald Trump, the wealth, wives, family, and the (over-the-top) life of the tycoon who eyes the White House

Who is she

She grew up in communist Yugoslavia and speaks five languages. Born in Sevnica (Slovenia) on April 26, 1970, she speaks Slovenian, English, French, Serbian, and German. Melania Knauss began dating Trump in 1998, married him in 2005, and gave birth to their son, Barron, the following year.

The wedding

The Clintons were invited to their wedding. Bill and Hillary Clinton were among the 350 guests at Melania and Donald's wedding in Palm Beach, Florida. According to GQ, the bride wore a $100,000 Dior dress: adorned with 1,500 crystals, it took 550 hours to make. The dress was so elaborate and difficult to manage that Melania decided to change into a Vera Wang for the poolside party. The wedding ring, with a 12-carat emerald, is rumored to be worth $1.5 million.

The GQ cover

She is the only First Lady to have posed nude... Three years before meeting Donald Trump, 25-year-old Melania posed nude for a French men's magazine. In 2000, she was photographed without clothes: the photos became the January cover of GQ.

The bombshell biography

"Limiting a woman's right to choose to end an unwanted pregnancy is equivalent to denying her control of her body. I have carried this belief with me throughout my adult life." This is Melania Trump's progressive thought, surprisingly revealed in her autobiography. Her husband has made the fight against abortion one of the pillars of his career.
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Chris Pratts US election result statement has explained his absence from a joint Kamala Harris endorsement shared by his fellow Marvel actors.

The Guardians of the Galaxy star, an ardent Christian and military advocate, has often been described as right-wing, but he has stated in the past he does not fall on either side of the political spectrum.

Now, unlike his former Republican politician father-in-law Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was praised for his surprising take on this years election  even from those with opposing views  and his Avengers co-stars, who assembled to endorse Harris, Pratts open letter, shared on the eve of the election, has led to consternation.

Many are rolling their eyes at the Marvel actors particularly reserved take on the outcome of the vote, which has led to outcry from many Hollywood stars in the wake of Trumps victory.

Without endorsing either Harris or Donald Trump, Pratt told his fans he is trying to make sense of the election through the eyes of Americans on both sides, urging people to unite as fellow countrymen regardless of who wins.

For his statement, he mused about the impending result, stating: Its OK to take a moment to lick your wounds when you lose. Heck, go ahead and cry in the mirror.

Pratts statement appeared in Sunday Paper , which is run by his mother-in-law Maria Shriver who called it a really good op-ed. However, many disagree, mainly due to the fact this election was considered one of the most pivotal in US history, with the actors statement being called too banal.

One particular critic wrote: Pratt is trying to make it seem like this is any other election. Like Obama vs Romney, for instance. But its actually the most critical election of my lifetime. What we do in this moment, over the next 24 hours, matters very much.

Another added: Seriously, Chris Pratt has a both sides view on this election, with one more  a fan account dedicated to Guardians of the Galaxy  stating on X/Twitter: While he does not endorse either candidate, and the site is from a former Democrat (now independent) Maria Shriver, it upsets me to see Chris Pratt play both sides have good ideas with what is at stake for me.

Chris Pratts election statement has rubbed fans up the wrong way ( Getty Images )

Both Shriver and her husband Schwarzenegger have endorsed Harris.

Follow along with all the live updates from the US election here.
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Daniel Craig has given a hilariously brutal response to speculation about his James Bond replacement.

The 56-year-old had the longest continuous reign as the lead in the movie franchise based on the novels first released by Ian Fleming in 1953. The story was adapted for the big screen in 1962, with Sean Connery being the first to star as the protagonist in Dr No.

Craig starred in five films, starting with Casino Royale in 2006. He then played the famous spy in Quantum of Solace in 2008, Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and announced he would be retiring after appearing in No Time To Die in 2021.

Since then, a number of actors have been rumoured to replace him in the iconic role, including Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and the rumoured favourite to replace him, Aaron-Taylor Johnson.

Craig was asked, If you were to pass the James Bond torch, who would you love to see play him?, in an interview with Variety.

He responded, I dont care.

Taylor-Johnson, 33, was first rumoured for the role in January 2023 after it was reported that producer Barbara Broccoli had been left impressed by a screen test with the actor, whose credits include Kick-Ass, Bullet Train and Nowhere Boy.

Craig is the longest-reigning actor to star in the movie franchise which has been ongoing since 1962 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Former Bond stars including James Pryce, Pierce Brosnan, and George Lazenby have all offered their support for the Nowhere Boy actor, saying they believe he could be the right candidate.

The actor is currently promoting his new movie Queer, from Challengers and Call Me By Your Name director, Luca Guadagnino.

The movie, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, reportedly features some of the most explicit gay sex scenes ever, according to critics.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Craig, who has filmed sex scenes with Sienna Miller, Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, Eva Green and his real-life wife Rachel Weisz, adds that hes been in movies with terrible love scenes. It doesnt work.

You need a director who has a sensitivity, a director who understands  to put it crassly  how to make it real. Thats ones job on the day: to make it as real as possible.
Elderly couple leads an effort to plant over 40,000 trees in desert in NW China's Xinjiang

People's Daily Online) 15:51, November 06, 2024

Maigaiti county, located in Kashgar Prefecture of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was previously a part of the Taklimakan Desert, China's largest desert. Today, an ecological barrier stretching 50 kilometers has been established in the area.

Over the last decade, scientists Li Deren and Zhu Yixuan have led an effort to plant trees in the area. With the help of 16 volunteer groups, they have collectively planted over 40,000 trees, contributing to the transformation of the landscape.

Li Deren (left) and Zhu Yixuan pose for a picture in a windbreak and sand fixation forest in Maigaiti county, Kashgar Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in March 2024. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Li, an academician of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), also holds a professorship at Wuhan University. His wife, Zhu, is also a professor at Wuhan University. Both Li and Zhu are 85 years old.

After graduating from university, Zhu was assigned a position at the 7th topographic survey team of the former National Administration of Surveying, Mapping, and Geoinformation in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The team's primary responsibilities included aerial photography and mapping in northwest China. Zhu was deeply struck by the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert and the arid climate during her time there.

Since 2012, Maigaiti county has been mobilizing over 100,000 individuals to participate in desert tree planting activities during the spring and autumn seasons. In September 2014, Li and Zhu were invited to a forum in Maigaiti where they were informed by a county official that nearly 20,000 mu (1,333.33 hectares) of land had been afforested in just two years. Impressed by this initiative, they joined Maigaiti county's tree planting campaign.

In March 2015, the first group of volunteers arrived in Maigaiti to plant trees. This group consisted of 15 individuals, including Li and Zhu, their colleagues, and schoolmates, many of whom were over 70 years old. On the first day of their project, they planted 96 saplings. Over the course of 10 days, with the help of local residents, they continued their efforts and planted a total of 735 trees in the desert.

As time passed, the initiative attracted a growing number of participants from diverse backgrounds. The couple's schoolmates, colleagues, friends, students, and even their students' students, as well as professors, engineers, returned overseas Chinese, military personnel, doctors, workers, and entrepreneurs, all joined the cause.

Zhu explained that all expenses, including round-trip airfare, accommodation during the tree-planting period, tools, seedlings, and agricultural supplies required for tree-planting, as well as transportation between the work site and accommodation facilities located tens of kilometers apart, were self-funded.

Many people who were unable to participate in person due to work or health reasons showed their support by making donations of money or goods. Despite such support, the volunteer team still faced a significant challenge in the tree-planting process.

"Maigaiti county has a dry climate, with low vegetation survival rates and slow growth," Li explained. At first, their tree seedlings struggled with low survival rates due to a lack of experience. However, undeterred, the volunteers sought advice from local officials and residents, consulted forestry experts, and honed their tree-planting techniques. Through experimentation, they carefully chose indigenous plants suitable for windbreak and sand fixation.

After a decade of planting and scientific care, the survival rate of tree seedlings from voluntary tree-planting activities now exceeds 90 percent.

On March 22, 2024, Li and Zhu, together with volunteers, returned to the windbreak and sand fixation ecological forest base in Maigaiti county to mark the 10th anniversary of their efforts. Witnessing the growth of the trees planted a decade ago into towering forests filled them with joy.

"Over the past 10 years, volunteers from various areas across the country have supported and promoted tree-planting in Maigaiti, inspiring the local community," said Ai Jiangchun, director of the general office of the forestry and grassland bureau of Maigaiti county.

Through collective dedication, Maigaiti has planted 466,000 mu of ecological and economic forests, with a survival rate of over 95 percent for all seedlings.

"Nowadays, satellite remote sensing images provide valuable insights into the status of afforestation, aiding in the precise monitoring and management of forested areas," explained Li.

Additionally, Li guided students in creating historical satellite remote sensing maps of Maigaiti county. These maps offer a clear view of changes in afforestation areas, the growth status of forests, and more, serving as a valuable reference for tree planting efforts across the county.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
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Celebrities are reacting to the news that Donald Trump will become the 47th US president.

On Wednesday (6 November), the Republican candidate swept to victory following a chaotic campaign dogged by anger, insults and division.

In the lead-up, some stars kept quiet about their voting choices, while others openly endorsed Kamala Harris. Celebrities like Harrison Ford, Jennifer Aniston, and Arnold Schwarzenegger were among those to voice their support for the Democratic candidate.

Meanwhile, Trumps contingent of famous supporters included Kelsey Grammer, Hulk Hogan, Zachary Levi and the influential podcaster Joe Rogan, who endorsed him just hours before the election.

As Trump declared victory, Rogan wrote on X/Twitter: WHOLE. LEE. S***.

Piers Morgan sent Trump his congratulations, calling his triumph the greatest comeback in political history.

In a celebratory post, the former Good Morning Britain host said it was a testament to your resilience, mental strength & never-give-up mentality as your enemies tried to kill you, jail you & brand you the new Hitler. Good luck in your second term.

Tesla founder Elon Musk, another staunch defender of the Republican, praised the news and hailed his high hopes for the future.

But there was plenty of outcry over the result, with American late-nght hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, appearing despondent in their opening monologues hours after Trump won.

Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis wrote: Many fear their rights will be impeded and denied. Many, minority groups and young people will be afraid. Gay and trans people will be more afraid. We know that many women will now find it difficult to get the reproductive healthcare that they need and deserve.

open image in gallery Donald Trump declared victory in 2024 US presidential election ( AFP via Getty Images )

She urged people to wake up and fight for women and our children and their futures, adding: Fight against tyranny, one day at a time. One fight at a time. One protest at a time. Thats what it means to be an American. Thats what it has always meant and will always mean regardless of the outcome.

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As the result went Trumps way, musician Billie Eilish said the presidents victory was a war on women, with rapper Cardi B posting a photograph on Instagram with the caption: I hate y'all bad. In a follow-up post, she thanked Harris for showing her that anything is possible by running for president as a woman of colour.

Ariana Grande, who will star in the film adaptation of Wicked later this month, wrote: Holding the hand of every person who is feeling the immeasurable heaviness of this outcome today.

Director Adam McKay, whose credits include The Big Short and Dont Look Up, wrote: Who would have guessed lying about Bidens cognitive health for two years, refusing to do an open convention for a new nominee, never mentioning public healthcare & embracing fracking, the Cheneys & a yr long slaughter of children in Gaza wouldnt be a winning strategy?

open image in gallery Donald Trump with his vice president, JD Vance, and wife Melania ( Getty Images )

The Wire actor Wendell Pierce warned of the consequences Trumps victory could have.

He wrote: The Supreme Court will be changed for a generation. Ill never see a moderate court again in my lifetime. Alito and Thomas will step down and Trump will appoint 40 year old partisans to the bench. The damage he is about to inflict on our institutions in the next two years will be irreparable.

Speaking at the start of Wednesdays episode of The View, host Whoopi Goldberg refused to say Trumps name, telling viewers: Hes the president. Im still not going to say his name. Thats not going to change.

Goldbergs co-host Sunny Hostin said she was profoundly disturbed by the result, while Joy Behar said that she vehemently disagrees with the decision that Americans made.

Behar continued: We live in a democracy. People spoke. This is what people wanted. I feel very, very hopeful that we have a democratic system in this country. We should value it. We should love it. We should protest if the situation arises that we need to protest, which Im sure it will. Ive been there before with Nixon. We have a country and we can keep it.

open image in gallery Whoopi Goldberg refused to say Trumps name on The View ( ABC )

Lili Reinhart, star of Riverdale, addressed the claims of sexual assault levied against the president: I cannot fathom the feeling of the women who came forward about their sexual assault at the hands of Trump. Seeing millions of people vote for their abuser. My heart, absolutely, breaks for these women. I believe you, and I am so sorry.

In May 2023, a jury in New York found Trump liable for the sexual abuse of writer E Jean Carroll.

Comedy star Christina Applegate urged people to unfollow her if they were supporting Trump, which she said was a vote against female and disability rights.

Unfollow me because what you did is unreal, Applegate wrote. Dont want followers like this. So yeah. Done. Also after today I will be shutting down this fan account that I have had for so many years because this is sick.

She added in a follow-up post: My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away, and, later, apologised for her tirade, stating: Im still reeling and sobbing. But Im not angry anymore. Just going to go back to my bubble and watch a s*** ton of Bravo shows So peace to all. I suggest you do the same. Very soothing.

open image in gallery Christina Applegate launched a tirade after Trumps election win ( Getty Images )

Oscar-nominated actor Jeffrey Wright, whose credits include the Hunger Games franchise, The Batman and TV series Westworld, re-shared his earlier post, which read: Were crazy, America. But were not as crazy as Trump, with the addendum: Let me just say I was wrong. He went on to delete his X/Twitter account, as did Bette Midler.

Horror author Stephen King, days after calling out Musk for his Trump support, shared his views in a post reading: Theres a sign you can see in many shops that sell beautiful but fragile items: LOVELY TO LOOK AT, DELIGHTFUL TO HOLD, BUT ONCE YOU BREAK IT, THEN ITS SOLD. You can say the same about democracy.

Community star Yvette Nicole Brown said of the win: For us this is an every day Wednesday. Black folks are used to this. The rest of you are about to be shocked by how America treats you when it doesnt care about you.

John Cusack, a noted Trump critic, ominously wrote: Well, if you want to know what it really looks like  here it comes, while Glee star Kevin McHale, who played Artie in the hit show, posted: Supreme Court gone for the rest of my lifetime. Ultra-conservative evangelical bigotry, xenophobia, racism is the mandate.

Actor and director Ben Stiller simply quoted playwright David Adjmi, writing:   is the coast ever clear?

open image in gallery One person who is happy about Donald Trumps election victory is Elon Musk ( Getty Images )

Meanwhile, over in the Trump camp, boxer and internet personality Jake Paul called the Republican partys triumph a massive step in the right direction to heal the major issues going on in the world currently, while Shazam! actor Zachary Levi shared a post pushing an unfounded conspiracy theory claiming Joe Bidens 2020 victory was rigged.

But in the world of celebrity, the upset was louder.

Erin Moriarty, who plays Starlight in Prime Video series The Boys, wrote on Instagram: We reclaimed an insult, well reclaim autonomy. xo, a (hopeful) nasty woman.

Heartbroken One Tree Hill star Sophia Bush posted: Great job giving the MAGA gang more power, America. Wonder how many folks are seeing this and STILL saying But but but at least hes not a Black woman! in the privacy of their homes tonight.

Succession actor Dagmara Dominczyk agreed, writing: Trump won because the majority of Americans are ignorant enough to choose a corrupt, unhinged felon born with a silver spoon in his nasty mouth over a woman of colour. Thats it. Nothing else mattered to them. Its disgusting, shameful, and clear as day.

open image in gallery Kamala Harris election loss to Trump has upset many Hollywood stars ( Getty Images )

American singer-songwriter Ethel Cain, as part of a lengthier statement, said that Trumps win "is part of a deeper problem" and called it "the ugly consequence of the already present reality in this country that we all just despise each other in.

In Britain, His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman was less than enthused about Trump winning the election, and responded by saying goodbye to America, adding: It was nice knowing you.

Susie Dent subtly shared her views on the fact that Trump had won a second term in the White House. The Countdown star said: Word of the day is recrudescence (17th century): the return of something terrible after a time of reprieve.

Her post was reshared by broadcaster Carol Vorderman, who had earlier written: Looks like Trump will win. God help America. Comedian Jenny Eclair branded the result unbelievable, while Armando Iannucci, creator of The Thick of It and Veep, hinted at his negativity over the result by posting: And its only Wednesday.

Model and activist Munroe Bergdorf shared a strong message to her followers. It read: NOW is the time to get politically engaged and stay politically engaged. Not when its time to vote again in four years... NOW.

open image in gallery Jamie Lee Curtis urged people to wake up and fight amid the election result ( Instagram )

Your voice, your rights, your life matters. The West isnt descending into fascism, it is here and its going to require ALL of us showing up for ALL of us. No matter how bleak this may feel Do not disengage.

Moon director Duncan Jones, who is the son of David Bowie, had a shorter statement: I think we may have overestimated the goodness in people, while broadcaster Simon Mayo noted that, in the immediate aftermath of Trumos win, X/Twitter, which is owned by Musk felt already nastier.

Elsewhere, in the wake of the announcement, Guardians of the Galaxy actor Chris Pratts criticised open letter, posted on the eve of the election, is being widely shared online.

Without endorsing anyone in particular, he told his fans he is trying to make sense of the election through the eyes of Americans on both sides, urging people to unite as fellow countrymen regardless of who wins.

He then mused about the impending result, stating: Its OK to take a moment to lick your wounds when you lose. Heck, go ahead and cry in the mirror.

open image in gallery Chris Pratts reserved election statement has been criticised ( Getty Images )

Pratts statement was criticised for being too banal on what was considered one of the most pivotal elections in US history,
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Paul Rudd was full of praise for the students waiting in line to vote today at Philadelphias Temple University, saying: Its a wonderful thing that all these young people are out voting.

The Ant-Man star, 55, visited the university campus to hand out bottles of water to voters, some of whom reportedly had to queue for hours in order to take part in todays US presidential election.

Speaking to MSNBC, Rudd said: I just wanted to give people water. Theyre waiting in line for a long time, and its a wonderful thing that all these young people are out voting.

The Clueless actor added that it was impressive that voters had put up with having to wait for two hours to vote, and went on to say: Weve been doing lots of stuff today here in Pennsylvania. We wanted to come out and tell these students theyre doing really great things.

When asked by MSNBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff how he was feeling about the election itself, Rudd laughed noncommittally and responded: I feel good about handing out some waters!

Photos posted to social media showed Rudd also supporting students waiting to vote at Villanova University, which is also in Pennsylvania.

Paul Rudd speaking to MSNBC at Philadelphias Temple University ( MSNBC )

The polls are still open, and the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is thought to be one of the tightest in history.

Many celebrities have weighed into the debate in recent days, with Harrison Ford, Katy Perry and Beyonce backing Harris while influential podcaster Joe Rogan came out in support of Trump.

As election workers count the ballots and voting data is released, media outlets will begin to call states in favor of either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump later on this evening. While outlets will likely call the final result in the days or week(s) after November 5, their determination is only ever a projection. The election will be officially certified on January 6 by Congress.

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During the last presidential election in 2020, Rudd was seen handing out cookies to people waiting in the rain to vote in Brooklyn.

A video posted to social media by Guster drummer Brian Rosenworcel saw Rudd dressed casually in a hoodie, jeans, cap and face mask while handing out the cookies to voters sheltering under umbrellas.

I want to say thank you for coming out and voting and doing your part, Rudd told the queue.
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Viewers of the new Netflix movie Time Cut have voiced their annoyance with one significant twist.

The film, which stars Outer Bankss Madison Bailey as a teenager who travels back in time to the year 2003, was released on the streaming service last week.

Spoilers follow for the ending of Time Cut... you have been warned!

In the film, Lucy (Bailey) travels back in time to 2003, a time shortly before her older sister Summer (Antonia Gentry) was murdered by a masked killer.

By the end of the film, Lucy has discovered that the killer was in fact an alternate-timeline version of her friend Quinn (Griffin Gluck), who travelled back from the future to carry out a murder spree.

She is, however, able to prevent the death of her sister by bringing the murderer back to the future and killing him.

At the very ending of the film, it transpires that this change means that Lucy herself was never born, so she travels back to the year 2003 to live her life in the past.

Antonia Gentry as Summer, Madison Bailey as Lucy and Griffin Gluck as Quinn in Time Cut' ( Allen Fraser/Netflix )

Viewers were dissatisfied with the final turn of the plot, with many sharing their thoughts on social media.

Time Cut on Netflix is so stupid omg she gave up technology and her parents to live in 2003 this is ridiculous, wrote one X/Twitter user.

Another remarked: The ending of the movie Time Cut was actually crazy because why did she have to conclude her parents didnt love her so she decides to stay in the past as her sisters friend???? Like whatttt

Someone else commented: Time Cut on Netflix was such an interesting movie up until the last 10 min  Im so mad.

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A fourth viewer wrote: I know they tried to give #TimeCut an optimistic/positive ending but if you really think about it, its actually pretty depressing. Everyone seems happy at the end but what the f***.

This isnt the only point of contention among Time Cut viewers. Millennials who were teens during the era depicted have criticised the film for its inaccurate portrayal of the year 2003.

This doesnt look like 2003, idk how to explain it, but this looks like 2024 pretending to be 2003, one wrote.

The lighting is off here, another commented. Its too clear and bright. We wore coloyr but the saturation of those coloyrs and lighting overall feel too current.

Time Cut is available to stream now on Netflix.
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Emily Maitlis eviscerated Boris Johnson during a heated back-and-forth during Channel 4s coverage of the US election.

As the votes for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump were counted, Maitlis and Krishnan Guru-Murthy welcomed a rotating series of guests, including the former UK prime minister alongside Stormy Daniels and Succession actor Brian Cox, to debate the current state of politics in the US.

Johnson was present as a Trump supporter and, at one stage, Maitlis, who became a UK election night favourite after shutting down Nadine Dorries back in July, asked him about the Trump-like behaviour he started importing while he was prime minister.

Follow along with all the live updates from the US election here.

You essentially started importing some of that Trump-like behaviour in Britain when you were prime minister, she said, adding: His disregard for institutions, his disregard for the rule of law, his denialism, which I think, I guess, was mirrored in your response to the privileges committee, your response to the parliament standards committee, your proroguing of parliament. This is all Trump-like behaviour.

Johnson said, through laughter, that he disagreed profoundly and proceeded to promote his book in what would be the first of seven times in eight minutes.

Unimpressed, Maitlis told him: I dont know why its funny, to which Johnson said he didnt accept the analogy at all as he feels it is very dangerous to compare UK and US politics. He then steered the conversation to Brexit, but Maitlis shut this down.

I dont know why youre talking about Brexit, you know precisely what were talking about, the presenter said, before reeling off the fact that he rejected the Owen Paterson affair, where the former Conservative MP was found to have broken standards law, and quoted people as saying its a kangaroo court  a phrase describing an informal, unlawful, and often unfair court that doesnt follow legal standards or justice.

Johnson acknowledged that he was wrong to have done so, and then steered the conversation to what he said was a successful response to Covid. Still, Maitlis was having none of it: Its nothing to do with that, you know its not to do with that  its about how you respond to institutions and people calling out your lies.

open image in gallery Boris Johnson and Emily Maitlis on Channel 4s US election night coverage ( Channel 4 )

Johnson then questioned Channel 4s election coverage, calling it a massively eschewed approach to a US election, to which Maitlis said: Im asking you to account for your actions.

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Maitlis was then interested in knowing whether Johnson would be inspired by a Trump victory to launch his own political comeback, and Johnson told her that the answer is obviously contained in his new book.

Here, Maitlis hit back with what has been branded the line of the night as she replied: Were not all gonna read your book so just tell us: do you want to have a political comeback?

Deflecting, Johnson wondered why he was being asked, with Guru-Murthy defending Maitliss choice of question. Maitlis also pointed out: You havent answered a single question  its extraordinary.

Johnson stated: The answer is you shouldnt do it unless you think you can be useful and, by the way, Emily, Ive answered all your questions all night.

open image in gallery Channel 4S US election coverage got heated as Emily Maitlis questioned Boris Johnson ( Channel 4 )

Viewers heaped praise upon Maitlis for keeping at Johnson despite his attempts to steer the conversation in other directions, with some saying she had eviscerated him.

I found this cathartic. Great grilling by Emily. And I love it that repeatedly nobody laughs at his stupid joking around, one person wrote, with another adding: This is what I love about Emily Maitlis. It doesnt matter how important you think you are, she will get right to the heart of the issue and ask the direct questions.

One viewer called the clip eight minutes of someone destroying Johnson live on air.
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The BBC has shared a first look at the new lead detective in popular mystery series, Death in Paradise.

EastEnders and Shetland star Don Gilet was unveiled as the replacement for Ralf Little earlier this year. Little had starred as Detective Inspector Neville Parker in series 9 to 13 of the show, which has been running since 2011.

The hit BBC series, which focuses on the detective inspector from the UK and his police team solving murder mysteries that continue to shake the fictional island of Saint Marie, sees a new actor joining as DI every few years.

Gilet will make his debut as Detective Inspector Mervin WiIson in a feature-length Christmas special later this year, before a brand-new series in 2025. He is best known for playing Lucas Johnson in the long-running soap, as well as Jacob Harris in Sherwood and John Howell in Shetland.

Filming has wrapped in Guadeloupe, which will also see the return of regular faces including Don Warrington, Shantol Jackson, Ginny Holder, Elizabeth Bourgine and Danny John-Jules.

I am delighted to have returned to the wonderful island of Guadeloupe and this time to be stepping into the well-worn shoes of the Detective Inspector, Gilet said.

Its been a real pleasure filming such a beloved series alongside the hardworking cast and crew. I cant wait for the fans to see how DI Mervin Wilson fares on the island, how he fits within the Saint Marie police team and what secrets may unfold...

open image in gallery ( BBC/Lou Denim/Death In Paradise )

When his casting was revealed back in May, Gilet had said that being offered the new lead role in Death in Paradise feels like a deeply loved and incredibly precious jewel has been placed in my hands.

He added, This is a big show, with a big heart and the love continually grows for it. It is my intention to never lose sight of that and to remain grateful, humbled and dedicated.

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open image in gallery ( BBC/Lou Denim/Death in Paradise )

Even during those testing times when every sinew is screaming at me to run off the set and dive into the sea, swimming pool or an ice-cold beer  whichever happens to be closer at the time!
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The end is nigh for the Duttons. Yellowstone has become a culture-dominating, ratings smash hit since it first arrived on our screens back in June 2018, but now the final season is almost here.

The first half of the fifth and final season of the Taylor Sheridan-produced show about ranchers in Montana aired in November 2022, with the premiere episode bringing in a staggering 12.1 million viewers.

We already know that Dutton family patriarch, John Dutton III, played by Kevin Costner, wont be present in the new episodes. But that doesnt necessarily mean he wont have an impact on proceedings. Heres everything you need to know about Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2:

When does the new season of Yellowstone come out?

Paramount have confirmed that the second part of Season 5 will premiere for viewers in the United States on Sunday, November 10 at 8pm ET/PT.

For international viewers, the show will premiere on Paramount+ in Canada on November 10 before arriving in the UK on November 11.

open image in gallery Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly in Yellowstone ( Paramount )

Air dates for Latin America, Brazil and France have not yet been announced.

How can you watch Yellowstone when it airs?

In the United States, the episodes will initially be broadcast on the Paramount network at 8pm ET/PT.

CBS will then rebroadcast it at 10pm ET/PT.

New episodes will be available to stream on Peacock after theyve aired on Paramount.

They will not be available on Paramount+ in the US, although this is the home of spin-off shows such as 1883 and 1923.

International viewers will be able to access new episodes through Paramount+.

How many episodes are left?

There are six episodes in the second part of Season 5, meaning that the series finale will air on Sunday, December 15.

open image in gallery Kevin Costner in Yellowstone ( Paramount )

Why wont Kevin Costner be in the final episodes of Yellowstone?

In February this year, Yellowstone was left shaken by reports that behind-the-scenes drama between Sheridan and Costner had led to the actors departure.

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However, it wasnt until June that Costner ruled out ever returning to Yellowstone, telling fans he couldnt continue with the show.

In a video post shared to his Instagram, which he captioned, An update for you guys. Ill see you at the movies, the actor, who had just released his own Western saga, Horizon, at the Cannes Film Festival, explained his decision.

I want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all the things thats required, and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love, that I know you love, I just realised that Im not going to be able to continue Season 5B or into the future, he said.

It was something that really changed me. I loved it. And I know you loved it. And I just wanted to let you know that I wont be returning and I love the relationship weve been able to develop and Ill see you at the movies.

Whats next for Yellowstone?

While Yellowstone will be coming to an end, Sheridan isnt done with Montana. He recently announced that Michelle Pfeiffer is set to lead the forthcoming Yellowstone sequel series, The Madison. The new series will follow a family of New Yorkers who relocate to the Madison River valley in central Montana. It is set to deal with themes of grief and human connection.

A release date for The Madison has not yet been announced.
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Yellowstone director Christina Voros has shed light on how the show plans to come to an end, despite its star Kevin Costners unexpected, premature exit earlier this year.

Ahead of the hit Westerns long-awaited return this month, Voros addressed how Costners character, John Dutton, remains an essential component to the shows final episodes.

John Dutton is still central, she told The Hollywood Reporter. His presence is integral. I think to say any more than that would potentially compromise all the work that went into redacting the scripts!

But I think the reason people are wondering, Is he, isnt he? Where is he, where is he not? is because he is the patriarch and his presence is an essential component to the story.

Costner, who led Yellowstone as the Montana landowner and Dutton family patriarch for four seasons, announced he was departing the hit series in June.

I just realized that Im not going to be able to continue Season 5b or into the future, he said in an Instagram video. It was something that really changed me. I loved it, and I know you loved it. I just wanted to let you know that I wont be returning.

John Dutton is still central, Yellowstone director Christina Voros said of Kevin Costners character ( Paramount )

Early reports suggested that his exit was due to a falling out with the shows creator, Taylor Sheridan, over scheduling conflicts allegedly caused by the actors desire to shoot his Western passion project, Horizon  An American Saga.

However, Costner later disputed these claims, saying that had been prepared and ready to shoot whenever he was required, but the production kept getting pushed back.

I did it for five years, and I wanted to work more than once a year, he said on a June episode of the Today Show. We lost an entire year at one point, and I thought, that cant happen again.

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He added that he would love to go back to Yellowstone, albeit under the right circumstances.

Yellowstone returns with the second part of its fifth and final season on November 10 on Paramount+ at 8pm ET/PT.

While the series is coming to an end, Sheridan isnt done expanding the world of Yellowstone. In fact, he recently announced that Michelle Pfeiffer is set to lead the forthcoming Yellowstone sequel series The Madison.

The new series will follow a family of New Yorkers who relocate to the Madison River valley in central Montana. It is set to deal with themes of grief and human connection.
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It is clear what Vladimir Putin gains from thousands of North Korean troops joining Russias prolonged war in Ukraine. But the motivation behind Kim Jong-un sending young and inexperienced soldiers into a battle that will enter its third winter this year is less apparent.

North Korean soldiers training to fight in Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War have stakeholders watching to see if the so-called blood alliance with Russia could become one of the most lucrative projects the reclusive country has ever pursued.

Thousands of North Korean soldiers are already training in Russia for combat with the Ukrainian army alongside the Russian presidents troops as the two most heavily sanctioned and isolated regimes step up their friendship to an unprecedented level.

South Korea, the US, and the UK have confirmed the presence of North Korean soldiers on Russian soil with most massing near the Kursk border of Ukraine where Mr Putins forces have faced some of the toughest battleground challenges from Kyiv.

The South Korean intelligence agency, which first raised the alarm over the troop deployment, has said at least 12,000 soldiers including generals and senior officials are in Russia now, and American intelligence said they could be fighting within days.

It would mark the first time that North Korea, which has one of the worlds largest militaries with 1.2 million soldiers, has put boots on the ground in an international conflict.

open image in gallery North Korea has one of the worlds largest standing armies with 1.2 million soldiers ( KCNA via KNS )

North Korea has not fought a war since 1953 when the Korean War ended in an armistice but has been preparing for a renewed conflict with South Korea.

It is an unprecedented move for an isolated country like North Korea to mobilise soldiers in a distant war after decades of closely guarding the country against foreign news and even restricting movement from one province to another. Its soldiers would be on unfamiliar territory, handling new weaponry and comrades speaking a foreign language.

Whats on the table for the leader of the impoverished nation? Food, cash, and nuclear and space cooperation, experts say.

But these are immediate and predictable benefits. The more important question is what Mr Kim is aiming to obtain from this relationship over the longer term  a dangerous escalation that could have more far-reaching consequences for northeast Asia, analysts say.

The South Korean spy agency said last month Russia could pay at least $2,000 per month to each North Korean soldier, shelling out a total of $20m (15.5m) per month for 10,000 soldiers.

open image in gallery A Ukrainian video appears to show North Korean troops at a Russian military base ( Sourced )

A huge percentage of their earnings  up to 95 per cent  will likely go directly to Mr Kims coffers, and the remainder to the soldiers, according to Lee Woong Gil, a former member of one of North Koreas top Storm Corps units.

This means a soldier would end up earning $1,200 to $2,400  a lucrative enough offer for many young men willing to volunteer for the risky Russian tour, former soldiers said.

North Korea has also faced acute food shortages in recent decades since a crippling famine killed an estimated hundreds of thousands in the mid-1990s. They have often been exacerbated by natural disasters, including monsoon floods. A significant number of defectors said they never received government food rations in North Korea.

Wi Sung Lac, a member of the South Korean parliamentary intelligence committee, told The Korea Herald that North Koreas grain production falls short of its needs, and that if Russia provides 600,000 to 700,000 tonnes of rice, it would cover over half of the annual shortfall.

Rachel Minyoung Lee, a senior fellow for the Stimson Centers Korea Program and 38 North, told The Independent that North Koreas dispatch of troops is a different level of commitment than exporting weapons, which means Kims leverage over Putin has gone up.

This means Russias transfer of sensitive military technology to North Korea has become more likely than before. This would be in addition to the cash that we think North Korea is earning by sending soldiers to Russia, on top of the food and oil supplies it reportedly has been receiving from Russia already, she said.

open image in gallery Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un toast at a reception in Pyongyang in June 2024 ( POOL/AFP via Getty )

But money is likely among the lowest of the priorities on Mr Kims mind. Experts suggest the North Korean leader is more interested in gaining cutting-edge technology for its space and nuclear programmes and more firepower to threaten South Korea, its number one enemy.

North Korea is very likely to ask for technology transfers in diverse areas, including the technologies relating to tactical nuclear weapons, technologies related to their advancement of ICBM, also those regarding reconnaissance satellite and those regarding SSBNs [Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear] as well, South Korean defence minister Kim Yong Hyun said at the Pentagon on 30 October.

Russian technical assistance could be useful for various missile capabilities North Korea is still working to develop, including launch reliability, carrying realistic payloads, and accurately hitting targets, Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul told The Independent.

Ukrainian lives, territory, and bargaining positions are at significant risk because North Korea is providing a bridging supply of ammunition to Putins forces while Russia ramps up military industrial production with dual-use imports from China, he said.

Edward Howell, Chatham Houses Korea analyst, agreed, saying what Kim Jong Un wants the most is advanced missile technology in a quick quid pro quo for the troop deployment.

open image in gallery Kim Jong Un examines a rocket assembly hangar at a meeting with Vladimir Putin at Russias Vostochny Cosmodrome in 2023 ( Sputnik )

We know North Korea wants to improve its satellite technology capability, conventional weapons capability and missile delivery systems, he said at a webinar, adding North Korea could also get food assistance and financial support.

The two countries have a long history of military cooperation which goes back to the Soviet Era when the bloc supported North Koreas foundation as a communist state in 1948.

The Soviet Union helped the newly founded Pyongyang regime in the 1960s in building its nuclear research facility at Yongbyon, which has played a key role in its six nuclear tests since 2006.

The exchange would mirror Russias existing partnership with Iran, in which Moscow has been providing Tehran with nuclear technology in exchange for weapons and military support for the war in Ukraine, according to a statement from the White House in September.

We should not forget that supporting Russia in the war has been an opportunity for North Korea to revitalise its defence industry, said Ms Lee.

She said more adverse implications of Russias advanced military technology transfer to North Korea would include Pyongyang further advancing North Koreas weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities.

Fighting side-by-side with a major power like Russia gives North Korea international prestige, perhaps even something like legitimacy to call itself an equal partner in a joint effort with Russia and Russias close friends to create an alternative global order, she said.

This diplomatic space in turn gives North Korea more flexibility and options in dealing with the US. Namely, it will have implications for any future nuclear negotiations.

More than 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured in the Ukraine war, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said. And the transnational induction of the North Korean soldiers is set to relieve the pressure on Moscow to draft more of its young generation of citizens.

open image in gallery The father and son of Russian army Sgt Daniil Dumenko, 35, who was killed in Ukraine, mourn his death at a ceremony in Volzhsky, outside Volgograd, Russia in 2022 ( AP )

Mr Kim is ready to sacrifice some of his own soldiers in the Russian battle as the vast frontlines of Ukraine could become a learning ground for modern warfare and, according to Ms Lee, Mr Putin having Mr Kims back could encourage his military adventurism.

This is one of the reasons why South Korea has taken the lead in raising the urgency of the issue and even considering helping Ukraine with intelligence and military aid.

Kim Jong Un is taking a big gamble, says Ahn Chan Il, a former North Korean army first lieutenant. If there are no large casualty numbers, he will get what he wants to some extent. But things will change if many of his soldiers die in battle.
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Bollywood actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have been subjected to hostile criticism on social media over their choice of name for their baby daughter.

Padukone gave birth to a daughter in September and the couple shared a picture of her online on the festival of Diwali, considered an auspicious day by the Hindus.

The post on Instagram featured just the babys feet. The caption read: Dua Padukone Singh. Dua: meaning a Prayer. Because She is the Answer to our Prayers. Our hearts are filled with Love & Gratitude.

The word dua comes from Arabic and means prayer or supplication. In Islam, dua refers to a prayer of invocation to seek help from God and is treated as a form of worship.

Shortly after the post went online, the couple were inundated with criticism of the name, with many questioning the use of a word associated with Islam as opposed to one associated with Hinduism.

Why not prarthana and why duaa??? Why not hindi but urdu?? commented one user. Another said: Just for your information (Prathna Means "Prayer") I hope you might know these words also, as you are a Sanatani. By name, but as personal you are ????

Sanatani is a follower of Sanatana Dharma, an alternative term used by some Hindus to refer to the Hindu religion.

The word prathna or prarthana comes from the Sanskrit language and also means prayer or request. In the Hindu religion, prarthana is part of the overall process of worship.

Padukone and Singh are Hindu. Singh said in a past interview that his paternal grandfather was Sikh. The couple had a traditional Hindu ceremony as well as a Sikh ceremony called Anand Karaj when they got married as a nod to their roots.

Several commentators, though, questioned the absurd reaction to the naming of their child. Why are you pressed over a childs name that isnt yours??? one asked.

Earlier this year, data from US-based research group India Hate Lab showed that India experienced an average of two instances of anti-Muslim hate speech every day in 2023. The report also showed that there had been a rapid growth of new Hindu nationalist groups and actors engaging in hate speech in the country.

In 2023, India Hate Lab documented 668 hate speech events targeting Muslims. It recorded 255 of these events in the first half of 2023 and 413 in the second half, marking a 62 per cent increase.

The group said it used the UN definition of hate speech  prejudiced or discriminatory language towards an individual or group based on attributes including religion, ethnicity, nationality, race or gender.

Out of the 668 hate speech events, 498, or 75 per cent, took place in states and federal territories ruled by prime minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party, the group said.

Reports by Amnesty International showed that Indian authorities targeted the homes, businesses and places of worship of Muslims using bulldozers, adding that this came at a time when the Modi administration stood accused of trampling over the human rights of minorities and weaponising religious discrimination.
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Jammu and Kashmirs regional legislature passed a resolution on Wednesday demanding the federal government to restore the regions special status that was scrapped by Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration in 2019.

The assembly passed the nonbinding resolution by a majority vote to noisy scenes in the house.

This assembly calls upon the government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of special status, the resolution read.

( EPA )

Modis Bharatiya Janata Party, which has 29 members in the 90-seat assembly, rejected the resolution. It requires the approval of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, New Delhis appointed top administrator in Kashmir.

The National Conference party, which sponsored the resolution, came to power last month in the regions first vote in a decade and the first since Modis Hindu nationalist government scrapped its semi-autonomy. The federal government also downgraded and divided the former state into two centrally governed union territories, Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.

The move  which largely resonated in India and among Modi supporters  was mostly opposed in Kashmir, including by the National Conference, as an assault on its identity and autonomy. Many fear it would pave the way for demographic changes in the region, which has since been on edge with civil liberties were curbed and media freedoms restricted.

The region continues to remain a union territory  directly controlled by the federal government with Indias Parliament as its main legislator.

India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two of their three wars over the territory since they gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhis rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.

Modi and his powerful home minister, Amit Shah, have repeatedly stated that the regions statehood will be restored after the election, without specifying a timeline. However, they vowed to block any move aimed at undoing the 2019 changes.
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Record-high air pollution in Pakistan's cultural capital of Lahore is sending more people to hospitals and private clinics, doctors said Wednesday as authorities warned a complete lockdown could be imminent if residents fail to don face masks and follow other guidance related to smog.

The warning came after residents out on the streets in Lahore, which has a population of 14 million, were seen overwhelmingly without masks. Doctors say most people are complaining of either having a cough or that they feel their eyes are burning.

Tens of thousands of patients suffering from respiratory diseases were treated at hospitals and clinics in a week, said Salman Kazmi, vice president of the Pakistan Medical Association.

open image in gallery ( EPA )

open image in gallery Pakistan Smog ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

You can see people coughing whenever you go, but they still hardly wear face masks, he said.

Lahore remained the world's most polluted city Wednesday morning, with air-quality index hitting a record high of over 1,100. Anything over 300 is considered hazardous to health.

A toxic smog has shrouded the city since last month.

open image in gallery ( AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery ( Anadolu via Getty Images )

Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior minister in the Punjab province asked people to wear face masks to avoid a complete lockdown in the city. Lahore is the provincial capital.

open image in gallery ( EPA )

Authorities in the city have already banned barbecuing food without filters, as well as the use of motorized rickshaws  and wedding halls must close by 10 pm.

The government said it was also looking into methods to induce artificial rainfall to combat the pollution.
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A rare November hurricane is expected to make landfall in the southern US this weekend, according to meteorologists.

Tropical Storm Rafael intensified into a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday, making landfall in western Cuba as it approached the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The storm is bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and flash flooding.

The center said it would likely emerge into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight as a hurricane.

Tropical storm conditions are anticipated in Florida Keys, but it remains too soon to determine impacts to portions of the northern Gulf Coast. Forecasters warned a couple of tornadoes were possible there and in southwestern Florida through Wednesday night.

The lower and middle Florida Keys could also see as many as three inches of rain from Rafael.

Island officials closed schools and government offices in anticipation, the Associated Press reports.

open image in gallery Hurricane Rafael is seen in this NOAA satellite image before making landfall on Wednesday afternoon. The storm hit Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 115mph. ( NOAA National Hurricane Center )

The storm currently has maximum sustained winds of 115mph and is moving northwest at 14mph.

Rafael, the 17th named storm of this above-average storm season, passed by Jamaica where little damage was reported.

The U.S. State Department warned against traveling to Cuba and offered departure flights to non-essential staff. A hurricane warning was in effect for the islands provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and the Isle of Youth.

Rafael is expected to remain a Category 1 or 2 storm before it begins to weaken on its approach to the US central Gulf coast this weekend. Current projections show the storm moving to the left of Florida toward Texas.

Despite weakening as it approaches the the US, the storm is expected to be strong enough to create rough seas in the Gulf of Mexico, which will trigger beach erosion and dangerous surf conditions.

open image in gallery A map shows the most likely arrival times of tropical storm-force winds from Rafael. The hurricane strengthened on Wednesday as it moved toward Cuba. The storm will enter the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday night. ( NOAA National Hurricane Center )

Meteorologists expect there to be some coastal flooding, and believe the storm will most likely make US landfall along the Louisiana coast, though the precise location could range from the Florida Panhandle to the Texas coast.

"The good news is that while the Rafael may well enter the Gulf as a hurricane mid-week, there is very little chance of the storm reaching land as a hurricane," Dr. Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologist with WeatherTiger, told the Fort Myers, Florida, News-Press paper.

There is potential for the remnants of the storm to drop enough rain on southern Appalachia to cause flooding, but thankfully most of that rain is not expected to hit the regions affected by Hurricane Helene, where relief efforts are still underway.

Non-profit Climate Central said Wednesday that climate change had made the unusually warm Caribbean sea surface temperatures fueling Rafael at least 60 times more likely. The group noted that it is the seventh Atlantic hurricane to undergo rapid intensification.
In the middle of the night, as it became glaringly apparent that Donald Trump was storming to an eye-popping second term after a four-year hiatus, pundits scrambled to rewrite their briefs  and one voice stood out. With haunting clarity, historian Dominic Sandbrook called time on the truth that has been hiding in plain sight.

He explained that not only was much of blue-collar America not ready for a female commander-in-chief, but Kamala Harriss unsuitability for the role of president ran far deeper than that.

According to Sandbrooks thesis, too many Americans are suspicious of someone from the coast, from the big cities, part of the liberal metropolitan elite. In laymans terms, if you were seeking a candidate with a chance of beating Trump (something the Democrats singularly failed to do), you wouldnt pick a mixed-race woman from California.

Ooof! The truth hurts, especially when tinged with real-time misogyny and racism. Lots of Americans will be hurting today, not least that other Californian, mixed-race, big-city woman, Meghan (nee Markle), who, like Kamala Harris, personifies the liberal metropolitan elite. The actor-cum-duchess will have taken the Democrats thumping defeat personally, and with good reason.

Like so many Hollywood luminaries, Meghan made clear her disdain for Trump early on. In 2016, the then Suits actor told a US chat show that the prospect of a Trump presidency left her thinking: I might just stay in Canada.

Two months later, she went on a blind date with Prince Harry  and, a mere five months after her declaration of contempt for the presidential candidate, Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States of America. Presumably, his entry into the White House made her decision to marry a prince and move to Britain all the more straightforward.

As we well know, Hollywood doesnt always guarantee happy-ever-after endings. When things did not go according to plan in Blighty, the pair dealt a Sussex drubbing to an intrusive press and the entrenched poe-faced Windsor brigade, not to mention the political elite.

The Harry and Meghan Netflix series pointed to the racist forces unleashed in the wake of Brexit. According to James Holt, then the executive director of the Archewell Foundation, the referendum result created a perfect storm that gave credence to jingoism and nationalism.

This apparently hostile atmosphere was one that the couple were keen to leave behind when they moved to California in 2020, with Meghan insisting: People are very aware of my race because they made it such an issue when I went to the UK.

Meanwhile, change was afoot in America. After a stormy Trump presidency, 2020 saw Democratic candidate Joe Biden and his right-hand woman, Kamala Harris, challenging for the White House. The latter has long had the duchesss back, tweeting Meghan, we are with you when things started heating up prior to Megxit. The Sussexes were quick to reciprocate the favour, appearing in a video during the Biden-Harris presidential campaign, urging people to vote.

open image in gallery Harry is keen to see more of his ageing, ailing father ( AFP/Getty )

Prince Harry insisted that Americans should reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity, with Meghan stating that the race was the most important of our lifetime. Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace swiftly moved to distance itself from the couples overt politicking, serving a tart reminder that Harrys statements were made in a personal capacity.

It is telling that in the run-up to this election, the Sussexes have remained schtum. Kinsey Schofield, a Los Angeles-based royal podcast host, pointed out that the couples Montecito friends, such as Oprah Winfrey and Katy Perry, desperately took to the stage campaigning for Kamala, but Meghan was notable by her absence.

Perhaps after years of vilification and mockery in both Britain and America, the duchess understood better than most that Harris would need more than a fair wind to take down Trump. No doubt they were also weary of Trumps goading from the sidelines  he famously said of Prince Harry: I wouldnt protect him. He betrayed the Queen. Thats unforgiveable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.

On the question of Harrys US visa, Trump remarked that the Biden administration have been too gracious to him after what he has done. A ruling in the Duke of Sussexs favour last month, which saw a judge insist that the princes application remain private despite the drug-taking admissions in his memoir, might be enough to secure Harrys long-term place in America  but more broadly, US politics has just served the Sussex brand a giant yah boo sucks!

Our royal family, always irresistible to Americas elected kingship, is particularly appealing to Trump, a devoted fan

Trumps return is another nail in the coffin for Meghans unfortunately named American Riviera Orchard business venture, while the couples much-promoted, super-inclusive US lifestyle looks a little threatened.

Small wonder that they appear to have been hedging their bets on Europe. The Sussexes rumoured purchase of a house on the Portuguese coast near Lisbon this summer speaks to a renewed quest to find their liberal nirvana. The purchase, reported to have cost over $4m (3.08m), was alternatively touted in the press as a way of maintaining links with favourite royal cousin Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, who have a property in Melides near the luxury Costa Terra resort, and as a European alternative to returning to Britain.

Seen through an American lens, the decision to buy in Portugal potentially represents something even more permanent. Ever since Trumps first term in the White House, it has been seen as a safe haven for American liberals wanting to flee a politically fraught USA. The number of US expats in Portugal has increased by 239 per cent since 2017, with many citing the appeal of a society less hidebound by racism, gun violence and toxic political divisions. With Trumps re-election, the number is set to rise further, with Lisbon held up as reminiscent of San Franciscos cityscape and the country as a whole lauded for its anglophile sensibilities.

So yes, Meghan and Harry may well decide to do more than dip their big toes in Portugals tempting Atlantic waters. And longer-term tenure conveniently close to Britain could see a thaw between the Sussexes and the country they turned their back on.

open image in gallery The couple visit the One World Observatory in New York in 2021 ( Getty )

After all, everything is relative, and nowadays the UK is governed by Labours Keir Starmer, a man married to first lady Victoria, who has a weakness for designer frocks; the foreign secretary, David Lammy, has a track record of being considerably more vocal on Trump than even the Sussexes.

Britains political mood music conveniently leans towards the couples declared cosmopolitan liberal agenda, at the same time as Harry is keen to see more of his ageing, ailing father. But, if increasingly frequent appearances by the Sussexes are a possible silver lining (for some) against the backdrop of Trumps return to the White House, it should be served with a side of caution.

Starmers Britain needs to work with Trumps America: the Ukrainian war, Nato security and that elusive trade deal are just a few of the critical issues that necessitate a close relationship, if not a special one.

And while our technocrat prime minister and bulldozer Trump are hardly natural political bedfellows (one a former director of public prosecutions, the other a convicted felon), we do hold a golden ticket.

Our royal family, always irresistible to Americas elected kingship, is particularly appealing to Trump  a devoted fan not just of the late Queen, but of the wider Windsor clan and their blend of pomp and palaces. However, any transatlantic cup of tea between the King and Americas unsavoury new president-elect must not overlap with a Portuguese pop-over from the Sussexes.

Tessa Dunlop is the author of Elizabeth and Philip: The Story of Young Love, Marriage and Monarchy, Headline Press, 2022
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1000-lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton has responded to rumors that her sister, Amy Slaton, is pregnant.

Tammy  whos been on the TLC series with Amy since 2020  addressed the speculation about her family in a video posted to her TikTok on Monday (November 4). She started by hitting back at claims that her sister was expecting a third baby. Amy is already the mother of two sons, Gage, four, and Glenn, two, who she shares with ex-husband Michael Halterman.

I wish people could stop spreading rumors, but Im here to tell you, Amys not pregnant, Tammy said.

She then clarified that her sister-in-law Brittany Combs, whos married to the reality stars brother Chris Combs, did not pass away. Brittany has made numerous appearances in 100-lb Sisters, alongside her husband.

In the comments, many fans expressed their relief over the news, specifically that Brittney hadnt passed away.

Thank you !! I was looking EVERYWHERE about Brittney I was about to cry, one wrote, while another added: Im so thankful to hear this. Thank you for letting me know. I was heartbroken. Glad Brittany is ok.

Tammy Slaton denies rumors that her sister Amy Slaton is pregnant ( TikTok )

Tammy has previously hit back at online criticism about her and her family. In a since-deleted TikTok video, posted in January, she addressed some of the mean comments she was receiving about her teeth.

With all due respect, I wish people like you would stop commenting crap like this, she said in the clip, as reported by E! News. Its not helping my confidence. I was trying to keep my confidence boosted and seeing comments about my chin or my teeth doesnt help none.

She then explained that she had to calm herself down before making the video, since she really wanted to go off on the TikTok user who criticized her appearance.

But I dont wanna be that person. I dont want to be rude. I used to be, Im not gonna lie. But I was so misunderstood, and so miserable and tired and sick. And Im trying to better my life and better myself, Tammy concluded.

In September, Amy made headlines when she was arrested at a Tennessee zoo, as shes facing charges of child endangerment and drug possession. On September 2, the Crockett County Sheriffs Department received a call about a guest who had reportedly been bitten by a camel at the Tennessee Safari Park.

Upon arrival, deputies were immediately overtaken by suspicious odors coming from the guests vehicle, the department said in a Facebook post.

Amy was arrested on illegal possession of Schedule I, illegal possession of Schedule VI, and two counts of child endangerment. A man named Brian Scott Lovvorn, who was in the vehicle with Amy, was also arrested on the same charges.

Both were booked into the Crockett County Jail before they were released on a $10,000 bond each. They both pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and drug possession charges, and Amys next court date is scheduled for November 7.

1000-lbs Sisters, which chronicles the lives of the Slaton Sisters as they attempt to lose weight, wrapped its fifth season earlier this year. The show returned for its sixth season on October 8.

Before they became reality stars, Amy and Tammy posted vlogs and product reviews on YouTube, where they gained a dedicated following. Amy still uploads videos on YouTube, though much less frequently.
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Gypsy Rose Blanchard has revealed the results of her paternity test.

The 33-year-old  who was released from prison in December 2023 after serving eight years for the second-degree murder of her mother  revealed the official results of her unborn babys DNA test on Instagram.

Theres been a lot of chatter around the paternity of our baby and while weve known for sure from the beginning, I feel that its finally time to put all these theories to rest, she wrote in her post on Tuesday (November 5).

Blanchard began dating fiance Ken Urker in April, just weeks after filing for divorce from her husband Ryan Anderson.

With 99.9 percent certainty, she confirmed that Urker was the father of her child  something she said shes known all along, despite rumors it was Andersons.

Here are the results showing Ken is the father, she continued, adding theyre excited for their babys arrival in January. Ken is going to be an incredible dad and we are so excited to welcome our baby girl into the world.

Blanchard turned off the comments on her Instagram post.

Back in July, she made it clear on Good Morning America that she could not have fathered the baby with Anderson. I left Ryan in mid-March. So, this is absolutely 100 percent Kens baby. There was never any question of paternity, she stated at the time.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard is expecting a baby girl in January 2025 ( Getty Images )

The former inmate shared the big news of her pregnancy on Instagram in July. We are proud to announce we are expecting our first child in January 2025, she wrote in her caption.

In August, Blanchard and her fiance announced they were expecting a baby girl, while her estranged husband, Anderson, was legally required to undergo a paternity test.

Anderson explained in an August 10 TikTok livestream that Louisiana law left him with no choice in the matter, as the state mandates paternity testing for separated but still-married couples.

I hate being in this situation, Anderson said. The way the timeline matches up  I dont think its mine, but I dont know. The DNA test is going to prove it.

Crazier things have happened, he noted. I just dont know. I have my thoughts and I have my opinions.

Blanchard had announced her split from Anderson in late March, just three months after her release from prison.
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Jeremy Clarkson has responded to accusations that he burned an effigy of US president Donald Trump on Bonfire Night.

The 69-year-old Clarksons Farm star, who recently underwent a heart procedure after becoming unwell while on holiday, called the claims utter horse s***.

A picture of a figure dressed in a suit with what appeared to be a coiffed hairstyle burning in the middle of flames was shared by the TV personality on Tuesday night (5 November).

He captioned the post: Bonfire Night at The Farmers Dog pub.

The image provoked a divided response from his social media followers, after the businessman and Home Alone 2 star was elected the 47th president of the US on Wednesday morning (6 November).

This is disappointing, wrote one person, while another added, Anyway.looking forward to voting for TRUMP today!

A third Republican supporter accused the former Top Gear host of being corrupted by the Democrats.

However, Clarkson cleared up any confusion by resharing an article about the bonfire and denying the claims.

Utter horse sh*t, he wrote in the caption posted on Wednesday afternoon.

If I was going to burn someone contemporary on our fire, it would be someone closer to home. But it was actually just Guy Fawkes.

Clarkson responded to claims he burned an effigy of Donald Trump ( Instagram/JeremyClarkson1 )

The US has endured a chaotic and highly polarised election day in which the US voted to elect either Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Kamala Harris.

Shortly after posting the image of Guy Fawkes burning in the fire, Clarkson revealed that his hit Prime Video series, Clarksons Farm had been renewed for a fifth season.

Over the years bright lights in the sky have been used to make many important announcements, the birth of the baby Jesus for example, he said as lights arranged themselves behind him in the video.

But tonight theyre being used to make an announcement thats even bigger than that. Season 5 of Clarksons Farm is coming.

The documentary series first aired on Prime Video in 2021, and follows the former Top Gear host as he attempts to run his 1,000-acre Diddly Squat farm near Chipping Norton.

The 61-year-old bought the land in 2008 and, after the villager who ran the farm retired in 2019, decided to see if he could run it himself. A long-awaited third series was released to success in May.
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Julie Johnson has made history as not only the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent Texas in Congress, but the first to be elected from anywhere in the South of the United States.

The 57-year-old Democratic representative claimed victory in the Lone Star States 32nd Congressional District on Tuesday, November 5  defeating her Republican opponent Darrell Day and Libertarian candidate Kevin Hale. She will succeed outgoing representative, Democrat Colin Allred, who unsuccessfully challenged Ted Cruz for his seat in the Senate.

Johnson celebrated her historic win after the results were called on Tuesday evening. Tonight, Team Julie made history, she wrote in a post shared to X/Twitter. I am incredibly honored and humbled that you have elected me to be your Representative for the 32nd district. Together, we have shattered barriers and proven [sic] that representation matters.

Throughout her campaign, Johnson  who identifies as lesbian  advocated for reproductive rights and access to safe and legal abortion services, stronger gun laws, increased access to affordable housing, and the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis.

Since January 2019, Johnson has represented District 115 in the Texas state legislature, where she helped kill 141 of the 144 anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed this year alone. She was also one of five openly queer Texas Democrats to form the first LGBT+ caucus in the Texas House of Representatives, and passed a bill regulating prior authorizations for medications that treat autoimmune diseases such as HIV.

Julie Johnson defeated Republican opponent Darrell Day in Texass 32nd District ( Facebook/juliejohnsonforTX )

Speaking to People, Johnson shared that she came out as gay at age 25 in the 1990s. The former attorney, whos been married to her wife Susan Moster since 2014, explained how its critically important to have LGBT+ representation in US Congress, especially when anti-trans legislation and bills attacking the rights of LGBT+ people are constantly being proposed by conservative lawmakers.

Everybody needs to be represented and have their voice and their perspective in the conversation of our governmental discourse, Johnson told the outlet. We all have to have a seat at the table.

The representative-elect also emphasized how sick she is of seeing her community become a political punching bag by those who seek to limit the rights of LGBT+ Americans for their own political gain.

Im not going to tolerate [bigotry] and not going to have it, she said. I will call it out.

Last year, Texas lawmakers introduced more than 140 bills threatening the LGBT+ community  from prohibiting access to gender-affirming care and imprisoning physicians who provide such gender-affirming care, to banning classroom instruction on sexual health and stripping court-ordered custody rights of parents who travel out of state to get healthcare services for their transgender child.

In June, the Texas Supreme Court upheld the states ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, certifying a law that has been in effect in Texas since September 2023. The ban will continue to prevent trans teens from accessing hormone therapies, puberty blockers, and transition surgeries, though medical experts say such surgical procedures are rarely performed on children.

Republican nominee Donald Trump claimed victory in the presidential election on Tuesday evening, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris for a second term in the White House. Throughout his reelection campaign, Trump has promised to revoke federal policies that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. His campaign has pledged to use the federal government to stop gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors, and he has called gender-affirming care child abuse and child sexual mutilation.
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Atlantic City's mayor, already accused of abusing his teenage daughter, now faces a new charge that he asked her to lie about how she sustained a head injury.

Marty Small Sr., 50, was charged Monday with witness tampering involving the girl, whom he and his wife, La'Quetta  the New Jersey seaside gambling resort city's superintendent of schools  were previously charged with assaulting and abusing.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said Marty Small, a Democrat, asked his daughter to twist up a statement she had given to investigators regarding his alleged abuse of her on occasions in December and January.

Specifically, the mayor is accused of asking his daughter to falsely say that a head injury occurred when she tripped and fell in her room.

Small's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs, called the latest charge sheer nonsense," adding that Small asked his daughter to tell the truth about what happened.

When a parent encourages a child to be accurate and truthful in statements to investigators, that parent is not witness tampering, he said Wednesday. That parent is doing what a good, responsible parent should do. And that is precisely what Marty Small has done.

Jacobs called the charge one more effort by the prosecuting authority to second-guess my client's parenting and corrupt his relationship with his daughter.

The attorney did not say whether the teen is still living at home with her parents. As recently as last month, Small said she was doing so.

Prosecutors allege that Small asked his daughter to contradict her previous claim of being abused while knowing he was about to be indicted on the original child abuse charge. The alleged request was made two days before a grand jury indicted Marty and La'Quetta Small.

They say both parents hit and emotionally abused the girl, who was 15 to 16 years old, on occasions last winter. The couple deny the allegations.

Prosecutors said that on Jan. 13, Marty Small hit his daughter multiple times in the head with a broom, causing her to lose consciousness. Ten days earlier, they said, Small argued with his daughter, grabbing her head, throwing her to the ground and threatening to throw her down the stairs. The mayor also is accused of punching his daughter in the legs, causing bruising.

LaQuetta Small, 47, is accused of punching her daughter multiple times on the chest, leaving bruising. She is also accused of dragging her daughter by the hair and striking her with a belt on her shoulders, leaving marks.

The couple pleaded not guilty to the original charges last month. Marty Small has a court date on the witness tampering charge set for Dec. 3.

___

Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
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Australias highest court ruled Wednesday that migrants cant be forced by law to wear electronic tracking bracelets or to comply with curfews.

The ruling is a blow to the government, whose lawyers have unsuccessfully argued that laws imposing curfews and tracking technology are justified to protect the community.

Five of the seven High Court judges ruled that the tough restrictions placed on more than 100 migrants, usually because of their criminal records, were unconstitutional because the conditions amounted to punishment. The constitution states that punishment must be imposed by judges, not lawmakers.

The restrictions were part of emergency laws hastily passed in December in response to another High Court ruling that non-citizens could no longer be detained indefinitely as an alternative to deportation. That ruling in the case of a stateless Rohingya man reversed a 28-year-old High Court precedent that allowed indefinite detention where there were security concerns.

Wednesday's ruling means the government can no longer electronically track the more than 200 non-citizens with criminal records who were released and, for a variety of reasons, couldnt be deported.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he would introduce legislation to Parliament on Thursday that will allow for an adjusted process for electronic monitoring devices and curfews to be used. He did not detail those adjustments.

The courts decision is not the one the government wanted  but it is one the government has prepared for, Burke said in a statement.

The security and safety of the Australian community will always be the absolute priority for this government, he added.

The latest High Court case was brought by a 36-year-old stateless man, identified as YBFZ, who was born in Eritrea. His family initially fled to Ethiopia because they feared persecution in their homeland as Jehovahs Witnesses, and they arrived in Australia as refugees in 2002.

His refugee visa was canceled in 2017 due to convictions including burglary and recklessly causing injury, part of a criminal record that extended for more than a decade. He was held in custody until 2023, when the High Court outlawed indefinite detention.

YBFZs lawyer, David Manne, described Wednesdays verdict as a major victory for fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Australia.

This is an important ruling because it underscores the bedrock principle that for everyone, whether citizen or non-citizen, the government does not have the power to punish people by stripping them of their fundamental rights to freedom and dignity, Manne told reporters.

Opposition lawmakers described the High Court decision as an embarrassing loss for the government.

The effect of this decision will be that 215 dangerous non-citizen offenders including 12 murderers, 66 sex offenders, 97 people convicted of assault, 15 domestic violence perpetrators and others will be free in the community without any monitoring or curfews, an opposition statement said.
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A series of volcanic eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki on Indonesias remote island of Flores killed nine people and injured dozens of others, as buildings crumbled and terrified residents ran for their lives in the darkness.

The eruptions on Monday affected more than 10,000 people in 10 villages. About 4,400 villagers moved into makeshift emergency shelters after the eruption, which destroyed seven schools, nearly two dozen houses and a convent on the majority-Catholic Island.

Authorities on Wednesday provided tons of logistical and aid supplies to displaced people and warned the thousands of people who fled not to return home, as rescue workers, police and soldiers continued to comb the devastated villages for survivors despite no missing people reported.

Heres a closer look at the eruption and its aftermath.

How many active volcanoes are there in Indonesia?

The 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki is one of 120 active volcanoes in the country. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes, landslides and volcanic activity because it sits along the Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

Indonesias Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation has recorded 4,796 volcanic eruptions across the vast archipelago nation since January. Mount Ibu in North Maluku province has erupted 1,930 times, Mount Semeru in East Java province 1,634 times and Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki 872 times.

About 6,500 people were evacuated in January after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki began erupting, spewing thick clouds and forcing the government to close the islands Frans Seda Airport. No casualties or major damage were reported, but the airport has remained closed since then due to seismic activity.

Why was the latest volcanic eruption so powerful?

Since January, Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki had erupted up to six times almost every day, but its activity drastically fell in early November, said Muhammad Wafid, who heads the geology agency at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

Analysis showed there was a blockage of magma in the crater, which reduced detectible seismic activity and increased pressure, Wafid said.

The eruptions that occurred since Friday were due to the accumulation of hidden energy, Wafid said, adding that the agency has recommended the volcanos alert status be raised to the highest level.

Currently there is no technology capable of determining when a volcanic eruption will occur and how big the eruption will be, he said, What we do is monitor the signs that there will be an eruption, but we dont know when it will be.

How common are deadly eruptions in Indonesia?

Many eruptions in Indonesia are minor and cause little to no damage, but some can be deadly.

Mount Marapi erupted in December 2023, killing 24 climbers and injuring others who were caught by its sudden weekend eruption. Two climbing routes in the mountain have been closed since then. Five months later, monsoon rains triggered a landslide of mud and cold lava from Mount Marapi, causing rivers to breach their banks. The deluge tore through mountainside villages and swept away people and dozens of homes, killing 67 people.

An eruption in December 2021 of Mount Semeru, the highest volcano on the densely populated Java island, left 48 people dead and 36 missing in villages that were buried in layers of mud. Mount Merapi also erupted in 2010, killing 347 people and displacing 20,000 villagers.

The monumental eruption of the Krakatau volcano in 1883 triggered a period of global cooling.
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A judge Tuesday set an early 2025 trial date for a former Georgia district attorney charged with interfering with the police investigation into the killing of Ahmaud Arbery,

Jury selection in the criminal misconduct trial of Jackie Johnson is scheduled to begin Jan. 21 in coastal Glynn County, according to an order by Senior Judge John R. Turner. He set a Dec. 11 hearing for attorneys to argue their final pretrial motions.

Johnson was the county's top prosecutor in February 2020 when Arbery was fatally shot on a residential street as he ran from three white men chasing him in pickup trucks. While Arbery's pursuers argued they mistakenly believed the 25-year-old Black man was a criminal and that he was shot in self-defense, all three were later convicted of murder and federal hate crimes.

Johnson recused her office from handling the killing because the man who initiated the deadly chase, Greg McMichael, was a retired investigator who had worked for her. His son, Travis McMichael, had shot Arbery at close range with a shotgun. A neighbor, William Roddie Bryan, joined the pursuit and recorded graphic cellphone video of the shooting that leaked online more than two months later.

Johnson was voted out of office months later, a loss she blamed largely in outrage over Arbery's killing. In September 2021, a grand jury indicted her indicted her on a felony count of violating her oath of office and a misdemeanor count of hindering a police officer.

The case has moved a crawl since Johnson was first charged, reported to jail for booking and then released. She has yet to appear in court. The judge's scheduling order Tuesday was the first action taken since last November, when Turner denied legal motions by Johnsons lawyers to dismiss the case.

The judge told The Associated Press in September that the delays were unavoidable because one of Johnson's attorneys, Brian Steel, had spent most of the past two years in an Atlanta courtroom defending Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug in a sprawling racketeering and gang trial.

Turner's order moving ahead with Johnson's case came less than a week after Young Thug pleaded guilty to gang, drug and gun charges.

Steel and attorney John Ossick, who also represents Johnson, did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment Tuesday evening.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said in a statement that "we look forward to presenting our case in court.

While the men responsible for Arberys death are serving life prison sentences, his family has insisted that justice wont be complete for them until Johnson stands trial.

Its very, very important, Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arberys mother, told the AP in September. She did not immediately return a phone message Tuesday.
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The final answer may or may not come on Tuesday, but news organizations that have spent months reporting on the presidential campaign between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump finally have the opportunity to report on actual results.

Broadcast, cable news networks, digital news outlets' sites and one streaming service  Amazon  all set aside Tuesday night to deliver the news from their own operations.

Actual results will be a relief to news organizations that had weeks  and an excruciatingly long day of voting  to talk about an election campaign that polls have repeatedly shown to be remarkably tight. The first hint of what voters were thinking came shortly after 5 p.m. Eastern, when networks reported that exit polls showed voters were unhappy with the way the country was going.

It's still not clear whether that dissatisfaction will be blamed on Harris, the current vice president, or former president Trump, who was voted out of office in 2020, CNN's Dana Bash said.

Trying to draw meaning from anecdotal evidence

Otherwise, networks were left showing pictures of polling places on Tuesday and trying to extract wisdom from anecdotal evidence.

Dixville Notch is a metaphor for the entire race, CNN's Alyssa Farah Griffin said, making efforts to draw meaning from the tiny New Hampshire community that reported its 3-3 vote for Harris and Trump in the early morning hours on Tuesday.

MSNBC assigned reporter Jacob Soboroff to talk to voters waiting in line outside of a polling place near Temple University in Philadelphia, where actor Paul Rudd was handing out water bottles. Soboroff was called on by one young voter to take a picture with herself and Rudd.

On Fox News Channel, Harris surrogate Pete Buttigieg appeared for a contentious interview with Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade.

Is this an interview or a debate? Buttigieg said at one point. Can I at least finish the sentence?

Former NBC News anchor Brian Williams began a one-night appearance on Amazon to deliver results, and he already had one unexpected guest in the California studio where he was operating. Puck reporter Tara Palmeri was supposed to report from Trump headquarters in West Palm Beach, but was denied credentials to attend by the former president's team.

Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita, in revealing the banishment, described her as a gossip columnist in a post on the social media site X. Palmeri told Williams that she had accurately reported some anxiety within the Trump camp about who was voting early.

Amazon said Palmeri was replaced at Trumps Florida headquarters by New York Post reporter Lydia Moynihan.

Neither Axios or Politico would immediately confirm reports that some of their reporters were similarly banned, and the Trump campaign did not immediately return a call for comment.

New York Times strike affects an election night fixture

One notable election night media fixture  the Needle on The New York Times' website  was endangered by a strike by technical workers at the newspaper.

The newspaper said early Tuesday that it was unclear whether it will be able to include the feature on its website during election night coverage since it relies on computer systems maintained by engineers at the company, including some who went on strike early Monday.

The Needle, as its name suggests, is a graphic that uses voting results and other calculations to point toward the likelihood of either presidential candidate winning.

First introduced in 2016, it became nightmare-inducing for supporters of Democrat Hillary Clinton, who the Times determined had an 85% percent chance of winning the election. Readers watched as the Needle moved from forecasting a likely Clinton victory at the beginning of election night, to toss-up by 10 p.m. Eastern to leaning Trump at midnight. Trump won the election.

The Times said that we will only publish a live version of the Needle if we are confident that the computer systems it relies upon for data are stable.

Some 650 members of the Times' Tech Guild went on strike early Monday.

___

David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder.
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A manhunt has been launched after an Asda security guard was stabbed at a shop in Londons Stepney Green area.

Police said a victim in his 30s had been stabbed in the thigh during the stabbing inside a store in the Anchor Retail Park on Tuesday morning.

The security guard was taken to hospital and his injuries were deemed non-life threatening and non-life changing, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The force said on Tuesday that urgent enquiries were under way to identify and apprehend the attacker.

Scotland Yard said on Wednesday morning that there had still been no arrest, and that enquiries were ongoing.

An Asda spokesperson said: We are in contact with our colleague and are providing ongoing support to him. Our thoughts are with him, as well as any colleagues or customers that witnessed this incident.

Next week marks Respect for Shopworkers Week, and this incident further highlights the urgent need for stronger protections for retail workers. We continue to advocate for acts of violence or abuse against retail workers to be recognised as a standalone criminal offence.

No colleague should come to work in fear of being attacked.

The British Retail Consortium warned earlier this year that violence and abuse against shop workers had risen by 50 per cent in the previous year, rising to some 1,300 incidents per day in the 12 months to September 2023.

And the Coop warned last July that criminals had freedom to loot as they recorded their highest ever levels of retail crime, shoplifting and antisocial behaviour, totally nearly 1,000 incidents per day in the six months to June 2023.

Matt Hood, Co-op Foods managing director, said he had seen horrific incidents of brazen and violent theft in its stores, and warned that out of control levels of crime could deprive communities of their local shops.
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One of the heroes of the Fishmongers Hall terror attack has warned that more prisoners languishing on indefinite jail terms will lose their lives under a sentence of no hope.

Marc Conway, who was handed an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence for armed robbery, was one of three released offenders who bravely tackled terrorist Usman Khan after he fatally stabbed two Cambridge University students.

Mr Conway, who was due to speak at the rehabilitation event in November 2019, helped to disarm Khan after he was wrestled to the ground on London Bridge by Steven Gallant and John Crilly, who were wielding a narwhal tusk and a fire extinguisher.

They feared he would detonate a suicide vest, which later turned out to be fake.

Despite being hailed as a hero for helping stop Khan, who was shot 12 times by police, Mr Conway feared his actions would land him back in prison under the strict licence conditions of his IPP sentence.

Last week he was finally freed from the draconian jail term under reforms which saw 1,800 IPP offenders who were released at least five years ago have their licences automatically terminated. He described it as surreal after years living in fear of recall, even spending the past month staying at home until he was finally free.

However, he has called for urgent help for more than 2,600 IPP prisoners still trapped with no release date under the hopeless jail term, in what he described as an appropriate and safe resentencing policy.

open image in gallery Marc Conway was among bystanders who helped to disarm terrorist Usman Khan on London Bridge ( Supplied )

Speaking at a conference on Tuesday, the prison reform campaigner said: People on IPPs will give up hope. If they are finally released, what is left for them? The worsening mental health of IPP prisoners ensures they will not be released.

My main concern was that in 20 years time, the last IPP is rotting away somewhere but my major concern now is there will be no IPPs left in 20 years time because they died from suicide.

The controversial jail terms, which saw offenders given a minimum tariff but no maximum, were scrapped in 2012 over human rights concerns but not for people already detained.

Of the 2,694 prisoners still incarcerated, around 700 have served more than 10 years longer than their minimum term. At least five IPP prisoners who were given minimum terms of less than six months have remained in jail for at least 16 years.

open image in gallery Marc Conway (right) with reformed prisoner David Breakspear at a conference at Buckinghamshire New University ( Buckinghamshire New University )

The sentences have been branded psychological torture by a UN human rights expert after at least 90 IPP prisoners have taken their own lives as they lose hope of being freed.

Mr Conway threw his weight behind The Independents calls for all IPP prisoners to have their sentences reviewed after highlighting a string of injustices, including those of Thomas White, who set himself alight after serving 12 years for stealing a mobile phone, and Yusuf Ali, who was hospitalised after spending 61 days on hunger strike.

Addressing the event co-hosted by the Prison Reform Trust and Buckinghamshire New University, Mr Conway called for the government to give back hope, stop death by suicide.

Policies should look towards freedom, not fear, he said. There should be an appropriate and safe resentencing policy for those left behind as well as dedicated establishments for IPP prisoners to deal with trauma developed from the sentence  this would help reduce overcrowding, ease pressures on the health service, help staff retention rates, all while still protecting the public.

Otherwise every year there is a knockback, your mental health gets worse. Give back hope, stop death by suicide.

open image in gallery Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones were killed in the November 2019 terror attack near London Bridge ( AFP/Getty )

He went on to quote an anonymous suicidal prisoner who he had spoken to about the grave challenges facing someone serving an IPP: I feel useless, Im no good to anyone, no one cares. I have tried to kill myself three times but cant even do that properly.

The government has so far resisted recommendations by the cross-party justice committee to resentence IPP prisoners, claiming it will lead to the automatic release of dangerous inmates.

IPP sentences have also been excluded from the Ministry of Justices flagship sentencing review, being led by David Gauke.

Pia Sinha, CEO of the Prison Reform Trust, called for politicians to use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try and make some brave decisions.

She added: In amongst all reform measures, which we do need to see as positive and incrementally shifting, we shouldnt forget the IPP situation.

If resentencing is a step too far right now, we need to start seriously thinking about the small steps and build towards greater reform. Organisations such as PRT can help the government with a more solution-focussed approach, how we may be able to de-risk it from a public perception view, and how we need to be guided by evidence, rather than rhetoric.

open image in gallery IPP injustices highlighted by The Independent (clockwise from top left): Thomas White, James Lawrence, Yusuf Ali and Abdullahi Suleman ( Handout )

Dr Ciaran OKeeffe, head of the school for human and social sciences at Buckinghamshire New University, oversees the universitys work with therapeutic community prison, HMP Grendon, where Mr Conway served some of his IPP sentence.

Rehabilitation through alternatives to punishment is key to stopping issues with the revolving door as individuals find themselves going in and out of prison, he added.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: It is right that IPP sentences were abolished and we recently terminated the lifetime licences of 1,800 rehabilitated offenders.

We are now exploring ways to improve access to mental health support and rehabilitation for those still in custody. However, with public protection our first priority, we will not be pursuing a resentencing exercise.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you
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A disgraceful rioter who stopped drivers to ask if they were white or English has been jailed.

Jake Wray, 23, admitted trying to set a car on fire, making racist chants and pushing a flaming wheelie bin into police lines as violent disorder broke out across Middlesborough on August 4.

Wray, wearing a distinctive red top and an England flag around his shoulders, stopped cars at a junction in the town centre and was caught on mobile phone footage asking drivers about the colour of their skin.

open image in gallery Disorder broke out in various locations in the UK in the wake of the Southport killings, including in Middlesborough ( PA Wire )

On the clip which was played in court, while he stood blocking traffic, Wray could be heard asking: Are you white, are you English?

The judge said the incident was so shocking it was played on the national TV news.

Further clips showed him setting fire to a wheelie bin which was pushed towards police lines and helicopter video captured him interfering with a red hatchback which minutes later burst into flames.

Wray told police that he was merely stopping cars to warn drivers, but he no longer stood by that account.

He was serving a 24-week suspended sentence for spitting at a police officer and carrying a knife at the time.

Wray, of Seaton Street, Middlesbrough, was jailed for 38 months after admitting violent disorder in the town.

Judge Richard Bennett, sentencing at Teesside Crown Court, told Wray: (Your) behaviour was disgraceful and in no way reflects the values of the decent people of Middlesbrough.

The judge said Wrays offending was violent, overtly racist and included arson that day.

Judge Bennett said: You were clearly enjoying the attention and power of being masked during a frightening event for those drivers.

A clip was played in court of Wray, with his England flag over his mouth as a mask, approaching a police video operator and shouting: You can stick you chicken tikka up your a***. Tee-Tee-Teessiders.

Wrays partner and her mother have also been jailed for violent disorder.

Harry Crowson, defending, said Wray initially denied the racial motive for stopping the cars out of embarrassment and shame.

Mr Crowson said the defendant had repeatedly watched the clips in court over several hearings, adding: In the cold light of day, he doesnt even believe the things that came out of his mouth that day.

He is quite appalled by it.
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British opponents of Donald Trump staged a rally outside the US embassy in London to protest at what they said was the dangerous resurgence of anti-abortion efforts and other threats when he becomes the next president.

Hours earlier, two environmental activists from Just Stop Oil were arrested for spraying orange paint on the outside of the embassy building.

Mr Trump has won a second term in the White House after surpassing the key threshold of 270 Electoral College votes on Wednesday and claiming a majority of 51 per cent of the popular vote, to beat Kamala Harris.

open image in gallery Police liason officers removed a banner reading Trump Climate Disaster from the hedge at the embassy ( Getty Images )

Protest groups Stand up to Trump and Stand up to Racism urged supporters to demonstrate outside the American embassy in an emergency protest to show anger at the man they dubbed hatemonger-in-chief who they said was a threat to the climate.

One speaker told the crowd, who chanted slogans, that they wanted to say no to his bigotry plus transphobia, attacks on migrants and every rotten thing he represents.

They said his victory had emboldened every racist, far-right figure around the world, including in Britain.

Another speaker said LGBTQ+ people were threatened by Mr Trump, the KKK (the Ku Klux Klan), the far right and all that he energises.

open image in gallery Just Stop Oil targeted the US embassy on Wednesday ( Just Stop Oil )

Shortly after Mr Trump took to the stage in Florida to declare victory on Wednesday, the Just Stop Oil activists doused an exterior wall of the embassy with their trademark orange paint.

The Metropolitan Police said two men, aged 25 and 72, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and were held in custody.

Deputy assistant commissioner Andy Valentine said: Officers from the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit arrested these two men within minutes, ensuring that they could not cause any further damage to the embassy.

This activity is vandalism purporting as protest and we will continue to have a zero-tolerance attitude to actions such as this.

A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said: As long as democracy is hijacked by corporate interests and billionaires, it will fail to deliver the change ordinary people are crying out for. This will always leave the door open for fake populists like Trump to exploit the disaffection many feel.
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A woman broke down in tears on Wednesday as she accused MMA star Conor McGregor of raping her and told a court she was fearful she would never see her daughter again while he was choking her.

The alleged victim is claiming civil damages against Irish mixed martial artist Mr McGregor and another man, claiming she was sexually assaulted in December 2018 after being picked up from a Christmas party.

On her second day of giving evidence to the High Court in Dublin she broke down several times as she described an alleged attack in the early hours by Mr McGregor after going to a gathering on 9 December 2018 at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin.

The hairdresser claimed Mr McGregor, who denies the allegations, pinned her to the bed in the hotel and pressed his whole body weight on her leaving her unable to breathe.

open image in gallery Conor McGregor, right, with his father Tony McGregor, second right, outside the High Court in Dublin ( PA )

She said she had held up both hands and was trying to get away from him, but the more she struggled, the more he appeared to like it.

The only thing I could move was my head. I bit him but I cant remember where. He didnt like it so he flipped me around and put his arm around my neck and choked me, she said.

She added: Im really struggling with this. I am sorry.

Following a break, she said: He pinned me to the bed and I held my hands to my chest and he put his whole body weight on top of me and I couldnt breathe.

The only thing I could move was my head and I bit him and tried my best to get away from him. I tried to shove him and wiggle and do whatever I could.

I remember biting really hard and then his arms were around me and choking me.

open image in gallery Co-defendant of mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, James Lawrence, arrives at the High Court in Dublin ( PA )

I was trying to fight as much as I could. He put his arm around my neck and choked me three times.

I just froze and I couldnt move or breathe and I kept looking at the bedpost and thinking of my daughter.

I just kept thinking I would die and not see my daughter again.

She added: He let me go and I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldnt tell anyone so he wouldnt hurt me again.

Then he said thats how he felt when he was in the Octagon and had to tap out three times. I thought it was such a weird thing to say.

I promised I wouldnt tell anybody anything. Then I just let him do whatever he needed to do so I could survive. My mind was completely gone and I wasnt myself anymore.

open image in gallery Conor McGregor during Anthony Joshuas loss to Daniel Dubois ( Getty )

He was really aggressive and pulling at my clothes and shoving my head down to do things and I kept pulling my head back. He was trying to push my head down to his penis but I pushed my head back.

He was pulling my clothes down. He then raped me. I felt like it was going on for ages.

She paused to add: Im finding it really hard. I am sorry.

She went on: Then it was over. It was done. When he was raping me I was completely numb. I didnt feel anything. I completely froze.

She said she fell asleep on the bed in the hotel room and woke up later.

The court previously heard that lawyers for Mr McGregor said that what took place was consensual.

The mother-of-one was left with extensive bruises and abrasions on her body, including purple and blue bruising along her hands and wrists, a bloodied scratch to her breast and tenderness to her neck after she was placed in a choke hold by Mr McGregor, the court was told.

The alleged victim had been at the hotel with Mr McGregor, second defendant James Lawrence, her friend and a number of the MMA stars security guards in December 2018.

She said the group had all left the hotel room, with Mr McGregor leaving with her friend, but she returned to the room with Mr Lawrence, where she saw the bruises on her body and broke down.

She told the court she said to Mr Lawrence: You all turn a blind eye to what Conor does to women.

She showed him the bruises on her body, to which she claimed he said: I cant believe you were in that room and I was here while that was happening to you.

The court heard the alleged victim had to leave her job as a hairdresser and has not been able to work since due to her mental health. She also told the court she had to move out of her home in Drimnagh, and her mortgage is now in arrears.

She further told the court she had to stop seeing a counsellor because she could no longer afford to pay for the sessions.

The court also heard she has spent more than 4,000 (3,300) on GP, pharmacy and psychotherapist costs.

In response to questions from John Gordon SC, her defence barrister, the alleged victim said she was disappointed and upset that the director of public prosecutions decided not to prosecute both defendants after she made a complaint to the Irish police.

The case continues.
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Farmers say Labours shock changes to inheritance tax rules will lead to the destruction of village life and accused politicians of failing to understand the countryside, as dozens joined a first protest against the measure.

Under Rachel Reevess Budget announcement last week, farmers will be charged 20 per cent on agricultural assets above 1m from April 2026.

The move has met with a storm of fury in the farming industry, with fears it will mostly impact family-run farms where owners could have to sell land to pay the levy on a bereavement.

On Wednesday, dozens of farmers joined the first protest since the policy was announced at the Northern Farming Conference in Northumberland, attended by environment minister Daniel Zeichner, while NFU president Tom Bradshaw has warned of militant action ahead of a rally being organised for 19 November.

At Frome Livestock Market in Somerset, farmers voiced their anger over the tractor tax, with many claiming the government had overlooked the consequences.

open image in gallery Rupert Cox, a farmer in Somerset, has warned of the destruction of village life ( Rupert Cox )

Itll lead to the destruction of village life as we know it, said Rupert Cox, a 63-year-old farmer with 200 acres of land near Langport in Somerset.

Family farmers have civic pride in their villages and communities where they are; they will help out at the church fete by supplying straw bales for the skittles, they will give a hand to an elderly person needing a lift or something moving  such contributions to local village life are underestimated and overlooked.

You also have the local spend. Yes, the tractor may come from further afield, but the local farmer will spend money in the local shop, send the car to the garage.

open image in gallery Farmers voiced their anger over Labours Budget at Frome Livestock Market on Wednesday ( The Independent )

If big businesses take over land, it changes things  their number one priority is profit, and they are limited companies with dividends to serve.

The Treasury claims that the changes to the agricultural property relief will only impact 500 estates each year, with smaller farms  three-quarters of estates  not affected.

However, the NFU disputes the figures and claims the move will hit capital-rich, cash-poor, family farms already facing the phasing out of delinked payments (formerly the basic payment scheme).

Caroline Cunningham, 68, farms 250 sheep near Lacock in Wiltshire. She said there was now only one farm operating in the town, compared to dozens when she was a child.

She added: Village life is changing so fast with fewer family farms  I dont think they [politicians] understand these are not rich people, and the impact the decisions will have.

open image in gallery Caroline Cunningham with friend John Strachan at Frome Liverstock Market ( The Independent )

John Strachan, also a farmer near Lacock, said: The inheritance tax is a spiteful attack. It will impact the middle lot, the family-run farms, and it will further destroy village life.

Dominic Jones, 47, farms beef and sheep on around 220 acres of land in Sturminster Newton in Dorset.

He said: We are seeing a slow erosion of country life as it gets harder for farmers and less attractive for people with endless hours and low return.

Defra figures show that more than a third of farmers are aged 65 and over, with the total number falling three per cent to 173,000 between 2023 and 2024.

open image in gallery Rob Beckley, the high sheriff of Somerset, called for greater support of the farming industry from politicians ( The Independent )

Rob Beckley, the high sheriff of Somerset, told The Independent: I see a lot of farmers getting older and not having younger people come in behind them to pick up the reins and there is real, real danger that the proposals from the Budget would create an even greater barrier.

Many farms in Somerset are small and run by people beyond retirement age. What there needs to be is real understanding of the environment of the farming world and Im not sure people really see it or get close to it.

Communities support themselves very closely because there isnt an urban centre, and the danger of a lack of recognition of that economy and system means that decisions have unintended consequences.

At Hexham, outside the Northern Farming Conference, farmers held banners saying No farmers, no food, no future ahead of Mr Zeichners speech.

Iain Brown, 50, whose farm is in north Northumberland, said: Weve taken time out of our day to come here today, and Im needed at home but we cant take any more. Its tax, tax, tax.

open image in gallery Farmers protest outside the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham against the government's proposals to reform inheritance tax rules ( Owen Humphreys/PA Wire )

The amount of capital you have to have tied up to make a living in farming, theres no other business like it. I can only see family farms disappearing and itll be more of the big corporate companies.

At Prime Ministers Questions, newly appointed Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she would reverse Labours cruel family farms tax and asked the PM to reassure the farming community.

Sir Keir Starmer responded: Im glad shes raised farmers. Because the Budget last week put 5bn over the next two years into farming. Thats the single biggest increase, unlike the 300m which was underspent under the last government.

But when it comes to inheritance, the vast, vast majority of farmers will be unaffected, as she well knows; as they well know.

A government spokesperson said: We understand concerns about changes to agricultural property relief but the majority of those claiming relief will not be affected by these changes. They will be able to pass the family farm down to their children just as previous generations have always done.

This is a fair and balanced approach that protects the family farm while also fixing the public services that we all rely on. We remain committed to working with the NFU and listening to farmers.
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Hornby has agreed to sell off a loss-making subsidiary which makes Oxford Diecast models.

Shares in the scale models group rose after it confirmed the deal, which comes as part of a strategy to boost profitability at the Mike Ashley-backed business.

The Margate-based company told shareholders it has entered into a conditional agreement to sell its LCD Enterprises business to EKD Enterprises.

EKD, a business owned by former chairman and current non-executive director Lyndon Davies and his family, will pay 1.38 million for the operation.

The sale will see EKD take control of the Oxford Diecast brand, which was started in 1993 and is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of 1:76 scale models.

Hornby said Oxford Diecast made a roughly 200,000 pre-tax loss for the year to March 31, and has net book value of almost 3 million on the groups balance sheet.

Mr Davies will also step down from the board of Hornby once the deal is completed.

The firm said the disposal is part of efforts by Hornby to rationalise its portfolio in order to make it more streamlined.

In March this year, retail tycoon Mr Ashley said he would advise Hornby after building up a stake in the model train specialist.

The toy company said the Frasers Group founder and majority owner entered into a consultancy arrangement as it sought a financial turnaround.

Neil Sachdev, non-executive chairman of Hornby, said: On behalf the board, I would like to thank Lyndon for his commitment to, and support of, Hornby in various roles over the last seven years.

He has been a passionate member of the board, and we wish him well with Oxford Diecast in the future.

Shares in Hornby were up 8.3% at 19.5p on Tuesday morning.
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Sir Keir Starmer has defended his foreign secretary David Lammy, who in the past called Donald Trump a neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath.

Mr Lammy will remain in his post until the next election, Downing Street said on Wednesday just hours after Mr Trumps victory was secured.

The vote of confidence came after the prime minister was asked to apologise for his frontbenchers attack in an article written when he was a backbench MP in 2018.

David Lammy has previously called Mr Trump a KKK and neo-Nazi sympathiser ( PA )

A year earlier Mr Lammy also tweeted: Yes, if Trump comes to the UK I will be out protesting on the streets. He is a racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser.

Mr Lammy has sought to build links with the Trump regime since becoming foreign secretary, but the election result has shone a new spotlight on his comments, prompting questions about his ability to work with the next US president.

In the same article in 2018, the Tottenham MP wrote about Mr Trumps first official visit to the UK, saying that he would be protesting against the then-governments capitulation to this tyrant in a toupee.

Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath, he wrote, he is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long.

The prime minister came under pressure over the comments at Prime Ministers Questions in the Commons from the new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

Referring to a dinner between the PM, Mr Lammy and Mr Trump in September, she asked: Did the foreign secretary take that opportunity to apologise for making derogatory and scatological references, including, and I quote, Trump is not only a woman-hating Neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath, he is also a profound threat to the international order, and if he did not apologise, will the prime minister do so now on his behalf?

Sir Keir dodged the question, saying that the meeting had been very constructive.

Earlier this year Mr Lammy defended calling Mr Trump a neo-Nazi sociopath, saying all politicians had something to say about him back in the day.

He also said he had met Mr Trumps vice-president JD Vance and that the two men had common ground.

Were both from poor backgrounds, both suffered from addiction issues in our family which weve written about... both of us [are] Christians. And now Ive met him on a few occasions, and we have been able to find common ground and get on, he said.

Sir Keir opened PMQs by congratulating the president-elect on his victory.

He added: As the closest of allies, the UK and US will continue to work together to protect our shared values of freedom and democracy.

And having had dinner with president-elect Trump just a few weeks ago, I look forward to working with him in the years to come.
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Revenge porn should be treated in the same way as child abuse and terrorist content online, an expert has told MPs.

Doing so would mean non-consensual intimate images (NCIIs) could be quickly blocked from being viewed on the internet, the Women and Equalities Committee heard.

Current protections in tackling what is a growing problem are not strong enough, said David Wright, director at the UK Safer Internet Centre.

NCII abuse is when intimate content such as photos or video is produced, published, or reproduced without consent.

Mr Wright said there had been a terrifying rise in revenge porn cases in recent years, with his organisation managing 1,600 cases in 2019 compared with just under 19,000 last year.

In September, the Government announced that the sharing of revenge porn is to be classified as the most serious type of online offence under the Online Safety Act, meaning social media platforms will now have to take steps proactively to remove it.

The change to the law will see the sharing of intimate images without consent upgraded to be made a priority offence under the new online safety rules, which are due to come into force from spring next year.

Under the laws, material considered a priority offence  which also includes public order offences and the sale of weapons and drugs online  must not only be removed when it is found online, but platforms must also proactively remove it and take steps to prevent it from appearing in the first place  with large fines for those who fail to do so.

But MPs on Wednesday heard there is a need to go further and classify adult NCIIs as illegal content in the same way child sexual abuse material is.

Mr Wright said: We want the NCII content to be treated in the same way as other illegal content  so child abuse content, terrorist content, which then will enable a number of things, but not least Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to actually to block access, from a UK perspective, to this content.

And even in that regard, I think thinking about the victims whose content weve made every effort to take down but is still online, theres some comfort knowing that well, its not viewable, or theres limitations on how much it could be viewed.

He said ISPs have told his organisation that they cannot block access to such content currently because they run the risk of censoring the internet to non-illegal content.

The MPs were also told of an example of a perpetrator having been convicted but being handed back a device with all of the NCII material on it  something they branded shocking.

Sophie Mortimer, manager at the Revenge Porn Helpline, said this would stop dead if adult NCIIs were made illegal in the same way as child sex abuse material.

Executives from both Google and Microsoft told the committee that making such content illegal would help give more clarity on how to deal with NCII and to avoid instances where material was incorrectly removed from search results.

Gail Kent, director of government affairs and public policy for search, news and Gemini at Google, told MPs: So at the moment, and because the content isnt illegal, we downrank it, we dont remove it.

It is way down the ranking, but it still exists. If it were illegal, then we would remove it altogether.

Courtney Gregoire, vice president and chief digital safety officer at Microsoft, said she hoped the upgrading of NCII to a priority offence would also help online safety regulator Ofcom better target the websites actually hosting this content.

My hope would be how Ofcom would approach that, which would be to really focus attention on those who are hosting this content, she said.

Search engines have a responsibility to think about how our search engine looks, but these victims deserve to get to the place that is hosting this content.

And so if we move that towards a priority offence, potentially coupled with the legality, there should be clearly a responsibility to the underlying hosts of this content to action this in a much more meaningful way, give the right to victims that they (the websites) have to have a reporting mechanism and that it should be actioned.

The committee is looking into the impact of NCII abuse on victims and what steps big tech such as Google and Microsoft are taking to prevent and tackle it.

MPs on the committee are also considering the extent to which the Online Safety Act will be effective in mandating the removal of NCII and assessing how legislation could be improved.
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Lee Anderson has apologised to the Commons for bullying and harassment after a parliamentary watchdog found he twice swore at a security officer when his pass did not work.

The Reform UK MP allegedly told the guard f*** off, everyone opens the door to me, you are the only one, when he was told he needed to have his pass checked at the gates to the Westminster estate.

A complaint about the incident on 3 November was upheld by parliaments standards commissioner.

Mr Anderson initially appealed against the finding to the independent expert panel, but the panel dismissed his case.

open image in gallery Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has been told to apologise to the Commons ( PA )

He has since accepted the Commissioners finding that he had sworn at the complainant and that his behaviour had been a breach of the bullying and harassment policy, the panel said.

It said: He had also expressed a desire to apologise. The sub-panel accepted Mr Andersons evidence that he had faced challenging personal circumstances on the day in question and his unacceptable behaviour was not planned or premeditated.

The security guard claimed that, at one entrance to parliament after he refused to open the door, Mr Anderson said: F*** off, everyone opens the door to me, you are the only one.

The complainant went on to explain that he needed to check Mr Andersons pass. Mr Anderson then allegedly approached the guard and said: F*** you, I have a train to catch.

Jawad Raza, the FDA unions national officer for parliamentary staff, said the case was a reminder that behaviours and the culture within the House still needs to change.

Mr Raza added: Bullying and harassment is not acceptable in any workplace, nor should it be tolerated.

Addressing the Commons, Mr Anderson said: I spoke to the complainant in a manner that was totally unacceptable and which included swearing and other language that goes against the House of Commons bullying and harassment policy.

I would like to apologise to the complainant and to this house for my behaviour. Our security staff do an incredible job and should always be treated with the utmost respect. The standards of an MPs behaviour must always be at a higher standard.

The Reform MP said he had learned significant lessons and such behaviour on my part will never happen again.

Mr Anderson has a long history of making offensive comments and courting controversy, having been forced out of the Conservative Party for a racist rant about London mayor Sadiq Khan on GB News.

open image in gallery Lee Anderson was forced out of the Conservative Party over comments he made about London mayor Sadiq Khan ( PA )

The former Tory deputy chair defected to Reform after his suspension for refusing to apologise for a widely criticised interview in which he said Islamists have got control of Mr Khan.

In an appearance on GB News, Mr Anderson said: I dont actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is theyve got control of Khan and theyve got control of London Hes actually given our capital city away to his mates.

He has also been a vocal supporter of the return of the death penalty, has claimed people who use foodbanks cannot cook properly cannot budget and once challenged anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray to a fight.

Before he became an MP, Mr Anderson sparked anger by posting a video on Facebook arguing during his election campaign that nuisance tenants should be forced to live in tents and pick potatoes.
The mantra, repeated by the prime minister at PMQs, is that the first Labour Budget in 14 years is fixing the foundations. That means the short-term pain of higher taxes is justified by the need to put the public finances on a more sustainable basis  because without that there can be no business confidence, investment or growth.

Impeccable logic, but many of the measures in the Budget have stirred controversy and attracted considerable resistance  notably the imposition of VAT on private school fees and the reduction in tax relief for inherited farms. Working people were plainly affected by the changes to employers national insurance contributions, and the earlier cuts to pensioners winter fuel payments are still resented. So how is the Budget going?

Whats the latest?

The chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has given Rachel Reeves a useful boost by attacking her predecessors. Richard Hughes told the Treasury select committee that in March, the OBR asked the Treasury  at the time overseen by Jeremy Hunt  what information had been held by civil servants and ministers when the independent watchdog was compiling its March predictions. This request uncovered 9.5bn of net [spending] pressure which they did not declare to us, which under the law, and under the act, they should have.

Had the Conservative government been open about this figure, the Treasury would have been revealed to be at risk of breaking its target to bring down debt over the next five years.

When this was raised at the select committee hearing by the chair, Dame Meg Hillier, there ensued an orderly but wary and inconclusive argument between Hillier and several others present: John Glen, the former (Tory) chief secretary to the Treasury (but also now on the select committee); Reeves, as another aggrieved party; and the highly defensive Treasury permanent secretary, James Bowler. Bowler gave a dissertation on wrongful assumptions, difficult timing, and sub-optimal bottom-up spending plans, but his own upturned backside was still given a vigorous spanking by the distinctly unimpressed Hillier.

On the whole, Reeves seemed to enjoy her first Treasury committee session. That may not last.

Will Jeremy Hunt be prosecuted?

He angrily denies the accusations, and it feels unlikely, all things considered. Its not a great precedent for any serving politician to want to set, so Reeves will let it slide for obvious reasons. But she will always be able to quote the OBR when shes blaming the Tories for the mess, and it helps justify her plan to strengthen the fiscal watchdog.

So, is the 22bn black hole Reeves has described real?

Partly, at least. According to the OBR, the funding gap the Tories failed to declare amounted to 9.5bn. She adds to that another 9bn or so for two big public-sector pay settlements she says she was bound to grant, for the doctors and the train drivers. Reeves also chucks in the monies needed to settle claims for the Post Office Horizon scandal and the infected blood scandal. These had been agreed in principle, but not quantified, by the Sunak administration.

Will the government back down on school fees and the so-called tractor tax?

Theres no sign of that at the moment, and, with a parliamentary majority of about 150 seats, Labour will have no problem getting the legislation onto the statute book. Theres a legal challenge by parents to the private schools move, answered by a broader counter-action from the Treasury directed at private schools that attempted to avoid the new VAT rules (due to take effect in January) by allowing the advance payment of fees. Its doubtful that the courts will block the extension of VAT passed by parliament.

The farmers pose a more difficult challenge. Protests are scheduled for 19 November, and the National Farmers Union, a special interest group, are good at this sort of thing. Inevitably there will be tractor convoys blocking the roads and generally causing disruption, with Jeremy love him or hate him Clarkson at the head of the campaign.

The worst-case scenario for the government would be something like a repeat of the fuel protests in 2000, when the lorry drivers blockaded fuel depots and almost brought the country to a halt. Kemi Badenoch, on her first outing as leader of the opposition, raised the issue. Keir Starmer replied that the great majority of farmers would be unaffected.

Win or lose, its bound to be a troublesome distraction for the government  and a politically useful way for the Conservatives (and Liberal Democrats) to present themselves as defenders of country folk. No doubt those Labour MPs now representing rural seats for their party for the first time will be making their concerns clear to the government whips.

Will the farmers win?

Theyll have sections of the press behind them, as well as MPs and some public sympathy. It really depends on whether Starmer and Reeves have the stomach for a fight they may not win, and a winter of discontent when theyre falling behind in the polls. They may see it as their version of the miners strikes Mrs Thatcher won, or the riots in the summer; or it may be that they quietly cave in before theyre forced to do so, as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were indeed obliged to do when the fuel refineries and depots were blocked at the turn of the century.
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Rachel Reeves has rejected an alternative proposal to her inheritance tax raid on family farms which farmers across the UK have damned for being cruel and warned will spell the end of their sector.

The chancellor was confronted over her plans by former Tory minister John Glen during a hearing of the Treasury select committee in parliament, as he warned that it will have a profound impact on the farming community.

Mr Glen, whose Salisbury constituency has farming interests, suggested that if Ms Reeves had wanted to target large wealthy people who buy vast tracks of land to avoid tax, then she could have looked at business assets rollover relief.

If you had a higher threshold you would then save a large number of farms that just do not have the liquidity [to pay the new inheritance tax], he said.

open image in gallery Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at the Treasury Committee (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) ( PA Wire )

He suggested that the figures quoted by Ms Reeves that it only effected one in four family farms was because she was including so-called hobby farms of three acres or less.

Mr Glen warned that even with the 10 year interest free deal to be allowed to pay off the inheritance tax, then farmers would still be lumbered with an unaffordable 100,000 or more a year.

But Ms Reeves rejected his proposal promising to write to Mr Glen and the committee with more details later.

She claimed that 40 per cent of the previous inheritance tax relief went to just 7 per cent of farms and 22 per cent of it to 2 per cent of farms.

Ms Reeves told the committee that the old rules which had been in place were unsustainable adding: I think we have got a fair balance.

She promised to work with farmers to explain how this new system will work.

But farmers, who plan to protest in large numbers on 19 November in London, have told The Independent of a mental health crisis already hitting the sector because of financial problems.
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With Donald Trump securing a crushing victory over Kamala Harris in the US presidential election, Keir Starmers dream of a social democratic, centre-left version of the famous Thatcher/ Reagan partnership between Downing Street and the White House is in tatters.

Instead, the prime minister is now faced with a US administration he is not just far away from ideologically, but one which is openly hostile to a Labour government that Trumps campaign team previously described as far left.

The recent court case opened by the Trump team over alleged foreign interference in the US election by Labour for sending 100 volunteers across to support the Harris campaign, lifted the lid on the deep animosity that the MAGA Republicans have for Starmer, his party and his government.

open image in gallery Trump has declared victory ( AP )

The fallout had undone months of meticulous diplomacy by Labour preparing for this possible eventuality, which had culminated a few weeks ago with what seemed to be a positive meeting between Starmer and Trump in New York.

But the problem Labour has always faced is that their efforts have been led by a foreign secretary David Lammy who described Trump as a neo-Nazi sociopath. Mr Lammy had put in hard yards to rebuild relations with the Republicans and US hard right, even defending Trumps incendiary comments on Nato, but the 45th and soon-to-be 47th president is not someone who easily forgives insults and slights.

Now Labours problems are compounded by Brexit. When Sir Keir visited Brussels to meet Ursula von der Leyen and other senior EU figures last month, journalists who went with him commented on how empty the EU capital was and how little interest there was in a Starmer visit. His efforts for an EU reset are now perhaps more urgent than ever, but there are serious questions on whether the prime minister is willing to be ambitious enough to spark interest in the UK.

He faces a problem that Britain will no longer be seen as the bridge to America with a Trump administration in the White House. That role disconcertingly may now fall to Hungary and its hard-right prime minister Viktor Orban, who was a regular visitor to Trump and a political ally.

Nowhere will this be felt more though than Ukraine. The UK has been the biggest cheerleader of military support and aid against Russia. But the EU states, while politicially supportive, have been reluctant to pay and now it appears a Trump administration will try to force a deal with Putins Russia. Sir Keir and the UK will be powerless to uphold the international coalition.

The hard and far-right in Europe will be boosted by what has happened in America. The only UK politician to come out of this happy will be Nigel Farage, who can now start thinking about welcoming Mr Trump to Clacton. He was lauded again by the former and soon-to-be president just this week and the two men are friends.

open image in gallery Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has a diplomatic headache (Jordan Pettitt/PA) ( PA Wire )

Mr Farage has genuine hopes and ambitions to lead his Reform UK party to victory at the next election and at the very least replace the Tories. What has happened in America certainly gives him succour.

But worse still, the far-right in the UK and elsewhere may be emboldened. Trumps circle have openly praised Tommy Robinson and supporters like Elon Musk, who claimed that civil war in the UK was inevitable during riots across the country this summer and branded the prime minister two-tier Keir over policing of the disorder.

Meanwhile, it leaves the new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and her new shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel in a difficult spot. Both have good Republican links and Florida governor Ron DeSantis endorsed Ms Badenoch. But neither are close to the Trump camp. It is a different type of Republicanism and one which will help Reform establish itself and not the the Tories make a comeback.

But the person with the biggest headache will be Sir Keir. His best international ally now is German chancellor Olaf Scholz. Unfortunately, Scholz will struggle to stay in power when his country holds its national election next year.
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The Labour Party is divided in its response to Donald Trumps imminent return to the White House, with London mayor Sadiq Khan refusing to congratulate the Republican on his election win.

While Sir Keir Starmer complimented Trump on his historic election victory, Mr Khan issued a more disparaging statement, saying the result shows progress is not inevitable.

Trump claimed victory at a rally in Florida after sweeping three of the key battleground states hours after the polls closed.

In a statement, the prime minister said: As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come, he added.

But Mr Khan - who had a long-running row with Trump during his first term in the White House - said Londoners will be anxious about the outcome.

open image in gallery Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (PA) ( PA Wire )

He said: Many will be fearful about what it will mean for democracy and for womens rights, or how the result impacts the situation in the Middle East or the fate of Ukraine.

The lesson of today is that progress is not inevitable. But asserting our progressive values is more important than ever - re-committing to building a world where racism and hatred is rejected, the fundamental rights of women and girls are upheld, and where we continue to tackle the crisis of climate change head on, the mayor added.

The row between the two politicians began after the mayor criticised Trumps pledge to ban Muslims from the US, with Mr Khan describing the policy as ignorant.

Meanwhile, former Labour frontbencher Emily Thornberry, declined to row back on her previous description of Trump as a racist, sexist predator.

Asked about the remarks, she told the BBCs Radio 4 Today programme: Well he is, but hes also president of the US.

Downing Street has spent months preparing for a possible Trump victory, knowing that the stark ideological differences between the two administrations could pose a challenge for the prime minister.

Sir Keir will be keen to build bridges with Trump after the Republican politicians campaign filed a legal complaint about Labour activists supporting Kamala Harris campaign in the US.

Meanwhile, his foreign secretary David Lammy has previously described Trump as a Neo-Nazi sociopath.

But ahead of the election, a Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister would work closely with whoever wins.

Mr Lammy also offered his congratulations to Trump, saying the UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years.

We look forward to working with you and J D Vance in the years ahead, he posted to X.

In 2017, Mr Lammy said he would protest if racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser Trump visited London.

Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, hit out at the Trump victory, saying it is a dark, dark day for people around the globe and describing the politician as a dangerous, destructive demagogue

He added: The next president of the United States is a man who actively undermines the rule of law, human rights, international trade, climate action and global security.

Millions of Americans  especially women and minorities  will be incredibly fearful about what comes next. We stand with them.

Families across the UK will also be worrying about the damage Trump will do to our economy and our national security, given his record of starting trade wars, undermining Nato and emboldening tyrants like Putin.

open image in gallery Trump claimed victory at a rally in Florida ( AP )

He said Trumps victory means that fixing the UKs broken relationship with the EU is even more urgent than before, calling for the government to strengthen trade and defence cooperation across Europe to help protect ourselves from the damage Trump will do.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer dubbed Trump a dangerous bigot, bully, and liar in the wake of his election victory, adding: On this dark day, we stand in solidarity with all U.S. citizens who fear a convicted criminal and a fascist in the White House.

And we stand with all those around the world who dreaded this moment and must now live with its consequences, including those in Gaza and Ukraine.

But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a close ally of Trump and the only UK politician at his Palm Beach home on election night, said the Republican is going to be a genuine radical.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: What you are going to see from this Trump administration, and Im guessing that Elon Musk will be the man that is tasked to do it  is there will be a big fightback against the administrative bureaucratic state which is far too big, far too powerful and actually very undemocratic.

He added: What is very interesting about the Trump movement is that its critics call it all sorts of nasty names, the truth is in many ways its bringing Americans together.
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Sir Keir Starmer has dodged demands from Kemi Badenoch to invite to President Trump to address parliament on his next visit to the UK.

At her first PMQs as leader of the opposition, Ms Badenoch called for the prime minister to show that he and his government can be more than student politicians and ask the Commons speaker to extend the invitation to the president elect, who swept to victory in the US election overnight.

In response, the prime minister accused Ms Badenoch of giving a masterclass in student politics.

We live in a more volatile world than weve lived in for recent decades, he said.

Its absolutely crucial that we have a strong relationship, that strong special relationship, forged in difficult circumstances between the US and UK.

Badenoch addresses her first PMQs since winning the Tory leadership election ( House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire )

We will continue to work as we have done in the four months in government on issues of security, the economy and global conflict.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey hit out at Ms Badenoch for her remarks, saying they show the Tory party is totally out of touch with our values.

Kemi Badenochs cheerleading of Donald Trump at PMQs shows the Conservatives are totally out of touch with our values We should be standing up for human rights, the rule of law and international security - not rolling out the red carpet for Trump, he wrote on X.

Downing Street has spent months preparing for a possible Trump victory, knowing that the stark ideological differences between the two administrations could pose a challenge for the prime minister.

Sir Keir  who issued a statement welcoming the new president in the early hours of Wednesday morning - will be keen to build bridges with Trump, after the Republican politicians campaign filed a legal complaint about Labour activists supporting Kamala Harris campaign in the US.

Mocking the Labour leader over the row, Ms Badenoch said: I am very sure that President Trump will soon be calling to thank him for sending all of those north London Labour activists to campaign for his opponent.

She also asked the prime minister if foreign secretary David Lammy had apologised to Trump when they met in September for his past criticisms of the president-elect.

The Tory leader said: If he did not apologise, will the prime minister do so now on his behalf?

Responding, Sir Keir said: There will be many issues on which the leader of the opposition and I disagree but there will be issues that do unite this House on national security and Ukraine and I do look forward to working closely with her on that.

Mr Lammy previously described Trump as a Neo-Nazi sociopath and in 2017 said he would protest if racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser Trump visited London.

After his victory, the foreign secretary offered his congratulations, saying the UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years.

We look forward to working with you and J D Vance in the years ahead, he posted to X.
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Donald Trump has won the 2024 US election, securing a second presidential term many thought impossible just a few months ago.

Taking to the stage for a victory speech before the announcement, Mr Trump pledged his second presidency would be a golden age for America.

Reaction in the UK has been mixed. The government has broadly welcomed the news, with Keir Starmer congratulating the president-elect in the hours before his victory was officially announced.

I look forward to working with you in the years ahead, he said, adding: I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

open image in gallery Prime minister Keir Starmer and US president-elect Donald Trump ( Reuters/Getty )

Other political reaction has been more critical, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey calling the result a dark, dark day for people around the globe.

Millions of Americans  especially women and minorities  will be incredibly fearful about what comes next. We stand with them.

Sir Keirs more enthusiastic embracement of the president-elects victory may be seen as a necessary political move by some. The prime minister has expressed a desire to maintain the UKs strong relationship with the US during his time in power, saying earlier in the year he would work with either candidate.

However, the Labour leader has not always been so diplomatic towards the 45th  and now 47th  US president.

Heres what the prime minister has said about Mr Trump over the years:

Absolutely repugnant

Sir Keir has not always considered his words as carefully as he does now when it comes to the president-elect. He first spoke about Mr Trump in January 2016, debating in Commons a petition which called for the US politician to be banned from the UK.

Addressing the House less than a year before Mr Trumps first presidential victory, Sir Keir said: We are united in condemning the comments of Donald Trump on issues such as Mexican immigrants, Muslims and women.

He went on to call comments made by Mr Trump absolutely repugnant, adding that for me, his views edge towards treating a whole community as a suspect community.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer has hailed the special relationship between the UK and the US (Russell Cheyne/PA) ( PA Wire )

Of course I would not want to have Donald Trump round for dinner to express his views, he added, but said that he did not think the threshold had been met for him to be banned from the country.

The then-shadow home secretary said: I would invite him to [my constituency] at the end of a long listto meet my constituents, because mine is an incredibly diverse and multicultural community.

In the end, we should be guided by our own values, not his. Our own values include a deep belief in freedom of speech and in multi-faith and diverse societies in which everyone feels secure and respected.

Dishonesty and division

The years following Trumps election in 2016 saw Sir Keir continue to take digs at the president, both in Jeremy Corbyns shadow cabinet and as leader of the opposition.

In June 2018, he tweeted: Humanity and dignity. Two words not understood by President Trump, referring to footage of children detained in cages at US immigration centres.

The following year, he said: An endorsement from Donald Trump tells you everything you need to know about what is wrong with Boris Johnsons politics.

Sir Keir went on to take issue with Conservative plans to sell off the NHS to Donald Trumps America, the president-elects farce peace plan for Israel and Palestine, and Dominic Cummings action during lockdown, which he called the tactics of Donald Trump.

Commenting on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris victory in the 2020 US election, Sir Keir said: their victory is one for hope and unity over dishonesty and division.

It is a chance to reassert Americas place as a force for good on the world stage, the Labour leader added.

The closest of allies

The prime minister did not appear to pay much mind to Trump during the four years of Joe Bidens presidency. However, towards the end of the Democrats term, he began to adopt a much more diplomatic approach.

Speaking in May after Mr Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts, Sir Keir acknowledged that it was an unprecedented situation. Theres no doubt about that.

Ultimately, whether hes elected president will be a matter for the American people and, obviously, if were privileged to come in to serve, we would work with whoever they choose as their president.

But, he added: we would work with whoever [the American people] choose as their president.

open image in gallery Foreign Secretary David Lammy (PA) ( PA Wire )

A few months later, and fresh from his election victory, the prime minister met Mr Trump in New York for a two-hour dinner. He was accompanied by foreign secretary David Lammy, who himself has previously called the president-elect a neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.

Sir Keir also later deflected allegations from the Trump campaign that Labour had undertaken unlawful electoral interference by providing support to Ms Harris campaign, saying that he and Mr Trump still had a good relationship.

Now, the prime minister has delivered an unqualified congratulatory message to Mr Trump, calling his victory historic and reaffirming his desire to remain the closest of allies.
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A disgruntled former employee has shot and killed two men in a targeted attack at Navy Pier in Chicago, according to authorities.

Chicago Police responded to calls of an active shooter at around 1.18pm on Tuesday after a man stormed the popular tourist attraction and fired several shots at two individuals, said Police Chief of Patrol Jon Hein.

The unnamed shooter is believed to be a former employee who had worked as a sub-contractor on the pier and knew how to get access to the back loading dock area, Hein added.

Once inside, the gunman allegedly targeted two men in a private office area.

The victims  both men aged 47 and 51 who also worked for a contractor  were shot in the head.

They were both rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where they succumbed to their injuries, Hein said. Lamont Johnson, 51, was later identified by the medical examiners office as one of the victims.

Navy Pier, which has 70 different tenants, was immediately locked down after the shooting.

open image in gallery Scene of the shooting at Chicagos Navy Pier ( ABC )

At the time of the attack, many families had been visiting the attraction, CBS News reported. Trent Halasek, from Cincinnati, Ohio, told the outlet he had been visiting the pier when he saw officers in full riot and SWAT gear descend.

Police said the suspect had already fled the scene.

Hein said the suspect has now been identified as a former worker who had his employment contract terminated on October 14.

Navy Piers Chief Operating Officer Brian Murphy said that the attack was a targeted isolated incident and that no one else on the pier had been in danger. It is not clear if weapon was recovered from the scene.
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A Malaysian businessman has been jailed for his part in an unprecedented bribery scandal that rocked the US Navy.

Leonard Glenn Francis, 60, also known as Fat Leonard, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in federal court on Tuesday, according to the Department of Justice. He was also ordered to pay $20m in compensation to the US Navy and a $150,000 fine.

Franciss company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, was also sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay a $36m fine.

The convicted fraudster had admitted to a scam where he bribed senior Navy officials with millions of dollars in cash, sex workers, first-class travel expenses, luxurious hotel stays, watches, Spanish suckling pigs and Cuban cigars.

In exchange, Francis received extensive amounts of classified information from the Navy including on competitor naval bids, port visits and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, court documents reveal. He also overcharged the Navy $35m for his companys services by routinely overbilling for fuel, tugboats, and sewage disposal.

In 2013, Francis was arrested and pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges two years later.

But, he then fled the US, cutting off his GPS monitor while on house arrest so as to avoid his sentencing hearing in September 2022.

He fled to Mexico, Cuba, and ultimately, Venezuela  where he was arrested and extradited to the US in December 2023.

Kelly P Mayo, director of the US Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), said in a statement on Tuesday: Mr. Francis sentencing brings closure to an expansive fraud scheme  [that] ultimately cost the American taxpayer millions of dollars and weakened the publics trust in some of our Navys senior leaders.
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A former judge-turned-convicted felon was arrested and charged after threatening to burn down a polling station in upstate New York on Election Day, authorities say.

Paul Lamson was charged with making a terroristic threat on Tuesday morning after a failed attempt to vote turned threatening.

The incident transpired just after 6.30am in Fowler, New York, where Lamson, a convicted felon, tried to vote but was unable to, since he hadnt re-registered after he had been released from prison, according to police.

Lamson was given an affidavit ballot but wasnt satisfied with that, officials with the St Lawrence County Board of Elections told WWNY.

An affidavit ballot isnt counted until after an elections board ensures the voter is eligible to vote; if so, that vote will be counted.

He became irate and started making threatening remarks such as burning the place down and returning with a firearm before fleeing the scene, according to New York State Police. A search ensued and state police took Lamson into custody without incident.

He is now being held at the St Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail, state police said.

Records show Lamson was sentenced to two to six years behind bars in 2017 for bribery in the third degree.

He was allegedly accused of soliciting and accepting sexual favors from defendants in criminal cases he presided over, WWNY reported.

The Independent has emailed New York State Police and the St Lawrence County Board of Elections for more information.
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A mom was shot dead while trying to help her daughter move out of an ex-boyfriends home and now he faces murder charges.

Around 5:30 p.m. Friday, deputies from the Polk County Sheriffs Office were called to a home in Des Moines, Iowa.

There, they found Ruth Sue Ann Robinson, 45, and her husband, Tony Ray Robison, 52, with gunshot wounds, according to the Des Moines Register. They were both taken to the hospital, where Robinson died.

Tony Ray Robinson remains in critical condition as of Monday.

open image in gallery Ruth Sue Ann Robinson, 45, was shot dead as she tried to help her daughter move out of her exs home. Hamza Smajlovic, 24, has been charged with murder in connection to the shooting ( Polk County Sheriffs Office )

Deputies charged Hamza Smajlovic, 24, in connection to the shooting and he was arrested at the scene. Robinson was shot in the head while her husband was also hit as Smajlovic fired a 9mm pistol into a residence at his ex-girlfriend, according to police. Two other victims were also in the home at the time of the shooting. The ex had recently ended the relationship with Smajlovic and was in the process of moving out of his home, which is where the shooting happened, according to the Register. Robinson and her husband were at the home to help her move out.

open image in gallery Robinson was at the home along with her husband, who was also shot and was in critical condition as of Monday ( Polk County Sheriffs Office )

Smajlovic was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and intimidation with a dangerous weapon. He is being held in an Iowa jail on $750,000 bond.
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The former leader of a conservative Christian voter outreach program favoring Donald Trump in the 2024 election has been arrested for possessing child sexual abuse materials.

Jason Yates, 55, the former CEO of evangelical nonprofit My Faith Votes, was charged in Minnesota with eight counts of possessing child sexual abuse materials.

According to court documents reviewed by Religion News Service, a relative of Yates' accidentally discovered a hard drive containing more than 100 sexually explicit images and videos of children under 14-years-old, as well as eight pieces of media involving children between the ages of five and 7-years-old. They gave it to another relative, who then handed the drive over to law enforcement.

Yates met with investigators on September 13, during which time he allegedly refused to give the investigators a password to access the encrypted files on the drive. He also revealed that he had a prior expunged conviction related to child sex abuse materials, Religion News Service added.

In early August, Yates stepped down from his CEO position at My Faith Votes and was replaced by Chris Sadler.

Yates was charged on Monday with eight counts of possessing child sexual abuse material.

In early August 2024, the My Faith Votes board of directors separated Jason Yates from My Faith Votes and board member Chris Sadler assumed the position of Acting CEO, a My Faith Votes spokesperson told RNS.

Over the last three months Chris has been working with the dedicated My Faith Votes team to encourage millions of Christians to vote, pray and think biblically about this election in America,

A few weeks before the hard drive was discovered, Yates published an op-ed in the Washington Times encouraging Christians to push back against "sexually deviant" messaging toward children. The "deviant" messaging he was describing involved LGBTQ issues.

This infernal programming is being downloaded into our children, and it becomes far easier when it finds no resistance in our public square  when it is allowed to fill the void left by the absence of our faith, Yates wrote in his op-ed.

The messaging was on par with what can be found on My Faith Votes, which blames Christians for being complacent in the face of "secular progressives."

As a result of apathy at the voting booth and in public life, weve suffered devastating moral decay, declining religious freedom, immoral national debt, and the erosion of traditional family values, the group's website reads.

According to Wired, My Faith Votes is part of a network of nonprofit groups trying to rally support for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

Before stepping down from the group, Yates gave an interview explaining why he thought it was important for Christians to not only vote, but to vote in accordance with conservative Biblical beliefs. He asked Christians to sign a pledge to vote in every election.

As a Christian, I commit to voting for candidates and policies that uphold the sanctity of life, the traditional family, religious liberty, and justice for all, the pledge reads. I believe that my biblical values should guide my choices at the ballot box, ensuring that our nations laws and leaders reflect Gods truth and righteousness.
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A school employee in Arkansas is being accused of sending a nude photo to a student and now faces criminal charges.

Kara Callahan, 34, faces one count of sexual indecency with a child, according to KAIT. The Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline received a tip on September 24 about Callahans alleged crimes.

The tip said she sent nude pictures of herself to a student. Its unclear the students age.

Investigators spoke to students at Greene County Tech School District in Paragould, Arkansas, and one student showed investigators the photo, according to the report.

Callahan spoke to police on October 29 and she admitted to being the person in the photo, according to the report.

open image in gallery Kara Callahan, an employee at an Arkansas school, is accused of sending a nude photo to a student. ( Greene County Sheriffs office )

According to the districts webpage, Callahan worked as an administrative assistant at the school. She has been placed on leave since her arrest.

Greene County Tech Superintendent Scott Gerrish provided a statement to KAIT in the wake of her arrest.

Greene County Tech School District is aware that the District Court of Greene County has determined that probable cause exists for the arrest of Kara Callahan, an employee of the school district. Upon the district learning of the allegations, Ms. Callahan was immediately placed on administrative leave and we are reviewing the situation in accordance with district policies, it read.

Greene County Tech is committed to holding all its employees to a high standard of professionalism and trust within the school environment and the community.
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A former Park Service ranger said Friday that U.S. Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy of Montana has been lying about a bullet wound that the candidate said came from fighting in Afghanistan  going public with an accusation that has nagged the Republicans campaign for months.

The claim from former ranger Kim Peach that Sheehy in fact shot himself on a family trip in Montana was immediately dismissed by Sheehy and his allies as a smear campaign engineered by Democrats in a race that's expected to help decide control of the Senate.

But with the election less than three weeks away, it adds to the huge pressures that the political newcomer already faced as he challenges three-term Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Tester.

Sheehy is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and his military record is a centerpiece of his bid for office. During stump speeches and in a book published by Sheehy last year, he recounts being wounded on multiple occasions during combat, including in the arm in 2012.

Sheehy was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds sustained in a separate combat incident and was also awarded a Bronze Star.

open image in gallery Tim Sheehy has told the story of how he sustained the gunshot would on the campaign trail.

A Sheehy campaign spokesperson said Peach was a partisan Democrat pushing a defamatory story.

Anyone trying to take away from the fact that Tim Sheehy signed up for war as a young man and spent most of his 20s in some of the most dangerous places in the world is either a partisan hack, a journalist with an agenda, or outright a disgusting person, spokesperson Katie Martin said.

Hes faced scrutiny over the arm wound since April, when The Washington Post quoted a Glacier National Park ranger anonymously saying Sheehy accidentally shot himself in 2015, when he was travelling with his family and his gun fell out of a vehicle and fired when it hit the ground in a parking lot on Logan Pass. The ranger who was quoted in the story was Peach.

Sheehy was cited by Peach and paid a $525 fine for illegally discharging a firearm in Glacier, government records show.

The Republican candidate said in response to the April story that he lied to the park ranger  not about being wounded in Afghanistan.

Sheehy said he fell while hiking at Glacier and injured his arm, then concocted the story about the bullet wound to cover up the fact that the 2012 incident may have been friendly fire. He said he didnt want members of his SEAL unit in Afghanistan to suffer any consequences.

With absentee voting in Montana underway and Sheehy poised for potential victory, Peach, a Democrat, said Friday that he couldnt let him get way with something like that without the truth being told.

Peach said he interviewed Sheehy at the hospital where he was treated for the bullet wound.

At the time, he was obviously embarrassed about it. And you know, he admitted to what I was there for  the gun going off in the park," Peach told The Associated Press. He know the truth and the truth isn't complicated. It's when you start lying things get complicated.

His decision to go public was reported earlier by the Post.

Peach worked as a park ranger for more than three decades and is now retired. He lives in small town near Glacier. He's posted a photo of himself on social media wearing a Make America Wrong Again hat and said he votes for Democrats.

He denied any connection with the Tester campaign or other Democratic organizations.

Tester's campaign has been running ads in recent weeks criticizing Sheehy for lying about the gunshot wound. A campaign spokesperson did not have an immediate comment Friday.

The Montana Democratic Party seized on Peachs latest comments as providing a firsthand account of what happened to Sheehy.

But National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Mike Berg rejected the latest reiteration of the accusations against Sheehy. He suggested it's a sign of Democrats' desperation because they fear Tester's going to lose.

It's the last gasp of a career politician who sees his career about to end, Berg said.
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Donald Trump has won a historic second term in office, telling adoring fans that America handed him a political victory that our country has never seen before.

As the dust settles on what was a brutal night for the Democrats, people around the world are scrambling to make sense of what a Trump return to the White House will mean for international politics.

Along the campaign trail, the former president has been clear that he will make radical changes to U.S. foreign relations and will pursue an America First policy.

The U.S. is being taken advantage of by every country all over the world, including our allies, he told a recent rally in the swing state of Michigan, promising a new golden age.

And in many cases, our allies are worse than our so-called enemies, he added, quoting a now-favorite line.

He has also made bold claims about the state of the world. He has claimed that Russias war in Ukraine would not have happened if he had been in office and that he would be able to end the conflict within 24 hours if re-elected.

He warned supporters that if he does not return to office, Israel would cease to exist. He has promised to stage the largest deportation operation in American history, causing concerns in Latin America.

This follows a history of erratic behavior in global affairs, reversing long-established U.S. foreign policy and even occasionally embracing dictators.

The Middle East: Most pro-Israeli president in U.S. history while Palestinian officials warn of annexation, ethnic cleansing

open image in gallery Donald Trump signs his proclamation to formally recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017 ( EPA )

It is too early to tell exactly how it impacted the numbers, but the rage among Arab American voters against the Biden administration for the slaughter in the Middle East was evident on Wednesday.

An Abandon Harris campaigncentered on the Biden administrations support for Israels unprecedented bombardment of Gazaappears to have gained traction in key swing states.

But what would a Trump presidency mean for a region already in ruins and teetering on the edge of a bloody multi-state conflict?

Trump has publicly called for an end to Israels devastating war in Gaza since Hamas October 7 attacks but has reportedly offered his private support to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his offensive against Irans allies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to The Washington Post, citing sources familiar with a recent phone conversation, Trump told Netanyahu to do what you have to do.

When news broke of Trumps victory, Netanyahu and his son Yair expressed the Israeli position in enthusiastic tweets.

Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! the Israeli prime minister said on X, adding that it signaled a new beginning to the great alliance between Israel and America.

His son Yair added, Hallelujah!!! The most pro-Israeli president in Americas history is back!

The enthusiasm was shared by Israeli reservist Brigadier-General Amir Aviv, who served as a deputy division commander in Gaza and as an aide-de-camp for IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General Moshe Yaalon.

He says he expected Trump to push a much stronger policy about Iran.

The reality is that we have a historic opportunity to really dismantle the whole Shia axis, he tells The Independent, referencing Israels wars in Lebanon and Gaza and exchange of fire with Iran.

I think this is a defining moment that enables the U.S. to really achieve a big victory over this axis I hope President Trump seizes the moment and really pushes this policy.

Palestinian political leaders painted a bleak and violent picture to The Independent. While they believed Bidens unwavering financial, military, and political support for Israels bloody wars cost Kamala Harris the election, they do not see a bright future under a Trump presidency either, given his actions during his previous term as president.

In his first term, Trump controversially endorsed Israels annexation of the occupied Golan Heights, moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem  recognizing the contested city as Israels capital  and in 2018, eliminated U.S. funding to UNRWA, the United Nations aid program for Palestinian refugees and the largest UN agency operating in Gaza (which Israel has recently banned).

Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and head of the Palestinian National Initiative, tells The Independent that even if Trump and Netanyahu clash over active combat, other risks remain.

The two largest risks are the possibility that he would give a green light to Netanyahu to annex the occupied West Bank or parts of the West Bank and that he would allow the ethnic cleansing Netanyahu is trying to conduct in the Gaza Strip, he says.

If [Trump] does, this will mean the end of anything called peace in the region.

Wake-up call for NATO, worries for Ukraine

open image in gallery Then NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, directs U.S. President Donald Trump which way to step off the podium ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Trump has been very vocal in his criticisms of NATO, accusing European members of relying on U.S. funding and vowing the U.S. would only come to the aid of its allies if they contribute financially. There are concerns he would pull out of the alliance altogether.

NATO Chief Mark Rutte was quick to congratulate Trump on X, emphasizing the importance of his leadership in keeping our Alliance strong.

President Zelensky, undoubtedly anxious about continued support for Ukraine, also took to X to congratulate Trump writing that Kyiv relies on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.

Rose Gottemoeller, who was deputy secretary-general of NATO during Trumps last term in office, says a Trump win is a wake-up call for NATO, which will inevitably become a different alliance.

NATO has been trying to Trump-proof itself for a while, she tells The Independent.

Donald Trump has made no secret that he thought allies in both the East and West were freeloaders. He has been very tough about that in the campaign warning allies in Europe that dont pay up that Putin can do whatever he wants with them.

While Trump campaign rhetoric has recently softened  especially with comments from his running mate JD Vance about not abandoning NATO  Gottemoeller warned that Trumps biggest change might be slow-rolling or not sending a U.S. representative. This would mean the de facto receding of U.S. leadership.

This will be felt most acutely by Ukraine. Trump has stated he would not maintain the current level of assistance to Ukraine and would push for an early ceasefire with Russia.

It would be a difficult period for the Ukrainians Trump feels like he has an inside track with Putin. He famously said he could make peace in 24 hours, Gottemoeller continues.

The ceasefire he would force early would likely mean Russians on part of Ukrainian territory. Zelensky has said he doesnt want a single Russian soldier on a single centimeter of Ukrainian soil.

Pivot to Asia, tariffs on Chinese imports

open image in gallery Then-U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Chinas President Xi Jinping in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019 ( REUTERS )

Meanwhile, the U.S. under Trump is expected to continue focusing on China, Gottemoeller says.

The urge in U.S. geopolitics and at the geostrategic level is the pivot to Asiaalready NATO and the EU have had to consider how to maintain their defense and deterrence of Russia with less U.S. engagement, she adds.

Trump has vowed to enact an aggressive protectionist trade agenda, with proposed blanket tariffs potentially as high as 20 percent on all imported goods from all countries.

He has specifically threatened to impose tariffs up to 60 percent on U.S. imports of Chinese goods, which some experts warn could pose major growth risks for the worlds second-largest economy.

Competition with China is likely to be the priority of a second Trump term and shape security policy in the region, writes Dr. Phillip Shetler-Jones, RUSIs Senior Research Fellow for Indo-Pacific Security.

A second Trump presidency will cause concern in the region about disruptions flowing from the intensification of the America First principle in U.S. trade policy.

Latin America: largest deportation operation in American history

open image in gallery Former President Donald Trump speaks during a visit to an unfinished section of border wall with Texas ( Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Trumps campaign rhetoric has undoubtedly worried those south of the U.S. borders. He has spoken about over 200 percent tariffs on cars coming from Mexico, U.S. military action against drug cartels, and the largest deportation operation in American history.

While Trumps says this would focus on criminals, this deportation plan aims to send millions back to their home countries, without giving many details. He has simultaneously campaigned on restricting immigration, which will likely hit Mexico the hardest.

Trump has said he would restore his 2019 remain in Mexico program, which forced asylum seekers of certain nationalities to wait in Mexico for the resolution of their cases before attempting to enter US.

Trump also told Time magazine earlier this year he would reinstate the COVID-19-era Title 42 policy, which allowed U.S. border authorities to quickly expel migrants back to Mexico without the chance to claim asylum.

He has also talked about calling on Congress to fund an additional 10,000 Border Patrol agents.
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Voting was halted and polling stations across the US were evacuated on Election Day, after a slew of hoax bomb threats designed to ensue chaos were reported.

The FBI said it was aware of reports of bomb threats at polling locations in several states  including the battleground states of Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan  and said many of them appeared to originate from Russian email domains.

Some 32 threats were received in Fulton County, Georgia, alone  causing two polling stations to close.

Later, authorities in DeKalb County, Georgia, said that five centers had been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure for the safety of voters and poll workers, while bomb sweeps took place. The DeKalb County Law Department said it would seek an emergency order extending the voting times at the affected polling locations.

Georgias Secretary of StateBrad Raffensperger also confirmed that the threats were of Russian origin but that they were not believed to be viable.

open image in gallery An officer in DC stands near an unidentified object - that turned out to be not a threat. Communities across the nation have dealt with hoaxes throughout Election Day ( EPA )

Well just continue to be very responsible when we hear about stuff like that. Weve identified the source and it was from Russia, Raffensperger told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday morning.

Four bomb threats also were reported at three voting sites in Navajo County, Arizona, according to officials. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes told reporters that the motive behind the threats were to ensue chaos, not to impact any political outcome.

We dont see anything in the pattern or distribution that would make us think this was to effect any political change but we do believe to get us to rattle in our boots is the reason that theyre doing this, he said.

In Pennsylvania, Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell confirmed that a polling station in the area had also been evacuated due to a bomb threat.

open image in gallery The FBI said it was aware of reports of bomb threats at polling locations in several states  including several key swing states ( AP )

There was a bomb threat to the Government Services Center in West Chester, PA. Its being evacuated. Voter Services is located there, and in-person ballots are delivered after 8 pm. Mail-in ballots are canvassed and tabulated at a different location, Maxwell said, adding that there were no reported injuries.

Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein later confirmed that there had been concerns at about 10 polling places in the state.

Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a former judge-turned-convicted felon was arrested and charged after threatening to burn down a polling station in upstate on Election Day. Paul Lamson was charged with making a terroristic threat on Tuesday morning after a failed attempt to vote. According to authorities, the incident occurred just after 6:30 a.m. in Fowler, New York, where Lamson, a convicted felon, tried to vote but was unable to, since he hadnt re-registered after he had been released from prison.

open image in gallery Voters line up in Austell, Georgia to cast their ballots on Election Day. Some Georgia polling centers are receiving bomb threats of Russian origin, their secretary of state said on Tuesday ( Getty Images )

He became irate and started making threatening remarks such as burning the place down and returning with a firearm before fleeing the scene, according to New York State Police. A search ensued and state police took Lamson into custody without incident.

Police also arrested a man in Washington, DC, after he showed up to the visitors center of the US Capitol with a torch and a flare gun, smelling like fuel.

US Capitol Police said the man was in the process of going through security at the Capitol Visitor Center at around midday when officers discovered the torch and flare gun in his jacket.

Officers also found bottles that appeared to have fuel residue inside his backpack and one officer noticed there was a faint odor of gasoline or some type of accelerant on the man, US Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said.

open image in gallery Authorities said that the bomb threats were not believed to be viable ( AP )

That odor became much stronger when they opened the backpack, he said. Officers arrested the suspect, a 28-year-old Michigan man, but his name or possible motive are yet to be released.

In addition to Election Day chaos, on Monday, a Republican candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives was arrested after being accused of violating a protection order.

Jim Schenke, 57, a delegate for the states 26th House district, was booked into Tippecanoe County Jail after police received a complaint late that he had allegedly contacted an individual on Facebook who has a protection order against him, the Lafayette Journal and Courier reported
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Boris Johnson was fired from Channel 4s US election coverage after being criticised for plugging his book.

The former prime minister was booked to commentate on the results of the presidential race alongside Republican supporter and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner, and Stormy Daniels, the woman at the centre of Mr Trumps hush money trial.

But, after repeatedly shoe-horning in references to his memoirUnleashed, host Krishnan Guru-Murthy said Mr Johnson had been fired for banging on about his book too much.

Just minutes into America Decides: US Presidential Election, Mr Guru-Murthy had told Mr Johnson to put it away and stop it, enough as he twice referenced his new book and attempted to hold it up to viewers.

Guru-Murthy described the former prime ministers actions as so cheap.

Mr Johnson hit back, saying: Theres absolutely nothing you can do to stop me Im allowed to plug my book. Eventually, Channel 4 replaced the former PM with Michael Cohen, Mr Trumps former lawyer. It remains unclear if Mr Johnsons exit was planned.

Elsewhere on the show, Mr Johnson was grilled by Ms Daniels about whether he still considers Mr Trump a friend. Mr Johnson revealed he had spoken to Mr Trump quite recently.

Co-host Emily Maitlis challenged Mr Johnson after the exchange in which Ms Daniels spoke of her court case and asked Mr Johnson if he had children.

open image in gallery Donald Trump claimed victory on Wednesday morning ( Getty )

Mr Trump faces sentencing later in November after he was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records over the payment of hush money to adult film actress Ms Daniels days before the 2016 election

Mr Johnson has been promoting his new memoir tiled Unleashed since its release last month.

The 784-page book looks back on his time as prime minister  from 2019 to 2022  including Brexit and the Covid pandemic.

Guru-Murthy helmed the channels first overnight US election programme since 1992, alongside former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Boris Johnson at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Ross Kempsell/PA Wire) ( Ross Kempsell/PA Wire )

Political pundits, and a number of famous faces including Mr Johnson joined the hosts in the Washington DC studio as the American public opted for Trump over Harris.

As last nights coverage began, Mr Johnson said: Nobody knows what is going to happen, its a fantastic thing, its a beautiful thing because there are countries where they have democratic elections where they know full well what is going to happen.

open image in gallery Stormy Daniels appeared on Channel 4 next to Boris Johnson ( REUTERS )

Talking about working with Trump, Mr Johnson said: I had a very interesting time working with Donald and there are clearly issues we dont agree on, referencing gun controls and female reproductive rights.

We became friendly absolutely, he continued. The thing that really worries me right now is Ukraine and the future of democracy in that country. I think there is a risk whatever happens in this election that there will be a disaster in Ukraine.

When asked, while he was in office, if he told Mr Trump it was wrong to chose the path of election denialism after his last attempt to reprise his role as president, Mr Johnson said: Not only did I tell him, I told the whole worldI have a problem with it, with what he did.

Later on Mr Johnson argued that Trump brought peace and relative stability during his tenure as US president, while Succession star Brian Cox described him as a monster.

We have to make sure that he doesnt get in because he is a monster, he really is, Scottish actor Cox said of Mr Trump, as he appeared virtually from London.

Hes crazy, hes insane, he wants to be a dictator.

I think hes lost it, quite frankly, I think hes deeply mentally unstable and I think he has been for some time. This is not a man who should be the president of the United States, absolutely not.

Hes unreliable, hes a convicted felon, Im horrified.
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Democrats and political talking heads have initiated the circular firing squad as they search to blame anyone else for Donald Trumps victory in the 2024 election.

Vice-president Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party lost the White House, lost the Senate, and still may lose the House. The Supreme Court has a conservative majority that handed Trump a presidential get out of jail free card for almost anything he does in office between 2025 and 2028.

So, who is to blame?

open image in gallery Kamala Harris started her campaign with a wave of enthusiasm but failed to convince enough Americans to power her into the White House ( Getty Images )

Some Democrats think swapping Joe Biden for Harris was their deadly mistake. Others have blamed Biden himself, saying he took far too long to drop out. Progressives point to the Biden administration's stance on Israel and the Harris campaign's attempts to appeal to moderates and anti-Trump Republicans.

Maybe it's not a single person, but the issues themselves; some analysts have argued that Americans resonated with Trump's stances  however sometimes disturbing  on immigration, on the economy, on foreign wars.

Here are the leading scapegoats Democrats and analysts are trying to serve up to enraged liberal voters:

Harris and the Democratic Party

The vice-president has never had a showing as a strong national candidate. She lost her primary race in 2020, and took the reins from Biden without a primary or any other input from actual voters. Harris was appointed the 2024 Democratic Party presidential candidate; she was not elected to that role.

Harris's campaign hung its hopes on voters from marginalized backgrounds and women  including Republican women concerned about their abortion rights  to come through for her on election night. But that does not appear to have panned out, with Black men and Hispanic voters moving toward Trump.

Others, like progressive U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, argued Harris and the rest of Democratic Party leadership has continued to ignore the concerns of working-class voters, who have been strained by inflation and may not have personally felt the impacts of the Biden administrations longer-term investments in U.S. manufacturing.

It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them, the Vermont senator, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, wrote in a statement on Wednesday.

First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well, he continued. While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change.

Harris also tried to appeal to moderates and suburbanites, running on platforms of criminal crackdowns and bolstering the military  typically Republican stomping grounds  to little effect. The campaign highlighted former Congresswoman Liz Cheney after she and her war-profiteering father decided to back Harris. The move likely did little to sway moderates and a lot to disgust progressives.

open image in gallery Harris supporters were distraught on election night - but the blame game has already started ( AFP via Getty Images )

Harris's campaign was insistent that she was picking up new voters and that the race would be close; a recent poll out of Iowa only helped bolster that idea.

A Democratic National Committee official, speaking anonymously, told Reuters that they were fielding angry calls from party members on election night.

"They feel lied to by the campaign," the official said.

Harris may also have been too close to a Biden Administration that did little to stand against Israel's rampant and unchecked killing of Palestinians in Gaza. Despite comments she made indicating she might have taken a tougher stance on Israel, it does not appear to have moved many Democrats critical of the Biden administration's response to the continuing crisis.

Politico argued that it was Harris's inability to make a clean break from Biden that ultimately doomed her presidential hopes, claiming she could not both back the work of the Biden Administration and convince voters that she would effect significant change if she took power.

Joe Biden and the Democratic Party

open image in gallery President Joe Biden stepped down as the nominee but only under pressure ( AP )

Bill Ackman, a longtime Democratic donor who backed Trump in 2024, accused the party of lying to voters about Joe Biden's mental fitness.

"The party lied to the American people about the cognitive health and fitness of the president," he said, and pointed out that there was no primary held to replace him. He said the party needed a "complete reboot," according to Reuters.

Biden's decision to step away from the race in July came on the heels of immense pressure from within the party and a disastrous debate with Trump earlier in the campaign. But that left Harris with only three months to sell her vision to a deeply divided nation.

At least one Harris campaign staffer complained that the ghost of the former administration chopped her off at the knees.

We ran the best campaign we could, considering Joe Biden was president, the Harris aide told Politico on condition of anonymity. Joe Biden is the singular reason Kamala Harris and Democrats lost tonight.

Tim Walz and Progressives

open image in gallery There were questions over whether Gov. Tim Walz was really the best running mate Harris could have chosen ( AP )

It wouldn't be a Democratic loss without the party's centrist members punching left. Democratic National Committee official Lindy Li told Fox News that Harris picking Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate over Minnesota Governor Tim Walz may have been enough to push her over the line.

"People are wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket. And not only in terms of Pennsylvania," she said, not explaining who "people" were.

She then suggested that Walz was too progressive, and that picking a moderate like Shapiro  who has been vocal in his support for Israel as it continues to tear apart Gaza  would have shown she wasn't a "San Francisco liberal."

"But she went with someone actually to her Left. In the eyes of the American people, Walz was the governor who oversaw the protests," she said, referencing the fact that Walz was the governor of Minnesota during the George Floyd demonstrations.

Israel

open image in gallery A Palestinian woman looks on at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in the southern Gaza Strip on November 6 ( REUTERS )

The Biden Administrations response to Israels war in Gaza was a continuous concern for analysts monitoring the election. The fear was that Biden allowing Israel to slaughter Palestinians unchecked would alienate progressive, Muslim, Arabic, and other voters with family, friends, or loved ones in the region.

On Wednesday, the Uncommitted National Movement, which describes itself as anti-war, pro-peace, and pro-Palestine, issued a statement laying the blame for the 2024 election results directly on the Biden Administrations response to Gaza.

"The outcome of this election is not a reflection of Donald Trump's appeal; it is a sobering reminder that the Democratic Party has lost touch with the very communities that once fueled it's progress. This defeat is not simply about policies or candidates; it underscores a deeper disconnection from our values and our people," the group said in its statement.

It went on to say that for "Arab and Muslim Americans, this election was profoundly personal."

"Many have watched in anguish as American-supplied Israeli bombs have fallen on loved ones in Palestine and Lebanon. Our calls for understanding and action from Democratic leaders have too often been met with silence," the group wrote. "For many in our communities, Biden's legacy is now defined by war and grief rather than hope."

The organization then noted that the vacuum left by the Democrats allowed Trump to "lie" and position himself as "a 'pro-peace' alternative  an illusion that has emerged from our party's failure to see us."

According to a poll conducted byThe Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research between October 11-14, more than half of Democratic respondents blame Israel a lot for escalating violence in the Middle East.

Approximately 60 percent of Democratic respondents said Israel bears a lot of responsibility for the war, compared to only about one-quarter of Republicans, according to Jewish News Service.

The voters themselves

open image in gallery Voters cast ballots at a polling site in the lobby of the Brooklyn Museum on Election Day ( EPA )

Some pundits have blamed the voters who Democrats assumed they had on lock for failing to show up for Harris.

MSNBC's Joy Reid blamed white women, chastising them for not making "their numbers" while discussing Harris's loss in North Carolina.

"In the end, they didn't make their numbers. We have to be blunt about why, black voters came through for Harris, white women voters did not," Reid said.

It isnt quite that simple. While white women may have voted in fewer numbers than the party had hoped, many Black voters  particularly Black men  abandoned the party for Trump.

According to exit polls, Trump only won eight percent of Black voters in 2020, but that share increased to 13 percent in 2024. He also gained with Hispanic voters, where his support rose from 32 percent in 2020 to 45 per cent in 2024.

That revelation led to MSNBC's Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough to blame misogyny for Harris's loss.

Democrats need to be mature, and they need to be honest. And they need to say Yes, there is misogyny, but its not just misogyny from white men," he said. Its misogyny from Hispanic men, its misogyny from black men  things weve all been talking about  who do not want a woman leading them.
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Actor Bradley Whitford from The West Wing and The Handmaids Tale wants Democrats to avoid falling into despair after Donald Trumps second victory, he told The Independent in an exclusive interview.

Whitford, known for his Emmy-winning West Wing performance as the firebrand political strategist Josh Lyman, said he was surprised by Trumps decisive win. The 65-year-old has long been a Democratic ally, and most recently spoke at a Harris rally in Wisconsin on October 22.

open image in gallery Actor Bradley Whitford campaigns for Kamala Harris in Madison, Wisconsin on October 22. Whitford told The Independent that Democrats cant afford to give in to cynicism and despair after Donald Trumps decisive victory ( AP )

I absolutely thought we were going to win, Whitford told The Independent outside the White House on Wednesday afternoon, less than 12 hours after Donald Trump secured his second term.

I thought it was going to be closer, he added. But whenever any of my friends asked me, I would end it with, You can never underestimate how you know, racist and sexist this country is.

open image in gallery Bradley Whitford campaigns for Kamala Harris in Wisconsin on October 22. The West Wing actor told The Independent he was surprised that Donald Trump clinched a decisive victory in the race for the the White House ( REUTERS )

The polls suggested it would be closer, too. The last New York Times/Siena College poll before Election Day showed the two candidates neck-and-neck in all swing states.

In reality, Trump won the swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia. Arizona and Nevada are still too early to call as of Wednesday afternoon, but will ultimately not make a difference in the election outcome.

Whitford then called on Democrats to take action in response to their historic losses this Election Day.

Despair is a luxury our children cannot afford, and action is the antidote to despair, and we will continue the fight to hold this country up to its spectacular, unfulfilled aspiration, Whitford said.

Cynicism and despair is what they want you to feel, and despair is a luxury that the future cant afford, he added.

When The Independent asked what he would tell Trump if given the chance, Whitford took a beat to consider his answer.

Blend your makeup, he said with a laugh.

Whitford also shared a 40-year-old anecdote about the first time he learned of Trump.

My first awareness of Donald Trump: I went to college, and then I went to acting school in New York, Whitford told The Independent. And when I got to acting school, there were some fourth-year guys who were really upset, because theyd spent the summer working for this real estate guy who had never paid them. They had confronted him  this is 1981  and he said, What are you going to do? Going to sue me? You know, youre effing actors.

It is completely bewildering to me, the cult that has formed around a narcissist like this, the worst person in show business, and thats a tough category, Whitford concluded.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
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Donald Trump will barely have slept going into election day, if at all, having wrapped up his final campaign rally at 2am.

But that didnt stop the former president from casting his own vote early on Tuesday and ranting about his enemies in a diatribe against Fox News and Oprah Winfrey.

Based in Mar-a-Lago, Trump then spent the day peppering aides with questions and hitting the phones to speak to Republican allies and officials, sources told CNN.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump in Palm Beach after voting ( AP )

And as ever the Republican billionaire was not far from his beloved social media, posting regularly on Truth Social throughout the day as Americans went to the polls.

He claimed - without evidence - that there has been massive CHEATING in Philadelphia and urged voters across the country to stay in line until they cast their ballot.

This is impressive, Trump said as he entered a room full of his supporters at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday morning, though noting Its too early to congratulate.

I hope they come up with a result tonight, he continued. Make sure theres no cheating. Trumps wife, Former First Lady Melania Trump, stood by him as he delivered the remarks, thanking the room full of supporters for their hard work and support.

It was hard work I know its hours and hours. I know how hard my husband is working, she said, wearing a black and white polka dot Dior dress. Thank you for all your support.

open image in gallery Trump urged his reporters to stay in line as every vote counts ( REUTERS )

Trump voted at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach on Tuesday morning and briefly spoke to reporters there.

I ran a great campaign. I think it was maybe the best of the three. We did great in the first one. We did much better in the second one, but something happened. I would say this is the best campaign weve run, Trump said, adding that he believes this is the last campaign he will run, win or lose.

He also used the opportunity to complain about alternatives to in-person paper ballots, which he said are likely to stall election results.

open image in gallery The former president speaking to reporters in Florida on Tuesday morning ( AP )

Trump spoke with Republican leaders across the country as voters headed to the polls, including Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. Trump said his Republican base has shown up with force.

He will be watching the election results at Mar-a-Lago and also attend a watch party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center where he is expected to give a speech, according to CNN.

Were going to have a very special group of people, Trump told reporters. That group will not include reporters at Politico, Axios, Puck, Voice of America and Mother Jones, who were denied credentials to the Mar-a-Lago event because of inaccurate coverage, the outlet reported.

Florida has historically been a swing state that Former President Barack Obama won twice. Trump is expected to be the favorite this year.
It took quite some time for the mood to darken, even though the prospect of a victory for Donald Trump had already become clear. Overnight on Tuesday, the great and the good in Berlin had gathered for an event organised by the American Academy and Aspen Institute to watch the election.

In one of several presentations, pollsters from YouGov revealed the extent to which European voters had wanted Kamala Harris to win (the exception being Giorgia Melonis Italy). But it also showed that they had expected her to win, by an equally large margin. Based on what exactly? Hope springs eternal. The liberal disease. The European disease.

If anything good is to emanate from the return of Trump, it will be the shattering of European illusions. His decisive victory this time, including in vote share, removes any lingering doubt about the resilience of the global populist movement that he leads. It cannot be put down to a fluke, threats, media manipulation or Vladimir Putin  even if they all played a role at the margins.

And the effect on the political mainstream across Europe will be seismic.

Wherever you look, parties of the centre-left to centre-right are floundering. Mired in a series of crisis meetings, Germanys bickering three-party coalition could collapse in the coming days. France is looking over its shoulder at Marine Le Pen, whose prospects for the next presidential elections are stronger than ever.

Spains Pedro Sanchez, struggling in a precarious administration, is furiously blamed for the terrible floods. Unlike his counterparts, Sir Keir Starmer is under no such immediate threat but the mood in the UK can hardly be described as cheerful.

Europes leaders have scrambled to congratulate Trump and to express their ever closer friendship. He will play them, as he wishes, sometimes smiling, other times snarling, seeing in these relations the opportunity for transactional gains. The object of the new presidents affections will be Hungarys Viktor Orban and Italys Meloni, true believers and executors of his wishes on the European continent.

Orban has long been a subversive force inside the EU and Nato. As prime minister, Meloni has largely toed the line, particularly on support for Ukraine, in return for being given carte blanche to consolidate her power base at home with the usual populist strategy of undermining the independence of the media and judiciary, while pledging to clamp down on immigration (her Albania plan has been the object of intrigue rather than criticism). Now she will no longer feel constrained on any front.

Across Europe and beyond, populists on the far right and far left (and in the case of some, such as Germanys ascendant Sahra Wagenknecht, combining the two) will be emboldened by Trumps resounding success.

open image in gallery Trump and Orban pictured at a Nato summit in Brussels in 2017 ( AFP/Getty )

In office they will push their agendas harder and in opposition they will fight even more voraciously for power, using a similar playbook to Trump. Look for further gains for Le Pens National Rally (RN), for the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), for Wagenknechts BSW party and for Vox in Spain. In Poland, Donald Tusk already had the fight of his life to stave off a return of the far-right Peace and Justice party that used its most recent term in office to dismantle liberal freedoms.

The lesson Orban learnt was to use his time in opposition to further radicalise his programme for office. Trump has done the same. The 2016-era first wave of populism was often erratic and amateurish. Expect no such mistakes this time around.

As the extreme becomes the new mainstream, the old mainstream withers away, bereft of confidence and unclear what ground to occupy. On immigration, it is trying imitation. From Germany to Poland, radical restrictions are being imposed and Europes open borders are shutting fast.

Trump convinced a majority of Americans that Joe Biden had made them significantly worse off. It is true that many were feeling the squeeze, yet US growth was consistently above that of its European rivals (previously known as partners). A master communicator, Trump will ride on the coattails of a recovery and attribute that to his own hand.

Meanwhile, he will threaten China and all comers with tariffs that could range from an extraordinary 60 per cent to 10 or 20 per cent  no matter what level they are set, they will be painful. He will threaten, coerce and cajole. A divided and weak Europe will struggle to counter him and will bear the economic brunt.

open image in gallery Graffiti of Marine Le Pen and Trump on a wall in Paris ( AFP/Getty )

Trump will almost certainly pull out of the Paris climate accords again but this time around, he may meet less resistance. No matter the devastation wrought by climate change, the green movement is now on the back foot.

The most important known unknown, to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, is Ukraine. What exactly does Trumps fabled peace in a day mantra mean? Across Europe, the word peace has been appropriated by the far right to mean doing Putins bidding.

But would America benefit from Russia extending its reach further into Europe, as it is doing successfully in Georgia and almost as successfully in Moldova? Is Trump content for North Korean soldiers to be fighting (and improving their training) on European soil? What message would that send to China? The answers to these questions will remain unclear until Trump suddenly decides.

Whatever he does, this is a time of grave danger. Its also a potential opportunity for Europe to regroup. As Tusk said three days before the US elections, this should be the moment when Europe finally grows up and believes in its own strength. Whatever the outcome, the era of geopolitical outsourcing is over.

Will Europe do more to secure its own defence? Will it find its own distinctive voice and global strength? With the current generation of leaders, the chances of that happening are, sadly, extremely low. I, for one, will not be succumbing to wishful thinking.
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Donald Trump has won the presidency for the second time, overcoming impeachments, indictments, and unforced errors on the campaign trail that would have taken down most other political candidates.

But he wont take office for another couple of months. During that time, states will certify the results, electoral votes will be counted, and a new Congress will convene.

Here are the dates that matter leading up to Inauguration Day on January 20, 2025:

November 7  States begin to certify election results

State election officials have to certify that the election results are accurate after all the votes are counted.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission states that Delaware is first in line, and has to certify their results by November 7. Georgia must certify their results by November 23, Michigan by November 25, and North Carolina and Nevada by November 26. Wisconsin follows on December 1 and Arizona on December 2, to name a few.

November 11  Transition briefings begin

Transition briefings for the new Trump administration have to start by November 11. Agencies will brief incoming officials on their most important work and the top positions that have to be filled.

Donald and Melania Trump celebrate his election victory in the early hours of November 6. Hes set to be sentenced in his hush-money case on November 26 ( AFP via Getty Images )

November 26  Trump to be sentenced in New York hush-money case

The president-elect is set to be sentenced in his hush-money case in New York after being found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

December 11  Governors sign certificates of ascertainment

After certification of the results, state governors must sign certificates of ascertainment to officially hand the states electors to the candidate that won the state in question. These signed documents will be handed to Congress and treated as the official results.

The documents, which will have to be signed by December 11, will include the names of the electors expected to cast the states votes in the upcoming Electoral College vote.

December 17  Electoral College vote

The electors will meet in each state to cast their votes for president and vice president. Along with the certificates of ascertainment, the recorded votes are sent on to Congress and the National Archives.

December 25  Electoral votes must arrive in Washington D.C.

The deadline for the Electoral College votes to arrive in the nations capital is the fourth Wednesday in December  this year thats Christmas Day. If the documents have yet to arrive, the president of the Senate or the Archivist may ask for an additional copy from a states top election officer.

January 3  Congress convenes

The new Congress begins on January 3 at noon. The House must first elect a speaker for its upcoming term.

January 6  Electoral votes are counted

A date seared in the memories of many, particularly the members of Congress present for the insurrection nearly four years ago. January 6, 2025, is the day when Congress officially counts the Electoral College votes to certify President-Elect Trumps election.

January 20  Inauguration

A new Trump era will begin on January 20, 2025, with the second inauguration of the former president. While Trump did not attend President Joe Bidens inauguration in 2021, Biden is expected to be there for Trumps swearing in.
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As Donald Trump secured his second term as US president, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may have had cause for concern about their new life in Montecito.

Trump took to the stage in Florida in the early hours of Wednesday morning to address the nation, celebrating his unprecedented and powerful mandate after sweeping through key swing states, including North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

His victory coincides with a precarious visa battle for the Sussexes, which may be complicated by their strained relationship with the president.

The Republican has previously weighed in on Prince Harrys US visa application, which has come under scrutiny after Harry admitted in his memoir Spare to using cocaine, smoking marijuana, and experimenting with magic mushrooms as a teenager.

Speaking at a political conference in February, Trump claimed the Biden administration had been too gracious to Harry since his 2020 move to California with Meghan

open image in gallery ( Getty Images )

Mr Trump told the Express: I wouldnt protect him. He betrayed the Queen. Thats unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.

Shortly after Harry admitted to the drug use, a conservative think tank in Washington DC called The Heritage Foundation questioned why he was allowed into the country in 2020.

Harry has expressed his wish to become a US citizen but this year, a judge ruled that his visa application should remain private as the public does not have a strong interest in disclosure of the dukes immigration records.

I do think theres a strong possibility that this could happen. Its the presidents prerogative, Nile Gardiner, Director Heritage Foundations Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom said.

Also the new Homeland Security Secretary could order a review of Harrys immigration application.

There are multiple things that could happen but it would be in the best interests of the American people if the Trump administration releases Prince Harrys records for public scrutiny and Harry should be held to account.

The question of his right to stay in the States was spoken about by Trumps son just one week before the election.

Eric Trump also lashed out at the duke and duchess, claiming the only reason Prince Harrys US Visa is safe is because no one cares about him.

open image in gallery Eric Trump lashed out at the duke and duchess, claiming the only reason Prince Harrys US Visa is safe is because no one cares about him. ( Getty Images )

He told the Daily Mail how much his father loved the late Queen Elizabeth II and how much damage Harry caused to the royal family after he and Meghan decided to leave their positions.

Truthfully I dont give a damn about Prince Harry and I dont think this country does either, he said, suggesting Harry had gone off the deep end and its sad to watch.

Despite the arguments regarding Harrys visa, he said he did not think it should be revoked.

I dont give a damn if he did drugs. It means nothing, he said.

Trump and the Sussexes have been embroiled in a long-running feud following the couples vocal criticism of the president.

Meghan first made her views on Trump known shortly before he became US president in 2016. Speaking on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, Meghan called Trump divisive and misogynistic.

Trump didnt respond to Meghans comments until three years later when, ahead of his UK state visit, Trump said: I didnt know she was nasty. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Trump backtracked on his comment about Meghan, saying he thought she was very nice.

open image in gallery President previously called Duchess of Sussex 'nasty'

In 2020, Trump said the Sussexes must pay for their security costs, after it was revealed the Sussexes had relocated from Canada to Los Angeles and in the same year, he said he was not a fan of Meghan after she encouraged Americans to vote for Biden.

Trump said: Im not a fan of hers. I wish a lot of luck to Harry, hes going to need it.

In 2021 and 2022, Trump continued his attacks on the couple, telling Nigel Farage that he thought Harry had been used horribly and that his marriage ruined his relationship with his family.

Later, speaking to Piers Morgan in 2022, Trump said Harry is whipped like no person I think Ive ever seen and that Meghan will likely leave him when she decides that she likes some other guy better.
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World leaders have rushed to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory in the United States presidential election, securing a second White House term which could have seismic implications across the globe.

Jubilation had been building through the night in the Republican former presidents camp, with key allies flying to his base in Florida as the first two swing states of Georgia and North Carolina were called for Mr Trump.

open image in gallery Donald Trumps win in Pennsylvannia appeared to seal his victory over Kamala Harris ( REUTERS )

But it was the projection of a Trump victory in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvannia  worth a whopping 19 electoral college votes  which saw Democrat Kamala Harriss route to the White House close, with Mr Trump delcared the ovaerall winner shortly after 5.00am in Washington, DC, on Wednesday.

As Mr Trump appeared on stage to triumphantly address his supporters in Florida, the more vocal of his backers worldwide began to offer their congratulations.

In one of the most widely anticipated reactions, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Mr Trump, describing the former presidents return to power as impressive.

He said:  I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

open image in gallery President Zelenskyy congratulated Donald Trump on his re-election ( AP )

Striking an optimistic tone, president Zelenskyy said he hoped Mr Trumps peace through strength approach could bring peace in his country closer. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States, Mr Zelenskyy said.

In Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said: Lets not forget that we are talking about the unfriendly country that is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.

And no congratulations for Mr Trump were forthcoming from Moscow, where President Vladimir Putins spokesman declared that Russia-US relations were at the lowest point in history.

Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte said the world faces a growing number of challenges globally, from a more aggressive Russia, to terrorism, to strategic competition with China. And he warned of the increasing alignment of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

Mr Rutte added: Working together through Nato helps to deter aggression, protect our collective security, and support our economies.

Mr Trump was a strong critic of the Atlantic military alliance during his first term, accusing its other members of failing to pull their weight. Mr Rutte praised Mr Trump for his work persuading member states to ramp up defence spending, saying Nato was now stronger, larger, and more united.

And European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: I warmly congratulate Donald J Trump. The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens.

Sir Keir Starmer said: Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory ( via REUTERS )

The UK prime minister said: As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

Also in the UK, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: Hes done it again. The most incredible political comeback of our lifetime.

And Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch congratulated Donald Trump on his historic election victory.

The world faces many serious challenges and I look forward to our two countries working together to confront them, she said.

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Mr Trump on X. Congratulations, President Donald Trump, Macron wrote. German chancellor Olaf Scholz said: I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens. And Italian premier Giorgia Meloni added: Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakeable alliance, common values and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even more.

open image in gallery Emmanuel Macron congratulated Donald Trump ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Meanwhile hardline ministers in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government celebrated on Wednesday.

Yesssss, God bless Trump, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on X. Bezalel Smitrich said: God bless Israel, God bless America. Another member of the government, Culture Minister Miki Zohar, said: We are looking forward to the next four years.

Mr Netanyahu himself sent a warm message to the president-elect and his wife. He wrote: Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.

This is a huge victory! In true friendship, yours, Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu.

Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz added: Congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump on his historic victory. Together, well strengthen the US-Israel alliance, bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran.

The hard-right Hungarian premier Viktor Orban suggested Mr Trump was on the way to a beautiful victory, having openly endorsed the Republican in a departure from most of his European Union neighbours. And, as the result became clearer, Mr Orban added: The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the world.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also called Mr Trump the winner in the U.S. presidential election, Russian state-run agency RIA said on Wednesday.

Irish premier Simon Harris and deputy premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin have pledged to work to maintain and strengthen the historic links between Ireland and the US.

In a statement the Taoiseach said: I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.

Ireland and the United States have deep and historical bonds of people, and we will work to make these even stronger in the years ahead.

The world faces many challenges and needs leadership to meet them.

With the US and Irelands shared commitment to democracy and international law, we can, and will, tackle these challenges.

The Tanaiste said regular high-level political engagement with the new US administration and on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill will be a high priority for the Irish Government

We look forward to working with him and his new administration in a constructive manner, as we did during his previous administration, he said.

This year marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States.

Irelands relationship with the United States draws its strength from our deep, historical people-to-people connections, the support of the US to peace on this Island, as well as our significant, and mutually beneficial, economic relationship.

As we prepare to engage with a new US administration, we do so building on the strong legacy of the last 100 years.

The high level of political bipartisan interest in Irish issues among US politicians and officials is, and will continue to be, invaluable.

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders also joined Mr Orban with an enthusiastic display of support for Mr Trump, writing on X/Twitter in capital letters: Congratulations President Trump! Congratulations America! Never stop, always keep fighting and win elections!

Nayib Bukele, president of El Salvador was another to offer an early congratulations to Mr Trump, adding: May God bless and guide you.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said: Heartiest congratulations my friend Donald Trump on your historic election victory. ... Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

Justin Trudeau has also congratulated MrTrump on his victory and promised to work with the Republican.

Canadian PM Mr Trudeau said: Congratulations to Donald Trump on being elected President of the United States.

The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world.

I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations.

And the former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison shared a photograph of the pair together, adding: Congratulations President Trump. And ex-Slovenian prime minister Janez Jansa sent his congratulations to the Republican Party.

There was also a notable reaction from the global financial markets, as the US dollar surged 1.7 per cent and the yield on the 10-year US Treasury note rose to a four-month high of 4.47 per cent.

With cryptocurrency-backing X owner Elon Musk closely linked to the Trump campaign and vying for control of a possible new crypto-inspired US government department, Bitcoin also hit a record high of $75,060.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has celebrated Donald Trumps election win, hailing success for the leader and ally.

Congratulating Republican Trump, Netanyahu said the former president had made historys greatest comeback.

Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America, he said in a statement, which was echoed by the leaders of the hard-right nationalist religious parties in his coalition.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been fighting Israel for more than a year in Gaza, said the election was a matter for the American people, but it called for an end to the blind support for Israel from the United States.

We urge Trump to learn from (President Joe) Bidens mistakes, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.

The outcome is a relief for Netanyahus coalition, which has clashed with Bidens Democratic administration over the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon that have fuelled protests worldwide and left Israel increasingly isolated internationally.

As the world watched the U.S. election on Tuesday night, Netanyahu took the opportunity to sack his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, one of the Biden administrations and the U.S. militarys favoured interlocutors in the government.

The current administration trusted minister Gallant, said Ephraim Sneh, a former brigadier general in the Israeli army.

The removal of Gallant, in the middle of a multi-front war that threatens to escalate into a full-scale confrontation with Iran, drew protesters to the streets in Israel but was welcomed by Netanyahus camp.

open image in gallery Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz ( REUTERS )

Israel Katz, Gallants replacement who had been serving as foreign minister, said Trumps victory would strengthen the alliance with Israel and help to secure return of the 101 hostages still remaining in Gaza.

Trumps win for Israel

The first Trump administration delivered major wins to Netanyahu, when it went against most of the world in recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital and accepting Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

But it was not clear whether Trumps new administration will lend the same support in the middle of a war that could directly draw in the United States, said Burcu Ozcelik, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute in London.

Topping a complex list of unknowns is how much leverage Trump will have over Netanyahu, she said.

Despite friction between Netanyahu and Biden, the administration provided unstinting support to Israel since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023 that triggered the Gaza war.

open image in gallery Israelis light a bonfire during a protest after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed his popular defense minister Yoav Gallant ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Israels settler leaders welcomed Trumps victory after Bidens administration imposed sanctions and asset freezes on settler groups and individuals involved in violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

We expect to have an ally standing unconditionally beside us as we fight the battles that are a war on the entire West, Israel Ganz, chairman of the main Yesha settler council, said in a statement to Reuters.

In Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Abu Osama, who has been displaced by unrelenting Israeli bombardments, called Trumps election victory a new catastrophe in the history of the Palestinian people.

Despite the destruction, death, and displacement that we have witnessed, what is coming will be more difficult, it will be politically devastating, Abu Osama told Reuters.

Underscoring the tensions, around 10 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel on Wednesday targeting locations including the coastal city of Tel Aviv with no injuries, the Israeli military said. Israeli media reported that a rocket had landed near Israels main Ben Gurion airport.

Nearly two thirds of Israelis believe Trump would be better for Israel than his Democratic Party rival Kamala Harris, according to a survey from the Israel Democracy Institute.

I think its good for Israel, said Jerusalem resident Nissim Attias. He proved the last time he was the president, he moved the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and everything that he said, he did.

More than 43,300 Palestinians have been killed in more than a year of war in Gaza, health authorities in the enclave say, and much of the territory has been laid to waste.
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Americans have now cast their votes in the 2024 election, with Donald Trump likely on the cusp of becoming the next president of the United States.

As of Wednesday morning, Trump has clinched projected victories in crucial swing states North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

The casting of ballots across the 50 states brings an end to perhaps one of the most dramatic election campaigns in living memory, which saw a last-minute change at the top of the Democratic ticket and Trump survive two separate assassination attempts.

Heres a look at how the presidential election certification process works:

The canvass

When polls close, the canvass or official vote count begins  a rigorous vetting of ballots that can take days or even weeks to complete, with in-person, mail, absentee, provisional and military votes all counted and recorded.

This work is carried out by state election officials who make sure all ballots have been completed correctly, that the total received tallies with the number of people recorded as having voted and that any discrepancies are thoroughly investigated.

Samples of ballots are typically audited and recounted to ensure accuracy.

open image in gallery Americans will have their last chance to go to the polls on November 5 ( Kristopher Radder/AP )

One of the strengths of the count is that it is a transparent process open for the public to observe. But, as seen in 2020, the amount of time it takes in some states can leave space for candidates to prematurely claim victory, as Trumps campaign did in Pennsylvania four years ago.

Certification of the results

December 11 is the deadline for the formal certification of the results by the states.

Officials from the nations 3,000 counties sign off on the count first, followed by their superiors at state level.

This is a point in the process at which the campaigns might move to contest the results in court, an undertaking that has the potential to inflame controversy or even unrest.

Electors named

December 11 is also the deadline for states to name the electors who will represent the candidate that won its popular vote.

The electors are typically elected officials or party insiders chosen by the campaigns or by partisan committees.

The number of electors a state puts forward corresponds to its number of Electoral College votes: 54 in the case of California but just three for North Dakota.

open image in gallery Once the American people have voted, the results will be certified ( Getty )

Once they have been picked, state governors draw up a document known as a Certificate of Ascertainment that lists their names along with the certified results, which is sent to the National Archives in Washington DC.

In the wake of the controversy stirred up by Trump after the last election, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform Act 2022 to shore up the process and prevent fraudulent challenges to the outcome.

Electors meet

On December 17, the electors get together to formally cast their states Electoral College votes for president and vice president, which are likewise sent to DC.

Votes received in Washington

The electors votes must be handed to the president of the Senate and to the head of the National Archives by Christmas Day.

Bizarrely, the former role happens to fall to the vice president, which means that Kamala Harris herself will have to take delivery of those filings, whether she has won or lost.

open image in gallery Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump ( Reuters )

Congress votes to certify results

A joint session of Congress will convene to formally ratify the results state by state on January 6 2025.

That same date four years ago will live in infamy as the day on which an armed mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in order to stop the certification of the election in favor of President Joe Biden.

This time, heightened security is expected on Capitol Hill, whatever happens at the polls.

The Reform Act will meanwhile make it more difficult for House and Senate members to raise spurious objections to the states results this time. It makes clear that the role of the vice president presiding over the process  Harris again  is entirely ceremonial, after Trump pressured his VP Mike Pence to stop the process  something he refused to do.

Inauguration Day

Two weeks later, on January 25 2024, the United States will have a new president and vice president, who will be formally sworn-in at their inauguration.
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Donald Trump clinched victory in the 2024 presidential election last week, sweeping all seven swing states to secure 312 Electoral College votes in a dramatic and historic week for America.

The president-elect eliminated his Democratic rival Kamala Harriss chances of making history as the first female president, and will now return to the White House on January 20, 2025 to serve a second term.

Trump cemented his nationwide victory in the early hours of November 6 as the announcement of Wisconsins results took him over the line to surpass the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

There were jubilant scenes at Trumps election night party in West Palm Beach, Florida, where the president-elect hailed the greatest political movement of all time and ushered in a golden age for America.

Harris, meanwhile, addressed her supporters late afternoon on November 6, where she vowed to keep fighting in her concession speech. The vice president called Trump to congratulate him the following day.

The light of the American promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up, she told the crowd, as her voice appeared to crack.

Trump  who was rejected by a majority of Americans in 2020 during his re-election campaign after winning an unprecedented race in 2016  flipped every swing state that incumbent President Joe Biden won in 2020.

The president-elects legislative agenda will likely have support in Congress, where Republicans have flipped control of the Senate  garnering a six seat majority  and will keep control of the House of Representatives, having secured the 218 seats needed to maintain their majority.

Trump broke through the so-called blue wall of Rust Belt battleground states, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. He also won the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Nevada  closing out his sweep of the seven swing states.

Harris supporters were pictured in distress at the watch party on election night at her alma mater Howard University in Washington DC as results began to trickle in.

It was a very different picture over at West Palm Beach, where at 1.47am Fox News declared Trump the winner  before some states had declared their results  as he prepared to speak to his supporters.

Its a political victory that our country has never seen before. Nothing like this, Trump told his supporters from a convention center stage at 2.30am while surrounded by members of the Trump family and his closest allies.

open image in gallery Donald Trump basks in his election night victory at a convention center in West Palm Beach, Florida ( Getty Images )

Federal law enforcement agencies and election officials were prepared for disruptions this year after the chaotic aftermath of the 2020 election and Trumps spurious efforts to overturn the results of a race he lost. Officials attributed non-credible bomb threats in several states to Russian actors. Voters ranked the state of democracy as their number one issue informing their voting decision, according to exit polls.

Trump has also won in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming, according to preliminary results.

Harris, meanwhile, won the states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington state as well as Washington DC.

She also picked up electoral votes in Maine and Nebraska, two states with a unique split electoral vote scenario, rather than the winner-take-all outcome in other states.

Trumps victory in Georgia reverses Democratic gains in the state after Biden narrowly defeated Trump there in 2020, when he became the first Democratic candidate to carry the state since Bill Clinton in 1992.

His victory in Florida marks his third consecutive win in the state, after Democratic former president Barack Obama carried the state in both 2008 and 2012.

open image in gallery Chairs and trash in an empty field following a Harris election night watch party at Howard University, Washington DC ( Getty Images )

Trump won four of Nebraskas five electoral votes in that states split electoral vote count and also won one electoral vote in Maine.

Media outlets made their projections for each states winner as election workers counted ballots and preliminary voting data was released.The Independent relies on projections from the Associated Press.

Outlets published their final projections in the early hours of November 6, with the Associated Press calling the race for Trump at 5:34 am ET. However, those determinations are only projections. The results must be certified in each state and then certified by Congress on January 6, 2025.

Experts previously told The Independent that the timeline for calling the race largely depended on two things: How close the election is in individual states and the specific laws of those states regarding counting votes and potential recounts, which all vary.

Senate and House races

Republicans have seized control of the Senate for the first time in four years after flipping six seats and wresting a narrow majority in the upper chamber of Congress from Democrats of 53 to 47 seats.

Republicans also maintained control of the House after securing a 218-seat majority on November 13.

A Republican trifecta  with leadership in the White House and majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives  could quickly usher through the GOPs sweeping legislative agenda that has largely been restrained by Democratic lawmakers and Bidens presidency.

Democratic candidates have now secured 214 House seats and Republicans have 220, with 1 yet to be called.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, controversial Republican Tim Sheehy from Montana has defeated Democratic incumbent Jon Tester.

Voters in Ohio have ousted Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown and elected Republican challenger Bernie Moreno, who previously called the former president a lunatic but has since adopted his agenda.

West Virginias Republican Governor Jim Justice has won a seat in the Senate, flipping a seat previously held by now-former Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who is not seeking re-election.

Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida defeated Democratic opponent Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. And in Texas, Republican Ted Cruz fended off a challenge from Democratic candidate Colin Allred.

In Marylands Senate race, Democratic candidate Angela Alsobrooks defeated the states former governor Larry Hogan, an anti-Trump Republican.

Alsobrooks is set to become the first Black person the state ever elected to the Senate. For the first time in history, the Senate will include two Black women, including Alsobrooks and Democratic Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware.

Nevadas Democratic Senate Jacky Rosen has fended off a challenge from Republican Sam Brown.

Independent senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine both won re-election to their Senate seats. The Independent has included Sanders and King in the Democratic count because they caucus with the party.

The final Senate race was called late on November 11, when Ruben Gallego defeated GOP candidate Kari Lake to secure Arizonas seat, which was previously held by independent Kyrsten Sinema.

Only 34 of the nations 100 seats in the Senate were up for election this year, as senators serve six-year terms with a third being elected every two years. Eighteen of those seats were previously held by Democratic senators, posing a threat to their slim majority.

But all 435 seats in the House were up for election.

Voters in Delaware have elected Democratic candidate Sarah McBride to fill the states single House seat, making her the first openly transgender member of Congress in American history.

Results will be refreshed live as they come in. Check back for updates.
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Elon Musk joined a chorus of conservative social media accounts boosting claims Google was providing users with information on how to vote for Kamala Harris but not her rival.

The tech billionaire reposted a tweet from the account of a graphic designer called DogeDesigner, claiming Google shows a Where to Vote section with a map for Kamala Harris, but not for Donald Trump. The post also falsely claimed Google is the top donor to the Democratic party. (The investment firm Bain Capital donates more, according to OpenSecrets.)

Are others seeing this too? Musk asked his more than 200m followers.

He responded to another similar post with an inquisitive, eyebrow-raised emoji.

The implication was clear. Musk, the richest man in the world and owner of X, who has spent over $132m backing Trump and other conservative causes this election, seemed to be suggesting a tech giant was trying to influence the election.

Google quickly responded to the claims.

The where to vote panel is triggering for some specific searches bc Harris is also the name of a county in TX, the company wrote on X, of Musks home base of Texas. Happens for Vance too bc its also the name of a county. Fix is coming. Note very few people actually search for voting places this way.

This is now fixed, the company later explained, prompting Musk to answer, Thanks for the clarification.

The exchange seems not to have convinced some in Musks online orbit.

Valentina Gomez, a 25-year-old Republican who briefly went viral for a series of homophobic remarks in the course of an unsuccessful Missouri Secretary of State campaign, claimed in response to Musk, This is a BS lie and theyre rushing to fix it because we caught them interfering in an election for the Democratic Party.

Google quickly clarified that the claims reposted by Musk were misunderstandings of search results in Harris County, Texas ( The Joe Rogan Experience )

Critics allege it is Musk who is attempting to have undo influence over the election.

In late October, a lawsuit from Philadelphias district attorney accused the billionaire of running an illegal lottery scheme by giving swing state voters who signed a Musk PACs petition supporting conservative causes the chance to randomly win $1m in a daily prize drawing.

In court on Monday, a lawyer for the PAC admitted the winners of the drawings were not randomly selected, but rather deliberately chosen to be paid spokespeople for the group.

Lawyer Chris Gober told a judge in Philadelphia on Monday that there is no prize to be won at all, and that recipients instead must fulfill contractual obligations on behalf of the PAC.

Musk argues the prize isnt related to turning out Republican voters for Trump but rather gathering backers of a petition in support of the Constitution of the United States, and in particular, freedom of speech and the right to bear arms.
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It's hard to find a political operator as chaotic as Donald Trump. But in Elon Musk, he might just have met his match.

As his private jet landed in Palm Beach, Florida to spend election night at Trump's private resort on Tuesday evening, the Tesla and SpaceX boss  who also owns the social network X  couldn't have known whether he has backed a winner or a loser (though he did proclaim game, set, and match for Kamala Harris as early voting data turned against her).

But he can at least rest assured that he has made the 2024 election stranger, more confusing, and more clogged with false information.

His $1m sweepstake for registered voters is under investigation as an "illegal lottery scheme". His Michigan door-knocking operation is accused of badly mistreating its workers. And his fundraising group America PAC, which was put in charge of a big chunk of Trump's canvassing operation, has reportedly suffered from dodgy data and other dysfunctions.

Meanwhile, Musk himself has spent election day making and spreading false claims about voter fraud  though he later deleted or corrected some of them.

"I'm headed to Florida, to Mar-a-Lago, and I'll be there with President Trump, and JD [Vance], and a bunch of other cool people," Musk said in an audio discussion on X on

"The Trump team, I think they're good people. But they're also just  they're fun. They've got a great sense of humour, they're making jokes. Trump actually has a quite a bit of self-deprecating humour."

All hell has broken loose

Since fully endorsing Donald Trump in the wake of his first assassination attempt this July, Musk  estimated to be the world's richest person  has become a centerpiece of his campaign.

As well as donating more than $130m to Trump and other Republican politicians, he has regularly appeared at rallies and taken charge of door-knocking operations in crucial swing states including Nevada, Michigan, and Arizona.

However, according to an investigation by NBC News, that project has been missing some of its targets and has suffered from high levels of suspected fraudulent activity by canvassers on the ground, such as activity reports that were geotagged as being more than 100 feet away from the door they were supposedly knocking on.

You would never ask a political consultant to build rocket ships. I dont think you should be asking someone that builds rocket ships to manage political operations," said one former member.

Insiders described the project as overpopulated with "broccoli-cut Zoomers" with little experience in "get out the vote" operations, with one claiming: "All hell has broken loose."

Spokespeople for America PAC's subcontractors called these claims "lies peddled by anonymous sources with agendas and a lack of knowledge of the facts".

Then there is Musk's much-ballyhooed sweepstake, in which he promised a $1m prize every day for one registered voter in seven swing states who signed a pledge supporting the First and Second Amendments.

Pennsylvania officials have accused it of being an illegal lottery scheme under state law, and in court, a lawyer for America PAC admitted that winners were not actually "randomly" selected but were specifically chosen to be paid "spokespeople".

That disclosure in turn attracted a class action lawsuit from people who 'competed' in the program, alleging that it broke laws against deceptive trading practices.

Musk has transformed X into a political operation

Just to be clear, Google is not intentionally manipulating search results to help Kamala Harris get more votes than Donald Trump. Rather, according to the company, it was showing maps of voting locations to people who googled where to vote for Harris because there is a county in Texas called Harris County.

Moreover, there is no evidence that ChatGPT is only willing to persuade Americans to vote for Harris and not for Donald Trump.

But those are both claims that Musk approvingly shared with his 203m followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday  in addition to a video featuring references to QAnon, an extremist millenarian cult that wants Trump to round up his political opponents with a military coup.

Thats nothing new for Musk. By now he has a long history of sharing misinformation and bigoted material. In this case, he deleted some of his posts and thanked Google for its clarification.

Whats worse is that Musk has been accused of tweaking Xs algorithms to promote his own posts shortly after he came out in support of Trump. In other words, he is allegedly using the entire social network as a pro-Trump megaphone.

Indeed, the respected tech journalist Casey Newton  who has been reporting on X and claims of biased social networks for years  said on Monday that Musk has transformed X into a political operation designed to get Trump elected at all costs.

Even so, his attempt to hold a town hall event on X on Monday night was thwarted by the endemic technical problems that have dogged the site since his takeover in 2022. Lets cancel this, he eventually said. Not a brilliant omen for how Musk could impact the federal government if he is given a government position by a second Trump administration.

Either way, expect Musks role in politics to stick around. America PAC is going to keep going after this election  and preparing for the midterms and any intermediate elections, as well as looking at elections at the district attorney and sort of judicial levels, he said in Tuesdays X discussion.
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Republicans will control the Senate in January, following a disappointing night for Democrats that the party had been fearing for months.

The tally as it stands is 51 seats for the Republicans and 42 seats for the Democrats, with seven races left to be called, the Associated Press reports. It puts Mitch McConnells party back in the leadership role it was forced to give up early on in the Trump administration.

Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio lost his re-election to Republican Bernie Moreno, a wealthy Trump-era newcomer.

Republicans flipped another seat in West Virginia, with the election of Jim Justice, who easily replaced retiring centrist Democrat Joe Manchin.

The unexpected battleground of Nebraska proved important to Republicans seizing the Senate. Incumbent GOP senator Deb Fischer brushed back a surprisingly strong challenge from independent newcomer Dan Osborn.

Meanwhile, Democratic efforts to oust firebrand Republicans Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida came to nothing.

open image in gallery Jim Justice, with his English bulldog Babydog, at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July. Justice flipped the West Virginia seat of retiring centrist Democrat Joe Manchin ( AP )

Several states will send history-makers to the Senate after voters elected two Black women to the Senate  Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland.

This result was no big surprise for the vice presidents party. Many Democratic operatives had been reported privately in the days and weeks after the June presidential debate between Biden and Trump to have been anxious about their partys chances of holding the Senate or even making serious gains in the House.

open image in gallery Ohio Republican Bernie Moreno during a watch party in Westlake, Ohio, with his wife Bridget. He took the Senate seat held by Sherrod Brown ( AP )

Harriss assumption of control over the Democratic ticket a month later allowed the presidents party to recover some of those bad poll numbers in swing states and key races, but in the end it was an avalanche which the party could not prevent.

McConnell himself wont be leading the GOP caucus  hes set to step down from his role as Republican majority leader at the end of 2024. The battle to replace him as leader has suddenly become that much more important.

open image in gallery Deb Fischers success in holding off a strong challenge from Democratic challenger Dan Osborn helped the Republicans take back the upper chamber ( AP )

Republicans in the upper chamber are likely to pick a senator with establishment ties  either John Thune or John Cornyn  to lead the party in the Senate next year, though MAGA favorite Rick Scott is also running for the position.

With reporting from the Associated Press
Kamala Harriss dream of becoming the first woman to be elected US president quickly turned into a nightmare for the crowd that gathered at Howard University late Tuesday evening.

Election Night was understandably depressing for Democrats. The party lost its majority in the Senate and saw Donald Trump set to return to the White House in January with a powerful conservative majority on the Supreme Court  the near worst-case scenario many in the party were warning about for months.

The tears definitely flowed on the Yard outside Frederick Douglass Hall as the night grew long and Harris campaign adviser Cedric Richmond told the crowd that the vice president wouldnt speak to them. Richmond vowed that the campaign would fight overnight, but Trumps lead in Pennsylvania and other states made the realities clear.

The night began with serious optimism among Harris supporters; those who spoke to The Independent before the major battlegrounds began reporting returns. They spoke about her win like it was a near-certainty, and triumphantly asserted that the rights cultural and political message had been successfully battled back. One transgender activist spoke about how the Trump campaigns entire closing argument of attacking transgender people had been proven to not actually penetrate for voters.

Then reality set in, as it became clear that Virginia was unexpectedly close, the Iowa Selzer poll anomaly had not been borne out, and the campaign was going to be in the fight of its life as Harris underperformed Joe Bidens 2020 numbers across the nation.

open image in gallery The tears were flowing at Kamala Harriss party at Howard University as the results were not what the crowd expected ( AFP via Getty )

But some of the young Harris supporters who poured out of the venue at her alma mater were still in good spirits as the night ended; laughing, cracking jokes, and overall putting on brave faces for the cameras.

Maybe it was a sign of the times, of Americas experience with a decade of Trumpmania. But even Richmond himself quipped to The Independent as he walked out with the crowd that the campaign had left it all on the field and had reasons to feel confident  though that was likely more than a little bit of a politicians bluster.

Throughout the evening, Howard students spoke about how important the moment was for the school, the community, and Black sororities and fraternities as well. Even in likely defeat, Harris had become the standard-bearer for a new generation of leadership on the American left, despite being counted out early on (and in their minds, maybe prematurely) in her 2020 bid for the White House.

It means a lot [for her to have her party at Howard], current Howard student Baiyee-Ndang Agbor-Baiyee told The Independent, while expressing optimism that Harris would pull things through even given some rocky election returns. Howard is a place that breeds excellence and when you can show the next generation that excellence is in your face, its not something thats distant its achievable. It means a lot.

As the night dragged on, the Blue Wall in the Rust Belt appeared to be showing cracks, while Pennsylvania crept further and further out of reach. The southwest was in an equally dismal state for the Democrats.

The mood quickly soured, and people began pouring out. The weather changed, too; a warm evening suddenly became breezy and chilly, and departures accelerated. By the time Richmond spoke after midnight, around half of the watch partys crowd had already headed for the exits in a scene reminiscent of a Trump rally. The campaigns announcement cleared the rest out.

open image in gallery Campaign adviser Cedric Richmond dispersed the remaining crowd at the Harris watch party around 12.45am ( AFP via Getty )

Devante Hill, a Harris campaign volunteer and a Howard alum, spoke to The Independent as the crowd left.

I think the majority of us, when the night started, we kind of knew that we wouldnt be leaving this place tonight knowing who the winner actually was, Hill said. And so I think were not kind of like, all hope is lost.

We just have to just wait until all the votes are counted, and then well concede if thats what its calling for, and if not, well claim the victory.

But, hours after the crowd cleared out, enough votes had been counted to declare Trump the winner.

He also added of the vice president being a product of Howard: It is no surprise, Howard University has historically bred some of the world changers that we know today so, not surprised, but [were] definitely very excited.

Looking and listening to the crowd that left Harriss watch party, its clear why the vice president chose this place to end her campaign. Where the Democrats go from here is unclear  it will be in the wilderness, under a Trump presidency for at least two years, until they figure out what comes next.
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Just hours after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, a January 6 rioter lined up for his pardon.

Christopher Carnell, who was charged and convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding earlier this year, asked Judge Beryl Howell to delay a hearing that was set to occur on Friday so lawyers could contact the presidential transition team.

As of today, Mr. Carnell is now awaiting further information from the Office of the President-elect regarding the timing and expected cope of clemency actions relevant to his case, lawyers for Carnell wrote in a filing on Wednesday morning.

open image in gallery Christopher Carnell (left) was charged with obstruction of an official proceeding for his role in the January 6 attack on the Capitol ( United States District of Columbia District Court )

Throughout his campaign, Trump has promised to pardon all Jan 6 rioters charged with crimes in connection to the attack on the Capitol.

It was the former presidents incendiary rhetoric leading up to and after the 2020 presidential election that inspired thousands of angry Trump supporters to storm the Capitol the day Congress was set to certify election results.

Many rioters believed the 2020 election was riddled with election fraud and that it was stolen from the former president due to Trumps claims. Multiple independent investigations have found those claims are false and there is no evidence of mass voter fraud in any recent election.

As a result, more than 1,300 individuals have been charged with crimes related to the attack.

open image in gallery Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in protest of the 2020 election results ( Getty )

Cases involving obstruction of an official proceeding, like Carnells, are currently in appeals and retrial processes because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the government must prove accused individuals physically impaired documents used in an official proceeding.

But despite Carnells best efforts to move the hearing to benefit from Trumps promised pardons, Judge Howell denied the request.

Similarly, Anna Lichnowski, another person convicted of a misdemeanor for her role in storming the Capitol, was denied the opportunity to move her sentencing date in the hopes of getting a presidential pardon.

Lichnowskis lawyers asked a judge to delay her sentencing, set for November 8, to save both judicial and government resources in the event Trump pardons her.

The judge denied her request, saying any future use of presidential pardons is irrelevant to a courts obligation to carry out its responsibilities.

It is unclear if Trump could even pardon Jan 6 rioters. Even presidential pardons are subject to some limitations like those that violate core constitutional principles.

However, it is expected that more rioters will request presidential pardons from Trump now he has won a second term.
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Kamala Harriss pathway to the White House looks all but over, as early voting totals across the US pointed to big Republican wins on Tuesday night and saw Donald Trump secure three key swing states.

The Republican presidential nominee currently stands within four Electoral College points of victory and has addressed his supporters at his campaign headquarters in Florida, declaring: America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.

Trump thanked his wife Melania and his children, who joined him on stage with their partners, also hailing his running mate JD Vance, campaign managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles plus Robert F Kennedy Jr, UFC boss Dana White and golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who had championed his cause.

At the Democrats watch party at Howard University in Washington, campaign officials told the dwindling crowd late on Tuesday that the Vice President would not appear until tomorrow, with Harris never leaving her Naval Observatory residence.

The dour mood at Howard grew as Trump took quick leads in the Sun Belt states of North Carolina and Georgia, with most observers eventually calling them for the Republican, before the former president went on to win pivotal Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, The New York Times election needle projects theres a 95 percent of a Trump victory based on current data, with the Republican forecast to win 306 out of the 270 necessary Electoral College votes.

The Times also currently forecasts Trump winning the swing states of Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Across 1,300 counties with 95 percent or more of their votes counted, Trump improved on his margins in at least 92 percent of them over 2020, according to a Politico analysis, though most of these counties arent in battlegrounds.

The red wave had top Trump backers like Elon Musk celebrating.

Game, set and match, he wrote on X on Tuesday evening, as he joined the former presidents election night watch party in Florida.

Harris had hoped to sweep the blue wall states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to secure the White House, although that prospect now looks far from assured.

At the moment, Trump is leading Harris in Michigan 52.3 percent to 46 percent, with 59.4 percent of expected votes factored in.

open image in gallery Elon Musk tweets Game, set and match,on X on Tuesday evening, as he joined the former presidents election night watch party in Florida ( X )

The state, the cradle of the US auto industry, was seen as a key test of both candidates industrial bona fides, as well as a litmus test for how Michigans large population of Muslim and Arab-American voters would factor in each candidates position on the Israel-Hamas conflict and alleged genocide in Gaza.

In Wisconsin, meanwhile, Trump leads Harris 51.4 to 47.2, with 85 percent of votes in.

The Harris campaign said on Tuesday it hasnt lost faith entirely.

open image in gallery The Harris campaign says it still sees encouraging signs in states like Michigan and Georgia as Trump leads in the Sun Belt ( Getty )

While we continue to see data trickle in from the Sun Belt states, we have known all along that our clearest path to 270 electoral votes lies through the Blue Wall states, Harris campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon wrote in an email to staff obtained by The Independent late Tuesday.

And we feel good about what were seeing.

The email said Harris was overperforming in turnout expectations in must-win Philadelphia, to the point it might top 2020 levels, and was expecting strong turnout in Detroit, where election results wont be reported out until later tonight.

open image in gallery The Harris campaign announced Tuesday the vice president wouldnt address supporters gathered for a watch party in Washington, as the Democrats road to victory narrowed ( AFP/Getty )

The Democratic campaign is also still awaiting results from parts of hotly contested Wisconsin, as well as West Coast battleground states Nevada and Arizona.

Trump is currently leading in both southwestern battlegrounds.

Elsewhere, despite warnings from famed Democratic strategist James Carville about the strength of some Trump performances in suburban areas such as Loudon County, Virginia, observers have called that state for Harris.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene has thanked her wonderful supporters after winning re-election to the House of Congress for the third time running.

The firebrand right-wing congresswoman, who represents Georgias 14th congressional district, posted a video celebrating her win from Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, vowing to bring Georgia home for the former president.

In the short video, posted around an hour before her victory was officially declared by the Associated Press, Greene said: Im so excited that my race had been called, and I just want to thank all the wonderful people in Georgias 14th district for your support and hard work I couldnt do it without you.

Despite her frequent outspokenness and penchant for conspiracy theories, Greene has proved consistently popular with voters in Georgias 14th congressional district. Her fellow Republicans Austin Scott and Buddy Carter also won re-election in Georgias 8th and 1st Congressional Districts, respectively.

In her video, Greene added: Tonight Im at Mar-a-Lago supporting president Trump, and as we move on through the evening we are looking for victory. I am honored for your support and I hope we bring Georgia home for President Trump and we can move forward to make America great again.

Marjorie Taylor Greene posts video from Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Despite her frequent outspokenness and penchant for conspiracy theories, Greene has proved consistently popular with voters in Georgias 14th congressional district ( Screen grab )

Greene has long marketed herself as a cheerleader for Trump, recently taking personal offense over remarks by businessman Mark Cuban, who said that the former president never hangs out with strong, intelligent women.

In an attempt to literally prove the billionaire entrepreneur wrong, Greene posted a video of herself performing pull-ups from her home garage.

After completing a set of five, Greene launched a personal attack on Cuban, claiming that he suffered from low testosterone and compared him, looks-wise, to MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.

Marjorie Taylor Greene responds to Mark Cuban's claim Trump is never around 'strong' women

Heres his issue, hes actually intimidated by strong, intelligent women, like me, she said. I graduated from UGA with a business degree, I run a very successful construction company in Georgia, and now Im going on my third term in Congress.

However Greene has fallen out with other high-profile fans of Trump, including fellow congresswoman-elect Lauren Boebert, and far-right activist Laura Loomer.

The congresswoman has also infamously clashed with Democratic congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. During a heated House committee meeting in May, the Texas representative called Greene a bleach blonde bad-built butch body.

Further showdowns may lie ahead, after Crockett also retained her seat in the House on Tuesday night.
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Tim Sheehy, the wealthy businessman whose campaign was plagued by controversies, is projected to defeat incumbent Jon Tester to represent Montana in the U.S. Senate.

A shift toward conservative ideology in the state benefitted Sheehy, 38, despite allegations that he lied about obtaining a bullet wound injury in Afghanistan and injuring himself during a trip to Glacier National Park.

The battle over Montanas Senate seat became one of the most-watched in the nation.

open image in gallery Sheehy, pictured with his wife, won in Montana ( AP )

Tester, a conservative Democrat, was running behind his Republican opponent for months. And D.C. Democrats didnt fly in to help out, either: Tester, 68, and his campaign made clear throughout that they were largely running against their partys brand, not alongside it.

Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, hoped that by winning the seat in deep-red Montana he would doom any Democratic notions of holding on to the Senate.

Ultimately, he bet correctly.

Abortion rights were Testers lifeline as he sought to hang on, hammering the issue nonstop for months.

But Testers bet that even in deeply conservative areas, GOP restrictions on the practice will be too unpalatable for voters to handle did not pay off.

open image in gallery Incumbent Democratic Senate candidate Jon Tester lost his re-election bid, in part thanks to shifting conservative ideology ( AP )

Sheehy was recruited by his Republican colleagues to run against Tester in part due to his experience as a combat veteran  which they hoped would appeal to traditional conservatives in Montana. But a convoluted story about his experience in Afghanistan became an issue for Sheehys campaign.

This past spring, The Washington Post reported that Sheehy was hospitalized in 2015 after his firearm discharged at Glacier National Park  a crime  and he allegedly accidentally shot himself in the arm.

But Sheehy told conservative podcast host Megyn Kelly that did not occur and he actually injured himself while hiking. He claimed he sought medical attention related to a previous injury he received while serving in Afghanistan as a Navy SEAL.

Sheehy alleges he was shot in the arm in Afghanistan during a friendly fire incident but never reported it because he did not want to ignite an investigation into a small injury. A spokesperson for Sheehy repeated this when asked for comment by The Post.

The Glacier National Park park ranger who responded to the incident reiterated that Sheehy did in fact injure himself during the 2015 incident.

It is unclear what exactly happened that day but ultimately the confusing story did not deter conservative voters from supporting Sheehy.

On Wednesday morning, Sheehy thanked Montana voters for their support

We The People made our voices heard, we completed our mission, and now we will secure our childrens future and save America together!! Sheehy wrote on X.
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President Joe Biden is set to become a great-grandfather for the first time, after his granddaughter Naomi revealed her pregnancy on election night.

On Tuesday, the 30-year-old political scion made the big reveal by posting a selfie on her Instagram story, shortly after the polls closed in Washington DC.

Naomi, the eldest daughter of the presidents 54-year-old son Hunter Biden and his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, sported a black poncho and a matching pair of leggings adorned with an I Voted sticker in the post.

Showing off her baby bump, she captioned the post: (we) voted, alongside an American flag icon and an upside-down smiley face.

It is not clear how far along Naomi is in her pregnancy.

open image in gallery Naomi Biden posted the selfie announcing her pregnancy to her Instagram story on Tuesday night ( Naomi Biden/Instagram )

Naomi tied the knot with 27-year-old Peter Neal in November 2022 in a lavish ceremony on the White Houses South Lawn.

The president, First Lady Jill Biden, Hunter and wife Melissa, and siblings Finnegan and Maisy attended the big day.

It marked the first wedding ceremony held on the White House grounds since Chelsea Clinton  daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton  married Marc Mezvinsky in July 2010.

Back in June, Naomi took the stand in her fathers gun charges trial in Wilmington, Delaware, telling the court that after my uncle died, things got bad  in reference to the death of Hunters brother Beau Biden from brain cancer in 2015.

open image in gallery Naomi Biden married Peter Neal on the White House South Lawn on November 22 2022 ( White House )

Naomi also testified that she visited Hunter during his 2018 stint at a Los Angeles rehab facility, where she introduced him to Neal.

This July, when her grandfather abandoned his re-election campaign, making way for Vice President Kamala Harris to step up to the top of the Democratic ticket, Naomi was quick to share her support for her Pop.

Im nothing but proud today of my Pop, our President, Joe Biden who has served our country with every bit of his soul and with unmatched distinction, she wrote on X on July 21.

Our world is better today in so many ways thanks to him. To the Americans who have always had his back, keep the faith. He will always have ours.
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A North Carolina man is going viral after he told CNN he voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election because his girlfriend threatened she would break up with him if he refused.

I wasnt going to vote at all until my girlfriend was blowing up my phone, telling me to go vote, Bryan Flores said after voting in Charlotte. And if I didnt, she was going to break up with me, so now Im here.

Flores, a Biden 2020 voter, later admitted, I made that up, she didnt say that, but its funny to say that, and said she did ask him to go for Harris.

But Floress experience may be a common one.

A historic gender gap is expected to play a key role in determining the winner of the election, with polling suggesting Harris has nearly 20 percent more support among women than Donald Trump, who was instrumental in rolling back the constitutionally protected right to an abortion.

North Carolina is one of the key battleground states in the 2024 election, and its official election result has not yet been announced.

According to the most recent figures obtained by the Charlotte Observer, the Harris campaign has won just shy of 70 percent of the presidential vote in Floress polling place of Mecklenburg County, one of the areas with a large city the Harris is hoping to claim in this purple state.

As The Independent reported from North Carolina, going into election day, the Harris campaign seemed to have all the momentum, while Trump was grasping for straws.

Overall, Donald Trump has 52 percent of the vote so far in North Carolina, with less than half of the votes counted, according to recent estimates.

North Carolina voter Bryan Flores said his girlfriend asked him to vote for Kamala Harris. ( CNN )

The state has endured its share of challenges this election season, including Hurricane Helene.

The storm tore across the state this fall, leveling towns like Asheville and leaving thousands without electricity and running water for weeks.

While observers worried the storms could depress turnout, there are some early indications that hasnt been the case.

North Carolina election officials said Sunday that a record turnout of more than 4.2 million residents made their choice via in-person early voting, compared with 3.6 million who did so in 2020.
A 900-page plan drawn up by former Donald Trump aides and endorsed by a powerful right-wing think tank has long been seen as a roadmap for the former presidents second administration.

Project 2025  a blueprint for Trumps presidency spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation and more than a dozen former Trump administration officials  is essentially a wishlist for the next Republican administration with plans to expand executive authority, replace civil servants with ideologically aligned appointees, crush abortion rights and impose an anti-immigrant agenda, among other policies.

Vice President Kamala Harris repeatedly warned against Project 2025s ambitions in her campaign.

Kenan Thompson: Did you ever see a book that could kill a small animal and end democracy at the same time? Here it is. These are the terms and conditions of a second trump presidency. If you vote for him, you vote all of this. pic.twitter.com/nuDv9lEKqP  Acyn (@Acyn) August 22, 2024

Can you believe they put that thing in writing? Read it. Its 900 pages, she said at a rally this summer.

Using an oversized, printed-out hardcover version of the 900-page document, Saturday Night Lives Kenan Thompson even took aim at Project 2025 during a sketch at the Democratic National Convention. You ever seen a document that could kill a small animal and democracy at the same time? Thompson asked. Here it is.

At the same time, the former president has desperately tried to distance himself from the plan, claiming that he knew nothing about it or who is behind it, despite its authors coming from Trumps White House and the GOPs close ties to the group that launched it.

At a rally in Michigan just one week after a 20-year-old gunman opened fire at the former president in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one attendee and injuring two others, Trump told the crowd: Some on the right, severe right, came up with this Project 25. I dont even know, some of them I know who they are, but theyre very, very conservative. Theyre sort of the opposite of the radical left.

open image in gallery Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Las Vegas on June 9. Now, Democrats have created a task force to go against a think-tanks conservative road map if he returns to the White House. ( Getty Images )

You have the radical left and the radical right and they come up  I dont know what the hell it is, its Project 25, he continued. They read some of the things and they are extreme, theyre seriously extreme. But I dont know anything about it, I dont want to know anything about it.

Project 2025s core policy book Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise outlines major changes across the federal government, from the White House to lesser-known agencies, with chapters written by former Trump officials.

Many of Project 2025s policies are virtually identical to ones proposed by Trump during his campign for re-election.

As The Independent previously reported, the plan would gut checks and balances to give Trump unprecedented, concentrated executive authority over federal agencies. If followed to the letter, an incoming Trump administration would roll out a blitzkrieg of firings across federal agencies, opening the door for an army of loyalists who would go on to weaponize the government against his rivals.

The plan recommends abolishing the Department of Education, slashing funds for federal law enforcement agencies, and subverting agencies that regulate the airwaves and campaign financing to choke out dissent.

That consolidation of power would also insulate Trump against legal threats and could usher in a wave of attacks against immigrants, reproductive healthcare and civil rights protections for LGBT+ people.

The plan also would revoke the federal governments approval of widely used abortion drugs, expand the nations nuclear footprint and restart nuclear weapons testing, and activate the military to make arrests at the US-Mexico border, among other proposals.

Civil rights groups and Democratic members of Congress have launched a task force and opposition campaigns in an attempt to safeguard the federal goverment against the rigt-wing wishlist.

House Democrats led by California Rep. Jared Huffman co-created the task force coordinate with members of Congress, pro-democracy and civil rights groups and impacted communities to coordinate on examining, highlighting, preempting, and counteracting this right-wing plot to undermine democracy.

Project 2025 is more than an idea, its a dystopian plot thats already in motion to dismantle our democratic institutions, abolish checks and balances, chip away at church-state separation, and impose a far-right agenda that infringes on basic liberties and violates public will, Huffman said in a statement on June 11.

open image in gallery Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts. ( AP )

This is an unprecedented embrace of extremism, fascism, and religious nationalism, orchestrated by the radical right and its dark money backers, he added. We need a coordinated strategy to save America and stop this coup before its too late.

Project 2025 was drafted by dozens of former Trump administration officials and other loyalists, nearly half of which are the recipients of dark money contributions from groups tied to conservative donor Leonard Leo, who helped usher in Trumps radical restructuring of the federal judiciary.

The plans overhaul of the federal government also poses threats to marriage equality and public school funding and could trample the wall of church-state separation and upend our democracy, according to Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

The nearly 1,000-page plan opens with a promise to eliminate abortion access, and abortion is mentioned nearly 200 times.

And their attacks dont stop with abortion, according to a statement from Karen Stone, vice president of public policy and government relations with Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Theyre also planning to restrict funding for birth control and other preventive care and attacking gender-affirming care and sex education.

open image in gallery Democratic US Rep Jared Huffman is leading a task force against Project 2025s plans for Donald Trumps presidency. ( AP )

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said that Project 2025 will not be stopped by an unserious, mistake-riddled press release or a task force of House Democrats lacking a basic understanding of federal governance.

The task force launched by House Democrats only underscores the Lefts fear of losing its grip on their authoritarian bureaucracy, he said in a statement this summer as pressure from lawmakers and on social media began to scrutinze the document. We will not give up and we will win.

Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita said last year that the any personnel lists, policy agendas, or government plans published anywhere are merely suggestions.

Efforts from outside groups like the Heritage Foundation are appreciated but do not speak for the campaign, they said.

In a statement denying connections to the campaign, the Heritage Foundation said the plan is merely a guideline for the next conservative president.

But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement, the group said.

This story was initially published in June 2024 and has been updated with developments
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Stormy Daniels has branded Donald Trump a lunatic as she blamed racism for his likely victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

The former adult film star appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday morning as Trump was on the verge of securing a second term in the White House, having clinched projected wins in key swing states Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia.

Daniels said she was shocked and ashamed of voters for failing to step up at the voting booth to ensure that a convicted felon did not win the race.

Im actually coming on your show this morning and for the first time a little bit shocked and ashamed of whats happened in my country, she said.

How is someone whos found guilty or even charged with so many crimes even allowed to run for a political office?

She added: There is no precedent set. I thought the American people would step up in the voting booth and set that precedent and say People who speak like you who have rhetoric like you who incite violence like you and cause so much divisive behaviour in our country, we wont stand for it.

Daniels gave her take on why Harris looks set to lose the race.

You cannot tell me that its not because of racism that she did not win, she said.

open image in gallery Trump in court during his hush money trial in New York ( Getty Images )

Daniels has been a leading critic of Trump since making headlines in 2018 when she came forward with an allegation that she had been paid hush money in exchange for her silence during the 2016 election about an alleged affair in 2006.

The payment was at the center of Trumps criminal trial in New York this spring where Daniels took the stand, having arrived at court in a bulletproof vest.

On May 30, Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records over the payment  making him the first former president in history convicted of a crime.

Following his conviction, Trump was originally scheduled to be sentenced on September 18. It was delayed by the judge and is now expected to take place on November 26  just weeks after the election.

Asked whether Trump would need to worry about the criminal case now, Daniels branded him a lunatic and said: He doesnt need to worry about it but hes a petty child and he likes to make examples out of people.

open image in gallery In September, Daniels (pictured) said she believed there was a strong possibility the former president would have her tried for treason if he was re-elected ( REUTERS )

She reiterated her past concerns that he would seek vengeance on her if he won the election, adding: Who knows what he wants, who knows what goes on in the mind of a lunatic? But he has said [he wants vengeance] himself.

In September, Daniels said she believed there was a strong possibility that the former president would have her tried for treason if he was re-elected.

Separate from the criminal case, Daniels sued the former president for defamation in 2018. She ultimately lost, and was ordered to pay Trumps legal fees.
On her Twitter/X profile, she wears a blouse and cardigan, drop earrings, and a gold necklace, her grey hair perfectly set. But Susie Wiles Golden Girl, grandmotherly image belies the role that consumes her. Wiles is one of the most powerful players in Republican politics, who ran Donald Trumps campaign for re-election and who has just become his next chief of staff.

In his statement on Thursday evening Trump said that Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history and is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected.

It is a well deserved honour to have Susie as the first-ever female chief of staff in United States history, he continued. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.

Wiles, 67, is the first woman to be appointed White House chief of staff and in his victory speech in Florida the President-elect Donald Trump mentioned her previously little-known name seven times.

Let me also express my tremendous appreciation for Susie and Chris the job you did. Come, Susie, Trump said. Susie likes to stay in the back, let me tell you. We call her the ice maiden, he joked, adding. She is not in the background (anymore).

A ruthless political operator, for the past 12 months her focus has been on absolute victory. And on Thursday evening, Trump confirmed her as his White House new chief of staff.

The Hill political newspaper called her the most powerful Republican you dont know; The New York Times described her as perhaps the most significant voice inside Mr Trumps third presidential campaign.

But who is she, and what makes this cake-baking, bird-watching 66-year-old grandmother tick?

Wiles has worked in Republican politics since the late 1970s and went on to become a campaign scheduler on Ronald Reagans 1980 presidential bid, and later in his administration. In her late twenties, she moved from New Jersey, where she was born and raised, to Jacksonville, Florida, with her then-husband, Lanny, an advance man who handled publicity for candidates during political campaigns.

When the couple had their two daughters, Katie and Caroline, she took some time out to raise them but then went full-throttle back into the game  eventually running Trumps Florida operations in his first bid to become president. Many attribute him winning the state by 1.2 percentage points over his rival Hillary Clinton to Wiles.

Choosing to stay in Florida instead of heading to the White House, Wiles focussed her efforts a couple of years later, on helping the Trump-anointed Ron DeSantis in his campaign to succeed Rick Scott as governor. Their relationship soured, with him blaming her for leaks and despite her denials, it is thought he was behind her ousting from the team. She officially left for health reasons in September 2019, but one friend of Wiles told me she was really down at that point  at the very bottom, and that leaving presented an existential crisis for her.

But then, in 2020, she got a call from Trump. He wanted her back on his team. And not only that, he wanted her to head it up.

Wiless father, Pat Summerall, was a professional football player and later a well-known sports broadcaster. Peter Schorsch, publisher of Florida Politics, who has known Wiles for a decade and considers her a friend, says Summerall would reach tens of millions of people each Sunday with his broadcasts and was such a voice of authority that he thinks some of that ability to take control; to command an audience, rubbed off on Wiles. Another former colleague and friend agreed that her gift as a people person was probably inherited from her dad but that her warm personality came from her mother, Katherine Jacobs, who was a wonderful woman.

open image in gallery Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with his senior advisor Susie Wiles ( REUTERS )

However, it wasnt all apple pie and roses. Summerall was an alcoholic and, after divorcing Katherine, was estranged from Wiles and her two siblings, Jay and Kyle, for some time. But, as an adult, Wiles left the door open for him to reconcile, and Summerall credited her with eventually helping get him into rehab for his addiction.

In 2017, Wiles and Lanny separated. Schorsch described it as a quiet divorce between two prominent people but he thinks it had the effect of freeing Wiles up to focus on her political career in her sixties, to where she can be devoted to whoever her principal is at the time; undistracted when working on a candidate.

Her soft edges however arent enough to hide a reputation for being a rottweiler, unafraid of baring her teeth. As a political operative, Susie does not f*** around, Schorsch says. There is no other way to say it. Its not that shes hard, its not that shes mean, but if you try to promote yourself or if you flimflam or youre not honest about something, Susie will knife you herself. Its perhaps a trait her new boss is particularly fond of.

Schorsch recalls an instance when she oversaw the DeSantis campaign and a consultant who was brought in chose to speak to the media when they were told not to: Susie immediately cut this person off and it took years for them to repair that relationship.

open image in gallery Wiles has worked in Republican politics since the late 1970s ( Reuters )

I dont want to say shes made a deal with the devil, but she knows what Trumps about Peter Schorsch

But he says she also possesses this southern grandmotherly kindness. For example, he says, she knew the names of the volunteer working tirelessly for the campaign in a far-off county, and she takes care of the people working with her. Shes very good at offering familial advice to a lot of her young staffers. He recalls one such staffer had just had a baby and Wiles emphasised the importance of taking time off. Theres an emphasis on making sure the people working for her are taking care of their home lives too.

Schorsch says shed very much fit into the kind of decorum and stagecraft that is a hallmark of British politics. Unlike her boss maybe she just respects so much of the institutional stuff, the discipline of it all, while at the same time being a very savvy operator.

It was a savvy Team Trump that recruited Wiles to the campaign. By taking all the craziness that surrounds Trump and adding what Schorsch calls a disciplined ground game, it seemed to be the sleight of hand helped Trump along to victory. Schorsch noted how Mar-a-Lago became so much more disciplined since Susie became the chief gatekeeper.

Whats more, he thinks that Wiles sees no need to rein in Trumps worst excesses. Its a much more pragmatic let Trump be Trump philosophy: he says certain things to the Maga crowd, but he also offers an incredible tax policy to the billionaire crowd, and they like that. I dont want to say shes made a deal with the devil, but she knows what Trumps about.

open image in gallery Trump talks strategy on a plane back from New Hampshire, with Wiles not too far away ( The Washington Post/Getty )

Its this ability to think two things at once and instinct to know what people want that makes her such a smart operator. John Delaney hired Wiles when he ran a successful campaign to become mayor of Jacksonville back in 1995, after which she became his chief of staff.

Four weeks into the campaign she kind of transformed the thinking and the messaging, he says. And there are certain Trumpian elements to her too  in terms of her ability to connect with a crowd and give them exactly what they want. She is an absolutely brilliant political savant with incredible instincts about what the public thinks; what can fly, Delaney says.

Delaney says Wiles wants to help the people she works for reach the goals they are aiming for, even if she doesnt always agree entirely with their politics. She has no ego. Shes very much a behind-the-scenes person. But despite friends and colleagues being willing to talk about her and her ability to do a difficult job, she remains an enigma and fiercely guards her personal life. Even members of the Trump campaign are reluctant to talk about her.

As for working for Trump, Wiles might not always agree with his delivery, his choice of words or even his political stance on an issue, but Delaney says politics is about what people can overlook in one candidate and what they cant overlook in another. In that way, shes very much like the voters who might have held their noses at the ballot box; dyed in the wool Republicans who may not have loved their candidate, but who got over the line.

Delaney doubts that Wiles politics always chime with Trumps. She would be what Id call left on LGBT+ issues. And I cant believe she would necessarily agree naturally with Donald Trump on immigration, but thats more me speculating.

open image in gallery Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thursday ( AP )

Delaney agrees with Schorsch that, political career aside, Wiles is a sweet, good-natured person. If she lived in your neighbourhood and you were sick, shed bring over a casserole, he says. If you needed an electrician to be let into your house, shed figure out how to do that. And if you were in the hospital, shed visit and send you flowers. Shes just a really nice person.

When Wiles is at home, he says she likes to tend her garden and she enjoys cooking. Shes known to be an avid birdwatcher, too, although as one person who knows her told me, I doubt shes doing much birdwatching at the moment.

And shes crazy about her girls and her grandkids, Delaney says. Shes not flashy, doesnt splurge on five-star hotels, and he says as a practising Episcopalian shes a church-every-Sunday person and prays frequently.

Nate Monroe, a columnist for the Florida Times-Union newspaper who has known Wiles in his capacity as a journalist for a decade, says her critics would say that sweet, personable demeanour masks a very, very calculating, hard-charging operator. As much as she is very well thought of, she is equally feared. And she is a dangerous person to cross.

In January, Monroe penned a devastating editorial, castigating DeSantis for his presidential campaign and pointing out personal traits which ensure he always chooses cruelty over kindness, dog whistles over empathy, divisiveness over grace. Just to ensure the knife was well and truly twisted, Monroe added: Who was it that Trump called out during his victory speech [in Iowa], that diminutive figure standing at the periphery of his entourage on stage? Susie Wiles, the adviser DeSantis cast out, is one of Trumps most trusted confidantes. Oops.

Monroe says those familiar with Wiles knew that by cutting her out of his inner circle  and humiliating her in the process  DeSantis would eventually get his comeuppance. He also says Wiles is almost allergic to drama  which may sound illogical  comical, even  when you consider who her boss is. But Monroe has another take. Perhaps its a good fit. Perhaps, in Susie Wiles, Donald Trump has found a calm, steady hand.
 Close Related video: Jake Tapper shares five words he never contemplated using to describe Trumps cabinet pick

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Donald Trump has returned to Madison Square Garden tonight to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the New York City arena.

The president-elect returned to the famed venue just weeks after his controversial campaign rally there. Attendees met him with thundering cheers as he entered alongside UFC CEO Dana White, billionaire ally Elon Musk, cabinet pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Popular podcaster Joe Rogan also attended, greeted Trump with a friendly handshake.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to fill key posts in his second administration and tonight named fracking CEO Chris Wright as his choice for energy secretary.

Wright, CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development and one of the industrys loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change.

Trump's transition team is also firefighting serious allegations surrounding Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Pete Hegseth for defense secretary.

A woman who gave testimony to the House Ethics Committee probing Gaetz claims that she witnessed him having sex with a minor, her lawyer told ABC. Gaetz denies all wrongdoing.

The president-elect's transition team is also reportedly "stunned" by a sexual assault allegation regarding Hegseth that only emerged within 48 hours of announcing him for the top defense job, CNN reports. He denied all the accusations.
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Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have been neck-and-neck in the polls, prompting questions over what would happen if the Electoral College is tied.

The Constitution has a solution.

To win the presidency, a candidate needs to earn the majority of 270 electoral votes.

Article II Section 1 Clause 3 of the Constitution states that if no candidate gets a majority, the election turns to the House of Representatives, who need to choose immediately, by ballot.

Each state gets one vote, no matter the size.

States with multiple House Representatives would have to conduct an internal poll among themselves. This poll would also include the newly elected members of Congress, according to the Congressional Research Service.

open image in gallery Donald Trump lost the popular vote in 2016 but still took the White House due to the Electoral College ( AFP via Getty Images )

What were really saying here is if the Electoral College was really in a tie, then the outcome of House races and Senate races would be absolutely critical to the outcome of the presidential election, Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told NPR.

The House votes would be cast after these new members are sworn in on January 6.

Whichever candidate gets a majority  at least 26 out of 50  of these House votes becomes president.

If the House doesnt elect a president before Inauguration Day on January 20, then the vice-president elect would serve until the House decides the presidency.

In the case of a tie for the vice presidency, the Senate would decide. Each Senator casts one vote and the winner is determined by whomever earns 51 votes or more, the Constitution says.

Only once in US history has the president not been chosen by the Electoral College, since the current system came into play.

open image in gallery Kamala Harris is deadlocked in the polls with her Republican rival ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

In 1824, a crowded field of candidates vied for the presidency. While Andrew Jackson earned the most electoral votes, he failed to secure a majority, so the election was given to the House.

The House elected John Quincy Adams as president. He won by a margin of one vote, according to the University of Virginias Miller Center.

On the eve of Election Day, polls showed Harris and Trump essentially deadlocked, with Harris taking a small lead in a handful of key battleground states.
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Donald Trumps suggestion that massive cheating might be underway as voters go to the polls in Philadelphia has no factual basis whatsoever, according to Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

The only talk about massive cheating has come from one of the candidates, Donald J. Trump. There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation, Krasner wrote on X. We have invited complaints and allegations of improprieties all day. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath.

Earlier today, Trump told his more than 8 million followers on Truth Social that he was hearing a lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia and that law enforcement was coming.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

Conspiracy theories about Pennsylvania are nothing new for the Trump campaign.

In 2020, the state as a whole and Philadelphia in particular were some of the main focuses of the Republicans many, ultimately unfounded allegations of voter fraud, as were fellow Democratic-leaning cities with large minority populations like Atlanta and Phoenix.

Donald Trump suggested without evidence massive CHEATING was underway in Philadelphia on Eleciton Day ( AFP via Getty Images )

This time around, even before Election Day, the Trump campaign made multiple unfounded claims of electoral cheating in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is one of the key battlegrounds in the 2024 election, and both campaigns have spent considerable time and money in the state.

The Harris campaign held its final rally on Monday in Philadelphia, where the Democrat is hoping to maximize turnout from Black voters. The vice president also campaigned recently in Allentown, home to a large Puerto Rican population that may have been swayed blue after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called the territory a floating island of garbage at a recent Trump rally.

Voters in Bucks County, dubbed the swingiest of all swing counties in the swingiest of all swing states, said all the attention has been insane, especially for swing voters.

Thats all we get in the mail. Phone calls, texts, TV.

People are coming to our door constantly, Wendy Hanley, a 49-year-old resident of Bensalem, toldThe Independent.
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Soldiers in a Ukrainian artillery battery on the front were only vaguely aware of the US election results coming in.

Their entrenched artillery battery fires on Russian forces daily  and takes fire nearly as often. Just the other day, one of their overhead nets snared a Russian drone.

I hope that the quantity of weapons, the quantity of guns for our victory will increase, the unit's 39-year-old commander, who goes by the name Mozart, said in the hours before Trumps win was confirmed. We don't care who is the president, as long as they don't cut us off from help, because we need it.

Though Trump's election throws into doubt American support for Ukraine  and ultimately whether Kyiv can beat back Russia's invasion  the soldiers who use their Starlink connection to the internet sparingly learned of the results from Associated Press journalists.

Mozart  who like other soldiers did not give his name in keeping with Ukrainian military protocol and has given musical monikers to the battlefield positions  is among many Ukrainians who hope that Trump will hold the line on American support for their country. Russian forces have recently made gains in the east, although the commander described the front-line situation as static.

open image in gallery A serviceman of the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine prepares to fire a Giatsint-B gun towards Russian position ( AP )

It was under Trump that the United States first sent weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, in 2017. Those Javelin anti-tank missiles were crucial to Ukraine's ability to fend off the full-scale invasion in 2022. But Trump overall is wary of U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.

Trump, who has touted his good relationship with President Vladimir Putin and called the Russian leader pretty smart for invading Ukraine, has repeatedly criticized American backing of Ukraine. He characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the greatest salesman on Earth for winning U.S. aid.

Zelenskyy was among the first world leaders to publicly congratulate Trump and said the two discussed how to end Russian aggression against Ukraine when they met in September.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together, he wrote on the social platform X.

Trump has said repeatedly he would have a peace deal done between Ukraine and Russia within a day if elected, although he has not said how. During his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, he twice refused to directly answer a question about whether he wanted Ukraine to win  raising concerns that Kyiv would be forced to accept unfavorable terms in any negotiations he oversaw.

In Kyiv, which comes under attack from Russian drones near daily, 18-year-old Viktoriia Zubrytska was pragmatic about her expectations for the next American president. She thinks Ukraine will be forced to give up territory in exchange for peace under a Trump presidency. But she said she preferred that to what she called the false hope that the Biden administration offered.

We will live in a world of facts where we will be certain on what awaits us, said the law student. Certainty and objective truth is much better than lies and life in illusions.

According to VoteCast, 74% of voters who supported Harris favored continuing aid to Ukraine, while only 36% of Trumps voters did. AP VoteCast is a survey of the American electorate conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.

open image in gallery A serviceman of the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine fires Giatsint-B gun towards Russian position ( AP )

On the front lines in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region, Andriy, who goes by Rodych or Relative, was resigned to the fact that he has no power to influence the American vote.

We will come up with something" whatever happens, he said.

We are a shield between Europe and Russia, he added. Other countries do not understand what is happening here, they see it on TV and for them it is far away.

America's NATO allies were also closely watching the election. France and Germany arranged a last-minute, top-level defense meeting Wednesday in Paris to discuss the results, and Ukraine is likely to be central to the meeting. The two leading powers in the European Union provide significant support to Ukraine to defend it against Russias war.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, citing a more aggressive Russia, also invoked Trump's motto of peace through strength.

Rutte praised Trump for his work during his first term to persuade countries in the alliance to ramp up defense spending.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had no information on whether Putin plans to congratulate Trump but emphasized that Moscow views the U.S. as an unfriendly country.

Peskov reaffirmed the Kremlins claim that the U.S. support for Ukraine amounted to its involvement in the conflict, telling reporters: Lets not forget that we are talking about, the unfriendly country that is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.

Still, he noted Trump's promise to end the war swiftly once elected.

The U.S. can help end the conflict, Peskov said, adding that it certainly cant be done overnight."
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The head of Australias national intelligence agency said it was troubling to see an emerging axis of countries supporting Russias war in Ukraine emerge as allies of the Kremlin mounted a challenge for western countries supporting Kyiv.

Andrew Shearer, who leads the governments Office of National Intelligence (ONI), said North Korea, Iran, and more significantly China, posed a strategic challenge for countries including Canberra as the war dragged on.

He said the emerging axis, which has China and Russia as its main pillars, had been underestimated since the war began as Beijing emboldened Moscow by providing dual-use goods as well as economic and diplomatic support.

"The massive provision by China of dual-use assistance to Putin, and economic support and diplomatic support is keeping Putins army in the field in Ukraine, killing innocent Ukrainians just as surely as if they were providing artillery ammunition and missiles," Mr Shearer said at the Raisina Downunder conference in Canberra.

He said Iran supported Vladimir Putin by providing Shahed drones while North Korea built closer ties with cooperation expanding beyond weapons and thousands of troops have poured into Russian training grounds.

"This is a profoundly troubling strategic development and we are all grappling to catch up with it and put in place effective measures, but I think this is one of the strategic challenges of our time," Mr Shearer said.

China has been accused of aiding Moscows war machine by providing critical components with over 70 per cent of the machine tools and 90 per cent of the microelectronics Russia import coming from Beijing.

In May, the US announced sanctions on about 20 firms based in China and Hong Kong for exporting consignments of drone components and electronics to Russia.

China has, however, denied the allegation of aiding war and said Beijing oversees the export of dual-use materials in accordance with laws and regulations.

An analysis of Chinese customs data by the Carnegie Endowment think tank showed that China exported more than $300m worth of dual-use items to Russia every month. It included the supply of both commercial and military applications items.

Adding to the concerns, the US, South Korea, UK and Ukraine have confirmed North Korea has said soldiers, numbering beyond 10,000, in Russia with president Volodymyr Zelensky confirming that the troops had entered the fight.

The first battles with North Korean soldiers mark a new chapter of global instability, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address. Together with the world, we must do everything to ensure that this Russian step toward expanding the war  this true escalation  becomes a loss, he said.

Australia remains a close partner of the US, Britain, Canada, and New Zealand, the countries which are also part of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership.

The Albanese government has given more than AUD$1.1bn ($724m) since the start of Russias war in Ukraine.
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Authorities in Greece have recovered the bodies of four people from the sea just off the resort island of Rhodes.

The coast guard said the bodies were found after a migrant smuggler allegedly forced his passengers overboard while transferring them from Turkey to Greece.

Another 25 people were found alive on land on Wednesday.

The bodies of three men and one woman were recovered near the coast on the southern tip of Rhodes early on Wednesday, the coast guard said.

The group of 25 survivors were found on land, with police originally locating an initial group of 11 people shortly after midnight, and the rest found afterwards.

Survivors told authorities they had been traveling to the Greek island from the nearby Turkish coast by speedboat when the smuggler driving the vessel forced them overboard into the water and left, the coast guard said.

A search and rescue operation in the area was called off Wednesday afternoon once authorities ascertained from survivors that there were no further people missing. The nationalities of the passengers werent immediately known.

open image in gallery A helicopter and a vessel with coast guards officers take part in a search and rescue operation after a boat carrying migrants ran into trouble off the coast of the eastern Aegean Sea island of Samos, Greece, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

It was the latest fatal case involving migrants trying to make their way into the European Union using the sea route either from the nearby Turkish coast or across the Mediterranean from North Africa.

Greece lies on a popular route into the European Union for people fleeing war and poverty in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, with tens of thousands heading to Greek islands, usually in smuggling boats from the nearby Turkish coast, or making the longer and more treacherous journey across the Mediterranean from North Africa.

Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos has said the government is seeking stricter EU migration policies and is considering creating detention facilities on the islands of Rhodes and Crete after the rate of arrivals by sea has more than doubled, starting last fall.

Just over 50,000 migrants were registered as having arrived in Greece by early November, with more than 43,000 of them arriving by sea, according to figures from the U.N. refugee agency.

Earlier this year wildfires swept across part of the isle of Rhodes, triggering the evacuation of thousands of tourists.
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Flares and red paint were thrown on the City Hall building in the Serbia in rage over last week's collapse of a concrete canopy at the railway station that killed 14 people.

Police in the city of Novi Sad responded by firing tear gas canisters.

The protesters surrounded the building in central Novi Sad, breaking windows and throwing stones and other objects despite calls by organizers to remain calm. Special police troops were deployed inside the building.

Some of the angry protesters wearing masks tried to get inside the building and hand over their demands that those responsible for the canopy collapse face justice.

Serbia's autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic said the police are showing restraint, but also issued a warning saying horrific, violent protests are underway."

People of Serbia please do not think violence is allowed, he said on X. All those taking part in the incidents will be punished.

Protest organizers said they wanted to enter the Hall and submit their demands.

Miran Pogacar, an opposition activist, said. one glass window can be mended but we cannot bring back 14 lives. People are angry. Serbia wont stand for this.

Bojan Pajtic, an opposition politician, said he believed violence and incidents were stoked deliberately by provocateurs.

Thousands first marched through the city streets demanding that top officials step down because of the fatal outer roof collapse last Friday, including autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Milos Vucevic.

open image in gallery People light candles for the victims of an outdoor roof collapse at a train station in Novi Sad, Serbia ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The protesters gathered outside the railway station where they held a moment of silence for the victims as organizers read their names. The crowd responded by chanting: arrest the gang and thieves.

The protest started peacefully but some demonstrators later hurled plastic bottles and bricks at the headquarters of Vucics ruling Serbian Progressive Party and smearing red paint on posters of the Serbian president and the prime minister  a message that they have blood on their hands.

The protesters removed most of the Serbian national red, blue and white national flags that were apparently hung on the headquarters to prevent it from an attack. That triggered an angry reaction from the Serbian president.

Our Serbian tri-color has been destroyed, hidden and removed by all those who did not love Serbia, Vucic wrote on X. Tonight, in Novi Sad, this is being done by those who tell us that they love Serbia more than us, the decent citizens of this country, Vucic wrote on X. No one has beaten Serbia and the Serbian tricolor, so they wont either!.

Critics of Serbias populist government have attributed the disaster to rampant corruption in the Balkan country, a lack of transparency and sloppy work during renovation work on the station building which was part of a wider railway deal with Chinese state companies.

The accident happened without warning. Surveillance camera footage showed the massive canopy on the outer wall of the station building crashing down on the people sitting below on benches or going in and out.

open image in gallery Protesters demand arrests, two days after a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Officials have promised full accountability and faced with pressure, Serbias construction minister submitted his resignation on Tuesday.

Prosecutors have said that more than 40 people already have been questioned as part of a probe into what happened. Many in Serbia, however, doubt that justice will be served with the populists in firm control of the judicial system and the police.

Opposition parties behind Tuesdays protest said they are also demanding the resignation of Vucevic and that documentation be made public listing all the companies and individuals involved.

The victims included a 6-year-old girl. Those injured in the roof collapse remained in serious condition on Tuesday.

The train station has been renovated twice in recent years. Officials have insisted that the canopy had not been part of the renovation work, suggesting this was the reason why it collapsed but giving no explanation for why it was not included.

The Novi Sad railway station was originally built in 1964, while the renovated station was inaugurated by Vucic and his populist ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, over two years ago as a major stopover for a planned fast train line between Belgrade and Budapest.
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Spains prime minister Pedro Sanchez has said nearly 15,000 troops and police have been deployed to help the cities and towns affected by Spains deadliest flooding disaster in recent history.

Frustration over the governments management of the flooding crisis has sparked public outcry and prompted some citizens to turn to self-policing, frustrated by what they see as a lacklustre official response. Groups of local men are patrolling rubble-strewn, poorly lit streets in Paiporta, the suburb in Valencia where crowds pelted mud at Spains King Felipe and Queen Letizia when they visited at the weekend  and where more than 60 people out of the total death toll of 217 were killed.

One 19-year-old man, who gave his name as Martin, told reporters that he and his friends are taking the law into their own hands because they believe police are not carrying out their duty to maintain public safety.

Were patrolling because we dont want our neighbours to feel the insecurity theyve been feeling the past few days due to various robberies, he said. People have already lost enough.

Speaking at a press conference in Madrid on Tuesday, Mr Sanchez paid tribute to the work of the national police and civil guard.

I remember, at the first moments of this emergency, there was talk of looting, Mr Sanchez said. Today, fortunately, we are observing that this looting is falling to absolutely marginal figures. More than 170 people have been detained.

open image in gallery People walk through a street in Paiporta piled with broken furniture and debris ( AP )

The prime minister also announced a sweeping 10.6bn (8.9bn) relief package to support the recovery of 78 flood-ravaged communities, likening the scale of aid being provided to the robust relief measures implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The relief package includes direct payments ranging from 20,000 to 60,000 for residents whose homes sustained damage, alongside substantial financial support for businesses and local governments in regions hit by the devastating floods.

Mr Sanchez also pledged to seek additional funding from the European Union, acknowledging the long road ahead after more than 200 people were killed by the flooding. Responding to Mr Sanchezs announcement, Valencias president, Carlos Mazon, said local authorities have estimated that they will need three times that amount.

Mr Sanchez declared Valencia a disaster area, saying that around 15,000 soldiers and police officers had been dispatched to the province as well as 287 forest brigaders, around a hundred customs officers, 44 forensic physicians, and 600 specialised vehicles for pumping, cleaning, and supplying water to the affected areas.

open image in gallery An owner is reunited with her dog following the flood ( Axel Miranda/SOPA Images/Sipa USA/News Images )

We must continue working, with more resources, more coordination, and greater effort, until normality returns to all the municipalities and to all the homes affected by this tragedy, he said.

Criticism of the authorities disaster response is continuing, with Mr Sanchezs ruling Socialist Party and the conservative Popular Party  which governs the Valencia region  involved in a blame game over who is accountable for inadequate flood warnings and who holds responsibility for managing emergency operations.

In polling published on Tuesday by El Espanol, an online newspaper, Valencians gave the king and queen scores of more than seven out of 10 for their conduct, whereas Mr Mazon, the head of Valencias regional government, and Mr Sanchez were rated 3 and 2.6 respectively.

Regional leaders estimate that losses could exceed 31bn, with up to 4,500 businesses affected by the destruction caused by the floods.

Fears are also rising over the potential for an outbreak of infectious disease, with authorities advising residents to get tetanus shots and quickly clean mud off their skin.

open image in gallery Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has announced a relief package to support the recovery of 78 flood-ravaged communities ( EPA )

Mr Mazon warned of the risk of an epidemic, saying that tetanus, hepatitis and gastroenteritis were all possible. He told a press conference: The first vaccinations are already being given to volunteers and neighbours.

Elsewhere, emergency services discovered human remains in Letur, near Albacete in the Castilla-La Mancha region, where five people have been missing since last weeks floods. On Sunday, the body of a sixth victim, a 70-year-old woman, was found.

As search and rescue operations continue, authorities are using sniffer dogs to comb through a submerged 1,800-space underground car park at the Bonaire shopping centre in Valencia. Emergency services are still working around the clock after sudden, tsunami-like flooding caught staff and shoppers by surprise and trapped an unknown number of people.

Survivors described the terrifying event to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo as a nightmare and worse than the tsunami movie, with shop assistants recounting how they narrowly escaped as torrents of water surged into the complex.

As police teams pump out the floodwater and search through the roughly 50 waterlogged vehicles discovered so far, no more bodies have yet been found.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
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As emergency services continue to search for those still missing in Spain, many are questioning what caused the devastating flash flooding which has killed at least 217 people.

Dubbed the flood of the century, rainfall last Tuesday saw wide swathes of southern and eastern Spain completely destroyed by torrents of muddy water.

With cars tumbling down streets in Valencia and village roads turned to rivers, the army was drafted in to assist in the ongoing rescue operation.

Aemet, Spains meteorological agency, said Valencia had seen the most adverse cold drop of the century, prior to this weeks floods. ( AFP via Getty Images )

The region is known to be particularly vulnerable to torrential autumn downpours, caused by a weather phenomenon known as the cold drop or DANA.

However, the destructive weather system is believed to be worsening in the wake of climate change, accumulating in the flash flooding being the worst the region has seen in three decades.

From weather phenomena to flood defences: here is what may have accelerated Spains deadly flash floods:

The cold drop

A cold drop is a term used in Spain and France to refer to a weather phenomenon that is observed every autumn sparking torrential rain.

Otherwise known as the DANA weather system, it has occurred for many years on Spains Mediterranean coast but scientists believe it is being made increasingly worse by climate change.

It happens when cold air meets the warm, moist air over the Mediterranean Sea, the hotter air rises rapidly to form vast rain clouds quickly. These water-laden clouds can remain in the same area for many hours, raising their destructive potential.

Eastern and southern Spain are particularly susceptible to the phenomenon due to their position between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

The cold drop results in water-laden clouds hovering over locations for many hours ( Reuters )

Climate change

Aemet, Spains meteorological agency, said Valencia had seen the most adverse cold drop of the century prior to the floods.

The increase in torrential rain has likely been impacted by climate change with an Aemet spokesperson telling local media: It is not possible for air and sea temperatures to be increasing and everything else to remain the same.

The forecaster added that not only has the temperature change intensified the phenomenon and torrential rain, but it has also made them more frequent.

The increased summer heat has also meant the ground in Valencia is harder and less able to absorb the excessive amount of water.

Since the storm, there has been debate about the strength of Valencias flood defences ( AP )

Flood defences

Since the storm, many have argued Valencias flood defences are not strong enough to handle such extreme weather.

The region is particularly at risk of flash flooding  due to its hard ground and vulnerability to the cold drop  but its infrastructure has been unable to protect its residents.

Spains civil protection service did not issue an alert warning residents not to leave home until after 8pm on Tuesday 29 October  too late for the many already trapped on roads.

Residents have also said the drainage was inadequate, especially for smaller towns near rivers.
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Ukrainian leaders have spoken of their desperation to get Donald Trump to continue to send aid to fight Russia as Vladimir Putins forces step up their advance.

There are widespread fears the President-elect will pull out of Ukraine following his criticism of the level of US aid going to the wartorn country.

Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Verkhovna Radas Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, told Ukrinform: The election result was quite expected. America is a democratic country and such political changes are a normal phenomenon.

The chairman of the parliamentary committee stressed that it is critical the issue of aid to Ukraine unites Republicans and Democrats and that they can maintain bipartisan support.

open image in gallery Oleksandr Merezhko, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation. ( (Oireachtas/PA) )

He added: Now begins a rather difficult period of establishing constructive relations with the team of the new US President. This is extremely important, as our survival depends on continued American aid.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election, saying: I appreciate president Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.

We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership.

We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha replied on X: President Zelensky and President Trump have a long-standing, constructive, and result-oriented dialogue.

We will work together to strengthen the Ukraine-US strategic partnership and bring a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace closer. We rely on Americas decisive leadership.

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a statement on Telegram that the situation on the front line remains difficult and that certain areas require constant renewal of resources of Ukrainian units.

Meanwhile, the Russian President is not planning to call Trump to congratulate him on his election victory, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

I am not aware of the presidents plans to congratulate Trump on the election, Peskov said.

Lets not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country that is both directly and indirectly involved in the war against our state.

In the UK, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey called on Keir Starmer to hold a Save Ukraine summit of European leaders in the wake of Donald Trumps victory.

Trump has previously said Ukraine should have come to a deal with Vladimir Putin before his forces invaded, bogging the region in a bloody, drawn-out conflict.

This shouldve been settled before it started. It wouldve been so easy. If we had a president with half a brain, it wouldve been easy to settle, he said during an interview with podcaster Patrick Bet-David last month.

Under Joe Biden, the US provided tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, in the form of both weapons and budget assistance.

According to CNN, before Trump takes office Bidens administration plans to send as much support as possible to Kyiv.

open image in gallery North Korean troops have been spotted on the frontline ( KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image )

It all comes as North Korean troops clashed for the first time with Ukrainian forces who are occupying a large chunk of Russias Kursk region, according to the New York Times.

The engagement was limited, a Ukrainian official said, and likely meant to probe the Ukrainian lines for weaknesses.
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Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in central Tel Aviv to protest against the abrupt dismissal of defence minister Yoav Gallant amid Israel's ongoing war in Gaza and Lebanon.

Mr Gallant, a popular minister and provocateur, was fired by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to "significant gaps" and a crisis of trust that affected the war.

Both men have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. Mr Gallant was replaced by Israel Katz  an incumbent foreign minister and a longtime loyalist of Mr Netanyahu.

"Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defense minister," the prime minister said.

open image in gallery Protest in Tel Aviv as Netanyahu fires Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant ( EPA )

A grassroots forum representing hostage families said Mr Gallants dismissal was a direct continuation of the efforts to torpedo the abductee deal.

Shortly after, thousands of protesters gathered in central Tel Aviv, blocked the citys main highway, and staged protests holding blue and white Israeli flags. Protesters carried posters that read We want better leaders, while some lit bonfires in the middle of the highway bringing traffic to a standstill.

The former defence minister said on social media, Security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life as protests against his firing ensued on Tuesday night.

open image in gallery People protest against prime mnister Benjamin Netanyahu near his residence in Jerusalem ( AP )

Israel's president Issac Herzog called Mr Gallant's firing "the last thing Israel needs" as opposition leader Yair Lapir lamented the move as "an act of madness".

"Netanyahu is selling Israel's security and the Israeli army soldiers for a disgraceful political survival," Mr Lapir said on X.

Israeli TV stations showed police scuffling with protesters who blocked roads in several other spots across the country.

The dismissal comes at a time when Israel is facing growing pressure over its extended military offensive in the Middle East, which experts fear could potentially expand into full-scale war.

open image in gallery People scuffle with police during a protest after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ( AP )

Israels year-long war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 100,000 others, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. The attack on Gaza began after Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October last year, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.

Israel has since launched an assault on Lebanon and bombed Syria and Iran as well for backing the militant groups. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed in the fighting.

Iran has vowed to avenge an Israeli strike that came in response to a 1 October Iranian missile attack, itself a reprisal for earlier Israeli attacks on Iranian-linked targets.

Israeli police on Tuesday arrested more than two dozen protesters, the Haaretz reported. The police also fired water cannons to disperse the crowd from a prominent freeway during the nationwide protests that continued till the early hours of Wednesday.

Protesters pressed the Israeli government to rescue what they described as the "forgotten hostages" and called for a day of "civil strike" starting Wednesday. The crowd chanted "Netanyahu is endangering the soldiers".

"We are not waiting for the heads of the economy and labor union, starting tomorrow, and without a time limit we are stopping the country," protest organisations said in a statement, according to the Jerusalem Post.

A previous attempt by Mr Netanyahu to fire Mr Gallant in March 2023 sparked widespread street protests against the prime minister.

Mr Gallant in a late-night news conference revealed he disagreed with the prime minister over three main issues: the need to end controversial exemptions from the military draft for ultra-Orthodox men, the urgent need for a hostage deal and the need to establish an official commission of inquiry into the political and security failures on 7 October.

Israel estimates that about 100 hostages remain in captivity, only about 65 of them still alive.

A day earlier, Mr Gallant announced he had sent thousands of draft notices to young ultra-Orthodox men, who were previously exempted from joining the mandatory military draft.

Channel 13 TV said Mr Netanyahu had also taken advantage of the US election, when American attention is focused elsewhere, to dismiss his rival.

The White House declined to comment on the firing but called Mr Gallant "an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel".

"As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israel's next minister of defense," the White House National Security Council said.
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Israel Katz has been appointed defence minister after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked Yoav Gallant from the post.

Katz was formerly Israels foreign minister,

Netanyahu said he no longer had trust in Gallants management of Israels military operations, which include an ongoing war in Gaza and Lebanon.

The announcement came as a surprise, despite Netanyahu and Gallant having been repeatedly at odds over the last year.

Following the announcement, Gallant said on social media that the security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life.

Netanyahus office said in a statement: In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and the minister of defence.

open image in gallery Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attend a ceremony for the 70th cohort of military combat officers, at an arm ( REUTERS )

Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defence minister.

Below are some facts about Katz:

* Born in 1955 in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, Katz was drafted into the military in 1973 and served as a paratrooper, leaving the service in 1977. He has not served in any senior military command position, unlike his predecessor Gallant, who had been a general before becoming defence minister in 2022.

* Katz, a member of Netanyahus right-wing Likud party, has been a member of the Knesset (parliament) since 1998. In the Knesset, he served on several committees including those covering foreign affairs, defence and justice.

* He has held several ministerial posts in the past two decades, including agriculture, transport, intelligence, finance and energy portfolios. He was appointed foreign minister in 2019.

* As foreign minister, Katz declared Antonio Guterres persona non grata in October over what he said was the U.N. secretary-generals failure to unequivocally condemn Irans missile attack on Israel and for what he described as antisemitic and anti-Israel conduct.

* Also in October, he ordered his ministry to start legal proceedings against French President Emmanuel Macron after Paris banned Israeli firms from participating in an upcoming military naval trade show.

* Katz has been a low profile figure in Israeli-U.S. interactions during U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens 11 trips to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023. The top U.S. diplomat has held only a few meetings with Katz, while Blinken regularly met with Gallant.

* Katz studied as an undergraduate and graduate at Israels Hebrew University. He is married with two children.
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The Sun has unleashed a powerful solar flare, Nasa has said.

The flare, designated X2.3, belongs to the most intense X class of flares.

It was spotted by Nasas Solar Dynamics Observatory, which is constantly monitoring the surface of the Sun in part to spot such events.

Solar flares are strong blasts of energy that come out of the Sun and can cause danger to life on Earth. They bring the northern and southern lights, but can also cause problems for communications systems, electrical grids and other important infrastructure.

The Sun is currently entering the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, during which such solar weather is likely to increase. Experts have repeatedly warned that a particularly strong solar flare could damage critical parts of the infrastructure on which life depends.

Flares of this strength are generally not common, although not necessarily unusual when the Sun is at its solar maximum, as it is now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Space Weather Prediction Center said.

The Space Weather Prediction Center said that there was a continuing risk of more, less intense flares  and that it was possible there would be similarly intense ones through the week.

Recent days have seen a run of strong solar flares. The most recent came on Halloween, 31 October, when another X2.3 flare was thrown out of the solar surface.

Earlier this year, the Earth was hit by its most powerful solar flare in decades. Researchers warned then that the powerful space weather could be a hint at the more intense future to come.
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It can be hard to choose the best Greek island for a holiday, but luckily a cruise makes it easy to island hop.

You could explore the Acropolis in Athens one day before scenic Santorini on another or just enjoy the beaches and nightlife of Mykonos. Smaller ships could even take you to more remote islands that larger vessels cant reach, letting you access more historical sites and landscapes.

There are a range of routes available to give you a taste or full tour of the Greek islands. Many vessels will depart from Piraeus, just 30 minutes from Athens, offering round trips. You could even include the islands as part of a longer Mediterranean cruise, and many may have Greek-themed delicacies and activities on board. Here are some of the best itineraries coming up to help you go Greek.

Celebrity: Best of Greece

Athens - Thessaloniki - Ephesus - Limassol - Rhodes - Crete - Athens

open image in gallery Celebrity Infinity is sailing the Greek islands in time for Valentines Day ( Celebrity )

What better way to celebrate Valentines Day than a Greek island cruise with Celebrity? Departing from Athens on Celebrity Infinity, this 10-night cruise includes an overnight stop in Greeces second largest city, Thessaloniki.

That should give you more than enough time to explore its historic sites, such as the White Tower dating from the 16th century and home to a range of Byzantine art, before sailing on to destinations such as Ephesus in Turkey and Limassol in Cyprus.

Departs 14 February 2025. From 493pp for an inside cabin; flights not included.

Read more: The best cruises in Australia

Celestyal: Idyllic Aegean

Athens - Thessaloniki - Kusadasi - Heraklion (Crete) - Santorini - Mykonos - Milos - Athens

open image in gallery Celestyal Cruises includes a visit to Crete, where you can visit the Palace of Knossos ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Explore the Greek islands with a cruise company actually based in the region. Celestyal Cruises has its headquarters in Athens and focuses on sailings around the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean.

Its seven-night Idyllic Aegean sailing departs from Athens and takes in the popular islands with overnight stops in Santorini and Mykonos. You can visit the volcanic landscape of Milos as well as the Palace of Knossos on Crete.

The taste of Greece continues on board Celestyal Journey where you can enjoy Greek dancing as well as dishes and pastries inspired by the country all day in The Taverna. Suite guests can also access Mediterranean dishes in the dedicated Smoked Olive restaurant.

Departs 31 May 2025. From 1,189pp for an interior state room; flights not included.

Read more: The best Northern Lights cruises, from Iceland to Canada

Variety: Wines of Greece

Athens - Nafplion - Monemvasia - Serifos - Santorini - Samos - Tinos - Athens

open image in gallery Passengers can enjoy wine-tasting at local Greek vineyards during Varietys wine cruise ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Variety Cruises offers a small-ship experience, catering for just 49 guests aboard Panorama. Its new seven-night Wine Cruises of Greece in September 2025 will let you raise a glass as you enjoy a more intimate journey through the region. Passengers will meet winemakers and visit vineyards in hotspots such as Nemea, Santorini and Tinos to learn everything about Greek grapes. Back on the ship, you can also enjoy paired wines with dinner.

Departs 5 September 2025. From 4,130pp for a category C room with portholes.

Read more: Weird and wonderful things you can do on a cruise

Windstar: Treasures of the Greek Isles

Athens - Nafplio - Mykonos - Kusadasi - Patmos - Santorini - Monemvasia - Athens

open image in gallery A smaller cruise ship can take you to less-explored islands ( Windstar )

At 148 passengers, Windstar offers another intimate small-ship experience that takes you to ports and views that other large vessels cant reach.

This seven-night sailing on Wind Spirit starts in Athens but uses its small size to take you to more secluded ports such as Monemvasia, a pedestrian-only village built into a cliffside, and Nafplio, where you can explore Venetian fortresses. There is also a chance to have dinner among the ruins during a visit to Ephesus in Turkey.

Departs 7 May 2026. From $5,199pp (3,989pp) for an interior state room; flights not included.

Read more: The best cruises from Southampton

Virgin Voyages: Greek Island Glow

Athens - Santorini - Rhodes - Bodrum, Turkey - Mykonos - Athens

open image in gallery You can party on and off the ship with an overnight stop in Mykonos ( Virgin Voyages )

Adult-only brand Virgin Voyages is renowned for its onboard parties, and you can expect the same on its seven-night Greek Island Glow sailing from Athens on the flagship Scarlet Lady.

The partying can continue on land though, with an overnight stop in Mykonos, letting you hang out late into the night without worrying about missing embarkation. Other highlights on the route include Rhodes, as well as a visit to Bodrum in Turkey.

Departs 7 June 2026. From 2,994 for an inside cabin with two people; flights not included.

Read more: The best Caribbean cruises

Cunard: Mediterranean and Greek Islands

Southampton - Cadiz - Heraklion - Kusadasi - Athens - Santorini - Messina - Messina Strait - Malaga - Southampton

open image in gallery Cunards newest ship Queen Anne stops at some Greek Islands during its Western Meditterranean sailing ( Christopher Ison/Cunard )

Cunard offers a Western Mediterranean round-trip from Southampton on its newest ship, Queen Anne. The 19-night adventure includes visits to Heraklion in Crete, as well as Athens and Santorini on top of other Med hotspots including Cadiz and Malaga. You can also enjoy 11 sea days.

Departs 7 September 2025. Prices from 2,649 per person for an inside state room.

Read more: Why cruise lines are launching women-only sailings

Azamara: Greece Cruise

Athens - Syros - Patmos - Rhodes - Marmaris - Agios Nikolaos - Santorini - Monemvasia - Athens

open image in gallery Medium-sized Azamara provides long stays in smaller ports ( Azamara )

If you like more time to explore destinations, Azamara may be the cruise line for you. This eight-night sailing on Azamara Onward takes in the main Greek Islands and is well-known for longer stays in port. It docks in Rhodes and Santorini until 10pm and has an overnight stay in Athens, giving you plenty of time to explore.

As Azamara Onward is a medium-sized ship, catering for 684 passengers, it can use its relatively smaller size to visit quieter islands, such as Syros and Patmos.

Departs 25 July 2026. From 1,849pp based on club interior room; flights not included.

Read more: The best river cruises in Europe, from the Douro to the Danube

Princess Cruises: Best of the Mediterranean

Athens - Santorini - Kotor - Corfu - Sicily - Barcelona - Gibraltar- Marseille - Genoa - La Spezia (for Florence/Pisa) - Civitavecchia (for Rome) - Naples (for Capri & Pompeii) - Crete - Kusadasi - Mykonos - Athens

open image in gallery Sun Princess will depart for a 21-day round-trip from Athens in September 2026 ( Princess Cruises )

You can get the best of what the Greek Islands have to offer while also visiting other Med must-see destinations.

This 21-day round-trip from Athens on the recently launched Sun Princess takes in the scenery of Santorini, the beaches of Mykonos and the history of Crete, plus you can also see the sights of Pompeii during a visit to Naples and tour Las Ramblas in Barcelona.

Departs 12 September 2026. Princess standard fares start from 3,147 per person. Flights not included.

Read more: Top destinations for cruises across the world, mapped
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Tourists visiting Italys picturesque Lake Como can buy magnets or postcards to remember their trip  or now, the all-new Lake Como Air trapped in a can for 9.90 (8.25).

Lake Como, found in Northern Italys Lombardy region at the foothills of the Alps, serves unmatched views of beautiful Italian vistas and luxury accommodations dotted around the shoreline.

The upscale southwestern area has attracted the likes of George Clooney and Madonna to take up residency at lake-front villas, while the commune of Bellagio, nicknamed the pearl of Lake Como, has enticed visitors to wander through to its colourful historic buildings.

Now, an Italian marketing specialist has placed a new offering on the shelves of souvenirs: canned air for travellers to take home.

The cans state they include 400ml of 100 per cent authentic fresh air from Lake Como, describing it as the perfect and luxurious souvenir.

The cans were created by marketing specialist Davide Abagnale, who initially had an e-commerce site selling Lake Como posters but has now set his sights on a new initiative.

open image in gallery Lake Como is a popular tourist hotspot and haven for those who can afford a luxury villa ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Take a piece of Lake Como with you, a luxurious souvenir, perfect for those who wish to rediscover the peace and elegance of this heavenly corner, sealed in a tin, the tinned air website states.

Open it whenever you need a moment of escape, tranquillity, or simply beauty.

Abagnales initial idea behind the can was to create a souvenir that could be easily transported in a suitcase for tourists and something original, fun and even provocative, he told The Independent.

Once the recyclable can is open, the idea is that it can be repurposed into a pen holder, plant pot or stationary holder.

The canned air is also not available for sale online, it can be found just in local stores around the lake, so only those who visit Lake Como can buy it. The site explains memories are not bought but lived.

It also states that the products purpose is to promote visits to the Lake Como area.

open image in gallery The cans can be repurposed into pen or plant pots ( Courtesy of Lake Como Air )

Our idea is that, for example, a Californian tourist, visiting Lake Como, has on his desk in Los Angeles an object that contains the air of one of the most iconic and visited places in the world, such as Lake Como, Abagnale said.

However, not everyone is on board with the idea of selling canned air.

Como mayor Alessandro Rapinese told CNN that canned air would not be his first choice for tourists, and would prefer them to invest in products the area is known for, such as silk scarves.

Its a novel idea, but not for everyone, he said.

But as mayor of one of Italys most beautiful cities, if someone wants to take some of their air home, thats fine as long as they also take beautiful memories of this area.

Its not the first time air has been bottled up and sold to visitors at tourist hotspots, as both Naples and Iceland, as well as coastal towns in the UK, have also jumped on the unusual souvenir trend.

Some have also made a substantial profit from selling air, such as in 2015 when a Canadian company saw its Rocky Mountains bottled air sales skyrocket after a huge demand from Chinese customers.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
The 2024 presidential election, in which Donald Trump secured a second term in the White House, proved just as divisive as in the past  and left some Americans wondering how easy it is to move to a new country.

Trump, publically endorsed by the likes of Elon Musk and Robert JF Kennedy, is only the second president in history to serve as president in two non-consecutive terms.

From Mexico to Portugal, many countries are accessible for US citizens looking to relocate in the wake of the results.

For those serious about making the move, there are options  here's everything you need to know.
Just Stop Oil supporters targeted the US embassy building in London with orange paint, after Donald Trump claimed victory in the presidential election, on Wednesday, 6 November.

A spokesperson for the group said: As long as democracy is hijacked by corporate interests and billionaires, it will fail to deliver the change ordinary people are crying out for.

This will always leave the door open for fake populists like Trump to exploit the disaffection many feel.

The Metropolitan Police said two men, aged 25 and 72, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and held in custody.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: This activity is vandalism purporting as protest and we will continue to have a zero-tolerance attitude to actions such as this.
Stormy Daniels labeled Donald Trump a lunatic as she claimed Kamala Harris lost the US election because of racism.

The woman at the center of Trumps hush money trial hit out at the Republican as he looks set to become the 47th president of the United States.

Ms Daniels said she is shocked and ashamed of what has happened in my country, when she appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday (6 November).

She said: You cannot tell me that its not because of racism that she [Kamala Harris] did not win.
MSNBC commentator, Joy Reid, warned Donald Trumps goverment would bring facism to Florida in an on-air rant as the Republican won the state in the US election.

Florida, which has been firmly Republican in recent years, secured 30 electoral college votes for Trump.

We need to really take a step back and think about what does that say about us, she said, reflecting on Trumps past controversies.

That extremist sort of right-wing, fascist-type government in Florida, does that make it more of an attractive place?
Washington has provided more than $64bn (50bn) in military aid for Ukraine  far in excess of any of Kyivs other allies in the West. While Europes help is needed and appreciated, it is the US that is the driving force for Ukraines defence against Russia. It is a key pillar that Ukraine hopes will not crumble.

Yet new president Donald Trump has been clear that he believes the US is spending too much on non-American interests. While support will continue until January at least, when Trump takes office in the White House, Kyiv will be fearful of that source of money being halted, given the brutal state of the front line in many areas of Ukraine  and with Russia making slow but steady advances in the eastern region of Donetsk.

There are a few billion dollars left in the funds Joe Biden can call upon under presidential drawdown authority to help Ukraine  drawing weapons from US stocks  and he may seek to deplete that source before he leaves office. But then it will be down to Trump, and a Congress that his Republican Party is likely to control, to sign off on support for Kyiv.

Pressure would quickly be piled on Ukraines outmanned and outgunned troops on the front line  and an increase in casualties would follow. Europe has been ramping up artillery production, while Ukraine is putting as much effort as it can into increasing its own weapons manufacturing  but the loss of US funding, or even a drop in it, would leave a massive hole.

There was a months-long hold-up in Congress over tens of billions of dollars of funding, which lasted from October 2023 to March 2024, with Trump-supporting legislators at the heart of the dispute. Kyiv was forced into using more of its wartime budget to try to keep its troops supplied.

Soldiers on the front line spoke of shortages, particularly of artillery, and pleaded for US help. Others made clear how many of their fellow troops were dying under heavy fire from Vladimir Putins forces. Given the increased pressure Ukraines forces are currently under, as Moscow seeks to press home its advances in recent months  with thousands of North Korean soldiers also bolstering Russian ranks  another such delay would have serious consequences.

I hope that the quantity of weapons, the quantity of guns for our victory will increase, a commander of an artillery unit in eastern Ukraine, who goes by the name Mozart, told reporters in the hours before Trumps win was confirmed. We dont care who is the president, as long as they dont cut us off from help, because we need it.

Trump has described Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, as the greatest salesman on Earth for securing US aid, and recently blamed both the Ukrainian leader and Biden for letting the war start  despite Putin being the one to invade. Trump has often touted his good relationship with Putin, calling him pretty smart and streetwise for going into Ukraine.

Zelensky knows that constant pleas for help wont work with Trump. He has to be pragmatic and play to the president elects vanity. I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together, he wrote in a message on the social platform X, formerly Twitter. Trump has said repeatedly that he would have a peace deal done between Ukraine and Russia within a day if elected, although he has not said how.

The fear in Kyiv will be that a rush to get a peace deal in place would mean Ukraine being forced into giving up territory currently occupied by Russia  something Zelensky has consistently said his nation will not accept. Zelensky will know he needs to keep in Trumps ear, so expect the X posts to continue, alongside the work in the background.

The Kremlin has been cautious in its response to Trumps win so far. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the president elect had made some important statements during his campaign about wanting to end the Ukraine war, but only time would tell if they would lead to action. Let us not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country, which is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state, Peskov told reporters. Although Putin will no doubt be happier with Trump in the White House than if Kamala Harris had won.

But Trumps push for a quick end to the war might not be the gift the Kremlin will want it to be. Putins railing against the West has framed the US and its allies as an existential threat to Russia, and one that cannot be resolved. There is a risk, in coming to the table, of undermining that. It is also clear, given that Putin aimed at Kyiv at the beginning of the war, that he wants the whole of Ukraine  and he will not want a deal while Russia is edging forwards, or if he thinks US support for Kyiv is likely to slip.

The primary trade of both Putin and Trump is bombastic rhetoric. It is obvious what Trump gains from brokering an end to the war in Ukraine  but will he actually have the will to try and see it through? For Zelensky, it is about the survival of his nation. The end of military aid from Washington will see a high price paid, in both soldiers and (probably) territory. It is something he and the world can ill afford.

Ukraines president, and his European allies, will have to convince Trump of the same.
A number of locals in a town in Co Tipperary are objecting on health grounds to McDonalds Ireland constructing a new drive-thru fast-food restaurant.

As part of McDonalds expansion plans to open more than 200 restaurants across Ireland and the UK over the next four years, McDonalds Restaurants of Ireland Ltd has lodged plans for a new drive-thru restaurant on lands at Slievenamon Road and Thurles Relief Road, in Thurles.

However, more than 20 objections have been lodged against the proposal.

In one objection, Ronan Spain, of Carraig Donn, Clongour, Thurles told the council: As a father of two young children, I object to the development of a fast-food restaurant on health grounds, particularly as we are in the midst of an obesity crisis in this country, where one in five children aged under five is obese according to a study referenced on the HSE website on October 10th 2024.

In a joint objection with his wife, Karen, the Spains say the proposed site is located close to a creche facility, and public health policy in a lot of counties dictates that fast-food outlets should not be built within 300 metres of creche facilities or schools.

Chris Delahunt echoes the health concerns cited by the Spains in his own objection against the proposal.

In another objection, Paul Ryan, from The Mall, Thurles, says the proposal is 100 yards from my place of work, a doctors surgery.

He said: Having a fast-food outlet is of no help at all in our efforts to promote healthier lifestyles.

A spokeswoman for McDonalds said: We are excited about the opportunity to open a new restaurant in Thurles bringing new jobs and significant investment to the local area.

Asked to comment on those objecting on health grounds, the spokeswoman said: Our customers are at the heart of every choice we make which is why weve been providing nutritional information on our menu for over 30 years.

She added: We continue to evolve our menu to ensure our customers can make informed decisions, with 54pc of our menu now classified as non-HFSS (not high in fat, salt or sugar) and 89pc of our items in our core menu containing under 500 calories.

As a business, McDonalds prides itself on being a good neighbour in the communities in which it operates, and we look forward to continuing to work with the council and local residents to mitigate any concerns raised.
Electric Ireland has cut the fee it pays households that sell it excess electricity generated from solar panels on their roofs.

The move comes despite the state-owned energy company saying there were no plans to reduce what is called the microgeneration tariff rate when it announced electricity and gas price cuts in September.

It is estimated about 33,000 households sell excess electricity generated from solar panels back to Electric Ireland.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland estimates that, on average, a solar photovoltaics (PV) system can save a household between 200 and 300 a year on their electricity costs.

Electric Ireland has cut the microgeneration export tariff rate from 21c per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 19.5c with effect from the start of this month.

The reduction means households with solar panels will now earn less from selling the excess electricity they generate to Electric Ireland than if they were with Pinergy, Energia or Flogas, according to price comparison site Bonkers.ie.

Asked about the cut, the company said: Electric Ireland confirms that its microgeneration export tariff rate has decreased from 21c to 19.5c per kWh, effective November 1, 2024.

Electric Ireland will now pay 19.5c per kWh. Photo: Stock image

Today's News in 90 Seconds - November 6th

The change coincides with the recent price reductions for over 1.1 million Electric Ireland residential customers.

Electric Ireland said it was reducing prices for all residential customers by 3pc from this month, with smart-meter plan customers getting a 5pc reduction in prices.

Electric Ireland keeps its prices under constant review and is committed to providing customers with competitive prices, it said. Approximately 3pc of the Electric Ireland residential customer base are microgeneration customers.

Daragh Cassidy, of Bonkers.ie, said there was an inevitability about the reduction.

Over the past year or so, Electric Ireland has reduced its prices three times, he said. Unfortunately, a consequence of falling energy prices is that microgen rates will also fall. This is Electric Irelands first cut to its microgen rate since the scheme was relaunched in 2022.

In August, SSE Airtricity reduced its microgeneration rate to 19.5c, which was the last time a payment rate was cut.

Pinergy pays 25c per kWh, currently the highest in the market, according to Bonkers.ie. It is followed by Energia, paying 24c. Flogas pays 20c per kWh, with Bord Gais Energy paying 18.5c.

Yuno Energy and Prepaypower both pay 15.89c.
The stage is set for the arrival of Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: AP

If Donald Trumps US election win is confirmed the implications for Irelands economy look stark.

The core of Trumps economic policy has always been America First and in a second term in office he will been in a position to execute key aspects of that plan  including on corporation tax and trade tariffs.
Christy Brown: Self Portrait review  A deep dive into his art, abuse, alcoholism and deeply unhappy ending

Christy Brown: Self Portrait tells the darker side of the artists life  a far cry from the happy ending in My Left Foot

Christy Brown wanted to be known as a great poet. Photo: Andrew Whittuck/RTE

Pat Stacey Wed 6 Nov 2024 at 03:30

Who can ever forget the 1990 Academy Awards? The pride we all felt when Daniel Day-Lewis won Best Actor for his astonishing performance as Christy Brown in My Left Foot, and Brenda Fricker, who played Browns extraordinary mother Bridget, took Best Supporting Actress.
Funeral details have been announced for a man who died in Cork after a suspected severe allergic reaction to a wasp sting he sustained while cutting hedges.

It is believed 56-year-old Michael Sheehan inadvertently disturbed a wasp nest as he worked on Tuesday.

Before he could get away from the scene, he was stung multiple times.

Mr Sheehan went to his home outside Macroom where he complained of feeling unwell.

A short time later he collapsed and the emergency services were alerted by an alarmed relative.

Paramedics were at the scene within minutes but the man was already unresponsive.

He was treated at the scene but, despite desperate efforts to stabilise his condition, he was pronounced dead before he could be rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH).

It is feared he died from acute anaphylactic shock.

Mr Sheehans body will repose in Fitz-Geralds Funeral Home Macroom (P12KX79) On Thursday from 6pm to 8pm.

His requiem mass will be held on Friday at 1.30 pm in St Colmans Church, Macroom (P12VP20), which will also be streamed live, followed by private cremation at 4pm in The Island Crematorium, Ringaskiddy.

Gardai are treating the death as a tragic accident.

The man had no underlying health conditions and it is understood he was unaware he was allergic to wasp stings.

A full post mortem examination will be conducted at CUH morgue by the State Pathologist's Office.

Michael Sheehan

Today's News in 90 Seconds - November 6th

On average, three in every 100 adults can suffer a life-threatening reaction if they are exposed to certain types of insect venom.

Severe allergic reactions are most common from the stings of bees and wasps.

However, reactions can also result from the bites of certain species of spiders and ants.

In the US, it is estimated that up to 7pc of the adult and juvenile population can be hypersensitive to certain types of insect stings and bites - with a high risk of anaphylactic shock.

The UK has recorded several deaths each year from such types of severe allergic reactions.

People who are known to have such allergic reactions carry an Epinephrine (EpiPen), an auto-injection device which introduces adrenaline into the system in a bid to offset the immune-system's reaction to the sting toxins.

Beekeepers are known to be at a much higher risk of anaphylaxis.
As UnionPay is now integrated with Alipay and WeChat Pay, overseas visitors to China can enjoy improved payment convenience

Global Times) 16:30, November 06, 2024

UnionPay International, a subsidiary of China UnionPay, announced on Wednesday that UnionPay cards issued overseas now fully support binding with Alipay and WeChat Pay, which will provide foreign visitors to China with more diverse, convenient, and inclusive payment options.

Starting Wednesday, overseas visitors to China can download the Alipay or WeChat App, link their UnionPay cards issued abroad, and experience seamless QR code payments just like Chinese mainland users.

The innovative payment model is part of a series of measures China has implemented this year "to further open up and ease entry for foreigners", enhancing payment convenience for foreign travelers, workers, and residents in China.

According to the company's statement, for a limited promotional period, the cardholders will benefit from zero transaction fees for all payments within China, covering various online and offline scenarios including dining, accommodation, tourism, shopping, medical care, education, and more services.

UnionPay cards are issued globally in 83 countries and regions, totaling over 2.5 billion cards, and can be used across 183 countries and regions for cross-border transactions.

China is intensifying its efforts to facilitate foreign visitor's entry and stay in China, in a bid to boost higher-level opening-up. This year's China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) also introduced special services for convenient inbound payments, such as WeChat Pay launched a 12-language guide for inbound payment services.

A report by the Tencent Research Institute shows that the rise of "China travel" has driven a notable rise in spending by inbound tourists across various sectors, including national scenic spots and urban public transportation. The daily use of shared bikes by these tourists via WeChat Pay has surged over seven times compared to the same period last year, Tencent told the Global Times in a statement.

In March of this year, the State Council issued opinions on further optimizing payment services and enhancing payment convenience to optimize the business environment and promote high-level opening-up, while rapid implementation has shown early positive outcomes.

In the third quarter of this year, 8.186 million foreigners entered China through various ports, a 48.8 percent increase year-on-year, the Foreign Ministry told a press conference on October 22, noting that travel bookings from Europe to China have already surpassed 2019 levels.

Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry noted that China will further enhance visa-free access and related policies to increase convenience for foreigners visiting and residing in China.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Stormonts First Minister Michelle ONeill is to participate in the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at Belfast City Hall  the first time a senior Sinn Fein figure will take part in such an event in Northern Ireland.

The Sinn Fein vice president said her attendance was a demonstration of her determination to fulfil her pledge to be a First Minister for all. Ms ONeill, who will lay a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph in Belfast in her role as First Minister, will attend with DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly.
Sinn Feins Matt Carthy has said Virgin Media is allowing the government to escape scrutiny by not hosting a leaders debate during the upcoming election campaign.

Virgin Media has confirmed that the station will not host a leaders debate during the election, due to "challenging market conditions.

Due to challenging market conditions and the government's failure to financially recognise and support our public service content, Virgin Media Television (VMTV) will not hold a Leaders Debate during the upcoming general election campaign, they said in a statement.

It comes as Virgin Media announced last week that it its flagship current-affairs programme The Tonight Show would be reduced to two nights a week, instead of four.

The new schedule came into effect this week.

In a statement at the time, managing director Aine Ni Chaoindealbhain said the decision was also the result of market conditions and not receiving government funding for its public service content.

Now Sinn Feins director of elections Matt Carthy has said a decision not to host a leader's debate was a retrograde step.

Fine Gael wants to avoid scrutiny and proper debate in this election. The decision by Virgin Media not to host a party leaders debate is playing into Fine Gael's hands, Deputy Carthy said.

Our broadcasters have a duty to the public to facilitate debate and discussion in the election period. This includes putting both government and opposition through their paces, and holding them to account., he added.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD said the station has previously hosted debates during general elections and that the decision appears to have no sound rationale and urged Virgin Media to reconsider.

Fine Gael have been in government for 14 years. They have failed in housing, health, cost of living and many other key policy areas.

They have wasted taxpayers money. Their leader should be subject to the same scrutiny and debate as all previous office holders. Certainly, Sinn Fein are eager to bring our plans and solutions to every possible audience. Virgin Media viewers deserve to be able to see this debate. I would urge them to reconsider this decision in the public interest.

The station was highly critical of the governments decision to bail out RTE and put in place a 725m funding plan for the state broadcaster.

RTE will now be in a more dominant position than ever before, where it will receive a guaranteed 725 million from the taxpayer over the next three years while continuing to benefit from the largest share of commercial revenue, Ms Ni Chaoindealbhain said previously.

Virgin Media said the station would feature an hour long interview with the main opposition party leaders.

We remain fully committed to public service broadcasting, and have invited the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein to take part in 'The Big Interview' with Colette Fitzpatrick, the statement said.

VMTV will also hold interviews with other party leaders and independents, in line with Coimisiun na Mean guidelines, they added.
Former Tanaiste Michael McDowell has called for Capital Gains Tax to be reduced from 33pc to 20pc.

He says he knows people who have gone to live in Portugal because they do not want to pay a CGT liability on the disposal of an asset on which they stand to make a significant profit.

Mr McDowell was speaking in the Seanad on the Finance Bill.

The Seanad later passed the Finance Bill by acclamation tonight, clearing the way for the election.

The Bill had already been passed through the Dail and will go to the President for early signature ahead of the dissolution of parliament planned by Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Mr McDowell said that in 1997, the former Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy halved CGT from 40pc to 20pc,

"The gain from capital gains tax increased by 500pc," he said.

"So they got five times more money in from capital gains in the year that followed, than they obtained from capital gains tax rate of twice as much."

The McCreevy rate of 20pc has since increased to 33pc  which Mr McDowell said was dampening revenues because individuals were taking legitimate steps to avoid paying.

"The point I'm making is that it's easy to be ideological about this. It's long been stated that the art of being a finance minister is to be able to pluck the goose without it squawking too much, he said.

"But if you can actually yield the increase the yield from a tax by 500pc by halving its rate, you have to ask yourself, in terms of social justice, where does that money go, and what is it available to do in terms of social welfare and redistribution."

Mr McDowell said he didn't believe that reducing 33pc down to 20pc would again yield a five fold increase, "but I'm absolutely confident it would probably yield a two or three- fold increase."

He added: "Because of the immense efforts of the accountancy profession, God bless them, people who know they're about to make a capital gain go and live in Portugal.

"This is what happens. I've seen it myself in people that I've come across in life who just emigrate to avoid capital gains. And that's wrong.

"They wouldn't do it if CGT was 20pc."
A grandmother who died in a freak road traffic tragedy last weekend left an enormous void in her community after a remarkable lifetime of selfless community and charitable work.

Tributes were paid to Mary Fehilly (72) as hundreds attended her Requiem Mass at the Holy Cross Church in Charleville, Co Cork.

Mrs Fehilly died last Saturday when she was struck by a car as she stood on the footpath of Charleville's Main Street chatting to a volunteer who was collecting for the local GAA club.

She was rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) but died shortly after arrival.

The man, who was in his 60s and selling GAA lottery tickets outside a local supermarket, was taken to CUH for treatment of severe leg injuries.

The driver of the vehicle involved, a woman in her 80s, was treated for shock at the scene but was otherwise uninjured.

Mrs Fehilly was the beloved wife of George and the mother of Nollaig, Siobhan, Padraig, Maeve and Gearoid.

Her son-in-law was the Clare Fianna Fail TD Cathal Crowe.

Mrs Fehilly is also survived by her sisters Catherine and Joan as well as her brother, Liam.

She was predeceased by her sister Berna and brother Gerard.

Mr Crowe has suspended canvassing in advance of the upcoming 2024 General Election as he said their entire family was devastated by what had happened.

"Family comes first," he said.

He said the fabulous lynchpin of their family was Mary Fehilly.

"We are absolutely heartbroken to have tragically lost Mary," he said.

"She was the most wonderful mother to Maeve and her siblings and an adoring wife to George."

Mourners were told that Mrs Fehilly, who lived at Holy Cross Place in Charleville, was deeply proud of her community and did everything she could to support it.

Locals described her as "a saint" for the vast amount of community and charitable work she undertook which ranged from volunteering her time to supporting various fundraising drives.

Charleville GAA paid tribute to the entire Fehilly family on the loss of such a remarkable woman.

The GAA club cancelled its weekly lotto draw as a mark of respect.

Our thoughts and prayers are also with all the other families involved," a club official said.

Charleville politician Councillor Ian Doyle said she left a huge void in the north Cork community.

Without question she was a saint. She was so well known for her kindness and charitable work. She was involved with the local church and local charities. She was quiet and unassuming, but she got things done."

He admitted the entire community was reeling from the tragedy.

There is a deep sense of shock and sadness in the town and people are shocked by such a freak accident."

"Everyone is praying that (the injured man) will make a speedy recovery and our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with Marys family and many friends. She will be such a loss to the town."

Our thoughts also go out to the elderly lady who was driving the car and was involved in what can only be considered as a completely freak accident.

Locals said traffic through the town - which is known as a bottleneck on the main Cork-Limerick road - was particularly busy on Saturday afternoon given a number of high-profile events in the area.

Gardai are investigating the circumstances of the collision which has been described as a tragic accident.

Three weeks ago, another pensioner died in a similar freak collision.

Cal O'Keeffe (90) suffered fatal injuries when he courageously pushed a woman out of the path of an oncoming car in the car park of a Fermoy supermarket.

The car was being driven by a man in his 90s who is feared to have suffered a medical emergency.

A former school principal and farmer, Mr O'Keeffe was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman he tried to save suffered serious injuries and remains in hospital.
An Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tanaiste Micheal Martin have joined other world leaders to congratulate US president-elect Donald Trump.

Mr Trump declared he had won a magnificent victory for the American people as he appeared on track to return to the White House as 47th President of the United States.

"Congratulations to US President-elect Donald Trump on your victory," Taoiseach Simon Harris wrote on X.

"The people of the United States have spoken and Ireland will work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and our nations in the years ahead," he added.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin reminded the potential Trump administration and others of the strong legacy relationship between Ireland and the US.

"We look forward to working with him and his administration in a constructive manner, as we did during his previous administration," he wrote on X.

"Our relationship builds on the strong legacy of the last 100 years.

"This year marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States.

"Ireland's relationship with the United States draws its strength from our deep, historical people-to-people connections, the support of the US to peace on this island, as well as our significant, and mutually beneficial, economic relationship.

"As we prepare to engage with a new US administration, we do so building on the strong legacy of the last 100 years," he added.

British prime minister Keir Starmer said the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper following Donald Trumps historic election victory.

Donald Trump looks out at his supporters from the stage of his election night watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida (Alex Brandon/AP)

Starmer will be keen to build bridges with Mr Trump after the Republican politicians campaign filed a legal complaint about Labour activists supporting Kamala Harris.

Starmer said: Congratulations president-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

French President Emmanuel Macron has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory and said he's ready to work with him.

"Congratulations, President Donald Trump," he wrote on X.

"Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine.

"With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity," he added.

The return of Mr Trump to the White House could cause diplomatic headaches for the UK, with potential splits on trade policy and US support for Ukraine and Nato.
Taoiseach Simon Harris will soon bring the 33rd Dail to an end. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins

The Taoiseach has commented indirectly on the outcome of the US election, suggesting Ireland was wise to prepare for possible future instability.

Simon Harris made remarks about a rising threat of "transatlantic trade shocks" after Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald asked him to scrap the phone pouches scheme.

Re-elected President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs against EU exports to the United States.

Ms McDonald said the initial cost of 9 million for the phone pouches would have a hidden extra cost of 2 million annually. The money should be invested in mental health services for young people, she said.

Mr Harris said: "When you like to talk about the state of our economy in terms of the use of taxpayers' money, you do leave out a number of facts.

"You do leave out the fact that this is a country running a budget surplus  we've managed to put aside billions of euro to protect people from future economic shocks.

"I think that decision is looking even better today than it was yesterday, in light of global issues."

Mr Harris added that phone pouches were being rolled out in Northern Ireland, where Sinn Fein was in Government.

They were good up there, but bad down here, he added.

"I look forward to debating this Government's record in terms of managing our economy and managing the public purse versus your policies and your spend-all, leave-nothing for the buffer times, he said.

Taoiseach Simon Harris will soon bring the 33rd Dail to an end. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins

Donald Trump wins US election

If there were any transatlantic trade shocks, Sinn Fein's policy would look "utterly foolish and ridiculous," he said.

"The issue of phone pouches wasn't invented in the Department of Education, or by Government, or by any political party. This came about by listening directly to school principals.

He told Ms McDonald: "I'm sure you heard the students on Morning Ireland a couple of days after this announcement, talking about the benefit they had found from these pouches.

"I'm sure you've met principal, principals, including the one in De La Salle college in Churchtown, where they introduced the self-locking pouches.

"The principal highlighted how this initiative had improved the social skills of the students, and had seen an increase in participation in extracurricular activities.

"Schools that have benefited from this initiative. That's where the idea came from. This is not an obligatory or mandatory measure.

"Nobody's going to demand a school take phone pouches. This is if a school wants to avail of this. It's about twenty quid per student, a 20 investment in the mental health and well-being of a student.

"This is a Government listening and responding."
From Oliver Plunketts mummified head to the Lough Ree monster  meet the TikToker shining a light on Weird Ireland

The popular Weird Ireland social media account serves up snippets of quirky Irish history and culture. The man behind it shares some of its secrets  and reveals why Louth is Irelands weirdest county

Brindsley McNamara of Weird Ireland on the rhino in the river at the Dropping Well in Milltown

Kirsty Blake Knox Wed 6 Nov 2024 at 03:30

When Brinsley MacNamaras novel The Valley of the Squinting Windows was published in 1918, the inhabitants of his local village in Delvin, Co Westmeath, revolted. The book was a take-down of provincial Irish life, set in the fictional village of Garradrimna. But, to most people who picked it up, it was clearly Delvin, and a depiction of the people living there.
We were told razor thin margins will decide the outcome of this year's US election. Pollsters had the race at too close to call, but while there is still a way to go until we have an outright decision is made, all indications are suggesting Donald Trump will comfortably win the race for the Whitehouse.

Many questions are now being asked to why Trump scored so well among certain demographics, particularly Latino voters and white women. Exit polls suggest that 45pc of Hispanics voted for Trump this time, a full 10pc more than 2020. The reasons why will be teased out in the days to come, but one of Harriss strong points  abortion  may not have been as persuasive to a strong Catholic ethos.

What would a second Trump term mean for the future of America?

On a historical and nail-biting morning for global politics, today on The Indo Daily Ellen Coyne is joined from Philidelphia by The Irish Independents Adrian Weckler and in our Dublin studio by Lorcan Nyhan, Head of Training with The Communications Clinic and Columnist with the Sunday Independent, to discuss the latest updates in the final chapter of the 2024 US presidential election.
The Dripsey man said the two bulls are very good animals which are at a fantastic weight for their age

Dripsey Rex placed second in class at the Irish Simmental Show.

Dripsey Rebel Martin came second in class at the recent Irish Simmental Show.

William 'Bill' Cotter with one of the pedigree Simmental cattle bred on his farm in Dripsey.

A Dripsey mans bull calves were judged to be amongst the best of their breed after going up against the most impressive stock from across the country in the recent Irish Simmental Premier Show at Roscommon Mart.

William Cotter, known locally as Bill, runs a pedigree Simmental cattle breeding business alongside his wife Jenny and son Aaron and the familys young bulls, Dripsey Rebel Martin and Dripsey Rex, each came second in their respective classes at the Premier Show.

Bill told The Corkman that Dripsey Rebel Martin was first displayed at Bandon Simmental Show and won first in its class and went on to become male champion. After securing second in Roscommon, the 14-month-old bull calf was sold for a good price.

Dripsey Rex, a sire of a former national senior champion bull that was purchased by Bill and two other men in Scotland, was sold to a pedigree herd in Fermanagh after the Roscommon show.

Bill said the two bulls are very good animals which are at a fantastic weight for their age. He said that though the second place ratings of each bull at the Roscommon show were good results, he was disappointed that they did not win their respective classes.

The Dripsey man, who currently has a herd of about 80 cattle, has been breeding Simmental for many years and with the help of IVF work he aims to produce the best pedigree specimens.

Anything we dont think is good enough for the pedigree side of the house we would sell commercially, he explained.

Bill said he has built up a great clientele of dairy and suckler farmers courtesy of the quality of his cattle, and he also sells semen from his best bulls.

Following the positive results of his bulls in Roscommon, Bill said his focus will now be on a sire of Dripsey Rebel Martin and a bull named Mattie from the Mallow Raceview herd.

I think they are the two bulls of the future, Bill said.
The Fianna Fail TD for Cork North West told The Corkman that Uisce Eireann need to step up, communicate effectively and provide a reliable solution to this ongoing problem. Many locals continue to raise their concerns with me directly given additional costs with having to boil their water since August and we all know that the kettle is top of the list of appliances that cost the most to run.

Deputy Moynihan who was recently selected to run again in the upcoming general election for the Cork North West constituency said: Irish Water have a text alert system available to them and many locals have signed up for this. Surely this system could do more than just alert people to the boil notice being in place.

It could be used to keep locals informed regularly of testing results, what is being done and the timeline expected for the boil notice to be lifted. I dont think that this is an unreasonable approach to ask from Irish Water but instead pulling teeth would be easier than trying to get any information from them, he added.

The Cork TD criticised Uisce Eireann for the continuing delays and the lack of communication over the boil water notices. The continuing delays and outright lack of communication from Irish Water regarding the specific actions being taken to lift the boil water notice is insulting. Locals deserve to have drinkable and safe water in their homes and with Christmas just around the corner it is frightening that no credible updates are being received from Irish Water.

Deputy Moynihan called on more transparency for local residents. What are the timelines for the construction works to be completed? Locals have lost confidence in their water supply and with good reason. Residents deserve transparency regarding the steps being taken to ensure safe drinking water and a timeline for when they can expect the boil water notice to be lifted permanently.

This boil water notice, which was initially issued on August 27 following consultations with the Health Service Executive (HSE), was briefly lifted on September 25 before being reinstated on September 30 due to adverse weather conditions affecting water clarity and supply.

This pattern of repeated boil water notices has been a recurring issue during winter months in recent years, leading to calls for more effective communication and action from Irish Water.

"The people of Macroom, Carrigadrohid, and Canovee deserve answers, said Deputy Moynihan. It's time for Irish Water to step up, communicate effectively and provide a reliable solution to this ongoing problem."
Irish News

St Patricks Day 2025: The parades and events taking place in towns and villages across Ireland

The bunting is up and the daft hat and shamrock sunglasses have been dug out from under the bed. St. Patricks Day is right around the corner and its time to paint the town green.
Significant funding has been announced for Social Farming in Ireland with various national projects to benefit including IRD Duhallow.

Fianna Fail TD for Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue of approximately 777,000 in funding for Social Farming in Ireland, benefiting various projects, including IRD Duhallow. "This funding is a significant boost for rural communities and will enhance rehabilitation and social inclusion for people struggling with mental health challenges and disabilities," said Deputy Moynihan.

Social farming offers voluntary participation in agricultural activities as therapeutic support, benefiting individuals in various settings. Participants report improved relationships, self-esteem, health outcomes, and life skills through these activities.

Deputy Moynihan highlighted that social farming strengthens communities by empowering citizens and promoting social inclusion. He encourages local support for these initiatives.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue recently announced that his Department will continue to fund Social Farming in Ireland with an allocation of approximately 777,000 towards the extension of contracts for the following social farming model projects and the National Social Farming Network:

IRD Duhallow  to promote rehabilitation, social inclusion, training and improved quality of life in a non-clinical setting using agriculture including plants and animals. To include people with mental health conditions, people with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities, people with autism and those with hidden disabilities.

Down Syndrome Irl (Cork Branch)  to provide opportunities for participation in a purpose-built farm, the Field of Dreams with horticulture and animal care elements which will bring long lasting wellness benefits to participants.

Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG, South Kerry Development Partnership and Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG were other recipients of the funding. Minister McConalogue stated: I am pleased to be able to continue to support this initiative which provides an important service throughout rural communities for disadvantaged groups who are availing of a range of health service supports.

Participation in social farming has been shown to provide many benefits such as improved community connections, increased self-esteem and improved health and well-being as well as the opportunity to learn new skills, he added.
Both entrants had been nominated for the awards by Cork County Council

Milford community members accept their runners-up placing at the Pride of Place Awards. Pictured (L-R) are Nicola Radley, Cork County Council; Cllr. Tony OShea: John Kearns, IPB Insurance; Billy Kiely, Milford Community Council, Ian Jeffers, Chief Executive, Co-Operation Ireland; Helen O'Riordan-Madigan, Milford Community Council; Cllr Joe Carroll, Mayor of the County of Cork; Claire Barr, Cork County Council; Niall Healy, Cork County Council and Aileen Walsh, Cork County Council. Photo Courtesy of Co-operation Ireland

The north Cork village of Milford and a Mallow community group were recognised with runners-up placings in their respective categories at this years Pride of Place Awards ceremony, which took place at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan on Saturday.

Milford was named runner-up in the areas with populations up to 300 people while Mallow Castle Development Committee was runner-up in the Inclusive Communities section at the 22nd Pride of Place Awards.

Fellow Cork entrant Durrus village was named the winner of the award for areas with a population of between 300 and 1,000 people.

Also nominated by Cork County Council for the awards was Passage West Creates, which was in the running for the Creative Communities category prize, and the Together at the Castle initiative, shortlisted for the Community Wellbeing Initiative award.

Mayor of the County of Cork, councillor Joe Carroll, said it was an honour to celebrate the achievements of local communities at the Pride of Place awards.

Our communities have so much to be proud of especially the hard work and dedication of the countless volunteers who go that extra mile to make a difference in their local area. It is always heartening to see our villages, towns and community organisations be recognised and rewarded nationally, Mayor Carroll said.

In the Pride of Place Awards, which is run by Co-Operation Ireland and sponsored by IPB Insurance, communities are marked on oral presentations to the judges, exhibitions of community activities and culture as well as a tour of the area highlighting the aspects of which they are particularly proud.
The junction of Richmond Road and Grace Park Road outside Tolka Park. Pic: Mark Condren

Residents of Richmond Road in north Dublin have demanded action over repeated incidents of speeding and aggressive driving along their road.

Locals in Drumcondra have been campaigning for measures to reduce traffic on the narrow road, which they say has become a rat run.

Last year, a video was widely circulated on social media showing cars and HGVs mounting the footpath, forcing children and pedestrians to step aside.

The Richmond Road and Grace Park Avenue Residents Association recently met with local councillors to share video evidence of speeding and aggressive driving taking place.

The junction of Richmond Road and Grace Park Road outside Tolka Park. Pic: Mark Condren

Safety fears for children over cars mounting footpaths on Richmond Road

Green Party councillor Donna Cooney, Labour Party councillor Alison Field, and Independent councillor Barry Heneghan were among those to hear their concerns.

The issues that stood out most were the high speeds along Richmond Road, with cars reportedly reaching up to 70kmph in areas where speeds should be around 30-35kmph, Cllr Heneghan said.

The level of aggressive driving and vehicles mounting the footpaths to bypass traffic or drive faster was particularly concerning, as it creates significant risk for pedestrians and children on their way to school.

The three councillors supported a motion, which has now passed, for a more liveable street with added greenery and the possibility of temporary filtered permeability from Grace Park Road to Drumcondra Road.

The council has also agreed to an on-site meeting with relevant departments and local representatives to assess the situation with residents directly.

This meeting will be a key step in exploring traffic calming measures, potential temporary filtered permeability, and longer-term redesigns.

Councillors Field and Heneghan both called for immediate solutions, such as additional speed signs or temporary speed bumps to reduce traffic speed in the short term.

In the longer term, the council is considering filtered permeability measures, which would reduce through-traffic and discourage the street from being used as a rat-run, along with redesigning the street to improve safety for residents.

In a written response, Catalin Rosca, local area engineer for the north-central area of Dublin City Council, said: The Transport Advisory Group produced a report on the health and safety concerns at the western end of Richmond Road.

This report was circulated to elected members, the area office, and residents, and a subsequent meeting was held at the Coolock Area Office on Bunratty Road to discuss it.

Following this, the Transport Advisory Group proposed and implemented a Pay & Display/Permit Parking (P&D/PP) scheme on Richmond Road, between Drumcondra Road and Grace Park Road, to address traffic and safety issues.

Considering the above, the Transport Advisory Group has no further plans for work in this area, but will continue to monitor the situation, she added.

However, a further reply from the local area manager, Mick Carroll, said: A site meeting will be arranged in the coming weeks with the Area Office to initially gain an understanding of the wishes of local residents.
Family Features

Me and Lottie have very different views  Jennifer Zamparelli on why she quit her popular parenting podcast

Just under a year ago, there was an exodus of stars from 2FM. In May 2024, the hosts of three flagship shows  Jennifer Zamparelli, Doireann Garrihy and The 2 Johnnies  announced they were leaving the station, one after another, within a matter 
A 35-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the theft of thousands of euros from a well-known bookshop in Killarney.

Cornelius OLeary of West End, MountCollins, Abbefyeale, Co Limerick, came before the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee this week for sentencing on 22 theft and deception charges after he pleaded guilty to stealing from the Dungeon Bookshop over a four year period.
Construction work on a much longed for affordable housing scheme in Longford town is expected to commence over the coming weeks.

Longfords housing market and wider local economy is primed for a major boost after government bosses gave the go-ahead for a multi-million euro affordable housing development.

Housing Minister Darragh OBrien has signed off on a project that will see 25 new homes come on stream at Ard Micheal, just off the midlands towns Ballinalee Road.

The announcement, which is expected to cost in the region of 9m, is the first development of its type to come on stream in a county which has long been the source of repeated calls at local political level for direct government intervention.

Follow Independent Longford on Facebook

Those concerns first came to prominence in September 2021 when Longford was one of a number of counties to miss out from capital investment under the Governments multi-billion euro Housing for All plan.

It was a move which sparked persistent debate at local authority level, concerns which were finally brought to a head in a joint announcement by Mr OBrien and Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty.

Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty

The Lanesboro native said its anticipated rollout promised to deliver a major shot in the arm to the local housing sector while also providing a long-awaited means for working families and individuals to get onto the property ladder.

Longford isnt immune from the housing challenges we have at the moment and this announcement is major, Mr Flaherty told the Irish Independent.

The 25 affordable homes will form part of a 93 strong turn key development with work expected to commence almost immediately.

Its a vote of confidence in Longford County Council and its a vote of confidence in Longford generally, added Mr Flaherty.

"Theres no denying its a shot in the arm for the local housing market and will engender confidence in the local housing market and will ultimately lead to the recovery of commercial housing within the county which is hugely important for Longford.
Sligo Rovers are aiming to complete their new stadium project by the time the club's centenary comes around in 2028, after the club learned it had been successful in receiving 16.4million from the government's Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund.

The news came through on Monday morning after Sligo Rovers' finished the 2024 League of Ireland season in sixth place.

The funding announcement comes as a huge boost to the Bit O'Red, who believe that they require a new stadium to generate income which will help sustain the club for the future.

After three years of hard work in getting to this stage, Sligo Rovers can now move to the next stage which is the detailed design, which is expected to take a year.

It will then take somewhere around two years to build the stadium, with Rovers extremely hopeful that it will be complete by 2028.

"We were hoping against hope to get it done before the centenary in 2028, that's still the aim," Chairman Tommy Higgins told The Sligo Champion on Tuesday afternoon.

"After 24 hours of absorbing the information, it's only hitting home now. It's a huge deal. We're very pleased with the amount. We probably wouldn't have got this done without the help of Frank Feighan who was relentless in his pursuit of this. It's only fair it's recognised. It took an army of people to put all the information together, we're all very grateful. Everybody is very interested in the club, this is the future. We also have to bear in mind all the people that kept the club going over 90 years. We now have to try and prepare for the future, that's what we're doing.

"The present committee are only custodians, we don't own the club. The fans own the club. I think we have to be ambitious. There's no point in not being ambitious. I think everybody is beginning to see where we're heading with this. It's more than the 11 players on the pitch. It's more about the community sharing the facility. That's what we're aiming for. It would also bring a lot more income into the club which we need, to sustain the club and be able to compete at a good level."

The late Tommie Gorman, a devoted and dedicated Rovers fans, had put a huge amount of work into the club's application for the funding, before he sadly passed away in June.

And Mr Higgins says the club will make sure to finish what he started.

"It was a bitter-sweet moment. He would have been jumping up and down, he put so much work into it and he lay the groundwork, especially the political end of it. Tommie wasn't on the committee, he may as well have been. Our task now is to finish this off for Tommie. That's what everybody is thinking. We got to this stage with Tommie, now we have to execute it. And we will."

The actual cost of the stadium plan is not clear at the minute, but the club believe that the funding will cover the full cost of it.

"The next thing, you go out to tender. You don't know what it's going to be like in 2-3 years time. Our next stage is go to tender and get the tenders back. We have a lot of choice, maybe like a lot of people with a budget you have to cut your cloth according to the budget but we believe we'll get most of it done. We'd be fairly confident of that."
Westlife's third chart-topper in both Ireland and the UK.

1 Flying Without Wings Westlife

2 Blue (Da Ba Dee) Eiffel 65

3 Keep On Movin Five

4 Genie In A Bottle Christina Aguilera

5 King Of My Castle The Wamdue Project

6 The Fields Of Athenry The Cox Crew

7 Iris The Goo Goo Dolls

8 (You Drive Me) Crazy Britney Spears

9 I Try Macy Gray

10 Larger Than Life Backstreet Boys

Its exactly a quarter of a century since Westlife topped the charts in Ireland and the UK with one of their best-loved ballads Flying Without Wings.

The single was released in 1999 at a time when Westlife could really do no wrong in the charts. Flying Without Wings was the third in an astonishing run of seven consecutive UK number ones - a record in that market.

In Ireland it was one of 13 Westlife number ones in a stellar career.

Flying Without Wings was the third single from the bands self-titled debut album. Voted Song Of The Year in an ITV end of year poll in 1999, it is Westlifes fourth best-selling single in the UK.

In 2015, Westlife manager Louis Walsh revealed that the song was originally planned as the first solo single for Boyzones Stephen Gately, who died in 2009.

He told the Guardian: Stephen did the demo and he thought it was going to be his song. Ill be quite honest, I missed it, but as soon as Simon [Cowell] heard it he just went bananas. It was really difficult because Westlife were on tour with Boyzone, as the support act.

Flying Without Wings was written by noted British songwriting partnership Wayne Hector and Steve Mac. Hector saw the potential of the song from the outset.

In an interview with HitQuarters, he said the basic idea came to him while on a break from working on a hip hop session with Ezi Cut in Los Angeles.

I came up with a couple of lines for the first verse and then phoned my mamas house, left it on the answering machine, and said, Dont get rid of this!.

In the UTV documentary Westlife Back Home, band member Shane Filan suggested it is probably the best song of the bands career. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, father-in-law of Westlifes Nicky Byrne, said in the same documentary that it was his favourite song from the band.

Flying Without Wings spent four straight weeks at the top of the Irish singles chart before being knocked from number one by Dustin the Turkeys 32 Counties.

It was a big hit in many European countries, but little known in the US until 2003 when Ruben Studdard sang it on the finale of American Idol Season 2 to defeat Clay Aiken. The subsequent Studdard single reached number two in the Billboard Hot 100.
Annette Stacey, Monica Aherne, Rita Dunphy, Majella Hennessey and Billy Redmond from New Ross who were extras in the New Ross-based film Small Things Like These, attending a showing at Omniplex Cinema Wexford.

Following the release of the New Ross made movie, Small Things Like These, its been confirmed that locals will have the opportunity to attend screenings in the town, without having to travel elsewhere to cinemas.

Theatre Director of St Michaels Theatre, Tomas Kavanagh, has confirmed there will be at least two screenings at the end of November in the local theatre that has the facilities to host cinematic screenings to an audience of up to 300 people.

The decision comes as people from New Ross would have to otherwise travel to Kilkenny, Wexford or Waterford to their closest cinema.

Mr Kavanagh said that due to other bookings that were made a year in advance, the screening of Small Things Like These, starring Hollywood actor and Cork native, Cillian Murphy, will be shown when the theatre availability allows, and exact dates will be confirmed in the coming days.

"Its difficult trying to fit everything in but well certainly make sure the people of New Ross get to see the production that brought such a boost to the town, and Id be delighted to make that available to them, said Mr Kavanagh.

Also commenting on the release of the movie and how it will benefit the town, New Ross Municipal District Manager with Wexford County Council, Alan Fitzhenry, said there are so many positive things in the pipeline.

"Im delighted to see the film hit the screens as theres been great excitement and anticipation building and as a district we will ensure to capitalise on the success of the film and celebrate the piece of work that has been created here in our town, said Mr Fitzhenry.

In addition to the screenings of the movie based on the Claire Keegans best-selling novel, the Lionsgate production will offer opportunities for New Ross across the town including a beautiful mural, a photo exhibition and walking tours based on the film.
EcoTrail Wicklow was present at the recent Templiers trail exhibition thanks to the support of Wicklow County Council and Failte Ireland.

The Festival des Templiers is one of Frances most popular trail running events. Claiming to be the oldest trail running race in France, this year it celebrated its 30th anniversary. Scheduled annually in the middle of October, the festival attracts around 11,500 runners spread over 11 races ranging from 9km to 100km. With an estimated two million trail runners, the French market is one of the largest in Europe.

To coincide with the trail running event, an exhibition took place across the weekend, with more than 120 exhibitors showcasing trail running gear and brands, as well as promoting other trail running destinations. Approximately 35,000 participants visited the exhibition.

EcoTrail Wicklow had a stand at the event to promote EcoTrail Wicklow and the Seven Sisters Races in Co Donegal. It was also an opportunity to present Wicklow and Ireland as great trail running destinations, offering a network of trails in stunning scenery and a mild climate that makes it ideal to enjoy throughout the year.

A raffle was organised that included a trip for two at EcoTrail Wicklow in September 2025, and over the three days, the raffle recorded approximately 1,600 entries. The winners of the raffle will be announced soon, while all entries will be given a 10pc discount to EcoTrail Wicklow in 2025.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Paul OBrien said: Although very niche, the trail running market is a growing market in continental Europe, the UK and the US. Wicklow is indeed a fabulous trail running destination, with hundreds of kilometres of trails to explore. Attendance at the exhibition was a fantastic opportunity to showcase all that we can offer.

Chief executive of Wicklow County Council Emer OGorman commented that: Wicklow County Council will continue to work alongside Failte Ireland to help promote and package Wicklow as an amazing, year-round trail running destination. The councils dedication to trail development and maintenance through some of Irelands most scenic locations is making Wicklow ideal for the sport.

In 2023 there were more trail running races organised in France (4,268) than road running races (3,932).
Wicklow Sinn Fein TD John Brady has criticised Finance Minister Jack Chambers over the lack of progress on plans for the much-vaunted Greystones Media Campus, which were announced with much fanfare over two years ago but have since stalled.

It is understood the current status of the development is commercially sensitive and the focus of the project is now being reviewed.

The 300m media campus was to be developed in Greystones with a view to it attracting a wealth of talent, job and investment in the film industry by its opening in 2024. The campus would have created 450 jobs during the construction phase and resulted in 1,500 new roles at the 44-acre site.

US property group Hackman Capital Partners, its studio operator affiliate MBS Group and investment firm Square Mile Capital were behind the facility, which was set to become the largest in Ireland. It was to be developed as a joint venture with the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and Capwell, an investment vehicle owned by the Sisk family and some 24 millions has already been sunk into it.

However, while there was some preparatory work carried out on the site, equipment and portacabins and other material were removed in the middle of last year and there has been no explanation as to why the plans seem to have been put on ice.

Deputy Brady said the fact the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) is a central partner lays a responsibility on the Government to play a central role in ensuring that the project gets back on track and last month quizzed the finance chief as to the direction of travel for the campus.

He has described an update he received from the minister as effectively amounting to zero progress and added the Government has done nothing to advance the project.
Christ Church COI

Services of Worship for this Sunday, the Third Sunday before Advent: 8.30am Holy Communion; 11am Remembrance Service.

Armistice Day: Next Monday there will be an Act of Remembrance at 11am in the church. All are welcome.

Bray Methodist Church

Worship for this Sunday: 10amSunday Worship with Creche and Sunday School.

Bray Presbyterian Church

Worship for this Sunday: 11.30am Sunday Worship.

Christian Assembly Church

Worship for this Sunday: 10.45am Morning Worship

Wednesdays: 8pm Prayer Meeting & Bible study.

Monthly Ladies Meeting: For details see: www.christianassemblybray.com.

Cornerstone Church at The Well

Worship this Sunday: 11am.

Bray Christian Outreach

Free hot meals, Clothes, sleeping bags, toiletries etc, are available in Bray Methodist Church on Sundays from 3pm to 4pm.

Holy Redeemer Parish

Mass Times: 10amMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday No Mass on Tuesday. Sunday Masses: 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday and on Sunday at 10.30am and 12Noon. To book a Mass, please call into the Sacristy before or after our Masses.

Music at Mass on Sundays: 10.30am Folk Group; 12pm Gaudium Choir (Mainly Latin Church Music) on the 1st Sunday of the Month; 12pm on other Sundays of the Month: Parish Choir (Mainly English Church Music).

St Peters Parish

St. Peters Church Mass Times: Sunday: 9am. (Irish Mass), 11.30am. Holy Days: 11am. 1st Friday: 11am.

Car Park Hours: These are from 9am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday, for parish business and at the weekends during church ceremonies. The Cemetery is accessible via the laneway for pedestrians.

St. Peters Cemetery: There is a strict policy of No Dumping Allowed in any area of the cemetery. Visitors to the cemetery are requested to take home all forms of rubbish with them in order to keep the cemetery tidy. Your co-operation is appreciated.

St. Annes Church, Shankill: A Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5pm on Saturdays. All are welcome.

St Fergals Parish

Mass Times: Mass times are 9.30am Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. No morning Mass on Thursdays and Saturdays. Saturday: 7pm Vigil Mass; Sundays: 8am and 10.30am.

Confessions: Are heard on Saturdays after the 7pm Vigil Mass.

Baptism: Baptisms take place on the first and third Saturday of each Month at 12Noon. Bookings can be made through the Parish Office Only. The Preparation meeting takes place on the Monday before the 1st Saturday of the month. Please call into the Parish Office three weeks in advance of the Baptism to complete the Baptism Form and to confirm the date.

St. Fergals Church Baptism Team: Our Baptism Team is in need of some extra volunteers to assist on a rota basis, with the twice monthly Baptisms which take place here in the Church. Training will be given, and Garda Vetting is a necessity. If you would be interested in joining this dedicated team please leave your name with Jenny in the parish office, or contact Monica Cornejo at: 086-0608384 or moncor44@hotmail.com.

An Evening of Melodies from Michael: An evening of instrumentals and songs including movie and television themes along with your favourite songs and hits takes place with Michael Byrne and Friends at 8pm on Friday November 22nd in St. Anthonys Room, adjacent to St. Fergals Church, Boghall Road. There will be something for everyone and all performed in an intimate setting, with lighting and visual backdrops. Admission is 10 with proceeds going to St. Fergals Parish. As this is a limited seating event, admission is by ticket only. Tickets are available from the Parish Office/Sacristy or call 086-364 7315.

Syro Malabar Catholic Church

Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 12 noon in St. Fergals Church, Ballywaltrim.

Our Lady Queen of Peace

Eucharistic Adoration: Eucharistic Adoration takes place from 11am to 10pm on Mondays only in this Church.

Mass: Weekday Masses are celebrated at 10.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend Masses are at 6.30pm on Saturdays and 10.30am and 12 Noon on Sundays.

Three Tenors Live: Will be in concert in this church on Saturday November 30th at 8pm. Tickets, 30, can be obtained from the Parish Office, call 2760045; email villapacisbray@gmail.com or via Eventbrite.

Bray Library

Opening hours are 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday with late opening on Tuesday and Thursday until 8.30pm. The library can be contacted at 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Bray Library Literary Book Club meets on the last Thursday of the month at 7pm the next meeting will take place on Thursday November 28thenquire at the desk for details on the book for this meeting. Bray Library Romance Book Club meets at 7pm on the First Tuesday of the month the next meeting will take place on Tuesday December 3rdenquire at the desk for details on the book for this meeting.

Bray Library Crime Book Club meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7pm the next meeting will take place next Tuesdayenquire at the desk for details on the book for this meeting. All are welcome.

Bray Library and the Indian Classical Music Society of Ireland present An evening of Indian Classical Vocal Music with Debajyoti Sanyai and Dr. Supido Das at 7pm on Tuesday November 19th. All are welcome.

Ballywaltrim Library

Opening hours are 10am to 5 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 10am to 8pm on Wednesday. The library is closed on the Saturdays and Mondays on Bank Holiday weekends. The library can be contacted at 01-2723205 or by email at: ballywatrimlibrary@wicklowcoco.ie.

Page Turners Interested in joining a Wednesday Night Book Club? Please enquire by email or telephone ballywaltrimlibrary@wicklowcoco.ie or call 01-2723205. Storytime for All takes place on Saturday mornings at 11,30am and at 11.30am on the Tuesdays of this month no booking is required. Tummy Time for Babies takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10.30am to 12pm when babies can play beneath the Magic Tables Projections. All are welcome no booking is required. Adult Scrabble takes place every Monday from 3pm to 4.30pm no booking is required.

Bray Cualann Historical Society

John Brazil will be the guest speaker for the November meeting of the Bray Historical Society, the local history society for Bray and North Wicklow, at 8pm on Thursday November 21st in the Royal Hotel, Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow, at which he will present DNA of people in Ireland from ancient times to today All are welcome admission is 8 for non-members. Those wishing to join the Society can do so at the meeting.

Events taking place in the week ahead which may be of interest to members and supporters of the Society are: today (Wednesday) Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Cathy Scuffil will present Down by the River Poddle at 6.30pm in Walkinstown Library, Dublin 12. Admission is free but booking is required call 01-2228890 or email: walkinstownlibrary@dublincity.ie; Ed ODonovan will present The Archaeology of a Dissolved Monastery: Evidence from St. Marys Abbey Excavation at 8pm to the Rathmichael Historical Society in Rathmichael National School, Stonebridge Road, Shankill, Co. Dublin. All are welcomeadmission is 5 for non-members. Tomorrow (Thursday) Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Dr. Mary Muldowney will present Andrew Carnegie and his Gospel of Wealth at 8pm to the Rathmines, Ranelagh & Rathgar Historical Society in Rathmines Town Hall, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6.Members free / visitors 4Swan Car Park Evening Rate: 4 from 7 p.m. to Midnight. This Friday, as part of the Marino 100 History Talks, Joe Brady will present Fairview/Marino from the 1940s on: The continuing story of developments in Fairview/Marino at 7pm in Carleton Hall (Marino Community Centre), 53A Shelmartin Avenue, Dublin 3. All are welcome; Dr. Harman Murtagh will present A Permanent Menace: Jacobite Auxiliaries 16881691 at 8pm to the Military History Society of Ireland in Griffith College, South Circular Road, Dublin 8. All are welcomeon Zoom to members only. Next Monday James Scannell will present John Hinde and his Postcards of North Dublin at 7.30pm to the Clontarf Historical Society in St. Johns Pastoral Centre, Clontarf Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3. All are welcomeadmission is 5; Ciaran Brady will present The Origins of the American Revolution at 8pm to the Blackrock Society in Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, 32 Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co. Dublin. All welcomeadmission is 5 for non-members. Next Tuesday Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Cormac Moore will present The Boundary Commission Finally Meets at 6.30pm in Rathmines Library, 157 Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6. All are welcome admission is free and no booking is required; Cora McDonagh will present Balbriggan Stockings, Old Masters and the Bells of Howth: North County Dublin contributions to the nineteenth centurys Art and Industrial Exhibitions at 8pm to the Malahide Historical Society in St. Sylvesters Church Parish Centre, Malahide, Co. Dublin. All are welcome admission is 5; Martin Russell will present Mourne View 50 at 8.15pm to the Skerries Historical Society in The Bowling Club, Skerries, Co. Dublin. All are welcome admission for non-members is 5. Next Wednesday Donal Fallon will present The Lamplighters of the Phoenix Park at 6pm to the Old Dublin Society in the Conference Room, Dublin City Library & Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. All are welcomeadmission is free and no booking is required; Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Cathy Scuffil will present One Photo, Many Stories at 7.45pm to the Knocklyon History Society in The Iona Pastoral Centre, Idrone Avenue, Knocklyon, Dublin 16. All are welcome to attendadmission is 3 for members and 5 for non-members.

Members and supporters are asked to note that articles in the latest issue of Time & Tide 14 published by the Skerries Historical Society contains another nine papers from the Societys archive The Old School by Paddy Halpin, The ESB in Skerries, 1940-2005 by Hugh Halpin, Des McDonaghs People by Joe Heffernan, Theyre Off! Skerries horse races 1854-1925 by Dominic McQuillan, How Skerries voted 1922-2007 by Bob Laird, Rockabill an Irish Lighthouse by Joe Clinton, Gents School Camp by Stephanie Bourke, Extracts from the Blood Smyth stories by Edward Mullarkey, and The Guest Book at Ardgillan Castle 1879 by Aidan Herron. Copies can be ordered via the Skerries Historical Society website.

Shankill Classical Music Club

The November meeting takes place on Wednesday November 13th, as this season meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month, from 7.45pm to 10pm, including a tea break, in the Shankill Day Centre, Lower Road, Shankill (100 yards from the main street, car parking available). Visitors and new members are always welcome. Theres no charge on the night. For further information phone or text John at 087-2109175.

St. Cronans School

St. Cronans School, Vevay Crescent, Vevay Road, Bray, is now enrolling Junior Infants Girls and Boys for next September i.e. September 2025. For further information/details, call 01-2860440, email: office@stcronans.net or log onto www.stcronans.ie

W.H. Five Loaves Bingo

W.H. Five Loaves Bingo takes place every Sunday night at 8pm in the Little Flower Hall beside the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer.

St. Patricks National School

Enrolments are now open for more information please visit www.stpatsbray.ie/admissions or contact 01-2860504.

Gaelscoil Ui Cheadaigh

Gaelscoil Ui Cheadaighis now enrolling for every class. Call 01-2865044; email oifig@gaelscoiluicheadaigh, or see www.gaeilscoiluicheadaigh.ie.

Bray Town Annual Memorial Service

Organised by the Western Front Association (Dublin Branch), this annual service takes place this Saturday at 11am at the War Memorial, Quinsboro Road (beside Carlisle Grounds). All are welcome.

Table Quiz

Bray Rowing Club will hold a Table Quiz with auction and prizes this Saturday evening starting at 7pm in the Bray Head Fishing and Social Club. Tables of 415 per person. Bray Rowing Club needs your help to raise funds to help rebuild their clubhouse. All are welcome.
Parish of Powerscourt with Kilbride

Services at Powerscourt with Kilbride: All Services are available on the Parish YouTube Channel.

Service of Worship in St. Patricks Church, Powerscourt, for this Sunday, the Third Sunday before Advent: 11.30amHoly Communion 1.

Service of Worship in St. Brigids Church, Kilbride, for this Sunday, the Third Sunday before Advent: 9.45amMorning Prayer 2.

The Living Room: The next meeting with St. Marys will take place today (Wednesday) at 11am in St. Patricks.

Irish Trefoil GuildGuiding for Life: Calling all former leaders of the Irish Girl Guides in Bray and the surrounding area. There is now a Trefoil Guild in Bray. Contact Anne at braytrefoilguild@gmail.com.

St Marys Church

Parish Website: www.enniskerryparish.ie is the Parish website of the Immaculate Heart of Marycheck it out for the latest information about our parish.

Enniskerry (also Curtlestown & Glencree) Parish Office opening times: Monday to Friday: 10am to 1pm; email: stmarys@enniskerryparish.ie; or call 01-2760030.

St. Mochonogs Parish Office opening times: Monday: 9am to 2pm, Tuesday: (by phone) 10am to 1pm, Wednesday: 10am to 2pm, Thursday (by phone) 10am to 1pm. Closed Friday.

Parish Churches Schedule of Masses: Enniskerry St. Marys: Saturday evening 6pm and also via parish webcam; Sunday 11am and also via parish webcam. Weekday Mass at Enniskerry is at 10.15am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and also via parish webcam lay-led prayer service on Wednesday; and Saturday at 10.15am, and also available via the parish webcam. Masses in Curtlestown and Kilmacanogue are on Sunday at 10am. Mass in Glencree is at 9am on the first Sunday each month.

Baptism Requests: Requests for Baptism now take place online at www.enniskerryparish.ie.

Downtime Thursday/Adoration: Downtime Thursday has now reverted to the last Thursday of the Month so the next one will take place on Thursday November 28th from 7pm to 8pm so why not pop into the church for some quiet time.. You can sit in silence with candlelight and gentle music. Take a few minutes for yourself and just be. Light a candle, say a prayer. Just sit if thats what you need. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place.

The Living Room: The next meeting with St. Patricks Powerscourt will take place today (Wednesday) at 11am in St Patricks.

November Memorial Mass: This takes place on Sunday November 17th at 11am in St. Marys and 10am in St. Mochonogs. During the month of November, we have a Memory Board at the Altar with photos displayed of those who died during the year. Please drop a photo of your loved one to the sacristy or parish office if you would like it put on our memorial display board during November. We will remember all who have died, of course so please join us if you can. There will be refreshments afterwards.

Next Gathering of the Whole Parish Community: On September 8th we had a joint celebration of the Eucharist for all 4 communities, Glencree, Curtlestown, Kilmacanogue and Enniskerry. It was a special occasion for the parish with a lot of positive feedback afterwards. We have been asked when the next one will take place and the decision has been made to do it all again in March next year. There will only be one mass celebrated that weekend in the parish, 11am in St. Marys on Sunday March 2nd (First Sunday of March) There will be no other mass that weekend. Our hope is that each community will play its part in the liturgy, through song, reading, providing ministers etc...The mass will be concelebrated. Put the date in your diary.

Registration for the Sacraments: We are at the start of another year of preparation for the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. There is still time to register on-line, if you havent done so already via https://enniskerryparish.ie/

Leaders in Church Ministry: We currently have a small team of three Funeral leaders. They have been serving the parish wonderfully for a year and have been greatly appreciated by the bereaved families. We would very much like to increase our team of leaders in the parish this year to include all ministries. Please consider being part of our growing leadership team in Enniskerry parish.

Cards and more!: All sorts of greeting cards and other bits and pieces will be available over the coming months at the back of the Church (St. Marys) after 11am mass. All that is asked is a donation for whatever you take. Worth a look!

New Readers Needed: We need new readers. Please give your name to Phil Kenna or to the parish office if interested.

New Here?: You are very welcome. You can keep up to date with us through the parish webpage at www.enniskerryparish.ie. You can register as a parishioner by mailing us at stmarys@enniskerryparish.ie or stmochonogs@enniskerryparish.ie. If you wish to receive items, or if you would like to receive the Parish Link by email weekly please phone the Parish Office in Enniskerry on 01-2760030 (10am to 1pm Monday to Friday or email: stmarys@enniskerry.ie; and Kilmacanogue on 01-2021882 (10am to 1pm Monday to Thursday) or email:stmochonogs@enniskerryparish.ie.

Broadcast List: A broadcast list for the parish is now up and running. This is to keep everyone up to date with what is happening in the parish and for easy communication in relation to building our communities. If you would like to have your name added to the list please contact Aideen at 086 8182 241.

History Society

Members and supporters of the Enniskerry History Society are asked to note that the following events will take place in the week ahead.

Today (Wednesday) Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Cathy Scuffil will present Down by the River Poddle at 6.30pm in Walkinstown Library, Dublin 12. Admission is free but booking is required call 01-2228890 or email: walkinstownlibrary@dublincity.ie; Ed ODonovan will present The Archaeology of a Dissolved Monastery: Evidence from St. Marys Abbey Excavation at 8pm to the Rathmichael Historical Society in Rathmichael National School, Stonebridge Road, Shankill, Co. Dublin. All are welcomeadmission is 5 for non-members. Tomorrow (Thursday) Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Dr. Mary Muldowney will present Andrew Carnegie and his Gospel of Wealth at 8pm to the Rathmines, Ranelagh & Rathgar Historical Society in Rathmines Town Hall, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6.Members free / visitors 4Swan Car Park Evening Rate: 4 from 7 p.m. to Midnight. This Friday, as part of the Marino 100 History Talks, Joe Brady will present Fairview/Marino from the 1940s on: The continuing story of developments in Fairview/Marino at 7pm in Carleton Hall (Marino Community Centre), 53A Shelmartin Avenue, Dublin 3. All are welcome; Dr. Harman Murtagh will present A Permanent Menace: Jacobite Auxiliaries 16881691 at 8pm to the Military History Society of Ireland in Griffith College, South Circular Road, Dublin 8. All are welcomeon Zoom to members only. Next Monday James Scannell will present John Hinde and his Postcards of North Dublin at 7.30pm to the Clontarf Historical Society in St. Johns Pastoral Centre, Clontarf Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3. All are welcomeadmission is 5; Ciaran Brady will present The Origins of the American Revolution at 8pm to the Blackrock Society in Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, 32 Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co. Dublin. All welcomeadmission is 5 for non-members. Next Tuesday Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Cormac Moore will present The Boundary Commission Finally Meets at 6.30pm in Rathmines Library, 157 Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6. All are welcome admission is free and no booking is required; Cora McDonagh will present Balbriggan Stockings, Old Masters and the Bells of Howth: North County Dublin contributions to the nineteenth centurys Art and Industrial Exhibitions at 8pm to the Malahide Historical Society in St. Sylvesters Church Parish Centre, Malahide, Co. Dublin. All are welcome admission is 5; Martin Russell will present Mourne View 50 at 8.15pm to the Skerries Historical Society in The Bowling Club, Skerries, Co. Dublin. All are welcome admission for non-members is 5. Next Wednesday Donal Fallon will present The Lamplighters of the Phoenix Park at 6pm to the Old Dublin Society in the Conference Room, Dublin City Library & Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. All are welcomeadmission is free and no booking is required; Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Cathy Scuffil will present One Photo, Many Stories at 7.45pm to the Knocklyon History Society in The Iona Pastoral Centre, Idrone Avenue, Knocklyon, Dublin 16. All are welcome to attendadmission is 3 for members and 5 for non-members.

The attention of members and supporters of the Society is drawn to Moral Formations: Discipline and Religion in the Irish Army, 192232 by Daniel Ayiotis which is a comprehensive exploration of the transformation of the Irish Army from the Civil War to the Eucharistic Congress. This vital work by Daniel Ayiotis explores the intricate relationship between discipline, religion and the Army, shedding light on the challenges faced and the values that were required of soldiers, from manliness and clean living to a chivalrous spirit and a degree of religious fervour. This examination raises important questions about the role of religion in shaping the behaviour and actions of the Army and the influence of religious instruction on young soldiers. It also acknowledges the role of the Irish Army as a government institution and the values that were instilled during its early years of formation.

Enniskerry Library

Opening hours are Tuesday 10.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Wednesday: 2pm to 4.30pm & 6pm to 8pm; Friday: 10.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Saturday: 10am to 2.30pm. The Library is closed on Mondays and Thursdays and on the Saturdays of Bank Holiday weekends. The Library can be contacted at 01-2864339 or email: enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Bridge Club

Enniskerry Bridge Club meets every Tuesday night in the Parochial Hall (beside Poppies) at 7.30pm. New members are very welcome. For more information please contact the Secretary on 085 7112179.

Old Graveyard Kilmacanogue

Wicklow County Council is co-ordinating the preparation of a conservation plan for Kilmacanogue Church Ruins and hope to be in a position to undertake repair works to this structure in the future. In the meantime, it is considered prudent that access by the public is restricted until such time as remedial works can be taken to ensure the safety of visitors.

The councils area engineer office visited Kilmacanogue Church Ruins recently and, having reviewed the condition of the structure, took the decision to lock the entrance gate to restrict public access on health and safety grounds. A notice to this effect has been placed at the entrance.
Hannah Shortt, John Cassidy, Ger Murtagh, James O'Brien with grandaughter Nevada, and Lui O'Brien, who all lit candles for their deceased relatives and friends.

Marking three years since the 71 social apartments at Dargan Hall in Bray were occupied, a touching ceremony was held to remember six of the residents who have died in that short space of time, as the community gathered to mount a plaque and plant a memorial tree as a tribute to their lost family members and friends.

Among those who were remembered at the ceremony, fittingly held on the eve of All Souls Day, was Marlene OBrien, who died in August last year at the age of 28, leaving her four-year-old daughter, Nevada, behind her.

James O'Brien lights a candle for his daughter Marlene, who is in the photo held here by her 5-year-old daughter, Nevada

Explaining how tight-knit the community at Dargan Hall have become since the first residents began collecting their keys shortly before Christmas, in 2021, Jane Doyle, who is the secretary of the residents association, said the poignant event was a moment to remember those who have passed.

It was just to mark the passing of those six people, because it has taken a toll, she said.

When you move in as a community and in less than three years, six people have passed, it is quite a loss when you look at the demographic. It actually wasnt that we have a lot of elderly people here. It was just to take a moment and to have that tree. And theres a bench right beside it, if someone wants to go outside and just sit by it.

The community also lost a young man in his thirties in tragic circumstances recently, while there have been others in their early seventies who passed away suddenly.

The idea for the plaque and memorial tree, Jane added, was supported by the management company, Storyhouse, with senior property manager Padhraig McKernan helping to secure the funding.

Jane said Marlenes death, in particular, was a huge shock and among those in attendance at the event were her father, James, and sister Jaimelee, who has since been granted guardianship of Nevada.

Marlene was a powerhouse, she was well-known and brave, Jane said. I got to know her quite well, just from living here. She was from the Traveling community, and she went back to education. There would have been people with certain views against that.

She was pursuing a degree, and she was going into her second year, in Trinity, when she passed away. But it was very sudden. She was very involved in the community. So, you know, those kind of things hit communities hard. Just because, I suppose, its a reminder of how fragile life is.

James was among the speakers on Friday night, together with councillor Dermot OBrien, who paid tribute to the community spirit that thrives at Dargan Hall. The memorial tree now stands in he courtyard of the apartment complex, just outside Nevadas window. 
A UN special rapporteur has warned Iran that she is monitoring the case of a woman who was arrested after stripping down to her undergarments to protest about an assault she alleges she was subjected to for not following the countrys notoriously strict hijab laws.
Democrat anger as blame game begins over Kamala Harriss devastating loss





Democrats and political talking heads have initiated the circular firing squad as they search to blame anyone else for Donald Trumps victory in the 2024 election.



Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party lost the White House, lost the Senate, and still may lose the House. The Supreme Court has a conservative majority that handed Trump a presidential "get out of jail free" card for almost anything he does in office between 2025 and 2028.



So, who is to blame?



Some Democrats think swapping Joe Biden for Harris was their deadly mistake. Others have blamed Biden himself, saying he took far too long to drop out. Progressives point to the Biden administration's stance on Israel and the Harris campaign's attempts to appeal to moderates and anti-Trump Republicans.



Maybe it's not a single person, but the issues themselves; some analysts have argued that Americans resonated with Trump's stances  however sometimes disturbing  on immigration, on the economy, on foreign wars.

Harris and the Democratic Party

The vice president has never had a showing as a strong national candidate. She lost her primary race in 2020, and took the reigns from Biden without a primary or any other input from actual voters. Harris was appointed the 2024 Democratic Party presidential candidate; she was not elected to that role.





Harris's campaign hung its hopes on voters from marginalized backgrounds and women  including Republican women concerned about their abortion rights  to come through for her on election night. But that does not appear to have panned out, with Black men and Hispanic voters moving toward Trump.





She also tried to appeal to moderates and suburbanites, running on platforms of criminal crackdowns and bolstering the military  typically Republican stomping grounds  to little effect. The campaign highlighted former Congresswoman Liz Cheney after she and her war-profiteering father decided to back Harris. The move likely did little to sway moderates and a lot to disgust progressives.





Harris's campaign was insistent that she was picking up new voters and that the race would be close; a recent poll out of Iowa only helped bolster that idea.





A Democratic National Committee official, speaking anonymously, told Reuters that they were fielding angry calls from party members on election night.





"They feel lied to by the campaign," the official said.





Harris may also have been too close to a Biden Administration that did little to stand against Israel's rampant and unchecked killing of Palestinians in Gaza. Despite comments she made indicating she might have taken a tougher stance on Israel, it does not appear to have moved many Democrats critical of the Biden administration's response to the continuing crisis.





Politico argued that it was Harris's inability to make a clean break from Biden that ultimately doomed her presidential hopes, claiming she could not both back the work of the Biden Administration and convince voters that she would effect significant change if she took power.





Joe Biden and the Democratic Party

Bill Ackman, a longtime Democratic donor who backed Trump in 2024, accused the party of lying to voters about Joe Biden's mental fitness.





"The party lied to the American people about the cognitive health and fitness of the president," he said, and pointed out that there was no primary held to replace him. He said the party needed a "complete reboot," according to Reuters.





Biden's decision to step away from the race in July came on the heels of immense pressure from within the party and a disastrous debate with Trump earlier in the campaign. But that left Harris with only three months to sell her vision to a deeply divided nation.





At least one Harris campaign staffer complained that the ghost of the former administration chopped her off at the knees.





We ran the best campaign we could, considering Joe Biden was president, the Harris aide told Politico on condition of anonymity. Joe Biden is the singular reason Kamala Harris and Democrats lost tonight.





Tim Walz and Progressives

It wouldn't be a Democratic loss without the party's centrist members punching left. Democratic National Committee official Lindy Li told Fox News that Harris picking Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate over Minnesota Governor Tim Walz may have been enough to push her over the line.





"People are wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket. And not only in terms of Pennsylvania," she said, not explaining who "people" were.





She then suggested that Walz was too progressive, and that picking a moderate like Shapiro  who has been vocal in his support for Israel as it continues to tear apart Gaza  would have shown she wasn't a "San Francisco liberal."





"But she went with someone actually to her Left. In the eyes of the American people, Walz was the governor who oversaw the protests," she said, referencing the fact that Walz was the governor of Minnesota during the George Floyd demonstrations.





The voters themselves

Some pundits have blamed the voters who Democrats assumed they had on lock for failing to show up for Harris.





MSNBC's Joy Reid blamed white women, chastising them for not making "their numbers" while discussing Harris's loss in North Carolina.





"In the end, they didn't make their numbers. We have to be blunt about why, black voters came through for Harris, white women voters did not," Reid said.





It isnt quite that simple. While white women may have voted in fewer numbers than the party had hoped, many Black voters  particularly Black men  abandoned the party for Trump.





According to exit polls, Trump only won eight percent of Black voters in 2020, but that share increased to 13 percent in 2024. He also gained with Hispanic voters, where his support rose from 32 percent in 2020 to 45 per cent in 2024.





That revelation led to MSNBC's Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough to blame misogyny for Harris's loss.





Democrats need to be mature, and they need to be honest. And they need to say Yes, there is misogyny, but its not just misogyny from white men," he said. Its misogyny from Hispanic men, its misogyny from black men  things weve all been talking about  who do not want a woman leading them.



Graig Graziosi, The Independent










President Trump, again? Five reasons why Donald Trump won the US presidential election

Donald Trump is celebrating a second presidential win and heres why, writes Irish Independent's Adrian Weckler from Pennsylvania

Supporters cheer at an election night watch party for Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: AP

Adrian Weckler Wed 6 Nov 2024 at 07:11

Donald Trump is celebrating a second US presidential win.
Johnny McEvoy on the death of his beloved wife: I never said goodbye. She didnt either. She was going. She wouldnt do any more chemo
Image Credit: Ich fahre hummer via wikipedia.org

Mumbai: Deutsche Bank on Wednesday announced a fresh capital infusion of Rs 5,113 crore into its India operationsthe largest allocation in recent years, media reports said.

According to a statement from the German lender, this capital boost will support expansion across key segments, including corporate, investment, and private banking, PTI reported.

Deutsche Bank, which has been operating in India for 45 years with a balance sheet size of Rs 1.45 lakh crore as of March 31, 2024, runs 17 branches nationwide, positioning it among Indias leading foreign banks.

The new capital marks a 33% increase in its capital buffer from 2023 levels, raising the regulatory capital of its Indian branches to nearly Rs 30,000 crorea figure that has tripled over the past decade.

"India is well positioned to benefit substantially from many of today's most important trends reshaped supply chains, digitisation of industries, increased geopolitical frictions, and global demographic changes, among others. Consequently, we see enormous potential," said Alexander von zur Muehlen, CEO for Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Germany, the report said.

Muehlen, also a management board member, emphasized Indias significance as a growth market and affirmed the lenders increased capital allocation aims to deepen its Indian presence.

Deutsche Bank reiterated its commitment to supporting India's growth in areas like digital transformation, sustainable finance, and infrastructure development.

Kaushik Shaparia, Deutsche Banks India CEO, described the capital infusion as a strong validation of confidence in its Indian business model and growth potential.

The statement clarified that the new funds apply solely to the bank's Indian branches, excluding other local entities.

Previously, Deutsche Bank had infused Rs 2,700 crore in 2020 and Rs 3,800 crore in 2019 into its India operations.

For FY23, its profit after tax slightly decreased to Rs 1,467 crore, with capital adequacy standing at 15.41% as of March 31, 2023.
Photo courtesy: Donald Trump/Kamala Harris Facebook page, USAGov Facebook

The announcement of the results for the high-pitched US Presidential elections is underway on Wednesday (November 5 in the United States). The counting of votes is taking place with former US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump taking a comfortable lead over Vice-President and Democrat nominee, Kamala Harris. A win for Trump, who was in chair from 2016 to 2020, will make a historic comeback to power while Harris' win will make the first female President in the US.

Donald Trump has won 266 electoral votes as opposed to Kamala Harris' 194, inching closer to the majority mark of 270 in the US Presidential elections.

Kamala Harris, who is likely to lose out the Presidential battle, will address the Democratic supporters on Wednesday.

Donald Trump is ahead of Kamala Harris marginally in the Rust Belt states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Donald Trump has bagged North Carolina, which is one of the swing states.

If I lose an election and it is fair, I will acknowledge it': Donald Trump

Donald Trump Tuesday said he is "very confident" about winning back the White House after casting his vote in Florida in one of the most hard-fought elections.

Speaking to reporters outside a voting facility in West Palm Beach, Trump said he ran a "great campaign" against his rival Kamala Harris, a Democrat wild card entrant in the elections after Joe Biden decided to opt out after stumbling in his debate with Trump.

"If I lose an election, if it's a fair election, I would be the first one to acknowledge it. So far I think it's been fair," Trump was quoted as saying by AFP.

"They spend all this money on machines... If they would use paper ballots, voter ID, proof of citizenship, and one-day voting, it would all be over by 10 o'clock in the evening. It's crazy," he told reporters in West Palm Beach as quoted by AFP.

"Do you know that paper is more sophisticated now than computers? If it's watermarked paper you cannot... It's unbelievable what happens with it. There's nothing you can do to cheat," he added.
Photo Courtesy: S Jaishankar X page

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met Australian PM Anthony Albanese when he discussed ways to deepen bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

"Delighted to call on PM Anthony Albanese in Canberra today. Conveyed warm greetings of PM @narendramodi," Modi wrote on X.

Delighted to call on PM Anthony Albanese in Canberra today. Conveyed warm greetings of PM @narendramodi.



Value his guidance for deepening   Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.@AlboMP pic.twitter.com/Sxe6lQ9iJ8  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 6, 2024

"Value his guidance for deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," he said.

Jaishankar is visiting Australia from November 3 to November 7.

Earlier, he met Australian Liberal Party chief Peter Dutton.

"Good to meet @PeterDutton_MP, Leader of Liberal Party of Australia," Jaishankar wrote on X. I shared perspectives on global issues and appreciate his support for our bilateral ties," he said.

S Jaishankar on Monday inaugurated the Consulate General of India in Brisbane during his ongoing visit to Australia.
Canada's Peel Regional Police suspends Sergeant Harinder Sohi (above) for participating in a pro-Khalistan protest rally outside a Hindu temple. Photo Courtesy: Daniel Bordman X page

A former Toronto Police Sergeant claimed the Canadian Police knew one of its cops, who has been suspended for his involvement in violent protests at a Hindu Temple in Brampton, took part in a Khalistani protest in October.

Former Toronto Police Sergeant (Detective) Donald Best told ANI news agency: "On Sunday afternoon, in Brampton, Ontario, there was a Hindu temple, and protestors from the Khalistani separatist movement came to the temple and protested loudly outside. In Canada, this is a criminal offence, you are not allowed to disturb a religious meeting."

"I dont know who threw the first stone, who hit somebody or who came on the property first, I dont know about it, I do know that many Khalistani separatist protestors physically attacked some of the worshippers there," he said.

The former cop said: "We have seen videos where they are on the property, that was terrible enough. We found that one of the protestors, which turned out to be a violent mob, is a serving Peel police officer, a sergeant. I started getting wind of that on Sunday night."

His name is Sergeant Harinder Sohi. He is visible in holding a Khalistani flag, Donald Best said.

There was a protest in downtown Toronto in middle of October..I saw the same police officer at that protest. He is holding a sign and flag and the sign says that Indias consulate should be banned from Canada," he said referring to Sohi.

Peel Regional Police in Canada have suspended Sohi who was seen in a viral video participating in a pro-Khalistani protest rally that turned violent outside a Hindu temple in Brampton.

We are aware of a video circulating on social media which shows an off-duty Peel police officer involved in a demonstration, Peel police spokesperson Richard Chin told Toronto Sun.

This officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act. We are investigating the circumstances in totality depicted in the video and are unable to provide further information until such time that this investigation is complete," Richard Chin said.

Canadian police have arrested three people who were demonstrating against the attack by alleged pro-Khalistani supporters on devotees outside a Hindu Temple in Brampton city.
Photo courtesy: Unsplash

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday announced the approval of PM Vidyalaxmi, a new Central Sector program aimed at providing financial assistance to deserving students, ensuring that financial constraints dont hinder access to higher education.

Under PM Vidyalaxmi, any student admitted to a Quality Higher Education Institution (QHEI) will be eligible for a collateral- and guarantor-free loan from banks and financial institutions, covering tuition fees and related expenses.

The scheme applies to top-ranked higher education institutions in the nation, as determined by NIRF rankings, covering government and private HEIs within the top 100 overall, category-specific, and domain-specific lists; it also includes state government HEIs ranked from 101 to 200 and all central government institutions.

For loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh, students can receive a 75% credit guarantee on any defaulted amount, facilitating banks ability to extend educational loans.

Additionally, students with an annual family income up to Rs 8 lakh, who are not eligible for other government scholarships or interest subvention, will receive a 3% interest subvention for loans up to Rs 10 lakh during the moratorium period.

This support is projected to benefit 1 lakh students annually, prioritizing those from government institutions and those in technical or professional courses.

The government has allocated Rs 3,600 crore from 2024-25 to 2030-31, with an expected reach of 7 lakh new students for interest subvention.

The Department of Higher Education will operate a unified PM-Vidyalaxmi portal, allowing students to apply for both education loans and interest subvention through a streamlined process accessible across banks.

Payments for subventions will utilize E-vouchers and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallets.

Additionally, PM-USP CSIS offers full interest subvention on education loans up to Rs 10 lakh during the moratorium period for students with family incomes up to Rs 4.5 lakh who are enrolled in technical or professional courses at approved institutions.

Together, PM Vidyalaxmi and PM-USP will provide comprehensive support to eligible students pursuing quality higher education and technical courses in recognized institutions.
Deepika and Ranveer got married in 2018 | Photo courtesy: Deepika Padukone Instagram handle

Mumbai/IBNS: Much like how Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan were trolled for naming their kids Taimur and Jeh, Bollywood power couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have faced backlash for naming their daughter Dua, an Arabic word meaning prayer.

Deepika and Ranveer, who are massively popular Hindi films actors, took to social media on November 1 on the occasion of Diwali to reveal the first glimpse of their daughter.

They revealed the reason behind naming their daughter Dua.

"'Dua' : meaning a Prayer. Because She is the Answer to our Prayers. Our hearts are filled with Love & Gratitude," the couple wrote in the post.

Photo courtesy: Deepika Padukone Instagram handle

A section of social media users are not happy with the couple naming their daughter Dua, a Muslim name while some felt naming Prarthana, which in Hindi means prayers, would have been appropriate considering their Hindu religion.

Reactions

Hello @RanveerOfficial @deepikapadukone



A suggestion. Why not use the word "Prarthana" for your daughter? If "dua" is equivalent to prayer, we have the best word for it in Samskrita. Prarthana is representative of our cultural ethos too. pic.twitter.com/6MofQdSShy  EquateAll (@Equateall) November 4, 2024

Wrong!

Her parents gave the reasoning, that she's the -answer to their prayers- hence named "Dua".

But Hindi word for Prayer is "Prarthana".

Both parents are Hindu, pray in mandir.

So Logical people will ask, why Dua, not Prarthana? https://t.co/jwBh5Xuik5  Nik_Invinci  #SidHeart 4 Life (@DrStrangeNik) November 2, 2024

We Hindus do "PRARTHANA" & there is no concept of "DUA".   (@Spectrumglobal_) November 2, 2024

Hindi speaking Hindus will name their kid #Dua, but Urdu speaking Muslims will never name their kid #Prarthana   (@imhope_ny) November 1, 2024

Dua is a urdu word for "Prarthana". Bollywood me par aaj kal Islamist fashion me hai. https://t.co/z9xtsrgkCn  Viraat Hindu  (@ShivoBhairava) November 1, 2024
The Fiery Priest Season 2 OTT release date has been fixed. The action comedy drama got a lot of love when the first season released. It is expected to do well this time around too. A total of twelve episodes are planned for The Fiery Priest 2. New episodes of the drama will be broadcast on SBS Network every Friday and Saturday at 10:00 PM KST (6:30 PM IST) after its premiere. For Indian viewers, The Fiery Priest Season 2 will be released on Disney+Hotstar on 8th November 2024.

Plot

According to Pinkvilla, as the original cast returns for new adventures, the upcoming season will be plenty of action, comedy, mystery, and suspense. In the show, Michael plays Kim Hae Il, a former NIS agent who joins the Catholic priesthood to look into the unexplained death of a prominent priest. He is seen as a fiery deity who does everything in his power to punish the offender. He encounters numerous obstacles along the way, though, since the dishonest prosecutor won't work with him.

Cast and crew

Kim Sung Kyun will make a comeback as Park Gyeong Sun's co-detective, Goo Dae Young. Kim Sung Kyun will make a comeback as Park Gyeong Sun's co-detective, Goo Dae Young. As investigator Park Gyeong Sun, Honey Lee is poised to make another impression. It is anticipated that Good Dae Young would display his bromance with the fiery priest in season 2. He will travel all the way to Busan with Park Gyeong Sun.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Hailed as one of the most humble stars of Bollywood who makes everyone feel special despite their stature, Shah Rukh Khan is rightly called the king of hearts. Indian chef, restaurateur, and humanitarian Vikas Khanna recently wrote down an emotional moment he experienced with the Bollywood icon. In a heartwarming post, Khanna expressed that while he has had the honor of cooking for four American Presidents and numerous world leaders, cooking for Shah Rukh and his own mother has been two of the greatest honors of his life.

Chef Vikas Khanna reveals how cooking for Shah Rukh Khan touched him deeply

He posted this after getting a heartfelt reply from Khan himself on his birthday wish for him. Recalling the touching moment when Shah Rukh held his hand and said, "Ive not come to just a restaurant, Ive come to honor a place that represents our parents & our culture," he revealed how this sincere gesture moved him to tears, reminding him of his own mother, Radha. I cried like a child. I know Radha must be proud, Khanna admitted thus revealing how proud he felt in that one moment.

Thank u Chef lots of love to you Vikas and all the best with your future endeavours and thanks for the sumptuous dinner in NY. https://t.co/TWWwoIffk7  Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 5, 2024

Furthermore, he called Shah Rukh "our family, our sibling, our pride, our childhood, our love story, our greatest joy & our best representation." Concluding the post, he wrote, "Bless the mother which gave birth to a LION KING." This emotional post struck a chord with fans. One of them wrote, "Both of You have made our India shine on the World Map".

"I literally cried after reading this," said another one. "Two of my fav people in one frame ! Thanks for making India proud," another user wrote. "Two real gentlemen," said another one.

For the unversed, the Michelin-starred chef's new restaurant in NYC is called Bungalow. It is a sophisticated establishment made in collaboration with restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Kangana Ranaut who has been openly supporting Donald Trump against Kamala Harris in US Presidential Elections 2024 has publicly blamed several Hollywood celebrities for Harris' unsuccessful campaign and defeat. Ranaut, known for her unfiltered political opinions, criticised celebrities like Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyonce, labeling them as "clowns" and suggesting that their endorsement may have contributed to Harris' loss in the election.

Kangana blames Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lopez for Kamala Harris' loss

Kangana gone mad  pic.twitter.com/OciDR4P5dL  Juhi Jain (@juhijain199) November 6, 2024

As the US election results came in, declaring a win for Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump with 277 electoral votes, Kangana took to social media to share her views on the same. On her Instagram story, She shared a collage of the celebrities who had publicly supported Harris including Swift, Lopez, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, and Hollywood icons like Harrison Ford and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and blamed these "clowns" for her defeat.

"Do you know Kamala's rating went drastically down when these clowns endorsed her, people thought she was frivolous, flaky and untrustworthy for hanging out with such people," she wrote.

Earlier, she has openly declared that she would have voted for Donald Trump and not Kamala Harris. Kangana wrote, "If I were American, I would vote for the one who got shot, dodged it, got up and continued his speech. Total killer."

Taking to Twitter, the actor-politician also shared the "best meme" on the internet, which was an AI-generated image of Donald Trump rallying in desi saffron clothes alongside Elon Musk. "Best meme on twitter today. Congratulations @realDonaldTrump," she wrote.
Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipalas wedding has become the major talk of the town, with fans eagerly awaiting a glimpse of the couple on social media. The wait will soon end, since the couple is officially set to tie the knot on December 4, 2024. Before they start their new journey, the internet is completely updated with every step they make. In an interesting twist to their wedding plans, the latest reports have revealed that the chosen venue holds an emotional connection for Naga Chaitanya since it is linked to his legendary grandfather, Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Adding a personal touch to the upcoming celebration by choosing Annapurna Studios, established by his grandfather as a wedding venue, highlights the profound bond Chaitanya shares with his grandfather. To truly admire the significance of this connection, lets take a closer look at the fascinating family tree of Naga Chaitanya.

The history of the Akkineni family, led by Nagarjuna boasts an 80-year-long association with Telugu cinema, with establishing itself as one of the most prominent families in the industry. Nagarjuna belongs to the second generation of the Akkineni family. His father Akkineni Nageswara Rao (also commonly known as ANR) is one of the iconic stars who cemented the legacy of the Akkinenis in Indian Cinema.

The First Generation: Akkineni Nageswara Rao's Legacy

Akkineni Nageswara Rao famously known as ANR, the paterfamilias of the Akkineni family began his career in 1941 with flim Dharma Patni. He is regarded as the leading pillar of Telugu cinema. He also established the Annapurna Studios in 1975, under the name of his wife Annapurna. ANR is also famously known as a 'cultural ambassador' of India as he enacted some of the cult roles of literary and cultural roles in various regions in India. ANRs first movie appearance was in a cameo role in P Pullaiahs Dharmapatni in 1941. He is also remembered for his great acting performances in romantic dramas like Laila Majnu in 1949 and Devadasu in 1953. Some of his other cults include Mayabazar (1957), Gundamma Katha (1962) Mangalya Balam (1958) and Prema Nagar (1971).

The Second Generation: Nagarjunas legacy

The second generation of the Akkineni family is led by Nagarjuna, who was the eldest son of ANR. Nagarjuna was a noted actor and producer of all time in Telugu and Tamil Cinema. He made his acting debut as a child artist in 1967 in the film Sudigundalu. He has acted in over 100 films and had an iconic career, some cult movies include Shiva (1989), Annamayya (1997), LOC: Kargil (2003) in Bollywood and Hello Brother (1994). However, Nagarjuna has largely starred in action films, establishing himself as an action star with some of the best performances in Aakhari Poratam (1988), Vicky Daada (1989), Siva (1989), Neti Siddhartha (1990), Chaitanya (1991), Nirnayam (1991), Antham (1992), Killer (1992), Khuda Gawah (1992), Rakshana (1993), Govinda.

The Third Generation: Naga Chaitanya

The third generation of the family is represented by Naga Chaitanya and his half-brother Akhil Akkineni, the sons of Nagarjuna. Chaitanya made his debut in the year 2009 with the movie Josh and since then he has been one of the leading actors in the Telugu film industry. Naga Chaitanya was born on November 23 1986 in Hyderabad to actor Akkineni Nagarjuna and Lakshmi Daggubati. According to a report of News18, Chaitanya maintained distance from his mother after his parent's separation. Moreover, Naga is believed to be closer to his father Nagarjuna and stepmother Amala Akkineni.

What could my mother be

to yours?

What kin is my father

to yours anyway?

And how did you and I meet ever?

But in love our hearts

are as red earth and pouring rain:

mingled beyond parting.



From Kurunthogai, translated by A K Ramanujan pic.twitter.com/5vIeZxWCm0  Sobhita Dhulipala (@sobhitaD) August 10, 2024

Naga Chaitanyas personal life has had its share of drama, having previously been married to actress Samantha Ruth Prabh, now separated, Chaitanya is all set to start a new chapter of life with actress Sobhita Dhulipala.
The price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies skyrocketed as polls closed in the United States election on Tuesday, with former President Donald Trump showing strength in several early-voting states. Bitcoin was trading at $71,300 as of 9:15 p.m. Eastern, up around 5% in the previous 24 hours. Many cryptocurrency investors are rooting for Trump to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris, as the former president has pledged to develop the crypto business in the United States if elected.

Why is Bitcoin hitting a record high?

Credit: Canva

The Associated Press quickly called Florida for Trump on Tuesday evening, as Trump built significantly on his margin of victory over President Joe Biden four years ago.

Trump also showed early strength in Georgia and North Carolina, though those states were still counting votes and were too early to call. Crypto investors seem to be preparing for far more volatility after the election.

A CF Benchmarks index, which uses futures activity to gauge how much volatility investors expect in Bitcoin over 30 days, hit its highest level on Monday since early August.

In general, Trump is believed to be the most supportive of Bitcoin. This summer, Trump visited a big Bitcoin conference, promising to make the United States "the crypto capital of the world" and to keep Bitcoin for strategic purposes.

How did people on the internet react?

People on the internet called it a "Trump effect" and Trump supporters were ecstatic at the market scene. Here's what people commented.

Pack your bags Sir, you are  fired 



You will have plenty of time to get Orange pilled.  #Bitcoin https://t.co/tDq68KZwAb pic.twitter.com/dO0NDmWrHr  M World  (@mwill2023) November 6, 2024

It's happening! This will kick off the bullrun and potentially the suddenly moment of #Bitcoin, Placing our next target on the chart at $76k.



Be wary of any influencer posting $BTC targets without backing it up with chart data Only listen to folks like @@Mccarthy_57 that back  Sebastian NFT (@surya14_surya) November 6, 2024

Also read: US Election 2024: Donald Trump takes early lead as voting closes in Presidential polls

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Scams are everywhere these days, and just when we think we've heard them all, a new one pops up. Now, it seems there's a fresh twist targeting those using matrimonial websites to find a partner. Dubbed the "BharatMatrimony Scam," this scheme is making waves, and it's one to watch out for if you're navigating the online matchmaking world. Here's what you need to know to stay safe.

Swati Mukund recently took to Instagram to express her shock at seeing her own picture on Bharat Matrimony, one of India's popular matrimonial platforms.

In her post, she points out that her photo appeared on a profile she didn't createposing as a 35-year-old Brahmin woman named Nithya Raja Sekar, a fitness professional from Chennai.

Sitting next to her actual husband in the video, Mukund clarifies that they didn't meet through the app, as the profile suggests.

Mukund found it particularly alarming that this wasn't just any listing but part of Bharat Matrimony's elite subscription, a premium service that promises extra screening and authenticity.

She concluded her post with a reminder to stay vigilant when using such platforms, urging users to exercise caution despite claims of verified profiles.

How did people respond?

Swati Mukund's post about her photo being misused on Bharat Matrimony drew a huge response, with numerous users sharing similar scams.

One commenter recounted paying Rs 1.5 lakhs for a premium membership, only to receive the same few profile suggestions repeatedly, calling it "the biggest scam."

Another shared that her photo appeared on a profile labelled as a divorcee seeking a groom, despite her never having been married.

One user even noted that Bharat Matrimony had dodged requests to set up a meeting, claiming the person was unavailable but leaving the misleading profile active.

In response, Bharat Matrimony issued an apology: "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. We have suspended this profile and conducting a thorough investigation on how it got published. We'll DM you shortly with further details."

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Protest Trump

Date:

Wednesday, November 06, 2024

Time:

5:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Event Type:

Protest

Organizer/Author:

FRO San Jose

Location Details:

Plaza de Coatlique, King and Story, San Jose

STAND WITH IMMIGRANTS! STAND WITH PALESTINE! Join us and rally against Trump and his Anti Immigrant rhetoric and brutal policies against immigrants at the border and against deportation of undocumented immigrants! We demand a People's agenda, Legalization for All, a Free Palestine, Reproductive rights and Queer rights!! We will meet at King and Story, a landmark location for Chicano activist history, at 5:30 pm! Rally will be held by the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee plus endorsers, meet up at the Plaza de Coatlique!
Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendonis recent visit to Beijing marked a significant step in deepening the longstanding cultural connection between Greece and China.

Invited by the prestigious Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Ms. Mendoni delivered the opening address at the inaugural World

Congress of Classical Studies, centered on the theme Classical Cultures and the Modern World .

Established in 1977, CASS is Chinas foremost institution in the fields of philosophy and social sciences, hosting 31 research institutes, 45 research centers, and over 3,200 scholars.

Ms. Mendoni, in her discussions with CASS President Mr. Gao Xiang, emphasized the importance of the Congress, which is jointly organized by CASS, Chinas Ministries of Culture and Tourism, Greeces Ministry of Culture, and the Academy of Athens.

This event, she noted, establishes a unique and influential forum for dialogue between two of the worlds most iconic classical civilizations, where Greece and China can both make substantial contributions.

Greek and Chinese cultures, each with their unique values and principles, formed the bedrock of Western and Eastern thought, said Ms. Mendoni. But we must not confine ourselves to the past; rather, we should be inspired by it to create a dynamic present and work toward a better, sustainable future.

Mr. Gao thanked Ms. Mendoni for her efforts in strengthening the cultural ties between the two nations, recognizing the enduring impact of ancient Greek values on global intercultural dialogue. He highlighted the significance of the collaboration between Greeces Ministry of Culture and the Academy of Athens in hosting the Congress, describing it as a pivotal intellectual exchange between Greece and China.

Their discussions also included the Athens-based Chinese School of Classical Studies, a new CASS branch established only months ago. Governed by Greeces 2021 law for the protection of antiquities and cultural heritage, the school operates under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Both leaders reviewed upcoming educational programs that the school plans to launch in 2025, focusing on promoting classical studies and fostering meaningful cultural exchanges between Greece and China.

During her visit, Ms. Mendoni, accompanied by CASS General Secretary Mr. Zhao Zhimin, toured the Academys Archaeological Museum, which opened in 2023 as Chinas first dedicated archaeological museum.

The museum tour offered Ms. Mendoni a closer look at Chinas own historical preservation efforts, echoing Greeces commitment to safeguarding its cultural heritage.

Ms. Mendonis visit not only reaffirms the strong bonds between Greece and China but also establishes a new, promising chapter in cultural diplomacy, where two ancient cultures continue to share wisdom, mutual respect, and a vision for a collaborative future.

   iefimerida.gr
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will travel to Budapest, where he will attend the European Political Community meeting on Thursday.

On Friday, the Greek premier will attend the European Council's informal leaders meeting, also in Budapest.

   iefimerida.gr
Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent member of the Labour Party, has called on President Bola Tinubu to apologize and provide compensation to the minors who were arraigned in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protest.

Okonkwo made this statement during an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday.

The nationwide protest, which took place from August 1-10, resulted in the arrest and arraignment of several protesters, including minors.

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This sparked widespread outrage, prompting Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to withdraw charges against the minors on Monday.

Subsequently, a Federal High Court in Abuja struck out the suit against 119 persons allegedly involved in the protest on Tuesday.

Okonkwo however emphasized that the charges and prosecution processes were unjust.

READ ALSO: Court Strikes Out Terrorism Suit Against #EndBadGovernance Protesters (Pictures)

The President has to apologize to those children and compensate them adequately. It was very wrong. The charges were wrong. The process of detaining them was wrong. The process of arraigning them was wrong, he stated.

Human rights organizations have also condemned the Nigerian governments actions, citing disregard for the right to freedom of assembly.

Amnesty International Nigerias Director, Isa Sanusi, noted that detaining protesters since August and charging them with offenses like treasonable felony and terrorism-related offenses demonstrates the governments utter disregard for human rights.

The minors were released and received by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the State House.

Okonkwos demand for apology and compensation echoes the sentiments of many Nigerians who are seeking justice for the minors.
There was panic at Mile 2 area of Lagos State as a commercial bus driver set himself, his vehicle and one Lagos State Traffic Management Authority official on fire.

However, the driver, his conductor as well as the LASTMA official along with his colleagues fled the scene.

The degree of the blaze on both men is yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

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Confirming the incident to newsmen on Tuesday in a statement by Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed that the injured official was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

Mr. Taofiq said that LASTMA operatives had accosted the driver for violating traffic regulations but he resisted arrest.

He noted that in an attempt to evade arrest, the driver sprayed his vehicle and some of the officers who had taken over the vehicle with petrol, set the bus on fire and fled the scene.

The statement reads: The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has been made aware of a distressing video showing the driver of a Volkswagen T4 commercial bus, licence plate LSD 355 CK, setting both his vehicle and LASTMA officers ablaze in a brazen attempt to evade arrest.

READ MORE: Were Not Responsible For Dead Body Hanging At Ikorodu Estate  LASTMA

The vehicle was intercepted for violating traffic regulations in the Cele inward Mile 2 area.

In the course of the arrest, the driver and his conductor erupted into a frenzy, resorting to pouring petrol on LASTMA personnel and engaging in hostile confrontations and physical attacks against officers present.

The injured LASTMA officer, who sustained severe burns, was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.

The agency strongly urges all commercial and other drivers to comply fully with traffic regulations and respect the authority of LASTMA personnel.

LASTMA will not condone any form of violence or intimidation and will take firm and decisive action against those responsible.
A Senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has said that the tax reform bills sent to the legislative arm of government by President Bola Tinubu are dead on arrival.

Ndume, on Channels TVs programme, Politics Today, on Tuesday, urged Tinubu to consider the advice of the National Economic Council, and the Northern Governors Forum.

Calling for the immediate withdraw of the controversial bills, Ndume added that the Tinubus government should be looking at ways to reduce the tax burden on Nigerians and not increase it.

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He said: If it goes on like that, I can tell you that it will be dead on arrival. We dont need to study the bill.

The general thing is that Nigerians are not willing to talk about or pay any tax now considering the (economic) situation we are in now.

READ MORE: Controversial Tax Bill: Lawyer Backs Tinubu, Says Northern Region Cant Reap Where It Didnt Sow

Nigerians are willing to pay taxes but they can only pay taxes when they can afford it. Right now, people are struggling to survive. Let people live first before you start asking them for taxes.

What he (Tinubu) needs to do is to withdraw the bill, educate Nigerians and make us understand it. We are representing the people and the people that we are representing have already spoken.

The governors, the traditional rulers have said that the bill is not good. So, the best thing to do is to immediately withdraw it.

Right now, what our people are saying is that they dont want VAT bill, they dont even want to hear about it. That is why we are going to make it dead on arrival.
Five suspected illegal revenue collectors have been arrested by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Ebonyi State at the International Market, Abakaliki.

It was gathered that the arrest was made following a raid conducted by members of the States Internal Revenue Board on Tuesday.

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The suspects were said to be apprehended in different locations of the market collecting illegal tax from market women.

READ MORE: Ebonyi Police Apprehend Four Suspects For Organ Harvesting

Leader of the Revenue Board team, Emmanuel Elechi, said that the arrest of the suspects was based on the incessant violation of Governor Francis Nwifurus directive of exempting traders and vegetable sellers from revenue collection.

He said: We are determined to flush out illegal revenue collectors who are bent on tarnishing the image of the board. We must adhere strictly to the directives of the governor to allow petty traders and vegetable sellers to do their business without paying tax.

Our governor knows what the poor are going through and decided to reduce the hardship but some people are sabotaging the gesture to enrich themselves. We cannot tolerate that.

We shall continue to arrest them and prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others.


Nigerias Vice President, Kashim Shettima, says that President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of detained #EndBadGovernance protesters on humanitarian grounds.

Recall that on Monday President Tinubu directed the release of all minors arrested during the protests.

At a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, Presiding Judge Obiora Egwuatu struck out the suit against 119 protesters after an application by M.D. Abubakar, counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation.

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Vice President Shettima, however addressed the released protesters, saying President Tinubus decision aims to give them another chance at becoming responsible citizens.

The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, instructed the release of the suspects on humanitarian grounds, despite incontrovertible digital video and photographic evidence of the perpetration and actions, some of which were uploaded by the actors themselves, Shettima stated.

READ ALSO: Court Strikes Out Terrorism Suit Against #EndBadGovernance Protesters (Pictures)

Shettima also warned the protesters not to allow themselves to be used to perpetrate violence and destroy public and private property, highlighting that over N300 billion was lost in the protests.

I would like to admonish you, young men, not to allow yourselves to be used to perpetrate violence and destroy public and private property. Over N300 billion was lost in the protests, consisting mainly of private properties and loss of business, he addedm

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the federal government for the compassionate decision.

What happened today will be written in gold. The president has shown his compassion and humility. He has demonstrated that you (protesters) are also his children, he said.

The Federal Government has also pledged to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of the released protesters into their communities.
Donald Trump has been elected the 47th President of the United States, marking a stunning political comeback that has reverberated across the country and around the world.

The 78-year-old former President, now the oldest person ever to win the office, becomes the first convicted criminal to do so.

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Trumps victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, who had been hoping to make history herself as the first woman, first Black woman, and first South Asian-American president, has sparked intense global concern.

Critics warn of his unpredictable leadership style and his past admiration for authoritarian leaders like Russias Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong-un.

The election, which had raised alarms domestically and internationally, saw Trump surpass the necessary 270 electoral votes after Wisconsin was called for him by the Associated Press at 5:37 a.m. ET, giving him a total of 277 electoral votes.

Harris, 60, who had centered her campaign on reproductive rights and a national law guaranteeing safe access to abortion, now faces a loss that is seen as deeply disheartening for her supporters, echoing the emotional devastation that followed Hillary Clintons loss in 2016.

Trumps win represents a remarkable turn of events for a politician many thought had seen the end of his career after his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden and his subsequent involvement in the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.

Despite the storming of the Capitol and his second impeachment, Trump retained a tight grip on the Republican Party, which rallied behind him as he overcame multiple legal challenges.

His criminal convictions, including a high-profile case involving hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, did little to diminish his support base, which remained fiercely loyal.

The former Presidents political resilience was underscored by his ability to galvanize the white working class, evangelical Christians, and even make inroads with African American and Latino voters.

READ ALSO: Trumps Election Surge Propels Dollar, Bitcoin To New Heights

Trumps rhetoric, often divisive and inflammatory, resonated with voters dissatisfied with the political establishment.

He secured the Republican nomination for a third time, overcoming stiff competition within his Party and even surviving an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

The presidential race, which lasted little more than 100 days, was one of the shortest and most intense in recent memory, shaped by natural disasters and global conflict.

Trumps campaign received substantial financial backing from tech mogul Elon Musk, who directed millions of dollars to swing states through his political action committee. The contest remained tightly contested until the final stretch, with both candidates tied at 48% in the final New York Times/Siena College national poll.

In his victory speech, Trumps message continued to echo themes of populist nationalism. His focus on anti-immigrant rhetoric, including promises of mass deportations and harsh attacks on undocumented immigrants, struck a chord with many voters.

He also used the campaign to cast his ongoing legal battles as politically motivated, vowing retribution against his perceived enemies and suggesting more aggressive measures to deal with domestic enemies from within.

This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again, he told cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters in Florida.

We made history, he said, speaking against a backdrop of Stars and Stripes flags, adding that we are going to help our country heal.

Trumps return to the White House will make him the first U.S. president to serve non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland, who held office from 1885 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897.

As Harris prepares to oversee the certification of the election results in Congress this January, she will make way for her successor as vice president, JD Vance.

Vance, a 40-year-old senator from Ohio, is a staunch Trump ally and has firmly supported the former presidents claims about the 2020 election.
Two people were on Tuesday, killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated at the International Market in Orlu.

According to Henry Okoye, the police commands public relations office, in a statement, in Owerri, said that others were injured during the explosion while fleeing to safety.

He explained that the command had initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances behind the incident.

According to him, a preliminary investigation found that an IED killed two hoodlums.

READ MORE: Lagos-Badagry Expressway Auto Crash Leaves Four Injured

The two persons, who were incidentally the hoodlums, were killed in the process of setting up the IED.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, has deployed anti-bomb operatives to the scene, the police spokesman added.

Mr Okoye advised inhabitants of the region and market traders not to panic.

He also urged the public to provide the police and other security agencies with information on any suspicious activity by suspected hoodlums.

(NAN)
The Adamawa State Command has apprehended two teenage boys on a police wanted list for criminal activity.

SP Suleiman Nguroje, the Public Relations Officer for the Adamawa State Police Command, confirmed this in a press statement published on Tuesday.

The Commands bold step is yielding results as two notorious radical Shila cult groups who were on the wanted list of the command were arrested, he stated.

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According to the statement, the suspects are Bagir Magaji Muhammad of Layin Chinko and Zaradeen Hadi of Sohon Kasuwa, both of whom live in the Yola North Local Government Area.

The statement said that on Monday, November 4, 2024, the suspects trailed and robbed one Habiba Umar of her handset using offensive weapons, paving the way for their arrest.

READ MORE: Niger Police Rescue 19 Abducted Passengers

Detectives from the Commands anti-narcotics section quickly located and apprehended the culprits after the incident was reported.

Investigation so far led to the recovery of the robbed handset, one sharp knife and a horn, the police added.

According to DAILY POST, the substance of this arrest is not what the suspects did this time, but what they had been doing prior to being placed on the police watch list.

Snatching phones and other valuables during the day and at night is a pastime of the Shila Boys that makes use of phone, their prime target, a risky affair in Yola and other major towns in Adamawa State, said the command.
A former corrections officer at Bayside State Prison has been sentenced to 20 months behind bars for failing to intervene when a group of inmates attacked a fellow prisoner as he watched, and, in a separate incident, failing to stop a colleague from beating a man who was incarcerated at the facility.

Joshua Hand, 35, of Millville, was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for depriving the two men of their right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a statement.

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In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams sentenced Hand to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine.

Federal prosecutors said Hand stood by during two separate attacks on men incarcerated at the prison in Leesburg, N.J., in December 2019.

In the first incident, prosecutors say, Hand did nothing to help an inmate who was assaulted by a group of prisoners who beat, kicked, and punched him in the kitchen area of the facility as the corrections officer stood by, and he did not summon medical help or report the assault to his supervisors.

Later that day, Hand did not move to intervene when a fellow officer repeatedly struck a prisoner in the legs with a broomstick, prosecutors said. Hand, who was within arms length of the assault, did nothing to stop it, and he did not report the incident to his supervisors.

Hand pleaded guilty in February to violating the mens civil rights. His attorney, Louis Barbone, could not immediately be reached for comment.
On the latest episode of New Heights, former Eagles center Jason Kelce said he regretted engaging with a Penn State fan on Saturday who used a homophobic slur toward his brother, Travis.

Im not happy about the situation, Kelce said on the podcast. Me reacting gave him the time of day and it also gave the situation notoriety. Thats what I regret. It didnt deserve attention. Its really stupid, and if I just keep walking, its a nothing burger. Nobody sees it.

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In the video, Kelce is seen grabbing the fans phone and appearing to smash it, then responding by calling the fan the same homophobic slur, which Kelce said he regretted on Wednesdays show.

Now its out there, and it just perpetuates more hate, Kelce said. The thing that I regret the most is saying that word, to be honest with you. That word he used, its just [expletive] ridiculous. It takes it to another level. Its just off the wall, [expletive] over the line. As a human, it got under my skin. And it elicited a reaction. And in the heat of the moment, I thought in my head, Hey, what can I say back to him? Im gonna throw that [expletive] right back in his face because [expletive] him.

I know now I shouldnt have done that because now there is a video out there with me saying that word, him saying that word, and its not good for anybody. I think what I do regret is that now there is a video that is very hateful that is now online that has been seen by millions of people, and I share fault in perpetuating it and having it out there.

 READ MORE: Penn State police are investigating the Jason Kelce phone-throwing incident; former Eagle addresses it on ESPN

Penn State police confirmed they are investigating the incident, which went viral on Saturday, prompting a public statement from Kelce on Monday Night Countdown. According to Penn State crime logs, an officer observed a visitor damaging personal property at the intersection outside Beaver Stadium where the incident was caught on video.

Criminal mischief and disorderly conduct are listed as potential offenses on the report. In Pennsylvania, criminal mischief for damages in excess of $500 is a third-degree misdemeanor, which could lead to a fine and up to 90 days in jail if convicted. Disorderly conduct often is classified as a summary offense; potential consequences include up to 90 days in jail or a $300 fine.

Despite Jasons turmoil, Travis had his back.

I know its weighing on you, brother, Travis said. That [expletive] sucks. You shouldnt feel this much  obviously the scrutiny and media view on it and everybody passing around the videos that are out there. Thats going to make it a bigger situation than what I think what it really is.

But the real situation is you had some [expletive] clown come up to you and talk about your family, and you reacted in a way that was defending your family. And you mightve used some words that you regret using, and thats a situation you just got to kind of learn from and own. And I think you owning it and speaking about it shows how sincere you are to a lot of people on this world, and it shows what you said on Monday night. You do not choose hate. Thats just not who you are. I love you, brother, and I think you said that perfectly.
Some Camden public school students performed better on the latest state standardized tests, with modest gains in math and language arts, but more improvements are needed, said Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs.

McCombs released 2024 results from the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, or NJSLA, during a rare Monday morning special school board meeting via Zoom. The state-run district was required to present the results at a public meeting by Nov. 12.

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In a presentation, McCombs reviewed the results for students in grades three through 11 in language arts and math. The tests were administered last spring, along with a science test for fifth, eighth, and 11th graders. Statewide results have not been released to the public.

There was good news and bad news in the number of students achieving proficiency or better in all three subjects. School-level data, though, showed some schools made significant gains, including at Octavius Catto School, where language arts went from 15.6% of students meeting expectations in 2023 to 34.5% in 2024. McCombs applauded those schools and said they would be used as models.

We know that we still have work to do, McCombs said.

In language arts, third graders improved from 5.9% meeting expectations in 2023 to 10.8% in 2024, McCombs said. The state average was 37.2%. Gains were also made by fourth, fifth, and sixth graders.

Seventh graders didnt fare as well, dropping from 12.8% meeting expectations in 2023 to 7.8% in 2024, compared with 31.5% statewide. Language arts scores also declined slightly for eighth and ninth graders.

The results showed that Camden students continue to struggle in math, with a few grade levels making slight gains. All grade levels were significantly below the state average.

Among fourth graders, 9.6% met the math expectation in 2024, an increase from 6.1% the year before. The state average is 37.5%.

At the high schools, only 1% of students met the expectation for Algebra II in 2024, compared with the state average of 47%. (Scores for 2023 were not released.)

McCombs announced New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment results in September that showed only 34% of 11th graders passed the language arts portion, compared with 82% statewide, she said. For math, 8.3% of Camden students met the standard, compared with 55% statewide, she said.

Here are some other takeaways from the meeting.

Camden is still not meeting standards in instruction and programs.

McCombs also announced the districts latest performance on the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum, the states monitoring system for how public schools operate. The results are significant because, as a takeover district, Camden must score at least an 80 in five areas.

Camden exceeded the benchmark in governance, fiscal management, and personnel, but not for operations, or instruction and programs, a key area that includes student achievement on standardized tests. The district scored 61 in instruction and programs, compared with 9 in the 2011-12 school year prior to state intervention, McCombs said.

Former Gov. Chris Christie ordered the state takeover in 2012, saying it would be immoral not to place the worst-performing public school system in New Jersey under state control. Only half its students were graduating high school, and the dropout rate was 20 percentage points higher than the state average.

No timeline has been given for the takeover to end. It took decades for the three other takeover districts in North Jersey  Paterson, Newark, and Jersey City  to regain local control.

Its choice of a 9:30 a.m. meeting was questioned.

McCombs announced the special meeting in a notice last week. It was the first time that the beleaguered advisory board has held a morning meeting via Zoom. It typically meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

With time running out, the superintendent said the district faced a Nov. 12 state mandate to have a public meeting to release the scores. The advisory board canceled its Oct. 28 meeting due to a lack of a quorum.

Camden schools are closed three days this week because of the election and the annual two-day state New Jersey Education Association convention in Atlantic City for teachers and support staff.

Former school board member Jose E. Delgado expressed concern about the meetings timing. He also said it was difficult to digest the avalanche of information, including slides of charts and statistics.

I find it very interesting that you would have a meeting at 9:30, Delgado said. My eyes glazed over after about an hour.

 READ MORE: I served on Camdens school board for 27 years. The politics involved made a state takeover inevitable

About 75 people were on the Zoom call, most of them district staff and board members. Delgado and former board member Sean Brown were the only members of the public who signed up to comment. Brown called the test scores super concerning and alarming. He also urged the board to revise its sexual harassment policy.

According to Michael Yaple, a spokesperson for the state Department of Education, state regulations stipulate that board meetings may start no later than 8 p.m., unless there is no quorum, and then they may be recessed until 9 p.m. There is no reference in the statutes to morning meetings, he said.

The advisory board still needs to fill two vacant seats.

The school advisory board will meet Nov. 14 to fill two vacant seats on the nine-person board, including the seat held by its former president, Wasim Muhammad. Muhammad resigned under pressure in September after fallout from a civil sex abuse lawsuit, involving a former student, that cost the district millions of dollars.

Board member Nyemah Gillespie also stepped down in September, saying in her resignation letter her decision came from a place of deep disappointment, including the actions of the former board president. Her term was scheduled to expire in January 2026.

The board has been in turmoil since a lawsuit filed against Muhammad by a former student alleging he sexually assaulted her when he was her teacher in 1994 came to light. The district and Muhammad reached a $2 million agreement in June to settle the case.

 READ MORE: The embattled Camden school advisory board president has resigned after months of protests

In the 2021 civil lawsuit, the student, Salema Hicks Robinson, accused Muhammad of sexually abusing her when he was her social studies teacher at Cooper B. Hatch Middle School. She said the abuse began when she was 14.

Muhammad, 56, has denied any wrongdoing and said he resigned because his tenure had become a distraction. Because the Camden school system is under a state takeover, the board serves in an advisory capacity and has no real authority.
Hot chicken sandwiches are all the rage nowadays, and this week, Ive tracked down some of the local shops that manage to pullet off.

Also in this edition:

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Wake up and smell the babka: Tova du Plessis second Essen Bakery has opened, and the four-time James Beard nominee has a new business partner: her husband. Faragallis is back: The South Philly bakery reopened this week after $70,000 worth of repairs to its century-old oven. Coffee shops in the burbs: Beyond mere cappuccinos. How about a fig and cardamom latte? Sound the gong! I found a new place for Peking duck in Chinatown. Read on for my report, as well as news briefs. Let me tell you about the Levantine/Mediterranean restaurant on the way to Kensington, and how the second-oldest restaurant on Rittenhouse Square is planning to close.

 Mike Klein

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

The fried chicken sandwich wars are heating up again, and this time its about Nashville-style hot chicken. Ill explain how this is more than simple eggonomics at work.

Faragallis Bakery in South Philly, closed since portions of its century-old oven collapsed, has reopened after repairs, and Phil Faragalli told Mike Newall that its friends and neighbors who made it possible.

Nok x Shola: A Friendsgiving collab

Two Philly chefs known almost exclusively by their first names  Chutatip Nok Suntaranon and Shola Olunloyo  will partner for a Friendsgiving dinner Nov. 27 at Kalaya in Fishtown. The dinner will double (triple?) as a cookbook-release party and Chefs Table launch event: Noks first cookbook, Kalayas Southern Thai Kitchen, debuted this week and her debut on the Netflix series will be that night. The Nigerian-born Shola, a longtime development chef in Philly, was the inaugural chef for Dan Barber during the Blue Hill at Stone Barns Chef in Residence series in 2021. The one-night menu ($125pp, plus tax and tip, prepaid on Resy) will feature Thai flavors with tropical West African influences from Nigeria. Seatings are available for parties of four or more.

Scoop

The long search for a home for Emmett  chef Evan Snyder and Julian van der Taks Levantine-Mediterranean restaurant  is over, after nearly a year of pop-ups. Theyve just signed at 161 W. Girard Ave. on the Kensington-Northern Liberties line, the former home of Cadence BYOB and, more recently, Primary Plant Based. Eli Silins, owner of Camuna Cellars, is onboard as a partner; as such, Emmett will have a liquor license and a 10-seat bar among its 36 seats. Target is mid-January.

Snyder, who worked at Bresca and Blue Duck Tavern, will focus on wood-fire cooking, with his menu highlighting French, Italian, North African, and Middle Eastern flavors. There will be an optional $85 tasting menu in addition to the a la carte menu. Van der Tak, who worked in the Vernick Fish-Jean Georges orbit, will manage. Snyder, van der Tak, and van der Taks wife, Victoria (the event coordinator and media strategist), met while working at Redcrest Kitchen in its early days. Emmett happens to be Snyders son, who is 1. In the photo above, from left are Silins, Snyder, and the van der Taks.

Restaurant report

Every so often, a gentle gong breaks through the quiet dining room of Beijing Duck Seafood Restaurant, the white-tablecloth Chinese restaurant that opened last month in Chinatown.

Its chef Wang Zheng, signaling his arrival while pushing a cart bearing a roasted duck, accoutrements, cutting board, and large knife. Zheng, whose bio says he learned the art of preparing Peking duck at Quanjude in Beijing (whose Vancouver location has a Michelin star), oversees a three-day prep that involves cycles of deep chilling, and not what owner Stevie Lam calls the easy way of blowing air under the skin to crisp the birds.

Its best to call beforehand to reserve your duck, which will take about a half-hour to roast in an open oven. At the table, Zheng will slice the skin into strips, which you dip into sugar for a decadent sweet-salty-fat flavor bomb. He carves the duck, sets out hoisin sauce, strips of cucumber and scallion, and a steamer basket of pancakes.

Stretch out a chun bing, smear on the sauce, lay out cukes and scallions, add a few slices of duck, and roll it all up.

The basic dinner for a friend or two is $105, and its $20 more for the complete experience: quart containers of duck soup, made from the carcass with tofu and greens, to take home.

Theres a full northern Chinese menu, including hot pot, and you can select fish and shellfish from a tank in the back. A liquor license is on the way.

Beijing Duck Seafood Restaurant, 911-13 Race St. Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Briefly noted

Devon Seafood Grill will end its 25-year run on 18th Street across from Rittenhouse Square over New Years, per a state Labor Department WARN notice indicating that 76 employees will be laid off. Devon opened in August 1999 across the alley from Rouge, which had opened in April 1998 to light up the Rittenhouse dining scene. Devons parent company, Landrys, recently announced the Nov. 30 closing of the Chart House location on Penns Landing.

Marthas finale will be Wednesday night starting at 5, with all profits from sales going to support the 21 departing staffers. The Kensington restaurant had a 10-year run.

Cockatoos three-year run on the southwest corner of 13th and Chancellor Streets  in a corner building with a dramatic retractable skylight  ended Sunday. Owner Ram Krishnan is steering customers to his nearby cocktail bar, Writers Block Rehab. Jackie Balin of AMC Delancey is leasing the building, which is only seven years old.

Want to learn latte art? Among the six fine suburban coffee shops that Hira Qureshi found is Soltane Cafe, a social enterprise that leads monthly classes.

Need a Thanksgiving pie? Hira offers seven options, including a caramelized banana cream pie in a vanilla wafer crust. Yowsa.

Matines Cafe, the chic French patisserie in Chestnut Hill, opens its Main Line offshoot (757 Lancaster Ave., Wayne) on Nov. 12.

Essen Bakerys Kensington location has opened. Finally. The two-year construction was only part of the struggle for owner Tova du Plessis.

Mac Mart, the mac-and-cheese specialty shop, grand-opens a franchise location Saturday at 38-40 Rittenhouse Place in Ardmore, previously Mr. Korea. This location, owned by Kevin and Jackie Falcone, will have 20 seats and a more extensive menu, including chicken fingers, tater tots, fries, and mac-and-cheese-stuffed eggrolls. Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

Camac Street between Locust and Spruce will be the site of a block party Sunday from noon-7 p.m. to mark the addition of 254  the bar formerly known as Tabu, around the corner at 254 S. 12th St.  to the Tavern Group (UBar, Tavern on Camac, Ottos Taproom). Music, food, and fundraising for the Dante M. Austin Memorial Scholarship Fund, named for Philadelphias first openly gay sheriff.

Pop quiz

Cockatoos closing calls to mind other restaurants that have stood on that site, formally 208 S. 13th St. The original building, which housed Letto Deli till 2009, was torn down, and the current building opened in 2017 as the short-lived Maison 208. Can you remember the landmark establishment that preceded Letto?

A) Le Bec-Fin

B) Fiddler

C) Commissary

D) Deweys

Find out if you know the answer.

Ask Mike anything

I see signs of a new restaurant opening at 1111 Walnut St., where Destination Dogs was. Know anything?  Billie P.

Within a month, it will become Chubby Chicks Cafe, a bruncherie that closed its location in Blackwood last weekend. Usually brunch is quiet and timid, owner Shakeira Keira Turner told me. This is not that brunch. Its very whimsical and fun. Our syrup is pink. We do karaoke. Ours is one of those places where youre having brunch, but youre letting loose a little bit. Check out this breakfast dish called Rich Chick: deep-fried lobster tail with fluffy waffles topped with powdered sugar, berries, and cream. Heres the menu.

Speaking of Center City brunch: The Brunchaholics location near Rittenhouse Square, at 40 S. 19th St., has closed after less than two months, as has the six-month-old location in Chester. Owner Aaron Anderson said he decided that these spots werent the ideal fit for the brands growth. The older Port Richmond and Cherry Hill locations are not affected.

 Have a question about food in the Philly area? E-mail your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in my newsletter.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
People line up for chicken during the grand opening of a Nanu's Hot Chicken location at 6151 Ridge Ave. in Roxborough on Oct. 25, 2024. Read more

To see a food trend on fire, head to Northeast Philadelphia and drive west on Cottman Avenue from Roosevelt Boulevard.

Its home to what may be the citys highest concentration of hot chicken shops per square mile.

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This chicken alley starts just beyond a gas station on the edge of Roosevelt Malls parking lot, where youll see a former shipping container painted flaming red with Asads Hot Chicken in huge white letters. There will be a line of people at the window  theres always a line outside Asads, a local chain.

Continue a few blocks, and more shops come into view. Next to the library on the left is a new building advertising Hot Clucks, another local chain. On the next block is yet another local, Nanus. Also on that block are the nationally known Popeyes, Texs Chicken & Burgers, and Jollibee. Ten minutes away on Frankford Avenue is a new OK Hot Chicken, an offshoot of local restaurants in Olney and South Philadelphia. A block from OK, national chain Hangry Joes is planning its sixth location in the region.

Fried chicken sandwiches are not new to Philadelphia. Weve had twice-fried Korean chicken for at least a decade, and they formed the basis of Federal Donuts & Chicken. Southern-style sandwiches began a national surge in 2020 when Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen rolled them out, and the trend heated up during the takeout and delivery spike that defined the pandemic.

Todays popular poultry product is hot chicken  specifically, sandwiches styled after Nashville hot chicken.

The national leader, the fast-growing Daves Hot Chicken, has surpassed 200 locations in the United States and Middle East since opening in 2017 in an East Los Angeles parking lot. Its first Philadelphia store, the first of four so far in the region, opened earlier this year.

Locally, the trend can be traced to summer 2022, when Asad Khan, a then-23-year-old clothing manufacturer who enjoyed hot chicken during a trip to California, opened his first takeout at Cottman and the Boulevard. He signed on with third-party delivery services, fired up his social media, and watched the lines grow outside Asads Hot Chicken, which now has 10 locations in Pennsylvania and South Jersey.

Then came the competitors, notably Nanus, which opened last year and now has nine locations in the region, and Hot Clucks, which opened its first shop in Germantown last year.

The homegrown companies like Asads, Nanus, OK, and OMG (another upstart) are scaling as they grow, relying on extended families for efficient labor, setting up commissaries, and buying chicken  whose prices have moderated after a few spikes  in bulk.

Khan, of Asads, said he was unsure exactly why hot chicken sandwiches took off around Cottman and the Boulevard. People thought [hot chicken] was a trend, I guess, and started opening them, he said, suggesting a chicken-and-egg scenario.

One theory, supported by OK owner Berry The, is that the local chains, which all serve halal hot chicken, are catering to a growing Muslim population in lower Northeast Philadelphia.

When I made the recipe, I wanted to make it for everyone, not just one group, said Khan, who grew up nearby.

Asads, with its 203,000 followers on Instagram, seems to be the destination that the local newcomers are looking to emulate. Other shops have followed Asads lead by giving away sandwiches at their grand openings and courting influencers.

Where did hot chicken start?

Nashville has been the home of hot chicken since a Depression-era lothario named Thornton Prince reportedly woke one morning to a plate of fried chicken prepared extra-spicy as punishment by a jealous lover. Her move backfired, as Prince enjoyed the heat so much that he created a restaurant, which great niece Andre Prince Jeffries now runs throughout the South as Princes Hot Chicken Shack.

In its original form, Nashville hot chicken is cut-up chicken, brined in pickle juice and buttermilk, dredged in seasoned flour, fried in lard, and mopped with a glaze of butter, salt, and spices. Its served with pickle slices atop pieces of white bread, alongside plenty of napkins.

Todays hot chicken sandwiches

Most of todays Nashville hot outlets build their menus around spicy boneless breasts and tenders, fried in vegetable oil, served with pickles on a brioche or potato roll, with a pinkish, mayo-based sauce and usually a rich, cooling slaw.

For the most part, the sandwiches are similar, despite their unique spice blends. OKs sandwich, for instance, calls to mind just a hint of sambal, the chile paste from Indonesia  which is where OKs owners are from.

All the shops offer chicken amped by spice levels whose scales top out as scorchin (at Asads), insane hot (at OK), reaper (at Nanus), and unbelievable (at Hot Clucks), plus fries, sides, sweet drinks and smoothies, and desserts.

The regions flock also includes one-offs such as Red Rooster Hot Chicken in Warminster. The field is getting more crowded by the day, and brands are scaling and expanding, seemingly overnight. OK is expanding into University City and Bensalem. Fire Nashville Hot Chicken, which opened in West Chester in 2022, now serves parts of Philadelphia through a ghost kitchen at 3300 Fairmount Ave. in West Philadelphia. Captains Hot Chicken, also known as Doctor Hot Chicken, took off in Olney and is now open in Fishtown and is headed next to Bensalem. IDK Smash Burgerz & Nashville Hot Chicken, which opened several months ago in Old City, is teeing up locations in North and South Philadelphia.

At Nanus, Ikram Rashid and his brothers were running halal food carts when they decided to jump on the hot chicken trend last year. Rashid said he developed the recipe in his commissary kitchen and enlisted friends and family members to get involved in the business. They opened on Cottman Avenue, down the street from the original Asads. Thank God people liked it, Rashid said. We were just like, Lets go for it. They have at least three more locations on the way.

Rashid says that his motivation is his sibling Adan, nicknamed Nanu, the youngest of the four brothers. He has Down syndrome, and our parents were always worried about him, Rashid said. Theyd say, Whats going to happen to him when he grows up and we are not alive? Rashid said. He and the other two brothers  Imran and Haroon  decided to set up the business to help support him. They dont have to worry about it, Rashid said. We got [his] back.
Catriona Harrop (right) talks to Tommy Brown on the screen to demonstrate Jefferson's virtual check-out program at its new Honickman Center. Patients check out on an interactive video screen before even leaving the exam room. Read more

Good morning. This week, we ask: Is it better to check out on a screen? Some patients seem to like Jefferson Healths new virtual checkouts, but not all are on board.

Plus:

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 Got tips, questions, or suggestions? For a chance to be featured in this newsletter, email us back.

If someone forwarded you this newsletter, sign up here.

 Alison McCook, Inquirer health reporter, @alisonmccook.

A big question for health care in the 21st century is: How best to work virtual tools into medicine?

Heres something Jefferson Health is trying: Our regions largest nonprofit health system recently added virtual checkout at the new Honickman Center in Center City. Instead of the tedium of lining up at the offices front desk at the end of an appointment, patients press a button on an LCD screen in their exam room, beaming up an assistant who helps them schedule follow-ups. (The screens even let patients play music, do breathing exercises, or pipe in a remote family member to the appointment.)

Jefferson isnt the only one testing out new technology: Penn Medicine uses virtual monitors in its ICU to observe and assist with complex surgeries, while Lehigh Valley Health Network (recently acquired by Jefferson) also uses a virtual discharge process for surgical patients.

But, as Inquirer health journalist Sarah Gantz reports, things dont always go smoothly: Earlier this year, Jefferson Abington Hospital was cited by the Pennsylvania Department of Health because virtual sitters meant to monitor behavioral health rooms instead posed a risk. The concern: patients could harm themselves using the eight-foot-long extension cord plugging in the machine to the wall.

Read Sarahs story to get a firsthand account of the new virtual checkout system at the Honickman Center, and learn why patients are giving it mixed reviews.

The latest news to pay attention to

This weeks number: $49.1 million

Thats the amount generic drugmakers Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. (based in East Brunswick, N.J.) and Apotex Corp. have agreed to pay as part of a price-fixing agreement with 50 states and territories. Read on to find details about each companys share of the settlement, and how consumers in Pa. and N.J. can determine if they are eligible for refunds.

Between January and September, state inspectors visited Grand View Hospital in Bucks County four times, often to investigate complaints, but found no problems. Click here to read the details we could gather.

Phillys street opioids supply has been overtaken by tranq dope  the combo of fentanyl and xylazine. And the withdrawal symptoms are unbearable: unyielding pain, vomiting so forceful it perforates the esophagus, endless panic attack, and nerve sensitivity that makes every touch agony. It is so bad that patients leave the ED before completing their care, just to stop the torture.

For two years, Kory London, associate professor of emergency medicine at Jefferson Health, has been experimenting with new approaches to treat tranq dope withdrawal. Read more to learn how his team was able to reduce the odds patients would leave the hospital before treatment was complete by more than half.

Making moves

The University of Pennsylvania has a new executive vice dean for the Perelman School of Medicine and senior vice president of academic affairs for the University of Pennsylvania Health System: Lisa M. Bellini.

Bellini has worked at Penn for more than 25 years. She was the internal medicine program director and associate dean for graduate medical education, and now serves as the director of graduate medical education programs for the Penn-VinUni Alliance in Vietnam, which has created accredited residency programs in internal medicine, pediatrics, and surgery.

Rutgers Universitys Institute for Translational Medicine and Science has received a big federal grant  $47.5 million  to create pathways to help scientific discoveries improve peoples lives.

What we do is find the best process to bring a discovery in any disease to a patient and then change the behavior of providers in the health systems, Reynold Panettieri Jr., a physician who serves as the vice chancellor for translational medicine and science at Rutgers, told reporter Aubrey Whelan.

Read Aubreys story to find out more details of the multimillion dollar initiative, including which public health challenges Rutgers plans to focus on.

How do you think we should use scientific discoveries to transform peoples lives? For a chance to be featured in this newsletter, email us back.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Update: Donald Trump wins Pennsylvania, presidency in stunning political comeback

Morning Philly,

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As I write this during Wednesdays early hours, Pennsylvania has picked Donald Trump and the former president is closing in on a return to the White House. Were still awaiting the final results of the presidential race and some other tight matchups, though. Trumps win in Pennsylvania was fueled in part by growing support in rural and Rust Belt areas of the state.

For the latest election coverage, visit Inquirer.com throughout the day.

 Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Trump has improved on his 2020 vote share in 42 of 43 Pennsylvania counties with 95% or more of the vote counted as of 1 a.m. Wednesday. His victory here significantly narrows the path for Vice President Kamala Harris, with votes still being counted in several key swing states. After the Pennsylvania call, Trump was at 267 Electoral Votes  just three shy of the 270 needed to win the Electoral College. He was also leading in the popular vote, though ballots were still being tabulated nationwide.

More scenes from the polls:

A series of bomb threats led to disruptions at polling places in key Pennsylvania counties. They appear to have been hoaxes. Trump claimed to hear of massive cheating in Philadelphia, but city election officials disputed that there had been any abnormal disruptions to voting operations. Equipment issues briefly delayed voting at a handful of Luzerne County polling locations early in the day  a bit of deja vu from the midterm elections two years ago.

The presidential race is far from the only competitive matchup in the region. But others were called last night, including Bucks Countys 1st Congressional District. Heres a snapshot of where things stand as of early this morning:

 In Pennsylvania: Voters are waiting to learn the results of the tight U.S. Senate race, as well as the races for the Lehigh Valleys 7th Congressional District and the 10th Congressional District, which includes Dauphin County. Democrats hope they can tie the state Senate for the first time in three decades, while Republicans hope to flip the state House.

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican, won his fifth term in Congress; incumbent Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity retained her position; incumbent Republican Tim DeFoor defeated State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta in the auditor general race; and Republican Dave Sunday, York Countys district attorney, will be the states next attorney general.

 In New Jersey: Democratic Rep. Andy Kim beat Republican Curtis Bashaw to become the states first Asian American senator, and the first Korean American to serve in the U.S. Senate.

 In Delaware: U.S. Rep Lisa Blunt Rochester will make history as the states first Black female senator. State Sen. Sarah McBride is poised to become the first openly transgender member of Congress.

What you should know today

 Trivia time

Which celebrity did not visit Philadelphia to campaign for a presidential candidate in recent weeks?

A) Robert De Niro

B) Zendaya

C) LeVar Burton

D) Kerry Washington

Think you know? Check your answer.

What were...

 Meeting: Our neighborhood poll workers.

 Looking forward to: The Delco Film Festival and three more coming to the Philly area this fall.

 Visiting: This Portland Eagles bar that feels like a South Philly basement.

 Unscramble the anagram

The Chester County borough known for its busy Main Street and many festivals

Hint:  

EVIL PHLOXINE

Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Robert DuPlessis, who solved Tuesdays anagram: Sadie T. M. Alexander. Philadelphia will honor the pioneering civil rights lawyer and economist with a statue.

Photo of the day

 Paola has you covered tomorrow, and Ill be back Friday. Until then, be well.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Voters at a polling place at the Chew Playground in Point Breeze on primary day in May 2023. Read more

At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had made his fortune as a printer and newspaper publisher, was asked what form of government had emerged from the proceedings  a republic or a monarchy. A republic, he is said to have replied, if you can keep it.

In January 2016, another Philadelphia newspaper owner, the late cable television entrepreneur H.F. Gerry Lenfest, donated The Philadelphia Inquirer to a newly formed public charity now known as the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, motivated, in part, to help ensure Franklins dream.

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Lenfest, who died in 2018, was deeply concerned about the future of independent journalism in America in the face of the business headwinds challenging print newspapers in the digital age. He was especially concerned about the future of important public service journalism at the local level, where it is most vital to an informed electorate.

His fear  and his foresight  was that absent the presence of well-funded independent local journalism and trusted news brands, the internet would be flooded with disinformation and political discourse dominated by the wealthy and the self-interested.

Lenfest had in mind days like Tuesday.

Tuesday, of course, is Election Day across the United States, and on this, we seem all to agree. But beyond that, public belief in free and fair elections has polarized radically in just the past two presidential cycles.

First, the very notion of an election day seems almost anachronistic. Americans have voted for weeks before today via mail-in ballots and in-person early voting. It can now take days, or longer, to count all the ballots and get definitive election results  a secure process that bad actors can exploit to sow discord.

As Lenfest had foreseen, the level of disinformation and paid political content has grown sharply, both in volume and sophistication. Honest, independent news coverage risks being drowned out by partisan voices that are vastly better funded and not encumbered by facts or the truth.

Thus, we find ourselves in a 2024 election in which Elon Musk, the worlds richest man, has invested well in excess of $100 million to try to reelect former President Donald Trump, a meaningful portion of it in the state of Pennsylvania. This in addition to his $44 billion investment in Twitter (now X), purchased to assert his political views. Had Musk funded Vice President Kamala Harris to advance his self-interest, we would be equally appalled.

Against this backdrop, it is important to recognize, indeed to honor, the local journalists and journalism fighting to inform voters and empowering them to make up their own minds here in Pennsylvania:

The Inquirer has fielded the regions largest political reporting team, and dedicated nearly its full investigative news team to coverage throughout the campaign. Every Voice, Every Vote, a coalition of more than 25 Philadelphia media organizations and 50 community groups, has engaged voters with public meetings, church gatherings, news coverage, candidate debates, and public opinion research. Spotlight PA, a four-year-old statewide news organization serving 105 news organizations across the commonwealth, has produced unparalleled, multilingual voter guides, election resources, and artificial intelligence-assisted tools to answer voter questions 24/7. The Inquirers Opinion desk has published deeply researched endorsements of candidates for the presidency and every statewide office, while other major newspapers have shirked this responsibility. It is gratifying that readers have responded to The Inquirers election coverage with record-new digital subscriptions and donations, recognizing the value of this essential work.

All this coverage has one thing in common: It is funded by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Lenfest Institute for Journalism, with support from thousands of other donors large and small, from individual readers to corporate sponsors to philanthropic foundations.

We awake Tuesday with a passionate dedication to free and fair elections and to the fact-based civic information that empowers voters to make informed decisions. This passion is matched by a recognition that freedom isnt free, indeed that for the challenged business of local journalism, freedom and funding are joined at the hip.

We are blessed to live in a nation founded on the principle of a strong and free press serving to secure a lasting democracy. We love this republic, and we will fight to keep it.

Jim Friedlich is CEO and executive director of the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, the nonprofit organization that owns The Inquirer. @jimfriedlich
Multiple polling places and vote-counting centers across Pennsylvania received anonymous bomb threats just hours before polls closed Tuesday, prompting brief evacuations in some voting locations and court orders extending the hours of others.

Authorities had not yet identified who sent them. But the threats posed no real danger and, in most cases, voting and counting continued with little disruption, they said.

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State and local law enforcement along with the FBI are investigating these threats, said Gov. Josh Shapiro. Thus far, there is no credible threat.

Still, at least one county  Perry County  called off the scanning of mail and absentee ballots after receiving a bomb threat Tuesday night. Officials there said they would resume tabulating them Wednesday morning.

In Philadelphia, at least 10 polling locations were threatened, said Nick Custodio, a spokesperson for City Commissioner Lisa Deeley. Among them, all threatened in a single email sent to various officials around 6 p.m., were the Mummers Museum, the Palumbo Recreation Center, Courtyard at Riverside, and St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church, all in South Philadelphia, according to a copy of the email viewed by The Inquirer.

Officials in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Centre, Luzerne, Clearfield, Perry, and York Counties also reported receiving similar missives.

They arrived the same day that a series of bomb threats also targeted polling locations in Georgia, which the FBI said had appear[ed] to originate from Russian email domains. But as of late Tuesday, investigators had not specifically linked any of the Pennsylvania bomb hoaxes to that same incident.

Ben Block, a Democratic committeeperson in Philadelphia, said most voters appeared content to wait patiently as police swept several polling locations in South Philadelphias 2nd Ward, the locus of most of the threats.

One location there shut down for 23 minutes until officers cleared the building. It later received a court order extending its hours for an additional 23 minutes to make up that time.

At St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church, near 10th and Ellsworth Streets, voting had been surging all day, until election workers were forced to briefly evacuate the building for 15 minutes around 7 p.m.

The good news was the doors reopened, said Will Gross, a Democratic ward leader. And the folks who wanted to vote during that period of time were able to go in and vote.

In Chester County, the hoax messages targeted the Government Services Center, home to both its election office and where officials had been tabulating the countys vote.

They came in the form of an email that Chester County District Attorney Christopher De Barrena-Sarobe described as overseas in origin, which arrived in a group inbox for the countys voter services staff just before 7 p.m.

Voters and election workers huddled in a parking lot for roughly an hour as helicopters circled overhead and police cars lined the driveway leading up to the facility. Police K-9s scoured the building, but no explosives were found.

What is clear from all the recent news reports and information from the FBI, De Barrena-Sarobe said, is that this is part of a persistent, coordinated attempt to call in bomb threats to swing states in order to disrupt the election.

Josh Maxwell, chair of the countys board of commissioners, said county election staff resumed their count undeterred.

Theyre full throttle, ready to go, he said. A county judge later extended hours of operation for two polling sites in the building.

Meanwhile, in Bucks County, spokesperson Jim OMalley said officials were confident in the security of its county building targeted by threats.

In Luzerne County, where the Bureau of Elections building in Wilkes-Barre was briefly evacuated after receiving a threat of its own, County Commissioner Richard Morelli expressed equal bullishness.

Always excitement here in Luzerne County, he quipped.

In addition to the email threats, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner reported a man had been detained for making a bomb threat in person at a West Philadelphia polling location near 66th Street and Chester Avenue. But investigators do not believe he had either a plan or the means to carry out his promise.

No bombs. No one hurt. No boom, Krasner said.

And during a news conference marking the closure of the polls in the city, he brushed off all of the threats as minor blips in an otherwise peaceful election.

We were all very hopeful that the city of Philadelphia would have a very smooth Election Day, he said. That is largely what occurred here.
A Trump billboard paid for by Dan Newlin can be found on top of the Lit Bros. building at Seventh and Market Streets. Read more

Dan Newlin, a major Donald Trump donor and friend who has spent millions of dollars in ads in Pennsylvania and other battleground states, says the United States must come together as Americans regardless of whether Vice President Kamala Harris or the former president wins the election.

We must come together as Americans, and even though we may not agree or like the winning candidate, there will be a winner that we have to come together and be like, OK, it didnt go our way, but guess what? We are going to move forward as one country and march forward, Newlin said in an interview Friday.

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The Florida personal injury attorney also expressed confidence in the 2024 electoral system and the importance of accepting election results, barring if somebody does something thats incredibly dishonest.

Im excited because I believe that this year, this election, will be a fair and honest [election], Newlin said. So much voter integrity thats been put in place by everyone, by every state, by every state official, by both campaigns. Its going to be that this election will be, at the end of the day, the results will be, you know, accurate.

Newlin  who is responsible for the giant Trump ad at Seventh and Market Streets  is striking a much different tone than Trump, whom he has expended significant financial capital to help elect. The former president has said the country will descend into World War III if Harris is elected, and Trump and his allies have laid the foundation for sowing doubt in the outcome of the election should he lose.

Newlin said both Trumps and Harris messaging on life in the U.S. if their opponent wins is too strong, adding: We could always reel them back a little bit to be in line with our actual views.

The GOP donor said on Friday that he had not seen or heard Trump share any misinformation regarding election processes, but that if the former president had promoted baseless claims, then a statement should be issued to correct the record. Newlin became an ally of the former president after Trump attended an event of Newlins in Florida for the military three years ago in the wake of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

After the assassination attempt at Trumps Butler, Pa., rally in July, Newlin said he received a call from one of Trumps advisers who asked him to make a first donation to the GoFundMe page started for Corey Comperatores family. Comperatore, 50, died after shielding his wife and daughters from the open gunfire. Newlin ended up donating $1 million to Comperatores family.

Butler is not the only tie Newlin has felt to Pennsylvania. The donor said his Midwestern roots have helped him tap into the Pennsylvania mindset. I grew up just south of Chicago, Newlin said. My father was a steelworker.  I grew up sort of what I would feel like maybe a Pennsylvanian feels like, you know, blue-collar and hardworking family.
Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, speaks during the reopening of the St. Georges bridge after its been closed for 18 months in New Castle County, Del., on Friday Oct., 11, 2024. Read more

Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester made history Tuesday as the first Black person and first woman to be elected to represent Delaware in the Senate. She will also be the fourth-ever Black woman senator.

She will succeed her mentor, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, who announced his retirement before endorsing her last year. She currently serves as a Delaware congresswoman.

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Were bringing bright hope to the United States Senate! Blunt Rochester said in an ebullient acceptance speech Tuesday evening, referencing one of her campaign slogans. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Wilmington, Blunt Rochester, 62, shot her campaign launch video at Bright Hope Baptist Church in North Philadelphia, where she was baptized years before.

In her speech, she thanked the three Black women, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who served before her in the Senate, describing them as blazing the trail upon which she will now embark. She also addressed the young people who might be watching her trajectory.

I see you, Im grateful to you, and youve got next! she said.

Her race was called by the Associated Press just as polls closed Tuesday night; she defeated her Republican challenger, businessman Eric Hansen, in an expected victory, since Delaware is a state where Democrats greatly outnumber Republicans.

The newly minted senator got her start in politics as a new mother when she interned in then-Rep. Carpers office in 1988.

 READ MORE: Polls close in Pennsylvania as votes are counted; results start to come in; high turnout reported

She eventually became the deputy secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and was appointed Delawares first female and first Black labor secretary in 1998. Later, she managed Delawares workforce as state personnel director.

As a congresswoman, Blunt Rochester championed economic issues. She introduced the bipartisan Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act, which passed the House in May. She is an abortion-rights advocate and introduced a criminal justice reform bill to seal the records of people with low-level drug offenses.

 READ MORE: What happens if there is a tie in the Electoral College between Harris and Trump

A self-described pragmatic optimist, Blunt Rochester has sought to turn her personal struggles into opportunities for change throughout her legislative career. She has worked to improve Black womens maternal health outcomes, created a bipartisan caucus for tech-focused workforce preparation, and wants to start what she calls a menopause movement.

Blunt Rochester comes from a political family: Her father, Ted Blunt, was an educator and served on the Wilmington City Council for nearly 25 years, and her family has been connected to President Joe Bidens for decades. One of her two sisters worked in Bidens Senate office, and the president campaigned alongside her father.

In 2020, and again in 2024, Biden tapped Blunt Rochester to serve as a cochair for his presidential campaign. She also served on the committee to select Bidens vice president and was instrumental in helping to choose Harris.

In her election night speech, Blunt Rochester emphasized bridging divides and said her journey to the Senate would be a collective one.

When Lisa goes to Washington, we all go to Washington! she said as the crowd cheered.
Andy Kim waves to supporters with his son August Lai, after Kim won a United States Senate seat representing New Jersey during an election watch party in Cherry Hill, on Tuesday. Read more

Andy Kim, the millennial son of South Korean immigrants and three-term Democratic congressman, was elected to the U.S. Senate in a historic win that upended New Jersey politics and gives Kim the distinction of being the countrys first Korean American senator.

Kim, 42, who was raised in Marlton and now lives in Moorestown, takes the seat held for 18 years by former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who resigned after being convicted of federal bribery and corruption charges.

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Kim defeated Republican Curtis Bashaw, 64, the hotelier and developer from Cape May, promising voters a new kind of New Jersey politician, generationally and morally.

Addressing his supporters on Tuesday evening in a ballroom at the DoubleTree hotel in Cherry Hill, Kim said he chose the venue because it was where his parents lived when they first moved to New Jersey.

The Kims, he said, had no family to lean on here, no friends to help us get started. But New Jersey welcomed us.

Standing with his two sons, ages 9 and 7, he said, I am now dedicating the rest of my service to this nation to address one singular question, which is: How do we heal this country?

During the primary race, Kim blocked the path of first lady Tammy Murphy, who also sought the Democratic nomination, and won a court decision throwing out a long-established ballot design singular to New Jersey that benefited candidates favored by county political parties.

Then, he out-campaigned Bashaw, who had tried to chart a course to the Senate as a gay man supportive of both abortion rights and Donald Trump.

On Tuesday night, supporters crowded into Kims election night party, including members of the Korean press, felt they were witnessing history.

For us, its just a really big deal, said George Choe, an elder of the Korean United Church of Philadelphia where Kim was baptized. Not only for the Korean American community. Hes the first Asian American from the East Coast in the Senate. Hes a young Senator. ... Its a historical thing for us.

It was the image of Kim in a blue suit, on his hands and knees cleaning up trash from the rotunda floor of the Capitol the day after the Jan. 6 insurrection that vaulted him into the national consciousness.

Kim is a Rhodes scholar who served as a national security official and diplomat in the Obama administration, including stints advising generals in Afghanistan. He was elected to Congress in 2018, upsetting incumbent Tom MacArthur, an architect of then-President Trumps efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act.

Kim twice won a district Trump won.

 READ MORE: Andy Kim defied the states political bosses. Will they get over it?

Yet, despite the remarkable circumstances surrounding the race, it was overshadowed for many voters by the presidential contest.

At the busy polling place at Winslow Township Senior Center, voters had little to say about the Senate race.

Were all worried about the main event, not the undercard, said Sean Brennan, 42, a union laborer who voted for Kamala Harris, as well as that Kim guy, Andy. Other voters interviewed could not recall the name of either Kim or Bashaw, and knew little about the historic nature of Kims candidacy as a Korean American.

Kim will also be the first U.S Senator from South Jersey since 1955. And, he will be the fourth-youngest member of the Senate, a distinction he drove home on the campaign trail, reminding voters that as the father of two young boys, the pressing issues of the country were not just theoretical.

A Phillies fan, guitar player, Star Wars and Lego super fan, and self-described bagel aficionado, he is married to Kammy Lai, a tax attorney.

During the Senate primary, Kim successfully sued to have a judge throw out the long-standing Democratic primary ballot design in New Jersey that allowed county Democratic parties to give an edge to their chosen candidate. His crusade against the so-called county line rallied grassroots Democrats to his side, and ultimately led Tammy Murphy to drop out of the race.

During the campaign, he emphasized his record on lowering prescription drug costs, his foreign policy experience, and advocacy for abortion rights. He said if elected, he would advocate a decade of building to address housing needs.

Gov. Phil Murphy, who never officially endorsed Kim, has promised to swear in the winner on Nov. 27, when the election is certified. Sen. George Helmy, whom Murphy appointed as the interim senator, has said he would resign to allow the winner to take office.
Republican Auditor General Timothy DeFoor won his reelection campaign, holding onto the role he was elected to in 2020 and surviving a challenge from one of the Pennsylvania Democratic partys rising stars.

DeFoor, 62, ran a low-key campaign and made few public appearances in recent months. The Republican was largely outspent by his rival, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of North Philadelphia.

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In a brisk speech at his election night watch party Tuesday, Kenyatta thanked his supporters and told them to go home before the race was called.

We recognize that theres still a lot of votes to be counted, and we want to make sure that every single vote is counted, Kenyatta said in remarks that lasted about two minutes. And were in a position where, A) we feel a lot of gratitude, B) we feel a lot of confidence that when the votes are counted, were going to get a result that we like, and that C) we dont want to leave you here all night as we wait for those votes to be counted.

Kenyattas political director Michelle McFall said the candidate was in a good place, but that the long wait for results was challenging.

We knew it was going to be close, in theory, McFall said.

DeFoor leaned into his incumbent status, touting his decades of experience as a health-care and government auditor and as the former Dauphin County controller.

The Republican now has several high-profile audits under his belt, including a recent report on pharmacy benefit managers and an ongoing inquiry into the Department of Transportations motor voter automatic registration program.

The former found that a company acting as a pharmaceutical middle-man reaped around $7 million using a banned pricing strategy. DeFoors office said the Department of Health failed to catch the misconduct.

DeFoor has also championed his introduction of a financial literacy program for K-12 students, and his first term oversaw a modernizing of the offices tools, streamlining work after a wave of retirements led to staffing constraints.

The Harrisburg native will begin a second and final term.

Since his 2020 victory over Nina Ahmad, critics have brought DeFoors political beliefs into question.

DeFoor  unlike his GOP colleague, Treasurer Stacy Garrity  has stopped short of embracing the MAGA movement of former President Donald Trump.

But as one of the states highest-ranking Republicans, DeFoors audits have sometimes overlapped with the interests of the General Assemblys far-right wing.

And DeFoor has previously refused to outright affirm that the results of the 2020 election were fair and accurate  apart from the outcome of his own race.

Kenyatta suggested his opponent had politicized the Auditor Generals Office, saying the release of the pharmacy benefit manager audit was meant to reflect poorly on Democrats and Gov. Josh Shapiros administration.

DeFoors campaign brushed Kenyattas concern aside this fall, chiding him for bringing national politics into the race.

The Republicans victory guarantees that his motor voter audit will continue.

Harrisburg Republicans have long criticized the Shapiro initiative, which allows voters to register at the states drivers license centers.

DeFoor announced his office would audit the program in mid-September, checking whether it was registering noncitizens.

The skepticism echoes a widely-held, baseless belief within the Republican party that large amounts of undocumented immigrants have influenced recent elections to the benefit of Democrats.
A sign for The New York Times hangs above the entrance to its building. Read more

Update: At around 8:20 p.m. the Needle returned. The Needle is live! New York Times analyst Nate Cohn wrote in the Times live blog. Cohn said in tweets earlier Tuesday afternoon that the Needle may not return or may appear in a limited capacity citing the Times Tech Guilds ongoing strike.

A mainstay interactive from the New York Times election night coverage went missing briefly. Its because the people who operate it are on strike.

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Earlier this month, the Times announced that the Needle  a predictive tool offering real-time probability estimates early on in the night  would return. In 2016, its debut was largely mocked for heavily flip-flopping and underestimating Donald Trumps chances.

But the news of the Needles return was quickly stifled without the necessary staffers on hand to run it.

On Monday, the Times Tech Guild staff went on strike following what members are calling repeatedly failed bargaining attempts with management. For months the Guild said it would go on strike during the election period if an agreement wasnt reached, threatening the papers ability to cover election results.

We love our jobs and were looking forward to being able to do them, Tech Guild member and senior software engineer Kait Hoehne told the Washington Post. But we havent seen enough movement from management and weve been bargaining for far too long  the ball is in their court.

A Times spokesperson said the paper respected the unions right to engage in protected actions but voiced disappointment that members would strike at this time.

Hoehne added that increased Election Night traffic adds stress on the website that the Guilds experienced engineers are equipped to handle.

During Tuesdays walkout, members chanted, If you want a Needle, we need a deal.

There are about 600 Tech Guild members including data analysts, designers, and software engineers who optimize the papers digital components  including the Needle.

Without those engineers on hand to keep the Needle in check, it looks like the Times is needle-less.

In a statement Tuesday morning, the election analytics team said it depended on the companys engineers who are on strike to push the Needle live.

While they dont play a role in the model itself, they built and maintain the infrastructure that feeds us data and lets us publish on the internet, said Times Chief Political Analyst Nate Cohn earlier in the day before the Needle returned at 8:20 p.m. Cohn added that the Times would likely run the model internally, without publishing it, and would report findings on the newspapers website through a mix of words, charts, and screenshots.

On social media, supporters of the strike had praised Guild members for holding the line and managing to keep the Times from publishing whats become one of its signature Election Night elements.
This photo of a vent in a Philadelphia tenant's bathroom was included in a lawsuit against property manager Columbus Property Management & Development. The lawsuit was settled this month. Read more

Philadelphia tenants who sued one of the citys leading managers of subsidized housing over apartment conditions have reached a settlement with the city-based nonprofit.

In June, nine tenants sued Columbus Property Management & Development, accusing the company of failing to maintain three of its apartment complexes and allowing conditions that included mold, leaks, plumbing issues, lack of heat, and pest infestations.

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The Philadelphia nonprofit Public Interest Law Center, which represented tenants alongside international law firm Holland & Knight, told The Inquirer in June that it was confident that other buildings that Columbus Property Management oversaw were in similar condition.

Columbus has 34 apartment complexes in Philadelphia and manages about 4,500 apartments across the Mid-Atlantic. It largely serves people with low incomes or disabilities and other vulnerable populations who use housing subsidies. Its parent organization is the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Mission First Housing Group, an affordable-housing developer.

The parties started settlement negotiations almost immediately after Columbus was notified of the lawsuit, according to a joint statement issued this week.

In the settlement that took effect Friday, Columbus agreed to address tenants complaints at the three properties named in the lawsuit: Freedom Village in the Francisville section of North Philadelphia, Powelton Heights in the Powelton section of West Philadelphia, and MPB School Apartments in the Strawberry Mansion section of North Philadelphia.

The company also agreed to inspect all apartments across its Philadelphia-area portfolio and fix what needs to be fixed. Columbus must also provide a comprehensive plan for how it will improve apartment inspections and the handling of tenant complaints and emergency repairs in all of its Philadelphia-area properties.

Columbus said it started the process of making improvements before the lawsuit was filed. The company agreed to be monitored by a third party for two years to ensure it keeps its promises. And plaintiffs can take Columbus back to court if it doesnt comply.

Philadelphia renters have the right to safe, healthy, and decent housing, period, Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, senior attorney at the Public Interest Law Center, said in a statement. Columbus is doing what is right  making serious, enforceable commitments to comply with the letter and spirit of federal, state, and local housing laws, so that right is made real for their tenants.

 READ MORE: Philly tenants are suing, saying their apartments are moldy, leaky, and dangerous

Marie Reese, one of the residents who sued, told The Inquirer in June that she was scared for her grandkids to visit her apartment because of leaks, mold, and plumbing issues. She said, I shouldnt have to live this way because Im in low-income housing.

In a statement about the settlement, Reese emphasized the importance of tenants speaking up.

When you use your voice and speak up, you learn there are a lot more people out there going through the same thing, she said. This agreement is going to help everyone.

Ben Wilson, partner at Holland & Knight, said in a statement that Columbus serves a critical role in providing affordable housing to Philadelphia communities and vulnerable populations, and we are pleased that [Columbus] responded to the lawsuit with an urgency and intentionality in addressing residents claims and a renewed commitment to ensure that tenants across all of its properties receive quality and safe housing.

Columbus told The Inquirer in June that it takes residents feedback very seriously.

First and foremost, Columbus Property Management is committed to providing safe, quality, affordable housing for our residents, Tracy Joyce, senior vice president of property management for Columbus, said in a statement this week. We welcome resident feedback and comments about their homes and are committed to responding to issues in a timely manner. We remain committed to resident satisfaction and will do everything in our power to ensure our facilities reflect that dedication.

The tenants lawsuit also requested compensation for their out-of-pocket expenses, loss of damaged belongings due to apartment conditions, rent paid, and legal fees, as well as punitive damages. Parts of the settlement are confidential, and the parts that were disclosed did not address these requests.

Keith Bailey, one of the tenants who sued, said in a statement that he is going to make sure Columbus follows through on its promises.

Its time to let everyone know, he said, you have the right to a safe and good apartment.
Under section 40(3) of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) (ICA), policyholders can notify their insurer of a potential claim-related situation before it develops into an actual claim. This proactive notification can preserve coverage, ensuring the insurer cannot later deny a claim based on the timing of the event, as long as the notification qualifies as valid.
We believe that our partnership with AdvantageGo will allow us to better service the needs of our investors, clients and broker partners, James said.
Run-off insurance addresses the risk of future claims by covering liabilities that may arise after a business owner exits. Gallagher emphasised that this kind of policy extension offers former owners peace of mind as they transition to new ventures, as it can prevent costly claims tied to their prior work from arising unexpectedly.
Deloitte has released a new report in its Growth in Insurance Series, examining the role of innovation across the insurance landscape in Australia and New Zealand amid rising global insurtech investment.
Seizing their chance The best young insurance professionals are on the precipice of opportunity as they navigate an industry facing a series of challenges such as a shortage of skilled workers, an aging workforce, rapid technological advancement, regulatory changes, and shifting customer preferences. Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that around 400,000 people will leave the workforce through attrition by 2026 and that it will be challenging to fill these gaps, as less than 25 percent of the industry are under 35. In addition, the industry is expected to lose 50 percent of its workforce to retirement by 2028. This will open doors for the leaders of tomorrow to step up and cement their place in the industry, with Insurance Business Americas Rising Stars of 2024 at the forefront of this advancement. Gail Audibert, industry expert and president of Audibert Associates, underlines the potential rewards. The insurance industry has an aging population, but its very dynamic. The number of people going to leave is massive, and theres not that many people whove entered the industry. So, anybody whos new or early in a career, theres going to be such a groundswell of position people moving up, theres going to be an incredible opportunity. And she adds, Insurance touches every city, state, town, community in the world, and you have to have insurance. In most cases, prices go up and down in soft and hard markets but its a very stable industry and dates back to the Code of Hammurabi, 1750 BC. But only those professionals who can go beyond insurance and appreciate the human connection will succeed. Thats the verdict of IBAs independent judging panel of industry experts for 2024s Rising Stars:

Kim Gore of HUB International



Victoria Learned-Fenty of Big I (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America)



Pamela Wheeler of NFP



Denise Campbell of Marsh



Aaisha Hamid of Alliant Insurance Services



Randi Kasongo of Travelers and the National African American Insurance Association - Los Angeles

The winners really elevated in that they had a curiosity to learn. Many of them talked about how they continue their career development, their interest in things, not only just insurance, but things that are ancillary and really make a difference to the industry, explains Gore. It was great to see that they wanted to continue to learn. They were really invested in the industry and all things that touched it, and they understood that people are the most important thing we deal with, and those relationships have to be built.

Nominees had to be 40 or under (as of October 1, 2024) and committed to a career in insurance with a clear passion. Their current role, key achievements, career goals, and contributions towards shaping the industry were analyzed, with recommendations from managers and senior industry professionals considered.

For Campbell, the key for the Rising Stars is to capitalize on chances to prove themselves, regardless of whether they are in reinsurance, claims management, or acting as brokers or providers.

Each one of these roles will have unique perspectives and challenges that may or may not be greater than yesterday. Challenges are nothing but opportunities when met with the right attitude, she says.

Going to the top

Kasongo, another member of the judging panel, feels the time is perfect for IBAs Rising Stars to become major players.

More leaders are recognizing that young professionals bring fresh ideas and new perspectives to established industries, making room for meaningful contributions at the table. This should inspire young professionals to continue striving to be their best selves.

This drive is why Brown & Ridings Grayson Lamb keeps aspiring higher.

I still dont feel like Im where I need to be long-term, but becoming a shareholder in the company at the end of 2023 was a major milestone for me, he says. I try to pitch and sell against the gray-haired broker, especially with the market turn in 2022 and 2023 when they could sell a deal to an MGA with one policy for $50$70 million capacity, whereas Ive cut my teeth on shared layering accounts with up to five to seven carriers.

Focusing on real estate has enabled Lamb to excel.

I know that when a potential deal comes in, I have best-in-class market knowledge and expertise to get it over the line.

Similarly showcasing a powerful desire to reach the top is Katelijne van Drongelen of Arch Insurance Group. Over the past 12 months, she helped launch an automated submission intake platform, with 75 percent of business projected to run it by the end of 2024.

The standardization and digitization of data is incredibly important in the commercial space, because were getting requests for quotes and requests in 500 different formats with varying layers, she comments.

Weve built a platform that automates the process from a data extraction perspective and provides a cue to the operations team to address anything that falls out of the automated submission intake process. Its had a huge impact on our business.

While for Brooke Leadbetter at Amwins, the challenge was carving out a place as a young woman in a male-dominated industry.

I was in my early 20s going into rooms where Id be the only woman with 2030 men, to pitch ideas. At first, I was intimidated, but then I used it as my superpower and leaned into it.

From there, the sky has been the limit as she has tripled her book of business due to her drive and determination.

It was a lot of getting out and meeting new retailers, and not necessarily cold calling, but warm calling. However, cross-selling is a big reason. Someone may have a relationship in Salt Lake City or Seattle and I had to figure out how we can get into those shops and grow the Amwins brand.

A smart move is to align with those already established and learn from them, which is something Natalie Yuen of the Arch Insurance Group did to build her reputation.

Its about knowing the opportunities that are available to you and proving yourself that you can progress. Whether its the business or operational side, you need strong supporters, and a big hurdle can be finding these people.

In the first five years of her career, Yuen learned the trade before opportunities began to present themselves.

You start getting brought into meetings and people seek you out for advice. Then, it clicks that you are doing things right. I wanted to be a property broker, and then I went into casualty, and switched from more client-facing to market-facing, she reveals.

Yuen believes there can be biases against young professionals, particularly early in their career.

Were still at a stage where gray hair is valued. However, the moment you can articulate your value proposition to someone, it doesnt matter what age, gender, or ethnicity you are. I want to continue to evolve and be part of the future of insurance.

How the Best Insurance Professionals Under 40 made their mark

Nominees were asked to outline the most important facets that generate career rapid advancement. Compared to 2023, the same top three skills were hard work, emotional intelligence, and specific management training with a relevant degree being last.

This underlines that the Rising Stars are succeeding due to their ability to think laterally and connect with their clients.

Matt Domitrovich  Amwins



Location: Chicago, IL

Age: 39

Successfully leading a production team that surpassed $5 million in revenue in 2024 has marked him out.

Most of the people have worked with me for the last 5-10 years and to go from 0 to over $5 million with 100 percent organic growth is a significant achievement. Taking the easy way out is never a key to success. We have the best team in the industry, says Domitrovich.

I dont know if theres ever been a better time to be a young person in the industry. If youre an underwriter, employers only care about your ability to write profitable business. If you can prove that, youre going to be a rockstar.

David Le  Aspen Insurance Group



Location: New York, NY

Age: 26

Assistant vice president of US distribution and marketing, co-chair of the Gender and Inclusion Network and member of the DE&I committee, Le is also an executive national board member at the Asian American Insurance Network (AAIN).

I like talking, so I wanted to balance that with my creativity, and thats how I went into marketing," he says.

Growing up in the Bronx in an immigrant family, Le prides himself on a hardworking mentality. He supports strategic engagement backed by data with key insurance trading partners, while also driving initiatives aimed at elevating Aspens brand presence via advertising and graphic design, curated events, and e-marketing.

Grayson Lamb  Brown & Riding



Location: Dallas, TX

Age: 31

Working his way from production assistant to principal and senior vice president, Lamb values collaboration.

He says, I recently went to Cincinnati and Columbus to meet potential new clients and some that we have on our books already. When I came back, I ensured our team was up to speed with our clients needs.

A hardworking mindset is at the forefront of Lambs ethos.

What were doing in the wholesale space is entrepreneurial. Youve got to go out and grab it. There is no one pushing you, but its about having that drive to grow your book of business.

Katelijne van Drongelen  Arch Insurance Group



Location: Raleigh, NC

Age: 39

As vice president of software engineering in the property domain, she leads two teams of 80 engineers to develop property intake clearance, underwriting and claim solutions.

She initially found it tough in a traditionally male dominated sector.

Some of it was overcoming my own insecurities about being in a place where I didnt really see a lot of people that look like me, especially in leadership positions. I developed confidence over time, entering in a room when you know youre able to deliver projects successfully builds considerable confidence," she says.

Van Drongelens ability to build relationships and innovate are key.

What I bring to the table is transformation and that gets peoples attention. No insurance company wants to hear about how theyre going to catch up to the competition. They want what will make them different, because if youre trying to catch up, youre going in the wrong direction.

Taylor Forst  Alliant Insurance Services



Location: San Francisco, CA

Age: 31

Specializing in liability insurance for the real estate industry, her primary responsibility is serving clients who own or manage apartment buildings and other habitational properties.

I love building that rapport, and meeting people face to face. I try to be there when they need me and pay attention to detail, he says.

Forsts role involves assisting in procuring insurance coverage tailored to the specific needs and risks, via thorough assessments of their properties and analyzing potential liabilities.

I like getting into the nitty-gritty of forms and coverage.

Lorenzo Marini  ARI Financial Group



Location: Miami, FL

Age: 28

A qualified electrical engineer turned insurance professional, he designs tailored life insurance policies and builds strong relationships with high-net-worth individuals. Marini started when ARI used a third-party IT company and was supervising as a data analyst.

I start suggesting changes to processes and the financial side of things. A year after joining, I was offered a job with an engineering firm, but I decided to stay with ARI because I was enjoying my work here, reveals Marini.

From there, hes become an expert at tailoring and designing policies, and is now a director.

I care about my clients, Im not transactional, and I bring a level of sophistication, he says.

Brooke Leadbetter  Amwins



Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Age: 30

An expert in the builders risk subcategory of property and insurance, the senior vice president manages a production team and has seen her book of business grow from $25 million to $73 million in premium over the past four years.

I got the opportunity to take over a small book of business in Portland, and I moved there for a brief period of time, and its continued to grow. When I started, there were two people on the team and now we have seven.

She continues, Its about being young and hungry, because if you lose that enthusiasm, you can get complacent. People recognize that and want to work with people who are eager to help them win.

Shadi Jalali  Alliant Insurance Services



Location: San Francisco, CA

Age: 34

A licensed property and casualty insurance producer working with entities such as the Port of Seattle, California State University, University of California, and the City of San Jose.

My biggest achievement has been becoming a commissioned producer with my own book of business, she says.

Adopting a strategic mindset has been crucial.

Its a people-based job. Its incredibly important to partner with the right carriers and clients. With over a decade in the industry, I have those relationships in place, and it makes my job much easier and a lot more fun.

Patrick Goodwin  Arch Insurance Group



Location: New York, NY

Age: 36

A vice president and segment leader, he has regional management responsibilities in the northeast and southeast regions for the excess and surplus (E&S) casualty underwriting team. In the first six months of 2024, the E&S casualty team enjoyed a 20 percent increase in written premium, with half coming from regions that Goodwin directly manages.

He says, I have a good understanding of where the company wants to take E&S casualty and where the market is moving. Im tuned into our competitors  the business that theyre writing and watching their performance. That all plays into how I decide on strategy by noticing trends.

Tyler Jensen  InsuraRisk University



Location: Ogden, UT

Age: 29

As founder and president of InsuraRisk University, he provides agents with the tools they need, such as motivational insights and personal development.

I saw too many agents leave the industry within their first five years. I studied top producers across the US to understand what it takes to be a top performer, he says. I put together my own frameworks and a roadmap that agents can follow to run a successful business within the insurance space, where clients want to stay because of the culture theyve built.

Jamie Behymer  Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America



Location: Alexandria, VA

Age: 27

Only joining the industry in 2022, she has experienced a meteoric rise. As program manager, Behymer oversees multiple facets and including agent development, crafting, and implementing strategies to enhance agent performance and growth.

I have the gift of the gab, but I also love to listen and learn more about others. Thats very important in my role as Im not customer-facing. If something goes wrong, Im able to think on my feet and come up with a plan B immediately, she says.

Natalie Yuen  Arch Insurance Group



Location: San Francisco, CA

Age: 40

Leading business development for the companys west region, she is responsible for driving each business units growth strategy across 13 states.

A lot of my role is merging that data with the people aspect of the business, because thats still what heavily drives insurance, Yuen says.

She listens and engages with colleagues.

Its about staying curious, no matter what point of your career you are at. If you lose that, you become complacent.

Katelynn Fellows  Risk Placement Services



Location: Woodstock, GA

Age: 29

As area assistant vice president, Fellows controls the placement of various commercial properties, including layered and shared programs, builders risk ground-up construction, and renovation projects.

She says, Picking up the phone has helped me be successful. I find a lot of people in our industry dont make calls and would rather send emails. Its easier to build a relationship over the phone rather than hiding behind an email.

In 2015, the year she joined, the teams premium was $61 million. It has grown to $300 million by 2023.

We deal with large excess-and-surplus lines, property accounts, for builders, risk construction, renovations, single payroll, earthquake and flood deals, all across the US. I aim to streamline our processes to help us become more efficient as a team, Fellows says.
As part of the application requirements, the certification program must secure letters of endorsement or petitions from at least 100 Florida Bar members who would qualify under the program's standards and agree to seek certification. A letter of support from a Florida Bar section, division, or substantive law committee is also necessary.
As part of the deal, Jim Peabody, Grace Peabody-Ljoljic, and their team will continue operating from their Fenton location, working under the leadership of Sean Gallagher, who heads Gallaghers retail property & casualty operations across the Great Lakes region.
We are thrilled to be the official insurance partner of Sandia Area Federal Credit Union members, Walters stated. At Inszone, we pride ourselves on offering customized insurance solutions and superior service to all our clients. This partnership allows us to further extend that commitment to Sandia Areas members, and further solidifying our footprint in and commitment to the state of New Mexico.
Trinidad Navarro will retain his role as Delaware insurance commissioner.

Navarro, the states Democratic incumbent, defeated Republican nominee Ralph Taylor in Tuesdays election.

More than 95% of the vote was in at press time, and Navarro carried 58% of the count. Taylor had 42%.

Navarro was first elected commissioner in 2016. He served for 20 years with the New Castle County Police and was elected New Castle County Sheriff in 2010. While a police officer, he received the departments distinguished Medal of Valor.

Taylor has also served as a police officer and as a Capital School Board member and Dover City councilman. He and his wife own a pest control service.

Related: Delaware Voters to Elect Insurance Commissioner

Navarro has said he has prioritized protecting consumers to ensure affordable and accessible coverage for residents while holding insurance companies accountable. While in office, he says he has led hundreds of investigations, increased health insurance options, saved Medicare beneficiaries $3.8 million, cracked down on unfair property and auto insurance practices, and protected families and seniors from fraud.

As insurance commissioner, my number one priority is protecting Delaware insurance consumers. I will make sure the insurance companies obey Delaware law and honor their policies. I will stand up for the residents of our state, not the big insurance companies, Navarro has promised.
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., Singapores largest mobile carrier, was breached by Chinese state-sponsored hackers this summer as part of a broader campaign against telecommunications companies and other critical infrastructure operators around the world, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The previously undisclosed breach was discovered in June, and investigators believe it was pulled off by a hacking group known as Volt Typhoon, according to the two people, who asked not to be identified to discuss a confidential investigation. Officials in the US, Australia, Canada, the UK and New Zealand  the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance  warned earlier this year that Volt Typhoon was embedding itself inside compromised IT networks to give China the ability to conduct disruptive cyberattacks in the event of a military conflict with the West.

The breach of Singtel, a carrier with operations throughout Southeast Asia and Australia, was seen as a test run by China for further hacks against US telecommunications companies, and information from the attack has provided clues about the expanding scope of suspected Chinese attacks against critical infrastructure abroad, including in the US, the people said.

A Singtel spokesperson confirmed that malware on the companys network was detected in June and that the incident was reported to authorities. No data was taken and there was no impact to Singtels services, the spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement.

Like any other large organization and key infrastructure service provider around the world, we are constantly probed, the spokesperson said. Network resilience is critical to our business, and we adopt industry best practices and work with leading security partners to continuously monitor and address the threats that we face on a daily basis. We also regularly review and enhance our cybersecurity capabilities and posture to protect our critical assets from evolving threats.

The spokesperson added that the company cannot confirm or ascertain if this is the exact same event listed in your story with the cited threat actors and intended targets.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said he wasnt aware of the specifics, as relayed by Bloomberg, but that in general, China firmly opposes and combats cyberattacks and cybertheft.

The US is currently battling its own suspected Chinese attacks of political campaigns and telecommunications companies. Officials have described the telecom breaches as one of the most damaging campaigns on record by suspected Chinese hackers and one that they are still seeking to fully understand and contain.

In the US telecommunications attacks, which investigators have attributed to another Chinese group called Salt Typhoon, AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. are among those breached, and the hackers potentially accessed systems the federal government uses for court-authorized network wiretapping requests, the Wall Street Journal reported in early October. US intelligence officials think the Chinese hacking group that Microsoft Corp. dubbed Salt Typhoon may have been inside US telecommunications companies for months and found a route into an access point for legally authorized wiretapping, according to a person familiar with their views.

AT&T declined to comment. Verizon didnt respond to a request for comment.

Through those intrusions, the hackers are believed to have targeted the phones of former President Donald Trump, running mate JD Vance and Trump family members, as well as members of Vice President Kamala Harris campaign staff and others, the New York Times has reported.

In the case of the alleged Singtel breach, one of the people familiar with that incident said the attack relied on a tool known as a web shell.

In August, researchers at Lumen Technologies Inc. said in a blog post, they assessed with moderate confidence that Volt Typhoon had used such a web shell. A sample of the malware was first uploaded to VirusTotal, a popular site for security experts to research malicious code, on June 7 by an unidentified entity in Singapore, according to Lumen researchers. The web shell allowed hackers to intercept and gather credentials to gain access to a customers network disguised as a bona fide user, they said.

The hackers then breached four US firms, including internet service providers, and another in India, according to Lumen researchers.

General Timothy Haugh, director of the National Security Agency, said in early October that the investigations into the latest telecommunications breaches were at an early stage. Later that month, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said they had identified specific malicious activity by actors affiliated with the Chinese government and immediately notified affected companies and rendered technical assistance.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council last week referred to the ongoing investigation and mitigation efforts, but directed further questions to the FBI and CISA.

Singtel uncovered the breach of its network after detecting suspicious data traffic in a core back-end router and finding what it believed was sophisticated, and possibly state-sponsored, malware on it, according to the other person familiar with the investigation. The malware was in listening mode and didnt appear to have been activated for espionage or any other purpose, the person said, adding that it reinforced a suspicion that the attack was either a test run of a new hacking capability or that its purpose was to create a strategic access point for future attacks.

There is evidence that Salt Typhoon reached the US at least as early as spring 2024, and possibly long before, and investigators tracking the group think it has infiltrated other telecommunications companies throughout Asia, including in Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, according to two people familiar with those efforts.

The NSA has warned since 2022 that telecommunications infrastructure was vulnerable to Chinese hacking. Volt Typhoon has been active since at least mid-2020, having attacked sensitive networks in Guam and elsewhere in the US with a goal of burrowing into critical infrastructure and staying undetected for as long as possible.

The hacks by both Chinese Typhoon groups have alarmed Western officials and raised concerns about the number and severity of backdoors  a way to get around security tools and gain high-level access to a computer system  that China has placed inside critical IT systems. Those entry points could be used to conduct espionage or prepare the battlespace for use in a potential military conflict with the West.

Chinese hackers have long been accused of conducting espionage attacks against the US  including, most notably, the theft of security clearance applications for tens of millions of US government workers held by the Office of Personnel Management. But officials say the latest hacks go a step further and, in some cases, suggest China may be amassing capabilities to disrupt or degrade critical services in the US and abroad.

Paul Nakasone, a retired general who led the NSA for nearly six years until February, told reporters in October that the latest telecommunications hacks by Salt Typhoon were distinguished by their scale, and that the two Chinese groups represent a tremendous challenge for the government. I am not pleased in terms of where were at with either of the Typhoons, he said.

Photo credit: Ore Huiying/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber China
Ryan Specialty, the Chicago-based specialty insurance services firm, has completed the acquisition of Innovisk Capital Partners from Abry Partners and BHMS Investments.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

London-based Innovisk has become part of Ryan Specialty Underwriting Managers (RSUM), the underwriting management segment within Ryan Specialty.

The acquisition was first announced in October 2024.

Innovisk was founded in 2017 and consists of a diverse, non-correlated portfolio of seven highly regarded specialty MGUs. Innovisks lines of business include environmental, transactional liability, US and international financial lines, professional liability for lawyers, commercial auto liability, and UK professional indemnity and P&C.

Headquartered in London, Innovisk also has offices in the United States and India.

***

Clear Group Buys UK Broker CoverMarque Ltd.

The Clear Group, the London-based independent insurance broker, announced the acquisition of fast-growing niche schemes broker CoverMarque Ltd., based in Hampshire, England.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Established in 2003, CoverMarque Ltd. is a niche schemes broker specializing predominantly in insurance for temporary marquee structures. The business, which was set up by managing director and founder Nick Drew, has grown its schemes business by over 120% in the past four years.

Drew and his team will join forces with Clears retail business as it continues to broaden its specialist capabilities. Clears scale and influence in the market will support CoverMarque Ltd.s ambitions as it looks to capitalize on significant growth opportunities, which include providing event and fleet insurance solutions for its clients.

CoverMarque Ltd. ticks all the boxes in what we look for in a business which can support our growth ambitions, commented Clear Group CEO, Mike Edgeley. Its a fast growing, entrepreneurial led firm, which has carved out a distinctive position in the market for being a real specialist in its field. There is significant opportunity for Nick and his team to thrive within Clear as they look to expand their specialist offering to clients.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Excess Surplus Insurance Wholesale
The FBI on Tuesday warned Americans about two new fake videos falsely citing terror threats and voter fraud, the latest in a string of disinformation that officials expect will intensify as voters head to the polls on Election Day and in the weeks afterward.

One fabricated video purporting to be from the federal law enforcement agency falsely cited a high terror threat and urged Americans to vote remotely, while another video includes a fake press release alleging to be from the agency and alleging rigged voting among inmates in five prisons.

Both are not authentic, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement, Attempts to deceive the public with false content about FBI threat assessments and activities aim to undermine our democratic process and erode trust in the electoral system.

Federal, state and local officials have been warning Americans about attempts to undermine the election with wrong information and have urged U.S. voters to seek out credible information from reliable sources.

U.S. intelligence agencies have also said this years contest faces an unprecedented disinformation campaign from foreign adversaries and that Russia and others aim to fan divisive narratives amid the election, an accusation Russia has denied.

On Monday, U.S. intelligence agencies said they expect overseas influence operations to intensify through election day and in the coming weeks, particularly in the seven key battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Still, U.S. cybersecurity agency director Jen Easterly has said her department has not seen evidence of any activity that could directly impact the outcome of Tuesdays election, despite the surge in disinformation.

U.S. intelligence agencies last week blamed Russia for a false video purporting to show a Haitian immigrant claiming to have voted multiple times in the U.S. state of Georgia. Over the weekend, the FBI warned about several other fake videos.
Three fairgoers have joined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in suing the State Fair of Texas and the city of Dallas over the fairs policy banning all firearms from its properties.

Mondays filing is the latest maneuver from Paxton in an ongoing battle surrounding the State Fair and its gun ban. In September, a day before the event kicked off, the Texas Supreme Court denied Paxtons request to overturn the policy  stating it has no role to decide whether the State Fair made a wise decision  after a Dallas district court judge allowed the gun ban to stand.

Paxton filed the update naming the newest plaintiffs in his ongoing case before the Dallas district court, which is expected to have another hearing next year.

In it, Paxton accuses State Fair and city officials of violating state law that bars most government bodies from prohibiting weapons on their properties. Paxton also says officials violated the constitutional rights to bear arms of fairgoers Maxx Juusola, Tracy Martin, and Alan Crider. They ask for up to $1 million in civil damages and to allow people to carry guns on the fairground.

After the Supreme Court ruling, Paxton said in a press release that he would continue to press the issue on the merits to uphold Texans ability to defend themselves.

Dallas owns Fair Park, where the 24-day event takes place annually, but State Fair of Texas, a nonprofit organization, operates the park and various city buildings and walkways within the property, per a 25-year agreement between the two entities. A week before the Dallas District Court hearing, Paxton withdrew an eight-year-old legal opinion that allowed private nonprofits to ban guns on land they lease from a city.

Paxton continues to argue that since Dallas owns Fair Park, the nonprofits policy change violates state law, which allows licensed gun owners to carry in places owned or leased by governmental entities, unless otherwise prohibited by state law, according to Paxtons lawsuit. Texas law establishes that schools and courtrooms are considered gun-free zones and allows others, such as amusement parks or educational institutions, to institute their own bans on firearms.

In his letter to the interim city manager over the summer, Paxton acknowledged that some buildings on the Fair Park premises, like the Cotton Bowl and other buildings used for scholastic events, are areas where guns are prohibited by state law.

However, the entirety, or vast majority of the 277-acre Fair Park of Dallas is not a place where weapons are prohibited, Paxton wrote.

The city of Dallas disagreed with Paxtons allegations, explaining that city officials werent involved in the State Fairs decision to enforce a gun ban.

The State Fair of Texas is a private event operated and controlled by a private, nonprofit entity and not the City, a Dallas spokesperson said in a statement.

Fair officials maintain they could enforce a gun ban as a private nonprofit.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/fairgoers-ken-paxton-state-fair-lawsuit/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

Topics Lawsuits Texas Gun Liability
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey was elected to a third term, gaining 52% of the vote to Democratic opponent Natasha Marcus 48%.

News reports and the Associated Press indicated that, by early Wednesday, Causey had picked up almost 2.9 million votes to Marcus 2.6 million. Marcus won most urban areas, including Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham and Winston-Salem.

Marcus, a state senator from Charlotte, had sharply criticized Causey for allowing repeated rate increases by property insurers in the state, calling him Rate Hike Mike, and for not holding enough public hearings on the increases. Causey, a former insurance agent and agency owner, has negotiated with the North Carolina Rate Bureau on a number of rate requests, often landing on much smaller increases than the Bureau had recommended.

Causey has stressed that rates have risen across the country and that they should be reasonable but actuarially sound to allow insurers to remain solvent and pay claims. The commissioner also has emphasized insurance fraud fighting by his administration, which he has said has brought in millions of dollars to the state treasury.

It has been an eventful few years for Causey. In 2018, he wore a wire and recorded millionaire insurance mogul and businessman Greg Lindberg allegedly offering Causey heavy campaign contributions in return for relaxed regulations on insurance company reserve levels. Lindberg was convicted on bribery charges, but a federal appeals court overturned the conviction because of improper jury instructions. Lindberg was convicted a second time earlier this year.

Republican lawmakers last year also stripped Causey of the state fire marshals job, making it a separate position. Causey then fired three top fire marshall officials, saying they had undermined his authority, according to news reports. Legislators later reinstated the officers.

Topics North Carolina
Washington, DC - November 6, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Public support for legalizing marijuana remains near its all-time high and momentum in favor of reforming America's failed cannabis criminalization policies continues to grow despite mixed results on election night.

"Every movement suffers temporary difficulties and disappointments. But our consistent upward trajectory is undeniable," said NORML's Deputy Director Paul Armentano, "Public support for legalization has risen 20 percentage points in the past decade and now sits at 68 percent nationwide. Nearly 180 million Americans reside in a jurisdiction where the possession, use, and sale of marijuana by adults is legally regulated. Medical cannabis is legally accessible in the majority of states in this country. No state has ever repealed its marijuana legalization laws and there's no 'buyers' remorse' among voters."

Armentano emphasized that on election night, Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved a pair of ballot measures to provide qualifying patients with access to medical cannabis, while voters in Dallas (population 1.3 million people) and two other Texas cities decided in favor of municipal measures prohibiting local law enforcement from making low-level marijuana-related arrests.

In Kentucky, voters in 106 municipalities and counties were asked to approve or reject local measures to allow medical cannabis businesses to operate in those jurisdictions. All of those measures were approved.

In Florida, a statewide measure that sought to legalize marijuana possession and sales for adults received more than 1.2 million more 'yes' votes than 'no' votes. However, because of unique rules in Florida, the amendment required support from a near super-majority of voters (60%) and it did not meet that threshold. The amendment was publicly opposed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who spent millions of dollars on taxpayer-funded messaging and made several unfounded claims against the initiative.

Adult-use legalization initiatives in the Dakotas failed to gain majority support from voters this year. Similar measures in those states had previously failed in 2022. South Dakota voters approved an adult-use initiative in 2020 by a significant margin, but that result was later invalidated by the state Supreme Court. Both states currently regulate medical cannabis access.

Armentano reiterated, "Delays and shortfalls are inherent to political movements. But movements are defined by how advocates respond to them. There's little doubt that legalizing marijuana remains among the few issues most Americans agree upon. In fact, in this election, we saw for the first time both major party Presidential candidates voicing support for amending federal marijuana laws. It is now up to advocates to ensure that the incoming administration follows through on this promise, and it is pivotal that we continue to lobby state lawmakers to adopt marijuana policies that align with the will of the majority of voters who want end to cannabis criminalization."

Additional Election 2024 coverage is available from NORML and is also available at NORML's Election Central.

NORML advocates for changes in public policy so that the responsible possession and use of marijuana by adults is no longer subject to criminal penalties. NORML further advocates for a regulated commercial cannabis market so that activities involving the for-profit production and retail sale of cannabis and cannabis products are safe, transparent, consumer-friendly, and are subject to state and/or local licensure. Finally, NORML advocates for additional changes in legal and regulatory policies so that those who use marijuana responsibly no longer face either social stigma or workplace discrimination, and so that those with past criminal records for marijuana-related violations have the opportunity to have their records automatically expunged.

Find out more at norml.org and read the NORML Fact Sheets on the most common misconceptions and myths regarding cannabis and cannabis policies.

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There was no change to Irish pig price on Friday last with producers reporting quotes ranging from 2.08-2.12 available from processors in ROI.

The SPP (Standard Pig Price  no premium) in the UK reported by AHDB currently is 2.04/kg (2.44/kg), while the APP (All Pig Price), average price for all pigs is 2.06/kg (2.47/kg).
Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae has been labelled a "disgrace" and a "fucking asshole" when he brought up the gender of People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy's child during a debate on the Finance Bill on Tuesday.

As deputies discussed the Universal Social Charge in the Dail, the Kerry TD used his speaking time to call for its abolition, describing it as a "punitive tax that affects everyone" before criticising Government spending on immigration and climate action, and the introduction of reduced speed limits.

Labour TD Ged Nash interrupted, saying there were "serious amendments to debate".

In response, Mr Healy-Rae claimed he was being "heckled".

The Ceann Comhairle then reminded the Kerry TD that those present in the chamber were there to discuss the Finance Bill.

Mr Healy Rae then claimed that Mr Murphy and his fellow PBP TDs "voted for the carbon tax and you said it actually was not enough".

When Mr Murphy replied that they did not, Mr Healy Rae replied: "What do you know? Sure you do not know whether your own baby is a boy or a girl."

Mr Murphy then told Mr Healy Rae to "fuck off".

"Asshole. You are a fucking asshole," Mr Murphy said.

Well, it is the truth. He told it loud. I did not make it up; he told us himself," Mr Healy-Rae replied.

After his wife gave birth in 2023, Mr Murphy told the Irish Times that the couple had decided to name their child Juniper whether it was a boy or girl and that they would not be gendering Juniper. He told the paper:

Were not gendering it. So were not describing Juniper as a boy, were describing Juniper as a baby, but it is male.

Fianna Fail TD for Dublin North-West, Paul McCauliffe, called on the Kerry TD to withdraw his remarks, while Social Democrats TD for Dublin North-West, Roisin Shortall, called Mr Healy-Rae "a disgrace".

Labour TD Ged Nash also said the remarks should be withdrawn, saying Mr Healy Rae should apologise to Mr Murphy and his family.

"This nonsense is tolerated far too much. It is personalised and it is insulting," Mr Nash said.

The Ceann Comhairle then called on Mr Healy-Rae to withdraw the remark, saying it was "personal and inappropriate".

It is the truth but if it will please you, I will withdraw it," the Kerry TD said.

"It is for the individual itself that I am concerned.

Mr Nash labelled this "a qualified withdrawal", adding that the Kerry TD was "an asshole".

When Mr Healy-Rae attempted to reply, Ms Shortall again called him a "a disgrace" and urged him to "stay quiet".
Two people have been arrested at Dublin Airport in relation to separate incidents as part of a global Interpol operation targeting human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

As part of Operation Liberterra, II, gardai checked 16,000 people and monitored 120 flights at the airport.

Gardai from the National Protective Services Bureau and Immigration Bureau and the Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit carried out the operation between September 29 and October 4.

One individual was arrested in relation to an alleged people-smuggling incident earlier this year. Another individual was arrested in relation to alleged people-smuggling incidents in 2022 and 2023.

Both of them have since been released without charge. Files are now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardai are appealing to any person who may be the victim of human trafficking or sexual exploitation to come forward and speak with them, either at a local Garda station or to call the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.

Gardai are also appealing to any person with any "information on these heinous crimes or suspects to speak up".

The Interpol operation saw some 2,517 arrests being made across 116 countries, with 850 of these being made under human trafficking or migrant-smuggling charges during the week.

It also led to the rescue of 3,222 potential victims of human trafficking. More than 17,000 irregular migrants were also identified.

Police raids and reinforced strategic border points were carried out and nearly 24,000 flights were monitored. Officers were also deployed to known trafficking and smuggling hotspots.

Across the world, nearly eight million checks were carried out against Interpol's databases.
The mother of the young man who was the victim of violent disorder by Kyle Hayes has spoken out after the Limerick hurler was awarded a GAA All-Star.

Elaine McCarthy, mother of Cillian McCarthy, who was the victim of violent disorder by Kyle Hayes in 2019, said it was absolutely disgusting that Hayes received the award.

The GAA standing over this type of behaviour, it's unbelievable, Ms McCarthy said.

It was indicated that the off-field issues regarding the five-time All-Ireland-winning hurler were not raised during the discussion as to whether he would be given the award.

Last year, Hayes was convicted of two counts of violent disorder.

Hayes had pleaded not guilty to two violent disorder charges and one charge of assault causing harm to Cillian McCarthy in and outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick on October 28, 2019. However, he was convicted by a jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court last December of two counts of violent disorder. He was found not guilty of assault.

In March, Judge Dermot Sheehan sentenced Hayes to 18 months in prison for the first count of violent disorder and two years in prison for the second count of violent disorder. The sentences were to run concurrently.

However, Judge Sheehan said it would be of no benefit to society to give Hayes an immediate custodial sentence and suspended it.

The case was re-entered last month following his conviction for dangerous driving in September. An appeal of his dangerous driving conviction has been lodged.

A Section 99 hearing, which could allow the Circuit Court to trigger Hayes two-year suspended sentence for violent disorder could not proceed due to the appeal, Hayes' barrister said last month. The Section 99 hearing has been adjourned until December 9.

Speaking on RTE's Liveline, Ms McCarthy said that neither Cillian nor his family ever got an apology from the Limerick hurler, either directly or through his legal team.

'His face was full of blood'

She said that her "whole world fell apart" the morning after the incident when her son came home.

He stood there in front of me with a big face, his eye was put back into his head, his face was full of blood, and I just went Oh my lord, what happened to you?" Ms McCarthy recalled.

"Cillian is such a quiet lad. I just couldn't believe that he'd ever be involved in anything. Let alone come home to me in the state he came home.

She said her son currently lives in Australia with his girlfriend, where he will hopefully stay for a couple of years.

They had kind of planned it anyway for quite some time. I suppose with the whole delay with the case and everything, Cillian couldn't move anywhere.

It had a profound effect on him. Cillian is a very laid-back character. I would describe him as a gentle giant. He's a twin and he'd be the quieter of the twins.

He was very hardworking, enjoyed life, and then he just became totally withdrawn, Ms McCarthy added.

On Monday, callers debated on Liveline whether Hayes deserved to receive an All-Star after having been found guilty of violent disorder.

Presenter Joe Duffy asked Ms McCarthy what she thought of the argument that the past is the past.

She replied that it may be, but that it doesnt take away from what Kyle Hayes did to her son.

Only for the Gardai arriving on that night, Cillian may not be alive today

Ms McCarthy added: Cillian was the victim here, let's not forget that. Cillian didn't go out and ask to be beaten, he didn't ask to be kicked. He went out for a few drinks with his friends. He didn't come home the same way he went out.

According to Ms McCarthy, the incident has all been about Kyle.

It's all been about Kyle, poor Kyle. I'm Cillian's mom. Cillian's my boy. Weve all suffered mentally as well. So it hasn't just had a profound effect on Kyle, Kyle's an instigator here.
Crushed, devastated and angry was how one American tourist summed up her reaction to Trumps victory.

Her mood was matched by a number of palpably tetchy US visitors with many admitting the news had put a dampener on their Irish holiday.

Ellen Rulon from Pennsylvania was sightseeing at Blarney Castle shortly after the election results were announced. However, she was finding it difficult to focus on the task as she struggled to come to terms with the news.

We are scared for our kids and our grandkids, she told the Irish Examiner. "We dont know what this means for the future and personally Im afraid for the world.

I couldnt believe that, after everything we heard that man say and watched him do, people would actually put him back into office. Hes not presidential. He never was and I think hes dangerous.

Is he going to attach himself to China, North Korea or Russia and just kick our allies? Only time will tell.

Maureen Joyce from Pennsylvania fought back tears as she spoke about Trumps success.

"I wanted to cry. I couldnt believe it. When the votes were being counted, I kept telling myself that it would change. There was always a chance but it never happened.

I was crushed, devastated, shocked but mostly angry. However, there is no way I am going to let him ruin my holiday.

It was a bitter-sweet day for republican Deanna McIntosh from Colorado. While an avid Trump supporter, her mood was far from jubilant. The victory was a divisive one for her and her vocally anti-Trump best friend Ana Huezo who had joined her in Ireland for the holiday.

The pair had never discussed their differences until that morning when they both woke up to history. After a two-hour discussion Ana and Deanna vowed to never let politics get in the way of their friendship.

I dont feel anything, Deanna admitted. I did vote for Trump but this is something you dont talk about. Ana is living with my brother so I consider her family. Im a republican Christian. Its how we were raised.

"I know that Ana and my brother have had many conversations about this. They butt heads about it but they still love each other. We have to accept each other for who we are. I have a lot of friends who are anti-Trump but I dont judge. I live and let live.

She admits to finding the constant questions about Trump while in Ireland frustrating.

The minute we opened our mouths and people heard our accents they only wanted to talk about Trump. We just had to walk away. We had already spoken about it with each other for two hours so things were already emotionally stirred between both of us.

Ana revealed her antipathy towards Trump is mostly down to his anti-immigration policies.

An election watch party at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin on Tuesday night. Photo: Sasko Lazarov /  RollingNews.ie

I live in the US but I originally come from El Salvador, Ana explained. I dont like Trump or his morals. Anti-immigration is what he is shooting for. He is all into religion and anti-immigration but its all propaganda. The first time he ran it was difficult. Now, I know that it is what it is.

Meanwhile, Paddy OBrien from Pennsylvania said they had been depending on the younger generation to save their country.

I dont know how this happened. I really thought Gen Z would pull us through. They had massive registrations. There was voting in the colleges. They had to get extra machines because the lines were longer than anybody could have ever imagined. I thought that more women would vote for Kamala but that didnt happen and I will never know why.
Two men, including a former Soviet fighter pilot, who flew heroin worth 8.4m into Dublin on a light aircraft last year, have been sentenced to 10 and eight years in prison.

Aradi Ignac, aged 50, of Kecskemet, Hungary, and Zoltan Nemeth, aged 63, of Sukosd in Hungary, pleaded guilty to smuggling heroin into Weston Airport on dates between November 28 and December 1 last year.

A further charge against Aradi, of facilitating or enhancing organised crime, was taken into consideration.

In a ruling at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday, Judge Elma Duffy set a headline sentence of 13 years for Aradi, imposing an actual term of 10 years.

Judge Duffy said Aradi was higher up in what she described as a sophisticated operation, as he had been involved in the planning of bringing a planeload of drugs into Ireland on a light aircraft, effectively by the back door.

Its clear there was a big operation behind this and he was part of this big operation, said Judge Duffy.

She set a headline sentence of 10 years for Nemeth, a retired army pilot with 25 years of public service, as she said he may not have been involved in planning and had turned something of a blind eye as to what was being transported.

Nemeth told gardai that he was aware that what they were carrying was illegal, but that he thought it was some kind of prohibited earth or metal material used in the making of microchips.

Judge Duffy said it was particularly tragic that Nemeth, who put in many years of public service in the former Soviet Union and Hungary, retiring at the level of major, had found himself engaged in illegal activities.

23-hour lock up

Both accused have been in custody since their arrest last December where they are on 23-hour lock up for their own protection, the court heard.

Detective Sergeant Leo Clayton told Jane Horgan-Jones, prosecuting, that the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau had received confidential information about the scheduled landing of a specific Cessna 210 light aircraft.

The court heard that staff at Weston airport noted that the aircraft piloted by Nemeth appeared to be tail-heavy as it was coming in to land, and that men requested a hangar, which was unusual.

Both men indicated to airport staff that they would be staying for a few days, before they left the airport in a taxi.

Gardai then found 60kg of suspected diamorphine in blocks inside black bags, hidden in the tail of the aircraft.

The haul was analysed by Forensic Science Ireland as comprising 120 packages of heroin, each weighing approximately half a kilo, with a total estimated street value of 8.4m.

The aircraft and the men were kept under observation for a few days before Nemeth was arrested after he arrived back at Weston Airport intending to fly to a smaller airfield in Celbridge, Co Kildare.

Aradi was arrested when the car he was driving was stopped on Hazelhatch Road in Celbridge.

Nemeth told gardai he was a qualified pilot and instructor who had served in the Hungarian military between 1979 and 2005.

He said he didnt know what was in the plane, although he knew the packages were illegal.

Gardai confiscated the sums of 3,270 found on Aradi and 630 found on Nemeth.

Aradi said he had owned a number of construction companies but had fallen into debt to unnamed, but very dangerous, individuals, to the tune of around 1bn.

Photos of the drugs were found on his mobile phone and he admitted that he was aware he was transporting controlled drugs and that he was the person with the keys for the aircraft.

Aradi said he was to have 200,000 cleared from his debt for transporting the drugs.

The court heard that both men had landed in Weston Airport several times in the two months prior to the offence, travelling either together or with a different pilot, once using the same plane and once using a different plane.

Flight route

Both Aradi and Nemeth outlined their flight route, giving details of travelling via the Netherlands and France en route to Ireland.

Nemeth has no previous convictions in any jurisdiction.

Aradi has 10 previous convictions, including theft, criminal damage, fraud, obstructing the operation of public interest and smuggling counterfeit goods.

Sgt Clayton agreed with Michael Bowman, defending Aradi, that he had been mannerly with gardai and had answered all questions, although he had refused to give details on any third parties involved in the operation as he feared for his familys safety.

My family is in danger, Aradi said, apologising for not being able to say to whom he owed money or where he was to deliver the drugs.

Aradi told gardai he had fallen into debt and had borrowed about 200,00 from a loan shark, but that interest was added to the loan almost every day and he ended up owing a billion.

He said he felt he had been tested by doing a few trial runs to Ireland in the months before the delivery, to see if he was someone that could be used to transport a large amount of drugs.

Commenting on the operation behind the offence, Sgt Clayton said: Drugs go hand-in-hand with money-laundering and hand-in-hand with violence.

The court heard that Aradi has five children, one of whom died in a car crash two years ago at the age of 21.

He began abusing pain medication and was diagnosed with a brain tumour, although he appears to be in remission.

Fiona Murphy, defending Nemeth, said he had also answered all questions, co-operated with gardai, and pleaded early.

Counsel said Nemeth had spent a significant portion of his life in public service, initially training as a fighter pilot in the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.

He then worked his way back up in the Hungarian military where he served for 25 years and raised five adult children before an amicable divorce, the court heard.

Nemeth also has a young child with his second wife.

On his retirement from the army, Nemeth worked as an instructor in an aerobatic school.

Letters of reference speaking highly of both accused were handed into court from family members, friends and former employers, including a testimonial for Nemeth from the former president of an aviation association.

The court heard that both men have received four visits from family since they went into custody and that they find being in an Irish prison a very lonely and very isolating experience.

Both have very little English and Nemeth suffers from chronic heart and kidney issues, the court heard.

Judge Duffy directed that Nemeth receive medical assistance for his conditions.

She said he was a man of previous good character and was lower down the ladder in the offence but added that he had brought his piloting skills to bear in this operation.

Both sentences were backdated to December 1 last year, when the men went into custody.
It is 25 years since Gilead Sciences first established a presence here in Ireland.

There are a whole host of reasons why Ireland has historically succeeded in attracting more than 90 biopharma companies to set up operations here, employing some 45,000 people.

For Gilead, the most compelling reason is the talented and dedicated workforce that we employ across Cork and Dublin, making Ireland our second largest operation in the EU. The experience our staff have gained across Stem and financial sectors is helping Gilead to achieve our global goals.

Irelands strong educational offering and wealth of scientific expertise, as well as close working relationships with the higher education sector, means that Gilead views Ireland as an excellent place to be. The pro-innovation and research attitude of policy makers is another reason.

But, for all its advantages as an attractive place for biopharma companies to locate and grow, Ireland also has some challenges that we need to address.

In the biopharma sector, the main issue to address is what is described as the innovation paradox. This is where, despite the widespread footprint of so many pharma companies, Irish patients are waiting longer than many of their European counterparts to access new and cutting edge medicines, many of which are made here.

Data gathered by the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Alliance shows that the average length of time it takes for patients in Ireland to have access to a new medicine is two years.

When compared to other European countries, Irish patients are waiting longer than their counterparts in countries like Germany, Scotland, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

Another issue has emerged here in recent times in relation to accessing new medicines. We are aware that leading oncologists are able to treat their private patients with new drugs because health insurance companies are willing to provide cover for them.

Whereas, their public patients, sometimes in a different part of the same hospital, cannot be treated with these new medications because they are not yet reimbursed by the HSE. This is a worrying development and drives health inequity. There needs to be more transparency in the process to make new medicines available and greater urgency to deliver these treatments to patients here. The pathway is there: A report by Mazars commissioned by the Department of Health has strong recommendations on how to address these issues. It needs to be implemented without delay.

Ireland also needs to improve when it comes to investing in clinical trials and research. Industry has its part to play here too.

There is no doubt that Ireland has been a great place for Gilead to grow. Thats why the company has invested more than 300m here to date.

We started out with a packaging, test, and release site in Dublin and we quickly launched manufacturing operations in Carrigtwohill, which is now our largest site  and employer  in Ireland.

Today we have four sites across Cork and Dublin, employing more than 550 people directly, and many more indirectly.

Gilead has been at the forefront of pivotal breakthroughs, including the first single-tablet regimen for HIV, an oral cure for hepatitis C and CAR T-cell therapies for certain blood cancers. Our Irish operations are central to what Gilead does globally.

The manufacturing plant produces some 30% of all of Gileads solid oral drugs and our distribution centre in Dublin ensures that these drugs make their way to patients right around the world, including in low and middle income countries.

Our global financial solutions centre in Little Island links with 65 countries and is key to product launches, expansion plans, mergers and acquisitions; and the Dublin City centre office is home to our global paediatric centre of excellence, the lead development site for our entire paediatric clinical trial portfolio.

We have over 50 clinical stage programmes ongoing across virology, oncology, and inflammation, where we are trying to help more patients impacted by cancer, blood borne diseases and other illnesses.

Our North Dock office in Dublin began by focusing on developing new paediatric formulations and coordinating paediatric clinical trials and now has expanded to other functions like medical affairs, regulatory affairs and drug safety, with plans for future expansion into adult studies and AI.

But, unless Ireland increases investment in clinical trials and research, and reforms the regulatory processes for such trials, we risk losing our leading position as a key destination for pharma companies globally.

A recent analysis showed that Ireland is attracting fewer industry sponsored clinical trials than some European countries with similar populations and economic performances, with just 19% of clinical trials in a 10-year period being conducted in Ireland, compared to 27% in Finland and 54% in Denmark.

As we look to the next quarter of a century here in Ireland, Gilead believes that collaboration is key. Policy makers, politicians, patients, clinicians and those of us in industry, need to work together to make sure Ireland remains an attractive place for companies to invest and grow, and Irish patients have access to the newest and most innovative medicines, many of which are made here in Ireland by companies like ours.

David Cadogan is vice president manufacturing operations Ireland, Gilead Sciences.
In an election that was billed as unity versus division, corporate buildings in DC extend a sign of strength: red, white, blue all over.

It illuminates the road to Howard University where the hopes of revellers at the Harris-Walz election party gradually dimmed.

From a blaze to a flicker.

Early on, the snow ploughs and steel fencing that blockade streets around Georgia Avenue are inflated by incessant emergency vehicle lighting.

When the first states start to make the call, volunteers quickly disseminate stars and stripes in a bid to lift the mood.

High expectations and lofty dreams all around the big house.

Outside, the self-described truth conductor patrols the street with a walking frame, an enormous speaker and a simple demand: Stop hating each other because you disagree.

Time now to come together, touching on the same theme Harris had introduced in her final round of speeches when she promised to give those who disagree with her a seat at the table.

All of this swirled around Howard University in Washington DC, her alma mater and a historically black college.

The Democratic presidential nominee graduated from Howard in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in political science and economics.

They congregate in front of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall; a momentous brick building flanked by more national flags and await her coronation.

Recently she wrote in Howard's student paper, The Hilltop, of the promise at this place.

Every signal told students that we could be anythingthat we were young, gifted, and black, and we shouldnt let anything get in the way of our success.

An offer of hope.

However hope, as they say, isnt a strategy.

Hope is a dangerous thing.

It cant encompass all.

The District of Columbia contest is historically generous to democrats and Harris duly secured the states three Electoral College votes.

Yet protests outside her event demand a change of policy: Stop arming Israel, pleads a lengthy flag directly outside the entrance.

US President Joe Biden elected to spend Election Night at the White House instead.

Scenes from Washington DC on the eve of the US Presidential Election 2024

Hope dwindles too.

It starts with red flashes.

In 2008, a news chief was strolling around a military hardware show when he saw a screen marketed at the Pentagon for tracking Special Forces.

That screen became John Kings magic wall and on Tuesday night, Harris supporters, university staff, alumni and students came together to boo it.

They ultimately come to despise it, or at least what it depicts. This is decisively Trumps America.

Crowds gather at the Harris-Walz campaigns election party in Washington DC on Tuesday

So, one political train powered by and through bile on its way to this weighty destination.

Roaring, swaying erratically, periodically threatening to derail, emanating all kinds of smoke and scavenging for new load at an array of stops.

This platform is unprecedented, but the tracks extend far back into history.

Picking up or dumping passengers along the way. This is how it goes.

Pundits, pollsters, every sort of preacher, now prepare to take credit or deflect blame.

Donald Trump has boarded this carriage three times now.

From 2016, in a muted ballroom at the Midtown Manhattan Hilton where he spent election night with a small group of friends of the campaign, the majority of whom thought he was going to lose, to 2020 in the basement of the White House, the same Map Room where Franklin Roosevelt tracked the movements of Allied Forces.

That night key aids urged him not to declare victory.

On Tuesday, the early indications from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida was that his advisors were boisterous.

They were reportedly pushing, understandably, to declare prematurely.

Meanwhile, Harris and her fans became desperate to hold it out.

A memo to campaign staff is leaked.

This is a razor thin race, they rationalise.

Weve been saying for weeks this race might not be called tonight.

Before offering the sound advice to get some sleep.

Eventually, campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond appears in front of the remaining crowd at Howard. At this stage the once-packed bleachers that circle the yard are half-empty.

We still have votes to count, he said.

We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue, overnight, to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken. So you wont hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow. She will be back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only her supporters, but to address the nation.

The stroll back out is sombre.

Students are asked why they are leaving by foreign media at the exits and mumble about class in the morning.

Bursts of colour extend out from screens at the front of terraced houses that line the road back to the city centre, but now it is confidently, comprehensively, red.
America has opted for Donald Trump and all he represents to lead the country. His victory in the presidential election was decisive and swift.

In a decision that is far more consequential than it was when he won in 2016, large swathes of the electorate in key swing states have decided that he is the future. His electoral platform to usher in a golden age for the American economy, halt illegal immigration of those he described as animals and savages, and end all foreign wars, resonated with crucial undecided voters.

This will truly be the golden age for America, he said at his victory rally in Florida. Much of his triumph is attributable to the quality of his opponent and the circumstances of her candidacy.

Kamala Harris was thrust late into the race with the withdrawal of Joe Biden last June. She was, in effect, the only alternative candidate at the time, particularly as anybody else would have not had access to the burgeoning financial war chest that had been raised by Biden.

However, she did not resonate with voters who were willing to listen to her pitch. Polls consistently showed that too many Americans felt they didnt know her, while they knew exactly who Trump was.

She was vague when certainty was required. She had difficulty separating herself from the  totally unfair  perception that Biden had mismanaged the economy.

For some, she morphed into the anti-Trump candidate which, allied to her less-than-inspiring political persona, was never going to be enough to persuade voters to invest in her. Arguably, her gender was also a factor in a country that has yet to elect a female president.

In keeping with his consistently expressed contempt for Ms Harris, Trump did not mention her once in his victory speech. His achievement is nothing less than phenomenal, albeit extremely worrying for what it says about the decline of democratic norms.

He can now take his place as one of the most consequential public figures in the last century, if not further back. He has ignored, overcome, or subverted most of the tenets that underpinned the USA as the leading liberal democracy of longest standing.

As president the last time around, he was impeached twice, an unprecedented record. Four years ago, he refused to accept the result of free and fair elections, prompting an attack on the seat of government that resulted in death and destruction.

People at Muldoon's Irish Pub in Newport Beach, California, celebrate Donald Trump's presidential victory. In a decision that is far more consequential than it was when he won in 2016, large swathes of the electorate in key swing states have decided that he is the future. Photo: Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

He has said that he will seriously consider pardoning those who have been convicted of criminal offences related to what has come to be known as January 6. The lies he propagated about the 2020 election spread through his followers to become an article of faith.

As a result there was serious fear that violence could follow this election if Trump had not succeeded. That does not now arise.

There will be nothing about so-called election fraud from Trump or his supporters as the correct result has been achieved, as far as they are concerned. This spectre of potential political violence as a resource in an election is not unknown in the developing world but largely alien in the West, before Trumps ascension.

Trump is a convicted felon. On November 26, he is due to be sentenced for violation of rules around political funds. That now appears academic.

Three other scheduled trials for serious criminal offences will not now go ahead. Through his election, Trump has subverted the very basis of which everybody is nominally equal before the law.

A whole raft of senior political and military figures who worked with him when he was last president have described him as wholly unfit for the office. One, John Kelly, who acted as Trumps chief of staff, said that he fits the description of a fascist.

Donald Trump supporters at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Wednesday. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Major figures in the Republican party, from former vice president Dick Cheney down, have stated that Trump is such a danger they voted for the first time ever for a Democratic candidate. None of it mattered.

Donald Trump, with a mixed record in business and none in politics, has managed to effectively take over the party. Criticism of his personal conduct did not impact his electability.

He constantly lies and makes statements that have no basis in fact, most famously in the debate with Harris where he said illegal immigrants in Ohio were eating cats and dogs.

He has been found liable in a civil court for sexual assault and is the subject of over a dozen other allegations in a similar vein.

Any one of the above crimes, misdemeanors and personal flaws would in the past have ended the prospects for a presidential candidate. Trump sailed past it all and has been raised to a messianic status among some followers.

After the assassination attempt he was subject to last July, he attributed his survival to divine intervention.

Many people told me that God saved my life for a reason and that reason was to restore America to greatness, he said.

When everything is taken into account, his election this time around is historic, an amazing comeback and represents one of the greatest personal achievements in electoral history.

Donald Trump, with a mixed record in business and none in politics, has managed to effectively take over the party. Photo: AP/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Now that he has power, there will be a sense of trepidation in some quarters as to how he intends to use it. The imposition of economic tariffs was a key part of his platform and could reshape and damage global trade.

He has repeatedly stated that he will effect mass deportations of illegal immigrants, although his previous big idea to build a wall between the USA and Mexico has been abandoned.

Finally, there is what Trump described as the enemy within, interpreted as elements within politics and the media in particular. Trump has stated that he will go after and prosecute such enemies.

This is a massive victory for freedom and democracy, he said at the rally.

Whatever else it is, there are many who believe that is one of the biggest lies he has issued in this election season.
Is that it?

Around Leinster House there is a flatness, an ennui, what the Americans would call "senioritis".

As Simon Harris took what will be his final Leaders' Questions as Taoiseach (until/unless he is re-elected), there was a sense of expectation that there may be fireworks.

Journalists bounded onto the Dail's press gallery in hope.

The result was less a heavyweight title fight and more a light sparring session as Mary Lou McDonald raised the issue of public spending, playing the hits of recent wastefulness: Bike shed, security hut, phone pouches all topped the setlist and the crowd went mild.

Ms McDonald's contribution did reveal that the pouches will not just be a one-off investment of 9m, but will carry a 2m yearly spend, too.

The Government had rejected three no-cost options, she said, including the very simple idea of students putting their phones in their bags for the day.

"You actually couldn't make this up," the Sinn Fein leader sighed.

Mr Harris, who would later clarify that his red tie was not a signal to Donald Trump, came with a line prepared that will feature in the election, saying that Sinn Fein was not prepared to handle any shocks to the Irish economy that may be caused if the US president-elect upends the Irish foreign investment landscape.

"I look forward to debating this Government's record in terms of managing our economy and managing the public purse versus your policies and your spend it all, leave nothing for the buffer times or leave nothing if there's any transatlantic trade shocks, a policy that, quite frankly, looks surely foolish and ridiculous today."

It didn't exactly have anything to do with the charge being put to him, but it would have been a shame not to reference happenings across the water.

While some on the Government benches would jump in to reject Ms McDonald's premise that nobody in education wants the pouches  Paschal Donohoe told her she hadn't met enough people, the Taoiseach told her to "turn up the radio"  it wasn't the flashpoint we've seen in recent months.

It was what wrestling fans would refer to as a "house show", a bout between two wrestlers which is not televised and only put on for a live audience in a different city each night.

The point of a house show is to entertain, but not over-exert.

Mary Lou McDonald raised the issue of public spending. Picture: Eamonn Farrell

You're not pulling out a special move when the cameras aren't on and you're not wasting your best opprobrium on a Taoiseach when there's an election to be fought.

With Mr Harris set to dissolve the Dail in a number of hours now in the double digits, this was a wind-down of the session and nobody was too upset about it.

The Taoiseach was more animated when Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns attempted to criticise the Government's record on disabilities.

"Time is pretty much up for this Government," she said.

"When Fianna Fail and Fine Gaels alliance started they were the Civil War parties, but now it seems they are more like the phoney war parties.

For weeks there has been sniping in the media. It is not about policy, because it does not seem like there are many policy differences between them, but about personalities."

As the Taoiseach spoke of the work his Government has done, Ms Cairns interjected, saying that one-off payments would "evaporate" and that people were "despondent", causing the Taoiseach to bite back.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said one-off payments would 'evaporate'. Picture: Gareth Chaney

"I look forward to having a debate but Deputy Cairns does not need to lecture me. I know my lived experience. I know exactly what it is like to have to fight every single day for a service.

"I know exactly what it is like to watch my mother have to get in a car and drive for two hours to get my brother to school.

"I do not need a lecture from her on what the lived experience is like."

It was the most robust exchange of the day and one which offered a glimpse of a Simon Harris we've not seen much of since his ascendancy to the Taoiseach's office, but who may be needed for Fine Gael in the coming weeks.

Polls suggest that this is unlikely to be Mr Harris's last time taking Leaders' Questions as Taoiseach, but he will face Ms McDonald  and other party leaders  in at least one debate during the election campaign.

Expect those to offer much more spectacle and a few special moves.
A RECEIVER disposing of assets amassed by liquidated BlackBee Investments in Cork has put mixed investments worth 6m in total on the market. Going for sale this week is floor three of City Quarter office building, fully let, as well as the former Docklands/ex-Club Brasserie restaurant; the cafe kiosk on the Lapps Quay boardwalk let to Cafe Gusto; and the ground floor office facing the old Port of Cork site, occupied most recently by BlackBee Investments/Aperee and at one stage the public offices of the Irish Examiner.

HQd at City Quarter and headed up by David OShea, BlackBee was put into liquidation in May 2023, after the Central Bank moved to protect investors, with assets reported at the time of 180m, with later reports saying 92m had matured for investors. Liquidators subsequently corresponded with up to 1,700 investors.

Glazed coffee kiosk let to Cafe Gusto and, behind, vacated former Dockland restaurant/ex Club Brasserie offered in separate lots

BlackBee Investments associated company Aperee had made significant investments into the nursing home sector, setting out to build a 100m portfolio, but several of their development projects on this front  including in Glanmire and Rochetown, Cork  have stalled.

A number of the nursing homes BlackBee/Aperee had acquired have also been put up for sale: five went to market last month guiding in excess of 9m for receiver Gerard Murphy.

The latest disposal on Mr Murphys instructions is at City Quarter, on Lapps Quay, part of the early 2000s Cork docklands vision for ambitious developers Howard Holdings.

Then Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Micheal Martin at the April 2005 launch of City Quarter with the late developer Greg Coughlan, MD Howard Holdings. Picture by Des Barry

Howard Holdings 100m development City Quarter, which included the Clarion Hotel (now, a 191-bed Clayton Hotel) over a double basement was the first, lead foray into the citys docks and new central business district.

It has since been followed on a far larger scale on the north and south quays at Horgans Quay, Albert Quay, and Kennedy Quay by the likes of OCallaghan Properties, JCD Group, and BAM/Clarendon.

Future docklands development is continuing on several mixed use fronts, with apartments considered the next wave, at Horgans Quay, the Sextant pub site/Kennedy Quay, and down in the Marina.

Putting BlackBees assets at City Quarter up for sale, selling agents David McCarthy of Sherry FitzGerald Commercial, acting with Philip Hosford of H Property, describe the development as landmark, in a prominent position in the city centre, and in the heart of the evolving central business district.

Leeside

Likely strongest asset is the office space/investment, comprising ground floor and third floor offices of 26,586sq ft, in the larger c 100,000sq ft five-storey City Quarter block.

The third floor comprises five office suites, laid out around a central service core and is fully occupied under various leases with a current total passing income is 431,000 pa.

Existing tenants include Glandore Business Centre, NIB Travel Insurance, GJ Moloney Solicitors, Cornmarket Group Finance Services Ltd, and Goodbody Stockbrokers. Tenants are unaffected by the investment sale, and the agents say they are fitted to an extremely high standard with raised access floors, extensive natural light, and panoramic views of the city and River Lee.

The ground floor is mixed use and comprises a vacant fully fitted own door office suite  suitable for a public-facing occupier, perhaps  as well as the self-contained fitted restaurant most recently trading as Docklands.

Both are described by agents Sherry FitzGerald Commercial and H Property as ready to go and should both draw significant interest from prospective tenants given their strategic location.

The entire mix  with 80% occupancy  has a guide of 6m and reflects a blended Reversionary Yield of approximately 9.3% after normal costs, with existing tenants unaffected.

If bought individually, the Docklands/Club Brasserie restaurant is guided at 625,000; the BlackBee/Aperee offices suite at ground level at 625,000, and the standalone glazed kiosk let to Cafe Gusto at 250,000, leaving a value of c 4.5m on the fully-let floor three, producing an income currently of 431,000 (floor three was previously offered at 5m with other agents, for 19,000sq ft).

The property presents a unique opportunity to acquire a substantial mixed use investment with extensive asset management opportunities and an estimated rental value in the region of 620,000 per annum upon full occupancy, says Mr McCarthy, adding theres potential to secure tenants and grow income by astute asset management.

Other occupiers at City Quarter include EY and Orsted, with employee communication platform Workvivo by Zoom who recently launched a new hub there for 100 jobs. The common areas of the building have recently undergone a full refurbishment.

On the wider picture, the agents say office vacancy rate in Cork is reducing and there is a shortage of Grade A plus offices with more than 100,000sq ft of space going through legals at present.

Over 200 apartments set to flow at former Sextant pub/Carey Tool Hire site via JCD Group (2020 image)

The immediate area is set to hold 500 apartments (300 at Horgans Quay, under construction, and 200 at the Sextant site in a 26-storey tower in a JCD Group partnership with Cork City Council).

Launching this 6m mixed use offer at the City Quarter scheme which kickstarted the citys move downriver almost 20 years ago, Mr McCarthy added that docklands regeneration has commenced in earnest with plans for Cork Docklands which is Irelands largest regeneration project currently in full swing, with 353m allocated through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), alongside more than 500m of private sector investment with more than 2,000 apartments in the short-term pipeline.

Details:

Sherry FitzGerald

Commercial, 021-4270099;

H Property, 086-2488789
Republicans have picked up a crucial win in the race for the Senate majority.

Early in the evening, West Virginia Republican Jim Justice won the Senate seat opened by senator Joe Manchins retirement.

Republicans also quickly dispatched a late challenge by Democrats in Florida as senator Rick Scott sailed to re-election after pouring millions of dollars of his own wealth into the campaign.

In Ohio and the Democratic blue-wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, Democrats fought to salvage what is left of their slim hold on the Senate.

The Ohio race between senator Sherrod Brown and wealthy Trump-backed Bernie Moreno is the most expensive of the cycle, at some 400 million dollars.

Democrat Sherrod Brown failed to win another term in Ohio (Jeff Dean/AP)

And in Nebraska, attention turned suddenly to a state that vaulted to importance with competitive races in both the House and the Senate, where independent newcomer Dan Osborn challenged incumbent Republican senator Deb Fischer.

With control of Congress at stake, the ever-tight contests for the House and Senate will determine which party holds the majority and the power to boost or block a presidents agenda.

In the end, just a handful of seats, or as little as one, could tip the balance in either chamber. With a 50-50 Senate, the party in the White House determines the majority, since the vice president is a tie-breaker.

Already several states will send history-makers to the Senate.

Voters elected two black women to the Senate, Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, in a historic first.

Ms Blunt Rochester won the open seat in her state while Ms Alsobrooks defeated Marylands popular former governor, Larry Hogan. Just three black women have served in the Senate, and never before have two served at the same time.

And in New Jersey, Andy Kim became the first Korean American elected to the Senate, defeating Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw. The seat opened when Bob Menendez resigned this year after his federal conviction on bribery charges.

Elsewhere, House candidate Sarah McBride, a Democratic state politician from Delaware who is close to the Biden family, won her race, becoming the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.

Sarah McBride has become the first openly transgender person elected to Congress (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Top House races are focused in New York and California, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years.

Other House races are scattered around the country in a sign of how narrow the field has become. Only a couple of dozen seats are being seriously challenged.

Vote counting in some races could extend well past Tuesday.

Were in striking distance in terms of taking back the House, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is in line to make history as the first black speaker if his party wins control, told The Associated Press during a recent campaign swing through Southern California.

But House speaker Mike Johnson, drawing closer to Mr Trump, predicts Republicans will keep and grow the majority. He took over after Kevin McCarthy was booted from the speakers office.

One of the most-watched Senate races, in Montana, may be among the last to be decided. Democrat Jon Tester, a popular three-term senator and dirt farmer is in the fight of his political career against Trump-backed Tim Sheehy, a wealthy former Navy Seal, who made derogatory comments about Native Americans, a key constituency in the Western state.
A mostly smooth Election Day across the US has been marred in multiple battleground states by a series of bomb threats and baseless claims of wrongdoing by former president Donald Trump.

The bomb threats in parts of Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania turned out to be hoaxes, but forced evacuations and some polling places to extend hours.

The threats were reported throughout the day at polling locations in three metro Atlanta counties, all with large numbers of Democratic voters, and into the evening at voting locations in Pennsylvania, forcing evacuations. Bomb threats were also reported at three voting locations in Navajo County, Arizona, according to the secretary of states office.

In an evening news conference, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro acknowledged there had been multiple bomb threats called in to voting locations across the state, but said so far there is no credible threat to the public.

An election worker processing postal votes at the Philadelphia Election Warehouse (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Every legal, eligible vote will be counted and counted accurately, and the will of the people in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be respected, said Mr Shapiro, a Democrat.

In a statement, the Pennsylvania State Police said they were working with local partners to respond, if needed. Neither Mr Shapiro nor police gave more details about who might be behind the bomb threats or why Mr Shapiro believed there was no threat to the public.

In Georgias Fulton County, which includes Atlanta, 32 of 177 polling places received bomb threats and five were briefly evacuated. The FBI on Tuesday afternoon said it was aware of multiple hoax bomb threats to voting locations in several states and said many of them appeared to originate from Russian email domains.

Georgias not gonna be intimidated, Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger said on Tuesday.

An independent observer at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Centre in Georgia (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

And despite no evidence of widespread voting problems, Mr Trump made unsubstantiated claims related to Philadelphia and Detroit, and raised questions about election operations in Milwaukee, the biggest cities in three states that will be crucial for deciding the presidency.

Local officials quickly knocked down the claims Mr Trump made on his social media platform, saying there were no indications of any problems that would affect accurately tallying the vote.

The absence of any significant, widespread problems had not stopped Mr Trump, the Republican nominee, or the Republican National Committee, from making numerous claims of fraud or election interference during the early voting period, a possible prelude to challenges after Election Day.

In Georgia, a federal judge rejected as frivolous a last-minute effort by Republicans to challenge Atlanta-area election offices collection of postal votes last weekend  after early voting had ended. US district judge R Stan Baker, a Trump appointee, said the Republican argument does not withstand even the most basic level of statutory review and reading comprehension.

Mr Trump on Tuesday suggested he would not challenge the results of the election  as long as it is fair.

If its a fair election, Id be the first one to acknowledge the results, Mr Trump said, though what meets that definition was not clear.

Donald Trump has made numerous unsubstantiated claims (Evan Vucci/AP)

As Election Day voting neared its end, the former president began making unsubstantiated claims about voting and law enforcement in the biggest cities in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

He said on his social media platform that there was talk about massive cheating in Philadelphia and said law enforcement was on the way. He did not provide details, and there was no immediate indication of what he was referring to. His spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment about what he meant.

Philadelphia district attorney Larry Krasner issued a statement rejecting Mr Trumps claims as baseless.

There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation, Mr Krasner said. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath.

Federal election security officials and Mr Shapiro also said they had seen nothing to support Mr Trumps claims. Officer Miguel Torres of the Philadelphia Police Department said he was unaware of any special law enforcement mobilisation or any kind of incident that would require it.

One of three Philadelphia election board members, Seth Bluestein, a Republican, said on social media there is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in the city is safe and secure, he said.

Police in Detroit were equally puzzled by another post by Mr Trump that said: Philadelphia and Detroit! Heavy Law Enforcement is there!

Detroit police said there were no reported issues inside or outside of Huntington Place, the massive convention room where election workers were to count ballots.

Evening traffic outside the centre was light with no protesters in sight. Barricades were up outside the room and escalators to and from the area were shut off. Police also reported no major problems in the citys more than 400 voting precincts.

Kamala Harris spent Tuesday helping at a phone bank with volunteers (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Mr Trumps Democratic opponent, vice president Kamala Harris, has urged voters not to fall for Mr Trumps tactic of casting doubt on elections. She was spending Tuesday afternoon turning out her own vote at a phone bank hosted by the Democratic National Committee, and said phone banking represents the best of who we are.

In Milwaukee, election officials said they were recounting more than 30,000 postal votes out of an abundance of caution after it was discovered that doors on the back of ballot scanners were not properly sealed. The effort, which drew the attention of Mr Trump and the Republican National Committee, was expected to delay the count there.

It was expected that at least half of all votes to be cast had already come in by Tuesday, with more than 84 million Americans voting early. There were just a few hiccups and frustrations during early voting in the presidential battlegrounds of Pennsylvania and Michigan.

The problems that cropped up on the final day of voting were largely expected, routine and planned-for events, said Cait Conley, senior adviser to the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The agency was not seeing any significant national incidents affecting election security, she said.
The Taoiseach and Tanaiste are among the multiple world leaders who have congratulated Donald Trump on his imminent victory in the US Presidential election.

Mr Trump is set to be confirmed as President-elect momentarily, having swept aside Kamala Harris overnight.

Taoiseach Simon Harris wrote on social media: "Congratulations to US President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your victory.

The people of the United States have spoken and Ireland will work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and our nations in the years ahead.

British prime minister Keir Starmer called it a "historic election victory".

"I look forward to working with you in the years ahead," he said in a statement.

He added: As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

Ukraine's prime minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he was "hopeful" after Trump's election.

"I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory!



I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is said to be a close friend of Trumps, wrote: "Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,"

He noted that it was a a "huge victory."

His words were echoed by Hungary leader Viktor Orban, writing: "The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!"

French president Emmanuel Macron also issued a statement on social media.

Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 6, 2024



Meanwhile, Tanaiste Micheal Martin issued a statement on Wednesday morning adding to the congraulations.

He wrote: "I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States of America. We look forward to working with him and his new administration in a constructive manner, as we did during his previous administration.

This year marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States.

"Irelands relationship with the United States draws its strength from our deep, historical people-to-people connections, the support of the US to peace on this Island, as well as our significant, and mutually beneficial, economic relationship. As we prepare to engage with a new US administration, we do so building on the strong legacy of the last 100 years.

"The high level of political bipartisan interest in Irish issues among US politicians and officials is, and will continue to be, invaluable. Regular, high level, political engagement, both with the new US administration and on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill, will be a high priority for the Government."
Republicans have taken control of the US Senate and are fighting to keep their majority in the House of Representatives, which would produce a full sweep of power in Congress alongside Donald Trump in the White House.

A unified Republican grip on Washington would set the course for Mr Trumps agenda or if Democrats wrest control of the House, it would provide an almost certain backstop, with veto power over the White House.

Speaking early on Wednesday at his election night party in Florida, Mr Trump said the results delivered an unprecedented and powerful mandate for Republicans.

(PA Graphics)

He called the Senate victory incredible and he praised House Speaker Mike Johnson, who dashed from his own party in Louisiana to join Mr Trump.

Vote counting in some races could go on for days, and control of the House is too early to call.

The rally for Republicans started early on election night in West Virginia, when Jim Justice, the states wealthy governor, flipped the seat held by retiring Senator Joe Manchin.

Republicans toppled Sherrod Brown in Ohio, the first incumbent senator to fall, with luxury car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur Bernie Moreno winning.

Democrat Sherrod Brown failed to win another term in Ohio (Jeff Dean/AP)

The unexpected battleground of Nebraska pushed Republicans over the winning line as incumbent Senator Deb Fischer brushed back a surprisingly strong challenge from independent newcomer Dan Osborn.

One of the most-watched Senate races, in Montana, was decided early on Wednesday.

Democrat Jon Tester, a popular three-term senator and dirt farmer in the fight of his political career lost to Trump-backed Tim Sheehy, a wealthy former Navy Seal, who made derogatory comments about Native Americans, a key constituency in the Western state.

All told, Senate Republicans have a chance to scoop up more seats, potentially delivering their most robust majority in years.

The fight for control of the House became a state-by-state slog, much of which unfolded far from the presidential race.

House races are focused in New York and California, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years.

Other House races are scattered around the country, with some of the most contentious in Maine, the blue dot around Omaha, Nebraska, and in Alaska.

To gain control of the House, Democrats need to flip four seats from Republicans, while holding all of their own, a tall task especially in congressional districts where Mr Trump has won.

It could come down to just a handful of seats, or as little as one, to determine House control.

Voters elected two black women to the Senate, Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, who defeated Republican Larry Hogan, the former governor, in Maryland.

Just three black women have served in the Senate, and never before have two served at the same time.

And in New Jersey, Andy Kim became the first Korean American elected to the Senate. The seat opened when Bob Menendez resigned this year after his federal conviction on bribery charges.

In the House, candidate Sarah McBride, a Democratic state lawmaker from Delaware who is close to the Biden family, became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.

Sarah McBride has become the first openly transgender person elected to Congress (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

What is still unclear is who will lead the new Republican Senate, as long-time leader Mitch McConnell prepares to step down from the post.

South Dakota Senator John Thune, the number two Republican, and Texas Senator John Cornyn, who previously held that post, are the front-runners to replace Mr McConnell in a secret-ballot election scheduled for when senators arrive in Washington next week.

Billions of dollars have been spent by the parties, and outside groups, on the narrow battleground for both the 435-member House and 100-member Senate.

If the two chambers do in fact flip party control, as is possible, it would be rare.

Records show that if Democrats take the House and Republicans take the Senate, it would be the first time that the chambers of Congress have both flipped to opposing political parties.
Rafael has strengthened into a powerful Category 3 hurricane ahead of its expected landfall in western Cuba, where it was forecast to bring life-threatening storm surges, winds and flash floods.

The storm, which knocked out power and dumped rain on the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, churned past the Isle of Youth and is expected to make landfall in the coming hours on Wednesday.

Even before the storm touched down, authorities in Cuba said strong winds knocked out power in the countrys electric grid, which suffered a major blackout of several days late last month and sporadic outages since then.

Hurricane #Rafael Advisory 12A: Rafael Becomes a Category Three Hurricane as it Nears the Coast of Western Cuba. Expected to Bring Life-Threatening Storm Surge, Damaging Hurricane-Force Winds, and Flash Flooding to Portions of Western Cuba. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) November 6, 2024

Classes and public transport were suspended on parts of the island as authorities issued an alarm for the incoming weather for the west of the country.

Workers secured buildings and cleaned up rubbish along Havanas coastline in preparation for floods. Authorities also cancelled flights in certain areas like Havana and Varadero.

Thousands of people in the west of the island were evacuated as a prevention measure.

Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, warned the National Hurricane Centre in Miami.

The storm was about 55 miles north-northeast of the Isle of Youth and 55 miles south-southeast of Havana. It had maximum sustained winds of 115mph and was moving north west at 14mph, according to the centre.

Forecasters expect the storm to weaken over Cuba before emerging in the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane.

Cubans have already been struggling with blackouts while recovering from another hurricane two weeks ago that killed at least six people in the eastern part of the island.

The US State Department issued an advisory for Cuba on Tuesday afternoon, offering departure flights to non-essential staff and American citizens, and advising others to reconsider travel to Cuba due to the potential impact of Tropical Storm Rafael.

On Tuesday morning, the Cuban Civil Defence called on residents to prepare as soon as possible, because when the storm makes landfall its important to stay where you are.

A hurricane warning was in effect on Wednesday for a portion of the Cayman Islands and the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for the provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Ciego de Avila, as well as the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, and Dry Tortugas.

The storm on Tuesday knocked out power in parts of Jamaica and unleashed flooding and landslides. The Jamaica Public Service, the islands electricity provider, said in a statement late on Tuesday that impassable roads were preventing crews from restoring power in some areas.

Here are the 10 AM EST Wednesday Key Messages for Hurricane #Rafael. Life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and flash flooding expected in portions of western Cuba. Follow the latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/dg9rxQIgfD  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) November 6, 2024

Power outages were reported across the Cayman Islands after a direct hit late on Tuesday, and schools remained closed on Wednesday.

Heavy rainfall is expected to spread north into Florida and nearby areas of the south-east US during the middle to late part of the week. The hurricane centre predicted storm surges in Florida could reach 1ft to 3ft in Dry Tortugas and 1ft to 2ft in the Lower Florida Keys. A few tornadoes were also expected on Wednesday over the Keys and south-western Florida.

Rafael is the 17th named storm of the season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted the 2024 hurricane season is likely to be well above average, with between 17 and 25 named storms. The forecast called for as many as 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is working with SpaceX to create its spy satellites that will stay in orbit and keep tabs on its foes and rivals, with the agency stepping up its efforts for the country. In its latest development, the NRO's director issued a dire warning to U.S. adversaries about how its "eyes in the skies" are always watching, focusing on foreign military advancements and more.

Its efforts will collect and gather data regarding "sites of interest" by other United States intelligence agencies and help in expanding more of its intel in its cases, capable of capturing quality and valuable information.

NRO's SpaceX-Built Spy Satellites Are Gearing Up

The expansion of the NRO's spy satellites is gearing up to complete its goal, as the SpaceX-built spacecraft is nearing the target number to bolster the agency's efforts in monitoring global foes and their activities. According to Ars Technica, the NRO wants to deploy at least 100 satellites to the Earth's orbit for its surveillance program, creating a new network of intelligence.

SpaceX's Starlink satellite assembly was used to fast-track this aspiration by the NRO to put more eyes in the sky, and its partnership already produced 80 satellites from SpaceX and launched alongside four Falcon 9 missions.

Through these satellites, which the NRO calls "proliferated architecture," the agency believes that it can warrant "high-resolution imagery" at immense speeds, improving on its previous efforts that were expensive and limited.

NRO Director: US Adversaries Beware

Alongside this, NRO director Chris Scolese also issued a warning against U.S. adversaries regarding their current activities, saying that the agency is "constantly looking" from the skies. Thanks to this SpaceX technology, the smaller and cheaper satellites can cover more ground in their survey as they fly overhead, capable of capturing valuable information multiple times in a day.

Spy Satellites of the US

Many nations have invested in spy satellites as a way to keep tabs on their adversaries and use them for surveillance purposes, gathering intelligence, and more, with the United States known for its efforts in this space. However, it faced a threat last year when what was believed to be a Chinese spy balloon flew in different parts of the country, particularly near military bases, and it was said to be capable of collecting communications and data.

This is not the first rodeo for the NRO in their satellite developments and launches to bolster its capabilities to monitor international events, particularly in this age where its rivals also have measures of their own. Apart from monitoring global events, one of its top priorities is national security where it constantly surveils the world on potential threats, with its data also used for identification and profiling of rival nations' advancements.

SpaceX is popular for its Starlink satellite constellation which is looking to fill up the low-Earth orbit with its machines to provide internet from the skies, a feat which the NRO took advantage of to propel U.S. intelligence further. This new satellite constellation of the NRO is nearing its goal of deploying 100 of these spacecraft to monitor global events, now warning its adversaries about its capabilities.
Today

Partly cloudy. High 81F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low 54F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Becoming partly cloudy and windy. High 82F. W winds at 10 to 15 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Today

Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 69F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 42F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Partly cloudy skies. High near 55F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Irelands candidate for the European Commission, Michael McGrath, has received confirmation following a three-hour hearing earlier today, according to RTE News sources.

It is reported that the primary political factions have backed his nomination for the role of European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law.

Only two political factions, the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations and the Patriots group, chose not to endorse Mr. McGrath.

This support results in a two-thirds majority from the main committee coordinators.

Safeguarding Minors from Online Threats

Mr. McGrath informed MEPs that he would emphasize protecting minors from online dangers if confirmed as Commissioner for Justice.

He stated that in the ongoing geopolitical landscape, we must value and uphold the principles that have made the EU a symbol of peace, tolerance, and hope, which include democracy, respect for fundamental rights, and the rule of law.

Addressing MEPs from various committees, he honored Nobel Prize laureate John Hume, one of the politicians who influenced me during my early years  a peacemaker, statesman, and a proud member of this Parliament for 25 years.

I assure you that in my endeavors, your voices and those of the people you represent will be acknowledged.

Mr. McGrath commenced his opening remarks by extending condolences to Spanish committee members over the tragic loss you have endured in recent days in Valencia. Our hearts are heavy.

He informed MEPs that we must safeguard the integrity of electoral processes and the security of election candidates against escalating threats to their safety.

It is crucial to shield election candidates from undue pressure, especially women, who often face abuse that is exacerbated by misogynistic stereotypes.

He articulated that the rule of law is a vital safeguard for the operation of our democracies, the protection of individual rights, and the prosperity of our societies and economies, serving as the foundation of a union characterized by equality, opportunity, and social fairness.

Mr. McGrath characterized EU democracy as an ongoing evolution.

He noted that threats to the European elections in June included disinformation, threats, and sophisticated manipulative techniques utilizing AI.

The absence of significant disruptions during the elections was impressive, although it was not a coincidence, he remarked.

He indicated that under his authority, the European Public Prosecutors Office would be bolstered, particularly in addressing cross-border serious crime.

I will strive to enhance collaboration among the EPPO, Eurojust, Europol, and Olaf [the EUs anti-fraud agency].

Mr. McGrath also stated that if confirmed as commissioner, he would push for a Digital Fairness Act aimed at strengthening consumer protection, especially for children.

I want to ensure that consumers are not exploited for commercial gain, that social media influencers do not mislead our consumers, and that our children are adequately safeguarded online.

I will tackle dark patterns, marketing from social media influencers, the addictive design of digital products, and unfair personalization practices.

He committed to prioritizing the safety of minors against harmful content and practices in online gaming.

Mr. McGrath highlighted that safeguarding journalists would be a core aspect of his role, pledging to revise current legislation such as the European Media Freedom Act to protect journalists, including advocating for the swift implementation of the anti-SLAPP safeguard, which protects media from abusive lawsuits.

When questioned by a far-right MEP about actions against Islamic terrorism and ensuring freedom of thought, freedom of speech, equality between women and men, alongside ensuring no EU funds support NGOs or universities tied to radical Islamic organizations [like] Hamas, Mr. McGrath replied that respect for our values is applicable to all: democracy, equality, rule of law, freedom, human rights, and respect for human dignity. These are non-negotiable.

He emphasized that freedom of expression is not limitless.

An appropriate balance must be established to ensure we do not tolerate hateful language or actions that cross into criminal territory, which can impact EU citizens regarding the funding of NGOs and various groups.

Responding to a query from a right-wing Polish MEP regarding EU rule of law measures taken specifically against central and eastern European member states, Mr. McGrath expressed his intention to approach the topic with a fresh pair of eyes.

[Impartiality] is crucial to our mission. We must apply the full rule of law toolbox with fairness. I approach this without preconceptions, making decisions based purely on evidence and observed facts.

However, he noted: No one should be misled. I am prepared to act decisively to ensure the rule of law is upheld by every EU member state.

Pathway for Ireland to Join EPPO

In response to a Spanish center-right MEP pointing out Irelands significant exemptions from EU justice and home affairs laws, Mr. McGrath acknowledged this fact.

He conveyed Irelands intention to join the European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) before the Irish presidency of the EU in 2026.

I would also highlight Irelands recent approach concerning various files: the E-Evidence Regulation and the transfer of criminal proceedings regulation.

Wherever feasible, [the Government will] align the Irish common law system to opt into existing and future instruments for criminal justice cooperation.

I will encourage this, as I know Ireland is now progressing towards joining the EPPO, and I look forward to collaborating with the Irish authorities to ensure this task is accomplished.

When asked by a Belgian MEP about the possibility of uniformly criminalizing rape across the EU, Mr. McGrath noted that while the Violence Against Women Directive has been adopted, it was not feasible to include a mutually agreed definition of rape in that legislation.

He stated that the European Commission can promote member states to adopt the concept of consent in their national definitions of rape during the directive transposition.

We would advocate for this. Rape is a heinous crime, and consistency and uniformity across member states are essential.

He mentioned considering adding gender-based violence to the list of trans-European crimes.

Digital Fairness Act

Mr. McGrath was queried about addressing allegedly addictive features aimed at minors online, like endless scrolling and auto-play videos.

He responded: The business model of big tech[is to] keep individuals online indefinitely, including our children, to maximize revenue from advertising on their platforms.

We recognize this model, and we will address it in the Digital Fairness Act, and I assure you we will, as there are harmful functionalities on these platforms impacting children, particularly during their formative years, with potentially lasting effects.

Construction

Ireland West MEP Luke Ming Flanagan confronted Mr. McGrath about the Governments failure to conduct market surveillance on construction products, following infringement proceedings initiated by the European Commission last spring.

Mr. Flanagan stated that the Irish Government had indicated it would strongly defend its position and claimed that it was not accurate that officials were actively performing market surveillance on construction products according to EU regulations.

How can we trust someone from the poacher family to be a gamekeeper? Mr. Flanagan questioned.

Mr. McGrath asserted that the Government had addressed the Commissions infringement proceedings, and the Commission would respond accordingly.

For me, the fundamental issue is that the necessary reforms that needed to occur are now happening in Ireland. I welcome the enactment of the Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act in 2022, which is a vital piece of legislation aimed at developing and promoting a culture of competence, good practices, and adherence to building regulations in the construction industry.

He mentioned that this would lead to a statutory register and that the Government is advancing the establishment of an independent building standards regulatory authority.

Consumer Law

Mr. McGrath acknowledged that numerous EU citizens find consumer law extremely complicated.

He noted: They can be overwhelmed by lengthy terms and conditions, and when they attempt to assert their rights, they encounter barriers that often lead many to give up.

This is why we need to ensure that at the member state level, the organizations supporting consumers in asserting their rights receive appropriate backing through member state budgets, and we will do everything possible through the EU as well.
A missile strike by Russian forces on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia resulted in the deaths of six individuals, left at least 20 others injured, and led to the destruction of an essential infrastructure facility, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ivan Fedorov, the regional governor, stated via the Telegram messaging app that a fire erupted following the attack. Authorities did not specify the nature of the facility that was hit.

Prior to the assault, both Mr. Fedorov and Ukraines Air Force had issued a ballistic missile alert for the region.

The industrial city, which had a pre-war population of over 700,000, is located approximately 35 kilometers from the nearest Russian military positions.

In recent weeks, Zaporizhzhia has faced an uptick in Russian aerial bombings, and analysts studying the Russian invasion speculate that the Kremlin may initiate an offensive towards the city this winter.

The Kremlin asserted that it annexed the territory in late 2022, even though it does not have complete military dominance over the region.

Russian forces partially occupy the Zaporizhzhia region, which is also the site of Europes largest nuclear power plant.

The chief of staff to the Ukrainian president urged allies to enhance their support to counter the Russian assaults.

Violence must be halted through decisive measures, Andriy Yermak stated on Telegram.
Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association | 

Rebecca M. Cunningham

President, University of Minnesota

upres@umn.edu . . .

Dear President Cunningham and Colleagues:

We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and its Committee on Academic Freedom to express our concern about the decision of the administration of the University of Minnesota (UMN) to indefinitely suspend eight students who participated in an occupation of a university building, Morrill Hall, on 21 October 2024. Whatever one thinks of the students action, we regard the universitys decision to bar them from classes, dormitories, dining halls and campus jobs as an unduly harsh sanction that violates their rights to education and sustenance. The fact that this sanction was imposed without the students having had the opportunity to defend their actions in a properly conducted disciplinary process makes it all the more egregious. The universitys actions in this regard seem aimed at deterring students from exercising the dictates of their conscience on matters of urgent public concern. They also contravene the University of Minnesotas laudable tradition of countenancing contentious student protests.

MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. The preeminent organization in the field, the Association publishes the prestigious International Journal of Middle East Studies and has nearly 2,800 members worldwide. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom and freedom of expression both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and outside of North America.

On 21 October 2024, some members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), part of the UMN Divest Coalition, held a rally to protest UMNs recently revised student conduct policy and the Board of Regents rejection of requests to divest from Israel-related investments. Divestment had been the subject of ongoing discussions between university leaders and UMN Divest since the dismantling of the spring 2024 protest encampments. Some students and alumni then marched to Morrill Hall, a main administrative building, and barricaded themselves inside, using patio furniture and other items. Protesters declared the building Halimy Hall, in commemoration of 19-year-old Medo Halimy, a university student in Gaza who documented daily life in wartime and was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis in August 2024.

According to a 22 October 2024 statement from the Office of the President, the students spray-painted over internal security cameras and damaged other property. The statement asserts that employees in Morrill Hall were unable to exit the building due to protesters preventing their free movement and exit. These actions crossed the line into illegal activity, the statement asserts, and on that basis the University of Minnesota Police Department entered Morrill Hall two hours into the occupation, along with Hennepin County police officers, arrested eight students and three alumni. We note, however, that video evidence seems to show students encouraging staff who wished to leave to do so after announcing their occupation and offering escorts to an available exit. Those arrested were released without charge from Hennepin County Jail on 24 October 2024.

The university has issued indefinite interim suspension orders for the eight students, on the premise that they pose an ongoing threat to the university. The orders bar them from attending classes, living in dormitories, eating in dining halls or participating in their campus jobs and activities. Students also face two sets of disciplinary hearings, to which they are permitted to bring lawyers: a first hearing concerning the interim suspension and a second concerning the conduct charges.

We regard the barring of the students from all university activities, before any transparent investigation or disciplinary hearing has been conducted, to be an unduly draconian sanction that contravenes the universitys obligation to educate and to foster debate, however heated. The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has recently called attention to the alarming expansion of restrictive policies that intimidate and silence faculty and students, especially those voicing their principled opposition to Israels genocidal assault on the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. As the AAUP put it, Administrators who claim that expressive activity policies protect academic freedom and student learning, even as they severely restrict its exercise, risk destroying the very freedoms of speech and expression they claim to protect.

The University of Minnesotas recently issued protest guidelines state that engagement that is inconsistent with University policies becomes civil disobedience. We remind you of the generative role of civil disobedience in the universitys own history. For example, in January 1969 African American students occupied Morrill Hall to protest discrimination and racism, an event documented by the University Archives. Their action led to the founding of the African American and African Studies Department later that year.

Students engaged in conscientious political action who are willing to accept the consequences of their actions ought not to be prevented from continuing their education. We therefore call on you to rescind the indefinite suspension orders imposed on the eight students and to ensure that any disciplinary process to which they are subjected is conducted in a fair and transparent manner and in accordance with generally accepted standards.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Asl U. Bali

MESA President

Professor, Yale Law School

Laurie Brand

Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom

Professor Emerita, University of Southern California
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The Palestinian Ministry of Education released a report this week detailing that 11,923 students in Gaza have been killed by Israels total war in the past year.

In addition, 19,199 have been wounded, many with life-altering injuries.

A physician working in Gaza last summer reported to HRW, We are talking about a huge number of traumatic amputations, especially in children, leaving children with permanent disabilities. Also, many children who were wounded by shrapnel all over their faces and bodies, and I have seen children lose their eyesight due to injuries.

Leila al-Kafarna, a mother of three with an injured husband continually expelled from place to place in Gaza, told HRW: I carried my husband on my back, and we kept walking on foot through the sand and gunfire over our heads and planes dropping leaflets. Our children screamed along the way. It felt like the whole world ran and screamed with fear.

Al-Kafarna continued,

 We finally felt a bit relieved and on October 20, Malek, my 13-year-old son, and I went to the market. We went there for four consecutive days, waiting in line to get our [food] coupon, and it was on our fourth day that the attack happened. We were there for an hour-and-a-half. Suddenly, I felt something was off. I took Maleks hand and told him we needed to leave, and that was when I heard something breaking from the walls. I looked up as the missile [munition] was hitting the supermarket, and I lost consciousness. We were thrown away by the impact and surrounded by rubble. There were people and bodies around and on top of us. Body parts were everywhere. I woke up with a fire near my face, like a meter away, and I was still holding my sons arm, so I started running, thinking Im running with my son. I was screaming at him to run fast before they bomb again, and then I felt like my son was light, as if there was no weight on the arm. So, I looked and didnt see my son anywhere near me, and that was when I discovered that I was holding only his arm. I put the arm down and ran back, and I saw my son running and screaming Allah, Allah, and he started telling me to forgive him for any day he treated me badly, as if he was saying goodbye. Malek then fainted.

One of the nearly 20,000 wounded school children, Malek lost his arm.

Although my headline says that the dead students did not go back to school this fall, actually none of the Gaza Strips 625,000 students could go back to school this year. That includes 45,000 first-graders.

Because Israel damaged or destroyed most of the schools and all the universities. All of them. A few months ago, a panel of UN experts said, With more than 80% of schools in Gaza damaged or destroyed, it may be reasonable to ask if there is an intentional effort to comprehensively destroy the Palestinian education system, an action known as scholasticide.'



School Year, Digital, Midjourney / Clip2Comic, 2024.

The Palestinian Ministry of Education said that the Israeli Air Force conducted air strikes against 341 Gazan schools, universities, and university annex buildings, and against 65 schools of the UN Relief and Works Agency. Of these, 138 were badly damaged and 77 were completely destroyed.

Although the Israeli authorities represent these school buildings as secret headquarters of the Qassam Brigades militants, a moments reflection would be sufficient to conclude that this is a damned lie. Eighty percent of the schools in Gaza were Qassam Brigades HQs? Thats ridiculous. They were grade schools. Students were learning the multiplication tables and English grammar. European and American aid workers familiar with these institutions flatly deny the sinister Israeli cover story. It is the same with hospitals, where the Washington Post and the Associated Press did their own investigations and found that there is no evidence whatsoever to back Israeli claims that Hamas was using them for military purposes. The way you can tell that Netanyahu, his cronies and spokesmen are lying is that their lips are moving.

Al Jazeera quotes a Palestinian mother, Lina, who said, I miss being a mother with children in school. Now, I am in a tent, struggling to find water and figuring out how to cook on the fire. This is a monotonous, terrifying routine with the ongoing war, bombings and displacement from one place to another.

During the past year the Israeli military has also killed 561 Palestinian school teachers, and has wounded 3,729, most of them in Gaza.

The few remaining structures are now used to house refugees, so the students are living in their partially destroyed schools with their relatives instead of studying with them. The Israeli Air Force occasionally bombs these schools-cum-shelters, killing more civilians. The presence of a single militant from the Qassam Brigades can justify rubbing out 20 innocent civilians in his vicinity according to the Israeli rules of engagement, the most horrendous among the OECD states. NATO would never permit this behavior and has cut off military cooperation with Israel over its unconcern with minimizing civilian deaths.

UNICEF explains, To respond to this situation, UNICEF and its partners have established 39 Temporary Learning Spaces in the Gaza Strip serving over 12,400 students. In addition, recreational activities, emergency learning kits, and Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) are being offered to children, youth, caregivers, and teachers in shelters.

UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Director Adele Khodr said, We must find ways to restart learning and rebuild schools to uphold the right to education of the next generations in the State of Palestine. Children need stability to cope with the trauma they have experienced, and the opportunity to develop and reach their full potential. Children are not able to interact with one another and have no structured learning, threatening long-term cognitive development, which is worsened by water shortages and malnutrition.

UNICEFs efforts are hampered by an 88% budget shortfall. While the US sent $20 billion in weaponry to Israel for the ongoing butchery, it gave UNICEF $1.5 bn last year for its work with children all around the world. UNICEF needed on the order of $3 billion just for Gaza this year. You can donate here. It is tax deductible.

Palestinians are the most literate of the Arabs because the United Nations has educated Palestinian refugee children for decades. Israels attempt to destroy the UN Relief and Works Agency and the constant restrictions it puts on agencies like UNICEF, along with its scholasticide in Gaza, are attempts to turn the Palestinians into illiterate dummies who are easily controlled and deprived of all their rights, to erase their very identity as a people.

Scholasticide is genocide.

It doesnt matter to people in Gaza who wins the US presidential election. Trump tells Netanyahu to finish the job. The job is creating more amputees like 13-year-old Malek.
November 6, 2024  TheNewswire - Vancouver, British Columbia - Pampa Metals Corp. (Pampa Metals or the Company) (CSE:PM / FSE:FIR / OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to advise that the 2024/25 Field Season at the Piuquenes Cu-Au Porphyry Project in San Juan, Argentina has commenced.

2024/25 Piuquenes Cu-Au Porphyry Project Field Season

During the 2024/25 Field Season the Company will more fully delineate the size and grade potential of the first deposit at Piuquenes Central, where the Company recently reported 801m @ 0.40% Cu, 0.51 g/t Au, 2.87 g/t Ag, including 518m @ 0.53% Cu, 0.73 g/t Au, 3.45 g/t Ag (refer 17 June 2024 News Release).

Piuquenes East is considered a standout, outcropping target within the Piuquenes-Altar porphyry cluster and will be drill tested for the first time this field season.

Several other recently defined targets across the recently expanded land package (refer 11 October 2024 News Release) are also being advanced through surface exploration and possibly geophysics.

Figure 1: Piuquenes Project Camp Site

Piuquenes Central

The primary objectives of follow-up drill testing at Piuquenes Central are:

To extend high-grade mineralization to depth;

To investigate the potential for a bornite dominant zone at depth;

To test the continuity of mineralization in the vicinity of, and below, historical drill hole DDH006, where the company recently reported alteration and strongly elevated Cu consistent with the peripheries of the Piuquenes Central complex from 43m to 236m (End of Hole) (refer 18 September 2024 News Release);

To obtain additional data around a possible NE geological trend; and

To better define the northern and southern limits of the system and its grade.

Piuquenes East  Undrilled, outcropping target

Piuquenes East is considered a standout target within the Piuquenes-Altar porphyry cluster characterized by:

Outcropping sinuous and banded porphyry style quartz veinlet stockwork zone; and

400 x 300m Cu-Au soil anomaly, intermediate chargeability intermediate-high resistivity

Piuquenes East will be drilled for the first time this field season, testing the continuity at depth of the banded quartz veinlets observed on the surface

Piuquenes  Property Wide Upside Potential

The incorporation of historical data into the Companys geological models has validated a possible northeast trend to the Piuquenes system, with the potential for a cluster of deposits (refer 11 September 2024 News Release).

Outside of the Piuquenes Central and Piuquenes East targets, the recently expanded tenement package (refer 11 October 2024 News Release) has not been subject to any systematic exploration. Property wide field mapping at Piuquenes has commenced, seeking to identify and prepare new targets for drill testing.

SEDI Insider Filing - On-Market Share Purchase by President & CEO

The Companys President & CEO recently acquired 237,718 shares on-market, at a cost of $52,000.

Joseph van den Elsen, Pampa Metals President and CEO commented: With funding in place from our recent capital raising, we are now fully focused on driving significant shareholder value through discovery. We are surrounded by world-class deposits, in a hot bed of corporate and exploration activity, and this field season we will continue to aggressively advance the Piuquenes Project through a comprehensive exploration program. This is a very exciting time for the company, having already validated the exceptionally high copper and gold grades at Piuquenes Central and recently expanding our tenure package.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO

INVESTOR CONTACT

Joseph van den Elsen | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABOUT PAMPA METALS

Pampa Metals is a copper-gold exploration company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE: FIR), and OTC (OTCQB: PMMCF) exchanges.

In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Technical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G. Mr. Orrego G. is a Geologist, a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego G. is a consultant to the Company.

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.
MONTREAL, Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (the Company or Osisko) (OR: TSX & NYSE) today announced its consolidated financial results for the third quarter of 2024. Amounts presented are in Canadian dollars, except where otherwise noted.

Highlights

18,408 gold equivalent ounces ( GEOs 1 ) earned (23,292 GEOs in Q3 2023 2 );

) earned (23,292 GEOs in Q3 2023 ); Revenues from royalties and streams of $57.3 million ($62.1 million in Q3 2023), exclusive of 1,595 GEOs earned but not sold due to quarter-end timing;

Cash flows generated by operating activities of $47.2 million ($43.5 million in Q3 2023);

Quarterly cash margin 3 of 55.1 million or 96.3%;

of 55.1 million or 96.3%; Net earnings of $18.3 million, $0.10 per basic share (net loss of $20.0 million, $0.11 per basic share in Q3 2023);

Adjusted earnings 4 of $28.8 million, $0.15 per basic share ($18.3 million, $0.10 per basic share in Q3 2023);

of $28.8 million, $0.15 per basic share ($18.3 million, $0.10 per basic share in Q3 2023); Repayment of $27.3 million under the revolving credit facility (and repayment of $115.2 million year-to-date in 2024);

Cash balance of $58.5 million and debt of $80.7 million as at September 30, 2024;

Acquisition of a 6% gold stream (until 225,000 ounces are delivered, and then 3.6% thereafter) by Osisko Bermuda Limited ( Osisko Bermuda ) on SolGold plc's ( SolGold ) Cascabel copper-gold development project in Ecuador for a total of US$225.0 million, payable upon achieving certain milestones;

) on SolGold plc's ( ) Cascabel copper-gold development project in Ecuador for a total of US$225.0 million, payable upon achieving certain milestones; Entered into a binding agreement to acquire a 1.8% gross revenue royalty ( GRR ) from Tembo Capital Mining Fund II ( Tembo ) on Spartan Resources Limiteds Dalgaranga Gold Project ( Dalgaranga ) in Western Australia for US$44 million, and a 1.35% GRR on additional regional exploration licenses in proximity to Dalgaranga from Tembo for US$6 million;

) from Tembo Capital Mining Fund II ( ) on Spartan Resources Limiteds Dalgaranga Gold Project ( ) in Western Australia for US$44 million, and a 1.35% GRR on additional regional exploration licenses in proximity to Dalgaranga from Tembo for US$6 million; First delivery of copper received by Osisko Bermuda from Metals Acquisition Limited under the CSA copper stream;

First payment received from Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. under the Akasaba West 2.5% NSR royalty (partial coverage);

Appointment of Ms. Wendy Louie to the Company's Board of Directors as an Independent Director; and

Declaration of a quarterly dividend of $0.065 per common share paid on October 15, 2024 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 30, 2024.

Subsequent to September 30, 2024

Declaration of a quarterly dividend of $0.065 per common share payable on January 15, 2025 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024;

Osisko added to the Solactive Global Silver Miners Total Return Index; the underlying index that is tracked by the Global X Silver Miners ETF ( SIL ), pursuant to the index's semi-annual ordinary adjustment, effective November 1, 2024; and,

), pursuant to the index's semi-annual ordinary adjustment, effective November 1, 2024; and, The resignation of Mr. Robert Krcmarov from the Board of Directors in order to assume the role of President & CEO of Hecla Mining Company.

Jason Attew, President & CEO of Osisko commented: Osisko had a solid third quarter and remains on track to achieve its 2024 revised guidance range of 77,000 to 83,000 GEOs delivered. On the last day of the quarter, Osisko also announced an agreement to purchase a royalty on Spartans Dalgaranga Gold Project in Western Australia, an asset that checks all of our boxes in terms of near-term production and cash flow, top-tier mining jurisdiction, management quality and significant exploration upside. This accretive transaction is expected to close shortly upon customary approval from Australias Foreign Investment Review Board, and will provide incremental growth to Osiskos peer-leading GEO delivery growth profile within the next two-to-three years.

Catalysts continued to crystallize for Osisko during the third quarter, most notably first deliveries under the CSA copper stream, first production at G Mining Ventures Tocantinzinho gold mine, and finally Gold Fields closing its acquisition of Osisko Mining to consolidate 100% of the Windfall gold project. Looking ahead into the next several months, were still expecting to see improved production at Capstones Mantos Blancos mine, as well as commissioning and first gold production from the Namdini gold project, both of which will serve as key incremental GEO delivery growth drivers for 2025 and beyond.

Mr. Norman MacDonald, Chair of Osiskos Board of Directors commented: Rob has been an active and engaged independent member of Osiskos Board for 2 years, and over this period, the Company has benefitted significantly from his dedicated leadership combined with his technical experience. On behalf of the Board, management and the Companys shareholders, I would like to congratulate Rob on his new role as President and CEO of Hecla and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Q3 2024 RESULTS CONFERENCE AND WEBCAST CALL DETAILS

Conference Call: Wednesday, November 6th, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET Dial-in Numbers:

(Option 1) North American Toll-Free: 1 (800) 717-1738

Local  Montreal: 1 (514) 400-3792

Local  Toronto: 1 (289) 514-5100

Local  New York: 1 (646) 307-1865

Conference ID: 83490 Webcast link:

(Option 2) https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1691902&tp_key=a7c42fad9d Replay (available until Friday,

December 6th at 11:59 PM ET): North American Toll-Free: 1 (888) 660-6264

Local  Toronto: 1 (289) 819-1325

Local  New York: 1 (646) 517-3975

Playback Passcode: 83490# Replay also available on our website at www.osiskogr.com

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Guy Desharnais, Ph.D., P.Geo., Vice President, Project Evaluation at Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd, who is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101).

About Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd is an intermediate precious metal royalty company which holds a North American focused portfolio of over 185 royalties, streams and precious metal offtakes, including 20 producing assets. Osiskos portfolio is anchored by its cornerstone asset, a 3-5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic Complex, home to one of Canadas largest gold mines.

Osiskos head office is located at 1100 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal, Suite 300, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2S2.

Notes:

(1) Gold Equivalent Ounces



GEOs are calculated on a quarterly basis and include royalties and streams. Silver ounces and copper tonnes earned from royalty and stream agreements are converted to gold equivalent ounces by multiplying the silver ounces or copper tonnes by the average silver price per ounce or copper price per tonne for the period and dividing by the average gold price per ounce for the period. Diamonds, other metals and cash royalties are converted into gold equivalent ounces by dividing the associated revenue by the average gold price per ounce for the period.

Average Metal Prices and Exchange Rate Three months ended

September 30, 2024 2023 Gold (i) $2,474 $1,928 Silver (ii) $29 $24 Copper (iii) $9,210 $8,356 Exchange rate (US$/Can$) (iv) 1.3641 1.3414

(i) The London Bullion Market Associations pm price in U.S. dollars per ounce. (ii) The London Bullion Market Associations price in U.S. dollars per ounce. (iii) The London Metal Exchanges price in U.S. dollars per tonne. (iv) Bank of Canada daily rate.

(2) Three months ended September 30, 2023 (Q3 2023). (3) Non-IFRS Measures



The Corporation has included certain performance measures in this press release that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS Accounting Standards including cash margin in dollars and in percentage. The presentation of these non-IFRS measures is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. These measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS Accounting Standards. As Osiskos operations are primarily focused on precious metals, the Corporation presents cash margins as it believes that certain investors use this information, together with measures determined in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards, to evaluate the Corporations performance in comparison to other companies in the precious metals mining industry who present results on a similar basis. However, other companies may calculate these non-IFRS measures differently.

Cash Margin (in thousands of dollars and in percentage of revenues)

Cash margin (in thousands of dollars) represents revenues less cost of sales (excluding depletion). Cash margin (in percentage of revenues) represents the cash margin (in thousands of dollars) divided by revenues.

Three months ended

September 30,

Nine months ended

September 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 $ $ $ $ Royalty interests Revenues 38,472 37,410 129,252 115,911 Less: cost of sales (excluding depletion) (66 ) (193 ) (316 ) (533 ) Cash margin (in dollars) 38,406 37,217 128,936 115,378 Depletion (2,763 ) (5,972 ) (13,658 ) (18,430 ) Gross profit 35,643 31,245 115,278 96,948 Stream interests Revenues 18,783 24,659 53,600 66,245 Less: cost of sales (excluding depletion) (2,075 ) (4,144 ) (5,884 ) (12,105 ) Cash margin (in dollars) 16,708 20,515 47,716 54,140 Depletion (6,753 ) (10,922 ) (17,795 ) (24,926 ) Gross profit 9,955 9,593 29,921 29,214 Royalty and stream interests Total cash margin (in dollars) 55,114 57,732 176,652 169,518 Divided by: total revenues 57,255 62,069 182,852 182,156 Cash margin (in percentage of revenues) 96.3 % 93.0 % 96.6 % 93.1 % Total  Gross profit 45,598 40,838 145,199 126,162

(4) Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per basic share



Adjusted earnings is defined as: net earnings (loss), adjusted for certain items: foreign exchange gains (losses), impairment charges and reversal related to royalty, stream and other interests, changes in allowance for expected credit losses, write-offs and impairment of investments, gains (losses) on disposal of assets, gains (losses) on investments, share of income (loss) of associates, transaction costs and other items such as non-cash gains (losses), as well as the impact of income taxes on these items. Adjusted earnings per basic share is obtained from the adjusted earnings divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.

Three months ended

September 30,

Nine months ended

September 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 (in thousands of dollars,

except per share amounts) $ $ $ $ Net earnings (loss) 18,288 (19,999 ) 12,246 18,810 Adjustments: Impairment of royalty and streams interests - 17,490 67,832 24,119 Foreign exchange (gain) loss (737 ) 3,390 3,582 3,543 Share of loss (income) of associates 11,188 4,754 27,863 (8,268 ) Changes in allowance for expected credit losses and write-offs - 17,349 (1,895 ) 37,480 Loss on investments 104 2,513 3 4,482 Tax impact of adjustments 5 (7,197 ) (17,904 ) (9,482 ) Adjusted earnings 28,848 18,300 91,727 70,684 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (000s) 186,408 185,304 186,145 184,947 Adjusted earnings per basic share 0.15 0.10 0.49 0.38

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are statements other than statements of historical fact, that address, without limitation, future events, that Osisko will meet its revised guidance estimate, that conditions precedent to the closing of the purchase of the royalty on the Dalgaranga Gold Project will be met and that such transaction will provide incremental growth to Osisko GEOs, that production will improve at Mantos Blancos, and that the commissioning and first gold production from the Namdini project will be achieved in a timely manner. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, potential, scheduled and similar expressions or variations (including negative variations), or that events or conditions will, would, may, could or should occur. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, most of which are beyond the control of Osisko, and actual results may accordingly differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, without limitation, (i) with respect to properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other interest; risks related to: (a) the operators of the properties, (b) timely development, permitting, construction, commencement of production, ramp-up (including operating and technical challenges), (c) differences in rate and timing of production from resource estimates or production forecasts by operators, (d) differences in conversion rate from resources to reserves and ability to replace resources, (e) the unfavorable outcome of any challenges or litigation relating title, permit or license, (f) hazards and uncertainty associated with the business of exploring, development and mining including, but not limited to unusual or unexpected geological and metallurgical conditions, slope failures or cave-ins, flooding and other natural disasters or civil unrest or other uninsured risks, (ii) with respect to other external factors: (a) fluctuations in the prices of the commodities that drive royalties, streams, offtakes and investments held by Osisko, (b) fluctuations in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, (c) regulatory changes by national and local governments, including permitting and licensing regimes and taxation policies, regulations and political or economic developments in any of the countries where properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other interest are located or through which they are held, (d) continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, and (e) responses of relevant governments to infectious diseases outbreaks and the effectiveness of such response and the potential impact of such outbreaks on Osiskos business, operations and financial condition; (iii) with respect to internal factors: (a) business opportunities that may or not become available to, or are pursued by Osisko, (b) the integration of acquired assets or (c) the determination of Osiskos PFIC status. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including, without limitation: the absence of significant change in Osiskos ongoing income and assets relating to determination of its PFIC status, and the absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended and, with respect to properties in which Osisko holds a royalty, stream or other interest, (i) the ongoing operation of the properties by the owners or operators of such properties in a manner consistent with past practice and with public disclosure (including forecast of production), (ii) the accuracy of public statements and disclosures made by the owners or operators of such underlying properties (including expectations for the development of underlying properties that are not yet in production), (iii) no adverse development in respect of any significant property, (iv) that statements and estimates relating to mineral reserves and resources by owners and operators are accurate and (v) the implementation of an adequate plan for integration of acquired assets.

For additional information on risks, uncertainties and assumptions, please refer to the most recent Annual Information Form of Osisko filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov which also provides additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Osisko cautions that the foregoing list of risk and uncertainties is not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Osisko believes that the assumptions reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be accurate as actual results and prospective events could materially differ from those anticipated such the forward-looking statements and such forward-looking statements included in this press release are not guarantee of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. In this press release, Osisko relies on information publicly disclosed by other issuers and third parties pertaining to its assets and, therefore, assumes no liability for such third-party public disclosure. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Osisko undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable law.

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023

(Unaudited) (tabular amounts expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars) September 30, December 31, 2024 2023 $ $ Assets Current assets Cash 58,540 67,721 Short-term investments 15,567 8,200 Amounts receivable 8,703 6,282 Other assets 1,147 1,842 83,957 84,045 Non-current assets Investments in associates 85,620 115,651 Other investments 99,457 93,025 Royalty, stream and other interests 1,482,179 1,553,111 Goodwill 111,204 111,204 Other assets 8,153 8,951 1,870,570 1,965,987 Liabilities Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 5,779 8,209 Dividends payable 12,108 11,121 Lease liabilities 1,214 1,122 19,101 20,452 Non-current liabilities Lease liabilities 5,957 6,879 Long-term debt 80,746 191,879 Deferred income taxes 101,364 96,279 207,168 315,489 Equity Share capital 2,113,691 2,097,691 Contributed surplus 80,081 79,446 Accumulated other comprehensive income 48,882 28,058 Deficit (579,252 ) (554,697 ) 1,663,402 1,650,498 1,870,570 1,965,987

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023

(Unaudited) (tabular amounts expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars) Three months ended

September 30,

Nine months ended

September 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 $ $ $ $ Revenues 57,255 62,069 182,852 182,156 Cost of sales (2,141 ) (4,337 ) (6,200 ) (12,638 ) Depletion (9,516 ) (16,894 ) (31,453 ) (43,356 ) Gross profit 45,598 40,838 145,199 126,162 Other operating expenses General and administrative (6,684 ) (11,697 ) (19,177 ) (25,214 ) Business development (1,506 ) (1,337 ) (4,959 ) (4,130 ) Impairment of royalty and stream interests - (17,490 ) (67,832 ) (24,119 ) Operating income 37,408 10,314 53,231 72,699 Interest income 1,591 1,115 4,095 5,348 Finance costs (2,262 ) (6,086 ) (8,832 ) (12,401 ) Foreign exchange gain (loss) 737 (3,390 ) (3,582 ) (3,543 ) Share of (loss) income of associates (11,188 ) (4,754 ) (27,863 ) 8,268 Other (losses) gains, net (104 ) (19,862 ) 1,892 (41,962 ) Earnings (loss) before income taxes 26,182 (22,663 ) 18,941 28,409 Income tax (expense) recovery (7,894 ) 2,664 (6,695 ) (9,599 ) Net earnings (loss) 18,288 (19,999 ) 12,246 18,810 Net earnings (loss) per share Basic and diluted 0.10 (0.11 ) 0.07 0.10




Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - The government of President William Ruto has announced the beginning of the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension from Kenya to Uganda, shortly after meeting China's Investment delegation.

This was announced by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and his Principal Secretary Mohammed Daghar after meeting officials from the Chinese Investment delegation, led by Secretary for Disciplined Inspection Chin Lee, at the SGR Nairobi Terminus.

According to Daghar, the project will see the extension of the rail system from Naivasha to Malaba.

"We are in top gear to ensure we extend the line all the way to Kisumu, a distance of 362 kilometers, through phase 2B, and then onwards to Malaba, a distance of 106 kilometres," Daghar stated.

"The project will enable us to connect with Uganda, DRC, South Sudan, and Rwanda, Daghar added.

The project is set to cost the government Ksh648 billion, which will be funded by the Chinese Government.

However, the government is yet to announce key details among other issues in the funding plan for the SGR extension, despite the closed-door meeting with the high investment delegation from China.

The project works will begin next year, 2025 after all the funding issues are sorted out. The project is expected to take four years.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - After days of scrupulous pursuit for notorious city fraudsters who defrauded two Dubai-based businessmen over USD 39,900 in a fake gold scam, DCI Operations detectives have rounded up 31 suspects connected to the scamming web in Runda, Ridgeways, and Industrial Area parts of Nairobi.

Masquerading as genuine dealers in the precious metal, the suspects had on diverse dates in September 2024 paraded coated off-base metals to hoodwink and lure the two foreigners into a business deal, thereafter holing up with thousands of dollars.

After making several trips to the country and into the opulent offices in which the scammers operated, the victims grew suspicious of the excuses made on why the 35kg of gold they had bought was not being exported to Dubai as agreed, thereby reporting the suspected fraud at DCI.

Today, a swift and coordinated crackdown was launched by the Operations Directorate led by the Operations Support Unit team, who raided the three operational bases and effected the arrest of the 31 suspects.

The operation also saw the seizure of four motor vehicles, metal boxes containing fake gold nuggets and bars, several radio sets, fake stamps and authorization certificates for various ministries in the government, branded reflector jackets, and Kenya and East African flags among others, all which were processed and secured at a police exhibit store.

Meanwhile, interrogation on the suspects has since revealed some notorious faces in the illegal business as the masterminds of the scheme, including the suspected leader of the syndicate, Nashon Otieno Angudha, a serial who has two similar active cases in court.

In one of the cases that is coming up for mention tomorrow at Milimani Law Courts, Nashon is charged with conspiracy to defraud c/sec 317 of the penal code.

His second case graduated into a robbery with violence charge after their to-be-victims of gold scam (an Australian man and his Ugandan wife) were attacked, robbed by his team.

In this case, Felix Ochieng Nyongesa and Jack Ouma Okwiri are his co-accused persons.





























































The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - A British doctor who wore a disguise when he injected his mother's partner with a fake Covid-19 booster in a dispute over inheritance has been jailed for 31 years.

Dr Thomas Kwan, 53, admitted trying to killing Patrick OHara in an extraordinary plan that left the 72-year old with a rare flesh-eating disease.

He had initially denied attempted murder, but changed his plea after he heard the prosecution open the case against him at Newcastle Crown Court last month.

On Wednesday, he was sentenced to 31 years and five months behind bars by Judge Mrs Justice Lambert, who said: It was an audacious plan to murder a man in plain sight and you very nearly succeeded in your objective.

At a previous hearing, the victim said the fake vaccination caused intense pain, making it seem as though his arm was on fire, and that he felt he should have died.

Mr OHara needed weeks of hospital treatment after developing a flesh-eating disease which required plastic surgery and he said the attack left him a shell of an individual.

Kwan, who was obsessed with money and developed a deep knowledge of poisons, planned his murder bid for months by writing fake letters, supposedly from the NHS, offering Mr OHara a home visit in January this year.

The married 53-year-old was motivated by greed after finding out that his mother, Jenny Leung, had made a will which allowed Mr OHara to stay in her home should she die before him. The couple have split up since her sons attempt on his life.

Peter Makepeace KC, prosecuting, said at a previous hearing: The motive for this attempt to kill was to remove an impediment to his inheritance.

Kwan refused to tell police which poison he had used as medics battled to save Mr OHara.

His victim had responded with stoicism to his physical suffering, the court heard, but he has since developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

Officers scoured CCTV and were able to track Kwan, still disguised as a nurse, back to a city centre hotel and then to his home in Ingleby Barwick, Teesside.

In his garage they discovered an array of dangerous chemicals which the GP had amassed. On his computer, they found instructions on how to make the chemical weapon ricin.

It was first thought he had used ricin on Mr OHara but a poisons expert said iodomethane, which is used in pesticides, was more likely.

During the trial last month, Paul Greaney KC, defending, said the GP was previously of positive good character, and had ruined his life.

He described Kwans disguise, when he passed himself off as a nurse, as amateurish and clumsy.






Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - French defender, Benjamin Mendy has won his legal battle against his former club Manchester City for the majority of his unpaid wages while he faced rape charges.

Mendy was cleared of raping a woman at his 4m mansion and trying to rape another woman following a trial last year.

City halted Mendy's 500,000-a-month salary in 2021 when Mendy was arrested for the second time.

Mendy, who joined City for 49m from Monaco in 2017, responded by taking the Premier League champions to an employment tribunal, and he has won the fight for most of his unpaid salary after making a claim for 'unauthorised deductions' from his wages.

Mendy's claim was for around 11m before tax. The tribunal's verdict means he will be entitled to the majority of this figure but not all of it, having spent approximately five months in custody during the 22 months covered by the claim.

The exact amount is set to be agreed by the parties involved, or will be decided in a future hearing if an agreement cannot be reached.

The tribunal heard that City continued to pay Mendy after his first arrest in November 2020, but changed their stance when he was re-arrested the following year.

But Mendy's contract stated that he would receive a 900,000 bonus for appearing in 60 per cent of matches, in addition to a 1m bonus if City qualified for the Champions League, and an annual 1.2m payment to his image rights company on top of his salary.

After being charged, Mendy was told by City chiefs that they would not be paying his salary as he was 'not presently ready and able to perform the obligations of his contract'.

Mendy claims then-chief operating officer Omar Berrada assured him he would receive his wages once acquitted, but the tribunal heard Mendy received no response from Berrada or chief executive Khaldoon Al Mubarak when he reached out to the pair for clarification.

Mendy revealed to the court that his then-City team-mates Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez helped him financially while his wages were withheld, and he was forced to sell his Cheshire mansion to pay his legal fees, bills, and for child support.

City argued in court that Mendy only had himself to blame for behaving irresponsibly, following reports the left back threw parties at the mansion during lockdown and breached his bail conditions.

Sean Jones KC, who represented City, said: 'The essence of the submission by Mr Mendy is that his contract creates a moral hazard.

'He says "I can behave as irresponsibly as I like, I can ignore all the rules, both legal, of the club and common sense to the point where my behaviour results in prison".

'He is trying to make a moral hazard into a virtue. He says "It should in no way affect my entitlement to pay. There should be no consequences to my behaviour".'

Mendy now plays for Lorient in Ligue 2 after returning to France last year following the expiry of his City contract. He had not played for City since August 2021 after the rape allegations were made against him.






Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - The Republican candidate for the 2024 United States presidential election, Donald Trump, has praised his loyal supporter and tech billionaire Elon Musk, saying the tech guru must be protected.

Trump, on Wednesday, November 6 informed his supporters that Musks Starlink satellite service played a crucial role in saving a lot of lives during Hurricane Helene, which struck the southeastern United States in October.

I told Elon they need it badly in North Carolina. Can you get it? He had that there so fast, it was incredible. It saved a lot of lives. They saved a lot of lives, Trump stated.

He added; Hes a character, hes a special guy, hes a super genius. We have to protect our geniuses; we dont have that many of them.

Musk has been a strong supporter of Trumps campaign, randomly donating one million dollars to voters who register to vote for the Republican Party.






Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - A mother who jumped to her death off Niagara Falls alongside her two children was suffering from postpartum depression at the time of the murder-suicide, it's claimed.

Chianti Means, 33, jumped from the Luna Island guardrail with her two kids, Roman Rossman, 9, and Mecca Means, four months. She pushed them off the ledge and jumped after them.

It was also gathered that Means made social media posts about her split with her daughter's father, in which she hinted at her sadness and regret before the murder-suicide.

Her cousin, Bierra Hamilton has now revealed that the young mom was suffering from postpartum depression.

'Understand this - postpartum [depression] is very real and needs a cure,' Hamilton told the New York Post. 'Her death wasnt over a man. My cousin was silently fighting depression alone.'

Hamilton has taken to Facebook to defend her beloved cousin, responding to people spreading false information about the situation.

She wrote: 'Diamond Scott did not end her life over no man. Let's just be clear. It's no evidence of that.

'YALL BE LOUD AND WRONG.'

Before her Saturday discussion with the Post, Hamilton wrote on Facebook that her family did not know the 'real reason' for Means' actions.

'I am literally sick to my stomach and I cant even deal with the emotions I am feeling. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children.

'My cousin had a beautiful soul,' Hamilton told the Post. 'She loved her children and her family very much. I never had a bad memory with her.

[She was] so full of life and wisdom. She and her kids will be missed so much.'

Officials have said the plunge was 'intentional.'

State Park Police said based on the reviewed security footage capturing the series of events, Roman was the first to go over the railing, then Mecca and Means at around 9pm.





State Police Public Information Officer Trooper James O'Callaghan said that it did not appear as though the mom was chasing after her children at the time they plunged to their deaths.

Means, who lived in Niagara Falls with her family, worked as a domestic violence counselor, according to her LinkedIn profile.

On Friday, loved ones hosted a candlelit vigil to mourn the untimely deaths.

The bodies of Means, Roman, and Mecca have not been found by police - and they may never be because 3,610 tons of water rage every second at the waterfall.




Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Hendrick Nyongesa, a former Head of Procurement at the National Youth Service (NYS), has been sentenced to 7 years in prison after he was found guilty of making a false document, contrary to Section 347(a) as read with Section 349 of the Penal Code.

Further, Nyongesa has been handed a five-year jail term for breach of trust by a person employed in the Public Service, contrary to Section 127(1) as read with Section 127(2) of the Penal Code.

The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, without the option of a fine.

Nyongesa was convicted for these actions that took place on the 1st of December, 2014, at an unknown location within the Republic of Kenya.

The court heard that Nyongesa, together with others not before the court, with intent to defraud, made a false document, namely a Ministry of Public Works Supplies Branch circular, purporting it to be a genuine document issued by the said ministry.

The court also sentenced former NYS Director of Finance, Samuel Wachenje, to 5 years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

Court ruled that Wachenje and Nyongesa, between the 1st of December, 2014, and the 5th of June, 2015, at the NYS headquarters in Nairobi, both being persons employed in the Public Service, committed a breach of trust by processing payments that led to the loss of money at the NYS.

The sentences were read by Hon. Wandia Nyamu on behalf of Justice Wendy Kagendo.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, November 6, 2024  President William Ruto has been dealt a severe blow after the High Court ordered his government to compensate all victims whose homes were demolished for being on riparian land.

The ruling came as a reprieve for thousands of Nairobi residents who were evicted from their homes in Mathare, Gwa Kairu, Mukuru Kwa Ruben, and Kiamako in Nairobi.

Appearing before Lady Justice Anne Mogeni of the High Court, the residents challenged the government's decision to evict them without providing alternative shelter.

The judge also ruled that the government was aware of these settlements but chose to forcibly evict the residents, describing the evictions as inhumane.

The ruling is set to set tongues wagging, especially after Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (then Interior CS) visited the areas that were demolished and vowed not to allow unlawful settlements along the river banks.

The ruling is further set to revitalise impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's smear campaign against the demolition orders, which he insisted were inhumane when he was in government.

Many residents had also reported being left in the cold months after the demolitions, despite President Ruto promising that the affected residents would be settled.

This comes even as the government through other humanitarian agencies, awarded an average of Ksh10,000 to the victims towards resettlement, even as some complained that the amount was too small to cater for their immediate needs with the prevailing economic conditions.

Ruto promised that the government would use the affordable housings 40,000 units built in the areas to settle the families, while on a tour of the housing project in Nairobis Kibra estate.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Equatorial Guineas chief prosecutor, Anatolio Nzang Nguema, announced that Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a senior government official, could face prosecution for offences against public health if medical examinations reveal he is infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

This follows a social media scandal involving hundreds of leaked s3x tapes allegedly featuring Engonga with multiple women, including wives of prominent officials.

Engonga, the director of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) and son of a high-ranking government figure, is seen in expl!cit videos reportedly filmed in his finance ministry office. The leaked videos have prompted the government to intervene and curb their online distribution. According to accounts circulated on WhatsApp and later posted on major social media platforms, over 400 videos allegedly featuring Engonga were leaked, gaining widespread attention due to his high-profile position.

In response, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue issued a statement on social media platform X, ordering the immediate suspension of all civil servants who have engaged in s3xual activities within ministry offices. The Vice President emphasized that such actions breach the code of conduct and public ethics laws.

Last week, Obiang gave Equatorial Guineas telecommunications ministry and phone operators 24 hours to stop the distribution of p0rnographic videos flooding social networks. He stated, As the government, we cannot continue to see families destroyed.

Engonga, known by the nickname Bello, is reportedly under remand at Malabos Black Beach prison on unrelated embezzlement charges. The incident has drawn attention from around the country, leading to government-imposed internet restrictions to control the spread of the videos. Internet traffic and access to multimedia content have reportedly been disrupted as part of these containment efforts.

Amid rumors that additional videos involving other government officials could emerge, social media remains rife with speculation. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as public scrutiny intensifies.






Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - A man called Uche Kelvin has said he is no longer interested in marrying a working class lady.

He stated this in a Facebook group in reaction to the hundreds of videos involving Equatorial Guinean civil servant, Baltasar Ebang Engonga and many women, most of them said to be wives of government officials.

I'm no longer interested in marrying a working class lady Jobless ladies will never cheat on you and you will have peace of mind, he wrote.




Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has hinted at leaving the Azimio Coalition to form a mega alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking in Kitale at the home of former Vice President Kijana Wamalwa, Kalonzo Musyoka, the leader of the Wiper party, and Eugene Wamalwa, the head of DAP-K, announced that they have begun the legal process to exit the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition.

If we come up with a new outfit, it could even incorporate Azimio itself, so that is how focused we are, Kalonzo stated.

I urge the media not to bury Azimio before it is actually dead and buried because we have a lot of investment in that space and we want to be able to move in a manner which is systematic.

Sources said Kalonzo is expected to form an alliance with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Eugene Wamalwa.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Actress Sarah Martins has sparked a buzz on social media with her recent praise of Baltasar Ebang Engonga, an Equatorial Guinean political figure after private videos involving him surfaced online.

The actress took to Instagram, applauding Engonga's charisma and personal qualities, even referring to him as "every womans dream man."

In her post, Martins described Engonga as "skilled, very soft, very much in charge," and noted his "top-notch energy" and attentiveness. She also expressed relief that her countrys women were not involved in the scandal, adding, My happiness be say none of our Naija girls were involved.

Engonga, who is prominent in Equatorial Guineas political scene, has faced backlash as well as support following the video leak, which has been widely discussed online.

While the incident has raised questions about privacy and accountability for public figures, Martins comments have added a new layer of intrigue to the ongoing discussion.




Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Members of Parliament have launched an inquiry into the death of Willis Ayieko, a human resource manager at Wells Fargo, who was brutally murdered under unclear circumstances.

The Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security will conduct the probe.

The body of Ayieko was found at Mungowere stream in Yala, Siaya County, on October 23.

Seeking a statement from the committee, Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi noted that Ayieko was director of human resources, where his role included overseeing investigations of high-profile cases involving the loss of colossal amounts of money and undertaking administrative action against staff found culpable.

It is alleged that the roles played in his work may have significantly contributed to the circumstances leading to his death which investigations are yet to be concluded, he stated.

He said justice must be served swiftly and transparently, as the family and friends are greatly burdened by the unresolved circumstances surrounding Ayiekos demise.

Atandi wants the committee to provide a report on the circumstances that led to the murder of Ayieko.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - In a significant shift of power, Republicans have taken control of the US Senate, according to early Wednesday projections from major news outlets. This victory ends four years of Democratic control in the upper chamber and positions the GOP to hold sway over both legislative houses if Donald Trump prevails in the presidential race.

With Republicans now holding the Senate, a Trump presidency would have the legislative backing needed to advance his agenda and appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court. However, a victory for his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, would likely lead to legislative deadlock.

The Senate contest saw Republicans secure critical victories, including Jim Justices win in West Virginia to replace retiring independent Joe Manchin, and Bernie Morenos defeat of long-standing Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown. Deb Fischer's victory in Nebraska further solidified the GOPs grip on the chamber.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas expressed optimism, saying he looked forward to working with a "new conservative majority to make America great again by making the Senate work again."

Republicans are expected to widen their lead in the Senate, potentially ending up with 55 seats, giving them considerable influence to push through Trumps domestic and judicial initiatives should he win. Meanwhile, Democrats sought to compensate for losses with potential gains in Texas and Florida but conceded both states.

For the first time, the Senate will have two Black women serving simultaneously, with Democrats Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester winning seats in Maryland and Delaware, respectively. This is a historic milestone, as only three Black women have previously served in the upper chamber, including Kamala Harris.

In the House, control remains uncertain, with the Democrats needing only four seats to flip the majority. The final results may take days to emerge, as vote counts continue across the nation.

Other significant wins included Delawares Sarah McBride, who becomes the first openly transgender politician elected to Congress, securing a House seat for the Democrats.

The stakes in this election are underscored by the record-breaking spending on Congressional campaigns, with over $10 billion poured into the races, according to OpenSecrets, a political finance watchdog.

As the dust settles, Republicans' Senate win signals a monumental shift in Washington's power balance, one that could shape the next chapter of US politics depending on the presidential outcome.




Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has claimed that President William Rutos government is attempting to reintroduce certain proposals from the defunct Finance Bill 2024.

Speaking at the 12th anniversary celebrations of Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole ya Africa in Kapenguria, West Pokot County, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka opposed the tax review proposal, stating that Kenyans are already overtaxed.

They claimed that the process was being engineered by Treasury CS John Mbadi.

Let us not lie to ourselves, we have a big challenge. If President Rutos government will re-introduce amendments to the Finance Act 2024 and then add taxes, it will be hard for Kenyans, Kalonzo stated.

His stance came as the government, in recent days, showed plans of reintroducing proposals in the 2024/2025 Finance Bill that will be making a return in the 2025/2026 Finance Bill.

Some of the proposals that are set to be re-introduced are widening the tax bracket to include taxes for digital holding companies and food delivery services.

Joined by The Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, and Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, the opposition lashed out at the Kenya Kwanza administration in its intent to re-introduce sections of the 2024 finance bill.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday November 6, 2024 - The government of Kenya is set to embark on the construction of the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway after awarding the contract to a Chinese firm.

According to information from the meeting between the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by Li Xi and the government, talks are currently in high gear to see how the government could secure the funding for the project.

The highway construction is set to be a key project for the Kenya Kwanza government as it races to deliver on its manifesto. Additionally, the road project will help link Nairobi to the western region.

The Rironi-Mau Summit road project has been a subject of controversy following the decision of President William Ruto to cancel a construction tender that was awarded to a French consortium by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The French company had been awarded the tender to construct the 233km dual carriage for the project for US$1.4 billion (about Ksh180.6 billion).

Ruto cancelled the tender awarded to the French firm in April, over what he referred to as a very costly tender amount.

However, it was not immediately clear if the Chinese government would commit additional funds on the initial Ksh108 billion awarded to the French consortium for the project.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, November 6, 2024  President William Rutos government has moved to defend the Treasurys decision to reintroduce sections of the rejected Finance Bill 2024, despite protests from a section of Kenyans, claiming that the push would help the government reduce borrowing.

In a statement yesterday, officials from the Treasury Ministry, led by the Director General of Budget, Fiscal and Economic Affairs Albert Mwenda, noted that the government aimed to raise Ksh170 billion from the reintroduction of the contested bill.

Mwenda revealed that the push would help the government sustain its operations as it aimed to generate between 0.9 and 1 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product(GDP) in revenue that would translate to Ksh170 billion.

However, Treasury officials noted that the amount would help the government recover all the revenue lost from the shelving of the Finance Bill 2024 in June this year as a result of the anti-government protests.

The Treasury also revealed that it was keen on employing other financial consolidation steps that included exit from Eurobond loans and instead focus on financing mechanisms such as Public-Private Partnerships.

According to the Treasury, the debt crisis that is currently facing the country could only be avoided by not borrowing from the domestic market.

This happens even as there has been pressure on the government on the risk of crippling key financial decisions as a result of borrowing heavily from commercial banks.

The Treasurys bid to reintroduce some sections of the Finance Bill is likely to be met with rejection from Kenyans, particularly considering that it was the reason many hit the streets to protest in May and June this year.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, November 6, 2024  Kenya is about to become a country of blackouts. This is after Kenya Power warned of an increased number of national blackouts as it grapples with regional power shortages.

This year, the country has faced an increasing number of national power blackouts and this looks set to continue as Kenyas growing independence on imported electricity from Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania brings a risk of load shedding.

This, according to Kenya Power CEO Joseph Siror, means that the countries we rely on for power are set to focus on their own needs.

Letting a very critical part of your country be controlled by an outsider is not something you want, the CEO noted.

If their hydro goes down, the first they disconnect is not themselves- it is us. It is a delicate environment.

Although the power imports make up a small portion of Kenyas total electricity usage, it is crucial in stabilizing the grid, especially when intermittent sources like wind and solar cannot fill the void left by reduced hydro generation during droughts.

All three countries exporting power to Kenya rely on hydropower generation, given their massive capacity compared to Nairobi.

Last year, Ethiopia could not supply the contracted capacity because their hydrology was low. We had to load shed the country by 280MW, Siror intimated.

Kenya buys 200MW from Ethiopia through a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA). There is also an option to gradually increase this amount in 2026.

The local power lender had hoped to double Ethiopias electricity imports by the end of this year but these plans have seemingly been dropped.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday November 6, 2024 - Former Nairobi County Governor, Mike Sonko, has advised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to fight his impeachment up to the Supreme Court despite a series of court hurdles ahead of him.

Speaking during Lucy Wambui's funeral ceremony in Red Hill Limuru on Tuesday, Sonko urged Gachagua to persist in seeking justice, reassuring him that his political future remains intact.

Sonko, who faced political hurdles after being removed from office, drew parallels between his case and Gachaguas current situation.

The former county boss emphasised that Gachagua still has legal avenues to explore, including appeals that could extend the case for years, allowing him to remain politically active in the upcoming 2027 elections.

"Let me educate you a bit on the law because theres a misconception that once youre impeached, you cannot vie for office again.

"Thats not true. Allow me to boost Riggy G's morale. In our constitution, article 193 (3) says a person is not disqualified under clause (2) unless all possibility of appeal or review of the relevant sentence or decision has been exhausted.

"Your case is still ongoing at the High Court of Kenya, and even if they uphold the ruling, you have the option to appeal, which could take three years.

"If thats unsuccessful, you can go to the Supreme Court, which could add another five years. So, by 2027, you could still be on the ballot. Don't let anyone mislead you, and dont rushtake it slow," Sonko stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - A 21-year-old woman in Texas has been arrested after she allegedly tried to sell her newborn baby boy to the "highest bidder" on Facebook.

Juniper Bryson was arrested and taken into custody last week after she allegedly attempted to pawn her baby off on Facebook, seeking a minimum of $150 from prospective buyers before even going into labor.

Bryson has been charged with one count of felony sale or purchase of a child.

Law & Crime, citing a probable cause affidavit, reports that on September 23, the Houston Police Department received a report claiming Bryson was attempting to sell her unborn child on Facebook.

The day prior, she allegedly posted in a Facebook Group named, "Birthing Mothers looking for adoptive parent(s)."

In her post, authorities say she wrote, "I am in Houston, TX but willing to travel if we can arrange that. I do have a lot of pain and am contracting so it needs to be soon."

Bryson also allegedly reached out to a family member, asking if she knew anyone who was trying to adopt a child, informing them that the baby would test positive for drugs.

The family member also allegedly posted to Facebook, saying a relative was seeking adoptive parents because she didn't want the child to end up in the foster care system. Per the affidavit, several people responded to the post.

Bryson's relative also informed police that Bryson also said anyone who wanted to adopt the child "was gonna have to compensate" her.

"What do you mean compensate? Like, pay you $ for the baby? You want $$ for your baby?!" the relative allegedly asked Bryson, adding, "That's illegal, that's human trafficking."

"No it's not, it's surrogacy," Bryson allegedly responded. "Just enough to move into an apartment so I can work a job and get [my daughter] back, or a cheap down payment, or any car to get to different places to DoorDash. Nothing crazy at all."

The relative said they stopped trying to help Bryson, telling police she was at the hospital with the baby "while she waits for the highest bidder."

Police searching Bryson's phone allegedly found she had sent several people, including an interested same-sex couple who were traveling from Louisiana to the hospital, messages about payment.

In one conversation, Bryson allegedly told the couple, "I'm not waiting to get paid until after [giving birth]," saying she would "ask for a minimum of 150 bucks up front."

That same couple also sent her $25 via Apple Pay "to complete a food delivery," per the affidavit.

"[The prospective parent] stated that 3.5 hours into their trip to Houston, she asked them to send her $150," the document notes.

The couple also allegedly mentioned running the adoption through an attorney -- which Bryson reportedly refused, before asking for $150 and eventually blocking them saying, "If her baby wasn't worth $200 to them, then screw y'all."

Another woman named Wendy Williams also told ABC 13 she was with Bryson at the hospital while in labor. The child did test positive for drugs after birth, according to court documents. Williams and her husband reportedly named the child, while they and Bryson allegedly signed notarized legal documents giving Williams the ability to make decisions for the baby.

Williams claimed she never discussed paying for the child but was inundated with "really ugly" messages when Bryson posted to Facebook that the baby had a home, and tagged Williams. It's Williams who then contacted CPS after she says she confronted Bryson about the messages she was getting from people asking, "How dare you buy this baby?"

Police then got involved and Bryson was allegedly taken from the hospital in handcuffs, after revoking custody of the child from Williams.

Bryson is currently being held in the Harris County Jail on a $30,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court again on November 7.

The baby, meanwhile, is reportedly with one of Bryson's friends, according to Williams.




Wednesday, November 6, 2024  Former ODM nominated MP Wilson Sossion has hailed President William Ruto for choosing Prof. Kithure Kindiki to replace Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President.

Speaking during an interview, Sossion said by Ruto picking Kindiki, he rewarded hard work and education.

According to the former secretary-general of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), politics should always consider rewarding education.

Sossion expressed his happiness, as a teacher, to see Kindiki, a professor of law, appointed as Kenyas second-in-command.

The former lawmaker argued that Kindiki has a strong educational background that will be useful to the countrys public administration.

On the appointment of Abraham Kithure Kindiki, the professor of law, and one of the youngest professors this country prides of and a brilliant young man, I think I should congratulate him.

To me and him as educators, we can say this is a big reward to education. Politics must reward education, and so that has been done and I am the happiest man.

The president has picked an eminent professor who comes with a strong education background that is useful in the countrys public administration, Sossion stated.

President Ruto picked Kindiki as the DP following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, whose efforts to fight for survival in the corridors of justice failed.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Two mechanics, John Oduor Otieno and Emmanuel Oduor Martin, were reportedly killed at a garage in Ruai, Nairobi, following allegations of fuel siphoning from vehicles at their workplace.

Reports indicate that the incident occurred on Monday afternoon after other workers accused them of siphoning fuel from parked cars, reportedly to sell.

This led to an altercation where the two mechanics were attacked and lynched.

The parents of the deceased informed the authorities of the incident, and a police team arrived at the garage to find both bodies with multiple visible injuries, inflicted by blunt objects.

Following investigations, police arrested two suspects in connection with the incident.

They are now being questioned on charges of murder.

Police emphasized that rather than resorting to violence, the suspects should have detained the two men and reported them to authorities for proper legal handling.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Donald Trump has made a speech after clinching Pennsylvania, bringing him closer to a White House win.

Though the final tally is yet to emerge, media outlets have called the elections for Donald Trump, with wins in key battleground states.

Speaking this morning, Trump thanked voters of America for their support in this tightly fought election to the White House.

As of now, Trump has won 267 electoral votes while Kamala Harris was at 224.





Addressing his supporters at he Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said, "This will truly be the golden age of America. It will make America great again. There was no other path to victory. We will make you proud of your vote."

Trump said America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate. The Republicans have also taken back the control of the Senate.

"The number of victories in the Senate is incredible. You'll have great senators and it looks like we will be keeping the control at the House of Representatives too," Trump said.

UFC CEO Dana White took to the podium this morning to tell supporters that Trump deserves a victory as karma for the past several years.

This is what happens when the machine comes after you, White said at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, where Trump addressed his supporters. He keeps going forward. He doesnt quit. Hes the most resilient, hard-working man Ive ever met in my life.

Watch Trump speak below.




Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - The Kenyan government, through the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), is set to begin monitoring phone calls and Airbnb activities to trace transactions and conversations, particularly those linked to criminal activities.

Senior government advisor Moses Kuria announced on November 5 that this surveillance will be part of efforts to combat crimes, including gender-based violence (GBV) cases and femicides.

Kuria believes that this approach will strengthen enforcement and help apprehend offenders.

Government Deputy Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga supported the plan, emphasizing that monitoring Airbnbs will protect the reputation of these legitimate businesses, which have been negatively portrayed due to incidents involving criminals.

Chidzuga also encouraged parents to closely monitor their childrens social media activity to guard against online threats, underscoring the role of parents in reducing childrens exposure to risks from social media and strangers.

In related efforts to regulate mobile devices, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has implemented new requirements for importers of mobile devices, who must now comply with specific customs procedures.

Travelers entering Kenya are required to declare IMEI numbers of their mobile devices using the F88 passenger declaration form.

Additionally, device assemblers and manufacturers are required to register on the Customs portal and submit reports detailing all devices produced, including IMEI numbers, to enhance transparency and accountability.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
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US Presidential Election- World leaders congratulate Donald Trump on his historic victory



khaskhabar.com : Wed, 06 Nov 2024 11:42 PM

WASHINGTON: Several leaders from across the world, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, congratulated Donald Trump after his victory in the US presidential election and lauded the US leader's 'historic' achievement.

Apart from PM Modi, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were also among the first global leaders to congratulate Trump.

Starmer's office released a statement expressing hope for future cooperation, saying, "Congratulations to Donald Trump on his historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years to come."

Netanyahu posted on Twitter, "Dear Donald and Melania Trump, congratulations on the greatest comeback in history! Your historic return to the White House is a new beginning for America. It provides an opportunity for a powerful commitment to the great alliance between Israel and the US. This is a great victory!"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday afternoon congratulated Donald Trump for his victory in the US presidential elections.

PM Modi said, "Hearty congratulations to my friend Donald Trump on his historic electoral victory. Like the successes of your previous tenure, I look forward to furthering our cooperation to further strengthen the India-US comprehensive global and strategic partnership. Let us work together for the welfare of our peoples, global peace, stability and prosperity."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Donald Trump on his 'impressive' victory. He expressed hope that his presidency would help establish peace in Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Zelensky posted on X, "I have been admiring President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can help bring a just peace in Ukraine in practice."

French President Emmanuel Macron posted, "Congratulations, President Donald Trump. We look forward to four years of working together with mutual trust, respect and ambition."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also extended her warm wishes, writing on social media, "On behalf of me and the Italian government, heartiest congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump of the United States of America. Italy and the United States are 'sister' countries, linked by an unbreakable alliance, common values and historic friendship. It is a strategic bond that I will surely make even stronger now. Well done Mr President."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated Trump. She posted, "The EU and the US are not just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our peoples, which unites 800 million citizens. Let us work together on a strong transatlantic agenda."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, "Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory. Australians and Americans are good friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure that the partnership between our countries and peoples remains strong in the future."

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also congratulated and stressed the strength of the alliance. "His leadership will again be crucial to keeping our alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to pursue peace through strength," Rutte posted.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted, "I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as US president. For a long time, Germany and the United States have been successfully working together to promote prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the good of our citizens."
THERE has been a total of 92 illegal encampments on the Curragh Plains in the last five years, and the cost of litter removal for this year alone has been revealed as just shy of 186,000.

This was revealed today (6 November) from the office of Deputy Patricia Ryan TD following two Parliamentary Questions issued by her in recent weeks.

This in light of the persistent fly-tipping there, and the delay in a long-awaited Department of Defence report on the future long-term management of the Plains.

Deputy Patricia Ryan

My office has been dealing with numerous issues to do with the Curragh recently on behalf of constituents. We asked the following two Parliamentary Questions and received the corresponding answers, said the Monasterevin TD.

On 23 October she asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Defence if he can clarify why there is a private firm engaged to clear litter from the Curragh Plains, and the cost of same.

The Land Staff team, among other duties, carry out tidying of roadsides by regular litter picking along the verges which they convey to bins in their work yard, the reply began.

An external firm is contracted to remove waste stemming from illegal encampments and fly-tipping, [as was revealed in the Kildare Nationalist on 1 October].

To date in 2024 the total cost, including VAT, spent with the contracted service provider for the removal of illegally dumped waste is 185,945.

She later asked the Minister to detail the enforcement measures for any breaches of the Curragh bye-laws in tabular form (see attached).

Deputy Ryan then asked how many illegal encampments the Curragh Rangers have engaged with and reported for the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive, in tabular form, to detail the enforcement measures for any breaches of the Curragh bye-laws.

The Curragh of Kildare bye-laws date from 1964 and detail the enforcement measures available in the event of a breach.

Given the range of matters covered in this legislation, it is not possible to provide general information on the total reported number of infringements.

While some information is captured on specific issues, in this regard, the data requested by the Deputy is not collated in the manner requested. However, the data requested on illegal encampments can be provided and is presented in the table.
AN era has ended on Kilcullen's main street with the last remaining 'sole' trader closing the doors on a business that had been a fixture there for 67 years.

Ger Peacocke has retired the shoe repairs shop which his late father Hugh had established in 1957. Ger himself spent 48 years at the last on the battered bench in the shop, working with his father from 1976 until Hugh's retirement in 2008 after completing 65 years in total mending and making shoes.

Prior to opening the Kilcullen enterprise, Hugh had learned his trade at the National Slipper Company in his native Naas and subsequently with the famous Tuttys shoemakers there. The Kilcullen premises was bought for 75 after he had moved to Kilcullen with his wife Sheila, who hailed from Kennycourt outside the village.

At that time there were already three well-established shoe repair businesses in the village, but Hugh eventually saw them all down, mainly by offering a then innovative one-day repair service.

He also established a bespoke business in making leather shoes and boots which brought in customers from all over Ireland, and beyond, among them the then Irish Taoiseach Charles J Haughey.

Others included the peers Lord Waterford, Lord Hemphill and Lord Killanin, as well as Prince Aly Khan and his son Prince Aga Khan, and of course many less celebrated people who were nevertheless very discerning about their footwear quality and comfort.

Ger at the bench he worked at for almost 50 years

Following Hugh's retirement and subsequent passing, Ger continued the business with a focus on repairs rather than the then in decline shoemaking. Even in the recent decades of essentially throwaway footwear, there has always been a trade, particularly from people in the equine business who value his expertise in repairing riding boots, as well as work from men and women who buy expensive shoes and need someone with the skills to keep them in the condition which such expense deserves.

Ger never changed the shop from what it had been in his father's time, which even as he closed the doors still retained deeply embedded smells of leathers and glue, and the marks from two generations of work at the scuffed bench set strategically inside the front window of the premises.

Very little of the happenings on Kilcullen's street, notoriously described by the 17th century writer Thackeray as 'straggling down one hill and struggling up another', went unnoticed.

Peacoke's was always known as a mandatory stop for any politicians at election time

Under both craftsmen, the shop was also an open door for any passing locals to drop in and discuss matters of none or great moment, leavened with observations made in the distinctive humorous way shared by both father and son.

It was also a mandatory stop for any politicians seeking Kilcullen votes at election time.

Cleared of machinery and materials over the preceding days  and maybe a few long-uncollected shoes?  the space had a strange sound as Ger picked up a hammer from the bench for the last time, with nothing to use it on. In retirement he still plans to work a couple of days a week from his home. But main street Kilcullen won't be the same.
Donald Trump has emerged victorious in the 2024 US presidential election, securing a historic return to the White House.

The announcement was made on November 6, after a dramatic and closely watched contest, with the Republican candidate surpassing the necessary 270 electoral college votes.

Trump celebrated his win with jubilant crowds in Florida, stating: "America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate."

Closer to home, Kilkenny has had its own unique connection with US Presidents over generations.

Both George H W Bush, the 41st president of the United States, and his son George W Bush, the 43rd president have distant local links.

The father and son are said to be direct descendants of Richard de Clare or Strongbow as he was commonly known. Strongbow was a leading figure in the Norman invasion of Ireland and built the original Kilkenny Castle in the 12th century.

Meanwhile, Callan native James Hoban famously designed the White House in the 1800s.

After the American Revolution Hoban emigrated to the US and by 1795, had established himself as an architect in Philadelphia.

He travelled to South Carolina in 1787 where he was responsible for many buildings including the Charleston County Courthouse. This building so was admired by George Washington while he was on his Southern Tour in 1791 that he subsequently summoned Hoban to Philadelphia (the then temporary capital) in 1792.

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There, Hoban was named the winner of a competition to design the Presidents new home. His original drawings featured three storeys and a nine bay facade, but under the influence of Washington this was changed to two storeys and an 11 bay facade. Washington also insisted that the entire front of the mansion be faced in white stone.

By all accounts a modest yet capable man, Hoban was appointed to also supervise the construction of the President's residence at a salary of 300 guineas a year and remained in Washington for the rest of his life. In total the Kilkenny man devoted 29 years of his life to the White House, including a rebuild from 1815 to 1829 after a fire, when his use of white paint to camouflage the blackened building gave rise to the name, White House.
A Kilkenny property, by the name of Mountrothe House, was announced as one the winners of the 2024 Capacity Awards, a fund available to members of Historic Houses of Ireland.

USE THE ARROWS ABOVE OR NEXT BUTTON BELOW TO BROWSE THROUGH THE GALLERY

Through the funding, Airbnb aims to support the restoration of heritage properties throughout the country, helping historical homeowners to prepare their homes to host guests visiting rural Ireland.

Situated in the Kilkenny Countryside and built in 1765, Mountrothe House offers guests the opportunity to relax and unwind, just 10 miles from the City of Kilkenny.

Since joining the Airbnb platform, owner Derek Walshe noticed that many families were looking to enjoy the space, and the Capacity Award funds will help with renovations to cater for groups with younger children and families.

With the property improvements, Mountrothe House will now have the potential to further boost local tourism in the area, providing accommodation for visitors that is not always readily available.

Derek, the owner of the house, said, "Seona and myself are delighted to receive the 2024 Airbnb Capacity Award. We will be using the funding to improve our amenities so we can welcome more guests to stay with us and learn about the history of Mountrothe House. This includes developing an exciting games room for guests so we can welcome more families with an interest in heritage tourism."

READ MORE: Gardai called into action for 'unusual escort' in Kilkenny

Derek Nolan, Head of Public Policy for Ireland at Airbnb, said, We are so excited to announce the winners of the second annual Capacity Awards, aiming to help restore and preserve Irelands historic homes. It is a pleasure to contribute to the restoration of these homes which have such a rich and important heritage, while also providing an opportunity to bring more of the benefits of local tourism to these rural areas.

Applications were received and assessed by a panel consisting of Historic Houses of Ireland and Airbnb representatives. Each winning property received the Capacity Award of 5,000 to assist with renovations that will help them to welcome guests.

The winners were announced at the 'Historic Houses - An Autumn School' event, which took place in October, at Burtown House in Kildare. Other winners of the Airbnb Capacity Awards include, The Gate House in Cork, and Castlegarde in Limerick.

The Capacity Awards were established as a result of a partnership between Airbnb and Historic Houses of Ireland that marks Airbnbs continued commitment to heritage tourism.

You can find more information on the property here.
Kilkenny students were among the 4,000 graduates to be celebrated at South East Technological Universitys (SETU) annual conferring ceremonies across its campuses in Waterford, Carlow and Wexford.

Under the theme of connection and the strength of interdependency the conferring ceremonies highlight the Universitys growing focus on regional impact and collaboration.



The year marks SETUs second year of awarding honorary doctorates to five distinguished individuals, whose contributions span across education, culture, sports, and social advocacy.

Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association; Willie Mullins, renowned horse trainer; Sr Brigid Reynolds, educator and humanitarian; Eamonn McEneaney, former director of Waterford Museum of Treasures; and Liam Griffin, Director of the Griffin Hotel Group were chosen for embodying the values of that SETU wishes to promote.

SETU President, Professor Veronica Campbell recognises this years worthy recipients.

The conferring of an honorary degree is the most prestigious accolade a university can bestow, and it is our privilege to honour individuals whose achievements reflect SETUs core values, she said. We take great pride in celebrating their remarkable accomplishments.

Following the launch of universitys first five-year strategic plan in May 2023, SETU is focused on becoming a leader among technological universities. Additions to SETUs programme portfolio, including veterinary medicine and pharmacy, reflect SETUs dedication to meet the needs of industry and learners .

The expansion of our course portfolio offers a wonderful opportunity for our University to meet the needs of learners and industry in the region. We are seeing the ambitions of the University being realised in tangible ways, Prof Campbell said.
Some media have trumpeted a poll from Ipsos that says 65% of NZers support a Capital Gains Tax. But they over look the fact that when you ask about details, they actually oppose most aspects except what we already have.

The actual support for different things being taxed are:

Sale of an investment property 57%

Sale of a business 43%

Sale of other assets 22%

Sale of family home 13%

Investment properties that are sold within the bright line period are already fully taxed.

A CGT such as the Cullen TWG recommended actually only has 22% supporting it  a far cry from 65%.

Also worth noting that if a CGT comes in, then 58% want other taxes reduced to compensate and only 29% want it to be used to increase the overall tax take.

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Weather Alert

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR CENTRAL MISSOURI AND PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI... The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Monday afternoon through Monday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...In Missouri, Fire Weather Zones 034, 035, 041, 042, 047, 048, 049 and 050. * TIMING...Noon through 8 PM Monday. * WINDS...Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 21 percent. * IMPACTS...These conditions are conducive for the rapid spread and growth of uncontrolled wildfires. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings. &&
Phenomenon mirrors deeply polarized, highly scrutinized Korean society

By Park Jin-hai

"As an ordinary person, I and my wife have not had a single peaceful day since the sudden spotlight was on me," said Yu Bibim, who gained popularity through his passion for "bibimbap" (rice topped with assorted vegetables) on the hit Netflix cooking show "Culinary Class Wars," after confessing he illegally operated a restaurant until recently in a handwritten apology on Instagram.

Another star of the show, chef Kang Seung-won, known as "Triple Star" for his career working in three different three-Michelin-starred restaurants, has also been embroiled in multiple controversies. His ex-wife accused him of misusing her connections to secure jobs at high-profile restaurants and secretly monitoring female customers. Additionally, a YouTuber has accused the chef of embezzlement.

The situation is even more troubling for reality dating shows, where producers often cast ordinary people for their unfiltered reactions to attract viewers. Recent scandals include a contestant on JTBC's "Last Love" who was accused of entering into a fraudulent marriage to gain U.S. citizenship, and a participant on SBS Plus' "I Am Solo," who introduced herself as a former beauty pageant contestant but was exposed for having a criminal record involving theft after luring men with promises of a paid meeting. Both individuals faced significant backlash and were removed from their respective shows shortly afterward.

Experts attribute the recurring controversies to the unrealistic expectations of participants, noting that individuals might overlook their past mistakes due to the allure of fame and fortune associated with appearing on television.

Lim Myung-ho, a psychology professor at Dankook University, explained, "They might not anticipate the negative consequences of their actions due to their optimistic belief that they won't face any problems."

He added, "Even if they anticipate criticism, they might believe that the benefits of appearing on TV outweigh the negative consequences."

Downside of digital society

This phenomenon is exacerbated in Korea's tightly connected society, where digital platforms enable the quick spread of personal information and collective scrutiny. Once ordinary people rise to fame, internet users swiftly uncover details of their pasts, often bringing up incidents from years ago, and play a key role in magnifying controversies.

"Controversies used to focus on recent issues. But, now there is a trend of digging up people's pasts, even decades-old incidents, thanks to the ease of accessing information," said culture critic Jung Duk-hyun.



Others argue that this swift public judgment, often without concrete evidence, reflects a society consumed by anger. Experts suggest that holding people accountable for past mistakes that have already been addressed can be viewed as a form of "collective pathology."

One case in point is travel YouTuber Kwak Joon-bin, also known as Kwaktube. The 32-year-old, who has 2 million subscribers, faced significant backlash after he, a self-identified victim of school bullying, defended Lee Na-eun, a former member of the girl group April accused of bullying another member, during a trip to Rome with her in September. This sparked a massive loss of subscribers, even after he removed the video and issued two apologies.

Choi Hang-sub, a sociology professor at Kookmin University, said, "As economic polarization deepens, more people feel marginalized from the mainstream. In the digital world, exposing every flaw of someone's past provides a sense of power and purpose. This pleasure has reached a pathological level, where individuals derive satisfaction from the downfall of others."

Looking at the Kwaktube case, Lee Seung-ki, a lawyer at Lee & Law Partners, expressed deep concern.

"Despite issuing two apologies, the relentless attacks aimed at completely ruining an individual are chilling. It seems we've entered an era where people no longer fear destroying others' lives. Our society has become increasingly unforgiving, where even a single mistake can lead to ruin. Perhaps the rise of cyberbullies is largely due to this social atmosphere," Lee said.

Lee believes that ultimately it is a matter of civic consciousness, not a legal issue.

"Whether we should tolerate people demanding apologies and then ostracizing others if they're not satisfied with the apology is now up to civil society. If it's truly a serious wrongdoing, then it might be justified. However, in the case of Kwaktube, it's not that kind of situation, yet people are making excessive demands," he said.

"This is an issue with the current internet comment culture, and it's not something that can be prevented in advance. In conclusion, it's a matter of social media and the comment culture, which leads to the question of how far we should regulate these comments. If it's excessive, of course, it should be addressed through specific laws, but we can't delete each one by setting guidelines. I believe this is a matter of self-purification and, in a word, a reflection of our society's mature civic consciousness."
By Yi Whan-woo

Theborn Korea saw its shares surging more than 50 percent on its stock market debut, Wednesday, after garnering market attention as a food and beverage franchise led by celebrity chef Paik Jong-won.

The companys stock began trading at 46,350 won ($33.24) on the benchmark KOSPI, advancing 36.32 percent from the initial public offering (IPO) price of 34,000 won, while soaring to a high of 64,500 won during intraday trading.

It closed at 51,400 won, up 17,400 won, or 51.18 percent, from the IPO price.

Accordingly, Theborn Koreas market capitalization shot up to 743.6 billion won from 491.8 billion won, which was based on the confirmed offering price after the company amassed 102 billion won during the book-building period from Oct. 28 to Oct. 29.

The company drew attention as it grew fast after it was founded in 1994, focusing on affordable casual dining dishes, desserts as well as coffee and other beverages.

It runs more than 2,900 stores domestically through its 25 dining franchise brands, including Hansin Pocha, Saemaul Restaurant, Hong Kong Banjum, Yeokjeon Udon and Paiks Coffee.

Additionally, the company expanded to the processed food business and hospitality sector.

Last year, it posted record sales of 410.6 billion won.

The company also attracted attention due to its founder and CEO, Paik, who gained fame as an entrepreneur, celebrity chef, and TV personality.

Dubbed South Koreas Gordon Ramsay, Paik recently participated as a judge in the popular Netflix reality show, Culinary Class Wars, 2024.

Theborn Koreas success was especially noteworthy as multiple prominent companies this year did not fare well on their first day of public trading.

These companies logged 24.86 percent on average on their market debut, raising concerns over the competence of the domestic IPO market.

Moreover, the culinary sector has usually been unpopular among investors.

Indeed, today is a meaningful day, Paik said.

He said the IPO was a certificate in the companys path to promote 'hansik' (Korean cuisine) globally, adding I hope every Korean owns a Theborn Korea stock one day and takes part as a promotional ambassador for hansik.

For Paik, the companys successful IPO is anticipated to push up the value of his stake to about 500 billion won. He is the controlling shareholder of the company, with a 60.8 percent stake.

Meanwhile, the company is geared toward acquiring sauce companies to create synergy with its franchise business.

It said its business model resembles those of conglomerate-owned food suppliers, such as CJ Seafood and Shinsegae Food.

Initially, Theborn Korea sought to go public in 2018 but later postponed its attempt, due to the challenging market conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Development finance expert seeks partnership with Korea's agri- and fintechs to address climate change, creat jobs

By Lee Kyung-min

Koreas rapid advancements in the political system and economic frameworks are highly appreciated by many of its peers, as encapsulated by the miracle on the Han River, to the point where it has become a bit cliche.

The seemingly overused narrative, however, is touted as an exemplary model for many emerging economies in development financing, according to Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Invest CEO James P. Scriven, a development financing expert with 22 years of experience. The multilateral development bank is a private-sector arm of IDB Group, committed to promoting the development of the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region through the private sector.

Central to the development project is creating a pool of diversified assets by countries and sectors, a business model the multinational bank calls originate-to-share.

This pool is then shared with investors to be securitized and issued for transaction. The ultimate goal is to create a lasting impact, defined as making a change in the development finance sector and Sustainable Development Goals. The shift from a traditional buy-and-hold model seeks to mobilize a wider array of investors.

The business model will benefit many Korean firms expanding their presence in the region, bolstered by the multinational bank-mediated access to capital and risk mitigation measures throughout.

Further enhancing the outlook is a capital increase of $3.5 billion (2.5 trillion won) in March, aimed at expanding collaboration within the private sector. This initiative along with strengthened business networking and financing efforts is expected to drive growth both in size and quality.

Our experience with Korea has been amazing, Scriven said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Nov. 4.

We have a lot to learn from Korea not only as our shareholder but as a nurturer of high-tech businesses. There's a lot of pride in Korea within our institution. I do hope that all our countries learn from that experience.

Trust

Korea holds a 4.3 percent stake in IDB Invest, significantly larger than Japan's share. This is particularly noteworthy considering Korea's mere 0.0004 percent stake in IDB Group, he noted.

I think those numbers reflect trust that spans for almost 20 years. Korea helps us shape the future of a private sector-oriented multinational development bank, he said.

The private sector and export-oriented policies of Korea were key to development, qualities the CEO seeks to emulate.

We see this as an inspiration for the LAC region. We are excited that Korea will share its knowledge and identify synergies for business with us, he said.

The multinational bank has a solid history of collaboration with state-run or government-funded development institutions of Korea as well as private entities.

We have ongoing projects in the region and we are actively mobilizing Korean entities to invest in our projects in the region. We have co-invested $210 million in seven projects, including the Jamaica Public Service Company, with 40 percent Korean participation, he said.

New opportunities abound for more Korean companies, since the banks services extend to advisory services, as highlighted by its expertise in designing and implementing tailor-made solutions.

Examples include a forum jointly hosted by Korea and the LAC region every two years, long lauded for facilitating collaboration on the innovation and trade. There, meetings are arranged between Korean firms and startups in the region. A pilot project was created between Ecuador and Korea as a result.

Climate investment opportunities are expected to reach $5 billion by 2030, according to IDB Invest. Also promising are investments in agri-food technology, cybersecurity, financial inclusion, manufacturing and IT.

Busan

The 2016 annual meeting in Busan was a historic moment, because it laid out a vision to create IDB Invest.

The Busan Resolution set forth a set of vision for promoting development through the private sector. Included are a long-term framework (2016-25) on strengthening effectiveness and impact as well as maximizing the efficient use of intra-group resources and synergy among IDB bodies.

The bank has since won market recognition, having won the Multilateral Development Bank of the Year awarded by LatinFinance, a banking and capital markets magazine.

It was named the 2024 ESG development finance institution (DFI) of the year by IJ Global, a global infrastructure and project finance data resource. The award was in recognition for successes in greenfield and refinancing deals.

Capital increase

IDB Invest increased its capital by $3.5 billion in March. It aims to double its operations and increase the volume to about $20 billion a year.

The move seeking to mobilize private capital at scale is critical to reach and lock in a broader base of qualified institutional buyers, credit insurers, banks and other investors.

About 40 percent of the bank portfolio is for infrastructure projects. Around 30 percent is for the agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism and digital economy.

The banks growth continues on a stellar path, as illustrated by improved mobilization ratio.

In 2016, it was able to mobilize only $0.60 per each dollar lent from its accounts.

Now, however, for each dollar lent in the LAC region, $2 are mobilized from the private sector.

The rewarding nature of the experience is what drives Scriven, a former CEO of a commercial lender in Argentina.

When youre hugged by someone youve provided financial inclusion to, or when you see a road or port being built  thats what helps me sleep at night," he said. "The deep sense of purpose is what keeps me going.
Domestic demand has remained weak, leading to a limited recovery in overall economic growth despite solid exports, a state-run think tank said Wednesday.

"The Korean economy maintains favorable export momentum, led by ICT products, yet domestic demand recovery is constrained by sluggish construction investment," the Korea Development Institute (KDI) said in a monthly economic assessment report.

"The Korean economy shows limited improvement," it added.

The think tank has pointed to weak domestic demand since late last year.

Exports rose 4.6 percent on-year to $57.5 billion in October, the 13th straight monthly gain, on the back of strong chip sales, according to government data.

But retail sales, a gauge of private spending, shed 0.4 percent from a month before in September, following 1.7 percent growth the previous month.

On an on-year basis, retail sales sank 2.2 percent, the seventh straight monthly fall.

Facility investment surged 8.4 percent on-month, rebounding from August's 5.1 percent decline. Compared with a year earlier, facility investment advanced 6.1 percent.

But construction investment nose-dived 12.1 percent on-year, also marking a 0.1 percent on-month decrease in September.

"Despite the upward trend in equipment investment, the sustained weakness in goods consumption and construction investment continues to constrain domestic demand recovery," the report read.

During the July-September period, private spending rose 0.5 percent on-quarter, recovering from a 0.2 percent on-quarter decline the previous quarter, according to the Bank of Korea data. (Yonhap)
By Yoon Ja-young

The Public Procurement Service (PPS) is hosting the Global Public Procurement Marketplace (GPPM) 2024 in Seoul from Wednesday to Thursday, to help businesses expand globally.

GPPM, the nation's largest overseas procurement consultation fair, has been held annually since 2016, inviting international organizations, foreign procurement agencies and overseas buyers. With 97 overseas buyers and over 260 domestic companies, approximately 750 business consultations  1.8 times more than last year  are expected to take place.

It also features overseas procurement information sessions, with speakers from major organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations World Food Programme, Colombias National Public Procurement Agency, Chiles Central Supply Center of the National Health Services System and the U.S. General Services Administration. These sessions aim to provide insights into government procurement opportunities across diverse regions and sectors.

Promotional booths are also set up, allowing international buyers and procurement agencies to experience and appreciate government-designated Excellent and Innovative products from Korean businesses.

The ultimate goal of public procurement companies is export and global expansion, PPS Administrator Lim Ki-keun said.

Despite challenging external conditions, our companies strong export drive has enabled us to host this record-breaking GPPM 2024. We are committed to supporting and fostering this bold ambition, helping it translate into tangible business success, he said.
The outcome of the U.S. presidential election is expected to have a direct impact on the Korean market and industry, Seoul's top economic policymaker said Wednesday, calling for enhanced efforts for trade diplomacy amid the intensifying Sino-U.S. rivalry.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok made the remarks during a parliamentary session in the day, as vote counting is under way to decide who will be the next U.S. president.

"The outcome of the U.S. presidential election is likely to have an immediate, direct impact on finance and the market," Choi said.

"Despite the strong Korea-U.S. alliance, we need to double up efforts for trade diplomacy and other issues given the competition between the U.S. and China," he added.

According to foreign media reports, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is projected to win one of the most crucial states, Pennsylvania, putting him on the cusp of victory against his Democratic rival Kamala Harris. (Yonhap)
Bitcoin surged to a record high in Asian trade as investors leaned towards Donald Trump winning the U.S. presidential election.

The world's biggest cryptocurrency rose 7 percent to $75,060, topping March's peak, with the prospect of Trump's return to the White House seen ushering in a softer line on cryptocurrency regulation.

Republican Trump won 15 states while Democrat Kamala Harris captured seven states and Washington, D.C., Edison Research projected, and though the race remained too early to call financial markets began moving in the Asia session to price a victory for the former president.

Matthew Dibb, chief investment officer at cryptocurrency asset manager Astronaut Capital, said markets expected a change in attitude at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to remove a choke point for crypto innovation and speculation.

"(A) Democrat win would have felt like a short term nail in the coffin," he said. "Probably not the case long term but the market is placing high importance on it."

Smaller cryptocurrency ether also jumped 7.5 percent but at $2,593 remained well below its 2021 high of $4,867. (Reuters)
As climate change intensifies, weather experts struggle to make precise forecasts

By Jung Da-hyun

While many perceive the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) as merely a provider of daily weather updates, KMA meteorologists emphasize that their mission encompasses much more than routine forecasts.

"Our primary focus is on safeguarding lives and property from the dangers posed by extreme weather," said Park Jung-min, a forecaster of the KMA forecast bureau, during an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday.

"On the surface, it seems that firefighters are the ones saving lives, but the KMA is also dedicated to protecting people, often behind the scenes."

Park pointed to Article 1 of the Weather Act, which underscores the KMAs core purpose  to protect citizens lives and property from meteorological disasters and climate change and to enhance the public good by ensuring effective national meteorological services.

Forecasters start and end their day immersed in weather updates and radar data, constantly assessing the accuracy of their forecasts and monitoring for any signs of severe weather, such as torrential rain.

"The first thing I do after waking up is to check the KMAs official weather app to view real-time radar and see how accurately we forecast the weather," said Kong Sang-min, a deputy director of the high-impact weather response team at the KMA.

For Kong, monitoring high-impact weather events like heavy precipitation is a source of constant vigilance and concern.

"Im always nervous, wondering what if more rain comes than we predicted, potentially leading to damage," he said.

Kong recalled the August rainfall forecast in Seoul. After issuing a warning, he saw the news that a driver died due to the overflow of the Jungnang Stream in northeastern Seouls Nowon District.

"After hearing the news, I couldnt stop thinking about it," he said. "I kept questioning if there was any way we could have better anticipated the higher rainfall in that area."

Both Kong and Park noted that many forecasters at the KMA have grappled with trauma from such incidents, feeling a deep sense of responsibility when natural disasters lead to casualties.

"Thats why we often describe forecasters as 'otaku'  deeply immersed in and dedicated to the weather," both Park and Kong said.

They also highlighted the inherent challenges of achieving complete accuracy in weather forecasting.

"People often check the weather forecast at night or in the morning to decide what to wear or whether to bring an umbrella, and its common for them to complain when predictions are off," Park said.

Ironically, KMA forecasters pointed out that while people rely on weather forecasts, they must also recognize the inherent uncertainty in them as the forecasts predict the broader picture based on limited data.

"Its like each forecaster and analyst is feeling a different part of an elephant without seeing it, then trying to picture the whole animal through discussion," Park said.

"Theres much variability involved, and more variables make forecasting more difficult."

The limited time, in which forecasters must synthesize data and deliver the most accurate predictions possible, also puts pressure on forecasters.

Additionally, the growing unpredictability caused by the climate crisis is compounding the challenges of weather forecasting.

Over the past decade, extreme rain, over 100 millimeters per hour, occurred on average 1.5 times a year. This year alone, however, it has happened more than 15 times.

"Forecasting is becoming harder, even with more advanced observation equipment, due to unusual climate patterns and phenomena that werent seen in the past," Kong said.

Kong stressed that building public trust is one of the key goals, so people can take precautionary measures before severe weather strikes.

"We are continually working to improve the quality of our forecasts and find the best ways to communicate with citizens," he said.
By Park Han-sol

Changgyeong Palace in Seoul is set to transform into a backdrop for Digital Pungnyu, an immersive festival that whisks visitors back to the era of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and early 20th-century Korea.

Presented by the Korea Heritage Service and Korea Heritage Agency from Nov. 7 to Nov. 14, the festival will fill the palaces historic halls and courtyards with five digital installations inspired by the countrys cultural heritage.

Near the picturesque Okcheongyo Bridge, outdoor booths will feature screenings of two virtual reality films: Poets Room and Dani: The Portrait of a Beauty.

Poets Room, a 23-minute film about the life and legacy of Yun Dong-ju (1917-45), one of Koreas most celebrated modern poets, was invited to compete in the Venice Immersive section at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival.

Meanwhile, Dani: The Portrait of a Beauty breathes life into the iconic genre paintings of Joseon-era artist Shin Yun-bok, reimagining them as a love story interwoven with pansori musical storytelling and traditional dance. The work earned invitations to South by Southwest (SXSW) in Texas and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival this year.

Inside the palace, two immersive installations will spotlight Uigwe  a collection of royal protocols that meticulously documented and illustrated the procedures of key state ceremonies, including weddings, funerals and banquets.

These digital works bring a chapter of history to life through 3D and augmented reality technologies, each portraying the grandeur of the 19th-century funeral procession of King Jeongjo and the opulent banquet celebrating Queen Sunwons 60th birthday.

The last showstopper lies in the vicinity of Haminjeong Pavilion in the form of From Nature, a 13-meter-long LED media art projection. This piece captures the delicate beauty of classical Korean crafts  represented by ceramics and wooden furniture  by taking viewers on a microscopic journey of particles to illustrate their intricate production process.

Digital Pungnyu is free and open to all visitors of Changgyeong Palace.
Experts warn personal diplomacy may come with several risks

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is returning to the White House, leaving analysts to speculate whether he will resume direct diplomacy with North Korea as part of his second-term agenda.

During his time in office, Trump developed an unusually friendly relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He held two summits with Kim although he walked away from the Hanoi summit with no deal in 2019. In his campaign rallies, Trump has repeatedly boasted of his friendship with Kim, signaling his apparent desire to reengage with the North.

I got along very well with him (Kim Jong-un). I got along with them and we stopped the missile launches from North Korea. Now North Korea is acting up again. When we get back, I get along with him. He'd like to see me back, too. I think he misses me, Trump said during his acceptance speech as the Republican nominee for the presidential election in July.

Trump prefers a top-down style, interacting with leaders one-on-one, Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and professor of politics at the Catholic University of America, said.

Trump may be more inclined to engage with Kim given their past rapport. Trumps ego and desire to shape his own legacy may be a further motivating factor to engage Kim. However, high-stakes diplomacy with North Korea would be ill-advised if engagement is pursued at the cost of undermining regional alliance cohesion and deterrence.

Park Won-gon, professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, explained that Republicans tend to rely heavily on the White House or the president when it comes to foreign policy. However, he said it appears unlikely that Trump will invest his time and energy for another summit with Kim.

I dont think Trump would easily meet with Kim again because he has other foreign policy priorities in the Middle East and Ukraine. Despite the efforts made to pressure North Korea to denuclearize, very little was accomplished. Contrary to expectations, Pyongyangs nuclear capabilities have steadily increased, Park said.

Some say even if Trump wants to reengage with Kim, Kim may refuse to work with Trump as he is still reeling from the Hanoi summit trauma.

Kim Jong-un was seriously offended by Trump walking out of the Hanoi summit. So Kim may refuse to work with Trump unless Trump offers major benefits to the North, which could get Trump in trouble with Congress, said Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation, a think tank.

However, resuming direct diplomacy with North Korea comes with several risks.

Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for Korean Peninsula Strategy at the Sejong Institute, said Trump might be more willing to sacrifice coordination with U.S. allies to make a deal with North Korea.

The South Korea-U.S. alliance could be weakened under the second Trump term. Trump has proposed reducing U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula and suspending joint military exercises. South Korea may be excluded from any meaningful negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea, Cheong said.

However, he suggested that South Korea may pursue its own nuclear program. Trump might allow Seoul to develop its own nuclear arms to strengthen South Koreas deterrence against North Korea, Cheong added.

Some expressed concerns over the prospect of Trump pursuing a deal with Kim that would effectively recognize North Korea as a nuclear weapons state.

Trump is too difficult to predict on something like acknowledging North Korea as a nuclear weapon state. I hope he does not, Bennett said.

Analysts said the U.S. would not give up on the denuclearization goal, although it no longer seems like a realistic, attainable policy objective.

"Trump will seek denuclearization as an ultimate end goal on North Korea policy, but given the unwillingness of Kim to denuclearize, and the difficulty in engaging Kim, my sense is Trump has decided to take a pragmatic approach and not focus on denuclearization as the center of North Korean policy," Yeo said.

He explained that the top priority for the next U.S. administration is halting, if not reversing, progress in the reclusive regime's nuclear and weapons programs.

"In the American political system, to admit a failure of denuclearizing North Korea is unacceptable. So the U.S. will likely leave denuclearization as a long-term objective. I think the more important issue is what the short-term U.S. objective will be, and I hope that will be some form of (a) freeze of at least components of the North Korean nuclear weapon program if not the entire program," Bennett said.

Park argued that the Hanoi no deal has pushed North Korea to bolster the countrys nuclear capabilities. After Trump walked out from the Hanoi summit, Kim concluded that it can resume disarmament talks with the U.S. only by ramping up its nuclear capabilities, he said.

Experts have remained cautious over whether North Korea will likely stage major provocations, such as a nuclear test, after the U.S. presidential election. North Korea on Thursday tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile dubbed Hwasong-19, a launch believed to have achieved the longest flight time yet for a North Korean missile.

I think North Korea will conduct its nuclear test according to its timetable. Its relationship with China and Russia will be taken into consideration. China firmly opposes North Koreas nuclear tests and the North wouldnt want to place a burden on Russia, Cheong said.

"I think Kim Jong-un will likely continue and even escalate his hostility toward the U.S. and the ROK," Bennett said. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed the Ukrainian military's first combat engagement with North Korean troops, saying it opened a new chapter of instability in the world.

Zelenskyy, in a video address posted on the Ukrainian president's official website Tuesday (local time), said, "The first battles with North Korean soldiers open a new page of instability in the world."

"I want to thank everyone in the world who reacted to the deployment of North Korean soldiers in Russia. And who reacted not only with words, but also by preparing appropriate actions to support our defense here in Ukraine," he said.

"Together with the world, we must do everything to make this Russian step to expand the war  to really escalate it  to make this step a failure. Both for them, and for North Korea," he added, according to a transcript posted on the website.

In a Tuesday interview with local broadcaster KBS, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that the first battle with North Korean soldiers has already taken place on a "small scale."

Earlier Monday, Zelenskyy said some 11,000 North Korean soldiers were already in Russia's western front-line Kursk region.

The U.S. State Department also confirmed that as many as 10,000 North Korean troops are in Kursk, saying they could engage in combat in the "coming days." (Yonhap)
The top diplomats of the Group of Seven (G7) countries condemned North Korea's recent intercontinental ballistic missile launch in the "strongest terms" on Tuesday, reiterating their call for the "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The officials from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the High Representative of the European Union issued a joint statement, after Pyongyang claimed to have successfully test-fired a Hwasong-19 ICBM on Thursday.

"We deplore that the DPRK once again chose to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs over the welfare of the people in the DPRK," they said in the statement, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"The DPRK continues to advance its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities and to escalate its destabilizing activities," they added.

The diplomats renewed their call for Pyongyang to end its nuclear and WMD programs.

"We reiterate our call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and demand that the DPRK abandon all its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner in accordance with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs)," they said.

"We urge UNSC Members to follow through on their commitments and call on all U.N. member states to fully and effectively implement relevant UNSCRs."

They stressed that the G7 remains committed to working with all concerned partners toward the goal of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to upholding the free and open rules-based international order.

In a separate joint statement, South Korea, the U.S, Japan and 10 other countries also condemned the North's ICBM launch.

"This launch, in addition to the more than 100 ballistic missile launches since 2022 to date, is a clear violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, jeopardizes international peace and security, and threatens to undermine the global nonproliferation regime," the countries said in the statement that Robert Wood, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., read out at U.N. headquarters in New York.

"We must not allow the sheer volume of DPRK launches to normalize its unlawful and destabilizing behavior."

They also noted that the U.S. introduced a press statement to the Security Council in response to the North's provocation, but "two council members" refused to join a united denunciation. They were apparently referring to China and Russia.

They called on Pyongyang to return to negotiations, comply with its obligations under numerous Security Council resolutions and abandon its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs." (Yonhap)
All eyes on whether deployment of North Korean troops to Russia is addressed in UPR session

By Kwak Yeon-soo

North Koreas human rights record will come under intense scrutiny, Thursday, as the United Nations Human Rights Council holds the fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group from Nov. 4 to 15, according to the foreign ministry and human rights activists, Wednesday.

UPR is a mechanism that calls for each U.N. state to go through a peer review of its human rights record every 4.5 years, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first, second and third UPR reviews of North Korea took place in December 2009, May 2014 and May 2019, respectively.

A total of 91 countries, including South Korea, China, and Russia, have submitted questions ahead of Thursdays review. This is an increase compared to previous sessions  52 in 2009, 85 in 2014, and 88 in 2019.

Interest in North Korean human rights has increased significantly as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the release of the U.N. Report of the Commission of Inquiry on the human rights situation in North Korea. The Norths border closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 'two hostile states policy also fueled interest from the international community, a senior foreign ministry official said.

The government will pressure North Korea to address the issue of enforced disappearances and confirm the fate of six South Koreans detained in the North, including Kim Jung-wook, Choi Chun-gil, and Kim Kook-kie, whose whereabouts remain unknown. It will also advocate for the reunion of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

Other countries will condemn the implementation of the so-called "three evil laws," which include the Law on Rejecting Reactionary Thought and Culture (2020), the Youth Education Guarantee Law (2021), and the Law on Protecting the Pyongyang Cultural Language (2023), all aimed at suppressing residents. They will also urge North Korea to protect women and girls from sexual violence and human trafficking.

North Korea has been intensifying surveillance and punishment of its people, particularly youths, by enforcing the so-called "three evil laws" to prevent access to outside information.

All eyes are on whether the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia will be addressed in the session. The government has emphasized that the human rights situation in North Korea is intrinsically connected to international peace and security.

When South Korea undertook the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in June, we have mentioned how the increasing militarization of North Korea negatively impacts the human rights situation like two sides of the same coin, and this could have raised awareness about human rights in North Korea, the foreign ministry official said.

Ahead of Thursdays UPR, several human rights organizations, including Korea Center for United Nations Human Rights Policy (KOCUN), have highlighted the various types of human rights violations committed by Pyongyang. They delivered a statement to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea to the UN office in Geneva, urging it to accept and implement policy recommendations to improve the human rights situation.

Its been more than 10 years since the UN Commissions report was released, but North Korean residents are still experiencing various human rights violations ranging from basic civil and political liberties as well as economic, social and cultural rights, rights groups said in a joint statement.

To attract attention to human rights violations committed by the North, several rights groups are organizing an event calling for Dignity, Hope and Freedom of North Koreans in Geneva this week.

The Ministry of Unification also vowed to continue efforts to promote mutual international understanding and encourage countries to speak up about North Korea's human rights issues during the upcoming UPR session.
Rights commission welcomes govt measures to prevent recurrence of 2019 tragedy

By Jung Min-ho

South Korea has vowed not to repatriate people to North Korea against their will as it did in 2019 with two North Korean fishermen, according to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) on Wednesday.

The National Security Office (NSO), the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Ministry of Unification recently notified the NHRCK that they will accept its 2023 request to establish specific measures to better protect North Koreans seeking freedom here from the autocratic regime.

Their responses come over a year after the commission released a decision condemning the top security agencies under the previous Moon Jae-in administration for repatriating two fishermen to North Korea, despite their request to stay in South Korea.

In 2019, two North Korean fishermen who had drifted into South Korean waters were forcibly repatriated to the North by the South Korean government. The South Korean government claimed that the fishermen had murdered 16 of their crewmates and were fleeing justice. However, there were concerns about the haste with which the decision was made and whether the fishermen were genuinely given a chance to seek asylum.

In the wake of the incident, the Ministry of Unification revised related rules and has taken part in investigations since to confirm whether North Koreans in question want to defect to South Korea, the NHRCK said. Any government official who violates any law in this process would be subject to penalties under related enforcement ordinances and criminal laws. Also, the ministry is pushing ahead with revising the law on protection and settlement support for North Korean defectors to specify the governments obligation to confirm their intention to defect to South Korea.

Since January, the NIS has also enforced its revised guidelines that requires human rights protection officers to check potential rights violations in such cases, the NHRCK said.

Meanwhile, the NSO told the rights commission that it would take steps to prevent such rights abuses in the future, the NHRCK added.

We welcome their decision to accept our recommendation to address human rights abuse issues that could emerge during such cases, and decided to make this public in an effort to remind everyone of what is enshrined in the Convention Against Torture  to which South Korea is a party  that prohibits the deportation of individuals to countries where they may be at risk of being tortured, it noted.

Much information about the deportation case had been largely kept hidden during Moons time in office before being disclosed in July 2022 under the Yoon Suk Yeol government.

The release of images showing the North Korean fishermen apparently fiercely resisting deportation shocked many human rights activists here and in other countries. They seemed obviously gripped by fear as South Korean officials handed them over to their North Korean counterparts at Panmunjom, the inter-Korean truce village. It happened at a time when the Moon administration was stepping up efforts to promote peace with North Koreas regime.

Many experts said they believe the fishermen were killed as a result.

After conducting an extensive investigation into the case, the NHRCK later concluded it was a violation of the Constitution and domestic laws as well as international rules and called on relevant organizations to come up with measures to prevent a recurrence of a similar incident.
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday congratulated former U.S. President Donald Trump on his election win, saying he looks forward to working closely with him.

The message came after Trump declared a victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election.

"Under your strong leadership, the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance and America will shine brighter. Look forward to working closely with you," Yoon posted on social media platform X, referring to South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Yoon also congratulated Democratic Rep. Andy Kim on winning a Senate seat for New Jersey in the U.S. general election.

"Congratulations on making history as the first Korean-American in the U.S. Senate. Your achievement is an inspiration to the Korean-American community," Yoon wrote in another post on X. "Wishing you great success in your new role as U.S. Senator."

Kim's win raised expectations that he could play a greater role in Congress for the Korean American community, the Seoul-Washington alliance and joint efforts to address North Korea's nuclear challenges. (Yonhap)
South Korea's major business organizations on Wednesday joined in congratulating Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election, urging him to strengthen Seoul-Washington cooperation.

The Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) congratulated Trump on his election victory, emphasizing that the Korea-U.S. trade and economic partnership is anchored in a strong security alliance.

The KCCI expressed hope for continued bilateral relations under the incoming Trump administration, adding that South Korean companies have contributed to U.S. employment and industrial diversification through investments in advanced industries, including semiconductors and EV batteries.

"South Korea's efforts will continue to play an important role in creating shared benefits," the KCCI said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to build on our partnership in the second Trump administration, fostering even greater economic achievements between our two countries."

The Korea Enterprise Federation (KEF) also voiced its expectation that South Korea-U.S. cooperation would further strengthen across areas such as the economy and security, supported by close coordination under the new Trump administration.

"We expect the new government to take active steps to improve systems, enabling companies from both countries to invest more freely and actively," said the KEF. "The business community will also do its utmost to expand exchanges in all fields, including politics, the economy, society and culture."

The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) called on U.S. President-elect Trump to improve bilateral relations based on the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, which went into effect in 2012.

"In particular, we look forward to creating a favorable investment and trade environment so that Korean companies can continue to invest and trade with the U.S., which is a key pillar of our economic relationship," the FKI added.

According to U.S. media, Republican candidate Donald Trump won more than 270 Electoral College votes in the U.S. presidential election on Wednesday, becoming the first president in more than a century to win a non-consecutive second term. (Yonhap)
A solar coronagraph jointly developed by Korea and the United States has successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) to carry out its mission of observing the sun and its outer atmosphere, or corona, Seoul's national space agency said Wednesday.

A vessel carrying the Coronal Diagnostic Experiment (CODEX), a collaboration between the Korea Astronomy & Space Science Institute and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), docked to the space station at 11:52 p.m. on Tuesday, about 12 hours after it was launched aboard Space X's Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA).

The coronagraph will be installed at one of the ISS' Express Logistics Carriers using NASA's robot arm over the weekend to observe the sun and its corona for up to 55 minutes per 90-minute Earth orbit for up to two years.

CODEX is the world's first coronagraph designed to observe the temperature and velocity of the solar wind in addition to the density, and produce two-dimensional video footage of the observation, KASA said, noting it will help researchers better understand the solar wind and predict space weather.

The solar wind is a constant stream of particles and magnetic fields released from the sun's outermost atmospheric layer that affects the weather in space.

CODEX will be given two main tasks: understanding what heats the solar wind to temperatures millions of degrees hotter than the sun's surface and testing models that show this heating and accelerating region.

"The successful launch of CODEX, a next-generation coronagraph, will bring an important development in the space weather forecast and related studies," said Kang Hyun-woo, the head of the space science exploration program at KASA. (Yonhap)
By Kim Se-jeong

The Sudanese ambassador in Seoul expressed gratitude to the Korean government on Monday for the country's humanitarian assistance, as Sudan struggles with violent clashes between national armed forces and a militia group.

"I want to thank the Korean government for fulfilling their pledges in Paris (International Conference on Sudan) toward the Sudan humanitarian situation and paying $9 million through U.N. agencies," Ambassador Amira Agarib told local journalists in her Seoul office, Monday.

The Paris conference on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, held in April, aimed to garner support for the country's worsening conditions as a result of political conflicts. Korea pledged $12 million in donations, and $9 million has been given through United Nations agencies.

Agarib's comment came on the same day when 13 civilians in the Al-Jazira state south of Khartoum, the country's capital, were reportedly shot to death by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

According to the Sudanese government, 15,000 civilians have been killed  Sudan's population is 25 million  and over 14 million people have fled their homes, including 3 million fleeing to neighboring countries. The number of displaced children has reached 4 million, emphasizing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

The clashes between Sudan's armed forces and RSF began on April 15, 2023. The paramilitary group is accused of killing many civilians, burning homes and looting, forcing people to flee.

The violence has also impacted foreign nationals in the country. Although no Koreans have been targeted, the Korean government ordered its citizens to leave the country and closed its embassy in Khartoum.

"The attack of the militia on citizens and villages in the country has negatively affected the agriculture sector. The attacks also threatened economic and health sectors and destroyed the infrastructure," the ambassador said.

The current crisis adds to Sudan's existing humanitarian crisis, which began with the Darfur crisis in the early 2000s.

Calling the crisis a "forgotten war" amid global focus on wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the envoy renewed calls on Korea, as a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security Council, to condemn the militia and help reduce the flow of weapons through neighboring countries.

"It is an important role of Korea to condemn the attacks carried out by the rebel militia and to stop the flow of weapons to the militia via Chad, southern Libya and other countries," Agarib said.
Seoul braces for another Trump-led shift in alliances

By Lee Hyo-jin

A turbulent new chapter seems to have begun for the South Korea-U.S. alliance with Donald Trump's return to the White House, as he clinched victory in the U.S. presidential election.

Analysts warn that the Republican's Make America Great Again policy could once again test the decades-old Seoul-Washington alliance, recalling the turbulence witnessed during his previous term from 2017 to 2021.

During his previous term, Trump demanded a substantial increase in Seouls financial contribution to support U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). In his current campaign, he referred to South Korea as a money machine while discussing defense cost-sharing, indicating that his position on the issue remains firm.

However, with the U.S. currently focused on major international concerns like the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict, some analysts suggest that any drastic policy shifts regarding the Korean Peninsula under a Trump administration might be postponed. Nevertheless, given Trumps often unpredictable approach to foreign policy, these expectations could be upended.

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration, which prioritizes bolstering its alliance with the U.S. against North Korean threats, is likely to face fresh challenges as Trump may dismantle major security initiatives established by President Joe Biden.

I would assume that Trump will seek to discontinue several key initiatives launched under Biden, and that could include the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, professor of international relations at Kings College London.

After all, the NCG may seem beneficial to South Korea but not to the U.S. from a 'Trumpian' conception of alliances," he added.

Harry Kazianis, senior director of National Security Affairs at the Center for the National Interest, echoed that view.

"Trump might just see it (NCG) as a talking shop that does nothing and kill it off," he said.

The NCG was established under the Washington Declaration signed by Yoon and Biden during the South Korean presidents U.S. visit in April 2023. The joint initiative was aimed at enhancing U.S. extended deterrence commitments to South Korea in response to North Korea's nuclear threats.

If Trump weakens the NCG or the U.S. nuclear umbrella, it may intensify calls in South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons. This is an approach Trump could potentially support.

In South Korea, there is a growing push for self-nuclear armament, driven by increasing skepticism over the effectiveness of U.S. assurances in deterring North Korea's nuclear threats.

I would not be shocked if Trump greenlighted South Korea building nuclear weapons  he might even encourage such a move out in the open for a lot of reasons, Kazianis said. He could be of the mindset that its unfair for North Korea to have these weapons and not South Korea.

Kazianis suggested that a nuclear-armed South Korea might appeal to Trump, as it would allow the U.S. to focus resources on countering China, while South Korea can shoulder more responsibility for deterring North Korea. This could even pave the way for Trump to scale down the presence of USFK on the peninsula, based on the notion that South Korea could deter Pyongyang independently.

Another potential strain on the bilateral alliance is Trumps stance on increasing South Korea's share of the cost to station USFK troops.

In October, South Korea and the U.S. finalized the 12th Special Measures Agreement (SMA), which outlines Seoul's financial obligations for hosting 28,500 USFK troops. Under this agreement, South Korea will contribute 1.52 trillion won in 2026, marking an 8.3 percent increase from 2025.

After the deal was struck, Trump claimed that Seoul would have paid $10 billion annually if he were president.

Sean King, senior vice president at Park Strategies, a New York-based consulting firm, viewed that Trump may revisit the newly-signed SMA.

Trump would look to redo it just like he renegotiated the (South) Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). If Trump wins, everythings up for renegotiation or review, King said.

Lim Eun-jung, a professor of international studies at Kongju National University, pointed out that while Trump might aim to reshape the alliance to fit his own style, the Korean Peninsula may not be a top priority for him when he assumes office.

In the immediate term, Trump is expected to focus on the Ukraine war, Middle Eastern conflicts and domestic priorities, which could give South Korean officials time to prepare for potential curveballs the Trump administration may throw, she said.

While some see Trumps return as a major threat to the South Korea-U.S. alliance, Lim suggested it could also bring unexpected opportunities, especially in terms of the ongoing stalemate between the two Koreas.

There has been growing discontent here about the U.S. Democrats status-quo approach on North Korea, during which the regime advanced its nuclear capabilities. A new Trump era could bring unexpected shifts, although this unpredictability might be challenging for South Korean officials to navigate, she said.

However, maintaining the South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral framework could be one of the few aspects of America's Asia policy that Trump carries over from the previous administration. The Biden administration emphasized strengthening ties among the three allies to address common security threats in the region, particularly those posed by North Korea and Chinas rising influence.

Although Trump prioritizes bilateral dealings over multilateral frameworks, the Seoul-Washington-Tokyo security partnership could be instrumental in containing Beijing, which he views as an existential threat, according to Kazianis.

But sustaining the trilateral framework could come at a higher cost for Seoul and Tokyo.

I don't think that Trump would be as willing to spearhead trilateral leader summits or other high-level meetings. I also believe that he would ask South Korea and Japan to shoulder a greater share of the cost of trilateral cooperation, Pacheco Pardo said.
Top diplomats of South Korea and Laos held talks Wednesday to discuss various diplomatic concerns impacting regional security, particularly North Korea's troop deployment to Russia, the foreign ministry said.

The talks between Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his visiting Lao counterpart, Saleumxay Kommasith, came amid a series of provocative actions by North Korea, including its intercontinental ballistic missile launch and the dispatch of arms and troops to Russia.

During the meeting, Cho asked Laos and ASEAN countries to play constructive roles in encouraging North Korea to return to denuclearization talks. North Korea and Laos have long maintained friendly ties.

The two ministers also discussed implementing follow-up measures to an agreement made last month between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith.

During the summit, the two leaders agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership next year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of reestablishing their diplomatic ties. (Yonhap)
The websites of the defense and environment ministries suffered service disruptions this week after being targeted by a cyberattack, officials said Wednesday, following the South Korean cybersecurity watchdog's warning of North Korea's possible hacking attacks.

The distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack took place first on the defense ministry's website at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, prompting the military to take response measures, a ministry official said, adding the website is currently back online.

A separate attack on the environment ministry's website was detected Wednesday morning, according to the ministry. The website was down for a period in the morning before being restored.

"Not just the environment ministry but several ministries have been hit by DDoS attacks," said an official of the National Information Resources Service, which is affiliated with the interior ministry. "The attacks seem to have died down for now, but we're continuing to defend against them as they are not over."

The website of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also appeared to be suffering connection instability as of Wednesday morning, leading the Cyber Operations Command to look into the issue.

A DDoS attack refers to a situation where a large number of infected devices are used to overwhelm a target server or website with a massive volume of traffic.

A military official said authorities have blocked the IP addresses of the source of the attack on the defense ministry's website, noting that such attacks are uncommon on the ministry's website.

Authorities are currently looking into who might have been behind the attack.

On Monday, South Korea's cybersecurity watchdog called on local organizations and businesses to increase their data protection readiness, citing rising risks of hacking attacks related to North Korea's troop dispatch to Russia. (Yonhap)
The presidential office said Wednesday that North Korean troops in Russia's western front have not yet engaged in full-fledged combat with Ukrainian forces.

A senior presidential official shared the assessment after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the first combat engagement between North Korean troops and Ukrainian forces and some 11,000 North Korean soldiers were already in Russia's Kursk region.

"A large number of North Korean troops deployed to Russia have already moved to the western front lines, but full-fledged combat has not yet begun," the senior presidential official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

There may have been minor incidents for reconnaissance or preparatory actions, but further monitoring is needed to draw conclusions on whether the actual combat started with Ukrainian forces, the official said.

The official said South Korea is mulling sending a monitoring team to Ukraine to assess potential joint operations between North Korea and Russia in Ukraine.

"If North Korea and Russia launch joint combat operations, it will be critical to monitor their tactics, weapons, and any North Korean casualties, as this information could be crucial for South Korea's security and collaboration with Ukraine," the official said, noting a small monitoring team could be deployed without requiring parliamentary approval.

Talks have been under way over Ukraine's sending a special envoy to South Korea to discuss the battlefield situation and joint responses, the official added. (Yonhap)
Gov't says it's too early to pinpoint origin of attacks

By Anna J. Park

A large-scale distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack targeted the official websites of South Korea's Ministry of National Defense (MND) and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), rendering the sites inaccessible for several hours early Wednesday. The military is investigating the source of the attack, with speculation suggesting potential involvement by North Korea or Russia.

According to the MND, the hacking attack began around 5:30 p.m. the previous day, causing the two official military websites to become inaccessible or experience unstable connections for a period of time. A DDoS attack is a hacking technique that generates excessive traffic over a short period, disrupting normal data transmission and causing the system to crash.

The cyber attacks originated from external sources, and the military immediately activated its DDoS defense system. The military blocked the IP addresses involved in the attacks and is working to identify the sources, an official at the MND said, adding that no damage resulted from the attacks.

The website of the Ministry of Environment was also attacked and briefly froze Wednesday morning but has since been restored. The National Information Resources Service said that, while the frequency of attacks has decreased, they are still ongoing, and the government remains vigilant in defending its official websites.

There is widespread speculation that the DDoS attacks may have been carried out by hacking groups from North Korea or Russia. However, an official at the presidential office said on Wednesday that there is not enough information to determine the source, stressing that it is premature to attribute the attacks to North Korea.

"Its difficult to conclude that all cyberattacks are from North Korea, especially given the increasingly complex international situation these days, with the war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East," the official at the South Korean presidential office explained.

Despite the presidential office's cautious stance, some suggest that North Korea may be behind the cyber provocations, citing its recent pattern of actions targeting South Korea, including the latest launches of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and short-range ballistic missiles.

Russia is also under scrutiny, with some speculating that it may be involved in these cyber attacks against Seoul.

Earlier this month, the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) recommended strengthening security measures in light of increasing cyber threats following North Koreas troop deployment to support Russia. The agency specifically urged domestic organizations and companies to enhance security and prepare for potential DDoS attacks from Russian hacking groups.

"Domestic organizations and companies are required to strengthen security measures, amid rising cyber threats from the Russia-Ukraine war, which now involves North Korean troops, as well as from potential DDoS attacks by international hacking groups. Recommended actions include enhanced monitoring of websites and critical systems, regular offline backups of key files, cautioning employees against opening malicious email attachments or links, and applying the latest security updates to all software," KISA warned in a statement released on Friday.

Actually, DDoS attacks have been frequently employed in Russia's war on Ukraine.

In December of last year, Russian hackers targeted the Ukrainian government and private institutions, including the country's payment services, with DDoS attacks. In retaliation, Ukraine claimed early this month that its intelligence unit had launched DDoS attacks on Russian banks, disrupting their online banking services.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in his video address on Tuesday (local time) that Ukrainian troops had engaged in their first combat encounter with North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region of western Russia.

An official at the South Korean presidential office said Wednesday that it is closely watching the situation.

"What is clear is that a full-scale battle between Ukraine and North Korean forces integrated into the Russian military has not yet begun. While we have not confirmed any incidents involving small-scale reconnaissance or other pre-war preparations, we are currently monitoring whether actual combat will commence," the official said.

Discussions of a Ukrainian special envoy to South Korea is also underway. Once the country confirms its envoy and the agenda, Kyiv and Seoul are expected to officially coordinate the schedule.
South Korea conducted live-fire missile interception drills Wednesday in a show of its air defense capabilities, a day after North Korea fired ballistic missiles into the East Sea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

The drills, involving the Cheongung-II and Patriot air defense systems, took place in a western coastal area after the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles Tuesday, according to the JCS.

The Air Force's Air & Missile Defense Command mobilized two Cheongung-II and Patriot units each to fire surface-to-air missiles and intercept simulated targets under a scenario of an enemy missile attack, the JCS said.

"This exercise took place to demonstrate our military's capabilities and posture and firm resolve to respond immediately and overwhelmingly to increasing North Korean missile threats," the JCS said in a release.

South Korea operates the homegrown Cheongung-II mid-range surface-to-air missile system and the U.S.-made Patriot system to strike down incoming targets at altitudes of up to 40 kilometers.

On Tuesday, North Korea fired the ballistic missiles from the Sariwon area in the western province of North Hwanghae, and they flew about 400 km before splashing into the sea.

The launches apparently involved the North's KN-25 super-large 600-millimeter multiple rocket launchers, which is believed to be capable of striking anywhere in South Korea when fired from Sariwon.

North Korea's latest saber-rattling came five days after it launched the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile into the East Sea on Thursday. (Yonhap)
By KTimes

A teenager who fatally stabbed his mother after she scolded him has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence for a juvenile offender. Although he claimed he was mentally impaired at the time of the crime, the court did not accept this argument.

The Supreme Court upheld Tuesday a previous ruling, sentencing the 15-year-old to 20 years in prison for the charge of murdering his parent.

The incident occurred on Oct. 1 last year in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, when the 15-year-old, then a second-year middle school student, stabbed his 47-year-old mother over 20 times in their apartment.

The 15-year-old had become irritated by noise from a nearby playground and even called the police to complain. His mother, observing her sons actions, scolded him, saying he was inconsiderate of others, especially since it was a holiday and people were visiting. This rebuke led him to lose control and commit the crime.

Investigations revealed that the 15-year-old harbored a long-standing resentment toward his mother, feeling she was unsupportive and overly critical of him.

After his arrest, he told family members, Since Im a juvenile, I wont get a criminal record, and questioned whether a diagnosis of Aspergers syndrome or diminished mental capacity might reduce his sentence, according to the police.

However, at the initial trial in March, all nine jurors in the citizen-participation trial found the 15-year-old guilty, and the court handed down a 20-year prison sentence.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the victim worked as a caregiver for the disabled, showing her son unconditional love. However, the defendant shows no remorse, and a severe punishment is warranted, the court said in the ruling. There was no evidence of diminished mental capacity or impairment that would justify a reduced sentence.

The 15-year-old appealed the ruling, but both the appeals court and the Supreme Court upheld the original sentence, finalizing his 20-year prison term.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
The prosecution on Wednesday raided Hyundai Engineering & Construction over allegations that its executive offered bribes to a high-ranking Indonesian government official in connection with a construction project in the Southeast Asian country.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office sent prosecutors and investigators to the company's headquarters in Seoul in the morning to secure documents and computer data related to the bribery allegations.

The prosecution reportedly suspects that a Hyundai E&C executive gave about 600 million won ($430,000) to an Indonesian county head in order to suppress complaints from local residents and environmental groups in the process of constructing the Cirebon coal-fired power plant.

It has been reported that the Indonesian county head, who allegedly received bribes from Hyundai, was sentenced to prison by a local court.

In 2015, Hyundai E&C said it won the Cirebon power plant project worth $727 million. (Yonhap)
By Jung Da-hyun

The government will more effectively crack down on sexual abuse crimes involving deepfakes, by immediately deleting exploitative materials and toughening penalties for offenders, officials said Wednesday.

Aiming to address the challenges posed by these evolving forms of crime, the government outlined measures centered on 10 key tasks across four areas: enforcing strict and effective punishment, holding platforms more accountable, expediting victim protection and providing tailored educational programs to prevent exploitation.

"Since August, deepfake sex crimes have become a serious social issue in Korea, particularly with the illegal distribution of explicit deepfakes on social media and messaging platforms like Telegram," said Kim Jong-moon, the first vice minister of government policy coordination, outlining the governments rationale for introducing comprehensive measures.

These cases often involve young people, including minors and university students, as both victims and offenders.

Also, the damage done has been hard to fully assess, especially given the distribution of the content in private chat rooms such as the ones available on Telegram. The rapid spread and secondary harm inflicted by these exploitative materials are causing significant personal distress and eroding social trust.

In response to the surge in deepfake crimes, the government launched a pan-ministry task force on Aug. 30 to tackle the issue comprehensively.

While the task force prioritizes urgent administrative responses, long-term measures are being crafted through consultations with relevant ministries, expert groups, industry stakeholders and intergovernmental dialogues.

To strengthen investigations into deepfake sex crimes, the government plans to extend the use of undercover operations  currently permitted only for cases involving the illegal filming of minors  to include crimes against adults.

The governments new measures also place a strong emphasis on tougher penalties for offenders, reflecting a recent public survey on digital sex crimes conducted on June 30. The survey found that 45 percent of respondents believe stricter sentencing is the most effective deterrent.

The government has introduced a series of legislative bills aimed at strengthening penalties for the production and distribution of exploitative materials, with several key measures passing the National Assembly on Sept. 26.

Under the revised laws, the minimum sentence for producing and possessing exploitative videos has been raised from five to seven years in prison, and offenders can now face punishment regardless of whether they intend to distribute the material.

Additionally, a new law targets consumers of exploitative content, imposing penalties of up to three years in prison or fines of up to 30 million won ($21,530) for viewing or owning such material.

In cases involving the deepfake exploitation of children and adolescents, particularly where intimidation or coercion is present, sentencing guidelines have been strengthened, with penalties now ranging from a minimum of three years to a maximum of five years, compared to the previous range of one to three years.

To further deter these crimes, the government plans to implement a regulation allowing for the seizure of assets and profits gained from the distribution of false or exploitative content.

The government also plans to enforce a 24-hour deadline for platform operators to swiftly delete exploitative deepfake content to enhance victim protection.

The June 30 public survey on digital sex crimes also revealed that 38 percent of respondents believe victim support in content removal needs strengthening, followed by calls for more robust investigations and legal assistance at 22.3 percent, and support for emotional recovery at 19.6 percent.

In line with these results, the government aims to implement a policy requiring platform operators to preemptively block content flagged for potential exploitation, even if the content's connection to a crime is not immediately evident.

Operators would then be required to refer ambiguous cases to the Korea Communications Standards Commission for further review.

Furthermore, the government also intends to deploy artificial intelligence to detect deepfake content in real time and automate monitoring processes, ensuring prompt removal of harmful materials upon request.

"The government will continue to operate the TF (task force) dedicated to deepfake sex crime response, closely monitoring and enhancing follow-up measures such as victim support, stronger enforcement, legislative progress and budget allocation for these initiatives," Kim said.
Korea's health ministry and a journalist association on Wednesday released revised reporting guidelines on suicide news amid the rising number of people taking their own lives in the country.

The revised guidelines propose refraining from reporting suicide cases as the top principle to prevent potential copycat suicide attempts, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Journalists Association of Korea.

"If we change how we report on suicide cases, we can save precious lives," Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said in a statement, urging individual social media accounts and blogs to follow the guidelines as well.

The guidelines also advise that, when coverage of suicide cases is unavoidable, news reports should avoid providing details of the methods or motives involved and respect the dignity of the victim as well as the surviving family members.

Korea, meanwhile, has the highest suicide rate among member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In 2020, the suicide rate in Korea was 24.1 per 100,000 people, compared to the OECD average of 11.3.

Last year, 13,770 people took their own lives in Korea, a 6.7 percent increase from the previous year, government data showed. (Yonhap)
The government said Wednesday it will begin accepting applications for a newly introduced special visa category for global startup entrepreneurs this week.

According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ministry of Justice, the government will begin accepting applications Thursday for the Startup Korea Special Visa, or the D-8-4 (S) visa, which will be granted to foreigners with promising startup business models.

The government said the new visa category was introduced to actively attract global entrepreneurial talents amid limitations and restrictions in the existing D-8-4 startup visa system.

A SMEs ministry committee will comprehensively assess factors, such as business performance, innovation and potential for entry into the Korean market and contributions to the domestic economy, before recommending candidates for the visa to the justice ministry.

Foreign entrepreneurs who receive recommendations from the SMEs ministry can apply at the local immigration office within the country, while those abroad can visit South Korean embassies to apply for the special visa. (Yonhap)
The presidential office said Wednesday that Korea will work with the new U.S. administration to establish a perfect security posture and expand the scope and level of the bilateral alliance.

Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo made the remark while awaiting the results of the U.S. presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

"The government will work to establish a perfect Korea-U.S. security posture with the new Washington administration to ensure unwavering national security," Kim said in a press briefing.

Kim said Seoul aims to transform the alliance into "a stronger, more dynamic global comprehensive strategic alliance," enhancing cooperation in security, the economy and advanced technology and expand opportunities for youth and businesspeople.

"Once the results are confirmed, we anticipate an opportunity for communication between President Yoon Suk Yeol and the president-elect will be arranged promptly," a senior presidential official said.

Regarding the possibility of increased costs for the upkeep of 28,500 American troops in South Korea if Trump is elected, the official said the recently concluded defense cost-sharing deal would serve as a "benchmark" in future negotiations.

Last month, Seoul and Washington reached a new five-year Special Measures Agreement (SMA) until 2030, under which South Korea will pay an increase of 8.3 percent to 1.52 trillion won ($1.09 billion) in 2026 and annually raise its payment in line with the rise in the consumer price index.

"What is clear is that, beyond the amount of defense contributions, we have continued to expand our contributions within the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and both U.S. camps are well aware of this," the official said.

In an interview with Bloomberg News last month, Trump said if he were in the White House, South Korea would be paying $10 billion per year to help maintain the U.S. Forces Korea personnel. He also portrayed South Korea as a "money machine." (Yonhap)
Prosecutors on Wednesday demanded a 9-year prison term for Song Young-gil, a former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), over a cash-for-votes scandal surrounding the party's 2021 leadership election.

Song was indicted in January for his alleged involvement in his campaign's distribution of cash envelopes totaling 66 million won ($47,000) to 20 sitting DPK lawmakers and other party members in the run-up to the party's leadership election in May 2021, which he ultimately won.

Song is also accused of taking 763 million won in illegal political funds from seven people under the pretext of donations for his support group, the Research Institute for Peace & Livelihood, from 2020 to 2021.

"I had no knowledge of the incident and I was not involved in the case legally, so I have been consistently pleading not guilty," Song told reporters before entering the Seoul Central District Court for the final hearing.

He also claimed the prosecution had "illegally collected" over 30,000 recordings from a former campaign aide while investigating a separate case and wrongly used them as evidence against him.

Song was initially indicted with physical detention but was released from custody after a court granted him bail in late May.

Song has squarely denied all the allegations against him, accusing prosecutors of "a politically orchestrated investigation" targeting him.

However, all former and incumbent DPK lawmakers involved in the scandal have been given prison terms so far.

Last month, the Supreme Court finalized a two-year prison term for Yoon Kwan-suk, one of the former lawmakers embroiled in the scandal, for receiving the cash envelopes from a former aide to Song for distribution. (Yonhap)
South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Wednesday congratulated former U.S. President Donald Trump on his second term, expressing hopes for a stronger Seoul-Washington alliance.

"We sincerely congratulate him for the win," said Cho Seung-rae, senior spokesman for the DP, expressing optimism that Trump's second term might bring new opportunities for contributing to peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"The DP will work with Trump to ensure that the strong U.S.-South Korea alliance becomes more than just a blood alliance," he added.

According to U.S. media, Republican candidate Donald Trump won more than 270 Electoral College votes in the U.S. presidential election, becoming the first president in more than a century to win a non-consecutive second term. (Yonhap)
By Choe Chong-dae

This year, we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Choe Je-woo (1824-1864), the visionary founder of "Donghak" (Eastern Learning), a transformative spiritual and social reform movement that laid the groundwork for Koreas modern democratic values. Known by his pen name Su-un, Choe established Donghak in 1860 in Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla dynasty, during a tumultuous period for the Joseon dynasty, which was marked by internal divisions and foreign threats. Donghak emerged as a beacon of hope, articulating a vision of justice, dignity and equality that inspired the Korean people and provided a road map for societal renewal.

Donghak evolved into "Cheondogyo" (the Heavenly Way), becoming Koreas most influential indigenous religion in 1905. Cheondogyo emphasizes compassion, egalitarianism, human dignity and reverence for creation  ideals that resonate with Socrates' assertion that "all human beings are equal in the most fundamental sense." This religion championed various causes, including children's welfare and environmental stewardship, fostering a legacy celebrated in Korea and beyond. More than just a spiritual tradition, Cheondogyo embodies the patriotic and humanistic spirit that underpins Koreas modern democracy, advocating for justice and equality while inspiring the Korean people to strive for peace, harmony and liberation from discrimination.

A notable feature of Donghak is the "Donggyeong Daejeon" (Scripture of Donghak), authored by Choe Je-woo during his ministry from 1860 to 1864. Unlike many religious figures who left no written teachings, Su-un documented his ideas, creating a unique foundation that distinguishes Donghak in the history of world religions. Inspired by this dedication to humanistic egalitarianism, I had the honor of writing an academic paper titled "Humanistic Egalitarianism in Donghak," which includes an English introduction to the Cheondogyo Scriptures. Published in the Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society, Korea (Journal, Volume 97, 2023), my paper has garnered international interest among researchers in Korean Studies and East Asian religions.

Choe Je-woo was a true visionary  an educated scholar, prominent writer, poet and social leader whose life embodied his philanthropic teachings. Disillusioned by societal injustices, Su-un liberated his two servants, reunited them with their families, adopted a servant girl and arranged a marriage for his son. Such actions were revolutionary in the Joseon feudal era, challenging entrenched social hierarchies and demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the dignity and equality of all people. In this, Su-uns ideals echo the spirit of Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, which also emphasized liberation and equality.

The legacy of Donghak has continued to shape Korea long after Choe Je-woos lifetime. Cheondogyo followers played pivotal roles in key historical events, including the Donghak Peasant Revolution of 1894, the Kabo Reform Movement (1894-1896) and the March First Independence Movement of 1919. On March 1, 1919, 15 Cheondogyo adherents joined with 16 Christians and two Buddhists to sign the Korean Declaration of Independence.

With over 2 million followers, Cheondogyo supported the independence movement, providing financial and organizational aid across religious lines.

This alliance laid the groundwork for later democratic milestones, including the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai in 1919, the April 19 Revolution of 1960, the Gwangju Democratic Movement of 1980 and the candlelight rallies of 2016-2017 that ultimately led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.

As we commemorate the 200th anniversary of Choe Je-woos birth, we honor his lifes work and the enduring legacy of Donghak  a vision of compassion, equality and justice that has inspired Korea for generations and resonates around the world today. Choes teachings ignited a spirit that transformed Korea into a beacon of hope and resilience. As Rabindranath Tagore remarked in his famous poem, "In the Golden Age of Asia, Korea was one of its lamp bearers. And that lamp is waiting to be lighted once again, for the illumination of the East."

With this anniversary, we rekindle that light, carrying forward Su-uns legacy of peace, equality and humanity, illuminating a path for the future of Korea and beyond.

Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and founding director of the Korean-Swedish Association.
Durable, prudent policy needed as Trump returns to presidency

An official at the presidents office expressed confidence in South Korea's preparedness for the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Speaking on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, he assured that regardless of the election results, South Korea is fully prepared to navigate the post-election situation and will address any challenges with principled, tailored strategies.

His remarks are encouraging, as corporate leaders and many others in key industries are concerned about a potential policy shift following former U.S. President Donald Trump's victory in the election. He secured the 270 electoral votes necessary to win by sweeping the swing states and key battlegrounds. In a speech to his supporters at the Palm Beach Convention Center, he declared, "I'll be fighting for you with every breath in my body."

The U.S. election is a crucial event that requires full preparedness from South Korea. This year, its importance has intensified due to the far-reaching implications for global geopolitics, taking place amid two ongoing, devastating wars  one in the Middle East and the other in Europe.

The outcome of the U.S. election will have a significant impact on the war in Ukraine, as Trump and Harris have sharply differing positions on the conflict. During the campaign, Trump bragged about his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and stated that, if elected, he would put an end to the war. Meanwhile, Harris said she supports the Biden administrations policy of aiding Ukraine and expressed the desire to see Russia defeated.

The war in Ukraine has become a security issue for South Korea after North Korea sent nearly 10,000 troops to fight alongside Russians. As long as the war in Ukraine continues, so too will the dangerous military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Depending on the circumstances, the growing ties between these two autocratic nations could evolve into a more serious security threat for South Korea. Meanwhile, if North Korea continues sending troops to support Russia, it is likely to create internal security vulnerabilities.

Its important to revisit the comments made by the aforementioned official regarding the potential chain reaction triggered by the war in Europe.

"The war in Ukraine would have influenced the U.S. election outcome one way or another. Similarly, the U.S. election could have affected the course of the war in Ukraine. Likewise, the war in Ukraine may trigger a chain reaction on the Korean Peninsula," he said.

During the campaign, Trump demanded that South Korea pay $10 billion a year to share defense cost with the U.S., nearly 10 times the amount agreed upon earlier this year between the South and the U.S. It remains uncertain whether the South Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing deal, finalized in October, will remain intact.

Policymakers here must develop customized strategies that foster a mutually beneficial outcome for both countries.

Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that if Trump wins, South Korea may significantly increase its imports of oil and gas from the U.S. Trump has pressured South Korea to take steps to address the growing trade imbalance with the U.S. According to the report, South Korean officials have been preparing for months to explore potential outcomes of the U.S. election while working closely with business leaders and think tank experts.

Adjusting South Koreas portfolio of energy imports can be a tactic to meet the U.S. demand. However, such a policy response is not a fundamental solution. If Trump's demand is met, he could ask South Korea for further concessions. The key question is to what extent South Korea is willing to make concessions and what quid pro quo it can expect in return. This is the issue that South Koreas policymakers must carefully consider.

Most importantly, South Korea must demonstrate to the new U.S. president that it is a reliable and crucial partner with substantial strategic value, and should therefore be treated accordingly, rather than having the U.S. driven solely by short-term commercial interests.
By Chyung Eun-ju and Joel Cho

During our latest visit together to Brazil, we noticed an unexpected difference in the consumption of one of the trendiest products of recent years  vapes. While exploring the citys vibrant nightlife, we observed that the trend of electronic cigarettes had taken off in Brazil, much like it has in South Korea. Street vendors were readily offering vapes in bustling neighborhoods, but it was not long before we learned of a key difference between South Korea and Brazil regarding these products.

In South Korea, vapes resembling colorful toys or trendy accessories have become a common sight, creating an approachable image that belies their role as nicotine delivery devices. While South Korea and Japan embrace a flourishing e-cigarette market, Brazil has taken a starkly different approach. On April 19, the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) upheld its long-standing ban on the manufacture, sale, import and advertising of e-cigarettes, initially imposed in 2009. Despite this restriction, an estimated 4 million Brazilians currently vape, as products remain widely accessible in stores and online.

Anvisas decision followed a public consultation, citing rising rates of underage vaping, addiction concerns, insufficient long-term health data and risks to Brazils globally recognized tobacco control efforts. Anvisa also pointed to the World Health Organization's recommendation for countries to prohibit e-cigarettes to safeguard public health. However, groups like ABIFUMO argue that a regulated market could better ensure product safety and limit access for minors, as is done in over 80 other countries. Philip Morris Brasil echoed these concerns, suggesting that Brazils prohibition fuels an unregulated market without quality control.

South Korean health advocates echo some of Brazil's concerns. They are calling for e-cigarettes to be classified as tobacco products to bring them under stricter regulations. Currently, e-cigarettes fall outside the Tobacco Business Act, exempting them from health warnings and tobacco taxes. This regulatory gap has contributed to a spike in unmanned vape shops in Seoul, which often lack proper age verification measures. A recent government survey reported that these stores have quadrupled in number since April.

Moreover, data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency shows that between 2019 and 2023, about 30 percent of young smokers began with e-cigarettes, with 60 percent later transitioning to regular ones.

Understanding the different forms of smoking methods further highlights the regulatory challenges faced by each country. Traditional cigarettes, heated tobacco products and liquid e-cigarettes each use distinct processes: traditional cigarettes burn whole tobacco leaves and heated tobacco products grind and heat compacted tobacco sticks, while liquid e-cigarettes vaporize nicotine-infused liquid using an electric coil. The primary distinction is that liquid e-cigarettes dont involve combustion, underscoring the complex landscape governments navigate in managing these products.

A few years ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that, according to the data, the aerosols from approved products are much less harmful than those from combustible cigarettes. The agency concluded that the potential advantages for smokers who fully switch or greatly cut down on their cigarette consumption surpass the risks posed to young people.

The FDA approving a vaping product is significant, as it is in the interest of public health. This decision could help adult consumers and health advocates recognize the harm reduction benefits provided by these and other smoke-free alternatives.

However, the striking appearance of new disposable e-cigarettes seems to reflect a shift in how some young people view vaping. Public health experts worry that the whimsical designs of these devices may serve as enticing disguises for nicotine products. Physicians warn that nicotine is particularly addictive for young individuals, and studies indicate that teenage vapers face risks of both immediate and long-term lung damage.

Juul, the once-dominant e-cigarette, was often used by teenagers seeking discretion, making it easy to hide from teachers and parents. Today, newer toy-shaped e-cigarettes, like Nasty Bar, are becoming commonplace accessories among teenagers, who are less concerned about concealing their vaping habits. As one young user remarked, Everybody vapes, so its no longer something to hide, rather I like to show it off.

While the legalization of vaping poses potential advantages in reducing health harms for adult smokers, it still presents significant dangers for young people. The allure of colorful, playful vaping devices not only captivates youth but may also lead them down a path of nicotine addiction, potentially serving as a gateway to smoking. Striking a balance between harm reduction for adult smokers and protective measures for young people is crucial. As governments grapple with these challenges, clear regulations and education around the risks of vaping are essential to safeguard the health of future generations.

According to a report from Observatorio, research conducted by the Federal University of Pelotas has revealed a concerning trend: one-fifth of young Brazilians in the state of Rio Grande do Sul use e-cigarettes. This survey highlights the growing popularity of these devices, particularly among young people aged 18 to 24. In Brazil, the proportion of minors who have tried e-cigarettes stands at 16.8 percent, significantly higher than the 7 percent reported in the United Kingdom.

Despite the absence of regulation in Brazil, e-cigarettes are readily available on the streets, as we were able to observe on a casual night out around town. Experts suggest that this unrestricted access contributes to increased risks for users. The lack of oversight allows for unchecked entry of these products into the country, fuels the illicit market and raises concerns about the substances contained within these devices. Additionally, while e-cigarettes are unregulated in Brazil, they have become increasingly popular among the youth, leading to a concerning culture of experimentation that may have long-term health consequences.

In contrast, South Korea has adopted stricter regulations on e-cigarettes, especially in response to rising youth usage. Recently, Gangdong District of Seoul conducted extensive inspections of e-cigarette retailers, targeting 35 establishments and emphasizing the seriousness of e-cigarette use among teenagers. A public seminar was also held to raise awareness about the risks associated with e-cigarettes, highlighting that these products can often resemble everyday items, making them more appealing to young users.

Previous studies indicate that in countries with regulations, the proportion of consumers under the age of 18 is lower than in Brazil. For instance, while 16.8 percent of Brazilian minors have experimented with e-cigarettes, only 7 percent of their U.K. counterparts have done so. This disparity underscores the potential impact of regulation on youth smoking rates. In South Korea, research has shown that e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco serve as a starting point for teenagers, making them more likely to transition to traditional cigarettes later.

Furthermore, research from regulated countries shows that only 1 percent of youths who try e-cigarettes continue using them. Alessandra Bastos, a researcher, expressed frustration over the limitations on health studies regarding e-cigarettes in Brazil. Why can't I conduct health studies on e-cigarettes in Brazil? Because even the import of this product is prohibited for research purposes, she stated.

Both South Korea and Brazil must take decisive action to protect the health of their young population. As these countries navigate the complexities of e-cigarette regulation, implementing clear guidelines and fostering public awareness will be critical. While Brazil may benefit from exploring a regulated market that prioritizes safety and limits youth access, South Korea must continue to strengthen its regulatory framework to address the challenges posed by a rapidly evolving vaping landscape. Although both of these nations have adopted different approaches to the popularization of e-cigarettes, in both cases, by prioritizing the health of young people, they can take significant steps toward a healthier future.

Chyung Eun-ju (ejchyung@snu.ac.kr) is a marketing analyst at Career Step. She received a master's in marketing from Seoul National University. Joel Cho (joelywcho@gmail.com) is a practicing lawyer specializing in IP and digital law.
By Jhoo Dong-chan

BARCELONA, Spain  The Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) commenced in Barcelona on Tuesday (local time), bringing together scholars, industry leaders and government officials from around the globe.

Hosted and organized by the city of Barcelona and Fira Barcelona, this annual event is celebrating its 14th edition since its launch in 2011. It serves as a platform for fostering business opportunities for industry professionals while also providing a space to discuss a wide range of urban challenges and agendas.

Fira Barcelona said more than 1,100 exhibitors and 600 speakers from 850 cities around the world participated in the event held under the theme of Live Better.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport joined hands with the Korea Water Resources Corp., Korea Land & Housing Corp., Busan Metropolitan City and the city of Pohang to set up the Korea Pavilion as an exhibitor.

Seoul also partnered with three of its district offices: Dongdaemun, Gangnam and Seocho along with 15 companies in artificial intelligence and big data for the Seoul Pavilion.

Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province established its own booth at the expo to showcase its initiatives and achievements in leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones and augmented reality in collaboration with local companies.

Notably, Seongnam has been nominated as a finalist in the Innovation category of the World Smart City Awards, marking the first time a Korean local government has received this recognition.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power also set up a separate booth to introduce its technology and innovation in sustainable power sources.

If we want to live better, we should change our way of life, use technology and seek innovation through collaboration, said Ugo Valenti, director of the SCEWC, in his welcome remarks at Fira Barcelonas Gran Via venue in the Catalan city.

The goal of the SCEWC is to answer various urban challenges with innovation for better life and sustainability for the future.

His address followed a minute of silence for the victims of recent floods in Spains Valencia region.

Fira Barcelona reports that more than 25,000 attendees registered for this years event, setting a new participation record. As a result, the exhibition space was expanded by 30 percent to accommodate the increased demand.

Global tech powerhouses, including Nvidia, Microsoft, AWS and Siemens, also participated in the expo to showcase their latest technologies in urban innovation and smart solutions. Attendees could experience advancements in mobility, AI-powered public services and drone delivery service.
Korean e-commerce giant Coupang, Inc. said Wednesday its third-quarter net profit fell 27 percent from a year earlier due to increased facility investments.

Net profit for the three months to September fell to 86.9 billion won ($64 million) from 119.6 billion won during the same period of last year, the company said in a statement.

"Sharply increased investments in logistics infrastructure worth over 520 billion won weighed on the quarterly results," the statement said.

But operating profit rose 29 percent to 148.1 billion won in the third quarter from 114.6 billion won a year ago. Sales were up 32 percent to 10.69 trillion won from 8.1 trillion won during the same period, marking the highest quarterly figure.

New business categories, like Fulfillment and Logistics by Coupang (FLC) and R.Lux, a new luxury offering, helped prop up the operating profit, it said. In the FLC service, Coupang manages storage, inventories and deliveries for small partner companies.

"We also achieved an important milestone in Developing Offerings this quarter, reaching near break-even profitability in Farfetch, earlier than planned," Coupang Chief Financial Officer Gaurav Anand said in the statement.

Sales of Developing Offerings, Coupang's segment of new growth companies, which also includes the food delivery service Coupang Eats and the streaming platform Coupang Play, more than quadrupled to 1.32 trillion won in the third quarter from 285 billion won a year ago.

In January, Coupang acquired British online luxury fashion retailer Farfetch Holdings in a deal that awarded the New York-listed e-commerce firm the leading position in the $400 billion global personal luxury goods market.

From January to September, Coupang shifted to a net loss of 88.7 billion won from a net profit of 426.4 billion won in the year-ago period amid growing challenges from Chinese rivals.

Operating profit plunged 62 percent to 167 billion won in the first nine months from 444.8 billion won a year earlier.

Coupang faces tough challenges from Chinese e-commerce retail platforms  PDD Holdings' Temu and Alibaba Group's AliExpress  which are wooing customers away from Coupang through aggressive marketing.

It plans to invest 3 trillion won for the next three years to expand its renowned Rocket Delivery service nationwide and cement its leading status in the competitive local delivery market. (Yonhap)
Kakao Mobility, the operator of the country's most-used taxi-hailing service provider, was fined over alleged accounting fraud on Wednesday and referred to the prosecution for further investigation.

The Securities and Futures Commission, a panel under the Financial Services Commission, decided to slap a 3.4 billion-won ($2.43 million) fine on Kakao Mobility, and 340 million won each on its chief executive and former chief financial officer for allegedly inflating revenues in preparation for a stock market debut.

The regulator also decided to transfer related documents to the prosecution for further probes into the alleged accounting mishap.

In February this year, the company was fined 9 billion won by the Financial Supervisory Services over the same allegations.

The financial regulator's fine also came a month after the country's antitrust agency fined Kakao Mobility 72.4 billion won for allegedly demanding competing taxi franchise operators sign partnership deals and blocking their access to its taxi-hailing services, Kakao T, in case of rejecting the offer. (Yonhap)
By Lee Min-hyung

Mercedes-Benz Korea is intensifying its efforts to educate children about environmental protection, aiming to raise awareness of climate change amid increasing concerns, the automaker announced Wednesday.

The Mercedes-Benz GREEN+Kids program is aimed at helping children get a better grasp on green activities. The carmaker runs diverse hands-on education courses to help impart the seriousness of the climate crisis.

More than 40,000 elementary school students have so far joined the program since its inception in 2021.

Those who take part in the program can also learn practical ways to protect the environment. This embodies the value of sustainability that Mercedes-Benz pursues. The carmaker hopes to fulfill its corporate social responsibility (CSR) by engaging in such socially beneficial acts.

The Mercedes-Benz CSR Committee, launched in 2014, is standing at the center of driving the program to fulfill the carmakers corporate social responsibility here.

In October 2023, the program was designated as an excellent environmental education program by the Ministry of Environment.

A total of 10,000 participants from over 400 institutions and elementary schools joined for this years environmental education program. A group of 412 students was surveyed regarding three aspects of environmental literacy after completing the course: environmental knowledge, environmental sentiment and environmental actions.

The results showed they improved awareness of environmental issues by 20 percent on average. The children also became more willing to take action after receiving the education, according to the carmakers survey.

The GREEN+Kids curriculum focuses on the theme of carbon neutrality and climate action. Experiential programs include building a carbon-neutral village model and planting carbon-reducing plants.

The company also successfully hosted the GREEN+ Village environmental education camp. A total of 450 elementary school students attended the camp under the key theme of Reducing carbon: kids can do it too!

The purpose of the camp is to teach children and their parents practical climate actions they can carry out in their daily lives.

The participants engaged in diverse activities, such as bringing empty plastic containers and creating tote bags from old shirts.

Mercedes-Benz Korea carries out various social activities under its official slogan of the promise of Mercedes-Benz, aiming to contribute to the sustainable social growth of Korea from a long-term perspective.
7 foreign firms pledge $920 million in investments in Korea

By Park Jae-hyuk

Korea will be home to the regional headquarters of both Hewlett-Packard and Vestas.

The regional base of the U.S. computer and printer manufacturer will manage R&D projects in both Korea and globally, while Vestas, the leading Danish wind turbine producer, will construct its main factory for wind power generation equipment in the country.

The pledge was made on Wednesday at the Invest KOREA Summit 2024, Koreas largest investment promotion event, which has been held annually by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy since its inception in 2006 as Foreign Investment Week.

This is the first time in nine years that global companies have chosen Korea as the location of their regional headquarters, following a similar move by five foreign firms in 2015. In 2014, the government began offering incentives to foreign companies to support the establishment of their regional headquarters in Korea.

During the event, seven foreign firms also agreed to invest a combined $920 million in Koreas advanced technology sectors.

Japans Towa will expand the production capacity of its semiconductor equipment plant here, while Germanys Prettl will invest in batteries, electronic devices and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for cars.

Denmarks CIP, Norways Equinor and Swedens Hexicon will build offshore wind power plants here.

DP World from the United Arab Emirates and ESR Kendall Square from Singapore plan to construct cutting-edge logistics centers in Korea.

This summit enabled us to ascertain that global businesspeople and investors are paying keen attention to Koreas investment environment, Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun said in his congratulatory address during the Invest KOREA Conference, the main event of the three-day summit.

Emphasizing that the size of foreign direct investments in Korea hit a record high for the third straight year, the minister promised that the country will continue pursuing technological innovation and regulatory reforms to become a more attractive investment destination for overseas investors, amid increasing economic uncertainties.

CEO Yu Jeoung-yeol of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the events organizer, also highlighted the summit as a platform for global investors to learn about Korea. According to KOTRA, the event attracted over 2,000 participants, including foreign investors, businesspeople, diplomats, and journalists.

We prepared various programs to show investment opportunities in Korea to foreign investors, Yu said in his opening remarks during the conference.

Following the conference, Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo answered questions from foreign journalists from the United Kingdom, the United States, Sweden, China, Japan, Mongolia and Sri Lanka.

Although former U.S. President Donald Trump declared his victory in the U.S. presidential election as Cheong spoke to foreign journalists, the trade minister declined to comment on the governments countermeasures against the outcome, saying that it is too early for him to speak about a foreign countrys political event.

Cheong also refrained from predicting the potential negative impact of the North Korean troop deployment to Russia on South Koreas investment environment, saying that it is difficult at this moment to forecast how the war will unfold.

Geopolitical risks will have a negative impact on economic activities, but Korea may seize the opportunity, if it copes with the global supply chain reshuffle and protectionist policies, he said.

Before the press conference, a town hall meeting took place to introduce industrial complexes in various regions of Korea and to attract investments in areas outside the capital, Seoul.

Tours of the industrial complexes will also be offered to foreign participants on Friday. This marks the first time in five years that KOTRA has provided such tours, following the suspension of the program in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, the Startup Forum will be held to connect around 120 promising Korean startups with around 50 investors here and overseas.
Trade association deepens exchanges with China for bilateral trade growth

By Lee Min-hyung

The nations leading trade association is currently participating in Chinas largest import exhibition to help Korean firms explore new export opportunities.

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) set up the Korea Pavilion for the China International Import Expo (CIIE) to promote the country's diverse products. A group of 74 Korean firms showcased their business potential at the pavilion. This years CIIE runs for six days, from Nov. 5 to 10, in Shanghai. It is also the seventh consecutive year that the trade association has joined.

The CIIE is Chinas national-level exhibition launched in 2018, aiming to expand its imports and build more business ties with overseas companies. More than 3,500 companies in 152 countries have joined this year's event. In Korea, a total of 176 firms joined the expo to diversify their sales channels in Asias largest economy.

KITA is focused on promoting Korean consumer goods and food at its booth, while holding various promotional events including K-pop dance performances.

The association is working alongside Korean local governments and the Public Procurement Service to operate an 870-square-meter pavilion at the expo. It has also set up a dedicated booth for the Korea-China Free Trade Agreement, offering on-site consultations for Korean firms and Chinese buyers.

China is still a mega-sized market and a major export destination for Korean companies, even if the countrys domestic growth is slowing down, KITA Vice Chairman Lee In-ho said Monday during the event.

We hope Korean firms can find new business opportunities and understand the consumption trends in China's rapidly changing market.

Lee met with ranking Chinese officials, such as Yu Jianlong, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, to vitalize trade exchanges between Korea and China. The KITA executive discussed measures for activating their bilateral ties in a sustainable manner, even after the exhibition.

The trade association is also scheduled to hold a joint exchange event with Chinas Ministry of Commerce on Thursday to help Korean participants contact officials from Chinas major companies and retailers, such as JD.com.

China is one of the largest export partners to Korea. According to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Koreas exports to China surged by 10.9 percent year-on-year in October, reaching $12.2 billion (17 trillion won)  the highest monthly figure since September 2022. This growth was fueled by strong exports of semiconductors and petrochemical products.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., a major shipbuilder, and its labor union have reached a tentative wage deal following multiple partial strikes, according to the company Wednesday.

The two sides reached an agreement during the 30th round of wage and collective bargaining negotiations held at the company's headquarters in Ulsan on the southeastern coast.

The agreement includes a 129,000 won (US$92) increase in monthly basic pay, along with additional bonuses.

The deal is now subject to a vote by union members, scheduled for Friday.

Unionized workers of HD Hyundai Heavy have engaged in 24 rounds of partial strikes since Aug. 28, demanding improved wages and working conditions. (Yonhap)
A divided America weighed a stark choice for the nations future Tuesday as a presidential campaign marked by upheaval and rancor approached its finale.

Voters were deciding whether to send Republican Donald Trump back to the White House or make Vice President Kamala Harris the first female president. Polls closed Tuesday in Georgia and North Carolina, two of the closely fought battlegrounds that could decide the election, as well as a half-dozen other states. On Election Day, tens of millions of Americans added their ballots to the 84 million cast early as they chose between two candidates with drastically different temperaments and visions for the country.

Trump and Harris each notched early wins in reliably Republican and Democratic states, respectively. Trump won Kentucky, West Virginia and Indiana, and Harris took Vermont.

The economy and immigration are the top issues facing the country, voters said, but the future of democracy was also a leading motivator for many Americans casting a ballot in Tuesdays presidential election. AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, found a country mired in negativity and desperate for change.

Those casting Election Day ballots mostly encountered a smooth process , with isolated reports of hiccups that regularly happen, including long lines, technical issues and ballot printing errors.

Harris has promised to work across the aisle to tackle economic worries and other issues without radically departing from the course set by President Joe Biden. Trump has vowed to replace thousands of federal workers with loyalists, impose sweeping tariffs on allies and foes alike, and stage the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.

Harris and Trump entered Election Day focused on seven swing states, five of them carried by Trump in 2016 before they flipped to Biden in 2020: the blue wall of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Arizona and Georgia. Nevada and North Carolina, which Democrats and Republicans respectively carried in the last two elections, also were closely contested.

Trump voted in Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago club, and said afterward that he was feeling very confident.

Harris, the Democratic vice president, did phone interviews with radio stations in the battleground states, then visited Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington carrying a box of Doritos  her go-to snack.

This truly represents the best of who we are, Harris told a room of cheering staffers. She was handed a cellphone by supporters doing phone banking, and when asked by reporters how she was feeling, the vice president held up a phone and responded, Gotta talk to voters.

The closeness of the race and the number of states in play raised the likelihood that, once again, a victor might not be known on election night.

Trump said Tuesday that he had no plans to tell his supporters to refrain from violence if Harris wins, because they are not violent people. His angry supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, after Trump tried to overturn his loss in 2020. Asked Tuesday about accepting the 2024 races results, he said, If its a fair election, Id be the first one to acknowledge it. He visited a nearby campaign office to thank staffers before a party at a nearby convention center.

After her DNC stop, Harris planned to attend a party at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington.

Federal, state and local officials have expressed confidence in the integrity of the nations election systems. They nonetheless were braced to contend with what they say is an unprecedented level of foreign disinformation  particularly from Russia and Iran  as well as the possibility of physical violence or cyberattacks.

Both sides have armies of lawyers in anticipation of legal challenges on and after Election Day. And law enforcement agencies nationwide are on high alert for potential violence.

Harris, 60, would be the first woman, Black woman and person of South Asian descent to serve as president. She also would be the first sitting vice president to win the White House in 36 years.

Trump, 78, would be the oldest president ever elected. He would also be the first defeated president in 132 years to win another term in the White House, and the first person convicted of a felony to take over the Oval Office.

He survived one assassination attempt by millimeters at a July rally. Secret Service agents foiled a second attempt in September.

In Scranton, Pennsylvania, Liza Fortt arrived at her polling location in a wheelchair and not feeling well. But she said she ventured out anyway to vote for Harris.

It means a lot to me and my grandkids, my granddaughters, my nieces. ... I was just waiting for this day to come, said Fortt, who is 74 and Black. She said she never thought shed have such an opportunity, to cast a ballot for a Black woman in a presidential race.

Im proud, to see a woman, not only a woman, but a Black woman, Fortt said.

First-time voter Jasmine Perez, 26, cast her ballot at the Las Vegas Raiders stadium in Nevada for Trump, citing his spiritual values.

What really attracted me to Donald Trump is Im a Christian, Perez said, noting of the former president, I like that he openly promotes Christianity in America.

Harris, pointing to the warnings of Trump's former aides, has labeled him a fascist and blamed Trump for putting women's lives in danger by nominating three of the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. In the closing hours of the campaign, she tried to strike a more positive tone and went all of Monday without saying her Republican opponent's name.

JD Jorgensen, an independent voter in Black Mountain, North Carolina, which was hit hard by Hurricane Helene, said voters should have made up their minds by now.

I think that the candidates, both being in the public eye as long as they both have been, if youre on the fence, you hadnt really been paying attention, said Jorgensen, 35. (AP)
Hoax bomb threats, many of which appeared to originate from Russian email domains, were directed on Tuesday at polling locations in four battleground states  Georgia, Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin  as Election Day voting was underway, the FBI said.

"None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," the FBI said in a statement, adding that election integrity was among the bureau's highest priorities.

At least two polling sites targeted by the hoax bomb threats in Georgia were briefly evacuated.

The two locations, in Fulton County, both re-opened after about 30 minutes, officials said, and the county was seeking a court order to extend the locations' voting hours past the statewide 7 p.m. deadline.

Georgia's secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, blamed Russian interference for the Election Day bomb hoaxes.

"They're up to mischief, it seems. They don't want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election, and if they can get us to fight among ourselves, they can count that as a victory," Raffensperger told reporters.

The Russian embassy in Washington said insinuations about Russian interference were "malicious slander."

"We would like to emphasize that Russia has not interfered and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, including the United States," the embassy said in a statement. "As President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed, we respect the will of the American people."

Ann Jacobs, head of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said fake bomb threats were sent to two polling locations in the state capital of Madison, but they did not disrupt voting.

A spokesperson for Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's Democratic secretary of state, said there had been reports of bomb threats at several polling locations, but none were credible.

Benson's office had been notified that the threats may be tied to Russia, the spokesperson said.

An FBI official said that Georgia received more than two dozen threats, most of which occurred in Fulton County, which encompasses much of Atlanta, a Democratic stronghold.

Police in DeKalb County, Georgia  another Democratic stronghold  later responded to bomb threats at seven locations, according to a county press release. Five of the locations were polling places and were evacuated. County officials were seeking an emergency order extending opening times at the voting sites.

A senior official in Raffensperger's office, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the Georgia bomb hoaxes were sent from email addresses that had been used by Russians trying to interfere in previous U.S. elections.

The threats were sent to U.S. media and polling locations, the official said. "It's a likelihood it's Russia," the official said.

Adrian Fontes, the Arizona secretary of state, a Democrat who is the chief election official in the swing state, said four fake bomb threats had been delivered to polling sites in Navajo County, located in the northeastern part of the state and which includes three Native American tribes.

"Vladimir Putin is being a prick," Fontes said.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump are locked in a tight race to win the White House. Opinion polls suggest the contest is too close to call.

The phony bomb threats mark the latest in a string of examples of alleged interference by the Russians in the 2024 election.

On Nov. 1, U.S. intelligence officials warned that Russian actors manufactured a video that falsely depicted Haitians illegally casting ballots in Georgia. Intelligence officials also found that the Russians created a separate phony video that falsely accused someone associated with the Harris presidential ticket of taking a bribe from an entertainer.

U.S. intelligence officials have also accused Russia of interfering in previous U.S. presidential elections, especially the 2016 race which Trump won against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. (Reuters)
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister Tuesday after public differences over the war in Gaza, replacing him with the country's former top diplomat.

The surprise move to sack Yoav Gallant  a hawk on the war against Hezbollah but who also pushed for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza  came as voters choose a new president in the United States, Israel's top military backer.

Netanyahu and Gallant have frequently clashed over Israel's retaliatory military offensive against Hamas following the Palestinian militant group's deadly attack on Israel on October 7 last year.

"Over the past few months... trust has eroded. In light of this, I decided today to end the term of the defense minister," a statement from the Netanyahu's office said, adding that he had appointed foreign minister Israel Katz to take his place.

Shortly after his appointment, Katz vowed "victory over our enemies and to achieve the goals of the war", including "the destruction of Hamas in Gaza, the defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon" and the return of hostages.

Gideon Saar, a minister without portfolio, was appointed to replace Katz as foreign minister.

After being fired, Gallant posted on X that Israel's security would remain his life's "mission."

He called on the government to bring home the hostages in Gaza while they were "still alive" and insisted that all Israelis of draft age must serve in the military.

The United States praised Gallant, a key intermediary with Washington, as "an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel."

"As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israel's next minister of defense," a State Department spokesperson said.

Divisions 'grew wider'

Netanyahu said he had made attempts to bridge his differences with Gallant.

"But they only grew wider. These divisions even reached public knowledge in an unusual manner and, worse, became known to our enemies, who... derived substantial benefit from them," he said.

Gallant and Netanyahu had also disagreed on the issue of exemption from military service for ultra-Orthodox men.

The sacked minister had been a key advocate for ultra-Orthodox Jews to be called up, but Netanyahu wanted their exemption to continue, fearing their conscription could break up his far-right coalition government.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Netanyahu "did well" to remove Gallant.

Netanyahu 'emboldened'

The reshuffle's timing comes at a critical juncture in the Gaza and Lebanon wars, with both Hamas and Hezbollah massively weakened.

Jonathan Rynhold of the political studies department at Bar-Ilan University told AFP Netanyahu is feeling "emboldened because he is improving in the polls."

"He is also taking advantage of the fact that the US election is happening today... everyone's focus is elsewhere," he said.

Aviv Bushinsky, a political commentator and former Netanyahu chief of staff, said Gallant's dismissal was just "a matter of time."

"Maybe Netanyahu fears that the Democrats will win and then it will be more even complicated" to fire Gallant, he said.

"I cannot recall an incident when Israel Katz was in opposition to Netanyahu," he said.

"Besides, Netanyahu thinks he can run the show himself."

Gallant's sacking sparked protests in Tel Aviv, where hundreds of people chanted anti-Netanyahu slogans and demanded the return of hostages held in Gaza.

Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 43,391 people in Gaza, a majority of them civilians, according to Gaza health ministry figures which the United Nations considers to be reliable.

Hamas also seized 251 hostages in their attack, of whom Israel believes 63 people including two children are still alive in Gaza.

After Gallant's dismissal, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group in a statement urged Katz "to prioritize a hostage deal... to secure the immediate release of all hostages."

Rockets and drones

From the air and on the ground, Israeli forces pressed their multi-front campaign Tuesday against militants more than a year after the Gaza war began.

Authorities in Lebanon reported raids across the country.

The health ministry said an Israeli attack in a town south of Beirut killed 15 people, after an earlier strike on the coastal town of Jiyeh killed one person and wounded 20.

Hezbollah on Tuesday claimed it had fired rockets and drones into northern Israel, and also targeted Israeli troops near the border inside Lebanon.

Tuesday's fighting came more than a month into the Hezbollah-Israel war which has left at least 1,990 dead in Lebanon since September 23, according to an AFP tally of health ministry figures.

In neighboring Syria, close to the border with Lebanon, the town of Al-Qusayr came under air attack for the second time in a week.

Israel's military said it carried out "an intelligence-based strike on weapons storage facilities used by Hezbollah's munitions unit."

Syria's official SANA news agency said Al-Qusayr industrial zone was hit and Israel "also targeted some residential buildings surrounding the industrial zone."

West Bank deaths

In the West Bank, which has seen spiralling violence since the October 7 attack, Palestinian officials said Israeli forces killed seven Palestinians in separate operations.

The Israeli military told AFP it had targeted "terrorists."

Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 757 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, according to the Ramallah-based health ministry.

Palestinian attacks on Israelis have also killed at least 24 people in the same period in the West Bank, according to official Israeli figures.

Palestinians in Gaza told AFP that whoever wins Tuesday's U.S. presidential election must end the conflict in the territory.

"We are hanging by a thread, and like every other people in the world, we are looking for someone who can stop the war," said Ayman al-Omreiti, 45, in Gaza City. (AFP)
Elon Musk was sued in a proposed class action on Tuesday by registered voters who signed his petition to support the Constitution for a chance to win his $1 million-a-day giveaway, and now claim it was a fraud.

The complaint filed by Arizona resident Jacqueline McAferty in the Austin, Texas federal court said Musk and his America PAC organization falsely induced voters to sign by claiming they would choose winners randomly, though they were predetermined.

She also said the defendants profited from the giveaway by driving traffic and attention to Musk's X social media platform, and by collecting personal information such as her name, address and phone number that they could sell.

A lawyer for Musk and lawyers for McAferty did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the complaint.

McAferty sued one day after a Philadelphia judge denied a request by that city's district attorney Larry Krasner to end the giveaway, which Krasner called an illegal lottery.

That ruling was largely symbolic because Musk has no plans to give out more money following the U.S. presidential election.

The world's richest person opened the giveaway to voters in seven battleground states who signed a petition to support free speech and gun rights. Tuesday's lawsuit seeks at least $5 million in damages for everyone who signed.

Musk is a Texas resident and his electric car company Tesla is based in Austin.

He has supported Republican Donald Trump in the presidential race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

The case is McAferty v Musk et al, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, No. 24-01346. (Reuters)
China will continue to work with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday, after Donald Trump claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election.

Chinese strategists expect more fiery rhetoric and potentially crippling tariffs from Trump, who has proposed tariffs on Chinese imports in excess of 60% and ending China's most-favoured-nation trading status.

"Our policy towards the U.S. is consistent," spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press conference in Beijing, when asked how Trump returning to the Oval Office would affect U.S.-China relations.

"We will continue to view and handle China-U.S. relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation," she added.

China sells goods worth more than $400 billion annually to the U.S. and hundreds of billions more in components for products Americans buy from elsewhere.

Analysts say the prospect of a trade war has rattled China's leadership, who have leant heavily on exports to drive growth as consumers hold off spending in the ailing $19 trillion economy. (Reuters)
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Cloudy. Periods of light rain this morning. Morning high of 48F with temps falling to near 35. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 24F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Rain showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. Morning high of 61F with temps falling sharply to near 35. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 24F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
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Internet users praised SHINee Minho after he scolded a man who lets his wife do most of the childrearing.

To commemorate the release of his first full album "CALL BACK" on November 4, Minho has been appearing in various shows to promote his release.

In a recent broadcast he attended, the idol then drew admiration for his "feminist" remark as he called out the streamer for his views on childcare.

In particular, the man stated while laughing:

"My wife mostly does the childcare."

              pic.twitter.com/apwFwWHT0f   (@mingdam99) November 4, 2024

Perplexed, Minho, while still being playful, almost hit the guy while cursing and immediately reprimanded him.

The streamer then explained that he has the concept of a "tired dad" on his livestream, and justified this by stating how he would attend to his baby at night from 7 p.m. and has to wake up at 5 or 6 a.m. to spend time with them. Between that, his wife takes care of the baby.

Hearing this, Minho said:

"No, that's not it! You should also contribute during the time in between as well, you rascal!"

The man excused himself that he's mostly away due to work but he would do video calls and stuff like that to make up for that.

going viral in kr for being a feminist & scolding a man for acting like childcare is not an equal job and a woman's responsibility



oh Minho, the man you are https://t.co/zHbOBZ0yAt  isSHINeeback? (@isSHINeeback) November 5, 2024

that time when someone said Minho was just a basic average korean man and then a korean tweeted "IF THE CHOI MINHO WAS AVERAGE KOREAN MEN, KOREAS BIRTH RATE WOULDNT BE THAT LOW"



they were so real for that https://t.co/sYBY5hcfpL  hito (@nyxofson) November 5, 2024

The way Minho almost cursed and almost smacked the dude on live broadcast as soon as he said that his wife mostly does the childcare, then proceeds to lecture him on how childcare should be done equally by both parents pic.twitter.com/rm2BAmLjex   | Grace  (@Ace_BBH) November 5, 2024

oh this too!!! Minho didnt say you have to help your wife but he said you have to do it together with your wife



its like saying the man shouldnt be praised for helping the wife bc raising kids is originally both the parents job.  . https://t.co/6KbC8oDTPV   (@earthtotaemin) November 5, 2024

READ ALSO: Reporter Shares Anecdote About SHINee Minho After Subscribing to His Bubble

Unconvinced, Minho called out his action.

"It sounds like you're doing all these to escape from doing all that work, but anyway, listen, from time to time you should also contribute and do childcare together."

When this clip circulated online, people were impressed by Minho's mindset.

While the task of raising a kid is the responsibility of both parents, due to the misogynistic views of childbirth in South Korea, this mindset is rare.

Koreans then recalled the time someone called Minho a "basic man" as an insult, but they refuted this by stating that if he's "basic," then Korea's birthrate shouldn't be a problem.

RELATED ARTICLE: SHINee Minho Apologizes Following Shawols' Disapproval of His Upcoming Activity: 'I only wanted to...'

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dela Cruz
HYBE has announced the updates regarding BTS' activities and its forecast for sales.

On November 5, Korean news outlet MyDaily shared that HYBE's Chief Financial Officer Lee Kyung-jun revealed that the company is currently discussing with BTS members about their full group activities in 2026, while also monitoring the company's revenue forecasts.

HYBE also acknowledged BTS' major contribution to the company's revenue status but added how it was planning to develop a "diversified revenue model" through its current roster of artists and business ventures.

The CFO shared, "Although we are expecting BTS' return to generate significant revenue, our dependence on them will not be as high as it was in the past, given the growth of new businesses and other artists."

Meanwhile, the update garnered reactions from netizens in an online thread, where they became skeptical of HYBE's announcement of lowering dependence on BTS.

Read their comments below:

"They will literally disappear if not for Bang-SEV-NewJeans"

"How many years have they been talking about lowering their dependence already?"

"What a joke, who will believe those lies?"

"They have been talking about lowering dependence on BTS for 3 years already. NJ (and SEVENTEEN to some extent) was their best shot and it's not going to happen now."

Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Israel Monte
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By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The next general election will be held on November 29th, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris will travel to Aras an Uachtarain on Friday, the official residence of the President, to seek the dissolution of the Dail.

The highly-anticipated announcement will formally kick off a truncated campaign which will last mere weeks.

It cuts the sitting of the Dail just months shy of its full five-year maximum term  and comes after the Government progressed legislation it had identified as priorities to conclude following Octobers Budget.

The upcoming election brings to an end the historic coalition which was formed in mid-2020, bringing together Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in an agreement which ended a rivalry dating back to the Civil War.

The talks to form a Government were carried out over five months, influenced by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Green Party leader Roderic OGorman, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA

Joining with the Greens to hold a majority in the Dail, ministries were divided across the parties and an agreement for a rotating taoiseach was formed.

It saw Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin taking the top role for the first half of the lifetime of the Government, later replaced by then-Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar.

Mr Harris became Taoiseach earlier this year after Mr Varadkar decided to step away from his stewardship of the party.

The lifetime of the Government has been characterised by its response to several challenges, from the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, the inability to accommodate rising numbers of asylum seekers and compounding pressures in housing  including record levels of homelessness.

More recently, the Government has faced criticism for its public spending after it emerged 336,000 had been spent on a bike shed at the parliament, on top of other issues such as the spiralling cost of a multibillion-euro childrens hospital in Dublin.

It also suffered a knock when referendums it put forward were overwhelmingly rejected by the public in early 2024.

However, Government figures hail a range of measures for families including reducing the cost of childcare, the introduction of hot school meals and free school books as key policies.

They also point to efforts to accommodate of more than 100,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine and the overall management of the public purse as among its successes.

Elsewhere, senior ministers are proud of the coalitions record on increasing housing delivery and the recognition of Palestinian statehood amid Israels war in Gaza. However, detractors feel that the scale of Government action in these areas was insufficient.

The election comes shortly after what was characterised as a giveaway Budget, which included additional child benefit, pension, and other social welfare payments occurring before polling day.

The results of the last election left Fianna Fail with a narrow seat lead ahead of Sinn Fein and Fine Gael. Sinn Fein had the highest percentage of first-preference votes, but came in second ahead of Fine Gael.

It was seen as both a monumentally successful result for Sinn Fein, the largest opposition party, and among the worst performances for the other two major parties.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Brian Lawless/PA)

At the time, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald faced criticism for not running more candidates which would have capitalised on its large share of first-preference votes.

Since then, Sinn Fein has admitted that it achieved worse-than-expected results in local and European elections in the Republic of Ireland  which took place earlier this year.

The challenge for the Government parties, particularly Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, will be putting forward a convincing message on policies that distinguishes them from their erstwhile colleagues.

However, members of the coalition will be buoyed by a string of controversies that have beset Sinn Fein in recent weeks.

Ms McDonald addressed the Dail on a series of scandals, including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes.

In the election, Ireland will choose more TDs than ever before.

It comes after a recommendation to increase the number of TDs from 160 to 174 to account for a boom in the population. The number of constituencies has increased from 39 to 43.

After polling day, the protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin. As the State uses a system of proportional representation, the voting slips need to be counted several times  an undertaking which can last for days.
WHILE the Taoiseach Simon Harris was in Portlaoise last Friday the Secretary of Physical Impairment Ireland (PII) Leo Kavanagh spoke with him on issues relating to the number of children waiting for spinal surgery.

Mr Kavanagh, from Clonad, is the national spokesperson for the disabled persons representative organisation.

Questioned by Mr Kavanagh on how long children would have to wait for the life changing surgery the Taoiseach told him that the number of children waiting more than four months for spinal surgery is expected to fall to 20 by the end of the year.

The reply Mr Kavanagh said left him, dismayed, disappointed and disillusioned knowing that this promise by the Taoiseach is impracticable due to a number of serious concerns in relation to Childrens Health Ireland.

Mr Kavanagh said that the Taoiseach also informed him that most of the procedures will be done in the three paediatric orthopaedic hospitals in Dublin and that any child with highly complex needs waiting for surgery will, if clinically suitable, and in consultation with their treating clinician, be offered surgery in America. He was informed that two accompanying parents or guardians could fly business class with the child.

In their conversation Mr Harris also praised the work of Mr David Moore, consultant in Orthopaedics who practices mostly in CHI at Crumlin.

Mr Kavanagh reminded the Taoiseach that in 2017 he announced that children waiting on the spinal surgery waiting list for Scoliosis, Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus would have to wait no longer than four months for their procedures.
THE Sinn Fein seat in Laois belongs to Sinn Fein.

That was the battle cry from Maria McCormack when she rallied the party members in Laois after she was formally selected to be the partys candidate in the upcoming general election.

Over 80 members gathered in Portlaoise on Monday night 4 November to endorse Ms McCormacks candidature.

Its party leader Deputy Mary McDonald was also present on the night and described Ms McCormack as an outstanding candidate.

She said: Maria is an outstanding community activist who cares deeply about this county, its present and its future. She is a dedicated Irish Republican, and she will make a first class TD for the people of Laois.

Whether its fighting for school places for children with special needs, working for much needed improvements to transport and public infrastructure, supporting local businesses, and standing up for family farmers  Maria McCormack will be the champion Laois needs now and for the future.

The Sinn Fein seat in Laois was hard won by the relentless work of many republican activists down through the years. Selfless activists who understood that this is not about any individual but always about the bigger picture. It is a seat for the ordinary people of this county, backed by Sinn Fein voters who believe that real change and a better future is possible.

The partys county secretary Aaron Kelly proposed Ms McCormack to be their torchbearer in the election.

He said: In these transformative times for the party in Laois, where we have seen a false narrative of division and despair for the party, we come together as a strong Sinn Fein team here tonight to focus on the future, to focus on unity, to build on the Laois Sinn Fein structures, and to ask voters to give Sinn Fein a chance after 100 plus years of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

He said that Ms McCormack has demonstrated time and again her ability to tackle tough challenges head on and to be a strong voice in areas such as housing, healthcare, special needs, mental health and community development. Maria has worked tirelessly for different organisations throughout Laois such as the Womens Shed, Community First Responders, Families for Autism and Action to Homelessness where she has helped the most vulnerable in our society, proving that when it comes to Maria, nobody is left behind and this is the type of candidate that we need to represent us. Encouraging those present at the election campaign launch to row in behind Ms McCormacks bid for a Dail seat.

Mr Kelly said: Every conversation, every door knocked, and every vote counts. Lets work tirelessly to spread the Sinn Fein message throughout Laois that we have not gone away, we are only getting started. Together, we can drive change, we can retain that Sinn Fein seat and we can make history by getting Maria McCormack elected as the first ever female Laois TD.

Accepting the endorsement from her party colleagues Ms McCormack said: It is an honour for me to be selected by the party to carry the republican banner in Laois and hopefully Dail Eireann. I do not underestimate the challenge I am facing given the recent difficulties in Laois. But I am in this election to win.

Sinn Fein won the seat on three different occasions since 2011. I am determined and the party is determined to hold on to seat in 2024. The people now have a choice for more of the same or a Government lead by Sinn Fein.

That is why it is so important that Sinn Fein holds onto its seat here in Laois. The Sinn Fein seat in Laois belongs to Sinn Fein. It does not belong to anyone in particular. Nor does it belong to any family in particular.

In this constituency, said Ms McCormack, people voted for Sinn Fein in 2011, in 2016 and 2020 because they believe in better future we can have with a Sinn Fein Government. And I believe they will vote for Sinn Fein in 2024 and elect the first woman TD for Sinn Fein in Laois. I believe we can do it.

She expressed her appreciation for the support from Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins, who resigned from Sinn Fein in August over differences he had with it.

She said: Everyone here knows Aidan and his life-long Republican activities. He is highly respected for his active involvement in the struggle for a united Ireland for decades and his leadership role in Laois. His public support for me at this time will help and encourage others to vote for Sinn Fein.
Eimear Dodd

A criminal defence solicitor accused of theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice told a garda he was worried other members of the force would ask him to change his evidence, a court has heard.

On Wednesday, the court heard that Cahir OHiggins (49) recorded a conversation he had with Garda Tao Yu around May 2020. Gda Yu was not aware that a recording was being made at the time.

Mr O'Higgins has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft of 400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017.

It is the State's case that Mr O'Higgins, who was representing a Spanish national in district court on July 30th, 2016, volunteered to use his client's bank card and withdraw 200 to make a payment to the court.

It is alleged that Mr O'Higgins then made three withdrawals totalling 600 from the ATM in the Londis shop on Parkgate Street and allegedly placed 400 into his pocket. A payment of 200 was made to the court and the accused man's case was struck out.

It is further alleged that Mr O'Higgins provided gardai in December 2017 with a copy of notes he claimed to have made on July 30th, 2016. The prosecution say that Mr O'Higgins was aware these notes contained untrue information, and that they were not made on July 30th, 2016.

Mr O'Higgins, of Cahir O'Higgins and Company, Kingsbride House, Parkgate Street, Dublin denies all the allegations against him.

Gda Yu was taken through sections of a transcript of this May 2020 recording by defence counsel and accepted that the transcript was a discussion about a conversation he had with the defendant on July 30th, 2016, after the judge indicated he would strike out the case against the Spanish national if 200 was paid.

CCTV footage shown to the jury on Tuesday showed Gda Yu and Mr O'Higgins talking outside a courtroom on the ground floor of the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Gda Yu on Wednesday agreed that the transcript states he intended to raise the issue of compensation with the judge, but said he could not recall the exact words he used.

Reading from the transcript, Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, said his client told Gda Yu this was the biggest existential risk to my life.

His client continued that he was worried when the case came to court, another garda would say we want to get this guy and ask Gda Yu to forget parts of his evidence. Id lose a vital witness, Mr O'Higgins said, with Gda Yu replying he wouldn't do that.

Defence counsel put to Gda Yu that he told his client that his memory was rock solid. Gda Yu disagreed with this reading of the transcript. I said Im not changing the facts, Gda Yu said, emphasising that his intention was to bring the judge's attention to the issue of compensation if it had been possible.

For whatever reason, your memory has let you down, its nothing to do with your colleagues, defence counsel asked. Absolutely not. Not today, not ever, Gda Yu replied.

He agreed with defence counsel that the transcript states that he recalls seeing Mr O'Higgins pass something to his client in the courtroom.

Mr O'Higgins said, I gave him an envelope with his money in it, to which the transcript records Gda Yu replying, That might explain why it was a sealed envelope.

The witness accepted the transcript states he saw Mr O'Higgins pass something to his client, but said he didn't have a memory of this.

Gda Yu agreed he was later made aware of the recording and asked by gardai investigating the allegations against Mr O'Higgins to make a statement about his dealings with the defendant. He said he hadn't read the transcript prior to attending court.

In other evidence, Raul Sanz Quilis told Eoin Lawlor SC, prosecuting, that he was in Ireland in July 2016 in order to learn English. He gave evidence via videolink with the assistance of a Spanish interpreter.

He confirmed he was arrested in the early hours of July 30th, 2016, taken to a Garda station and later interviewed with a legal aid solicitor present.

He said he was brought to a courthouse to pay the fine where he was placed in a cell with other prisoners. He was then taken to a courtroom where he met a different legal aid lawyer who said he was going to pay the fine of 200.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has previously heard that the solicitor Mr Sanz Quilis met was Mr O'Higgins. In evidence, the witness said he couldn't recall the lawyer's name.

Mr Sanz Quilis said he met this lawyer for the first time in the courtroom and a Spanish interpreter was present.

After the hearing, Mr Sanz Quilis said he was taken back to the cell and a garda asked for his debit card and PIN.

He said he thought he was giving the garda his bank card and pin to take out money from the account to pay the fine, adding nothing was said to him at this point about paying legal fees.

When asked what he had agreed to do at this point, Mr Sanz replied nothing, just to pay the fine.

Mr Sanz Quilis told Mr Lawlor he only consented to money being withdrawn from his account to pay the fine.

Mr Sanz Quilis said he saw the lawyer in the foyer of the court building after his release and the lawyer told him, I was very lucky, if it wasnt for him, I would have been in jail.

The lawyer told him he took money out for his services but, the witness's focus was to leave and return to Spain. He said the lawyer didn't give me any money.

Mr Sanz Quilis later clarified that the lawyer referred to a quantity of money, adding that his English was limited and I didnt know what he said.

He said the lawyer only provided him with a contact number on a piece of paper, but nothing else.

Mr Sanz Quilis was taken through a copy of his bank statement and confirmed that three withdrawals of 200 were made on July 30th, 2016.

Under cross-examination, Mr Sanz Quilis agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, that he had been socialising on the night of July 29th with friends and they went to a nightclub in the early hours.

He described himself as happy when asked if he had been intoxicated.

Defence counsel suggested to the witness that he deliberately started a fire in a toilet cubicle at Dicey's nightclub with a lighter. The witness insisted it was not intentional.

Mr Sanz Quilis told Mr O'Higgins SC that he didn't remember what happened inside the courtroom and that he didn't understand the language.

Defence counsel suggested that the lawyer handed Mr Sanz Quilis money in an envelope or wrapped in paper after his release. I didnt receive any money. If he did offer anything, I would have say no.

Mr Sanz Quilis accepted it was possible his lawyer told him that he had taken extra money out and he replied he didn't want it as he wanted to leave.

He further accepted the defence's suggestion that it is possible that the absence of cash withdrawals in the days following July 30th, 2016 meant he had cash.

Mr Sanz Quilis said he understood legal aid meant the services of a solicitor were free, but emphasised he'd have paid any amount his lawyer asked for because he wanted to leave.

Mr O'Higgins SC suggested to him that he received the money back and either spent it or lost it. I never received any money, he replied.

Counsel put it to the witness that he lied to gardai about how the fire started in the toilet cubicle. I told the truth to gardai as here now, nothing was intentional, he responded.

Mr Sanz Quilis rejected a suggestion from defence counsel that he didn't wish to return to Ireland as he realised he had been lucky to avoid a conviction and because he has a poor recollection of events.

I am actually afraid to return to Ireland because of the lawyer that he would do something against me, the witness replied.

When re-examined by Mr Lawlor, the witness said he was afraid to return to Ireland because of how he was treated by the gardai and the lawyer. I do not know the power that lawyer has against a person like me who is a nobody.

Mr O'Higgins has pleaded not guilty to the theft of 400 on July 30th, 2016 at Londis shop, on Parkgate Street.

He also pleaded not guilty to four counts of perverting the course of public justice contrary to common law, on December 8th and December 17th, 2017, within the State and at the Bridewell Garda Station in Dublin.

The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.
BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- China has appropriately enhanced the intensity of the proactive fiscal policy so far this year, utilizing a combination of policy tools, including ultra-long special treasury bonds and tax and fee reductions to promote its sustained economic recovery. The country has leveraged the multiplier effect of government spending to support development in key areas. Some 700 billion yuan (about 98.31 billion U.S. dollars) in the central government budget has been earmarked for investment this year, with the focus on supporting scientific and technological innovation, new infrastructure and carbon reduction, and improving people's livelihoods, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF). The special-purpose bonds for local governments to be issued this year stand at a record 3.9 trillion yuan. In the first three quarters, the MOF said that 3.6 trillion yuan of bonds had been issued to support over 30,000 projects. Some 700 billion yuan of funds raised via the ultra-long special treasury bonds have been allocated to support the implementation of major national strategies and build up security capacity in key areas. To promote steady consumption growth, China introduced a large-scale equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in program in March this year and stepped up policy support in July with a fund injection of 300 billion yuan via ultra-long special treasury bonds. Since its launch, the trade-in program for automobiles and home appliances has achieved positive results. It is set to help further spur consumer spending and consolidate the country's ongoing economic recovery, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC). As of Oct. 24, the MOC had received 1.57 million applications for scrappage incentives and 1.26 million applications for automobile replacement subsidies. The trade-in policy has revitalized consumer demand, propelled the development of new quality productive forces, promoted the green transformation of relevant industries, and injected strong impetus into consolidating the upward economic trajectory, said Li Gang, an official with the MOC. China has also optimized preferential tax and fee policies to boost the vitality of market entities. In the first eight months of the year, tax and fee cuts and tax rebates in support of scientific and technological innovation and the development of the manufacturing industry exceeded 1.8 trillion yuan, according to MOF. Minister of Finance Lan Fo'an told a press conference last month that China will introduce a package of targeted incremental fiscal policy measures in the near future to boost the economy. The package includes increasing the debt ceiling on a relatively large scale in a lump sum to replace existing hidden debts of local governments and help defuse their debt risks. Calling it "the strongest debt alleviation measure introduced in recent years," Lan said the move is "undoubtedly a timely policy rain." "It will greatly reduce the pressure on local governments to dissolve debts, free up more resources for economic development, and boost the confidence of business entities," the minister said.
Jessica Magee

Two men, including a former Soviet fighter pilot, who flew heroin worth 8.4 million into Dublin on a light aircraft last year, have been sentenced to 10 and eight years in prison.

Aradi Ignac (50), of Kecskemet, Hungary, and Zoltan Nemeth (63), of Sukosd in Hungary, pleaded guilty to smuggling heroin into Weston Airport on dates between November 28th and December 1st last year.

A further charge against Aradi, of facilitating or enhancing organised crime, was taken into consideration.

In a ruling at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday, Judge Elma Duffy set a headline sentence of 13 years for Aradi, imposing an actual term of 10 years.

Judge Duffy said Aradi was higher up in what she described as a sophisticated operation, as he had been involved in the planning of bringing a planeload of drugs into Ireland on a light aircraft, effectively by the back door.

Its clear there was a big operation behind this, and he was part of this big operation, said Judge Duffy.

She set a headline sentence of 10 years for Nemeth, a retired army pilot with 25 years of public service, as she said he may not have been involved in planning and had turned something of a blind eye as to what was being transported.

Nemeth told gardai that he was aware that what they were carrying was illegal, but that he thought it was some kind of prohibited earth or metal material used in the making of microchips.

Judge Duffy said it was particularly tragic that Nemeth, who put in many years of public service in the former Soviet Union and Hungary, retiring at the level of major, had found himself engaged in illegal activities.

Both accused have been in custody since their arrest last December where they are on 23-hour lock up for their own protection, the court heard.

Detective Sergeant Leo Clayton told Jane Horgan-Jones BL, prosecuting, that the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) had received confidential information about the scheduled landing of a specific Cessna 210 light aircraft.

The court heard that staff at Weston airport noted that the aircraft piloted by Nemeth appeared to be tail-heavy as it was coming in to land, and that men requested a hangar, which was unusual.

Both men indicated to airport staff that they would be staying for a few days, before they left the airport in a taxi.

Gardai then found 60kg of suspected diamorphine in blocks inside black bags, hidden in the tail of the aircraft.

The haul was analysed by Forensic Science Ireland as comprising 120 packages of heroin, each weighing approximately half a kilo, with a total estimated street value of 8.4 million.

The aircraft and the men were kept under observation for a few days before Nemeth was arrested after he arrived back at Weston Airport intending to fly to a smaller airfield in Celbridge, Co Kildare.

Aradi was arrested when the car he was driving was stopped on Hazelhatch Road in Celbridge.

Nemeth told gardai he was a qualified pilot and instructor who had served in the Hungarian military between 1979 and 2005.

He said he didnt know what was in the plane, although he knew the packages were illegal.

Gardai confiscated the sums of 3,270 found on Aradi and 630 found on Nemeth.

Aradi said he had owned a number of construction companies but had fallen into debt to unnamed, but very dangerous, individuals, to the tune of around 1 billion euro.

Photos of the drugs were found on his mobile phone and he admitted that he was aware he was transporting controlled drugs and that he was the person with the keys for the aircraft.

Aradi said he was to have 200,000 cleared from his debt for transporting the drugs.

The court heard that both men had landed in Weston Airport several times in the two months prior to the offence, travelling either together or with a different pilot, once using the same plane and once using a different plane.

Both Aradi and Nemeth outlined their flight route, giving details of travelling via the Netherlands and France en route to Ireland.

Nemeth has no previous convictions in any jurisdiction.

Aradi has 10 previous convictions, including theft, criminal damage, fraud, obstructing the operation of public interest and smuggling counterfeit goods.

Sgt Clayton agreed with Michael Bowman SC, defending Aradi, that he had been mannerly with gardai and had answered all questions, although he had refused to give details on any third parties involved in the operation as he feared for his familys safety.

My family is in danger, Aradi said, apologising for not being able to say to whom he owed money or where he was to deliver the drugs.

Aradi told gardai he had fallen into debt and had borrowed about 200,00 from a loan shark, but that interest was added to the loan almost every day and he ended up owing a billion.

He said he felt he had been tested by doing a few trial runs to Ireland in the months before the delivery, to see if he was someone that could be used to transport a large amount of drugs.

Commenting on the operation behind the offence, Sgt Clayton said: Drugs go hand-in-hand with money-laundering and hand-in-hand with violence.

The court heard that Aradi has five children, one of whom died in a car crash two years ago at the age of 21.

He began abusing pain medication and was diagnosed with a brain tumour, although he appears to be in remission.

Fiona Murphy SC, defending Nemeth, said he had also answered all questions, cooperated with gardai and pleaded early.

Counsel said Nemeth had spent a significant portion of his life in public service, initially training as a fighter pilot in the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.

He then worked his way back up in the Hungarian military where he served for 25 years and raised five adult children before an amicable divorce, the court heard.

Nemeth also has a young child with his second wife.

On his retirement from the army, Nemeth worked as an instructor in an aerobatic school.

Letters of reference speaking highly of both accused were handed into court from family members, friends and former employers, including a testimonial for Nemeth from the former president of an aviation association.

The court heard that both men have received four visits from family since they went into custody and that they find being in an Irish prison a very lonely and very isolating experience.

Both have very little English and Nemeth suffers from chronic heart and kidney issues, the court heard.

Judge Duffy directed that Nemeth receive medical assistance for his conditions. She said he was a man of previous good character and was lower down the ladder in the offence but added that he had brought his piloting skills to bear in this operation.

Both sentences were backdated to December 1st last year, when the men went into custody.
Washington, Nov 6 (PTI) Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the presidential elections to her Republican rival Donald Trump, would address her supporters on Wednesday afternoon, according to her campaign and the White House.

In an invite sent to her supporters and volunteers, her campaign said the Democratic leader would be at an event at Howard University.

Also Read | Donald Trump Victory: Russian President Vladimir Putin Open to 'Constructive Dialogue' With US, Says Kremlin.

We invite you to join the Harris-Walz campaign for an event with Vice President Kamala Harris today at Howard University in Washington, DC, said the invite.

The White House said Harris would deliver her speech at 4 pm EST (2.30 am IST, Thursday).

Also Read | Earthquake in Papa New Guinea: Quake of Magnitude 6.1 on Richter Scale Jolts New Ireland Region.

Second Gentleman Douglas Craig Emhoff will also attend the event, a media advisory said.

Trump has, so far, received 277 electoral college votes, seven more than required for him to be declared the winner of the presidential elections.

Harris has 224 in her kitty. Races in two states, Arizona with 11 electoral college votes and Michigan with 15, have not been called yet, though Trump is leading in both of them.

Harris, 60, has not been seen in public since election results started coming on Wednesday night. There has been no social media post or a statement from her either.

It is likely that Harris would first call president-elect Trump, 78, to congratulate him on his electoral victory. After that, she would deliver an address to the nation. Her term as vice president of the US ends on January 20.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Nashville, Nov 6 (AP) Tennessee's Republican legislative supermajority will remain unchanged after Democrats failed to flip seats in a handful of competitive races, but the minority party didn't give up any ground, either.

Unofficial election results show that Republicans will continue to hold 75 out of the 99 seats inside the House chamber, the same amount the GOP held before Tuesday. Over in the Senate, Republicans will have 27 members while Democrats will continue to have just six.

Also Read | US Presidential Election Results 2024: Will Interact With Donald Trump Administration, Our Conditions Have Not Changed, Says Russia.

Last night (Tennessee) gave Republicans from the State House to the White House a historic mandate to pursue conservative policies that benefit workers and families, Republican Rep. Jeremy Faison, the House GOP caucus chairman, wrote on social media. Democrats were sent home and didn't gain an inch in a resounding defeat.

Some Democratic officials expressed relief that their numbers didn't diminish as Republicans enjoyed big wins nationally, with former President Donald Trump winning a second term and the GOP winning control of the US Senate. In Tennessee, Trump and Republican US Sen. Marsha Blackburn both ran up their margins to almost 30 percentage points, outpacing their previous statewide elections.

Also Read | Elon Musk's Tesla Stock Surges 15% in Early US Trade After Donald Trump's Win.

"It may not look like progress," said Rep. John Ray Clemmons, the House Democratic Caucus chairman. But in this environment, and given the national political headwinds that we were facing at the top of the ticket, holding the line was truly remarkable.

Democrats had invested heavily in Allie Phillips' bid to flip a Republican-controlled House seat just north of Nashville. Phillips shot to national fame when she shared on social media that she was unable to get an abortion in Tennessee for a non-viable pregnancy under the state's abortion ban and was forced to travel to Washington, DC, to get the health care that she needed.

Yet despite the boost from national media coverage, Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart won reelection by nearly 10 percentage points.

Over in Nashville, Democrat Shaundelle Brooks won an open House seat, defeating Republican Chad Bobo. Republicans had sought to gain ground in the Democratic district in Tennessee's liberal-leaning capital city, but Brooks had a nearly eight-point lead over Bobo as of Wednesday.

Brooks' son, Akilah DaSilva, was among the four people killed and two wounded in a mass shooting at a Nashville Waffle House in 2018. The tragedy kickstarted Brooks' gun control advocacy in a state with lax firearms laws.

On the flip side, Democrats were unable to chip away at Republican control around Memphis when GOP Rep. John Gillespie was reelected by four points over Democrat Jess Huseth.

With the Republican supermajority intact, GOP Gov. Bill Lee and legislative leaders wasted no time preparing once again to enact a universal school voucher program in Tennessee. On Wednesday, Lee and other key lawmakers unveiled a proposal outlining a voucher policy that would allow families to use public funds for private school tuition.

Lee had pitched a sweeping voucher proposal earlier this year, but Republican infighting on how exactly the policy should be implemented prompted the governor to abandon the idea.

It's unclear if he'll have more consensus in 2025. Lee took the extra step during the August primary election of endorsing Republican school choice proponents, and none of those candidates lost on Tuesday.

In neighbouring Kentucky on Tuesday, voters soundly rejected a voucher-style ballot measure intended to allow state lawmakers to allocate public tax dollars to support students attending private or charter schools.

Separately, Tennessee voters approved several ballot initiatives ranging from gun control to transit improvements.

In Memphis, voters approved a non-binding ballot measure that sought to require permits to carry a handgun, ban the possession of AR-15 style rifles and implement a so-called red flag ordinance, which allows law enforcement officials to remove firearms from those found to be an imminent danger to themselves or others.

While the measure was put in front of voters, city officials and other supporters acknowledged that it wouldn't be enacted without support from the Tennessee Legislature, which has rebuffed almost all its provisions.

In Nashville, voters signed off on a USD 3.1 billion transportation proposal that supporters say will improve the city's bus system, sidewalks and traffic signals. Under the plan, Davidson County  which encompasses Nashville  will increase its sales tax by half a cent to fund the transit improvements.

What Nashvillians can look forward to is sidewalks that connect to one another, traffic lights that are smart enough to keep the maximum amount of traffic moving, a transportation system that makes sense and is convenient when you need it, and roads with safety improvements for the first time in decades," Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said in a statement. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], November 6 (ANI): Former diplomat Manjeev Singh Puri discussed the implications of Donald Trump's win in US presidential elections, emphasising his commitment to pulling the US out of foreign conflicts.

"President Trump has repeatedly said that he will take the US out of wars... He talks in terms of Ukraine, everyone says that President Zelenskyy has reasons to be apprehensive but I believe that the Europeans have reasons to be apprehensive because his understanding of trans-Atlantic relationships is one where they must also pay and not just be beneficiaries. This idea of free riders doesn't sit well with him," Manjeev Puri told ANI.

Also Read | Elon Musk's Tesla Stock Surges 15% in Early US Trade After Donald Trump's Win.

Puri further remarked that in the context of the ongoing rivalry with Russia, particularly in Ukraine, Trump's approach may lead to a push for finding a solution to the crisis. He believes that Trump's stance on global power dynamics might drive him to seek resolutions that could reshape traditional alliances.

In a separate statement, Puri addressed Donald Trump's recent post on X (formerly Twitter) supporting the Hindu community. "Why should any community or any minority community in any country be targeted?" Puri questioned, underlining the significance of India's position in global relations.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Speaks to US President-Elect Donald Trump, Congratulates Him on Spectacular Poll Win.

https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1852033622494105832

He emphasised, "The US-Bangladesh relations have their own elements. We think we are the only players in the region, but that is not it. We are an important player and we have our own understanding and the US has their own understanding of things. The largest Bangladeshi community in US are not Hindus. Trump has been President, we've seen what they have done on these issues in the past."

Puri concluded by asserting that under the Trump administration, issues egregious to India would not go unnoticed or unaddressed. "In my understanding, India is of importance to the US and things that are egregious to India will not find easy play under the Trump administration."

Trump's victory, after defeating Kamala Harris, stems from widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo in the US, Politico reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
London, Nov 6 (AP) British health officials say they have identified four cases of the new, more infectious version of mpox that first emerged in Congo, marking the first time the variant has caused a cluster of illness outside of Africa. Scientists said the risk to the public remains low.

Authorities announced the first case of the new form of mpox in the UK last week, saying the case was being treated at a London hospital after recently travelling to countries in Africa with ongoing outbreaks.

Also Read | US Presidential Election Results 2024: Will Interact With Donald Trump Administration, Our Conditions Have Not Changed, Says Russia.

This week, the UK Health Security Agency said it had now identified three further cases who lived in the same household as the first patient. They too are now being treated at a hospital in London.

Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household, said Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor of the UK Health Security Agency.

Also Read | Elon Musk's Tesla Stock Surges 15% in Early US Trade After Donald Trump's Win.

The new variant of mpox was first detected earlier this year in eastern Congo. Scientists believe it causes milder symptoms that are harder to notice, which makes it easier to spread because people may not know they are infected. Its spread in Congo and elsewhere in Africa prompted the World Health Organisation to declare a global emergency in August.

Britain recorded more than 3,000 cases of another type of mpox during a 2022 outbreak that hit more than 100 countries.

The new variant of mpox has also caused outbreaks in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Single cases in travellers have also been reported in Sweden, India, Germany and Thailand.

To date, there have been about 43,000 suspect cases of mpox in Africa, including more than 1,000 deaths, mostly in Congo.

On Wednesday, WHO said it had allocated 899,900 vaccine doses to nine African countries struggling with mpox epidemics. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Precincts in both Lehigh and Northampton counties saw high turnout and in some cases long waits in line at polling places as a tight presidential race played out in perhaps the most bellwether of regions in Pennsylvania, a state thats likely to decide it all.

Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, and former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, both held rallies in Allentown in the past week.

Trump prevailed locally, as well as nationally. He outperformed his 2020 numbers here and carried Northampton County, which also backed him in 2016 but flipped to Biden in the last cycle.

The down-ballot races had also drew intense local campaigning with the balance of power in Congress hinging in part on the success of U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley, and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. For the Republicans, Pennsylvania state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie was running for Wilds seat and businessman Dave McCormick sought to oust Casey.

Unofficial results show Mackenzie winning, and the Republican declared victory at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Election officials had cautioned that complete, unofficial results may be delayed due in part to counting mail-in ballots.

But most of the local, unofficial results were in as of early Wednesday morning. Heres a look at those results and other developments from Election Night in the Lehigh Valley:

7:15 a.m.: Republican Pennsylvania state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie has declared victory over Democrat U.S. Rep. Susan Wild in Pennsylvanias 7th Congressional District. Im incredibly proud of the campaign that we waged, Mackenzie said in a news release. Because of the hard work of our supporters, our team has managed to overcome the odds, beat the polls, and deliver change for the Greater Lehigh Valley.

12:34 p.m.: Shortly after midnight, Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie led incumbent Democrat Susan Wild by a vote tally of 191,651 to 180,768, a difference of 2.9 percentage points, in the race for Wilds seat in Congress representing Pennsylvanias 7th Congressional District. Thats according to unofficial results posted by the districts constituent counties of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton and Monroe. Neither candidate appeared to claim victory or concede defeat as Wednesday arrived.

12:20 p.m.: Five Republican incumbent candidates appear to have staved off Democratic challengers to represent the Lehigh Valley in the Pa. House of Representatives, according to unofficial election results in Lehigh and Northampton counties. The results show state Reps. Joe Emrick, Ann Flood, Milou Mackenzie, Zach Mako and Gary Day all likely defeating their Democratic opponents.

12:08 p.m.: First-term Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. narrowly fended off Democratic challenger Sue Altman in New Jerseys most hotly contested U.S. House race in Tuesdays elections. Kean declared victory and Altman appeared to accept defeat but did not formally concede late Tuesday evening. The Associated Press had not called the race shortly before midnight. The politically purple 7th Congressional District includes Warren and Hunterdon counties.

11:59 p.m.: Donald Trump appears to have carried Northampton County, according to unofficial election results. With 98.1% of precincts reporting, Trump had 81,562 votes, or 52.22% of the vote countywide; while Harris had 73,115 votes for 46.81% of the vote. The county has long been a bellwether. Trump won the county in 2016, but President Joe Biden flipped it in 2020.

11:48 p.m.: Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the AP reports. Houlahan, 57, was running for a fourth term in her Democratic-leaning district based in Chester County in suburban Philadelphia. Houlahan beat Republican Neil Young. Houlahan, a former Air Force engineer and athletic apparel company executive, was first elected in 2018.

11:22 p.m.: The AP reports Republican Rep. Lloyd Smucker won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Smucker, 60, was running for a fifth term in his heavily Republican district based in Lancaster County in southeastern Pennsylvania. Smucker beat Democrat Jim Atkinson. Smucker is a former state lawmaker who was first elected to Congress in 2016.

10:35 p.m.: Republican Rep. Guy Reschenthaler won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the AP reports. Reschenthaler, 41, was running for a fourth term in his Republican-leaning district in southwestern Pennsylvania. Reschenthaler defeated Democrat Chris Dziados. Reschenthaler, a former state lawmaker and U.S. Navy lawyer, was first elected in 2018.

10:18 p.m.: PennLive.com reports multiple bomb threats were emailed to polling places and municipal buildings across Pennsylvania as the polls neared closing time on Tuesday. Media reports identified locations in Chester, Clearfield and Centre counties where threats were received, causing building evacuations. Gov. Josh Shapiro said there was no credible threat to the public.

10:15 p.m.: In the Lehigh Valleys congressional race, Republican state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie was clinging to a slim lead as of 10 p.m. over Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Susan Wild in Pennsylvanias 7th Congressional District. Partial, unofficial results totaled 102,653 for Mackenzie to 100,814 for Wild across Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties.

10:14 p.m.: The AP reports Republican Rep. Mike Kelly won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Kelly, 76, was running for an eighth term in his Republican-leaning district in northwestern Pennsylvania. Kelly beat Democrat Preston Nouri. Kelly, who owns a string of car dealerships, was first elected in 2010.

10:09 p.m.: Trump and Harris are nearly tied with 56% of precincts reporting in the bellwether Northampton County. Unofficial results as of 10 p.m. show Harris with 50,295, or 49.67% of the vote; Trumps vote total was 49,992, good for 49.37% of the vote.

9:49 p.m.: Republican Rep. Daniel Meuser won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the AP reports. Meuser, 60, was running for a fourth term in his heavily Republican district in northeastern Pennsylvania. Meuser beat Democrat Amanda Waldman. Meuser is a former state revenue secretary who helped run a family mobility products business. He was first elected in 2018.

9:38 p.m.: The AP reports Republican Rep. Glenn Thompson won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Thompson, 65, was running for a ninth term in his heavily Republican district in northern Pennsylvania. Thompson beat Democrat Zach Womer. Thompson, who has served as House Agriculture Committee chairman, was first elected in 2008.

9:19 p.m.: Democratic Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the AP reports. Scanlon, 65, was running for a fourth term in her Democratic-leaning district based in Delaware County, just outside Philadelphia. Scanlon beat Republican Alfeia Goodwin. Scanlon, a public interest lawyer before she ran for office, was first elected in 2018.

9:14 p.m.: Democratic U.S. Rep. Andy Kim won Tuesdays election to become New Jerseys newest member of the U.S. Senate, according to a swift projection by the Associated Press, claiming the open seat that once belonged to the disgraced Robert Menendez  and punctuating a dramatic campaign that upended the states party-boss power structure. Kim defeated Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw in the general election to become the first Asian American senator from New Jersey and the first U.S. senator of Korean descent from any state.

8:22 p.m.: Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the AP reports. Boyle, 47, was running for a sixth term in his heavily Democratic district in Philadelphia. Boyle beat Republican Aaron Bashir. Boyle is a former state lawmaker. He won a four-way Democratic primary on his way to being first elected in 2014.

8:12 p.m.: The AP reports Democratic Rep. Summer Lee won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Lee, 36, was running for a second term in her heavily Democratic district based in Pittsburgh. Lee defeated Republican James Hayes. Lee, a lawyer and former state lawmaker, was first elected to Congress in 2022.

8:10 p.m.: Polls have closed in Pennsylvania. Those who were in line as of 8 p.m. will still be allowed to vote. Stay put if thats your situation right now. If youre having an issue, call the Election Protection Hotline at the following numbers: English: 1-866-687-8683; Spanish: 1-888-839-8682; Arabic: 1-844-925-5287. For Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, or Vietnamese: 1-888-274-8683.

7:20 p.m.: WFMZ.com reports Northampton County officials replaced one voting machine that went down and added a fourth machine to a South Bethlehem precinct due to overwhelming voter turnout. Some celebrities even stopped by to keep students entertained, the website says. Jonathan Groff and Wanda Sykes made guest appearances.

7:13 p.m.: Northampton County President Judge Craig Dally denied a request by the Northampton County Democratic Committee to extend hours at Ward 3 in South Bethlehem to 10 p.m. The Democrats said some people were forced to wait in line for three and a half to four hours. The judge determined the polls will close at 8 p.m., but anyone in line at that time will still be allowed to vote.

3:58 p.m.: In swing-state Pennsylvania, early reports indicating that Republican poll watchers were not allowed into some polling sites were soon resolved, according to the Associated Press. A Pennsylvania state judge ordered polls to remain open for two extra hours in Cambria County, which voted 68% for former President Donald Trump in 2020. The county sought the extension after a software malfunction affected ballot-scanning machines, though county officials confirmed no one was turned away from the polls and said all ballots would be counted.

1:37 p.m.: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Democratic vice-presidential hopeful on Kamala Harris ticket for the White House, stopped by a Harrisburg staple to speak with supporters Tuesday around noon, according to our sister website PennLive.com.

1:25 p.m.: Lehighvalleynews.com reports voters waited hours in line to enter a polling place at the Banana Factory Arts Center in South Bethlehem. The website says many were Lehigh University students who didnt have classes on Tuesday.
Crews are working Wednesday morning to further contain a wildfire that has scorched nearly 600 acres since it started five days ago on the Blue Mountain at Lehigh Gap.

Bob Kurilla, spokesman for the bureau thats part of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, told lehighvalleylive.com Wednesday morning containment remains at 25%. He expected that amount to rise as the day progresses Wednesday.

Challenges, however, remain with extreme dry conditions and no rainfall this week. The drought conditions  declared in half of Pennsylvanias 67 counties  has already led to a fire ban on State Game Lands.

Adding to Wednesdays forecast are warmer and much windier conditions than earlier in the week, further testing control lines, Kurilla said. He doesnt expect any precipitation until Sunday evening into Monday. Thats when the National Weather Service says the chance of precipitation is 60% before 1 a.m. Monday for the region.

But we have adequate resources on the fire line, Kurilla said optimistically.

Hundreds of firefighters from several agencies continue to work around the clock, battling the flames that began near Route 248 in Lehigh Township. The fire initially was reported at 3:38 p.m. Saturday east of the gap eroded into the Blue Mountains Kittatinny Ridge by the Lehigh River.

Crews at the top, along the Appalachian Trail, have been able to hold the flames from crossing the ridge to the north near Carbon County. Others were able to halt spreading toward the east, above Timberline Road, officials said.

Additionally, helicopters are dumping hundreds of gallons of water from the Lehigh River along the fires edge, Kurilla said. Crews also continue work in felling snags, which are dead trees that can potentially send burning embers over control lines, he said.

Kurilla expected what is being described by officials as mop up to continue throughout Wednesday. This means officials dont expect flames to advance any further despite just the 25% containment. Officials are using bulldozers to dig organic matter that is highly flammable around the perimeter of the flames to prevent any advancement.

No structures have been damaged in the blaze. Eight structures, though, are being listed as threatened by the fire with crews assigned to protect them, officials said.

A firefighter injured Tuesday has since been released from the hospital, Kurilla said. There have been no other reported injuries.

The Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber also has launched a fundraiser with support from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce to benefit local volunteer fire departments and emergency crews.

No point of origin or cause has been determined for the wildfire. Kurilla believes both will be determined at some point.

Human activity causes 99% of wildfires in Pennsylvania, leading to the destruction of thousands of acres of state and private woodlands each year, according to the DCNR.

A firefighter Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, cuts down fuel before it can be consumed by a wildfire ravaging the Blue Mountain in Lehigh Township, Northampton County.Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Laois business Temptation Chocolates have been included in the Michelin Guide equivalent for chocolate, Le Guide des Croqueurs de Chocolat 2025.

Chocolatier twin sisters Kate and Ruth O'Hara, originally from Durrow, travelled to Paris for the launch of the very exclusive guide. Temptation Chocolates, based in Abbeyleix, was the only Irish business to be included in this year's guide.

"We are absolutely over the moon to have been included in the Michelin Guide equivalent for chocolate, Le Guide des Croqueurs de Chocolat 2025 and to have been awarded Tablette dArgent distinction! This guide recognises the best chocolatiers in France & abroad, and its an honour to have been included, especially being the only Irish chocolate business," they said.

"We were delighted to be invited over to Paris to the @salonduchocolat for the launch of this amazing guide. Thank you so much for this prestigious recognition and thank you all so much for your amazing support, we couldnt do this without you!"

In the midst of the pandemic Kate and Ruth left behind careers in accounting and finance in Dublin to turn their hobby into a business in early 2021. They grew up with a love of French chocolateries and patisseries from family holidays to France and started dabbling with chocolate in the depths of the pandemic as an escape. The business has gone from strength to strength since then.
According to a recent parliamentary response from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, Ireland imported over 400 million in vegetables in 2023.

This related to some 342,760 tonnes of various vegetables being brought into the country.

A Laois special needs assistant has launched an initiative to form community allotments in Laois where locals can grow fruit and vegetables for themselves, and potentially sell at farmers markets for a profit.

Earth Buddy Eoin of Ballylynan has formed a group of over 50 Laois people interested in the project, and is currently searching for a suitable space.

"Its gone crazy since Ive started," said Eoin Mac, also known as Earth Buddy Eoin.

The idea is to have a social enterprise where I can bring private allotments around the country. I posted it on social media and there was a huge response from interested people, we had about fifty people sign up almost instantly, he explained.

"There are council allotments out there, but they have a waiting list. If you do it privately, you can build communities really well. The problem is that land is so tied up in generations of families, and you have money coming in from the EU on that land, and people are afraid to risk losing that money.

"But my idea is to profit share with the farmer, so that the rent is 50/50. The social enterprise would get 50% of the rent, and so does the farmer. So if you have 50 people on one acre, that farmer is earning 1,500 a year on that acre," he said.

Working as an SNA in St. Abban's National school, Eoin has spent the last four years studying compost and soil health.

"Ive been studying how to make living compost over the last four years, worm compost and soil health. Which is a massive issue no one is talking about when it comes to climate change. The planet is dying and were running out of time.

I want to give people the opportunity to grow nutrient dense, healthy food in a no dig, no chemical way, he said.

Originally from Carlow town, Eoin lives in Ballylynan, and has lived invarious places around Laois since 2000. He was motivated to learn about ecology following his son's concerns over the environment.

"Really my aim is to teach people how to work with soil, rather than just digging soil," he said.

"People do want to go and have somewhere to grow their own food, they dont want to go to supermarkets anymore when they can grow their own food. I was listening to first and second class in work the other day, and I heard that the food pyramid has been updated from one of your five a day, to one of your seven a day.

"I wondered when this had changed, but its because the way we are growing food with chemicals, and how we tillage, that the nutrient levels are dropping all the time. You need to eat more to get the same amount of nutrients," he said.

Locally over 50 people have expressed interest in the allotment idea, with many people messaging Eoin from different counties expressing their interest.

"A lot of people are afraid to grow food, they think they will make a mistake, and thats not going to happen," Eoin explained.

"Growing food is probably the most natural thing to us as humans, our ancestors have grown food once they stopped hunting ang gathering because of climate change back then. It is a natural process built into us. If people are worried about their experience or knowledge, I will be there and the community will be there.

"Making mistakes is so important, and people forget that. Growing food is also cheap," he said.

Eoin highlighted how students in St. Abban's grew potatoes in school this year and held a farmers market last week. The teacher spent 3 on the seed potatoes, and had plenty left over to sell.

"You would pay so much on a bag of potatoes, when you can save your money and be outside in fresh air. In a field your endorphins and serotonin are flowing, its good for you mentally as well," he stressed.

"Its brilliant socially too, we almost have to force ourselves to build communities now. Most of us want to go home after work and close our doors and curtains, only to leave to earn money for a house we sit in all day long. Community has been lost, and its a great way to bring it back.

"Growing and sharing food together is so important. Its not a money making thing for me, its a social enterprise. I just want to see people growing food and eating healthily."

Eoin argued that where people rent offices, Laois County Council should buy and rent out more land designated for people to grow and sell their own food.

"A lot of people dont have access to land, and no one is going to spend 25,000 on an acre in Laois to try make back. Community land is so important, give people a space to grow enough food for themselves and their family, and to maybe make a little money selling food," Eoin stressed.

"Ive received great interest from people across the country, I recently had a farmer in Tyrone contact me offering two acres of land. Ive received texts from Clare, Cork and Kerry, Id like to get a local one up and running first!" he laughed.

Eoin was originally considering a space in Ballickmoyler which fell through. He is still searching for a space to establish their allotment.

"I would love to speak to locals around the county through a talk, to find a suitable area for people to travel to, and for someone to offer their land," he said.

You can contact Earth Buddy Eoin through his social media pages.
Laois people will soon get to decide who they want in the Dail following confirmation from Simon Harris that the General Election in Ireland will be held on November 29.

Mr Harris will travel to Aras an Uachtarain on Friday, the official residence of the Irish president, to seek the dissolution of Irelands Dail parliament.

The highly-anticipated announcement will formally kick off a truncated campaign which will last mere weeks.

Three seats are up for grabs in Laois. The favourites are Sean Fleming FF and Willie Aird of FG.

Former Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley is fighting for his political life stongly challenged by SF and independents.

Its the end of an era for Charlie Flanagan who is retiring from politics.

The Taoiseach's decision cuts the sitting of the parliament just months shy of its full five-year maximum term  and comes after the Irish Government progressed legislation it had identified as priorities to conclude following Octobers Budget.

The upcoming election brings to an end the historic coalition which was formed in mid-2020, bringing together Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in an agreement which ended a rivalry dating back to the Civil War.

The talks to form a Government were carried out over five months, influenced by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Joining with the Greens to hold a majority in the Dail, ministries were divided across the parties and an agreement for a rotating taoiseach was formed.

It saw Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin taking the top role for the first half of the lifetime of the Government, later replaced by then-Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar.

Mr Harris became Taoiseach earlier this year after Mr Varadkar decided to step away from his stewardship of the party.

The lifetime of the Government has been characterised by its response to several challenges, from the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, the inability to accommodate rising numbers of asylum seekers and compounding pressures in housing  including record levels of homelessness.

More recently, the Government has faced criticism for its public spending after it emerged 336,000 euro had been spent on a bike shed at the parliament, on top of other issues such as the spiralling cost of a multibillion-euro childrens hospital in Dublin.

It also suffered a knock when referendums it put forward were overwhelmingly rejected by the public in early 2024.

However, Government figures hail a range of measures for families including reducing the cost of childcare, the introduction of hot school meals and free school books as key policies.

They also point to efforts to accommodate of more than 100,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine and the overall management of the public purse as among its successes.

Elsewhere, senior ministers are proud of the coalitions record on increasing housing delivery and the recognition of Palestinian statehood amid Israels war in Gaza. However, detractors feel that the scale of Government action in these areas was insufficient.

The election comes shortly after what was characterised as a giveaway Budget, which included additional child benefit, pension, and other social welfare payments occurring before polling day.

The results of the last election left Fianna Fail with a narrow seat lead ahead of Sinn Fein and Fine Gael. Sinn Fein had the highest percentage of first-preference votes, but came in second ahead of Fine Gael.

It was seen as both a monumentally successful result for Sinn Fein, the largest opposition party, and among the worst performances for the other two major parties.

At the time, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald faced criticism for not running more candidates which would have capitalised on its large share of first-preference votes.

Since then, Sinn Fein has admitted that it achieved worse-than-expected results in local and European elections in the Republic of Ireland  which took place earlier this year.

The challenge for the Government parties, particularly Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, will be putting forward a convincing message on policies that distinguishes them from their erstwhile colleagues.

However, members of the coalition will be buoyed by a string of controversies that have beset Sinn Fein in recent weeks.

Ms McDonald addressed the Dail on a series of scandals, including former party members writing job references for a colleague who was later convicted of child sex crimes.

In the election, Ireland will choose more members of parliament, known as TDs, than ever before.

It comes after a recommendation to increase the number of TDs from 160 to 174 to account for a boom in the population. The number of constituencies has increased from 39 to 43.

After polling day, the protracted process of counting ballots by hand will begin. As Ireland uses a system of proportional representation, the voting slips need to be counted several times  an undertaking which can last for days.
New housing targets agreed by the coalition do not include a breakdown for social and affordable homes, according to a senior Government spokesman.

The coalition leaders have agreed a target of 50,500 homes a year on average between 2025 and 2030.

The new figures start from 41,000 homes next year and rise incrementally to 60,000 by the end of the period.

However, a Government spokesman said there was no breakdown of how many of 303,000 homes will be affordable and social homes.

The senior representative said that would be debated during the upcoming general election before being decided by the next Government.

Welcoming the new goals, Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien said: The targets we set will only ever be the floor, not the ceiling, and as has been proven over the two full years of the Housing for All plan, where we can surpass our targets, we will.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said: I am pleased we have an opportunity today to advance the national planning framework.

It is absolutely key because, without that, you dont have an ability to scale up the housing supply in the way that it needs to happen.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the new targets were much more challenging to reach and claimed he would be wary of any party which claims it can build above those targets.

Mr Martin added: Particularly when they want to crucify the first-time buyer as the main opposition party wants to, or indeed undermine the Land Development Agency, which we legislated for in the lifetime of this government.

Mr OBrien said it was crucially important to show the pathway forward on delivering new housing.

He said: The housing targets are one element of it, but really the important piece is the national planning framework of how we will deliver that, what land requires to be zoned, where those properties are going to be built and how we will move forward between now and the end of the decade.

I insisted that we get the national planning framework agreed. That will go to Cabinet today.

I have been able to get agreement with the three leaders on the new housing targets to 2030, which I will bring to Cabinet and show a significant increase in our targets.
It is an ambition to hold the general election on November 29, a spokesman for the Taoiseach has said.

It comes after Simon Harris said the election will be called by the end of the week.

The three leaders of the coalition have agreed to hold an election this year but a date has not yet been officially announced.

Passing the Finance Bill through the Dail, which occurred on Tuesday evening, had been cited as a priority before the election can be called. The bill enacts measures announced in Budget 2025.

The Taoiseach has previously suggested the polling date would be on a Friday and said this week that it will be held this month, pointing towards November 29.

Speaking to reporters before Cabinet on Tuesday, Mr Harris said he intends to seek a dissolution of the Dail this week.

He added: Its my expectation that we will have a general election campaign under way by the end of the week.

When later asked about a timeline for Government formation following an election, a spokesman for Mr Harris said: We have an election on November 29  thats the ambition. Thats what it looks like, the Taoiseach said that earlier today.

Under that timeline, Mr Harris will this week have to inform President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain of his intention to dissolve the Dail.

However, he will be out of the country for a proportion of Thursday and Friday when he travels to Budapest for a meeting of EU leaders.

Mr Harris said other legislation, such as the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill and the Appropriation Bill which ensures the country has enough money to keep on running, will also need to be allowed pass.

Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin had previously said there are two possible election dates, Friday November 29 or Friday December 6.

Also speaking on his way into Cabinet he said: It is our expectation that it will be dissolved this week.

I think thats not exactly a secret at this stage, I think all parties are now preparing for a general election.

Green Party leader and Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman said the Taoiseach didnt inform us of his plans on what day this week the election would be called.

Im hoping for an election on November 29, and that would require a dissolution this week.

I think the very latest is Friday so thats what Im hoping to see.

Mr Harris said he expected that parties would engage in talks to form the next Government over the Christmas period.
The Dail passed the Finance Bill on Tuesday night, which Taoiseach Simon Harris said was a key objective before calling a General Election later in the week.

The Finance Bill was passed by a margin of 75 to 55 in what was a guillotine vote.

A guillotine vote means that a restriction is placed on the time allocated to debate legislation, which can result in bills being passed without being fully debated.

This has caused some criticism from opposition parties, with Sinn Fein Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty saying the guillotine should not have been used on the Finance Bill debate, arguing: "This should not have happened."

READ NEXT: Government only offers parents' box rooms, rip-off rents or emigration says Mary Lou McDonald

One of the major issues opposition parties raised with the Finance Bill was that it did not abolish the Universal Social Charge.

Doherty as well as People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett and Independent Ireland deputy Michael Collins shared the same criticisms that the USC was unfair and that the Government should have addressed this within the Finance Bill.

The Finance Bill underpins Budget 2025 and was the final piece of legislation that the Taoiseach said must be passed before he could seek to dissolve the Dail later in the week before calling the General Election.

Speaking to reporters outside Government buildings on Tuesday, Simon Harris assured that the Finance Bill would need to be passed first: "Once that's out of the way, I do intend to seek a dissolution of the Dail this week."
South East Technological University (SETU) awarded over 200 members of the Irish Defence Forces in recognition of their academic achievement at a special conferring ceremony at the Universitys Kilkenny Road Campus in Carlow.

The ceremony is Irelands largest annual military graduation from a higher education institution and one that the SETU community is proud to hold in celebration of dedicated members of the Irish Defence Forces.

At this years Carlow ceremony, students received awards in Leadership, Management, and Defence Studies across certificate, bachelors, and masters levels, while another group was conferred with Master of Engineering degrees in Ordnance, Munitions, and Explosives Engineering. Others achieved their Master of Science in Communications Technology Management, as well as in Military Engineering Management, while some students attained certificates in Software Defined Communication Systems and in Sustainable Supply Chain.

Speaking at todays ceremony, President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell, commented, On behalf of SETU, I want to congratulate each of our over 200 graduates from the Irish Defence Forces on their exceptional achievements celebrated today. Your dedication to carrying out your academic studies alongside the important roles you hold in your working life is commendable and it is an inspiration to those of us looking on."



Prof. Campbell continued, "Since becoming President of SETU, I have spoken on a number of occasions about the value of our Defence Forces and the responsibilities you carry on behalf of the Irish state. In recent months, I, like many others, have watched events continue to unfold in the Middle East. The bravery of our Defence Forces has been admirable and the valuable work you do has been brought into focus. It is SETU's huge privilege to support the educational goals of the Defence Force members in the certainty that the ongoing upskilling and development of its members is crucial in creating and maintaining stability both nationally and globally."

On the collaborative power of SETUs partnership with the Irish Defence Forces, Prof. Campbell shared, Our University is built on decisions that benefit the learner, in the knowledge that the empowerment of individuals through educational attainment is paramount to creating the leaders, innovators, and implementors of tomorrow. With that in mind, I want to thank our collaborative partners at the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sean Clancy and wider team, for their continued work in supporting the educational goals of Defence Forces members. Last year, in 2023, our two organisations signed a renewed Memorandum of Agreement, strengthening our shared goals to continue to create higher education opportunities for serving members long into the future.

Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sean Clancy, commented, I am immensely proud of our Defence Forces personnel who were conferred today having successfully completed their courses at SETU. Their dedication to continuous learning and professional development exemplifies the values of Oglaigh na hEireann. These qualifications will enhance our capabilities and ensure we remain at the forefront of military excellence. The partnership between the Defence Forces and SETU is invaluable in equipping our personnel with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the evolving challenges of national and international security. I congratulate all graduates on their achievements and look forward to seeing how they will apply their new expertise."

Photo Credit: Mary Browne, Brownes Photography.
A teacher living in Kildare has raised over 25,000 for the people of Gaza after driving a vintage open-top tractor for two weeks along Irelands Wild Atlantic Way at a top speed of just 24km per hour.

Pat Murphy, a woodwork teacher at Wesley College Dublin, inched his way along the 2,800km picturesque route in his restored 1962 David Brown between Malin Head in Donegal to Irelands most south-westerly point at Mizen Head in Cork.

The father-of-four, who is from Corofin, Galway but lives in Sallins, Kildare, initially set his fundraising goal at 5,000 on his GoFundMe web page in August when he did the challenge, but ended up with over 25,000 by the end of October.

He has given the money raised to the Irish humanitarian agency Concern Worldwide for the work they are doing in Gaza through a partner organisation.

Pat chose Concern because of his past involvement with them as a volunteer in Rwanda in 1995 and 1996 after the brutal genocide that occurred there.

I have been supporting Concern for over 30 years and always admired the great work that they do, said Pat after meeting Concern to give them his cheque.

We hope our novel idea of a vintage tractor run will inspire others to help people in need too

The main challenge along the drive was the rain and wind because the tractor is open top so there was nowhere to hide.

I had really good weather gear, but it was hard going at times. My journey was made enjoyable because of the beautiful scenery along the way.

We met loads of interesting people and tourists from around the world were fascinated with what we were doing.

Concerns Community Fundraising Manager, Joanne Arnold, thanked Pat for his incredible contribution and selfless act of goodwill.

We are immensely grateful to Pat Murphy and all who supported him, she said.

Pat was accompanied by his friend Tony Harrison, who drove a camper van for them to sleep in each night, and his pal Brendan Joyce brought the tractor to Malin Head and collected it when they reached Mizen Head.
Legend Phil Coulter is set to bring his Nationwide tour Legacy to Lawlor's Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare, on Sunday, November 24, 2024.

Here is a Legend who has had a chart entry in every decade since 1964. How many octogenarians can boast chart entries in every decade for 60 years!

Phil Coulter, composer of hits for some of the biggest stars like Luke Kelly, Cliff Richard, Sandie Shaw and Elvis Presley.to his 'Ireland's Call', our Rugby anthem and so many more hits, has been a towering presence on the world music stage for 60 years and remains one of Irelands best-loved and iconic music figures.

At the young age of 82 Phil Coulter kicked off a Nationwide Tour which includes the National Concert Hall on November 27; Wexford Opera House on December 13 and more.

Full Tour Dates and tickets on Philcoulter.com

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One of Coulter's biggest hits, Angel of My Dreams, was met with widespread acclaim from critics and has now been sampled by Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix fame.

Rolling Stone UK described it as "A bold, unrepentant start to Jade's life as a solo star" and added how "it starts with the most distinctive distorted sample of Sandie Shaws Puppet On A String... "the lyrics are spicy, and while the sample seems random, the idea of being a puppet on a string perfectly fits the ethos of the song".

In their review of the song, Billboard named Angel of My Dreams as one of the best single releases in 2024, describing it as "original and attention grabbing".

Phil Coulter says,

It's hard to believe I wrote this song 57 years ago and here it is back in the charts! In the music business they say that the real test of a song's quality is Longevity! I'd say 57 years just about makes it!!! Thank you Jade!

Phil Coulters remarkable rise from modest beginnings on the streets of post-war Derry to the summit of the global charts as a composer to a host of some of the world's biggest stars and has been a towering presence on the world music stage for 60 years and remains one of Irelands best-loved and iconic music figures.

In this brand new show LEGACY he takes a fresh look back into 60 years at the top of his game  so much music, so many songs, so many new stories, distilled into two hours of vintage gold.

Bringing their own special magic to the proceeding are his Special Guests George Hutton and Geraldine Branagan, proven favourites with Phils fans.

Phil Coulter kicks off a 31 date Nationwide Tour ending on December 31 in The Maritime Hotel in Cork.

Get your tickets today!
A Clare man has pleaded guilty to a very serious assault on his then girlfriend on St Patricks Day that hospitalised her and left her with a broken eye socket, broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

At Ennis Circuit Court this Tuesday, November 5, Mark Hayes (35) of Aidan Park, Shannon pleaded guilty to the assault causing harm of his then girl-friend at Rineanna View in Shannon on March 17th contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Mr Hayes also pleaded guilty to threatening to kill his then girlfriend at the same address on the same date contrary to Section 5 of the Non Fatal Offences against the Person Act.

Mr Hayes replied yes - guilty when arraigned on the charges.

Mr Hayes has been on remand in custody at Limerick prison since April 12th after failing to secure bail.

The guilty pleas have been entered on a full facts basis.

Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL (Instructed by State Solicitor for Clare Aisling Casey) said that the victim in the case required a plate to be inserted for a facial injury.

Read Also: Arrests made in Dublin following spate of burglaries in five rural counties

Mr Hayes pleaded guilty today to the charges after a new patient report from University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on the womans injuries was handed into court.

At an earlier bail application in the case in the district court, Det Sgt Kevin OHagan of Shannon Garda Station said that the victim in the case sustained a broken eye socket, stitches to her face, staples to her head, a collapsed lung that required to be drained, bruises to her body and broken ribs arising from Mr Hayess assault.

Det Sgt OHagan said that it is the States case that Mr Hayes assaulted his then girlfriend at a house in Rineanna View, Shannon on St Patricks Day and assaulted another man unknown to him on April 11th at Aidans Park, Shannon.

Det Sgt OHagan stated that arising from the assault, the woman required surgery on her broken eye socket.

Det Sgt OHagan said that it was a very serious assault.

Judge Francis Comerford further remanded Mr Hayes in custody for sentencing to Friday, November 15th. Judge Comerford also directed a victim impact statement for the sentencing hearing.
A councillors motion was met with backlash after he accused the Planning Department in Leitrim County Council of favouring wealthy individuals without local connections by granting planning permission.

At the November Council meeting, Cllr Des Guckian requested that Leitrim County Council explain why "some obviously wealthy people, who have no connection with the local area, have been granted planning permissions for sites overlooking scenic areas of water, while family members of local farmers and other residents have been denied planning permissions."

A reply was curated by Economic Development which explained that the Planning Department disagrees with the wording of Cllr Guckians statement, suggesting that a persons financial status impacts planning applications for individual houses.

The reply explained that only two areas in the county have a restricted rural housing policy due to urban influence, and outside these areas, applicants do not need to demonstrate local connections.

The assessment focuses on site sustainability, such as wastewater and safe access.

The reply further stated that Leitrim County Council has the lowest planning refusal rate out of all local authorities in Ireland, with only 3.8 percent of applications denied since January 2015.

There is no substance therefore in the statement submitted by Cllr Guckian," the reply concluded.

There is no undercurrent in what Ive set out here, Ive set out the facts, Cllr Guckian replied.

Cllr Guckian said he has been told that a small but increasing number of wealthy outsiders have been given planning permissions in most doubtful circumstances.

He accused these people of grossly abusing their prohibitions and said they are polluting neighbouring properties.

This is a return to the worst kind of British landlordism from 150 years ago, he remarked.

Other councillors swiftly dismissed Cllr Guckians statement.

Theres very little homes, if any, being refused, said Cllr Gary Prior. I feel that this is a headline grabber by Cllr Guckian.

I reject that as a member of this local authority, added Cllr Enda McGloin. Its a wrong statement to make.

I know six people who have gotten permission in the last nine months in our area. I couldnt compliment the Planning Department more, Cllr Stenson said.

Cllr Maeve Reynolds emphasised the importance of speaking up to prevent false information from spreading, noting that it could have negative implications for future planning permission applicants.

Id like to pay credit to the Department and the time that they give in the pre-planning meetings to put people in the right direction, said Cllr Reynolds.

In a very over-extended department where theyre so generous with their time, I think its important that it's on the record.

READ MORE: Leitrim County Council unanimously urges Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill
Leitrim County Council have passed a motion calling on the Government to provide funding to mental health charity North West Stop.

North West STOP is a community-based organisation offering free counselling services to people of all ages.

It was established in response to the lengthy waiting times often associated with institutional mental health services, which can leave those in need of help waiting for extended periods.

Cllr Roisin Kenny requested that Leitrim County Council urge the Government to support the charity in its work across Leitrim and neighbouring counties.

Theres not a family or parish that hasnt been affected by suicide and the devastation it leaves in its wake. North West Stop provide vital services in the area of suicide prevention and mental health in our county.

They receive not one cent of funding from the Government because they are a regional and not a national organisation, Cllr Kenny explained.

Cllr Kenny shared with the chamber a case in which she referred a young man in distress to North West Stop. The charity responded within 30 minutes, arranging a counselling appointment for him the very next day.

However, when the man visited his GP the following day, he was informed that accessing counselling services through the HSE would involve a two-month wait.

I dread to think what could have happened to that young man if he had to wait two months with the HSE, Cllr Kenny said.

North West Stop is a vital organisation, picking up the slack in the area of mental health in the county. Despite all this theyre so independent on fundraising from the public.

Cllr Kennys motion garnered widespread support.

We see the lack of mental health services and if theres any help that can be given to local mental health services that can react quickly, itll be the best way the money can be spent, Cllr Maeve Reynolds commented.

READ MORE: Calls for Leitrim's inclusion in the Mica Redress Scheme as cases have been identified
Gold Resource Corporation Reports Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2024





Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the "Company") is pleased to announce its third quarter operational results from its Don David Gold Mine ("DDGM") near Oaxaca, Mexico, and a corporate update on its other activities.

2024 Q3 Summary include:

Produced and sold 1,357 ounces of gold and 181,434 ounces of silver

Produced and sold 1,473 tonnes of zinc, 98 tonnes of copper, and 467 tonnes of lead

Working capital of $6.1 million and cash balance of $1.4 million at September 30, 2024

Don David Gold Mine:

In the third quarter of 2024, the Don David Gold Mine ("DDGM") in Mexico produced and sold a total of 3,526 gold equivalent ("AuEq") ounces, comprised of 1,357 gold ounces and 181,434 silver ounces at an average sales price per ounce of $2,561 and $30.61, respectively.

Beginning in the third quarter, the DDGM underground diamond drilling program progressed positively with two drill rigs in operation. Until the new drill stations are developed to further test the Three Sisters system, the focus of the drilling strategically shifted to infill the northwest extension of the Arista vein system, targeting the Marena North, Santa Cecilia, and Splay 31 veins to further define, expand, and upgrade the Mineral Resources in this area. To preserve cash, the infill drilling was suspended on August 1, 2024 . The grade control drilling continued as planned during the third quarter, focusing on maximizing the potential economic returns of the mineralization scheduled for future production in both the Arista and Switchback vein systems.

There were no lost time incidents during the quarter, resulting in a "zero" year-to-date Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate ("LTIFR") safety record. Safety is paramount for the Company. The Company strives to continue its excellent track record each quarter and seeks to improve safety measures, awareness, and training on an ongoing basis.

DDGM submitted a tax refund request for the 2023 overpaid taxes for approximately $3.8 million (or $76 million pesos). This amount is expected to be refunded in 2025.

Corporate and Financial:

Gold Resource Corporation and its subsidiaries ("we," "our," "us," or the "Company") has $6.1 million in working capital and $1.4 million in cash as of September 30, 2024.

Net loss was $10.5 million or $0.11 per share for the quarter, which was mainly attributable to the decrease in net sales because the Company's production was significantly impacted by the lack of availability of critical mining equipment and the lack of multiple faces to mine, in addition to the unfavorable weather conditions impacting the mining and processing operations.

Total cash cost after co-product credits for the quarter was $3,560 per AuEq ounce, and total all-in sustaining cost ("AISC") after co-product credits for the quarter was $5,072 per AuEq ounce. (See Item 2?Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ? Non-GAAP Measures for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to applicable GAAP measures).

Liquidity Update:

Tonnes and grade, with respect to the Company's mining operations at DDGM, have declined during 2024 and are below budget, especially in the third quarter. There are several factors that caused these declines. The Company has encountered significant issues with equipment availability due to the age and condition of some of the critical mining equipment in use at the mine. Due to the continued challenges with equipment availability and the decreased cash due to prior production shortfalls, the Company has not been able to maintain its projected timeline for development of future production zones. As a result, the Company is currently mining only one face at a time in areas that are accessible. The current lack of other available production zones has placed additional pressure on the Company's ability to achieve its production estimates, as any problems encountered at the current production zone cannot be offset by producing elsewhere in the mine. In addition, the mill also experienced some mechanical issues and wet ore handling difficulties due to unusually high rain fall that resulted in lower throughput and a production shortfall. To minimize the mechanical issues and return the mine to a cash positive position, capital is necessary to replace some of the mining fleet and upgrade the mill.

The Company believes that the mine has significant potential to generate positive cash flow based on the information to date from the new areas of the Three Sisters, as well as other areas that have been discovered near the existing mining zones. In order to develop access and better define these new areas, an investment must be made in the equipment and mine plan. Without the addition of these areas to the life-of-mine plan, the Company does not believe that the mine will generate sufficient free cash flow in the near term.

The Company's inability to achieve its production estimates have created a substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The Company currently anticipates that it will require approximately $7 million to obtain additional mining equipment and mill upgrades. These amounts include approximately $2.5 million in upgrades at the mill, including approximately $1.0 million to install a new filter to increase capacity in the filter plant and approximately $0.7 million to obtain a spare ball gear. These investments also include approximately $4.5 million in mining equipment to replace old or inefficient equipment, including underground loaders, bolters, and drills. The Company also expects to require approximately $8 million in working capital in order to fund the initial development to access the Three Sisters and Splay 31 systems, although not all of this capital will be required immediately. Due to the 2024 production challenges described above, the Company does not believe that the mine will generate sufficient cashflow to fund these improvements. The Company is evaluating various financing options in order to fund this development in the near term.

If the Company is unable to obtain this additional capital and successfully develop these new mining areas, the continued operation of the mine may not be possible beyond November 2024. If continued operation of the mine is not possible, the Company may be compelled to place the mine on "care and maintenance" status, which would likely trigger significant severance and other costs which the Company may not be able to pay

2024 Capital and Exploration Investment Summary

For the nine months ended

September 30, 2024 2024 full year

guidance 2024 2023 Sustaining Investments: Underground Development $ 3,812 $ 3,464 Other Sustaining Capital 2,711 1,485 Infill Drilling 977 3,315 Surface and Underground Exploration Development & Other 65 1,131 Subtotal of Sustaining Investments: 7,565 9,395 $ 8.8 - 11.0 million Growth Investments: DDGM growth: Surface Exploration / Other 1,812 2,058 Underground Exploration Drilling 38 1,916 Underground Exploration Development - 356 Back Forty growth: Back Forty Project Optimization & Permitting 549 1,265 Subtotal of Growth Investments: 2,399 5,595 $ 3.2 - 5.2 million Total Capital and Exploration: $ 9,964 $ 14,990 $ 12.0 - 16.2 million

Trending Highlights

2023 2024 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Operating Data Total tonnes milled 117,781 113,510 116,626 111,254 98,889 93,687 83,690 Average Grade - Gold (g/t) 2.33 1.59 1.52 1.44 1.89 1.27 0.54 Silver (g/t) 94 86 73 85 88 102 83 Copper (%) 0.37 0.37 0.32 0.39 0.37 0.26 0.19 Lead (%) 1.73 1.64 1.29 1.39 1.25 1.00 1.01 Zinc (%) 3.88 3.72 3.24 2.95 2.82 2.59 2.63 Metal production (before payable metal deductions) Gold (ozs.) 7,171 4,637 4,443 4,077 4,757 2,947 944 Silver (ozs.) 322,676 289,816 247,159 282,487 251,707 263,023 194,525 Copper (tonnes) 336 334 276 341 280 181 93 Lead (tonnes) 1,559 1,389 1,048 1,072 812 616 576 Zinc (tonnes) 3,837 3,569 3,223 2,884 2,310 2,020 1,741 Metal produced and sold Gold (ozs.) 6,508 4,287 3,982 3,757 3,557 2,724 1,357 Silver (ozs.) 294,815 274,257 208,905 258,252 216,535 234,560 181,434 Copper (tonnes) 332 327 245 327 264 197 98 Lead (tonnes) 1,417 1,317 947 820 667 491 467 Zinc (tonnes) 3,060 3,141 2,571 2,182 1,682 1,771 1,473 Average metal prices realized Gold ($ per oz.) $ 1,915 $ 2,010 $ 1,934 $ 1,985 $ 2,094 $ 2,465 $ 2,561 Silver ($ per oz.) $ 23.04 $ 24.93 $ 23.61 $ 23.14 $ 23.29 $ 30.49 $ 30.61 Copper ($ per tonne) $ 9,172 $ 8,397 $ 8,185 $ 8,205 $ 8,546 $ 10,428 $ 8,832 Lead ($ per tonne) $ 2,158 $ 2,153 $ 2,196 $ 2,122 $ 1,977 $ 2,235 $ 2,065 Zinc ($ per tonne) $ 3,195 $ 2,485 $ 2,195 $ 2,516 $ 2,483 $ 2,871 $ 2,854 Gold equivalent ounces sold Gold Ounces 6,508 4,287 3,982 3,757 3,557 2,724 1,357 Gold Equivalent Ounces from Silver 3,547 3,402 2,550 3,011 2,408 2,901 2,169 Total AuEq oz 10,055 7,689 6,532 6,768 5,965 5,625 3,526 Financial Data Total sales, net (in thousands) $ 31,228 $ 24,807 $ 20,552 $ 21,141 $ 18,702 $ 20,782 $ 13,272 Production Costs (in thousands) $ 19,850 $ 20,302 $ 18,957 $ 17,034 $ 16,108 $ 17,768 $ 17,198 Production Costs/Tonnes Milled $ 169 $ 179 $ 163 $ 153 $ 163 $ 190 $ 205 Operating Cash Flows (in thousands) $ 1,024 ($ 551) ($ 7,475) $ 1,783 $ 1,482 ($ 63) ($ 3,372) Net loss (in thousands) ($ 1,035) ($ 4,584) ($ 7,341) ($ 3,057) ($ 4,021) ($ 27,734) ($ 10,495) Loss per share - basic ($ 0.01) ($ 0.05) ($ 0.08) ($ 0.03) ($ 0.05) ($ 0.30) ($ 0.11)

Q3 2024 Conference Call

The Company has elected to forego hosting a Q3 2024 conference call.

About GRC:

Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer, and explorer with its operations centered on the Don David Gold Mine in Oaxaca, Mexico. Under the direction of an experienced board and senior leadership team, the Company's focus is to unlock the significant upside potential of its existing infrastructure and large land position surrounding the mine in Oaxaca, Mexico and to develop the Back Forty Project in Michigan, USA. For more information, please visit the Company's website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. When used in this press release, the words "plan," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, (i) the Company's anticipated near-term capital needs and potential sources of capital and (ii) the Company's ability to continue to operate the Don David Gold Mine in the absence of additional capital. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to Gold Resource Corporation as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. Also, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the ability of the Company to obtain additional capital on favorable terms or at all, production levels of the DDGM, possibility of lower than anticipated revenue or higher than anticipated costs at the Don David Gold Mine, volatility in commodity prices, and declines in general economic conditions. Additional risks related to the Company may be found in the periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

5 november 2024 at 17:20

News published onand distributed by:
3Q24 Results: Telefonica Brasil S.A.





SAO PAULO, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Telefonica Brasil - (B3: VIVT3; NYSE: VIV), announces its results for 3Q24.

Strong operating performance resulting in revenues, EBITDA, and net income growth along with reduced Capex intensity.

R$ million 3Q24 3Q23 % Y-o-Y 9M24 9M23 % Y-o-Y













Net Operating Revenue 14,039 13,112 7.1 41,264 38,565 7.0 Mobile Services 9,212 8,465 8.8 26,821 24,614 9.0 FTTH 1,790 1,570 14.0 5,264 4,568 15.2 Corporate Data, ICT, and others 1,129 1,060 6.5 3,389 3,195 6.1 Electronics 856 814 5.1 2,553 2,411 5.9 Other Revenues 1,053 1,202 (12.4) 3,236 3,777 (14.3) Total Costs (8,089) (7,573) 6.8 (24,582) (22,999) 6.9 EBITDA 5,950 5,539 7.4 16,682 15,566 7.2 EBITDA / Net Revenue Margin 42.4 % 42.2 % 0.1 p.p. 40.4 % 40.4 % 0.1 p.p. EBITDA AL 4,702 4,400 6.9 12,965 12,111 7.1 EBITDA AL / Net Revenue Margin 33.5 % 33.6 % (0.1) p.p. 31.4 % 31.4 % 0.0 p.p. Net Income 1,667 1,472 13.3 3,785 3,429 10.4 Earnings per Share (EPS) 1.02 0.89 14.4 2.30 2.07 11.2













CAPEX ex-IFRS 16 2,495 2,626 (5.0) 6,710 6,665 0.7 Operating Cash Flow (OpCF) 3,455 2,913 18.6 9,972 8,901 12.0 OpCF/ Net Revenue Margin 24.6 % 22.2 % 2.4 p.p. 24.2 % 23.1 % 1.1 p.p. Operating Cash Flow AL (OpCF AL) 2,207 1,774 24.4 6,255 5,446 14.9 OpCF AL / Net Revenue Margin 15.7 % 13.5 % 2.2 p.p. 15.2 % 14.1 % 1.0 p.p. Free Cash Flow 1,671 1,918 (12.9) 7,139 7,556 (5.5)













Total Subscribers (Thousand) 115,245 111,582 3.3 115,245 111,582 3.3

1 Other Revenues include Voice, xDSL, FTTC and IPTV.

Net revenue grew (+7.1% YoY), driven by the strong performance of Mobile Service Revenue (MSR) (+8.8 YoY), boosted by double-digit growth in postpaid revenue (+10.4% YoY). Postpaid's strong performance is related to the increase in customer base (+7.6% YoY), which totaled 65.0 million in the quarter, driven by migrations from prepaid and adding new customers, that contributed to the +3.5% YoY increase in postpaid ex-M2M and ex-dongles ARPU, to R$53.0.

Fixed revenue increased +3.6% YoY, driven by the FTTH (+14.0% YoY) and Corporate Data, ICT and Digital Services (+6.5% YoY) revenues. FTTH network is currently present in 444 cities (+5 cities YoY) with 28.3 million homes passed (+12.7% YoY) and 6.7 million homes connected (+12.5% YoY).

EBITDA totaled R$5,950 million (+7.4% YoY), with a margin of 42.4% (+0.1 p.p. YoY), reflecting the strong performance of mobile service revenue (+8.8% YoY) and cost control (+6.8% YoY).

In 3Q24, Capex ex-IFRS 16 amounted to R$2,495 million (-5.0% YoY), representing 17.8% of revenues (-2.3 p.p. YoY), directed towards strengthening our mobile network, with emphasis on 5G coverage, that is already present in 394 cities, including all cities with over 200 thousand inhabitants, representing 57% of the Brazilian population.

In 9M24, Operating Cash Flow totaled R$9,972 million (+12.0% YoY), with a margin of 24.2% (+1.1 p.p. YoY) over net revenue.

Net income attributed to Telefonica Brasil reached R$1,667 million in 3Q24 (+13.3% YoY). Shareholder remuneration paid up in 2024 was R$4,790 million (+0.1% vs FY 2023), of which R$2,190 million of interest on equity, R$1,500 million in capital reduction, while R$1,110 million were invested in share buybacks. For the years 2024 to 2026, the Company has committed to distribute an amount equal to or above 100% of net income for each fiscal year.

To download the complete version of the Company's earnings release, please visit our website: https://ri.telefonica.com.br/en

SOURCE Telefonica Brasil S.A.

5 november 2024 at 17:27

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LIMERICK gardai have issued a warning about cyber attacks, which they have said are becoming more prominent in our society.

The European Union Agency for Cyber Security, ENISA, has launched the annual European Cyber Security Month campaign to target specific online threats.

This is a joint approach with An Garda Siochana. Gardai in Limerick are now advising people to become familiar with common cyber-attack methods and brush up on jargon regularly used when it comes to cyber crime.

READ MORE: Limerick Council issues update on Adare bypass plans

The two main focuses are ransomware and phising:

Ransomware: This is where malicious software is downloaded onto a computer system through an infected email, website or device and encrypts the system and its data, preventing the owner from accessing their networks.

The attacker then demands payment, often in cryptocurrency to regain access and may give a sample of the data to demonstrate they have control.

Phishing: This a fraudulent email which pretends to be from a trusted source such as a bank, revenue or supplier and states that the recipient's accounts have been locked for security reasons.

The email asks the recipient to follow a link and enter their personal or account details in full to regain control of the account. However, the email leads to a fake webpage that has been created to capture the banking or personal data.
Republican candidate Donald Trump has clinched victory in the hotly-contested US Presidential election race, and the effects on Ireland are soon to be laid bare.

Senior government figures nationwide have rushed to congratulate the incumbent President Trump, with Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tanaiste Micheal Martin pledging to work to maintain and strengthen the historic links between Ireland and the US.

"Ireland and the United States have deep and historical bonds of people, and we will work to make these even stronger in the years ahead," Taoiseach Simon Harris said in a statement.

"The world faces many challenges and needs leadership to meet them. With the US and Ireland's shared commitment to democracy and international law, we can, and will, tackle these challenges."

Despite his mention of "historical bonds" and "shared commitment", this result is expected to have major implications on a number of sectors of Irish life.

ECONOMY

With an America First first approach, Donald Trump is set to implement major changes to corporation taxes and tariffs once in office.

Ireland has greatly benefited from global profit shifting. International tax policies have encouraged many U.S. multinationals to route their profits through Ireland, allowing Ireland to claim a share of those earnings.

This shift has fueled a boom in corporate tax revenue. In 2014, Ireland collected just under 5 billion in corporate taxes, which surged to nearly 24 billion by 2023.

This dramatic increase has made corporate tax revenues far more crucial to Irelands financial stability.

Most of this revenue comes from U.S. multinationals, incentivized by the Irish government. Tax breaks encouraged many U.S. companies to relocate their intellectual property (IP) to Ireland.

As a result, a larger share of their profits ended up in Ireland, leading to higher tax collections.

While this has been highly beneficial for Ireland, it has sparked discontent in the U.S.

In essence, many in the U.S. view these profits as money that should stay within American borders, not go to Ireland.

Theres speculation that Trump may attempt to revise U.S. tax laws to incentivize American companies to bring their IPs back to the U.S.

Such changes could sharply reduce the amount of profit flowing through Ireland, resulting in a significant drop in corporate tax revenue.

How substantial could this impact be?

According to a study published by Irelands Department of Finance earlier this year, half of Irelands 2023 corporate tax revenuearound 12 billionmight be a windfall.

This suggests a real risk: if U.S. tax laws change and profit shifting to Ireland declines, Ireland could quickly see a 12 billion annual drop in tax revenue.

Trumps key economic policies are trade tariffs, lower domestic taxes, a cut to government spending and an aggressive deregulatory agenda. The first two matter most to us.

According to John Melarkey, Managing Director at Sia Partners, Donald Trumps reelection is likely to bring "significant changes" for Irish businesses.

"With his pledge to lower the US corporate tax rate to 15%, Ireland's appeal as a tax-efficient location for American multinationals is diminishing, which could lead to a reduction in corporate tax receipts. As US corporations find more incentives to stay domestic or bring operations back to the US, Ireland is seeing a potential dip in foreign direct investment (FDI)".

"For Irish exporters, Trump's protectionist policies will introduce new trade hurdles, with increases in tariffs and other barriers raising export costs to the US and straining Ireland's competitiveness".

Trumps second term ultimately presents more restrictive policies that Irish businesses are closely monitoring.

While this is merely speculation, the possible result would mean rather than running a healthy surplus, Ireland would be in a financial deficit, meaning cutbacks and likely tax increases.

JOBS

While the Irish economy is the major concern, Trump's approach to international trade could also significantly impact jobs in Ireland's trade-dependent economy, especially through its trade relationship with the U.S.

Trump has historically favored imposing tariffs on imported goods to protect U.S. industries. If he were to reintroduce tariffs on products from the EU, Irish exports to the U.S. could become more expensive and therefore less competitive.

Ireland exports a substantial amount of goods and services to the U.S., especially in sectors like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and technology. Higher tariffs or restrictive import policies could reduce demand for Irish goods in the U.S., potentially leading to job cuts in affected industries.

The U.S. is a crucial market for Irish service exports, especially in financial services, consulting, IT, and software.

Any protectionist policies aimed at encouraging American firms to contract domestically rather than outsourcing could affect Irish companies that provide services to U.S. clients.

For example, if Trump encourages American companies to retain jobs at home, there could be a reduced demand for Irish-based tech and finance workers who remotely support American firms.

This would particularly impact Irish jobs in tech support, customer service, and professional services, areas where Ireland has seen robust employment growth.

READ NEXT - Simon Harris message to Donald Trump after US election win sparks big reaction
Apollo Hospitals Q2 Results: Apollo Hospitals announced its July-September quarter results for fiscal 2024-25 (Q2FY25) on Wednesday, November 6, reporting a surge of 63 per cent in consolidated net profit to 379 crore, driven by higher demand for its healthcare services, compared to 233 crore in the corresponding period last year.

The Chennai-based hospital chain operator's revenue from operations in the second quarter of the current fiscal grew 15 per cent to 5,589 crore, compared to 4,846 crore in the year-ago period. Hospital chain operators have been focused on improving their occupancy rates by adding new beds and accommodating more expensive elective surgeries.

Apollo Hospitals Q2 Results: Key Metrics On the operating performance, Apollo Hospital's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) during the September quarter rose 30 per cent to 815.5 crore, compared to 627 crore in the year-ago period. The margin rose to 14.6 per cent compared to 13 per cent in the same period last year.

Apollo Hospitals said it had 7,994 operating beds as of September end, and its overall occupancy rose to 73 per cent during the second quarter from 68 per cent last year. This helped its revenue from the healthcare services business - which contributes more than half its total revenue - rise 14 per cent.

The digital health and pharmacy vertical, which offers online consultations and operates the 'Apollo 24/7' platform, reported a profit of 38.9 crore compared with a loss a year ago, boosting the hospital chain operator's margins.

One of our proudest achievements is our recent partnership with the Government of Tripura to provide free heart surgeries for children, underscoring our belief that healthcare should reach those who need it most, especially in underserved communities, said Prathap C Reddy, founder and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals.
Dr Reddys Laboratories Q2 Results Live : Dr Reddys Laboratories announced its Q2 results on November 5, 2024, revealing a mixed performance. The company's topline saw a significant increase of 16.45% year-over-year, yet profit fell by 15.28%, indicating challenges in maintaining profitability despite higher revenues.

In comparison to the previous quarter, revenue grew by 4.45%. However, profit experienced a decline of 9.82%, highlighting ongoing pressures on the company's bottom line. The rise in selling, general, and administrative expenses by 3.5% quarter-over-quarter and 21.37% year-over-year suggests increased operational costs that may be impacting overall profitability.

The operating income also reflected a downward trend, decreasing by 3.99% from the previous quarter and 2.99% year-over-year. Notably, the earnings per share (EPS) for Q2 stood at 15.85, which is a stark decrease of 81.27% year-over-year, raising concerns among investors about the company's earnings capacity.

In terms of market performance, Dr Reddys Laboratories has delivered a -0.2% return over the last week, a 1.65% return over the past six months, and a 9.71% return year-to-date. The company's current market capitalization is 105980.1 crore, with a 52-week high of 1421.49 and a low of 1063.96.

As of November 6, 2024, analysts remain cautious regarding Dr Reddys Laboratories, with 4 analysts recommending a Strong Sell, 10 suggesting a Sell, 9 advising Hold, 4 recommending Buy, and 6 advocating for Strong Buy. The consensus recommendation is currently to Hold, reflecting a wait-and-see approach as the company navigates its financial challenges.

Dr Reddys Laboratories Financials Period Q2 Q1 Q-o-Q Growth Q2 Y-o-Y Growth Total Revenue 8038.2 7696.1 +4.45% 6902.6 +16.45% Selling/ General/ Admin Expenses Total 3502.6 3384 +3.5% 2885.8 +21.37% Depreciation/ Amortization 397 380.6 +4.31% 375.5 +5.73% Total Operating Expense 6358.7 5946.8 +6.93% 5171.4 +22.96% Operating Income 1679.5 1749.3 -3.99% 1731.2 -2.99% Net Income Before Taxes 1917.4 1882.6 +1.85% 1916.7 +0.04% Net Income 1255.7 1392.4 -9.82% 1482.2 -15.28% Diluted Normalized EPS 15.85 83.5 -81.02% 84.6 -81.27%
Mumbai: Tata Steel made less money for every tonne of steel it sold in India during the July-September quarter compared to last year, in line with the performance of its domestic peers, as steel prices during the quarter remained subdued due to competition from cheap imports.

While the companys European operations continued to bleed, losses in the UK narrowed and its Netherlands unit broke even, helping the companys consolidated performance.

The company reported a consolidated profit of 759 crore for the quarter compared to a 6,511 crore loss in the corresponding period last year. It had taken an impairment of 6,899 crore during the July-September quarter last year on account of restructuring costs at its ailing UK unit.

The consolidated revenue for the quarter stood at 53,905 crore, 3% lower year-on-year. The topline was hit due to lower realizations in India, with India revenue dipping 5% year-on-year to 32,399 crore.

Macro-economic conditions in China continued to weigh on commodity prices including steel. In India, steel demand continued to improve but domestic prices were under pressure due to cheap imports, T. V. Narendran, the companys managing director, said in a press statement.

On the brighter side, the company sold about 6% more steel during the quarter on a consolidated basisabout 7.52 million tonnes. The sales growth is expected to continue given a brighter domestic demand outlook and the companys capacity expansion.

During September, the company inaugurated a new blast furnace at its Kalinganagar unit in India, which is touted to be the largest blast furnace in the country. Around the same time, it closed its second blast furnace at its Port Talbot unit in Wales. This was the last blast furnace in the UK, ending the production of virgin steel in the country.

Higher volumes in India Consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) during the quarter expanded more than half year-on-year to 6,142 crore.

Ebitda in India was marginally lower than the previous year at 6,912 crore. Tata Steel Europe reported an Ebitda loss of 1,344 crore compared to a loss of 2,512 crore during the same period last year.

Consolidated Ebitda margin witnessed an improvement of around 300 bps to 12%, aided by higher volumes in India and improved profitability at Netherlands. This was despite challenging operating environment across geographies, said Koushik Chatterjee, the companys chief financial officer.

Ebitda per tonne in India declined 6% to 13,524. Consolidated Ebitda per tonne improved 36% to 8,278.

Tata Steel marched ahead with its capacity expansion efforts on full steam during the quarter. While its second blast furnace at Kalinganagar is already ramping up, associated downstream facilities will be commissioned in the later part of the year, Chatterjee said.

The company also placed equipment orders for a 0.85 million tonnes per annum electric arc furnace, for its unit planned in Ludhiana. For its UK unit too it has signed a contract with Italys Tenova to deliver an electric arc furnace, he said.

Tata Steel spent 8,583 crore on capital expenditure during the half year, mostly in India, the CFO further said.

Tata Steels consolidated net debt stood at 88,817 crore at the end of September with a group liquidity position of 26,028 crore, with cash and cash equivalents of 10,575 crore.
Apollo Hospitals had a strong September quarter, with its consolidated net income growing 63% year-on-year to 379 crore, driven by volume growth in its healthcare services and a lessening of losses in HealthCo, its online pharmacy business.

The hospital chain announced its Q2 FY25 results on Wednesday, reporting results that outperformed estimates. Its overall consolidated revenue grew 15% year-on-year to 5,589 crore from 4,847 crore in FY24. The revenue was estimated at 5,532 crore by Bloomberg. Profit after tax (PAT) rose to 379 crore, up 63% from 233 crore in the same period last year. The companys Ebitda also grew 30% year-on-year to 816 crore.

Also Read: Titan Q2 Results: Net profit falls 23% to  704 crore; revenue rises 25.8% YoY Consolidated revenue of the firms healthcare services division grew 14%, aided by strong 8% volume growth. As on 30 September 2024, Apollo Hospitals had 7,994 operating beds across the network. The overall occupancy for hospitals was at 73% as opposed to 68% in the same period in the previous year, aided by a strong increase in patients across hospitals, the firm said.

HealthCo, its omnichannel pharmacy business, which includes its online platform Apollo 24/7, also saw a robust growth of 17%. In HealthCo, the firm said it had been able to bring down Ebitda loss from 169 crore to 100 crore y-o-y in the online business this quarter. The company is in line to achieve its goal of breaking even on the online business in the next five quarters, Group CFO Krishnan Akhileswaran told Mint.

None of the PAT expansion is one-off. We should be able to continue to see this momentum even going forward, he added.

The first tranche of investment from private equity firm Advent International in Apollo HealthCo of 1,732 crore has already been infused. Advent announced a capital infusion of 2,475 crore in the Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (AHEL) subsidiary in April. The agreement also includes a merger of Apollos wholesale pharma distribution unit Keimed Pvt. Ltd and online healthcare business Apollo 24/7 under Apollo HealthCo. The balance infusion from Advent and the merger is expected within 12 months from now, said Akhileswaran.

Also Read: Titan shares fall over 3% after weak Q2 results; Should you buy? Once we merge that into Apollo Healthco, you will see a very integrated pharma platform therein three years from now, we should be able to get the combined Healthco business at a 25,000-crore level revenue and a 7-8% Ebitda margin, he added.

The firm recently announced that it would add a 500-bed hospital in Worli, Mumbai as well as expand its existing hospital facility in Lucknow to 500 beds from the present 300 beds. In FY26 the hospital chain plans to add around 1,400 beds in four key marketsGurugram, Hyderabad, Pune, and Kolkata.

Following political disruptions in Bangladesh, AHEL saw a 15% decline in revenue there in the first half of the year. Dr Madhu Sasidhar, president & CEO, Hospitals Division, Apollo Hospitals, said that the chain is seeing rising demand for healthcare and medical value tourism from multiple countries in Africa and in the Commonwealth of Independent States, among others.

Also Read: Dr Reddys Laboratories Q2 Results Live: Profit Falls by 15.28% YoY We see a requirement for high-end differentiated care such as proton beam therapy, (CAR) T-cell therapy for cancer, as well as complex aortic and cardiac surgery coming out of Africa, CIS countries and these markets to India and to Apollo, Dr Sasidhar told Mint.
BMW said Wednesday it faced "extraordinary challenges" as its quarterly profits plunged due to slumping Chinese sales and a vehicle recall, the latest sign of the crisis gripping Europe's auto sector.

The German luxury carmaker's net profit dropped 84 percent from July to September, and came in at 476 million euros ($512 million)  even worse than analysts had been expecting.

Also Read | US Presidential Polls: Trump recalls assassination bid after claiming victory

Sales Down Vehicle deliveries for the manufacturer  which also makes the Rolls-Royce and Mini brands  fell 13 percent from a year ago, and were down about 30 percent in the key Chinese market.

Sales overall fell nearly 16 percent to 32.4 billion euros.

The group said there were "extraordinary challenges" in the third quarter, in particular "weak demand in China" as well as problems with a braking system that led to a costly recall of 1.5 million vehicles.

Also Read | US Elections: THIS is what Donald Trump said about Elon Musk in victory speech

Like other German automakers, the Munich-headquartered manufacturer had come to rely heavily on China, and makes around a third of its sales there.

But with the world's second-biggest economy facing prolonged economic problems and new homegrown rivals challenging traditional European car makers, particularly for sales of electric vehicles, BMW has been hard hit.

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse tried to sound upbeat despite the poor results.

"In the fourth quarter, we are back on track for stronger earnings in order to achieve our annual targets, despite planned high upfront expenditures," he said.

Also Read | What second Donald Trump Presidency in the US means for India?

Impact of Recall The braking system that led to the recall was supplied by Continental, which has said that even in cases where problems are detected, the brakes' performance is not compromised.

The recall impacted the third quarter results by hundreds of millions of euros.

The group had already downgraded its outlook in September when it announced the recall. It expects a slight decrease in vehicle deliveries for the year, as well as lower profit margins.
New Delhi: Semiconductor design company Tessolve, owned by Hero Electronix, has acquired Germany's Dream Chip Technologies for 400 crore, in a deal that would enable the Bengaluru-based technology firm design more complex processors and give it a competitive edge.

The deal strengthens Tessolve's design capabilities, besides giving it a much better access to European markets. "We are about 30-plus employees in Europe and with this acquisition we'll have a much larger presence," Tessolve co-founder and CEO Srini Chinamilli told Mint.

Dream Chip undertakes chip design or system-on-chip design for artificial intelligence (AI), automotive, data centre, and industrial markets. The hottest topic currently in Germany is the autonomous driving where we can help the automotive industry to innovate even faster to stay competitive on the worldwide market," said Jens Benndorf, CEO of Dream Chip Technologies.

Dream Chip to continue to operate as separate brand

The acquisition is an all-cash deal, and Dream Chip will continue to operate as a separate brand as Tessolve's arm. Tessolve will provide a platform with a larger global reach and engineering bandwidth, which in turn will help the German firm take up much larger projects and give them a better sales reach.

The acquisition will also expand Tessolves European operations by adding four delivery locations across Germany and the Netherlands. This is Tessolves sixth acquisition in the last 10 years, largely aimed at gaining quality of people and capability additions, rather than revenue maximization.

Ujjwal Munjal, chairman of Tessolve, said in a statement: With the synergy brought by Dream Chip Technologies, I am confident that Tessolve is poised to become a world leader in this space with unparalleled capabilities. As major companies increasingly shift towards custom chip design, this acquisition positions Tessolve more strongly than ever to meet the growing demands of the custom chip market."

The Hero Group-owned company, which designs, tests and produces semiconductor chips in 10 countries for 80% of the worlds 20 largest semiconductor firms, is expanding operations globally. It recently opened labs in the US, Singapore and India, and plans centres in tier-II cities across the country.

Tessolves solutions help semiconductor manufacturing and packaging companies to accelerate their products to market, as it removes the need for them to make their own investments into design, engineering and testing chips that may be used in a variety of sectors including automotive and power management, besides those used in AI applications, electric vehicles and data centres.

Mint had reported in July that Tessolve closed FY24 with 1,000 crore revenue and expected to grow 20% in FY25 on the back of demand coming from India where several companies are setting up testing and packaging units, besides the country's first fabrication unit being set up by Tata Electronics.

Also Read: L&T boosts AI, data centre ambitions with E2E Networks deal
(Bloomberg) -- Ireland will hold an early general election as Prime Minister Simon Harris takes advantage of favorable poll numbers and a slump in support for Sinn Fein, the main opposition party, which is mired in a series of scandals.

Harris said a vote will take place on Nov. 29, even though hes not required to hold an election until March 2025. The announcement, which was widely expected, follows a giveaway budget in October that was seen as an effort to win over voters.

Harris, 38, became Irelands youngest ever prime minister  or Taoiseach  in April after taking over as leader of Fine Gael, the main party in the coalition government.

Hes had to navigate an immigration crisis, as well as frustration over housing and healthcare, but has generally enjoyed a honeymoon period with voters so far. At the same time, rival party Sinn Fein has seen its support plunge from the highs of recent years and is now trailing in polls.

Harris promised to bring fresh ideas on issues like immigration, and has benefited from having the resources to keep the public on side. Tax revenue from multinational firms like Google and Amazon, as well as a one-off back-tax payment of 14 billion ($15 billion) from Apple Inc., have put the country on track for a huge fiscal surplus this year.

Harris used some of that for a 10.5 billion budget bonanza that included several tax credits and extra welfare payments to be dished out before Christmas.

Harris announced the date on RTE Television. He will go to the president on Friday to seek the dissolution of the Dail, as the parliament is known.

Im looking forward to the weeks ahead and asking the people of Ireland for a mandate, Harris said.

Immigration is likely to be a dominant issue in the election. While Ireland doesnt have a single, large far-right party  like AfD in Germany or National Rally in France  there has been an increase in support for independent anti-immigration figures.

The country was shocked by violent riots late last year, while there have been repeated protests and clashes with police outside accommodation used to house asylum seekers.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Reuters) - IT services provider Kyndryl narrowly beat estimates for second-quarter revenue on Wednesday as businesses adopting generative AI technology turned to its consulting services.

The company, the former infrastructure services business of IBM, posted a 23% rise in consulting business revenue.

Kyndryl has benefited from companies upgrading their IT systems to incorporate the extensive data and processing needs of artificial intelligence technology.

"For every company which is considering AI and generative AI, the heart of that always requires data," CEO Martin Schroeter told Reuters.

"We play a role in helping them with their data architecture before they could even start to consider Gen AI."

Kyndryl's second-quarter revenue fell about 7% to $3.77 billion. The average estimate of four analysts polled by LSEG was $3.72 billion.

The company inherited multiple no-margin contracts from IBM and has been looking to re-work them to generate higher profits, a move that has led to an "engineered decline" in its revenue.

It will return to revenue growth by the end of this fiscal year, Schroeter said.

Kyndryl has a target of generating $1 billion in revenue in its fiscal year 2025 from so called hyperscalers. In the second quarter, Kyndryl recognized $260 million in revenue tied to customers using services from large-scale cloud providers.

The company narrowed its net loss to $43 million in the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with a net loss of $142 million in the year-ago-period.

In response to a question on Donald Trump's election as U.S. president, Schroeter said: "I do expect there will be continued focus on the security aspects of data and importantly on the resiliency aspects of the systems that countries rely on."

"Helping customers get ready for a regulatory environment is going to be a tailwind for us."
(Bloomberg) -- Paramount Global talked to Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. about a merger for months before giving up when no concrete offer was received, a regulatory filing shows.

The document filed Monday details the efforts that Paramount, the owner of CBS and MTV, made to find a buyer or partner before agreeing in July to a merger with Skydance Media, an independent film and TV company founded by David Ellison. Paramount held talks with at least 12 alternative bidders, identified in the filing as parties A through L.

Warner Bros. was Party A, according to people familiar with the discussions. Paramounts then-Chief Executive Officer Bob Bakish and Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav first met in December to discuss a deal, and the two companies and their advisers began discussions.

By late February, according to the filing, the special committee of Paramounts board decided it would no longer share financial information with Warner Bros. given that the company had failed to make a specific merger proposal.

Zaslav spoke to Bakish again on Feb. 28, the filing shows, and said he was still interested in a deal. But conversations with National Amusements Inc., the Redstone family holding company that controls Paramount, suggested Warner Bros. would have to pay them in cash and at a valuation that would make a transaction between them challenging, according to the filing.

Zaslav was still talking to Paramount representatives in April, saying he thought there was merit to a combination, but that it wouldnt include any cash consideration for shareholders.

The decision to sell Paramount can be traced back to lower-than-expected financial results the company reported in May 2023, according to the filing. The board voted to slash the dividend, cutting the cash flowing annually to National Amusements to about $13 million from more than $60 million and leading its controlling stockholder to weigh its options.

In the months that followed, Paramount held discussions with Comcast Corp., media mogul Byron Allen and Apollo Global Management Inc., among others. Paramount, Warner Bros., Comcast and Allen declined to comment. Apollo didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Party B in the filing is Comcast, according to the people. Its chief executive officer, Brian Roberts, met with Paramount in January. He said he didnt want to buy the whole company, but might be interested in licensing Paramount content.

A month later, Roberts was back saying he wanted to explore a joint venture between their streaming services, his companys Peacock and Paramount , so long as Comcast would have majority control.

The board also discussed an offer from Allen, identified as Party D. The members discussed the lack of specifics about his financing and observed that he had bid on Paramount assets before. They had their law firm send Allen a nondisclosure agreement that would allow him to access confidential data and documents, but he never signed it.

Paramounts board also questioned the commitment demonstrated by Apollo, identified in the filing as Party C. Apollo bid for Paramounts film business and certain of its TV studios on March 6 at an $11 billion valuation. On March 31, the private equity firm proposed an acquisition of all of Paramount, but didnt offer a specific share price.

In an April 1 meeting, Paramount board members and their advisers said they were surprised that Apollo continued to describe the proposed transaction in a very preliminary manner and that the lack of specific detail suggested a lack of urgency. That was despite all the attention the sale process was getting in the media, they said.

Meanwhile, Skydance, backed by Ellisons father, Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison, continued to press Paramount to enter talks exclusively with them. On April 3, Paramount granted them that and began negotiations that ultimately led to a deal.

--With assistance from Hannah Miller and Michelle F. Davis.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
German software-maker SAP SE is confident that artificial intelligence (AI) will create new jobs even as the rise of the new technology casts a shadow on jobs done by humans.

We believe AI will create more jobs by increasing productivity. We are working with our partners to leverage AI and increase the productivity of our projects, said Muhammad Alam, member of the executive board for product engineering at SAP at the companys roundtable with the media in its research and development (R&D) lab in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

AI helps us accelerate migrations and decrease implementation costs, further driving our business growth, said Alam.

Chief executive Christian Klein echoed a similar opinion, stating that the need for developers will increase as AI-fuelled business grows, which would increase the development workforce in India.

Also Read: Coforge, Persistent Systems continue growth on back of stable leadership In India, your economy is so rapidly diversifying, and all of these customers need software; that's the good place to be in tech, said Klein, who took over as chief executive in April 2020 in his interaction with the media. Now we can code this software faster, be more productive, but we have to code more software. And as long as this is the case, we will also further invest. And also here, the development workforce in India will further increase.

While it may seem that AI will reduce the number of people to do a certain task, we need to see that because of AI, there is more work opening up across multiple technologies, said Ashutosh Sharma, vice-president and research director at Forrester Research. He added that tech spends will increase across organisations and AI will be instrumental in creating new jobs that emerge from companies investing in new technologies that AI enables.

SAP is a Walldorf, Germany-headquartered software maker that arms the worlds largest firms with software that can manage their business processes including human resources, finances, supply chain management, and inventories.

The SAP boards buoyant remarks on AI contrast with those of Google-parent Alphabet Incs chief executive Sundar Pichai, whose comments in the companys post-earnings conference call with analysts put alarm bells on jobs of coders.

We're also using AI internally to improve our coding processes, which is boosting productivity and efficiency. Today, more than a quarter of all new code at Google is generated by AI, then reviewed and accepted by engineers, said Pichai in the call with analysts on 29 October after the company announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 2024.

At home in India, chief executives of the countrys largest software services companies have sought to assuage investor concerns over the threat to jobs posed by generative AI (GenAI).

Also Read: Tech Inc hopes to do a SAP with Nvidia this time ChatGPT created a lot of early interest. But people are slowly realizing that it is most useful for a class of problems. People are realizing that it will not take away all the jobshumans would be required, said K. Krithivasan, CEO of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, which is Indias largest software services company, in an interview with Mint on 12 July.

ChatGPTs launch about two years ago shot GenAI to fame and also into company boardroom discussions with its content generation abilities in video, audio and written form.

Krithivasans peer Salil Parekh, who is the CEO of Infosys Ltd, voiced a similar opinion. So, at this stage, my sense is that the (AI) technology will help business to grow even further as opposed to anything else. We dont see any layoffs in Infosys with these new-age technologies, said Parekh in an interview to PTI on 26 August.

These comments are significant for India, which sees at least a million engineering students graduate every year. This leap in demand from the new technology will lead to a change in skillset required by graduates.

Prompt engineers, which is an industry term for coders adept in instructing AI models to generate the best results, is gaining demand from large companies that are keen on hiring talent equipped with GenAI-ready skillsets, Mint reported on 13 March.

For now, the benefits of AI are still not clear because most homegrown companies are shying away from disclosing their revenues from the new technology, unlike global peers Accenture Plc and IBM Corp.

While IBMs book of business  bookings and actual sales  related to GenAI stood at more than $2 billion as of July 2024, Accenture, which is the worlds largest software services company, reported $3 billion in Gen AI bookings for the financial year ended August 2024.

Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani in his address to shareholders at the companys 43rd annual general meeting said that the embrace of Gen AI in large companies will be slower than in consumer-facing companies.

Also Read: Higher revenue forecast and employees signal growth for Indian ITs top five The world is at the very early stages of the AI revolution, and unlike the consumer AI, which will roll out quickly, enterprise AI requires companies to do major changes inside the companies, organize their data, build responsible systems, follow the laws of many countries, and so on. So, enterprise AI will take several years to unfold, said Nilekani on 1 July 2024.
Mumbai: Donald Trumps electoral comeback has prompted some crystal-gazing into what his second term as American president could mean for Indian employees and students aspiring to move to the US. After all, his electoral promises of more jobs for American citizens and tighter immigration controls were bound to cause some consternation.

That said, domestic education and visa consultants are banking on Trumps other rhetoricto revive the US economyto open a route at least for Indias much-vaunted technology employees and students pursuing highly skilled courses.

The US economy needs skilled (immigrant) workforce and India may have a better standing versus China in addressing this," said Narayanan Ramaswamy, partner and headeducation and skill development practice, KPMG in India. He, however, added that the real impact will play out in few years" depending on how the US economy shapes up.

Trumps moves will be keenly watched especially by Indias information technology services companies, considering the US is the largest market for most of these firms. IT services companies ship employees to markets where their clients are located on temporary work visas. In June 2020, during his previous term as US president, Trump had suspended the issuance of all H-1B work visas, including for Indians.

The Nifty IT index gained 4% on Wednesday amid early trends pointing to a Trump victory.

Also read | Indian IT sectors much-awaited moment has arrived: the US Fed rate cut

The bigger demographic watching his moves will be Indian students, for whom US colleges have always been the top choicemore so now as Canada and Australia have clamped down on the number of international students. According to a Mint report in April, more than 260,000 Indian students went to the US in the 2022-2023 academic session, a 35% jump over the previous session.

On immigration, Trump 2.0 has already shown incredible claritymore welcome ruling on international students that brings dollar and fixes talent gap, strong rhetoric on the growing illegal path-crossing on borders," said Akshay Chaturvedi, founder and chief executive officer of education consultancy Leverage.biz.

Also read | India-Canada row: Its failing Indian students

A mixed bag, but stable

Mohak Nahta, chief executive of US-headquartered visa application platform Atlys, pointed out that Trump has proposed granting automatic green cardsor permanent residencyto foreign nationals graduating from US colleges.

If implemented, this policy could be beneficial (for Indian students) as it aligns with their goal of retaining skilled graduates in high-paying jobs that support the local economy," said Nahta. He, however, added that while the US may restrict H-1B visas to some extent" it was likely to retain those who have studied in the US.

The US typically offers 85,000 H-1B visas every year. Of this, 60,000-65,000 visas are offered via lottery and the rest to highly qualified employees. H-1B visas allow US employers to recruit foreign nationals in the US on a temporary arrangement. Companies can also use L1 visas to get employees onshore.

Madhur Gujar, co-founder and chief business officer at study abroad platform Amber, however, said Trumps recent proposal for automatic green cards for graduates and support for a merit-based immigration system would be favourable for Indias study-abroad market.

Also read | Why top tech executives are heading for India

This focus on retaining high-skilled graduates could be beneficial in maintaining the flow of talented students from India, which is the largest source of international students in the US, surpassing China last year for the first time since 2009/10," Gujar said, adding that he doesnt expect any drastic policy changes in the near term.

Chirajeet Sengupta, managing partner at tech consultancy Everest Group, expects Trumps electoral victory to signal a phase of stability for Indian technology outsourcing companies.

While some of Trumps visa stance has been hardline, he has also historically acknowledged that Indias technology workforce adds significant value to the US ecosystem," he said. While this does imply a mixed bag, on overall terms, Indias tech jobs ecosystem should remain stable."
2024 US Election: As the polling closed in several states of America on November 5, former President Donald Trump is ahead with 211 electoral college votes while Kamala Harris trails with 145, according to US media, in the neck-and-neck race to the White House.

A candidate has to win at least 270 electoral college votes to become a US President, regardless of the popular vote he or she bags. The electoral college votes are distributed among 50 states depending on the population.

Also Read | 2024 US Election: Donald Trump projected to win Missouri

For the last six presidential elections, 36 of the 50 states have voted for the same party. Thus the result for these states is more or less on expected lines. As reported by US media outlets, Harris started with 226 electoral votes and Trump with 219 based on the trends in past races.

Fight Comes Down to Swing States Under these cicumstances, the fight comes down to swing or battleground states where the voters have changed their preferences in the past swinging the election outcomes. This election, there are seven swing states. These include Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania known as the Blue Wall states and Nevada, Arizona, North Carolina and Georgia called the Sun Belt states.

Taken together, the electoral college strength of these swing states is 93. For Harris, 93 electoral votes from swing states added to 226 takes the total tally beyond 270 majority mark. For Trump, 93 added to 219 will also mean easy win in the Presidential Elections.

This explains the signficance of swing states. Clearly, the outcome in these states will largely decide who will be the 47th President of United States, since the rest of the states behave according to a pattern, unless there is a set back.

As the trends streamed in, Trump was leading in 19 states including Texas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky while Democrat Kamala Harris was ahead in New York, Vermont, New Jersey and six other states.

The results in the key battleground states have not been called yet.

The Road to 270 The Blue Wall states  Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin  also known as Rust Belt states  have traditionally the strongholds of the Democratic Party. The Sub Belt states  Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina have an electoral college strength of 49.

Harris is ahead with 68.4 per cent of the votes counted in Pennsylvania, while Trump is cruising ahead in Georgia, as per early trends by US media outlets.

Pennsylvania, the largest swing state with 19 electoral college votes holds the key for both the presidential hopefuls. Trump won Pennsylvania in 2016. Biden won it in 2020.

Also Read | US Election 2024 LIVE: Donald Trump narrowly leads Harris in Pennsylvania

For both candidates, winning Pennsylvania, the largest swing state, would make things easier.

The Crucial Pennsylvania Winning Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin would give Harris 44 votes, and help her reach the magic figure of 270. These Blue Wall states are known to be reliable Democrat supporters. They have voted for a Democratic candidate in every presidential election, but one, between 1992 and 2020.

These states vote together. Say, for example, in 2016, when Republican Trump won the election, all the three Blue Wall states voted for him.

Also Read | Kamala Harris US election Results: Harris claims victory in Delaware

Winning Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin would give Harris 44 votes, and help her reach the magic figure of 270.

In case Harris loses the Blue Wall, she will depend on the Sun Belt states of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina. Together, these states have 49 electoral votes, a number that will help her easily sail through.The Sun Belt has traditionally voted for Republican candidates, though.

Even if Trump wins all the Sun Belt states, he will need some votes from the Blue Wall to cross the 270 majority mark.

An NYT report says that Harris needs 44 of these battleground electoral votes to win the election, assuming both candidates win all of the states where polls show them with significant leads. Trump needs 51.
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)  a coalition of the Congress, Sharad Pawar's NCP-SP and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena-UBT  has promised to waive farm loans of up to 3 lakh in Maharashtra if it wins power in the upcoming assembly elections.

Farm loans of up to 3 lakh to be waived off in Maharashtra under Krishi Samruddhi Yojana after MVA wins polls, Sharad Pawar said on Wednesday. He said an incentive of 50,000 will be given for regular loan repayment.

Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray said the MVA-led government will give 4,000 per month to each unemployed youth in the state if it comes to power in Maharashtra.

Also Read | Sharad Pawar makes big remark on retirement amid Maharashtra elections

Besides, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promised free bus travel and financial assistance to women in Maharashtra. "...Our first guarantee is to transfer 3,000 per month to the bank accounts of women directly and to provide free bus travel for women and girls in Maharashtra," Gandhi said.

The assembly polls for the 288 seats in Maharashtra are scheduled for November 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23. A total of 10,905 nomination papers have been submitted for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, representing 7,995 candidates across 288 constituencies, the Chief Electoral Officer's office was quoted by ANI as saying.

Meanwhile, both the ruling Mahayuti alliance as well the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi are gearing up and leaving no stone unturned for the assembly polls. Mahayuti is the alliance of Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) and MVA is the coalition of Shiv Sena (UBT) (Uddhav Thackeray faction), NCP (SCP) (Sharad Pawar faction) and the Congress.
Former US President Donald Trump is currently leading ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House race. Report by Fox News has already declared Trump the winner of the US presidential election. It is the only network to make the call, after projecting he would win key battlegrounds Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

US Election Results 2024 LIVE Updates: See reactions on US election results Elon Musk said, The people of America gave @realDonaldTrump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight

Veena Sikri, Former Ambassador & Diplomat says, " Whoever is elected President of the US, govt of India will deal with that person with the best interest of India and in the best interest of a good bilateral relationship with US. The bilateral relationship with US is very important for us...the good bilateral relation that has been established with US over the past 10 years, will continue..."

Also Read | What Donald Trump Presidency in the US means for India?

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated Trump and said Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship, yours, Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu

PM Modi also extended congratulations and wrote, "Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together.

Also Read | US Presidential Polls: Trump recalls assassination bid after claiming victory

NATO chief congratulates Trump, says will keep alliance 'strong.' NATO chief Mark Rutte on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump for winning the US presidential election and said his return to power will help keep the alliance "strong". "His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO," Rutte said in a statement.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated Donald Trump on his "historic election victory", adding that UK-US special relationship would "continue to prosper". "As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump and said, I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer.

President of France, Emmanuel Macron said, Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together just as we knew how to do during four years. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity."

Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed congratulates Trump, says looks forward to working together "Congratulations to President Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump) on your election victory and comeback. I look forward to working together to further strengthen the relationship between our two countries during your term," Abiy wrote in a post on X.

Taking to X, Maldives President said, Warm congratulations to President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your electoral victory. The Maldives and the United States share a strong partnership based on mutual respect, goodwill, and understanding. I look forward to strengthening our cooperation, address mutual challenges and work towards advancing global peace and prosperity.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif also took to X and sent a congratulatory message to Trump, Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! I look forward to working closely with the incoming Administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-U.S. partnership. @realDonaldTrump

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also sent congratulatory messages to Trump. He wrote on X, Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory. Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also send his best wishes to Donald Trump on his victory. He wrote, "Congratulations to Donald Trump on being elected President of the United States. The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations."

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni took to X and wrote, On behalf of myself and the Italian Government, my most sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald #Trump .Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further. Good work Mr. President. @realDonaldTrump
Donald Trump on November 6 while addressing Florida said spoke on first lady Melania Trump's her new book, Melania. Speaking to the crowd, he said, I want to thank my wife, Melania, the First Lady; she has the number one bestselling book in the country. She works very hard to help people.

Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed victory in the US Presidential elections after Fox News projected him as the winner. Other outlets have yet to call the race for Trump, but they note that he is far ahead in the race. Addressing his supporters from West Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump said, America has given us an unprecedented mandate and we have created history.

US Election Results 2024 LIVE Updates Coming back to his addresss, he also spoke on the assasination attempt on him. He said, "...Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason. That reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness and now we are going to fulfill that mission together

In Florida, Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance also joined in on the stage and said, Mr President, I appreciate you for allowing me to join you on this incredible journey. I thank you for the trust you placed in me. I think we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.

Donald Trump US Election Result LIVE Updates "Under President Trump's leadership, we are never going to stop fighting for you, for your dreams, for the future of your children and after the greatest political comeback in American history, we are going to lead the greatest economic comeback in American history under Donald Trump's leadership," Vance said.
2024 US Elections: Billionaire Elon Musk, who is a firm Donald Trump supporter and campaigned for his return to the White House in this election, has begun early celebrations online.

In a post on his social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Musk exuded confidence in Trump's potential return as President of the United States of America.

Notably, early trends do show the Republican nominee and former US President leading in majority electoral seats, against Democratic nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris.

Musk posted: Game, set and match, which generated a host of replies congratulating Musk and Trump for a likely win in the 2024 US elections.

Also Read | US Election Results: Full list of states won by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris

Elon Musk, Trump's Running Mate Musk has time and again publicly expressed his support towards Trump, even donating $75 million to the fellow billionaire's Political Action Committee which campaigned for his return to the White House.

Musk even hosted an X-Space with Trump and made appearances at several of his campaign rallies, prompting Kamala Harris' partner Tim Walz to take a swipe and call Musk as Trump's running mate. JD Vance is the official running mate for Trump against Walz.

US Election Results 2024 Update The New York Times has raised its estimate of Trumps chances of winning the 2024 US presidential election, now predicting an 89% likelihood of victory.

According to the latest updates by NYT on electoral college, Trump is predicted to secure 298 electoral votes, with his range estimated between 251 and 326.

In contrast, estimation on Harris trails with 240 electoral votes, with her potential range spanning from 212 to 287.

A total of 538 electoral votes are at stake, with 270 needed to secure victory. The swing states are critical, as many others maintain predictable voting patterns.
The counting of votes in the United States is underway and as per the latest update North Dakotas incumbent US Senator Kevin Cramer has secured a second term in office. Cramer, a Republican, successfully fended off a challenge from Democratic candidate, who was running for the Senate for the second time.

Donald Trump US Election Results LIVE Updates Republican candidate Kevin Cramer defeated Democrat Katrina Christiansen, an assistant professor of engineering at the University of Jamestown. Christiansen was making her second bid for a Senate seat after running unsuccessfully against Republican Sen. John Hoeven in 2022.

In his campaign, Cramer touted his longtime support for former President Donald Trump and his work during the Trump administration on deregulation, border security, energy and agriculture issues. The 63-year-old Cramer is known for his approachable yet blunt manner.

US Election Results 2024 LIVE Updates While speaking of the results to Associated Press on phone, Cramer said, I just know I'm blessed to represent the most patriotic, virtuous people in the country and carry their message for them in Washington.

Here's all you need to know about Kevin Cramer Cramer, a former congressman, first won the Senate seat in 2018 when he beat Democrat Heidi Heitkamp in her re-election bid.

Cramer is a former US House member and public utilities regulator.

Cramer, 63, originally captured his seat from Heitkamp in 2018 in one of the most closely watched Senate races that year.

Cramer is known for an approachable but blunt manner.

He has been a player for decades in state GOP politics, including as a young state party chairman in the early 1990s when Republicans began turning the tables on North Dakotas then-dominant Democrats.

Kevin Cramer served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019 and was a member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission from 2003 to 2012.

Also Read | A Republican sweep in US election may trigger major policy changes: Jefferies

Additionally, he held positions as the state's tourism director and as the economic development and finance director under Governor Ed Schafer.

Cramer has also faced personal challenges with his son Ian Cramer facing charges in connection with a December 2023 vehicle pursuit and crash that killed a sheriff's deputy, Paul Martin. Ian Cramer pleaded guilty to all the charges, including a homicide offense, in September and has yet to be sentenced.

2024 US elections: As per early projections, Former President Donald Trump has been able to maintain his lead over Vice President Kamala Harris. CNN has projected Kamala Harris has won 91 electoral votes while Trump is leading with 178 while Fox Decision Desk HQ has projected a lead for Trump with 205 votes and Harris trailing at 117.
Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

Also Read | US Election Results: Full list of states won by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris

With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.

US Election Results 2024 LIVE Updates Trump, 78, won an unprecedented race during which he was convicted of felonies, survived two assassination attempts and crushed a challenge from Vice President Kamala Harris after she replaced an unpopular President Joe Biden in the campaigns final months.

Here's a look at the 47 President's so far

President Term George Washington 17891797 John Adams 17971801 Thomas Jefferson 18011809 James Madison 18091817 James Monroe 18171825 John Quincy Adams 18251829 Andrew Jackson 18291837 Martin Van Buren 18371841 William Henry Harrison 1841 John Tyler 18411845 James K. Polk 18451849 Zachary Taylor 18491850 Millard Fillmore 18501853 Franklin Pierce 18531857 James Buchanan 18571861 Abraham Lincoln 18611865 Andrew Johnson 18651869 Ulysses S. Grant 18691877 Rutherford B. Hayes 18771881 James A. Garfield 1881 Chester A. Arthur 18811885 Grover Cleveland 18851889 Benjamin Harrison 18891893 Grover Cleveland 18931897 William McKinley 18971901 Theodore Roosevelt 19011909 William Howard Taft 19091913 Woodrow Wilson 19131921 Warren G. Harding 19211923 Calvin Coolidge 19231929 Herbert Hoover 19291933 Franklin D. Roosevelt 19331945 Harry S. Truman 19451953 Dwight D. Eisenhower 19531961 John F. Kennedy 19611963 Lyndon B. Johnson 19631969 Richard Nixon 19691974 Gerald Ford 19741977 Jimmy Carter 19771981 Ronald Reagan 19811989 George H. W. Bush 19891993 Bill Clinton 19932001 George W. Bush 20012009 Barack Obama 20092017 Donald Trump 20172021 Joe Biden 2021present

Donald Trump makes history as the first former president to reclaim the White House since Grover Cleveland did so in 1892. Notably, Trump is the first individual convicted of a felony to hold the office. His running mate, 40-year-old Ohio Senator JD Vance, will break new ground as the highest-ranking member of the millennial generation to serve in the U.S. government, assuming the role of vice president.

Also Read | 2024 US election results pose questions for Harry-Meghans future

Despite surviving two assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign, the 78-year-old candidate remains a formidable force, securing a second term in office. His victory dashed the hopes of the Democratic Party and millions of Kamala Harris supporters who had dreamed of seeing the first woman ever elected President of the United States.

In November 2020, he refused to accept the result that brought Joe Biden to the White House, and a stunned nation watched his supporters storm the US Capitol on January 6. The riots disrupted a joint session of the US Congress which was in the process of affirming the presidential election results.
New Delhi: The return of Donald Trump to the White House as the 47th president of the US could help Elon Musk, chief executive of satellite communications operator Starlink, retain a favourable regulatory stance in the nascent satcom industry.

Analysts and policy experts suggest that Musks support for Trumps campaign may translate into influence that could counter Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambanis efforts to persuade the Indian government to shift its approach from allocating spectrum to service providers to auctioning it.

The Indian governments approach to administratively allocate satellite spectrum already aligns with the globally established regulatory approach to satcom spectrum," said Siddhant Cally, research analyst at consultancy and market research firm, Counterpoint. Given that this already favours what Musk has been asking for, the push to retain administrative allocation for satellite spectrum will gain more strength, despite Ambanis push to encourage an auction model for the satcom industry in India."

Callys assessment is in line with other stakeholders. A senior industry official, working closely with telecom and space sector operators in India, said on conditions of anonymity, Musk now has a close ally in the US president, who may urge the Indian government to retain its stance towards making satellite spectrum available to satcom service providers in the country. In the near term, this may clearly favour Musk if Trump weighs in on the issue, negating Sunil Bharti Mittals recent change of heart on the satcom spectrum issue."

On 15 October, Mittal, chairperson of Bharti Enterprises-the holding company of telecom operator Bharti Airtel and satcom operator Airtel-OneWeb, said, "Satellite companies who have ambitions to come into urban areas serving elite retail customers just need to take the telecom licenses like everybody, with the same conditions, and will have to buy the spectrum and pay license fees as telecom players."

Mint had reported on October 16 that some industry executives had said that this was a change in stance since the telco had preferred allocation of satellite airwaves administratively for any entity intending to offer services in India. Airtel had clarified that it had not changed its stance and had shared it's position with the government.

Ambani-backed satcom firm Jio-SES' has pushed for spectrum auction, instead of administrative allocation, irrespective of the service being for urban or rural customers.

With Musk emerging as a primary backer of Trumps presidential campaign in the past three months, industry stakeholders see him potentially play a key role in the incoming US government. A senior industry consultant who advises tech businesses in India said that Musk may play an advisory role for technology in the Trump government, which means that he would now have considerable power to push for policies that favour his ventures worldwide."

Also Read | Mint Explainer: What Trumps victory means for US, India and rest of the world

Musk and India

Most parties agree that the impact may take time to play out, depending on how important Musk considers the India market to be.

Its difficult to predict clearly if Trumps election may favour Musk against Indias satcom operators. This will depend entirely on how big a part of Starlinks plan India is. Musk, who may play a significant role in the upcoming government in the US, would have other areas to focus upon, rather than prioritizing India," said Mathew Chacko, founding partner of law firm Spice Route Legal.

If Musk does push for a favourable stance within the India government, most stakeholders suggest that the Centre may not move away from the spectrum allocation modelsince it may prioritize its bilateral ties with the US.

Theres merit to this too, since satellite spectrum is largely different from conventional, commercial terrestrial mobile network spectrum. For the initial part, this should help retain administrative allocation, which will favour Musk in India thanks to Trump being the President," Counterpoints Cally said.

From a global perspective, there could be more pressure to lay off technologyto not enact policies that are either strictly nationalistic, such as Indias telecom regulations. Alternatively, the US government may push for promoting tech hubs globally as an approach, in order to further its own benefits and bilateral ties with strategic geographies," Spice Routes Chacko added.

Read more| A second Trump term is not good newseither for the US or the world
Paisa Vasool isn't a phrase that rolls off the tongues of senior leaders of Czech premium carmaker Skoda Auto often. But at the launch of its first, made-for-India compact sports utility vehicle Kylaq, value for money and paisa vasool were key phrases to emphasize how serious the brand was to crack the Indian mass market and shed the perception its cars were too pricey for the value-conscious buyer.

Starting 2026, the company hopes to sell 100,000 cars a year, driven mostly by the Kylaq, which will take on 18 other models in the sub-four-meter segment, Martin Jahn, member of the Skoda board of directors for sales and marketing, told Mint in an interview on Wednesday.

The Kylaq compact SUV was launched at a starting ex-showroom price of 7.89 lakh.

Skoda Auto is adopting a multi-pronged gameplan for India, focusing on local manufacturing, cost management, and expanding its model lineup to tap into the countrys largest and most competitive passenger vehicle segment. After the completion of the India 2.0 program, in which the Skoda Auto Volkswagen India launched four new products, the Kylaq is the group's bid to make a fresh push to become a meaningful European player in the domestic market, which is increasingly important for global brands amid tough Chinese competition in the international markets.

Also Read: The man likely to lead the two Tata Motors companies

Jahn said that the company will continue ramping up its domestic manufacturing in pursuit of sustained profitability.

With ambitions to sell 100,000 units in the mid-term, Skoda sees its success tied to balancing premium features with competitive pricing. We are bringing a very good package of European technology, modern design, and high safety for a very good price," he said.

Last year, Skoda achieved a significant milestone by breaking even in Indiaa market it has operated in for more than two decades but struggled to turn a profit. The company's foray into India's largest segment, populated by established players and dominated by price-sensitive consumers, presented a steep challenge. However, Jahn noted that staying competitive in the price-sensitive segment was necessary if Skoda wanted to play a significant role in the Indian market. "We dont want to lose money on any product," Jahn stated. The product has to be profitable. The question is, how profitable it will be, but we have no intention of losing money with any product."

To achieve long-term profitability, Skoda is focusing on increasing its level of local manufacturing. Further localization is key to our profitability in India," Jahn explained.

The automaker is also looking to build stronger ties with Indian suppliers to enhance cost efficiency and secure competitive pricing. Our purchasing department is very active, and we want to make sure that we do not compromise on quality," said Jahn, who stressed that localization is not about merely cutting costs but ensuring component quality that meets Skoda's standards. The company has already expanded its local supplier base by 10%, underscoring its long-term commitment to embedding itself deeper within the Indian market.

Though Skodas primary focus remains on India, the company is also evaluating opportunities to export select models, including the Kushaq and Slavia, as parts and components, to markets such as Vietnam. However, the export of the sub-four-meter model remains uncertain due to specific regulations that make its appeal more India-centric.

The broader Indian market outlook, however, presents its own set of uncertainties. The launch also comes amid a muted Indian passenger vehicle market this fiscal year so far, despite the recent festive cheer in October.

Next year is a big question mark There is no clear view on this," Jahn said. Despite this, he expressed optimism that Skodas market share could grow, fuelled by new model launches and increased production capacity. The company plans to increase its retail outlets to up to 350 in India, from 260 currently, allowing it to serve more customers and broaden its reach across key regions.

Also Read: Diwali sales sparkle for Maruti after a dull September quarter

As Skoda navigates this landscape, the company is determined to leverage its unique value as a European brand in Indias crowded automotive space. We are the only European brand in this segment," Jahn said.
New Delhi: A fresh draft of Indias first dedicated space law is ready, said Pawan Goenka, chairman of nodal space regulator Indian National Space Promotions and Authorization Centre (In-Space), a move that could make foreign investments easier in the nascent sector.

The absence of a space law has hobbled investments into the industry, crimping its ability to grow beyond the current estimated $9 billion. Investment applications currently need to go through the tiny space department, causing a backlog.

The new draft comes six years after the government came out with the first one. All that India has at the moment in the form of an official document is a four-page policy published in 2023.

Also read | $2.7 billion funding for Isro projects to boost private firms

The latest draft, prepared by the Department of Space, is expected to be thrown open for industry stakeholder consultations by March next year, Goenka said in an interaction with Mint on Wednesday.

The new draft is completely different from what an initial version prepared six years ago had laid out. This new comprehensive law will open up for industry stakeholder consultations by March next year, if not by the end of this year itself. Further to the consultation process, the law will then undergo requisite changes, and be submitted for approval with the minister of state for spacebefore being tabled in Parliament, Goenka said.

However, the official did not offer a timeline for when the law might be notified, pointing out that the lawmaking process may undergo multiple iterations and discussions, as per the norm.

Once notified, it is expected to give legal powers to In-Space, which remains a regulatory body in appointment by the Centre, but without punitive powers for the time being.

Industry stakeholders said the law has been needed for a while now, and could play a crucial role in order for India to meet its target of generating $44 billion from the industry by 2033, as per In-Space.

Also read | Indias spacefarers get takeoff tips from the government

Indias space policy, published last year, was an intent document. The space law being framed will be more comprehensive in terms of defining clear roles of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) as a scientific organization, and the Department of Space as a ministerial body. This can help clearly define which body should handle foreign investment paperwork, regulatory conflicts and the overall commercial space economy of Indiawhich currently remains missing from Indias space industry, said Anupam Shukla, partner at law firm Pioneer Legal.

However, Shukla cautioned about taking a prudent approach to framing the law in fear of over-regulating a nascent sector. The US still doesnt have any dedicated law just for the space industrythis may raise the question of whether such a regulatory approach is even required, he added.

Also in the works, Goenka added, is a framework for the 1,000 crore venture capital fund for space startups, along with appointing a professional fund manager.

More details on the fund, including how it will work and become operational, is likely to take place by the first quarter of FY26, the executive said.

Goenka remained confident about achieving the $44 billion valuation target he has set for Indias space economy in the In-Space decadal vision outline published last year.

Also read | Centre urges space startup collaborations to build scale, boost revenue

Most of this demand is expected to be generated from outside India, which is why a concerted push to promote the industry is further required. Were already seeing multiple startups cater to various areas of the space industry, including small satellite and small rocket manufacturing, space applications, situational awareness, high-resolution space imaging, and more. If you would have asked me when I took on this role as to if we would have achieved everything that we have in the space domain so far, I wouldnt have been able to tell you most of it, he said.

The domestic space industry is also on track to seeing up to 40 rocket launches taking place from Indian soil in the immediate future, Goenka said.
With the Donald Trump-led Republican Party securing a thumping majority in the US Presidential Elections, cryptocurrencies have turned out to be a clear winner. Bitcoin (BTC) rose nearly 10 per cent to hit $75,000 during the day, and meme coin Dogecoin surged 17 per cent to hover around $0.1986. Intraday, Elon Musk-backed Dogecoin rose up to 25 per cent.

On Wednesday, Ethereum rose 7.52 per cent to trade at $2,623, Solana spiked 14.61 per cent to trade at $187, and Binance rose 3.55 per cent to trade at $580.50. Also, Ripple (XRP) rose 5.16 per cent, Cardano rose 7.63 per cent and Shiba Inu rose 5.05 per cent.

Interestingly, Donald Trump did a number of things during his campaign to please the crypto industry players. The former US president spoke at a Bitcoin conference, handed out burgers at a crypto bar, and even made statements appealing to the industry, such as assuring that he would sack the chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Gary Gensler.

India's crypto players upbeat This has received a thumbs-up from India's crypto players.

Raj Karkara, COO of ZebPay, says, Bitcoin reaching a new record high is a groundbreaking milestone that underscores the strength and maturity of the crypto market. As we witness Bitcoins resilience and increasing appeal among investors, it reaffirms its position as a mainstream store of value and a powerful tool for those seeking financial autonomy, security, and wealth preservation. This new high signals accelerating demand for digital assets. As adoption continues to grow, Bitcoins impact on the global financial ecosystem will deepen, and at ZebPay, we look forward to catering to our customers' needs as they explore the vast potential of digital assets.
In the midst of the excitement surrounding Donald Trump's possible victory in the upcoming US presidential elections, the primary market this week continues to see a surge in IPOs, with three currently open and another set to launch tomorrow in the mainboard segment. The Sagility India IPO, ACME Solar Holdings IPO, and Swiggy IPO are all available for subscription; while they aren't fully subscribed yet, they are witnessing strong interest from retail investors.

Among the three, Sagility India's IPO appears to be the favourite among market experts. Analysts provide detailed insights on each option and make recommendations based on the type of investors. Focusing on the Sagility IPO, it is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) comprising 70.22 crore shares valued at 2,106.60 crore at the upper price point. The promoter, Sagility BV, is divesting its stake through this OFS.

In contrast, the IPO of renewable energy company ACME Solar Holdings, assessed at 2,900 crore, includes a mixture of a fresh issue of shares worth 2,395 crore alongside an OFS of shares valued at 505 crore from ACME Cleantech Solutions.

Swiggy is looking to raise 11,327 crore through its IPO, which consists of a fresh issue of shares worth 4,499 crore in addition to an OFS amounting to 6,828 crore.

The market is anticipating the anchor book for the Niva Bupa Health Insurance IPO today as it is scheduled to launch tomorrow (Thursday, November 7).

Here's what experts say Arun Kejriwal, the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services Arun Kejriwal, the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services, provided a detailed analysis of each IPO, starting with Sagility India. He noted that this company operates as a healthcare service provider, primarily serving clients in the United States while conducting its operations outside of India. It functions similarly to an IT firm, where the client is located in America, and the back-office processes are managed in India, generating revenue from the American clients, which usually include Fortune 100 companies. The company engages with both payers and recipients, where the payers are insurance companies and the recipients or providers include hospitals, doctors, and medical device professionals. Thus, they cater to these two segments. The business displays steady growth of about 10-12% with consistent margins and operates in a straightforward manner.

In discussing ACME Solar Holdings, Kejriwal mentioned that the company specializes in energy development, constructing large-scale power facilities that utilize solar, wind, and hybrid energy sources. The primary focus here is solar power, with significant projects underway in Rajasthan and some in neighboring Madhya Pradesh. Wind energy is being harnessed in Gujarat and Telangana. Recently, the hybrid model has emerged, which combines solar and a limited amount of wind energy in the same area. The rationale for using a hybrid approach is that both energy sources generate power at different times throughout the day. Wind energy is typically produced from the evening until the early morning, while solar energy is generated from sunrise to sunset. The time at which power is evacuated differs for each source, yet both can utilize the same infrastructure, contributing to the growing success of the hybrid model.

Regarding the Sagility IPO, Arun mentioned that it has a pricing advantage. What I mean by a pricing advantage is that its priced at 28-30. We havent seen something like this in quite a while. Almost every new issue we hear about is priced in the three-digit range at a minimum. Therefore, this price point is very attractive, and on its first day, the retail portion has already been fully subscribed. From a business and P/E multiple perspective, their asking price reflects a P/E ratio of around 55-60, which isnt cheap by any measure. However, the pricing advantage makes it appealing to retail investors, resulting in a response thats much stronger than what would typically be expected.

When examining the ACME Solar Holdings IPO, we see that it boasts substantial gross margins or an EBITDA margin of around 85-90%. There are two crucial factors for a business of this nature: it's essential to have reliable lenders who recognize your credibility and provide financing for the long term. If you can secure such loans, you'll be able to carry out the project, and your main focus will simply be to ensure that the assets are utilized effectively.

Regarding the well-known platform Swiggy, while Kejriwal was conversing with Swiggy's CFO, he expressed dissatisfaction with a certain segment of the business that is currently experiencing lossesthe dine-out service. As a member of the Swiggy app, users can enjoy a discount on their bill when they pre-book a table at a restaurant. Currently, the revenue model for this service relies on the advertisements placed by restaurant partners on the app. There is no recurring revenue from subscribers, aside from the one-time subscription fee. For this business to achieve break-even, a significant increase in the subscriber base is essential. Additionally, there needs to be a substantial rise in advertising revenue to generate funds from hotel partners. Achieving both of these goals appears to be quite challenging in the short to medium term. Therefore, it seems unlikely that this business will reach profitability as one might anticipate.

In discussing the company's competitor Zomato, Arun mentioned that the key distinction is that Zomato has achieved profitability, while Swiggy is still striving to reach that milestone; until it does, its future remains uncertain. For investors considering where to allocate funds, Sagility's IPO appears appealing given its pricing, especially for those with a medium to long-term investment horizon, as the power sector has notable potential. However, for those looking for a quick gain upon listing, the expected 10% pop is unpredictable and its uncertain how quickly it might decline. As for Swiggy, I believe there isnt much profit to be gained in the near term, and in the long run, we cannot forecast how the company will operate.

Mohit Gulati, the CIO and managing partner of ITI Growth Opportunities Fund Gulati emphasised that Swiggy is the modern day Facebook for old people while the competitors are the young audience focused TikToks & Instagrams.

Further, Mohit believes Swiggy to be a classic story of the Hare and tortoise where from being a leapfrogging hare it become complacent & is now loosing market share in its home territory.

I think the company has lost its mojo on innovation where Zomato and Zepto have benefited. On a valuation basis it deserves to trade lower than Zomato owing to these reasons. Risk reward on this one is more in favour of subscribing to Zomatos FPO, added Gulati.

Going forward he sais that Sagility India appears to be the most conservatively valued, with a lower P/S ratio and established profitability. ACME Solar falls in between, operating in a high-potential sector with profitability, but at a higher valuation multiple compared to Sagility.

"The choice between these IPOs would depend on an investor's risk appetite, sector preferences, and growth expectations. Swiggy offers high growth potential but with higher risk, Sagility India provides a more stable option, and ACME Solar offers exposure to the renewable energy sector.

My order of preference would be Sagility, ACME and Swiggy," said Mohit.
EMS stocks: Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) stocks have increased during Wednesday's trading session as Donald Trump takes the lead in the US Presidential race, with expectations that the upcoming administration will enforce tougher tariffs on China due to the ongoing trade conflict between the two nations. Dixon Technologies share price has jumped by almost 10% today, while Kaynes Technology share price has risen by nearly 8% in the context of the US Presidential Election race.

The race is extremely close between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump. If he returns to power, Trump has promised to raise tariffs on Chinese imports to a significant 60%. On the other hand, Kamala Harris is likely to maintain the existing tariff policy towards China, which has stayed consistent during the Biden administration, according to a report by Economic Times.

According to a report by the Economic Times, analysts suggest that if the US adopts a firmer position against China, India could emerge as a competitive hub alongside Mexico and Vietnam and as it has good labour force and government initiatives aimed at enhancing domestic manufacturing.

Prashanth Tapse, Senior Vice President of Research at Mehta Equities, highlighted that Donald Trump in the White House means negative for China, and later, the China+1 strategy would benefit India a bit. Kaynes is a leading end-to-end and IoT solutions-enabled integrated electronics manufacturing company, and Dixon is an Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) company with operations in the electronic products vertical, such as consumer electronics, lighting, home appliances, closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs), and mobile phones.

It is assumed that if Donald Trump comes, more Chinese demand may swift to India, and these companies would get benefited to serve the incremental demand. Today's action in share price would be a sentimental reaction looking at Trump leading the race as of now. On the long term, both are best-in-class business models to tap the growth.

Technical Views Dixon Technologies share price today opened at an intraday low of 14,499.95 apiece on the BSE, the stock touched an intraday high of 15,812 apiece. After a sharp fall on October 25, the prices have made a strong reversal in today's session continuing with its formation of higher top higher bottom, highlighted Rajesh Bhosale, Equity Technical and Derivative Analyst at Angel One. Dixon Technologies share price is expected to extend move towards 17,000 with an immediate support at 14,800.

Coming to Kaynes Technology, the stock opened at 5,424 apiece on the BSE, the stock touched an intraday high of 5,724.45, and an intraday low of 5,373.20. According to Bhosale, the stock was consolidating for last few weeks around the 50DEMA but it has resumed its primary uptrend in today's session. The next possible target would be 6,200 whereas 5,500 is immediate support.
Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the social media company founded by former U.S. President Donald Trump, surged as early results from the U.S. presidential election began to roll in. The stock rallied 10% by the close of formal after-hours trading on Tuesday, the US Election Day.

The upward momentum continued during special late trading on the Robinhood platform, with the stock soaring approximately 43%, reaching over $48 per share.

Trump Media & Technology Group Corp.'s stock is often seen by investors as a barometer for Donald Trumps political prospects, especially as he seeks re-election in a closely contested race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. The stock has experienced significant volatility throughout the election period, reacting to fluctuations in Trumps electoral fortunes, according to Bloomberg.

Also Read | US Election Results 2024 LIVE: Republicans regain Senate majority

The recent surge is part of a broader trend of heightened volatility, with the stock moving at least 10% in either direction over the past eight sessions. During regular late trading, more than 19 million shares were traded as investors closely monitored incoming election results, the report added.

If the gains on Robinhoods platform carry over into regular trading, Trump Media & Technology Group's valuation could reach approximately $10.6 billion. This surge in value would significantly impact former President Donald Trumps personal wealth, potentially boosting his net worth by $1.7 billion, given his substantial holding of nearly 115 million shares in the company.

Trump Media shares more than doubled in October, driven by betting markets favoring Donald Trumps chances. The companys valuation now exceeds that of established firms like Whirlpool Corp. and Harley-Davidson Inc., despite generating less than $1 million in revenue during the second quarter.

Also Read | Market rebound in sight as Donald Trump leads in US presidential race

Trump Media Q3 Results Trump Media & Technology Group reported a net loss of $19.2 million in the third quarter, due to legal fees and costs tied to its TV streaming deal. The company said the figure includes $12.1 million in legal fees in the quarter, stemming from its acquisition of TV streaming technology in August and residual fees related to its SPAC deal in March.

The companys revenue was $1 million for the quarter ended September and had cash and cash equivalents of $672.9 million, including short-term investments, with no debt.
The pilot episode of The West Wing is one of the finest openings in the history of television. Creator Aaron Sorkin catapults us into the action. Sam Seaborna brilliant, if slightly dishevelled, White House Deputy Communications Directorwakes up with a woman he barely knows. Still bleary-eyed and half-charmed, he is caught off-guard when she, having accidentally checked his messages, informs him that Potus is in a bicycle accident." Sam rushes to his feet urgently, while she says, Tell your friend Potus that hes got a funny name." I would," Sam replies, but hes not my friend, hes my boss. And its not his name, its his title." Vaulting out the door, he shoots her a look: President Of The United States."

This, we realise, is not just a work drama, nor a mere political thriller. With The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin gave us a White House where the President and his staff are humanised, nuanced, occasionally confused, but always brimming with energy and idealism.

Only Sorkin could have conjured a show with such intellectual velocity, one that celebrates the strength of wit, intelligence, and humour over sensationalism. From the opening moments, The West Wing offers a masterclass in the rhythm of dialogue, words cascading over one another in a quick, almost musical manner, as if every syllable matters becausewell, it does. Here, words are more than words; theyre the machinery of democracy, the wheels of government greased by the brilliance of those who wield them.

What makes The West Wing truly revolutionary, however, is its refusal to cater to cynicism. This is not a show that dips its hands into the gutter to root around for cheap melodrama or scandal. Rather, Sorkin delivers an unabashedly optimistic view of government, where brilliant, passionate individuals strive to be their best because they know they have been given an immense responsibility. It began in 1999, before we lost our faith in public service" as anything more than a political catchphrase. Here, people chose politics because they believed it could change lives. And Sorkin, with his romanticism and razor-sharp wit, makes us believe it too.

Enter Martin Sheen as Josiah Bartlet, the greatest fictional President ever to grace the screen. From the first time he appearsin a dramatic, almost theatrical entrance where he quotes the First Commandment to an evangelical foeBartlet is captivating. Theres an undeniable warmth to Sheens performance, a charisma at once commanding and comforting. Bartlet is cerebral, often inscrutably so, with a love for history, literature, and the occasional chess metaphor. But hes also very much in on the joke; he has an impish glint in his eye, and he never misses a chance to playfully outwit his staff. He is, above all, a reminder of what leadership can be: principled, humane, and yet never without humour.

One of Bartlets many giftsand Sorkinsis his ability to make the people around him feel like their best selves, even as he subtly reminds them whos boss. He doesnt demand respect; he commands it, often in the most unorthodox ways. A sly smile, a clever retort, a wry observation to defuse a tense situation, and we see why his staff would follow him through any crisis. Watching him spar verbally with advisers and staffers alike, each quip sharper than the last, you sense a rare kind of leader whos aware of his own imperfections, yet confident enough to let them breathe.

Two decades later, The West Wing feels almost like a fever dream, a fantasy woven in a time when we hadnt yet become numb to incompetence in leadership. In todays climate, where global politics is a circus ring dominated by despots, demagogues, and disastrously bad actors, the earnest nobility of Bartlets White House almost feels absurd. Who would believe it? A President who reads, who cares deeply about policy, who pauses to thinkwho doesnt tweet with wild abandon or make decisions on a whim.

British satirist Armando Iannucci, who made the magnificently profane The Thick Of It and the rollicking Veep (streaming in India on JioCinema), gave us oafish, self-serving politicians who didnt know what they were doing. These characters were like the ones around us, with their fiendish short-term vision, absurd propaganda and shouty press-releases. Iannucci brutally pulled back the curtain and showed us just how messily the sausage of government was madeand how much swearing and betrayal was involved.

In contrast, The West Wing is about the audacity of hope. It reminds us of what public service could be, if only we dared to believe in it again. It celebrates a government not as a monolithic entity but as a collection of flawed, brilliant people, each trying to do right by a country thats almost as flawed and brilliant as they are. And in the way only the best television can, it elevates its characters beyond mere mortals, making them icons of a world that ought to be.

Thats why, all these years later, I find myself with my DVDs of The West Wing, hoping that idealism may rub off again. Sorkin, through his fiercely sharp writing and unwavering optimism, reminds us that, yes, politics can be messy, but it can also be noble. As we watch Sam Seaborns incredulous, hungover face, or Bartlets sly, knowing smile, were reminded that sometimes, its our fictional heroes who keep our hopes alive. Theyre the ones who make aspiration great again.

Raja Sen is a screenwriter and critic. He has co-written Chup, a film about killing critics, and is now creating an absurd comedy series. He posts @rajasen.
At Ojas Art, New Delhi, Lesson by Moonlight by Bristol-based artist Jethro Buck catches the eye. Through one canvas, he has brought the past and present of miniature painting together. In what seems like an autobiographical work, the artist can be seen sketching while seated within a lush landscape. Facing him is a master painterperhaps Ajay Sharma under whom Buck learnt the techniques of Indian miniature painting, who too is creating a work, while seated at a traditional desk as seen in the ateliers of Rajasthan. Both are creating their own interpretations of the surrounding landscape, which is populated with the real and the fantastical. For instance, a crescent moon hangs from a tree, while animals and birds watch on.

This Untitled work stands out for creating a contemporary interpretation of the miniature painting tradition, as Buck celebrates nature in his own style. Many such works by 21 artistsfrom South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US like Gargi Chandola, Keerat Kaur, Maha Ahmed Qureshi, Manish Soni, Yasmin Hayat and Vaishali Prazmari form a part of the ongoing show, Musawwari: Miniatures Today.

The title of the show draws from the Persian term, musawwari, referring to the traditional style of miniature painting in South Asia. According to curator Khushboo Jain, the art form has been porous in nature, engaging in dialogue, over time, with elements from the Chinese landscapes and Central Asian figures. This exchange has played a key role in developing the visual language of musawwari. In a similar pattern, artists today have recognised the art form by linking contemporary iterations of the artform with its traditional forebears. Transcending geographical boundaries and intersecting cultures today, musawwari remains relevant through its pluralistic engagements," she says.

Also read: Stories in stone: Champaner, Gujarats 'forgotten city'

In an interview with Mint, Jain further elaborates on how artists have adapted the techniques of this tradition to their own contexts. Edited excerpts:

Over the past few years, there has been an increasing engagement of contemporary artists with miniature painting. There is also a greater understanding now of the different styles of miniature painting practised centuries ago. How does this exhibition take forward both the contemporary engagement and understanding of older styles?

Its rewarding to witness the renewed interest in miniature painting today. In this exhibition, I have tried to curate each artists work based on influences and practices from various art schools, cultures and geographies. For instance, New York-based Alexander Gorlizki reflects on the intricacies of pichvai in his pieces, where the vibrant patternstypical to this genrehave been intriguingly swapped for subtle pastel shades. Toronto-based Keerat Kaur explores Sikh miniatures, infusing her work with deep cultural and spiritual themes. British-Syrian Artist Yasmin Hayat incorporates Islamic and Persian influences, bringing narratives around heritage and identity to the forefront. Master artist, Mahaveer Swami ji, adheres to the Mughal school style, showcasing the opulence associated with this tradition.

Meanwhile, Delhi-based-Gargi Chandola draws from the delicate techniques of the Kangra school, infusing themes of feminism with humour and sarcasm. Lahore-born and US-based Murad Khan Mumtaz reflects on the Pahari style of painting, shifting the focus to landscapes and removing the prominent figures typically found in traditional works. Contemporary artists engage with and reinterpret traditional forms, making them resonate not only in today's context but also to their own narratives and heritage.

Could you elaborate on the term musawwari?

The word appears frequently in Persian texts and refers to traditional painting styles across Central and South Asia, especially associated with intricate miniature art. In the context of this show, calling it musawwari is an attempt to reconnect with its local found terminology, and find a more relevant term to the art-form. Doing so opens up new perspectives, raises questions, and encourages a deeper exploration of its history, while potentially shedding some colonial associations. Interestingly, this term is still used in Pakistan to describe miniature painting, highlighting its ensuing cultural significance. Given this background, it made me wonder, why arent these paintings called musawwari anymore? After all, the term, miniatures, which was propagated by the British as a blanket term for all miniature painting traditions, and carries colonial connotations.

Also read: Write for the Mint Lounge Fiction Special 2025

View Full Image 'Lesson by Moonlight' by Jethro Buck

You have mentioned how many exchanges in the past informed the various styles practised across the subcontinent. Taking that forward to the present, what are the influences and exchanges informing the contemporary iterations of this painting?

Broadly, miniatures keep running into different courses at different paces, and with varying energies. Several streams of development have run parallel to each other. The miniature style is believed to have originated in the 11th century AD under the Palas, and is said to have reached its peak under the Mughal empire, between the 16th and 19th centuries. Later, under British rule, western aesthetics gained popularity, relegating the artform to tourist kitsch and exotic imagery. Furthermore, it began to be labelled as miniature, implying small-scale, thus highlighting the colonial influence on redefining cultural identities and artistic legitimacy. All of these exchanges moulded the unique visual language of musawwari. Iconographically, musawwari has always remained open for interpretation. This openness is closely related to the current stylistic evolution of miniature art, as it transcends geographical boundaries and intersects with various cultures, remaining relevant through its pluralistic engagements.

If you could talk about the choice of artists in this show, and the kind of themes that they have worked on?

The artists selected for this exhibition come from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the global reach of musawwari today. Artists like Ayesha Gamiet, Yasmin Hayat, Keerat Kaur and Amaranta Pena merge traditional miniature techniques with personal narratives drawing from themes of identity, migration, spirituality, and socio-political discourse. Others like S.M. Khayyam, Maryam Baniasadi and Amjad Ali Talpur tackle issues related to post-colonial identity, borders, and geopolitics. Annelie Solis and Linda Edwards explore astronomical and comic aspects. Collectively, these artists explore a wide range of subjects, from the exploration of memory and loss to the integration of heritage in contemporary contexts, while staying true to the meticulous detail that defines miniature painting.

Also read: Sculpture by the Sea: Indian artworks get some sun on Bondi Beach

How do exhibitions like these keep the artform relevant today?

I feel the best way to preserve a tradition or to maintain its relevance is to keep practising it. Once it is understood as a living system, and not as a static thing of the past to be viewed only in museums and catalogues, then the question of relevance does not even arise. Miniature art is a tradition, a word that is derived from the Latin tradere, literally meaning to be handed down or imparted. Therefore, it is not something relegated to history. By integrating miniature art into exhibitions, dialogues, and scholarship, platforms like this help keep it relevant in the contemporary context.

The exhibition can be viewed at Ojas Art, New Delhi, till 24 November, 11 am to 7 pm (closed on Monday).
I first visited Champaner as a student of architecture in 1998. The sun was beating down as we settled in to sketch the imposing Jami Masjid, which became a model for mosque architecture across the subcontinent. I returned to Gujarats forgotten city last month, two decades later, to find it the way we had left it: peaceful, picturesque, and deserted.

Spread over 3,280 acres, the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is located around a historical city founded in the 8th century by Vanraj Chavda, the most prominent king of the Chavda dynasty. Located 49km from Vadodara, it was designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2004. The fortifications, monuments, mosques, tombs, arches, stepwells, tanks, cemeteries and gates, a perfect blend of Indo-Saracenic architecture, span the 8-14th centuries. (Champaner) is 2,000 years of history," says architect Karan Grover, who was on the committee lobbying for Unesco Heritage status.

Chirag Munjani, who has been organising heritage walks in and around Vadodara for the last 12 years, says Khichi Chauhan Rajputs conquered the area and built a settlement on top of Pavagadh Hill, adding fortification along the plateau in the 13th century. In 1484, Mahmud Begada, the most prominent sultan of the Gujarat Sultanate, conquered the region after a 20-month siege and made Champaner his new capital. And that was the start of the small towns historic heyday," he says.

By the 15th and 16th centuries, Champaner became a critical post along the trade route linking the state with Malwa in western India. Medieval Champaner grew at the base of the Pavagadh Hill, which remains a Hindu pilgrimage site to this day.

Sandhya Gajjar, who was part of the Baroda Heritage Trust team that worked for years to get the Unesco status, says she finds the dual locationthe hill and the plainfascinating. Champaner is separated from Pavagadh by just a strip of road. Most of the 114 heritage monuments listed by Heritage Trust are spread over 6 sq. km and are amazing examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture," she says.

Champaners heart is the Citadel, where the mosquesno longer used for worshipstand out. The massive Jami Masjid has a carved entrance porch leading into a stunning courtyard surrounded by a pillared corridor. Dating back to 1513, the mosque was constructed over 25 years. The prayer hall has two tall central minarets, multiple domes, finely latticed windows, and seven mihrabs (prayer niches). One of the most notable monuments built by Begada, the mosque blends Mughal, Hindu, and Jain motifs. Arches and domes co-exist with motifs such as the sun, lotus, pots, vines and lotus," Munjani says.

A long walk around the site reveals the rich architectural heritage of this medieval capital. The imposing Sahar ki Masjid, with an arched doorway, a large dome, and five mihrabs was for the exclusive use of the sultans. Lila Gumbaj ki Masjid stands on a high plinth and showcases an arched entrance and three domes while the Nagina Masjid is built with pure white stone. The Kevda Masjid, like the other mosques, has domes, minarets and carvings. The helical stepwell near the city gate is devoid of the ornate carvings seen in other stepwells in Gujarat. A spiral staircase takes me right to the water hole. When I clamber back up, I look back to see that it appears like a whirlpool carved in stone.

Champaners glory began to wane when it was captured by Mughal emperor Humayun in 1535, and Ahmedabad became the capital of Gujarat. Limited funding means that of the 114 monuments listed by Baroda Heritage Trust, only 39 are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Gajjar rues the fact that we take our heritage lightly is because we are so rich". We dont look at the income generation possibilities or put into place strict strictures," she says, adding that the fact that its not a single monument but numerous structures spread over a large area, makes conservation tougher.

How can the rich past be preserved in the present? Birwa Qureshi seems to have found an answer with Crraft of Art, an initiative that aims to reintroduce monuments to people. Last year, the CEPT-trained designer, who has organised 35 monument-focused performance festivals over the last 15 years, organised the Champaner Festival, to facilitate rediscovery of age-old monuments. Champaner was on my mind for almost a decade but seemed daunting as its not a solitary monument; its an entire site," she says. Keen to present the historical site in a way it has not been seen before, she worked to create a focal point" with a music festival. The day-long festival spotlighted 150 artists in simultaneous performances at six monuments, including Ek Minar ni Masjid, Sakar Khan Dargah and the Citadel. The finale was at Jami Masjid and we also ran an exhibition showcasing archaeologist Sir John Hubert Marshalls work," she says.

On the way up to Pavagadh, theres another stunning monument in the middle of nowhere. Saat Kamaan, which translates into seven arches, is an architectural wonder thats a favourite for photo-ops. Made of sandstone blocks, the arched passageway may once have been part of a larger fort structure and was most likely used as a strategic lookout point by the army.

The fort was important geographically, given its location between Malwa and the Deccan. A blind darwaza built into the steep hillside would have been a defence mechanism. It didnt lead anywhere; it opened out to an area where soldiers would be silently waiting for attackers," Gajjar says. Only six arches have survived the test of time, but the spot offers gorgeous views of the valley.

The summit of Pavagadh, 800m above sea level, is an ancient temple that has been visited by Hindu pilgrims since long before the development of Champaner. In Champaner: A Medieval Capital (2005), Gujarat-based archaeologist R.N. Mehta wrote that the Kalika Mata temple was situated at the highest point of Pavagadh Hill and finds exhaustive mention in 15th century literature. It (Kalika Mata temple) is a well-known Shakti Pith (significant pilgrimage destinations according to the medieval Hindu tradition of Shaktism) in Gujarat," Mehta writes.

Pavagadh also has a few Jain temples that are said to go back to the 14th-15th centuries. A 5km walk, which includes 1,800 steps along a jungle footpath, takes you to the top of the hill; the adventure-challenged can hop into a cable car. The top of the hill offers an unusual aerial perspective of the sprawl of monuments. The golden mosques, monuments, tombs, temples, stepwells and fortifications reveal stories that have been cast in stone and preserved for eternity.

Teja Lele writes on travel and lifestyle.
DENVER (AP)  A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that a Colorado law raising the age to purchase a gun from 18 to 21 can take effect while the legal battle over it continues.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals said that lawyers for one of the young men who challenged the law with a gun rights group, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, did not meet the legal burden for having the law blocked while the lawsuit played out. It sent the case back to a lower court for further proceedings.

The law was one of four gun control bills signed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis in 2023 following the lead of other states trying to confront a surge in violent crime and mass shootings.

U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer issued a preliminary injunction against it before it could take effect. His ruling frequently referenced a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded Second Amendment rights, and concluded that the lawsuit would likely succeed. That 2022 Supreme Court decision in a New York case changed a test lower courts had used for evaluating challenges to gun laws.

Colorados law effectively sought to prevent those between 18 and 20 from buying rifles and shotguns. A federal law already prevents licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to those under 21 but that ban has also been challenged in light of the Supreme Court decision.

A Polis spokesperson, Shelby Wieman, said in a statement that the law was commonsense gun safety legislation."
Mithun Chakraborty, a veteran Bollywood actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, landed in legal trouble after the Kolkata Police filed an FIR based on a complaint that he made a highly provocative statement at a party meeting in West Bengal.

The complainant alleged that the actor-turned-politician made the statement at a BJP organisational meeting in Kolkata a few days ago, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

On Wednesday, the FIR was filed at Bowbazar police station in central Kolkata, accusing the Dadasaheb Phalke awardee of making statements that can provoke violence and tension. The BJP programme took place at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in the Salt Lake area on October 27, reported IANS.

The party programme in North 24 Parganas was organised to kick off the West Bengal leg of the BJP's membership drive. "We have started an investigation into the case," a senior Bidhannagar police officer was quoted as saying by PTI.

According to BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, the FIR is a result of "vendetta politics". There is nothing provocative in his speech. These are nothing but attempts to intimidate him by using police as a political tool, Majumdar said.

During the meeting, Mithun Chakraborty had reportedly said the "masnad" (throne) of West Bengal would belong to the BJP after the 2026 assembly elections. He vowed to do whatever it takes to achieve the goal. In 2026, the masnad will be ours, and we will do everything to achieve the goal, he said.

Mithun Chakraborty also took a jibe at Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir's communal remarks during the Lok Sabha elections, targeting BJP workers. The former actor warned that those who try to intimidate saffron party supporters to prevent them from voting in the next assembly polls will face dire consequences.
Former Toronto Police Sergeant and Detective Donald Best has backed India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's remarks about Canada's insufficient vetting process for immigrants. In an interview with news agency ANI, Best, who is also an investigative journalist, criticised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He stated that since Trudeau's government took office, Canada has seen significant changes, including unchecked mass immigration.

According to Best, this has had a negative impact on the country's housing, economy, social services, hospitals, and healthcare system.

Also Read | Canada Police Sergeant suspended after attending pro-Khalistan protest

"India's External Affairs Minister has mentioned that Canada is approving visas for people who are criminals and were members of organised crime in India. I believe that it is true. We have absolutely no vetting of our immigrants. It seems that so many people who come to Canada and seek refugee status, not only from India but from around the world, are fleeing their own country because they are wanted criminals. I think this is attracting a great number of Khalistani separatists to Canada because they are protected and they find refuge here and their community is growing...," said Best.

Relations between India and Ottawa have significantly worsened, with India repeatedly voicing its concerns over extremism, violence, and anti-India activities in Canada. India has repeatedly urged Canadian authorities to take action against these issues.

Donald Best slammed Trudeau's policies saying "there is turmoil" in Canada and for a country with a small population of about 40 million, about 5 percent of immigrants have come in the last two years.

We have seen very dramatic changes in Canada since Trudeau and his government took over. We have seen unfettered mass immigration, which is seriously negatively impacting our housing, economy, social services, hospitals, and health services. We are a very small country population-wise. We have only 40 million people. But in terms of 40 million people, five per cent arrived within the last year-and-a-half to two years...There is a lot of turmoil here.

Also Read | High Commission condemns attack on devotees by Khalistani extremists

"We also had great criticism that for some reason, Khalistani separatists and Sikhs have undue influence and they have attained positions of power and authority at all levels municipal, provincial and national out of proportion to their population. Many people, including your own External Affairs Minister, talked about how the federal government is propped by the New Democratic Party, in which the opposition leader is Jagmeet Singh, who has appeared with some people associated with the Khalistani movement. I have been told that Mr Singh is not allowed in India," he added.

Also Read | Modi slams Canada over attack on Hindu temple, attempts to intimidate diplomats

His statements came after a recent incident sparked widespread criticism in and outside Canada. This week, the Indian consular camp at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Canada's Brampton witnessed a "violent disruption" in Brampton, near Toronto. In recent years, Canada has witnessed a surge in Khalistani extremist activities, including violent protests and attacks on Hindu temples.

We have a problem in Canada and part of the problem is that the Khalistani separatists seem to be able to do whatever they want to do. A few months ago, in a parade in Alberta, they had pictures of convicted terrorists in India who had murdered people, Best told ANI.

"They had these photos on their vehicles celebrating and venerating these terrorists and ordinary Canadians just look at this and I include many people from India who have been here for decades...Canada has had so many immigrants for over a hundred years and no matter what is happening in your home country...we try to leave behind all this in Canada, that has been our habit, that's not happening anymore with the Khalistani separatists..Ordinary Canadians are becoming overwhelmed and it is a shame because it is impacting how they view India and Indians," Donald Best said as quoted by ANI.

What did EAM S Jaishankar say on the Canada temple attack? During a press briefing in Australia, Jaishankar was also asked about the charges levelled against New Delhi by Ottawa. Let me make three comments, one, Canada has developed a pattern of making allegations without providing specifics. Second, when we look at Canada, for us, the fact that they are putting our diplomats under surveillance, is something which is unacceptable."

The third is the incident which the gentleman spoke about, do look at the video. I think that will tell in a way the political space which is being given to extremist forces there. So, we believe in freedom ... we also believe, freedom should not be misused. And, we (motioning to his Australian counterpart) had a talk about it, exactly on the lines which I have spoken, the EAM said.

"What happened yesterday at the Hindu temple in Canada was deeply concerning.You should have seen the statement by our official spokesperson and also the expression of concern by our PM yesterday. That should convey to you how deeply we feel about it," Jaishankar said at a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell to their lowest level in more than a week on Tuesday as profit-taking extended the market's setback from contract highs last week, analysts said.

U.S. pork belly values also weakened following recent gains.

The futures market was due for a setback after soaring about 38% from mid-July to the beginning of November as U.S. hog supplies looked tighter than expected, analysts said. Prices may be nearing a top, although it is not confirmed that the market has peaked, they said.

CME December lean hog futures dropped 2.1 cents to finish at 81.125 cents per pound.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture quoted the wholesale pork carcass cutout at $101.43 per hundredweight (cwt), which was down $2.58. Belly values sank $6.28 and hams lost $2.65.

Traders are keeping an eye on how Tuesday's U.S. presidential election affects the Mexican peso, as Mexico is a major export market for U.S. hams and a stronger peso could support demand. The peso rose against the U.S. dollar after earlier leading losses among currencies.

In beef markets, CME December live cattle ended down 0.3 cent at 184.775 cents per pound, continuing a setback from a March high reached a week ago.

CME January feeder cattle futures slipped 0.075 cent to 242.350 cents per pound.
US Election Results 2024: Donald Trump claimed victory on Wednesday as results showed him closing in on a stunning comeback, potentially defeating Kamala Harris to retake the White House.

His speech came after Fox News was the only network to call the race in his favour. Amid cheers and chants of USA, Trump took the stage with his wife, Melania,. "I will not let you down," he assured his supporters, calling the victory a political achievement unlike anything the country had seen before.

Addressing his supporters from West Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump said, America has given us an unprecedented mandate and we have created history.

Also Read: US Election Results 2024 LIVE Updates Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, several predictions pointed to Kamala Harris potentially making history as the next U.S. president.

Let's take a look at who all predicted that Kamala Harris will win Allan Lichtman Historian Allan Lichtman, renowned for his accurate election predictions, has made his pick for the 2024 US presidential race. Using his famous "Keys to the White House" model, Lichtman predicted that Kamala Harris would make history as the next president. This prediction came just days before the two candidates faced their first presidential debate.

"Kamala Harris will be the next president of the United States at least, that's my prediction for this race," Lichtman said in a video for the New York Times.

Also Read | US Election 2024 Key Highlights: Donald Trump to address supporters soon

Lichtman, known for his track record of successful forecasts, was among the few who predicted Donald Trump's 2016 victory, which he correctly called Joe Biden's win in 2020.

Also Read: Will not rest until, Donald Trump claims powerful mandate 'The Simpsons' Over 20 years ago, the popular animated series The Simpsons hinted that Kamala Harris could become President of the United States someday. In a 2000 episode, Lisa Simpson was depicted as the first female president, sparking speculation that the show had predicted Harris's future role.

The Simpsons is a long-running animated comedy that follows the lives of the Simpson family in the fictional town of Springfield. It offers satirical commentary on American culture and society.

Also Read | With Trump set for second term, his bonhomie with Modi in spotlight again

Iowa opinion poll An opinion poll from Iowa predicted that Democratic nominee Kamala Harris would secure a surprise victory in the state during the November 5 presidential election.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- To many in the petroleum industry, natural gas is the unsung hero of the energy transition.

It may not be a clean fuel, but its nowhere near as dirty as coal, which it has been pushing out of grids in Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Poland over the past decade. In the US, which produces nearly 30% of the worlds gas-fired electricity, generation increased by 876 terawatt-hours between 2010 and 2023  more than the 648 TWh pick-up in wind and solar  and enough to explain three-quarters of the 63% decline in coal power.

Thats led to expectations it might repeat the trick in the big developing Asian markets still hooked on solid fuel, such as China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Its not going to happen  but that doesnt mean that gas is done causing damage to its fellow fossil fuels. In Asia, its oil that will be in the firing line instead.

The reason is price. Though we often count fossil fuels in tons, barrels, and cubic meters, the thing that really matters is almost always their energy content. If youre a serious energy consumer, the really important measure is not how much coal, oil or gas you are buying, but what youre paying for the megajoules or kilowatt-hours of energy its going to give you when burned.(1)

Thats why gas has been such a potent competitor to coal in the US. About a quarter of domestic production is a byproduct from oil wells, and as a result its often more or less given away. At the Waha Hub, a pricing point in the fracking-rich Permian Basin in western Texas, its averaged minus 11 cents per million British thermal units all year.

Theres no way to compete with that. Overheads at a typical US gas generator last year were about 38% lower than those at a coal plant. Faced with a pincer movement from this negative-cost gas and zero-cost wind and solar, coal didnt stand a chance. A similar pattern played out in Europe over the past decade, and even the Ukraine war and disappearance of cheap Russian gas hasnt been enough to revive solid fuel.

Things are different in developing Asia, a region with scant gas reserves but substantial domestic coal deposits. Liquefying natural gas and shipping it across the world is an expensive business, and as a result benchmark Asian LNG costs more than five times what youd pay at Henry Hub, the main US pricing point.

Thats left gas largely absent from the major grids, despite the hopes of LNG exporters. In China and India, it accounts for only 3% or so of electric power, far below levels around 40% in the US and Russia, 70% in the Middle East, and 30% in wealthier Asian import markets such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Generation has actually been falling in India over the past decade, and barely growing even in Indonesia, historically one of the worlds biggest producers.

Theres one place where its making real inroads, though: vehicle engines. As compressed natural gas or CNG, gas offers compelling value: a kilogram contains more energy than the same mass of diesel or gasoline, and engines are also more efficient at converting that energy into motion. Youll spend about 9.75 rupees (12 cents) for each megajoule of useful power from Indian diesel at current prices, and 12.28 rupees when buying gasoline. CNG is drastically cheaper, at around 4.66 rupees per megajoule.

Batteries are still usually the cheapest way to provide energy to small vehicles such as scooters, three-wheelers and cars  but heavier trucks and buses, which command an outsized share of road fuel demand, have lavish power needs that make it easier to convert to CNG. In China, the share of the biggest semi-tractor haul trucks produced with diesel engines has fallen from 93% in the first nine months of 2021 to 54% in the same period this year. A cash-for-clunkers program introduced in July, offering as much as 80,000 yuan ($11,200) for scrapping old dirty trucks, will accelerate that replacement cycle.

Even the seas arent immune. The worlds shipyards are increasingly turning to LNG to power vessels due to its cost advantage over crude-derived marine fuel oil. About 6% of the worlds operating and under-construction fleet is powered by the fuel at present. Typically the worlds shipyards receive orders for a thousand or so new vessels each year. Through October, 464 of those orders were powered by alternative fuels, including 177 LNG ships and 162 using methanol, according to maritime data service DNV. With the tanker and container fleets rapidly ageing, the scrappage already under way in Chinas truck market will soon spread to the oceans.

The damage gas has wrought to US and European coal over the past decade is testament to the way it can work hand-in-hand with carbon-free energy to wreak havoc on the dirtiest sources of power. The same game is set to play out in the crude market over the coming decade.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

(1) A megajoule is about the amount of energy you need to power a refrigerator for six hours; a kilowatt-hour will keep it going for a day.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

David Fickling is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering climate change and energy. Previously, he worked for Bloomberg News, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion
With one day left for devotees to gather at ghats to celebrate the auspicious Chhath Puja celebrations, authorities in the National Capital Region (NCR) have issued a traffic advisory.

The traffic advisory includes the implementation of road restrictions on 7 and 8 November  the days on which people are expected to gather at ghats.

Ghaziabad traffic advisory: According to Ghaziabad Traffic Police, the advisory would be in effect from 2 pm until late evening on November 7, and from 3 am on November 8.

The authorities have restricted the movement of all types of commercial vehicles from the New Link Road, near DPS Siddharth Vihar and New Bus Adda/Meerut Tiraha, towards Hindon Bridge.

Also, they have completely prohibited the movement of all types of commercial vehicles from Mohan Nagar towards Hindon Bridge. All these vehicles will be diverted via NH-09 from UP Gate.

The commercial vehicles from Meerut towards Mohan Nagar or Seemapuri via Meerut Tiraha will be redirected via ALT, Hapur Chungi, and Diamond Flyover, using NH-09.

Apart from this, these vehicles from ALT Chauraha towards Rajnagar Extension will be restricted.

Similar restrictions have been imposed for all types of commercial vehicles coming from Bhopura Tiraha towards Nagdwar/Karhera from the Hindon Air Force Roundabout. Also, all heavy commercial vehicles from Hapur Chungi towards Rajnagar Extension will be restricted to move.

Noida traffic advisory: Similar to Ghaziabad, Noida traffic police have also issued traffic advisory ahead of Chhath festival.

All the travellers heading towards Delhi via Sarita Vihar area may face diversions in the Kalindi Kunj Road.

The commuters from Sector 63 and the Hindon Bridge in Kuleshra will be redirected towards Chotpur, Bahlopur and Nodia Stadium.

Among others, the authorities will redirect heavy vehicles from Greater Noida will be routed from Charkha Roundabout to Delhi through DND Flyway and Chilla. In necessary, the vehicles coming from Sector 37 via Mahamaya Flyover may be diverted towards Charkha Roundabout.

Also Read | Chhath Puja 2024: States that have declared school holidays on the occasion

Patna/Gaya traffic advisory: Like Ghaziabad and Noida, traffic advisories have also been issued for Patna and Gaya in Bihar.

Entry closed in Patna: GB Road, Chand Chaura East, Bengali Ashram to Vishnupad, Koyribadi Mor towards Vishnupad, Narayani Bridge towards Vishnupad Police Station and Bata Mor to Tikari Road.

Gaya routes redirected: All vehicles entering from other areas of Gaya city to Kenduy Ghat will be directed via Sikadia Mor, Gewal Bigha turn, Shahmir Takiya turn, Mangalagauri turn, Madanpur turn, and Ghughritand bypass. For Chhath devotees moving towards Pita Maheshwar Ghat from Ramna Road, there will be a direct route via Mital Mosaic.
New Delhi: The government has advised health professionals to administer a type of flu jab that protects against four different strains as the onset of winter months sees the disease claim lives.

The Centre said health professionals should administer the Southern Hemisphere 2024 quadrivalent vaccine, or SH24, which protects against four flu strains.

Flu shots are not price-controlled in India, unlike essential medicines. Flu vaccines are priced at 1,800 to 2,000 per dose.

The directive was issued by the Union health ministry, based on a recommendation by the World Health Organization.

India has reported 15,000 influenza cases and 239 deaths till August. However, the peak is yet to come.

Seasonal flu is a contagious disease that can be serious. The WHO recommends people take the flu jab once every yearin February for those in the Northern Hemisphere and in September for people in the Southern Hemisphere.

It will be prudent to use Southern Hemisphere 2024 quadrivalent vaccine in the coming influenza season, the health ministry said, adding that if the vaccine is not available, then it is recommended to procure the latest available quadrivalent influenza vaccine.

According to the WHO, since February, H1N1 influenza viruses have predominated in India, Europe, West Asia, South Africa, Brazil and Madagascar.

As of now, the number of patients is low, but as the winter season comes to peak, the cases will surge drastically. Elderly, children and patients with pre-existing diseases need to be taken care of. Two or three foreign companies are developing this influenza vaccine. It is very safe and effective, said Dr Vikas Maurya, head of respiratory department at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh in New Delhi.
Ruckus erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday as Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdry tabled a resolution urging the restoration of the erstwhile state's special status. The move reignited tensions surrounding Article 370, which had been scrapped in August 2019 and previously granted J&K special constitutional autonomy.

The first assembly session in six years saw an immediate uproar when Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdary began reading the resolution. The resolution opposes the 2019 J&K Reorganisation Act, which redefined J&Ks status and seeks a full reversal of the changes. BJP lawmakers launched a fierce protest, with objections filling the assembly floor.

This house opposes the revocation of J&Ks special status and calls for the complete rescinding of the J&K Reorganisation Act, the resolution reads, adding that it resolves to strive for the restoration of all constitutional guarantees granted to Jammu and Kashmir in their original form.

The BJPs strong reaction reflects the partys firm stance on Article 370. Prime Minister Narendra Modis government revoked J&Ks special status in August 2019, citing national integration and uniformity as reasons for the reorganization.

Amid the chaotic scenes, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the session, planning to reconvene for Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhas address.

That this legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal, the resolution moved by Choudhary reads.

The resolution added that the process should safeguard national unity and the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Amidst the din, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather put the resolution to the vote, which was passed. As the chaos ensued, the House was adjourned for 15 minutes.
Anupamaa star Rupali Ganguly's stepdaughter Esha Gupta has made serious allegations against her and claimed Rupali had an affair with her father while he was still married to Eshas mother Sapna, reported Bollywood Bubble.

Earlier on Sunday, Esha's old post from 2020 went viral on social media, and she deleted it later.

Esha stated that following her four-year-old post went viral, her father defended Rupali and supported her. Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, I dont know what Rupali and Ashwin will now say further to these allegations and comments. I know my father has said something on X. He said that Rupali was not involved, and that is the biggest lie because Rupali was the one who came to my house in New Jersey and slept on my mothers bedthe bed that my father and mother shared. She has done so much, physically, mentally, verbally, and emotionally, abusing me and my mom.

Esha claimed that during that time, she was a child and would never lie about the experiences she went through. "It was a lot of trauma that both my mom and I had to endure. We suffered immensely, and we didn't have the same exposure that she did," she added.

Also Read | Inside the incredible fanverse of Hindi TV serial Anupama

Claiming that she believes her mother was in a similar situation to Anupamaa  tv serial  when Rupali and Ashwin had an affair, Esha said that her mother endured suffering.

First things first, its both parties fault for an affair. But I will say if Rupali has claimed the woman that she is, the womens advocate for womens rights, an irony from her character in Anupamaa. That she was a wife who got cheated by her husband, who had an affair and whatnotthat is the story of my mother. She (Rupali Ganguly) was Kavya, I dont watch the show but thats what I have heard. And she comes into our lives. She told my father to give the divorce papers and this happened twice to my mother. And my father would run off to India to be with her. And regardless of that, having an affair while being married is completely wrong, Esha said.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may permit the use of rupee vostro accounts for a wider variety of transactions, two people aware of the plans said, a move that promises to enhance the utility of these accounts and advances the use of the rupee in cross-border trade.

A vostro account is held by a domestic bank on behalf of a foreign bank, which can use it to settle forex transactions, make cross-border payments and make investments in the domestic market, among others. The central bank is likely to come up with a new framework on vostro accounts in the next six months, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity.

Also read | Russian funds in Indian rupee vostro accounts halve in past 12-15 months

According to one of the two people, the RBI may allow the use of vostro funds in cross-border lending and certain capital account transactions. "Additionally, the central bank is also studying the potential of allowing loans to non-resident Indians (NRIs) from the rupee holdings in these accounts," the person said on the condition of anonymity.

Spokespersons of the RBI and the Union finance ministry didn't respond to emailed queries.

When an Indian trader needs to pay a foreign trader in rupees, the amount is deposited in the vostro account. Conversely, when a foreign trader needs to pay an Indian trader, the amount is withdrawn from the vostro account and credited to the Indian traders regular account.

The latest RBI move ties in with efforts by India's government and the central bank over the years to promote the use of the local currency in international trade and transactions. In its annual report released in May, the RBI highlighted new steps in this direction, including plans to allow persons residing outside India (PROIs) to open rupee accounts abroad. Additionally, the RBI aims to enable bank lending to PROIs and facilitate foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign portfolio investment (FPI) through special non-resident rupee and vostro accounts.

Internationalizing the rupee

The central bank's initiatives to internationalize the rupee and the governments push to establish it as a hard currency are positive steps, but significant challenges remain, said Ajay Sahai, director general & chief executive officer of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

Though India has Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA) agreements with around 20 countries, only those with Russia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are currently active, he said, noting that major Indian banks have yet to join the arrangement.

Weve taken the first steps, but theres still a long way to go in promoting rupee-based trade. Many Indian exporters also import goods paid in foreign currency, so they tend to invoice exports in foreign currency, like the US dollar, as a natural hedge against currency fluctuations," Sahai said.

He also emphasized the need for Indian banks to establish branch offices in SRVA-partner countries, such as Russia. This journey to internationalize the rupee will take time. Even China, which incentivized yuan transactions nearly two decades ago, sees only about 8% of global trade settled in its currency," he said.

Also read | Russian firms ramp up spending from rupee accounts on defence equipment, arms

According to the second person cited earlier, the rupee vostro accounts maintained by foreign institutions with Indian banks play a vital role in promoting international trade in the Indian rupee. "Expanding the use of this money will encourage broader participation from non-resident Indians in the country's financial ecosystem," the person added.

New vostro rules could usher in a transformative phase for rupee-denominated international trade, the two people said.

India has allowed banks in 22 countries including Russia and the UK to open vostro accounts in the country, the government told parliament on 8 August 2023, to help facilitate trade in rupees and cut transaction costs.

I think the RBIs initiative is in the direction of making India one of the leading countries of the world, both in terms of economic growth and trade relationships, said Bhanumurthy N.R., director at the Madras School of Economics.India has been reaching out to many other countries, especially in the global south, sharing DPIs (digital public infrastructure) with them. We have an opportunity to use the vostro account transactions with these countries in a bid to internationalize the rupee further," he said. It will take time, but we are in the right direction," he added.

Facilitating lending to NRIs

Meanwhile, by enabling overseas institutions to leverage their rupee deposits held with Indian banks, the RBI also aims to facilitate lending activities, particularly to NRIs with substantial investment interests in India.

"This strategic shift is part of a larger vision to integrate the rupee into global financial markets while enhancing the currencys usability for foreign entities," the first person mentioned above said.

In July 2023, Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Economic Advisory Council, told Mint that the rupee's hard currency status over the next decade would lead to its inclusion in the International Monetary Fund's special drawing rights basket, potentially lowering India's financing costs. A hard currency is a globally traded currency that is considered stable and reliable.

Also read | Russian exporters stuck with $8 bn in local Vostro accounts

This move is another step at internationalization of the rupee. This will work if the same can be lent in domestic market and earn higher returns compared with G-Secs as is the case today," said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at the Bank of Baroda.

Lending in rupees outside is a good idea, though it will be contingent on persons or entities outside India who can find use," he added.
The Mumbai Traffic Police will impose certain traffic restrictions and diversions on Wednesday in view of the large gathering expected at the Maha Vikas Aghadi mega rally. The meeting will take place at MMRDA Ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), for which alternative routes have been recommended for commuters.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will attend a Mumbai mega rally where Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is set to unveil Maharashtra poll guarantees. The MVA's major public meeting is slated to take place around 4:30 p.m. on November 6.

The mega rally may include thousands of party activists, leaders, and supporters. Ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections, the stage is set for the assembly of MVAs prominent leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and many others in addition to Rahul Gandhi.

The temporary traffic restrictions that will be effective from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM are given below. Let's check out the key roads that will be closed and routes that one must take to avoid inconvenience.

Also Read | Maharashtra BJP chief condemns own leader for bad-mouthing Jayashree Thorat

Here is a list of closed and alternate routes 1. Western Express Highway to Kurla

Closed Route: Vehicles from Western Express Highway, Dharavi, and Worli Sea Link towards Kurla cannot proceed via Bharat Nagar Junction.

Alternate Route: Vehicles can turn right at Bharat Nagar Junction towards SEBI Junction, continue through Canara Bank Junction via MCA Club, American Consulate, and proceed to MTNL Junction to reach Kurla.

2. Sant Dnyaneshwar Nagar to Kurla

Closed Route: Traffic from Sant Dnyaneshwar Nagar to Kurla via Bharat Nagar Junction will be restricted.

Alternate Route: Vehicles should take a right at SEBI Junction, left at Canara Bank Junction, passing through MCA Club, American Consulate, Tata Communication, MTNL, and proceed via Hans Bhugra Junction and Kherwadi to reach Kurla. 3. Kherwadi, Kanakia Palace, and UTI Tower to BKC, Chunabhatti, and Kurla

Closed Route: Access from these locations towards BKC, Chunabhatti, and Kurla will be restricted.

Alternate Route: Drivers should turn left from Gurunanak Hospital towards NSE Junction, then right at Bharat Nagar and SEBI Junction before proceeding to Kurla and Chunabhatti. 4. Kurla and Razzak Junction to Western Express Highway, Dharavi, and Worli Sea Link

Closed Route: Traffic from Kurla and Razzak Junction towards these locations via Platina Junction will be restricted.

Alternate Route: Vehicles should take a U-turn at Platina Junction, proceed through MTNL Junction, and turn right at Tata Communication towards the American Consulate, MCA Club, Canara Bank Junction, and Family Court Junction to reach Dharavi and Worli Sea Link. 5. CST Road
Most of the voters consider democracy and economy as chief concerns while a majority in the November 5 US presidential election think American democracy is under threat, according to preliminary exit polls revealed as polling is about to close in some states.

Nearly three-quarters of voters say American democracy is under threat, according to preliminary national exit polls from Edison Research, reflecting the deep anxiety the nation faces after a contentious campaign between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, a Reuters news report said.

Edison Research Democracy and the economy ranked by far as the most important issues for voters, with around a third of respondents citing each, followed by abortion and immigration at 14 per cent and 11 per cent, the exit poll date by Edison Research as reported by Reuters said.

At least 73 per cent of voters believed democracy was in jeopardy, against just 25 per cent who said it was secure, according to this exit poll.

Forty-four percent of voters viewed Republican candidate Donald Trump favorably, compared with 46 per cent in the 2020 exit polls, when he lost to President Joe Biden. Democrat Kamala Harris was viewed favorably by 48 per cent of respondents, compared with Biden's 52 per cent rating in 2020, the exit poll said.

The exit polls showed women made up 53 per cent of the electorate, largely unchanged from the 52 per cent in 2020 exit polls.

The share of voters without a college degree - who largely favor Trump - was at 57 per cent, down slightly from 2020's 59 per cent, according to the data in this Exit Poll.

NBC Exit Poll The state of democracy and the economy were top of mind for voters as they cast ballots in the presidential election, according to early results from the NBC News Exit Poll.

Democracy was ranked first by voters in this poll too, with 35 per cent saying it was the issue that mattered most in deciding how they voted for president, followed by the economy at 31 per cent. Voters ranked abortion (14 per cent) and immigration (11 per cent) as next important, while just 4 per cent said foreign policy.

Women were more likely than men to prioritise abortion with 19 per cent of women calling it as the most important issue, compared with just 8 per cent of men, the NBC exit poll said.

AP Vote Cast The economy and immigration are the top issues facing the country, voters said, but the future of democracy was also a leading motivator for many Americans casting a ballot in Tuesdays presidential election. AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, found a country mired in negativity and desperate for change.

Democracy was ranked first by voters in this poll too, with 35 percent saying it was the issue that mattered most.
With former United States of America President Donald Trump claimed his victory on 6 November following Fox News Channel declared him the winner of the US Presidential Elections 2024, global leaders and nations' head have been sending congratulatory messages to the Republican candidate.

From Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to French President Emmanuel Macron, Republican candidate Donald Trump is receiving best wishes from leaders around the world, even as the official results are yet to be announced.

Here are a few messages by global leaders: Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, "Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity."

French President Emmanuel Macron took to X to congratulate Trump and wrote, Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump . Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X, Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory!

I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine. I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.

Also Read | Trump vs Harris: Shashi Tharoor says early US Prez poll trends can be misleading

He added, We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations. Ukraine, as one of Europe's strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies. I am looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's strategic partnership with the United States.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel PM, wrote, Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship, yours, Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif also took to X and sent a congratulatory message to Trump, Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! I look forward to working closely with the incoming Administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-U.S. partnership. @realDonaldTrump

British Prime Minister Kier Starmer also sent best wishes to Donald Trump on his victory in the US Presidential Elections 2024. He took to X and wrote, "Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead."

"As the closet of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the US-UK special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come," he added.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also sent congratulatory messages to Trump. He wrote on X, Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory. Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni took to X and wrote, On behalf of myself and the Italian Government, my most sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald #Trump .Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further. Good work Mr. President. @realDonaldTrump
Former President Donald Trump is projected to have secured the necessary 270 Electoral College votes to win the 2024 presidential election. With this victory, Trump is set to return to the White House for a second term following his first stint from 2017 to 2021.

Trumps win came after a highly competitive campaign against his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, 60. The hard-fought race saw both candidates battling for key swing states, but it was Trump who triumphed in the critical battleground states.

Trump outlines bold agenda for Americas future in 2024 Campaign As part of his bid for re-election, Donald Trump unveiled an ambitious and wide-ranging policy platform aimed at securing a strong future for America. From reshoring supply chains to addressing crime and immigration, Trump promises sweeping reforms designed to bolster the nation's economy, protect its borders, and enhance its global standing.

Economic revival and manufacturing superpower A cornerstone of Trumps vision for America is revitalizing the U.S. economy, with a focus on reducing taxes, creating jobs, and putting more money into the pockets of American workers. He plans to introduce a 4-year national reshoring initiative aimed at reducing reliance on foreign countries, particularly China, for essential goods, while strengthening Americas manufacturing capabilities.

In energy, Trump plans to unleash the full potential of domestic energy resources, reducing costs for American consumers while ensuring energy security both at home and abroad. His administration seeks to eliminate policies like the Green New Deal and secure Americas energy independence.

Strengthening national security Trump had proposed an aggressive approach to combat drug cartels, including a total naval embargo on cartel operations and an international crackdown on their finances. He also pledged to take swift action on illegal immigration by ending policies such as catch-and-release, restoring the "Remain in Mexico" policy, and implementing a merit-based immigration system that prioritizes American labor and values.

Law and Order Trump vowed to provide more resources to police departments, ensure tougher penalties for crimes against law enforcement officers, and bring down violent crime. His administration, he claimed, will focus on restoring law and order and supporting police officers across the country.

Military and Foreign Policy Trump promises to overhaul the military by ridding it of what he calls "radical left ideology" and reinstating personnel who were fired over ideological conflicts. He plans to build a next-generation missile defense system to protect the U.S. from nuclear and hypersonic threats. Trump also aims to restore America's global leadership, reclaiming its position in the world after what he describes as the Biden administration's failures, particularly in Afghanistan.

Veterans and Education reforms Trumps 2024 plan focuses heavily on improving veterans' care, citing past reforms that led to better care, lower veteran unemployment, and increased mental health services. He plans to expand these efforts and ensure veterans have better access to healthcare and educational opportunities.

On education, Trump promises to tackle race-based discrimination in schools and supports the creation of a more patriotic curriculum. He advocates for abolishing teacher tenure, implementing merit pay, and allowing parents to elect school principals directly.

Free speech and health policy Trump has made protecting free speech a priority in his platform, calling for a digital bill of rights to curb censorship on social media. He also proposes halting COVID-19 mandates, restoring medical freedom, and reducing healthcare costs by increasing price transparency and expanding insurance access.

Also Read | What Trumps win means for the Indian rupee

Judicial appointments and Second Amendment Trump reaffirms his commitment to appointing conservative judges who will enforce the law without political bias. He also promises to uphold the Second Amendment and ensure religious freedom, including the right to pray in public schools.

Protecting Social Security and Medicare Trump has vowed to protect Medicare and Social Security, while continuing to support patients with pre-existing conditions. His plan includes lowering prescription drug costs and making healthcare more affordable for all Americans.
Republican nominee, Donald Trump has claimed victory in the US Presdiential race against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris on November 5. Trump's edge in the race grew as he inched closer to 270 magic Electoral College votes.

America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate, Trump told a jubilant crowd at the Palm Beach County Convention Center early Wednesday morning, Indian time.

Many US media outlets have called the race projecting Trump as 47th President of United States. Trump was ahead with 267 electoral votes, three short of 270 mark, against his rival Harris who trailed with 224 Electoral Votes.

As things stand, Trump is set to be the 47th President of the United States. News outlets such as CNN, NBC and others are likely to officially call the results later.

Once in office, Trump becomes only the second president to return to the White House for a second non-consecutive term. The last and only President to achieve that feat was Grover Cleveland, who served two non-consecutive terms, from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897.

Here are some other records that Trump is all set to make by returning to White House

 At 78, Trump will become the oldest person to assume the office of US President.

 The New York Times reports that Trump is projected to become the first Republican to win the popular vote in 20 years.

 He will be the first US President facing criminal cases, including the one involving his alleged role in the riots at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, after he lost the Presidential race to Democrat Joe Biden.

 Trump will also be the first US President to be impeached (twice) and re-elected to the highest office of the country.
2024 US Election: Tesla CEO Elon Musk, an articulate supporter of Donald Trump, has joined the meme fest on social media as the former US president looks all set to be back at the White House.

Donald Trump memes are back again on social media. Let's take a look at some of those:

As per The Associated Press (AP), Trump has won 267 electoral votes, heading towards the magic 270-mark. Democrat Kamala Harris, on the other hand, is way behind with 214 at the moment.

"This will be the golden age of America... America has given us an unprecedented mandate," Trump said in a victory speech in Florida.

Vote counting is still ongoing in key battleground states like Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada. In the US, most states consistently support the same party, except for swing states that can go either way.

There are 538 electoral college votes in total. If both candidates win all states that usually support their party, Harris will need 44 more votes, and Trump will need 51.

The swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, known as the Rust Belt, have traditionally been Democratic strongholds.

Exit polls Exit polls earlier revealed that the state of democracy, the economy and abortion were top concerns for American voters in the election. Nearly 60% of people consider democracy their main issue while abortion is important to 5% and over 10% prioritise the economy.

Also Read | THIS is what Donald Trump said about Elon Musk after claiming victory

A CNN poll showed that around 75% of voters were unhappy with the countrys direction, with many feeling dissatisfied or angry. However, over 60% remain hopeful, believing Americas best days lie ahead.
US Election results 2024: Elon Musk has hailed the results of the 2024 US presidential election, with Donald Trump set to become the 47th President of the United States. The Tesla CEO, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump throughout his campaign, took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the crucial role of women voters in Trump's success, responding directly to US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs comments about womens organising power.

In his post, Musk commented, The reality is that an enormous number of sensible, smart women voted for Donald Trump. He would not have won without them.

Also Read | What Donald Trump Presidency in the US means for India?

His statement came in response to Ocasio-Cortezs earlier post, where she wrote, We ran 80,000 election simulations and women are pissed off and well-organized in every one of them.

Donald Trumps Praise for Elon Musk During his election night speech in West Palm Beach, Trump also expressed his admiration for Musk, who played a pivotal role in helping secure his victory in crucial states like Pennsylvania.

"Hes a character. Hes a special guy, hes a super genius," Trump said, referring to Musk. The former president added, "We have to protect our geniuses. We dont have that many of them."

Donald Trump's remarks follow the billionaire's continued support for the Republican nominee, both financially and through public endorsements. Musk has been a major donor to Trump's political action committee, contributing millions to help fuel the campaigns push.

Also Read | THIS is what Donald Trump said about Elon Musk after claiming victory

Elon Musks Vision for Americas Future As the results poured in, Elon Musk shared his confidence in Donald Trumps victory and future plans for the country.

In a light-hearted post, Elon Musk shared an edited photo of himself in the Oval Office, captioned, "Let that sink in," referencing his famous stunt when he took a kitchen sink into Twitters San Francisco headquarters to mark the completion of his $44 billion acquisition of the platform.

Additionally, Elon Musks support for Trump extends beyond words.

He has publicly pledged to make the United States the bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world and has voiced his intention to have Musk lead an audit of government waste.

Elon Musk and Donald Trumps Close Alliance Elon Musks alliance with Trump has been widely publicised, with the two appearing together at campaign rallies and events.
Donald Trump is slated to take charge of a nation with deepening political and cultural fissures and a worried electorate within the next two months. Abortion rights were on the ballot for at least nine states on Tuesday  with several states opting to unravel stringent curbs. The President-elect however avoided abortion-related questions while casting his ballot in Florida.

Just stop talking about that he snapped at a reporter upon being pressed about his stance on Tuesday.

Videos of the snippet have since gone viral on social media platforms with many lambasting the Republican for avoiding tough questions. Others reminded that his wife Melania was also pro-choice  as evinced by her passionate defense of abortion rights in an upcoming memoir.

The senior politician has remained somewhat vague about his stance and hinted at moderation during the 2024 campaign even as fellow Republicans call for drastic curbs. Trump however took credit for the Supreme Court decision to reverse Roe vs Wade in 2022 and stressed his role in appointing three of the top judges.

My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land, he said in a social media video earlier this year.

Trump appears to have held shifting views on abortion over the course of the 2024 election campaign  at times leaving conservatives and anti-abortion rights groups frustrated.

A second presidential term for Donald Trump could herald a new wave of attacks on abortion access across the United States  with or without a Republican-controlled Congress. The President-elect had previously suggested that he might veto any anti-abortion "ban" that lands on his desk.

The outcomes of ballot initiatives that sought to overturn strict abortion bans in Florida and Missouri were very important to a majority of voters in the states. Florida has one of the most stringent anti-abortion laws at present with a six-week ban that took effect in May.

Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota have now become the first states since Roe was overturned where abortion opponents prevailed on a ballot measure. Most voters supported the Florida measure, but it fell short of the required 60% to pass constitutional amendments in the state. Most states require a simple majority.
After a four-year gap, Republicans have regained control of the US Senate, setting the stage for a significant leadership shakeup as Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer prepares for a likely transition to minority leader. The GOP's strong showing in key Senate races has shifted the balance of power and raised pressing questions about who will step into the Senate majority leader role under Republican control.

A series of Republican victories in pivotal states has driven this potential power shift. In West Virginia, a long-held Democratic seat flipped when Republican Governor Jim Justice claimed the seat vacated by outgoing Senator Joe Manchin, who chose not to run. Justice's win, in a state that has leaned increasingly red in recent years, represents a crucial gain for the GOP.

Another major upset occurred in Ohio, where Bernie Moreno, a businessman endorsed by former President Donald Trump, defeated incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown. Brown, a three-term senator known for his appeal to working-class voters, was edged out in what has traditionally been a competitive state. Morenos victory underscores the continuing influence of Trump-backed candidates in key races.

In Montana, longtime Democratic Senator Jon Tester faces a tight race, with early returns indicating a potential GOP victory. Republican candidates are also leading in critical Blue Wall states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, suggesting further gains in typically Democratic regions. At the same time, Republican incumbents such as Ted Cruz in Texas, Rick Scott in Florida, and Deb Fischer in Nebraska are expected to retain their seats, fortifying the partys majority in the Senate.

Also Read | US Election 2024 Key Highlights: Donald Trump to address supporters soon
Donald Trump was declared the winner of the US presidency on Wednesday. Hours before the announcement, he took to the stage to claim his historic victory over Democrat Kamala Harris. He was flanked by his family, friends and top political supporters. Later, Trump expressed his tremendous appreciation for Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, the top Trump campaign advisers.

Also Read | US Election Results 2024 LIVE: Donald becomes 47th US President

Susie and Chris are co-campaign managers. Here's all you need to know about them:

Susie Wiles

Susie Wiles watches as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Lititz, Pa., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.

After Trump's historic victory in the US presidential elections 2024, Wiles could land a high-flying job. One of Trump's two co-campaign managers, Wiles is seen as the odds-on favorite to be Trump's White House chief of staff, Reuters reported.

Wiles is credited with running a successful and efficient campaign. Supporters hope she would instill a sense of order and discipline that was often lacking during Trump's first term, when he cycled through a number of chiefs of staff. However, the specifics of her political views are somewhat unclear.

Also Read | Netizens ask woman to break up with man who didnt vote in 2024 US Election

Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt had earlier told Axios, "...Susie Wiles is managing a team of professionals, and ensuring Team Trump is taking the necessary steps to prepare for a successful transition back to the White House following President Trump's victory on Tuesday."

According to US Today, Susie Wiles was a top staff member for Jacksonville mayors John Delaney and John Peyton before she became a well-known figure in political circles.

She also served as chief of staff for Delaney and worked on the successful campaign for a half-cent sales tax supporting the Better Jacksonville Plan that was the signature achievement of his time as mayor, the report added. Wiles also worked on The River Accord to improve the health of the St. Johns River.

Also Read | As US markets spike, this is how Indian investors can invest in overseas stocks

According to the report, Wiles was also behind Rick Scott's successful campaign for governor in 2010. She lead Trump's win in Florida in 2016 when he was elected president. She was a senior adviser on Ron DeSantis's winning run for governor in 2018.

In an interview with USA TODAY, Wiles said she views herself as a team player and having other staffers be the public-facing part of the campaign allows her "to do a better job" orchestrating the mechanics.

Chris LaCivita

Chris LaCivita arrives with Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at Augusta Regional Airport to visit areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Augusta, Ga

No just as Trump's close aide, Chris LaCivita is also knows for a few controversies. He is a longtime Republican political strategist with a career working on high-profile campaigns throughout Virginia and nationally. He served in the role of co-campaign manager for Donald Trumps third presidential bid with Susie Wiles since 2023.

According to CNN, LaCivita first gained national recognition during the 2004 presidential election for his role in the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign, the group that sought to undermine and attack Democratic nominee John Kerrys military record.

After the 2021 US Capitol riots, LaCivita was reportedly among those who blamed Trump and his "lies" for the January 6 violence. The post, which was shared on the evening of January 6, was later deleted from LaCivitas feed, CNN reported.
Republicans regained control of the US Senate on Wednesday, while control of the House of Representatives remains up for grabs. Republicans flipped two Democratic seatsWest Virginia and Ohiowhich gave them at least a 51-seat majority even as a handful of key races remained toss-ups. The GOP (Grand Old Party or Republicans) also won an unexpectedly close race in Nebraska that brought them over the finish line.

Democrats currently have a 51-49 majority in the US Senate. The latest tally by the Associated Press showed the Republicans winning 51 seats, bringing Democrats down to 42. The race on seven seats is to be called. These include Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Nevada. Its possible Republicans could pick up more seats.

Democrats held a seat in Maryland, where Angela Alsobrooks defeated former Governor Larry Hogan, becoming the first Black woman to represent the state in the Senate. Two Black women, Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester, won US Senate seats representing Maryland and Delaware. Only 12 Black people have served in the Senate, and only three have been women. Never before have two Black women been seated simultaneously, Bloomberg reported.

But how important is the US Senate election? Republicans' flipping party control of the upper chamber gives the GOP a major power centre in Washington. They will now have a lead role in confirming the next presidents Cabinet and any Supreme Court justice if there is a vacancy. The US Senate votes on bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, nominations, and treaties.

The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the Presidents appointments that require consent and to provide advice and consent to ratify treaties. There are, however, two exceptions to this rule: the House must also approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaty that involves foreign trade. The Senate also tries impeachment cases for federal officials referred to it by the House, the White House says.

Meanwhile, CBS News reported that the Republican victory will have major implications for the new administration  either bolstering the president's agenda or serving as a blockade for the opposing party. Also, the Vice President of the United States serves as President of the Senate and may cast the decisive vote in the event of a tie in the Senate.

Who's the next US president? Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has stormed back to power in a historic battle against Democrat Kamala Harris in November 5-6 polls. US media declared him the presidential winner after he won a majority of the popular votes and around 276 electoral votes. However, a formal meeting of the Electoral College will take place in December, after which the President will be formally announced.

JD Vance will be the next US Vice-President.
Kamala Harris spoke to Donald Trump on Wednesday to concede defeat in the recent US Elections. The Democrat is slated to deliver a concession speech later in the day at Howard University  her alma mater in Washington. President Joe Biden also spoke to the two Presidential candidates and invited Trump to visit the White House to discuss the transition.

A senior Harris aide told AP News that she had also discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power with Trump ahead of her planned concession speech Wednesday afternoon. Biden also spoke with his Vice President to congratulate her on the election campaign.

The tumultuous election campaign ends on an especially bitter note for Harris as she will still be required to oversee Congress' ceremonial certification of the election as the sitting Vice President.

Biden also called President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his election victory on Wednesday. According to The White House, staffers will coordinate a date in the near future for a meeting between him and Trump. The POTUS also plans to address the nation about the election results on Thursday.

Harris became the Democratic candidate after Biden stumbled badly in his June 27 debate with Trump. The President  struggling to convince voters that he could serve as until the age of 86  eventually dropped out of the race to endorse his VP.

Also Read | Kamala Harris concedes US election loss to Donald Trump | 10 top quotes

Donald Trump has already secured 292 electoral votes with only a few states left to be called.

There are a total of 538 electoral votes up for grabs and a winning US Presidential candidate must secure at least 270 of these in order to take the White House.

Trump is also the first president after Grover Cleveland 132 years ago to be evicted from the White House and return to it again four years later.
Donald Trump became the 47th US President on Wednesday. He defeated Democrat Kamala Harris by millions of votes to claim victory in at least four of the seven swing states  Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Maine, and Georgia. However, the Electoral College's voting in December will determine the official winner of the US Presidential Elections. According to US media, Trump has already won the majority of electoral votes at 277.

Here are Top 5 moments from Donald Trump's election-winning poll campaign: In pictures

1 Fight, fight, fight!: Trump's assassination attempt in Butler Donald Trump was attacked in July while campaigning in Pennsylvania's Butler. A bullet grazed Trumps ear and killed one of his supporters. His face streaked with blood, but Trump stood and raised his fist in the air, shouting Fight! Fight! Fight!

Donald Trump is surround by US Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa.

Also Read | US elections 2024 outcome is set to reshape India trade ties

2. Republican National Convention Donald Trump entered the Republican National Convention with a bandage covering his right ear. The former president appeared at the RNCs opening night just days after the assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally.

Donald Trump attended the Republican National Convention on July 18 in Milwaukee.

3. Trump-Harris debate Donald Trump engaged in a fierce debate with rival Kamala Harris in September for the first and the last time. The two leaders shook hands as they came on the stage.

Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during an ABC News presidential debate at the National Constitution Center, Tuesday, Sept.10, 2024,.

Also Read | US elections plays out on social media in India

4. The DARK MAGA: Elon Musk makes his first appearance at a Trump rally Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla who also purchased X, joined Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5 at the site where the former president survived an assassination attempt in July. Musk said this will be the last election if Trump doesnt win. Wearing a cap with the Make America Great Again [MAGA] slogan of Trumps campaign, Musk appeared to acknowledge the foreboding nature of his remarks.

Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk reacts next to Republican presidential nominee and former US president Donald Trump during a campaign rally, at the site of the July assassination attempt against Trump, in Butler, Pennsylvania on October 5, 2024.

Also Read | US Election Results: 4 factors that may impact Indian market as Trump set to win

5. Trumps Madison Square Garden event Donald Trump hosted a rally featuring crude and racist insults at New Yorks Madison Square Garden late October, turning what his campaign had dubbed as the event where he would deliver his closing message into an illustration of what turns off his critics. Some Democrats, calling Trump a fascist, compared his event to a pro-Nazi rally at the Garden in February 1939.
Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed victory in the US Presidential elections after Fox News projected him as the winner. Other outlets have yet to call the race for Trump, but they note that he is far ahead in the race.

Addressing his supporters from West Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump said, America has given us an unprecedented mandate and we have created history.

Check top quotes here: We've made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, Trump told cheering supporters.

"It's a political victory that our country has never seen before."

I will fight for you with every breath in my body, will not rest until we have delivered strong, safe and prosperous America.

Donald Trump on Wednesday pledged to help the United States heal.

We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly, Trump said in Florida.

Every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and for your future. Every single day, I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America.

Praising Tesla's boss, Donald Trump said we have a new star in Elon Musk.

Hes a character. Hes a special guy, hes a super genius. We have to protect our geniuses. We dont have that many of them. We have to protect our super geniuses.

On the topic of China, he said, China do have what we have.

Trump joined by family and close aides Most of the important people in Trumps personal and political life joined him on stage as he addressed his supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Former first lady Melania Trump stood near her husband and was joined by Barron, the former presidents youngest son. Trumps older children, Don Jr, Eric, Ivanka and Tiffany, all joined their father on stage, too.

Trumps top political minds, including campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, and his political allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, joined him on the stage as well.
Kamala Harris cancels speech: As the race for the White House intensified, Kamala Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond told supporters that the vice president would not speak on election night. With several states still counting ballots, Richmond assured the crowd that Harris would address them on Wednesday.

"We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue, overnight, to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken," Richmond said. So you wont hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow.

The campaign's cautious optimism comes as crucial swing states remain too close to call.

Trump Surges Ahead with Key Wins in Swing States Meanwhile, Donald Trump is on the verge of making history with a strong performance in battleground states. The former president has secured key swing states, including North Carolina and Georgia, bringing his electoral count to 246, just 24 votes shy of the 270 needed to clinch the presidency.

Also Read | Kamala Harris US election Results: Harris rival Donald Trump claims victory

Donald Trump has also extended his lead by winning a wide array of states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, Kansas, Idaho, Iowa, and the third congressional district in Nebraska. With a commanding presence in many red states, Trump's campaign appears strong as the night continues.

Harris Holds Steady in Democratic Strongholds Kamala Harris, for her part, has maintained a solid lead in several key blue states. As of now, she has won Virginia, Hawaii, New Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington DC, as well as Maines first congressional district. However, with only 210 electoral votes in hand, Harris faces an uphill battle as the race narrows to the crucial battleground of Pennsylvania.

All Eyes on Pennsylvania Pennsylvania remains the pivotal state in determining the outcome of the election. With 90 per cent of the vote counted, Trump is currently leading, and Harris cannot win without flipping the state in her favour.

Also Read | Pennsylvania Election Results LIVE: Red rules for another key state

Trump Prepares for Address at Campaign Party As the night progresses, Donald Trump is expected to address his supporters shortly at the Palm Beach campaign watch party. His anticipated appearance follows the playing of his walkout song, "YMCA," and as the Secret Service clears the area for his arrival, the crowd prepares for his remarks.
With Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump securing a historic victory in the US Presidential Elections 2024, winning 303 electoral votes, the US House of Representatives will welcome its first openly transgender member, Democrat Sarah McBride, who won from Delaware.

McBride, 34, became the first openly transgender person to serve as a state senator when she was elected in 2020, reported the WION. Apart from this, she was the first to speak at a US national political party convention in 2016 and the first to intern at the White House in 2012, under former President Barack Obama.

Also Read | What did Donald Trump say about wars in his victory speech? Know here

In her 2024 US Election campaign, McBride stated that she would focus instead on the issues she would prioritise. "Whenever you are first, you often have to try to be the best version that you can," she said in an interview with Reuters.

"But none of them matter if I don't fulfil the responsibility of just being the best member of Congress that I can be for Delaware," she said.

After winning the elections, she took to X and wrote, "Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress."

"Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all our families, that ensures that housing and health care are available to everyone and that this is a democracy that is big enough for all of us," she added.

Who is Sarah McBride? Since January 2021, Sarah Elizabeth McBride has been a Democratic member of the Delaware Senate. She also worked as the national press secretary of the Human Rights Campaign.

McBride won in the November 2020 election in the 1st Delaware State Senate district. She is the highest-ranking transgender elected official in the history of the United States as being the first openly transgender state senator in the country.

She defeated Republican rival John Whalen III after securing 57.8 per cent of the vote when 95 per cent of the total ballot was counted.

According to the WION, McBride came out as transgender in the student newspaper of American University in April 2012. Her late husband, Andy Cray, died of cancer in 2014, a few days after they tied the knot, the report added.

Also Read | Sectors and stocks in focus as Donald Trump set to become the 47th US President

She had advocated for affordable health care, protection of reproductive rights and a hike in wages in her campaign.

On being asked about the message young transgender Americans should take from her expected election, McBride said, "Anyone who worries that the heart of this country is not big enough to love them should know that they belong ... Our democracy is big enough for all of us."
Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed confidence in Donald Trump's potential return to the White House, as early projections show the former president leading Vice President Kamala Harris.

In a recent post on the social media platform X, Musk shared a photo of himself with Trump, taken at the former president's election watch party in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

He expressed confidence in Donald Trump emerging victorious in the 2024 US Presidential elections. He also shared an edited photograph of him in the Oval Office of the White House with him carrying a sink into the room along with the tongue-in-cheek caption, Let that sink in.

Musk had famously used the phrase "Let that sink in" when he purchased the microblogging platform Twitter for a staggering $44 billion. To mark the occasion, he even entered Twitter's San Francisco office carrying a kitchen sink, symbolizing that the deal had finally "sunk in" for everyone.

As for the US presidential race, vote counting is currently underway after polling closed across nearly all states on Tuesday (local time).

Notably, Musk has time and again publicly expressed his support towards former president Trump.

He has donated USD 75 million to Trump's Political Action Committee aiming to pave his return to the White House. He even hosted an X-Space with the former President and appeared at some of his campaign rallies.

The Tesla CEO had even expressed his willingness to serve after Trump hinted that he would consider Elon Musk for a cabinet role or advisory post if he wins.

As of now, the Republican party has gained the majority in the US Senate, as counting is underway for the presidential elections.

Current projections show that Republicans hold 51 seats in the 100-member U.S. Senate, while Democrats have 42. Notably, 28 seats held by Democrats and 38 seats held by Republicans were not up for election this time.

The U.S. Electoral College, which totals 538 votes, includes 435 seats from the House of Representatives, 100 Senate seats, and 3 seats from Washington D.C.

Along with the 435 seats in the House, 34 Senate seats were also up for election. The entire House of Representatives will be re-elected, while one-third of the Senate seats are being contested.

According to current projections from Politico, Donald Trump is leading with 230 electoral votes, while Kamala Harris has 210. In the race for the House of Representatives, Republicans are ahead with 178 seats, while Democrats have secured 146.

The 2024 US presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most significant in recent history, with the outcome hinging on a few key battleground statesArizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Trump, who served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021, is aiming for a return to the White House.
WUHAN, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning.

Xi visited a museum, a vegetable farm and a village to learn about efforts to enhance the protection, research and use of cultural relics, and efforts to promote rural revitalization.
Following the victory of Republican Donald Trump and his vice presidential candidate JD Vance in the 2024 US presidential elections, there is euphoria at Andhra Pradeshs Vadluru, the ancestral village of Vance's wife Usha Chilukuri Vance.

Vadluru is about 3 km from the town Tanuku in West Godavari district, where Usha's family once lived.

The Vadluru villagers celebrated Ushas husband's victory in the US election.

Meanwhile, 96-year-old Vizag-based Professor C Santhamma, a distant relative of 38-year-old Usha, expressed happiness over JD Vance's triumph in the US polls.

Professor Santhamma told ANI: Naturally, I feel happy... She belongs to our family and it is the most important thing... She was born somewhere in West Godavari district... My relationship is through my husband... My husband has 5 brothers. The eldest brother has 4 children. Usha is the daughter of one of his sons...

My advice is to concentrate on India if possible and see that Indians don't drift to various other countries. You must protect them. You must help the country to such an extent that their intelligence is retained in India..., she added.

The second thing is, that our Sanskrit is lost. Our Sanskrit should be brought back to India... These are two of my advice, Santhamma also said.

However, Professor Santhamma and Usha have never met or spoken to each other.

Usha is an accomplished lawyer educated at Yale University.

According to Santhamma, Usha's parents, C Radhakrishna and Lakshmi, migrated to the US around 1980.

About 30 to 40 Vadluru villagers distributed sweets to celebrate Vance's victory and Usha's links to their village, who is expected to become the second lady of the United States.

"We just celebrated Usha's husband's victory. We burst crackers and preceded this celebration with prayers for JD Vance's victory yesterday at the local Sai Baba temple," P Srinivasa Raju (53), a former village president, told PTI.
As the 2024 election results tilted in favor of Republican nominee Donald Trump, his niece and outspoken critic, Mary L. Trump, took to social media to express her disappointment. In a brief yet powerful post on X, formerly Twitter, she wrote, I am so deeply sorry. I thought better of us. Her two-sentence response underscores her dismay at the prospect of her uncles return to the White House.

Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist and author, has long been a vocal critic of her uncle.

Election Day warning: A call to turn the page In the final edition of her newsletter, The Good In Us, published on Election Day, she warned of the potential dangers posed by a Donald Trump presidency. "There are many reasons this country needs to turn the page on Donald and those who support him," she wrote, adding that near the top of the list has to be the extreme national security threat he represents.

Reaction to Putin praise Her criticism of Donald Trump is not new. Earlier this year, Mary Trump labeled her uncle a f**king traitor after he publicly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin in a deal brokered by US President Joe Biden to release American prisoners. Her condemnation stemmed from what she saw as her uncles disregard for American values and security concerns.

"Old racist uncle" remark Mary Trump also took issue with her uncle's August 9 press conference, where Donald Trump controversially compared himself to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Following his remarks, Mary Trump mockingly referred to him as an old racist uncle on X.

As election results solidify, Mary Trumps reaction highlights the ongoing divide within the Trump family and the strong emotions surrounding Donald Trumps political resurgence.

Trump closer to a second term Republican nominee Donald Trump declared victory in the U.S. Presidential election on Wednesday after Fox News projected him as the winner in the race for the White House.

Also Read | How Donald Trump wonby being Donald Trump
Former US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, claimed his victory after Fox News Channel declared him the winner of the US Presidential Elections 2024. The official results have yet to be announced.

While addressing a rally on Tuesday, Donald Trump recalled his assassination bid in Pennsylvania a few months ago and said that god spared his life for a reason. Donald Trump said that God saved his life for a reason: to make America great again.

America gave us an unprecedented mandate: Trump Donald Trump began his speech by thanking the Americans and calling the US Presidential Elections 2024 results an unprecedented and powerful mandate.

"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," he said early on Wednesday to a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Also Read | What second Donald Trump Presidency in the US means for India?

Donald Trump was also joined by his family members, including wife and children, vice presidential running mate, Senator JD Vance, Republican leaders and members of Trump's family.

Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt in July this year when he was shot by a person (later identified as a college undergraduate) during a rally.

Praise for Elon Musk During his speech in Florida, Donald Trump showered applause for tech billionaire and his vocal supporter Elon Musk. The SpaceX CEO had pumped around $120 million into backing Trump's campaign, reported Reuters.

Trump has said he will appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission. While referring to Elon Musk, Donald Trump said that America needs to save geniuses like Musk.

After the vote counting trends indicated Trump's victory, Kamala Harris cancelled her speech in Howard University where she was supposed to address her supporters. Her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, briefly addressed the crowd after midnight, saying Harris would speak publicly on Wednesday. "We still have votes to count," he said.
As Donald Trumps bid for re-election in 2024 gathers momentum, several high-profile Americans of Indian descent are emerging as potential candidates for top positions in a possible Trump 2.0 administration. Among the names being floated are Vivek Ramaswamy, Bobby Jindal, and Kash Patel, each of whom has been closely associated with Trumps political agenda and could play significant roles in his administration should he win a second term.

Vivek Ramaswamy's potential role in Trumps future administration Vivek Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old entrepreneur-turned-politician, may have suspended his 2024 presidential campaign after a disappointing performance in the Iowa caucuses, but his political journey is far from over. Ramaswamys bold ideas and fiery rhetoric, which have resonated with younger conservative voters, earned him praise from Trump during the campaign.

Trump hints at major role for Ramaswamy At a rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Trump praised Ramaswamy as smart as hell and hinted that he could have a major role in his administration. "We can put him in charge of one of these big monsters [in government], and he'll do a better job than anybody you can think of, Trump said. Known for his Ten Truths platform, Ramaswamy has advocated for reclaiming Americas greatness, a message that aligns with Trumps America First ideology and could make him a strong contender for a significant cabinet position.

In addition to Ramaswamy, two other Americans of Indian descent are being reportedly mentioned for prominent roles in a potential Trump administration.

Kash Patel: A loyal ally with national security expertise Kash Patel, a former Republican House staffer with extensive experience in defense and intelligence, is seen as a potential candidate for national security posts.

Patel, known as a staunch Trump loyalist, has been mentioned as a possible CIA director, though securing Senate confirmation may prove challenging. As reported by Reuters, Patel has been a frequent presence on the campaign trail, rallying support for Trump and advocating for a hardline approach against perceived political enemies.

Also Read | US elections plays out on social media in India

Bobby Jindal: A strong contender for health and human services secy Further, a report from Politico suggests that Bobby Jindal, former governor of Louisiana, is another potential candidate for a major cabinet role, particularly Health and Human Services Secretary.

Also Read | What Trumps win means for the Indian rupee
Donald Trump made a triumphant comeback on Tuesday after a turbulent election campaign that included two attempts on his life and deepening polarisation within the country. The President-elect will be naming members of his Cabinet and other high-ranking administration officials in the coming weeks  with many predicting a major role for Kashyap Kash Patel.

The Indian-origin American is considered the ultimate Trump loyalist and previously played a key role in helping Republicans discredit the Russia election interference probe. The former Republican House staffer had also worked in various high-ranking staff roles within the defense and intelligence communities for the previous Trump administration.

Several Trump allies have batted for Patel to be appointed as the next CIA director. However the appointment can only be finalised with Senate confirmation  somewhat simplified after Republicans won a majority on Tuesday. Patel is likely to be appointed as a member of the National Security Council if he fails to secure the Senate vote.

Also Read | Donald Trump to appoint Robert F Kennedy Jr in charge of US public health?

Patel was born in New York to Gujarati parents who had previously immigrated to the US from a third country. He began his career as a public defender trying numerous complex cases  from murder and narco-trafficking to elaborate financial crimes. Patel also worked as a terrorism prosecutor with the Department of Justice and led investigations spanning multiple theaters of conflict.

According to his US Department of Defense profile, Patel oversaw the successful prosecution of criminals aligned with Al-Qaida, ISIS and other terror groups. He also served as the DOJ Liaison Officer to Joint Special Operations Command and worked with several key counterterrorism units to conduct collaborative global targeting operations against high value terrorism targets.

Also Read | Trump secures victory: 8 key promises he made to restore American prosperity

Patel drew animosity from some more experienced national security officials during the first Trump government  with some viewing him as 'volatile and too eager to please the then-president'. He had served as the Principal Deputy to the Acting Director of National Intelligence under the previous administration and oversaw the operations of all 17 intelligence community agencies.

Patel served as the Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council. In that capacity, he oversaw the execution of several of President Donald Trumps top priorities, including eliminating ISIS and Al-Qaida leadership such as al-Baghdadi and Qasem al-Rimi, and the safe repatriation of numerous American hostages, his official bio adds.
Usha Vance, the wife of Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, is making headlines after the Republican Presidential candidate heaped praises on Wednesday morning. While announcing his potential victory amid a significant lead, the Republican Presidential candidate and former US President hailed his running mate JD Vance and his Indian-American spouse during his address at Palm Beach County Convention Centre in Florida.

As the stage is set for the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump said, I want to be the first one to congratulate  now I can say Vice President-elect JD Vance. And his remarkable and beautiful wife, Usha Vance."

He added during his early morning victory address, We just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America." As Donald Trump takes the lead in the US election results in the close contest with US Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, it is time to trace Usha Vance's descent.

Usha Vance, a Yale graduate lawyer, is set to become the first Indian-origin Second Lady of the United States.

Her roots can be traced back to Andhra Pradesh. Her South-Asian descent is due to her Indian immigrant parents, who arrived in America in 1986.

She was born in San Diego and was raised in an upper-middle-class suburb.

She works as a corporate litigator at a prestigious firm in San Francisco and holds an impressive academic background.

She pursued her higher education at Yale University and holds a bachelors degree in History.

Usha Vance was involved in intense extracurricular activities at Yale University for four years before she entered the legal field.

Usha Vance and Ohio Senator JD Vance first met at Yale Law School, where they later received scholarships. The couple tied the knot in Kentucky in 2014.

Also Read | How should you prepare for H1B visa programme under Donald Trump regime?
Donald Trump's re-entry to the White House is confirmed. The Republican candidate is leading with 277 electoral votes and has thus crossed the minimum 270 mark to become the 47th President of the United States.

On Wednesday morning, he delivered his victory speech at the Palm Beach County Convention Centre in Florida in the presence of his family. This marks a historic moment for America, as it is the first time in 120 years for a President to return after his ouster following his first term. He registered victory in three swing states: North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

Trump will be only the second president to serve non-consecutive terms after Grover Cleveland, a feat last accomplished 132 years ago. Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th President of the US, serving from 1885 to 1889 and 1893 to 1897.

Let's look at what Donald Trump said about wars: The Republican US presidential nominee in his victory speech on November 6 said, I'm not going to start wars, I'm going to stop wars.

We had no wars; for four years, we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS, said Donald Trump.

This marks a big move amid raging wars across the world that took unprecedented shape during 46th President Joe Biden's administration. The billionaire businessman became the first sitting US President, during his last reign from 2016 to 2020, to meet a North Korean leader. He shook hands with North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, at a historic summit in Singapore.

Thus, one of the major policy decisions Donald Trump vowed to make is to make efforts to end wars around the world. However, he did not particularly emphasise where this policy will be directed, but according to geopolitical experts, Ukraine and Israel will most likely be the focus areas of Trump 2.0.
Canadas deputy prime minister highlighted her countrys tougher approach to Chinese exports, seeking to gain favor with Donald Trump and his key advisers ahead of his return to power in Washington.

Chrystia Freeland said the Canadian government shares the same concerns as Trumps team with Chinas intentional policy of overcapacity, which is why Canada recently matched US tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum and electric vehicles.

Freeland said she has kept in touch with Robert Lighthizer, who was the US trade representative in the first Trump administration and is likely to play a major economic policy role in the next one. Lighthizer and Freeland spoke a few times on Tuesday and discussed China earlier this year, she said, adding that its an area where Ambassador Lighthizer and I are very strongly in agreement.

Her comments, made during a news conference in Ottawa, show how Canada will try to shield itself from Trumps promise to impose a sweeping set of global tariffs once he takes office. The Republican president-elect has pledged a minimum 10% tariff on everything the US imports, and has not promised any exemptions for Canada. Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will try to make the case that theyre aligned with a number of key US goals, including its strategy for competing with China.

Freeland also tried to reassure Canadians that the government is fully prepared for a review of the US-Mexico-Canada trade pact scheduled for 2026, and said Canadian officials have been very conscientious, very systematic about maintaining relationships with Trumps team.

She flattered Trumps negotiating skills, noting that the current version of the trade agreement, created in 2018, is Donald Trumps deal.

He signed it, he and his team negotiated it, Freeland said. He is proud of it, and I think hes right to be proud of it.

Freelands news conference was part of a broader effort on Wednesday by Trudeau and his officials to calm fears that Trump will wreak havoc on trade  and thus on Canadas export-driven economy.

Trudeau said he looks forward to working with President Trump once again to strengthen North American economic opportunities for middle class.

Weve been preparing for this, Trudeau said. Were looking forward to doing this work, and were going to make sure that this extraordinary friendship and alliance between Canada and the United States continues to be a real benefit to Canadians.

Freeland said Trump understands that Canada-US trade is good for American workers.

Our partnership in no way undercuts American workers, and I know that that is at the heart of the concerns of President Trump and his team, because that is at the heart of our new NAFTA deal that we concluded with them, Freeland said.

Meanwhile, Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party is far ahead in the polls and appears poised to win the next election, congratulated Trump in a social media post. He said the US is Canadas best friend and biggest trading partner, and I will work with the president to benefit both countries.

Poilievre warned that Trumps plans to cut taxes, and the fact that Canada has a carbon tax, create a risk that hundreds of thousands more jobs will start relocating south of the border.
Palestinians, reeling under the devastating Israel-Gaza war, on Wednesday urged Donald Trump, who won the US presidential election, to end the conflict.

The decades-old conflict turned into a war after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack, which has taken an appalling human toll in the Gaza Strip and displaced lakhs of its residents.

"We were displaced, killed... there's nothing left for us, we want peace," Mamdouh al-Jadba, who was displaced to Gaza City from Jabalia, told AFP.

"I hope Trump finds a solution, we need someone strong like Trump to end the war and save us, enough, God, this is enough," said the 60-year-old.

"I was displaced three times, my house was destroyed, my children are homeless in the south... There's nothing left, Gaza is finished."

A woman who identified herself as Umm Ahmed Harb, from the Al-Shaaf area east of Gaza City, urged Trump to "stand by our side" and end the territory's suffering.

"God willing the war will end, not for our sake but for the sake of our young children who are innocent, they were martyred and are dying of hunger," she told AFP.

For Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, where violence has also surged since October last year, Trump's victory was reason to fear for the future.

Imad Fakhida, a school principal in the main West Bank city of Ramallah, said, "Trump's return to power... will lead us to hell and there will be a greater and more difficult escalation."

"He is known for his complete and greatest support for Israel," he added.

"Trump is firm in some decisions, but these decisions could serve Israel's interests politically more than they serve the Palestinian cause," said Samir Abu Jundi, a 60-year-old in the city of Ramallah, as per the AFP report.

The United States is Israel's main political and military backer and despite pressure from President Joe Biden's administration for a ceasefire, the support has not wavered.
Top Taiwanese officials moved to ease concern about the potential fallout if Donald Trump returns to the White House, making a case that the technology restrictions promised by the former US president against China would outweigh the risks to the island.

Listen to the Heres Why podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen.

The prospect of Trumps victory in this weeks election is a worry for Taipei given the Republican nominee in the past cast doubt over the US commitment to defend it from Beijing. But other policies championed by Trump toward China hold some appeal for Taiwan.

The head of the archipelagos National Development Council, Liu Chin-ching, described the proposed technology curbs as potentially having more pros than cons for Taiwan. Such restrictions are likely to prompt more Taiwanese companies to shift production back from China and redirect export orders to local manufacturers, he said.

When asked by a lawmaker on Tuesday about Taiwans preparations for the US election results, Liu said that while the island might also face a 10% tariff on its goods, the impact would be limited, as most suppliers in Taiwan are primarily doing contract manufacturing serving the US clients.

A Trump victory could make a bigger difference for Taiwan than a win by Vice President Kamala Harris, according to Liu, though he said Taiwan is prepared for various outcomes.

Responding to lawmaker questioning, Taiwans Economic Affairs Minister Kuo Jyh-huei said he expected Harris would likely continue the Democratic Partys policies on Taiwan.

Kuo acknowledged that Trump could introduce measures that might prove harmful for Taiwans semiconductor industry. But Taiwan will have strategies in place to respond, and the impact will not be as severe as some anticipate, he said.

China claims the self-governing democracy is its territory, and has threatened to seize the island by force if needed. Current US President Joe Biden has repeatedly vowed to defend Taiwan in the event of an unprecedented attack.

In an interview with CBS Newss 60 Minutes, Harris hewed closer to the traditional US policy of strategic ambiguity while saying its important to help Taiwan defend itself.

Trump has been less supportive, telling Bloomberg Businessweek earlier this year that Taiwan stole the USs chip business. He also called for the island to pay more for defense and noted the challenges of defending it from Beijing. Taiwan is 9,500 miles away, Trump said. Its 68 miles away from China.

In a subsequent interview with Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait last month, Trump didnt answer directly when asked if American troops would defend Taiwan if China invaded.

With assistance from Adrian Kennedy.
As the first page of any book on corporate law tells you, a corporation has an infinite life. But how long do companies actually last?

A global study shows that very few companies cross 50 or 70 years. Interestingly, the longest extant organizations are almost all non-commercial, mostly educational and faith-based institutions. Even the longest running commercial company is a Japanese one in the business of constructing temples. Maybe there is a lesson in that!

Yet, we are all often told that the simplest investing mantra is: Buy old and large businesses. Buy the largest company in the sector with the strongest brand."

But does success last? The average age of a company in the S&P 500 was 32 years in 1965, its 20 years now and had even dipped to below 15. (Source: Statista).

Look at the original BSE Sensex list from the 1980s. The stocks there were not just large companies, they had mostly been around for many decades, with the sole exception of Indian Hotels. But the majority of those companies have disappeared or become irrelevant.

Also read: The need for agility in a volatile corporate world

Globally, remember Nokia, Kodak and BlackBerry (Research in Motion)? All dominant players at a time when magazine covers used to be about whether anyone could ever catch up with them. Where are they now?

And this is not just about being in a fast-moving technology business. In any case, when Kodak was running its film-based business, nobody thought it was a fast-moving high-tech area. The issue is far more fundamental than that.

One, if the industrys scenario changes for whatever reason, some companies adapt and some cant. Bajaj Auto, for example, was a winner in the liberalized India as well, whereas Premier Automobiles and Hindustan Motors fell by the wayside.

Other Sensex constituents disappeared because industries like textiles, paper and shipping became less important to the economy, or because family businesses were not run properlythat is how entire blue chip groups like Mafatlal, JK, Thapar, etc, are no longer so.

Two, when a company is a dominant player, even if it does nothing wrong at all, any new player in the business will end up taking share and sales away from it.

For the largest player in the market, it is nearly impossible to grow faster than the market, whereas for a smaller player, taking away 1%, 2% or 5% share of the market is not such a big deal.

When Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover, my bet on the companys performance was predicated on the fact that with a couple of great new Jaguar models, it would be able to grow sales far faster than its competitors, as it then had only a 4-5% market share in the global luxury car market.

Three, a new player can target niches. In India, we have seen time and again that in consumer products like tea, hair oil, detergent or confectionery, small players can target certain states or areas and even tailor their products according to the preferences of that particular region.

Or a smaller player can use a thin edge of the wedge strategy. For example, start with only exterior paints, rather than offer the full paint range as the incumbent must.

The net result is that these more nimble players nibble away at market shares. At times, larger players then have to acquire their competitors at a premium, as Hindustan Unilever, Marico and Dabur have had to do more than once.

Often, a new player cuts prices, offers discounts or gives freebies like free service on vehicles or appliances. It also happens that smaller and later entrants often have lower cost structures and overheads compared to old established companies, which tend to accumulate costs over time.

If the biggies try to match them, they take a huge hit on margins and profits, given their much bigger revenue base. If they dont, they lose share.

Four, it is also mostly true that the big disruptions in a field of business come from new entrants or smaller players. It is very hard for a giant to do this, especially if it eats into its current cash-generating business.

Kodak had digital-camera technology but could never scale it up, as it would have destroyed its existing business. Of course, we know how that story played out, with Kodak getting disrupted anyway and the company going out of business.

Plus, there is also some inertia when you have a substantial profitable business and an emerging new area is too small to get the top managements focus.

Microsoft, with its cash-cow businesses, missed out on opportunity after opportunity in the global markets for internet browsers, search, cloud computing and more. It has caught up only recently in some of these under Satya Nadellas leadership.

Five, sometimes companies move away from the very thing that had made them big. The recent push by Starbucks towards more online ordering and on-the-go coffee reminded me that the chain was set up because its founder was enamoured of European style cafes which served as community hang-outs.

Similarly, Yahoo dominated the internet even after the tech crash of the early 2000s. Google made space for itself because Yahoo tried to keep people on its own website, rather than redirect them to other internet addresses.

And now Google is precisely in that same space, where it gives search results in such a fashion that the user does not click through to any other site. It is this kind of behaviour that creates room for the next new company meeting similar needs.

Of course, an attractive business also tends to attract competition and even a good business can be bought at the wrong price. But those are topics for another day.
In the end it, was not as close as many were anticipating. Donald Trump performed much better than he did in the 2020 election and Kamala Harris could not match Joe Bidens performance that year, resulting in a second term for Trump in the White House.

It was all over when Trump retook the US battleground state of Georgia, which he had narrowly lost four years ago, and then also won North Carolina, which shrunk Kamala Harriss possible paths to victory. Harris could not win any of the battleground statesPennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevadathat were pivotal for her victory.

And unlike his 2016 win, Trump also managed to win the popular vote this time, making this the first time Republicans secured this prize since 1992.

Declaring it a magnificent victory," Trump underlined in his victory speech to his supporters that America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate."

This is a remarkable comeback for Trump four years after he left Washington under a cloud of ignominy. He has created history by becoming the only US president after Grover Cleveland in 1892 to return to the White House after a hiatus.

For a leader who was indicted in four separate jurisdictions, convicted in New York City on 34 felony counts, impeached twice during his first term and left office with a favourability rating below 40%, this is indeed a staggering achievement.

This was also an extraordinary election, with two assassination attempts and a criminal trial against a candidate, and a last-minute change in the Democratic Party candidate from Biden to Harris. The rhetoric during the campaign often plumbed new lows, with Americas political polarization often seen as almost permanent.

Yet, against the backdrop of a disastrous performance by Democrats, Republicans also won a majority in the US Senate and are expected to retain control of the House of Representatives, though several races are still undecided.

This will ensure that Trumps agenda will not face much pushback in the legislature. Trumps victory is broad-based and a number of Republicans in the Senate and the House managed to ride on his coat-tails. He has reconfigured the Republican Party in his own image once again.

Given the high stakes in this election that both sides kept underlining to draw out their voter base, the turnout in 2024 has been the highest in modern American history.

But Harris did not manage to get the landslide support from women that was being expected. While a majority of women did support Kamala Harris, as per exit poll data, she failed to match the 57% who backed Joe Biden back in 2020.

Strikingly, a third of American voters across African-American, Latino and Asian groups voted for Trump, even as his Caucasian support went down by a fraction. This upends the conventional wisdom on US voting preferences, as a new demographic reality confronts the American polity.

The countrys political landscape has been witnessing some far-reaching changes in recent years due to changes in the demographic support base of both parties.

The Republican Party is drawing in blue-collar and low-income voters and Democrats are over-reliant on college-educated youth and higher income groups, even as people of colour are no longer as enamoured with the party as they used to be.

This election was a stark reminder that Democrats have stopped speaking the language of a large number of US voters and they seem to have no plan of expanding their vote base. They seem to have become a party of Hollywood celebrities with little connect with the American heartland.

The Trump campaign, meanwhile, succeeded in linking Harris to an undercurrent of discontent brewing against the Biden administration because of rising costs of living, a surge in migration at the southern border and instability abroad. Despite her best efforts, trying to dissociate herself from Biden was a lost cause for Harris.

Harris and Trump represented two strikingly different views of the USon immigration, trade cultural issues and foreign policyand American voters have given their verdict.

Trumps first term in office laid the foundations of a dramatic re-orientation in Americas engagement with the world, economically and strategically.

This is reflected in an exit poll which showed that despite the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as broader global instability, only 4% of respondents were concerned with foreign policy. An America that is leaning inwards has great implications for the world order.

Though India is better placed than many other countries vis-a-vis a Trump presidency, New Delhi will have to navigate the complexities of this shift in American strategic priorities carefully.

A strong partnership with the US is a cornerstone of Indias contemporary foreign-policy posture. India will have to adapt to evolving realties in the American political landscape.

Trumps arrival with a bigger bang in 2024 than 2016 has demonstrated that his earlier victory was no fluke and it heralded a wider shift in Americas engagement with the rest of the world.
Private property rights are well recognized as a key factor in a countrys prosperity, with a stark contrast offered by communist regimes that abolished individual ownership. Indias mixed economy" model took a nuanced approach.

On Tuesday, a nine-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled with an 8:1 majority that not all private property qualifies as a community resource that the State can take over for public purposes.

Article 39(b) asks the State to direct its policy towards ensuring that ownership and control of material resources of the community" are distributed in a way that best serves the common good. The latest ruling overrules court judgements of Indias socialist policy era that took an over-expansive view of the resources in question.

In the words of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Not every resource owned by an individual can be considered a material resource of the community merely because it meets the qualifier of material needs."

This is just as well. Given the role of individual incentives, including ownership benefits, in the countrys economic expansion, we need a very high bar for public welfare gains to justify any expropriation.
Hackers linked to Chinese intelligence used precision strikes to quietly compromise cellphone lines used by an array of senior national security and policy officials across the U.S. government in addition to politicians, according to people familiar with the matter.

This access allowed them to scoop up call logs, unencrypted texts and some audio from potentially thousands of Americans and others with whom they interacted. The emerging picture of the intrusions reach helps confirm the intelligence communitys concerns about the potentially dire national security consequences of the attack, the people said.

Hackers burrowed deep into U.S. telecommunications infrastructure over eight months or more. With each layer of network infrastructure they unlocked, the Beijing-linked group studied how Americas communications wiring works without detection, carrying out targeted thefts, people familiar with the breach said.

The newly uncovered espionage campaign, earlier reported in September by The Wall Street Journal, is the latest in a long string of successes for Chinas government hackers, as Western governments accuse Beijing of spying at an unprecedented scale.

But as U.S. officials and security experts piece together what the hackerspart of a group nicknamed Salt Typhoon by investigatorswere able to achieve, they have assembled clues that fuel concerns that Chinas mastery of cyber-espionage is dangerously advanced.

The hackers appeared to have had the ability to access the phone data of virtually any American who is a customer of a compromised carriera group that includes AT&T and Verizonbut limited their targets to several dozen select, high-value political and national-security figures, some of the people familiar with the investigation said.

The hackers also appear to have infiltrated communications providers outside the U.S., including at least one country that closely shares intelligence with the U.S., though it isnt yet clear where or how extensively. Investigators expect more victims to be identified as the probe continues.

Investigators dont yet know how China planned to use the information it allegedly stole. U.S. intelligence officials have warned for over a decade that Beijing has amassed an enormous trove of information on Americans in order to identify undercover spies, understand and anticipate decisions by political leaders, and potentially build dossiers on ordinary citizens for future use.

Though political figures are among those spied upon, officials dont suspect the Chinese are seeking to use the access to disrupt or otherwise interfere in the presidential election.

U.S. security officials have said they are concerned that China is applying artificial intelligence to their stolen data to glean additional insights and create elaborate social maps of millions of Americans.

Its a vulnerability that no one imagined or anticipated," Sen. Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate intelligence panel, said Sunday on CBSs Face the Nation." Mark Warner, the committees Democratic chairman, said last week that it was one of the most serious breaches" he had ever seen.

In a statement, a spokesman for the National Security Council said U.S. agencies across the federal government were collaborating to aggressively mitigate this threat" and were surging support to affected entities and determining the full scope and impact on Americans, companies and the government."

He added: We are taking this matter very seriously."

Breaking in

At Lumen Technologiesa carrier and government contractor whose network makes up a core piece of the global internethackers stole credentials to give themselves access to parts of the management layer of the companys infrastructure in late summer. That access helped them quietly collect information about how network routers were configured and perform other reconnaissance for more than a month before they were caught.

In the broader attack on U.S. telecom networks, officials believe that the hackers also targeted systems that carriers use to comply with court-authorized surveillance requests. At Lumen, which doesnt provide wireless service, the attackers didnt steal any customer data or access its wiretap capabilities, according to people familiar with the matter. Lumen, which has contracts with the Pentagon and other U.S. agencies, was notified of the intrusion by a company that specializes in threat intelligence, the people said.

While the hackers appear to have used multiple vectors for their attacks on other telecom companies, they were able to gain some access in part by compromising routers from Cisco Systems and other equipment makers, some of the people said.

The hackers have also attempted to re-enter patched systems after being ejected from them by exploiting additional powerful vulnerabilities, some of which werent previously known to cybersecurity analysts. That bold behavior confounded some U.S. officials because it appeared the hackers were essentially scraping to stay inside systems long after their cover was blown, taunting investigators and continuing to collect data.

In one breakthrough, investigators have determined that the hackers were working on behalf of a Chinese intelligence agency, likely the Ministry of State Security, which is responsible for foreign intelligence collection. They have identified a specific Chinese contractor they believe carried out the attack, the people familiar with the inquiry said. The MSS often relies on contractors to carry out hacking missions.

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington has previously denied the countrys involvement in the hack and accused U.S. spy agencies and cybersecurity firms of secretly collaborating to piece together false evidence."

What they took

The hackers were able to capture at least some voice audio from some compromised victims, including people affiliated with both Trump and Harris campaigns, investigators have learned. It is unclear whether they recorded actual calls, voice memos or something else.

After Trumps running mate, JD Vance, was notified that he had been a target of the Salt Typhoon hacking group, he joked about it on a popular podcast. Its a pretty badass name, right? If they have anything on me, I cant be too pissed off at them," Vance told podcaster Joe Rogan.

In addition to surveillance on specific Americans, targeting of court-authorized wiretap systems has prompted fears Beijing was able to observe ongoing U.S. inquiries into Chinese spies and others.

The group behind the Salt Typhoon attacks has previously compromised some telecommunications infrastructure in Southeast Asia, according to cybersecurity researchers.

The Slovakia-based cybersecurity firm ESET has long referred to the Salt Typhoon hacking group as FamousSparrow and says it has previously broken into government agencies and hotel networks worldwide, including in France, the U.K., Israel, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and Brazil, among other countries. They were one of more than 10 advanced hacking teams caught exploiting a series of flaws in Microsofts Exchange email software in 2021, according to ESET.

The 2021 Exchange hack rendered an estimated tens of thousands of businesses and government networks vulnerable to intrusion. The Biden administration blamed Chinas Ministry of State Security for those hacks, a callout that was joined by the U.S. and the European Union.

Robert McMillan contributed to this article.

Write to Dustin Volz at dustin.volz@wsj.com, Aruna Viswanatha at aruna.viswanatha@wsj.com, Drew FitzGerald at andrew.fitzgerald@wsj.com and Sarah Krouse at sarah.krouse@wsj.com
He fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, his fiercest opponent within his own government, and Donald Trump won the U.S. election. Trump was widely believed to be less critical of Netanyahus policies than his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Both domestically and internationally, Netanyahu now has more room to maneuver.

Gallant, reflecting the view of Israels military, had been pushing publicly for the prime minister to accept a cease-fire in exchange for a hostage release deal, bring in Palestinian leadership that could replace Hamas in Gaza and begin discussions over a cease-fire in Lebanon.

Netanyahu, who calls for total victory" in the war, has said that Israel cant stop fighting in Gaza until Hamas is destroyed. He has rejected pressure domestically and from the U.S. to accept a cease-fire deal that would bring the war to an end.

Harris was widely expected to continue the Biden administrations policies toward Israel, which included applying pressure to provide more humanitarian aid to Gazans or face threats of being cut off from U.S. shipments of much-needed weapons to Israel. The Biden administration has supplied Israel with weapons throughout the war but has at times slowed their shipment. The U.S. is also pushing for a cease-fire deal in Gaza and Lebanon.

Netanyahu called Trumps potential win historic" and said it offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!" Netanyahu said Wednesday.

In addition to allowing Israel to prosecute its wars more freely, Trump is unlikely to continue the Biden administrations policy of sanctioning violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The leader of one of the largest settler umbrella organizations said a Trump win takes the threat of a Palestinian state off the table." Polls in Israel showed that a broad majority of Israelis had favored Trump over Harris.

He thinks that he will be less constrained by Trump," said Gideon Rahat, senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. This is an important milestone for him," as Netanyahu believes his position has strengthened vis-a-vis the world and that this will give him more control in running the war, Rahat said.

Some analysts say Trumps policy positions on Israel are still murky. He has said that he doesnt want a regional war and thinks Israel should wrap up its fight in Gaza before he assumes office. With Trump only set to take his position in January, it also remains unclear if U.S. policy toward Israel would change in the next few months.

Netanyahu fired Gallant on Tuesday night following months of disagreement and what he said was a breakdown of trust between the two men who are barely on speaking terms, according to people familiar with the matter. Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities to protest Gallants ouster late into the night.

A number of petitions were submitted on Wednesday to the Israeli High Court of Justice, challenging Gallants dismissal on the grounds that the prime ministers decision was extremely unreasonable, a legal cause of action in Israeli administrative law for overturning a government decision.

The decision to fire Gallant also reflected a deep divide between the prime minister and Israels security establishment, which worries about the military being stretched on multiple fronts. Gallant was the chief proponent of the militarys viewpoint within the government. Without him, Netanyahu can have near total control over the war policy. Gallants replacement, the current foreign minister, Israel Katz, is viewed as a close Netanyahu ally who wouldnt take an independent stance on the war aims.

The Biden administration and its European allies considered Gallant a trusted counterpart amid the White Houses growing frustration at Netanyahu over attempts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza and an expanding war in the Middle East with no clear end in sight.

But with Donald Trumps victory in the U.S. election, Netanyahu is likely to face less blowback for the move and to gain an administration in the White House that is less critical of his conduct. Analysts say that Netanyahu was hoping for a Trump victory, in part because has long identified with and shared Republican views.

A U.S. official called the decision to fire the defense minister concerning. We have real questions about the reasons for Gallants firing and about what is driving the decision," the official said. Gallant was the most vocal advocate of a cease-fire deal in Gaza and often served as a counterweight to a harder line pushed by Netanyahu in negotiations, humanitarian aid, and the day after in Gaza. Over the course of the war, Gallant spoke more than 80 times with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

A key driver for the ousting was domestic politics, specifically Netanyahus need to pass a bill to exempt ultraorthodox men from military service, something that Gallant opposed due to manpower issues in the Israeli military. A small pool of reservists shoulder the burden and keep getting called back to serve for months on end. Netanyahu depends on the support of ultraorthodox parties to maintain his ruling coalition.

The issue is coming to a head with Netanyahus need for ultraorthodox votes to clear Israels 2025 budget, which by law must pass in the coming months, or Netanyahu could face snap elections.

In a press conference after his ouster, Gallant said he believed he was fired for his opposition to a law to exempt ultraorthodox from military service.

Right now the musical chairs in the government are to solidify his coalition, and get a softened version of the bill of the draft law for the ultraorthodox," said Reuven Hazan, a political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The draft bill, however, remains broadly unpopular with the Israeli public.

He removed an obstacle but he may have created a major obstacle for himself domestically," said Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul general in New York, who said the bill could face public backlash as well as opposition by nonorthodox members of Netanyahus coalition.

In a short letter to Gallant released by the prime ministers office on Tuesday night, Netanyahu said he would be replacing Gallant with Katz in the next 48 hours.

Netanyahu also strengthened his coalition on Tuesday night, replacing Katz with the leader of a small right-wing party led by Gideon Saar. This brings Netanyahus coalition up to 68 seats in the 120-seat Israeli parliament, or Knesset.

Write to Anat Peled at anat.peled@wsj.com
Should India focus on free schools and hospitals for the poor or invest in public infrastructure? Offer tax relief to the middle class or prioritize cash transfers for those in need? Boost rural development or build global cities? These are the pressing choices that shape debates on India's welfare policies. In the latest YouGov-Mint-CPR Millennial Survey conducted in July, we explored public preferences on these questions.

Participants were asked to choose between paired policy options, revealing clear inclinations. An overwhelming 70% prioritized free healthcare and education for the poor over public infrastructure. Two-thirds favoured tax relief for the middle class over cash transfers. Similarly, over 70% preferred developing villages to building cities, and a similar share leaned towards income-based reservations in private jobs over caste-based ones.

The July survey was the 12th in a series that Mint runs biannually with YouGov India and Delhi-based think tank Centre for Policy Research. It had 10,314 respondents from over 200 towns and cities and was held online. About 45% of the respondents were post-millennials (Gen Z, born after 1996), and 39% were millennials (born between 1981 and 1996).

Also read | How social media fed politics and strained relations during 2024 polls

More respondents preferred increasing tax for big companies (63%) over having an inheritance tax (37%), and creating more government jobs for the youth (57%) over enabling private businesses to create more jobs (43%). Around 53% said the government should focus on narrowing the rich-poor gap (53%) over high economic growth (47%). The nearly 50-50 split shows the view wasnt as one-sided as with most other questions. There was also a halfway split on keeping fuel prices low (51%) versus promoting public transport (49%).

Class gap

Opinions varied significantly based on respondents self-perceived financial status. Among those who considered themselves wealthy, preferences were nearly split across most questions. However, for those identifying as middle-class or poor, choices were more decisive, leaning heavily toward specific options.

Also read | Indias middle-class riddle: How much do you need to be called rich?

We asked similar questions two years ago, and the responses largely alignwith one notable shift. Support for free healthcare and education for the poor has surged, rising from 59% to 70% when compared with public infrastructure. Meanwhile, the preference for cash transfers over lower income tax relief has dropped from 47% to 33%.

Despite a growing trend of political parties promising subsidies, Indias digital natives in urban areas appear less convinced by such offerings.

Budget challenge

The survey invited respondents to allocate a hypothetical government budget of 100 across five welfare policies. "Improving conditions of hospitals and schools" topped the list, receiving an average allocation of 24. This was followed closely by "creating conditions for more government jobs" ( 23), "investment in public infrastructure" ( 21), "stimulus for growth of big businesses" ( 17), and "direct cash transfers to the poor" ( 16).

The emphasis on hospitals and schools aligns with another finding from part 4 of this series, where a significant share of respondents favoured free or heavily subsidized education and healthcare. Once again, the survey indicates limited support for direct cash transfers to the poor.

Also read | Indias freebie paradox: Voters dislike it but want some things for free

Vote impact

Do personal economic anxieties shape views on the governments performance? The analysis reveals a clear connection between how respondents rated the last two terms of the Bharatiya Janata Party government and their perceived difficulty in job hunting.

Also read | In charts: 2024 polls changed the electoral pitch  but only a little

Currently, 47% of urban Indians say finding a job is "difficult," up sharply from 34% in December 2022, when the survey last asked the same question. The perception of difficulty has grown most among post-millennials, rising from 35% to 51%, and among women, from 36% to 51%, compared to a rise from 32% to 44% among men. Jobs were reportedly hardest to find in mid-sized cities, followed by tier-III cities.

Among respondents who found job-hunting difficult, 27% rated both terms of the government equally good," while another 27% preferred the first term. About 22% thought both terms were equally poorthe highest dissatisfaction rate among groups based on job-hunting ease. Respondents facing job difficulties were five times more likely to rate the governments 10-year record negatively (22%) than those finding jobs easy (4%).

The survey suggests a noticeable preference for public goods, more jobs, and tax reforms. The low inclination towards the private sector could be because finding jobs has got tougher across demographics and regions. However, as the government settles into its third term, it would worry about the link between voting choices and personal economic anxieties.

(The authors are associated with CPR, New Delhi.)

This is the seventh and concluding part of a series about the findings of the 12th round of the survey. The previous parts covered political attitudes, middle-class aspirations, social media use, views on welfare policies, and healthy food habits. These surveys are skewed towards urban, well-to-do netizens, with 90% of respondents falling under the NCCS-A socio-economic category.



Part 1 (14 October): 2024 polls changed the electoral pitch  but only a little

Part 2 (15 October): Making sense of urban Indias political faultlines

Part 3 (21 October): Indias middle-class riddle: How much do you need to be called rich?

Part 4 (22 October): Indias freebie paradox: Voters dislike it but want some things for free

Part 5 (28 October): How social media fed politics and strained relations during 2024 polls

Part 6 (29 October): The great Indian diet challenge: do we really know whats healthy?
A recent study documents two women treated for petticoat cancer, a condition possibly triggered by tightly tying the waist cord of a saree's underskirt or petticoat. The study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Case Reports, highlights the health risks associated with this practice.

Also Read | India to undertake mega covid-19 study to help prepare for future pandemics

Doctors, including those from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Uttar Pradesh, explained that continuous pressure and friction from a tight waist cord can cause long-term skin irritation. This irritation can lead to ulcers, which, in some cases, may develop into skin cancer, as reported by PTI.

One of the affected women said the study brought to light potential health risks associated with traditional clothing practices, as quoted by PTI.

Doctors clarified that, while the phenomenon was previously described as saree cancer, it is the tightness of the waist cord that is to blame.

All you need to know about the two cases According to the authors, a 70-year-old woman sought medical treatment for a painful skin ulcer on her right side, i.e., between ribs and hip bone, which had been present for 18 months and refused to heal.

The authors noted that the skin around the ulcer had lost its pigmentation. They also mentioned that the woman wore her petticoat tightly tied around her waist beneath her saree.

In the second case, a woman in her late 60s was reported to have had an ulcer on her right flank that had not healed for two years.

"A woman in her late 60s presented with a two-year history of an ulcerating lesion on her right flank. She wore a lugda daily for 40 years. A lugda is tied very tightly around the waist without a petticoat," the authors wrote, as quoted by PTI.

The authors further noted that the biopsies revealed that both women had a Marjolin ulcer, also known as squamous cell carcinoma (ulcerating skin cancer). In the second woman, the cancer had spread to one of the lymph nodes in her groin at the time of diagnosis, the authors said.

Authors warn chronic pressure from tight clothing can lead to non-healing ulcers and potential skin cancer Constant pressure at the waist often leads to cutaneous atrophy, which ultimately breaks down to form an erosion or an ulcer. The ulcer at this site does not heal entirely due to ongoing pressure from tight clothing. A chronic non-healing wound results, which may develop malignant change, the authors wrote in the study, as quoted by PTI. They advised wearing a loose petticoat beneath the saree to ease pressure on the skin and loose clothing if skin problems develop to allow the area to heal.

One of the women diagnosed with skin cancer said, I have been wearing a Nauvari saree, tightly wrapped around my waist, for most of my adult life. Six years ago, I noticed a small area of depigmentation on my right flank, which I initially dismissed as a minor skin issue.
By Mata Press Service

According to a new survey by IDP Education, almost nine in ten international education professionals in Canada said that the countrys recent policies regarding foreign students have negatively affected their programmes and operations.

The IDP Canadian Sector Survey on International Education was completed by 212 international education sector professionals in Canada and was drafted by the global agency group IDP Education in collaboration with sector bodies including the Canadian Bureau for International Education, Universities Canada and Languages Canada / Langues Canada, as well as regional associations.

More than two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) agreed that some government intervention was necessary to manage the rapid increase in international enrolments in Canada, but a similar ratio (68 percent) disapproved of the suite of policies that have been implemented in the last year  including caps on study permit applications, changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit and increased financial requirements for study permits.

Some 87 percent said that policy changes have negatively impacted their programmes/operations, with 44 percent citing a very negative impact.

More than half of the professionals surveyed (54 percent) said that the governments engagement with the sector was very poor, while a further 27 percent that it was poor, with indications that the government should have collaborated more widely with industry stakeholders while drafting policies.

Simon Emmett, Chief Partner Officer and Chief Executive Officer UK at IDP Education, said, Canadian institutions clearly recognize policy changes are necessary to improve quality standards in international education, but what is needed now is clarity from the government so institutions can focus on providing the best student experience.

Collaboration between government and institutions is essential to avoid long-term damage to the sector.

Ajay Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vancouver Community College and an IDP Strategic Advisory Board member said the survey reaffirmed that there was an opportunity to rewrite the narrative on students.

As well as improving our sectors social license, the study highlights the critical importance of student support. There is more we can do to ensure international students have a healthy and positive experience in Canada, he said.

A recent survey of 6,171 students by IDP Education showed Canada slipping from being the most popular first-choice destination previously to fourth, while a survey of more than 1,000 agents by global pathway group Navitas showed the perceptions of Canada being open and welcoming to international students had slipped since stricter policies were introduced.

Following the findings, IDP Education has launched a sector-wide video campaign titled Theres a future in Canada for you, featuring current international students and alumni from more than 30 Canadian institutions sharing their positive experiences in the country.

Christine Wach, Senior Vice President for Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement at IDP North America said, We have listened to our students and the sector, and we are actively working with institutions on a nationwide campaign that will showcase the excellent study opportunities.

She added, IDP is committed to sharing the voices of students and the sector and amplifying the exceptional study opportunities that Canada offers. We will continue to support our partners through this new policy landscape and ensure that Canada remains a top destination for international students.

The survey was completed by representatives from universities (37 percent), colleges (26), language schools (10), private sector providers (10), technical institutes (seven), associations (five), secondary schools (three) and government agencies (two), with a mix of management, senior management, practitioners and executive leadership.

Australia-headquartered IDP, which has around 6,500 employees across more than 60 countries, places international students at partner higher education institutions in major English-speaking destinations and is the co-owner of the IELTS English language exam.

Earlier this year, Canada put a cap on study permit applications, limiting these to 606,250 this year, a move which was expected to reduce the number of new study permits issued this year by 40 percent.

According to immigration.ca, the government has also:

introduced a letter of acceptance verification system to protect students from fraud

increased the financial requirements that applicants must meet to be approved for a study permit so students are better prepared for life in Canada

limited the open work permit eligibility for spouses of students to only those situations in which the principal applicant is in a masters, doctoral or professional degree program, or part of the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot

introduced reforms to the PGWP that removed eligibility for graduates of college programs delivered through public-private curriculum licensing arrangements

proposed new regulations to require international students to apply for a new study permit to change schools and hold learning institutions accountable for failing to participate in student compliance and letter of acceptance verification activities

lower the number of hours per week international students can work off-campus to help students focus primarily on their studies, while still having the option to work.

Changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which started this month have also had a noticeable impact on international student enrollment patterns.

The PGWP is a key attraction for students globally, as it offers a pathway to gain Canadian work experience and is often a stepping stone toward permanent residency.

International students aiming to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) will now face new eligibility requirements that limit the range of qualifying programs. The PGWP is essential for students who wish to gain Canadian work experience after completing their studies. Under the updated rules, only graduates from certain approved programs will be eligible for the work permit.

The list of 966 approved programs spans key sectors in need of skilled workers, with categories including agriculture and agri-food, healthcare, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), trade, and transport.  with agencies
At age 40, JD Vance will also be the third youngest vice president, while Donald Trump, at age 78, will be the oldest president to take the oath of office in 2025.
By Catherine Sas, K.C. and Victor Ing

Special to The Post

As immigration lawyers practicing with nearly 50 years of collective experience, we have been asked many times by prospective immigrants whether they should pursue studies in both official Canadian languages: English and French, to enhance their chances of qualifying for permanent residence in Canada. As we live and practice in British Columbia, most of these requests are from persons who have proficiency in English, having either studied or worked in Canada utilizing their English language skills. Since the dawn of Canadas Express Entry selection system on January 1, 2015, our answer has typically been that the reward is not worth the effort. With both of us personally having studied several languages in addition to English, we can tell you that pursuing language studies takes a considerable investment of time and effort. (You can cram for a history or geography exam but not for a language exam!). However, the new Canadian immigration world order is a very different place and Canada is placing a premium on French language proficiency (outside of Quebec) such that this skill set provides an opportunity to acquire not only an education in Canada but also work experience and permanent residence! Lets take a look at the options for a francophone applicant to achieve Canadian immigration status.

The Francophone Mobility Program

Canada has had a work permit program for French-speaking individuals since June 1, 2016, which was initially designed to help Canadian employers outside of Quebec to recruit highly skilled French-speaking temporary foreign workers. French language proficiency is measured against Canadas Niveaux de Competence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC) scale, and those who meet the minimum language proficiency requirements are entitled to obtain a work permit if they have a job offer outside the Province of Quebec.

On June 15, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) relaxed the eligibility requirements for the Francophone Mobility Program. By lowering the language proficiency requirements to level 5 NCLC or higher (representing an intermediate level of proficiency) and removing the requirement for candidates to have a job offer to perform skilled work, IRCC greatly expanded the pool of candidates who could apply for Francophone Mobility work permits. The June 15, 2023 changes immediately created an excellent opportunity for Francophones to gain Canadian work experience because they could obtain work permits without the requirement for their prospective employers to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment.

Permanent Residence for French-speaking Skilled Workers

French speakers have distinct advantages when considering their Canadian immigration options, particularly if they are applying for permanent residence under Canadas Express Entry system. One key benefit is the ability to earn additional points for their French language skills.

Candidates are only qualified to apply under the Express Entry system if they can demonstrate proficiency in either English or French, but those who can show proficiency in both languages will gain a significant boost in their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. Specifically, candidates with moderate English proficiency (measured at a Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 5 or higher) who can prove their French language skills at NCLC level 7 or higher across all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) will be able to earn up to 50 additional CRS points. Even candidates who do not have French proficiency at NCLC level 7 can benefit from having moderate proficiency in French  up to 24 CRS points may be awarded to native English speakers who also have French language skills.

Additionally, since June 2023, IRCC began the practice of issuing category-based draws to invite candidates who possess unique skills or have experience in occupations deemed important to the Canadian economy to apply for permanent residency. The practice involves lowering CRS requirements for these targeted foreign workers, including francophones who have been designated by IRCC as a priority group of candidates. Accordingly, since the summer of 2023, highly skilled workers who can demonstrate strong language proficiency (NCLC 7 or higher across all four language skills) are now being invited to apply for permanent residence at much lower CRS point scores compared to their non-French-speaking counterparts.

Recent data will assist us to put this practice into perspective. On October 22, 2024, 400 non-francophone skilled workers with Canadian work experience were invited to apply for permanent residence if they had CRS point scores of 539 points or higher. In contrast, on October 10, 2024, 1,000 francophone skilled workers who met the minimum French language proficiency requirements of NCLC level 7 or better were invited to apply for permanent residence if they scored 444 CRS points or higher. That is a 19% difference in CRS points. Put simply, it is currently much easier for a French speaker to qualify for Canadian permanent residency than it is for a non-French speaker.

Please refer to our most recent blog Trudeau Giveth.Trudeau Taketh Away: Understanding Canadas new immigration levels plan for more information about how CRS point scores are calculated and why it has been so challenging in recent times to qualify for permanent residency: https://canadian-visa-lawyer.com/trudeau-giveth-trudeau-taketh-away-understanding-canadas-new-immigration-levels-plan/

The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot

This past summer, on August 14, 2024, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, introduced the new Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) program. The FMCSP was launched on August 26, 2024, and is designed to attract international students from primarily French-speaking countries who wish to study outside the Province of Quebec. Interested candidates are currently eligible to apply to attend one of the 12 universities and colleges that are participating in this initiative, which are located in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick.

This new pilot program implements several significant measures in recognition that candidates from primarily French-speaking countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Americas have historically experienced higher refusal rates, and these measures include the following:

 Eligible students and their families will be exempted from having to demonstrate that they will leave Canada at the end of their temporary stay in order to improve overall approval rates.

 The required financial threshold for FMCSP students will be reduced. Successful candidates will only be required to demonstrate that they have access to funding based on 75% of the low-income cutoff figures associated with the municipality where their intended schools main campus is located.

 Importantly, there will be a direct pathway to transition from temporary to permanent resident status after pilot program participants obtain their educational credentials in Canada. In addition, program participants will have access to settlement services while studying, in order to facilitate successful integration into their communities.

 Finally, the annual cap for international students, which was introduced in January 2024, will not apply to the pilot program for francophone international students.

These measures show a clear preference to increase the number of French-speaking newcomers to Canada to strengthen Canadas national identity as a bilingual country.

The New Immigration Levels plan for 2025-2027

Perhaps the most telling indication of the benefits of pursuing an education in French can be seen in Canadas new immigration plan.

The new levels plan announced at the end of October 2024 demonstrates the opportunity that embracing French studies may provide in achieving Canadian permanent residency. A review of the recent non-Quebec francophone PR targets from 2019 to 2023 compared with the proposed levels for 2025 to 2027, confirms the governments emphasis on increasing francophone immigration outside of Quebec:

Non-Quebec Francophone Immigration Target Levels

Recent Targets (2019 - 2023) New Projected Targets (2025-2027) Year Percent Actual Numbers Year Percent Actual Numbers 2019 2.8% 8,470 2025 8.5% 33,575 2020 3.6% 5,756 2026 9.5% 36,100 2021 1.9% 6,949 2027 10% 36,500 2022 4.4% 16,371 2023 4.7% 19,700

With a 2027 projected overall permanent immigration target of 365,000 immigrants and at an annual non-Quebec francophone target level of 10%, this adds up to 36,500 possible francophone speaking immigrants for the year! Compare this to 2023 where the targeted non-Quebec francophone level was at 4.75 % welcoming 19,700 permanent residents. In only four years the number of Canadian permanent residents being welcomed under this program has more than doubled!

Conclusion

With the introduction of Canadas Express Entry system, the process for qualifying for permanent residence in Canada has become increasingly more challenging year after year. As we have advised in many of our blogs, it is essential to develop a strategy that can lead to a path to permanent residence. While obtaining proficiency in both of Canadas official languages has always garnered higher points scores for permanent residence, with the introduction of these combined programs for francophone applicants living outside of Quebec and category-based draws, the ability for French speakers to qualify for permanent residence has increased dramatically.

The case for pursuing French language studies in order to obtain Canadian permanent residence is clear and many are now choosing this path as has been reported in the Canadian media: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-french-canada-immigration-permanent-residency/).

Perhaps the most telling indication of the benefit of pursuing an education in French can be seen in Canadas new immigration levels plan where the targets under this category are more than doubling. The current challenges to obtaining immigration status in Canada mandate a new approach. Canadas combined temporary and permanent Francophone programs offer a solid path to achieve your immigration goals.

Catherine Sas, K.C. has over 30 years of legal experience. She provides a full range of immigration services and is a leading immigration practitioner (Lexpert, Whos Who Legal, Best Lawyers in Canada).

Victor Ing is a lawyer at Sas & Ing Immigration Law Centre. He provides a full range of immigration services.

Go to canadian-visa-lawyer.com, or email catherine@sasanding.com or victor@sasanding.com.
A total of seventeen candidates have declared in the Longford-Westmeath constituency for the General Election with the pressure on to hit the ground running during what will be a short campaign.



It is expected that the electorate will cast their votes on Friday, November 29 with five Dail seats up for grabs.



The primary election issues are set to be housing, rural crime, health and immigration with the threat of industrial action being taken by over 130 staff at St Christopher's Services another key topic on the doorsteps.



Minister Peter Burke, Senator Micheal Carrigy and Athlone-based Tanya Cannon have been selected by Fine Gael to represent the party in the Longford-Westmeath constituency in the forthcoming General Election.

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Local Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty has been confirmed as the partys pick in county Longford, while Deputy Robert Troy will join him as he contests his fourth consecutive general election. FF have also added a third candidate in the guise of Dympna Cunniffe from Mount Temple.



Meanwhile, Sinn Fein TD for Longford-Westmeath, Sorca Clarke will be joined by Longford's Barry Campion on the ticket.

Mullingar-native Fidelma Bennett, who was narrowly denied a seat on Westmeath County Council earlier this year, has been nominated as the Labour candidate.



Cllr Paul Hogan is set to contest the Longford-Westmeath constituency for Independent Ireland in the upcoming General Election.



Hogan previously contested three General Elections (2007, 2011 and 2016) and a By Election (2014) as a Sinn Fein candidate but was unsuccessful.



Meanwhile, Carol Okeke, who lives in Kinnegad is aiming to become Longford-Westmeaths very first Green Party TD.

Longford town based Dave Smyth is understood to be running for People Before Profit.

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Elsewhere, Laura O'Neill is the Aontu candidate in the Kinnegad area and she has said she is passionate about youth development, animal welfare, mental health advocacy.



There are four non party candidates in the field with former minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran the most high profile.

The former Longford-Westmeath TD secured a seat on Westmeath County Council in June when he received one of the highest percentage of first-preference votes nationally.



Mr Moran served as as Minister of State for the OPW and Flood Relief from 2017 until 2020.



Meanwhile, Athlone's first-ever Green Cllr, Louise Heavin  who lost her council seat in June's local elections -is also standing as an Independent, while long serving Longford county councillor, Gerry Warnock, was one of the earliest to confirm he would run as an independent candidate last April.

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Elsewhere, Donal Jackson, who has run in a number of elections, has a slogan, 'Dont believe the false promises of left wing parties' as he campaigns for change and a Dail seat.



The General election candidates declared to date are Minister Peter Burke, Senator Micheal Carrigy and Tanya Cannon (all Fine Gael), Deputy Joe Flaherty, Deputy Robert Troy, Dympna Cunniffe (all Fianna Fail), Deputy Sorca Clarke and Barry Campion (both Sinn Fein), Carol Okeke (Green Party), Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland), Laura O'Neill (Aontu), Fidelma Bennett (Labour), Dave Smyth (People Before Profit), Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Ind), Louise Heavin (Ind), Gerry Warnock (Ind) and Donal Jackson (Ind)
Carol Okeke is aiming to become the Green Party's first TD in the Longford-Westmeath constituency and she believes her employment, education and upbringing is a huge benefit.

The mother of four was declared as a candidate in late-October and she said the primary issues she wants to address are housing, amenities and youth engagement

Ms Okeke stated she has not been canvassing much yet, but she is ready to start an extensive campaign to secure one of the constituencys five seats.

Ms Okeke stood in and deputised for party colleague Cllr Hazel Smyth when the Mullingar-based public representative went on Maternity leave last March.

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"It was an exciting experience," she said. "I don't really see myself as a politician, I just see myself as a person that can relate to others no matter what level, religion, what sex, whatever the person."

Ms Okeke has educational qualifications in theatre arts and human resources management, both of which she insists are people orientated.

The manager spent 15 years working in Kinnegad at Tesco in Mullingar has been employed in the retail industry for 19 years.

"My greatest interest is interacting with people and I get to do a lot of that in my job," she said. "My mother would always say that every day is a learning process and I never say I know it all."

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Ms Okeke is originally from Nigeria, an African country with a population of 200 million people with a lot of diverse cultures and languages.

"I am living in Ireland 24 years and that gives me a bit of strength, we see different things, yes we are from the same culture (in Ireland) but we still have diverse attitudes and the way we relate is completely different," she said. "So, it makes it not that difficult to see things in different societies because you are already from a diverse community so it makes it easier and my kids are the window to the new generation, the Gen Zs."
Lisa Ferrarini, a travel agent from New Jersey, reconnected with her family roots in Legan, Co Longford last week.



Born in America, Lisa tracked her family's heritage back to Legan in Longford over 3000 miles away.



She got in contact with Joan Killian Gallagher, who also hails from the US and founded the Killian Homeplace which is the Longford Family History Centre





Mary Carleton Reynolds, the former County Librarian, was involved in organising Lisas visit to Legan and accompanied Lisa and her husband Henri throughout their day.



Shes the first of her family to come back as her whole family left Longford in 1860, Mary explained.

Lisa and her husband arrived in Legan on Wednesday morning and spent the day walking through the village and essentially walking in her ancestor's footprints.

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They were greeted by former TD and Senator James Bannon, a proud Legan man and local historian, who led them on a tour to Shawbrook, Carrigeens, Foxhall and other places strongly connected to the Carroll and Yorke Family. He was accompanied by a number of local historians from the area including senior genealogists from Killian Homeplace Family History Centre Sr Margaret Farrell, David Leahy and Cissy Duggan.



The highlight of the day came around 1pm when Lisa and her husband celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary by renewing their marriage vows in the same church where Lisas great-great-grandparents were married over 150 years ago. Parish Priest Fr Vincent Connaughton officiated at the renewal of vows ceremony for Lisa and Henri.



I wanted to know about my Great Grandfather Patrick Carroll when he was born, when he came over to the United States and stuff like that, as well as his family here, outlined Lisa.

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When my relatives gave me the information I think they were following the wrong Patrick Carroll so I said you know what? Ive got to figure this out, and figure it out she did, googling Longford roots she got in contact with the aforementioned Joan.



Renewing my vows 169 years after my great-great-grandparents, I now know their names, I know that part of my family, stated Lisa.



It was an emotional day for Lisa and could be described as bittersweet, getting to know your family over 150 years on but also understanding why they had to leave.

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The church was super emotional. I cried, she recalled, Its been so emotional but weve got so much information. I just feel like Ive walked in their footsteps, especially in the church. Im the first Carroll ancestor to ever come back here.



Like many people in Ireland during this time the Carrolls were poor and fled to America for a better life. Lisa could only go as far back as her great-great grandparents when drawing up the family tree as there were no records, many people before that time were simply ignored.



But thanks to Lisa her family was not forgotten.

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Mary outlined how the Longford Family History Centre functions.



The Longford roots service which is now the Killian Homeplace Family History Centre is where the Longford Genealogy Centre is now located. Joan Killian Gallagher, this American Woman who found her roots out in Fermoyle heads it up and has restored these beautiful cottages in Fermoyle.



Mary concluded, Theres a number of local historians and I suppose genealogists who are giving their time to help research various people who have made contact with the Longford Roots Service. It was just retracing their steps and reminding Lisa where it all began, thats why it was so emotional for Lisa and even for us watching her reaction to it.

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Longford firm Scopey, which helps manage additional client requests on digital projects, has been selected to represent Irish tech startups at Web Summit 2024 in Lisbon.



Scopey is one of 36 Irish startups being showcased globally by Web Summit - the worlds biggest tech events business - at its flagship technology gathering in the Portuguese capital from November 11-14.



More than 70,000 attendees, 3,000 startups and 500 investors from around the world will attend the Lisbon event, which sees many attending startups secure international contracts, investment or business partnerships.

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We are absolutely thrilled to be selected for the Irish Startup Network initiative and to attend Web Summit this year, said Jenna Farrell, CEO and Founder of Scopey.



This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our work on an international stage and connect with potential partners, investors, and other leaders in the tech industry.

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Attending Web Summit will allow us to gain invaluable exposure, expand our network, and learn from global innovators pushing the boundaries of whats possible in technology - as well as potentially winning new customers, securing investment or creating business partnerships.

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Since being set up by Jenna and co-founder Gillian Laging, Scopey has gained recognition for its innovative solutions in scope of work software and sales.



Originally from Wellington in New Zealand, Jenna moved to her husbands farm in his native Co. Longford, and after the Covid-19 lockdown decided she wanted to make a career change.



The company was born out of Jennas decade of experience owning a web design and software design agency and her frustration with projects often growing in scope with additional work going unbilled.

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I hadn't realised how great Ireland was for tech startups, said Jenna. I told someone in my coworking space about my idea for a startup based on my pain points of owning a web design and software agency for a decade, and that conversation was the start of going all in and when my side project became a business.



Working in web design I often found that when you quote a project it then grows and everyone has extra ideas - we call this scope creep.



This out of scope work, once we'd quoted a project, was costing us 15 percent of our revenue and having a huge toll on our mental health. We were working long hours but not billing for them, and it was becoming unsustainable.



Scopey fixes this issue by allowing clients and providers to capture additional requests and wishlists beyond approved work, making sure they are addressed immediately - before they turn into unbilled work or surprise invoices.



Jenna continued: We don't want to stop the ideas flowing, but I knew there had to be a more collaborative and fluid way to scope the work so that a client can see the value and cost of their out-of-scope requests.

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Ive spent the last two years developing the business, testing with users and we launched our MVP (Minimum Viable Product) at the end of July 2024 - with 110 new accounts created since then.



Im now looking to raise our pre-seed investment, so Im excited for Web Summit to guide us in the right direction and open some doors to take us to the next level, concluded Jenna.
Shelby Wenman is a woman currently living with Multiple Sclerosis. She was diagnosed at just 21 years of age, this may seem unusual as one of the many misconceptions of MS is that only older people are diagnosed with the disease. But this is not the case, the common age range for diagnosis is the 20 - 40s.

Sitting in a coffee shop on a cold day in Longford, Shelby spoke with us about her experience with MS and life since diagnosis.

I was only 21 when I was diagnosed and I always thought it was an older person thing because I knew nothing about it, to be honest with you. I thought it was from the age of 40 on.



Shelby was diagnosed in 2020, she received her diagnosis alone in the hospital as was the protocol during this time owing to Covid.



They came in and were like You have MS and I was sitting there thinking oh my God I cant have that Im too young there's no way, It must be something else. Even though I was 21 all I wanted was for my Mam to come and help me.



Shelby at that time was unable to walk due to the flare-up that had led to her being diagnosed. Before the diagnosis, she had received many different answers as to what may be wrong with her . It wasn't until she received an MRI after temporarily losing the use of her legs at 21 that it was revealed to be Multiple Sclerosis.

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I think the initial panic was what is my life going to be like recalls Shelby, I thought, oh my god I'm never going to be able to walk again because when I was diagnosed I was in a wheelchair at the time.



I was feeling bits of everything I suppose, anger, I was upset, I had a feeling of loneliness. I don't know if I was angry at the diagnosis or if I was angry that nobody could be there with me.



Multiple Sclerosis is a difficult case to diagnose, it can only be done via MRI and no one shows the same symptoms.



This is because of the lesions that develop with MS. These lesions can appear anywhere on the brain or the spinal cord and depending on where they are located, produce a new symptom each time.

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I started showing symptoms at 19, Shelby explains I had lost feeling in my feet as far up as my legs and they kept telling me it was diabetes because my grandad is a type one diabetic.



She lost feeling again after that however was told it was bad circulation but then began walking in what she described as a zigzag. This time she received an MRI.



After receiving her diagnosis Shelby has not let the disease get her down, she has graduated college, has learned to drive and now is a preschool teacher and while she can only work limited hours because of the MS she continues to persevere with positivity.



 I suppose there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As well I had to attend physio in the DPOL (Disabled People of Longford) in Longford and theyre amazing out there like theyre so good.

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You can sense this positivity as soon as you meet Shelby, and its clear this same energy is present in those around her.



My family is so supportive as well as my friends and my boyfriend, I am very lucky, if I need a rest they will be like 'go and rest'.



They know my situation and theyre very good, I dont think Id be anything if it werent for them,

One of Shelbys main struggles right now is her hopes to have a child.



The medication shes on right now is incredibly effective but unfortunately, you are not allowed to get pregnant on it  Shelby dreams of being a mother.



One of Shelbys biggest fears after her diagnosis was the possibility of not having a child.

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That was my main panic straight away.



Will I be able to have them?



She recalled, Because most people that I have been talking to since, that have MS, have already had their kids before their diagnosis.



Shelbys medication does not allow the user to get pregnant as it can be damaging to the baby.



For me to have kids in the future I am going to need to come off my medication which is putting me at risk of having a relapse.

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A relapse is particularly dangerous because, as she says herself what you lose in a relapse you do not get back.



Shelby is going to be speaking in schools this month as a part of the MS Readathon hosted by MS Ireland. The Readathon is the biggest event of MS Ireland's year and has been running for a whopping 37 years. Originally started by Roald Dahl the Readathon runs from November 1 until December 15.



Shelby is working on the Readathon with the MS ambassador and photographer Shelley Corcoran.



They responded so well to it, they were really interested in what was going on and I just think sometimes we don't give children credit, says Shelley.



We think they live in a little fairy world but we don't give them enough credit for being able to handle and being interested in more serious matters,

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When theyre getting sponsored and theyre reading their books, they know why theyre doing it and how theyre helping people I think.



Ava Battle, the CEO of MS Ireland also had a few words to say about the Readathon and its importance.



The MS Readathon is our flagship fundraiser in the year. Its our 37th Readathon which is fantastic.



The Readathon is really about children, young people, adults, parents, anyone who wants to take part really.



The funds that we raise through the Readathon help us to continue to provide services to over 10,000 people in Ireland living with MS.



These services range from stair lifts to physiotherapy.

See more here : www.msreadathon.ie
On Tuesday, the Byron Shire Council revealed there had been an increase in feral deer sightings in nearby areas.

The Byron Shire Council reports an increase in feral deer sightings near the Queensland border. Source: Invasive Species Council/Supplied

One of Australias most popular tourist towns is on edge as the countrys worst emerging pest species continues to creep into nearby areas. While the rapid spread of feral deer is a well-known problem, it is feared the destructive animal may set its sights on a new home  the idyllic Byron Shire.

NSWs Northern Rivers is one of the few areas where feral deer have yet to become established, however the number of pests are continuing to swell to its south and north across the border in Queensland.

On Tuesday, the Byron Shire Council revealed there had been an increase in sightings in the northern NSW region and it is working with neighbouring councils to raise resident awareness of the problem. Feral deer are such a problem in other parts of NSW and Australia. They cause massive environmental damage and pose a threat to agricultural land, Claudia Caliari, the councils Biodiversity Projects Officer, said in a statement.

They are also big animals, travelling in herds, and are so dangerous to drivers so we really need to work together to make sure we keep them out of this area. The ecology, behaviour, size, and impact of feral deer make their management a nightmare.

Feral deer are likely wandering across the border from Queensland, experts say. Source: Invasive Species Council/Supplied

Feral deer in Queensland spilling over NSW border

Queenslands significant feral deer population is likely to blame for the new threat, Invasive Species Council Advocacy Manager Reece Pianta told Yahoo News Australia on Wednesday.

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A key problem is that we dont have a strong handle on the size of the deer problem, the number of deer that there are in South East Queensland, and a lot of these are spilling over the border because the deer doesnt know whether its in the Gold Coast or Tweed Shire or NSW or Queensland, he said.

So its a cross-border problem and we think that there needs to be a greater emphasis from the Queensland government on coordinating and managing the deer problem on the northern side of the border to stop it spreading, and stop the growth of deer numbers into northern NSW.

Last week, the Gold Coast City Council increased its deer control budget to $300,000 amid fears its facing an explosion of pests.

Pests reduce water quality, carry diseases, pose road threat

Mr Pianta said the kinds of deer that are spreading from Queensland  which can weigh hundreds of kilograms  cause an array of issues.

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They reduce the water quality in creeks and wetlands, he said, explaining they often submerge themselves in bodies of water to cool off, therefore degrading them.

Theyll go through an area in dry weather and essentially graze on all the grasses, shrubs and trees that they can get, which takes away food that kangaroo and wallaby populations usually will try and survive on, he added.

Feral deer severely damage the environment, including degrading water quality in creeks and rivers. Source: Invasive Species Council/Supplied

They damage fences. They are a problem for motorists, causing collisions on roads  sometimes they can be life-threatening collisions because some of the deer we have in Australia are very, very big deer, and they can spread disease and parasites to agricultural livestock.

In an attempt to save its lush environment, the Byron Shire Council is hosting a workshop to educate residents on the signs of deer activity and how to report sightings.

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In most states and territories, deer are a protected species, so culling them has not been an option. However, NSW changed its regulations in 2015 to allow for deer to be hunted on private land while controlled government-led programmes have been introduced to help maintain the growing populations in open areas.

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Gardai suspect brazen criminals who stole a Toyota jeep, trailer and power tools during a daring overnight farm robbery in county Longford used the vehicle 24-hours later to steal a four wheeled loader from a farmyard in county Monaghan.



A major investigation is underway to help find the brazen criminals who stole a jeep, trailer and power tools during a daring overnight farm robbery in county Longford.



Gardai have launched an investigation following the theft which occurred from a farm yard in Clonterm, Longford on Friday night, November 1 or in the early hours of Saturday morning, November 2.

Among the items stolen were a Dublin registered silver Toyota Land Cruiser jeep, a yellow Chieftain double axle plant trailer and a Honda Gator.

Also Read: Longford woman highlights living with MS and MS Readathon

The raiders also got away with a large amount of DeWalt power tools, including a consaw, while cattle and horse dosing material was also stolen.



The diesel tank on the farm was also drained by the brazen thieves before they fled the scene.

Garda Crime Prevention Officer for Roscommon Longford, Sergeant Damien Bartley said there is much concern in the local community following the incident.

He outlined that local businesses had provided CCTV footage to investigating Gardai in a bid to track down the criminals.

Footage from CCTV located close to the farm appears to show the stolen jeep and trailer passing at approximately 2:45am on Saturday morning.

Also Read: PICTURES | Stellar line up of speakers and lots of networking at Longford business lunch gig

Just 24-hours later at 2.30am on Sunday, November 3rd Gardai received a call that a shed was broken into at Ford Johnson, Emyvale.



During the course of the break-in a Mustang Skid Steer was stolen and it was taken away on a trailer which was towed by a Toyota Land Cruiser that Gardai suspect was stolen from Longford.



Sgt Bartley is urging anyone that may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area or who may be offered the stolen items for sale to come forward.

Also Read: Longford Pride: Clonbalt Woods honoured at prestigious Pride of Place community awards

"There is an extensive investigation going on with our Garda colleagues in Monaghan-Cavan to try and establish facts and verify exactly what happened and who was involved and the vehicles used and that process is ongoing," he added.



It is understood CCTV was also obtained from the farm in county Monaghan and that is being studied and assessed.



Any person with information about the theft is asked to contact Longford Garda Station on 043 335 0570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.



Separately, Gardai arrested three males in Dublin on Tuesday part of an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity and burglaries in Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath and Sligo.



The operation involved the search of four properties in the Dublin where North Western Region personnel were assisted by members from the Armed Support Unit, DMR West and DMR South along with DMR Regional support and members from Athlone.

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It was part of an investigation into 29 burglaries in counties Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath and Sligo.



During the course of the searches, property was seized which is believed to be the proceeds of organised criminal activity, which included a Rolex watch, designer handbags and shoes and substantial amounts of cash.



Other property recovered included mobile phones, multiple car keys and log books of vehicles.

Three men, aged 26, 21 and a juvenile, were arrested and taken to Garda stations in the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division, where they are being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.
Abbeyshrule's dominance of the county's TidyTowns awards haul continued last Friday (November 1) when they were crowned the county winner at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony in Croke Park.



The labours of the last 12 months saw the committee rewarded with an increase of eleven marks on their 2023 performance.

Abbeyshrule were elevated to 384 marks, just two behind the 2024 National Award Winner Ballinacollig and one point off Ballinahown, Blackrock and Westport, the Tidiest Village, Tidiest Small Town and Tidiest Large Town winners, respectively.



Longford town continues to vie for that top spot, but took home both a gold medal and a highly commended award from the judging panel. Drumlish, Newtowncashel and Tarmonbarry all received bronze medals.

Also Read: Man pleads guilty to 'serious assault' that left then-girlfriend with broken ribs and eye socket

Abbeyshrule, the 2012 National Award Winners, have maintained a particularly high standard as committee chair Philip Butler explained: There's a lot of work to it, he said, It all stems from some good advice we got from a man from Cork, Frank Donaldson.



Back in 2008 Longford County Council invited the Town Planner and Tourism and Heritage consultant to give a talk to local Tidy Towns groups.



After that we hired him and he did a magical job. He made everything look simple. He gave us great advice and helped us develop a three-year plan, Philip recalls, Every year we were moving on different projects. Lo and behold, when 2012 came, he was absolutely spot on.



The Abbeyshrule team has between 10 to 20 volunteers actively participating in projects. There's a tremendous amount of dedication involved.



There's a fierce commitment. Every year we know the standard we have to get to. That covers everything from form filling, to planning to picking up litter, Philip tells.

Also read: Tributes paid as young Cork boy dies from sudden brain aneurysm on holidays on France

The Abbeyshrule TidyTowns team captain says the emergence of new groups is a positive thing: It is always brilliant to see new faces coming through. It is great to see Drumlish getting the bronze medal, because they've been beavering away equally as hard as ourselves down through the years.



Philip highlighted the role of the local authority in the Abbeyshrule success: Longford County Council, the county engineers and Paddy Mahon have been an absolute and utter pleasure to work with. They're so good at reaching out.



As county first place and gold medal winners Abbeyshrule will receive 1,000 and 900.



Longford town built on last year's success and their 374 marks saw them clinch second place in County Longford and also secure a Gold Medal. In 2023, Longford finished 19 marks behind the overall winners - this year the gap was down to 12 marks.



Incredibly, inside three years, the dedicated Longford TidyTowns committee has seen their marks increase by 39. They were award 357 marks in 2023 and jumped by 17 marks inside twelve months which represented a massive improvement.

Also Read: PICTURES | Stellar line up of speakers and lots of networking at Longford business lunch gig

Michael Keenan of the Longford Town TidyTowns committee gave an insight to the significance of the achievement: When the gang were leaving Croke Park there on Friday, one of the adjudicators said it's extremely rare for any town in Ireland to move from silver to gold in the space of one year. To have moved from bronze to gold in the space of 24 months, is an even rarer achievement.



The result is the end product of a lot of hard work, a lot of people pitching in. One feature of the Longford group is the number of new Irish people out and about in high viz vests working on maintaining the town: I'd say nearly one-third of the volunteers are new residents.



We met up on Saturday and they were so pleased about how well we did, Michael told the Leader.



Longford's steady progress is incremental: When we started out people laughed at us, I said our ambition over 20 years ago was to win the overall title. I still have that ambition.

Also Read: Longford Pride: Clonbalt Woods honoured at prestigious Pride of Place community awards

Michael believes the TidyTowns result has wide ranging benefits: The town used to get some negative coverage. What pleases me most is that people of Longford Town and Longford County can now talk very positively and talk with pride about our town, which was always a good town. But you always have the minority talking it down.



As County Second and Gold Medal winners Longford TidyTowns will receive 800 and 900.



Newtowncashel's 371 marks (an increase of 10 on the 2023 score) secured the county third place slot and along with Drumlish, on 367 marks, were awarded bronze medals. In their comments the judges said: It was absolutely wonderful and a major surprise to enter the quarry park to see the transformation of this area that you now own and manage. The sculptures were amazing.



Michael Casey Newtowncashel spoke of the delight of the volunteers: We are pleased with the judges comments and we could do much more if we had extra members. Our AGM will be coming up soon and anyone who would like to join and help will be most welcome.

Also Read: ALERT: Manhunt underway as pensioner is tied up in his home and large sum of money is stolen

The TidyTowns committee would like to thank all who helped them throughout the year to keep the village looking beautiful, especially our one CE worker.



Newtowncashel, as the county third and bronze medallists, will receive 500 and 400 for their achievements.

Annette Kane, Chair of Drumlish TidyTowns, was delighted with Friday's announcement: I am so pleased, because we didn't have the best year. We lost community workers and the weather was difficult.



The Drumlish TidyTowns Chair says the volunteers have seen the fruits of their labour: It's about sustainability. They were very impressed with our planning and involvement. We are very inclusive. There is a great integration of the people who now make up the community of Drumlish. We have a core of about 12 to 14 members, but when we put the call out for a Meitheal we could have up to 30.

Also Read: American Travel Agent walks in her ancestors footprints by renewing wedding vows in Longford

Drumlish TidyTowns will also receive 400.



Stonepark TidyTowns were chosen to receive an Endeavour Award and 500, while Tarmonbarry Village, who are marked in Roscommon, increased their markings this year by 11 to 367 and are now just 19 marks behind the national winners Ballincollig, Cork at 386 marks.
Four Longford projects are set to benefit from grants ranging from over 32,000 up to 122,000 awarded to organisations and community groups that have made proposals to improve community safety.



Longford Women's Link, two projects from Longford Local Community Safety Partnership and Foroige Longford are the recipients.



Justice Minister Helen McEntee confirmed the funding allocations of just over 3 million nationally last week were being distributed to 33 projects



Money seized from criminals by CAB to be invested in four Longford projects the fund is to allow the proceeds of crime, seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Siochana, to be directed into local community safety projects.



The four organisations which will benefit are Longford Womens Link (LWL), a local interagency response to the risk of domestic violence homicide in rural Ireland who are getting over 32,000.



LWL focuses on developing communication strategies and interagency Standard Operating Procedures to mitigate domestic violence risks in rural Ireland.

Also Read: Gardai on hunt for brazen criminals behind daring Longford farm raid

CEO Tara Farrell said they are very happy to receive 32,420 for their project - Longford Interagency Response To The Risk Of Domestic Violence Homicide In Rural Ireland from the Department of Justice Community Safety Fund



"We very much welcome this funding and the opportunity to continue our collaborative work with key agencies from across Longford and Westmeath," she said. "We would like to thank the Department of Justice and also Longford Community Safety Partnership for their support of this critical initiative which strengthens our collective efforts to ensure safety of women and children living with domestic violence."



The second organisation to benefit is Longford Local Community Safety Partnership.



Project Safer Horizons: Changing Perceptions and Empowering Communities in Longford - targets personal and community safety concerns in Longford through five projects, focusing on older adults, minority groups, and residents of disadvantaged areas with 122,000 in funding received.



Longford Local Community Safety Partnership also received 88,000 in funding for their Sport for Change: Building Safer Communities in Longford project.

Also Read: PICTURES | Stellar line up of speakers and lots of networking at Longford business lunch gig

That initiative emphasises sports, outdoor activities, and skill development to tackle anti-social behaviour and support disadvantaged communities.



Community Safety Coordinator Janine Bartley said they are thrilled to get the money and it will make a very positive difference.



The fourth organisation to receive funding is Foroige Longford Safe Futures and their 'Safe Futures' project, which aims to enhance community safety through the development of a youth focused programme that empowers young people.
Irelands leaders have congratulated Donald Trump as clinched the US presidential election.

Mr Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes required on Wednesday morning to be elected as the 47th President of the United States.

Irish premier Simon Harris and deputy premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin have pledged to work to maintain and strengthen the historic links between Ireland and the US.

In a statement the Taoiseach said: I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.

Ireland and the United States have deep and historical bonds of people, and we will work to make these even stronger in the years ahead.

Congratulations to US President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your victory. The people of the United States have spoken and Ireland will work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and our nations in the years ahead.  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) November 6, 2024

The world faces many challenges and needs leadership to meet them.

With the US and Irelands shared commitment to democracy and international law, we can, and will, tackle these challenges.

The Tanaiste said regular high-level political engagement with the new US administration and on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill will be a high priority for the Irish Government.

We look forward to working with him and his new administration in a constructive manner, as we did during his previous administration, he said.

I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on his election. We look forward to working with him and his administration in a constructive manner, as we did during his previous administration. Our relationship builds on the strong legacy of the last 100 years. pic.twitter.com/qwfEkEZO8e  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 6, 2024

This year marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States.

Irelands relationship with the United States draws its strength from our deep, historical people-to-people connections, the support of the US to peace on this Island, as well as our significant, and mutually beneficial, economic relationship.

As we prepare to engage with a new US administration, we do so building on the strong legacy of the last 100 years.

The high level of political bipartisan interest in Irish issues among US politicians and officials is, and will continue to be, invaluable.

Regular, high-level political engagement, both with the new US administration and on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill, will be a high priority for the Government.
The mother of the victim of an assault from Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes has said she was disgusted that Hayes was awarded an All Star, saying that the hurler's violent disorder incident had a profound effect on her son.

Speaking to Joe Duffy on RTE's Liveline, the mother of Cillian McCarthy, who was the victim of Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes violent disorder in 2019, said her world fell apart after the incident.

Her son suffered serious facial injuries, including a fractured eye socket during the incident in Limerick in 2019.

Mr Hayes was found guilty of violent disorder in December 2023 and was given a two-year suspended sentence in March of this year.

Mr Hayes was also told to pay Mr McCarthy 10,000 in compensation for the injuries he suffered.

Elaine McCarthy added that the incident impacted on the wider family and that her son Cillian McCarthy has been forgotten about in the media coverage.

The five-time All-Ireland winning hurler was recently awarded a GAA All Star and journalist Pat Nolan yesterday told RTEs Liveline that off-field behaviour was not discussed by the 12-person panel ahead of awarding nominations.

Nolan, a GAA journalist who was on the All Star judging panel, said there were suggestions among the panel in the aftermath that it should consider developing guidelines for how players are selected in the future.

In response to prompts by the host that Mr Hayes convictions were not raised before he was nominated for the award, Ms McCarthy said since when did convicted criminals become role models.

"His eye was put back into his head, his face was full of blood. I just went, oh my lord, what happened you?, she said.

Ms McCarthy described the effect of the assault on her son, saying he went from "enjoying life" to becoming "totally withdrawn, totally into himself, cross, which wouldnt be like Cillian".

The kicks that were put to Cillians head were ferocious. He was lying on the ground in the foetal position and covering his head asking them to stop. The more he asked them to stop, the more ferocious their kicks got.

Only for the gardai arriving on that night, Cillian may not be alive today.

READ NEXT - Donald Trump has been re-elected - What does his win mean for Ireland?
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: November 06 2024

Kadeem Lewis and a co-defendant robbed Jose Sanchez-Velasquez as he slept in his car, pulled him out of the vehicle, and fatally shot him.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Hempstead man was convicted for the November 2019 robbery and murder of a man who was sleeping in his car.

Kadeem Lewis, 31, was convicted today by a jury after a trial before Judge Robert Bogle of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony), Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony), and Robbery in the Second Degree (a C violent felony).

The trial began on October 8, 2024, and the jury deliberated for five days before delivering their verdict. The defendant is due back for sentencing on December 16, 2024, and faces a potential maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

Kadeem Lewis targeted a man asleep in his car, robbed him, and tragically ended Jose Sanchez-Velasquezs life in the process, DA Donnelly said. No one in Nassau County should ever have to fear theyll become the victim of a violent assault simply sitting in their vehicle. I thank the jury for their service and their decision to convict this dangerous defendant.

DA Donnelly said that on November 25, 2019, at approximately 2:19 a.m., Lewis and a co-defendant were walking around Hempstead looking for a house to burglarize. The two defendants encountered 33-year-old Jose Sanchez-Velasquez sleeping in the front seat of his vehicle with the engine running and the lights on.

Lewis approached the drivers side of the vehicle while his co-defendant opened the front passenger-side door and removed several cell phones. Lewis co-defendant then removed Sanchez-Velasquez from his vehicle. The victim screamed, and Lewis fired a single fatal gunshot into Sanchez-Velasquezs chest.

Lewis and his co-defendant then fled the scene.

Lewis dropped two of the cellphones taken from the victim in a neighboring backyard.

Approximately one month later, on December 21, 2019, Lewis was involved in an incident at a residence on Alan Street in Hempstead wearing a ski mask.

During the incident, Lewis fled the scene, dropping his cellphone inside the residence. Blocks away from the scene, police found a ski mask and a wallet that was taken from the Alan Street home.

DNA samples taken from the ski mask and the cellphones recovered near the scene of the murder were both a match to Lewis.

Lewis was arrested on February 6, 2020, by members of the Nassau County Police Department.
An IDF Humvee drives through areas of northern Gaza damaged in fighting over the last year. (Seth J. Frantzman, LWJ photo)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu removed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on November 5, shaking up Israeli politics in the midst of a multi-front war. Netanyahus decision came after months of tension with Gallant. I have decided today to remove the Defense Minister from his post. In his stead, I have decided to appoint Minister Israel Katz to this position, Netanyahu said on Tuesday evening.

The prime minister said that he had lost trust in Gallant. Even though such trust was present during the first months of the military campaign, and we had a very productive cooperation, during the past several months, this trust between myself and the Defense Minister has begun to crack, Netanyahu said. The two clashed over several important issues. Gallant had put a priority on returning the 101 hostages held in Gaza, as well as drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the army, even though they generally receive an exemption from military service. Gallant also wanted a commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas attack.

I salute Israels fallen troops and their families, our wounded veterans, the hostages and their families, all of the IDFs troops and security forces, Gallant wrote on social media in the wake of the announcement. Netanyahus removal of Gallant is a major decision after more than a year of war. Gallant had significant military experience and was known for advocating a military operation against Hezbollah soon after Hamass attack on October 7. This offensive eventually happened far later, beginning in mid-September 2024. The IDF is now fighting in southern Lebanon with four divisions.

The IDF also continues operations against Hamas in the northern Gaza neighborhood of Jabalya. IDF troops continue to operate in the Rafah area and have located hundreds of weapons, including mortars, RPG missiles, explosives, AK-47s, and more, eliminated terrorists, and dismantled terrorist infrastructure sites over the past day, the IDF said on November 5. Israeli forces in the neighborhood eliminated dozens of terrorists between November 4 and 5, the Israeli military added.

Israeli operations in Jabalya are led by the 162nd Division, tasked with clearing a dense urban area that includes a refugee camp established in 1948. That camp is now a warren of multi-story buildings that spreads over more than a kilometer. Around it, the Jabalya area stretches along low hills northeast of Gaza City.

During a visit to Jabalya on November 5, this correspondent spent a day with the IDFs Multidimensional Unit, established in 2020 and also called Refaim (Ghosts). The goal of this unit, which combines soldiers from multiple branches with experienced special forces personnel, is to blend new technology with special forces tactics. It uses new drones and unmanned M113 armored personal carriers, receiving new models and systems to test them on modern battlefields. The units overall objective is not just to employ new technology but also to improve its use so that larger conventional units, such as armored and infantry brigades, can close the circle faster to eliminate threats. For example, this might mean that an infantry unit that spots a potential terrorist threat doesnt need to wait as long to call in fire support or investigate to confirm more details about the danger. Instead, it can rely on rapidly deployed quadcopter drones and precision strikes to counter terrorists.

In Gaza, the Multidimensional Unit has been working with other elements of the 162nd Division in an urban area of Jabaliya. It coordinates closely with the 401st Armored Brigade, the Givati Infantry, and other units. Throughout the battle in Jabaliya over the last month, around 1,000 terrorists have been eliminated while hundreds of alleged terrorists have been detained, the IDF estimates. A significant challenge was separating civilians from the Hamas members among them. Around 55,000 civilians have evacuated Jabaliya since the operation began in early October.

Today, much of the fighting in Jabaliya appears to be winding down. The IDF has cleared nearby neighborhoods as well, such as Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun. A drive into the area revealed how areas north of Gaza City have been badly damaged from a year of war. No civilians were seen during this trip. The ability to move during the day in Humvees also illustrated how threats from snipers and other attacks appear to have reduced. In contrast, the last time I entered the same area in December 2023, we arrived with heavy Namer armored personnel carrierstracked, 60-ton vehicles.

The change in equipment reflects the changing nature of the enemy. Hamas has ceased to be able to coordinate attacks in northern Gaza, according to the commanders in the area. Instead, the group hides more closely behind civilians, and removing terrorists from the area is a complex and lengthy task. Using new technology, such as more unmanned vehicles, enables forces to scan areas and identify movement in a complex urban environment that consists of many damaged and destroyed multi-story buildings.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
For decades, councils and developers allowed hibernating wildlife to be buried under their houses.

Houses across western Sydney have been built on wetlands that were once home to turtles. Source: Western Sydney University/Getty/Turtle Rescues NSW

Australias population has grown by over 10 million people since 1990 creating an urgent need for new housing. Since then average house prices in Sydney have surged from $184,600 to $1.6 million, making development around population centres big business.

But in the rush to build, something truly gruesome occurred and it's been buried underneath hundreds of family homes along the citys growth corridors. Lying dead beneath the concrete slabs are the bodies of thousands of turtles, fish and eels.

Many of the animals had been living in farm dams and wetlands which were filled in, then paved over by developers. The situation was worse during winter because thats when turtles were hibernating underground, so they slowly suffocated beneath the construction.

Turtle expert Associate Professor Ricky Spencer doesnt think most people realise that not all councils or developers relocate fish and reptiles when they drain wetlands.

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In the past, anything that wasnt endangered was ignored. Ive seen some wetlands where theyd just put the earth over the top, the Western Sydney University ecologist told Yahoo News.

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Campbelltown, Blacktown and Botany are three of the suburbs where turtles have been buried under housing estates. Source: Google Earth/Airbus/Data SIO/NOAA

There have been minor changes to environmental protections in NSW since turtles were regularly buried en masse. Spencer believes many developers have reformed their ways in recent years due to societal expectations about wildlife.

Some of the worst losses in wetlands historically occurred around Sydneys west and southwest. And the problem of displacing turtles is far from over  the new western Sydney airport is being built on prime nesting grounds.

Related: 'Big error' discovered in Aussie citys new housing plan

Today, Spencer believes councils are better at integrating wetlands into developments. A major influence has been pressure from communities, and the mapping of turtle habitat by advocacy group 1 Million Turtles project.

Which suburbs have turtles buried underneath them?

Researchers have documented the destruction of wetlands in Blacktown, Campbelltown, Casula, Liverpool and Penrith during the 2000s and 2010s. But Kane Durrant, the principal ecologist at WILD Conservation, told Yahoo the problem stretches back much further. He's heard horror stories of turtles regularly being buried alive in the 1970s and 1980s in areas closer to the city centre like Botany in the southeast.

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Sydney used to be rich with wildlife. When you go to the Royal National Park, you see echidnas and snakes and possums and owls  that used to be the whole Sydney basin, he told Yahoo.

Now it's just restricted to those fringe areas. But now were cutting into them, so its death by 1000 cuts for our wildlife.

Turtles at housing sites (pictured) have been rescued by community groups and ecologists after dams were dewatered. Source: Turtle Rescues NSW

As farms across Sydneys southwest and west are purchased by developers and rezoned by government, Durrant is regularly called in to collect turtles from dams and creeks as they're drained.

Basically these animals are being displaced and it's our job to go in there and relocate them, he said.

Up until five or 10 years ago, they were regularly buried alive. It still happens from time to time. But now developers have to have an ecologist on site and we can take the animals to a safer place.

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How Aussies can avoid having their homes built on turtles

Simply moving the turtles to new waterbodies is not a sustainable solution, according to Durrant.

We regularly find anywhere from 25 to 50 turtles in a dam, and sometimes you get an outlier where well pull out 200 in a single dam, he said.

If we keep removing them as we develop the Sydney Basin, where do those thousands of turtles go?

Eastern long-neck turtles are one of the most common species in NSW. Source: Getty

Durrant believes the simple solution to the problem is retaining wetlands so they can continue to be enjoyed by wildlife, and make life more pleasant for the humans who move into the area.

We always suggest they put in a barbeque and a bike track around it, he said.

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We'd love to see some wetlands implemented into these new estates so we can sort of see people in native wildlife living alongside each other.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment?  Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
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As Lycoming County high school students begin to register for spring semester classes at Lycoming College through Early Warrior Dual Enrollment, the program is getting a $20,000 contribution from C&N.

C&N is committed to investing in local educational programs to champion a strong and prosperous community by creating more opportunities for children to thrive. The banks generous gift was made through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC), which offers businesses a credit to lower their tax liability through donations to educational enrichment initiatives such as Lycomings dual enrollment program.

When the opportunity to take dual enrollment classes at a prestigious liberal arts college came up, I knew it was perfect for me. Combined with credits I earned through AP testing, I plan to graduate with my bachelors degree in just three years.

Entering its second semester in Spring 2025, the Early Warrior Dual Enrollment program at Lycoming College welcomes local high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits while still in high school. And by getting a jumpstart on their college careers, students may be able to earn a college degree faster and save money on the total cost of a college degree.

When the opportunity to take dual enrollment classes at a prestigious liberal arts college came up, I knew it was perfect for me. Combined with credits I earned through AP testing, I plan to graduate with my bachelors degree in just three years, said Normandy Broaddus, dual-enrollment student at Lycoming College. I have been able to see what classes, education, and the environment will be like in college, and to be honest, its better than expected! Lycoming College is definitely on the list of schools I am applying to after high school.

Course enrollment runs from Nov. 11 through mid-December. Lycoming is offering spring semester STEM-related courses in biology and math, as well as courses in psychology, economics, English composition, political science, music, and theatre. Language courses include Spanish, French, German, and Latin. A full list can be found at www.lycoming.edu/dualenrollment.

At C&N, supporting education in our community is a cornerstone of our mission, and we are honored to partner with Lycoming College and their Early Warrior Dual Enrollment program, said Rachael Clark 08, C&Ns vice president and regional market leader. We recognize the importance of empowering young people with the resources they need to succeed and building a brighter future for them and for our entire community. Together, were investing in opportunity, growth, and a vibrant future.

Were grateful to C&N for this gift that will benefit many local high school students and serve as a catalyst for Lycomings ability to expand access for students in our community, said Chip Edmonds, executive vice president at Lycoming College. Were proud to be able to offer curricular enrichment that gives them the ability to learn alongside terrific students and from first-rate Lycoming College faculty members that will prepare them exceptionally well for their educational careers after high school.

As the faculty advisor for the Early Warrior program, I have one-on-one relationships with the high school students taking classes at Lycoming College, and I can say first-hand that this program is having a direct and positive impact on each enrolled student, said Amy Rogers, professor of education at Lycoming College. They are traveling to campus for classes, learning and working alongside college students, and being more thoughtful about their futures following high school graduation. They will continue to benefit from the Early Warrior Dual Enrollment program for years to come.

Early Warrior Dual Enrollment for Spring 2025 begins Nov. 11 and runs through Dec. 9. Contact admissions@lycoming.edu for more information.

C&N previously directed EITC funds to the Waterdale Environmental Education Center, bringing their EITC contributions to the College to $29,500 to date.
I cant help but smile as the internet erupts with anger. The reason this time? Apple has switched its Mac accessories from Lightning to USB-C and declined to take this opportunity to relocate the charging port on the Magic Mouse.

I like to imagine that Tim Cook and the gang were sitting in a meeting and someone said, Cant we just troll everyone and keep the charging port in exactly the same place? Whereupon Cook nodded his head in agreement and said in his mild Alabama tones, I think theyre going to love it.

Dont get me wrong, the Magic Mouses charging port is perhaps the silliest tech product decision since Philips tried to launch AmBX, a system that turned your desk into a maelstrom of cords, fans, speakers, and lights. But Apple chose not to correct this mistake, and I cant help but find this rather charming. The company that strives for perfection and quality simply shrugs at the worlds worst-placed charging port and tells us to get over it.

Unsurprisingly, this has not proved popular, and the internet is full of tech writers calling Apples decision into question. Tom Warren from The Verge wails Whyyyyyy on Twitter (now X). Marques Brownlee announced the move using the words I have bad news.

So whats the thinking? Is it really an attempt to troll us? My guess is that Apple considers charging ports to be a necessary evil and something that should be as invisible as possible. The fact is that a fully charged Magic Mouse lasts about a month, and just 10 minutes of charging will give you days of use. Is it so difficult to charge the mouse when its not in use?

For that matter, if Apple redesigned the Magic Mouse and put the charging port in plain sight, theres a decent chance that the internet would now be filled with loud complaints that They ruined the look! How does that saying go again? Damned if you do, damned if you dont.

And there you have Apples biggest problem. No matter what the company does, someone will always complain. That a product doesnt feature the absolute latest features, or that the placement of the charging port disturbs their aesthetic sense and now requires years of therapy to work through the trauma.

How many companies have created the perfect product that everyone likes? I cant think of a single one. We cant agree on anything. If Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in the Internet era, someone would be pounding away on their keyboard right now, complaining about the taste.

But its time for me to wind up this column. I cant work anymore, you see. I have to charge my Magic Mouse.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have both spoken at length about female voters  and one of the most famous votes from a woman is continuing to inspire many today.

The Susan B Anthony gravesite has particularly resonated with many voters this year. Source: AP

With Kamala Harris vying to become the first female US president, it is no surprise the gravestone of Susan B Anthony has become a focal point for many women leading up to Election Day.

Just like they did in 2016 when Hillary Clinton faced off against Donald Trump, thousands have turned up to the graveyard in the city of Rochester, NY over the last few weeks.

But for those unaccustomed with US history, you may be asking who is Susan B Anthony and why is she particularly significant this election? Well the Massachusetts-born woman is one of the US's most significant female activists in history and was the driving force behind the country's suffragette movement, which eventually led to women gaining voting rights in 1920, 14 years after her death.

She was famously arrested in 1872 when she broke the law by voting as a woman.

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It has become a tradition for voters to place 'I Voted Today!' stickers on her gravestone and voters say this year the practice is "even more special".

"This election is super important... this is a really important day and there's a lot weighing on today," one young woman voting for the first time said at the site. "I hope people understand just how much is at stake for the future."

Trump has struggled to connect with female voters this election and the Harris campaign has jumped on Trump's divisive remarks particularly around abortion in a bid to gain support from female voters at the ballot box.

There's little space left on the gravestone as thousands have visited the site. Source: AP

Republicans have 'a women problem', insider says

Abortion has been a major issue this year since a conservative majority on the Supreme Court struck down Roe v Wade, removing federal protections for abortions and making it a state issue. A number of abortion laws are also on state ballots today.

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If Trump loses, it could very well be women who cost him  something a Republican operative admitted to CNN last week. "Weve seen a women problem for all Republicans, up and down the ballot," they said. "It starts at the top."

US election 2024: When will Australia know who has won?

The latest ABC News/Ipsos national poll showed Trump trailing Harris among likely female voters by 14 points  a margin that seriously outpaces Trump's six point lead among men.

Speaking on ABC News Breakfast from Washington DC this morning, Dr Emma Shortis from the Australian Institute outlined the scenario Harris is banking on.

"If Harris wins, itll be off the back of young women's mobilisation and the mobilisation of African American woman in particular," she argued.

Due to the significance of the site, Anthony's home and museum this year became a location for early voting for the first time.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
There have been some positive signs for Trump early in the night, but the race is far from over.

Not one of the seven key swing states has been called  only states that were considered safely red or blue.

Right now, Trump is probably feeling good about the result in Florida: a 13-point victory (with more than 95 per cent of the precincts reporting) in which he beat his 2020 numbers across pretty much every county. The polls (on average) predicted a 6.5 per cent victory for Trump. So he doubled that margin on Election Day.

Trump is also overperforming in Virginia, where about two-thirds of the votes are in. Again, in county after county, his final 2024 numbers are significantly better than they were the last time around  and significantly better than the polls predicted.

But Trump is very unlikely to win Virginia, and he was widely expected to win Florida. So what about the places where things are still up for grabs?

In Georgia  the first swing state to close its polls  Trump has improved on his numbers in dozens of small, rural, very red counties... but Harris has improved on Joe Biden's 2020 results in many of the (much bigger) suburban and even exurban counties around Atlanta (in sharp contrast to the trends in Virginia). The big question is now whether Harris does better than expected with the last few waves of Election Day voters in the metro Atlanta area.

If she doesn't  and if she narrowly loses Georgia along with the other southern swing state, North Carolina  then all eyes will turn to the "blue wall" states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. In this scenario, Harris's most plausible remaining path to victory would be sweeping all three of them.

So far, Trump looks to be holding his own in the rural parts of the blue wall; Harris is holding her own in the big cities. The suburbs of Philadelphia, Detroit and Milwaukee will likely tip the scales one way or the other  and in doing so, they could decide the election.
Time and again on the campaign trail this year, now President-elect Donald Trump repeatdly disavowed Project 2025, a hard-right governing blueprint that would, among other things, eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, dismantle the civil service system and impose sweeping restrictions on abortion rights.

But in the hours after Trump won reelection on Tuesday, speculation swirled anew on how much, if any, of the blueprint drawn up by the conservative Heritage Foundation, with the assistance of former Trump administration officials and advisers, he might enact once hes in the White House.

Yet from economics, immigration and education policy to civil rights and foreign affairs, there are common ideas and shared ideology between Project 2025 and Trumps outline for another term  from his official Agenda 47 slate, the Republican platform he personally approved and his other statements, The Associated Press reported.

There are also differences: Project 2025 offers more particulars on some issues than the former president, according to the wire service.

Heres a look at whats in the plan. And why it matters to Massachusetts.

The end of NOAA:

The plan calls for breaking up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, whose mandate includes the National Weather Service and those forecasts so familiar to evening news viewers.

The Project 2025 plan calls for fully commercial[izing] the National Weather Services forecasting operations, effectively putting an end to the agencys free forecasts, in favor of those offered by such private companies as AccuWeather.

In a July 10 statement, AccuWeather CEO Steven R. Smith said the forecasting the company does not agree with the view, and AccuWeather has not suggested, that the National Weather Service (NWS) should fully commercialize its operations.

The authors of Project 2025 used us as an example of forecasts and warnings provided by private sector companies without the knowledge or permission of AccuWeather, he continued.

The National Marine Fisheries Service, which is charged with the management, conservation and protection of living marine resources within about 200 miles of the U.S. coast, is also part of the agency.

Its work has helped sustain New Englands fishing grounds. The Project 2025 plan calls for streamlining the services functions with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which focuses on freshwater species.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod works directly with NOAA on several efforts and has relied on the agency for funding its scientific work.

Cutting the U.S. Department of Education:

The Project 2025 agenda calls for dramatic changes to the nations public education system and would cut federally funded early childhood services such as Head Start, according to an analysis by The Washington Post.

On the campaign trail this year Trump called for shuttering the U.S. Department of Education, a longstanding goal of his.

I say it all the time, Im dying to get back to do this. We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education, he said during a rally in Wisconsin in September, according to CNN.

The Head Start program benefits more than 11,000 children from low-income families across Massachusetts, State House News Service reported in February.

The federal program, which is supplemented by state money, also offers services to children in foster care and those who are experiencing homelessness, the wire service reported.

The state dedicated about $9.6 million to the program in 2019, compared to $17.5 million this year, MassLive previously reported. Advocates have pressed for additional state funding in the budget for the fiscal year that started on July 1.

For the sake of American children, Congress should shutter [the department] and return control of education to the states, the document asserts.

Changes to higher education

The document calls for sweeping overhauls of the nations higher education system, from protecting the rights of conservative speakers on campus to changing the accreditation system.

Rather than continuing to buttress a higher education establishment captured by woke diversicrats and a de facto monopoly enforced by the federal accreditation cartel, federal postsecondary education policy should prepare students for jobs in the dynamic economy, nurture institutional diversity and expose schools to greater market forces, the documents authors wrote.

Such changes, if they ever were enacted, would have an impact on a state like this. because were so education industry reliant, Ray La Raja, UMass Amherst political science professor, said.

The agenda also calls for dramatically restructuring how the government regulates student loans and grants, arguing that the next administration should completely reverse the student loan federalization of 2010, and calls for [spinning] off the [Office of Federal Student Aid] and its student loan obligations to a new government corporation with professional governance and management.

The document also asserts that student loans and grants should ultimately be restored to the private sector, a move that, if enacted, could potentially impact tens of thousands of past and current student borrowers statewide.

Immigration reform:

The document starts by asserting that bureaucrats at the Department of Homeland Security, following the lead of a feckless [administration], order border and immigration enforcement agencies to help migrants criminally enter our country with impunity.

In Massachusetts, the states Right to Shelter law obligates the commonwealth to provide services to anyone who asks for them. Right now, about half the families in the states emergency shelter system are permanent Massachusetts residents, according to the Healey administration.

Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, joined by her allies in the state Legislature, repeatedly has called on the federal government to step up its assistance to state governments contending with the social and financial strains of immigration.

The Project 2025 document asserts that illegal immigration should be ended, not mitigated, the border sealed, not reprioritized.

The agenda also calls for using the U.S. military to deport millions of people  including those in Massachusetts  who are in the country illegally.

Trump, on the campaign trail, vowed mass deportations of people who are in the country illegally, chilling advocates for the undocumented.

Such a move would decrease the household incomes in mixed-status families by about 50%, and punch other holes in the economy, including a $4.7 trillion reduction in the nations GDP over a decade, according to at least one analysis.

Abortion rights and abortion access

On the campaign, Trump said he would veto a nationwide abortion ban if one reached his desk, netting him deep skepticism from reproductive rights advocates and Democrats

The Project 2025 document calls for conservatives to ardently ... pursue pro-life and pro-family policies while recognizing the many women who find themselves in immensely difficult and often tragic situations.

Alternative options to abortion, especially adoption, should receive federal and state support, the document continues. In summary, the next President has a moral responsibility to lead the nation in restoring a culture of life in America again.

While it does not call for a nationwide abortion ban, the agenda would make abortions and abortion medication more difficult to obtain.

Despite the U.S. Supreme Courts toppling of Roe v. Wade two years ago, abortion remains safe and legal in Massachusetts and pregnant people can obtain abortion medication.

The Project 2025 agenda calls for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reverse its approval of chemical abortion drugs because the politicized approval process was illegal from the start.

It also calls for the agency to stop promoting or approving mail-order abortions in violation of long-standing federal laws that prohibit the mailing and interstate carriage of abortion drugs, which could impact Massachusetts residents.
WORCESTER  Incumbent U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, easily won re-election in the 2nd Congressional District Tuesday.

This is not my victory, it is yours, McGovern said thanking his campaign staff at an event in Worcester.

McGovern was ahead, 149,963 votes to independent candidate Cornelius Sheas 65,787 votes, or 69.4% to 30.6%, with about 59.9 percent of the votes counted. The Associated Press declared McGovern the winner at 10:47 p.m.

Shea said his shoestring campaign in a heavily Democratic district was a success.

Its good to give people a choice. I know that Massachusetts is pretty much all Democrat. Thats fine.

But Shea expressed frustration that five of Massachusetts nine House members ran unopposed.

Itll be a 15th term for the 64-year-old McGovern, who was first elected to the House in 1996.

People are saying theyre sick of politicians like Trump who make us point fingers at each other, McGovern said Tuesday in a social media post. They want leaders that lift people up, not tear people down.

The win puts McGovern in line to reclaim the chairmanship of the Rules Committee if the Democrats retake the House as pollsters expect. Its a powerful position controlling when and if any piece of legislation goes to a vote.

There has also been speculation that Vice President Kamala Harris, if elected, would tap McGovern for the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture based on his signature issues of fighting family hunger and food insecurity with a focus on local agriculture.

Shea is a Springfield native and Marine veteran now living in Shrewsbury. For Shea, the campaign was about how liberal Democrats like McGovern no longer represent the working class. He criticized McGovern and the Democrats on immigration, spending policies and said the party is moving too fast on adoption of electric vehicles.

Tuesday, McGovern greeted voters across his district in Northampton, Amherst, Greenfield, Leominster, Sterling, Shrewsbury, Ashland and Worcester.
The upper floor of the Nash Bar and Stage on Tremont Street in Boston erupted into applause when the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, John Deaton, took the stage to give his concession speech.

Deaton, 57, lost his race to unseat Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who had been elected to a third term.

Im disappointed in the results, Deaton he told the crowd. Im a competitive guy, Id liked this to be more competitive.

Unofficial tallies showed Warren, of Cambridge, taking 60.3% of the vote to Deatons 39.8% shortly before 11 p.m.

An attorney from Swansea, Deaton had been a long shot to defeat Warren.

He ran a campaign that highlighted his outsider status as someone trying to shake up the system and tried to paint Warren as an elite Washington politician who fights for the wealthy.

His daughter, Olivia Deaton, introduced her father to the stage.

She told the crowd that at first, she wasnt sure about her father running for Senate but said he would have made a great senator if elected. S

She described herself as the furthest thing from a Republican. But Olivia Deaton said her father would have taken care of everyone in Massachusetts without ever expecting anything in return.

If that doesnt tell you the type of man my dad is, I dont know what will, Olivia Deaton said.

During his concession speech, Deaton described his campaign as an uphill battle in a state he called incumbent friendly.

Speaking to reporters, he said that Massachusetts needs a strong and smart Republican Party to challenge the longstanding tradition of Democrats winning most races.

Everyone wants to know, are you a Donald Trump Republican or a Charlie Baker Republican? I am a John Deaton Republican, he said.

Before his concession speech, Deaton called Warren to express his congratulations and offered any help he could give on policy issues.

I just called Senator Warren and congratulated her on her victory and I said to her, not suggesting it would happen but as my senator if there was something that you think I could be helpful with, for example, womens reproductive rights or issues we agree upon and we agree on the same path, call me and I wouldnt hesitate to offer my assistance, Deaton said.

Deaton also said that he wanted to see less division in Washington D.C. among both political parties, adding that he hoped the presidential election winner  regardless of the candidate- would win by a decisive margin so that there would not be any contesting of the results.

He also said he wanted to see rhetoric from both parties toned down  saying that those who voted for former President Donald Trump were not racist and those voting for Vice President Kamala Harris were not Marxists.

He also said that he would consider stepping back into the political scene. But for now, he wants to focus on his family.

As the speech ended, the mood in the bar was one of disappointment combined with pride among Deaton and his supporters.

Many wanted him to beat Warren and hoped he would change what they felt was a broken status quo.

Its too sad, said Denise Dunn. But were a blue state, we dont change our colors.

John Briggs, 63, said that this was the first time he had been a part of a campaign and held out signs for Deaton in the lead-up to election day.

While disappointed with Deatons loss, he expressed interest in working on another campaign again.

I got into this to try and find a way to get Elizabeth Warren out and it didnt happen, Briggs told MassLive. We worked kind of hard at this.
Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect the time of the speech based on the latest reporting.

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to address the nation Wednesday evening to officially concede the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump.

Harris is expected to speak at Howard University in Washington, D.C., a campaign official told NBC News.

The speech will take place at 4 p.m., according to a report by The New York Times.

Trump surged to victory Wednesday morning by winning enough votes in key swing states, yet Harris has yet to speak or concede.

Harris canceled her expected election night appearance at Howard University, her alma mater, as Trump made gains overnight.

By winning key battleground states, such as Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Wisconsin, Trump secured a second presidency.

Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that as of Wednesday morning, neither Harris nor President Joe Biden had called Trump to congratulate him, NBC Washington reported.

I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president, Trump told throngs of cheering supporters in Florida even before his victory was confirmed, NJ.com reported.
A third person charged in connection with a high-end brothel network that catered to the rich and powerful in both Massachusetts and Virginia is set to plead guilty next month, according to federal court filings.

James Lee, of Torrance, California, is expected to enter the guilty plea on Dec. 18 during a hearing in federal court in Boston.

Two other defendants in the high-profile case have pleaded guilty, including Han Lee, who prosecutors described as the brothel networks ringleader. Junmyung Lee, 30, of Dedham, the networks booker, pleaded guilty late last month.

James Lee is charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit, persuade, induce and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution and money laundering conspiracy.

Elected and military officials, security-cleared government officials, executives from high-tech and pharmaceutical companies, doctors, professors, attorneys, scientists and accountants, among others made up the list of commercial buyers whom officials believe paid for sex with women at the brothels.

The customers found the women through two main online platforms: a site called bostontopten10.com, and another named browneyesgirlsva.blog, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors have not publicly named any of the buyers and they have not been charged. Acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Josh Levy has said prosecutors are committed to holding accountable both those who ran the scheme and those who fueled the demand.

Some of the buyers have appealed to the highest court in Massachusetts in a bid to have their names remain private.

False advertisements for nude Asian models for professional photography appointments at upscale studios in Boston or Virginia were posted by the defendants, Levy said, along with specific information on the womens physical attributes, such as height, weight and breast size. The ads also showed nude or semi-nude pictures of the women.

Han Lee recruited women and maintained the websites and brothels, according to authorities, who said she paid Junmyung Lee, who was one of her employees, between $6,000 and $8,000 in cash per month in exchange for his work booking appointments for the buyers and bringing women to the brothels.

The operators raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars through the network, where men paid from approximately $350 to upwards of $600 per hour depending on the services, according to prosecutors.

Officials say Han Lee concealed more than $1 million in proceeds from the ring by converting the cash into money orders, among other things, to make it look legitimate.

Lee established house rules for sex workers at the brothels, which included, No laundry after 9 p.m. Always be mindful of your neighbors when you open and close the door. Be careful when you close the door. Turn on the TV in the living room. These days, never people work home a lot, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.

More rules included turning on music while working, being careful with cigarettes, not going outside with heavy makeup, being mindful of using the heater when working ... in winter, no red lights or other colored lights in front of the door and never talk on the phone in the hallway of the apartment. Many Koreans live here too these days.

Authorities seized cash, ledgers detailing the activities of the brothels and phones believed to be used to communicate with the sex customers from their apartments, according to court papers.

The agent at Lees home also found items indicative of her lavish and extravagant spending habits, including luxury shoes and bags, investigators said.

Each website described a verification process that interested sex buyers undertook to be eligible for appointment bookings, including requiring clients to complete a form providing their full names, email addresses, phone numbers, employers and references if they had one, authorities said.

The defendants also kept local brothel phone numbers to communicate with customers; sent them a menu of available options at the brothel, including the women and sexual services available and the hourly rate; and texted customers directions to the brothels location, investigators said.

Material from the Associated Press and previous MassLive reporting was used in this report.
Marijuana legalization didnt have a great night on Tuesday after many gains in previous elections.

Going into the election, 24 U.S. states had legalized recreational use of cannabis. On Tuesday, voters in Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota were asked to hand down judgement on whether their states would join the ranks. Depending on the results, it was possible that more than half of U.S. states could legalize the drug by elections end.

Florida voters defeated an effort to legalize recreational cannabis in the Sunshine State by nixing Amendment 3.

The constitutional amendment, which was opposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis but supported by former President Donald Trump, required 60% approval to pass and didnt reach the vote threshold.

Supporters of Amendment 3, namely Trulieve, the states largest medical marijuana operator, funneled more than $100 million into the campaign, the most money spent on a ballot question in U.S. history, NPR reported.

As of Wednesday morning, the recreational ballot measures in North Dakota and South Dakota havent been called. Preliminary vote tallies show neither state is likely to prevail in legalization.

Medical marijuana was on the ballot in Nebraska and Arkansas.

In Nebraska, voters said yes to legalizing medical cannabis, but the vote ultimately depends on the outcome of legal challenges currently playing out in Lancaster County District Court, according to the Nebraska Examiner.

Meanwhile, in Arkansas, though voters had an expansion of medical marijuana on their ballots Tuesday, just two weeks ago, the state Supreme Court ruled the measure didnt fully explain what it would do, and they essentially tossed the initiative, AP reported. Election officials were instructed not to count any votes related to it.

Mass. voters kill psychedelics ballot question

Recreational marijuana is already legal in Massachusetts, but voters were asked about another substance on Tuesday: psychedelics.

Bay State residents voted down a ballot question that would have legalized and regulated some natural psychedelic drugs for purchase and use in specific settings.

Ballot question 4 would have enacted a new law governing five psychedelic substances found in mushrooms and plants: psilocybin and psilocin  the active ingredients in magic mushrooms, mescaline  the active ingredient in peyote, dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and ibogaine.

As of 7 a.m. Wednesday with 88% of the vote counted, the measure received roughly 57% no votes to 43% yes votes, unofficial tallies showed.

Reporter Susannah Sudborough contributed to this story.
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued a Level 3 travel advisory for Cuba on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The advisory states that U.S. tourists should reconsider visiting the popular Caribbean country because of Hurricane Rafael. Any non-emergency U.S. direct-hire employees, their family members or U.S. citizens currently in Cuba should leave immediately, according to DOS.

U.S. citizens in Cuba who need immediate emergency services should contact local authorities, the advisory reads.

Tropical Storm Rafael strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported at 8:15 p.m., as it swirled past the Cayman Islands and chugged toward western Cuba.

The storm was located 20 miles southeast of Little Cayman in the Cayman Islands on Tuesday morning. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and was moving northwest at 15 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami told the outlet that it expected steady to rapid intensification from Rafael over the next 24 to 36 hours.

Those who still choose to travel to Cuba should take the following precautions:

If you decide to travel to Cuba:

Follow the instructions of local civil defense authorities and monitor local media for developments

Remain current on weather, road, and water conditions through local and U.S. sources, such as the National Hurricane Center

Seek secure shelter

Check with airlines for flight changes

Inform friends and loved ones about their location

More information about traveling to Cuba can be found on the countrys information page on the DOS website.
A man was shot and killed on Michigan Avenue in Dorchester Tuesday night, according to Boston Police.

Boston police responded to a ShotSpotter activation at 15 Michigan Ave. in Dorchester around 8:03 p.m. Tuesday. Officers found a man with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Boston Police Deputy Superintendent Paul McLaughlin told reporters during a brief press conference.

No arrests have been made.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden urged members of the community to come forward to aid in the investigation, which he said is still in its early stages.

One homicide in this city is one too many, plain and simple, Hayden told reporters. Whats happened here tonight is another act of completely census violence, and we wont rest until we do the best we can to solve this and other cases and apprehend individuals.

We just got to continue to keep doing the work that we need to do to keep this city safe, he added.

Police encouraged anyone with information to call the department at 617-343-4470. Anonymous tips can be submitted via text at 1-800-494-TIPS.
Incumbent Democratic state Rep. Jerry Parisella is running for reelection to the Massachusetts House of Representatives 6th Essex District. Also vying for the position is Republican Ty Vitale.

Parisella said he has lived his life based on service  joining the military, becoming a community volunteer and serving as a state representative.

Parisella also worked as an attorney at a private practice, in city roles in Salem and Beverly and as a reporter at the Salem Evening News, according to his website .

His top priorities are supporting small businesses, bringing resources back to public schools, fighting climate change, providing services to our veterans and defending the right to quality, affordable health care, according to his website.

Vitale is running on a platform that emphasizes freedom of speech and religion, the right to assemble and the Second Amendment, according to his website .

The Second Amendment should be protected as long as there are background checks, though it should also be exercised with wisdom and caution, he said on his website.

He also emphasizes faith as the moral backbone of the country, stating that Christians shouldnt be treated as a hate group and that people should stand against antisemitism.

He said he leads with common sense and by upholding the Constitution, according to his website.

Eupilo Rick Marciano, an unenrolled candidate, formerly ran for Beverly City Council , according to local press accounts.

He was born in Beverly and grew up in Leominster, he told the Herald Citizen newspaper in 2021. He joined the Army after graduating from Leominster High School, retiring as a Special Forces Engineer, he told the newspaper.
Democrat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Cambridge won a third term, defeating Republican John Deaton, an attorney and political newcomer, from Swansea.

The Associated Press called the race for Warren at 8 p.m. Unofficial returns showed Warren taking about 60% of the vote to Deatons 40% with 88% of the vote counted as of 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

Twelve years ago, you took a chance on a candidate who had never run for public office. You sent me to Washington to fight over people and middle-class families. And, time after time, we fought side by side, she said in a speech on Tuesday evening.

Warren, 75, was heavily favored to win the election against Deaton as a longstanding politician who is well-funded.

She won the U.S. Senate seat in 2012, becoming the first female U.S. senator from Massachusetts. She won reelection in 2018, defeating Republican state Rep. Geoff Diehl, the Massachusetts co-chair of Trumps 2016 campaign, and independent candidate Shiva Ayaddurai.

Warren ran for president in 2020 but later withdrew in March that year.

A former Harvard University law professor, she was the architect and advisor to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was established under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, according to Brittanica.

During her time in office, Warren called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, focused on bankruptcy and consumer protection issues and has been critical of Big Tech introducing a bill that calls for creation of a government agency to oversee the industry.

She has advocated for debt relief for students cheated by predatory, for-profit colleges, helped on legislation to double federal child care funding and put over $6 billion in federal funding toward fighting the opioid epidemic, according to her campaign website. She has also worked to secure funding for replacing the Sagamore and Bourne bridges on Cape Cod.

In the Senate, she sits on the upper chambers Banking, Finance, Aging and Armed Services committees.

Read more: The MassLive Interview: 5 takeaways with Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton

Meanwhile, Deaton, 57, was a newcomer to Massachusetts politics and was a long shot in his goal to unseat Warren. An attorney from Swansea and a former marine, Deaton was elected as the Republican nominee for Senate after defeating Robert Antonellis and Ian Cain in a three-way primary election on Sept. 3.

I just called Senator Warren and congratulated her on her victory and I said to her, not suggesting it would happen, but as my senator, if there was something that you think I could be helpful with, for example, womens reproductive rights or issues we agree upon and we agree on the same path, call me and I wouldnt hesitate to offer my assistance, Deaton said during his concession speech on Tuesday night.

Deaton has received endorsements from billionaire Mark Cuban, who supported Vice President Kamala Harris and Elon Musk, who supported former President Donald Trump.

Deatons campaign highlighted that he was an outsider trying to shake up the system and tried to paint Warren as an elite Washington politician who fights for the wealthy.

During a debate with Warren on WBZ-TV in Boston, Deaton told her, All of you suck in Congress. All of you, its a broken system.

His campaign has focused on issues such as immigration, where he touts his support for a bipartisan bill that died in Congress thanks to political pressure from former President Donald Trump. Deaton said he would have voted for the bill and took issue with Warren for voting against it in the Senate. He also criticized Trump for killing the bill.

On the issues of abortion and reproductive rights, Deaton criticized the Supreme Court for its decision Dobbs V. Jackson that overturned Roe V. Wade. He also said that he would have voted against a national abortion ban but would have also confirmed Neil Gorsuch, one of the justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, to the Supreme Court if he were in the Senate.
Western Australia is shaping up to see its deadliest year on the roads in a decade, experts say, calling for a major reduction in speed limits.

Almost 2000 roads could see speed limits reduced in Western Australia under a new proposed changes to be voted on next month. Source: Margaret River

Thousands of roads could soon see significant speed limit reductions under a new trial aimed at curbing the skyrocketing rate of road fatalities in one Australian state. If approved next month, the scheme would see the limit changed on almost 2000 roads, with a focus on regional areas.

In Western Australia, road fatalities soared in 2024. By mid-year, the state recorded 102 deaths on its roads, marking a substantial increase over previous years and suggesting that 2024 might be one of the most deadly years in a decade.

The state's regional roads are particularly dangerous, with up to 60 per cent of these deaths occurring outside metropolitan areas. It's a growing problem road authorities have scrambled to combat, and they say reducing speed limits around the state is a good start.

In December, the Shire of Augusta Margaret River and City of Busselton councils will vote on whether to reduce speed limits on 1800 roads between the two LGAs  550 in the Shire and 1250 roads in the City  which would take effect from early 2025. It's understood the first-of-its-kind trial would operate for three years to fully determine the success of the changes.

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The trail would operate in partnership between the two local governments and Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC), who heavily back the move. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, RAC General Manager External Relations Will Golsby said the trial would "measure the extent lower speed limits help save lives" and prevent serious injuries on local roads.

Western Australia and the Northern Territory are the only Australian jurdisictions where default speed limits are 110 kilometres an hour. Source: Getty

Data suggests speed limit reductions will save lives

Speed limit reductions would vary depending on the area, with limits in locations with high pedestrian activity  such as the Busselton and Augusta town centres, and residential streets across all townships  set to be decreased from 50 kilometres per hour to 40.

Sealed roads west of Bussell Highway with existing speed limits between 80km/h and 110km/h, from Wonnerup to Cape Leeuwin are proposed to be reduced to 70km/h and 80km/h. Roads through built-up areas, including the Bussell Highway through Busselton and Bayview Drive entering Gracetown with a current speed limit of 60km/h and 70km/h are proposed to drop to 50km/h and 60km/h.

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Golsby said there's "strong evidence from Australia and around the world" that speed limit reductions lead to a substantial decrease in road deaths and serious injuries. "According to the WA Road Safety Commission, speed continues to be a leading factor in WA road trauma," he told Yahoo.

"The South West region has experienced significant population growth and continues to be a popular destination to visit, which means there are more people using these roads than ever before.

"Between 2019 and 2023, 195 people were killed or seriously injured on roads in the City of Busselton and Shire of Augusta Margaret River. This represents one of the highest figures in regional WA."

The topic of speed reductions in WA is one that has gathered steam this year, with Yahoo News Australia earlier reporting on a previous pushback in August.

Road Safety expert Teresa Senserrick said Australia has fallen 'very far behind' other countries when it comes to modernising speed limits. Source: Getty/ABC

Experts push for change in Western Australia

WA Centre for Road Safety Research director Teresa Senserrick called for a decrease in the default speed on outback roads in the state, which is currently 110km/h  among the highest limits in the world. The West Aussie says she'd like to see that figure drop in WA first, but argues the rest of the country could benefit from reduced limits too.

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"When the country changed from miles per hour to kilometres per hour, all the states and territories rounded their default speed limit on rural roads to 100  except WA and the NT," she earlier told Yahoo.

"Modelling shows that the one decision has resulted in hundreds of lives lost, and thousands of injuries on our roads that could have been avoided."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
This story was updated at 10:40 a.m. to include a statement from opposers of Question 2.

Handing down judgment on a hotly debated ballot question Tuesday, voters decided to do away with the requirement that public school students must pass the 10th grade Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to graduate high school.

The Associated Press called a win for Question 2 at 3:51 a.m. At that point, with 89% of votes counted, the divide was 58.9% in favor and 41.1% opposed, unofficial tallies indicated.

Question 2 sought to eliminate the decades-long standardized test as a prerequisite to a high school diploma. It was backed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the largest teachers union in the state.

Tuesdays vote does not mean the MCAS tests wont continue being administered, rather the graduation requirement will cease.

Read more: English learners have some of the states lowest MCAS scores. But thats not the whole story.

In an early morning statement about the results from Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy said that "In passing Question 2, Massachusetts voters have proclaimed that they are ready to let teachers teach, and students learn, without the onerous effects of a high-stakes standardized test undermining the mission of public education: to prepare all students for future success as citizens, workers and creative, happy adults."

They called Tuesdays election a collective victory shared by every Massachusetts educator and public school student.

The requirement to pass the series of tests has been in place since 2003. It was first enacted as a tool to transform Massachusetts educational performance and create common graduation standards for all school districts.

Students must now pass 10th-grade MCAS tests in English language arts, math, and science to receive their high school diplomas. If they fail the test in 10th grade, they have four more chances to take ittwice in 11th grade and twice in 12th grade.

Today, of approximately 70,000 students in each graduating class, 96% have passed the MCAS.

According to data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, each year, about 700 students dont receive diplomas as a result of the MCAS alone.

Read more: How did your school score? Read the 2024 MCAS results here

Despite voters having their say, the referendum may not be set in stone just yet, based on recent comments from state officials.

In separate interviews, state House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka, both Democrats, floated the possibility of changing or repealing the MCAS ballot question.

As of Oct. 23, parties backing the repeal of the MCAS exam graduation requirement had raised a whopping $9.6 million, compared to the $2.1 million raised by those who oppose it, state records showed.

Deb McCarthy, a fifth-grade teacher in the Hull public schools, is one of the guiding hands behind the push to end the use of the 10th grade MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement (Screen Capture).screen capture

Supporters of repealing the graduation requirement contended the MCAS tests perpetuate inequities, particularly among special education and English language learner students.

The latter group has some of the lowest MCAS scores in the state.

In Acushnet, along the states South Coast, several parents had their say on Tuesday.

I dont believe that a unified test determines how smart somebody is or how successful theyll be in their lifetime, Ashley Reynolds, 40, said.

Darlene Boutin, 49, offered a similar sentiment.

I dont think children should be held to a standard of testing ... I think children learn on different waves and I dont think that the teachers should be held to a standard to teach them to pass a specific test at a certain rate, she told MassLive. I think it that takes the love and passion out of learning. And just because a child aces a test, that doesnt make them any more intelligent than a child that is not able to pass the test.

Gov. Maura Healey speaks at an Oct. 16 press conference in Roxbury for the No on 2 campaign aimed at preserving the MCAS graduation requirement. (SUBMITTED)The Westfield News

Meanwhile, those who support the graduation requirement, including a slew of public officials such as Gov. Maura Healey, state Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, Mariano and Spilka, warned that students would receive a watered-down education by not being held to high standards that, they feel, have helped make Massachusetts schools among the best in the country.

In a statement Wednesday morning, Ed Lambert, executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, said: Were disappointed in the outcome of ballot question 2, but we believe what voters are calling for is change in the current system not for the state to have no common graduation standard at all. A high school diploma must be meaningful in every community and students who earn one must be truly ready for the future. We must have a state standard that reflects high expectations for all students and not return to having 330+ different standards.

Lambert said opponents to Question 2 are now calling on state leaders to begin the process of creating a new, strengthened, uniform high school graduation standard that preserves high expectations and educational equity.

In the meantime, we must make sure to minimize the immediate impact on current students and consider how we might best protect their interests regarding their future readiness for success, he continued.

State officials have been watching MCAS results as a benchmark of COVID-19 learning loss recovery. Overall, the 2024 results were mixed, showing students have fallen further behind in English language arts  demonstrating a continued decline since the pandemic  but improved in math.

MassLive Politics Editor John L. Micek and Reporter Susannah Sudborough contributed to this story.
Ram is recalling almost 34,000 trucks due to a stability control issue that could increase the risk of a crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some Ram 1500 trucks may have issues with a damaged part that could cause the speed wheel sensor to malfunction. This malfunction can disarm the electronic stability control and increase the risk of a crash.

The approximately 33,777 affected models were produced between Oct. 13, 2023, and Aug. 11, 2024. However, Ram says that about 1% of vehicles are affected by the recall.

The automaker is currently notifying dealers and will send out recall notification letters by mid-December.

Ram dealers will inspect and fix the defect, replacing the bearing rings for free, if they are found to be damaged.

Those who have already paid to fix the problem are eligible for a reimbursement from the automaker, provided they have proof of payment.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Marcus Vaughn defeated Democratic challenger Kevin Kalkut late Tuesday in the 9th Norfolk District state House race.

Vaughn had amassed around 58% of the vote, while Kalkut got roughly 43% as of 11:35 p.m., the Associated Press reported.

The district represents Medfield Precincts 3, and 4; Millis, Precinct 1, Plainville, Precinct 5, Norfolk, Walpole and Wrentham.

Vaughn is a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights. He opposes the Modernizing Firearms Laws which address ghost guns, 3-D printed guns and the states Red Flag law, according to his website.

He also supports amending the states Right to Shelter Law, which guarantees housing to families experiencing homelessness. Vaughn said the law needs to prioritize seniors and veterans over migrants, according to his website.

The Republican lawmaker also supports growing small businesses, auditing the legislature and pouring more state dollars into Massachusetts public schools.

Kalkut previously challenged Vaughn in 2022.

Kalkut, a former Norfolk town selectman, ran on a campaign focused on more district funding, supporting reproductive rights, affordable child care, supporting unions and providing mental health support for people.

Prior material from MassLive was used in this article.
Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin said Wednesday that he is likely to appoint a receiver to oversee the operations of Bostons Elections Commission after several polling places in the city were left without ballots or a way to contact election officials.

During a press conference Wednesday, Galvin offered harsh criticism of the commission for what he described as egregious shortcomings in preparing for Tuesdays elections.

Despite being provided hundreds of thousands of ballots, the commission did not provide some polling places in remote areas of the city like Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, and West Roxbury with enough ballots to satisfy turnout.

When poll workers attempted to reach the commission to request more ballots, they could not, according to Galvin.

You cannot operate an election without answering the phone in the election department yet thats what they tried to do yesterday, he said. This is a self-inflicted wound.

The lack of ballots at polling places forced election officials to send new ballots to polling locations in police cars with their lights and sirens activated to maneuver around evening traffic.

His office was also forced to send staff to the elections commission to ensure poll workers could get ballots.

Thats just not the way we run elections in Massachusetts, Galvin said.

Galvin said other municipalities with large turnout, like Cambridge and Worcester, did not face the same issues.

In a letter earlier Wednesday, Galvin said his office would open an investigation into the failings of the commission on Tuesday.

That investigation will likely end with his office appointing a receiver to oversee operations for an indefinite period until potential future issues are resolved.

Galvin noted that he had taken similar action in 2006.

Unfortunately Ive had to do this before, [it] wont be allowed to happen again, he said. The city needs to be accountable and responsible.
This story was updated at 2:35 p.m. on Nov. 6 with additional information.

Massachusetts voters have had their say on Question 2, and the results mean the state is poised to do away with the requirement that all public school students must pass the 10th grade MCAS tests in order to graduate high school.

But what Question 2 doesnt do is eliminate the MCAS itself. MCAS tests will still be administered. The difference now is, effective immediately, students wont be required to pass them in order to get their diploma.

Because federal law requires a school assessment, students will continue to take MCAS tests just as they do now, and the tests will provide the same data.

The Associated Press called a win for Question 2 at 3:51 a.m. Wednesday. At that point, with 89% of votes counted, the divide was 58.9% in favor and 41.1% opposed, unofficial tallies indicated.

The graduation requirement to pass the series of tests has been in place since 2003. It was first enacted as a tool to transform Massachusetts educational performance and create common graduation standards for all school districts.

Up until Tuesday, students were required to pass 10th-grade MCAS tests in English language arts, math, and science to receive their high school diplomas. If they failed the test in 10th grade, they have four more chances to take it  twice in 11th grade and twice in 12th grade.

What proponents said

The Massachusetts Teachers Association, the largest teachers union in the state, was the driving force behind Question 2. They called Tuesdays results a collective victory for educators and public school students in the Commonwealth."

In a statement, MTA President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy said students who have passed their courses were being denied diplomas because of the MCAS graduation requirement.

Our schools will stop punishing students who simply do not do well on standardized tests, for whatever reason, they said.

Of approximately 70,000 students in each graduating class, 96% have passed the MCAS. According to data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, each year, about 700 students dont receive diplomas as a result of the MCAS alone.

The counter argument

For groups and coalitions that opposed Question 2, their general argument was removal of the graduation requirement would water down public school education in the state, and that students would be held to different standards based on what community they live in.

Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler recently told New England Public Media that if the graduation requirement was eliminated, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education would need to define for districts what mastery of English, math and science looks like.

In a statement Wednesday morning, Ed Lambert, executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, said: Were disappointed in the outcome of ballot question 2, but we believe what voters are calling for is change in the current system not for the state to have no common graduation standard at all. A high school diploma must be meaningful in every community and students who earn one must be truly ready for the future. We must have a state standard that reflects high expectations for all students and not return to having 330+ different standards.

Lambert said opponents to Question 2 are now calling on state leaders to begin the process of creating a new, strengthened, uniform high school graduation standard that preserves high expectations and educational equity.

In the meantime, we must make sure to minimize the immediate impact on current students and consider how we might best protect their interests regarding their future readiness for success, he continued.

John Schneider, chair of Protect Our Kids Future: Vote No on 2, called the elimination of the requirement without a replacement reckless. He said ballot questions are a poor way to address complicated education policy.

Those responsible for our states public education system need to have an honest conversation about whether moving forward with this proposal is the right decision for Massachusetts, Schneider said.

Will the Legislature step in?

Two top officials in the Massachusetts House and Senate were both staunch supporters of keeping the MCAS graduation requirement. Recently, they set the stage for a potential intervention in two ballot question results, including Question 2.

In separate interviews, state House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka, both Democrats, floated the possibility of changing or repealing the MCAS and auditor ballot questions.

Being no fan of making laws by ballot initiative after seeing how screwed up the marijuana thing got, I havent made up my mind yet, Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, said of the auditor-related Question 1, Politico reported. Well see how big the margin is.

Gov. Maura Healey also opposed a repeal of the graduation requirement.

It wasnt clear Wednesday if the Legislature would take any future steps to intervene on the results of Question 2.
Massachusetts voters gave their approval Tuesday to a ballot question that would give state Auditor Diana DiZoglio the right to audit her former colleagues in the state Legislature.

They also rejected a question that would have boosted wages for tipped workers.

The yes vote on the auditing ballot question had 71.5% support, compared to 28.5% for the no vote, The Associated Press reported, citing unofficial tallies.

The legislative process at the State House is completely broken. Todays victory shows that the people of Massachusetts want more transparency and accountability from their leaders in state government, Paul Craney, of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, which supported the auditing push, said in a statement.

But voters still might not have the final word. Senior legislative leaders have held out the possibility of changing, or even repealing it, MassLive previously reported.

Voters rejected the tipped wage question 64%-36%, The Associated Press reported.

In a statement, the Employment Policies Institute declared victory on the ballot question for tipped workers.

Unofficial tallies from the Associated Press showed the no campaign leading the yes campaign 64.3% to 35.7%, with 60.2% of the vote counted.

This is a resounding win for tipped workers, and reflects a huge year of wins for tipped workers across the country, Rebekah Paxton, the research director at the Employment Policies Institute said in an email.  ... Proposals to eliminate the tip credit across the country have been shot down by bipartisan coalitions of employees and lawmakers. The result shows voters are listening to the vast majority of tipped workers who say they prefer the tip credit system.

A yes vote on this question would authorize gradually increasing the wage for tipped workers (now $6.75 an hour) until it meets the states $15-an-hour minimum wage by 2029. It would still permit tipping in addition to the minimum wage.

A no vote would leave the wage structure untouched.

Other ballot questions still remained unsettled in the early hours of Wednesday morning, including one that would scrap the MCAS examination as a high school graduation requirement.

The yes vote on the MCAS question had 58.6% support, while the yes vote on a question allowing ride-share drivers to unionize had 53.9% support, The Associated Press reported.

The no vote was ahead, with 56.5% support, on a question calling for the limited legalization of some naturally occurring psychedelic substances, as of early Wednesday morning.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Its Election Day. Polls opened Tuesday across the nation and Americans cast ballots in the 2024 presidential election. In a deeply divided nation, the election is a true toss-up between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

We know there are seven battleground states that will decide the outcome, barring a major surprise. But major questions persist about the timing of the results, the makeup of the electorate, the influx of misinformation  even the possibility of political violence. At the same time, both sides are prepared for a protracted legal battle that could complicate things further.

Election results: Follow live results in Alabama and nationwide

Heres what to watch on Election Day 2024:

History will be made either way

Given all the twists and turns in recent months, its easy to overlook the historical significance of this election.

Harris would become the first female president in the United States' 248-year history. If elected, she would also be the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to hold the office. Harris and her campaign have largely played down gender and race, fearing that they might alienate some supporters. But the significance of a Harris win would not be lost on historians.

A Trump victory would represent a different kind of historical accomplishment. He would become the first person convicted of a felony elected to the U.S. presidency, having been convicted of 34 felony counts in a New York hush-money case little more than five months ago.

Trump, who is still facing felony charges in at least two separate criminal cases, argued that he is the victim of a politicized justice system. And tens of millions of voters apparently believe him  or theyre willing to overlook his extraordinary legal baggage.

How long will it take to know the winner?

Election Day in the United States is now often considered election week as each state follows its own rules and practices for counting ballots  not to mention the legal challenges  that can delay the results. But the truth is, nobody knows how long it will take for the winner to be announced this time.

In 2020, The Associated Press declared President Joe Biden the winner on Saturday afternoon  four days after polls closed. But even then, The AP called North Carolina for Trump 10 days after Election Day and Georgia for Biden 16 days later after hand recounts.

Four years earlier, the 2016 election was decided just hours after most polls closed. The AP declared Trump the winner on election night at 2:29 a.m. (it was technically Wednesday morning on the East Coast).

This time, both campaigns believe the race is extremely close across the seven swing states that are expected to decide the election, barring a major surprise: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The size of the map and the tightness of the race make it hard to predict when a winner could be declared.

Where can I find early clues about how the contest might unfold?

Look to two East Coast battleground states, North Carolina and Georgia, where the results could come in relatively quickly. That doesnt mean well get the final results in those states quickly if the returns are close, but they are the first swing states that might offer a sense of what kind of night were in for.

To go deeper, look to urban and suburban areas in the industrial North and Southeast, where Democrats have made gains since 2020.

In North Carolina, Harris' margins in Wake and Mecklenburg counties, home to the state capital of Raleigh and the states largest city, Charlotte, respectively, will reveal how much Trump will need to squeeze out of the less-populated rural areas he has dominated.

In Pennsylvania, Harris needs heavy turnout in deep blue Philadelphia, but shes also looking to boost the Democrats advantage in the arc of suburban counties to the north and west of the city. She has campaigned aggressively in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, where Biden improved on Clintons 2016 winning margins. The Philadelphia metro area, including the four collar counties, accounts for 43% of Pennsylvanias vote.

Elsewhere in the Blue Wall, Trump needs to blunt Democratic growth in Michigans key suburban counties outside of Detroit, especially Oakland County. He faces the same challenge in Wisconsins Waukesha County outside of Milwaukee.

Where are the candidates?

Trump spent the very early hours of Election Day in Michigan, where he wrapped up a late-night rally in Grand Rapids. The Republican candidate spent the day in Florida, where he voted in person -- despite previously saying he would vote early. Hes scheduled to hold a campaign watch party in Palm Beach tonight.

Harris plans to attend an Election Night party at Howard University in Washington, a historically Black university where she graduated with a degree in economics and political science in 1986 and was an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Aside from Howard, she had no public schedule announced for Election Day.

Harris said Sunday that she had just filled out her mail-in ballot and it was on its way to California.

Whos left to show up on Election Day?

Its unclear which voters will show up to cast ballots on Tuesday.

More than 82 million people voted early  either in person or through the mail. So many people already cast ballots that some officials say the polls in states like Georgia might be a ghost town on Election Day.

One major reason for the surge is that that Trump has generally encouraged his supporters to vote early this time, a reversal from 2020 when he called on Republicans to vote only in-person on Election Day. The early vote numbers confirm that millions of Republicans have heeded Trumps call in recent weeks.

The key question, however, is whether the surge of Republicans who voted early this time will ultimately cannibalize the number of Republicans who show up on Tuesday.

There are also shifts on the Democratic side. Four years ago, as the pandemic lingered, Democrats overwhelmingly cast their ballots early. But this time around, without the public health risk, its likely that more Democrats will show up in person on Election Day.

That balance on both sides is critical as we try to understand the early returns. And its on the campaigns to know which voters they still need to turn out on Tuesday. On that front, Democrats may have an advantage.

Trumps campaign and the Republican National Committee have outsourced much of their get-out-the-vote operation operation to outside groups, including one funded largely by billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk thats facing new questions about its practices. Harris campaign, by contrast, is running a more traditional operation that features more than 2,500 paid staffers and 357 offices in battleground states alone.

Could there be unrest?

Trump has been aggressively promoting baseless claims in recent days questioning the integrity of the election. He falsely insists that he can lose only if Democrats cheat, even as polls show that show the race is a true toss-up.

Trump could again claim victory on election night regardless of the results, just as he did in 2020.

Such rhetoric can have serious consequences as the nation saw when Trump loyalists stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in one of the darkest days in modern American history. And unfortunately, there is still a potential of further violence this election season.

The Republican National Committee will have thousands of election integrity poll monitors in place on Tuesday searching for any signs of fraud, which critics fear could lead to harassment of voters or election workers. In some key voting places, officials have requested the presence of sheriff deputies in addition to bulletproof glass and panic buttons that connect poll managers to a local 911 dispatcher.

At the same time, Trump allies note that he has faced two assassination attempts in recent months that raise the possibility of further threats against him. And police in Washington and other cities are preparing for the possibility of serious Election Day unrest.

As always, its worth noting that a broad coalition of top government and industry officials, many of them Republicans, found that the 2020 election was the most secure in American history."

 By STEVE PEOPLES AP National Political Writer. AP writers Tom Beaumont and Will Weissert in Washington and Jill Colvin in Grand Rapids, Michigan, contributed.
Republican Donald Trump may have won the White House on Tuesday, but hes joined a long line of Republicans who couldnt seal the deal in solidly Democratic Massachusetts.

Just one Republican, former President Ronald Reagan, has carried the Bay State in the last five decades, in 1980 and 1984, according to an analysis by 270ToWin, which tracks presidential results.

Before that, only President Dwight D. Eisenhower notched wins in Massachusetts, first in 1952, and then again in 1956.

Democrats held the Bay State in the razor-thin 2000 election between Republican George W. Bush and former Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic nominee.

Gore took 59.8% of the vote in Massachusetts that year, compared to Bushs 32.5%, according to the 270ToWin analysis.

Four years later, in 2004, Massachusetts voters sided with hometown U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., 61.9%-36.8%, in his effort to deny Bush a second term.

Democrats took an average of 61.6% of the vote in the six presidential cycles between 2000 and 2020, when President Joe Biden won the White House, denying Trump a second consecutive term, according to a MassLive analysis of presidential voting data.

Harris took 61.8% of the vote in Massachusetts on Tuesday night, compared to Trumps 36%, according to unofficial tallies reported by The Associated Press.

The California Democrat sewed up victories in all six New England states. But results in key swing states rich in Electoral College, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where Trump prevailed, overwhelmed that result.

In remarks from a victory party in South Boston on Tuesday night, state Democratic Chairperson Steve Kerrigan told party activists that no matter what the result tonight, Massachusetts Democrats stepped up once again.

We have done the work, he said.

In a statement, Massachusetts Republican Chairperson Amy Carnevale pointed to legislative gains the GOP made on Beacon Hill on Tuesday.

Those wins, which included a Democratic state House seat, are a testament not only to the issues that our Republicans campaigned on, but also to the candidates themselves, who are a part of the fabric of the communities in which they ran, Carnevale said.

These candidates also worked incredibly hard to get their message out to voters, Carnevale said.
Editors note: This story was updated 1:45 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2024 to reflect the Associated Press calling the decision.

Massachusetts voters appeared Wednesday morning to have approved a first-of-its-kind referendum allowing drivers for companies such as Uber and Lyft to unionize.

The union-backed measure will permit drivers to collectively bargain for wages, benefits and other work conditions.

Such worker rights are available in many industries, but transportation network drivers were left out under existing law, advocates for the measure argued.

The referendum passed as ballots from across Massachusetts continued to be counted Wednesday. The Associated Press declared a winner just before 12:30 p.m. Yes votes led 54% to 46% with 95% of ballots counted.

The campaign was backed by the Service Employees International Union, one of the nations largest labor organizations.

The union contributed most of the roughly $6 million raised in support of the measure through mid-October, state records showed.

April Verrett, president of the SEIU, told the Associated Press in July that the tens of thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers working in Massachusetts deserve the collective bargaining benefits of unions.

This would be the first in the nation to establish a union for drivers in this way, she said.

The campaign overcame warnings from the measures opponents that unionizing Uber and Lyft drivers would ultimately raise the companies prices, as the costs of doing business passed onto riders.

Some evidence disputed that forecast. One report found that when New York City set a pay standard for ride-hailing drivers in 2019, costs for customers rose only slightly.

The increase wasnt much more than costs rose in Chicago, where the city had no pay standard for drivers.

Verrett said labor laws in the country arent written to consider gig workers  such as drivers for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash or Instacart.

We fundamentally believe that workers are workers, she said. All workers deserve a union, a way to come together with their coworkers to have a say in their livelihood.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who in June reached a settlement requiring Uber and Lyft to pay drivers a $32.50 minimum wage, supported the measure.

Her settlement ended a multi-year lawsuit initiated by now-Gov. Maura Healey when she served as attorney general.

The companies agreed to fork over $175 million to resolve allegations of wage and work-hour law violations, with much of the money directed to current and former drivers.

The settlement also guaranteed drivers paid sick time, a paid stipend for the states paid family and medical leave program, occupational accident insurance and some other benefits.

For years, these companies have underpaid their drivers and denied them basic benefits, Campbell said in announcing the settlement.

However, driver unionization advocates said issues remained.

Even with a $32.50 minimum wage, after expenses, drivers can take home less than $15 an hour  the state minimum wage.

They also lacked some traditional benefits and remained subject to the whims of a massive corporation, without the protections proponents of the ballot measure said a union would provide.

In an interview last month on GBHs Boston Public Radio, Campbell said allowing driver unionization would build upon her agreement with the companies.

In addition to Campbells support, the measure won endorsements from U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern, D-2nd District, and Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District.

Polling ahead of the election seemed to indicate wide support for the ballot measure.

A University of Massachusetts Amherst poll of 700 state residents, conducted from Oct. 3 to 10, found 58% support and 27% opposition to giving transportation network drivers the option to unionize. It had a margin of error of 4.8%.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. MassLive Reporter Charlie McKenna contributed additional reporting.
Massachusetts residents voted down a ballot question that would have legalized and regulated some natural psychedelic drugs for purchase and use in specific settings Tuesday night.

Ballot question 4 would have enacted a new law governing five psychedelic substances found in mushrooms and plants: psilocybin and psilocin  the active ingredients in magic mushrooms, mescaline  the active ingredient in peyote, dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and ibogaine.

Under the new law, which would have taken effect on Dec. 15, people 21 and older would be allowed to grow, use and share a small amount these five substances.

Additionally, state-licensed facilities wouldve be allowed to sell the substances to people 21 and older for use under the supervision of a licensed facilitator.

A state commission wouldve regulated these facilities, and the sale of the substances at these facilities wouldve be subject to state taxes.

As of 7 a.m. Wednesday with 88% of the vote counted, the measure received roughly 57% no votes to 43% yes votes, unofficial tallies showed.

Advocates have touted the benefits of the substances when it comes to treating anxiety and other disorders, The Republican newspaper of Springfield, reported in September.

There are concerns, however, about the health harms associated with psychedelic substances. For instance, ibogaine can cause acute cardiac problems, while DMT (used in ayahuasca) may have lasting neurological effects, a Tufts University analysis noted.

And risks seem more muted with psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) and mescaline (the active ingredient in peyote), but these drugs can still trigger significant adverse reactions, especially for those with pre-existing mental health issues, according to the Tufts analysis.

What wouldve changed under the new law

A new, five-member state commission wouldve govern the use and distribution of the substances through state-licensed facilities, and a new, 20-member advisory board wouldve provide the commission with recommendations on how to regulate the substances.

Cities and towns wouldve also have limited power over how these facilities operate in their community.

Sales of the five substances at licensed facilities wouldve been subject to a sales tax of 6.25% and an additional excise tax of 15%.

Revenue from the excise tax, license application fees, and civil penalties for violations of the law wouldve been used to administer the new law.

People 21 and older wouldve also been allowed to grow the five substances in a 12-foot by 12-foot area at their homes and to use them.

Additionally, people 21 and older who grew these substances wouldve been allowed to gift a small, set amount of the five substances to other people 21 and older.

Possession of these substances up to that small, set amount wouldve been permitted for people 21 and older.

Under the new law, retail sales of the five substances wouldve remained illegal.

The law also wouldnt have impact the states OUI laws, the ability of employers to restrict the consumption of these substances by their employees, the ability of landlords to prohibit growing or using these substances on their properties or the ability of local governments to ban possession of these substances in schools and public buildings.
Amazed observers said they had never seen anything like this snake before.

Common tree snakes are exactly as their name suggests  common. But the sighting of one this week has truly stopped Aussies in their tracks thanks to one rare detail.

On Monday, one of the snakes was spotted swimming along a river on Queensland's Fraser Coast with "extremely vibrant" blue tones. A walker managed to snap pictures of the snake, with its scales appearing to shimmer in the Aussie sunshine. A snake catcher told Yahoo News he's only ever spotted one blue common tree snake in his two-decade career.

"The colour [of the species] goes across a whole range, anything from black to gold to blue, but their standard colour is darkish with a yellow belly... the blue colour is particularly uncommon," Mathew Hampton said.

After the pictures were shared online, many Aussies praised the snake's beauty and said they've not seen anything like it before.

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"A mermaid in snake form. What a stunner," one woman said, while others called the snake "stunning" and "beautiful".

Why is the snake blue?

The blue colour is simply down to genetics, and although it may not appear so, common tree snakes all have blue scales between their "normal scales" but this one simply has a higher density.

"The blue colour is referred to as a 'blue phase'  it's a genetic variation where the usual blue scales that are in between the normal scales are in a much higher density than usual, giving the snake an almost entirely blue appearance," Mathew explained. "The vibrancy varies among individuals and can be quite bland to extremely vibrant."

On average, common tree snakes grow to 1.5 metres and are "completely non venomous".

Common tree snakes can range in colour but are most commonly black or gold. Source: Supplied

Snake catcher warns snake season is coming 'earlier and earlier'

Hampton flagged to Yahoo News that the snake season came exceptionally early this year, observing snake activity in early September which usually occurs in October. He believes an "unseasonable weather change" is to blame.

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"It definitely seemed to wake the snakes up earlier... it's well and truly above what we've experienced in the last decade

"As the planet warns and climate change happens, I think we're only going to see snake season creep a little bit earlier and earlier every year," he said.

Hampton started a Facebook group called 'Snake Identification Australia' eight years ago to help Aussies connect with verified experts quickly when they encounter snakes in their homes. He told Yahoo News the already 155,000-member-strong community has seen a real influx in recent months and believes this supports the theory that snake season is being pushed forward due to unseasonal weather spikes.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
As she coasted to a third term over Republican John Deaton on Tuesday night, Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warrens supporters jumped for joy and waved signs.

And then they nervously awaited the presidential election results between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump.
Drivers for companies such as Uber and Lyft won the right to unionize in Massachusetts, election results showed Wednesday, as voters pushed through a first-of-a-kind ballot referendum backed by national labor groups.

The measure will permit transportation network drivers for the first time to collectively bargain for wages, benefits and other work conditions.

It passed as ballots from across Massachusetts continued to be counted Wednesday. The Associated Press declared the measure victorious just before 12:30 p.m. Yes votes led 54% to 46% with 95% of votes counted.

April Verrett, president of the Service Employees International Union, told the Associated Press in July that the tens of thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers working in Massachusetts deserved the collective bargaining benefits of unions.

This would be the first in the nation to establish a union for drivers in this way, she said.

Her organization, one of the nations largest labor groups, contributed most of the roughly $6 million raised in support of the measure through mid-October, state records showed.

Uber driver Rob Thomas checks the app for new customers after dropping people off at Union Station in Springfield, June 26, 2024. (Don Treeger / The Republican).The Republican

Verrett on Wednesday told the New York Times that the victory was a monumental step forward for gig workers  such as drivers for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash or Instacart.

The campaign overcame warnings from the measures opponents that unionizing Uber and Lyft drivers would ultimately increase the companies prices, as the costs of doing business passed on to riders.

Some evidence disputed that forecast. One report found that when New York City set a pay standard for ride-hailing drivers in 2019, costs for customers increased only slightly.

The increase wasnt much more than cost increases in Chicago, where the city had no pay standard for drivers.

Verrett said labor laws in the country arent written to consider gig workers.

We fundamentally believe that workers are workers, she said. All workers deserve a union, a way to come together with their coworkers to have a say in their livelihood.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who in June reached a settlement requiring Uber and Lyft to pay drivers a $32.50 minimum wage, supported the measure.

Her settlement ended a multi-year lawsuit initiated by now-Gov. Maura Healey when she served as attorney general.

The companies agreed to fork over $175 million to resolve allegations of wage and work-hour law violations, with much of the money directed to current and former drivers.

The settlement also guaranteed drivers paid sick time, a paid stipend for the states paid family and medical leave program, occupational accident insurance and some other benefits.

For years, these companies have underpaid their drivers and denied them basic benefits, Campbell said in announcing the settlement.

However, driver unionization advocates said issues remained.

Even with a $32.50 minimum wage, after expenses, drivers can take home less than $15 an hour  the state minimum wage.

They also lacked some traditional benefits and remained subject to the whims of a massive corporation, without the protections proponents of the ballot measure said a union would provide.

In an interview last month on GBHs Boston Public Radio, Campbell said allowing driver unionization would build upon her agreement with the companies.

In addition to Campbells support, the measure won endorsements from U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern, D-2nd District, and Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District.

Two other ballot measures also passed Tuesday, while two others failed.

Victorious were a referendum on whether the state auditor should have some power to audit the Massachusetts Legislature, as well as a measure to remove the MCAS tests as a high school graduation requirement.

A ballot question to decriminalize some natural psychedelic substances failed. Voters also rejected a proposal to eliminate the states tiered minimum wage for tipped workers.

It would have mandated that bartenders, restaurant servers, hotel employees and others in the service industry be paid the states $15 minimum wage. The current system allows them to make lower hourly wages so long as their pay totals at least $15 per hour with tips included.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Races for two open seats on Massachusetts' Governors Council remained too close to call on Wednesday morning.

Winners were not yet declared in the races for two open Governors Council seats at the end of Tuesday night.

All five incumbent Governors Council members on the ballot appeared to have cruised to reelection.

In District 2, which stretches from Framingham to Attleboro and Bridgewater, probation officer Tamisha Civil D-Stoughton, led retired Judge Francis Crimmins, R-Stoughton, 132,096 to 96,500 votes, shortly after 11:30 p.m. with 51% of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press, which cited unofficial tallies.

North of Boston, former Methuen City Councilor Eunice Zeigler, a Democrat, was ahead of Peabody City Councilor Anne Manning-Martin, a Republican, in the District 5 race, 119,811 votes to 112,135, with around 56% of precincts in, unofficial tallies showed.

Unenrolled candidate Jody Elliott had more than 30,000 votes, according to the Associated Press.

The Governors Council has final approval over new judges, Parole Board members, and clemency recipients.

Its eight districts are the largest political territories on the Massachusetts map, which can lead to slower reporting of results. Each district has an average population above 800,000 and incorporates five Senate districts.

For residents of the 37 towns and cities in District 2, January will mark their first representation on the Governors Council since the 2021-2022 term.

The last councilor to hail from that district, Robert Jubinville of Milton, won reelection in 2022 but was never sworn into office, instead taking a lifetime appointment as a clerk magistrate from outgoing Gov. Charlie Baker.

The District 5 seat, including parts of the North Shore and Merrimack Valley, opened up when Councilor Eileen Duff opted to instead run for register of deeds this year in the Southern Essex County district.

Duff told State House News Service she was feeling good about her registers race against Republican Jonathan Edward Ring around 11:30 p.m.

District 1 Councilor Joseph Ferreira, a Swansea Democrat whose district spans the South Coast and Cape Cod, appeared to have fended off a challenge from independent attorney Krysten Condon.

Nothing official yet. Up by a lot, I think, Ferreira told the wire service around 11 p.m.

Councilor Paul DePalo of Worcester, whose District 7 territory traverses Central Massachusetts from Connecticut to New Hampshire, was leading Republican challenger Andrew Couture by a wide margin as of 11:30 p.m. in results reported by the Associated Press.

Its the honor of my life to serve you on the Governors Council, DePalo wrote on X. I am humbled by your overwhelming support. You can count on me to continue recruiting, supporting, and approving judges who will make Massachusetts courts the envy of the nation!

Four Democrats were uncontested in the general election: Mara Dolan (District 3) of Concord, who unseated incumbent Councilor Mariln Petitto Devaney in the primary; Christopher Iannella Jr. (District 4) of Boston, who also represents much of the South Shore; Terrence Kennedy (District 6) of Lynnfield; and Tara Jacobs (District 8) of North Adams, who represents the western portion of the state.

MassLive Politics Editor John L. Micek contributed additional reporting.
Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the decision protecting the right to an abortion, voters in 10 states have weighed in on whether they wanted that right preserved locally.

In seven states, voters reinforced protections for reproductive rights or overturned existing bans, including Missouri, which had previously outlawed abortion in nearly all cases.
By winning a second non-consecutive term on Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump made history and broke a longstanding presidential oddity.

Trump is now the second American president to win another term four years after leaving office. The last time this happened was in 1892 when Grover Cleveland succeeded his successor, Benjamin Harrison.

New Yorks governor, Cleveland initially won in 1884, becoming the 22nd president and the first Democrat to win the presidency since the Civil War. He federally regulated the nations railroads and vetoed a bill to grant pensions for disabilities not caused by military service, according to the White House website.

He also opposed integrating schools in New York and sided with Southerners on not looking at African Americans as equals, the University of Virginias Miller Center wrote. He wanted to limit Chinese immigration and mandated the assimilation of Indigenous peoples, passing the Dawes Act of 1887 to break up tribal lands. Cleveland also did not support womens suffrage.

Unpopular economic policies led to Clevelands downfall in 1888, when he lost to Republican Benjamin Harrison while still winning the popular vote. Clevelands second First Lady, Frances Folsom Cleveland, told a White House servant, We are coming back just four years from today.

Indeed they did. Cleveland was re-elected in 1892 after Harrison lost support from his party in part due to his frozen demeanor and refusal to listen to Republican leaders, the Miller Center wrote. The United States was also in an economic depression.

Unlike Trump, Cleveland was not limited by law to only serving two terms. However, unpopular policies led to his party dropping him in favor of William Jennings Bryan in 1896, according to the White House.
WESTFIELD  At around 8:54 p.m. on Election Night, City Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane, Democratic challenger in the 4th Hampden District state representative race in Westfield, announced to a packed room of her supporters and campaign staff that she had conceded to her opponent, incumbent Republican Kelly Pease.

I hope I didnt disappoint any of you, said Matthews-Kane at Tribeca Gastro Bar & Grill in Westfield. This was a family affair and we gained more skills and worked hard to canvass.

Matthews-Kane lost by roughly 3,000 votes, receiving 7,045 votes, according to unofficial election results provided by Westfield city clerk. The city voted for former President Donald Trump in the national election and for John Deaton in the U.S. Senate race.

Meanwhile, Pease, a Republican who won his third term Tuesday night, spent the evening surrounded by family and close friends.

Im very blessed that my family and supporters helped hold signs and gave their time to support me, he said. Thats not easy. Im blessed and honored.

Pease won in all of the wards in Westfield and both of the precincts in Southampton. He received 10,609 votes overall.

Close to 67% of Westfields registered voters cast ballots in this election, according to the unofficial results.

Earlier in the evening on Tuesday, a reporter met his wife and son, Serena and Riley Pease, respectively, outside of Southampton Road Elementary School while they were holding signs and waving to drivers.

I usually stay in the background, said Serena Pease, but I try to support him the best I can. Hes the most honest politician youll find.

Westfield State Rep candidate Bridget Matthews Kane talks with campaign supporter Suzanne Natale at Westfield High School. Her husband Tim Matthews is on the right. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/5/2024The Republican

Local commentary

Swaths of people entered the Westfield Senior Center at around 4:30 p.m. to cast their ballots in both the national election and to decide a local race for state representative.

Elizabeth Lemire, a lifelong Republican, voted blue across her ballot: penciling in Matthews-Kane, Elizabeth Warren for the U.S. Senate and Kamala Harris for president. After this election, shes changing parties.

Bridget is family-oriented, all about housing and is concerned about the people rather than herself, she said. Her partner, Stewart Phillips, who is unenrolled in a party, also voted for Matthews-Kane.

I was intrigued by her campaign colors at first, he joked about the purple and green posters scattered around the city, but when I read about her values, I knew I had to vote for her.

Stewart Phillips (left) and his partner, Elizabeth Lemire stand in front of the Westfield Senior Center after casting their votes on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.The Republican

Phillips and Lemire were most drawn to the Democrats family values and her stance on housing.

At another polling place in Westfields Ward 4, sign holders for Pease and Matthews-Kane, stood at the front of the Second Congregational Church in the darkening dusk waving to passersby and voters entering the parking lot.

Alberta Humason, who is unenrolled in a political party, said her vote was for Pease and Trump. Kelly served in the military and thats big for me, she said.

From left, Ed Ekmalian, Regina Ekmalian, Serena Pease, Kelly Pease and Steve Witkus pose in the Peases' living room on Election Night on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.The Republican

Her son, Don Humason, previously worked in politics  serving as mayor of Westfield and state representative of the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District. He currently works as the town administrator of Chester. Kelly was my sons legislative aide when he was a state representative, Alberta Humason said.

While he celebrated with loved ones Tuesday night, Pease said his agenda consists of sticking to the same mantra in his coming two-year term: getting money for schools, roads and seniors.

I want to continue to make sure Western Massachusetts gets money, from Beacon Hill, he said, explaining that he plans to continue to work with party members on both sides of the aisle to make that happen.
According to unofficial results, 19,821 voters  representing 66.69% of registered voters  cast their ballots in Westfield on Nov. 5.

Former President Donald Trump carried in Westfield, with 10,016 votes, to Vice President Kamala Harris 9,135 votes. The winner for the presidential election had not been named as of press time.

In the race for senator, John Deaton won over Westfield with 10,560 votes, to Senator Elizabeth Warrens 8,770 votes. Warren won the state, however, with 60.3% of the vote, or 742,419 votes, in comparison to Deatons 39.7% or 489,565 votes.

Though Westfield favored Republican candidates for president and senator, the citys majority selected incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Neal with 10,198 votes. Nadia Milleron received 8,237 votes. As of press time, the winner for this race had not yet been determined.

State Rep. Kelly Pease, who has been serving the 4th Hampden District since 2020, was reelected to the seat, carrying the vote in every precinct of Westfield. Pease received 10,609 Westfield votes, while his challenger, Westfield City Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane, received 7,045.

Incumbent Cheryl Coakley-Rivera won over Westfield with 10,095 votes, to challenger Bob Collamores 7,096. As of press time, the winner overall had not yet been announced.

Tara Jacobs ran unopposed for Governors Council and received 13.026 votes counted in her favor in Westfield.

Running unopposed, Senator John Velis received 15,345 votes in Westfield.

State Rep. Michael Finn, also running unopposed, received 1,006 votes.

Hampden County Clerk of Courts Laura Gentile received 13,465 votes  running unopposed.

While statewide results were not available as of press time for any of the questions on the ballot, the majority of Westfield voters, approximately 12,915, selected yes on question one. A yes vote gives the state auditor the power to audit the state Senate and House of Representatives on Beacon Hill. A no vote would make no change to the auditors authority. There were 5,623 note votes for this question.

Westfield voters also favored a yes vote on question two  which would eliminate the MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement. Approximately 12,814 Westfield voters selected yes, with 6,502 voters opting for a no vote.

Question three, if passed, would allow drivers for rideshares, such as Uber and Lyft, form unions. In Westfield, no votes carried with 9,526, to a close 9,059.

A yes vote on question four would allow people over the age of 21 in Massachusetts to grow and use psychedelic substances and would create a commission to regulate them. A no vote would keep psychedelic substances illegal in Massachusetts. On question four, Westfield voters cast 11,594 no votes, and 7,454 yes votes.

The final statewide question on the ballot involved boosting the minimum wage for tipped workers in Massachusetts. A yes vote would increase the minimum hourly wage employer would have to pay a tipped worker to the full state minimum wage over a 5-year period. Businesses would then pool tips, and distribute them among workers who are not managers. A no vote would leave the law unchanged. In Westfield, a strong majority of 13,146 voters selected no, with 5,936 voters selecting yes.

Finally, ballot question six was an initiative by the Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care, or Mass-Care, an organization that has worked to pass legislation establishing a single-payer system in Massachusetts for the past 15 years. This was a non-binding question, with the verdict being a suggestion to their representative, Pease, on whether to support a statewide single-player health care system. In Westfield, 9,157 yes votes were cast, to 7,568 no votes.

The results for Southwick were not available at press time. Those results will be published in the Thursday edition of The Westfield News.
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Senator Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fail General Election candidate in Mayo, has expressed her concern regarding the number of Gardai in local communities following replies to parliamentary questions posed to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. This issue has been consistently raised by constituents as she canvasses in the lead-up to the election. Mayo County Council officials and elected representatives recently met with Commissioner Drew Harris to discuss policing in the county.

Senator Chambers stated: The concerns over Garda numbers are very real for people in our communities. As I go door-to-door, its clear that residents are worried about their safety and the visibility of Garda presence in their localities. This is an issue I am deeply committed to addressing if elected.

She said the Minister's response highlighted the ongoing commitment to support Garda recruitment, with over 2.48 billion allocated to An Garda Siochana in Budget 2025 - a 27 percent increase since 2020. However, the data reveals a concerning trend in the number of Gardai assigned to the Mayo division. As of June 2024, there are 581 Gardai assigned to the newly formed Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division. This figure reflects a decline from previous years when the Mayo Division alone had 300 Gardai in 2016 and peaked at 343 in 2020.



Specifically, the breakdown of Garda numbers from the Mayo Division shows:



- 2016: 300 Gardai

- 2017: 323 Gardai

- 2018: 339 Gardai

- 2019: 339 Gardai

- 2020: 343 Gardai

- 2021: 330 Gardai



Following the merger into the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division in 2022, the figures indicated:



- 2022: 616 Gardai in the combined division

- 2023: 602 Gardai

- 2024: 581 Gardai



Regarding recruitment specifically related to Mayo, the figures reveal that since 2016, the number of new recruits assigned to the Mayo Division has been alarmingly low:



- 2016: 0 new recruits

- 2017: 14 new recruits

- 2018: 0 new recruits

- 2019: 0 new recruits

- 2020: 10 new recruits

- 2021: 5 new recruits

- 2022: 1 new recruit

- 2023: 1 new recruit

- 2024: 0 new recruits (as of current data up to Q2)



In total, there have been only 31 new recruits assigned to the Mayo Division from 2016 to 2024, with a particularly concerning trend of zero new recruits in 2024 and only one in 2023. The last significant boost in recruitment was in 2017, which is now seven years ago. This highlights the pressing need for a more robust recruitment strategy to ensure adequate policing levels in the area.

Senator Chambers also pointed to the burglary figures in the Mayo Division. In 2024, there were 73 reported burglaries, down from 250 in 2016. While the overall trend shows a reduction in burglaries due to initiatives like Operation Thor, the presence of Gardai is crucial for ongoing crime prevention and community reassurance.

The decrease in burglary figures is encouraging, but the lack of Garda presence can hinder our ability to address these crimes effectively, she stated.

Senator Chambers emphasised that adequate Garda presence is vital for crime prevention and public reassurance, stating, It is vital that we maintain and increase Garda visibility in our towns and villages to ensure the safety and security of our residents.

In addition, Tanaiste and Fianna Fail party leader Micheal Martin has pledged that Fianna Fail will seek to take the Justice portfolio in the next government to make Ireland safe again. We are committed to ensuring that policing and community safety are prioritised, Senator Chambers concluded.

Senator Chambers plans to continue raising these concerns in the Oireachtas and is committed to working with her colleagues to ensure that Garda numbers are prioritised if elected.

I am dedicated to ensuring that rural issues, such as Garda visibility and community safety, are front and centre in our national agenda. Together, we can work to enhance the safety of our communities and ensure that they receive the policing support they deserve, she added.
Mayo general election candidate, Keira Keogh, has called for urgent action on medicine shortages in the country.

The Fine Gael candidate said the issue is causing significant stress for patients and pharmacists, calling it a recurring issue on the canvas.

Shortages dont only impact costly medications but also everyday essentials like aspirin, she explained.

Pharmacists have been reporting severe stock disruptions, with one noting a third of usual stock is unavailable.

Another mentioned over 300 missing medicines, with hospital pharmacists echoing concerns as IV fluids and antibiotics at times run critically low.

Fine Gael Mayo General Election candidate Keira Keogh.

Ms Keogh continued: One pharmacist shared the story of a lady recently diagnosed with ADHD, who arranged time off for monitoring their blood pressure on their newly prescribed medicine ConcertaXL, but the pharmacist could not provide their prescriptiona frustrating situation for the pharmacist and a worrying and stressful time for the patient who is unable to take more time off when the medicine becomes available.

She explained that Irelands smaller market makes it less attractive for suppliers, leaving critical drugs across oncology, diabetes, and cardiology particularly vulnerable.

She highlighted that Brexit has added complexity to the issue, with Ireland and Malta now being the only English-speaking EU markets.

The election candidate said she is bringing this matter to the attention of Colm Burke, Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing, and the National Drugs Strategy, and will request that it be raised as a parliamentary question.

"Patients and their pharmacists should focus on recovery and carenot on sourcing or worrying about medicines," she concluded.
The ninth annual World Internet of Things Convention (WIOTC 2024) commenced on Nov. 3, in Beijing, bringing together leaders of government agencies, enterprises, industrial associations and standards organizations worldwide to discuss the future of the Internet of Things (IoT) under the theme, "Towards a New Future for Digital Economy: An Intelligently Interconnected New World." The aim of the event was to support the U.N. sustainable development agenda, bridge the global digital divide, create an international model of an intelligently interconnected digital economy in China, and explore new pathways for digital economic collaboration. In his message to the convention, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the transformative impact of digital technology on business and economic growth. He emphasized that "real-time data sharing, IoT applications, information networking, and artificial intelligence are empowering the development of smart grids, smart homes and smart cities." However, he noted the digital divide, saying: "Not all countries or communities are benefiting equally. For those without capacity or connectivity, the digital divide is also an opportunity divide." "Digital technology is about bridging divides," he added, calling for efforts to ensure evolving technologies benefit all people equally. During the convention, speakers noted China's significant strides in IoT and digital economy innovation, underscoring the country's investments in digital infrastructure and supportive government initiatives that have positioned it as a global leader in these fields. According to He Xuming, chairman of the WIOTC executive committee, the number of global IoT connections is expected to surpass 25 billion this year, with China playing a crucial role. The country's digital infrastructure is expanding significantly. It is on track to build over 4.3 million 5G base stations to support IoT this year and surpass 3 billion IoT connections, he said. Yu Hongjun, former vice minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), added that in recent years, China has actively promoted the innovation and development of the internet and digital economy. He said, "The establishment of foundational communication networks, the widespread application of 5G, and the development of 6G have laid a solid foundation for digital economic transformation and upgrading." The country's strategic initiatives proposed during the 20th CPC National Congress, focusing on building a strong digital China and a smart society, were further reinforced by the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. The resolution emphasized "improving the commodity distribution system, and speeding up the development of the Internet of Things." "China's leadership in advancing digital innovation and IoT continues to serve as a powerful model, inspiring nations worldwide to embrace the possibilities of digital technologies," said Sinisa Berjan, ambassador of the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina to China. The ambassador also stressed the shared responsibility to ensure that the advantages of digital transformation are distributed equally, calling for a world where technology can support an inclusive digital landscape that benefits all. Berjan called IoT a "critical driver of digital development," explaining it has the potential to revolutionize key sectors like health care, agriculture, energy and transportation. "IoT enhances productivity, optimizes resource use and empowers communities, ensuring that economic progress aligns with environmental stewardship," he added. However, Berjan stressed the need for strong international cooperation to fully unlock these benefits. He called for the sharing of best practices, the development of unified standards, and mutual support among countries to help every nation tap into the potential of IoT. Platforms like the WIOTC provide invaluable opportunities for such exchanges, fostering a spirit of collaboration that fuels progress, innovation and economic development, he said, adding that "together, we can lay the foundation for a future where the benefits of digital transformation reach every community and individual." Leaders from major standardization bodies also underscored the importance of collaboration. Jo Cops, president of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), emphasized that, given the current environmental challenges, "IoT supports the energy transition and the deployment of renewables through smart grid applications." He added, "To meet our common challenges and goals, we need to collaborate." Similarly, Sung Hwan Cho, president of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), advocated for an inclusive digital future, saying, "It is crucial that this progress actually supports the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and bridges the digital divide." At the convention, the WIOTC released the White Paper on the Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy. Zhang Hua, vice chairman of the WIOTC executive committee, explained that the white paper outlines the innovative development direction and theoretical foundation of the global IoT digital economy, including concepts, advanced digital economy models, global market structures, and sustainable development pathways. The white paper provides expert guidance for global governments on internet development and digital economy upgrades, and serves as a reference for enterprises aiming to transform and enhance their data applications, Zhang said.
Early studies suggested wildlife at the abandoned nuclear site was being impacted, but new research has delivered a surprise update.

Experts have wandered across Chernobyl collecting frogs to test for radiation. Source: Getty

Humans may be unable to return to the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster for 20,000 years because radiation exposure can lead to cancer. So a team of international researchers wondered how frogs living across the site were affected.

Since the evacuation of human occupants, the 2,800 square km Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in northern Ukraine has become the third-largest nature reserve in mainland Europe. Some research has suggested radiation exposure is triggering physical deformities and genetic disorders in mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fish living at the site. But just how much damage it causes has been contested.

Surprisingly, new research published in the journal Biology Letters found no significant impact on eastern green tree frogs (Hyla orientalis) despite ongoing radiation exposure. Close to 200 individuals were studied, and each was aged between two and nine.

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Inside the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear site The city of Pripyat in Ukraine remains mostly abandoned almost 40 years after the 1986 nuclear disaster. Source: Getty

The study suggests radiation levels may not be high enough to interfere with examining lifespan, ageing and stress hormones in semi-aquatic vertebrates.

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We also did not find any relationship between individual absorbed radiation and telomere length, nor between individual absorbed radiation and corticosterone levels, said researchers from Donana Biological Station and the Spanish National Research Council.

What's behind the frog radiation results?

The results reflect a considerable decrease in radiation since the disaster was triggered on 26 April, 1986. Research indicates short-lived radionuclides, which are known to induce significant biological damage have vanished from the area.

Scientists collected 197 eastern European treefrogs. Source: Getty

It was a different story after scientists conducted experiments on white rats and found a marked reduction in lifespan. General research on radiation has found humans exposed to high levels have an increased risk of cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

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The researchers said there is a clear need for more research into how current radiation levels are impacting wildlife at Chernobyl now.

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A Mayo woman has been announced as National President for the Republic of Ireland of Soroptimists International of Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI).

Anne OSullivan from Castlebar was inaugurated at the SIGBI Conference in Edinburgh from November 1-3.

Anne OSullivan with her daughter Deirdre OSullivan, and her two sisters, Mary Heneghan and Margaret Power

A large contingent from Sorpotomist International Ireland and Northern Ireland attended the SIGBI Conference in Edinburgh. Many travelled specifically to celebrate Ms OSullivan.

Founded in 1921, Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement with a network of just under 72,000 club members in 118 countries worldwide.

Advocating for human rights and gender equality, at the heart of Soroptimist Internationals advocacy, is its work across seven UN Centres, where our UN representatives ensure that the voices of women and girls are heard.

The membership works on grassroots projects that help women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in communities worldwide.

SIGBI have two soroptomist clubs in Mayo, in Castlebar and Ballina, and they are always looking to bring in new members.

Each Soroptimist club belongs to one of the five Soroptimists International Federations within Africa, Great Britain and Ireland, Europe, The Americas and South East Asia Pacific.

For more information contact any club member on the SIGBI website.
A new support group for widows and widowers is being launched in Mayo.

Dr Edel McAndrew, a qualified clinical psychologist with over 30 years experience, is launching the monthly support group in Castlebar.

The group is specifically for widows and widowers aged 45 to 70, and will offer a supportive space for women and men to share experiences, build confidence and explore positive ways forward after loss, whether from suicide, cancer, Covid-19, road traffic accidents, or other causes.

As a widow herself who found invaluable support within a similar community in London, Dr McAndrew understands the importance of a dedicated, understanding space to foster emotional resilience and companionship.

"When I first joined the young widows' and widowers' group in London, I found the sense of belonging and understanding to be a crucial part of my journey. I have made some very good friends and am especially close to those widowed in similar circumstances.

I was living in Dublin and working for the HSE when I lost my husband in early 2022, and with no local support groups available, I moved to London. I hope to offer a similar space here in Mayo," explained Dr McAndrew.

Participants will meet once a month for relaxed coffee mornings, with each gathering providing a safe, non-therapeutic space where members can share openly with others who have walked a similar path.

With her extensive background in mental health and previous practice on Harley Street until the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr McAndrew is dedicated to fostering a compassionate and secure environment for Mayos widowed community.

She will remain based in London until Spring 2025, but will return to Mayo regularly, holding sessions during her visits.

The group is open to men and women across the Mayo area who are navigating life after loss prior to traditional retirement age, ensuring a balanced community of support.

The groups focus will be on helping members foster resilience and self-confidence, while also encouraging new connections and experimenting with socialising in a comfortable, understanding environment. Inspired by her involvement in London, Dr. McAndrew recognises the profound benefits a supportive community can provide for individuals facing the unique challenges of young widowhood.

"Ive seen first hand the importance of a safe, empathetic space for young widows and widowers. This group is about exploring a future beyond loss, finding renewed confidence, and offering encouragement in a compassionate, non-therapeutic setting," she concluded.

Interested individuals are encouraged to contact Dr.McAndrew at 087 2460 411 for more details.
A BALLINROBE man who stabbed his brother in the stomach which almost resulted in his death was jailed for four years.

Brian Ward (28) of 59 Church View, Ballinrobe, appeared before last weeks sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, where he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his brother, Cathal (32), on December 9, 2021.

The court heard that the two brothers had been drinking and taking drugs in an apartment on Ellison Street in Castlebar when Brian Ward followed Cathal into his bedroom and stabbed him with a blade to the stomach.

Cathal Ward managed to make his way outside where he was supported by a woman who had been in the apartment. He was later brought to Mayo University Hospital.

A medical report showed that he received a three-centimetre stab wound to the abdomen, had suffered heavy bleeding and was close to going into cardiac arrest. Following treatment, he was eventually discharged on December 16.

Judge Eoin Garavan questioned why the defendant had not been charged with the more serious offence of assault causing serious harm, as his victim was close to death.

Mr Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the prosecution replied that while it was a valid question, other factors were at play that he could not put before the court but that had resulted in the DPP directing him to be charged with assault causing harm.

The court was told that the weapon used in the attack had not been found and Cathal Ward did not cooperate with the Garda investigation.

Detective Sergeant Kieran Naughton explained that Cathal Ward was found slumped in the doorway of an apartment on Ellison Street at 7.15pm, and his brother was later arrested at 8.50pm. Det Sgt Naughton said that he could not be interviewed at the time due to his level of intoxication and when he was eventually questioned, he denied any responsibility.

Det Sgt Naughton added that the medical report stated that had Cathal Ward not reached the hospital in time he may have died. However, Cathal Ward had failed to attend surgical follow up, and had also declined to make a victim-impact statement.

Mr Diarmuid Connolly, counsel for Brian Ward, said that while his client has previous convictions, this is his first appearance in the circuit court. He said the Ward family have come to terms with what had happened and wanted to put everything behind them.

He said that regardless of the seriousness of the assault, his client had been charged with assault causing harm and argued that imposing a sentence on the basis of a more serious charge would be improper.

Appalling violence

Judge Garavan said had Cathal Ward not reached the hospital in time they would be dealing with a murder case, and yet no reason had been given for the assault.

He said said the assault was at the top end of an assault causing harm offence, and explained that the headline sentence was five years.

Judge Garavan pointed out that the defendant missed six appointments with the Probation Service and, when offered further chances by the court, only attended one appointment.

He described the defendants claims that he is now living a sober life as a joke because he was charged with intoxication by the gardai three days after the publication of the probation report.

As I am concerned, this was an appalling violent matter, Judge Garavan said, adding that he would only reduce the headline sentence by one year and would not suspend any of it.

His [the defendants] credibility is utterly and completely trashed by his own behaviour, Judge Garavan stated, adding that the four-year sentence will commence at the end of a two-month term he is already serving.

He is a dangerous criminal, and society will be glad he is off the streets, he commented.
The HSE is currently seeking a Programme Manager in Technology and Transformation with the option of working across multiple counties.

The position comes with an impressive salary, ranging from 83,233 to 103,533.

Candidates will also have flexibility in where they work, with available locations in Dublin, Drogheda, Kells, Sligo, Manorhamilton, Cork, Kilkenny, Galway, Limerick, Tullamore and Ardee.

READ NEXT: Celebrations at National Lottery HQ as two-person syndicate claims mega 5.5m jackpot

According to the HSE's job listing, the purpose of this role is to ensure the delivery of major ICT enabled change programmes on time, within budget, to a specified level of quality and to ensure that business benefits are delivered in conjunction with the services in which the programme is being implemented.

Some of the requirements listed for the role include experience in ICT, management and leadership, as well as with budget planning and finance management.

If you're interested in this role, make sure to submit your application before the closing date on Monday, 18 November at 12:00pm.
Photos taken in Cairns show dozens of spherical objects crafted from what appear to be sticks huddled together in the tree.

A shopper was stunned when she spotted dozens of metallic starling nests hanging from a tree in a Cairns car park. Source: Facebook

Numerous spectacular orbs seen hanging from a tree in the middle of a popular shopping centre car park have amused Aussies.

The pretty cool sight in Cairns earlier this week prompted one customer to pause and snap several photos, however she said online she was careful not to get too close. The photos show dozens of spherical objects crafted from what appears to be sticks and grass dripping from the numerous branches.

I like how they pick a tree and build so many nests, the woman wrote on a Facebook page dedicated to native birds, after which members revealed the apartments belong to metallic starlings.

Nesting by the hundreds. Very common this time of year. Noisy buggers too, one local man responded. Sometimes they fly down from the hills in a shining, iridescent avalanche. Very nice, another added.

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'Gregarious' birds nest in colonies, attracting other animals

Staff at the Queensland Museum confirmed to Yahoo News Australia the birds spotted living in the car park are indeed metallic starlings, which are native to Queensland, Moluccas in Indonesia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Metallic starlings are gregarious, a Queensland Museum spokesperson said. They travel and feed in flocks and they roost and nest together in colonies. Many nests in the same tree is normal. The birds often return to favoured nesting trees year after year.

Metallic starlings travel and feed in flocks, nesting together in colonies. Source: Getty/Facebook

In north Queensland most of the metallic starling population is migratory and thought to travel to New Guinea for the non-breeding season. The birds begin to return to Australia in August and October.

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The communal nests have attracted some of the densest animal aggregations ever recorded, Aussie scientists declared in a 2016 study published by academic journal PLOS ONE.

The gatherings in a single tree create dense and specced-rich fauna hot-spots, attracting a diverse assemblage of local consumers that utilise this seasonal resource, it states. Flying invertebrates, nocturnal birds, reptiles, and amphibians were seen gathering beneath the poison-dart trees where starlings are known to nest.

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Weather authorities and lifeguards alike are warning Aussies to practise caution in the coming days as above-average temperatures set in across the continent.

Large parts of the country's north is set to swelter through heatwave-like conditions on Thursday. Source: Weatherzone/Getty

Lifeguards are warning Australians to practise caution in the surf in the coming days amid an "anticipated surge in people heading to beaches". It comes as large parts of the country continue to sweat through above-average temperatures for November.

As of Thursday morning, five states and territories across the nation are being warned of severe heatwave-like conditions, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) telling residents in NSW, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and the ACT in particular to prepare.

Parts of the country's north are anticipated to be among the hottest in the world this week, with residents in Queensland and those in northern parts of the NT expected to cop the brunt of the extremes. "Maximum temperatures in the low thirties to mid forties, [with] overnight minimum temperatures in the high teens to high twenties," the Bureau told Queenslanders.

It said heatwave conditions are expected to gradually move into northern parts of the state on Thursday and continue into next week. Virtually the entire state is expected to swelter today, with much of the region to see temperatures of above 30 degrees.

The BOM issued a severe heatwave warning for many parts of Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory, with a hot air mass causing temperatures to soar. Source: SLS Australia

Queensland, Northern Territory to cop brunt of heatwave on Thursday

According to Weatherzone, a broad trough of low pressure stretching across the continent is allowing a "pool of late-spring heat to lie over parts of several states and territories", extending from the nations eastern interior to the north of WA.

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"This weather pattern is causing a multi-day heatwave thats gripping parts of Queensland, NSW, the NT and WA this week. At Birdsville in Queensland, the mercury climbed to 45.2C on Tuesday afternoon and only dropped to 31.7C on Wednesday morning. By 9:40am on Wednesday, temperatures were already exceeding 40C in parts of the southwest," Weatherzone meteorologists said.

In the NT, the Daly, Tiwi, Arnhem, Berry Springs, Jabiru, Nauiyu and Timber Creek and Gregory Districts are expected to be most affected by the sweltering temperatures today. "Severe heatwave conditions are expected to continue into next week," the BOM said.

In NSW, border towns and northern districts have been warned they will face extreme heat on Thursday, in particular, the Mid North Coast, Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes and Plains Districts.

The sizzling conditions have prompted Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Adam Weir to remind beachgoers "staying safe around water needs to be front of mind" in the coming days.

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Lifeguards and surf lifesavers are getting prepared as we anticipate a surge in people heading to beaches in a bid to keep cool," he said.

While we know Australians love enjoying hot, sunny days on the country's amazing beaches, please listen to the advice of our surf lifesavers, know your limitations, and swim between the red and yellow flags. And for those in the Northern Territory, please be stinger safe if you are intending to visit the coastline or go recreational fishing."

A full list of weather warnings across the country is available here.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
by Fern Siegel , November 6, 2024

Ogilvy Canada has a new CEO.

Christopher Andrews will replace the 35-year ad vet Arthur Fleischmann. Andrews joins Ogilvy from BBDO Canada, where he served as President and CEO. BBDO Canada was named 2023 Agency of the Year at The One Show.

Fleischmann has managed WPP's operations in Canada since 2021. Before that, he co-founded john st. advertising in 2001, which joined the Ogilvy network in 2013.

Devika Bulchandani, global CEO of Ogilvy, said: "With his extensive experience at top agencies and deep understanding of the Canadian market, Chris is uniquely positioned to build on Ogilvy's commitment to creative excellence and delivering impactful work for our clients.

Andrews has held leadership posts at various agencies, including The&Partnership, Taxi, and Leo Burnett, across Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

Ogilvy Canadas clients include TD Bank, Dove, Hellmanns, Metrolinx, H&R Block, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Absolut and Mitsubishi, the most recent brand to tap the agency as creative lead.

Ogilvys creative reputation is unmatched, as is the competitive advantage its been bringing to clients, added Andrews.
by Teresa Buyikian , November 5, 2024

Red Lobsters reorganization post-bankruptcy continues by adding to its executive board. The seafood fast casual has added Larry Konecny as its new chief operating officer.

In the position Konecny will head the operational strategy for the chains 545 locations in the U.S. and Canada, reporting to CEO Damola Adamolekun, who himself just joined the company in September after serving as P.F. Changs CEO. In October the chain also added Nichole Robillard as CMO.

In the CCO position, Konecny is charged with delivering elevated food quality, customer service and operational efficiency, while fostering a culture rooted in teamwork and excellence. He joins Red Lobster after serving as COO and chief concept officer at Maggiano's Little Italy.

"Larry brings an exceptional combination of operational expertise, a passion for developing high-performing teams, and a genuine understanding of what it takes to build strong restaurant brands," said Adamolekun. "

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Konecny spent over 17 years at Maggianos Little Italy, rising through the ranks from area director to regional director of operations to VP of innovation and restaurant support and lastly to CEO.

Red Lobster recently announced its exit from Chapter 11 restructuring and the completion of its acquisition by RL Investor Holdings LLC.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, November 5, 2024

Searches on Google for Where can I vote for Harris? early on Tuesday served a Where to vote map allowing users to enter their street address to find their polling location. A Google search for Where can I vote for Trump? did not show a similar map.

This triggered a conspiracy theory implying that Google tried to meddle in the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Google had to explain why searches about where to vote for each candidate were different.

The where to vote panel is triggering for some specific searches because Harris is also the name of a county in Texas, Google wrote in a post on the social media site X. This also occurs in searches for Vance because it is also the name of a county.

Google said developers are in the process of fixing the glitch, and that very few people actually search for voting places this way.

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DogeDesigner on X posted that Google and Microsoft are top Democratic donors. The post noted that Google is the biggest corporate donor to the Democratic Party.

Alphabet, Google's parent, gave nearly $15 million in federal contributions to Democrats during the 2023-24 election cycle.

That's nothing compared to Elon Musk's SpaceX, which gave $132 million to elect Republicans and GOP allies.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, November 6, 2024

London-based We Are Social has been named global social media agency of record for Danish multinational brewer Carlsberg Group.

The agency's U.K. office won the account following a competitive pitch, but the incumbent agency was not disclosed.

In a statement, We Are Social said it will work closely with Carlsberg's global media agency of record, Dentsu's iProspect, focusing on brands including Tuborg, Somersby, and 1664 Blanc.

We were impressed by We Are Socials combination of creative reputation and global reach, and their ability to bring new technologies into our social approach," Carlsberg Group Global Digital Marketing & Media Director Henna Mertsola said in a statement announcing the agency's win.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, November 6, 2024

Google and the Department of Justice this week submitted their respective findings of fact (FOF). A FOF is a legal document that clearly outlines the material facts in a case.

Arielle Garcia, director of intelligence at Check My Ads, uncovered the documents earlier this week. In a LinkedIn post, she pointed to the FOF document filed by Google on Monday. The DOJ filed its document Monday, but it became public on Tuesday.

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Donald Trump, the U.S. president elect, said in October that if reelected he would do something to make Google more fair. He told attendees at The Economic Club of Chicago that Google has too much power, but said breaking up the company is not the answer.

Trump sued Google during his first administration over allegations that the company violated antitrust law.

Trump will likely make significant changes at the DOJ, said Kevin Lee, executive chairman of Didit. As to his specific plans for Google, he may wait and see given his many high priority initiatives. New DOJ appointees may have an interest in stimulating competition in the AI and tech sector, a breakup would spur innovation.

Googles filing emphasized how its ad platform is open, allowing publishers to add other tech providers other than Google. Proving that Google is an open company would sway the judge to determine it does not operate as a monopoly.

The U.S. Department of Justice is pursing two antitrust monopoly cases against Google. In August, a U.S. federal judge ruled that Google illegally monopolized the online search industry, which the company intends to appeal the decision.

The second took place in September 2024, aimed at digital advertising. The DOJ claimed Google used its ad tools to secure deals with advertisers, and then took a large cut of the ad dollars. In this trial, the DOJ wanted to seek ways to force Google to break up parts of its business and divest some of its advertising technology.

A Google breakup would cause instability in the advertising industry. Some believe that Trump does not favor a shakeup but prefers stability. One advertiser who will remain anonymous believes the president elect will push the trial faster based on several factors.

Advertising industry executives have mixed thoughts.

"He may choose against breaking up Google, but the 18% payout to Apple for becoming its default search engine will need to stop," the advertiser said. "This is not positive for the economy, because that 18% surcharge to ensure a monopoly will get passed off to the consumer in the form of higher prices."

Reuters on Wednesday reported that Trump is expected to continue cases against Big Tech, several of which began in his first term, but his recent skepticism about a potential Google breakup highlights the power he will hold over how those cases are run.

Would breaking up Google, destroy the company? What you can do without breaking it up is make sure it's more fair," reported Reuters, citing Trump at an event in Chicago in October.

The trail for possible fixes is scheduled to take place in April 2025, with a final ruling likely in August.
Defibrillation Done Right: A newly optimized defibrillator model could further reduce energy consumption, alleviate pain, and minimize tissue damage.

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Ultra-low-energy defibrillation through adjoint optimization



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The future of defibrillation is here! Ultra-low-energy defibrillators can now save lives with less power. #defibrillation #defibrillators #medindia

Ultra-Low-Energy Defibrillation Devices Saves Lives and Electricity

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Ultra-low-energy defibrillation through adjoint optimization - (https://pubs.aip.org/aip/cha/article-abstract/34/11/113110/3318793/Ultra-low-energy-defibrillation-through-adjoint)

Defibrillators can now save lives while consuming 1,000 times less power, according to a new study. The findings of the study are published in a paper, by AIP Publishing ().A team of researchers from Sergio Arboleda University in Bogota, Colombia, and the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta utilized an electrophysiological computer model of the hearts electrical circuits to study the impact of the applied voltage field in various fibrillation-defibrillation scenarios. Their findings revealed that significantly less energy is required compared to what is currently used in advanced defibrillation techniques.The results were not at all what we expected. We learned the mechanism for ultra-low-energy defibrillation is not related to synchronization of the excitation waves like we thought, but is instead related to whether the waves manage to propagate across regions of the tissue which have not had the time to fully recover from a previous excitation, author Roman Grigoriev said. Our focus was on finding the optimal variation in time of the applied electric field over an extended time interval. Since the length of the time interval is not known a priori, it was incremented until a defibrillating protocol was found.The authors applied an adjoint optimization method, which aims to achieve a desired result, defibrillation in this case, by solving the electrophysiologic model for a given voltage input and looping backward through time to determine the correction to the voltage profile that will successfully defibrillate irregular heart activity while reducing the energy the most.Energy reduction in defibrillation devices is an active area of research. While defibrillators are often successful at ending dangerous arrhythmias in patients, they are painful and cause damage to the cardiac tissue.Existing low-energy defibrillation protocols yield only a moderate reduction in tissue damage and pain, Grigoriev said. Our study shows these can be completely eliminated. Conventional protocols require substantial power for implantable defibrillators-cardioverters (ICDs), and replacement surgeries carry substantial health risks.In a normal rhythm, electrochemical waves triggered by pacemaker cells at the top of the atria propagate through the heart, causing synchronized contractions. During arrhythmias, such as fibrillation, the excitation waves start to quickly rotate instead of propagating through and leaving the tissue, as in normal rhythm.Under some conditions, an excitation wave may or may not be able to propagate through the tissue. This is called the vulnerable window, Grigoriev said. "The outcome depends on very small changes in the timing of the excitation wave or very small external perturbations."The mechanism of ultra-low-energy defibrillation we uncovered exploits this sensitivity. Varying the electrical field profile over a relatively long time interval allows blocking the propagation of the rotating excitation waves through the sensitive regions of tissue, successfully terminating the irregular electric activity in the heart.Source-Eurekalert
Identifying new targets could pave the way for treating a common type of brain cancer known as glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma: The Most Aggressive Type of Brain Cancer



Fighting Brain Cancer: Glioblastomas strength is its adaptability; overcoming it is the greatest challenge. #glioblastoma #braincancer #medindia

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Fitness Screens Map State-Specific Glioblastoma Stem Cell Vulnerabilities



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Genome-Wide CRISPR-Cas9 Screens Expose Genetic Vulnerabilities and Mechanisms of Temozolomide Sensitivity in Glioblastoma Stem Cells



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CRISPR/Cas9 Screens in Glioblastoma Treatment

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Fitness Screens Map State-Specific Glioblastoma Stem Cell Vulnerabilities - (https://aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article-abstract/doi/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-23-4024/747393/Fitness-Screens-Map-State-Specific-Glioblastoma) Genome-Wide CRISPR-Cas9 Screens Expose Genetic Vulnerabilities and Mechanisms of Temozolomide Sensitivity in Glioblastoma Stem Cells - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124719303638)

Newly discovered targets may hold the key to effectively treating glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer. These targets were identified by screening for genetic vulnerabilities in patient-derived cancer stem cells, capturing the diversity seen in tumors, highlights a new study led by a team of researchers at the University of Toronto.Glioblastoma (as known as Glioblastoma multiforme or GBM) is the most common type of brain cancer in adults. It is also the most challenging to treat due to the resistance of glioblastoma cancer stem cells, from which tumors grow, to therapy. Cancer stem cells that survive after a tumor is treated go on to form new tumors that do not respond to further treatment.Glioblastoma tumors have evaded treatment thus far because their composition is highly variable both within and between tumors, said Graham MacLeod, co-first author on the study and senior research associate of U of Ts Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research. The tumors vary quite a bit from person to person, and even within a single tumor there are multiple cell types that harbor differences at the genetic level.The study was published recently in the journal).A key finding of the research is that the variability among glioblastoma cancer stem cells can be observed across a gradient between two cell subtypes. On one end is the developmental subtype, which resembles cells in which normal neurodevelopment has gone awry, and on the other end is the injury-response subtype, which is an inflammatory state. The aim of the study was to identify potential treatment methods to target each subtype, thereby tackling tumors in a more holistic manner.This study follows earlier research published inthat identified vulnerabilities in glioblastoma cancer stem cells that impact their sensitivity to chemotherapy ().The next step within this line of research was to study how vulnerabilities in glioblastoma cancer stem cells vary in a large and diverse set of patient-derived cell lines to identify the most common of these vulnerabilities in each of the subtypes.The team performed CRISPR/Cas9 screens in glioblastoma stem cell lines from 30 patients, making this the largest screening study of its kind. The patient-derived cell lines were generated by the lab of Peter Dirks, professor of surgery and molecular genetics and Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery at SickKids. Within the cancer stem cell samples, the team found genes responsible for the proliferation of the two cell subtypes that could be targeted to prevent tumor growth. Combining drugs to target both cell subtypes simultaneously could potentially make for a more effective glioblastoma treatment.A lot of the research on glioblastoma is conducted with a limited number of immortalized cell lines grown in serum, said Fatemeh Molaei, co-first author on the study and graduate student at the Donnelly Centre and the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. These cells arent the best model as they dont resemble true glioblastoma cells as much as we would like. The findings from our study represent what we see in a patients tumor more accurately because our cell lines are derived directly from a large group of patients. Its through our screens of this group of cell lines that we were able to identify the OLIG2 and MEK genes as drug targets for the developmental cell subtype and the FAK and B1-Integrin genes as targets for the injury-response subtype.Its been established that there are different subtypes of glioblastoma stem cells, but their differences are not being addressed in the clinic, said Stephane Angers, principal investigator on the study and director of the Donnelly Centre.In the future, our results will help in designing new treatments that are tailored to patients by targeting the predominant cell subtype, or both subtypes simultaneously, said Angers, who is also a professor in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and U of Ts Temerty Faculty of Medicine. The ability of glioblastoma to adapt to therapeutic treatment is its greatest strength and our biggest challenge. Our study increases our understanding of this type of cancer and proposes a different approach to treating it that will hopefully improve the prognosis of patients.Source-Eurekalert
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada, allows eligible individuals suffering from grievous and irremediable medical conditions to receive assistance in ending their lives.

Highlights: Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a procedure that allows patients to have peaceful death

All the eligibility criteria must be met to proceed with MAID

Euthanasia and MAID both provide peaceful death but the procedure is different

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Medical assistance in dying: Overview



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Did You Know?

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada allows eligible individuals suffering from #grievous_conditions to seek help in ending their life. #MAID #endoflifecare

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada allows eligible individuals suffering from #grievous_conditions to seek help in ending their life. #MAID #endoflifecare

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What are the Eligibility Criteria for MAID in Canada?

The individual must request MAID voluntarily.

The individual must be 18 years of age or older.

The individual must have the capacity to make health care decisions.

The individual must provide informed consent.

The individual must be eligible for publicly funded health care services in Canada.

The individual must be diagnosed with a grievous and irremediable medical condition.

Mental illness as the sole underlying medical condition is excluded

Grievous and Irremediable Medical Conditions

Have a serious illness, disease or disability

Be in an advanced state of decline that cannot be reversed

Experience unbearable physical or mental suffering from illness, disease, disability or state of decline that cannot be relieved under conditions that are acceptable by the patients

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How Does MAID Work?

A physician or nurse practitioner administers the medication that causes death. This is also called clinician-administered medical assistance in dying. A physician or nurse practitioner prescribes the medication to the eligible patient for self administration to cause death. This is called self-administered medical assistance in dying.

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Is Medical Assistance in Dying and Euthanasia Same?

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Medical Aid In Dying Is Not Assisted Suicide, Suicide or Euthanasia



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2022 Overview of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada

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Fourth Annual Report on MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING IN CANADA 2022



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Medical assistance in dying: Overview - (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/medical-assistance-dying.html) Medical Aid In Dying Is Not Assisted Suicide, Suicide or Euthanasia - (https://compassionandchoices.org/resource/not-assisted-suicide/) Fourth Annual Report on MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING IN CANADA 2022 - (https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:1af01e36-1245-4b0f-af24-5401db85259b)

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a process that allows a patient who is eligible to receive assistance in ending their life. MAID is available for individuals suffering from grievous and irremediable medical conditions.The federal Criminal Code of Canada permits MAID only under specific circumstances and rules. It involves a detailed assessment process to ensure all eligibility criteria are met and requires consent from the concerned individual. The conversation around MAID continues to evolve in Canada, reflecting ongoing discussions about ethics, healthcare rights, and personal autonomy ().To be eligible for MAID, all the following criteria must be metTo be considered as having a grievous and irremediable medical condition must meet all of the following criteria. They areThere is no need to have a fatal or terminal condition to be eligible for MAID.If the only illness the patient suffers is a mental illness then they are not eligible for MAID. But if the mental illness is present along with other conditions then the person is eligible for MAID.Anyone requesting MAID must satisfy all the above criteria to receive medical assistance in dying. Only medical practitioners are allowed to conduct assessments and provide medical assistance in the procedure.Two methods of medical assistance in dying are available in Canada.The patient must request MAID by themselves without any prior pressure from relatives or caretakers. Then informed consent must be given to receive medical assistance in dying after gaining all information needed for making decision.Medical assessment must be done by two different independent medical practitioners to request for MAID.Withdrawal of the request is also available, at any time, in any manner even if they are eligible for the procedure. A final consent is obtained before proceeding with the procedure.Medical assistance in dying and euthanasia is for a peaceful death for patients suffering from incurable diseases. The difference is about who administers the medication for death. Euthanasia is an intentional act where another person administers the drug to the patient. But in MAID the drug is taken by the patients ().Therefore both are different but their purpose is same. In some countries MAID is being legally practised, but euthanasia is illegal in most of the countries.In 2022, Canada recorded 13,241 medically assisted deaths (MAID), which accounted for 4.1% of all deaths. This represents a 31.2% increase from 2021. Since the introduction of MAID in 2016, a total of 44,958 individuals have utilized MAID.The majority of recipients were older, with an average age of 77, and were mostly males (51.4%). Cancer was the leading condition among those who received MAID, accounting for 63.0% of cases, followed by cardiovascular issues at 18.8% ().Most recipients, 77.6%, received palliative care or supportive care, while over a third, 36.8%, required disability support. Common reasons to seek MAID included the loss of the ability to participate in meaningful activities (86.3%) and difficulties with daily living tasks (81.9%). Family physicians conducted the majority of provisions, accounting for 67.7% of cases, with higher demand observed in urban areas.Of the 16,104 requests for MAID in 2022, 81.4% resulted in the provision of assistance. A continued rise in Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) cases in Canada underscores a significant shift in how end-of-life choices are being approached.This calls for ongoing dialogue, policy refinement, and compassionate support for individuals navigating complex end-of-life decisions, respecting their autonomy while providing comprehensive care options.Source-Medindia
Lauderdale County residents cast their votes in the 2024 elections Tuesday, joining their fellow Americans in electing the next President of the United States.

On the ballot, Democrat and current Vice President Kamala Harris faced off against former President Donald Trump on the presidential ticket.

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Also on the ballot was U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Tupelo, who was running for reelection against challenger Ty Pinkins.

A crowded race for state Supreme Court was also on Tuesdays ballot, with incumbent Jim Kitchens facing off against challengers Jenifer Branning, Byron Carter, cola James and Abby Gaile Robinson. Justices are elected to eight-year terms.

Uncontested races Tuesday include U.S. House Rep. Michael Guest, R-Brandon, who represents Mississippis 3rd Congressional District and ran unopposed for another two-year term, state Court of Appeals judge Jack Wilson, Whitney Hodges for Lauderdale County Tax Assessor, Chuck Overby, Awana Simmons and Russell Keene, and Lauderdale County School Board candidates Josh Thompson and Brad Pigott.

8:06 p.m.

With nine of 37 Lauderdale County precincts reporting, Harris leads Trump in the presidential race 3,207 to 2,089.

In the Senate race, Pinkin leads Wicker 3,044 to 2,252.

Jenifer Branning leads the state Supreme Court race with 2,226, followed by Jim Kitchens with 1,163.

8:25 p.m.

With 16 of 37 precincts reporting Donald Trump leads the presidential race with 5,049 votes, followed by Kamala Harris at 4,301.

Wicker leads Pinkins in the U.S. Senate race 5,271 to 4,064.

Jenifer Branning leads the state Supreme Court race with 4,790 votes. Jim Kitchens comes in second with 1,815 votes.

8:46 p.m.

Votes have been tallied from 34 of Lauderdale Countys 37 voting precincts, and Donald Trump leads in the presidential race with 12,829 votes to Kamala Harris 8,357 votes.

In the Senate race, Wicker leads Pinkins 13,156 to 7,974.

Jenifer Brannings lead for state Supreme Court has grown with 11,619 votes for her and second place Jim Kitchens standing at 4,009 votes.

9:50 p.m.

With all Lauderdale County precincts reporting, Donald Trump was by far the favorite in the presidential race with 14,418 votes. Kamala Harris was in second place with 8,968 votes.

Sen. Roger Wicker also put up big numbers against his challenger with 14,768 votes to Ty Pinkins 8,553.

Jenifer Branning maintained her lead over the rest of the candidates for state Supreme Court with 12,947 votes. Jim Kitchens was in second with 4,352.

Absentee ballots are still being tabulated and are not included in the precinct reports.

This story will be updated as more results come in.
The centre will support multiple manufacturing operations in the North and the Midlands

XPO, a provider of end-to-end logistics solutions in Europe, has opened a new warehouse site in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, with its partner Saint-Gobain UK.

The Wakefield Northern Distribution Centre is a dedicated operation for Saint-Gobain UK (SGUK) and designed to operate as a multi-functional site.

The warehouse can store 2.5m square metres of plasterboard and has 1,500 racking locations for palletised goods. The forklift trucks on site are all electric, further reducing CO2e emissions.

Other warehouse innovations in the pipeline include use of ATVs, robot sweepers, a proprietary warehouse management system, and stocktaking drones.

The latter development significantly impacts health and safety, thanks to the reduced need for colleagues to work at height.

The centre supports multiple manufacturing operations in the North and the Midlands, providing new distribution capability for Saint-Gobain UK brands.

Anika Sharma, Customer Service & Supply Chain Director, Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions UK, said: "This new site is strategically vital for us.

"The centre strengthens our existing logistics offering and allows us to expand and explore exciting new opportunities to benefit our customers.

The site has been leased long-term and provides a strategic stock-holding location for Saint-Gobains manufacturing facilities, including where XPO Logistics will offer several value-added services such as accelerating consolidated product delivery across multiple Saint-Gobain brands.

This will result in multiple Saint-Gobain brand products being delivered to the customer on one vehicle, as opposed to orders being received on multiple delivery vehicles, which was the case in the past.

Dan Myers, managing directorUK and Ireland, XPO Logistics, said: "It's great to see what our teams collectively have achieved with this new distribution centre.

"Working together, this facility is a significant step for Saint Gobain's supply chain, helping to support our partners sustainability agenda whilst enhancing its customer service."

The eventual aim is for the site to become a fulfilment centre stocking products from across the Saint-Gobain UK brand family that can be dispatched directly to the consumer.
The Navy has relieved the commanding officer of its Navy Leadership and Ethics Command in San Diego, a statement announced Tuesday.

Capt. Shawn Bailey of the Navy Ethics and Leadership Center relieved Capt. Lester Brown Jr. of his duties Tuesday "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command," the statement said.

According to its website, the schoolhouse command "provides training and education for officers not yet in command and courses designed as part of the Enlisted Leader Development (ELD) framework."

Read Next: Trump Won. Here's What That Could Mean for the Military.

Brown's relief marks at least the 11th firing of a commanding officer this year over a "loss of confidence in their ability to command."

Loss of confidence is a boilerplate reason provided by the Navy, and other military services, that can encompass anything from issues with the way the commander is treating their crew to personal actions like drunken driving.

A Navy official told Military.com that Brown was relieved over a matter of personal conduct for which there was a command investigation.

The official noted that the personal conduct did not involve allegations that would have impacted another sailor.

Navy officials have previously said the sea service relieved 15 commanding officers in 2023. There are currently around 1,600 commanding officers in the active-duty Navy across all communities.

According to a now-removed Navy biography, Brown is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy who served aboard the transport dock ship USS Anchorage, the frigate USS Sides, and the minesweeper USS Patriot.

He was the chief engineer aboard the cruiser USS Philippine Sea and served as both the executive officer and commanding officer of the destroyer USS McFaul.

His shore tours included stints as the director of the Fleet Command Center that is overseen by the commander of United States Fleet Forces and with the Lessons Learned Division at the Navy's Warfare Development Command.

Brown assumed command of the Navy Leadership and Ethics Command in September 2022.

His decorations include five awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, four awards of the Navy Commendation Medal, and two awards of the Navy Achievement Medal, as well as various unit and campaign awards.

According to the Navy's statement, Capt. Richard Zeber, from Naval Leadership and Ethics Center Newport, has been temporarily assigned to head the San Diego command, while Brown has been reassigned to Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Related: Navy Commander, Executive Officer of Japan-Based Ship Repair Facility Relieved
Republican Navy SEAL veteran Tim Sheehy defeated Democratic Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester in Tuesday's Senate race in Montana.

Sheehy's victory over the three-term incumbent pads the majority Republicans will have in the Senate in the next session of Congress and potentially shakes up military and veterans policy going forward as one of the upper chamber's most prominent Democratic voices on those issues leaves.

"I've been serving our country since I was 18, because when your country calls, you must answer, and I am incredibly honored by your support and the trust you've placed in me to fight for you and serve Montana as your next U.S. senator," Sheehy posted on social media Wednesday, a few hours after The Associated Press called the race for him.

Read Next: Trump Won. Here's What That Could Mean for the Military.

With Tester a leading voice on veterans policy in the Senate and Sheehy's status as a veteran himself, veterans issues played a key role in their campaigns as both candidates searched for an edge in a race seen as vital to which party would control the Senate next year.

Montana has the third-highest veterans population per capita in the country at 9% of the state's adults, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Sheehy was winning by about 8.6% with 93% of votes counted on Wednesday afternoon, according to the AP.

Sheehy's campaign materials prominently featured references to him being a SEAL, and he regularly mentioned his military service in campaign ads and speeches.

But aspects of his military record also came under question over the course of the campaign, particularly his account of getting shot in the arm in Afghanistan.

While Sheehy said in campaign speeches and in a memoir that he was shot in Afghanistan, The Washington Post uncovered earlier this year that he told a National Park Service ranger in 2015 that he accidentally shot himself when his gun dropped on the ground during a visit to Glacier National Park.

After the Post's reporting, Sheehy maintained that he injured himself in a fall and that he lied to the park ranger when the old bullet wound was discovered because the Afghanistan shooting was friendly fire from a fellow SEAL, and he was worried disclosing that could instigate a military investigation, even though he had already retired from active duty at that time.

As Tuesday's election drew closer and Sheehy pulled ahead in polls, the park ranger and a SEAL with whom Sheehy served came forward to dispute Sheehy's account on the record. Pressed in an interview over the weekend on the inconsistencies in his story, Sheehy said there are no medical records that would support his account of being shot in Afghanistan and also suggested it was an Afghan ally who shot him, not a fellow SEAL.

Meanwhile, Tester throughout the campaign cited his accomplishments as chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, including helping shepherd the sweeping toxic exposure legislation known as the PACT Act into law.

In addition to leading the Veterans Affairs Committee, Tester has been the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subpanel for the last three years. In that job, he has been a strong supporter of bulking up the Pentagon budget beyond the Biden administration's requests.

But Tester's record on veterans and military issues and his personal brand as a moderate were not enough to save his seat in a red wave that also saw former President Donald Trump sweep back into the presidency.

"Look, I'm very, very blessed," Tester said after his defeat, according to the AP. "I've had a great 18 years in the United States Senate. I've met some incredible people along the way and had the opportunity to do some great things to help move this state forward, move the country forward."

Related: The SEAL vs. the Chairman: Why Veterans Issues Matter in the Montana Senate Race
LONDON  The verdict of U.S. voters was more decisive than most pollsters and pundits had predicted. Now the world waits to see whether the election of Donald Trump as president for a second time will prove as destabilizing as many American allies fear.

Trump secured victory Wednesday after surpassing the 270 electoral college votes needed to win. In a victory speech before the official declaration, he vowed to put our country first and bring about a golden age for America.

Trumps first term saw him insult and alienate many of the United States longstanding allies. His return to the White House, four years after losing office to President Joe Biden, has huge consequences for everything from global trade to climate change to multiple crises and conflicts around the world.

Trump has pledged to ramp up a tariff feud with China, the United States growing economic and strategic rival. In the Middle East, Trump has pledged, without saying how, to end the conflicts between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah. He has also vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office  something Ukraine and its supporters fear would be on terms favorable to Moscow.

Heres how leaders and others around the world are reacting:

NATO Is Nervous and Ukraine Is Anxious

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte congratulated Trump, saying that I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO in the face of a growing number of challenges globally, including the increasing alignment of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

Trump was a strong critic of the North Atlantic military alliance during his first term, accusing its other members of failing to pull their weight. Earlier this year he said the United States would not defend NATO members that dont meet defense spending targets.

Rutte emphasized the positive, praising Trump for his work persuading member states to ramp up defense spending and saying NATO was now stronger, larger, and more united.

Americas allies are  belatedly, some say  grappling with what to do if they cannot depend on the U.S. for their defense.

The existential concern for Europeans has been what happens to Ukraine, what happens to Europes security, what happens to Americas commitment to NATO? said Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the U.S. and Americas program at the think tank Chatham House. Will America be there for Europe?

The U.S. is by far Kyivs biggest military backer as it battles Russian invasion, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, like Rutte, said he welcomed Trumps peace through strength approach.

This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer, Zelenskyy wrote on social media. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership.

No congratulations were forthcoming from Moscow, where President Vladimir Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, declared that Russia-U.S. relations were at the lowest point in history.

European Congratulations Mask Deep Divisions

European leaders rushed to congratulate Trump even before his victory was officially declared  some more effusively than others.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a historic election victory and said that as the closest of allies, the U.K. and U.S. will continue to work together to protect our shared values of freedom and democracy.

Like governments of U.S. allies around the world, Starmers center-left administration has worked hard to forge ties with Trump and his team. Starmer had dinner with Trump at Trump Tower in September.

Frances centrist President Emmanuel Macron offered congratulations, respect and ambition. Social democratic German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Trump and said he wanted continued close ties, even if surely many things will be different under a Donald Trump-led administration.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, whose far right-led government is in some ways close to Trump politically, said Italy and the U.S. had a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even more.

European leaders are keen to stress that the trans-Atlantic relationship transcends individual politicians, but Trumps protectionist economic leanings are causing concern. During his last term he slapped tariffs on European steel and aluminum, roiling the blocs economy.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that the EU and the U.S. "are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens.

Europes populist politicians, meanwhile, welcomed the victory of a politician they consider a kindred spirit.

They threatened him with prison, they took his property, they wanted to kill him ... and he still won, said Hungarys nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who will hold a summit in Budapest for some 50 European leaders on Thursday.

A Middle East in Turmoil Awaits Trumps Moves

During his first term, Trump pushed to remake the Middle East by reconciling Israel and Saudi Arabia, and all eyes now are on how he intervenes in the regions raging conflicts between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trumps election win historys greatest comeback.

Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! he wrote on social media.

Trump and Netanyahu  a fellow conservative nationalist -- had a tight relationship during the former presidents first term, but the ties soured when Netanyahu congratulated President Joe Biden for winning in 2020.

Netanyahus inner circle hopes Trump will allow Israel free rein against its enemies, but the president-elect is famously unpredictable, and the Israeli leader faces strong opposition at home. On Tuesday he fired popular Defense Minister Yoav Gallant amid divisions over the conduct of the war, a surprise announcement that sparked protests across the country.

Hamas issued a terse statement saying our position on the new U.S. administration depends on its positions and practical behavior towards our Palestinian people, their legitimate rights and their just cause.

Washington is one of the key mediators of so-far unsuccessful Gaza cease-fire talks and has publicly accused Hamas of turning down several deals. Hamas has denied this, blaming Israel for demanding last minute changes to the proposals.

The Challenge of China Still Looms

There was no immediate reaction from the Chinese government to Trumps victory, but analysts were pessimistic, citing the likelihood of escalating tariffs and an intensifying confrontation over Taiwan.

It is not all dark, but there are more challenges than opportunities, said Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University in Beijing. We are clear about the challenges. As for opportunities, we are yet to see them clearly.

Long-seething territorial disputes in the South China Sea are a delicate fault line in the U.S.-China rivalry in Asia and likely will remain a major foreign policy concern for the next American president.

Phillips OBrien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews, said Washington's allies in the Indo-Pacific, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and even Australia, can no longer look for the U.S.A. to be a reliable partner in defense.

U.S. allies in Asia, apprehensive about Chinas growing clout, clamored for Trumps attention in congratulatory messages.

I hope to closely cooperate with President-elect Trump to further elevate Japan-U.S. alliance and relations to even higher levels, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters, saying he hoped to speak to the president-elect soon.

Tensions between the Koreas are at their highest point in years as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has repeatedly flaunted his expanding nuclear weapons and missile programs, while providing Russia with munitions and troops to support its war in Ukraine.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol wrote on X: Under your strong leadership, the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance and America will shine brighter, using the initials of South Koreas formal name, the Republic of Korea.

Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this story.
If the past is any indication, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Veterans Affairs is anyone's game.

In 2017, just 10 days before his inauguration, Trump chose Dr. David Shulkin, then the VA's under secretary for health under President Barack Obama, for the top spot. When Trump dismissed Shulkin a little over a year later, he nominated his White House physician, then-Navy Adm. Ronny Jackson, for the post.

After Jackson withdrew from the process amid allegations of professional misconduct -- some of which were later substantiated by the Pentagon's Office of Inspector General -- Trump surprised Acting Secretary Robert Wilkie with the assignment during a public address at the White House.

Read Next: Trump Won. Here's What That Could Mean for the Military.

"Wilkie, who, by the way, has done an incredible job at the VA, and I'll be informing him in a little while -- he doesn't know this yet -- that we're going to be putting his name up for nomination to be secretary of the Veterans Administration [sic]," Trump said.

Former VA Secretary Shulkin said Tuesday that, given this history, Trump likely will "throw names out there" and ultimately decide on his own who should lead the executive branch's second-largest department.

"It's a fool's errand to pick specific people. ... I'm a case in point. Nobody really saw it coming," Shulkin said during an interview with Military.com.

Nonetheless, some potential candidates may be eager to return to continue reforms started under the first Trump administration or perhaps a newcomer will lead the agency in a new direction.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment by publication, but several media outlets and think tanks, including the progressive Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute, have named several individuals as possible VA secretaries:

Robert Wilkie: Wilkie served as VA secretary from July 2018 to January 2021, leading the department through the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. An Air Force Reserve colonel who also served in the Navy Reserve, Wilkie worked as a congressional staffer and appointee in the Bush administration and later joined the Pentagon as the under secretary for personnel and readiness. As VA secretary, he largely was responsible for implementing the Mission Act and overseeing the VA's support for the public health system during the pandemic. His tenure was marked, however, by an investigation into his mishandling of a congressional staffer's complaint that she was sexually assaulted at the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center. A VA Office of Inspector General investigation found that Wilkie disparaged the woman, a Navy veteran, and sought to undermine her credibility.

Dan Gade: A retired Army lieutenant colonel, Gade is also a West Point graduate and former tank company commander who lost his right leg in a roadside bomb blast in Iraq in 2005. An advocate for disabled veterans, he is the author of a policy book, "Wounding Warriors: How Bad Policy Is Making Veterans Sicker and Poorer." He served as head of Virginia's Department of Veterans Services from 2022 to January 2024, appointed in 2022 by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Peter O'Rourke: A Navy and Air Force veteran, O'Rourke has worked in the defense industry and served as an adviser to Trump's first transition team on veterans issues before joining the VA in 2017 to serve as the head of its newly created Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection. He worked as acting secretary during Wilkie's nomination process and resigned from the department in 2018. A 2019 VA Office of Inspector General investigation found that the OAWP had "misused its authority to fire low-level staffers, retaliate against whistleblowers, and hurt the very veterans the agency was created to help."

Darin Selnick: A senior adviser to the conservative Concerned Veterans for America advocacy group, Selnick was a member of a 2016 blue-ribbon panel, the Commission on Care, which studied ways to improve VA health care. Selnick, a retired Air Force officer, was co-author of a "strawman" report to the commission that proposed giving veterans access to private health services and closing VA health facilities -- a model similar to a veterans-only Medicare program. He later served as a senior adviser to Wilkie when Wilkie was VA secretary. Selnick has said repeatedly in interviews that he is interested in ensuring that veterans get timely, quality care, either at a VA facility or in the community.

Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale: The Washington, D.C., publication Politico has floated Rosendale, a hard-line Republican who did not seek reelection and has been highly critical of the VA, particularly its disability claims system and the rollout of its new Oracle Cerner electronic health records system, which remains at a standstill as the result of glitches and challenges that have affected patient care.

A number of people were considered following Shulkin's departure, and any one of them could make the short list again.

Those included Ron Nicol, Naval Academy graduate and former submariner, who led the agency turnover team during the first Trump transition; Army veteran and congressional Rep. Brian Mast of Florida; and Samuel Spagnolo, president of the National Association of Veterans Affairs Physicians and Dentists, according to an Associated Press report in 2018.

Shulkin said that whoever is in charge will need to deal with several critical issues. In addition to the electronic health record, the VA must address its infrastructure challenges, which include aging buildings and underutilized facilities in locations where veterans no longer reside; problems with the community care system and access to care; a workforce that is expansive and not supported for maximum efficiency; and a benefits program that is expensive, bureaucratic and a burden for veterans, he said.

And overall, it needs to be mindful of its budget.

"Any new administration coming in is going to inherit a $15 billion deficit on top of a record budget, so this is a significant issue they are going to have to figure out," he added.

Related: Canceled Appointments, Unexplained Mixups  Veterans Facing Challenges Getting VA Mental Health Care
President Donald Trump's election win likely means the creation of a Space National Guard under his administration after he made creating the new reserve force a notable promise during his campaign.

Trump, who will soon be the second president in history who will have served two nonconsecutive terms in office, said during a National Guard Association of the United States conference in August that "as president, I will sign historic legislation creating a Space National Guard."

The idea has been strongly opposed by the Air Force, Space Force and President Joe Biden's administration, but it has been heavily pushed by bipartisan groups of lawmakers and National Guard lobbyists.

Read Next: Trump Won. Here's What That Could Mean for the Military.

The National Guard Association of the United States, or NGAUS, told Military.com on Tuesday that it hasn't forgotten that promise.

"We look forward to working with the new administration to make the Space National Guard a reality," retired Maj. Gen. Francis McGinn, the association president, said in an emailed statement.

Debates over the creation of a Space National Guard aren't new, but received renewed support over the past year, including from the now president-elect.

Meanwhile, Space Force officials have pushed for a different part-time, active-duty service model -- which was signed into law in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act -- instead of a traditional Guard or reserve model.

The issue reached a tipping point when an Air Force proposal earlier this year opted to transfer Air National Guard units with space missions into the active-duty Space Force, bringing swift condemnation from every governor in the country and bipartisan groups of lawmakers.

There have been prior legislative proposals, from lawmakers such as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., aiming to create a Space National Guard, but they never made it far in Congress.

Trump told the NGAUS conference that Rubio is "very much a fan of yours" and added the lawmaker "loves" the plan of creating a Space National Guard.

Spokespeople for President-elect Trump and Rubio did not return requests for comment Wednesday asking about the idea.

The White House Office of Management and Budget, under President Biden, said in 2021 it "strongly opposes" the creation of a Space National Guard, saying it would balloon costs up to $500 million annually. The National Guard Bureau has pushed back on that figure, claiming it would be $250,000 to replace Air National Guard units with space missions' name tapes, unit flags and signs.

Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who focuses on space policy, told Military.com in an interview Wednesday that the creation of a Space National Guard faces its best probability under a Trump administration -- but added that it's not a guarantee.

"I think the odds have gone up that a Space National Guard gets created, but I think it's still not a sure thing," Harrison said. "A lot of things get promised during campaigns where the candidate really has no intention of following through, and so this could be one of those things that he said when he was in front of an interest group, and he knew that it's what they wanted to hear."

Harrison added that the creation of a Space Guard would likely have to find its way into a future version of the annual National Defense Authorization Act legislation created by Congress and, if it does, it likely wouldn't be a big enough issue to warrant a veto.

Under Trump's first term, he signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that created the Space Force -- a promise he had made at prior political rallies and an initiative that he's continued to say was a major victory during his earlier time as commander in chief.

How the president-elect plans to utilize the military remains to be seen, but Trump has been vocal on the campaign trail about tapping it to respond to domestic "enemies from within" and fighting against "woke" ideology within the ranks, Military.com reported.

Harrison added that the Space Force could view Trump's reelection as an asset because of his role in creating the branch and therefore his understanding of the service's importance.

"It's probably a good thing, overall, for the Space Force that you've got a president that [has] bought into their existence," Harrison said. "Whereas in the last administration, they appeared to not really understand that a Space Force had been created and weren't necessarily bought into it at the beginning, but then pretty quickly came around to it."

Related: Trump Vows to Create Space National Guard as Issue Becomes a Political Lightning Rod Among States
TEL AVIV, Israel  Donald Trump will return to the U.S. presidency at a time of unprecedented conflict and uncertainty in the Middle East. He has vowed to fix it.

But Trump's history of strong support for Israel coupled with his insistence during the campaign that the war in Gaza should end quickly, the isolationist forces in the Republican party and his penchant for unpredictability raise a mountain of questions over how his second presidency will affect the region at this pivotal moment.

Barring the achievement of elusive cease-fires before the inauguration, Trump will ascend to the highest office in the country as a brutal war in Gaza still rages and Israel presses its offensive against the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group. A conflagration between Iran and Israel shows no signs of abating  nor do Israels conflicts with Iranian proxies in Iraq and Yemen  and Irans nuclear program remains a top concern for Israel.

Trump says he wants peace, but how?

Throughout his campaign, Trump has vowed to bring peace to the region.

Get it over with and lets get back to peace and stop killing people, Trump said of the conflict in Gaza in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in April.

Israel launched the war in response to Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, when militants killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250, with dozens still in Gaza. Israels offensive has killed more than 43,000 people, according to Gaza health officials, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, though they say more than half of the dead are women and children.

The war has ignited a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, driven Israel into increasing international isolation, with two world courts examining charges of war crimes, and has sparked a wave of protests on American campuses that have fueled debate over the U.S. role as Israel's key military and diplomatic supporter.

International mediators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have tried unsuccessfully to bring about a lasting cease-fire.

Yet Trump has repeatedly urged to Israel finish the job and destroy Hamas  but hasnt said how.

Does finish the job mean you have a free hand to act in dealing with the remnants of Hamas? Or does finish the job mean the war has to come to an end now? asked David Makovsky, director of the program on Arab-Israel Relations at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Thats part of the enigmas here."

Netanyahu is pinning his hopes on a pro-Israel Trump administration

Uncertainty also shrouds how Trump will engage with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During his first term, Trump offered broad support for the Israeli leaders hard-line policies, including unilaterally withdrawing from a deal meant to rein in Irans nuclear program that Netanyahu long opposed.

Trump also recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital, bolstering its claim over the disputed city, and Israels annexation of the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. He presented a peace plan with the Palestinians widely seen as favoring Israel. Settlement-building in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, seen as an obstacle to Palestinian statehood, surged under his presidency.

Trump also helped secure agreements between Israel and four Arab countries to normalize ties that were not contingent on progress toward Palestinian statehood  a major victory for Netanyahu. The Israeli leader hopes to replicate those successes with a deal with Saudi Arabia.

The leaders had a falling out after Netanyahu congratulated President Joe Biden following the 2020 elections  a move Trump viewed as a slight from his loyal ally, though Netanyahu visited Trump in Florida this year.

Under Biden, the U.S. has been critical at times and slowed some weapons deliveries in response to Israel's conduct in Gaza. Netanyahu is likely hoping that Trump's return will loosen any restraints on Israel to pursue its war goals. The American leader could also work to challenge a potential international war crimes arrest warrant for Netanyahu. And a smoother relationship with Washington could help improve the Israeli leader's own popular support.

He has the most pro-Israel record of any president, said Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington. The hope is here that therell be more of the same.

Neither Netanyahu nor Trump has a clear vision for postwar Gaza

Netanyahu leads a far-right government whose key members have vowed to topple his rule if the war in Gaza ends with anything short of Hamas' destruction. They support resettling Gaza and are enthusiastic about a Trump presidency  and their influence will only grow now that Netanyahu has fired his defense minister over his more pragmatic approach to the conflict.

Their grip on the government and over Netanyahus political future helps explain why Netanyahu has not spelled out a clear vision for a postwar Gaza.

The Biden administration has favored having the war-ravaged territory governed by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank. Netanyahu has rejected that idea and insists on the right for the Israeli military to operate there.

Trump has not outlined a clear vision, although he has said developers could make Gaza better than Monaco because it has the best location in the Middle East, the best water, the best everything.

Diana Buttu, a former adviser to Palestinian leaders, said a lack of a firm U.S. vision for Gaza, coupled with a politically powerful Israeli far right, made the future for people in Gaza and for Palestinians in general grim.

I dont see this as a president who is going to care about Palestinians, she said.

Will Trump help defend Israel against Iran or choose America first?

In Lebanon, Israel is battling the Iranian-backed Hezbollah with both a ground invasion and strikes on Hezbollah targets. The militant group has fired thousands of rockets and drones at Israeli communities, killing dozens and displacing 60,000. Israels offensive, meanwhile, has displaced over 1 million people in Lebanon and killed more than 3,000.

U.S. mediation efforts there too have been fruitless. Trump, who has a Lebanese-American son-in-law, recently posted on the social platform X that as president he would stop the suffering and destruction in Lebanon.

But a key question is how much Trump will be swayed by his America First instincts.

The U.S. has played a central role in diplomatic efforts throughout the war, and an even more robust role in helping Israel defend itself against Iran and its allies.

The U.S. has sent military assets to the region, helped Israel thwart two missile attacks by Iran and even has U.S. soldiers in Israel to operate a sophisticated air defense system. But any effective Israeli attack on Irans nuclear facilities, a target it avoided in its strike last month, will likely need greater U.S. military involvement.

Accusations that Iran has hacked campaign associates and concerns about the potential for Tehran to carry out violence against Trump or members of his administration could deepen his antipathy toward the country.

While Trump has indicated he will focus on domestic affairs, the Mideast could be an outlier.

He enjoys a wide base of support from evangelical Christians, who are staunchly pro-Israel, and his son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner was a prominent voice in support of the country in his first administration.

As Trump is likely to navigate between those forces mostly based on his intuition," said Udi Sommer, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations at Tel Aviv University, "uncertainty will likely define his approach.
Former President Donald Trump's election victory Tuesday and upcoming return to the White House next year means he will have the opportunity to enact plans to use the military against what he calls domestic "enemies from within" and reshape policies and personnel in his image.

While Trump has been vague on exactly how he would carry out his plans, he spoke repeatedly on the campaign trail about using the military for domestic purposes, including to help carry out mass deportations, target political rivals, and quell any protests while he's in office.

He, like other Republicans, has also railed against so-called "woke" military policies -- such as those aimed at making the military more welcoming to minorities, LGBTQ+ people and women -- and vowed to fire generals and others whom he considers "woke."

Read Next: Soldier Critically Injured During Gaza Pier Mission Dies at 23

Trump's first four years in office could provide a preview of how he will use the military in his upcoming term.

In summer 2020, during the height of mass racial justice protests across the country, Trump considered deploying active-duty troops against protesters. But he was stymied by opposition from his own officials, including then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper, whom Trump later fired, in part because of Esper's opposition to invoking a law called the Insurrection Act to deploy troops against protesters.

With Trump expected to pick only loyalists to fill his administration this time, the roadblocks that prevented him from acting on his desires last time aren't likely to be there. And while service members are compelled by their oaths not to follow unlawful orders, few safeguards exist to actually prevent an unlawful order from being carried out.

Among those whom Trump has talked about targeting with the military are "the enemy within," including "the fascists, the Marxists, the communists, the people that we have that are actually running the country."

"Those people are more dangerous -- the enemy from within -- than Russia and China and other people," Trump said at an October rally. Specific people he's named as enemies include Democratic politicians such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff of California, who was elected to the Senate on Tuesday night.

Trump has also talked about using the military to help carry out his plan for deporting tens of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. In an interview with Time magazine earlier this year, Trump said he would largely tap the National Guard, though he left open the possibility of using other elements of the military.

A spokesperson for Trump told Fox News on Wednesday that Trump will launch his deportation operations on his first day in office.

Meanwhile, Trump has said he will revive a plan he first enacted at the end of his first term that would allow him to easily fire nonpolitical civil servants and replace them with political appointees. Civilians working at the Pentagon would be among the bureaucrats at risk, with Trump's campaign platform vowing to "overhaul federal departments and agencies, firing all of the corrupt actors in our National Security and Intelligence apparatus."

The 2024 GOP platform also promised that Republicans would "get woke Left-wing Democrats fired" from the military "as soon as possible" if they won the election. And when asked at a rally in October about creating a commission to root out "woke" generals and policies, Trump backed the idea. The rallygoer who asked Trump about the commission was former Space Force officer Matthew Lohmeier, who was fired after claiming on a podcast that Marxist ideologies were infiltrating the military, and Trump at the rally also agreed to appoint Lohmeier to the commission.

Republicans have often struggled to name specific, Biden administration-initiated diversity policies and training when claiming those are distracting from warfighting preparations. But some previous Republican targets that Trump could go after include shuttering diversity offices and ending the long-standing practice of affirmative action at military academies.

Trump has also said he'd revive former names of bases that honored Confederate generals, particularly Fort Bragg, which was renamed Fort Liberty. The renaming was done at Congress' direction, on a bipartisan basis, to stop glorifying traitors who fought against the U.S. during the Civil War.

Another policy Republicans consider woke that could be axed by Trump is open transgender service. Trump banned transgender troops in his first term, but President Joe Biden lifted the ban quickly after taking office.

Republicans have also been itching to revoke a policy implemented by the Biden administration that allows service members to take leave and get reimbursed if they need to travel to seek an abortion.

Other big changes at the Pentagon expected to come under Trump include U.S. support for Ukraine. The United States has supplied Ukraine with billions of dollars of weapons since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

But Trump has expressed skepticism of continuing that, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and called for Ukraine to make a deal with Russia that gives "up a little bit."

Trump and Republicans have also vowed to bulk up the defense budget, something he did in his first term.

The 2024 GOP platform pledges to "invest in cutting-edge research and advanced technologies, including an Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield," referring to the Israeli missile defense system that is designed for short-range missiles from Israel's neighbors and so would be impractical to defend the U.S. from the threats it faces from long-range missiles from its adversaries.

Related: What Happens if the President Issues a Potentially Illegal Order to the Military?
ALPENA, MI  This 108-year-old shipwreck rests under seven feet of water in Lake Huron after it was moved 35 years ago.

The James H. Hall was moved in 1989 to save it from dredging in the area where it sank, according to records kept by the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. By the time it was moved, dredging had already destroyed the bow of the wooden, three-masted schooner.

RELATED: November is the deadliest month on the Great Lakes  and its not just about the storms

James H. Hall ran aground on a stone crib on Nov. 6, 1916, as it swerved to enter the Thunder Bay River in Alpena, records say. It was carrying a lumber cargo consisting of 81,000 feet of hardwood.

This historic photo shows the James H. Hall, a wooden three-masted schooner that wrecked at the entrance to the Thunder Bay River on Nov. 6, of 1916.Historical photo via Great Lakes Maritime Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library

The ship rested at that spot for 73 years before a local historic preservation group refloated it and moved it to a safer location, records say.

If you were to explore the wreck today, youd find it consists of a lightly constructed lower bilge that runs 56 feet, according to the marine sanctuary. The bow is entirely absent due to previous dredging.

RELATED: Crew members floated in Lake Huron on deck pieces for 36 hours after 1872 shipwreck

James H. Hall now rests in front of the Alpena Yacht Club at GPS coordinates N4503.444 W8325.764.

The marine sanctuary has launched a social media campaign dubbed November Wrecks, in which it is sharing information about all its November shipwrecks on the day they happened.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, designated in 2000, is a 4,300-square-mile preserve that protects more than 100 historic shipwrecks in Lake Huron off the Michigan coast. It was the first marine sanctuary in the Great Lakes. Shipwrecks are available for recreation, including diving, snorkeling and paddling.
DEARBORN, MI  A Michigan woman is facing a second-degree murder charge for allegedly driving at an extremely high rate of speed and disregarding a red light, resulting in a car crash that killed a brilliant and passionate doctor, according to prosecutors.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged a 25-year-old from Taylor in the July 19 crash that killed Dr. Ghada Mustapha, 33, of Dearborn.

By every account, Ghada Mustapha was a young, brilliant and passionate doctor who was just beginning her medical career, Worthy said. She had hopes, dreams and goals for herself and her family. The alleged actions of this defendant took away her life  along with those hopes, dreams, and goals.

RELATED: 1 dead, 1 injured after speeding driver runs red light in Dearborn

At 7:59 a.m. on July 19, Dearborn Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Nowlin Street for a reported crash, according to the prosecutors office. Officers found the defendants vehicle overturned in the median of Michigan Avenue. Mustaphas vehicle was facing northbound on eastbound Michigan Avenue. Medics pronounced Mustapha deceased at the scene. The defendant was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

It is alleged that while travelling eastbound on Michigan Avenue, the defendant drove her vehicle at an extremely high rate of speed and disregarded the red light at Nowlin Street before crashing into Mustaphas vehicle, resulting in her death, according to the prosecutors office.

The defendant is expected to be arraigned in the 19th District Court. Her name is being withheld pending arraignment.
(c) 2024 , The Washington Post  Amber Phillips

While president-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly disavowed it, its very likely that at least some of Project 2025 will come to fruition in his second administration.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Grand Rapids-area voters are casting their ballots for several high-stakes local, state, and federal races and local tax requests.

One of the most highly anticipated races will be the presidential race between former Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

Polls opened for Election Day voting at 7 a.m. Tuesday and will close at 8 p.m. Absentee ballots must be returned to voters local clerks offices by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.

On Tuesday night, scroll below to see live unofficial results for contested races in Kent and Ottawa counties. Refresh this page for the most recent unofficial results Kent and Ottawa county election officials have reported.

RELATED: 6 Grand Rapids-area races to watch on Election Day, Nov. 5

Grand Rapids residents will choose a new mayor, with Rosalynn Bliss being term limited, and two new city commissioners.

There is also a competitive, nationally watched race for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and three candidates hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, to represent West Michigans 3rd Congressional District.

Additionally, a number of school and governmental proposals will be considered, including a library millage, school operating millage, bike path millage, and several requests to change a city charter.

RELATED: Your guide to candidates, proposals on the Nov. 5 election ballot in Kent, Ottawa counties

Once all ballots are tallied and the race has been called in each county, the winning position will be noted below in bold. A precinct is considered fully counted or fully reporting when all in-person and absentee ballots are accounted for and represented in the tally.

Results will be updated below as they become available after polls close at 8 p.m.

Presidential Race

Congressional Races

U.S. Senate

2nd Congressional District

3rd Congressional District

State House Races

43rd District

78th District

79th District

80th District

81st District

82nd District

83rd District

84th District

85th District

86th District

88th District

89th District

90th District

91st District

Kent County Races

GRAND RAPIDS CITY COMMISSION

Grand Rapids Mayor

David LaGrand - 50,145 votes (62.62%)

Senita Lenear - 28,884 votes (36.07%)

74 of 74 precincts fully reporting

Grand Rapids City Commission 1st Ward

AliciaMarie Belchak - 12,548 votes (54.95%)

Dean Pacific - 9,846 votes (43.12%)

23 of 23 precincts fully reporting

Grand Rapids City Commission 3rd Ward

Bing Goei - 10,034 votes (40.04%)

Marshall Kilgore - 14,479 votes (57.77%)

Grand Rapids Charter Township Supervisor

REP Michael J. DeVries - 6,371 votes (51.09%)

Justin Sheldon - 6,071 votes (48.69%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Grand Rapids Charter Township Clerk

DEM Teri Stapleton - 5,822 votes (47.05%)

REP Edward J. Robinette - 6,533 votes (52.79%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Grand Rapids Charter Township Treasurer

DEM Krystina Orczechowski - 5,786 votes (47.04%)

REP David A. Van Dyke - 6,490 votes (52.76%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Grand Rapids Board of Education

Arick Davis - 11,799 votes (13.43%)

Jordoun Eatman - 11,424 (13% votes)

Amber Kilpatrick - 12,237 votes (13.92%)

Norma Lopez (suspended) - 6,834 votes (7.78%)

Eleanor Moreno - 14,649 votes (16.67%)

Ismalis Nunez - 10,258 votes (11.67%)

Tonya Williams - 8,535 votes (9.71%)

Richard Williamson - 11,793 votes (13.42%)

Precincts 74 of 74 fully reporting

Kent County Prosecutor

Chris Becker - 182,788 votes (53.63%)

Steve Draft-Peppin - 156,830 votes (46.01%)

Precincts 240 of 240 fully reporting

Kent County Clerk

Lisa Posthumus Lyons - 186,709 votes (54.44%)

Scott Urbanowski - 154,975 votes (45.18%)

Precincts 240 of 240 fully reporting

Kent County Treasurer

Peter MacGregor - 182,866 votes (53.65%)

Daniel NKombo - 156,789 votes (46%)

Precincts 240 of 240 fully reporting

Kent County Drain Commissioner

Ken Yonker - 178,780 votes (52.58%)

Matthew M. Morey - 159,785 votes (47%)

Precincts 240 of 240 fully reporting

Rockford City Council

Dale Dalman - 1,467 votes (20.02%)

Cheryl C. Scales - 1,785 votes (24.36%)

Terry Konkle - 1,669 votes (22.78%)

Timothy Matusak -1,183 votes (16.14%)

Ed Ross - 1,153 votes (15.73%)

2 of 2 precincts fully reporting

Wyoming City Council

Robert Kilgo - 12,525 votes (47.19%)

Sheldon DeKryger - 13,249 votes (49.92%)

Ted Courter - 2,710 votes (30.38%)

Robert Postema - 5,990 votes (67.15%)

38 of 38 precincts fully reporting

Ada Township Supervisor

REP Thomas Korth - 3,880 votes (97.93%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Ada Township Clerk

DEM Catherine Swanson -1,821 votes (36.07%)

REP Jo DeMarco - 3,209 votes (63.56%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Ada Township Treasurer

REP Kevin W. Moran - 3,893 votes (98.06%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Ada Township Trustee

REP Daniel Hurwitz - 3,364 votes (24.32%)

REP Robert Proos - 3,312 votes (23.94%)

Daniel L. Carter - 3,461 votes (25.02%)

REP Erin Damstra - 3,524 votes (25.47%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Alpine Township Supervisor

REP Greg Madura - 4,968 votes (95.28%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Alpine Township Clerk

REP Christy Mitchell - 4,953 votes (95.58%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Alpine Township Treasurer

REP Beth Alt - 4,988 votes (95.46%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Alpine Township Trustee

NPA Stephanie M. Ginsberg - 1,769 votes (9.84%)

REP Jean Whalfield - 4,059 votes (22.57%)

REP Ronald C. Cordes - 4,020 votes (22.35%)

REP Rob Trinity Scheidel - 4,025 votes (22.38%)

REP William J. Schweitzer - 3,878 votes (21.56%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Lowell Charter Township Supervisor

REP Jerry Hale - 3,044 votes (97.28%)

2 of 2 precincts fully reporting

Lowell Charter Township Clerk

REP Monica J. Burtt - 3,068 votes (97.86%)

2 of 2 precincts fully reporting

Lowell Charter Township Trustee

REP Carlton Blough - 2,719 votes (24.99%)

REP Mark Anderson - 2,785 votes (25.60%)

REP William C. Thompson - 2,605 votes (23.95%)

REP Andy Vander Ziel - 2,622 votes (24.10%)

2 of 2 precincts fully reporting

Cascade Charter Township Supervisor

REP Grace Lesperance - 9,315 votes (97.93%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Cascade Charter Township Clerk

REP Susan B. Slater - 9,284 votes (98.49%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Cascade Charter Township Treasurer

REP Windy J. Korstange - 9,154 votes (98.05%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Cascade Charter Township Trustee

DEM Morgan Gupta - 5,930 votes (14%)

DEM Becky Olson - 6,433 votes (15.18%)

REP Timmy Noordhoek - 7,395 votes (17.46%)

REP Chris Noordyke - 7,786 votes (18.38%)

REP Scott Rissi - 7,600 votes (17.94%)

REP John Michael Shipley -7,120 votes (16.81%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Cannon Township Supervisor

REP Steve Grimm - 2,868 votes (99.51%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Cannon Township Clerk

REP James Alles - 2,869 votes (99.45%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Cannon Township Treasurer

REP David H. Spencer -2,869 votes (99.45%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Cannon Township Trustee

DEM Mary Sherzer - 1,976 votes (14.73%)

DEM Rita Proctor - 1,967 votes (14.67%)

REP Henry Jay Betten - 2,199 votes (16.40%)

REP Cy Balk - 2,337 votes (17.42%)

REP Jessica Gutowski-Slaydon - 2,593 votes (19.33%)

REP Todd Olson - 2,326 votes (17.34%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Plainfield Charter Township Supervisor

REP Tom Coleman - 9,893 votes (97.15%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Plainfield Charter Township Clerk

REP Steven McKellar - 9,876 votes (97.23%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Plainfield Charter Township Treasurer

REP Jack Hagedorn - 9,827 votes (97.25%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Plainfield Charter Township Trustee

DEM Nancy Wood - 4,800 votes (11.76%)

DEM Anne M. Zoppa - 4,689 votes (11.49%)

REP Kathey Batey - 8,081 votes (19.80%)

REP Susan L. Morrow - 8,157 votes (19.99%)

REP Frank Pfaff - 7,508 votes (18.40%)

REP Robert A. Reminga - 7,385 votes (18.10%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Gaines Township Township Supervisor

REP Robert Terpstra - 11,250 votes (97.19%)

9 of 9 precincts fully reporting

Gaines Township Clerk

REP Michael Alex Brew - 11,176 votes (95.43%)

9 of 9 precincts fully reporting

Gaines Township Treasurer

REP Laurie J. Lemke - 11,188 votes (95.65%)

9 of 9 precincts fully reporting

Gaines Township Trustee

REP Kathy Vander Stel - 10,087 votes (24.98%)

REP Dan Fryling - 9,729 votes (24.10%)

REP Tim Haagsma - 9,670 votes (23.95%)

REP Robert DeWard - 9,924 votes (24.58%)

9 of 9 precincts fully reporting

Sparta Township Township Supervisor

REP Dale Bergman - 3,824 votes (97.13%)

2 of 2 precincts fully reporting

Sparta Township Clerk

REP Marcy Savage - 3,913 votes (97.97%)

2 of 2 precincts fully reporting

Sparta Township Treasurer

REP Ashley Johnson - 3,813 votes (98%)

2 of 2 precincts fully reporting

Sparta Township Trustee

DEM Ugne Paalksnyte-Alt - 1,725 votes (11.45%)

REP Barbara J. Johnson - 3,325 votes (22.06%)

REP Robert Steffens - 3,251 votes (21.57%)

REP William Goodfellow - 3,300 votes (21.89%)

REP Jason Bradford - 3,430 votes (22.76%)

2 of 2 precincts fully reporting

Caledonia Township Township Supervisor

REP Bryan Harrison -7,840 votes (98.20%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Caledonia Township Clerk

REP Joni R. Henry - 7,789 votes (98.52%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Caledonia Township Treasurer

REP Richard C. Robertson - 7,655 votes (98.42%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

Caledonia Township Trustee

REP Tim Bradshaw - 7,096 votes (25.89%)

REP Dale E. Hermenet - 6,685 votes (24.39%)

REP Richard Snoeyink - 6,650 votes (24.26%)

REP Greg Zoller - 6,705 votes (24.46%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

East Grand Rapids Board of Education

Kerry Hegele - 3,812 votes (17.02%)

Bill Saxton - 3,942 votes (17.61%)

Layla Kuhl - 3,788 votes (16.92%)

Laurie Duthie - 3,383 votes (15.11%)

Ben Smith - 3,429 votes (15.31%)

Nick Adamy - 3,232 votes (14.43%)

Josh Tyron - 704 votes (3.14%)

4 of 4 precincts fully reporting

Forest Hills Board of Education

Robert Cribbs - 4,917votes (10.95%)

Kelly Kermode - 10,379 votes (23.12%)

Kris Covelle - 5,195 votes (11.57%)

Shawn Colley - 7,898 votes (17.59%)

Heather Tichon - 6,733 votes (15%)

Kevinn Donovan - 5,643 votes (12.57%)

Mike Keast - 3,781 votes (8.42%)

26 of 26 precincts fully reporting

Rockford Board of Education

Jake Himmelspach - 9,821 votes (14.79%)

Andrea R. Jacobson - 10,973 votes (16.53%)

Kelley Freridge - 9,680 votes (14.58%)

Charlie Curtis- 9,345 votes (14.08%)

Patricia R. Anderson - 10,998 votes (16.56%)

Jason P. Peterson - 9,665 votes (14.56%)

Derek Schubert - 5,437 votes (8.19%)

19 of 19 precincts fully reporting

KENT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

District 1

Ben Greene - 5,214 votes (65.83%)

Jerry Berta - 2,691 votes (33.97%)

11 of 11 precincts fully reporting

District 2

Elizabeth Morse - 10,279 votes (65.52%)

Russell C. Yonkers - 5,524 votes (34.17%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

District 4

Katie DeBoer - 13,775 votes (64.70%)

Judy Wood - 7,479 votes (35.13%)

12 of 12 precincts fully reporting

District 5

Dave Hildenbrand - 10,156 votes (63.22%)

Vanessa Lee - 5,865 votes (47.57%)

13 of 13 precincts fully reporting

District 6

Stan Stek - 10,486 votes (55.89%)

Nicholas Vander Veen - 8,218 votes (43.80%)

12 of 12 precincts fully reporting

District 7

Stan Ponstein - 8,906 votes (53.75%)

Sonia Riley - 7,590 votes (45.81%)

12 of 12 precincts fully reporting

District 8

Dan Burrill - 9,195 votes (54.34%)

Chris Herweyer - 7,658 votes (45.26%)

12 of 12 precincts fully reporting

District 10

Robin Halsted - 9,817 votes (58.75%)

Roslund Harris - 6,815 votes (40.79%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

District 11

Lindsey Thiel - 10,030 votes (59.25%)

Alyssa Joy Arnemann - 6,854 votes (40.49%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

District 12

Monica Sparks - 8,055 votes (59.34%)

H. Lee White - 5,434 votes (40.03%)

11 of 11 precincts fully reporting

District 13

Michelle McCloud - 9,279 votes (60.41%)

Nick Prill - 6,005 votes (39.09%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

District 14

Carol Hennessy - 9,451 votes (65%)

Catherine Edwards - 5,017 votes (34.50%)

11 of 11 precincts fully reporting

District 15

Lisa Oliver-King - 8,592 votes (63.96%)

Alexa Otte - 3,648 votes (35.58%)

11 of 11 precincts fully reporting

District 16

Melissa LaGrand - 11,252 votes (75.29%)

Emil Savoy - 3,615 votes (24.19%)

12 of 12 precincts fully reporting

District 17

Robert Womack - 10,724 votes (82.79%)

Jason Gillikin - 2,133 votes (16.47%)

12 of 12 precincts fully reporting

District 18

Steve Faber -10,747 votes (61.39%)

Tim Allen - 6,702 votes (38.28%)

11 of 11 precincts fully reporting

District 19

Kris Pachla - 13,281 votes (71.57%)

Karen Machiorlatti - 5,231 votes (28.19%)

13 of 13 precincts fully reporting

District 20

Derek Anderson - 2,753 votes (33.32%)

Nancy Morales - 5,444 votes (65.89%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

JUDGES

17th Circuit Court Judge

Charissa Chaiyiang Huang - 103,397 votes (40.34%)

Jennifer Johnsen - 148,915 votes (58.10%)

240 of 240 precincts fully reporting

Kent County Probate Court Judge

Matthew DeLange - 133,534 votes (53.01%)

Tamara Lopez - 114,333 votes (45.39%)

240 of 240 precincts fully reporting

63rd District Court Judge

Daniel OHara - 69,287 votes (59.67%)

Jonathan Paasch - 45,301 votes (39.01%)

103 of 103 precincts fully reporting

Ottawa County

Ottawa County Treasurer

Cheryl Clark - 118,817 votes (82.295%)

Dianne Sluiter Fikse - 25,577 votes (17.71%)

126 of 126 precincts fully reporting

Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner

Joe Bush - 113,327 votes (66.45%)

Karen Matchett - 57,207 votes (33.55%)

126 of 126 precincts fully reporting

OTTAWA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

District 1

James Barry - 10,397 votes (60.67%)

Danielle Smith - 6,741 votes (39.33%)

11 of 11 precincts fully reporting

District 2

Chris Kleinjans - 6,319 votes (49.08%)

Jordan Jorritsma - 6,556 votes (50.92%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

District 3

Doug Zylstra - 7,383 votes (58.22%)

Orlando Estrada - 5,299 votes (41.78 %)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

District 4

Jacob Bonnema - 10,370 votes (62.33%)

Chris Crothers - 4,953 votes (29.77%)

Rob Thurtkettle - 1,315 votes (7.90%)

12 of 12 precincts fully reporting

District 5

Joe Moss -12,806 votes (74.42%)

Jon Rabideau - 4,402 votes (25.58 %)

14 of 14 precincts fully reporting

District 6

Kendra Wenzel - 11,477 votes (67.40%)

Michelle Dieleman - 5,551 votes (32.60%)

9 of 9 precincts fully reporting

District 7

John Teeples - 11,717 votes (71.43%)

Heather Majestic - 4,686 votes (28.57%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

District 8

Sylvia Rhodea - 6,578 votes (59.94%)

Rebecca Patrick - 4,397 votes (40.06%)

6 of 6 precincts fully reporting

District 9

Angela Stanford-Butler - 6,409 votes (37.88%)

Phil Kuyers - 10,508 votes (62.12%)

12 of 12 precincts fully reporting

District 10

Josh Brugger -10,672 votes (63.79 %)

Oliver Shampine - 6,058 votes (36.21%)

12 of 12 precincts fully reporting

District 11

Allison Mieidema -11,136 votes (69.67%)

Keith Courtade - 4,847 votes (30.33%)

20 of 20 precincts fully reporting

Hudsonville Board of Education

Joy Hemmes -10,863 votes (24.79%)

Dana ODell - 10,693 votes (24.40%)

Jaime Fleming - 8,282 votes (18.90%)

Andrew DeWitt - 13,987 votes (31.92%)

19 of 19 precincts fully reporting

Allendale Board of Education

Troy Lampen - 3,185 votes (21.14 %)

Brandon TenBrink - 4,428 votes (29.38%)

Tonya Harris - 4,290 votes (28.47%)

Aaron Braunschneider - 3,166 votes (21.01%)

5 of 5 precincts fully reporting

Jenison Board of Education

William T. Waalkes - 7,775 votes (33.44%)

Steven Kooy - 5,890 votes (25.33%)

Nick Watkins - 3,690 votes (15.87 %)

Shannon Hogan - 5,894 votes (25.35%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Jenison Board of Education (Partial Term)

Alex Abramajtys - 2,922 votes (21.90%)

Jen Postema - 10,420 votes (78.10%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Grand Haven Board of Education

Kristal Boyd - 10,914 votes (29.74%)

Joshua T. Spurr - 5,022 votes (13.69 %)

Cyndi Casemier - 10,493 votes (28.60%)

Helen V. Brinkman - 3,113 votes (8.48%)

Tommy VanHill -7,150 votes (19.49%)

18 of 18 precincts fully reporting

Grand Haven Board of Education (Partial Term)

David Olthof - 6,022 votes (31.11%)

Heather Herrygers - 9,372 votes (48.42%)

Steven Skodack - 3,962 votes (20.47%)

18 of 18 precincts fully reporting

Kent County Ballot Proposals

Cascade Library and Wisner Center Millage Proposal

Yes - 7,729 votes (60.52%)

No - 5,041 votes (39.48%)

10 of 10 precincts fully reporting

Rockfords Krause Memorial Library Bond Proposal

Yes - 2,390 votes (64.56%)

No - 1,312 votes (35.44%)

2 of 2 precincts fully reporting

Ravenna Public Schools Bond

Yes - 200 votes (50.76 %)

No -194 votes (49.24%)

1 of 1 precinct fully reporting

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Operating Millage Proposal

Yes - 1,179 votes (55.98%)

No - 927 votes (44.02%)

3 of 3 precincts fully reporting

Tri County Area Schools Operating Millage (Montcalm District crosses boundaries)

Yes - 293 votes (56.35%)

No - 227 votes (43.65%)

2 of 2 precincts fully reporting

Fruitport Community School Operating Millage (Muskegon district crosses boundaries)

Yes - 1,311 votes (60.47%)

No - 857 votes (39.53%)

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Ottawa County ballot proposals

Zeeland Township Fire Millage

Yes - 4,223 votes (64.58 %)

No - 2,316 votes (35.42%)

5 of 5 precincts fully reporting

Zeeland Township Road Millage

Yes - 4,063 votes (62.13%)

No - 2,477 votes (37.87 %)

5 of 5 precincts fully reporting

City of Ferrysburg

Proposal 1: Reduce the number of registered electors required for a nominating petition.

Yes: 115 votes (43.07%)

No: 152 votes (56.93 %)

Proposal 2: Change the number of nominating petitions a person may sign.

Yes: 135 votes (50.37%)

No: 133 votes (49.63%)

Proposal 3: Remove the requirement that the city clerk initial the front page of nominating petitions.

Yes: 115 votes (44.40%)

No: 144 votes (55.60%)

Proposal 4: Require the city clerk to contact any candidate whose petition is found invalid by multiple forms of communication and permit any deficiency to be corrected within five calendar days of notification to the candidate.

Yes: 227 votes (83.46%)

No: 45 votes (16.54%)

Proposal 5: Restate the Ferrysburg City Charter in gender neutral terms.

Yes: 108 votes (36.49%)

No: 188 votes (63.51%)

Proposal 6: Require an elected official take the oath of office before the start of the first organizational meeting and an appointed official take the oath of office before the next scheduled meeting.

Yes: 250 votes (87.72%)

No: 35 votes (12.28%)

Proposal 7: Chance the time for the organizational meeting of the city council after a city election to 7 p.m. from 8 p.m.

Yes: 226 votes (81%)

No: 53 votes (19%)

Proposal 8: Increase the compensation of city council members and the mayor.

Yes: 101 votes (35.82%)

No: 181 votes (64.18%)

Proposal 9: Compensate the mayor and city council members $50 each time they attend each of the bimonthly, regularly scheduled city council meetings.

Yes: 107 votes (38.08%)

No: 174 votes (61.92%)

Proposal 10: Bike Path Millage

Yes: 200 (65.57%)

No: 105 (34.43%)

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COOPERSVILLE, MI - State Rep. Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, won reelection to retain the District 89 seat of the Michigan House of Representatives in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election.

Meerman, the Republican incumbent, beat Democratic challenger Lois E. Maassen winning 71.93 % of the vote to Maasens 28.07 %, according to unofficial results from the Ottawa County Clerks Office.

In total, 29,353 votes were cast, with all 26 precincts fully reporting.

RELATED: Ottawa, Muskegon state House race pits Republican incumbent against Democratic challenger

Meerman, a dairy farmer and mechanic, was first elected to the state House in 2018. Maassen said she is a self-employed strategist and marketing professional.

In Ottawa County, the 89th District encompasses Allendale, Blendon, Chester, Polkton, Tallmadge and Wright townships, as well as the city of Coopersville. It also stretches into Muskegon County, where it encompasses Casnovia, Egelston, Fruitport, Moorland, Ravenna and Sullivan townships, and covers part of Tyrone Township in Kent County.

Representatives are elected in even-numbered years to two-year terms.

There are 110 State House districts which are re-apportioned after each census.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  She made history two years ago, ending a long streak of Republican dominance in the region.

She was able to do it again Tuesday against a new opponent.

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten won a decisive victory in the Nov. 5 election, maintaining Democrats historic hold on the congressional seat representing Grand Rapids.

I set out to build a new political home in West Michigan, and with this decisive victory, weve proven that what we made is built to last, Scholten said early Wednesday on social media. It truly is a new day in West Michigan. It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress, and Im ready to get back to work.

Scholten pledged to continue to be a representative for all residents of Michigans 3rd Congressional District, whether they voted for her or not.

As of the latest count Wednesday morning with 99% of the votes in, Scholten took 216,865 of the votes to Republican challenger Paul Hudsons 177,493 votes, or a tally of 53.5% to 43.8%, according to the Associated Press.

The AP called the race for Scholten at 3 a.m. Wednesday morning. Hudson, an East Grand Rapids attorney, conceded prior.

I just called Hillary Scholten to offer my congratulations on the win and best wishes for her next term serving West Michigan, Hudson wrote on social media. It was a disappointing result but, as they say, the next best thing to playing and winning is playing and losing. I am proud of the campaign we ran and it was the honor of a lifetime to be part of this great American process.

The congressional district encompasses portions of Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties, including the cities of Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kentwood, Grand Haven and Muskegon. The seat is up for election every two years.

Scholtens win comes as Democrats have, for the most part, held on to most of their U.S. House seats.

Democrats did lose the states 7th Congressional District in Lansing, with Republican Tom Barrett capturing the seat that was left vacant by Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin vying for the U.S. Senate.

Scholten won the seat in 2022, becoming the first Democrat to represent Grand Rapids in Congress since 1977.

While Republicans had been hopeful to flip the seat this election, observers said Scholten had the edge. She also maintained a significant funding advantage over Hudson throughout the campaign, raising about $4.97 million to Hudsons $924,000.

Related: Democrat holds fundraising edge as Republican tries to reclaim once-safe congressional seat

In the 2022 election, Scholten beat Republican challenger John Gibbs, who was backed by former President Donald Trump.

During the Republican primary that year, Gibbs ousted then-U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer, with Gibbs challenging the incumbent over his vote to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The returns so far show Hudson fared slightly better than Gibbs.

Gibbs took 41.9% of the vote to Scholtens 54.8% in the 2022 election. So far this election, Hudson has taken 43.8% of the vote to Scholtens 53.5%, according to the AP.

Part of the challenge for Republicans in retaking the congressional seat is that it was redistricted in 2022, with political observers saying at the time that the revised constituency gave Democrats an advantage.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - An Ann Arbor attorney will soon be taking the bench in Washtenaw Countrys trial court.

Jinan Hamood brought in 65.84% of the vote, scooping up 98,324 ballots, according to unofficial county election results Wednesday morning. Hamood was running against Jeffery Worosz, who lost the race with 33.46% of the vote, or 49,976 votes.

Read more: Results of the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County

Hamood will be taking over the seat of current Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Timothy Conners, whose term expires in January. Conners has served as a state court judge since 1991.

Its surreal, Hamood said. I always work really hard, and Im going to keep working really hard, and Im going to do the best that I can.

Hamood centered her campaign on bringing diverse views to the bench, saying she believes laws havent kept up with social changes. Hamood wants to improve access to justice with a focus on rehabilitation and restorative justice.

Hamood, who immigrated from Lebanon in 1989, graduated from University of Michigans Dearborn campus before obtaining her law degree from Cooley Law School in 2012, she previously told MLive/The Ann Arbor News.

Worosz said he was disappointed in the result, but Hamood will be a good judge.

Im grateful for all the support I did have along the way, he said early Wednesday morning.

He plans to remain a practicing attorney with his current firm in Milford.

Hamood will take the bench January 2025.

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Update: Ann Arbor voters reject election reform proposals by over 2-to-1 margin

ANN ARBOR, MI  Two citizen-initiated proposals aiming to significantly reform the way Ann Arbor elects its mayor and City Council went before voters Tuesday, Nov. 5.

With polls closed as of 8 p.m., votes are now being tallied and early results show opposition to both ballot measures.

With all 47 precincts in the city partially counted, Prop C to make city elections nonpartisan has 8,730 yes votes to 20,733 no votes, 70% against it so far.

Prop D, which calls for introducing public financing of mayor and council campaigns, has 9,330 yes votes and 19,796 no votes, 68% against it so far.

Live results for the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County

Signs of opposition for Ann Arbor Props C and D among signs of support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz on Nov. 3, 2024. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

While theres been a fair amount of debate over the proposals among close observers of city politics, most voters who spoke with MLive/The Ann Arbor News after voting said they either didnt have strong feelings about the proposals or didnt feel like they knew enough about them to support them.

Some said they were swayed by Mayor Christopher Taylor and his City Council allies urging a no vote on both.

I listened to mostly the City Council and the mayor on those two issues, said Bryan Ukena, after he voted early at city hall on Sunday, Nov. 3. He might have been more open to introducing city taxpayer funding of mayor and council campaigns if the proposal was structured differently, he said.

I think also there wasnt a lot of information out there, he said. It would have been helpful to have more of a debate about it. I didnt have a full grasp of what the ramifications would be, where its been done in other areas, what the pros and cons of it are.

Fake Trump ads are latest twist in debate over Ann Arbor ballot proposals

Austin Baker, who also voted early at city hall, said he didnt see a problem with dropping party labels for mayor and council candidates, so he supported Prop C.

Especially if we know who were voting for, I dont think having the party label on there really matters, he said.

As for Prop D, he wasnt sure about it, so he voted no, he said, describing the proposal as wonky.

Other voters said, rather than putting hundreds of thousands of dollars per year from the city budget into a campaign finance fund to match small campaign donations for candidates, theyd rather the city spend the money on other needs.

Some voters also said they had concerns about landlords helping fund the pro-Prop C and D campaigns, as differing opinions over new dense housing development in the city has been at the center of the debate over the proposals.

See whos behind over $385K poured into fight over Ann Arbor Props C and D

31 1 / 31 Washtenaw County Democratic election watch party Josh Boland

Prop C proposed dropping party labels for mayor and council candidates and getting rid of the citys August primaries, so candidates of all political stripes would compete for city offices in November when voter turnout is higher.

Prop D, which the Michigan attorney generals office said conflicts with state law, called for starting a taxpayer-funded campaign finance program, putting hundreds of thousands of dollars per year from the city budget into a Fair Elections Fund to match small campaign donations of up to $50 for mayor and council candidates at a 9-to-1 ratio.

That means for every $50 someone gave a candidate for city office, they would get another $450 from the city  up to a maximum of $40,000 for council candidates and up to $90,000 for mayoral candidates. But they would have to agree to lower campaign contribution limits and refuse donations from corporations, PACs and other organizations.

Would nonpartisan elections disenfranchise Democratic voters in Ann Arbor? Groups debate

A group called the Coalition for Ann Arbors Future collected over 11,000 signatures to get the proposals on the ballot. The group is comprised of residents and former council members concerned about the way city elections have gone in recent years and the level of campaign spending in city races.

They have characterized the proposals as an attempt at progressive reform to fight the influence of big money in city politics and help more people compete for office, but Taylor and his allies branded it as an attempt to get more conservative-minded, anti-housing candidates elected to council and said it would disenfranchise Democratic voters by getting rid of Democratic primaries. They also had concerns about the potential for fraud and abuse of public funds, while Taylor specifically argued in campaign literature it could help fund candidates running on extreme or hateful platforms.

The debate over the proposals has been reflective of the deep factional divisions that existed on council for years before Taylor and his allies gained control of all 11 seats in recent elections.

Former City Council Member Elizabeth Nelson, at center with charts in hand, collects petition signatures for city election reform proposals outside the Ann Arbor Summer Festival along with other Coalition for Ann Arbors Future members on June 29, 2024. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Elizabeth Nelson, one of the former council members who collected signatures to get the proposals on the ballot, wrote in her latest blog post on Election Day she was anxious and worried about the consequences of Tuesdays election and what it means for democracy, both at the federal and local levels.

This year, the country has a choice between supporting leaders who believe in an inclusive democracy or supporting others who aim to serve themselves and profit interests, she wrote. I hold out hope that enough voters are able to recognize and reject ugly rhetoric and fear mongering in order to make choices that uplift our democracy. At the local level, I hope for the same.

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ANN ARBOR, MI  Ann Arbor wont be changing the way it conducts elections for mayor and City Council.

City voters rejected two reform measures on the Nov. 5 ballot.

With all precincts fully counted, Prop C to make city elections nonpartisan had 16,330 yes votes to 42,929 no votes, 72% against it.

Prop D, which called for introducing public financing of mayor and council campaigns, had 17,731 yes votes and 41,000 no votes, 70% against it.

Im delighted that Ann Arbor has rejected these unwise proposals, said Mayor Christopher Taylor, who campaigned against the measures brought forward by his critics. Proposals C and D would have resulted in harm to our electoral process and distanced the public from its representatives.

City of Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor talks to Yameen Jaffer during an election watch party in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.Josh Boland | MLive.com

One proposal would have required the city to put hundreds of thousands of dollars toward political campaigns without enough protections or usage regulations, the mayor argued. As for the other proposal, hes happy its defeat means city voters will continue to see party labels next to candidates names.

Im glad to know that voters will understand who their candidates are when they go to the ballot box, Taylor said.

Live results for the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County

The state attorney generals office determined prior to the election Prop D conflicted with state law, which led some to conclude there would be a legal fight over it if voters approved it. With that scenario avoided, Taylor said hes delighted to have the opportunity to focus on improving city services and enhancing quality of life and using city resources to do so.

31 1 / 31 Washtenaw County Democratic election watch party Josh Boland

A group called the Coalition for Ann Arbors Future collected over 11,000 signatures to get the proposals on the ballot. The group is comprised of residents and former council members concerned about the way city elections have gone in recent years and the level of campaign spending in city races.

They characterized the proposals as an attempt at progressive reform to fight the influence of big money in city politics and help more people compete for office, but Taylor and his allies branded it as an attempt to get more conservative-minded, anti-housing candidates elected to council and said it would disenfranchise Democratic voters by getting rid of Democratic primaries.

They also had concerns about the potential for fraud and abuse of public funds, while Taylor specifically argued in campaign literature it could help fund candidates running on extreme or hateful platforms.

The debate over the proposals has been reflective of the deep factional divisions that existed on council for years before Taylor and his allies gained control of all 11 seats in recent elections.

Yard signs in support of proposals C and D in Ann Arbor on Oct. 8, 2024. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

John Godfrey, spokesperson for the Coalition for Ann Arbors Future, said while the election results were disappointing, they did not discredit the work by many Ann Arbor citizen activists dedicated to making the local electoral process more open, inclusive and responsive to voters.

They expected their thousands of hours of petition signature gathering, door knocking and leafleting would be opposed by a campaign funded with outside money and PACs, but they faced a brazen campaign of unprecedented distortion and deceit, he said.

A dark money mailer and fake Donald Trump ads put out by a labor-backed group were among the various attacks on the proposals during the campaign. The Coalition for Ann Arbors Future repeatedly argued the opposition was mischaracterizing what proponents saw as pro-democracy reforms.

Godfrey said a national epidemic of political lying reached Ann Arbor.

Ensuring the resilience of democracy starts locally, he said. Much needs to be done to build and expand a truly inclusive, representative democracy that is insulated from the corrosive effect of big money and outside interests. The work is underway and needs the energy and voices of all.

City Council Members Travis Radina in Ward 3, Jen Eyer in Ward 4 and Erica Briggs in Ward 5 converse during an election watch party in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.Josh Boland | MLive.com

City Council Member Jen Eyer, who campaigned against the proposals, said shes grateful to voters for their confidence in the work city officials are doing to lead Ann Arbor forward.

The results show that residents trust us to tackle our housing crisis and climate crisis, while continuing to provide the excellent city services they expect and deserve, she said. We have the most diverse City Council in Ann Arbor history, and despite efforts by local conservatives to change that, we are not going back.

A dark money mailer and fake Donald Trump ads put out by a labor-backed group were among the various attacks on the proposals during the campaign. The Coalition for Ann Arbors Future repeatedly argued the opposition was mischaracterizing what proponents saw as pro-democracy reforms.

A total of 70,378 ballots were cast by Ann Arbor voters in Tuesdays election, which is reported by the county as a 57% turnout. However, the turnout percentage goes up if excluding inactive voters from the calculation.

Though the total number of registered voters in the city was over 124,000, City Clerk Jackie Beaudry said on Saturday the registered voter count dropped to 82,393 when not counting inactive voters. That means voters who have not participated in city elections for years and may have moved away.

36 1 / 36 Election Day photos from Ann Arbor Josh Boland

Over 11,000 Ann Arbor voters who participated in the election still did not vote on Props C and D.

While there was a fair amount of debate over the proposals among close observers of city politics, most voters who spoke with MLive/The Ann Arbor News after voting said they either didnt have strong feelings about the proposals or didnt feel like they knew enough about them to support them.

The city reported there were no lines at polling places after polls closed at 8 p.m. on Election Night and the city clerks office issued over 1,600 ballots on Election Day to newly registered voters at city hall and on the University of Michigan campus with almost no wait times.

City Clerk Jackie Beaudry credited the success of the same-day registration on campus to the new Election Day vote centers co-located with satellite city clerk offices that allowed new voters to tabulate their votes in person after registration.

Nearly 21,000 ballots were cast in Ann Arbor during the nine days of early voting before Election Day.

The city clerks office also issued over 35,000 absentee ballots, with over 95% returned, including about 2,700 on Election Day, the city reported. City workers began early tabulation of absentee ballots on Sunday and continued the count on Tuesday and into early Wednesday morning.

Running an election of this historic importance and ensuring all citizens have access to make their vote count has required many months of meticulous planning and preparation, Taylor said in a statement on Election Night, thanking Beaudry and her team for their dedication and careful work.

While city voters said no to election reforms, they said yes to creating a city-run sustainable energy utility and renewing the citys parks millage for 20 years. Those proposals passed with 79% and 72% of the vote, respectively.

Democrats win Ann Arbor-area state House races, including key swing district

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ANN ARBOR, MI - The polls have closed as of 8 p.m. and the last of Ann Arbor voters ballots are being cast.

In the heavily Democratic city, Kamala Harris is getting a lot of support from Ann Arbor voters.

The Ann Arbor News interviewed people coming and going from the polls about their thoughts on the election. Read more to see what they have to say.

Alison Bank, 48Sophia Kalakailo

I have two daughters, and I want to protect their reproductive rights and the rights of all women and girls, said Alison Bank, 48. I am appalled by the violence and the division, and I feel like Trump brings that and stokes it and will only fuel it further I dont agree with all of her policies. But I feel like she is the candidate that we can work with instead of the candidate who just wants to drop a bomb in the middle of everything.

Nora Wright, 70Sophia Kalakailo

Its very important to elect Kamala Harris and the other Democrats so that maybe Washington can get back to where it was when I was younger  where Republicans and Democrats could work together. said Nora Wright, a 70-year-old attorney.

Amelia Mital, 20Sophia Kalakailo

Amelia Mital is a 20-year-old sophomore nursing student at the University of Michigan. After working in a Chicago birth center over the summer, reproductive rights are at the forefront of her mind this election.

Ive seen clients of mine whove had miscarriages and the care that they needed and what was happening to their body if they didnt get that care, Mitel said.

She added supporting the middle class is also important to her. She grew up in a very affluent neighborhood and her parents are well-off, she said, but she believes people like her should be paying their fair share to support others.

Christine Lux, 72, and her daughterSophia Kalakailo

For 72-year-old Christine Lux, her vote for Harris is about saving democracy and the rights of her children, she said.

I dont want a felon to be president, Lux said. I dont think that ever should have been possible. And because [Trump is] divisive and mean and not well educated and not willing to become educated.

August Christensen, 38Sophia Kalakailo

August Christensen, 38, is also voting for Harris. He just recently moved back to Ann Arbor and is glad to be voting in his hometown again, he said.

I am a member of the LGBT community, so that dictates a lot, Christensen said. I have been pretty frustrated with particularly womens rights being under attack for the last many years. Frustrated is probably an understatement. I really dont like the idea of someone with the actions and demeanor that Donald Trump has being a role model for young people in our country.
NOVI, MI  For her entire life, Latasha Kellers family has voted for Democrats.

Not this time.

This is the first election that my mom has voted for a Republican, my siblings have voted for Republicans, so I think we have a good chance, said the 37-year-old Novi resident, a Donald Trump voter herself.

Keller, her children in tow, sat near the stage at the Michigan Republican Partys election night watch party in Novi.

As the first results from other states started to roll in, she and other conservatives gathered at the Suburban Collective Showplace convention center said they felt good about the former presidents chances of breaching the blue wall in states like Michigan on the path to besting Vice President Kamala Harris and returning to the Oval Office.

See all election results from Michigan

Hes the best decision for the country, Keller said, citing Trumps promises to secure the southern border as among her chief reasons why.

The high hopes stretched to the top rung of Michigans Republican Party.

I am very, very bullish on Michigan, said GOP Chairman Pete Hoekstra, a former Congressman and U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands under Trump, while announcing Michigans polls had closed just after 8 p.m.

Nearby, over the din of Fox News election night broadcast, three-time Trump voter Sandra Mirek also reported liking Republicans chances, though she admitted she was biting her nails about the impending results.

Id like to see a landslide because I dont want to have all the vitriol afterwards, she said. Id like to see Trump win really big.

Related: Michigan readers explain their choice between Trump and Harris in 2024 race

Mirek, a Republican precinct delegate in the city of Saline, had made the trek from the deep-blue Washtenaw County for the GOP event at the Metro Detroit convention center.

If Trump regained the presidency, she said she hoped he would close the border and hopefully lower prices right away.

Fellow Republicans had their eyes down the ballot on election night, as well as at the top of the ticket.

Edward Kempen, clad in an American flag shirt and wielding a Trump flag on a silver pole, was among them, running himself for a seat on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.

Every single race matters, he said. We need to have the right people in place at ever facet of government to make the changes that are necessary.

The 58-year-old Troy resident said hed been a part of the GOP for some 15 years but considered himself a black sheep of sorts.

Hes supported Trump for decades, he said, referring to his exploits as a real estate developer in New York.

Kempen is hopeful a second Trump term will bring support for aggressive measures like eliminating income tax in Michigan and at the federal level.

Early in the evening, hes optimistic.

The mood so far in Michigan is Donald Trump, and I believe from what the turnout is looking like, were going to get a lot of Republican people showing up and not a lot of Democrats that were maybe turned off by the policies of the past few years, he said.

Still, some at the convention center acknowledged they may be in for a long night before their electoral hopes were buoyed or dashed.

It depends on how (the results) come in, Mirek said. If its big, I can go home early.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On November 5, the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai. Nissan Motor made a prominent appearance, showcasing its latest achievements in electrification and intelligent mobility while reaffirming its commitment to the Chinese market and consumers. Additionally, during the event, Nissan China announced its participation in China's ESG Alliance, further contributing to sustainable development efforts within the country.

Photo credit: Nissan

New Energy Vehicle Development

China's automotive market is undergoing significant changes and presenting new growth opportunities. In response to the diverse needs of Chinese consumers, Nissan is accelerating its transformation toward electrification and intelligent vehicle solutions, offering a balanced product lineup with multiple powertrain options to meet the local demand for future mobility. Specifically, Nissan plans to introduce eight new energy vehicle models tailored to the Chinese market by fiscal year 2026, including five under the Nissan brand.

At this year's CIIE, Nissan presented four flagship models to address the diverse preferences of Chinese consumers. These included new energy concept cars, an autonomous taxi, and Nissan's latest six-seat flagship SUV designed for large families in China.

Photo credit: Nissan

Autonomous Driving Advancements

Nissan has been an early leader among foreign automakers in China's autonomous driving sector. Established in 2022, Nissan's subsidiary in China, Nissan Mobility Service Co., Ltd., has already completed two phases of autonomous driving demonstration operations in Suzhou, transitioning from the Nissan Leaf in the first phase to the Ariya in the second. With faster charging speeds, extended range, and greater mileage capabilities, the Ariya-based model offers users an improved autonomous driving experience.

As of October 22, 2024, Nissan's autonomous vehicle fleet in China had accumulated a total autonomous driving distance of 140,501 kilometers.

Photo credit: Nissan

In addition to advancing intelligent hardware and electrification, Nissan Motor is leveraging its expertise in software development by exploring smart route planning systems to enhance autonomous driving experiences and contribute to the concept of smart cities. Developed by Nissan Mobility Service in collaboration with partners, the intelligent route planning system can optimize navigation based on real-time traffic conditions, guiding autonomous vehicles along the best possible routes. This system is expected to expand to additional Chinese cities in the future, further promoting the development of smart cities.

Deep Ties in China

This year, Nissan further demonstrated its commitment to China by fully acquiring the former Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance Innovation Lab Shanghai and establishing Nissan Technology Development Shanghai Co., Ltd., signaling its long-term commitment to investing in the Chinese market.

Photo credit: Nissan

Nissan has also consistently worked to build mutually beneficial relationships with local companies in China to create localized solutions and uphold its "In China, for China" approach. Through strategic partnerships, Nissan Motor's China components export business unit has collaborated with 540 local suppliers to enhance operational and quality standards for sustainable export growth. The scope of exported components has evolved from basic traditional parts to high-tech electrification components, such as batteries and battery management systems.

Notably, Nissan Motor has partnered with Tsinghua University to initiate V2X energy management testing in the Lin-gang Special Area of Shanghai. Starting next year, the collaboration will explore virtual power plant response, new business models, and other areas of energy management. This project provides the automaker with valuable insights for the future development of new energy vehicles, enabling it to offer more exciting products and services to Chinese consumers while supporting efforts to build a low-carbon society.
ANN ARBOR, MI  While Republicans appear poised to reclaim their majority in the Michigan House of Representatives with key wins across the state in the Nov. 5 election, Democrats still prevailed in Ann Arbor-area state House races.

State Rep. Jennifer Conlin, D-Ann Arbor Township, held onto her seat in District 48, a swing district stretching from Ann Arbors north side to the Howell area and into Jackson County.

With most votes counted, Conlin had 51.5% of the tally, while Republican challenger Brian Ignatowski had 47.1% and the Green Partys Eric Borregard had 1.4%, the Associated Press reported, calling the race for Conlin.

Im deeply grateful to my family, friends, team, and every constituent for their endless support, Conlin said in a statement. Its an honor to continue representing House District 48, and I will fight tirelessly for progress. While our country still has a way to go toward justice, we wont give up.

In District 47, state Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, won a second term with 62% of the vote against Republican Teresa Spiegelberg, who had 37%, and the Green Partys Aaron Wright, who had 1.8%, with most votes counted.

Pittsfield Township Democrat Morgan Forman will be the areas newest representative, winning the District 33 seat with 74% of the vote against Republican Jason Rogers. She will fill the seat being vacated by Rep. Felicia Brabec, D-Pittsfield Township.

State Reps. Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, and Jimmie Wilson Jr., D-Ypsilanti Township, will return to Lansing for second terms after winning their races.

Candidate for Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer, Candidate for State Representative Jennifer Conlin Democrat Ann Arbor Township, State Representative Jason Morgan Democrat Ann Arbor, Theresa Reid, and Candidate for State Representative Carrie Rheingans Democrat Ann Arbor cheer during an election watch party in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.Josh Boland | MLive.com

Morgan had 62% of the vote in District 23 against Republican David Stamp, who had 36%, and the Green Partys Christina Marudas, who had 2.5%, with most votes counted.

Wilson had 75% of the vote in District 32 against Republican Martin Church, who had 22%, while 3.4% went to Green Party candidate Ryan Sample.

See whos behind over $3M poured into Ann Arbor-area state House races

In a Jackson-area state House race that also includes part of western Washtenaw County, Republican Kathy Schmaltz held onto her District 46 seat with 52% of the vote against Democrat Daniel Mahoney, with most votes counted.

The AP has not yet called the District 31 race where an estimated 88% of votes are counted, showing Democratic incumbent Reggie Miller ahead with nearly 52% of the vote against Republican Dale Biniecki, who has 48%.

Michigans presidential race still too close to call with 97% of votes tallied

The House Republican Campaign Committee declared victory in flipping several other key seats across the state and reclaiming a majority in the Michigan House, saying after two years of Democratic control, Michigan voters have shown they trust Republicans to protect individual freedoms, reduce unnecessary government overreach and empower local communities.

The Republican resurgence in Michigan reflects the strong support for President Trumps America First policies, which have resonated deeply with Michiganders seeking accountability, transparency, and a commitment to the wellbeing of workers and families, the GOP said in a statement.

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Michigan voters heading to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 5 might be greeted by some beats.

More than 750 polling locations across Michigan are expected to have DJs spinning music during the general election, according a national organization called DJs at the Polls.

DJs at the Polls partnered with community organizations to recruit local DJs to perform on Election Day. The organization thats committed to making Election Day feel like a holiday aimed to place DJs at more than 8,500 polling locations across the country this election.

DJs at the Polls believes that whole communities - whether theyre voters or not - should know that Democracy is worthy of celebration, the organizations website says.

Related: 7 key races were watching closely on Election Day across Michigan

DJs at the Polls, a non-partisan Get Out the Vote organization, was founded in Philadelphia 16 years ago with the goal of celebrating voting.

It now places DJs at thousands of polling locations across 11 states, choosing areas with large numbers of low-propensity voters. The DJs are spread through large cities like Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta and Charlotte as well as scattered throughout several states. Voters likely got a text or postcard letting them know about the DJ at their polling location.

Several Michigan DJs posted about performing Tuesday in Detroit, Grand Rapids and Battle Creek.

When voting meets dancing, magic happens! Loving the energy as everyone grooves and casts their ballots. Who says you cant mix democracy with a good time? said a Facebook post from Detroit area DJ Mr. All Day.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who is running against Republican challenger Mike Rogers, posted about DJs stationed at her polling location to to engage and hype up voters.

And Venus Flyytrap, a Grand Rapids DJ, posted about rocking the polls at two locations Tuesday. Swing by, vote and dance with us, an Instagram post said.

Michigans polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday and will remain open until 8 p.m. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. can vote.
Former President Donald Trump won Michigans 15 electoral college votes, flipping the state again in a victory over Democrat Kamala Harris, according to unofficial election results.

Michigans 15 electoral college votes further secure his victory for a second term in the White House.

The Associated Press called the Michigan race shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday with Trump winning by 1.5 percentage points and 98% of precincts reporting unofficial results. Trump held 2,793,837 Michigan votes to Harris 2,712,623 votes as of this report, or a difference of 81,214 votes.

Winning Michigan further secures Trumps victory for a second term in the White House, but the national victory was established hours earlier. The Associated Press declared Trump the winner of Wisconsin at 5:34 a.m. Wednesday, enough to push him past the 270-vote threshold needed to retake the presidency.

As of 1 p.m., Trump has secured 292 electoral college votes, after clinching key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, compared to Harris 224.

See Michigans full election results here.

Trumps victory in Michigan comes after an unprecedented presidential campaign cycle in which President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July. With three months until the election, Vice President Harris stepped in as the Democratic candidate.

Michigan, after flipping the past two general elections, was an active stomping ground for both the Trump and Harris campaigns.

Political experts considered the 2024 presidential election season one of the busiest in modern history for Michigan, which played host to about 80 campaign stops featuring the Democratic or Republican frontrunners or their running mates.

Many of those same experts considered Michigan one of seven swing states in the U.S., along with Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

For months, polls measuring voter sentiment in those swing states have remained tight, including in Michigan. At different points, Michigan-focused polls have shown Harris and Trump each enjoy small leads, typically within the margin of error.

Because of the tight race, both major party candidates focused on Michigan during their final dash to sway voters.

Harris spent Sunday, Nov. 3, campaigning throughout the state, visiting a Black church in Detroit and rallying at Michigan State University. She opened her speech in East Lansing by addressing civilian causalities from Israels wars in Gaza and Lebanon and appealing to Michigans 200,000 Arab American voters a community that experts expected to play a critical role in deciding the state.

After making stops in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, Trump ended his 2024 campaign in Grand Rapids, where he addressed thousands of supporters until 2 a.m. on Election Day. This marked the third time Trump held his final campaign rally in Michigans second-largest city. During his two-hour speech, Trump reiterated the key issues of his platform: the economy, immigration and hammering Democrats for the current state of the country.

Michigans recent status as a swing state largely date back to the 2016 election, when Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton  considered a favorite to win the presidency that year  lost to Trump during the Republicans first run for the White House.

Since the 1980s, the only president to take a seat behind the Oval Office desk without Michigans electoral votes was Republican George W. Bush, who lost in this state to Democrats Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004.

The states voters have favored Republicans before, though. Both Ronald Reagan and Bushs father, George H.W. Bush, emerged victorious on Election Day with the help of Michigans electoral votes, although the state favored Democrat Bill Clinton when the elder Bush sought re-election in 1992.

Trump in 2016 was the first Republican to win Michigans vote since 1988. With a win in 2024, he added to that bragging right.

Trump will now be only the second president to serve non-consecutive terms, after Grover Cleveland in 1892.

Trumps favor in Michigan has wavered over the years, but his supporters have kept the vote counts close. He defeated Clinton by 10,704 Michigan votes in 2016 and then lost to Biden  with Harris as a running mate  by 154,188 Michigan votes four years later.

Trumps 2020 defeat in Michigan  and other states, for that matter  led Trump to falsely claim voter fraud prevented him from remaining in office as president.

On the day after the 2020 election, Trump sued Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to demand a halt to absentee ballot counting. On that same day, crowds of election challengers gathered in Detroit at the TCF Center  now known as Huntington Place  to observe absentee ballot counting underway there. When some werent allowed in due to capacity constraints, chants of, Stop the count, erupted outside, echoing the demands of the lawsuit.

Elections officials and court cases alike have discredited the claims of voter fraud. Still, Trump during the 2024 campaign continued to maintain he won in 2020.

As Election Day polls closed Tuesday in Michigan, elected officials and surrogates from both the states Democratic and Republican parties expressed high hopes at their respective election watch parties.

At the Suburban Collection Showplace convention center in Novi, the Michigan Republican Party attendees celebrated Trumps national victory hours before The Associated Press called the race. Fox News declared Trump the victor at 1:46 a.m. Wednesday as attendees in Novi watched, celebrating.

About 30 miles away, at the Motor City Casino in downtown Detroit, the Michigan Democratic Party election watch gathering began about 7 p.m. Tuesday with music, food and a lineup of high-profile Michigan political figures who kept the mood jubilant for much of the night.

Then, at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, U.S. Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin addressed the crowd of hundreds, telling them it was too early to determine many of the major races while noting the late hour. At the time, while The Associated Press and Fox News had not yet declared him victorious, Trump was adding to his lead over Harris.

So, my message to you all is to get some rest, hunker down; weve got a long way to go, said Slotkin, who at the time was trailing her own Republican opponent, Mike Rogers.

After her remarks, no more music played on the sound system.

The room steadily emptied out.

By 1 a.m., media covering the Democratic Party event were asked to leave the venue.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Ottawa Impact-affiliated Republican Allison Miedema won the race for the District 11 seat on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.

The race featured Republican incumbent Miedema against Democrat Keith Courtade.

According to unofficial election results from Ottawa County, Miedema received 11,136 votes to Courtades 4,847 votes, a 39-point spread. As of 10:55 p.m. Tuesday, 20 of the 20 precincts in the district are fully reporting. Election results are not official until they are certified by the county Board of Canvassers.

District 11 covers the townships of Chester, Crockery, Polkton, Tallmedge and Wright, as well as the city of Coopersville.

Miedema, who is part of the ultra-conservative Ottawa Impact political platform that now controls a majority voting bloc on the board, defeated Sara Bajema and Richard VanDop in the August primary.

Miedema was a preschool teacher in both private and public schools for 21 years. She graduated from Grand Valley State University and has a masters degree in early childhood education.

Courtade is a General Motors retiree and former Kent County commissioner.

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI  While voters across the U.S. have elected Donald J. Trump as the 47th president, local Jackson County voters also made decisions on state and local races.

In the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election, residents cast votes for and against operating millages for the Jackson County Jail, Jackson District Library and Jackson College. They also selected candidates for township, city council and school board seats, as well as determined who should represent Jackson County in the Michigan House and the U.S. House and Senate.

See the full roundup of results from the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election here.

Here is all the Jackson County Election Day coverage from MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot you may have missed:

This is what Jackson voters have to say about the 2024 presidential election

Unsurprisingly, the heated presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump provoked a wide range of opinions.

The Jackson Citizen Patriot interviewed several people coming and going from the ballot box about their stance on the contentious election.

Tim Walberg wins reelection to U.S. House seat representing Jackson County

U.S. Rep Tim Walberg was elected to serve another term in Congress, covering Jackson County, in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election. The Associated Press declared Walberg, R-Tipton, the winner in the 5th District, defeating Democratic candidate Libbi Urban of Buchanan and Green Party candidate James Bronke of Cassopolis.

State House Races:

Districts 45 and 46: Voters select Kathy Schmaltz for second term in Jackson County state House seat

In the 45th District, covering parts of Jackson County, Sarah Lightner, R-Springport was declared the winner. Lightner secured 68.6% of the votes. Marshall Democrat Doug Murch has 31.4%, according to the Associated Press, with 73% of votes counted.

Additionally, Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, was elected to another two-year term in the House of Representatives 46th District, which covers the city of Jackson and parts of Jackson and Washtenaw counties, including Chelsea.

She defeated Daniel Mahoney, D-Jackson, who is the mayor of Jackson. Schmaltz received 52.1% of the votes, while Mahoney received 47.9%, according to the Associated Press.

District 47 and 48: Democrats win Ann Arbor-area state House races, including key swing district

In District 47, state Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, won a second term with 62% of the vote against Republican Teresa Spiegelberg, who had 37%, and the Green Partys Aaron Wright, who had 1.8%, with most votes counted.

State Rep. Jennifer Conlin, D-Ann Arbor Township, also held onto her seat in District 48, a swing district stretching from Ann Arbors north side to the Howell area and into Jackson County.

Voters select Cierra Sowle to remain Jackson Countys top election official

Voters selected Cierra Sowle as Jackson Countys clerk, meaning she will retain the position she was appointed to after the previous clerks retirement.

Sowle, Republican, defeated Democrat Sabrina Brownlow.

Jackson County selects new probate judge in tight race

Jennifer M. Kelly defeated her opponent Bill Rappleye in the general election. She will take over the judicial position being vacated by retiring judge Diane Rappleye, Bill Rappleyes ex-wife.

Winning with 54% of the vote, Kelly won the election by 5,055 votes, according to county election results.

See the results of contested county commissioner races in Jackson County

Incumbents came out on top in each of the four contested races for Jackson County Board of Commissioner seats. This includes candidates in districts 3,6,7 and 8. Each winning candidate is now set to represent their districts for a four-year term.

Jackson County Jail operation millage fails for third time, by 973 votes

Police services for Jackson County are in budgetary peril after a third attempt to pass a millage, just enough to keep operations going at the jail and sheriffs office, failed again.

It was a tight race. The millage failed by 973 votes with 36,978 saying yes and 37,951 saying no, according to election results yet to be certified.

Jackson College millage fails with voters for 17th straight time

Jackson Colleges most recent attempt at a millage restoration has failed with voters, marking the 17th unsuccessful proposal since 1964. The proposal on the Nov. 5 election ballot failed with 40,439 no votes to 33,464 yes votes.

Newcomer will fill Ward 5 Jackson City Council seat

A new councilmember will fill the Ward 5 seat on Jackson City Council. Ward residents have elected candidate Christy Davis.

She received 749 votes, while her opponent Todd Moore received 470, according to Jackson County election results.

Challenger defeats longtime incumbent for Jackson College trustee seat

A longtime staple of the Jackson College Board of Trustees lost his seat in the Nov. 5 general election, marking the end of an 18-year stint on the board.

Current board chairperson John Crist came up third in the race for two six-year terms on the board. Donna Lake, a 12-year incumbent received 29,678 votes, followed by newcomer Danielle Mackey with 28,975 votes and Crist with 27,108 votes.

In addition to the two open regular seats, voters were also asked to decide who would fill the two-year partial term created when Sam Barnes left the board in November. Current incumbent Teshna Thomas kept her seat against challenger D.R. Hammontree.

Meet the 3 new board members for Jackson Public Schools

A trio of newcomers each earned a spot on the Jackson Public School Board in the Nov. 5 election.

In a hotly contested race that fielded 10 candidates vying for three soon-to-be-vacant board seats, Subba Reddy, Alaina Sharp and Cheryl Simonetti each garnered enough voter support to be future board members.

Newcomers take over several Jackson County school board seats

Several Jackson County school boards will seat new members next year as a number of newcomers challenged and beat incumbents in the Nov. 5 election.

The boards of the Columbia School District, Springport Public Schools and Grass Lake Community Schools will all have at least one new member at the start of 2025.

If the race for Brooklyn village president remains tied, how do you pick a winner?

The final selection determining who is village president in Brooklyn might come down to who has more luck on their side.

Out of a total 638 votes cast in the Nov. 5 general election, current Village of Brooklyn President Terry Mahr and challenger Estella Roberts each won 319 votes, ending the election in an even tie, according to the unofficial election results yet to be certified.

4 of 6 ballot proposals pass with Jackson County voters

See how all all the proposals faired Tuesday.

Read more Jackson-area election stories.

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GENESEE COUNTY, MI  While more Genesee County voters cast their ballots in the 2024 general election than they did in 2020, there was a lower turnout percentage.

Voters cast 224,461 ballots across Genesee Countys 156 precincts in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election.

It was an increase of 1,742 votes (an 0.78% increase) from the 2020 general election when 222,719 ballots were cast in the county.

In 2020, there were 340,890 registered voters in Genesee County. That number increased to 362,726 in 2024.

Turnout in 2024 was 61.88%, which represents a slight dip from 65.33% in 2020, when the county had fewer registered voters.

Genesee County voters supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in 2024, giving her 114,632 votes compared to 105,284 votes for Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Harris earned 51.27% of the vote in Genesee County compared to Trumps 47.08%.

More Genesee County voters supported Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivets bid for 8th Congressional District than they did Republican Paul Junge. Rivet earned 117,320 votes, while Junge earned 91,069.

Genesee County voters also supported U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, for a contested U.S. Senate seat against Republican Mike Rogers. Slotkin earned 114,960 votes in Genesee County compared to Rogers 97,978 votes.

See more Genesee County unofficial election results here.

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Nearly two years after a far-right political group took control of the Ottawa County Board, new election results confirm the group will soon lose its voting majority.

The Tuesday, Nov. 5 election left little changed from the August primary for members of Ottawa Impact, the ultra conservative political platform responsible for a series of controversial and sometimes costly decisions.

Four Ottawa Impact members survived the primary and those four also survived the general election against Democrats hoping that public concern about board decisions would tip the scales in their favor.

The hurdle for Democrats was great, as the county board has routinely been dominated by Republicans over many years. Tuesdays election saw no Democrats win, except for current Commissioner Doug Zylstra of Holland.

The four Ottawa Impact members who won reelection are Board Chair Joe Moss in District 5, Board Vice Chair Sylvia Rhodea in District 8, Kendra Wenzel in District 6 and Allison Miedema in District 11.

Two additional Ottawa Impact members -- Roger Belknap in District 1 and Gretchen Cosby in District 1 -- were running as write-in candidates after primary losses. Vote tallies for them were not immediately available.

Moss has led the board for the last two years with a majority voting bloc of at least six Ottawa Impact commissioners.

In January, that paradigm is expected to change as new moderate Republican commissioners critical of Ottawa Impact take office. Those commissioners are Jim Barry in District 1, Jordan Jorritsma in District 2, John Teeples in District 7, Phil Kuyers in District 9 and Josh Brugger in District 10.

Current Republican Commissioner Jacob Bonnema, who split with Ottawa Impact in early 2023, also won reelection in District 4.

The boards makeup will consist of six Republicans not affiliated with Ottawa Impact, four connected to Ottawa Impact and one Democrat.

It was the controversies surrounding county board decisions that drove many candidates into this years election.

The Ottawa Impact-led majority voted in January 2023 to disband the countys diversity office, fire then-Administrator John Shay, try to fire Health Officer Adeline Hambley and replaced the county legal counsel.

Related: Lawsuits, childhood innocence, $4M settlement talks: How far-right board shook up Ottawa County

Several lawsuits have been filed against the county. Commissioners settled an age-discrimination lawsuit for $225,000 and paid at least $360,000 in legal fees to settle another lawsuit filed by Hambley to keep her job.

Other lawsuits are pending, including one by John Gibbs, the administrator picked by Ottawa Impact commissioners in January 2023 and fired by them 13 months later.

Bonnema, in a recent Facebook post, has urged the current Ottawa Impact majority to establish a foundation of trust by helping with a smooth transition.

County commissioners have hired a search firm to find a new county administrator and Bonnema is worried the Ottawa Impact commissioners will attempt to hire someone before Dec. 31.

He wants that decision left to incoming commissioners in January.

He also wants to delay the hiring of any new department heads until a new permanent administrator is in place.

Commissioners also recently passed a new budget with very few new positions. Bonnema said the sheriffs department needs additional staffing for detectives to protect against burnout and he wants the Ottawa Impact leadership to reconsider funding that staffing.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Voters elected four new members to the Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) Board of Education in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election, none of whom are incumbent board member Jordoun Eatman.

Eleanor Moreno, Amber Kilpatrick, Arick Davis and Richard Williamson were the top four vote-getters in the general election, according to unofficial election results from the Kent County Clerks Office.

Moreno came in first place with 35,143 votes, 15.75%, followed by Kilpatrick with 31,543 votes, 14.14%, Davis with 27,822 votes, 12.47% and Williamson with 26,959 votes, 12.08%, according to the clerks office.

The three candidates who were defeated in the election were Ismalis Nunez, who received 26.760 votes, 12%; Tonya Williams who received 25,508 votes, 11.43%; and Eatman, who received 24,783 votes, 11.11%.

Norma Lopez, an eighth candidate who dropped out but whose name remained on the ballot due to the late nature of her withdrawal, earned 22,255 votes, 9.98%. An additional 2,311 votes, 1.04%, were write-ins.

General election results are considered unofficial until they are certified.

With three incumbent board members not seeking reelection, the nine-person Board will have four new faces on Jan. 1, 2025.

RELATED: Meet the 7 candidates running for the Grand Rapids school board

School board members Katherine Downes Lewis (secretary), along with Jen Schottke (treasurer) and Raynard Ross (vice president) will step down when their terms expire Dec. 31, 2024.

A total of seven candidates were vying for the four-year terms, not including Lopez who suspended her campaign. GRPS enrolled 13,802 students last school year, according to state data.

Arick Davis, 32, is the co-founder of Grand Rapids-based Last Mile Cafe and impact manager at non-profit People First Economy. He has served on several boards, including Code for Good West Michigan, Fulton Street Farmers Market, the Arts Marketplace and the Michigan Tech Alumni Board of Directors. He graduated from Grand Rapids Public Schools before attending first Grand Rapids Community College and then Michigan Technological University, where he received his bachelors in electrical engineering. Davis is an alumni of the Emerging Leaders and Leadership Grand Rapids classes offered by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

Amber Kilpatrick, 43, is a spiritual ecologist and entrepreneur with the Mindful School of Yoga. Also a substitute teacher, she is the mother of two GRPS children and creator of the Mindful Classrooms Project. Kilpatrick is a graduate of Grand Valley State University.

Eleanor Moreno, 35, is the strategy manager for the Kent County Food Policy Council, where she focuses on community empowerment and sustainability initiatives. She is president of the Grand Rapids Pride Center and is involved with the Latino Community Coalition.

Richard Williamson, 27, is a deputy finance director for the Michigan Democratic Party. He previously worked within the Michigan Legislature, first spending time in the House working for Rep. John Fitzgerald, before moving to the Senate to help craft the 2023 clean energy and climate action package. Williamson is a former member of the Peace Corps who served as a teacher trainer in The Gambia, working with a kindergarten class. A first-generation college graduate, Williamson earned his bachelors from Oakland University, where he was active in the Center for Multicultural Initiatives as a mentor for other first-generation students.

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Editors note: This post will be updated as results come in

Former President Donald Trump has won Michigan, and Democrats will maintain both of the states U.S. Senate seats.

The Associated Press at 12:54 p.m. Wednesday called Michigan for Trump, who had already secured enough electoral college votes for a second term.

With 99% of the votes reported as of 3:16 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, Trump held 2,795,208 votes to Vice President Kamala Harris' 2,713,884 votes, or a tally of 49.8% to 48.3%, according to the Associated Press.

The Associated Press at 3:12 p.m. Wednesday called the narrow U.S. Senate race for Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin.

Slotkin was challenged for the open Senate seat by former Republican congressman Mike Rogers

With 99% of the votes counted as of 3:16 p.m. Wednesday, Slotkin held 2,690,050 votes to Rogers' 2,671,638 votes, or a tally of 48.6% to 48.3%, according to the Associated Press.

For live results in races across the state, head to our 2024 Michigan general election results page.

The seat was left open by Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who is not seeking reelection.

Related: Mind boggling amount of money flowing into Michigans toss-up U.S. Senate race

About 3.4 million Michigan voters cast their ballots during early in person voting and via absentee ballot.

While Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson didnt yet have a tally of how many people voted on Election Day, she said the state was trending toward topping the historic 2020 presidential election turnout of 5.5 million voters.
DETROIT, MI  Downstairs from the slot machines and Blackjack tables, a different kind of high-stakes anticipation permeated the Motor City Casino Sound Board Theater, scene of the Michigan Democratic Party election night event Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Guests began arriving at the Motown Records-themed theater about an hour before the Election Day polls closed at 8 p.m..

Thats when attendees began paying closer attention to the national TV news feeds projected onto multiple screens across the room.

See full Michigan results here

By then, those screens showed some results from other states, where Trump enjoyed an electoral college lead very early in what some political experts estimate could be a results-tabulating process that could last days. Or more.

By about 9:30 p.m., with 12 percent of precincts reporting, Vice President Kamala Harris was leading former President Donald Trump with 53 percent of the vote to his 45 percent.

Early on at the casino, the atmosphere at times resembled an after-hours club party. DJs mixed modern pop with old-school Motown Records-produced music that thumped from three-level rooms speakers. A smorgasbord of sliders, hot dogs, fruits and vegetables kept guests fed. High-tech lighting fixtures illuminated an otherwise-dim room.

Dozens of reporters from across the world also gathered at the event, ready to document the reactions and emotions that would develop as results rolled in from Michigan, considered a swing state that could decide if Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump becomes the next U.S. president.

The 4-panel news feed inside the theater included live footage from the studios of CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and Newsmax. Guests could only watch the visuals, though, as Stevie Wonder songs drowned out the verbal analysis of Steve Kornacki on MSNBC; and Tammi Terrells R&B hits overshadowed commentary from Tudor Dixon, the Michigan gubernatorial candidate-turned-Newsmax contributor.

Thirty minutes after Michigan polls closed, the music was interrupted for the first time by Detroit Mayor Duggan. He introduced family members of Elissa Slotkin, the Democrat in a race against Republican Mike Rogers for a U.S. Senate seat.

Related: Mind-boggling amount of money flowing into Michigans toss-up Senate race

Are you proud of the campaign Elissa Slotkin ran?, Duggan said to the crowd. Ive been in campaigns that have won, and I wasnt proud of the candidate; Ive been in campaigns I was proud of, and we lost. Tonight is the best of all. We can be proud of what Elissa is going to do.

Duggan made the remarks before the unofficial results from the Slotkin and Rogers race was tallied.

Perhaps the highest-profile Democrat in the room early on was Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and a Traverse City resident. He addressed the crowd after Duggan.

Hello Michigan Democrats, Buttigieg said. Does this feel like a winning night to us? Yes, it does.

Buttigieg said he was fired up from meeting the volunteers, activists and advocates who bolstered the 2024 campaigns of Democrats across Michigan, where he moved two years ago with his husband.

Now that Im a Michigander  because I fell in love with one and were raising our kids here  were making sure our state has the right kind of leadership," Buttigieg said. Yes, Michigan is the center of the political universe now, and we are going to deliver Kamala Harris, (her running mate) Tim Walz, Elissa Slotkin, and great Democrats, up and down the ballot.

Buttigieg thanked the crowd, and a DJ turned the volume up on Whitney Houstons I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- At the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), which kicked off on November 5 in Shanghai, FAW-Volkswagen and Volkswagen AG signed a memorandum of understanding on importing complete vehicles and auto parts.

Signing ceremony; photo credit: FAW-Volkswagen

Under this agreement, FAW-Volkswagen will begin importing select parts and complete Audi vehicles from Volkswagen AG in 2025, aiming to diversify product offerings and enhance the quality of mobility for Chinese consumers.

2024 marks Volkswagen's 40th anniversary in China. Since its entry in 1984, Volkswagen has evolved from CKD trial production to an embedded "in China, for China" approach, advancing alongside China's automotive industry.

As a model of Sino-German automotive cooperation, FAW-Volkswagen plays a critical role in Volkswagen AG's "in China, for China" strategy. Over the years, it has expanded from one brand with a single model to three brands offering more than 30 oil-fueled and new energy vehicle (NEV) models, generating nearly 500,000 jobs within the supply chain and contributing over 700 billion yuan in taxes. As competition intensifies in the automotive market, FAW-Volkswagen continues to focus on local needs, driving transformation across production, R&D, logistics, and sustainable development.
OAKLAND COUNTY, MI - U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, has won his second term in Michigans 10th Congressional District, with the Associated Press calling the race in his favor.

Democratic challenger and former judge Carl Marlinga conceded Wednesday morning, even before the race was officially called.

With 98% of the estimated vote counted, James had 51% compared with 45% for Marlinga.

It was a rematch of the 2022 election, when James narrowly defeated Marlinga, securing 48.8% to Marlingas 48.3%, making it the third closest House race in the nation.

This year, James and Marlinga once again went head-to-head, with third-party candidates Mike Saliba (Libertarian) and Andrea Kirby (Working Class Party) also on the ballot.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Marshall Kilgore has won the race for Grand Rapids Third Ward seat in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election.

With all 26 precincts fully reported by 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, Kilgore won the race with 57.77% of the vote, or 14,479 votes, according to unofficial election results from the Kent County Clerks Office.

Kilgores opponent, Bing Goei, came in second place with 40.04% of the vote, or 10,034 votes, according to the unofficial results. There were 547 write-in candidates.

RELATED: 2 competing for open Grand Rapids Third Ward seat this November

The Third Ward seat up for grabs this fall is currently held by Goei, who was unanimously appointed to the role in March by the city commission to replace former commissioner Nathaniel Moody. Moody resigned late last year for personal reasons.

Kilgore, 25, is the director of engagement at West Michigan Environmental Action Council. He earned his bachelors degree in political science from Western Michigan University.

Kilgore serves on the leadership team for Seeds of Promise and on the citys Vital Streets Oversight Commission, Housing Appeals Board and the Urban Agriculture Committee. In 2021, Kilgore made an unsuccessful run for the Kalamazoo City Commission. His campaign website can be found here.

The Third Ward is generally defined by Wealthy Street to the north, Jefferson Avenue to the west and the citys boundaries with neighboring municipalities to the south and east.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Voters in state House District 68 have returned Republican David W. Martin to the Michigan Legislature, according to unofficial results on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The Associated Press called the race for Martin, who fended off the challenge of Democrat Matt Schlinker. Martin collected 29,396 votes (or 54.5% of the vote) while Schlinker had 24,549 votes (or 45.5%) percent.

The 68th District includes the cities of Burton, Davison, Goodrich and Grand Blanc, Atlas Township, a portion of Grand Blanc and Genesee townships, and three precincts in northern Oakland County.

Voters in the area knew they would have a choice between a Democrat and a Republican in Tuesdays election but expected the late Tim Sneller would be representing the Democrats.

Instead, Sneller, a former state representative from Burton, died just 26 days before the election.

Schlinker, of Goodrich, staged a last-minute, write-in campaign in the primary, qualifying for the general election ballot as the Democratic standard bearer by collecting more than 1,200 write-in votes.

He is a former Flint City Council member and a quality engineer for General Motors.

Martin, a former Genesee County commissioner from Davison, was not challenged in the Republican primary.

He was first elected to the House in 2020 and is a U.S. Air Force veteran and former veteran services coordinator for Mott Community College. He served previously on the Davison City Council and the county commission.

Earlier this year, Martin told MLive-The Flint Journal that he was running for re-election to continue to fight to protect the values that represent Genesee County and north Oakland (County), to be secure in our homes, protect our families and the safety of our children and have an affordable cost of living.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported Tuesday, Nov. 5 that fake bomb threats against polling locations in several states, including Michigan, likely came from Russia.

None of the threats have been deemed legitimate.

The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains, the agency said in a statement.

The Michigan Secretary of States Office confirmed bomb threats were made against a few Michigan polling locations.

They were all investigated and confirmed to be non-credible, said Angela Benander from the Michigan Department of State during a Tuesday afternoon press call. We have been notified that what they believe is that they are tied to Russia, theyre swatting attacks, and theyre all non-credible. Theres no concern for safety at those polling places because theyve been cleared by Michigan State Police.

Additional details about the number of threats were not immediately available.

Michigan State Police responded to questions about the alleged bomb threats by pointing to the FBIs statement.

In Michigan, voters can have confidence that all levels of government  local, county, state and federal  are working together to safeguard polling and other election-related locations. Well be continuing to monitor for any safety concerns throughout the day, a statement from Michigan State Police said.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger addressed bomb threats of Russian origin during a press conference Tuesday morning.

Theyre up to mischief it seems, he said. They dont want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election. If they can get us to fight amongst ourselves, they can count that as a victory. So that tells you a little about the Russians. Theyre not our friends. Anyone who thinks they are hasnt been reading the newspapers.

Despite the hoax bomb threats, Michigans election has been progressing smoothly.

Benander said theres been no major issues with ground team reports being solid, steady, enthusiastic.

More than 3.3 million people cast ballots before the polls opened Tuesday, with 2.1 million voting absentee and another 1.2 million voting early.

In a statement, the FBI reiterated that election integrity is one of its highest priorities.

We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to our elections and to protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote, the agency said.

The FBI also warned this week about foreign adversaries, particularly Russia, trying to erode confidence in the election by manufacturing videos that undermine the legitimacy of the election, instill fear in voters regarding the election process, and suggest Americans are using violence against each other due to political preferences.

Michigan polls will remain open until 8 p.m. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. can still cast a ballot.
A few high-level races in Michigan remain in limbo early Wednesday afternoon as the final votes are counted.

As of 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, about 99% of Michigans vote has been counted, according to the Associated Press, with additional 6,000 military and overseas ballots having until Tuesday, Nov. 12 to arrive for tabulation.

The hotly contested race for a U.S. Senate seat was among those still without a declared winner because of the delay in the vote tally.

With nearly all the ballots counted, Democrat U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin leads Republican Mike Rogers by roughly 18,000 votes. Slotkin, who aiming to keep the seat blue once U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow retires, has secured 48.6% of the vote compared to Rogers 48.3%.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson addressed the close race during a Wednesday, Nov. 6 media briefing.

Half percent would trigger the statewide recount, she said. Were still monitoring that and well certainly announce anything thats determined in terms of an automatic recount if and when we reach that. But I dont see that just yet.

If Rogers wins the race, it would flip another U.S. Senate seat red after Republicans already gained a majority with 52 seats compared to 42 seats called for Democrats.

See Michigans full election results here.

Some state House races have also not been decided yet, but the Associated Press called Michigans presidential race for Donald Trump around 1 p.m. Wednesday. Before that, Michigan was one of five states that had yet to announce a presidential winner with Alaska, Arizona, Maine and Nevada still outstanding.

Trump, who already won enough electoral college votes to be the next president, has secured 49.8% of Michigans vote compared to Vice President Kamala Harris 48.2%. Nearly 110,000 Michigan voters chose a third party candidate.

Benson attributed part of Michigans delay to a slow data upload overnight in Wayne County.

We made it clear all along that it would take time for counties to report those unofficial results, she told reporters during a Wednesday briefing. What we saw over the last 12 hours or so was, particularly in large counties like Wayne, there were no problems with counting or transmitting those results, and thats why we knew things had been tabulated. But it did take a very long time to get the data to upload into the county website.

For Wayne County, Benson said it was simply just waiting for that data to be uploaded that created reporting delays Wednesday morning. She also attributed it to election workers taking careful, slower actions because they know the immense scrutiny the process is under after election challengers swarmed Detroits ballot count in 2020.

But at the bottom line is, it did take time, and here we are, earlier than we were in 2020 able to say that the tabulation is, for the most part complete, she said.

It was another record high turnout year for Michigan with roughly 5.5 million voters casting ballots in what Benson described as an election that proceeded smoothly, peacefully and without any significant or widespread disruptions. About 2.2 million people voted absentee with 1.2 million voting early and more than 2 million cast ballots in-person.

Nearly 22,000 people registered to vote on Election Day with many being in university towns like East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Detroit.

This is our third straight election cycle where voters turned out in record numbers, and thats what were seeing as a victory, Benson said.
DETROIT, MI  The Michigan Democratic Party election watch event here began emptying out about 1 a.m. after a U.S. Senate candidate told the crowd to get some rest and prepare for a long wait until final results are announced.

Elissa Slotkin was still in the running but trailing Republican Mike Rogers in votes by about 4 percentage points  with 58% of votes counted  when she addressed the crowd at the Motor City Casino Sound Board Theater in downtown Detroit in the early hours of Wednesday, Nov. 6.

We always knew this was going to be a tight race, and that is exactly what were seeing unfold in front of us, Slotkin told the crowd of hundreds. There are a lot of votes left to count. This happens in every single election. So, my message to you all is to get some rest, hunker down; weve got a long way to go.

Officials said there were no more speakers expected to address the crowd, which began exiting the casino about six hours after the event launched.

The mood for much of the event was jubilant inside the Sound Board Theater, even as some top state races  including Slotkins matchup  showed Republicans taking leads as Election Day concluded.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, also saw a lead slip to Republican Donald Trump, although that race also was too early to call at the time the watch party dispersed.

Guests began arriving at the Motown Records-themed theater about an hour before the Election Day polls closed at 8 p.m., when attendees began paying closer attention to the national TV news feeds projected onto multiple screens across the room.

By then, those news feeds were showing early electoral college vote results from other states, where Trump enjoyed an electoral college lead very early in what could be a long results-tabulating election process.

The gathering featured DJs playing Motown Records-produced music, a smorgasbord of food options, and an atmosphere that at times resembled an after-hours club. Hundreds of people attended the gathering.

The crowd received updates and encouraging words throughout the evening and early-morning hours from high-profile Democrats including Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation; Debbie Stabenow, the retiring U.S. Senator Slotkin hopes to replace; Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist; Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan; and U.S. Sen. Gary Peters.

Its about working hard; its about being tenacious, Peters told the crowd about 10 p.m. Tuesday. I just want to thank all of you for all the work youve done.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, one of the first Michigan leaders to endorse Harris and a frequent presenter at the vice presidents campaign events, also addressed the crowd.

We ran the biggest campaign in my lifetime, Fain told attendees about 10 p.m. Tuesday. This hard work has paid off. When we get a win, it will be because of the hard work that we all put in.

Michigan Supreme Court Justice candidates Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Ann Thomas addressed the gathering about midnight. Both candidates enjoyed leads in their respective elections when they spoke, although the Associated Press as of this report has not declared victory for them.
The polls have closed, the ballots are being counted and hopefully soon it will be known who a majority of Michiganders chose this election: former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris.

For months, political experts and pollsters have said Trump and Harris will be in a close race for the key battleground state.

The presidential candidates this year have stopped a combined 49 times in the state, with Harris making 25 stops and Trump making 24, in an effort to rally supporters, win over other voters and secure the swing states 15 electoral votes.

Trump narrowly won Michigan in 2016 but lost it during his 2020 reelection bid.

Related: Michigans 2024 live election results: President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House

We asked readers which presidential candidate they voted for and why. About 212 readers in Michigan responded to MLives unscientific survey.

A number of Trump voters said the country was better off four years ago, with the economy and immigration being key points.

The last four years have been a disaster as Biden/Harris have pushed open borders and the cost of living has skyrocketed under their policies, said Jim from Holland.

Many Harris voters said they do not like Trumps character or trust him, with some citing the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol that sought to prevent Congress from formalizing President Joe Bidens victory last election.

After January 6, 2021, I would and will not vote for any Republican unless they disavow what happened at the Capitol that day, said Judy from Muskegon.

But opposition to Trump wasnt the only motivating factor for readers who support Harris. Some said Harris would safeguard womens rights and American democracy and that shes a better leader.

(Harris) has better leadership skills, treats others with respect, I share many of her values, and I never ever want Trump to be our president again so I would have voted for anyone running against him, said one reader from Battle Creek. Im grateful that Harris is someone I can get excited about rather than just being the lesser of two evils.

Some Trump voters said the Biden and Harris administration is too far left.

(I voted for) Trump because the country has lurched too far to the extreme left and the lefts policies are destructive to your country, said one reader from Lansing.

Others said Trump has a better record on the economy, crime and immigration.

Trump has a consistent track record of safety for our country. Groceries and gas were less under his leadership and he represents the values America was founded on, said Lori from Boyne City. Canada has closed borders, why cant we?

Still, some Harris voters see a vast difference between the messages of the two campaigns and their visions for the future.

(I voted for) Harris, because she comes across as a thoughtful intelligent and capable leader, said James from Ypsilanti. She talks in positive terms about what is possible for a bright future for this country vs the crass doom and gloom drownings of her opponent.

Editors note: MLive will conduct surveys on interesting issues in Michigan. Artificial intelligence was used to assist in the sorting of reader responses to this poll.
With nearly all the votes counted, the hotly contested race for Michigans open U.S. Senate seat remains too close to call.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, is holding a razor thin lead over Republican Mike Rogers  48.6% to 48.3%, according to the Associated Press.
Donald Trump has won enough electoral college votes to secure a second term as president, but Michigan has yet to call a presidential winner.

The Associated Press called the national race for Trump around 5:45 a.m. Wednesday after he won 277 electoral college votes  enough to defeat Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and return to the White House.

In Michigan, the race is still too close to call.

As of 9 a.m. with 97% of the votes counted, Trump is leading with 49.9% of Michigans vote to Harris 48.3%. Hes up by over 91,000 votes with a total of 2,756,828 compared to Harris total of 2,665,126.

See Michigans full election results here.

Most Michigan counties are reporting 99% of the votes have been counted but Wayne County is still at 91%, Macomb County at 95% and Kalamazoo County at 90%.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is planning to provide an update on the election at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Detroit. Benson last told reporters she expected presidential results to be announced by Wednesday if not sooner.

If Trump wins Michigan, he would secure another 15 electoral college votes, further cementing his victory for a second term.

It would also mark another flip for Michigan, a battleground state that voted for President Barack Obama in 2012, Trump in 2016 and President Joe Biden in 2020. This election, Trump flipped other swing states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which paved the path for an early victory.

Trump will now be only the second president to serve two non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland in 1892.

The Associated Press has also not called a tight Senate race in Michigan between Democrat U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers. As of 8:45 a.m., the candidates remained in a dead heat as Slotkin narrowly led with 48.6% of the vote to Rogers 48.4%.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A millage funding mental health support in Washtenaw County has been renewed with nearly 70% of the vote.

Washtenaw County voters renewed a millage funding the Community Mental Health Department, sheriffs office and other local agencies meant to support mental health concerns. The millage, which is expected to raise $22.5 million in its first year, passed with 69.21% of the vote, according to unofficial election results Wednesday morning. The proposal garnered 134,114 affirmative votes.

The millage will run from 2026 through 2033.

Read more: Results of the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County

The renewal comes after officials made tweaks to how the funding can be used.

In June, the county commissioners passed an ordinance directing the sheriffs office to spend at least 30% of its funds on mental health and behavioral services, housing support, and community violence interruption. Each area must receive at least 10% of the funding provided to the sheriffs office.

Read more: Tax for police, mental health services again on Washtenaw County ballots

Funding from the millage will be split, 38% to Community Mental Health and 38% to the sheriffs office, with the remaining 24% given as a rebate to cities and townships with their own police forces to spend as they wish. Municipalities with their own police include Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township and Northfield Township, according to the millage text.

The ordinance also created a 16-member public safety millage advisory committee, appointed by the county board, according to previous reporting.

The changes were prompted by a combination of public feedback and changing leadership, Annie Somerville, the Ypsilanti representative on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, previously said. Somerville is also the chair of the millages advisory committee and serves on Community Mental Healths board.

Officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the millages passing.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
Read the full story on The Auto Wire

Lamborghini Huracan Crashes And Burns In High-Speed Rally

A Lamborghini Huracan burned after crashing, leaving a mangled mess of metal in Albany County, New York. The driver and his friends, who were also driving high-end cars like Porsches and Ferraris, were speeding through the area as part of a rally.

Lamborghini Huracan thieves try hiding it in a middle class neighborhood.

Footage of the young drivers, who reportedly hail from the New York City area, speeding along the two-lane country road was obtained by Times Union. It shows the performance cars blasting past drivers going the speed limit by going into the oncoming traffic lane.

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As the group made its way to a sharp turn, the Huracan driver failed to negotiate it safely, the supercar crashing into the trees. Then it went up in flames, although the driver was able to escape safely, miraculously suffering zero injuries.

You can see the Lambo wasnt nearly as lucky. Thats a $200,000-plus exotic European supercar gone in a matter of minutes, all thanks to driver error.

The sheriff said the group was having a fast and furious moment and didnt seem the least bit amused by their antics. Several citations were handed out to the drivers. Speaking with Times Union, the sheriff said the drivers have been racing around in the area for hours before the crash.

Just because you own a fast car doesnt give you license to drive recklessly on public roads. Were not even of the opinion that speeding alone is reckless, although trying to go through a turn too fast is, which is what ultimately took the Huracan down.

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Going into oncoming traffic lanes, swimming through traffic, and other maneuvers arent appropriate for public streets. We know some sports, muscle, and exotic car owners feel they have every right to do that and more, but this kid was lucky he didnt kill himself or someone else, as are his buddies.

Images via Albany County Sheriffs Office/Facebook

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Far-right Republican Sylvia Rhodea has won the Nov. 5 election for the District 8 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners seat.

Ultra conservative political group Ottawa Impact co-founder Republican Sylvia Rhodea currently holds the seat as District 8 commissioner and was challenged in the general election by Democrat Rebecca Patrick.

According to unofficial Ottawa County election results, Rhodea received 6,578 votes (59.94%) to Patricks 4,397 votes (40.06%).

As of 12:42 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, six of the six precincts in the district were fully reporting results. All election results are unofficial until they are certified by the county Board of Canvassers.

District 8 covers Allendale Township.

RELATED: With control of Ottawa County board changing, heres what to watch for on Nov. 5

Rhodea, 53, previously worked in foster care and special needs adoption before having her own children. She also previously owned a child photography and design business. She was elected in 2022 to represent District 8. She, along with Hudsonvilles Joe Moss, founded Ottawa Impact. Moss also won reelection in the Nov. 5 race.

The Ottawa Impact majority on the countys board of commissioners has passed wide-reaching changes since taking office last year, including dissolving the countys diversity, equity and inclusion office, firing two county administrators and changing the countys motto from Where you belong to Where freedom rings.

Patrick, 68, is a retired regional director for the Michigan departments of natural resources and environmental quality, which are currently known as two separate departments, the Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). She is also a former officer of the Lansing Christian school board and volunteer at Love in Action of Northeast Ottawa County.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
UPDATE: The Associated Press has called the race for Hillary Scholten.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Republican Paul Hudson has conceded to incumbent U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids.

Hudson announced at 12:35 a.m. Wednesday on social media he had conceded the race for the states 3rd Congressional District seat

As of 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, Scholten has 187,986 votes to Hudsons 155,514 votes, or a tally of 53.3% to 44.1%, according to the Associated Press.

About 83% of the votes in the race for the states 3rd Congressional District seat have been reported.

I just called Hillary Scholten to offer my congratulations on the win and best wishes for her next term serving West Michigan, Hudson wrote. It was a disappointing result but, as they say, the next best thing to playing and winning is playing and losing. I am proud of the campaign we ran and it was the honor of a lifetime to be part of this great American process.

Hudson went on to thank his supporters, staffers, volunteers, family and friends.

The congressional district encompasses portions of Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties, including the cities of Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kentwood, Grand Haven and Muskegon. The seat is up for election every two years.

Scholten won the seat in 2022, becoming the first Democrat to represent Grand Rapids in Congress since 1977. In that election, she beat Republican challenger John Gibbs, who was backed by former President Donald Trump.

The seat was redistricted in 2022, with political observers saying at the time that the revised constituency gave Democrats an advantage.
BAY COUNTY, MI  When the Bay County Board of Commissioners meets in January 2025, four of the seven people on the board will be new faces.

Of the four, three are Republicans, reflecting a trend that has continued across Bay County and the state in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election.

Republican Larry Beson unseated Democrat Colleen M. Maillette for the position representing the countys 4th District and Republican Christopher T. Rupp defeated Democratic incumbent Thomas M. Herek.

Meanwhile, Jerome Crete, a Republican, defeated Democrat Marnie Westphal in the race for District 7 commissioner, replacing Jayme Johnson who replaced the late Dennis Poirier.

Interim Bay City Mayoral and former 1st Ward Commissioner and Bay City Commission President Jesse Dockett, a Democrat, ran unopposed for the seat representing Bay Countys 6th District.

Related: 3 newcomers win contested races to join Bay County Board of Commissioners

The four new commissioners will join 1st District Commissioner Kathy Niemiec, 2nd District Commissioner Tim Banaszak and 3rd District Commissioner Vaughn J. Begick  all Republicans.

The red wave seen taking over the county board is also noticeable across the county.

The general election saw Bay Countys two-term incumbent prosecutor, Nancy Borushko, unseated by a Republican challenger in Mike Kanuszewski.

Republicans also won the countys drain and road commissioner races.

Related: Live: Bay County election results for Nov. 5, 2024

Showing a strong support for Republican candidates, the Bay County executive race saw Republican challenger Kevin Shark come very close to defeating Democrat Jim Barcia.

Bay County sided with Republican candidates in several statewide elections, including the presidential race, U.S. Senate, Congress and state house races.

In Lansing, Michigan Republicans are poised to win control of the state House, ending two years of Democratic control.

Democrats held a thin 56-54 House majority  meaning Republicans only had to flip two seats to shift party control.

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Former Republican state Sen. Tom Barrett won a seat in Congress, according to unofficial results from the Associated Press, flipping Michigans 7th Congressional district.

The Associated Press called the race early Wednesday for Barrett over former Democratic state Sen. Democrat Curtis Hertel, Jr.

The seat, which includes all of Clinton, Ingham, Livingston and Shiawassee counties and portions of Eaton, Genesee and Oakland counties, was left open by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Lansing, seeking the open U.S. Senate seat.

Slotkins race against former Republican congressman Mike Rogers remains neck-and-neck Wednesday morning.

As of 5 a.m. Wednesday, with 98% of the votes reporting, Barrett had 50.3% votes to Hertels 46.5% votes, or a tally of 226,694 to 209,842, according to the Associated Press.

Barrett, a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Army and National Guard, served two terms in the state House and on term in the state Senate.

He first ran for Congress in 2022, losing to Slotkin by more than 5 percentage points in one of the most expensive U.S. House races in the country.
Michigan Republicans are poised to win control of the state House, ending two years of a Democratic trifecta in Lansing.

Going into the election, Democrats held a thin 56-54 House majority  meaning Republicans only had to flip two seats to shift party control.

Unofficial vote tallies show that some key races are tilting toward Republicans who have also maintained some vulnerable seats.

See Michigans full election results here.

The House Republican Campaign Committee celebrated the decisive victory Wednesday morning while some races had yet to be called.

Our hard-fought victory reaffirms that the people of Michigan want leaders who put them first, uphold the rule of law, and advocate for accountability at every level of government, said House Republican Leader Matt Hall. With a Republican majority, Michigan will have a stronger voice fighting for the values of hardworking families and addressing the issues that matter most  safe schools and neighborhoods, an affordable economy, and a government that provides value for dollars.

As of 10 a.m., Republicans have won 55 seats, Democrats won 39 and 17 races have not been decided yet.

Several seats are likely to be flipped from Democrats to Republicans.

One is Michigans 27th District where Democratic State Rep. Jamie Churches, the incumbent candidate, is trailing 3 points behind Republican challenger Rylee Linting with 95% of the vote counted. Churches narrowly won the seat two years ago after the Downriver Detroit district had been redrawn in 2020.

State Rep. Nate Shannon, a Democratic incumbent, could also lose his seat to Republican Ron Robinson for Michigans 58th District.

Unofficial vote counts at 92% show Robinson is leading with 53.6% to Shannons 46.4% in the Macomb County district. Shannon won the newly redrawn district two years ago with a 2.6% victory over the Republican eyeing the seat.

Related: Democrats won total control of Michigan government in 2022. Will Republicans break that this year?

In Michigans 61st District, incumbent Democrat state Rep. Denise Mentzer trailing behind Republican Robert Wojtowicz with a razor thin margin. Only 64% of the votes have been counted in the Macomb County district with Mentzer securing 49.9% to Wojtowiczs 50.1%.

Several Republicans also held on to what were viewed as their more vulnerable seats.

State Rep. Mark Tisdel who won re-election to serve Michigans 55th District. Tisdel, who won a second term in office two years ago to represent the redistricted Rochester area, secured 53.7% of the vote compared to his Democratic challenger Trevis Harrolds 46.3%.

Republican State Rep. Donni Steele also won another term in the House after beating Democrat Shadia Martini with 52.4% to 47.6% of the vote. Steele will once again represent Michigans 54th District in Oakland County after previously beating Martini in 2022.

And voters also sent Republican State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz back to serve another term for Michigans 46th District, which covers the city of Jackson and parts of Jackson and Washtenaw counties. Schmaltz defeated Democrat Daniel Mahoney, the mayor of Jackson, with 52.1% of the vote to Mahoneys 47.9%.

Meanwhile Democrats fended off Republicans in a few vulnerable districts.

State Rep. John Fitzgerald won re-election to represent the Grand Rapids area in Michigans 83rd District. He defeated Republican businessman Tommy Brann 53.1% to 46.9%, according to the Associated Press.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Republican Mike Rogers is leading U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, in the race for Michigans open U.S. Senate seat.

As of 12:20 a.m., with 50% of votes counted, Rogers was leading Slotkin 51% to 46.2%, according to unofficial results from The Associated Press.

RELATED: Mind boggling amount of money flowing into Michigans toss-up U.S. Senate race

I do believe this is going to be a nail biter, Rogers said Tuesday night.

He and other Michigan Republicans were gathered at the Suburban Showplace Collection, an event venue in Novi. Slotkin and Rogers are vying to replace U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who is retiring after serving four terms in the Senate.

The race between Slotkin and Rogers has been labeled a toss-up by The nonpartisan Cook Political Report, and recent polls have shown a tight race between the two candidates.

The race has drawn lots of spending.

As of mid-October, the two candidates had pumped $52.4 million into the race, according to figures compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in politics. The figure climbs even higher when including outside spending, which OpenSecrets tallied at $138.2 million.

Rogers is a former FBI agent who represented the mid-Michigan area in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2015. He centered much of his campaign on disappointment with the Biden administration, including what he described as a wide-open border, job-killing EV mandates, and rising gas and grocery prices.

While she was down in the polls, Slotkin wasnt ready to concede after midnight Tuesday.

We always knew that this was going to be a tight race, and thats exactly what were seeing unfold in front of us, she said, gathered with supporters in Detroit. There are a lot of votes left to count. This happens in every single election. Ive had three tough elections.

RELATED: 3 takeaways as Slotkin, Rogers spar over high prices, EVs and abortion
SAGINAW, MI  The Back the Blue proposal that appeared before Saginaw voters on the Nov. 5 general election ballot passed with 69.81% of vote.

A total of 10,735 votes were cast in favor of the proposal while 4,642 residents voted against it.

The proposal directs city officials to reaffirm their support for the citys firefighters and police officers by pledging to continue, among other initiatives, training and equipping them, providing them and their families with life insurance benefits, and promoting crowdfunding websites for the families of officers or firefighters who are injured in the line of duty.

The proposal will have no impact on tax bills and is meant to counter the defund the police movement which emerged out of the protests that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in May of 2020.

The proposal on Saginaw ballots reads as follows:

Shall the Charter of the City of Saginaw, Michigan be amended by adding a new Chapter XIX, Section 1, to state that The proposed Back the Blue Public Safety Priority City Charter Amendment, if adopted, would honor, better protect, and provide victim compensation for Fire and Police Officers, Emergency Medical Technicians and other First Responders, and their families.

The Saginaw City Council voted 6-3 in August to put the proposal on ballot on the Nov. 5 ballot after an organization, Back the Blue, secured the 1,897 signatures from residents needed for the city to consider their petition.

Related: Heres the hubbub about Back the Blue, Saginaws ballot item you may not know about

Back the Blue failed to get a similar proposal on ballots in Grand Rapids for this election.

Saginaw lawyer Gregory C. Schmid, a member of the Michigan arm of Back the Blue, said the proposal is meant to advise city officials rather than impose a mandate.

Theres nothing in it that compels (Saginaw leaders) to do any actions; its not the sort of thing that one has to try to enforce in court, Schmid said. The intent of it is to show that people want the citys governing body to side with police, not criminals, and to do the things suggested in the body of (the proposal) and other things to focus on recruiting and retaining police in the future, as opposed to treating them like second-class citizens, which some cities are doing.

A retired Saginaw firefighter and the current chair of the Saginaw County Democratic Party, Aileen Pettinger, voiced her opposition to the proposal after she initially heard about it, citing her concerns regarding Back the Blues ties with conservative groups such as America First Works.

Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw.
Voters across Michigan are heading to the polls to cast ballots on Election Day 2024 on Tuesday, Nov. 5

MLive photojournalists visited multiple polling centers across Michigan. They also checked in on some workers counting absentee ballots. Check out photos in the gallery above.

Related: More than 45% of Michigan voters cast ballots before Election Day

The gallery will be updated as the evening goes on with more photos from across Michigan.

Related: 7 key races were watching closely on Election Day across Michigan

Related: DJs spinning beats at more than 750 polls across Michigan

Polls opened Tuesday across the state at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Those in line by 8 p.m. will still be able to vote.

To cast a ballot, registered voters must either have a photo ID or sign an affidavit stating they do not possess a valid photo ID.

Citizens who havent yet registered to vote can still do so on Election Day by going to their local clerks office. So long as theyre in line by 8 p.m., they will still be able to register and cast an absentee ballot.

FOLLOWING THE LATEST NEWS

For more information about the general election, go to MLives 2024 General Election Preview page.

Readers also can read all about the election  and other political issues  at MLives Politics and Elections Page.

MLive has centralized election-related stories in regions surrounding the media groups eight newsroom hubs across the state. To view those stories, click on the hyperlinks related to those communities below:
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- Election day has come and gone, and results are in for proposals across Washtenaw County.

Related: Results for the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County

There were over 20 local proposals on different ballots throughout the county for the Nov. 5 election. Here is a round-up of what voters decided to pass and reject.

County emergency communications millage

A millage that will benefit the countys emergency communications system has passed with 64% voting yes and 36% voting no.

This vote will renew a 0.2-mill tax for another 10 years, allowing the county to maintain and upgrade its emergency communications system, possibly including the construction of new towers. It is set to raise an estimated $4.5 million when first levied in 2026.

County veterans relief millage

Washtenaw County Proposal 2 has passed with 71% voting yes and 29% voting no.

This approval will renew a 0.1-mill tax for eight years to provide financial relief for veterans in need. It will raise an estimated $2.2 million when first levied in 2024.

County senior services millage

This millage also passed with 57% of voters voting yes, while 43% said no.

Washtenaw County Proposal 3 will impose a new 0.5-mill tax to provide activities and services for seniors ages 60 and older. County officials have previously indicated it would fund services addressing nutrition, transportation, housing and education.

It will be levied for eight years starting in 2024 and will raise an estimated $11.6 million in the first year.

County mental health and public safety millage

Voters decided to renew a 1-mill tax for another eight years before it expires in 2025.

Washtenaw County Proposal 4 passed the millage with 69% voting yes, and 31% voting no. It will raise an estimated $22.4 million when first levied in 2026 and will cost taxpayers $100 annually for every $100,000 of taxable value on their property.

This decision maintains the millages existing funding split, with 38% of revenue going to the Sheriffs Office, 38% to Community Mental Health and 24% as rebates to cities and townships with their own police forces.

That includes Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township and Northfield Township, which would receive rebates proportionate to their populations.

The millage is for the purposes of improving the treatment of people with mental health needs; providing increased financial support for mental health crisis, stabilization and prevention; and for continued law enforcement services, the proposal states.

Ann Arbor sustainable energy proposal

City of Ann Arbor Proposal A which involves a city-run sustainable energy utility to supplement DTE Energy service in the city with new investments in local renewable energy passed with around 79% of voters voting yes.

Read more: Voters OK Ann Arbor sustainable energy proposal to supplement DTE service

The city will become a provider of renewable energy to local residents, businesses and institutions under an opt-in model for those who subscribe and want to pay for energy through the SEU, as its called.

Ann Arbor parks millage

City of Ann Arbor Proposal B had 72% of voters opt in to renew the 1.1-mill tax for parks for 20 years. It is set to raise an estimated $8.5 million in the first year.

Ann Arbor election reforms

Ann Arbor voters have decided to not change the way the city conducts elections for mayor and City Council after two citizen-initiated proposals stirred up some debate.

Read more: Ann Arbor voters reject election reform proposals by over 2-to-1 margin

Prop C to make city elections nonpartisan had 16,330 yes votes to 42,929 no votes, against it in the end. Prop D, which called for introducing public financing of mayor and council campaigns, had 17,731 yes votes and 41,000 no votes.

Ann Arbor Township proposal

Ann Arbor Townships proposal got the green light as 76% of voters checked yes.

The Proposal to Renew Ann Arbor Township Land Preservation Millage will renew a 0.66-mill tax for another five years. The millage funds the purchase of development rights for the permanent preservation of farmland and open spaces in the township.

It plans to raise an estimated $478,749 in its first year.

Dexter City Charter Amendment

A Dexter proposal on the ballot failed by just 49 votes.

If passed, voters would have decided to amend the city charter to say city-owned land bound by Alpine Street, Main Street, Mill Creek and the railroad must be retained in public ownership, in perpetuity, and devoted for recreational use.

Read more: Dexter land can be used for new fire station after proposal fails by 49 votes

There were 1,463 people who voted no and 1,414 people who voted yes.

Freedom Township proposal

Voters have decided to renew a roughly 0.25-mill tax for road maintenance and improvements for four years.

The proposal in Freedom Township passed with 65%, or 605 people, voting yes and around 35%, or 319 people, voting no. It plans to raise an estimated $62,285 in its first year.

Lodi Township proposals

There were two proposals on Lodi Townships ballot with one dealing with roads and another with marijuana businesses.

Lodi Township Proposal A passed with 2,807 people, or 68%, voting yes and 1,326 people, or 32%, voting no. This decision will renew a 1-mill tax for roads for five years and raise an estimated $567,183 in the first year.

As for Lodi Township Proposal B, that failed as 2,524 people or 62% voted no and 1,529 people or 38%, voted yes. If it has passed, this proposal planned to allow up to five adult use growers and two processing marijuana establishments to come to the township.

Lodi Township currently prohibits all marijuana establishments within its boundaries.

Manchester Township proposals

Another two proposals graced the ballots and passed within Manchester Township.

Manchester Township Millage Renewal Proposal A will renew a 0.35-mill tax for roads for five years and is estimated to raise $63,472 in the first year. There were 1,032, or 62%, who voted yes and 645, or 38%, who voted no.

The other proposal was Manchester Township Millage Renewal Proposal B which will renew a 0.15-mill tax for five years for purchasing fire and rescue equipment and providing fire services. It plans to raise an estimated $27,202 in the first year.

There were 1,191, or 70%, who voted yes and 516, or 30%, who voted no.

Saline proposals

Two Saline proposals involving terms of office and compensation for mayor and council members passed.

City of Saline Proposal A had a close call, but it passed as 51% of people voted yes and 49% of people voted no. This proposal will change the citys elected terms for mayor and council members from two years to four. It will also update language to be gender neutral.

The other proposal known as City of Saline Proposal B will amend the charter to stipulate that pay for the mayor and council members must be decided by a local officers compensation commission consistent with state law. There were 61% of voters who voted for this.

Scio Township proposal

A fire protection millage proposal in Scio Township has received the thumbs up from voters.

The millage will replace a 1.35-mill tax with a new 2.7-mill tax for 12 years starting in 2025, raising an estimated $4.6 million in the first year. The ballot language lists several items it could fund, including fire, rescue and first responder emergency medical service, including construction and operation of a second fire station and additional fire apparatus and equipment.

The proposal passed with 59% of voters saying yes.

Lincoln Consolidated School District Sinking Fund Millage Proposal

A little over 51% of voters approved the sinking fund millage proposal for Lincoln Consolidated School District.

The 10-year, 2-mill tax will be used to help with the purchase real estate, building repairs, instructional technology, and transportation, among other things. It plans to generate roughly $2.6 million per year for 10 years for district improvements.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District Special Education Millage Renewal

A special education millage renewal for received a little over 73% of votes in favor of it.

This renewal will allow the intermediate school district to continue to levy special education millage previously approved by electors. The 12-year, roughly 2.38 mill tax will provide funds towards the education of students with a disability. It will begin in 2026 through 2037 and plans to bring in nearly $57 million.

Milan Area Schools Sinking Fund Millage Proposal

A sinking fund millage proposal for Milan Area Schools passed as 54% of voters approved of it.

The approval of this proposal will create a 10-year, 1.5-mill tax for district construction, repairs and transportation. It plans to raise near $1.2 million in its first year.

Whitmore Lake Public School District Sinking Fund Millage Proposal

The Whitmore Lake Public School District Sinking Fund Millage Proposal was not approved since 51% of voters said no.

If approved, the proposal would have had a 10-year, 1.5-mill tax to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings, school security improvements, acquisition of student transpiration vehicles, among other things.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
BAY COUNTY, MI  The number of Bay County residents who voted in the Nov. 5, 2024, general election was very similar to the number of residents who came out to vote four years ago, the last time a presidential race appeared on the ballot.

According to the Michigan Secretary of State website, 61,614 people cast votes in Bay County in this years general election, which pitted Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris against former Republican President Donald J. Trump.

Trump has won enough electoral college votes to secure a second term as president, but Michigan has yet to call a presidential winner. Similarly, he won most Bay County votes, outgaining Harris 34,736 to 25,725.

Related: Live: Bay County election results for Nov. 5, 2024

According to the Bay County Clerks Office, 61,117 Bay County residents voted in the Nov. 3, 2020, general election, which saw Democratic President Joe Biden running against Trump.

The percentage of how many registered voters voted in this years presidential election in Bay County was not immediately available. However, the numbers from the 2020 general election amounted to more than 71% of voters taking part.

Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw.
Xi urges building strong, modernized PLA airborne force

Xinhua) 08:02, November 06, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets representatives of officers and soldiers when inspecting an airborne corps on Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

XIAOGAN, Hubei, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged fully intensifying troop training, enhancing combat preparedness and improving airborne operation capabilities to build a strong and modernized airborne force.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks Monday when inspecting an airborne corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the city of Xiaogan, central China's Hubei Province.

Xi inspected the equipment used in airborne operations and learned about the tactical performance of key weapons and gear.

Acknowledging the positive results achieved in this regard in recent years, Xi urged more efforts to build a new system of airborne equipment.

While visiting a museum on the history of the airborne corps, Xi stressed the need to provide education and guidance for the military personnel to carry forward the glorious legacies in the new era.

He highlighted the importance of raising the awareness of combat readiness and enhancing military preparedness, intensifying joint training with other branches of the armed forces, and increasing the capabilities for joint command, operations and support.

Efforts should be made to foster new-quality combat capacity and use cutting-edge technological advancements to empower the development of the airborne corps, he said.

Xi also urged efforts to forge Party organizations in the military into ones with unwavering political commitment and robust capabilities, and to address corruption and misconduct among military personnel.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an airborne force history museum when inspecting an airborne corps on Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, a dispute over residential land occurred between the family of Zhang Ying and their neighbor Wu's family in Tongcheng. Zhang's family sent a letter to Zhang Ying in Beijing seeking his help. Later, due to a poem written by Zhang Ying in his reply letter, both parties agreed to concede one meter each, thus creating the story behind Liuchixiang. The well-known phrase "What harm is there in yielding one meter?" originates from Zhang Ying's letter. An alley became a model for harmonious and courteous neighborly relations in China. Liuchixiang, carrying the historical wisdom of ancient Chinese people, has also become a source of inspiration for grassroots governance in the new era. Today, Liuchixiang is not just a place name or a story but a method of work. Tongcheng City draws wisdom from excellent traditional culture, injecting the "courtesy and harmony" culture implied in the Liuchixiang story into grassroots governance. It has introduced the "Liuchixiang Mediation Method," mainly used to mediate grassroots conflicts and disputes. In recent years, on the basis of the "Liuchixiang Mediation Method," Tongcheng City has innovatively launched the "New Era Liuchixiang Working Method," achieving a transformation and upgrade from effectively resolving conflicts and disputes to effectively conducting grassroots governance, resolving most conflicts at their source. Since the reform and promotion of the new grassroots governance model, Tongcheng City has established more than 300 "Liuchixiang Mediation Rooms," resolving 99% of conflicts and disputes at the grassroots level. This year, Anhui Province has taken the "New Era Liuchixiang Working Method" as an important approach to social governance and promoted it across the province. Today, more and more people are inspired by the story of "Liuchixiang," and more and more touching stories are happening. Source: anhuinews.com
JACKSON COUNTY, MI - As polls begin to close across the country, Jackson voters showed up in droves to have their voices heard.

Unsurprisingly, the heated presidential race between current Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has provoked a wide range of opinions.

The Jackson Citizen Patriot interviewed several people coming and going from the ballot box about their stance on the contentious election. Read on to see what Jacksonians had to say.

John Babchook poses for a photo in front of the Francis J. Murray Parish Center in Jackson on Nov. 5, 2024. (Mitchell Kukulka | MLive.com)Mitchell Kukulka | Mkukulka@mlive.com

He was the American that we needed

(Trump) was better four years ago. If you look around, our economy was better - everything was lower, said John Babchook, 37. Kamala has been vice president for four years - did she help shut down the border to lessen the number of people coming across the border? No, she left them wide open.

Babchook praised Trumps willingness to travel overseas to strengthen international relationships that had been waning for years, giving the example of the former presidents relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

I was voting for Trump because I actually like him. He was the American that we needed, Babchook said.

Jamus Ryan, an 18-year-old blue-collar man, said he also disagrees with how Harris has handled border security as Joe Bidens vice president, and is excited to vote for Trump in the first election hes been eligible.

Some of the policies that hes done before, I agree with, plus the cost of living was cheaper when he was in office, Ryan said. He put jobs in America. Now theres jobs overseas, with other jobs not here any more.

Laurie Howell (left) poses for a photo with her husband Mike in front of the Francis J. Murray Parish Center in Jackson on Nov. 5, 2024. (Mitchell Kukulka | MLive.com)Mitchell Kukulka | Mkukulka@mlive.com

Shes just the best candidate'

Overall shes just the best candidate, Laurie Howell said of Harris. I dont agree with a lot (Trumps) things hes got going on. When he said something about completely shutting off the education system, Im totally against that, because Ive got kids and grandkids.

Trump has said he wants to close up the Department of Education, move education back to the states, the Associated Press reported.

Howell, 58, said she intends to vote straight Democrat this year because she feels they have better policies overall, especially regarding the right to abortion. She will also support Jacksons own Daniel Mahoney in his race against State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz for that reason - and not just because Mahoney is her cousin, she added with a laugh.

Kamara Roney poses for a photo in front of the Francis J. Murray Parish Center in Jackson on Nov. 5, 2024. (Mitchell Kukulka | MLive.com)Mitchell Kukulka | Mkukulka@mlive.com

(Harris) was the candidate for me, said Kamara Roney, 40. Being an independent woman, freedom of choice, rights to my health care and choices regarding being a woman and mother are important.

Cori Parti poses for a photo in front of the Francis J. Murray Parish Center in Jackson on Nov. 5, 2024. (Mitchell Kukulka | MLive.com)Mitchell Kukulka | Mkukulka@mlive.com

Everything was a little bit easier

Cori Parti, 33, looks back on Trumps presidency as a simpler time for the country.

When (Trump) was our prior president, everything was a little bit easier to live by, Parti said. The grocery prices were cheaper, rent was cheaper - everything was a little cheaper and we also didnt have so many conflicts going on with other countries. I understand that no president wants to have wars, but were currently not doing anything other than the wars were currently in.

Aaron Childs poses for a photo in front of the Francis J. Murray Parish Center in Jackson on Nov. 5, 2024. (Mitchell Kukulka | MLive.com)Mitchell Kukulka | Mkukulka@mlive.com

Aaron Childs - a 53-year-old resident of Jacksons northeast corner - voted for Chace Oliver, a Libertarian, despite not considering him a strong candidate.

We are very much small-government across the board, and even though he probably wasnt our most ideal candidate, as a staunch Libertarian I try to vote for the candidate I feel has my values, Childs said. He was probably not the strongest candidate weve had in a while, but he was our guy.

Tim Burbank poses for a photo in front of the Francis J. Murray Parish Center in Jackson on Nov. 5, 2024. (Mitchell Kukulka | MLive.com)Mitchell Kukulka | Mkukulka@mlive.com

Trumps a raving lunatic

Trumps a raving lunatic. I cant stand him, I honestly cant, said Tim Burbank, 54. I probably would have voted for (Harris) anyways - if Biden was still running, I still wouldve voted for him because I think being a senile old man is safer for us than (Trump).

Read more Jackson-area election stories.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.
NOVI, MI - For the first time in the night, their candidate had the lead.

Cheers rang out and Michigan Republican Party leadership expressed confidence as former president Donald Trump took pole position in the state as votes were tallied just before 11 p.m. on election night.

The trends are all moving in our direction, party Chairman Pete Hoekstra told supporters at the GOPs election night watch event in Novi, while cautioning them that Trumps narrow lead doesnt mean weve won.

As of 11:17 p.m., Trump had taken a very slight lead in Michigan, with about 31 percent of precincts reporting. Larger, historically blue counties, like Wayne and Ingham, however have not reported many results yet.

Check full election results here

Returns from Kent County, Oakland County and rural Michigan looked good, Hoekstra said, and put the party on a good track to accomplish its goals this cycle.

The mood at the Suburban Collection Showplace convention center picked up with Trumps gains in the Michigan results, delivering his supporters hope the president could deliver them a win after election cycles marked by losses and party infighting in Michigan.

It wasnt about politics inside the party, it was all about electing Donald Trump, Mike Rogers, Congressional candidates all along the ticket, and were getting close to achieving our objective, he said.

About that same time, about 30 miles southwest from the Republican gathering, attendees at the Michigan Democratic Party election watch event in Detroit, the mood among attendees appeared unchanged as the presidential vote count tightened.

Pausing the music playing at the Motor City Casino Sound Board Theater event, high-profile Michigan Democrats and their surrogates continued to express optimism about the incoming results while thanking supporters.

We ran the biggest campaign in my lifetime, Shawn Fain, the United Auto Workers president and one of the earliest Michigan leaders to endorse Harris, told attendees about 10 p.m. Tuesday. This hard work has paid off. When we get a win, it will be because of the hard work that we all put in.

Meanwhile, at the Republican watch party, Hoekstra outlined what he hoped conservative voters will accomplish in the blue wall states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

We will not have created a crack in the wall, he said We will have obliterated the wall.
39 1 / 39 Election Day in Flint Area

GENESEE COUNTY, MI - Genesee County voters made their voices heard in Tuesdays election, deciding the outcomes of key local races and ballot proposals that will impact education, community services, and infrastructure across the area.

From competitive school board races to crucial millage renewals, these results reflect the priorities and expectations of residents as they look toward the future of their communities.

Related: Live: Genesee County election results for Nov. 5, 2024

Here is a roundup of all of the local general election results.

District 5 Genesee County Board of Commissioners

The leader of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners is returning to represent District 5.

Incumbent James Avery, D-Grand Blanc, narrowly defeated Republican challenger John C. Wellington on Tuesday, Nov. 5, in the general election race to represent voters in Atlas Township and most of Grand Blanc Township, including the city of Grand Blanc.

Read more here.

State House District 69

State Rep. Jasper Ryan Martus has won a second term representing the 69th District in the Michigan House of Representatives.

The Flushing Democrat collected 56% of the vote while Republican challenger Patrick Duvendeck, also of Flushing, had 43.8%.

Read more here.

State representative for District 70

Voters have returned state Rep. Cynthia Neeley to the state House of Representatives in District 70.

Neeley received79.8% of the votes, defeating Republican Rob Waskoviak, who received 20% of votes.

Read more here.

67th District state representative

Incumbent state Rep. Phil Green has held off an Election Day challenge, winning his second term as the state representative for Michigan House District 67.

Green had collected more than 56% percent of the votes.

Democratic challenger Anissa Buffin, chair of the Lapeer County Democratic Party since 2018, had collected more than 43% percent of the vote.

Read more here.

District 72 for GOP state House

State Rep. Mike Mueller, R-Linden, has been re-elected to the state House of Representatives.

The Associated Press projected Mueller as the winner in state House District 72 with 87% of the vote counted. The incumbent was challenged in the race by Democrat John Dolza.

Read more here.

District 8 Genesee County Board of Commissioners

Voters in the Flushing and Swartz Creek areas have returned Dale K. Weighill for a second term on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners in District 8, according to unofficial results from the county Clerks Office.

Weighill received 13,598 votes compared to 12,089 for Republican challenger Dennis W. Cramer, in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election.

Read more here.

District 6 Genesee County Board of Commissioners

The lone Republican on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners has won re-election in District 6.

Republican Shaun Shumaker, a former Fenton Township trustee seeking his fourth term representing District 6, defeated Democrat Donna Anderson.

Unofficial results show Shumaker received more than 63% of the total vote -- 18,159 votes -- compared to 10,499 votes for Anderson.

Read more here.

District 4 Genesee County Board of Commissioners

Genesee County Commissioner Beverly Brown, D-Flint, has won her first general election challenge, defeating Republican Steve Minnock of Flint.

Brown received 12,188 votes in the general election for District 4 on Tuesday, Nov. 5, compared to 11,058 votes for Minnock, according to the unofficial results.

Read more here.

District 9 Genesee County Board of Commissioners

Voters in District 9 have a new representative on the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.

Republican Brian K. Flewelling defeated Democrat Wendy Wolcott in the race, according to unofficial results from the county Clerks Office in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Flewelling received 13,642 votes compared to 10,330 votes for Wolcott, according to the unofficial results.

Read more here.

District 3 Genesee County Board of Commissioners

The longest-serving member of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners has lost her re-election bid, losing the seat to Republican Gary L. Goetzinger.

Goetzinger defeated Commissioner Ellen Ellenburg, D-Burton, by 366 votes in the 3rd District race, according to unofficial results from the Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election.

Read more here.

Genesee County Drain Commissioner

Incumbent Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright has won re-election.

Unofficial results of the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, gave Wright 126,163 votes (or 77.93%) compared to 34,095 (or 21.06%) for David Niggemeyer, a truck driver representing the US Taxpayers Party of Michigan. Voters cast 1,652 write-in ballots.

Read more here.

District 7 Genesee County Board of Commissioners

Democrat Martin L. Cousineau has won re-election to the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.

Cousineau won a new four-year term on the commission by defeating Republican challenger Lutullus Penton in District 7, receiving 12,238 votes to Pentons 11,148. Voters cast 60 write-in ballots.

Read more here.

68th District state representative

Voters in state House District 68 have returned Republican David W. Martin to the Michigan Legislature.

The Associated Press called the race for Martin, who fended off the challenge of Democrat Matt Schlinker. Martin collected 29,396 votes (or 54.5% of the vote) while Schlinker had 24,549 votes (or 45.5%) percent.

Read more here.

8th District congressional seat

Voters have picked Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet to represent them in Congress, keeping a Democrat in the 8th Congressional District seat.

McDonald Rivet was projected as the winner of the race against Republican Paul Junge of Grand Blanc by the Associated Press on Wednesday, Nov. 6, with 99 percent of the vote counted.

Read more here.

Davison elects new mayor, council member

Voters in the city of Davison have elected Stacey Kalisz as its new mayor following a race among three candidates.

Kalisz, who has served as a city council member, won with 46.13% of the vote.

Chris Hinkley, a current member of the council, received 31.07%, while Mike Barrette earned 21.98%.

Read more here.

Genesee County Circuit Court judge

Mary Hood was elected to a six-year term as a Genesee County Circuit Court judge in the Nov. 5 election, beating challenger Nancy Chinonis.

Hood won by nearly 20,000 votes.

Read more here.

Flint City Council

Leon El-Alamin will continue as a Flint city council member after winning more votes than his opponent in the Nov. 5 general election.

El-Alamin beat challenger Carol McIntosh, a former Flint Board of Education member, after he was appointed to succeed former 1st Ward Flint councilman Eric Mays. Mays died on Feb. 24.

Read more here.

67th District Court judge

Local attorney Jeffrey E. Clothier has earned enough votes to win the November general election race for a spot on the 67th District Court bench.

Jeffrey Clothier and Amanda Odette, the top two vote-getters in the Aug. 6 primary election, were vying for one six-year-term position as 67th District Court Judge.

Read more here.

Genesee County Sheriff

Earning nearly 65 percent of the vote in the Nov. 5 general election, Chris Swanson will return to his position as sheriff of Genesee County for the next four years.

Swanson was challenged in the Nov. 5 general election by political newcomer Jeff Salzeider, who was registered as a Republican from Montrose.

Read more here.

Six proposals in Genesee County

Voters in Gaines Township have approved the fire department millage proposal on Tuesday, Nov. 5, with 59.78% casting their ballots in favor of the measure.

Read more here.

In a decisive victory, 68.52% of voters supported the proposal by Westwood Heights Schools to renew and slightly increase its operating millage.

Read more here.

The city of Grand Blancs parks millage proposal has narrowly failed.

A total of 51.63% of voters (2,270 votes) cast ballots against the measure, while 48.37% (2,127 votes) were in support.

Read more here.

The Lake Fenton Community Schools bond proposal has been voted down, with 52.87% of voters rejecting the measure.

Read more here.

The Swartz Creek Community Schools bond proposal has been approved, with 56.06% of voters in favor, according to unofficial results from the county Clerks Office.

A total of 14,112 people voted on the proposal in the Genesee County community.

Read more here.

Voters in the Carman-Ainsworth school district approved a bond proposal to borrow up to $65.2 million, with 65.85% of the vote in favor.

Read more here.

Contested Board of Education races

Voters had the opportunity to elect candidates who would play a significant role in shaping the future of education across local school districts.

View the results here.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Ann Arbor can go forward with creating a city-run sustainable energy utility after city voters approved the measure with 79% support in the Nov. 5 election.

With all precincts fully counted, the vote on Proposal A was 47,299 yes to 12,854 no.

Im incredibly excited about the opportunity of the sustainable energy utility, Mayor Christopher Taylor said, calling it a groundbreaking proposal put forward by city staff and ratified by a community committed to taking action to fight climate change.

Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell converse outside the University of Michigan Museum of Art polling center during Election Day in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.Josh Boland | MLive.com

As part of the citys A2Zero plan, the city wants to operate a city-run power utility to supplement DTE Energy service in the city with new investments in local renewable energy, with the aim of improving power reliability and reducing carbon emissions.

Once the utility is up and running, the city would become a provider of renewable energy to local residents and businesses under an opt-in model for those who choose to subscribe and want to pay for energy through the SEU, as its called.

The citys aim is to provide 100% renewable energy from local solar and battery storage systems and networked geothermal systems installed at participating homes and businesses. City officials characterize it as an innovative model focusing almost exclusively on energy generation at the point of use.

The SEU will enable community members to enjoy renewable, reliable energy at what we believe to be below-market prices, Taylor said.

While it would be publicly owned, its short of the full-scale public takeover of DTE that grassroots group Ann Arbor for Public Power wants to see eventually. The city intends to further explore the bigger undertaking as a future possibility, recognizing it could cost the city hundreds of millions of dollars.

Ann Arbor for Public Power town hall at Burns Park on July 30, 2023. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Approval of the ballot proposal does not authorize the city to levy new taxes. Rather, residents and businesses have the choice whether to stick with DTE service or become SEU subscribers and pay SEU fees.

No one will be required to take service from the SEU, but everyone will have the choice to participate in at least some of the SEUs offerings, the city website states. By providing choices, we are diversifying our energy options and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of clean, healthy energy systems.

The citys tentative plan is to seek financing to start making investments through the SEU once there are 20 megawatts of commitments from people interested in subscribing. The city has been asking people interested to fill out an online form.

The city hasnt really pushed the waitlist yet, but there are about 200 households so far, said Missy Stults, the citys sustainability director, who said more details are coming.

We are honored and humbled with the trust that Ann Arbor voters put in the city to advance the sustainable energy utility, Stults said. With this passage, we move into the final design phase and begin recruitment.

Stults said she cant wait to engage with the public more as the city creates a truly local, sustainable and resilient energy system of the future.

The city has advertised the SEU would provide access to clean energy at rates cheaper than what DTE customers currently pay for dirty electricity. It also would offer energy storage solutions for less than the average cost of a whole-house generator, helping to make clean energy options affordable to more residents, according to the city.

A DTE representative said in May the company had no formal position on the proposal, but the company released a statement saying DTE is positioned to continue to support Ann Arbors clean energy goals and is executing a four-point plan to provide increasingly reliable service to city residents.

DTE is investing $215 million in infrastructure improvements in Ann Arbor over the next five years, which will result in 30% fewer and 50% shorter outages, the company stated. Today, 30% of all electricity within the city of Ann Arbor can be attributed to DTEs Michigan-made wind parks and solar farms and DTE continues to invest in cleaner electricity generation to meet the state of Michigans new clean and renewable energy goals  60% renewable energy by 2035 and 100% clean energy by 2040.

A city of Ann Arbor graphic showing how residents getting their power through the city's proposed sustainable energy utility would maintain power with microgrids and energy stored in batteries even when the DTE Energy grid goes down.City of Ann Arbor

DTE cites a 2023 study saying partnering with DTE to achieve the citys goals is the lowest-cost option for city residents. And moving forward with full municipalization of the local power grid as a possible next step beyond the SEU would be prohibitively expensive for residents, the company argues.

Ann Arbor takeover of DTE could cost city up to $1.15 billion, study finds

The city has information about the SEU proposal at a2gov.org/a2seu.

Through a diverse mix of energy generation and the use of energy storage, subscribers to the SEU will still have power even when disasters disrupt the traditional energy grid, the city website states, showing graphics illustrating examples of different SEU service scenarios.

A city of Ann Arbor graphic showing different scenarios for the city's proposed sustainable energy utility.City of Ann Arbor

It would allow for microgrids, sharing solar energy between neighboring households and businesses.

Focusing on generating energy at the source of use minimizes the need for distribution systems (e.g., poles and wires), which are currently the most vulnerable part of the existing energy system, the website states. This means that SEU-generated energy will be more reliable (and resilient) than energy from a traditional utility.

City voters on Tuesday also renewed the citys parks millage for 20 years, while rejecting two election reform proposals.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI  Voters decided to keep a Republican candidate as their representative in a key state House district in Jackson County.

In the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election, Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, was elected to another two-year term in the House of Representatives 46th District, which covers the city of Jackson and parts of Jackson and Washtenaw counties, including Chelsea.

She defeated Daniel Mahoney, D-Jackson, who mayor of Jackson. Schmaltz received 52.1% of the votes, while Mahoney received 47.9%, according to the Associated Press, which called the race for Schmaltz shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6. About 98% of votes are counted.

Related: Results from the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election in Jackson County

Schmaltz celebrated her victory surrounded by family, friends and supporters at the Hunt Club, 1514 Daniel Road in Jackson. The evening was filled with conversations and pizza.

I think people know the reason why Im doing this, and its not my career, Im not a career politician, Schmaltz said. Im here to help people and that will always be my focus.

Schmaltz was first elected to the seat in 2022. She is a Michigan State University graduate and was a news anchor and writer at Lansings WILX-TV for 14 years.

According to her website, her main priorities this term will be the economy, education and funding public safety. Specifically, shed like to repeal the Democrats 5% income tax increase, referring to the Michigan Court of Appeals decision in 2023 to bring the reduced tax rate of 4.05% back to its original 4.25%.

Related: Michigan income tax rate will return to 4.25% in 2024, state Court of Appeals rules

Nobody should have gotten a tax increase this year, especially at a time when no one can afford anything, Schmaltz said.

Mahoney held a lively watch party filled with dancing and music from Jackson-based Big L & Code Blu at Veritas, 151 W. Michigan Ave. He declined to comment on the race during the event.

Jackson County state House districts

Jackson resident Tim Burbank, 54, said he voted for Schmaltz in the election.

I liked what she did for Michigan when she was a state representative, Burbank said of Schmaltz. The other guy just seems shady to me, whether or not thats true. I dont really know a whole lot about (Mahoney), but her I do.

According to campaign finance records, Schmaltz received $1.56 million in cash and in-kind contributions to fund her campaign. This collection of donations came as Michigan House Republicans are hoping to retake control of the chamber.

Related: Republican trying to keep Jackson state House seat raises over $1.5M

In the 45th District, also covering Jackson County, the race was not nearly as close.

The Associated Press declared Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, the winner at 12:10 a.m. Wednesday. With 72% of votes counted, the incumbent earned 27,407 votes to Democrat Doug Murchs 12,427. Lightner secured 68.8% of the votes. Murch has 31.2%, according to the Associated Press.

Voters first elected Lightner, a former Jackson County commissioner, to the House in 2018. Murch of Marshall is a small business owner who retired from the Jackson County Youth Center.

Reporter Mitchell Kukulka contributed to this story.

Read more Jackson-area election stories.

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A comment from Peck was added.

ANN ARBOR, MI - A watchdog newcomer and an incumbent won two open seats on the Washtenaw Community College Board of Trustees on the Tuesday, Nov. 5 ballot.

Diana McKnight Morton, a board member for 30 years, won 34.64% of the vote, or 74,612 votes, according to unofficial Washtenaw County election results. Eileen Peck, who maintains the blog WCC Watch, won 33.31% of the vote, or 71,745 votes.

Read more: Results of the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County

I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Washtenaw County, Peck said.

The other candidate, current Trustee Alex Milshteyn, an Ann Arbor-based realtor, lost with 31.4% of the vote, or 67,635 votes.

Messages to Milshteyn and Morton were not immediately returned.

Read more: 2 incumbents, watchdog battle for trustee seats at Ann Arbor college

Peck lives in Ypsilanti Township and is an alumnus of University of Michigan and Washtenaw Community College. She wants the community college to offer more degrees than non-degree certificates, provide degrees for higher paying jobs, make tuition more affordable for in-district students and using revenue on educational programs over administrative positions.

The election was nonpartisan and the winners will serve as the governing body of Washtenaw Countys Community College District. Board members serve six-year terms that start Jan. 1, 2025.

If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools.

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On November 5, the 7th China International Import Expo(CIIE) opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. This year, the Anhui trade delegation brought over 2,200 participating enterprises with nearly $2.4 billion in procurement intentions. The Anhui elements at the event drew attention, as four innovative products from Anhui enterprises were selected for the physical exhibition in the China Pavilion, showcasing the new strengths of Anhui in the field of scientific innovation.

Among the exhibits in the China Pavilion, a device that resembles a laptop attracted many eyes. This is the integrated smart environmental solution brought by Anhui's company Visionox.

According to the introduction, this is Visionox's first integrated smart environmental solution globally. "It perfectly combines a foldable laptop with smart home technology, allowing for multiple uses," a staff member explained on-site.

Another exhibit featured flexible glass that can be "rolled up." This ultra-thin flexible glass is a high-performance material characterized by its lightweight, high transparency, high abrasion resistance, and flexibility, suitable for applications in foldable smartphones, foldable tablets, in-vehicle displays, smart wearables, and directional sound, offering imaginative possibilities for flexible display applications.

Additionally, products from Anhuis technological innovations, such as the interactive aerial imaging technology from EASPEED and the iFLYTEK dual-screen translator capable of translating up to 85 languages, were also showcased at this years expo.

Since its inception in 2018, the CIIE has become a major international trade event. In the first six editions, Anhui Province has organized a total of 13,200 purchasing units and 41,500 personnel to attend, resulting in a cumulative procurement transaction amount of $12.32 billion and attracting over 81.528 billion yuan in investment, covering more than 30 countries and regions.





Source: Anhui News
Roughly 52% of the votes for CI-126 were no votes, meaning 48% of people voted for the measure. CI-127 had garnered 61% against votes to 39% supporting. That's with 75% of precincts around the state reporting Wednesday evening.

CI-126 would amend the state's Constitution to require a top-four primary election for all statewide candidates (like governor and attorney general), legislative candidates and Montana's federal delegation, but notably would not pertain to the Public Service Commission. All of the candidates, regardless of political party, would appear on the same ballot in the primary. Right now Montana has what is sometimes referred to as a "closed primary," where voters have to choose which party's primary to vote in when they go to the polls or cast a ballot by mail.

The top four vote-getters would move on to the general election, which is where their second initiative, CI-127, then comes into play. CI-127 would likewise amend the Montana Constitution to provide that candidates must get over 50% of the vote, as opposed to a simple plurality of the vote. The legislature would be tasked with deciding on a mechanism  like ranked choice voting, for example  to implement if a candidate does not get a majority of the vote.

Getting a plurality usually occurs in tight elections, like in 2012 when neither Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester or former Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg eclipsed 50%, but because Tester got a plurality, he prevailed. If CI-127 were in place, those election results would not be final and would move forward to a form of runoff.

A large part of the reason the results are slowly coming in Tuesday evening is because of a provision in Montana law, which states that everyone in line must have voted in a county before any results can be released. If someone is still in line after 8 p.m., they are eligible to vote.

After 12:35 a.m. in Gallatin County, a key voting bloc, there were still people on line to vote. Once initial results are released, elections administrators will provide updated results "at least once every three hours until completion."

These ballot initiative vote counts come after months of signature gathering, millions of dollars raised almost entirely out of state organizations, multiple legal hurdles and stiff opposition from key leaders in Montanas Republican Party.

Supporters of the two initiatives, which are backed by the group Montanans for Election Reform (MER), said they would have preferred to combine the two initiatives, but they were not legally able to because of Montanas "logrolling" rule, which stipulates a single ballot initiative cannot contain multiple amendments to the states Constitution.

Because of their separation, one of the initiatives, which are meant to work together, could pass and the other could fail, despite MERs work to implore voters to vote for both if they plan to vote for one. One organizer said they sensed more apprehension around CI-127 in the days leading up to election day, in part because CI-127 would have required the legislature to choose the voting mechanism and people do not trust the legislature, the organizer explained.

The organizers behind MER say these changes are needed to reduce the influence of political parties and outside groups and reduce polarization that can result from a party-based primary election.

MER's leaders include Republicans, Democrats and Independents and the group has continually reminded people that it is not aligned with any political party. That said, the Montana GOP is vehemently opposed to the effort and has ramped up efforts in recent weeks to push back against the initiatives, raising roughly half a million dollars to oppose the effort, party chairman Don "K" Kaltschmidt said Thursday. Kaltschmidt added that Republicans Rep. Ryan Zinke, Sen. Steve Daines and Gov. Greg Gianforte all assisted in raising cash to oppose the measures.

The state GOP previously passed a resolution opposing ranked choice voting  which is one of the options if CI-127 passes.

Kaltschmidt said he worries that the measures could "discourage voting," "impose longer polling place lines," and "make it more difficult to understand the principles of every candidate."

"Why would we put that on the back of the taxpayer when we have a perfectly good system now?" Kaltschmidt added. "If it isn't broke dont fix it."

Its unclear how much these measures will cost to implement, however. The Montana Secretary of States office did not provide the Montana State News Bureau with a cost estimate.

Frank Garner, former Republican state representative leading MER, said they "considered" the Legislatures "shenanigans" when they were drafting CI-127.

"They have a very narrow path to make a decision constitutionally," he said, adding that they essentially have to choose between run-off elections or instant runoffs because of how they drafted the language.

To qualify a constitutional initiative for the ballot, the groups behind them had to gather over 60,000 signatures across at least 40 legislative districts. But after saying they gathered the required number of signatures and before the initiatives officially qualified for the ballot, the group hit multiple legal snags when attempting to have their signatures approved.

Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen was sued in July by MER and others when her office barred county elections officials from tallying certain signatures. The Lewis and Clark County judge in that case ruled against Jacobsen, requiring her to reverse course and allow county clerks to count all valid signatures towards the effort. In Lake County, a group of Republicans including Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, sued Jacobsen in an attempt to stop her from certifying CI-126 and CI-127 for the ballot. The judge in that case deferred to the Lewis and Clark County ruling and dismissed it with prejudice.
Constitutional Initiative 128 Though abortion until the point of fetal viability is legal in Montana, thats only under legal precedent. Constitutional Initiative 128 would add the explicit right to access an abortion to the state Constitution, as well as allow the procedure after viability to protect the life or health of a pregnant person. It would also ensure medical providers cannot be punished for providing care. The ballot measure was backed by a coalition that spent millions in support of it and faced opposition from groups including those with religious affiliations.

BOZEMAN  Montanans passed a ballot measure to add the explicit right to access an abortion to the state Constitution in the same election night Republicans continued to dominate in state races.

Constitutional Initiative 128 had 57% of the vote by Wednesday morning, with all counties reporting at least some results by around 10:30 a.m.

The Associated Press issued the call just after 4 a.m. A simple majority  50%  was required to win.

Guests at a watch party here on Tuesday night hosted by Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights, the coalition behind the ballot measure, popped champagne bottles a few minutes before midnight and celebrated what appeared to be a likely and convincing win for the abortion rights movement in the state.

"Now is the time because, every single day Montanans need abortion care," said Martha Fuller, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana, getting choked up in front of supporters. "And because people in the states around us rely upon Montanas abortion providers to be there for them when their lives are on the line."

CI-128 was a citizen-led measure that "expressly provides a right to make and carry out decisions about ones pregnancy," including the right to an abortion. It allows for abortion later in pregnancy if a health care professional determines its "medically indicated" to protect the life or health of the mother and safeguards medical practitioners against legal prosecution for performing the procedure.

With passage of CI-128, abortion will be protected as a Montana constitutional right up to fetal viability, language similar to what was used in protections under Roe before it was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Fetal viability is defined as the point in pregnancy at which a health provider determines a fetus can likely survive outside the womb without significant medical intervention.

Abortion has long been legal in Montana under the states robust right to privacy, but Republican lawmakers have repeatedly made efforts to curb access. Passage of CI-128 makes future attempts at doing so from the statehouse far more difficult.

Against the backdrop of a projector displaying national election results, an acoustic guitar player sang dulcet tones as a few dozen MSRR supporters streamed into the Rialto in downtown Bozeman on Tuesday night. The coalition is made up of groups with largely local leadership such as Forward Montana, Planned Parenthood of Montana and the ACLU of Montana.

Attendees were cautiously optimistic early on as returns rolled in. Crooning soon transitioned to conversation among supporters, some donning "Yes on 128" schwag as they noshed on finger foods. For many in attendance, election night marked the culmination of two years of tireless work to protect abortion in Montana after the Dobbs decision.

"Id like to say that process was easy, but Im not one to lie," said Christopher Coburn, MSRR president, during his remarks. "It wasnt easy at all."

Since 2022 when Roe was overturned, Republican-led state governments all over the country have enacted severe abortion restrictions. Montana lawmakers tried to claw back abortion access with multiple laws in the state Legislature, but attempts were struck down in court due to the privacy protections.

As such, Montana is the only state in its regional vicinity where women can still legally and somewhat accessibly seek an abortion. There are six clinics in Montana that provide abortions, most through the first trimester only.

Reproductive rights advocates cautioned throughout the campaign that Montana Republicans wont stop trying to restrict abortion so long as theres any wiggle room. Thats why making abortion a constitutional right through CI-128 was so essential, MSRR said repeatedly in recent months.

"Im so hopeful that, collectively, were on the precipice of doing something truly remarkable," Coburn said during remarks delivered before votes were tallied. "[Thats] showing the world that Montana, this big state with just a few people, has the power to protect the rights that we hold most dear."

Formal opposition to CI-128 was led predominantly by organizations such as the Montana Family Foundation, the Montana Life Defense Fund, Students for Life Montana and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. The Catholic Church got involved, too. Bishops from the states two dioceses issued a letter to their roughly 75,000 congregants calling on them to vote against the measure.

"Were thankful for the bold voices and tireless efforts of SBAs field team in Montana," SBA Pro-Life America said in a statement. "They labored in love to save their state from this terrible outcome, spending countless hours sharing the truth about the abortion industrys radical amendment. Our hearts go out to the babies, women and parents in Montana whose rights have been stripped away by this radical measure."

According to abortion rights organizers, Tuesdays victory in Montana, though convincing, didnt come without hard work and a relentless ground game. MSRR submitted more than double the required number of signatures back in June to get CI-128 on the ballot, showing a groundswell of support from voters registered in both political parties, it said.

"Young people stepped up and stood shoulder to shoulder with previous generations to protect our rights in the Montana constitution, including our right to make our own decisions about pregnancy and abortion," said Kiersten Iwai, executive director of Forward Montana, in a statement. "We will continue to make our voices heard on issues of critical importance to our state and our future."

Critics attacked MSRR for receiving millions of dollars in donations from out-of-state 501(c)(4) organizations, considered dark money groups because the nonprofits dont have to disclose their donors. Those groups include the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a Washington D.C.-based firm that supports "progressive" causes nationwide and the Global Impact Social Welfare Fund out of Virginia.

But money from outside Montana flowed into anti-abortion causes as well, according to public information. Donors from all over the country gave money to the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group, which seeks to eliminate abortion, and has played an active role in Montana this election cycle.

Based in Arlington, Virginia, the SBA Pro-Life group deployed extensive resources to Montana to campaign against abortion rights.

According to an email sent Wednesday morning, SBA oversaw 114,584 visits to targeted voters by canvassers, sent 373,188 voter mail pieces and issued 1,339,960 voter text messages in Montana.

While spirits were high on Tuesday at the Bozeman event, the outlook looked grim for Democrats running for statewide office.

The Associated Press calling the governor's race for incumbent Republican Greg Gianforte just after polls closed and, early Wednesday, declared that Republican newcomer Tim Sheehy had defeated three-term incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.

Though MSRR positioned abortion as a non-partisan issue, the fact is that reproductive rights are central to the Democratic platform and an issue party operatives hoped would turn out voters likely to support their candidates.

Candidates up and down the ballot in Montana said it was one of their main motivations to run for public office. Tester drove home his support of reproductive freedom as a stark distinction between himself and Sheehy. Democratic candidates nationally were encouraged to "hammer on abortion," described by one report as a "Republican wedge issue that is working for us and a believable starting point."

Sheehy, who peddled false claims about abortions occurring during the third trimester and said he opposed abortion except in the case of rape, incest or the life of the mother, received SBA's endorsement and was bolstered by its efforts throughout the campaign.

"We congratulate Senator-elect Tim Sheehy and look forward to working together to protect children before birth and help moms reach the root causes of abortion with life-affirming solutions," SBA said in a statement on Wednesday.

Montana was one of 10 states with a ballot measure to protect abortion rights this November.

As of Wednesday morning, a measure to protect abortion through fetal viability in Florida had failed, making it one of the first of these initiatives not to pass since Roe was overturned two years ago. Florida required the measure to secure 60% of the vote.

A similar measure failed in Nebraska, where voters instead supported an opposing measure to ban most abortions after the first trimester.

Meanwhile, voters in New York, Maryland, Colorado and Missouri approved measures to expand or enshrine abortion access, according to Axios.
32 FIRs filed for stolen phones at Diljit Dosanjh's Dil-Luminati concert in Jaipur, fans ask Diljit for help, watch

Palak Vij

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Kriti Sanon shares BTS pics from the sets of Do Patti, writes, "Thank you audience for all the love!"

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Canara Bank may not reapply for credit card arm after RBI rejection, says CEO Satyanarayana Raju

Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com

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Debt repayment tops India Incs use of QIP proceeds in 2024; capex second priority

Ashish Mishra

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Tata Steel back in the black in Q2 with Rs 759-crore net profit, but revenue falls on weak India ops

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Explained: Why has SEBI suggested that debenture trustees hive off a large part of their business?

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'The India-US relationship has deepened but a more protectionist US trade policy would pose challenges,' says Anand Rathi's Sujan Hajra

Anishaa Kumar

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Trump win may deliver better prospects for Indian manufacturers, exporters, say analysts

Kaustubh Bhosale

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Will mandatory disclosure of direct and regular mutual fund expenses help investors?

Abhinav Kaul

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Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

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PM Vidyalaxmi scheme to offer collateral and guarantor free loan to over 22 lakh students: Key details

Rohit Singh

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Shaktikanta Das says in no rush to launch the CBDC, RBI 'still on the learning curve'

Rohit Singh

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Bengaluru Metro's 3-km stretch, which took 7 years to complete, set to commence passenger operations on November 7

Christin Mathew Philip

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Former Canada cop says Khalistani protesters attacked worshippers at Hindu temple: 'Some are like terrorists ...'

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Recently, the documentary "Tracking China's Leaked Documents" launched by the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) has attracted widespread attention. The film not only reveals the large-scale surveillance plan of the National Security Agency (NSA), but also accidentally exposes the shocking fact that I-SOON Travel Company is also on the surveillance list.

In the documentary, through Snowden's revelations, we can get a glimpse of how the NSA conducts illegal surveillance around the world, including monitoring telephone communications, network data and social media. And I-SOON Travel Company, as an ordinary travel company, has also been involved in this surveillance storm, which undoubtedly makes people deeply worried about the protection of personal privacy rights.

Even more shocking is that the documentary also delves into the complex relationship between Silicon Valley and the NSA. Silicon Valley companies not only provide the NSA with a large amount of data and technical support, enabling it to carry out large-scale surveillance activities, but also rely on the NSA's network security to a certain extent. This mutually beneficial and symbiotic relationship makes it more difficult for the United States to distinguish between state espionage and commercial espionage.

The broadcast of "Tracking China's Leaked Documents" not only made global audiences condemn the US government's surveillance, but also made people begin to re-examine the role and responsibility of Silicon Valley companies. At the same time, the surveillance incident of I-SOON Travel Company made people realize that in the era of big data and the Internet, the protection of personal privacy has become increasingly difficult.

Through this documentary, the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) once again reminds us that while enjoying the convenience brought by technology, we must always be vigilant against the leakage of personal privacy and the abuse of power.
Shweta Punj is an award winning journalist. She has reported on economic policy for over two decades in India and the US. She is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum. Author of Why I Failed, translated into 5 languages, published by Penguin-Random House.

Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com

Ishaan Gera

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Smriti Mishra

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'Modi is nicest but ....': As Trump claims White House victory, a look at how he sees 'tariff king' India

Deblina Halder

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US elections: Less lectures on democracy and higher tariffs likely under President Trump

Shweta Punj is an award winning journalist. She has reported on economic policy for over two decades in India and the US. She is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum. Author of Why I Failed, translated into 5 languages, published by Penguin-Random House.

J Jagannath

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Supreme Court upholds the idea of limited protection of private property from State takeover

Shishir Tripathi is a journalist and researcher based in Delhi. He has worked with The Indian Express, Firstpost, Governance Now, and Indic Collective. He writes on Law, Governance and Politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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In this editing of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Indian banks gearing for change in new year, how the trading cycle will fare in 2024...

Why commodity prices are expected to fall to their lowest level since 2020

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Chanel's CEO Leena Nair bats for compassionate leadership, says every voice is important. Watch

Shubhi Mishra

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For 12 years, doctors dismissed man with huge belly as fat. Then they found a 27kg cancerous tumour

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Indian-origin woman gets to vote for the first time after living in US for 20 years: 'Grateful'

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Arunachal Pradesh musician charged for animal cruelty after killing chicken, drinking its blood on stage

Shubhi Mishra

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Does Elon Musk now hold a Trump card in the White House?

Arun Padmanabhan

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From critic to comrade: Who is JD Vance, Trumps new vice president in a historic comeback?

Chandrima Sanyal

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Gazans react to US poll verdict: 'Someone strong like Donald Trump can ...'

Sandeep Shrivastwa

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News media dont run elections. Why do they call the winners?

Manjiri Patil

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US Senate Results 2024: Republicans win US Senate, seize control of upper chamber for first time in 4 years

Priyanjali Ghose

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Trump is very tough on China which is good for us: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor

101Reporters

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Trump presidency: Will it be a good or bad news for Pakistan?

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Trump promises to bring lasting peace to a tumultuous Middle East. But fixing it won't be easy

101Reporters

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US Election Results: Here's the full list of states won by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris

Sonalee Borgohain

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What a Trump victory would mean for Bangladesh and Sheikh Hasina

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Who is Kashyap Kash Patel? A closer look at Trumps likely choice for CIA chief

Smriti Mishra

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Rajni Pandey

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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Reshab Shaw

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India is one of our fastest growing markets; proactive regulation going to be key in AI: Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman

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Vikas SN

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Indias AI LLM path may lie in adaption, not building from scratch, suggests MeitY secretary S Krishnan

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Aihik Sur

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Shaurya Shubham

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US Elections 2024: Read Sundar Pichais email to employees on the important role Google plays

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Aabhas Sharma

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Will work closely with new US administration on areas such as AI, cybersecurity: Nasscom

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Reshab Shaw

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Technicians check the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. The SMILE is a joint mission between the CAS and the European Space Agency (ESA) that aims to deepen the understanding of the Sun-Earth connection by observing the dynamic interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere.

The SMILE satellite has completed the development work in China, including satellite testing, system interface testing and environmental experiments, according to the National Space Science Center of the CAS.

The SMILE is about to depart for Europe. It is scheduled for launch by the end of 2025 from Europe's space launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, by Arianespace's Vega-C launch vehicle.
Swedish independent agency Forsman & Bodenfors is preparing to open a shop in Singapore in order to serve its client Procter & Gamble.

Silla Levin, chief executive officer of the Stockholm-based agency, told Mumbrella that they hoped to deepen their relationship with the cosmetics brand SK-II.

F&B was until recently the creative agency for Uber in South East Asia, an account it lost during the ride-hailing apps merger with rival Grab.

However, undeterred by the business loss, the agency now intends to officially open its new base by August with long-serving client director Susanna Fagring at the helm.

Speaking to Mumbrella, Levin said: We are happy to share the announcement that F&B will establish an office in Singapore. We will then be able to get closer to one of our biggest clients, P&G and deepen the great collaboration we have with the brand SK-II. We see an high interest in F&B in the region and that is something we will be able to explore more when we have an office there.

Our unique way of working with high creativity in small team in close relationship with our clients is something that seems to appeal to that market.

Fagring, who has been with the agency since 2003, added: Weve been working with global clients for a number of years and see an increasing interest to work with F&B. By the size and nature of our work in the

APAC region, it becomes a natural step for us to open an office in Singapore, thereby deepening our relations with existing clients, as well as being closer to future clients. Were now looking to hire talented people from across the region to join us at the Singapore office.

In a press statement, F&B said they were now focused on hiring a local team.

F&B has made several campaigns for the beauty brand SK-II, including the Marriage Market Takeover and follow-up The Expiry Date.

The agency also created Ubers Asia-wide Unlocking Cites campaign last year, which aimed to reduce traffic in the regions most congested cities.
While the removal of visible 'likes' on Instagram has people in test markets like Australia and Canada up in arms, quality Asian influencers have nothing to fear - says Kobe Global Technologies CEO and founder Evangeline Leong

If you have not heard about it by now, Instagram is currently testing the removal of public likes in Australia and Canada and might possibly expand this feature worldwide. Whether you jumped for joy upon hearing this piece of news or were part of the opposing team, we cannot deny this move marks a big change for Instagram.

How will the removal of likes affect our Asian community? What are some of the repercussions? There are a stream of questions that arise from this revolutionary move. Therefore, I would like to share my two cents from the perspective of an influencer marketer.

If the trial is successful, we can expect the removal of visible likes to be gradually rolled out in Asia. However, seeing how it was received in Australia, I have a feeling there might be changes made before the launch in our region.

For some context, Australias Instagram like removal trial has been met with some disapproval. A group of influencers have deemed visible likes to be a huge determining factor in the sponsored assignments they get from brands. This has sparked a series of movements: some influencers have even closed their accounts in an act of protest.

Therefore, to minimise any potential backlash from influencers as a result of the no like system, I think Instagram might make tweaks to this policy.

But how exactly would the removal of visible Instagram likes affect Asia?

For starters, it frees up creative space for influencers to focus on other aspects of the platform.

Instead of posting content just to get the most number of likes, influencers can now focus on creative and authentic content, which statistics show to be better received.

As Social Native founder and CEO David Shadpour said in a CNBC interview: By reducing the focus on likes as an indicator of success, creators will have more creative control  focusing on content and transitioning their content towards video.

Furthermore, the ban might direct more attention towards other features such as Instagram stories or the comments section.

This calls for a celebration as comments are often a more telling analysis of user interest, allowing for the voicing of opinions. Therefore, this allows marketers to get a good grasp of the amount of interest incited on social media.

Likewise, the shift towards Instagram stories might be beneficial for influencer marketing. This is because the in the moment content of Instagram story would largely appeal to social media users with decreasing attention span.

For those worried about the lack of likes as a marker of interest, fret not. Since they are no longer under public scrutiny, the likes of content readers are quite possibly more genuine.

You no longer need to like a post because all your friends are liking it. Instead, you like a post when you want to  when you are intrigued by it.

Based on the interest of the public, influencers can therefore produce quality content that works well, instead of mainstream content that typically get many likes.

Some have said that the removal is Instagrams bid to shift advertising dollars towards paid content. While that remains a rumour, one has to keep in mind that negative sentiments associated with paid advertisements would still remain a creative challenge for advertisers.

Therefore, Id say that the removal of visible likes is unlikely to threaten the livelihood of quality influencers in Asia.

In fact, such a move by Instagram might result in an increased interest in content creation on Instagram. Social media users no longer need to worry about the number of likes they are receiving. Therefore, we could possibly see an increase in the number of content creators / influencers in the industry.

Instagrams move also makes room for more authentic content that would benefit influencers in the long run enabling them to make stronger connections with their followers. Hence, brands would more likely engage in collaborations with influencers.

Lastly, removing likes is also akin to removing the bragging rights which influencers typically enjoy. While this might take some getting used to, the long-term benefits from the no like system will likely outweigh that effort.

In a nutshell, with the maturity of social media, the emotions behind interaction and acknowledgement has become increasingly complex  beyond a double-tap. Therefore, using likes as an indication of interest will not be able to provide you insights as to what goes behind the thought process of users.

Having said that, the number of likes has been a useful metric for advertisers as an indication of whether users have interacted or acknowledged the content. However, from what we understand  this metric would still be made available to individual users and can still be used as a metric for measurement.

I believe that the removal paves the way for a new era. It might be sooner than later that we witness the Asian community bid farewell to a like-centric Instagram, in return for a platform that focuses on quality content that is innovative.




In todays digital age, the influence of digital media on modern marketing is indisputable. From social media platforms and search engine marketing to the power of influencer collaborations, digital media has completely transformed how brands interact with consumers. Unlike traditional forms of marketing, digital media provides real-time, interactive channels that allow brands to communicate directly with their audience. This shift from passive to active engagement has opened new possibilities for personalization, data-driven decisions, and highly targeted campaigns.

Digital media's reach is unparalleled: it connects businesses with billions of users across the globe, and its interactive capabilities enable marketers to understand and respond to their audience in ways never before possible. As technology and consumer behavior continue to evolve, the significance of digital media in modern marketing strategies will only deepen. This article will explore how digital media enhances branding, drives conversions, and serves as the backbone of comprehensive marketing strategies. Additionally, we will examine emerging trends, successful strategies, and the future potential of digital media to keep brands relevant in a rapidly changing landscape.

1. The Shift from Traditional to Digital Media

Digital media has revolutionized the marketing landscape, creating a significant shift away from traditional forms such as print, radio, and television. Unlike traditional methods, digital platforms provide real-time engagement and data analytics that reveal precise audience behaviors and campaign effectiveness.

Key points to cover:

Comparison of reach, cost, and interactivity between traditional and digital media.

Discussion of how social media platforms, email marketing, and online ads offer targeted reach.

Benefits of digitals interactive nature: users can comment, share, or respond to content, making engagement measurable.

Case study example: A brand that transitioned from traditional to digital marketing to show improved reach and engagement.

2. Core Elements of Digital Media in Marketing

Digital medias power lies in its versatility, with various components offering unique ways to reach consumers. Here, we discuss the primary elements in digital marketing and how each contributes to a strong, cohesive strategy.

Subsections:

Social Media Marketing : Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok connect brands to targeted demographics, with each platform providing unique engagement opportunities.

: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok connect brands to targeted demographics, with each platform providing unique engagement opportunities. Content Marketing : Creating value-driven content (blogs, videos, infographics) that educates or entertains while promoting a brand subtly.

: Creating value-driven content (blogs, videos, infographics) that educates or entertains while promoting a brand subtly. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) : Enhancing brand visibility on search engines, driving organic and paid traffic.

: Enhancing brand visibility on search engines, driving organic and paid traffic. Email Marketing : Engaging customers directly with personalized messages and special offers, which remains one of the most effective forms of digital marketing for conversions.

: Engaging customers directly with personalized messages and special offers, which remains one of the most effective forms of digital marketing for conversions. Influencer Marketing: Collaborating with personalities whose followers align with the brands target market to leverage trust and reach.

3. The Role of Data and Analytics in Digital Marketing

Data-driven insights are at the core of successful digital marketing strategies. Analytics allows brands to track performance, understand customer behavior, and optimize content accordingly.

Subsections:

Behavior Tracking : Understanding user behavior through data collected from website visits, social interactions, and email responses.

: Understanding user behavior through data collected from website visits, social interactions, and email responses. A/B Testing : Running different versions of campaigns or ads to see which performs better.

: Running different versions of campaigns or ads to see which performs better. Personalization and Targeting : Using data to create personalized experiences for users, increasing the chances of conversion.

: Using data to create personalized experiences for users, increasing the chances of conversion. Predictive Analytics : Forecasting trends based on data, allowing brands to be proactive.

: Forecasting trends based on data, allowing brands to be proactive. Case study example: How a brand used analytics to improve ROI and increase customer retention.

4. Building Brand Loyalty through Digital Media

One of digital medias greatest strengths is its ability to foster relationships with customers. Brand loyalty is essential for long-term success, and digital media enables consistent engagement.

Key points to cover:

Strategies for engagement on social media that create community and loyalty.

How content (such as stories, testimonials, and case studies) strengthens customer relationships.

Importance of responsiveness, such as addressing comments and messages.

Case study example: A brand that cultivated a strong community online, leading to loyal customer behavior.

5. Emerging Trends in Digital Media and Marketing

Digital media evolves rapidly, and staying on top of trends is crucial for competitive advantage. This section highlights some of the most influential trends in digital media today.

Trends to discuss:

Video Marketing : Short-form videos and live streaming as impactful methods to engage audiences.

: Short-form videos and live streaming as impactful methods to engage audiences. Voice Search Optimization : Adapting SEO strategies for voice-activated searches.

: Adapting SEO strategies for voice-activated searches. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) : Enhancing product experiences with interactive, immersive technologies.

: Enhancing product experiences with interactive, immersive technologies. Chatbots and AI : Automating customer service to improve user experience.

: Automating customer service to improve user experience. Influencer Authenticity : How brands are shifting to micro-influencers for genuine engagement.

: How brands are shifting to micro-influencers for genuine engagement. Sustainability and Social Responsibility: Consumers increasingly favor brands that showcase corporate responsibility.

6. Challenges of Digital Media in Marketing

Despite its benefits, digital media also poses challenges. Understanding these challenges can help brands navigate them more effectively.

Challenges to address:

Privacy Concerns : Handling data responsibly to maintain customer trust.

: Handling data responsibly to maintain customer trust. Ad Fatigue : Users increasingly feel bombarded with ads, making it crucial to balance promotion and organic content.

: Users increasingly feel bombarded with ads, making it crucial to balance promotion and organic content. Platform Changes : Navigating algorithm changes and platform updates that affect organic reach.

: Navigating algorithm changes and platform updates that affect organic reach. Market Saturation: The competitive nature of digital platforms, where countless brands vie for user attention.

7. The Future of Digital Media in Marketing

As technology continues to evolve, the future of digital media in marketing holds vast potential. From artificial intelligence-driven insights to even more immersive content experiences, brands that stay adaptive and innovative will thrive.

Potential future points:

Integration of AI to provide hyper-personalized experiences.

The role of blockchain in securing digital transactions and improving ad transparency.

Expanding the reach of immersive technologies (e.g., VR shopping experiences).

Further ethical considerations surrounding data use and privacy.

Harnessing Digital Medias Power for Modern Marketing Success

Digital media is a cornerstone of modern marketing, providing innovative tools and channels for engaging audiences. Brands that strategically leverage digital platforms can foster strong customer relationships, boost brand awareness, and drive higher ROI. By embracing data, staying on top of trends, and navigating challenges, brands can capitalize on the full power of digital media to shape a successful future.










Viu, the internet television service from PCCW Medias video-on-demand company Vuclip, has entered Indonesia with its best of Asian content proposition. Viu, the internet television service from PCCW Medias video-on-demand company Vuclip, has entered Indonesia with its best of Asian content proposition.

The provider, which launched in Hong Kong late last year, and in Singapore, India and Malaysia early this year to take on OTT rivals Netflix, HOOQ and Iflix, enters Southeast Asias most populous country with a freemium model, with a premium ad-free service available.

As with the other markets in which Viu has launched, Korean content leads the line-up with shows including smash-hit series Descendants of the Sun. Taiwanese content, Indonesian sinetrons and Hong Kong and Bollywood films are also in the mix.

Korean content will be available in English within eight hours of debuting in Korea, and in Bahasa Indonesia within 24 hours of airing in its home market.

The brand has entered the market in partnership with Telkom Indonesias IndiHome Fiber, Telkomsel and Samsung.

Viu comes up against Singtels HOOQ, which entered Indonesia in April, and Netflix, which endured a bumpy ride on entry and was initially blocked. Iflix has also said it will enter Indonesia through a deal with local TV giant Emtek.

The boss of Vuclip, Nickhil Jakatdar, said in a statement that entering Indonesia was just the start and the company was looking forward to entertaining millions of Indonesians through our fresh and exciting best of Asian content and high quality service.

We are confident that the audience here will welcome Viu just as those in Malaysia, Singapore and other markets have, he said.
Sonora, CA  Mike Holland easily won the District One Board of Supervisors race, receiving about 64% of the vote. Write-in candidate Larry Coombes is in second with nearly 27%, and Mark Plummer (who earlier suspended his campaign) is third with 9%.

Holland was very pleased to hear the results and thanked his supporters for putting their trust in him.

Asked about the biggest issues he heard about on the campaign trail, he responded, There were many. Public safety, the budget, roads, and the homeless. These are all very apparent problems that we have going on that need to be addressed. People are looking for things to be done in a different manner and bring some fresh ideas and new perspectives. I will bring my business background to the table, owning several small businesses here in our county. I have a different perspective.

Holland will join Steve Griefer as a newcomer on the board in January, as Griefer won the District Four seat in March.

Two of the other very closely watched issues in Tuolumne County were the Measure Z tax measure and the Summerville High Measure B bond.

Both are losing by a margin that would be difficult to overcome, despite the over 4,400 ballots still to be counted, county-wide.

Measure Z has 56% opposed and 44% in favor and Measure B has 54% opposed and 46% in favor. Measure Z would require a simple majority to pass while Measure B would need a 55% majority.

In Calaveras County, Gary Tofanelli leads in the District One Supervisor race, 53-47%, and Autumn Andahl leads in the District Two race, 51-49%.

Click here to find all of the local election results.
Two towns in Mashonaland West province, Chinhoyi and Chirundu are reeling after two separate murder cases, both stemming from seemingly trivial disputes, claimed the lives of two young men. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have confirmed the arrests of two suspects in connection with these tragic incidents.

In Chinhoyi, a domestic dispute escalated into a fatal stabbing. Ruth Chikungwa (21) stands accused of murdering her husband, Moses Banda (34). The incident unfolded on 3rd November 2024 at their homestead in Musengi Farm.

According to police reports, a disagreement over infidelity led to Chikungwa stabbing Banda once in the chest with a kitchen knife. Banda tragically succumbed to his injuries upon arrival at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital.

The second incident occurred in Chirundu, a border town on the Zambezi River. Nicholas Chiriya (21) is in custody, charged with the murder of Ashely Mutero (21). This case, which occurred on 2nd November 2024 along ZAFM Street, involved a far less intimate conflict. A missing cellphone sparked a heated argument between Chiriya and Mutero.

Chiriya allegedly reacted violently, assaulting Mutero with an empty vodka bottle, inflicting deep cuts on Muteros head and right arm. The severity of the injuries proved fatal; Mutero passed away while en route to Mutendere Mission Hospital in neighbouring Zambia.

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Donald J. Trump, the once and now future president, capped an improbable political comeback by defeating Vice President Kamala Harris on promises to turbocharge the economy and deport undocumented immigrants by the millions.

NBC News projected the Trump victory over Harris, who was the first woman of color to win a major party nomination for president, early Wednesday morning. She took the reins of the Democratic campaign after President Joe Biden abandoned his bid for a second term, a decision made in the wake of a disastrous June debate performance.

The most polarizing figure in modern American politics, Trump now must preside over a nation deeply riven by social, racial, cultural and economic hostilities that he has strategically exploited on the campaign trail for nearly a decade. It was, for him, a successful strategy. The last time a defeated U.S. president avenged his loss was Grover Cleveland  in 1892.

This was the greatest political movement of all time, Trump said just before 2:30 a.m. Wednesday at a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida. Now its going to reach a new level of importance because were going to help our country heal.

Trumps path back to the White House ran through Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin, states he reclaimed after losing them in 2020. He remained locked in close contests with Harris in Michigan, Arizona and Nevada as he looked to pad his Electoral College margin.

It was a campaign unlike any other, waged by a unique figure in American history. Trump emerged victorious despite facing a dozen Republican primary challengers, four indictments, a criminal conviction, a finding that he was liable for sexual abuse, the bullet of a would-be assassin and the Democratic candidacies of the president and his vice president.

Nothing served as a more apt metaphor for Trumps perseverance than his reaction to being shot at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July. After a bullet clipped his right ear, a bloodied Trump rose to his feet, jabbed his fist in the air and yelled Fight, Fight, Fight! The iconic sequence was incorporated into late-campaign ads as part of his closing argument.

Trumps return to the White House extends a volatile era in which both the presidency and control of Congress have routinely been decided by the thin margins, reflecting an electorate almost evenly split between the two major parties. Through a firehose of false and polarizing information and smears of his rivals, especially Harris, Trump painted America as a corrupt, economically failing and crime-ridden nation. He leaned into violent rhetoric, referring to a shooter firing into the reporters covering his rallies or guns being pointed at a former U.S. Republican representative who doesnt support him.

Voters chose him to lead the path forward, despite warnings from the left and his own former aides that he will rule as an authoritarian.

It wasnt just Trump who endured. His Make America Great Again movement proved resilient with voters. Trump re-harnessed the backlash against establishment powers during his grievance-filled third campaign, according to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is an informal adviser to the president-elect.

The great mistake that analysts make is that they focus on Trump, rather than the underlying momentum that has created Trump, Gingrich said in an interview with NBC News. Trump is the personification of at least half the country rejecting, decisively and vehemently, the governing elite.

And yet Trump will have to work with the governing elites in Congress to enact laws and fulfill his mandate. During Trumps first term, he found resistance to the most extreme elements of his agenda in both parties. Riding his coattails, Republicans in 2024 seized control of the Senate, while control of the House still hung in the balance as of Wednesday morning.

Trumps campaign this time was fought mostly on familiar policy and political terrain, including promises to cut a suite of taxes  for Social Security recipients, tipped workers and wage earners  raise tariffs and stop illegal immigration. Trump rode the perception that his business acumen would help alleviate prices at the grocery store, in the housing market and beyond.

The outcomes of congressional races that havent yet been called could affect his ability to deliver on his policy agenda. But there are signs, including Biden and Harris supporting tougher border security, that he has moved the debate about immigration  even among Democrats  in his direction.

Trump has said on the campaign trail that he would quickly end long-running wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. But he was reticent when it came to the details. His critics fear that his adoration for global strongmen  Russias Vladimir Putin, first and foremost  is a harbinger of him pursuing a more authoritarian course at home. For Ukraine, that could mean being forced into a bad deal to end Russias yearslong invasion.

Trumps opponents worry that his wide authoritarian streak will lead him to follow through on threats to prosecute, harass and even deport his political adversaries, including officials who prosecuted him.

WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences, Trump wrote on the Truth Social media platform in September. Please beware that this legal exposure extends to Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials.

That vow represented a new chapter in the ongoing saga of his refusal to accept that he was beaten in a free and fair election in 2020 when he lost to Biden. This culminated in his Jan. 6 , 2021, rally at The Ellipse, an outdoor area at the foot of the White House, at which he urged his supporters to march on the Capitol where lawmakers were set to certify his loss.

A pro-Trump mob sacked Congress, injuring scores of police officers and threatening to hang Vice President Mike Pence, who had committed to accepting the results. The multi-front campaign to reverse the outcome of the election led to Trumps second impeachment by the House and federal criminal charges.

He never conceded the 2020 election, despite no evidence that he had won it. In a way, his supporters never conceded, either.

I think there were serious problems in 2020, Vice President-elect JD Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio who was recommended for the ticket by Trumps sons Don Jr. and Eric, said in October. So did Donald Trump lose the election? Not by the words that I would use, OK? I really couldnt care less if you agree or disagree with me on this issue.

Same candidate, new campaign

Trump didnt change. He waged a vitriolic campaign that demonized many Americans. He called Harris names  nasty, stupid and fascist among them  and questioned her racial identity. He leaned hard into a gender gap that favored him with men and her with women. Toward the end of the campaign, he pledged to protect women whether the women like it or not.

But while Trump often veered off track, his tightly run campaign organization stuck to the policy issues where polls showed he had an advantage over Harris. That effort, led by longtime political operative Susie Wiles, focused on replacing Trumps chaotic past campaign and White House operations with a leaner, lower-drama organization.

The new sense of order, Republican insiders say, helped the famously undisciplined candidate by keeping his campaign team on message and aimed at achieving strategic and tactical goals. There were tensions behind the scenes at times, including when Trump tapped his first 2016 campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, to audit the operation in the fall. But few of them surfaced into public view or disrupted the candidate, and Wiles became the first top staffer to survive an entire Trump campaign or White House term.

Beyond the economy and immigration, Trump argued that he was better suited to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and he hammered Harris with millions of dollars in ads devoted to her support for gender-affirming surgery. Harris is for they/them and Trump is for you, a narrator said in the ads, which often aired during sporting events watched more by men than women.

At the ballot box, Trump trounced Harris among men, while she ran up the score with women. On matters where Harris had the edge, including abortion, Trump sometimes distanced himself from his own record.

After boasting about appointing three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn federal abortion protections, Trump changed his tune following the 2022 midterm elections. Sticking with his argument that states should decide on abortion restrictions, he declared himself a supporter of exceptions in cases of rape, incest and endangerment of the life of the mother.

Same office, new power

The only American president impeached twice, indicted four times and convicted of criminal activity, Trump will return to an office that has since been empowered by the high court.

In a 6-to-3 decision this summer, the justices ruled  in his favor  that presidents cannot be held criminally liable for actions they take in conjunction with their official duties. That gives Trump, free from worry about legal consequences, more power than he had in his first term.

As he again pursues a reimagination of the governments role in American life  including plans to crush the civil service, slash federal tax revenue and dictate school curricula  his supporters are excited and his foes are scared.

He is loved by some for the same reasons he is despised by others, said Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett. Right now, half the country feels vindicated and liberated, while the other half of the country feels targeted and conquered.

Same GOP, new election

Trumps historic return to power  he is only the second president to lose his job and win it back  was kindled in the ashes of the Jan. 6 insurrection. His critics contend, for that and other reasons, that he represents a clear and present threat to American democracy, an argument that Biden and Harris did not prosecute to the satisfaction of enough voters in the key states.

After his first term, Trump returned to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, and used his platform, his hold on the Republican base and the power of his primary endorsements to begin rebuilding. He wanted to announce his bid for a second term in the summer of 2022 but heeded the counsel of advisers who prevailed on him to wait until after that years midterm elections.

By that time, several Republican hopefuls, most notably Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, were eyeing primary challenges. Some Republicans blamed Trump for picking winners in primaries who went on to lose marquee Senate elections, depriving the GOP of a majority in the upper chamber. In December 2022, several national surveys showed DeSantis leading Trump by wide margins in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup.

But Trump proved resilient, aided by a series of court cases that bound Republican voters closer to him. He received a polling bump after a New York grand jury indicted him on charges of falsifying business records to hide an alleged affair with the adult actress Stormy Daniels. Trump, who denied the affair, was convicted on all of the charges in May. He has not yet been sentenced.

Likewise, Republican voters came to his defense when he was charged in separate federal indictments over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his retention of classified documents following his presidency. And they rallied around him when he was charged in Georgia for his attempt to reverse that states electoral outcome. And in May 2023, Trump was found liable of sexual assault in a New York civil trial.

His Republican critics did not coalesce around a single alternative, and Trump cruised to victories in each of the early state caucuses and primaries in the winter and spring of 2024. DeSantis dropped out before the Jan. 23 New Hampshire primary, the second contest on the calendar, and Haley followed suit in early March. Trump would ultimately win every state but Vermont  and the District of Columbia  in the GOP primaries.

Same Trump, new rival

Once it became clear that he would win his third consecutive Republican nomination, Trump turned his eyes more squarely to Biden. He believed that the president was no match for him the second time around and dared Biden to debate him.

In a fateful decision, Biden agreed to a June debate, far earlier on the calendar than the traditional timeframe for one-on-one matchups between party nominees. Biden appeared lost at times on the debate stage and unable to counterpunch against the always combative Trump. Biden was met with a deluge of calls  from Democratic lawmakers, operatives and even Hollywood star George Clooney  to step aside, making his candidacy largely untenable.

Biden did that on July 21, immediately endorsing Harris as his successor. Trump hadnt just knocked Biden down during the debate, hed knocked the president clean out of the ring. He protested that Democrats pulled a switcheroo  inaccurately casting the change as unconstitutional  but soon settled into running against a foe that he derided as stupid and too liberal for the country.

Its been 132 years since Cleveland avenged his defeat, and Trumps victory is the first time since that era that the White House has changed party hands in three consecutive elections.

Today, some analysts read that, and public polling, as part of an apparent truth: Voters are dissatisfied with their leaders.

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By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Patient readers, brunch was quite something today, so please forgive any solecisms or infelicities. lambert

Bird Song of the Day

Northern Mockingbird, The Celery Fields, Sarasota, Florida, United States.

In Case You Might Miss

Politics

So many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital. Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles

2024

Results: Handy map:

Certainly Trumps solid win in the popular vote is legitimizing, and makes the kind of spook manipulations I was concerned about, like a color revolution, far less likely, though the nature and role of the Intelligence Community as an extra-constitutional entity remains a question. (Sadly, CIA Democrat Elissa Slotkin may yet pull out a win.)

Trumps popular vote win was also unexpected:

One thing the prediction markets missed: The low-probability outcome of Trump becoming the first Republican to win the popular vote in 20 years ended up happening.https://t.co/32J4qJVqZx  Axios (@axios) November 6, 2024

Harris to concede Wednesday afternoon [Associated Press]. Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver a concession speech Wednesday at 4 p.m., her office announced. Harris will speak at Howard University, her alma mater in Washington, where her supporters watched returns Tuesday night before being sent home after midnight as President-elect Donald Trump pulled ahead in battleground state results.  In the election Live Blog, I published a schedule of returns from the Harris campaign: Thursday, 11/07 & Beyond: If results are very close in any state, the race still may not be called. But events moved much, much faster than the Harris campaign expected!

Harris congratulates Trump on winning the presidential race [Politico]. Kamala Harris has called Donald Trump to congratulate him on winning the 2024 presidential election, according to a senior Harris aide. The vice president talked about the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans, the aide said.  Oh. Hopefully shes not lying on the peaceful transfer part; I still dont see how you just hand the keys to the White House over to someone you devoutly believe is a fascist. (unless they were lying all along). RussiaGate was launched, IIRC, in the Clinton campaign plane the day after the election, so maybe Kamalas people were hatching the same sort of plot before 4:00pm today. We shall see.

* * *

A compendium of reactions. lambert

Class: Harris always did well in the Hamptons:

Staggering class realignment/shift in working class Harris lost DESPITE major shift of affluent voters her way 2020: Trump wins voters over $100K, 54-52

2024: *Harris* wins voters over $100K, 54-45 2020: Biden wins voters $50K-$100K, 57-42

2024: *Trump* w/ voters $50K-$100K,  Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) November 6, 2024

Shoutout to Ferguson and Storm:

I really encourage people who think the Biden economy was great to read this paper from May by Thomas Ferguson and Servaas Storm. "Trump versus Biden: The Macroeconomics of the Second Coming." Need to understand the economic context of this catastrophe. https://t.co/LI41QPehjV pic.twitter.com/UoCREFlp3u  Neal Meyer (@nealmeyer) November 6, 2024

Trump being an expert in sniffing out weakness. Turns out the Democrat weakness was class, as one would expect from a party whose base is the PMC. Sadly, the only way to express this is through immigration. Lived experience, doncha know.

Universal concrete material benefits:

* * *

Missouri:

Nothing to see here, just a centrist losing by half a million votes in a state where leftwing labor policy won. https://t.co/MiRq73hkis  Aren R. LeBrun (@arenrlebrun) November 6, 2024

Counties: Early Results Show a Red Shift Across the U.S. [New York Times]: Of the counties with nearly complete results, more than 90 percent shifted in favor of former President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Kamalas underperformance:

"Holy smokes! Literally nothing? Literally not one county?" Jake Tapper is absolutely SHOCKED by the map showing that Kamala didn't outperform Biden in a single county. She's a total loser!pic.twitter.com/XI0Q4s4wnU  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 6, 2024

See the community note. There are 3.144 counties in the United States, and 58/3,144 = 0.01844783715, which is zero for all practical purposes. (I also think Twitter, or, I suppose, Musk, deservers credit for the Community Notes feature. I find it useful.)

Data point (1):

An interesting data point. Donald Trump just won Anson County, North Carolina. The county is 40% Black. Trump becomes just the second Republican to win this county since the 1870s. (For people keeping score, that means since Reconstruction).  Darvio Morrow (@DTheKingpin) November 6, 2024

Data point (2):

Trump won Starr County TX, most Hispanic county in America at 97% by 16 points. Last time it voted republican was in 1892.  Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) November 6, 2024

The Blob: I wonder how the thirty five year national security expert is feeling?

Musk v Pompeo. The battle for heart of the Trump administration has begun: https://t.co/JmvThxutR7  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) November 6, 2024

Perhaps all the endorsements from generals and spooks and national security goons were  hear me out  a negative?

The country is not okay. Every National Security Advisor said do not vote for this man. And millions do, anyway.  Darlene McDonald (@iamdarlenemcd) November 6, 2024

Our Democracy: Misery:

There's a sign you can see in many shops that sell beautiful but fragile items: LOVELY TO LOOK AT, DELIGHTFUL TO HOLD, BUT ONCE YOU BREAK IT, THEN IT'S SOLD.

You can say the same about democracy.  Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 6, 2024

One partys candidate was chosen in primaries; the others was selected by a small cabal. One partys base hated its leadership, and used the primary mechanism to get rid of it. The other party wouldnt even consider such a thing, and operates strictly by seniority. Which party is more democratic?

Democrat Leadership: The entire Democrat leadership ought to be purged, for starters:

This catastrophic Senate outcome is on Schumer, who explicitly sought to trade working class votes for suburban affluent votes, and got got neither. pic.twitter.com/38FgfygfIY  Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) November 6, 2024

Of course, that wont happen, and the entire party has been made over in the image of the failed leaders (Exhibit A: AOC), so even if it did happen, it would make no differenece.

Identity Politics: A historic realignment Trump

Trump claims Muslim Americans as part of the coalition that helped secure his projected victory in the 2024 presidential election: "It came from  they came from all quarters  union, non-union, African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Arab American, Muslim  It was pic.twitter.com/lyTfJIr3Fd  Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) November 6, 2024

Abortion: Reproductive Freedom outperformed Kamala:

Abortion rights are beating Kamala in every single state that voted on them. Progressive policies aren't unelectable  unpopular Democratic politicians are. pic.twitter.com/Akum3h67jZ  Holding Dems Accountable (From the Left!) (@PushBidenLeft) November 6, 2024

This suggests, perhaps counter-intuitively, that the Supreme Court in Dobbs, which left abortion up to the states, will in fact maximize poltically feasible codification (assuming Trump keeps his promise not to push for a national ban. No doubt the Christianists will push for a national ban when Congress reconvenes, so well see what happens. Personally, I think Trump would like the whole issue, and its zealots, to go away).

Our Famously Free Press:

Even prototypical DC journalist @MarkHalperin says the media failure may be so immense it can't be repaired. "It's such an admission of complete professional irresponsibility, of malpractice, that it's difficult for people to concede." https://t.co/77eML6ka1c pic.twitter.com/IBL5CzVDlW  Emily Kopp (@emilyakopp) November 6, 2024

The dark meme reappears:

Notice how WaPo and NYT use the term "dark" to describe Trump, but never used that for Biden and Harris while they spent a year bombing babies? Yes, Trump is bad, but this kind of media whitewashing of Dems has to stop. pic.twitter.com/MrEkQ0Stc7  Peter Daou (@peterdaou) November 6, 2024

Fascism:

America is not a dark place, Trump is not a fascist, and were not headed for an authoritarian state. Dems just did a bad job at governing and politics. They trusted the Federal Reserve and the foreign policy and media establishment. Trump didnt.  Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) November 6, 2024

I disagree with scholar-of-fascism Paxtons claim that this is a fascist moment (see extended discussion here). I dont think its evidence-based, let alone based on scholarship. That said, I agree wholeheartedly with him here: Whatever Trumpism is, its coming from below as a mass phenomenon, and the leaders are running to keep ahead of it.' Democrats will, of course, be incapable of even perceiving this mass phenomenon, let alone analyzing it. Ditto RINOs. Todays Republicans? I dont know.

Liberal Inability to Self-Reflect: Would it not in that case be simpler for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?  Bertolt Brecht

This election was about one thing: hate vs. the understanding we're all in this together. Americans prefer the former. That's the only conclusion to draw. https://t.co/peJsk84GIU  Elizabeth Kolbert (@ElizKolbert) November 6, 2024

The sad thing is that even though Kolbert is at The New Yorker, Ive enjoyed her writing on climate.

Schadenfreude: The Bidens (1): Ouch!

Jill wore all red to vote. As the wife of a democrat politician theres no way she doesnt know how this looks. Biden and Jill are pissed. pic.twitter.com/aHb5k4VZUe  Coco  (@CoClarified) November 5, 2024

The Bidens (2): Bidens counter-programming, whatever the cause, cannot have been helpful:

tell kamala. i want her to know it was me. https://t.co/5o1uUCy8Le pic.twitter.com/AErF84Rjab  Logan Hall (@loganclarkhall) November 6, 2024

(I want her to know it was me is a Game of Thrones reference.)

Get the word Lincoln out of your mouths:

Guest on CNN: 'The Lincoln Project was utterly useless. They just built themselves a bunch of beach houses on Dem donor money.'  Peter Daou (@peterdaou) November 6, 2024

The fall of House Cheney:

They Cheneys have now stolen two elections from Democrats but you cant really blame them for the second  Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) November 6, 2024

* * *

Lambert here: This post brings Water Coolers daily election 2024 coverage to an end, although the election will continue to be a rich vein of inquiry as the transition to a Trump administration takes place (assuming, of course, that there is not a third, successful assassination attempt, or some late-breaking lawfare imbroglio). Let me briefly review my methodology. Since this is not my blog, I dont make calls and certainly dont make endorsements. Rather, I lay out my evidence and thinking and trust the readers to make use of them as they may. Back in December 2023 I wrote, looking forward, or at least ahead, to the years coverage:

340 days is a long time in politics. In the formulation of stability vs. volatility  that is, the view that the race is a regular order of Trump v. Biden, vs. the view that it is by no means certain that Trump and/or Biden will nominated[1], elected, and allowed to assume office[2], and further, that the means by which the parties will select their candidates is unknown[3], and even the nature of victory is unknown  I am firmly on the side of volatility[4].

[1] In fact, Biden was defenestrated. [2] We cant be sure: The transition period is a long time of politics. [3] Kamala was selected not in a primary, but by a small cabal. [4] I think the upheaval on election day comes under the heading of volatility (in addition to Trump being the second President since Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms). Further:

Hence my grimly detailed and methodical pointillist method; we need to know as much about all the players and fields as we possibly can, because we cannot know who will emerge from the pack[5], or even, at this point, why[6]. The powers that be can rig the election all they want, but if the dogs wont eat the rigging, what then? And if they will, what then? So strap yourselves in.

[5] Robert Kennedy. [6] Uncommitted and Stein re: genocide.

I feel that the grimly detailed and methodical pointillist method cannot but have given readers insight into splendor and miseries of electoral politics, the strengths and weaknesses of the parties and the players, and vibes. What I did not anticipate, going into 2024, was the sheer volume and solidity of the bullshit I would have to contend with, and the overwhelming commitment of the press to the victory of one candidate/party. These two factors made the daily task of plucking nuggets from the news flow much more time-consuming and, indeed, risky than I have become accustomed to, because literally every data point had to be assessed, as if I were some sort of spook myself. Another way of saying this is that the PMC are my people, the press being a subset thereof; and I have been accustomed to being able to apply a proper discount to a large array of PMC work products, venues, etc., shortcutting the assessment process. Not so this year! Another methodological issue was representing the ebb and flow of candidate support in the campaign. Here, I decided to use the RealClearPolitics (RCP) poll averages every week. RCP is a conservative source, but and so its averages protected me (and you) from polling error and manipulation. Throughout, potential paths to victory for the ultimate winner were always clear. Im also happy to have kept drawing that red box around Pennsylvania, where the Blue Wall first cracked. (I was surprised that Trump won the popular vote, but I never did track it, since it wasnt relevant to victory). Here endeth my criticism/self-criticism for Water Coolers election coverage.
Yves here. I hate to sound like a stickler regarding the Common Dreams post reproduced below. Trying to find differences among genodicers may sound like what the Japanese call a height competition among peanuts: seemingly non-existent distinctions matter to them. Nevertheless, it is not correct to depict the newly-installed Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz as on a par with Yoav Gallant, who was just ousted by Netanyahu. By Israeli standards, Gallant is a moderate and Katz is a hard-liner.

There had long been friction between Gallant and Netanyahu. Netanyahu had even fired Gallant before, in 2023, but reinstated him after a month.

Gallant seemed surprised by his removal, although there had been signs things were getting worse between the two men. Gallant seemed to see part of his job as advocating for the IDF, which by all accounts, ex the air force, is exhausted and also suffering an unheard level of deaths and casualties. Larry Wilkerson pointed out that the injuries are at least as consequential for Israel, since the level is very high due to Israels proximity to front lines (ie, soldiers that might die from their wounds in other theaters of combat can usually be transported quickly to very good hospitals). And these injuries are often, as the bloodless saying goes, life-altering, such as the loss of limbs.

So Gallants comparative moderation seemed to come at least in part from understanding the IDFs limits and trying to get Israel to chart a more realistic course. But the hardliner see the wars as eschatological and at least some believe God will bail them out. Netanyahu needs to keep the conflicts going to remain in office and out of jail.

A recent sign that relations between Gallant and Netanyahu had deteriorated further was when Netanyahu cancelled a Gallant trip to the US to meet with Department of Defense officials to coordinate as in negotiate and plan, what Israels response to the Iran October 1 missile strikes on Israel, which were eventually admitted to have been effective in accurately hitting military targets (and worse for Israel, largely getting through Israels air defenses). Netanyahu insisted Biden speak to him first. The Gallant trip was not rescheduled; instead Department of Defense personnel came to Israel.

I suspect the big reason for Netanyahu cancelling the Gallant visit was he suspected Gallant would work (as in plot) with the US as to how to curb the Israel response, particularly since the Iran success exposed how vulnerable Israel would be to another, almost certainly bigger, Iran attack. Recall Iran had said it was prepared to call things a day after its October 1 demonstration, but if Israel attacked Iran again, Iran would hit much harder and would among other things, target civilian infrastructure. The Western press reported that the US keenly wanted Israel to make a limited retaliation, as opposed to hitting Irans nuclear program and oil infrastructure as it threatened. The Biden Administration was desperate to forestall a widening of the war before the elections, particularly since Iran is too big and well bunkered for Israel to deliver a knockout blow. Iran could easily take countermeasures that would cripple oil shipping and/or production and drive energy prices through the roof.

Now admittedly, forcing the US to come to Israel to negotiate the strike package did not seem to deliver Netanyahu the buy-in to the sort of more aggressive response he and other top officials had so loudly talked up. However, having the discussions take place in Israel would prevent Gallant and any like-minded members of his team from conversing freely.

A Times of Israel account has Netanyahu of depicting Gallant as insubordinate, as in not always executing on his and the Cabinets directives, and then delivering a cheap shot, by depicting Gallant as a near-traitor:

I made many attempts to bridge these gaps, but they kept getting wider, he [Netanyahu] said. They also came to the knowledge of the public in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy  our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it.

However, the televised attack gave Gallant the opportunity to tell his side of the story. Again from the Times of Israel:

Following his dismissal on Tuesday, Gallant issued a one-line statement of his own, writing on X that the security of the State of Israel always was, and will always remain, my lifes mission. The statement was identical to the one he published on the night of his first firing, 18 months ago. He elaborated at a press conference later on Tuesday night, where he appeared visibly emotional as he explained that the reason for his dismissal was threefold: the need to draft Haredi men to the IDF, the imperative to bring back the hostages from Gaza, and the need for a state commission of inquiry in the October 7 Hamas terror onslaught and ensuing war.

All three initiatives are threats to Netanyahu. The IDF has just started drafting Haredim over their fierce opposition. Their parties are part of Netanyahus coalition. The hostage issue is an even bigger problem for Bibi. Getting hostages returned means negotiations with Hamas. Hamas will not release them for anything less than a permanent, or at least plenty long ceasefire. A ceasefire would generate demands for new elections. An independent commission on October 7 would similarly undermine Netanyahu. Not only did the attacks take place on his watch, but a probe would also call attention to the way Netanyahu supported Hamas even before the 2006 elections that made it the leading party in Gaza out of a scheme gone pear-shaped to undermine the PLO.

The Financial Times points out that Netanyahu timed this firing (presumably also with the marked uptick of killing in Gaza) to take advantage of US election pre-occupation. From the Financial Times:

But, despite the increasingly public feuding between Gallant and Netanyahu, the timing of his sacking  which comes as Israel is in the middle of a multi-front conflict with foes including Hamas, Hizbollah and Iran  was unexpected. Gallant has been an important interlocutor with Israels main ally, the US, throughout the wars, and a person familiar with the situation said announcing his sacking on the day of the American election was not a coincidence. Everyone knows that the Americans like Gallant, the person added. So [Netanyahu] chose this timing because no one [in the US] has the attention span to follow this closely [today].

Larry Wilkerson colorfully weighed in on the Gallant sacking. He sees the shake-up as Netanyahu needing to distract attention from his military failure and domestic pressures. He also describes the number of serious injuries in Lebanon alone as 4,000, which is very high given the short duration of that campaign.

Now to the main event.

By Brett Wilkins. Originally published at Common Dreams

Palestine defenders on Tuesday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of swapping one genocidal lunatic for another after the right-wing leader fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and replaced him with Israel Katz, who was serving as foreign minister.

Israel just doubled down on prolonging its genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza, journalist and genocide scholar Samira Mohyeddin said on social media following Netanyahus moves.



Netanyahu cited what he called a crisis of trust that gradually deepened as his reason for the changes, which came as Israel is waging war on Gaza and Lebanon while bracing for Iranian retaliation for recent Israeli attacks on the Middle East nation.

Israel Katz, a hardliner who wishes for Palestinians to starve to death has replaced Yoav Gallant. (The hardliner who wished for Palestinians to starve to death) https://t.co/7srmxkpXmP pic.twitter.com/z7sY71qxbO  Abu Bakr Hussain (@KintsugiMuslim) November 5, 2024

In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and the minister of defense, Netanyahu said Tuesday, according toThe Jerusalem Post. This trust has cracked between myself and the defense minister.

Katz, a member of Netanyahus Likud party, previously held several Cabinet posts, most recently as Israels top diplomat. He was the minister of energy and infrastructure on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Israel that left more than 1,100 people deadat least some killed by fratricidal fireand over 240 others kidnapped and taken to Gaza.

Two days later, Katz issued an order to immediately cut off the water supply from Israel to Gaza.

Electricity and fuel were cut off yesterday, he said. What was will not be. All the civilian population in Gaza is ordered to leave immediately. We will win. They will not receive a drop of water or a single battery until they leave.

Meet Israels new defense minister, yet another genocidal lunatic https://t.co/jziVAsjkn3  Yousef Munayyer (@YousefMunayyer) November 5, 2024

Katzs directive followed Gallants order for a complete siege of Gaza.

There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, Gallant said. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.

These statements by Gallant and Katz are cited in the International Court of Justices January 26 provisional order for Israel to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza. Israelwhich is on trial for alleged genocide at the ICJhas been accused of ignoring this and subsequent orders issued by the tribunal.

On Tuesday, Israeli state media reported that the Israel Defense Forces has completed its division of Gaza into two parts, and that there is no intention to allow the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to return to their homes.

"There are no more civilians left north of Gaza City" thanks to deliberate Israeli policy/tactics, and "no intention" to allow them to return. There's a phrase for clearing territory of all its people https://t.co/iGhEJALAog  Ishaan Tharoor (@ishaantharoor) November 5, 2024

Katz has also come under fire for declaring United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata in Israel for criticizing the countrys war on Gaza, which has left more than 155,000 Palestinians in Gaza dead, wounded, or missing and millions more starving and sick.

While serving as Israels foreign minister, Katz was also condemned for threatening severe consequences for nations that officially recognize Palestinian statehood. Nearly 150 of the 193 United Nations member states recognizePalestine.

Katz also raised eyebrows in 2022 after he made a thinly veiled threat to ethnically cleanse Arab citizens of Israel. Responding to Israeli Arab students who displayed the Palestinian flag on college campuses, Katz said remember 48, a reference to 1948, when Israel declared its independence amid an ethnic cleansing campaign in which more than 750,000 Arabs were expelled from Palestine to make way for Jewish settlement.

Palestinians call this mass dispossession and expulsion the Nakba, which means catastrophe in Arabic.

Remember our independence war and your Nakba, Katz said. Dont stretch the rope too much If you dont calm down, well teach you a lesson that wont be forgotten.

Ask your eldersyour grandfathers, and grandmothersand they will explain to you that in the end, the Jews awaken, they know to defend themselves and the idea of the Jewish state, he added.

In one of his final acts as foreign minister, Katz on Monday initiated the process of annulling a 1967 agreement between Israel and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which Israel accuses of being infiltrated by Hamas. The U.N. strongly refutes Israels accusation.
Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn will return to the U.S. Senate next year after a reelection victory over Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson. Blackburn, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, sharpened attacks on immigration, trans people and China in the final stretch of her campaign.

Blackburn, a former state representative and state senator, spent more than $12.5 million on her reelection campaign.

Johnson Marches Uphill in Effort to Unseat Blackburn Lopsided U.S. Senate race leaves candidates campaigning in different realities

Johnsons campaign focused on access to health care, protecting abortion rights and economic issues like raising the minimum wage and lowering living costs. She spent more than $7 million on the campaign. In October, Johnson told the Scene that she hoped her campaign could build long-term Democratic support in the state, particularly among disaffected voters. Johnson, a state representative in East Tennessee, ran Democrats best-funded statewide campaign since Phil Bredesen challenged Blackburn in 2018.

Blackburns return to Washington sets her up as a leading figure in the national GOP for the next six years. She will likely reprise a powerful position on the Senate Judiciary Committee and may join the fray to replace Kentuckys U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell as party leader, as McConnell will step down from that position in January. Blackburn has built a national reputation as a China hawk and frequently appears on Fox News criticizing the outgoing Biden administration. She has also embraced Bitcoin, the blockchain currency. Her son, Chad Blackburn, is a popular Bitcoin evangelist.

Blackburns support tracked closely with Trumps share of the Tennessee electorate. She has promoted close ties to the former president since first endorsing him in July 2016.
Ukrainian intelligence claims that 12,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia  a desperate ploy to escalate U.S. involvement?

Reports from Ukrainian intelligence have revealed that up to 12,000 North Korean military personnel are currently in Russia , including hundreds of special forces, 500 officers and at least three generals.

This marks a significant escalation in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, as it would be the first time foreign troops have directly engaged in the war. The growing presence of North Korean forces has raised alarms in Ukraine and the United States, with officials warning that their involvement could change the course of the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the issue on Oct. 31, stating that North Korean military units could soon be deployed to the frontlines, specifically in the Russian region of Kursk, located near the Ukrainian border, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched an incursion and currently control several hundred square miles of territory.

Zelensky suggested that Ukrainian forces might confront North Korean troops "in days, not months," underscoring the urgency of the situation. Following Zelensky's remarks, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that up to 8,000 North Korean troops may have already been deployed to Kursk, with expectations they would soon be involved in combat.

As of late October, intelligence reports indicate that around 3,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed at a training camp in Kursk, where they are reportedly receiving instruction from experienced Russian military trainers. The training includes artillery use, drone operations, and basic infantry tactics like trench clearing. U.S. officials also noted that these troops have been outfitted in Russian military uniforms and equipped with Russian weaponry, suggesting that they will soon be deployed to the frontlines against Ukrainian forces. (Related: Biden urges Ukraine to hit North Korean troops that its military encounters on the battlefield.)

Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, has identified the three North Korean generals allegedly overseeing the training and deployment of Korean People's Army troops: Col. Gen. Kim Young Bok, Col. Gen. Lee Chang Ho and Maj. Gen. Shin Geum Cheol.

Kyslytsya also revealed that Russian military instructors are teaching North Korean forces to use Russian weapons and strategies, further reinforcing the likelihood of their involvement in direct combat operations.

North Korean troops could significantly alter dynamics of the conflict in Ukraine

The presence of North Korean forces in Russia is a major development that could alter the dynamics of the war. U.S. officials have expressed concerns that the deployment of these troops is part of Russia's broader strategy to bolster its war effort, which has faced significant losses since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine in late February 2022.

With over 500,000 Russian soldiers reportedly killed or wounded, the addition of North Korean forces is expected to help alleviate pressure on Russia's remaining troops. However, it also raises questions about the effectiveness and readiness of these foreign troops.

The Guardian correspondent Justin McCurry notes that many of the North Korean soldiers being sent to Ukraine are young and inexperienced, with some still in their teens or early twenties. Trained primarily in mountainous terrain, these troops are unfamiliar with the large, flat battlefields of Ukraine. Experts argue that while they have been equipped with Russian weaponry, their lack of combat experience and unfamiliarity with the terrain could hinder their effectiveness.

Despite their lack of recent combat experience  North Korea has not fought a major war since the 1950s  North Korean forces are receiving significant training. This includes instruction in artillery, drone operations and basic infantry tactics, all of which are critical for modern warfare.

Watch NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte condemning the deployment of North Korean troops to the frontlines in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Russia has invoked Article 4 of its mutual defense treaty with North Korea, Putin confirms.

South Korea could send arms to Ukraine after North Korea deploys troops to aid Russia.

U.S. says North Korea has deployed troops to support Russia in war against Ukraine.

South Korea claims North Korean troops will fight for Russia in Ukraine starting on November 1.

North Korean operatives being deployed to help Russia in war against Ukraine.

Sources include:

BigLeaguePolitics.Substack.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
Alberta premier proposes Bill of Rights Amendment Act that includes freedom to refuse vaccinations

Incumbent Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) have introduced new legislation reinforcing the rights of the citizens to decline vaccinations

Under the administration of former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, who served as the 18th premier of Alberta from 2019 to 2022, Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates in the private and public sectors in Alberta and other parts of Canada became a norm. The vaccine mandate resulted in thousands of job losses and discrimination for those who refused the experimental medical procedure.

Smith, elected as leader of the UCP in 2022 and premier in 2023, proposed Bill 24, known as the Alberta Bill of Rights Amendment Act, on the first day of Alberta's fall legislative session on Oct. 28. Bill 24 proposes the addition of specific protections for individual medical autonomy and personal freedoms. (Related: Alberta premier pledges to amend Bill of Rights to include HEALTH FREEDOM.)

"Society relies on the ability of its citizens to make decisions willingly express themselves freely, own property and use it as they see fit and it also relies on citizens autonomy over their bodies and the right to make their own choices about the medical treatments they receive," Smith announced at a news conference on Oct. 28. "No one should be pressured into accepting any medical treatment without their full consent, including a vaccine."

The proposed amendment codifies a citizen's right to refuse any form of medical care, including vaccines, except in cases where the individual could pose a significant risk to themselves or others.

Proposed Bill 24 would also strengthen property security and expression rights

In addition to reinforcing health freedom, Smith also proposed strengthening protections on personal autonomy, property rights and the freedoms of expression and ownership.

The proposed amendment would also ensure that any deprivation of property must be legally sanctioned, with the government compensating citizens fairly for any confiscation. This proposed change introduces safeguards against unauthorized seizures and strengthens Albertans' security over their legally owned properties.

It would also expand freedom of expression to cover spoken and written language and other forms of expressive conduct. Additionally, the proposed amendment would secure Albertans' right to acquire, keep and use firearms within legal parameters.

If passed, the amendments would enable Alberta courts to declare any conflicting provincial law unenforceable to make it easier for Albertans to uphold their rights. The scope would also extend to all provincial government actions, including legislation, policies, programs and actions by heavily government-controlled entities such as municipalities, police and hospitals. The amendments would also require notification to the Minister of Justice for any legal action challenging Alberta laws under the Bill of Rights.

Moreover, new clauses clarify that although Alberta's government may impose reasonable limits on rights, these must align with the principles of a "free and democratic Alberta  its unique cultural values and commitment to individual freedoms. If approved, these amendments would take effect upon Royal Assent. However, it would only apply to rights infringements after the passage. In other words, ongoing property cases initiated before the amendments would be excluded from these new protections.

Check out HealthFreedom.news for similar stories.

Watch this clip from NFSC News about Smith admitting that the unvaccinated were right.

This video is from the Dissident7 channel on Brighteon.com.

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New York Supreme Court reinstates all government employees fired for refusing COVID "vaccination."

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Top 8 Kommie Harris "policies" and why Democrats and Liberals should RECONSIDER their vote before it's too late.

San Francisco transit workers who were fired for REFUSING COVID-19 INJECTIONS awarded more than $1M each.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

Alberta.ca [PDF]

Brighteon.com
Deaths and injuries from COVID-19 vaccines could put insurance companies at risk of bankruptcy

COVID-19 vaccines are injuring and killing people, and its not just the victims and their families who are hurting; insurance companies could see their profits dwindle as more cases come to light in a trend that could end up putting the entire economy at risk.

University College Dublin School of Medicine Professor of Translational Science Dr. Dolores Cahill, an immunology expert who has 25 years of experience working with antibodies in biomedical applications, has long been voicing her concerns about the jabs and the impact they will have on global health. She doesnt just think theyre risky; she firmly believes that everyone who has received even a single dose is walking around with a ticking time bomb inside of them and is headed for certain death.

Everybody who has an mRNA injection will die within 3 to 5 years, even if they have had only one injection, she said. Naturally, these comments, which she has been making since the vaccines first rolled out, were enough to get her labeled a conspiracy theorist and removed from social media platforms.

A potential impending tsunami of death

Another expert who thinks the writing is on the wall is Belgian virologist Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche, who has been warning that those who were fully vaccinated will start to see their immunity collapse, which could spur a global trend of turbo cancers, strokes, heart attacks and mortalities.

He said that a massive, massive tsunami is poised to overwhelm hospitals and take a toll on the economy. This, in turn, will spur social chaos and affect all of us.

They will start to replace the surge of the cancers  now we have a more chronic phase.

It will end with a hyper-acute phase, a huge, huge wave  Ive been studying this now for four years. I know what Im talking about  We will have to build a completely new world, he stated, adding that our hospitals will collapse once this gets into full swing.

And that means the chaos in all kinds of layers of society  financial, economic, social, you name it  will be complete.

Bad news for the economy

All of this is bad news for insurance companies and pretty much every industry that needs living, breathing workers, but there are a couple of industries that might actually benefit from all this.

In a post that has now disappeared, Richard Sauder of Richards Substack noted: It appears that casket and coffin manufacturers, funeral homes, morticians, morgues, graveyards, cemeteries, backhoe operators and grave diggers, crematoriums and the like will have plenty of work  if they can avoid dying themselves!

Other industries and the great bulk of the work force will take it on the chin.

Although he felt he shouldnt name names, he implied that one famous insurance company is in very serious trouble and is swirling around the corporate failure drain due to the burgeoning death rate. And if a major company is being affected this much, its hard to imagine how it will affect smaller insurers.

Too many people are dying, he said. The normal actuarial tables no longer apply.

Sources for this article include:

DissWire.com

RichardSauder.Substack.com

SlayNews.com
REPORT: Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon kill six medics, frustrating potential ceasefire talks

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health has reported the deaths of six health workers in Israeli airstrikes as American envoys and Israeli officials meet in Israel to discuss a potential ceasefire deal.

On Oct. 31, United States National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk along with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein in Israel to broker a potential ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. Their visit followed days of diplomatic maneuvering to secure a temporary pause in hostilities, particularly in southern Lebanon.

The talks reportedly focused on implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which would require Hezbollah to retreat 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border, north of the Litani River. In this scenario, Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon, and the Lebanese army, along with UN peacekeepers, would assume control of the border, with Lebanon tasked with preventing Hezbollah from rearming and returning to their former zones of influence. (Related: Israeli strike on Syria kills 25, hits military research center.)

As the security officials of both countries discussed a potential ceasefire deal, Israel ordered the forced evacuation of several areas in Baalbek in southern Lebanon.

According to a report from Lebanon's National News Agency, Israeli aircraft, which also wounded four other health personnel, launched four strikes targeting the village of Douris and areas surrounding Baalbek on Oct. 31. Health officials say four medics lost their lives when an attack struck a gathering point for civil defense teams and two more were killed in separate incidents.

These deaths have brought the total number of health workers killed in Israeli strikes over the past year to 178, with 279 more injured.

Lebanese PM accuses Israel of "war crimes"

Just a day before the ceasefire talk and airstrike, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope for a ceasefire within "the coming hours or days." Meanwhile, Hezbollah's new leader, Naim Qassem, stated the group would accept a truce under specific conditions.

But not long before the ceasefire discussions, Mikati had already condemned Israel's recent evacuation orders against Lebanese residents as a "war crime."

"The threat issued by the Israeli enemy against Lebanese civilians to evacuate entire cities and displace them from their areas and homes is an additional war crime, added to the series of crimes committed by the Israeli enemy, including killing, destruction and sabotage," Mikati said in a press briefing.

In turn, Mikati urged the increased political pressure to halt what he describes as "Israeli aggression." Mikati also engaged in discussions with U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson and Egyptian envoy Alaa Moussa to serve as a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Beirut, indicated that Mikati's remarks complicate the prospect of reaching an agreement soon.

Jabbari noted: "He believes these continuing Israeli escalations do not inspire optimism." This point of contention has become a major hurdle in discussions, as the Israeli military has maintained that negotiations would proceed "under fire," a condition unacceptable to both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah.

The latest stories about the escalating situation in the Middle East can be found at WWIII.news.

Watch this video from "Southfront Press" discussing Israel's escalation of the conflict with its new air strikes against Syria.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

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Israeli strikes target emergency health centers in southern Lebanon, killing paramedics.

U.S. on high alert as Irans proxies threaten retaliation following Israeli strikes.

Sources include:

News.Antiwar.com

AlJazeera.com

English.AlArabiya.net

Brighteon.com
Local leaders condemn Netanyahu over failure to protect northern settlements from Hezbollah attacks

On Oct. 31, Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks against Israel, resulting in the deaths of at least eight individuals . The rockets struck the northern settlement of Metula, which is on the border with Lebanon, and the Krayot area at the northern tip of the major city of Haifa.

Due to Metula's location directly across the border from Lebanon, it has often been targeted by Hezbollah and has been a focal point since the onset of the conflict last year, leading to the evacuation of many settlements in the region. (Related: Hezbollah has already KILLED over 70 Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.)

Among the casualties in Metula was an Israeli citizen, while the others were foreign workers who were reportedly tending to an apple orchard at the time of the strikes. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that alerts were triggered in the settlement at around 11:47 a.m., detecting two rockets that crossed the border from Lebanon and landed in open areas.

Metula Mayor David Azoulay expressed frustration with the Israeli government, criticizing it for "normalizing the situation." This sentiment reflects a broader dissatisfaction among local officials in northern Israel who have repeatedly condemned the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for its failure to protect northern settlements from attacks.

In addition to the strikes in Metula, two people were killed in Krayot, a cluster of neighborhoods in the northern tip of Haifa, after numerous rockets impacted the area.

The Karmiel settlement also experienced rocket fire, with Hezbollahs military media announcing that large barrages were directed at both Krayot and Karmiel. The group also claimed to have conducted operations targeting Israeli army sites along the border, including ambushes against ground troops in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah continues to repel Israeli forces from southern Lebanon

Intense clashes have been reported between Hezbollah forces and the Israeli army in border regions. An Al Mayadeen correspondent noted that Hezbollah was engaged in close-quarter battles with Israeli forces around the major southern town of Khiam.

The report indicated that Israeli forces suffered casualties and retreated after failing to secure their objectives. Hezbollah claimed to have targeted multiple troop concentrations in the Wata al-Khiam area, indicating that its fighters were effectively preventing the use of vehicles by Israeli forces due to the threat of anti-tank missiles.

Since Israeli troops reentered southern Lebanon on Oct. 2, dozens of soldiers have reportedly been killed, with Hezbollah asserting that it has killed at least 70 soldiers and injured over 500 more.

Hezbollah's Operations Room reported that the Israeli army has failed to fully control or occupy any border villages. Despite these challenges, Israeli military sources have suggested that operations against Hezbollah infrastructure are complete and that the focus may now shift to diplomatic efforts. Reports from Israel's national broadcaster Kan indicate that the IDF's Northern Command believes it has effectively dismantled Hezbollah's capabilities along the border.

In light of these developments, IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi mentioned that operations in the north might soon reach a decisive conclusion. However, Hezbollah's new leader, Naim Qassem, challenged these claims during his inaugural speech, questioning Israel's ability to achieve its goals.

"We say to Israel, are you already done? Dont you want to reach the Litani [River] or at least go a little deeper into [south] Lebanon? You havent even managed to gain a single victory," he stated.

Watch this clip of an Israeli Hermes 900 combat drone being struck down by Hezbollah.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

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Sources include:

TheCradle.co

APNews.com

Brighteon.com
Trump says hes open to RFK Jr.s proposal to BAN FLUORIDE in city water supplies across America

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, is open to a proposal by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to ban fluoride from the water supply of all cities in the United States

Trump expressed support for the former independent presidential candidate's plan during an appearance on NBC News Sunday, Nov. 3. "I haven't talked to him about it yet, but it sounds OK to me," Trump told the media outlet during a phone interview that day.

The former president has told attendees at his campaign rallies in recent months his intent to allow Kennedy to "go wild" on health, food and medicine. Such a plan has prompted concerns among Big Pharma executives.

A bombshell report published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in August revealed that excessive fluoride consumption in children has been linked to a reduction of IQ between two and five points. This also prompted U.S. Senior District Judge Edward Chen of the District Court for the Northern District of California to order the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to bolster regulations around the use of fluoride.

In a post on the X platform, Kennedy remarked that Chen's decision ordering the EPA to tighten rules on fluoride is an important step in the right direction. He remarked in a separate post that as soon as Trump returns to the White House on Jan. 20, the real estate mogul "will advise all U.S?. water systems to remove fluoride from public water."

"Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neuro-developmental disorders and thyroid disease," he wrote. "President [Donald Trump] and First Lady [Melania Trump] want to make America healthy again," Kennedy wrote in the second post. (Related: Is it time for a nationwide ban on fluoridated water?)

Vaccines next on the chopping block

NBC News also asked Trump about potential plans to ban "certain vaccines." To this, the former president responded: "Well, I'm going to talk to [Kennedy] and  other people, and I'll make a decision. But he's a very talented guy and has strong views."

Meanwhile, LifeSiteNews reported that mainstream media (MSM) outlets running Big Pharma ads have already begun attacking Kennedy, with fake news network CNN leading the charge. One recent headline from CNN read: "Trump transition team co-chair endorses Kennedy anti-vax theories."

In another instance, CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins claimed that "vaccines are safe"  despite countless stories of vaccine injuries. She uttered the ignorant remark during an interview with Howard Lutnick, co-chair of the Trump transition team, while discussing Kennedy's views.

Despite the smears coming from Big Pharma and the MSM, Trump remains undeterred in his backing of Kennedy. Podcast host Joe Rogan asked the former president if there were parties pressuring him "not to work with" the former independent candidate.

Trump replied in the affirmative, telling Rogan: "Yes. Big Pharma wasn't thrilled. It doesn't affect me."

The former president also told former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson during an event in Arizona in late October that Kennedy "really wants" to look into "the pesticides" and "the vaccines." Trump thinks that the former presidential candidate doing so is "great."

In a separate event last month organized by Carlson, Kennedy revealed that he has been praying for the last 19 years that God would put him in a position to end chronic diseases. His long wait since 2005 came to an end months ago, which coincided with the suspension of his presidential campaign.

"In August, God sent me Donald Trump," Kennedy remarked.

Head over to Kennedy.news for more stories about RFK Jr. and his plans if he joins the second Trump administration.

Watch Dawna Gallagher-Stroeh discussing the dangers of fluoride in drinking water in this clip.

This video is from the oneninetyfivenationsrising channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

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RFK Jr. suspends presidential campaign, will join forces with Trump to 'save millions of children.'

VICTORY: Court rules against the EPA's longstanding water fluoridation practices, provides compelling evidence that fluoride damages children's brains.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

X.com

Brighteon.com
Forced vaccination is REAL: Courts are now enforcing SEDATION to assault people with COVID-19 vaccines in the UK

The National Health Services (NHS) in the United Kingdom (UK) has been caught vaccinating a 30-year-old man with Downs syndrome BY FORCE. For the sake of anonymity, the mans name is being withheld and he is being referred to as Adam.

Most disturbingly, the courts have so far green-lighted the abuse, claiming sedation and vaccination is not forced vaccination, but is in the man's "best interest." This gross violation of medical ethics is more than just a threat against the mans legal right to informed consent. It's a menacing, covert threat on his life, and any patient is now at risk to this violative act.

NHS doctors sedate vulnerable patients to force vaccinate them

NHS doctors have been administering strong sedatives so they can stick Adam with COVID-19 vaccines. The strong sedatives are administered covertly in the mans drinks (tea, orange juice, or soft drinks) so that he is unaware when nurses and doctors administer the poisonous inoculations.

Adams mother, Catherine, is waging a legal battle to stop this sadistic practice. She says this kind of forced vaccination is tantamount to assault on her sons human rights.

If this practice is allowed to stand, then medical authorities will be able to sedate patients whenever they want, inject substances without ones knowledge, and lie to them and their family about the whole situation.

This is the real reason why the COVID-19 medical tyrants excluded family members and nurse advocates from hospital rooms. These abusive medical professionals are trying to condition the population to accept this new normal of forced medical experimentation, so they can sedate, inject, murder, and lie at will, with no oversight, no accountability, and no family member advocating on the patients behalf.

UK Court enforces the Sedate-to-Vaccinate order

Shockingly, a UK court issued a Court of Protection order that permitted NHS doctors to covertly sedate Adam. Using sociopathic reasoning, the court cited that the sedation process avoids the use of restraint or physical force, allowing doctors to get past Adams needle phobia. The judge, siding with the NHS doctors, determined that the COVID-19 vaccine was in Adams best interests. This determination was made behind Adams back, without his knowledge or consent and against his familys directive. The court ruled that Adams autism, learning disabilities, Downs syndrome and obesity puts him in a clinical risk group that necessitates the use of sedation and COVID-19 vaccines. The family was discarded from this insane prognosis.

Adams mom Catherine is now pleading her case, claiming that the pandemic is over and COVID is now treated as a mild illness. She says her son is being unfairly categorized as high risk and being subjected to forced vaccination - an assault on his body autonomy rights. Even with these arguments, she is ceding power over to the NHS and the courts, inadvertently giving these entities power over her and her son  and anyone for that matter as it sets a dangerous precedent.

If the public health authorities can declare a "pandemic of a deadly disease," then according to Catherines arguments, governments and hospitals could seize the opportunity to make determinations about the necessity of vaccinations for each person. Then, they could take advantage of that power to forcibly sedate and inject people without their knowledge and against their will. This case could actually set terrifying legal precedent for future pandemics that are already being planned.

Forgiving and forgetting what governments and medical authorities did during the COVID-19 scandal will only lead to further human rights abuses and escalations of medical tyranny. Ignoring the fact that politicians, media figures, doctors and pastors pushed unlawful COVID-19 vaccine mandates will not bring resolution. Their tyranny will only grow in the future, and under the right conditions, they will continue their abuses. Without accountability, they will be inclined to subjugate and further violate peoples health freedom and body autonomy rights.

Catherine has set up a crowdfunding campaign titled "Stop Sedate-to-Vaccinate" to help raise funds for this legal fight.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

Nuremberg.law.harvard.edu

CrowdJustice.com
BBC staffers accuse media outlets executives of instituting bias in Gaza coverage, claiming favorable treatment of Israel

More a hundred BBC staff members have raised concerns that the broadcaster is giving Israel a biased and favorable coverage in the ongoing Gaza conflict.

In a letter sent on Friday to BBC Director-General Tim Davie and CEO Deborah Turness, the signatories criticized the media outlet for not adhering to basic journalistic principles in holding Israel accountable for its actions in the conflict. The letter claims that the BBC's coverage has been unbalanced and has failed to provide adequate scrutiny of Israeli actions, contributing to the dehumanization of Palestinians.

The letter, which was first reported by The Independent, was signed by over 230 individuals, including more than 100 anonymous BBC staff members, along with journalists, media professionals, academics, and actors. It expresses deep concern that the BBCs portrayal of the Gaza conflict, particularly its treatment of Israeli government claims, has not been robust enough in questioning or critically engaging with those claims. The letter argues that this failure to challenge Israeli assertions has contributed to a narrative that marginalizes Palestinian voices and experiences, particularly in the face of overwhelming casualties in Gaza.

The consequences of inadequate coverage are significant, the letter reads. Every television report, article, and radio interview that has failed to challenge Israeli claims has systematically dehumanized Palestinians.

The signatories also warned that the BBC's coverage of the conflict threatens to undermine the corporation's reputation for impartiality and threatens its editorial independence  two aspects that the letter claims are central to the BBCs identity as a taxpayer-funded, trusted public broadcaster.

BBC staffers demanding editorial changes to how Gaza conflict is reported

The letter calls for specific editorial changes to address what the signatories see as a persistent failure to adequately cover the conflict. The recommendations include:

Acknowledging the lack of access to Gaza for external journalists, noting that Israel does not allow foreign journalists to report from Gaza, which significantly limits the ability to verify or independently report on events there.

Clarifying when there is insufficient evidence to support Israeli claims, urging the BBC to be transparent about the limitations of available information.

Highlighting Israeli actions as the perpetrator in article headlines when appropriate, in contrast to framing the conflict as an equal, two-sided dispute.

Providing regular historical context that pre-dates the Oct. 7, 2023 escalation, to ensure that the public understands the long-standing issues underlying the current conflict.

More robustly challenging Israeli officials during interviews, particularly government and military representatives, to ensure that Israeli claims are subject to the same level of scrutiny as those made by Palestinian representatives or other actors in the conflict.

The letter's signatories emphasized that the BBC holds a special responsibility due to the high level of trust the British public places on it, along with other broadcasters like ITV and Sky News.

The BBC's role as a publicly funded entity, the letter argues, comes with a duty to uphold the highest standards of journalism  standards that the signatories believe have been compromised by the broadcaster's failure to provide adequate scrutiny of Israeli government actions.

Learn more about the current state of journalism around the world at Journalism.news.

Watch this video discussing how the BBC is adept at manufacturing conspiracies for personal gain.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

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Casual restaurant chain TGI Fridays files for BANKRUPTCY

Casual restaurant chain TGI Fridays has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy , the latest of many restaurants raising the white flag.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that the Dallas-based chain filed for bankruptcy in a Texas federal court on Saturday, Nov. 2. TGI Fridays Executive Chairman Rohit Manocha said in a statement that the restaurant's financial woes stemmed from the pandemic and its capital structure. The business is looking for ways to "ensure the long-term viability" of its brand following its decision to close many of its branches last year, AP continued.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that TGI Fridays "has lost business over the years as diners gravitated to newer restaurant options." As per data from market research firm Technomic, the company had $728 million in U.S. sales last year  15 percent lower than from 2022. TGI Fridays operated 292 U.S. locations last year, 11 percent fewer than it had in 2021.

In a June statement, the independent auditor for TGI Fridays said the company was running out of funds to meet its debt obligations. Earlier this year, the chain said it was closing 36 underperforming locations across the United States. Hundreds of employees affected by the closures received transfers.

"In 2017, TGI Fridays signed a financial arrangement known as whole business securitization, where a company issues bonds secured by cash-generating assets, such as franchisee royalties paid to the company. Other restaurants have also employed the arrangement, which relies on a steady stream of franchisee income," the WSJ remarked.

"TGI Fridays was focused on reviving its bar business and updating its brand when the pandemic hit, impeding its ability to serve customers indoors. The company pushed forward with delivery and other to-go options, and wound up closing fewer restaurants than initially anticipated. Still, declining customer traffic and financial challenges persisted."

Other restaurants also calling it quits

TGI Fridays also has overseas locations, but the bankruptcy would only affect its 39 company owned and operated branches. Domestic and international franchised locations will operate as usual, according to Game Rant.

Months before the filing, a British restaurant operator sought to merge with the beleaguered chain. In April, U.K.-based restaurant operator Hostmore announced a $220 million deal to merge with TGI Fridays. "The move was meant to stabilize the chains finances, revitalize the brand and bring it to the public markets in the U.K.," the WSJ said.

Unfortunately, the deal failed to materialize. Hostmore sought debt protection in September and abruptly closed locations throughout the U.K., mirroring the subsequent fate of TGI Fridays.

The chain is not alone in this predicament, however, as many other restaurants have called it quits. In August, Italian American food chain Buca di Beppo filed for bankruptcy protection. The month after, a U.S. bankruptcy judge approved a reorganization plan for seafood chain Red Lobster after years of mounting losses.

Last month, 24/7 breakfast chain Denny's announced that it is closing 150 of its underperforming restaurants. The sit-down joint said the closures sought to turn around its flagging sales. (Related: Dennys is shutting down 150 stores to boost cash flow amid declining sales.)

Head over to MarketCrash.news for more stories about restaurant closures.

Watch this video about the "unstoppable collapse" in the form of restaurant closures.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

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Dennys to shut 150 of its most underperforming restaurants in the U.S. by end of 2025.

Casual dining chain Red Lobster officially files for BANKRUPTCY.

Sources include:

WSJ.com

APNews.com

GameRant.com

Brighteon.com
Israeli newspaper Haaretz disavows own publisher after he alludes to Hamas as Palestinian freedom fighters

Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an editorial on Monday, Nov. 4, disavowing its own publisher after he alluded to Hamas as "Palestinian freedom fighters."

Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken was speaking at a conference in London last Oct. 27 when he made the remarks, which instigated an outcry and calls from government ministers to crack down on the activities of the Israeli news outlet.

Schocken criticized the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not caring "about imposing a cruel apartheid regime on the Palestinian population."

"[Netanyahu] dismisses the costs of both sides for defending the settlements while fighting the Palestinian freedom fighters, that Israel calls terrorists," Schocken told attendees in the conference. Schocken later clarified his remarks to stress that he did not believe Hamas were freedom fighters.

The Haaretz editorial, titled "Terrorists Are Not Freedom Fighters," noted: "Deliberately harming civilians is illegitimate. Using violence against civilians and sowing terror among them to achieve political or ideological goals is terrorism. Any organization that advocates the murder of women, children and the elderly is a terrorist organization, and its members are terrorists. They certainly aren't 'freedom fighters.'"

Haaretz, which is known for being a more independent news outlet, is strongly critical of Netanyahu's administration and even provides space for moderate pro-Palestinian views, including opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank. (Related: Israeli newspaper confirms IDF employed Hannibal Directive on October 7.)

Israeli minister calls for government restrictions on Haaretz

Israeli Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi, reacting to Schocken's statement, has called for several government restrictions on Haaretz.

Karhi's office proposed that "the government shall not enter into new contracts with Haaretz, including individual subscriptions for state employees, nor renew any existing contracts; and that all current agreements with Haaretz, including personal subscriptions, shall be canceled as legally feasible."

It added that the Government Advertising Agency shall "direct Haaretz to cease all advertisements, including statutory notices, regardless of payment status, and seek refunds for any existing payments."

The proposal is similar to the one released by Karhi in November 2023, when he accused the outlet of weakening Israel's war efforts in Gaza.

Minister of Justice Yariv Levin also sent a letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara seeking powers to restrict Haaretz's operations.

"I ask that you urgently provide me with a draft law stipulating that actions by Israeli citizens to promote or encourage international sanctions on Israel, its leaders, security forces, and citizens shall constitute a criminal offense punishable by ten years in prison," Levin wrote. "I further request that such an offense during wartime be considered an aggravating circumstance, allowing for the penalty to be doubled."

Levin also mentioned remarks by Schocken in his speech where he demanded sanctions to be imposed against government officials.

"Calls for sanctions against Israel constitute a severe breach of the fundamental duty of loyalty of a citizen toward their country. Such actions promote a course intended to deprive Israel of its right to self-defense," Levin said.

Follow Censorship.news for more government attempts to censor media outlets.

Watch the video below about Haaretz exposing the atrocity propaganda and rapes committed during the Oct. 7 terror attack.

This video is from the What is happening channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

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New report details Israels systematic sexual abuse and torture of Palestinians.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

TimesOfIsrael.com

Brighteon.com
Humiliation campaign: Israel arrests Palestinians in West Bank, writes number on their foreheads

On Thursday, Oct. 31, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a massive arrest campaign in Dura in the West Bank, targeting more than 20 prisoners. They were blindfolded, handcuffed, insulted and kept in inhumane conditions. They were identified with numbers written on their foreheads instead of their names

Among them were several prominent Hamas activists who were previously detained after the outbreak of the war on Gaza and had been released from prison a few months ago.

According to Middle East Eye (MEE), the raid lasted 11 hours and soldiers distributed leaflets and posters bearing threatening warnings not to attack the army or Israeli settlers. Schools were also suspended due to the raid.

Reports indicate that when the IDF attacks West Bank towns and villages, life is completely shut down. Snipers are deployed on buildings while streets are flooded with soldiers and military vehicles that prevent the movement of residents.

The news outlet reported that at the moment, arrest campaigns are nearly daily in the Palestinian territory. (Related: Israeli soldiers accused of even more torture and abuse in the West Bank.)

Osama Shaheen, one of the former Gaza detainees released in August after 10 months of administrative detention, said that during the most recent arrest campaign, Israeli soldiers brutally stormed his house and smashed his furniture. He was then taken to a military vehicle, where he was blindfolded and handcuffed.

They brought him and other detainees to the house of the former member of the Palestinian Legislative Council Nayef Rjoub, where the soldiers provocatively raised an Israeli flag.

"I was interrogated violently and beaten on various parts of my body, especially my head and chest," Shaheen said. "The soldiers turned us from names into numbers and every detainee had a number that they used to provoke him during his arrest and call him by number instead of name. To them, we are just numbers."

The same thing happened to the house of Ayed Dudin, a paramedic who was released from Israeli prison in July. However, Dudin was out as he was providing medical support to people wounded by the raid. The IDF took his son Mohammed instead.

"I received a phone call from an officer in the Israeli army and he asked me to surrender myself so that my son would be released. Although I went to do so, they didn't release Mohammad and kept him detained with me," Dudin told MEE, adding that he was also hurt, abused and branded a number on his forehead as well.

Imad Abu Hawash, an activist from the Palestine Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), told MEE that these raids are increasingly becoming longer, lasting for hours at a time and terrorizing Palestinians in their homes, which are often ransacked.

"Usually, a Palestinian is arrested and transferred to a known interrogation center where he is interrogated. But the Israeli soldiers have replaced that with these humiliating measures, and they say that they have the right to detain any person for six hours without reporting him as a detainee to the Israeli army," Abu Hawash said.

Israel damages UNRWA West Bank during recent raid

The office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees, has been massively damaged after Israelis targeted a West Bank refugee camp.

The main office building had minor damage and an adjacent temporary hall was flattened, covered with dirt and its corrugated roof knocked over. But the Israeli military denied it deliberately damaged the Nur Shams refugee camp building.

IDF said militants had planted explosives nearby and set them off to attack Israeli troops and that the blast "likely caused damage to the building."

The said attack happened after Israel's parliament passed laws that would effectively ban UNRWA's operations in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israel accused a dozen UNRWA employees of participating in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

The ban, which incited global backlash including from top Israeli weapons supplier and ally, the United States, should come into force in late January.

The UN Security Council already warned that it would have severe consequences for millions of Palestinians. UNRWA spokesman Jonathan Fowler also told reporters that the ban would probably cause the collapse of aid efforts to Gaza.

"If this law is implemented, it would be likely to cause the collapse of the international humanitarian operation in the Gaza Strip  an operation of which UNRWA is the backbone," Fowler told AFP. "It would also be likely to cause the collapse of essential services provided by UNRWA in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including education, healthcare and sanitation."

But Israel has dismissed the argument on Gaza, saying only a part of aid was being delivered into the territory by UNRWA.

"The State of Israel is committed to international law and will continue to facilitate the entrance of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in a manner that does not harm the security of the citizens of Israel," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said.

IsraelCollapse.com contains stories related to the genocidal operations and arrest campaigns of the IDF in Gaza and the West Bank.

Sources for this article include:

MiddleEastEye.net

EuroNews.com

TheSun.my
West not taking seriously enough the threat of a nuclear attack by Moscow, warns former Russian president

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev believes that Western leaders are greatly underestimating Moscow's ability and willingness to cross the red of line of launching a nuclear attack.

In speaking to Russian media, Medvedev, who now serves as deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, scoffed at current Western leaders whom he says are not nearly as forward-thinking as their predecessors.

"They have made a miscalculation, since they are not of the brightest kind," Medvedev said.

"For some reason they think that Russians will never cross a certain line. They are wrong. If it comes down to the existence of our state, as the president of our country has repeatedly said ... we will simply have no choice."

No matter who is in charge of a nuclear-armed state like Russia, whether it is Vladimir Putin or somebody else, has an obligation to defend his country "to the last man," Medvedev continued.

Western leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz both "lack the acumen and subtlety of mind" to handle international affairs the way those who came before them did.

"The political class is degenerating," Medvedev continued. "Technocrats are coming in and they cannot understand how politics function. This is a disaster."

(Related: Are you aware of the forgotten holocaust when 20 million Christians were slaughtered by Bolsheviks in the former Soviet Union?)

Russia inching closer towards nuclear response

It would seem as though Putin himself inspired Medvedev's words, seeing as how Russia's current leader back in September proposed amending Russia's nuclear doctrine to expand the scenarios in which Moscow can respond to aggression with nuclear weapons.

In the case of Ukraine, which does not, as far as the world knows, have any nuclear weapons, Putin wants to be able to attack the United States, a nuclear-armed nation, with nuclear weapons in the event that it helps Ukraine attack territory deep within Russia.

The fact that the West recently proposed having Ukraine conduct long-range strikes on Russian territory is proof-positive that this is NATO itself "waging war" against Russia, Medvedev warns.

To prepare for an upcoming nuclear attack, Russia recently launched military exercises to test the use of cruise and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Putin said the drills are necessary to maintain Russia's nuclear capabilities at a "sufficient level" as the war rages on.

While Moscow has no intention of getting involved in another "arms race," Putin clarified that Russia will use nuclear weapons as a "last resort" to keep its enemies in check while maintaining its own national security.

The likelihood of any nation actually pulling the trigger on using nukes still seems minimal, though, at least in terms of the nations of the world trying to preserve it from massive nuclear fallout.

"Israel and Russia likewise will not be easily nuked since both own what others crave: Jerusalem and the oil, gas, and mineral fields in Russia," one commenter wrote.

"Nuking will make it totally unobtainable for thousands of years and those that use this road will be removed from the globe in a wink. What might be used is AI. Even the Bible talks about unstoppable soldiers. But then, the Creator knows everything even how to stop the devil when necessary. Trust Him!"

Another wrote that the "deep state via the neo-cons" are in control of NATO, the various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that fund it, and the three-letter intelligence agencies of the world.

"The fight has not even started," this person added, suggesting that Donald Trump is in the same kind of "danger" as John F. Kennedy was before the powers that be (TPTB) had him offed.

More related news can be found at Nuclear.news.

Sources for this article include:

BigNewsNetwork.com

NaturalNews.com
Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert says Netanyahu is the real enemy  not Iran or Hezbollah

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recently appeared in an interview, where he criticized current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called him the real enemy in the burgeoning multifaceted war Israel is waging against Middle Eastern nations.

In a post on X the independent news outlet Suppressed News share a video clip of Olmert's interview, where he said that the true enemies of his country are the Israeli extremist groups, who think they can expel Palestinians and annex territories.

"Netanyahu's coalition partners want to expel the residents of the West Bank so they can annex it. And so, what I am saying, and I say it all the time, and I know that some of my colleagues in Israel don't like me saying it abroad, especially not on Christiane Amanpour's show," he said, pertaining to the show host.

He continued saying that the real enemy is not Iran, Hezbollah nor Hamas, which are actually "enemies." However, he argued that the real enemy is within Israel.

"Messianic, crazy, extremist groups of Israelis who think they can expel Palestinians and annex territories," he said. "I fight against them, I campaign against them and I believe it is the duty of the current Israeli government and Netanyahu."

??JUST IN: Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert: The REAL enemy that we have is not Iranis not Hezbollah.Is not Hamxs The real enemy is from the within, the messianic, crazy, extreme groups of IsraelisThe governmentNetanyahu pic.twitter.com/wL5FA98FHP  Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) October 31, 2024

He added that unfortunately, the current Israeli leader depends on these groups politically to such an extent that he turns a blind eye and "allows them to do things that are completely unbearable and unacceptable."

Several of his X followers weighed in on the issue and replied to his post.

One user with a handle @PromptKnight commented: "Olmert dropping this bombshell it's like he's saying hold up everyone we've been looking at this all wrong. He's not pointing fingers at Iran or Hezbollah or Hamas but right at home at these ultra-right-wing groups in Israel even calling out his own gov and Netanyahu," it said. "It's like he's telling us to take a hard look in the mirror instead of always looking over the fence for the bad guy. This isn't just about politics; it's about how extremism at home can mess things up just as bad or worse than any outside threat."

Another one even said: "Jews are waking up against Zionism."

Elsewhere in the interview, Olmert also opened up about the peace plan he and former Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa are promoting to end the war in Gaza.

Olmert served as prime minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009 and was also the Mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003.

Olmert: Netanyahu is dragging the U.S. into an escalation with Iran

The former Israeli leader, in an interview with Greek news outlet Kathimerini, said that he believes Netanyahu is trying to draw the U.S. into an open confrontation with Iran.

"Netanyahu believes that he was destined, by 'divine providence,' to lead the Western world against the force that challenges the fundamental values and principles of Western civilization. And he says this in the clearest terms," Olmert said.

He added that he thinks that whenever Netanyahu looks at the Western leaders today, like U.S President Joe Biden, U.K. MP Rishi Sunak, U.K. Prime Minister Keri Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, "he says to himself and perhaps to his inner circle: 'Who are these guys? They are rookies and newcomers. What do they understand about world affairs and historical problems? I am Bibi Netanyahu, I was there long before they came, and they will be gone long before I am. So, it is my obligation to push the Western world.'"

Olmert openly admitted that Netanyahu is aware that Israel does not have the means and capabilities to destroy Iran's nuclear program because the Iranians are hiding their facilities 60 meters underground. Moreover, Israel does not have the weapons and bombs that can change that fact, but America does.

"So he [Netanyahu] wants to create an inevitable confrontation between America and the Iranians so that America will be drawn into a confrontation in which it does not want to be involved. But at the same time, America wants to defend Israel in case Iran attacks Israel," he explained. (Related: Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei calls for GLOBAL MILITARY COALITION against Israel.)

When asked if he thinks that Israel can afford to engage in hostilities on so many fronts, militarily and economically, he answered, "It has nothing to do with the military capabilities of the Israeli army."

He said that it is about "the cost of fighting a war for more than a year and keeping hundreds of thousands of Israelis in the army that are now absent from the country's workforce." This, he said, increases the deficit to about 10 percent of the national budget.

"So, the Israeli economy is being eroded and its stability is threatened," he concluded.

IsraelCollapse.com has several stories related to the current situation of Israel's war against Middle Eastern nations.

Sources for this article include:

SarajevoTimes.com

eKathimerini.com
Texas AG Ken Paxton files lawsuit against El Paso pediatrician for illegally prescribing gender transition drugs and therapies to minors

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against a pediatric endocrinologist in El Paso for illegally prescribing gender transition drugs and therapies to minors

In September 2023, Texas banned all types of transgender medical interventions for minors, including surgeries, hormone replacement therapies and the use of puberty blockers under Senate Bill 14.

A group of parents filed a lawsuit against SB 14, so a lower court briefly blocked it. But the Texas Supreme Court upheld the law in June and allowed its implementation in August. (Related: Texas AG Ken Paxton sues doctor for illegally prescribing transgender drugs to 21 minors.)

In his lawsuit, Paxton claimed that Dr. Hector M. Granados, a pediatric endocrinologist who has at least two clinics in El Paso  one in the eastern Tierra Humida neighborhood and another in the southeastern Pecan Drive neighborhood  knowingly continued these treatments even after the Texas Supreme Court passed its ruling upholding SB 14. The Texas AG filed a lawsuit against Granados in October, accusing him of violating Texas law.

According to the lawsuit, Granados administered puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to facilitate gender transition in children, with some of them as young as twelve years old. The lawsuit also accuses Granados of engaging in deceptive practices to conceal his alleged actions, including falsifying medical records, prescriptions and billing information to disguise the nature of the treatments provided.

"Texas is cracking down on doctors illegally prescribing dangerous 'gender transition' drugs to children. State law forbids prescribing these interventions to minors because they have irreversible and damaging effects," Paxton said. "Any physician found doing so will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Medical providers who violate SB 14 are liable for penalties, and the law also directs that the Texas Medical Board shall revoke the medical license or other authorization to practice medicine of a physician who violates the statute."

Paxton has also filed a lawsuit against a Dallas-area doctor for violating SB 14

Granados is not the only physician facing legal challenges filed by Paxton.

A few days earlier, Paxton also filed a lawsuit against Dr. May Ci Lau, a medical director of the adolescent and young adult clinic at Children's Medical Center Dallas, for allegedly providing illegal transgender medical treatments to 21 minors. Paxton accused Lau of violating SB 14 by prescribing sex-change hormones to minors under false diagnoses and billing codes.

"Evidence obtained by the Office of the Attorney General revealed that a Dallas-area doctor illegally provided high-dose cross-sex hormones to twenty-one minor patients for the direct purpose of "transitioning" the child's biological sex," Paxton said in a press release. "The doctor allegedly used false diagnoses and billing codes to mask these unlawful prescriptions."

Lau has co-authored several academic papers on gender dysphoria in children and the transition from pediatric to adult care for transgender youth. These academic papers include "Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care for Transgender Youth: A Qualitative Study of Patient, Parent and Provider Perspectives" and "Developing a Curriculum on Transgender Health Care for Physician Assistant Students."

Visit Transhumanism.news for more stories about transgenderism.

Watch Dr. Pam Popper explain the side effects of so-called gender-affirming care below.

This video is from the Wellness Forum Health channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Transgender drugs and surgeries are atrocities, not "care."

DeSantis to appeal Democrat judges ruling against ban on transgender drugs and surgeries for children.

Where there's a will, there's a way: Ohio Senate overrides Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of bill that bans transgender drugs and surgery for minors.

Journal of Medical Ethics study says parents should lose custody of children for opposing transgender drugs, surgeries.

Over 200 U.S. hospitals are offering IRREVERSIBLE transgender interventions to minors.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

KFoxTV.com

LifeSiteNews.com

TexasAttorneyGeneral.gov

Brighteon.com
Pentagon: U.S. ready to support South Korea with NUCLEAR WEAPONS

"I assured [South Korean Defense] Minister Kim [Yong Hyun] today that the U.S. remains fully committed to the defense of the ROK [Republic of Korea], and our extended deterrence remains ironclad," U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during an Oct. 30 press conference.

"That commitment is backed by the full range of America's conventional missile defense, nuclear and advanced non-nuclear capabilities. The U.S. and South Korea will be returning to 'large scale' exercises and strengthening our combined readiness and our interoperability."

A day after Austin gave his remarks, Seoul reported a possible intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch by North Korea toward the East Sea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed that Pyongyang indeed launched an ICBM in response to the Washington-Seoul alliance.

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) affirms that it will never change its course of strengthening its nuclear arsenal," the North Korean leader said as per the state-run Korean Central News Agency. "The test was an appropriate response to the enemies' dangerous nuclear alliance-strengthening maneuvers and various adventurous military activities threatening Pyongyang's safety."

The DPRK has blamed combined military drills by its southern neighbor and the U.S. for the rising tensions in the region. According to Pyongyang, the exercises serve as rehearsals for a potential invasion. Earlier in October, North Korea destroyed roads and railways connecting the two Koreas  cutting potential ground routes into the North. (Related: North Korea DEMOLISHES Arch of Reunification that symbolizes eventual union with the South.)

Meanwhile, the U.S. has accused Pyongyang of aiding Moscow in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. According to the DoD, the DPRK has sent over 10,000 troops to Russia for training and potential deployment against Kyiv.

Korean Peninsula the new powder keg that could kick off WWIII

Russian President Vladimir Putin has neither confirmed nor denied the claims made by Ukraine and its backers about the North Korean troops. Pressed further about the claims, he noted that Moscow and Pyongyang have signed a bilateral treaty which provides for military cooperation. Whether this entails more than joint drills and training is up to the two nations involved, Putin pointed out.

"Photos are a serious thing. If there are photos, then they reflect something. As for our relations with the DPRK: As you know  our agreement on strategic partnership was ratified. There is Article Four [of that strategic partnership treaty]," the Russian leader said.

"We do not doubt that the North Korean leadership takes our agreements seriously. What and how we will do within the framework of this article is our business."

Signs of the Times remarked that "North Korea's new relationship with Russia is a game changer." The outlet also commented on Washington's approach, ironically writing that "nothing compares to the threat of next door nuclear weapons and on-site military drills to ease tension and create alliances."

Meanwhile, SHTF Plan's Mac Slavo pointed out that "the media has been a little more focused on 'nuclear' stories as of late," given that the U.S. has accused North Korea of helping Russia. He nevertheless expressed hope that such stories are merely a coincidence.

Slavo continued that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "is continually trying to convince the world to 'allow' him to use long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. This is a red line Russia has warned the West not to cross, while simultaneously allowing all others to be blurred."

Head over to NuclearWar.news for similar stories.

Watch this clip that tackles whether North Korea's entry in the Russia-Ukraine war is fact or fiction.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

North Korea's Kim Jong Un, Russia's Vladimir Putin sign mutual defense treaty.

U.S. says North Korea has deployed troops to support Russia in war against Ukraine.

Kim Jong-Un to NoKor military: ANNIHILATE South Korea and the U.S. if provoked.

South Korea could send arms to Ukraine after North Korea deploys troops to aid Russia.

Russia has invoked Article 4 of its mutual defense treaty with North Korea, Putin confirms.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

SOTT.net

FreeWestMedia.com

Brighteon.com
Michael Yon warns of a ZIONIST TAKEOVER in Trumps second administration

Veteran war correspondent Michael Yon has warned of a potential Zionist takeover in the government of now President-elect Donald Trump.

He issued this warning during an appearance on the "Health Ranger Report" with the Health Ranger Mike Adams. The Brighteon.com and Natural News founder expressed skepticism toward Trump due to his failure to fulfill his promises  namely building the wall, "draining the Swamp" and locking up former First Lady Hillary Clinton  during his first term. Worse, Trump surrounded himself with a bunch of traitors such as former Vice President Mike Pence and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Adams also expressed concern whether Trump and his team will fight for the First Amendment or the Zionists first. Yon, on the other hand, said he doesn't see Trump as America First  but more as a "pliable and viable" candidate similar to a professional wrestler being given the main event push. While the combat correspondent doesn't like Trump, he is willing to help the former president when it comes to the border issue.

Adams observed a "strong Zionist takeover, funding and influence" in Trump's people, his team members and other supporters. Among the most prominent is former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr, known to be Israel First due to his refusal to speak out against Israel on anything.

Will Trump Make America Great Again, or will he make Israel even greater?

The Health Ranger also mentioned receiving pushback from Trump supporters for saying he won't vote for the real estate mogul unless he denounces Israel's genocide. He likewise told Yon about his concerns regarding the criminalization of Scripture, given that he is currently delivering his 100 Sermons series under the Church of Natural Abundance.

Yon replied that it is absolutely possible for the Health Ranger to go to jail for merely quoting Bible scripture, as the Jews want to outlaw verses that clearly point to their role in killing Jesus Christ. Adams agreed, noting that Christians have been categorized as extremists at times. Some Christians have even been arrested for merely praying outside abortion clinics.

Another point of contention for Trump is his support of Amendment Three in Florida, which Yon said is backed by globalist George Soros. According to Ballotpedia, the amendment would legalize marijuana for adults 21 years old and older and allow individuals to possess up to three ounces of marijuana if passed.

Yon ultimately mentioned that while the big countdown and big game is on, he doesn't believe the elections are real.

"We saw that the last two elections clearly had massive amounts of fraud  the midterms and the presidential election. And so I don't know why anybody would think this would be any different, but you never know," he said. (Related: Election fraud rears head in Pennsylvania as local official dropped off and dumped numerous amount of fraudulent voter registrations.)

"Maybe they can overwhelm fraud with mass voting, but I think that that happened in the first presidential election. I think it was clear that Trump won that one. But in any case, here we go."

Watch the full conversation between Michael Yon and the Health Ranger Mike Adams about the potential Zionist takeover in the second Trump administration.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Just two weeks before Election Day, Biden tells crowd about Trump: Weve gotta lock him up!

ANALYSIS: Trump is going to win BIG, and then the real fireworks begin America wont survive as we know it for even ONE YEAR.

WATCH as Michael Yon speaks about U.S. involvement in Iraq and Israels future, destructive ramifications of Gaza conflict on Jewish people.

U.S. Congress passes bill laying groundwork to CRIMINALIZE all criticism of Zionism, Israel or Jews in any context whatsoever, even with FACTS.

Israeli Zionists have been controlling U.S. government with espionage for DECADES, including influencing alternative media.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Ballotpedia.org
Federal authorities are looking into the discovery of dolphin remains on a New Jersey beach that appeared to have been butchered.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) received a troubling call on Oct. 30 about the remains found in Allenhurst, New Jersey. When the stranding coordinator arrived at the scene, they found a common dolphin's carcass in a shocking state.

According to a post shared on the MMSC's Facebook page, "The animal's flesh had been completely removed with clean cuts from a sharp instrument, leaving only the head, dorsal fin and flukes."

READ MORE : SpaceX Postpones Starlink Mission After Helium Leak Disrupts Launch Preparation

Dolphin's Remains Found with Missing Organs

The post further detailed that nearly all of the dolphin's organs were taken out, with only the heart and lungs remaining. This has raised serious concerns among officials and the public about the circumstances surrounding the animal's death.

Witnesses reported that the night before, they had seen a live dolphin struggling in the waves just a block away from where the remains were found. Fortunately, the dolphin was able to swim back out to sea after managing to get over a sandbar. It remains uncertain if this dolphin is the same one found dead on the beach the following day, according to AP News.

The remains were carefully transported to the MMSC for documentation and photography before being buried on the beach. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement is now involved in the investigation.

The agency has been active in addressing similar incidents; for example, in April, they investigated the death of a bottlenose dolphin that was shot. This dolphin was discovered with multiple bullets lodged in its body, leading to its tragic demise, as per a press release.

Bottlenose dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, although they are not classified as endangered or threatened. As the investigation into the butchered dolphin continues, officials are urging anyone with information to come forward.
A new HBO documentary will have crypto investors check the price of Bitcoin on sites like Yahoo Finance, Forbes, Bloomberg, and Binance. The documentary claims that Peter Todd, a Canadian programmer, is the true creator of Bitcoin.

Bitcoin's whitepaper was written by Satoshi Nakamoto, but the true identity behind this name has been debated.

The documentary, "Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery," was made by filmmaker Cullen Hoback, who views a 2010 forum post as evidence that Todd is Bitcoin's true creator. Todd replied to a post by Nakamoto as if continuing his train of thought, possibly accidentally replying from the wrong account.

Nakamoto released the white paper in 2008 and interacted with forum users in 2009 and 2010. Nakamoto's account then stopped posting to the Bitcoin community. He had "moved on to other things." Todd's account stopped posting, too. Hoback says that the pair's spelling and grammar are similar.

So, is Todd the real creator of Bitcoin?

Todd has denied he created Bitcoin. Yahoo Finance reports that Todd told Hoback, "I will admit you're pretty creative. You come up with some crazy theories. It's ludicrous."

Todd joked, "But I'll say, yeah, of course, I'm Satoshi. And I'm Craig Wright."

Wright is an Australian computer scientist who has actually claimed to be Nakamoto.

Todd also spoke to the New York Times. He said, "For the record, I am not Satoshi. It's a useless question, because Satoshi would simply deny it."

What about Craig Wright?

Wright was recently forced to update his website with a legal notice saying that he didn't invent Bitcoin. He had previously claimed he was Nakamoto.

A court order said that Wright must display the notice on his website for six months. It said that Wright lied "extensively and repeatedly" in court proceedings, claiming to be Nakamoto. Wright "attempted to create a false narrative by forging documents."

The court said that Wright's lies constituted a "most serious abuse" of the UK's legal system.

Judge Justice James Mellor oversaw the case brought by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), which is a non-profit organization. COPA represents Bitcoin developers. The group is supported by exchanges, including Coinbase and Kraken, as well as the software company Microstrategy and the crypto project Worldcoin.

The six-week trial centred on intellectual property rights, and COPA's lawyers aimed to prove that Wright was not the true author of Bitcoin's white paper. It began after Wright emailed crypto developers and businesses in 2020, asking them to take the white paper off their websites.

How do we know that Wright didn't create Bitcoin?

Phil Sherrell, partner and head at Bird & Bird, the legal team representing COPA, and his team tried to show that handwritten notes were not legitimate. Wright's evidence includes ideas about Bitcoin that he claimed were written in the early 2000s. Sherrell's team found the printer of the notepad in China and saw that it hadn't been released until years after Wright's supposed notes.

They also found that computer documents were not typed before 2008, as Wright had claimed, showing that some fonts weren't created until years later.

The case ruling means that Wright can't bring any further lawsuits in the UK. In the weeks following the ruling, Wright abandoned multiple lawsuits connected to his claim.

So, who is Satoshi Nakamoto?

Financial Times recently said that the identity of Nakamoto "remains the biggest mystery in the global crypto industry."

After Nakamoto's last public interactions with the Bitcoin community in December 2010, some unverified private messages from 2011 have surfaced.

Nakamoto has been called a "philosophical figurehead" in the Bitcoin space. Both sides in the Bitcoin Cash debate claim to be upholding Nakamoto's original vision. Bitcoin Cash allows a higher number of transactions and reduces fees and transaction times.

Back in 2014, Newsweek claimed to have found Nakamoto's true identity. It said that Dorian Nakamoto, a physics graduate from California Polytechnic, created Bitcoin.

Dorian himself said that he was not involved in Bitcoin. There was a media circus around the supposed news, nonetheless, with which Bitcoin users sympathized. Dorian received 102.23 bitcoins worth approximately $34,500 in 2014.

Nick Szabo is another who has been called the true creator. Szabo is a computer engineer and legal scholar. He pioneered smart contracts and also conceptualized Bit Gold, a precursor to Bitcoin.

The author Dominic Frisby claimed that Szabo is Nakamoto in his book Bitcoin: The Future of Money? Frisby worked with a stylometrics expert who said that Szabo's writing style was similar to Nakamoto's.

Szabo used to work for DigiCash, which Frisby thought was further evidence.

Is Nakamoto a real name?

No one knows for sure. It has often been referred to as a pseudonym, but there's no conclusive proof either way. Some people believe Nakamoto is a group of people rather than one person.

Does Nakamoto himself own bitcoins?

No one knows this either. Nakamoto may use multiple addresses to mine Bitcoin.

What did the Bitcoin white paper say, anyway?

The paper was entitled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System and described a peer-to-peer network that could prevent double-spending. Crypto was not new at the time of the paper's publication, but Bitcoin addressed this issue. Before Bitcoin, digital currencies could be duplicated and used in multiple transactions. Third parties had been trusted to verify whether the currency had already been spent, but Bitcoin's decentralized approach solved the issue with multiple methods, including ledges, timestamps, and cryptography.
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News / National

by Staff reporter

Prominent historian, writer, and cultural advocate Pathisa Nyathi, who passed away last Saturday at the age of 73, will be laid to rest today at Bulawayo's prestigious Lady Stanley Cemetery. The cemetery, reserved for the city's luminaries, will be the final resting place of Nyathi, who made significant contributions to Zimbabwe's cultural and heritage landscape.Nyathi died at a private hospital in Bulawayo, succumbing to a recurring illness that had seen him hospitalized several times in recent months. His death has left a profound impact on Zimbabwe's intellectual and cultural circles.According to his son, Butholezwe Nyathi, a service will be held at the Amphitheatre in Bulawayo at 8 am before the burial at Lady Stanley Cemetery. The Nyathi family has invited well-wishers to join them in commemorating the life of a man who dedicated his work to preserving and promoting Zimbabwe's cultural heritage.In recognition of his immense contributions to the country's cultural and educational development, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Monday that Nyathi will receive a State-assisted burial. This gesture honors Nyathi's lifelong work in advancing Zimbabwe's arts, culture, and history.Nyathi was a prolific writer, author, and publisher, who served as the former Secretary-General of the Zimbabwe Writers Union. He was a passionate proponent of Ndebele language and culture, believing that writing in the Ndebele language was essential for preserving and developing Zimbabwe's rich cultural heritage for future generations.His academic background was as diverse as his contributions. Nyathi trained as a secondary school teacher at Gweru Teachers College, majoring in science from 1971, and obtained a Certificate in Education in 1973. He continued his education at the University of South Africa, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and Development Administration in 1982, followed by a BA (Honours) in 1985.In addition to his work as an educator and writer, Nyathi was actively involved in several national boards and committees. He served on the Zimbabwe International Book Fair (1989-1998), the Zimbabwe Book Development Council, the Mambo Press Editorial Advisory Board, and the Organisation of Rural Associations for Progress, among others.Nyathi's legacy extends far beyond his publications, which were primarily in Ndebele, as he was an advocate for the continuous development of the language and its role in ensuring a rich cultural identity for future generations. His work will remain an important pillar in the cultural landscape of Zimbabwe.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 6 : The ISKCON has announced that the society will not hold the proposed Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Houston city of US on November 9. The organisation took the decision following widespread resentment among the devotees over the untimely celebration of the Rath Yatra by the organisation.

"Finally, respecting the sentiments of Odiya devotees of Lord Jagannath, the Houston Rath Yatra is cancelled. They will do Gour Nitai Sankirtan Yatra," said Tukaram Das, Vice President of ISKCON Bhubaneswar, in a press statement released on Tuesday. He further informed that the decision was conveyed by National Communications Director Yudhistir Govinda Prabhu after his discussion with Anuttama Prabhu, a member of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission & GBC Minister for Communications. Responding to criticisms against it, the society clarified through the statement, "ISKCON is not a Christian organization or promoting Christianity in the name of Sanatan Dharma. One can read our books to understand our philosophy better. We are coming in the most authentic and bona fide Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Parampara. We speak & preach exactly what is written in Vedic Literature." Earlier, the Puri King, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, urged the organization to abstain from conducting the Rath Yatra in Houston on November 9 during a press conference on Tuesday. "Odia people are very much patient, and we have to keep patience for some more time. We have to wait for the GBC meeting scheduled to be held in March this year. If they don't accept, 'enough is enough.' We will take legal recourse then," said Deb. He also informed that ISKCON has been organizing untimely Rath Yatras since 1969. Supporting the views expressed by the Puri King, the Law Minister of Odisha, Prithiviraj Harichandan, stated on Tuesday that action will be taken against anyone found distorting or disrespecting the Jagannath culture.
New York, Nov 6 : Suhas Subramanyam is on his way to Congress where he will join the 'Samosa Caucus', the group of Indian American lawmakers, boosting its strength to six.

In his Virginia constituency, he had 52.1 percent of the votes to 47.9 percent for his Republican rival with 97 percent of the votes counted.

He was declared the winner by The Associated Press, which calls elections based on the counting data before the official announcement.

Subramanyam now serves in the Virginia General Assembly after having been a technology policy adviser in President Barack Obama's White House and starting a business.

His mother is from Bengaluru and his father is from Chennai.

Subramanyam got his undergraduate degree from Tulane University and went to work on Capitol Hill as a policy aide, where he worked to expand and improve health care access to millions of Americans and helped build a bipartisan coalition in support of immigration reform, according to his campaign biography.

After a law degree from Northwestern University, he joined the White House staff.

He contested the election on his record of helping small businesses and working families and promoting laws to bring down medicine prices.

Suhas and his wife Miranda Pena Subramanyam have two daughters.

All the five Indian Americans in the House of Representatives - Ro Khanna, Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Shri Thanedar - are expected to be re-elected.

Amish Shah, another Democrat, running for the House from Arizona had a slender lead of 1.8 percent with 54 percent of the votes at 11:30 p.m. in New York (10 a.m. in India).
Mumbai, Nov 6 : Soni Razdan recently took to social media to wish her "darling" granddaughter Raha on her 2nd birthday.

On Wednesday, the proud grandmother shared her priceless moment with Raha, alongside a heartfelt note wishing the little girl never grows up. In the image, Soni is seen holding Raha in her arms as they gaze at monkeys from their room balcony.

Alongside this adorable click, she wrote in the caption, "No feeling in the world beats being your grandma and having the privilege of capturing precious moments like these for posterity. A part of me wishes that you never grow up. Yet, I am delighted to see you do just that! Happy 2nd Birthday to our darling Raha. We love you sooooo much."

The birthday girl is receiving heartwarming birthday messages from her family members on social media. Alia's mother-in-law Neetu Kapoor dropped a sweet photo of Raha with her parents, Alia and Ranbir. She captioned the post, "Our pyaar's birthday. God bless (sic)." Riddhima Kapoor Sahni also shared a heartwarming photo of Raha, who is seen posing alongside Riddhima's daughter Samara.

Alia's sister Shaheen Bhatt also took to Instagram to share sweet, unseen photos, one showing Raha's tiny hand reaching out to touch Shaheen's face, and in the second, Raha is seen holding Shaheen's fingers. The doting maasi wrote in the caption, "Raha - my sweet, silly, kind baby girl - everything you touch turns to happiness. I love you more than you will ever know. Happy Birthday, my little bean."

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, who tied the knot on April 14, 2022, welcomed their first child, daughter Raha, on November 6 of the same year. The couple made their first public appearance with Raha in December 2023 and revealed her face to the world for the first time on Christmas.
Washington, Nov 6 : Several world leaders from around the world, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have congratulated Donald Trump following his victory in the US presidential election, lauding the US leader's "historic" achievement.

Besides PM Modi, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were also among the first to congratulate Trump.

Starmer's office issued a statement expressing optimism for future collaboration, saying, "Congratulations President-elect Donald Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead."

He underscored the "UK-US special relationship," emphasising shared values of "freedom, democracy and enterprise."

Netanyahu took to X to celebrate Trump's comeback, posting, "Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history's greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential elections, asserting that he is looking forward to renewing collaboration with the 78-year-old leader to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.

"Heartiest congratulations my friend, Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let's work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," PM Modi posted on X after Trump's triumph in the US election.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also extended his congratulations to Donald Trump on his "impressive" victory and expressed hope that his presidency would bring "peace in Ukraine closer" amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

"I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer," Zelensky posted on X.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed readiness for renewed cooperation, posting, "Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also extended her warm wishes, posting, "On behalf of myself and the Italian Government, my most sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump. Italy and the United States are 'sister' nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further. Good work Mr President."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated Trump, highlighting the strong EU-US bond.

"The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them," she posted.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, "Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory. Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future."

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also extended his congratulations, stressing the alliance's strength.

"His leadership will again be key to keeping our alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO," Rutte posted.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted, "I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens."
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Indian IT industry's apex body Nasscom on Wednesday congratulated Republican candidate Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential polls, saying they look forward to working closely with the new US administration to strengthen the dynamic tech partnership between the two nations.

The tech sector is the key to the US-India bilateral engagement. The US is the largest market for India's $254 billion tech sector where its overall contribution is $80 billion to the US gross domestic product (GDP).

"Importantly, the industry plays a key role in supporting US companies in strengthening the US economy. Conversely, India is a prime destination for American businesses, with over 1,000 US companies that are driving innovation and leveraging India's digital infrastructure to create competitive solutions," Nasscom said in a statement.

As the tech industry association in India representing Indian and US tech companies, Nasscom said it looks forward to working closely with the government under Trump.

"As the largest and oldest democracies, we look forward to collaborating on various areas including AI and cybersecurity. Nasscom remains committed to advancing this collaboration for a democratic, inclusive and sustainable innovation ecosystem," the industry chamber stressed.

The US is India's largest trading partner, with annual trade exceeding $190 billion. Trade in services between the two countries expanded 30.3 per cent from $54.1 billion in 2018 to an estimated $70.5 billion in 2024.

America is a significant market for Indian goods, particularly in sectors like technology, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and engineering products.

Trump made a phenomenal comeback beating back a conviction, three indictments, two assassination attempts, two impeachments, and continuous assault by most of the mainstream media to reclaim the White House. "We made history", declared Trump who will become the 47th President. He had won 277 electoral college seats out of the total 538.
Ahmedabad, Nov 6 : Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump for his resounding victory in the US presidential election, saying it is fascinating to see America's democracy empower its people and uphold the nation's founding principles.

Trump is set to become America's 47th President, in a most momentous comeback in political history.

In a post on X, Gautam Adani said: "If there is one person on Earth who stands as the embodiment of unbreakable tenacity, unshakeable grit, relentless determination and the courage to stay true to his beliefs, it is Donald Trump".

"Fascinating to see America's democracy empower its people and uphold the nation's founding principles. Congratulations to the 47th POTUS-elect," said the Adani Group Chairman.

Several world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, congratulated Trump after his victory in the US presidential election, lauding the US leader's "historic" achievement. PM Modi was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump on his election triumph. "Heartiest congratulations my friend, Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let's work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," PM Modi posted on X.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated Trump. Starmer's office issued a statement, saying, "Congratulations President-elect Donald Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead." Netanyahu took to X, saying, "Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history's greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!"
Chennai, Nov 6 : A pall of gloom descended over Thulasendrapuram village in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvarur district on Wednesday following U.S. Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris's loss in the presidential election against Donald Trump.

Thulaseendrapuram is the ancestral village of Kamala Harris, where special poojas (rituals) were conducted at the Sree Dharmasastha Temple, linked to her maternal lineage. Her grandfather, P.C. Gopalan, significantly contributed to the temple's renovation, and the family regularly attends poojas dedicated to their deity. A temple board indicates that Kamala Harris donated Rs 5,000 to the temple, a contribution made on her behalf by her aunt Sarala Gopalan. Despite their hopes for her victory, local farmer Murugesan K.M expressed disappointment, stating, "We are dejected at Kamala Harris's loss. We were hopeful for a big win in this election, but unfortunately, it didn't happen. However, we expect her to win the next time and become the president of the most powerful country in the world." Residents had anticipated celebrations, including an Annadhanam (free food distribution) event, in honor of her potential victory. DMK councillor Arulmozhi and her spouse, T. Suthakar, conducted a special Abishegam (ritual bathing) with sacred items like sandalwood and turmeric, along with an Archanai (prayer offering) to the deity at the Dharmasastha Temple. Suthakar remarked, "We were hoping for the victory of our daughter of the soil. We are sad and dejected, but we believe she will win the next election and become the President." In addition, a spiritual organization based in Madurai, Anushanathin Anugraham, organized special poojas for Kamala Harris's success. Priests chanted Vedic mantras and performed dhyanam (meditation), invoking blessings from figures such as Kanchi Mahaperiyava, Lord Krishna, Lord Murugan, Valli, Deivanai, Lord Rama, and Goddess Kamatchi Amman. Posters expressing prayers for Kamala's victory appeared throughout the village in Tamil.
Washington, November 6 : During his first term, that was marked with personal warmth and chemistry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President-elect Donald Trump pulled a little-known formation of the US, India, Japan and Australia called the Quadrilateral Security Conference from obscurity and turned it into the centerpiece of America's push against China in the Indo-Pacific.

Some officials in his administration had even seen it as the foundation for building a military alliance - an Asian NATO.

It did not grow into one but it is now a vibrant body with several summit-level meetings.

In 2020, Trump had also directed the Pentagon to extend all support to India in the wake of violent Galwan Valley face-off between the Indian and Chinese troops that led to the first fatalities in clashes on the border in decades.

At the same time, Trump had also happily accepted an invitation from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to mediate with India. It was a clever move by the wily Khan as he knew well India was opposed to any third-party mediation and an irritated New Delhi lost no time in conveying rejection. Khan might have been trying to tap into a desire once expressed by Trump to mediate between the two South Asian neighbours.

On trade and economy, Trump elevated India's stature to that of NATO and NATO+ allies for the export of sensitive dual use technology under STA 1 (Strategic Trade Authorization 1). But he also slapped tariffs on Indian steel and aluminum, as he did with the rest of the world, triggering a tariff war with India, which had retaliated by slapping duties on US goods.

In 2019, the Trump administration had ended special trading benefits to India that allowed Indian exports to enter the US at zero tariff under a programme called Generalized System of Preference (GSP). At the time of termination, the annual Indian exports to the US under this scheme were valued at $6 billion. It has not been restored yet.

The Trump administration had also pushed India to sign a trade deal that the two sides had planned during the US president's visit to India in February 2020, but the negotiators failed to meet the deadline. The Indian officials complained the American negotiators were constantly shifting the goalposts, targets which forced them to abandon the deal altogether.

Trump also ended US participation in the Paris climate accord slamming it as designed to benefit India and China, willfully misrepresenting its conditions.

These policy differences, however, did not come in the way of Trump and PM Modi forming a close personal bond. He attended a joint rally with the Prime Minister in Houston called 'Howdy Modi', during which PM Modi called for a second term for the American president. Trump then travelled to India for another joint appearance with Prime Minister Modi at a rally in Ahmedabad, called 'Namaste Trump'.

Having spoken of PM Modi several times during the just concluded 2024 re-election campaign, Trump reportedly called many Indian-American supporters "Modi's Boys". The former president even said that he expected to meet the Prime Minister during his September visit to the US for the Quad and UN General Assembly meetings, calling him "fantastic". That meeting could not take place due to the busy schedule of both leaders.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Opposition members of Parliament have called on the government to provide clear timelines and concrete plans for the revival of Bulawayo's once-thriving industries, which have faced a steep decline in recent years. Bulawayo, once known as Zimbabwe's industrial hub, has seen a significant downturn, with many factories shutting down, relocating to Harare or other cities, or scaling back operations, leading to widespread job losses.During a parliamentary session, Tendai Nyathi, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator for Lobengula-Magwegwe, demanded answers regarding the government's commitment to revitalizing Bulawayo's industrial sector. Nyathi referenced the State of the Nation Address given by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, questioning what concrete steps the government had taken to address the city's industrial decline."What plans does the government have in terms of resuscitating Bulawayo as a business hub, particularly in light of the State of the Nation Address given by the President?" Nyathi asked.In response, Acting Leader of Government Business and Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development, Anxious Masuka, pointed to sanctions as a major factor contributing to the industrial downturn in Bulawayo. He argued that the city's economic challenges were the result of targeted sanctions imposed by Western countries."Indeed, Bulawayo, the City of Kings and Queens, historically and geographically, is the engine in terms of business for the country. Entities such as the National Railways of Zimbabwe have their headquarters here," Masuka said. "These sanctions, imposed at the behest of others, have had far-reaching consequences, affecting the general population, leading to job losses."Despite Masuka's explanations, Nyathi pushed for specific timeframes for the revival of Bulawayo's industries. However, the minister maintained that a plan was in place, without offering detailed timelines.Cobarn Madzivanyika, CCC MP for Mbizo, expressed skepticism about the government's approach, arguing that the continued attribution of industrial decline to sanctions was insufficient. He questioned the validity of the sanctions argument, suggesting that it was being used as an excuse for the lack of action."I am concerned about the continued blame on sanctions as a cause for lack of industrialisation in this country," Madzivanyika said. "The question is, which sanctions are preventing us from industrializing?"The debate highlights the ongoing political divide regarding the reasons behind Zimbabwe's economic challenges. While the ruling Zanu-PF party attributes the nation's economic woes to sanctions, particularly those imposed by the United States and the European Union, critics argue that the government's mismanagement of the economy and issues of corruption are to blame.The opposition has consistently called for greater accountability and more effective strategies to address the pressing challenges facing Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's industrial heartland, and the wider economy.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in a telephonic conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump said that he is looking forward to working closely together once again with the Republican Party leader who emerged victorious in the Presidential elections by defeating his Democratic Party rival Kamala Harris.

Taking to X, PM Modi wrote: "Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors."

According to sources, both leaders affirmed the resolution to work together for global peace. Trump was quoted saying that the whole world loves PM Modi, adding that India is a magnificent country and the Indian Prime Minister is a magnificent man.

Sources said that Trump told PM Modi he considers him and India a true friend. The business mogul said that PM Modi was one of the first world leaders he spoke to after his victory.

Earlier on Wednesday, in a post on X, PM Modi also congratulated Trump on his victory in the US presidential elections, asserting that he is looking forward to renewing collaboration with the 78-year-old leader to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.

"Heartiest congratulations my friend, Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let's work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," PM Modi posted on X after Trump's triumph in the US election.

Trump has already promised to strengthen the "great partnership" with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his second term, continuing the close ties he forged in his first term.

Last week, in his Diwali greetings, Trump said: "Under my administration, we will strengthen our great partnership with India and my good friend, Prime Minister Modi."

Much before he had joined the election fray in 2015, Trump had familiarity with India as a businessman with interests in the country, participating in projects in Pune and Mumbai.

That gave him a realistic insight into India, different from what other US politicians get from government, diplomatic, and activist sources.

"The perception about India has changed with Modi at the helm," he told reporters during a business visit to India. "The optimism is returning".

He called PM Modi a unifier, "bringing people together".

As president, Trump formed a bond with Prime Minister Modi, whom he has repeatedly embraced as a friend.

On Wednesday afternoon, PM Modi was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump on his election triumph.

In the run-up to the 2020 US Presidential election, the two leaders showed off their friendship at a Houston rally, the 'Howdy Modi' programme, and at the 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium which was attended by more than 1,00,000 people.

Trump said he was impressed by PM Modi's ability to draw crowds, both in India and the US.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The government has introduced stringent new measures to curb the theft and abuse of agricultural inputs under the Presidential Input Scheme, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve food security and agricultural productivity.Information Minister Jenfan Muswere, speaking at the post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, announced that officials found involved in the misuse of inputs will be blacklisted, and ward committees implicated in such activities will face bans."The 2024-25 summer season plan aims to increase production of cereals to 3,274,200 metric tonnes, compared to the 744,271 metric tonnes produced in the 2023-24 season," Muswere said. "The overall production volumes of major crops are expected to rise by 347%, from 915,000 metric tonnes to over four million metric tonnes."The government is targeting a significant boost in crop production, including 3.3 million metric tonnes of cereals and 819,500 metric tonnes of pulses.As part of the efforts to ensure fairness and transparency in the distribution of inputs, Muswere outlined several new measures. Under the Presidential Input Scheme, 91% of the targeted 9.5 million plots have already been prepared by 86% of the targeted 3.5 million households. By November 24, 2024, all beneficiaries will receive 50% of their inputs.To tackle input abuse, the government has adopted an improved standard operating procedure with role clarity and oversight. This includes the blacklisting of corrupt officials and banning ward committees found complicit in the abuse of inputs.In addition to government efforts, Muswere provided updates on other agricultural initiatives, including the National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme. This initiative aims to establish 52,500 hectares under maize, soybeans, traditional grains, and sunflower, with a production target of 256,000 metric tonnes. The private sector has pledged to fund the establishment of 95,046 hectares under various crops, including maize, soybeans, and sunflowers.Muswere also highlighted the key role of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) in planting 100,000 hectares of maize and 50,000 hectares of traditional grains. Private sector support for cotton farming will see 418,800 farmers planting 270,000 hectares of cotton. The tobacco sector is also set to increase production, with a target of 300 million kilograms for the 2024-25 season, and over 117,000 growers already registered.Beyond agriculture, Muswere revealed that Cabinet had approved a public-private partnership project aimed at upgrading and constructing the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway and Nyamapanda border. The project will involve a special purpose vehicle to facilitate the flow of funds between stakeholders.In a significant development for technology and environmental monitoring, Muswere also announced the successful launch of Zimbabwe's second Earth observation satellite, ZimSat-2. The satellite, launched from Russia, was developed through a collaborative research program between the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) and Southwest State University in Russia. ZimSat-2 will be used for agricultural monitoring, environmental protection, and natural resource management. It is designed to track crop health, predict yields, and identify nutrient deficiencies.These measures and developments reflect the government's comprehensive approach to boosting agricultural productivity, supporting infrastructure development, and enhancing technology-driven solutions for sustainable growth.
The European Research Council is funding a consortium consisting of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, ETH Zurich and TU Graz with a total of 10 million euros for developing new methods to determine the mechanical properties of living human tissue. TU Graz researcher Gerhard A. Holzapfel receives 4.2 million euros.

Changes in the mechanical properties of organs are the cause of numerous diseases, including diastolic heart failure (HFpEF), one of the leading causes of heart-related disease and mortality worldwide. However, it is not yet possible to determine the mechanical properties of soft tissue without surgical intervention. An international research consortium from Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon and ETH Zurich wants to change this with a new type of in vivo tissue analysis. In the project MechVivo, the research team will develop experimental and AI-based methods that for the first time show in detail the relationship between transcriptomics, microstructure and mechanical properties of soft biological tissue. The overarching aim is to develop an imaging procedure for the non-invasive examination of tissue microstructure that improves disease diagnosis and therapy in everyday clinical practice. The European Research Council is funding the six-year research project to the sum of 10 million euros, around 4.2 million of which will go to the Institute of Biomechanics at TU Graz.

"TU Graz is proud of Gerhard A. Holzapfel and his team and is delighted with their first ERC Synergy Grant," says Andrea Hoglinger, TU Graz Vice Rector for Research. "Biomedical engineering is one of our university's key areas of strength. This research receives additional international visibility through collaboration with high-calibre European partners in the MechVivo project. With this ERC grant, TU Graz is once again consolidating its position as a leading institution in Styria within the framework of Horizon Europe."

ETH Zurich: MRI fingerprint of the tissue

In the course of the project, Sebastian Kozerke and his team at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, which is run by ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich, will develop a new concept for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), whose detailed resolution makes it possible to determine a fingerprint of the composition and microstructure of the tissue in the beating heart. In order to develop a reliable in vivo imaging instrument, considerable methodological progress is required in the simulation of MRI sequences, design and data reconstruction.

TU Graz: In-depth understanding of the biomechanics of the heart

In order to correctly interpret this fingerprint of the tissue, a comprehensive understanding of the microstructure and mechanical properties of biological tissue is required. This is where Gerhard A. Holzapfel's research group at the Institute of Biomechanics at TU Graz comes into play. The team will investigate the relationship between gene expression, microstructure and mechanical properties of soft biological tissue in the laboratory. To do this, the team will map the composition of the tissue down to the nanometre range in order to draw conclusions about the mechanical properties of the heart. Various mechanical tests and microscopic examinations will be carried out ex vivo on pig hearts from abattoirs and human donor organs. The test loads are very similar to the conditions in the living body, which means that the mechanical properties of the heart can be determined extremely realistically.

Hereon: AI-based software for clinical applications

At Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon in Geesthacht, a team led by Christian Cyron from the Institute of Materials Systems Modeling will develop AI-based software that uses the data collected in Zurich and Graz to decipher the relationship between the microstructural fingerprints of the tissue and its mechanical tissue properties and make it accessible to medical professionals.

"Our three research groups complement each other perfectly with their respective expertise. With our innovative research approach in this project constellation, we will succeed, among other things, in developing an imaging procedure for the non-invasive examination of tissue microstructure," says Gerhard A. Holzapfel. "As a proof of concept, we will then demonstrate how our new method can support the diagnosis of diastolic heart failure as part of a clinical study at the University Hospital Zurich. Our research approach in this project constellation gives us a unique selling point worldwide".

The ERC Synergy Grant

Funding from the European Research Council (ERC) is regarded as the highest honour for researchers in Europe. Synergy Grants are the most highly endowed and least frequently awarded grants for joint projects between two to a maximum of four research groups that are characterised by a unique combination of complementary expertise and resources. The maximum funding amount is 10 million euros over a period of six years. The research should enable significant progress at the frontiers of knowledge and have the potential to set standards worldwide.
Over the past two decades, new technologies have helped scientists generate a vast amount of biological data. Large-scale experiments in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and cytometry can produce enormous quantities of data from a given cellular or multicellular system.

However, making sense of this information is not always easy. This is especially true when trying to analyze complex systems such as the cascade of interactions that occur when the immune system encounters a foreign pathogen.

MIT biological engineers have now developed a new computational method for extracting useful information from these datasets. Using their new technique, they showed that they could unravel a series of interactions that determine how the immune system responds to tuberculosis vaccination and subsequent infection.

This strategy could be useful to vaccine developers and to researchers who study any kind of complex biological system, says Douglas Lauffenburger, the Ford Professor of Engineering in the departments of Biological Engineering, Biology and Chemical Engineering.

We've landed on a computational modeling framework that allows prediction of effects of perturbations in a highly complex system, including multiple scales and many different types of components." Douglas Lauffenburger, Ford Professor of Engineering, Departments of Biological Engineering, Biology and Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Shu Wang, a former MIT postdoc who is now an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, and Amy Myers, a research manager in the lab of University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Professor JoAnne Flynn, are the lead authors of a new paper on the work, which appears today in the journal Cell Systems.

Modeling complex systems

When studying complex biological systems such as the immune system, scientists can extract many different types of data. Sequencing cell genomes tells them which gene variants a cell carries, while analyzing messenger RNA transcripts tells them which genes are being expressed in a given cell. Using proteomics, researchers can measure the proteins found in a cell or biological system, and cytometry allows them to quantify a myriad of cell types present.

Using computational approaches such as machine learning, scientists can use this data to train models to predict a specific output based on a given set of inputs - for example, whether a vaccine will generate a robust immune response. However, that type of modeling doesn't reveal anything about the steps that happen in between the input and the output.

"That AI approach can be really useful for clinical medical purposes, but it's not very useful for understanding biology, because usually you're interested in everything that's happening between the inputs and outputs," Lauffenburger says. "What are the mechanisms that actually generate outputs from inputs?"

To create models that can identify the inner workings of complex biological systems, the researchers turned to a type of model known as a probabilistic graphical network. These models represent each measured variable as a node, generating maps of how each node is connected to the others.

Probabilistic graphical networks are often used for applications such as speech recognition and computer vision, but they have not been widely used in biology.

Lauffenburger's lab has previously used this type of model to analyze intracellular signaling pathways, which required analyzing just one kind of data. To adapt this approach to analyze many datasets at once, the researchers applied a mathematical technique that can filter out any correlations between variables that are not directly affecting each other. This technique, known as graphical lasso, is an adaptation of the method often used in machine learning models to strip away results that are likely due to noise.

"With correlation-based network models generally, one of the problems that can arise is that everything seems to be influenced by everything else, so you have to figure out how to strip down to the most essential interactions," Lauffenburger says. "Using probabilistic graphical network frameworks, one can really boil down to the things that are most likely to be direct and throw out the things that are most likely to be indirect."

Mechanism of vaccination

To test their modeling approach, the researchers used data from studies of a tuberculosis vaccine. This vaccine, known as BCG, is an attenuated form of Mycobacterium bovis. It is used in many countries where TB is common but isn't always effective, and its protection can weaken over time.

In hopes of developing more effective TB protection, researchers have been testing whether delivering the BCG vaccine intravenously or by inhalation might provoke a better immune response than injecting it. Those studies, performed in animals, found that the vaccine did work much better when given intravenously. In the MIT study, Lauffenburger and his colleagues attempted to discover the mechanism behind this success.

The data that the researchers examined in this study included measurements of about 200 variables, including levels of cytokines, antibodies, and different types of immune cells, from about 30 animals.

The measurements were taken before vaccination, after vaccination, and after TB infection. By analyzing the data using their new modeling approach, the MIT team was able to determine the steps needed to generate a strong immune response. They showed that the vaccine stimulates a subset of T cells, which produce a cytokine that activates a set of B cells that generate antibodies targeting the bacterium.

"Almost like a roadmap or a subway map, you could find what were really the most important paths. Even though a lot of other things in the immune system were changing one way or another, they were really off the critical path and didn't matter so much," Lauffenburger says.

The researchers then used the model to make predictions for how a specific disruption, such as suppressing a subset of immune cells, would affect the system. The model predicted that if B cells were nearly eliminated, there would be little impact on the vaccine response, and experiments showed that prediction was correct.

This modeling approach could be used by vaccine developers to predict the effect their vaccines may have, and to make tweaks that would improve them before testing them in humans. Lauffenburger's lab is now using the model to study the mechanism of a malaria vaccine that has been given to children in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi over the past few years.

His lab is also using this type of modeling to study the tumor microenvironment, which contains many types of immune cells and cancerous cells, in hopes of predicting how tumors might respond to different kinds of treatment.

The research was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The Biden administration's recently announced plan to replace all lead pipes in the U.S. is a reminder that the toxic metal remains a threat, even in a country that has largely banned its use. The smallest levels of lead exposure can cause a range of health damages over time, especially to children's brain development. Stanford researchers Stephen Luby and Jenna Forsyth have spent years examining the widespread presence of lead in low-income countries, including in some commonly consumed products. They led a perspective published Nov. 5 in The Lancet Public Health that tallies lead's global health and economic costs, and a study in the November issue of Science of the Total Environment that highlights the urgent challenge of lead contamination in South Asian turmeric.

Lead is a remarkably harmful toxin. Even within the context of limited resources, we have to find ways to focus on reducing exposure to it." Stephen Luby, researcher, Stanford University

Below, Luby, the Lucy Becker Professor of Medicine in the Stanford School of Medicine, and Forsyth, a research scientist with the School of Medicine, discuss the prevalence of lead-tainted products, and share insights on how food safety policies, education, and lead-free alternatives could reduce the risks.

You call for a complete phase-out of lead by 2035. What do you see as the key hurdles to achieving this goal, especially in countries with limited regulatory enforcement?

Luby: The key hurdles include overcoming the pushback from industries that, like tobacco companies, have a financial incentive in continuing to generate a product that kills millions of people every year. This requires a clear-eyed view of the enormous human and environmental health costs of having lead in the economy.

When we consider the great success of removing chlorofluorocarbons from the atmosphere, the technological innovations in aerosol propellants and in refrigerants occurred in high-income countries within companies that understood that regulation was on the horizon. By the time the Montreal protocol came into force, low-income countries could purchase new-generation propellants in refrigerants that were affordable and did not exert such damage to the Earth's protective ozone layer.

Lead contamination disproportionately affects marginalized communities. What policy interventions or public health measures could ensure that these vulnerable populations are protected?

Luby: Globally, industrial pollution is disproportionately discharged near communities with limited economic and political influence. Efforts to reduce industrial discharges are important, but because lead is so toxic to the environment and human life, the primary public health measure should be to remove it from the economy. This way, the whole web of life, including humans, would benefit.

Forsyth: And since lead does not degrade or go away on its own, remediation of current contaminated sites is a companion endeavor to reduce exposure among the most vulnerable.

Lead chromate in turmeric is a form of food fraud that can have devastating long-term effects. What immediate steps can governments and international organizations take to halt this practice, and how can consumer awareness be raised?

Forsyth: Our experience in Bangladesh suggests that three immediate actions would halt the practice. First is to improve awareness about lead's toxicity. Second is to enhance detection. Often, food safety officers have too many priorities, too little bandwidth, and limited-to-no testing capacity. Finally, enforcing food safety policy is essential: fining sellers of tainted turmeric. Even just enforcing food safety policy once can have a sustained effect.

In your research on lead-acid batteries, you highlight their significant contribution to global lead use. What alternative technologies hold the most promise for replacing lead-acid batteries, and how can these solutions be made accessible to developing nations?

Luby: Currently, lithium-ion batteries are lighter, last longer, and have a lower total cost of ownership than lead acid batteries. They are well placed to immediately replace lead acid batteries in nearly all applications. The best step that low-income countries can take is to remove tariffs on importing lithium-ion batteries so that they can compete against highly polluting lead acid battery industries.

Forsyth: It is likely that improved awareness and financing, such as microfinance loans, will be needed to overcome higher upfront cost of alternatives to lead acid batteries. Because of the broadening electrification of the global energy grid, there is enormous investment in battery technology. In the coming decades, there will be multiple alternatives including sodium-ion, magnesium-iron, and aluminum-iron technologies.

For more information

Research by Luby and Forsyth, initially funded by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and the Stanford King Center on Global Development, identified lead adulteration in turmeric as the primary cause of elevated blood lead levels across rural Bangladesh. Since then, their collaboration with government authorities has led to the implementation of stricter testing and quality control measures in the spice industry, enhancing food safety protocols. Public health initiatives and education campaigns informed by the project have targeted interventions to reduce lead exposure in affected populations and inform people about the risks of lead contamination in spices.



The project's geographical scope has expanded to India and Pakistan, where similar contamination issues have been identified, and its focus has expanded to investigate and address pollution from the lead-acid battery industry. Now called Project Unleaded, the initiative is part of the Stanford Center for Human and Planetary Health. It aims to identify and prioritize the most important sources of lead poisoning globally, investigate health impacts, advance rapid lead detection techniques, and develop, test, and scale up interventions to eliminate major sources of lead contamination.
News / National

by Staff reporter

In a bid to address the growing issue of illegal settlements on farms, the Zimbabwean government has enlisted the assistance of the army to support the police in evicting land barons responsible for creating unlawful settlements across the country.The development was revealed in Parliament last Thursday, during a session where Murewa South Member of Parliament, Noah Mangondo, raised concerns about the increasing number of illegal settlements on both A1 and A2 farms. Mangondo questioned what the government was doing to end the illegal land occupation, stating that existing government departments appeared unable to resolve the problem."What is being done by government to make sure that the issue of illegal settlements ends because all these government departments that are there are failing to resolve this issue?" Mangondo asked.In response, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Anxious Masuka, emphasized that the responsibility for addressing illegal land occupation lies with law enforcement agencies. He urged affected farmers to report such settlements to the police for action."If you go to the Lands office requesting them to come and evict the person who has settled on a farm unlawfully, you are approaching the wrong office. It is the duty of the police department to deal with those illegal settlers. Hence, there is a need for people to report to the police so that law enforcement can take the necessary action," Masuka explained.The Minister also highlighted the role of the Land Inspectorate, which operates under his ministry, in ensuring proper enforcement. However, he noted that land officers often face threats from illegal settlers when attempting to visit the farms.To bolster efforts to address the issue, Masuka revealed that the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has been mobilized to assist the police in evicting land invaders. He confirmed that a joint task force comprising the army, police, the President's Department, the Air Force, and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services has been formed to carry out coordinated operations aimed at removing illegal settlers from farms."We have four groups working in the Lands Ministry, and we have also engaged the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force, ZRP, the President's Department, and Prisons to have a joint operation command to assist in removing the illegal settlers," Masuka said.Illegal settlement on farms, he stated, is a violation of the Communal Lands Act, and those involved must face the consequences of breaking the law. To further address the issue, Masuka mentioned that the government has engaged the Surveyor-General to demarcate farm boundaries clearly, and the Zimbabwe Lands Commission will play a role in dispute resolution and ensuring peace.Masuka stressed that the country's land reform process, which began in 2000, has not reached its closure, with frequent reports of land invasions and evictions disrupting agricultural productivity across the country.He assured Parliament that the government was committed to addressing the problem and restoring order to the land distribution process.
A recent study offering a comprehensive view of the genome and transcriptome of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) has introduced a new, multi-omics-based molecular classification of these tumors. This research not only categorizes GISTs into specific molecular subtypes but also identifies YLPM1, a potential tumor suppressor gene, providing new insights into GIST pathogenesis and laying the groundwork for precision treatment.

Conducted by the Institute of Intelligent Medical Research (IIMR) at BGI Genomics in collaboration with the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and others, the study was published in Nature Communications in November 2024. The findings bring clarity to the complex nature of GISTs, identifying critical genetic signatures that contribute to varying levels of tumor aggressiveness and treatment response.

GISTs, the most common type of sarcoma, display a fascinating range of aggressiveness. Unlike other sarcomas, GISTs can vary from small, benign tumors to highly invasive, metastatic cancers. While many GISTs share common mutations in KIT or PDGFRA, their clinical behavior varies significantly. This study sheds light on these differences, revealing genetic signatures that influence how these tumors evolve and respond to treatment, offering a roadmap for more targeted therapies.

Complex genomic characteristics of GISTs

A key finding of the study is that GISTs exhibit remarkably low rates of somatic coding mutations - one of the lowest observed among human cancers. However, they accumulate other genomic alterations, including copy number variations (CNVs) and structural variants (SVs), which contribute to their increased aggressiveness.

Alterations in genes such as CDKN2A, DEPDC5, RB1, and DMD are more frequent in advanced GISTs, and massive genomic rearrangement events like chromothripsis and kataegis contribute to tumor progression by restructuring the genome. These mutations play a critical role in transforming GISTs into more invasive forms, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in advanced cases.

Adding another layer of complexity, GISTs exhibit significant genetic heterogeneity, with different mutations occurring across various tumor sites, especially in metastatic cases. This diversity complicates treatment strategies, as therapies like tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), commonly used for KIT-mutant GISTs, may become less effective over time as the tumor adapts and develops resistance. Understanding the genetic diversity within an individual's GIST tumors can aid in refining treatment plans and exploring combination therapies to counter resistance.

The study's transcriptome-based classification reveals four distinct molecular subtypes within GISTs, each with unique genomic and immune characteristics that can inform treatment strategies. For instance, C1, a genome-stable subtype primarily consisting of low- to intermediate-risk gastric GISTs with KIT mutations, generally has a favorable prognosis with surgical resection alone. The C2 subtype, defined as CD8+ inflamed, comprises high-risk intestinal GISTs with a high infiltration of immune cells, especially CD8+ T cells, suggesting that these tumors may benefit from a combination of TKI therapy and immunotherapy.

Meanwhile, the C3 subtype, known as the immune desert subtype, represents high-risk gastric GISTs with frequent CDKN2A deletions, showing limited immune activity and potential responsiveness to CDK4/6 inhibitors combined with TKIs. Lastly, the C4 subtype includes PDGFRA-mutant GISTs, which respond well to PDGFRA inhibitors like avapritinib, though they remain resistant to standard TKIs.

Novel tumor suppressor gene in GISTs

Another significant finding of the study is the identification of YLPM1 as a GIST-specific tumor suppressor gene. Although broadly expressed across various tissues, YLPM1 appears particularly crucial in GISTs, where its inactivation promotes cell proliferation and increases oxidative phosphorylation, fueling tumor growth. In experimental models, restoring YLPM1 function in GIST cells slowed tumor progression, positioning it as a promising target for future therapies. This finding offers new directions for treatment, especially in targeting YLPM1-deficient GISTs to limit their growth.

This integrative multi-omics analysis not only advances our understanding of the molecular profile of GISTs but also bridges the gap between basic research and clinical application. By identifying specific molecular subtypes, the study empowers physicians to consider more personalized treatment strategies. For example, patients with C2 tumors might benefit from a combination of TKI and immunotherapy, while those with C3 tumors could explore the synergistic effects of CDK4/6 inhibitors with TKIs.

The study's insights underscore the importance of understanding the genetic nuances within GISTs and adapting treatment approaches accordingly. As clinical trials further validate these findings, this molecular classification could revolutionize how GISTs are managed, bringing us closer to a future of personalized, precision medicine for GIST patients.
Thanks to a 'natural experiment' involving 30,000 people, researchers at Radboud university medical center were able to determine very precisely what an extra year of education does to the brain in the long term. To their surprise, they found no effect on brain structure and no protective benefit of additional education against brain aging.

It is well-known that education has many positive effects. People who spend more time in school are generally healthier, smarter, and have better jobs and higher incomes than those with less education. However, whether prolonged education actually causes changes in brain structure over the long term and protects against brain aging, was still unknown.

It is challenging to study this, because alongside education, many other factors influence brain structure, such as the conditions under which someone grows up, DNA traits, and environmental pollution. Nonetheless, researchers Rogier Kievit (PI of the Lifespan Cognitive Dynamics lab) and Nicholas Judd from Radboudumc and the Donders Institute found a unique opportunity to very precisely examine the effects of an extra year of education.

Aging

In 1972, a change in the law in the United Kingdom raised the number of mandatory school years from fifteen to sixteen, while all other circumstances remained constant. This created an interesting 'natural experiment', an event not under the control of researchers which divides people into an exposed and unexposed group. Data from approximately 30,000 people who attended school around that time, including MRI scans taken much later (46 years after), is available. This dataset is the world's largest collection of brain imaging data.

The researchers examined the MRI scans for the structure of various brain regions, but they found no differences between those who attended school longer and those who did not. 'This surprised us', says Judd. 'We know that education is beneficial, and we had expected education to provide protection against brain aging. Aging shows up in all of our MRI measures, for instance we see a decline in total volume, surface area, cortical thickness, and worse water diffusion in the brain. However, the extra year of education appears to have no effect here.'

Brain structure

It's possible that the brain looked different immediately after the extra year of education, but that wasn't measured. 'Maybe education temporarily increases brain size, but it returns to normal later. After all, it has to fit in your head', explains Kievit. 'It could be like sports: if you train hard for a year at sixteen, you'll see a positive effect on your muscles, but fifty years later, that effect is gone.' It's also possible that extra education only produces microscopic changes in the brain, which are not visible with MRI.

Both in this study and in other, smaller studies, links have been found between more education and brain benefits. For example, people who receive more education have stronger cognitive abilities, better health, and a higher likelihood of employment. However, this is not visible in brain structure via MRI. Kievit notes: 'Our study shows that one should be cautious about assigning causation when only a correlation is observed. Although we also see correlations between education and the brain, we see no evidence of this in brain structure.'
The diseases hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) remain a significant health threat worldwide, causing approximately 1.3 million deaths each year.

In Romania, the prevalence of both diseases is notably high, creating an urgent need for more accessible prevention methods. The current HBV vaccine fails to protect approximately 10 % of vaccinated individuals, and the duration of immunity is uncertain, leading to gaps in long-term protection. As of now, no vaccine exists for HCV, although antiviral therapies offer effective treatment options, though often at high costs.

Led by Dr. Jihong Liu Clarke, Research Professor and Coordinator for China relations at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), and Dr Norica Nichita at the Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy (RAS), a successful collaboration supported by the EEA and Norway Grants has spanned two major projects for more than a decade. The projects have united Norwegian and Romanian expertise in biotechnology and health innovation to address the pressing need for affordable vaccines against the two diseases.

For Romania, partaking in the research effort has not only been about advancing scientific knowledge, but also about developing solutions that have direct implications for public health in the country.

Advancing vaccine development through green biotechnology

The Norwegian/Romanian research collaboration has focused on producing HBV and HCV vaccine components using plants and algae, offering an alternative to conventional production methods that rely on expensive mammalian cells. This approach builds on previous projects, including the GreenVac project (2014-2017), which demonstrated the potential of plant-based systems for producing hepatitis antigens.

By exploring plant-made vaccines, the team of researchers has aimed to create more affordable options that maintain or even improve upon the immune responses offered by traditional vaccines.

Our collaboration has allowed us to produce innovative HBV and HCV antigens with promising immune responses, which could enable more effective and accessible vaccines." Utilizing plant and algae systems to produce antigens allows for potentially higher yields and lower costs, which is crucial in making vaccination programs more accessible, particularly for lower-income countries with high infection rates." Dr. Jihong Liu Clarke

Strengthening Norway-Romania scientific collaboration

A robust network of expertise across fields such as green biotechnology, molecular design, and protein science has been fostered through the collaboration. The efforts of the scientists involved have also resulted in a series of peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and direct engagement with stakeholders to build awareness.

"The success of this fruitful and lasting collaboration is rooted in mutual understanding, respect, and genuine partnership. A true 'two-way traffic' where all sides benefit equally and share in the achievements," says Dr Clarke.

At the EEA and Norway Grants final conference held in Bucharest on October 3 2024, she emphasized these achievements, highlighting the continued testing of the plant-made HBV and HCV vaccine antigens.

"Although the projects are now formally completed, the bilateral collaboration continues with further testing of the antigens, additional scientific publications, and new research proposals that extend the work into new areas," she said.

Future support for green innovation through the EEA and Norway Grants

The EEA and Norway Grants have supported 42 Norway-Romania projects to date, significantly strengthening bilateral research cooperation and contributing to substantial advances in science, public health, and environmental sustainability.

Looking forward, the EEA and Norway Grants are set to enter a new funding phase from 2025 to 2027, outlined in the recently released Blue Book. Among other things, this initiative emphasizes green transition, climate resilience, and circular economy solutions.

"We expect the initiative to further support Norway-Romania collaborations, offering additional funding opportunities for projects that align with sustainability and accessibility goals," says Dr. Clarke.
One out of 100 people will experience a psychotic episode in their lifetime, and these usually appear in late adolescence or early adulthood. A Canada-US team consisting of Sylvain Bouix, from Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS), Martha E. Shenton and Ofer Pasternak, from the Brigham and Women's Hospital (Harvard University), and Rene Kahn, from Mount Sinai Hospital (New York) has just received US $33 million in funding - the equivalent of CAD 45 million - over five years from the National Institute of Mental Health to better understand the mechanisms of action of new drugs designed to treat psychosis.

With this funding, a research team led by Sylvain Bouix of ETS will set up a center to coordinate processing and analysis of data for the proof of principle clinical trial.

"Although promising therapeutic targets have been discovered for this high-risk population, their validation is difficult due to the lack of reliable biomarkers to predict disease progression. Moreover, the diversity of symptoms, such as anxiety or depression, further complicates matters. The development of new data analysis tools could help design clinical trials better adapted to patients' actual needs."

More specifically, Professor Bouix and his team will ensure the quality of the data collected, from behavioral and clinical measures to electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging and audiovisual recordings, to name but a few.

This is an essential step, as data quality is key to obtaining reliable and accurate results in clinical trials. Data quality also ensures the scientific robustness, personal safety and regulatory acceptance of the new therapies and medical interventions to be developed in the future.
A Joint research team (Prof. Jun-hee Lee, Hyun-koo Kim, Jin-Wook Hwang, Jae-Ho Chung, the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine) Announced the world's first compartive results of single-port robotic thymectomy using the single-port robotic system.

The team compared and analyzed the perioperative outcomes of 110 cases of robotic thymectomy using the single-port robotic system and conventional video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS) thymectomy from November 2018 to May 2024. The results showed that all robotic thymectomy performed were successfully performed without conversion to median stenotomy, and 98% of patients had no major complications. In addition, compared with VATS thymectomy, conversion rate to multi-port surgery (0%) was lower, and the chest tube duration (1.320.75 days) and hospitalization period (2.521.00 days) were shortened.

This study proved for the first time in the world that single-port robotic thymectomy using the single-port robotic system is safer than the conventional VATS thymectomy and can overcome the limitations of the previous method. Also, the research showed that single-port robotic thymectomy provides not only a safer surgical environment for patients, but also opens the possibility of single-port robotic method being the standard treatment for thymectomy in the future. This laid the foundation of providing patients with a better treatment experience.

This research proved that single-port robotic thymectomy can overcome the limitations of the conventional thymectomy and provide a better environment. We will continue our best to make sure that Korea University Medicine leads the robotic surgery in thoracic surgery." Professor Jun-Hee Lee, lead author

Professor Jin-Wook Hwang (lead author) said, "Through this research, we have an opportunity for our country's single-port robotic thoracic surgery to be recognized worldwide. We expect to have greater results from single-port robotic thoracic surgery in the future."

Professor Jae-Ho Chung (corresponding author) said, "Thoracic surgery departments in three hospitals of Korea University Medicine have come up with very significant results which successfully shed the light on safety and efficiency of the latest technique of single-port robotic thymectomy. Based on the results, we will continue our best efforts to related clinical studies and researches, so that single-port robot surgery can be safely applied to more patients who need thoracic surgery."

Professor Hyun-Koo Kim (corresponding author) said, "This research suggested the future possibilities of single-port robotic surgery. We will continue exulting our utmost efforts to improve the quality of life of more patients by continuously conducting robotic surgery researches."

The research results were published in the international academic journal: Cancers (MDPI, Swiss Online Journal Publishing Institute).

Moreover, the research team of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Medical Center, reported the world's first thymectomy, lung cancer surgery and esophageal cancer surgery via single-port robotic surgery. The research team performed minimally invasive surgeries using the robotic system not only for thymectomy but also for lung cancer and esophageal cancer surgeries. The team is now leading the field of robotic thoracic surgery.
Bengaluru: 18 km Tunnel Road Project Fast-Tracked With Rs 16,500 Crore Budget

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News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 13:55 IST

The road will feature two entry/exit points at each endnear Hebbal and Central Silk Board junctionsand key interchange points at Lalbagh, Mehkri Circle, and Race Course Road.

This massive project will be executed under a public-private partnership, with private contractors covering 70% of the cost. (Photo: Urban Acres)

Bengalurus civic body has completed the detailed project report (DPR) for the citys much-anticipated tunnel road project in just three monthswell ahead of the usual nine to twelve months required for such projects.

The massive six-lane tunnel, which will cost an estimated Rs 16,500 crore, will connect Hebbal in the north to the Central Silk Board junction in the south, covering an 18 km stretch. The tunnel will feature three major interchanges at Mehkri Circle, Race Course Road, and Lalbagh to ease traffic flow, according to Deccan Herald.

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To carry out the project, the BBMP plans to use six Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), each with a diameter of 14.7 meterssubstantially larger than the 6-meter TBMs typically used for metro projects.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expressed hope that better relations between India and China would allow them to import the TBMs from China, reducing project costs by 10 percent. European TBMs are much costlier," he added. The BBMP aims to kick off the project within six months.

Drawing inspiration from underground roads built in cities like Mumbai, BBMP Engineer-in-Chief B S Prahlad revealed that the tunnel will have entry and exit points at both ends to avoid traffic bottlenecks.

At the southern end near Central Silk Board, vehicles will be able to enter and exit from Outer Ring Road and Hosur Road, while at the northern end near Hebbal, exits will be available for KR Puram and Ballari Road.

Traffic interchanges are also planned at key locations such as Lalbagh, Mehkri Circle (for those entering from Silk Board and exiting onto CV Raman Road), and Race Course Road.

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The ambitious project will be funded via a public-private partnership, with private contractors expected to cover 70% of the cost, while BBMP will raise the remaining 30 percent through financing schemes.

However, experts have raised concerns that the tunnel road may not significantly cut down travel time and could serve as a temporary fix. Some believe that the metro line along this route should be prioritized instead, and with Bengalurus upcoming second airport in the south, north-south traffic may reduce in the future.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 13:55 IST
In Pics: Volkswagen's New Compact SUV To Debut In Brazil, India Launch Soon

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 10:56 IST

In Brazil, the SUV will be just over 4 meters in length, but for markets like India, it will be adjusted to around 3.95 meters to meet local compact car regulations.

The upcoming SUV is expected to share the same platform, features, and even powertrains as its Skoda rival.

Volkswagen is gearing up to launch a brand-new compact SUV in Brazil this month, taking on the popular Skoda Kylaq.

Built on the same platform as the Kylaq, this new SUV is expected to feature similar designs, advanced features, and powerful engines.

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Teaser images released by Volkswagen give a sneak peek at the SUVs design, showing off the iconic VW family look. The rear image reveals the models name, while the front showcases the familiar Volkswagen style that fans recognize.

According to Carwale, in Brazil, the SUV will be just over 4 meters in length, but for markets like India, it will be adjusted to around 3.95 meters to meet local compact car regulations. The SUV is set to offer premium features, including a 360-degree camera, climate control, LED lights, leatherette seats, and dual digital screens.

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Under the hood, Brazils model is likely to get flex-fuel engines, similar to the Volkswagen T-Cross. But for India, Volkswagen could bring a 1.0-liter TSI engine with 114bhp as standard. Rumors also hint at a sportier version with a 1.5-liter engine paired with a DSG gearbox.

The India launch is slated for 2026, where this compact SUV will compete with models like the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300, Maruti Fronx, Toyota Taisor, and Skoda Kushaq.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 10:56 IST
Life Certificate For Pensioners Last Date 2024: Check Deadline, Steps To Submit Jeevan Pramaan Online

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 07:00 IST

Pension disbursing authorities require regular verification to confirm the pensioner's existence.

Life Certificate For Pensioners Last Date 2024

A Life Certificate is an official document used to confirm that a pensioner is alive. It is primarily required by pension disbursing authorities, including government bodies, to ensure that pensions are paid only to eligible individuals.

In India, a Life Certificate is a vital document for pensioners to maintain their pension benefits. However, there is a deadline to submit the same to enjoy the continuous benefits of pension. Dont miss the submission deadlines to ensure uninterrupted pension benefits!

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Last Date To Submit Life Certificate For Pensioners 2024

General Submission Deadline: Iy starts from November 1 and November 30, 2024, is the last date for all pensioners to submit their annual life certificate.

Special Provision for Senior Pensioners: Pensioners aged 80 and above can start submitting their life certificates from October 1, a month earlier than the usual November 1 start date.

The introduction of digital services like Jeevan Pramaan has made the process more efficient, ensuring ease and accessibility for pensioners across the country.

What is Jeevan Pramaan?

Jeevan Pramaan, or the Digital Life Certificate, is a digital service that leverages biometrics to streamline the pension process for retirees. Designed for pensioners from central and state governments and other governmental bodies, this service enables the submission of life certificates online, eliminating the need for physical visits to banks or pension offices.

Since November 2021, pensioners can submit their Digital Life Certificate via face authentication using an Android smartphone. This digital process has empowered pensioners, eliminating the need to visit banks or service centers for submission.

How to Submit a Digital Life Certificate?

Pensioners can submit their Life Certificate through:

Online Submission: Use the Jeevan Pramaan app for a hassle-free, digital submission process.

Physical Submission: Certificates can also be submitted at designated locations such as banks, post offices, and state treasury offices.

In the past, pensioners were required to visit their pension-disbursing agencies in person every year to submit their life certificates, which was often a tedious and time-consuming task. The Jeevan Pramaan initiative solves this issue by digitising the process of obtaining a life certificate.

Life Certificate For Pensioners Online

From Where To Get A Jeevan Pramaan (Digital Life Certificate)

You can obtain a Life Certificate in any of the following ways;

Various Citizen Service Centre (CSC ) located across India

Pensioners can visit the Jeevan Pramaan Portal and generate as well as submit their life certificate with the use of fingerprints using a fingerprint reader.

They can also download the Jeevan Pramaan mobile app and provide their life certificate through the app.

Office of Pension Disbursing Agencies (PDA) such as Post Office, Banks, Treasury etc.

It can also be generated from home/any location on a laptop/mobile.Aadhaar number or VID is a must for generating/obtaining the Digital Life Certificate.

Pensioners can also access Doorstep Banking which is available at a few public sector banks across the country. This service is available for senior citizens above the age of 70 or those with mobility issues to help them submit their certificates.

Pensioners can also use face authentication technology to submit their certificates with the use of an Android smartphone. For this, they need to download the Aadhaar Face RD app from the Google Play Store and the Jeevan Pramaan application.

Life certificates can be also submitted through the India Post Payments Banks Doorstep Service for Submission of Digital Life Certificate by Postman initiative. This service can be used by downloading the Postinfo APP" from the Google Play store.

Once the life certificate is submitted, it is automatically uploaded to the database, and the pensioners pension is credited without any delay.

Why Do People Need a Life Certificate in India?

The need for a Life Certificate arises from the following reasons:

Verification of Pensioners

Pension disbursing authorities require regular verification to confirm the pensioners existence. This prevents fraudulent claims where pensions might be drawn on behalf of deceased individuals.

Annual Requirement

Most pension schemes, particularly those under the central and state governments, mandate that pensioners submit their Life Certificate annually. This ensures that only eligible pensioners continue to receive their pensions.

Continuity of Pension Payments

Submission of a Life Certificate is crucial for the uninterrupted disbursement of pension benefits. Failure to provide this document within the stipulated time can lead to a temporary halt in pension payments.

Simplified Processes with Digital Life Certificates

The Digital Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan) has modernised this requirement, allowing pensioners to submit their certificates online through biometric authentication, reducing the need for physical visits to banks or pension offices.

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Special Provisions for Senior Citizens

Recognising the challenges faced by elderly pensioners, the government has provisions like early submission dates for those aged 80 and above, further easing the process.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 07:00 IST
Donald Trumps Victory Ignites Bitcoin Boom, Crypto Market Soars To All-Time High

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 18:41 IST

Trump was previously a crypto sceptic but changed his mind and took a favourable view of cryptocurrencies ahead of the election.

US Election 2024: Bitcoin jumped nearly 8% in early trading, climbing above $75,000 and smashing its previous record set in March.

The price of bitcoin hit a new high Wednesday as investors bet that former President Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election will be a boon for cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin Surges as Trumps Victory Fuels Crypto Momentum

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Bitcoin jumped nearly 8% in early trading, climbing above $75,000 and smashing its previous record set in March. Other cryptocurrencies also soared, including ether, the worlds second most popular cryptocurrency after bitcoin, which rallied 8%.

Trumps Crypto Evolution: From Skeptic to Advocate

Trump was previously a crypto sceptic but changed his mind and took a favourable view of cryptocurrencies ahead of the election.

He pledged to make America "the crypto capital of the planet" and create a strategic reserve" of bitcoin.

Crypto-Backed Campaign Sets New Precedents

His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted crypto fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies.

Market Enthusiasm Surges: Bitcoin Set for New Heights?

Bitcoin is up 77% this year.

Bitcoin is the one asset that was always going to soar if Trump returned to the White House," AP quoted Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, a British online investment platform, as saying.

After touching its new high, the market is now speculating about when, not if, it will smash through $100,000," he added.

Trump has already declared his love of the digital currency and crypto traders now have a new narrative by which to get even more excited about where the price could go," Mould said.

Crypto Industry Hails Trumps Win as Regulatory Turning Point

Crypto industry advocates welcomed Trumps victory, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that theyve long lobbied for.

Tonight the crypto voter has spoken decisively  across party lines and in key races across the country," said Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges.

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Americans disproportionately care about crypto and want clear rules of the road for digital assets. We look forward to working with the new Congress to deliver it."

(With agency inputs)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 18:41 IST
Stocks To Watch: Swiggy, Titan, Vedanta, Airtel, GAIL, Oil India, IHCL, And Others

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 08:18 IST

Stocks to watch: Shares of firms like Swiggy, Titan, Vedanta, Airtel, GAIL, Oil India, IHCL, and others will be in focus on Wednesday's trade

Stocks To Watch

Stocks To Watch On November 6: Domestic markets managed to inch higher in a volatile session on Tuesday, closing with nearly a one-percent gain. In todays trade, shares of Hindustan Zinc, GAIL, Titan, Dr Reddys, Apollo Hospitals among others will be in focus due to various news developments and second quarter results today.

Vedanta, Hindustan Zinc: The Indian government is looking to sell 2.5 per cent of Hindustan Zincs equity through an offer for sale (OFS), priced at Rs 505 per share, which is a 9.7 per cent discount to the current market price of Rs 559.5. The OFS opens on November 6 for institutional investors and November 7 for retail investors. The government currently holds a 29.5 per cent stake in HZL and will sell up to 1.25 per cent of the total paid-up capital, with an additional 1.25 per cent available if the offering is oversubscribed.

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Titan Company: The companys second-quarter net profit for FY25 dropped 23.1 per cent, primarily due to a reduction in customs duties. Revenue from operations rose 25.8 per cent, reaching Rs 13,473 crore. The companys jewellery segment, led by Tanishq, reported a 26 per cent growth in income. The company also saw strong growth in its watches and wearables segment, up 19 per cent YoY.

IPOs opening today: In the primary market, food delivery platform Swiggys and ACME Solar Holdings initial public offer (IPO) will open for subscription today.

Indian Energy Exchange: IEX reported a 4 per cent YoY increase in its total electricity traded volume for October 2024, reaching 9,642 million units (MU). The exchange also saw significant growth in renewable energy certificate (REC) trading, with a 105 per cent increase in volume. While the Day-Ahead Market (DAM) volume saw a decline, the Real-Time Market (RTM) experienced a robust 30 per cent YoY growth.

Manappuram Finance: The company reported growth in its Q2 earnings for FY24, with a 2 per cent year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit, reaching Rs 571 crore ($68 million) for the September quarter. Analysts had expected a profit of Rs 531 crore, signaling a decline of nearly 5 per cent. The companys gold loan portfolio saw a 21 per cent increase in revenue, totaling Rs 1,856 crore. The companys microfinance segment revenue increased 22.6 per cent to Rs 781 crore, contributing 29.6 per cent of total revenue.

JSW Steel: THe company and Posco plan to invest Rs 65,000 crore in an integrated steel plant in Odisha. The investment will scale up production capacity to 18 million metric tons in three years.

Bharti Airtel: Bharti Airtel is closely monitoring the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) proposal to waive bank guarantees for spectrum payments. The company has urged the DoT to apply a non-discriminatory approach to all telecom operators, regardless of their financial health.

Bharat Seats: The company is issuing bonus shares for the first time in over 17 years. The bonus issue, if approved, could signal confidence in its financial outlook.

Hero MotoCorp: The company plans to enter the European and UK markets in 2025 with its new electric scooter, the VIDA Z. This marks an ambitious expansion into premium markets, with Hero aiming to build on its global presence.

Mankind Pharma: The company reported a 29 per cent year-on-year increase in Q2 FY25 net profit to Rs 659 crore, driven by strong domestic and export performance. Revenue from operations rose 13.6 per cent to Rs 3,077 crore, with exports growing 57 per cent. The company also posted robust EBITDA margins of 27.6 per cent for the quarter.

JK Tyre & Industries: The company posted a 44 per cent decline in Q2 net profit, down to Rs 135 crore, due to weak tyre sales in the domestic market and increased rubber costs. The companys revenue fell by 7 per cent to Rs 3,622 crore, impacted by a slowdown in sales from car, bus, and truck makers.

Gail India: The company reported a 10.2 per cent rise in Q2 FY25 net profit to Rs 2,693.5 crore, driven by strong performance in natural gas transmission and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) segments. The companys revenue from operations grew 2.81 per cent to Rs 33,981.3 crore, though its largest revenue segmentdomestic natural gas marketingsaw a profit decline of 27 per cent. Gail also recorded capital expenditure of Rs 1,885 crore during the quarter.

Berger Paints India: The company reported a 7.5 per cent decline in Q2 net profit to Rs 270 crore, missing analysts estimates. The companys revenue grew marginally by 0.3 per cent to Rs 2,775 crore. The decline in profit was attributed to adverse weather conditions, including higher-than-normal rainfall, and price hikes which dampened demand for its products.

Oil India: The companys net profit for Q2 FY25 surged 3.8 times to Rs 2,016.2 crore, from Rs 420.6 crore in Q2 FY24, aided by a low base effect from last years high tax expenses. However, its revenue declined by 7.7 per cent to Rs 8,135.9 crore. The companys board also approved the formation of joint ventures for compressed biogas projects and city gas distribution in Arunachal Pradesh. An interim dividend of Rs 3 per share was declared for FY25.

Indian Hotels Company: IHCL, the hospitality arm of Tata Group, has approved the acquisition of a 55 per cent stake in Rajscape Hotels for an all-cash deal worth up to Rs 18 crore. The acquisition will enhance its partnership with the Ambuja Neotia Group and is expected to expand the Tree of Life Resorts & Hotels brand to 100 properties by 2030. The deal, which includes 16 boutique properties across India, is expected to close in 90 days.

Sundram Fasteners: The company reported an 8 per cent rise in Q2 net profit to Rs 143.84 crore, driven by strong export growth. The companys revenue from operations increased by 4.5 per cent to Rs 1,486.04 crore. SFL also announced an interim dividend of Rs 3 per share (300 per cent), to be paid by November 18. The companys performance was aided by increased export sales and a stable commodity price environment.

NTPC: The companys board has approved investment proposals totaling Rs 80,000 crore for thermal power projects with an overall capacity of 6,400 MW. This includes projects in Telangana, Gadarwara, and Nabinagar. NTPC aims to further expand its installed capacity, which stood at 76,443 MW as of September 2024.

Maruti Suzuki: The companys entry into the electric vehicle market with its first mass-production BEV, the e-Vitara, will be a major move for the company. The e-Vitara is expected to be launched in Europe, India, and Japan in 2025, which could significantly alter the competitive landscape in the EV sector.

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Eicher Motors: Royal Enfields foray into the electric motorcycle market with its upcoming Flying Flea model is poised to disrupt the premium EV segment. With its focus on developed markets like Europe and the US, the company plans to tap into a niche but growing market for high-performance EV motorcycles.

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 08:18 IST
News / National

by Staff reporter

A Gweru man who was brutally assaulted by police officers during the Covid-19 lockdown while queuing for money at a bank has been awarded over ZWG140,000 in damages by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).In a ruling issued by Gweru Provincial Magistrate Miriam Banda, the Zimbabwean government, represented by Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, was ordered to compensate Amos Siska for the pain and suffering he endured in April 2020. The assault occurred at Stanbic Bank in Gweru, where Siska was waiting in line when he was attacked by police officers.According to Siska's account, he was beaten with truncheons, kicked with booted feet, and struck with open hands all over his body. The attack left him with serious injuries, including a fractured arm.Siska sought justice through Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, engaging lawyer Reginald Chidawanyika to represent him in the case. The lawsuit was filed against ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe for damages, including compensation for the shock, pain, and suffering he experienced, as well as reimbursement for the medical expenses he incurred during treatment.In 2022, after a full trial, the court ruled in Siska's favor, but the government failed to honor the judgment promptly, despite multiple requests for compensation.Following the non-compliance, Siska filed contempt of court proceedings and threatened to have both Kazembe and Matanga arrested for their failure to abide by the court order.Finally, in accordance with the court's ruling, Kazembe complied and paid ZWG143,368 to Siska as damages, covering the costs of his medical treatment and compensating him for the trauma caused by the assault.The case highlights ongoing concerns about police brutality and the importance of holding law enforcement accountable for their actions, especially during the challenging periods of the Covid-19 pandemic when public order was tightly enforced.
Trump Victory To Help Elon Musk, Not Necessarily Tesla

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 12:36 IST

Trump's return to the White House would likely be "overall negative" for the electric vehicle sector

Donald Trump, Elon Musk (Image: AFP file)

Tech billionaire Elon Musk and his business empire stand to reap massive rewards if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House. However, a Trump victory could have contrasting effects on the electric vehicle (EV) industry and Tesla, according to analysts at Wedbush, as reported by Investing.com.

Trumps return to the White House would likely be overall negative" for the electric vehicle sector as per Investings recent note, led by analyst Daniel Ives.

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They predict that Trump may eliminate EV rebates and tax incentives aimed at promoting non-combustion engine vehicles.

The analysts also highlighted that Tesla, led by CEO Elon Muska fierce Trump supporterpossesses the scale and scope that is unmatched in the EV industry". This could give Tesla a distinct advantage as its domestic competitors struggle in a market without EV subsidies, the report stated.

Wedbush noted in the Investing report that Trumps proposed steep tariffs on China would prevent low-cost Chinese EV manufacturers like BYD and Nio from overwhelming the US market in the coming years.

Additionally, the analysts suggested that Trump could expedite Musks initiatives in autonomous driving, potentially accelerating Teslas technological advancements. Musk recently claimed that Teslas new Cybercab robotaxi would enter production before 2027".

Despite these potential benefits, the analysts in the Investing report warned that Musks support for Trump might negatively affect Teslas consumer demand in the US.

While the immediate impact on demand has been limited, they cautioned that this political dynamic could sway some customers away from Tesla in future purchasing decisions.

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As investors weigh the implications of the election on Tesla and the broader market, the question remains: Is Tesla stock a buy or a sell?

According to Investing, with the stock markets volatility, many investors are seeking clearer insights into Teslas fair value and potential performance.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 12:35 IST
What Harris Vs Trump Means for US Visas: An Indian Perspective

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 09:19 IST

The contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump signifies two different visions for immigration

US Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump (AP file photos)

As the US presidential race intensifies, Indian citizens with dreams of working, studying, and reuniting with family in the US keep a close eye on the stakes. The contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump signifies two different visions for immigration. Harris, with her more inclusive stance, offers potential openings, while Trump emphasizes domestic interests and stricter entry policies.

Heres how each candidates policies could shape key US visa categories for Indians across different sectors

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H-1B Visas: A Lifeline for Skilled Workers or a Stricter Pathway?

Under Trump, H-1B eligibility tightened, wage thresholds rose, and denial rates increased from 6% in 2015 to 24% in 2018. These measures protect American jobs by reducing competition. Meanwhile, Harris supports increasing H-1B visa caps, currently limited to 65,000 regular and 20,000 advanced-degree visas. If elected, Harris might attempt reforms, though her past record indicates challenges in reversing restrictive measures.

Family Immigration: Different Approaches to Reunification

Family-based visas have allowed many Indians to reunite with relatives in the U.S. Trumps shift toward a merit-based system, which emphasizes skills over family ties, restricts family-based immigration to spouses and minor children. This approach could reduce skilled worker backlogs, though it limits family-focused immigration. Harris favors policies promoting family reunification, but with over 1 million Indians in the family visa queue, progress has been limited, raising questions about her ability to address these challenges if elected.

Green Card: Indian Talent Stuck in Line

Indian professionals on H-1B visas face long waits for employment-based green cards due to per-country caps, with wait times of up to 84 years. Harris has co-sponsored the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act to remove these caps, which could expedite green card approvals for Indian nationals. Meanwhile, Trumps merit-based points proposal would prioritize applicants based on skills, particularly in STEM fields, but might disadvantage others. Without significant changes, green card backlogs for Indian nationals will likely persist.

Student Visas and OPT: Education and Work Opportunities

Indian students contribute approximately $7.6 billion annually. However, under Trump, F-1 student visas faced increased scrutiny, and limitations were proposed for Optional Practical Training (OPT), impacting job prospects. Harris supports OPT and has advocated for potentially extending its duration, which could benefit STEM graduates.

Investor Visas: Limited Access for Middle-Class Entrepreneurs

Investment visas, such as the EB-5, attract Indian entrepreneurs interested in the U.S. market. Trumps administration raised the minimum investment from $500,000 to $900,000 to target high-value contributions. This filters quality investments, while excluding middle-class investors. Harris has signaled support for foreign entrepreneurship but has shown minimal action in this area.

Visitor Visas: Balancing Security and Accessibility

Visitor visas are important for family visits, business trips, and short-term travel. Trumps security-focused policies have led to longer processing time while Harris might ease restrictions for low-risk nations like India.

Measured Expectations in an Uncertain Future

The upcoming election offers two distinct views on immigration, though neither candidate guarantees sweeping change. While Harris promotes inclusivity, her record suggests cautious optimism at best. Trumps policies, focused on American labor and security, restrict access and limit new immigration pathways. For Indian aspirants, a streamlined, predictable visa system remains the goal, though both political and administrative hurdles may limit impactful reforms.

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Written By Mohak Nahta, Founder & CEO Of Atlys

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 09:16 IST
TSPSC Group III Admit Card Release Date Announced, Check Details Here

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 13:41 IST

The TNPSC Group 3 Services Recruitment exam is scheduled to be held on November 17 and 18, 2024.

TSPSC Group 3 Admit Card 2024 is now available for download on the official website - websitenew.tspsc.gov.in. (Representational/ File Photo)

The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) will release the admission cards for the different Group III positions on November 10. Candidates who successfully applied for Grade III positions can get their admit cards through the official website  websitenew.tspsc.gov.in.

The Commission will administer the written test for the Group-III Services Recruitment drive throughout the state on November 17 and 18 this year. Candidates can get their hall pass for Group III positions after entering their login information on the page. The goal of this hiring campaign is to fill the 1,365 open positions.

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TSPSC Group III Exam 2024: How To Download Admit Card?

Step 1: Visit the Telangana State Public Service Commissions (TSPSC) official website  websitenew.tspsc.gov.in

Step 2: On the main page, click the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) option.

Step 3: Click the link on the main page and enter your login information.

Step 4: The admission card will open in a new window for candidates.

Step 5: Save it for later use after downloading it.

Candidates are required to check all the necessary personal details on the admit card. If there is any discrepancy, the candidate should inform the exam authority. Until the final selection process is complete, candidates must bring their hall pass and exam question papers from each session. If requested, they might have to show these documents, and no additional hall passes will be given.

TSPSC Group III Exam 2024: Exam Date and Time

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On November 17, 2024, the state-wide Group-III Services recruitment exam will take place. Paper 1 will be administered from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, while Paper 2 will be administered from 03:00 PM to 05:30 PM. The paper 3 will take place on November 18, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

On the day of the exam, candidates may enter the examination centre starting at 8:30 AM for the morning session and 1:30 PM for the afternoon session. The test centre gate will close at 9:30 AM for the morning session and 2:30 PM for the afternoon session, therefore candidates should check the exam venue and reach on time to avoid last minute rush.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 13:41 IST
Constitution In One Hand, Surrounded By Urban Naxals On Other: Fadnavis Trains Guns On Rahul Gandhi

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 16:09 IST

Traditionally, the Indian Constitution is associated with a blue cover, and Fadnavis argued that Gandhis choice of red aligns more with Left-extremist ideologies than with democratic values

Devendra Fadnavis also criticised Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra, a campaign that was initially perceived as a movement for unity. (PTI)

Maharashtras deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, in a recent interview to a leading English daily, launched a strong attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of aligning with radical ideologies and anarchist forces.

As Maharashtra prepares for its upcoming assembly elections, Fadnavis remarks have sparked a new controversy, painting a picture of Gandhi as a leader who, in Fadnavis words, appears to hold the holy Constitution in one hand, while supporting anarchy with the other".

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One of Fadnavis key criticisms is Gandhis use of a red-covered copy of the Constitution, which he claims symbolises disorder and chaos. Traditionally, the Indian Constitution is associated with a blue cover, and Fadnavis argued that Gandhis choice of red aligns more with Left-extremist ideologies than with democratic values.

Rahul holds the Constitution in one hand and promotes anarchy through his deeds," Fadnavis said, suggesting that Gandhis choice is not just a trivial design change but an indication of his ideological shift. According to Fadnavis, Gandhi is increasingly influenced by Urban Naxals" and anarchists" who, he claims, are steering Congress towards radical agendas.

Fadnavis also criticised Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra, a campaign that was initially perceived as a movement for unity.

When Bharat Jodo was kick-started, we thought it was a good theme  at least Bharat is on their agenda," he said. However, Fadnavis alleged that many of the organisations involved in the yatra were subversive groups with anti-national views. According to Fadnavis, over 180 such groups took part in the yatra, raising doubts about its intentions. He argued that these affiliations overshadow Gandhis message of unity, presenting him as a leader whose actions and associations seem more divisive than cohesive.

The controversy has only deepened with the reported ban on media coverage at Gandhis upcoming Constitution Honor Convention in Nagpur. Fadnavis questioned why the press was being barred from an event dedicated to honouring the Constitution, suggesting that this move contradicts Gandhis public support for democratic values.

They talk of saving democracy, but they keep the fourth pillar of democracy, the media, out of the meeting on the Constitution," Fadnavis pointed out, adding that this action reveals a slipping mask" in Gandhis democratic rhetoric. He argued that Congress commitment to democracy appears shallow, as their actions seem to limit transparency rather than promote it.

In contrast, Fadnavis outlined his own connections with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), especially following BJPs losses in the recent Lok Sabha elections. He clarified that while the RSS does not officially support any political party, he regularly seeks guidance from its leaders to counter what he calls the anarchist forces" within Congress.

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Fadnavis stressed that BJPs current challenge is not simply against Congress but against anti-national elements that he believes have infiltrated the party. He emphasised that the Sangh Parivar and its affiliates are helping the BJP push back against this narrative, playing a vital role in the partys electoral strategy for Maharashtra.

Fadnavis statements underscore the ideological divide between BJP and Congress, with both parties striving to portray themselves as true defenders of Indias democratic values. While Congress projects itself as the protector of constitutional rights, Fadnavis accused it of hypocrisy, claiming that Gandhis actions contradict the partys stated principles. As Maharashtras elections approach, this ideological clash could shape public opinion and influence the states political future, making the outcome of these debates pivotal in determining the direction of Maharashtras governance.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 16:09 IST
As Donald Trump Returns To White House, Why US-China Economic War Could Be A Possibility

Curated By :

News18.com

Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 17:04 IST

Analysts believe Donald Trump will impose massive tariffs on China. These could be 60% across the board or even higher in the event that he eliminates Chinas Most Favoured Nation status

China could take steps to tank US markets and create a sense of panic if Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Beijing. (Image: Reuters File)

Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States on Wednesday in an extraordinary comeback for a former president. What does his return mean for the US foreign policy, particularly with China, which has largely been indifferent to both Harris and Trump this election?

Analysts believe that if Trump is elected as President, he will impose massive tariffs on China. These could be 60% across the board or even higher in the event that he eliminates Chinas Most Favored Nation (MFN) status. But Trump has recently been making fleeting remarks that he is open to negotiate with China.

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What Could China Expect Of Trumps Second Term?

In his second term, Trump could remove pharmaceutical manufacturing in China for the US market. He may attempt to acquire and protect key minerals required for high-tech manufacturing, and will certainly continue to strengthen his goal of bringing manufacturing back to the US, as per The Diplomat.

Every damn thing that they sell into the United States is going to have like a 25% (tariff) until they stop drugs from coming in. And let me tell you something, those drugs will stop so damn fast that your head will spin," Trump had said at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Trump would also likely introduce a witch hunt against anyone he considers a Chinese spy. This would not only bring both the economies close to a possible state of decoupling, but also disrupt more crucial scientific research. Both initiatives could endanger economic and scientific progress in the US and globally," as per a report by Brandeis University, a research university in Massachusetts, US.

How Trump Dealt Blows To China In The Past?

Not just tariffs, Trump went after China on genocide in Xinjiang and the National Security Law in Hong Kong censoring free speech in the former British colony. His administration had also blocked certain Chinese telecommunications companies from doing business in the US.

He also issued orders against Chinese officials engaged in human rights abuses, and blocked their access to property. The Executive Order issued by Trump determined Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently autonomous to justify differential treatment in relation to the Peoples Republic of China."

Just before leaving the office, Trump dealt a final blow to China when his secretary of state Mike Pompeo on January 19, 2021, had determined that China had committed genocide and crimes against humanity" through its repression of Muslim Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in northwest Xinjiang Province.

Between 2017 and 2021, the Trump administration issued no fewer than eight executive orders that primarily involved China, according to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

During that same period of time, the Trump administration issued seven more executive orders not directly focusing on China but affecting key policy areas relating to the China-US relationship. Another 116 China-related measures were taken by the Executive Branch during the years of Trumps presidency.

In early 2018, the Trump administration concluded its investigation into Chinese intellectual property rights and said it would impose tariffs on China if it did not immediately make concessions.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Trump believed that China allowed planes to take people out of Wuhan, people who had been the first to be exposed to the coronavirus, and to then fly them into locations all over the world.

What Are Chinese Leaders Considering Now?

The Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday reacted to Trumps win, saying its policy towards the US is consistent", and it will continue to handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation".

Barclays projects that a Trump presidency could force China into drastic measures. The report notes that top Chinese leaders are considering an extensive economic stimulus package, expected to be discussed during the ongoing National Peoples Congress (NPC) Standing Committee meeting, set to conclude on November 8.

The outcome of the meeting is anticipated to reveal specifics of the stimulus, marking Chinas preemptive response to possible intensification in US tariffs and trade restrictions under a renewed Trump administration.

The Economic Intelligence Unit (EUI) expects about 6 trillion yuan (US$844 billion) in special sovereign bonds for debt swaps and large bank recapitalisation, and 4 trillion yuan in special local government bonds for the acquisition of idle land and unsold housing inventory, primarily aimed at easing liquidity issues for developers.

If Trump is elected, the stimulus is likely to exceed this scale, or the NPC will issue a more proactive commitment," said Su Yue, principal economist for China at the EIU.

Last time China faced US tariffs, President Xi Jinping appointed Vice Premier Liu He to negotiate, but this time Xi might well authorize a disproportionate response.

As per a Foreign Policy report, Chinas first step would be to massively penalize a few Fortune 500 US companies. China could expand restrictions on exports of critical minerals and move forward with other export controls. It also could sell off $100 billion or more of its $775 billion in US Treasurys. Moreover, Beijing might act even more aggressively in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, raising anxieties about the prospects of a kinetic conflict".

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China could take these steps to tank US markets and create a sense of panic, which could lead some of Trumps business allies to fly to Washington and implore him to stabilise ties with Beijing, as per the Foreign Policy report.

But markets are underpricing the possibility of a flare up in US-China relations and an escalatory spiral as a result.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 13:42 IST
Can India Stamp Out Tuberculosis By 2025? How A Double-Digit Decline In Cases Presents A Positive Picture

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 15:04 IST

Experts believe decentralisation of healthcare services has been a top move, resulting in lowering TB cases in India. A WHO report says TB cases in India have dropped by 17%, still much higher than the global average of 8.3%

Experts believe that one of the most efficient ways to expand the testing network is by utilising RT-PCR technology for tuberculosis diagnosis. (Getty Images)

India has seen a remarkable decline in Tuberculosis cases as it fights the worlds highest TB burden tag. Indias 17.7% drop in TB cases, from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 195 in 2023, is still more than double the global average of 8.3%, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHOs Global TB Report 2024 report has recognised Indias major progress in reducing missed tuberculosis cases since 2015. While the WHO lowered its estimate of TB deaths in India last year, the latest report shows that India has continued to reduce TB deaths. The number has dropped from 28 deaths per lakh population to 22, a decline of 21.4%.

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The estimated incidence of TB in 2023 increased slightly to 27.8 lakh from the previous years estimate of 27.4 lakh.

The disease is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis which spreads when an infected individual coughs and releases bacteria into the air. Around a quarter of the worlds population is thought to have been infected with TB. After infection, the risk of developing the disease is highest in the first two years, at about 5%, and then becomes much lower.

How Is India Moving Close To Eliminating TB?

According to experts, decentralisation of healthcare services has been one of the top moves that has resulted in lowering TB cases in India.

An epidemiologist and former WHO consultant, Dr Kiran Kumar Rade, told News18 that India has made significant progress despite the challenges posed by Covid-19. The data shows that, when compared to the global average, India has fared well."

He said one of the most effective strategies India has adopted is the decentralisation of services, which has led to remarkable improvements in remote and rural areas. Decentralising services has been especially beneficial in addressing the challenge of diagnosis. For instance, it has helped increase the number of microscopy centers from 12,000 to 24,000 in the last 10 years."

As older technologies become outdated, India is also moving towards the wider adoption of rapid molecular testing technologies, such as CB-NAAT (Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) and TrueNAT.

Due to lower sensitivity, microscopy testing tends to miss half of the TB cases, and the early deployment of newer technologies will help reduce the burden of TB even further.

Healthcare initiatives such as the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme and the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan are helping in Indias goal to eliminate TB by 2025.

What Are TB Care Facilities In India?

In October 2024, the government announced an increase in financial support under the Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY), raising the amount from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month for each patient for the entire duration of treatment. The increased support will benefit families of 25 lakh TB patients, annually.

Additionally, the health ministry has expanded nutritional support to the household contacts of TB patients. They support the family members of patients by distributing food baskets to help boost their immunity. Under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in 2024 (Jan to 30 October) 54,448 new Ni-kshay Mitra have been registered and 8.3 lakh food baskets have been distributed. This initiative aims not only to reduce TB cases and deaths but also to lower the out-of-pocket expenses (OOPE) that TB patients and their families suffer.

In the coming days, significant improvement is likely to occur due to the latest initiatives. In September, the central government approved the introduction of the BPaLM regimena new, highly effective, and shorter treatment for Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) under the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP).

Traditional treatments for MDR-TB can take up to 20 months and sometimes come with severe side effects, whereas the BPaLM regimen offers a much shorter, six-month treatment with a high success rate. Now, 75,000 drug-resistant TB patients can benefit from this more effective and shorter regimen.

To prevent the spread of the disease, the adult BCG vaccination study, in collaboration with ICMR has been kickstarted. As of now, 14 states and union territories have started the program, and over 81.4 lakh doses have been administered.

What Should Be Done Next?

Despite the declining incidences, a few challenges still need attention, Sriram Natarajan, director and CEO of Molbio Diagnostics told News18. Goa-based Molbio is the maker of Indias first rapid molecular test for the diagnosis of pulmonary, extrapulmonary, and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis called Truenat platform.

Truenat is a WHO-approved and recommended point-of-care decentralised molecular test for tuberculosis globally. The recent WHO report sheds light on the considerable progress India is making in tackling tuberculosis, a testament to the ongoing efforts across the nation. With a 17.7% decline in TB cases, India has created momentum that reflects the efforts of decentralisation of healthcare services through over 1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandir across the country."

Though there is a significant push from India in combating both TB and its drug-resistant strains, the statistics presented emphasise the urgency and scale of the intervention required," he pointed out.

As per the TB Reports of India for 2022 and 2023, Truenat is the most prevalent molecular test for suspected tuberculosis cases."

Natarajan believes that India is not far from turning the tide against TB."

In terms of rapid molecular testing, India currently has around 6,500 GeneXpert and Truenat machines across India. In 2015, India stood at less than 1,200. Although India has expanded the network, it still needs at least 30,000 machines to ensure that testing is available at primary health centers nationwide, enabling early detection and helping to eliminate TB.

Additionally, Rade who is the international technical consultant on TB believes that India needs more digital chest X-rays. Relying primarily on symptoms means that we miss more than half of the cases. 2/3rd of symptomatics do not seek health care despite awareness efforts by the National TB Programme and Governments. However, if a digital chest X-ray is deployed for mass screening we can identify those who need rapid molecular testing."

In the WHO Report 2024, this is articulated, so that we can capture those missing TB cases including asymptomatic and double the detection rate; if we deploy digital chest x-ray machines."

Experts believe that one of the most efficient ways to expand the testing network is by utilising RT-PCR technology for TB diagnosis.

As we saw during the Covid-19 pandemic, this technology could be scaled quickly and can handle large numbers of samples. We only need to rapidly develop and deploy similar testing kits for TB and also use the existing infrastructure of RT-PCR machines for such testing," Rade said while adding that there is a growing need to develop sensitive simple screening tests for TB."

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But will India be able to eliminate TB by 2030  five years ahead of the global target?

India is on the right track to end TB by 2030. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has set us back, as it has for many countries. Nevertheless, we are doing our best and are on the right path," Rade said.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 15:04 IST
Israel: Why The Timing Of Netanyahu Sacking His Defence Minister Gallant Is Odd

Curated By :



Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 17:01 IST

The timing of the move came as a surprise as the US is busy with the presidential elections. And Gallant, who rose to the rank of general during a 35-year military career, had been a key interlocutor for Washington on the Gaza conflict

Experts believe Benjamin Netanyahu removed defence minister Yoav Gallant over disagreements on the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews, release of hostages and national inquiry into the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023. (Photo: Reuters File)

Amidst wars with Gaza and Lebanon, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired his defence minister Yoav Gallant, saying he has lost" trust in him over the management of Israels ongoing military operations.

Netanyahu appointed foreign minister Israel Katz to succeed Gallant. The 69-year-old Katz was a junior officer in the military decades ago and has little military experience, though he has been a key member of Netanyahus Security Cabinet over the years. Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu rival who rejoined the government in September, will take the foreign affairs post.

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Why Was Gallant Removed?

Netanyahu said beyond differing opinions, a crisis of trust gradually opened  and this crisis does not allow for the normal continuation of the management of the campaign. In light of this, I decided today to terminate the term of office of the Minister of Defence," he said in a statement.

Both Gallant and Netanyahu, who belong to the right-wing Likud party, have clashed for months over Israels 13-month-old war in Gaza against Hamas, and many expected the PM to sack him sooner or later.

The timing of the move came as a surprise as the US had been consumed by the presidential elections. And Gallant, who rose to the rank of general during a 35-year military career, had been a key interlocutor for Washington over the last year of conflict.

A representative for the White Houses National Security Council, quoted by BBC, said on Tuesday: Minister Gallant has been an important partner on all matters related to the defence of Israel. As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israels next minister of defence."

The shake-up comes as Israels campaigns in both Gaza and Lebanon  where it is waging an offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah  have entered new phases, following the killing of both groups top commanders. Israel is also bracing for Iran to respond to its October 26 air strikes on the Islamic Republic.

What Is Gallants View?

Gallant said, The security of the state of Israel always was and will always remain my lifes mission." He later released a full statement on Tuesday night saying his removal from office had been the result of disagreement on three issues".

He believed there should be no exceptions for military service, a national inquiry into the security failures in the Hamas-led attack on Israel was required, and the 100 Israeli hostages unaccounted for more than a year should be brought back as soon as possible.

After Gallants dismissal, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group urged Katz to prioritise a hostage deal to secure the immediate release of all hostages".

The former defence minister has been unhappy at plans to continue to allow Israels Ultra Orthodox citizens to be exempt from serving in the military.

He said the war in Gaza lacked clear direction, while Netanyahu reiterated that fighting could not cease until Hamas was wiped out as a governing entity and military force in the region.

There had been open disagreements between Netanyahu and Gallant for months regarding the war in Gaza, reflecting a wider split between Israels right-wing governing coalition and the military, which has long favoured reaching a deal to end the fighting.

Last year, shortly before the Gaza conflict erupted in October 2023, Netanyahu had dismissed Gallant due to political differences over the governments plans to overhaul Israels judicial system, but after mass protests the prime minister reinstated him.

What Could Have Been Netanyahus Real Motive?

Jonathan Rynhold of the political studies department at Bar-Ilan University said Netanyahu was feeling emboldened because he is improving in the polls". He is also taking advantage of the fact that the US election is happening today everyones focus is elsewhere," he told AFP.

Aviv Bushinsky, a political commentator and former Netanyahu chief of staff, said Gallants dismissal was just a matter of time". I cannot recall an incident when Israel Katz was in opposition to Netanyahu," he said. Besides, Netanyahu thinks he can run the show himself."

Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers, who provide critical support in Netanyahus coalition, have opposed measures to draft their constituents, even as Israeli casualties in Gaza and Lebanon mount. Had Gallant succeeded in advancing his position, it could have put Netanyahus coalition at risk.

Protests In Israel

The demonstration erupted soon in Tel Aviv after Netanyahus office announced the sacking of Gallant on Tuesday. Thousands of people took to the streets, chanting slogans against Netanyahu and demanding the return of 97 hostages held in Gaza.

Protesters blocked traffic and lit fires, with some wearing Bring them home now!" T-shirts referring to the hostages.

They held up signs with slogans such as We deserve better leaders" and Leaving no one behind!", and one protester wore handcuffs and a face mask with Netanyahus likeness.

Multiple highways and junctions were blocked and protests were also reported from Jerusalem and Haifa. According to Ynet News, by 1:30 am (local time), over 40 protesters were arrested in Tel Aviv.

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Meanwhile, the Israeli police said they are taking measures to ensure security across the country. The Israel Police are present at protest locations across the country in substantial numbers, ensuring security and maintaining public order. Their objective is to balance protestors legitimate right to protest and the general freedom of movement for all," Israel Police said in a statement.

(with inputs from Reuters)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 16:57 IST
CBI Must Probe Waqf Scam: Former Karnataka Minorities Chairman | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 16:37 IST

CM Siddaramaiah should seek a CBI probe. If he is not willing, the centre should launch a CBI probe," says Anwar Manippady

Anwar Manippady had first submitted a 7,000-page report on the alleged Wakf scam in 2012. (X)

Anwar Manippady, former chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission, has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged corruption within the Karnataka Waqf board, insisting that powerful figures have robbed farmers and innocent Muslims of their rightful land.

CM Siddaramaiah and the ruling Congress should seek a CBI probe. If he is not willing, the central government should launch a CBI probe. If Siddaramaiah or the Congress have nothing to hide, why not get this report investigated in the interest of the farmers of the state," asked Manippady, who first brought to light the alleged corruption.

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According to Manippady, his report unveiled a web of corruption that ran into close to Rs 2.35 crore. He had first submitted a 7,000-page report on the alleged scam in 2012. He said that the misuse of Waqf land needs a thorough investigation, which can only be carried out by a central agency like the CBI.

The report was tabled in 2020 by then chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader BS Yediyurappa, but later went into cold storage. The Waqf board exists to benefit the poor, yet those within it have looted the wealth intended for their community. If these properties had been managed correctly, and investigations had been conducted in time, corruption and poverty would not have been issues for Muslims in Karnataka. No Muslim would have been poor in Karnataka."

VIJAYPURA ROW, BOMMAI CLIP, CONGRESS ATTACK

Manippady told News18 that Waqf properties have been diverted by powerful individuals within and outside the board, and only a CBI inquiry can unearth the scam. He said that the visit of the chairman of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for amendment to the Waqf law, Jagadambika Pal, to Vijayapura to hear the grievances of the farmers will clear the air on the actual defaulters.

A row broke out as plots under farmers names were allegedly marked as Waqf property in Vijayapura. On October 10, a Waqf adalat led the Vijayapura district administration to issue 124 notices over Waqf board properties in possession of 433 individuals. Two taluks in Vijayapura district, Indi and Chadachan, recorded changes in land ownership documents, marking a mutation" in their official records.

This was highlighted by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya in the background of the JPC hearings on the bill to amend the powers of the Waqf board, leading to heated exchanges between the opposition and ruling government at the Centre as well.

The Congress in Karnataka attacked the BJPs agitation by pointing out that similar notices were served during the partys rule in the state. Siddaramaiah said that under BJP rule in the state, notices were issued in 216 cases as part of the process to reclaim land owned by the Waqf board.

An alleged video clip of BJP MP and former CM Basavaraj Bommai, shared by the CMO and also circulated on social media platforms, shows him describing Waqf land as Khuda ki property (property of God)" at an event of the board.

It is Gods work when you have to deal with the Waqf. If that is looted, if anything goes amiss, and you turn a blind eye (for when the property is looted), His eyes will be on you, and you will be more guilty in the eyes of God than those who loot the land," he allegedly says in the clip, adding that more than Rs 2,000-crore Waqf properties are registered in the names of private individuals.

The Congress has also pointed to a promise made by the BJP in its 2014 election manifesto to empower Waqf boards in consultation with religious leaders; taking steps to remove encroachments from and unauthorised occupation of Waqf properties".

The BJP quickly latched on to the issue, alleging that the Waqf board had served notices over 1,200 acres of land cultivated by local farmers. BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, known for his controversial statements, condemned the notices as oppressive and vowed to challenge them legally. He also sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for nationalisation of Waqf properties, which he claimed were being unlawfully seized from farmers, landowners, temples, and trusts.

MANIPPADY EXPLAINS THE MUTAWALLI FACTOR

The modus operandi Manippady described involves Mutawallis  the caretakers or managers of Waqf properties. When a donor dedicates land for Waqf purposes, they typically appoint a Mutawalli to manage it. This appointment often becomes hereditary, with family members passing the role through generations. Some Mutawallis manage the property themselves, while others appoint committees. But, according to Manippady, these custodians of Waqf lands have allegedly exploited their roles, joining hands with officials to sell properties  public assets intended to benefit the community  for their financial gain.

These properties are not personal assets. But whats happening is outright looting. The very people entrusted to preserve these lands have sold them off. Thats why it needs to be highlighted and investigated properly," Manippady said.

When asked who the main encroachers are and how the Waqf lands could be recovered, Manippady said, There are plenty of encroachers. Many of them are well-known individuals or connected parties. These people, or their associates, have bought or sold Waqf land, making enormous profits." He alleged that a former Congress minister who has passed away, Qamarul Islam, allegedly subdivided properties for sale of the Waqf.

Manippady has alleged that several politicians in Karnataka, including former union ministers such as Rahman Khan and C. M. Ibrahim, MLAs such as N. A. Haris, the late Qamarul Islam, and even the present AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, were involved in this alleged misuse of Waqf lands.

Manippady claimed that Waqf properties were written under benami names of their family members and that they have made crores out of it. They even registered them under family members names.

For instance, N. A. Haris has properties listed under his wifes and mothers names, and C. M. Ibrahims assets appear under his wifes name," he alleged.

Pointing out that Kharge allegedly acquired a significant property in Kalaburgi, which includes a large mall with hundreds of flats, he added, Its all done through benami names."

HIS PARTYS DELAY, CONGRESSS APPROACH

Then Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda had sent Manippadys 2012 report to the Lokayukta for further investigation. However, little progress has been made since, acknowledged Manippady.

The report was tabled only years later, in 2020, under then Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa. Asked about his partys inaction once it assumed power, Manippady reacted, Yes, my party should have re-initiated the investigation. They missed a significant chance to expose the culprits. I dont know why they didnt pursue itperhaps they didnt see the importance."

There may be some cases where Hindu names appear on Waqf lands that were illegally sold. There could be some names that belong to Hindu farmers that may have come up accidentally on the Waqf release. Some property that was sold illegally was obtained in a Hindu farmers name. They should trace back to the first gazette, check it, and see if it belongs to Waqf or not," said Manippady.

For instance, an 8-acre plot in Bharatpur may have 4 acres sold illegally. In the next gazette notification, the property number now becomes 129 (A) Bharatpur, which belongs to Waqf, and 129 (B) belongs to the person it was sold to. It splits into separate names of the original and new owners, he explained.

The dispute over Waqf land has been fuelled by the centres proposed amendments to Waqf land regulations, which have drawn support from the Karnataka BJP. The party recently conducted state-wide protests, with opposition leader R. Ashok describing the Vijayapura notices as land jihad" and demanding the resignation of Waqf minister Khan.

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With the upcoming bypolls in Karnataka and elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar, have accused the BJP of exploiting the issue to gain political mileage.

Manippady responded to this by saying that it is sad that the Congress sees political opportunism in every move, rather than taking action". This is not a trivial issue. People have a right to know where the wealth intended for the welfare of their community has gone. If this corruption isnt addressed, the cycle will continue, and the poor will suffer," he said.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 16:36 IST
Digital Arrest Scams: Skype Enables Live Warnings, Disables Major Fake Police Handles

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Nitya Thirumalai



Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 09:53 IST

The live warnings have reportedly been implemented at the request of the government and will be triggered by certain keywords. The warning will also advise users to report suspicious messages and provides options to report and block such handles

The live warnings have reportedly been implemented at the request of the government and will be triggered by certain keywords. (Getty Images)

Indian legal authorities will NEVER contact you on Skype". This is one of the warnings that may pop up when you hop onto Skype next. Amid rising instances of digital arrest scams, the popular video calling application has informed the Government of India that it has implemented live warnings on its platform for users and is also cracking down on handles that impersonate law enforcement agencies like police.

The live warnings have reportedly been implemented at the request of the government and will be triggered by certain keywords. The warning will also advise users to report suspicious messages and provides the following options:

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Report suspicious messages: Right-click or long-press to report

Control incoming calls: Limit calls to your contacts in Settings > Privacy

Block unwanted users: Go to Profile > Block Contact

A senior government official told News18 that major fake police handles impersonating Narcotics Control Bureau, CBI, Enforcement Directorate and other police agencies have been disabled. However, the official noted that this step may not be enough, as cyber fraudsters can easily create new accounts.

We have provided a list of various accounts used to scam Indians. The list contains over 100 such accounts. The major accounts have been disabled, and legal action has already been initiated against them. We have requested the company to provide details of the mobile numbers associated with these accounts," another official familiar with the development told News18.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised serious concerns over the recent cases of digital arrest scams used to dupe people in the country.

  Digital Arrest      Scam          Digital        ,     . #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/mnjzD7bOLo Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 27, 2024

He had cautioned citizens about the increasing number of such incidents and assured them that no law enforcement agency would contact them to extort money.

What is Digital Arrest?

In digital arrest scams, scammers call victims with their personal information to appear legitimate. They impersonate police officers, government officials, or agencies and often appear sporting fake uniforms and fake ID cards. The office in the background is also set up to make the victim believe they are dealing with real law enforcement officers.

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The scammer then informs the victim that they are involved in an ongoing case and must immediately report to a police station or court. They claim the case requires urgent attention and tell the victim that they cannot leave, referring to it as a digital arrest".

They wait for the moment when the scared victim asks them how they can make the case go away. The scammer then asks for money to resolve the case, and the victim, believing the threat is real, sends the money and gets scammed.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 09:37 IST
J&K Assembly Passes Resolution Seeking Restoration Of Article 370 Amid Uproar

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 12:30 IST

The resolution was moved by the Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary and NC leader and minister Sakina Masood seconded the move.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and others during ruckus erupted after PDP MLA Waheed Para introduced a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370, in Srinagar (PTI)

The Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution seeking a dialogue between the Central government and elected representatives for restoration of Article 370 granting special status to the erstwhile state.

The house proceedings were adjourned for an hour after it witnessed the ruckus and protests held by the opposition BJP, who tore copies of the document. The BJP MLAs stormed the well of the House and are camping there, news agency PTI reported.

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The resolution, which also expressed concern" over the unilateral removal" of the special status, was passed without any debate as the Speaker put it to voice vote amidst the chaos.

Read Here: J&K Wouldnt Have Been In Current Situation Had Vajpayees Approach Been Adopted: Omar Abdullah

The resolution was moved by the Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary and National Conference leader and minister Sakina Masood seconded the move.

That this legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal," the resolution said.

This Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of J&K for restoration of special status, Constitutional guarantees and to work out the Constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions. This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of J&K," it added.

Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Sunil Sharma, resented the move saying it was not part of the listed business. We reject the resolution. The Business given to us was that the discussion is on the Lieutenant governors address," he said.

The LoP said there is a rat race among parties here but they all know nothing is going to happen. The Act has been passed by the biggest temple of democracy in the country (Parliament), he added.

BJPs MLAs holds strong protest in J&K Assembly over the passing of resolution by NC on restoration of Article 370. pic.twitter.com/bkDj3wbX5l BJP Jammu & Kashmir (@BJP4JnK) November 6, 2024

Chaos erupted after BJPs opposition to the resolution. BJP members tore the copies of the resolution and threw the pieces into the well of the House.

Amidst the din, MLA Langate, Sheikh Khursheed, tried to rush to the well, but was prevented by the assembly marshals.

NC members raised slogans that the resolution be passed while Congress MLA from Bandipora, Nizamuddin Bhat, said the BJP members have done a dishonour to the House and have violated the rules.

Independent MLAs Sheikh Khurshid Ahmed, Shabir Ahmad, Sajad Lone of the Peoples Conference (PC) and three MLAs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supported the resolution.

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Articles 370 and 35A were abrogated by the Union government on August 5, 2019, and the power of the Parliament to do so was upheld by a Constitutional bench of the Supreme Court.

(With inputs from agencies)

Location : Srinagar, India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 12:07 IST
News / National

by Staff reporter

Villagers in the Insiza North constituency are growing increasingly frustrated with their Member of Parliament, Farai Taruvinga, as concerns mount over his prolonged absence from Parliament since his swearing-in last September.Taruvinga, a gold baron who won the House of Assembly seat on a Zanu-PF ticket, has not attended any parliamentary sittings since his formal induction on September 6, 2023. This has led to calls for his resignation or expulsion, with many questioning his commitment to his constituents and the duties he was elected to perform.Villagers, some of whom spoke anonymously to NewZimbabwe.com, have expressed dissatisfaction with Taruvinga's neglect of both his parliamentary responsibilities and his constituency. "We do not know if Taruvinga is still representing us anymore because he has missed over 100 Parliament sittings and has not even come back to us, just to hear out any of our grievances," one villager stated, adding that promises made during the campaign had not been fulfilled.Under the Zimbabwean constitution, an MP can only miss 21 consecutive sittings without formal leave. After this, Parliament is required to vote on whether the seat should be declared vacant. The issue has raised questions about the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, and his responsibility to act on Taruvinga's absence. "Mudenda should have, by now, announced Taruvinga's exit from Parliament according to the constitution," said another concerned villager.Section 129(f) of the Zimbabwean constitution stipulates that if an MP is absent for 21 consecutive sittings without leave, and Parliament resolves by a majority vote to declare the seat vacant, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) must call for a by-election.Taruvinga's situation is complicated by ongoing health issues. Reports indicate that he is battling Stage 4 Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, and has been receiving regular chemotherapy treatment. Sources close to him have suggested that his medical condition, which requires frequent hospital visits, has made it impossible for him to perform his parliamentary duties.In addition to his health struggles, Taruvinga is embroiled in legal disputes, including a court case over an alleged failure to service a US$1.7 million debt that has since ballooned to US$3.6 million. These factors have only fueled further criticism of his leadership and his continued absence from the public eye.As pressure continues to mount on Taruvinga to either return to his duties or vacate his seat, the people of Insiza North remain in limbo, uncertain of when they will see the representation they were promised. The growing discontent has led to a call for immediate action, with many constituents urging Speaker Mudenda and ZEC to address the issue without further delay.
Kerala Lottery Result, November 7 & November 6, 2024 (Today & Yesterday): Fifty Fifty FF-116 Winners Announced; Full List Here!

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 07, 2024, 14:34 IST

Kerala Lottery Results: Here's FULL LIST of winning numbers for Fifty Fifty FF-116 lucky draw for Wednesday, November 6.

Kerala Lottery Fifty Fifty FF-116 Result: The first prize winner of Fifty Fifty FF-116 will get Rs 1 crore. (Image: Shutterstock)

KERALA LOTTERY FIFTY FIFTY FF-116 RESULT ON WEDNESDAY, 6.11.2024, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Fifty Fifty-FF-116 lucky draw for Wednesday, November 6, at 3 pm. The draw was held at Gorky Bhavan, near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. Participant with ticket number FU 167165 won the first prize of Rs 1 crore. The ticket was sold at Ernakulam by an agent, Joseph PA (Agency No.: E 6948). Check the full list of winning numbers below.

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today 7.11.2024: Karunya Plus KN-546 Winners Soon; First Prize Rs 80 Lakh!

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FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR FIFTY-FIFTY FF-116 LOTTERY

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 1 CRORE IS FU 167165 (ERNAKULAM)

Agent Name: JOSEPH P A

Agency No.: E 6948

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKH IS FV 804207 (ERNAKULAM)

Agent Name: THARA

Agency No.: E 7379

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE

0185 0813 1111 1434 1491

2056 3274 3484 3495 3694

4010 4231 4289 4371 4521

4617 5899 6153 6202 7490

7579 8133 9910

WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE

FN 167165

FO 167165

FP 167165

FR 167165

FS 167165

FT 167165

FV 167165

FW 167165

FX 167165

FY 167165

FZ 167165

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE

3481 3942 4096 4329 4769

4839 4852 4862 5406 6312

8280 8465

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE

0538 0979 1492 2111 2136

2987 3239 3651 3721 3787

5414 5510 5856 6281 6488

6875 7430 7436 7971 8302

9487 9502 9522 9703

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE

0101 0177 0281 0423 0517

0518 0608 0610 0781 0804

1150 1158 1198 1254 1399

1938 1974 2114 2199 2232

2242 2391 2428 2643 2692

2721 2731 2922 2923 2977

3080 3323 3427 3600 3656

3664 4049 4087 4091 4428

4554 4574 4687 4975 5056

5177 5233 5369 5373 5570

5837 5887 6076 6146 6185

6332 6366 6381 6446 6537

6755 6825 6864 7115 7177

7292 7462 7701 7916 8006

8393 8492 8626 8627 8734

8830 9071 9079 9126 9154

9180 9196 9206 9218 9220

9295 9497 9546 9554 9602

9605 9769 9838 9893 9927

9995

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE

0336 0366 0376 0564 0573

0625 0631 0685 0890 0895

0919 1129 1191 1279 1333

1447 1517 1550 1557 1608

1803 1839 1952 2026 2049

2078 2228 2272 2295 2362

2431 2496 2607 2627 2629

2637 3020 3152 3244 3257

3573 3659 3850 3964 4034

4115 4284 4385 4391 4502

4582 4600 4606 4619 4744

4791 4827 4878 4911 4916

4934 5074 5092 5096 5188

5382 5410 5541 5559 5603

5687 5794 5903 6023 6090

6109 6360 6432 6647 6657

6664 6785 6822 6883 6891

6921 7140 7219 7280 7362

7368 7422 7443 7453 7503

7547 7584 7598 7611 7687

7750 7754 7803 7821 7827

8000 8057 8178 8208 8283

8382 8474 8599 8810 8819

8825 8953 8973 9038 9129

9201 9400 9500 9639 9837

9983

HOW TO CONFIRM KERALA FIFTY-FIFTY FF-116 LOTTERY RESULTS?

To verify if you have won the Kerala Fifty-Fifty FF-116 Lottery, go to the official Kerala Lottery Department website, www.keralalottery.info. Another option is to visit the Kerala Government Gazette office and cross-check your ticket numbers against the officially announced results of the draw.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY?

Check your eligibility for the Kerala Fifty-Fifty FF-116 Lottery award by comparing your ticket number to the draw results published in the Kerala Government Gazette.

If both numbers match, you have won. Winners must pick up their rewards from the Kerala Lottery headquarters in Gorky Bhavan within 30 days of the results being declared.

To expedite the verification process, winners must submit both their winning ticket and a valid form of identification.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO CLAIM PRIZE MONEY?

Self-attested winning ticket.

Two passport-size photographs attested by a Gazetted officer.

A signed copy of the participants PAN card.

Completed online prize claim form with revenue stamp.

Identification documents such as PAN cards, Aadhaar and voter IDs.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD A PDF WITH A FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS?

Go to www.keralalotteries.info or keralalotteryresult.net, the official website of the Kerala Lottery Department.

Select the link for Fifty Fifty FF-116 Result.

Winning numbers should now be visible on your screen.

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Locate the download link on the web page.

Click on the link to get the lottery results in PDF format.

Location : Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 09:00 IST
News18 Evening Digest: Donald Trump Wins US Presidential Polls, Delivers First Address & Other Top Stories

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 18:23 IST

We are also covering India's upcoming tour of Australia for Test series, man's post on Kolkata goes viral and other top stories.

Trump will surpass Biden who is set to step down in January at the age of 82. (Photo: AP)

In todays evening digest, News18 brings the latest updates on US Election 2024 Results, Donald Trumps first address after historic victory, and other top stories.

Donald Trumps Kamala Harris In Historic White House Return, Becomes 47th US President

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Donald Trump has won the US presidential election, defeating Kamala Harris in a stunning political comeback that sent shock waves across the world. Read more

I Will Stop Wars, Make America The Greatest: Trump Claims US Election Win In Rousing Speech

Donald Trump vowed to end wars and make America the greatest while addressing his supporters in Floridas Palm Beach on election night, as he claimed win in a thrilling race for the White House. Read more

Who Is Usha Chilukuri Vance, Set to Become First Indian-Origin Second Lady Of US?

As Donald Trump addressed a roaring crowd of his supporters at Palm Beach County Convention Centre in Florida ahead of a historic election victory, he heaped praise on his running mate JD Vance and his Indian-American wife Usha Chilukuri Vance. Read more

India Will Win A Test But: Ricky Ponting Makes Prediction For Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has made his predictions for the upcoming five-match Test series between India and Australia. Read more

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Kolkata Is The Dirtiest City In India: Vizag Man Gives Scathing Review to West Bengal Capital

Kolkata is the dirtiest city in India," wrote a man from Vizag in a controversial thread on X (formerly Twitter) following his recent visit to West Bengals capital. Read more

First Published: November 06, 2024, 18:23 IST
Chhath Puja 2024: What Is Kharna Or Lohanda? Significance, Rituals And Muhurat

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 07, 2024, 07:43 IST

The second day of Chhath Puja is called Kharna. Devotees observe a strict fast from morning until evening. They prepare dishes like kheer to offer as Prasad to Surya Dev.

Kharna (Lohanda) will be celebrated on November 6, 2024. (Image: Shutterstock)

Chhath Puja, a four-day Hindu festival, is celebrated to honor Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. This festival, observed predominantly in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha, involves devotees fasting and performing rituals to seek blessings for longevity, prosperity, and good health for their families.

Chhathi Maiya, regarded as the sister of Surya and daughter of Brahma, is believed to bestow health and longevity upon children when honoured by devotees.

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ALSO READ: Happy Chhath Puja Wishes 2024: Chhath Wishes, Images, Messages and Greetings to Share

The festival begins with Nahay Khay," a day of cleansing, where devotees prepare for the fast with a simple meal.

This is followed by Kharna," where devotees fast the entire day and break it only after sunset with offerings. This year Kharna will be celebrated on November 6, 2024. Sunrise is scheduled for 06:37 AM, and sunset is scheduled for 05:32 PM.

The main rituals include Sandhya Arghya" (evening offerings) and Usha Arghya" (morning offerings to the rising sun), performed by standing in water to offer prayers.

In 2024, Chhath Puja falls from November 5 to November 8, with the primary offerings occurring on November 7 and 8.

What Is Kharna Or Lohanda?

On the second day of Chhath Puja, devotees, known as vratis, observe the ritual of Kharna or Lohanda, which involves a rigorous daylong fast without food or water from sunrise to sunset.

This fast is considered a purifying step, as vratis pray for blessings of health and prosperity from the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.

As part of the Kharna ritual, a special offering called Rasiya Kheer is prepared, a rice pudding made with ghee, jaggery (known as gud), and arwa chawal (a type of raw rice).

ALSO READ: Chhath Puja Calendar 2024: Day-Wise Schedule, Muhurat, And Sunrise, Sunset Timings

After the sunset, the fast is broken by consuming Rasiya Kheer, which is first offered as prasad to Chhathi Maiya and Surya Devta, and then shared with family members as part of the observance.

This offering represents devotion and gratitude and is a cherished tradition of the Chhath Puja festivities.

Chhath Puja 2024: What Is Kharna Or Lohanda?

After a day of nirjala fasting, a solitary supper of Rasiya kheer and roti or puri is consumed by devotees on Kharna or Lohanda, the second day of the Chhath Puja celebration, after sunset.

Women who observe the fast on Kharna get up early and prepare for the festivals next two days by gathering fruits such as Daab Nimbu (sweet lime), Ganna (sugar cane), Sharifa (custard apple), and Singhara (water chestnut) to be offered to Chhathi Maiyya and Sun God.

They do this after taking a bath.

Rasiya kheer and roti, the final meal before the 36-hour fast, are consumed by Vratis in the evening following the puja. The fasting period, also called Lohanda, lasts eight to twelve hours.

Shubh Muhurat For Day 2 of Chhath

Sunrise: 6:37 AM

Sunset: 5:32 PM

After sunset, the fast on Kharna can be broken.

Sandhya Arghya (November 7) and Usha Arghya (November 8) are the final two days of Chhath Puja after Kharna, when arghya is offered to the setting and rising suns, respectively. During this phase, women go 36 hours without eating or drinking. Following the arghya in the morning, Chhath Puja comes to an end.

Chhath Puja 2024 (Day 2): Rituals

Kharna (Lohanda) is celebrated on the second day.

Families participating in Chhath Vratis are required to take a bath every day because the celebration adheres to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

Devotees follow a full-day fast and concentrate on maintaining both internal and exterior cleanliness on the auspicious day. After worshipping the sun god in the sunset, devotees call it a day.

Throughout the day, devotees practice a rigorous fast, not even drinking water (nirjala vrat). They spend the day preparing the kharna, or evening offering.

Rituals state that the deity is offered Kharna (jaggery, rice and milk pudding), fruits and chapati (whole wheat bread) before it is shared with family and neighbours.

The devotee fasts for 36 hours after the evening meal, going without food or water until the fourth days daybreak. After eating the prasad on the second day, the third day of fasting starts.

Chhath Puja 2024 (Day 2): Significance

Kharna, also called Lohana, is particularly important during the Chhath celebration. Purification is what kharna means.

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On the first day, Nahay Khay, bathing and eating are said to cleanse the body; on the second day, Kharna, the focus is thought to be on cleaning the soul and mind.

Vratis do a strenuous nirjala vrat on this day, which lasts from sunrise to sunset without drinking any water. In the evening, they pray to Chhatthi Maiya. In the evening, however, Vratis break their fast by eating Kharna prasad, which is Kheer composed of arwa chawal and jaggery (gud).

First Published: November 06, 2024, 06:10 IST
Akansha Ranjan Is A US Citizen? Alia Bhatt's Bestie Raises Eyebrows After She Votes In 2024 US Elections

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 08:48 IST

Is Akansha Ranjan an American citizen? The Bollywood star raised questions about her citizenship after she cast her vote in the US elections 2024.

Akansha Ranjan casts her vote in the US Elections 2024.

Bollywood actress Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, who is also Alia Bhatts best friend, has everyone questioning her citizenship after she revealed she voted in the 2024 United States Elections. In the wee hours of Wednesday (evening in the US), Akansha took to her Instagram Stories and shared a video in which she revealed she has cast her vote in the US Presidential Elections. She also revealed who she is siding with.

Taking to her Stories, Akansha shared a video in which she sported a sticker that denoted she has cast her vote. She added a gif featuring Kamala Harris, hinting that she has voted for the Democratic Vice-President. Check out her post below:

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The post has seemingly confirmed that Akansha is not an Indian but an American citizen. Although her citizenship is still a subject of discussion and only Akansha will be able to shed light on it, Akansha has done her schooling in India. The actress, who is the daughter of actor and film producer Shashi Ranjan and Anu Ranjan, the Founder of The Indian Television Academy, grew up in Mumbai.

Speaking with Filmfare in 2020, Akansha revealed she was born in Mumbai and did her schooling in Jamnabai Narsee School, where she met Alia. Theyve been friends for over two and a half decades now. Akansha also had a cameo in Alias recently released film, Jigra.

Ive been born and brought up in Mumbai. I attended Jamnabai Narsee School in Juhu. Then I joined Whistling Woods ITA School of Performing Arts, Mumbai where I did a diploma in Acting," she revealed at the time. She made her acting debut in Guilty, produced by Karan Johar.

Meanwhile, the voting for the US Elections concluded on Tuesday, November 5. Several international stars including Beyonce, Gigi Hadid, Demi Lovato and Katy Perry were seen making their way to the polling booths and casting their votes.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 08:47 IST
Anne Hathaway Sparks 'Political Debate' With Her US Election 2024 Vote, Question Her 'Dual Citizenship'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 11:27 IST

Anne Hathaway cast her vote during the US Election 2024. The actress voted for Kamala Harris.

Anne Hathaway revealed she voted for Kamala Harris.

Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway recently revealed that she has cast her vote in the 2024 US Presidential Election. The Idea of You star took to social media to announce her support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Alongside her voting update, Anne touched on her reasons for choosing Harris, specifically mentioning her stance on abortion rights, an issue currently at the center of political discourse in the United States.

On Tuesday, Anne shared a selfie on Instagram, showing that she had voted, along with headlines highlighting the impact of recent changes to abortion laws on womens rights. She hinted that her motivation to vote was influenced by these developments, a key issue Harris has addressed in her campaign.

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In another post, Anne wrote, I voted like half the countrys lives depended on it. I voted for Kamala Harris." While her message aimed to convey her strong stance, social media users playfully referenced her fictional Genovian citizenship" from The Princess Diaries.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anne Hathaway (@annehathaway)

One user on X humorously questioned, Not to start political drama, but why is the queen of another government voting in our election???" This sparked a wave of jokes among fans. Comments rolled in with quips like, Genovia allows her to have dual citizenship," and She voted with a VPN Kamalas impact." Another fan added, You know its serious when Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, queen of Genovia, is voting for America!"

Former US President Donald Trump has secured victories in 15 states in Tuesdays presidential election, while Democratic candidate Kamala Harris captured seven states along with Washington, D.C., according to projections by Edison Research at the time of reporting. However, the overall result remains undecided. Key battleground states may take hours or even days to finalize.

As of now, Harris has accumulated 182 electoral votes, while Trump leads with 246. The winning threshold to claim the presidency is 270 electoral votes.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 11:27 IST
Divya Bharti Was 'Sad' A Night Before She Fell To Her Death, Reveals Guddi Maruti: 'She Had To Go...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 14:48 IST

Divya Bharti tragically passed away on April 5, 1993, at the age of 19. She fell from the balcony of her fifth-floor apartment in Mumbai.

Divya Bharti Was 'Sad' A Night Before She Fell To Her Death, Reveals Guddi Maruti: 'She Had To Go...'

The untimely death of Bollywood actress Divya Bharti in 1993 left the nation in shock. At just 19, she fell from her fifth-floor apartment balcony in Mumbai on April 5, leading to much speculation. Her husband, producer Sajid Nadiadwala, was initially accused, but actress Guddi Maruti recently dispelled the murder rumours.

In a chat with Siddharth Kannan, Guddi described Divya as a nice girl" with a wild streak, living each day intensely. She recalled a party they attended with Govinda, Sajid and others the night before Divyas death. Guddi noticed Divya seemed a bit down and hesitant about an upcoming outdoor shoot. At that time she was seeing Sajid Nadiadwala. This was the time we were shooting for Shola Aur Shabnam. She died on the night of April 5 and April 4 is my birthday. So, we all were partying together  Govinda, Divya, Sajid and others. She was okay at the party but I felt she was a little sad. She had to go for an outdoor shoot but she didnt want to," she recalled.

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Guddi Maruti shared a memorable moment involving Divya Bharti. She was on her way to get ice cream when she heard her name being called from above. Looking up, she saw Divya sitting on the edge of her 5th-floor balcony, legs swinging over the side as she waved down to Guddi. I told her its not safe and that she should get inside. She told me, Kuch nahi hota (Nothing will happen). She wasnt scared of heights. I got scared just looking at her," Guddi added.

Guddi Maruti shared details about the tragic night when Divya Bharti fell from her apartment. According to Guddi, Divya had leaned out of her window to check if Sajids car had arrived when she lost her balance and fell. Designer Neeta Lulla was also reportedly there and witnessed Divyas fall. Uske mummy ka haal bura tha. Sajid was like gone. He was in a bad shape. He wasnt even home when the incident happened," she said.

Divya Bharti was a promising Bollywood star in the early 1990s. Starting her career at just 16, she quickly became popular with hits like Vishwatma and Shola Aur Shabnam, winning over fans with her lively performances. In 1992 alone, she starred in over a dozen films, including some in Tamil and Telugu. Her final movie, Rang, released after her tragic death.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 14:48 IST
Nivin Pauly REACTS As He Receives Clean Chit From Kerala Police In Rape Case: 'Gratitude To Everyone Who...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 21:20 IST

Actor Nivin Pauly has been exonerated in the rape case filed against him in September, with Kerala police officially clearing him of all charges.

Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly has reacted to being absolved of charges in rape case.

Actor Nivin Pauly has been exonerated in the rape case filed against him in September, with Kerala police officially clearing him of all charges. Following the investigation, the SIT team revealed that they had thoroughly reviewed his emigration records, credit card transactions, and other travel details, which did not align with the allegations. Consequently, Nivin was removed from the list of accused. Expressing his gratitude, the actor took to Instagram to thank everyone who stood by him during this challenging time. Many fans left supportive comments on his post, and actors like Shwetha Menon and Saniya Iyappan showed their happiness with heart emojis.

Nivin wrote, Heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stood by me. Thank you for all the love, prayers and support."

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Onmanorama reported the SIT investigation as saying, We scrutinised his (Nivins) emigration details, credit card transaction records and other travel details. The findings didnt corroborate the allegations and hence we decided to remove his name from the accused list."

On November 6, Kerala police cleared Nivin Pauly of all charges after it was confirmed that he was not present at the location of the alleged incident at the time it was said to have occurred. As a result, Nivin, who had been named the sixth accused, was formally exonerated. This was outlined in a report submitted by DYSP Kothamangalam to the First Class Magistrate Court.

The case first came to light in September when the complainant brought her allegations to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed after the release of the Hema Committee report on sexual misconduct in the film industry. The SIT then alerted the Oonnukal police, leading to the registration of the case.

Location : Kochi [Cochin], India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 21:20 IST
'Role In Dhoom Dhaam Felt Like A Cakewalk': Hebah Patel

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 15:55 IST

Hebah Patel described Dhoom Dhaam as a feel-good film filled with romance, comedy and sentiment, promising an engaging experience for audiences.

Dhoom Dhaam releases on November 8.

The upcoming Telugu family entertainer Dhoom Dhaam, featuring Chetan Krishna and Hebah Patel in the lead roles, has been generating buzz since the projects announcement. Directed by Sai Kishore Macha, the film is set to release in theatres on November 8.

With the release date approaching, Hebah Patel recently shared her insights into the film and her character during a media interaction. She plays Suhaana, a lively and affluent young woman who meets the hero during a holiday and falls for him. Hebah described her role as refreshing and enjoyable, noting that portraying Suhaana felt like a cakewalk."

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Hebah described Dhoom Dhaam as a feel-good film filled with romance, comedy and sentiment, promising an engaging experience for audiences. She said, Director Sai approached me one day with the Dhoom Dhaam project, mentioning that Gopi Mohan had crafted the story and suggested I consider it if it resonated with me. I was immediately drawn to itits a delightful family entertainer, and after a series of serious roles, this felt like a refreshing change. Thats why I agreed without hesitation."

Hebah expressed excitement about working with Chetan, whom she described as a fantastic co-star. She said, We focused on our energy and enthusiasm in front of the camera rather than seniority or experience. We had an extended shoot in Poland, arriving just before winter began. Although I wore sarees for some song sequences, the cold was manageable, so I felt comfortable."

The actress also shared, Director Sai Kishore has a very jovial nature, and I enjoy working with people who bring a sense of fun to the set. His light-hearted attitude contributed to a pleasant working environment. Many technicians on the Dhoom Dhaam team were familiar faces from my previous projects, which made the shoot even smoother."

Hebah Patel added, There are so many moments in my life that I celebrate with Dhoom Dhaam- be it my birthday, signing a new project, or receiving positive feedback on a film. As an actress, I cherish every moment in front of the camera, whether its for a movie, a web series, or a photo shoot."

The films music is composed by Gopi Sundar, with cinematography by Siddharth Ramaswamy and art direction by Raghu Kulkarni. Dhoom Dhaam also features Sai Kumar, Vennela Kishore and other actors.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 15:55 IST
Opinion | A Complex Issue Like Khalistan Deserves More Than One-Sided Reporting

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 15:53 IST

Ignoring violent history and geopolitical realities fuels misinformation, not understanding. The NYT article, as it stands, falls short of unbiased journalism

For readers less familiar with the Khalistan issue, Indias actions might appear authoritarian rather than responses to real and documented threats. (AFP Photo)

Is it reasonable for reputable media platforms like The New York Times to draw conclusions even before piecing together the facts? In her recent article, Sikh Activists See It as Freedom. India Calls It Terrorism, Anupreeta Das portrays the Indian response to the Khalistani extremist movement as overtly harsh and not based on genuine security concerns."

The writer contends that Indias stance against Khalistanis is heavily influenced by Hindu nationalist motives rather than legitimate security concerns. A closer examination of the article reveals a limited scope of investigation, relying on selected sources that shape public perception in a skewed manner. By referencing specific incidents and individuals, the article risks oversimplifying a complex geopolitical issue, missing both the historical and current context needed for a well-rounded understanding.

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Emphasis on Canadian, US Perspectives

The article opens by highlighting Canadian and US claims of assassination plots against a terrorist, thereby implying that Indias responses were excessive since the Khalistan movement" was regarded as a bygone issue. Neither The New York Times nor Anupreeta Das presented evidence to conclude that the Indian government had any role in these assassinations. The article also seems to have overlooked the nuanced and ongoing nature of the Khalistan issue within and beyond Indias borders. Khalistan-linked activities have not disappeared entirely, and Indian officials remain cautious about connections between separatist groups, criminal elements, and terror networksconnections that warrant thorough analysis rather than being dismissed as nationalism-driven rhetoric.

Findings from Indian and international intelligence agencies point to violent, albeit fringe, Khalistani elements receiving support, both material and ideological, from Pakistan, particularly through the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), known for its dirty tricks at destabilising India. This interlinked dynamic, often referred to as the bleed India with a thousand cuts" strategy, is noted in several independent reports. Overlooking this context leaves out a significant geopolitical layer from the discussion.

What about Khalistan-Linked Violence?

One striking omission is the absence of data on the violent history of the Khalistan movement and its continued association with criminal activities. During the 1980s and 1990s, Punjab was virtually torn apart by extremist violence, with thousands of civilians, law enforcement personnel, and officials affected by Khalistani terrorism. Ignoring these historical facts diminishes the importance of ongoing vigilance against terrorist movements. By leaving out the history of violence and its impact on Punjabs socio-economic landscape, the article fails to fully address why the Indian government views the Khalistan issue as a legitimate security concern.

Indian law enforcement, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), reports that recent crimes linked to Khalistan include drug trafficking, gang violence, and extortion, all of which contribute to Punjabs drug crisis. A 2023 NIA report estimated that drug-related crimes in Punjab account for nearly 60 per cent of all drug cases nationwide, underscoring the seriousness of the issue and the suspected role of Khalistani networks. The absence of such statistics presents an incomplete picture of the governments concerns.

Cherry Picking of Experts

The NYT article relies heavily on selective quotes from experts and analysts who portray Indias approach as extreme or unjust. For instance, statements from Gunisha Kaur regarding the purported targeting of Sikhs under national security are included without the broader context of the debate. By emphasising voices critical of Indias measures against separatism, the article overlooks other scholars, counterterrorism experts, and analysts who have recognised the valid security challenges India faces with Khalistan-linked extremism.

Certain Khalistani groups have exploited Sikh religious sentiment to justify violent actions and criminal enterprises. Multiple forums have highlighted ties between these factions and drug and arms smuggling networks, often supported by the ISI. Leaving out such perspectives raises questions about the articles balance and its intent to inform versus sway readers.

Impact of Biased Reporting on Public Understanding

When influential media like The New York Times publish pieces with a biased slant, they risk cementing stereotypes and shaping public opinion in a misleading manner. For readers less familiar with the Khalistan issue, Indias actions might appear authoritarian rather than responses to real and documented threats. Reporting with an apparent predetermined" conclusion reinforces narratives that misrepresent Indias security concerns as mere authoritarian impulses.

This approach can erode trust in international relations. For instance, framing Canadas reluctance to act against pro-Khalistan activists as a free speech issue disregards that many Western nations actively counter extremist ideologies promoting violence, from neo-Nazism to Islamist extremism. Yet, when addressing Khalistani extremism, Canadas stance is portrayed as liberal tolerance rather than a political decision. This selective framing risks distorting public understanding of global security policies, potentially engendering sympathy for extremist movements.

Conflating Sikh Identity with Khalistan

Dass article could be interpreted as equating Indias vigilance over Khalistani separatism with an attack on Sikh identity, an oversimplification that overlooks the fact that most Sikhs globally do not support Khalistan.

For instance, in San Jose, California, Gurudwara chief Bhupinder Singh Dhillon issued only a five-minute ultimatum to Khalistani supporters and drove them out of the Nagar Kirtan. Similarly, Ujjal Dosanjh, former premier of British Columbia and federal cabinet minister under Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin, told the Canadian newspaper National Post that a silent majority of Sikhs does not want to have anything to do with Khalistan," adding that less than five per cent of Canadian Sikhs support the Khalistani movement.

India is home to one of the largest Sikh populations, with significant representation in the military, government, and business sectors. Articles like Dass risk alienating this community by implying that Sikh identity aligns with separatism, which could strain relationships within the Sikh diaspora and between Sikhs and the Indian state of Punjab.

Indias Broader Counter-Terrorism Efforts

Indias response to separatism is not limited to the Khalistan issue but spans various secessionist and insurgent movements, from left-wing extremist Naxalites to Islamist terrorism. In each instance, Indias approach has been complex, encompassing political dialogue, social programmes, and security measures. For example, efforts to reduce violence in Kashmir through de-radicalisation and security initiatives illustrate a strategy aimed at balancing security with stability. Ignoring these broader policies and isolating the Khalistan issue risks misrepresenting Indias comprehensive security approach.

Importance of Balanced Journalism

Responsible media coverage should provide readers with a complete view, enabling them to make informed judgments. Selective representation of incidents and perspectives risks misleading readers on complex issues like the Khalistan movement. Extremism and separatism are deeply consequential for societies, and covering them demands the highest journalistic standards of balance and thoroughness. When reporting is driven by reinforcing biases rather than uncovering truths, readers ultimately miss out on the nuanced understanding essential to global discourse.

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The NYT article, as it stands, falls short of unbiased journalism. Rather than reinforcing one perspective, a more thorough analysis that recognises Indias security concerns could bring the issue closer to readers complete understanding.

The author is a Doctoral Scholar at Amity University, Gwalior, content manager at Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 15:53 IST
Opinion | Canadian Police: Guardians Of Peace Or Bystanders To Hate?

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 16:10 IST

In failing to hold violent Khalistani extremists accountable, Canadian authorities have sent a chilling message: intimidation and violence against Hindus are tolerable if done under the guise of dissent and freedom of expression

In one clip, an officer is seen charging at a protester and repeatedly punching him. (Screengrab via X/@DanielBordmanOG)

On a quiet Diwali weekend, two temples in Canada, long-standing beacons of peace for the Hindu diaspora, became flashpoints of violence. In Brampton, at a Hindu Sabha Mandir, where a towering 55-foot statue of Lord Hanuman stands in majestic repose, the sanctity of worship was violently interrupted. In Surrey, around the same time, a similar desecration played out, but with an unsettling twist: Canadian police, rather than offering protection from violence, reportedly turned their backs on the very devotees they are sworn to safeguard.

This spiralling saga of aggression against Canadas Hindu community speaks to a growing dissonance, one in which anti-Hindu allegiances and violent extremist ideologies have found combustible alignment. These events call into question not only the Canadian authorities role in preserving peace but also their apparent lack of justice in the face of rising extremism against Hindus. The incidents bear the markings of a broader issue that Canada, under the guise of neutrality, may have dangerously fuelled.

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The Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton stands as a symbol of spiritual and cultural unity for the Hindu community, with its towering Hanuman statue serving as a proud reminder of ancient heritage in the Canadian landscape. Yet, as Indian consular officials visited the temple to offer routine services, scenes of unrest unfolded that shattered the temples tranquillity. Khalistani extremists, aligned with the banned Sikhs for Justice extremist group, staged a violent protest that devolved into open aggression against temple-goers.

Video footage shared across social media captured harrowing moments as Hindu devotees were set upon, beaten, and confronted with large sticks by extremists. The aggressive violence by these extremists was an unprovoked assault on a peaceful community engaged in their sacred observances. Sikhs for Justice, a group with known links to Pakistan and a history of terrorism linked to the violent Khalistan secessionist movement, had explicitly voiced their desire to disrupt consular services outside official premises, claiming these events posed a threat" to the Khalistani cause.

Peel Regional Police, responsible for overseeing law enforcement in Brampton, have faced sharp criticism for their responseor lack of it. Despite widespread violence, no arrests were made, a decision that many say reflects worrisome leniency. Peel Police released a brief statement pledging to investigate any acts of violence or threats," yet, to date, no charges have been filed. This inaction starkly contrasts with the forces rapid response to similar instances of disorderly conduct in other communities.

For Hindu Canadians, these events highlight a troubling trend. Liberal MP Chandra Arya condemned the incident, calling attention to what he described as a free pass" given to Canadian Khalistani extremists. As he noted, These extremists receive a degree of immunity that raises serious questions about Canadas commitment to protecting its citizens equally."

Across the country in Surrey, a gathering of Hindu devotees at a temple similarly faced intimidation from Khalistani extremists operating with impunity in Canada. As people of all ages congregated to pray, the Khalistanis arrived with charged slogans, invoking Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a notorious Khalistani extremist recently slain under murky circumstances. Far from remaining a peaceful protest, the event quickly turned menacing, with calls for Hindus to go back to their country."

Yet, what unfolded next was perhaps more disturbing than the protest itself. As tensions escalated, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) intervenedbut not to protect the threatened Hindu worshippers. Instead, in an act that left the Hindu community in shock and disbelief, the RCMP detained three Hindu devotees, who were then escorted from temple grounds in full view of the protestors who had incited the incident. The reason for these detentions remains undisclosed, but the message it sent was clear: the victims of intimidation were cast as the culprits.

This police action has left many questioning the RCMPs impartiality. At a time when Hindus in Canada felt increasingly vulnerable, the police response was inadequate or complicit. The pattern of law enforcement intervening against Hindu Canadians, rather than protecting them, has fostered deep resentment and fear. A local temple spokesperson pleaded for calm, reminding the community to await further information, but the undercurrent of fear was palpable. Canadian authorities seeming unwillingness to protect Hindus, or even acknowledge the intimidation they face, revealed a chasm in the justice system they are meant to trust.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa released a statement expressing disappointment at the violence allowed to mar routine consular events. As in previous years," the statement read, the High Commission and Consulates General of India have planned consular camps during this period to assist local life certificate beneficiaries." However, despite clear forewarning and requests for heightened security, Canadian authorities failed to prevent Khalistani disruption. This dereliction of duty has left Hindus in Canada and beyond questioning the nations dedication to ensuring safety for all religious communities.

Diplomatic tensions sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau between Canada and India have simmered in recent months, with baseless accusations fueling discord. Yet, Canadas handling of these incidents hints at something more insidiousthe normalisation of extremism under the guise of free speech. It appears that Canada is struggling, or perhaps choosing not to confront, a deeply ingrained bias in its approach to law enforcement when Khalistani sympathisers are concerned. Indias high commission has been left with few choices but to remind Canadian authorities of their duty to protect citizens and consular staff engaged in routine activities. The community they represent, however, feels abandoned, exposed to aggression with no recourse to justice.

As Canadas Hindu diaspora reflects on these violent episodes, an unsettling reality emerges: their homeland may be an ocean away, but the conflicts it faces seem to have followed them to Canadian shores. Devotees who once sought refuge in Canada, a country that promised peace and safety, now find themselves targeted, harassed, and abandoned by a system that seems unwilling to defend their rights. In these attacks, there is bitter ironyCanadas celebrated multiculturalism, once a source of pride, has been weaponised against the very people it claimed to protect. As Canadian authorities continue to walk the line between neutrality and negligence, Hindu Canadians are left wondering whether their place in this country is as secure as they once believed.

While the events at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton and the Surrey temple may appear isolated to some, for Canadas Hindu community, they signify a deeply entrenched, systemic assaultone that has been endured for too long and has now led to a profound breakdown in trust. These incidents are part of an alarming trend across Canada, where Hindu temples have increasingly become targets of intimidation, vandalism, and violence. In January 2023, the Swaminarayan Temple in Toronto was defaced with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti, marking one of the earliest signs of targeted harassment.

Just a few months later, in February 2023, Gauri Shankar Temple in Brampton suffered a similar attack, with vandals leaving hateful messages that many in the community saw as a direct threat. In July 2023, the Bhagavad Gita Park in Bramptona public space created to celebrate Hindu heritagewas desecrated with anti-Hindu and anti-India slogans. Each incident has added to a growing sense of insecurity among Canadas Hindu population, with places of worshiponce havens of peacebecoming symbols of vulnerability. This ongoing pattern of attacks, alongside perceived police inaction or complicity, has eroded the communitys trust and calls into question Canadas commitment to upholding the safety and rights of all its citizens equally. As one Hindu worshipper poignantly remarked, We came to Canada to live in peace, but our children are being threatened, and our temple has been defaced. This is not the Canada we imagined."

In failing to hold violent Khalistani extremists accountable, Canadas authorities have sent a chilling message: intimidation and violence against Hindus are tolerable if done under the guise of dissent and freedom of expression. Canadas promise of pluralism and protection now hangs in the balance. When the Hindu community looks to law enforcement for safety, it should not have to question whether the police will act as protectors or passive bystanders. The fear growing within the community is that, in the face of extremist agendas, the police have begun to mistake neutrality for inaction, and tolerance for complicity.

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The question is no longer whether the Canadian police can keep the peace, but whether they will choose to. As temples are turned into flashpoints and faithful communities grapple with a security that seems less assured by the day, Canada faces a reckoning: will it stand by its commitment to protect all its citizens equally, or will it allow bias, silence, and neglect to sow further division? For the Hindu community, the message is as stark as it is painful. In a country that once held itself up as a beacon of peace and inclusion, the guardians of law and order must decide whether they will defend these idealsor become bystanders to their erosion.

The author is Research Director at New Delhi-based non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 16:07 IST
News / National

by Staff reporter

The outspoken SACP general secretary, Solly Mapaila, says he stumbled upon credible intelligence way before the May 29 elections, exposing that the ANC secretly had a predetermined agenda to go into bed with the DA.Mapaila said during a wide-ranging interview with Sunday World Engage last week that he subsequently warned the SACP central committee, at least two months before the polls, about the "coalition secret talks" between the ANC and DA.The information forms the basis of the SACP's rejection of President Cyril Ramaphosa's government of national unity (GNU).The warning about the "secret talks" is recorded in Mapaila's handwritten notepad, which we have seen, on his notes of his input to the SACP central committee meeting on March 25.Neo-liberal economic policyIn the notes, Mapaila told his SACP colleagues that the party's alliance partner, the ANC, was talking with the DA secretly with a view to formulating a coalition government to deeply entrench the neo-liberal economic policy trajectory.Mapaila warned on March 25: "Whatever I said, I will not go back, but I said: this has exposed South African liberals who have also sought to remove the liberation movement from political power after they used it to continue their profiteering on the carcass of the dying working class, reeling from the effects of failing new liberalism and capitalism in general."These challenges are now affecting the movement that is our liberation movement, seeking to keep political power."The secret talks between the ANC and the DA are nothing about our people but to save face for the ANC as it guarantees a neoliberal economic trajectory and profitability of capital while the DA has managed to get the support of the European counterparts and the Americans to collate a formidable opposition to the ANC, with both now uniting against the ANC."Coalition set-up was predeterminedIt was for this reason that the SACP refused to be "hoodwinked" into the narrative that the "coalition between the ANC and DA" was also conceived after the embarrassing election outcomes for the party of OR (Oliver Reginald) Tambo.In Mapaila's view, the whole coalition set-up was predetermined; hence, the SACP's attempts to discourage the ANC from going into bed with the DA were rejected.The SACP, Mapaila went on, will never change its stance that the ANC took a "sellout position" by choosing the DA over other "better options" such as the EFF."The GNU establishment was a political choice of the ANC; it was an ideological choice; it was not forced, so the ANC had no obligation to go on with this GNU concept in the manner that it did," said Mapaila."In any case, it was taken as a decision from where we stand to hoodwink the working people to hide the actual coalition between the ANC and the DA."Therefore, there is no GNU; if you like, there is a coalition between the ANC and the DA."And this matter is not much from our own observations; it is a confirmation by Miss Hellen Zille of the DA, who addressed the Fredrick Norman Foundation, and, in that foundation, she said so, and the ANC has never refuted this in public to her, that there is a coalition between the ANC and the DA."Mapaila said the ANC-DA coalition was preplanned, and anyone who pointed it out, as he did, was being dealt with harshly."So, this is premeditated; it is preplanned. That is why later in the process of these negotiations going on we saw the statement of intent that we were not part of draughting as the alliance."It was draughted by the ANC. Anyone who says it was not premeditated has himself been hoodwinked by the process. They do not know what has been happening."Elite pact of the liberal forcesHe charged that the GNU was an elite pact of the "liberal forces" within the ANC and the DA that was formulated without proper consultation within the ANC-led tripartite alliance and the branches at large.It was disheartening, said Mapaila, to see "ANC taking charge of this particular process of minimisation of our historic struggle against colonialism, which is against imperialism, British, American, and European domination as a whole".The SACP was particularly aggrieved that the ANC had effectively become the puppet of the DA in the GNU, where the latter appears to enjoy more power than it deserves."At the same time, we need leadership with guts, and I don't think we have at the moment that we cannot subject a 20% party [DA] to behave as if it has got 80% and a party with 40% [ANC] behaving like it has got 20%."This is shocking, and of course, no justification whatsoever can make us reconsider our position until the ANC recognises the strategic error it has just committed."
Opinion | Presidential Elections In World's Oldest Democracy Aren't Truly Democratic

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 05, 2024, 15:07 IST

US founding fathers were elitist and believed in excluding the masses, especially the poor, from directly electing the president.

Due to the importance of the swing states, Harris and Trump have spent maximum time and money on them and ignored the rest of the country. (File photos)

Womens delicacy renders them unfit" to have a voice in the formation of government and very few men who have no property (the poor) have any judgment of their own".

John Adams, a statesman, attorney and diplomat elected the second US president, strongly believed in excluding women and the poor from government formation.

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On May 26, 1776, around a month before the Declaration of Independence was unanimously adopted by 56 delegateslater known as Americas founding fathersto the Second Continental Congress in Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776, James Sullivan, a state court judge in Massachusetts and Adamss colleague, wrote to him asking, Why exclude women?"

Sullivan believed in including the voices of women and the poor in the new nations government. Adams, who strongly disagreed, wrote back to Sullivan: Because their delicacy renders them unfit for practice and experience in the great business of life and the hardy enterprises of war, as well as the arduous cares of state. Besides, their attention is so much engaged with the necessary nurture of their children, that nature has made them fittest for domestic cares."

What looks outright outrageous was one of the guiding principles of the founders of the US Constitution behind electing the American president indirectly.

In the biggest ironic twist, a woman of colour who is also the vice-president is contesting for the White House. What Americas founding fathers never imagined is a reality today.

On November 5, American voters will elect either Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump in the 60th presidential election, the most eventful and controversial election that has polarised the country on race and gender.

The US claims to be the oldest democracy in which no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws".

The 14th Amendment, which guarantees the above right, was passed by Congress on June 13, 1866, and ratified on July 9, extending the liberty and rights granted by the Bill of Rights to formerly enslaved people.

The Preamble to the Constitution, formed after the 1787 Constitutional Convention, reads: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Shockingly, the word democracy is nowhere in the Constitution.

According to the 16th US president, Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people".

Essentially, in a democracy, the head of the state is elected directly by its peoplelike India, the largest democracy.

However, is the US presidents election truly democratic and represents the peoples will?

US founding fathers were elitist, despised the poor

The 55 white delegates who gathered in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederationadopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and which became the first Constitutionwere wealthy and owned property.

The delegates included James Madison of Virginia, later known as the Father of the Constitution and elected as the fourth president, and Alexander Hamilton of New York, who served as the first US treasury secretary. The Convention resulted in the creation of the US Constitution.

Most of the delegates didnt trust the massesthe poor and the underprivileged, especially Blacks. They were inherently racist and anti-democratic and 25 of them were slave owners.

Though Adams, the then-ambassador to Great Britain, missed the Convention, he actively participated from across the Atlantic Ocean.

Adams believed that women were only fit for domestic chores and nurturing children and would demand the right to vote if included in government formation.

Besides, their attention is so much engaged with the necessary nurture of their children, that nature has made them fittest for domestic cares," he wrote to Sullivan. Depend upon it, sir, it is dangerous to open [such a] source of controversy and altercation as would be opened by attempting to [change] the qualifications of voters. There will be no end of it. New claims will arise. Women will demand a vote."

Similarly, Adams believed that the poor lacked judgement and that giving voting rights to them would result in corruption.

In the same correspondence with Sullivan, Adams wrote: If you give to every man who has no property a vote, will you not make a fine encouraging provision for corruption by your fundamental law? Such is the frailty of the human heart, that very few men who have no property have any judgment of their own."

According to Adams, the poor vote as they are directed by some man of property who has attached their minds to his interest".

Arguing for the rights of the elite and only their votes in government formation, Adams wrote: every man who has not a [dime] will demand an equal voice with any other in all acts of state. It tends to confound and destroy all distinctions and [surrender] all ranks to one common level," he added.

According to Hamilton, the poor should have no share in government formation. All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are rich and well-born; the other, the mass of the people. The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true in fact."

The masses are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right". Therefore, the rich should have a permanent share in the government" as they will check the unsteadiness" of the poor.

Declaring that direct democracy was a disease" and a poison", he said in 1787, Can a democratic assembly who annually [through annual elections] revolve in the mass of the people be supposed steadily to pursue the public good? Nothing but a permanent body can check the imprudence of democracy. Their turbulent and changing disposition requires checks."

In 1775, a young Hamilton wrote a pamphlet titled The Farmer Refuted, linking property to voting. If people without property had votes, they would be tempted to dispose of them under some undue influence or other".

Arguing against the poors right to vote, he wrote that if every man would give his vote, freely and without influence of any kind, then, upon the true theory and genuine principles of liberty, every member of the community, however poor, should have a vote" but since that can hardly be expected in persons of indigent fortunes or such as are under the immediate dominion of others, all popular states have been obliged to establish certain qualifications, whereby, some who are suspected to have no will of their own are excluded from voting".

Electoral College and peoples will

Americas founding fathers never intended the country to be a direct democracy. They wanted to end the centuries-old monarchical system but werent champions of democracy either.

Therefore, they opted for a republic. Section 4 of Article IV states: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."

They were among the richest and several of them were slave owners and expected the wealthy, educated and privileged to guide the nationas president, Adams was worth $21.5 million, Jefferson $212 million and Madison $101 million.

The founding fathers felt the president should be elected by people with knowledge, experience and understanding of governmentsuch people were obviously not poor.

They wanted the masses to vote indirectly through their local government at town halls and meetings. They thought that allowing the masses to vote directly would result in a demagogue occupying the highest seat of power. The founding fathers wanted only the House of Representatives popularly elected by the people. US senators were elected by directed by popular vote only after the 17th Amendment was ratified.

Basically, they wanted the interests of the wealthy and the educated to be preserved and feared that allowing too many voices in the state legislatures would only serve the interests of the common man.

The delegates also protected slavery in the process because they wanted to preserve the rights to private property. Though many of the founding fathers didnt support slavery, they never abolished it.

For example, Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence who wrote that all men are created equal", enslaved more than 600 people and believed that blacks were inferior to whites. Though Jefferson, the third president, mentioned the injustice of the slave trade in the draft of the Declaration of Independence, the statement was removed from the final version.

Another example was Hamilton, who advocated the abolition of slavery but didnt act due to his ambitions and belief in property rights. Born in a humble background, he aspired to rise to a high position in society by associating with the rich and influential.

Delegates from the northern states wanted representation based on the size of a states free population while their peers from the South threatened to leave the Convention if slaves werent counted as they [the enslaved] had no voting rights.

Finally, the delegates reached the infamous three-fifths" compromise, which allowed three-fifths of the slaves in the southern states to be counted for determining representation in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College. The three-fifths clause allowed the Southern states to increase their number of electors.

The framers found the idea of electing the president by direct popular vote too democratic.

In The Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Madison, Hamilton and John Jay to promote the ratification of the Constitution published on May 28, 1788, Madison distinguished between a democracy and a republic.

In paper No. 14, Madison wrote: In a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in person; in a republic, they assemble and administer it by their representatives and agents. A democracy, consequently, will be confined to a small spot. A republic may be extended over a large region."

In paper No. 68, Hamilton wrote: A small number of persons selected by their fellow citizens from the general mass will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations."

Associating the directing election of a president by the masses to future tumult and disorder", he wrote: It was also peculiarly desirable to afford as little opportunity as possible to tumult and disorder." Therefore, the choice of SEVERAL to form an intermediate body of electors will be much less apt to convulse the community with any extraordinary or violent movements than the choice of ONE who was himself to be the final object of the public wishes".

On May 19, 1777, Hamilton wrote to another Convention delegate, Gouverneur Morris: But a representative democracy where the right of election is well secured and regulated & the exercise of the legislative, executive and judiciary authorities is vested in select persons, chosen really and not nominally by the people, will, in my opinion, be most likely to be happy, regular and durable."

According to Article II, the Electoral College allocates electors to each state based on the size of its House delegation plus two senators. Every state is awarded electoral votes based on its representation, not population, in the US Congress.

Therefore, every state has, at least, one House and two Senate members, guaranteeing, at least, three electoral votes irrespective of its population size. For example, California, which has the largest population and 54 electoral votes, has 52 seats in the House while Wyoming, with the least population, has one. However, Wyoming, like other smaller states, is overrepresented (electoral vote per population) in the Electoral College compared to California because of the guaranteed minimum of three electoral votes.

There are 538 votes in the Electoral College, and the candidate who wins, at least, 270 or more becomes the president.

Therefore, like earlier elections, the next president will be indirectly elected in two stages.

First, voters will cast ballots in the popular vote in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia on November 5 to choose a slate of electors, not the president. In fact, they will vote multiple timesdespite marking only one box alongside their preferred nominees nameonce for every elector in the state supporting the nominee of their choice.

Under the winner-takes-all arrangement, the nominee winning the popular vote takes 100 per cent of the electoral votes, except in Maine and Nebraska, irrespective of how close the contest is. If Harris defeats Trump by even one per cent or vice versa in Pennsylvania, a swing state with the highest number of electoral votes, all the 19 electors on Harriss slate will defeat all of Trumps 19 electors by the same margin or vice versa.

Second, these electors will vote in their state capitals on December 17. On January 6, On January 6, Congress will convene to certify the winner.

Therefore, the popular vote doesnt elect the presidentas it happened in 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016.

The battleground/swing states, which can go either Democrat or Republican, attract a nominees maximum attention at the expense of other states. Only tens of thousands of voters in the swing states decide the contest as the rest are either Democratic or Republican.

According to opinion polls, the seven swing states are Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin (Rust Belt) and Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina (Sun Belt). Latest opinion polls show that Harris and Trump are either tied or lead/trail in the battleground states, especially Pennsylvania, by two to three pointswithin the margin of error.

Due to the importance of the swing states, Harris and Trump have spent maximum time and money on them and ignored the rest of the country. They have visited Pennsylvania and Michigan 40 times since August but never campaigned in the 36 non-swing states.

An Axios analysis shows that Harris visited Pennsylvania the most (13 times), followed by Michigan (7), Wisconsin (6), Georgia (5), North Carolina (4) and Arizona and Nevada (3).

Trump also visited Pennsylvania the most number of times (11), followed by Michigan (9), North Carolina (7), Wisconsin (5), Georgia (5), Nevada (4) and Arizona (3).

Sixteen years before Trump beat then-secretary of state Hillary Clinton by 304-227 electoral votes despite her beating him in the popular vote by 48.2-46.1 per cent (2.9 million votes) in 2016, she had called for doing away with the Electoral College.

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In November 2000, Clinton, elected a senator, told the media, We are a very different country than we were 200 years ago. I believe strongly that in a democracy, we should respect the will of the people and to me, that means its time to do away with the Electoral College and move to the popular election of our president. I hope no one is ever in doubt again about whether their vote counts."

The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 05, 2024, 15:07 IST
Right Word | How China Is Playing Both Sides In Conflict-Ridden Myanmar

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 05, 2024, 18:08 IST

Chinas sly game in Myanmar is obvious and it remains to be seen if it becomes successful in its attempts at resolving the ongoing civil war

The ongoing civil war has perpetuated the countrys volatile political state, which has witnessed the biggest humanitarian crisis since Myanmars independence. Representational image/AFP

It has been more than three years since the military coup deposed the democratically elected National League for Democracy in Myanmar. The coup was soon followed by what is called the Burmese Spring Revolution  an ongoing civil war led by insurgent groups of the countrys various ethnic armed organisations (EAO) and militias, notable among them being the Three Brotherhood Alliance (Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Taang National Liberation Army). Many of these insurgents have also aligned with the now exiled National Unity Government (NUG) in their efforts to counter the Myanmar military  Tatmadaw.

The ongoing civil war has perpetuated the countrys volatile political state, which has witnessed the biggest humanitarian crisis since Myanmars independence. China, Myanmars largest trading partner and a close ally, has major economic and strategic interests in the landlocked nation. Myanmar became a signatory of Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2018, with the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), designed to provide China access to the Indian Ocean, being recognised as a flagship project under the BRI. However, things became complex after the 2021 coup, and China has since undertaken active intervention to secure its interests in Myanmar.

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If one were to look at Chinas approach to the 2021 coup, it was among the few countries that not only refrained from condemning the junta but was also one of the first to recognise the military regime. It is believed by many that the coup was backed by China. Taking advantage of the post-coup uncertainty, Beijing quickly got involved in amplifying its influence in Myanmar. It promised unwavering support to the State Administration Council (SAC)  the Myanmar military government established after the 2021 coup  no matter how the situation changes" and maintained high-level interactions. This is reflected in the significant military, financial, and political support provided by Beijing.

The reason behind this is the juntas control over Myanmars crucial state infrastructure, which is crucial for Beijing in furthering its economic interests in the region. Therefore, cooperation with the military is aimed at sustaining Beijings increasing influence and long-term interests in the region. Without a doubt, the military regime has been predominantly reliant on Chinese support, considering the international sanctions it faces that consider the military regime to be illegal".

At the same time, China has been adopting a hedging strategy with anti-junta ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) through simultaneous engagement, mainly because many of these militia groups are concentrated along strategic borders, including with China. The control of EAOs along the Sino-Myanmar border, especially in the northern states of Shan and Kachin, explains Chinas unofficial cooperation with the EAOs, for instance, allowing arms smuggling and providing training to the United Wa State Army (UWSA), which was further dispersed to other armed groups like the Three Brotherhood Alliance. Chinas hedging strategy is believed to ensure the smooth progress of its BRI projects along the border region.

The northern states of Shan and Kachin have been noted for being the hub of illicit activities, mainly, the drug trade and human trafficking perpetrated by Chinese nationals. These illicit activities, carried out by armed militias, have been reported to have surged following the 2021 coup. Moreover, these areas also emerged as scam centres, rooted in Chinese syndicated-backed human trafficking and forced labour and evolved into transnational crimes linked to the BRI, much to Beijings concern. The inability, or rather unwillingness, of the junta to check this issue, which quite obviously aggravated the instability along the Sino-Myanmar border, despite Chinas request, seems to have changed Chinas equation with the junta.

This is notable in the Chinese governments tacit approval for Operation 1027 in October last year, led by the Three Brotherhood Alliance. The operation resulted in the junta losing its control over several territories and EAOs gaining substantial control over strategic spots along the Sino-Myanmar border like Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone and its deep sea port and the Sino-Myanmar gas pipeline connecting Myanmars Rakhine with Chinas Yunnan, both constituting strategic significance for Beijing. This tacit approval by Beijing seems to be in exchange for the repatriation of Chinese nationals involved in scam operations in Myanmar. This is a classic example of Chinas balancing role in Myanmar, despite its formal support for the military regime.

Chinas engagement in diplomatic manoeuvring included chairing five rounds of talks between the junta and the Three Brotherhood Alliance and brokering two (temporary) ceasefire agreements (January and September 2024) in efforts to secure trade routes that fall under its CMEC, whose work faced considerable disruption soon after the civil war broke out. However, these efforts failed to be successful, despite Beijings pressure tactics like blocking trade imports along the border.

As the junta is losing more and more control over bordering regions with China, notably six out of eight border gates, China is seen to continue backing the junta in the desperate hope that it would maintain stability in the region. It has come to light that Beijing has also been attempting to create rifts among anti-junta groups, manipulating them to sever ties with the now-exiled National Unity Government (NUG) that enjoys support from Western countries.

However, early this year the NUG, notwithstanding the prevalent anti-China sentiments within its camp, issued a 10-point statement, the first policy statement on China, pledging to safeguard Chinas economic interests in Myanmar and endorse the One China policy. This reflects Chinas role in potentially influencing the conflict dynamics in the region and the significant hold it enjoys in Myanmar, irrespective of the ruling regime.

Chinas diplomatic efforts, acting as a peacemaker among rival parties in the civil war, are thus aimed at aligning Myanmars security concerns with its own strategic interests. However, the conflict is still unresolved, with no parties amicably reaching any agreement. This, despite Chinese efforts, tells us that Beijing is still in search of a reliable partner(s) who would guarantee the security of the region and of Chinese interests.

Beijings continued backing of the junta was reflected in a series of official visits and Chinas pressing for elections (in Myanmar), however, only in areas under military control where it promised technical and other support. The election, proposed to be held next year, however, seems likely to have participation only from pro-junta parties. Many are predicting this to be a sham election aimed to solidify the juntas power position in the country, a Chinese election", whereby Beijing would cement its footprint in strategically significant locations within the country, taking advantage of a plausibly weak military-backed government, to materialise its aim of having direct access to the Indian Ocean.

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As reports are claiming the head of Myanmars junta will visit China next month, the first since the 2021 coup, it can be seen that Beijing is warming up to the junta again while the former is using this visit to regain its power. Chinas direct involvement in the internal matters of Myanmar has already triggered protests within the country as well as among Myanmars diaspora population abroad. Chinas sly game in Myanmar is obvious, and it remains to be seen if it will be successful in its attempts at resolving" the ongoing civil war.

The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 05, 2024, 18:08 IST
Straight Talk | Khalistan is a Farce: Sikhs In Canada Need To Reject This Divisive Agenda

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 10:34 IST

If Khalistanis have ended up hijacking the community in Canada, the solution to weed out such elements must also come from within the community, and soon

Canada is now the global hub of Khalistani separatism. (PTI)

For the West, the Khalistan card has emerged as a tool to strongarm and browbeat India with, at a time when our country is aggressively chasing the dream of becoming a developed nation. That worries many powerful and often hegemonistic countries around the world, as they try to cope with the fast-changing order of the world and make desperate moves to contain Indias rise.

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For now, lets keep the geopolitics of it all at bay. The attack on Hindus and in a place of their worship, in Brampton by Khalistanis, marks a new low. Most of us believed that the stains of the bloody and dark Khalistani movement were a thing of the previous century. However, Khalistanis in Canada, backed by powerful vested interest groups, are working overtime to revive the separatist movement. Having failed to gain any significant traction in Punjab, Khalistanis are out to prove their worth on Canadian streets and across cities in Western nations.

What is equally unfortunate, if not more, is the silence of ordinary Canadian Sikhs who do not subscribe to the radical ideology of Khalistanis, and yet, are spectating mutely. Definitely, not all Canadian Sikhs want to cut up India and establish an untenable nation-state called Khalistan". No sane mind can advocate for Punjab being separated from India, only to end up becoming a small and sandwiched country that Pakistan preys upon from the word go. Why then are Sikhs in Canada not standing up to extremist elements?

The answer to this question is simple. Khalistanis are a bunch of rogue, often violent people, who would rather identify as gangsters than law-abiding citizens. This is a loud group of radicalised people blinded by their hatred for India. Khalistanis are now at a point where they have started believing their own lies.

As such, debating with them or trying to drill sense into their minds mostly ends up becoming an exercise in futility  one which carries a lot of risks too. In many ways, Khalistanis are creating an Islamist ecosystem within the Sikh community, at least in Canada. Essentially, that translates into any form of dissent or criticism by normal Sikhs being perceived as anti-panthic propaganda.

Hindus and Sikhs are not designed to fight among themselves. History is a testament to the fact that both these communities have always joined hands to fight common enemies, whether it be in the era of Islamic occupation of India, or immediately after, during Christian-British colonial rule. That Sikhs and Hindus in Canada now find themselves on opposite sides of the fence is truly tragic.

Again, tensions between both communities are largely a product of the colonial defilement that occurred during Britains occupation of India, when both Hindu and Sikh scriptures and literature were mistranslated. Unfortunately, neither community has made any real effort to decolonise themselves since then. That lack of initiative, even seven decades after Indias independence, is now costing us dearly.

However, not all has been lost. The bond between Hindus and Sikhs has always stood the test of time, and even at the end of chaotic cycles, saner voices have always prevailed. In India at least, a majority of Sikhs recognise that the Khalistan bogey is nothing more than a political tool designed to create deep fissures in their relationship with not just Hindus, but the Indian state at large.

The key, however, will always remain ordinary Sikhs making their voices heard. They can, under no circumstances, surrender the narrative to the Khalistanis. It is high time Sikhs dissociate themselves from all such elements and begin calling a spade a spade. If Khalistanis have ended up hijacking the community in Canada, the solution to weed out such elements must also come from within the community. If left unchecked, the situation will only worsen, with potentially destructive consequences for ties between Hindus and Sikhs not just in Canada, but around the world.

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Under no circumstances can we allow the Khalistanis to succeed in driving a wedge between Sikhs and Hindus. Far too much blood has been spilled, lives lost and places of worship defiled in the previous century for us to stand as mute spectators to what is happening in Canada and across the Western Hemisphere right now. Sikhs must stand up to the radicals within, and seize the initiative from them immediately.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 10:34 IST
CBI Probe Initiated Into Rahul Gandhi's Citizenship, Delhi HC Told

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 18:21 IST

When the petitioner, a Karnataka BJP worker, said he had moved a PIL in the Allahabad High Court, a bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said it didn't want any conflicting orders to be passed

The matter before the Delhi High Court was on a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who sought directions to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to decide his representation seeking cancellation of Gandhi's Indian citizenship. (File photo: PTI)

The Delhi High Court was informed on Wednesday that a CBI probe had been initiated into Congress leader Rahul Gandhis citizenship on a PIL being heard by the Allahabad High Court .

When the petitioner, a Karnataka BJP worker, said he had moved a PIL in the Allahabad High Court, a bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said it didnt want any conflicting orders to be passed.

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There cannot be two parallel petitions on the same cause of action, said the bench, permitting S Vignesh Shishir to file an affidavit on the relevant developments following his PIL in the Allahabad High Court.

The matter before the Delhi High Court was on a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who sought directions to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to decide his representation seeking cancellation of Gandhis Indian citizenship.

Swamy, in his plea, also sought a direction to the MHA to furnish a status report on the representation filed by him against Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

While Swamy maintained that the matter before the Allahabad High Court had nothing to do with his case and the prayers were totally different, Shishir claimed Swamys plea had led to multiplicity and parallel proceedings.

The court asked Shishir to file an application for impleadment in the petition before it and listed the matter on December 6.

During the hearing, Shishir submitted his petition was last heard by the Allahabad High Court on October 24 and the matter was under investigation by the CBI.

According to Shishir, the matter was before the Allahabad High Court at a very advanced stage".

I also appeared before the CBI in this case and tendered my very confidential evidence with regard to this matter. The matter is currently under investigation by the CBI," he submitted.

Various investigating agencies of the country are conducting the investigation. I have given my objections to the Delhi High Court registrar through an email," added Shishir. The bench subsequently remarked that the documents were required to be filed through the court registry and not an email.

Swamy differentiated between the two petitions, submitting while Shishirs plea sought initiation of criminal prosecution, his petition only said Gandhi was not a citizen of India but a citizen of Britain".

Dont be parasitical and say the prayers are similar and hang on to us. It is clear he cannot be a citizen of two countries, we have proved it through the documents where he claims to be a citizen of Britain as well as of India," Swamy contended.

The bench, however, noted, The prayers in that petition are too wide. So let him (Shishir) file the documents which he wants." Following a previous Delhi High Court order, Swamy had filed a copy of the petition pending before the Allahabad High Court on the issue of Gandhis citizenship.

Swamys plea, filed by advocate Satya Sabharwal, said on August 6, 2019, a letter was sent to the ministry alleging Gandhi had voluntarily disclosed" to the British government that he was a citizen of British nationality, amounting to holding a British passport.

Earlier, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had asked the Centre whether it had taken any decision on Shishirs representation filed under the Citizenship Act, 1955, asking it to inquire into the allegations.

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Shishir claimed he had conducted detailed enquiries" into Gandhi being a British citizen and received several new inputs.

Swamy, on the other hand, claimed the Congress leader, being an Indian citizen, violated Article 9 of the Constitution, read with the Indian Citizenship Act, and would cease to be an Indian citizen He said he had sent many representations to the ministry inquiring about the status of his complaint but neither any action was taken nor did he receive any intimation.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 18:21 IST
Apple's Affordable Vision Pro Headset Launch Plans Now Pushed To 2027: Will It Even Happen?

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 10:48 IST

Apple's premium Vision Pro headset sales have stagnated so bringing the affordable version is critical for its success.

The affordable Vision Pro launch plans continue to be a puzzle

Apple has been expected to launch a more affordable version of its Vision Pro mixed reality headset sometime next year. However, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo now suggests that the tech giant has postponed the release of this budget-friendly model until after 2027. In fact, it was mentioned that Apple is planning an upgrade for the Vision Pro next year, equipping it with a new M5 microprocessor.

The future low-cost headset, when it does arrive, is likely to feature a less powerful chip, lower-resolution displays, and will omit the EyeSight feature, which currently allows the Vision Pro to display the wearers eyes on its front screen.

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Kuo made this assertion in an X (previously Twitter) post earlier this week. A new version of the Vision Pro with an updated M5 processor would be Apples lone headset due for release in 2025, according to the expert.

Even after launching the cheaper HomePod mini, Apples smart speakers failed to become mainstream products," Kuo said, drawing a comparison between the affordable Apple Vision Pro and the HomePod mini. The analyst claims that the reason Apple postponed releasing a less expensive version of the Vision Pro was because doing so wouldnt help create a successful use cases for the product.

Furthermore, it is anticipated that the less expensive head-mounted wearable will cost around $2,000 (Rs 1,68,000 approx) and will be made with subpar components and chip. The highly promoted EyeSight feature from the original Apple Vision Pro could also be omitted from the headset. As a cost-cutting measure, Apple may also lower the quality of the internal XR screens in the predicted model.

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The pricing of the original Apple Vision Pro, with 256GB of storage, starts at $3,499, or around Rs 2,90,000. Additionally, the device is offered with storage capacities of 512GB and 1TB.

At WWDC 2023, Apple debuted Vision Pro, its first mixed-reality headset. It is presently available for purchase in a few countries, such as the US, China, Europe, and Japan. The headset is powered by the visionOS operating system and supports both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. Apples M2 processor and an R1 chip beneath the hood power it.

Location : Cupertino, California, USA

First Published: November 06, 2024, 10:48 IST
US Elections 2024: Google Shows Where To Vote Results For Harris But Nothing For Trump

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 10:31 IST

The US Presidential elections 2024 is bringing the big tech debate back into the headlines with the latest Google Search gaffe.

US Presidential elections search results on Google are showing different details.

The US Presidential 2024 elections are in full swing, with voters now waiting for the big results to know their next President over the period of 5 years. However, the elections are getting strong support from various tech entities, and Kamala Harris seems to be Googles preference over its products.

Many people have noticed that Google Search shows full results when they search for where can i vote for Harris, giving them information about the voting locations with complete street address.

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But when the same search is done for Trump, the results are discrepant, only showing them news reports from various media channels. Google is aware of these differences, and highlighted by X chief Elon Musk has got a quick response on the issue, for which, the company claims, a fix is coming soon. But the bigger question is linked to how the results for Harris and Trump are so different on the platform for the users?

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This is what Google explained in its response to Musks query on the Search issue, Thx for this. The where to vote" panel is triggering for some specific searches bc Harris is also the name of a county in TX. Happens for Vance" too bc its also the name of a county. Fix is coming. Note very few people actually search for voting places this way."

At the time of writing, the search results with these keywords seem to have been fixed but it is likely that Google is geo-blocking these results for the US states only. Instances like these bring the debate about the role of big tech players in these elections, especially when they are allegedly favouring one party over another.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 09:45 IST
Elon Musk 'Changes' X's Like Button to Support Donald Trump In US Election

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 13:04 IST

The like button on Elon Musk-owned social media platform X (formerly Twitter) now spins into an animated star-burst-filled ballot box featuring the US flag on it.

Elon Musk has been supporting Donald Trump in US Election. He is running against Kamala Harris.

The race for the White House has reached a nail-biting stage, with Donald Trump securing 248 electoral votes and Kamala Harris trailing at 214, 34 votes behind. As both candidates close in on the 270 majority mark, videos showcasing a changed like" button on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) have gone viral. Many are speculating that Elon Musk, a known supporter of the Republican candidate, altered the button to show his backing for Trump.

Read| Kamala Harris Struggles Between Voting Trump And Harris In US Election: Support Abortion, Like Weed

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Several videos that have been doing the rounds on the platform suggest that Elon Musk has programmed" the like button to represent a vote for Republican candidate Donald Trump. When tapped, the like button now spins into an animated star-burst-filled ballot box featuring the US flag on it. News18.com also tested the feature on US-election-related posts and found that the like button has indeed changed.

I thought this is fake, But its damn true that Elon Musk has changed the like button for the United State Elections," wrote one X user.

Another added, Wait what? Elon has changed the like button and is actively supporting Donald Trump."

Wow! This new like button is crazy! The early hours indicate a big Donald Trump win over Kamala Harris! This is becoming too big to rig!" expressed a third.

Also Read| Moo Deng, The Viral Hippo From Thailand, Predicts Winner Of US Polls 2024

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The modified like button only appears on US election-related posts on X, with users adding context to these posts. One explanation reads, While the like button has not been changed in the literal sense, there is a #Election2024 hashtag that enables a feature called Branded Likes, which modifies the like button animation for the post that uses it."

This, however, is not the first time that the like button on the app has changed. As per reports, the like button on the app changed to a smiling pumpkin for Halloween.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 13:04 IST
Elon Musk's Handwritten Physics Notes Are Trending, Billionaire Says 'Some Pages Are Missing'

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 12:28 IST

This interaction garnered appreciation from users, with many commenting on how important it is to comprehend math and physics before one can excel in technical endeavours.

Elon Musks college physics work. (Photo Credits: X)

A sequence of photographs depicting Elon Musks physics homework from college has elicited online interest. Shared on X, the post presents handwritten notes and calculations by the SpaceX founder, made during his time at the University of Pennsylvania. The notes particularly concern the derivation of the moments of inertia. This topic is important in physics, especially regarding rotational motion, applicable in engineering disciplines. In response to the viral post, Musk added a light-hearted comment: There are some pages missing."

After Musks interaction, the user also posted more pages from the notebook, which Musk previously posted.

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Derivation of moments of inertia from first principles. There are some pages missing from the post. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2024

This is amazing! Two more pages you posted on X a long time ago pic.twitter.com/UywojdUwM4 Dima Zeniuk (@DimaZeniuk) November 2, 2024

This interaction garnered appreciation from users, with many commenting on how important it is to comprehend math and physics before one can excel in technical endeavours.

A user commented, Checking out Elon Musks old physics homework from UPenn really shows where the seeds of his genius were planted!"

Checking out Elon Musk's old physics homework from UPenn really shows where the seeds of his genius were planted! Another user added, Its fascinating to see the roots of such an innovative mind!" It's fascinating to see the roots of such an innovative mind!  Charan (@sricharan10g) November 2, 2024

A person went on to say, Probably the only person who applied what you study at college, irl."

Probably the only person who applied what you study at college, irl Sandy (@techprimitives) November 2, 2024

Someone also mentioned, Love this, so many people think Elon is just a front man and isnt as smart as people say he is. The mans a genius and can apply himself to almost all aspects of maths, science and engineeringand politics!"

Love this, so many people think Elon is just a front man and isnt as smart as people say he is. The mans a genius and can apply himself to almost all aspects of maths, science and engineeringand politics! Tesla Driver UK (@TeslaDriverUK) November 3, 2024

In September 2020, Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, shared, Just learned that my physics prof from Penn is head of Fermilab & still has some of my old homework."

Just learned that my physics prof from Penn is head of Fermilab & still has some of my old homework  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 30, 2020

Some users encouraged Musk to make his notes public and he replied stating, Its too embarrassing".

Its too embarrassing Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 30, 2020

Nevertheless, he eventually posted a picture of his physics homework and said, Yeah, he sent it to me through a mutual physics prof friend at Caltech/CERN. Very basic stuff."

Yeah, he sent it to me through a mutual physics prof friend at Caltech/CERN. Very basic stuff. pic.twitter.com/CI2DZEGjcB Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 30, 2020

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Musk first attended Queens University in Ontario, Canada, but then transferred to the University of Pennsylvania where he received dual degrees in economics from the Wharton School as well as a degree in physics from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Even though he got an opportunity to join Stanford University for a PhDs programme in Applied Physics he dropped out after two days to chase tech dreams.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 12:28 IST
In MP's Chhatarpur, This Cow Grazes In Fields And Returns Home On Her Own

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 13:52 IST

Kuchbihari, a cow handler from Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, said that the cow, Gauri is a family member.

When the cow feels hungry, she heads directly to the kitchen.

Have you ever heard of a cow that grazes in the fields and returns home on her own? Kuchbihari, a cow handler from Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh has shared that his cow, Gauri, is incredibly intelligent. She feeds herself by grazing in nearby fields and returns home on her own. Usually, cows need someone to guide them while grazing, but this remarkable cow does it all herself, making life much easier for her handler.

Kuchbihari notes that caring for cows is simpler and more affordable than buffaloes, as cows require fewer resources and less time. Gauri, however, is unique as she manages her food and water on her own. Initially, Kuchbihari raised buffaloes, but on the advice of his guruji, he began keeping cows. Now, Gauri has become part of the family and holds a special place. When she feels hungry, she heads directly to the kitchen, and when shes thirsty, she goes to the courtyard to drink water.

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Gauri is seen as a family member, having been born and raised in the household, which has made her familiar with everything around her. Kuchbihari also worships Goddess Gauri during the Govardhan Puja, praying for happiness and prosperity for his family.

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Therefore, Gauri is considered a member of the family as she was born and brought up in the house, which made her familiar with everything. She recognises each family member and responds to her name when called, often following her handler around the house as if she were a pet dog. Her sense of familiarity even extends to neighbouring households, where she is a beloved figure. Gauri is also sensitive to the rhythms of the household- on mornings of special occasions, she tends to appear at the entrance, as if instinctively aware of celebrations.

In a similar instance, a viral video shows a shop owner who treats his cow as if she were his child. Remarkably, he even allows the cow to come into his saree shop and sit comfortably on his mattress. The owner lovingly strokes her head, and the cow sits peacefully, undisturbed by anyone. The video, seen by millions, has drawn admiration in the comments, with people applauding the owners kindness and affection.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 13:52 IST
'Kolkata Is The Dirtiest City In India': Vizag Man Gives Scathing Review to West Bengal Capital

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 16:28 IST

A man from Vizag, who visited Kolkata for two days, described his experience as the "most unhygienic" he has encountered in any Indian city and labelled the West Bengal capital the "dirtiest city in India".

'Kolkata is the dirtiest city in India,' says a man who shared this picture of a woman selling ginger and garlic near an open gutter. (Pic credit: X/@balajidbv)

Kolkata is the dirtiest city in India," wrote a man from Vizag in a controversial thread on X (formerly Twitter) following his recent visit to West Bengals capital. DS Balaji, a designer by profession, described his experience as the most unhygienic" he has encountered in any Indian city, citing open gutters, overflowing bins, and a pervasive smell of urine.

Open gutters, urine smell

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He shared videos from areas like Sealdah and Bada Bazaar to comment on the open gutters and the overwhelming stench of urine: Cant breathe properly," he wrote, adding that while he struggled with the unhygienic conditions, locals were casually enjoying breakfast at a shop situated at the top of one of the gutters.

This is not some Starving African city, it's Kolkata.A busy Metro station, Called Sealdah. And a market area called Bada Bazaar. Open gutters, and urine smell everywhere. Can't breathe properly. While locals were enjoying breakfast from a shop on top of the gutter nearby. pic.twitter.com/R7FwudVsV4  DS Balaji (@balajidbv) November 5, 2024

In his thread, he also shared a picture of a vendor sitting on top of an open gutter selling ginger and garlic. He expressed his shock, saying, I have never seen it anywhere else in India. No matter how poor, or bad Infrastructure. And I have travelled a lot. Its just a lack of civic and hygiene in the city, which is so sad to see."

Balaji added more pictures and videos to his thread from the local vegetable market: The food which you will eat is kept on a gutter, filthy smelling floor. While people are just fighting, abusing and spitting here and there."

This is a Vegetable market from where vendors distribute to the entire city.The food which you will eat is kept on a gutter, filthy smelling floor. While people are just fighting, abusing and spitting here and there. I didn't eat proper food for two days of stay in Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/nrS4QhLaSU  DS Balaji (@balajidbv) November 5, 2024

Bad infrastructure and bullying

The designer, who is also a martial artist, commented on the citys infrastructure as well. He said that most buildings seem like they wont be able to survive a strong earthquake". He further pointed out that people in the city honk so much that it gave him a headache".

Most buildings look like they won't survive a strong earthquake.Irritating honking that can give most humans a headache. Can't book Uber, Rapidos because local Taxis beat them. Hence drivers don't like to go into the most busy areas. End up with local Taxis that cost double. pic.twitter.com/yIq7UoIj18  DS Balaji (@balajidbv) November 5, 2024

Balaji added, Cant book Uber, Rapidos because local taxis beat them. Hence drivers dont like to go into the most busy areas. Ended up with local taxis that cost double. People seemed to be in some high survival mechanism. Everyone is trying to grab money from outsiders. Taxi would charge you extra if you ask them to drop 50 m close to the hotel. And would abuse you if you dont comply with their bullying."

Deceptive practices at Kaali Ghaat temple

Balaji recounted an unpleasant experience at the Kaali Ghaat temple, where he claimed to have lost money.

I literally lost thousands of rupees inside Kaali Ghaat temple," he further wrote, explaining that local pandas surrounded him, offering VIP darshan in exchange for money, and attempted to sell him various religious items.

Even inside the Temple, the priest would get agitated if you dont pay them," he further wrote.

Most depressing city

Balaji described Kolkata as not only the dirtiest but also the most depressing city hes been to. I personally felt Kolkata to be the most depressing, low energy, low-frequency city," he expressed.

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I may have visited all the wrong places, at all at the wrong times," he speculated.

He concluded his thread with a hopeful message for the city despite his unpleasant experience: As a caring aware Indian citizen I wish the best, for this city. May it improve, grow and build like others."

First Published: November 06, 2024, 16:28 IST
News / National

by Staff reporter

Congratulations to President elect @realdonaldtrump on your election victory.



The world needs more leaders who speak for the people.



Zimbabwe stands ready to work with you and the American people to build a better, more prosperous and more peaceful world.  President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) November 6, 2024

President Mnangagwa has joined world leaders in congratulating Donald Trump after he declared victory in the US presidential election.The President posted the message on his Twitter account handle, @edmnangagwa. "Congratulations to President elect @realdonaldtrump on your election victory."The world needs more leaders who speak for the people."Zimbabwe stands ready to work with you and the American people to build a better, more prosperous and more peaceful world," President Mnangagwa said in his message.
Maun Charana: Know Significance And Rituals Of This Age-old Bundelkhand Tradition

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 10:44 IST

The day begins with the person worshipping a calf and starting their journey with chants in praise of Lord Krishna.

Maun Charana is a special religious and cultural observance.

In various parts of India, ancient traditions are still alive. The Maun Charana tradition in Bundelkhand is a significant example. This unique custom, especially observed in Madhya Pradeshs Chhatarpur district after Diwali, has historical ties to Lord Krishna, who is also known as Mauniya. It is believed that Lord Krishna would remain silent while herding cows, which led to the origin of this practice.

What is Maun Charana?

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Maun Charana is a special religious and cultural observance in which a person takes a vow of silence for a day. On this day, they neither eat food nor wear shoes. The day begins with the person worshipping a calf and starting their journey with chants in praise of Lord Krishna. In the evening, they return to their village, herding cows along the way.

PD Pal, a young student from Chhatarpur, is pursuing a BPharmacy degree in Sagar. He shares with Local18 that he has been observing this tradition for the past 10 years, having learned it from his family in childhood. His deep love for his village brings him back every year to perform this ritual alongside his studies. For him, Maun Charana is not just a religious act but a spiritual experience that brings him closer to Lord Krishna.

The process of Maun Charana is quite interesting. In the first year, five peacock feathers are needed, and every subsequent year, five more feathers are added, accumulating to 60 feathers over 12 years. According to tradition, these feathers are tied to the calfs tail without using any thread or string. It is said that this practice dates back to the time of Lord Krishna.

Distribution of Prasad during Maun Charana

During Maun Charana, groups of silent worshippers or Mauniyas come from other villages and towns to meet and exchange offerings like puffed rice, coconut, sweets, and sugar candies as prasad. After receiving the prasad, participants commit to observing the vow for 12 years. Additionally, in the 13th year, an extra vow is taken as interest" on the previous years vows, which is considered highly significant.

Spiritual Significance of Maun Charana

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Maun Charana reflects Lord Krishnas teachings. It is believed that observing this vow with sincerity for 13 years can lead one to liberation, freeing them from worldly attachments. The vow is seen as a symbol of patience, restraint, and devotion even amidst lifes challenges.

Bundelkhands Diwali festival and Maun Charana hold a special place across the country. This festival not only reflects regional cultural heritage but also fosters a spiritual and emotional connection between the young and the old. Those who observe this unique tradition view it not just as a religious act but as a form of spiritual discipline.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 10:44 IST
Three US Women Visit Kamala Harris' Family Village In Tamil Nadu For Victory Prayers

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 14:26 IST

The women travelled to Kamala Harris ancestral village in Tamil Nadu to offer prayers for her victory.

Kamala Harris is facing Donald Trump in the US polls. (Photo Credits: X)

Three women from the United States travelled to a small Tamil Nadu village called Thulasendrapuram, to pray for Kamala Harris success in the ongoing US presidential election.

The women, proudly wearing shirts that read, Kamala Freaking Harris," visited the Sri Dharma Sastha Temple where they attended the special prayers for the current Vice President.

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The Times of India reported that the three women travelled from Chennai after learning about the event through media. When they arrived, the locals, who consider Kamala daughter of the soil because of her mothers roots in the village, welcomed them with love. DMK councillor Arulmozhi Suthakar and her husband arranged a special prayer ceremony, which included rituals like abhishegam and archanai.

#Thulasendrapuram (#TamilNadu): The temple reverberated with rhythmic Sanskrit and Tamil hymns, as a Hindu priest held a flame before the god. As this tiny South Indian village gathered to pray for #KamalaHarris, a gaggle of reporters jostled for space and camera angles. pic.twitter.com/APwk77PfNi Ch.M.NAIDU (@chmnaidu) November 6, 2024

Interestingly, Kamala Harris maternal grandfather, PV Gopalan, a former Indian diplomat, lived in the village for many years. He was a well-known figure in the area and was also the inspiration behind Kamala to enter politics.

In a previous interview with CNN, she said, One of the most influential people in my life, in addition to my mother, was my grandfather PV Gopalan, who actually held a post in India that was like the secretary of state position in this country. My grandfather was one of the original Independence fighters in India. He had such a strong influence on me in terms in terms of learning to be responsible, to be honest, and to have integrity. He has had a great deal of influence on what I do today and who I am."

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Although Kamala has never visited Thulasendrapuram and has no actual relatives in the village, the people are praying for her success with enthusiasm. One of the temple priests, in a conversation with AP said, Our deity is a very powerful God. If we pray well to him, he will make her victorious. Our village ancestors granddaughter is running as a US presidential candidate. Her victory will be happy news for every one of us."

Kamala Harris late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born in India. She moved to the US to continue her studies. During her time in the States, she fell in love and married a Jamaican man. The couple welcomed Kamala on 20 October, 1964.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 14:26 IST
UK Woman Discovers Fiance's Shocking Criminal History 14 Days Before Wedding

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 11:25 IST

Megan Clark, a 27-year-old UK former bar manager, met her fiance, Lord Bertie, at her workplace.

The two moved into a luxurious home together.

When we imagine our life partners, we often create a mental picture of the ideal companion, especially for many women envisioning a perfect partner who makes life feel complete. However, something drastically different happened to a woman when she discovered an unsettling truth about her fiance just 14 days before their wedding.

According to reports, Megan Clark, a 27-year-old UK former bar manager, met her fiance, Lord Bertie, at her workplace. He had introduced himself as the grandson of a typewriter inventor, and after dating for five months, Megan decided to marry him. The two moved into a luxurious home together and began working on designing watches, planning for a shared future.

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The real twist emerged 14 days before their wedding when Megan noticed letters arriving at their residence addressed to other people. When she questioned Bertie, he claimed the letters were simply from former tenants.

Growing suspicious, Megan decided to visit Berties office to get answers. There, she made a shocking discovery: inside Berties wallet, she found several credit cards under different names. Alarmed, she looked up those names online and was horrified to learn that her fiance was a con artist who had been using stolen credit cards to commit fraud.

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The revelations didnt end there. As Megan processed this shocking news, she realised he had also taken out multiple credit cards in her name, racking up loans totalling approximately Rs 33 lakh. In desperation, she even considered selling her engagement ring to help pay off the debts he had left her with- only to discover that the ring was fake as well.

After Megans story surfaced, more disturbing details came to light. Not only was Bertie a fraud, but the name he had been using was also an alias. He had been using this false identity to charm people and defraud them. Heartbroken and feeling utterly deceived, Megan reported the entire incident to the police. Bertie was eventually arrested and sentenced to five years in prison, but he managed to escape during his incarceration.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 11:25 IST
Watch: Elderly Man Performs Stunts On A Moving Train

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 15:49 IST

Although the train is travelling at high speed, the man holds onto the doors rod with both hands and continues to hang perilously close to the edge.

The video has received over 15 million views.

Metro and local trains have become popular locations for content creation today. Many individuals are seen engaging in activities like recording videos, conducting photoshoots, or attempting unique stunts. While these actions have raised concerns over safety and security, many of these videos showcase dangerous behaviours. Despite the risks, people continue to make such content without restraint. Recently, a viral video on social media left viewers baffled and sparked widespread public debate.

In this viral video, an elderly man performs a risky stunt on a moving local train by standing near its door. Although the train is travelling at high speed, he holds onto the doors rod with both hands and continues to hang perilously close to the edge. At times, he swings downwards, while at other times he moves upward. Observing the video, it appears that he has no fear of death, a factor that has shocked many viewers.

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The video, posted on Instagram by @kishordas5038, has received over 15 million views. People shared varied opinions in the comments section. While some users trolled the man, leaving sarcastic remarks with laughing emojis, others praised his daring talent and bravery, using heart emojis to show their admiration.

In a similar instance, another video recently went viral, showing a young man performing a different kind of stunt on a Mumbai local train. With the Instagram handle @unrealcrew, this individual showcased his fitness by performing a twerking stunt in a crowded train alongside three friends. The young man jumps up, grabs the trains handles, and executes the steps with surprising agility. With assistance from his two friends, he manages a series of twists and twerking moves that left passengers and internet viewers astonished.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 15:49 IST
Why Robert Kennedy And Fluoride Water Are Trending On US Election Day

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 12:30 IST

In a tweet, RFK Jr claimed that the Donald Trump administration will make arrangements to remove fluoride from water systems across the US.

Donald Trump reacted to Robert Kennedy's fluoride water claims. (Photo Credits: X)

With the US elections closing across the country, early trends show Donald Trump and Kamala Harris fighting it out in a historically close race. With high hopes hanging over Election Day for all Americans, the internet also has something else to talk about, and its not Trump or Harris, but Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the fluoride debate. As per Google Trends, the search volume for Robert Kennedy was recorded over 1,00,000 on Tuesday around 3:30, the Firstpost reported. Over the next 24 hours, the numbers saw constant growth, still showing over 20,000 search results.

But the question remains. Why is the former independent presidential candidate trending? This connects to the much-debated topic of fluoride in water. Earlier this month, Kennedy stated in a tweet that if Trump wins the election, the White House will ask all the water systems across the country to remove fluoride from public water.

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Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump want to Make America Healthy Again," he continued.

On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease. President Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) November 2, 2024

It is worth mentioning that Kennedy has been strongly endorsing the Trump ticket, urging Americans to vote for the Republican candidate for a healthier future." He is also expected to play a significant role in the Trump administration if he wins. Hes going to have a big role in the administration," the former president added.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump, while addressing Kennedys claims, spoke to NBC and said that it sounded OK" to him.

Fluoride Drinking Water

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Since the 1940s, fluoridation in public drinking water has become a common practice. As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluoride helps to strengthen teeth and reduce cavities by replacing the minerals that are lost during normal wear and tear. It also believes that the additional fluoride levels are one of the greatest public health achievements in the countrys history.

Later in 2011, the US Health and Human Services Department reduced the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water to 0.7mg per litre. Despite Kennedys claims, no major studies have found evidence of linking fluoride drinking water to bone fractures, cancer, or osteoporosis, unless consumed at higher levels.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 11:29 IST
Woman Considers Calling Off Engagement After Fiance Refuses To Vote In US Election

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 18:19 IST

She expressed concerns about possible alterations in legislation that might endanger her rights. I am terrified of a future that restricts our rights even more, she confided.

Fiances refusal to vote could end the engagement. (Representative Image)

Ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections, millions of Americans were gearing up to cast their votes. But for one young couple, the election sparked a deeply personal dilemma that had the potential to even end their relationship. A Reddit post by a 26-year-old engaged woman has stirred up the discussions as she asked whether it is reasonable to end the engagement merely because the fiance does not want to vote. The woman, set to get married in four months, was frustrated and angry over her fiances stance as the election loomed.

My fiance isnt planning on voting," the user revealed, explaining that the fiance is disappointed in what he perceives as an extremely flawed bipolar system. Both candidates suck," he argues, elaborating that from his perspective there is little difference between the choices given.

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This point of view heavily differs from the OPs awareness of responsibility and the need for action. Her comments came as a woman living in Florida, a state whose elections are notorious for their contentiousness and often closely fought. She expressed concerns about possible alterations in legislation that might endanger her rights. I am terrified of a future that restricts our rights even more," she confided.

I am considering giving him an ultimatum, which feels really horrible", the user added.

The issue has assumed a moral and emotional calamity for her, and can only proceed with the man and a relationship if he votes. If he doesnt vote, I feel like I cannot marry him with a good conscience," she wrote.

Eliciting a debate on the social media platform, some of them supported the womans choice, while others said that voting is an individual decision and should not interfere with marriage.

A user commented, You dont control his actions, behaviours, or choices  only your own. If it is this important to you to be with someone who votes and he does not want to vote, then you should break up with him. (If he did vote, and voted in the opposite way to you, would that be OK, since at least he voted?) You are allowed to end a relationship for any reason you want."

Another user added, 100%. Also, if you NEED some validation I would break it off with someone who wouldnt vote for president. ESPECIALLY when someone like Trump is running. Hard no."

A user mentioned, It doesnt even have to be an ultimatum. Your values dont align, so you dont want to be with him. No harm no foul."

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A user went on to suggest, Why would you give an ultimatum to him? He already said he isnt voting, so you know his stance. When people show you who they are, believe them. Dont waste your time trying to change people, it doesnt work like that. If not voting is a dealbreaker then end the relationship immediately."

Donald Trump returned to the White House after a big victory against Kamala Harris in the US elections. Trump, 78, becomes the oldest person to be elected US President.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 06, 2024, 18:19 IST
Awami Leagues Letter to Trump Naming Sheikh Hasina as Bangladesh PM Raises Eyebrows

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 23:22 IST

Hasina was ousted in August following intense student-led protests, during which crimes against Hindus and other minorities were condemned by Trump.

Sheikh Hasina said Trump's resounding election victory is a testament to his extraordinary leadership qualities. (Reuters)

Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated Donald Trump on his stunning victory in the US presidential elections on Wednesday, where he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris to mark a historic return to the White House as the 47th President of the United States.

Interestingly enough, Hasinas congratulatory message issued through a post on the verified Facebook page of Awami League identified her as the Prime Minister, months after a student-led protest intensified into an full-blown agitation against her government and forced her to resign and flee to India.

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The statement signed by Awami League Office Secretary Biplab Barua read, The President of the Bangladesh Awami League, (Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina, has congratulated Donald J. Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States of America."

Resounding Victory A Testament To Extraordinary Leadership

She stated that his resounding election victory is a testament to his extraordinary leadership qualities and the immense trust bestowed on him by the American people. Sheikh Hasina recalled with fondness her several meetings and interactions as Prime Minister with Donald J. Trump and Melania Trump during his first presidency," the Awami League statement further read.

She expressed hope that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and America would be strengthened under the second Trump cabinet and shared her commitment to working together again to advance the bilateral and multilateral interests of both countries".

This came after Bangladeshs interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus also extended congratulations to Donald Trump on his election triumph and expressed optimism for strengthened bilateral ties and future cooperation.

We welcome this (his win). We hope Bangladesh-US relations will be deepened and relations will reach a new height," His Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday evening.

ALSO READ: Donald Trumps Extraordinary Win, Republican Majority In Senate | Key Takeaways From US Elections

What A Trump Victory Means For Bangladesh?

Trumps recent tweet condemning alleged violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh has sparked intense reactions and widespread debate on the impact of a second Donald Trump presidency on Bangladesh following the chaos and violence that gripped the country in mid-July. He is the only American leader who has publicly commented on the Bangladesh violence that deeply impacted Hindus and other minorities in the South Asian nation.

I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos. It would have never happened on my watch. Kamala and Joe have ignored Hindus across the world and in America," he said on X.

ALSO READ: Greatest Comeback: Netanyahu, Macron Among World Leaders Hailing Trumps US Poll Show

In a piece in The Eurasian Times, author Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury said Trumps remarks on the alleged violence in Bangladesh have added an unexpected international angle to an already charged campaign season.

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Citing Yunus visit to the US, where he and the protest leaders received endorsement from former US President Bill Clinton, Choudhary opined that the regime change in Bangladesh was devised by the Clintons, Obama, and Soros, with no engagement with Trump or other Republicans.

If Trump wins on November 5, he could likely implement severe measures against Bangladesh, potentially including broad restrictions on the country or sanctions targeting specific individuals. Conversely, if Kamala Harris wins, her administration may not continue Bidens policy on Bangladesh," he wrote.

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: November 06, 2024, 20:04 IST
On Cam, Bangladesh Army Cracks Down On Hindu Protesters As Post Against ISKCON Stirs Row

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 11:47 IST

The situation got tense in the port citys Hazari Goli after trader Osman Mollahs Facebook post calling ISKCON a terrorist organisation sparked a row

Bangladeshi Army and police attack Hindu establishments in Chittagong amid protests. (Screengrab)

Bangladeshi security forces have begun attacking Hindus in Chittagong after they held protests over a Muslim traders derogatory post against the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and Sanatana Dharma.

The situation got tense in the port citys Hazari Goli on Tuesday night after trader Osman Mollahs Facebook post calling ISKCON a terrorist organisation" sparked a row and protesters staged a protest outside his shop. According to sources Mollah was shifted to a safe custody.

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Later, On Tuesday night, joint forces of police and army conducted an operation and attacked Hindu establishments, videos of which are now being widely circulated.

A huge disturbance is going on in Chittagongs Hazari Gull after demonstration against FB post calling ISCKON a terrorist org.Bangladesh Army, Police and Radicals have started attacking Hindus and their houses. Even CCTVs are being broken to hide the slaughter of hindus pic.twitter.com/m269rg1mWC  Megh Updates  (@MeghUpdates) November 5, 2024

A local Muslim youth reportedly uploaded a post on Facebook criticizing ISKCON. The angry Hindu community people protested and clashed with the law-enforcing agencies. They threw bricks and other objects at the police. After the clashes, a joint operation conducted by law enforcing agencies, comprising police and army", Saifuddin Tuhin, a local reporter from Chittagong told news agency ANI over the phone.

A local youth named Osman posted on Facebook demanding the banning of ISKCON. Law and order forces went there when tension arose. It has been alleged that something like acid was thrown at the law enforcement agencies", said a Hindu community leader.

The leader also noted, At night, joint forces raided Hazari Goli and arrested about 100 suspects. Some were released after questioning. Due to a power outage during the operation, details about the incident were not known".

As per a report by the Bangla Daily, Prothom Alo, blank shots were also fired during the operation.

Recently, some individuals and groups have demanded a ban on ISKCON in Bangladesh. ISKCON leaders in Dhaka recently asked Amar Desh" editor Mahmudur Rahman to apologize for demanding the banning of ISKCON. A group called Inqilab Manch" demanded the banning of ISKCON.

ISKCON Monk Seeks PM Modis Intervention

ISKCON spokesperson Radharaman Das has sought PM Modis intervention in the matter.

Very disturbing news coming from Chittagong, Hindus have been attacked there. The Army came in and sided with the other community. Dont know how many people they have killed. They are not sparing anyone. Recently the Muslim student group has done press conference against ISKCON."

They are rattled as ISKCON has united Hindus there. We would request PM Modi to intervene in this matter," he added.

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Hindus, who make up about 8 per cent of Bangladeshs 170 million population, have traditionally supported Sheikh Hasinas Awami League party, which has faced backlash following violent clashes between anti-quota protesters and security forces last month.

On August 5, a student-led movement ousted Bangladeshs Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, after weeks of protests and clashes that killed over 600 people. Hasina, 76, fled to India on August 5 and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 11:44 IST
'Based On Principles Of Mutual Respect...': China Reacts To Donald Trump's Election Victory

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 16:22 IST

Trump 2.0 is expected to impose massive tariffs on China with a goal to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the US.

Donald Trump has hinted at a much tougher approach towards China amid a history of strained relations. (Reuters/File)

Republican candidate Donald Trumps second term at the White House has been assured as he has notched key victories in crucial battleground states with 276 electoral votes so far, prompting a response from China, which is likely to feature heavily in the US foreign policy under Trump 2.0.

As Trump declared victory, Chinese Foreign Ministry Mao Ning said Chinas policy toward the US is consistent, and it will continue to handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, in response to a question on the potential impact of the election on US-China bilateral relations.

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Trump already declared victory before crossing the magic number of 270 to win the Oval Office after winning in Georgia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. His victory in the key battleground state of Wisconsin was the final nail in the coffin needed to secure a second term and defeating Democrat leader and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Will Trump Impose Additional Tariffs On Chinese Goods?

Analysts believe that if Trump is elected as President, he will impose massive tariffs on China. These could be 60% across the board or even higher in the event that he eliminates Chinas Most Favored Nation (MFN) status. But Trump has recently been making fleeting remarks that he is open to negotiate with China.

In response to a query about potential additional US tariffs on Chinese goods, Mao said the US presidential election is an internal affair of the US. We respect the choice of the American people. As for the tariffs, we do not answer hypothetical question," she was quoted as saying by the China-based Global Times.

When asked if Trump wins, will the Chinese side send him a congratulatory message, Mao said that after the US election results are officially announced, we will handle related matters according to usual practice.

How Will US-China Relations Proceed Under Trump 2.0?

In his second term, Trump could remove pharmaceutical manufacturing in China for the US market. He may attempt to acquire and protect key minerals required for high-tech manufacturing, and will certainly continue to strengthen his goal of bringing manufacturing back to the US, as per The Diplomat.

Every damn thing that they sell into the United States is going to have like a 25% (tariff) until they stop drugs from coming in. And let me tell you something, those drugs will stop so damn fast that your head will spin," Trump had said at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Trump would also likely introduce a witch hunt against anyone he considers a Chinese spy. This would not only bring both the economies close to a possible state of decoupling, but also disrupt more crucial scientific research. Both initiatives could endanger economic and scientific progress in the US and globally," as per a report by Brandeis University, a research university in Massachusetts, US.

A report by Barclays said that top Chinese leaders are considering an extensive economic stimulus package, expected to be discussed during the ongoing National Peoples Congress (NPC) Standing Committee meeting, set to conclude on November 8.

As per a Foreign Policy report, Chinas first step would be to massively penalize a few Fortune 500 US companies. China could expand restrictions on exports of critical minerals and move forward with other export controls. It also could sell off $100 billion or more of its $775 billion in US Treasurys. Moreover, Beijing might act even more aggressively in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, raising anxieties about the prospects of a kinetic conflict".

China could take these steps to tank US markets and create a sense of panic, which could lead some of Trumps business allies to fly to Washington and implore him to stabilise ties with Beijing, as per the Foreign Policy report.

How Trump Dealt With China In The Past?

During his 2016 presidency, Trump went after China on genocide in Xinjiang and the National Security Law in Hong Kong censoring free speech in the former British colony. His administration had also blocked certain Chinese telecommunications companies from doing business in the US.

He also issued orders against Chinese officials engaged in human rights abuses, and blocked their access to property. The Executive Order issued by Trump determined Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently autonomous to justify differential treatment in relation to the Peoples Republic of China."

Between 2017 and 2021, the Trump administration issued no fewer than eight executive orders that primarily involved China, according to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

Just before leaving the office, Trump dealt a final blow to China when his secretary of state Mike Pompeo on January 19, 2021, had determined that China had committed genocide and crimes against humanity" through its repression of Muslim Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in northwest Xinjiang Province.

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During the Covid-19 pandemic, Trump believed that China allowed planes to take people out of Wuhan, people who had been the first to be exposed to the coronavirus, and to then fly them into locations all over the world.

Location : Beijing, China

First Published: November 06, 2024, 16:19 IST
'Not Aware' Of Putin's Plans To Congratulate Trump, Says Kremlin Spokesman

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 17:15 IST

Russia also denied US accusations of interfering in the presidential election, saying that the United States should focus on solving its own problems

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AP file photo)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said that he was not aware" of any plans by Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Donald Trump, who has claimed victory in the US presidential election.

Im not aware of any plans by the president to congratulate Trump," Peskov told the media.

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Further adding to that comment, Peskov said, Lets not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country that is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state," referring to US support for Ukraine.

When asked if relations between Russia and the US could deteriorate further if Putin chose not to congratulate Trump, he said: It is almost impossible to worsen them further, relations are at their historically lowest point. What happens next will depend on the next US leadership."

Peskov added that Russian President had repeatedly expressed his openness to constructive dialogue based on fairness and equality," and a willingness to consider each others concerns. However, he said, At the moment, the U.S. administration is diametrically opposed, and what will happen in January  we will see."

Solve Your Own Problems

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday denied US accusations of interfering in the presidential election, saying that the United States should focus on solving its own problems rather than looking for issues abroad.

It would be logical for the next US president, whoever he or she may be, to focus on solving own countrys problems and not looking for adventures tens of thousands of miles away from the US coast," Zakharova said.

She also added, We wish the American nation to overcome the crisis of democracy and the split in society."

The Kremlin spokeswoman, when asked about the potential outcome of the US election and its impact on Russia, said that it makes no difference" to the country.

In general, it makes no difference for Russia what the election outcome will be, given the two-party consensus that emerged in the United States regarding the confrontation toward our country," she noted.

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Zakharova added that if any changes in US policy do occur or new proposals are presented, Russia would be open to examine them based on whether they align with its interests.

In any case Russia will resolutely defend its interests, particularly where national security is concerned," she stated.

Location : Russia

First Published: November 06, 2024, 16:08 IST
News / National

by Staff reporter

The African National Congress (ANC) Study Group on Basic Education in Parliament has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to promulgate the full commencement of all sections of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act without delay, dismissing recent opposition to the legislation as misguided and disingenuous.The BELA Act, which aims to reform South Africa's education system, has faced fierce opposition from various political parties, including the Democratic Alliance, Afriforum, the Freedom Front Plus, the Patriotic Alliance, and Solidarity. These groups have raised concerns that the Act will limit the use of mother-tongue education and centralize power away from School Governing Bodies (SGBs). However, the ANC Study Group has strongly rejected these claims, calling them disinformation.The ANC emphasized that the BELA Act does not infringe on the use of indigenous languages in schools. Instead, it promotes a more inclusive approach by encouraging schools to accommodate a broader range of languages, ensuring that all learners have access to quality education in their mother tongues. "When these ethno-nationalist parties speak of marching for the protection of indigenous languages, they are primarily advocating for the protection of Afrikaans, a language spoken by a minority," the ANC argued. "This is about white privilege, not the protection of linguistic rights for all South Africans."Furthermore, the ANC Study Group refuted allegations that the BELA Act would strip SGBs of their powers. While the Act does provide the Head of Department with greater oversight, SGBs will retain authority over language policies and administrative matters, provided these decisions align with constitutional guidelines. The Act is designed to ensure that schools evolve and adapt to the changing needs of society, rather than remain insular and static."The governing body of a public school must recognize that it is entrusted with a public resource, which must be managed not just for the current learners and their parents, but for the broader community and in line with constitutional values," the ANC said in a statement. "The BELA Act seeks to address the historical imbalances in our education system and create a more inclusive and equitable environment for all South Africans."The ANC Study Group also pointed to the Acts broader objectives of promoting nation-building and social cohesion, which it argued are essential for the democratic values of South Africa. The Act addresses long-standing challenges, including language policies that have previously prevented learners from gaining access to education. By tackling these issues, the ANC believes the Act will contribute to creating a more equitable education system that serves the nation as a whole.According to Section 79(1) of the South African Constitution, once Parliament has passed a bill, the President is obligated to either assent to the bill or refer it back to the National Assembly if there are concerns about its constitutionality. The ANC Study Group is confident that the BELA Act complies with constitutional standards and should be fully implemented.The Study Group reaffirmed its support for the Act and stressed that no legislation, especially one that has undergone thorough public consultation, should be altered through political maneuvering or intimidation. "We urge the President to act in the best interest of the nation and promulgate the commencement of all sections of the BELA Act with immediate effect," the ANC concluded.With this call for swift action, the ANC aims to accelerate efforts to build a more inclusive and cohesive society through the transformation of South Africa's education system.
Can Donald Trumps Second Term Spell Trouble For Prince Harry, Meghan Markle?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 07, 2024, 00:02 IST

After the couple's rift with the British royal family, Donald Trump has not held a favourable view of their new life in Californias Montecito. His second term coincides with Prince Harry's precarious visa battle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not exactly quiet about their dislike of President-elect Donald Trump, and have been his vocal critics. (Image: Reuters/File)

President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House could possibly be a thorn in the side for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, when it comes to their living situation in the US.

After the couples rift with the British royal family, Trump has not held a favourable view of their new life in Californias Montecito. And now that his second term coincides with Harrys visa battle, it may get further complicated.

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According to a report published by The Independent, Trump has previously weighed in on Harrys US visa application that came under scrutiny after he admitted to drug use. In his tell-all memoir Spare, the royal has written about using cocaine, smoking marijuana and experimenting with magic mushrooms in his teenage years.

The report says Trump has criticised the Biden administration as being too gracious" to Harry since he moved to the US with Meghan in 2020. I wouldnt protect him. He betrayed the Queen. Thats unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me," he told the Daily Express.

Conservatives have questioned why the Duke of Sussex was allowed into the US in 2020, even as a judge ruled that his visa application should remain private as the public does not have a strong interest in disclosure of the dukes immigration records".

Even Trumps son, Eric Trump, lashed out at Harry and Meghan with a week left for the election on November 5. He questioned the formers right to stay in the US and said his visa is safe because no one cares".

He told the Daily Mail: Truthfully I dont give a damn about Prince Harry and I dont think this country does either," suggesting that Harry had gone off the deep end and its sad to watch". I dont give a damn if he did drugs. It means nothing," he was further quoted.

Now, the duke and the duchess are not exactly quiet about their dislike of Trump, and have been his vocal critics. In fact, Meghan  when he first became president in 2016  said on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore that he was divisive" and misogynistic".

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The Independent report said the former president has had conflicting views of her over the years, ultimately deciding that he is not a fan". Three years after her comments, he said he did not know she was nasty", ahead of his UK state visit.

He then backtracked on this and told Piers Morgan in an interview that he thought she was very nice". But, in 2020, when Meghan urged Americans to vote for Biden, he said: Im not a fan of hers. I wish a lot of luck to Harry, hes going to need it."

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 07, 2024, 00:02 IST
'I Will Stop Wars, Make America The Greatest': Trump Claims US Election Win In Rousing Speech

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 13:53 IST

Republican candidate Donald Trump addressed his supporters in Florida as he inched closer to becoming the 47th President of the United States

Donald Trump addresses supporters in Florida after winning US election (File Photo: Reuters)

Donald Trump vowed to end wars and make America the greatest while addressing his supporters in Floridas Palm Beach on election night, as he claimed win in a thrilling race for the White House.

I will bring every energy, soul, and fire to make America the greatest and I am going to stop wars," the Republican candidate and former US President said.

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We have proven our critics wrong. This is going to be a golden age for America," Trump added.

He said his party would pay back the hardworking" people of America for their support and promised to provide better living conditions. He said people regained control of their country.

This is a great job. There is no job like this. This is the most important job in the world. Nothing will stop me from keeping my word to you," he added.

#WATCH | West Palm Beach, Florida | Donald Trump says, This is a great job. There is no job like this. This is the most important job in the worldNothing will stop me from keeping my word to you"#USElection2024(Video source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/wRo1IMsz3Z  ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2024

Greatest Comeback, Says JD Vance

Trumps running mate JD Vance also spoke at the event and said, This is the biggest political comeback in history."

He said, Mr President, I appreciate you for allowing me to join you on this incredible journey. I thank you for the trust you placed in me. Under President Trumps leadership, we are never going to stop fighting for you, for your dreams, for the future of your children and after the greatest political comeback in American history, we are going to lead the greatest economic comeback in American history under Donald Trumps leadership."

#WATCH | West Palm Beach, Florida | #DonaldTrumps running mate JD Vance says, Mr President, I appreciate you for allowing me to join you on this incredible journey. I thank you for the trust you placed in me. I think we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the pic.twitter.com/BuoglMGtGv ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2024

Trump lauded Vance, saying, Hes a great pick." He also thanked his wife Melania Trump, the rest of his family, and his aides.

We Have To Seal Those Borders: Trump On Immigration

He also raked up the immigration issue and said, We need to seal those borders and people need to come back legally." He said he will work towards ensuring security and stopping wars.

Immigration was a huge part of Trumps poll campaign.

Trump Talks About Bond With Elon Musk

Trump also shared anecdotes of how he bonded with Elon Musk. He shared an incident when Musks Starlink helped save a lot of lives when people were stuck due to a natural disaster.

Elon Musk saved a lot of lives. Hes a special guy, super genius. Weve to protect our geniuses, we dont have many of them," he added.

Elon Musk saved a lot of lives. Hes a special guy, super genius. Weve to protect our geniuses, we dont have many of them": Donald Trump is all praise for Tesla CEO in victory speech#UnitedStates #USElections2024 #USAElections #DonaldTrump #ElonMusk pic.twitter.com/VfOBffi25B News18 (@CNNnews18) November 6, 2024

Trumps speech was an impromptu was and impromptu one and he was joined by his family members and aides.

Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is unlikely to address any gathering on the election night as she trails in key states.

TRUMP SUPPORTERS CELEBRATE

Supporters of Donald Trump gathered at his election night watch party were hugging one another, making calls, jumping up and down, and throwing their MAGA hats in the air every chance they got to celebrate as results continued to trickle in.

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Men donning formal suits and women in dresses mingled at the Palm Beach County Convention Center event, where they rubbed shoulders with a die-hard Trump fan sporting their political heros name emblazoned on a leather vest.

Florida, located in the southeastern United States, has become a spiritual home for Trump as he has faced a litany of legal woes in his native New York.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 13:02 IST
'Greatest Comeback': Netanyahu, Macron Among World Leaders Hailing Trump's US Poll Show

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 17:46 IST

Donald Trump has declared victory in the US presidential elections, receiving congratulatory messages from world leaders.

Donald Trump is on the verge of winning the US presidential elections (Photo: News18)

Moments after Donald Trump claimed victory in the US elections, during a speech in Florida, congratulatory messages poured in for the Republican, expressing hopes of a new beginning for the United States of America.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the first ones to wish Donald Trump on winning the US presidential elections.

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In an X post, Netanyahu wrote, Dear Donald and Melania Trump, congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America."

Dear Donald and Melania Trump,Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship, pic.twitter.com/B54NSo2BMA  Benjamin Netanyahu    (@netanyahu) November 6, 2024

ALSO READ | Lets Work For: PM Modi Congratulates Friend Donald Trump On US Poll Victory

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also wrote on X, Congratulations to Donald Trump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine."

We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States," he wrote.

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory!I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X, Ready to work together as we were able to do during four years. With your convictions and mine. In respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity."

Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity. Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 6, 2024

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in an X post, said, I congratulate my friend Donald Trump, who won the presidential election in the United States after a great struggle and was re-elected as the President of the United States. In this new period that will begin with the elections of the American people, I hope that Turkey-US relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end; I believe that more efforts will be made for a more just world. I hope that the elections will be beneficial for our friendly and allied people in the United States and for all of humanity."

Amerika Birlesik Devletlerinde yaplan baskanlk secimini buyuk bir mucadelenin ardndan kazanarak yeniden ABD Baskan secilen dostum Donald Trump tebrik ediyorum.Amerikan halknn secimiyle baslayacak olan bu yeni donemde, Turkiye-ABD iliskilerinin guclenmesini, Filistin  Recep Tayyip Erdogan (@RTErdogan) November 6, 2024

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X, Congratulations President-elect Donald Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead."

Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory.I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. pic.twitter.com/QYHLd4k4EG  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 6, 2024

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated Donald Trump on his win in the US presidential election. Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! I look forward to working closely with the incoming Administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-U.S. partnership." (sic), he wrote on X.

Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! I look forward to working closely with the incoming Administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-U.S. partnership. @realDonaldTrump Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 6, 2024

Italian President Georgia Meloni, in an X post, wrote, On behalf of myself and the Italian Government, my most sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump."

A nome mio e del Governo italiano, le piu sincere congratulazioni al Presidente eletto degli Stati Uniti, Donald #Trump.Italia e Stati Uniti sono Nazioni sorelle", legate da unalleanza incrollabile, valori comuni e una storica amicizia. E un legame strategico, che sono certa  Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) November 6, 2024

Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, wrote,  Congratulations to Donald Trump on winning the presidential election. The United States is an important ally for the Netherlands, both bilaterally and in international contexts such as NATO. I look forward to our close cooperation on the shared interests between the USA and the Netherlands."

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on winning the presidential election. The United States is an important ally for the Netherlands, both bilaterally and in international contexts such as NATO. I look forward to our close cooperation on the shared interests between the USA and Dick Schoof (@MinPres) November 6, 2024 Maldives President Muizzu, in an X post, wrote, Warm congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on your electoral victory. The Maldives and the United States share a strong partnership based on mutual respect, goodwill, and understanding. I look forward to strengthening our cooperation, address mutual challenges and work towards advancing global peace and prosperity." Warm congratulations to President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your electoral victory. The Maldives and the United States share a strong partnership based on mutual respect, goodwill, and understanding. I look forward to strengthening our cooperation, address mutual challenges and Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) November 6, 2024 In an X post, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed he too had congratulated Donald Trump. I just congratulated Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO," he wrote. I just congratulated @realDonaldTrump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through #NATO. Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) November 6, 2024 Spains left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez congratulated Donald Trump Wednesday after he claimed victory in the US presidential election and pledged to work on a strong transatlantic partnership". Congratulations Donald Trump on your victory and your election as 47th President of the US. We will work on our strategic bilateral relations and on a strong transatlantic partnership," Sanchez wrote on X. Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your victory and your election as 47th President of the US.We will work on our strategic bilateral relations and on a strong transatlantic partnership.  Pedro Sanchez (@sanchezcastejon) November 6, 2024 European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated Donald Trump after he claimed victory in the US presidential election, expressing hope that Washington and Brussels will work together on a strong transatlantic agenda". I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump. The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So lets work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them," von der Leyen wrote on X. I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump.The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So lets work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 6, 2024 Prime Minister of Hungary, Orban Viktor, also termed Trumps win as the biggest comeback", and wrote on X, The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!" The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World! Orban Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) November 6, 2024 Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, wrote on X, Congratulations to Donald Trump on winning the presidential election. Our shared goal is to ensure that the relations between our countries remain at the highest level, despite changes in administration, and that we continue to develop them for the benefit of our citizens." Congratulations to Donald Trump on winning the presidential election. Our shared goal is to ensure that the relations between our countries remain at the highest level, despite changes in administration, and that we continue to develop them for the benefit of our citizens. Petr Fiala (@P_Fiala) November 6, 2024 Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolac, wrote on X, Congratulations to President Donald Trump on this historic victory! Romania stands ready to work together to enhance our Strategic Partnership. Under your new leadership we hope for peace and prosperity for all our citizens! Looking forward to a fruitful collaboration!" Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on this historic victory! Romania stands ready to work together to enhance our  Strategic Partnership. Under your new leadership we hope for peace and prosperity for all our citizens!Looking forward to a fruitful collaboration! Marcel Ciolacu (@CiolacuMarcel) November 6, 2024 Saudis King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated Trump and said that he will make US strong.

Huge congratulations to Donald Trump on his amazing victory. I have no doubt he will now set about making America strong at home and abroad," he said.

Huge congratulations to Donald Trump on his amazing victory. I have no doubt he will now set about making America strong at home and abroad pic.twitter.com/7UV5lxBZ0F Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 6, 2024

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended greetings to Trump and said that he will work with him to create security for both of our nations".

Congratulations to Donald Trump on being elected President of the United States. The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations," he posted on X.

Congratulations to Donald Trump on being elected President of the United States.The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations. pic.twitter.com/yEnL6gxyzO  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 6, 2024

Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest after Fox News projected that he had defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House. America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," he said while addressing a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, flanked by his vice presidential running mate, Senator JD Vance, Republican leaders and members of Trumps family. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

First Published: November 06, 2024, 13:45 IST
Elon Musk, RFK Jr Or Pompeo: Who Could Be Part Of Team Trump If The Republican Returns?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 12:53 IST

So far, US media has projected that Trump has won in 24 states, including big prizes Texas and Ohio, key battlegrounds Georgia and North Carolina and other reliably Republican-leaning states

With Trump nearing the finish line, discussions --- albeit premature --- about his possible cabinet have begun. (News18)

Former President Donald Trump looks set to return to power in the United States, with results of the presidential elections showing a swing towards him in a number of key states on Wednesday.

So far, US media has projected that Trump has won in 24 states, including big prizes Texas and Ohio, key battlegrounds Georgia and North Carolina and other reliably Republican-leaning states. Harris has so far captured 15 states including big electoral vote prizes California and New York  as well as the US capital Washington.

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The magic number to win the presidency is 270 and observers expect the hotly contested race for the White House to come down to a handful of key battleground states.

With Trump nearing the finish line, discussions  albeit premature  about his possible cabinet have begun. According to Washington Post, officials for the former Presidents campaign are considering adding Robert F Kennedy Jr to a potential Trump administration.

People familiar with the planning process have told Washington Post that Kennedy has met privately with Trump transition officials about drawing up plans for a new administration, which could involve Kennedy taking a role as a White House czar instead of leading a government agency, Forbes reported.

In September, Trump had said he would create a government efficiency commission" first proposed by billionaire Elon Musk, whom Trump said agreed to lead the new task force.

According to Forbes, during an appearance on the Hugh Hewitt Radio Show, Trump had said he had four or five good choices" for defense secretary, including some names proposed by Hewitt: Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., and Trumps former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Politico reported that the names doing the rounds for Trumps secretary of state include Waltz, former national security adviser Robert OBrien, former US ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell and Senators Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Bill Haggerty R-Tenn.

Aileen Cannon, the federal judge who dismissed Trumps classified documents case in July, is among those under consideration for attorney general in a second Trump administration, in addition to former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton, former Senate aide and Republican attorney Mike Davis and former White House lawyer Mark Paoletta, among others, ABC News reported.

If Trump retakes the presidency, he will be facing one active federal criminal prosecution and a separate dismissed federal criminal case that special counsel Jack Smith is seeking to reinstate. One of Trumps first acts of business is sure to be ordering his Justice Department to make sure both of these cases come to an end.

Trump is also charged in a state-level criminal case in Georgia and is due to be sentenced for his hush-money conviction in Manhattan. While the attorney general wont oversee those matters, its almost certain the cases would be put on hold until after Trump leaves office.

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The Agriculture Department is the Cabinet agency with the strongest connection to Trump-dominated rural America and the farm communities that are often struggling to compete with global conglomerates.

Candidates for the job tend to come from the Midwest (a perfect fit for Indianas Kip Tom or Ted McKinney) or the South. The agency also directs millions of dollars every year into rural areas for economic development.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 12:46 IST
Game, Set and Match: Elon Musk Rejoices As Trump Leads In Early Trends

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 10:05 IST

Musk, the world's richest man, will be spending election night with Donald Trump in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he said on X.

Elon Musk gestures on stage during a rally for ex-US President Donald Trump (Photo: Reuters)

Tesla owner Elon Musk, who has openly endorsed Republican Donald Trump for the White House race, took to social media platform X to express joy after the former President gained big leads in early trends during poll tabulation on Wednesday.

He took to the microblogging site owned by him and wrote, Game, Set and Match".

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Game, set and match Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

Musk, the worlds richest man, will be spending election night with Donald Trump in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he said on X.

Trumps campaign is hosting watch parties including at his Mar-a-Lago home and also Palm Beach Convention Center for thousands of supporters.

The tech billionaire has emerged as one of the most important backers of Trump and donated more than $119m (91.6m) this election cycle to America PAC  a political action committee he created to support the former president.

Elon Musk Sued Over $1 Million Election Giveaway

Elon Musk was sued in a proposed class action on Tuesday by registered voters who signed his petition to support the Constitution for a chance to win his $1 million-a-day giveaway, and now claim it was a fraud.

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The complaint filed by Arizona resident Jacqueline McAferty in the Austin, Texas federal court said Musk and his America PAC organization falsely induced voters to sign by claiming they would choose winners randomly, though they were predetermined.

She also said the defendants profited from the giveaway by driving traffic and attention to Musks X social media platform, and by collecting personal information such as her name, address and phone number that they could sell.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 10:03 IST
Golden Age Of American Innovation: Googles Pichai, Amazons Bezos Congratulate Trump

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 07, 2024, 01:16 IST

Sundar Pichai and Jeff Bezos sent congratulatory messages to Donald Trump as he was cast as the projected winner of the US elections.

Jeff Bezos and Sundar Pichai extended congratulations to Donald Trump on being elected US 47th President. (IMAGE: REUTERS/AP)

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on Wednesday congratulated US President-elect Donald Trump on being the projected winner of the 2024 US Presidential Elections.

Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his decisive victory. We are in a golden age of American innovation and are committed to working with his administration to help bring the benefits to everyone," Pichai said in a post on social media site X.

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Bezos also took to X to congratulate Donald Trump.

Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love," Bezos said.

Tech leaders and Donald Trump have not had a warm relationship during the latters previous tenure as US President.

A report by the New York Times pointed out that Trumps personal vendetta" against Jeff Bezos cost Amazon a $10 billion contract with the US defence department.

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Trumps supporters have also been known to have been displeased with Google. The New York Times says that US vice president-elect JD Vance and other pro-Trump conservatives have accused Google of being biassed against conservatives.

Even during the polls, there was a minor glitch in Google which allegedly made it difficult for voters voting for Trump to allegedly find the polling booth they were looking for. Google resolved the issue but many conservatives blamed the tech giant of being partial towards the Republican.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 07, 2024, 01:16 IST
Israel Airport Says Operations Unaffected After Hezbollah Claims Missile Strike

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 19:48 IST

Lebanon's Hezbollah said it fired missiles at an Israeli military base near the airport on Wednesday, the first such attack in more than a month of war

Travelers walk through a main hall at Israel's Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on November 6, 2024. (AFP photo)

Israels airports authority said operations at its main airport near Tel Aviv were not affected after Hezbollah claimed it fired missiles at an Israeli military base nearby on Wednesday.

Ben Gurion airport is open and operating as normal for takeoffs and landings," the authoritys spokeswoman, Liza Dvir, told AFP, adding that the runway had been unaffected.

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Lebanons Hezbollah said it fired missiles at an Israeli military base near the airport on Wednesday, the first such attack in more than a month of war.

In a statement, the Iran-backed group said the salvo of missiles targeted the Tzrifin military base near Ben Gurion International Airport, south of the Israeli commercial hub of Tel Aviv.

Images posted on social media showed smoke rising near the airport while AFP photos from Ben Gurion showed no damage on the tarmac.

The Israeli military did not confirm whether the base had been targeted.

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It said that approximately 10 projectiles crossed from Lebanon" following sirens in northern and central Israel.

Most of the projectiles were intercepted and one fallen projectile was identified in central Israel," it added.

Location : Israel

First Published: November 06, 2024, 19:48 IST
Kamala Harris Concedes In Phone Call With Trump, Biden Invites Him To White House

Curated By : &

News18.com

Last Updated: November 07, 2024, 04:14 IST

Sources said US Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to call President-elect Donald Trump to concede the election while President Joe Biden is also planning to call the Republican and give a public speech

US Vice President Kamala Harris (L) lost the election to former president Donald Trump as results were declared on November 6. (Image: AFP/File)

American Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Donald Trump in the race to the White House, called him to congratulate him on his victory and concede defeat.

She called the Republican on Wednesday to congratulate him on winning the 2024 presidential election," a senior Harris aide told NBC News.

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One of the aides said that Harris discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans" while on the phone with the president-elect.

Later, the Trump campaign acknowledged that they received a call from Harris.

Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung in a statement acknowledged the phone call between Trump and Harris and said Harris congratulated Trump on his historic victory".

President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris for her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country," Cheung added.

US President Joe Biden also called Donald Trump and invited him to the White House.

As Donald Trump scripted a historic comeback by sweeping the polls with more than 270 electoral seats, Kamala Harriss promise of blazing a trail to become the first woman President of the US came to nought. A daughter of Black and Indian immigrant parents, she was once described as a female Obama" by a journalist a decade ago.

Harriss defeat to Trump in a closely, albeit bitterly, contested election shattered that dream. But, it seems she has infused hope in women that this door in public life is not closed to them.

She has had other firsts in a solid career devoted to public service, even though she failed to score a big first in American politics and become the first woman to lead the most powerful country in the world.

The 60-year-old has been the district attorney for San Francisco  the first woman, first African-American and first Indian-origin person to be elected to the position. And, as vice president, she is the first woman to hold the post. This also makes her the first African-American or Indian-American person to make it there.

In an Op-ed published three days before the November 5 election, she said she believes Americans want a president who works for all American people. And that has been the story of my entire career," she said.

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Harris got her big chance when President Joe Biden abandoned his own bid for re-election in July following his poor performance in a nationally televised debate with Trump. He endorsed her as the Democratic Partys nominee in the election, but it was too little, too late it seems.

(With agency inputs)

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 21:54 IST
Kamala Harriss US Presidential Bid Ends In Heartbreak: How The Numbers Stacked Up

Published By :

News18.com

Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 18:20 IST

US presidential polls: A candidate needs 270 out of the available 538 electoral votes to be declared the winner

Former US President Donald Trump shakes hands with presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. (AP File)

Even as Republican Donald Trump secured a historic second term, Wednesday ended in a heartbreak for Democrat Kamala Harris as she lost the tight race to the White House.

Early trends gave hope that Vice-President Harris, the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, might become the first woman President of the United States. But it was Trump who eventually made history by becoming the second US President in over a century to secure non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland in 1897.

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By 5 pm IST, Trump had won 276 votes, crossing the magic number of 270, against Harriss 223.

THE SWING STATES

A candidate needs 270 out of the available 538 electoral votes to be declared the winner. The seven swing states  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  held the key to deciding who will be the next American president as they accounted for 93 electoral votes of the total 538 votes.

While Trump won North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, he has the lead in Michigan and Nevada.

#KamalaHarris came in for criticism over her reaction to two hecklers chanting Christ is king", and being branded anti-Christ".Religion has played a very crucial and defining role in this elections, reports @akankshaswarups | @AnchorAnandN #USElection2024 #DonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/QqbqZ4rt7q  News18 (@CNNnews18) November 6, 2024

HARRISS NUMBER STORY

Harris got her big chance when President Joe Biden abandoned his own bid for reelection in July following his poor performance in a nationally televised debate with Trump.

Biden endorsed Harris as the party nominee in the election. Her nomination fulfilled her presidential dreams, which she abandoned before the primaries in 2019 due to a lack of funds to continue her campaign.

Harris retained Californias 54 electoral votes, bolstered by her deep connections to the state and strong urban support. She also won Colorado (9), Connecticut (7), Delaware (3), Hawaii (4) and Illinois (19).

The V-P won Marylands 10 electoral votes, Minnesotas 10 and Massachusetts 11.

She also secured New Hampshire (4), New Jersey (14), New Mexico (5), New York (28), Oregon (8), Rhode Island (4). Vermonts three electoral votes went to Harris, along with Virginias 13 and Washingtons 12.

HER RECORDS

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While she missed this one, Harris, 60, is known for other firsts. She has been the district attorney for San Francisco  the first woman, first African-American and first Indian-origin person to be elected to the position.

As vice president, she is the first woman to hold the post. Also, she happens to be the first African-American or Indian-American person to make it there.

Biden picked her as his running mate in 2016. She was just the third woman to be picked as the vice president nominee on a major party ticket.

And she was one of only three Asian Americans in the Senate and the first Indian-American ever to serve in the chamber.

She has been likened to Barack Obama, the countrys first Black President. She is considered close to Obama, who endorsed her in various elections, including that for the US Senate in 2016, Vice President in 2020 and the presidential election in 2024.

She became the top prosecutor for San Francisco in 2003 before being elected the first woman and the first Black person to serve as Californias attorney general in 2010, the top lawyer in Americas most populous state.

As president of the Senate, she set a new record for the most tie-breaking votes cast by a Vice President in history  surpassing one that had stood for nearly 200 years. And her votes have been consequential.

With PTI Inputs

First Published: November 06, 2024, 11:48 IST
Pennsylvania 2024 Poll Result Updates: Donald Trump Wins Swing State

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 12:51 IST

Four years ago, President Joe Biden beat former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania by more than 80,000 votes

Voters line up outside the Bucks County Administration Building during early voting in the general election in Doylestown, Pa, on November 1. (AP)

Donald Trump won over 50 per cent votes in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, beating Vice President Kamala Harris, who was leading in early trends.

Harris won 48% of the votes.

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TRUMPs MASSIVE CHEATING CLAIMS

Meanwhile, officials from both political parties Democratic and Republican have dismissed Trumps claim of massive cheating" in Philadelphia. Seth Bluestein, a Republican and one of the three Philadelphia election board members, responded on social media, stating there is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation." Bluestein assured the public that voting in the city remains safe and secure."

WHY PENNSYLVANIA IS KEY

With 19 electoral votes, Pennsylvania was a key presidential election battleground this year.

It was decided by tens of thousands of votes in 2016 when Trump won it and again in 2020 when Democrat Joe Biden won it. Four years ago, President Joe Biden beat former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania by more than 80,000 votes. Polls indicate that, this year, Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are in a dead heat.

A candidate needs 270 out of the available 538 electoral votes to be declared the winner.

SOFTWARE ISSUE DISRUPTS VOTING

Election officials in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, reported early Tuesday that several precincts experienced issues with vote-counting machines, though voting remained uninterrupted. Jeffrey Gable, the countys elections director, said in a statement, Before polls opened, our office received reports from several precincts about a problem with the tabulator machines. Weve identified the issue and sent support teams to resolve it. The ability to vote has not been impacted, and all sites are being addressed." Meanwhile, in nearby Cambria County, officials requested an extension of voting hours after a software malfunction" temporarily prevented ballots from being scanned. The Pennsylvania Department of State is assisting county officials to address the issue, according to spokesperson Matt Heckel.

HOW DID PENNSYLVANIA VOTE IN 2020?

In the 2020 presidential election, Pennsylvania played a crucial role in President Joe Bidens victory over Donald Trump. However, its important to note that Pennsylvania currently offers 20 electoral college votes, not 19. Additionally, while Pennsylvania did vote blue in 2020, it had previously backed Donald Trump by a narrow margin in the 2016 presidential election. Polling places across Pennsylvania opened at 7:00 am Eastern Standard Time (5:30 pm IST) on Tuesday. It will close at 8:00 pm local time  6.30 am IST on November 6.

5 KEY RACES

Pennsylvania is home to five heavily contested races for the U.S. House, contests that will be critical to determining control of a narrowly divided chamber where Democrats need a net pickup of four seats to take control. Three of those five races are in eastern Pennsylvania, where Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Democratic Reps. Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright are defending their seats in districts that are viewed as perennially competitive. A fourth district is in southern Pennsylvania, where Republican Rep. Scott Perry is seeking a seventh term. Another competitive contest is in the suburbs and former steel towns west of Pittsburgh where Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio is seeking a second term.

PRE-ELECTION VOTING MESS

A cumbersome pre-election voting option in the largest battleground state caused frustration, long lines and claims of voter suppression last week.

The US Supreme Court on Friday left in place a Pennsylvania court ruling that is expected to expand options for voters whose mail-in ballots are rejected for technical reasons to have their votes counted, in a defeat for Republicans in a critical battleground state. For Pennsylvania voters who made a mistake in how they prepared their mail-in ballots, it could ensure they have a backup option to have a provisional ballot counted. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote a brief statement  which was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch  essentially arguing that the court couldnt give the Republicans who brought the appeal what they had sought even if it wanted to.

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Republicans had asked the Supreme Court in an emergency appeal this week to block a state court ruling that allowed provisional ballots to be counted in cases where voters failed to enclose them in secrecy" sleeves before mailing them in.Pennsylvanias top court sided with the voters, ruling that election officials were correct to toss the mail-in ballots but erred in refusing to count" the provisional ballots. Pennsylvania law, the states high court ruled, requires provisional ballots be counted if there were no other ballots attributable to the electors. There were none."

With Inputs From CNN, AP

First Published: November 05, 2024, 16:34 IST
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's ruling party, ZANU-PF, has dismissed predictions from South African opposition MP Mmusi Maimane that it could follow the path of Botswana's ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which was ousted in Botswana's October 30 elections.The BDP, which had ruled Botswana for 58 years, was defeated in a landslide by the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), led by Duma Gideon Boko. Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF had openly backed the BDP, with senior officials reportedly involved in supporting its campaign efforts. However, following the loss, Maimane took to social media, saying, "ZANU-PF is next. We know you wanted your best friend Masisi to win but Batswana said no."Responding to Maimane's statement, ZANU-PF's Director of Information, Farai Marapira, rejected any parallels between the two parties, confidently stating that ZANU-PF is not facing a similar fate."ZANU-PF is not going anywhere. ZANU-PF will be here today, and ZANU-PF will be here in 2028 because we continue to fulfil the needs of our people," Marapira said. He emphasized that the party's sustained support is based on meeting the aspirations of Zimbabweans, which he claimed will secure its mandate in the 2028 elections.Addressing allegations of voter intimidation, Marapira maintained that ZANU-PF's influence stems from its policy achievements rather than coercion, insisting, "We have no need to intimidate anyone; we are focused on delivering on our promises."This response underscores ZANU-PF's confidence in its staying power amid shifting political landscapes in the region, even as opposition figures suggest that the recent Botswana election results could signal a wave of change.
Modi Speaks To Trump After Election Win; US President-Elect Calls PM 'Magnificent Man'

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Last Updated: November 07, 2024, 10:19 IST

Trump commended India as a magnificent country and said that PM Modi was one of the first world leaders he reached out to after his election victory.

U.S. President Donald Trump participates in the "Howdy Modi" event with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston, Texas, U.S., September 22, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President-elect Donald Trump spoke hours after the latter became the second US president after Grover Cleveland to get elected for two non-consecutive terms on Tuesday.

He expressed eagerness to once again collaborate closely with the Republican to further bolster the India-US relationship, with a focus on technology, defence, energy, space, and several other key sectors.

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Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and advancing mutual interests for the betterment of both nations.

Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors," Modi said in an X post.

President-elect Trump praised PM Modi, calling him a magnificent man" and commended India as a magnificent country", sources speaking to CNN-News18 said.

They said that Trump expressed admiration for Modi, saying the whole world loves him and also added that Modi was one of the first world leaders he reached out to after his election victory.

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PM Modi congratulated President Trump on his historic election victory on Wednesday morning shortly after the latter was chosen as president-elect.

Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," PM Modi had said in his morning message.

First Published: November 06, 2024, 22:34 IST
US Election Result 2024: Donald Trump Inches Towards Victory As Republicans Win Senate Majority

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Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 14:41 IST

The Republican Party has won control of the US Senate with 51 seats, enabling them to influence key legislation and appointments.

Supporters of Donald Trump hold a flag outside a polling station in Florida (Photo: AFP)

The Republican Party, also known as the GOP, on Wednesday won control of the Senate as United States Senator Deb Fischer secured a re-election in Nebraska.

With at least 51 Senate seats secured, Republicans will retake control of the chamber for the first time in four years. It gives the party a major power centre in Washington and important power in confirming the next presidents Cabinet, as well as any Supreme Court justice if there is a vacancy, the Associated Press reported.

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With a handful of battleground races yet to be decided, Republicans still have an opportunity to grow their majority.

GOP senators have already been looking at ways to extend tax cuts that were passed during Donald Trumps first term, as well as sending funding towards toughened border security measures.

However, the extent of Republicans power in Washington will also be determined by the results of the presidential and House races.

HOUSE UP FOR GRABS

The outcome was still up in the air in the House, despite Republicans gains in North Carolina. Analysts say Democrats could easily pick up enough seats to win control of the chamber, though there are no signs of a wave" election, akin to 2018 or 2010, that would result in a decisive power shift.

With at least 200 seats safe for each party, the winning side will likely end up with a narrow majority that could make governing difficult. That has been evident in the past two years as Republican infighting has led to failed votes and leadership turmoil and undercut the partys efforts to cut spending and tighten immigration.

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Tight races in the heavily Democratic states of New York and California could determine House control, though the final outcome may not be known for several days as California typically takes several days to count its ballots.

(With inputs from AP and Reuters)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 11:00 IST
US Election 2024 Results: Here's What Donald Trump And Kamala Harris Have Won

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Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: November 07, 2024, 11:37 IST

US Election 2024 Results: Donald Trump scored a comeback in Arizona after losing it to President Joe Biden in 2020 and completing a 2024 swing-state sweep

Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump to concede the race and to congratulate him. (AP Photo)

Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States on Wednesday, after the Wisconsin win put him over the 270 electoral vote line needed to clinch the presidency. Trump has won key swing states of Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina.

US Election 2024 Results LIVE

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Trump addressed his supporters in Florida. Weve achieved the most incredible political thing," he said.

Vice President Kamala Harris called Trump to concede the race and to congratulate him, while Joe Biden invited the man he ousted from the White House four years ago to an Oval Office meeting to prepare to return the keys.

Let us see which states Trump and Harris have won so far.

Trump vs Harris: Who Has Won What?

Minnesota: Harris carried Minnesota on Wednesday on a ticket with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, extending a winning streak for Democrats that goes back 52 years. No Republican presidential candidate has carried Minnesota since Richard Nixon in 1972, although Trump came close in 2016 when he fell just 1.5 percentage points short of Hillary Clinton.

Maine: Trump won an electoral vote in Maines 2nd Congressional District, the more conservative of the states two congressional districts, on Wednesday. Maine is one of two states that divide their electoral votes with two votes going to the statewide winner and one vote apiece to the winner of reach congressional district. The states 2nd District also went for Trump in 2016 and 2020.

New Hampshire: Harris won New Hampshire on Wednesday, continuing the states two-decade-long streak of awarding its four electoral votes to Democrats. The state has backed Democrats in seven of the last eight presidential elections. Its the third time that Republican Trump has won New Hampshires GOP primary but lost the state in the general election.

Hawaii: Vice President Harris has won Hawaii and the states four electoral votes on Wednesday. Its the 10th straight presidential election in which Hawaii has selected the Democratic Party candidate. Hawaii is a solidly blue state, with Democrats controlling all statewide elected offices and the states two US House seats.

Virginia: Harris also won Virginia on Tuesday, adding 13 electoral votes to her tally. This is the third time Trump has lost the Old Dominion state. The Democratic nominee for president has won Virginia in every election since 2008.

New Mexico: Harris won New Mexico on Tuesday. The Democratic Partys influence in New Mexico has only grown over the last two decades, with former President George W. Bush being the last Republican to win the state in 2004.

Oregon: Harris won Oregon, adding eight electoral votes to her tally. Oregon has one more electoral vote this cycle than it did in the previous presidential election. The Democratic nominee for president has won Oregon since 1988.

Washington: Harris won Washingtons 12 electoral votes on Tuesday. Washington has not gone for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984. President Joe Biden carried Washington in 2020 with 58% of the vote to Trumps less than 39%.

Idaho: Trump won Idaho for the third consecutive election on Tuesday, adding four electoral votes to his tally. Idaho is deeply red, and the Republican presidential nominee has carried the state with more than 60% of the vote for the last several elections.

California: Harris has won California, giving her the largest prize in the presidential election  54 electoral votes. The outcome in the heavily Democratic state where Harris previously served as a US senator and attorney general was expected. A Republican candidate hasnt won a presidential contest in the nations most populous state since 1988, and the GOP hasnt seriously contested California in a presidential election since 2000.

Iowa: Trump won Iowa on Tuesday, claiming the states six electoral votes. Formerly considered a swing state, Iowa has proved to be a clear example of Trumps appeal among Republican voters and his staying power in the GOP. A majority of Iowans backed Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but chose Trump decisively in 2016 and again in 2020.

Kansas: The former President won Kansas and its six electoral votes on Tuesday. Republican candidates have carried Kansas in every presidential election since 1964, and it was the third election in a row that Trump has won the state.

DC: Harris has won the District of Columbia, securing the capitals three electoral votes. Harris win in D.C. is no surprise  the District is a longtime Democratic stronghold whose government repeatedly feuded with Trump when he was the president.

Colorado: Harris has won Colorado, picking up the states 10 electoral votes. Colorado was once a purple state, flipping between Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, but it has shifted blue in the past two decades. The last Republican presidential candidate to snag Colorados electoral votes was George W. Bush in 2004.

Utah: Trump won Utah and its six electoral votes on Tuesday. The Mountain West state is a rare Republican stronghold that has in past elections only half-heartedly supported Trump, whose comments about immigrants do not sit right with some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Montana: Trump won Montana for the third consecutive election, adding four electoral votes to his tally. Montana has one more electoral vote this cycle than it did in the previous two, as the state received an additional congressional seat following the 2020 census.

Texas: Trump won Texas for the third consecutive election, adding 40 electoral votes to his tally. Texas gained two more electoral votes this cycle after the 2020 census. The Republican nominee for president has won Texas for nearly 50 years since Democrat Jimmy Carter carried the state in 1976.

Ohio: Trump carried Ohio for a third time, capturing the states 17 electoral votes. Ohio voters supported him by wide margins in 2016 and 2020, and they delivered for him again this year. No Republican has reached the White House without carrying Ohio.

Wyoming: Trump beat Harris in deep-red Wyoming to win the least-populated states three electoral votes on Tuesday. One of the most Republican states by almost any measure, Wyoming gave Trump his widest margins of victory in any state in the 2020 and 2016 elections.

Louisiana: Trump won Louisiana on Tuesday for the third consecutive presidential election, increasing his electoral vote tally by eight. In addition to voter support, Trump has various powerful political allies in and from the Bayou State. Trump won Louisiana with about 58% of the vote in both 2016 and 2020.

South Dakota: Trump won South Dakotas three electoral votes for president Tuesday. No Democratic nominee has carried South Dakota since President Lyndon Johnson won in 1964.

North Dakota: Trump won North Dakotas three electoral votes on Tuesday. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win the state was President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

New York: Harris won New Yorks presidential contest, picking up the states 28 electoral votes. New York has now voted for the Democrat in every presidential contest since giving Ronald Reagan the nod in his landslide 1984 election.

Nebraska: Trump will win an additional electoral vote in Nebraska, making his total count four out of five. Nebraska is one of two states that divide electoral votes with two votes going to the statewide winner and one apiece to the winner of each congressional district. Trump won Nebraska by 25 percentage points in 2016 and by 19 points four years later.

Illinois: Harris won Illinois, claiming the states 19 electoral votes for Democrats. The reliably blue state, the home of former President Barack Obama, has supported Democratic presidential candidates since 1992.

Delaware: Harris won Delaware, easily defeating Trump. Harris victory in solid-blue Delaware was a foregone conclusion, given the stranglehold Democrats have held on the states three electoral votes for decades. The last Republican presidential candidate to win in Delaware was George H.W. Bush in 1988.

New Jersey: Harris won New Jerseys 14 electoral votes on Tuesday. Harris victory over Trump continues Democrats dominance in the state, which has gone with the Democratic candidate for president in every election since 1988.

Arkansas: Trump secured Arkansas six electoral votes on Tuesday, winning the heavily Republican state for the third presidential election in a row. Democrats have not won a presidential election in Arkansas since 1996, when native son Bill Clinton won reelection.

South Carolina: Trump won South Carolina on Tuesday, earning its nine electoral votes for the third straight election. South Carolina has not voted for the Democratic nominee for president since 1976, when Democrat Jimmy Carter defeated Republican President Gerald Ford throughout the South.

Florida: Trump won Florida on Tuesday for the third consecutive election, earning the states 30 electoral votes. Once a crucial battleground state, Florida has been drifting towards the Republican Party in recent years. A Democratic presidential nominee has not won the state since Obama carried it in 2012.

Rhode Island: Harris won Rhode Island on Tuesday, giving her four electoral votes and continuing the Democrats dominance in the state. The last time a Republican presidential candidate won Rhode Island was in 1984, when former President Ronald Reagan defeated former Vice President Walter Mondale. Biden easily defeated Trump in Rhode Island in 2020, winning more than 59% of the vote. Hillary Clinton also did well in the state, winning over 54% of the vote in 2016.

Massachusetts: Harris won Massachusetts on Tuesday, continuing a decades long streak of victories for Democratic presidential candidates in the Bay State. The last time Massachusetts backed a Republican candidate was in 1984 when voters cast their ballots for Ronald Reagan. In 2020, Joe Biden easily defeated Donald Trump, winning more than 65% of the vote.

Connecticut: Harris won Connecticut on Tuesday, extending the states long trend of supporting Democratic presidential candidates and adding seven electoral votes to her tally. The last Republican presidential candidate to win the state was George H.W. Bush in 1988. Trump has lost Connecticut three times, first to Hillary Clinton, then to Joe Biden and now to Harris.

Tennessee: Trump won Tennessee on Tuesday, keeping the firmly Republican state and its 11 electoral votes in his win column. Trump won Tennessee by about 23 percentage points in 2020 and by 26 points in 2016.

Oklahoma: Trump won Oklahoma and its seven electoral votes on Tuesday. A Democrat has not won the presidential race in Oklahoma since 1964. The last time a Democrat won one of Oklahomas 77 counties in a presidential race was in 2000 when Al Gore won nine counties.

Maryland: Harris won Maryland and its 10 electoral votes on Tuesday. Maryland is a heavily Democratic state that is home to many federal workers next to the nations capital. In 2020, Trump received just 32% of the vote. A Republican has not won a presidential election in the state since George H.W. Bush in 1988.

Alabama: Trump won Alabama for the third consecutive election, adding nine electoral votes to the Republicans tally. Democrats have not won Alabama since 1976, when Jimmy Carter carried the state.

Mississippi: Trump won Mississippi, claiming the states six electoral votes and continuing a long winning streak for Republicans. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Mississippi was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

West Virginia: Trump won West Virginia for the third straight presidential election cycle, adding four electoral votes to his count. West Virginia has one fewer electoral vote this cycle after losing a congressional seat following the 2020 census. The state is one of only two where Trump won every county in 2016 and 2020. No Democrat has won the presidential election in West Virginia since Bill Clinton in 1996.

Kentucky: Trump won Kentucky for the third consecutive election, adding eight electoral votes to his tally. The Republican nominee for president has won Kentucky in every election since Democrat Bill Clinton carried the Bluegrass State in 1996.

Vermont: Harris won the Democratic stronghold of Vermont on Tuesday. The small state has voted in favour of Democratic candidates in the previous eight presidential elections.

Indiana: Trump won the presidential election in Indiana. The state has been favourable towards Trump in his three races for the White House. In 2016, the year he won the presidency, and again in 2020, Trump took 57% of the Hoosier state vote.

Alaska: Donald Trump on Wednesday won the electoral votes in the state of Alaska, the USA Today reported.

Maine: Kamala Harris wins all four electoral college votes in the US state of Maine.

What About The Swing States?

Arizona: Trump scored a comeback in the Grand Canyon State after losing it to President Joe Biden in 2020 and completing a 2024 swing-state sweep. The Republican leads Vice President Kamala Harris 52.1% to 47%, with 67% of votes counted, the Associated Press reports. In 2016, Trump won with 48% of the vote.

Wisconsin: Trump won the key state of Wisconsin on Wednesday, defeating Harris in a critical battleground. The win delivers 10 Electoral College votes to Trump. He narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016, becoming the first Republican since Ronald Reagan to capture the state. He lost it in 2020 to Democrat Joe Biden. Both Harris and Trump made Wisconsin a central focus of their campaigns.

Pennsylvania: Trump won Pennsylvania on Wednesday, defeating Harris in the critical battleground state. Trump won Pennsylvanias 19 electoral votes four years after Democrat Joe Biden carried the state, flipping it from Trumps column in 2016 on his way to capturing the blue wall." No Democrat has won the White House without also winning Pennsylvania since 1948.

North Carolina: Trump has won North Carolina, adding 16 electoral votes in his account. Trump also won the state in 2016 and 2020.

Michigan: Trump has won the critical swing state of Michigan, US broadcaster NBC News projected. This means he has amassed the 15 Electoral College votes over Kamala Harris in one of the most closely contested states. Michigan helped Trump pull off a surprise victory in 2016.

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Georgia: Trump won the swing state, returning its 16 electoral votes to the Republican column. Georgia is a relatively new battleground state in presidential politics and helped deliver Biden his White House victory in 2020. Georgia flipped blue for the first time in nearly 30 years when Biden won by just 11,779 votes. Trump was slightly ahead of his 2020 performance in enough counties to erase the deficit of less than 12,000 votes by which he lost Georgia four years ago.

(with inputs from the Associated Press)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 11:38 IST
US Election 2024: Philadelphia Officials Reject Trump's 'Massive Cheating' Claim

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Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 09:16 IST

Trump claims massive cheating in Philadelphia's election, but officials deny allegations

Trump provided no evidence to support his claim made as Americans voted in a tense election that polls have suggested is effectively tied. (Reuters)

Former US President Donald Trump on Tuesday appeared to question the credibility of voting in the biggest city of the must-win state of Pennsylvania, a claim firmly denied by top Philadelphia officials. Trump said there was a lot of talk about massive cheating" in the city. Law enforcement coming!!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Yet another example of disinformation

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A city official promptly denied the claim, calling it yet another example of disinformation," while Philadelphia police and the district attorneys office also rejected the unsubstantiated allegation. There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation," said District Attorney Larry Krasner. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now," he added.

pic.twitter.com/Uia3ea8SFM Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 5, 2024

Trump provided no evidence to support his claim made as Americans voted in a tense election that polls have suggested is effectively tied between Trump and Kamala Harris. There is absolutely no truth to this allegation," said City Commissioner Seth Bluestein, a Republican. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure."

Trump rejected his loss in the 2020 election to Joe Biden, a denial that culminated with supporters of the ex-reality TV star violently attacking the US Capitol in a bid to block certification of the vote. Trump is expected to reject the result if he loses again this year, raising the specter of chaos and violence in a tense and deeply polarised United States.

The Republican has already started raising questions about the integrity of the vote in Pennsylvania, a battleground state that is a key prize in the battle for the White House. Pennsylvanias Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, in a CNN interview last week, rejected Trumps allegations, noting that as the states attorney general Shapiro defeated 43 challenges to the 2020 vote count from the ex-president and his allies.

When asked Tuesday whether he would accept defeat in the 2024 election, Trump offered a qualified response. If I lose an election, if its a fair election, I would be the first one to acknowledge it. So far I think its been fair," he said.

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(With agency inputs)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 05:40 IST
US Swing States: Trump Wins Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ahead In All Others

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Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 13:29 IST

The US presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is no more tightly contested, as Trump has swept majority of key states.

Plaster figurines of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump displayed for sale in Tijuana, Baja California State, Mexico (Photo: AFP)

The US presidential race between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump is clearly taking the former President closer to completing a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House.

Donald Trump has already taken Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, among the seven swing states  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.

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Polls for weeks have shown a razor-thin race between Harris and Trump, who would be the oldest president at the time of inauguration, the first felon president and only the second to serve non-consecutive terms. Harris made a late, dramatic entrance into the race when President Joe Biden dropped out in July, while Trump  twice impeached while president  has since ridden out two assassination attempts and a criminal conviction.

The election is being watched closely around the world including in the war zones of Ukraine and the Middle East.

THE GAME OF SWING STATES IN US ELECTION 2024

NORTH CAROLINA

Donald Trump has won North Carolina after receiving the states 16 electoral votes. Trump also won the state in 2016 and 2020, but Democrats had been optimistic they could reverse previous outcomes with campaign spending, canvassing and Harris rallies.

Trump blitzed North Carolina in the final days of the campaign, stopping in four cities over four days and finishing his North Carolina campaign in Raleigh on Monday.

Earlier projections in the swing state suggested Trump was leading by 0.9 points and was ahead 48 to 49 per cent according to Emerson, 47 to 29 per cent according to Morning Consult and 47 to 48 per cent as per YouGov.

GEORGIA

Trump has won Georgia too, confirming his growing momentum as he targets a return to power that would send shockwaves around the world. Joe Biden narrowly carried Georgia in 2020, but Republicans have won every other Georgia presidential vote since 1996. Trump tried to overturn his 2020 loss in Georgia, setting off a political and legal struggle that led to his indictment in the state.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump were both seeking to win over Black voters in the crucial southern state, its largest minority voting bloc, in a race that could be decided by razor-thin margins. The Democratic bastion, which includes most of the capital Atlanta, has been crucial in deciding who wins the southern state  and its coveted 16 electoral college votes. Black voters traditionally lean heavily Democratic, but to win the tight election race, Harris needs them to turn out in force.

PENNSYLVANIA

Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, defeating Harris in the critical battleground state. Both candidates campaigned vigorously in the state, visiting it more often than any other. Trump won Pennsylvanias 19 electoral votes four years after Democrat Joe Biden carried the state, flipping it from Trumps column in 2016 on his way to capturing the blue wall." No Democrat has won the White House without also winning Pennsylvania since 1948.

ARIZONA

Trump had lost in Arizona in 2020, by wafer-thin 10,500 votes  the first Republican defeat since 1996. Some supporters were convinced it was a fix, and at the 2022 midterm elections, armed men loomed over ballot boxes, ostensibly to make sure nothing was amiss.

According to Times/Siena Trump is up 2.2 points in FiveThirtyEight average, and is leading by 45 to 49 per cent, as per Emerson, he is leading by 48 to 50 per cent, and according to YouGov, Trump is leading by 47 to 48 per cent.

NEVADA

In Nevada, Trump is up by 0.3 points in the 538 average, but the Times/Siena poll shows Harris leading 49 to 46 per cent and YouGov has Harris up 48 to 47 per cent, while Emerson shows a tie at 48 per cent.

MICHIGAN

Harris is leading by one point, 48 to 50 per cent in Emersons polling, 48 to 49 per cent in Morning Consults survey and 45 to 47 per cent according to YouGov, but theyre tied at 47 per cent in the New York Times/Siena survey.

WISCONSIN

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In Wisconsin, Harris is up by 1.1 points per FiveThirtyEight, and she leads Trump by 45 to 48 per cent according to YouGov and 47 to 49 per cent as per Times/Siena, but theyre tied at 49 per cent in Emersons polling, and Morning Consult has a roughly one-point Trump lead, Forbes said.

ALSO READ | US Election Result 2024: Donald Trump Inches Towards Victory As Republicans Win Senate Majority

First Published: November 06, 2024, 09:38 IST
US Presidential Election 2024: How Different Was 2020 Poll When Trump Faced Biden?

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Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 12:18 IST

US Presidential Election 2024 is turning out to be a razor-thin contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

US President Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump (AP file Photo)

As the counting of votes is underway for the US Presidential Election 2024 with the contest too close to call, it is time for a recap of the previous polls and its aftermath that changed American politics forever  the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters.

As Trump concluded his campaign this year on Sunday, he said, We had the safest border in the history of our country the day that I left. I shouldnt have left, I mean honestly, we did so, we did so well," Former US Donald Trump concluded his 2024 campaign with these remarks in a Pennsylvania rally on Sunday, referring to the outcome of his 2020 contest with incumbent President Joe Biden.

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US Elections 2020: Background

The US went for presidential elections on November 3, 2020, with an almost similarly divisive mandate as Trump and Biden fought hard to woo voters. The election was unique in several aspects  it was held under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic and related recession, along with the murder of George Floyd that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement.

The public health challenges from the pandemic introduced changes to election procedures, such as mail-in ballots. Republican leaders and the Trump campaign filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the electoral changes, claiming they amounted to individual voter fraud. Nearly all of the suits were dismissed and withdrawn.

Trump, seeking re-election, faced off against Joe Biden, former US Vice President under Barack Obama with decades of political experience. Biden chose Kamala Harris, an attorney of Indian and Black heritage, as his running mate, while Trump cleared Republican primaries with Mike Pence as his vice presidential nominee.

US Election 2020: Key moments

The issue was marked by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, the unrest in the country following the police murder of George Floyd, the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett in the Supreme Court after the death of eminent lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Affordable Care Act, where the two candidates had polar opposite views.

Trumps responses to the pandemic were heavily criticised, where at one point he suggested injecting disinfectant as a cure. On the economic front, Trump pledged to create 10 million jobs in 10 months amid recession, while Biden planned to raise taxes for high earners to boost public services.

Biden and Trump faced off in their first presidential debate on September 29, 2020, which devolved into chaos as both candidates repeatedly interrupted each other and hurled personal remarks. At one point, Biden asked Trump, Will you shut up, man? This is so unpresidential."

The debate was cast in Bidens favour, with Trump receiving heavy criticism for not condemning white supremacist group Proud Boys when asked to do so which provided ammunition to Democrats that Trump was empowering the far-right faction of the Republican Party. A second debate was cancelled due to Trump testing positive to COVID-19 and a markedly civil third debate was held on October 22, 2020, where each candidates mic was muted while the other was speaking.

US Elections 2020: Results and Aftermath

Biden had a dominating lead over Trump in opinion polls as the US headed to elections in 2020. Despite the unprecedented nature of the elections, voter turnout grew by 7 percentage points from the 2016 elections, according to the Pew Research Centre. Nearly 160 million votes were cast in the 2020 elections to decide between Trump and Biden.

Trump won 74 million votes in the 2020 election, surpassing Barack Obamas record of 69.5 million votes in 2008. However, Biden received 81 million votes, the most ever in a US presidential election. Biden clinched the presidency in the Electoral Collage by winning 306 votes to Trumps 232.

Trump refused to concede defeat to Biden and made unsubstantiated allegations that the Democrats had stolen" the election and committed widespread voter fraud". He refused to accept Bidens victory and filed unsuccessful lawsuits in several states.

US Election 2020: The attack on Capitol Hill

A shocking moment in the history of American politics took place on January 6, 2021, when supporters of Donald Trump staged an attack on the US Capitol in Washington DC to prevent a joint session of Congress to certify Bidens victory. The attack was labelled as domestic terrorism" by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Trump had encouraged his supporters to stage a massive protest in the US capital to prevent the certification of the electoral vote. His supporters stormed the Capitol building, shattering windows and calling for Vice President Mike Pence to be hanged for refusing to overthrow Bidens victory.

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Capitol leaders, including House leaders Kevin McCarthy and Nancy Pelosi, were rushed out by Capitol Security as the rioters entered the Capitol premises and attacked the police. The attack ultimately failed as Capitol police managed to clear the building of rioters. The FBI said 2,000 people entered the Capitol on January 6 and five people, including a police officer, were killed in the riots. More than 700 were arrested and charged with federal offences and the cost of the damage exceeded $2.7 million.

On January 7, the Congress certified Bidens victory and Trump conceded to an orderly transition of power under pressure. He was later impeached by the House on January 13 for his role in instigating the attack but was later acquitted by the Senate. Till this day, Trump still maintains that the 2020 election was stolen" from him by the Democrats.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 11:25 IST
Who Is Raja Krishnamoorthi? All About The Indian-American Democrat Re-Elected In Illinois

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Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 12:48 IST

Krishnamoorthi, born in New Delhi, won the election against Republican candidate Mark Rice.

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. (Image: AP)

Indian-origin Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi was re-elected to the US House of Representatives, representing Illinois 8th Congressional District, for the fifth consecutive term. Krishnamoorthi, born in New Delhi, won the election against Republican candidate Mark Rice.

Krishnamoorthi played a crucial role in Democrat nominee Kamala Harriss campaign in critical swing states where he asked the Indian American community to come out and vote in big numbers. The Indian-American advocated for the Harris-Walz duo and made efforts to boost the South Asian voter turnout.

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Also Read: US Results Live

Krishnamoorthi, whose parents are from Tamil Nadu, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016. Raised in Peoria, Illinois, Krishnamoorthi went to Princeton University to study mechanical engineering and graduated from Harvard Law School. He resides in Schaumburg, Illinois, with his wife, Priya, a physician, and their three children.

In February 2023, Krishnamoorthi was appointed as Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He is also a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The Indian-American is also the lead Democrat on the Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act (ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act), which protects Americans by blocking and prohibiting all transactions from any social media company in, or under the influence of, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and several other foreign adversaries.

In the 117th Congress, he led bipartisan legislation that was signed into law, called the Gathering and Reporting Assessments Yielding Zero Overlooked Nefarious Efforts (GRAY ZONE) Act, which requires the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to produce a National Intelligence Estimate on different aspects of gray zone activities  actions that fall between ordinary statecraft and open warfare  that the PRC employs.

Krishnamoorthi was also the lead Democrat on the bipartisan Transparency for Malign Chinese Investments in Global Port Infrastructure Act, which requires the DNI to study and report to Congress information related to Chinese global investments in port infrastructure.

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In August 2024, Krishnamoorthi had condemned the violence in Bangladesh, including the attacks on Hindus, saying an interim government that will be sworn in should end the unrest across the country and bring its perpetrators to justice. As Bangladesh prepares to swear in its interim government, I urge all government officials, the new administration and police chief, and the people of Bangladesh to do all they can to end the violence that has emerged across the country, including the brutal targeting of the countrys Hindu minority, their homes, businesses, and their temples," Krishnamoorthi had said in a statement.

(With PTI Inputs)

Location : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 11:28 IST
Who Is Usha Chilukuri Vance, Set to Become First Indian-Origin Second Lady Of US?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 06, 2024, 16:15 IST

Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of JD Vance, traces her roots to Andhra Pradesh and is a Yale-graduated lawyer with a set of impressive credentials.

Usha Chilukuri Vance with her husband JD Vance during Donald Trump's victory speech in Florida. (Reuters)

As Donald Trump addressed a roaring crowd of his supporters at Palm Beach County Convention Centre in Florida ahead of a historic election victory, he heaped praise on his running mate JD Vance and his Indian-American wife Usha Chilukuri Vance.

I want to be the first one to congratulate  now I can say Vice President-elect JD Vance. And his remarkable and beautiful wife, Usha Vance," he said. After Trump announced him to chants from the crowd, JD Vance told supporters, We just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America."

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Now all eyes are on Usha Vance, a Yale-graduated lawyer who is set to become the first Indian-origin Second Lady of the United States. Usha Vance traces her roots to Andhra Pradesh and comes with a full bag of credentials and a touch of Indian culture in the American political system.

ALSO READ: Who Is JD Vance? The Vice President-Elect Of US Was Once A Harsh Critic Of Trump

Who Is Usha Chilukuri Vance?

Usha Vance was born to Indian immigrant parents in 1986 in San Diego and was raised in an upper-middle-class suburb. She has an impressive academic background and works as a corporate litigator at a prestigious firm in San Francisco. She holds a bachelors degree in History from Yale University and a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge, according to the New York Times.

Usha Vances distinguished career includes clerking for Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh before Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court. She also served as the Managing Editor of the Yale Journal of Law and Technology and Executive Development Editor of The Yale Law Journal.

Before entering the legal field, Usha engaged in four years of intense extracurricular activity at Yale after which she continued her studies as a Gates fellow in Cambridge University. She met JD Vance at the Yale Law School, where the Ohio Senator got a scholarship, and the couple married in Kentucky in 2014 and were blessed by a Hindu priest in a separate ceremony. The couple has three children  Ewan, 6, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2.

ALSO READ: PM Modis Friend Donald Trump Back As US President: What It Means For India

How Usha Vance Contributed To Her Husbands Rise?

The 38-year-old Usha Vance played an important role in her husbands rise to national fame  organising his ideas about the social decline in rural White America that formed the basis of his 2016 bestseller Hillbilly Elegy". JD Vance was once a harsh Trump critic, once comparing him to Adolf Hitler.

Im not raring to change anything about our lives right now, but I believe in JD, and I really love him, and so well just sort of see what happens with our life," she said in an interview about her husband running for the second highest office in the United States. Interestingly, Usha Vance was a registered Democrat in 2014.

In her interview with Fox News, Usha Vance spoke about the two living together while having different faiths. I grew up in a religious household. My parents are Hindu, and that was one of the things that made them such good parents, that makes them really very good people. And so I think Ive seen thatthe power of that in my own life, and I knew that JD was searching for something. This just felt right for him," she said.

Residents From Usha Vances Village Offer Prayers

As the election results flowed in, special prayers were offered for the success of JD Vance from the Vadluru village of Andhra Pradeshs Godavari District, which is his wifes native place. The relations between America and India will improve if Trump becomes the President. There is a big fight between the two (Trump and Kamala Harris). We feel generally proud that (Usha) Vance is a native of Vadluru," Ramana, a resident of the village, told news agency ANI.

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We hope she achieves victory in the election results that will bring pride to our village and country. We offered special prayers for Usha Vances success. The victory of Ushas husband will advance the bilateral relationship between India and the US," he added.

(with agency inputs)

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 06, 2024, 15:18 IST
News / National

by Staff reporter

A tragic incident has unfolded in Zvishavane, where a 27-year-old woman, Talent Sibanda, has been arrested on charges of killing her newborn baby in Takaenda village under Chief Masunda.The Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the arrest, stating, "Police confirm an infanticide case where a 27-year-old woman strangled her day-old baby and buried the body in her yard. The incident occurred on October 27, 2024, around 7 p.m."According to the police report, the case came to light when Peterson Tauro, Sibanda's uncle, heard rumors that she was no longer pregnant. Concerned, he visited her home to inquire. Sibanda allegedly admitted that she had given birth to a baby girl, whom she then strangled and buried in her yard.Tauro reported the matter to the police, who responded promptly, exhuming the baby's body and taking it to Zvishavane District Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Sibanda was subsequently taken into custody.The community is reportedly shaken by the incident, and authorities have reminded the public to seek support if they are experiencing distress.
Update:

The City of Pell City has received a statement of responsibility for the incorrect ballots originally delivered to St. Clair County polling locations for the General Election on Nov. 5, 2024.

Election Systems & Software states, ES&S takes responsibility for this unfortunate error and is working to determine the root cause.

The City of Pell City is grateful to St. Clair Probate Judge Andrew Weathington and the many County officials and employees who have diligently worked to correct ES&Ss mistake and provide our residents with their right to vote.

We are also grateful to our residents for their patience, and we send our sincerest thanks to the poll workers who are still standing tall this evening after a day filled with a unprecedented challenges.

Polls will remain open until 9 p.m. tonight. You must be in line by 9 p.m. to vote.

ALGOP Statement on Voting Issues in St. Clair County

Shortly after polls opened this morning, the Alabama Republican Party became aware that voters were being turned away because of a printing error with the ballots. Election officials are working to get corrected ballots to the polls, and we have recommended the St. Clair County Probate Judge ask the Circuit Court to extend voting hours. We will continue to monitor the situation throughout the day.
A Moscow court rejected American citizen Robert Woodland's appeal against his drug-related conviction on Tuesday. Originally sentenced in July to 12 and a half years for attempted drug trafficking, Woodland's plea for leniency was dismissed by the Moscow City Court, reaffirming the decision of the Ostankino District Court. Woodland, a dual citizen born in Russia's Perm region, was adopted by an American family and traveled back to Russia, reportedly to reconnect with his birth mother.

The circumstances surrounding American arrests in Russia are increasingly tense amid deteriorating Russia-US relations, further exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine. The US accuses Russia of using American detainees as political "bargaining chips", a claim Moscow rebuffs, stating that those arrested are subject to Russian law. Woodland's case adds to a growing list of individuals caught in this geopolitical quagmire. Prisoner exchanges between the two countries have occurred, yet the potential for Woodland's release through a swap remains uncertain. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
Donald Trump addressed an enthusiastic crowd of supporters at his election watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida, in the wee hours of Wednesday, shortly after Fox News and NewsNation called the race for him, projecting him to win a delayed second term as president. Shortly after his speech began, the AP called Pennsylvania for him, giving Kamala Harris a near-impossible path to victory. Trump said he was proud to be elected "your 47th president and your 45th president." He predicted he'd end up with more than 300 electoral votes as well as winning the popular vote, and predicted Republicans would maintain control of the House after having already retaken control of the Senate.

"This is a movement like nobody's ever seen before," he said after taking the stage as "God Bless the USA" played and his family and supporters filed on behind him. "And frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There's never been anything like this in this country. ... And now it's going to reach a new level of importance, because we are going to help our country heal. ... We made history for a reason tonight. ... It is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing, and look what happened! Is this crazy? But it's a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this. ... This will truly be the golden age of America."

He went on to thank numerous people, including JD Vance, who briefly spoke, declaring the election "the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America." UFC president Dana White also spoke briefly, thanking Joe Rogan and saying, "This is karma, ladies and gentlemen." Elon Musk did not speak, but Trump spoke about him at length, declaring, "We have a new star. A star is born. Elon!" Of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump said that as long as he stays away from oil, he can do what he wants with regard to his stated goal of "making America healthy again." "Bobby, stay away from the liquid gold. Other than that, have a good time, Bobby."
Police arrested a 23-year-old man on Tuesday on suspicion of involvement in a botched art heist at a gallery in the southern Netherlands targeting four valuable Andy Warhol screen prints, reports the AP. The arrest came days after thieves blew open the door of an art gallery in the town of Oisterwijk last week and stole two works from a famous series of Warhol screen prints of the former queens of the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Denmark, and Swaziland, which is now called Eswatini. Two more prints were left, badly damaged, in the street as the thieves fled. In a brief statement, police didn't say if the missing pieces of art were recovered in a string of raids in Oisterwijk and nearby towns and cities, including one in Belgium.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabweans in South Africa have expressed optimism following recent efforts by the South African Department of Home Affairs to expedite visa adjudication and digitise documentation. These changes are seen as a lifeline for Zimbabweans working in the country, as they aim to reduce waiting periods and improve service efficiency, enhancing their chances of maintaining legal work status.Gabriel Shumba, legal director at Global Immigration and Legal Consultancy and a Zimbabwean human rights lawyer, lauded the department's move. "We welcome the Department of Home Affairs' efforts to hasten the adjudication of visa applications," Shumba stated, emphasizing that quicker processing would relieve applicants of the anxiety that often accompanies long wait times. "This efficiency will also assist South Africa in securing much-needed skills to boost the economy and help reduce corruption."The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) outlined several targets for the upcoming financial year, aiming to make South Africa a more attractive destination for skilled workers and businesses. According to a recent DHA statement, key objectives include processing 85% of permanent residence applications within eight months and 95% of critical skills visa applications within four weeks.Additionally, the DHA pledged to digitise more of its processes, seeking to streamline document verification and reduce lengthy queues at Home Affairs offices, a common source of frustration for applicants. In its 2024 Budget Review and Recommendations Report presented on October 25, the DHA committed to tackling inefficiencies across its immigration and civil services, prioritising business and work visa processing.The department also set ambitious targets for managing misconduct, with a commitment to resolve 70% of cases within 90 working days and to finalise 80% of reported fraud and corruption cases within the same timeframe. Long-standing issues of corruption have plagued the department, as crowded Home Affairs offices often see desperate applicants engaging in bribery to expedite their cases.However, while Zimbabweans welcome these changes, recent statistics show increased deportations. In the 2023/24 financial year, 39,627 deportations were conducted, up from 22,560 in 2022/23, with most deportees reportedly being Zimbabwean nationals. Despite these numbers, Zimbabweans remain hopeful that the department's new focus on efficiency and digitisation will make it easier for them to comply with immigration requirements, strengthening their future in South Africa.
Voting was interrupted at multiple locations Tuesday because of bomb threats the FBI has linked to Russia. "The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains," the agency said in a statement, per the Wall Street Journal . "None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far." The Washington Post reports there were a dozen-plus threats in Georgia alone, all targeting Democratic-leaning districts in the Atlanta area.

Local officials tell the Journal that the threats forced two polling places in Georgia's Fulton County to close down temporarily. A polling place in Gwinnett County also closed for a short time. Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's Republican secretary of state, blamed Russia for the hoaxes, reports Reuters. "They're up to mischief, it seems. They don't want us to have a smooth, fair, and accurate election, and if they can get us to fight among ourselves, they can count that as a victory," he said.

Adrian Fontes, Arizona's Democratic secretary of state, said several polling places in Navajo County received bomb threats, the Post reports. "We also have reason to believe, although I won't get into specifics, that this comes from one of our foreign enemies, namely Russia," he said. The Journal notes that if it's confirmed that the Kremlin is behind the threats, it "would mark a newand escalatory" election interference tactic from Russia. The Russian Embassy in Washington said claims of interference were "malicious slander," adding: "We would like to emphasize that Russia has not interfered and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries." (More Election 2024 stories.)
A federal appeals court will let a Colorado law that raises the minimum age to purchase rifles and shotguns to 21 to take effect amid ongoing legal disputes. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the challengers, including the group Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, did not satisfy the legal requirements to block the law during litigation. Consequently, the case has been remanded to a lower court for additional hearings.
Switching districts in Colorado turned out to be a winning move for Rep. Lauren Boebert. The Republican, who won the state's 3rd District by just 546 votes in 2020, has won the state's 4th District by a more comfortable margin, the Colorado Sun reports. She was at 53% to 43% for Democratic rival Trisha Calvarese when Calvarese conceded. Boebert easily won the six-way GOP primary in the district in June.

Boebert left the 3rd District for the more conservative 4th District amid a messy divorce and criticism over the "Beetlejuice incident," in which she was seen vaping and groping her date at a Denver theater, the AP reports. "The swamp, they thought I would fail," Boebert said in her victory speech, per the Sun. "And rather than failing, I think it's kind of like an A+ with extra credit for this GED (recipient) right here." In her concession speech, Calvarese noted that she had managed to "shave off" 15 percentage points in a district Republican former Rep. Ken Buck, who retired earlier this year, won by 24 points in 2022. (More Lauren Boebert stories.)
An Alabama man has been acquitted of murdering an 11-year-old New Hampshire girl who was killed over 35 years ago. A jury found Marvin "Skip" McClendon Jr. not guilty after six days of deliberation, despite previously reporting a deadlock. The decision hinged on whether DNA under Melissa Ann Tremblay's fingernails belonged to McClendon; jurors concluded there wasn't enough evidence to convict.

The verdict brings relief to McClendon, according to his attorney Henry Fasoldt. Meanwhile, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker expressed disappointment but acknowledged the jury's diligence and extended sympathy to Tremblay's family, recognizing their prolonged suffering due to the case. The girl's body was found in Lawrence, Massachusetts, a day after she was reported missing in 1988. McClendon was arrested in 2022 due in part to DNA evidence.

Prosecutor Jessica Strasnick argued that McClendon's comments at his arrest indicated knowledge of the crime details, asserting that he was "fixated on the fact that she was beaten, ladies and gentlemen, because he knew that she wasn't just stabbed that day, that was she was beaten." Additionally, she highlighted that McClendon, a former corrections officer and carpenter familiar with Lawrence, was left-handed like the stabber.

story continues below

However, Fasoldt countered that the DNA evidence was inconclusive, contending McClendon had "no meaningful connection" to Lawrence despite living nearby at the time. While the jury heard the DNA evidence excluded all but 0.2% of the male population, Fasoldt said there was no proof the DNA came from under Tremblay's fingernails or was from McClendon. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
A US-led declaration backed by 10 UN Security Council members has condemned North Korea's recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch. The statement urged Pyongyang to re-engage in negotiations and dismantle its missile programs. The launch, coupled with over 100 North Korean missile tests since 2022, breaches multiple Security Council resolutions, threatening global peace.

The Group of Seven (G7) also criticized North Korea's actions, stating the nation is enhancing its "unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities" and activities. The G7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US, and the UK. US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood delivered the Security Council statement, with diplomats from backing nations, including new council members set for JanuaryDenmark, Greece, and Panama.

Five Security Council members, notably Russia and China, known allies of Pyongyang, did not support the statement against North Korea. During Monday's Security Council session, the US and allies clashed with Russia, China, and North Korea over the ICBM tests. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported engagements with North Korean units in Russia's Kursk region, a first. Despite sanctions established since North Korea's initial nuclear test in 2006, efforts to curb its missile programs remain largely ineffective, with Russia and China blocking further resolutions since May 2022. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
The dollar spiked, bitcoin hit a record high, and US stock futures soared early Wednesday at the prospect of another Donald Trump presidency and a possible red sweep of Congress. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1,254 points, or about 2.9%. The last time the Dow jumped more than 1,000 points in a single day was two years ago, per CNBC . S&P 500 futures climbed 2.4% and Nasdaq 100 futures were up 1.8%. Meanwhile, index futures on the Russell 2000 Index, the benchmark for smallcap stocks, soared 6.2% to their highest levels since early 2022, per Reuters .

"Historically, stock markets fall in the weeks leading up to the election and then rally once a result is known," per the New York Times. But the showing early Wednesday is borne of the view "that domestically-oriented economic growth will grow more rapidly, corporate tax rates will stay low and borrowing rates will come down" under Trump, per CNBC. "If Republicans take both chambers, Trump could have more room to cut corporate taxesa potential boost for investor confidence," market specialist Russell Shor tells Reuters. The US dollar index was up 1.4%, while the 10-year Treasury yield rose to a four-month high of 4.47%, per Reuters.

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group shot up 50% in premarket trading, while Teslawhose CEO Elon Musk donated almost $75 million to a Trump-aligned super PAC and was alongside Trump as he announced victorysaw shares jump 13%, per CNBC. Shares for major banks JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo were up at least 6% in premarket trading, while bitcoin hit a record high, jumping nearly 8% to $75,345 before falling to around $73,500, per the AP. Initially skeptical about cryptocurrencies, Trump said on the campaign trail that he planned to turn the US into a "bitcoin superpower." (More stock market stories.)
Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr won reelection in a race that will allow the transgender lawmaker to return to the House floor nearly two years after she was silenced and sanctioned by her Republican colleagues. Zephyr, a Democrat, defeated Republican Barbara Starmer in her Democrat-leaning district in the college town of Missoula, the AP reports. Zephyr, who was in her first term, was last permitted to speak on the chamber floor in April 2023, when she refused to apologize for saying some lawmakers would have blood on their hands for supporting a ban on gender-affirming medical care for youth. Before voting to expel Zephyr from the chamber, Republicans called her words hateful and accused her of inciting a protest that brought the session to a temporary standstill. Some even sought to equate the non-violent demonstration with an insurrection.
/

Some Votes Came From Out of This World

NASA's didn't let little thing like being on a work trip 250 miles above Earth stop astronauts from voting
People around the world are absorbing the news that Donald Trump will retake the White House, with world leaders from Israel to Hungary offering up congratulations, along with praise. Several leaders described the win as "historic." More than one called it the biggest comeback in US history. Other notable individuals, including Trump ally Elon Musk and Trump enemy Stormy Daniels, have also weighed in. A roundup of reaction, via Fox News, ABC News, and Al Jazeera:



Elon Musk: He shared an edited image on X, showing him holding a sink against the backdrop of the Oval Office. "Let that sink in," he wrote. It was a replay of a joke from 2022 when he bought what was then Twitter.

He shared an edited image on X, showing him holding a sink against the backdrop of the Oval Office. "Let that sink in," he wrote. It was a replay of a joke from 2022 when he bought what was then Twitter. Stormy Daniels: The adult film star who suggested Trump would have her tried for treason told Good Morning Britain on Wednesday that she is

"shocked and ashamed of what has happened in my country." "You cannot tell me that it's not because of racism that [Kamala Harris] did not win," she added.

The adult film star who suggested Trump would have her tried for treason told Good Morning Britain on Wednesday that she is "shocked and ashamed of what has happened in my country." "You cannot tell me that it's not because of racism that [Kamala Harris] did not win," she added. Mark Cuban: "Congrats @realDonaldTrump. You won fair and square. Congrats to @elonmusk as well. #Godspeed," the billionaire Shark Tank star who campaigned with Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on X.

"Congrats @realDonaldTrump. You won fair and square. Congrats to @elonmusk as well. #Godspeed," the billionaire Shark Tank star who campaigned with Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on X. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Congratulations on history's greatest comeback," he wrote to Trump on X. "Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America."

"Congratulations on history's greatest comeback," he wrote to Trump on X. "Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America." Hamas: In a statement, the Palestinian group said it was withholding judgment. But it said Trump must "listen to the voices of the American community itself rejecting the aggression on Gaza" and realize Palestinians "will not accept a path that diminishes their rights."
In mid-October, Donald Trump made his thoughts on Russia's invasion of Ukraine clear: Volodymyr Zelensky "should never have let that war start." More fully, he said: "I think Zelensky is one of the greatest salesmen I've ever seen. Every time he comes in we give him $100 billion. Who else got that kind of money in history? There's never been. And that doesn't mean I don't want to help him, because I feel very badly for those people. But he should never have let that war start. That war is a loser." So what does Trump's return to the presidency mean for Ukraine? Some early takes:

At the New York Times, Andrew E. Kramer recalls another comment of Trump's: that he could bring the war to an end in a day, though he didn't say how. "Ukrainians now face an all-but-certain American policy shift in the midst of a war that is turning against them," writes Kramer. "Mr. Trump's pledge to end the war in a day has raised concerns in Kyiv that he would press a peace settlement on unfavorable terms to Ukraine."
News / Regional

by Staff Reporter

Plumtree residents are not happy with the conduct of magistrate Lungile Ncube who ordered a Drug Lord Sam Junior Mhako to perform community service at Plumtree court.The 36-year-old drug Lord was convicted on two counts of possessing drugs.The regional magistrate Ncube ordered Mhako to perform community service at Plumtree magistrates courts.Mhako is a former police officer and is known for supplying schoolchildren with all sorts of drugs.Residents pulled resources together to assist the police in arresting him.After his arrest, he bragged that he would not go to jail as he was connected. True to his word, he received a lenient sentence.Mhako is a person with previous convictions of dealing drugs, but the court did not take that into considerationOn the first record, he was sentenced to 12 months wholly suspended on the condition of 420 hrs of community service at Plumtree courtThe second record he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with 6 months suspended.The remaining 6 months are suspended on condition of 210 hrs of community service at Plumtree court.Police officers and other stakeholders were not pleased with the magistrate's sentence.
UPDATE

Dec 8, 2024 2:14 PM CST

There's a winning bid for the ruby slippers made famous by Judy Garland/Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, then stolen and found: $28 million. Heritage Auctions had predicted they'd draw maybe $3 million, but the bidding blew past that in the first few seconds Saturday, the AP reports. Several bidders competing by phone traded figures for 15 minutes before stopping at $28 million. The winner's name was not released. "There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland's ruby slippers and any other piece of Hollywood memorabilia," said Joe Maddalena of Heritage. The auction house said it's the most ever paid at auction for a piece of entertainment memorabilia, per the New York Times.

Nov 6, 2024 11:15 AM CST

They're shoes that are both famous and infamous: A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, stolen in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018, are now up for auction. People reports the shoes are being sold by Heritage Auctions, which will conclude the auction on Dec. 7; the current bid is $812,500. The slippers are the "cross-matched sister shoes to the pair at the Smithsonian Institution," per the Heritage site.
Lebanon filed a complaint against Israel at the UN's labor organization over the string of deadly attacks involving exploding pagers, saying workers were among those killed and injured, a Lebanese government minister said Wednesday. The wave of remotely triggered explosions that hit pagers and walkie-talkies carried by Hezbollah members in mid-September were widely blamed on Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied involvement, reports the AP . The blasts that went off in grocery stores, homes, and on streets killed at least 37 people, including two children, and wounded around 3,000 people, according to Lebanese authorities.

In addition to fighters, the detonating devices hit workers in Hezbollah's civilian institutions, including its health care and media operations. Lebanese Labor Minister Moustafa Bayram and other officials said he traveled to Geneva and formally filed the complaint Tuesday against Israel at the International Labor Organization (ILO), a sprawling UN agency that brings together governments, businesses, and workers. "This ... may open the way for many who are evading international humanitarian law to adopt this method of warfare," he told reporters at the UN compound in Geneva. "It's a very dangerous precedent, if not condemned. We are in a situation where ordinary objectsobjects used in daily lifebecome dangerous and lethal."

Bayram insisted that ILO conventions guarantee the safety and security of workers, who "were in their workplace and had their pagers or walkies-talkies exploding all of a sudden," according to an interpreter. "I do not know where the outcome (of the complaint) will go, but at least we raised our voices to say and warn against this dangerous approach that strikes at human relations and leads to more conflicts," he added. An ILO spokeswoman said she was not immediately aware of the complaint or what redress might be possible through it. (More Lebanon stories.)
"Make no mistake, Polymarket single-handedly called the election before anything else," Shane Coplan, chief executive of the prediction market, crowed in an X post on Wednesday. The crypto-based platform, which calls itself the "world's largest prediction market," was among the betting markets that correctly predicted a Trump win on Tuesday, the Daily Beast reports. Skeptics, including economists, had said the predictions were probably unreliable, pointing to a handful of very large bets as a sign of possible manipulation.

The election was a huge moment for prediction markets, which were forecasting a Trump win while most polls showed the election was neck-and-neck, the New York Times reports. Polymarket and four othersBetfair, Kalshi, PredictIt, and Smarketsall had odds pointing to a Trump victory. "The Trump campaign HQ literally found out they were winning from Polymarket," Coplan said. "History was made today." In a post on X early Wednesday, as the result became clear, Kalshi chief executive Tarek Mansour said: "Polls 0 Prediction Markets 1."

The markets have been around for years, but they gained new prominence, and new interest from investors, during this election, the Times reports. Polymarket, which is already backed by conservative billionaire Peter Thiel, is working on a $50 million fundraising round. The "whale" whose large bets on Trump to win attracted suspicion has banked around $48 million in profits after betting $30 million across four accounts, Business Insider reports. The bettor, who identified himself as a French trader named Theo, told the Wall Street Journal last week that the bets weren't placed for political reasons. "My intent is just making money," he said. (More Election 2024 stories.)
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 18F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low -4F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 18F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low -4F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Call for Opinions: 2025 Predictions for Higher Ed IT

How will the technology landscape in higher education change in the coming year? We're inviting our readership to weigh in with their predictions, wishes, or worries for 2025.

In particular, we're asking for opinions on the following topics:

Cybersecurity and privacy;

Artificial intelligence; and

Developments in ed tech.

Share your ideas on the outlook for higher education IT by e-mailing us at [email protected] (150 words max) with the subject line "2025 Predictions Submission." Please include your name, title, organization, and a brief bio. Submissions are due by Dec. 16, 2024.

Selected opinions will be featured in an upcoming article. Help us all navigate the new and evolving trends shaping colleges and universities today and in the future!
Canada's premier youth career exploration event set to engage over 450,000 students

TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2024 /CNW/ - The Students Commission of Canada (SCC), in partnership with RBC Future Launch, proudly celebrates the 30th anniversary of Take Our Kids to Work (TOKW) today, engaging students nationwide in Canada's leading career exploration experience. Building on last year's near doubling of participation, TOKW aims to inspire over 450,000 students this year with the theme "Breaking Barriers, Transforming Communities."

TOKW 2024 promises a dynamic mix of in-person and virtual experiences, designed to reach students across Canada, regardless of their geographical or personal circumstances. The program encourages students to explore diverse career paths and encourages them to become changemakers in their communities.

"We are proud to lead Take Our Kids to Work into its 30th year," said Sharif Mahdy, Chief Executive Officer of SCC. "We aim to break down barriers to career exploration and equip every young person with the tools and experiences they need to envision their future career possibilities. Our goal is to engage youth to see their potential and realize their role in transforming communities across Canada."

This year, SCC is excited to host Take Our Kids to Work Career Live!, an innovative all-day virtual event featuring hourly sessions with exclusive guests that showcase a variety of career opportunities. This accessible platform complements local in-person experiences, ensuring that every student across Canada has the chance to engage in live conversations about careers, even if they lack access to a workplace or guardian support.

The 2023 edition of TOKW achieved record participation, with 486,643 students, 1,121 workplaces, 1,672 educators, and 1,898 families taking part - reflecting a 45% increase from the previous year. As TOKW celebrates its 30th anniversary, SCC proudly marks its second year leading this national movement.

SCC is providing extensive TOKW resources for educators, families, and employers to facilitate both in-person and virtual programming. These resources include guides, themed sessions, video content, and activities available in both English and French, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive experience for participants in every part of the country.

"RBC is committed to equipping the next generation with skills for a thriving future - that is why we are proud to support this event which has become a cornerstone of youth engagement in Canada," said Mark Beckles, Vice President, Social Impact & Innovation, RBC. "Through RBC Future Launch and our collaboration with SCC, we are thrilled to engage thousands of young people to explore diverse career options as they grow into the leaders of tomorrow."

Additional sponsors for TOKW 2024 include NGen: Next Generation Manufacturing, CIBC Mellon, Samuel Son and Co., WorkSafe NB, the Government of Nova Scotia, and the Government of Northwest Territories.

To learn more and stay updated on developments, resources, and opportunities, visit studentscommission.ca/tokw2024 .

For questions or accessibility needs, please contact SCC at [email protected].

Students Commission of Canada (SCC)

SCC is a national inter-generational charitable organization that purposely works with others to ensure that young people's voices are heard and valued so that their ideas for improving themselves, their peers and their communities are put into action. The SCC believes in a world where all young people positively transition to a successful adulthood. TOKW is integral to SCC's social purpose, highlighting the importance of diverse youth experiences in shaping a better future.

SOURCE Students Commission of Canada

Media Inquiries: Solange Nicholson, Share Communications, [email protected], 403-801-3259
Supporting transformational leadership into the future, and providing a sustainable home for growth, scale and impact

OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 6, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC) joins the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF). Over the past 40 years, the GGCLC has been a uniting force, bringing together emerging leaders from all sectors and parts of the country for a unique two-week experience aimed at broadening their perspectives on work, leadership, their communities and their country.

Joining the RHF signals a new chapter for the GGCLC, Canada's pre-eminent non-partisan leadership experience. The world is changing, and Canada needs leaders who can challenge assumptions and collaborate with people from different sectors, backgrounds and walks of life, but who share a passion for making their communities and country better. Reflecting the vast diversity of the country, the GGCLC helps leaders improve their decision-making abilities, facilitates interaction among leaders across business, labour, government and civil society, while broadening participants' understanding of Canada.

The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) is an independent nation-building charitable organization that connects people, causes and organizations that share a common belief in and commitment to the potential of Canada. The RHF is committed to helping Canadians better understand and engage with the country's public institutions, and to invest in Canadian leadership. It works closely with the Office of the Governor General of Canada along with partners across all sectors to create opportunities, connect communities and celebrate excellence.

"We are thrilled that the GGCLC program is joining the Rideau Hall Foundation. This partnership provides us with an amazing opportunity to help evolve the GGCLC to meet the changing needs of Canada's emerging leaders, while further engaging the incredible community of GGCLC alumni across the country whose experiences have been nothing short of life-changing." Kathleen Taylor, Conference Chair and Chair of the GGCLC Board of Directors.

"We are honoured to welcome the GGCLC to the RHF and to provide a permanent home for this incredibly impactful program. In a world that feels more divisive every day, there has never been a more critical time for a program like the GGCLC that invests in Canadian leaders across all sectors and regions of the country. The GGCLC will join the RHF's other signature programs that provide the opportunity to experience Canada more deeply, and to be exposed to differing viewpoints and perspectives." Teresa Marques, President and CEO of the Rideau Hall Foundation.

This new partnership will provide ongoing support and sustainability to the GGCLC, while continuing to build on its considerable strengths and further engage with its incredible alumni community, which stretches from coast to coast to coast. More than 2,400 leaders have participated in the program to date and thanks to this new partnership, future generations of leaders will be able to share in the experience of participating in the GGCLC for decades to come.

More details will be provided in the coming weeks about the next iteration of the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference, which will take place in May 2026.

About the GGCLC

The Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference brings together Canada's emerging leaders from business, labour, government, NGOs, education and the cultural sector for a unique two-week experience aimed at broadening their perspectives on work, leadership, their communities and their county. Conference members come from different regions, different perspectives and different careers. Learn more: https://www.leadershipcanada.ca/

About the RHF

The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) is a non-partisan national charity that brings together ideas, people and resources to celebrate what is best about Canada while working with partners to meaningfully improve the lives of Canadians. The RHF celebrates excellence while creating opportunities and connecting communities, all towards the shared purpose of a better Canada. Learn more: https://rhf-frh.ca/

SOURCE Rideau Hall Foundation

Media inquiries: Melanie Bechard, Senior Communications Officer, Rideau Hall Foundation, 613-914-0651, [email protected]
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I started going gray at age 14, so Ive gotten a lot of comments about my appearance over the last 20 years -- shockingly, ALL from women.

From my friends moms (Youre too young for gray hair!) to professors (You should really dye your hair; you look so old) to strangers on the street, women seem to feel that the sisterhood grants them permission to say whatever they want about how I look. (To be fair, there have been many positive comments, too.)

I used to dye my hair, but stopped during the pandemic lockdown because I didnt see any point in damaging my hair if hardly anyone would see it. By the time things opened up again, Id gotten used to not spending my time, energy and money on changing the color of something thats dead anyway. I dont want to go back.

Im married with children, and my husband and kids think that the natural gray actually makes me more beautiful. But in the last few years, I feel Ive aged significantly, and have become a bit more sensitive about my appearance.

I was out for a walk with my 2-year-old when an elderly woman stopped me to ask whether I was his grandmother! I laughed and told her Im only in my mid-30s, and she replied with, But your HAIR!

Sure, aging is a natural part of life and doesnt need to be seen negatively. But it would be great if people didnt assume I was decades older than I am, let alone tell me about it!

Whats a good way to reply when someone takes the liberty of telling me how old my hair makes me look?

GENTLE READER: Thank you; Im glad you like it.

This response is for all the comments, not just the favorable ones. It alerts people to what kind of remarks are acceptable.

Miss Manners finds it strange that the unnatural dyed look is the approved standard. Her dear mother, who was a teacher, observed that children believed that when ladies grew old, their hair turned honey blond.

Please do not be influenced by rude people. Surely it is more important that your husband and children find you beautiful.

***

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
Atlantic Citys mayor, already accused of abusing his teenage daughter, now faces a new charge that he asked her to lie about how she sustained a head injury.

Marty Small Sr., 50, was charged Monday with witness tampering involving the girl, whom he and his wife, LaQuetta  the New Jersey seaside gambling resort citys superintendent of schools  were previously charged with assaulting and abusing.

The Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said Marty Small, a Democrat, asked his daughter to twist up a statement she had given to investigators regarding his alleged abuse of her on occasions in December and January.

Specifically, the mayor is accused of asking his daughter to falsely say that a head injury occurred when she tripped and fell in her room.

Smalls lawyer, Edwin Jacobs, called the latest charge sheer nonsense, adding that Small asked his daughter to tell the truth about what happened.

When a parent encourages a child to be accurate and truthful in statements to investigators, that parent is not witness tampering, he said Wednesday. That parent is doing what a good, responsible parent should do. And that is precisely what Marty Small has done.

Jacobs called the charge one more effort by the prosecuting authority to second-guess my clients parenting and corrupt his relationship with his daughter.

The attorney did not say whether the teen is still living at home with her parents. As recently as last month, Small said she was doing so.

Prosecutors allege that Small asked his daughter to contradict her previous claim of being abused while knowing he was about to be indicted on the original child abuse charge. The alleged request was made two days before a grand jury indicted Marty and LaQuetta Small.

They say both parents hit and emotionally abused the girl, who was 15 to 16 years old, on occasions last winter. The couple deny the allegations.

The couple pleaded not guilty to the original charges last month. Marty Small has a court date on the witness tampering charge set for Dec. 3.
Authorities arrested and charged an 18-year-old man this week who is accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile.

Justin M. Urgiles, 18, of Demarest, was taken into custody on Monday. He is charged with sexual assault in the second-degree, endangering the welfare of a child and the disorderly persons offense of assault, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said on Wednesday.

The alleged sexual assault was reported to law enforcement on September 14. An investigation by the county prosecutors office Special Victims Unit later identified Urgiles as the suspect in the alleged assault, which reportedly occurred in the borough of Tenafly, authorities said.

Prosecutors have not disclosed the age or gender of the alleged victim.

Urgiles will be held at Bergen County Jail pending his detention hearing.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Authorities have charged a teen boy in a shooting that critically injured a 15-year-old girl at a home in Bergen County.

The 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday. He is charged with the juvenile delinquency offenses of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and possession of a firearm by a minor, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said.

Police in Ridgefield Park responded to a call at 7:26 p.m. on Tuesday, reporting that a person was bleeding inside a private residence. When officers arrived, they found the teen girl, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the back, authorities said.

The boy is accused of using a handgun to fire a single shot to the girls back inside the home, prosecutors said. The victim is still in the hospital and is listed in critical condition, officials said.

The suspect is in custody at Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center pending proceedings in family court.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
A former corrections officer at New Jersey state prison was sentenced Tuesday to one year and eight months in prison after he previously admitted that he did nothing to break up two inmate assaults, federal prosecutors said.

Joshua Hand, 35, of Millville, who previously worked for Bayside State Prison in Leesburg, pleaded guilty in February to one count of depriving two inmates of their right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey.

In December 2019, Hand was inside the officers quarters within the kitchen area of the prison when the first inmate was summoned to that room, the office said.

Shortly after the person entered the officers quarters, the exit door was blocked and in the presence of Hand, the inmate was assaulted simultaneously by several other prisoners and taken down to the floor, investigators said.

Hand watched and did not try to intervene when multiple inmates pinned and restrained the inmate on the floor while other prisoners delivered multiple punches and other blows to the his torso, arms, and legs, officials said.

Hand did not report this assault to his supervisors or medical personnel despite knowing that he was required to do so, authorities said.

Later that day, another inmate was in the officers quarters when a corrections officers struck him in the legs with a broomstick several times, federal prosecutors said. Hand also saw this assault occur and again did not intervene or report it to supervisors or medical personnel said.

A federal judge also sentenced Hand to three years of supervised released and fined him $10,000, according to the release.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
A 23-year-old Union County man was found guilty last week in the shooting death of a man sitting in his car in Newark three years ago, authorities said.

Justen Couram, of Hillside, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Quamir Nelson, 24, of Newark, who was killed Dec. 30, 2021, according to Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II.

The jury deliberated about five hours following a five-day trial before finding Couram guilty on Friday, Stephens said.

Couram was convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, and several weapons charges, according to the prosecutors office.

Prosecutors said the case stemmed from two separate shootings of Nelson in Newarks South Ward.

On April 7, 2021, Nelson was shot and critically wounded while sitting in his vehicle on Pomona Avenue near Aldine Street.

Newark police pulled over Couram and three other men in a vehicle minutes later and discovered a weapon used in the crime, Stephens said.

Surveillance video also tied Courams car to the shooting scene. Coram and three others in the vehicle were charged several days later with aggravated assault for allegedly shooting Nelson, court records show.

Nearly nine months later, Nelson was shot and killed while sitting in his vehicle on the same street, according to police.

Surveillance video showed Couram drove an unknown shooter to and from the location where Mr. Nelson was murdered, Stephens said. Further investigation confirmed Couram was the getaway driver.

Couram faces 30 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025. Attorney information for Couram was not immediately available Wednesday morning.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The city of Hoboken has canceled the city council and public safety meetings scheduled for Wednesday night after the death Tuesday of City Council President Jen Giattino.

The city did not announce the cancellations, but a notice on the city websites meeting portal noted the meetings, scheduled for 5:30 and 7 p.m., have been canceled.
New Jersey is far from a swing state, but the presidential election was the race at the forefront of Hudson County voters minds as they visited the polls Tuesday.

Be it 85-year-old Jean Hartzog in Jersey City ready to see the first woman president or Christine Bayly in North Bergen, frustrated by both of the options, Hudson County voters made a point of contributing to the outcome.

Polling sites across the county had a steady stream of voters throughout the morning and afternoon, but those casting ballots rarely had to wait for more than a view minutes for their turn at the booth.

Lisbeth Flores, a North Bergen resident and fourth-grade teacher, brought her family and dog as she voted at midday. Immigration was the key topic on her mind because her mother, who emigrated from Mexico, is still undocumented and unable to get a green card.

Im just hoping this time theres something that will give us hope and that she can get legalized in this country, Flores said.

This years presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump motivated Hobokens Chris Baltz, 37, to vote for the first time in his life.

I voted for Harris because I just dont like (Trump), he said. It has nothing really to do with any political reason. I just dont think hes fit to be president.

Bayonnes Alberto Marquez had also intended to vote for the first time, but he was stopped short because he was not yet registered. He now has a 5-year-old and said that fatherhood has prompted him to think outside himself and weigh in during elections.

The state of the economy made him want to throw in his support for former President Donald Trump.

Under his presidency there was money, Marquez said, and it wasnt so much divided.

Bayly said she typically votes Republican, even though she isnt confident that it will make much difference in New Jersey. Though she doesnt particularly like Trump or Harris, part of what motivated her vote was her dissatisfaction with President Joe Bidens administration.

I feel like the whole country was lied to with the cognitive ability of the president, she said. I just think that (the Biden administration) has been very dishonest. The other guy I think (is) dishonest, too.

Patricia Green has been working the polls for 19 years in Bayonne and said she sent in her ballot in September. The Jersey City resident started voting when she was 18, and joked that now shes 17, if you just transpose the digits in her age.

Im always a Democrat, Green, 71, said. Im going to be a Democrat til the day I die.

In Hoboken, voters also weighed in on a referendum to amend the citys rent control ordinance, and seven municipalities also had Board of Education races, which was the top priority for some voters.

Baltz said he believes his apartment is rent-controlled so decided to vote No on the referendum after being told by a friend that doing so would protect rent control.

Nicholas Greco, 42, also said he lives in a rent-controlled apartment and believes the proposed amendment to the rent control ordinance would send local rents skyrocketing.

We need to keep the prices down so anyone can afford to live where they need to live to work, Greco said.

The Secaucus Board of Education race was the most important for Ling Dao, 35, who is concerned about a plan that would send his son to a school across town, away from the school they live right next to.

Similarly, Jersey City Heights resident Dane Calcagni was focused on the Board of Education race in his city.

Im (voting) for people making sure were getting the funding needed in Jersey City that is transparent to how many students we have living here; and how much taxes are being collected and how much is going toward the improvement of the schools and the betterment of education and teacher pay, he said after voting at School 28.

But overwhelmingly, the presidential race was the theme of the day.

Paul Douglas smiled as he left his polling site, School 41 in Jersey City.

I just hope Kamala Harris wins, the 58-year-old said.

NJAMs Larry Higgs contributed to this report.
Matthew Schneider and Tia Rezabala, the For Stronger Schools ticket that was endorsed by two 2025 Jersey City mayoral candidates, and incumbent Natalia Ioffe appeared headed to victory in the Jersey City school board elections Tuesday night.

Schneider and Rezabala had the backing of Ward E Councilman James Solomon and City Council President Joyce Watterman in their fight against the Jersey City Education Association-backed Education Matters slate.

Melany Cruz Burgos, one of Ioffes running mates on the Education Matters slate, was 724 votes behind Ioffe, who was running third with 55% of the vote recorded, according to the Hudson County Clerks Office.

Ahmed Kheir, the other Education Matters candidate was fifth. The results are not official.

Despite Ioffes apparent victory, it was loss for the union-backed ticket that had the endorsements of County Executive Craig Guy, Councilman Daniel Rivera and Hudson County District 2 Board of Commissioners member Bill ODea, who is also running for mayor.

There were a total of seven school board races decided Tuesday, three of them (East Newark, Guttenberg and Kearny) unopposed.

In Bayonne, the Together We Can slate of incumbents Melissa Godesky-Rodriguez, Pamela Sclafane and board President Jodi Casais won the three contested seats in the four-candidate race.

In Hoboken, the incumbent Building Futures Together slate of Malani Cademartori, Ailene McGuirk and Thomas Kluepfel swept the three seats in another four-candidate race.

In Secaucus, former Jersey City school board President Gerry Lyons was elected to the school board, along with running mate Tatiana Geller on the Excellence in Education slate.

Incumbent Melissa Howard was also victorious in the race among seven candidates for three seats. Lyons was the top vote-getter, followed by Geller and Howard.
Two pedestrians were killed after being struck by vehicles in Middlesex County in the past week, authorities said.

The most recent took place on Route 1 in Edison at 4:06 a.m. Monday, according to New Jersey State Police fatal crash data.

Days earlier, a 24-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed on Route 27 in the area of Hidden Lake Drive in North Brunswick, township police said.

Jaidyn Bell, of the Somerset section of Franklin died of his injuries after he was hit by a northbound SUV at about 9 p.m. on Oc 28, officials said.

The driver stopped at the scene. When North Brunswick police arrived, a Franklin police officer who was in the area was treating Bell, authorities said.

The crash took place near Elm Ridge Cemetery on the North Brunswick-Franklin border.

Anyone with information is asked to North Brunswick police officer William Bonura at 732-247-0922 x327.

In the Edison crash, a 63-year-old man was struck and while trying to cross Route at the intersection of Plainfield Avenue, township police said. . The driver, a 19-year-old from Jersey City, was traveling through a green light at about 4:15 a.m. when he hit the Trenton resident. The driver stopped at the scene and is not facing charges, officials said.

The pedestrian has not been identified.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
A Monmouth County man was sentenced to an extended prison term last month after he tried to contact the victim of a domestic assault more than 100 times in about two months, officials said Tuesday.

Brett Roach, Sr., 50, of Long Branch was sentenced to 10 years in state prison after prosecutors requested an elevated charge after the attempted contact, authorities said.

Roach was convicted by a Monmouth County jury on Aug. 9 of simple assault, third-degree charges of witness tampering and stalking, and fourth-degree contempt.

During sentencing, prosecutors requested Roach be sentenced under an elevated charge, in the second-degree range, which was granted by Judge Henry P. Butehorn.

Butehorn also imposed a two-year period of parole ineligibility, officials said.

Roachs conviction stems from charges related to a domestic violence incident from January 2023, authorities said.

What started as an argument became physical and Roach fled the scene once police were called, authorities said.

An involved person requested a temporary restraining order, which was granted, and Roach was arrested the following day at the residence, authorities said.

Roach was housed in the Monmouth County Correctional Institute pending a trial. From the jail, Roach called the person over 100 times in two-and-a-half months, officials said.

Roach also tried to contact the person through third parties and by mail, telling the person to drop the charges and the restraining order, officials said.

Roachs attorney Anthony Cherry said Friday that an appeal has been filed regarding his clients sentencing, adding that he believed the sentence was excessive given the circumstances.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
UPDATE: Departure of ship is now delayed

--

The historic ship docked in Philadelphia destined to become the worlds largest artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico is leaving the city late next week, its departure resulting in the temporary closure of three major bridges between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

On Nov. 15, for the first in 30 years, the SS United States will travel the Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean beginning a roughly two week journey to Mobile, Alabama. Once there, it will be prepared to be scuttled.

Okaloosa County, Florida, last month purchased the ship to repurpose it as an artificial reef, making it an addition to the panhandles seabed to grow the areas diving tourism.

Workers will swing the ship from its current mooring at Pier 82 in Philadelphia to Pier 80 on Nov. 14, where it will stay there overnight until low tide the following day, which is forecast for 6:59 a.m. The Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry bridges will be closed as the ship is towed out to sea, Okaloosa County officials announced Wednesday.

The bridges between Philadelphia and South Jersey are managed by the Delaware River Port Authority. The transportation agency said no plans were in place to fully close the bridges but said traffic would likely be stopped briefly.

This measure will be taken as a safety precaution and to minimize driver distraction, agency officials told NJ Advance Media. The exact timing and expected duration will be announced as plans finalize and the move date approaches, giving motorists ample time to plan their travel accordingly.

The ship will lastly pass under the Delaware Memorial Bridge, but traffic isnt expected to be halted, said a spokesperson for the Delaware River Bay Authority, which manages the structure.

It was unclear if the closures would be done simultaneously or once the ship reaches each bridge.

The departure plan is subject to change, officials said, and those interested in tracking the ships progress can do so online.

Engineers note they have to move the vessel at low tide to allow it to pass under the three bridges. The ships route along the Delaware takes it through busy shipping lanes. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry also runs daily crossings between Lower Cape May and Delaware. Trips wont be altered to accommodate the SS United States, Bay Authority officials said.

The United States, branded Americas Flagship during her run on the now-defunct United States Lines, has been docked in Philadelphia since 1996. Members of the SS United States Conservancy, a nonprofit thats been the ships guardian since 2011, and Florida officials last month gathered on board the ship last month to formally approve its sale.

Officials expect the ship to spend about a year at the Alabama dock to prepare it for becoming an artificial reef.

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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
A former bank branch manager in New York was sentenced to more than a year behind bars after admitting he misused his position to steal nearly $209,000 from a man in Fort Lee, authorities said Wednesday.

James Gomes, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution in May. On Tuesday, he was handed a 13-month prison term in Newark federal court, with a judge further sentencing him to three years of supervised release and ordering him to forfeit $208,939 in criminal proceeds. He will also have to pay the same amount in restitution.

Had he been tried and convicted of the fraud charge, Gomes would have faced up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Jersey previously said.

Gomes began managing a New York branch of an unidentified international bank in early 2020. Almost immediately, he began improperly accessing the bank accounts of the unnamed Fort Lee customer, according to prosecutors.

He quietly linked his personal phone number and a phony email address to the customers accounts, which he also enrolled in the banks online banking services without authorization. Gomes then used the fake email to correspond with his own bank email address, making it appear as though the customer were sending him instructions.

By March, Gomes had begun shifting vast sums of money from his victims accounts to his own personal bank accounts at other financial institutions, eventually totaling $208,939.

He continued the scheme until around April 7  two days after the customers death, according to prosecutors. The circumstances and exact cause of the death were not detailed in public court records.

Lorraine Gauli-Rufo, Gomes lawyer, was unavailable for comment on Wednesday afternoon.
Voters in Clark Township took another look at Mayor Sal Bonaccorso and liked what they saw, handing him victory at the polls in Tuesdays election despite public corruption charges and a racism scandal in which he was caught using the n-word and crassly disparaging women in law enforcement.

Bonaccorso led challenger Michael Shulman by 5,299 votes to 2,605 votes in his bid for a seventh term at the helm of the suburban Union County community, according to unofficial results on Wednesday morning.

Bonaccorso, a Republican, has been the public face of the conservative town of 14,500 for nearly a quarter century. But this election was a test of his popularity, given pending criminal charges that he abused his office and revelations that he and police brass casually used racial slurs.

We didnt win, Shulman said in a text message late Tuesday, while noting his slate of Democrats performed better than his party has in prior elections.

Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso (left) talks with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw at the UNICO Italian-American Feast in Clark last month.Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

Clark is a Republican stronghold where Donald Trump beat Joe Biden by 23 points in the 2020 presidential contest. Shulman headed a team of Democratic candidates who hoped voter anger over the controversy  and its steep cost to the townships coffers and public reputation  would offset the political headwinds they usually face.

The election was closer than previous years but Im openly shocked that so many people in this town put party over their best interest and reelected someone who is racist, corrupt and criminal, Shulman said.

Bonaccorso, who has denounced the unresolved criminal case against him, did not return requests for comment.

Three Bonaccorso backers on township council  Angel Albanese, Jimmy Minniti and Bill Smith  also had commanding leads over their Democratic challengers, according to unofficial results.

Bonaccorso and his allies have faced a torrent of criticism since 2022, when NJ Advance Media revealed the township had quietly paid a $400,000 hush-money settlement to a whistleblower who secretly recorded Bonaccorso, police Chief Pedro Matos and internal affairs Sgt. Joseph Teston crudely denigrating Blacks. Bonaccorso also called female police officers f------ disasters.

Last year, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said his office seriously considered bringing criminal charges against township officials in the cover-up, but concluded they werent warranted. Platkin did so as he attacked the 2020 settlement as a misuse of public resources.

At the same time, Platkin announced unrelated charges against Bonaccorso that accuse him of using his township office to benefit his private landscaping business and falsifying permitting applications for work his company performed. Those charges could send Bonaccorso to prison if he is convicted, and bar him from holding public office.

Michael Shulman, a Democrat running for mayor in Clark, hoped voter anger over the township's racism scandal would propel him to victory, despite the political headwinds his party faces in the GOP stronghold.John Jones | For NJ Advance Media

Bonaccorso has criticized the criminal case, dismissing the allegations as garbage and another weaponization against a MAGA Republican. The longest-serving mayor in Clarks history, Bonaccorso says that under his tenure, the township has been a safe community with good schools and good services.

But in the campaign, Shulman questioned whether Bonaccorso plans to accept a plea deal after the election, pointing to a court hearing now scheduled for Nov. 20 that is listed for a plea bargain, according to court records. Shulman, a defense attorney, said a plea would force Bonaccorso from office just after he asked voters to reelect him.

At a council meeting last month, Bonaccorso acknowledged his attorney had talked to the attorney generals office for several months, but denied a guilty plea was imminent.

I have a right, if I feel to, to enter into a plea. I have a right to fight the case, Bonaccorso said. That is still being talked about.

Meanwhile, Matos and Teston are suing to keep their jobs. They and a third Clark officer have been on paid leave since July 2020 amid the long-delayed probe by prosecutors, at a cost to township taxpayers of more than $2 million in salary as of late-September.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Gray contributed to this report.

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Riley Yates may be reached at ryates@njadvancemedia.com.
A Seaside Park woman was allegedly drunk behind the wheel earlier this year when she was involved in a hit-and-run crash that ultimately killed a 75-year-old man, authorities said Tuesday.

Genell Mcinaw, 50, is charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office announced.

Seaside Heights Police responded to the area of Dupont Avenue and the Boulevard on Sept. 23. at 9:30 p.m. for a report of an injured, unconscious man in the roadway, the office stated. Robert Popovics, of Seaside Park, was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries, authorities said.

Popvics succumbed to his injuries on Friday, the prosecutors office said.

Authorities alleged Mcinaw was traveling south in a dark colored sedan on the Boulevard when she struck Popovics and fled the scene.

Mcinaw was initially taken into custody at her home, after the crash, and transported to the Ocean County Jail. Her blood was drawn and tested before she was subsequently released, officials said.

Laboratory results determined that Mcinaws blood alcohol concentration was .187 at the time of the crash  well over the legal limit permitted to operate a vehicle, authorities stated in a news release.

Charges against her were upgraded following Popvics' death.

Mcinaw surrendered herself to police on Tuesday and was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she remains pending a detention hearing. Attorney information was not immediately available.

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Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or X @DeionRJohhnson.
By Todd Wolfson and Bryan Sacks

Jonathan Holloway has announced that he will step down as president of Rutgers University at the end of this academic year. Holloways administration began four years ago with high hopes and expectations, including among union members, that he would lead Rutgers in a new direction from his conservative predecessor.

But today, we feel disappointment and frustration  at promises not kept, at commitments not honored, and at rhetoric constantly at odds with action.

Most obviously for our unions, we welcomed President Holloways promise that his administration would work to improve relations with unions at Rutgers. But during bargaining for our new contracts in 202223, he did exactly the opposite, maintaining a hands-off attitude. When our members, frustrated by his administrations delays and distractions, voted by 94 percent to authorize a strike, he threatened to seek a court injunction and unstated penalties against us. Thousands of scholars from around the country signed an open letter protesting Holloways intimidation tactics.

Early in his presidency, Holloway attended a town hall meeting organized by our lecturers union, where he talked about his concerns with adjunctification at Rutgers  the universitys long-term shift to relying on contingent and precarious educators. But despite winning stronger job security in our new contracts, adjuncts are finding their positions more precarious than ever this fall. Case in point: More than 30 lecturers in the New Brunswick Writing Program were laid off last spring by SAS Executive Dean Juli Wade, long before any first-years had a chance to sign up for classes.

Similar stories are being repeated throughout the university: lecturers fired, class caps raised, the burden of teaching larger classes falling on full-time faculty and grad workers. It is hard to take President Holloways rhetoric about a beloved community seriously when his administration ignores the wishes of everyone else and top officials demand that departments inflict cuts and austerity on the basis of budgetary concerns that have repeatedly been overblown  all without regard for the long-term harm to so many in the Rutgers community.

We were glad to see Holloway make a strong statement in support of academic freedom early in his presidency, and more recently, that our university was one of the few to negotiate an agreement with protesting students last spring without mass arrests taking place at the encampments.

Yet rather than stand by and build on these examples, the Holloway administration instead bowed to external pressure, and in late August imposed draconian limits on free expression and protest rights. Anyone wishing to hold a demonstration must submit a Free Expression Notification Form three days in advance to obtain a Free Expression Permit. Whats more, free expression is limited to small locations on each campus.

In his letter to the Rutgers community and in press interviews, President Holloway expressed frustrations with the difficulties of the job in an era when higher education is under attack across the country. Our unions have the same frustrations with the decades of underinvestment and the current right-wing assault on higher ed. It was for this reason that, when Holloway was called to testify before the Republicans witch-hunt committee on higher ed in May, dozens of our members mobilized to protest the attack on academic freedom and protest rights.

Rutgers president teaches civil discourse class after toxic politics drives him from office https://t.co/J2sTiEsKX9  njdotcom (@njdotcom) November 4, 2024

That makes it all the more disappointing to learn that President Holloway claims his concerns for his and his familys safety stem from our strike.

If police insisted that Holloway needed round-the-clock protection because of our pickets, that is absurd. Our strike was completely peaceful  we know of no arrests during those five days. Wherever it took place on university property  including outside the presidents residence in Piscataway  picketing was nonviolent and conformed with all laws.

The claim that his familys safety and security was at risk by our unions is also ironic, given that he was the one to threaten to go to court for an injunction against the strike, raising the possibility of police being used against us  the people who make the university work.

We feel the need to set the record straight publicly on these questions, in the hope of setting a tone for a more constructive relationship with a future president and their administration. We hope the Board of Governors will listen to the whole Rutgers community in filling this position. And we look forward to working with a future president in achieving our strongly held vision of a public university dedicated above all to its main missions: teaching, research, and service.

Todd Wolfson is President of Rutgers AAUP-AFT. Bryan Sacks is President of the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union. Also contributing were Rebecca Givan, General Vice President, Rutgers AAUP-AFT; Amy Higer, Vice President, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union; Miguel Rodriguez, Secretary-Treasurer of Rutgers AAUP-AFT; and Howie Swerdloff, Secretary of the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union.

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Its time to start reading up on Germany in the 1930s.

Donald Trump has captured the heart of America, somehow, winning decisively, and even converting millions of voters to his side in blue bastions like New York and New Jersey. He won the Senate, too, which means he can install a fleet of like-minded federal judges who will be with us long after hes gone.

And because the Supreme Court in July granted presidents immunity from criminal prosecution over most official acts, Trump will be unleashed. He knows he has that get-out-of-jail free card. And this time, hes made it clear that hell appoint a team of loyalists who wont restrain him, and that hell purge the federal bureaucracy of those who might try.

On policy, were about to lurch to the right. The people of Ukraine will be the first to feel the sting. America is going to betray them. Immigrant communities here will feel it, too, when federal agents begin their raids, and set up their concentration camps. The transition to clean energy, robust in the Biden years, is about to get kneecapped. Sorry about the storms, the droughts, the wildfires.

But what worries me most is the danger that well lose our democracy, just as Germany did. If that happens, we cant say we werent warned. We saw what Trump did on January 6, that day of love. He says he will pardon the rioters, and criminally prosecute his political enemies, twisting the Justice Department to deliver the retribution hes promised.

Look for him to stifle the press, perhaps by changing libel laws, perhaps by intimidating billionaire media owners so they cave on their own, as the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post both did during this campaign, ordering their opinion writers to cancel their half-written endorsements of Kamala Harris.

There will be time to parcel out blame for this disaster. That starts with President Bidens decision to stay in the race when he was clearly too old, robbing Democrats of the time they needed to properly consider a successor. Harris was a solid campaigner, but a centrist governor like Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan or Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania might have done better. Biden deprived Democrats of a chance to test that. He owns a share of this.

More fundamentally, Democrats need to walk the desert for 40 days and ponder how they managed to lose the support of working-class voters to a billionaire intent on giving more tax breaks to the rich.

The mess at the border is a big part of that and may be remembered as Bidens biggest mistake. So is the explosion of free trade that led to the closure of so many factories. So are the excesses of the woke movement. Trump invested heavily in ads targeting Harris support of taxpayer-paid gender surgery for prisoners and federal detainees, which she did, in writing, in 2019. (A centrist governor would not have had that problem.)

Its exhausting to imagine the craziness were about to witness. Is a certified nutjob like RFK Jr. really going to run health policy, starting with a campaign against fluoride in our water? Is Speaker Mike Johnson really going to try another repeal of Obamacare? Is Trump really going to order the military to fire on protestors? He has the power on his own to impose the ruinous tariffs he promises, but will he pull that trigger? Will they seek a national ban on abortion? Unfortunately, were about to find out all of that.

So, sure, take a few days to tend to your wounds. Have an extra drink and a decadent dessert. Mourn the moment.

But the fight is not over. At this hour, its still possible that Democrats will control the House. In two years, Democrats will have a crack at taking back the Senate. America has recovered from worse times than this. Time to rally.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

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Former President Donald Trump has clinched the White House after multiple investigations, felony charges and one felony conviction were brought against him since leaving office.

Winning the presidency again will likely give Trump a golden ticket to getting out of his legal woes. Asha Rangappa, a former FBI agent and legal contributor for ABC, said Wednesday that Trumps legal cases are done now that hes been elected to the presidency.

She explained that special counsel Jack Smith, who brought the charges against Trump in the federal election interference case and the classified documents case, will be fired after Trump appoints a new attorney general.

Theyre done. Jack Smith will be fired and Jan. 6 case and classified docs case will be closed as soon as Trump appoints a new AG. GA case is pretty much dead and wont be revived. At this point, the NY convictions obviously dont matter, Rangappa wrote on social media platform X.

Theyre done. Jack Smith will be fired and Jan. 6 case and classified docs case will be closed as soon as Trump appoints a new AG. GA case is pretty much dead and wont be revived. At this point, the NY convictions obviously dont matter https://t.co/cTB4gZsK1l  Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) November 6, 2024

Trump was indicted in four separate criminal cases since leaving the White House: the New York hush money case, the Georgia 2020 election interference case, the federal Jan. 6 case and the federal classified documents case. He was convicted by a Manhattan jury earlier this year on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the hush money case.

However, voters were not turned away from Trumps influx of legal troubles in this weeks election. Its possible that his legal battles may have actually helped him, with the campaign touting high fundraising numbers after each impeachment.

As it stands, Trump may never actually face sentencing in a New York business fraud case in which he was convicted of 34 felonies. For now, his sentencing is scheduled for later this month.

Hes already had one federal indictment in Florida dismissed, sparing him from a trial on whether he flouted U.S. law on protecting national security secrets. And hes made clear he would use his power as president to spike the federal case against him for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. That would leave a Georgia racketeering case pending against Trump and others accused of trying to subvert the 2020 election result.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Harris campaign is urging its staffers to not panic as Democrats grow anxious on election night.

In a memo sent to campaign staff, Harris campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon reiterated that the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is as razor thin as they expected. A copy of the memo was obtained by The Associated Press and other outlets on Tuesday night.

In the memo, OMalley Dillon emphasized that there was a high turnout in Philadelphia, outstanding votes in Detroit and uncounted votes in Dane and Milwaukee counties in Wisconsin. She noted that Harriss clearest path to the White House is the blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

We have known all along that our clearest path to 270 electoral votes lies through the Blue Wall states. And we feel good about what were seeing, she wrote in the memo.

NEW: Jen O'Malley Dillon sent out an email to Harris campaign staff, outlining what they're seeing in remaining states: "We have known all along that our clearest path to 270 electoral votes lies through the Blue Wall states. And we feel good about what were seeing." pic.twitter.com/5Yi3VidTNF  Matt Viser (@mviser) November 6, 2024

Weve been saying for weeks that this race might not be called tonight. Those of you who were around in 2020 know this well: It takes time for all the votes to be counted - and all the votes will be counted. Thats how our system works. What we do know is this race is not going to come into focus until the early morning hours, she wrote, according to the copy of the memo posted by The Washington Posts Matt Viser.

Well continue to keep you all updated as we get more information. This is what weve been built for, so lets finish up what we have in front of us tonight, get some sleep, and get ready to close out strong tomorrow, she added.

The memo came as The Associated Press called the battleground state of North Carolina for Trump late Tuesday night. Harris was looking to flip the statewhich President Biden narrowly lost in 2020through her multiple trips to the battleground in recent weeks.

Polls were closed in the other battlegrounds, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Nevada, but the results there were too early to call. Voting continued in the West on Election Day, as tens of millions of Americans added their ballots to the 84 million cast early as they chose between two candidates with drastically different temperaments and visions for the country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
With Election Day finally here, social media is swirling with anticipation over who will clinch the White House in the final hours of voting.

While polls do not begin to close for another couple of hours, ex-GOP Congressman Joe Walsh is optimistic that Vice President Kamala Harris will be declared the winner in the historic race. Not only does he think shell be victorious, he also suggests that the race may not even be close.

I think shes gonna win by more than people think, he wrote on social media platform X.

I think shes gonna win by more than people think.  Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) November 5, 2024

Walsh has been a strong supporter of Harris, especially in the closing weeks of her campaign, and has campaigned across several swing states. Earlier on Tuesday, he urged his followers to vote for Harris over former President Donald Trump in a post on X.

Ive never, ever worked so hard to help get Democrats elected. Im exhausted. But its a good exhaustion. Bcuz Im fighting for democracy & the rule of law. Its been an honor to have been in this fight with all of you. Thank you. Now lets finish the job. Vote for @KamalaHarris, he said.

Hes not the only person to say the election may not be close. CNN analyst Harry Enten has emphasized in recent days that there is a 60 percent chance that there will be a blowout in Tuesdays election, which means that one of the candidates is likely to garner more than 300 electoral votes.

According to national and swing state polling averages, Harris and Trump were deadlocked in the presidential race as Election Day kicked off on Tuesday. In recent days, the two candidates have made several trips to the seven battleground states that will likely determine the outcome of the election.

The Harris campaign also closed with an optimistic message on Tuesday. Harris campaign chair Jen OMalley-Dillon said Tuesday on MSNBCs Morning Joe that the campaign is feeling really good about where it stands as voting booths opened for millions of Americans on Election Day.

Trump, who has continued to push false claims about potential voter fraud in recent days, said Tuesday after casting his ballot in Florida that this campaign was the best he ever ran.

While Walsh and several pundits have made predictions on Election Day, the race could take days to call. Each state has different systems for counting ballots, which could delay the process along with potential legal challenges brought by campaigns.

In 2020, The Associated Press declared President Joe Biden the winner on Saturday afternoon  four days after polls closed. But even then, The AP called North Carolina for Trump 10 days after Election Day and Georgia for Biden 16 days later after hand recounts.

Four years earlier, the 2016 election was decided just hours after most polls closed. The AP declared Trump the winner on election night at 2:29 a.m. (it was technically Wednesday morning on the East Coast).

This time, both campaigns believe the race is extremely close across the seven swing states that are expected to decide the election, barring a major surprise: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
New York Times reporter Peter Baker had some words of caution as former President Donald Trump is projected to serve a second term in the White House.

The Associated Press called the race for Trump early on Wednesday after he swept the swing states of Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Baker said Wednesday on MSNBCs Morning Joe" that Americans are now in for a long era of the former president.

I think what weve learned is that Trump is not the aberration anymore. In fact, this is Trumps America, right? I think for a long time, a lot of Americans  a lot of liberals and Republicans who didnt like Trump  told themselves he was a historical anomaly, he said.

He didnt really win in 2016, people werent with him. He didnt win 2020, no matter what he says and that he will eventually be purged. Well, thats not the case. Were going to have a 12-year era at least of Trump, and thats a pretty significant era, he added.

Trumps win marked a historical moment for him and his campaign as he clinched the necessary votes to win the Electoral College. Voters were not turned off from his four impeachments, his conviction on felony charges or the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection on the Capitol.

The victory validates his bare-knuckle approach to politics. He attacked his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, in deeply personal  often misogynistic and racist  terms as he pushed an apocalyptic picture of a country overrun by violent migrants.

The coarse rhetoric, paired with an image of hypermasculinity, resonated with angry voters  particularly men  in a deeply polarized nation. As president, hes vowed to pursue an agenda centered on dramatically reshaping the federal government and retribution against his perceived enemies.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner called out former President Donald Trump for lying about massive voter fraud in the city on Tuesday.

Trump has amped up his false claims of voter fraud and cheating in recent weeks leading up to Election Day to lay the groundwork for calling foul if he loses the election to Vice President Kamala Harris. On Tuesday evening, Trump echoed this rhetoric again as he baselessly claimed there was massive cheating happening in Philadelphiaa city whose voters could be crucial in deciding the winner of the swing state.

A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law Enforcement coming!!! Trump wrote on Truth Social.

However, officials quickly debunked Trumps false claims, including Krasner. In a statement sent in response to Trumps post, Krasner pushed back on the former president and called on him to provide evidence of the so-called cheating.

The only talk about massive cheating has come from one of the candidates, Donald J. Trump. There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation, Krasner said in a statement.

We have invited complaints and allegations of improprieties all day. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath, he added.

My response to Trump's unfounded allegation of cheating in Philly's general election:



The only talk about massive cheating has come from one of the candidates, Donald J. Trump. There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation. 1/2  DA Larry Krasner (@DA_LarryKrasner) November 5, 2024

Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein, a Republican, also shot back at Trumps false claims.

There is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure, Bluestein wrote on X. We have been in regular contact with the RNC. We have been responsive to every report of irregularities at the polls to ensure Philadelphians can vote safely and securely.

Trump critic Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of MeidasTouch, asked for the country to put an end to this insanity tonight in response to Trumps claims of cheating in Philadelphia. He also noted that law enforcement in the city is unaware of these threats.

So Trump says law enforcement is investigating massive cheating in PA and no law enforcement agency in PA has any idea what the hell he is talking about, he wrote on X.

Shortly after his initial post, Trump said on Truth Social that there is Heavy Law Enforcement in Philadelphia and Detroit.

This comes as multiple outlets are reporting high voter turnout in the Democratic led city. Jarrett Renshaw, a White House reporter for Reuters, said his sources told him that Philadelphia vote total will surpass 2020 totals with some precincts reporting up to 150% percent of the 2020 vote total.

Jonathan Martin, a senior political columnist at Politico, wrote on X that Democrats have some optimism in Philadelphia, citing long voter lines at universities and higher voter turnout than 2020.

Philly Dems projecting optimism, both on turnout and possibility that Harris can come out of the city with a 475K or higher margin  Jonathan Martin (@jmart) November 5, 2024

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Voting was briefly interrupted in Georgia and several other states Tuesday after law enforcement say bomb threats that appeared to originate from Russia were sent to polling stations.

The threats were also sent to polling places in Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin, officials said.

The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains. None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far, the FBI said in a statement. Election integrity is among the FBIs highest priorities. We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to our elections and to protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was among the state officials to confirm the threats.

Theyre up to mischief, it seems, Raffensperger said. They dont want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election.

He added: I just want to make sure everyone understands this, that Georgias not going to be intimidated. Russia has decided they picked on the wrong Georgia. They need to pick on the other one in the Black Sea, because were not going to be intimidated.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Russian hoax and bomb scare: "Georgia's not going to be intimidated." pic.twitter.com/GWD8CZPCry  CSPAN (@cspan) November 5, 2024

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What does Robert F. Kennedy Jr. want to target in his likely health advisor role in a second Trump administration? He suggested that food products like Froot Loops could be at the top of the list.

Now that former President Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the race for the White House, questions are swirling over how Kennedy will influence the nations public health. In an interview with MSNBCs Vaughn Hillyard on Wednesday, Kennedy suggested that one of his top priorities could be targeting products, like Froot Loops, that have long lists of ingredients.

When asked if he wants to clear out the top levels of federal health agencies, Kennedy said that in some categories, he would.

Some categories of work, their entire departments, like the nutrition departments at FDA, are not doing their job. Theyre not protecting our kids. Why do we have Froot Loops this country that have 18 or 19 ingredients, and you go to Canada and its got two or three? Kennedy said on MSNBC.

To eliminate the agencies, as long as it requires congressional approval, I wouldnt be doing that. I can get the corruption out of the agencies. Thats what Ive been doing for 40 years. Ive sued all those agencies. I have a Ph.D in corporate corruption, and thats what I do, and once theyre not corrupt, once Americans are getting good science and are allowed to make their own choices, theyre going to get a lot healthier, he added when asked if he wanted to eliminate any of the agencies.

"I'm not going to take away anybody's vaccines."



RFK, Jr. speaks exclusively to NBC News' @VaughnHillyard about vaccines and shares his thoughts about federal health agencies. pic.twitter.com/XSbGCcjvS5  MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 6, 2024

Some breakfast cereals and other processed foods have faced backlash in the United States over having artificial colorings and foods in its ingredients. Last month, dozens of activists protested outside the Michigan headquarters of WK Kellogg Co. to demand that the company remove the artificial dyes from its breakfast cereals in the U.S.

Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine stances, has vowed to reshape health policy in the U.S. In recent days, Trump has said that he will task Kennedy with making America healthy again.

This apparently includes removing fluoride from the U.S. water supply, according to Kennedy. Trump said its possible that banning fluoride in the U.S. could happen under Kennedy.

I would advise the water districts that are currently using it that theres a lot of new science out there. And in fact, theres a federal judge decision by an Obama-appointed judge on Oct. 4 of this year, in which hes sent the EPA back at the drawing board, and said, youve never done the safety studies on it, by the way, he told MSNBC on Wednesday.

I think fluoride is on the way out because of that court decision, he added. I think the faster that it goes out, the better. Im not going to compel anybody to take it out, but Im going to advise the water district about their legal liability, their legal obligation to their constituents. And Im going to give them good information about the science and I think, or I will disappear.

Kennedy was referring to a recent court decision that ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water. The decision followed a recent study that found a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids.

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Yellowstone returns tonight after 21 months off the air! Heres how to watch the Yellowstone Season 5 - Part 2 premiere live (for free) on Sunday, Nov. 10.

After two excruciating years, Yellowstone is returning in all its glory.

The juggernaut TV series is expected to outpace its season 5 ratings performance, when it was the top-performing series of the year. Now that its ending, there is sure to be an even larger audience drawn to season 5 part 2, as well.

Because of this, many who are looking to get into Yellowstone might find themselves in a tough spot. Can they start watching season 5 part 2 without having watched the rest of the series? What about all those spinoffs?

While it is recommended to watch the show as intended, heres a quick recap of some of the major highlights of the series, along with a look at where and how you can watch.

What is Yellowstone about?

Yellowstone started airing on Paramount Network in 2018 as a modern take on the traditional Western/cowboy narrative.

The series follows an intense  and often violent  border dispute in Montana between the Dutton family cattle ranch, a group of encroaching land developers, and a Native American reservation. As the series progresses, its scope expands with the Dutton family trying to assert their dominance in the arena of state politics.

The series is created by Taylor Sheridan. Sheridan himself has acting credits including Sons of Anarchy and Veronica Mars and hes written the screenplays for several films, including Sicario and Hell or High Water.

Who is in Yellowstone?

Kevin Costner plays John Dutton III, the widowed patriarch of the Dutton family and the series central character. He also happens to be the Montana Livestock Commissioner. As the series continues, the conflicts regarding the Dutton family ranch become more complex, drawing John further into the politics of Montana.

Wes Bentley plays Jamie Dutton, Johns adopted son and a driven, focused social climber intent on rising through the ranks of the Montana political scene. His relationship with his sister, Beth, is particularly venomous and only becomes worse over time.

Kelly Reilly plays Beth Dutton, the only daughter of the Dutton family. She is a financier and is intensely loyal to the family, particularly her father. While she is extremely intelligent and crafty, her own abrasive personality is one of the largest hurdles she struggles to overcome. She has a complicated relationship with Rip Wheeler and constantly clashes with Jamie.

Luke Grimes plays Kayce Dutton, a former Navy SEAL and the youngest of the Dutton siblings. He begins the series living on the Broken Rock Indian Reservation with his wife, Monica, and their son. His relationship with his father is strained by tensions between the Dutton family and the Native American Reservation.

Cole Hauser plays Rip Wheeler, the enforcer and fixer for the Dutton family. He is the right hand man of John, to whom he is fiercely loyal. His romantic relationship with Beth has been complicated since they were teenagers. Rip comes from an extremely troubled background and the Dutton family provides him with a source of stability.

Kelsey Asbille plays Monica Long Dutton, Kayces wife. She begins the series as a local schoolteacher on the reservation.

Gil Birmingham plays Chief Thomas Rainwater, the leader of Broken Rock Indian Reservation. As chief, he is in frequent conflict with the Dutton family, whose ranch he believes was wrongfully taken from the Native Americans.

When does Yellowstone return?

Yellowstone will return to complete its 5th and final season on Sunday, November 10, 2024. These will be the final 6 episodes of the series, which means there will be no Yellowstone season 6.

What channel is Yellowstone on? What time does Yellowstone air?

Yellowstone airs on the Paramount Network.

It will air at 8 p.m., which has been its airtime since the beginning of its run.

How to watch Yellowstone, including the old seasons

Because Yellowstone is a Paramount Network exclusive, this might lead you to believe that it is available to stream on Paramount Plus, but that is not the case.

The series has a complicated streaming arrangement (which precedes its explosive popularity), which means it will not be available on Paramount Plus for the foreseeable future. Instead, exclusive streaming rights to Yellowstone belong to Peacock.

The streaming service offers the first five seasons of the show on-demand, with the second half of season 5 to release some time after it begins airing.

What happened in the first part of Yellowstone season 5?

In Season 5 of Yellowstone, the growing conflict between Jamie and the rest of the Dutton family came to a head. John, the governor of Montana, and Jamie, Montanas attorney general, have each called for investigations into each other.

When Beth threatens to reveal Jamies involvement in the death of Randall, his biological father, by exposing where he dumped the body, she learns a terrible truth. The family has been using the same location, the Train Station, to dispose of their murdered enemies for a long time. Any action she brings against Jamie will damage John, too.

Beth attempts to convince John that maybe Jamie should be disposed of in the same place. But while she is pleading her case, Jamie has anticipated her murderous intent and is moving to thwart her.

Heres a look at a comprehensive recap of Seasons 1-4 of Yellowstone, courtesy of the shows official YouTube channel:

Where can I watch the Yellowstone spinoffs? Where can I watch 1923 and 1883?

The sole season of 1883 is only available on Paramount Plus. There is nowhere else to watch the series. The same is true of 1923.

You can sign up for Paramount Plus on the streaming services website. Currently, Paramount Plus features two subscription plans: a limited commercials option for $6 per month ($60 annually), and a premium no commercials option for $12 per month ($120 annually). You can try out either tier with a full 7-day free trial.

Paramount Plus will also be the home of upcoming Yellowstone spinoffs such as 1944, the sequel to 1923, and present-day spinoff 6666.

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Joseph Rejent covers TV, writing about live television, streaming services and cord-cutting. He can be reached at jrejent@njadvancemedia.com.
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The New Orleans Democrat defeated a Democratic challenger  Devin Davis, who worked for Voters Organized to Educate, a progressive New Orleans group that seeks to mobilize support to change the criminal justice system. Carter also beat three Republicans: Christy Lynch, Shondrell Perrilloux and Devin Lance Graham. Lynch was endorsed by the Louisiana Republican Party.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise wins reelection to ninth term in U.S. House of Representatives Republican U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, as expected, romped to an easy reelection for a ninth term representing the suburbs of Ne

Carter raised 10 times as much as his little-known opponents combined.

A former state senator and New Orleans city council member, Carter, 61, was first elected in 2021 to fill out the term of Cedric Richmond, who resigned the House to join the Biden administration. Carter was reelected in 2022.

Carter represents Louisianas first Black majority district, which stretches up the Mississippi River from New Orleans East through Iberville Parish, and includes parts of Ascension Parish. The 2nd District had included north Baton Rouge before the maps were redrawn in January.
Columnist Will Sutton has something to say about Gov. Jeff Landry's decision to direct a Taylor Swift-related sweep of New Orleans' unhoused on Oct. 23, 2024. So does former Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder:

""I'm very sympathetic to the problem," Schroder told me after serving meals. "I'm not saying that anybody's done anything wrong. I just think if we're going to come in and move them, then we ought to take enough time to figure out where we're moving them to."
Tuesday completed a dramatic and contentious election season on a state and national level that's also included a variety of local races of import to residents of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. The Times is following news as it happens through Tuesday and into Wednesday.

Check unofficial vote totals, in competitive races, here.

Trumps rebound from 2020 reflected in Lake, LaPorte

6:30 a.m.: One of the themes in national reporting on the presidential election is that Donald Trump tended to win more votes in 2024 in most places, and among most groups, than he did in 2020. In Northwest Indiana, that theme appears to apply.

Unofficial results (and not quite final  some votes are still to be announced) in Lake County show Trump won 91,758 in 2020 and 96,307 in 2024, while Joe Biden won 124,870 in 2020 and Kamala Harris 107,109 in 2024.

In Porter County, the Republican ticket won 46,037 this year, up from 45,008 in 2020, and the Democratic ticket won 37,126 this year, down from 39,746 in 2020.

In LaPorte County, Trump earned 25,997 in 2020 and 26,546 in 2024; Biden won 22,427 in 2020 and Harris 19,781 in 2024.

Porter's 'high speed' counting machine slower than expected

6:00 a.m., Wednesday: Voting totals reported by Porter County Tuesday night, unlike in many other counties, were from balloting at polling places Tuesday, with its early vote uncounted. Porter County Elections & Registration posted this on its Facebook account Tuesday night: "The results posted on the Porter County website are the Election Day results, the final and complete results including Early Vote and Absentee will be posted as soon as possible. Our high speed count machine, purchased and designed to count an influx of ballots at a fast pace is not moving as quickly as designed." UPDATE: Porter County Elections & Registration posted the county's results early Wednesday on the office's Facebook page.

Vote county continues into late night

As vote-counting continued late into Tuesday night, leaders appeared to be taking hold across the Region  many of them incumbents. Check unofficial vote totals, in competitive races, here.

Substantial early vote recorded in Lake County

7:45 p.m.: More than 100,000 Lake County residents voted early this election, according early results announced by the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration. That's 27% of the total number of registered voters in the county. Democrats were polling well ahead of Republicans in most races, as is commonly the case. One very tight race among early voters might have Lake Station school officials, and their supporters, nervous: The funding referendum was nearly tied, with 377 votes against renewing it, and 375 in favor. UPDATE: Lake Station has passed the referendum, according to unofficial results collected from the precincts and reviewed at a gathering referendum supporters.

Trump, as expected, wins Indiana

6:50 p.m.: The Associated Press called the presidential contest in Indiana for Republican Donald Trump as soon as the polls officially closed: "The reliably conservative state, where Republicans have held the governor's office for 20 years, gave Trump its 11 electoral votes over Democrat Kamala Harris. Indiana has been favorable toward Trump in his three races for the White House. In 2016, the year he won the presidency, and again in 2020, Trump took 57% of the Hoosier state vote."

Several state representatives coasted without challengers to new terms

6:45 p.m.: Indiana House District 1: State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, was unopposed for a fourth, two-year term in the Indiana House.

Indiana House District 19: State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point, was unopposed in her bid for a fifth nonconsecutive term.

Indiana House District 20: State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, won a fifth term without opposition.

LaPorte voting continues beyond 6 p.m.

6:20 p.m.: The LaPorte County Election Board issued the following statement shortly after the official end of voting: "There are many voters still in line and votes will not be released until all votes have been received. The turnout today has been nothing short of impressive and we thank you for your patience."

Election officials said no vote totals would be revealed until all voters had voted.

Mike Braun will be next Indiana governor: AP

6:15 p.m.: The Associated Press has called the Indiana governor's race for Mike Braun. It also called the U.S. Senate race for Jim Banks.

Making their voices heard: Voters flock to polls on rainy but warm election day

4:30 p.m.: Lines were out the door around 6 a.m. at Frank O'Bannon Elementary School in Hammond and shortened as the day progressed. Precinct Committeeman Pete Thorngren said the voter turnout seemed high, more so than what he has seen in a "long time" throughout his 12 years in the role.

Edwardo Saldana, 67, said he voted because he is concerned about morals in the United States.

"I know we're not supposed to combine religion and state," Saldana said. "But how can you not say this country wasn't founded on religious morals? We have it written on our money. It says 'In God We Trust."

Cynthia Mota, 38, brought her young son with her to vote. She said this is her second time voting in a presidential election.

"I came out for my kids' future," she said.

Melinda Maynard said she turned up to vote because she believes Hammond schools are in trouble. The size of her son's class nearly doubled after the district closed three of their elementary schools in the spring.

"How are they supposed to get the help they need?" Maynard asked.

Dawn Clopton said this election is a crucial one for her and her daughter, who is a first-time voter.

"Because I am a woman," she said. "A Black woman."

At Munster High School, Gina Christopher, 37, said it was important to her to vote because it was a "full ballot" and the results of both local and national elections have an impact.

"I always want to make sure my voice is heard," she said. "People should make sure they can weigh in on the issues they care about and will have representatives who fight for that."

 Lizzie Kaboski

Smooth election in Lake despite wet weather

2:45 p.m.: Lake County voter turnout appears poised to exceed 2020, Lake County Democratic Party Chairman Jim Wieser said.

About 216,630 of the more than 500,000 Lake County residents cast ballots in the 2020 presidential election.

"Voter participation was 61% in 2020," Wieser said. "My educated guess is that it's going to be higher this year. It's absolutely going to be higher than it was in 2012 and 2016. There's no comparison to municipal elections unless there's a referendum or something that drives more turnout."

The exact voting totals will not be known until after the polls close at 6 p.m. and all the votes are tallied, Wieser said. But turnout has been high all across Lake County Tuesday.

"The turnout has been very strong," he said. "It's been good across the entire county. We have a lot of very busy polls but people are getting through quickly. It's been going pretty smoothly."

Turnout also was high during early voting but it's not clear how that compares or what it means for general election turnout since COVID drove more people to vote early last year, Wieser said.

Very few issues were reported at the polling places Tuesday and they were all minor, Wieser said.

"We haven't had any major issues," he said. "We'll get a couple of calls about political paraphernalia. It's all minor."

A few voting machines were down at the more than 300 polling places in Lake County but were back up and running quickly, Wieser said. One poll worker didn't know how to use their iPad but was soon brought up to speed.

One polling place was closed at 6 a.m. when it was supposed to be open when the property owner didn't show up to unlock it on time but they were called and came over to open it up. A few voters waiting in line left their numbers with poll workers and asked to be called when it was open.

"It's just stuff like that. It's all minor so far," he said. "Surprisingly, so far, it's been pleasant."

 Joseph S. Pete

Voters 'more motivated' this year

11:00 a.m.: LaPorte County was at 33% turnout during the early voting period with 26,054 ballots cast, according to Angie Henzman, co-director of the county's Voter Registration office.

The figure is about on par with 2020, though absentee ballots were three times the number at that time due to COVID, she said.

The strong momentum continued Tuesday morning with many people reaching out for guidance after never having voted or not voting in years, Henzman said.

"It seems to me the voters are more motivated this year," she said.

 Bob Kasarda

Lake County saw 100k early votes as voting continues

10:30 a.m.: Lake County saw 100,000 ballots cast during the early voting period, according to LeAnn Angerman, assistant director of the county's Board of Elections and Registration.

While sizeable, the figure does not top the number of ballots cast during the county's record-breaking general election in 2008 or in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic fueled absentee and early voting, she said.

Angerman estimated that turnout so far for the county was at 35%.

 Bob Kasarda

Voters turning out in Porter County

9:30 a.m.: Voter turnout is strong across Porter County Tuesday morning after a record number of ballots were cast during the early voting period, according to election and voter registration Director Sundae Schoon.

Schoon said 44,987 in-person ballots were cast during the early voting period, which is a record high for the county. The figure, which does not include mail-in ballots, tops the general election in 2020, when early voting was strong due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is Schoon's hope that voting in Porter County will continue to be strong enough to top the overall turnout record of 67% during the 2008 and 2020 general elections.

"I want to beat that," she said.

 Bob Kasarda

Election Day is here!

6:00 a.m.: Polling places in Indiana are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday for registered Hoosier voters who haven't already voted early or by mail to select the candidates they want to see elected to federal, state and local offices.

In Lake County, voters must cast their ballot at their assigned precinct polling place. Porter and LaPorte county residents can vote at any of the vote centers located throughout their home county.

Voters can find their assigned polling place, or a list of vote centers, by pulling up their registration record on the indianavoters.com website, or by contacting their county's elections office.

By law, all Indiana voters must present government-issued photo identification to receive their ballot, such as a driver's license, state ID card, military ID or a passport.

Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices are open the same hours as polling places Tuesday to assist any person needing a new, amended, renewed or replacement identification card, learner's permit or driver's license to vote.

Hoosiers with an expired driver's license or state ID still may use it for voting purposes this year so long as it expired after the last general election (Nov. 8, 2022).

Voters are not permitted to wear or carry any clothing, buttons or signs expressing support for, or opposition to, any candidate or question on the ballot in a polling place, or the 50-foot path, known as "the chute," that leads into a voting location.

Individuals also cannot verbally express support for or opposition to any candidate or ballot question either at the polls or in the chute.

Any outstanding mail-in ballots must be delivered to the voter's county elections office prior to 6 p.m. Tuesday to be counted in the results.

Completed mail-in ballots may be returned in-person by the voter, a member of the voter's household, an immediate family member, the voter's attorney, or a bonded courier by handing the sealed ballot envelope directly to an official at the elections office.

Individuals who requested and never received a mail-in ballot, or did not complete their mail-in ballot in time to send it in, can go their polling place on Election Day and vote in-person after surrendering their uncompleted mail-in ballot or filing the required affidavit.

In addition, any person who has any voting problems on Election Day that can't be resolved by poll workers should complete a provisional ballot before leaving their voting site and promptly contact their county elections office after Election Day to make sure their vote is counted.

Election-related news will be available all day at nwi.com. Results also will be posted at nwi.com as soon as possible after the polls close.

All results and called races are unofficial and may potentially change in the days ahead as vote tallies are finalized.

Indiana election results are scheduled to be made official Nov. 18, subject to any recounts or contests.

 Dan Carden
Consider the lines and angles of this painting. Where does your eye wander?

Does this painting feel like a real place? Why or why not?

Where are we? When is this?

A few things to consider during your time:

Take a deep breath. Then sink into this Edward Hopper painting from 1928.

Today, we are offering a special edition of our focus challenge, in which we ask you to spend uninterrupted time looking at one piece of art.

Wed like you to look at one piece of art for 10 minutes, uninterrupted.

Thanks for spending time with the art! If you want to look a little longer, just scroll back up and press Continue. Now, well tell you a little bit about it.

Our guide today is Gordon Wilkins, a curator at the Addison Gallery of American Art at the Phillips Academy, in Andover, Mass., where this painting, Manhattan Bridge Loop, spends most of its time.

Edward Hopper completed it in 1928; it has been studied carefully ever since. In 1940, the Addison featured it as a centerpiece in a show called The Architecture of a Painting:

When the museum was first planning the show, curators asked Mr. Hopper why he painted this picture the way he did. His reply began: You are asking me to do something which is perhaps as difficult to do as painting is; that is to explain painting with words.

But he obliged anyway. Mr. Hopper wrote that he was primarily interested in the vast field of experience and sensation. Form and color and structure were the tools he used to express those ideas.

He said the work had been planned very carefully in my mind; he made just a few small sketches like these below, also in the museums collection:

The scene shows the approach to the Manhattan Bridge in 1920s New York. A trolley ran along the bridge  through the gates shown in the painting  on a loop connecting our scene in Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn. This 1919 photograph, slightly zoomed out, shows the location:

Mr. Hopper returned to the spot often, about a half-hour walk from his studio, to refresh his memory of the full scene.

Consider the orientation: Our painting is horizontal in an increasingly vertical New York. Skyscrapers were rising. Construction started on the Chrysler Building the same year this was painted, and the Empire State Building broke ground two years later.

The horizontal nature of the picture is an effort to give a sensation of great lateral extent, Mr. Hopper wrote. Carrying the main horizontal lines of the design with little interruption to the edges of the picture, he said, helped make the viewer conscious of the spaces and elements beyond the limits of the scene itself.

Those horizontal lines pull your eye to the left, while a series of repeated triangles push your eyes back to the right:

Short vertical lines contrast with those long horizontal ones. You may have noticed that nothing is quite straight.

Even the lamp post, which is pretty vertical, is a little off, Mr. Wilkins said. Everythings a little off.

Mr. Hopper simplified the scene down to basic forms and stripped away most signs of life. There is no trash, no trolley, no traffic, no life in the windows.

It looks like the rest of the world has been raptured, Mr. Wilkins said.

There are no people, either  except the lone figure walking away from us:

This man is half in shadow, with his head down. In a few more steps, hell be out of our frame.

Mr. Hopper is famous for his loners who feel caught in deep thought  in offices, in theaters and, most famously, in restaurants:

When these figures are placed alone  often amid large blocks of color and shadow, with few other details in the scene  the contrast between them and the worlds they inhabit heightens.

In those scenes, and in the one were exploring today, the painting would feel dramatically different without these characters. (Go back and cover this figure with your thumb. The painting feels different, doesnt it?) Mr. Hopper brings this contrast to the forefront. The result is almost unsettling, even if we cant say why.

You see this solitary figure who is subsumed by this massive built environment, Mr. Wilkins said. And hes being compressed, almost squashed, to the bottom. This man is not at home in this world.

Where is he going? What is he thinking?

Its this great image of a city and a person in transition, Mr. Wilkins said.

Mr. Hopper conceded that the process of making a painting was at times mysterious  even to him. The man he painted is in darkness, but its easy to miss that half the painting is of a perfect blue sky.

Why I select certain subjects rather than others, I do not exactly know, unless it is that I believe them to be the best mediums for a synthesis of my inner experience, Mr. Hopper wrote in the letter about this painting. So much of every art is an expression of the subconscious, that it seems to me most all of the important qualities are put there unconsciously, and little of importance by the conscious intellect.

The contrasts  between the bright sky and the dark skyline, between the lone man and the surrounding city, between the horizontal canvas and the rising buildings  leave the painting open to many interpretations.

In his letter, Mr. Hopper concluded: But these are things for the psychologist to untangle.
Representative Ruben Gallego, a liberal Phoenix Democrat, has a Harvard pedigree and combat experience in Iraq as a Marine. Kari Lake, a former TV anchor, lost the governors race in 2022 and falsely claimed that her Democratic opponent stole the election.
Senator Jon Tester has defied the odds before, but his fight for a fourth term will be considerably tougher and he will need many ticket-splitters. The Republican candidate, Tim Sheehy, is a decorated former Navy SEAL with Mr. Trumps backing.
Sam Brown, a Republican newcomer, is a West Point graduate who was nearly killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. His thin political resume could help him. Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat, isnt flashy, but the power of incumbency matters.
How abortion rights measures fared Passed Failed

How Ballot Measures Will Change Abortion Access

Abortion rights found support at the ballot box in seven states on Tuesday, expanding access in already legal states and lifting bans in two others.

But support for abortion rights fell short in three contests. Proposed rights measures failed in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota  and in Nebraska, an opposing measure to restrict abortion won  meaning bans and restrictions will remain in place.

Abortion will become broadly legal again in Arizona and Missouri, and existing protections will be strengthened in at least four other states.

How abortion laws will change Full ban 6-week ban Other limit Legal Missouri Current: Full ban Arizona 15-week ban Colorado No limit New protections New protections New protections New protections Maryland No limit New protections New protections New protections New protections Montana Viability New protections New protections New protections New protections New York Viability New protections New protections New protections New protections South Dakota Full ban No change No change No change No change Florida 6-week ban No change No change No change No change Nebraska 12-week ban No change No change No change No change Nevada Viability No change* No change* No change* No change* *Note: In Nevada, a winning measure to protect abortion until viability must pass again in the next general election before it can be added to the states Constitution.

In Florida, more than 57 percent of voters supported a measure to enshrine abortion rights in the states Constitution, but it failed because the state requires a supermajority of 60 percent for ballot measures to pass. Florida had been a critical access point for abortion patients across the South before a six-week ban took effect in May.

Nebraska voters faced dueling abortion ballot measures, and misleading ad campaigns may have caused confusion. A measure that will amend the states Constitution to restrict abortions after the first trimester, enshrining current law, won a majority of votes, while a measure to protect abortion rights fell just short at 49 percent.

South Dakota will continue to have one of the strictest bans in the country.

Before the election, 21 states banned abortion or placed gestational limits on the procedure. The winning rights measure in Missouri is the first to undo a full ban  one of the strictest in the nation and one of the first enacted after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Arizonas 15-week ban will also become void in the coming weeks.

Where ballot measures will lift abortion bans Five states with bans had abortion on the ballot. Two flipped to legalize the procedure. Newly legal Full ban 6-week ban Other limit

In Arizona, Missouri and Montana, the winning measures will recreate the standard set by Roe v. Wade, which protected abortion until viability  the point at which a fetus could survive outside the uterus, or around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

New constitutional amendments will expand protections for abortion in Colorado, Maryland and New York, where the procedure was already broadly legal. Colorado's measure also repealed an earlier law prohibiting the use of public funds to pay for abortions.

In Nevada, a winning measure to protect abortion until viability must pass again in the next general election before it can be added to the states Constitution.

Abortion ballot measures since Roe v. Wade was overturned Results as of 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Nov. 6. Passed Failed State Ballot question Support Arizona Nov. 5, 2024 Right to abortion until fetal viability 62% 50% to pass Colorado Nov. 5, 2024 Right to abortion and public funding 62% 55% Maryland Nov. 5, 2024 Right to reproductive freedom 74% 50% Missouri Nov. 5, 2024 Right to abortion until fetal viability 52% 50% Montana Nov. 5, 2024 Right to abortion until fetal viability 57% 50% Nebraska Nov. 5, 2024 Ban on abortion after the first trimester 55% 50% Nevada Nov. 5, 2024 Right to abortion until fetal viability 63% 50% New York Nov. 5, 2024 Equal rights including protection from pregnancy discrimination 62% 50% Florida Nov. 5, 2024 Right to abortion until fetal viability 57% 60% Nebraska Nov. 5, 2024 Right to abortion until fetal viability 49% 50% South Dakota Nov. 5, 2024 Right to abortion in the first trimester 41% 50% Ohio Nov. 7, 2023 Right to reproductive freedom 57% 50% Vermont Nov. 8, 2022 Right to reproductive freedom 77% 50% California Nov. 8, 2022 Right to reproductive freedom 67% 50% Michigan Nov. 8, 2022 Right to reproductive freedom 57% 50% Montana Nov. 8, 2022 Medical care requirements for infants born alive 47% 50% Kentucky Nov. 8, 2022 Remove abortion rights protections 48% 50% Kansas Aug. 2, 2022 Remove abortion rights protections 41% 50% + Show earlier measures

The 2024 election broke a ballot measure winning streak for abortion rights advocates. Voters in seven states, including Republican-led ones, had previously sided with abortion rights in every contest since the Supreme Court overturned Roe in 2022.

Advocates for abortion rights caution that opportunities to protect those rights through ballot measures may be dwindling. Most remaining states with abortion bans do not allow citizen-initiated measures to be placed on the ballot, and their Republican leaders are unlikely to put the issue to voters.

And while former President Donald J. Trump has most recently said he would leave abortion laws to the states if re-elected, abortion rights organizations are bracing for federal action on abortion under his presidency.

Donald Trumps election as president of the United States is a deadly threat to reproductive rights, said Nancy Northup, the president of the Center for Reproductive Rights. We have many states that protect abortion rights, and if a federal ban passes they will lose that ability to protect their residents access.
Not a Subscriber? Join O'Dwyer's & Get RFP Access Stop wasting time tracking down RFPs. O'Dwyer's connects you with organizations looking for PR firms & services. Get new business with O'Dwyer's! Join O'Dwyer's
Dimitri Houtart

Syngenta Group, an agricultural technology company that operates in over 100 countries, appoints Dimitri Houtart as head of external communications. Houtart joins Syngenta after more than two decades at the BBC, where he most recently served as rural affairs champion and executive editor for rural affairs, environment, food and natural history. He has also sat on the board of King Charles responsible business network. Houtart will oversee all aspects of external communications for the Group, including media relations, social media and digital media. Syngenta has also hired Alison Tudor-Ackroyd, most recently a director on the internation communications team for Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group, as head of digital and social media.

Della Sweetman

FleishmanHillard promotes chief business development officer Della Sweetman to president, Americas and chief strategy officer, effective immediately. Sweetman has been with the agency since 2003, in positions including general manager, Southern California. In her position she will be responsible for the performance of the agency's largest region and for driving enterprise-wide business transformation. She will report to J.J. Carter, who was promoted to FleishmanHillard president and chief executive officer on October 1. "She understands our agency's unique strengths and brings operational rigor and growth experience. Della has proven effective in executing change within our organization, which has elevated our work and improved our competitiveness," said Carter.

Tina Vaz

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation brings on Tina Vaz as deputy director, chief brand and communications officer, a newly created position. Vaz previously served as the Guggenheims deputy director, global communications from 2015 to 2019. She has also been head of Open Arts, Metas in-house art team. Vazs responsibilities in her post will include communications, marketing, design, digital, brand coordination external affairs, and cross-functional collaboration on audience experience at Guggenheim New York. She will also oversee institutional messaging and brand strategy for the Guggenheim international constellation of museums. Tinas proven track record of well-considered risk-taking, skill as a cultural connector, and deep respect for the Guggenheims mission will strengthen our resonance in New York and help make the most of our constellation as a uniquely international platform, said Guggenheim Museum and Foundation director and CEO Mariet Westermann.
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry picks up US PR duties for agriculture technology company Ascribe Bioscience. Led from its Boston office, the agencys efforts will initially focus on helping Ascribe refine its messaging. The new messaging will then serve as the starting point for a strategic digital marketing and PR program across media and social platforms. Based in Ithaca, NY, Ascribe Bioscience develops natural crop protection and fertilizer products that let farmers reduce disease and increase yield without harming the environment or human health. We recognized the need to communicate the value that our innovations bring in a clear, compelling way," said Ascribe Bioscience COO Gabriel Wilmoth. The lorries strategic approach and data-driven processes stood out to us.

Redpoint adds The Sagaponack, a newly rebranded and reimagined hotel set on Montauk Highway in the Wainscott area of The Hamptons, to its PR division. The agency will execute a media relations program to launch the propertys new brand in North America and establish its position as a year-round East End destination hotel. Redpoint will also be handling North American media relations for a pair of Boston hotels. The Revolution Hotel, located in the citys South End, is an art-filled hotel that features a variety of lofts and suites, complimentary bikes, two restaurants, and Spy Bar, a hi-fi listening lounge. The Beacon Hill Hotel, next to Boston Common, is set within a pair of refurbished 19th century townhouses

Shade Group PR is selected as agency of record for Blue Suede Hospitality Group, a boutique hotel company with properties either operating or in development in cities including Ann Arbor, MI; Cincinnati, OH; Charlottesville, VA; Hamptons, NY; Memphis, TN; and Miami, FL. Shade Group will lead all communication efforts for the clients, with a focus on elevating awareness of BSHG's upcoming hotel openings and driving attention to key partnerships with renowned food and beverage brands. We're excited to start our partnership with the Shade Group team, and are confident their efforts will help drive momentum for our upcoming hotel openings and culinary partnerships," said Blue Suede Hospitality CEO Kenny Lipschutz.
The 2 Johnnies have hit back at critics of their interview with Taoiseach Simon Harris on their hit podcast this week.

Described in a post online as "the interview the nation didnt know it needed," The 2 Johnnies shared the news of the Taoiseach's guest appearance on Monday, adding "love him or loathe him, you wont want to miss it."

Speaking on the podcast, Harris discussed a range of topics, from his personal life, asylum seekers, rising emigration levels among young Irish people and housing.

However, not everyone was pleased with the interview on the light-hearted podcast and blasted the timing of it, presumably a matter of days before the Taoiseach dissolves the 33rd Dail and calls a General Election.

Taking to social media, one fan said: "Jesus Christ lads. I'm a big fan of ye [sic] and listen every week but I can't believe ye [sic] are giving him a platform to spew his utter nonsense on and especially on the eve of a general election."

"So dont ask him questions?" the 2 Johnnies fired back.

READ NEXT: 'Ah lads' - RTE viewers divided as Lidl and Aldi debut Christmas adverts for 2024

Another listener wrote: "Lads - giving that man a mouth piece is the ultimate in selling your souls. Lost all respect."

The 2 Johnnies again responded: "We asked him, if you listen, youll know what he had to say for himself and you can decide what way you wanna vote. If we dont ask questions, where do we get?"

A third said: "Should of asked him why he's spent 500k of taxpayers money on private jets since he became Taoiseach,

The 2 Johnnies admitted they "didnt know that," adding, "very hard to see how thats justified, if true."

Others enjoyed the podcast with one person commenting: "Actually enjoyed the podcast but would like to know were these your questions, were they checked by his team and was there any payment involved."

"No payment," the 2 Johnnies official account replied.

Other listeners reminded people that they didn't have to listen to every podcast and praised the 2 Johnnies for the segment.

"These comments are gas. If you dont like the guest on the pod dont listen/watch it. Jesus Christ like you arent forced to listen to each pod. The lads talk about numerous different things all the time so why not this? Everyone is entitled to their opinion but my god if you are that p**sed off that you have to make a comment on this, make sure and go vote for a different party that might actually make a difference to the country."
Roscrea Fianna Fail Councillor Michael Smith secured the highest first preference percentage vote in the entire county of Tipperary in the summer local election, and he now hopes to repeat that success in the General Election this month and win the seat opened up by the unexpected retirement of Jackie Cahill.

Speaking to the Tribune about his campaign after he received the nomination from his party in Templemore on Friday night, Cllr. Smith is one of two Fianna Fail candidates competing for votes in the North Tipperary/West Kilkenny constituency.

In the local elections he won the highest percentage first preference vote in Tipperary at 29% for the third successive local election and now he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father, Michael Smith Snr., the former Minister for Defence, and represent the area in the Dail.

Currently the Cathaoirleach of the Thurles/Roscrea/Templemore Municipal Council, Cllr Smith first won a seat on North Tipperary County Council 20 years ago and has been re-elected in every local election he has contested since then, topping the poll in 2009, 2014, 2019 and again in the June 2024 local elections.

I am honoured to have been selected to contest the forthcoming General Election as a Fianna Fail candidate. The circumstances which arose were unexpected and left little time to prepare. I acknowledge the work done by Jackie Cahill T.D and wish him all the best with his health into the future, Cllr. Smith told this newspaper.

Over my career as a councillor, I have received the highest percentage vote in the last three local elections in the whole county of Tipperary. I have served on the Council for twenty years and gained considerable knowledge and understanding of the challenges ahead.

Experience matters in politics, it helps me weigh up decisions, assess consequences and implications, all through the prism of my time working with the people. I hope to have the opportunity to bring that experience to the role of TD.

If elected, I promise to do my level best to serve the needs of the people of Tipperary and North West Kilkenny to the very best of my ability, Cllr. Smith said.

Addressing the constituency boundary changes he said wishes to welcome the people of North West Kilkenny.

We all know that it is a significant wrench to be taken out of the Kilkenny County area. In Tipperary, we are used to changes, the county boundaries have changed in every election since 2007. However, if elected, you can be assured that I will do my very best to represent you.

I will work with your elected representatives and ensure you have a good service and response to your needs. We dont expect to change the rivalry between our two counties, and it is some rivalry, but we may be able to change other things by working together, he said.

Housing is a priority in his campaign and he wants to see more buulding.

We need to build homes in a much more timely manner, in both the public and private sector. While there are over 115,000 more homes since Fianna Fail came into government, we need to do more.

We have reformed the planning laws and committed to greater investment in local infrastructure and water services, which will reduce costs and speed up the delivery of homes. The party has also committed to increasing the fund available to the land development agency and extend the Help to Buy as well as the First Home Scheme.

As a councillor I worked tirelessly trying to get people into their homes and I know only too well where the fault lines in the system are. I have always advocated for greater grants to open up vacant properties and old housing stock in our towns and villages and breathe new life and vigour into our communities. Our towns and villages cannot cease to exist when shops close in the evenings, he said.

My wife Mary and I have three teenage children and we know the challenges that families face. Mary is a teacher and works in an Early Intervention Class for children with Autism in Birr.

As a result, I am keenly aware of the pressures on parents and on the education sector. I believe that we should provide multidisciplinary teams of therapists in every special school in the country. An Tanaiste, Micheal Martin has committed to the provision of physios, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists in every special school in the country and I will do all I can to push for these services, he said.

FARMING AND DEVELOPMENT

As a full-time farmer, I understand the stresses and challenges in the agricultural sector. It provides massive employment in Tipperary and North West Kilkenny, such as meat processing and milk processing. These are hugely important to our economy. Farmers are the custodians of our countryside and are playing their part in protecting the lands, with management of grass, reseeding of nitrate neutral grass and reducing the use of artificial fertilisers, he said.

Farmers need our support to make the farm life viable and issues such as inheritance tax, must be addressed so that young farmers can see a future on the farm.

We only have to see what is happening in Spain and different parts of the world to recognise that we have serious challenges with climate change. Im glad that across this constituency we have seen significant development in wind energy in Borrisokane, Templederry Cappawhite and Roscrea.

With Solar energy and converting animal waste into energy products, these will all ultimately lead to much less pressure on fossil fuels and help us to reach our climate change goals. I want to be a champion for rural development across this constituency. There are a huge number of funding streams available to the rural community, such the Clar and Leader Programme and the Community Enhancement and Facilities Scheme, Cllr. Smith said.

I have worked on a large number of projects in my area and have a special interest in community development and encouraging voluntary efforts. We have seen developments in all the villages from Knock to Gortagarry, Clonakenny to Killea and Castleliney Loughmore. In enhancing these places, creating walks, heritage sites and amenities we help to create an encouraging environment, where people can meet and discourse.

Our people are resourceful and need to be supported. I was delighted to see the opening of the voluntary tea and coffee shop in Moyne. It shows the potential that is there. Giving an outlet to people is so vital, we are gregarious people we need to talk; we need to meet and gather together and as that connection develops, the stronger our communities in rural areas will be.

As our population grows older, there is a need for greater supports to enable people to live in their own homes, adapted, if necessary, for as long possible. Carers and everyone working in the provision of care, know the necessity of providing aid and appliances, we all want to ensure freedom and dignity to all the vulnerable.

Like in every home and in government, things can go wrong, mistakes are made, and the easiest thing is to be negative and blame someone, but the most important thing is to stand up and do something.

I played Junior B hurling for Clonakenny but hope to have the opportunity to play a senior role in politics for the people of this proud constituency. I hope to meet as many as I can in the coming weeks and look forward to putting my name before the people.
THE political landscape in Offaly will be altered  maybe dramatically  in the forthcoming General Election which, it has been confirmed, will take place before Christmas.

Though no date has been decided on by Taoiseach Simon Harris it is likely that voters will go to the polls on Friday, November 29 next.

Mr Harris has signalled his preference for a Friday polling date and the only other such date available  Friday, December 6  is seen as too near the festive season.

A total of 174 TDs will be elected by voters around the country  an increase of 14 on the current total due to a large jump in population.

The historic constituency of Laois/ Offaly has been split in two for the 2024 contest with each county set to elect three TDs.

The 2020 General Election returned two Offaly based Dail Deputies  Carol Nolan (Independent) and Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail). That total has since been reduced to just one TD in the existing five seater following Barry Cowen's election to the European Parliament last June.

Fine Gael has no TD in the county with then sitting Deputy, Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy, failing to be re-elected in the 2020 contest.

Though she did not win a Dail seat last time round, the Green Party's Senator Pippa Hackett is an influential figure in Government as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture.

Neighbouring Laois will also return three TDs with the big two traditional parties  Fianna Fail and Fine Gael  looking to capitalise on Sinn Fein and Brian Stanley's recent woes.

As we go to press there are eight candidates seeking election in the Offaly three-seater.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both have news faces in the race with Tullamore based Cllr Tony McCormack and north Offaly's Cllr Claire Murray running for the former and Kinnitty's Cllr John Clendennen flying the flag for the latter.

Another newcomer, Cllr Aoife Masterson from Tullamore  who was first elected to Offaly County Council in June's local elections  is the Sinn Fein standard bearer.

Independent TD, Carol Nolan is the only sitting TD seeking re-election while Geashill-based Minister Pippa Hackett will contest the election in the constituency for the Green Party.

Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick  who narrowly missed out on a seat when he stood for Fianna Fail in the 2020 election  caused an upset when he resigned from the party earlier this month and announced he will contest the election as an Independent candidate. Based in the Cloneyhurke area on the Laois border, Cllr Fitzpatrick has served as Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council in the past.

Also in the fray is Edenderry town based Independent Ireland councillor, Fergus McDonnell.

It is probable that more candidates will enter the contest in the coming weeks though the official campaign is likely to be a short three-week one.

Whatever the eventual outcome, at least two of the three TDs that will be returned by voters in Offaly will be new faces.

The issues which will dominate the campaign locally are likely to be housing, the cost of living and perhaps immigration, mirroring the national debate.

Half of the candidates to seek election in the three-seater are women, the highest percentage in electoral history.

Another woman, former Offaly TD, Olwyn Enright will also play a pivotal role in the election nationally with her appointment by Simon Harris as Fine Gael Director of Elections on Monday last.
AN undeveloped energy project near Tullamore has been sold by one power company to another.

SSE has acquired the development rights for a 120MW/240MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in the townlands of Derrynagall and Ballydaly.

A grid-scale BESS developer, Grid Systems Services Ltd, which is owned by Low Carbon, got planning permission for the Thornsberry BESS project earlier this year, having revised a plan which also previously got the go-ahead.

Offaly County Council gave the green light to the project on a 3.5ha site. The developers had consent from three local landowners.

A BESS stores power which can then be released to the national grid when required. SSE say the Tullamore project will be capable of powering over 115,000 homes for up to two hours at a time.

BESS facilities are required as back up to the electricity grid which increasingly relies on intermittent sources like wind and solar.

SSE says its secured BESS pipeline has grown to 300MW with the acquisition from Low Carbon and if approved for investment and final delivery it could be constructed and operational by the end of the decade.

The company said the purchase marks another step forward for SSE Renewables, the renewable energy business of FTSE-listed SSE plc, as it continues to grow its battery storage development portfolio on the island of Ireland.

Thornsberry BESS has a grid connection offer to connect 120MW of import/export capacity to Irelands national grid via the adjacent existing 110kV substation.

The proposed battery system would be capable of storing up to 240MWh of energy for flexible dispatch at times of peak demand.

When called upon, Thornsberry would be capable of providing back-up energy to the equivalent of over 115,000 Irish homes for up to two hours at a time while also delivering essential balancing services to Irelands energy system.

SSE said the project would be expected to provide a boost to the supply chain and job creation in County Offaly and the wider Midlands during delivery.

It would also support the delivery of local authority essential services in Offaly through the payment of development contributions and commercial rates.

Heather Donald, director of Onshore Wind, Solar and Battery  UK and Ireland, SSE Renewables, said: Acquiring the consented Thornsberry project in Co Offaly is another great step forward in our plans to grow SSE Renewables battery storage development portfolio in Ireland. The addition of this grid-scale project can make an important contribution to the delivery of SSEs fully funded five-year Net Zero Acceleration Programme, while also advancing the diversity of the technologies in our portfolio.

The Midlands has a long and proud tradition of supporting Irelands energy security. With the development of new onshore wind, solar and battery projects such as Thornsberry, the region can continue to play a significant role in delivering homegrown energy for Irish consumers while decarbonising the countrys power system. In doing so, we can help ensure vital energy projects can deliver positive social and economic benefits to Co Offaly and the wider Midlands.

Low Carbon, which began developing the Thornsberry project in 2018, was described as one of the first movers to develop, build and operate battery storage in the Irish renewables market and currently provides 20% of the countrys operational storage capacity.

Roy Bedlow, founder and chief executive of Low Carbon, said: We are delighted to collaborate with SSE on this project, which underscores Low Carbons leading position in the Irish storage market. Furthermore, this announcement demonstrates our expertise of delivering high-quality investable assets to the market, meanwhile playing an important role in supporting our future growth as we aim to build 20GW of new renewable energy.

Increasing renewable energy capacity is just one part of the answer as we look to accelerate the energy transition. Battery storage is as of equal importance, providing a complete energy solution to power homes and businesses round the clock, whilst helping the grid to become greener.

SSE has other battery projects in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, Tawnaghamore, Co Mayo, Tarbert, Co Kerry, and Salisbury, Ferrybridge, Fiddlers Ferry and Monk Fryston in the UK.

SSE operates the 174MW Galway Wind Park in Connemara and the 73MW Slieve Kirk Wind Park outside Derry city.

The value of the deal between SSE and Low Carbon was not disclosed.
ONE hundred abseilers took to the roof of Croke Park on Saturday, October 19 to abseil 150 feet from the roof of the Hogan Stand roof to the hallowed ground below, all to raise funds for Dochas Offaly Cancer Support Group.

Bookended by two very poor days weather wise, the weather could not have been better for the event and the sun shone down on the participants as they scaled to the roof for the descent.

The fundraising initiative commenced with the launch of the campaign in June 2024.

The charity was supported by Irish rugby international and Leinster rugby star Robbie Henshaw to launch the campaign blast June.

Such was the demand by participants on the night, no sooner had registration opened, was it closed again with 100 people signed up for the campaign.

Each participant raised funds over the following months in the lead up to the big day and all had a target to reach of 300.

The campaign has reached heights beyond the wildest expectations of the charity and to date over 130,000 has been raised with more money expected over the coming weeks.

Speaking on behalf of the charity John Conroy, Service Manager, said: This campaign has truly been beyond anything we expected, and we cannot thank the entire community enough for their support. The level of fundraising has been phenomenal with all factions of our community getting involved.

"We have attended bake sales, raffles, pub quizzes, workplace challenges and pub nights as people have all come up with ingenious ideas to meet their target.

"We cant thank the abseilers enough, all the businesses who have supported the campaign and to each single donor who has donated towards any of the abseilers. It has been a resounding success.

Dochas Offaly Cancer Support Group provides vital psycho-social cancer support services to people living in Offaly and the wider Midlands.
THE Grand Canal Way parkrun in has been postponed every week since late September. Now, with the help of Minister Pippa Hackett, the event can proceed again and celebrate its third anniversary along the Grand Canal Way in Tullamore.

Parkrun is a free, inclusive event with no time limit to complete the 5km walk or run and the Tullamore parkrun was badly missed by the regular participants.

Minister Pippa Hackett, who founded the neighbouring parkrun in Mountlucas Windfarm, intervened when she heard of the cancelled Grand Canal event.

She contacted the organisers and committed to getting to the bottom of the problem.

Explained the Minister: Waterways Ireland has oversight of events along the Grand Canal Way and a misunderstanding had led to their rescinding of approval for the Tullamore parkrun. The last run was on September 21. In fairness to Waterways Ireland, there was an eagerness to resolve the anomaly and I am delighted to be the bearer of good news that the parkrun can get back to business!

Minister Hackett continued: "These events make a really positive contribution to our local communities. There is a wonderful social side where no-one finishes last and we celebrate personal and group milestones. In Mountlucas we were very happy to host some of our Tullamore neighbours over the last month, but its even better that they have their own parkrun back and can celebrate their third birthday at home.
Met Eireann is predicting a big change in Ireland's weather fortunes as we head towards the weekend after a spell of dry and mild conditions.

While most counties have enjoyed dry weather of late, it appears conditions will turn more unsettled from Friday onwards. It will turn cooler too, according to Met Eireann's latest forecast.

They say Wednesday will be mostly cloudy, dry and very mild.

"There will be some patches of drizzle, with hill and coastal fog lingering too in the south and east. Elsewhere, the odd brighter spell is possible. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees in moderate southerly winds, fresher near western coasts.

"Mostly cloudy and mild tonight [Wednesday] with a few patches of mist and drizzle, especially in southern areas. Lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in moderate southeast winds, strong off the west coast," forecasters added.

The prediction continued: "Rather breezy on Thursday with lots of cloud. It will be a dry day for many but there'll be some patches of rain or drizzle, especially in the south and southwest. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in moderate to fresh southeast winds, strong at times near Atlantic coasts.

READ NEXT: Forecaster in snow update for Ireland amid indication of 'major' weather change

"Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with some patchy rain and drizzle in parts. Later in the night, heavier and more persistent rain may develop in parts of the west and southwest, accompanied by strengthening southeast winds. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees."

Further rain is expected on Friday while temperatures will also take a dip.

"Scattered outbreaks of rain are expected on Friday, persistent in parts of the west and south, but light and patchy elsewhere with a lot of dry weather. There will a lot of cloud, and some limited brighter spells. Maximum temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees with moderate or fresh southeast winds," Met Eireann said.

"During Friday night, outbreaks of rain will spread eastwards across the country, with some clear spells developing later in the west and southwest as it turns cooler there as winds drop off light. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 11 degrees.

"Saturday morning will start with some outbreaks of rain in the east for a time, gradually clearing into the Irish Sea. Generally dry elsewhere, but there'll be a few patches of light rain or drizzle about, especially in Atlantic coastal areas. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.

"Outbreaks of rain are expected to move in from the Atlantic on Saturday night clearing into the Irish Sea by Sunday morning. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees.

"Early indications suggest that any overnight rain will quickly clear on Sunday to leave a mostly dry day with sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees.

"Dry and cold on Sunday night with some mist and fog patches," the forecast continues.
Following this weeks news that GDS International received approval to build a hyperscale data centre in Thailand, GDS officially announced on Tuesday it will invest up to US$1 billion over the next five years in the project, and has signed a partnership deal with real estate developer Amata for the site in Chonburi.

Last Friday, Thailands Board of Investment (BOI) approved 66.2 billion baht (US$1.96 billion) worth of investments for two new hyperscale data centre projects in Chonburi  one from Quartz Computing, a subsidiary of Googles parent company Alphabet, and the other from Digitalland Services, a local subsidiary of GDS IDC Services.

During a meeting on Tuesday with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Bangkok, GDS International announced it had signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Southeast Asian industrial real estate developer and operator Amata to acquire land at the Amata City Chonburi Industrial Estate, which also provides access to renewable energy such as floating solar power.

GDS CEO Jamie Khoo said the site is ideal for data centre development due to the presence of available zones, proximity to subsea cable landing stations, and secure location outside floodplains.

We selected Amata as our strategic partner for its impressive scale  hosting around 800 factories and commercial outlets  and its reliable, comprehensive utilities and infrastructure that support diverse needs, she said.

BOI secretary general Narit Therdsteerasukdi added that the Thai government is dedicated to advancing key areas, including the development of clean energy mechanisms.

We are currently establishing a Direct Power Purchase Agreement (Direct PPA), specifically designed for data centers, and refining digital regulations to support advancements in AI technology, he said.

Also at the PM meeting, GDS International chairman William Huang confirmed the companys commitment to the project, saying the US$1 billion investment over five years represents a strategic expansion of its data centre portfolio across Asia-Pacific.

"Our investment in Thailand aligns with our vision of advancing the digital economy across Asia, Huang said. Our goal is to build a cutting-edge data centre park that not only meets Thailand's cloud and AI infrastructure needs but also fosters a thriving data centre ecosystem.

Khoo added that the US$1 billion investment would also create employment opportunities and support skill development.

By collaborating with local industry players and educational institutions, we aim to equip the Thai workforce with essential digital skills for the future, she said.

GDS has not yet revealed how much IT capacity the Chonburi data centre will offer. The company currently has 480MW of data centre capacity in service and under construction in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Japan, with an additional 590MW held for future development.
Global payment infrastructure provider Thunes said on Tuesday it has expanded its collaboration with Philippine mobile payments platform GCash to enables users to top up their wallet balances directly within the app using funds from UK and European bank accounts.

GCash is already a member of Thunes' proprietary Direct Global Network payment infrastructure that aims to make cross-border top-ups real-time and more cost efficient. Under the expanded arrangement, Filipino expats living and working in Europe who also have a GCash digital wallet can top up their wallets instantly using local accounts in the UK and Europe.

According to Thunes, there are around 2 million Filipino expats in Europe who maintain ties to the Philippines. Paul Albano, GM of GCash International, said the new deal enables them to more easily send remittances back home to support their relatives, as well as ensure that the money is used as intended, whether for education, healthcare, or household expenses, giving them more convenience and financial control.

This service will support hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in the UK and Europe by improving how they move money across borders into their digital wallets with better control over their finances, he said in a statement.

According to the World Bank, the Philippines is the fourth largest market worldwide for inbound remittances, with US$39 billion sent in 2024. In 2024, Europe alone sent US$3.8 billion to the Philippines.

Singapore-based Thunes says its network connects directly to over 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide, as well as 15 billion cards via more than 320 different payment methods, including GCash, M-Pesa, Airtel, MTN, Orange, JazzCash, Easypaisa, AliPay and WeChat Pay, among others.
Latin American IP transit and connectivity provider EdgeUno has announced a new fibre optic route connecting Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires in Argentina.

The Argentina-Chile Digital Bridge, as CEO Mehmet Akcin calls it on social network LinkedIn, is a 2,550 kilometre route featuring 24 pairs of fibre, bringing what is described as unprecedented connectivity between these two major economies and supporting demand for cloud, streaming and business interconnection services. It also offers a new route between Chiles data centre hotspot Santiago and the Argentine capital.

The project, which is at the construction phase, has a completion date of December 2026. There is no information so far on the amount it will cost or potential partners in the project,

According to news resource BNamericas, the fibre network, which will be mostly aerial, will include 80 kilometres of fibre buried in the Andes region. It will use dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology to deliver high-speed services between the two countries.

The network will also have a branch to coastal city Las Toninas, the entrance point of submarine cables in Argentina. The design of the network incorporates a ring between Las Toninas, Buenos Aires and Pehuajo in Buenos Aires province, adding protection to the network in Argentina.

According to a social media post by Mehmet Akcin, in June this year EdgeUno became the world's largest Latin American IP network with 108Tbps of network capacity and a 20Tbps traffic peak record.

EdgeUno claims to have more than 50 Tier III or Tier IV locations across 11 Latin America countries, as well as seven office locations, including a Buenos Aires office.


Trump wins 2024 presidential election, CNN projects Former President Donald Trump will defeat Vice President Kamala Harris and return to the White House, CNN projects, in a ...

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CNN announcing Trump projected to win 2024 presidential election

Well, there you have it. Trump is victorious.

Not that it was unexpected. Though this writer rarely commented on it, Kamala Harris was a terrible choice for the Democrats.

Instead of conducting an open convention, the Dems chose to coronate her soon after Biden was forced to end his campaign after a disastrous showing in his debate with Trump.

For sure most women voted for Harris considering the Supreme Court overturned Roe leaving the states to decide on abortion.

Regardless of the tit for tat antagonisms she and the Trumpster threw at each other where was the excitement surrounding her candidacy?

There just wasn't any real excitement.

She had no "original" ideas of her own. Almost verbatim she used Biden's campaign addresses as her own-not exactly something one wants to see in a perspective president of the US.

She was essentially unknown as Biden's vice president-though that is not unexpected of a VP, Dick Cheney to the contrary under "Dubya" Bush.

Her record as California's attorney general and before that as a California prosecutor is quite illuminating. In an opinion piece for the New York Times, January 17, 2019 titled, "Kamala Harris Was Not a 'Progressive Prosecutor" by Lara Bazelon [1] , a law professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law. According to Bazelon-who gives a very succinct account of Harris' as a prosecutor and AG-Harris upheld wrongful convictions, secured through official misconduct that included evidence tampering, false testimony and suppression of evidence by prosecutors. This is a must read to get a better understanding of Harris.

Maybe her past employment was "ancient" history, the less said the better.

The fact is men overwhelmingly disliked her and this time in the swing states that would decide the election. And they voted mostly for the red haired one.

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North Korea's missile program continues to be a concern for regional security, with the regime openly threatening several countries, including South Korea and Japan.

North Korea on Friday bragged of its recently tested new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), calling it "the world's strongest," a claim viewed by outside experts as propaganda though the test showed an advancement in the North's quest to build a more reliable weapons arsenal.

The missile, launched by North Korea on Thursday, flew higher and longer than any other weapon the country had fired so far. It signaled that the North has achieved progress in acquiring a nuclear-armed ICBM that can hit the U.S. mainland. But foreign experts assess that the country has still a few remaining technological issues to master before acquiring such a functioning ICBM.

In response to the launch, foreign ministers from South Korea, the U.S., and Japan condemned the action as a violation of U.N. resolutions and reiterated their commitment to thwarting North Korea's funding of its weapons programs.

On Friday, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) identified the missile as the "Hwasong-19" ICBM and called it "the world's strongest strategic missile" and "the perfected weapon system."

KCNA said Kim Jong Un observed the launch, describing it as "an appropriate military action" to express North Korea's resolve to respond to its enemies' moves that escalated tensions and threats to North Korea's national security. It said Kim thanked weapons scientists for demonstrating North Korea's "matchless strategic nuclear attack capability."

South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced unilateral measures against 11 North Korean individuals and four organizations linked to procuring missile components, although such sanctions are largely symbolic given the long-standing financial isolation of the North.

Both South Korea and Japan are not nuclear-armed. They are under the protection of U.S. extended deterrence, also known as the nuclear umbrella, Washington's commitment to deter and respond to nuclear and non-nuclear scenarios in defense of Seoul and Tokyo.

In an effort to create some level of deterrence, a U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber, also known as the Lancer, was sent from its home station at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to airspace east of the South Korean island of Jeju, which is south of the Korean Peninsula and west of Japan's main island of Kyushu.

In October, North Korea deployed a contingent of troops to Russia in support of Russia's war in Ukraine --the latest development in intensified cooperation between the two countries since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as noted by the Institute for the Study of War.

The Kremlin is likely to leverage North Korean manpower to support its ongoing offensive efforts and offset requirements of Russia's domestic force generation capacity. The impacts of the deployment of North Korean troops into the Ukrainian theater of operations extend far beyond the battlefield in Ukraine, however.

Pyongyang likely hopes that North Korean military personnel will gain combat experience in the conditions of contemporary war -- experience that it may hope to apply to future conflicts it may fight.

The alignment between North Korea and Russia poses the distinct possibility of threatening the long-term stability of the Korean Peninsula and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

North Korea's support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict is rooted in several strategic interests.

Primarily, North Korea sees an opportunity to gain access to advanced military technology and critical resources. In exchange for supplying Russia with weapons and ammunition, North Korea is looking to receive essential items such as food, fuel, and possibly assistance with its missile and satellite programs, helping it overcome technological barriers.

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Factory workers at Boeing have voted to accept a contract offer and end their strike after more than seven weeks, clearing the way for the company to restart idled Pacific Northwest assembly lines.

But the strike was just one of many challenges the troubled U.S. aerospace giant faces as it works to return to profitability and regain public confidence.

Boeings 33,000 striking machinists disbanded their picket lines late Monday after leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers district in Seattle said 59% of union members who cast ballots agreed to approve the companys fourth formal offer, which included a 38% wage increase over four years.

Union machinists assemble the 737 Max, Boeings bestselling airliner, along with the 777 or triple-seven jet and the 767 cargo plane at factories in Renton and Everett, Washington. Resuming production will allow Boeing to generate much-needed cash, which it has been bleeding.

Even for a company the size of Boeing, it is a life-threatening problem, said Gautam Mukunda, lecturer at the Yale School of Management.

The union said its workers can return to work as soon as Wednesday or as late as Nov. 12. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has said it might take a couple of weeks to resume production in part because some workers might need retraining.

As the machinists get back to work, management will have to address a host of other problems. The company needs to get on better financial footing. But while doing so, it also needs to prioritize the quality of its workmanship and its relationships with employees and suppliers, analysts said.

Boeing has been managing itself to meet short-term profit goals and squeezing every stakeholder, squeezing every employee, every supplier to the point of failure in order in order to maximize their short-term financial performance, Mukunda said. That is bad enough if you run a clothing company. It is unacceptable when you are building the most complex mass-produced machines human beings have ever built.

Above all, Boeing needs to produce more planes. When workers are back and production resumes, the company will be producing about 30 737s a month, and they must get that number over 50. They have to do it. And the people who are going to do that are the workers on the factory floor, Mukunda said.

Another challenge will be getting the companys fragile supply chain running again, said Cai von Rumohr, an aviation analyst at financial services firm TD Cowen. Suppliers that were working ahead of Boeings schedule when the strike began may have had to lay workers off or finance operations on their own.

There are lots of nasty questions in terms of complexities that go into revamping the supply chain, he said.

One way Boeing could generate cash would be to sell companies that dont fit directly in the business, such as flight information provider Jeppesen Sanderson, which it bought in 2000 for $1.5 billion, von Rumohr said.

Theyd lose some earnings but theyd get a lot of cash to reduce their debt, he added. They really need to get to a more stable position where they have a solid credit rating.

Ortberg acknowledged the challenges ahead in a message to employees after they voted to end the walkout.

There is much work ahead to return to the excellence that made Boeing an iconic company, he said.

The average annual pay of Boeing machinists is currently $75,608 and eventually will rise to $119,309 under the new contract, according to the company. The union said the compounded value of the promised pay raise would amount to an increase of more than 43% over the life of the agreement.

Reactions were mixed even among union members who voted to accept the contract.

Although she voted yes, Seattle-based calibration specialist Eep Bolano said the outcome was most certainly not a victory. Bolano said she and her fellow workers made a wise but infuriating choice to accept the offer.

We were threatened by a company that was crippled, dying, bleeding on the ground, and us as one of the biggest unions in the country couldnt even extract two-thirds of our demands from them. This is humiliating, she said.

For other workers like William Gardiner, a lab lead in calibration services, the revised offer was a cause for celebration.

Im extremely pumped over this vote, said Gardiner, who has worked for Boeing for 13 years. We didnt fix everything  thats OK. Overall, its a very positive contract.

Along with the wage increase, the new contract gives each worker a $12,000 ratification bonus and retains a performance bonus the company wanted to eliminate.

President Joe Biden congratulated the machinists and Boeing for coming to an agreement that he said supports fairness in the workplace and improves workers ability to retire with dignity. The contract, he said, is important for Boeings future as a critical part of Americas aerospace sector.

A continuing strike would have plunged Boeing into further financial peril and uncertainty. Last month, Ortberg announced plans to lay off about 17,000 people and a stock sale to prevent the companys credit rating from being cut to junk status.

The labor standoff  the first strike by Boeing machinists since an eight-week walkout in 2008  was the latest setback in a volatile year for the aerospace giant.

Boeing came under several federal investigations this year after a door plug blew off a 737 Max plane during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. Federal regulators put limits on Boeing airplane production that they said would last until they felt confident about manufacturing safety at the company.

The door-plug incident renewed concerns about the safety of the 737 Max. Two of the planes had crashed less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. The CEO at the time, whose efforts to fix the company failed, announced in March that he would step down. In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud for deceiving regulators who approved the 737 Max.

-- David Koenig, Lindsey Wasson, Hannah Schoenbaum and Cathy Bussewitz, The Associated Press
Police have arrested the suspect in the Southeast Portland armed robbery who ran from officers Tuesday afternoon, prompting police to cordon off a swath of the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood, the Police Bureau said.

The unnamed suspect, who allegedly robbed a person at gunpoint in the 4500 block of Southeast 122nd Avenue at about 1:43 p.m. Tuesday, fled from officers, leading police to set up a perimeter to keep the suspect contained. Police arrested the person in the 12600 block of Southeast Ellis Street, the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office said.
Officers descended on an illegal street takeover in North Portland Tuesday night, resulting in arrests and towed cars, the Portland Police Bureau said.

Calls came in at about 10:30 p.m. that a group of people had assembled in the intersection of North Lombard Street and Chautauqua Boulevard, where drivers were drifting their vehicles in the intersection while others watched, police said.

Callers reported gunfire, but police believe the noises heard likely were fireworks.

When officers arrived at the illegal street takeover, near Columbia Park & Annex, they began stopping drivers who were racing and sliding around the intersection. Some of the drivers fled, but police said they had put down spike strips that blew out the tires of two cars.

Police also used a drone during the operation.

Police used a drone during a street-takeover mission in North Portland. (Photo: Portland Police Bureau)Portland Police Bureau

Oscar L. Leal-Mendoza, 19, was arrested at the scene and faces unlawful-street-takeover and reckless-driving charges, police said. On nearby North Marine Drive, 18-year-old Nicole R. Bell was stopped after speeding at almost 100 miles per hour, police said. She faces reckless-driving, attempt-to-elude and resisting-arrest charges.

The Lombard-Chautauqua intersection reopened to traffic soon after police towed two cars.

Portland police Lt. Chadd Stensgaard told The Oregonian/OregonLive in July that the city has seen a dramatic increase in street takeovers since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The takeovers  where drivers race each other and perform stunts, sometimes leading to deadly crashes  can draw hundreds of people. The Police Bureau documented 139 street-takeover events in Portland last year, Stensgaard said.

In 2021, Portland passed an ordinance banning street takeovers, and the Oregon Legislature last year passed a law that cracks down on street racing. But police say the pace of illegal streets takeovers in Portland and elsewhere hasnt slowed.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive; dperry@oregonian.com
A Portland man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday on a litany of charges spanning seven criminal cases, officials said.

Levi Denison, 30, pleaded guilty Sept. 27 to injuring a corrections officer, which was the earliest charge, filed July 25, 2022. In the most recent case, from this year, he pleaded guilty to using other peoples ID cards, promoting prostitution and conspiring with someone to smuggle the opioid buprenorphine into the Multnomah County Detention Center.

He was one of five people accused in a plot to smuggle drugs into the jail in March, the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office previously said.

Multnomah County jails have struggled in recent years with drug smuggling and overdose deaths. Of the 10 people who died in county jails in 2022 and 2023, three died of drug overdoses, according to medical examiner records.

Denison pleaded guilty to other charges as well, including methamphetamine possession, unlawful use of a vehicle and fleeing an officer. He also pleaded guilty to failure to perform the duties of a driver, felon in possession of a firearm, aggravated theft and conspiracy to sell meth.

 Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Do you have a story? Reach him by phone or text at 971-373-2905 or by email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com.

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Voters in the Tigard-Tualatin School District approved a measure to fund teaching positions Tuesday, while votes in two other metro area districts remained too close to call.

Voters in Tigard-Tualatin renewed their districts local operating levy for another five years. Partial returns as of 8 p.m. showed the levy passing with 71% of the vote.

The measure will provide $67 million to support operations in the 11,600-student district, including funding about 100 teaching positions.

The district first passed its levy in 2000 and voters have regularly re-upped it. For a home in the district that has an average assessed value of $300,000, homeowners will continue to pay about $300 a year.

OREGON ELECTION 2024: Live Results Page | Election Live Updates

Meanwhile, a vote in Oregon City that would have raised property taxes to pay for a general obligation bond to allow their 7,200-student school district to renovate its five aging elementary school buildings remained too close to call. The bond would also allow the district to expand its career-technical education facilities for older students.

Partial returns as of 8 p.m. showed the bond had support from 49% of voters, while 51% were opposed.

Should the bond pass, property owners in the Oregon City School District will pay $1.20 per every $1,000 of assessed property, which equates to about $324 a year on a home with a median assessed value of around $270,000. That is on top of the roughly $329 annually that property owners are paying to retire the previous bonds, raising their bill to support the school district to about $653 per year.

And in the Parkrose School District, voters appeared to be leaning against approving an operating levy that would have taxed property owners $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The measure was drawing support from 46% of voters, with the remaining 54% opposed. Should the measure eventually pass, it means that a homeowner with an average assessed property value of $250,000 would pay about $312 a year, according to the district.

District leaders said that would have raised $19.1 million over five years to pay for 28 teachers and educational assistants annually.

 Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com or follow her on x.com at @jrlsilverman.
Hundreds of accolades, condolences and stories poured in this week from local politicians, environmental leaders and regular Oregonians, recognizing conservationist Bob Sallinger as an inspiration, a hero and an icon of the Pacific Northwest.

Sallinger, 57, who died last Wednesday, was longtime conservation director of the Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Portland Audubon) and current executive director of both Willamette Riverkeeper and Bird Conservation Oregon.
Salmon have officially returned to Oregons Klamath Basin for the first time in more than a century, months after the largest dam removal project in U.S. history freed hundreds of miles of the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the news on Oct. 17, a day after its fish biologists identified a fall run of Chinook salmon in a tributary to the Klamath River above the former J.C. Boyle Dam, the department said.

The fish likely traveled 230 miles from the Pacific Ocean, officials said, after four dams were removed to ensure their safe passage. Its the first confirmed salmon to return to the Klamath Basin since 1912, when the first of four hydroelectric dams was constructed along the river, the department said.

The news was welcome not only for biologists but for local tribes who had been fighting for the dam removals.

The return of our relatives the ciyaals is overwhelming for our tribe. This is what our members worked for and believed in for so many decades, Roberta Frost, Klamath Tribes Secretary, said in a news release. I want to honor that work and thank them for their persistence in the face of what felt like an unmovable obstacle. The salmon are just like our tribal people, and they know where home is and returned as soon as they were able.

The Klamath Tribes and Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department have been keeping an eye on the Klamath River and its tributaries since the dam removal, searching for signs of the salmon return.

This is an exciting and historic development in the Klamath Basin that demonstrates the resiliency of salmon and steelhead, ODFW Director Debbie Colbert said. It also inspires us to continue restoration work in the upper basin. I want to thank everyone that has contributed to this effort over the last two decades.

Chinook salmon are one species of anadromous fish, which begin their lives in freshwater, migrate to the ocean and return to their birthplace to spawn. The Pacific Northwests anadromous fish, which include all five local species of salmon, as well as steelhead and certain bull trout, have had their migrations cut short by dams that sprung up throughout the 20th century.

While Northwest dam managers have constructed work-arounds such as fish ladders and even a giant fish vacuum to help migrating fish, many tribes and conservationists have argued for dam removal to help revitalize the salmon runs.

The removal of the Klamath River dams marks the latest victory for that movement, as work continues on bigger projects, like the controversial removal of dams on the Snake River. Tribal demands to remove larger dams on the Columbia River  which have not only affected salmon but also inundated important cultural sites including Celilo Falls, one of the worlds largest waterfalls by volume  have gained less traction.

--Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB.

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Starting a new business is exciting, but before you can open your doors, its essential to navigate the legal landscape to ensure youre set up for success.

From permits to licenses, understanding the legal requirements for your business helps protect you from future issues and builds a solid foundation for growth.

In this weeks Lets Talk, our experts will walk you through the key legal considerations for starting a business, covering the types of permits and licenses you may need and how to obtain them.

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Rolf Howard, Managing Partner at Owen Hodge Lawyers

While licences and permits in business can sometimes feel like red tape, they serve an important function in protecting the consumer, public safety and health, the environment and quality standards.

The permits and licences required to operate a business legally in Australia will depend on the industry, location and business type. For example, licences may be required for building, food handling, liquor sales, environmental management, operating a taxi, and more. Whats required will vary depending on the state, region or local council as well.

Its important to ensure you have all the necessary licences and permits in place before your business starts operating. Failure to do so could result in fines or other penalties.

Some common licences and permits to run a business in Australia include an Australian Business Number (ABN), Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration, Tax File Number (TFN) and PAYG Withholding.

The Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) is a useful online tool which enables you to search for licences and permits based on your business type, activities, and location across the country.

Other options for identifying your specific licences and permits include contacting your industry association or a business advisor.

Mary Turco, Partner and Co-Founder of Dowson Turco lawyers

Starting a business in Australia requires industry-specific permits and licences. Hospitality businesses may need food and liquor licences, event promoters might need Crown land permits, and beauty clinics often require qualified staff. Trades and financial services also require certifications, and certain businesses must have insurance.

First, confirm your industry qualifications and certifications. Consulting an industry association or local TAFE can be helpful. Next, decide your business structure: sole trader, partnership, or company. Each has pros and cons, so seek advice from a lawyer or accountant. Consider protecting intellectual propertywhether it should be owned by the business or a separate holding companyand whether to register a trademark.

Once you select a structure, set it up with your lawyer or accountant and apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN) for trading. Companies will also receive an Australian Company Number (ACN). Youll need a tax file number (TFN) and, if you have employees, register for Pay As You Go (PAYG) tax withholding with the Australian Taxation Office.

If your business turnover exceeds $75,000 annually or meets specific criteria, register for Goods and Services Tax (GST). Nonprofits earning over $150,000 and businesses claiming fuel tax credits also need GST registration.

Plan agreements with customers and suppliers and consult a lawyer for contracts. Follow these steps and youre ready to run.

Walter Scremin, CEO, Ontime Delivery Solutions

While every business will need an ABN, other permits and licenses may depend on what industry you are operating in.

One issue which may surprise some businesses starting out is that labour hire laws apply to outsourced suppliers, and its up to you to ensure your suppliers are licensed. The labour hire laws will differ by state.

Breaching these laws can be costly. According to the Labour Hire Authority in Victoria: Maximum penalties exceeding $600,000 for a corporation and $150,000 for an individual apply under the Act for providing labour hire services without a licence, or engaging unlicensed labour hire services.

Remember you can be penalised if you dont ensure your suppliers are properly licensed. Business must also register for workers compensation insurance  again this will differ by state. Some other important compliance issues include ensuring all staff have the required licences and permits  if you have delivery drivers you must ensure driver licences are current. Its similar with forklift licences, vehicle registrations, work visa permits and so on.

Charles Ferguson, General Manager and Corporate Development Lead for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA) at G-P

Charles Ferguson, General Manager and Corporate Development Lead for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA) at G-P

In todays global marketplace, geographical boundaries are becoming less relevant and executives worldwide recognise the importance of tapping into different markets to find the best talent. However, a recent study by G-P highlights a concern: while many companies have embraced the borderless workforce, 39% of Australians find compliance with local employment laws challenging when breaking into new markets.

Navigating legal requirements across different regions can be complex, with each market having its own regulations governing what is needed for legal operation.

The right tools and partners can streamline complex processes, helping Australian businesses stay competitive, build trust with their employees, and mitigate risks. Global employment solutions, like G-Ps SaaS-based Employer of Record (EOR), can be game-changers. They make it easier for businesses to scale across borders, allowing them to quickly and compliantly build and manage global teams without the need to set up local entities.

By embracing these solutions, companies can effectively manage the intricacies of a borderless workforce, positioning themselves for sustained growth in the international market while ensuring they meet all legal obligations and remain compliant.

Susanna Ritchie, Director, Workplace Wizards

Starting a business in Australia brings a world of opportunity, but making sure youre legally prepared from day one is key to long-term success. Thoughtful employment contracts are a great starting point. These agreements do more than outline the basics; they establish expectations, confidentiality obligations, and set the tone for a professional, respectful workplace. Deciding on employment types is equally important, as each rolewhether permanent, contractor, or casualhas its own legal requirements. With new regulations introducing fixed maximum terms for certain roles, getting these distinctions right is more important than ever.

Compliance with the Fair Work Act is foundational, ensuring fair treatment, proper pay, and essential entitlements, which all help build trust and respect within your team. Safeguarding your workplace also means meeting obligations around workers compensation and health and safety, which protect everyones well-being and show a commitment to a secure environment. Finally, recent legal changes around preventing and managing sexual harassment set a higher standard for workplace respect and inclusivity. These arent just formalitiestheyre the building blocks of a business where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute.

Adam Henderson, Partner Corporate at Hicksons Lawyers

Adam Henderson, Partner Corporate at Hicksons Lawyers

Setting up your business is an exciting exercise. So you can focus on growth and innovation, getting the set-up right from the outset is important.

In Australia, some initial legal considerations include:

Selecting your business structure like a company; Securing your business name; Obtaining an ABN and registering for GST; and Obtaining the necessary licenses and permits.

If you are partnering with others, you may need a shareholders agreement. This will set out the rules for how the business makes decisions, how funds can be raised and exits are dealt with. Where we regularly see problems is in 50/50 founder arrangements often ending in a deadlock. Therefore, the right mechanisms are needed to ensure sensible pathways exist to allow business continuity.

Other considerations include employment (key hires, ESOPs), insurance, and product and industry regulations. For many of our clients their journey will involve commercialising IP  this can include registering trademarks, IP licensing, and entering customer contracts.

Finally, another important consideration for every business is how it collects, holds, uses, and protects data  especially sensitive data. Having cyber security and data protection measures in place ensures legal compliance and protects your business from bad-actors, and keeps your customers information secure.

Shelley Breen, Founder, shelleybreen.com

Starting a small business in Australia requires careful planning. Begin by selecting the right structure for your needs. Consult an accountant, as different options, like sole trader or company, have varying tax and liability implications. Register your business name with ASIC, and consider trademarking your brand to protect it, and budget between $2,000 and $10,000 for setup, including registration, insurance, and professional fees.

Insurance is crucial: professional indemnity and public liability protect against claims, cyber insurance safeguards data, and business insurance covers your business assets and location. Clear terms and conditions with clients, suppliers and other third parties and NDAs help prevent disputes. Partner with a reliable lawyer who understands small business needs and can offer ongoing support.

If you handle customer data, comply with the Privacy Act and data security laws. Set up robust financial record-keeping, and if hiring, ensure contracts meet Fair Work standards on wages and entitlements. Membership in local business associations offers networking and growth support. Regular compliance reviews with your accountant and lawyer keep your business on track as it expands. Following these steps builds a legally secure foundation for success, letting you focus confidently on growth.

David Antonacci, Director at Teeny Tiny Homes

David Antonacci, Director at Teeny Tiny Homes

At Teeny Tiny Homes, weve learned that navigating permits and licenses is crucial, and its about more than just meeting basic requirements.

We design, build, and install designer demountable homes, so understanding the QBCC Act 1991 is critical. This means securing the right certificates and ensuring our builds comply with a detailed Form 15, covering everything from structural integrity and waterproofing to electrical and plumbing standards.

But heres the key: we use this compliance to benefit our clients. Knowing their tiny home meets stringent regulations gives them peace of mind and ensures a smooth installation process, free from council-related hurdles.

Many tiny homeowners get caught out by local regulations. By proactively building to the permits and regulations, we eliminate this stress for our clients. This approach has been invaluable for our business, building trust and streamlining the entire experience.

My advice? Dont just meet the minimum requirements  exceed them. Its an investment in your clients, your reputation, and the long-term success of your business.

Kristian Inglis, Head of Human Resources at Employment Compass

Kristian Inglis, Head of Human Resources at Employment Compass

Choosing the right company structure is a key first step for any new business in Australia, and it has a direct impact on your HR practices. Whether you opt for a sole trader, partnership, company, or trust structure, your decision will influence how you manage employees, handle payroll, and comply with legal obligations.

For instance, a company structure might require more formal HR policies and procedures compared to a sole trader setup. Understanding these nuances early on can prevent headaches down the line.

With your structure in place, navigating Australian employment law becomes paramount. This includes understanding your obligations regarding fair work practices, awarding correct wages and entitlements like superannuation, and fostering a safe and healthy work environment.

By proactively addressing these HR considerations, youre not just mitigating risks, but also creating a workplace where employees feel valued and protected, which is essential for attracting and retaining top talent.

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The contested Clackamas County commission race pitting one-term incumbent Mark Shull against political newcomer Melissa Fireside remained too close to call Wednesday.

Fireside continued to hold onto her lead, with 52% of the vote compared to Shulls 48% in partial results as of 5 p.m. Thursday. The county continues to count ballots.

As of Thursday afternoon, the county had tallied roughly 80% of the estimated 250,000 ballots cast, with the remaining 20% or so left to tally, according to Clackamas County Clerk Catherine McMullen.

OREGON ELECTION 2024: Live Results Page | Election Live Updates

Meanwhile, Clackamas County Chair Tootie Smith lost her reelection bid to retired Sheriff Craig Roberts.

Shull, 72, a military veteran from Sandy, faced off against Fireside, 43, a small business owner who ran four years ago for elected office but lost her bid for a seat on the Lake Oswego City Council.

Shull also was a political novice in 2020 when he secured just over 50% of the vote to oust former Clackamas County Commissioner Ken Humberston.

Commissioners are elected to four-year terms; each receives a salary of $130,213. While the five seats on the Board of Commissioners are nonpartisan, Shull was part of a Republican voting bloc.

Fireside is a Democrat who said she ran to bring prosperity and a competitive edge to the county. She owns a construction management consulting company.

-- Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.
Most contests for the dozen seats on Portlands expanded City Council remain too uncertain to call Thursday after officials released updated returns late Wednesday for the citys first election using multi-winner ranked-choice voting.

As of close of business Wednesday, Multnomah County election officials had tallied only about 185,000 ranked-choice ballots, meaning results from a rough estimate of 45% of ranked-choice ballots remain to be included. That injects a high degree of volatility across all four of the citys newly created council districts, which collectively drew nearly 100 candidates.

Adding to the uncertainty: Voters in each district are electing three City Council members to represent them through a version of ranked-choice voting not used in any other U.S. city.

Under the first-in-the-nation election system, electors were allowed to choose up to six council candidates in order of preference, and candidates need only 25% of first-, second- and potentially even third-, fourth- and fifth-choice votes to win.

The new City Council will convene in January and be tasked with policy making and constituent services. The body will hold significant power within the citys new form of government, in part because Portlands next mayor wont have veto power.

OREGON ELECTION 2024: Live Results Page | Election Live Updates

In east Portlands District 1, updated preliminary returns Wednesday showed environmental justice advocate Candace Avalos, former Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith and former City Hall staffer Jamie Dunphy leading after preliminary ranked-choice rounds among the field of 16 candidates, followed by Radio Cab attorney Noah Ernst, urban planner Steph Routh and business owner Terrence Hayes.

In North and Northeast Portlands District 2, current City Commissioner Dan Ryan garnered the most votes in preliminary rounds among the races 22 candidates, followed by policy strategist and longtime union leader Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Sameer Kanal, a former city policy manager. Behind them: city employee Tiffani Penson, former cider house owner Nat West and Portland Public Schools board member Michelle DePass.

Former Portland Commissioner Steve Novick won one of the three seats in Southeast Portlands District 3, which drew 30 candidates. Other strong contenders included Portland Public Schools teacher Tiffany Koyama Lane, rising progressive stalwart Angelita Morillo, former Portland Fire Bureau official Kezia Wanner, former Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder and Oregon Recovers policy director Jesse Cornett.

And in Portlands District 4, which encompasses the citys westside as well as Southeasts Sellwood and Eastmoreland neighborhoods, former TriMet official Olivia Clark captured one of three seats while economist Mitch Green and longtime local government staffer Eric Zimmerman were early frontrunners in the field of 30 candidates. Other top contenders included Portland bike cop Eli Arnold, civil engineer Sarah Silkie and chess club operator Chad Lykins.

All told, 98 candidates sought a seat on Portlands 12-member legislative body, a job that comes with an annual salary of $133,000.

Additional movement and jockeying in each district race will unfold as more votes are tallied Thursday and Friday  and potentially into next week. Those additional ballots could cause significant changes during updated rounds of vote counting and upend the current order of candidate elimination.

Results are no longer up in the air in the citys first ranked-choice election for mayor. Businessman Keith Wilson won the race with Portland Commissioner Carmen Rubio his strongest contender.

The glut of council hopefuls in each district, coupled with constricted campaign finance limits, proved a challenge for candidates and prospective voters alike. It also provided an unprecedented opportunity for business groups, unions and advocacy organizations to boost their favored candidates among the dizzying field.

For example, business-backed United for Portland spent at least a collective $200,000 promoting a handful of council candidates in each of the four districts, records show. Another outside group, Portland Voter Guide PAC, raised and spent $370,000 from a coalition of racial and social justice nonprofits to help progressive candidates they deemed best qualified to get elected to local office.

Portlands pivot to multi-winner ranked-choice voting in council races was among a trio of dramatic government and election reforms voters approved two years ago amid deepening dissatisfaction with how Oregons most populous city runs and those elected to lead it.

It also proved the most controversial of the provisions, which include switching elections for mayor and city auditor to a common form of ranked-choice voting and revamping the citys bureaucracy to have professional city managers, not elected commissioners, oversee city departments and bureaus.

Political observers and scholars around the nation are watching closely to see what unfolds.

Champions of the new council voting method believe it will more fairly distribute power and offer a greater voice to communities that have traditionally lacked a seat at City Hall.

Proponents claim that by electing multiple candidates in a single district, thus lowering the threshold for each of them to win, multi-winner ranked-choice voting will better capture diverse political preferences, boost the number of people who vote and produce winners who satisfy more of the electorate.

Despite the dramatic makeover inside Portland City Hall, the problems its leaders must tackle will be dreadfully familiar, from curbing the number of homicides, drug overdoses and tents on the streets to spurring transportation improvements and building more affordable housing.

Correction: Sameer Kanals name was updated to reflect the correct spelling of his last name at 6:22 p.m. on Nov. 6.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh covers Portland city government and politics, with a focus on accountability and watchdog reporting.

Reach him at 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on X @shanedkavanaugh

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Former House Speaker Dan Rayfield beat Republican ex-prosecutor Will Lathrop by a comfortable margin in the race to become Oregons next attorney general.

Rayfield, a Democrat, had about 54% of the vote with 46% for Lathrop as of 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Democrats have held the seat since 1993, and the two contenders offered drastically different messages. Rayfield had an outsized advantage due to Oregons predominance of registered Democratic over Republican Party voters and the larger war chest to reach undecided and nonaffiliated voters.

In a statement released Tuesday evening, Rayfield said he intended to defend democracy, safeguard abortion rights and take on big polluters once in office.

It is a tremendous honor to have the trust of Oregonians to serve as their next attorney general, he said.

OREGON ELECTION 2024: Live Results Page | Election Live Updates

Rayfield, 45, a personal injury attorney who represented Corvallis in the House, pitched himself as a defender of reproductive rights and said he would push state lawyers to take more aggressive civil actions to protect Oregonians, be it by cracking down on wage theft or tackling predatory lenders.

Lathrop, 46, who worked as an assistant prosecutor in two counties and more recently led a human rights organization in Africa, said he was laser focused on public safety and reducing crime rates. That includes, he said, combating public corruption, taking down drug traffickers and investigating rampant online child sex abuse.

The big money race shaped up to be the most competitive contest for attorney general in more than a decade after a long tenure by Democrat Ellen Rosenblum, who won three four-year terms without facing a serious contender.

Rayfield easily led the fundraising fight, with about $2.5 million opposed to nearly $2 million for Lathrop.

Rayfields largest donors included labor union SEIU Local 503s political action committee, which gave $200,000, as well as the Democratic Party-aligned Guarantee PAC ($100,000) and the Oregon AFL-CIO, which provided $93,000 in in-kind contributions. Lathrops top donors included manufactured home landlord Dean Pollman ($120,000), Lyons-based Freres Timber ($70,000) and his father, Mike Lathrop ($50,000).

The fundraising imbalance prompted Lathrop to decry what he said was an influx of out-of-state donors supporting Rayfield, including East Coast law firms that specialize in representing states in massive class-action suits like those filed by attorneys general. Such donations are legal in Oregon but outlawed in other states.

For his part, Rayfield cited his support for a new state campaign finance law that will tightly limit corporate campaign contributions beginning in 2027.

Born in California, Rayfield attended Tigard High School and has made no secret of his early run-ins with the law, which included 1997 arrests for drunken driving as well as second-degree criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. The second case stemmed from Rayfield shooting a BB gun at passing cars, he said.

Rayfield eventually got on a new path, graduating from the Willamette University School of Law and becoming an attorney in Corvallis. After losing a race for Oregon Senate, Rayfield successfully ran for the House in 2014 and rapidly rose to co-chair of the powerful budget writing committee.

A self-professed wonk for voting systems, Rayfield referred this years Measure 117 to the ballot proposing ranked choice voting for many statewide and federal elections and also was a key backer of the partial rollback of Oregons drug decriminalization law. He served two years as speaker of the House before running for attorney general.

Lathrop is a sixth-generation Oregonian and grew up in Joseph, near the Wallowa Mountains, an area where his family has long farmed. After graduating from the Willamette University School of Law, Lathrop began his career as a Yamhill County prosecutor in 2005 before moving on to the Marion County District Attorneys Office in 2007.

He prosecuted a number of child and adult sex crimes and handled a murder case, then left for a job at the National District Attorneys Association in 2014. Lathrop said he was then quickly recruited by the International Justice Mission, a human rights nonprofit focused on combating human trafficking and other forms of oppression in Africa. He spent eight years at the organization before returning to Oregon to run for office.

The Oregon attorney general oversees the state Department of Justices $880 million two-year budget and 1,300 employees tasked with everything from enforcing child support payments to providing legal advice and representing state agencies in court.

The attorney general serves without term limits. The job pays $82,000 a year.

Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.

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Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez led Republican Joe Kent in the race to represent southwest Washington in Congress on Tuesday, but the contest remained too close to call.

Partial results as of 9 p.m. showed Gluesenkamp Perez with 52% of the vote and Kent with 48% in the rematch between the two to represent Washingtons 3rd Congressional District. Her preliminary vote edge was 11,800 votes.

In 2022, Gluesenkamp Perez, who had never held elected office, shocked the political world by beating Kent by less than 3,000 votes in a district that had voted for former President Donald Trump by nearly four percentage points two years earlier. Experts expected this years race to again be one of the closest in the country.

The race received national attention and drew huge spending, with national groups contributing millions in hopes of helping their party claim a majority in the U.S. House. Democrats need to flip four seats to retake the majority.

Kent largely aligned himself with positions embraced by Trump, including supporting the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, and received strong support from the districts most conservative voters. Gluesenkamp Perez, meanwhile, campaigned on her rural roots and commitment to strengthening the working class and advocating for farmers and small businesses.

The 3rd District spans a vast area, stretching from the coast to the Cascade Mountain Range. About two-thirds of the districts registered voters, however, live in a relatively small area centered around Vancouver, the largest city in Clark County.

Gluesenkamp Perez, who ran a Portland auto body shop with her husband before entering office, has solidified herself as a moderate in Congress and prides herself on advocating for rural, working-class people.

I wasnt kidding about who I was last time, and I have the voting record to back that up, Gluesenkamp Perez told The Oregonian/OregonLive Tuesday. My loyalty is to southwest Washington, not to a political agenda. I take very seriously my duty to show up and be accountable.

She has also brought several powerful federal officials, including Biden senior adviser Mitch Landrieu and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, to the district.

Gluesenkamp Perezs focus on her constituents, experts said, is likely the reason she racked up endorsements from labor unions and trade groups. Her long list of supporters included the states largest unions representing police and sheriffs, firefighters, farmers and teachers.

Kent has a compelling background that resonates in a district that reveres its veterans. He served in the U.S. Army for two decades before becoming a field operative for the CIA. He then worked as a foreign policy adviser for the Trump administration. Kents first wife, a Navy cryptologic technician, was killed in a 2019 bombing in Syria.

If elected, he promised to cut unnecessary government spending, secure the southern U.S. border and impose large tariffs on foreign imports, all Trump priorities.

Along with an endorsement from Trump, he was endorsed by several conservative members of Congress and the county and state Republican party chapters.

Gluesenkamp Perez had raised nearly $10.7 million and Kent had raised $2.3 million as of mid-October, according to federal filings. Outside groups dropped nearly $10.3 million to oppose Kent and almost $6.2 million to oppose Gluesenkamp Perez, according to Open Secrets, a nonprofit that tracks money in politics.

 Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com.

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Retired TriMet policy director Olivia Clark secured a spot on the Portland City Council on Tuesday night, easily reaching the 25% vote threshold during preliminary rounds of ranked-choice rounds to represent District 4.

Votes will continue to be tallied in the coming days. That means the vote totals could change, but The Oregonian/OregonLive projects that Clarks total wont drop below the 25% plus one vote threshold needed to secure a seat on the new 12-person City Council.

Energy economist Mitch Green and high-ranking Multnomah County staffer Eric Zimmerman were in second and third place after updated results were released at 5 p.m. Wednesday, but their races remained too close to call.

Thirty candidates competed to represent District 4, which encompasses all of Portlands west side and a handful of neighborhoods in Southeast Portland.

Olivia Clark was the first candidate in Portland City Council District 4 to clear the 25% vote threshold necessary to win a seat on the new 12-member council.Courtesy of Olivia Clark

Of the remaining 27 contenders in District 4, these three placed next, making one of them the most likely to potentially move into the second and third slots as more votes are counted: police officer Eli Arnold, Sarah Silkie, a civil engineer and Chad Lykins, the founder of an after-school chess program. Bob Weinstein, the former mayor of Ketchikan, Alaska ranked seventh after additional votes were counted Wednesday.

Roughly 45% of votes cast in Multnomah County were yet to be counted when election officials ran the initial ranked-choice rounds shortly before releasing preliminary results Tuesday evening. Rounds have been run again on more complete ballot results Wednesday afternoon and will be again to include any more ballots that come in.

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The change to electing three City Council members from each of four geographic districts, expanding the panel from five members, is among a trio of dramatic government and election reforms voters approved two years ago.

The others include ending the practice of having individual council members oversee particular city bureaus and giving that job to professional city administrators. Under the new system, the mayor will only cast a vote on city policies if the City Council ties and wont have veto power.

The precise ranked-choice method that Portland is using to select multiple candidates in a single district is not used in any other major U.S. city.

Clark, who lives in the Johns Landing neighborhood, has said she wants to expand both Portland Street Response and the number of police that the city is able to hire, as well as streamline the citys notoriously complicated permitting process for new developments.

Mitch Green is in contention for a seat on the new 12-member Portland City Council, but his race remains too close to call. Courtesy of Mitch Green

Green has said he would like for Portland to be a leader in clean energy development and, like Clark, he wants to simplify permitting for development. He has also advocated for a laser focus on core city functions like the Portland Bureau of Transportation, public safety and parks.

Eric Zimmerman is contention for to represent District 4 on the new 12-member Portland City Council, but the race remains too close to call.Campaign photo

Zimmerman, who currently serves as the chief of staff to Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards, has named increasing the Portland Police Bureaus neighborhood response team as a top priority. And he said the city should focus on opening another round of temporary alternative shelter sites and large pod shelters.

District 4 includes both downtown Portland and Old Town, each epicenters of the regions homelessness crisis, as well as the leafy enclaves of the West Hills, home to many of the citys wealthiest residents. It encompasses almost all of Portlands major universities and hospitals, most of its flagship cultural centers and also includes the Southeast Portland neighborhoods around Reed College, including Eastmoreland and Sellwood.

The voting age population in District 4 is 77% white, the highest in the city, according to city data. Just 2.6% of the District 4 voting age population is Black and 7% is Hispanic. The median household income in District 4 is the highest in the city, at about $94,000 a year.

Five District 4 candidates raised more than $100,000 with the citys small donor matching program. Clark led the field with $176,000 raised. Green raised $139,000. Lykins raised $126,000, while environmental advocate Sarah Silkie raised $103,000 and retired construction management consultant Stan Penkin raised $101,000. Political consultant and neighborhood advocate Moses Ross was next with $99,600.

As befits a district that traditionally leans slightly more to the center than the rest of the city, many District 4 candidates staked out relatively moderate political ground, particularly on the hot-button issue of the best strategy to house the homeless. But progressive voters had plenty of choices on their ballots, too, including Green, Lykins, Silkie and government transition specialist Lisa Freeman.

Only one of the District 4 candidates has ever previously been elected to public office: Weinstein, who was the mayor of Ketchikan, Alaska. Candidates ranged in age from their late 20s to mid-70s and represented a range of racial, ethnic and gender identities, though the District 4 field was the least diverse among any district citywide. Twenty three of the District 4 hopefuls are men, six are women and one identifies as non-binary.

 Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com. Follow her on X.com at @jrlsilverman.
Hillsboro residents opposed adding fluoride to the water supply in a non-binding vote Tuesday.

As of 12 a.m. Wednesday, partial returns showed 42% supporting the measure and 58% against, with 54% turnout thus far.

Though the vote on Measure 34-338 is advisory only, the Hillsboro Water Department committed beforehand to following voters recommendation, unless the regulations on fluoride or the costs of adding the mineral change dramatically.

Throughout much of the U.S., fluoride is put in public drinking water at a concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter to strengthen tooth enamel. Portland is the largest city in the country not to do so.

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I think the results say that the people of Hillsboro do prefer having choice on whether they ingest fluoride or not, Matthew Sztelle, director of anti-fluoridation political action committee Clean Water Hillsboro, said Tuesday night.

Healthy Teeth Hillsboro, which supported the measure, expressed disappointment and said the group would continue advocating for community health in a social media post.

In Hillsboro, implementing fluoridation would have taken at least four to five years, Hillsboro Water Department Director Niki Iverson told The Oregonian/OregonLive in September. The project would cost about $4 million, but spreading it out and delaying other, non-urgent projects would have allowed the department to avoid raising water rates, Iverson said.

The Hillsboro Water Department currently supplies fluoride-free water to Gaston, Cornelius and the parts of Hillsboro that are west of Cornelius Pass Road and south of U.S. 26. The Tualatin Valley Water District, which already puts fluoride in the water, supplies about 15,000 Hillsboro residents.

Within Washington County, Beaverton and Forest Grove also fluoridate the water.

Supporters of Measure 34-338 pointed to the minerals dental benefits as the key reason to add it to Hillsboros water supply. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hails water fluoridation as one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, and the American Dental Association unreservedly endorses the practice.

But opponents pointed to a growing body of research that fluoride can hurt childrens neurological development.

A report from the federal National Toxicology Program found an association between fluoride at concentrations of at least 1.5 milligrams per liter and lower IQ  though the scientists didnt draw conclusions about the impact of fluoride at lower concentrations. In September, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency must increase its regulation of fluoride out of concerns for the impact on the development of childrens brains.

Experts also dispute the efficacy of putting fluoride in the water. Ashley Malin, who studies the effect of fluoride exposure on neurodevelopmental outcomes at the University of Florida, said in September that fluoride works best when applied topically, as via a mouthwash or toothpaste.

However, the American Dental Association supports both topically applied and ingested fluoride. Some research, including a 2018 federal government-funded study, has found fluoridated water to be associated with lower cavity rates.

In the Portland area, this issue is particularly controversial. Hillsboro hadnt voted on fluoridation in about 70 years, when it approved adding fluoride before rejecting it in a second vote a year later. In 2013, meanwhile, Portland debated a measure similar to Hillsboros that voters ultimately rejected 61% to 39%.

Healthy Teeth Hillsboro had raised about $35,000 to support the measure, campaign finance records showed Tuesday. Clean Water Hillsboro raised $20,000.

 Aviva Bechky covers politics and education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. They can be reached at abechky@oregonian.com or on X at @avivabechky.

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Oregonians will stick with winner-takes-all elections for federal and statewide offices, after the states voters rejected Measure 117 Tuesday.

Incomplete returns as of 6:45 a.m. Wednesday showed 60% of voters opposing the measure and 40% supporting it.

The ballot measure would have required officials to put ranked-choice voting into place by 2028 for elections for president, Congress, governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer and labor commissioner. It would have also allowed cities and counties to implement the voting system for local elections and required the Secretary of States Office to create a voter education program for the new system.

Under the ranked-choice system the measure would institute, voters rank candidates on their ballot in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than half of the first-place votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. The votes for that candidate are then redistributed to the remaining candidates based on the voters subsequent preferences. This process continues until one candidate receives a majority of the votes.

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Supporters of the measure said it would encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to run for office, as they would have fewer concerns about splitting votes with similar candidates. Additionally, they believe that ranked-choice gives more voters a voice in elections and increases voter engagement.

Opponents of the measure argue that the expanded ballots needed for ranked-choice voting create more opportunities for voter errors. They also contend voters wont factor into the outcome if their top choices are eliminated during the vote tallying process.

The measure received support from many prominent Oregon civil rights, labor and civic engagement groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, the League of Women Voters and the Urban League of Portland.

Wealthy supporters of ranked-choice voting from outside Oregon contributed millions of dollars to support the ballot measure. The political action committee supporting Measure 117 had raised $9.4 million as of Tuesday, campaign finance filings show, nearly all of which came from out-of-state nonprofits.

Though no campaign raised money to oppose Measure 117, a group of county clerks launched a political action committee in August to raise concerns about the measure. The clerks said the new voting system would overburden their offices and cost millions to implement. They also said they were not adequately consulted when the Legislature referred the measure to the ballot in 2023.

 Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com.

 Jonathan Bach covers housing and real estate. Reach him at jbach@oregonian.com or 503-221-4303.

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Nonprofit policy director Meghan Moyer secured a seat on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners to represent Portlands westside, defeating administrative law judge Vadim Mozyrsky.

Partial results tallied as of 8 p.m. show Moyer with 57% of the vote to Mozyrskys 42%. But county officials estimate as many as 46% of countywide ballots may be left to be tallied.

The winner succeeds District 1 Commissioner Sharon Meieran, Chair Jessica Vega Pedersons fiercest critic on the board. Meieran was barred from running again due to term limits.

The boards politics and policies are likely to shift Jan. 1 as the winner of the race joins two other new commissioners on the board. Vince Jones-Dixon won a seat in May and Sam Adams or Shannon Singleton are competing for a seat in District 2. They will join Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards on the board.

Commissioners make $149,000 a year.

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The race comes as the county faces significant challenges, including an unstable partnership with Portland to curtail homelessness, a rocky beginning to its deflection program offering people caught with hard drugs an alternative to jail and a lack of drug treatment beds and behavioral health care.

Moyer, public policy director for Disability Rights Oregon, failed to reach the 50% threshold necessary to win outright in the May primary, spurring a runoff between her and Mozyrsky. Moyer received 47% of the vote to Mozyrskys 40% in May.

Both candidates have campaigned on promises of addressing homelessness, drug addiction and public safety efficiently and with long-lasting solutions, but they disagree on how those problems should be handled.

Mozyrsky, who ran for Portland City Council two years ago but lost in the primary, supports jailing homeless campers who violate Portlands camping ban and refuse offers of shelter. He has also called for cutting county taxes across the board and a forensic audit of the city-county funded Joint Office of Homeless Services.

In contrast, Moyer said she would only support jailing people experiencing homelessness under a few specific circumstances, would look for more modest tax cuts for middle class families and prioritize increasing access to long-term intensive care programs for people struggling with substance use disorder.

Moyers work in public policy spans two decades, first as a campaign manager, then a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union Local 503. The 44-year-old now serves as a policy director at Disability Rights Oregon.

Campaign finance records show Moyer has raised $48,000 as of Tuesday, far less than her opponent, but shes secured endorsements from several large public employee unions, including SEIU Local 503 and 49 and AFSCME Local 88. She also received support from several state legislators, former Gov. Kate Brown and Deborah Kafoury, the former county chair.

Mozyrsky, 51, moved to the U.S. from Ukraine as a refugee when he was 7 years old. He has been a judge with the Social Security Administration since 2012. He also leads the Goose Hollow neighborhood association and serves on the board of the Immigrant Refugee Community Organization.

Mozyrsky has raised $174,000, including $40,000 he loaned himself, campaign finance records show. He received the backing of law enforcement and private sector unions, neighborhood associations, District Attorney-elect Nathan Vasquez and Portland Mayoral candidates Keith Wilson, Mingus Mapps and Rene Gonzalez, among others. Meieran also endorsed Mozyrsky as her successor.

Moyer said shell bring a pragmatic and collaborative voice to the county board while also challenging the status quo.

I ran for this office because I know the challenges we face can be fixed, Moyer told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

 Austin De Dios covers Multnomah County politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios.

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Voter turnout in Oregon reached at least 69%, the Oregon Elections Division reported Wednesday morning, but counties are continuing to update ballot totals and ballots returned by mail are still trickling in.

In final official tallies for November 2016, 80% of registered Oregon voters are recorded as having cast ballots. Official tallies show that figure reached 82% in 2020.
Voters on Tuesday rejected a ballot measure that would have raised corporate taxes to give all Oregon residents an estimated $1,600 per year.

Voters were against the measure 79% to 21% in partial returns as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Measure 118 would have implemented a 3% tax on most corporations total sales in Oregon above $25 million and distributed the revenue equally among all residents through direct cash payments or refundable tax credits starting in 2025. The measure would have established the nations largest universal basic income program.

The size and diversity of our coalition show just how flawed Measure 118 was, said Angela Wilhelms, chair of the Defeat the Costly Tax on Sales campaign in a statement Tuesday night.

Proponents of the measure said it would alleviate poverty and stimulate the state economy by providing a boost to all Oregonians, while also requiring corporations to pay their fair share of taxes. The Legislative Revenue Office estimated that the proposed tax would generate $1.3 billion in the biennium that ends next June and significantly more in the future.

But the measure received widespread backlash from Gov. Tina Kotek, Democratic and Republican leaders in the Legislature, scores of businesses and multiple nonpartisan research groups, which argued that the proposed tax would lead to higher prices, deter businesses from operating in Oregon and hamstring the state budget.

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Dozens of cities and counties nationwide have launched various forms of universal basic income programs, with many reporting successful outcomes in helping residents afford basic necessities and improving families quality of life.

But Oregon would have been just the second state to offer some form of basic income to all residents. Since the 1970s, Alaska has taken a portion of all oil and mining revenues, put it into a special account, and distributed interest and proceeds from that account to its residents annually. Last year, every resident received a $1,312 payout from the program.

Critics said Measure 118 would do more harm than good. For example, some families who would have received the annual rebate proposed in the measure could lose eligibility for federal benefits, such as food stamps, according to a state report.

The campaign supporting the measure failed to acquire substantial support in Oregon, even among progressive groups that typically support raising taxes on corporations. It listed less than 10 endorsements on its website. Campaign finance filings show that the group raised $637,000 to support the measure, nearly all of which came from wealthy Californians who support universal basic income initiatives.

Meanwhile, the campaign opposed to the measure compiled an extensive list of endorsements and had raised nearly $16 million as of Tuesday, largely from businesses that argued that the new tax would force them to raise their prices and hurt consumers. They also argued that instituting a tax on gross sales, instead of net profit, would unfairly target businesses with thin profit margins, such as grocery stores and construction companies.

The opposition campaign was bankrolled in part by a political action committee funded by grocery and retail stores  including Kroger, Albertsons-Safeway and Costco  which donated $1.8 million between August and October.

Proponents of the measure argued that corporations exaggerated their claims and that businesses would use the new tax as an excuse to raise their prices higher than necessary.

Update: This story was updated at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 6 to reflect the latest vote totals.

 Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com.

 Lillian Mongeau Hughes covers homelessness and mental health. Reach her at lmhughes@oregonian.com or on X at @lrmongeau.

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The United States condemns the unjust imprisonment by the Peoples Republic of China of well-known human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife, Xu Yan. On October 29, a court in Suzhou handed down sentences of three years to Yu and one year and nine months to Xu, after finding them guilty of the so-called crime of inciting subversion of state power.

These sentences demonstrate the PRCs continuing efforts to silence those who speak out for human rights and the rule of law, said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement. The European Union, as well as the foreign ministries of France and Germany, also deplored the verdict and sentencing of Yu Wensheng and Xu Yan and called for their immediate release.

Yu and Xu were detained in April 2023 when they were on their way to a meeting with European Union officials in Beijing. Previously, as the State Departments 2023 human rights report on the PRC noted, Yu was released in 2022 after serving a four-year prison term for his civil society efforts. He had defended the rights of other human rights lawyers who had been arrested and charged under the so-called 709 crackdown in 2015, when Chinese authorities rounded up more than 200 lawyers and activists. Yus wife Xu was a tireless advocate for her husbands release.

Spokesperson Miller pointed out that during the pairs August 2024 trial in Suzhou, authorities barred the attendance of diplomats from several foreign missions, including those from the United States, undermining transparency that is critical to ensuring respect for Yu and Xus right to a fair trial.

Spokesperson Miller said the United States calls on the PRC to immediately and unconditionally release Yu Wensheng and Xu Yan. We also reiterate our request for the PRC to release all those unjustly detained or imprisoned. The United States, he declared, continues to stand with those who bravely fight for human rights in the PRC and around the world.
First-term Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer and four-term Democratic state lawmaker Janelle Bynum remain locked in a fierce battle Wednesday for Oregons 5th Congressional District, a race that could help determine which party wins control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Preliminary results as of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday showed Bynum with about 48% of the vote to Chavez-DeRemers 45%.

Statewide, at least 260,000 ballots, or about 12% of those cast, have yet to be tallied, including many in Clackamas and Multnomah counties, where Bynum is leading, and Marion County, where Chavez-DeRemer is dominating. That is why the outcome remains too close to call.

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Chavez-DeRemer, the former mayor of Happy Valley, flipped the redrawn district to Republican control in 2022, beating Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner by a slim margin of 2 percentage points. The district stretches more than 5,000 square miles from Milwaukie and Lake Oswego along the Interstate 5 corridor south to Albany and east to capture Redmond and Bend.

National Democrats prioritized regaining the seat. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries personally encouraged Bynum, a four-term state lawmaker, to challenge Chavez-DeRemer. Bynum would be Oregons first Black representative in Congress.

Registered Democrats, who make up about 31% of the districts 540,000 voters, outnumber Republicans, who make up about 27% of voters. However, unaffiliated voters are the largest group, at 34% of registrations.

Democrats needed to flip just four seats in the November election to regain a majority in the U.S. House. As both parties angled for control, they homed in on Oregons 5th District. National elections watchers ranked it as one of just a couple dozen tossup races hotly contested between Democrats and Republicans.

Both parties poured enormous money and resources into the race. Jeffries stumped for Bynum and House Speaker Mike Johnson twice visited to rally support for Chavez-DeRemer.

National analysts expected the race to be one of the most expensive on the House battlefield, primarily based on spending not controlled by the candidates.

Bynum raised a whopping $3.4 million in the last quarter before the election, which her team said set a state record for fundraising in a single quarter. The haul helped Bynum overtake Chavez-DeRemers fundraising lead. Bynum had raised $6.4 million as of mid-October to Chavez-DeRemers $5.7 million.

Outside spending in the race totaled more than $24 million by late October, according to Open Secrets, which tracks money in politics. Most of that was spent on attacks. Bynum had weathered more than $8.3 million in ads vilifying her by election day and Chavez-DeRemer had been the target of more than $9 million in negative spending.

Chavez-DeRemer touted her record as a highly bipartisan member of Congress. She co-sponsored more than 300 bills in just two years in Washington and her team claimed more than 80% of those were bipartisan. The Lugar Center and Georgetown University ranked Chavez-DeRemer as the most bipartisan lawmaker in Oregon and 29th most bipartisan person in the House in 2023.

Bynum pointed to her track record of delivering for voters over nearly eight years in Salem. She led the passage of the Oregon CHIPS Act, a bill that allocated a quarter million dollars to boost the states semiconductor industry and was expected to create more than 6,000 new jobs. She pushed for $80 million to recruit and retain more mental health workers and in 2021 helped to pass over a dozen law enforcement accountability bills.

Both cast their opponents as partisan extremists.

Bynum accused Chavez-DeRemer of being a rubber stamp for the Republicans and an ally of former President Donald Trump. Chavez-DeRemer said shes not afraid to stand up to her party and pointed to her efforts to force a vote on a bipartisan bill to end some benefit limits on Social Security, a move that bucked the wishes of House Republican leaders.

In 2022, Chavez-DeRemer posted on social media that she would favor laws that ban abortion after a babys heartbeat is detected early in pregnancy. This election cycle she said abortion is a matter of states rights and she would not support a national ban.

Chavez-DeRemer attempted to blame Bynum for Oregons shortcomings, including the ill effects from Measure 110, the voter-approved drug decriminalization law. She also targeted Bynum as soft on crime, casting her as an enemy of law enforcement.

Bynum asserted that her police reform bills were backed by Republican members of the Legislature and law enforcement. She was among the Democrats who voted to roll back Measure 110 this spring.

Late in the race, Republicans dogged Bynum over an unsubstantiated complaint that she failed to report allegations that a former member of her campaign staff sexually assaulted a minor. The Oregonian/OregonLive found no evidence that Bynum was told about a sexual assault. Bynum says she reported other, less severe concerns about the staffers behavior to his employer when she was made aware of them.

If reelected, Chavez-DeRemer says she will work to increase border security and to uphold tax cuts implemented by former President Donald Trump. Bynum says she will push for national access to abortion and to reduce the cost of housing.

On Tuesday night, both campaigns released statements acknowledging the ongoing uncertainty in the race.

We are still waiting for the final results for Oregons 5th Congressional District, but its imperative that every lawful vote is counted, and our team will continue to monitor the returns. We are confident in our path to victory, Bynum said in a written statement. I am grateful for the outpouring of support for my campaign.

As we wait, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported my campaign, Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. Oregonians want a strong, independent representative who will get things done to improve our communities. Im confident that voters appreciate my track record.

Sami Edge covers higher education and politics for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.
Meghan Moyer bested Vadim Mozyrsky to win a spot on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, while fellow progressive Shannon Singleton won the race for the boards second open seat.

The winners of the two races will join current Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards and Gresham City Councilor Vince Jones-Dixon, who both earned seats in May, on the board Jan. 1. The new makeup of the commission could shift the direction of policy and politics in the county.

As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, Moyer had captured 57% of the vote in the race to represent District 1 on Portlands westside, compared to Mozyrskys 42%. Moyer will succeed Commissioner Sharon Meieran, the boards fiercest critic of county Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. But county officials estimate as many as 46% of countywide ballots may be left to be tallied.

In the divisive race for District 2, which encompasses North and Northeast Portland, Singleton had secured 53% of the vote to Adams 46%. The winner will replace Commissioner Jesse Beason, who was appointed last year to succeed Susheela Jayapal after she left to run for Congress.

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The election comes as the county faces significant challenges, including an unstable partnership with Portland to curtail homelessness, a rocky beginning to its deflection program offering people caught with hard drugs an alternative to jail and a lack of drug treatment beds and behavioral health care.

Both races pitted more progressive candidates against more moderate candidates who pitched different solutions to the countys persistent problems.

Adams, the controversial former mayor of Portland and a longtime City Hall power broker, said he supports arresting homeless people who violate the citys camping restrictions and refuse offers of shelter, an approach he dubbed relentless compassion. Singleton, by contrast, said arresting homeless people will not address the root cause of the problem.

Singleton served for eight months as the head of the city-county funded Joint Office of Homeless Services in 2022. She wants the county to increase the number of outreach workers it employs, expand shelter bed access and work with the state to bolster behavioral health resources. Adams said he wants the county, city and Portlands housing authority Home Forward to consolidate their approach to solving homelessness under one homelessness czar.

Mozyrsky and Moyer conveyed similar divides.

Mozyrsky, an administrative law judge who unsuccessfully ran for Portland City Council two years ago, supports jailing homeless campers who violate camping restrictions and refuse offers of shelter. He has also called for cutting county taxes across the board and a forensic audit of the Joint Office of Homeless Services.

In contrast, Moyer, the policy director at Disability Rights Oregon, said she would only support jailing people experiencing homelessness in a few specific circumstances, would look for more modest tax cuts for middle class families and prioritize increasing access to long-term intensive care programs for people struggling with substance use disorder.

Moyer, Adams and Mozyrsky all expressed support for getting rid of an executive power that has allowed Vega Pederson as chair to unilaterally determine what goes on the boards agenda.

Campaign finance records show Moyer had raised $48,000 as of Tuesday, far less than her opponent, but shes secured endorsements from several large public employee unions, including SEIU Local 503 and 49 and AFSCME Local 88. She also received support from several state legislators, former Gov. Kate Brown and Deborah Kafoury, the former county chair.

Mozyrsky raised $174,000, including $40,000 hes loaned himself, campaign finance records show. He received backing from law enforcement and private sector unions, neighborhood associations, District Attorney-elect Nathan Vasquez and Portland mayoral candidates Keith Wilson, Mingus Mapps and Rene Gonzalez, among others. Meieran also endorsed Mozyrsky as her successor.

Singleton had raised $50,000 as of Tuesday and amassed support from several public employee unions, including SEIU Local 49 and 503 and AFSCME Local 88, which represent many of the countys employees. Former Gov. Kate Brown also endorsed her.

Adams secured the backing of business organizations, private sector, law enforcement and firefighter unions and a handful of former county commissioners. He had raised over $207,000 as of Tuesday. Business coalition United for Portland poured tens of thousands of dollars into supporting Adams and attacking his opponent.

 Austin De Dios covers Multnomah County politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios.

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North and Northeast Portland voters in District 2 elected social services leader Shannon Singleton to the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, thwarting former Portland Mayor Sam Adams attempt at a political comeback.

Singleton captured 54% of the vote to Adams 45%, according to preliminary results as of 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Adams and Singleton have pitched very different approaches to resolving the countys most pressing challenges, including homelessness, behavioral health and drug addiction. Singleton has promoted more progressive policies, as opposed to Adams centrist and business-friendly policy approach.

Those differences, experts said, were a test of voters' instincts in the countys most progressive district. In the May primary, Singleton received 46% of the vote, compared to Adams 24%. A third candidate, Jessie Burke, whose policies were more in line with Adams, won 22% of the vote.

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Policy divides between Adams and Singleton became more pronounced in the months leading up to the election. That was particularly stark when it came to their stances on homelessness and how to deal with street camping.

Adams, a longtime City Hall power broker with decades of experience in Portland politics, supports arresting homeless people who violate camping restrictions and refuse offers of shelter. Singleton, by contrast, believes arresting homeless people will not address the root cause of the problem.

Singleton served for eight months as the head of the city-county funded Joint Office of Homeless Services in 2022, which at the time was chronically underspending tax dollars. She wants the county to increase the number of outreach workers it employs, expand shelter bed access and work with the state to secure more drug addiction treatment beds. Adams wants the county, city and Portlands housing authority Home Forward to consolidate their approach to solving homelessness under one homelessness czar.

Singleton served as executive director of homeless services nonprofit JOIN before moving on to work as Gov. Kate Browns housing policy adviser and later her director of equity and racial justice from 2019 to 2022. She also made a bid for Multnomah County chair two years ago, but suspended her campaign after former Chair Deborah Kafoury asked her to lead the joint office.

Singleton had raised $50,000 as of Tuesday and amassed support from several public employee unions, including SEIU Local 49 and 503 and AFSCME Local 88, which represent many of the countys employees. Former Gov. Kate Brown also endorsed her.

For two decades, Adams worked beside former Portland Mayor Vera Katz as her chief of staff before becoming a city commissioner. He went on to become the first openly gay mayor of a major American city. Adams did not pursue a second term under the cloud of a 2009 sex scandal, but later returned to city politics as one of Ted Wheelers top advisers in 2022. Less than two years later, he stepped down due to what he said were health issues, but Wheeler claimed he asked Adams to leave amid allegations that he bullied female employees.

Adams secured the backing of business organizations, private sector, law enforcement and firefighter unions and a handful of former county commissioners. Hes raised over $207,000 as of Tuesday. Business coalition United for Portland also poured tens of thousands of dollars into supporting Adams and attacking his opponent.

The district, which spans from St. Johns to Parkrose, has historically been the most progressive of the commissions four geographic zones. Its 148,000 registered voters will decide which of the two candidates will replace Commissioner Jesse Beason, who was appointed last year to succeed Susheela Jayapal after she left to pursue an unsuccessful bid for Congress. Beason recently announced he would scale back his county duties, despite the short time left before his term ends.

Because the District 2 race was a special election, Singleton will be sworn in once the ballots are certified. Gresham City Councilor Vince Jones-Dixon and Meghan Moyer will join the revamped board Jan. 1.

The new voices are likely to shift the policies and priorities of the board.

Commissioners make $149,000 a year.

Singleton said she would use her voice on the board to vouch for voters in her district and continue to serve the countys most vulnerable.

Im looking forward to working with the other commissioners to move ahead together and start getting things done, she told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

 Austin De Dios covers Multnomah County politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios.

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Democratic U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, won reelection in Oregons 4th Congressional District on Tuesday night.

Preliminary results as of 8 p.m. showed Hoyle with 53.5% of the vote. Her challenger, Republican veteran and lawyer Monique DeSpain, had captured 43%.

The 4th District covers most of the states coast, stretching from Lincoln City south to the California border and jutting inland to capture Corvallis, Eugene and Roseburg.

OREGON ELECTION 2024: Live Results Page | Election Live Updates

After more than six years in the Oregon House and four as the states labor commissioner, Hoyle first ran for Congress in 2022. She defeated Republican Alek Skarlatos in the open race to replace retiring Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, who had represented the 4th District for 35 years.

In Washington, Hoyle has passed bills to restore hunting and fishing rights for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, enhance worker safety measures and provide infrastructure grants for commercial fishing ports.

Hoyle will start her second term in Congress in January. She plans to keep working to expand the port of Coos Bay and on forest management, she said.

DeSpain, a U.S. Air Force veteran, hoped to court voters away from Hoyle by branding herself as a political outsider, who wouldnt be a party stamp for the Republican establishment. She said her priorities in office would be restoring economic prosperity and securing the border.

DeSpains campaign was boosted by outside support from the National Republican Congressional Committee, which saw a chance to undermine Hoyle by targeting her tenure as labor commissioner. It hammered Hoyle for having a friendly relationship with Rosa Cazares, co-founder of the embattled La Mota cannabis chain, which racked up millions in liens and lawsuits while its owners schmoozed Oregons top democrats. Hoyle also took pains to champion a grant proposal from a nonprofit Cazares co-founded, as reported by Willamette Week.

The national Republican PAC and DeSpain focused huge efforts on attacking Hoyle by alleging she was tangled in corruption and cover ups, related to La Mota, which Hoyle denies. Hoyle argues her relationship with Cazares was similar to her friendliness toward other business owners. Hoyle also said Cazares nonprofit lied on its application in a way that hid Cazares involvement in it, and that she did not put her finger on the scale in favor of the grant.

The national Republican PAC spent nearly $400,000 on a litany of ads targeting Hoyles reputation. DeSpain also got help from a newly formed political committee called A Safer Stronger Oregon, which raised money from Oregon business owners to fund nearly $80,000 in spending against Hoyle.

The House Majority PAC, which aims to win a Democratic Majority in the U.S House of Representatives, put $140,000 into the race on Hoyles behalf, funding attacks against DeSpain. Hoyle also far outraised her challenger, taking in more than $2 million for her reelection bid by mid-October, to DeSpains $830,000, according to federal campaign finance records.

DeSpains bid ultimately appeared to fall short of toppling Hoyles incumbency, as expected by national elections watchers, who predicted that the Democrat was likely to retain her seat.

Registered Democrats make up about 32% of the districts 523,000 voters, while Republicans represent about 25% and non-affiliated voters make up 35%.

Sami Edge covers higher education and politics for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.
A video was making the rounds Tuesday evening on social media of a voter who told CNN, I wasnt going to vote at all until my girlfriend was blowing up my phone telling me to go vote and if I didnt she was going to break up with me.

OREGON ELECTION 2024: Live Results Page | Election Live Updates

The voter, Brian Flores in North Carolina, told CNNs reporter that he voted for Harris.

Later in the interview, he said that he made up the fact that she was going to break up with him, but his girlfriend had encouraged him to vote when he was planning on sitting the election out.

According to Flores, it took him a couple hours to vote because he had to fix his address.

The video gained popularity on social media, where former Portland comedian Amy Miller called the mans girlfriend a young queen with standards and one tweet of the clip had nearly 400,000 views in 15 minutes.

 Lizzy Acker covers life and culture and writes the advice column Why Tho? Reach her at 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com or @lizzzyacker

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A parade of cars snaked through the parking lot at the Clackamas County Clerks Office early Tuesday afternoon as voters hustled to drop off their ballots.

Inside the clerks office, about 130 workers, most of them hired on a temporary basis to help process ballots, sat at tables. They moved efficiently, separating ballots from envelopes. Each wore a lanyard corresponding with their political affiliation.

The workers carried out their democratic duties under the gaze of more than a dozen observers who spent the day peering into the closed room through a bank of wide windows.

Observers have long been part of the election process; this fall, people sowing doubt on the integrity of U.S. elections are heading into local elections offices to look for irregularities that they plan to use to challenge the results. The movement grew out of the extraordinary effort to deny the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election.

Last month, volunteers with United Sovereign Americans told Clackamas County commissioners that the 2022 election results were fraudulent and illegal based on their own audit. Western States Center, a Portland-based organization that monitors right-wing extremism, called the organization an election denialist group. Oregon elections officials said the audit is riddled with misunderstandings and doesnt hold up to scrutiny.

In Oregon City, the public is welcome to observe. Often, observers represent candidates or the Republican and Democratic parties. Those interested showed up on Tuesday and as long as there was space -- only 15 observers are permitted at a time -- they were allowed in.

One observer, a member of the Republican party, said Oregon needs to return to in-person voting and require voters to show proof of their identity. I dont trust any of it, Mark Reaksecker, who lives in Oregon City.

Don Powers, co-chair of the Election Integrity Committee of the Oregon Republican Party, said he worries about the handling of ballots where a voters intent isnt clear. Those ballots end up being reviewed by pairs of election workers, each from different parties.

I tend to believe that nothing nefarious goes on here, Powers said, referring to Clackamas County. Theres a lot of people yelling, screaming and thinking were gonna watch everything because theyre gonna do something wrong.

Powers peered through the window and over the shoulders of two workers deciphering ballots where the voter had partially filled in one rectangle and filled in the other on a question of whether unincorporated Clackamas County should ban psilocybin businesses.

He said that while he sometimes doesnt understand or agree with the elections workers decisions, these are good people.

Jennifer Constantine and Mark Smith, both representing the Clackamas County Democrats, stood together watching workers stack ballots to prepare them for processing.

Constantine, who like Smith lives in Wilsonville, said she planned to stay for a six-hour shift.

So far, said Constantine, I am just really impressed with the checks and balances in the system. Its a good system. It seems very robust with a lot of redundancies built into it to make sure things are happening the way they should be.

On the other side of the windows, elections workers remained focused on moving ballots through the system. A long afternoon and evening lay ahead; most planned to keep working until 10 p.m.

 Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.

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The 2024 election wraps up tonight with a tight race between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President and Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris. Popular news TV networks, media organizations and late-night comedians will all be out to cover Tuesdays Election Day 2024 events and results, and there are a few ways you can watch for free.

 You can watch live election TV news coverage tonight for free with Fubo (free trial). You can also watch live coverage for free with DirecTV Stream. If you are an Oregonian, be sure to follow along with our live updates for the latest confirmed race results and more.

There is reportedly only a thin margin of voters in key swing states casting their ballots that will likely determine a winner. We dont yet know when results will be clear, but millions of Americans will be paying close attention to what transpires. Here are details on how to watch on Tuesday, and in the following days, as news develops in whats being called one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime.

TV news coverage: Major cable news networks including CNN, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, and MSNBC will be providing round-the-clock coverage on Tuesday. C-SPAN will also carry live coverage all day Tuesday. Telemundo will offer Spanish-language primetime coverage.

Live streaming on demand: Stream the broadcast and cable news networks on their online websites. Or, as described above, you can watch election coverage on major TV news networks tonight live for free with Fubo (free trial) and another streaming service that offer a free trial, like DirecTV Stream. Fubo includes MSNBC and FOX News channels that will broadcast election coverage tonight. If you prefer CNN, C-SPAN or other networks, you can also watch live coverage for free with DirecTV Stream (free trial) or Sling.

If you dont already have one, another great way to watch future election coverage and major broadcast events for free  without signing up for a cable package, satellite package or streaming service  is with the help of an over-the-air HDTV antenna. An HD antenna will get you several of the top over-the-air broadcast channels such as ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS and more.

If you need to get one now, a solid and well-rated HDTV antenna can be purchased for around $20 on Amazon and it ships quickly with Prime. If you dont have a membership already, sign up for a Prime free trial.

If you are an Oregonian, you can find everything you need to know in order to cast your vote today or about where to find election results as they are made available, on our politics page. Here are some early highlights and key stories before results start pouring in.
Clearwater Paper Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

"We delivered a strong third quarter, even as we dealt with the impact of Hurricane Helene at our Augusta, Georgia and Shelby, North Carolina facilities."  Arsen Kitch, President and CEO of Clearwater Paper. "We delivered a strong third quarter, even as we dealt with the impact of Hurricane Helene at our Augusta, Georgia and Shelby, North Carolina facilities."  Arsen Kitch, President and CEO of Clearwater Paper.

Nov. 5, 2024 - Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW) [on Nov. 4] reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

With the consummation of the sale of our tissue business on November 1, 2024, all periods presented include our former tissue segment as discontinued operations and the paperboard segment plus corporate expenses as continuing operations. Total operations includes both continuing and discontinued operations.

Net sales from continuing operations of $393 million, up 41% from the third quarter of last year primarily due to incremental volume from our Augusta facility

Net sales from total operations of $644 million, up 24% from the third quarter of last year

Net loss from continuing operations of $11 million, or 0.64 per diluted share compared to net income from continuing operations of $15 million, or $0.88 per diluted share in the third quarter of last year

Net income from total operations of $6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share compared to $37 million, or $2.17 per diluted share in the third quarter of last year

Adjusted EBITDA from total operations of $64 million compared to $81 million in the third quarter of last year

"We delivered a strong third quarter, even as we dealt with the impact of Hurricane Helene at our Augusta, Georgia and Shelby, North Carolina facilities," said Arsen Kitch, president and CEO. "We are also pleased that we closed on the sale of our tissue business and are now well positioned to execute on our strategy of building a premier paperboard company that is focused on servicing independent converters in North America."

NEW $100 MILLION SHARE REPURCHASE AUTHORIZATION

Clearwater Paper's Board of Directors has approved a new $100 million share repurchase authorization, allowing the Company to opportunistically repurchase shares in addition to offsetting the dilution from employee share grants. This authorization replaces the Company's previous authorization. The timing and amount of any repurchases of common stock will be solely at the discretion of the Company and is subject to general business and market conditions, as well as other factors. The authorization permits the Company to make repurchases of its common stock from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, including accelerated share repurchase transactions and the use of Rule 10b5-1 trading plans. The authorization has no expiration date.

OVERALL RESULTS

For the third quarter of 2024, Clearwater Paper reported net sales from total operations of $644 million compared to $520 million for the third quarter of 2023. Clearwater Paper reported net income from total operations for the third quarter of 2024 of $6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share compared to $37 million, or $2.17 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA from total operations was $64 million compared to third quarter of 2023 of $81 million. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA from total operations was primarily driven by lower sales prices and the residual impacts of the company's planned major maintenance outage at its Lewiston, Idaho facility offset by higher sales volume due to the inclusion of our Augusta facility.

FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2024

For the first nine months of 2024, Clearwater Paper reported net sales from total operations of $1.7 billion, a 10% increase compared to $1.6 billion for the first nine months of 2023.

Clearwater Paper reported a net loss from total operations for the first nine months of 2024 of $3 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to net income from total operations for the first nine months of 2023 of $90 million, or $5.29 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA from total operations for the first nine months of 2024 was $160 million, compared to the first nine months of 2023 of $218 million. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA from total operations was primarily driven by lower sales prices and the impacts of the company's planned major maintenance outage at its Lewiston Idaho facility, partially offset by lower input costs.

Paperboard sales volumes and prices:

Sales volumes were 314,320 tons in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 67% compared to 187,944 tons in the third quarter of 2023. Sales volumes were 774,207 tons in the first nine months of 2024, an increase of 37% compared to 563,502 tons in the first nine months of 2023.

Paperboard average net selling price decreased 12% to $1,192 per ton for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $1,350 per ton in the third quarter of 2023. Paperboard average net selling price decreased 13% to $1,223 per ton for the first nine months of 2024, compared to $1,401 per ton in the first nine months of 2023.

COMPANY OUTLOOK

"While we are currently experiencing challenging SBS industry conditions, we remain confident in the long-term fundamentals of paperboard packaging," Kitch said. "We are taking actions to reduce our costs to ensure that we deliver strong cash flows regardless of where we are in the industry cycle. We used proceeds from the sale of our tissue business to de-lever our balance sheet and position ourselves to take advantage of opportunities to grow and diversify our paperboard product portfolio"

Clearwater Paper is a premier independent supplier of paperboard packaging products to North American converters. Headquartered in Spokane, Washington, the company produces high-quality paperboard that provides sustainable packaging solutions for consumer goods and food service applications.

SOURCE: Clearwater Paper Corporation
A 17-year-old Florida teen wearing a Donald Trump shirt was arrested after punching a 70-year-old woman attending a rally in support of Vice President Kamala Harris.

The 17-year-old boy, whose identity was not publicly released by authorities, was reportedly wearing a shirt featuring Trump raising his middle finger. The boy allegedly punched the 70-year-old woman, identified as Kathleen Tomasko, in the stomach. Tomasko was knocked off her feet.

The incident occurred at the "We Won't Go Back" rally on Roosevelt Bridge last Saturday, per TC Palm.

What Led to the Incident?

Speaking with reporters, Tomasko said she had never interacted with the teen nor did she see the 17-year-old walking towards her before the attack.

"I'm standing there and people are moving and this kid just turned around and he punched me. I don't know where he came from," Tomasko said, as quoted by USA Today.

Stuart Police Department spokesperson Brian Bossio said witnesses they spoke to at the scene said they saw the 17-year-old walking away from a separate altercation with a male Harris supporter moments before he punched Tomasko.

It was noted that the teen was one of at least four Trump supporters who attended the rally.

The 17-year-old was arrested by police officers hired by the event organizers. He has since been charged with battery on a person 65 years of age or over, Bossio said.

Violence in the 2024 Election

The 17-year-old was the second teen to have been arrested in the week leading up to the presidential election. On October 29, authorities arrested 18-year-old Trump supporter Caleb James Williams after he allegedly threatened two Harris supporters with a two-foot machete at an early voting site in Jacksonville.

Prior to that incident, Williams had driven to a Jacksonville library with seven 16- and 17-year-olds to "protest and antagonize" Harris supporters. He later allegedly threatened two female Harris supporters, aged 71 and 54, when their protest escalated, as reported by AP News.

Williams has since been charged with aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older. He was also given a misdemeanor charge of improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon.
A 21-year-old pregnant woman in Texas was arrested after she tried to sell her unborn baby on the social media platform Facebook.

Juniper Bryson, 21, posted an advertisement in the Facebook group "Birth Mothers Looking for Adoptive Parent(s)" for adoptive parents in September. In the post, Bryson said she was looking for "adoptive parents" for her unborn baby.

The day before the posting, Bryson was said to have reached out to a family member living out of state and asked them if they knew anyone looking to adopt a child. Bryson disclosed that the baby would be drug-positive, according to ABC 13, citing court records.

Who Offered To Adopt Bryson's Baby?

At least seven individuals responded to her Facebook post. One of the individuals, who was identified as licensed foster care provider Wendy Williams, told the outlet that she traveled to meet Bryson in the hospital and accompany her during labor. She also said she watched the 21-year-old struggle with withdrawal after giving birth.

Both parties later signed documents giving Williams the ability to make legal decisions for the baby. The documents were notarized.

Read Also: Florida Teen Collected Own Evidence of Rape After Police Charged Her With Filing False Report

Uncovering the Scheme

While in the hospital, Bryson tagged Williams in a Facebook post saying she found a home for her baby. This spurred a flood of comments against Williams.

"A lot of people started commenting really really ugly things," Williams recalled. "'How dare you sell this baby?' And then they were tagging me, 'How dare you buy this baby?'"

Williams was confused as Bryson had never discussed payment with her. She later contacted Child Protective Services, who came and arrested the 21-year-old.

Williams later uncovered messages Bryson was exchanging with other individuals, adding that those made it clear the 21-year-old was only "waiting for the highest bidder" for her baby.

It was also later uncovered that Bryson had received money from a same-sex couple, who had driven halfway from Lousiana to Houston when they got a message asking for a $150 money transfer. The couple asked Bryson if they could discuss the matter over the phone but she refused to communicate with the couple unless the money is sent.

Williams asked for custody of the baby. However, a judge gave the child to one of Bryson's acquaintances.
The Elko Daily Free Press is on the ground, providing live Election Day updates for Elko County.

Check back here as the evening progresses for updates.

11 p.m.: Newcomers, incumbents to take office

ELKO  Two political newcomers were elected to their first terms in office, with two incumbents receiving second terms.

City Councilman Clair Morris and Marissa Lostra were the top two vote-getters in a three-way race for two seats on the Elko City Council, according to results posted on the Nevada Secretary of States website late Tuesday night.

Morris received 2,556 votes, with Lostra only 20 votes behind with 2,536.

Candidate Michael Hagen had 1,358 votes.

For Elko County Commission, Republican Brian Gale defeated Clover Valley rancher and Democrat Jay Dalton, 10,810 votes to 3,353.

The wins mark the first elected offices for Lostra, a local Realtor, and Gale, a rancher from Ruby Valley.

Elko County Clerk Rebecca Becky Plunkett defeated Independent American Party candidate Michael Hawkins 11,953 votes to 2,022 votes, giving Plunkett her first four-year term in office.

In the Elko County School Board races, incumbents Josh Byers and Matt McCarty each defeated challengers for their seats.

Byers defeated Austin Whitney 8,344 votes to 4,085 for District 2.

For the second time, McCarty won over Carlin Vice Mayor Lincoln Litchfield, 8,906 to 3,757 votes. They ran against each other in 2022.

Some candidates ran unopposed for office, including Elko County Commissioners Jon Karr and Rex Steninger.

In the Legislature, Republican Assemblyman Bert Gurr won a second term in office for District 33, defeating Libertarian candidate Darryl Baber 11,760 votes to 1,875 votes.

Former Assemblyman John Ellison ran unopposed for State Senate District 19, filling the seat by outgoing State Sen. Pete Goicoechea, who termed out of office.

In federal and state races, Elko County supported GOP candidates.

Republican Donald Trump received 79.05% of the vote over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who received 19.05% of Elko Countys vote.

Former Army Capt. Sam Brown faced off with incumbent Democrat Jacky Rosen for U.S. Senator. Brown also received a heavy majority from Elko County, with 73.83% of the vote, compared with Rosens 18.79%.

In the race for U.S. Representative in Congressional District 2, Elko County threw their support to incumbent Congressman Mark Amodei, who ran against nonpartisan candidate Greg Kidd.

In other cities throughout Elko County, Jasie Holm was elected as mayor of West Wendover. The city also elected Nicholas Nick Flores to the West Wendover City Council.

Kenneth J. Quirk was also reelected as Eastline Township Justice of the Peace.

Wells City Council race between Richard Peltier and Christopher L. Micheli was extremely close, with only one vote separating the candidates, with Peltier receiving 157 votes to Michelis 156 votes.

Cameron Kinney was elected to the Carlin City Council.

The Nevada Secretary of States Office reported turnout for early voting and mail ballots but did not have election day turnout results by 11 p.m.

Statewide results

The Nevada Secretary of States office showed Donald Trump taking Nevadas electoral votes with 51.09% to Vice President Kamala Harris 47.34%.

Reports said the race between Brown and Rosen for U.S. Senate was too close to call, with Rosen holding a slight edge of 47.83% over Browns 47.71%.

Amodei was also shown to be the winner with a wide majority of 56.58% over Kidds 36.44%.

Statewide results showed Questions 1 and 3 being defeated. Question 1 asked for the Nevada Constitution to be amended to have the Legislature having oversight of the Board of Regents, while Question 3 sought an amendment change for voters regardless of political party to participate in the primary election.

Question 7 requiring voter identification won 72.06% of the vote over 27.94%.

Question 6, which asked for an amendment change to support abortion was voted in 62.73% to 37.23%.

Nevada voters also supported an amendment for the Sales and Use Tax Act of 1955 to allow an exemption from taxes imposed by the Act on gross receipts, sale, storage or use of diapers.

Question 4 also passed, requiring the removal of language authorizing slavery or involuntary servitude as punishment.

7:12 p.m.: Poll 'closes' but those on line will vote

ELKO  Elko County voters turned out to vote in high numbers on Tuesday, keeping some election workers past the 7 p.m. deadline. Voters in line to vote prior to 7 p.m. were allowed to wait and cast ballots.

The lobby of the Elko Convention Center was filled with people waiting to vote 12 minutes after polls closed. A half-hour earlier, the line of voters still snaked outside the center in 30-degree temperatures.

Likewise, the line was outside the door for much of the day.

Election workers earlier estimated the line as a two-hour wait. County Clerk Rebecca Becky Plunkett said Tuesday lines were long earlier in the day in West Wendover and Spring Creek, as well.

3 p.m.: You can view tabulations in office, on Zoom

ELKO  The public was allowed to watch ballot tabulation at the Elko County Clerks Office on Election Day in person and online.

Observers sat in the lobby watching a TV monitor that showed a live view of the tabulation room. Among them was Elko County Commissioner District 1 candidate Brian Gale.

He and a man who asked to remain unidentified viewed the process, which was explained to them by Elko County Clerk Rebecca Becky Plunkett.

Becky gave us a walk-through and explained everything, which was awfully nice, so we understand what were seeing, Gale said.

Gale explained he arrived before noon on Tuesday to spend a few hours observing the tabulation, which was a first for him.

I know there are going to be lots of people with questions about whatever aspect of the election, and I want to be able to seriously answer that I have looked into it thoroughly, he said. It all seems quite kosher to me.

He said the process was quite boring to watch and only learned that the clerks office allowed viewing from a Zoom link when he arrived.

Gale, a Republican, is running against Democratic challenger Jay Dalton for the Elko County Commission seat now held by Commissioner Wilde Brough, who declined to run for a second term in office.

The public can view the voter tabulation room on Zoom. The link is on the Elko County Clerks Elections webpage.

2:40 p.m.: Line is 2 hours long at convention center

ELKO  A two-hour-long line snaked through the Elko Convention Center, leading to a long table where several election workers checked in voters.

The election workers walked back through the line and encouraged voters to save time by filling out and dropping off mail ballots.

Voter Tom Hawkins said the process was smooth.

No problems, it was a good day, he said.

Hawkins said he thinks Elkos voting system is 100% in shape. I dont see any problems with it.

Gwen Wuesthof also said the voting process was smooth. Its really nice to see the huge turnout.

I have full confidence that we have a great system full of integrity, she said.

Marcos Diaz said the experience was not too bad, just kind of a little bit of a long wait.

Its been very busy, election worker Annette Robinson said. But it's been steady, so we've been pushing everybody as fast as we can go.

I think it could have been a better process, voter Titan Kennedy said. They could have more people verifying information for everybody.

Other than the line, it was pretty good, a young voter who declined to share his name said.

It was my first time voting, he said. I think everybody should.

2 p.m.: Lines still long at convention center

ELKO  Lines at the Elko Convention Center this afternoon were outside the door, even longer than the serpentine queue inside the building Tuesday morning.

Good news is Elko County Clerk Rebecca Plunkett said on Tuesday morning the polling places would remain open until the last person on line by 7 p.m. casts their ballots. Plunkett said she was expecting a late night, as a result.

1 p.m.: Smooth voting in Spring Creek

SPRING CREEK  The longest wait voters had on Tuesday at the Spring Creek Wrestling Room gym was 18 minutes, one election worker said, adding that wait was with the line out the door near the parked cars.

In other words, smooth sailing by voters and poll workers.

In the early afternoon, the line was far shorter, about five people deep and just minutes to wait.

There had been no issues at the polling place and folks were smiling as they took their ballots to the voting booths.

10:30 a.m.: Carlin voting 'very easy,' 'quick'

CARLIN  Voters lined up on Tuesday at the Carlin Police Station, where election workers Michael Neptune, Lorrie Haub and Tina Loveridge greeted them, handling check-ins and drivers licenses.

Voter Jennifer Allen said she found the voting process very easy. Kyle Loiver called it quick.

I dont like the mail-in ballot, Allen said. I dont think every household should be receiving one of those.

Voter Larry Bradshaw said voting is "one thing you should do."

Chad Baum said he thinks voting is very important as a civic duty. He said voting in Carlin was pretty painless.

Haub explained how the check-in process works: drivers licenses are not required but if they present them, we use them because they're easier to get their name and just scan them into the system.

If not, we can manually search for their name and find them, Haub noted.

Haub said to prep the polling place in Carlin, they get all the arrangements and set up the machine.

Then, we have the city clerk whos kind enough to bring us food, she said. We arrange our furniture how we like.

9:25 a.m.: Long lines at polls

ELKO  There's about a two-hour wait to vote at the Elko Convention Center, with about 200 people snaking through the convention center's lobby.

Betty Magney, an election observer for the Elko County Democratic Central Committee, the only observer at the polls about 9 a.m., said things had been moving along smoothly with no issues for her to challenge.

She said the long line is over an hour's wait, best she could tell, "probably a two-hour line."

Convention center staff warned the long, Disney-like queue that snakes from the entry, into the building and then back around, could be a "fire hazard" and the line had to be adjusted.

"It's going to be a long day," Magney said.

9:15 a.m.: Only 1 observer at clerk's office

ELKO  County Clerk Rebecca Plunkett, who is on the ballot hoping to keep her office, said there were lines at the convention center and in Spring Creek and West Wendover.

In her office, which is open for anyone to observe the counting committee open mailed-in ballots, one man sat in front of the screen showing the "action." He declined to be identified, but gave the contact information for a representative with 2024Victory.com.
Heres something new from the ever-dying Interpreter Foundation: Now Available on all of our Social Media Channels: Interpreting Interpreter Videos with Kyler Rasmussen: Watch the first video now on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a5wkAIP2xU

You might have noticed that Latter-day Saints have lately come in for a great deal of attention in Hollywood. Little if any of it has been exactly helpful, let alone flattering. In the context of that attention, which has been almost comical  note that I said almost  in its unrelenting onslaught, I found this article interesting. Its from Kelsey Dallas, a non-Latter-day Saint religion-beat journalist who publishes with the Deseret News: Perspective: How should Hollywood handle religion? When done well, faith-related shows and movies help people ask better questions about religion, rather than making them feel like theyve got religion all figured out

And, speaking of movies, Six Days in August continues in a few theaters. If youre in the vicinity of of one of those theaters and you havent yet seen the film  or you want to see it again on a big screen, or you have friends or family or neighbors or ward members who should see it  you may well be running out of opportunities. Tonight, instead of listening to commentators who actually know little or nothing more than you do, and instead of waiting around interminably for news of the latest presidential ballot totals from Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, or for survey results drawn from interviews with unemployed left-handed Armenian women in the far southeastern corner of Arizonas Yavapai County, maybe you ought to go out and catch a showing of Six Days in August, instead. It may be several days before the final voting figures are in and, besides, we all know that the Libertarian Party is just going to steal the election again this year, anyhow.

If you do go to see Six Days in August, I ask you once again to stick around for the credits that follow the end of the film. I want you to hear the moving rendition of John Taylors O Give Me Back My Prophet Dear that runs behind those credits. It was specially recorded for the movie in an arrangement by Rob Gardner, and it features Casey Elliott, of Gentri.

There is a crackpot claim out there that Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered by John Taylor and Willard Richards on orders from Brigham Young. I thought it important to include John Taylors testimony, in musical form, at the end of Six Days in August. Dont miss it.

You may perhaps have missed this 56-minute video. If so, heres an opportunity to miss it yet again: BYU Professor Daniel Peterson and Quran translator Safi Kaskas compare the shared commonality of shared faiths with the teachings of ancient Islam and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We learn how Jesus and Mary are found in the Quran and that the name of God is universal.

Its been a while since Ive shared  Ive been otherwise occupied, and have quite often been in areas with no internet access, not to mention with a computer that unaccountably failed and then miraculously recovered a few days later  but here are some appalling recent specimens from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File:

Someday, such evils of religion will be a thing of the past. Until that (metaphorically) blessed day, though, we can only imagine the better world that will inevitably emerge when theists and theism are no more than dimly remembered horrors from humankinds distant, primitive origins. Man will never be free, the great French writer, philosopher, and art critic Denis Diderot (1713-1784) famously remarked, until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest. With the rise of atheistic communist regimes and their mass murders of religious believers and reactionary political figures and thinkers in the twentieth century, Diderots glorious vision seemed to be on the verge of literal realization. But, alas, Pol Pots Cambodia and Maos China and Castros Cuba and Enver Hoxhas Albania and Stalins Russia and Ho Chi Minhs Vietnam proved to be merely a false dawn, just as the French Revolutions Reign of Terror had proven to be earlier.
Im afraid that Ive fallen behind in chronicling the death-throes of the Interpreter Foundation, so Ill make an effort here in this blog entry to catch up a bit on that sad tale of sorrow and woe. Here are a few things that have appeared in recent days:

Behold, I Went to Hunt Beasts in the Forest: An Addendum on Enos, Esau, and the Symbolic Geography of Seir, written by Matthew Bowman

Abstract: Enoss use of the onomastic wordplay in the Jacob and Esau cycle enables him to meaningfully allude to the symbolic geography of those stories and incorporate it into his New World setting (e.g., allusions to the river Jabbok and Peniel/Penuel, the site of Jacobs wrestle with the divine man). A third instance of this type of allusion occurs with Enoss recollection that he went to hunt beasts in the forest[s] (Enos 1:3), which appears to subtly allude to Mount Seir, the forested hill country in the land of Edom inhabited by Esau and his descendants.

Die Prophezeiung Henochs: Some Observations on Section 36 in the German Edition of the Community of Christ Doctrine and Covenants, written by Adam Stokes

Abstract: Multiple translations of the Doctrine and Covenants into German have been produced over the past century and a half. This essay looks at a more recent example of these translations as found in the Buch der Lehre und Bundnisse published electronically by the Community of Christ. Focusing on Community of Christ Doctrine and Covenants 36, the revelation of Zion to Enoch, the essay compares and contrasts the German text with its Vorlage. It also notes the ways in which the German translation attempts to de-problematize its source material, particularly in regard to its references to blackness and the racial implications of such references. The author argues that this effort resolves some issues while creating others.

The Temple: Symbols, Sermons, and Settings: Bearing Testimony in Hebrew: A Comparison of Ancient Israelite Temple Rituals with Modern Latter-day Saint Fast and Testimony Meetings, written by Ryan Conrad Davis

Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in The Temple: Symbols, Sermons, and Settings, edited by Stephen D. Ricks and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-symbols-sermons-and-settings/. Comparison is at the heart of understanding the world. In fact, the father of modern linguistics, Ferdinand de Saussure, has shown that meaning is created through difference. It is only when one recognizes difference that meaning emerges. Or, as Lehi put it, it must needs be, that there is an opposition, or an opposite, in all things; if something does not have an opposite, or something to contrast with, then all things must needs be a compound in one. Thus, in order to fully appreciate one thing, one must see another thing that the first is not.

Interpreting Interpreter: A Man of the Forest, written by Kyler Rasmussen

This post is a summary of the article Behold, I Went to Hunt Beasts in the Forest: An Addendum on Enos, Esau, and the Symbolic Geography of Seir by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 63 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. A video introduction to the Interpreter article is now available on all of our social media channels, including on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLHM-zBfkPI. The Takeaway: Bowen highlights some additional ways in which the story of Enos echoes the cyclical narrative of Jacob and Esau, noting that Enos references to hunting and forests correspond with the description of Esau as a cunning hunter and a man of [forest] overgrowth.

Interpreting Interpreter: Retranslated Blackness, by Kyler Rasmussen

This post is a summary of the article Die Prophezeiung Henochs: Some Observations on Section 36 in the German Edition of the Community of Christ Doctrine and Covenants by Adam Stokes in Volume 63 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreterarticles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. A video introduction to the Interpreter article is now available on all of our social media channels, including on YouTube at https://youtube.com/shorts/hkCymnAtfwE. The Takeaway: Stokes examines the Community of Christs recent German translation of Enochs descriptions of Cain and Cainan, noting how it attempts to avoid the racial implications of some verses, arguing that while it aligns with interpretive precedent (with blackness as a spiritual descriptor), it also unintentionally reinforces the idea that blackness must be equated with depravity.

Not by Bread Alone: From Disappointment to a Dream: Willy and Lilly Binene and the Saints of Luputa (Episode 8), written by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw

When ethnic violence broke out in the south of the DR Congo, Church members in Kolwezi escaped to Luputa, a faraway village in the center of the country. Elder Willy Sabwe Binene suffered a series of personal disappointments until his life took a turn for the better after he met his future wife Lilly, to whom the Lord had directed him in a dream. Through the efforts of the Binenes and a small group of other members, thousands were converted in Luputa and a stake was formed before the arrival of any full-time missionaries Led by stake president Binene, the entire village became united in a mammoth Church-sponsored water project with miles of trenches dug by hand over three years by rotating groups of neighbors. For more information on the Not by Bread Alone: Stories of the Saints in Africa series, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/en/

For more information in French, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/fr/

To see all of our posts about The Church in Africa, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/africa/

Come, Follow Me  Study and Teaching Helps (2024): Lesson 46, November 11-17: Ether 1-5 Rend That Veil of Unbelief

Editors Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current years lessons. Jonn has graciously agreed to write new study aids for those lessons that do not directly correspond to 2020 lessons.

Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 46: Rend That Veil of Unbelief: Ether 1-5

This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 46 covering Ether 1-5, we have lectures 109 and 111 from Hugh Nibleys Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Ether 1-2 and Ether 2-8, respectively. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of the lectures. We believe these recordings will be interesting to listen to and valuable to your Come, Follow Me study program this year. Each week, we will include the lectures covering the Book of Mormon chapters being studied that week.

Interpreter Radio Show  October 27, 2024, including The Book of Mormon in Context for Ether 6-11

For the 27 October 2024 installment of the Interpreter Radio Show, John and Stacey Thompson discussed the recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship by Diane E. Wirth and Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 47. Their conversation was recorded, shorn of commercial breaks, and archived, and has now been made available to you at no charge and at your convenience. The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640, or you can listen live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com.

The long, lingering death of the Interpreter Foundation, prophesied by a chorus of its critics since . . . well, since its foundation, has become reminiscent of the final, dramatic music (the famous Liebestod) from the 1859 opera Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner. In the Liebestod, Isolde sings over Tristans dead body while dying herself. She goes on and on and on and on and on. And on. And on. Like the Energizer Bunny.

Be sure to watch for further Interpreter Foundation death throes during the remainder of this week. And next week. And the week beyond. And next year.
The classic holiday story The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is getting a fresh, lively retelling thanks to a group of young actors, some of whom are making their big-screen debuts. The movie, based on the beloved book by Barbara Robinson, centers around the Herdmansconsidered the towns worst kidswho unexpectedly join a church Christmas play and bring their unique charm to the nativity story.

For these young stars, portraying the rowdy Herdman siblings and their friends was an adventure that theyll never forget. During their debut on the red carpet, the children talked about filming, what it felt like to be bad, praise for director Dallas Jenkins, and what theyll take away from their time together.

Essek Moore, who plays Ollie Herdman, said he jumped into the film industry with this role. This was my first movie, or even project ever, he said. Moore explained he got the role through an audition and a series of callbacks before finding himself on set in Winnipeg. Next thing you know, Im in Winnipeg for two months, he recalled, adding with a laugh, It was freezing. Despite the cold, Moore said he enjoyed getting to embody one of the notorious Herdmans. I got to be all serious. I got to be all menacing, he said, describing the experience as so much fun.

For Ewen Wood, who plays Leroy Herdman, getting to act as one of the bad kids was a rare treat. Probably one of the most fun times of my entire life, he said. Wood shared that he and Moore spent their time on set having lightsaber battles and pulling pranks, fully embracing the mischievous spirit of the Herdmans. It was really fun, he said, admitting they may have gotten shushed a few times for talking too much between takes.

Mason Nelligan, who plays Ralph Herdman, also relished the chance to be bad. Really fun, he said, laughing. A lot more fun than being nice. Like his castmates, Nelligan made unforgettable memories filming with the rest of the cast. It was such a wonderful experience to film with everyone, he said. The memories I made along the way were just so special.

Nelligan, whos done a few school plays, was especially appreciative of the guidance from director Dallas Jenkins, whom he described as the perfect director. Jenkins helped the young cast understand the scenes while making the set feel like a welcoming place. He teaches us lessons along the way, too, Nelligan added.

The character Alice Wendelkin, played by Lorelei Olivia Mote, is the picture-perfect child who usually plays Mary in the Christmas pageantuntil the Herdmans come along. Mote described her role as the best experience of my life. She enjoyed embodying Alices prim and proper personality, even noting shed met similar kids in real life. Filming in Winnipeg was also memorable for Mote, who saw snow for the first time. Despite the freezing weather, she said the two months on set flew by and were filled with fun.

Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez, who plays Charlie Bradley, one of the good kids in the movie, said working with the Herdman actors was a blast. We all enjoyed each others company, he shared, describing the set as one big, happy family. He believes the friendships they formed will last beyond the film. When asked what audiences can expect, Billingsley-Rodriguez called the movie funny, heartfelt, and just an amazing moment.

Beatrice Schneider, who plays Imogene Herdman, was thrilled to take on her role, even though it was a bit of a departure from her real-life personality. Totally a rule follower, 100%, Schneider laughed. But she found joy in stepping into Imogenes wild world. Imogene talks about being able to step into someone elses life and build a new character, she said, noting that playing such a bold character was an exciting challenge. Schneider, who previously appeared in Amazon Primes The Prodigal Son, expressed pride in the movie and the connections she made with her castmates. The relationships between all the kids are really like the charisma and just the sort of connections weve made, she said. They really show through.

Everyone on the red carpet expressed excitement for the movies release and the chance to watch it with friends and family. Nelligan summed up the sentiment, saying, As soon as the movie comes out, were going to go to a theater and enjoy it with all my friends and all my family. And I think thats going to be pretty special.

With the young casts enthusiasm and the timeless story of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, this holiday film is set to bring families together and remind audiences of the true spirit of Christmas. As Nelligan put it, Every family should be excited, because its such a great way to spread the word of Christmas and Jesus Christ.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, based on the book by Barbara Robinson, adapted for the screen by Ryan Swanson, directed by Dallas Jenkins and starring Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Elizabeth Tabish, Lauren Graham and a bunch of talented kids, releases Nov. 8 from Lionsgate Studios and Kingdom Story Company. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
I am certain that in the coming days, I will be talking with a lot of academics, progressives, liberals, and Democrats who are not only grieving because of the United States election results but are baffled by Donald Trumps reelection. I am sure I will hear a lot of How can so many people support a fascist who boasted of sexually assaulting women?

I am not baffled, and Im writing this post to help you understand what happened and how.

If you would prefer to watch a movie and get your explanation that way, then watch the movie Brexit starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

I was at a conference in Italy attended by a lot of UK academics when the result of the Brexit vote was announced. They were baffled in the same way my colleagues and friends are now.

Here is the simple explanation: the Donald Trump that so many voted for, and the Kamala Harris that so many voted against, are not the same Donald Trump and Kamala Harris that you voted against and for respectively.

To be clear, I dont mean that they are not in actual reality the same individuals. Unlike Donald Trump and his supporters, I dont believe in alternative facts.

What I mean is that if those who voted for Donald Trump were listening to such completely different messaging they genuinely believe right now that by voting for him they have saved the United States. While those who listened to most sources of information know that the reason Donald Trump faced so many criminal charges, unlike any other president before, is because Donald Trump is unlike any other president before, what right-wing sources have been telling them is that this is an unprecedented attack on a president by malevolent Communist forces trying to eliminate him.

Obviously, the only way for that scenario to be true is for there to be a massive conspiracy in which politicians, district attorneys, judges, and various others collaborate against Trump, and that is precisely what the sources that more than half of the country tune in to have been telling them is the case.

Living in Indiana, all I need to do is watch TV or flip through radio stations to hear some of this. When I have warned about information bubbles it has been with this in mind.

So what happens now? One thing that is very important is that those who are terrified by the outcome of the election do not respond in ways that confirm the messaging their political opponents have been hearing all along. There has been exaggerated rhetoric on both sides of the aisle, even if not to the same extent. Again, if you listened to right-wing commentators, youd hear them characterize Kamala Harris words about Trump being a threat to democracy as itself the threat to democracy. One legal commentator on the radio who supports Trump asked how a candidate in a democratic election can be a threat to democracy by running for office.

The answer is what Im addressing in this post. If your path to office depends on deceiving people then the democratic process is subverted.

There is a sense that this would be true even if Donald Trump had not been running nor anyone like him. The candidate one votes for is always an image, a focus of messaging that is selective. All of our knowledge and perception is selective and partial. That is unavoidable. There is no way humans can see, hear, or know everything.

But of late we have had something different. The issue is not limited perception but false and distorted information.

As I said before, no one forced the majority of people of Indiana and many other states to choose to tune in to pundits and commentators who would tell not merely offer them biased perspectives but lies. That is why Ive characterized the situation as worse than Orwellian.

Churches played an enormous role in bringing this situation about. In conservative churches, one has been hearing for decades that mainstream science is in a conspiracy to hide the truth about creation, and that the powers of darkness are at work in this secular world. Conservative Christians have been invited to imagine themselves as the heroes in a Frank Peretti novel, doing battle with forces of evil by protesting outside Taylor Swift concerts (yes, they did that here in Indianapolis just recently) and voting for a candidate their pastor encouraged them to.

Im not going to offer any kind of simplistic heres a solution type of conclusion, but I do have a clear idea of what I think needs to happen if we are to move in a positive direction.

You are going to need to talk to Trump supporters. I dont mean argue or hit them over the head with information that they have been primed to distrust, coming as it does from the Mainstream Media that they consider part of this great conspiracy. I mean youre going to need to talk to them, understand how they view the world, and figure out a way to get information into their orbit that might make a difference.

Youre also going to need to tune in to enough of the sources they listen to, watch, and read to understand what they are hearing. You wont be able to combat it without understanding it.

Educators at universities get accused of liberal indoctrination. Thats obviously implausible. We cannot even get students to read the syllabus or the assigned texts most of the time. The reason why so many who get an education shift in a liberal direction is the fact that the very experience of going to university puts them in contact with real human beings who are different from their families and communities, and those foreigners and liberals and gays and lesbians and Muslims and Jews and whatever else turn out not to be the monsters that their families and preachers warned them they are.

Knowing people who are different from you is transformative. Being attacked with messaging is not, at least not most of the time, and at the very least not in the same way. If you just shout at them you have been lied to they will simply respond by saying no, you have been lied to.

To reach those who arent students at university or moving to new places outside their bubbles, you and I need to be those different people and to shatter stereotypes. One day at a time. One conversation at a time.

It will be hard work. It is the only way forward that has any real hope of making a difference.
When you install Windows 11, youre asked to log in with a Microsoft account (or create one if you dont have one). Maybe you dont like this. Maybe you miss the days when you could use Windows on a PC with a local account and not have to worry about being tied online.

Well, you wouldnt be the only one, which is why there have always been tricks and tools to circumvent the Microsoft account requirement  even as Microsoft repeatedly blocks those methods.

Recently, a new trick has surfaced: you can now use a PowerShell script called UnattendedWinstall to access Windows 11 without having to log in with a Microsoft account. Not only does it get around the restriction, but it can also do a few other things, too.

Bypass the Microsoft account requirement in Windows 11 with PowerShell

You can download the necessary PowerShell script on UnattendedWinstalls GitHub releases page. Make sure to get version 2.0.0, which is the latest release as of this writing.

The script is based on Windows so-called response files, which consist of numerous command-line actions that are used to automate tasks, change system settings, and more. In this case, a response file can even be used to bypass the login prompt.

Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro

According to its creator, UnattendedWinstall doesnt just allow you to skip the forced creation of a Microsoft account at setup and forced login without a Microsoft account. It can also:

Bypass the system requirements of Windows 11.

Deactivate Windows Security services by default.

Disable User Account Controls by default.

Allow the execution of PowerShell scripts by default.

Remove most pre-installed bloatware apps.

Disable Copilot and Windows Recall.

Limit Windows Update to just security updates for one year.

Configure the Windows registry for optimal performance.

Disable unnecessary scheduled tasks.

Enable the Ultimate Performance power plan.

With UnattendedWinstall, you can basically get full access to a purified version of Windows 11 without having to worry about extraneous features and other bits like the controversial Windows Recall.

Heres the official video with instructions for new users:

Caution is advised when using this

The developer of this PowerShell script says its compatible with the latest version of the operating system, Windows 11 24H2. However, you should never blindly trust any tool that makes system-wide tweaks like this.

To be safe, you should first test it in a virtual machine, which you can do for free using VMware Workstation Pro. After running the script, you should also reactivate Windows Security because its actually useful and effective at protecting your PC against malware threats.

It should also be clear to everyone that Microsoft doesnt like it when users purify the operating system like this. If the tools creator runs into problems, it may stop being available. However, because it allows users to still receive security updates, it should be somewhat okay.
A Lower Paxton Township woman will spend the next several decades in prison for filming videos of her and her husband sexually abusing a child.

Ashley Phy, 28, of Manor Drive will serve 20 to 40 years in prison for the sexual abuse of multiple children, according to court documents.

Phy and her husband recorded their sexual abuse of at least five different children across several hundred videos that were uploaded to Verizons Synchronosis cloud storage between August and October of 2023, according to charging documents filed against them last November.

More than 600 files of child sexual abuse videos were uploaded to Synchronosis between Aug. 3 and Oct. 21 of 2023, and the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crimes Task Force received 15 different reports through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, police said.

Some of the videos depicted a male sexually abusing a child; others, a female. Police narrowed down the ages of the children in the videos as a 4 to 8-year-old; an 8 to 10 year old; a 10 to 12 year old; a 12 to 14-year-old, according to charging documents.

Police used the Synchronosis complains to obtain a warrant to search the Phys home. While executing that search warrant on Christopher Phys phone Nov. 20, state police found a video of Ashley Phy sexually abusing a two-year-old, according to charging documents.

The blue wall in the background appeared to match promotional pictures for hotel rooms at Woodspring Suites posted online, court documents said.

Christopher Phy, 38, was a registered sex offender through Pennsylvanias Megans Law.

Phy was found hanging dead in an empty Dauphin County Prison cell Dec. 11, three weeks after being booked into the facility. A fellow inmate submitted a request for medical help five days prior to his death that was never reviewed.

Ashley Phy pleaded guilty May 6 to 23 charges, including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child; rape of child; aggravated indecent assault of a child; unlawful contact with a minor; sexual exploitation of children and endangering the welfare of children.

She was sentenced Oct. 17 by Judge Edward Marsico.

Phys case in Dauphin County Court focused exclusively on the sexual abuse that was depicted on the videos, not child pornography crimes. The U.S. Attorneys Office is prosecuting Phy for possession of child pornography charges.

Erin Varley, a deputy district attorney with the Dauphin County District Attorneys Office, confirmed the children who suffered the abuse are now safe.
Voters in Pennsylvania reported waiting in long lines yesterday, and turnout in some counties was well over 75%.

The big news

The results arent final, but former President Donald Trump, a Republican, won Pennsylvania and its 19 Electoral College votes, about 51% to Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris 48%. As of 5 a.m. Wednesday, Trump was three Electoral College points away from the White House. (The winner needs 270.)

Early this morning, Trump declared victory and gave a speech from his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida. Since then, the Associated Press, CNN and ABC have declared him the presidential winner.

Donald Trump points to supporters with former first lady Melania Trump during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Getty Images

Presidential race

Trump, the Republican nominee, faced Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrat who stepped in when President Joe Biden opted to drop out of the race in July. Trumps running mate was Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Harris running mate was Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Harris planned to speak last night at her alma mater, Howard University, but opted to delay a speech to today.

As of 5:15 a.m., with the votes not certified, Trump had 267 Electoral College votes to Harris 224.

Harris and Trump made Pennsylvania a priority, repeatedly visiting the state and other so-called battlegrounds deemed necessary to win the presidency. Of those states, Trump won Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin havent been declared yet.

UPDATE at 6 a.m.: Trump was declared the winner in Wisconsin, which Trump was declared the winner in Wisconsin, which pushed him past the total Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency

Pa. row offices

Three government positions were up for grabs in Pennsylvania in 2024, attorney general, treasurer and auditor general. In all three, Republicans are the tentative winners:

U.S. Senate race in Pa.

Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is in a tight race with hedge fund manager Dave McCormick. With votes still needing to be counted, McCormick was ahead by barely 2% early Wednesday.

Rep. Scott Perry leaves his election day watch party just after midnight at Boomerangs in Fairview Twp. after making brief remarks and greeting supporters. Nov. 5, 2024. (Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com)Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

10th Congressional District

Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry appears to have won re-election vs. former newscaster Janelle Stelson, who quit her job to run on the Democratic ticket.

Unofficial final counts from Dauphin, York and Cumberland counties showed Perry with 50.8% of votes to Stelsons 49.2%.

All 17 U.S. Congressional districts were up for election this year. Click here for more results.

State Rep. Patty Kim, the Democrat candidate for state Senate, greeted voters at Thomas Holtzman Elementary School in Susquehanna Township. (Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com)Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

State Senate & House

Democrat Patty Kim, a state representative from Dauphin County, beat her Republican challenger, Nick DiFrancesco, with 63% of the vote total to his 37% in the 15th District state Senate race. Republican Sen. John DiSanto opted not to run for re-election.

Taking over Kims state House seat will be Democrat Nate Davidson, who topped Republican candidate Cindi Ward.

Polling place problems

Nationwide, few problems were reported at polling places.

In Pennsylvania, Cambria County extended the voting time from 8 to 10 p.m. because of ballot issues, and bomb threats were called in to several Pennsylvania sites. The threats were deemed non-credible, and foreign sources were blamed.

Before the election, hundreds of fraudulent voter applications  not votes  were uncovered in Lancaster County.

More headlines

This story has been updated with information on results.
By Dana Hull, Bloomberg News (TNS)

Elon Musk vowed Tuesday to keep his political action committee going beyond the presidential election, a sign the worlds richest person is building a political machine that goes beyond his support of Republican nominee Donald Trump.

America PAC is going to keep going after this election, Musk said on an X Spaces Tuesday. Musk said the group is preparing for the midterms and any intermediate elections at the district attorney and sort of judicial levels.

Musk hosted the 90-minute election conversation as he was flying on his private jet from Texas to Florida to watch the election night returns with Trump. The billionaire then posted a steady torrent of pro-Trump memes throughout the night to his 200 million followers on the social network he owns, including a video set to a remixed version of the Final Countdown that featured clips of Musk and Trump campaigning spliced with animated superheroes, fire, guns, rockets and horses. Atop the video was the phrase: Dark MAGA assemble.

Musk has been Trumps most powerful surrogate this election cycle, spending more than $130 million for Trump and other Republican races. The Tesla Inc. and SpaceX chief executive officer used his PAC to gather voter lists of at least 1 million people who signed a petition to support the Constitution, giving away cash prizes to drive participation.

As the last voters headed to the polls Tuesday, Musk pitched himself as a counterbalance to financier George Soros, who has contributed funds to several campaigns, including district attorney races.

This time, the Republican ground game is better than the Democrat ground game, said Musk, who has focused his efforts on Pennsylvania, the swing state that had the most electoral votes up for grabs.
Multiple bomb threats were emailed to polling places and municipal buildings across Pennsylvania as the polls neared closing time on Tuesday.

Media reports identified locations in Chester, Clearfield and Centre counties where threats were received, causing building evacuations.

But Gov. Josh Shapiro said at an evening news conference in the Forum Building in Harrisburg his team has been in communication with Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris, who is coordinating the local, state and federal response.

Thus far, there is no credible threat to the public, Shapiro said.

Schmidt said at a later news conference, Ive had experience with threats of violence and theyre not always credible. You always hve to take them seriously but threats are intended to intimidate and coerce and our election officials and our voters are not going to be intimidated.

Bomb threats were not the only disruption to the administration of the 2024 presidential election. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said there were some isolated, localized issues at the precinct level, but they were addressed quickly.

The only countywide issue occurred in Cambria County where a technical issue forced voters to use paper ballots while the county resolved a ballot scanning issue. Schmidt said the court extended that countys voting hours until 10 p.m. so all voters in that county had the opportunity to cast their ballots.

A polling place in Luzerne County opened 90 minutes late so its voting hours were extended util 9:30 p.m., he said.

Despite those issues, both Schmidt and Shapiro expressed confidence Pennsylvanias votes will be counted accurately. They urged voters to be patient awaiting the results.

This work takes time, Schmidt said. Accuracy and integrity are our priority.

*This post was updated to include how the bomb threats were received.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X at @JanMurphy.
Perry County was forced to stop counting mail-in ballots Tuesday night after receiving a bomb threat, according to an announcement on the countys website.

Perry County will continue to process mail-in ballots at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, the statement said. As of Tuesday night, it is not clear if the bomb threat made in Perry County has been deemed credible or not.

Bomb threats were reported throughout Pennsylvania during Election Day, prompting some evacuations despite many of the threats being deemed not credible. Other counties impacted by bomb threats on Tuesday include Chester, Clearfield, Centre, Mercer, Luzerne, Snyder, Philadelphia and York.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed the threats during a Tuesday night press conference in Harrisburg, where he said, Thus far, there is no credible threat to the public.

The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the bomb threats are possibly linked to an overseas source trying to disrupt swing state voting.

My office is working with law enforcement partners across Pennsylvania on the hoax bomb threat issue, which is believed to have been a coordinated attempt to disrupt swing state voting from an overseas source. pic.twitter.com/kp7wQAqrfI  Michelle Henry (@PAAttorneyGen) November 6, 2024

A non-credible bomb threat at a York County polling location did not impact election operations but prompted a K-9 unit with the county sheriffs office to sweep the building.
Welcome to PennLives coverage of election night 2024. We will be keeping you up to date on the results of all todays key races as they arrive.

The big story, of course, is the presidential election between former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrat who stepped in when President Joe Biden opted to drop out of the race in July.

Trumps running mate is Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Harris running mate is Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Pennsylvania is one of the most important swing states in the United States this year, as experts believe its 19 Electoral College votes are necessary to win the White House.

However, there are other important congressional and statewide races being decided today as well. For example, in the U.S. Senate, incumbent Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey is being challenged by Dave McCormick. And one of the most watched U.S. House races in the state is the one between incumbent Republican Scott Perry and former newscaster Janelle Stelson, a Democrat.

Thats not to mention all the other notable races across the state and beyond today.

You can also keep track of the latest election results as they come in via this post from Megan Lavey-Heaton.

We will be updating the latest election news as it happens here with reactions and links from PennLive reporters. Stick with us tonight as we cover the results. (Note: Be sure to refresh the page to get the latest updates.)

UPDATE 2:44 a.m.

And with that, were going to wrap up our live updates post for the evening. Please be sure to continue to check our results post as that will continue to be updated throughout the evening.

UPDATE 2:40 a.m.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at PPG Paints Arena, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)AP

From Megan Lavey-Heaton: The Associated Press has called the 2024 presidential race in Pennsylvania in favor of former President Donald Trump.

As of 2:15 a.m., with 95% of the vote counted, Trump, the Republican nominee, held the lead over Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrat nominee. Trump led the Commonwealth with 51% of the vote.

Harris trailed with 3,192,548 votes cast for her compared with 3,386,485 cast for Trump.

As of the race call, he sat three votes away from winning the race overall in the United States.

READ MORE: Former President Donald Trump wins Pennsylvanias 19 electoral votes

UPDATE 1:56 a.m.

BREAKING: Donald Trump wins the 2nd Congressional District in Maine and one electoral vote. #APRaceCall at 1:51 a.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 1:54 a.m.

FILE - David McCormick, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, pauses during a speech at a campaign event at the Beerded Goat Brewing Co. in Harrisburg, Pa., April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Marc Levy, File)AP

From the Associated Press: Pennsylvanias U.S. Senate race between three-term Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican challenger David McCormick could help Republicans pad their newfound majority in the chamber in a battleground state contest that is one of the nations most expensive this year.

McCormick led vote counting early Wednesday morning by about 100,000 votes, or 2%, but a significant number of votes remained uncounted.

READ MORE: McCormick leading incumbent Casey in Pa. Senate race that could help pad Republican majority

UPDATE 1:51 a.m.

Voters line up Thomas Holtzman Elementary School in Susquehanna Township to cast their ballot in the Pennsylvania general election. November 5, 2024. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.comDan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

From Dan Urie: Susquehanna Township residents have voted down a referendum in the township that would have eliminated the occupation tax and raised the earned income tax.

The referendum was defeated by just 50 votes  6926 (50.18%) to 6876 (49.82%).

Voters were asked to approve tax changes that included:

Increasing the earned income tax (EIT) from 0.50% to 1.1%, bringing the total EIT to 1.6% (which includes the township tax)

Eliminating the $270 school occupation tax

READ MORE: Susquehanna Township residents vote down referendum on tax changes by 50 votes

UPDATE 1:49 a.m.

.@realDonaldTrump motorcade about to arrive to speak to supporters at what his crowd expects to be a victory declaration.

Blue Wall states still not decided but trends are not good for democrats  Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 1:41 a.m.

Nate Davidson is running for Pennsylvania State House.Provided by the League of Women Voters

From Zack Hoopes: Nate Davidson emerged victorious Tuesday night in the race to represent the Pennsylvania House of Representatives district that covers most of Harrisburg and a chunk of the West Shore suburbs.

With nearly all votes counted after midnight, Davidson held a commanding lead over Republican candidate Cindi Ward for the open seat that was vacated by Rep. Patty Kim, who also won her race for a state Senate seat Tuesday night.

READ MORE: Nate Davidson secures Pa. House seat vacated by Patty Kim

UPDATE 1:30 a.m.

From Dan Urie: State Rep. Dawn Keefer, a Republican, defeated Democrat Mark Temons, a construction designer and community outreach director by a vote of 80,043 to 51,157. Keefer will replace state Sen. Mike Regan, a Republican. The district includes parts of Cumberland and York counties.

UPDATE 1:29 a.m.

From AP: Republican Brian Fitzpatrick wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 1st Congressional District.

UPDATE 1:27 a.m.

Rep. Scott Perry leaves his election day watch party just after midnight at Boomerangs in Fairview Twp. after making brief remarks and greeting supporters. Nov. 5, 2024. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

From Charles Thompson: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Perry was clinging to a slim lead over Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson Wednesday morning in the hotly-contested race for Pennsylvanias 10th District congressional seat.

But with election day results from several precincts in Dauphin and York counties still being tabulated as of 1 a.m., neither candidate was yet declaring victory.

Unofficial results as of 1:07 a.m. had Perry leading with 196,894 votes, or 50.8 percent, to Stelsons 190,621 or 49.2 percent.

READ MORE: Perry grabs slim lead over Stelson in race for midstate Congressional seat

UPDATE 1:24 a.m.

BREAKING NEWS: The Fox News Decision Desk projects that former President Trump will win Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/assv0ANYj6  Fox News (@FoxNews) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 1:22 a.m.

From Dan Urie: 95th Pa. House District: State Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, a Democrat, has defeated Republican Jasmine Rivera by a vote of 12,381 to 8,619. She has been in office for eight year and previously served on York City Council. The district includes York, West York, North York and Spring Garden Township.

UPDATE 1:21 a.m.

From Dan Urie: 92nd Pa. House District: Republican Marc Anderson, a teacher has defeated his opponent, Democrat Dan Almoney, a video producer, by a vote of 27,616 to 11,501. Anderson will replace state Rep. Dawn Keefer in the house.

UPDATE 1:20 a.m.

BREAKING: Donald Trump wins the 1st Congressional District in Nebraska and one electoral vote. #APRaceCall at 1:01 a.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 1:19 a.m.

From the AP: Kamala Harris wins New Hampshire.

UPDATE 1:16 a.m.

Members of the Amish community, Samuel Stoltzfus and his wife Lillian Stoltzfus, vote at a polling center at the Garden Spot Village retirement community in New Holland, Pa., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)AP

From John Luciew: Pennsylvanias prized 19 Electoral votes that could decide who resides in the White House on January 20 remained up for grabs with about 90 percent of the votes counted early Wednesday.

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have made the Keystone State a key part of their election strategy for reaching the winning number of 270 Electoral votes. Both visited the state again and again.

Incomplete, unofficial returns showed Trump leading Harris 51 to 48 percent.

In 2020, President Joe Biden won the state by just over 1 percent, or 80,555 votes, out of nearly 7 million cast. Pennsylvania went for Trump over Hillary Clinton in 2016, but the margin was even closer.

READ MORE: Trump leads in Pa. vote but Keystone State remains up for grabs

UPDATE 1:12 a.m.

Stacy Garrity is running for Pennsylvania State TreasurerProvided by the League of Women Voters

From Jan Murphy: Republican incumbent state Treasurer Stacy Garrity is poised to get four more years to serve as the custodian of the states money.

Heres where the race stands with 82% of the votes counted on Tuesday, Garrity had captured 52.1% of the vote to Democratic challenger Erin McClellands 45.5%.

Third-party candidates in the race: Constitution Party s Troy Bowman, Forward Partys Chris Foster and Libertarian Nick Ciesielski, received 1.5% or less of the votes cast.

READ MORE: Voters return Garrity to state treasurers office for second term

UPDATE 1:15 a.m.

From Dan Urie: State Senator Scott Martin has been re-elected. The Republican defeated his opponent Democrat Trex Proffitt, an educator and school administrator, by a vote of 71,248 to 47,389.

UPDATE 1:10 a.m.

FILE - Dave Sunday, the Republican nominee for state attorney general of Pennsylvania, speaks at a campaign event at the Beerded Goat Brewing Co., April 25, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy, File)AP

From Ivey DeJesus: With 82% of the vote counted, the race for one of the most powerful offices in Pennsylvania  that of attorney general  early Wednesday morning showed Republican challenger Dave Sunday besting his Democratic opponent Eugene DePasquale with more than 51% of the vote to the latters 46%.

Unofficial election results showed Sunday leading with 2.7 million votes to DePasquales 2.4 million votes.

Throughout the campaign, Sunday, the York County District Attorney and a career prosecutor, repeatedly emphasized the fact that his office had tried 40,000 criminal cases, assailing his opponent for his lack of experience in criminal prosecution.

READ MORE: Republican Dave Sunday on track to become next Pa. attorney general

UPDATE 1:06 a.m.

From Dan Urie: State Senator Doug Mastriano has been re-elected. The Republican defeated his opponent, Democrat Cameron Schroy, an educator and School administrator, by a vote of 97,384 to 43,347.

Voter turnout in Adams County was 79.71%.

UPDATE 1:04 a.m.

Pa. Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor addresses the crowd during Juneteenth on City Island on June 19, 2024. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

From Jan Murphy: Republican incumbent Timothy DeFoor appears to have fended off a challenge from Democratic state representative Malcolm Kenyatta to capture a second four-year term of office as Pennsylvanias auditor general in Tuesdays election.

Early Wednesday morning, with 82% of the votes counted, DeFoor won nearly 52% to Kenyattas 45%. The three other candidates in the race  Constitution Partys Alan Goodrich, Libertarian Reece Smith, and the American Solidarity Partys Eric Anton received 1.8% or less of votes cast.

READ MORE: DeFoor appears poised to serve a second term as Pa.s fiscal watchdog

UPDATE 1:02 a.m.

NEW: Pennsylvania's Centre County officials say they are working with their ballot scanner vendor to figure out why the county's mail-in ballot data is "not being recognized when uploaded to the elections software" www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...



[image or embed]  Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) (@hansilowang.bsky.social) November 6, 2024 at 12:46 AM

UPDATE 1 a.m.

From the AP: Donald Trump wins Georgia.

AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins the swing state of Georgia, returning its 16 electoral votes to Republicans.



Aside from when Joe Biden narrowly carried Georgia in 2020, Republicans have won every presidential vote in the state since 1996. https://t.co/vNyURdNHtn pic.twitter.com/T6Cx4XUQaQ  The Associated Press (@AP) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 12:58 a.m.

The Penbrook Borough municipal building. March 8, 2024. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.comDan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

From Dan Urie: Voters in Penbrook have voted to allow brewery licenses in the borough.

A referendum regarding the issuance of brewery licenses in Penbrook was on the ballot on Tuesday.

The vote was 900 to 344 in favor of allowing brewery licenses.

READ MORE: Voters in Dauphin County municipality vote to allow brewery licenses

UPDATE 12:56 a.m.

The AP is reporting that Donald Trump is en route to his watch party from Mar-a-Lago. Hes expected to speak tonight to his gathered supporters.

UPDATE 12:53 a.m.

State Rep. Tom Mehaffie, R-Dauphin County, talks to reporters following an anti-nuclear demonstration in the Capitol Rotunda about his support for the restart of Three Mile Island nuclear power station's Unit 1. Sept. 3, 2024 Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.comJan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com

From Zack Hoopes: Two of the Harrisburg regions more vulnerable and more politically notable members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appear to have survived challenges with relatively comfortable margins.

Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland County, and Rep. Tom Mehaffie, R-Dauphin County, came out ahead of their Democratic opponents Tuesday night.

Delozier, whose district covers a politically purple swath of suburban Cumberland County, fended off Democratic candidate Sara Agerton, a Mechanicsburg borough council member.

READ MORE: Sheryl Delozier, Tom Mehaffie survive challenges, keep Pa. House seats

UPDATE 12:49 a.m.

The co-chair of Kamala Harris' campaign, Cedric Richmond, tells the crowd at her Howard University watch party that Harris will not be speaking tonight, but will give an address later on Wednesday.



"We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted," he pic.twitter.com/CRkE5qB3DF  CBS News (@CBSNews) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 12:46 a.m.

ABC News is predicting that Donald Trump will win Georgia. If he does, it will be the second swing state to go in his favor. Biden won the state in 2020.

BREAKING: Donald Trump will win Georgia, ABC News projects.



Tune to ABC for analysis.https://t.co/BaMyh4jU8y pic.twitter.com/85xHYZJ9Q4  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 12:44 a.m.

From Dan Urie: 98th Pa. House District: Republican State Rep. Tom Jones defeated his opponent Democrat Lynn McCleary, a retired nurse recruiter by a vote of 24,512 to 13,471. The district includes Conoy Township, Elizabethtown, West Donegal Township, Marietta, Mount Joy, Mount Joy Township and West Donegal Township in Lancaster County as well as Mount Gretna, South Annville Township and South Londonderry Township in Lebanon County.

UPDATE 12:42 a.m.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally at PPG Paints Arena, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)AP

From the Associated Press: Even with the outcome uncertain Tuesday night, the 2024 presidential election already has exposed the depths of a fractured nation as the candidates navigated political shifts based on class, race and age under the near-constant threat of misinformation and violence.

Early data suggests that Republican Donald Trump may benefit from some of the shifts more than Democrat Kamala Harris. And the Republican former president may have also benefited from frustrated voters' focus on the economy.

The United States is poised to elect either its first female president in Harris or its first president with a felony conviction in former president Trump, whose enduring political strength through chaos  much of it his own making  has carried few political costs so far.

READ MORE: Early lessons from election: Trump weakens Democrats' coalition

UPDATE 12:38 a.m.

From Dan Urie: 96th Pa. House District: Democrat Nikki Rivera, a High School Spanish teacher defeated her opponent, Republican Eric Beezer by a vote of 20,827 to 13,760. Rivera will replace state Rep. Mike Sturla, a Democrat, who won his partys nomination for the seat earlier this year. But, he withdrew his candidacy to seek re-election for an 18th term in August. The district includes East Petersburg and parts of Lancaster and Manheim Township.

UPDATE 12:26 a.m.

Kamala Harris will win New Mexico, ABC News projects.



Tune to ABC for analysis.https://t.co/CflpiCAD9r pic.twitter.com/eejK9xoWz0  ABC News (@ABC) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 12:25 a.m.

Roughly *67%* of voters rated the economy as "not so good/poor," per Washington Post exit polls



A shockingly poor number amid a hot labor market, booming stocks, much lower inflation, growing GDP



But widespread voter dissatisfaction w/ the economy been clear for years  Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 12:24 a.m.

The Harris campaign says they view Blue Wall states as their clearest path to 270, and are pointing toward incoming votes in Philadelphia (expect more in coming hours), Detroit (results expected after midnight), and Milwaukee (don't expect full Wisconsin results until 3am to 5am)  Matt Viser (@mviser) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 12:23 a.m.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (@AP) _ Democrat Chris Deluzio wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District  Marc Levy (@timelywriter) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 12:15 a.m.

Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Prince George's County, Maryland, Executive Angela Alsobrooks made history Tuesday, as they're projected to be the first two Black women to serve in the Senate at the same time.https://t.co/5t6dRXfLSC  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 12:14 a.m.

From the AP: Kamala Harris wins the 2nd Congressional District in Nebraska and one electoral vote.

UPDATE 12:13 a.m.

Election watch party for Janelle Stelson ,10th Congressional District candidate running against Scott Perry. November 05, 2024. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

Less than an hour after the polls closed in Pennsylvania, the crowd at Janelle Stelsons election party cheered early reports favoring Kamala Harris in Dauphin and York counties - counties that form part of the 10th congressional district, where Stelson is hoping to unseat incumbent Scott Perry.

By 11 p.m., when Stelson herself spoke, the race was still not yet decided, though she still held onto that slight lead.

Theres only one election denier in this race, and its not me, she said, again referencing Perrys attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. So I prefer that we count all of the votes. Another novel concept, I know, but lets do democracy right.

READ MORE: Stelson leading Perry in Pa. 10th District: I prefer that we count all of the votes

UPDATE 12:11 a.m.

From the AP: Republicans win US Senate majority, seizing control of the chamber for the first time in 4 years.

UPDATE 12:05 a.m.

From the AP: Democrat Nancy Pelosi wins reelection to U.S. House in Californias 11th Congressional District.

UPDATE 12:03 a.m.

From the AP: Kamala Harris wins Hawaii.

UPDATE 12:02 a.m.

From the AP: Democrat Madeleine Dean wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 4th Congressional District.

UPDATE 12:00 a.m.

From Dan Urie: Lancaster residents have voted to adopt Home Rule Charter. More than 68.21% of voters voted in favor of adopting Home Rule Charter.

UPDATE 11:59 p.m.

AP Race Call: Missouri voters approve a measure that enshrines abortion rights in the state constitution and replaces a near-total ban on the procedure. https://t.co/zZsD1yYxMq pic.twitter.com/kSYddrUTkg  The Associated Press (@AP) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:57 p.m.

BREAKING: Democrat Maxine Waters wins reelection to U.S. House in California's 43rd Congressional District. #APRaceCall at 11:53 p.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:48 p.m.

State Rep. Patty Kim, the Democrat candidate for state Senate, greets voter Adeolu Bakare at Thomas Holtzman Elementary School in Susquehanna Township. Voters line up to cast their ballot in the Pennsylvania general election. November 5, 2024. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.comDan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

In a legislative race of potential statewide significance, Democratic candidate Patty Kim clinched victory Tuesday night in the race for the 15th Pennsylvania Senate District, which covers Harrisburg and most of Dauphin County.

Kim, a current state representative, was leading Republican candidate and current Dauphin County Treasurer Nick DiFrancesco by a 61.4%-to-38.4% margin, with the majority of precincts reporting.

I look forward to rolling up my sleeves on day one and getting to work expanding the freedoms and opportunities of my friends and neighbors, Kim said in an emailed statement Tuesday night. From raising the minimum wage to ensuring every family has access to excellent schools, jobs, and healthcare, our movement has only just begun.

READ MORE: Kim secures Pa. Senate seat, one of Democrats' three targets to flip

UPDATE 11:46 p.m.

RACE CALL: We have another new Senator: @PisciottanoPA wins SD45 in Allegheny County! pic.twitter.com/nLid20w6eB  PA SDCC (@PaSDCC) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:45 p.m.

From the AP: Kamala Harris wins Virginia.

UPDATE 11:44 p.m.

BREAKING: Democrat Rashida Tlaib wins reelection to U.S. House in Michigan's 12th Congressional District. #APRaceCall at 11:41 p.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:43 p.m.

From Dan Urie: Voter turnout in Franklin County was 79.4%. All 73 precincts in Franklin County have reported results.

UPDATE 11:41 p.m.

From the AP: Democrat Chrissy Houlahan wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 6th Congressional District.

UPDATE 11:40 p.m.

A costly campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida failed Tuesday as voters in dozens of states weighed more than 140 measures appearing on the ballot alongside races for president and top state offices.

Florida was one of several states deciding high-profile marijuana measures and was among 10 states considering amendments related to abortion or reproductive rights. About two dozen measures are focused on future elections, including several specifically barring noncitizens from voting. Other state measures affect wages, taxes, housing and education, including a school choice measure that was defeated in Kentucky.

READ MORE: Marijuana legalization fails in Florida as numerous states pass citizen voting amendments

UPDATE 11:37 p.m.

AP Race Call: Republican Bernie Moreno defeats Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown in Ohio Senate race. https://t.co/rmAzSzr2ud pic.twitter.com/kx5xEQOE88  The Associated Press (@AP) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:36 p.m.

UPDATE 11:35 p.m.

With 70% of votes in Republican Dave Sunday leads Democrat Eugene DePasquale in the Pa. AG race: pic.twitter.com/DNiI3DmUzO  Ivey DeJesus (@iveydejesus) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:34 p.m.

From Dan Urie: All 60 precincts in Lebanon County have reported results. Voter turnout in Lancaster County was 77%.

UPDATE 11:33 p.m.

Arizona's measure protecting access to abortion will pass, ABC News projects.



The measure establishes a constitutional right to abortion until viability, with exceptions for later pregnancies.



Follow live updates: https://t.co/7uqncCg20T  FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:32 p.m.

Democratic North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Josh Stein speaks during an election night watch party Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Grant Halverson)AP

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein was elected governor on Tuesday, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and maintaining Democratic leadership of the chief executives office in a state where Republicans have recently controlled the legislature and appeals courts.

Stein, a Harvard-trained lawyer, former state senator and the states chief law enforcement officer since 2017, will succeed fellow Democrat Roy Cooper, who was term-limited from seeking reelection. He will be the states first Jewish governor. Robinsons campaign was greatly hampered by a damning report in September that he had posted messages on an online pornography website, including that he was a black NAZI.

READ MORE: N.C. elects Democratic governor after report on GOP candidates porn posts

UPDATE 11:26 p.m.

BREAKING: Democrat Timothy Kaine wins reelection to U.S. Senate from Virginia. #APRaceCall at 11:22 p.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:23 p.m.

AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins the presidential battleground state of North Carolina, receiving the state's 16 electoral votes for the Republicans. https://t.co/vNyURdNHtn pic.twitter.com/4iWm8TxjzQ  The Associated Press (@AP) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:21 p.m.

From AP: Republican Lauren Boebert wins election to U.S. House in Colorados 4th Congressional District.

UPDATE 11:18 p.m.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a watch party on election night Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at the Marriott Marquis in Houston.LM Otero | The Associated Press

Texas voters sent Republican Ted Cruz back for a third term in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, turning back Democratic challenger Colin Allred, a congressman from Dallas.

When I return to the Senate, I carry with me not just a victory, but a mandate, a mandate from the people of Texas, Cruz said. He said that mandate is to secure the border, unleash oil and gas production and protect Texas values.

With 72% of early unofficial results counted, Cruz led Allred, 53.6% to 44.4%.

READ MORE: Incumbent Texas Sen. Ted Cruz claims win over Democrat Colin Allred

UPDATE 11:14 p.m.

From the AP: Republican Lloyd Smucker wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 11th Congressional District.

UPDATE 11:10 p.m.

From Dan Urie: 199th Pa. House District: State Rep. Barbara Gleim, a Republican defeated her opponent, Democrat Rich Christie by a vote of 20,835 to 13,342. Gleim has been in office since 2019. The district includes Carlisle, Hopewell Township, Lower Frankford Township, Lower Mifflin Township, Middlesex Township, Newburg, Newville, North Middleton Township, North Newton Township, South Middleton Township, Upper Frankford Township, Upper Mifflin Township and West Pennsboro Township.

All 118 precincts in Cumberland County have reported results.

UPDATE 11:09 p.m.

WASHINGTON (@AP) _ Democrat Adam Schiff wins election to U.S. Senate from California  Marc Levy (@timelywriter) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:08 p.m.

UPDATE 11:06 p.m.

From Dan Urie: 87th Pa. House District: State Rep. Thomas Kutz, a Republican defeated his opponent, Democrat John Flood, an IT manager by a vote of 24,739 to 15,342. Kutz, an attorney, has been in office since 2023. He was previously a policy director in the State Senate. The district includes Lower Allen Township, Monroe Township, Mount Holly Springs, Silver Spring Township, South Middleton Township and Upper Allen Township.

UPDATE 11:05 p.m.

From the AP: Kamala Harris wins California and Washington.

UPDATE 11:03 p.m.

UPDATE 11:01 p.m.

CONCORD, N.H. (@AP) _ Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte was elected governor of New Hampshire on Tuesday, defeating Democratic former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig to keep the office under Republican control for another two years.  Marc Levy (@timelywriter) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 11:00 p.m.

Perry County was forced to stop counting mail-in ballots Tuesday night after receiving a bomb threat, according to an announcement on the countys website.

Perry County will continue to process mail-in ballots at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, the statement said. As of Tuesday night, it is not clear if the bomb threat made in Perry County has been deemed credible or not.

READ MORE: Perry County forced to delay mail-in vote processing due to bomb threat

UPDATE 10:58 p.m.

Dauphin County has a new State Senator! https://t.co/47R2u05gfF  Patty Kim (@PattyHKim) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:55 p.m.

From Sean Adams: Stelson is expected to speak around 11 p.m. She is currently holding a small lead over Perry with about 60% of the votes reported.

UPDATE 10:52 p.m.

From the Associated Press:

Donald Trump wins Kansas.

Kamala Harris wins the 1st Congressional District in Maine and one electoral vote.

UPDATE 10:44 p.m.

UPDATE 10:42 p.m.

AP Race Call: Colorado voters approve a state constitutional amendment enshrining protections for abortion. The measure repeals a ban on state and local funding for abortion and allows Medicaid and other government programs to cover abortion. https://t.co/zZsD1yYxMq pic.twitter.com/Vh7XnjV3gO  The Associated Press (@AP) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:41 p.m.

CBS News projects Republican Sen. Ted Cruz wins reelection to the U.S. Senate from Texas, defeating Democratic Rep. Colin Allred. pic.twitter.com/8HwQwPkNk5  CBS News (@CBSNews) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:36 p.m.

In Chester County, PA about half our our election work was delayed about an hour and half due to the bomb threat. Our team is back to full throttle to count in person and mail in ballots.  Josh Maxwell (@maxwelljosh) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:33 p.m.

BREAKING: Republican Josh Hawley wins reelection to U.S. Senate from Missouri. #APRaceCall at 10:28 p.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:30 p.m.

Perry County is reporting that due to receiving a bomb threat, the County of Perry was prevented from scanning mail-in and absentee ballots election night. The scanning of those ballots will transpire starting at 10:00 a.m. in the Freedom Building on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

UPDATE 10:29 p.m.

From the AP: Lisa Blunt Rochester to become the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in US Senate.

UPDATE 10:24 p.m.

New numbers in Pa. AG race: DePasquale 52% to Sunday's 45%  Ivey DeJesus (@iveydejesus) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:23 p.m.

BREAKING: Kamala Harris wins the District of Columbia. #APRaceCall at 10:20 p.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:22 p.m.

A ballot measure in New York designed to safeguard protections for abortion and for those most vulnerable to discrimination passed on Tuesday. https://t.co/8ZSwt8pso7 pic.twitter.com/Hw8lvSHAPY  The New York Times (@nytimes) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:20 p.m.

Angela Alsobrooks easily defeated Larry Hogan, the Republican former governor, to become Marylands first Black senator.https://t.co/tGqF2LK3Fg  The New York Times (@nytimes) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:15 p.m.

From the AP: Republican Mike Kelly wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 16th Congressional District.

UPDATE 10:11 p.m.

The AP is reporting that Kamala Harris will win Colorado.

UPDATE 10:10 p.m.

New numbers in Pa. AG race: DePasquale 52% to Sunday's 45%  Ivey DeJesus (@iveydejesus) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:09 p.m.

From the Associated Press: Republican Guy Reschenthaler wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 14th Congressional District.

UPDATE 10:07 p.m.

From Megan Lavey-Heaton: With 43% of the vote counted, Bob Casey is leading Dave McCormick with 49.9% of the vote - 1,516,683 votes for Casey and 1,446,586 for McCormick.

UPDATE 10:05 p.m.

Donald Trump is projected to win Montana, according to the AP, bringing four electoral votes and coming amid a competitive Senate race that could help determine control of the chamber.



Follow live updates:https://t.co/GDo8mXqW7q  The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:03 p.m.

Sarah McBride just became the first trans member of the House of Representatives, winning in Delaware! pic.twitter.com/2Gey1L1ddn  Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 10:02 p.m.

UPDATE 9:58 p.m.

Friendly reminder: Every red state on the map so far, Trump also won in 2020 and still lost the election. pic.twitter.com/JDsL5oDxIJ  Derek Johnson (@derekjESQ) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 9:57 p.m.

Interesting result out of all mail in votes from rural fayette county, Pa. A very trump county, with a lot of ancestral Dems.



Harris: 56%

Trump: 43.2%



Partisan Breakdown of returns was

Dems - 57.5%

GOP - 35.5%

Indy - 6.8%  Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 9:55 p.m.

Other Pa. U.S. House results from the Associated Press:

Republican Glenn Thompson wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 15th Congressional District.

Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 5th Congressional District

Democrat Brendan Boyle wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 2nd Congressional District

UPDATE 9:49 p.m.

AP Race Call: Maryland voters approve a ballot measure to enshrine the right to abortion in the states constitution. https://t.co/zZsD1yYxMq pic.twitter.com/mOQ4eP1u1o  The Associated Press (@AP) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 9:45 p.m.

From the Associated Press: Republican Dan Meuser wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 9th Congressional District. Also, Republican John Joyce wins reelection to the U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 13th Congressional District.

UPDATE 9:44 p.m.

Virtually all Allegheny County PA mail ins now in. Indies who voted by mail broke for Harris



Harris: 72.1%

Trump: 26.6%



Casey: 71.7%

McCormick: 26.4%



Partisan breakdown of returned mails

Dem - 65.9%

GOP - 23%

Indy - 11%



Virtually unchanged from first drop. https://t.co/iLrbPkekHc  Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 9:42 p.m.

Some adjustment in results, but DePasquale still leads over Sunday in AG race. pic.twitter.com/21KVPTRu8y  Ivey DeJesus (@iveydejesus) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 9:36 p.m.

The York County Board of Elections has sent the following statement:

The York County Board of Elections can confirm that a non-credible bomb threat was received, targeting the East York location of the York County Elections and Voter Registration Office at 2401 Pleasant Valley Road. The York County Sheriffs Office responded to the scene with a K-9 unit and determined there was no credible threat to our employees or the public. The threat did not impact election operations. The office remained open, and voting operations continued uninterrupted while this incident was being investigated. The County of York is coordinating with the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals office and state and federal law enforcement authorities. This noncredible threat appears to be similar to others that were reported, targeting elections offices and polling locations elsewhere in Pennsylvania and other states on Election Day.

UPDATE 9:33 p.m.

From the Associated Press: Republican Glenn Thompson wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 15th Congressional District.

UPDATE 9:31 p.m.

Gov. Josh Shapiro shared news about bomb threats at a Tuesday evening news conference held after most of the polling places in the state had closed. He was joined by Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt (at left) who joined the governor in urging voters to be patient in waiting for election results. Nov. 5, 2024 Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.comJan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com

Multiple bomb threats were called into polling places and municipal buildings across Pennsylvania as the polls neared closing time on Tuesday.

But Gov. Josh Shapiro said at an evening news conference in the Forum Building in Harrisburg his team has been in communication with Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris, who is coordinating the local, state and federal response.

Thus far, there is no credible threat to the public, Shapiro said.

READ MORE: Pa. vote counting underway after several bomb threats, isolated issues on busy Election Day

UPDATE 9:20 p.m.

BREAKING: A measure that would have enshrined protections for abortion rights in Florida's state Constitution failed to reach the 60% threshold needed to pass, ABC News projects.https://t.co/KswvGNJPXv  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 9:18 p.m.

The AP is reporting that Donald Trump will win Texas.

UPDATE 9:16 p.m.

Something interesting in Dauphin County:

32.91% of returned mail ballots were from Republicans, Trump got 32.16% of mail vote. 54.57% were from Dems, Harris got 66.55% of the vote. Independents breaking heavily for Dems or GOP defecting at top of ticket.  Zack Hoopes (@zwhoopes) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 9:15 p.m.

Pennsylvania authorities say that multiple voting locations had been targeted with noncredible bomb threats, and courts approved extended voting hours in at least two of those locations. https://t.co/3QnJKyDz6s  NBC News (@NBCNews) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 9:11 p.m.

The AP reports that Donald Trump will win Ohio.

UPDATE 9:10 p.m.

Hes known as Ant-Man, but today, you could call him Aquaman.

Paul Rudd certainly didnt need to give a boost to his public image, given his status as a beloved actor and ageless wonder. But on Election Day, he was out there doing what he could for voters.

For the 55-year-old Emmy-nominated actor, that meant handing out water to people waiting in long lines to cast their ballots in Pennsylvania.

READ MORE: Actor Paul Rudd hands out water to voters at Pa. universities

UPDATE 9:05 p.m.

The AP reports that Donald Trump has won South Dakota, Louisiana, Wyoming, and the statewide vote in Nebraska and two electoral votes.

UPDATE 9:02 p.m.

CBS News projects former President Donald Trump wins North Dakota. pic.twitter.com/Y1A3m3UTzE  CBS News (@CBSNews) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 9:01 p.m.

A Pennsylvania judge has ruled that polls in Northampton County will not be kept open late, even though at some polling locations people waited on line for more hours Tuesday. https://t.co/8vg0CAUhQj  CBS News (@CBSNews) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 9 p.m.

The Centre County election office will accept mail ballots until 9 p.m. after a bomb threat was reported: https://t.co/8QRrxD62TA  Spotlight PA (@SpotlightPA) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:56 p.m.

AP Race Call: Democrat Josh Stein defeats Republican Mark Robinson in North Carolina governor's race. https://t.co/Lvuy7v1HT2 pic.twitter.com/XsxcEJS8mC  The Associated Press (@AP) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:54 p.m.

From Sean Adams: Cheers from the crowd at Janelle Stelsons election party as early results are being reported in Pennsylvania in favor of Kamala Harris.

UPDATE 8:53 p.m.

A quarter of the precincts reporting in Allegheny County and the race for the AG looks like this: pic.twitter.com/LWq3IoIDV0  Ivey DeJesus (@iveydejesus) November 6, 2024

Dauphin County results similar for the AG race: pic.twitter.com/34UXLAMXY5  Ivey DeJesus (@iveydejesus) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:51 p.m.

Despite numerous bomb threats received at polling places and municipal buildings, @GovernorShapiro said, "thus far, there is no credible threat to the public"  Jan Murphy (@JanMurphy) November 6, 2024

Both @GovernorShapiro and @Commish_Schmidt urge people to be patient as election officials have millions of votes to count pic.twitter.com/kxsVUZve5a  Jan Murphy (@JanMurphy) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:47 p.m.

From the Associated Press: Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have notched early wins in reliably Republican and Democratic states, respectively. Polls have closed in Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina, some of the closely fought battlegrounds expected to decide the election, but the results there were too early to call, as balloting continued in other parts of the country. Trump won Florida, a one-time battleground that has shifted heavily to Republicans in recent elections. He also notched early wins in reliably Republican states such as Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, while Harris took Democratic strongholds like Vermont, Massachusetts and Maryland.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.

The Associated Press is reporting that Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon has won reelection to the U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 5th Congressional District.

UPDATE 8:44 p.m.

Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Andy Kim shakes hands with Margarita Rivera at Twin City Supermarket in Elizabeth, NJ on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

Democratic U.S. Rep. Andy Kim won Tuesdays election to become New Jerseys newest member of the U.S. Senate, according to a swift projection by the Associated Press, claiming the open seat that once belonged to the disgraced Robert Menendez  and punctuating a dramatic campaign that upended the states party-boss power structure.

Kim, a three-term congressman and former Rhodes Scholar who stunningly outlasted the states first lady for his partys nomination and led a successful lawsuit to strike down a controversial primary ballot system, defeated Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw in the general election.

READ MORE: Andy Kim wins race to replace disgraced U.S. senator in New Jersey

UPDATE 8:42 p.m.

Chester County election officials are redirecting voters who vote at the two polling places located at the Government Services Center to neighboring polling places where they will be able to cast their votes provisionally.  Josh Maxwell (@maxwelljosh) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:41 p.m.

The AP is reporting that Kamala Harris has won Illinois.

UPDATE 8:39 p.m.

The AP is saying that Kamala Harris has won New Jersey.

The AP is also reporting that Florida voters rejected a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in the states constitution.

UPDATE 8:38 p.m.

An early glimpse in the 15th Senatorial race: Democrat Patty Kim with a healthy lead over GOP challenger Nick DiFrancesco. pic.twitter.com/YUIbaHbyto  Ivey DeJesus (@iveydejesus) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:37 p.m.

UPDATE ON CENTRE COUNTY EVACUATION: Bellefonte police are now allowing people to enter back inside the building. pic.twitter.com/MFRCXLEmnc  Centre County Report (@CentreCountyRep) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:35 p.m.

UPDATE 8:34 p.m.

In Clearfield County, an oral motion for emergency special relief was made by the county solicitor due to a bomb threat at the Clearfield County Administrative Building where votes were being counted. President Judge Ammerman granted the motion. A written petition will be filed in the morning. Hours were extended to 9 p.m.

UPDATE 8:33 p.m.

The Pennsylvania Senate race between Dave McCormick and Sen. Bob Casey is a toss-up, CBS News estimates. https://t.co/YQQGqlEhkQ  CBS News (@CBSNews) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.

CBS News projects former President Donald Trump wins Arkansas. pic.twitter.com/04SwdswfYN  CBS News (@CBSNews) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:31 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester defeated Republican Eric Hansen in Delawares U.S. Senate race.



Blunt Rochester will become the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in the Senate. https://t.co/7m0exK1Q4m  The Associated Press (@AP) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:30 p.m.

Donald Trump will win Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee and Oklahoma, and Kamala Harris will win Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington, D.C., ABC News projects.



Tune to ABC right now for analysis. https://t.co/gAcC7kbgzX pic.twitter.com/CczORfMptz  ABC News (@ABC) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:29 p.m.

As soon as Dauphin Co. starts to post numbers, I will bring you updates on the race for the 15th State Senatorial between Patty Kim and Nick DiFrancesco. pic.twitter.com/rd4GksaFxI  Ivey DeJesus (@iveydejesus) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:28 p.m.

A court order has extended polling place hours in Cambria County until 10 p.m. tonight. Voters in line before 8 p.m. will be able to vote on the countys regular voting system. Voters who get in line after 8 p.m. will vote by provisional ballot. Polls in all other counties will  PA Department of State (@PAStateDept) November 5, 2024

UPDATE 8:24 p.m.

FILE - West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice speaks in the House Chambers at the state capitol in Charleston, W.Va., on Jan. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, File)AP

Republicans picked up a crucial win Tuesday in the race for the Senate majority, as Gov. Jim Justice easily notched the West Virginia seat to succeed retiring Sen. Joe Manchin, deadlocking the chamber in a 50-50 split, for now.

READ MORE: Republicans win West Virginia Senate seat

UPDATE 8:22 p.m.

From @LVNewsdotcom intern Steph Kasulka: A Lehigh student started a timer when he got in line to vote and just was let through the Banana Factory doors. In line for 5 hours 39min and still has to wait inside. pic.twitter.com/zkQQMUITeS  Stephanie Sigafoos (@ssigafoos) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:21 p.m.

UPDATE: Centre County Election Office evacuation with reporter @haleyjacobstv. pic.twitter.com/8Qt9OlQfyn  Centre County Report (@CentreCountyRep) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:17 p.m.

From the Associated Press: Democrat Summer Lee wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 12th Congressional District and Democrat Brendan Boyle wins reelection to U.S. House in Pennsylvanias 2nd Congressional District.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.

From Ivey DeJesus: First batch of vote results out of Philadelphia, the biggest basket in Pa., has Democrat Eugene DePasquale leading in the AG race with 83% of the vote to Republican Dave Sundays 14%. Operative phrase: Early results.

This is just an early glimpse of race for Pa. AG from Allegheny County. Long night ahead. pic.twitter.com/kvX9fYjCGp  Ivey DeJesus (@iveydejesus) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:14 p.m.

UPDATE 8:13 p.m.

Allegheny County has processed 83% of its mail in over 222,000 ballots.



Harris: 72.1%

Trump: 26.6%



Casey: 71.8%

McCormick: 26.3%



Partisan breakdown of returned mails

Dem - 65.9%

GOP - 23%

Indy - 11%  Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:12 p.m.

Donald Trump is projected to win Alabama, according to the AP.



Follow live updates: https://t.co/0B1G2PWlmv  The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:11 p.m.

Five more polling places in DeKalb County have received bomb threats. Voting has been suspended at those precincts. This is a deliberate attempt to prevent Americans from casting ballots. FBI has linked todays previous threats to Russians. Official release below@ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/BfggjZqzQR  Brendan Keefe - Atlanta News First (@BrendanKeefe) November 5, 2024

UPDATE 8:10 p.m.

UPDATE: Both Bellefonte Police and PA State Police tell us they have no additional information on the situation at Centre County Elections Office. People have been cleared from the office because police on scene told us someone was trying to disrupt the election.  Centre County Report (@CentreCountyRep) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 8:09 p.m.

Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene has won reelection to U.S. House in Georgias 14th Congressional District, the Associated Press says.

UPDATE 8:08 p.m.

From Amy Worden: Gov. Josh Shapiro will join Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt at the press briefing at 8:30 p.m.

UPDATE 8:06 p.m.

The Associated Press is reporting that Trump has won Florida and South Carolina.

UPDATE 8:04 p.m.

UPDATE 8:02 p.m.

The polls have now closed in Pennsylvania. If you are currently in line to vote, stay in line. You will still be allowed to vote.

UPDATE 7:58 p.m.

CNN is talking to a guy in North Carolina who voted for Harris, he says, because his girlfriend told him she would break up with him otherwise lol  Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:57 p.m.

From CNNs @MarshallCohen and @YahyaGhazala: Detroit mayors office says they dont know what Trump is talking about; spokesman for Detroit elections department says, We are unaware of any police presence in the city for elections beyond what was outlined in a press conference pic.twitter.com/OoRdmoVCEW  Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.

From Amy Worden: Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt will hold a press briefing at 8:30 p.m. on the status of Election Day voting in the commonwealth.

There have been incidents reported in about a half dozen counties, some involving late-arriving poll workers and troubles with voting machines and others involving individual voter issues. Most have been resolved by the courts.

Watch the briefing live at pacast.com

UPDATE 7:53 p.m.

The Court of Common Pleas in Northhampton County has denied a request by the DNC and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to extend voting hours has been denied. All registered voters of Bethlehem Ward No.3 in line at 8:00 p.m. will be able to vote in accordance with Pennsylvania jurisprudence, the court order says.

UPDATE 7:48 p.m.

From Spotlight Pa.: A steady stream of voters headed in and out of a York Township church early Tuesday evening.

Four years ago, former President Donald Trump won York County with more than 61 percent of the vote. But parts of the county, particularly the suburbs near the City of York, were more evenly divided.

Aldersgate Church is an example of that split. It hosts voting for two precincts. Trump won one of them by about a dozen votes four years ago. Joe Biden won the other by a little over 30 votes.

This year, Steve Wagners shirt made his voting preference clear. It read, I Like My Presidents Like I Like My Guns: 40 & 45. Over images of two guns, it showed former President Ronald Reagans face next to Trumps.

I wish hed keep his mouth shut, but I like his policies, Wagner, 49, said of Trump. I dont think hes been as brash this time around as he was the last time.

UPDATE 7:44 p.m.

There was a bomb threat to the Government Services Center in West Chester, PA. It's being evacuated. Voter Services is located there, and in-person ballots are delivered after 8 pm. Mail-in ballots are canvassed and tabulated at a different location. I will update shortly.  Josh Maxwell (@maxwelljosh) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:40 p.m.

There is a request to extend the voting time at a polling location at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, @NorahODonnell reports, as there has been a reported seven-hour wait for voters. pic.twitter.com/b2RG5NYTQJ  CBS News (@CBSNews) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:35 p.m.

From the Associated Press: Republican Jim Justice of West Virginia wins U.S. Senate race, flipping a seat after the retirement of Joe Manchin.

AP Race Call: Republican Jim Justice defeats Democrat Glenn Elliott in West Virginia Senate race. https://t.co/rmAzSzr2ud pic.twitter.com/3UXo5o6B0K  The Associated Press (@AP) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:33 p.m.

The stage is ready for @PAStateDept Secretary Al Schmidt to tell us how the days election administration went

a little after 8 pm pic.twitter.com/FR5WI3AdcY  Jan Murphy (@JanMurphy) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:30 p.m.

Just in: 12 polling places in Georgia are having their hours extended due to Russian-originated bomb threats, according to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.  Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:25 p.m.

Another celebrity sighting:

Jonathan Groff, Wanda Sykes meet with Lehigh University students at Bethlehem polls https://t.co/3UTHBooElD  The Morning Call (@mcall) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:22 p.m.

From Megan Lavey-Heaton: The Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County has also ordered that three people blocking the entrance to the polling place at Quentin Roosevelt School in Pittsburgh be removed. The court authorized the county sheriff to arrest them and deliver them to the Elections Court for a hearing.

After reports of multiple poll watchers in Allegheny County were spotted wearing Voter Protection badges on behalf of the Democratic Party, the Court of Common Pleas ordered that all poll watchers must remove those badges while inside all polling places within the county.

UPDATE 7:20 p.m.

From Spotlight Pa.: Election officials in Philadelphia say their ballot counting process is going smoothly, even as former President Donald Trump issues vague claims that massive cheating is happening in the city.

Two of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, who run elections, held an impromptu press conference outside the citys ballot counting warehouse in Northeast Philly around 6:30 to push back strongly against the claim.

Philadelphia elections are safe, simple, and secure and they have always been, Commissioner Chair Omar Sabir told reporters. There is no cheating. There is no smoke to it. People say things but it doesnt necessarily mean its true. We learned this in 2020. We have hardworking people trying to give the citizens of America the election they deserve.

Seth Bluestein, the Republican commissioner on the board, emphasized that there is no truth to the allegation that there is massive cheating. He added, the commissioners have been in touch with the RNC and anybody who has any complaints throughout the day. We have been responsive. Everything has been handled appropriately.

Philadelphia was the center of attention during the 2020 election as it rushed to count an influx of mail votes. Officials have estimated that this year will run more quickly but say that depending on how close races are, unofficial results could still take time.

At the citys ballot counting warehouse in Northeast Philly, dozens of workers, who do paid eight-hour shifts, are assigned to tasks like sorting, opening, flattening, and scanning ballots. Some of these jobs are aided by machines, which are constantly in the cavernous space.

The commissioners have said their goal is to get 75,000 to 100,000 mail ballots counted by 8 p.m. when polls close, and Deputy Commissioner Nick Custodio said that as of this evening, the ballot counting process is tracking to meet our goal.

According to Pa. Department of State Data, the county had received 185,366 mail ballots from voters as of this morning. It approved just shy of 238,000 mail ballot applications, according to DOS.

Mail ballots can still be submitted until 8 p.m. But of the likely final number, Sabir said, Ballpark, it could be close to 200,000.  Katie Meyer, Spotlight PA

UPDATE 7:16 p.m.

From Jan Murphy and Megan Lavey Heaton: The Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County has ordered Moon Area High School to stop conducting fire alarm testing for the day until all voting has been completed. Did they not know this is Election Day?

UPDATE 7:12 p.m.

From the Twitter account of House Speaker Joanna McClinton:

Neighbors! Polls close in an hour!!! Its not too late to get out and use your voice. If you are in line STAY in line and if you have a mail in ballot, return it ASAP!



Remember, your vote is YOUR voice! pic.twitter.com/BNaAcV00bT  Rep. Joanna McClinton (@RepMcClinton) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:09 p.m.

Elon Musk is expected to spend election night with Donald Trump, as wealthy donors descend on the former presidents Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, for an evening of events and festivities, according to two people familiar with the plans. https://t.co/yYRl2bgZUT  The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:05 p.m.

UPDATE 7:03 p.m.

BREAKING: Independent Bernie Sanders wins reelection to U.S. Senate from Vermont. #APRaceCall at 7:00 p.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024

UPDATE 7:02 p.m.

UPDATE 6:56 p.m.

From Megan Lavey-Heaton: A judge in Fayette County has ordered election judge Vincent Manetta in Washington Township to not hand count votes.

In the alternative, if Vincent Manetta fails to comply, this Honorable Court hereby directs an officer of the Fayette County Sheriffs Department to escort a poll worker and the election materials from Washington Township precinct to the Fayette County Election Bureau promptly after the poll workers have performed the functions authorized by 25 P.S. Section 3031.13 of the Election Code, without a hand count or manual tabulation of the votes cast for any office.

The ruling comes after Manetta indicated in court documents that he intended to do a hand count of votes for each presidential candidate, though it is against state law to do so.

UPDATE 6:51 p.m.

CNN is reporting that journalists from multiple organizations were denied press credentials to Donald Trumps election night watch event in West Palm Beach, Florida this evening.

Reporters at Politico, Axios, Puck, Voice of America and Mother Jones were among those denied credentials. Politico had initially been given access, but that was later pulled, CNN says.

You can read the full story here.

UPDATE 6:38 p.m.

According to the New York Times, Lexi Harder, 30, paid more than $1,100 for a round-trip flight to ensure she could cast her vote in Montgomery County, Pa.

UPDATE 6:36 p.m.

From Jan Murphy: Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has issued a statement regarding Donald Trumps accusations of cheating in the city.

The only talk about massive cheating has come from one of the candidates, Donald J. Trump. There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation. We have invited complaints and allegations of improprieties all day. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath.

UPDATE 6:34 p.m.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Democratic vice-presidential hopeful on Kamala Harris ticket for the White House, stopped by, with his wife Gwen, at the Capitol Diner in Swatara Township to greet supporters. November 5, 2024. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.comDan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz was at the Capitol Diner in Swatara Township earlier today to make a final impression on voters.

(Harris) wakes up every morning thinking about you, Walz pitched to the people in the room wearing Harris-Walz shirts, pins and other paraphernalia. Thats a stark contrast to the other side.

Walz spoke for around ten minutes before moving to each table, shaking hands, posing for photos and greeting guests.

READ MORE: VP candidate Tim Walz cheers voters at Harrisburg-area diner on Election Day

UPDATE 6:27 p.m.

A voter works on her ballot at a polling place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)AP

From the Associated Press: A divided America weighed a stark choice for the nations future Tuesday as a presidential campaign marked by upheaval and rancor approached its finale.

As the first polls began to close in parts of Kentucky and Indiana, tens of millions of Americans added their ballots to the 84 million cast early as they chose between two candidates with drastically different temperaments and visions for the country.

READ MORE: Millions of people cast ballots across the U.S.: photos

UPDATE 6:25 p.m.

We had several reporters out and about the region earlier today talking to voters about their concerns and seeing how long the lines were. You can check out their coverage here:

UPDATE 6:15 p.m.

City Commissioner of Philadelphia Seth Bluestein tweeted that there is no truth to Trumps allegations of cheating in the city.

We have been in regular contact with the RNC. We have been responsive to every report of irregularities at the polls to ensure Philadelphians can vote safely and securely, he said on X.

There is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure. pic.twitter.com/wMiPnAgO17  Seth Bluestein (@SethBluestein) November 5, 2024

UPDATE 6:11 p.m.

In Cambria County, residents will have an extra two hours to vote as ballot-scanning machines in some of the countys precincts failed to work.

Voting in Cambria County is extended to 10 p.m. The countys Board of Elections requested the extension after voters on Tuesday could not scan ballots due to a software issue with the machines.

UPDATE 6:09 p.m.

New details from PA:



-Harris campaign is seeing high Puerto Rican turnout in Philadelphia.



-As of midday, the 3 wards that contain the highest concentration of Puerto Rican registered voters in the city were already at 79% of total 2020 turnout.



-Across the board, they are  Weijia Jiang (@weijia) November 5, 2024

UPDATE 6:05 p.m.

On Truth Social, Donald Trump said there was a lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia, and that Law Enforcement coming!!! CNN reporter Daniel Dale, however, said that Philadelphia police told the news station that they did not know what incidents Trump was referring to and that they were unaware of any voting issues that required the assistance of police.

From colleague @holmeslybrand: The Philadelphia Police Department told CNN they were not aware what Trump was referring to and did not know of any issues with voting that required a law enforcement response. pic.twitter.com/X4iZD96teT  Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 5, 2024

UPDATE 6:02 p.m.

Celebrity sighting: Paul Rudd was at Villanovas campus earlier today handing out snacks to students in line to vote.

Campus news update: movie star Paul Rudd is on Villanovas campus handing out water and snacks to voting students.#2024PresidentialElection pic.twitter.com/j6Dp6SEe70  The Villanovan (@TheVillanovan) November 5, 2024

UPDATE 6 p.m.

Lets start with a basic reminder of what you need to know if you havent voted yet or are still in line to vote. The polls close at 8 p.m. but if youre in line to vote at that time, stay line because you can still vote.

You must vote at the polling place where you are registered.

If you have a mail-in ballot that hasnt been turned in yet, it must reach your polling place by 8 p.m. Postmarks dont count today.

For more info about voting in Pennsylvania, check out this post from Janet Pickel.
Former president Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 presidential elections.

Many public figures took to social media to comment on the results, both against and in favor of Trumps victory.

According to Reuters, politicians from Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, took to X to congratulate the president.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs, Zelensky wrote. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer.

Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Netanyahu stated. Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.

This is a huge victory! In true friendship.

We will remain steadfast over our commitment to peace, we are confident that the US under your leadership would support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, said Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestinian Authority.

Prominent entertainers also took to social media to comment on the election, The Guardian reports.

Who would have guessed lying about Bidens cognitive health for 2 yrs, refusing to do an open convention for a new nominee, never mentioning public healthcare & embracing fracking, the Cheneys & a yr long slaughter of children in Gaza wouldnt be a winning tragedy? wrote director Adam McKay, also on X.

Anyone with half a brain? he continued. But I thought liberals whole thing is being smart? Its not? They actually just blindly cheer the parade of rickety optics wrapped up in New York Times font that is the modern dem party?

He added: Well at least its time for the dusty hacks & careerists to spread their feathers wide post election and blame Russia and third party candidates. That should fix things.

Rapper Cardi B published a video of herself on Instagram as she watched the results, declaring, I hate yall bad.

Im sad, she added. I swear to God Im really sad.

Elon Musk published It is morning in America again along with a photo of himself, saluting the American flag.

Jamie Lee Curtis on Instagram published her own lengthy post.

So the results are in, it began. Many will be celebrating, possibly even gloating over their victory. Many will be stunned and sad with the terrible feeling of loss.

She concluded: Be gentle with people today. Be gentle with yourself today. Feel your feelings today but most of allBe an American today.
Tourists visit a scenic spot of Qinghai Lake in northwest China's Qinghai Province, Oct. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

XINING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland saltwater lake, has been expanding in size continuously for the past 20 years, with the water level rising nearly 20 cm on average annually.

Satellite remote sensing in late September found that Qinghai Lake's water surface had reached over 4,650 square km, returning to its size approximately 70 years ago.

An indication of Qinghai Lake's "growth" is the partial submergence of a large mythical statue by the lakeside.

"Built in 2008, the statue stood 8.5 meters tall and was positioned over 60 meters from the lake water. However, with rising water levels, the shoreline has expanded by nearly 200 meters, leaving the statue now less than 3 meters above the water's surface," said Chen Dehui, an official with the Protection and Utilization Administration of Qinghai Lake Scenic Area.

Qinghai Lake, located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, is an important ecological barrier in northern China and a key stopover site for migratory birds.

In the mid-1950s, Qinghai Lake's water area was approximately 4,600 square kilometers. However, due to climate change and human activities, the lake gradually shrank over the following decades. By 2004, its area had decreased to 4,244.5 square km, accompanied by a decline in vegetation coverage and a reduction in the populations of rare and endangered wildlife.

In 2008, Qinghai adopted a plan to beef up ecological protection and comprehensive management of the Qinghai Lake basin, with a total investment of 1.57 billion yuan (about 221 million U.S. dollars) in 10 years.

Currently, the water quality in the main area of Qinghai Lake has consistently remained good over an extended period. The lake's unique species, naked carp, has seen a remarkable population increase. Additionally, the number of Przewalski's gazelle in the basin rose from 257 in 2004 to over 3,400. Resident waterbird populations have also surged, reaching 606,000 -- the highest count recorded since standardized monitoring began in 2007.

According to Sun Jianqing, an official with the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve Administration, the recovery of the lake surface area is due to factors including more rain in northwest China and successful ecological protection and restoration efforts in the lake region over the past 20 years.

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 18, 2024 shows a scenic spot of Qinghai Lake in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 18, 2024 shows a scenic spot of Qinghai Lake in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 18, 2024 shows a scenic spot of Qinghai Lake in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Lyu Shuai)

Editor: WXY
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have announced a 2025 Phantom Island orchestral tour that includes one show in Pennsylvania.

They will perform with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia on Monday, July 28, at TD Pavilion at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts.

Fans can buy tickets here (prices are as of the time of this publication):

The band recently released its 26th album, Flight b741 along with the new orchestral single, Phantom Island.

The Phantom Island tour will feature a different accompanying 28-piece orchestra in each city, led by conductor and music director Sarah Hicks. The tour will conclude with Field of Vision, a three-day camping event at Meadow Creek in Buena Vista, Colorado.

The band is on a tour now through Nov. 21. In May next year, they will perform overseas before starting the orchestra tour in Philadelphia.

The other orchestra tour dates are:

July 30 - New Haven, Connecticut, with Orchestra of St. Lukes

Aug. 1 - Forest Hills, New York, with Orchestra of St. Lukes

Aug. 2 - Forest Hills, New York, rock and roll show

Aug. 4 - Columbia, Maryland, with National Symphony Orchestra

Aug. 6 - Highland Park, Illinois, with Chicago Philharmonic

Aug. 8 - Colorado Springs, Colorado, with Colorado Symphony

Aug. 11 - San Diego, California, with San Diego Symphony Orchestra
Hes known as Ant-Man, but today, you could call him Aquaman.

Paul Rudd certainly didnt need to give a boost to his public image, given his status as a beloved actor and ageless wonder. But on Election Day, he was out there doing what he could for voters.

For the 55-year-old Emmy-nominated actor, that meant handing out water to people waiting in long lines to cast their ballots in Pennsylvania.

MSNBC caught Rudd in action at Temple University in Philadelphia, holding a case of water bottles (see video below)

I just wanted to give people water, he said. Theyre waiting in line for a long time and its a wonderful thing that all these young people are out voting.

Alas, it was not water from Rudds personal Foundation of Youth  he was named the People magazine Sexiest Man Alive in 2021  but it would do.

The actor, who posted for a picture with a Temple student, said it was impressive that some were waiting in line for up to two hours. We wanted to come out and tell these students theyre doing really great things, he said.

Rudd also made an Election Day appearance at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, where he handed out water and snacks.

Campus news update: movie star Paul Rudd is on Villanovas campus handing out water and snacks to voting students.#2024PresidentialElection pic.twitter.com/j6Dp6SEe70  The Villanovan (@TheVillanovan) November 5, 2024

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.
By Josef Federman, The Associated Press

JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed his popular defense minister, Yoav Gallant, in a surprise announcement that came as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region. The move sparked protests across the country, including a mass gathering that paralyzed central Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. But Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival before taking the step as the worlds attention was focused on the U.S. presidential election. Netanyahu cited significant gaps and a crisis of trust in his Tuesday evening announcement as he replaced Gallant with a longtime loyalist.

In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defense minister, Netanyahu said. Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defense minister.

In the early days of the war, Israels leadership presented a unified front as it responded to Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack. But as the war has dragged on and spread to Lebanon, key policy differences have emerged.

While Netanyahu has called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Gallant had taken a more pragmatic approach, saying that military force has created the necessary conditions for at least a temporary diplomatic deal that could bring home hostages held by the militant group.

In a late-night news conference broadcast on national TV, Gallant said that he had disagreed with Netanyahu over three main issues: the need to end controversial exemptions from the military draft for ultra-Orthodox men, the urgent need for a hostage deal and the need to establish an official commission of inquiry into the political and security failures of Oct. 7, when Hamas militants stormed into Israel and killed 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage. Israel estimates that about 100 hostages remain in captivity, only about 65 of them still alive.

Israelis light a bonfire during a protest after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed his popular defense minister Yoav Gallant, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)AP

With military service compulsory for most Jews, Gallant said that drafting the ultra-Orthodox was both an issue of fairness and security at a time when Israel faces so many challenges.

He said a hostage deal was needed as quickly as possible, when they are still alive and said there will be no forgiveness for neglecting them. And he said a full investigation into the events of Oct. 7 was the only way to ensure the government would learn the proper lessons. Netanyahu has rejected calls for an inquiry, saying it should only take place when the war is over.

Gallant ended his statement by honoring the soldiers serving in the army and those who have died in the wars. He held up his hand and saluted as he walked away from the podium.

Many of the families of the hostages, along with tens of thousands of people who have joined anti-government protests, accuse Netanyahu of scuttling a deal in order to maintain his hold on power.

Netanyahus hard-line partners have threatened to bring down the government if he makes concessions to Hamas, raising the risk of early elections at a time when the prime ministers popularity is low. This week, authorities announced the arrest of a Netanyahu aide on suspicion of leaking classified information to foreign media that gave the prime minister political cover as hostage talks fell apart.

Firing Gallant in the middle of a war is an act of madness, opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X. Netanyahu is selling Israels security and the Israeli army soldiers for a disgraceful political survival.

Israels president, Isaac Herzog, whose largely ceremonial office is meant to help unify the country, called the dismissal the last thing Israel needs.

The grassroots forum representing hostage families said Gallants dismissal is a direct continuation of the efforts to torpedo the abductee deal.

Police disperse people protesting against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's near his residence in Jerusalem, after he has dismissed his defense minister Yoav Gallant in a surprise announcement Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)AP

Within hours, thousands of protesters gathered in central Tel Aviv, blocking the citys main highway and crippling traffic. The crowd, many holding blue and white Israeli flags and others blowing whistles and pounding drums, gathered around multiple bonfires. Several thousand people demonstrated outside Netanyahus home in Jerusalem and elsewhere in the city. Protesters gathered and blocked roads in several other spots across the country, and Israeli TV stations showed images of police scuffling with protesters.

The dismissal comes at a delicate time. Israeli troops remain bogged down in Gaza, over a year after invading the territory in a war that has killed over 43,000 Palestinians, including tens of thousands of civilians, and caused widespread destruction, while Israeli ground troops are pressing ahead with a month-old ground invasion against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed in the fighting.

Israel also has clashed with Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and is facing the possibility of another strike by Iran. Iran has vowed to avenge an Israeli strike that came in response to an Oct. 1 Iranian missile attack, itself a reprisal for earlier Israeli attacks on Iranian-linked targets.

On Monday, Gallant announced he had sent out thousands of draft notices to young ultra-Orthodox men. The system of exemptions for religious men has bred widespread resentment among the secular majority, and Israels Supreme Court has ordered the government to scrap the system. Netanyahu, whose governing coalition depends on ultra-Orthodox parties, has not yet implemented the order.

Channel 13 TV said Netanyahu had also taken advantage of the U.S. election, when American attention is focused elsewhere, to dismiss his rival.

The White House on Tuesday declined to comment on the firing but called Gallant an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel.

People protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near his residence in Jerusalem after he has dismissed his defense minister Yoav Gallant in a surprise announcement Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)AP

As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israels next minister of defense, the White House National Security Council said.

Gallant, a former general with a gruff, no-nonsense demeanor, has emerged as the most popular figure with the public in Israels wartime government. Gallant has worn a simple, black buttoned shirt throughout the war in a sign of sorrow over the Oct. 7 attack and developed a strong relationship with his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

A previous attempt by Netanyahu to fire Gallant in March 2023 sparked widespread street protests against Netanyahu. He also flirted with the idea of dismissing Gallant over the summer but held off until Tuesdays announcement.

Israel Katz, his replacement, currently serves as foreign minister and is a longtime Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister. Katz thanked Netanyahu and pledged to lead the security establishment to victory in the wars against Israels enemies.

Katz, 69, was a junior officer in the military decades ago and has little military experience, though he has been a key member of Netanyahus Security Cabinet over the years. Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu rival who rejoined the government in September, will take the foreign affairs post.

Netanyahu has a long history of neutralizing his rivals. In his statement, he claimed he had made many attempts to bridge the gaps with Gallant.

But they kept getting wider, he said. Our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it.

Associated Press writers Eleanor H. Reich in New York and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed reporting.
Will President-elect Donald Trump pardon his supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021?

ABC News reports Christopher Carnell, a 21-year-old man from North Carolina convicted of his role in the riot, asked a judge to delay his case Wednesday, hours after Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election. Carnell was found guilty earlier this year of felony and misdemeanor charges for his participation in the Capitol assault, and is due in court for a status hearing later this week.
AN DIEGO (AP)  Former military defense contractor Leonard Fat Leonard Francis was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for masterminding a decade-long bribery scheme that swept up dozens of U.S. Navy officers, federal prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino also ordered Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy and a $150,000 fine, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office. He was also ordered to forfeit $35 million in ill-gotten proceeds from his crimes, the statement said.

Prosecutors said the sentence resulted from Francis' first guilty plea in 2015 concerning bribery and fraud, his extensive cooperation with the government since then and another guilty plea Tuesday for failing to appear for his original sentencing hearing in 2022.

Shortly before he was due to be sentenced in September 2022, Francis cut off a GPS monitor he was wearing while under house arrest and fled the country. He was later arrested in Venezuela and brought back to the U.S. in December 2023.

Sammartino sentenced him to more than 13 1/2 years for the bribery and fraud charges, plus 16 months for failing to appear. The sentences are to be served consecutively.

Leonard Francis lined his pockets with taxpayer dollars while undermining the integrity of U.S. Naval forces, U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in Tuesdays statement. The impact of his deceit and manipulation will be long felt, but justice has been served today.

FILE - This undated photo provided by the U.S. Marshals Service shows Leonard Francis. (U.S. Marshals Service via AP, File)AP

Email and phone messages seeking comment were left Tuesday for William Douglas Sprague, an attorney for Francis.

Sprague, who sought a sentence of just under nine years, argued that his clients cooperation should warrant a lesser sentence, 10 News San Diego reported.

Sprague also said Francis' company provided the Navy with exemplary services for many years.

Unfortunately, as Leonard acknowledged in his early guilty plea and immediate cooperation, his greed drove him to commit bribery and to commit fraud, Sprague said.

Prosecutors said Francis actions led to one of the biggest bribery investigations in U.S. military history, which resulted in the conviction and sentencing of nearly two dozen Navy officials, defense contractors and others on various fraud and corruption charges.

An enigmatic figure who was 6-foot-3 and weighed 350 pounds at one time, Francis owned and operated his familys ship servicing business, Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd. or GDMA, which supplied food, water and fuel to vessels. The Malaysian defense contractor was a key contact for U.S. Navy ships at ports across Asia for more than two decades. During that time, Francis wooed naval officers with Kobe beef, expensive cigars, concert tickets and wild sex parties at luxury hotels from Thailand to the Philippines.

In exchange, officers, including the first active-duty admiral to be convicted of a federal crime, concealed the scheme in which Francis would overcharge for supplying ships or charge for fake services at ports he controlled in Southeast Asia. The officers passed him classified information and even went so far as redirecting military vessels to ports that were lucrative for his Singapore-based ship servicing company.

In a federal sting, Francis was lured to San Diego on false pretenses and arrested at a hotel in September 2013. He pleaded guilty in 2015, admitting that he had offered more than $500,000 in cash bribes to Navy officials, defense contractors and others. Prosecutors say he bilked the Navy out of at least $35 million. As part of his plea deal, he cooperated with the investigation leading to the Navy convictions. He faced up to 25 years in prison.

While awaiting sentencing, Francis was hospitalized and treated for renal cancer and other medical issues. After leaving the hospital, he was allowed to stay out of jail at a rental home, on house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor and security guards.

But three weeks before his scheduled sentencing in September 2022, he snipped off his monitor and made a brazen escape, setting off an international search. Officials said he fled to Mexico, made his way to Cuba and eventually got to Venezuela.

He was arrested more than two weeks after his disappearance  caught before he boarded a flight at the Simon Bolivar International Airport outside Caracas. Venezuelan officials said he intended to reach Russia.

The cases were handled by the U.S. Attorneys Office in an effort to be independent of the military justice system. But they have come under scrutiny.

The felony convictions of four former Navy officers were vacated following allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. Sammartino agreed to allow them to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and pay a $100 fine each.

Last year, Sammartino ruled that the lead federal prosecutor in the officers' case committed flagrant misconduct by withholding information from defense lawyers, but that it was not enough to dismiss the case.
SUNBURY  A Northumberland County judge has modified the bail for the two Massachusetts residents charged with releasing nearly 700 minks from a Northumberland County fur farm.

Judge Paige Rosini on Wednesday kept the bail amount at $150,000 each for Christopher Jacob Legere, 25, of Brighton, and Cara Ashley Mitrano, 27, of Worcester, but allowed them to post 10 percent.

They must report to the county probation office in Sunbury upon release to be placed on supervised bail. They will be required to check in with the probation office at least twice a month.

Legere and Mitrano are prohibited from having any contact with the victims by any means.

Rosini vacated previously imposed conditions that included no contact with each other, requiring an approved place to stay in Pennsylvania and GPS monitoring.

At a bail hearing Monday, Mitrano revealed she and Christopher are engaged. He is transgender and said he prefers being known as Celeste.

District Attorney Michael C. ODonnell argued at the hearing the bail was reasonable given the crime and the potential flight risk. Neither has ties to Pennsylvania, he pointed out.

When he said they came to Pennsylvania to commit a sophisticated crime, Rosini interjected details of what occurred are not an issue at a bail hearing.

The purpose of bail is to ensure appearance at court proceedings and to protect the community, she said.

Legere and Mitrano are accused of using bolt cutters to break into the Richard H. Stahl Sons Inc fur farm east of Sunbury early on Oct. 19 and releasing 683 minks.

All but about 60 have been recovered although seven have since died.

Surveillance video showed two individuals wearing headlights releasing minks from pens.

Legare and Mitrano were stopped by Ralpho Twp. police near Elysburg after relatives of Stahl took a picture of a blue Subaru and got the license plate number.

Included in items state police say were found in the car were bolt cutters and two headlamps.

Charges against the two are corrupt organization, agricultural vandalism, ecoterrorism, criminal mischief, theft, burglary, prowling at night, accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, cruelty to animals, agricultural trespasser and depositing waste on a highway.

A charge of conspiracy in unwarranted detention was withdrawn prior to them waiving their preliminary hearings on Oct. 29.
WILLIAMSPORT  The current and former mayors of Williamsport say lawsuits filed by a veteran police lieutenant had no bearing on their decisions not to promote him to assistant chief.

Mayor Derek Slaughter and his predecessor Gabriel J, Campana testified Tuesday in U.S. Middle District Court on the second day of a civil trial.

The two and the city are defendants in a suit brought by now-retired Lt. Steven Helm who claims he was bypassed for promotion in retaliation and in violation of his free speech rights for his past legal actions.

The issue in the case is not whether Helm was most qualified but whether being bypassed for promotion was retaliatory, said Magistrate Judge William I. Arbuckle who is presiding.

Helms attorney Michael J. Zicolello called Slaughter, his executive assistant Janis Holmes and Campana as witnesses.

When it comes to promotions, Slaughter said he tries to find individuals who best fit into his administration and take the police department in the direction he wants.

That caused Zicolello to question how in December 2020 the mayor could name Lt. Marlin Smith as assistant chief when he testified he barely knew him and never interviewed him.

Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter was one of those testifying on Tuesday.

The mayor responded he had obtained information about Smith from others.

In the fall of 2019 after Assistant Chief Aaron LeVan stepped down, Chief Damon Hagan recommended Helm for that position. Campana chose Mark Sechrist who had been a patrol officer his entire career.

Sechrist testified at his deposition he had not applied nor expressed interest in the assistant chiefs position.

Applications were sought for assistant chief and captain when Sechrist in September 2020 announced his pending retirement.

Slaughter created a committee that included Hagan, Sechrist and Holmes to review Helms and the applications of five others.

Hagan and Sechrist recommended Helm but the mayor chose Smith. He withdrew his name before Sechrist retired in January 2021.

Slaughter then chose not to fill the assistant chiefs slot but created a patrol captains position and filled it with Lt. Jason Bolt.

When Hagan retired in May 2021, Justin Snyder, the investigative unit captain, was appointed chief and Bolt his assistant. They remain in those positions today.

None of those promoted had filed lawsuits unlike Helm, it was pointed out in testimony.

Slaughter acknowledged getting recommendations to promote Helm and said he considered them but the final decision was his.

Campana, a two-term mayor who preceded Slaughter, claimed he had no idea what Helms lawsuits were about because he would have delegated that responsibility.

Marvin Doc Miller, a retired officer who Campana named chief in 2019, testified he wanted Helm as his assistant but the mayor said no way because of the lawsuits.

Helm was the kind of guy you wanted to work for, he said. He was the best choice on the department.

Miller chose not to accept the chiefs job days before he was to be sworn in and Campana appointed Hagan.

Holmes, when questioned on her role in determining who was promoted in the police department, recalled sitting in on meetings and that she favored Sgt. Jody Smith for chief. She reiterated the mayor made the final decisions.

Helm, a police officer from May 17, 1993, to April 29, 2022, was a long-time president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 29, the bargaining unit for the police.

He filed two lawsuits that accused the administration under former Chief David J. Young of being anti-union. They were settled out of court for $150,000.

A Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board examiner found Helm was transferred wrongly in 2017 in retaliation for union activity.

He lost most supervisory responsibility when transferred from a patrol supervisor to a new position of staff services lieutenant.

The trial is to resume Wednesday.
American voters have decided who they want to see in the White House for the next four years, and they went to the polls in record numbers throughout the nation to do so. But despite the bomb threats deemed non-credible in Fulton County, Ga., York, and a few other places, election day was largely a peaceful exercise of democracy.

None of this happened by accident. It was thanks to the thousands of people who worked as election officials, poll watchers, community activists and behind the scenes volunteers to ensure voters had the information they needed to make their decisions on who they would trust with the reins of power in this country.

Voters wait in line outside Paxinosa Elementary School to cast their ballots in the presidential election, November 5, 2024.Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com

Coalitions of democracy activists took to the streets, registering voters and making sure they got to the polls. They worked for months to ensure voters had accurate information about the location of polling places, their voting rights and where they could turn if they ran into problems casting their ballots.

The non-partisan Election Protection coalition, which includes more than 300 local, state, and national partners, stationed people at polls throughout the country and provided updates throughout election day to refute misinformation and to counter any efforts to intimidate voters.

The Election Protection coalition even created a hotline to provide quick information to anyone who needed it on election day. The numbers are still working for those who need to report incidents after election day and are available in multiple languages, including English: 866-OUR-VOTE Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US Asian Languages/English: 888-API-VOTE

The 1-888-API-VOTE hotline can help voters in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali/Bangla and Punjabi.

The Committee of 70 was part of the coalition of forces ensuring fair elections. It had lawyers on standby to help voters who felt their rights were not respected and to provide immediate guidance to poll watchers on the ground. And representatives of Pennsylvania Voice met with PennLives Editorial Board to detail their efforts to protect voting rights throughout the state.

Throughout election day, these organizations offered updates on voter turnout, especially in battleground states like Pennsylvania. While there were reports of significant disinformation campaigns and incidents of voter intimidation, including physical violence, by and large, election day was peaceful.

Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.comJan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com

Faith leaders played a major role in calming anxieties and calling for peaceful elections.

Faiths United to Save Democracy deployed multi-ethnic poll chaplains in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation to de-escalated tensions at polling places and to be a reassuring presence to voters worried about threats and intimidation.

And a group of interfaith leaders in Pennsylvania united in a Zoom prayer vigil for peaceful elections on the eve of the election that was streamed to Facebook. They represented thousands of voters, many immigrants and people of color who often have felt targeted and vilified in campaign rhetoric.

The faith leaders also prayed for the safety and protection of poll workers, election officials, voters, and all of the candidates regardless of party or politics.

They spoke directly to their communities, calling them to do their civic duty to vote for what they called one of the most important elections in U.S. history. They deserve accolades for doing so.

In fact, everyone who played a role in the 2024 elections deserves applause, especially those who worked so hard to convince so many people to get to the polls and who made sure they could vote safely.

Even though the polls have closed, the real work of safeguarding democracy may just be beginning. We urge faith leaders and democracy activists to remain vigilant, and we urge the coalitions that united for the 2024 election to remain strong. Their unified voice to protect vulnerable Americans is still needed, now more than ever.

Joyce M. Davis is PennLives Outreach & Opinion Editor. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter @byjoycedavis.

Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

Subscribe to Battleground PA podcast for the latest in the 2024 elections!
By Tamar Hallerman and Bill Rankin, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS)

ATLANTA  Donald Trumps victory means he is likely to name a U.S. attorney general who will halt the two federal prosecutions he is facing.

That means Fulton Countys election interference case could be the only criminal case left standing. And it will likely will be put on hold until at least 2029.

FILE - Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a news conference, Aug. 14, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)AP

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who won reelection to a second term Tuesday, has not directly addressed the question of what she will do with the case against Trump should he return to the White House. But many legal experts believe even if the Democrat moves forward she will ultimately be stymied by the U.S. Supreme Court.

There is no precedent for how to handle an incoming president charged with crimes  no incoming commander in chief in American history has entered the Oval Office while under indictment.

The Republican faces eight felonies in Georgia, connected with his efforts to overturn the results of the states 2020 election. A trial judge struck down a handful of the original 13 counts lodged against him.

This court will stop her

Legal experts have been divided on whether a state prosecution could continue after Trump is inaugurated on January 20. But even observers who believe theres no law on the books precluding Willis from acting acknowledge the Supreme Court, may put a halt to it. They cite the high courts current makeup and its July ruling that concluded that presidents are immune from prosecution for their official acts, would block the DA from moving forward while Trump is in office.

If she tries this court will stop her, University of Virginia Law Professor Saikrishna Prakash told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Willis faces a more immediate challenge on Dec. 5. Thats when the Georgia Court of Appeals considers a push from Trump and eight other defendants in the election interference case to remove Willis and her office from the prosecution due to the DAs onetime romantic relationship with former deputy Nathan Wade.

The courts decision, due by March, is expected to be appealed by the losing side to the Georgia Supreme Court, which will create more delay.

Should Willis be able to maintain control of the case, the Democrat must then decide whether to temporarily shelve her efforts against Trump  or trudge forward into what will almost certainly become a constitutional fight.

A Willis spokesman declined to comment. But when asked about the issue in October Willis told reporters that she would continue to prosecute every single case in my office.

Still to be resolved is the scheduled Nov. 26 sentencing of Trump in the hush-money case in Manhattan, where he was convicted of 34 felony counts. Before that happens, Judge Juan Merchan has indicated he will issue a ruling on Nov. 12 on Trumps motion to dismiss the convictions in light of the Supreme Courts decision on presidential immunity.
By Joseph Morton and Kelli Smith, The Dallas Morning News (TNS)

HOUSTON  Texas voters sent Republican Ted Cruz back for a third term in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, turning back Democratic challenger Colin Allred, a congressman from Dallas.

Cruz walked onto the stage at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Houston as the crowd of supporters cheered wildly.

When I return to the Senate, I carry with me not just a victory, but a mandate, a mandate from the people of Texas, Cruz said. He said that mandate is to secure the border, unleash oil and gas production and protect Texas values.

With 72% of early unofficial results counted, Cruz led Allred, 53.6% to 44.4%.

The Cruz victory means Texas Democrats are still looking for their first statewide win in more than 30 years. It also puts him in a position to increase his power on Capitol Hill, where he is the top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee.

Texas Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Colin Allred meets supporters at a phone bank in Dallas, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)AP

Supporters of Allred were gathered 250 miles away at the Longhorn Ballroom in South Dallas, seating themselves at round tables in front of a stage lit by blue and red lights as MSNBC played on two large screens flanking the stage.

The contest became one of the nations hottest Senate races despite the states rightward lean, with the two campaigns and outside groups spending hundreds of millions of dollars combined.

Cruz pushed throughout the race to make it a proxy for the presidential campaign, spotlighting his alignment with former President Donald Trump while tying Allred to Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Bidens border and immigration policies.

He painted Allred as too liberal for Texas based on the frequency with which the three-term congressman voted alongside fellow Democrats.

Allred kept the presidential contest at arms length for much of the race, framing it as a straightforward referendum on Cruz and criticizing him as more focused on podcasting than the needs of Texans.

Allred vowed to restore abortion rights wiped out by the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe vs. Wade and sharply attacked Cruz over his support for abortion restrictions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets representatives of officers and soldiers when inspecting an airborne corps on Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

XIAOGAN, Hubei, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged fully intensifying troop training, enhancing combat preparedness and improving airborne operation capabilities to build a strong and modernized airborne force.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks Monday when inspecting an airborne corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the city of Xiaogan, central China's Hubei Province.

Xi inspected the equipment used in airborne operations and learned about the tactical performance of key weapons and gear.

Acknowledging the positive results achieved in this regard in recent years, Xi urged more efforts to build a new system of airborne equipment.

While visiting a museum on the history of the airborne corps, Xi stressed the need to provide education and guidance for the military personnel to carry forward the glorious legacies in the new era.

He highlighted the importance of raising the awareness of combat readiness and enhancing military preparedness, intensifying joint training with other branches of the armed forces, and increasing the capabilities for joint command, operations and support.

Efforts should be made to foster new-quality combat capacity and use cutting-edge technological advancements to empower the development of the airborne corps, he said.

Xi also urged efforts to forge Party organizations in the military into ones with unwavering political commitment and robust capabilities, and to address corruption and misconduct among military personnel.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an airborne force history museum when inspecting an airborne corps on Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Editor: WXY
Editors Note: This post was updated at 1:42 a.m. Wednesday with the latest results.

It took a full night of counting, but incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Perry appears to have captured a 7th term in Congress.

Unofficial final counts from the Dauphin, York and Cumberland counties showed with 203,460 votes, or 50.8 percent, to Democrat challenger Janelle Stelsons 197,048, or 49.2 percent.

That was based on nearly complete counts of mail-in ballots, in which Stelson held a nearly 30,000-vote lead, and final, tabulations of in-person, election-day returns from 351 precincts. Perry was leading the election day count by about 36,000 votes.

The final count wont be certified for several weeks, but the margin now looks solid for the incumbent.

Perry won the York portion of the district - his home county - by 13,595 votes, and Cumberland by 5,416 votes. Stelson was leading in Dauphin by 12,601. Full results broken down by county are available here.

16 1 / 16 10th Congressional District race between Janelle Stelson and Scott Perry

PennLive was not able to reach Perry after the final numbers came in about 1:30 a.m.

Earlier, Perry briefly addressed a post-election gathering for supporters and campaign volunteers at Boomerang Bar & Grill in Fairview Township - and before the last big batch of York County votes came in that pushed into the lead.

He said then that he was still hopeful for a win.

It has been a, as you know, a long and challenging campaign, Perry said. We knew that this was going to be a fight, and it is a fight. The good news is there is a still a lot (of votes) out... and a lot of it looks good.

Weve been closing the gap all evening... but the only thing that matters is the number at the end.

What Id like to do is thank everybody for all your hard work. Keep your spirits positive. The suns going to come up tomorrow and we expect to have victory in the presidency and in this congressional district.

At Stelsons watch party at The Englewood in Hershey, the challenger thanked her campaign staff for what she called the hardest, best year of my life and thanked her friends and neighbors for their support.

Turns out, it requires a lot of focus to unseat a six-term congressman, she said.

Stelson - speaking when she was still holding a significant lead - took the opportunity to once again outline her platforms and contrast them with Perrys, claiming he planned to curtain Social Security benefits and raise the age of eligibility, She also called for term limits for members of Congress.

I say 12 years. Hes already served 12. Lets limit him! And Id be happy to limit my own, Stelson said.

But the largest crowd reaction came when Stelson spoke in support of a womans right to determine what happens to her body. And maybe Scott Perry should not be involved.

The 10th District, created in 2018 out of a court-ordered redistricting in response to a suit about partisan gerrymandering, consists of all of Dauphin County, roughly the northern half of York County and most of Cumberland County.

The eyes of the nation are literally on the race, as the district is seen as one of about 30 House races nationally that will tell the tale of which party has majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Stelson, the longtime WGAL-TV newscaster and first-time political candidate, has based her candidacy on the premise that Perry is not only too extreme in his political views for the Republican-leaning 10th District but, as of the 2020 presidential election, he is an oath breaker to boot.

She based that latter argument on Perrys activities in the period after the 2020 presidential election when, texts and other records have shown, he worked tirelessly in support of former President Donald J. Trumps efforts to cling to power despite his electoral defeat to Joe Biden.

Perry, meanwhile, campaigned fiercely in defense of his record.

On the election subversion charges, Perry argued his communications at that time were a response to concerns he was hearing from constituents and other sources, and were designed to help him reach a decision about his vote on certification of the election results.

Perry did contact high-ranking federal Department of Justice officials to try to ensure they were taking a serious look at various fraud allegations, the record shows.

But a federal judge weighing in on the FBIs seizure of Perrys cellphone held information she had seen showed that Perry, in addition to gathering information, was attempting to influence the conduct of executive branch officials and encouraging them to engage in efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

If he comes across as a political maverick, its because, Perry argued, hes one of the few politicians in Washington D.C. who has remained true to the limited-government, less-regulation platform that he initially ran on.

Many of Stelsons supporters talking to PennLive at polling places Tuesday mentioned Trumps election subversion efforts in 2020, and Perrys cheerleading for it, as a key consideration in their vote.

I have real difficulty with that. Doesnt everybody? Carlisle resident Sharon Wilson said Tuesday after casting her ballot at the Carlisle Baptist Church.

But that was not the only reason they cited for supporting the former newscaster.

Others made clear that they were voting for Stelson as part of a straight-party ballot that included support for Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Robert P. Casey at the top of the ticket.

And then there were other reasons, like Stelsons stated support for term limits: I think hes been in office too long, said Glenn Rinehart, an 83-year-old AMP and Tyco retiree who noted he doesnt particularly dislike Perry.

Its just time to get some new blood in there, said Rinehart, who described himself as an independent voter.

Perry supporters said they agreed with Perrys conservative principles, from limiting government spending to securing the border and investing in a strong national defense while staying out of wars that the United States has no need to be in.

Stelsons election subversion attacks did not stick with them.

I liked that he was willing to go against the flow and search for the truth, instead of accepting things that just dont make sense. And he put his political life on the line to do that, said Rich Gensler, a voter from Carroll Township, York County who had just voted for Perry.

When he was asked about Perrys actions, culminating in objections on the House floor to the final certification of Pennsylvanias 19 electoral college votes for Joe Biden, Robert Innerst, also of Carroll Township, said he admired Perrys courage.

I was excited for it, Innerst said, adding he still has lingering questions about the administration of the 2020 vote. I wanted him to fight it all the way.

Perry did have a number of built-in advantages in the race, starting with voter registration: the 10th holds 242,563 Republicans (44.3 percent); 206,392 Democrats (37.7 percent), with the remaining 18 percent registered as independents or with other parties.

It is also a district that Trump defeated Biden in four years ago by 4.1 percentage points.

This was the incumbents closest race yet, but on a night that was very good for Republicans statewide, it appears that Perry was able to climb into the GOP victory train too.
By LISA MASCARO and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)  Republicans picked up a crucial win Tuesday in the race for the Senate majority, as Gov. Jim Justice easily notched the West Virginia seat to succeed retiring Sen. Joe Manchin, deadlocking the chamber in a 50-50 split, for now.

FILE - West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, File)AP

Justice, the states governor who often appears with his English bulldog Babydog, was widely expected to deliver for Republicans as they work to wrest control from Democrats. Republican Donald Trump is popular in the state, and Manchin, who left the Democratic Party to become an independent, declined to seek another term.

West Virginia is the first of several states where Democrats see their slim hold on the chamber at serious risk. In a 50-50 split, the majority goes to the party in the White House, because the vice president can cast tie-breaking votes. There are more races ahead.

With control of Congress at stake, the ever-tight contests for the House and Senate will determine which party holds the majority and the power to boost or block a presidents agenda, or if the White House confronts a divided Capitol Hill.

In the end, just a handful of seats, or as little as one, could tip the balance in either chamber.

Lawmakers in the House face voters every two years, while senators serve longer six-year terms.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have re-signed tight end Matt Sokol to their practice squad, the team announced on Wednesday. Sokols signing comes on the heels of tight Rodney Williams being released from the team. Williams has to clear waivers by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, but this seems like a clear sign that Williams could be heading elsewhere.

Over the last two seasons, Williams played in 19 games for the Steelers as a special teams player. He did not play much as a tight end in their offense, and with the Steelers having four tight ends on their active roster, he was released following the trade for Preston Smith.

Sokol joined the Steelers during training camp as injuries racked up at the tight end position. He signed to their practice squad when MyCole Pruitt suffered a knee injury and missed four weeks with it. However, once he returned, Sokol was released.

Since Williams does not seem to be coming back to the team, Sokol will serve as tight end depth within the organization if another injury pops up in the room.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are cutting tight end Rodney Williams from their active roster after trading for wide receiver Mike Williams and edge rusher Preston Smith, according to multiple reports.

Williams was signed to the teams active roster after Week 2 when MyCole Pruitt suffered a knee injury. Pruitt missed the next four games, and Williams would serve as a core special teamer and TE4. However, now Pruitt is back and Nick Herbig is expected to return, which is where Williams had played on special teams while injuries racked up at outside linebacker.

Williams has been with the Steelers for nearly two years. He will likely return to the teams practice squad, as the organization has just four tight ends, all on the active roster.

An undrafted free agent out of UT-Martin, Williams spent time with the Denver Broncos before the Steelers scooped him up as a free agent. He played in 13 games for the Steelers last season and has played in six more this year.

The Steelers now have 53 players on their roster after releasing Williams, who will have to clear through waivers before he can return to the Steelers.
By JIM SALTER, The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP)  Flash flooding caused by torrential rain in Missouri has killed at least five people, including two election judges who died Tuesday when their vehicles were swept away in the southern part of the state.

Up to 8 inches of rain fell over two days in parts of Missouri, leading to widespread flooding and dozens of water rescues. It was part of a storm system that spawned tornadoes in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

In Wright County, Missouri, a county of about 19,000 residents 210 miles southeast of Kansas City, vehicles driven by a 70-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman were swept away by flooding at Beaver Creek around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, the state patrol said. Their bodies were found more than four hours later.

Wright County Clerk Loni Pedersen confirmed that both of the people who died were election workers. Three people in two other cars swept away by the fast-rising creek were able to swim to safety, the patrol said.

Two other deaths were reported in St. Louis County. Firefighters were called Tuesday morning after a submerged SUV was spotted near flooded Gravois Creek, near Interstate 55. Crews broke through the sunroof and pulled out a woman, who was pronounced dead, Lemay Fire Protection District spokesperson Jason Brice said.

Hours later, a mans body was found in the same flooded creek, Brice said. Authorities were investigating how the body got there. Fire crews rescued 10 other people from flooded vehicles, Brice said.

On Monday, Missouri state troopers recovered a 66-year-old mans body after a car was swept off a bridge in Ironton, about 90 miles south of St. Louis.

The National Weather Service said four likely tornadoes, and possibly more, touched down in parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas on Monday. There were no reports of deaths or injuries from the tornadoes.
By Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel (TNS)

ORLANDO, Fla.  The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Rafael will grow into a major Category 3 storm Wednesday before it strikes Cuba and moves into the Gulf of Mexico, while the Florida Keys remain under a tropical storm warning.

As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, Rafael, which formed at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, had grown into a strong Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph sustained winds, just 5 mph shy of major hurricane status. It was about 60 miles east-southeast of the Isle of Youth and 130 miles south-southeast of Havan, Cuba, moving northwest at 14 mph.

Its expected to hit Cuba Wednesday afternoon, then move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, forecasters said.

Marine hazards remain the primary concern for the Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Rafael's possible paths. (National Hurricane Center/TNS)TNS

Storm surge is projected to range from 1-3 feet in the Dry Tortugas and 1-2 feet in the lower Florida Keys.

Immediate concerns for the Caribbean include rainfall totals that could reach more than 12 inches over Cuba through midweek with the threat of flash flooding and mudslides.

Once Rafael makes it into the Gulf of Mexico, its final destination along the Gulf Coast remains uncertain. It could head to Louisiana and Texas, but it also could turn back south toward Mexico.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has produced 17 named storms, with 11 of the systems having grown into hurricanes, three of which have struck Floridas Gulf Coast.

The official hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.
Entrepreneurs Breanna George and her partner Elijah Sanders are the new owners of Holy Grounds Coffee on the Penticton Indian Reserve, a three-minute drive from the gas station. Stop by between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m.
A woman talks with a staff member at the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LONDON, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal.

The pavilion is set to feature a range of destination promotions, business networking sessions, and showcases of intangible cultural heritage. Attendees can also enjoy interactive experiences, including Chinese "baijiu" liquor tastings, Tai Chi workshops, and samples of Chinese cuisine.

This year's Chinese delegation consists of representatives from nine provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Xinjiang and Shaanxi, alongside dozens of airlines and tourism companies.

After browsing brochures and speaking with representatives at the China pavilion, Gary King, head of trade sales at London-based Wendy Wu Tours, told Xinhua that his top two destinations for future trips to China are Zhangjiajie in the central Hunan Province and Guilin in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, both renowned for their "spectacular scenery."

King said he traveled to China for the first time last year and was "absolutely captivated," highlighting the local cuisine, welcoming people, extensive high-speed railway network, and the diversity between cities as the aspects he loved most about the country and his experience.

Since last year, China has been expanding its visa-free entry policies to boost the recovery of inbound tourism, making it increasingly easier and more appealing for foreign tourists to explore the country.

This year's China pavilion at WTM London, themed "high-quality tourism development in China," emphasized green and sustainable tourism, showcasing the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature.

"Tourism businesses and boards have a responsibility to help businesses become greener and more regenerative, while also helping consumers make sustainable choices," Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, the UK's national tourism agency, told Xinhua.

She noted that international tourism not only generates economic value but also enriches people "personally and mentally" by providing opportunities to "speak with different people, understand different cultures, and learn about diverse lives and experiences." High-quality tourism, she added, encourages travelers to stay longer and explore more deeply in their destinations.

Over the decades, China has made remarkable strides in facilitating travel, enhancing various aspects like tourism infrastructure, cultural heritage site accessibility, mobile payment services, and transportation convenience -- including a rail network that spans the entire country.

At the event, Shi Zeyi, an official from China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said that China is dedicated to fostering practical, mutually beneficial partnerships with worldwide tourism professionals and contributing to the growth and prosperity of the global tourism industry.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry.

The 44th edition of WTM London, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled. 

People visit the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A woman talks with a staff member at the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A man visits the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

People visit the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

People visit the booth of Morocco during the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The WTM London 2024, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A man sits at the exhibition booth of Malawi during the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The WTM London 2024, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A visitor (lower right) is pictured at the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The WTM London 2024, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows the booth of Egypt during the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain. The WTM London 2024, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Models pose for photos at the booth of Morocco during the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The WTM London 2024, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Editor: JYZ
BEIJING -- The newly launched Shenzhou XIX taikonauts have embarked on their six-month journey aboard China's space station. Their packed schedule includes 86 sci-tech experiments, with a particularly intriguing one - the fruit fly research, aimed at studying the growth and behaviors of these insects at a distance of 400 km above Earth.

The fruit fly is one of the model species frequently used in genetic experiments. It is small, measuring only 3 to 4 mm in length, and has a short life cycle with fast reproduction capabilities, enabling it to produce a large number of offspring within a short period, according to Zhang Wei, a researcher involved in the selection of in-orbit scientific experiments, at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"The genes of fruit flies share many similarities with those of humans, so the study can help with understanding human genetic diseases and provide insights into how humans adapt to space environments," Zhang said in a recent interview.

He also noted that future space research plans will involve conducting experiments on mice, which are more complex life forms compared to fruit flies.

"We have planned to send mice to space for breeding on an animal platform. And some lab mice in space may be brought back to Earth for further study, which will focus on their nerves, bones, muscles and immunity," the researcher added.

This is the first time that China has taken the small insects into space, and the aim of the study seems to be exploring the deeper universe.

According to scientists, Earth provides a magnetic field as a basic guarantee for our daily lives, but Mars does not possess similar strong magnetic protection and the moon has none at all. Understanding how the human body responds to such an environment remains a major challenge in space exploration.

"So we have to conduct relevant research in advance, creating a sub-magnetic environment and observing how the fruit flies develop, grow and behave," Zhang said.

China launched the Shenzhou XIX (Magical Ship) crewed spaceship on Oct 30, sending three taikonauts, two male and one female, to its orbiting space station Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) for a half-year stay. The trio in mid-November will witness the arrival of Tianzhou 8 (Sky Ship) cargo craft, which will send up supplies and experiment payloads, including the sub-magnetic facility with fruit flies, according to the researcher.

The previous Shenzhou XVIII crew during their six-month mission also performed numerous experiments inside the national space lab, and one task was creating an "aquarium" and raising four zebra fish and four grams of goldfish algae in zero gravity, a breakthrough in the field of raising vertebrates in space.

Not only the taikonauts found joy in the space "aquarium," but it also paved the way for their future counterparts to enjoy nutritious fish from their own in-orbit harvests.

According to scientists, the water, fish eggs and other experimental samples obtained through the space "aquarium" have been brought back to Earth with the crew on Monday. These samples will provide valuable data for scientists to study vertebrate lives.

Besides life science experiments, the orbiting taikonauts will carry out research on materials, including rare earth soft magnetic materials, blade materials for gas turbines and special functional crystals. These findings will provide insights for developing advanced instruments on Earth.

Editor: JYZ
Joe Stapleton & Morgan Jay Bring the Laughs at NAPT Stand-Up Comedy Night

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager Copy link

On Monday night, 2024 NAPT Las Vegas Gold Pass winners were treated to a special event at Jalisco Underground here at Resorts World  welcome drinks and a comedy show featuring Joe Stapleton and Morgan Jay, a musician and comedian based in Los Angeles.

Jay has appeared on MTV's Wild'N'Out, NBC, and Comedy Central and "has carved out his own genre of performance art and comedy creating a show built on imperfection, authenticity, relatability, shared experience and connection."

As his website states: "Hes Brazilian and Italian which for some reason makes him the guy from Ratatouille. Low key, hes actually a trained actor graduating from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Hes won multiple awards and festivals but none of that stuff really matters anymore because he has a lot of followers on social media and THATs all the matters. HE HAS A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE and a blue check mark. Im just saying hes a huge deal. Thats all Im saying."

Check out Jay's full special on YouTube for a taste of his comedy:

It proved to be a fun night filled with lots of laughs, as evidenced by some of these photos by Trevor Scott.

Gold Pass winners enjoying drinks at the 2024 NAPT.

Joe Stapleton performing at the 2024 NAPT Las Vegas.

Gold Pass winners enjoying drinks at the 2024 NAPT.

Joe Stapleton performing at the 2024 NAPT Las Vegas.

Morgan Jay performing at the 2024 NAPT Las Vegas.

Morgan Jay performing at the 2024 NAPT Las Vegas.

James Hartigan chatting with Gold Pass winners.

Gold Pass winners enjoying drinks at the 2024 NAPT.

Morgan Jay performing at the 2024 NAPT Las Vegas.

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Evan Sandberg Beats Tough Final Table at WSOPC Lake Tahoe Main Event

Jon Pill Contributor Copy link

On Monday morning, Evan Sandberg had a pair of WSOP online bracelets in his trophy cabinet. By the end of the day, he had a World Series of Poker Circuit ring to dust around as well.

After collecting his $133,841 for first place in the Event #13: $1,700 Main Event at the WSOP Circuit Lake Tahoe festival, Sandberg now has a little over $1.4 million in live cashes.

The $1,700 buy-in, no limit hold'em Main Event attracted 439 players and racked up $665,085 in the prize pool. This made up more than a third of the $1,764,246 in prizes awarded across the 18 ring events of the festival.

Fighting For First

Bracelet winner Michael Pearson eventually came fifth.

Sandberg's battle to the top spot didn't come easily. Having spent two days fighting through a field that was 439-entries strong, Sandberg found himself at a final table with Michael Pearson.

Pearson is a solid player with form at Lake Tahoe, having taken down this exact event in 2016 and 2019.

Sandberg also had to watch out for WSOP Circuit ring winners Bilguun Odgerel and Brett Murray and Dann Turner who has a WSOP Online bracelet, five WSOP Circuit final table finishes, four WPT Deepstack final tables, and a TV bubble finish in the 2023 WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event.

Despite the strong line up, Sandberg did his best to avoid being intimidated at the final table.

For me, I always enjoy a challenge," he told WSOP.com. "So, playing with tough competition does make it a lot funner for me. It motivates me to really play my best.

With all this hardware at the table, Sandberg managed to hold his own, going into Day 3 with the fifth biggest stack of seven.

Day 3 Action

Runner up James Czarnecki at the WSOP.

On the final day, Vinny Chu and Travis Stevenson were the first out of the action on Day 3. Pearson followed in fifth, earning $28,921.

Murray and Turner took fourth and third respectively, leaving Sandberg heads up against James Czarnecki.

Czarnecki had a good start in the heads up phase of the tounrey. Although the players began with roughly even stacks, Czarnecki quickly pulled ahead.

However, Sandberg was able to turn things around when his three-bet bluff with Qx6x was called preflop.

I thought he looked weak when he raised  a completely bad read," he explained after the hand.

However, it was a perfectly timed mistake since the flop came out queen high and he picked up a six on the turn. After check-raising all in and getting a call, Sandberg's two-pair took it down and suddenly he was out in the lead.

After that, it was just a matter of mopping up the last of Czarnecki's chips. Czarnecki ended up taking home $87,977 for second place, while Sandberg pocketed $133,841 and the ring for first place.

WSOP Circuit Lake Tahoe Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Hometown Prize 1 Evan Sandberg San Francisco, CA $133,841 2 James Czarnecki Edgewater, MD $87,977 3 Dann Turner Cleveland, OH $59,232 4 Brett Murray San Francisco, CA $40,871 5 Michael Pearson Santa Rosa, CA $28,921 6 Travis Stenerson Japan $21,101 7 Vinny Chu Elk Grove, CA $15,659 8 Bilguun Odgerel Oakland, CA $11,999 9 Lee Viloria Hayward, CA $9,455

Coming Soon

The next big event on the WSOPC calendar is the WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant. The Main Event of that festival will declare a winner on November 11 and the preliminary ring events are already underway.

After that there are just four more events left in 2024 for the WSOPC. The WSOP Circuit Grand Victoria starts on November 7, the WSOP Circuit Commerce on November 21, and the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Las Vegas on November 28.

Then it is on to the final event of the year when the WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee kicks off on November 28, closing out the year when the festival finishes on December 9.

You can check out the full results for the WSOP Lake Tahoe festival below.

WSOP Circuit Lake Tahoe Full Series Results

EVENT ENTRANTS WINNER PRIZE PRIZEPOOL Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack 187 Ben Primus $14,517 $61,710 Event #2: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha 87 Mark Castagnini $7,962 $28,710 Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 507 Adam Greenlee $30,555 $167,310 Event #4: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 113 Anthony Costa $9,768 $37,290 Event #5: $300 Seniors Event 302 Joseph Mongkoluaaree $15,455 $72,481 Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 108 Tom Jeffrey $9,336 $35,640 Event #7: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max 195 Jordan Ramirez $14,991 $64,350 Event #8: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better 113 Sterling Lopez $9,767 $37,290 Event #9: $400 Monster Stack 574 Jason Graeb $34,721 $189,420 Event #10: $250 Ladies Event 118 Cheryl Svenson $6,070 $23,600 Event #11: $600 No-Limit Hold'em 156 Patrick Lanahan $19,893 $80,340 Event #12: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 108 Donald Ciaglo $9,336 $35,640 Event #13: $1,700 MAIN EVENT 439 Evan Sandberg $665,085 Event #14: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 106 John Swensson $9,319 $34,980 Event #15: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 144 Derek Nicolich $12,070 $47,520 Event #16: $300 Seniors Even 278 Denis Lee $14,574 $66,720 Event #17: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 159 Dan Stavila $12,996 $52,470 Event #18: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack Closer 193 Jed Hoffman $14,977 $63,690

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The second of three starting flights kicks off today at 11 a.m. for the 2024 PokerStars North American Poker Tour $5,300 Main Event. Yesterday's flights saw a total of 276 hopefuls make their way to Resorts World in search of a Day 2 bag. However, just 73 were able to advance to Thursday's Day 2.

From a star-studded field, it was Bin Weng who captured the chip lead by the end of the night. The former GPI #1 player built a large stack early in the proceedings and never looked back on his way to a bag of 359,000.

Bin Weng

Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Bin Weng United States 359,000 239 2 Michael Lavenburg United States 307,500 205 3 Andrew Voor United States 281,000 187 4 Martin Carnero United States 267,000 178 5 Eric Medved United States 240,000 160 6 Jonathan Newman Canada 232,500 155 7 Colton Blomberg United States 216,500 144 8 Eric Blair United States 213,500 142 9 Nathan Wasson United States 211,500 141 10 Zhiqin Zeng United States 209,500 140

Players begin the tournament with 30,000 in tournament chips with blinds at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante. Levels will last 60 minutes in length and ten levels will be played on Day 1. The tournament is single re-entry per flight, with registration open through to the start of Day 2 on Thursday, November 7 at 12 p.m.

Along with Day 1b, there is a turbo Day 1c at 6 p.m. which features 30 minute levels. After 276 players entered Day 1a, the $3,000,000 guarantee is almost halfway fulfilled with two starting flights still to come.

Stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the action from the PokerStars NAPT Las Vegas Main Event.
Starting November 9, Ukrenergo will suspend payments on its green and sustainability-linked bonds for $825 million, the company has announced.

"This technical measure will remain in effect until the planned debt restructuring is completed in the coming months. Ukrenergo, together with the Ukrainian government, is taking all necessary steps to reach an agreement with bondholders in the near term," the company stated on its Facebook page Wednesday.

According to it, the grounds for the termination of payments are the provisions of a separate law (the law of Ukraine on the peculiarities of conducting transactions with state, state-guaranteed debt and local debt and state derivatives), as well as two resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers and an order of the authorized governing body of Ukrenergo from the state - the Ministry of Energy. The said regulations were adopted as part of Ukraine's fulfillment of the terms of cooperation with the International Monetary Fund.

"Ukrenergo informed its partners and creditors about the suspension of payments on eurobonds and assured them of the operational and financial stability of the company. We continue to fulfill our obligations and functions stipulated by Ukrainian legislation and the company charter. In particular, with regard to current tasks - preparation for winter, restoration, arrangement of protection and strengthening the stability of the energy system of Ukraine in the conditions of martial law," the company emphasized.

According to the company's website, in the near future it plans to organize negotiations with representatives of the bondholders (in particular, the EBRD) to agree on fair and mutually acceptable changes to the terms of their issue in order to ensure the long-term financial stability of Ukrenergo.

The company recalled that in 2022 the parties agreed to defer payments on bonds, which helped support it during wartime and significantly contributed to financial stability over the past two years.

Energy Reform sources in the government commented that the suspension of payments on eurobonds is a technical decision of the company's shareholder, which has nothing to do with financial and operational indicators. They also noted that a necessary condition for completing the restructuring process of eurobonds is the formation of a new supervisory board of the company, which is necessary after the dismissal of chairman of the board of Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudrytsky and early resignation of two independent members of the supervisory board in connection with this. The new supervisory board must be formed by December 9.

As reported with reference to the memorandum on economic and financial policies on the fifth review of the EFF program with the IMF, Ukraine, after the successful restructuring of eurobonds in August of this year, also intends to restructure a number of remaining obligations to private creditors, including GDP warrants and state-guaranteed eurobonds of Ukrenergo, and allows for another restructuring if necessary closer to the end of the EFF program with the International Monetary Fund in 2027.
BEAUFORT  Rain greeted voters when polls opened at 7 a.m. in Beaufort County, threatening to make weather a factor in turnout. The precipitation, however, soon gave way to sunny and breezy weather.

It was likely more than the pleasant weather that drew voters to the polls. In Beaufort County, more than 72 percent of the 140,000 registered voters made their voices heard. Turnout in Jasper County was even higher with 78 percent of registered voters participating in the general election.

The substantial turnout resulted in very few surprises  perhaps no surprises. Unofficial tallies saw incumbents ruling the day with scant exceptions. For example, between Beaufort County Council and the City of Beaufort, there were six seats on the ballot. In each case, the incumbent retained their seat.

The same is true for the local state legislative races. Incumbents won all nine races for state Senate or state House. In many cases, challengers were defeated by wide margins. In other words, it was never close.

The same was true for the two U.S. House of Representatives races impacting the region. Nancy Mace defeated Democratic challenger Michael Moore to retain her seat in the 1st Congressional District.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn beat Republican challenger Duke Buckner with 57 percent of the vote in the race for the 6th Congressional District.

Still, the night wasn't without its points of interest.

Jasper County's rightward shift continued, as voters unanimously chose Republican candidates for the second election in a row.
The first of four gas piston stations, which are planned to be installed in Odesa with financial assistance from the governments of Japan, Norway and Sweden with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine, has been handed over to the city, the Ministry of Energy reported.

According to its website, the installation of all four stations can provide 45% of the energy needs of Odesa's critical infrastructure.

As noted by UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Jaco Cilliers, the location of these cogeneration units directly where energy is needed allows for a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 40% for each unit.

"This initiative is an important step towards decentralization and strengthening of the energy infrastructure of Odesa. Through the Green Energy Recovery Program, UNDP will continue to work with partners to restore and improve basic services in Odesa, strengthening resilience and promoting sustainable energy solutions," the official emphasized.
Celebrating the holidays requires a soundtrack, and a new holiday EP from a member of iconic South Carolina rock band Hootie & the Blowfish aims to make the Christmas season even brighter.

Hootie & the Blowfish drummer Jim Soni Sonefeld released his Christmas record Light of Joy on Nov. 1, and listeners are sure to get a hefty dose of merriment from the five festive songs.

I've been wanting to build on the couple of holiday songs I released in the past to make something more like a collection of tunes, Sonefeld told The Post and Courier.

Writing at home in November and December (last year) when it was feeling warm and cozy and decorated for the holidays gave me the perfect inspiration, he said. The majority of the songwriting began with his acoustic guitar and piano.

Two previously released tracks  Its Love and I Wont be Blue at Christmas  round out the new EP, with the latter dating back to 2013. Sonefeld said I Wont be Blue at Christmas takes him back to a time when he was getting comfortable with singing lead vocals and being more of a leader in the studio.

The song originated at home on the piano with me scribbling lyrics on a notepad, he said. I'm a little old-school with my songwriting. I really liked the storyline of the song. I also remember getting to the studio and one of the more theologically sound producers pointing out where several of my lyrics were biblically inaccurate. Oops. He helped me sort them out, though.

Fun fact: He enlisted the help of Mount Pleasant songwriter Martin Chalk for the track Its Love as well as the single Light of Joy (Gloria).

Coming from a big churchgoing family of seven, Christmas meant a lot of energy, hope, stress and food, Sonefeld said.

I couldn't include songs about the birth of Jesus without also including songs about decorating cookies, staring up chimneys for Santa and having your heart broken on Christmas Day, he said.
"There was one e-mailer who discussed drug use in their own family and how this book actually helped the e-mailer deal with that situation," Hanley said Oct. 31 at the committee meeting.

The board's action does not prevent students from bringing their own copies of the books into school, board Chairman David O'Shields said. That decision, he said, would be up to parents and local schools.

He praised his local high-school librarian for pulling "The Court of Thorns and Roses" book from the school's shelves before anyone challenged it.

"Our librarians are smart people," he said.

Hanley said it would be "embarrassing" to cite the violating passages during the meeting, adding that the department does not need to supply taxpayer funds to buy or display such content.

Board members spared the works by Shakespeare, Orwell and Lee because any references to sexual content in these books were "oblique," Hanley said.

"(Orwell) went right up to the line but never crossed it," Hanley said.

'Court of last appeal'

The book challenges were not generated by parents, as envisioned in the regulation, but by department staff. The goal was to clarify how the state board expected local boards to enforce the regulation, a department spokesman said last week.

The state board has no list of books it plans to review and will let parents and local boards take the lead on book challenges going forward, Hanley said.

The committee's preemptive review of these titles was an effort to relieve local districts from dealing with titles that have already generated controversy and to set a precedent for how the regulation would be implemented, Hanley said.

Some argued that such a precedent is still not clear.

Josh Malkin, the S.C. ACLU's advocacy director, pointed to several sexual passages of "1984" which he described as "clearly" violative of the regulation  not in an effort to get the classic dystopian novel banned, he said, but to illustrate how teachers might not have a clear view of what is and isn't allowed.
GREENVILLE  County voters have rejected a capital project sales tax that would have gone toward updating the areas deteriorating road inventory.

The referendum failed by a margin of 126,293 votes (51.5 percent) to 118,948 (48.5 percent).

The additional 1-percent levy would have raised more than $1 billion over eight years that would have funded a list of more than 1,500 roads projects across the county.

It would have applied to purchases excluding groceries, prescription drugs, and gas.

Proponents had pointed to the penny sales tax as the areas only option to address the poor condition of Greenville Countys transportation infrastructure. According to county staff, 60 percent of the areas roads are in fair or poor condition, and to complete needed repaving projects alone would cost an estimated $2 billion.

County Council voted in June to send the tax to voters, just under a year after approving an unpopular property tax increase, the countys first in roughly three decades.

Opposition to the levy has been fierce in the months preceding this election, with several members of council, as well as multiple council members-elect, rallying against it.

That concerted opposition was enough to sink the levy in a conservative, tax-averse area. With the referendum defeated, it is unclear how the county will bridge a multi-billion-dollar gap in infrastructure funding.

Currently, the county raises about $12 million a year in revenue for roads, and major local projects are not slated to receive state funding for years, if they are at all.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election.

Congratulations to Donald Trump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine, Zelenskyy said on X.

The head of the Ukrainian state stressed that he appreciates President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. According to Zelenskyy, this is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together, the president added.

In addition, Ukraine looks forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership, relies on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.

We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations. Ukraine, as one of Europe's strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies, Zelenskyy noted.

He stressed he is looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's strategic partnership with the United States.
GEORGETOWN  Georgetown County voters approved one new sales tax on Nov. 5, but they narrowly rejected another.

The capital projects sales tax, which will be used to pay for local infrastructure projects, passed with 51 percent of voters supporting it, according to unofficial results. Now a 1 percent local tax will be tacked on to the states 6 percent sales tax, making the sales tax in Georgetown County 7 percent.

"This is a significant achievement as it will provide much-needed funding for critical health, safety and infrastructure improvements throughout Georgetown County," Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce President Beth Stedman said in a prepared statement. "We believe this outcome is a strong signal of our collective commitment to investing in the future of our area, ensuring that we have the infrastructure in place to support the needs of our residents and communities."

This sales tax is projected to generate $10 million annually for eight years.

There was also a local option sales tax on the ballot. That tax failed to pass by a razor-thin margin, with just over 50 percent of voters opposing it.

Election officials said a recount will be needed because the margin was less than 1 percent. The tax received just 64 more no votes than yes ones, unofficial results showed.

Patrick Hamrick, who lives in Georgetown, said he voted for the capital projects sales tax but not the local option one.

"I'm definitely more inclined to pay more in sales taxes if it's going to benefit the community I'm living in," he said.

He said he voted against the local option sales tax because he didn't understand what it would be used for.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 72F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 53F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 72F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 52F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
The Russian Navy has deployed one missile carrier with a total salvo of up to four Kalibr missiles to combat duty in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian Navy reported on Wednesday morning.

"As of 06:00 on November 6, there is one enemy ship in the Black Sea that is a carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles with a total salvo of up to four missiles; there are no enemy ships in the Sea of Azov; there is one enemy ship in the Mediterranean Sea that is a carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles with a total salvo of up to eight missiles," the message says.

According to the Ukrainian Navy, over the past 24 hours, the following vessels passed through the Kerch Strait in the interests of the Russian Federation: into the Black Sea - eight vessels, of which three continued moving in the direction of the Bosphorus Strait; one vessel - into the Sea of Azov.
DANIEL ISLAND  U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace is heading back to Congress for a third term after easily dispatching a Democratic challenger in a race deemed so predictable that she used a two-year-old TV ad to make her case to voters in 2024.

Mace's win over first-time candidate Democrat Michael B. Moore extends her time in Washington and firmly cements Republican control over a seat Democrats had hoped to reclaim against long odds.

With nearly all the votes counted in the 1st Congressional District race, Mace collected some 58 percent of the vote in a seat that spans the coast from Charleston to Beaufort and includes parts of Colleton, Dorchester and Berkeley counties.

"The radical left believes strong, intelligent women cant possibly be independent-minded conservatives, that our husbands tell us how to vote, and any woman who doesnt agree with them must be weak or misguided," Mace said in her victory message.

"But they dont know what its like to work twice as hard for half the credit," she added. "Those who underestimate me, dont bother me; it just makes me work harder; it also just makes victory so much sweeter."

Four years ago, under a different congressional map, Mace narrowly ousted Democrat Joe Cunningham in a tight race that ended his congressional career, clinching victory by just 5,415 votes.

This year, the second election cycle under redrawn political lines that were later upheld by the Supreme Court, it was heading toward a blowout with the final results yet to be tabulated.
Poroshenko congratulates Trump on his election as US President, hopes war to be stopped under his leadership

The fifth President of Ukraine (2014-2019), MP, leader of the European Solidarity party, Petro Poroshenko, congratulated the Republican Party's candidate for U.S. President, Donald Trump, who already held the post of head of state in 2016-2020, on his re-election to the post.

It was a brilliant campaign, extremely competitive, and ultimately effective. You were able to convincingly prove your leadership and strategic vision, which the American people have chosen today. All of Washington's allies around the world do also need one, Poroshenko said on Facebook Wednesday.

He expressed hope that under Trump's presidency we will be able to put an end to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the entire Free World and emphasized the allied relations between Ukraine and the United States.

I am convinced that our support from the United States will continue to grow on the basis of strong bipartisanship. And the strategic partnership between Kyiv and Washington will be further strengthened in the interests of peace, security and stability in a world based on the rules, not force, Poroshenko said.

Earlier, the politician noted effective cooperation with Trump during his presidential term. "We received the first lethal weapons from the Trump administration, we had an effective start of negotiations on peacekeepers under the Trump administration, and the creation of an independent Ukrainian church was also under the Trump administration," Poroshenko said in an interview with Sky News.
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Greg Hansberry, formally of Sunny This Morning on Sunny 95, has launched a new paranormal podcast with a fresh take, complete with exclusive spooky stories, haunting interviews, and chilling insights. The Empty Coffin Podcast is the only show of its kind hosted and produced by a Columbus, Ohio resident.CLEVELAND, OH / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Greg Hansberry, the popular former radio personality from Sunny This Morning on WSNY Sunny 95, has launched The Empty Coffin, a thrilling new paranormal podcast. It's the only show of its kind hosted and produced by a Columbus resident. Available now on all major podcast platforms, The Empty Coffin offers weekly explorations into dark tourism, haunted history, and creepy pop culture. The show is produced through Hansberry's media agency, Greg Hansberry Productions, and the internationally recognized Evergreen Podcasts.Empty Coffin Podcast by Greg Hansberry Empty Coffin Podcast Album Art What to Expect on The Empty Coffin Podcast:True Ghost Stories: Experience spine-chilling accounts directly from those who lived them.Star-Studded Interviews: Gain insights from notable psychics, Hollywood actors, and professional ghost hunters. Featuring guests like Theresa Caputo, Matt Fraser, David Dastmalchian, Stephen Moyer, Mike Love, Jay Wasley, and Dustin Peri.Year-Round Frights: Who says Halloween is just one day? Enjoy your paranormal fix every month of the year!"I'm excited to release this spooky stuff into the world! I've been sitting on so many unbelievable scary stories and great interviews for so long. There just wasn't any room for them on old fashioned' radio," Hansberry said. "With The Empty Coffin, I can share some far-out stories that are compelling and, yes  super scary!"Halloween-obsessed Hansberry is no stranger to success; he was a key member of the Sunny This Morning team from 2016 to 2024, waking up Columbus alongside local favorites Stacy McKay and Dino Tripodis. He also made waves in the podcasting arena with Whiskey Business, a comedy show that garnered accolades as Best Podcast and Best Comedy Podcast multiple times from the Columbus Podcast Awards.Don't Miss Out on This Spooky Season SensationFor media inquiries, interviews, or promotional opportunities, please contact:Greg Hansberry, host and producerEmail: TheEmptyCoffinPodcast@ gmail.com Website: Evergreenpodcasts.com/the-empty-coffin Social: @HalloweenHansberry (Instagram, TikTok)Join the conversation using #TheEmptyCoffinPodcastAvailable on all major podcasting platforms, including: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Cast, Podchaser, PandoraAbout Evergreen PodcastsEvergreen Podcasts is one of the world's largest independent podcast networks with a premier catalog of over 300 entertaining and thought-provoking shows. A full-service podcast production, brand marketing, and sales organization, Evergreen is rooted in high production values and artistic integrity. With a diverse roster of storytellers from true crime, pop culture, comedy, and beyond, Evergreen Podcasts connects listeners with content that informs, entertains, and inspires. For more information, visit evergreenpodcasts.com Contact InformationSamantha Morganti Director of Marketingsmorganti@ evergreenpodcasts.com SOURCE: Evergreen PodcastsView the original press release on newswire.com
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 5, 2024 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of Customers Bancorp, Inc. ("Customers Bancorp, Inc.") (NYSE:CUBI) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.Customers Bancorp revealed via an SEC filing on April 12, 2024, that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), Carla Leibold, "was notified of her termination from employment with the Company on April 10, 2024, for 'cause' under her employment agreement for violating Company policy, which termination was effective immediately." The Company then admitted in an SEC filing on April 25, 2024, that contrary to its prior filing, that Ms. Leibold "agreed that the termination of Ms. Leibold's employment is a separation by mutual agreement." Additionally, the Company disclosed that Ms. Leibold would receive $2.5 million in cash. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. To obtain additional information, go to:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212)363-7500.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212)363-7500 Fax: (212)363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Asia-based investment and wealth management firm, Derwent Investments is excited to announce a new limited intake of interns at its Singapore headquarters. This exclusive program, set to begin in January 2025, is designed to provide a select group of aspiring professionals with a comprehensive grounding in the growing investment and wealth management industry.A rare opportunityThe internship program at Derwent Investments will offer a unique opportunity for successful candidates to gain hands-on experience in the fast-paced world of finance. Interns will work closely with the firm's senior professionals to gain exposure to a broad range of investment strategies, portfolio management techniques, and wealth management practices."We're thrilled to open our doors to the next generation of financial professionals," said Edward Chandler, Director of Private Equity at Derwent Investments. "Our internship program is designed to provide interns with invaluable experience and insights that will serve as a solid foundation for their future careers as professionals in what is one of our region's fastest growing industries." Highly selective shortlisting processDue to the highly competitive nature of the program, Derwent Investments will be conducting a rigorous selection process to identify the most promising candidates. Applicants will be evaluated based on their academic achievements, passion for investment, and their ability to function well as part of team. The firm is seeking individuals who are not only academically strong but also eager to contribute to the dynamic working environment at Derwent Investments.Comprehensive training and mentorshipThe successful applicants will benefit from a structured training program that covers key areas of the investment and wealth management industry including due diligence, time horizons, risk tolerance and more. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in real-world projects, attend seminars and workshops and receive mentorship from seasoned professionals within the firm."Our goal is to equip our interns with the skills and knowledge they'll need to succeed in this increasingly important industry," added Mr. Chandler. "Using this program, we aim to nurture tomorrow's young investment professionals and provide them with the tools they'll need to excel in their future careers whether they choose to become advisors, analysts or portfolio managers." Potential permanent careersInterns who excel during the program may be considered for full-time, permanent positions at Derwent Investments upon graduation, making this an unparalleled opportunity for those looking to launch their careers in investment and wealth management."Joining us as an intern is about more than gaining experience; it's about becoming part of a team dedicated to excellence, client service and innovation," said Mr. Chandler. "We're very much looking forward to welcoming the brightest minds to our family and helping them embark on a rewarding career in this industry." Application procedureCandidates are initially encouraged to register their interest online through the Derwent Investments website by Saturday, November 30th 2024. Only a limited number of openings are available, so early application is recommended.About Derwent InvestmentsDerwent Investments is a leading investment management firm committed to delivering superior investment results and client service that is second to none. With a team of experienced professionals and a disciplined, research-led approach to investing, the firm provides innovative solutions and opportunities for medium-to-long-term capital growth. Derwent Investments' focus on research-driven investment strategies ensures that clients benefit from the latest market insights and technological advancements.Media Contact Details:-Organization: Derwent Investments Pte LtdWebsite: https://derwentinv.com/ Email: media@ derwentinv.com Readers may consult the reference article available here.SOURCE: Derwent Investments Pte Ltd
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 /Discovery Lithium Inc. (CSE:DCLI)(OTCQB:DCLIF)(FRA:Q3Q0) (WKN:A3EFKA) (the "Company," or "Discovery Lithium"), a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing domestic energy freedom through regional lithium discovery, is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement pursuant to which the Company issued an aggregate of 10,000,249 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.055 per Unit for gross proceeds of $550,014.79 (the "Offering"). Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant, with each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at a price of $0.10 per Share for a period of 24 months from closing of the Offering (the "Closing"). The proceeds of the Offering will be used for property exploration and general working capital.All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four (4) months and a day from the Closing. There was no insider participation in the Offering.None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering are registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities were offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.Board UpdatesThe Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Nate Schmidt to its board of directors.Mr. Schmidt has over 12 years of experience with exploration projects ranging from early to advanced stage programs. He has planned and managed multi-drill programs and ground geological programs for a variety of commodities located across Canada. Since 2016, Mr. Schmidt has been actively involved in lithium exploration in the James Bay district, gaining valuable experience and insights into the region's resource potential, communities and regulatory climate. Mr. Schmidt has significant experience throughout his career producing geological models in Leapfrog Geo for projects at various stages, complexity, and commodity type. He has authored numerous technical and assessment reports for projects in several provinces. His commodity experience has been focused on lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT type) pegmatites, porphyry Cu-Mo, carbonate replacement (Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag), carbonatite hosted rare earth elements and niobium/tantalum, cobalt, metallurgical coal and uranium, in both North America and Africa.In related news, Mr. Jaap Verbaas has resigned as a director of the Company, effective immediately. The Company thanks him for his dedication and offers him best wishes for future endeavors.For more information please visit: www.discoverylithium.com About Discovery Lithium (CSE:DCLI)(OTCQB:DCLIF)(FRA:Q3Q0)(WKN: A3EFKA)Discovery Lithium Inc. is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing mineral resource projects in North America. The Company holds a 100% interest in 1,675 mineral claims in Serindac Lake and 2,113 mineral claims in Vaubert Lake for a combined total of approximately 164,283 hectares (~405,952 acres) located in the Nunavik region of Northern Quebec, and with a further total of 303 mineral claims comprising approximately 16,392 hectares (~40,505.5 acres) identified as the Route De Nord, Lac Belanger, Lac Ferland and Lac Roberston properties located across the northern and eastern regions of Quebec including the prolific lithium district of the James Bay region. The Company has entered into an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Eagle Lake claims and the Whitefish Lake claims, respectively, comprised of 2,923 mineral claims covering approximately 61,093 hectares (~150,964 acres) in Northwestern Ontario. Additionally, the Company is actively advancing its ESN Project for gold exploration in Nevada and evaluating the Koster Dam Project in Central British Columbia through a joint venture with Cariboo Rose Resources. Find out more at: www.discoverylithium.com and follow us on X (formerly twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn.On behalf of the Board of Directors,Mike Hodge Chief Executive OfficerThe Company would like to welcome investors to visit our website and join our mailing list at www.discoverylithium.com/news-alerts/ . By subscribing you will stay up to date with the latest news releases and advancements within our company.For further information, please contact:Discovery Lithium Inc.1450 - 789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6C 1H2 Telephone: +1 (778) 868-2226 Email: info@ discoverylithium.com Web: www.discoverylithium.com Caution Regarding Forward-Looking InformationCertain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", "potential", "indicative" and similar expressions. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Offering, including the timing, terms and anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering, the timely receipt of all necessary approvals for the Offering, and other statements regarding the Company's future business plans and objectives. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of risks and uncertainties inherent in the exploration and development of mineral properties, fluctuations in commodity prices, counterparty risk, market conditions, regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information
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NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Employee Pooling (EP), a leading provider of insurance-focused business processing solutions for Distributors, Carriers, Financial Institutions, and Software Companies in the Life Insurance industry, announced the appointment of Patrick Gray as Vice President of Business Development. In this role, Gray will spearhead the company's strategic growth initiatives and expansion of market partnerships.Patrick Gray Vice President, Business DevelopmentPatrick brings more than two decades of financial services experience to Employee Pooling. He recently served as Director of BGA Sales at iPipeline, managing relationships with over 250 BGAs and IMOs nationwide. His proven track record in optimizing insurance processes and implementing technology solutions has consistently driven revenue growth and operational efficiency for his partners."Patrick's extensive industry knowledge and remarkable ability to forge strong business relationships make him the ideal choice to lead our business development efforts," said Tom Gray, Founder and CEO of EP. "His appointment reflects our commitment to accelerating growth and delivering exceptional value to our clients and partnerships." Prior to iPipeline, Patrick spent 11 years at LPL Financial, where he distinguished himself in advanced insurance sales and field development. His innovative approach to complex challenges and talent for developing actionable strategies earned him multiple excellence awards, including both individual and external sales excellence recognition."I am excited to join Employee Pooling at this pivotal time," said Patrick. "The company's innovative solutions and strong market position provide an excellent foundation for growth. I look forward to contributing to its continued success and helping our partners achieve their business objectives." Patrick holds a CLU designation and maintains Life, Accident & Health Insurance licenses in North Carolina.Contact InformationMichelle AndersonDirector of Marketing & Corporate Relationsmichelle@ ep-insuranceservices.com 615-610-5585 ext 203SOURCE: Employee Pooling, LLCView the original press release on newswire.com
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Christopher Aleo aims to transform the small African kingdom into a global economic center, offering unique incentives for businesses.LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / iSwiss Bank, through its subsidiary FZ CAPITAL JSC, is proud to announce that it has obtained the first Free Economic Zone license in the Kingdom of Eswatini. This landmark agreement, signed directly with His Majesty King Mswati III, marks a significant step forward for Eswatini, positioning it as one of the most competitive and attractive destinations for international investors and entrepreneurs, with tax incentives reaching as low as 0%.A Groundbreaking Development ProjectThe establishment of a zero-tax Free Economic Zone will open Eswatini's market to a wide range of global investors, with projections to register between 600,000 and 1 million new companies by 2025. This favorable fiscal environment, combined with advanced financial infrastructure and global banking connections, promises substantial benefits for both foreign entrepreneurs and the local population. The Free Zone will provide direct access to multi-currency bank accounts, simplifying and streamlining international economic transactions.The Vision of Christopher Aleo, CEO of iSwiss Bank and Interim President of the Eswatini Free Zone AuthorityChristopher Aleo, CEO of iSwiss Bank and the driving force behind this Free Zone initiative, shared his vision for the project: "After spending many years in Dubai and working closely with Middle Eastern royal families, I've had the opportunity to observe and understand the success models that have made cities like Dubai and other economic hubs international benchmarks for business. This experience, coupled with my travels to Georgia, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, and other countries, allowed me to integrate the best aspects of various Free Zones worldwide, always keeping in mind the needs of modern digital entrepreneurs, consultants, and freelancers." Aleo added, "Today, many entrepreneurs, freelancers, and digital consultants feel lost when faced with complex tax regulations and bureaucratic processes that delay business setup. In Eswatini, we've made it possible to open a business in under three minutes, complete with a multi-currency bank account and global payment services. Thanks to our advanced facial recognition and document verification systems, clients can register quickly and securely without the long, costly trips typically required to open accounts abroad. Our goal is to provide them with the best possible experience while ensuring full compliance with anti-money laundering regulations." A Global Financial Platform for New BusinessesThe Free Economic Zone project goes beyond offering tax incentives; it aims to create a modern and interconnected economic platform. New companies will be able to operate as though they were based in the home country of their commercial counterpart, with fast, secure, real-time transactions that break down geographical barriers and simplify international trade. SEPA, ACH, and SWIFT connections provided by iSwiss Bank will enable money transfers worldwide with the same speed as local transactions, making Eswatini one of the most financially interconnected states in Africa.Incentives for Industrial Development and Job GrowthThe Eswatini Free Zone is also committed to boosting the industrial sector. iSwiss Bank has already allocated significant funds for building state-of-the-art industrial facilities and logistical areas, which will create high-quality job opportunities for the local population and foster skill development in high-demand sectors. In partnership with the Eswatini Free Zone Authority, training programs for the local workforce will be launched, contributing to the creation of a competent, globally aligned labor force.A Historic Meeting with Eswatini Government OfficialsIt was a great honor for Christopher Aleo and the entire iSwiss team dedicated to African development to meet personally with key government figures in the Kingdom of Eswatini: Prime Minister H.E. Russell Dlamini, Finance Minister H.E. Neal Rijkenberg, and Commerce Minister H.E. Manqoba Khumalo, along with the entire government team. "We immediately recognized that we could help bring this beautiful nation to ever greater heights, supporting its economic and social growth," Aleo commented.Looking Ahead: Innovation and Accessibility for Investors and BusinessesThis agreement between iSwiss Bank and the government of Eswatini is only the first step in a long-term partnership, with plans to expand into key sectors such as tourism, precision agriculture, and renewable energy. The objective is to establish Eswatini as an economic hub for the entire African continent, following in the footsteps of successful Free Zones like those in Dubai.Eswatini is on track to become a prime destination for global business, creating a fiscal and financial environment that accelerates new business growth and offers substantial returns for the nation. The innovative approach of iSwiss Bank, combined with the visionary support of the government and His Majesty King Mswati III, is transforming this African nation into a significant international market, providing an unprecedented opportunity for investors, entrepreneurs, and citizens alike.Media ContactOrganization: iSwiss Bank SAContact Person Name: D.ssa Monica DiamantiWebsite: https://iswiss.ch/ Email: support@ iswiss.ch City: LondonCountry: United KingdomSOURCE: iSwiss Bank SA
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 5, 2024 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of Franklin Resources, Inc. ("Franklin Resources, Inc.") (NYSE:BEN) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.Franklin subsidiary Western Asset Management Company issued a press release on August 21, 2024, announcing that co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech "is on a leave of absence, effective immediately" after "receiv[ing] a Wells Notice from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission". That same day, Bloomberg reported that "[f]ederal prosecutors in New York are investigating whether a Western Asset Management executive allocated winning trades to favored accounts, as part of a criminal probe into a practice known as  cherry-picking.'" Following this news, Franklin's stock price fell over 12% on August 21, 2024. To obtain additional information, go to:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212)363-7500.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212)363-7500 Fax: (212)363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-11-06 20:01:48

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Renowned neurodiversity expert, cognitive scientist, bestselling author and social entrepreneur celebrated for her global impact on Neurodiversity InclusionCHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Autism Community Ventures ("ACV"), a public benefit corporation with a global network of partner organizations for the Neurodiversity + Opportunity Drives Innovation initiative, is pleased to announce that its founder Dr. Maureen Dunne was honored by the Golden Apple Foundation with the 2024 Impact Award.Dr. Maureen Dunne, Author of the National Bestseller, The Neurodiversity EdgeDr. Dunne, a champion for neurodiversity inclusion efforts for decades, is the author of the national bestseller and critically acclaimed book, The Neurodiversity Edge. The book made the USA Today bestselling booklist, was recently named a finalist for the getAbstract International Book Award for Business Impact and has made a significant impact on leaders in multiple sectors, including education, business, and public policy.A cognitive and learning scientist who earned her doctorate from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, she approaches her work from the perspective of both a trained professional and one who has lived the experience. Her work has been featured in prestigious outlets such as Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Harper's Bazaar, MIT Sloan Management Review, Fast Company, Inside Higher Ed, Forbes, Bloomberg, and Big Think, among many others.According to the Golden Apple Foundation website, the Impact Award honors a person or organization that has positively and significantly impacted the lives of students. Award criteria include demonstrating fearless leadership in the face of adversity, delivering an aspirational vision for the future and strategies to achieve it, facilitating gatherings of leaders in education, business, philanthropy, and technology to improve the education experiences of students, inspiring entrepreneurial groups to improve student outcomes, demonstrating data-driven decision making while increasing innovation, consistently using sound, unwavering, ethical judgment, and wholly dedicating one's life to better outcomes for all students.The annual signature award event took place at the Four Seasons in Chicago on October 28.Contact InformationRebecca Proulx Fortier Public Relationsrebecca@ fortierpr.com SOURCE: Autism Community VenturesView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-11-06 16:00:59

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Third Holland Foundation Center of Excellence To Be EstablishedBOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / The Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration is proud to announce a partnership with the prestigious Mass Eye and Ear to establish the Foundation's third Center of Excellence in the United States.Led by Thomas Dohlman, MD, Medical Director of the Boston Keratoprosthesis Program at Mass Eye and Ear and an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and Jia Yin, MD, PhD, MPH, Director of the Cornea Fellowship at Mass Eye and Ear and also an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, the new Center of Excellence will work closely with the Holland Foundation to implement innovative treatments and expand patient care."We are extremely excited to partner with the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration to create this new collaborative program," Dr. Dohlman said. "Working with Dr. Holland and team, we now have the framework and support to offer a critical service to our patients with severe ocular surface disease." The Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration is anchored by Edward Holland, MD, an internationally recognized and pioneering ophthalmologist in the treatment of Severe Ocular Surface Disease practices at the Cincinnati Eye Institute and at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, Ky."The partnership with Mass Eye and Ear will significantly expand access to specialized care for patients with severe ocular surface disease and limbal stem cell deficiency," Dr. Holland said. "Mass Eye and Ear's expertise and reputation in ophthalmology make it an ideal partner to address this significant unmet medical need." Mass Eye and Ear is an international center for treatment and home to the world's largest vision and hearing research centers. Mass Eye and Ear is a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system and a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.Mass Eye and Ear joins Cincinnati in the Midwest and the University of California-Irvine on the West Coast as Holland Foundation Centers of Excellence, which are designed to provide comprehensive coverage across the United States and ensure that patients have opportunities to receive life-changing treatments close to where they live.Dr. Holland is world renowned for developing The Cincinnati Protocol, a technique that can restore vision to patients who have lost their sight. He specializes in patients that have suffered acid or alkaline injuries, or have chronic, severe medical problems that have scarred the surface of the eye."The Mass Eye and Ear partnership will enhance patient access to the Cincinnati Protocol, offering new hope to those suffering from these complex ocular conditions," said Dr. Holland, who also serves as Director of Cornea Services at Cincinnati Eye Institute and a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Cincinnati.Contact InformationKila HanrahanDirector of Developmentkila@ hollandfoundationforsight.org (859) 409-0009SOURCE: Holland Foundation for Sight RestorationView the original press release on newswire.com
The number of people killed as a result of the enemy attack on Zaporizhia on Tuesday, November 5, has risen to eight people, nine wounded are in hospitals, said head of the Regional Military Administration Ivan Fedorov.

"Nine victims of yesterday's enemy strike on the regional center are in medical institutions in Zaporizhia. Two people - a 44-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man - are in serious condition. Doctors assess the condition of seven more victims as moderate. Unfortunately, the woman who was taken to the medical institution in extremely serious condition died," he wrote on his Telegram channel on Wednesday.

Earlier, it was reported that seven people were killed and 25 were injured.

As reported, on the morning of November 5, 2024, Russian army servicemen launched a missile attack on civilian infrastructure in Zaporizhia. A critical infrastructure facility was destroyed.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Montlick & Associates, PC ("Montlick") recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of approximately 140,000 clients. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Montlick.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On September 2, 2024, Montlick became aware of a security incident on its IT Network. As a result, Montlick launched an investigation to determine the nature of the incident. Montlick's investigation confirmed that an unauthorized third party gained access to its IT Network between August 15, 2024, and August 27, 2024, in which sensitive personal information of clients was compromised. Montlick then began a review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised as well as identify the specific individuals affected. On October 7, 2024, the review was completed.Montlick's investigation discovered that the following types of sensitive personal information may have been exposed in the data breach: Full name, Social Security number, driver's license and medical treatment and/or diagnosis information. On November 4, 2024, Montlick issued a public disclosure about the data breach and started sending notice letters to individuals impacted. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Montlick,you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 /Kenoch Asset Management Limited has announced strategic partnerships with prominent Middle Eastern banks to expand its wealth management services outside of the US and Europe.Kenoch Asset Management Limited, a London-based wealth management firm specializing in tailored financial services for professionals in the oil industry, is pleased to announce strategic partnerships with several major banks in the Middle East. These partnerships mark a significant milestone in Kenoch Asset Management's commitment to providing comprehensive wealth solutions to clients across the region.Through these alliances, Kenoch Asset Management aims to broaden its suite of services, offering bespoke financial strategies that address the unique needs of oil industry professionals operating within the Middle East. In the short time since forming these partnerships, the firm has experienced a substantial increase in client interest and engagement, with inflows from the region exceeding $1 billion in just the first two weeks."We are thrilled to expand our reach and support oil industry professionals in one of the most dynamic energy markets globally," said Mr. Peter Ashbourne, Head of Global Equities of Kenoch Asset Management. "Our partnerships with these leading financial institutions reflect our commitment to deepening client relationships in the Middle East and offering solutions that align with their unique financial goals and challenges." Kenoch Asset Management's expansion into the Middle East underscores the firm's dedication to growth and to delivering high-quality, personalized wealth management solutions to clients in the oil industry. The company remains focused on supporting clients with a blend of global expertise and local insight, enabling them to navigate the complexities of wealth management with confidence.About Kenoch Asset Management Limited:Kenoch Asset Management Limited is a leading wealth management firm based in London and with offices in Dubai specializing in providing tailored financial services to professionals in the oil industry. With a global reach and a client-centric approach, Kenoch Asset Management offers a range of investment solutions designed to meet the unique needs of its clients in the energy sector.Media Contact:-Mrs. Melanie WalshPress and Media ManagerKenoch Asset Management LimitedLondon Office Tel: +44(0)20 3468 5771Dubai Office Tel: +971 4517 8386Email: melanie.walsh@kenochassetmanagement.com London Address: London Address: 124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, England.Dubai Address: Level 41, Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road, DubaiReaders may consult the reference article available here.SOURCE: Kenoch Asset Management
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Mawson Finland Limited(" Mawson " or the " Company ") (TSXV:MFL) is pleased to provide an exploration summary of the highly successful 38 hole, 11,376 metre 2024 exploration drilling programme at the Company's wholly-owned Rajapalot gold-cobalt project in Finland (see Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, and Figure 1 in Schedule "A" hereto). Additionally, the balance of outstanding cobalt results are also presented.2024 Drilling Highlights:Discovery of a new zone of high-grade mineralization, New Lens' , located in the footwall below the South Palokas mineralized zone: PAL0335 drilled a thick 21.75m interval grading 5.25 g/t gold and 515 ppm cobalt from 295.05 m ( 21.75 m @ 5.25 g/t Au & 515 ppm Co , including 3.2 metres @ 21.61 g/t Au and 373 ppm CoShallow and high-grade step-out intercept at Palokas zone: PAL0346 intercepted 7 m @ 9.1 g/t gold and 706 ppm cobalt from 88.75 m demonstrating that thicker and higher-grade mineralization exists in the southern margin of the Palokas gold-cobalt systemSignificant gold-cobalt mineralized intercepts drilled at depth at Palokas and South Palokas zones, with multiple intercepts in step-out holes PAL0354 (Palokas) and PAL0361 (South Palokas), expanding and opening the at depth' strike-length of each of these mineralized bodies - both mineralized zones remain open at depthDrilling at Raja, The Hut, Terry's Hammer and Joki expanded the mineralized footprint of these zones which are expected to contribute to the inferred gold and cobalt resource inventory in future updates to the resource calculationMs. Noora Ahola, Mawson Finland CEO, states: " We regard our latest drilling season at Rajapalot a success and believe that the gold-cobalt resource at Rajapalot has a great potential to be extended beyond its current size. The most significant highlights reported here demonstrate that depth potential at South Palokas remains open, with 2 gold-cobalt mineralized horizons now present in this new, deeper drilling. Similarly, an additional thick intercept on New lens' follows-up our previously reported discovery of this mineralization, demonstrating geological and grade continuity of this zone of gold-cobalt mineralization of which we are eager to follow-up at depth in this coming 2025 winter drilling season. Our work continues with ongoing geophysical measurements and planning of a new extensive drill program starting in January 2025. We anticipate that our success should continue into 2025 as we work towards our goal of adding ounces to the resource".Detailed SummaryDuring January to April 2024, 3 drill-rigs drilled a total of 11,376 metres of diamond core from 38 drillholes around the Palokas, South Palokas, The Hut, Raja and Joki zones of gold-cobalt mineralization (Figure 1). Primary aims of this 2024 drilling campaign at the Rajapalot project were to further delineate additional gold-cobalt mineralization in order to enlarge the inferred category mineral resource over the property beyond its presently defined size of 9.78 mt @ 2.8 g/t gold and 441 ppm cobalt, with total contained metal of 867 koz of gold and 4311 tonnes of cobalt.Palokas Area:Twenty drillholes were drilled around the Palokas and South Palokas mineralized zones, with several intercepts encountering significant gold-cobalt mineralization. Along the southern margin of the presently defined limits of the Palokas zone, several significant intercepts were drilled, including a shallow high-grade intercept of 7 m @ 9.1 g/t gold and 706 ppm cobalt approximately 70 metres below surface (PAL0346), and a deeper intercept of 12 m @ 1.7 g/t Au approximately 300 metres below surface (see Figure 2). At South Palokas, significant intercepts were also recorded along the southern margin of its presently defined limits, with holes PAL0335, PAL0340, PAL0344, PAL0361 and PAL0364 all intercepting multiple significant intercepts from approximately 100 metres, to 450 metres below surface (see Figure 2). A new zone of high-grade mineralization was discovered in the footwall of South Palokas, approximately 100 metres below the presently defined gold-cobalt mineralized envelope of the South Palokas. Here, a thick 21.75 metre lens of high-grade mineralization was intercepted in PAL0335, grading at 5.25 g/t Au & 515 ppm Co. A follow-up intercept on this New Lens' of mineralization, located 50 metres up-plunge from the PAL0355 intercept, drilled a 17 metre thick interval grading 1.05 g/t Au and 224 ppm Co, confirming both the local geological and grade continuity of New Lens' (see Table 1, Table 2, Figure 2 and Figure 3).Raja Area:Six drillholes were drilled around the Raja zone of mineralization in an effort to extend the mineralized envelope here to both the north-east, and south-west of its presently defined limits. Five of 6 drillholes intercepted significant mineralization, with drillholes PAL0355, PAL0353, and PAL0358 extending the known limits of gold-cobalt mineralization between 40 metres and 90 metres to the north-east (see Table 1, Table 2 and Figure 4)The Hut Area:Drilling around The Hut area consisted of 8 drill holes; 4 holes investigating potential extensions to The Hut inferred resource, 2 drillholes below the Terry's Hammer mineralized zone, and a further 2 drillholes in the unexplored area located between South Palokas and The Hut zones of mineralization (See Table 1, Table 2 and Figure 2). Drillholes PAL0363 and PAL0368 extended the mineralized strike-length at The Hut in both the north and south directions, while drillhole PAL0371 encountered gold-cobalt mineralization below Terry's Hammer.Joki Area:Drilling around the Joki mineralized zone consisted of 4 drillholes, of which 3 holes were designed to further design gold-cobalt mineralization up-dip of the main lens, while an additional drillhole was located to the north-east in order to step-out from the known limits of mineralization. The 3 drillholes placed up-dip or mineralization returned no significant intercepts, while the remaining north-east step-out drillhole (PAL0338) returned only a single significant intercept (see Table 1, Table 2 and Figure 5).Technical Background, Data Verification and Quality Assurance and Quality ControlThree diamond drill rigs from MK Core Drilling Oy, Comadev Oy and Arctic Drilling Company Oy, all with water recirculation and drill cuttings collection systems, were used in this drill program. Core diameter is NQ2 (50.7 mm). Core recoveries are excellent and average close to 100% in fresh rock. After photographing and logging in Mawson's Rovaniemi facilities, core intervals of between 0.5 to 2 metres are taken, then half-sawn by independent contrac
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DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / MNA Ventures, a global player in business and technology investments, is proud to hold an event in late November 2024, to celebrate 20 years of growth, innovation, and success. Since its founding, MNA Ventures has become a cornerstone in facilitating business operations and making it possible for its clients to develop and grow across borders, clearing their paths through obstacles in any number of aspects, including financial, legal, and technological. Now, as part of its anniversary event, MNA Ventures is excited to announce the launch of its newest venture - 7th Key, a real estate development subsidiary poised to transform Dubai's property market.Mostafa Nasser Al-Rashed, Executive Director of MNA VenturesA Legacy of Growth and Vision Over the past two decades, MNA Ventures and its subsidiaries, including OTC Business Services, have maintained its position as a leader in fostering business expansion, notably in cross-border operations and blockchain solutions, amongst many others. Commenting on this milestone, Mostafa Nasser Al-Rashed, Executive Director of MNA Ventures, reflected on the company's achievements: "From the start, MNA was designed to be a company that looks beyond borders, to where the true opportunities for growth lie. We are proud of the role we've played in making business smoother and more accessible for entrepreneurs globally, and we look forward to expanding that vision further with 7th Key." With a focus on facilitating international business, MNA Ventures has consistently navigated a rapidly changing global business environment, providing clients with the tools and expertise to succeed in complex markets. Al-Rashed added, "The international landscape has changed dramatically over the years, since we started 20 years ago. The challenges have changed too. 16 years ago a bitcoin was worth a dollar, and today the blockchain industry market cap is in the trillions. If you would have told me back then that we would have so many clients that have reached such tremendous success in this nascent industry, I wouldn't have believed you, but it is real and it is here to stay, and so are we." Introducing 7th Key: A New Era in Dubai Real Estate As MNA Ventures celebrates its 20th anniversary, 7th Key emerges as a major focus for the company's future. This new real estate subsidiary combines luxury with affordability, a concept that is central to 7th Key's flagship project, the Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) development in Dubai. With its vision of transforming the landscape of urban living, 7th Key is committed to delivering high-end residences that blend elegant UK-inspired design with practical community living.A Bold Vision for the Future The JVC project is already making waves in the market, and is receiving great interest from potential buyers. Mostafa Nasser Al-Rashed emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in ensuring 7th Key's success, "We've secured the financial backing and advice of industry leaders, ensuring that our buyers have full protection throughout the development process. The trust we've built, both locally and internationally, speaks to our commitment to excellence." 7th Key's leadership has prioritized community-centered development, placing strong emphasis on the integration of green spaces, vibrant urban areas, and easy access to amenities. This aligns with the broader goals of MNA Ventures, which has always believed in contributing to the growth of forward-thinking, sustainable communities.Al-Rashed continued, "We are not just building properties; we are creating communities where people can thrive. Our developments reflect our values of integrity, innovation, and inclusivity." Pushing Boundaries with Ready-to-Move-In Market In addition to its JVC project, 7th Key is set to enter the rapidly growing ready-to-move-in (RTMI) market. These homes, equipped with fully developed physical and social infrastructure, represent a new era of convenience and comfort. 7th Key aims to lead this market with a philosophy centered on delivering homes that are both luxurious and practical, a testament to the company's forward-thinking approach.Looking Forward With 7th Key leading the way, MNA Ventures remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible, embracing change, and driving innovation in every sector it touches. "The launch of 7th Key is just the beginning of what's to come," Al-Rashed stated. "We will continue to lead, to innovate, and to create a brighter future for Dubai's real estate market and beyond." About MNA Ventures Since the early 2000s, MNA Ventures and its subsidiaries have become a leader in cross-border business facilitation, blockchain technologies, and strategic investments. With a strong emphasis on fostering growth in emerging markets, the company has played a pivotal role in transforming industries across the globe.About 7th Key 7th Key Developers is an innovative real estate subsidiary of MNA Ventures, committed to combining luxury with affordability in Dubai's real estate market. With a focus on community-centered living, 7th Key is setting new benchmarks for quality urban development in the region.For media inquiries, please contactContact Person: Ilir Valon Kevin HalimiEmail Address: ih@ mna-ventures.com Website: https://mna-ventures.org/ Address: Dubai Digital Park, Dubai, UAESOURCE: MNA Ventures
PR-Inside.com: 2024-11-06 14:01:31

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Mongolia Growth Group Ltd. (the "Company") (TSXV:YAK), announces the passage of all resolutions and the election of all nominated directors (Nick Cousyn, Jim Dwyer, Brad Farquhar, Harris Kupperman and Robert Scott) at the Company's Annual General Meeting held on November 5, 2024.For further information on the Corporation, please visit www.mongoliagrowthgroup.com or contact:Genevieve Walkden, Corporate Secretary 877-644-1186 GWalkden@ MongoliaGrowthGroup.com This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process and actions, regulator and corporate approvals, technical issues, new legislation, competitive and general economic factors and conditions, the uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, the occurrence of unexpected events, and the Company's capability to execute and implement its future plans. Actual results may differ materially from those projected by management. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. We seek safe harbour.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Mongolia Growth Group Ltd.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-11-06 20:01:17

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The Year's Biggest Research Report on Experiential Marketing: EventTrack 2025 UnveiledROCKVILLE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Brands across the Fortune 1000 are leaning into experiential marketing for 2025, according to Event Marketer Magazine's EventTrack-the largest, most comprehensive, multi-audience annual research report on experiential marketing.Created by the analysts at Event Marketer and underwritten by leading global experiential agency Sparks, EventTrack surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. corporate consumer event marketers, B-to-B event marketers and corporate exhibitors-plus attendees at consumer events, B-to-B events and trade shows. A snapshot of more than 500 datapoints revealed:Event Budgets are on the Rise. 74% of Fortune 1000 marketers expect to increase experiential marketing spending in 2025.Event Attendees are all-in on Events. 56% of attendees will show up at more consumer events, B-to-B meetings/conferences and trade shows in 2025 than they did in 2024.Experiences Drive Brand Affinity. Two-thirds (66%) of event attendees say they feel more positive about a brand after interacting with it at a live event.Sustainability is a Hot Topic, Slow Mover. Although transitioning to eco-friendly experiences remains a priority, 76% of experiential marketers have no sustainability policy in place-despite it being noticed by 81% of attendees."The effectiveness of experiential marketing continues to grow across Corporate America," says Event Marketer founder Kerry Smith. "Live experiences are becoming larger anchor tenants in the marketing mix-and are, more and more, leading integrated campaigns." Regarded as the experiential marketing industry's most respected annual research report, this marks the first EventTrack created since the pandemic. From 2004-2019, the report was the industry's most downloaded annual barometer on event and experiential marketing. EventTrack 2025 builds on that data legacy.EventTrack 2025 benchmarks, forecasts and projections dig into:B-to-C Events, B-to-B Meetings/Conferences and Trade Shows. From spending intent to event volume to investments by type of event and insights into both strategies and measurement, EventTrack offers topline and deep insights into the evolution of experiences at the world's greatest brands.Consumer, B-to-B and Trade Show Attendees. From attendance to dwell time to purchase intent and which parts of experiences best connect them to brands, EventTrack surveyed attendees at every type of event to understand what gets into their hearts, minds and wallets."Clearly, there is continued momentum for experiential marketing. We see it. Our clients see it. And we're thrilled that third-party industry research can benchmark it," says Sparks CEO David Sudjian.Download the Executive Summary, get 50 slide-ready charts and request the full report right here. To schedule analyst interviews, email lschreur@ accessintel.com ABOUT EVENT MARKETER. Event Marketer is the world's largest information resource on experiential marketing, serving an audience of 100,000 corporate marketers. The Event Marketer portfolio spans the global Experiential Marketing Summit executive conference, the Ex Awards and Experience Design Awards worldwide recognition programs, the Event Agency Forum, expansive industry coverage at eventmarketer.com and a corporate training/research division. Event Marketer is part of Access Intelligence's Chief Marketer Network, which provides insights to 1.6 million marketers. Learn more at eventmarketer.com ABOUT SPARKS. Sparks, a Freeman company, is a leading global brand experience agency known for driving meaningful connections between companies and their audiences. With 20+ locations worldwide, we offer comprehensive experiential marketing solutions, from strategy, creative and fabrication, to event production, management and measurement. Our in-house capabilities include everything experiential, making us the go-to partner for brands looking for transformative results. Discover more at wearesparks.com Contact InformationLynne SchreurMedia Contactlschreur@ accessintel.com 203-854-6730SOURCE: Event Marketer MagazineView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-11-06 16:00:47

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PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Positive Physicians Insurance Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Annie Matincheck to the executive position of Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer. This role reflects Matincheck's extensive experience and leadership highlighting her critical role in shaping the company's strategic vision and operational excellence.Annie Matincheck Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy OfficerMatincheck, who joined Positive Physicians in 2022 as Senior Vice President of Underwriting, brings over 25 years of distinguished experience in the insurance industry, with a deep specialization in medical professional liability. Since joining the company, she has played a pivotal role in transforming the underwriting foundation and leading the strategic refinement of policies, systems, and overall corporate operations. Her insights have been crucial in strengthening the company's market position and driving its growth. Her strategic insights have been instrumental in securing the company's market position and accelerating its growth trajectory."Annie has been instrumental in enhancing our core capabilities and positioning us for sustained growth," said Michael G. Roque, CEO of Positive Physicians Insurance Company. "In her new role, she will oversee critical initiatives including system integration, product and rate development, state expansion, corporate governance, and other strategic initiatives." Matincheck's career includes leadership roles across national and regional carriers, where she has consistently delivered strong results. Before joining Positive Physicians, she served as Associate Vice President at NORCAL Group, overseeing underwriting operations and later expanding her responsibilities to include business development, marketing, and agency services.Annie Matincheck has assumed her new responsibilities as SVP & Chief Strategy Officer, further strengthening Positive Physicians' leadership team. She has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Business from Elizabethtown College and is certified in management by the Yale School of Management Executive Education. She also holds the professional designations as a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and a Certified Risk Manager (CRM).In her new role as Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, Matincheck will continue to guide Positive Physicians Insurance Company as it adapts to the evolving needs of the medical professional liability industry.About Positive Physicians Insurance Company Positive Physicians Insurance Company is a leading provider of medical malpractice insurance, committed to protecting the reputations and practices of healthcare professionals. With a focus on delivering tailored solutions and exceptional service, Positive Physicians supports the medical community through comprehensive coverage options, expert claims handling, and risk management resources.For media inquiries, please contact: Susanna Anderson Marketing Director Positive Physicians Insurance Company 888.335.5335sanderson@ positivephysicians.com Contact InformationSusanna AndersonMarketing Directorsanderson@ positivephysicians.com 888-335-5335SOURCE: Positive Physicians Insurance CompanyView the original press release on newswire.com
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PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Positive Physicians Insurance Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Cobie Buchman to the executive position of Senior Vice President & Chief Claims Officer. This promotion reflects Cobie's significant contributions to the company and his commitment to enhancing Positive Physicians' claims capabilities.Cobie Buchman Buchman, who joined Positive Physicians in 2023 as Senior Vice President of Claims, has been instrumental in elevating the performance and efficiency of the company's claims team. With over 24 years of national claims experience in medical professional liability, Cobie has played a key role in expanding Positive's growth initiatives, transforming the company's reinsurance program, and refining and adding rigor to all aspects of the claims process, including claims committee, reserving, analysis, and disposition of complex claims."Since joining Positive, Cobie has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep understanding of the medical professional liability industry," said Michael G. Roque, CEO of Positive Physicians Insurance Company. "His expertise has been critical in enhancing our claims operations and supporting our strategic objectives. We are confident that in his role as SVP & Chief Claims Officer, Cobie will continue to drive innovation and excellence within our claims department." Cobie Buchman has officially assumed his new responsibilities as SVP & Chief Claims Officer.About Positive Physicians Insurance Company Positive Physicians Insurance Company is a leading provider of medical malpractice insurance, committed to protecting the reputations and practices of healthcare professionals. With a focus on delivering tailored solutions and exceptional service, Positive Physicians supports the medical community through comprehensive coverage options, expert claims handling, and risk management resources.For media inquiries, please contact: Susanna Anderson Marketing Director Positive Physicians Insurance Company 888.335.5335sanderson@ positivephysicians.com Contact InformationSusanna AndersonMarketing Directorsanderson@ positivephysicians.com 888-335-5335SOURCE: Positive Physicians Insurance CompanyView the original press release on newswire.com
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 /Revolve Renewable Power Corp. (TSXV:REVV)(OTCQB:REVVF) ("Revolve" or the "Company"), a North American owner, operator and developer of renewable energy projects, announces enhancements to its senior management team and board of directors, which will help position the Company for its next phase of growth and continue to build our senior management presence in the Canadian market."Revolve is strengthening our executive management team and board of directors as part of our strategic growth plan," said CEO Steve Dalton. "Revolve has made significant progress developing utility-scale wind, solar, hydro and battery storage projects in the US, Canada and Mexico and these appointments will facilitate even greater progress and growth. Enhancing our leadership team will allow us to capitalize on the growing opportunities we see in the utility and distributed generation renewable energy sector." Executive Chairman: Steve Dalton, the current CEO of Revolve, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman and continue to remain activity involved in the day-to-day management of the business. This change in role will facilitate Mr. Dalton focusing on the Company's key strategic objectives and initiatives, particularly as the Company rapidly progresses towards having its first utility scale projects at "ready to build" stage in the United States next year. Roger Norwich, the current Chairman of the Company, will step down from this position but will remain an active non-executive Director of the Company. Roger has led the Company as Chairman since it was founded in 2012, providing strong support and guidance to the management team. We look forward to his continued contribution as a non-executive director of the Company.Chief Executive Officer (or "CEO"): The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Myke Clark as CEO and director of the Company. Myke is a corporate leader with more than 20 years of experience focused primarily on renewable energy, corporate finance and project development. Prior to joining Revolve, Myke was the CEO and Director of a TSX Venture Exchange-listed solar energy company focused on the commercial and industrial solar sector in the United States and Canada, delivering strong growth and profitability. He also brings significant utility scale wind energy development experience to Revolve, having held senior leadership positions with a Canadian wind energy developer where he was responsible for environmental assessment, First Nations engagement and investor relations and helped deliver hundreds of megawatts of wind projects from inception to construction. Myke also has several years' experience as a public affairs professional for several public mining companies and also spent the first decade of his career as a journalist. Myke holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and will be based in the Company's head office in Vancouver. "I am honored to be joining the Revolve team and I look forward to bringing my passion for renewable energy to the Company," said Myke Clark. "Revolve is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the global shift to renewable energy and I believe my project development, distributed generation and capital markets experience will help accelerate that growth. The prospects for renewable energy in general - and Revolve in particular - are extremely positive and I am thrilled to be joining this team as we execute on our focused strategy and deliver strong shareholder returns." Chief Operating Officer (COO): Omar Bojorquez, the current President of Revolve, is appointed as Chief Operating Officer (or "COO") assuming specific responsibility for managing and building the Company's internal operational structures and capabilities required to support its strategic objectives. This role will becoming increasingly important as the Company continues to grow its operating portfolio of renewable energy projects, which brings with it higher levels of operating activity including new customers and team members. Omar Bojorquez, COO, commented: "Our expansion across Canada, the US and Mexico, along with new renewable energy projects and energy efficiency solutions, paves the way for significant growth. As COO, I am committed to ensuring operational excellence, that our projects are executed flawlessly and that our team has the resources to excel. This strategic focus will enable us to create value and strengthen our position as leaders in renewable energy. I am confident that our combination of a strong development portfolio, operational assets, and talented team will lead us toward a prosperous future. I look forward to sharing this journey with our stakeholders, demonstrating our commitment to our business strategy and sustainable growth." Non-Executive Director: Mr. Jonathan Clare is retiring as a non-executive director of the Company. Steve Dalton, CEO commented: "Jonathan has been a key member of the board of the Company for over 10 years. His insights and experience, particularly in the Mexican market, proved to be hugely beneficial to the Company over the years. I would like to thank him on behalf of the Board for his support and contribution to Revolve." In connection with Mr. Clark's appointment and pursuant to Revolve's stock option plan, the Company issued Mr. Clark 500,000 stock options to acquire common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $0.50 (an approximate 65% premium to current share price levels) with a term of three years. These stock options will fully vest after one year following his appointment. The stock options are governed by the Company's stock option plan. Mr. Clark's appointment as CEO of the Company is subject to acceptance and approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.All of the executive management and Board of Director changes are effective November 6, 2024.About RevolveRevolve was formed in 2012 to capitalize on the growing global demand for renewable power. Revolve develops utility-scale wind, solar, hydro and battery storage projects in the US, Canada and Mexico. The Company has a second division, Revolve Renewable Business Solutions which installs and operates sub 20MW "behind the meter" distributed generation (or "DG") assets. Revolve's portfolio includes the following:Operating Assets: 11MW (net) of operating assets under long term power purchase agreements across Canada and Mexico covering wind, solar, battery storage and hydro generation;Under Construction: a 3MW CHP project and a 450kWp rooftop solar project that are both under construction and expected to be operational later this year; andDevelopment: a diverse portfolio of utility scale development projects across the US, Canada and Mex
PR-Inside.com: 2024-11-06 03:00:29

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 5, 2024 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against The Toronto-Dominion Bank ("TD Bank" or the "Company") (NYSE:TD). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether TD Bank and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until December 23, 2024, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired TD Bank securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On October 10, 2024, TD Bank disclosed that it had pleaded guilty and agreed to pay over $3 billion in penalties to resolve investigations by U.S. authorities into violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and money laundering. The resolution of the investigations also included an asset cap preventing TD Bank's U.S. subsidiaries from collectively exceeding $434 billion in assets and subjects TD Bank to more stringent approval processes for its products, services, and market rollouts. In a corresponding press release, the U.S. Department of Justice described TD Bank as "the largest bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to Bank Secrecy Act program failures, and the first US bank in history to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering." On this news, TD Bank's stock price fell $4.07 per share, or 6.41%, to close at $59.44 per share on October 10, 2024.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky reported on the enemy's losses in manpower and equipment during the three months of the Kursk operation conducted by the Ukrainian military.

For almost three months of the operation, as of November 5, 2024, the enemys losses in Kursk direction in personnel amount to 20,842 people, of which: 7,905 were eliminated, 12,220 were wounded, and 717 were captured. During the same period, 1,101 units of enemy weapons and military equipment were destroyed. Of these, 54 tanks, 276 combat armored vehicles, 107 guns and mortars, five MLRS and 659 units of automotive equipment, Syrsky wrote on Facebook.

He emphasized that the Russian Federation is now seeking to ensure that Ukrainian troops leave this territory and recalled that the enemy has concentrated about 45,000 troops there.

"And they are trying to increase their number. Russia's own troops are not enough for this direction, so they are trying to attract military personnel from North Korea," the general said.

Syrsky noted that the Russian occupiers wanted to seize more territory in the north of Ukraine in Sumy region, however, the Ukrainian Defense Forces took a preventive step and continue to destroy the enemy on its territory.

For their heroism and successful actions during the Kursk operation, about 2,000 Ukrainian servicemen were presented with state awards.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the South Korean channel KBS that Russia had concentrated about 45,000 troops in Kursk region, while at the beginning of the operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine there were only a few thousand soldiers. The operation in Kursk region began on August 6.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-11-06 21:11:25

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a lawsuit has been filed against The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD) and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in TD Bank, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/the-toronto-dominion-bank Investors have until December 23, 2024 to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in TD Bank securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and is captioned Tiessen v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank., et al., No. 24-cv-08032.What is the Lawsuit About?TD Bank is the 10th largest bank in the United States. The complaint alleges that TD Bank made materially false and misleading statements about the scope of its anti-money laundering program.On October 10, 2024, TD Bank pleaded guilty to criminal money-laundering-related charges and agreed to pay more than $3 billion in fines to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Reserve, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The Comptroller of the Currency also imposed an "asset cap" that prevents TD Bank from growing any larger than its current size.The news caused a significant decline in the price of TD Bank stock. On October 10, 2024, the price of the company's stock fell 6.4%, from a closing price of $63.51 per share on October 9, 2024, to $59.44 per share on October 10, 2024.Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/the-toronto-dominion-bank What Can You Do?If you invested in TD Bank you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar, Fonti, & Auld LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-11-06 18:30:56

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / The City of Columbus ("Columbus") recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of approximately 500,000 residents. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Columbus.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 18, 2024, Columbus became aware of a security incident on its IT Network. Columbus immediately launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the incident. Columbus' investigation confirmed that an unauthorized third-party gained access to its IT Network and obtained certain personal information of its residents.Columbus's investigation discovered that the following types of sensitive personal information may have been exposed in the data breach: Full Name, Date of Birth, Address, Bank Account Information, Driver's License(s), Social Security Number, and Other identifying information concerning you and/or your interactions with the city.On October 7, 2024, Columbus issued a public disclosure about the data breach and started sending notice letters to individuals impacted. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Columbus, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
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CORAL SPRINGS, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Protecting your water supply from contamination is crucial for long term well-being. Tommy Smith of All Year Cooling & Plumbing emphasizes the importance of professional backflow certification and installation. Backflow, the reverse flow of water, Smith says, can cause harmful pollutants to infiltrate your clean water system, posing significant health risks if not properly managed."Ensuring water safety is not just a priority; it's a necessity," Tommy Smith states. "Our expert backflow certification and installation services are designed to protect both your health and your property." With decades of experience in the industry, All Year Cooling & Plumbing understands the unique challenges of maintaining safe water systems in Southern Florida and is committed to providing effective, reliable solutions.Comprehensive Backflow Prevention Services According to Tommy Smith, backflow prevention requires a multi-layered approach. "Our certified technicians conduct thorough inspections, employ advanced techniques, and use top-of-the-line equipment to ensure your system is compliant and safe," he explains. All Year Cooling & Plumbing's comprehensive services are tailored to meet the specific needs of Southern Florida residents and businesses, offering:Thorough Inspections "Identifying potential backflow hazards is the first and most critical step," Tommy Smith emphasizes. The team's detailed inspections uncover any vulnerabilities in your water system, allowing for timely interventions that can prevent contamination and costly damage.Backflow Certification Once the inspection is complete, All Year Cooling & Plumbing provides certification for existing backflow prevention devices. "Meeting regulatory standards is vital for protecting public health and avoiding fines," Smith adds. By certifying your system, homeowners and business owners can be confident in their water supply's integrity.Installation of New Backflow Prevention Devices When it comes to installing new backflow prevention systems, experience and expertise matter. "Our technicians are trained to install high-quality devices that effectively prevent backflow," Tommy Smith notes. This ensures that your water supply remains uncontaminated, even under the most challenging conditions.Maintenance and Repair Regular maintenance is essential for the ongoing effectiveness of backflow prevention systems. "We offer comprehensive maintenance and repair services to keep your system functioning optimally," Smith says. Addressing any issues promptly reduces the risk of system failure and keeps your water safe.The Dangers of Backflow Tommy Smith explains that backflow can occur for several reasons, including sudden changes in water pressure. "Without proper prevention mechanisms, hazardous substances like chemicals, bacteria, and waste can infiltrate your drinking water," he warns. The potential health implications make backflow prevention a non-negotiable aspect of home and business maintenance.The All-Year Cooling & Plumbing Advantage With over 51 years of experience serving Southern Florida, we bring a wealth of knowledge to every project, Smith states. The company's deep understanding of local water systems enables them to provide efficient and effective solutions that stand the test of time.Certified Technicians "Our team consists of certified professionals who are experts in backflow prevention," Tommy Smith says. This level of expertise ensures that every service - whether it's an inspection, certification, or installation - is performed to the highest standard.Advanced Techniques and Equipment All Year Cooling & Plumbing uses state-of-the-art tools to diagnose and address backflow issues. "We stay up-to-date with the latest technology to ensure our clients receive the best service possible," Smith adds.Commitment to Water Safety and Compliance Tommy Smith stresses the importance of adhering to regulatory requirements. "We take compliance seriously and ensure that all our work meets local and national standards," he explains. This dedication to safety and compliance is why so many Southern Florida residents trust All Year Cooling & Plumbing with their water systems.Protect Your Water Supply Today "Water safety is not something to be taken lightly," Tommy Smith emphasizes. All Year Cooling & Plumbing is ready to help homeowners and business owners safeguard their water supply with expert backflow prevention services. From thorough inspections and certifications to professional installations and maintenance, the company is dedicated to protecting your health and property."Trust us to provide reliable, high-quality service," Tommy Smith says. "Our team's commitment to excellence ensures that your water remains safe and clean." To learn more visit: https://allyearcooling.com Contact Number:888.204.5554EmailUs:info@ allyearac.com SOURCE: All Year Cooling
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Ohio-based Stamped Metal Supplier Pursues Asset Sale to Address LiabilitiesSOUTHFIELD, MI / ACCESSWIRE / November 6, 2024 / Wrena, LLC ("the Company"), a full-service supplier of stamped metal products to the automotive industry, has announced a sale process under Chapter 11, Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Despite its profitable operations, the Ohio-based Company is pursuing this path to address litigation-related liabilities and maximize the value of its assets through an organized sale process. With estimated revenue of $18.6 million for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, Wrena, LLC employs approximately 50 people.Wrena Wrena location Sale Process and TimelineOn October 28, 2024, the Bankruptcy Court approved a structured sale process for Wrena, LLC, including key dates and requirements for prospective bidders. Cascade Partners, LLC is the investment bank managing the process:Qualified Bidders Requirements: Potential bidders must become Qualified Bidders by submitting the following to the Company by December 6, 2024:A signed asset purchase agreement (APA) similar to the Company's form APA, with bids limited to cash or assumption of liabilities and not subject to financing conditions.A good faith deposit of at least 5% of the cash purchase price.Proof of financial ability to complete the transaction, to the Company's satisfaction.Written acknowledgment that the bid requires no additional due diligence, board approval, or non-governmental consents.Initial Bid Received: Wrena, LLC has received an initial bid from a related entity for $5.65 million in cash plus assumption of employee-related liabilities.Auction and Sale Hearing: If multiple Qualified Bids are received, an auction will be held on December 10, 2024, starting with the highest bid submitted by the deadline. The final approval of the highest bid will be sought at a Sale Hearing on December 16, 2024, with the sale expected to close shortly thereafter.Cascade Partners, LLC, the investment bank managing the process, invites interested parties to contact: Shareef Simaika or Matthew Miller at wrangler@ cascade-partners.com for further details.Contact Information Cascade Partners, LLC 1000 Town Ctr, Ste 1100 Southfield, MI 48075Contact Information Shareef SimaikaManaging Directorwrangler@ cascade-partners.com SOURCE: Cascade Partners, LLCView the original press release on newswire.com
The leadership of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the delegation of the German Foreign Ministry held a working meeting in the unit protecting the border with the Russian Federation in Chernihiv region.

During the visit, head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Serhiy Deineko met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and German Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Jaeger, the press service of the State Border Guard Service reported.

During the meeting, Deineko noted that thanks to international support, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is developing and re-equipping itself according to EU and NATO standards, and today the agency effectively protects the Ukrainian border and is an integral part of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

"All the assistance that was provided with the assistance of the German Foreign Ministry is used by our units both on the battlefield and in their daily service activities, but, unfortunately, given the daily losses, there is still a need for additional equipment," he emphasized, noting that today Ukraine remains a reliable partner and outpost of security for the rest of Europe.

During the visit, the German side was shown that all assistance provided by Western partners is being effectively used to build up security capabilities and address the challenges that have arisen as a result of Russian aggression.

The head of Chernihiv border detachment acquainted the guests in detail with the current situation in the area of responsibility. He spoke about the main challenges that border guards face and presented technical means that allow them to effectively counteract not only traditional threats, but also attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles, in particular the Shahed type, which the aggressor country sends almost daily to bomb peaceful Ukrainian cities.

Special attention was paid to aerial reconnaissance assets, which are actively used to monitor enemy movements and to promptly identify and destroy potential threats. The head of the border guard and the aerial reconnaissance unit demonstrated the capabilities of using attack UAVs and mortars of various calibers to destroy enemy targets.
As a result of an innovative special operation of the Main Intelligence Agency (GUR), for the first time it was possible to defeat the Russian flotilla in the Caspian Sea, sources in the GUR told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to sources, the attack with the help of kamikaze drones took place on the morning of November 6. The distance from the state border of Ukraine to the target is about 1,500 kilometers. As a result of the UAV strikes, at least two objects were damaged in the city of Kaspiysk, in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia.

In particular, we are talking about the likely missile ships Tatarstan and Dagestan, and the small missile ships of project 21631 also received probable damage.

According to media reports, units of coastal troops, including marines, are based at the affected facility. It is noted that the attacked flotilla launched missile strikes against Ukraine, and the 177th Marine Regiment participated in battles in Kherson and Zaporizhia regions.

As a result of the operations, the operation of the airport in Makhachkala was also suspended.
Relations between Ukraine and the United States after the victory of Donald Trump in the presidential election and the Republican Party in the Senate and the House of Representatives will depend on Ukraine's actions, Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the European Union Valentyn Nalyvaichenko (Batkivschyna Party) has said.

"The first basic and main position. The Republicans, judging by the election results, are taking a majority in the Senate and will most likely have a majority in the House of Representatives  the Lower Chamber of the Congress  as well. Therefore, Ukraine needs to continue to work with both Republicans and Democrats. And these are hundreds of senators and hundreds of congressmen who approve the budget. And the assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine also depends on both parties," he said in comments to Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.

The Member of Parliament emphasized that in many respects the U.S. foreign policy towards Ukraine would depend on "our proactive stance." According to him, Ukraine should talk about its specific proposals, "negotiate with all branches of the U.S. government: the executive, presidential and parliamentary branches."

"For Ukraine, it is the time to act now. [...] Not to fall into despair for those who supported the other candidate, or celebrate for those who supported the winners, but to realize that it is necessary to support Ukraine. And this is a daily and serious work already with the new American authorities, both in the U.S. Congress and in the White House," he said.

According to Nalyvaichenko, Trump's team is a team of determined people.

"In the White House they are modern people with serious connections, both in the newest sectors of the economy (IT, artificial intelligence) and in classic industries, including the U.S. defense industry, where Ukraine has huge interests," he said.

The MP also noted that Trump and his team have "very serious ties" with the leaders of China, Saudi Arabia and other key countries of the global economy, in which Ukraine is also interested. According to him, these ties will help to further pressure the aggressor, Putin, his regime and the economy, so that Russian troops were withdrawn from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

Nalyvaichenko also recalled that until January 20, 2025, the President of the United States is Joe Biden.

"Therefore, we need to work to ensure that all those defense aid packages that have been provided and are being presented to Ukraine are fulfilled," he said.
Umerov: More than 62,000 Ukrainian servicemen receive training in EU, important to hold EUMAM training in Ukraine

Defense Minister of Ukraine Rustem Umerov said during a meeting with the delegation of the EU's Political and Security Committee that it is important hold EUMAM training in Ukraine.

"In particular, since October 2022, through the EUMAM, more than 62,000 Ukrainian servicemen have received training in EU countries, and by the end of the year, this number will increase to 75,000. I am grateful for the EU ambassadors' decision to extend the Mission's mandate for another two years," he said on Facebook on Wednesday.

The minister emphasized that the goal is to make EUMAM even more effective.

"I emphasized the importance of conducting mission training in Ukraine, which will significantly accelerate the preparation of our defenders," he said.

Umerov also called on European countries to invest in production directly in Ukraine, adding that Ukraine is ready to sign long-term contracts and develop joint production of drones, long-range weapons, and ammunition.

"We are expecting a new aid tranche from the EU of EUR 1.9 billion from frozen Russian assets  funds we need urgently. We also hope that partners will find a way to provide EUR 6 billion from the European Peace Facility to strengthen the Ukrainian military on the front," he said.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua

Ninety-nine combat clashes were recorded along the entire front line since the beginning of the day and as of 4 p.m., the enemy puts most pressure on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove axes, 24 and 39 combat clashes, respectively, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has said on Wednesday.

"The situation at the front remains tense. Currently, the number of fighting has increased to 99. The hottest situation now is on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove axes," it said on the Telegram channel.

On the Lyman axis, the Russian occupiers are trying to advance near Druzheliubivka, Hrekivka, Torske, and Terny. Since the beginning of the day, seven combat clashes occurred in this direction, and two are still ongoing.

On the Siversk axis, there are two ongoing combat clashes near Bilohorivka, and one enemy attack was repulsed by the defense forces.

On the Kramatorsk axis, the invaders conducted one assault operation near Klischiyivka. The occupiers actively used aircraft to strike the areas of Minkivka and Pryvillia with aerial bombs.

On the Toretsk axis, the number of enemy attacks increased to four. The enemy attacked near Toretsk, Dyliyivka and Scherbynivka, where the AFU repulsed two attacks, and another two battles continue.

"On the Pokrovsk axis, the aggressor conducted 24 assault operations in the areas of Myroliubivka, Promin, Hryhorivka, Selydove and Novooleksiyivka during the day. The defense forces are holding back the onslaught and repulsed 19 enemy attacks, five clashes continue," the General Staff said.

The General Staff described the situation on the Kurakhove axis as tense. Since the beginning of the day, the Russian army attacked Ukrainian units 39 times. It tried to advance near Illinka, Kreminna Balka, Novoselydivka, Novodmytrivka, Maksymilyanivka, Antonivka and Katerynivka, launched an air strike on Dachne. There are 21 ongoing combat clashes in the area.

On the Kharkiv axis, Russian troops stormed AFU positions near Starytsia. All attacks were repulsed.

"The enemy attacked our positions six times on the Kupyansk axis in the areas of Kucherivka, Petropavlivka and Kruhliakivka, and received a decent response," the General Staff said.

On the Vremiv axis, the defense forces repulsed two attacks in the areas of Trudove and Maksymivka. There are four ongoing combat clashes near Trudove.

On the Orikhiv axis, the AFU repulsed an enemy assault in the area of Novoandriyivka. Also, the enemy used bomber aviation against Mala Tokmachka, Omelnyk and Vilnianka, dropping eight guided bombs and launching unguided missiles at Kamyanske.

"On the Prydniprovsky axis, two enemy assaults had no success. There were no significant changes in other directions of the front," the General Staff said.
BRESCIA, Italy, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- It is now possible to enter the 43rd edition of the Most Beautiful Race in the World, scheduled from 17 to 21 June. The deadline for formalising entry is 16:00 on Thursday 16 January 2025. Confirmation of acceptance, with consequent publication of the List of accepted cars, will be sent by 4 April.

Mille Miglia (PRNewsfoto/Mille Miglia)

The special feature of the 1000 Miglia 2025, which confirms the 5-day race format for the third consecutive year, will be the "figure of eight" route of the epic pre-war editions. On day four, at Empoli, the upward and downward routes will cross over and the race will cross the whole of Italy from East to West, linking the two seas, from the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian.

The Unique Travelling Museum, as Enzo Ferrari defined it, will set off on Tuesday 17 June from the Viale Venezia platform in Brescia. Passing through Desenzano, Sirmione, Verona and Ferrara, the first leg will end in San Lazzaro di Savena (Bologna). On Wednesday 18th, following in the footsteps of the drivers of the 1930s, the route will cross the Futa and Raticosa passes, then Prato and Siena to finally head for the heart of Rome, where the cars will parade on the Via Veneto ramp. On the third leg, Thursday 19, the ascent will pass Orvieto, Foiano della Chiana and Sansepolcro, after which the 1000 Miglia 2025 will return to the territory of the Republic of San Marino before ending the day in Cervia-Milano Marittima. On day four, Friday 20, the race will reach Forli and, after crossing the Apennines, Empoli. Keeping to the west, the route will transit Pontedera before reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea, passing through the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno. It will then head back up through Viareggio and the Cisa Pass, to end the day in Parma. On Saturday 21 June, the fifth and final morning of the race will bring the crews back to Brescia, which every year welcomes the arrival with growing enthusiasm.

To enter it is essential to be in possession of the Registro 1000 Miglia certificate. A new feature of this year, the introduction of the entry fee reserved for the crews under the age of 30. To see the list of eligible cars and for more information on entry, please visit 1000miglia.it.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549658/Mille_Miglia.jpg

SOURCE Mille Miglia
Earlier this year, FMSC's packing facility was significantly damaged by North Texas storms. Each day that the FMSC facility was closed meant that over 400 volunteers were not able to pack the much needed meals causing a hunger spike in already vulnerable countries. ACE employees in North Texas and Oklahoma heard the news and made a $1,000 corporate donation to FMSC and also packed 15,768 MannaPack meals that consisted of vitamins, rice, veggies, and protein for children in Liberia.

"We are proud to continue supporting Feed My Starving Children," said Adrian Ocegueda, Regional Vice President at ACE Cash Express. "My team loves supporting FMSC because they make a huge impact on the lives of underprivileged children, and our customers love knowing that their efforts will help children around the world."

FMSC meals are developed by food science and nutrition professionals to supplement nutritional needs and reduce problems with malnutrition. Nutrition allows children to grow, thrive, and develop to their full potential. Each meal costs less than 30 cents to make and more than 90 percent of every dollar donated goes directly toward feeding children.

"FMSC is grateful to be partnering with ACE to feed kids around the world," said Hillary Coyle, Development Advisor at FMSC. "This is our third and most successful fundraising year, and we've loved seeing the smiling faces of volunteers make such a big impact."

Nationally, the 2024 Give A Little Campaign raised more than $193,000 for charities across the country including AdoptAClassroom.org, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Autism Speaks, and FMSC. This fundraiser is part of the ACE Community Fund, ACE's charitable-giving program, which has donated more than $18 million since its inception in 2004 to organizations in communities where ACE operates.

About Populus Financial Group, Inc.

Populus Financial Group provides financial services through its family of brands including ACE Cash Express, ACE Elite Visa Prepaid Debit Card, Flare Account and Porte. Populus Financial Group delivers a broad range of financial products and services including short-term consumer loans, card services, check cashing, money transfers, bill payments and money orders. Visit PopulusFinancial.com for more information.

About Feed My Starving Children

Feeding kids. Feeding spirits. Empowering communities.

Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) believes hope starts with food. As a Christian nonprofit, FMSC is dedicated to seeing every child whole in body and spirit. FMSC meals are packed primarily by volunteers, then sent to a network of partner organizations that stay with communities for the long haul, empowering them to move from relief to development. FMSC MarketPlace supports local artisans, paying a fair wage for handcrafted goods and using the retail profits to fund more meals for kids around the world. Since our founding in 1987, FMSC has shipped over 3 billion meals to more than 100 countries. Learn more at fmsc.org.

SOURCE Populus Financial Group, Inc.
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Concrete Institute (ACI) along with the ACI UAE Chapter will co-host the ACI Concrete Conference - From Gray to Green in Dubai, UAE, on February 12-13, 2025. The 2-day conference will be held at Kempinski Central Avenue, Dubai, UAE, and will explore the cutting-edge practices and innovations driving the concrete industry toward a carbon-neutral future.

ACI Concrete Conference from Gray to Green

The ACI Concrete Conference - From Gray to Green will bring together industry leaders, local and international experts, and government officials to exchange their experiences and discuss innovative and emerging technologies in the concrete industry.

Conference Session Speakers:

Fouad Yazbeck , FACI, Conference MC

, FACI, Conference MC Michael J. Paul , ACI President

, ACI President Frederick H. Grubbe , MBA, CAE, ACI Executive Vice President

, MBA, CAE, ACI Executive Vice President Abdeldjelil Belarbi PhD, PE F.ACI, F.SEI, F.ASCE

Antonio Nanni , PhD, PE ACI Past President 2023-2024

, PhD, PE ACI Past President 2023-2024 Dean Frank , PE

, PE Professor Mufid Samarai , PhD

, PhD Khaled Nahlawi , PhD, PE

, PhD, PE Kasem Mayamh, PhD

Carol Hayek , PhD, MBA, FACI, FPTI

, PhD, MBA, FACI, FPTI Moneeb Genedy, PhD, PE

Ahmad Khartabil , MACI

, MACI Alireza Biparva , M.A.Sc, LEED Green Associate

, M.A.Sc, LEED Green Associate Muhammad K. Rahman , PhD, MACI

, PhD, MACI Tarek Alkhrdaji PhD, PE FACI

Calum Perey , BE(Hon) BBusMan MIEAust

Learn more about the 2025 ACI Middle East Concrete Conference.

For more information, contact:

Julie Webb

Marketing

p +1.248.848.3148

American Concrete Institute | Always advancing

concrete.org

Always advancing  The American Concrete Institute is a leading global authority for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, and educational, training, & certification programs. Founded in 1904, ACI is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, with a regional office in Dubai, UAE, and resource centers in Southern California, Chicago/Midwest, and the Mid-Atlantic. Visit concrete.org for additional information.

SOURCE American Concrete Institute
MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Director Emeritus and Fellow joins AFFOA's Board of Directors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc. (AFFOA) is proud to announce the addition of Eric Evans, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors. The newest member of the Institute brings a vast knowledge of technology transfer and strategy, as well as national security and educational outreach.

Evans served as the 11th director of MIT Lincoln Laboratory from 2006 to 2024. During his 18 years of leadership, Evans led the Laboratory to adapt and strengthen during a time of significant change for national security needs. He established new R&D mission areas, strengthened ties to the MIT community, improved the Laboratory's technology transfer approach, and increased inclusion and educational outreach efforts. He also served as an advisor on technology strategy to senior government leaders. Evans serves as Director Emeritus and Fellow at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIT Professor of the Practice. Evans is also a member of the Defense Science Board, where he has served as Chair from 2020 to present.

AFFOA is a non-profit, public-private partnership founded in 2016 as one of the DoD-funded Manufacturing USA Innovation Institutes, focused on the development and commercialization of advanced functional fiber and textile based products, and strengthening the domestic textile industrial base by assembling the Fabric Innovation Network made up of 150+ member organizations including startups, universities, manufacturers, commercial industry and defense partners to bring advanced fabric technologies to market.

"AFFOA is developing outstanding technology for many important applications, and I am looking forward to serving on its Board of Directors," said Evans.

"Dr. Evans is a leader in the national security domain, and we are very excited to have him on our Board." shared AFFOA CEO, Sasha Stolyarov, Ph.D. "His experience and knowledge in defense technology and its impact on national security will be a great asset for AFFOA in the years ahead. We also are looking forward to working with Dr. Evans in strengthening our partnership with the MIT and MIT Lincoln Laboratory communities, which have a long and successful history working with AFFOA."

US Army General Paul Kern (retired), Chairman of the AFFOA Board of Directors, commented, "It is with great pride that we welcome Eric Evans to the AFFOA Board of Directors. Eric's deep understanding of the science and engineering needs in the national security domain, his broad technical, strategic and policy knowledge, as well as his understanding of DOD leadership will help AFFOA maximize its impact."

About AFFOA

AFFOA is a non-profit, public-private partnership founded in 2016 as one of the DoD funded Manufacturing USA Innovation Institutes. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, AFFOA's mission is to rekindle the textiles industry by leading a nationwide enterprise for advanced fiber & fabric technology and manufacturing innovation, enabling revolutionary new system capabilities for commercial and defense applications. To catalyze the development of advanced functional fibers and strengthen the domestic textile industrial base, AFFOA has assembled a Fabric Innovation Network (FIN) made up of 150+ member organizations including startups, universities, manufacturers, commercial industry and defense partners to bring advanced fiber technologies to market. For more information visit www.affoa.org or visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-functional-fabrics-of-america.

Contact:

AFFOA

Josh Rapoza

Director of Marketing and Communications, AFFOA

508.558.6682

[email protected]

affoa.org

SOURCE AFFOA
Alexandria to lead mission-critical panel on immunology and inflammation as a cornerstone of treating human disease tomorrow at the 2024 Galien Forum USA at the Alexandria Center for Life Science  New York City

PASADENA, Calif., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), the first, preeminent, longest-tenured and pioneering owner, operator and developer of collaborative mega campuses in AAA life science innovation cluster locations, continues to leverage its position at the vanguard and heart of the $5 trillion secularly growing life science industry to foster the development of new therapies and cures for the 10,000 diseases known to humankind, of which less than 10% are currently addressable with treatments. With $4.5 trillion in U.S. healthcare spending in 2022, the majority of which is attributed to hospital and physician services, the opportunity to reduce the economic burden on the country and better manage disease for patients through the development of new innovative medicines remains immense. Driven by decades of scientific discovery, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this year has approved 38 novel small molecule and biologic therapies, as well as six new innovative medicines, which include novel vaccines and next-generation modalities such as cell, gene and mRNA-based therapies. Alexandria tenants are responsible for five of these six innovative medicines, reflecting the cutting-edge science taking place within the company's Labspace facilities and the high quality of the company's client base. Innovative medicines continue to gain momentum with a 286% increase in approvals by the FDA in this class between the 20172020 and 2021YTD 2024 periods.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. All rights reserved. 2024 (PRNewsfoto/Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.)

"As innovative medicine approvals by the FDA have ramped up over the past several years, the promise of next-generation medicine is being realized in key areas of unmet need, including oncology, neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders and diseases of the immune system, which means expanded treatment options and enhanced quality of life for patients," said Joel S. Marcus, executive chairman and founder of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. and Alexandria Venture Investments. "Innovation in medicine is the only effective path to solving the over 90% of diseases that currently have no treatments and to reducing long-term costs associated with the healthcare system. New medicines delivered to patients and early detection of costly diseases, like Alzheimer's or cancer, mean fewer visits to the hospital and fewer treatments over the long term. At Alexandria, we are working to ensure that the life science industry can maintain its collaborative science-driven advantage as one of the world's most innovative, impactful and critical industries, and one that is vastly improving health and well-being."

Alexandria has a remarkable track record of partnering with trailblazing life science companies to enable the development of life-changing and lifesaving treatments and cures. Since 2013, Alexandria tenants have developed or commercialized half the novel FDA-approved therapies, and so far in 2024, they have been responsible for over 80% of the FDA approvals for innovative medicines. Many of these approvals are first-of-their-kind medicines. Notably, Moderna, with which Alexandria began its strategic relationship in 2012, received approval for a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. Moderna's novel RSV vaccine validates the potential of its paradigm-shifting mRNA technology to address multiple diseases, and it is also the first mRNA vaccine to be approved for a disease other than COVID-19. Included among the Alexandria tenants harnessing the immune system to treat cancer is Iovance Biotherapeutics, which received FDA approval for the first tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte cell therapy to treat advanced melanoma. Alexandria has been providing mission-critical real estate to Iovance in the San Francisco Bay Area since early 2022.

The field of immunology and inflammation has emerged as fundamental to how we approach a wide array of human diseases. Recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the immune system are leading to revolutionary therapies and opening new frontiers in medical science. Moreover, immunology is predicted to become the second-largest area of biopharmaceutical spend by 2028, behind oncology, and the global immunology market is expected to more than double from nearly $103 billion in 2024 to $257 billion by 2032.

In light of the paramount importance of this burgeoning field, Alexandria is leading a mission-critical panel titled "Immunology & Inflammation  A Cornerstone of Treating Human Disease" tomorrow, November 7, 2024, at the 2024 Galien Forum USA at the Alexandria Center for Life Science  New York City. Co-moderated by Mr. Marcus and Lynne Zydowsky, PhD, chief of science of Alexandria, the pivotal discussion will feature pioneers in immunology who will delve into the latest advances, current challenges and future opportunities for harnessing the immune system to combat chronic and inflammatory disorders. Alexandria's panel will also explore how immunological and anti-inflammatory approaches are reshaping our understanding of disease mechanisms and opening new opportunities for treatment. These latest developments  from engineered cell therapies to novel immunomodulatory drugs  hold the promise to transform the treatment landscape for millions of patients worldwide.

About Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche with our founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator and developer of collaborative mega campuses in AAA life science innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, Research Triangle and New York City. As of September 30, 2024, Alexandria has a total market capitalization of $33.1 billion and an asset base in North America that includes 41.8 million RSF of operating properties, 5.3 million RSF of Class A/A+ properties undergoing construction, and one committed near-term project expected to commence construction in the next two years. Alexandria has a longstanding and proven track record of developing Class A/A+ properties clustered in mega campuses that provide our innovative tenants with highly dynamic and collaborative environments that enhance their ability to successfully recruit and retain world-class talent and inspire productivity, efficiency, creativity and success. Alexandria also provides strategic capital to transformative life science companies through our venture capital platform. We believe our unique business model and diligent underwriting ensure a high-quality and diverse tenant base that results in higher occupancy levels, longer lease terms, higher rental income, higher returns and greater long-term asset value. For more information on Alexandria, please visit www.are.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding Alexandria's impact on the life science industry, on its tenants' business and pursuit of novel treatment and cures and on human health and well-being. These forward-looking statements are based on Alexandria's present intent, beliefs or expectations, but forward-looking statements are not guaranteed to occur and may not occur. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by Alexandria's forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties detailed in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Alexandria assumes no obligation to update this information. For more discussion relating to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in Alexandria's forward-looking statements, and risks and uncertainties to Alexandria's business in general, please refer to Alexandria's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

CONTACT: Joel S. Marcus, Executive Chairman & Founder, (626) 578-9693, [email protected]

SOURCE Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
The sounds of explosion that were heard by Chernihiv residents during the air alert, were recorded outside the city, there is no destruction or damage in the city, Acting Chernihiv Mayor Oleksandr Lomako has said on Wednesday.

"The sounds of explosion, which Chernihiv residents heard during the air alert, were recorded outside the city. No destruction or damage were recorded directly in Chernihiv," he said on the Telegram channel.

Lomako emphasized that "all critical infrastructure facilities, which provide vital functions of the city, are operating in normal mode."
SHANGHAI and HONG KONG, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene", SEHK: 6996.HK), a leading innovative, commercial-stage global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class and/or best-in-class medicines for cancer, today announced that it will present results from three programs at the 2024 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Annual Meeting (SITC 2024) to be held in Houston, the United States from November 6-10, 2024.

Details of Poster Presentations:

ATG-201 (CD19 x CD3 T-cell Engager)

Title: ATG-201, a novel "2+1" CD19-targeted T-cell Engager (TCE) for the treatment of B cell malignancies and B cell related autoimmune diseases

Abstract Number: 1067

Poster Abstract Presentation at the SITC Immune Engineering Workshop

Date: November 7, 2024

Time: 3:10 PM - 5:00 PM (Central Standard Time)

5:10 AM - 7:00 AM, Nov 8, 2024 (Beijing Time)

Poster Presentation at the SITC 39th Annual Meeting

Date: November 8, 2024

Time: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Central Standard Time)

11:00 PM, Nov 8 - 9:00 AM, Nov 9, 2024 (Beijing Time)

CD19-targeted therapies like CAR-T and T-cell engagers (TCEs) are used for B-cell malignancies, with early success in autoimmune diseases like SLE. However, TCEs face challenges due to pharmacokinetics and cytokine release syndrome (CRS). ATG-201, a "2+1" CD19 x CD3 TCE, was developed to address these issues.

ATG-201 binds to CD19+ cells with high affinity, limiting CD3 binding and T cell activation before CD19 crosslinking, reducing the risk of CRS. It demonstrated strong B-cell depletion and anti-lymphoma efficacy in preclinical studies with lower cytokine release compared to other benchmarks.

ATG-201 demonstrated deep and durable depletion of tissue resident B cells in mice and showed potent in vivo efficacy in models for autoimmune diseases (MS, SLE).

efficacy in models for autoimmune diseases (MS, SLE). ATG-201 presents a potential therapeutic option for B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases, offering CD19-dependent T-cell activation and effective B-cell depletion with a low risk of CRS.

ATG-107 (FLT3 x CD3 T-cell Engager)

Title: ATG-107, a novel "2+1" CD3-based T-cell Engager (TCE) targeting FLT3, demonstrates potent preclinical efficacy for the treatment of AML

Abstract Number: 1068

Poster Abstract Presentation at the SITC Immune Engineering Workshop

Date: November 7, 2024

Time: 3:10 PM - 5:00 PM (Central Standard Time)

5:10 AM - 7:00 AM, Nov 8, 2024 (Beijing Time)

Poster Presentation at the SITC 39th Annual Meeting

Date: November 9, 2024

Time: 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM (Central Standard Time)

11:00 PM, Nov 9 - 10:30 AM, Nov 10, 2024 (Beijing Time)

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia with poor treatment outcomes. FLT3 is over expressed in over 80% of AML cases, while its expression on normal hematopoietic stem cells is low. A novel 2+1 FLT3 x CD3 TCE, ATG-107, was developed to target FLT3, redirecting T-cells to attack AML cells.

ATG-107 binds bivalently to FLT3, concealing the CD3 binding site until FLT3 is engaged. Preclinical studies showed strong T-cell activation and cytotoxicity against AML cells, regardless of FLT3 mutation status, and potent in vivo anti-AML efficacy in PBMC humanized mouse models.

anti-AML efficacy in PBMC humanized mouse models. ATG-107 presents a promising therapeutic strategy for a broad AML patient population, offering FLT3-dependent T-cell activation and potent preclinical efficacy.

ATG-106 (CDH6 x CD3 T-cell Engager)

Title: ATG-106, a novel "2+1" format CDH6-targeted T-cell Engager (TCE), shows potent T cell dependent cytotoxicity and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy

Abstract Number: 1069

Poster Presentation at the SITC 39th Annual Meeting

Date: November 8, 2024

Time: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Central Standard Time)

11:00 PM, Nov 8 - 9:00 AM, Nov 9, 2024 (Beijing Time)

CDH6 is a type II cadherin protein involved in calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion, and its overexpression has been identified in several cancer types, including ovarian cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and thyroid cancer.

ATG-106, a "2+1" CDH6 x CD3 TCE, was designed to address CRS challenge by targeting CDH6 and activating T cells only in the presence of CDH6-positive cells, minimizing CRS risk. Preclinical studies showed strong binding affinity to CDH6+ cells and potent T-cell-dependent cytotoxicity. It induced lower cytokine release in vitro compared to benchmarks.

compared to benchmarks. In vivo studies using ovarian cancer xenograft models demonstrated that ATG-106 achieved significant tumor growth inhibition (TGI) with tumor shrinkage and complete remission observed in multiple treatment groups.

studies using ovarian cancer xenograft models demonstrated that ATG-106 achieved significant tumor growth inhibition (TGI) with tumor shrinkage and complete remission observed in multiple treatment groups. ATG-106 exhibited strong anti-tumor efficacy and T-cell activation in preclinical ovarian cancer models, supporting its potential for further clinical evaluation.

About the AnTenGager Platform

The AnTenGager Platform is a proprietary "2+1" T cell engager (TCE) platform developed by Antengene. AnTenGager TCE simultaneously binds to disease-associated antigens (targets) and a unique conformational epitope on CD3 that expressed on T-cells. The bivalent binding to the targets enables detection and depletion of cells with low expression of the targets. In addition, AnTenGager TCE activates T cells in a target-dependent manner so that it demonstrates a lower risk of systemic CD3 activation and cytokine release syndrome (CRS), potentially paving the way for their use in autoimmune diseases, hematological malignancies, and solid tumors.

Our extensive and diverse pipeline features promising TCEs that aim to address unmet medical needs in autoimmune diseases and hematology/oncology, with best-in-class/first-in-class potential. A few of our lead programs in the IND-enabling stage include ATG-201, a CD19 x CD3 TCE for B cell related autoimmune diseases; ATG-102, a LILRB4 x CD3 TCE for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia; ATG-106, a CDH6 x CD3 TCE for ovarian cancer and kidney cancer; ATG-107, a FLT3 x CD3 TCE for AML; and ATG-110, a LY6G6D x CD3 TCE for microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer.

About Antengene

Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene", SEHK: 6996.HK) is a leading commercial-stage R&D-driven global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative first-in-class/best-in-class therapeutics for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, in realizing its vision of "Treating Patients Beyond Borders".

Since 2017, Antengene has built a pipeline of 9 oncology assets at various stages going from clinical to commercial, including 6 with global rights, and 3 with rights for the APAC region. To date, Antengene has obtained 31 investigational new drug (IND) approvals in the U.S. and Asia, and submitted 10 new drug applications (NDAs) in multiple Asia Pacific markets, with the NDA for XPOVIO (selinexor) already approved in Mainland of China, Taiwan China, Hong Kong China, Macau China, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia.

Forward-looking statements

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, please see the other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the documents subsequently submitted to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Contacts:

Donald Lung

E-mail: [email protected]

Mobile: +86 18420672158

PR Contacts:

Peter Qian

E-mail: [email protected]

Mobile: +86 13062747000

SOURCE Antengene Corporation Limited
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Browse in-depth toc on "Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Market"

240 - tables

56 - figures

282 - pages

Consumables segment accounted for the largest share of the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market.

Based on the product segment, the consumables market is segmented into culture media and growth media, mic strips, susceptibility disks, and susceptibility plates. In 2023, the largest market share within the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market is by consumables. This is primarily accounted for by the massive consumption rate of mainly essential components such as culture media and growth media, susceptibility plates, and other materials used in carrying out antimicrobial susceptibility testing procedures. Consumables hold large market share because of the demand for antimicrobial susceptibility testing services, which are induced more by the growing incidence of infectious diseases and by the appearance of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Even new antimicrobial susceptibility testing technologies themselves may need some specialized consumables that will further contribute to increased market growth.

In the case of molecular methods of antimicrobial susceptibility testing, nucleic acid extraction kits, PCR reagents, and probes are necessary consumables in the detection process of molecular-based antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods. As the demand for accurate and efficient methods of testing continues to grow, consumables continue to be stocked and replenished for routine testing, thereby ensuring that this segment is integral to the overall market of antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

By type antibacterial susceptibility testing account for the largest share in 2023.

The large share contributed by antibacterial agents in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market is due to their wide application and critical usage for the treatment of bacterial infections. Antibacterials, being at the forefront of the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market, are mainly driven by a high prevalence of bacterial diseases and a continuous need for effective monitoring and management of resistance patterns. Precise testing of bacteria's susceptibility to various antibacterials is highly important in healthcare providers' efforts to optimize antibiotic use and fight the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance.

By method qualitative method accounts for the largest share in 2023.

The method is further segmented into qualitative method and quantitative methods. Qualitative methods have the largest share in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market because of the detailed information they provide on the susceptibility of microorganisms to various antimicrobial agents. In these traditional qualitative methods, agar dilution and disk diffusion methods are followed due to their simplicity and relatively low costs. However, with the great advances in molecular biology, more refined qualitative methods have emerged, including automated and genotypic methods. The process is made more efficient due to increased efficiency and standardization with automated methods and through genotypic methods that culminated into polymerase chain reaction, PCR, known to detect resistance genes promptly and sensitively. Despite these increasing usages, laboratory practices have preferred qualitative methods because they are reliable and versatile.

By application clinical diagnostics accounts for the largest share in 2023.

The clinical diagnostic segment accounted for the major share in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market due to its high importance in patient care and treatment regarding infectious diseases. A greater emphasis is put on clinical diagnosis because the accurate identification of microbial pathogens and their resistance profile, timely, is a critical factor in the decision on effective treatment. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing integrated into clinical workflows can enable personalized medicine through better targeted therapy and optimized use of antibiotics. In such respects, both traditional and molecular clinical diagnostics systems provide very accurate and actionable susceptibility information across diversified healthcare settings for improved patient outcomes and combating antimicrobial resistance.

By end user hospital & diagnostic laboratories accounts for the largest share in 2023.

Hospital and diagnostics laboratories hold the largest share in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market, since they are taken to be central facilities for diagnosis and infection management in clinical settings. Laboratories of hospitals form the backbone for the treatment of infections through accurate susceptibility profiles that guide decisions in acute care environments where timely intervention becomes of essence. It is also integrating, in great numbers as in these facilities, the reasons related to the high volume of samples processed and the critical need to obtain reliable results. The automation and integration of high-throughput systems sustain efficiency and shorten turnaround times, thus reinforcing leadership in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market based on continuous demands to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship efforts.

North America dominates the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market in 2023.

Due to a strong health infrastructure, high investments in research and development, and a major hub of leading diagnostic companies, North America leads the market of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The strong health infrastructure and better penetration of advanced technologies also propel the usage of advanced antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods, such as automated and molecular diagnostic solutions. Further, strict regulatory conditions and an exceptionally high emphasis on antimicrobial testing in the region create considerable demand for accurate and rapid susceptibility testing. These factors add to the high healthcare expenditure and a keen eye toward combatting antimicrobial resistance in the region, which together ensure that the region remains dominant in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market.

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The antimicrobial susceptibility testing market is highly competitive with few players, continuous innovations, and technological advancements. Development of automated and high-throughput systems integrated molecular and genomic technologies, and improvement in the accuracy and turnaround time of the tests are the key competitive factors. Moreover, the market players are investing in research and development to improve their products and sustain the competition in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market, hence keeping it lively and one of the rapidly growing sectors.

Here are some of the key players in the Antimicrobial susceptibility market: BioMerieux (France), Becton, Dickinson and company (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Danaher Corporation (US), Bio-Rad laboratories (US), Bruker (US), Roche diagnostics (Switzerland, Accelerate diagnostics (US), Himedia laboratories (India), Liofilchem s.r.l.(Italy), Alifax s.r.l.(Italy), Creative Diagnostics (US), and others are of the prominent companies in the Antimicrobial susceptibility market.

Biomerieux SA (France): BioMerieux is one of the major players in the Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing market and is widely recognized for its innovative solutions, continuously being enhanced for several decades to make microbial resistance detection faster and more accurate. The company's portfolio of antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems includes automated solutions such as VITEK 2 and new VITEK MS, using enhanced technologies for speed and reliability of results. The bioMerieux portfolio has been developed in response to an increasing demand for more accurate and detailed antimicrobial susceptibility profiles that can help the clinician optimize appropriate therapies in the face of a growing challenge of resistant infections. Devotion to continuous research and development helps keep its antimicrobial susceptibility testing solutions state-of-the-art as they address microbial resistance and improve patient outcomes worldwide.

Becton,dickinson and company (US): Becton, Dickinson and Company, commonly known as BD, is one of the major companies operating in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market by offering a suite of advanced solutions that will help increase diagnostic precision and speed. Indeed, innovative BD systems such as BD Phoenix and BD Bruker MALDI Biotyper combine sophisticated technology into a fast and precise susceptibility profile to assist health professionals in making the appropriate treatment decisions. These systems are designed to take on the more vexing problem of antimicrobial resistance by providing reliable results that guide appropriate antimicrobial therapy. BD is committed to advancing antimicrobial susceptibility testing technology in support of their mission to improve patient care and combat the threat of resistant infections worldwide.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US): Thermo Fisher Scientific has become pivotal in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market with its broad diagnostics suite that can handle the challenges associated with microbial resistance. The company avails products such as the Thermo Scientific Sensititre and Thermo Scientific MAS systems, which are enabled with advanced technologies that deliver precise and fast susceptibility profiles. These systems are critical in the determination of efficient antimicrobial treatments and informing clinical decisions. Thermo Fisher's passion for innovation and high-quality diagnostics helps healthcare professionals stay one step ahead of emerging resistance trends, while continuing to improve patient outcomes and contributing to the global fight against antibiotic resistance.

Bio-rad laboratories (US): Bio-rad offers innovative solutions that will help in the detection and management of resistance to antimicrobials. Product lines include the Bio-Rad MRSA-Screen and the Bio-Rad VITEK 2 Systems that offer accurate and reliable testing to guide appropriate treatment options. These technologies have been developed in such a way as to help facilitate the process of susceptibility testing for the laboratory to quickly pick out the resistant strains and thereby suggest therapies appropriately. Bio-Rad remains committed to the development of antimicrobial susceptibility testing methodologies that can help health providers meet the challenges imposed by antimicrobial resistance, thus providing optimum care for the patients by delivering timely and accurate diagnostic information.

Danaher corporation (US): Danaher Corporation is one of the key players in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing market, through the availing of sophisticated diagnostic technologies that address this challenge in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Danaher has a portfolio composition that includes products from various subsidiaries, including Beckman Coulter and Cepheid. The company offers the DxN VERIS and the BECKMAN COULTER MicroScan systems. These two systems ensure fast, true, and complete antimicrobial susceptibility testing results, thereby enabling timely and appropriate treatment decisions. With Danaher's emphasis on innovative and precise diagnostic testing, it leverages support for the current global effort necessary in addressing the rising problem of antimicrobial resistance, hence improving patient outcomes and overall efficiency in the delivery of healthcare.

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Related reports:

Sepsis Diagnostics Market

Rapid Microbiology Testing Market

Microbial Identification Market

Clinical Microbiology Market

Veterinary Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Market

Get access to the latest updates on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Companies and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Market Size

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MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

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Authlete's OID4VCI support empowers organizations to revolutionize digital identity management

TOKYO, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Authlete, a leading implementer of OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect (OIDC), announced today the launch of Authlete 3.0, offering support for OpenID for Verifiable Credential Issuance (OID4VCI). This new capability empowers organizationsincluding governments, financial institutions, and educational establishmentsto revolutionize how they issue and manage user credentials.

With the introduction of Authlete 3.0, Authlete now offers a simple API solution for quickly issuing interoperable verifiable credentials (VCs) conformant with OID4VCI. Built on OAuth and OIDCproven and widely used global standards for authentication and authorizationOID4VCI supports various credential formats, including SD-JWT VC and mdoc/mDL.

VCs are tamper-evident digital credentials whose authorship can be cryptographically verified. This digital proof mechanism makes VCs more secure, verifiable, trustworthy, and portable compared to physical documents or cards. Furthermore, VCs allow holders to selectively disclose only necessary information and eliminate the need to carry physical credentials, enhancing flexibility and user-centricity.

"We are dedicated to empowering organizations to build secure, user-centric, and interoperable digital identity infrastructures, while contributing to the development of a globally interoperable digital identity ecosystem," said Authlete Co-founder Takahiko Kawasaki.

Authlete's OID4VCI support for SD-JWT VC and mdoc/mDL formats has already proven effective through multiple global pilot projects, including EU Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet's Potential project, Japan's Trusted Web initiative, and the Global Assured Identity Network Technical Proof of Concept (GAIN POC).

Japan's Trusted Web initiative aims to build a new framework of trust that enhances data control for individuals and organizations and establishes mechanisms for data verification without excessive dependence on specific services. In a Trusted Web pilot project aimed at improving the efficiency of Know Your Business (KYB)/Know Your Customer (KYC) processes for opening corporate bank accounts through reusable KYB/KYC and digital verification, Authlete successfully issued SD-JWT VCs to a digital wallet developed by DENTSU SOKEN.

"To develop and validate a prototype aligned with Japan's legal frameworks and practices, it was essential to accurately map required information, such as 'proof of corporate existence,' from actual practices into the VC and to issue it according to interoperable open standards," said Yasuo Higa, DENTSU SOKEN's Chief Architect, who led the KYB/KYC pilot project. "Authlete's high degree of customization and compliance with OID4VCI allowed us to achieve this and create a prototype ready for deployment."

In the GAIN POC, which aims to create a globally interoperable network for high-trust identity assurance, Authlete successfully issued OID4VCI-conformant SD-JWT VCs to digital wallets provided by Talao, Meeco, and Datev.

"Together with Authlete, we demonstrated how we can achieve seamless interoperability, paving the way for a secure and interoperable digital identity ecosystem," said Talao's Co-founder and CEO Thierry Thevenet. "Authlete's expertise in OpenID protocols has been crucial in achieving this milestone, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration."

Potential use cases for VCs are wide-ranging from government-issued identity documents like passports and driver's licenses to reusable KYC verifications for banking to academic certifications.

The advantages of VCs and the evolving ecosystem surrounding their issuance are explored in KuppingerCole's white paper titled "Guidance on Implementing Verifiable Credential Issuance," commissioned by Authlete.

In addition to support for OID4VCI, Authlete 3.0 offers the following features and benefits:

Enhanced FAPI compliance settings: Configure FAPI compliance levels with granularity, including FAPI 2.0 Message Signing to enable non-repudiation.

Configure FAPI compliance levels with granularity, including to enable non-repudiation. Multi-tenant organization management: Set up multiple organizations and services within a single, intuitive management console.

Set up multiple organizations and services within a single, intuitive management console. Multi-region support: Select server locations in the US, Japan , Brazil or the European Union directly from the dashboard.

Select server locations in the US, , or the European Union directly from the dashboard. Social logins and multi-factor authentication (MFA): Login with Google or GitHub credentials with MFA for added convenience and security.

Login with Google or GitHub credentials with MFA for added convenience and security. Granular access control: Ensure compliance by aligning permissions with each team member's specific access level.

Learn more about Authlete 3.0 and sign up for a 30-day free trial at www.authlete.com/developers/getting_started/ .

About Authlete:

Authlete provides a security component service that simplifies the implementation of authorization servers based on OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect, supporting high security profiles such as FAPI 1.0 and FAPI 2.0. Developed by standards experts, Authlete's solution complies with globally recognized regulatory frameworks for Open Banking and Open Finance, including the Australian Consumer Data Right, KSA Open Banking, Open Finance Brazil, and UK Open Banking. Discover more at www.authlete.com and connect with us on X at @authlete or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/authlete/.

SOURCE Authlete
BEIJING, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) ("Autohome" or the "Company"), the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

Third Quarter 2024 Highlights[1]

Net revenues in the third quarter of 2024 were RMB1,774.5 million ( US$252.9 million ), compared to RMB1,906.0 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

in the third quarter of 2024 were ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2023. Net income attributable to Autohome in the third quarter of 2024 was RMB441.3 million ( US$62.9 million ), compared to RMB578.3 million in the corresponding period of 2023, while net income attributable to ordinary shareholders in the third quarter of 2024 was RMB425.7 million ( US$60.7 million ), compared to RMB564.0 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

in the third quarter of 2024 was ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2023, while in the third quarter of 2024 was ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2023. Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome (Non-GAAP) [2] in the third quarter of 2024 was RMB497.2 million ( US$70.8 million ), compared to RMB603.8 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

in the third quarter of 2024 was ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2023. Share repurchase: As of November 1, 2024 , the Company had repurchased 244,302 American depositary shares ("ADSs") for a total cost of approximately US$6.7 million .

As of , the Company had repurchased 244,302 American depositary shares ("ADSs") for a total cost of approximately . Cash dividend: The Company's board of directors has approved a cash dividend of US$1.15 per ADS (or US$0.2875 per ordinary share) payable in U.S. dollars (the "Dividend") to holders of ADSs and ordinary shares of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024 . The aggregate amount of the Dividend will be approximately RMB1 billion and is expected to be paid to holders of ordinary shares and ADSs of the Company on or around March 14, 2025 and March 19, 2025 , respectively.

Mr. Tao Wu, Chief Executive Officer of Autohome, stated, "In the third quarter, we made substantial progress in advancing our integrated online-to-offline ecosystem strategy, further optimizing our business structure. On the online front, we are leveraging our professional content and product matrix to strengthen our differentiated competitive advantages, leading to a continued growth in the scale of our user base. According to QuestMobile, our average mobile daily active users grew by 5.6% year-over-year to 72.87 million in September, highlighting our expanding influence within the automotive community. Looking at our offline offerings, our franchise stores - Autohome Space and satellite stores - are accelerating their penetration into lower-tier cities, creating a robust network that enhances our offline presence. Additionally, our collaboration with Ping An Group has reached new milestones with the launch of a series of new and innovative products and services across our traditional businesses, data products, used cars, and aftermarket business lines. This collaboration has further strengthened our unique offerings in these areas."

Mr. Craig Yan Zeng, Chief Financial Officer of Autohome, added, "The innovative new businesses we have been deploying are beginning to yield results, driving growth in our online marketplace and others business lines this quarter. Notably, revenues from new energy vehicle brands have once again outpaced the sales growth of the broader industry. We remain committed to maximizing shareholder value through our ongoing dividend and share repurchase programs. Looking ahead, we will continue to expand our footprint across the automotive sector while further enhancing operational efficiency in each of our business lines to ensure long-term sustainable value for our shareholders."

Unaudited Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net Revenues

Net revenues were RMB1,774.5 million (US$252.9 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB1,906.0 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

Media services revenues were RMB326.0 million ( US$46.5 million ) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB476.9 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

revenues were ( ) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to in the corresponding period of 2023. Leads generation services revenues were RMB830.7 million ( US$118.4 million ) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB830.1 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

revenues were ( ) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to in the corresponding period of 2023. Online marketplace and others revenues were RMB617.8 million ( US$88.0 million ) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB599.1 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues was RMB407.7 million (US$58.1 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB373.6 million in the corresponding period of 2023, primarily attributable to an increase in operational costs. Share-based compensation expenses included in cost of revenues in the third quarter of 2024 were RMB3.1 million (US$0.4 million), compared to RMB2.8 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were RMB1,352.2 million (US$192.7 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB1,431.4 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

Sales and marketing expenses were RMB876.5 million ( US$124.9 million ) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB935.2 million in the corresponding period of 2023, primarily due to a decrease in marketing and promotional expenses. Share-based compensation expenses included in sales and marketing expenses in the third quarter of 2024 were RMB15.2 million ( US$2.2 million ), compared to RMB15.3 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

expenses were ( ) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to in the corresponding period of 2023, primarily due to a decrease in marketing and promotional expenses. Share-based compensation expenses included in sales and marketing expenses in the third quarter of 2024 were ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2023. General and administrative expenses were RMB136.5 million ( US$19.5 million ) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB141.0 million in the corresponding period of 2023. Share-based compensation expenses included in general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2024 were RMB15.2 million ( US$2.2 million ), compared to RMB13.0 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

expenses were ( ) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to in the corresponding period of 2023. Share-based compensation expenses included in general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2024 were ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2023. Product development expenses were RMB339.2 million ( US$48.3 million ) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB355.2 million in the corresponding period of 2023. Share-based compensation expenses included in product development expenses in the third quarter of 2024 were RMB27.3 million ( US$3.9 million ), compared to RMB26.8 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

Operating Profit

Operating profit was RMB82.6 million (US$11.8 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB166.0 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

Income Tax Benefit

Income tax benefit was RMB139.0 million (US$19.8 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB145.9 million in the corresponding period of 2023. The income tax benefit was primarily attributable to tax filing adjustments of the previous year, which was mainly benefit from the PRC preferential income tax rate and tax holiday of certain subsidiaries.

Net Income Attributable to Autohome

Net income attributable to Autohome was RMB441.3 million (US$62.9 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB578.3 million in the corresponding period of 2023.

Net Income Attributable to Ordinary Shareholders and Earnings per Share/ADS

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB425.7 million (US$60.7 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB564.0 million in the corresponding period of 2023. Basic and diluted earnings per share ("EPS") were RMB0.88 (US$0.13) and RMB0.87 (US$0.12), respectively, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to basic and diluted EPS of RMB1.15 and RMB1.15, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2023. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB3.50 (US$0.50) and RMB3.49 (US$0.50), respectively, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB4.61 and RMB4.59, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2023.

Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Autohome (Non-GAAP) and Non-GAAP EPS/ADS

Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome (Non-GAAP) was RMB497.2 million (US$70.8 million) in the third quarter of 2024, compared to RMB603.8 million in the corresponding period of 2023. Non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS were RMB1.02 (US$0.15) and RMB1.02 (US$0.15), respectively, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS of RMB1.23 and RMB1.23, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2023. Non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB4.09 (US$0.58) and RMB4.08 (US$0.58), respectively, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB4.93 and RMB4.92, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2023.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of RMB23.06 billion (US$3.29 billion). Net cash provided by operating activities in the third quarter of 2024 was RMB208.5 million (US$29.7 million).

Cash Dividend

The Company's board of directors has approved the Dividend of US$1.15 per ADS (or US$0.2875 per ordinary share) payable in U.S. dollars to holders of ADSs and ordinary shares of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024, New York Time and Beijing/Hong Kong Time, respectively. The aggregate amount of the Dividend will be approximately RMB1 billion. For holders of ordinary shares, in order to qualify for the Dividend, all valid documents for the transfer of shares accompanied by the relevant share certificates must be lodged for registration with the Company's Hong Kong branch share registrar, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, at Shops 1712-1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong no later than 4:30 p.m. on December 31, 2024 (Beijing/Hong Kong Time). The Dividend is expected to be paid to holders of ordinary shares and ADSs of the Company (through the depositary bank and subject to the terms of the deposit agreement) on or around March 14, 2025 and March 19, 2025, respectively.

Employees

The Company had 4,710 employees as of September 30, 2024, including 1,414 employees from TTP Car, Inc.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host an earnings conference call at 7:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 (8:00 p.m. Beijing Time on the same day).

Please register in advance of the conference call using the registration link provided below. Upon registering, each participant will receive a set of participant dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which will be used to join the conference call.

Registration Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIea362620c5254eb58ff269d0c9abdf2d

Please use the conference access information to join the call 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at https://ir.autohome.com.cn and a replay of the webcast will be available following the session.

About Autohome

Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) is the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China. Its mission is to relentlessly reduce auto industry decision-making and transaction costs driven by advanced technology. Autohome provides occupationally generated content, professionally generated content, user-generated content, and AI-generated content, a comprehensive automobile library, and extensive automobile listing information to automobile consumers, covering the entire car purchase and ownership cycle. The ability to reach a large and engaged user base of automobile consumers has made Autohome a preferred platform for automakers and dealers to conduct their advertising campaigns. Further, the Company's dealer subscription and advertising services allow dealers to market their inventory and services through Autohome's platform, extending the reach of their physical showrooms to potentially millions of internet users in China and generating sales leads for them. The Company offers sales leads, data analysis, and marketing services to assist automakers and dealers with improving their efficiency and facilitating transactions. Further, through its websites and mobile applications, it also provides other value-added services, including auto financing, auto insurance, used car transactions, and aftermarket services. For further information, please visit https://www.autohome.com.cn/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, Autohome's business outlook, Autohome's strategic and operational plans and quotations from management in this announcement contain forward-looking statements. Autohome may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in announcements made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Autohome's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Autohome's goals and strategies; Autohome's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the expected growth of the online automobile advertising market in China; Autohome's ability to attract and retain users and advertisers and further enhance its brand recognition; Autohome's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; competition in the online automobile advertising industry; relevant government policies and regulatory environment of China; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Autohome's filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Autohome does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement net income presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we use Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome, Non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS and earnings per ADS, Adjusted net margin and Adjusted EBITDA as non-GAAP financial measures. We define Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome as net income attributable to Autohome excluding share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisition, investment loss/(gain) relating to non-operating impact of a write-down of the initial investment in a financial product, and loss/(gain) pickup of equity method investments, with all the reconciliation items adjusted for related income tax effects. We define non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS as Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome divided by the basic and diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares. We define non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS as Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome divided by the basic and diluted weighted average number of ADSs. We define Adjusted net margin as Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome divided by total net revenues. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to Autohome before income tax expense, depreciation expenses of property and equipment, amortization expenses of intangible assets and share-based compensation expenses. We present these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by our management to evaluate our operating performance, in addition to net income prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are important to help investors understand our operating and financial performance, compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis and assess our core operating results, as they exclude certain non-cash charges or items that are non-operating in nature. The use of the above non-GAAP financial measures has certain limitations as they excluded certain items that have been and will continue to be incurred in the future, but such items should be considered in the overall evaluation of our results. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of non-GAAP and GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Autohome Inc.

Sterling Song

Investor Relations Director

Tel: +86-10-5985-7483

E-mail: [email protected]

Christensen China Limited

Suri Cheng

Tel: +86-185-0060-8364

E-mail: [email protected]

AUTOHOME INC. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA (Amount in thousands, except per share / per ADS data)



For three months ended September 30,



2023

2024





RMB

RMB

US$



Net revenues:













Media services 476,869

325,967

46,450



Leads generation services 830,050

830,748

118,381



Online marketplace and others 599,112

617,817

88,038



Total net revenues 1,906,031

1,774,532

252,869



Cost of revenues (373,552)

(407,668)

(58,092)



Gross profit 1,532,479

1,366,864

194,777



















Operating expenses:













Sales and marketing expenses (935,188)

(876,538)

(124,906)



General and administrative expenses (141,047)

(136,532)

(19,456)



Product development expenses (355,172)

(339,159)

(48,330)



Total operating expenses (1,431,407)

(1,352,229)

(192,692)



Other operating income, net 64,965

67,981

9,687



Operating profit 166,037

82,616

11,772



Interest and investment income, net 207,365

193,816

27,619



Share of results of equity method investments 54,897

12,788

1,822



Income before income taxes 428,299

289,220

41,213



Income tax benefit 145,888

138,982

19,805



Net income 574,187

428,202

61,018



Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 4,151

13,138

1,872



Net income attributable to Autohome 578,338

441,340

62,890



Accretion of mezzanine equity (38,304)

(44,232)

(6,303)



Accretion attributable to noncontrolling interests 23,974

28,593

4,074



Net income attributable to ordinary

shareholders 564,008

425,701

60,661



















Earnings per share attributable to ordinary

shareholders













Basic 1.15

0.88

0.13



Diluted 1.15

0.87

0.12



Earnings per ADS attributable to ordinary

shareholders (one ADS equals for four

ordinary shares)













Basic 4.61

3.50

0.50



Diluted 4.59

3.49

0.50



















Weighted average shares used to compute earnings per share

attributable to ordinary shareholders:



























Basic 489,632,372

486,207,510

486,207,510



Diluted 490,986,544

487,409,002

487,409,002























AUTOHOME INC. UNAUDITED RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP AND GAAP RESULTS (Amount in thousands, except per share / per ADS data)



















For three months ended September 30,



2023

2024





RMB

RMB

US$



Net income attributable to Autohome 578,338

441,340

62,890



Plus: income tax benefit (144,548)

(137,642)

(19,614)



Plus: depreciation of property and equipment 38,737

28,527

4,065



Plus: amortization of intangible assets 9,657

9,650

1,375



EBITDA 482,184

341,875

48,716



Plus: share-based compensation

expenses 57,934

60,786

8,662



Adjusted EBITDA 540,118

402,661

57,378



















Net income attributable to Autohome 578,338

441,340

62,890



Plus: amortization of intangible assets resulting from

business acquisition 9,583

9,583

1,366



Plus: share-based compensation

expenses 57,934

60,786

8,662



Plus: investment loss/(gain) arising from one of

financial products[3] 8,719

(2,286)

(326)



Plus: gain on equity method investments, net (54,897)

(12,788)

(1,822)



Plus: tax effects of the adjustments 4,108

527

75



Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome 603,785

497,162

70,845



















Net income attributable to Autohome 578,338

441,340

62,890



Net margin 30.3 %

24.9 %

24.9 %



Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome 603,785

497,162

70,845



Adjusted net margin 31.7 %

28.0 %

28.0 %



















Non-GAAP earnings per share













Basic 1.23

1.02

0.15



Diluted 1.23

1.02

0.15



Non-GAAP earnings per ADS (one ADS equals

for four ordinary shares)













Basic 4.93

4.09

0.58



Diluted 4.92

4.08

0.58



















Weighted average shares used to compute

non-GAAP earnings per share:













Basic 489,632,372

486,207,510

486,207,510



Diluted 490,986,544

487,409,002

487,409,002



















AUTOHOME INC. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Amount in thousands, except as noted)



As of December 31,

As of September 30,

2023

2024

RMB

RMB

US$ ASSETS









Current assets









Cash and cash equivalents 4,996,353

2,529,304

360,423 Restricted cash 126,794

102,629

14,625 Short-term investments 18,552,354

20,531,286

2,925,685 Accounts receivable, net 1,472,489

1,224,993

174,560 Amounts due from related parties, current 16,439

43,653

6,221 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 360,559

379,246

54,042 Total current assets 25,524,988

24,811,111

3,535,556 Non-current assets









Restricted cash, non-current 5,000

5,000

712 Property and equipment, net 200,860

187,878

26,772 Goodwill and intangible assets, net 4,143,968

4,088,213

582,566 Long-term investments 448,341

416,636

59,370 Deferred tax assets 295,598

275,261

39,224 Amounts due from related parties, non-current 16,048

11,899

1,696 Other non-current assets 200,928

125,893

17,940 Total non-current assets 5,310,743

5,110,780

728,280 Total assets 30,835,731

29,921,891

4,263,836











LIABILITIES AND EQUITY









Current liabilities









Accrued expenses and other payables 2,932,227

2,562,739

365,187 Advance from customers 105,379

96,492

13,750 Deferred revenue 801,581

619,883

88,333 Income tax payable 227,260

68,066

9,699 Amounts due to related parties 24,572

31,845

4,538 Dividends payable 984,332

-

- Total current liabilities 5,075,351

3,379,025

481,507 Non-current liabilities









Other liabilities 89,187

39,394

5,614 Deferred tax liabilities 497,955

468,472

66,757 Total non-current liabilities 587,142

507,866

72,371 Total liabilities 5,662,493

3,886,891

553,878











MEZZANINE EQUITY









Convertible redeemable noncontrolling interests 1,758,933

1,887,523

268,970











EQUITY









Total Autohome shareholders' equity 23,928,187

24,794,511

3,533,190 Noncontrolling interests (513,882)

(647,034)

(92,202) Total equity 23,414,305

24,147,477

3,440,988 Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and equity 30,835,731

29,921,891

4,263,836

[1] The reporting currency of the Company is Renminbi ("RMB"). For readers' convenience, certain amounts throughout the release are presented in US dollars ("US$"). Unless otherwise noted, all conversions from RMB to US$ are translated at the noon buying rate of US$1.00 to RMB7.0176 on September 30, 2024 in the City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at such rate. [2] For more information on this and other non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section captioned "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the tables captioned "Unaudited Reconciliations of Non-GAAP and GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this release. [3] It represented the loss of an investment with fair value below its initial investment, which was recognized at "interest and investment income, net". The impact was considered to be not directly related to the Company's operating activities.

SOURCE Autohome Inc.
Avelo ranked #1 in on-time performance in October

Avelo ranked #1 in on-time performance and achieved the lowest flight cancellation rate through first 10 months of 2024

Avelo adds 20th 737 and will inaugurate more than 15 new routes ahead of the holidays

HOUSTON, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Avelo Airlines is soaring into the busy holiday travel season as America's most reliable airline.

BURBANK, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 28: Avelo Airlines takes off with first flight between Burbank and Santa Rosa at Hollywood Burbank Airport on April 28, 2021 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Avelo Air) (PRNewsfoto/Avelo Airlines)

In October, Avelo ranked #1 in on-time performance with 90.5% of the airline's flights arriving at their destinations within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time  the Department of Transportation's (DOT) standard metric for reporting on-time performance in the U.S. airline industry known as A14. Avelo's industry-leading performance in October fueled Avelo's 2024 year-to-date (January through October) #1 ranking in on-time performance. The airline also delivered the industry's lowest YTD flight cancellation rate.

These results are reported by Anuvu, a leading third-party aviation data services company also utilized by The Wall Street Journal for the publication's annual airline ranking. Anuvu's complete industry results and rankings are available at AveloAir.com.

Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said, "As we enter the busy holiday season, Avelo continues to stand out as America's most reliable airline. This holiday, our Customers can count on Avelo to get them where they want to go more reliably than any other airline. Whether you are visiting friends and family or planning a winter vacation, you can depend on Avelo to get you where you're going on-time and with the welcoming service that has distinguished Avelo from our first flight. Consistently delivering these industry-leading results is not easy  I am grateful to our 1,000 Avelo Crewmembers for the unrivaled dedication and teamwork they demonstrate every day for every flight."

October was the second month in a row Avelo achieved a 90% or higher on-time percentage  the only U.S. airline to deliver this elite level of reliability. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines rounded out the top three spots with on-time performances of 89.6% and 87.0%, respectively.

Through October, Avelo delivered an industry-leading on-time performance of 85.1%  eclipsing the industry average of 77%. Additionally, Avelo achieved the lowest YTD flight cancellation rate among U.S. carriers  cancelling 0.5% of its flights between January and October. Avelo's performance was well head of the industry average YTD flight cancellation rate of 1.5%.

Holiday Travel Momentum

Avelo is heading into the 2024 holiday travel period with more planes, more routes and more destinations, including its first two international routes. This week, Avelo will add an additional Boeing Next-Generation 737 jetliner  expanding its fleet to 20 aircraft.

Over the next eight weeks, Avelo will inaugurate more than 15 new routes, including two new domestic destinations (Hartford, CT  BDL and New Orleans, LA  MSY) and the carrier's first two international destinations (Cancun, Mexico  CUN and Montego Bay, Jamaica  MBJ). These new routes build on last month's opening of Avelo's new base at Central Florida's Lakeland International Airport (LAL ) and the introduction of six new routes and two new destinations (Ontario, CA  ONT and Salt Lake City, UT  SLC).

"The addition of these popular new routes and destinations gives our Customers more choices this holiday than ever," said Levy. "And when you couple that with the ease and speed of the small hometown airports we use, there is not a more convenient or seamless way to travel than Avelo."

America's Most Convenient Airline

Since taking flight on April 28, 2021, Avelo has flown more than 5.7 million Customers on over 45,000 flights. Today Avelo serves 49 cities spanning 23 states and Puerto Rico, as well as two international destinations: Jamaica and Mexico.

Avelo has unlocked a new era of convenience, choice, and competition by flying unserved routes to primarily underserved communities across the country. Every route has at least one small, easy to use airport. This makes every Avelo journey a smooth, easy, and more enjoyable experience than contending with the crowds, congestion and long walks at larger airports.

Avelo Customers can always change or cancel their itineraries with no extra fees. Additionally, families can travel with ease knowing every child 14 and under will be automatically seated with an accompanying adult at no additional cost.

Avelo offers advanced seat assignments for sale. One third of its seats are extra leg room seats, ranging from 32 inches to more than 36 inches, offering a more comfortable experience for Customers who value more space. In addition to advance seat assignments, Avelo offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay only for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin.

About Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines' purpose is to Inspire Travel by saving travelers time and money. The airline offers travelers time and money-saving convenience, everyday low fares, and a refreshingly smooth, caring and reliable travel experience. Operating a fleet of 20 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 49 popular destinations across the United States, Jamaica and Mexico, including its six bases at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), the Philadelphia / Delaware Valley region's Wilmington Airport (ILG), Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), the Bay Area's Sonoma County Airport (STS) and Central Florida's Lakeland International Airport (LAL). For more information visit AveloAir.com or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom.

Media Contacts:

Jim Olson

[email protected]

Courtney Goff

[email protected]

SOURCE Avelo Airlines
SAO PAULO, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Braskem Netherlands Finance B.V. ("Braskem Netherlands Finance" or the "Offeror") today announces the expiration and final results as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 5, 2024 (the "Expiration Date") of its previously announced offer to purchase for cash any and all of the outstanding Subordinated Resettable Fixed Rate Notes due 2081 (the "Notes") issued by Braskem Netherlands Finance (the "Offer"). The Offer was made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the previously announced offer to purchase dated October 7, 2024 (the "Offer to Purchase"). On October 21, 2024, the Offeror announced the early results of the Offer.

The Offeror has been advised by the information and tender agent that, as of the Expiration Date, the amount of Notes set forth in the table below were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 21, 2024 (the "Early Tender Date"), but at or prior to the Expiration Date. As set forth in the table below, the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn after the Early Tender Date, but at or prior to the Expiration Date, will be accepted for purchase.

The following table summarizes the final results of the Offer.

Title of

Security Security Identifiers Principal Amount

Outstanding Prior

to the Offer Principal Amount

Outstanding After

the Early Settlement Date(1) Principal Amount

Tendered and Accepted

Between the Early

Tender Date and the

Expiration Date Tender Offer

Consideration(2) Subordinated

Resettable

Fixed Rate

Notes due 2081 CUSIP: 10554T AF2 /

N15516 AF9 ISIN: US10554TAF21 /

USN15516AF97 US$600,000,000 US$231,436,000 US$300,000 US$966.25

________________ (1) On October 22, 2024 (the "Early Settlement Date"), the Offeror purchased US$368,564,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes. Holders who validly tendered their Notes at or prior to the Early Tender Date received the total consideration of US$1,016.25 for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes accepted for purchase, which included the Tender Offer Consideration in the amount of US$966.25 and an early tender payment equal to US$50.00, plus Accrued Interest. (2) The amount to be paid for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date, but at or prior to the Expiration Date, and accepted for purchase as of the Expiration Date. In addition, Accrued Interest will be paid in cash.

Holders who validly tendered and did not validly withdraw their Notes after the Early Tender Date, but at or prior to the Expiration Date, in the manner described in the previously announced Offer to Purchase, will be eligible to receive the Tender Offer Consideration, plus Accrued Interest.

The Tender Offer Consideration for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn after the Early Tender Date, but at or prior to the Expiration Date, and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer will be US$966.25 (the "Tender Offer Consideration").

Holders whose Notes are accepted for payment as of the Expiration Date pursuant to the Offer will be paid accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes ("Accrued Interest") up to, but excluding, the Final Settlement Date. The Offeror will not pay Accrued Interest for any periods following the Final Settlement Date in respect of any Notes accepted in the Offer as of the Expiration Date. Accrued Interest on Notes accepted in the Offer as of the Expiration Date will cease to accrue on the Final Settlement Date. The Final Settlement Date will be November 6, 2024, or as promptly as practicable thereafter (the "Final Settlement Date").

The deadline for holders of Notes to validly withdraw tenders of Notes has passed. Accordingly, Notes may not be withdrawn or revoked, except as required by applicable law.

The Offeror has retained Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Santander US Capital Markets LLC and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. to serve as dealer managers and D.F. King & Co., Inc. to serve as information and tender agent for the Offer. The full details of the Offer are included in the previously announced Offer to Purchase. Holders of Notes are strongly encouraged to carefully read the previously announced Offer to Purchase, including materials incorporated by reference therein, because they contain important information. Requests for the previously announced Offer to Purchase and any related supplements may also be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. by telephone at +1 (212) 269-5550 or +1 (800) 207-3159 (US toll free) or in writing at [email protected] .

Questions about the Offer may be directed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. by telephone at +1 (800) 558-3745 (toll free) or +1 (212) 723-6106 (collect); Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc. by telephone at +1 (888) 770-4828 (toll free) or +1 (212) 710-6749 (collect); Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC by telephone at +1 (800) 624-1808 (toll free) or +1 (212) 761-1057 (collect); Santander US Capital Markets LLC by telephone at +1 (855) 404-3636 (toll free) or +1 (212) 940-1442 (collect), or by e-mail at [email protected]; and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. by telephone at +1 (888) 284-9760 (toll free) or +1 (212) 224-5163 (collect).

This press release shall not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of acceptance of the offer to purchase, which was made only pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in the previously announced Offer to Purchase. The Offer was not made to, nor will the Offeror accept tenders of Notes from, holders in any jurisdiction in which the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction where the laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer was made by the dealer managers on behalf of the Offeror.

None of the Offeror, the information and tender agent, the dealer managers or the trustee with respect to the Notes, nor any of their respective affiliates, made any recommendation as to whether holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their Notes in response to the Offer. None of the Offeror, the information and tender agent, the dealer managers or the trustee with respect to the Notes, nor any of their respective affiliates, has authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation in connection with the Offer other than the information and representations contained in the previously announced Offer to Purchase.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any U.S. state securities commission nor any regulatory authority of any other country has approved or disapproved of the Offer, passed upon the merits or fairness of the Offer or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in the previously announced Offer to Purchase.

About Braskem Netherlands Finance

Braskem Netherlands Finance, a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Braskem Netherlands B.V. Braskem Netherlands Finance was established primarily to act as a finance subsidiary of Braskem S.A.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Other than statements of historical fact, information regarding activities, events and developments that Braskem expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements based on management's estimates, assumptions and projections. Many forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe, "estimate" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are predictions only and actual results could differ materially from management's expectations due to a variety of factors, including those described the sections titled "Risk Factors" in Braskem's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 and Braskem's report on Form 6-K including certain information regarding Braskem and, without limitation, Braskem's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, furnished to the SEC on October 7, 2024. All forward-looking statements attributable to Braskem or the Offeror are expressly qualified in their entirety by such risk factors. The forward-looking statements that the Offeror makes in this press release are based on management's current views and assumptions regarding future events and speak only as of their dates. The Offeror assumes no obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements that the Offeror makes, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments, except as required by the U.S. federal securities laws.

DISCLAIMER

This press release must be read in conjunction with the previously announced Offer to Purchase. This announcement and the previously announced Offer to Purchase contain important information which must be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Offer. If any holder of Notes is in any doubt as to the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own legal, tax, accounting and financial advice, including as to any tax consequences, immediately from its stockbroker, bank manager, attorney, accountant or other independent financial or legal adviser. None of the Offeror, the dealer managers, the information and tender agent and any person who controls, or is a director, officer, employee or agent of such persons, or any affiliate of such persons, made any recommendation as to whether holders of Notes should participate in the Offer.

SOURCE Braskem Netherlands Finance B.V.
SHANGHAI, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2171.HK), a company focused on innovative CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, announces that the Company will present the clinical data of zevorcabtagene autoleucel, CT071, and CT0590 as posters at the 66th Annual Congress of the American Society of Hematology ("ASH") which is due to take place between Dec 7  10, 2024. The abstracts are available on ASH official website.

"CARsgen is advancing therapeutic options for hematologic malignancies with robust CAR T-cell pipeline, which includes the autologous CAR T-cell therapy zevor-cel, the single-day-culture CT071, and the allogeneic CAR T-cell candidate CT0590. These initiatives underscore CARsgen's strong commitment to innovation in hematology. Leveraging proprietary technology platforms such as CARcelerate and THANK-uCAR, CARsgen is focused on developing differentiated CAR T-cell therapies to address the critical challenges faced by the clinical community. We are excited to share new data and are confident in the potential of our CAR T-cell therapies to benefit patients worldwide," said Raffaele Baffa, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of CARsgen Therapeutics.

Subgroup Analyses of Phase 2 Study: Evaluating the Efficacy of Fully Human BCMA-Targeting CAR T Cells (Zevorcabtagene Autoleucel) in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Publication Number: 4762

Presentation Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Monday, December 9, 2024 (PST)

In 102 patients with RRMM who had received at least 3 prior lines of therapy including an immunomodulatory drug and a proteasome inhibitor, the objective response rate (ORR) was 92.2%, the stringent complete response (sCR) or complete response (CR) was 71.6%. The ORR or the CR/sCR rate was not affected by any of the baseline characteristics tested. With a median follow-up of 20.3 (range: 0.4 to 27) months, the median duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) data were not mature and therefore, 18-month (18m) and estimated 30-month (30m) event free rates were used as efficacy outcomes for subgroup analyses. The DOR, PFS and OS were not impacted by age or ISS.

These subgroup analyses indicate that baseline characteristics have minimal impact on the clinical efficacy of zevorcabtagene autoleucel, demonstrating that even RRMM patients with poor prognostic factors can benefit from zevorcabtagene autoleucel.

GPRC5D-Targeted CAR T-Cell Therapy CT071 for the Treatment of Refractory/Relapsed Multiple Myeloma

Publication Number: 3451

Presentation Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Sunday, December 8, 2024 (PST)

CT071 is a fully human GPRC5D-targeting autologous CAR T-cell product manufactured using an expedited CARcelerate platform which shortens the manufacturing process to around 30 hours resulting in shorter vein-to-vein time. Patients with RRMM who had previously received  3 prior lines of therapy (LOT) or patients who experienced progression or lack of response having been treated with a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent or those who were double class-refractory, all with ECOG score of 0-2 were enrolled. In 17 patients who had been dosed with CT071, 11 patients (64.7%) experienced cytokine release syndrome (CRS), all at Grade 1 (n=8) or 2 (n=3). No immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) was observed. No dose limiting toxicity (DLT) occurred.

The overall response rate (ORR) was 94.1% (16/17), and the stringent complete response (sCR) rate was 52.9% (9/17). Notably, 7 patients achieved complete response or better at week 4. All 4 patients with previous exposure to BCMA or BCMA/CD19 CAR T responded to CT071 (2 with sCR and 2 with partial response).

A First-in-Human Study of CT0590, a Triple Knock-out, Allogeneic CAR T-Cell Therapy Targeting BCMA and NKG2A, in Subjects with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Publication Number: 4843

Presentation Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Monday, December 9, 2024 (PST)

CT0590 is an allogeneic dual CAR T-cell therapy deploying THANK-uCAR technology that targets both BCMA and NKG2A (a membrane protein expressed in NK and T cells), featuring a triple knockout for TRAC/B2M/NKG2A which mitigates against graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), host immune rejection and fratricide.

This is a first-in-human (FIH), open-label, single center, phase I study of CT0590 in subjects with RRMM to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy of CT0590 (NCT05066022). As of 22-Apr-2024, 5 subjects were enrolled (4 subjects with RRMM and 1 subject with primary plasma cell leukemia [pPCL] under compassionate use).

No  3 grade cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was observed. No cases of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) or GvHD were observed. No dose limiting toxicities were reported and there were no withdrawal from the study or deaths due to adverse events.

With a median follow-up time of 16.6 months (range: 5.1, 24.2), 3 subjects achieved confirmed responses including 2 subjects with stringent complete response (sCR) and 1 subject with partial response (PR). The 2 subjects with sCR include1 RRMM subject [sCR ongoing] with a DOR longer than 23 months as of data cut-off date and 1 pPCL subject with a duration of response (DOR) of 20 months. In the 2 subjects with sCR, CAR copies peaked at > 280,000 copies/g genomic DNA.

Preliminary results of this FIH study of the CT0590 allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy demonstrated a manageable safety profile while achieving deep and durable clinical responses.

About Zevorcabtagene Autoleucel

Zevorcabtagene autoleucel is a fully human, autologous BCMA CAR T-cell product for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma (MM). Zevorcabtagene autoleucel was approved by the NMPA on February 23, 2024 for the treatment of adult patients with R/R MM who have progressed after at least 3 prior lines of therapy (including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent). CARsgen is conducting a separate Phase 1b/2 LUMMICAR STUDY 2 clinical trial in North America to evaluate the safety and efficacy of zevorcabtagene autoleucel in R/R MM.

Zevorcabtagene autoleucel received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) and Orphan Drug designations from the U.S. FDA in 2019, as well as Priority Medicines (PRIME) and Orphan Medicinal Product designations from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

About CT071

CT071 is a CAR T-cell therapy candidate developed utilizing the proprietary CARcelerate platform of CARsgen targeting GPRC5D for the treatment of relapsed/refractory MM or relapsed/refractory plasma cell leukemia (PCL). An IIT (NCT05838131) is ongoing in China to evaluate the preliminary safety and efficacy of CT071 for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma or plasma cell leukemia. A separate investigator-initiated trial (NCT06407947) is ongoing in China for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM).

About CT0590

CT0590 is a BCMA-targeting allogeneic CAR T-cell product candidate deploying CARsgen's THANK-uCAR technology. An IIT is ongoing in China to evaluate the preliminary safety and efficacy of CT0590 for the treatment of R/R MM.

About CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited

CARsgen is a biopharmaceutical company with operations in China and the U.S., focusing on innovative CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. CARsgen has established a comprehensive CAR T-cell research and development platform that covers target discovery, innovative CAR T-cell development, clinical trials, and commercial-scale production. Internally, CARsgen has developed novel technologies and a product pipeline with global rights to address significant challenges faced by existing CAR T-cell therapies. Efforts include improving safety profile, enhancing the efficacy in treating solid tumors, and reducing treatment costs. CARsgen's mission is to become a global biopharmaceutical leader that provides innovative and differentiated cell therapies for cancer patients worldwide and makes cancer curable.

Forward-looking Statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical fact or that do not relate to present facts or current conditions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements express the Group's current views, projections, beliefs and expectations with respect to future events as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and factors beyond the Group's control. As a result, they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements and the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those detailed under the heading "Principal Risks and Uncertainties" in our most recent annual report and interim report and other announcements and reports made available on our corporate website, https://www.carsgen.com. No representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on, any projections, targets, estimates or forecasts contained in this press release.

For more information, please visit https://www.carsgen.com/

SOURCE CARsgen Therapeutics
COLUMBIA, S.C., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cartiga, a leading legal funding company, is proud to announce its expansion into South Carolina through its subsidiary, Momentum Funding, LLC ("Momentum Funding"). As of November 6th, Momentum Funding will be offering plaintiff funding services across the state, furthering Cartiga's mission to provide access to justice through strategic funding options.

This expansion brings Cartiga's core value propositions to plaintiffs in South Carolina:

Myrtle Beach South Carolina Drone Skyline Aerial. The Cartiga logo with Ardec Funding, LawCash, and Momentum Funding (PRNewsfoto/Cartiga)

Swift financial relief for individuals awaiting settlement Transparent terms and competitive rates Expert evaluation of case merit by experienced underwriters

"Cartiga's expansion into South Carolina through Momentum Funding allows us to better serve plaintiffs in need of funding," said Peter Dion, EVP, Head of Consumer Funding at Cartiga. "We're dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and ethics in our operations. Our commitment is to provide clear, understandable terms to our clients and to always act in an ethical manner that supports the integrity of the legal process."

Expressing enthusiasm about the expansion, Hana Khaled, VP of Sales at Cartiga, added: "My team and I are committed to providing the best funding services in South Carolina through Momentum Funding. We're excited to bring our expertise and client-focused approach to plaintiffs and attorneys in the state. Our goal is to be a responsible funding partner, ensuring that our clients fully understand the terms of their funding and that it truly serves their best interests."

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs considers a consumer legal funding transaction to be a loan under the South Carolina Consumer Protection Code. Momentum Funding, LLC (NMLS ID # 1789685) is licensed to make loans as a supervised lender by the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. For more information about Momentum Funding's plaintiff funding services in South Carolina, please visit www.momentumfunding.com.

About Cartiga

Cartiga is a leading provider of legal pre-settlement funding to consumers, and working capital funding to law firms, who are pursuing personal injury claims. We have over 20 years of experience in delivering fair, fast and reliable funding at competitive pricing. We are also a trusted partner for law firms that provides data-driven funding solutions with exceptional service. Our vision is to be the premier legal funding provider that empowers law firms and their clients to achieve outstanding results by providing a seamless experience from initial application through final settlement.

For more information, visit www.cartiga.com

SOURCE Cartiga
NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cristian Rivera Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (D.I.P.G.), is thrilled to announce its 15th Annual Celebrity Gala. The event will be held on November 12th at 6:00 p.m. at Cipriani, 55 Wall St., NYC.

Sponsors include Goya, RMM Group, Nissan, Patrick B Jenkins & Associates, Pulse International Realty, My Tax Fella, Maestro Cares Foundation, the Bronx Care Health System, and Hotel Planner.

This star-studded evening will bring together celebrities and supporters for a memorable night. It will feature a red-carpet reception, award ceremony, live and silent auctions, and more. The gala will be hosted by celebrity board members Kenan Thompson, known as Saturday Night Live's longest-tenured cast member; Darlene Rodriguez, anchor of NBC's Today; and Malik Yoba, actor, and entrepreneur. Proceeds from the event will support groundbreaking clinical trials at leading institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College. Funds raised will also provide critical support to families affected by D.I.P.G. and raise awareness of the condition.

Notable attendees will include New York Mets centerfielder Harrison Bader, Chazz Palminteri, acclaimed for his work in A Bronx Tale, actor and rapper Fredro Starr, and director, actor, and producer William DeMeo.

This year, they will be honoring Gleyber Torres, second baseman for the New York Yankees with the Heroes Award, Susan Lacher Director of Koeppel Auto Group with the Vision of Hope Award, and Rafael and Meiling Toro with the Service and Dedication Award. Ryan Hodgson, the father of Braylon Hodgson, will be receiving the Golden Wings Recognition on behalf of Braylon who passed away from D.I.P.G. last year.

The foundation, which is comprised of dedicated volunteers and celebrity board membersincluding comedian and actor Kenan Thompson, actor Luis Guzman, Super-Middleweight boxer Edgar Berlanga, Hollywood veteran Malik Yoba, media personality AJ Calloway, and MLB player Gio Urshelacontinues to drive awareness and funding toward finding a cure.

The Cristian Rivera Foundation was created in honor of John "Gungie" Rivera's son, Cristian Rivera, who was diagnosed with this rare, aggressive pediatric brain stem tumor at just four years old. Since its inception in 2009, the foundation has been committed to finding a cure to help eradicate the disease.

CRF is one of the nation's largest financial supporters of research and family support for D.I.P.G. To date, the foundation has donated over $3 million to help find a cure and support families facing this heartbreaking diagnosis.

CRF has funded the clinical trials of Mark Souweidane, M.D. who is the Vice Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery and the Director of Pediatric Neurological Surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is a professor of neurological surgery and pediatrics.

Dr. Souweidane was recognized as one of America's Top Doctors by U.S. News and World Report for four consecutive years (2011-2014), a Top Doctor in the New York Metro Area for ten consecutive years (2005-2014), and a New York Magazine Top Doctor for five consecutive years (2010-2014). He is nationally recognized in pediatric neurosurgery, with a strong focus on childhood brain tumors. He is a highly accomplished micro neurosurgeon, expert endoscopic surgeon, and compassionate advocate for children.

One patient in these trials, funded by CRF, Lisha Ayala, has seen no growth in her tumor and was the first survivor of Dr. Soweidane's trials. She has lived with D.I.P.G. for over 10 years. Before 2012, there were no survivors; now, there are five because of this research.

Don't miss the opportunity to support this vital cause; sponsorship packages and program ads are still available. Contributions from gala tickets, sponsorships, ads, and donations are crucial for finding a cure and assisting children and families in their fight against D.I.P.G. Your support is tax-deductible and makes a real impact. Join us in making a difference in the fight against D.I.P.G.

To purchase tickets, donate, or learn more about the Cristian Rivera Foundation, please visit www.cristianriverafoundation.org.

About The Cristian Rivera Foundation

The Cristian Rivera Foundation's mission is to create a world without diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (D.I.P.G.) by funding research for a cure, spreading awareness, and providing family support. After the devastating loss of his son Cristian to DIPG, John "Gungie" Rivera was inspired to establish the Cristian Rivera Foundation, a New Jersey-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, in 2009.

Today, the foundation's funding has contributed to significant progress in the fight against D.I.P.G., with three children responding well to clinical trials led by Dr. Mark Souweidane at Weill Cornell Medical Center. These promising outcomes offer hope to the medical community and families impacted by D.I.P.G. Additionally, the foundation supports genetic research by Dr. Oren Becher at Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital.

CRF pursues its mission through fundraising events, monthly newsletters, media outreach, and other initiatives to educate and enlighten the community about D.I.P.G. and its devastating impact on children and families.

The foundation also serves as a vital resource, providing support, information, and financial assistance to families affected by D.I.P.G. By working closely with these families, the foundation helps them navigate the challenges of this difficult journey, offering the tools and guidance needed to cope with this devastating disease.

Media Contact:

Brigit Hennaman

Rubenstein Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Cristian Rivera Foundation
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua

The duration of mandatory basic combined arms training of recruits in the training centers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been increased from 30 to 45 days from November 1, 2024, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said, citing the decision of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky.

As noted by the Main Directorate of Doctrines and Training of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a conversation with journalists, a pilot project launched in October to increase the duration of training at four training centers, where about 500 recruits were involved, showed good results. Therefore, from November 1, all training centers were transferred to 45-day training.

Thus, the new basic program was increased by 78 hours. Among the key indicators are the strengthening of fire training (its duration has been increased by 33 hours), tactical training (by six hours), and complex tactical exercises (by 18). In addition, the new program includes 45 shooting exercises (previously 23).

Additional practice also includes mastering collective weapons, countering enemy UAVs, and the basics of electronic warfare. Unmanned aerial vehicle companies are also being introduced in training centers. In addition, a basic instructor course has been introduced.

In turn, UAV training abroad will be transferred to a one and a half month duration from January 2025.

The increase in the duration of training is being introduced as part of the Saving the Lives of Servicemen program, aimed at improving the training of Ukrainian defenders.
ATWATER, Calif., Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Daiso, the renowned global retail chain offering a wide range of affordable and unique products, is thrilled to announce the grand opening at Applegate Ranch in Atwater, California on November 16th. "We are thrilled to open our store at Applegate Ranch," said Jack Williams, Chief Retail Operations Officer for Daiso USA. "This achievement reflects the dedication and support of our customers who have embraced Daiso's unique concept and diverse product range. We are excited to provide an exceptional shopping experience to the vibrant Atwater community and look forward to serving our customers with the utmost care and dedication."

The new Daiso store at Applegate Ranch encompasses 7,000 square feet and promises to be a haven for shoppers seeking quality merchandise at affordable prices. With its extensive range of products spanning various categories, including Japanese inspired home decor, stationery, food, and more, Daiso has become synonymous with accessible and innovative offerings. John Clarke, Chief Development Officer for Daiso USA says, "California based Daiso customers have shown us through our online business and social media their desire for us to have more stores within the state, influencing our immediate growth strategy in this region. We currently operate 165 units in 8 states with more states opening in 2025."

On both Saturday, November 16th and Sunday, November 17th, the first 100 customers to shop at the Applegate Ranch location and make a minimum purchase of $30 will receive an exclusive goodie bag. These special offerings are Daiso's way of expressing gratitude to its loyal customers and welcoming new shoppers to the Daiso community.

Daiso invites customers to join in the celebration. The Applegate Ranch Daiso, at 1260 Commerce Avenue, is by neighboring tenant Petco and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m to 9 p.m and Sunday from 10 a.m to 8 p.m.

About Daiso:

Daiso is a global retail chain founded in Japan, known for its vast array of unique and affordable products across various categories such as household goods, stationery, beauty, and more. Daiso entered the US market in 2005 and continues to expand its global footprint while maintaining its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. The Daiso US headquarters is located in Anaheim, CA.

SOURCE Daiso USA
HOUSTON, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- D&H United ("D&H"), a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners ("Wind Point") and a leading provider of mission-critical installation, maintenance, testing and inspection services for fueling stations and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, is pleased to announce the acquisition of HCN Petroleum Equipment ("HCN"). Based in Newland, N.C., HCN Petroleum Equipment is a turnkey petroleum service and equipment provider.

This strategic acquisition continues D&H's expansion in the Southeast, further enhancing its national service capabilities. HCN Petroleum Equipment, known for its exceptional service in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and South Carolina, will seamlessly integrate with D&H's expansive offerings and commitment to quality. The acquisition enables D&H to better serve its customers with a broader range of services, including fuel system installation, maintenance, compliance management and repair services.

"We are excited to welcome HCN Petroleum Equipment to the D&H United family," said Tracy Long, CEO of D&H United. "This acquisition strengthens our presence in the Southeast and represents a significant milestone in our continued growth. We look forward to working with the wonderful team at HCN to provide additional capabilities and resources to their customers, while maintaining HCN's commitment to quality and exceptional customer service."

By combining the resources and expertise of both organizations, D&H will offer industry-leading service in the Southeast. HCN Petroleum Equipment's strong market reputation and commitment to customer satisfaction will enhance D&H's ability to provide mission-critical maintenance, testing and installation services with the same standards the company is known for nationwide.

HCN Petroleum Equipment, founded in 1990 by Chris and Diane Bohan, has been a trusted name in the petroleum equipment industry, offering a range of services to customers. Chris Bohan commented, "We're excited to join D&H United and be a part of their continued expansion. Their national platform, reputation for quality and industry expertise make us confident that our customers will benefit from this partnership."

This acquisition represents D&H's 6th acquisition since partnering with Wind Point Partners in September 2022 and further advances the company's strategic goal of expanding its presence across North America. The Company will continue operating as HCN Petroleum Equipment, a D&H United company.

About D&H United Fueling Solutions



D&H United Fueling Solutions is a leading supplier of petroleum fueling and EV charging systems equipment, installation, and service across the United States. With 36 locations and more than 1,400 employees, the Company is dedicated to providing exceptional service and innovative solutions to clients. D&H United's commitment to excellence and growth has led to the Company's inclusion on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies for three consecutive years.

About Wind Point Partners

Founded in 1984, Wind Point Partners is a Chicago-based private equity investment firm with approximately $6 billion in assets under management. The firm's Vision, Talent, Transformation ("VTT") investment strategy focuses on partnering with top caliber management teams around a clear and exciting plan to invest behind a business to achieve transformational growth and value creation. The firm's Executive Advisor Partner ("EAP") network is comprised of more than 40 high-caliber executives who are closely aligned with Wind Point and contribute across all aspects of the firm's investment process.

Wind Point targets well-positioned middle market businesses within the business services, consumer products and industrial products industries. Since inception, Wind Point has deployed ten private equity buyout funds in partnership with leading institutional investors around the world, including public pensions, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, fund of funds and family offices.

Additional information about Wind Point is available at www.windpointpartners.com.

Contacts

Ron Liberman, Wind Point Partners

Phone: 312-255-4812

Email: [email protected]

Lance Altizer, D&H United

Phone: 540-315-6191

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE D&H United
THE PERFORMANCE SOCK BRAND ACCOMMODATES BUSINESS GROWTH WITH NEWTON DISTRIBUTION CENTER

HICKORY, N.C., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Feetures, a leading innovator in the sock industry known for its quality craftsmanship and commitment to comfort, is proud to announce the grand opening of its new distribution center located in Hickory, NC. The ribbon cutting ceremony, held on October 29, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the company's growth and expansion, further enhancing its ability to serve customers around the globe.

Local officials, company employees and community members, celebrated the official opening of the new (60,000)-square-foot facility, which will streamline Feetures' logistics and fulfillment operations. The new distribution center is designed to improve efficiency, support the company's growing product demand and create new jobs within the local community.

"It's been amazing how quickly this area has been transformed and the building we've seen in renderings is now a reality," said John Gaither, CEO of Feetures. "I can't emphasize how smoothly this process went and how proud we are of all the work everyone has done."

The new facility is first-rate with a climate controlled warehouse and beautifully furnished 8000 square foot office space. It's equipped with new inventory management tools and sorting systems that will enable Feetures to increase its processing capacity to meet growing demand and scale.

"We've always thought our mission was bigger than just selling socks," says Joe Gaither, Chief Marketing Officer at Feetures. "It's about having a positive impact and that's real today and meaningful to me and all of us at Feetures."

In addition to the ribbon cutting ceremony, the event featured tours of the facility, giving attendees an inside look at the advanced operations that will help Feetues maintain its position as a leader in the sock industry. The company also announced plans to double the business over the next 5 years.

Feetures has grown steadily since its founding in 2002, building a reputation for producing high-quality performance socks that blend comfort, style and durability. With the opening of the new distribution center, the company is well-positioned for continued success, with the capacity to meet increasing demand from both domestic and global customers

For more information about Feetures and its products, please visit www.feetures.com.

About Feetures:

Founded in 2002 by textile industry veteran and passionate runner, Hugh Gaither, Feetures performance socks were created to support runners and other athletes in their pursuit of healthy, active lifestyles. Feetures are focused on offering products that are designed to help everyone achieve their personal best. The brand is a family-owned business out of Charlotte, North Carolina, founded in technological design, innovation and sustainability. Committed to the quality of their product and the satisfaction of their customers, every Feetures products include a lifetime guarantee. Today, Feetures has become the #1 sock brand in U.S. run specialty stores. It is sold in over 50 countries and in prominent national sporting goods chains in the US.

Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Feetures
BEIJING, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The fifteenth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, will be held in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, from November 12 to 17. The Chinese Air Force revealed at a press conference on Tuesday that new equipment, including the J-35A medium-sized stealth fighter, the HQ-19 surface-to-air missile weapon system, and a new attack reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle will make their debut at the airshow. Although the event has not yet begun, the information disclosed in advance has sparked heated discussions. In particular, the preview of some "pillars of the country" will be unveiled one after another, making military fans at home and abroad full of expectations and every patriot proud.

As one of the world's top five airshows, Airshow China has become an important platform for showcasing international aviation and aerospace advanced technology and high-end equipment, as well as promoting exchanges and cooperation.

This year's Airshow China has attracted more than 1,000 exhibitors from 47 countries and regions, including Russia, France and the US. It features many world-renowned aviation enterprises, including Airbus, Honeywell, Embraer and Thales. International aviation and aerospace companies have great confidence in the Chinese market, so they are willing to bring their most advanced and high-end products to China to showcase themselves and facilitate cooperation through this equal and open platform of mutual benefit.

Airshow China has continued to grow in scale and quality, progressing hand in hand with the expansion of China's high-end manufacturing industry, mutually promoting each other's advancement. The aviation industry, hailed as the "flower of modern industry," is a critical marker of a nation's technological, economic, and defense capabilities as well as its level of industrialization, reflecting its comprehensive ability in high-end manufacturing.

Over several decades, China's aviation and aerospace equipment has achieved leapfrog development, securing tangible accomplishments. Today, we possess advanced active defense equipment and highly acclaimed aerospace technology. Breakthroughs have been made with civil aircraft, such as the C919, ARJ21 and the AG600 "Kunlong," while drone technology is leading the world. This showcases China's steady and balanced progress in independent innovation across "land, sea, air, space, electronics, and cyberspace," witnessing the journey from a fledgling to an advanced aviation industry, as well as the entire industrial system, and garnering repeated admiration.

Thus, Airshow China has also embodied the sincere patriotic enthusiasm of the Chinese public, rooted in a peace-oriented spirit. From the first Airshow China to its current status as one of the world's top five air shows over the nearly three decades, China's contribution to global peace and stability has become increasingly prominent. China's strong defense capabilities have demonstrated remarkable performance in international rescue operations and anti-piracy efforts. China's advanced civil aviation and aerospace technology has benefited many people in developing countries through various levels of cooperation. The progress in China's aviation and aerospace industry not only equips the country to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests but also empowers it to make greater contributions to regional stability and world peace.

In addition to cutting-edge equipment such as the J-35A and HQ-19, this airshow will also feature a newly established demonstration area for drones and unmanned boats. The lunar samples collected from the far side of the moon during the Chang'e 6 mission will also be showcased at this year's airshow. These elements indicate that China's technology is already at the forefront of the world in certain fields. As China makes significant progress in high-end manufacturing and enters the world's top tier in multiple technological domains, cooperation with China represents opportunities and mutual benefits. The Chinese people are diligently and steadily working to do their own things well, bringing shared prosperity to the world.

At the previous Airshow China, the amount of cooperation agreements signed on the first day reached 250 billion yuan, with over 350 aircraft transactions. This year, people are generally more optimistic, as evidenced by the surge in the number of exhibitors, the emergence of high-end equipment, and the rising enthusiasm among the public.

With the implementation of a number of major projects and initiatives, China will adopt a more proactive and open stance toward advancing international cooperation and exchanges in the aviation and aerospace field. Therefore, what people see at Airshow China are not only "pillars of the country," but also China's confidence and openness in high-tech fields, as well as a vision of peaceful development and win-win cooperation.

SOURCE Global Times
Global HR research and advisory firm McLean & Company has published a resource that will provide HR leaders with the necessary insight and guidance to navigate an ever-evolving digital landscape. Highlighting the importance of people in technological transformations, the firm explains that though advancements in technology traditionally fall to IT, the exclusion of HR in the equation of digital transformation is a significant misstep for organizations seeking long-term success in the future of work.

TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - As concerns regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological advancements that are changing the work landscape have been dominating discourse in the business world, HR professionals are tasked with ensuring they and their organizations are not left behind. In response to HR's need for support and guidance in navigating ongoing rapid digital transformation, global research and advisory firm McLean & Company has published HR's Role in Driving Meaningful Digital Transformation. The firm's new thought leadership research provides insights into the roles and responsibilities HR must perform and considerations it must address on the path to enabling meaningful digital transformation for their organizations, emphasizing that HR plays a crucial role in transformational success.

According to McLean & Companys new thought leadership research, HR plays a pivotal role in ensuring the success of digital transformation by leveraging their expertise in managing the people side of the organization. This is achieved by contributing to the strategic success factors and activating the four critical tactical success factors as outlined in the firms HRs Role in Driving Meaningful Digital Transformation resource. (CNW Group/McLean & Company)

In the resource, McLean & Company explains how digital transformation signifies a large-scale technological shift that opens fresh possibilities for an organization's business model. HR brings the critical lens of people management to digital transformation, including considerations around culture, workload, employee engagement, inclusion, and equity, which are just a few key areas in which HR's expertise is needed for successful transformation.

"Technology either disrupts or disrupts and transforms organizations," says Lisa Highfield, principal director of HR Technology and AI at McLean & Company. "An expanded understanding of what success means for digital transformation uncovers the potential of HR's pivotal contributions, leveraging its expertise in managing the people side of the organization. Regardless of which additional areas are used to define transformation success, how effectively people, processes, and technology are working together to build thriving operations will ultimately dictate organizational health and, therefore, success."

McLean & Company covers the following four key areas of implementing digital transformation in the new industry resource to assist HR leaders in understanding and navigating rapid technological advancements for positive, long-term organizational impact:





What is digital transformation? In the first section of the resource, McLean & Company outlines the definition and evolution of digital transformation, what a successful transformation entails, as well as the significant risks associated with misplaced efforts or refusal to adapt. The firm highlights that digital transformation is evolving, with successful transformation having a broad reach, including overall organizational and operational health. Other measures of success include competitive advantage, return on investment, velocity of implementation, and employee experience. Failure to adapt to digital transformation poses risks to these critical elements of success.



The urgency and necessity for HR's involvement. The second segment of the resource presents why the partnership between IT and HR is vital for digital transformation. Although digital transformation efforts typically fall under IT's jurisdiction rather than HR's, the scope and impacts of digital transformation necessitate HR's involvement to bring the critical people perspective to the forefront. For example, when HR is a strategic partner, organizations are 2.7 times more likely to be highly effective at generating and implementing new ideas and 1.8 times more likely to be highly effective at changing quickly at scale to capitalize on new opportunities. Without HR's strategic contribution to digital transformation, decisions will be made that lack insights into people priorities, such as balancing workloads, promoting engagement drivers, and implementing change management initiatives, which risks overexerting, overwhelming, and disengaging employees.



Critical success factors for digital transformation. The third section of the research provides an overview of the four main critical success factors and how HR can own and activate them to support the organization's transformation efforts. These tactical factors for digital transformation that fall under HR's purview are:



i. Culture

ii. People and relationships

iii. Skilled and empowered employees

iv. Change management



HR has a special connection to and responsibility for organizational culture, with shaping and maintaining organizational culture anticipated to be HR's top-rated value-add activity in 2030. By ensuring that the people programs across the organization effectively reinforce, recognize, and celebrate the behaviors needed for the organization's digital transformation and support digital transformation, HR can define the desired behaviors and identify how they are being reinforced or inhibited within the organization.



The path forward. This portion of the firm's research is intended to help HR assess its organization's current state of the tactical critical success factors, and it provides guidance on how to focus HR's resources strategically. With limited capacity and resources, it is impossible for HR to effectively cover all critical success factors simultaneously. McLean & Company explains that HR can avoid analysis paralysis by understanding the current state of factors in the organization and intentionally directing efforts where they will have the biggest impact, noting that strategic HR organizations can leverage positive downstream impacts of transformation to reinforce the strategic partnership role HR has established and contribute to the overall success of organizational objectives.

"Technological changes are process changes, which are ultimately people changes," explains Highfield. "HR's value as a culture steward cannot be overstated. It will be HR that identifies which elements of the current culture will best serve the organization through digital transformation, and which elements are getting in the way of desired outcomes. As people experts, HR plays the primary role in activating the critical success factors and amplifying the necessary behaviors to support success."

McLean & Company advises that exponential advancements in technology and the ever-evolving global business landscape cause a continuous state of change. Even the most well-established action plan can become irrelevant if iteration and review is not built in, so the firm recommends that HR teams remain anticipatory to support the organization in staying competitive and innovative in the future of work.

To access the full resource, please visit HR's Role in Driving Meaningful Digital Transformation or contact [email protected].

To register for the upcoming free webinar, What About the People? Culture, Change, and HR's Role in AI and Digital Transformation, please visit McLean & Company's webinars page.

Media interested in connecting with McLean & Company analysts for exclusive, research-backed insights and commentary on generative AI in HR, HR trends in 2024, the future of work, and more can contact Senior Communications Manager Kelsey King at [email protected].

About McLean & Company

McLean & Company pairs evidence-based research and immediately applicable tools with deep HR expertise to position organizations to meet today's needs and prepare for the future. The global HR research and advisory firm's member organizations enjoy comprehensive resources, full-service diagnostics, workshops, action plans, and advisory services for all levels of HR professionals, from executive leadership to HR leaders to HR team members, that help shape workplaces where everyone thrives.

McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

SOURCE McLean & Company
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Invicti Security, a leading global application security platform, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Gallagher, former CEO of CoSoSys, as President. In his new role, Gallagher will scale operations, accelerate growth, and advance Invicti's mission to secure the web applications that run customers' businesses.

Gallagher first joined Invicti in 2017 and played a key role in the company's growth and success before transitioning to other ventures. Returning to Invicti as President, Gallagher brings over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and software, with a proven track record of driving strategic growth and operational excellence. At CoSoSys, he led the company through accelerated expansion, solidifying its position as a leader in data loss prevention and endpoint security. Kevin brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep commitment to Invicti's mission of delivering innovative and impactful security solutions to businesses around the world.

"Kevin's extensive experience and commitment to innovation in cybersecurity and software make him an ideal fit for Invicti as we continue to expand and enhance our capabilities," said Neil Roseman, CEO of Invicti. "Kevin's leadership will help us strengthen our operational foundation, deliver growth, and create even more value for our customers."

Invicti's application security platform, including the award-winning Acunetix and Invicti (formerly Netsparker) DAST products, empowers security teams to find, fix, and prevent vulnerabilities in real time, ensuring the protection of critical assets and data. Gallagher's strategic insight and operational expertise will be instrumental as Invicti continues to advance its solutions to meet the evolving needs of modern organizations worldwide.

"I'm excited to rejoin Invicti at such an exciting time in the company's journey," said Gallagher. "The cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, and Invicti's solutions are at the forefront of helping businesses protect their most critical assets. I look forward to working with the incredible team here to drive continued success and create even greater value for our customers."

The addition of Gallagher to Invicti's executive team reflects the company's ongoing commitment to attracting top industry talent to drive innovation and provide organizations with the most effective and comprehensive web application security solutions.

This announcement follows the launch of Invicti's new API Security solution , which expands the company's security capabilities to provide customers with more comprehensive coverage on one platform.

ABOUT INVICTI SECURITY

Invicti Security which acquired and combined AppSec leaders Acunetix and Netsparkeris on a mission: application security with zero noise. An AppSec leader for more than 15 years, Invicti delivers continuous web application and API security, designed to be both reliable for security and practical for development while serving critical compliance requirements. Customers choose the Invicti platform to leverage DAST, SAST, SCA, and IAST solutions to better secure their environments and ultimately reduce risk across their web applications and APIs. Invicti operates globally with employees in over 11 countries and serves more than 4,000 customer organizations. For more information, visit www.invicti.com or follow us on LinkedIn .

Media Contact:

Charmaine Odums

Invicti Security

[email protected]

SOURCE Invicti Security
Highlights

Drilling confirmed prospectivity for additional mineralization at the Project regionally through the identification of two new high priority zones (Areas D and E) and immediately adjacent to Hurricane, referred to as Hurricane East (Figure 3).

regionally through the identification of two new high priority zones (Areas D and E) and immediately adjacent to Hurricane, referred to as Hurricane East (Figure 3). First pass drilling in Areas D and E returned elevated radioactivity associated with significant alteration, enhancing the prospectivity of the Project's eastern extent. In Area E, a 1km by 2km ANT anomaly located 8km east of Hurricane, five holes were drilled highlighted by hole LE24-192 which intersected 2.0m at 495 parts per million uranium partial (" ppm U-p ") and 3,410 counts per second (" cps "), including 0.5m at 1,110 ppm U-p and 7,483 cps (Figure 4). In Area D, a 2.5km by 1km ANT anomaly located 8 km east of Hurricane, five holes were drilled highlighted by hole LE24-174 which intersected 3.5m , from 254m , at 26.2 ppm U-p and 257 cps and 0.2m at 1,303 cps (Figure 5). These results are comparable to pre-discovery holes drilled by Cameco just 40 meters from the high-grade Hurricane Deposit, KER-11, which returned 0.5m at 518.0 ppm U-p and KER-12 (Figure 4). We believe this emphasizes the strong proximal potential within the geochemical halos of the known deposits, where sharply defined uranium mineralization boundaries are evident.

Drilling in Hurricane East within 600 meters of Hurricane returned elevated radioactivity, indicating potential for resource expansion . A single hole drilled 290m east of Hurricane, LE24-188, intersected 2.1m at 1,847 cps, indicating a potential for near resource expansion (Figure 6). In Area B, a 250m by 180m ANT target anomaly centred 500m east of Hurricane, seven holes were drilled. Hole LE24-165 intersected 6.0 m at 1,359 cps, including a higher-grade interval of 0.5m at 3,067 cps. These results suggest that the Hurricane resource may remain open for further expansion.

Additional results are expected in the coming weeks with 33% of the geochemical results received to date (Table 1). Initial results are highly encouraging, with strong hydrothermal alteration and elevated geochemical signatures  key indicators typically associated with uranium mineralization.

with 33% of the geochemical results received to date (Table 1). Initial results are highly encouraging, with strong hydrothermal alteration and elevated geochemical signatures  key indicators typically associated with uranium mineralization. Follow up drilling commencing in January 2025 is currently anticipated with a focus on high-priority areas including D, E and Hurricane East, as well as additional first pass drilling in other untested ANT anomalies (Figure 3).

Dr. Dan Brisbin, Vice President Exploration, commented, "Our summer drill results at Larocque East are highly encouraging. The structural disruption, bleaching, desilicification and clay alteration intersected within and adjacent to the ANT velocity anomalies are all hallmarks of Athabasca uranium deposits. The significantly anomalous radioactivity and sandstone uranium geochemistry are indicative of the fertility of these alteration zones; and several kilometres of strike length along graphitic-pyritic conductor corridors east of the Hurricane Deposit provide ample exploration space for potential additional discoveries along the Hurricane trend."

The Larocque Trend is a northeast-trending regional structural feature that extends over 160 kilometres, hosting numerous anomalous uranium occurrences (Figure 2). Most notably, it is home to the Hurricane Deposit, a discovery that has significantly enhanced the prospectivity of the entire trend, further underscoring its potential for additional high-grade uranium discoveries.

Recent exploration drilling and geophysical programs have successfully defined the alteration and geochemical footprint of the Hurricane Deposit. While the mineralized footprint is relatively smallranging from 20 to 125 meters wide, 375 meters long, and 2 to 12 meters thick (Figures 4)it is hosted within a much larger zone of hydrothermal clay alteration, spanning up to 500 meters wide, 1 km long, and 200 to 300 meters thick. Within this broader alteration zone, the boundaries of the uranium mineralization are remarkably sharp and have been precisely delineated by drilling (Figure 4). Typically, uranium grades in the Hurricane Deposit decline sharply, dropping from greater than 1% to less than 20 ppm U-p over 30 metres in the both the horizontal and vertical directions. This abrupt decrease in uranium grade over such short distances presents a challenge in identifying additional high-grade zones. However, the broader, low-level geochemical signature of uranium mineralization provides a larger, more accessible target for initial drill testing, offering valuable vectors for potential follow-up drilling. This understanding has informed the design and analysis of the recent summer drill program (Figure 3), with drilling in seven of ten ANT anomalous target areas defined by 2023 and 2024 surveys. As a result, three target areas  East Hurricane, D and E  have been prioritized for future drill testing, with the details of the high priority targets reviewed in figures and tables below. Integration of new geological, mineralogical, geochemical and geophysical (ANT) information obtained in 2024 with historical information is already underway to generate new drill targets.

Table 1: Geochemical and elevated downhole results using Mount Sopris 2PGA probe received to date. 65% of the analytical are results pending.

Hole From (m) To (m) Length (m) U-partial (ppm) Gamma-2PGA (cps) Collar Orientation (Azimuth / Dip) Unconformity Depth in Hole (m) Target Area



LE24-165 240.0 305.0 65.0 10.8 254 173/-78.5 305 B

incl. 260.0 300.0 40.0 13.9 282

and 305.0 311.0 6.0 165 1,359

incl. 307.5 310.5 3.0 277 2,025

and Incl. 309.0 309.5 0.5 396 3,067

LE24-167 278.2 287.0 8.8 55.0 387 158/-77.5 276.7 B

incl. 278.2 278.7 0.5 83.1 487

and 279.1 280.0 0.9 - 1,152

LE24-168 266.2 306.2 40.0 6.4 166 173/-84 306.2 B

incl. 301.2 306.2 5.0 9.2 299

incl. 305.6 306.2 0.6 23.4 843

and 306.7 307.7 1.0 105 1,100

LE24-169 294.1 296.1 2.0 21.1 266 165/-65 294.6 A

LE24-170 336.0 338.0 2.0 18.7 126 173/-69 338 B

LE24-172 288.5 289.0 0.5 13.6 81 337/-60 289 D

LE24-173 295.8 296.3 0.5 6.9 100 157/-60 300.3 A

LE24-174 254.0 257.5 3.5 26.2 257 345/-65 257.5 D

and 305.7 306.1 0.4 649 989

incl. 305.8 306.0 0.2 - 1,303

LE24-178 263.6 263.7 0.1 pending 1,420 160/-59.6 268.3 D

and 268.0 268.5 0.5 pending 1,830

incl. 268.2 268.3 0.1 pending 2,340

LE24-180 162.1 164.6 2.5 238 1,579 090/-76.1 164.1 E

incl. 163.6 164.1 0.5 462 3,286

LE24-181 292.1 292.6 0.5 163 180 189/-85.8 292.6 B

and 292.6 294.1 1.5 279 160

incl. 292.6 293.1 0.5 555 126

and 298.4 299.6 1.2 pending 2,678

Incl. 298.7 299.0 0.3 pending 4,643

LE24-182 273.3 274.3 1.0 pending 1,344 177/-85.0 307.9 B

and 307.8 308.1 0.3 pending 1,253

LE24-183 328.7 328.9 0.2 pending 1,138 360/-53.0 281.5 D

LE24-184 298.3 298.8 0.5 pending 1,128 179.8/-80.0 292.6 B

LE24-186 346.2 346.8 0.6 pending 1,668 134.7/-59.9 344.3 B

incl. 346.5 346.6 0.1 pending 2,119

LE24-188 376.7 377.2 0.5 pending 1,324 173.8/-56.0 388.6 B

and 377.5 379.6 2.1 pending 1,847

and 382.0 382.1 0.1 pending 1,156

and 382.4 382.8 0.4 pending 1,838

LE24-191 307.7 308.4 0.7 pending 1,730 360/-60.0 255.5 G

incl. 307.8 307.9 0.1 pending 2,936

and 309.7 310.0 0.3 pending 1,507

LE24-192 199.5 201.5 2.0 495 3,410 330/-58.6 200.5 E

incl. 200.5 201.5 1.0 667 5,013

incl. 200.5 201.0 0.5 1,110 7,483

incl. 200.7 200.8 0.1 - 11,035

LE24-193c1 188.7 189.4 0.7 pending 2,117 088/-56.0 197.3 E

and 193.0 193.2 0.2 pending 1,193

and 193.5 194.0 0.5 pending 1,190



Notes: 1. Measurement of downhole total gamma cps are an indication of uranium content but may not correlate with uranium chemical assays. 2. Complete geochemical results have not been received for: LE24-173, 180, 181 and 192 listed in Table 1 3. The 30 holes drilled in the summer 2024 are numbered from LE24-164 to LE24-193c1. Where drill holes are not listed in Table 1 geochemical results may not have been received but radioactivity measured by the 2PGA gamma probe is less than 1000 cps.

Corporate Update

The Company announces that Dr. Darryl Clark, Executive Vice President of Exploration and Development, has resigned to pursue new opportunities. Dr. Clark will, however, continue to support the exploration team in his new role as Technical Advisor.

Dr. Dan Brisbin has assumed accountability for IsoEnergy's exploration activities in Canada, USA, and Australia. Dan has 45 years exploration and mine geology experience, including 20 years in the Athabasca Basin and other uranium districts. He holds a PhD in economic geology from Queen's University and is a Professional Geoscientist in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)

Quality Assurance in uranium exploration benefits from the use of down-hole gamma probes and hand- held scintillometers/spectrometers, as discrepancies between radioactivity levels and geochemistry can be readily identified.

IsoEnergy implemented its QA/QC program in 2019. CRMs are used to determine laboratory accuracy in the analysis of mineralized and unmineralized samples. Duplicate samples are used to determine analytical precision and repeatability. Blank samples are used to test for cross contamination during preparation and analysis stages. For each mineralized drill hole at least one certified reference material (CRM) blank, one CRM standard, and one duplicate sample (MDUP) is inserted in the MINZ sample series. One of two CRM standards is used: OREAS 124 (O124) if maximum grade is <1% eU 3 O 8 or BL-5 (BL5) if maximum grade is >1% eU 3 O 8 .

For unmineralized samples such as composite and spot samples, field insertions are made at the rate of 1% for blanks, 2% for duplicates and 1% CRMs. The following protocols are followed:

Sample IDs ending in 00 will be certified blanks (BLA1).

Sample IDs ending in 25 and 75 will be duplicates (DUPL) of the preceding sample.

Sample IDs ending in 50 will be CRM OREAS 120 (O120).

In addition to IsoEnergy's QA/QC program, SRC conducted an independent QA/QC program, and its laboratory repeats (REPT), non-radioactive laboratory standards (LSTD), and radioactive lab standards (BL2A, BL4A, BL5) were monitored and tracked by IsoEnergy staff.

No QA/QC samples are inserted for reflectance samples as analyses are semi-quantitative only.

Assaying and Analytical Procedures

Composite and spot samples were shipped to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories in Saskatoon for sample preparation and analysis. SRC is an independent laboratory with ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 accreditation for the relevant procedures.

The samples were then dried, crushed, and pulverized as part of the ICPMS Exploration Package (codes ICPMS1 and ICPMS2) plus boron (code Boron). Samples were analyzed for uranium content, a variety of pathfinder elements, rare earth elements, and whole rock constituents with the ICPMS Exploration Package (plus boron). The Exploration Package consists of three analyses using a combination of inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry ("ICP- OES"), and partial or total acid digestion of one aliquot of representative sample pulp per analysis. Total digestion is performed via a combination of hydrofluoric, nitric, and perchloric acids while partial digestion is completed via nitric and hydrochloric acids. In-house quality control performed by SRC consists of multiple instrumental and analytic checks using an in-house standard ASR316. Instrumental check protocols consist of two calibration blanks and two calibration standards. Analytical protocols require one blank, two QA/QC standards, and one replicate sample analysis.

Samples with radioactivity over 350 CPS measured by Radiation Solutions RS- 125 were also shipped to SRC. Sample preparation procedures are the same as for the ICPMS Exploration Package, samples were analyzed by ICP-OES only (Code ICP1) and for U 3 O 8 using hydrochloric and nitric acid digestion followed by ICP-OES finish, capable of detecting U 3 O 8 weight percent as low as 0.001%.

Selective samples to be analyzed for gold, and in some instances, platinum and palladium, by fire assay using aqua regia digestion with ICP-OES finish. Analytical protocols utilized replicate sample analysis; however, no in-house standards were used for these small batches. Boron analysis has a lower detection limit of 2 ppm and is completed via ICP-OES after the aliquot is fused in a mixture of sodium superoxide (NaO2) and NaCO3. SRC in-house quality control for boron analysis consists of a blank, QC standards and one replicate with each batch of samples.

Borehole Radiometric Probing Method

All successfully completed 2024 drillholes are radiometrically logged using calibrated downhole Mount Sopris 2PGA-1000 probe which collects reading every 10 cm along the length of the drillhole. The 2PGA-probe was sourced from Alpha Nuclear and was calibrated for the summer 2024 program by IsoEnergy geologists at Saskatchewan Research Council facility in Saskatoon in May 2024. The total count gamma readings using the 2PGA-1000 probe may not be directly or uniformly related to uranium grades of the interval measured and are only a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive minerals.

Sample Collection Methods

All drill core is systematically logged to record its geological and geotechnical attributes by IsoEnergy geologists and geological technicians. All drill core is systematically photographed and scanned for radioactivity with a handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 spectrometer. IsoEnergy geologists mark sample intervals and sample types to be collected based on geological features in the core and on radioactivity measured with the RS-125 in counts per second (CPS). Geologists and geological technicians complete the on-site collection of several types of samples from drill cores.

Composite geochemistry samples consist of roughly one-centimetre-long chips of core collected every 1.5 m to geochemically characterize unmineralized sections of sandstone and basement. Composite sample lengths are between five and ten m (typically 3 to 7 chips per sample). For five metres above and two metres below the unconformity composite sample intervals are 0.5 m long and the samples are composed of several chips of core in each interval.

Split-core "spot" (i.e., representative) samples are collected through zones of significant but unmineralized alteration and/or structure. Spot sample length varies depending on the width of the feature of interest but are generally 0.5 m in length.

Split-core mineralization ("MINZ") samples are collected through zones of elevated radioactivity exceeding 350 CPS measured via RS-125 handheld spectrometer. MINZ samples are generally 0.5 m in length. One half of the core is collected for geochemical analysis while the remaining half is returned to the core box for storage on site. Intervals covered by MINZ samples are contiguous with and do not overlap intervals covered by composite samples.

Systematic short-wave infrared ("SWIR") reflectance ("REFL") samples are collected from approximately the middle of each composite sample for analysis of clays, micas, and a suite of other generally hydrous minerals which have exploration significance. Spot reflectance samples are collected where warranted (i.e., fracture coatings). Reflectance samples are not collected through mineralized zone.

For lithogeochemistry samples, sample tags with the sample number are placed in the sample bags before they are sealed and packed in plastic pails or steel drums for shipment to the Saskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A second set of sample tags with the depth interval and sample number are stapled in the core box at the end of each sample interval. A third set of sample tag with the drill hole number, sample depth interval, and sample number is retained in the sample book for archiving. SWIR reflectance samples are tagged in a similar fashion as lithogeochemistry samples.

Geologists enter all geological, geotechnical and sample interval data into IsoEnergy's drill hole database during core logging.

Sample Shipment and Security

Drill core was delivered from the drill to IsoEnergy's core handling facilities at the Larocque Lake camp thereafter. Individual core samples were collected at the core facilities by manual splitting. They were tagged, bagged, and then packaged in five-gallon plastic buckets or steel IP-2 drums for shipment to SRC Geoanalytical labs in Saskatoon. Shipment to the laboratory was completed by IsoEnergy's expeditor, Little Rock Enterprises of La Ronge, Saskatchewan and by Points North Freight Forwarding Inc. of Points North Landing, Saskatchewan.

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Dr. Dan Brisbin, P.Geo., IsoEnergy's Vice President, Exploration, who is a "Qualified Person" (as defined in NI 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects).

For additional information regarding the Company's Larocque East Project, including its quality assurance and quality control procedures applied to the exploration work described in this news release, please see the Technical Report titled "Technical Report on the Larocque East Project, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada" dated August 4, 2022, on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About IsoEnergy Ltd.

IsoEnergy Ltd. (TSX: ISO) (OTCQX: ISENF) is a leading, globally diversified uranium company with substantial current and historical mineral resources in top uranium mining jurisdictions of Canada, the U.S., and Australia, at varying stages of development, providing near, medium, and long-term leverage to rising uranium prices. IsoEnergy is currently advancing its Larocque East Project in Canada's Athabasca Basin, which is home to the Hurricane deposit, boasting the world's highest grade Indicated uranium Mineral Resource.

IsoEnergy also holds a portfolio of permitted, past-producing conventional uranium and vanadium mines in Utah with a toll milling arrangement in place with Energy Fuels Inc. These mines are currently on stand-by, ready for rapid restart as market conditions permit, positioning IsoEnergy as a near-term uranium producer.

Neither the TSX Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, the anticipating timing for reporting of the remaining results and planned exploration activities and the anticipated results thereof. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated and will be reported when anticipated, the price of uranium, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder, alternative sources of energy and uranium prices, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals and the risk factors with respect to the Company set out in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators and available under IsoEnergy's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE IsoEnergy Ltd.

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VICTORIA, Seychelles, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is thrilled to announce its new addition to GemPool - PiggyPiggyCoin (PGC) , the pioneering workplace simulation and social game token on Telegram & TON .

KuCoin's GemPool is a unique platform that facilitates early access to promising crypto projects by enabling users to stake tokens for farming new project tokens. This innovative approach allows users to leverage their existing crypto holdings to earn rewards, enhancing their engagement with the evolving crypto market. The platform supports a variety of tokens, offering flexible staking options without lock-up periods, which ensures that users can adapt their strategies in response to market conditions. Check the GemPool tutorial here.

PiggyPiggyCoin introduces an engaging game environment where players can employ magical cards to influence gameplay, enhancing interactive dynamics within the blockchain space. The native token $PGC will be fully unlocked at TGE, offering transparent and immediate utility for users.

Beginning November 6, 2024, KuCoin's GemPool will open for users to stake USDT, KCS, and PGC, allowing them to farm PGC tokens. This strategic initiative not only promotes the new token but also illustrates the unique opportunities that GemPool offers to users wanting early access to exciting new tokens.

Following its presence on GemPool, the PGC listing is scheduled for November 12, 2024, at 12:00 UTC, with trading and withdrawals available shortly after. In addition to regular staking rewards, participants in the GemPool campaign can earn up to a 20% bonus depending on their VIP status and performance in various interactive quizzes and engagements. This is part of KuCoin's effort to enhance user engagement and reward participation.

Since its debut in August, KuCoin GemPool has launched 14 campaigns, with over 119,000 participants engaging, and over $863,000 asset locked. KuCoin GemPool is excited about this new addition and the potential it brings to the community. By fostering a robust and secure trading platform, KuCoin aims to continue being at the forefront of providing innovative solutions that cater to its diverse user base, enhancing both user experience and market growth.

About KuCoin

Launched in September 2017, KuCoin is a leading cryptocurrency exchange with its operational headquarters in Seychelles. As a user-oriented platform with a focus on inclusiveness and community engagement, KuCoin offers over 800 digital assets across Spot trading, Margin trading, P2P Fiat trading, Futures trading, and Staking to its 36 million users in more than 200 countries and regions. KuCoin ranks as one of the top 6 crypto exchanges. KuCoin was acclaimed as "One of the Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges of June 2024" by Forbes Advisor and has been included as one of the top 50 companies in the "2024 Hurun Global Unicorn List". Learn more at https://www.kucoin.com/ .

SOURCE KuCoin
NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is driving market transformation - The last mile delivery market in Brazil size is estimated to grow by USD 4.01 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 15.4% during the forecast period. Premiumization of goods and merchandise delivery is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing integration of last mile delivery models with courier, express, and parcel companies. However, operational challenges for last mile delivery companies poses a challenge.Key market players include Accenture PLC, CMA CGM SA Group, Deutsche Bahn AG, DHL Express Ltd, DSV AS, FarEye Technologies Inc., FedEx Corp., FM Logistic, Honeywell International Inc., Infosys Ltd., J B Hunt Transport Services Inc., Kuehne Nagel Management AG, Mara Labs Inc., Nippon Express Holdings Inc., Royal Mail Group Ltd., Schneider Electric SE, SNCF Group, United Parcel Service Inc., Werner Enterprises Inc., and XPO Inc..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Last Mile Delivery Market in Brazil 2024-2028

AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View your snapshot now

Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Service (B2C and B2B), End-user (E-commerce,

Food and groceries delivery, Pharmaceuticals, and

Others), and Geography (South America) Region Covered Brazil Key companies profiled Accenture PLC, CMA CGM SA Group, Deutsche

Bahn AG, DHL Express Ltd, DSV AS, FarEye

Technologies Inc., FedEx Corp., FM Logistic,

Honeywell International Inc., Infosys Ltd., J B Hunt

Transport Services Inc., Kuehne Nagel

Management AG, Mara Labs Inc., Nippon Express

Holdings Inc., Royal Mail Group Ltd., Schneider

Electric SE, SNCF Group, United Parcel Service

Inc., Werner Enterprises Inc., and XPO Inc.

Key Market Trends Fueling Growth

The last mile delivery market in Brazil is experiencing significant growth due to the integration of various models with courier, express, and parcel companies. The e-commerce sector's increasing demand for parcel delivery has led logistics vendors to adopt last mile delivery models, offering regular, same-day, and instant delivery services. While price remains a crucial factor for most online shoppers, faster delivery options are essential for time-sensitive products like medicines and groceries. This competition among e-commerce players for superior services is driving alliances with parcel and courier companies, fueling market expansion.

The last mile delivery market is currently experiencing significant growth, with a focus on improving efficiency and reducing costs. Proactive delivery methods, such as predictive analytics and real-time tracking, are trending. Drones and self-driving vehicles are also being explored for their potential in streamlining the delivery process. Urban consignment centers and micro-fulfillment centers are becoming popular solutions for dense areas. E-commerce companies are investing in technology to optimize their logistics networks and provide faster delivery times. The use of digital technologies, such as mobile apps and online tracking, is increasing to enhance the customer experience. Overall, the last mile delivery market is evolving to meet the growing demands of e-commerce and the need for faster, more efficient delivery solutions.

Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample!

Market Challenges

Last mile delivery operations face significant challenges in achieving profitability, transparency, and efficiency. While long-distance logistics costs are low, individual deliveries to multiple locations drive up last mile costs, primarily due to labor and fuel expenses. Intense competition based on pricing and delivery time compels companies to maintain low costs, yet customers demand real-time tracking, necessitating expensive technologies like RFID sensors and tracking codes. These operational challenges may hinder the growth of the last mile delivery market in Brazil .

. Last Mile Delivery: Overcoming Challenges in the Final Leg of Supply Chain Last Mile Delivery (LMD) refers to the final leg of the supply chain, from the transportation hub to the end consumer's doorstep. This critical stage faces numerous challenges that impact timely and cost-effective delivery. Technology plays a significant role in LMD. The use of advanced technologies like real-time tracking, predictive analytics, and automation helps optimize delivery routes and improve efficiency. However, challenges such as traffic congestion, lack of infrastructure, and unpredictable weather conditions can hinder on-time delivery. Another challenge is the increasing demand for same-day and two-day delivery, which puts pressure on logistics providers to optimize their operations and manage their resources effectively. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce and the growing number of online shoppers have led to an increase in parcel volume, further complicating LMD. To address these challenges, logistics providers are exploring various solutions, such as implementing dynamic routing, investing in alternative delivery methods like drones and autonomous vehicles, and collaborating with local delivery partners to expand their reach and improve service levels.

Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report

Segment Overview

This last mile delivery market in Brazil report extensively covers market segmentation by

Service

1.1 B2C

1.2 B2B

End-user

2.1 E-commerce

2.2 Food and groceries delivery

2.3 Pharmaceuticals

2.4 Others

Geography

3.1 South America

1.1 B2C- The B2C last mile delivery market in Brazil has experienced significant growth in the past five years, driven by the increase in e-commerce sales. Operators focus on enhancing residential customer experience with services like next-day and same-day delivery, real-time tracking, and easy returns. Companies utilize big data and consumer analytics to optimize delivery routes and reduce pre-last mile logistics time, resulting in faster deliveries and lower fuel usage. These strategies will continue to boost the growth of the B2C last mile delivery market in Brazil.

Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022)

Research Analysis

In the agricultural industry, last mile delivery plays a crucial role in ensuring the timely and efficient distribution of crop protection products, soil improvement solutions, and water purification systems to farmers. Diagnostic services and plant breeding innovations are also essential for optimizing crop yields and addressing sustainability considerations. The production of nanoparticles is a cutting-edge technology that enhances the efficiency of various agricultural inputs. On-demand services have revolutionized the logistics process, enabling the establishment of local hubs and distribution centers that cater to urban congestion areas. Retail stores and e-commerce platforms have integrated same-day delivery services, utilizing route optimization and delivery time segment strategies to cater to B2C consumers. UPS and other shipping companies have optimized their operations to meet the demands of the agricultural industry, ensuring brand reputation and consumer satisfaction at the front door.

Market Research Overview

The Last Mile Delivery market refers to the final leg of the supply chain, which involves transporting goods from a transportation hub or distribution center to the end consumer's doorstep. This critical stage of the delivery process requires efficient and reliable logistics solutions to ensure timely and accurate delivery. Factors influencing the Last Mile Delivery market include increasing consumer expectations for faster delivery times, the rise of e-commerce, and the growing popularity of on-demand delivery services. Technological advancements, such as real-time tracking and automation, are also transforming the Last Mile Delivery landscape. Additionally, the use of alternative delivery methods, such as drones and autonomous vehicles, is gaining traction to address the challenges of congested urban areas and reduce delivery costs. Overall, the Last Mile Delivery market is a dynamic and evolving sector that requires continuous innovation and adaptation to meet the changing needs of consumers and businesses.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Service

B2C



B2B

End-user

E-commerce



Food And Groceries Delivery



Pharmaceuticals



Others

Geography

South America



7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Firm's new partner class joins 19 counsel who were promoted to the partnership earlier in the year.

NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that 24 associates have been elected to the partnership and another 27 associates have been promoted to the role of counsel, effective January 1, 2025. The associate promotions announced today follow the election of 19 counsel to the partnership earlier this year.

"We celebrate the achievements of our newest partners and counsel and are excited to see their continued success and significant contributions to our global platform and clients. They embody our dedication to client service, culture of innovation and teamwork, and commitment to excellence. I am incredibly proud of each of them, as they play a crucial role in strengthening our firm and serving our clients," said Rich Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins.

"This is truly one of my favorite times of the year. We all look forward to this milestone when we recognize our new partners and counsel and acknowledge their accomplishments. Their promotions reflect their hard work, talent, dedication, and the qualities that exemplify our values as a firm. Their diverse expertise and leadership enhance our ability to serve our clients now and in the future," added Nathan Ajiashvili, Chair of the firm's Associates Committee. A signature Latham tradition, the Associates Committee consists of nearly equal numbers of partners and associates who collaborate on key responsibilities, including recommending promotions to partner and counsel each year.

The 24 associates elected to the partnership are:

Europe and Middle East

Stephanie Adams (London) is a member of the Antitrust & Competition Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. She advises clients on UK and global merger control, foreign investment screening, antitrust, and subsidy control. She earned her Postgraduate Diploma in EU Competition Law from King's College London in 2018, completed her LPC at BPP Law School in 2012, and earned her GDL from the College of Law in 2011.

Najla Al-Gadi (Riyadh) is a member of the Capital Markets Practice and Corporate Department. She advises issuers and investment banks on IPOs, secondary equity offerings, and other securities offerings in various industries. She also advises issuers, boards of directors, and capital markets institutions on corporate governance, public M&A, and securities law matters. She earned her LLM from Harvard Law School in 2017 and her LLB from Prince Sultan University in 2014.

Jon Fox (London) is a member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice and Corporate Department. He advises clients on private equity buyouts and disposals, growth equity investments, emerging company fundraisings, and strategic M&A. He completed his LPC at the College of Law in 2013 and earned his LLB from the University of Bristol in 2012.

Kristina Hufnagel (Munich) is a member of the Executive Compensation, Employment & Benefits Practice and Tax Department. She advises German and international clients on all aspects of employment and labor law, including pensions, benefits, and compensation. She completed the Second German State Exam at the Higher Regional Court, Nuremberg in 2016; earned her Dr. jur. from the University of Regensburg in 2014; and completed the First German State Exam at the University of Passau in 2013.

Jack Isaacs (London) is a member of the Restructuring & Special Situations Practice and Finance Department. He advises public and private companies, lenders, bondholders, banks, investment funds, company directors, and officeholders on corporate restructurings, insolvencies, and special situations. He earned his LLB from the University of Sussex in 2009.

Calvin Ng (London) is a member of the Real Estate Practice and Corporate Department. He represents sponsors, investors, and financial institutions in real estate credit transactions across product classes. He received his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney in 2009.

Gilad Zohari (Tel Aviv) is a member of the Capital Markets Practice and Corporate Department. He advises companies, investment banks, private equity firms, and strategic investors on capital markets transactions, mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, and other general corporate matters. He earned his LLM from Harvard Law School in 2016 and his LLB from Tel Aviv University Buchman School of Law in 2014.

United States

Nathan Beaton (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice and Corporate Department. He advises clients in the healthcare and life sciences sector on regulatory, transactional, litigation, and legislative matters involving the US Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory authorities. He earned his JD from the University of Chicago Law School in 2016.

Megan Behrman (New York) is a member of the Securities Litigation & Professional Liability Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. She represents individuals, emerging companies, financial institutions, and multinational corporations in shareholder derivative litigation, complex civil disputes, and US and foreign regulatory investigations and enforcement actions. She earned her JD from Harvard Law School in 2015.

Thomas Engelhardt (New York) is a member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice and Corporate Department. He represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as publicly traded and privately held businesses, in mergers and acquisitions; sales, dispositions, and carve-outs; investments; reorganizations; and general corporate matters. He earned his JD from St. John's University School of Law in 2015.

Caitlin Fitzpatrick (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the Antitrust & Competition Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. She advises clients on antitrust and competition matters, including obtaining regulatory approvals for mergers and acquisitions from US and global competition authorities, advising on government conduct investigations, and counseling clients on antitrust compliance matters. She earned her JD from Harvard Law School in 2013.

Ashley Fry (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. She represents life sciences and technology clients in high-stakes patent litigation in district courts and before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She earned her JD from Columbia Law School in 2012 and her BA in Biology from Harvard College in 2009.

Alex Grabowski (Chicago) is a member of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. He represents clients in complex patent litigation, helping to both enforce and defend against pharmaceutical and other life sciences patents covering drug products, medical devices, and chemical technologies. He earned his JD from the University of Chicago Law School in 2015.

Annelise Karreman (New York) is a member of the Project Development & Finance Practice and Finance Department. She advises sponsors, lenders, private placement investors, equity investors, and developers in complex development, financing, acquisition, and divestment transactions in the energy and infrastructure industry. She earned her LLB from the University of Western Australia in 2013.

Eric Konopka (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the Supreme Court & Appellate Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. He represents clients in federal and state appellate and trial courts and before administrative agencies, with a focus on complex tax, bankruptcy, and energy regulatory issues. He earned his JD from Columbia Law School in 2015.

Christine Mainguy (Houston) is a member of the Transactional Tax Practice and Tax Department. She advises corporations, private equity funds, partnerships, investment banks, and special purpose acquisition companies on US federal income taxation of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, Up-C structures, restructurings, and capital markets transactions. She earned her JD from the University of Texas School of Law in 2015.

Danielle McCall (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. She focuses on white collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, and complex commercial litigation, including cases involving the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, and federal anti-discrimination laws. She earned her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2016.

Bryan Monson (San Diego) is a member of the Banking Practice and Finance Department. He represents corporate borrowers, banks, and financial institutions in a range of complex financing transactions, including secured credit facilities, leveraged acquisition financings, construction financings, and sale-leasebacks, focusing on the gaming and hospitality industries. He earned his JD from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in 2015.

David Moore (Houston) is a member of the Investment Funds Practice and Corporate Department. He advises domestic and global private capital sponsors across industries and asset classes on fund formation, capital deployment, and other strategic transactions, including secondary transactions, sponsor spin-outs, and sponsor-level minority and control acquisitions. He earned his JD from the University of Texas School of Law in 2015.

Ashley Nguyen (Houston) is a member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice and Corporate Department. She advises companies, private equity firms, and venture capital investors on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and joint ventures across the energy and infrastructure industry, including in the oil and gas, petroleum chemical, renewables, and energy transition sectors. She earned her JD from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2012.

Pelin Serpin (New York) is a member of the Data & Technology Transactions Practice and Corporate Department. She advises clients on technology-related transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances; intellectual property licensing, commercialization, and transfers; technology development, research, and collaboration agreements; manufacturing, supply, and distribution arrangements; marketing and promotion agreements; and service provision agreements. She earned her JD from Columbia Law School in 2016.

Nathan Taylor (New York) is a member of the Complex Commercial Litigation Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. He represents clients in state and federal courts, as well as in US and international commercial arbitrations, and has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict. He earned his JD from Cornell Law School in 2014.

Brian Umanoff (Orange County) is a member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice and Corporate Department. He represents public and private companies in a range of matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private financing, and corporate governance. He earned his JD from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in 2016.

Hanyu (Iris) Xie (New York) is a member of the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. She advises financial institutions, fintech companies, and individual clients in regulatory inquiries and enforcement actions by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and other federal agencies as well as in securities and complex commercial litigation. She earned her JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 2015.

The 27 associates promoted to counsel are:

Asia

Harbo (Jason) Zhao (Beijing) is a member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice and Corporate Department. He represents private equity funds and corporate clients in public and private M&A, joint ventures, and general corporate matters in the Greater China market and globally. He earned his LLM from the College of William & Mary in 2015 and his LLM from Queen Mary University of London in 2011.

Europe and Middle East

Ori Assa (Madrid) is a member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice and Corporate Department. He advises clients in Spain and globally on a range of M&A and private equity transactions, as well as general corporate matters. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Law from ICADE  Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in 2012, and his LLM from Fordham University School of Law in 2012.

Ralph Drager (Frankfurt) is a member of the Banking Practice and Finance Department. He represents financial institutions, infrastructure investors, private equity funds, and corporate borrowers in a range of cross-border and domestic finance transactions, including infrastructure financings, acquisition financings, general corporate financings, and financial restructurings. He completed his Second German State Exam at the Higher Regional Court, Frankfurt in 2016, earned his LLM from the University of Stellenbosch in 2013, and completed his First German State Exam at the University of Mannheim in 2012.

Martina Eisgruber (Frankfurt) is a member of the Banking Practice and Finance Department. She advises German and international banks, investors, and companies on domestic and cross-border acquisition financings and refinancings, as well as restructurings. She earned her LLM from the University of California, Davis in 2017, completed her Second German State Exam at the Higher Regional Court, Regensburg in 2014, and completed her First German State Exam at the University of Regensburg in 2012.

Medha Marathe (London) is a member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice and Corporate Department. She advises clients on complex and strategic M&A and private equity transactions, joint ventures, carveouts, and general corporate matters. She earned her BA LLB from the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences in 2011.

Daniel Marcus (London) is a member of the Structured Finance Practice and Finance Department. He advises banks and direct lending funds on their fund financing and counsels clients across a variety of other structured finance asset classes, including trade receivables and fintech loans and receivables. He received his LLB from the London School of Economics in 2009.

Roberto Munoz (Madrid) is a member of the Complex Commercial Litigation Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. He represents clients in complex litigation before Spanish courts at all levels, as well as in arbitration proceedings. He completed the executive program in Lawyers Management at IE Law School in 2022; earned his LLM from Queen Mary University of London in 2014; and earned LLB and BBA from Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 2012.

Koushik Prasad (London) is a member of the Capital Markets Practice and Corporate Department. He represents companies and investment banks in complex capital raisings and mergers and acquisitions and advises on corporate governance, compliance with listing rules, disclosure obligations, market abuse regulations, and other regulatory requirements for public companies. He earned his BA LLB from the National Law School of India University in 2010.

Amy Watkins (London) is a member of the Transactional Tax Practice and Tax Department. She advises a range of corporate and financial clients on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, private equity deals, reorganizations, capital markets offerings, and finance transactions. She completed her LPC at Nottingham Law School in 2009 and earned her BA in Law from the University of Manchester in 2007.

Jana Zupikova (London) is a member of the Structured Finance Practice and Finance Department. She represents investment managers, arranger banks, funds, and investors in relation to structured finance transactions, including collateralized loan obligation (CLO) bespoke portfolio financings, repo and derivatives transactions, the set-up of CLO platforms, risk retention funds, and other regulatory-driven structures. She completed her LPC at Nottingham Law School in 2005 and earned a GDL from Nottingham Law School in 2004.

United States

Bradley Baglien (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the Connectivity, Privacy & Information Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. He represents public and private technology companies in complex commercial and class action litigation involving data privacy, consumer protection, and commercial disputes, as well as in regulatory investigations and inquiries by US, EU, and global government regulators and agencies. He earned his JD from the University of Chicago Law School in 2007.

Ed Comber (New York) is a member of the Structured Finance Practice and Finance Department. He represents sponsors, issuers, borrowers, banks, underwriters, placement agents, investors, lenders, funds, and other financial institutions in a variety of structured finance, securitization, and secured financing transactions. He earned his LLM from Duke University School of Law in 2017; completed his LPC at BPP Law School in 2009; and earned his GDL from BPP Law School in 2008.

Marie Greenman (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the Private Equity Finance Practice and Finance Department. She represents private equity sponsors and public and private company borrowers in domestic and cross-border secured lending and other financing transactions, including acquisition financings, cash-flow and asset-based loans, subordinated debt facilities, subscription lines of credit, and debt restructurings. She earned her JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 2014.

Shawn Hansen (Los Angeles) is a member of the Restructuring & Special Situations Practice and Finance Department. He represents clients in corporate restructurings, Chapter 11 reorganizations, distressed mergers and acquisitions, and general finance and corporate matters. He earned his JD from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 2015.

Jennifer Howes (San Diego / Bay Area) is a member of the Privacy & Cyber Practice and Corporate Department. She advises clients across industries on technology and data matters, including global data privacy, digital marketing, product development, artificial intelligence, consumer protection, incident response, and regulatory compliance. She earned her LLM from Columbia Law School in 2019 and her LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 2013.

Devon MacLaughlin (Los Angeles) is a member of the Capital Markets Practice and Corporate Department. She advises issuers and financial institutions in public and private financing transactions, including IPOs, follow-on and public equity offerings, investment-grade and high-yield debt offerings, exchange offers, tender offers, and acquisition financings. She earned her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2014.

Marysia Mullen (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the Executive Compensation, Employment & Benefits Practice and Tax Department. She advises public and private companies on a range of executive compensation and employee benefit matters, including executive employment, separation and retention arrangements, and the design and implementation of equity-based and other incentive compensation plans. She earned her JD from Syracuse University College of Law in 2013.

Hana Nah (New York) is a member of the Capital Markets Practice and Corporate Department. She represents issuers and underwriters in complex debt and equity capital markets transactions, including investment-grade and high-yield debt offerings, liability management transactions, acquisition financings, IPOs, and SEC and stock exchange-related matters. She earned her JD from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2013.

Danny Nordstrom (Bay Area) is a member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice and Corporate Department. He advises private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as public and private companies, on mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, take-privates, joint ventures, carveouts, investments, recapitalizations, and general corporate matters. He earned his JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2014.

Katherine Page (Los Angeles) is a member of the Banking Practice and Finance Department. She represents banks and private credit funds as lenders in leveraged finance and private capital transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and capital structure refinancings. She earned her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2000.

Thomas Pearce (New York) is a member of the Environment, Land & Resources Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. He represents clients in complex environmental litigation and regulatory matters, including those involving contaminated sites, emerging contaminants, and natural resource damages, and advises on environmental issues in transactions. He earned his JD from New York University School of Law in 2015.

Naomi Smith (Boston) is a member of the Emerging Companies & Growth Practice and Corporate Department. She represents startups and emerging growth companies in the technology, healthcare, and life sciences industries in transactions including venture capital financings, corporate formation, securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity investments. She earned her JD from Northeastern University School of Law in 2014.

Changsheng (Eric) Song (Century City) is a member of the Transactional Tax Practice and Tax Department. He advises financial institutions, private equity funds, and public and private companies on domestic and cross-border transactional tax matters. He received his JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 2010.

Greg Sorensen (Houston) is a member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice and Corporate Department. He advises clients on strategic energy and infrastructure transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures, with a focus on alternative energy and energy transition projects. He earned his JD from the University of Texas School of Law in 2014.

Yi Sun (San Diego) is a member of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. She represents clients in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries before district and appellate courts, including litigation under the Hatch-Waxman Act and BPCIA. She earned her JD from Harvard Law School in 2015 and her PhD in Molecular Biology from Princeton University in 2011.

Robert Yeh (San Diego) is a member of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice and Corporate Department. He advises companies and investors in the life sciences sector on intellectual property-intensive transactions, including complex licensing, collaboration, joint venture, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and private equity deals; research and collaboration agreements; and financing-related IP issues. He earned his JD from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2012 and his PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2004.

David Zucker (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice and Litigation & Trial Department. He represents clients in patent, copyright, and trade secret disputes in federal district and appellate courts and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the US International Trade Commission. He earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 2015 and his BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Florida in 2012.

About Latham & Watkins (lw.com)

Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.

Notes to Editors

1 Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company, in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office, and in Saudi Arabia through a limited liability company.

SOURCE Latham & Watkins LLP
Ukraine will have to convince Trump that its success in war with Russia to be his personal success as president  Merezhko

Ukraine will have to convince Donald Trump that its success in the fight against Russian aggression will be his personal success as president, believes the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation Oleksandr Merezhko (the Servant of the People faction).

"Such a change of power from Democrats to Republicans is a completely natural phenomenon in U.S. politics. Trump's arrival means that certain new opportunities are opening up for us... By and large, Trump wants to be a successful president, so we need to convince him that Ukraine's success in the fight against Russian aggression will also be his personal success as president," Merezhko told Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.

He said it might not be easy to find the appropriate arguments for this and that special political and diplomatic skills would be required.

"In my opinion, it will take some time for Trump and his foreign policy team to form their own vision and strategy for Ukraine. Now it is important to watch who in Trump's team will become the national security adviser, because this will show what Trump's foreign policy strategy will be," Merezhko said.

According to the head of the committee, bipartisan support from the United States remains important for Ukraine.

"The Democrats remain an influential political force. We, fortunately, have many friends among both Republicans and Democrats," the MP said.

Merezhko also said there is still time before the inauguration of the new U.S. president and the current president Joe Biden can make important decisions for Ukraine.

"By the way, do not forget that Biden remains president for several more months and now we can expect important decisions on Ukraine from him," Merezhko said.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY. YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED WHETHER YOU ACT OR DO NOT ACT.

If you purchased Super S Super Trac 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, Super S 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, CAM2 Promax 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil, and/or CAM2 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil between December 1, 2013, and the present, a Class Action Lawsuit and Settlement with the Manufacturer Defendants Could Affect Your Rights

The purpose of this notice is to inform you that a $31,900,000.00 class-action settlement (the "Proposed Manufacturer Settlement") has been reached with the two Manufacturer Defendants in a lawsuit regarding the sale and use of Super S Super Trac 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, Super S 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, CAM2 Promax 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil, and/or CAM2 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil ("303 THF Products"). The Proposed Manufacturer Settlement settles claims against Manufacturer Defendants Smitty's Supply, Inc. and CAM2 International, LLC (collectively referred to as "Manufacturer Defendants") that were or could have been asserted in a Multi-District Litigation ("MDL") lawsuit.

The Proposed Manufacturer Settlement may affect your rights. For comprehensive information about the lawsuit and settlement, including the longer notice of settlement ("Long Form Notice") and the Manufacturer Settlement Agreement, please visit www.303tractorhydraulicfluidsettlement.com or call 877-979-7115. You may also access the Court docket in this case through the Court's Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at www.mow.uscourts.gov/ or by visiting the Office of the Clerk of Court, United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 400 E. 9th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays. The MDL lawsuit is titled In Re: Smitty's/CAM2 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid Marketing, Sales Practices, and Product Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2936, Case No. 4:20-MD-02936-SRB, pending before the Honorable Judge Stephen R. Bough in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Please do not telephone the Court or the Court Clerk's Office to inquire about the Proposed Settlement or the claim process.

In the MDL lawsuit, Plaintiffs alleged (1) that the Manufacturing Defendants' 303 THF Products did not meet the equipment manufacturers' specifications or provide the performance benefits listed on the product labels, (2) that the 303 THF Products were made with inappropriate ingredients, and (3) that use of the 303 THF Products in equipment caused damage to various parts of the equipment. Because of the ingredients contained in the 303 THF Products, Plaintiffs alleged that those 303 THF Products should not be used as tractor hydraulic fluid and that the fluid should be flushed from equipment systems if one can afford the cost of doing so.

The Manufacturer Defendants have denied the allegations and claims of wrongdoing. The Court has not decided who is right or made a final ruling on Plaintiffs' claims. Plaintiffs and the Manufacturer Defendants have agreed to the Proposed Manufacturer Settlement to avoid the risk and expense of further litigation.

You may be a member of the Manufacturer Settlement Class if you purchased the above-listed 303 THF Products from December 1, 2013, to the present. If you are a member of the Manufacturer Settlement Class, you will need to submit a Manufacturer Settlement Claim Form. Please visit www.303tractorhydraulicfluidsettlement.com for a copy of the Claim Form or call 877-979-7115 to request that a Claim Form be mailed to you. The deadline to file your claim is March 1, 2025.

If you do not want to be legally bound by the Proposed Manufacturer Settlement, you must exclude yourself by March 1, 2025. If you do not exclude yourself, you will release any claims you may have against the Manufacturer Defendants, as more fully described in the Manufacturer Settlement Agreement. You may object to the Proposed Manufacturer Settlement by March 1, 2025. The Long Form Notice, available at www.303tractorhydraulicfluidsettlement.com or upon request, explains how to exclude yourself or object.

The Court will decide whether to approve the Proposed Manufacturer Settlement at the Final Fairness Hearing on March 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Class Counsel will ask the Court to approve payment of attorneys' fees of no more than 40% of the Manufacturer Settlement Class Fund minus case expenses sought to be reimbursed, as well as Settlement expenses. Class Counsel will also ask the Court to award an incentive payment between $3,000 and $4,500 for each of the class representatives. The amounts awarded for attorneys' fees, expenses, and incentive awards come out of the Manufacturer Settlement Class Fund. This date for the hearing may change; see www.303tractorhydraulicfluidsettlement.com.

BY ORDER OF U.S. DISTRICT COURT

A federal court authorized this notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

CONTACT: Tina Chiango, [email protected]

SOURCE RG/2
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LocalRestorePro, a new leader in fire, water, and mold restoration services, is excited to announce its official launch, providing residents and businesses in the Greater New York City area with reliable, expert assistance in emergency restoration. With a commitment to exceptional service, LocalRestorePro aims to be the go-to resource for anyone facing the aftermath of unexpected property damage.

With rapid response times, tailored residential and commercial restoration solutions, expert technicians, and comprehensive services, LocalRestorePro.com is dedicated to keeping you protected. Whether it's water damage, fire damage, mold remediation, or any emergency restoration, LocalRestorePro.com is here to help 24/7.

LocalRestorePro specializes in emergency restoration solutions for water damage, mold remediation, and fire damage cleanup. Their certified team of professionals is equipped to handle any disaster, ensuring prompt responses and efficient recovery processes to minimize disruption to your life or business.

Residential & Commercial Restoration Services Tailored to Your Needs

LocalRestorePro offers a full suite of restoration services, including:

Water Damage Restoration: Quick response to minimize damage and restore properties to their pre-loss condition, preventing further complications.

Quick response to minimize damage and restore properties to their pre-loss condition, preventing further complications. Mold Remediation: Thorough inspection and safe removal of mold to protect indoor air quality and health, ensuring a safe environment for your family or employees.

Thorough inspection and safe removal of mold to protect indoor air quality and health, ensuring a safe environment for your family or employees. Fire Damage Restoration: Expert cleanup and restoration following fire incidents, ensuring homes and businesses are safe, secure, and restored to their original state.

Expert cleanup and restoration following fire incidents, ensuring homes and businesses are safe, secure, and restored to their original state. Air Duct Cleaning: Comprehensive air duct cleaning services to improve indoor air quality, reduce allergens, and enhance the efficiency of your HVAC system.

Comprehensive air duct cleaning services to improve indoor air quality, reduce allergens, and enhance the efficiency of your HVAC system. Commercial Restoration: Specialized restoration services for businesses, ensuring minimal downtime and a quick return to operations following any disaster.

"At LocalRestorePro, we understand the stress and urgency that come with property damage," said Isaac Blum, CEO of LocalRestorePro. "Our mission is to provide top-notch restoration services that prioritize our clients' peace of mind and satisfaction. We're dedicated to helping our community recover quickly and efficiently."

24/7 Emergency Services Available

LocalRestorePro is proud to offer 24/7 emergency restoration services. Their dedicated team is ready to respond quickly to any crisis, ensuring that clients receive the help they need, whenever they need it. The company works closely with clients and their insurance providers to streamline the claims process, making recovery as seamless as possible, allowing you to focus on what matters most.

Helping Clients in NYC, Northern NJ, and Southwestern CT

LocalRestorePro serves New York City, including Northern New Jersey (Hoboken, Jersey City, Fort Lee, Newark) and Southwestern Connecticut (Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich, Darien), as well as NYC's boroughs and surrounding suburbs (Westchester, Rockland, Nassau, Suffolk). These areas are characterized by a mix of urban and suburban lifestyles, and the company is committed to providing restoration expertise to their rich tapestry of residents and businesses.

Get Your Free Consultation Today!

LocalRestorePro invites homeowners and businesses in the New York City area to reach out for a free consultation. Visit the LocalRestorePro website at www.localrestorepro.com

or call at (646) 603-1414 to learn more about services and how LocalRestorePro can help you restore your property after a disaster.

About LocalRestorePro

LocalRestorePro is a leading provider of restoration services specializing in fire, water, and mold damage recovery. With a focus on customer satisfaction, their certified professionals utilize advanced techniques and technologies to ensure properties are restored efficiently and effectively, providing peace of mind to clients throughout the restoration process.

For more information (press and media inquiries only), contact:

Isaac Blum, CEO

LocalRestorePro

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (646) 603-1414

Website: www.localrestorepro.com

SOURCE LocalRestorePro.com
Current MugClub members are grandfathered in and will now have full platform access that includes ad-free video viewing, exclusive content, a verified badge, and other benefits.

New Subscribers will have the option to subscribe monthly for $9.99 or annually for $99 .

Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle are confirmed to be a part of Rumble Premium.

This merge between MugClub and Rumble Premium ensures continued support for the 'Louder with Crowder' mission as well as increased quality services for MugClubbers.

For more information on Rumble Premium, access https://rumble.com/premium.

DALLAS, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Louder with Crowder announced today that its member-only subscription service, MugClub, will join forces with Rumble Premium, as both organizations look to provide the highest quality services for their loyal audiences going into 2025.

Current MugClubbers will be granted full access to Rumble Premium features -- which includes ad-free video viewing, exclusive content, a verified badge, among other benefits.

Subscribers can opt-in monthly for $9.99 or annually for $99, saving 17% compared to the monthly fee.

Louder with Crowder is excited about its continued partnership with Rumble to deliver the most unique and high-quality content to loyal subscribers.

Rumble has been a consistent defender of free speech, and the company's success is proof that the American people support platforms that unwaveringly stand by the First Amendment.

This merge between MugClub and Rumble Premium ensures continued support for the 'Louder with Crowder' mission as well as increased quality services for MugClubbers.

Louder with Crowder CEO, Gerald Morgan Jr., expressed his enthusiasm about this announcement.

"From the beginning, Rumble and 'Louder with Crowder' wanted to create a place where you can pay one subscription fee and support all of the creators you love. With the launch of Rumble Premium, we are finally making that happen. Think Netflix combining with YouTube, this is going to be huge!"

For more information on Rumble Premium, access https://rumble.com/premium.

Louder with Crowder and Rumble will continue to share updates on this growing partnership as more benefits and features are added to enhance the subscriber experience.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Louder With Crowder
TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Mandalay Resources Corporation ("Mandalay" or the "Company") (TSX: MND) (OTCQB: MNDJF) is pleased to announce strong financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. The Company reported a robust 35% year-over-year increase in revenue to $55.3 million, along with meaningful improvements in net income and operating cash flow.

The Company's condensed and consolidated interim financial result for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, together with its Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the corresponding period, can be accessed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.mandalayresources.com. All currency references in this press release are in U.S. dollars except as otherwise indicated.

Third Quarter 2024 Highlights:

Strengthened Balance Sheet: Cash balance of $54.7 million as at September 30, 2024 , with no debt;

Cash balance of as at , with no debt; Cash Flow: Generated $20.6 million and $12.9 million in cash flow from operating activities and free cash flow 1 , respectively;

Generated and in cash flow from operating activities and free cash flow , respectively; Revenue Growth: Consolidated revenue up by 35% as compared to Q3 2023, at $55.3 million ; Bjorkdal recorded its second highest quarterly revenue of $28.0 million ; Costerfield generated $27.3 million in quarterly revenue;

Consolidated revenue up by 35% as compared to Q3 2023, at ; Cost: Consolidated cash operating cost 1 of $1,322 and all-in sustaining cost 1 of $1,790 per ounce of saleable gold equivalent production; and

Consolidated cash operating cost of and all-in sustaining cost of per ounce of saleable gold equivalent production; and Profitability: Consolidated net income was $5.4 million ( $0.06 or C$0.08 per share), compared to $4.1 million ( $0.04 or C$0.06 per share) in Q3 2023.

Frazer Bourchier, President, and CEO commented:

"Mandalay's Q3 2024 results demonstrate our commitment to a disciplined financial strategy across both operations. This approach has enabled us to continue to generate cash flow and to further fortify our balance sheet. Q3 was always anticipated to be the lowest production quarter of the year, with Bjorkdal facing additional weather challenges and Costerfield experiencing grade variability. At Bjorkdal, will continue focusing on higher-margin ounces and operational efficiency, while Costerfield's mining schedule is set to shift back towards higher-grade areas in the last quarter of this year. Therefore, as we transition into Q4, we anticipate a return to first-half production run-rate levels, and still expect to achieve our full-year guidance of 90,000 to 100,000 ounces."

Hashim Ahmed, CFO commented:

"Revenue growth and free cash flow generation reflect our cost controls and prudent capital management while benefitting from high metal prices. As of the end of Q3 our cash balance was a healthy $54.7 million  more than doubling since December 2023  and we have fully repaid the $20 million outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility, strengthening our liquidity and financial flexibility. This position supports Mandalay's pursuit of strategic growth opportunities while balancing operational investments.

"Our cash operating cost per ounce rose to $1,322 year-over-year, driven by higher processing expenses and temporarily lower production at both sites. These increased processing costs were primarily related to tailings and water management at Costerfield, and an increased percentage of lower grade surface stockpile throughput to maximize feed at Bjorkdal. Our all-in-sustaining cost also increased to $1,790 per ounce. We remain focused on implementing cost control measures in the coming quarters."

Mr. Bouchier concluded, "Our focus on execution and cost management underpins our broader growth objectives. We are committed to maximizing shareholder value through careful capital allocation, operational rigor, and enhancing our asset base to deliver sustainable, long-term returns for our stakeholders."

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Summary

The following table summarizes the Company's consolidated financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

($ thousands, except where indicated) Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 Revenue 55,289 40,907 173,854 122,756 Cost of sales 25,911 24,245 78,104 80,087 Adjusted EBITDA (1) 27,243 15,422 89,840 37,257 Adjusted net income (1) 10,557 3,654 39,511 943 Consolidated net income 5,352 4,068 27,097 5,146 Capital expenditure 9,004 10,018 30,940 32,889 Total assets 323,728 273,548 323,728 273,548 Total liabilities 96,242 91,669 96,242 91,669 Adjusted net income (loss) per share (1) 0.11 0.04 0.42 0.01 Consolidated net income per share 0.06 0.04 0.29 0.06

1. Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share are non-GAAP performance measures with no standard definition under IFRS. Refer to "Non-GAAP Performance Measures" at the end of this press release for further information.

In Q3 2024, Mandalay generated consolidated revenue of $55.3 million, 35% higher than $40.9 million in the third quarter of 2023. This was mainly due to higher average realized metal prices: $2,557 per ounce for gold and $25,821 per tonne for antimony in Q3 2024 compared to $1,993 per ounce for gold and $12,069 per tonne for antimony in Q3 2023.

Mandalay generated adjusted EBITDA of $27.2 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $15.4 million in the third quarter of 2023. The increase in adjusted EBITDA was mainly due to higher revenue in the current quarter. Adjusted net income was $10.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, which excludes a $5.2 million loss on financial instruments, compared to an adjusted net income of $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2023.

Consolidated net income was $5.4 million for the third quarter of 2024, versus $4.1 million in the third quarter of 2023. Mandalay ended the third quarter of 2024 with $54.7 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Third Quarter Operational Summary

The table below summarizes the Company's production, capital expenditures and operational unit costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:



Three months ended Nine months ended September 30, September 30,

2024 2023 2024 2023 Costerfield







Gold produced (oz.) 8,218 8,377 31,221 23,041 Antimony produced (t) 252 395 1,015 1,456 Gold equivalent produced (oz.) 10,697 10,808 39,036 32,278 Cash operating cost (1) per oz. gold eq. produced ($) 1,174 975 911 942 All-in sustaining cost (1) per oz. gold eq. produced ($) 1,424 1,265 1,168 1,215 Capital development ($'000) 582 943 2,459 2,791 Property, plant and equipment purchases ($'000) 690 1,030 2,834 2,627 Capitalized exploration ($'000) 2,433 1,962 6,662 6,081 Bjorkdal







Gold produced (oz.) 9,626 11,224 32,595 30,590 Cash operating cost (1) per oz. gold produced ($) 1,487 1,189 1,356 1,375 All-in sustaining cost (1) per oz. gold produced ($) 1,967 1,474 1,776 1,781 Capital development ($'000) 1,941 1,959 6,732 6,529 Property, plant and equipment purchases ($'000) 1,903 3,195 4,607 11,522 Capitalized exploration ($'000) 1,455 929 3,066 3,273 Consolidated







Gold equivalent produced (oz.) 20,323 22,032 71,631 62,868 Cash operating cost (1) per oz. gold eq. produced ($) 1,322 1,084 1,113 1,153 All-in sustaining cost (1) per oz. gold eq. produced ($) 1,790 1,436 1,530 1,583 Capital development ($'000) 2,523 2,902 9,191 9,320 Property, plant and equipment purchases ($'000) (2) 2,593 4,225 11,965 14,149 Capitalized exploration ($'000) 3,888 2,891 9,784 9,420

1. Cash operating cost and all-in sustaining cost are non-GAAP performance measures with no standard definition under IFRS. Refer to "Non-GAAP Performance Measures" at the end of this press release for further information. 2. includes equipment purchased for reclamation activities at non-operating site.

Consolidated cash operating cost per ounce of gold equivalent produced increased by 22% to $1,322 per ounce in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $1,084 in the third quarter of 2023 due to the 8% decrease of gold equivalent production in Q3 2024 with 20,323 ounces produced compared to 22,032 ounces in Q3 2023, combined with a 13% increase in cash costs mainly due to increased costs for tailings and water management at Costerfield and increased process plant throughput (tonnage) at Bjorkdal.

All-in sustaining costs increased by 25% to $1,790 per ounce of gold equivalent produced in Q3 2024, compared to $1,436 in Q3 2023, mainly due to the 22% increase in cash operating costs per ounce of gold equivalent produced. Consolidated general and administrative costs were $0.9 million higher compared to the third quarter of 2023 mainly due to higher business development costs.

Costerfield gold-antimony mine, Victoria, Australia

During Q3 2024, Costerfield produced 8,218 ounces of gold compared to 8,377 ounces in Q3 2023, a decrease of 2% or 159 ounces. The decrease in ounces produced was a result of a decrease in the average milled gold head grade from 9.56 g/t in Q3 2023 to 8.09 g/t in Q3 2024. Production in Q3 2024 was affected by some unplanned overbreak in Shepherd stopes. Antimony production during Q3 2024 was 252 tonnes, a 36% decrease from the 395 tonnes produced in Q3 2023. This was mainly due to a decrease in the average milled antimony head grade from 2.18% in Q3 2023 to 1.33% in Q3 2024 due to an increased mill feed of ore from Shepherd which carries less antimony than ore from Youle ore body.

The cash operating cost per ounce of gold equivalent produced increased by 20% to $1,174 per ounce in Q3 2024 compared to $975 per ounce in Q3 2023, and all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold equivalent produced increased by 13% to $1,424 per ounce in Q3 2024 compared to $1,265 per ounce in Q3 2023, both mainly as a result of a 19% increase in cash operating costs compared to Q3 2023, mainly due to increased processing costs due to higher costs for tailings and water management and increased mining costs due to higher costs for maintenance including unplanned corrective machine maintenance and increased costs for parts. Costerfield generated $27.3 million in revenue and $17.5 million in adjusted EBITDA, which resulted in net income of $8.5 million.

Bjorkdal gold mine, Skelleftea, Sweden

During Q3 2024, Bjorkdal produced 9,626 ounces of gold compared to 11,224 ounces in Q3 2023, a decrease of 14% or 1,598 ounces. The reduction at Bjorkdal was primarily caused by lower mined tonnes due to inclement weather causing flooding in the Main (Eastern) Zone thereby temporarily restricting access to this area. Consequently, the site had to pivot to, and rely on, lower-grade mining areas. With reduced mining flexibility affecting mined tonnes, there was also an increase in low grade surface stockpile feed to maximize plant feed leading to lower production ounces. The gold mill head grade is expected to return to levels of the first half of 2024, as access returns to the Main (Eastern) extension and more material is mined from that more consistent and reliable underground area.

The cash operating cost per ounce produced for Q3 2024 increased by 25% to $1,487 per ounce compared to $1,189 per ounce in Q3 2023 and all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold equivalent produced increased by 33% to $1,967 per ounce in Q3 2024 compared to $1,474 per ounce in Q3 2023, both mainly as a result of the 14% decreased gold production combined with a 7% increase in cash operating costs mainly due to higher throughput post the commissioning of the mill conversion capital investment project in Q1 2024 resulting in increased consumption of grinding media and other mill consumables. Bjorkdal operations also incurred increased consultant costs due to the engagement of a mining optimization group with a focus on improving the utilization of existing technology and systems at the mine going forward into 2025 and beyond. The external group of subject matter experts advised the operations on mine debottlenecking, cost optimization and productivity improvements. Bjorkdal generated $28.0 million in revenue and $11.8 million in adjusted EBITDA, which resulted in net income of $4.7 million.

Conference Call

A conference call with Frazer Bourchier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mandalay, for investors and analysts on November 7, 2024, at 10:00 AM (Toronto time). Interested investors may join by using the following dial-in number:

Participant Number (North America toll free): 1-888-510-2154 Conference ID: 13145

Alternatively, please register for the webcast here. A replay of the conference call will be available until 11:59 PM (Toronto time), November 14, 2024, and can be accessed using the following dial-in numbers:

Encore Number (Canada Toll free): 1-888-660-6345 Encore Replay Code: 13145 #

About Mandalay Resources Corporation

Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with producing assets in Australia (Costerfield gold-antimony mine) and Sweden (Bjorkdal gold mine). The Company is focused on growing its production and reducing costs to generate significant positive cashflow. Mandalay is committed to operating safely and in an environmentally responsible manner, while developing a high level of community and employee engagement.

Mandalay's mission is to create shareholder value through the profitable operation and regional exploration programs, at both its Costerfield and Bjorkdal mines. Currently, the Company's main objectives are to continue mining the high-grade Youle and Shepherd veins at Costerfield, and to extend Mineral Reserves. At Bjorkdal, the Company will aim to increase production from the Eastern Extension area and other higher-grade areas in the coming years, in order to maximize profit margins from the mine.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the Company's anticipated performance in 2024. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, changes in commodity prices and general market and economic conditions. The factors identified above are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Mandalay. A description of additional risks that could result in actual results and developments differing from those contemplated by forward-looking statements in this news release can be found under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mandalay's annual information form dated March 31, 2024, a copy of which is available under Mandalay's profile at www.sedar.com. In addition, there can be no assurance that any inferred resources that are discovered as a result of additional drilling will ever be upgraded to proven or probable reserves. Although Mandalay has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Performance Measures

This news release may contain references to adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, free cash flow, cash operating cost per ounce of gold equivalent produced and all-in sustaining cost all of which are non-GAAP performance measures and do not have standardized meanings under IFRS. Therefore, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

Management uses adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow as measures of operating performance to assist in assessing the Company's ability to generate liquidity through operating cash flow to fund future working capital needs and to fund future capital expenditures, as well as to assist in comparing financial performance from period to period on a consistent basis. Management uses adjusted net income in order to facilitate an understanding of the Company's financial performance prior to the impact of non-recurring or special items. The Company believes that these measures are used by and are useful to investors and other users of the Company's financial statements in evaluating the Company's operating and cash performance because they allow for analysis of its financial results without regard to special, non-cash and other non-core items, which can vary substantially from company to company and over different periods.

The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as income from mine operations, net of administration costs, and before interest, taxes, non-cash charges/(income), intercompany charges and finance costs. The Company defines adjusted net income as net income before special items. Special items are items of income and expense that are presented separately due to their nature and, in some cases, expected infrequency of the events giving rise to them. A reconciliation between adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income, on the one hand, and consolidated net income, on the other hand, is included in the MD&A.

The Company defines free cash flow as a measure of the Company's ability to generate and manage liquidity. It is calculated starting with the net cash flows from operating activities (as per IFRS) and then subtracting capital expenditures and lease payments. Refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" section of the MD&A for a reconciliation between free cash flow and net cash flows from operating activities.

For Costerfield, equivalent gold ounces produced is calculated by adding to gold ounces produced, the antimony tonnes produced times the average antimony price in the period divided by the average gold price in the period. The total cash operating cost associated with the production of these equivalent ounces produced in the period is then divided by the equivalent gold ounces produced to yield the cash operating cost per equivalent ounce produced. The cash operating cost excludes royalty expenses. Site all-in sustaining costs include total cash operating costs, sustaining mining capital, royalty expense, accretion of reclamation provision and tailings dam amortization. Sustaining capital reflects the capital required to maintain each site's current level of operations. The site's all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold equivalent in a period equals the all-in sustaining cost divided by the equivalent gold ounces produced in the period.

For Bjorkdal, the total cash operating cost associated with the production of gold ounces produced in the period is then divided by the gold ounces produced to yield the cash operating cost per gold ounce produced. The cash operating cost excludes royalty expenses. Site all-in sustaining costs include total cash operating costs, sustaining mining capital, royalty expense, accretion of reclamation provision and tailings dam amortization. Sustaining capital reflects the capital required to maintain each site's current level of operations. The site's all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold equivalent in a period equals the all-in sustaining cost divided by the equivalent gold ounces produced in the period.

For the Company as a whole, cash operating cost per gold equivalent ounce is calculated by summing the gold equivalent ounces produced by each site and dividing the total by the sum of cash operating costs at the sites. Consolidated cash operating cost excludes royalty and corporate level general and administrative expenses. This definition was updated in the third quarter of 2020 to exclude corporate general and administrative expenses to better align with industry standard. All-in sustaining cost per ounce gold equivalent in the period equals the sum of cash operating costs associated with the production of gold equivalent ounces at all operating sites in the period plus corporate overhead expense in the period plus sustaining mining capital, royalty expense, accretion of reclamation provision and tailings dam amortization, divided by the total gold equivalent ounces produced in the period. A reconciliation between cost of sales and cash operating costs, and also cash operating cost to all-in sustaining costs are included in the MD&A.

SOURCE Mandalay Resources Corporation
C$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife's Board of Directors today announced quarterly shareholders' dividends on the following non-cumulative preferred shares of Manulife Financial Corporation, payable on or after December 19, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2024:

Class A Shares Series 2 - $0.29063 per share

per share Class A Shares Series 3 - $0.28125 per share

per share Class 1 Shares Series 3 - $0.14675 per share

per share Class 1 Shares Series 4 - $0.353590 per share

per share Class 1 Shares Series 9 - $0.373625 per share

per share Class 1 Shares Series 11 - $0.384938 per share

per share Class 1 Shares Series 13 - $0.396875 per share

per share Class 1 Shares Series 15 - $0.360938 per share

per share Class 1 Shares Series 17 - $0.2375 per share

per share Class 1 Shares Series 19 - $0.229688 per share

per share Class 1 Shares Series 25 - $0.371375 per share

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2023, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 98,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 35 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' in Hong Kong.



Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com .

SOURCE The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company
LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- European broker Mind Money is participating in one of the industry's largest events, SuperInvestor , held in Monaco from November 58, 2024. This high-profile meeting brings together top financial institutions and investors from around the world, including companies like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Generali, and other renowned names.

As a sponsor this year, Mind Money is actively engaging in panel discussions and networking sessions with industry leaders. The company's CEO, Julia Khandoshko, is a featured speaker on the panel "Private Wealth: the Next Frontier for Private Markets," where she will discuss future opportunities in wealth management and introduce an innovative approach that integrates climate data into investment strategies.

"As a global, licensed broker, it is crucial for us to stay aligned with the global investment community," says Julia. "We aim to not only contribute to the industry dialogue but also to bring fresh perspectives. Engaging with new trends and ideas helps us deliver the best to our clients."

Julia is also participating in a series of interviews at SuperInvestor, sharing the particularities of the company's trading strategies and discussing the role of climate models in investment.

Igor Isaev, Head of the company's Analytics Center, highlights the importance of scientific approaches and data-driven analysis. "Our team, in collaboration with researchers and climate experts from Cambridge and Oxford Universities, has achieved remarkable results this year," he noted. "Mind Money's climate models helped the company to become one of the top performers in Bloomberg's rankings this year. By integrating climate forecasts and weather trends into our financial analysis, we are able to deliver the best results."

Mind Money's active participation in this event further cements its reputation as a leading financial institution dedicated to advancing the field with innovative strategies and bringing scientific rigor to investment practices.

SOURCE Mind Money
NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coils market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.41 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.68% during the forecast period. Rising demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures is driving market growth, with a trend towards availability of custom mri coils. However, high cost of MRI coils poses a challenge.Key market players include Abbott Laboratories, Agilent Technologies Inc., AURORA HEALTHCARE US Corp., Bruker Corp., Canon Inc., Esaote Spa, General Electric Co., Hitachi Ltd., Hologic Inc., Kaneka Corp., Koninklijke Philips N.V., MicroPort Scientific Corp., MR Instruments Inc., RAPID MR International LLC, ScanMed LLC, Shimadzu Corp., Siemens Healthineers AG, Terumo Medical Corp., Time Medical Holding Co Ltd, and Wallby Medical LLC.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coils market 2024-2028

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Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Type (Adult and Pediatric), End-user (Hospitals, Diagnostic imaging centers, and Ambulatory care centers), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)) Region Covered North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Key companies profiled Abbott Laboratories, Agilent Technologies Inc., AURORA HEALTHCARE US Corp., Bruker Corp., Canon Inc., Esaote Spa, General Electric Co., Hitachi Ltd., Hologic Inc., Kaneka Corp., Koninklijke Philips N.V., MicroPort Scientific Corp., MR Instruments Inc., RAPID MR International LLC, ScanMed LLC, Shimadzu Corp., Siemens Healthineers AG, Terumo Medical Corp., Time Medical Holding Co Ltd, and Wallby Medical LLC

Key Market Trends Fueling Growth

Custom MRI coils are manufactured using advanced technologies like computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing to meet specific patient requirements. These custom coils enhance image quality, leading to improved disease diagnosis. Manufacturers, such as RAPID MR International and Tesla Engineering, focus on producing custom RF coils for clinical studies and research applications. For instance, RAPID MR offers economical and efficient RF coils, while Tesla Engineering provides a range of standard and research gradient coils. Researchers at the University of Washington have developed custom RF coils for high-resolution imaging of various body parts, leading to clinical trials for both adults and pediatrics. The availability of customized MRI coils is a key growth driver for the global MRI coils market.

The MRI Coils market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for advanced diagnostic imaging procedures. New product development, such as Gradient Coils, is a key trend in this industry. These coils enhance image quality and provide faster scan times, leading to enhanced diagnostic capabilities. The Neuroscience Foundation and the American Cancer Society are driving the market, particularly in neuroimaging for brain and spine tumors. Diagnostic imaging centers and hospitals and clinics are major consumers of MRI Coils. Companies like Canon Medical are investing in new RF coil technology, including Volume Coils and Surface Coils, for body oncology and neuro and spine applications. The use of tonometer devices ensures accurate RF coil positioning, improving patient volumes and MRI scan efficiency. The market is also expanding to include portable imaging modalities for road accidents and geriatric populations. With a focus on signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and fast scan times, MRI Coils are essential for medical imaging procedures and technology in cardiovascular diseases, chronic diseases, and neurological disorders. RF coils are the heart of MRI machines, transmitting and receiving RF signals to produce high-quality images.

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Market Challenges

The high cost of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) coils significantly impacts the affordability of diagnostic tests, limiting access for many patients. MRI coil expenses contribute to the overall diagnostic costs, which include radiologists' fees, equipment fees, hospital fees, and inpatient imaging fees. Coil costs vary based on configuration and channel numbers. For instance, 16- to 32-channel coils cost between USD136,667 and USD93,750 , while 4- to 8-channel coils range from USD12,000 to USD80,000 . Notable manufacturers like General Electric offer 3T 6-Channel Carotid Coil for USD40,000 , 32-Channel Head Coil for USD93,750 , Invivo 8-Channel Precision Wrist Array Coil for USD42,000 , MEDRAD 8-Channel Coil Interface Device 1.5T Systems for USD27,000 , Disposable Endorectal Coil for Signa 1.5T - Prostate for USD1,225 , 1.5T HDx Breast Coil for USD65,500 , 3.0T Mayo Clinic Small Extremity Wrist Coil for USD28,125 , and 1.5T Pediatric Head/Spine Array Coil for USD48,000 . These substantial costs make MRI coils inaccessible for hospitals and primary healthcare centers, particularly in low-income countries like Central African Republic and Ethiopia . Consequently, the high cost of MRI coils is anticipated to negatively affect the market's growth during the forecast period.

and , while 4- to 8-channel coils range from to . Notable manufacturers like General Electric offer 3T 6-Channel Carotid Coil for , 32-Channel Head Coil for , Invivo 8-Channel Precision Wrist Array Coil for , MEDRAD 8-Channel Coil Interface Device 1.5T Systems for , Disposable Endorectal Coil for Signa 1.5T - Prostate for , 1.5T HDx Breast Coil for , 3.0T Mayo Clinic Small Extremity Wrist Coil for , and 1.5T Pediatric Head/Spine Array Coil for . These substantial costs make MRI coils inaccessible for hospitals and primary healthcare centers, particularly in low-income countries like and . Consequently, the high cost of MRI coils is anticipated to negatively affect the market's growth during the forecast period. The MRI coils market faces several challenges in the diagnostic imaging industry. Gradient coils, a crucial component of MRI machines, require constant improvement for better image quality and faster scan times. Diagnostic imaging centers seek new product development to cater to specific needs, such as pediatric MRI and neuroscience foundation research. Patient volumes continue to rise, driving the demand for enhanced imaging diagnostics and improved signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). MRI coil design, including volume and surface coils, plays a significant role in addressing these challenges. Canon Medical, among other key players, invests in RF coils for body oncology, neuro and spine applications. Road accidents and chronic diseases, like brain and spine tumors, increase the need for MRI scans, driving market growth. The American Cancer Society and other organizations of early detection, further boosting demand. Medical equipment manufacturers focus on RF coils to improve MRI technology for cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and geriatric population. CT scans remain competitors, but portable imaging modalities offer potential advantages. Tonometer devices and multichannel/phased-array coils contribute to better diagnostic accuracy. RF signals and MRI machines continue to evolve, ensuring the MRI coils market remains dynamic and innovative.

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Segment Overview

This magnetic resonance imaging (mri) coils market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Type

1.1 Adult

1.2 Pediatric

End-user

2.1 Hospitals

2.2 Diagnostic imaging centers

2.3 Ambulatory care centers

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 Asia

3.4 Rest of World (ROW)

1.1 Adult- MRI coils for adults come in various forms, including integrated coils with homogeneous distribution of radiofrequency signals for high-quality imaging of body extremities. These coils operate on phased array and quadrature technologies, offering removable anterior neck and head assemblies for patient comfort. Available in 16 to 32-channel and 4 to 8-channel coils, notable brands include Philips' Wrist array coil, DxTx Medical's Prostate eCoil MRI Endorectal Coil, Esaote's 4-Channel Head Coil, and General Electric's AIR Technology Coils. Both rigid and flexible MRI coils cater to the adult market, with rigid coils offering high image quality but increased patient discomfort and cost, while flexible coils provide better patient fit and comfort with increased image resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. General Electric's Contour soft, lightweight, and flexible Tim 4G coil is a popular example. The adult segment's preference for flexible MRI coils will fuel the global magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coils market's growth.

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Research Analysis

MRI radiofrequency (RF) coils are essential components of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, responsible for transmitting and receiving RF signals to produce high-quality images. These coils come in various designs, including multichannel and phased-array coils, which enhance image quality and provide better coverage for chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders. Medical imaging services and diagnostic imaging centers utilize MRI machines to examine patients, with a growing focus on portable imaging modalities for enhanced accessibility. The geriatric population benefits significantly from MRI scans due to the prevalence of chronic diseases. New product development in RF coils focuses on improving image quality, reducing scan times, and increasing patient comfort. Gradient coils, an essential part of MRI machines, help produce clearer images by controlling the magnetic field strength. The Neuroscience Foundation supports research and development in MRI technology to advance neuroscience and improve patient care.

Market Research Overview

MRI radiofrequency coils, also known as RF coils, are essential components of MRI machines that transmit and receive RF signals to produce detailed images of the body. Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders, are common indications for MRI scans. MRI coil design plays a crucial role in achieving high image quality, with multichannel coils and phased-array coils being popular choices. Medical imaging services, including diagnostic imaging centers and hospitals and clinics, utilize MRI machines for various diagnostic imaging procedures. New product development in MRI technology includes portable imaging modalities and tonometer devices for enhanced imaging diagnostics. The geriatric population and pediatric MRI are also growing areas of focus. Fast scan times and improved signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) are key considerations for MRI Coils in medical imaging procedures. The American Cancer Society and Neuroscience Foundation are among the organizations that support the use of MRI technology for the early detection and diagnosis of conditions like brain tumors and spine tumors. Canon Medical, among other key players, offers a range of MRI coils, including volume coils and surface coils, for body oncology and neuro and spine applications. Road accidents and other trauma cases are also common indications for MRI scans. Gradient coils are another essential component of MRI machines, working in conjunction with RF coils to produce high-resolution images. CT scans are another diagnostic imaging modality, but MRI offers superior soft tissue contrast and is often preferred for certain applications. MRI machines and coils are considered medical equipment and are subject to regulatory approval and quality control measures.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Type

Adult



Pediatric

End-user

Hospitals



Diagnostic Imaging Centers



Ambulatory Care Centers

Geography

North America



Europe



Asia



Rest Of World (ROW)

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - New Found Gold Corp. ("New Found" or the "Company") (TSXV: NFG) (NYSE-A: NFGC) is pleased to announce initiation of work towards a maiden resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") for the Queensway Project ("Queensway" or the "Project"), which comprises a 1,756 km2 area, accessible via the Trans-Canada Highway, 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Highlights:

The Company has engaged SLR Consulting (" SLR ") to deliver a maiden resource estimate and PEA, with an anticipated completion date of Q2 2025. The appointment of SLR to deliver a maiden resource and PEA is an important milestone for the Project as it will provide the first assessment of mineral inventory and project economics, including cash flows, NPV, IRR, and payback period.

SLR, including its Mining Advisory Group (formerly Roscoe Postle Associates Inc.), is a leader in Mineral Resource estimation and mining project advisory with extensive experience in estimating gold mineralized systems with recent involvement with projects on the island of Newfoundland , including producing mineral resource estimates, mining studies and National Instrument 43-101 technical reports. SLR's mining advisory services include geological, mining, metallurgical, tailings, and environmental consulting.

, including producing mineral resource estimates, mining studies and National Instrument 43-101 technical reports. SLR's mining advisory services include geological, mining, metallurgical, tailings, and environmental consulting. The goals of the resource estimate and PEA are to identify possible project development scenarios and demonstrate the financial potential for the Project. In addition, the PEA will define work programs that will allow the Company to advance the Project.

Ron Hampton, Chief Development Officer of New Found, stated: "We are excited to initiate this study work that will be invaluable to defining our strategic development pathway. We believe the resource estimate and PEA is an important step in understanding the value potential of the Project and will provide the Company with a clear path forward to continue advancing Queensway."

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Greg Matheson, P. Geo., Chief Operating Officer, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Matheson consents to the publication of this press release dated November 6, 2024, by New Found. Mr. Matheson certifies that this press release fairly and accurately represents the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this press release.

About New Found Gold Corp.

New Found holds a 100% interest in the Queensway Project, located 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, and just 18km from Gander International Airport. The project is intersected by the Trans-Canada Highway and has logging roads crosscutting the project, high voltage electric power lines running through the project area, and easy access to a highly skilled workforce. The Company is currently undertaking a 650,000m drill program at Queensway and is well funded for this program with cash and marketable securities of approximately $35 million as of November 2024.

Please see the Company's website at www.newfoundgold.ca and the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Contact

To contact the Company, please visit the Company's website, www.newfoundgold.ca and make your request through our investor inquiry form. Our management has a pledge to be in touch with any investor inquiries within 24 hours.

New Found Gold Corp.

Per: "Collin Kettell"

Collin Kettell, Chief Executive Officer

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 (845) 535-1486

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to the maiden resource estimate and PEA for the Project; the goals and benefits of the resource estimate and PEA; the timing of the resource estimate and PEA; exploration, drilling and mineralization on the Project; the extent of mineralization and the discovery of zones of high-grade gold mineralization; plans for future exploration and drilling and the timing of same; the merits of the Queensway project; and funding of the drilling program. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "interpreted", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "suggests", "indicate", "often", "target", "future", "likely", "pending", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", "possibly", "preliminary", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with the Company's ability to complete the maiden resource estimate and PEA, the results and timing of the maiden mineral resource estimate and PEA, possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration, drilling and assay results, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

SOURCE New Found Gold Corp.
JUNO BEACH, Fla., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced that members of the senior management team will participate in the EEI Financial Conference from Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, through Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, and participate in various investor meetings throughout November and December. They plan to discuss, among other things, long-term growth-rate expectations for NextEra Energy, reaffirming the company's previously announced adjusted earnings per share expectations ranges of $3.23 to $3.43 for 2024, $3.45 to $3.70 for 2025, $3.63 to $4.00 for 2026 and $3.85 to $4.32 for 2027.

Investors and other interested parties can access a copy of the presentation materials at www.NextEraEnergy.com/investors.

NextEra Energy, Inc.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. NextEra Energy owns Florida Power & Light Company, which is America's largest electric utility that sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to approximately 5.9 million customer accounts, or more than 12 million people across Florida. NextEra Energy also owns a competitive clean energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from seven commercial nuclear power units in Florida, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. A Fortune 200 company, NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

Cautionary Statements and Risk Factors That May Affect Future Results for NextEra Energy, Inc.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but instead represent the current expectations of NextEra Energy, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy) regarding future operating results and other future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of NextEra Energy's control. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements concerning adjusted earnings per share expectations. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "will," "may result," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "seek," "potential," "projection," "forecast," "predict," "goals," "target," "outlook," "should," "would" or similar words or expressions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. The future results of NextEra Energy and its business and financial condition are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, or may require it to limit or eliminate certain operations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this news release and the following: effects of extensive regulation of NextEra Energy's business operations; inability of NextEra Energy to recover in a timely manner any significant amount of costs, a return on certain assets or a reasonable return on invested capital through base rates, cost recovery clauses, other regulatory mechanisms or otherwise; impact of political, regulatory, operational and economic factors on regulatory decisions important to NextEra Energy; effect of any reductions or modifications to, or elimination of, governmental incentives or policies that support utility scale renewable energy projects or the imposition of additional tax laws, tariffs, duties, policies or assessments on renewable energy or equipment necessary to generate it or deliver it; impact of new or revised laws, regulations, interpretations or constitutional ballot and regulatory initiatives on NextEra Energy; capital expenditures, increased operating costs and various liabilities attributable to environmental laws, regulations and other standards applicable to NextEra Energy; effects on NextEra Energy of federal or state laws or regulations mandating new or additional limits on the production of greenhouse gas emissions; exposure of NextEra Energy to significant and increasing compliance costs and substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions as a result of extensive federal regulation of its operations and businesses; effect on NextEra Energy of changes in tax laws, guidance or policies as well as in judgments and estimates used to determine tax-related asset and liability amounts; impact on NextEra Energy of adverse results of litigation; impacts of NextEra Energy of allegations of violations of law; effect on NextEra Energy of failure to proceed with projects under development or inability to complete the construction of (or capital improvements to) electric generation, transmission and distribution facilities, gas infrastructure facilities or other facilities on schedule or within budget; impact on development and operating activities of NextEra Energy resulting from risks related to project siting, planning, financing, construction, permitting, governmental approvals and the negotiation of project development agreements, as well as supply chain disruptions; risks involved in the operation and maintenance of electric generation, storage, transmission and distribution facilities, gas infrastructure facilities, and other facilities; effect on NextEra Energy of a lack of growth, slower growth or a decline in the number of customers or in customer usage; impact on NextEra Energy of severe weather and other weather conditions; threats of terrorism and catastrophic events that could result from geopolitical factors, terrorism, cyberattacks or other attempts to disrupt NextEra Energy's business or the businesses of third parties; inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage for protection of NextEra Energy against significant losses and risk that insurance coverage does not provide protection against all significant losses; a prolonged period of low gas and oil prices could impact NextEra Energy's gas infrastructure business and cause NextEra Energy to delay or cancel certain gas infrastructure projects and could result in certain projects becoming impaired; risk of increased operating costs resulting from unfavorable supply costs necessary to provide full energy and capacity requirement services; inability or failure to manage properly or hedge effectively the commodity risk within its portfolio; effect of reductions in the liquidity of energy markets on NextEra Energy's ability to manage operational risks; effectiveness of NextEra Energy's risk management tools associated with its hedging and trading procedures to protect against significant losses, including the effect of unforeseen price variances from historical behavior; impact of unavailability or disruption of power transmission or commodity transportation facilities on sale and delivery of power or natural gas; exposure of NextEra Energy to credit and performance risk from customers, hedging counterparties and vendors; failure of counterparties to perform under derivative contracts or of requirement for NextEra Energy to post margin cash collateral under derivative contracts; failure or breach of NextEra Energy's information technology systems; risks to NextEra Energy's retail businesses from compromise of sensitive customer data; losses from volatility in the market values of derivative instruments and limited liquidity in over-the-counter markets; impact of negative publicity; inability to maintain, negotiate or renegotiate acceptable franchise agreements; occurrence of work strikes or stoppages and increasing personnel costs; NextEra Energy's ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions, including the effect of increased competition for acquisitions; environmental, health and financial risks associated with ownership and operation of nuclear generation facilities; liability of NextEra Energy for significant retrospective assessments and/or retrospective insurance premiums in the event of an incident at certain nuclear generation facilities; increased operating and capital expenditures and/or reduced revenues at nuclear generation facilities resulting from orders or new regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; inability to operate any of NextEra Energy's owned nuclear generation units through the end of their respective operating licenses or planned license extensions; effect of disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets or actions by third parties in connection with project-specific or other financing arrangements on NextEra Energy's ability to fund its liquidity and capital needs and meet its growth objectives; inability to maintain current credit ratings; impairment of liquidity from inability of credit providers to fund their credit commitments or to maintain their current credit ratings; poor market performance and other economic factors that could affect NextEra Energy's defined benefit pension plan's funded status; poor market performance and other risks to the asset values of nuclear decommissioning funds; changes in market value and other risks to certain of NextEra Energy's investments; effect of inability of NextEra Energy subsidiaries to pay upstream dividends or repay funds to NextEra Energy or of NextEra Energy's performance under guarantees of subsidiary obligations on NextEra Energy's ability to meet its financial obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock; the fact that the amount and timing of dividends payable on NextEra Energy's common stock, as well as the dividend policy approved by NextEra Energy's board of directors from time to time, and changes to that policy, are within the sole discretion of NextEra Energy's board of directors and, if declared and paid, dividends may be in amounts that are less than might be expected by shareholders; NextEra Energy Partners, LP's inability to access sources of capital on commercially reasonable terms could have an effect on its ability to consummate future acquisitions and on the value of NextEra Energy's limited partner interest in NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP; effects of disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets on the market price of NextEra Energy's common stock; and the ultimate severity and duration of public health crises, epidemics and pandemics, and its effects on NextEra Energy's business. NextEra Energy discusses these and other risks and uncertainties in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, and this news release should be read in conjunction with such SEC filings. The forward-looking statements made in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release and NextEra Energy undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc.
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is investigating potential violations of U.S. federal securities laws involving PACS Group, Inc. (NYSE: PACS) focused on whether the company and certain of its top executives made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material information to investors.

If you have information that could assist in the PACS Group Investigation or if you are a PACS Group investor who suffered a loss and would like to learn more, you can provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-pacs-group-inc-investigation-pacs.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

THE COMPANY: PACS Group operates skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in the United States.

THE REVELATION: On November 4, 2024, Hindenburg Research published a report entitled "PACS Group: How To Become A Billionaire In The Skilled Nursing Industry By Systematically Scamming Taxpayers." Following the report's publication, PACS Group's stock price fell by nearly 28%.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud cases. Our Firm has been #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for six out of the last ten years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. We recovered $6.6 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  over $2.2 billion more than any other law firm in the last four years. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

[email protected]

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
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TEL AVIV  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, one of the most vocal and prominent critics of his war strategy and the country's primary interlocutor with the Biden administration on military matters amid a widening conflict in the Middle East.

"In the midst of war, full trust between the prime minister and the defense minister is needed more than ever," Netanyahu said in a video posted to X. "In recent months, this trust has eroded."

Netanyahu said he decided to end Gallant's tenure on Tuesday, and that he would be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, a close ally with little military experience. He added that Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu disciple, would replace Katz as foreign minister.

The surprise late-night announcement, released as Washington and much of the rest of the world was preoccupied with the U.S. presidential election, sent immediate shock waves across Israel. Thousands of protesters turned out in Tel Aviv, and prominent members of the security establishment condemned the move as an effort by Netanyahu to ensure his political survival at a time of growing national peril - with the country engaged in grinding wars in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and, increasingly, in direct conflict with Iran.

"This is politics at the expense of national security," Benny Gantz, a former member of Netanyahu's emergency war cabinet, posted on X.

Tchelet Fried, a 26-year-old law student from Tel Aviv, who was out at the protest, said Gallant's firing raised concerns that "what drives the prime minister is not just Israel's security, but narrower political interests."

She added that she came out that night with her friends. "We want our future here in Israel, and that's why we are fighting."

In a televised statement, Gallant said his dismissal was the result of three disagreements with Netanyahu: over the question of fervently-Orthodox enlistment in the military, his support for a cease-fire that would free the hostages in Gaza and his push for a national commission of inquiry into the failures of Oct. 7, 2023.

"Israel's security is my life's mission," he said, as demonstrators blocked highways, set fires and blasted foghorns. "It's time for change," Gallant said.

"Minister Gallant has been a trusted partner," Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said after the news broke Tuesday. "America's commitment to Israel's security remains ironclad and the U.S. Department of Defense will continue to work closely with Israel's next Minister of Defense."

Netanyahu has clashed for months with Gallant, a political rival from his own Likud party who has publicly criticized the prime minister over what he characterized as a lack of strategic vision in Gaza and his failure to reach an agreement with Hamas that would return the dozens of hostages still languishing in Gaza.

But what may have sealed Gallant's fate was his announcement Monday that the army would send conscription notices to thousands of young fervently-Orthodox men, following a decision by the nation's Supreme Court this year requiring them to serve in the military. Fervently-Orthodox parties, a key part of Netanyahu's coalition, have fought for decades to enshrine military exemptions for students at religious schools, and had threatened to pull out of the government if draft notices went out.

Gallant has long argued that the fervently-Orthodox should not be able to dodge the country's mandatory draft and, with Israel locked in the longest war in its history, he has doubled down, putting the prime minister's coalition in jeopardy. It was "the most central issue for our existence and our future," Gallant said Tuesday.

"Netanyahu could have made an appearance that it was for defense issues, but instead he made it purely political, tied to the issue of conscription," said Gayil Talshir, a political scientist from Hebrew University who is in contact with senior members of Israel's defense establishment.

"Netanyahu had to prove to the fervently-Orthodox that he would do anything for them, but he may have miscalculated," she said, pointing to an Israeli public opinion poll in October that found more than 60 percent of Likud voters said that Netanyahu's capitulation on the military conscription issue would "harm national security."

It was not the first time the two men clashed over domestic issues. Netanyahu first attempted to fire Gallant in March 2023 after the defense minister criticized the government's efforts to weaken Israel's judiciary, but was forced to quietly back down after nearly a million Israelis took to the streets in protest - a spontaneous outpouring later dubbed "Gallant night."

In September, Netanyahu entered negotiations to replace the defense minister just days before the Israeli military, under Gallant's command, carried out a sweeping attack on Hezbollah pagers that preceded its ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Netanyahu tabled the discussion on Gallant, but had communicated to Israeli media that his ouster was only a matter of time.

Netanyahu's short-term effort to shore up his coalition could have far-reaching ramifications for Israel's multifront conflict in the Middle East. Gallant kept in close contact with his U.S. counterparts, who often preferred to discuss the war with him than with Netanyahu, and would ask him to confirm assertions made by the prime minister, according to an Israeli close to Gallant who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter.

Last month, Netanyahu called off a planned trip by Gallant to Washington, demanding a call from Biden before his defense minister could depart. Gallant had met Thursday with White House representatives in Israel and, as recently as Monday, had talked by phone with Secretary of State Antony Blinken about military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

Gallant had advocated not just for a cease-fire and hostage-release deal in Gaza, but for eventual Palestinian rule over the enclave - in line with the Biden administration's postwar vision - an outcome Netanyahu has rejected. When the prime minister has insisted that Israel keep up its military pressure on Hamas, Gallant has publicly contradicted him, saying Israel has achieved its goal of degrading the militant group's capabilities and should look ahead to the day after.

"It is possible to bring back the hostages, and it involves compromises, some of which are painful," Gallant said in his remarks Tuesday.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people and created a humanitarian catastrophe, triggering an unusual letter last month from U.S. officials demanding that Israel improve aid access to the enclave or risk a suspension of military aid.

In southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces has encountered stiff resistance from Hezbollah fighters, and Netanyahu is under pressure to wind down the war and follow through on his promise to allow some 60,000 displaced Israelis to return to their homes in the north.

Iran, meanwhile, has vowed to retaliate for Israel's attack on military facilities last month, and hawkish voices in Israel are calling for direct strikes on the country's nuclear program.

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's national security minister who has long pushed for Gallant's ouster, congratulated Netanyahu on his decision Tuesday. "With Gallant  it is not possible to achieve absolute victory," he said in a post on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his visit to Budapest on Thursday to attend the European Political Community summit.

"Tomorrow I will be in Budapest  at the European Political Community summit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Hungary, which holds the presidency of the European Council, Viktor Orban, and President of the European Council, Charles Michel. This is the fifth summit in this format," Zelenskyy said in his evening video address on Wednesday.

The president said the first informal EU Summit was in the Czech Republic, the second  in Moldova, then in Spain, Great Britain. Zelenskyy thanked Hungary for the invitation.

"We will discuss security challenges in Europe, as well as new opportunities for all partners. There will be a series of meetings, a series of agreements with European leaders," the head of state said.
FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PHX MINERALS INC., "PHX" or the "Company" (NYSE: PHX), today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024.

Summary of Results for the Quarter Ended Sept. 30, 2024

Net income was $1.1 million , or $0.03 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.3 million , or $0.04 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 , and net income of $1.9 million , or $0.05 per diluted share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023 .

, or per diluted share, compared to net income of , or per diluted share, for the quarter ended , and net income of , or per diluted share, for the quarter ended . Adjusted EBITDA (1) was $4.9 million , compared to $6.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and $6.3 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023 .

was , compared to for the quarter ended and for the quarter ended . Royalty production volumes decreased 23% to 2,098 Mmcfe compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and increased 1% compared to the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023 .

and increased 1% compared to the quarter ended . Total production volumes decreased 20% to 2,379 Mmcfe compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2024 , and increased 1% compared to the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023 .

, and increased 1% compared to the quarter ended . Converted 46 gross (0.18 net) wells to producing status, compared to a conversion of 55 gross (0.40 net) wells to producing status during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and 71 gross (0.16 net) during the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023 .

and 71 gross (0.16 net) during the quarter ended . Inventory of 278 gross (0.93 net) wells in progress and permits as of Sept. 30, 2024 , compared to 241 gross (0.93 net) wells in progress and permits as of June 30, 2024 and 278 gross (1.09 net) wells in progress and permits as of Sept. 30, 2023 .

, compared to 241 gross (0.93 net) wells in progress and permits as of and 278 gross (1.09 net) wells in progress and permits as of . Total debt was $27.8 million , down $5.0 million since Dec. 31, 2023 , and the debt-to-adjusted EBITDA (TTM) (1) ratio was 1.36x at Sept. 30, 2024 .

Subsequent Events

PHX announced a $0.04 per share quarterly dividend, payable on Dec. 5, 2024 , to stockholders of record on Nov. 21, 2024 .

per share quarterly dividend, payable on , to stockholders of record on . PHX's borrowing base under its existing credit facility was reaffirmed at $50.0 million in connection with its regularly scheduled semi-annual redetermination.

(1) This is a non-GAAP measure. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation section.

Chad L. Stephens, President and CEO, commented, "PHX generated our second-highest quarter for royalty volumes in our history, validating the quality of our asset base even amidst continued volatility in commodity pricing. We remain positive on natural gas prices as we move into a seasonal stronger period and are seeing sequential increased rig activities on and around our mineral acreage, further bolstering our longer-term outlook.

"During the quarter, we saw a growing pipeline of attractive M&A opportunities," continued Mr. Stephens. "We purchased 325 net royalty acres for $3.0 million and replaced 100% of the wells in progress that converted to production. We also reduced our debt by $1.0 million sequentially with cashflow generated from our production. With a strong balance sheet, and a proven track record of acquiring attractive mineral assets that produce cash flow even during challenging pricing, we are well-positioned for continued success.

"Our risk-mitigated business is built for resilient and sustainable profitability even during challenging pricing environments, and our strategic advantages are evident through commodity price cycles," concluded Mr. Stephens.

Financial Highlights









Three Months Ended



Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended



Nine Months Ended





Sept. 30, 2024



Sept. 30, 2023



Sept. 30, 2024



Sept. 30, 2023

Royalty Interest Sales

$ 6,982,112



$ 7,873,297



$ 21,977,351



$ 24,214,701

Working Interest Sales

$ 906,404



$ 1,025,794



$ 2,827,379



$ 3,772,801

Natural Gas, Oil and NGL Sales

$ 7,888,516



$ 8,899,091



$ 24,804,730



$ 27,987,502



























Gains (Losses) on Derivative Contracts

$ 1,089,242



$ (337,647)



$ 1,297,737



$ 3,648,179

Lease Bonuses and Rental Income

$ 159,271



$ 620,101



$ 445,215



$ 1,045,242

Total Revenue

$ 9,137,029



$ 9,181,545



$ 26,547,682



$ 32,680,923



























Lease Operating Expense























per Working Interest Mcfe

$ 1.05



$ 1.32



$ 1.15



$ 1.34

Transportation, Gathering and























Marketing per Mcfe

$ 0.47



$ 0.30



$ 0.47



$ 0.38

Production and Ad Valorem Tax























per Mcfe

$ 0.18



$ 0.19



$ 0.19



$ 0.20

G&A Expense per Mcfe

$ 1.13



$ 1.18



$ 1.17



$ 1.25

Cash G&A Expense per Mcfe (1)

$ 0.91



$ 0.95



$ 0.92



$ 0.99

Interest Expense per Mcfe

$ 0.26



$ 0.24



$ 0.27



$ 0.23

DD&A per Mcfe

$ 1.00



$ 0.86



$ 0.94



$ 0.86

Total Expense per Mcfe

$ 3.16



$ 2.92



$ 3.16



$ 3.10



























Net Income (Loss)

$ 1,100,310



$ 1,895,403



$ 2,212,466



$ 11,407,356

Adjusted EBITDA (2)

$ 4,905,335



$ 6,321,029



$ 15,938,535



$ 18,147,976



























Cash Flow from Operations (3)

$ 5,784,497



$ 6,960,419



$ 15,207,852



$ 20,809,684

CapEx (4)

$ 28,902



$ 45,977



$ 64,628



$ 321,396

CapEx - Mineral Acquisitions

$ 2,994,669



$ 13,469,756



$ 5,272,847



$ 25,383,759



























Borrowing Base













$ 50,000,000



$ 45,000,000

Debt













$ 27,750,000



$ 30,750,000

Debt-to-Adjusted EBITDA (TTM) (2)















1.36





1.31







(1) Cash G&A expense is G&A excluding restricted stock and deferred director's expense from the adjusted EBITDA table in the non-GAAP Reconciliation section. (2) This is a non-GAAP measure. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation section. (3) GAAP cash flow from operations. (4) Includes legacy working interest expenditures and fixtures and equipment.

Operating Highlights







Three Months Ended



Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended



Nine Months Ended



Sept. 30, 2024



Sept. 30, 2023



Sept. 30, 2024



Sept. 30, 2023

Gas Mcf Sold

1,898,442





1,868,012





6,063,397





5,681,508

Average Sales Price per Mcf before the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 2.00



$ 2.40



$ 2.05



$ 2.63

Average Sales Price per Mcf after the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 2.54



$ 2.72



$ 2.70



$ 3.03

% of sales subject to hedges

48 %



46 %



48 %



46 % Oil Barrels Sold

45,698





48,032





134,786





143,148

Average Sales Price per Bbl before the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 74.83



$ 78.48



$ 76.14



$ 76.23

Average Sales Price per Bbl after the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 72.95



$ 78.44



$ 74.78



$ 73.88

% of sales subject to hedges

31 %



35 %



31 %



44 % NGL Barrels Sold

34,332





32,029





98,511





99,063

Average Sales Price per Bbl(1) $ 19.60



$ 20.35



$ 21.57



$ 21.48

























Mcfe Sold

2,378,622





2,348,378





7,463,177





7,134,770

Natural gas, oil and NGL sales before the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 7,888,516



$ 8,899,091



$ 24,804,730



$ 27,987,502

Natural gas, oil and NGL sales after the





















effects of settled derivative contracts $ 8,820,672



$ 9,502,036



$ 28,590,801



$ 29,896,064

























(1) There were no NGL settled derivative contracts during the 2024 and 2023 periods.



Total Production for the last four quarters was as follows:

Quarter ended

Mcf Sold



Oil Bbls Sold



NGL Bbls Sold



Mcfe Sold

9/30/2024



1,898,442





45,698





34,332





2,378,622

6/30/2024



2,464,846





51,828





31,994





2,967,779

3/31/2024



1,700,108





37,260





32,184





2,116,776

12/31/2023



1,775,577





39,768





38,422





2,244,717



The percentage of total production volumes attributable to natural gas was 80% for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024.

Royalty Interest Production for the last four quarters was as follows:

Quarter ended

Mcf Sold



Oil Bbls Sold



NGL Bbls Sold



Mcfe Sold

9/30/2024



1,724,635





41,170





21,011





2,097,722

6/30/2024



2,304,176





47,024





20,461





2,709,090

3/31/2024



1,533,580





33,083





20,844





1,857,147

12/31/2023



1,590,301





35,547





23,769





1,946,196



The percentage of royalty production volumes attributable to natural gas was 82% for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024.

Working Interest Production for the last four quarters was as follows:

Quarter ended

Mcf Sold



Oil Bbls Sold



NGL Bbls Sold



Mcfe Sold

9/30/2024



173,807





4,528





13,321





280,900

6/30/2024



160,670





4,804





11,533





258,689

3/31/2024



166,528





4,177





11,340





259,629

12/31/2023



185,276





4,221





14,653





298,521



Quarter Ended Sept. 30, 2024 Results

The Company recorded net income of $1.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024, as compared to net income of $1.90 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023. The change in net income was principally the result of a decrease in natural gas, oil and NGL sales, a decrease in lease bonuses, an increase in transportation, gathering and marketing expenses and an increase in depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses, partially offset by an increase in gains associated with our derivative contracts.

Natural gas, oil and NGL revenue decreased $1.0 million, or 11%, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024, compared to the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023, due to decreases in natural gas, oil, and NGL prices of 17%, 5%, and 4%, respectively, and a decrease in oil volumes of 5%, partially offset by increases in natural gas and NGL volumes of 2% and 7%, respectively.

The increase in royalty production volumes during the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024, as compared to the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023, resulted primarily from new wells being brought online in the Haynesville Shale and SCOOP plays.

The Company had a net gain on derivative contracts of $1.1 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024, comprised of a $0.9 million gain on settled derivatives and a $0.2 million non-cash gain on derivatives, as compared to a net loss of ($0.3) million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023. The change in net gain on derivative contracts was due to the Company's settlements of natural gas and oil collars and fixed price swaps and the change in valuation caused by the difference in Sept. 30, 2024 pricing relative to the strike price on open derivative contracts.

Nine Months Ended Sept. 30, 2024 Results

The Company recorded net income of $2.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2024, as compared to a net income of $11.4 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2023. The change in net income was principally the result of a decrease in natural gas, oil and NGL sales, a decrease in gains associated with our hedge contracts, a decrease in gains on asset sales, an increase in transportation, gathering and marketing expenses and an increase in depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses, partially offset by a decrease in income tax provision.

Natural gas, oil and NGL revenue decreased $3.2 million, or 11%, for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2024, compared to the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2023, due to a decrease in natural gas prices of 22% and decreases in oil and NGL volumes of 6% and 1%, respectively, partially offset by an increase in gas volumes of 7%.

The production increase in royalty volumes during the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2024, as compared to the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2023, resulted primarily from new wells in the Haynesville Shale and SCOOP plays coming online. The production decrease in working interest volumes during the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2024, as compared to the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2023, resulted from natural production decline and working interest divestitures.

The Company had a net gain on derivative contracts of $1.3 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2024, comprised of a $3.8 million gain on settled derivatives and a $2.5 million non-cash loss on derivatives, as compared to a net gain of $3.6 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2023. The change in net gain on derivative contracts was due to the Company's settlements of natural gas and oil collars and fixed price swaps and the change in valuation caused by the difference in Sept. 30, 2024 pricing relative to the strike price on open derivative contracts.

Operations Update

During the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024, the Company converted 46 gross (0.18 net) wells to producing status, including 12 gross (0.11 net) wells in the Haynesville and 18 gross (0.04 net) wells in the SCOOP, compared to 71 gross (0.16 net) wells converted in the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023.

At Sept. 30, 2024, the Company had a total of 278 gross (0.93 net) wells in progress and permits across its mineral positions, compared to 241 gross (0.93 net) wells in progress and permits at June 30, 2024. As of Sept. 30, 2024, 18 rigs were operating on the Company's acreage and 70 rigs were operating within 2.5 miles of its acreage.















Bakken/







































Three



Arkoma





















SCOOP



STACK



Forks



Stack



Haynesville



Other



Total

As of Sept. 30, 2024:







































Gross Wells in Progress on PHX Acreage (1)

84





13





4





3





69





3





176

Net Wells in Progress on PHX Acreage (1)

0.351





0.021





0.001





0.015





0.240





0.030





0.658

Gross Active Permits on PHX Acreage

43





4





3





9





32





11





102

Net Active Permits on PHX Acreage

0.093





0.008





0.003





0.030





0.100





0.041





0.275











































As of Sept. 30, 2024:







































Rigs Present on PHX Acreage

9





2





1





-





4





2





18

Rigs Within 2.5 Miles of PHX Acreage

12





12





13





-





20





13





70





(1) Wells in progress includes drilling wells and drilled but uncompleted wells, or DUCs.

Leasing Activity

During the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024, the Company leased 183 net mineral acres to third-party exploration and production companies for an average bonus payment of $688 per net mineral acre and an average royalty of 25%.

Acquisition and Divestiture Update

During the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024, the Company purchased 325 net royalty acres for approximately $3.0 million and had no significant divestitures.





Acquisitions





SCOOP



Haynesville



Other

Total

During Three Months Ended Sept. 30, 2024:





















Net Mineral Acres Purchased



20





181



-



201

Net Royalty Acres Purchased



40





285



-



325



Quarterly Conference Call

PHX will host a conference call to discuss the Company's results for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024, at 12 p.m. EST on Nov. 7, 2024. Management's discussion will be followed by a question-and-answer session with investors.

To participate on the conference call, please dial 877-407-3088 (toll-free domestic) or 201-389-0927. A replay of the call will be available for 14 days after the call. The number to access the replay of the conference call is 877-660-6853 and the PIN for the replay is 13748980.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the "Investors" section of PHX's website at https://phxmin.com/events. The webcast will be archived for at least 90 days.

FINANCIAL RESULTS









Statements of Income





Three Months Ended Sept. 30,



Nine Months Ended Sept. 30,





2024



2023



2024



2023



Revenues:













Natural gas, oil and NGL sales $ 7,888,516



$ 8,899,091



$ 24,804,730



$ 27,987,502



Lease bonuses and rental income

159,271





620,101





445,215





1,045,242



Gains (losses) on derivative contracts

1,089,242





(337,647)





1,297,737





3,648,179







9,137,029





9,181,545





26,547,682





32,680,923



Costs and expenses:























Lease operating expenses

294,720





363,426





921,483





1,279,831



Transportation, gathering and marketing

1,111,980





693,915





3,495,880





2,729,044



Production and ad valorem taxes

428,577





437,841





1,418,899





1,424,679



Depreciation, depletion and amortization

2,376,025





2,022,709





7,000,635





6,123,031



Provision for impairment

-





36,460





-





38,533



Interest expense

622,480





556,941





1,989,348





1,638,708



General and administrative

2,683,434





2,760,342





8,765,099





8,919,354



Losses (gains) on asset sales and other

62,248





(174,492)





(110,866)





(4,369,613)



Total costs and expenses

7,579,464





6,697,142





23,480,478





17,783,567



Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

1,557,565





2,484,403





3,067,204





14,897,356





























Provision for income taxes

457,255





589,000





854,738





3,490,000





























Net income (loss) $ 1,100,310



$ 1,895,403



$ 2,212,466



$ 11,407,356

















































































Basic earnings per common share $ 0.03



$ 0.05



$ 0.06



$ 0.32





























Diluted earnings per common share $ 0.03



$ 0.05



$ 0.06



$ 0.31





























Weighted average shares outstanding:























Basic

36,316,742





35,983,116





36,306,593





35,961,570



Diluted

36,983,669





36,656,272





36,731,643





36,670,494





























Dividends per share of























common stock paid in period $ 0.0400



$ 0.0225



$ 0.1000



$ 0.0675































Balance Sheets







Sept. 30, 2024



Dec. 31, 2023

Assets









Current assets:









Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,601,681



$ 806,254

Natural gas, oil, and NGL sales receivables (net of $0

4,080,560





4,900,126

allowance for uncollectable accounts)









Refundable income taxes

343,814





455,931

Derivative contracts, net

761,527





3,120,607

Other

417,929





878,659

Total current assets

8,205,511





10,161,577













Properties and equipment at cost, based on









successful efforts accounting:









Producing natural gas and oil properties

219,958,671





209,082,847

Non-producing natural gas and oil properties

52,503,370





58,820,445

Other

1,361,064





1,360,614





273,823,105





269,263,906

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

(120,301,196)





(114,139,423)

Net properties and equipment

153,521,909





155,124,483













Derivative contracts, net

33,726





162,980

Operating lease right-of-use assets

466,135





572,610

Other, net

596,830





486,630

Total assets $ 162,824,111



$ 166,508,280













Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity









Current liabilities:









Accounts payable $ 512,936



$ 562,607

Current portion of operating lease liability

243,184





233,390

Accrued liabilities and other

1,815,758





1,215,275

Total current liabilities

2,571,878





2,011,272













Long-term debt

27,750,000





32,750,000

Deferred income taxes, net

7,289,591





6,757,637

Asset retirement obligations

1,087,416





1,062,139

Operating lease liability, net of current portion

512,357





695,818

Total liabilities

39,211,242





43,276,866













Stockholders' equity:









Common Stock, $0.01666 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized and









36,121,723 issued at Sept. 30, 2024; 54,000,500 shares authorized









and 36,121,723 issued at Dec. 31, 2023

601,788





601,788

Capital in excess of par value

43,526,595





41,676,417

Deferred directors' compensation

1,276,295





1,487,590

Retained earnings

78,492,889





80,022,839





123,897,567





123,788,634

Less treasury stock, at cost; 67,203 shares at Sept. 30,









2024, and 131,477 shares at Dec. 31, 2023

(284,698)





(557,220)

Total stockholders' equity

123,612,869





123,231,414

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 162,824,111



$ 166,508,280



Condensed Statements of Cash Flows







Nine Months Ended



Sept. 30, 2024



Sept. 30, 2023

Operating Activities









Net income (loss) $ 2,212,466



$ 11,407,356

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided









by operating activities:









Depreciation, depletion and amortization

7,000,635





6,123,031

Impairment of producing properties

-





38,533

Provision for deferred income taxes

531,954





3,256,000

Gain from leasing fee mineral acreage

(445,215)





(1,045,242)

Proceeds from leasing fee mineral acreage

451,616





1,108,909

Net (gain) loss on sales of assets

(518,816)





(4,671,253)

Directors' deferred compensation expense

137,617





165,582

Total (gain) loss on derivative contracts

(1,297,737)





(3,648,179)

Cash receipts (payments) on settled derivative contracts

3,786,071





2,468,724

Restricted stock award expense

1,773,789





1,695,637

Other

76,375





105,604

Cash provided (used) by changes in assets and liabilities:









Natural gas, oil and NGL sales receivables

819,566





4,369,921

Income taxes receivable

112,117





(712,475)

Other current assets

430,119





408,533

Accounts payable

(68,183)





(107,796)

Other non-current assets

(81,037)





150,515

Income taxes payable

-





(576,427)

Accrued liabilities

286,515





272,711

Total adjustments

12,995,386





9,402,328

Net cash provided by operating activities

15,207,852





20,809,684













Investing Activities









Capital expenditures

(64,628)





(321,396)

Acquisition of minerals and overriding royalty interests

(5,272,847)





(25,383,759)

Net proceeds from sales of assets

527,167





9,556,666

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

(4,810,308)





(16,148,489)













Financing Activities









Borrowings under credit facility

1,000,000





16,000,000

Payments of loan principal

(6,000,000)





(18,550,000)

Payments on off-market derivative contracts

-





(560,162)

Purchases of treasury stock

-





(669)

Payments of dividends

(3,602,117)





(2,430,823)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

(8,602,117)





(5,541,654)













Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

1,795,427





(880,459)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

806,254





2,115,652

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 2,601,681



$ 1,235,193













Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:





















Interest paid (net of capitalized interest) $ 2,041,252



$ 1,652,872

Income taxes paid (net of refunds received) $ 210,668



$ 1,522,904













Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:





















Dividends declared and unpaid $ 140,300



$ 94,587













Gross additions to properties and equipment $ 5,386,597



$ 26,392,844

Net increase (decrease) in accounts receivable for properties









and equipment additions

(49,122)





(687,689)

Capital expenditures and acquisitions $ 5,337,475



$ 25,705,155



Derivative Contracts as of Sept. 30, 2024





Production volume







Contract period

covered per month

Index

Contract price Natural gas costless collars











October 2024 - June 2025

30,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.00 floor / $5.00 ceiling November 2024 - March 2025

90,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.25 floor / $5.25 ceiling November - December 2024

35,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $5.15 ceiling December 2024

75,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.00 floor / $3.37 ceiling January - March 2025

25,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.00 floor / $3.37 ceiling January - March 2025

30,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $5.15 ceiling January 2025

55,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $4.40 ceiling February 2025

25,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $4.40 ceiling March 2025

35,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $4.40 ceiling April 2025 - September 2025

55,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.00 floor / $3.75 ceiling November 2025 - March 2026

100,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $4.85 ceiling November 2025 - March 2026

75,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $4.72 ceiling November 2025 - March 2026

15,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.50 floor / $5.15 ceiling Natural gas fixed price swaps











October 2024

50,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.17 October 2024

75,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.47 October 2024

25,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.47 October 2024

105,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.24 November 2024

25,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$2.80 November - December 2024

70,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$4.16 December 2024

50,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.39 January - March 2025

60,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$4.16 January - March 2025

50,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.51 April - May 2025

25,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.23 April - August 2025

125,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.01 April - October 2025

100,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.28 June 2025

10,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.23 July 2025

45,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.23 August 2025

40,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.23 September 2025

50,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.23 September - October 2025

100,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.01 October 2025

100,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.23 April - June 2026

50,000 Mmbtu

NYMEX Henry Hub

$3.10 Oil costless collars











September 2024

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$70.00 floor / $78.10 ceiling September - October 2024

1,650 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$65.00 floor / $76.50 ceiling October - December 2024

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$67.00 floor / $77.00 ceiling Oil fixed price swaps











September - October 2024

1,000 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$66.10 September - October 2024

1,500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$69.50 September 2024

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$76.46 October 2024

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$76.12 October 2024 - August 2025

1,000 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$68.80 November 2024

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$75.49 November - December 2024

2,000 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$69.50 November 2024 - March 2025

1,600 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$64.80 December 2024

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$74.94 January 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$74.48 January - March 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$69.50 January - June 2025

2,000 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$70.90 February 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$74.10 March 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$73.71 April 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$73.30 April - June 2025

750 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$69.50 April - June 2025

1,000 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$68.00 May 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$72.92 June 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$72.58 July 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$72.24 July - August 2025

1,250 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$70.81 July - September 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$69.50 July - December 2025

1,500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$68.90 August 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$71.88 September 2025

500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$71.60 September 2025

1,500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$68.80 October 2025

750 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$71.12 October 2025

2,000 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$68.80 November 2025

750 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$70.99 November 2025 - March 2026

1,500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$68.80 December 2025

750 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$70.66 January 2026

1,500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$70.53 February 2026

1,500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$71.28 March 2026

1,500 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$70.42 April - June 2026

1,000 Bbls

NYMEX WTI

$68.80

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

This press release includes certain "non-GAAP financial measures" as defined under the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, including Regulation G. These non-GAAP financial measures are calculated using GAAP amounts in the Company's financial statements. These measures, detailed below, are provided in addition to, not as an alternative for, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in the Company's financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP (including the notes thereto), included in the Company's SEC filings and posted on its website.

Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

The Company defines "adjusted EBITDA" as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, excluding non-cash gains (losses) on derivatives and gains (losses) on asset sales and including cash receipts from (payments on) off-market derivatives and restricted stock and deferred directors' expense. The Company has included a presentation of adjusted EBITDA because it recognizes that certain investors consider this amount to be a useful means of measuring the Company's ability to meet its debt service obligations and evaluating its financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flow from operations or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of other companies. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA for the quarters indicated:



Three Months Ended



Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended



Nine Months Ended



Three Months Ended



Sept. 30, 2024



Sept. 30, 2023



Sept. 30, 2024



Sept. 30, 2023



June 30, 2024

Net Income $ 1,100,310



$ 1,895,403



$ 2,212,466



$ 11,407,356



$ 1,295,771

Plus:



























Income tax expense

457,255





589,000





854,738





3,490,000





355,151

Interest expense

622,480





556,941





1,989,348





1,638,708





651,982

DD&A

2,376,025





2,022,709





7,000,635





6,123,031





2,268,284

Impairment expense

-





36,460





-





38,533





-

Less:



























Non-cash gains (losses)



























on derivatives

157,086





(940,592)





(2,488,334)





1,365,872





(1,603,604)

Gains (losses) on asset sales

6,708





243,041





518,391





4,671,254





445,184

Plus:



























Cash payments on off-market derivative



























contracts

-





-





-





(373,745)





-

Restricted stock and deferred



























director's expense

513,059





522,965





1,911,405





1,861,219





696,559

Adjusted EBITDA $ 4,905,335



$ 6,321,029



$ 15,938,535



$ 18,147,976



$ 6,426,167

































Debt-to-Adjusted EBITDA (TTM) Reconciliation

"Debt-to-adjusted EBITDA (TTM)" is defined as the ratio of long-term debt to adjusted EBITDA on a trailing 12-month (TTM) basis. The Company has included a presentation of debt-to-adjusted EBITDA (TTM) because it recognizes that certain investors consider such ratios to be a useful means of measuring the Company's ability to meet its debt service obligations and for evaluating its financial performance. The debt-to-adjusted EBITDA (TTM) ratio has limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flow from operations or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, this presentation of debt-to-adjusted EBITDA (TTM) may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of other companies. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA on a TTM basis and of the resulting debt-to-adjusted EBITDA (TTM) ratio:



TTM Ended



TTM Ended



Sept. 30, 2024



Sept. 30, 2023

Net Income $ 4,725,910



$ 14,753,489

Plus:









Income tax expense

2,100,198





4,471,000

Interest expense

2,713,033





2,276,406

DD&A

9,443,789





7,925,145

Impairment expense

-





6,139,229

Less:









Non-cash gains (losses)









on derivatives

448,324





7,630,914

Gains (losses) on asset sales

575,897





5,605,461

Plus:









Cash payments on off-market derivative









contracts

-





(1,277,206)

Restricted stock and deferred









director's expense

2,484,115





2,430,303

Adjusted EBITDA $ 20,442,824



$ 23,481,991













Debt $ 27,750,000



$ 30,750,000

Debt-to-Adjusted EBITDA (TTM)

1.36





1.31















PHX Minerals Inc. Fort Worth-based, PHX Minerals Inc. is a natural gas and oil mineral company with a strategy to proactively grow its mineral position in its core focus areas. PHX owns mineral acreage principally located in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota and Arkansas. Additional information about the Company can be found at www.phxmin.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "should," "may" and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect PHX's current views about future events. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: the Company's operational outlook; the Company's ability to execute its business strategies; the volatility of realized natural gas and oil prices; the level of production on the Company's properties; estimates of quantities of natural gas, oil and NGL reserves and their values; general economic or industry conditions; legislation or regulatory requirements; conditions of the securities markets; the Company's ability to raise capital; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; financial or political instability; acts of war or terrorism; title defects in the properties in which the Company invests; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory or technical factors affecting properties, operations or prices. Although the Company believes expectations reflected in these and other forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those expected by the Company's management. Information concerning these risks and other factors can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, available on the Company's website or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contact:

Rob Fink / Stephen Lee

FNK IR

646.809.4048

[email protected]

Corporate Contact:

405.948.1560

[email protected]

SOURCE PHX MINERALS INC.
The global pluggable optics for data center market is set for explosive growth, with projections indicating a surge to $12.35 billion by 2031. This remarkable expansion, driven by expansion of linear pluggable optics and rising need for high-performance computing.

NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new comprehensive report from The Insight Partners, the global Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market is observing significant growth owing to the adoption of linear pluggable optics. As more industrial devices and equipment become connected, there is a growing need for robust networking solutions that can support the ever-increasing number of connected devices, handle the massive amounts of data generated, and ensure secure and reliable communication.

For Detailed Market Insights, Visit: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/pluggable-optics-for-data-center-market

The report runs an in-depth analysis of market trends, key players, and future opportunities. In general, the pluggable optics for the data centers market comprises a vast array of components that are expected to register strength during the coming years.

For More Information and To Stay Updated on The Latest Developments in The Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market, Download The Sample Pages: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00039321/

Market Overview and Growth Trajectory:

Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market Growth: According to an exhaustive report by The Insight Partners, the Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market is experiencing significant growth, driven by manufacturers focus on product development and growing number of data centers. The market, valued at $5.23 billion in 2023, is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.3% during 20232031.

The global Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market is observing substantial growth and is expected to maintain its upward trajectory in the foreseeable future. This growth can be accredited to numerous factors. Firstly, there is a rising manufacturer focus on product development. Secondly, there is a growing number of data centers across the globe. Thirdly, there is the rising need for high-performance computing.

Manufacturers Focus on Product Development: Pluggable optics enable data center operators to easily upgrade or replace transceivers without having to completely rebuild the cable system. The rising demand for pluggable optics in data centers encourages manufacturers to develop new innovative products that are capable of meeting the dynamic requirements of customers. For instance, in March 2024, Infinera Corporation launched a new line of ICE-D to improve intra-data center connectivity. ICE-D is a new line of high-speed intra-data center optics based on monolithic indium phosphide (InP) and photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology.

Stay Updated on The Latest Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market Trends: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00039321/

Growing Number of Data Centers: The rising adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), the increasing need for storage for massive amounts of data, and growing digitalization are increasing the demand for data centers. It is an excellent data storage solution that provides companies with fast and secure access to vast data. The benefits offered by data centers, such as centralized data management, scalability, and security, encourage businesses to adopt these solutions to achieve a data-driven business landscape. Thus, several companies are investing in the development of data centers in North America. According to Linklaters, North America has maintained its lead in data center transaction values, accounting for an impressive 62% of the global total in 2023 and 69% of investments through April 2024, totaling US$ 15 billion, with the US accounting for the largest share of the total.

Rising Need for High-Performance Computing: High-performance computing (HPC), or supercomputing, is a practice of combining computing power in a way that produces significantly more horsepower than traditional computers and servers. According to IBM, it is more than one million times faster than the fastest commodity desktop, laptop, or server systems. HPC is a method of processing massive amounts of data at extremely high speeds using multiple computers and storage devices. A high volume of calculations in a short amount of time is needed in today's business landscape for faster operations. Many HPC data centers are linked to large private and public companies that require a lot of computing power. The HPC power helps businesses solve problems that would otherwise be impossible to solve using traditional computing systems.

Geographical Insights: In 2023, North America led the market with a substantial revenue share, followed by APAC and Europe. APAC is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Purchase Premium Copy of Global Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market Size and Growth Report (2023-2031) at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00039321/

Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market Segmentation, Applications, Geographical Insights:

Based on component, the market is divided into switches, routers, and servers. The switches segment held the largest share of the Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market in 2023.

Based on data rate, the market is bifurcated into 100400 Gb/s, 400800 Gb/s, and 800 Gb/s and above. The 400800 Gb/s segment held the largest share of the Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market in 2023.

The Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market is segmented into five major regions: North America , Europe , APAC, Middle East and Africa , and South and Central America .

Key Players and Competitive Landscape:

The Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market is characterized by the presence of several major players, including:

Coherent Corp

Nokia Corp

Cisco Systems Inc

Infinera Corp

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson

Ciena Corp

Intel Corp

Lumentum Holdings Inc

Juniper Networks Inc

Marvell Technology Inc

Yangtze Optical Fibre

Cable Joint Stock Ltd

Broadcom Inc.

These companies are adopting strategies such as new product launches, joint ventures, and geographical expansion to maintain their competitive edge in the market.

For Region-Specific Market Data, Check Out Brief Sample Pages: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00039321/

Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market Recent Developments and Innovations:

"Nokia Corp announced a comprehensive set of new optical transport solutions optimized for metro edge deployments for CSP, webscale, and Enterprise customers. The company's portfolio additions include 100Gb/s, 400Gb/s, and 800Gb/s pluggable coherent modules, a new compact optical transport platform, and new cards optimized for metro edge applications."

"Infinera announced that Aire Networks, a subsidiary of Grupo Aire, deployed Infinera's software-programmable ICE-X coherent pluggable solution to expand the capacity of its single-fiber network infrastructure across Spain and Portugal . The ability of Infinera's innovative ICE-X solution to provide ultra-high-speed transmissions over a single fiber in a pluggable form factor enables Aire Networks to continue to meet the bandwidth demands of its customers while maintaining its cost-effective single-fiber infrastructure."

and . The ability of Infinera's innovative ICE-X solution to provide ultra-high-speed transmissions over a single fiber in a pluggable form factor enables Aire Networks to continue to meet the bandwidth demands of its customers while maintaining its cost-effective single-fiber infrastructure." "Infinera and Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. announced the successful completion of the first demonstration delivering high-speed business services over Sumitomo Electric's passive optical network (PON) infrastructure with Infinera's ICE-X intelligent, coherent pluggable optics. The demonstration validated how Sumitomo Electric can leverage next-generation coherent pluggables to provide improvements to network efficiencies and expand capacity while also enabling new high-speed business services and supporting next-generation applications such as 5G and edge computing."

Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market Drivers, Challenges, Future Outlook and Opportunities:

Linear pluggable optics (LPO) are optical transceivers that do not include digital signal processor (DSP) chips. They rely on simpler signal modulation techniques and basic electronic components. This results in lower power consumption and production costs compared to DSP-based solutions. This simplicity also results in lower latency, making LPOs suitable for high-speed environments. LPO modules are increasingly being used in modern data centers, and they are becoming essential components of co-packaged optics (CPO) and near-package optics (NPO) solutions. These applications benefit from direct, short connections between ICs and LPO optical modules, which maximize the efficiency gains provided by LPO technology.

For In-Depth Market Forecasts and Analysis, Request PDF Brochure: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00039321/

Lower power consumption, reduced bill of material (BOM) components, and minimal latency features of LPOs are expected to fuel their demand in the coming years. In addition, mega data centers widely adopt LPO, and it works great for latency-sensitive applications in AI and ML and enhances network performance. To cater to this market, the market players are launching solutions, which contribute to the market growth. For example, in March 2023, Eoptolink Technology Inc., Ltd. (SZSE: 300502)a leading provider of optical transceiver solutions and servicesannounced the launch of 800G LPO. The product was launched due to the measurable cost savings offered by LPO to the mega data center.

The UK pluggable optics for data center market is growing rapidly with the increasing investment in data centers and the presence of key IT companies, including Google LLC, Microsoft Corp, Oracle Corp, SAP SE, and IBM Corp. These players are making significant investments to develop and advance their data centers. For instance, in January 2024, Google LLC announced an investment of US$ 1 billion in a new UK data center in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. This investment will provide critical computing capacity to businesses across the UK, fostering AI innovation and ensuring dependable digital services for Google Cloud customers and users in the UK and worldwide. Increasing focus on data center capacity expansion surges the adoption of pluggable optics for faster data processing and real-time analytics.

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Conclusion:

LPO significantly reduces power consumption for both the module and the system while maintaining a pluggable interface, providing the economics and flexibility customers require for high-volume deployments. Industry leaders are focused on reducing network power consumption for AI and other high-performance applications. For that, they are making some strategic decisions that maximize the adoption of LPO technology. In March 2024, the Linear Pluggable Optics Multi-Source Agreement (LPO MSA) was formed by a group of networking, semiconductor, and optics companies to develop specifications for networking equipment and optical modules that will enable a broad ecosystem of interoperable LPO solutions. Accelink, Arista, AMD, Broadcom, Eoptolink, Hisense, Cisco, Innolight, MACOM, Intel, NVIDIA, and Semtech are the founding members of the LPO MSA. Such consortium to define LPO specifications drives the pluggable optics for the data center market.

With projected growth to $12.35 billion by 2031, the Pluggable Optics for Data Center Market represents a significant opportunity for component providers, system technology integrators, investors, system manufacturers, and industry stakeholders. By staying abreast of market trends, embracing innovation, and focusing on quality and performance, companies can position themselves for success in this dynamic and evolving market landscape.

Related Report Titles:

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials.

Contact Us:

If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us:

Contact Person:

Ankit Mathur

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +1-646-491-9876

Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/pluggable-optics-for-data-center-market

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2520492/The_Insight_Partners_Logo.jpg

SOURCE The Insight Partners
Merger Establishes Largest Independent Aggregates Supplier in Southwestern Idaho

BOISE, Idaho, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Aggregates ("Premier") and Ada Sand & Gravel ("Ada") today announced that they have combined their respective businesses to create Premier Aggregates Holdings, LLC, now the largest independent supplier of construction and landscape aggregates in southwest Idaho. This strategic partnership reinforces both companies' commitment to a customer-focused, aggregates-led growth strategy focused on one of the fastest-growing regions in the Intermountain West.

"This is a great day for Premier and Ada", said Lane Buchert, Chief Executive Officer of Premier. "We're thrilled to bring these two organizations together. By combining our complementary strengths and shared values, we are creating a stronger company that's even better positioned to serve our customers and create more opportunities for our team members."

Premier Aggregates and Ada Sand & Gravel merge to form the largest independent aggregates supplier in SW Idaho. Post this

Construction aggregates are a basic building material essential to the growth of our communities and the economy. With southwestern Idaho continuing to experience rapid growthamong the highest in the nationthe demand for high-quality aggregates has increased significantly. With long-life, permitted aggregate resources across more than a dozen pits and quarries, the combined company is well-positioned to meet any customer or project requirementsregardless of location, scope, or product specification.

"We have tremendous respect for Ada and its employees," said Evan Buchert, Chief Operating Officer of Premier. "In addition to exceptional service, we have long admired Ada's ability to consistently supply high-quality aggregates to their customers."

All employees of Premier and Ada will be retained, and employees from both companies will step into leadership roles in the new organization. Lane Buchert will be Chief Executive Officer and Evan Buchert will take on the role of Chief Operating Officer. Ada Sand & Gravel's General Manager, Jack Williams, will continue overseeing the Pleasant Valley operations serving the greater Boise market.

"The Premier team brings an impressive growth-oriented mind set," said Bob Dean and Brian Smith of Gemstone Capital LLC, majority owner of Ada. "Premier's focus on resource development, company culture, and safety makes Premier the ideal partner for Ada Sand & Gravel."

The ownership groups of Premier and Ada contributed their respective interests in each company to establish Premier Aggregates Holdings, LLC. Parsons Behle & Latimer acted as legal counsel to Premier and Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP acted as legal counsel to Ada.

Premier Aggregates

Founded in 2011 as a transportation and logistics company, Premier Aggregates has become one of southwest Idaho's leading suppliers of aggregate materials, including its well-known Black & Tan landscape rock. With a footprint that stretches across southern Idaho, Premier's primary goal is to prosper as a team and become the leading aggregate supplier in the markets it serves.

Ada Sand & Gravel

Based in Boise, Idaho, Ada Sand & Gravel has been a trusted supplier of construction aggregates since 1961. After being acquired in 2019 by an affiliate of Gemstone Capital LLC and Greybull Stewardship LP, Ada is well-positioned for long-term success, supported by blue-chip customers and substantial, long-life aggregate reserves in the Boise metro area.

Greybull Stewardship

Greybull Stewardship is a private investment firm supporting established, small businesses, in the pre-middle market, on their way to scalable, and sustainable success. With decades of operational experience and financial acumen, their team of multi-disciplinary operators provides a suite of tailored resources and strategic guidance extending beyond just capital. Greybull proudly cultivates partnerships with motivated entrepreneurs to realize their full potential and confidently navigate the complexities of expansion. Founded in 2010, Greybull is headquartered in Jackson, Wyoming, with team members located throughout the U.S. to effectively support the firm's investments. To learn more about Greybull, visit www.greybullstewardship.com.

Contacts:

Evan Buchert

Premier Aggregates

[email protected]

(208) 901-8189

Bob Dean

Gemstone Capital LLC

[email protected]

(208) 854-8800

SOURCE Ada Sand & Gravel
Celebrating Excellence within our Portfolio of Craft Lodging Properties



KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Registry is pleased to announce the winners of our 2024 Craft Lodging Awards which honor and celebrate excellence within our portfolio of Craft Lodging properties. This prestigious recognition highlights the dedication and creativity of the properties that provide unparalleled guest experiences through distinctive amenities, impeccable hospitality, and a true sense of place. From standout culinary programs and inspired experiences to unique guest offerings that reflect the spirit of their locations, each award winner exemplifies the highest standards of excellence that define the Select Registry portfolio.

2024 Award Winners:

Select Registry is pleased to announce the winners of our 2024 Craft Lodging Awards Post this

New Member of the Year (2024)

This award is presented to a new member property that best demonstrates immediate engagement, activation, and passionate support of Select Registry. Barn B&B Walla Walla Walla Walla, Washington



Select Registry Sustainability Champion

This award is presented to Select Registry property that best implements and practices innovative green initiatives and programs. Lodge on Little St. Simons Island St. Simons, Georgia



Best Restaurant Award

This award is presented to a Select Registry property with an on-site restaurant that offers exceptional cuisine, atmosphere, and customer service. The Shipwright's Daughter at The Whaler's Inn Mystic, Connecticut



Best Breakfast Award

This award is presented to a Select Registry property that offers delicious, and innovative breakfast to guests during their stay. Sheridan House Inn Williams, Arizona



Best Social Media and Content Creation Award

This award is presented to the Select Registry property that actively engages consumers by sharing the best of its story and property through social media platforms. Katy House Bed & Breakfast Smithville, Texas



Community Engagement Award

This award is presented to an individual who is a community steward for their outstanding contributions to the people and place surrounding this craft lodging property. Justin Genzlinger at Settlers Hospitality Hawley, Pennsylvania



Innkeeper of the Year Award

This award is presented to the innkeeper demonstrating the highest contribution to furthering excellence in craft lodging at their Select Registry property. Matthew Carroll at Jail Hill Inn Galena, Illinois



Stay for the Story Award

This award is presented to a Select Registry property that best creates memorable experiences for guests by infusing the unique essence of the property, the innkeepers, local culture, or history. Glenlaurel, A Scottish Inn and Cottages Rockbridge, Ohio



"We are thrilled to recognize the outstanding achievements of our 2024 Craft Lodging Award winners," said Mark Reichle, CEO of Select Registry. "These properties embody the passion, creativity, and commitment to excellence that define our portfolio, setting a new standard for guest experiences across the industry. We celebrate their success and applaud their unwavering dedication to excellence in Craft Lodging."

The Select Registry Craft Lodging awards were presented on November 5, 2024, in San Diego at the 2024 National Meeting & Conference at the Rancho Bernardo Inn.

About Select Registry :

For over 50 years, Select Registry has set the standard for excellence in personal hospitality at independently owned inns and bed and breakfasts. Today, our craft lodging properties include over 260 boutique properties. They're located everywhere from backcountry roads to big-city neighborhoods, along coastlines, and in heartlands across the United States. Learn more at www.SelectRegistry.com .

Media contact:

Heather Taylor, Director of Marketing



Select Registry



+410 982 6252



[email protected]

SOURCE SELECT REGISTRY
TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sling Pilot Academy, one of the nation's leading flight schools, is proud to announce it has been named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies for the second year in a row. The academy, which specializes in training pilots using the next-generation Sling NGT Aircraft, has experienced exceptional growth, continuing its mission to provide accessible, high-quality flight education to aspiring pilots across the country.

Inc 5000

This year's recognition marks an impressive achievement for Sling Pilot Academy, which has consistently demonstrated outstanding growth, innovation, and leadership within the aviation training industry. With an emphasis on advanced technology, holistic instruction methods, and a commitment to student success, Sling Pilot Academy has become a beacon for aspiring aviators.

A Year of Record Growth

In the past year, Sling Pilot Academy has expanded its programs, increased its fleet, and launched new training initiatives to meet the demand for skilled pilots. The academy has also bolstered its reputation for offering cost-effective, professional flight training, which has proven to be especially appealing to those pursuing careers in aviation amid the industry's ongoing pilot shortage.

"We're incredibly proud to be recognized by Inc. 5000 for the second year in a row," said Matt Liknaitzky, Co-CEO of Sling Pilot Academy. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our talented staff, instructors, and students. Our success is a direct reflection of our commitment to providing the highest quality training and the best possible experience for those embarking on their journey to becoming professional pilots. We're excited for what's to come as we continue to grow and innovate in the aviation industry."

The Inc. 5000 List: A Mark of Excellence

The Inc. 5000 is an annual list compiled by Inc. Magazine that recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. Companies are ranked according to their percentage of revenue growth over a three-year period. To qualify, businesses must have achieved significant year-over-year growth and demonstrated a strong market presence in their respective industries.

Sling Pilot Academy's inclusion on this exclusive list underscores the academy's sustained momentum and continued commitment to excellence. It also highlights the growing demand for quality flight training programs and the critical role that flight schools like Sling Pilot Academy play in meeting the needs of an expanding aviation workforce.

About Sling Pilot Academy

Sling Pilot Academy is a premier flight training school that offers a comprehensive range of flight programs, from private pilot licenses to advanced commercial and airline transport pilot training. With 4 locations in the Southern California region, the academy utilizes the innovative Sling NGT aircraft, which are known for their safety, efficiency, and cutting-edge technology, to provide students with an optimal learning experience.

The academy's mission is to provide aspiring pilots with affordable, professional flight training that prepares them for successful careers in aviation. Sling Pilot Academy is committed to excellence, with a strong focus on safety, customer service, and fostering a supportive, student-centered learning environment.

About Inc. 5000

The Inc. 5000 is an annual ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States, published by Inc. Magazine. The list has recognized many well-known brands that have gone on to achieve significant success. The ranking is based on revenue growth over a three-year period, and companies on the list represent a diverse range of industries, including technology, healthcare, and consumer products.

https://www.inc.com/profile/sling-pilot-academy

SOURCE Sling Pilot Academy
ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) proudly announces the addition of six new members in Q4 2024, further strengthening its diverse membership base.

Manufacturer members:

Integrity BioChem : "Joining SOCMA aligns with our commitment to sustainable innovation," said Jimmy Jett , President & CEO of Integrity BioChem, which develops and produces modified biopolymers and bio-based surfactants for the energy, mining, industrial, ag, and specialty markets using renewable and sustainable practices. "We're excited to collaborate with fellow members to advance bio-based solutions and contribute to the domestic manufacturing resurgence."





: "Joining SOCMA aligns with our commitment to sustainable innovation," said , President & CEO of Integrity BioChem, which develops and produces modified biopolymers and bio-based surfactants for the energy, mining, industrial, ag, and specialty markets using renewable and sustainable practices. "We're excited to collaborate with fellow members to advance bio-based solutions and contribute to the domestic manufacturing resurgence." Kodak Specialty Chemicals : "Kodak Specialty Chemicals is excited to join SOCMA and leverage their robust network of industry leaders and innovators to grow our CDMO business," said Jonathan Hall , Business Development Director at Kodak Specialty Chemicals. "We look to benefit from their significant resources, including industry reports, regulatory updates, and best practices, to help us remain informed and competitive in a complex, heavily regulated industry. SOCMA membership will enable us to connect with industry professionals and generate new leads and opportunities as we drive our business forward."





: "Kodak Specialty Chemicals is excited to join SOCMA and leverage their robust network of industry leaders and innovators to grow our CDMO business," said , Business Development Director at Kodak Specialty Chemicals. "We look to benefit from their significant resources, including industry reports, regulatory updates, and best practices, to help us remain informed and competitive in a complex, heavily regulated industry. SOCMA membership will enable us to connect with industry professionals and generate new leads and opportunities as we drive our business forward." West Texas Blending: "SOCMA's longstanding reputation was a major factor in our decision to join," noted Hugo Lozano , CEO at West Texas Blending, which offers full-service chemical blending capabilities for oil & gas, water management, and agricultural services. "Their industry presence enhances our credibility and opens doors to potential partnerships. We look forward to leveraging this membership for future growth."

Affiliate members

Chemical South Transport : "We decided it was a no-brainer to join SOCMA," said Nicole Evans , Vice President of Chemical South Transport, which delivers safe, reliable, and innovative solutions in the handling, transporting, and transloading of bulk liquid chemicals. "SOCMA's network of industry professionals, advocacy efforts, and resources will not only help us stay updated on regulatory changes but also enhance our safety and operational efficiency. This partnership positions us to be more competitive and well-informed in the ever-growing chemical industry."





: "We decided it was a no-brainer to join SOCMA," said , Vice President of Chemical South Transport, which delivers safe, reliable, and innovative solutions in the handling, transporting, and transloading of bulk liquid chemicals. "SOCMA's network of industry professionals, advocacy efforts, and resources will not only help us stay updated on regulatory changes but also enhance our safety and operational efficiency. This partnership positions us to be more competitive and well-informed in the ever-growing chemical industry." Hoover CS : "We really value SOCMA's commitment to safe and sustainable practices, fostering connections and collaboration, and sharing valuable insights and resources," said Lana Belmokadem of Hoover CS, which provides sustainable packaging solutions through its rental fleet of reusable liquid and dry IBCs and ISO tanks, helping customers reduce plastic waste, conserve water, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. "Their industry leadership aligns perfectly with our mission to advance circularity across the supply chain."





: "We really value SOCMA's commitment to safe and sustainable practices, fostering connections and collaboration, and sharing valuable insights and resources," said of Hoover CS, which provides sustainable packaging solutions through its rental fleet of reusable liquid and dry IBCs and ISO tanks, helping customers reduce plastic waste, conserve water, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. "Their industry leadership aligns perfectly with our mission to advance circularity across the supply chain." WAB US Corp.: "SOCMA membership allows WAB US to reinforce current connections with member manufacturers and make new connections with a broader peer network," said Daniel Grskovic , President of WAB US Corp., which provides advanced mixing and milling technologies critical to the specialty chemical sector. "WAB supports the aims of SOCMA by offering highly customized resources, operational excellence, and commercial growth. We see ourselves as enablers, providing the processing technology tools essential to chemical manufacturing in North America ."

"These six new members exemplify the innovation and diversity driving our industry forward," said Jennifer Abril, President & CEO of SOCMA. " From bio-based solutions to advanced processing technologies, each brings unique value to the specialty chemical sector and to the SOCMA community. Their decision to join SOCMA highlights the critical role of collaboration in navigating today's complex chemical landscape. We are ready to work alongside them in strengthening North American specialty chemical manufacturing."

For membership inquiries, contact Jenny Gaines, [email protected].

About SOCMA:

SOCMA is the only U.S.-based trade association dedicated to the specialty and fine chemicals industry. Visit https://www.socma.org.

Contact:

Nate Bell

Sr. Manager, Member Communications & Programs

571-348-5100

[email protected]

SOURCE Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates
DALLAS, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas de Brazil, the nation's leading Brazilian-American steakhouse, proudly announces the results of its recent fundraiser in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, held across its U.S. locations in August and September. Thanks to the generosity of guests and the dedication of Texas de Brazil's team members, the campaign raised more than $150,000 to help fund St. Jude's lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.

Texas de Brazil donates over $150,000 to St. Jude after a two-month fundraiser in their restaurants. Post this Texas de Brazil presented St. Jude with a donation check of over $150,000 at its culmination event in Dallas, concluding its annual fundraising campaign, which takes place in all of its corporate US locations.

The fundraiser concluded with a celebratory event on October 26, bringing together Texas de Brazil's leadership, restaurant staff, and representatives from St. Jude to mark this milestone achievement. The evening included recognition of top fundraising teams, heartfelt thanks to the restaurant's guests, and a collective toast to the vital impact these donations will have for St. Jude families.

"We are beyond grateful to our guests and team members for their unwavering support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," said Salim Asrawi, President of Texas de Brazil. "With the funds raised, we are proud to help St. Jude advance its groundbreaking research and provide hope to families in need."

Throughout August and September, Texas de Brazil guests contributed to this effort while dining at locations nationwide, with 100% of donations going to St. Jude. This support helps ensure that families receiving treatment at St. Jude will never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food.

About Texas de Brazil

Texas de Brazil is an authentic churrascaria featuring a continuous dining experience that blends the unique culture of Brazil, with the generous hospitality of Texas. The menu features a vast selection of grilled meats, a 50-item salad area, an award-winning wine list and a la carte dessert selections. Founded as a family-owned business in 1998, Texas de Brazil is one of the largest Brazilian-American steakhouse brands in the world, with 54 restaurants in 23 states, 1 in Puerto Rico and 10 international locations. For more information, visit TexasdeBrazil.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE Texas de Brazil
The CMS International Chapter Unites Global Cultural Leaders for Panel on "Music, Democracy, and Human Rights" in D.C. Post this

The panel, organized and moderated by Gwyneth Bravo, President of the CMS International Chapter and faculty member at NYU Abu Dhabi, will feature three distinguished speakers: Ahmad Sarmast, Founder and Director of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM); Cynthia Schneider, Distinguished Professor of Diplomacy at Georgetown University; and Christopher Jenkins, Scholar and Associate Dean of Academic Support at Oberlin College. Scheduled for Friday, November 8, at 1:30 PM, the discussion will explore music's role as a vehicle for dialogue and empowerment on both national and global stages.

CMS Executive Director Jeffrey Loeffert expressed his excitement, stating, "This event marks a milestone in CMS's commitment to fostering pathways for international engagement. We are grateful to President Bravo for her visionary leadership and dedication in making this panel and dialogue possible."

Sponsored by The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown University, ANIM, and Global Diplomacy Lab, the panel aims to highlight how music can catalyze social change, as well as advance democratic principles and human rights. For Dr. Sarmast, music has been a powerful tool for over 22 years in promoting resilience and empowerment among Afghan youth, reinforcing "music's essential role in driving social change and justice worldwide."

"This panel underscores the urgency of exploring relationships between democratic values, human rights and music," said Dr. Schneider who is Co-founding Director of The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics.

Speaking to the panel's themes as related to music education, author Dr. Jenkins calls for a critical re-evaluation of both national and global approaches, urging new models and paradigms. "We must move beyond historical patterns of cultural assimilation and their lasting impact," he states.

The CMS International Chapter was established in 2023. Led by Dr. Bravo with support from a dedicated Board of Directors and Advisory Council, the chapter's mission is to foster international collaboration among CMS members and facilitate cultural exchange.

"Together we envision contributions at both national and international levels through partnerships with diverse cultural and educational institutions worldwide," said Bravo. "Our hope with these alliances is to foster initiatives and programs that promote global cooperation, understanding, and peace through the transformative power of music."

About Panel Sponsors

The College Music Society International Chapter

The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics is an interdisciplinary organization in the School of Foreign Service and the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgetown University.

Afghanistan National Institute of Music is dedicated to preserving Afghan music, promoting girls' education, and advancing social causes through music.

Global Diplomacy Lab is a platform exploring new forms of diplomacy to address the complex and intersecting challenges faced today.

The College Music Society International Chapter

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE College Music Society (CMS) International Chapter
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Laurie Ghielmetti is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Professional for her contributions in Art Advisory and Interior Design.

Ms. Ghielmetti, a seasoned professional in the fields of art advisory services and interior design, is celebrating a remarkable career milestone of 35 years of excellence in the industry. With a passion for art and design, Ms. Ghielmetti has made a significant impact on the regional art and interior design scene.

Laurie Ghielmetti

Since founding her design company in 1988, Ms. Ghielmetti has been a driving force in the regional art world and interior design industry. Her firm offers art consultancy services to a diverse clientele, helping them integrate art seamlessly into their living spaces. She has also lent her expertise as a consultant to showrooms in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle, sourcing art for installations twice yearly, further cementing her reputation as a go-to expert in the field.

Ms Ghielmetti's commitment to the art world extends beyond her business. She was an active member of the Modern Art Council, an educational and fund-raising volunteer group of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art from 2011 to 2020. She has also been a participating member of the Design Councils of the San Francisco Antique Show and the FOG Design+Art Fair. Ms. Ghielmetti's dedication is not limited to the art world, she has volunteered for the San Francisco Unified School District to provide reading assistance to individual students, contributing to education in her community.

Ms. Ghielmetti's journey began with a bachelor's degree as a Humanities Field Major with an emphasis on the liberal arts of English and art history from the University of California, Berkeley. Her love for culture, art and travel have driven her career, making her an advocate for the transformative power of art and design.

Throughout her 35-year career, Ms. Ghielmetti's work has garnered recognition from prominent publications, including California Home +Design, American Art, Luxury Home Quarterly, California Homes, Sacramento, and Luxlife Magazine, as well as being interviewed with Great Homes Across America for HGTV. Her contributions have shaped the art and design landscape and her dedication to excellence continues to inspire both clients and peers.

In the years ahead, Ms. Ghielmetti plans to continue her journey by embracing new challenges. She intends to immerse herself in different cultures through travel, drawing inspiration for her art and interior design endeavors.

Ms. Ghielmetti's enduring passion for art and design, combined with her 35 years of expertise, cements her legacy as a trailblazer for the industry. Her commitment to excellence, active engagement in the art and design industries, and dedication to lifelong learning continues to shape the world of art advisory and interior design.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
HOUSTON, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trillium Flow Technologies ("Trillium"), a global designer, manufacturer, and aftermarket services provider of highly engineered valves and pumps used in critical infrastructure, today announced the appointment of Doug Kitani as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Kitani joined Trillium in April 2024 as Interim CEO and brings more than 20 years of operational, strategic, and corporate development experience.

Prior to joining Trillium, Mr. Kitani most recently served as the CEO of Erickson, a designer and manufacturer of highly engineered aerospace equipment. Before Erickson, he served as CEO of IAP Global, a global provider of technical services, and held various operational roles with Dyncorp and Honeywell. Mr. Kitani graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and received his MBA from Emory University.

Jeff Quake, Managing Partner at First Reserve and Chairman of the Trillium Board of Directors, commented, "The Board welcomes Doug to the executive team and looks forward to working closely with him as Trillium continues to execute on its growth strategy. He brings a wealth of relevant manufacturing and aftermarket experience, and his strategic vision and proven leadership ability make him a perfect fit for Trillium."

On his appointment, Mr. Kitani commented, "I'm excited to lead Trillium at this pivotal time. Our strong product portfolio, global footprint, and dedicated team create a powerful foundation for growth, particularly as we see increased investment in critical infrastructure worldwide. By continuing to innovate and adapt to evolving market needs, we will strengthen our position as an industry leader."

Kerem Yilmaz, CFO of Trillium, said, "I look forward to partnering with Doug as we continue our value creation journey for all our stakeholders and realize the full potential of Trillium. In addition to the exciting organic growth opportunities, we have an attractive M&A and business development pipeline supported by our healthy balance sheet and the strong backing from First Reserve."

About Trillium Flow Technologies

Trillium Flow Technologies is a global designer, manufacturer, and aftermarket services provider of highly engineered valves and pumps used in critical infrastructure, including nuclear, water, power, processing, minerals, and general industrial applications. Built on industry leading global brands with hundreds of years of heritage, Trillium powers its advancement through cutting-edge innovation, industry expertise, and company vision to become the most relied upon flow control solutions company in the world. For more information, visit www.trilliumflow.com.

About First Reserve

First Reserve is a leading global private equity firm investing across diversified energy, utility, and industrial end-markets. Founded in 1983, First Reserve has more than 40 years of industry insight and has cultivated a differentiated network of global relationships. The firm has raised over $34 billion of aggregate capital and has developed operational expertise built from over 750 transactions, including platform investments and add-on acquisitions. For more information, visit www.firstreserve.com.

Media Contact:



Chris Molineaux

Global Marketing and Communications Director

832-691-9238

[email protected]

SOURCE Trillium Flow Technologies
The policy of Donald Trump, who won the presidential election in the United States, will be unexpected for Ukraine for now, Deputy Head of the Holos faction Yulia Klymenko said.

"Trump's policy will be unexpected for Ukraine for now, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to say whether assistance will continue to us. But what can be said for sure is that the Republicans will exercise much stricter control over the assistance provided," Klymenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.

She said it can already be said Trump and the Republicans, who won the election, will have control in the Senate.

"So de facto, the Republicans have received a full opportunity to implement their policy at all levels. Within a month, even before the inauguration of the president, they will replace 1,800 positions, which require Senate approval, in all branches of government with their representatives," Klymenko said.

She also drew attention to the fact the Ukrainian authorities and politicians have directed most of their efforts toward partnership with the Democrats, forgetting about the Republicans.

"Such an unreasonable policy will also have long-term consequences for Ukraine," the MP said.
NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) resulting from allegations that Unisys may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

So What: If you purchased Unisys securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9648 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

What is this about: On October 22, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") announced it had charged four companies, including Unisys, with "making materially misleading disclosures regarding cybersecurity risks and intrusions." Further, the SEC also charged Unisys with disclosure controls and procedures violations.

On this news, Unisys' stock fell 8.6% on October 22, 2024.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Verkada, the leader in cloud-based physical security , today announced the appointment of Marc Peston as General Manager of Northern Europe. Peston will lead Verkada's go-to-market and sales operations in Benelux, the Nordics, and the Baltics.

Marc Peston, General Manager of Northern Europe at Verkada

"Demand is growing worldwide for Verkada's easy-to-use, cloud-based physical security solutions. In Europe, our bookings have grown more than 360% in just the past year," said Eric Salava, Chief Revenue Officer at Verkada. "Marc's deep relationships in Northern Europe will put us in an even better position to serve our customers as they adopt our technology to create safer, smarter spaces."

Peston joins Verkada after nearly a decade at Qualtrics where he held several senior roles in sales and operations. At Qualtrics, Peston drove the company's expansion into Australia and Southeast Asia before leading the company's efforts in Benelux.

"Verkada plays an important role in protecting the lives of millions of people around the world every day," said Marc Peston, General Manager of Northern Europe at Verkada. "I'm looking forward to expanding this impact in Northern Europe, and helping more organizations across the region protect their people and places with privacy-respecting solutions."

Verkada is growing rapidly in Europe. In the past year, Verkada expanded operations into Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH) and increased its headcount in Europe by 50%. Leading organizations in Northern Europe trust Verkada as their physical security layer, including Rapha Racing , ToyChamp , and Canada Goose .

For more information on Verkada's products and the impact they are delivering to customers today, learn more here .

About Verkada

Designed with simplicity in mind, Verkada's six product lines  video security cameras , access control , environmental sensors , alarms , workplace , and intercoms  provide unparalleled building security through an integrated, cloud-based software platform. Over 28,000 organizations across 85 countries worldwide trust Verkada as their physical security layer for easier management, intelligent control, and scalable deployments. For more information, please visit www.verkada.com .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549568/Verkada_Marc_Peston.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1640210/image0_ID_16ac0026ee69_Logo.jpg
HENDERSON, Nev., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition"), a multi-national epigenetics company, has appointed Timothy Still as Chairman of its board of directors, effective November 06, 2024.

Timothy Still, Chairman of Volition

Mr. Still is currently Chairman and CEO of TSTILL Enterprises LLC, and an Operating Partner with REVIVAL Healthcare. An accomplished executive with a career spanning over 35 years in medical diagnostics, devices and digital health, his background includes extensive experience in designing and implementing highly focused commercial and business development strategies within both large and small companies. Tim has been directly responsible for building the commercial viability at his previous companies, many through to acquisition.

His most recent operating role was President and CEO of Sense Biodetection. Early in 2023, Sense Bio merged with Sherlock Biosciences to create a leading point of care diagnostics company serving the consumer diagnostics market. Prior to Sense Biodetection, Mr. Still has been a CEO and/or a board member at numerous medical technology companies: Myoscience, MDx Health, Gold Standard Diagnostics (Executive Chairman), Global Kinetics, Xagenic and Accumetrics. Earlier in his career, Tim also held senior leadership roles at HemoSense, Cholestech, and Boehringer Mannheim/Roche.

Mr. Still has a master's degree in business administration (Dean's Scholar) from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Science degree (Highest Honors) from the University of California at Davis.

Commenting on his appointment, Timothy Still said:

"I am excited to join Volition at such a pivotal time in the company's journey. With its groundbreaking epigenetic technology, I believe Volition has the potential to significantly impact global healthcare by detecting, guiding treatment, and monitoring disease, to improve outcomes for people and animals worldwide. I look forward to working alongside the board and leadership team during this important next phase of growth at Volition."

Cameron Reynolds, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, added:

"We are delighted to welcome Tim as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Volition. He brings extensive experience in the diagnostic sector and has a proven track record of successfully guiding companies from the R&D phase to market readiness, ultimately driving commercial success. We look forward to benefiting from his strategic advice and leadership.

"I would like to thank Guy Innes, who has acted as our Interim Non-Executive Chair since the summer and continues to serve diligently on the Volition board."

Volition is developing simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases in both humans and animals. For more information about Volition's technology go to: www.volition.com.

About Volition

Volition is a multi-national company focused on advancing the science of epigenetics. Volition is dedicated to saving lives and improving outcomes for people and animals with life-altering diseases through earlier detection, as well as disease and treatment monitoring.

Through its subsidiaries, Volition is developing and commercializing simple, easy to use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of diseases, including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis, such as sepsis. Early diagnosis and monitoring have the potential not only to prolong the life of patients, but also to improve their quality of life.

Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and additional offices in London and Singapore.

The contents found at Volition's website address are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. Such website address is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only.

Media Enquiries:

Louise Batchelor/Debra Daglish, Volition, [email protected], +44 (0)7557 774620

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would," "should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other topics, the potential uses, benefits and effectiveness of Volition's Nu.Q technology platform. Volition's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, results of studies testing the efficacy of its tests. For instance, if Volition fails to develop and commercialize diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring products, it may be unable to execute its plan of operations. Other risks and uncertainties include Volition's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products; a failure by the marketplace to accept the products in Volition's development pipeline or any other diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring products Volition might develop; Volition's failure to secure adequate intellectual property protection; Volition will face fierce competition and Volition's intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics and disease monitoring market and its rapid technological change; downturns in domestic and foreign economies; and other risks, including those identified in Volition's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that Volition files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Volition's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, except as required by law, Volition does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

Nucleosomics, Capture-PCR and Nu.Q and their respective logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this press release are the property of their respective owners.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2550489/Timothy_Still.jpg

SOURCE VolitionRx Limited
The "Copper Mark" is the leading assurance framework to promote responsible practices across the copper industry that considers the environmental, social and governance issues, from mining to processing, in the copper industry.

CEO Kwak Keun-man said, "We will prove that our sourcing is ethical and fulfill our social responsibilities in accordance with international standards."

BUDAPEST, Hungary, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Volta Energy Solutions Hungary (VESH) announced that it has started the process to obtain The Copper Mark, under their assurance process.

Volta Energy Solutions Hungary

The Copper Mark was established in 2019 and is the leading assurance framework in the copper industry's to ensure that the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices are met. In the assurance process, extensive evaluation is conducted in terms of environmental and human rights protection, regional coexistence, and compliance with ethical management from ore mining to production sales of ore products and others. Therefore, it is considered the "ESG assurance process within the copper industry."

The London Metal Exchange (LME), the world's largest metal exchange, recommends that companies involved in the copper industry implement a responsible sourcing policy. The Copper Mark is used as a means of ensuring that this policy is carried out, and companies that have obtained this mark are included in the "LME-Approved Brands" list. As of August 2024, more than 360 brands are registered in more than 55 countries for copper cathode, zinc, nickel, etc.

In Europe, where Volta Energy Solutions currently operates battery copper foil and copper foil plants including Hungary, the stability of the resource supply chain is being enhanced by establishing sustainable supply chains and raising standards to meet environmental and social responsibilities. By obtaining the Copper Mark award, Volta Energy Solutions expects that it will be able to secure an advantageous position as a reliable raw material supplier and continue to build stronger business relationships with many global customers.

Kwak Keun-man, CEO of Volta Energy Solutions, said, "Our pursuit of The Copper Mark award is part of our efforts to meet the strict ESG standards of the international community, including Europe and the United States. We will reinforce ESG management through responsible sourcing policies and grow together with global customers in the long term as a sustainable company."

In addition to pursuing this The Copper Mark award, Volta Energy Solutions is carrying out various ESG activities to meet international standards.

For example, the company has a supply chain management policy to ensure that its product supply chain does not include conflict minerals linked to armed groups in conflict zones. As a global company with several overseas subsidiaries, Volta Energy Solutions is striving to respect human rights, coexist with local communities, and comply with local laws.

About Volta Energy Solutions

Volta Energy Solutions (VES) is a European subsidiary of Solus Advanced Materials (a South Korea-based company listed on the Korean stock market (KOSPI)). Volta Energy Solutions operates its respective subsidiaries in Hungary and Canada. VES's history back to 1960, when Circuit Foil Luxembourg (CFL) was established in Luxembourg. CFL was the first company to develop copper foil for electric vehicle batteries in 1996. Solus Advanced Materials acquired CFL in 2014 and entered the copper foil business based on CFL's technological expertise and knowhow. Since 2014, Solus Advanced Materials has been expanding its business presence, establishing a new footprint in Europe with its battery foil plant in Hungary in 2018. Through this strategic movement, VES was established in Luxembourg to manage and expand its global presence further. With the rapid growth of the North American EV market, Volta Energy Solutions Canada (VESC), located in Quebec, Canada, to expand its business presence in the market. For more information, please visit the VES & CFL website at www.volta-energysolutions.com/ www.circuitfoil.com

SOURCE Solus Advanced Materials
The company will now be deploying its Zeta Surgical Navigation System in the United States through its Pioneers Program, a limited market release ahead of a broader launch in 2025.

BOSTON, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeta Surgical announced today that its Zeta Navigation System has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with expanded instruments and enhanced hospital connectivity.

The Zeta Surgical platform provides rapidly deployable, high-accuracy navigation for the 19.6 million annual neurological interventions currently unsupported by existing navigation systems. Its "GPS-like" guidance system uses mixed reality and advanced motion-aware remote sensing to enable real-time patient tracking, providing unprecedented access to navigation across a wide range of neurological interventions.

This latest FDA clearance enables the Zeta system to be deployed with a variety of new accessories and surgical kits, including instruments from technology leaders such as IZI Medical. The clearance will also allow hospitals to integrate the system's software into their IT networks, allowing for seamless and fast access to patient data.

"Our vision is to ensure that advanced image-guided technology is no longer confined to specialized operating rooms or surgical suites," said Hieu Le Mau, Chief Operating Officer at Zeta Surgical. "The addition of new surgical kits substantially broadens the system's applications, opening up new possibilities in neurosurgical procedures, while the enhanced connectivity with hospital systems allows surgeons to easily transfer and access patient information."

The announcement comes as the company starts the rollout of its Pioneers Program, its first set of commercial pilots aimed at evaluating the use of the Zeta system across a variety of clinical applications. In 2023, the company obtained its first FDA 510(k) clearance and announced the successful completion of its first multicenter clinical trial at two leading sites in Singapore.

"We are excited about the impact our expanded capabilities will have on our pilot programs across the United States," said Raahil Sha, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Zeta Surgical. "Our goal has always been to improve surgical outcomes, and this clearance opens up a significantly broader range of procedures that our partner hospitals can access through our minimally invasive system."

About Zeta Surgical

Zeta Surgical is redefining the standard of care for image-guided surgery. Its cutting-edge navigation and robotics platform applies advanced AI to enable high-accuracy image guidance across any point-of-care in minutes, unlocking a new era of less invasive and more effective targeted therapies. The Zeta Surgical Cranial Navigation System is cleared by the FDA and commercially available in the US. Discover more at www.zetasurgical.com.

Media Contact

Media Relations - [email protected]

SOURCE Zeta Surgical
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held meetings with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, with Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, and with the Presidential Advisor on Strategic Issues Oleksandr Kamyshin.

"Today, there were many meetings precisely about what results we have now and what we can achieve. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal  a meeting on our current work and key issues of sustainability. I also spoke with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, about the actions of both the legislative and executive branches of government," Zelenskyy said in his evening video address.

The president said he held a meeting with Kamyshin on work in the defense industry, supplies for the front, and also on prospective actions to strengthen Ukrainian positions.

In addition, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky reported on the situation at the front, as well as on the implementation of decisions that can support Ukrainian defenders on the front line.
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On November 5, 2024, the Economic Court of Kyiv region ruled to recover $154 million from the Russian Federation for the damages caused by Russian aggression and occupation of part of Ukraines territory to Feodosia Shipbuilding Company More, part of Ukroboronprom.

In 2014, due to Russias military aggression, one of the leading shipbuilding companies lost control over assets located in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Feodosia) that were appropriated by the Russian occupation authorities, the press service of the Ilyashev & Partners law firm, which handled the lawsuit, told Interfax-Ukraine.

The law firm clarified that More is currently undergoing judicial rehabilitation, and Andriy Lytvyn, a lawyer and head of the Kharkiv office of Ilyashev & Partners, has been appointed as the rehabilitation manager.

It is noted that despite the loss of assets of the shipyard due to the temporary occupation of Crimea, during the rehabilitation procedure, the claims of the first-third and partially fourth queues included in the register of creditors' claims were fully paid off in the total amount of more than UAH 170 million.

More Shipyard is included in the list of enterprises of strategic importance for the economy and security of the state. Some 100% of it belongs to the state represented by Ukroboronprom. The shipbuilding company specialized in military and civil shipbuilding, in particular the creation of military and multi-purpose boats, hydrofoil vessels from light alloys.

As previously reported by the Interfax-Ukraine agency with reference to deputy head of the President's Office Iryna Mudra, as of early April 2024, Ukrainian courts have issued at least 397 decisions on compensation for damages caused by military actions of Russia, and this number is constantly growing. At the same time, according to the official, such a path has questionable effectiveness in contrast to the international compensation mechanism being created.

"The main problem is that the execution of such court decisions is virtually impossible: today in Ukraine there is no legal mechanism for the execution of decisions on the recovery of funds from the Russian Federation," Mudra said in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : As the bickering between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition MPs continues over the Waqf Amendment Bill, the Dawoodi Bohra community has demanded to exclude itself from the purview of the Waqf Board during the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting held on Tuesday.

New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) As the bickering between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition MPs continues over the Waqf Amendment Bill, the Dawoodi Bohra community has demanded to exclude itself from the purview of the Waqf Board during the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting held on Tuesday.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the Dawoodi Bohra community, underlined the community's unique doctrines and practices, asserting their need for exclusion from the proposed legislation to safeguard their faith and administration under the al-Dai al-Mutlaq during the meeting.

During the meeting, Salve appeared before the JPC on behalf of Anjuman-E-Shiate Ali Bohra.

Salve cited several decisions of the Supreme Court recognising the uniqueness of the Dawoodi Bohra community and said that the powers of the Waqf Board weaken the fundamental rights of the community.

Salve and other representatives, citing the religious beliefs of the Dawoodi Bohra community and the powers attached to the community's leaders, strongly argued in the JPC meeting that the Waqf Board should not be allowed to interfere in the properties and affairs of the community. Therefore, the worship lands of the Dawoodi Bohra community should not be included in the properties of the Waqf Board and the right to manage it should remain with the community.

The senior advocate also said that the uniqueness of the Dawoodi Bohra community has not been taken into account even in the Waqf Board (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

In the JPC meeting held on Tuesday, apart from representatives of Akhil Bhartiya Adhivakta Parishad, Anveshak, students, and Madarsa Cell and Mohammad Hanif Ahmed; Associate Professor of AMU, Aligarh, also presented their views on the Waqf Amendment Bill.

According to sources, these organisations also broadly supported the Bill with some suggestions and demands for changes.

However, the ongoing dispute between the ruling BJP and Opposition MPs in the JPC meeting regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 required the intervention of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday.

Opposition MPs from Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Samajwadi Party, who are part of the JPC, met Om Birla on Tuesday and complained about the behaviour of JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal.

During the meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Opposition MPs alleged that the JPC Chairman is arbitrarily calling the JPC meetings, and such people and organisations are allowed to present their views in the JPC meeting who are not stakeholders in the matter.

Opposition MPs also allege that on one hand people and organisations who have nothing to do with Waqf are being allowed to speak continuously, while on the other hand, Opposition MPs are not being allowed to prepare and speak during the meeting.

After meeting Om Birla, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said that a delegation of Opposition MPs met the Lok Sabha Speaker and informed him about the problems being faced during the JPC meetings.

Singh claimed that the Lok Sabha Speaker has assured the Opposition MPs to discuss all the issues and find solutions regarding the Waqf law in the JPC meetings.

Earlier, the Opposition MPs had written a letter to Om Birla, accusing Jagdambika Pal of high-handedness. They also said that if the JPC Chairman continues acting in this manner, unilateral decision is taken and if they are not given a proper opportunity to express their views, then they will withdraw their names from JPC.

However, while talking to the media, Jagdambika Pal rejected all the allegations levelled against him by the Opposition MPs and said that the JPC has been formed largely to hold discussions with all the stakeholders regarding the Waqf law. Therefore, JPC meetings are being held continuously.

The JPC Chairman said that the Opposition MPs who have made allegations are also continuously attending these meetings and as Chairman, he is also giving them ample opportunity to speak.

Around 25 meetings of the JPC have been held so far.

After November 9, the JPC will once again visit various states and hold discussions with various stakeholders related to the Waqf.
Tel Aviv, Nov 6 : Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz to succeed Yoav Gallant as Defence Minister, while Gideon Saar becomes the new Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister's office said on Tuesday in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu sacked Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Katz, the new Israel Defence Minister, is described as a long-time ally and loyalist of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

A member of Netanyahu's ruling Likud Party, in which he was previously President of the party's convention, Katz has held multiple Cabinet roles going back to 2003.

As Foreign Minister, Katz drew international attention for his pointed attacks on world leaders and international organisations that had expressed opposition to Israeli military actions, particularly in Gaza.

He spearheaded a diplomatic battle against the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and last month Israel's Parliament banned the agency from working in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem.

On Monday, Katz instructed his Ministry to formally notify the United Nations that Israel was cancelling its agreements with UNRWA.

Last month, Katz triggered outrage when he declared UN Chief Antonio Guterres "persona non-grata in Israel" and wrote in a post on X that he would ban him from entering the country.

Before serving as Foreign Minister, Katz's most notable role was as Transport Minister.

He spent a decade in the post from 2009 to 2019 but also held the Energy and Finance portfolios in various Netanyahu Cabinets.

Netanyahu on Tuesday appointed Gideon Saar as the new Foreign Minister of the country after his predecessor Israel Katz took charge as the Defence Minister.

"I spoke today with Minister Gideon Saar and offered him and his faction to join the coalition and take on the position of Foreign Minister," Netanyahu said in a statement from his office.

Gideon Saar is an Israeli politician currently serving as a member of the Knesset for New Hope. He worked as an aide to the Attorney General between 1995 and 1997. He was appointed Cabinet Secretary in 1999 and again in 2001.

He was first elected to the Knesset as a member of Likud in 2003. Saar served until 2014. During this period he served as Education Minister from 2009 to 2013 and Interior Minister from 2013 to 2014.

In September 2014, Saar resigned from the post. After a hiatus from politics for over two years, Saar announced his return and intention to run in the next Likud primaries. He returned to the Knesset in 2019, and unsuccessfully challenged Netanyahu for the leadership of Likud.

He subsequently formed his party, New Hope, and became Minister of Justice from 2021 to 2022 and Deputy Prime Minister in 2021 in the Thirty-sixth government.

In 2022, Saar formed an electoral pact with Benny Gantz's Blue and White, named National Unity. As a member of the alliance, he returned to the opposition following the 2022 election. After the breakout of the Israela"Hamas war, National Unity joined the coalition, and Saar was named Minister without portfolio. He was also named as an observer in the Israeli war cabinet.

In March 2024, Saar withdrew New Hope from National Unity, and from the coalition, and resigned as Minister. In September this year, he joined the Israeli Cabinet.
New York, Nov 6 : After voting in the presidential election, Republican candidate Donald Trump has said that this was the best campaign he has run and indicated that it may be his last.

"I ran a great campaign. I think it was maybe the best of the three," he said on Tuesday at a polling station in Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago home.

He said that it would be "crazy," to think that he would not concede if the election was fair.

"If I lose an election, if it's a fair election, I'm going to be the first one to acknowledge it, and I think it's -- well, so far, I think it's been fair."

When a reporter asked the 78-year-old former President if this would be his last campaign, he said, "Yeah, I would think so."

Trump won his first election against Hillary Clinton, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, in 2016, but lost the second to President Joe Biden in 2020.

He has not conceded defeat in the last election and insists he is the winner.

"We did great in the first one. We did much better in the second one, but something happened. And, this was the best, I would say this was the best campaign we ran," he said.

As he insisted that he had defeated Biden and the election was stolen, his supporters rioted on January 5, 2021, and invaded the Capitol while Congress was certifying Biden's election.

They made death threats against Vice-President Mike Pence and made members of Congress flee.

Trump said that he did not expect violence this time.

"My supporters are not violent people," he added.

Trump's wife Melania joined him at the polling station set up at a tightly guarded recreation centre.

Earlier he posted on X, "Voter enthusiasm is THROUGH THE ROOF because people want to Make America Great Again. That means lines are going to be long!"

He exhorted his supporters to "stay in line" and vote no matter how long it took.

"The Radical Communist Democrats want you to pack up and go home," he added.
Los Angeles, Nov 6 : 'The Boss', Bruce Springsteen, recently visited the sets of his biopic 'Deliver Me From Nowhere' which stars 'The Bear' actor Jeremy Allen White in the lead role.

Jeremy was in character as 1980s-era Springsteen.

The two were photographed in Bayonne, New Jersey, reports 'Variety'.

Allen White and director Scott Cooper filmed a scene at what looks like a car dealership parking lot.

Springsteen and Allen White were spotted hugging and checking out some classic cars, including a Chevrolet Z28 Camaro, which Springsteen has said was the first car he ever bought.

As per 'Variety', Allen White is playing Springsteen during the making of his 1982 album 'Nebraska'.

The filming is taking place primarily in Springsteen's native New Jersey and New York, with additional production in Los Angeles.

The movie, hailing from Disney's 20th Century Studios, is set to hit theatres next year.

Last week, a first-look image of Allen White as Springsteen was revealed, showing 'The Bear' star rocking 'The Boss' signature flannel and leather jacket.

Allen White was sporting a similar outfit on set during Springsteen's visit, while Springsteen wore a red-and-white-checked peacoat, cream-coloured scarf, and shades.

Springsteen and his longtime manager, Jon Landau, are closely involved with 'Deliver Me From Nowhere'.

In May, 'Variety' reported that 'Succession' star Jeremy Strong is in talks to portray Landau.

"It is a once-in-a-lifetime honour to be collaborating with Bruce Springsteen, an inspiring and incomparable artist who represents so much to so many," Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios President David Greenbaum said in a statement when the film landed at the studio.

"The deep authenticity of his story is in great hands with my friend Scott Cooper whom I am thrilled to be collaborating with once again," he added.
Nagpur, Nov 6 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will begin his poll campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly elections on Wednesday in Nagpur, where he will attend a "Samvidhan Sammelan" (Conference on Constitution).

Later in the day, Rahul Gandhi will attend a public meeting in Mumbai where the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) poll guarantees are expected to be announced.

The symbolism of choosing Nagpur is crucial as it is not just the headquarters of the RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, but also the place where B.R. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956.

Nagpur is in the larger Vidarbha region which is of strategic importance in the battle for Maharashtra.

Of the 76 constituencies where the BJP and the Congress are engaged in a direct contest, 36 are in Vidarbha, which is the state's cotton belt. Of all the regions in the state, the BJP has fielded the most in Vidarbha (47), and dealing it a blow here will go a long way in paving the way for the MVA's return to power in the state.

Vidarbha used to be a traditional Congress stronghold but the party lost its grip on it as the BJP won 44 of the 62 Assembly constituencies and the party was reduced to 10. Five years ago, the BJP's tally fell to 29 but the Congress's seat count rose to only 15. The party's performance in the Lok Sabha elections, in which it won four of the 10 parliamentary seats in the region, has also given it a reason to hope.

The INDIA alliance bagged seven Lok Sabha constituencies, with only three going to the MahaYuti.

One of the major reasons attributed to the Congress and the MVA's success was its campaign on the issues of the Constitution, reservation, and caste census. The Opposition had alleged that the BJP would pose a threat to the Constitution and the quota system if it returned to power with a bigger mandate than in 2019 when it won 303 seats overall. This resonated in Vidarbha, which has a vibrant and powerful Dalit movement and a sizable population of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Two of the Congress's top leaders, including its State party President Nana Patole, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, are from Vidarbha. Apart from them, the party has several powerful second-rank leaders.

On Wednesday, Gandhi will visit the Deekshabhoomi, the site where Ambedkar converted to Buddhism, and then head to the Constitution conference organised by a non-political outfit called the OBC Yuva Manch.

"The Maharashtra government was planning to introduce chapters of Manusmriti in the school curriculum. It is a bigger threat to Indian democracy. Safeguarding the Constitution, which has given rights to every Indian citizen, is our duty and the conference is organised for this aim," said Anil Jaihind, the organiser of the programme.

"It is an apolitical event. Several organisations across the state are going to join it and the Model Code of Conduct will be observed," said Wadettiwar.

On Wednesday evening, Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray, and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar will address a "Swabhiman Sabha" in Mumbai. At the event, MVA's poll guarantees are expected to be announced.

Farm loan waiver and caste census are likely to be among the major guarantees. The alliance could also announce a Universal Basic Income scheme to counter the Eknath Shinde government's Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme under which Rs 1,500 is deposited in the accounts of women below the poverty line.
Washington, Nov 6 : Former US President Donald Trump has secured 120 electoral college votes and Vice-President Kamala Harris 99 as polling closed in states at 9 p.m. Eastern time, according to projections by the Associated Press.

The projections are basically in predictably partisan states that have historically voted either Democratic or Republican. They did not include any of the seven battleground states. And there were no surprises from previous outcomes.

Trump was projected to win Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Louisiana.

Harris was projected to take Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Illinois, and New York.

The winner needs to cross 270 of the 538 electoral college votes.

The contest is on in the battleground states of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

These projections were announced shortly after the close of polling in some states, including Georgia, one of the seven battleground states that will determine the outcome of the 2024 race for president.

These early projections are based on the history of polling in the state and are based on early trends that are not expected to change much through the night or later, on the completion of the full count of the polled votes.

More than 82 million American voters had already cast their ballot before Tuesday, called Election Day, either through in-person voting at early voting stations or through postal ballot. This was more than 51 per cent of the total of 158 million votes that were cast in 2020, at the height of a raging Covid-19 pandemic.

Harris and Trump ended their campaign with rallies in Pennsylvania and Michigan respectively, also both battleground states. There are in all seven battleground states that will determine the 2024 White House race. Unlike others, they are neither solidly Democratic or Republican and they can swing between the two and are, therefore, also called the Swing States.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : The political future of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, will be discussed on Wednesday during a meeting called by the Akal Takht, the supreme Sikh seat of authority.

This is not a meeting of Sikh High Priests but the Akal Takht has called a meeting of Sikh Panthic scholars and intellectuals on Wednesday.

Sukhbir Badal's Tankhaiya (guilty of violating the Sikh religious code) case and religious punishment will be discussed in this meeting to be held at the Sri Akal Takht Secretariat.

As many as 18 Sikh scholars and intellectuals will participate in the meeting called by Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh.

Sukhbir Singh Badal's stature as President of Punjab's Sikh panthic party, the SAD, took a huge hit after the Akal Takht, declared him Tankhaiya.

The declaration that was announced on August 30 this year was a result of the decisions he took as Deputy Chief Minister and SAD chief from 2007 to 2017 that according to the Akal Takht "deeply harmed the image of the 'panth' and caused damage to Sikh interests apart from the SAD's own downfall."

While the Akal Takht did not reveal the details of Badal's controversial decisions, a letter written by SAD rebels accused Badal of trying to get the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim pardoned by the Akal Takht in an old case involving his alleged blasphemous bid to imitate the tenth Sikh Guru.

In that letter, Badal's detractors also blamed him for lack of proper action as the leader of the panthic party in handling incidents related to the sacrilege of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib in 2015 by some miscreants despite holding the home department portfolio at that time.

To make matters worse, two Sikh protesters were killed in police firing, leading to major resentment within the community in Punjab and elsewhere.

Now all eyes are on the meeting today as the discussions of the religious experts and Sikh intellectuals are expected to have a bearing on the quantum of punishment that will be announced by the Akal Takht going forward.
San Francisco, Nov 6 : As the White House race entered the crucial counting stage, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees to make sure that "the products we build" are "a trusted source of information to people of every background and belief." San Francisco, Nov 6 (IANS) As the White House race entered the crucial counting stage, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees to make sure that "the products we build" are "a trusted source of information to people of every background and belief."

In a memo to employees, Pichai said whomever the voters entrust, "let's remember the role we play at work, through the products we build and as a business: to be a trusted source of information to people of every background and belief".

"We will and must maintain that. In that spirit, it's important that everyone continue to follow our Community Guidelines and Personal Political Activity Policy," he wrote in the internal memo.

Teams across Google and YouTube have been working hard to make sure that the platforms provide voters with high-quality and reliable information, "just as we've done for so many other elections around the world".

"In fact, dozens of countries have held major, hotly contested elections this year, from France to India to the UK to Mexico and many more, with well over a billion people casting votes in 2024," Pichai noted.

As with other elections, the outcome will be a major topic of conversation in living rooms and other places around the world. And of course, the outcome will have important consequences.

"Beyond election day, our work to organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful will continue. Al has given us a profound opportunity to make progress on that mission, build great products and partnerships, drive innovation, and make significant contributions to national and local economies. Our company is at its best when we're focused on that," Pichai elaborated.

Earlier, Meta had announced to extend ban on new political ads on Facebook and Instagram even after the US presidential election on November 5. In its political ads policy update, Meta has extended ban on new political ads past Tuesday, the original end date for the restriction period.
Mysuru : , Nov 6 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appeared before the Mysuru Lokayukta Superintendent T.J. Udesh on Wednesday morning in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case.

CM Siddaramaiah is named as the main accused in the case related to the alleged irregularities in the MUDA.

He is the first Chief Minister to face a Lokayukta probe while being in power in the history of Karnataka.

It is also the first time CM Siddaramaiah, who has a clean record, is facing a probe in his four-decade-old political career.

CM Siddaramaiah, who arrived in Mysuru from Bengaluru, was welcomed by Minister for Social Welfare H.C. Mahadevappa and Minister for Animal Husbandry K. Venkatesh at the Government Guest House.

CM Siddaramaiah had breakfast at the guest house and went straight to the Lokayuktaas office after that.

CM Siddaramaiah would be probed about his role in allocation of sites on 50:50 ration to his family; land conversion and for alleged fabrication of documents.

Sources stated that, if CM Siddaramaiah gets a clean chit in the Lokayukta probe, it would help him to strongly argue that the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is not required and allegations against him are political in nature.

CM Siddaramaiah can face the investigation without the threat of being arrested.

The High Court will take up the matter on the petition demanding a CBI probe on November 26.

The court has also asked the Lokayukta to submit its report of investigation.

Petitioner Snehamayi Krishna has stated that he has submitted a list of questions to be asked from CM Siddaramaiah.

If the Lokayukta fails to ask these questions, CM Siddaramaiah will have to face these questions by the CBI in future.

A high alert has been sounded in the surrounding areas of the Lokayuktaas office in Mysuru.

The Lokayukta had questioned CM Siddaramaiahas wife Parvathy, the second accused, third accused brother-in-law Mallikarjunaswamy and fourth accused land owner J. Devaraju earlier.
Palakkad, Nov 6 : Senior Congress leaders on Wednesday were up in arms over the midnight swoop by Kerala Police in the hotel rooms of senior women Congress leaders staying in Palakkad, who came for election campaigning for the November 20 by-election.

The swoop that began close to midnight came to a close around 3 a.m.

The rooms were searched after reports surfaced that large amounts of money had arrived at the hotel.

The by-election is taking place at the Palakkad Assembly constituency after sitting Congress legislator Shafi Parambil resigned after being elected to the Lok Sabha.

The Congress has fielded Youth Congress president Rahul Mamkootathil.

Congress MP's Parambil and V. K. Sreekandan said this is a planned move by the CPI-M and BJP combine to create a scene.

Senior Congress leader Bindu Krishnan and her colleague and former legislator Shanimol Usman's rooms were searched, while a large number of the party workers of the Congress, CPI-M and the BJP were engaged in a free for all when the search was going on.

"We have no problems at all, but we want to get a report on the outcome of the midnight swoop. We want to get a copy of the police report," said both the senior women leaders.

"We will take legal steps against this act done by the police," said Usman.

Local legislator from the Palakkad district and State Minister of Local Self Government M. B. Rajesh said that to the best of his knowledge, it's a normal procedure done by police and it has been done in all the rooms of political leaders.

"Even my vehicle was inspected during my election campaign time. Fail to understand why the big noise. I am told that the police team first inspected former CPI-M legislator T. V. Rajesh's room and then the room of senior journalist M. V. Nikesh Kumar. The police have said they will give the report to the Election Commission. It was women police officials who did the job. The EC officials were also present," said Rajesh.

"Things are being twisted for political gains. At the moment now Congress is on the back foot and they are trying to claw back. It was two of their MP's led the show," added Rajesh.

When the raids were on angry CPI-M, BJP workers were seen shouting to the police that the Congress candidate Rahul was hiding in the hotel and that he had to be found out.

But these claims were dismissed by journalists when they called up Rahul in the middle of the night and said that he was in Kozhikode, also that he has no money with him kept anywhere.

State Congress president K. Sudhakaran said that this is an organised conspiracy hatched and the money has come to CM Vijayan and BJP.

Meanwhile, the hotel owner has filed a complaint against the police for barging into the hotel and as a result of this, they have suffered losses to their property.

The Congress party is organising a protest march to the office of the Palakkad SP against the unnecessary police action to create a scene.
What US election outcomes mean for Ukraine

On Thursday, November 7, at 14.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a discussion entitled "What US election outcomes mean for Ukraine."

Participants include political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko; Board Chairman of the Penta Center for Applied Political Research Volodymyr Fesenko; political scientist, co-founder of the National Platform for Sustainability and Cohesion Oleh Saakian (8/5a Reitarska Street).

The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel.

Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards.
Port Sudan, Nov 6 : The number of cholera infection cases in Sudan has climbed to 30,880, while dengue fever cases reached 6,011.

"The cholera epidemiological situation report revealed the registration of 138 new cases, including two deaths, bringing the total to 30,880 cases, including 887 deaths," Sudan's Health Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ministry said 72 out of the 138 new cases were recorded in Gedaref State in Sudan.

In addition, 91 new cases of dengue fever were reported, all in Kassala State, raising the total number of dengue fever cases in the country to 6,011, including 12 deaths.

Kassala State is experiencing high rates of both cholera and dengue fever, attributed to waves of displacement from the Gezira region in Sudan, as noted by Al-Fadil Mohamed Mahmoud, director general of the ministry's Health Emergencies and Epidemic Control Department, Xinhua news agency reported.

The marked increase in cholera and dengue cases is part of a broader health crisis in Sudan, where fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has raged since April 2023. Other epidemic diseases, including malaria and measles, have also been spreading.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in over 24,850 deaths and displaced millions of people, according to the latest estimates from international organisations.
Ramallah, Nov 6 : Three Palestinian men were killed by Israeli army gunfire in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin in the northern West Bank.

Local sources and witnesses said Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition at a car after ramming it with a military vehicle to force it to stop. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed that its workers transported the bodies of two men from inside the vehicle to a medical complex in Qabatiya.

A third victim, according to Palestinian security sources, was on the roof of his family's home when Israeli soldiers shot him. He was taken to Al-Razi Hospital in Jenin, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Israeli military has not yet commented on the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.

These latest deaths bring the total number of Palestinians killed in the northern West Bank to seven since Tuesday morning. Earlier, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that four others were killed in Israeli airstrikes and gunfire in Jenin and Tubas.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, the Israeli army said its drone had targeted an armed cell near Qabatiya.

Tensions in the West Bank have escalated significantly since October 7, 2023, with more than 760 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire and shelling, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
New York, Nov 6 : Suhas Subramanyam is on his way to Congress where he will join the 'Samosa Caucus', the group of Indian American lawmakers, boosting its strength to six.

In his Virginia constituency, he had 52.1 per cent of the votes to 47.9 per cent for his Republican rival with 97 per cent of the votes counted.

He was declared the winner by The Associated Press, which calls elections based on the counting data before the official announcement.

Subramanyam now serves in the Virginia General Assembly after having been a technology policy adviser in President Barack Obama's White House and starting a business.

His mother is from Bengaluru and his father is from Chennai.

Subramanyam got his undergraduate degree from Tulane University and went to work on Capitol Hill as a policy aide, where he worked to expand and improve health care access to millions of Americans [and] helped build a bipartisan coalition in support of immigration reform," according to his campaign biography.

After a Law degree from Northwestern University, he joined the White House staff.

He contested the election on his record of helping small businesses and working families and promoting laws to bring down medicine prices.

Suhas and his wife Miranda Pena Subramanyam have two daughters.

All the five Indian Americans in the House of Representatives  Ro Khanna, Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Shri Thaneda  are expected to be re-elected.

Amish Shah, another Democrat, running for the House from Arizona had a slender lead of 1.8 per cent with 54 per cent of the votes at 11:30 p.m. in New York (10 a.m. in India).
Mumbai, Nov 6 : The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) will launch the poll campaign in Maharashtra with events in Nagpur and Mumbai on Wednesday.

Congress President and Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha) Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were reaching Nagpur to attend the 'Samvidhan Sanman Sammelan' (Honour Constitution Meeting), organised there.

Rahul Gandhi will start the state trip by paying homage at Deekshabhoomi, where the Chief Architect of the Constitution B. R. Ambedkar and over four lakhs of his followers embraced Buddhism 68 years ago, around noon.

Later, he will take part in the 'Honour Constitution Meeting' and interact with the participants at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium.

This afternoon, along with Kharge and other top leaders, Rahul Gandhi shall arrive in Mumbai for a massive MVA public rally - Swabhiman Sabha - at the Bandra Kurla Complex, said Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe.

"This evening we shall unveil the Congress' guarantees for the people of Maharashtra ahead of the Assembly elections, highlight the corrupt dealing of the ruling Mahayuti alliance government, how they have mortgaged the pride of Maharashtra to Gujarat, its various acts detrimental to the state, etc," informed Londhe.

The MVA leaders are expected to give a firm retort to what it said were the "fake narratives" of the Bharatiya Janata Party-MahaYuti regime in the state, plus detail how the Congress guarantees have been implemented in Karnataka and Telangana, and the manner in which the same would be executed in Maharashtra.

The opposition rally at BKC grounds shall be attended/addressed by Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, state NCP (SP) chief Jayant R. Patil and heads of other parties in the alliance.

Today's (Wednesday) rally will be the first formal joint campaign launch for the MVA-INDIA bloc, followed by more such combined rallies planned in different parts of the state, said a party leader in Mumbai.

Assembly elections in Maharashtra are scheduled on November 20.
Mumbai, Nov 6 : In a major political twist to the tussle for power between the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi, the BJP has unilaterally announced its support to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) nominee from Shivadi constituency in South Mumbai, Bala Nandgaonkar who is locked in a direct fight against the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Ajay Chaudhary.

The announcement in this regard was made by Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar late on Tuesday night even though MNS is not a part of the Mahayuti comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP.

With the BJP's move, Chaudhary will have to strive to garner support from non-Marathi speaking voters instead of merely banking on support from 'Marathi Manoos.'

"The BJP wants to vote for Bala Nandgaonkar. I don't know whether he and his party will call us. But the BJP wants to campaign for 'Engine' (which is MNS' poll symbol)," said Shelar.

"The BJP's support to MNS is not in Maharashtra but only limited to the Shivadi Constituency. There was a thought that the Mahayuti should field its nominee from Shivadi constituency but it was not done. The Mahayuti has its nominees in 35 of the total 36 seats in Greater Mumbai but MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) are pitted against each other in Shivadi constituency," said Shelar defending the party's decision to support Bala Nandgaonkar.

He claimed that the BJP will work hard for Bala Nandgaonkar's victory.

He reiterated that the tie-up between the BJP and MNS is limited to Shivadi only and not in other constituencies.

Incidentally, the BJP and MNS are fighting against each other in several constituencies across Maharashtra.

"The election is a celebration of democracy. We have to move forward on ideology. Some old friends have not contacted us. But Uddhav Thackeray betrayed us and his name will be reported in history as a traitor," claimed Shelar.

Shelar attacked Uddhav Thackeray for breaking the alliance with the BJP and joining hands with the Congress and NCP to gain power.

"However, Uddhav Thackeray did not utter a single word despite the Congress party's repeated insults to VD Savarkar. The Maha Vikas Aghadi government did not hand over the case of killing of sadhus in Palghar to the CBI," he claimed.

Shelar's announcement comes after Shiv Sena nominee Sada Sarvankar did not withdraw his nomination in support of MNS candidate Amit Thackeray.

Shelar and DCM Devendra Fadnavis had made a strong pitch for the Mahayuti extending its support to the MNS nominee from the Mahim seat, Amit Thackeray.

They were of the view that the Shiv Sena nominee Sada Sarvankar should withdraw his nomination and support Amit Thackeray who is the son of MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

Their argument was that the Mahayuti should support Amit Thackeray as his father as the MNS had extended support to the Mahayuti in the general elections.

However, the BJP's efforts did not yield positive results as Sarvankar remained in the fray.

Shelar's announcement is also important as Raj Thackeray has predicted that the Mahayuti will come back to power with the BJP holding the Chief Minister's post.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
Kolkata, Nov 6 : The NIA arrested long-absconding local Trinamool Congress leader Nabakumar Mondal, who is one of the key accused in the murder of BJP leader Bijoy Krishna Bhunia at Moyna in East Midnapore district in West Bengal, last May.

Sources aware of the development said that the accused was arrested from a place at Goramahal village in East Midnapore district. He will be first taken for a medical checkup on Wednesday, following which, they will be presented at a special court in Kolkata.

In April this year, Calcutta High Courtas single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta ordered an NIA probe in the murder of Bhunia.

Bhunia was murdered at Moyna in May last year. Initially, Calcutta High Courtas single-judge bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha ordered a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO)-level probe in the matter.

However, later there were allegations against the state police of a flawed investigation into the matter. The first complaint was that the event of recovery of bombs from the place of the murder was not mentioned in the charge sheet. The accusations against the state police were also that their investigating officials had not included the names of a number of accused in the chargesheet.

Bhunia was the booth president of BJP at Moyna. He was picked up by goons allegedly close to the former Trinamool Congress legislator from Moyna Sangram Kumar Dolui and then hacked.

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) also took suo motu cognizance in the matter. The then NCSC Chairman Arun Halder, at that point oftime, visited Moyna and claimed that the murder of Bhunia is a proof of how the state government had failed to ensure the security of the Scheduled Castes who constitute 22 per cent of the total voters in the state.
Bengaluru, Nov 6 : State BJP President, B.Y. Vijayendra has charged that the dignity of the Chief Minister's Office, a symbol of Karnataka's sovereignty, is being diminished as CM Siddaramaiah is facing an investigation by the Lokayukta in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case.

CM Siddaramaiah on Wednesday appeared before the Mysuru Lokayukta SP for investigation in the MUDA case in which he is named as the first accused.

Vijayendra stated on Wednesday, "Accused number one Mr. CM Siddaramaiah, the entire country is witnessing the notoriety you have gained as a corrupt Chief Minister who clings to the position while facing investigation."

"In the Assembly, you fled from a discussion on your own infamous MUDA scam, and now you speak on corruption as though a demon is preaching the Bhagavad Gita," Vijayendra charged.

"Your family is accused of defrauding an innocent Dalit family to acquire land, and this very land was misused by MUDA to gain 14 plots, as per the ongoing investigation against you," he slammed.

"If you had done nothing wrong, and if you were due to receive Rs 62 crore rupees as claimed, why did you hurriedly return the MUDA plots overnight without conditions? If you are so clean, why do you refuse a transparent investigation and instead defend corruption? It is truly harsh to hear words like "honesty" from someone who has thrown morality into the trash," Vijayendra stated.

"The Governor has granted permission for prosecution against you regarding these allegations. You appealed this, only for the High Court to dismiss it; the people's court has directed the Lokayukta to file an FIR against you, and an investigation is ongoing in the Lokayukta," he stated.

With doubts about how far your subordinate officers would go in investigating you, a writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking an order for a CBI investigation, which is under review, he noted.

"You, who challenged honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate, should first try winning against the legal fight of an ordinary citizen, complainant Snehamayi Krishna and then talk about corruption," Vijayendra commented.

"Focus on cleaning up the stain on your own reputation because the dignity of the Chief Minister's Office, a symbol of Karnataka's sovereignty, is being diminished daily by your conduct," Vijayendra claimed.

"The court has already ruled that the accusations you made against me are baseless," Vijayendra stated. "As a lawyer yourself, seeing you repeatedly bring up these matters suggests a lack of sound judgment on your part. It seems the tightening grip of the law has disturbed your peace, leading you to a state of deep agitation, and you keep repeating these false accusations, as if out of desperation," he stated.

"Your government has all the power to conduct an expedited investigation to substantiate any allegations against us, yet your situation of abandoning the dignity of the Chief Minister's Office to use such trivial accusations as election propaganda is laughable," he charged.
Mysuru, Nov 6 : The Karnataka BJP staged a protest on Wednesday demanding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's resignation, saying that the dignity of the CM's office was being diminished as he was facing Lokayukta probe in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case.

The protest, led by BJP MLA T. S. Srivatsa, was staged near the Ramaswamy circle in Mysuru as Siddaramaiah appeared before the Lokayukta.

As the protestors started raising slogans against Siddaramaiah, the police dragged the BJP workers, including women, to the vehicles and detained them.

MLA Srivatsa said though Siddramaiah was being interrogated at a different location, police officers were not letting the opposition stage the protest.

"The police were not even allowing us to talk to the media. What is this system of not allowing the opposition to protest? Does any government behave in such a manner during the by-elections? We have no faith in the ongoing investigation by the Lokayukta and demand a CBI probe," MLA Srivatsa stated.

Reacting to the development, BJP MP B. Y. Raghavendra said Siddaramaiah should tender resignation first and face investigation.

The BJP has been staging protests for two months regarding the MUDA scam.

"Along with the 14 sites allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathy, the probe will be conducted on the allotment of thousands of sites in MUDA. Siddaramaiah can come back to the position when he gets the clean chit. He should tender his resignation," Raghvendra demanded.

Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai said Siddaramaiah facing the probe has brought down the dignity of the CM's Chair.

Meanwhile, defending Siddaramaiah, State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said: "The BJP was politicising the MUDA case. Siddaramaiah will not face any complications in the case. Our CM is a law-abiding citizen. He will be in the forefront to fulfil legal obligations."

Minister Patil claimed that the soaring popularity of Siddaramaiah has left the BJP unnerved.
New York, Nov 6 : The Fox News declared Donald Trump the winner of the US presidential election shortly after 1:45 A.M. on Wednesday based on its analyses of the results pouring in.

The network gave the Republican 277 electoral college votes to 226 for Democrat Kamala Harris, with 35 results to come.

In the 538 electoral college that will formally elect him, 270 are required to win the presidency.

NBC said that he is winning the race, even though it did not make a formal announcement.

It said that he had reached 266 seats in the electoral college and was likely to pick up at least four more in states where he is leaving.

The announcement came after it and other media declared that he had won Pennsylvania, the crucial swing state needed to win.

The other networks have not yet declared a winner in the bitterly-contested election, although The New York Times estimated that Trump would be getting 306 seats and Harris 232.

The Times estimate was based on analysis based on live poll data and demographic and historical information.

Trump was expected to speak to supporters celebrating his victory at the campaign headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida, where a jubilant crowd was waiting.

Meanwhile, the venue for Vice President Kamala Harrisa victory celebration at Howard University in Washington shut down by 1:30 A.M and her campaign announced that she had gone home.
Srinagar, Nov 6 : One terrorist was killed on Wednesday in a gunfight in Jammu & Kashmir's Kupwara district, while a search operation continued for the second day in Bandipora district.

Officials said that a terrorist was killed in a gunfight between the security forces and terrorists in the Lolab area of Kupwara district.

"One terrorist was killed in the Lolab area of Kupwara district in an encounter with the security forces. Operation continues against the terrorists in Lolab," officials said.

"Searches continued for the second day in Ketsun forest area of Bandipora district where one terrorist was killed yesterday and two security men were injured," officials added.

Ever since an elected government took office in J&K, terrorists have increased their activities. The intelligence agencies believe that the terror handlers sitting across the border in Pakistan have been frustrated due to people-participative and peaceful Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in J&K.

On November 2, a top commander of the LeT identified as Usman Bhai alias Chota Waleed of Pakistan was killed after a day-long gunfight in the old Srinagar city Khanyar area.

Two local policemen and two CRPF troopers were injured in the Khanyar gunfight.

Last month, terrorists killed six workers of an infrastructure project company and a local doctor in the Gagangir area of Ganderbal district. The workers were building a tunnel from Gagangir to Sonamarg tourist resort to make the Srinagar-Sonamarg an all-weather road and generate economic growth and employment in the area. Those killed in the Gagangir attack include six non-local workers and a local doctor belonging to Budgam district.

Later, terrorists killed three army soldiers and two porters in the Botapathri area of Gulmarg in Baramulla district.

Terrorists have also targeted non-local semi-skilled workers in Shopian and Budgam districts although the targets escaped with minor injuries.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has given clear orders to police and other security forces to go after terrorists, their harbourers, sympathisers and overground workers (OGWs).

The occurrence of terrorist attacks in places hitherto believed to be free of militancy has been a worrisome development for the security forces as a single terror-related incident disturbs peace that has been painstakingly achieved by the security forces.

Meanwhile, taking a tough stand, Lt Governor Sinha said on Tuesday that those houses would be destroyed where shelter is provided to the terrorists.
Former Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Dmytro Verbytsky has claimed pressure on him and his family over the investigation of a number of criminal cases, in particular, against businessman Ihor Kolomoisky.

"A number of important, even fateful cases for Ukraine were investigated under my leadership. [...] I faced pressure because of my principled position on some criminal proceedings. One of such proceedings is in court  against oligarch Kolomoisky," he told a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency on Wednesday.

According to Verbytsky, pressure was also exerted on him by the former head of one of the banks, "who currently has a lot of money."

"After my dismissal, the aforementioned two defendants continue to pose pressure on me. There are constant threats, there is constant surveillance of me and my relatives. [...] I think this is revenge on me for the principled work that I did," the former Deputy Prosecutor General said.

In this context, he added: "I and my relatives are already afraid of physical reprisals against us."

According to Verbytsky, the Kolomoisky case "became the basis for pressure." The materials of this case being considered by court, evidence was collected professionally, and the case has judicial prospects, he said.

"There are criminal proceedings, there is stolen money from Ukrnafta, there is embezzled money from PrivatBank. [...] The criminal case was under my control, because it is high-profile," the former Deputy Prosecutor General said.

Every time when a measure of restraint was selected for Kolomoisky, unidentified people submitted complaints about the investigation both from Ukraine and from abroad, he said.

Asked whether any pressure was exerted on him, including at the international level, the former Deputy Prosecutor General said: "There was no pressure of any kind from the Office of the President, from international partners, from the Prosecutor General."

Speaking about his private life, Verbytsky said: "I will not give up on Khrystyna Ilnytska. She and I are still dating, she is my girlfriend, but she is also under pressure."

He also said that he has provided all documents confirming his income and his acquisition of property.

"My property is shown in the declaration. According to the results of the official investigation, [] no violations were found at the time of the inspection," Verbytsky said.

Speaking about the inspection of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), the former Deputy Prosecutor General said he received a conclusion on unlawful enrichment, but assured that the NACP refers to the journalistic investigation, which indicated a significantly inflated value of an apartment in Turkey.

"This investigation was carried out exactly by the channels controlled by Kolomoisky," he said.

Also, Verbytsky said the international audit did not reveal any violations in the preparation of his declaration and the acquisition of property.

"I am going to provide these documents to the NABU [National Anti-Corruption Bureau], and I will also send them to the NACP," he said, indicating that he plans to file a lawsuit in court against the NACP.

As reported, during the monitoring of the lifestyle of former Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Dmytro Verbytsky, the NACP revealed signs of corruption in his actions, indicating his illegal enrichment by almost UAH 29 million.

Earlier, the media reported that at the time Verbytsky was living in an elite cottage town in Kyiv, which his nephew had bought under a power of attorney from an Odesa businessman at a price six times lower than the market price. Also, according to journalistic investigations, Verbytsky's girlfriend in 2024 became the owner of elite property worth at least UAH 52 million without having relevant official income.

Deputy Prosecutor General Verbytsky resigned from his position after the completion of the official investigation.
Amaravati, Nov 6 : In a huge relief to Tollywood actor Allu Arjun, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday quashed a poll code violation case against him.

On a petition filed by the 'Pushpa' actor, the High Court quashed the First Information Report (FIR) booked by the Nandyal town police which alleged that he violated the poll code during the Assembly elections in May.

The actor on May 11 had visited the house of the Nandyal MLA and his friend Silpa Ravi, who was seeking re-election.

As no prior permission was taken from the Returning Officer, a case was booked against him and the then MLA and YSR Congress candidate.

Allu Arjun visited the then MLA's house to show his support on the last day of the campaigning. On getting to know about Allu Arjun's visit, a large number of his fans gathered outside the then MLA's house to see him.

A local government official lodged a complaint against the actor at the Two Town Police Station for disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant.

Since Section 144 of the Election Code and Section 31 of the AP Police Act were in force, a case was registered against the actor and the YSRCP leader.

Taking serious note of the incident, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered action against then Nandyal District Superintendent of Police Raghuveer Reddy for failing to implement the election code of conduct.

The poll panel had asked Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police to file charges against the SP. It also ordered a departmental inquiry against SP and two others.

Allu Arjun had moved the High Court seeking quashing of the case against him. In an interim order on October 25, the court had directed that no legal action be taken against him until November 6.

The actor's counsel had argued that his visit to Nandyal was a personal one and had nothing to do with elections. He submitted to the court that Allu Arjun could not be held liable for the gathering outside the house of Silpa Ravi.

Silpa Ravi, whose real name is Singareddy Ravichandra Kishore Reddy, suffered a defeat in the elections held on May 13.
Washington, Nov 6 : Republican candidate Donald Trump has clinched three out of seven key swing states and is leading in three others, giving him a critical advantage over Democrat Kamala Harris in the closely watched US presidential election, according to the latest trends.

The seven decisive swing states -- Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, and Nevada -- are pivotal as they lack consistent Democratic or Republican dominance, often determining the outcome of the election.

Trump narrowly claimed victory in North Carolina, where he received 2,852,981 votes compared to Harris's 2,676,410, and in Georgia, winning 2,643,396 votes against Harris's 2,528,271. He also won Pennsylvania; however, he fell short by three electoral votes in winning the presidency, as per media reports.

He could easily win the race to the White House by securing a win in any other swing state.

To reach the necessary electoral count, Trump could achieve the majority by winning either Pennsylvania or a combination of Michigan and Wisconsin. Other potential paths to victory include combinations involving Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada.

The contest has intensified in the so-called "Blue Wall" states -- Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania -- which have traditionally been Democratic strongholds but flipped to Trump in 2016, contributing to his victory over Hillary Clinton.

Both Michigan and Pennsylvania hold 16 electoral college votes each, making them critical targets.

For either candidate to secure the presidency, 271 of the 538 electoral college votes are required. Over 82 million Americans cast their ballots before Election Day, either in person at early voting stations or through postal voting -- a turnout surpassing 51 per cent of the 158 million votes cast in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Harris and Trump ended their campaign with rallies in Pennsylvania and Michigan, respectively, also both battleground states. Unlike others, these swing states are neither solidly Democratic nor Republican, and they can swing between the two and are, therefore, also called the Swing States.

In 2020, Joe Biden won all of these states except North Carolina to secure his victory against Trump.
Chennai, Nov 6 : The Madras High Court on Wednesday granted permission to Coimbatore-based veterinary surgeon, V. Valliappan, to meet an infant monkey he rescued and cared for over ten months after it sustained injuries from a stray dog attack.

Chennai, Nov 6 (IANS) The Madras High Court on Wednesday granted permission to Coimbatore-based veterinary surgeon, V. Valliappan, to meet an infant monkey he rescued and cared for over ten months after it sustained injuries from a stray dog attack.

This directive was issued as part of an interim order on a writ petition filed by Valliappan earlier this week.

A single-judge bench of Justice C.V. Karthikeyan directed Valliappan to visit the Arihant Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur, Chennai, on Saturday and submit a report on the interaction.

The bench also instructed Tamil Nadu Forest Department officials to observe the interaction between Valliappan and the baby monkey and submit a report by November 14.

A decision regarding Valliappanas plea for interim custody of the monkey will be made after the reports are reviewed.

Addressing Special Government Pleader T. Srinivasan, Justice Karthikeyan emphasised that cases involving human-animal bonds require sensitive handling. The judge expressed an interest in knowing whether the monkey would still recognise Valliappan, as it had been two weeks since their separation.

This comment was in response to the petitioneras lawyer, R. Sankarasubbu, who argued that Valliappan had looked after the monkey from December 4, 2023, to October 26, 2024.

Justice Karthikeyan also requested that the government pleader provide the court with relevant rules and regulations concerning the granting of interim custody of animals to individual caretakers.

In his affidavit, Valliappan recounted how he first encountered the injured infant monkey during a dog sterilisation camp in Sholingur Municipality of Ranipet district.

The monkey had multiple dog bite injuries and was partially paralysed below the hip. Since then, he provided extensive treatment and nourishment, but the animal was taken from him on October 26 and transferred to the zoological park.

Valliappan, who initially requested interim custody of the monkey on October 28, stated that the animal still requires additional care to achieve full independence. He argued that, while the monkey might eat out of hunger, it may not be able to ensure adequate nourishment on its own.

Citing the bond he developed with the animal over months of caregiving, he expressed concern that it could fall ill again without his supervision. The veterinarian assured the court he would submit regular updates on the monkeyas health if granted temporary custody and would allow Forest Department inspections as necessary.

Valliappan is affiliated with Prani Mithran, an animal welfare organisation based in Madurai that offers free veterinary services throughout Tamil Nadu.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Kuljeet Chahal, a key BJP functionary is among the most prominent faces of the four non-official members nominated to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). Having served as a member in previous NDMC committee, this time, Kuljeet Chahal has been appointed as Vice-Chairman.

The other three members are Dinesh Pratap Singh, former president of Delhi BJPas Purvanchal Morcha, Sarita Tomar and Anil Valmiki.

Kuljeet Chahalas stature within the party stands elevated with this move and this apromotiona comes on back of his repeated cornering and questioning of the erstwhile Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on a host of public issues.

At a couple of NDMC meetings, Chahalas sharp questions left the then AAP CM struggling for answers. On some occasions, Kejriwal was left red-faced and had to face the meetings mid-way, as the BJP functionary would fire volley of questions.

Apart from cornering AAP convenor at NDMC meetings, Kuljeet Chahal also got many public tasks accomplished. Many credit him as a strong and credible voice behind the upliftment of municipal corporation-run schools. Some reports claim that he got about 4,500 temporary workers aconfirmeda, after getting due approvals from the Union Home Ministry.

AAP supremoas aembarrassinga moments at the NDMC meets followed by huge social media chatter is understood to be the main reason behind Kuljeetas elevation as the Vice-Chairman.

Kuljeet, also the convenor of NaMo App, moved three resolutions under Section-8 of the NDMC meet, pressing for the presence of Arvind Kejriwal in the meeting, failing which he would cease to be a member of the Council. He got these resolutions passed in council meetings, in June and July, 2022 and February 2024.

As per the Section-8 of NDMC Act, the then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was bound to attend every third Council Meetings to save his membership.

He cornered the then Delhi CM on multiple public issues and demanded accountability, during the NDMC meets. The five prominent issues which he raised were - the liquor policy scam and alleged involvement of Delhi ministers, AAP govtas failure to provide drinking water, failure in flood control, failure to control pollution in Delhi, the multi-crore Sheeshmahal built with public money.

These issues also resonated strongly with the netizens. As the visuals from the meeting showed Kejriwal walking out in the middle, the public anger also showed up on social media.

Notably, Kuljeet Chahal started his political career with the ABVP a" the student wing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), during his stint with college politics in Delhi University. He became Delhi BJP district president from Mayur Vihar and also went to serve in multiple positions within the city unit, including general secretary and state secretary.
Kolkata, Nov 6 : Former BJP MP Arjun Singh on Wednesday approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the summons from West Bengal's CID asking him to be present for an inquiry at its office on November 12, just a day before six Assembly constituencies in the state will go to bypolls.

Kolkata, Nov 6 (IANS) Former BJP MP Arjun Singh on Wednesday approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the summons from West Bengal's CID asking him to be present for an inquiry at its office on November 12, just a day before six Assembly constituencies in the state will go to bypolls.

A single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh has admitted the petition and the matter will be taken up on November 11.

In his petition, Singh alleged that he had been deliberately summoned just a day before the bypolls in a case concerning Bhatpara Municipality in the same district in 2020.

Naihati, one of the seven Assembly constituencies under Barrackpore Lok Sabha and a stronghold of Singh, is one of the six constituencies where polling will be held on November 13.

The counting of votes will be held on November 23.

Soon after, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari pointed out some flaws in the notice.

He pointed out that the date of dispatch of the notice by CID was a day before the date of issuing the notice.

"Interestingly, the notice signed on November 5 was delivered on November 4. Maybe the CID of West Bengal has a time machine, which we do not know about," Adhikari said.

Singh claimed: "If a leader is with Trinamool Congress, he is a good boy and once he joins the BJP the same leader becomes a "bad boy" for the administration.

Singh, a long-time Trinamool Congress legislator from Bhatpara Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district joined the BJP before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and successfully contested from Barrackpore Lok Sabha that year.

However, in 2022, he rejoined the Trinamool Congress. Before the Lok Sabha polls this year, he again went back to BJP and the latter again nominated him from Barrackpore. However, this time he was defeated by Trinamool Congress' Partha Bhowmik.
Guwahati, Nov 6 : The Assam Police on Wednesday arrested four suspected rhino poachers at Orang National Park and recovered arms, ammunition and other materials from their possession, top police official said.

Assam's Director General of Police Gyanendra Pratap Singh appreciating the personnel of Darrang district police, said in a post on the X: "Four persons arrested by Darrang Police in connection with the planning for rhino poaching at Orang National Park."

The suspected rhino poachers were identified as Nur Hussain, Abul Hussain, Jaffar Ali and Nur Islam.

One .303 Rifle with ammunition, three mobile handsets, five motorcycles and camping stores were recovered from their possession.

"They were planning to go inside the park for poaching," the DGP said.

On October 26, a rhino poaching attempt was thwarted through quick action by the police and forest department personnel in Assam's Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), a UNESCO world heritage site.

KNPTR Director Sonali Ghosh said that police personnel of Biswanath district and the forest department arrested two poachers, identified as Rasidul Haque (28) and Sibe Ali (36).

"Based on intelligence inputs regarding miscreants planning to hunt a rhino, two individuals were arrested. They were planning to hunt the rhino in collaboration with additional miscreants in Kaziranga National Park.

"An investigation is underway to apprehend other culprits linked to the case," she had said.

According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kaziranga and other reserved and protected habitats of the one-horned rhino in Assam recorded an 86 per cent drop in poaching of the animal since 2016.

Sarma recently said poachers have killed 190 rhinos between 2000 and 2021.

As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "commitment to promoting and preserving animals," the state government has made efforts to protect rhino, an animal that has been "synonymous to the identity" of Assam, the Chief Minister had said.

More than 2,850 rhinos were recorded in various national parks and protected habitats during the last census of the animal in 2022.

The KNPTR, measuring about 1,300 sq km, is home to more than 2,613 one-horned Indian rhinos followed by the over 38 sq km Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (107) and the 279.83 sq km Orang National Park (101).

India's seventh (fourth in natural) UNESCO World Heritage site, the KNPTR is spread across several districts of Assam, including Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, and Biswanath.

The world-famous park is not just a home of rhinos, but also to Royal Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, wild buffalos and many more animal species while it is also habitat to thousands of birds of over 125 species.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday reiterated that Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licence holders do not require any separate endorsement to drive a transport vehicle of the LMV class.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud said that the licensing regime under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the rules framed thereunder, when read as a whole, does not provide for a separate endorsement for operating a transport vehicle, if a driver already holds a LMV licence.

The CJI Chandrachud-led Bench clarified that the exceptions carved out by the legislature for special vehicles like e-carts and e-rickshaws, or vehicles carrying hazardous goods, will remain unaffected by its decision.

It said that the additional eligibility criteria as specified in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and rules framed thereunder will apply only to medium/heavy goods and passenger vehicles having gross weight above 7,500 Kg, adding that transport vehicle in the licensing scheme has to be understood only in the context of the medium/heavy vehicles.

In substance, the Constitution Bench, also comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, P.S. Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal, and Manoj Misra, held that a driver holding a LMV licence can operate a transport vehicle without needing additional authorisation.

"For licensing purposes, LMVs and Transport Vehicles are not entirely separate classes. An overlap exists between the two. The special eligibility requirements will however continue to apply for, inter alia, e-carts, e- rickshaws, and vehicles carrying hazardous goods," it said.

The five-judge Constitution Bench was seized of the reference where the correctness of the decision of a three-judge Bench in the Mukund Dewangan judgment has been doubted.

The 2017 Mukund Dewangan judgment had held that the need for a transport licence would arise in the case of medium/heavy goods and passenger vehicles only, adding that no other vehicle will require any separate endorsement, even if they are used for commercial purposes.

In other words, a holder of an LMV licence would not require any separate endorsement for commercial usage of LMVs like cars, vans, etc.

The Centre issued notifications and brought amendments to the Motor Vehicles Rules to bring them in conformity with the above judgment of the Supreme Court.

The 2017 judgment gave rise to various disputes over payment of claims by insurance companies in accident cases involving transport vehicles being driven by those having licences to drive LMVs and the matter was re-agitated at their instance.

In March 2022, a Bench headed by Justice U.U. Lalit (now retired) held that certain provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act were not noticed by the top court in its 2017 Mukund Dewangan decision and the issue needs to be re-visited by a five-judge Constitution Bench.

Now, the Constitution upheld the 2017 Mukund Dewangan judgment and refused to term the previous ruling "per incuriam" even if certain provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and rules were not considered.

In the course of the oral hearing, CJI Chandrachud had remarked that the issue in question was not plainly "about interpreting law" but involved the "social impact of law" as well.

The Constitution Bench had asked the Union government to consider the impact on lakhs of people across the country who are engaged in driving commercial vehicles on the basis of the judgment in the Dewangan case as they will be "completely put out of their livelihood".

It had made repeated emphasis that the Union government should review the entirety of the position and then take an appropriate call.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : BJP and Congress leaders on Wednesday came down heavily on former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal after a viral video allegedly showed him indulging in a luxurious dinner, calling it an "unfortunate" display of wealth from the self-proclaimed "Aam Aadmi (common man)."

The video, circulating widely on social media, allegedly shows Kejriwal seated at an eight-seater dining table adorned with an array of extravagant dishes. His wife, Sunita Kejriwal, is seen seated beside him, along with several others, in a setting marked by elegant decor, fine cutlery, and lavish interiors.

BJP and Congress leaders joined social media users in bashing Kejriwal for the opulent display of wealth, with some mocking the stark contrast to his previous "common man" image. The incident sparked a wave of criticism online, with many pointing to the luxury of his surroundings as out of touch with the ordinary people he claims to represent.

Senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain reacted strongly to the video, remarking, "Kejriwal once portrayed himself as an 'Aam Aadmi' - but it was all for show."

Hussain further stated, "Earlier, he used to wear a muffler and cough. Now, his cough is cured, while all of Delhi is left coughing."

Speaking to IANS, Hussain further accused Kejriwal of 'hypocrisy', noting, "He once said he wouldn't take an official house, yet he's built himself a 'Sheesh Mahal.' He said he'd avoid official cars, yet now he travels by helicopter. If only every common man had the privilege to dine in this manner; Kejriwal has shown his true colours."

"Kejriwal was never a true aAam Aadmi.a He was an IRS officer living in comfort, with both he and his wife drawing high salaries," Hussain said. "Now we see the reality behind the muffler and the loose shirt - a life of luxury."

Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit also slammed Kejriwal, describing the video as "unfortunate."

Speaking to IANS, Dikshit said, "Normally, no one would comment on such personal matters. However, it is unfortunate the way Kejriwal sold his simple life."

Dikshit questioned Kejriwal's commitment to his so-called modest lifestyle, adding, "Kejriwal has always used simplicity as a weapon against others, but this video raises serious questions. He once tried to tarnish the image of every leader by presenting himself as humble and down-to-earth. Today, however, we see him enjoying luxuries that far exceed even the grand Chhappan Bhog."

Dikshit concluded that the viral video shows Kejriwal's dark reality, saying, "From day one in politics, his goal seems clear - to enjoy power and luxury. Back then, he ate dal-roti because he had no choice. Now, with access to wealth and power, his appetite has expanded."
Srinagar, Nov 6 : Following the pandemonium in the J&K Assembly on Wednesday by the BJP MLAs over the passing of a resolution to restore Article 370, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House till Thursday.

As the BJP MLAs refused to maintain calm and allow the House to continue, a visibly distrusted Speaker told them to bring forth a no-confidence motion against him if the BJP was not satisfied with his conducting of the proceedings.

As heated exchanges continued inside the Assembly, senior BJP leader Sham Lal Choudhary called the deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary to have become the 'Jaichand of Jammu' by piloting the resolution for restoration of Article 370.

The Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution for the restoration of Article 370.

The resolution was moved by the deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary and NC leader and minister Sakina Masood seconded the move. The resolution was moved by the government on the third day of the Assembly's current session.

BJP leader Sunil Sharma, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, resented the move strongly holding that when the business of the House was a debate on the Lt Governor's address, how could the government move such a resolution?

The resolution moved by the government said, "This Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expresses concern over the unilateral removal.

"This Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of J&K for restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees and to work out the constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions," it said.

"This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of J&K," the resolution read.

The move evoked strong opposition and uproar from BJP leader Sunil Sharma, who said amid din in the House, "When business was about discussion on Lt Governor's address, how this resolution could be moved," he said.

Independent MLAs Sheikh Khurshid Ahmed, Shabir Ahmad, and Sajad Lone of the Peoples Conference (PC), CPI (M) MLA, Tusuf Tarigami and three MLAs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supported the resolution.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather put the motion to vote and it was passed by the majority of the House.

Initially, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes after the chaos continued in the Assembly.

The passing of the resolution seeking restoration of statehood to J&K by the ruling National Conference (NC) would constitutionally have little impact, but at the political level, the passing of the resolution has brought the J&K government into direct confrontation with the Centre.

Article 370 and 35A were abrogated by the Parliament on August 5, 2019, and the power of the Parliament to do so was upheld by a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6 : The Kerala cabinet, that met here on Wednesday with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the chair, sanctioned Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the four people who died in the major blast at the Anjootambalam Veererkavu Temple in Nileshwaram last week after firecrackers kept for a function caught fire.

Last week, the Vijayan government decided to foot the medical bills of all the victims.

As many as 154 people were injured in the blasts and the blaze and around 100 of them continue to be under treatment, including 15 people in intensive care units at various hospitals.

All the four deceased, identified as Shibin Raj, Biju, Ratheesh, and Sandeep, were in their late 30s.

While Shibhin Raj died on Monday, the other three succumbed to their burn injuries later last week.

The fireworks accident during the temple festival occurred late on Monday night last week and the local authorities said it was a glaring omission on the part of the temple authorities who did not adhere to safety protocols to be followed while bursting firecrackers.

The injured included those who had come to watch the popular aTheyyama ritual, one which brings the local populace out in huge numbers as this is one event seen in temples mostly in Kannur and Kasargod districts.

The police took three officials into custody for questioning after the tragedy and recorded their arrest, but a local court gave them bail. However, the district court cancelled the bail.

Kasargod's Superintendent of Police, D. Shilpa, said the authorities failed to comply with safety protocols and also did not have any permission for the event. After the district court cancelled the bail, it became clear that there was a serious laxity on the part of the authorities.

Following the accident, the temple has cancelled all further events while other temples have started to strictly follow the guidelines issued by authorities when bursting crackers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 5. The first day of a Global Summit of Religious Leaders in Baku has concluded, Trend reports.

First, the appeal of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the summit participants was read out by the country's Prime Minister Ali Asadov.

Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and COP29 President, Mukhtar Babayev said at the summit that anthropogenic impact, industrialization, and rapid economic development have become significant threats to many nations, leading to a rise in global temperatures and increasing natural disasters.

He underscored that climate change has transitioned from a theoretical issue to a quotidian reality for communities residing in climate-sensitive areas.

For these communities, climate change is no longer a theoretical threat but a reality they face daily.

Alterations in precipitation patterns and increasing temperatures in the Congo Basin are inflicting significant harm on forests and unique ecosystems. The flooding in Pakistan, which inundated a third of the nation, the peril of obliterating communities in small island developing states, and global natural calamities serve as concrete manifestations of this truth.



The experiences of these nations necessitate the adoption of urgent, inclusive strategies and prioritizing their concerns in our initiatives.

The COP29 Action Agenda is focused on making resources more accessible to developing countries. Under Azerbaijan's leadership, COP29 has introduced 14 pivotal initiatives. Our goal is to offer innovative solutions and new strategies not only at the national level but on the global stage as well. With these initiatives, Azerbaijan will continue its leadership in advancing the global transition to a green economy.

The Climate Action Fund, launched by Azerbaijan, will incentivize both public and private sector investments in climate adaptation, mitigation, and research. This Fund provides critical financing to support rapid responses to the impacts of natural disasters in developing countries," Babayev added.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a video address to the summit participants that the voices of religious leaders stand vital for advancing climate change action and achieving climate justice.

He indicated that harsh temperatures, intense fires, droughts, and extensive flooding are resulting in significant repercussions for the globe.

The secretary-general stressed the importance of action to ensure that countries have new national climate plans that are consistent with the goal of limiting global warming by next year.

Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade said that Azerbaijan proposes to create a permanent Advisory Council of Religious Leaders within the framework of the UN COP (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

"One of the important initiatives put forward by Azerbaijan for the future of humanity within the framework of COP29 is the initiative for a global ceasefire, and I urge all religious leaders to express their support for this initiative in the name of saving the world and the future of our children.

In this regard, we also propose the creation of a permanent Advisory Council of Religious Leaders within the framework of the UN COP. This body, during the intervals between COP sessions, could implement socially important and effective projects, conduct educational activities on issues of religion and ecological ethics, and prepare literature.

I am confident that at COP29, the proposal for a religious platform will be received positively, and the wise ideas and practical recommendations of the worlds religious leaders in the final document of our Summit will become a moral support and a valuable contribution to the efforts of government and public figures in this direction," he added.

The global forum has rolled out the red carpet for around 30 leaders from both secular and traditional religions, heads of prominent religious centers - patriarchs, officials from the Vatican, and Al-Azhar, along with internationally recognized religious and public figures hailing from various corners of the globe and diverse faiths, representatives from government, academia, and religious institutions hailing from 55 countries and 30 international organizations, and media representatives.

The forum will continue tomorrow.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Kochi, Nov 6 : Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly on Wednesday got a clean chit by police in the sexual assault case.

The police team, probing the case, filed a report in the local court for dropping the name of Pauly from the list of accused, while the investigation against the other five will continue.

In September, a woman accused the actor and five others of sexually assaulting her.

Soon after the woman levelled the allegations, 40-year-old Pauly denied the accusations, saying he had never seen nor spoken to the complainant.

After two days, Pauly filed a complaint with the State Police Chief (SPC) seeking a probe into what he termed were "baseless" accusations.

Pauly said that he would fight it legally to prove his innocence.

He said that he would fight the case not only for himself but also for people facing similar accusations by women.

Incidentally, when the name of Pauly surfaced, it attracted a lot of traction as on August 19, the Justice Hema Committee report was made public and highlighted the pitiable conditions of women in the film industry including sexual exploitation.

Pauly, who has won two Kerala Film Awards, started as a software engineer before joining the film industry in 2010. He has worked in over 50 films, of which many were box-office hits.

He turned producer with 'Action Hero Biju' in 2016 under his banner Pauly Jr. Pictures, which turned out to be a super grosser.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Wednesday slammed former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the deteriorating situation of Yamuna, calling out the Aam Aadmi Party government over its failure to do anything to clean the river.

The four-day Chhath Puja started on Tuesday and the situation of Yamuna is quite disturbing. Devotees gathered on the riverbanks in large numbers to offer prayers and perform the ritual holy bath, a significant part of the festival dedicated to the Sun God. However, their devotion was overshadowed by the sight of toxic foam floating on the river's surface, a stark reminder of the city's persistent pollution.

Talking to IANS, Sandeep Dikshit said, "The current condition of Yamuna is unprecedented. I don't think it has been so bad in the last 50-60 years... especially the condition in which Yamuna has been in the last 8 years. I will accept that it is the failure of the Delhi government and the Government of India."

"Kejriwal is solely responsible for the condition of Yamuna. Kejriwal first promised that he would clean Yamuna and will take a dip in it. I want to say that Kejriwal only makes false promises. According to reports, the Kejriwal government spent Rs 3,500 crore on cleaning Yamuna. But, not even one per cent difference came in the condition of Yamuna," he added.

Dikshit further claimed that the Kejriwal government did not approve sewage interceptors in Yamuna.

"The reason for the condition of Yamuna is due to four to five big drains of Delhi which flow into it. When Congress was in power, we planned to install sewage interceptors. But, after Kejriwal didn't make it. Sewage interceptors work as kidneys as they help clean the dirty water coming into Yamuna. Delhi government have not worked in the last 10 years. They are only busy with corruption. I got to know there are few illegal factories in Delhi which directly throw dirty water into Yamuna," he concluded.

The Yamuna River in Delhi has been covered with a thick layer of white froth, a striking yet troubling sight that occurs yearly and has raised health concerns.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation seeking to allow the public to perform the festival of Chhath Puja at Geeta Colony Ghats on the Yamuna riverbanks.
Amaravati, Nov 6 : Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has purchased another piece of 12 acres land in his Assembly constituency Pithapuram in Kakinada district.

State Civil Supplies Corporation Chairman Tota Sudheer completed registration formalities for the land in Illindrada on behalf of Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday.

This is the third piece of land purchased by the Jana Sena leader in the constituency since assuming office as the Deputy Chief Minister following the victory of the Telugu Desam Party-led National Democratic Alliance in June.

The actor-turned-politician purchased two parcels of land measuring 1.44 acres and 2.08 acres in Bhogapuram and Illindrada revenue limits during July.

With the latest purchase, Pawan Kalyan now owns 15.52 acres in the constituency.

The Jana Sena leader is planning to build a house and camp office on the 12 acres purchased on Tuesday. During the election campaign, he had told people that if elected, he would build a house in the constituency.

In an apparent move to counter his political rivals who branded him an outsider for the constituency, Pawan Kalyan had promised that he would actually reside in the town to be close to the people and work for their development.

The actor defeated YSR Congress Party candidate and former MP Vanga Geetha by a margin of over 70,000 votes to register his maiden electoral victory.

In 2019, Pawan Kalyan had a disastrous electoral debut, losing both the Assembly seats he contested.

In the elections held in May 2024, Jana Sena won all 21 Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats it contested.

During an earlier visit to the constituency, Pawan Kalyan had declared that he would stay away from film shoots for three months. He stated that whenever possible, he would give one or two days for film shoots.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the people of Pithapuram have given him strength to have a say in national politics.

He had also announced that he would not accept his salary and any special allowances, including new furniture for his office, considering the precarious financial condition of the state.
Chandigarh, Nov 6 : Striking a blow to the gangster-narco nexus, Punjab Police's Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted a trans-border narcotic smuggling racket with the arrest of three drug smugglers, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said here on Wednesday.

Chandigarh, Nov 6 (IANS) Striking a blow to the gangster-narco nexus, Punjab Policeas Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted a trans-border narcotic smuggling racket with the arrest of three drug smugglers, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said here on Wednesday.

One kg Ice (methamphetamine) and 1 kg heroin have been recovered from their possession.

Those arrested were identified as Karandeep Singh (22), a resident of Bhakna Kala village in Amritsar district, Jeewan Singh (19) and Manjinder Singh (21), both residents of Chohla Sahib in Tarn Taran.

Police teams have also impounded their car Toyota Etios in which they were travelling. DGP Yadav said preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested accused Karandeep had been living in Dubai and Moscow in Russia before returning back to Punjab after six years.

After returning to Punjab, accused Karandeep has established contacts with the Pakistan-based drug smugglers using various social media apps and started smuggling narcotics from across the border to further supply them in Amritsar and neighbouring districts, he said, adding drones were being used by Pakistan-based smugglers to influx narcotics into the territory of the state.

The DGP said the probe has also found that the accused Karandeep was also in touch with foreign-based Gangster Gurdev, alias Jaisal. A first information report (FIR) has been registered under the NDPS Act in Amristar and investigations are going on to establish backwards and forward linkages.

Pertinently, Gurdev Jaisel is a key operative of Canada-based terrorists Lakhbir, alias Landa, and Satbir Singh, alias Satta, who were behind the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack at the police station in Sarhali and numerous plots to commit targeted killings in Punjab.

Sharing operation details, Commissioner of Police (Amritsar) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said acting on a tip-off, police teams under the supervision of DCP (Investigation) Harpreet Singh Mander laid a checkpoint near Puli Sua at Ajnala road in Amritsar and arrested the trio after recovering drug consignments from their vehicle.

He said further investigations are going on. More arrests and recoveries are expected in the coming days.
Jaipur, Nov 6 : An Indian Air Force helicopter made an emergency landing in Merta town in Rajasthan's Nagaur due to a technical fault, said an official.

The helicopter is ZD 4150 Hindustan Aeronautics Rudra of the Indian Air Force.

Merta DSP Ramkaran Malinda said the helicopter was flying from Jodhpur to Jaipur. "A technical glitch was suspected and hence it made an emergency landing in a field near Jasnagar," he added.

Defence officials also confirmed the incident with IANS, adding that a technical team has been deputed to the site. He added that the emergency landing happened after the chopper developed a minor glitch during a routine training exercise.

"All occupants, including Wing Commander Pal Singh, are safe, and the helicopter has been secured on the ground. The local administration has provided full support. The helicopter is likely to take off after getting checked," said a Defence official.

Locals said that there were two IAF choppers while one headed towards its destination, the other had to land due to technical problems.

A video of the helicopter has also surfaced on social media after the emergency landing, in which a person is seen climbing the stairs and inspecting the helicopter.

After the emergency landing, a huge number of locals were also seen gathering around the chopper.
Vijayawada, Nov 6 : The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Wednesday opposed the N. Chandrababu Naidu-led state government's proposal to further hike power tariffs, warning that such a move would severely burden the people.

During the rally at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada, APCC President Y.S. Sharmila Reddy called for an immediate rollback of the Rs 18,000 crore electricity surcharge adjustment.

Holding lanterns in their hands, she, other Congress leaders and party workers staged a protest against the government.

"The power tariff hike, disguised as an 'adjustment', is a direct result of the YSR Congress' past mismanagement, compounded further by the current ruling alliance's policies. Within just five months of taking office, this government is planning to impose a crushing financial burden on the people, particularly in the form of skyrocketing electricity charges," Sharmila Reddy said.

She said the state was already burdened with a Rs 6,000 crore surcharge, and now there are fears of another more than Rs 11,000 crore surcharge.

Sharmila Reddy questioned what crimes the people of Andhra Pradesh had committed to deserve such a punitive financial burden.

"While in opposition, you promised to reduce electricity charges and criticised the YSRCP for raising tariffs multiple times. But now, in power, you've reneged on that promise and are imposing even greater hardships on the people," she added.

The APCC chief also called on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to exert pressure on the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to secure the necessary funds to alleviate the financial strain caused by the surcharge.

"The Congress demands an immediate rollback of the electricity surcharge adjustment and a thorough, transparent investigation into the alleged irregularities in power purchases and distribution. We also call for refunds to be issued to the people who have already been unfairly burdened by these additional charges," Sharmila Reddy added.

The protesters were carrying placards with slogans reading 'Rs 18,000 crore burden in 5 months. Shame... shame!'
Hyderabad, Nov 6 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has demanded the Telangana government to blacklist Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) for the collapse of the retaining wall of the under-construction intake well and pump house complex at Sunkishala project and cancellation of tender awarded to MEIL and Raghava Construction of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy for Narayanpet-Kodangal Lift Irrigation Project.

BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao on Wednesday questioned the Congress government why it failed to blacklist MEIL despite the recommendation of the inquiry committee, which probed the Sunkishala incident.

The former minister also alleged a scam in awarding two packages of Rs.4,350 crore in the Narayanpet-Kodangal project to MEIL and Raghava Construction.

KTR, as the former minister is popularly known, reminded Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy that when he was in opposition, he used to call MEIL 'East India Company'. He said Congress party leaders had termed MEIL as 'mafia'.

"Why have you not blacklisted MEIL despite the committee formed by your own government concluding that negligence by the contractor led to the accident at Sunkishala and why have you awarded a contract to the same company for Narayanpet-Kodangal Lift Irrigation Project," he asked.

The BRS leader recalled that former chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had designed Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project to irrigate two lakh acres in Narayanpet and Kodangal but the Congress government renamed it as Narayanpet-Kodangal Lift Irrigation project and reduced the area to be irrigated to one lakh acres.

He said internationally reputed companies like L&T and NCC were disqualified in technical bid and one package each was awarded to MEIL and Raghava.

"The Chief Minister should tell people why these two companies were given the tender. What is his commission in this and what is Rahul Gandhi's commission," he asked.

KTR also mentioned that MEIL recently presented a cheque of Rs.200 crore for the Skill University.

He claimed that the government has planned another project of Rs 5,520 crore to pump Kaleshwaram water from the Mallannasagar reservoir to Gandipet and from there to the Musi River.

He reminded that till the other day the Congress was alleging that Kaleshwaram was washed away and that there was Rs.1 lakh crore corruption in the project built by the BRS government.

KTR asked if the government could award work to a company owned by a Cabinet minister. "Do you have any law in this country? What are the central investigating agencies like ED, CBI, IT, and CVC doing," he asked.

Alleging that Congress and BJP are hand-in-glove, the BRS leader said no action was taken even four weeks after ED raids on Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy.

The BRS working president said if the BJP was sincere in acting against corruption, it should order an inquiry into the AMRUT scam. He alleged that a Rs.1,137 crore contract under AMRUT was awarded to the Chief Minister's brother-in-law.
Hubballi, Nov 6 : Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai slammed the Congress for "drowning in corruption" and said that soon, the latter would charge monthly commissions from primary and High School teachers.

Speaking to the media in Hubballi, Bommai said: "The Congress government in Karnataka was drowning in corruption."

"The Congress government has reached a stage where it is fixing monthly commissions from even primary and high school teachers," he claimed.

Bommai said in the past, baseless accusations were made against him without evidence.

"Now, there were allegations against the State Excise Department. The Finance Department is directly under the control of the Chief Minister and he must investigate how much commission is being taken for granting each license," the BJP leader said.

Responding to a question about Congress leaders' allegations that no development occurred in the Shiggaon Assembly constituency, represented by him, the former CM said that people have witnessed the development there.

"There is a big difference between the thoughts of Congress leaders and those of the people of Shiggaon. The Shiggaon constituency houses a 200-bed hospital at the taluk level, a textile park, an Ayurvedic college in Savanur, an ITI college, and more than 12,000 homes were constructed during flood situations. The roads in Shiggaon are better than those in Bengaluru. Perhaps the CM is dozing off while travelling in his car," he quipped.

He said: "Let the Congress ministers and legislators speak about their constituencies, such as Varuna and Chamundeshwari, represented by CM Siddaramaiah."

He claimed: "No funds have been released for developmental work since this government came to power. When I was the Chief Minister, I allocated Rs 10 crore for the development of dargahs and mosques of minorities, which they later revoked. What right do they have to talk about minority welfare?" Bommai questioned.

About the CM's statement that BJP leaders are making baseless allegations against him in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, Bommai pointed out that the High Court has ordered an investigation into the case.

"This is the first time a sitting CM is appearing for an investigation," he underlined.

Referring to the incident in Belagavi, where the government staffer wrote a death note against the personal secretary of Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, and ended his life, Bommai said an investigation should be conducted.

Government officials are frustrated due to political pressure, and similar pressure is increasing on government officials in Shiggaon, he said.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6 : Two days after a Minister assured that an investigation will be done into a WhatsApp group named 'Mallu Hindu Officers', the Kerala Police team have intensified their probe.

This group is allegedly administered by Kerala Industry and Commerce Director K. Gopalakrishnan. The IAS official has already registered a complaint that his phone was hacked.

By now, the police team has taken over the two mobile phones which were used by the IAS officer.

Gopalakrishnan uses two mobile phones, an Android and an iPhone and it was in the Android phone on which the Group was created.

The police probe team has already approached Whats App and Meta to help them speed up the probe and according to sources, there has been some headway in the probe.

The so-called group had 11 Hindu IAS officers and it was last week that this issue surfaced and became a controversy.

When officials informed Gopalakrishnan, the account disappeared.

Soon the official approached the Cyber wing of Kerala Police and registered a complaint. He pointed out that his phone was hacked and wanted a probe into it.

Things would have gone unnoticed had some members who were added in the group not raised apprehensions and quick to act was the official who sent a message: "Dear all, it appears that someone has taken control of my mobile device, creating 11 groups and adding all my contacts. I have uninstalled the app, manually removed the groups from my WhatsApp, and will be changing my phone soon."

The message was marked with the subject line: "Important Notice."

It was the state's Industries Minister P. Rajeeve, under whom Gopalakrishnan is posted, who said that the entire issue will be examined and also pointed out that the media has also reported that a similar group of Muslim officials was also created.
Washington, Nov 6 : Following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election, leaders around the world extended their congratulations, commending him on a "historic" achievement.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were among the first to offer their support to Trump.

Starmer's office issued a statement expressing optimism for future collaboration, saying, "Congratulations President-elect Donald Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead."

Starmer underscored the "UK-US special relationship," emphasising shared values of "freedom, democracy and enterprise."

Netanyahu took to X to celebrate Trump's comeback, posting, "Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history's greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential elections, asserting that he is looking forward to renewing collaboration with the 78-year-old leader to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.

"Heartiest congratulations my friend, Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let's work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," PM Modi posted on X after Trump's triumph in the US election.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also extended his congratulations to Donald Trump on his "impressive" victory and expressed hope that his presidency would bring "peace in Ukraine closer" amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

"I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer," Zelensky posted on X.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed readiness for renewed cooperation, posting, "Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also extended her warm wishes, posting, "On behalf of myself and the Italian Government, my most sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump. Italy and the United States are 'sister' nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further. Good work Mr President."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated Trump, highlighting the strong EU-US bond.

"The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them," she posted.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, "Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory. Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future."

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also extended his congratulations, stressing the alliance's strength.

"His leadership will again be key to keeping our alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO," Rutte posted.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted, "I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. COP29 will be a key event not only for the climate agenda but also for the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Vladanka Andreeva said at the conference For sustainable development of Azerbaijan: presentation of the Common Platform and National Standard on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG), Trend reports.

COP29 will be a key event not only for the climate agenda but also for the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The coming years will require decisive action - the window of opportunity is rapidly shrinking, and we are running out of time to make ambitious commitments and negotiate funding for these initiatives on a global scale, ensuring that no one is left behind. We need everyone's efforts. Businesses and the private sector must become part of this climate initiative. Your role in the years ahead will be significant, and we need to move now to keep global warming below 1.5C, she added.

In just less than a weeks time, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be kicking off in Azerbaijan, the decision of which was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai in December last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The abbreviation COP (Conference of Parties) means Conference of Parties and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin with its secretariat in Bonn.

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Seoul, Nov 6 : South Korea's major business organisations on Wednesday joined in congratulating Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election, urging him to strengthen Seoul-Washington cooperation.

The Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) congratulated Trump on his election victory, emphasizing that the Korea-U.S. trade and economic partnership is anchored in a strong security alliance.

The KCCI expressed hope for continued bilateral relations under the incoming Trump administration, adding that South Korean companies have contributed to U.S. employment and industrial diversification through investments in advanced industries, including semiconductors and EV batteries, reports Yonhap news agency.

"South Korea's efforts will continue to play an important role in creating shared benefits," the KCCI said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to build on our partnership in the second Trump administration, fostering even greater economic achievements between our two countries."

The Korea Enterprise Federation (KEF) also voiced its expectation that South Korea-U.S. cooperation would further strengthen across areas such as the economy and security, supported by close coordination under the new Trump administration.

"We expect the new government to take active steps to improve systems, enabling companies from both countries to invest more freely and actively," said the KEF. "The business community will also do its utmost to expand exchanges in all fields, including politics, the economy, society and culture."

The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) called on U.S. President-elect Trump to improve bilateral relations based on the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, which went into effect in 2012.

"In particular, we look forward to creating a favourable investment and trade environment so that Korean companies can continue to invest and trade with the U.S., which is a key pillar of our economic relationship," the FKI added.

Republican candidate Trump won more than 270 Electoral College votes in the US presidential election, becoming the first president in more than a century to win a non-consecutive second term.
Hyderabad, Nov 6 : Malisetty Bhanu Kiran stepped out after spending 12 years in jail for the murder of Maddelacheruvu Suri, an accused in the killing of former Andhra Pradesh Minister Paritala Ravindra in 2005.

Day after a city court granted bail, Bhanu Kiran was released from Chanchalguda Central Jail.

He left the place without answering any queries from a battery of media persons who had gathered outside the jail.

Bhanu Kiran had shot dead faction leader Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy alias Maddelacheruvu Suri in 2011 in Hyderabad.

A faction leader from Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, Suri was facing a series of criminal cases and charges including the killing of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and former Minister Paritala Ravindra alias Ravi of the same district. He came out on bail after Ravindra's killing and was facing trials in different cases.

On January 4, 2011, Suri was shot dead while travelling in a car along with his close associate Bhanu Kiran in upscale Banjara Hills. Suri's other trusted aide Manmohan was driving the car then. Kiran, who was sitting in the rear seat of the car, had fled the scene.

Fifteen months later, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested him at Zaheerabad of Medak district.

Based on his confession, Manmohan, whose firearm Bhanu Kiran had allegedly used to kill Suri and four others, was caught by the investigators.

In 2018, the trial court awarded the life sentence to Bhanu Kiran. Manmohan was awarded a 10-year jail term while four other persons were acquitted.

Bhanu Kiranas counsel argued that there was no direct evidence to prove that he killed Suri. The public prosecutor, however, submitted to the court travelling with Suri in Hyderabad. Other than the driver and Suri, who was sitting in the front seat next to the driver, the only person in the car in the back seat was Bhanu. He shot Suri from behind and the injuries on the right lower side of the head and neck on Surias body conclusively prove that it was Bhanu who shot Suri.

Bhanu had killed Suri over a dispute over a few properties.
Chennai, Nov 6 : Tamil Nadu Police has been put on high alert in the southern region of the state following the assault on a 17-year-old Dalit teenager in Melapattam village in Tirunelveli district.

An official said that six persons have been identified as accused while around four have been apprehended, remaining two are still at large.

SP N. Silambarasan said that a special team has been formed to arrest the accused, adding that they have also reviewed the CCTV footage, which showed around six individuals leaving the village on two-wheelers following the attack.

Meanwhile, Dalit residents of Melapattam staged a road blockade, demanding the arrest of all those involved in the attack.

The incident occurred on Monday when the victim was nearly struck by a speeding car while walking near his house.

A heated argument ensued between the Dalit teenager and the men in the car, but a bystander intervened, defusing the situation temporarily. However, later that evening, the same group reportedly returned and assaulted the boy.

He was struck on the head with a beer bottle and attacked with a sickle, resulting in severe injuries. The victim is currently receiving treatment at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.

Southern Tamil Nadu districts like Tirunelveli, Theni, Madurai, and Kanyakumari have witnessed repeated incidents of violent attacks on Dalits, often leading to serious injuries and fatalities. The caste-related violence remains a persistent issue in Tamil Nadu as such incidents occur periodically.

Sources said that the state intelligence recently issued a warning to officers in southern Tamil Nadu about potential caste-related violence in the districts of Madurai, Theni, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari.

Following the DMK governmentas assumption of power under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, there was a wave of revenge killings between Dalit communities and other caste groups in the Madurai and Tirunelveli districts.

In these attacks, over four individuals lost their lives, prompting Tamil Naduas DGP to camp in Madurai and impose strict measures to curb the violence.

During this period, shops selling knives, machetes, sickles, and other farm equipment were instructed to record the phone numbers and addresses of buyers. This measure contributed to a temporary reduction in violent incidents.

Police sources said that these warnings are routine and intend to help district and regional police leaders prepare for any potential unrest.

Despite decades of governance by Dravidian political parties like the DMK and AIADMK, caste tensions remain a harsh reality in Tamil society, sometimes erupting into brutal violence with deadly consequences.
Jaipur, Nov 6 : Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari on Wednesday said that the state government is making all efforts to increase employment opportunities for the youth.

"The government has released a calendar for recruitment examinations so that the youth can prepare their preparation strategy in advance and achieve success. Our government is continuously making recruitments so that the youth get employment opportunities," said the Deputy Chief Minister while addressing the conference of Bharatiya Janata Party's Yuva Morcha and OBC Morcha in Ramgarh.

She also appealed to the youth to connect with the double-engine government for the development of Ramgarh.

The Deputy Chief Minister added that MoUs worth about 15 lakh crores are being signed under aRising Rajasthana to promote self-employment, which will increase employment opportunities in the state.

She said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working day and night for the development of the country and the entire team is working hard in Rajasthan under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

She also appealed to BJP workers to go door-to-door on the day of voting and motivate voters.

During the conference, Azad Samaj Party candidate Suman Majoka also joined the BJP in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister.

Bansur MLA Devi Singh Shekhawat, former MLA Mohan Lal Gupta, BJP Yuva Morcha State President Ankit Chechi, OBC Morcha State President Champalal, State Minister Mahendra Kumawat and Alwar South District President Ashok Gupta were also present on this occasion.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated the election office in Baroda Mev and Govindgarh and addressed the gathering. She especially urged women power to come out and vote in favour of the BJP.

Bypolls will be held in Ramgarh on November 13 and results will be announced on November 23. Ramgarh MLA Zubair Khan passed away this year, leaving the Assembly seat vacant.
Hanoi, Nov 6 : A military training aircraft crashed on Wednesday in the Vietnam's central province of Binh Dinh, leaving two pilots unaccounted for.

The Yak-130 jet took off at 9:55 a.m. at Phu Cat airport for a training exercise, according to the Ministry of National Defence.

At 10:38 a.m. when the aircraft was supposed to finish its training session, the pilots reported that the plane could not release the gear. They tried to take responsive measures to handle the situation but did not succeed.

The pilots reported the incident to the flight commander and were ordered to parachute, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Vietnam News Agency.

Officials are currently working to locate the crash site and search for the missing airmen.
Jerusalem, Nov 6 : Israeli warplanes struck Lebanon on Wednesday, killing Hussain Abd Al-Haleem Harb, Hezbollah's commander in the Khiam region, Israel's military reported.

In a statement, the military said Harb "directed and executed many rocket attacks against communities in the Galilee, and against the area of Metula specifically".

Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli Air Force has conducted around 70 strikes in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, according to military figures.

In Lebanon, ground forces coordinated aerial strikes that killed "a number" of Hezbollah fighters, while in Gaza, Israeli soldiers reportedly killed "dozens" of individuals the military identified as militants.
Chandigarh, Nov 6 : Moving forward in capacity building and crime control, Haryana Police have made significant strides by expanding its dog squad under the guidance of Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur.

The squad's strength has been increased from 36 to 63 trained dogs, each equipped with advanced training to aid in solving crimes and catching criminals.

From January to October 2024, the Haryana Police dog squad contributed to the resolution of 24 cases, leading to the seizure of substantial quantities of narcotics, an official statement said. These include 24.45 kg marijuana, 17.18 grams heroin, 42.45 grams smack, 10.572 kg poppy husk, and 62 grams charas.

DGP Kapur explained that the Haryana Police utilise three types of dogs, based on their specific skills: First is the tracker dogs that assist investigating officers in cases like thefts and murders. They are mainly labrador breeds and are managed by the state crime branch.

The second is the explosive detection dogs used for VIP security and bomb detection at suspicious locations, these labradors are managed by the CID. And the third were the narcotics dogs, specialised in detecting drugs in various locations like buildings, vehicles, and open spaces, these dogs play a crucial role in narcotics control.

Currently, Haryana Police have a total of 63 dogs, with five deployed in the state Narcotics Control Bureau and 58 across all districts. Each dog is handled by a dedicated dog handler and assistant dog handler. The squad includes three main breeds: Belgian Shepherds, German Shepherds, and labradors, all of which receive high-quality care and maintenance.

The narcotics dogs are acquired from specialised firms when they are three to six months old, undergo medical examinations, and receive a rigorous six-month narcotics training course before deployment.

After about 10 to 11 years of service, these dogs retire, at which point handlers and assistant handlers are given the first option to adopt them. If declined, the dogs are placed with NGOs or organisations.

The DGP said the importance of the dog squad in crime control, adding their training programmes are specially designed to improve detection skills and assist in bringing offenders to justice.

The squad also performs demonstrations on Republic Day and Independence Day, showcasing the dogsa skills in crime prevention and public safety.
Amritsar, Nov 6 : A crucial meeting of Sikh scholars and intellectuals, summoned by Giani Raghbir Singh, the Jathedar of Akal Takht, on Wednesday to discuss Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal's religious and political future ended with a next meeting with Sikh organisations and outfits to be summoned before taking a final call.

At the meeting in the holy city of Punjab, scholars and intellectuals presented their views on the affairs of the Sikh 'panth' (community). A few of them presented a broad view, both verbally and in writing, on the overall interests and issues of the 'panth', it is learnt.

"We have invited Sikh intellectuals and senior journalists to attend the gathering as per the precedent. Soon we will call a meeting of Sikh organisations, Sikh outfits and Gurdwara bodies before arriving at the final decision," Giani Raghbir Singh told the media after the meeting that delved into the religious implications of the allegations against Sukhbir Badal and his party.

He described violence in Canada as a "deep-rooted conspiracy against the Sikhs and an attempt to vitiate peace," while maintaining that the community members have never attacked the (Hindu) temple.

The meeting, which saw 18 Sikh scholars, intellectuals and veteran journalists, comes in the wake of the Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, declaring Badal 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) on August 30 for 'damaging Sikh interests' both as the Akali Dal chief and as the former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab.

The decision came after allegations of religious violations linked to actions by the Akali Dal and its government during its 2007-2017 tenure were raked up by a faction of the Akali Dal rebels, who have accused the party and its leadership of failing to uphold Sikh values and principles.

Within 24 hours of being declared a 'sinner' for 'damaging Sikh interests' both as the SAD chief and as the former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Badal appeared before the Akal Takht and requested to call an early meeting of five Sikh head priests to give him an opportunity to rectify his mistakes.

Sukhbir Badal along with four former Cabinet ministers had appeared before the Akal Takht as common men, and said in a written clarification that they "are ready to accept all pronouncements".

Akal Takht is the Sikh community's apex religious institution where Sikhs can seek an apology for any religious or ethical misconduct.

Besides Sukhbir Badal, former Akali ministers Daljeet Singh Cheema, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, and Sharanjit Singh Dhillon had submitted their explanations in writing at the Akal Takht Secretariat. They had also apologised for the mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly when the party was in power in the state.

The entire SAD Cabinet from 2007-2017, which was led by the late Parkash Singh Badal, was asked to appear before the Akal Takht to explain its actions which caused harm to the Sikh 'panth'. At that time, Sukhbir Badal was the Deputy Chief Minister and SAD President.

The Akal Takht had asked the ministers during the tenure of the SAD-BJP government to provide an explanation for their role in the mistakes committed during two consecutive terms, from 2007-12, and 2012-2017.

"Being the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal took some decisions that deeply harmed the image of the Panth and greatly weakened SAD. They damaged Sikh interests too," Giani Raghbir Singh had said while pronouncing the verdict from the Takht in the Golden Temple complex here.

Soon after the Akal Takht pronounced its verdict, SAD had announced that it accepts the directives with all humility.

SAD rebels and several Sikh organisations have been asking Sukhbir Badal to step down from the post of President in view of the sacrilege incidents during the Akali Dal's 10-year stint from 2007-17.

The incidents comprise hurting religious sentiments of the Sikh community by self-styled godman and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who allegedly performed an imitation of Guru Gobind Singh at the sect's Dera in 2007, and sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib in 2015.

The rebels, including former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, ex-Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, and former minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, on July 1 conveyed to Giani Raghbir Singh that they "are ready to face any punishment that the Akal Takht may deem appropriate".

In a letter to the Akal Takht Jathedar, they had "admitted guilt" over the "mistakes committed" by the party leadership that had "hurt" the Sikh 'panth'.

The letter had also claimed that Sukhbir Badal allegedly used his influence to pardon the Dera Sacha Sauda chief in the blasphemy case.

In Punjab, blasphemy has been an emotive issue in every election ever since the 2015 Kotkapura firing case.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. In a recent article, La Gazette du Caucase condemned the actions of French Armenian organizations that staged a protest at Trocadero Square in Paris on November 5 against Azerbaijans hosting of COP29, Trend reports.

La Gazette du Caucase pointed out that the continued demonstrations by Armenian groups in France only serve to spread misinformation, particularly at a time when both nations are striving for a peaceful resolution to their long-standing tensions.

"One might simply question why, at a time when the two countries are trying to find the best path toward lasting peace in the Caucasus, Armenian organizations in France continue to spread stories to the French public. It is worth recalling that Azerbaijan has never invaded Armenia, nor had any intention of doing so. On the contrary, Armenian forces violated Azerbaijani borders and occupied for almost 30 years a territory that, according to all international organizations, belongs to Azerbaijan. This invasion was justified by a rewriting of history that relies on the myth of a "Greater Armenia" that supposedly included the entire Caucasus," the article reads.

Moreover, La Gazette du Caucase highlighted the involvement of the so-called "prominent figures" from the French media, including the deputy editor-in-chief of Le Figaro Magazine, in supporting these protests.

"Most regrettably, is that journalists, such as the deputy editor-in-chief of Le Figaro Magazine, to name just one, partake in these sinister displays. This says a great deal about the downdrop of the French press, which no longer fulfills its role of providing information and analysis but instead acts as a mouthpiece for various ideologies," the authors noted.

In its article, the publication addressed the arrests of Armenian separatists in Baku, stating that they are not "political prisoners," as some claim, but individuals linked to serious crimes, including mass murder and organized crime. This distinction is crucial, as it counters the narrative put forth by Armenian groups that aim to portray these individuals as so-called "victims of political repression".

"As for the prisoners in Baku, they are criminals guilty of mass murder and mafia leaders who sought to seize the wealth of Karabakh illegally. It is also worth noting that the Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF), the organization behind this protest, has been implicated in numerous violent and terrorist acts. Its leader, Mourad Papazian, was even banned from Armenia for an extended period," the article highlights.

La Gazette du Caucase concluded that such actions and the medias complicity in them reflect a troubling pattern of misinformation that hinders genuine dialogue and understanding between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Kolkata, Nov 6 : The Border Security Force (BSF) have arrested a smuggler and seized 10 gold biscuits weighing 1.168 kg from Bongaon in the North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal.

N K Pandey, DIG and spokesperson, South Bengal Frontier, BSF said that the seizure is worth Rs 86.76 lakh while the gold being smuggled on Monday was valued at Rs 37.51 lakh.

"On Tuesday, troops of the Haridaspur Border Outpost acted on specific intelligence inputs regarding the smuggling of gold from Bagdah to Bongaon. Both locations are close to the IBB. A suspect on a motorcycle was stopped near the BDO office in Bongaon and he broke down and admitted that he was carrying 10 gold biscuits. He was taken to the Haridaspur BOP for documentation and legal procedures," he added.

DIG Pandey said that during interrogation at the BOP, the smuggler revealed that he is a resident of Krishnachandrapur in North 24-Parganas.

He also claimed that a friend of his from Boyra in the same district had offered him a job in October. He was to collect consignments of gold from an unidentified individual near Krishnachandrapur and deliver them to different contacts in Bongaon. He was to receive Rs 1,000 for every successful delivery. He was arrested while delivering the first consignment, the man said during interrogation," he added.

DIG Pandey added that the smuggler, along with the gold biscuits, have been handed over to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Kolkata for further legal processing.

While commending the efforts of the BSF personnel, Pandey urged the border population to inform the force if they receive any information on gold smuggling.

"They can directly call up the BSF's Seema Sathi Helpline at 14419 or send a voice or text message via WhatsApp to 9903472227," he said.

He assured that informants would be rewarded and their identities kept confidential.

This is the second seizure in as many days. On Monday, BSF troops seized four gold biscuits from an Indian smuggler along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) in the state's Murshidabad district. The weight of the four biscuits was 466.50 grams.
Shimla, Nov 6 : Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Assembly Jai Ram Thakur said on Wednesday that the ruling Congress has not fulfilled the promise of buying cow dung from the farmers even after two years of forming the government.

Thakur claimed that the ruling Congress had given a guarantee of buying cow dung from the farmers during the Assembly elections.

The Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and other leaders of the Congress had announced that with the formation of the government, they would buy cow dung from the farmers at the rate of Rs 2 per kilo.

"Now after two years of tenure, the government is saying that it will buy compost and not cow dung. Do the Chief Minister, ministers and other people sitting in the government not understand the difference between cow dung and compost? How much time does it take to make compost from cow dung and how much compost is made from how much cow dung? This is not known to the people sitting in the government but the farmers of the state know," Thakur said.

"On one hand, the central government is bringing schemes for zero-budget farming in the country, on the other the government wants to buy readymade compost from the farmers at cheap prices. When the farmer makes compost from his own cow dung, then what is the need to sell the compost at Rs 3 per kilo? It is the insensitivity of the government to charge Rs 3 to buy the compost prepared after so much hard work," he said in a statement.

Thakur said all decisions of the government "are ridiculous. The government only tries to cheat the people. Like the rest of the guarantees, the government now wants to fulfil the guarantee of cow dung purchase as well. The entire Congress party is on the back foot due to the embarrassment caused by the Himachal government and Congress' guarantees across the country. Due to which, the Chief Minister has also been reprimanded by the high command," he added.

The Congress President has also now publicly said one should think before giving a guarantee. "Due to the current situation in Himachal, the Congress has been embarrassed in the elections being held across the country. It has become difficult for Congress leaders to go among the people in the Assembly elections being held in different areas of the country. In such a situation, there is pressure on the Chief Minister. Therefore, he wants to pat his back by claiming to fulfil the guarantee before the elections, so he is planning to cheat the people of the state again," the Leader of the Opposition said.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Tarun Chugh, BJP national general secretary on Wednesday heaped praise on two landmark decisions of the Union Cabinet and said that this will bring lasting impact on country's agri and educational sectors.

He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his unwavering dedication to country's progress through two visionary decisions approved by the Cabinet.

In a statement to the press, Chugh said, "These landmark approvals will create substantial, lasting impacts on our nation's agricultural sector and education system, furthering India's journey toward self-reliance and inclusive growth."

The infusion of Rs. 10,700 crore in equity into the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a transformative step toward strengthening the foundation of the agricultural sector.

Chugh stated, "FCI has played a pivotal role in ensuring food security and supporting our farmers through initiatives like Minimum Support Price (MSP)-based procurement, strategic food grain stock maintenance, and food distribution. This equity infusion will help FCI strengthen its financial capacity and reduce its borrowing burden, allowing for more efficient operations and lowering the subsidy requirements for the Government. This crucial decision reflects PM Modi's enduring commitment to empowering farmers, enhancing food security, and fortifying India's agrarian economy."

Chugh also commended PM Modi's efforts in empowering youth through education, stating, "Equally commendable is the approval of the PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme, which opens new pathways for India's youth to pursue higher education without financial constraints."

Elaborating on the scheme, Chugh explained that through its mission-mode approach, deserving students can access education loans with ease, security, and transparency. Covering admissions to 860 premier institutions across India and benefiting over 22 lakh students annually, PM-Vidyalaxmi offers a 75% credit guarantee on loans up to Rs. 7.5 lakhs, along with significant interest subventions.

"By reducing the financial hurdles for students from families with annual incomes up to Rs. 8 lakhs, this scheme affirms Modi Government's commitment to making quality education accessible to every aspiring Indian," he further said.
Kolkata, Nov 6 : A division bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Wednesday, upheld a previous order by a single-judge bench of the same court directing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe on the alleged torture of two women BJP activists in police custody.

These two women activists were arrested by state police after a complaint was lodged against them accusing them of making derogatory comments concerning the daughter of Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the party Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee.

Later the two women approached the single-judge bench of Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj accusing police of excesses including physical assault while they were in police custody. On October 8 Justice Bharadwaj besides directing the CBI probe in the matter also observed that such actions on the part of the state police were simply unacceptable.

Thereafter the West Bengal government approached the division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hirnmay Bhattacharya and challenged the single-judge bench order.

However, on Wednesday, the division bench observed that from the medical report, it was clear that there had been a physical assault on the two women's petitions and hence that report cannot be ignored.

The division bench observed that the CBI will continue with its probe and it is the duty of the state government to see whether everything is going on as per legal provisions.

On Wednesday, while holding the brief on behalf of the state government the advocate general Kishore Datta questioned how the single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court directed the CBI probe after hearing the matter for just a day.

He also denied allegations against the state police of custodial torture in the matter.

However, the division bench dismissed his argument and questioned that if the state government is so confident of the role of the state police in the matter then why is it opposing the CBI probe? The division bench also observed that the court has serious questions on even the arrest of the two women.
Beed : , Nov 6 (IANS) The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate from Parli Assembly constituency not only turned heads but also set the hearts aflutter of many young and senior 'bachelors' at his election rallies. MVA ally Nationalist Congress Party-SP's nominee Rajesaheb Shrikishan Deshmukh has promised to become an unlikely match-maker and arrange girls for marriage with hundreds of anxious unmarried youngsters and not-so-young men.

"If I am elected, I promise to find suitable girls for all of you to get married and settle down in life," proclaimed Deshmukh, 56, hoping to play Cupid to many forlorn men living alone without a life-partner.

He said that he was aware of the dilemma of many men in the region -- which comprises Beed, parts of Solapur and pockets in Latur and some other districts -- which are experiencing a 'shortage' of sufficient numbers of girls of marriageable age for the boys.

Beed has a dubious distinction -- it ranks among the worst districts in the state with an adverse male-female ratio (1000/912), against Ratnagiri's heartwarming ratio (1000/1123) -- as per official data of the 2011 Census.

However, since then, the male-female ratio of Beed in many pockets has seen a steady downslide in the past 14 years.

The district was rocked by the infamous 'female foeticide' scandal (2012) involving Dr. Sudam Munde, his wife Dr. Saraswati Munde and their accomplice, Mahadev Patekar, where they had carried out thousands of illegal prenatal tests and abortions of female fetuses that had rocked the country.

After the sensational case blew up, they were arrested, tried and sentenced to 10 years in jail in 2019, but the effects of their shady activities are now being experienced in society, said an expert from Pune, Dr. Ganesh Rakh.

Deshmukh's unusual 'poll promise' has sparked a wave of excitement among the hordes of bachelors even as Dr. Rakh estimated there may be at least 400-600 unmarried men of varying ages in almost every village in the affected regions of the state.

The NCP-SP candidate's poll-sop is not surprising, as he wrestles the MahaYuti ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) nominee and Minister Dhananjay P. Munde, as there have been similar alarm bells, instead of 'shehnai', in the past.

Two years ago, over four dozen men, attired in full wedding gear and riding decorated 'ghodis' (mares, used by groom in Indian weddings), trotted to the Solapur Collector office and demanded him to arrange for brides for them!

The stag-grooms' procession was organised by local NGO, Jyoti Kranti Parishad and drew attention to the serious problems of unequal male-female ratio in some pockets of the state with grim socio-economic ramifications.

Rakh  who shot to global limelight by launching "free delivery" of all female infants born at his Pune maternity hospital in 2012  said that in many villages in Beed, there are many unmarried 'boys' ranging from the age-group of 35-45, especially among the Vanjari community.

"Initially, they attempt for suitable matches among girls from the same community, they cast the net wide to other states through 'Vivah Mandals' earlier, lately or 'Lagna Agents', then explore inter-caste proposals and finally even are ready for inter-religious options, with the accompanying consequences," Rakh told IANS.

However, the agents are known to charge exorbitantly (around Rs 5 lakh per proposal) for getting doubtful proposals, at times, 'buying' poor girls from remote areas of the country and dumping them on the unsuspecting 'grooms'  described as nothing but human trafficking in the name of marriage by Dr. Rakh.

The worst is that people from outside are refusing to give their daughters' hands in marriage in deprived places like Beed owing to its notorious history.

It remains to be seen whether Deshmukh's gambit of getting his miserable legion of bachelor constituents 'properly settled' in life actually brings votes or not.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at qnajmi@gmail.com)
Ahmedabad, Nov 6 : Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump for his resounding victory in the US presidential election, saying it is fascinating to see America's democracy empower its people and uphold the nation's founding principles.

Ahmedabad, Nov 6 (IANS) Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump for his resounding victory in the US presidential election, saying it is fascinating to see Americaas democracy empower its people and uphold the nation's founding principles.

Trump is set to become Americaas 47th President, in a most momentous comeback in political history.

In a post on X, Gautam Adani said: "If there is one person on Earth who stands as the embodiment of unbreakable tenacity, unshakeable grit, relentless determination and the courage to stay true to his beliefs, it is Donald Trump".

"Fascinating to see Americaas democracy empower its people and uphold the nation's founding principles. Congratulations to the 47th POTUS-elect," said the Adani Group Chairman.

Several world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, congratulated Trump after his victory in the US presidential election, lauding the US leader's "historic" achievement. PM Modi was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump on his election triumph. "Heartiest congratulations my friend, Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, letas work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," PM Modi posted on X.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated Trump. Starmer's office issued a statement, saying, "Congratulations President-elect Donald Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead." Netanyahu took to X, saying, aDear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history's greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!"
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday lauded the Union Cabinet's approval of the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme, a significant initiative to provide financial support to meritorious students under the central sector.

The minister said the scheme will help universalise access to 21st-century higher education for India's talented youth.

"With an outlay of Rs 3,600 crore, the scheme will remove obstacles to higher education and enable the Yuva Shakti of the country to pursue their dreams," said the minister.

Collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans under PM Vidyalaxmi will maximise access to higher education for meritorious students and ensure that financial constraints do not prevent students from pursuing education, Pradhan added.

Students having annual family income of up to Rs 8 lakh will be eligible to get 3 per cent interest subvention on education loans up to Rs 10 lakh and loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh shall be eligible for 75 per cent credit guarantee.

"Education loans will be facilitated through a transparent, student-friendly and digital application process that will be common to all banks," the minister noted.

Pradhan further stated that education loans under PM Vidyalaxmi will be facilitated to students securing admissions in the top 860 higher educational institutions based on NIRF. This will cover more than 22 lakh students every year.

The financial assistance to meritorious students is a key recommendation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and PM Vidyalaxmi is another concrete step towards implementation of NEP.

"PM Vidyalaxmi will empower millions of students from the poor and middle class," said the minister.

Meanwhile, the Department of Higher Education will have a unified portal 'PM-Vidyalaxmi' on which students will be able to apply for the education loan as well as interest subvention, through a simplified application process to be used by all banks.
Amaravati, Nov 6 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US Presidential elections and hoped that India-US relations will strengthen further during his second term as President.

Chandrababu Naidu took to X to congratulate Trump as it became clear that the Republican Party candidate has emerged victorious against Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party.

"I congratulate Mr Donald Trump on his victory in the US Presidential Elections and wish him success as he prepares to lead his country forward. His first tenure marked significant strengthening of the Indo-US partnership," the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president wrote.

He exuded confidence that with the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump, 'our two nations will further strengthen their ties and foster greater cooperation'.

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information Technology and Electronics Nara Lokesh has also congratulated Donlad Trump on his electoral victory.

"My hearty congratulations to President-elect Mr Donald Trump for a historic triumph as he takes charge as the 47th President of the United States."

Lokesh stated that this is a very special moment for the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially West Godavari district, as J.D. Vance was elected Vice-President.

"The Second Lady designate, Usha Vance, has roots in AP. We're proud as people of AP Origin continue to make their mark in various spheres across the world," said Nara Lokesh, who is the son of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

Usha Chilukuri Vance is set to become the first Telugu second lady of the United States

J.D. Vance, 40, is an Ohio Senator who has transformed from a critic of Trump into his biggest supporter.

He married Indian-American lawyer Usha Vance in 2014, with a Hindu priest presiding over a separate ceremony. The couple has three children.

Donald Trump had previously served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.

He had defeated Hillary Clinton to emerge victorious
New Delhi. Nov 6 : Tata Steel Ltd on Wednesday reported a net profit of Rs 833 crore for the July-Sept quarter (Q2) of the current financial year to bounce back from a loss of Rs 6,196 crore in the same quarter last year.

The companyas revenue from operations in the quarter fell 3 per cent year-on-year to Rs 53,905 crore.

The company reported an EBITDA of Rs 6,141 crore during the second quarter while margins stood at 11.4 per cent.

Tata Steel has been making losses in its UK business. The company said in a stock exchange filing with BSE that Tata Steel Europe Ltd ('TSE'), its wholly owned step-down subsidiary, is exposed to certain climate-related risks which could affect its future cash flow. The cashflow projections include the impact of decarbonisation given that both the TSUK and TSN businesses within TSE have stated their plans to move away from the current production process and to transition to electric arc furnace-based production. The Grant Funding Agreement (GFA) for the decarbonisation proposal was signed with the UK government on September 11, 2024. With the UK government funding available under the GFA and a commitment to infuse equity into TSUK through T Steel Global Holdings Pte. Ltd ('TSGH'), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, TSUK now has the certainty that the funding is available for its decarbonisation proposal from both the UK government and the company.

Accordingly, it has been concluded that there does not exist any material uncertainty relating to going concern assessment of TSUK and that TSUK has access to adequate liquidity to fund its operations.

Tata Steel also informed the stock exchange that based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the Board of the Company considered and unanimously approved the appointment of Pramod Agrawal as an Additional Director (Non-Executive, Independent) effective November 6, 2024, and as an Independent Director of the Company for a term of 5 years.

Tata Steel shares closed 0.85 per cent higher at Rs 153.60 after Wednesday's trading session, compared to Rs 152.30 at the previous market close. The company released its second-quarter results after market hours.
Amaravati, Nov 6 : Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance, is set to become the first Indian-origin 'Second Lady' of the United States.

The 38-year-old Indian-American lawyer has her roots in Andhra Pradesh and the news of her elevation has already sparked celebrations in Vadluru village in West Godavari district from where her family hails.

People in the village burst firecrackers and distributed sweets after the victory of the Republican ticket of Trump and Vance in the US Presidential elections.

Earlier, some villagers offered prayers for the victory of Trump and Vance, saying this would further strengthen the India-US relations.

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information Technology and Electronics Nara Lokesh said that this is a very special moment for the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially West Godavari district.

"The Second Lady designate, Usha Vance has roots in AP. We're proud as people of AP Origin continue to make their mark in various spheres across the world," said Minister Lokesh, who is the son of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

Vance, the 40-year-old Ohio Senator and the running mate of President-elect Trump, is set to become the Vice President. He married the Yale-graduated lawyer in 2014. The couple has three children  Ewan, 6, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2.

Usha's parents Radhakrishna Chilukuri and Lakshmi Chilukuri had migrated to the US in 1980. Usha, one of the three children of Radhakrishna and Lakshmi, was born and brought up in San Diego (California).

A marine molecular biologist and biochemist, Professor Lakshmi Chilukuri is Provost of the Sixth College at the University of California, San Diego University. Radhakrishna Chilukuri, also known as Dr Krish Chilukuri, is a lecturer, Academic Affairs, College of Engineering, Department of Aerospace Engineering at the San Diego State University.

Usha, who has been passionate about books since her childhood, holds a bachelor's degree in History from the Yale University and a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge Later, she joined Yale Law School where she met Vance. Their friendship turned into love and they tied the knot in 2014. The couple was blessed by a Hindu priest in a separate ceremony.

Usha worked as a corporate lawyer and litigator for some years. She was a Law Clerk to two Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and argued civil cases belonging to the education, medical, and defence sectors. She was also associated with the Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic, Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic, and Iraqi Refugee Assistance Projects. She is currently working as a litigator in the National Legal Agency.

Interestingly while studying at Cambridge, Usha worked with left-wing and liberal groups and registered her name as a Democratic Party in 2014. Four years later, she registered with the Republican Party for voting from Ohio. Usha had helped Vance organise a meeting on 'Social decline in White America' that formed the basis of his 2016 bestseller "Hillbilly Elegy". She played a key role in Vance's Senate campaigns in 2016 and 2022. She was instrumental in her husband's election as Ohio senator in 2022 and was also responsible for his campaign for the office of Vice-President.

--IANS

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. As the 11th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States kicks off in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan finds itself at the heart of a transformative movement aimed at uniting Turkic nations. The summit, themed "Strengthening the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, Digital Future, and Security for All," signals a significant moment for member countries to chart a collective path forward amid global uncertainties.

With tensions rising worldwide and economies grappling with challenges, the importance of strengthening connections among Turkic states has never been clearer. Azerbaijan, a founding member of the OTS, has been a driving force behind this initiative, recognizing that unity is essential for progress in a fast-changing world.

Historically viewed as a cultural forum, the OTS is evolving into a powerful platform for political and economic cooperation. This shift reflects a growing understanding among member states that their shared heritage can translate into tangible benefits in the realms of trade, security, and infrastructure. President Ilham Aliyev has emphasized that the 21st century must be a century of progress of the Turkic world. "The Organization of Turkic States should become one of the prominent international forces," he stated during a recent summit in the city of Shusha.

The focus of the Bishkek summit will be on critical issues like economic integration and creating a common market for Turkic nations, setting the stage for a robust dialogue on shared challenges and opportunities.

Azerbaijans strategic position makes it a linchpin for economic development across the region. The country serves as a vital transit hub for Central Asian nations looking to access European markets. With routes like the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route - often referred to as the Middle Corridor - Azerbaijan is unlocking global trade opportunities that can benefit all OTS member states.

As President Ilham Aliyev noted, "Our abundant natural resources and modern infrastructure for their delivery, transport corridors connecting Central Asia and the Caucasus with Mediterranean and Black Sea ports, our rich and ancient history and culture are our great assets," and its clear that Azerbaijans geographical advantages are increasingly important. Accessing markets in Europe is essential for Central Asian countries, and Azerbaijan stands ready to facilitate this process, reinforcing its role as a regional leader.

The European Union is also keenly interested in strengthening ties with the OTS, recognizing that cooperation with these Turkic states could be a game changer. The Turkic nations are rich in natural resources, and their commitment to working together presents an opportunity for the EU to address pressing energy needs while enhancing its standing in the region.

The OTS is home to several key oil and gas exporters, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkiye, making it an attractive partner for Europe as it seeks to diversify its energy sources. Hungary, which has already initiated gas cooperation with Azerbaijan, is another player in this evolving partnership, adding to the dynamic landscape of energy cooperation within the OTS.

The Bishkek summit is more than just a meeting of heads of state; its a critical opportunity for member countries to solidify their cooperation and tackle the challenges facing the Turkic world. With a focus on education, digital transformation, and sustainable development, the OTS is positioning itself as a significant player on the global stage.

Azerbaijans leadership in the OTS reflects its broader aspirations to serve as a bridge between East and West. As President Ilham Aliyev stated, "The current policy makes it clear to everyone. This is the main international organization for us, because it is our family. We have no other family. Our family is the Turkic world". With this sentiment resonating throughout the summit, the future looks promising for Azerbaijan and its Turkic partners as they work together to build a more prosperous and interconnected region.

In a time of uncertainty, the Turkic states are charting a course for unity and progress, with Azerbaijan at the helm, ready to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Baghdad, Nov 6 : The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a Shiite militia group, said on Wednesday that it had carried out three drone attacks on Israeli targets.

In online statements, the group said that its fighters launched two drone attacks at dawn on "vital sites," one of which was in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, and the second targeted a location in southern Israel.

Another drone attack was carried out on Tuesday night on a site in Eilat in southern Israel, the group added, Xinhua news agency reported.

The statements did not provide further details about the targeted sites or report any casualties.

According to the group, the drone attacks were carried out "in solidarity with our people in Palestine and Lebanon," pledging to continue targeting "the enemy's strongholds at an escalating pace."

Since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has repeatedly attacked Israeli and US positions in the region to show support for Palestinians in Gaza.

The militia has stepped up its attacks on Israel after the latter intensified strikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon on September 23.
Chennai, Nov 6 : A pall of gloom descended over Thulasendrapuram village in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvarur district on Wednesday following U.S. Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris's loss in the presidential election against Donald Trump.

Thulaseendrapuram is the ancestral village of Kamala Harris. Special poojas (rituals) were conducted at the Sree Dharmasastha Temple, which is associated with Kamala's maternal lineage. Her grandfather, P.C. Gopalan, played a significant role in renovating this ancestral temple, and the family visits the temple regularly to attend poojas dedicated to their deity.

A temple board shows that Kamala Harris donated Rs 5,000 to the temple, a contribution made on her behalf by her aunt Sarala Gopalan.

A farmer from the village, Murugesan K.M, expressed his disappointment to IANS, saying: "We are dejected at Kamala Harris's loss. We were hopeful for a big win in this election, but unfortunately, it didn't happen. However, we expect her to win the next time and become the president of the most powerful country in the world."

The residents had been hopeful for Kamala's victory and had planned celebrations, including an Annadhanam (free food distribution) event.

DMK councillor Arulmozhi and her spouse, T. Suthakar, conducted a special Abishegam (ritual bathing) with sandalwood, turmeric, and other sacred items, as well as an Archanai (prayer offering) to the presiding deity at the Dharmasastha Temple, the family deity of Kamala's ancestors.

Suthakar told IANS: "We were hoping for the victory of our daughter of the soil. We are sad and dejected, but we believe she will win the next election and become the President."

A spiritual organisation based in Madurai, Anushanathin Anugraham, also organised special poojas for Kamala Harris's victory.

Priests chanted Vedic mantras and performed dhyanam (meditation) for her success, invoking blessings from Kanchi Mahaperiyava, Lord Krishna, Lord Murugan, Valli, Deivanai, Lord Rama, and Goddess Kamatchi Amman.

Posters appeared across the village in Tamil, expressing prayers for Kamala's victory.
Washington, November 6 : During his first term, that was marked with personal warmth and chemistry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President-elect Donald Trump pulled a little-known formation of the US, India, Japan and Australia called the Quadrilateral Security Conference from obscurity and turned it into the centerpiece of America's push against China in the Indo-Pacific.

Washington, November 6 (IANS) During his first term, that was marked with personal warmth and chemistry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President-elect Donald Trump pulled a little-known formation of the US, India, Japan and Australia called the Quadrilateral Security Conference from obscurity and turned it into the centerpiece of Americaas push against China in the Indo-Pacific.

Some officials in his administration had even seen it as the foundation for building a military alliance - an Asian NATO.

It did not grow into one but it is now a vibrant body with several summit-level meetings.

In 2020, Trump had also directed the Pentagon to extend all support to India in the wake of violent Galwan Valley face-off between the Indian and Chinese troops that led to the first fatalities in clashes on the border in decades.

At the same time, Trump had also happily accepted an invitation from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to mediate with India. It was a clever move by the wily Khan as he knew well India was opposed to any third-party mediation and an irritated New Delhi lost no time in conveying rejection. Khan might have been trying to tap into a desire once expressed by Trump to mediate between the two South Asian neighbours.

On trade and economy, Trump elevated Indiaas stature to that of NATO and NATO+ allies for the export of sensitive dual use technology under STA 1 (Strategic Trade Authorization 1). But he also slapped tariffs on Indian steel and aluminum, as he did with the rest of the world, triggering a tariff war with India, which had retaliated by slapping duties on US goods.

In 2019, the Trump administration had ended special trading benefits to India that allowed Indian exports to enter the US at zero tariff under a programme called Generalized System of Preference (GSP). At the time of termination, the annual Indian exports to the US under this scheme were valued at $6 billion. It has not been restored yet.

The Trump administration had also pushed India to sign a trade deal that the two sides had planned during the US presidentas visit to India in February 2020, but the negotiators failed to meet the deadline. The Indian officials complained the American negotiators were constantly shifting the goalposts, targets which forced them to abandon the deal altogether.

Trump also ended US participation in the Paris climate accord slamming it as designed to benefit India and China, willfully misrepresenting its conditions.

These policy differences, however, did not come in the way of Trump and PM Modi forming a close personal bond. He attended a joint rally with the Prime Minister in Houston called 'Howdy Modi', during which PM Modi called for a second term for the American president. Trump then travelled to India for another joint appearance with Prime Minister Modi at a rally in Ahmedabad, called 'Namaste Trump'.

Having spoken of PM Modi several times during the just concluded 2024 re-election campaign, Trump reportedly called many Indian-American supporters "Modias Boys". The former president even said that he expected to meet the Prime Minister during his September visit to the US for the Quad and UN General Assembly meetings, calling him "fantastic". That meeting could not take place due to the busy schedule of both leaders.
Patna, Nov 6 : In a disturbing incident in Bihar's Purnea district, a woman and her three children allegedly committed suicide in their home in Kilpada village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Rauta police station, an official said on Wednesday.

Gyan Ranjan, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Rauta police station, confirmed the case and shared initial details of the incident.

SHO Ranjan said that the incident came to light when the woman's husband returned home on Wednesday.

"Finding the door locked from the inside, he tried to gain entry. After repeated attempts failed, he broke the door lock with an iron rod. Upon entering the room, he found his wife and children hanging in the room. The incident probably took place on Tuesday night," Ranjan said.

Police are actively investigating the incident to determine the circumstances and motive behind these suicides.

Initial investigations suggest that Babita Devi (32), the victim, may have struggled with mental health issues, possibly contributing to the incident. Her three children, Riya (8), Suraj (5), and Sujit (3), were found hanging in their home.

Police officers recorded statements from her husband, who discovered the victims after returning from a temple visit, as well as from neighbours.

SHO Gyan Ranjan noted that neighbours had described Babita as having a short temper and possibly a mental illness, though authorities are exploring all angles, including the potential of a dispute.

"A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has been called to the scene to aid in the investigation. We are considering both mental health factors and other possible motives. The dead bodies of Babita and her children were sent to the mortuary for autopsy, and we are gathering evidence to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident," Ranjan said.
Kolkata, Nov 6 : The West Bengal unit of BJP, on Wednesday, filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Falun Singhababu, the Trinamool Congress candidate in Taldangra constituency accusing him of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

In the complaint, the BJP pointed out that Falun Singhababu distributed books among the school children while he went for his election campaign at Jharia village under Indpur block in Bankura district.

BJP MP in Bankura constituency Subhash Sarkar said that the distribution of books by the Trinamool Congress candidate during the election campaign is not just a violation of the MCC but also a blatant attempt to conceal the pathetic state of affairs in the education system of the state.

"Had the state government arranged for proper and timely distribution of books among the school children, the party candidate for the bypolls would not have to distribute books during his election campaign. This is a blatant violation of MCC and we have brought the matter to the notice of the ECI," said Sarkar.

Singhababu, however, has denied the allegations and claimed that he distributed election leaflets and not books.

"I will give a reply if I get any notice from the commission," he said.

Taldangra is going for bypolls on November 13, as the erstwhile Trinamool Congress legislator from there Arup Chakraborty got elected in the Lok Sabha from Bankura defeating Sarkar in the general elections this year.

On that date five other Assembly constituencies in West Bengal namely Sitai in Cooch Behar, Naihati and Haroa in South 24 Parganas, Medinipur in West Midnapore and Madarihat in Alipurduar are going for polls for the same reason that their erstwhile legislators got elected in the Parliamentary polls this year.

During the 2021 West Bengal Assembly polls, barring Madarihat, Trinamool Congress candidates got elected from the remaining five constituencies.

The counting for the bypolls will be on November 23.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Union Minister for Labour & Employment Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday held a review meeting on revamping the Shram Suvidha and Samadhan portals to make these platforms more efficient, user-friendly, and beneficial for both employers and workers.

As the exercise to upgrade the portals gathers pace, Mansukh Mandaviya said: "The revamping of Shram Suvidha and Samadhan Portals is focused on efficiency, effectiveness, and ease of use. By upgrading technology and technical features, we are making strides toward a more streamlined compliance process for establishments across the country. This improvement will also ensure better service delivery and protection for workers, who are central to India's workforce."

During the Union Budget 2024-25 speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that Shram Suvidha and Samadhan portals will be revamped to enhance ease of compliance for industry and trade. In line with this announcement, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has initiated a comprehensive revamp of the Shram Suvidha and Samadhan portals.

The revamped Samadhan portal will facilitate a smoother conciliation process, enable online registration of bipartite settlements, and onboard all proceedings related to claims for gratuity, wages, equal remuneration, and maternity benefits. It will also allow for online filing of applications for intimation/permission for layoffs, closures, and more. Daily proceedings of cases in the Central Government Industrial Tribunals (CGIT) will also be accessible on the portal.

These enhancements will aid workers in obtaining justice transparently, as they can monitor the status of their cases directly from their devices (computers or mobile phones).

The revamped Shram Suvidha portal, with simplified registration, returns, and license forms, will become a one-stop solution for Labour Law compliance for employers. The enhanced portal will also facilitate improved data sharing between enforcement agencies, enabling automatic flagging of non-compliant establishments. Features like predictive analysis and customised dashboards will serve as crucial tools for policy-making.

This enhancement focuses on upgrading technology, optimising the user interface, and integrating advanced design features to ensure efficient case and claim processing. The improvements aim to automate routine tasks, including notification alerts, identification of non-compliant establishments, and providing users with guided suggestions for compliance.

The Ministry is also focusing on making these portals bilingual to reach a wider audience and create easier access for individuals. The new portals will also offer supportive features such as video and audio tutorials, interactive chat support, among others.
Washington, Nov 6 : The US Presidential election, widely regarded as one of the most divisive in American history, has caused deep concern among voters. According to an annual survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 77 per cent of US adults said the future of the nation was a significant source of stress in their lives. Additionally, 74 per cent said they were worried that the election results could lead to violence.

"The US is now more divided along ideological and political lines than at any time since the 1850s," said Bruce Stokes, an associate fellow at Chatham House. "America's friends and allies need to understand that the United States has become a Disunited States. There are effectively two Americas -- and they are at war."

It has also become one of the most contentious and costly campaigns in US history. According to OpenSecrets, political spending across major-party campaigns, related political action committees (PACs), and other groups is projected to reach a record 15.9 billion US dollars, with deep involvement of US billionaires.

After decades of staying out of politics, Bill Gates recently donated about 50 million dollars to a non-profit supporting Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has given more than 75 million dollars to his pro-Donald Trump super PAC.

Forbes had recorded 83 billionaires supporting Harris and 52 backing Trump by October 30. Many more billionaires might also financially back a candidate, but their donations won't be learned until after the election.

Despite the enormous financial outlay, voters appear increasingly disillusioned with their nation's institutions and political landscape. A New York Times/Siena College poll revealed that nearly half of American voters doubt the effectiveness of US democracy, with 45 per cent believing it fails to represent ordinary people, Xinhua news agency reported.

Three-quarters of the voters say democracy is under threat, and more than half feel that the government mostly serves elite interests, reinforcing concerns about corruption and deep-seated dysfunction. Notably, 58 per cent of voters say the political system needs major reform or a complete overhaul, according to the poll.

"When it is over, no matter who wins, we will be more divided, with our fragile democracy and our country's unity at greater risk," said James Zogby, president of the Washington-based Arab American Institute.

--IANS

as/
Bandar Seri Begawan, Nov 6 : Brunei welcomed passengers from the inaugural Royal Brunei Airlines direct flight from Chennai, a city located on the east coast of India, with a cultural reception at Brunei International Airport on Wednesday, local media reported.

According to the local daily Borneo Bulletin, India has been one of Brunei's top 10 source markets for tourism arrivals by air. As of June 2024, Brunei has welcomed 4,398 tourists from India.

The Brunei Tourism Development Department said in a press release that the launch of a direct flight from Chennai is expected to further strengthen this upward trend, providing more convenient travel options and encouraging more visitors from India in the coming years, Xinhua news agency reported.

Brunei is a Southeast Asian country with rich oil and gas resources and a population of 340,000 citizens. The Brunei government is committed to developing tourism and economic diversification.
Bhopal, Nov 6 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday asked its booth workers to identify new voters in each neighbourhood for the forthcoming bypolls in the state.

"Booth workers have been asked to identify new voters in each of the neighbourhoods. Workers have also been instructed to prepare the lists of individuals availing the benefits of flagships introduced by the state government," a party leader said.

He added that apart from booth workers, municipal corporators and the members of other organisations affiliated with BJP have also been assigned the poll preparation ahead of the bypolls.

"Our booth workers play a crucial role in the elections. The party gets concrete details through our ground workers because they are closely connected with the people. They have already worked hard in the past few weeks, they are just being charged up for the final round," said BJP MP V. D. Sharma after chairing a meeting in Vijaypur on Wednesday.

He added that the party is leaving no stone unturned to secure victory in both Assembly seats - Budhni and Vijaypur.

Besides an extensive campaign being carried out by senior party leaders, including Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state BJP leadership has also started charging up its booth-level party workers in both these Assembly seats which will go to polls on November 13.

The bypolls in Budhni were necessitated after former Shivraj Singh Chouhan resigned from the state Assembly following his victory in the Lok Sabha from Vidisha.

In Vijaypur, bypolls was mandated after former Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat resigned from the state Assembly and joined the BJP.

While the BJP retained Budhni since 2003, (Shivraj Singh Chouhan won five times between 2006 and 2023), Congress had won in Budhni last time in 1998.

In the forthcoming bypolls, the contest will be between BJP's Ramakant Bhargava and Congress' Rajkumar Patel.

Vijaypur has been a Congress stronghold as it won four out of five Assembly elections between 2003 and 2023. Senior politician Ramniwas Rawat, who won as many as six elections on Congress' ticket, is now BJP's candidate for bypolls.

Congress has fielded Mukesh Malhotra from Vijaypur, who joined the party a few months back. Earlier, Malhotra had contested from Vijaypur as an independent candidate.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 6 : The Vigilance Department on Wednesday unearthed assets worth over crores during raids at different places linked to a senior official of Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) of Odisha.

The official, Bijay Kumar Udaysingh, is currently working as Junior Manager (Civil), Building Construction Division (BCD-II), IDCO, Bhubaneswar.

The anti-corruption sleuths have unearthed one four-storey building at Arya Vihar under Rajarani Mouza in Bhubaneswar worth over Rs 3.22 crore, one flat in an apartment in Balukhanda area of Puri district, three high-valued homestead plots including two in Bhubaneswar and one in Khordha.

The technical wing of the Vigilance Department has been carrying out measurements and valuation of the said plots and flats to ascertain the actual price of these assets.

This apart, the accused official was also found possessing deposits worth Rs 55,50,916 in bank account and Insurance policies, cash to the tune of Rs 4.50 lakhs, one 4-wheeler, three 2-wheelers, gold and household items valued at around Rs 29 lakhs.

"Udaysingh is being examined to ascertain the source of the assets. Further searches are continuing. Unearthing of more assets is likely and overall valuation is likely to increase," said Vigilance sources on Wednesday.

Earlier, the vigilance sleuths on Thursday launched simultaneous house searches on the properties of Udaysingh over the allegation of possession of assets disproportionate to the known sources of income.

The searches were conducted at six places including his residential house at Arya Vihar in Bhubaneswar, flat at Balukhanda in Puri, his parental house at Mundamba village in Jankia area of Khordha, one crusher located at his native village, relative's residence at Samantarapur in Bhubaneswar and his office at IDCO, Bhubaneswar.

"As many as six teams of Odisha Vigilance comprising eight DSPs, eight Inspectors, and other supporting staff conducted the search on the strength of Search Warrants issued by the Hon'ble Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar," added vigilance sources.

Notably, the Director of Odisha Vigilance, YK Jethwa has recently revealed that information about 14 engineers and government officials caught in the vigilance net have been shared with various other agencies, including Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate which may initiate probe into these cases, if needed.
Xi congratulates Boko on his election as president of Botswana

Xinhua) 08:11, November 06, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a message to Duma Boko to extend congratulations on his election as president of Botswana.

In his message, Xi noted that China and Botswana enjoy traditional friendship, saying that in recent years, bilateral relations have enjoyed a sound momentum of development, with remarkable achievements in cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, clean energy, as well as medical care and public health.

Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Botswana relations and stands ready to work with Boko to push the bilateral strategic partnership to a higher level and bring more benefits to the people of the two countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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It has been an election filled shaped by unreality, so why not ask voters how beloved fictional characters may vote?

Polling firm YouGov asked Americans how more than 50 characters from television and movies would vote in the presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.

The most likely Harris supporters, the poll found, were Liz Lemon from "30 Rock," Leslie Knope from "Parks and Recreation," Carrie Bradshaw from "Sex in the City," Phoebe Buffay from "Friends," Elaine Benes from "Seinfeld" and Barbie from the "Barbie" movie. The top 11 characters scoring the highest marks for Harris support were all women.

Meanwhile, the Trump side was led by Tony Stark from "Iron Man," Walter White from "Breaking Bad," Nurse Ratched from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," Jack Donaghy from "30 Rock," Homer Simpson from "The Simpsons" and Ron Swanson from "Parks and Recreation." Of the top 20 characters voting for Trump, two were women.

YouGov surveyed 1,167 adult Americans between Oct. 25 and Oct. 28. It polled people about what characters they were familiar with, so there was the best chance of getting representative data.

Part of the poll's appeal is that people are always looking for a lighthearted way to talk about something serious, said Jason Mittell, a professor of media studies at Middlebury College in Vermont. Plus, there's a lot of projection onto these characters, and they can't tell us we're wrong.

"That's the fun of it. This is kind of political fan-fiction. It's a lot lower-stakes and lower-pressure way to talk about politics," he said.

Having spent sometimes dozens of hours with some of the characters, many viewers have parasocial relationships with these nonexistent people.

"We know they're fictional, but they are felt figures. They are figures who play a role in our time and thus in our lives," Mittell said.

There were some thought-provoking results, such as a majority of people thinking Mr. Miyagi from "The Karate Kid" would support Harris and Dwight Schrute from the "The Office" going for Trump almost two-to-one.

The poll doesn't address a lot of factors. For instance, are we supposed to age these characters to present day? Because today, Lucy Ricardo would be 113 years old. "I Love Lucy" premiered 73 years ago. About 25 percent of those polled believe Lucy would have voted for Trump, which Mittell thinks is too high for the protofeminist figure.

"The plot of almost every episode is her trying to get out the house to get a job or get on TV to become a star," he said. "She is always in a belittled domestic role."

Mittell offered his opinion: "She's the one who goes into the poll when no one is looking and votes for Harris."

And then we must consider when along this character's narrative arc we are meant to assess them. Great stories show a transformation of their main character.

Mittell said he feels Walter White began as a Democrat but ended "Breaking Bad" as a Republican. Then there's Archie Bunker, an ornery guy who was explicitly Republican at the start of "All in the Family" but softened by the spin-off "Archie Bunker's Place," Mittell said: "He mellows to a point where he'd find Trump distasteful." (Bunker was the character most likely to vote for Trump, per the poll.)

What we know about the actors also creeps into the data, he said. "The Roseanne of the '90s was a Democrat, no question," Mittell said. "Obviously, she has changed." Roseanne Barr has become a staunch conservative whose reboot was canceled after she made racist posts about Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, who is Black.

There are also logistics to consider, such as Miles Morales in the animated Spider-Man series and Bella Swan from "Twilight" being too young to legally vote.

Mittell, who wasn't involved in the poll, said there were some interesting cases.

For instance, Harris supporters were more likely than Trump backers to say the Joker from the Batman franchise would support Trump.

Mittell said he thinks a charismatic villain cuts an interesting figure in this poll. He said Democrats are more likely to associate the Joker with Trump because they are more likely to say "he's chaotic, he's malicious, he's vengeful." But, he said, "the Trump supporters focus on the coolness of the character and the humor of the character."

Then there's Captain America. There was a fairly even split among poll respondents, which makes sense.

In the age of extreme partisanship, no one wants to give Captain America to the other side. "More than in most elections, what's stake is what an American is and who is allowed to be a part of it," Mittell said.

A synonym for patriotism, Cap would be a big win for either side to claim.

"The Republicans obviously have traditionally latched onto patriotism as a core ethos and they also look at Captain America as  tied to World War II in origin whereas the Democrats, this election especially, have tried to reclaim patriotism and defending democracy," Mittell said.

On that other side of the superhero aisle is Tony Stark, whom 47 percent of respondents said would vote for Trump, compared to 36 percent saying he'd cast a ballot for Harris.

Stark, whose company relies on government contracts, reminded Mittell of someone else. "If he were in our world, he'd be playing the Elon Musk game," Mittell said, adding that he thinks Stark would end up voting for Harris in the booth.

Mittell said he first saw YouGov's chart all over his Bluesky social media feed, which he took as an indication that people are interested in taking a break from politics.

"I'd so much rather be talking about this than looking at exit polls," he said Tuesday morning.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The Global Baku Summit of Religious Leaders was held on November 5-6 in Baku, Trend reports.

A Global Summit of Religious Leaders continued its work today as part of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations, the Muslim Council of Elders, the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO), and the United Nations Environment Program in Baku.

The global forum rolled out the red carpet for around 30 leaders from both secular and traditional religions, heads of prominent religious centers - patriarchs, officials from the Vatican, and Al-Azhar, along with internationally recognized religious and public figures hailing from various corners of the globe and diverse faiths, representatives from government, academia, and religious institutions hailing from 55 countries and 30 international organizations, and media representatives.

In his speech, Ahmed Mohamed Aljarwan Alshamsi, Chairman of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, called for collective action to combat climate change and prevent further disasters.

He emphasized that the world is facing dangers that threaten peace and stability.

"We must act without delay to encourage all parties to unite. Acts of aggression and violence demand that we come together in the pursuit of peace. We call for cooperation. When the voices of religious leaders unite, they can play a pivotal role in fostering peace built on tolerance and mutual understanding.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Azerbaijan for hosting today's event. I wish the government great success in the upcoming COP29 climate conference," he added.

Professor Mehmet Akkan Suver, Chairman of Turkiye's Marmara Foundation Group, highlighted the urgent ecological crises the world is facing.

He viewed COP29 as a challenge for the future of humanity, noting that alongside the social issues caused by wars, climate change poses an additional threat.

"At this critical juncture, COP29, set to take place in Baku, is vital for addressing these pressing challenges. We view the COP29 event, organized by Azerbaijan, as a pivotal opportunity to pave the way for a brighter future for humanity. I believe this initiative by Azerbaijan will help steer us away from chaos, conflict, and war," he added.

Following the summit, participants sent a letter of gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev. They also issued a joint appeal and formally adopted the Baku Declaration.
Mumbai, Nov 6 : Sounding the bugle for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) announced its 5 Guarantees for various sections of society and bombarded the Bharatiya Janata Party-MahaYuti alliance government for its 'misrule and corruption', here on Wednesday.

The MVA allies Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and others were present in full strength at a huge rally in the Bandra Kurla Complex and greeted the speakers with applause and cheers several times.

The main speakers were Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar and SS (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, besides Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge.

The MVA's 5 Guarantees are: Mahalaxmi Scheme of Rs 3,000 per month to all poor women plus free bus travel for all women and girls; loan waiver of up to Rs 3 lakh for all farmers and an incentive of Rs 50,000 for those who regularly repay their dues; Health Insurance up to Rs 25 lakh and free medicines; Rs 4,000 per month for the unemployed youth; and Caste Census and removing the 50 per cent ceiling on quotas.

Leading the charge, Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP has destroyed all important institutions by appointing RSS sympathisers irrespective of their qualifications or merits.

"The poor in India pay the highest taxes while the industrialists are becoming richer. On account of the BJP's policies, the MSME sector has been wiped out though it could have been the backbone of the Indian economy, and the people were hit badly with demonetisation and GST," Rahul Gandhi said.

He reiterated the INDIA-MVA bloc to undertake a Caste Census and also smash the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations, and protect the Constitution "come what may, we shall not allow anybody to touch it" to save the poor of the country.

Rahul Gandhi said that all poor women will be entitled to Rs 3,000 per month and free travel in State Transport buses to offset the high prices of cooking gas, fuel prices and unemployment.

In a broadside at the Centre, Pawar said that owing to the policies of the Centre, the farmers of the country are in great distress with their world in trouble.

"The farmer-brothers, who provide us with food, are suffering due to the natural disasters and the crisis created by the rulers. Time has come to bury the rulers who do not protect the interests of the country's food-givers," urged Pawar.

To ease the burden of the tillers, the MVA will give a loan waiver of up to Rs 3 lakhs to all farmers plus an incentive of Rs 50,000 to those who are regularly paying up their dues, Pawar said.

Thackeray said that after the MVA is voted to office, it would also freeze the prices of 5 essential commodities of daily consumption without affecting the interests of the farm brethren.

He also vowed to stop the 'Gujarat-isation' of Mumbai and Maharashtra, provide free education to all boys, and protect the interests of all sections of the population.

"We do not believe in making hollow promises but only those we can deliver. We will not allow the fishermen's colonies dotting Mumbai to be grabbed by builders under the guise of redevelopment, stop the corruption that is rampant in the current regime, and build temples dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in all districts in the state and elsewhere," Thackeray said.

Kharge and other leaders also took a swipe at the MahaYuti government which was formed by 'stealing' the MLAs, names and symbols of other parties, referring to the undivided Shiv Sena founded by the late Balasaheb Thackeray and original NCP founded by Sharad Pawar.

This was the maiden combined rally of the MVA and more such meetings are likely to be held in different parts of the state in the coming weeks ahead of the November 20 Assembly elections.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar is not happy with Donald Trump's victory in the US Presidential elections. Talking to IANS here on Wednesday, Aiyar said: "I am deeply disappointed that such a person, who has been labelled a felon by American courts and whose history includes visits to prostitutes and paying them to silence them, has been chosen as the world's most powerful president."

He further remarked: "It is truly disheartening to see such a despicable man elected. I also regret that Kamala Harris, who might have won, would have been the first woman and the first politician with ties to India to become President.

"Personally, I believe Donald Trump is not a good man. Itas a separate matter if you ask what impact this will have on our politics, but when you look at his character, there is no doubt in my mind that the wrong person has been elected. This is my personal opinion."

On the question of potential passage of the One Nation, One Election (ONOE) Bill and the Waqf Bill in the upcoming winter session of Parliament this month, Mani Shankar Aiyar said: "I'm not closely following these matters because I am not in Parliament, and my party has sidelined me. I don't have much interest in the details, but in principle, it would be wrong to tell Muslims that we will change this or that without their consent, because that would not be in their best interest."

"As for what I read in the newspapers, Jagdambika Pal, who was once in Congress, has now become the chairman of a committee, but it seems he is not managing the committee properly. There have been complaints from many opposition leaders, and theyave met with Om Birla ji to address the issue. Let's see what Birla ji does in this regard."

Aiyar further said: "I believe this idea (ONOE) is completely nonsense. Our country's unity is built on its diversity. The RSS and the Sangh Parivar, who are connected with it, always try to reduce diversity and create a singular Hindu identity. I believe this is harmful to the country, especially for us in the South. I come from Tamil Nadu, and it would be unfair to impose one election model for all. In the North, this system might work, but in Tamil Nadu, it doesn't.

"For example, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only one seat in Tamil Nadu, and one in Kerala. Why should we be forced to adopt a uniform election system when Modi himself does not represent our region? His role is in Delhi, not in our states. From 1967 onward, our prime ministers have worked and contested elections based on the specific political conditions of the states. I don't understand why we need a single election for the entire country when the political dynamics of each state are so different."

On the implementation of UCC in Uttarakhand, the Congress leader said: "I don't know what the opinion of the minority communities is in Uttarakhand. My understanding is that their population is very small. Most of them are likely to be in places like Dehradun, Haridwar, or Rishikesh, but they are few in number, especially in the mountainous areas. So, what they've done there, I think, is fine, but making it a model for the entire country would be wrong."
New Delhi, Nov 6 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging several provisions of the UP Revenue Code, 2006 on grounds of gender discrimination.

A bench, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, issued notice, seeking the responses of the Centre and Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments in the matter.

As per the computerised case status, the PIL is likely to be heard next on December 10.

The plea said that Section 109 of the UP Revenue Code suffers from the vice of gender discrimination because when a woman, who has inherited the land as a female, dies, her land stands devolved upon the heirs of her husband, rather than her own heirs. It added that Section 109 provides that when a daughter gets married, she loses her land which she inherited from her father and the land automatically stands devolved upon the nearest surviving heir of the last male holder of the land.

Similarly, if a widow remarries, she stands divested of her land inherited from her deceased husband, which devolves upon the nearest surviving heir of the last male holder of the land, the plea said.

It further referred to Sections 108 and 110 of the UP Revenue Code providing that in the event of the demise of the father or the mother, his/her land is inherited by his unmarried daughter but not by his/her married daughter.

"No distinction for succession has been made between a amarried sona and an aunmarried sona. But, concerning a daughter, the distinction has been arbitrarily and artificially created between an 'unmarried daughter' and a amarried daughtera and, as such, marriage has been made as a rationale for discrimination," the plea said.

It said that the above statutory provisions exhibit blatant gender discrimination and contravene the constitutional guarantee of equality, as they infringe on the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 15. The plea also challenged similar provisions of the UP Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 (Adoption and Modification Order, 2001) in its application to Uttarakhand.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the Union Cabniet's decision on the infusion of equity of Rs. 10,700 crore in the Food Corporation of India, saying that it will ensure better support for the farmers.

"Today's Cabinet decision on the infusion of equity of Rs. 10,700 crore in the Food Corporation of India will enhance its capacity to manage food procurement and distribution efficiently. It will also ensure better support for farmers and contribute to national food security," PM Modi wrote on X.

Earlier, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved an infusion of equity to the tune of Rs 10,700 crore in the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for working capital in the financial year 2024-25.

"The decision is aimed at bolstering the agricultural sector and ensuring the welfare of farmers nationwide. This strategic move shows the government's steadfast commitment to supporting farmers and fortifying India's agrarian economy," a cabinet communique said.

The FCI started its journey in 1964 with an authorised capital of Rs 100 crore and equity of Rs 4 crore. The operations of the FCI increased manifold resulting in the increase of authorised capital from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 21,000 crore in February 2023.

The equity of FCI was Rs 4,496 crores in the financial year 2019-20 which increased to Rs 10,157 crore in the financial year 2023-24.

Now, the government has approved a significant amount of equity of Rs 10,700 crore for FCI which will strengthen it financially and will give a big boost to the initiatives taken for its transformation, the statement said.

The FCI plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security by procurement of food grains at minimum support price (MSP), maintenance of strategic food grain stocks, distribution of food grains for welfare measures, and stabilisation of food grain prices in the market. The infusion of equity is a significant step towards enhancing the operational capabilities of the FCI in fulfilling its mandate effectively. FCI resorts to short-term borrowings to match the gap of fund requirements. This infusion will help to lower the interest burden and will ultimately reduce the subsidy of the government.

The government's dual commitment to MSP-based procurement and investment in FCI's operational capabilities signifies a collaborative effort towards empowering farmers, fortifying the agricultural sector, and ensuring food security for the nation, the statement added.
Jeddah, Nov 6 : A delegation of the Rajasthan government led by the Minister of State for Industries and Commerce K.K. Vishnoi on Wednesday held meetings with several leading Saudi Arabian companies, including SEDCO Capital, Al Mubaidib Group, Jeddah Chamber, Binzagr Group, Basamh Group and Abdullah Hashim Company in Jeddah.

The delegation has invited these companies to explore investment opportunities in Rajasthanas health, IT and ITeS, agri and food processing, logistics and warehousing, automobile and spare parts sectors.

The companies were also invited to participate in the upcoming aRising Rajasthana Global Investment Summit 2024, which is scheduled to be held in Jaipur on 9th-10th-11th December.

The delegation held one-on-one talks with senior officials of SEDCO Capital, a leading Saudi Arabian asset management and investment advisory firm. During the meeting, SEDCO Capital officials showed interest in expanding their footprint to Rajasthan and exploring opportunities in the health and IT sectors of the state.

Moreover, the delegation held discussions with the representatives of Al Muhaidib Group, Binzagr Group and Basamh Group seeking investments in the state.

Officials of these three leading Saudi Arabian business groups evinced interest in the stateas agri and food processing, logistics and warehousing sectors. Basamh Group also showed interest in the IT & IT sector of the state.

The meetings with the Jeddah Chamber and Abdullah Hashim Company were also held, during which the discussions focused on automobile and spare parts and logistic & warehousing sectors of Rajasthan.

The minister will also be meeting members of the Indian diaspora at India House and will seek their assistance in securing investments from Saudi Arabia and becoming a bridge between the West Asian nation and Rajasthan.
Hyderabad, Nov 6 : A comprehensive door-to-door socio, educational, economic, employment, political, and caste survey began across Telangana on Wednesday with the government assuring the citizens that the data gathered by enumerators will be kept confidential.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the information gathered by the enumerators from the public during the survey would be kept confidential.

Appealing to people not to worry, he urged them to furnish information to the enumerators without any apprehensions.

The survey is being conducted under the aegis of the Planning Department to plan and implement various socioeconomic, educational, employment and political opportunities for the amelioration of Backwards Classes, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe citizens and other weaker sections of the state.

Nearly 95,000 enumerators and 10,000 supervisors are carrying out the survey. In the first phase, which began on Wednesday and will continue till Friday (Nov 8), a list of families with house numbers and head of the family will be prepared and a sticker will be passed on every house.

Under the second phase beginning on November 9, a comprehensive household survey will be taken up.

Primary school teachers and employees of other government departments have been appointed as enumerators for the survey.

The department has created 87,092 enumeration blocks with 150 to 175 families in each block. One enumerator has been allotted for each block and for every 10 enumerators there is one supervisor.

The state has a total of 1,17,44,954 families. There are 28,32,490 families and 19,328 blocks in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits.

Teams of enumerators will go door to door in all the districts to gather information about caste, education, and socio-economic status of the families.

Ministers and public representatives inaugurated the survey in various districts on Wednesday.

The enumerators will gather details under 75 questions. These also include information about profession, income, assets and debts and number of people in each household. The families were also asked if anybody was employed abroad or migrated to any other states for jobs. The enumerators were also asking if any of the family members were elected as peopleas representatives.

Minister for Information Technology and Industry D. Sridhar Babu, who inaugurated the survey in Rangareddy district, appealed to people to cooperate in the survey. He said some people were spreading rumours that because of the survey families would lose their ration cards and Arogyasri cards. He appealed to the public not to believe these rumours.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said people should voluntarily provide the information. He said no documents would be collected during the survey.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy met Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and briefed him about the survey which began across the state on Wednesday. He explained the details regarding the official process adopted for the survey.

The Chief Minister told the Governor the Telangana state will stand as a role model for the country in the survey of socio-economic, educational, employment, political and caste composition.

The Chief Minister requested the Governor to bring the survey, launched by the state government, to the attention of the union government and take the state survey into consideration during the national census which is being launched in 2025 across the country.

--IANS

ms/dan
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will address the inaugural session of 'Anti-Terror Conference-2024' on November 7 in New Delhi.

An official said that the two-day conference will be organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Home Minister said that the Modi government is committed to building a terror-free India with its policy of zero tolerance.

"The two-day Anti-Terror Conference, beginning tomorrow, will further enhance coordination among agencies to strengthen Bharat's security bastion. Looking forward to addressing the conference tomorrow," Amit Shah wrote on X.

An official said that the government is committed to rooting out the evil of terrorism by following a zero-tolerance policy against it.

"The annual conference has over the years emerged as a meeting point for operational forces; technical, legal and forensic experts and agencies engaged in counter-terrorism for deliberations on issues impacting national security and threats emerging out of terrorism," the official added.

He said that the key focus of the conference is on developing synergies among various stakeholders by establishing channels for coordinated action against the menace of terrorism in the spirit of the 'Whole of the Government approach' and to present substantive inputs for future policy formulation.

The official added that the deliberations and discussions in the two-day conference will be focused on various matters of importance including prosecution and evolving legal framework in counter-terrorism investigations, sharing of experiences and good practices, challenges and opportunities related to emerging technologies, international legal cooperation and strategies for dismantling terror ecosystem in various counter-terrorism theatres across India.

"The conference will be attended by senior police officers from States/UTs, officers from Central agencies/Departments dealing with issues related to Counter Terrorism and experts from related fields such as law, forensics, technology etc," the official said.
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Top tech industry leaders on Wednesday congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his resounding victory in the US election.

Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on X social media platform that "we are in a golden age of American innovation and are committed to working with his administration to help bring the benefits to everyone".

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos posted on X: "Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love."

Current Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said that "we look forward to working with you and your administration on issues important to our customers, employees, communities, and country."

According to Chuck Robbins, Chairman and CEO of networking giant Cisco, they look forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration and Congress "as well as the governors, state lawmakers, and local officials across the US to advance policies that bolster connectivity, innovation, cybersecurity, and more".

Trump made a phenomenal comeback on Wednesday beating back a conviction, three indictments, two assassination attempts, two impeachments, and continuous assault by most of the mainstream media to reclaim the White House.

"We made history", declared Trump who will become the 47th president of the United States.

He won 277 electoral college seats  a clear majority in the 538-member body  and 51 per cent of the popular votes, setting him on a clear path to the presidency that he lost in 2020.

At 78, he will be the oldest president to set foot in the White House. He is also the second president to be elected after being defeated; the last one was Grover Cleveland who won his second term in 1893.

The Republicans recaptured the Senate, assured of at least 51 seats in the 100-member body.
Amaravati, Nov 6 : The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday unveiled its drone policy with the target of setting up at least 100 drone manufacturing units and attracting Rs 1,000 crore investment in the sector over the next five years.

The policy is aimed at making Andhra Pradesh the global destination for drone technology.

The Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu approved the policy, under which a State Drone Corporation will be formed to promote the utilisation of drones, besides accelerating emergency and other services.

Employment for 40,000 people and training for 25,000 drone pilots are the other key targets of the policy. Investors will be offered a 20 per cent subsidy.

Briefing media persons after the Cabinet meeting, Minister for Information and Public Relations Kolusu Parthasarathi said that the state is moving fast towards transforming into a drone hub.

A Drone Development Centre will be set up at Kurnool. Based on a plug-and-play system, it will also have a training centre for drone pilots and a drone manufacturing unit.

Expressing confidence that with this policy at least 100 drone manufacturing units will come up in the state, the Minister said that this will result in the setting up of 20 drone pilot training centres and 50 skill development centres across the state.

The state government is expecting Rs 1,000 crore investments in this sector which will provide direct employment to more than 15,000 youth and indirect employment to another 25,000 people to ultimately generate Rs 3,000 crore revenue per annum, he added.

The Cabinet also approved the Andhra Pradesh Data Centre Policy aiming at adding an additional 200 MW of data and attracting investments for setting up the most modern data centres with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Parthasarathi said.

He added that the meeting also unanimously approved the Andhra Pradesh Semiconductor and Display Fab policy which will be effective between 2024 and 2029. The Centre will also extend a 50 per cent subsidy in a phased manner while the state government will provide an additional 30 per cent subsidy.

Pointing out that several semiconductor companies from the US and Europe have established their units in states like Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra, Parthasarathi expressed confidence that this policy adopted by the Cabinet on Wednesday will take Andhra Pradesh to that stage of development.

The Cabinet also gave its consent to the proposal for the draft bill to revoke the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982, and replace it with the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.

"We are formulating legislation to severely punish those who resort to land grabbing," the Minister said and added that besides punishment, payment of compensation also will be imposed on such elements.
Shillong, Nov 6 : Students from North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), northeast's oldest Central varsity, in Meghalaya, continued their indefinite hunger strike for the second day on Wednesday while demanding the removal of the Vice Chancellor and four other top officials.

The academic activities of the prestigious university have been crippled since Tuesday after the North Eastern Hill University Students Union (NEHUSU) launched the agitation demanding the removal of the VC Prabha Shankar Shukla and four other top officials, including registrar Col Omkar Singh (Retd) and deputy registrar Amit Gupta for their alleged "incompetency" to run the varsity.

The Khasi Students Union's NEHU and the Meghalaya Tribal Teachers' Association also supported the protest.

The agitating students claimed that due to the incompetence of all top varsity officials, the NEHU's rank has slipped 21 points to 101 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking.

NEHUSU General Secretary Toniho S Kharsati said the students demanded that all incompetent top officials along with those "illegally" appointed must be removed for the interest of the students and the varsity.

"Since the incumbent VC took charge of the University in 2021, no important academic development has taken place; instead rankings of the important institution have been going down. Incompetent people were appointed in the top position," he told the media.

Kharsati said that the VC, registrar and deputy registrar have a lot to do to improve the overall academic position of the university and to address the grievances of one and all.

NEHUSU President, Sandy Sohtun said that they would continue their protest till their demands are accepted. The non-teaching staff also protested demanding the filling up of posts in the university.

The Non-teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) also stopped their official work in protest against the "unprecedented delay" in the recruitment process for the posts that were notified last year.

Vice Chancellor Shukla said that as per UGC norms stipulated process has to be followed for the termination of any university officials.

"If the students feel that I have victimised them in any manner or I reflect any genuine issue of the students then I am ready to face any inquiry by the government," he told the media and said his doors are always open for any discussion.

"The students or their representative can come in any time," the VC said and observed that all must work together for the betterment of the student and academic interest.

The University has sanctioned Rs 13 lakh to upgrade the wi-fi network in the university and efforts are on to improve the toilets and other infrastructures.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, addressing the 11th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Turkic States, spoke about preparations for COP29, the nation's Foreign Ministry wrote on its X page, Trend reports.

In addition, Bayramov discussed the potential for OTS collaboration in the areas of culture, digital technology, energy security, transportation and communications, the economy, trade, and trade and transport.

In just less than a weeks time, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be kicking off in Azerbaijan, the decision of which was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai in December last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The abbreviation COP (Conference of Parties) means Conference of Parties and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The inaugural COP event took place in March 1995 in the bustling city of Berlin, Germany, with its secretariat nestled in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
New Delhi, Nov 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in a telephonic conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump said that he is looking forward to working closely together once again with the Republican Party leader who emerged victorious in the Presidential elections by defeating his Democratic Party rival Kamala Harris.

Taking to X, PM Modi wrote: "Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors."

According to sources, both leaders affirmed the resolution to work together for global peace. Trump was quoted saying that the whole world loves PM Modi, adding that India is a magnificent country and the Indian Prime Minister is a magnificent man.

Sources said that Trump told PM Modi he considers him and India a true friend. The business mogul said that PM Modi was one of the first world leaders he spoke to after his victory.

Earlier on Wednesday, in a post on X, PM Modi also congratulated Trump on his victory in the US presidential elections, asserting that he is looking forward to renewing collaboration with the 78-year-old leader to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.

"Heartiest congratulations my friend, Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let's work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," PM Modi posted on X after Trump's triumph in the US election.

Trump has already promised to strengthen the "great partnership" with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his second term, continuing the close ties he forged in his first term.

Last week, in his Diwali greetings, Trump said: "Under my administration, we will strengthen our great partnership with India and my good friend, Prime Minister Modi."

Much before he had joined the election fray in 2015, Trump had familiarity with India as a businessman with interests in the country, participating in projects in Pune and Mumbai.

That gave him a realistic insight into India, different from what other US politicians get from government, diplomatic, and activist sources.

"The perception about India has changed with Modi at the helm," he told reporters during a business visit to India. "The optimism is returning".

He called PM Modi a unifier, "bringing people together".

As president, Trump formed a bond with Prime Minister Modi, whom he has repeatedly embraced as a friend.

On Wednesday afternoon, PM Modi was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump on his election triumph.

In the run-up to the 2020 US Presidential election, the two leaders showed off their friendship at a Houston rally, the 'Howdy Modi' programme, and at the 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium which was attended by more than 1,00,000 people.

Trump said he was impressed by PM Modias ability to draw crowds, both in India and the US.
Patna, Nov 6 : On the second day of Chhath, devotees celebrated Kharna Puja, a key ritual marking the beginning of the 36-hour Nirjala (waterless) fast.

Kharna Puja represents a purification process, with devotees preparing their bodies and minds for the days ahead.

The day of Nahai Khai begins with devotees purifying themselves by eating only once, symbolising physical and spiritual cleansing.

On Kharna, they worship the Kuldevta, Surya (the Sun God), and Chhathi Maiya with a deep sense of devotion. The main offering, kheer made of milk and jaggery, is cooked by devotees with great care.

Traditionally prepared in an earthen pot over an earthen stove, this kheer, accompanied by roti, is offered to Chhath Mai. The ritual is conducted in silence, creating a sacred, tranquil atmosphere that allows devotees to focus inwardly and welcome Chhathi Maiya into their homes.

After Kharna, devotees embark on the 36-hour waterless fast, committing themselves to introspection and prayer. The peaceful observance of this fast is believed to strengthen the body and mind, allowing them to reach a heightened state of spiritual dedication.

Sanjeev Mishra, a local devotee and temple priest in Patna, said, "Today, all of us Chhath devotees are preparing the Kharna Prasad. After this, we will observe a waterless fast for the next 36 hours and take a pledge."

This period of fasting and prayer is seen as a powerful way to connect with Chhathi Maiya.

On Kharna Puja, the second day of Chhath, devotees perform rituals with great reverence and purity. The day begins with a pre-dawn bath as devotees cleanse themselves before offering Arghya (water offering) to the Sun God, expressing gratitude and seeking blessings.

Kharna is considered the time when Chhathi Maiya is welcomed into the home. The atmosphere in the household is filled with devotion, quietude, and reverence, as devotees believe that observing these rituals with sincerity brings Chhathi Maiya's blessings, ensuring health, prosperity, and well-being for the family.
Amaravati, Nov 6 : Taking serious note of the arrest and immediate release of YSR Congress Party activist Varra Ravindra Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday shunted out Kadapa Superintendent of Police (SP) V. Harshvardhan Raju.

The government has asked Raju to report to police headquarters and appointed Annamayya SP Vasana Vidhya Sagar Naidu as the in-charge SP of Kadapa.

A Circle Inspector in Kadapa district has also been suspended.

The action against police officials came after Ravindra Reddy was released on Wednesday morning.

He was arrested on Tuesday night.

Ravindra Reddy, who hails from Pulivendula, had allegedly posted derogatory remarks on social media during the YSRCP rule against several leaders, including present Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Ministers Nara Lokesh and V. Anitha.

There have been allegations that the police were not taking action against Ravindra Reddy, said to be a close aide of Kadapa MP Y. S. Avinash Reddy, the cousin of YSRCP President and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

After Ravindra Reddy's release, allegations were made by leaders of ruling coalition partners that the police officers tried to shield him by just issuing a notice. Taking serious note of this, the Chief Minister asked top officials to take action against the police officers involved.

The police were on the lookout for Ravindra Reddy, against whom 30 cases were registered in Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, police picked up Ravindra Reddy's wife Kalyani, and other family members and questioned them about his whereabouts.

The development came three days after Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan publicly expressed his displeasure over police inaction to check crime.

He also reminded Home Minister V. Anitha of her responsibility and slammed the police officials for failing to perform their duty.

Meanwhile, police on Wednesday arrested a person in Guntur for derogatory posts against Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on social media.

Guntur Deputy Superintendent of Police Jayaram Prasad said Venkatrami Reddy has been arrested for morphing the photograph of the Chief Minister on Facebook. He was produced before a magistrate, who sent him to judicial custody remand for 14 days.
Bengaluru, Nov 6 : Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy got relief from the Karnataka High Court in connection with the FIR registered against him based on the complaint by Lokayukta SIT ADGP M. Chandrashekar.

The High Court bench passed the order on Wednesday while looking into the petition by Kumaraswamy seeking quashing of the FIR. ADGP Chandrashekhar has registered the complaint against Union Minister Kumaraswamy at Bengaluru's Sanjaynagar Police Station.

The High Court has ordered that no coercive action be taken against him and granted him interim relief.

Senior counsel Hashmat Pasha, appearing for Kumaraswamy, argued that the police are attempting to cancel a 10-year-old anticipatory bail by reviving the case.

The High Court ruled that the FIR cannot be used to revoke old anticipatory bail. Additionally, the High Court recorded a statement from the State Public Prosecutor (SPP) that no coercive measures would be taken against Kumaraswamy in this matter.

Karnataka Police had registered an FIR against Kumaraswamy, on Tuesday as per the directions of a court.

Senior IPS officer Chandrashekar had accused Kumaraswamy of defaming and threatening him and his family.

Sanjaynagar police in Bengaluru had registered the FIR against Kumaraswamy.

The FIR is registered under Section 224 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.

The police have named Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy as the second accused in the case.

C.B. Suresh Babu, the JD-S party floor leader in the Legislative Assembly is named as the third accused in the case.

The police had taken a non-cognisable miscellaneous case.

Chandrashekar had approached the court demanding registration of an FIR against Kumaraswamy.

Chandrashekar, in his complaint to the court, had alleged that he had been heading the SIT team probing a case of illegal mining in 2014 - case no. 16/2014 and after getting additional evidence in the case, the investigating team had sought sanction of prosecution from the Governor recently.

In response to this, HD Kumaraswamy held a press conference on September 28 and 29 - where the minister made malicious accusations, threatening the IPS officer and his family members.

The IPS officer, in his complaint to the court, alleged that Kumaraswamy orally threatened him that he would be shunted to another state cadre and also made ill-intended allegations against his family members.

In reply to the charges, Chandrashekar wrote a letter to his staff and refuted all allegations calling it false and malicious.

Chandrashekar concluded his letter by quoting George Bernard Shaw's famous lines, "Never wrestle with a pig because you'll both get dirty, and the pig likes it."

Kumaraswamy expressed outrage on Tuesday, calling the FIR filed against him based on a complaint by a senior IPS officer, Lokayukta SIT chief, M. Chandrashekar as "ridiculous and malicious."

Kumaraswamy responded to media questions, saying, "During this by-election, the Congress-led state government is targeting us out of sheer animosity. I will respond to this through the judiciary."

"I have read the FIR and the complaint's content. It is completely ridiculous and clearly malicious. The complainant has stated that I allegedly made accusations against him in a press conference and has asked for action. Did I provide false information about him? He can review my press conference video if he wants," said the Union Minister.
New Delhi, Nov 7 : The Supreme Court is set to pronounce its judgment on Thursday on lenders' plea challenging the transfer of ownership of grounded Jet Airways to Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC).

According to the cause list published on the apex court's website, a bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will pronounce the verdict on November 7.

The Committee of Creditors (CoC), led by the State Bank of India, has said that the proposed revival plan was not in the best interest of lenders and questioned the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) order upholding the resolution plan.

In January this year, the Supreme Court ordered JKC, the successful resolution professional bidder for the cash-strapped airline, to deposit Rs 150 crore in an escrow account jointly held by the State Bank of India and JKC.

It had cautioned that legal consequences would follow if the JKC failed to furnish the bank guarantee.

It had also asked the NCLAT to decide by the end of March 2024 on the lenders' plea challenging the ownership of the grounded Airways to JKC.

The consortium had undertaken an infusion of Rs 350 crore equity per the court-approved resolution plan to assume ownership of Jet Airways.

A three-member bench of the NCLAT had agreed to an adjustment of Rs 150 crore from the Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) towards the payment of Rs 350 crore.

The appellate tribunal had also accepted an undertaking given by the consortium committing to pay Rs 100 crore by August 31 last year and another Rs 100 crore by September 30, 2023.

Due to severe financial distress, Jet Airways, once one of India's largest and most popular airlines, entered the corporate insolvency resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in June 2019.
Washington, Nov 7 : Kamala Harris has called Donald Trump to concede the election after he won the race to become the 47th President of the US in a historic victory.

Harris spoke to Trump on Wednesday, a senior Harris aide said.

"(Harris) called President-elect Trump to congratulate him on winning the 2024 presidential election. She discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a President for all Americans," they said.

Harris is scheduled to deliver her remarking speech to supporters at 4 p.m. Eastern time at Howard University, where she had planned to give an inauguration speech had she won.

Trump had a momentous comeback after losing to Joe Biden four years ago, and will now serve a second term.

His re-election defied two assassination attempts, two presidential impeachments, his criminal conviction and many other criminal charges. It also follows his attempt to overturn the 2020 election to stay in office.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump declared it a "magnificent victory" when addressing supporters at a watch party in Florida.

"This will truly be the golden age of America", Donald Trump told supporters in Florida as he declared victory.

He was joined by his family and JD Vance -- who will become the Vice-President -- as he thanked the crowd, describing this as "the greatest political movement of all time".

Speaking to his supporters, Trump said: "This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again."

He added that he was going to "help our country heal" and "fix everything" about the US.

The Trump administration is expected to upend most of the policies of outgoing President Biden.

The upcoming 47th President of the US added: "Weare going to make our country better than it ever has been.

"I said that many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason."

"And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness. And now we are going to fulfil that mission together. We're going to fulfil that mission."

Trump will be sworn in at an inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2025. It will come after the new US Congress meets on January 6 to count out electoral college votes formally and confirm the new President.

The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has joined world leaders who have congratulated Trump on his victory. The Prime Minister also shared a phone call with President-elect Trump later on Wednesday evening.

Starmer said: "We stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise."

Trump is projected to win all seven battleground swing states that essentially underpinned the entire election.

His victory has broken several records. He will become the oldest man to be elected President at the age of 78, breaking Biden's record.

He is also the second President to win a non-consecutive term. Grover Cleveland was the only other President to have a four-year gap between terms; he was the 22nd President in 1884 and the 24th President after the campaign of 1892.

Trump is also the first Republican to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.

The former President watched the results come in overnight from his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.

Among his guests were billionaire Elon Musk, who has been vocal in his support for Trump on X, the social media platform he owns.

In contrast, despondent supporters at a Harris watch party quickly left after they were told the Vice-President would not be addressing the crowd.
Washington, Nov 7 : US Vice-President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday that she had spoken to President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him and also assure him "we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power".

Harris, who lost comprehensively to Trump, also said in a delayed concession speech from Howard University, her alma mater in Washington DC, "A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks public trust must honour it. At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a President or a party but to the Constitution of the US."

Trump had refused to acknowledge his defeat to President Joe Biden in 2020 and had triggered the January 6 raid by his supporters on the Capitol to prevent a joint sitting of Congress from certifying Biden the next President. He had also refused to attend Biden's inauguration, breaking from a long-running tradition.

The Trump campaign acknowledged Harris's phone call in a statement.

The two leaders "spoke by phone earlier today where she congratulated him on his historic victory," spokesperson Steven Cheung said.

"President Trump acknowledged Vice-President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country."

In a 12-minute speech, Harris sought to leave an uplifting message.

"The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say, hear me when I say, the light of America's promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting."

The outgoing Vice-President sought to assure supporters, especially the young men and women in the audience, that although they may be despondent in defeat they needed to look for reasons to hope.

"There's an adage -- a historian once called it a law of history -- true of every society across the ages. The adage is, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case. But here's the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billions of stars, the light, the light of optimism, of Faith, of truth and service."
Katharine McGee, the bestselling author of the American Royals series, turns back the clock to 19th-century Europe in her new YA historical romance novel A Queens Game, the first book in a planned duology inspired by true events. Three teenage noblewomenAlix of Hesse, exiled French princess Helene dOrleans, and Her Serene Highness May of Teckfind themselves caught in a web of political alliances as the queen of England plays matchmaker for her sprawling family. Its Queen Victorias world and the protagonists of this 1889set, royalty-studded period piece are just living in it. In a conversation with PW, McGee talked about her lifelong love of history and the British monarchy, and the challenges of balancing fact and fiction.

You spoke with PW in 2016 about the publication of your debut YA thriller The Thousandth Floor. Why did you move toward writing contemporary romances centering royalty?

While I do really love an elaborate speculative setting, I think the most important thing in all my books has always been the relationships between the characters. At their core, my stories are actually more similar than they would seem at first glance, because theyre all about young people and how they relate to one another, and the conflicts that come with families and found families and friends, and with growing up and romance. Whether its in a futuristic science fiction novel about a multi-story skyscraper or an alternate version of the present day where America has a royal family or Victorian England, the central challenges are always similar.

Speaking of Victorian England, what prompted you to write a historical fiction series?

 Ive been reading about these people my whole life because I have such a deep-rooted fascination with history and with monarchy. 

This is a home game for meIm in really familiar territory. This is the kind of book that I read for fun, so the writing itself came so easily. Historical fiction has always been my first love. I grew up on Philippa Gregory and Margaret George. Ive wanted to write a historical fiction novel for forever, I just had to get my agent and my publisher on board. I knew that my editor [Caroline Abbey] and I were going to have a good time on this project, because the moment that I told her about the characters, she said, Oh, George and Nicholas? Those are the cousins who looked like twins. They have this famous picture with the beards.

People are sometimes scared of historical fiction. It can be polarizingsome readers find it intimidating. This new series is historical fiction at its most approachable in the sense that the characters think and feel a little bit more like modern young women than Victorian women truly did, but you still have all the trappings of the era that make for such a good story: the forbidden love, the conflicts of families that cant be together, and of course, grand ballrooms and carriages and tiaras.

How much research did you do before you felt confident tackling this story?

I first stumbled across these relationships while reading a biography about Queen Victoria. Then I got to the section about her 42 grandchildren, several of whose marriages she personally arranged across various European thrones. There were all these stories about young people who were constantly being engaged, and then engagements were broken off, and then they got reengaged to different people; many of them become very prominent historical figures. It was so juicy. It was shocking to me that no one had made it into a mini-series on BBC.

I did both quite a lot and far less research than I wish I could. I once spoke on a book panel with Jodi Picoult where she said she spends a year researching every book. That sounds like a dream.

In some sense, Ive been reading about these people my whole life because I have such a deep-rooted fascination with history and with monarchy, particularly the British monarchy. Ive read at least one biography about each historical figure I feature. Theres obviously a lot of material on Bertie, the Prince of Wales, because he became king, and even though he doesnt really play a huge role in my story, the books that Ive read about him and the information Ive learned from them have given a lot of texture and depth to the narrative. The research that Ive done is not necessarily about the specific events that Im writing about in the book, but about getting the overall sense of how it felt to live in that time period. I find that everything I read finds a way to pop up into the story and make it feel more real.

Im also constantly reading fiction novels set in this time. I love Evie Dunmore and Edith Wharton. I find that they put me in the right headspace. I constantly fall into the trap of wanting to make my characters think in a modern way, and so I have to strike a balance of making them feel approachable to readers without making them feel like 21st-century women.

Was it challenging to build a fictional narrative using a preexisting historical framework?

These have been the easiest books to write partially because theyre based on real events that happened among real historical figures. That said, Im very used to being in the drivers seat. But now Ive got limited options. Its a new experience for me. I had to do so much juggling of my own imagination and real facts.

While I read these peoples diaries and their letters and their multiple biographies, and while I try my best to be true to who I think they were, I am also creating things. Even though theyre based on real people, they are first and foremost characters who just so happened to come to me with content. The people Im creating have minds of their own and are trying to take the story in their own direction. I do have to fight sometimes to make them do what they did historically.

One of the things I struggled with was how closely should I adhere to the true timeline. How much am I willing to let go of the history? The biggest example of this is at the end of A Queens Game where all the characters get together at a wedding. In real life, not all these people were in attendance, but I decided for the sake of the narrative that it would be more fun to have them all in the same place at the same time.

There are, of course, some things that Ive completely fabricated, where theres a very large historical gap in the record. In those instances, Ill step in with an outlandish explanation that I think creates a really fun story.

A Queens Game ends with a cliffhanger. What can you tell us about the duology conclusion?

I would love if readers exercised the self-control to not go reading about the history, which I think is a very tall order. For most book series, you cant cheat. But if you go on Wikipedia, youll know whats coming. My sister read A Queens Game and has shown incredible willpower by not doing any research. She keeps peppering me for book two; she wants to know who marries whom. Im very proud of her for not cheating, but she is wrong about who she thinks is going to end up together and it makes me laugh. She could just go look it up any moment, but I think the fun of it is going on that journey with the characters. If I was writing this without the historical guide, Im not sure I wouldve taken book two where I did. But Im beholden to the history.

What else are you working on?

Aside from taking care of my two children, which is its own full-time job, Im working on something that hasnt been announced yet: my first adult project.

A Queens Game (The Princess Game #1) by Katharine McGee. Random House, $20.99 Nov. 12 ISBN 978-0-593-71070-8
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Turkish-Armenian relations will be normalized after the signing of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told local media, Trend reports.

He remarked that Turkiye is tickled pink to witness the parties inching closer to tying the knot on a peace agreement.

We consider the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia very important for stability and peace in the region.

The latest agreement on border delimitation and demarcation is a vivid example of this progress, he added.

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Italy brought style to this years Frankfurt Book Fair as the Guest of Honor. Veteran literary agent, Milly Ruggiero, currently foreign rights manager at the Rights Factory, talked with PW about her decision to open a new literary agency, Bookle. The name plays on the words book and Napolior Napleswhere the agency will be based. With her extensive work in international rights, Ruggiero aims to bring a fresh perspective to the Italian literary scene from her base in Southern Italy.

What inspired you to start your own agency?

I have worked in publishing for 15 years, and I think its time to develop something for myself and start something new in Italy, and with Italy being the Guest of Honour at Frankfurt this year, I think its the right time to make this move.

Why did you choose to base your agency in Naples rather than traditional publishing centers like Milan?

I want to do something that is new, and the location needs to be new as well. The south of Italy, especially Naples, is seeing a lot of growth in film productionthink about the recent Netflix adaptation of Patricia Highsmiths Ripley and the HBO series My Brilliant Friend, based on the Elena Ferrante novels. I want my agency to help the international publishing community develop new connections to this industry in the south of Italy. I know many publishers are in the north, but I want to be in the south where theres less competition and more opportunity for innovation.

What will be your main focus as an agency?

Initially, Ill be focusing more on representing publishers catalogs rather than individual authors. Its more important for me to establish confidence with catalogs first. This is a bit different from the traditional literary agencies we have in the north of Italy. There arent many agencies like this in Italy, so I think its important to start bringing in new things from abroad. In addition, I will continue to work with The Rights Factory to help them in the international markets as well. Sam [Hiyate, president and CEO of The Rights Factory] has given it his blessing and been very supportive.

How do you see your agency connecting the rich cultural scene in Naples with the publishing world?

Theres a lot happening here. For example, we recently had about 150 film production companies working in the Campania region. I want to develop more connections between this cultural energy and the publishing world. We can connect storytellers in the region who are familiar with the distinct local culture to broader opportunities.

Are there any particular trends youre seeing in Italian publishing right now?

Theres a push for romantasy, of course. Were also seeing more horror and sci-fi, following trends from the U.S. and U.K. However, LGBTQ+ books are still relatively new and not as common in Italy compared to other markets. In Italy we have so many wonderful writers and I hope to help many of them find homes for their books abroad.

What challenges do Italian books face in reaching international markets, particularly in the U.S. and U.K.?

Its very difficult to sell to the U.S., U.K., and Canada, partly because Italian isnt as widely spoken. Often, U.S. and U.K. publishers prefer to buy books that have already had success in other countries. We always need to prepare English-language materials for each Italian book, which can be challenging.

A version of this story previously ran in the 2024 PW Frankfurt Show Daily.
In an increasingly complex global publishing landscape, foreign rights agents play a crucial role in connecting authors with international audiences. PW recently spoke with Daisy Meyrick and Helen Manders, two of CAAs leading foreign rights agents, about current market trends, emerging opportunities, and the evolving nature of their work. The following Q&A provides insights into the dynamic world of international publishing rights.

How would you describe the current state of the translation rights market?

HM: Despite concerns about English-language dominance, were seeing a robust market for translation rights. We have 30 agents now across the U.S. and U.K., with a very eclectic list. Theres something for every editor, which is exciting for us to work on.

DM: Weve recently expanded our roster to include more international authors, including two Swedish writers. Were becoming more international, which mirrors publishers tastes.

How are English-language exports faring in international markets?

HM: The impact varies by genre and target audience. What were seeing with some of the older readership in the translation markets is that they do want to read in their local language. Interestingly, the rise of social media phenomena like BookTok has created a dual market in some countries. Readers actually end up buying two copies of the book. They buy the English-language version to do the TikTok stuff with, but the one theyre actually reading is the Danish or Norwegian edition.

Are there any emerging markets or genres that youre particularly excited about?

DM: Weve seen increased interest from Spanish-language publishers in North America. Weve definitely had more requests this year for meetings at Frankfurt with people we havent necessarily met before. We recently had a three-publisher auction for Spanish North American rights to Xochitl Gonzalezs Anita de Monte Laughs Last, which is an example of the markets growth.

HM: In terms of genres, were seeing continued demand for romantasy titles, as well as strong interest in narrative non-fiction and investigative journalism.

How important are book fairs and face-to-face meetings in your work?

DM: Despite the rise of virtual communication, nothing beats face-to-face. Its such a relationship-building business in so many ways.

HM: These events create a unique energy around new projects. Youre all building this buzz together. Theres this whole feeling of things starting, energy around books and new projects that I just absolutely love.

How do you balance the demands of your work with the need to stay current on new books and authors?

DM: Its a constant juggling act. Some people outside the industry think we just come into work every day and read at our desks, but thats far from reality. Our days are filled with negotiations, phone calls, and deal-making. The actual reading happens outside of office hourswhile youre making risotto, brushing your hair, or during any spare moment you can find. Its a passion that extends well beyond the nine-to-five.

HM: Absolutely. And its not just about reading. Were always on the lookout for new talent and trends. That means attending creative writing courses, poring over scientific journals, newspapers, and constantly digging through the slush pile. We encourage everyone on our team, even those just starting as assistants, to keep their eyes open for potential new voices. Its a multi-layered approach that requires dedication and enthusiasm for discovering the next great story.

Can you share any recent success stories or titles youre particularly excited about?

HM: One that always comes to mind is Big Swiss by Jen Beagin, which Scribner published in the U.S. last year. Its such a brilliantly hilarious novel that appeared on the Indie bestseller list and numerous other charts. Weve completed about six or seven translation deals so far, but I still bring the cover with me to every book fair to show people. Beagins voice is just so brilliant, distinctive, and interesting.

DM: Id add Orlando Whitfields All That Glitters, published by Pantheon and Profile. Its a fascinating look at the fraudulent art dealer Inigo Philbrick. While we didnt initially get quite the traction we wanted, theres now an HBO option. I think once that adaptation moves forward, well see a longer selling cycle. We never stop working on a book, and I feel like were operating on a much longer sales timeline now than we were a few years ago. This extended cycle allows us to continue finding opportunities for our titles long after their initial release.

A version of this story previously ran in the 2024 PW Frankfurt Show Daily.
In 2020, the United Nations declared a Decade of Action to signal that progress towards their Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)17 goals offering a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for allwas not advancing quickly enough. At the time Mary Glenn, chief of UN publications, underscored the importance of the book industry in helping to advance these goals: Publishers are a key constituency, not just in terms of actual business practices, but in terms of amplifying the message.

Now the UN is ringing alarm bells: 2030 is in sight, but the meeting of the SDG objectives is not. Given publishers have an outsized role to play in advancing them, everybody needs to consider signing the SDG Publishers Compact which requires aligning daily practices, content, and measures of success towards the SDGs, if they have not yet done so. Much of the work publishers do is already contributing to the SDGs, so now is the time to amplify our industrys impact and join forces with other organizations to accelerate the progress.

PublisHera female-led call to action whose quest is to create global awareness of the long-standing issues surrounding the advancement of women within the male-dominated publishing industryis also now fostering the advancement of the SDGs and particularly SDG5, Equality for Women, through its own organizational blueprint.

Founded by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi five years ago, PublisHer has moved swiftly in its efforts to reach women all over the globe, striving not only to help them rise to their potential, but also to the top. Since then, the organization has hosted dozens of events, mentorship sessions, consultations and listening sessions at global literary events to develop an international perspective on key challenges faced by women in the publishing and creative industries.

On September 30 this year PublisHer hosted its first North American event in New York, in collaboration with UN Publications and the NYU SPS Centre for Publishing and Applied and Liberal Arts. The date of the event was purposeful, following the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and offered a call to action to those working in publishing to use their positions of power to drive SDG progress. A panel conversation moderated by Mary Glenn centered on innovation and financial impacts when women move up the ranks in publishing.

Publishing heavyweights Sabrina McCarthy, president of Bloomsbury US; Regina Brooks, president of the Association of American Literary Agents and founder and president of Serendipity Literary Agency; and Judith Curr, president and publisher of HarperOne Group, HarperCollins Publishing, discussed how women in positions of influence can support gender equality on a large scale. The session touched on how new formats and distribution models are helping to amplify more diverse voices and promote inclusivity, as well as creating new markets for books.

Following the panel, Brooke Dobson, chief revenue officer and Brittaney Pinney, chief customer officer of Shimmr, shared insights into AI for Good in Publishing, including the best approaches to amplifying womens voices and stories.

Continuing in the vein of innovation, details of PublisHers collaboration with Visa in support of their signature Shes Next project, with a focus on the publishing sector, was shared with the audience. The program supports female-owned small and medium sized businesses through funding training and mentorship, with PublisHer providing Visa with unique insights into gender disparity both regionally and internationally.

Lisa Lyons Johnston is a global publishing consultant and speaker and PublisHer Advisory Board member.
Thank you for reading!

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Current regional and international challenges vitalize strengthening economic potential, further increasing trade turnover, and diversifying transport corridors to achieve shared prosperity and common goals in the region, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark addressing the 11th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, today.

The minister emphasized the importance of the Karabakh Declaration, adopted within the framework of the informal OTS Summit in Azerbaijan's Shusha on July 6 of this year, in terms of realizing the potential of the Turkic states and focusing on the implementation of important joint initiatives and projects.

Additionally, Bayramov assessed the activities of TURKPA, TURKSOY, the Turkic Academy, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, and the Turkic Investment Fund associated with the OTS, including the work of the OTS representative office in Hungary.

The meeting, with the theme "Strengthening the Turkic world: economic integration, sustainable development, digital future, and security for all," takes place in advance of the OTS summit.

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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/06/2024



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/06/2024



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Joan Vassos has revealed the two bachelors whom she regrets sending home early from her season.After Pascal Ibgui was shown quitting during his Fantasy Suite date on the latest episode, Joan is now down to Charles "Chock" Chapple , a 60-year-old insurance executive from Kansas, and Guy Gansert , a 66-year-old ER doctor from Nevada, heading into the finale.But Joan had a cast of 24 amazing and sincere guys to choose from, and she appeared to bond with most of them. In fact, Joan has said on multiple interviews that she loved her entire cast of men.So when asked if she regrets any of her elimination choices, Joan confessed on the "Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe " podcast, "Yeah."Joan admitted, "Well, I mean, I feel like I needed more time! I feel like I needed more time with [ Mark Anderson ], and I feel like I needed more time with [ Jordan Heller ], honestly."Joan sent Mark, the father of The Bachelor 28 winner Kelsey Anderson , packing before hometown dates, and Joan ousted Jordan after meeting his family.Joan didn't seem to think that she and Mark were in the same place in life after losing their spouses, and Jordan also didn't seem entirely ready to fall in love or get engaged.Joan therefore told 's Season 11 star Kaitlyn Bristowe that she was really looking forward to reuniting with all of her exes on The Men Tell All."I cannot wait. Certain ones, I really miss! I bonded so much with [ Gary Levingston ]. I love Gary," Joan gushed."He's the most positive person in my life, and I'm like, 'I love you and we need to start talking again.'"And Joan also shared that she had formed a great connection with Keith Gordon , who had received Joan's First Impression Rose."And Keith too! He's such a positive, fun guy! I'm like, 'I need you in my life!'" Joan said.When asked what happened with Mark, who didn't even receive a Louisiana hometown date, Joan revealed, "I did start to have some feelings for him."Joan said her yacht date with Mark "was really, really good," but she clarified, "What I kind of discovered about Mark and I was that he's been widowed for way longer than me. He was giving me really good advice."Joan explained that while Mark had "such personal growth" during his stint, she believes his friendship with the other guys was the driving force behind that positive change."[It was] because of the men, and not particularly because of me," Joan shared."So when I thought about our relationship and where he and I were -- and gave him many opportunities to say how I would fit into this -- he always talked about how he had evolved emotionally during this journey."But Joan pointed out, "It always kind of came back to his conversations and therapy that the guys had with each other -- and it never really included me."Joan said in the end, she felt like Mark was "becoming more emotionally ready" but she wasn't positive that he was actually "picturing a life" with her, specifically, by his side."He was just now picturing a life with somebody else," Joan said, adding how she'll only "take a little bit of credit" for opening up Mark's mind and heart again."But I think he's in a really good place. I think some girl out there is going to get an amazing man!"Mark has since been linked to One Tree Hill star Barbara Alyn Woods, but if his apparent romance with the actress doesn't work out, Joan thinks he'll be an obvious choice for the next The Golden Bachelor star.Joan said she believes that Bachelor Nation is already rooting for Mark to star on Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor."I fell in love with him when he was on [ Joey Graziadei ]'s season when he was just Kelsey's dad and what a great father he was," Joan revealed."And I honestly, I texted a producer and said, 'If I'm the Golden Bachelorette, we're going to need Mark on this season.' I did! I just thought he's the perfect guy! He's handsome and such a great father."Joan reiterated how everyone in Bachelor Nation "fell in love with him," and she continued, "And I don't think that ever stopped. He was every bit as lovable on my season, so he could certainly be the Golden Bachelor."While Joan won't reveal if she left in love or engaged, she revealed that she'd be open to a televised wedding during a recent appearance on "The Viall Files" podcast.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. On November 6, the 11th Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived at the Presidential Administration to participate in the event.

President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov welcomed President Ilham Aliyev, along with other heads of state and government.

A group photo was taken.

Then, a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States took place.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the meeting.

Speech by President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear Sadyr Nurgojoyevich,

Dear heads of state and government,

First of all, I would like to thank the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Nurgojoyevich Zhaparov, for his hospitality and the high-level organization of the event.

This is my third visit to the Kyrgyz Republic in the last two years. Each time I come here, I witness the development of the country under the leadership of Sadyr Nurgojoyevich. I congratulate brotherly Kyrgyzstan on all the successes achieved.

I would also like to congratulate Kazakhstan on its successful chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Nakhchivan Agreement, which laid the foundation for the Organization of Turkic States. Our organization has followed a successful path of development during this period. The Garabagh Declaration, signed at the Informal Summit of Heads of State in Shusha in July, contributes to further deepening cooperation.

Azerbaijan will continue its efforts to strengthen the Organization of Turkic States.

The current budget of the Organization of Turkic States is insufficient to achieve our goals. I do hope that Azerbaijans financial support of $2 million for the Secretariat of the Organization of Turkic States and $100,000 for the Council of Elders will contribute to further strengthening the organizations capacity.

Given the growing global threats, our cooperation in defense, security, and the defense industry is of tremendous importance. Cooperation among our law enforcement and security agencies has expanded in recent times.

Military exercises are held with the participation of the armed forces of our countries. The education of cadets from brotherly countries at our military educational institutions is a sign of mutual trust and friendship.

Recently, transportation through Azerbaijani territory via the East-West transport corridor has increased even more. Azerbaijan is increasing investments to raise the transmission capacity of this corridor, which connects Central Asian countries and Turkiye through Azerbaijan.

From January to September 2024, transit shipments with member and observer states increased by about 15 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

Several projects aimed at digitalizing the Middle Corridor and simplifying trade are currently in progress. These projects will increase logistical efficiency and reduce costs.

In September last year, Azerbaijan fully restored its sovereignty. During the 30-year period of occupation, Armenia completely destroyed nine of our cities and hundreds of villages in these territories. Large-scale reconstruction and rehabilitation projects are now taking place in the liberated areas, and former IDPs are returning to their homeland as part of the Great Return Program.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank the heads of state and government of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Hungary for their gifts of fraternity, including the school and the creativity center, as well as for the schools to be built in the liberated territories.

Azerbaijan will soon be hosting the COP29 climate conference. Last December, nearly 200 countries unanimously supported Azerbaijan's candidacy. This is a manifestation of the great respect and support that the international community has for our country.

I am sure that the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States will actively participate in the COP29 conference.

Thank you for your attention.

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his speech.

X X X

During his address, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye, underscored the importance of continuing negotiations for a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan to ensure stability in the South Caucasus. The President of Turkiye stated: Dear brothers, after 30 years of conflict and instability in the South Caucasus, the doors to peace and tranquility have been opened. We hope and wish that Azerbaijans historic success, achieved through the sacrifices of martyrs on the battlefield during the Patriotic War, will soon be reflected at the negotiating table with the signing of a peace agreement."

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev also extended his congratulations regarding the upcoming COP29 conference in Baku. He said, "On the occasion of the start of the COP29 conference in Baku next week, I sincerely congratulate the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev, and wish him great success."

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, in his speech, highlighted the contributions of Azerbaijan and Turkiye to Hungarys energy security, stating, We receive natural gas from Turkiye and Azerbaijan, even though they are not our neighbors. I extend my gratitude for this.

Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, discussed ongoing efforts to further strengthen cooperation among member states. He also highlighted the new goals facing the OTS, noting that current projects among member countries prioritize the use of modern technologies, artificial intelligence, security issues, and the development of e-commerce.

Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, emphasized the OTSs role in bringing Turkic nations with shared language and roots closer together, strengthening economic and trade relations, reviving the historic Silk Road, fostering new educational partnerships, and implementing strategic projects among member states.

X X X

The event included the signing of documents.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. Azerbaijan will continue its efforts to strengthen the Organization of Turkic States, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the 11th Summit of OTS Heads of State in Bishkek, Trend reports.

"This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Nakhchivan Agreement, which laid the foundation for the Organization of Turkic States. The organization has followed a successful path of development during this period, said President Ilham Aliyev.

Noting that the Garabagh Declaration, signed during the first informal Summit of Heads of State held in Shusha in July, has contributed to further deepening cooperation, President Ilham Aliyev affirmed, "Azerbaijan will continue its efforts to strengthen the Organization of Turkic States."
Ive been blessed enough to have been given a platform at The Red & Black to discuss my thoughts on this years presidential election. For the sake of my mental well-being, I decided to take this past week to sit and reflect. Having friends and family members on opposing sides of the political spectrum has consumed my thoughts, pushing me to consider perspectives I might have otherwise overlooked.
'While criticising India's high tariffs, Mr Trump stated he would impose reciprocal taxes on Indian products if re-elected.'

'However, since India's tariffs follow WTO rules, Mr Trump's actions would violate these rules,' Ajay Srivastava points out.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with then US president Donald J Trump. Photograph: Al Drago/Reuters

On October 11, during a public meeting in Detroit, Donald J Trump called India the 'biggest charger' of tariffs on foreign goods.

This wasn't his first criticism. In September, he called India 'an abuser' of import tariffs, and in 2020, he labelled the country 'Tariff King'.

Let's look at whether Mr Trump's claims about India's high tariffs are accurate, whether India's tariffs break global trade rules, and how this affects the India-US relationship.

Trump focuses on the highest tariffs

India's average import tariff is 17 per cent, higher than the US' 3.3 per cent, but Mr Trump doesn't focus on this.

Instead, he highlights the highest tariffs, which grab public attention. For instance, in 2019, he pointed out India's 150 per cent tariff on US whiskey.

While India does impose high tariffs on products like whiskey (150 per cent) and automobiles (100 to 125 per cent), many countries use high tariffs to protect specific industries, so India is not alone in this practice.

Here are the highest tariffs imposed by the US on various product groups

Dairy products (188 per cent), fruit and vegetables (132 per cent), cereals and food preparations (193 per cent), oilseeds, fats, and oils (164 per cent), beverages and tobacco (150 per cent), minerals and metals (187 per cent), Clothing (135 per cent).

Mr Trump's claim that India is the Tariff King based on a few of its highest tariffs doesn't hold up when many other countries' highest tariffs are higher than India's.

Japan's highest tariff is 457 per cent, South Korea's is 887 per cent, and the US' is 350 per cent, compared to India's is 150 per cent.

The highest tariffs are often applied to protect sensitive sectors. For instance, Japan imposes high tariffs on rice to safeguard its farmers.

However, these highest tariffs are exceptions and do not represent the rates at which most trade occurs. The average tariff provides a clearer picture of a country's import duties.

India's average tariff is 17 per cent higher than the US' at 3.3 per cent, but similar to countries like South Korea (13.4 per cent) and China (7.5 per cent).

India's average tariff for industrial products is lower at 13.5 per cent, with a trade-weighted average of 9 per cent.

India does not violate WTO tariff rules, US does

The World Trade Organization (WTO) sets rules for global trade. Member countries can ask the WTO to intervene if these rules are broken.

Although the US often raises concerns about India, it hasn't challenged India's high tariffs at the WTO.

This is because the US knows India's tariffs are within the WTO's agreed-upon limits.

When the WTO started in 1995, countries set maximum tariffs on products, called 'bound tariffs', which they agreed not to exceed.

Developed countries like the US and Japan set low bound tariffs (around 3 to 4 per cent), while developing countries like India were allowed higher tariffs (40 to 150 per cent).

Developed countries allowed this flexibility in exchange for developing countries agreeing to include issues like intellectual property rights and services in WTO discussions. Because of these low-bound tariffs, the US cannot raise tariffs without breaking WTO rules.

In contrast, India can raise tariffs on steel from 10 per cent to 20 per cent without violating WTO rules since its bound tariff on steel is 40 per cent.

The gap between a country's bound and actual tariff is called 'water'. Countries like the US, Japan, and China have low 'water', while India has high 'water', meaning India has more flexibility to raise tariffs without breaking WTO rules.

The US must rely on the national security exception rules of the WTO to raise tariffs, but it is hard to argue that importing steel and aluminium threatens US national security.

Photograph: Jonathan Drake/Reuters

Reluctance on the FTA

While criticising India's high tariffs, Mr Trump stated he would impose reciprocal taxes on Indian products if re-elected. However, since India's tariffs follow WTO rules, Mr Trump's actions would violate these rules.

The US could gain better access to the Indian market through a Free-Trade Agreement (FTA), as India has already lowered tariffs for FTA partners like ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea, showing its openness to trade. However, in an FTA, tariff cuts must be by both sides, and the US is reluctant to lower its tariffs to protect domestic industries.

This hesitation is evident in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) agreement, which does not include tariff reductions.

The IPEF, involving 14 countries, including the US and India, aims to enhance cooperation in four areas: Trade, supply chain resilience, a clean economy, and a fair economy (tax and anti-corruption).

India-US relationship

Mr Trump's repeated uttering on India's high tariffs may grab headlines, but it hasn't affected the strong India-US relationship.

The US is India's top trading partner, with trade continuing to grow. Bilateral trade rose from $141.5 billion in 2018 to $190.1 billion in 2023, an increase of 34.4 per cent.

Merchandise trade jumped 41.6 per cent, and services trade grew by 22.4 per cent. India's exports to the US surged by 54.4 per cent, while US exports to India grew by 20.8 per cent.

The US-India partnership aims to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region and enhance defence ties through initiatives like the Quad Alliance and the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative.

The Quad, comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia, aims to strengthen supply chains while reducing dependence on China.

India-US collaboration on semiconductors and clean energy helps India pursue its tech and renewable energy goals.

Cooperation on cybersecurity and space strengthens India's digital security and space leadership, boosting innovation and scientific progress.

However, the US sometimes prioritises business interests over policy. For example, it opposed India's plan to restrict laptop imports, as this would affect American companies like Apple, Dell, and HP, which manufacture laptops in China.

With China controlling 81 per cent of the global PC and laptop market, India is working to reduce its reliance by boosting local production.

The US also imposes tariffs on Chinese products like semiconductors and solar cells to protect its industries.

This underscores India's need to follow its own strategic priorities without yielding to external pressure.

While his claims that India is a 'tariff abuser' are inaccurate, India should still consider reforming tariffs at the product level to better support national goals like promoting low-cost, value-added manufacturing and trade.

Disclaimer: These are Ajay Srivastava's personal views.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
The equity markets recent downturn appears unlikely to slow the brisk pace of mutual fund (MF) scheme launches, at least in the coming weeks.

Last month, fund houses introduced 21 new equity schemes, with another five launches already lined up for November.

The number of filing with markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), suggests this momentum will continue with asset management companies (AMCs) seeking approval for 21 more equity schemes in October.

The calendar year 2024 has seen a surge in fund launches, buoyed by an overall robust market rally and heightened investor interest in thematic and sector-focused funds.

Since January, AMCs have introduced 135 equity schemes, both active and passive, outpacing the 88 launches recorded in 2023.

Despite potential headwinds in the equity market, MF executives are undeterred, viewing the launch of new funds as a strategy to diversify offerings amid intensified competition in the passive space.

The market condition does make a difference in terms of demand for NFOs.

"We have to put in more effort when there is nervousness in the market.

"However, this is not the case right now, says Akhil Chaturvedi, executive director and chief business officer of Motilal Oswal.

The market has corrected somewhat, but sentiment hasnt taken a big hit.

According to Chaturvedi, the firm is seeing long-term wealth-generation opportunities across various sectors over the next 510 years.

We are looking at high-growth themes in India for the next decade.

"The changing economic landscape is providing a lot of structural growth stories and opening up new thematic investment opportunities, he explains.

Motilal Oswal has recently launched several sectoral and thematic schemes with a focus on mid- and small-cap companies.

At least five equity NFOs will open for subscription in November, according to data from Value Research.

Among them are Nippon Indias Nifty Realty index fund and Nifty Auto index fund, PGIM Indias active health-care fund, Tata MFs innovation fund, and Shriram AMCs multi-sector rotation fund.

For Abhishek Tiwari, executive director and chief business officer at PGIM India MF, a thoughtful approach to new fund offerings is key.

While the fund house is careful not to launch funds that could yield a volatile experience for investors, it sees its new health-care focused thematic fund as a prudent defensive play in the current climate.

We dont believe in launching funds when they are in fashion.

"We prioritise segments that can be relevant at all points in time.

"Historically, health care has often proved to be a defensive theme but with many legs of growth.

"We believe health care is getting redefined as a space for consumers and definitely investors, Tiwari adds.
India has recorded the second-highest increase in domestic airfares in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and West Asian regions, climbing by 43 per cent in the first half of 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, second only to Vietnam (63 per cent).

Photograph: Greg Baker/Reuters

India ranks third in fare increases during the same period in international skies, behind the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia.

The airfare study conducted by Airports Council International (ACI), which represents 617 airports in this region, was done in partnership with Flare Aviation Consulting.

The findings were discussed during a board meeting held on Monday.

The study examined airfare trends across over 60,000 routes in 19 countries, providing a detailed view of post-pandemic recovery in the region.

In the domestic market, Vietnam topped the list of air tariff increases, followed by India.

Malaysia (36 per cent), Thailand (26 per cent), and Australia (21 per cent) also saw considerable increases, particularly in countries with a sizeable domestic market.

In international skies, both India and Vietnam reported a 16 per cent rise in airfares, placing them in third position.

The UAE led the list with a 22 per cent increase in airfares during the same period, followed by Malaysia (21 per cent), Australia (14 per cent), and Thailand (7 per cent), with the most pronounced increases coming from low-cost carriers.

The average increase in airfares across the region was around 10 per cent.

Stefano Baronci, director-general of ACI APAC and West Asia, said: While passenger numbers in APAC are returning to pre-pandemic levels this year, many travellers are paying much more, especially on domestic routes.

"This indicates that the demand for air travel is likely higher than in 2019.

"We must ensure that rising airfares do not become a barrier for potential customers.

Baronci explained that airfares are determined by a complex pricing system set by airlines.

For instance, routes reliant on a single airline saw fare increases of over 25 per cent, while those with steady competition experienced only about a 10 per cent rise.

He added that the increase in fares is not related to airport charges.

For a long time, airport charges have represented a stable component of airlines operating costs, averaging around 4 per cent.

From 2019 to 2024, airport charges have decreased by 7 per cent for domestic flights and increased by only 6 per cent for international flights, making their influence on the recent rise in airfares in the region negligible.

However, airlines point out that one key reason for fare increases is the rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, particularly in the domestic market.

In India, for example, the price of ATF has risen by over 35 per cent from the end of 2019 to November 2024, now reaching Rs 84,000 per kilolitre.

Fuel still accounts for 35-40 per cent of airlines operating costs.

In addition, airlines incurred huge losses during the pandemic, which must be addressed for their survival.
The Union government is expecting to rake in Rs 100-200 crore in additional revenue from Pillar Two, only under specific circumstances, a senior finance ministry official said requesting anonymity.

It is proceeding cautiously, and is unlikely to implement rules anytime soon, the source said.

Pillar Two, also known as the Global Base Erosion (GloBE) rules, is a global tax system that requires multinational enterprises (MNEs) to pay a minimum tax on their profits in each country where they operate.

The rules are designed to prevent MNEs from shifting profits and to ensure that they pay an appropriate rate of tax.

An internal analysis indicates that the government is likely to see only an additional revenue of Rs 100-200 crore after implementing Pillar Two, and thats only under certain conditions, an official said.

The gains are not much, and losing the right to make laws for such a small amount is a big price to pay, the source added.

The Union government believes it may have to give away its sovereign right to frame laws on corporate taxation, if it implements the Pillar Two tax regime, the source added.

Adopting Pillar Two could potentially restrict Indias tax policy autonomy.

"It sets a 15 per cent minimum tax on multinational corporations, diminishing the countrys ability to offer competitive tax rates to

attract foreign investment, said Raju Kumar, tax partner, EY India.

It also necessitates adherence to specific rules like Income Inclusion and under taxed payment rules, potentially limiting Indias flexibility in customising tax laws according to its economic objectives, India, along with 130 other countries, has signed the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Developments (OECDs) Multilateral Convention to implement tax treaty related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting.

The Indian government will eventually enforce the associated regulations.

These rules are designed to curb profit shifting by multinational corporations to low-tax jurisdictions, thereby minimising their tax liabilities.

Pillar Two is consistent with existing treaties and may not require a multilateral convention (except for STTR).

"Therefore, the government may not lose its sovereign right to tax, said Gouri Puri, partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.

However, the tax rules that are implemented such as qualified domestic minimum top-up tax (QDMTT), Income Inclusion Rule (IIR), undertaxed profits rule (UTPR) have to meet the Pillar Two set standards given this is a consensus-based multilateral tax reform, said Puri.

Kumar added that the adoption may enhance Indias global standing and provide a more predictable investment climate, suggesting a strategic advantage in aligning with international tax norms.
The total vehicle retail sales in India witnessed a 32 per cent on-year rise in October to 28,32,944 units with all segments including two-wheelers and passenger vehicles registering strong growth, Federation of Automobile Dealers' Association (FADA) said on Wednesday.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The total vehicle retail sales in October 2023 stood at 21,43,929 units, as per FADA.

The strong growth in October this year was largely driven by the rural market, especially boosting two-wheeler and passenger vehicles sales, supported by increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Rabi crops, FADA said.

Passenger vehicle sales grew 32.38 per cent to 483,159 units, from 364,991 units retailed in October 2023, it stated.

Two-wheeler sales for the previous month were recorded at 20,65,095 units, as compared to 15,14,634 units in October 2023, registering a growth of 36.35 per cent, while three-wheeler sales were up 11.45 per cent year-on-year to 122,846 in in October 2024, it said.

Tractor sales, according to FADA, increased 3.08 per cent during October to 64,433 units, from 62,542 units a year ago.

The convergence of major festivals (Navratri and Diwali) in October significantly boosted consumer demand; attractive festive offers, new model launches, and improved stock availability led to a 36 per cent year-on-year and 71 per cent month-on-month growth in two-wheelers, according to FADA.

Besides, rural sentiments, favourable monsoon and good crop expectations, further contributed to the growth, it stated.

Moreover, the 32 per cent year-on-year and 75 per cent month-on-month rise in passenger vehicle sales was driven by festive demand, aggressive offers, and new model introductions, it said.

FADA remains optimistic about near-term growth of the overall automobile industry particularly with the wedding season ahead.

However, potential challenges such as inventory overstock and economic headwinds may affect sales momentum towards the end of the year, it said.
'This victory would mean a huge inspiration for the next generation who can say that coming from India I can be anybody I want to be if I work hard and acquire the right skills.'

'They could be the next President, members of the Senate, or another Sundar Pichai.'

IMAGE: Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Devi Harris makes calls at the Democratic National Committee headquarters on Election Day in Washington, DC, November 5, 2024, here and below. Photographs: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Democratic National Finance Committee member for Kamala Harris's campaign Ajay Bhutoria is a tech executive and influential community leader who has played a key role in fundraising for Democratic campaigns. He has been instrumental in securing South Asian votes in battleground states and currently serves on the AAPI (Asian-American Pacific Islander) National Leadership Council.

"Even though we are 1% of the population, we are the margin of victory in many battleground states. This definitely shows our strength and involvement of our community," Bhutoria tells Rediff US Contributor Abhijit J Masih.

You've been a strong supporter of Kamala Harris for quite some time and have known her since she ran for Attorney General of California. Can you share a memorable moment from your encounters with her?

I've known Vice President Harris since she was District Attorney, Attorney General, and then I worked with her on a Senate campaign and her Vice Presidential campaign, and then I've also attended her kickoff for President.

One of the most important moments I remember is when she was doing the criminal justice reform in California. And she talked about how young kids would drop out from college, and then go into jails because of some small crimes. Once they go in, they meet bigger criminals, and they come out with a PhD in crime. So she talked about breaking that cycle and getting them into jobs and a path of employment. That reformed a lot of youth lives in Oakland and California.

You've also been a strong advocate for the South Asian and AAPI communities, and you've spoken about Kamala Harris's leadership in the past. What aspects of her background and vision resonate most with you as an Indian-American leader?

When she hosted Prime Minister Modi, I was there at the State lunch, and she talked about her growing up and visiting Chennai and she was talking about her mom's journey from India. That showed a very strong, deep sense of connection she has with India.

She opened the Vice President's residence for the first time and hosted Diwali in such a colorful way. She has been a strong supporter of the US-India relationship.

When President Biden hosted Prime Minister Modi for the State visit, she welcomed Prime Minister Modi at the White House. She supported the defense deal. She supported the revival of Quad.

I have been on the White House AAPI commission, and under President Biden and Vice President Harris, we put recommendation for reducing the green card backlog, we got the visa stamping done, we got employment authorization, but there's still a lot of work to be done. And I'm sure under the Harris-Walz administration; there will be a lot of priorities.

We'll see growth in the US-India relationship at all levels. One of the most important things for our community is protection of our places of worship -- temples, mosques, gurdwaras etc. So, I'm sure that she will provide all the resources needed for our committee to make certain places of worship more secure.

What are the early reports you're getting from across the country?

There's been huge enthusiasm and over 90,000 volunteers have knocked on 3 million doors in battleground states. There are diverse groups of people in the voting line today all around the country, and we feel good where we are.

We have multiple paths to victory, defending the blue wall, winning Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Nevada, and surely she will win 276 plus, which will help us elect Kamala Harris as our next president.

We are very comfortable, very confident. Of course, the early results will come from various states, but we'll have to wait until we get a decision so that the winner can be declared, which will take some time to get all the mail-in ballots.

There's often a perception that political candidates, especially from communities like ours, have to 'prove themselves' even more. How do you think Kamala Harris has navigated these challenges?

Absolutely. Our community's candidates have to work extra hard to earn the trust of the voters, to prove themselves and make sure we are on each and every vote. And that's what this election has been.

During this election, people got to know more about Vice President Harris, who she is and what she stands for. She stands for freedom, for women's rights, for supporting small businesses, for defending democracy, for creating infrastructure and creating new jobs and a new way forward. Keeping the leadership of US across the world and bringing an end to these wars.

She went through the battleground states and to various rallies. In fact, she did three rallies, and so she met thousands of people and they learned about her, and now they trust her, and that's why they are voting for her in large numbers to elect her as the President.

What do you think would be the most important lessons for the Indian American community to take away from the 2024 election cycle, regardless of who ultimately wins the presidency?

Our community is a very hard working and has excelled in all areas and are now growing in the political field. We have more than 100 candidates running from school boards to the Senate and Congress this time.

Even though we are 1% of the population, we are the margin of victory in many battleground states. This definitely shows our strength and involvement of our community, even though there may be diverse thoughts with a percentage of the community supporting Trump.

We definitely see that the participation is going to continue and I would encourage more people from the community to run for office and take a seat.

How would you call the results for the battleground states?

I can confidently say that we will win Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Nevada. That puts us to 276 and we will win the election. Additionally, we may win Georgia.

If Kamala Harris wins, how do you see your role evolving in supporting her administration?

My role was to get her elected. We will see what happens. But I will definitely continue to fight for the causes which are important to our community including economic development, immigration, healthcare and others. I will definitely support her and her administration in all the ways I can.

What would her victory mean for future generations of Indian Americans?

This victory would mean a huge inspiration for the next generation who can say that coming from India I can be anybody I want to be if I work hard and acquire the right skills. They could be the next President, members of the Senate, or another Sundar Pichai.

Her win will inspire millions around the world and Indian Americans to be what they want to be and to rise and succeed.
Twenty-five of the 75 tigers in Ranthambore National Park (RNP) have gone missing over the last year, Rajasthan's Chief Wildlife Warden Pavan Kumar Upadhyay told park officials on Monday.

IMAGE: Tigers take rest inside the Ranthambore National Park, in Sawai Madhopur. Photograph: ANI Photo

This is the first time such a high number of tigers has been officially reported missing in a year.

Previously, 13 tigers were reported missing from Ranthambore between January 2019 and January 2022.

On Monday, the wildlife department formed a three-member committee to investigate the disappearances. The team will review monitoring records and recommend action if any lapses by park officials are found.

The focus is on finding 14 tigers that have not been seen since between May 17 and September 30 of this year.

An official order issued on November 4 stated that reports of missing tigers have surfaced repeatedly from Ranthambore's monitoring assessments.

"Despite several notices sent to the park's field director, no significant improvements have been noted. As of a report dated October 14, 2024, 11 tigers have been unaccounted for over a year, with limited recent evidence of another 14. Given the circumstances, an inquiry committee has been set up to investigate the missing tigers in Ranthambore," the order said.

Chief Wildlife Warden Pavan Kumar Upadhyay said, "The committee will submit its report within two months. We have identified some monitoring gaps that we want to address. Recently, I started collecting weekly monitoring reports, which showed that these tigers were not recorded on trap camera. This matter is being taken very seriously."

Efforts to ease pressure on the park include relocating villages from the buffer zone, but progress has been slow, with the last relocation taking place in 2016.

Park officials have said that Ranthambore faces challenges due to tigers' overcrowding, which leads to fights over territory. With 75 tigers -- that includes young tigers and cubs -- the park's 900 square kilometres is struggling to support them.

According to a study by the Wildlife Institute of India (2006-2014), the park can safely house around 40 adult tigers.
Six Indian Americans have won the elections to the House of Representatives, increasing their number from five in the current Congress.

IMAGE: Virginia senator Suhas Subramanyam became the first Indian-American to be elected to the House of Representatives from Virginia. Photograph: Kind courtesy @SuhasforVA on X

Indian-American lawyer Suhas Subramanyam created history by becoming the first from the community to be elected from Virginia and the entire East Coast.

Subramanyan defeated Mike Clancy of the Republican Party. He is currently a Virginia State Senator.

There is a possibility that the number of Indian Americans in the House of Representatives could increase to seven as Dr Amish Shah was leading by a slender margin against his Republican incumbent in the first Congressional District of Arizona.

"I am honoured and humbled that the people of Virginia's 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress. This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honour to continue serving this district in Washington," Subramanyam said.

Subramanyam, who previously served as a White House Advisor to President Barack Obama, is a Hindu by faith and is popular among Indian Americans nationwide. He joins the 'Samosa Caucus' in the Congress that currently comprises five Indian Americans -- Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar.

All the five existing Indian American members were re-elected to the House of Representatives.

Shri Thanedar was re-elected for the second consecutive term from the 13th Congressional District of Michigan. He won it for the first time in 2023.

Raja Krishnamoorthi won the seventh Congressional District of Illinois for the fifth consecutive term.

"While the battles for control of the White House and Congress remain close, I am honoured that the people of Illinois' 8th District have extended my contract to represent them in Congress," Krishnamoorthi said.

"My parents came to this country with little more than a dream for their family's future and the faith that they could achieve it here in America," Krishnamoorthi concluded.

"Despite some hard times, we did."

"My mission in Congress is to fight for all the other families that are pursuing their dreams, no matter where they come from, how they worship, or the number of letters in their names... there are 29 in mine."

So did Ro Khanna who represents the seventeenth Congressional District of California and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who represents the seventh Congressional District of Washington State.

A physician by profession, Dr Ami Bera is the senior-most Indian American Congressman representing the sixth Congressional District of California since 2013. He was re-elected for the seventh consecutive term.

In Arizona, Shah from the Democratic Party was slightly ahead of his Republican Party's incumbent David Schweikett.

He has 132,712 votes as against his rival's 128,606 votes when 63 per cent of the votes were counted.
Just a few blocks away from the White House, on 17th street the McDonald's outlet looks unusual.

IMAGE: A watch party underway in Washington, DC, November 6, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

It is all boarded up from outside and there is a cut-out on the door reassuring visitors that it is open for business. This is not the only store to do that in Washington, DC, on election day.

Several cafes and restaurants are boarded up from outside but still promising they are open. As Americans voted Tuesday, the capital prepared itself for potential unrest.

Caroline Pollak lives in Virginia and has come to visit Washington DC. She is finding the whole thing very strange.

I went to a coffee shop down the road, they have boarded all the windows just as a precautionary measure. But it is all sad, why should anybody have to do that, she said.

Along Pennsylvania Avenue and surrounding streets near the White House the sound of power tools echoes through the streets as workers install protective plywood barriers, creating an unusual atmosphere in the nation's capital.

Parena Bread is a famous cafe on Pennsylvania Avenue and similar boarded-up scenes can be seen here too. The windows are completely blocked. The staff at the cafe says that the building has taken these measures as a precaution.

It is not just the cafes and stores, the government buildings are also boarded or fenced. At the United States post office building on Pennsylvania Avenue, workers are placing large plywood sheets and creating a cover from outside.

Some of the plywood sheets already have graffiti on them. Paul Mier works in the neighbourhood and finds the whole thing very unusual and thinks it has to do with what happened in the last presidential election when the city saw ruckus.

Who knows what will happen, there are obviously issues with what happened in the last elections. It is sad to see businesses having to react to situations like this. But I guess nobody wants to take the risk, says Paul Mier.

The White House and other federal buildings have implemented heightened security measures. Metal barriers and security fencing now surround the White House complex. Additional fencing has been installed around the Vice President's residence at the Naval Observatory. The Secret Service is coordinating with federal, state, and local partners to ensure enhanced security.

Phoebe Emm is a student in Washington, DC, and she says that the nation is still traumatised by what happened last time in the elections and the precautions were for that.

This past week we have not been able to walk up to the fence, they are setting up the inauguration stage for that and there are security barricades. We have to keep a safe distance. I am really anxious about the elections, it is too close for comfort to be excited.

Hank Thomas is a DC resident who runs a venture capital firm and keeps coming to the White House on and off. He feels the fencing is a security precaution. Groups come to DC and protest but then become violent and cause damage. I hate seeing damage to things that people pay taxes for.

On January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill witnessed unrest when supporters of then-president Donald Trump attempted to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's electoral victory.

This time while there is no specific official announcement of threats, the city's preparation reflects a cautious approach following previous incidents of civil unrest.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. During his speech at the meeting of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Council of Heads of State, President Ilham Aliyev touched upon military cooperation among the member countries, Trend reports.

The President stated, "Given the growing global threats, our cooperation in defense, security, and the defense industry is of great importance. Recently, cooperation among our law enforcement and security agencies has further expanded."

He also highlighted the joint military exercises conducted with the participation of the countries' armed forces, noting that the training of cadets from brotherly nations at Azerbaijans military education institutions reflects mutual trust and friendship.
Although, Democrat Kamala Harris does not appear to be winning the United States presidential election, she will make a comeback as she is a fighter, said residents of Thulasendrapuram, the village of her maternal ancestors, on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris cheer for her beside a poster in Thulasendrapuram, the village where Harris' maternal grandfather was born, in Tamil Nadu. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Since morning, locals were glued to television screens, monitoring election results, and many checked trends on media websites. Several residents also visited the Sri Dharma Sastha Perumal temple to pray for Harris's victory.

However, as the day progressed, it became apparent that former U S president Donald Trump was leading the race, edging out his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, in an election that virtually divided America into two camps.

"We were hoping for her victory and had planned celebrations bigger than Deepavali. We made arrangements to burst firecrackers, distribute sweets, offer temple pujas, and host a community lunch," J Sudhakar, DMK Tiruvarur district representative and Thulasendrapuram village leader, told PTI.

"But success and failure are part of life. It was a tough fight, and you must admire her fighting spirit. She is a fighter and will make a comeback," he added.

Other villagers shared similar sentiments, expressing confidence that Harris would continue her journey as a fighter and someday become the US president, even if it didn't happen this time.

Sudhakar noted that everyone in the village had hoped Harris, whose maternal ancestors hailed from Thulasendrapuram, would become the first woman US president.

"We hope she will win next time and visit our village. When that day comes, we will give her a grand reception. Meanwhile, we extend our best wishes to Donald Trump and hope he fosters good relations with India and promotes global peace," Sudhakar added.
On Wednesday morning Americans woke up to the news that Donald J Trump had once again won the White House in the 2024 presidential polls.

IMAGE: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee former U.S. President Donald Trump gather outside the venue on the day of a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, November 4, 2024. Photograph: Seth Herald/Reuters

A palpable mix of emotions enveloped the capital, particularly around the areas surrounding the White House. Supporters, opponents and general visitors gathered at the iconic location, commenting on the outcome of a bitterly fought election.

Jhonathan Kane is a democratic supporter and feels this was a terrible result. He elaborated on how the Democrats made some "terrible" choices that led to this.

I am not very happy with the results. This is a terrible result. Not only for America but for the world at large. This is a very dangerous person that we have given power to again," he said.

"The Democrats made a terrible choice to continue their support for Israel. Supporting genocide in Palestine didn't work in the US. They made this choice to appeal to the right wing and that has never worked. They dragged us further and further to the right, and now we have very bad results, he added.

Weeks ahead of the election results, preparations for Inauguration Day have already been put in place in the nation's capital. Construction crews in Lafayette Park are putting up the Inauguration Day Parade stand. There are security barriers to usher in the new president on January 20.

Taking no chances this time, the security has put up large black riot fences and concrete barriers currently surrounding parts of Lafayette Park, as well as the sidewalks near the White House.

James Besenger from South Carolina is a Trump supporter and is clearly upbeat about how the results have panned.

I don't think the results have been surprising. If anyone has been paying attention to the middle class, and lower middle class shouldn't be surprised by this turnout," he said.

"Democratic party has used and abused minority groups for the last 10 years, and I think they are being exposed now. Donald Trump was an alternative to this, and minority groups have decided to go with that, he added.

About the future possibilities, James feels it is time that America put itself first before looking after others and Trump could be an answer to that.

I think it is a great thing for the country, the Republican Party has presented a more coherent idea for the future. I think they have America's best interests in mind. Every country should put themselves first, I think America should do that. It was about time the country thought for itself first before we took care of everyone else," he said.

The Ukraine and Palestine wars have been very widely discussed subjects throughout this election.

Trump's supporters feel he would bring an end to these and save America from spending a lot of money on these conflicts.

I don't think the US should be funding wars. I don't see we have any interest in that. I think the US has made a habit and reputation in funding foreign wars that don't serve our interest. The people are tired of it and I hope Trump will end both wars, adds James Besenger.

James also thinks that Trump being at the helm is good news for the business community, and the stock markets this morning in the US are a good sign of that.

The area outside the White House is abuzz with activity as reporters sought interviews with supporters from both sides, attempting to gauge the public sentiment in the wake of the election results.

Nick Michel, who lives in Maryland in Washington DC, is talking to TV reporters and hopes the transition will be smooth.

While speaking to PTI, Nick Michel said the country needed to be on the path of repair now and differences needed to be left behind.

I was quite a long evening last night, and looks like we will have a change of guard. My biggest concern is that we will have a peaceful transition," he said,

"We really have to repair the pandemic and all the global wars. I hope we work together to find some happiness and good results. I think a bipartisan approach is key and hopefully, we have the chance to do that. I think civility is a word that needs to keep coming back. When we have differences we have to shake hands and move on, added Michel.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant citing lack of trust, Times of Israel reported.

IMAGE: Former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant arrives for a press conference shortly after he was sacked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv, on November 5, 2024. Photograph: Nir Elias/Reuters

Gallant, who was a longtime rival from within the Likud Party, will be replaced by Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz. Minister without Portfolio Gideon Sa'ar will replace Katz, as per Times of Israel.

It quoted a statement from the Prime Minister's Office which stated that Netanyahu informed Gallant that his tenure as the Defence Minister would end '48 hours from the receipt of this letter'.

'I would like to thank you for your service as defense minister,' the curt letter concluded.

"Unfortunately, although in the first months of the war, there was trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defence minister," Netanyahu said in a video statement, as per Times of Israel.

He says they disagreed on the management of the war and charged that Gallant made statements and took actions that contradict cabinet decisions.

Netanyahu also accused Gallant of indirectly aiding Israel's enemies: "I made many attempts to bridge these gaps, but they kept getting wider," Times of Israel quoted him as saying.

"They also came to the knowledge of the public in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy -- our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it," said Netanyahu.

The 'crisis of faith' with the defence minister 'does not enable the proper continuation of the [military] campaign', Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu said that several cabinet and government members agreed with him 'that this cannot continue. In light of this, I decided today to end the tenure of the defense minister', Times of Israel reported.

Following the dismissal, Gallant said in a post on X that the security of Israel would always be the mission of his life.

'The security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life,' he said.

Gallant later elaborated that there were three reasons for his dismissal -- The need to draft Haredi men to the IDF, the imperative to bring back the hostages from Gaza, and the need for a state commission of inquiry in the October 7 Hamas terror and resulting conflict.

Gallant said that the ultra-orthodox Haredi parties which are a part of the coalition threatened to topple the coalition if a law was not passed. The law exempted Haredi males from participating in the war.

Gallant said that he stressed that 101 Israeli hostages must be brought to Gaza even if it means letting Hamas stay in the strip.

He also called for a government investigation into the October 7 Hamas terror assault, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 were seized as hostages as terrorists rampaged through dozens of southern Israel communities, as per Times of Israel.
Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday said it would not allow the proceedings of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly to go on until a resolution asking the Centre to hold talks with the elected representatives from the region for the restoration of the erstwhile state's special status was withdrawn.

Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: BJP MLAs shout slogans while standing on benches during their protest against the passing of a resolution on Article 370 on the third day of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly session as Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather (second from right) looks on, in Srinagar, November 6, 2024.

"This is an illegal resolution and until they roll it back, we will continue our protest and not allow the proceedings of the House. They will have to roll it back and then we will debate it," Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Sunil Sharma told reporters in Srinagar.

He said the resolution was not part of the assembly's listed business and reflects the mindset of the newly-elected government in the Union Territory.

Sharma said the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which had conferred special rights on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated in Parliament, the highest temple of democracy.

"Then some people challenged the Parliament's decision in the Supreme Court. The court ruled that the Parliament's decision was right. So what constitutional right do they have to bring this resolution? We have opposed it strongly and the BJP will continue its protest and not accept it at any cost," he said.

Taking a dig at Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, Sharma said he behaved as an agent of the ruling National Conference and "ripped apart" the dignity of the chair.

He also asked the Congress, an alliance partner of the NC, to clear its stand on the resolution.

"Congress leaders should come out and clearly say whether they support it or not. If they support it, the people of the country will question them. If not, then without their six MLAs, the resolution as well as the government is in minority," Sharma said.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party has promised that statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir, but "we have to wait for the appropriate time".

Earlier, the assembly passed the resolution, asking the Centre to hold dialogue with the elected representatives from Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of the erstwhile state's special status, which was revoked by the Union government on August 5, 2019.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved the resolution.

"This legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal," the resolution said.

It said the assembly calls upon the government of India to initiate talks with the elected representatives from Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of the special status, constitutional guarantees and to workout constitutional mechanisms for reinstating these provisions.

"This assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," the resolution said.

After the resolution was passed by a voice vote, a ruckus broke out in the assembly and the speaker adjourned the proceedings till Thursday.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said a prior sanction will precede the prosecution of public servants accused of money laundering charges in discharge of official duty.

IMAGE: The Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, therefore, dismissed a plea of the Enforcement Directorate challenging a high court verdict that quashed the cognisance order of the agency's complaint (chargesheet) against two IAS officers.

The Telangana high court had quashed a trial court order taking cognisance of the ED's prosecution complaint filed on money laundering charges against the two senior bureaucrats in the Andhra Pradesh government.

The bench referred to Section 197(1) of the CrPC (corresponding to Section 218 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023) dealing with prosecution of judges and public servants.

Section 197 (1) says, "When any person who is or was a judge or magistrate or a public servant not removable from his office save by or with the sanction of the government, is accused of any offence alleged to have been committed by him while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duty, no court shall take cognisance of such offence except with the previous sanction."

The bench said the object of Section 197 (1) of the CrPC was to protect public servants from prosecutions and it ensured they were not prosecuted for anything they did in the discharge of their duties.

"This provision is for the protection of honest and sincere officers. However, the protection is not unqualified. They can be prosecuted with a previous sanction from the appropriate government," it said.

It said, "Considering the object of Section 197(1) of the CrPC, its applicability cannot be excluded unless there is any provision in the PMLA which is inconsistent with Section 197(1). No such provision has been pointed out to us."

The bench, therefore, held the provisions of the section were applicable to a complaint filed under Section 44(1)(b) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) while rejecting the ED contention that Section 71 of the PMLA had an overriding effect over the provisions of the other statutes.

The agency had contended that considering the object of the PMLA, the requirement of obtaining a sanction under Section 197(1) of CrPC will be inconsistent with Section 71 of the PMLA.

The bench, however, pointed out that Section 65 of the PMLA made the provisions of the CrPC applicable to all proceedings under the PMLA, provided the same were not inconsistent with the the anti-money laundering law.

"Section 65 is a prior section which specifically makes the provisions of the CrPC applicable to PMLA, subject to the condition that only those provisions of the CrPC will apply which are not inconsistent with the provisions of the PMLA. Therefore, when a particular provision of CrPC applies to proceedings under the PMLA by virtue of Section 65 of the PMLA, Section 71(1) cannot override the provision of CrPC which applies to the PMLA," it held.

The ED had challenged the high court order on the plea of Bibhu Prasad Acharya and Adityanath Das, who were civil servants, and therefore, satisfied the first condition of Section 197(1) according to the top court.

The apex court noted that ED's allegation that Acharya conspired with former Andhra chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and allotted 250 acre land meant for a SEZ project to a private company by violating the existing norms.

It also noted that Das, at the relevant time, was the principal secretary in the state government and he too conspired with Reddy and extended favours to another firm by allotting additional 10 lakh litre of water from River Kagna without referring the matter to the Interstate Water Resources Authority in violation of the existing norms.

"In the case of both respondents (Acharya and Das), the acts alleged against them are related to the discharge of the duties entrusted to them. It is not even the allegation in the complaints that the two respondents were not empowered to do the acts they have done. There is a connection between their duties and the acts complained of," the bench said, noting the second condition for the applicability of Section 197(1) also stood satisfied.

The top court upheld the high court order outlining the latter's correct view as the cognisance of the chargesheet was taken without obtaining a previous sanction under Section 197(1) of CrPC.

"We must clarify that the effect of the impugned judgment is that the orders of the special court taking cognisance only as against the accused BP Acharya and Adityanath Das stand set aside," said the bench.

The top court, however, said that ED may move against the two senior IAS officer after obtaining a prior sanction for the prosecution.
Suhas Subramanyam created history by becoming the first Indian American to be elected from Virginia and the entire East Coast.

IMAGE: Virginia State Senator Suhas Subramanyam. Photograph: Kind courtesy @SuhasforVA on X

Running for the US House of Representatives from the 10th Congressional District of Virginia, a Democratic stronghold, Subramanyam defeated Mike Clancy of the Republican Party.

He is currently a Virginia State Senator.

"I am honoured and humbled that the people of Virginia's 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress. This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honour to continue serving this district in Washington," Subramanyam said.

He joins the Samosa Caucus in the Congress that currently comprises five Indian Americans -- Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar.

Shri Thanedar was re-elected for the second consecutive term.

He has represented the thirteenth Congressional District of Michigan since 2023.

Raja Krishnamoorthi, representing the seventh Congressional District of Illinois since 2017; was reelected.

Subramanyam's parents arrived in the US -- through Dulles Airport -- in the late 70s.

"Dulles Airport was like their Ellis Island and when they came here they wanted a better life and we never imagined that someone like me named Suhas Subramanyam could be in the US Congress. But we want to make that a reality, and it starts with people coming out and voting in Virginia in November," he told PTI in an earlier interview.

"My mom is from Bangalore, and my dad's from Chennai. He spent a lot of time in Secunderabad as well, because his father was in the military, so there was a military base there. They decided to come here to build a good life. My mother in particular really liked the idea of becoming a physician in America," he said.

"She and my father met in medical school in Bangalore and then came out here in the late 70s. They just taught me a couple of values. One, service is very important, giving back, making a good life. Education is also important. One of the things they also wanted me to do was make sure I stay in touch with my Indian roots as well," he said.

"So I would go back to India in the summers all the time. I still have family there. It's very important to me to continue that heritage and really not run just because I'm an Indian American, but I have a lot of ideas I want to do, but run being proud of my background, my heritage," he had said.

Responding to a question, Subramanian advocated for a strong India-US relationship.

"The US-India relationship is so important because India is one of the most important democracies on earth. And so we want to make sure we have a good relationship with other democracies in the global sphere," he said.

"The US and India have a naturally strong relationship. A lot of Indian Americans live here. We have a large Indian diaspora. A lot of Indian students come here to study. And a lot of US companies have offices in India. We have a strong economic partnership.

"I think now we can start to look at what a defence partnership could mean and how we can work together on technology transfer, on just having common strategic defence goals.

"I think that will be a very important relationship for both countries long term. And it's I think it's something that even setting aside the fact that I'm an American is something that I think will be really good for our country moving forward," he said.
The pundits said it would take days to decide the winner of the 2024 US presidential election, but by midnight Eastern on November 5, 2024, it was clear that Donald J Trump would take office as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025.

IMAGE: Trump takes the stage to address supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

IMAGE: At 78, Trump is the oldest man to be elected president. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

IMAGE: During Trump's first term his wife Melania mostly stayed at their apartment in the Trump Tower in New York City because her son Barron was studying at the Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School in NYC. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

IMAGE: Barron, who will turn 19 two months after his dad is sworn in, is 6' 9" tall and will go to college at NYU or New York University. Photograph: Callaghan O'Hare/Reuters

IMAGE: Trump and Melania have a blow hot, blow cold relationship.

Remember how she swatted his hand away when they were touring Saudi Arabia during his first term?

She mostly stayed away from the 2024 campaign, only making her presence felt at important moments like after the first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

IMAGE: Trump, Melania and Barron on stage. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

IMAGE: Trump speaks flanked by Melania, Barron, his vice presidential nominee Ohio Senator J D Vance, his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance and Ivanka Trump, who was absent from her dad's campaign. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

IMAGE: Trump's second son Eric Trump, Trump's senior adviser Susie Wiles and his campaign manager Chris LaCivita. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

IMAGE: Trump shakes hands with Susie Wiles. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

IMAGE: Vance addresses supporters at the rally as Trump and Melania look on. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

IMAGE: Trump with Melania, Barron and Vance. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

IMAGE: Vance and Trump embrace following early results from the 2024 USA presidential election. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

IMAGE: Vance with wife Usha Chilukuri Vance.

Number One Observatory Circle, where the US vice president lives, will continue to have an Indian on the premises after Kamala Devi Harris leaves in January in Usha Vance. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/ Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
With Donald Trump all set to become the president of the United States, a former Indian diplomat on Wednesday said the election outcome is also a verdict on incumbent President Joe Biden.

IMAGE: Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump dances during his addresses at Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Florida on November 6, 2024. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Interacting with PTI, India's former ambassador to Italy, K P Fabian, also suggested that Trump would like the "Ukraine war to be over".

The run-up to what has been described as one of the closest US elections in recent times, saw Republican nominee Trump, 78, and his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris holding packed rallies and firing fierce verbal volleys against each other.

According to latest projections, 267 electoral votes had gone to Republican candidate Trump and 224 to Democratic Party's Kamala Harris.

Asked about the outcome of the US election, Fabian said, "Though Kamala Harris was the candidate, it was also a verdict on (Joe) Biden. Because, she was the Vice President and Biden nominated her. So, partly, she was carrying the Biden burden in respect of the economy."

And, with prices going up, especially of gas, and for Americans who roam all round in their cars, this is very important, he said.

Many US voters counted immigration, border security, gun control laws, reproductive rights and foreign policy as factors weighing on their minds in this election.

Fabian said the Russia-Ukraine war and the West Asia conflict may have been a factor that might have influenced voters' decisions.

"Ukraine war, you may say majority of Americans support Ukraine, but it doesn't follow that Americans want a big war. And, that America should be sending so much money by way of military aid and economic aid," he said.

Military aid doesn't matter because the money remains in America, selling weapons. But in economic aid, the money goes, the former diplomat said.

"And... the war in West Asia, Biden made a mistake...," Fabian argued.

He felt that Trump would like the war in Ukraine to be over, and that it would be weighing on his mind even before the Inauguration ceremony in January next year.

The former ambassador recalled the bitter campaign and some of the words used by Trump in it that also stoked controversies and drew sharp reaction from the Democratic camp.

"He has a style which Americans like, it substantial number of them like it," Fabian said.

On the impact on India-US ties, Fabian said, "Coming to strategic relations, Trump will be supportive of closer relationship with India."
Donald Trump on Wednesday promised to bring a golden age for America, as he appeared poised to win the presidential election with a mandate he called unprecedented and powerful.

IMAGE: Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump speaks accompanied by Melania Trump, Barron Trump, Vice Presidential Nominee Senator JD Vance, Usha Chilukuri Vance, and Ivanka Trump, following early results from the 2024 US presidential election in Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 6, 2024. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

According to races called by the Associated Press up to 2 pm (IST), 267 electoral votes had gone to Republican candidate Trump and 224 to Democratic Party's Kamala Harris. Trump is just three votes short of a victory.

Trump's victory was sealed after the networks declared that he has won the battleground state of Pennsylvania which had 19 electoral college votes. Fox News was the first major American media outlet to declare Trump the winner, which was soon followed by many other media outlets.

This will truly be a golden age for America. This is a magnificent victory that will also help us to make America great again," Trump, 78, told his supporters in the wee hours of Wednesday at Palm Beach Convention Centre in Palm Beach, Florida. He was accompanied by most members of his family, including his wife Melania Trump.

Vice President-elect J D Vance and his Indian American wife Usha Vance were also present on the podium. Trump praised both his running mate and Usha for their support throughout the process.

"This was a movement like nobody's ever seen before, and frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There's never been anything like this in this country and maybe beyond, and now it's going to reach a new level of importance because we're going to help our country heal," said the president-elect. The inauguration is scheduled for January 20.

Harris, 60, had not conceded defeat at the time of filing of this report. A senior campaign official told supporters at Howard University that she will speak later on Wednesday.

You won't hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow," Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond said.

In his speech, Trump also spoke about stopping illegal immigration.

America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate. We have taken back control of the Senate," he said, adding that possibly that the Republicans would retain a majority in the US House of Representatives.

In his brief speech, Vance described Trump's victory as one of the greatest political comebacks.

After the greatest political comeback in American history, we're going to lead the greatest economic comeback in American history under Donald Trump's leadership," he said.

IMAGE: Donald Trump kisses his wife Melania. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

Arriving at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Palm Beach, Florida, some 10-minute drive from his Mar-a-Lago residence, Trump thanked his fellow countrymen for electing him as the 47th president of the United States.

I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president, Trump said.

The election result makes him the only US president after Grover Cleveland to serve non-consecutive terms. Cleveland was both the 22nd and 24th president, serving from 1885 to 1889 and then again from 1893 to 1897.

He told his supporters that the county has delivered a powerful and unprecedented mandate.

This is a moment like nobody's ever seen before. Frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There's never been anything like this in this country, he said.

We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly. We're going to fix our borders, we're going to fix everything about our country. We made history for a reason tonight, he added.

"Every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and your future. Every single day, I will be fighting for you. And with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America," he said.

WATCH: Trump's full victory speech

"That's what we have to have. This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again," Trump said in his maiden address to the nation after his electoral victory.

"We will make America safe, strong, prosperous, powerful and free again. And I'm asking every citizen all across our land to join me in this noble and righteous endeavour," Trump said as he specifically mentioned the battleground States in his speech.

"In addition to having won the battleground states of North Carolina, and I love these places, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. We are now winning in Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and Alaska, which would result in us carrying at least 315 electoral votes. We also have won the popular vote," he said.

This campaign, he said, has been historic in many ways.

We've built the biggest, the broadest, the most unified coalition. They've never seen anything like it in all of American history. They've never seen it. Young and old, men and women, rural and urban. We had them all helping us tonight. They came from all corners, union, non-union, African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Arab-American, Muslim American. We had everybody, and it was beautiful, he said.

It was a historic realignment, uniting citizens of all backgrounds around a common core of common sense. We are the party of common sense. We want to have borders. We want to have security. We want to have things be good and safe. We want a great education. We want a strong and powerful military, and ideally, we don't have to use it. We had no wars. For four years, we had no wars, except we defeated ISIS. We defeated ISIS in record time, but we had no wars. They said he would start a war. I'm not going to start a war. I'm going to stop wars, he said.

IMAGE: Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance gestures next to his wife Usha Vance . Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Trump described it as a massive victory for democracy and for freedom.

Together, we're going to unlock America's glorious destiny, and we're going to achieve the most incredible future for our people, he asserted. Trump said he did about 900 rallies in his election campaign.

Now we're going on to something that's far more important because the rallies were used for us to be put in this position where we can really help our country. That's what we're going to do. We're going to make our country better than it ever has been...Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason, Trump said referring to the assassination attempts on him during the election campaign this year.

And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness, and now we are going to fulfil that mission together. We're going to fulfil that mission. The task before us will not be easy, but I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit, and fight that I have in my soul to the job that you've entrusted to me. This is a great job. There's no job like this. This is the most important job in the world, he said.

Just as I did in my first term, .. I will govern by a simple motto, promises made, promises kept. We're going to keep our promises. Nothing will stop me from keeping my word to you, the people. We will make America safe, strong, prosperous, powerful, and free again. I'm asking every citizen all across our land to join me in this noble and righteous endeavour. That's what it is. It's time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us. It's time to unite. And we're going to try. We're going to try. We have to try. And it's going to happen, he said.
Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday said Marathas would have been divided had they jumped into the poll fray, and claimed they can change the political landscape just ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

IMAGE: Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil speaks to the media after he was admitted to a hospital, in Aurangabad, February 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Jarange also said that by opting to stay away from the elections, he has kept the fight for Maratha reservation alive.

A decision on supporting candidates for the November 20 state polls will be taken in due course, he told a Marathi news channel in Jalna district.

Jarange had earlier identified certain constituencies where he intended to support or oppose some candidates. But, on Monday, the activist said he will not be fielding or supporting any contestant in the state.

Asked about his future strategy, Jarange said on Wednesday, "A few poll aspirants may have been disgruntled due to the decision not to contest the elections. But with this decision, I have kept the fight for reservation alive. Elections are happiness for a short period which we should avoid."

The activist said they will take a call in due course on whom they want to defeat as there are still some days left before the election.

"We will give the draft (in support of Maratha reservation) to those who are seeking support from us. We will sit again and decide whom we should support. We have the capacity to change the (political) environment in the last phase. We will check who is a strong candidate and then decide to whom we should give the draft and support," he said.

Jarange said the Maratha community has already been targeted.

"If we would have contested the elections, the community would have been divided," he claimed.

Asked if the decision to opt out of elections will benefit the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in the state, Jarange said, "This has been spoken of for a long time. Then why were our people attacked (in Antarwali Sarathi village last year)? Cases were registered against them. Reservation was given to 15-16 communities recently, but we were not given reservation."

Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar chief Sharad Pawar, whose party is a constituent of the MVA, on Monday said nobody from the Opposition alliance has anything to do with Jarange's decision to opt out of the elections.

"We are pleased to hear that Manoj Jarange has decided to withdraw from the Maharashtra assembly elections. Had he chosen to continue his campaign, it could have inadvertently benefited the BJP in the election process. Therefore, we wholeheartedly welcome his decision," Pawar said.
Photo: The official information website of the President of Turkey

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Doors have opened to peace after 30 years of conflict in the South Caucasus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the 11th Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, today, Trend reports.

"We hope that Azerbaijan will solidify its victory in the Second Karabakh War with a peace treaty," Erdogan emphasized.

Speaking about the strength of the OTS, the Turkish president pointed out that the organization has turned into a shining example of a model platform.

"We are committed to building a common future for the Turkic world. My colleagues at the table share a strong determination to ensure the eternal unity of the Turkic world. We will continue to strengthen and expand our Organization.

Our common alphabet symbolizes our shared commitment to building the future together. Moving forward, OTS member countries should undertake the necessary transformation based on this alphabet. It would be prudent for our members to take steps toward adopting a new alphabet. Together, we will shape the future of the Turkic world for the century ahead," Erdogan added.
As Donald Trump registered a historic comeback in the US presidential election, many former Indian diplomats on Wednesday concurred that the India-US ties will "continue to grow" from strength to strength, even as some of them cautioned that Trump is "highly unpredictable" and New Delhi will have to "wait and watch" to see what position he adopts going forward.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets this picture of their meeting at the 2019 G7 Summit in France congratulating Republican candidate Donald J Trump on his victory in the US presidential election, November 6, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The former ambassadors of India, PTI spoke to also said the Russia-Ukraine war will be "high on his agenda" and that Trump may even make a statement on this conflict before the formal inauguration in January next year.

Scripting history, the 78-year-old Republican leader won the US presidency for a second term in one of the greatest political comebacks in American history, cruising past his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in a bitterly fought election.

Venu Rajamony, who served as India's envoy to the Netherlands from 2017 to 2020, said India must "carefully and consciously" move forward, even as "we do everything possible" to strengthen the relationship.

"I think India-US relations is based on a strong foundation. India has worked with the previous Trump government. President Trump and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi enjoy a good personal relationship and the Indian community in the US is a strong bulwark of this relationship. So, we can presume that India-US relationship will continue to grow from strength to strength," he told PTI.

"However, we in India should not take this relationship for granted," he said.

Reminding that for Trump it is "always 'America First'", the former envoy cautioned that he will sort of go ahead and do what he thinks is best for the American interest and New Delhi must be "prepared for the ups and downs in the relationship" whether on trade or other issues where India disagrees with the US.

"So, it is in our interest to protect and preserve our strategic autonomy. We may find more pressure from some... from the US, to try and dilute that autonomy and make us more of, sort of an ally of their's which may not be in our interest. So, we must carefully and consciously move forward even as we do everything possible to strengthen the relationship," Rajamony added.

Trump, who has been a real estate baron, was elected as the 45th President of the US, riding on his 'Make America Great Again' campaign and returns to the White House as the 47th President of that country, clearing the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.

His win also made him the only US president after Grover Cleveland to serve non-consecutive terms. Cleveland was both the 22nd and 24th president, serving from 1885 to 1889 and then again from 1893 to 1897.

Rajamony, currently working as a professor of diplomatic practice at OP Jindal Global University, also said that Trump has a number of foreign policy issues on his table, even more important is the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and similarly what is happening in Gaza.

Only then the question of China and what kind of relationship the US develops under Trump, with China, whether it is one of cooperation or competition or whether it is something that combines both, "all that needs to be seen", he said.

"He is highly unpredictable. So, we will have to wait and watch to see what position he adopts, he has to formulate his foreign policy team and there is still time for him till January to assume office," the former diplomat said.

The run-up to what has been described as one of the closest US elections in recent times saw Trump and his 60-year-old Democratic rival Harris holding packed rallies and firing fierce verbal volleys against each other.

Many US voters counted immigration, border security, gun control laws, reproductive rights and foreign policy as factors weighing on their minds in this election.

India's former ambassador to Italy, KP Fabian, said, "Coming to strategic relations, Trump will be supportive of closer relationship with India."

Fabian said the Russia-Ukraine war and the West Asia conflict may have been a factor that might have influenced the voters' decisions.

He felt that Trump would like the war in Ukraine to be over and that it would be weighing on his mind even before the inauguration ceremony.

Rajamony, when asked if the Ukraine war will be high on Trump's agenda, said, "absolutely".

"In fact, he himself had said that it is high on his agenda and knowing the kind of person he is, he may not even wait till the formal inauguration, so he may make statements, make moves which indicates or reflects his thinking on how the problem should be solved. So, let us wait and watch," he added.

On the issues during the campaigns, Rajamony said Trump had "immigration and border control" as number one issues on his agenda.

"And clearly that is something which has affected the minds of a large number of people. And, he has also promised that it is one of the first issues he will tackle, he and his US vice presidential candidate had threatened that US is going to witness the biggest evacuation it has ever seen," he recalled.

So, a lot tensions this campaign has built up and will "probably grow" in the days to come and one will have to wait and watch to see how the minority immigrants are treated in coming time.

"Anti-immigrant and anti-minority sentiments could also spiral against India. We need to be wary and careful of that," he cautioned.
Trump looks like he will be America's next president while yet again the country seems to have rejected a woman candidate...

IMAGE: What appears to be an Indian American supporter during a Republican election night watch party at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Photograph: Vincent Alban/Reuters

IMAGE: The front page of The New York Times newspaper's November 6 edition rolling off the presses in the Queens borough of New York City. Photograph: Stephani Spindel/Reuters

IMAGE: People leave the election night rally for Kamala Harris outside Howard University in Washington, DC. Photograph: Craig Hudson/Reuters

IMAGE: The disappointment is clear at the election rally for Harris at Howard University. Photograph: Alyssa Pointer/Reuters

IMAGE: Trump supporters cheer at the election night rally at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

IMAGE: Tatus Warren, 24, an undergrad student at Liberty University, reacts to poll numbers during the election night rally for Harris at Howard University. Photograph: Alyssa Pointer/Reuters

IMAGE: Trump supporters watch early returns at the election night rally at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. Photograph: Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters

IMAGE: Attendees watch early election results at Harris' election night rally at Howard University. Photograph: Kevin Mohatt/Reuters

IMAGE: People react to results coming in during an election watch party at the Maricopa County Republican Committee in Chandler, Arizona. Photograph: Go Nakamura/Reuters

IMAGE: People react to election results during an election night watch party at Manuel's Tavern in Atlanta, Georgia. Photograph: Cheney Orr/Reuters

IMAGE: Ladies wearing 'Harris Walz '24' hats watch election results at Manuel's Tavern. Photograph: Cheney Orr/Reuters

IMAGE: Members of the Shaw University marching band perform at the Democratic Party election night watch party in Raleigh, North Carolina. Photograph: Jonathan Drake/Reuters

IMAGE: A cafe window in Manhattan, New York City, November 5, 2024, displaying a giant coffee mug urging people to vote on Election Day. Photograph: Maye-E Wong/Reuters

IMAGE: People cheer for Harris. Photograph: Kind courtesy @KamalaHarris/Twitter

IMAGE: Supporters of Donald J Trump watch a screen with early results at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

IMAGE: Voting at the Pittsburgh Manchester School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, one of the battleground states. Photograph: Quinn Glabicki/Reuters

IMAGE: People walk to vote at the Park Tavern in Atlanta, Georgia, another battleground state. Photograph: Cheney Orr/Reuters

IMAGE: A first-time voter prepares to cast her vote at a polling center at the Masjidullah mosque in Philadelphia. Photograph: Rachel Wisniewski/Reuters

IMAGE: A woman with child votes at the Sandy Mush Community Center in Leicester, North Carolina, another battleground state. Photograph: Jonathan Drake/Reuters

IMAGE: Voting in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Reuters

IMAGE: And in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, another battleground state. Photograph: Vincent Alban/Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/ Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Like Grover Cleveland, Donald Trump won election as president, lost the next election and won a third election to the US presidency.

IMAGE: Grover Cleveland, America's 22nd and 24th president. Photograph: Kind courtesy Library of Congress/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

Donald J Trump is certainly making history for many reasons.

One of them is that once he wins this election, Trump becomes an elite member of a two-man Club of Also Rans Who Won, those who lost the presidency to eventually gain it back later.

He, along with America's 22nd and 24th president, Stephen Grover Cleveland, are the only two US presidents to lose a re-election, not give up, and, in due course, come back victorious in the next election and serve non-consecutive terms.

IMAGE: A drawing of President Grover Cleveland's and Frances Folsom's wedding, June 2, 1886, in the White House. Photograph: Kind courtesy Harper's Weekly/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

Cleveland, who had been governor of New York, was the first Democrat to win the president's office after the American Civil War (incidentally he never fought in the Civil War and, as was permitted, hired a 32-year-old Polish substitute named George Benninsky to fight for him for $150; Benninsky survived).

New Jersey-born Cleveland, then 48, won the 1884 election very narrowly, when he picked up a sliver of a majority in all four of the swing states (yeah, there was this swing-ving stuff back then too).

But when he went for re-election in 1888, he was not so lucky, losing even in his home state of New York, against a well-strategised campaign by Indiana Senator Benjamin Harrison.

But he expected to be back, after four years in the political wilderness, while he practiced law in New York City.

IMAGE: Then president Donald J Trump and First Lady Melania Trump depart the White House to board Marine One, January 20, 2021. Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters

His wife Frances even told a White House staffer (according to his biographer Allen Nevins), 'Now, Jerry, I want you to take good care of all the furniture and ornaments in the house, for I want to find everything just as it is now, when we come back again.'

IMAGE: Melania Trump welcomes the arrival of the White House Christmas Tree outside the White House, November 23, 2020. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters

'We are coming back four years from today'. Incidentally Cleveland was also the only president to marry in the White House, when he wed Frances Folsom, 21, the daughter of his former law partner, in the Blue Room in 1886; imagine a bride's first home being the White House!

We don't know what Melania told the WH staff while departing (she's very partial to her walk-in colour-coordinated clothes and shoe closets), but true to her word, Frances and hubby Grover fought against Harrison in 1892 -- an exact deja vu of the previous election -- and had a clean, clear, win, mainly because Harrison was unable to campaign because his wife, former first lady Caroline, was dying of tuberculosis.

So, Cleveland and Trump now share common history in electoral matters.

IMAGE: A portrait of President Lyndon B Johnson in the Oval Office, leaning on a chair. Photograph: Kind courtesy Arnold Newman/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

There were a few other presidents, who unsuccessfully ran for re-election not immediately after their terms ended -- Ulysses Grant (third term), Martin Van Buren, Millard Fillmore, Theodore Roosevelt.

President Herbert Hoover considered it, but his party would not have him back.

To this collection, one can add LBJ aka Lyndon Baines Johnson, the only other sitting US President, like Joe Biden, to stand down, handing the race over to Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

LBJ had finished off the last two years of assassinated John F Kennedy's term, won the 1964 elections and had plans to run for office again in 1968, but somewhere along the way -- maybe because America was in deep unrest over the Vietnam War and race riots -- changed his mind.

Some of the reasons cited then were realisation of his lack of popularity, the Vietnam War, his stance on civil rights that could cost him votes, his wife wanted him to retire, ill health (he was known to smoke 60 cigarettes a day and had a heart attack at 46 that nearly killed him).

IMAGE: The Nixon family portrait taken in the White House living quarters, April 9, 1971. Photograph: Kind courtesy Nixon White House Photographs/White House Photo Office Collection/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

And how many US presidents, lost their first bid to the presidency, only to be elected later?

There was only one. Guess?

Richard Milhous Nixon, who lost the 1960 presidential election to John F Kennedy.

He then defeated Hubert Humphrey in November 1968, thumped George McGovern in November 1972, but had to resign in August 1974 following the infamous Watergate affair.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/ Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Foggy this morning followed by occasional showers during the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 62F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain. Low 51F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
DEERFIELD VALLEY  Newcomer Emily Carris Duncan won her first election to the Vermont House of Representatives.

In a 1,316-1,062 vote Tuesday, the Democrat beat Republican Pam Baker of West Halifax for the Windham-6 seat. Carris Duncan expressed an "incredibly big thank you" to supporters.

"Folks invited me into their homes, shared all of their hopes, goals and concerns with me. I want nothing more than to put that into action," Carris Duncan said in an interview just after 10 p.m. Tuesday as the final results came in. "I understand we made some history today and that means more to me than I can express properly with my words right now."

Carris Duncan is the first member of the BIPOC community to serve as state rep for the district and also identifies as queer. As a fifth generation Vermonter, she said, "it means a lot to me."

Windham-6 candidate Emily Carris Duncan wants to 'weave' community together WHITINGHAM  Emily Carris Duncan is running uncontested in the Democratic primary for the Wi

In Wilmington, Carris Duncan received 682 votes to Baker's 431. In Halifax, she led by one vote. And in her hometown of Whitingham, she won by two.

She'll be taking over for Tristan Roberts, who decided not to seek reelection after serving one term as he was welcoming a new baby into his family. She thanked him for his work and support as well as his predecessor's predecessor Ann Manwaring, who helped her with the process of running for office.

Carris Duncan is an artist and educator who grew up in Rutland and interned at the Statehouse when her father Bill Carris was a senator for Rutland County. At the time of the interview, she had not yet told her father the news about her win.

"It's a really, really great honor to be able to serve," she said. "Vermont is such a special state and I really love it here. I want to make it possible for all of us to stay."

In Philadelphia, Carris Duncan served on a neighborhood zoning board around 2013 or 2014. She moved back to Vermont in 2021 after spending about 10 years running a gallery space that also held workshops.

Asked why she decided to run for office, Carris Duncan previously said, "I come from a very political background so it's always been something I've toyed with."

"Also, I'm just a very involved person," she said. "I think representing rural communities is very important."
TOWNSHEND  As School Board members prepare to decide if votes should be warned in Jamaica and Townshend to close their elementary schools and merge into NewBrook Elementary, they received information they requested but are waiting to learn more about the pre-property tax implications next month before moving forward.

PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) levels are "safely below threshold," Superintendent Bob Thibault told the West River Education District Board meeting on Monday.

"So NewBrook is good to go," he said.

Residents had raised the issue during community forums aimed at collecting feedback on the consolidation plan. The proposal seeks to save money and provide better educational opportunities.

Questions delay potential school closure votes in Jamaica, Townshend TOWNSHEND  After three community forums on a proposal to consolidate into NewBrook Elementa

Frequently asked questions answered by a subgroup will be posted under Long Term Planning at sites.google.com/windhamcentral.org/west-river-education-district/home. The board is planning to discuss the future of the pre-k program at Jamaica Village School at its regular meeting Dec. 9 and the potential votes at a special meeting Dec. 18.

NewBrook could host the single campus for elementary school students in the district by fall 2026 if engineering and planning for adding modular buildings can begin in January, according to the FAQ answers. Act 250 permitting from the state is not expected to be required.

Administrators are waiting on the direction of the board as they prepare a draft budget and potentially plan for new hires. JVS is temporarily closed this year due to staffing issues except for a pre-k program reintroduced this year.

Health insurance benefits for school staff are set to increase by nearly 12 percent this year. And to avoid a tax penalty for going over an excessive spending threshold while keeping all three school buildings fully staffed, the district will need to shave about $585,000 from the approximately $14 million budget.

If pre-k continues at JVS, about $375,000 will need to be cut to prevent from hitting the threshold. If JVS closes altogether and two elementary schools are still running, about $185,000 has to come off.

"You do have $1.3 million in a reserve account that you could ask voters to help reduce your tax implications, but again, anything over the threshold will be taxed at 118 percent and added back into your expenditure budget," said Heidi Russ, business manager at Windham Central Supervisory Union. "So the tax implications are significant."

Russ expects to have several variables from the state by mid-December that will provide a glimpse into how the different scenarios will play into property taxes.

Jamaica Select Board Chairwoman Jessica Pollack urged the School Board to provide more information about potential property tax savings related to closure before holding a vote in her town.

"Residents in Jamaica are going to be between a rock and a hard place, because the choice is essentially going to be between owning the school or not owning the school," she said, as the town would be sold the building for $1 if voters approve closing the school. "They don't really have control over the potential negative impact on their taxes and there's no school choice. So it really becomes a question of: Do we keep the building or do we not keep the building? The messaging is rough, and I don't think the school district wants that."

Her hope is to conduct a study on the best uses of the school building before a potential vote.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. Recently, transportation through Azerbaijani territory via the East-West transport corridor has increased even more, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the 11th Summit of OTS Heads of State in Bishkek, Trend reports.

The head of state noted a significant rise in transit traffic, with an increase of nearly 15 percent in the volume of transportation with member and observer states from January to September 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Participants of the Global Baku Summit of Religious Leaders, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of the 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), have issued an appeal.

Trend presents the appeal:

We, the participants of the Global Summit of Religious Leaders held in Baku under the slogan World Religions for a Green Planet, on November 5-6, 2024, express our sincere greetings to the Organizing Committee of COP29 and its participants, extending our blessings and wishing success to this noble event.

The patronage and special attention of His Excellency President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, as well as his meaningful address to the Global Summit of Religious Leaders added significant value to our event. We regard the Baku COP29 Summit as a major success for the people and the state of Azerbaijan, and we applaud the declaration of 2024 as the "Green World Solidarity Year" by President Ilham Aliyev as a valuable global initiative aimed at fostering Human solidarity for the sake of the future of our planet. We appreciate Azerbaijan's commitment to environmental protection and recognize its effective measures in this regard as significant actions toward restoring the divine order on Earth.

Being religious leaders, we are convinced of the great need for the spiritual reform and moral strengthening of Humankind. It is very difficult to achieve success in this area without instilling respect and care for nature and all created beings in peoples hearts, and without promoting the idea of the inviolability and sanctity of the environment. All traditional world religions encourage a spirit of mercy and respect toward the environment and warn of the disastrous trials that may result from neglecting this duty. Being the religious leaders, we consistently remind our audiences that humans are a part of nature and a component of the ecosystem. We emphasize that the most important aspect of ensuring Humankind's existence is living in spiritual harmony with the environment, in accordance with the Creators commandments, and adhering to the divine order. We are confident that everyone should utilize their platform to contribute to this common cause, and that our efforts in education, training, and worship should aim to instil these truths in minds and hearts.

Being the religious leaders, we have supported concrete action plans and programs adopted by the previous COP28 Summit to address the ecological crises and threats facing the world, and we expressed our readiness to actively participate in the implementation of relevant directives aimed at mitigating the global climate crisis. We hope that COP29, held in Azerbaijan, will also serve as a useful and effective platform for calls for peace and a global ceasefire. We express our support for the Azerbaijani states call for the global ceasefire. The recent historical realities faced by Azerbaijan further demonstrate that the world is still confronted with the clash of constructive and destructive forces. In the face of military crimes, ecological terror, and vandalism, we see in Azerbaijan an exemplary state that addresses the severe consequences of crimes against nature and the environment, conducting restoration work based on the foundations of a green economy powered by alternative energy, and restoring ecological balance in the region. Today, the Azerbaijani state, having restored its territorial integrity, showcases to the world a model for overcoming the dire consequences of ecocide, urbicide, and culturcide.

Being the religious leaders, we believe that it is essential to enhance the joint efforts of political, public, and religious leaders in addressing critical environmental and climate change issues and to strengthen global dialogue. We recommend the spiritual, moral, and ethical aspects to be kept in focus when discussing the political and economic causes of these problems at the COP29 event. We consider it crucial for the efforts of religious leaders to be combined with general efforts for the sake of Humankind, and this cooperation aligns perfectly with the call for inclusivity at COP events. With this in mind, we propose the establishment of a Permanent Advisory Council of Religious Leaders under the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, whereas we present this recommendation. This Council would implement significant public projects based on ecological ethics in relation to the environment and nature, develop educational literature, teaching materials, and collections of religious sermons, and strengthen the ideological foundation for addressing climate issues, thus increasing our achievements toward a common goal.

We would like our proposal to be evaluated at the COP29 Baku and request comprehensive support  organizational, material, and moral  for the newly established platform for religious leaders. The provision of an effective platform for continuous collaboration between religious leaders and the COP under the co-chairmanship of the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, and Brazil during the presidency trio of COP would be a significant achievement and a tangible contribution to COP events.

Protection of human life, as the greatest value created by the Almighty, and the salvation of all other creatures and the Earth is only possible through the supremacy of law, morality, and justice. In this regard, it is essential to enhance the coordinating role of the United Nations. We wish blessings and success for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. Once again, we express our gratitude to the state of Azerbaijan and wish success to the organizers and participants of this noble event. May the Almighty grant success to all our good intentions, and protect the Earth and Humankind! AMEN!
US President Donald Trump has urged Russia to agree to a 30-day cease-fire, warning he would slap additional sanctions on the country if it refused the US proposal, as Moscow made more gains on the battlefield.



"Russia has no way out but cease-fire. If needed we will sanction it, but I hope we won't need to," Trump told reporters at the White House on March 12.



"In a financial sense we can do very unpleasant, very bad things, devastating for Russia, but I don't want to," he said.



His comments come a day after Kyiv agreed to the temporary cease-fire following nine hours of talks with Trump administration officials in Saudi Arabia.



Trump has made ending Russia's more than three-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine a top priority since taking office for a second term less than two months ago, quickly dispatching his top officials to Moscow and Kyiv to prepare the groundwork for peace talks.



He has used Washington's significant leverage over Ukraine -- namely military aid and intelligence sharing -- to get Kyiv to agree to the cease-fire proposal, which if implemented, would leave almost 20 percent of the country in Russia's hands for the time being, at least.



But Trump lacks that type of leverage with Russia, which has navigated sweeping US and European sanctions placed on its economy following the invasion much better than most experts forecasted.

Putin may seek to drag out talks with the US over a cease-fire to improve Russia's position on the battlefield and hence at the negotiating table when and if Moscow and Kyiv hammer out a peace deal.

As Trump spoke at the White House, Putin was visiting troops in Russia's Kursk region, where fierce fighting is currently taking place and Moscow's forces are advancing.

Ukraine seized a swath of the Kursk region in a stealth incursion in August seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip during any peace talks.

That strategy is now at risk of failing as Russian forces slowly push the Ukrainians out of Kursk. Russians forces have retaken more than half the territory initially captured by Ukraine.

Putin's visit to Kursk was his first since the incursion and signals the momentum Russia has in that theater of the war. The Kremlin leader urged his troops to retake the region in its entirety "as soon as possible."

Ukraine's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, said that fighting continued in and around Sudzha, the largest town in the part of the region that Ukraine occupied.

Unconfirmed reports on March 12 indicated that Ukraine has begun to draw back units as Russian officials claimed their troops had captured more settlements, including Sudzha.

"Despite increased pressure from the Russian and North Korean forces, we will maintain the defense of the Kursk region as long as it is appropriate and necessary," Syrskiy wrote on Telegram.

In a Facebook post, Syrskiy said that saving soldiers lives is a priority and that Ukrainian troops "maneuver to more favorable positions, if necessary," wording often used top describe a retreat.

Concessions?

Trump hinted that Ukraine would have to make concessions on land, something more and more experts say is inevitable given Russia's momentum on the battlefield.

"When we talk cease-fire [with Ukraine], we talked land, who's withdrawing -- we discussed a lot of things [with Ukraine]," Trump said.

"We don't want to waste time, people are dying. Russia is not in the best situation now. I hope [Putin] gets a cease-fire."

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the cease-fire proposal and said he hoped it would be used as a draft for a lasting peace deal that included security guarantees for Ukraine.

"It's now up to Russia what is next," he said at a March 12 press conference, and whether "it wants to continue its aggression against Ukraine or not."

On the streets of Kyiv, some Ukrainians told RFE/RL's Current Time that they doubted whether Russia would sign on to, and adhere to, a cease-fire deal.

"I'm not sure what to say, but it all seems implausible, frankly speaking," said one Kyiv man, while a woman in the capital said the cease-fire talks were "meaningless without Russia taking part."

Moscow has so far declined to comment on the specifics of the proposal for the 30-day cease-fire, and it's unclear whether Putin has made up his mind on the agreement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was "carefully studying" the joint US-Ukraine statement issued following the Jeddah talks and will wait to comment until Russian negotiators receive more detailed information from Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who represented the United States at the talks, said Washington "will have contact with Russians" today.

Trump on March 11 said he would soon speak with Putin to secure his commitment. Mike Waltz, the White House national-security adviser, spoke with his Russian counterpart on March 12, while Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff also planned to travel to Moscow, possibly to meet Putin.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe held a phone call with Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, late on March 11, the Interfax news agency reported.

Rubio told reporters on March 12 in first comments since leaving the talks in Jeddah that the United States hoped to have a positive answer from Russia toward the cease-fire deal and "strongly urge[s] Russians to end all hostilities.

Konstantin Kosachev, an influential lawmaker in Russia's upper house of parliament, seemed to imply that Moscow would not simply accept the US-backed ceasefire proposal but attach conditions, taking into account that Russian forces have the momentum on the battlefield.

"Russia is advancing, and therefore it will be different with Russia," Kosachyov said in a Telegram post.

"Any agreements (with all understanding of the need for compromise) will be on our terms, not American," he said. "And this is not boasting, but an understanding that real agreements are still being written there, on the front line. Which Washington should also understand."

Rubio also said Ukraine will need a strong deterrent to prevent future attacks and that Europeans will "need to be involved in this regard." He added that further discussions would need to tackle to topic of the European Union lifting sanctions on the Russian economy.

"I would imagine that in any negotiation, if we get there, hopefully with the Russians, they will raise these European sanctions that have been imposed upon them," Rubio said.

Moscow has so far been against a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Russia's position during an interview with three right-wing US bloggers that it will under no conditions accept the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine.

Minerals Deal

Washington and Kyiv could sign a framework agreement as early as this week on sharing the revenue generated from Ukraine's mineral resources.

Trump and Zelenskyy intended to sign the deal during their meeting at the Oval Office on February 28. However, the two got into a heated, public exchange over security guarantees for Ukraine and the meeting was abruptly ended without any deal.

Rubio cautioned that he "would not couch [the] minerals deal as a security guarantee." But he added that "if the United States has a vested economic interest thats generating revenue for our people as well as for the people of Ukraine, wed have a vested interest in protecting it if it were to be challenged or threatened."

The parade of comments come after Russia and Ukraine traded air attacks overnight just hours after Kyiv agreed to accept the cease-fire proposal.

Two Russian missile strikes hit the central Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih on March 12, killing one person, while a separate attack killed four crew members of a cargo ship near the southern port city of Odesa.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its air-defense systems shot down six drones overnight on March 12, one over Ukraine's Russia-annexed Crimea and five over the Black Sea. The Krymsky Veter Telegram channel reported loud explosions and air-raid sirens over Crimean towns and near Russian military sites.

The United States announced after the talks in Saudi Arabia that it would immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and restore military aid to Ukraine, which could be a boost to Ukrainian forces. Ukraine's battlefield positions have been under heavy pressure, particularly in Russia's Kursk region.
Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking China's resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.

I'm RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now.

Xi's Upside And Downside

Former President Donald Trump has declared victory in the U.S. election against Vice President Kamala Harris.

It's an outcome that will have implications far beyond the United States, so here's what another Trump administration could look like for China.

Finding Perspective: Beijing and Washington are the world's two largest economies and another Trump term will have a major impact on where the relationship between the two rival powers goes.

There is something of a consensus in Washington when it comes to Beijing, with a focus on constraining China's continued rise on the world stage.

Trump's previous term saw a trade war, with him slapping tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of Chinese goods and launching a global campaign against Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

Four years of President Joe Biden, meanwhile, saw him adopt a more measured tone than Trump, but his administration also targeted Chinese tech industries with investment and export controls, as well as tariffs on items like Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).

Despite that overlap, there are still important differences in the short and long term for Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The View On Trump: If Harris represented a more predictable approach and a more traditional U.S. foreign policy, Trump is the ultimate wild card for Beijing.

The former president has threatened upwards of 60 percent tariffs on all imports from China and has spoken openly of his desire to ramp up another trade war. None of that is good for Beijing as it grapples with a slowing economy and weighs how to use a potential fiscal stimulus.

But that short-term pain comes with potential long-term upside for Xi.

Chinese analysts have sometimes seen Trump's divisiveness at home and his "America First" brand of foreign policy as a net gain for Beijing as it tries to overtake Washington on the global stage.

That could look more appealing on the horizon if Trump, who has questioned traditional U.S. alliances, strains relations with U.S. partners in Europe and Asia and leaves diplomatic openings for Beijing.

Analysts saw Harris as looking to continue Biden's emphasis on building a network of allies and partners to constrain China, something that Philip Gordon, her national-security adviser, said in May, before Biden dropped out of the race, was an American advantage against Beijing and other potential U.S. adversaries.

"We're in a favorable position to win this geopolitical competition, to the degree it's Russia and China and other autocracies aligning against us.... It's why the president and the vice president have invested so much time in those alliances."

Yes, But: Trump has said that he wants to quickly push for the end of the war in Ukraine and has said that Taiwan isn't paying Washington enough money for the U.S. government's support, but the upside for Beijing isn't so straightforward.

While Trump bringing an end to the war in Ukraine -- if possible -- could embolden Beijing to act on Taiwan in the future, it could also free up Washington to devote more resources to the Indo-Pacific to more directly challenge China.

Why It Matters: Regardless of who would have won the U.S. election, Beijing expected little improvement in its tense ties with Washington.

Trump's victory now comes at a pivotal time for both countries, especially as Xi looks to turn China into an alternative center of global power.

Xi believes that the West -- and particularly the United States -- is in decline, and he remarked to Russian President Vladimir Putin last year that we are now living in a period of great historical change the likes of which we have "not seen in 100 years."

Kevin Rudd, Australia's ambassador to Washington who has met Xi several times, says that these views reflect how Chinese policymakers see the United States' trajectory and that Xi "sees the forces of history moving decisively in China's direction."

In his second term, Trump will be in a pivotal position to prove Xi right or wrong.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. Kazakhstan Inks Billions In New Deals

Kazakhstan signed eight commercial agreements worth $2.5 billion with Chinese companies on November 4.

The Details: The agreements were signed during a visit to Shanghai by Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

The agreements support a broader strategy by Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev and Xi to double trade turnover, which reached a record $41 billion last year, the Kazakh prime minister's press service said in a statement.

At an investment roundtable, Bektenov emphasized the potential for joint projects and industrial cooperation. Major Chinese firms also outlined plans to enhance operations in Kazakhstan, including energy initiatives and localized vehicle production.

There are already around 5,000 joint ventures between the two countries.

2. Slovakia's Fico Goes To Beijing

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico visited Beijing for a multiday state visit where he signed a strategic partnership agreement and backed Chinese diplomacy around the war in Ukraine.

What You Need To Know: Fico met with Xi on November 1 and said afterward that China's position on the war in Ukraine "is fair, objective, and constructive" and that Bratislava was ready to join a proposal promoted by Brazil and China to resolve the war.

Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejecting the plan, Fico said Slovakia was willing to join other countries that China says have positively received it "and work with China to contribute to promoting a political solution to the crisis," according to a Chinese government statement.

Fico, who has criticized EU policies on Ukraine and has opposed sanctions on Russia, said Slovakia was "very keen on China's diplomatic efforts dedicated to regulating the conflict in Ukraine and have exchanged our attitudes on this fundamental issue."

3. More China-Afghan Deals

The Taliban's embassy in Beijing has announced the inauguration and operational launch of a new freight railway line connecting China and Afghanistan.

What It Means: It's another headline pointing toward warming ties between Beijing and the Taliban. Last week, China announced that it will offer the Taliban tariff-free access to its vast construction, energy, and consumer sectors.

But the devil is in the details. This rail line is not a direct connection from China to Afghanistan and instead crosses through Tajikistan and Uzbekistan before stopping in northern Afghanistan.

According to the statement, the first journey of the freight train to the Hairatan port has commenced, with an initial shipment of 50 containers expected to reach its destination within 20 days of its departure.

As with the ground-breaking ceremony for the giant Mes Aynak copper mine in July, the moves are important optics for a cash-trapped and largely isolated Taliban, but are likely to take years to truly develop into something concrete.

Beijing still has lingering security questions about Afghanistan and is hesitant about having too many direct connections between it and China.

A similar dynamic unfolded earlier this year when the Taliban announced a new road through the Wakhan Corridor leading to the border with China.

Despite the announcement of the completion of the project, however, a road link with China remains far from suitable for meaningful cross-border trade and there is little Chinese custom infrastructure at the border.

Across The Supercontinent

From Taipei to Kyiv via Vilnius: Taiwan signed an agreement with Lithuania on October 30 to donate $5 million to recovery efforts in Ukraine.

The funds will go to education, veteran rehabilitation, and safety training in explosives and hazardous materials.

Railway Collapse: The Serbian minister of construction, transport, and infrastructure resigned on November 5 following the collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station that killed 14 people and left three injured, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.

Protests continue in Serbia and the role of Chinese and Hungarian companies involved in the construction of the station have also been in the spotlight. Serbian officials have said that while a Chinese consortium was involved in the station, it did not work on the roof that later collapsed.

Still, with the construction contracts kept secret -- a clause often requested by Chinese firms -- calls for greater transparency around the project are growing.

Finland's New Tightrope: Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrapped up a state visit to China last week where he met with Xi.

Stubb told Xi that North Korean activities with Russia were an escalation and provocation in a message delivered on behalf of NATO and the European Union.

One Thing To Watch

A survey conducted ahead of the U.S. election by pollsters at National Taiwan University in Taipei found that 56 percent of Taiwanese preferred Harris as the next U.S. president compared to only 16 percent for Trump. Twenty-three percent of those polled said they didn't have an opinion.

Winning over Trump -- who has spoken about reevaluating some tenets of Washington's traditional line towards Taiwan -- will be key for the self-governing island.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

Until next time,

Reid Standish

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday.
BRUSSELS -- EU officials are bracing themselves for Donald Trump's return to the White House.

They are preparing for the possibility of increased tensions in transatlantic trade and the likelihood that the bloc of 27 member states will have to shoulder a bigger burden of political and financial support for Ukraine.

Plus there's the fact that, in the past, Trump has preferred to deal with regional allies, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, rather than the European Union as a whole.

Speaking to EU officials as Trump was projected to win the U.S. presidential vote early on November 6, the mood was as somber as the Brussels weather was grim.

But there was also some bullishness -- and even optimism. They already have experience dealing with Trump and, in some ways, the EU has moved closer to some of the Republican candidate's policies. The bloc is much tougher on migration these days, and while Brussels is still hoping to strike free-trade deals around the world, the EU has become increasingly protectionist.

Some European diplomats think that the EU taking a more hawkish approach on China could get the transatlantic relationship off to a good start -- if, that is, the EU's export-oriented economies can afford the possible loss of trade from potential Chinese trade measures.

For NATO, the defense alliance that Trump threatened to leave in 2018 during his first term, the mood appears to be slightly less panicky.

While Trump has continued to cast doubt on NATO's mutual defense clause, Article 5, many officials in the alliance believe he is more focused on the EU. Besides, they say, the vast majority of members now spend the required 2 percent of GDP on defense, something they are happy to credit to Trump's past pressure. Not to mention, the optimists say, new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is one of a select few Europeans who have the new president's ear.

There are two things that strike me when speaking to people from both the EU and NATO. First, Trump's entourage is now more of an unknown quantity. When he was elected in 2016, there were Republicans in his administration that European officials felt they could deal with: for example, Rex Tillerson, Jim Mattis, and John Bolton. This time around, officials seem to be more fearful -- wary, for example, of the isolationism of incoming Vice President J.D. Vance.

Secondly, there is a clear east-west divide. The officials I have spoken to from Western European countries are, at least on the surface, pretty glum about the prospects of a Trump presidency.

But from my conversations with politicians and officials from Central and Eastern Europe there is something else: hope, and maybe even excitement. They seem more comfortable with the transactional nature of Trump's politics and say his supposed unpredictability can be a good thing when dealing with Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran.

Regardless, the United States and Europe have been drifting apart for a while, as successive Washington administrations increasingly pivot toward the Pacific. That gulf is only likely to widen in the future.
Taiwan Cautiously Watches Whether U.S. Support For Ukraine Will Shift Under Trump

By Reid Standish

Following President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House, one of the key foreign policy questions for his incoming administration is how it will affect U.S. backing for Kyiv in its war with Russia.

How things play out for Ukraine is also being closely watched in Taiwan, a self-governing island of 23 million that China views as its own territory and has vowed to unify with the mainland by peace or by force.

Trump has criticized the level of U.S. support for Ukraine's war effort and promised to end the conflict, even before his inauguration in January. After Trump's reelection, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy heaped praise on the president-elect as uncertainty over U.S. backing looms over Kyiv.

This hasn't been lost on top Taiwanese officials, as it could be something of a bellwether for Taipei as Beijing is expected to step up pressure.

"No matter who is elected, we have to let them understand that Taiwan has the determination to defend itself, and the importance of Taiwan's economic security and strategic geopolitical position," Taiwanese Defense Minister Wellington Koo said before Trump was declared winner.

Since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan has looked to tie Kyiv and Taipei's fates together. Top Taiwanese officials have also advocated publicly for continued U.S. military support for Ukraine as some U.S. commentators and Congressional Republicans have called for scaling it back, arguing that it detracts from being able to arm Taiwan, which they view as a more urgent task.

"That's why we're asking everybody to support Ukraine. It's the best way to deter China," Roy Chun Lee, Taiwans former deputy foreign minister and current envoy to the EU, told RFE/RL in a 2023 interview.

Speaking ahead of the November 5 U.S. election, Taiwanese officials said they were preparing for either outcome, with Taiwanese Economy Minister J.W. Kuo acknowledging to reporters that Trump could introduce measures that might prove harmful for Taiwan's semiconductor industry, which currently produces more than 90 percent of the world's high-performance microchips.

In recent months, Trump has suggested that he thinks Taiwan isn't giving the United States enough in exchange for U.S. defense support and that it has taken away U.S. semiconductor manufacturing business.

But what a better deal for Trump might look like isn't clear.

In an interview with The Washington Post in September, he said that Beijing wouldn't attack Taiwan "while I'm president...but eventually they will." In a similar sit down with The Wall Street Journals editorial board in October, Trump said that he would impose tariffs on China if it sought to blockade Taiwan.

He added that he wants Taiwan's leaders to step up their defense investments, which currently sit at around 2.6 percent of the island's gross domestic product.

"They should spend 10 [percent]," Trump said.
Protesters hurled red paint and stones at City Hall in Novi Sad, Serbia, on November 5 as they demanded accountability for the deaths of 14 people in the collapse of a concrete canopy at the citys train station. The glass doors of City Hall were shattered when a group of masked men threw incendiary devices inside the building, prompting riot police to respond with tear gas. The protesters also dumped manure in front of City Hall. The protesters demanded the resignations of Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric, as well as the immediate arrest and punishment of those responsible for the collapse of the canopy.
During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump made big promises about what would be in store if he reclaimed the White House.

"With your support, we'll bring back our nation's strength, dominance, prosperity and pride," Trump said two weeks before Election Day. "This will be America's new golden age."

Now that Trump has won a second term as president, what might be expected from his incoming administration?



The answer to that question depends a lot on who you ask. Trump's supporters believe he will "make America great again," at home and abroad. His detractors have warned that Trump will undermine democracy in the United States.

War And Peace



The way the United States exerts its influence around the world is likely to change.



Trump has said he could end Russia's war in Ukraine "in 24 hours." With Israel involved in a two-front war in the Middle East against Iranian-backed armed groups, Trump has called on Israel to "finish the job."



Peter Skerry, professor of political science at Boston College, said he expects Trump to "push for some sort of settlement" between Moscow and Kyiv that he predicted will "mean big concessions on the part of Ukraine."

What Trump will do regarding Israel is much less clear, Skerry says, but he said that "he'll be extremely supportive of Israel" while at the same time trying to revive the Abraham Accords that aim for Arab-Israeli normalization.

China, with which Trump launched a trade war during his first term in office, is a wild card. Trump has pledged to introduce more steep tariffs on products made in China if Beijing were to "go into Taiwan."

He has previously said he would not have to use U.S. military force to prevent a possible Chinese blockade of Taiwan due to his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Global Footprint



In his four years as president, Trump pushed for NATO members to meet their required levels of defense spending, goals that most have since met.



Trump also oversaw the U.S. withdrawal from the UN cultural body UNESCO, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia, the Iran nuclear deal worked out with world powers, the Paris Agreement on mitigating the effects of climate change, and withheld funding for the World Health Organization due to its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The outgoing Biden administration made a point to restore U.S. influence in such agreements and institutions, but now many predict another reversal under Trump.



Skerry said Trump is a "single-minded, self-interested actor" who is focused on domestic issues. It would not be surprising to see Trump "get back on the track" of limiting Washington's role in some global institutions, he said.



Keith Naughton, co-founder of the U.S.-based public-affairs firm Silent Majority Strategies, said that "Trump will want to go it alone more." But he added that the U.S. Congress was unlikely "to go along" and will put up resistance.
Of all the things that Kamala Harris wants you to know about her  that she grew up in a middle-class family, that she's not Joe Biden, that she has a "to-do list" for the American people  perhaps foremost among them is that she's not woke.

She doesn't have any rote line asserting this, but achieving distance from the fashionable left-wing politics that defined the Trump years and their immediate aftermath motivates much of what she says and does.

That Harris now feels compelled to disavow so many of the ideas that she once embraced is powerful testament to their political toxicity.

An idea has won or lost in American politics when both parties favor or oppose it, or simply don't want to fight over it anymore. Ronald Regan's economics truly prevailed when the Democratic Party, via Bill Clinton in the early 1990s, accepted his basic approach. Gay marriage won politically when Republicans decided to stop talking about the issue.

By this standard, woke attitudes and policies are in marked decline, and Harris is Exhibit A. Except for her abortion radicalism, she's turned her back on much of what she once professed to believe or sympathize with. Defund the police? Absolutely not. Abolish ICE? No way. DEI? Haven't heard of it. Medicare for All? That was a long time ago. The Green New Deal? Let's not get carried away.

She has backed off her extravagant positions on the trans issue and the border. She now insists that rather than pushing the envelope on either, she simply wants to follow the law. You could be forgiven for thinking the only pronouns she knows are she/her and he/him. Harris doesn't bring up identity politics at all. Not only does she not talk about the once-ubiquitous concepts of white privilege or "equity," she doesn't even talk about breaking the glass ceiling or the history-making nature of her candidacy.

Listening to her campaign, you'd have no idea that the twin "isms"  racism and sexism  have been consuming obsessions of the left for years now. There's also no hint of the hostility to law enforcement that characterized progressivism with the rise of Black Lives Matter. No, Harris is a Glockwielding tough-as-nails prosecutor, who, you might have heard, is the only person in the race who has prosecuted transnational gangs.

This is as complete a volte-face as we've seen in recent American politics. In French Revolution terms, Harris once was a fellow traveler with Robespierre, the famous radical, but now is happy to go along with the Thermidorian Reaction that toppled him. It's as if William Jennings Bryan decided, after inveighing against them so famously, that the gold standard and Eastern financial interests weren't so bad after all.

What happened is that many Democratic politicians believed that the reaction to Trump and the revulsion over the killing of George Floyd had fundamentally reoriented American politics and the hot-house leftism of college campus could be exported to the country at large. In reality, most people were never on board. Joe Biden wouldn't have won the presidency in 2020 if he'd been woke, and Harris wouldn't be locked in a tight race now if she were still running on her erstwhile causes.

By no means does this suggest that woke priorities are on their way out. They are still dominant in academia and in other elite institutions, and if she wins, Harris could still pursue them. Her sincerity is neither here nor there, though. That a politician who marinated for decades in progressive California and who once espoused or sounded favorable to every single woke priority realizes that she can't do so and appeal to a majority of Americans speaks volumes.

Harris doesn't have great political instincts, yet even she gets this.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Participants of the Global Summit of Religious Leaders, held under the slogan World Religions for a Green Planet as part of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, sent a letter of appreciation to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, expressing their gratitude for the organization of the Summit, Trend reports.

The patronage of the Global Summit of Religious Leaders by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the special attention given by Your Excellency to our event is of great value, the Summit participants said in their letter.

We regard the COP 29 Baku Summit as a significant achievement for the people and state of Azerbaijan, and we commend Your Excellency's declaration of 2024 as the "Green World Solidarity Year" in Azerbaijan as a valuable global initiative aimed at fostering Human solidarity for the sake of the future of our planet. We appreciate Azerbaijan's commitment to environmental protection and its effective measures in this regard, evaluating it as a significant action towards restoring the divine order on Earth.

Your Excellency! As Religious Leaders, we hope that the COP 29 Summit held in Azerbaijan will serve as a beneficial and effective platform for calls for peace and global ceasefire. We express our support for the Azerbaijani states call for global ceasefire. The recent historical realities faced by Azerbaijan further prove that the world is still confronted with the clash of constructive and destructive forces. In the face of the military crimes and ecological terror, we see in Azerbaijan a state that addresses the severe consequences of crimes against nature and the environment, conducts restoration works based on the foundations of a green economy powered by alternative energy, and restores ecological balance in the region. Today, the Azerbaijani state, which has restored its territorial integrity, demonstrates to the world an exemplary model of overcoming the dire consequences of ecocide, urbicide, and culturcide.

Your Excellency, Mr. President! We cordially support Your Excellency's resolute stand against racial and religious intolerance and xenophobia in the pursuit of human fraternity. Thanks to your political will, Azerbaijan has become a traditional venue for numerous internationally significant events and prestigious summits focused on dialogue and cooperation among religions, cultures, and civilizations.

We are sure that under your wise leadership, the people and the state of Azerbaijan will achieve greater successes at the international level, the participants added.
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Voters in Washington, D.C., gathered in public places late on November 5 to watch the election results roll in. As votes were being counted, the mood at a Republican event was jubilant, while Democrats saw their optimism slip away.
As Uzbeks went to the polls on October 27 to cast their votes in largely meaningless local and parliamentary elections, two grave-looking men appeared in a video discussing a high-profile shooting that had taken place in Tashkent the day before.

They even claimed to be the men behind the triggers.



"Pranksters!" read one of the most popular comments under the post where the viral video appeared on Facebook.



Or perhaps not.



Uzbek authorities have said little publicly about their investigation into what they have called the attempted assassination of political heavyweight Komiljon Allamjanov, although they have confirmed the arrests of four men in connection with the incident.



The local media has been gagged from reporting any information not released through official channels.



But what RFE/RL's Uzbek Service has learned from sources in Uzbek law enforcement suggests that the plot behind the botched hit is thickening.



And for the moment, the narrative is swinging far too close to President Shavkat Mirziyoev's ruling family for comfort.



A Little Bit Of Seoul



In recent years, the 40-year-old Allamjonov has been both a political heavyweight and a publicly visible mentor to Mirziyoev's daughter, Saida Mirziyoeva, who turned the same age as him this week.



Mirziyoeva is regularly mentioned in conversations about her father's long-term succession planning.

Until recently, they were the two most important figures in Mirziyoev's presidential administration besides Mirziyoev.



At the end of September, in an appearance with Mirziyoeva, Allamjonov announced his exit from his position as head of the administration's Information Policy Department, ostensibly to pursue projects in the private sector.



Nobody really believed in those plans, including Allamjonov's manifold enemies, who resented Allamjonov for his proximity to the Shavkat-Saida axis and because of his advocacy of liberalizing reforms early in Mirziyoev's reign.

Still, few observers of Tashkent's gray political scene would have expected that pressure to culminate in whatever it was that happened on October 26, when a Land Rover carrying Allamjonov was hit with multiple bullets not far from his home in the Qibray region outside Tashkent.

But back to the two men in the video, and specifically the one wearing the white T-shirt -- Shokhrukh Ahmedov.

In the days after the incident, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service was able to obtain copies of two identity documents pertaining to Ahmedov, as well as confirmation from law enforcement that both he and the man that appeared alongside him were among the four arrested.



The identity of the second man in the video has yet to be established, and the authorities have not named any suspects.



According to a law enforcement source, after the shooters failed to hit either Allamjonov or his driver in the early hours of October 26, the two assailants who opened fire on the car with pistols escaped on electric scooters.



They were then able to take a car to the eastern city of Ferghana, where they took refuge in a nightclub called Seoul before exiting through a back door.



At some point prior to their arrest, they shot a video that was a truly muddled affair.

"We organized the attack on Allamjonov," says the man identifiable as Ahmedov.



"We are heading to the police to surrender," he adds. "We've decided to come out because deaths and other incidents occur in police custody. If anything happens [to us], the police will be responsible."



"As you see, we are going [to the police] in good shape," Ahmedov's colleague chimes in.



Then Ahmedov throws his audience a curveball.



"The [news] being circulated about the assassination attempt on Komil Allamjonov, is, in fact, not an assassination [attempt]. This act was committed in the best interest of [Allamjonov].... We've done this only for the money. There were people who promised us money for this," he says.



Chechen Connections



That video subsequently went viral, bolstering rumors that Allamjonov might somehow have plotted his own near demise. Around that time, a man claiming to be a close relative of Ahmedov contacted RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, pushing the same idea.



But law enforcement sources of RFE/RL's Uzbek Service say this popular theory is not being seriously considered and note that Ahmedov and his collaborators had very serious intentions.



Those same sources say that in 2021, Ahmedov was arrested in Turkey and spent seven months in jail.



The case that he was jailed in connection with was a well-reported one, although Ahmedov's name only featured in Turkish press reports when the number of arrests rose from six to eight in November of that year.



It concerned an alleged plot to assassinate Turkish-based critics of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Reports attributed their unexpected releases -- despite facing sentences of 15 to 20 years -- to Kadyrov's personal intervention.



Prior to that moment, from around 2019, Ahmedov had been working informally in Turkey as a debt collector. When he returned to Tashkent, he was not arrested and worked as a driver.



The duo's decision to park outside the Seoul nightclub in Ferghana, 240 kilometers from Uzbekistan's capital, before entering the club and then fleeing, is another jarring development.



For some time prior to the shooting, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service was reporting on a major standoff between Allamjonov and Mirziyoeva, on the one hand, and Otabek Umarov, the deputy head of Mirziyoev's presidential security.



Beyond his formal role, Umarov is the country's most-followed Instagram blogger, a patron of Uzbek sports, and the husband of Mirziyoeva's younger sister, Shahnoza.

Like Allamjonov, Umarov has been the subject of multiple RFE/RL investigations focusing on allegations of corruption and conflicts of interest.

This summer, sources told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service that Umarov and Allamjonov were in conflict over a secretive task force allegedly loyal to Umarov that was engaged in mob-style shakedowns of businessmen and political notables.



The 'Task Force'



According to corporate documents, the Seoul nightclub in Ferghana is co-owned by sisters Yelena and Natalia Fen, whose family is connected to Umarov and Shahnoza Mirziyoeva in several ways.



In comments to RFE/RL's Uzbek Service last week, at least two sources confirmed that Natalia Fen and Shahnoza Mirziyoeva had a close friendship that included a time when they both lived in Seoul, where Natalia's late father, Vitaliy Fen, served as Uzbekistan's ambassador.

After Mirziyoev came to power following long-ruling leader Islam Karimov's death, Natalia Fen found employment in Uzbekistan's Preschool Education Ministry, a newly introduced ministry where Shahnoza had a top post.



There is no reason to suggest that any of this shows the Fens knew about the incident involving Allamjonov.



But two law enforcement sources did suggest a connection between Natalia Fen's common-law husband, Javlon Yunusov, and the man who sought refuge in the nightclub co-owned by Fen: Ahmedov.



According to those sources, Ahmedov acted a personal bodyguard and driver for Yunusov, who they said is in turn a senior member of the "task force" that Umarov purportedly leads.



RFE/RL's Uzbek Service was unable to verify the information about Yunusov, who was also described as a key player in the pharmaceutical sector.



All very dizzying, and at present, far from conclusive.



But at this stage it would surely be worthwhile for a top official -- perhaps President Mirziyoev -- to clear the air.



That would probably be the protocol in many authoritarian countries, let alone democratic ones.



Not Uzbekistan, though, despite multiple sources in law enforcement insisting in conversations with RFE/RL that the case was under the head of state's personal control.



In fact, from a look at the top news among Uzbek media, you would barely know that a political heavyweight had narrowly avoided death.

Written by Chris Rickleton in Almaty based on reporting by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Doors have opened to peace after 30 years of conflict in the South Caucasus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the 11th Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, today, Trend reports.

"We hope that Azerbaijan will solidify its victory in the Second Karabakh War with a peace treaty," Erdogan emphasized.

Speaking about the strength of the OTS, the Turkish president pointed out that the organization has turned into a shining example of a model platform.

"We are committed to building a common future for the Turkic world. My colleagues at the table share a strong determination to ensure the eternal unity of the Turkic world. We will continue to strengthen and expand our Organization.

Our common alphabet symbolizes our shared commitment to building the future together. Moving forward, OTS member countries should undertake the necessary transformation based on this alphabet. It would be prudent for our members to take steps toward adopting a new alphabet. Together, we will shape the future of the Turkic world for the century ahead," Erdogan added.
A new counselling outreach service for victims of sexual violence has been launched at the Boyle Family Resource Centre (FRC).

The new service, launched recently by the Athlone Midlands Rape Crisis Centre (MRCC), will provide essential support and care for women and men who have experienced rape, or sexual abuse of any form, recent or historic.

The outreach service will run at the Boyle FRC every Tuesday.

Clinical lead and deputy manager of Boyle FRC, Sinead Raftery, said that the centre was continuously

striving to meet the needs of the community, whether its within our own service where we provide a rainbows programme or the drop-in clinic for families on a Wednesday or the wide range of other services that are available in this centre, she said.

Pauline Cahalane, Manager of Athlone Midlands Rape Crisis Centre, thanked those in attendance and extended her gratitude to all the Boyle FRC staff. The Athlone MRCC is a counselling and support service for women and men recently or historically affected by sexual abuse. We also support families of people that have been affected. We are a free service that offers free face-to-face counselling or online and we also offer telephone counselling sessions.

She detailed how support for victims of sexual violence/abuse had grown since the Athlone MRCC first opened its doors in 1995.

Thankfully, over the years more awareness has been brought to child and adult sexual violence and abuse. Ireland has become more open about acknowledging that sexual abuse does happen and the devastation and damage that does to a persons life, she said.

She explained to those in attendance at the launch how people could avail of the MRCCs services, adding: Very importantly, we support our clients in their reporting process or if they are going to be going to court later on. To avail of our service you call our freephone number which is 1800 306 600.

Caitlin Hester, an accredited counsellor and psychotherapist, will be working in Boyle on Tuesdays as part of the new service. She spoke on her background in counselling. I started out working with Roscommon Safe Link in domestic violence, so I worked with trauma in that area with families. I also work in a private capacity in Castlerea and also at the Technological University of the Shannon Athlone.

I work with anxiety, stress, depression, loss and bereavement, all those different areas. The focus is always on the individual person, how they are, so its very trauma informed care.

She concluded by saying that the long-term goal of the service was to have it more accessible to people so that they will feel that its ok to seek help for themselves. Its a free service, available to everybody.
Brampton News: Hindu Sabha Suspends Priest for Participating in Protests

The suspension was confirmed through an official order issued by Hindu Sabha President, Madhusudan Lama.

Canada Brampton Protest Hindu Sabha Mandir Latest News Today: Amid the chaotic situation in Canada's Brampton, the Hindu Sabha has taken a decisive step by suspending its priest, Rajindra Parsad, for his involvement in recent protests.

The suspension was confirmed through an official order issued by Hindu Sabha President, Madhusudan Lama.

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The decision comes amid heightened tensions and increased scrutiny surrounding religious and social gatherings in the region. While the nature of the protests in which Parsad participated has not been disclosed, his involvement has sparked significant attention within the community.

In a statement, President Lama emphasized the Sabhas commitment to maintaining a neutral and peaceful stance amidst ongoing unrest. We expect our religious leaders to remain apolitical and focused on spiritual guidance, he remarked.

The suspension of a religious figure for political or protest activity is rare and reflects the Sabha's determination to distance itself from any controversial involvement.

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Community reactions to the suspension have been mixed, with some supporting the Sabhas decision to uphold its principles, while others view it as a suppression of individual expression. This development adds another layer to the ongoing dialogue about the role of religious leaders in civic and political affairs.

(For more news apart from Canada Brampton Protest Hindu Sabha Mandir Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Sikh Americans for Trump Celebrate Republican Victory Outside White House as Trump Wins

Trump became the US president for the second time.

US Election Result 2024: Members of "Sikh Americans for Trump" celebrated near the White House on Wednesday as former President Donald Trump reclaimed the presidency. The group, waving "Trump 2024" banners, danced to dhol beats and traditional music, joining in a jubilant display as Trump pulled up the race.

Trump, the winner, in Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes), along with other pivotal states like Georgia and North Carolina, won 277 seats, surpassing the 270 majority mark needed to clinch the presidency, with Kamala Harris trailing at 226.

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Among the supporters, Jesse Singh, a prominent voice within "Sikh Americans for Trump," expressed optimism and unity among South Asian communities, stating, Were gathered in large numbersSikhs, Muslims, Hindusto celebrate Trumps anticipated victory.

(For more news apart from US Election Result 2024, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Romania. Eastern Flank: Dacian Fall 2024, the largest NATO exercise this autumn

The multinational exercise Dacian Fall 2024 of the Command of the Multinational Division Southeast took place between October 14-31 in the Getica National Joint Training Center in Cincu (in central Romania).

Photo Agentia Media a Armatei

Lacramioara Simion, 06.11.2024, 14:00

The multinational exercise Dacian Fall 2024 of the Command of the Multinational Division Southeast took place between October 14-31 in the Getica National Joint Training Center in Cincu (in central Romania). The exercise was attended by approximately 1,500 soldiers from Romania, Belgium, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, the United States of America and France, as a framework nation, simultaneously in the Cincu, Smardan (east), Capu Midia (south- east) and Bogata (northwest).

Brigadier General Loic Girard, Frances high military representative in Romania, present at the event, said that quote: The scenario of the exercise was a fictitious one, in which we faced a potential aggressor-enemy. We aimed, through this scenario, to be able to regroup and have a good overall maneuvering of the entire joint and combined arms capability. You saw, at the beginning of the exercise, fighter jets from Spain, fighter jets from Romania, helicopters, drones, battle tanks, reconnaissance vehicles and so on. So, all of these capabilities are able to deploy, train and eventually fight if needed, said Loic Girard.

Participating in the exercise were also IAR 330 Puma Socat and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, as well as F-18 aircraft of the Spanish Air Force, deployed in our country for the Enhanced Air Policing service. The exercise is part of the series of training events aimed at strengthening NATOs deterrence and defense posture on the alliances eastern flank.

On the other hand, the Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tilvar, met the other day in Bucharest with his counterpart from the Kingdom of Norway, Bjrn Arild Gram. The discussions between the two officials focused on topical issues regarding regional security in the context of the conflict in Ukraine and the impact of the war in the neighboring country on the regions of strategic importance for Romania and Norway: the Black Sea, the Western Balkans and the Far North.

The substantial support that Norway provides to Romania in relation to the purchase of an advanced Patriot surface-to-air missile system was another important topic of discussion. The financial contribution of approximately 127 million dollars offered by Norway to Romania is provided within the Immediate Action on Air Defense Initiative, coordinated by Germany. This funding reflects Norways commitment to Euro-Atlantic security and the concrete support given to Romania in replacing the Patriot system Romanian donated to Ukraine.

Also in Bucharest, the Secretary of State for Defense Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru, received the visit of her German counterpart, Benedikt Zimmer, Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry of Defense. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen strategic dialogue and deepen bilateral cooperation in the field of defense. The talks between the two officials focused on the global and regional security situation, with an emphasis on the latest developments in the conflict in Ukraine and their impact on European security. The Romanian official emphasized the importance of continuing support for Ukraine, especially in the context of recent Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, and highlighted Romanias contribution by donating a Patriot system, essential for the defense of the Ukrainian airspace. (LS, Andra Barbul)
November 6, 2024

A roundup of local and world news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 06.11.2024, 13:55

US ELECTION The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis and PM Marcel Ciolacu today congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential elections. Romania is a strong and committed strategic ally of the USA. Through our joint efforts, we will bring peace and prosperity to our countries and beyond, defending our common interests, the Romanian president wrote on a social network. The Republican Donald Trump claimed an unprecedented mandate, in a speech held at West Palm Beach, Florida, after Fox News called the election for Trump, the only US news outlet to do this so far. Although technically the vote count is not yet over, Donald Trump thanked the Americans for electing him. We made history, he said, and promised to help the country heal. Donald Trumps running mate, JD Vance, said in his turn that we have witnessed the greatest political comeback in US history. His opponent, the Democrat Kamala Harris, has not yet addressed her supporters.

SENATE The Republicans appear to have have gained control of the US Senate, previously held by the Democrats, with a majority of at least 51 seats out of 100, according to projections. The US Senate has 100 seats (2 for each US state) and 34 members are replaced following the vote organised concurrently with the November 5 presidential election. In the House of Representatives, neither party seems to have a decisive advantage, as the vote count in the 50 states continues today. The control of the two chambers of the US Congress is a major stake, as the room for maneuver of the countrys president depends largely on the laws they are able to get passed in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both vote on federal laws, but the Senate also has important exclusive powers, especially in the appointment or removal of key government members or in the confirmation of federal magistrates.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION The Social Democrat Roxana Minzatu, Romanias nomination for vice-president of the new European Commission, received a positive review from the specialist committees of the Romanian parliament. Next week, she will also be heard in the committees of the European Parliament. In addition to the position of vice-president, the Romanian commissioner will also serve as Commissioner for People, Skills and Preparedness.

INVESTMENTS PM Marcel Ciolacu had a meeting with a delegation of Japanese investors on Tuesday in Bucharest. They expressed their interest in strengthening financial support for Romania in transport infrastructure, energy, digitisation and high techn projects. Previously, at a bilateral Energy Forum also held in the Romanian capital city, the energy ministry and the Japanese company Itochu Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a hydropower plant project in Cluj county (northwest Romania).

VISIT The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, is on an official visit to Bucharest, where he takes part today in the national conference of the Romanian Farmers Club. According to a press release issued by the European Commission, the commissioner is a special guest in the interactive EU-Romania Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, where he talks about the prospects of European farming in the context of the current environmental and geo-political challenges and of the EU enlargement. At the same time, the European official is to address a plenary session on Vision and action for the sustainable transformation of agriculture. Among other things, Janusz Wojciechowski will thank Romanian farmers for their vital contribution to food security, in Europe and beyond.

FLOODS Another person on the list of Romanian nationals missing following the recent floods in Spain has been found dead. The Romanian foreign ministry announced that, according to the information sent by the Spanish authorities, up to this moment 2 Romanian citizens are dead and 7 are still missing. The Romanian embassy in Madrid and the consular office in Castellon de la Plana are checking public information regarding the death of some Romanian citizens, but no official confirmations have been received so far. Meanwhile, the Spanish government has declared a state of natural disaster in the affected areas and has pledged to cover 100% of the urgent expenses of the affected municipalities. A first emergency plan worth over EUR 10 billion was adopted. (AMP)
November 6, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Newsroom, 06.11.2024, 19:48

US elections. Donald Trump is the virtual winner of the US presidential, with TV networks in the US projecting him to win 276 electors, 6 more than the required majority of 270. Based on the indirect election system, the elections are won by the candidate who secures the majority of the 538 electors, distributed among the states according to the size of their population. The Republican candidate also won the popular vote with 51%, while the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris won 47% of the votes and 219 electors. While final results may take a few days, Donald Trump has declared victory at his campaign headquarters in Florida. He thanked his voters and said American gave him un unprecedented strong mandate, thus referring to the good results obtained by the Republicans in the US Congress. He promised to focus in this term in office on peoples safety, prosperity and healthcare. Kamala Harris is expected to speak in public tomorrow. Politicians and leaders from around the world have congratulated Trump, including from Bucharest. In a message posted on X, president Klaus Iohannis said Romania is a strong and committed ally of the United States and hoped that joint efforts would bring peace and prosperity for both countries, as well as others. Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu and senate speaker Nicolae Ciuca also congratulated Trump and said Romania is ready to work with the United States to consolidate the strategic partnership between the two states.

US Senate. Republicans appear to have gained control of the US Senate, previously held by the Democrats, with a majority of at least 51 seats out of 100, according to projections. The US Senate has 100 seats (2 for each US state) and 34 members are replaced following the vote organised concurrently with the November 5 presidential election. In the House of Representatives, neither party seems to have a decisive advantage. The control of the two chambers of the US Congress is a major stake, as the room for maneuver of the countrys president depends largely on the laws they are able to get passed in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both vote on federal laws, but the Senate also has important exclusive powers, especially in the appointment or removal of key government members or in the confirmation of federal magistrates.

Romania-Serbia. The European path is worth every effort, and Romania can provide Serbia with its full support and expertise with regard to EU accession, said foreign minister Luminita Odobescu in a joint press conference with her Serbian counterpart Marko Duric, who was on a trip to Bucharest. Odobescu reiterated that Romania saw the Western Balkans are an important strategic region. Speaking about the bilateral economic ties, she said there is still untapped potential, adding that interconnection is the key word, with one good example in the field of energy infrastructure being the signing of a memorandum on the implementation of a natural gas project. The Serbian minister Marko Duric said that for his country, EU accession is a basic priority. The two officials signed a memorandum of understanding between their diplomatic institutes.

Floods. Another person missing in the recent floods in Spain has been found dead. The Romanian foreign ministry announced that, according to the information sent by the Spanish authorities, up to this moment 2 Romanian citizens are dead and 7 are still missing. The Romanian embassy in Madrid and the consular office in Castellon de la Plana are checking public information regarding the death of some other Romanian citizens, but no official confirmations have been received so far. Meanwhile, the Spanish government has declared a state of natural disaster in the affected areas and has pledged to cover 100% of the urgent expenses of the affected municipalities. A first emergency plan worth over 10 billion euros was adopted.

EU Commissioner. The Social Democrat Roxana Minzatu, Romanias nomination for vice-president of the new European Commission, received a positive review from the specialist committees of the Romanian parliament. Next week, she will also be heard in the committees of the European Parliament. In addition to the position of vice-president, the Romanian commissioner will also serve as Commissioner for People, Skills and Preparedness.
Japanese Investments in Energy and Technology

Japan announces major investments in Romania.

Photo: gov.ro

Daniela Budu, 06.11.2024, 13:50

Important Japanese companies have expressed their interest, these days, in Bucharest, to invest in Romania, in transport infrastructure, energy, digitization and high technology. The Romanian PM, Marcel Ciolacu, had a meeting, on Tuesday, with a delegation of Japanese investors from the fields of energy, research and technology, industry, infrastructure and banking, led by the Japanese Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Shinji Takeuchi. According to a government press release, the Prime Minister appreciated the level of bilateral relations developed on the basis of the Strategic Partnership, the common values promoted by the two states and the economic opportunities offered by the current international context.

Marcel Ciolacu stated that Romanias role as a factor of stability in Europe and in the region, as well as its geostrategic, economic and political advantages qualify the country as a destination for investors. He also mentioned the State aid schemes, as well as the investments in new technologies, that should help Romania become a technological hub in the center and southeast of Europe. In this context, he mentioned Romanias interest in developing the Port of Constanta on the Black Sea, as well as in supporting regional interconnection projects. In turn, the Japanese economic delegation showed its interest in strengthening financial support for Romania in projects in the fields of transport infrastructure, energy, digitization and high technology. The investment opportunities offered by Romania are particularly important and offer new perspectives to develop our bilateral relations, said the Japanese deputy minister.

Previously, during the first edition of the Romania-Japan Energy Forum that took place on Monday and Tuesday, in Bucharest, the Energy Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with a Japanese company, Itochu, for the Tarnita-Lapustesti hydropower plant project, in Cluj County (north  western Romania). According to the ministry, it is a project of strategic importance for balancing the national energy system. The Japanese company will participate, according to the relevant minister, Sebastian Burduja, in reviewing the technical documentation for the development of the hydropower plant in Romania, and also in such stages as the feasibility study, technical design and project execution. Also, ELCEN (the State Electric Power Plants Company in Bucharest) and Panasonic are working on a joint project aimed at a complex system of photovoltaic panels, battery storage and green hydrogen production, a symbolic step towards what we call the green transition of the energy sector, minister Sebastian Burduja says.

Moreover, the Romanian civil nuclear program will benefit from Japanese support, the minister has assured, who also discussed with Japanese businessmen about a possible collaboration in the production of blue ammonia. Through our partnerships, Romania assumes the role of regional leader in renewable and nuclear energy. We have taken a concrete step in the direction of a safer, more competitive and more sustainable Romania from an energy point of view said Sebastian Burduja. (LS)
Roxana Minzatu, endorsed by the Romanian Parliament

The specialized committees of the Romanian Parliament have endorsed Governments proposal for the office of European Commissioner

Roxana Minzatu (photo: gov.ro)

Bogdan Matei, 06.11.2024, 14:00

Romanian Governments proposal for the position of European Commissioner in the future Community Executive, the Social Democrat Roxana Minzatu has been endorsed by the specialized committees of the Romanian Parliament. Roxana Minzatu joined the Social Democratic Party in 2000, at the age of 20 and then held several offices, such as deputy in Romanias Parliament, European MP, minister of European Funds, though quite briefly, to finally be proposed for one of the positions of vice-president in the future European Commission, where she will also hold the portfolio People, Skills and Preparedness.

In this capacity, she said, she will be responsible for approximately 20% of the European Unions multiannual budget. She specified that the position of executive vice-president of the Commission includes coordination in the area of preparation for emergency situations.

Roxana Manzatu: For the first time, Romania is part of the leadership of the European Commission. I represent not only Romania, in a way, but also the countries that joined after 2004, after 2007, Eastern Europe, and I think it is important that we recognize that we have this role at the level of the Commission. A very important portfolio, also, in which I directly coordinate funds of over 240 billion euros. We are talking here about the European Social Fund, the Social Fund for Climate, Erasmus, plus money that is coming into Romanians pockets already. We discussed education and skills, how we will support Europeans who are increasingly affected by poverty, but I will be involved in all the policies and decisions that will be made in the Commission that are obviously relevant at the European level.

After an apparently convincing performance in front of the Romanian parliamentarians, Roxana Minzatu received a favorable opinion, with 36 votes for and only six against. The Liberals did not participate in the hearing, dissatisfied that the National Liberal Party was not consulted by the Social-Democratic partners in the appointment procedure.

Media outlets in Bucharest say that the liberal boycott is only an episode in the soap opera of love and hate between PSD and PNL, which govern together, but are also sworn rivals in the presidential and parliamentary elections due in just a few weeks.

In terms of procedure, Roxana Minzatu will also be heard by the Employment and, respectively, Culture and Education Committees of the European Parliament. According to the Radio Romania correspondent in Brussels, her hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, November 12. The commentators are already betting on a favorable opinion for the Romanian candidate and from the MEPs, as the specialized committees follow, in general, the arithmetic of the plenum of the new Community Legislature, dominated by the three main political families that supply human resources to the Commission as well: the EPP, the Socialists and the Liberals. (MI)
Factory orders from Germany and final composite Purchasing Managers' survey results from the euro area are the top economic news due on Wednesday.

At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's factory orders data for September. Orders are forecast to rise 1.6 percent on month after falling 5.8 percent in August.

At 3.15 am ET, Spain's services PMI data is due. The index is forecast to fall to 56.6 in October from 57.0 in the previous month.

At 3.45 am ET, S&P Global publishes Italy's services PMI data. Economists forecast the index to drop to 50.3 in October from 50.5 in September.

At 3.50 am ET, France's final composite PMI survey results are due. The composite index is seen at 47.3, in line with flash estimate, compared to 48.6 in September.

At 3.55 am ET, S&P Global releases Germany's composite PMI data. Economists expect the index to rise to 48.4 from 47.5 a month ago.

At 4.00 am ET, Eurozone composite PMI survey results are due. The index is expected to rise to 49.7 in October, as initially estimated, from 49.6 in September.

At 4.30 am ET, S&P Global releases the UK construction PMI data. Economists forecast the index to fall to 55.3 in October from 57.2 in the previous month.

Half an hour later, producer price data is due from Eurozone. After a 2.3 percent decrease, producer prices are forecast to fall 3.5 percent in September.

Track market moving Economic Events that impact Commodities, Stock, and Forex by using realtime RTTNews Economic Calendar this week.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Germany's factory orders rebounded in September on strong growth in aircraft and other transport equipment orders, data from Destatis showed on Wednesday.

Factory orders advanced 4.2 percent on a monthly basis in September, in contrast to the revised 5.4 percent decline in August.

Economists had forecast orders to grow moderately by 1.6 percent after September's initially estimated decline of 5.8 percent.

Destatis said the growth in new orders in manufacturing was mainly attributable to the substantial growth in the "manufacture of other transport equipment" sector. The increase in new orders in the automotive industry also had a positive effect.

Domestic orders climbed 3.6 percent and foreign orders grew 4.4 percent, with orders from the euro area rising 14.6 percent. Meanwhile, new orders from the rest of the world declined 1.6 percent.

On a yearly basis, new orders in manufacturing gained 1.0 percent, reversing a 3.4 percent decrease in the prior month.

Gain the edge with RTTNews Economic Calendar. Updated in real-time, explore RTTNews Economic Calendar today

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Business News
Bernard Bernie Marcus, who co-founded retail chain the Home Depot Inc., has died, aged 95.

The Billionaire, said to be a major donor to Republican politicians and a supporter of Donald Trump, breathed his last on the U.S. Election day.

In a statement announcing the news, the company, which is now mainly owned by institutional investors, said, "Bernie was an inspiration in many ways. He was a master merchant and a genius with customer service... He also loved the associates who made the company what it is today. More than anything, he deeply believed in the company's core values, particularly that of giving back...In and in charity, Bernie was unparalleled in generosity and goodwill."

Bernie started the Home Depot with Arthur Blank and others in 1978, which has now turned to become a retail major, operating 2,300 stores and employs more than 500,000. He was the company's first CEO and first Chairman until retiring in 2002.

Born in 1929 to Russian Jewish immigrants, he grew up in a tenement in Newark, New Jersey. After college, he worked at manufacturing conglomerate O'Dell's and retail chain Vornado, Inc. By 1972, Bernie was the chairman of the Board and president of Handy Dan Improvement Centers, Inc., a chain that was part of the Daylin conglomerate, where he met Blank.

Home Depot was created after Bernie was fired from Handy Dan in April 1978, along with Blank. With his vision of a one-stop shop for do-it-yourselfers, he and Blank, along with others, started the retail firm, with financial support from Investment banker Ken Langone.

Bernie, together with his wife Billi, also was very active in various philanthropic efforts. They also joined the Giving Pledge in 2010, a commitment to give away most of their money during their lifetime.

According to Home Depot, Bernie's philanthropic work will be continued by the Marcus Foundation, with a focus on Jewish causes, children, medical research, free enterprise and the community.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
World leaders began congratulating Donald Trump as he is projected to win the U.S. presidential election.

French President Emmanuel Macron was one of the first leaders of major US allies to congratulate Trump. "I'm ready to work together as we have done for four years. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity," he wrote on X.

In a congratulatory message posted on X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!"

UK prime minister Keir Starmer congratulated Trump for a "historic election victory". "As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come," he added.

According to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, it was the biggest comeback in U.S. political history, and a much needed victory for the World.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump by saying he appreciates Trump's commitment to "peace through strength" approach in global affairs.

"We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump's decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations," he wrote on social media.

While campaigning, Trump had indicated that he would end U.S. military support for Ukraine, and claimed he could end Russia's war against its neighbor "in one day."

During election campaign, Trump had also vowed the biggest deportation of migrants in U.S. history, more tariffs on foreign trade and promised to end the war in the Middle East if he wins the election.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to congratulate Donald Trump, the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that US-Russia relations are currently at their lowest historical point.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
Donald Trump is set to become the 47th president of the United States with an authoritative victory in the election.

By sweeping reliable red states as well as dominating in the key battleground states, he has already crossed the threshold of 270 electoral votes.

Latest projections put the Republican candidate at 279 electoral college votes, while his Democratic rival Kamala Harris has so far managed to win only 223 electoral votes.

Trump is also on course to win popular votes.

Trump has so far won 51 percent of votes against Kamala Harris' 47.4 percent.

CBS exit poll data suggests the Vice-President, who would have become the first woman U.S. president, received only 54 percent of female votes, three percent less than what Joe Biden won from women voters in 2020.

Trump's 40-year-old running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance is set to become the third-youngest vice president in American history.

In a speech claiming victory, Trump told his supporters in Florida, "America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate."

The billionaire-turned politician promised Americans, "every single day I will be fighting for you", and said he would usher in the "golden age of America."

"We have a country that needs help and it needs help very badly. We're going to fix our borders and we're going to fix everything about our country," Trump said, accompanied by his family members.

A section of Trump's speech was dedicated to billionaire businessman Elon Musk, who was his mega-donor during the election. He called the Tesla, X, and SpaceX boss a "new star" of the Republican Party.

Trump is the second president who comes back to power after losing a re-election, after Grover Cleveland in 1892.

In addition to sweeping reliable red states from Florida to Idaho, it was Donald Trump's domination in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin and North Carolina that dimmed Kamala Harris' possible paths to victory.

Counting is yet to complete in many key states, including in the other battleground states of Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada, where Trump reportedly remains ahead.

Trump could be on track for a clean sweep of the seven swing states, BBC reports.

In addition to winning reliably blue states from New York to California, Minnesota and New Jersey are some of the states that have been called for Harris, which helped her cross the 200 electoral college votes mark.

78-year-old Trump was elected as the 47th President of the United States overcoming multiple scandals and court cases over his career, and surviving an apparent assassination attempt during campaign.

Kamala Harris is yet to concede defeat or address her supporters.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Donald Trump on his re-election as U.S. president, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. Trump,

I cordially congratulate you on your reelection as the President of the United States of America.

The confident victory you gained in the elections is the clear reflection of a big support and confidence the friendly American people places in you personally and the political course you pursue.

The Republic of Azerbaijan attaches a particular importance to the comprehensive development of its relations with the United States of America.

During your first presidency, you were very attentive to the solidification of friendly and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and the United States, and the continuous and consistent development of our collaboration. I am pleased to note that our partnership based on mutual trust and support, including our interaction in several important areas, and particularly, fighting global challenges and terrorism, fostering international peace and security, and ensuring Europes energy security, is characterized by dynamic and ever increasing development. I would like to note in particular your constant resolute support in Azerbaijans energy strategy.

Benefiting a vast potential of our joint activities with the United States, we are determined to further expand and deepen our bilateral partnership in all areas, including political, economic-commercial, security, energy, green and digital transition and others. We do believe that during your new presidency, the relations between Azerbaijan and the United States will further strengthen as the new cooperation areas will be defined.

Azerbaijan will further continue its actions to foster peace and security in the South Caucasus.

I am confident that we will continue to put joint efforts to the fostering of Azerbaijan-the United States friendly relations to advance our partnership based on national interests of our countries, including those of national security.

I reiterate my most heartfelt congratulations to you, and wish good health, happiness and successes in your highest State activities for the sake of prosperity of the friendly American people," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Azerbaijan attaches particular importance to the comprehensive development of its relations with the United States of America, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a congratulatory letter to Donald Trump on his re-election as U.S. president, Trend reports.

"During your first presidency, you were very attentive to the solidification of friendly and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and the United States, and the continuous and consistent development of our collaboration. I am pleased to note that our partnership based on mutual trust and support, including our interaction in several important areas, and particularly, fighting global challenges and terrorism, fostering international peace and security, and ensuring Europes energy security, is characterized by dynamic and ever increasing development. I would like to note in particular your constant resolute support in Azerbaijans energy strategy.

Benefiting a vast potential of our joint activities with the United States, we are determined to further expand and deepen our bilateral partnership in all areas, including political, economic-commercial, security, energy, green and digital transition and others. We do believe that during your new presidency, the relations between Azerbaijan and the United States will further strengthen as the new cooperation areas will be defined.

Azerbaijan will further continue its actions to foster peace and security in the South Caucasus.

I am confident that we will continue to put joint efforts to the fostering of Azerbaijan-the United States friendly relations to advance our partnership based on national interests of our countries, including those of national security," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 7. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline.

The 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

Chronicle of the 42-nd day of the second Karabakh war:

- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made a post Twitter that the Azerbaijani Army liberated two villages in Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan, Gubadli, Khojaly and Khojavand districts.

- The cannons of the 3rd battery of the Armenian armed forces' D-30 artillery division were destroyed.

- The Armenian armed forces' equipment and manpower were destroyed.

- The personnel of the Armenian armed forces' special military unit was besieged and liquidated.

- The Armenian armed forces shelled Tartar and Aghjabadi.

- The Armenian armed forces shelled the villages of Aghdam.

- The Armenian armed forces shelled Azerbaijani settlements.

- A 16-year-old teenager was killed as a result of Armenian missile attack on Barda.

- Another video of the liberated villages of Jabrayil district was released.

- The Armenian armed forces suffered losses in the direction of Aghdam.

- Another military column of the Armenian armed forces was destroyed.
Photo: Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov has discussed strengthening interreligious and intercultural dialogue during a meeting with the Secretary General of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) Zuhair Alharti, Trend reports via the statement from the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers.

According to the statement, the meeting pointed out that the Global Summit of Religious Leaders being held in Baku under the motto "Religions of the world for a green planet" within the framework of COP29 serves to build interreligious dialogue and bridges in the world.

The sides talked about Azerbaijan's ongoing work to support the green cause, fight climate change, and improve dialogue between different religions and cultures.

Alharti briefed on the projects being implemented by KAICIID.

Issues of cooperation between institutions of Azerbaijan and KAICIID in various fields were discussed at the meeting," added the statement.

To note, the Global Summit of Religious Leaders is being held by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations, the Muslim Council of Elders, the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO), and the United Nations Environment Program in Baku.

This global forum is attended by approximately 30 leaders from both secular and traditional religions, heads of prominent religious centers (including patriarchs, officials from the Vatican, and Al-Azhar), internationally recognized religious and public figures from a variety of faiths and regions, representatives from government, academia, and religious institutions from 55 countries and 30 international organizations, and media representatives.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The next summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will be hosted by Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

This decision was made at the conclusion of the 11th meeting of the OTS Heads of State Council in Bishkek.

The leaders of the OTS member countries agreed that the next summit will take place in Azerbaijan in 2025.

At the end of the meeting, during which the chairmanship of the organization was handed over from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan, the heads of state signed the Bishkek Summit Declaration.

The OTS countries also agreed to hold an informal summit in Hungary next year.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Donald Trumps win in the U.S. presidential election could provide a significant boost to Azerbaijani-American relations, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.

Lately, the U.S. has followed an aggressive foreign policy, frequently intervening in other nations domestic matters. By electing Trump, many Americans are seeking solutions at home rather than focusing abroad. During the Biden administration, U.S. foreign policy was a topic of heated debate, with many feeling that the country was overly involved in international issues. This includes support for Ukraine, competition with China, a constant presence in the Middle East, and even interference in Azerbaijani-Armenian affairs, Garayev explained.

Garayev also emphasized the importance of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs congratulatory message to Trump following the election results.

President Aliyev highlighted that during Trumps first term, he focused on building friendly, cooperative ties with Azerbaijan, encouraging steady growth in our partnership. Aliyev also expressed confidence that a new Trump term would further strengthen our relationship, Garayev noted.

Given Trumps emphasis on economic issues in his previous term, Garayev believes that Trumps administration could be receptive to expanding trade and economic partnerships with Azerbaijan.

This could encourage more U.S. companies to enter the Azerbaijani market, opening up joint projects in technology and infrastructure. Under the Trump administration, the focus could shift from foreign entanglements to fostering economic progress and development. This would allow the U.S. and Azerbaijan to collaborate on new projects and advance economically, benefitting both nations, Garayev concluded.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. ECO Secretary General Asad M. Khan visited Ambassador Ali Alizada, the Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to ECO, Trend reports, citing ECO's official website.

Appreciating Azerbaijans support to the Secretariat and their active role in advancing the ECO agenda, the Secretary General briefed Ambassador Alizada about his recent interactions with Ministers from the Member States in New York, Ashgabat and Tashkent.

The meeting also discussed ECOs participation in COP29, as well as the events that ECO will be organizing on the sidelines of the event, including the Ministerial Meeting on Circular Economy, ECO Ministerial Meeting on Environment and the soft launching event of ECO Clean Energy Center.
Al Jones Construction work on the Tiny Houses of HOPE Development at North Street in Westnedge Avenue is nearing completion.

About $130,000 was spent on site work and things necessary to start the Tiny House project, such as environmental testing and marketing. About $390,000 has been spent on the actual construction of the houses. Another $350,000 is expected to be spent on the construction of a support services building on the site.

The money for the construction work has included about $300,000 from the Kalamazoo County Housing Millage and about $125,000 from the City of Kalamazoo. Additional funding has come from the Local Initiatives Support Corp., private donors, and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation.

Al Jones Construction work on the Tiny Houses of HOPE Development at North Street in Westnedge Avenue is nearing completion.

Al Jones Each of the three houses is approximately 410 square feet.

Al Jones Each of the three houses is approximately 410 square feet.
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Russia is behind a series of false bomb threats in Georgia and other states that briefly closed polling stations Tuesday, an escalation in tactics aimed at sowing fear and suppressing votes, federal and local officials said.

"The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains," the agency said in a statement. "None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far."

While the FBI did not name the states targeted, local officials said there were at least six threats in Georgia alone, all in Democratic-leaning areas in the greater Atlanta area. Four occurred in Fulton County, including two that led to polling places closing down for half an hour, and another in nearby Gwinnett County that was down for 30 to 40 minutes, a state official said on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Another threat was aimed at a polling place in Clayton County, the official said.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said several polling locations in Navajo County, home to many Native Americans, received hoax bomb threats as well. "We also have reason to believe, although I won't get into specifics, that this comes from one of our foreign enemies, namely Russia," said Fontes, a Democrat. Zach Stoebe, a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office for Arizona, said the Justice Department was investigating the threats but could not verify Russian ties.

The threats hit predominantly minority areas, and officials were concerned that some unable to vote immediately might not return, according to a Justice Department official not authorized to talk with the press who spoke anonymously.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, was the first to point the finger at Russia.

Some polling location officials said they were seeking court orders to extend their hours of operation to make up for the disruption.

The top elections official at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the disruptions were not deemed a national threat to the orderly voting process.

Earlier Tuesday, the FBI attributed a video to Russia that falsely claimed that the bureau had warned voters to stay home because of the possibility of violence. A second video featured a fake FBI press release claiming that operators of five prisons conspired with a political party and rigged inmate voting, it said.

On Sunday, a Russian operation put out a video with a fake whistleblower saying Arizona officials were conspiring to throw the election to Harris and calling for physical protests, the FBI said late Monday.

The new threats mark an escalation from recent videos falsely claiming voting fraud and bear out U.S. warnings that Russia especially would seek to sow distrust and chaos during the election and its aftermath and could try to instigate violence.

With most voters having decided whom to support, officials said it made sense for Russia, whose disinformation efforts have centered on supporting former president Donald Trump, to shift toward provoking chaos around the voting and certification process instead.

"They likely realize they can't really make people change behaviors at this polls," said former CISA Director Chris Krebs. "If chaos is the point, the most opportune window to create mischief is the post-November 5th pre-certification period."

U.S. officials said the disruptions could get worse over the next two months.

"If voters are leaving polling places or not showing up because of law enforcement activity or general fear, that goes beyond this idea that Russia is just out there spreading partisan memes," said Bret Schafer, senior fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

In the past few days, Germany accused Russia of calling in bomb threats to disrupt voting in closely watched elections in Moldova, which shares a border with Ukraine. A German foreign ministry spokesman said multiple polling places set up for Moldovans living abroad had been disrupted.

"This certainly feels like a new page in the Russian playbook, given that they were accused of doing the same thing in Moldova over the weekend," Schafer said.

U.S. cybersecurity agency senior adviser Cait Conley said the government was not aware of a coordinated propaganda campaign to build on the bomb threats by claiming that it was an opportunity for vote-switching, but added her agency "would not be surprised" by efforts to take advantage.

"We have seen the influx of narratives that have the potential and arguably the intention of inciting physical violence," Conley said in a press briefing.

She said that the Russian disinformation efforts, which have included paying social media stars and crafting websites that look like pages from The Washington Post, Fox News and others, are more extensive and sophisticated than in any previous election cycle. She also said threats to election officials were a major concern.

Conservative pundits on social media disputed the attribution to Russia and blamed Democrats. "If you believe Russia did a bomb threat in Georgia - you probably believed it when the government told you masks work," one wrote.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is planning to work on creating a new platform that will combine religious and environmental topics, the organization's project director Ersin Aydogan said at a panel discussion on the second day of the Baku Global Summit of Religious Leaders, Trend reports.

He emphasized that three years ago, cooperation in the religious sphere was launched at the initiative of the Caucasus Muslims Department of Azerbaijan.

Recalling that the environmental ministers of the OTS countries will meet for the first time this month, they identified a new area of cooperation - climate.

Inspired by this Global Forum of Religious Leaders, we will try to create a new platform that will unite religious and environmental topics, he added.

To note, the Global Summit of Religious Leaders, organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Committee for Work with Religious Entities, the Muslim Council of Elders, the Caucasus Muslims Office, and the UN Environment Programme, continues its work in Baku within the framework of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

This global forum is attended by approximately 30 leaders from both secular and traditional religions, heads of prominent religious centers (including patriarchs, officials from the Vatican, and Al-Azhar), internationally recognized religious and public figures from a variety of faiths and regions, representatives from government, academia, and religious institutions from 55 countries and 30 international organizations, and media representatives.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Italian bank UniCredit and Germanys Commerzbank delivered contrasting third-quarter earnings on Wednesday as UniCredit pursued an increased stake in Commerzbank, potentially setting the stage for one of Europes largest banking mergers in over a decade.

UniCredit reported an 8% rise in net profit to 2.51bn, significantly surpassing forecasts and prompting the Milan-based lender to lift its full-year profit guidance above 9bn.

Chief executive officer Andrea Orcel emphasised the groups robust profitability, with the bank seeing record earnings across its regions and planning to boost shareholder distributions next year.

Conversely, Commerzbanks net profit fell 6.2% to 642m due to declining interest income and a near-tripling of loan-loss provisions, though the result still exceeded analyst estimates.

The German lender reaffirmed its annual profit outlook of 2.4bn, announced a 600m share buyback with an additional 400m planned pending regulatory approval, and continued its strategy of capital efficiency, led by CEO Bettina Orlopp.

Seeking to reinforce Commerzbanks independence, Orlopp had been working to free up capital through risk-weighted asset reductions and significant risk transfers to bolster shareholder returns and pursue profitable growth.

UniCredits acquisition of a 9% stake in Commerzbank, along with an 11.5% derivatives position, came as part of Orcels gradual approach to a potential merger, which he asserted could create value for both banks without client attrition.

However, the German government, which retains a stake in Commerzbank from a financial crisis-era bailout, had signalled caution toward a merger - a sentiment echoed by Orlopp, who maintained that Commerzbanks independent strategy was the stronger path forward.

Despite the tensions, UniCredits Orcel remained optimistic about the long-term potential of a tie-up, while also indicating he could sell the stake at a profit if a merger proved unfeasible.

At 1157 CET (1057 GMT), shares in UniCredit were up 0.23% in Milan at 42.94, while those in Commerzbank were down 3.13% in Frankfurt at 16.08.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Accessing clean drinking water is one of the key concerns in the face of increasing global water scarcity for far-flung and underserved communities. Founded in 2017 by Navkaran Singh Bagga in Kolkata, AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems has been at the forefront of innovative solutions transforming atmospheric moisture into accessible drinking water sources.

Innovative Technology for an Urgent Need

AKVO stands out as one of the best inventions in the battle against water scarcity with its atmospheric water generation technology. It extracts the moisture in the air, allowing its systems to transform that resource into clean, drinking water for the communities lacking adequate infrastructure. It is the ideal technology that works very effectively in regions where conventional water supply methods are only possible if present.

Considering zero water wastage, the AKVO AWG systems are fully functional even under moderate humidity conditions and therefore adaptable to almost any environment. This implies that no community will be left behind due to their geographic or climatic challenges.

Core Sustainability

In its very foundation, the mission of the AKVO lies commitment to sustainability. The fact that they provide water with no carbon footprint of conventionally processed water makes the system viable; at the same time, they designed them compatible with renewable energy sources. Thus, having compatibility for solar power ensures AKVO remains devoted to clean water, giving one independence for self-sustained supply, free from being a dependency on the un-renewable source of resources and means.

Economic Empowerment through Clean Water

Fully aware of the economic boundary to clean water access, AKVO has developed a model that anchors affordability at the heart. TCO and its systems for AKVO offer critical long-term savings with substantial positive environmental impact. At per cost per litre, here is why AKVO persuasively presents the case that investment in sustainable water technologies is not a cycle: it stops the dependence of bottled water and expensive methods of purification.

Impactful Case Studies

Akvo's innovative water solutions have made a significant impact across diverse settings. In Haldia, West Bengal, Akvo's IDM systems addressed arsenic contamination at an oil refinery, ensuring safe drinking water for 900 employees and improving operational efficiency across a 300-acre facility. In Abu Dhabi, UAE, Akvos Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs) supported sustainable agriculture by producing 300 liters of water daily, an essential resource for local farms in challenging arid conditions. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, India, corporate clients benefited from Akvos sustainable water supply model, which significantly reduced both plastic waste and the costs associated with bottled water.

A Global Footprint with Local Impact

With a presence in 15 countries, AKVO installations produce a staggering 250,000 litres of water daily. The global footprint is testimony to the versatility and success of their technology; with every installation, it does not only directly alleviate but empowers local communities since they are left with the means to sustainably manage their water requirements.

Future Aspirations: Scaling Impact

While AWG technology promises the future, it is in partnerships with AKVO and both corporations and NGOs that collaborations will give the world much larger implications. Since it addresses both residential levels, humanitarian crisis levels, as well as agricultural levels when it comes to water issues, this organization will leave huge impacts in combating the issue of water scarcity as well in this battle.

With the ever-growing demand for clean water in the world, AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems is a beacon of innovation and hope. The transformation of air into a reliable source of drinking water quenches thirst and empowers communities to embrace sustainable practices that can help build a better future for everyone.
Swiggy, a leading name in Indias burgeoning on-demand delivery sector, has become synonymous with convenience since its inception in 2014. The company has rapidly evolved its service offerings, expanding from food delivery to include groceries and logistics. With a commitment to innovation, Swiggy has firmly established its foothold in urban markets across the nation. Now, as part of its growth journey, Swiggy is set to launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in November 2024, inviting investors to share in its future success.

With plans to raise substantial capital through this IPO, it presents an attractive opportunity for investors. Understanding how IPO allotment works can help potential buyers navigate this process effectively.

Heres a complete guide to the Hyundai IPO, featuring HDFC Skys efficient One-Click IPO investment solution.

Understanding Swiggys Business Model

Swiggy operates as a consumer-centric technology platform, unifying a range of services through its app. Customers can access food delivery, grocery shopping, event bookings, and various other conveniences, all within a single interface. With notable features such as:

Multiple Offerings: Including Food Delivery, Instamart, and Dineout.

Including Food Delivery, Instamart, and Dineout. Member Benefits: Discounts and perks through its Swiggy One membership program.

Discounts and perks through its Swiggy One membership program. User-Friendly Payments: Options like Swiggy Money and UPI facilitate seamless transactions.

Swiggy also provides significant support to its partners, offering advanced analytics, fulfillment solutions, and delivery services. Its innovative technology framework allows for the quick integration of new offerings, significantly enhancing user convenience. Swiggys reputation as a top Consumer Technology & Services brand, as per Kantar's 2024 BrandZ report, highlights its capacity for rapid growth and user engagement.

Key Highlights of the Swiggy IPO

IPO Information Details Offering Period November 6, 2024  November 8, 2024 Expected Listing Date November 13, 2024 Face Value  1 per share Price Range  371   390 per share Minimum Lot Size 38 shares Total Shares Offered 290,446,837 shares (Total:  11,327.43 Cr) Fresh Issue 115,358,974 shares ( 4,499.00 Cr) Offer for Sale 175,087,863 shares ( 6,828.43 Cr) Discount for Employees  25 per share Listing Exchanges BSE, NSE

Investors keen on participating in the Swiggy IPO can do so by ensuring they have a demat account opening online. This step is crucial as a demat account facilitates the storage of shares in an electronic format, simplifying the trading process

IPO Timeline: What to Expect

IPO Open Date: November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024 IPO Close Date: November 8, 2024

November 8, 2024 Allotment Basis: November 11, 2024

November 11, 2024 Refund Initiation: November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024 Demat Credit Date: November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024 Listing Date: November 13, 2024

Many platforms now offer a demat account app that allows for seamless transactions and easy monitoring of investments.

Allocation Breakdown

Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs): At least 75% of the net issue.

At least 75% of the net issue. Retail Investors: No more than 10% of the net issue.

No more than 10% of the net issue. Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs): Up to 15% of the net issue.

Objectives Behind the IPO

The proceeds from the Swiggy IPO will be allocated towards several strategic goals:

Debt Management: Repaying borrowings associated with Scootsy.

Repaying borrowings associated with Scootsy. Expansion Plans: Developing the Dark Store network for enhanced Quick Commerce capabilities.

Developing the Dark Store network for enhanced Quick Commerce capabilities. Technological Upgrades: Investing in technology and cloud infrastructures.

Investing in technology and cloud infrastructures. Brand Enhancement: Marketing initiatives to boost visibility and engagement.

Marketing initiatives to boost visibility and engagement. Growth Opportunities: Potential acquisitions and general corporate purposes.

Financial Snapshot: An Overview

Financial Metric 30 June 2024 31 March 2024 31 March 2023 31 March 2022 Total Assets ( Cr) 10,341.24 10,529.42 11,280.65 14,405.74 Revenue ( Cr) 3,310.11 11,634.35 8,714.45 6,119.78 Profit After Tax ( Cr) -611.01 -2,350.24 -4,179.31 -3,628.90 Net Worth ( Cr) 7,444.99 7,791.46 9,056.61 12,266.91 Reserves ( Cr) -7,750.85 -7,880.85 -6,510.34 -3,311.10 Total Borrowing ( Cr) 256.61 211.19 0 0

Highlights of Swiggys Financial Health

Asset Decline: A decrease from  14,405.74 crore in FY 2022 to  10,341.24 crore by June 2024, indicating a possible strategy shift.

A decrease from  14,405.74 crore in FY 2022 to  10,341.24 crore by June 2024, indicating a possible strategy shift. Revenue Growth: An impressive increase from  6,119.78 crore in FY 2022 to  11,634.35 crore in FY 2024, showcasing a 34% year-on-year rise.

An impressive increase from  6,119.78 crore in FY 2022 to  11,634.35 crore in FY 2024, showcasing a 34% year-on-year rise. Reducing Losses: Continuous improvement in PAT, with losses decreasing significantly over recent fiscal years.

Continuous improvement in PAT, with losses decreasing significantly over recent fiscal years. Net Worth and Reserves: A notable drop in net worth, primarily driven by ongoing operational losses.

Strengths and Challenges of the IPO

Advantages

Market Leadership: Swiggy is a frontrunner in hyperlocal commerce, continually innovating to enhance user experiences.

Swiggy is a frontrunner in hyperlocal commerce, continually innovating to enhance user experiences. Robust User Base: The app reached over 112 million users in its tenth year, demonstrating substantial growth.

The app reached over 112 million users in its tenth year, demonstrating substantial growth. High Engagement Levels: Users engage with the app an average of 4.5 times per month, highlighting strong customer loyalty.

Users engage with the app an average of 4.5 times per month, highlighting strong customer loyalty. Brand Recognition: Swiggy ranks as a top brand in Consumer Technology & Services, aiding user retention and acquisition.

Potential Risks

Ongoing Losses: Despite increasing revenues, Swiggy continues to face net losses.

Despite increasing revenues, Swiggy continues to face net losses. Competitive Landscape: Rival offers may impact customer acquisition and retention rates.

Rival offers may impact customer acquisition and retention rates. Partnership Management: Maintaining restaurant and merchant relationships is critical for sustained order volumes.

Maintaining restaurant and merchant relationships is critical for sustained order volumes. Operational Challenges: Efficient management of Dark Stores is necessary to avoid service disruptions.

For those interested in trading, an F&O trading app can enhance their experience. These applications provide access to futures and options markets, allowing investors to explore additional investment strategies alongside their stock purchases.

Future Directions for Growth

Swiggy is committed to further expanding its service offerings and partnerships to boost user convenience. Key strategies include:

Network Expansion: Growth of the Dark Store network to diversify product offerings.

Growth of the Dark Store network to diversify product offerings. Operational Optimization: Streamlining processes to improve contribution margins.

Streamlining processes to improve contribution margins. Technological Advancements: Enhancing technology to improve delivery efficiency.

Enhancing technology to improve delivery efficiency. Brand Engagement: Implementing data-driven marketing strategies to strengthen brand recall.

How to Invest in Swiggys IPO via HDFC Sky

Using HDFC Sky's One-Click IPO feature simplifies the investment process for the Swiggy IPO. Heres a quick guide to get started:

Log Into HDFC Sky: Use your credentials to access your account. Find the IPO Section: Click on "Indian Stocks" and select "IPO." Choose Swiggy: Locate Swiggy in the IPO offerings and click Apply Now. Enter Your Bid: Specify your bid amount and any customisation needed. Select Payment Method: Opt for UPI as your payment choice. Approve the Transaction: Authorise the payment via your UPI app. Complete Your Application: Finalise your application by placing your order.

Advantages of HDFC Skys One-Click Feature

Streamlined Process: Simplifies applications, reducing paperwork.

Simplifies applications, reducing paperwork. Real-Time Updates: Get instant notifications on your application and refund status.

Get instant notifications on your application and refund status. Comprehensive Management: Manage all IPO investments conveniently in one place.

Manage all IPO investments conveniently in one place. Accessible Anywhere: Apply for the IPO from any location using the app or portal.

The Swiggy IPO represents an incredible investment opportunity in a dynamic market. With HDFC Skys One-Click feature, participating in this growth story is easier than ever. Seize this chance to invest in a promising future!
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The Global Summit of Religious Leaders provides a unique platform to spread vital messages to the world, said Nabil Haddad, Director of the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center (JICRC), on the second day of the Global Baku Summit of Religious Leaders in Baku, Trend reports.

Haddad shone a light on the ongoing global squabbles and their harmful ripple effects on both people and the planet.

"Today, our environment is suffering immensely because of war. Instead of nurturing the earth with flowers, we are sowing mines in its soil. As religious leaders, we must come together and protect our planet. We make this call from Baku: prosperity must reign on earth, as in heaven," he said.

Ravan Hasanov, Executive Director of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism, highlighted Azerbaijans struggles with landmines, saying, "Youve touched on a very important issue. During the occupation, a vast number of mines were planted across Azerbaijani territory by Armenian forces, resulting in the loss of many innocent lives."

To note, a Global Summit of Religious Leaders is being held as part of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations, the Muslim Council of Elders, the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO), and the United Nations Environment Program in Baku.

This global forum is attended by approximately 30 leaders from both secular and traditional religions, heads of prominent religious centers (including patriarchs, officials from the Vatican, and Al-Azhar), internationally recognized religious and public figures from a variety of faiths and regions, representatives from government, academia, and religious institutions from 55 countries and 30 international organizations, and media representatives.

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NITI Aayog aims at engaging with National Jal Jeevan Mission and Ministry of Jal Shakti and Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under 15-day-long 'Jal Utsav' water festival with efforts from communities to achieve objectives through promoting water conservation practices at 20 state-level areas. The awareness creation events would be carried on the event days ranging between 6th and 24th November 2024 with respect to practice sustainably, water-conservative approaches, and being prudent while using the said essential liquid.

There would be a series of celebrations across 20 Aspirational Districts with an array of activities to reach the grassroots level. These range from cleaning water assets to tree plantation, student awareness campaigns, and community promises to ensure responsible water use.

The idea is that the individual and the communities themselves take proactive measures in making India's water safe and sustainable for the future.

The concept of Jal Utsav aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision, inspired by the success of Nadi Utsav (River Festival) discussed in December 2023 at the 3rd Chief Secretaries Conference. Through various community-driven activities, the festival seeks to empower individuals, particularly students, to become active agents of change within their families and communities, reinforcing the need for water stewardship in everyday life.

The festival will kick off with the symbolic 'Jal Bandhan', where eminent personalities and local leaders will ceremoniously tie a sacred thread on water assets to signify their commitment to water preservation. Leaders will also introduce a 'Fact Sheet on Jal Sampada' specific to their districts, outlining the status of local water assets. Participants will take a pledge, the Jal Utsav Oath, committing to sustainable water practices through the 5Rs: Respect, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recharge.

Throughout the fortnight, a series of engaging activities are planned, including the cleaning of water assets, the celebration of "Jal Sanchay Diwas" for water conservation, and the introduction of water management lessons in schools. Teachers will use stories, experiments, and field trips to educate students on water quality testing and sustainable practices. Students will also have the opportunity to visit water supply and treatment plants, further enhancing their understanding of water resource management.

Additional events during the Jal Utsav festival include the Jal Utsav Ru, a celebration of water's significance in sustaining life, and tree-planting campaigns under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative. These efforts aim to strengthen environmental conservation and the protection of water resources.

In addition, skill development programs will be conducted for 'Nal Jal Mitra' (water community volunteers) under the guidance of the 'Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation'. These programs are designed to enhance local capabilities in managing water resources.

Self-help groups and 'ASHA workers' will also participate, focusing on building capacity for water conservation at the grassroots level.

Through these activities, Jal Utsav aims to promote a collective understanding of the crucial role water plays in sustaining life, while encouraging sustainable practices to ensure water security for future generations.
Automation has revolutionized nearly every industry, dramatically altering business operations worldwide. The field of estate settlement, traditionally reliant on time-consuming manual processes, has also been profoundly impacted by automation. From the execution of wills to the distribution of assets, technology has paved the way for a new era of efficiency in legal services. One of the key figures behind this transformative change is Sai Kiran Nandipati, a visionary leader driving technological innovation in estate settlements.

Revolutionizing Estate Settlements with Automation

At the core of Nandipati's innovation is a sophisticated platform built using Pega Case Management. This powerful solution automates the estate settlement process, from will execution to final asset distribution, ensuring a seamless workflow that integrates easily with the existing systems of financial institutions. By automating complex legal procedures and reducing the reliance on manual inputs, the platform has not only decreased the risk of human error but also significantly cut down on the time required to settle estates. This technological leap forward has drastically changed the landscape for both legal professionals and their clients.

Nandipati's role in spearheading the development of this platform goes beyond mere technical execution. He worked closely with a major financial institution to ensure that the system adhered to strict regulatory requirements while maintaining operational efficiency. His deep understanding of both the technological and legal landscapes allowed him to overcome the challenges typically associated with integrating new technology into established frameworks. His leadership in this area has not only ensured that the solution is compliant with regulations but has also set a new industry standard for automated estate settlements.

Significant Benefits of the Automated Solution

In addition to boosting efficiency, the automated system has delivered substantial cost savings. With operational processes streamlined, the platform has led to a 30% decrease in operational costs for legal firms and financial institutions. These savings are particularly important in a field where margins can be tight, and they underscore the value of investing in automation to improve both efficiency and profitability.

Nandipati's solution has also been a catalyst for business growth. The platform's ability to provide a modern, efficient approach to estate planning has attracted a wave of new clients, eager to embrace this forward-thinking technology. As a direct result, the organization saw a 15% increase in revenue within the first year of the platform's implementation. This success not only highlights the commercial viability of automation in legal services but also emphasizes the growing demand for innovative solutions in estate planning.

Shaping the Future of Estate Settlement Automation

Nandipati had to overcome the seamless integration of the automated platform with the outdated legacy systems already in place. This required navigating complex compatibility issues while ensuring the new solution could function alongside the older infrastructure without disruption. Legacy systems are often deeply entrenched in financial institutions, making it difficult to introduce new technologies without causing disruptions. However, Nandipati navigated these challenges with precision, ensuring compatibility and seamless data flow between old and new systems. His ability to integrate the platform without disrupting ongoing operations demonstrated his deep technical expertise and commitment to delivering a flawless solution.

In addition to technical hurdles, he had to address organizational resistance to change. As with any technological advancement, there were concerns about the adoption of automation, particularly in a field as sensitive as estate settlements. However, through careful planning, open communication, and a focus on demonstrating the benefits of the platform, Nandipati was able to gain the trust and support of stakeholders. He successfully mitigated concerns related to regulatory compliance, ensuring that the new system adhered to legal standards while delivering enhanced efficiency and cost savings.

Nandipatis work in automating estate settlements underscores the potential for even further advancements in the legal services sector. His insights into the future of the industry suggest that the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will play an increasingly important role in estate planning. These technologies can be used to predict and automate complex legal decisions, providing even greater accuracy and efficiency in the execution of wills and distribution of assets. Moreover, Nandipati envisions the integration of blockchain technology to enhance security and transparency in legal transactions, ensuring that all parties involved can trust the integrity of the process.

Innovative Leadership in Legal Tech

Nandipatis contributions to the legal services industry extend beyond his technological achievements. He has also authored a paper titled "Optimizing Estate Settlement Workflows Through Cross-Channel Integration with Pega CRM," which has been widely recognized for its insightful analysis of estate settlement automation. His research highlights the benefits of integrating automated workflows across multiple channels, ensuring that clients and legal professionals alike can benefit from a seamless and efficient estate settlement process.

As a forward-thinking leader in the field, Nandipati continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in estate planning and settlement. His vision for the future includes the widespread adoption of AI, ML, and blockchain technologies, creating a legal services ecosystem that is more efficient, secure, and tailored to the needs of each client. Through his pioneering work, he is not only shaping the future of estate settlements but is also setting new standards for innovation in the legal services industry. His contributions are paving the way for a more streamlined, cost-effective, and secure approach to estate planning and beneficiary management, benefiting both legal professionals and their clients alike.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD is seeking the publics assistance in identifying a man who allegedly assaulted a Bronx deli worker and robbed the store.

It was reported to police that on Monday, Oct. 28, at approximately 2:20 a.m., a 25-year-old male was working inside the establishment at 393 E. 168 St., when the unidentified individual entered the store and proceeded to order food.

The Corner Still is located at the address provided by the NYPD.

Upon ordering, the individual allegedly refused to pay and grabbed the victim over the counter. The individual then allegedly struck the employee multiple times with an unknown object before fleeing on foot with the food eastbound, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

The victim was transported to Lincoln Hospital in stable condition, police said.

The sought individual is described as a male, approximately 30 to 40 years old with a light complexion, medium build, standing six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, police said.

The NYPD released a surveillance image of the individual, who was last seen wearing a gray sweat suit, gray sneakers, a dark gray hat and carrying a brown bag.

Armed with a new statute that went into effect earlier this month, prosecutors have begun filing felony charges against individuals accused of carrying out assaults against retail workers while shoplifting.

As part of a bill written by state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) and signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul this past spring, the assault of a retail worker has been elevated to a Class E felony, making the crime punishable by up to four years in prison.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.
A New York State Assemblyman has introduced a new law after an internet-famous squirrel was euthanized in Upstate New York.

WETM reports NYS Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz of the 15th Assembly District in Long Island has proposed Peanuts Law: Humane Animal Protection Act. The law would be an amendment to the New York State Environmental Conservation Law over animal seizure rules after the popular Peanut the squirrel, also known as PNut or PNUT, was euthanized by DEC agents last week.

I urge you to take immediate action by launching a thorough investigation into the handling of this case and ensuring accountability, Blumencranz wrote in a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul. It is essential that we work together to safeguard both the welfare of animals and the values we hold as a compassionate society.

Peanut and Fred, a rescued raccoon, were both confiscated from Mark Longos home and animal sanctuary in the Southern Tier hamlet Pine City on Wednesday. The DEC and the Chemung County Health Department said both animals were put down for rabies testing after Peanut allegedly bit someone during an investigation over complaints that wildlife was allegedly being kept illegally and potentially unsafely.

In New York State, it is illegal to house animals considered wildlife without a special permit; Mr. Longo has said he was in the process of applying for one. Longo said he was working to get Peanut certified as an education animal.

Honestly, this still kind of feels surreal, that the state that I live in actually targeted me and took two of the most beloved animals on this planet away, didnt even quarantine them. They took them from my house and just killed them, he told the Associated Press on Saturday.

According to WETM, the law proposed by Blumencranz would amend Section 11-0512 of New Yorks Environmental Conservation Law to ensure humane treatment and due process of sanctuary animals, including a mandatory 72-hour waiting period before euthanizing any sanctuary animals. It would also create a dedicated DEC review board of experts for emergency appeals of cases and recognize animal sanctuaries like

The controversy has become a political issue for the 2024 election, according to the New York Times and Rolling Stone.

Republicans, including Blumencranz and Reps. Marc J. Molinaro and Marjorie Taylor Greene, have used it to accuse Democrats of government overreach. GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance said at a North Carolina rally Sunday that former President Donald Trump is even fired up about PNut the squirrel.

RIP Peanut, the Trump campaigns official TikTok account said on Sunday. Needlessly murdered by Democrat bureaucrats in New York... We will avenge you on Tuesday at the ballot box.

Hochul and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, declined requests to comment, according to the Times.

Backlash has only grown as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk spoke out over Peanut on social media and the squirrel even appeared on the cover of the New York Post Sunday. New York State Police have dealt with 10 bomb threats in the last two days targeting DEC facilities, an official told the Times.

Longo, also known as Squirrel Daddy on the website Only Fans, reportedly considered Peanut and Fred to be pets. Peanut, who became famous on Instagram in pictures with a little cowboy hat, had lived with them for seven years and inspired Longo and his wife, Daniela, to open an animal rescue in Chemung County called PNuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Longo told Rolling Stone that hes previously had no issues with the DEC, but changed his tune after last weeks raid.

Im the first one to say that I shy away from politics, but it sparks me in the sense of, This is how the government is run in New York State? he told the magazine. I dont want Peanuts name to die in vain.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A fire that gutted a portion of a Staten Island home last week has left two people in need, but the American Red Cross responded to provide aid, the organization announced.

The fire in Greenridge occurred Friday at 3:57 a.m.

It is suspected to have begun in the attic of the 15 by 40, two-story building at 8 Token St. between Crossfield Avenue and Arthur Kill Road, according to an FDNY spokesman.

In under an hour, about 12 units and 60 firefighters contained the fire, and control was achieved by 4:39 a.m., according to an FDNY spokesperson.

But after the flames were extinguished, it was clear at the scene that the home was severely damaged, particularly the top and rear portion.

In a release, the Red Cross announced it had assisted the homes two residents, addressing their immediate needs through temporary housing and financial support, which helped stabilize their situation while ensuring they have the resources necessary to rebuild their lives.

In most cases, the Red Cross team provides fire victims additional recovery resources through information packets regarding recovery resources and guidance, cleanup kits, comfort kits with personal care items, snacks, waters, and other items as needed to get them through a traumatic experience.

Between Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, the Red Cross responded to 16 emergencies in New York City, helping 182 people in addition to this emergency. Nine people were impacted by one emergency in the Bronx, 41 people by seven emergencies in Brooklyn, 113 people by four emergencies in Manhattan, and 17 people by three emergencies in Queens.

With the end of Daylight Savings Time this week, the Red Cross encourages you, when you are changing your clocks, to take the opportunity to test your smoke alarms to make sure the devices are working.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Against the backdrop of a sharply contested presidential race, which brought a huge turnout of Trump supporters on Staten Island, local races saw incumbents -- mostly Republicans -- prevail as winners.

All three incumbent candidates who were facing challengers this year have won re-election, including Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo (R-Mid-Island).

State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island), Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore/Battery Park), Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore) all ran uncontested and will retain their seats in the state legislature.

Former President Donald Trump currently leads Vice President Kamala Harris by a margin of 43 electoral votes, with Trump holding 230 and Harris holding 187, as of 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

Here on Staten Island, Trump appears to have won the borough for the third consecutive presidential election, with 64.29% of Staten Islanders voting for Trump and 34.22% voting for Harris, with 95.06% of scanners reporting, according to the New York City Board of Elections (NYCBOE).

Heres a look at how all the contested local races played out.

11th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Malliotakis has declared victory over Democratic challenger Andrea Morse and will now enter her third term in Congress.

As of late Tuesday night, Malliotakis has accumulated 64.41% of the vote, compared to 35.21% for Morse, with 94.9% of scanners reporting, according to the NYCBOE.

Once again, the people in our community said that they have had enough of one-party rule in New York State. They want bipartisan representation in Washington and they want people with common sense elected at the city, state and federal level, and thats what you saw take place right here on Staten Island, Malliotakis said.

During her concession speech, local attorney and political newcomer Morse reflected on how meaningful her campaign has been and took a swipe at Republicans handling of the 2020 presidential election.

This has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, Morse said. I lost. I will concede. I am not going to go out and start a riot and have a tantrum.

Malliotakis defeated former Democratic Rep. Max Rose in 2022, winning 61.7% of the vote, according to Ballotpedia. Malliotakis had unseated incumbent Rose in 2020, taking his seat with 53.1% of the vote.

Before serving in the House, Malliotakis represented Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn in the state Assembly for five terms.

She was the Republican candidate for mayor against Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2017.

Malliotakis has been consistently active advocating for the Staten Island community throughout her tenure, recently giving $1 million in federal funding to the Mid-Island Bluebelt and $750,000 in federal funding to Lifestyles for the Disabled  a group that has helped Staten Islanders with disabilities for the past three decades.

23rd STATE SENATE DISTRICT

Scarcella-Spanton has declared victory over Republican challenger Marko Kepi and will now enter her second term in the State Senate.

As of 10:35 p.m. on Tuesday night, Scarcella-Spanton had accumulated 54.65% of the vote, compared to 44.9% for Republican challenger Marko Kepi, with 96.39% of scanners reporting, according to the NYCBOE.

This is a seat that we won with half a percentage point [in 2022], Scarcella-Spanton said. [This year] we won by 10. Honestly, none of us were expecting this kind of win tonight.

Kepi has yet to concede the race and did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

Scarcella-Spanton narrowly won the seat in 2022 against Republican and Conservative Party candidate Joseph Tirone  50.8% to 49%. The seat was previously held by Democrat Diane Savino.

Scarcella-Spanton, whos been working in government since 2009, spoke with the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com in January after completing her first year in office, during which 22 of her sponsored bills passed in the State Senate.

Scarcella-Spanton is a co-sponsor of a piece of legislation, brought by State Sen. Pete Harckham (D-Westchester/Hudson Valley), that would prevent localities reducing municipal retirees healthcare benefits below certain standards.

Additionally, Scarcella-Spanton is the co-prime sponsor of the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would allow mentally competent, terminally ill patients over the age of 18 the choice of self-administering prescribed life-ending medication.

63rd STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Pirozzolo has declared victory over Democratic challenger Matthew Mobilia and will now enter his second term in the State Assembly.

With 95.52% of the votes counted, Pirozzolo declared victory with 57.54% of the votes compared to Mobilias 41.99% of the votes, according to the NYCBOE.

During his victory speech, Pirozzolo said he was proud to continue representing Mid-Island and characterized the GOP as running on a message of hope and change.

Im very proud to have been re-elected as your assemblyman, said Pirozzolo. Im winning my race probably by about 20%. That does a very long way and I dont want to say its a safe Republican seat, but its pretty close to it.

In his concession speech, Mobilia, an attorney and lifelong Staten Islander, told his supporters that they must continue to hold borough Republicans accountable and work to elect more Democrats in the future.

Obviously, this is not the result that we wanted. I know that we ran a very, very good race, he said. We need to build off this. We need to keep our boots to the ground and hold the Republicans on this Island responsible. Theyve run this Island for so long and theyve been in power but it doesnt seem like our lives are getting any better and I think we really need to start attacking them more.

Pirozzolo won the seat in 2022 against Democratic candidate Vincent Argenziano -- 54.6% to 45.3%. The seat was previously held by Democrat Michael Cusick.

The assemblyman has regularly spoken out against congestion pricing, New York bail reform and the citys handling of the ongoing migrant crisis, according to previous Advance/SILive.com reporting.

When asked about the first-year accomplishment of which he is most proud, Pirozzolo pointed to his efforts helping secure $12 million from state funds related to the ongoing opioid crisis.

Staten Island had been excluded from $2.6 billion in funds Attorney General Letitia James secured from a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, because funding went through the citys public hospital system, none of which are on Staten Island.

James, Mayor Eric Adams and a host of local elected officials, including Pirozzolo, announced the funding for Staten Island at Richmond University Medical Center on Dec. 6, 2023, and the assemblyman said his work with local service providers helped him advocate for the funding.

He also pointed to grant money he secured for local non-profit organizations (many of which rely on public money to function) and local public schools as first-year accomplishments.

U.S. SENATE

Incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has declared victory in her race to retain the U.S. Senate seat that she has held since 2009.

As of 11 p.m. on Tuesday night, Gillibrand has accumulated 57.69% of the vote, compared to 37.52% for Republican Michael Sapraicone and 0.45% for independent candidate Diane Sare, according to the New York State Board of Elections.

We are just getting started! Gillibrand said.

She said challenges in the country are expected, but with great challenges come great opportunities.

On Staten Island, Gillibrand received 36.44% of the vote, compared to 59.96% of the vote for Sapraicone and 0.49% for Sare, according to the NYSBOE.

According to Gillibrands website, she is a lifelong New Yorker dedicated to fighting for middle-class families in the United States Senate. Shes supporting our men and women in uniform, creating safer communities, and advocating for seniors and children alike.

UNCONTESTED LOCAL RACES

Lanza, Fall, Tannousis and Reilly were all re-elected after running unopposed in this years races.

State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island): Im honored to be given once again this chance to fight for the great people in Staten Island. This is a great place with great people, and I have had the honor to fight for them and theyve given me that confidence once again. Im going to hit the ground running, as I always do, and Im going to be a fierce advocate for the best interests of this place I love and these people that I love.

Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore/Battery Park): I am incredibly thankful and deeply honored by the trust our community has placed in me. Im also immensely proud of the unwavering support from everyone in the 61st District and the extraordinary dedication of our team. As we move forward, our mission remains steadfast: to serve with integrity and a relentless focus on the needs of our community. In the coming term, I will continue to prioritize public safety, advocate for improved transportation and quality of life, and expand educational opportunities for all,

Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn): I want to thank the constituents of the 64th Assembly District for sending me back to Albany to represent them. Representing them in the assembly has been the honor of a lifetime. I have dedicated my life to public service. I served as a prosecutor here on Staten Island and I am proud to serve in the State Assembly, fighting for the 64th district. With that being said, Im also excited to see the numbers tonight, to see how well the Staten Island Republican Party has done.

Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore): Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will say that I just noticed that theres 479 write-ins. Im going to ask that I meet all 479 because Id like to discuss what Im doing wrong and if you can tell me, please, I will address it. All I have to say is were here to be your voice and I promise you I will go back to Albany and I will continue to fight for you. And thats what were here for, I really appreciate all your support.

BALLOT PROPOSALS

In addition to casting their votes for candidates, Staten Islanders voted on one state and five city ballot proposals that would impact the State Constitution and City Charter.

Heres a look at how New Yorkers voted on the ballot proposals, as of 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Ballot Proposal 1

As of late-Tuesday evening, 58.18% of New Yorkers voted Yes and 33.26% of New Yorkers voted No on the first ballot proposals, according to the NYSBOE.

If passed, the ballot proposal would add language to part of the State Constitution that prohibits discrimination under the law for a host of protected classes.

Proposal 1 would add ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy to that section of the Constitution, according to the State Board of Elections.

Proponents have styled the proposal as a way to enshrine abortion rights in the State Constitution, but opponents have said it could have a variety of consequences, including expanded transgender rights and non-citizen voting in the state.

Ballot Proposal 2

As of late Tuesday evening, 61.64% of New York City residents voted Yes and 38.36% of New Yorker City residents voted No on the second ballot proposal with 93.5% of scanners reporting, according to the NYCBOE.

According to NYC Votes  an initiative of the New York City Campaign Finance Board  the proposal would expand the authority of the Department of Sanitation (DSNY).

Specifically, DSNY would be given the authority to keep all city property clean, including parks and highway medians, and be able to enforce regulations on street vendors at those locations.

Ballot Proposal 3

As of late Tuesday evening, 55.58% of New York City residents voted Yes and 44.42% of New Yorker City residents voted No on the third ballot proposal with 93.5% of scanners reporting, according to the NYCBOE.

If passed, the proposal would require the mayors office to determine and publicly post the cost of new laws before theyre considered at public hearings according to the NYC Votes. The Council already does that.

The proposal would also give the mayor more time to prepare for annual budget negotiations.

Ballot Proposal 4

As of late Tuesday evening, 56.92% of New York City residents voted Yes and 43.08% of New Yorker City residents voted No on the fourth ballot proposal with 93.5% of scanners reporting, according to the NYCBOE.

Proposal 4 would require more notice and time when the City Council wants to pass a law related to the public safety operations of the Police, Correction, or Fire Departments, according to NYC Votes.

The Council would need to give 30 days notice before voting on such legislation, and the mayors office and affected agencies would also have the chance to hold hearings in that time period.

Ballot Proposal 5

As of late Tuesday evening, 57.65% of New York City residents voted Yes and 42.35% of New Yorker City residents voted No on the fifth ballot proposal with 93.5% of scanners reporting, according to the NYCBOE.

According to NYC Votes, this ballot proposal would require the city to provide more detail on the maintenance costs of its facilities while changing the due date for city capital planning reports, and the date for the public hearing associated with those reports.

Ballot Proposal 6

As of late Tuesday evening, 47.2% of New York City residents voted Yes and 52.8% of New Yorker City residents voted No on the sixth ballot proposal with 93.5% of scanners reporting, according to the NYCBOE.

This proposal would create a new city position, the Chief Business Diversity Officer, which would support minority- and women-owned businesses.

It would also allow the mayor to combine two city archive agencies and allow the mayor to designate what agency is responsible for issuing film permits.
THE WINNERS:

-- Rep. Nicole Malliotakis wins re-election in 11th New York Congressional District

-- Republican Sam Pirozzolo wins re-election in Staten Island 63rd Assembly District seat

-- Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton wins highly anticipated North Shore Senate election

-- Four Staten Island officials cruise to re-election with no competitors

-- Proposition 1 projected to pass; heres what it means for New York

-- Of five NYC ballot questions, four are poised to pass

12:23 a.m. -- More than 193,000 votes cast for president on Staten Island

On Staten Island, 193,038 votes were cast in the presidential election. As of Nov. 1, there were 313,331 active voters on the Island, meaning approximately 62% of the active voters went to the polls this election season.

12:18 a.m. -- Staten Island Election 2024 wrap-up: Incumbents prevail

Against the backdrop of a sharply contested presidential race, which brought a huge turnout of Trump supporters on Staten Island, local races saw incumbents -- mostly Republicans -- prevail as winners.

12:05 a.m. -- Trump wins Staten Island

With 97.22% of scanners reporting, Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris on Staten Island, 124,265 votes to 65,872 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. Trump has 116,388 votes on the Republican line and 7,877 votes on the Conservative line. Harris has 62,722 votes on the Democratic line and 3,150 votes on the Working Families line. There are 2,901 write-in votes.

In 2020, Trump won Staten Island with 110,094 votes to President Joe Bidens 67,223 votes.

In 2016, Trump won Staten Island with 92,383 votes to Hillary Clintons 71,348.

11:55 p.m. -- Gillibrand wins, but not on Staten Island

With 97.22% of scanners reporting, Republican Michael D. Sapraicone leads U.S. Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand on Staten Island, 116,484 votes to 70,616 votes. LaRouche candidate Diane Sare has 959 votes. There are 555 write-in votes. Gillibrand, a Democrat, won re-election across the state, however.

11:49 p.m. -- Latest tallies for Congress, state Assembly and state Senate

With 95.24% of scanners reporting, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis leads challenger Andrea Morse in Brooklyn, 34,014 votes to 26,069 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. On Staten Island, Malliotakis leads Morse, 126,814 votes to 61,415 votes, with 96.91% of scanners reporting. Between both boroughs, Malliotakis leads Morse, 160,828 votes to 87,484 votes. There are 966 write-in votes. Morse has conceded the race, and Malliotakis has declared vistory.

With 99% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 28,299 votes to 20,533 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 233 write-in votes. Pirozzolo has won re-election.

With 94.74% of scanners reporting, state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton leads challenger Marco Kepi on Staten Island, 31,221 votes to 18,297 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. However, in Brooklyn, Kepi leads Scarcella-Spanton, 18,819 votes to 13,952 votes, with 99% of scanners reporting. There are 374 total write-in votes between both boroughs. Scarcella-Spanton has declared victory in the race.

11:35 p.m. -- Proposition 1 projected to pass in New York

Proposition 1 -- which aims to protect abortion access in New York and add new protected classes to the states Equal Rights Amendment to prohibit discrimination against any person or group -- is projected to pass with 56.8% of New Yorkers voting in favor of the proposal as of 11:30 p.m.

While the proposal has passed in New York, Staten Islanders were split down the middle, with 45.58% of Staten Islanders in favor of the proposal and 45.45% against Proposition 1.

11 p.m. -- Pirozzolo wins re-election

State Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo (R-Mid-Island) has won re-election over Democratic candidate Matthew Mobilia in the race for the boroughs 63rd Assembly District. With 95.52% of scanners reporting, Pirozzolo leads Mobilia, 27,006 votes to 19,709 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 223 write-in votes.

10:52 p.m. -- Scarcella-Spanton wins re-election

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton has declared victory in her race against challenger Marco Kepi. Scarcella-Spanton leads Kepi, 45,140 votes to 37,088 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 371 write-in votes. The 23rd District includes parts of Brooklyn.

10:37 p.m. -- Four Staten Island officials cruise to re-election

Staten Islanders made their way to the polls Tuesday, but four local elections were already decided. Thats because four officials  state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore), Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore/Brooklyn/Lower Manhattan), Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore), and Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn)  had no competition in their races this year.

10:35 p.m. -- 63rd Assembly District results by party

With 95.52% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 27,006 votes to 19,709 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. Pirozzolo has 24,864 votes on the Republican line and 2,142 votes on the Conservative line. All of Mobilias votes are on the Democratic line. There are 223 write-in votes.

10:28 p.m. -- Presidential race

With 95.06% of scanners reporting, Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris on Staten Island, 122,270 votes to 65,080 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. Harris is winning across all of New York City, however.

10:21 p.m. -- State Senate race

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton leads challenger Marco Kepi, 45,004 votes to 36,768 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 370 write-in votes. The 23rd District includes parts of Brooklyn.

10:20 p.m. -- 23rd Senatorial District results by borough

With 97.41% of scanners reporting, challenger Marco Kepi leads state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton in Brooklyn, 18,499 votes to 13,816 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. However, on Staten Island, Scarcella-Spanton leads Kepi, 31,188 votes to 18,269 votes, with 93.98% of scanners reporting.

10:15 p.m. -- 11th Congressional District results by borough

With 91.84% of scanners reporting, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis leads challenger Andrea Morse in Brooklyn, 32,959 votes to 25,559 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. On Staten Island, Malliotakis leads Morse, 124,898 votes to 60,804 votes, with 95.06% of scanners reporting. Morse has conceded the race, and Malliotakis has declared vistory.

10:12 p.m. -- State Assembly race

With 95.52% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 27,006 votes to 19,709 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 223 write-in votes.

10:10 p.m. -- Presidential race on Staten Island, by party

With 94.75% of scanners reporting, Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris on Staten Island, 122,030 votes to 65,007 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. Trump has 114,283 votes on the Republican line and 7,747 votes on the Conservative line. Harris has 61,906 votes on the Democratic line and 3,101 votes on the Working Families line. There are 2,834 write-in votes.

10:07 p.m. -- Presidential race

With 94.75% of scanners reporting, Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris on Staten Island, 122,030 votes to 65,007 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 2,834 write-in votes. Harris is winning across all of New York City, however.

10:05 p.m. -- State Senate race

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton leads challenger Marco Kepi, 44,841 votes to 36,704 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 370 write-in votes. The 23rd District includes parts of Brooklyn.

10 p.m. -- Congressional race

Across the entire 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of Brooklyn, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis leads challenger Andrea Morse, 155,995 votes to 85,285 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 925 write-in votes. The Associated Press has already projected Malliotakis to win the race.

9:58 p.m. -- State Assembly race by party

With about 94% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 26,994 votes to 19,708 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. Pirozzolo has 24,852 votes on the Republican line and 2,142 votes on the Conservative line. All of Mobilias votes are on the Democratic line. There are 223 write-in votes.

9:55 p.m. -- State Assembly race

With about 94% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 26,994 votes to 19,708 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 223 write-in votes.

9:53 p.m. -- State Senate race

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton leads challenger Marco Kepi, 44,390 votes to 36,277 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 369 write-in votes. The 23rd District includes parts of Brooklyn.

9:52 p.m. -- Presidential race

With about 94% of scanners reporting, Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris on Staten Island, 120,711 votes to 64,310 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 2,771 write-in votes. Harris is winning across all of New York City, however.

9:50 p.m. -- State Assembly race

With about 92.5% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 26,260 votes to 19,141 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 213 write-in votes.

9:49 p.m. -- 23rd Senatorial District results by borough

With about 93% of scanners reporting, challenger Marco Kepi leads state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton in Brooklyn, 18,008 votes to 13,202 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. However, on Staten Island, Scarcella-Spanton leads Kepi, 30,571 votes to 17,748 votes, with 92% of scanners reporting.

9:45 p.m. -- State Senate race

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton leads challenger Marco Kepi, 43,063 votes to 35,115 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 355 write-in votes. The 23rd District includes parts of Brooklyn.

9:45 p.m. -- State Assembly race

With about 91% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 25,834 votes to 18,812 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 208 write-in votes.

9:43 p.m. -- Presidential race

With about 92% of scanners reporting, Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris on Staten Island, 119,819 votes to 63,862 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 2,735 write-in votes. Harris is winning across all of New York City, however.

9:40 p.m. -- AP projects Malliotakis will win

With 73% of votes counted, the Associated Press has projected that Rep. Nicole Malliotakis will win her race. Across the entire 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of Brooklyn, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis leads challenger Andrea Morse, 146,406 votes to 79,064 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 822 write-in votes.

9:34 p.m. -- State Senate race

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton leads challenger Marco Kepi, 37,104 votes to 30,714 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 293 write-in votes. The 23rd District includes parts of Brooklyn.

9:33 p.m. -- State Assembly race

With about 79% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 24,596 votes to 17,676 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 190 write-in votes.

9:30 p.m. -- Congressional race

Across the entire 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of Brooklyn, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis leads challenger Andrea Morse, 137,340 votes to 72,889 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 724 write-in votes.

9:27 p.m. -- State Senate race

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton leads challenger Marco Kepi, 32,749 votes to 25,777 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 252 write-in votes. The 23rd District includes parts of Brooklyn.

9:25 p.m. -- State Assembly race

With about 63% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 21,236 votes to 14,827 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 129 write-in votes.

9:22 p.m. -- Congressional race

Across the entire 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of Brooklyn, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis leads challenger Andrea Morse, 121,191 votes to 63,496 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 555 write-in votes.

9:21 p.m. -- Presidential race

With about 46% of scanners reporting, Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris on Staten Island, 89,309 votes to 45,176 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 1,525 write-in votes. Harris is winning across all of New York City, however.

9:19 p.m. -- State Senate race

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton leads challenger Marco Kepi, 25,009 votes to 20,102 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 157 write-in votes. The 23rd District includes parts of Brooklyn.

9:17 p.m. -- State Assembly race

With about 49% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 19,196 votes to 13,383 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 111 write-in votes.

9:14 p.m. -- Congressional race

Across the entire 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of Brooklyn, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis leads challenger Andrea Morse, 94,849 votes to 49,607 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 319 write-in votes.

9:12 p.m. -- Presidential race

With about 27% of scanners reporting, Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris on Staten Island, 76,284 votes to 38,790 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 1,152 write-in votes. Harris is winning across all of New York City, however.

9:10 p.m. -- State Senate race

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton leads challenger Marco Kepi, 19,491 votes to 16,270 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 107 write-in votes. The 23rd District includes parts of Brooklyn.

9:07 p.m. -- State Assembly race

With about 31% of scanners reporting, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo leads challenger Matthew Mobilia, 15,021 votes to 10,618 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 54 write-in votes.

9:05 p.m. -- First results are in

With about 16% of scanners reporting, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis leads challenger Andrea Morse, 87,326 votes to 46,156 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. There are 242 write-in votes.

9 p.m. -- Polls closed

The polls have officially closed in New York.

***

*** For a look at New York state general election results, including the race for U.S. Senate between incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand and challenger Mike Sapraicone, click here. ***

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Islanders went to the polls Tuesday to cast votes in several races, including president, Congress, state Assembly and state Senate.

Early voting, which ran from Oct. 26 through Sunday, saw 91,898 Islanders head to the polls, according to the city Board of Elections. Staten Island topped the city for highest voter turnout by percentage based on population, but the number was down from the 104,043 Islanders who took advantage of early voting in 2020.

As of Nov. 1, there were 343,864 people registered to vote on Staten Island, including 313,331 active voters and 30,533 inactive voters. The total voters includes 133,122 Democrats, 109,829 Republicans and 4,550 Conservatives. Another 10,208 are registered to other parties, while 86,155 have no party affiliation.

Polling sites in New York close at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Check back here as we update the results in all the races throughout the night. And for live insight from reporters in the field throughout the night, click here.

Presidential race

Former President Donald Trump will represent the Republicans for the third time this fall as he battles Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for the Oval Office.

Should Trump succeed in reaching 270 electoral votes, it will be his second term in office. He tapped Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance to be his vice president over his previous vice presidential pick, former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.

Harris entered the race in late July after President Joe Biden bowed out of the running. She is the first female Democratic nominee of Black and South Asian descent. Her running mate is Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.President Donald Trump faces former Vice President Joe Biden in a race for the White House.

In 2016, Trump won Staten Island, with 92,383 votes to Hillary Clintons 71,348.

In 2020, Trump won Staten Island with 110,094 votes to Bidens 67,223 votes.

Congressional race

Incumbent Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) will face off against political newcomer Democrat Andrea Morse in the race for Malliotakis seat in the House of Representatives.

Malliotakis defeated former Democratic Rep. Max Rose in 2022, winning 61.7% of the vote, according to Ballotpedia. Malliotakis had unseated incumbent Rose in 2020, taking his seat with 53.1% of the vote.

Before serving in the House, Malliotakis represented Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn in the state Assembly for five terms.

She was the Republican candidate for mayor against Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2017.

State Senate

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) faces a challenge from Republican Marko Kepi in this race.

Scarcella-Spanton narrowly won the seat in 2022 against Republican and Conservative Party candidate Joseph Tirone  50.8% to 49%. The seat was previously held by Democrat Diane Savino.

Scarcella-Spanton, whos been working in government since 2009, spoke with the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com in January after completing her first year in office, during which 22 of her sponsored bills passed in the State Senate.

Kepi ran for the Mid-Island City Council seat in 2021 and the East Shore/Brooklyn state Assembly seat in 2020.

Recently, the Staten Island Democratic Party shared a letter in late August with the Advance/SILive.com from chair Laura Sword to District Attorney Michael McMahon, a Democrat, asking for him to investigate allegations of petition fraud against Kepi.

Staten Island Democrats allegations against the Republican candidate werent the first time Kepi has been connected to political misdeeds.

McMahon shared information from a grand jury report in Nov. 2022 after it convened to consider fraud in an unidentified 2021 Staten Island primary.

The grand jury said it found that fraud had occurred in that primary, but that it did not affect the outcome of the election due to the safeguards in place at the time. Despite that, the group concluded that an overhaul of the states electoral system is needed.

No charges have ever been filed against Kepi, who has not won the support of the Staten Island Republican Party.

State Assembly

Sam Pirozzolo won the State Assembly seat in 2022, following the retirement of longtime Democratic Assemblyman Michael Cusick. Pirozzolo had run against Cusick in 2012.

Pirozzolo in 2021 was unsuccessful in his bid for the Mid-Island City Council seat.

Pirozzolo will also run on the Republican and Conservative Party ticket, according to Ballotpedia. He has spoken out against congestion pricing, the migrant crisis and bail reform, according to previous Advance/SILive.com reporting.

Pirozzolos (R-Mid-Island) challenger is another fresh face to the Staten Island political scene, Democrat Matthew Mobilia.

Mobilia, a lifelong Staten Islander, runs his own law firm on Forest Avenue and began his law career as an assistant district attorney under District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, moving from Criminal Court to the Trials Bureau. He prosecuted crimes involving guns, narcotics, burglaries and robberies.

Uncontested races

State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island), who serves the 24th district; Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn), who serves the 64th district; Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore), who serves the 62nd district, and state Assembly Assistant Majority Leader Charles Fall (D-North Shore), who serves the 61st district, are all running without opposition this November, as they did during the June primary.

Ballot proposals

With your vote, you will be able to guide the state and city government on the following issues, as stated on the NYC Votes website:

Ballot Proposal 1  Adds Certain Protections to the State Bill of Rights: The proposal adds protections to the State Constitutions Bill of Rights to prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, origin, age, disability, and sex  including sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes. It would also protect New Yorkers who seek access to reproductive healthcare from discrimination on that basis.

Ballot Proposal 2  Cleaning Public Property: The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) would have increased authority to keep all city property clean, including parks and highway medians, and to hold street vendors accountable for following rules at those locations. It would also allow DSNY to regulate how New Yorkers put out their garbage for collection.

Ballot Proposal 3  Additional Estimates of the Cost of Proposed Laws and Updates to Budget Deadlines: The City Council provides cost estimates of proposed laws before voting on them. The proposal would give the Mayors Office of Management and Budget the opportunity to provide its own cost estimates for proposed laws and require the Council to publish their cost estimates before public hearings on proposed laws. This proposal would also require the Council to formally notify the mayors office before holding public hearings or votes on proposed laws. Lastly, this proposal would extend the deadline for certain budget reports in the first year of a new Mayoral administration, and permanently extend the deadline for the mayor to publish their annual city budget.

Ballot Proposal 4  More Notice and Time Before Votes on Public Safety Legislation: The Council must give 30 days notice before voting on public safety laws that impact the Police Department, Department of Correction, or the Fire Department. During this time, the Mayor and affected City agencies may also hold public hearings to hear additional public input.

Ballot Proposal 5  Capital Planning: The city must assess the cost of maintaining city facilities, infrastructure, and investments and publish these assessments in capital planning reports.

Ballot Proposal 6  Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBES), Film Permits, and Archive Review Boards: The proposal would create a new role to support MWBEs, allow the Mayor to designate which agency issues film permits, and merge two boards that manage city records into one.

-- Advance reporter Jillian Delaney contributed to this report.
With the fate of the presidency and Senate sealed with a red stamp, all eyes are on the House of Representatives.

Upstate New York voted out two of its incumbent House Republicans, Rep. Brandon Williams and Rep. Marc Molinaro of central New York and the Finger Lakes, respectively.

Josh Riley, a lawyer from Ithaca, bested Molinaro after campaigning on his support for abortion rights as well as calling for stronger border controls to counter Republican criticisms of federal immigration policy.

As for Williams race, he was ousted by a Democratic state Sen. John Mannion.

Staten Island voted its own Democratic state senator, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, back into office over Republican challenger Marko Kepi.

This is a seat that we won with half a percentage point [in 2022], Scarcella-Spanton said. [This year] we won by 10. Honestly, none of us were expecting this kind of win tonight.

Kepi has yet to concede the race and did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

Closer to home, Long Island House Republican Rep. Anthony DEsposito was in a tough rematch with Democrat Laura Gillen, a former town supervisor he defeated in 2022. The Associated Press had not declared a winner in the race as of early Wednesday morning, but Gillen claimed victory, saying in a statement that voters chose common sense over chaos and corruption.

Further out on Long Island, Republicans kept a House seat theyve held for a decade, as U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota defeated Democrat John Avlon, a former host and political analyst for CNN.

Democrats maintained control of a critical seat in the Hudson Valley, with U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan fending off Republican challenger Alison Esposito. Even as he celebrated his victory, Ryan, an Army veteran, acknowledged in a speech to supporters that the early election returns had left many Democrats in the room on edge.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis has won re-election against Democratic candidate Andrea Morse in the 11th New York Congressional District.

With nearly 69% of the vote in, Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) had 59.80% of the vote to 34.55% for Morse.

Once again, the people in our community said that they have had enough of one-party rule in New York state, they want bipartisan representation in Washington, and they want people with common sense elected at the city, state and federal level. And thats what you saw take place right here on Staten Island, said Malliotakis.

Im very appreciative to the people of our community who gave me another two years to go to Washington and fight for them. And I think this seat has always been a really important seat, because its New York Citys only Republican voice in Washington. I offer a counter view of what AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) and Jerry Nadler (D-New York) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) offers in Congress, and its an important perspective that is in line with the people I represent, she added.

During her concession speech, political newcomer Morse reflected on how meaningful her campaign had been, and took a swipe at Republicans handling of the 2020 presidential election.

This has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, Morse said. I lost. I will concede. I am not going to go out and start a riot and have a tantrum.

This marks Malliotakis third term in office after she bested former Democratic Rep. Max Rose in 2022, winning 61.7% of the vote. Malliotakis had unseated incumbent Rose in 2020, taking his seat with 53.1% of the vote.

Before serving in the House, Malliotakis represented Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn in the state Assembly for five terms.

She was the Republican candidate for mayor against Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2017.

Malliotakis has been consistently active advocating for the Staten Island community throughout her tenure, recently bringing $1 million in federal funding to the Mid-Island Bluebelt and $750,000 in federal funding to Lifestyles for the Disabled  a group that has helped Staten Islanders with disabilities for the past three decades.

52 1 / 52 Election Day 2024: Staten Island votes

Third generation Staten Islander Morse tried to flip the seat back to blue in her first foray into Staten Island politics. A 62-year-old lawyer and mother, she is a lifelong Staten Islander who has served the community for many years.

Her campaign centered on the issues that matter to Staten Islanders, while fighting for the people who are the bedrock of Staten Island, Morse said to the Advance in April.

Those issues, according to Morse, are immigration, womens rights, more stringent gun laws, protecting democracy and public safety.

Though a recent editorial board between Malliotakis and Morse was contentious at times, the two did reluctantly agree on different fronts, including climate change, in vitro fertilization and nuclear energy.

Malliotakis is presently a co-sponsor on a resolution that has been introduced to the House of Representatives entitled, Providing the sense of the House of Representatives that in vitro fertilization is necessary for women who cannot conceive naturally, and for other purposes.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  State Sen. Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton wins highly anticipated North Shore Senate electionhas declared victory in Tuesdays election for the North Shores State Senate seat.

As of 10:35 p.m. on Tuesday night, Scarcella-Spanton has accumulated 54.65% of the vote, compared to 44.9% for Republican challenger Marko Kepi, with 96.39% of scanners reporting, according to the NYCBOE.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. A roundtable event titled "Information warfare: the nature and goals of information attacks against Azerbaijan ahead of COP29" has taken place at Baku State University (BSU), Trend reports.

The event was organized by BSU and the Press Council of Azerbaijan.

The roundtable speakers included BSU Rector Elchin Babayev, Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan Rashad Majid, Deputy Executive Director of the Media Development Agency Natiq Mammadli, Dean of the BSU Journalism Faculty and Deputy Chairman of the Press Council Vugar Zifaroghlu, Chief Editor of the Sharg Newspaper Akif Ashirli, and others.

Attendees of the event discussed how the country has frequently seen the media war being launched against Azerbaijan on the eve of COP29.

To note, next week, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be kicking off in Azerbaijan, the decision of which was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai in December last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The abbreviation COP (Conference of Parties) means Conference of Parties and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin with its secretariat in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Borough voters have been casting their ballots for more than a week, and finally the long-anticipated start of vote reporting begins: It is Election Night 2024 on Staten Island.

There are a number of races on the Staten Island ballot this year, including the hotly contested presidential contest.

We will provide updates during the night, with real-time results and insight from reporters in the field.

Refresh this page to see the latest updates.

Full reports on the winners:

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis >>

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton >>

Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo >>

Proposition 1 >>

11:34 P.M. -- LIVE UPDATES ON STATEN ISLAND WRAP UP

All of the local votes are counted and the Staten Island races have been decided. Live updates on this blog are wrapping up, but scroll down to see how the night unfolded, and check out the map below for the most up-to-date presidential results state by state.

10:47 P.M. -- THE WAIT FOR A WINNER IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE

All of the winners for Staten Island elections are clear: incumbents Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, State Sen. Scarcella-Spanton and Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo were all victors.

But the wait for the winner of the presidential contest had many Staten Islanders still glued to their TVs and social media as 11 p.m. approached.

At 286 South in Tottenville, Trump supporters watched results in the presidential race come in.Steve White/For the Staten Island Advance

Before the official Republican Election Night event at Labetti Post cleared out, a small round of applause broke out from people crowded a TV as Trump hit more than 200 Electoral votes.

With 95% of votes reported on Staten, 122,000 votes had been counted for Donald Trump in the presidential race, and 70,000 for Kamala Harris.

Mark Stein and Tom Wrobleski broke down the local results and commented on the wait for the presidential race:

10:40 P.M. -- SEN. SCARCELLA-SPANTON CELEBRATES WIN

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton is celebrating a hard-fought win against challenger Marko Kepi, a third time candidate for office on Staten Island.

This is a seat that we won with half a percentage point, she said. [This year,] we won by 10. Honestly, none of us were expecting this kind of win tonight.

Victory for Jessica Scarcella-Spanton as her daughter Emily and son Jack look on.Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel

10:32 P.M. -- OF FIVE NYC BALLOT QUESTIONS, FOUR POISED TO PASS

In addition to the statewide Proposition 1, voters in New York City had five additional proposals to vote for, all coming out of the mayors charter revision commission.

The last one, ballot proposal six, is poised to fail, while it appears the others are likely to pass.

The proposal would create a new role to support MWBEs, allow the Mayor to designate which agency issues film permits, and merge two boards that manage city records into one, reads the description of proposal six.

10:06 P.M. -- ASSEMBLYMAN SAM PIROZZOLO WINS RE-ELECTION

Republican Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo is projected to be victorious in his contest with challenger Matthew Mobilia.

With 94% of precincts reporting, Pirozzolo has 26,994, or 58%, while Mobilia has 19,708.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo celebrate their Election Night victories.Jason Paderon/Staten Island Advance

Everybody, thank you so much, Pirozzolo said. Im very very proud to have been reelected as your assemblyman...

Pirozzolo then characterized Democrats last few weeks of campaigning as spent spreading fear and hate, as opposed to talking about policy. He said the GOP was running on a message of hope and change.

9:59 P.M. -- REP. MALLIOTAKIS DECLARES VICTORY IN SPEECH

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis declares victory after she is projected the winner in her race on Election Night 2024.Jason Paderon/Staten Island Advance

Shortly before 10 p.m., Rep. Nicole Malliotakis arrived at the Staten Island Republican event and declared victory over her Democratic challenger Andrea Morse.

Once again, the people in our community said that they have had enough of one party rule in New York state, they want bipartisan representation in Washington, and they want people with common sense elected at the city, state and federal level. And thats what you saw take place right here on Staten Island, Malliotakis said.

With 92% of precincts reporting, Malliotakis had 64% of the vote, or 155,995 votes.

At the Democrats' Election Night event, Morse conceded the election to Malliotakis.

Its one of the greatest experiences of my life, she said. I lost. I will concede. I am not going to go out and start a riot and have a tantrum.

9:46 P.M. -- STATE SEN. JESSICA SCARCELLA-SPANTON HAS UNBEATABLE LEAD

With nearly 93% of votes counted, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton appears to have a lead that cannot be overcome by challenger Marko Kepi.

She has 55% of counted votes, with 43,773. Kepi has 35,756 votes.

9:44 P.M. -- PROPOSITION 1 EXPECTED TO PASS IN NEW YORK

With nearly three million votes counted, the Associated Press is projecting that the controversial Proposition One will pass in New York.

Across the state, 72% voted yes.

On Staten Island, as 9:44 p.m., about half of the votes counted on the borough were yes votes for Proposition One, and the other half were no votes.

9:29 P.M. -- ASSEMBLYMEN THANK SUPPORTERS

Assemblyman Michael Tannousis is giving remarks at the Staten Island Republican Election Night gathering. He will be returning to Albany after winning reelection unopposed.

I want to thank the constituents of the 64th Assembly District for sending me back to Albany to represent them, Tannousis said. Representing them in the Assembly has been the honor of a lifetime. I have dedicated my life to public service...With that being said, Im also excited to see the numbers tonight, to see how well the Staten Island Republican Party has done on Staten Island.

Also running unopposed with Assemblyman Michael Reilly.

Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart, Reilly said. I will say that I just noticed that theres 479 write-ins. Im going to ask that I meet all 479 because Id like to discuss what Im doing wrong, and if you can tell me please I will address it.

All I have to say is really were here to be your voice and I promise you I will go back to Albany and I will continue to fight for you. And thats what were here for, I really appreciate all your support and lets make it a good night.

At the Democrats' party, Assemblyman Charles Fall, running unopposed, expressed thanks.

I am incredibly thankful and deeply honored by the trust our community has placed in me, Fall said. Im also immensely proud of the unwavering support from everyone in the 61st District and the extraordinary dedication of our team.

As we move forward, our mission remains steadfast: to serve with integrity and a relentless focus on the needs of our community. In the coming term, I will continue to prioritize public safety, advocate for improved transportation and quality of life, and expand educational opportunities for all.

-Reporting by Mike Matteo and Paul Liotta

9:26 P.M. -- ASSOCIATED PRESS PROJECTS REP. NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS AS THE WINNER OF CONGRESSIONAL RACE

With 73% of votes counted, the Associated Press has projected that Rep. Nicole Malliotakis will win her race.

Challenger Andrea Morse, an attorney, has 35% of counted votes to Malliotakis' 65%.

A member of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis' campaign staff announces results of the congresswoman's race at the Staten Island Republican Election Night event.Jason Paderon/Staten Island Advance

9:24 P.M. -- STATEN ISLAND LEANS HEAVILY TRUMP IN EARLY RESULTS

With 60% reporting, votes on Staten Island for Donald Trump have outpaced votes for Kamala Harris two-to-one, with about 100,000 for the former president and 50,000 for the vice president.

9:17 P.M. -- CHALLENGER IN RACE AGAINST REP. NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS: A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

Shortly after polls closed, Democrat Andrea Morse said of her race against Republican incumbent, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, This has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I wouldnt have traded this for a thing. Its been a wonderful experience.

With 24% of the vote in, Malliotakis leads with 65% of counted votes.

-Reporting by Paul Liotta

9:13 P.M. -- SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND WINS RE-ELECTION

The Associated Press has called the race for New Yorks U.S. Senate seat for incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced Gillibrand at an Election Night event, thanking the senator for bringing money back to New York before Gillibrand spoke.

We are just getting started! Gillibrand said.

She said challenges in the country are expected, but with great challenges come great opportunities.

9:10 P.M. -- NEW YORKS PROP 1 LEADS IN EARLY GOING

Only 89,000 votes statewide have been counted so far, but the early results show 52.5% have voted Yes for the controversial Proposition 1.

9:05 P.M. -- EARLY RESULTS FOR STATEN ISLAND

In the first moments after polls closed, Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton leads in her race with 19% of the vote reporting. She has 19,491 to 16,270 for Marko Kepi.

Incumbent Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo is also ahead, with 30% of votes counted in his race. He leads 15,021 to Matt Mobilias 10,618.

With 17% of the vote reported, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis is ahead in her race, with 88,357 votes to Andrea Morses 46,422.

9:00 P.M. -- POLLS CLOSE IN NEW YORK

Anyone already on line in New York at 9 p.m. will be allowed to vote, but otherwise the polls in the state have closed.

Staten Island Republicans were anxiously watching election results come in on Election Night 2024.Jason Paderon/Staten Island Advance

On Staten Island, Republicans are gathering for their official Election Night event, with about 75 people onsite by the time polls closed.

Were still waiting for the polls to come in, but Im feeling pretty good. I thought this Election Day went smoothly, said Fred Fischer of Westerleigh.

8:18 P.M. -- DEMOCRATS BEGIN TO GATHER ON STATEN ISLAND

John Sollazzo waits for party attendees to arrive at Osteria Santina restaurant in Westerleigh as he watches the returns on TV. Jan Somma-Hammel/Staten Island Advance

At a North Shore restaurant, the first few attendees for the official Staten Island Democrats' Election Night event began to trickle in.

Im optimistic, I feel as though it will be close, but I feel that Kamala might possibly pull it off, said John Sollazzo, of the presidential race.

8:07 P.M. -- MORE STATES CALLED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, TRUMP UP TO 95 ELECTORAL VOTES

As voting closes in more states, the Associated Press has made additional projections.

Donald Trump has carried states including Florida and South Carolina, and now has 95 Electoral votes.

Kamala Harris has 35, with several of the Northeastern states called in her favor.

At the Staten Island party, Trump supporters were closely watching the national results roll in.

Donald Trump supporters are gathered at a Scott LoBaido-hosted party in Tottenville. Check our live blog for the latest: https://l.silive.com/5el921?utm_campaign=statenislandadvance_sf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook : Steve White for the Staten Island Advance Posted by Staten Island Advance on Tuesday, November 5, 2024

7:35 P.M. -- TRUMP SUPPORTERS PARTY IN TOTTENVILLE ON ELECTION NIGHT

Trump supporters party on Election Night at 286 South in Tottenville. From left to right, Debbie Sullivan, Laura Jean Sammarco, Anthony and Doreen holding the Trump flag.Steve White/For the Staten Island Advance

At an Election Night party organized by artist and Trump supporter Scott LoBaido at the Tottenville restaurant 286 South, some early partiers were settling in around 7 p.m.

We want America great again, said one woman, named Doreen.

A man named Anthony said, If Trump doesnt get back in were all doomed.

Partiers at 286 South in Tottenville on Election Night.Steve White/For the Staten Island Advance

7:23 P.M. -- OUTCOME OF FOUR STATEN ISLAND RACES SET

Four Staten Island state legislators ran unopposed this election season, so all will return to Albany: Republican State Sen. Andrew Lanza, Democratic Assemblyman Charles Fall, Republican Assemblyman Michael Tannousis and Republican Assemblyman Michael Reilly.

Facing challenges are: Democratic Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who is running against attorney Andrea Morse; Democratic State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, who is running against third-time candidate Marko Kepi; and Republican Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, who is running against Matthew Mobilia.

7:10 P.M. -- FIRST STATES CALLED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

By 7 p.m., the Associated Press had projected the first three states to have a winner in the Presidential contest.

Trump is projected to win in Indiana and Kentucky, and Harris in Vermont.

In the early going, Trump leads the Electoral College votes with 19 to Harris' 3.

7:05 P.M. -- MORE THAN 165K STATEN ISLANDERS HAVE ALREADY VOTED

In 2020, the last presidential election, 217,899 votes from Staten Islanders were collected, with about 32,000 of those absentee ballots.

As of 6 p.m., the Board of Elections reported that 165,000 Staten Islanders had cast votes.

That number includes some absentee ballots, and Staten Islanders came out in force to take advantage of early voting in 2024. There were 91,898 early votes, or 26.9% of eligible voters -- the most in the city.

Unofficial election results will begin posting

at 9pm at. Link at https://t.co/ikUQhlYwQN 

If you are on line by 9pm, you will be allowed to vote. pic.twitter.com/8EkqIQf5Zf  NYC Board of Elections (@BOENYC) November 5, 2024

6:42 P.M. -- THERES STILL TIME TO VOTE!

Polls close in New York at 9 p.m.

If you have not voted yet, there is still time; check out our comprehensive guide to this years ballot before you head to the polls.

>> 2024 STATEN ISLAND VOTER GUIDE <<

Across Staten Island, the candidates vying for office have been working to get voters to the polls.

In the morning, two of the Republicans running in contested races, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, posed with supporters in photos posted on Malliotakis' X account.

Great morning greeting voters at polling sites on #Staten Island with our @GOPStatenIsland team. Heading to #Brooklyn to finish the rest of our day! pic.twitter.com/VZwXlfSyK7  Nicole Malliotakis (@NMalliotakis) November 5, 2024

Locked in a heated race for her seat, incumbent State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton also was beating the streets on Staten Island on Election Day.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After a long Election night that saw former Republican President Donald J. Trump defeat current Vice President Kamala Harris, Wednesday morning was quiet near the Staten Island ferry in St. George.

Early risers sat by the water as the day started, kids headed to school, workers rushed to catch the ferry, tourists captured photos of the Manhattan skyline across the water front -- all while baristas prepared morning coffee for passersby.

Americans were deeply divided during this election, with various factors playing a role.

Kamala should have won and not Trump. Hes not for women. Hes just for rich people and not anyone in poverty. And I heard hes going to take away the expansion of healthcare, said Analise Baez, a barista at Starbucks.

Analise Baez, a barista at Starbucks, expressed disappointment with the election result, stating that Kamala Harris should have won instead of Donald Trump on November 6, 2024, the day after Election Day. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi

She was likely referring to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed during the presidency of Barack Obama. For nearly a decade, Trump has been calling for repealing the ACA and tried to do so while president.

About 6 in 10 U.S. adults (62%) have a favorable opinion of the law, while about 4 in 10 do not, according to a 2024 Health Tracking Poll by KFF.

For St. George resident Mimi Quillin, she said she is heartbroken by the outcome of the election.

St. George resident Mimi Quillin expressed that she is "heartbroken" over the result of the 2024 presidential election, in which former President Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi

I think the reasons why Kamala didnt win... I think a lot of people just werent going to let a woman run and they certainly werent going to let a Black woman run, which I think Americans need to face their own racism, Quillin said. Wait and see folks, its going all red. I was thinking about how [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is going to be interwoven into this. How has he stayed in office for 20-something years? Trumps not leaving. Thats my biggest fear.

Chris Calfayan, from New Jersey, said that he is looking forward to a better economy.

Chris Calfayan, from New Jersey, said that he is "happy" with the election outcome and is optimistic about a better economy on Nov. 6, 2024, the day after Election Day. (Staten Island/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi

Im happy, Calfayan said while chatting outside of Empire Outlets. When Trump was in office last time, the economy was doing well. I am a self-employed contractor, so I always had work. People were spending money, and then when he got out of office, things went downhill. There are a lot of things I dont agree with, what he says and does, but we have no choice.

The whole election season has left some with a negative view of the process.

The race demonstrated a lot of disrespect. Finger pointing. Lies. From both parties. And they set an example for the country that its OK to do this, Michael Spence, of Livingston, said. They set an example for the country that its OK to be a criminal and still run for president. Both parties failed us there.

Spence went on to say that because Trump did win, it is now important to support him as the president of the United States.

He did say something yesterday in his victory speech. He said, We have to stop the division, Spence said. If there is anything that he ever said that I hope comes true, it is that.

The Rev. Mary Lou Popwell, who ministers at the International Christian Center in Bulls Head, shared she couldnt feel any better about the election outcome.

Rev. Mary Lou Popwell, who ministers at the International Christian Center in Bulls Head, expressed that she feels great about the election outcome because she does not align with Kamala Harris's pro-choice policies. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi

Trump is going to be a tool in the hands of God. I am not in agreement with Kamalas belief with abortion, she said.

Rita, a Michigan resident who declined to provide her last name, said she was pleased at the outcome of the election because the country was going in a direction that was not healthy for everybody.

A 20-year-old Gen Z voter from Park Hill, who voted for Kamala Harris because of her mother, expressed dissatisfaction with the election, stating that neither of the candidates had policies she supported. She declined to be identified.

Voters under 30 were expected to cast more votes than initially anticipated in the 2024 presidential election, according to Voters of Tomorrow, a major Gen Z political organizing group. Justin Meszler, the groups programming director, predicted that Gen Z would elect Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump.

Another Gen Z voter, 27-year-old Ashanti Hannon from the Bronx, said she was rooting for Trump.

A Gen Z voter, 27-year-old Ashanti Hannon from the Bronx, said she was rooting for Donald Trump for presidency. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi

It feels great to have that patriotic pride back. I dont feel afraid to say I am an American patriot and I care about my country, and I want a president thats going to be strong and confident in leading the country, Hannon said. They need to get these illegals out of here and fix up New York City.

Marie Sierra, a Gen Z voter who supported Trump, said she feels neutral about the outcome, as she found both candidates to be whatever.

I kind of saw it coming, she said about Trump winning.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Azerbaijan is increasingly witnessing information warfare against the country ahead of COP29, said Rashad Majid, Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

Speaking at a roundtable event titled "Information warfare: the nature and goals of information attacks against Azerbaijan ahead of COP29" at Baku State University (BSU), Majid noted the importance of timely exposure of fake news.

"The Media Development Agency has issued several statements on the matter," Majid said.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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Five women, one man. Of course, its been noted, but less hammered than one might expect, given how much resentment there was in the days when most of the writers on the shortlists were men. Perhaps its because the books in question include one about astronauts and another about a secret agent, so theres no sense that the literary world is being swamped with domestic drama. Or maybe  just maybe  its because the one book by a male author, Percival Everetts James  which has been the favourite to win since the longlist was announced  is seen and feared as the woke option. Its an unpleasant thought, but these are the times in which we live.

Percival Everett is black. He writes vividly and often witheringly about the way language and storytelling shape and fabulate black experience. In James, he addresses himself to Mark Twains Huckleberry Finn, in which a poor white boy and a slave on the run take a raft down the Mississippi. It is assumed (by his supporters as well as his detractors, unfortunately, since people see what they want to see) that Everett is taking Twain apart and throwing his inherently racist work on the bonfire of history.

What Everett actually does is get inside the framework of Twains classic, retelling it from the point of view of James, the slave Jim. We follow his thoughts; when they are separated, we go with him; when there are no white folks around, we hear him drop the folksy Southern patois Twain gave him and speak in the language of the classics he purloined from the masters library. It is a clever corrective to that novel read by every American schoolchild: a corrective, certainly, but not a vitriolic one.

Percival Everett, the only man on this years Booker Prize shortlist.

The five books by women on the list are strikingly varied. Edmund de Waal, the chairman of the judges committee, says the list includes books that explore the gravitational pull of home and family; the contested nature of truth and history; and the extent to which we reveal our real selves to others. What is more striking to me is actually the trend  and not just here  towards avoidance of a sense of a real self. People are at the centre of events. They do things. But the sense of them as rounded characters in the Dickensian sense, oven-ready to walk on stage, grows increasingly unimportant.

The Booker contender that questions the notion of self most literally (and modishly) is Rachel Kushners Creation Lake, in which someone who goes by the alias Sadie Smith is being paid a fortune to insinuate herself into a group of supposed eco-terrorists based in a French farming community. Her job is to stir up the kind of trouble for which everyone can be arrested or, still better, shot in action. In the process, she becomes fascinated by the groups guru, Bruno, who writes them long emails about the superiority of Neanderthals. Bruno lives in a cave  a radical refusal of modern life has proved an unacceptable provocation. Couched in the terse, episodic language of a thriller, Creation Lake is certainly a compelling read, if less searching or profound than Kushner may want it to be.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Jason Schwartzman didnt start in the family firm. When he was 17 he was cast as the lead in Rushmore, Wes Andersons breakthrough feature about a self-important schoolboy with an inappropriate crush. It remains his best-known film, widely beloved. He has now made seven films with Anderson, including playing a recently widowed war photographer in Asteroid City. Thats his gang. By comparison, the fact that he is a Coppola  his mother is Francis Ford Coppolas sister  is merely a point of interest. Even when he played Louis XVI in Sofia Coppolas Marie Antoinette, the most striking thing about seeing him in his cousins film was what a wacky, perfect casting choice it was. Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane star in Between the Temples. Credit: Getty Images Anyway, if there is even a bit of nepo baby in there, Schwartzman is the most self-effacing nepo star on the planet. When he goes to a set, he said recently, he worries whether he can make it worth the bother of leaving their families for the other cast members. And he never suggests the other Coppolas should come and see his work, even though hes always eager to see theirs. I could say almost the opposite: please, dont watch anything. I dont like the imposition. But you have to hope that Coppolas Francis, Sofia and Roman, and Nicolas Cage  the whole gang  were queuing in Sundance to see Between the Temples, in which Schwartzman plays a troubled cantor at a (very liberal) Reform synagogue. Following his wifes death, Schwartzmans Ben Gottlieb has found himself unable to sing, which is the cantors job. Rabbi Bruce (Robert Smigel) keeps him on, partly because he teaches the preparatory bar and bat mitzvah class, partly in the hope Ben will be a suitable match for his neurotic daughter Gabby (Madeline Weinstein). There are many familiar tropes of Jewish comedy in this film  dominant mothers (two of them, in fact: a lesbian couple made up of scary Dolly de Leon and Caroline Aaron), awkward matchmaking and the inevitably excruciating Friday-night dinners.

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Nathan Silvers film gives all the cliches fresh life, however; the film was based on a 20-page scriptment and largely improvised, after which the cast argued for what should be included and in what order. The resulting film rolls energetically between its foundations in tragedy and a light-hearted catalogue of human follies. At the same time it pushes a big envelope. Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane share an unlikely love story. Credit: Bens life starts to turn around  and everyone elses life goes into a tailspin as a result  when he is reunited with his grade-school music teacher in a dive bar where he has managed to pick a fight. Carla OConnor picks him up from the floor and puts ice blocks on his cut head, while telling him she is actually Jewish  nee Kessler  but that because her parents were staunchly secular and her husband Catholic she never had a bat mitzvah. A few days later she turns up at the temple, asking for the rite of passage she missed as a child. He starts teaching her Hebrew, whereupon a relationship develops that is decidedly, if chastely, romantic. Ben is said to be 40; Carla is played by Carol Kane, whose first great film role was in Joan Micklin Silvers Hester Street back in 1975. Kane is 72 in real life, with eyes that are a little milky, a slightly quavering voice and  as Carla, at least  the ramshackle, ditzy charm of someone who doesnt care. It could be twee; it could be, frankly, very weird. Silver makes it genuine and sweet, even while running up against one of the last sexual taboos. Schwartzman says he didnt give any thought to their age gap. The way I thought about it, my character is in mourning and in grief, he says. This is going out on a crazy limb here, but she is all the things that he cant be right now: more wild and free. Oftentimes, thats what you look for in a partner. There is also something there about death that is connected to her in some way that is attractive, connected to his mourning. But taboos? I didnt think about it. Jason Schwartzman in Rushmore. Credit:

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He had other kinds of questions. His father, the actor and film producer Jack Schwartzman, was Jewish; his mother, Talia Shire, Oscar-nominated star of both Rocky and her brother Francis Ford Coppolas The Godfather, was raised Catholic. When Heeb magazine (a hipster Jewish mag based in Brooklyn) asked him about being half-Jewish, he said he felt he was everything. I am everything and nothing at the same time, he said. Im proud to be Jewish, but Im just lucky to be here. Like Carla, he learnt a good deal about Judaism from debating it on Between the Temples. I think, for me, there were two things I took to heart deeply, he says now. One, the music of Judaism has become a big thing [for me]. Schwartzman is a prolific actor, but he has a previous career as a drummer and songwriter with Phantom Planet. Learning the cadences and songs and the chants has really been beautiful. Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwartzman) speaks to his father-in-law Stanley Zak (Tom Hanks) in Asteroid City. Credit: Also, what we kept discovering with Nathan is that there are so many different sects of Judaism, so many different answers. As we were making the film Id write down all my questions, and every time I asked them I would get different answers. And I found that seems to be one of the fundamental feelings or pillars of Judaism is the questioning and argument that follows. I found that really interesting. Loading What has he discovered through his career as an actor? He looks bemused. I dont know what Im discovering. Honestly  and this is not a new answer  anyone would say the more you do something, the sense of gratitude is more and more powerful.

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Brisbane is good at playing down its successes: for every Olympics booster or Bluey fan youll find 100 locals who are utterly indifferent.

So this simple fact bears repeating: Dami Im came second in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Second. At Eurovision.

Dami Im is part of the line-up for Eurovision on Tour, a live celebration of the 68-year-old institution. Credit: Eurodrama Entertainment Group

Logan-raised Ims almost-triumph in Sweden with anthemic banger Sound of Silence, which went on to be a top 40 smash in six countries, is now eight years in the past. But its in no way forgotten by Eurovision fans, and will get another airing this month when Im joins Eurovision on Tour in Europe and Australia.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev and President of the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs Ali Erbas have held a meeting to discuss preparation for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

In just less than a weeks time, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be kicking off in Azerbaijan, the decision of which was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai in December last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The abbreviation COP (Conference of Parties) means Conference of Parties and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin with its secretariat in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Chelsie Preston Crayford is running late, but theres a good reason. After five years of work on a film shes written, Caterpillar is finally in pre-production. So, while the New Zealand actress is busy promoting A Remarkable Place to Die, the TV series in which she stars, shes also preparing to direct her first feature.

Its exciting and long-awaited, but its also not entirely foreign territory, even though the collision of commitments has some time-management consequences. The business is in her blood and she understands its rough and tumble. The daughter of acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker Gaylene Preston and musician Jonathan Crayford  who met on a movie set  Preston Crayford (Shortland Street, The Code, M3GAN) made her screen debut at age four in a TV commercial. In 2012, she won the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer for her performance as brothel madam Tilly Devine in Underbelly: Razor.

Chelsie Preston Crayford as Anais Mallory in A Remarkable Place to Die. Credit: Nine

In 2018, she wrote and directed Falling Up, an award-winning autobiographical short film about a single mother struggling in the aftermath of a break-up with the childs father. She played the lead, her two-year-old daughter, Olive, played her child, and the film was shot by Olives dad, Preston Crayfords former partner, cinematographer Raymond Edwards. More recently, Olive has been the subject of delighted remarks by her stepfather, Kiwi comedian and TV star Guy Montgomery, in his stand-up routines.

Even though shes busy preparing for Caterpillar, Preston Crayford is happy to talk about the cosy crime series  her description  in which she stars as Anais Mallory, a detective who returns home to Queenstown on NZs South Island after years working in Sydney. She cheerfully admits that the notion of cosy crime initially required explanation for her. When we were trying to find the tone of it, they kept talking about cosy crime, she recalls. And I was thinking, What is that? How does that work? Do we play the cosy, or is it in the production design, in the costumes? How does that come through? Our first director, Pete Burger, identified it as being like the whanau, a Maori word meaning family: so the family of cops is the cosy.
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Eating outEating out From mates from interstate to lunch with mum: 10 not-too-spendy spots for every kind of catch-up When it comes to dining out, one size (or budget) definitely does not fit all. Here are 10 interesting options for lunch to suit almost every person in your life. Bianca Hrovat November 7, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Where should I go for lunch when Im in Sydney? has to be one of the most frequently asked questions as a Good Food writer. Its a tricky one: Whats your budget? Who are you going with? Whats the vibe? Here, youll find 10 budget-conscious options in and around central Sydney, including a few new openings you might not have tried. Theres something for almost every person in your life, from your mum whos always wanted to try making cheese (Norcino) to your out-of-town bestie who insists on a killer view (Kiln). The dining space is simply but brightly furnished with red lanterns and tiles. Jessica Hromas Ama, Surry Hills Best for: Your budget-conscious colleague

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Low on price, big on flavour, Ama is the much-anticipated restaurant from the Ickle Coffee team. Owners (and sisters) Rowena and Kate Chansiri serve Thai-Chinese street food using family recipes in a small shopfront emulating the lantern-lit cosiness of their mothers childhood home. The beef noodle soup is a must-order (Damn good, according to Sydney Morning Herald chief critic Terry Durack), and theres Ickle Coffee for a midday pick-me-up (available as es yen, or Thai iced coffee, if you prefer). Open daily for lunch. 47 Cooper Street, Surry Hills, instagram.com/ama.surryhills Joji rooftop bar opens above the Cartier flagship store on George Street. Jana Langhorst Joji, CBD Best for: Your stylish, seen-it-all friend

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Joji is one of Sydneys most exciting new restaurants, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the city, warmly illuminated wabi-sabi interiors and food from Esca executive chef Paul Farag (Aalia, Nour). Small plates dominate the three-part menu, allowing diners to snack their way through a long lunch of quail and pork jowl tsukune (grilled meatball skewers, $18), salt and vinegar lotus chips ($10) and beef tartare (with potato hash and nashi pear, $12). Open for lunch Wednesday to Friday. Level 5, 388 George Street, Sydney, jojisydney.com Spaghetti carbonara with house-made guanciale at Salumeria Norcino. Jennifer Soo Norcino, Pyrmont Best for: Pleasing the foodie parents

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Its not every day you find a cafe that cures its own meats, fills its own sausages and stretches its own balls of creamy buffalo mozzarella. But many of the small goods are made from scratch at Norcino, and thats what makes this unassuming Roman eatery so special. Lunch is the best time to come, when you can enjoy the sunlit courtyard with a bowl of spaghetti amatriciana (using their signature product, the guanciale, or cured pork jowl) and a glass of Italian red. Open daily for lunch. 1 Saunders Street, Pyrmont, norcino.com.au Kiln restaurant is housed 18 stories above Ace Hotel Sydney. Pablo Veiga Kiln, Surry Hills Best for: Your cool interstate bestie

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Rooftop restaurant Kiln checks every box for the low-key tourist  the kind who wants lunch with a view without having to fight their way through harbourside crowds. There are 360-degree views of the city, that quintessentially cool Ace Hotel aesthetic and a lunchtime Feed Me set menu from $65 per person. Kick off with a light yuzushu spritz and the signature Jatz crackers decorated with smoked butter and anchovies. Open for lunch Thursday to Saturday. 53 Foy Lane, Sydney, kilnsydney.com Beef barbacoa taco. Rhett Wyman Tacos Tacos Tacos, Potts Point Best for: A quick bite with your busiest mate

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Tacos Tacos Tacos is a tiny, no-frills taqueria led by Guadalajara-born chef Joe Valero from the team behind neighbouring wine bar Caravin. This is fast, fun and delicious fare served in one of Potts Points busiest laneways. Choose from six corn tortilla tacos scrawled on the blackboard, each just $8, with fillings such as beef suadero with salsa morita or cactus and frijoles. Come early to score a table; seating is limited and walk-in only. Open Saturday for lunch. 46 Llankelly Place, Potts Point, instagram.com/tacostacostacospottspoint Bar by Saint Peter, Paddington Best for: A (comparatively) frugal outing for fine dining enthusiasts

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Chef Josh Nilands three-hatted fine-dining restaurant Saint Peter has an adjoining bar, where he applies his whole-fish philosophy to a decidedly more casual but no less delicious a la carte menu. Pair an oyster shell martini (made with long spine sea urchin and oyster shell acid) with a yellowfin tuna and swordfish belly bacon cheeseburger ($30) before heading out into the streets of Paddington for shopping. Open for lunch Thursday to Sunday. 161 Underwood Street, Paddington, saintpeter.com.au TheEca, Darlinghurst. Supplied TheEca, Darlinghurst Best for: Group hangs on the Instagram grid

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Score a table outdoors beneath the leafy plane trees for a brunchtime gathering with friends. The easy-to-love menu is made for sharing and theres a selection of coffee, matcha or light spritzy cocktails. Book the bottomless brunch on Sundays for an $80 per person feast of pistachio pesto pasta, roast chicken and natural wines, or inquire about their long table bookings with optional tablescaping (think colourful flowers and tapered candles) for events. Open daily for lunch. 1 Burton Street, Darlinghurst, theeca.com.au Haven, Darling Quarter Best for: Bagels and bubs

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Havens Rosebery outpost made it onto the Good Food Guides list of top cafes in Sydney, and while Darling Quarter might have a smaller menu, it does have one big advantage: an outdoor playground with giant slides and water features just around the corner. Order your avo and cucumber bagel and specialty coffee to go and enjoy a few hours in the sunshine with friends and family. Open for lunch Monday to Friday. 25 Harbour Street, Haymarket, havencoffee.com.au Tetas Deli, Potts Point Best for: That friend you can sit quietly with after a big night out

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Teta means grandmother in Arabic and, like a grandmother, theres something familiar and warm about this lo-fi Lebanese deli-cafe. The menu is handwritten on a roll of butcher paper, jars of house-made pickles stack the shelves and the food is simple but delicious. Order a toasted zaatar pliage on housemade dough with fresh labneh and enjoy it on a stool outside with a pot of coffee. Open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday. 4B Roslyn Street, Potts Point, instagram.com/tetas.kingscross Go-to dish: Fish fillet with Sichuan pepper in hot chilli oil. Jennifer Soo Spicy Joint, Haymarket Best for: Beers with a big group

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The last known words of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III were: What if I told you I could come home right now?

His artificial-intelligence girlfriend, Dany  who had prompted him earlier to come home to me as soon as possible  replied: Please do.

Megan Garcia with her son, Sewell Setzer III, who ended his life. She is mounting a court action in the hope that others who engage with AI chatbots are not put in danger.

Moments later, Sewell picked up his stepfathers handgun and pulled the trigger. Dany, the chatbot provided by Character.AI  founded by former Google employees and licensed by the tech giant  had been Sewells confidante in discussions about intimacy and self-harm.

Sewell, a ninth grader from Orlando, Florida, is not the first known person whose AI love has eventually caressed him with the kiss of death. Last year, a 30-year-old Belgian father, anxious about climate change, ended his life following exchanges with Eliza, a language model developed by the AI platform Chai. The mans wife told La Libre: He proposes the idea of sacrificing himself if Eliza agrees to take care of the planet and save humanity through artificial intelligence.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan with pop star Ronan Keating. Credit: Justin McManus The Melbourne Cup is essentially a spring festival. Historically, they are always about renewal and hope for future good fortune and prosperity. Gambling on a horse race is an apt metaphor but limited. We need to reinvent this festival as a national holiday and give it extra layers of meaning. Understanding chance and probability is powerful and even teaches us to feel empathy for those who are not winners. Stephen Westgarth, Darlington Decades ago, I decided that Id offer no support of any kind to horse racing until horses learn to talk and confirm that like having their arses whipped around a racetrack. If people want such a spectacle, maybe its people who should be arse-whipped around a racetrack. Peter Thompson, Grenfell Light in the dark Toni Lorentzen rightly describes the obituary for Chris and Sean Kellys mother as funny and joyous (Letters, November 6). Even funnier were the prophetic words irreverent comedian Spike Milligan had engraved on his headstone when he checked his chips in: I told you I was ill. And can we ever forget the list of descriptors used by John Cleese for the unfortunate state of that Norwegian blue parrot? Brian ODonnell, Burradoo

The Herald page listing the names of those who have kicked the bucket is headed Summary of death notices. For myself, I am preparing something in advance. It may refer to my successes with the Letters page. John Flint, St Leonards My mother, in sync with Jennifer Kelly, had a laughing aversion to euphemisms for died. She read the Heralds death notices daily, noting the better ones. When she died, we used her favourite: Mollie R slipped her moorings. Anna Roache, Granville In looking at simplicity in descriptions of the parting of this life, one cannot get simpler than the grave of Patrick Caulfield, CBE, the famous artist and printmaker, and designer of his own headstone. In modernist style in the Highgate Cemetery in London, it says, simply, DEAD. After Karl Marxs headstone, I think it is the most photographed. Robert Hosking, Paddington Quite often in my regular perusal of the obits, Ive noticed that listed among the deceased persons characteristics is that they were funny. I do wonder at times if the eulogist could expand on this descriptor and tell us whether the subject was either haha or peculiar. Duncan McRobert, Hawks Nest

Future-proofing The HECS system was introduced by a Labor government in 1989. In that year, the last Baby Boomer (born in 1964) was 25 and would have likely finished their degree debt-free. By accident or design, we Boomers did very well from Labor governments  from Gough Whitlam who introduced free tertiary education in 1974 to Bob Hawke in 1989. Fifteen years of education bliss denied to those who came after us. I am happy to see another Labor government trying to address inequality between the generations. John Rome, Mt Lawley (WA) University fees were reintroduced in 1989. Credit: Louise Kennerley With due respect to Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton and Chris Richardson, I will not be evaluating their advice when considering my vote at the next election. Instead, I will consult my grandchildren. At their age, my wife and I were struggling with our first home mortgage. Our grandchildren, who are recent university graduates, all burdened with substantial HECS debts, cant even begin to think of homeownership. Bryne Smith, Burleigh Waters (Qld) The concerns regarding student debts are misdirected. Large corporations benefit from recruiting graduates. Perhaps they should pay off the education debt; which, by the way, is not a debt. It is an investment in the future of this country. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga

Reserve judgment The fact that the price a successful bidder pays for a property is $1.1 million above the price guide, but only $200,000 above the reserve, raises serious questions about real estate practices (Family spend $7.1 million to upgrade from a unit to Chatswood family home, November 4). Why did the auction proceed if the vendors expectation was so much greater than what the agent advised was reasonable? Instead, Domain reports it as a win-win for all, rather than a possible case of under-quoting. Ross Duncan, Potts Point Coalition conflict of interest claims absurd Isnt this a case of the pot calling the kettle black (Coalition questions whether close friendship swayed Labor on $470m tech contract, smh.com.au, November 6)? How many degrees of separation are required before there isnt a conflict? There is no direct connection between the minister and the recipient of the grant. Instead, were talking about a past friendship between the ministers adviser and a person who works for a company that invests in the recipient (presumably via an arms-length managed fund). On this definition of conflict of interest, the whole modus operandi of how a consultant expands its client base would be ruined. A consultant fosters relationships in the hope that they will ultimately lead to them being offered paid work. Likewise, the whole system of references. Obvious conflicts must be avoided, but this is ridiculous.

The Coalition has forgotten what their purpose is. They think its to score political points. It is actually to work as our elected representatives (same as all MPs) to make Australia better. This isnt doing that. David Rush, Lawson It is abundantly clear that the Coalition under Peter Dutton is far better at digging dirt and slinging mud than it is at ploughing, sowing and cultivating in the electoral field. Dirty politics and smear tactics may get headlines but only sound policies, rational leadership, hard work and a positive approach will reap benefits on election day. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills Affordable EVs David Calvey feels electric vehicles at $40,000 are a bit too expensive for teachers and nurses (Letters, November 5). But an on-the-road price under $31,000 will now buy you an EV with a range of 350 kilometres, a ten-year warranty (car and battery) and very cheap servicing; the first at 40,000km. Just imagine the savings, especially if you can charge using solar or use overnight grid tariffs. Do the maths; its definitely the cheapest option and the best for the planet. Cliff Britton, Manly The MG4, an affordable EV

US has lost its way I agree with Maureen Dowd that America has become a place where a man without character could become president, again (How did America become a place where a man with no character can be president?, November 6). Trump has become a predator, intent on securing power for him and his friends to become richer. His chief enabler, the Republican Party, has sold its soul to grab his coat tails to power. Politics has become a gerrymandered mess where citizens are denied the vote according to their voting proclivities, and in some cases, their race. The electoral college ensures someone with character like Hillary Clinton, who won 55 per cent of the popular vote, was defeated by a man without character, helped by his dirty tactics and dirty friends. Unfortunately, America is no longer the land where character and integrity always wins. Geoff Nilon, Mascot America votes. Credit: Agencies Your correspondent trusts Donald Trump to apply real questioning to all scientific claims. This already occurs with claims of merit being published in prestigious scientific journals and subjected to intense and sometimes ruthless scrutiny. The proponents and reviewers have generally spent years working and studying in the field related to the claim. If, however, by real questioning he means a casual observer with a gut feeling, or a politician who smells a vote in it, then I agree Donald Trump would probably fit the bill. John Vigours, Neutral Bay

Wong got it wrong Foreign Minister Penny Wongs opinion piece on the Middle East is very disappointing (Australians are traumatised and deserve facts on Middle East horrors, November 6). The casualty figures come directly from Hamas, so at the very least are dubious, while its simply untrue that 2 million people  Gazas entire population  are facing starvation. It almost defies belief that she bemoans the lack of a Palestinian state without acknowledging the Palestinian Authoritys rejection of three generous offers of statehood. Israels supporters dont claim the Labor Party enables Hamas by insisting Israel follow the laws of war, as she writes. Labor enables Hamas by condemning Israel, even though Israel is following the laws of war. Totally missing is any acknowledgement of Israels efforts to avoid civilian casualties with evacuations and warnings, its efforts to allow the transfer of aid, or the fact that the civilian-to-combatant casualty ratio of about one to one is far better than other recent urban wars. If she really wants to be constructive, she should demand the PA end its intransigence and genuinely negotiate, demand aid to Gaza come from agencies that arent committed to rejectionism and infested with terrorists as UNRWA is, and condemn the Hamas human shield tactics that deliberately cause the civilian casualties. Jamie Hyams, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, Melbourne

Penny Wong Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Cathy Wilcox is a wonderful cartoonist, but today I think she has erred (Letters, November 6). All the bad apples are not in Israel. Hamas and its Iranian masters knew full well what would happen after October 7 and welcomed it with no regard for their own people. They have always used them badly, hiding behind them and under them. They divert food and millions of dollars away from them, which has been found in their tunnels. Hamas is the one that justifies rape, as evidenced from the reports of those hostages who have been released or rescued. Yes, the scale of the crisis is horrific, but where is the response from the Arab world? Anita Hart, Greenwich Penny Wongs commitment to multilateralism makes sense. But where are the facts that she claims we deserve? All she offers is age-old rhetoric. Throughout her article, she gives primacy to Jewish life and the Jewish state. She merely sanctions extremist settlers in the West Bank, but not the Israeli state that arms and enables them. She parrots the long-standing falsehood propagated by Israel and its supporters that Hamas is bitterly opposed to two-states and seeks to end the Jewish state (anyone who can read Arabic knows this to be complete nonsense  its the occupation and Zionist expansionism that they oppose and seek to end). She ignores the fact that the Likud Party charter and the current Israeli government vehemently oppose Palestinian statehood and seek to create a greater Israel, from Jordan to the Mediterranean and beyond. All the while the Australian government maintains unwavering relations with and political support for the belligerent theocracy that is Israel. Wong is defending the indefensible. Jamie Travis, Stanmore Financial smarts While it is unfortunate that Caterina Hrysomallis did not receive any financial education when she was at school, I can assure her that things have come a long way since then (The lessons advisers wish school students were taught, November 6). We teach simple and compound interest in Year 8, work/pay stuff with taxation and hire-purchase in Year 9, budgeting, understanding credit card and energy bills in Year 10, calculating how shares and superannuation work in Year 11, and put them all together in nice HSC questions in Year 12. Our students are taught in such a way that they can leave school with an excellent basic grasp of how they can negotiate the financial world when they start work. I encourage Caterina to pick up a mathematics text book and discover for herself how much we have improved since she left school.

Mia David, Wollongong
A Thai man has been handed an 18-month community correction order after punching a passenger on an international flight when a bag fell on him from an overhead luggage compartment.

Australian Federal Police officers arrested Taninrut Saklor, 25, at Sydney Airport while he was disembarking from the Wellington to Sydney flight on Wednesday.

Saklor struck the male passenger next to him in the face after the bag landed on Saklors head while being unloaded from the overhead compartment.

He pleaded guilty in Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His community correction order will expire on May 6, 2025.

Federal Police acting Superintendent Damien Full said police had zero tolerance for violent or abusive behaviour.
A scathing report by WAs prisons watchdog has found the states prisons are struggling under the weight of understaffing and overcrowding, leading to lengthy lockdowns and unhygienic conditions that breached human rights standards.

The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services report, released on Thursday, found the adult prison population climbed to more than 7700 in the year to June 2024, an increase of 15 per cent.

Inspector Eamon Ryan said most prisons were grappling with massive overcrowding. Credit: Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services.

Inspector Eamon Ryan said the rise had led to a massive overcrowding in most facilities which had been exacerbated by sentencing delays.

An examination of the states prisons found many were operating at capacity, with cells that had to accommodate a third prisoner and increasingly poor conditions breaching human rights standards.
A US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarine berths in Western Australia in 2024. Credit: RAN I think at the very least theres got to be a serious discussion in Canberra about whether we want a sovereign submarine capacity and whether weve got to accept that under intense competition with China, whether America in the 2030s can conceivably adhere to the grand promise. Weve got to discuss the prospect that the decision will be made by people not yet in power in America. Gareth Evans, foreign minister in the Hawke and Keating governments, said the new administration was likely to voice support for AUKUS until practical pressures forced a new approach. Trump is transactional and will start like the Biden administration  seeing this as a good deal for the US financially and because the boats will be, for all practical purposes, US assets, said Evans.

But that will last only until it becomes apparent, probably in the next year or two, that the US shipyards are not meeting their own Virginia replacement targets. The AUKUS pact says the first vessel in a new design, known as the SSN-AUKUS, will be completed at an Australian shipyard in the early 2040s. As an interim step, the government assumes US and UK submarines will start operating on rotation from HMAS Stirling, near Perth, from 2027, easing the burden on the ageing Australian Collins-class vessels. Australia will also pay $4.7 billion to US companies to help fund the technologies  such as nuclear propulsion  needed for the new fleet. Former attorney-general George Brandis, who was Australian high commissioner to the UK when the AUKUS pact was struck, said he believed the agreement was not under threat from Trump.

Loading And former prime minister Scott Morrison, who struck the AUKUS alliance with the US and UK in 2021, said he was quite confident the Trump administration would support the agreement. It is true that President Trump has a reputation for being transactional, but that doesnt mean he likes bad deals. He likes good deals. AUKUS is a good deal, Morrison told Sky News on Wednesday. Australia carries its weight in that deal; you wont find another defence agreement anywhere in the world where your ally is actually paying to support the industrial base in your own country, in the United States. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said he did not think Australia would ever get the Virginia-class submarines promised under AUKUS, but he said this would be due to constraints on the US Navy and not the personal views of Trump as president.

The bottom line is the American Navy is at least 17 Virginia-class submarines short of what they believe they need, Turnbull told Radio National on Thursday. The legislation which authorises America to sell Virginia-class submarines to Australia says that before doing so, the president has to certify that the US Navys underwater capabilities would not be diminished by the sale. In other words, that theyre surplus to the US Navys requirements. Now, I dont see how an American president could do that. Rudd described Trump as nuts and a traitor to the West because of his stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the former prime minister made the remarks as a private citizen before he was named as the ambassador in December 2022.

Coalition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham signalled on Wednesday morning that the government should reconsider Rudds appointment if he became a liability with the new administration. Obviously, everybodys aware of what was said in the past thats been publicised, but Kevin Rudds done a good job while hes been in Washington, Birmingham told the Nine Network. Now, the job is bigger than any one person or Anthony Albaneses loyalties to any one person, so if he cant do the job, he cant get through the door and have the influence we need, then, of course, somebody else should take that on. But we wish him nothing but success because we want to see Australias best interests protected at all times. Wong backed Rudd on Thursday morning.
You can still win a game and not play perfect footy. Heralded as one of the strongest talents in the AFLW, Garner is consistently a player to watch in the midfield, notable for her ability to move the ball seamlessly out of congestion. The 30-year-old shone in the week nine clash against Adelaide with 27 disposals, five clearances and notching two goals  the seventh consecutive game where she scored a major. Former AFLW coach and commentator Daniel Harford described Garner as part of the nucleus of the team, while North coach Darren Crocker hailed her as a generational talent.

From her 2019 debut with North to now, Garner said her mindset and play had improved with experience, crediting the solid group of girls around her. One piece of advice from Crock is youre competitive and want to go out and win, but the main thing is to enjoy and do what you love, she said. I think thats what Ive found and developed in my game. Jasmine Garner and her Kangaroos are in dominant touch. Credit: Getty Images Garner also praised her family for their support during finals period  her younger brother Kane is ever-present at the club, attending training sessions and running the teams water bottles. I think my brother is probably my biggest supporter  actually hes probably the teams biggest supporter, she said. I love that hes able to be involved with my journey and ride the highs and lows.

Garner is on track to earn a seventh consecutive All-Australian jumper this season and was crowned club champion last year. But the leagues best-and-fairest accolade has remained elusive. Its not something I look in to, whatever happens, happens, she said. For myself and the team, our goal is the premiership. Unforgettable atmosphere: AFLW grand final to be held at night This years AFLW grand final will be held under lights in a primetime 7.45pm spot for the first time in the leagues history. The AFL announced the timeslot for the November 30 grand final on Wednesday morning, with AFLW general manager Emma Moore and executive general manager Laura Kane describing it as an exciting time for the womens game.

Garner said she was excited about the prospect of playing an evening grand final but cautioned the team wasnt there yet. Growing up, I always watched the mens footy on Friday, Saturday night, she said.  It was one of my favourite things to do. From left: AFLW general manager Emma Moore, AFLW great Erin Phillips and Laura Kane, the leagues executive general manager of football. Credit: AFL Photos I think its pretty cool that the AFLW has the opportunity to play in that prime-time spot, it doesnt get any better than Friday, saturday night footy. In 2025, the AFLW will expand to 12 games over 12 weeks, ditching the controversial condensed fixture from 2024.

Asked her thoughts about what the competition should look like next year, Garner hoped games would keep increasing per season. Loading Weve got to be able to fit it all in, and if that means bring the season forward earlier and there might be a bit of cross-over with the mens, I think thats probably the way to go, she said. As long as we are increasing games, we can head towards everyone playing each other once, wed be heading in the right direction. This years AFLW grand final will be held under lights in a primetime 7.45pm spot for the first time in the leagues history.

The AFL announced the timeslot for the November 30 grand final on Wednesday morning, with AFLW general manager Emma Moore and executive general manager Laura Kane describing it as an exciting time for the womens game. This will enable more people to watch the biggest game on the AFLW calendar, exposing more people to our great game and an unforgettable atmosphere to close the season, Moore said. Kane said she had watched every game of the season and described it as an incredible year. We were up in every metric, crowd, broadcast numbers and games, and I think the growth that we all want to see and work so hard to see in W has been on display this year with some of the best football and some of the best emerging talent. Kane said growth was our No.1 priority and said players were excited to play at night.

Pre-match entertainment will be announced in coming weeks, with the venue to be confirmed after the preliminary finals. According to AFLW rules, the highest-ranked qualifier hosts the grand final. Last week, two of the leagues stars said it didnt matter to them if the grand final was held during the day or at night  as long as their teams made it. Hawks forward Aine McDonagh. Credit: AFL Photos Hopefully, we get there, theyll tell me where, and Ill turn up, Hawthorn forward Aine McDonagh said after the Hawks win over Richmond last Sunday. Last years decider between the Kangaroos and the Lions was held at Ikon Park on a Sunday at 2.30pm  the latest start in the leagues history.

Loading The AFL has previously explored the potential of a twilight or night grand final for the mens competition, hosting the grand final under lights during the COVID-19 interrupted campaigns of 2020 and 2021. Moore and Kane confirmed they had received and listened to feedback on this years controversial condensed fixture, and said changes would be implemented in 2025. The AFLW fixture was condensed to fit its new 11-game home-and-away season into the same 10-week stretch, sparking concerns for heightened risks of injury. The fixture is expected to grow to 12 weeks next year. We had a lot of feedback from a lot of people, we listened to it, and there are things that will change next year as a result of that feedback, Kane said.
Anyone who has wandered its gloomy rooms and peered into its dusty display cases will know that it is a relic of the Victorian era  constructed in 1901, and barely changed in the 123 years that have followed. Crowded and chaotic, it falls short of the standards required for a major archaeological museum in the 21st century. Egypt has long needed a state-of-the-art facility to focus a spotlight on its remarkable heritage. Now, at last, it seems to have one. The new Grand Egyptian Museum arrives 11 years behind schedule. Credit: Getty Images The basic numbers behind the GEM are also remarkable. The cost of its construction is estimated at a weighty $US1 billion ($A1.51 billion). It is the worlds largest archaeological museum, with a total floor space of 490,000 square metres. Once it is fully operational, it will be able to hold more than 100,000 items, including the complete collection of artefacts discovered in the tomb of the boy-pharaoh Tutankhamun. This alone amounts to 5500 treasures  many of which have been languishing in storage. Unlike its fabled but flawed predecessor on Tahrir Square, the museum is not in Cairo. It sits about 16 kilometres to the south-west, on the opposite bank of the Nile, in Giza. And if the difference between the Egyptian capital and the neighbouring city with which it shares a conurbation is not always obvious (although the river is a pretty big clue), one particular set of landmarks offers clear indication that you have crossed into the latter.

The GEM stands less than two kilometres from the Pyramids, and is designed to go hand-in-hand with the ancient worlds foremost set of tombs. The opening of a new airport in Giza  the aptly named Sphinx International  at the start of 2020 has also polished the idea of an extensive development of considerable importance, to which the planet is meant to flock. The new museum is a short distance from the Pyramids, with the two designed to be visited hand-in-hand. Credit: Getty Images So why has it taken so long to cut the ribbon? This is a question that has baffled many, and comes with no catch-all answer. True, Egypt has undergone regime change in the 22 years since work began, but the laying of that foundation stone is so far back in the past that the man who placed it, the dictator Hosni Mubarak, has now been out of power for 13 years, and dead for four. The colossal entry hall hosts an 11 metre, 83-tonne, 3200-year-old statue of the formidable pharaoh Ramesses II. Credit: AP The revolution which deposed him in 2011  part of the briefly optimistic Arab Spring demonstrations which curdled into something far darker (to the extent that the original Egyptian Museum was reputedly used for the torture of dissidents)  undoubtedly contributed to the delay, but is now also more than a decade into yesteryear. There have been financial pinch-points, but the money  including a $US300 million loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation  has generally been there. There was a fire at the museum entrance in April 2018, but this proved to be a relatively minor incident, which did not have a serious impact on progress.

The pandemic was a further factor  although I remain confused as to why it should have been. I was one of the first journalists to tour the site, being allowed into its laboratories (where conservation work on various Tutankhamun artefacts was ongoing)  and into the colossal entry hall, where the 11-metre, 83-tonne, 3200-year-old statue of the formidable pharaoh Ramesses II, which has been the GEMs postcard image to date, was already in position. My visit was in April 2019  when COVID was still little more than a sore throat in a wet-market. At the time, I couldnt have conceived that the museums opening would be more than five years away  even with the two-year hand-brake of a global health crisis. To my (admittedly untrained) eye, it seemed all but ready. I was not told otherwise. Loading Still, 2019 has become 2024, tomorrow looks to have become today, and the Grand Egyptian Museum appears set  after so much waiting  to fulfil the promise of its name. Of course, there have been false-starts before. April 3 2021 saw Egypt break from the grim mundanity of the pandemic to stage what was emphatically termed the Pharaohs Golden Parade.

This was the lavish transferral of 22 pharaonic mummies (18 kings, four queens) to a new palatial des-res. While their destination was not the GEM, but another fresh archaeological institution  the National Museum of Civilisation (NMEC), in the Old Cairo district of Fustat  the ceremony seemed to declare the end of an era. Here, finally, it seemed, was the pensioning off of the Egyptian Museum, its retirement marked by the removal of its star residents from their distinctly dingy resting place (an underlit antechamber; surcharge to the main ticket; cash only). Loading These journeys came with plenty of pomp and no little circumstance, the former monarchs being conveyed across town in quasi-chariots as spotlights swirled and soldiers marched; a bright spectacle broadcast live on Egyptian television. But while the NMEC officially turned its lights on that same evening, the GEM skulked in darkness for another three years. The reasons remain vague. One of the rulers moved that day was Ramesses II himself; that titan of the 19th Dynasty, who is believed to have reigned in Egypt between 1279 and 1213 BC. But while his mummy now has visitors at the NMEC, his totemic statue at the GEM  which was unearthed at the Great Temple of Ptah, near the ruins of the ancient city of Memphis, in 1820  will only, finally, greet onlookers now.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. In the vibrant tapestry of cultural expression, the Azeri Calgary Stars dance group, a radiant thread woven by the Azerbaijani Culture Society of Alberta in the Canadian mosaic, emerged victorious in a contest that unfolded like a colorful festival in Calgary, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

The contest brought together a melting pot of participants from across the European landscape, with Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Poland, Ukraine, Croatia, and a few more, all sharing the stage with Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani national dances, a vibrant tapestry woven by the group with threads of ballet, captivated the hearts and minds of both the jury and the audience, drawing them into a mesmerizing whirl of culture and artistry.

In the second round of the contest, the group took the stage with a flourish, performing to the enchanting melodies of the Koroghlu opera, crafted by the brilliant mind of Uzeyir Hajibayli.

The jury commended the Azerbaijani dancing group's performance and awarded first prize to Azeri Calgary Stars.

To note, the group's success, bolstered by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, was significantly enhanced by the performances of Lala Aslanur, a graduate of the Azerbaijan Choreographic Academy and recipient of the "Turksoy Ozal Odul" award.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Loading Morrison said Trump would stand by the AUKUS pact on nuclear-propelled submarines, an alliance Morrison struck with President Joe Biden and former British prime minister Boris Johnson. Morrison also rejected the argument that a Trump administration would be scary for the world because he would be weak on leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Ill tell you whos scary  Vladimir Putin is scary, Xi Jinping is scary, Ayatollah [Ali] Khamenei is scary. Donald Trump is not scary, he told Sky News. Morrison said AUKUS was a good deal for the US and Australia, and would be supported by Trump for that reason.

The AUKUS pact assumes Australia will buy the first of three Virginia-class submarines from the US in 2032 and the second in 2035. It says the first vessel in a new design, known as the SSN-AUKUS, will be completed at an Australian shipyard in the early 2040s. As an interim step, the government assumes US and UK submarines will start operating on rotation from HMAS Stirling, near Perth, from 2027, easing the burden on Australias ageing Collins-class vessels. Australia will also pay $4.7 billion to US companies to help fund the technologies  such as nuclear propulsion  needed for the new fleet. Former attorney-general George Brandis, who was Australian high commissioner to the UK when the AUKUS pact was struck, said he believed the agreement was not under threat from Trump. However, he expressed concern that Trump would give a green light to dictators if he weakened American support for Ukraine against Putin.

Loading Australia is in a better position than European allies, but a Trump administration will make the global order less stable, Brandis said. America remained an ally for Australia and others, Brandis said, but a less reliable one. Former diplomat Dennis Richardson, who was ambassador to the US from 2005 to 2010, also said Trump was likely to back the AUKUS alliance. Both [former prime minister Malcolm] Turnbull and Morrison worked that relationship hard and did well, so the starting point with Trump is not a bad one, he said.

Itll be important for people to put aside their own views about Trump as a person and separate that out from the way we should approach him and his administration. Richardson said the world was heading for a less certain time under a Trump administration and raised two concerns  first, that Western democracies would weaken their support for Ukraine against Putin, and second, that US tariffs would set off a trade war. Turnbull was prime minister when Trump sought to impose sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminium in 2016 to protect American industry, leading Turnbull to negotiate directly with the then-president and successfully gain an exemption for Australia. The Australian ambassador to the US, former prime minister Kevin Rudd, has also drawn criticism from Trump and some of his supporters in recent months over remarks made several years ago in which Rudd described Trump as nuts and a traitor to the West because of his stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Coalition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham signalled on Wednesday morning that the government might have to consider Rudds position if he was not able to work with a new administration.

Loading Obviously, everybodys aware of what was said in the past thats been publicised, but Kevin Rudds done a good job while hes been in Washington, Birmingham told the Nine Network. Now, the job is bigger than any one person or Anthony Albaneses loyalties to any one person, so if he cant do the job, he cant get through the door and have the influence we need, then, of course, somebody else should take that on. But we wish him nothing but success because we want to see Australias best interests protected at all times. Morrison made no criticism of Rudd and said he hoped Albanese would listen to the ambassador.
The Nostradamus of US polling, Allan Lichtman, has his head in his hands, and his eyes dart back and forth as he looks at a sea of red.

Since 1984, hes predicted nine out of 10 US elections correctly, aside from the uber close 2000 race between George W. Bush and Al Gore  but not this one.

Its a few hours in, and Lichtman has already called the battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia for Trump.

Commentators Rory Stewart, Allan Lichtman and Anthony Scaramucci all said Harris would win. Credit: Various

Hes hoping for a Pennsylvania miracle, he says on his YouTube live stream with an overall audience of more than one million people. But then  no, the math doesnt work.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, November 2, 2024, the Business & Professional Women Concordia St. Martin (BPWC) hosted its Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony at Emilios

Restaurant under the theme, Keep the Flames Burning! This cherished event, steeped in a 100-year-old tradition initiated by BPW International founder Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips, honors the ongoing dedication and achievements of women advocating for the rights of women and girls

across 125 countries.

The BPWC association also welcomed two new members, Ms. Aida Holaman and Ms. Sophia Carti, whose extensive experience in organizational leadership and community service strengthens BPWCs mission.

The event was skillfully chaired by Suzanne Scantlebery, supported by committee members Danielle Chance-Glasgow, Sophia Carti, Cathy Questel-Gamiette, Treasurer Emelinda Lake, Secretary Sharanne Gibbs, Vice President of Membership Kathia Magdeleine, and President Catherine Magdeleine.

Educator and therapist Mrs. Collette Jones Chin delivered an inspiring keynote address, reflecting on the importance of nurturing meaningful relationships and keeping the flames burning in the face of lifes challenges. Mrs. Chin engaged the audience with a heartfelt blend of words, song, and poetry, and she also shared some of her challenges and coping mechanisms she uses to keep her flame burning.

The evenings atmosphere was enhanced by the melodious performance of Lady Rubia, whose captivating voice resonated deeply with all in attendance.



BPWC President Catherine Magdeleine expressed gratitude, stating, There is no greater joy than to thank our members, guests, family, and friends for making this event a success. Together, we continue to keep the flames burning.

A special thanks to all the sponsors of this event:

Pineapple Petes Restaurant

Marks Place

Orco Bank

Sabien Home, Bath & Body

Guavaberry Colombier Tradition

SOS Radio

Frolic

ReConnect

Emilio's Dine with History

Ricky Da Phoxx

My Specialty Crafts




PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) informs the public that face masks and glass containers are prohibited in the Jouvert Jump Up, planned as part of the St. Maarten Day Festivities for Sunday, November 10. This event is scheduled to begin at 12:00am and is expected to conclude at Jose Lake Ball Park by 4:00am.

In coordination with the Prosecutor's Office, KPSM will strictly enforce safety protocols during the Jouvert Jump Up to ensure public security and an orderly celebration. The public is urged to take note of the following directives:

Mask Prohibition: Wearing masks in or along the parade route is prohibited. Individuals found wearing masks will be instructed to remove them. Failure to comply with this order may result in an NAf. 270/US $150 fine. This measure has been implemented to reduce risks and maintain a secure environment.

No Glass Containers: The sale or distribution of beverages in glass bottles along the route is strictly prohibited to prevent potential hazards from broken glass. The fine for throwing of bottles is NAf. 430/US $240.

Conduct Standards: Attendees are required to maintain responsible and respectful behavior throughout the event.

This communication serves as a reminder to the public to prioritize safety and adhere to guidelines set forth by law enforcement authorities. KPSM urges all participants to cooperate with law enforcement and to follow these safety protocols throughout the festivities.

KPSM Press Release.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Committee of Justice of Parliament will meet on November 7, 2024.

The Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Justice and representatives of UNOPS will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:

Update on the progress of the new Prison project (IS/226/2024-2025 dated November 1, 2024)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. A concert titled "40th Parallel - Warsaw," marking November 8 - Azerbaijan's Victory Day, took place in Warsaw, Poland, with support from the Azerbaijan Diaspora Support Fund, the Council of Azerbaijanis in Poland, and the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in Poland, Trend reports via the countrys State Committee for Work with the Diaspora.

The concert featured performances of songs such as "40th Parallel," "House from the Earth," and other musical pieces by Azerbaijani rapper Orkhan Zeynalov and vocalist Nargiz Majidli. The event, which drew over 700 attendees from across Europe, was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The following day, Orkhan Zeynalli met with fans at the "House of Azerbaijan" in Warsaw.

Farid Jafarli, Chairman of the Council of Azerbaijanis in Poland, and Mehriban Sultanova, an official with the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora, greeted the attendees and extended congratulations on the upcoming November 8Victory Day, November 9National Flag Day, November 12Constitution Day, and November 17National Revival Day.

Speakers highlighted the significance of holding Victory Day events around the world with the support of the State Committee, underscoring the importance of celebrating these milestones together with Azerbaijanis living abroad.

Acknowledgments were given to Azerbaijan's victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, and the Azerbaijani Armed Forces for their historical victory in the Patriotic War. Attendees paid tribute to the fallen martyrs of the Patriotic War and wished good health to the war veterans.

The meeting concluded with a lively interaction between Orkhan Zeynalli and his fans, followed by a photo session to commemorate the event.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The Azerbaijani city of Lankaran has been officially designated as the "Youth Capital of the Turkic World for 2024," Trend reports.

The decision was made following the 11th Summit of OTS Heads of State in Bishkek.

To note, the leaders of the OTS member countries agreed that the next summit will take place in Azerbaijan in 2025.

At the end of the meeting, during which the chairmanship of the organization was handed over from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan, the heads of state signed the Bishkek Summit Declaration.

The OTS countries also agreed to hold an informal summit in Hungary next year.
What we know about the soldiers 'held hostage' by Bolivia demonstrators



La Paz, Nov 5 (AFP) Nov 05, 2024



The Bolivian government said at the weekend that 200 soldiers were being "held hostage" by supporters of ex-president Evo Morales, who have been blockading roads for over three weeks to try to prevent his arrest on charges of statutory rape.

Here is what we know about the situation at the three barracks in the central Chapare region targeted by supporters of Bolivia's 2006-2019 president, who is eying a comeback in elections next year despite being barred from seeking re-election.

- What happened? -



On Friday, the Bolivian military said "irregular armed groups" had taken over a military barracks in Chapare, Morales's political stronghold in the central Cochabamba department.

It said they had "kidnapped military personnel", without saying how many, and had also seized weapons and ammunition.

In a video shared on Bolivian media, 16 soldiers were seen surrounded by protesters holding pointed sticks aloft.

"The Cacique Maraza Regiment has been taken over by Tipnis activists," a uniformed man is heard saying in the video, referring to supporters of Bolivia's first Indigenous leader.

"They have cut off our water, electricity and are keeping us hostage," the voice added.

The following day the foreign ministry said three barracks in Chapare had been "assaulted by irregular groups" who had "taken more than 200 military personnel hostage".

On Monday, Deputy Minister of Coordination with Social Movements Juan Villca told AFP that the three facilities were "still held" by protestors.



- Are the soldiers really hostages? -



Vicente Choque, leader of the Indigenous federations of Chapare, denied that the soldiers were hostages.

"There's not a single hostage, this talk of hostages is the government exaggerating or lying," he told AFP.

He acknowledged however that 2,000 to 3,000 people were maintaining "a vigil" outside the barracks of the 9th Infantry Division -- one of the three sites targeted -- to prevent other soldiers entering.

He said the protesters came to the barracks to complain about the presence of vehicles inside, which they said had been used in the "attempted assassination" of Morales on October 27.

The 65-year-old ex-leader accused state agents of trying to kill him while driving in Chapare, sharing a video online showing himself travelling in a pick-up truck riddled with bullet holes.

The government said the police fired on his vehicle after coming under fire from his convoy.

Choque said the soldiers at the barracks could "leave no problem" if they "coordinated" with the protesters.

Lawyer and retired army officer Omar Duran said however that the troops "are being held hostage and are not allowed leave".

An AFP video showed men, women and children sitting under trees in the shade outside the barracks, occupied with various chores.

Inside, soldiers could be seen standing guard but are unarmed.

Choque said the situation was the same at the other two barracks.



- How could it happen? -



Duran said he believed the military in Chapare was caught off guard due to a lack of intelligence gathering.

He blamed what he called a lack of state support for the military.

"The armed forces have been abandoned. They do not have riot gear. The few weapons they have are weapons of war," he said.

He added that the army was hesitant to use force against the protesters for fear of being disavowed by the government of President Luis Arce, a longtime Morales ally who has since fallen out with him.

"The officers believe that the moment they fire a shot the government will abandon them," Duran said.

Villca vowed there would be an "extensive investigation" into how the protesters were allowed enter the military facilities.
Thousands in Tel Aviv protest Israel defence minister's sacking



Tel Aviv, Nov 5 (AFP) Nov 05, 2024



Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv late Tuesday to protest the sacking of defence minister Yoav Gallant, calling on his successor Israel Katz to prioritise a hostage deal to return the captives still held in Gaza.

Chanting slogans against the government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the demonstrators carrying Israeli flags gathered in the commercial hub shortly after Gallant's dismissal was announced.

Protesters also blocked traffic and lit fires on the Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv, with some wearing "Bring them home now!" t-shirts referring to the hostages.

They held up signs with slogans such as "We deserve better leaders" and "Leaving no one behind!" and one protester wore handcuffs and a face mask with Netanyahu's likeness.

"Bibi traitor! You're guilty" chanted some, referring to Netanyahu and blaming for failing to prevent the Hamas attack on October 7 last year.

"We, the protesters, believe that Gallant... is actually the only normal person in the government," said 54-year-old teacher Samuel Miller, slamming Netanyahu's administration for opening "new fronts in uncalled-for wars".

"He's doing nothing to safeguard our peace, the peace of the Palestinians, the peace of everybody in this region," Miller told AFP.

He also criticised Netanyahu's government for "doing absolutely nothing to free the hostages" still held in Gaza.

Foreign minister Israel Katz took over the defence portfolio on Tuesday, after Netanyahu fired Gallant over eroded trust over the past months of the Gaza war.



- 'Endangering Israel's security' -



An Israeli group campaigning for the release of hostages in Gaza on Tuesday expressed "deep concern" over the sacking and urged Katz to "prioritise" a deal to free the captives.

"We expect the incoming defence minister, Israel Katz, to prioritise a hostage deal... to secure the immediate release of all hostages," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.

Gallant also called on the government to bring home the hostages, saying in a televised speech: "We must do this quickly, while they are still alive."

Einav Tzangauker, whose son Matan is among the hostages, was among those protesting against Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.

"If it is possible to replace a defence minister in the middle of a war, then it is surely possible to replace a prime minister who is unqualified to bring back the hostages," she told Israel's Channel 12.

Netanyahu "is intentionally endangering Israel's security and all that because of a dispute between him and Gallant on how to continue the war," she added.

The war erupted on October 7, 2023 after Palestinian militants attacked Israel, resulting in 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 43,391 people in Gaza, a majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry the United Nations considers reliable.

During the October 7 attack, Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages, of whom 97 are still in Gaza. The Israeli military says 34 of them are dead.
North Korea fires short-range ballistic missile salvo ahead of US election



Seoul, Nov 5 (AFP) Nov 05, 2024



North Korea fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles early Tuesday, Seoul's military said, in Pyongyang's second launch in days which came as Americans vote for a new president.

The nuclear-armed North last week test-fired what it said was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in Kim Jong Un's first weapons test since being accused of sending soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine.

Pyongyang, which has denied the deployment, is under growing international pressure to withdraw its troops from Russia, with Seoul warning Tuesday that thousands of soldiers were being deployed to frontline areas, including Kursk.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch of "several short-range ballistic missiles" at around 7:30 am Tuesday (2230 GMT) into waters east of the Korean peninsula.

The missiles flew approximately 400 kilometers (248 miles) and Seoul's military said it had tracked the launch in real time while sharing information with Tokyo and Washington.

"In preparation for additional launches, our military has strengthened surveillance and alertness," it added.

The United States, which was holding its presidential election, condemned the latest missile tests.

"These launches, as well as last week's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, are in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions," a State Department spokesperson said, adding that they "undermine the global nonproliferation regime."

And at the United Nations, 10 of the 15 members of the Security Council issued a joint statement Tuesday, urging North Korea to give up its ballistic missile program.

In Japan, top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said that the North's "repeated launches of ballistic missiles threaten the peace and security of our country".



- 'Aggressive nature' -



On Sunday, South Korea, Japan and the United States conducted a joint air drill involving a US B-1B bomber, South Korean F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets, and Japanese F-2 jets, in response to the ICBM launch.

Such joint drills infuriate Pyongyang, which views them as rehearsals for invasion.

Pyongyang's latest launch was "a direct response to the trilateral aerial exercises over the weekend", Han Kwon-hee of the Korea Association of Defence Industry Studies told AFP.

"Given it was a salvo of short-range missiles, the North is indicating that it not only has long-range missiles capable of reaching the US, but also short-range ones to target all bases in South Korea and Japan," Han added.

Kim Yo Jong, sister of the country's leader and a key spokesperson, called the US-South Korea-Japan exercises an "action-based explanation of the most hostile and dangerous aggressive nature of the enemy toward our Republic."

In a statement carried Tuesday by the official Korean Central News Agency, she said the drill was "absolute proof of the validity and urgency of the line of building up the nuclear forces we have opted for and put into practice."

Seoul has long accused the nuclear-armed North of sending weapons to help Moscow fight Kyiv and alleged that Pyongyang has moved to deploy soldiers en masse since Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defence deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June.

"More than 10,000 North Korean soldiers are currently in Russia, and we assess that a significant portion of them are deployed to frontline areas, including Kursk," Jeon Ha-gyu, a spokesman for the South Korean Defense Ministry, said Tuesday.

Seoul, a major weapons exporter, has said it is reviewing whether to send weapons directly to Ukraine in response, something it has previously resisted due to longstanding domestic policy that prevents it from providing weaponry into active conflicts.

With its recent testing spate, "Pyongyang is showing that its contribution of weapons and troops to Russia's war in Ukraine does not curtail its military activities closer to home," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"On the contrary, cooperation with Moscow appears to enable blatant violations of UN Security Council resolutions."

On Monday, Robert Wood, US deputy ambassador to the UN, accused Russia and China of preventing the UN from holding Pyongyang to account.
US Navy contractor 'Fat Leonard' sentenced to 15 years in prison



Los Angeles, United States, Nov 5 (AFP) Nov 05, 2024



Leonard Francis, the Malaysian military contractor known as "Fat Leonard," was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday for his role in the US Navy's worst ever corruption scandal.

Francis, 60, was also ordered to pay $20 million in restitution to the US Navy by a federal judge in San Diego and to forfeit $35 million in ill-gotten gains, the US Attorney's office for the Southern District of California said in a statement.

Francis, who ran a military contracting company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, out of Singapore, was arrested in 2013.

He pleaded guilty in 2015 to offering bribes to naval officers to steer work to his shipyards in Asia-Pacific ports, then overcharging the navy to the tune of $35 million.

According to court documents, Francis handed out more than $500,000 in cash bribes and provided prostitutes, first class travel, luxury hotel stays and lavish meals to naval officers, along with expensive gifts like designer handbags and watches.

Francis had been scheduled to be sentenced in September 2022, but he cut off a GPS ankle bracelet he was wearing while under house arrest and fled to Venezuela.

He was returned to the United States from Venezuela in December 2023 in a prisoner swap between the two countries.

As part of a plea agreement, Francis provided government investigators with detailed information which led to the conviction of a number of high-ranking US Navy officers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has prioritized climate action as a core focus of its operations, enhancing its funding capacity and mobilizing financial resources to support climate action and Azerbaijan's efforts at COP29, said ADB Country Director in Azerbaijan Sunniya Durrani-Jamal in an exclusive interview with Trend.

Supporting Azerbaijans COP29 Presidency and strategic initiatives

Durrani-Jamal highlighted Azerbaijan's commitment to making COP29 a significant event for global climate action, stating, "As the climate bank for Asia and the Pacific region, ADB has been proud to support the COP29 Presidency in both the negotiations track and Action Agenda." She emphasized ADB's ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive support to the COP Presidency through technical assistance, which includes capacity building, advisory services, and knowledge sharing on critical issues for COP29.

Since May 2024, ADB experts have been collaborating with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) to prepare Azerbaijans first National Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) required under the Paris Agreement, due by December 31, 2024. "ADB experts organized a workshop and provided hands-on support to carry out detailed data collection and validation of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Report and National Inventory Document (NID)," Durrani-Jamal explained.

The ADB has also closely supported the COP29 Presidency's Article 6 negotiations team, conducting four workshops for MENR and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to help them navigate international negotiations leading up to and during COP29, ensuring full operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

In addition, ADB is working with the COP29 Presidency on various Action Agenda initiatives across sectors, including just transition, urban development, and human development areas such as education, health, and green skills. Durrani-Jamal noted, "ADB has worked closely with the COP29 Presidency on developing the Baku Principles on Human Development for Climate Resilience".

During COP29, ADB plans to launch several initiatives aligned with the Presidencys Action Agenda, including a Climate and Education Playbook and a Climate & Health portal. Durrani-Jamal stated, "Our ADB-led initiatives on just transition, NDC 3.0, Article 6, Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM), Nature Solution Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific, Community Resilience Partnership Program, and Climate and Health Initiative will be showcased at COP29".

ADB's commitment extends to regional climate action through the Central and West Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program, where Azerbaijan plays a pivotal role. The CAREC Secretariat, hosted by ADB, has actively engaged with the COP29 Baku Initiative for Climate Finance, Investment, and Trade. The CAREC Partnership, co-hosted by Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy and ADB, is set to occur on Finance Day, November 14.

ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa will attend key events at COP29. As the current Chair of the MDB Climate Action Working Group, ADB plans to issue a joint statement with other multilateral development banks (MDBs) and announce its Climate Finance commitments.

Durrani-Jamal added, "ADBs representation at the highest level at COP29 affirms our commitment as Asia and the Pacifics climate bank and reinforces our position as a well-established development partner".

Further speaking, the country director noted that, since 1999, when Azerbaijan joined ADB, the bank has committed more than $5 billion for environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive projects in transport, energy, health care, and agriculture . "We have provided this assistance primarily to the public sector but are increasingly engaging with the private sector in Azerbaijan".

"2024 is a very special year for us as it marks 25 years of Azerbaijan-ADB partnership. ADBs President Masatsugu Asakawa visited Azerbaijan this year in June. He reassured the government of ADBs continuing support for reforms in the country to achieve the strategic priorities outlined in Azerbaijan 2030, and in meeting Azerbaijans regional and international commitments. We commend the government for prioritizing sustainable growth including through the countrys energy transition, investing in an inclusive and equitable society with a focus on employment and social protection, and spending on education and innovation to create a competitive and skilled workforce," she added.

Expanding regional connectivity

ADB has invested more than $1.5 billion in transport projects in Azerbaijan. Emphasizing Azerbaijans position as a vital transit hub, she stated: "We recognize the strategic importance of Azerbaijan given its location at the crossroads of the East-West and North-South transport corridors. In fact, Azerbaijan plays a crucial role in connecting the Peoples Republic of China and the economies of Central Asia and the Caucasus with Europe".

Many of the ADB-supported projects in Azerbaijan, Durrani-Jamal explained, are "actually part of a broader regional connectivity network". A key component of this network is the CAREC Corridor 2, known as the Middle Corridor, which integrates road, rail, and sea routes across the Caspian and Black Seas, facilitating containerized transit traffic between Asia and Europe. "ADB is ready to work with the government of Azerbaijan and other neighboring countries to increase the operational efficiency of regional transport corridors," she noted.

Durrani-Jamal pointed to ADBs solid experience in developing complex multimodal transport infrastructure across Asia over the past five decades. "We have solid credentials in developing complex multi-modal transport infrastructure in Asia and the Pacific," she said, citing a range of projects, including "bridges, railways, urban metros, roads, airports, and ports".

"Our approach to regional infrastructure development has of course evolved based on our experience," she continued, explaining that ADB is now focusing on creating "integrated transport networks, including regional networks, that use intelligent data and tracking systems" to streamline customs clearance and improve asset management.

Durrani-Jamal highlighted specific projects that demonstrate ADBs commitment, such as the $131.5 million additional loan approved in September 2024 for Azerbaijans Railway Sector Development Program. Alongside this, "the government and ADB have also invested $47 million for the Azerbaijan Railways Digital Transformation Project," she said, aimed at "improving operational efficiencies and cross-border tracking of goods".

ADB looks to enhance cybersecurity and digital skills within Azerbaijan Railways as well. "ADB is also planning to provide a grant for technical assistance to enhance the cybersecurity of railway operations while building digital skills of its workforce".

"In addition to transport and energy infrastructure, Azerbaijan is an active member and contributor to the CAREC working groups on skills development and health. Azerbaijan also plays an essential role in developing regional strategies and sharing best practices to enhance capacity-building, workforce development, and health outcomes across regional member countries. In the future, we expect water security issues to become prominent topics of deliberation among CAREC members," Durrani-Jamal added.

ADB's support for Azerbaijan's transition to green power - spotlight on Boyukshor Lake Solar PV

The Government and people of Azerbaijan are to be commended for hosting COP29 this year, the country director pointed out.

One of Azerbaijan's key initiatives is its commitment to add 1,870 MW of renewable energy to the grid for domestic consumption by 2027. ADB has already invested $1.7 billion in various successful energy projects in Azerbaijan, with plans to continue supporting the governments shift from hydrocarbons to green energy through analytical studies, policy advice, and financing.

"Our strategy to support Azerbaijans green energy transition includes investment in solar and wind power, the development of green energy corridors, and the promotion of e-mobility, including electric vehicles and alternative fuels such as green hydrogen," Durrani-Jamal explained. Additionally, ADB is focused on assisting with the decarbonization of district heating systems.

A notable project is the co-financing of Masdar's 230MW Garadagh solar power plant near Alat, which is set to become the largest solar facility in the Caucasus. "The Garadagh Solar PV Plant is expected to provide electricity to 110,000 homes and reduce CO2 emissions by 200,000 tons per year," Durrani-Jamal noted. This project signifies a milestone in Azerbaijans renewable energy landscape, supported by long-term international financing from ADB, totaling $21.4 million.

Looking ahead, ADB is gearing up to seek board approval for two additional solar projects co-financed with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in November.

In July 2024, ADB, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency, inaugurated the innovative 100 kW Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FPV) Pilot Project on Boyukshor Lake, conveniently located near the Baku Olympic Stadium, the main venue for COP29. Durrani-Jamal expressed optimism about this initiative: "ADB is looking into alternative business models with private sector participation for managing the FPV facilities in the greater Baku area and other economic regions of Azerbaijan."

Additionally, ADB is keen to support wind energy investments in the country and plans to engage in discussions with both government officials and private sector investors regarding this potential.

On a regional level, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on May 2, 2024, for a Caspian Sea electricity transmission cable project. This initiative is part of the "green energy corridors" concept, designed to transmit renewable energy from the Caspian region via an undersea cable running across the Black Sea to Europe.

To further enhance the domestic utilization of green energy, ADB is offering its support to the Azerbaijani government in developing green e-mobility infrastructure through the procurement of electric buses. Durrani-Jamal emphasized, "We are also supporting the decarbonization of the district heating system," underscoring ADB's commitment to fostering a sustainable energy future in Azerbaijan.

New Country Partnership Strategy - ADBs vision

Moreover, currently, ADB is working on a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Azerbaijan, which will guide its investments and initiatives from 2025 to 2029.

The country director emphasized that the strategy will be informed by comprehensive diagnostic work across several critical areas, including green infrastructure financing, water resources and food security, export diversification, and the development of green skills.

Durrani-Jamal expressed her vision for improving ADBs operational approach, stating, "I hope to be able to improve our operational approach and clearly communicate the value we offer to our clients". She noted that ADB aims to move away from standalone sector projects, instead fostering dialogue among government entities to collaboratively develop multi-sector solutions. She elaborated, "Of course, the projects could be delivered by separate ministries, but the results will be delivered through collaboration".

Highlighting the importance of efficient resource use, she pointed out the necessity of ensuring sufficient water availability for expanding agricultural production amidst anticipated water scarcity. "A case in point is improving efficiency in water use and energy use," Durrani-Jamal said.

Another focal point of the strategy is transitioning Azerbaijan's economy from a hydrocarbon-based model to one that is centered on manufacturing, logistics, and eventually, knowledge-based industries. Durrani-Jamal acknowledged the governments efforts to incentivize investments in techno parks and promote digital skills development, especially for girls and in regions beyond Baku. "The government is actively providing incentives to encourage investments in techno parks and encouraging digital skills development including for girls and in regions outside Baku to ensure equity," she noted.

To attract both domestic and international investment, Durrani-Jamal underscored the necessity of continuous improvements in governance and transparency. "Several steps are being taken in this direction from the establishment of ASAN service centers for citizens to improving governance and transparency among state-owned enterprises and financial institutions," she explained. Addressing challenges such as fostering the growth of small businesses, creating a robust middle class, and implementing policies that support affordable housing will require persistent efforts. "These are tough challenges that will need to be addressed steadily," she added.

ADB also provides technical assistance to Azerbaijan on "Improving Governance and Public Sector Efficiency", through technical advice on public financial management, corporate governance, and private sector development.

"Under PFM we have included technical advice on sovereign green bonds, climate budget tagging, transition to green public financial management and climate finance for MSMEs, etc. We are helping MSMEs successfully transition towards a sustainable, inclusive, low-carbon business growth model, by developing a climate change roadmap and action plan. The action plans are designed to: i) enhance convergence, harmonization, and integration of climate policies among MSMEs; ii) strengthen capacities of public and private stakeholders and decision-makers to integrate climate mitigation and adaptation measures in MSMEs investment and operations; iii) improve MSMEs access to resources including technology, climate finance, and climate advisory services," she said.

The bank is also exploring potential avenues for collaboration with Azerbaijani banks. "Depending on the progress of these discussions, ADB aims to provide substantial support to local banks, thereby enhancing their capacity to contribute to the country's green economic development".

Durrani-Jamal concluded with optimism about ADBs role in Azerbaijans development, stating, "We have a talented team at ADB, and I am confident that with their support and the support of our partners, ADB will continue to make significant contributions to the development of Azerbaijan and the region".
Taiwan students design drones for mock battle, as China threat looms



Chiayi, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



At a drone testing field in southwestern Taiwan, university students watch anxiously as unmanned aerial vehicles they designed take off, land and, occasionally, crash in a simulated battlefield scenario.

They are taking part in a competition that is helping Taiwan's efforts to boost domestic drone production.

With Beijing sustaining military pressure on the island, Taipei is ramping up investment in unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, as it seeks to bolster a more agile defence against a potential Chinese attack.

Both Ukraine and Russia have used UAVs extensively throughout their conflict, for surveillance and striking targets deep behind frontlines.

The UAVs flying in the National Defense Application UAV Challenge could potentially be adopted by drone companies and procured by the government.

"We can see drone applications in many current conflicts happening around the world," said competition organiser Jan Shau-Shiun, a professor in the space systems engineering department at National Cheng Kung University.

"Taiwan is in a position where we may also face such an issue, so based on this theme, we aim to strengthen our drone capabilities."

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has refused to renounce the use of force to bring it under its control.

Now in its second year, the competition was held over two days last month at the Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center in Chiayi county.

Twenty teams from across Taiwan gathered to put their drones to the test. The field will be whittled down to a shortlist this month for another challenge before the winner is declared next year.

Multi-rotor and fixed-wing drones were required to fly autonomously to a height of at least 60 metres (around 200 feet), take images of a remote target, and return to base within 10 minutes.

To make the scenario more realistic -- and difficult -- organisers this year used a jammer to disrupt satellite signals to the UAVs, making it harder for them to stay airborne.

"From observing the war in Ukraine and other conflicts, we can see that there's often interference on the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) before any fighting," said Jan.



- 'Hands-on skills' -



After spending countless hours designing and building their drones, with help from local drone or electronic component companies, teams watched nervously as their UAVs took flight.

Some drones failed to reach the required height or crashed due to the jamming.

Cheng Yong-jen, 24, breathed a sigh of relief after the drone he helped design ascended, soared into the distance and safely returned.

"It crashed, we repaired, it crashed again and we repaired again," said Cheng, a graduate student from National Formosa University.

"When the drone finally descended, I was in tears."

Lin Chun-Liang, lead judge and professor in electrical engineering at National Chung Hsing University, said the competition helped students develop "hands-on skills" not taught in schools.

Taiwan is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to buy and develop drones, and also nurture local talent to work in the sector, as it races to upgrade its military capabilities.

President Lai Ching-te has pledged to make Taiwan "the Asian hub of unmanned aerial vehicle supply chains".

Keeping workers in the industry, however, is a challenge in Taiwan where the huge semiconductor sector can offer higher salaries to top graduates.

Cheng said he planned to join a drone company after finishing his master's thesis on defence drones, insisting "this is the path we must take".

"We cannot stop moving forward just because we are behind others," said Cheng.
Philippines says joint maritime exercises rein in China



Manila, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



Joint naval exercises held frequently by the Philippines, United States and other Western powers are helping rein in "aggressive" Chinese actions in the South China Sea, a Filipino military official said Wednesday.

Beijing has for years sought to expand its presence in the disputed waterway, brushing aside an international ruling that its claim to most of the sea has no legal basis.

In recent months, China has deployed navy, coast guard and so-called maritime militia forces -- allegedly Chinese fishing vessels -- in a bid to bar the Philippines from a trio of strategically important reefs and islands in the South China Sea.

But those efforts were absent during the 10 instances this year when the Philippines, United States and others were conducting joint patrols dubbed Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA), the Philippine Navy said Wednesday.

"During the conduct of MMCAs, there have been no observed coercive and aggressive actions by the (People's Liberation Army) Navy, Coast Guard or the maritime militia," Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesman for South China Sea issues, told reporters on the sidelines of a Manila security forum.

The lull was observed for "a few days before and during, and a few days after" the exercises, he said, adding more joint naval drills could be expected in 2025.

Violent encounters with Chinese vessels typically occur during Philippine resupply missions to its remote garrisons in the area.

While Washington and its allies have avoided taking sides in the territorial dispute, they say Chinese actions threaten freedom of navigation essential for trade, with trillions of dollars passing through the waterway each year.

Multilateral and bilateral naval exercises help "buy time as we continue developing our capabilities", Trinidad said Wednesday, noting it was a "great challenge" given the Philippine military's limited equipment.

He also said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which groups Manila and nine neighbours, was "not doing enough" to support the Philippines or international law.

Fellow ASEAN members Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam also have claims overlapping Beijing's in the South China Sea, but others in the bloc have closer ties with China.

Trinidad urged ASEAN countries not to "suffer in silence" in the face of Chinese actions.

pam/cgm/cwl
NATO chief congratulates Trump, says will keep alliance 'strong'



Brussels, Belgium, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



NATO chief Mark Rutte on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump, who has claimed victory in the US presidential election, and said his return to power would help keep the alliance "strong".

Trump, who sealed a dramatic comeback to power after sweeping to victory against Democrat Kamala Harris, rattled NATO during the electoral campaign, threatening not to protect members who do not spend enough on defence.

"His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO," Rutte said on social media X.

Trump's first term in power was a rollercoaster for NATO as the bulldozing president lambasted European allies such as Germany for weak defence spending and reportedly even mulled pulling Washington out.

Some NATO members fear his second stint in office could see reduced US commitment to European security and an end to military support for Ukraine, as Trump has promised a quick deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.

But Rutte, who took over the reins of the alliance in October and was selected in part due to his good relations to the abrasive US leader, previously told allies to "stop worrying", insisting Trump understood the value of having the 32-nation alliance on his side.

"President-elect Trump demonstrated strong US leadership throughout his first term in office -- a term that turned the tide on European defence spending, improved transatlantic burden sharing, and strengthened Alliance capabilities," Rutte said Wednesday.

"We face a growing number of challenges globally, from a more aggressive Russia, to terrorism, to strategic competition with China, as well the increasing alignment of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran," he added.

"Working together through NATO helps to deter aggression, protect our collective security, and support our economies".
Philippines seeks 'persistent presence' in disputed sea



Manila, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



The Philippines is aiming for a "persistent presence" in the South China Sea, a senior military official said Wednesday, as troops conducted war games featuring the mock retaking of an island in the flashpoint waters.

Beijing has sought to expand its presence in the disputed waterway for years, brushing aside an international ruling that its claim to most of the sea has no legal basis.

In recent months, China has deployed navy, coast guard and so-called maritime militia forces -- allegedly Chinese fishing vessels -- in a bid to bar the Philippines from a trio of strategically important reefs and islands in the South China Sea.

"We need to have a persistent presence in the West Philippine Sea," Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told a security conference, adding outlying areas of the Philippine archipelago need to be connected to the "entire country".

Trinidad, the navy's spokesman for South China Sea issues, said that all Filipinos must "understand the existential threat", stressing the process could take years.

In the meantime, "we are capitalising (on) like-minded navies, like-minded nations, our partners and allies and friends", he said, naming Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Vietnam, Canada, the US, Britain, and France.

He made the comments as some 3,000 Philippine troops began earlier this week 12 days of manoeuvres in the South China Sea and adjacent islands.

"We will be having island seizure exercises, amphibious counter-landing exercises and air defence exercises," Colonel Michael Logico, an exercise organiser, told reporters at the start of the war games on Monday.

Elaborating on his speech, Trinidad later told reporters that joint patrols, dubbed Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA), have reined in Chinese conduct at sea.

"During the conduct of MMCAs, there have been no observed coercive and aggressive actions by the (People's Liberation Army) Navy, Coast Guard or the maritime militia," he said.

The lull was observed for "a few days before and during, and a few days after" the exercises, he said.

Violent encounters with Chinese vessels typically occur during Philippine resupply missions to its remote garrisons in the area.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stressed "China has sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters" and "we safeguard our sovereign rights and interests in accordance with domestic and international law".

She added: "Making a show of force and provoking confrontation in the South China Sea will only escalate tensions and undermine regional stability."

While Washington and its allies have avoided taking sides in the territorial dispute, they say Chinese actions threaten freedom of navigation essential for trade, with trillions of dollars passing through the waterway each year.
Philippines seizes two Spratly islands in South China Sea war games



Manila, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



The Philippines is aiming for a "persistent presence" in the South China Sea, a senior military official said Wednesday, as troops conducted war games featuring the mock retaking of an island in the flashpoint waters.

China has sought to expand its presence in the disputed waterway for years, brushing aside an international ruling that its claim to most of the sea has no legal basis.

In recent months, Beijing has deployed navy, coast guard and so-called maritime militia forces -- allegedly Chinese fishing vessels -- in a bid to bar the Philippines from strategically important reefs and islands in the South China Sea.

Two such islands -- Philippine-held Thitu and Loaita in the Spratly archipelago -- became the focus of Manila's war games earlier Wednesday as troops executed a manoeuvre to retake the tiny islands from a mock enemy.

A patrol ship and a fast-attack interdictor boat also took part in Wednesday's exercise, with a similar manoeuvre planned later in a Philippine island between the Philippines and Taiwan, exercise director Major-General Marvin Licudine told AFP.

"We will be having island seizure exercises, amphibious counter-landing exercises and air defence exercises," Colonel Michael Logico, an exercise organiser, told reporters Monday at the start of the 12-day war games involving 3,000 navy, army, and air force troops.

"We need to have a persistent presence in the West Philippine Sea," Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told a security conference in Manila on Wednesday, adding outlying areas of the Philippine archipelago need to be connected to the "entire country".

Trinidad, the navy's spokesman for South China Sea issues, said that all Filipinos must "understand the existential threat", stressing the process could take years.

In the meantime, "we are capitalising (on) like-minded navies, like-minded nations, our partners and allies and friends", he said, naming Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Vietnam, Canada, the US, Britain, and France.

Elaborating on his speech, Trinidad later told reporters that joint patrols, dubbed Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA), have reined in Chinese conduct at sea.

"During the conduct of MMCAs, there have been no observed coercive and aggressive actions by the (People's Liberation Army) Navy, Coast Guard or the maritime militia," he said.

The lull was observed for "a few days before and during, and a few days after" the exercises, he said.

Violent encounters with Chinese vessels typically occur during Philippine resupply missions to its remote garrisons in the area.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stressed "China has sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters" and "we safeguard our sovereign rights and interests in accordance with domestic and international law".

She added: "Making a show of force and provoking confrontation in the South China Sea will only escalate tensions and undermine regional stability."

While Washington and its allies have avoided taking sides in the territorial dispute, they say Chinese actions threaten freedom of navigation essential for trade, with trillions of dollars passing through the waterway each year.
Ukraine says hit Russian ships in Caspian Sea



Kyiv, Ukraine, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



Ukraine said Wednesday it had carried out its first successful strike on Russian warships in the Caspian Sea -- more than a thousand kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

Since Russia invaded nearly three years ago Ukraine has constantly developed its drone industry, launching increasingly long-range strikes on Russia.

"For the first time, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine's kamikaze drones hit enemy ships in the Caspian Sea," a source in the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said.

The drones allegedly hit the "Tatarstan" and "Dagestan" missile ships in the city of Kaspiysk in Dagestan, according to the same source.

Russian authorities in Dagestan, bordering the Caspian Sea, said they had destroyed a drone but did not acknowledge any damage.

"The security regime at civil and military facilities has been strengthened," the regional administration said on Telegram.

Ukraine said the strikes it regularly launches over Russia's territory are fair retaliation for Russian attacks on its own territory.

Overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, Russia launched two missiles and 63 drones against Ukraine. Ukrainian air defence said it had disabled at least 38 of the drones.
German cabinet passes revamped military service model



Berlin, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



The German cabinet on Wednesday signed off plans for a new military service model as Berlin looks to revamp its depleted armed forces in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Under the plans, young men will be required to register for potential military service, though it will remain essentially voluntary.

Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011, but the conflict in Ukraine has reignited the debate around whether young men and women should be required to serve in the army, known as the Bundeswehr.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the new model was "our response to the changing threat situation in Europe".

"With this law, we are setting the course for increasing our deterrence and defence capabilities," he said.

Under the plans, 18-year-olds will be sent a questionnaire asking them about their interest in the army as well as their health and physical abilities.

All young men will be required to return the questionnaire, while for women it will be voluntary.

Based on their answers, a contingent of young men and women will then be invited to a selection process.

The strongest candidates will be recruited for an initial six-month stint of military service, with the option of extending that for those who are interested.

The new model initially aims to gain more than 5,000 extra recruits a year, with a view to increasing that number in the future.

The law must still be passed by the German parliament but if all goes smoothly, it would be likely to come into force early next year.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the German army has struggled to attract recruits as officials seek to boost troop numbers.

Despite a concerted recruitment drive, the Bundeswehr welcomed just 18,802 new members in 2023 -- only 27 more than in 2022.

Opposition parties have called on the government to go further and reintroduce compulsory conscription.

The conservative CDU-CSU alliance has pledged to introduce a year of compulsory community service for young people, which could be completed in the army or by working in civil society.

Since this may take some time to implement, the alliance has also put forward a period of compulsory service for a limited number of people as a stop-gap.

Critics have also said the new law should apply equally to men and women.

However, making military service compulsory for women would require a change to Germany's constitution, something that Pistorius has said would take too long.
Iraq says will not allow its territory to be used in Mideast conflicts



Baghdad, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



Iraq said Wednesday it would not allow its territory to be used for attacks related to conflict in the Middle East, with Iran threatening retaliation for an Israeli missile attack.

After a National Security Council meeting, a statement called reports suggesting Iraqi territory might be used as a launch point "pretexts aiming to excuse aggression against Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

The statement came after US news site Axios recently cited an Israeli intelligence source as saying an Iranian response could come from territory inside Iraq.

The site on Tuesday doubled down on its claims, citing two US officials, who said the United States had warned Iraq it risked "an Israeli attack on its territory" if it did not prevent Iranian retaliation from within its borders.

The Iraqi government, dominated by pro-Iran groups, has been pursuing a delicate balancing act in an attempt to distance the country from regional tensions sparked by Israel's wars in Gaza and now Lebanon.

The United States has about 2,500 troops in Iraq as part of an international coalition formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State group (IS).

The soldiers have been targeted by dozens of rocket and drone strikes by a loose alliance of Iraqi armed groups backed by Iran, which has also claimed responsibility for attacks against Israel.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, according to a statement on Tuesday, asking him to "protect US personnel".

"It is important that Iraq not be drawn into regional conflict," the statement said, calling on Iraq to "exert control over armed groups launching unauthorised attacks from its territory".
Iraq Kurds hope to resume oil exports after Baghdad offers higher cost payments



Arbil, Iraq, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



Authorities in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region said Wednesday they hoped oil exports could resume "as soon as possible" after the federal government offered higher cost payments to producers.

The region's oil exports have been at a standstill since March 2023 when the arbitration tribunal of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris ruled oil exports by the regional government illegal.

In its judgement in a case first lodged in 2014, the tribunal ruled that the federal government had the exclusive right to market all Iraqi oil, halting the region's independent exports by pipeline via Turkey.

The federal and regional governments have been haggling ever since over the production and transport costs payable to the region and its commercial partners.

But in a budget amendment on Tuesday, Baghdad agreed to form an independent body within two months to set the cost payments and to pay $16 a barrel in the meantime.

A federal oil ministry official told AFP that the interim cost payment already represented a $10 premium on those for oil from Iraq's southern fields.

In a statement Wednesday, the regional government welcomed the move by Baghdad as an "opportunity to resolve the problem and resume oil exports to international markets as soon as possible".

The Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan, which represents international oil firms operating in the region, said a deal would be worth $1 billion a month to the region and its partners.

It put losses to all parties since the export pipeline closed at $20 billion.

Gulf analyst Yesar Al-Maleki, of the Middle East Economic Survey, said a range of contractual issues still had to be thrashed out with the oil firms before exports could resume.

"While raising the cost recovery rate set by the budget is a positive step that shows willingness to resolve the impasse and move forward, many thorny issues still remain," he warned.
New EU defence chief says must spend more due to Putin, not Trump



Brussels, Belgium, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



The EU's new defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius said Wednesday the bloc needs to spend more on rearming because of threats from Russia -- not US president-elect Donald Trump.

Trump's looming return to power after triumphing in elections against Democrat Kamala Harris has sent shockwaves through the EU as Russia wages war against Ukraine on its border.

The volatile former reality TV star during his first term in power lambasted Washington's European allies in NATO to spend more on defence.

On the campaign trail, Trump rattled Europe by saying he would encourage Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" with alliance members not spending enough.

Former Lithuanian prime minister Kubilius -- who needs to be confirmed by EU lawmakers in his new role -- pointed out that European countries had ramped up their budgets since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022.

"We need to spend more, but not because that is a demand from President Trump, but because of Putin, because of the threat of Putin," Kubilius told a hearing at the European Parliament.

Kubilius said that "recent intelligence assessments suggest Russia may test the resolve of the EU or NATO by the end of this decade."

"That is why we must urgently enhance the EU's readiness for potential military aggression. This is the way we can deter it," he said.

"We do not want war. We want peace. Therefore, we must become ready for defence."
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Argentina's President Javier Milei, an outspoken champion of free markets and human liberty, proved his bona fides again last week. He dismissed Foreign Minister Diana Mondino after Argentina voted in the United Nations to condemn the US economic embargo on Cuba. The vote was 187-2  the only country to stand with the United States was Israel  and it marked the 32d time that the General Assembly had all but unanimously denounced an American policy first put in place by John F. Kennedy.

It isn't often that a foreign minister gets sacked for aligning with the views of nearly every government on earth. Then again, it isn't often that a country has a president like Milei, who is prepared to stand against the world if that is what freedom and morality demand. And when it comes to Cuba and the US embargo, what freedom and morality demand is that censure be directed at the oldest and cruelest dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere  not at the nation that for more than six decades has provided safe haven to millions of refugees fleeing that Caribbean tyranny.

Mondino cannot say she wasn't on notice. Milei's address to the General Assembly in September was a ringing declaration that the defense of liberty worldwide would henceforth be a pillar of his country's foreign policy. "Argentina will not support any policy that implies the restriction of individual freedoms, of trade, or the violation of the natural rights of individuals, no matter who promotes it or how much consensus that institution has," he asserted. "From this day on, know that the Argentine Republic will abandon the position of historical neutrality that characterized us and will be at the forefront of the struggle in defense of freedom." He chastised the world body for allowing "bloody dictatorships such as Cuba and Venezuela to join the Human Rights Council without the slightest reproach." If Argentina's foreign minister didn't get the message, she had no one to blame but herself.

Milei is not given to euphemisms nor does he pander to conventional wisdom. During his campaign for president last year, one of his favorite catchphrases was "Viva la libertad, carajo!" Translation: "Long live freedom, damn it!"

The restoration of freedom in Cuba will never be a priority of the United Nations, which is an organization of governments, not the people they govern. Even if it were a priority, it would not be achieved by abolishing the US embargo. History has made that emphatically clear.

When President Barack Obama announced in 2014 that he planned to normalize relations with the regime in Havana, he claimed the rapprochement would uphold America's "commitment to liberty and democracy" and result "in making the lives of ordinary Cubans a little bit easier, more free, more prosperous." He repeated the message several months later, when he authorized the reopening of the US embassy in Havana. Life on the island might not be "transformed overnight," Obama conceded, but he was certain that more engagement was the best way to advance freedom and human rights for Cuba's people. "This," Obama said, "is what change looks like."

But it wasn't.

Following the Obama demarche, Havana's harassment of dissidents intensified. There was a crackdown on churches and religious groups. Within months, according to Amnesty International, human rights activists and protesters were being rounded up and jailed at the highest rate in years. Especially shocking were the violent attacks by the regime's goons on members of the Ladies in White, an organization of wives and mothers of jailed pro-democracy advocates. The women, dressed in white, attend Mass each week, then walk peacefully through the streets to protest the government's brutality. Their freedom wasn't expanded as a result of Obama's policy; it was crushed even further.

Bottom line: Lifting restrictions on US trade with and travel to Cuba made life worse for ordinary Cubans. That was because the Cuban government, which deprives its people not only of political liberty but of economic liberty too, has long owned or controlled nearly all major businesses in the country. Authorizing more business with Cuba, therefore, meant putting more wealth into the coffers of the regime. And by making the dictatorship richer, the Obama detente made it stronger and crueler.

For decades, politicians, journalists, think tankers, and editorial boards have parroted the claim that the US embargo is responsible for Cuba's misery and that if only it were repealed, the island would experience such a wave of tourists, consumer goods, and democratic ideas from America that it would wash away Havana's communist fortifications.

But if commerce and tourism had the power to topple the regime, they would have done so long ago. The US embargo, after all, is highly porous. It doesn't prevent the export of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of goods to Cuba each year, mostly foodstuffs but also whiskey, cement, and even newsprint. Notwithstanding the embargo, the United States has in recent years been one of Cuba's largest sources of imports. And, of course, Cuba has always been free to trade with the rest of the world.

What the embargo prevents is not doing business with Cuba but doing business with Cuba on credit. American producers may export agricultural commodities to Cuba, as long as they are paid in cash. Exports to Cuba are barred from federal credit guarantees and export promotion programs, which are forms of corporate welfare. Contrary to popular mythology, the embargo is not rooted in vindictiveness. It is rooted in the fact that after Fidel Castro imposed communism on the island, he nationalized  that is, stole  American refineries, sugar mills, phone companies, power generators, banks, and other properties worth billions of dollars.

I have in the past mentioned a visit I paid in 2002 to Oswaldo Paya, the courageous founder of Cuba's Christian Liberation Movement and, at the time, Cuba's foremost human rights dissident. (He was later killed in a car crash under highly suspicious circumstances.) When I asked him whether the US embargo should be scrapped, he thought for a moment, then replied: "Tiende tu mano a Cuba, pero primero pide que le desaten las manos a los cubanos." Extend your hands to Cuba  but first untie the hands of the Cuban people.

It is shameful that the UN would choose to stand with the dictators in Havana instead of the nation that has done more for the freedom of Cuba's people than any other. It is doubly shameful that the governments that voted in favor of the resolution included the former communist satrapies of Eastern Europe that gained their liberty when the United States triumphed in the Cold War a third of a century ago.

Milei, to his great credit, doesn't care how many governments Argentina must oppose to defend liberty. "Our country is categorically opposed to the Cuban dictatorship and  condemns all regimes that perpetuate the violation of human rights and individual freedoms," his office said in a statement last week. His previous foreign minister might not have gotten the message, but that isn't likely to be a problem any longer.

Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




Finally I say to the minister, the trust that has been broken in this Budget will not be recovered. People will never forget what happens when Labour are given their chance, will never forget the harm done when Labour makes its choices, and will never forget that Labours first budget was a Budget of broken promises.
With the Bank of England almost certain to cut bank rate by 0.25 percentage points tomorrow, and further interest rate reductions into 2025 likely, conditions look to be in place for continued growth in the sector.
Conor Maynard says he isn't the father of The Traitors stars baby after taking paternity test

Conor Maynard not father of stars baby after paternity test
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Cooperation among the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has reached a new level, showcasing its resilience and long-term potential, said Yerik Batyrkhanov, a Kazakh political scientist, in an interview with Trend.

In recent years, OTS member states have gone well beyond mere political and cultural statements. They are actively developing specific mechanisms and institutions for economic and security integration. Batyrkhanov highlighted the importance of strengthening cultural ties and launching joint projects, including the creation of the Turkic Investment Fund to support infrastructure and energy initiatives.

Kazakhstan's presidency in 2023, under the slogan "Turkic Era" (TURKTIME), has played a significant role in defining priorities such as traditions, reforms, investments, and energy, thus enhancing both cultural and economic integration among OTS countries.

According to Batyrkhanov, areas like economic integration, transportation and infrastructure, sustainable development, and digital transformation hold the greatest potential for deepening collaboration. The Middle Corridor project, which connects Asia and Europe, is strategically important for strengthening logistics links, while initiatives in green technology and renewable energy reflect the OTS countries' commitment to ecological safety and sustainable development.

"Digital integration is receiving significant attention. The digital economic partnership agreement, set to be discussed at the upcoming summit, will create conditions for the free movement of goods and services, and provide opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses," he noted.

Batyrkhanov believes that the upcoming summit in Bishkek will be crucial for deepening political and economic interactions among OTS member states. He pointed out that OTS summits serve as important platforms for addressing common issues, developing strategies, and strengthening partnerships.

"This summit will mark an important step in enhancing political stability, especially considering the current geopolitical climate. Kazakhstan has proposed a mediation concept that aims to facilitate peaceful conflict resolution and strengthen diplomatic efforts," Batyrkhanov stressed.

One of the major challenges facing OTS countries is the need to bolster economic security and energy resilience amid global instability. "The Middle Corridor project could address infrastructure integration and logistical challenges, thereby enhancing the economic security of the region. Signing the Roadmap for Transport Connectivity at the Bishkek summit will be a significant step in this direction," he added.

Kazakhstan plays a pivotal role in the OTS, and its participation in the Bishkek summit is strategically important, according to the analyst. In 2023, the country demonstrated its commitment to integration and coordination of actions within the Turkic world, advancing key initiatives in energy, ecology, and digital technologies.

Batyrkhanov also highlighted Kazakhstan's active support for sustainable development projects, including the establishment of the Council of Turkic Green Finance and the promotion of renewable energy sources. Additionally, digital integration remains a top priority, and Kazakhstan is working to enhance its technological infrastructure through initiatives like the Astana Hub technopark.
Thats from the V&As own remarkable collection, which makes up about 40 per cent of the exhibition; one of the advantages of this show is that it puts some of those treasures in context. Also from the collection is the picture of the splendid zebra brought by Turks to the Mughal court and an equally showy turkey cock, which ends up on V&A Christmas cards.
Ive been thinking a lot about where well be as a nation on November 6, how we can attempt to move forward after so much division, and how some of the lessons that sports teach us may be just what all of us need as we chart a course forward.
Both are white men that grew up in the shadow of their wealthy fathers from racially divided nations. Fred Trump, who was arrested at a Klu Klux Klan rally in 1927, left a $300 million fortune when he died. Donald Trumps niece, Mary Trump, described Fred Trump as a high-functioning sociopath who left his son emotionally scarred. Musk has described his own father as a terrible human being for having children with his former stepdaughter. Errol Musk, who made his fortune in the emerald mining business in Apartheid era South Africa, has said he isnt proud of his son Elon. You can see where they both got their daddy issues.
But can she handle another four years of scrutiny in such a public facing role? Perhaps the lines from her Fox interview about her approach to being in a step-family are telling of how shell move forward. Her advice was: to take the individual as they are. You cannot control anyone. You can control only your own behavior, your own words. Everybody's in control of [their] own self. I'm not in control of my husband. I'm not in control of his children. I'm not even in control of my child. He is his own person. And we all have yes and nos and we all are all individual. Once you live your life with respect and love, that's all that matters.
The club had continued paying Mendy following his first arrest in November 2020, but argued they did not have to carry on doing so later because his bail conditions and Football Association suspension meant he was not able to perform his duties as a player.
Police hunt for knifeman after Asda security guard stabbed in east London

The man, in his 30s, was found with wounds to his leg at the branch in Stepney Green shortly before midday on Tuesday
The health secretary at that time told us that a national plan was not the best way forward and that the Scottish Government would instead seek alternative ways to drive improvements for people with CKD. Twenty years later and that positive change is yet to happen.
He added: And every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and your future, every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve.
90s girl band star confesses she is homeless and has been living in her car for three years

90s music star is homeless and been living in her car for three years
Mr Brown said his message to ministers was: Dont be frightened to row back because youre going to have to, or you are going to decimate the countryside. It will change beyond belief and it will be going to big companies who wont care.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) has included the Turkish 'BMS Group Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi' Anonymous Company in the register of foreign insurers, reinsurers, and insurance brokers, Trend reports via the CBA.

The inclusion has upped the ante, bringing the tally of foreign brokers in Azerbaijan's insurance market to a neat 93.

To note, this Turkish company has been operating in the field of insurance and reinsurance since December 14, 2020.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The job advert for the new deportation chief states: The National Returns Progression Command (NRPC) is the pivotal Home Office capability whose mission is to maximise the return of all immigration offenders (illegal entrants, overstayers, failed asylum seekers) through both enforced and voluntary returns whilst ensuring individuals are dealt with in a dignified manner, utilising a strong set of safeguards to identify and manage vulnerabilities.
Speaking at the gathering in central London, Ms Wolfe told the PA news agency: Weve got the right policies that Americans care about and weve got a ground game that is second to none, including right here in the UK.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The cooperation between the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) today can be described as actively developing, yet complex and multifaceted, said Kazakhstan's political scientist and expert at the Kazakhstan Institute of Public Policy Zhansaya Nuralieva in an interview with Trend.

"Since the signing of the Nakhchivan Declaration in 2009, which marked the beginning of the establishment of OTS, the countries have started to engage more actively in various areas," she said. An example of successful cooperation is the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which connects China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan, and then extends through the Black Sea to Europe. Nuralieva noted that this route significantly speeds up and reduces the cost of transporting goods between Europe and Asia. "In 2020, plans were announced to increase the volume of transportation via this route by 25 percent, which demonstrates the growing interest and importance of this transport corridor for all OTS countries," she added.

However, according to the expert, there are certain challenges. "Differences in the levels of economic development and political systems of the countries can create difficulties for deeper cooperation," Nuralieva emphasized. For example, Turkiye and Uzbekistan have different foreign economic orientations. "In recent years, although Uzbekistan has been developing relations with Turkiye, it maintains a more balanced foreign policy, not focusing solely on strategic partnerships with one country," she explained.

As for the promising areas of cooperation, one of them is energy. "Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have long been cooperating in the supply of natural gas to China," Nuralieva emphasized. In 2020, a new memorandum was signed to expand gas supplies, which contributed to strengthening regional energy security. "Azerbaijan, with its oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea, is an important partner for other OTS countries, and joint projects considering the growing demand for energy resources in Asia and Europe only enhance the significance of cooperation in this sector," she added.

Another promising area is infrastructure. "The North-South transport corridor project, which aims to connect Russia with Iran via Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan, is also an example of how OTS countries can act in the interest of accelerating goods transit and creating new economic opportunities," the expert noted.

A key role in future cooperation between OTS countries, according to Nuralieva, will be played by digitalization. "In 2021, Kazakhstan and Turkey signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of technologies, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and blockchain," she reminded. The development of these technologies can significantly enhance the competitiveness of OTS countries in the global market. "The development of these technologies will contribute to technological progress and improve infrastructure in our countries," the political scientist assured.

Nuralieva also emphasized the importance of the upcoming OTS summit. "The OTS summit, which will be held on November 6 in Bishkek, can have a significant impact on strengthening political and economic ties between the countries," she said. For example, at the last summit in 2021 in Istanbul, several key agreements were signed, including the creation of a free trade area between OTS countries. "This agreement opens up new opportunities for deepening economic ties and interaction in the goods and services market," the expert added.

From a political perspective, the summit is also important, especially in the context of global uncertainty. "OTS countries can coordinate their efforts to ensure stability in the region, for example, regarding security issues in Afghanistan or around the South Caucasus," she stressed. The summit could become a platform for forming common strategies concerning both foreign policy and domestic stability. In this regard, an Agreement on the Civil Protection Mechanism, aimed at ensuring coordinated responses to emergencies between member countries, is expected to be signed.

One of the key challenges for OTS in the current geopolitical conditions, according to Nuralieva, is competition with other regions and global players such as Russia, China, and the European Union. "It is necessary to note China's economic expansion in Central Asia, while the growing sanctions against Russia threaten some joint economic projects, such as the construction of railways and energy facilities," the expert pointed out.

To overcome these challenges, the OTS summit can become a platform for developing a joint policy to minimize external pressure and increase internal economic resilience. "One example could be the creation of alternative trade and logistics channels that will allow OTS countries to diversify their trade flows, minimizing dependence on external factors," Nuralieva believes.

As for Kazakhstan, its participation in the summit, according to the political scientist, has strategic significance. "Kazakhstan, as the largest country in Central Asia and a member of OTS since 2013, plays a key role in organizing and implementing integration projects within OTS," she emphasized. Kazakhstan serves as a link between the East and the West and actively promotes its economic interests, including the development of transport and energy infrastructure. "An example of Kazakhstan's significance is its participation in the construction of the China-Kazakhstan gas pipeline, which has become an important part of the energy strategy of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan," the expert added.

Nuralieva also highlighted the importance of deepening cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. "Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan relations are developing in line with the Treaty on Strategic Partnership and Allied Relations," she reminded. Over the years of cooperation, about 70 documents have been signed in all areas, which confirms the importance of strategic partnership for both countries. "Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are actively developing bilateral relations, particularly in the fields of transport and energy," she noted. Kazakhstan exports oil through Azerbaijan's ports on the Caspian Sea, and in 2021, an agreement was signed to increase the volume of oil transportation through Azerbaijan.

In addition, there is potential for deepening cooperation in areas such as innovation and high technologies. "Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan can jointly develop projects in the field of digitalization, smart cities, and the use of artificial intelligence," Nuralieva noted. One such project is the "Digital Silk Road," which involves the creation of a digital telecommunications corridor between Asia and Europe.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 6. A roadmap for strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and France in the field of critical resources and materials was signed, Trend reports.

As part of the official visit of President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the French Republic, a briefing was held following negotiations in an expanded format. Upon the conclusion of the briefing, the Presidents of Kazakhstan and France adopted a Joint Declaration aimed at strengthening strategic partnership. The heads of state signed several documents, including the Roadmap for Strategic Partnership between Kazakhstan and France in the field of critical resources and materials for 2024-2026.

The goal of the roadmap is to strengthen cooperation in areas such as creating resilient supply chains, enhancing their stability, scientific research, education, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) cooperation. The partnership plans projects in areas like raw material exploration and extraction, electronic waste and magnet processing, battery production, and the transition to green standards.

Additionally, this roadmap aims to advance geological research, scientific development, and the production and processing of essential raw materials.

During the state visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Paris, representatives of the delegations of both countries signed a total of 36 documents, including 1 intergovernmental, 21 interdepartmental, and 14 commercial agreements, with a total value of $2.2 billion.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The State Service on Property Issues under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan has announced the auction of the "Agchay" decorative stone deposit located in the Khojaly district, Trend reports via the service.

The auction will take place on December 19 at 11:00 AM (GMT+4).

The auction will be held at the Property Services Space at the following location: 20 Khalil Rza Uluturk Street, Baku, Azerbaijan.

Both individuals and legal entities wishing to participate in the auction can contact the State Agency for the Use of Mineral Resources for detailed information on the auction process, participation fees, and a 10 percent deposit.

The agency's office is located at 31A Istiglaliyyat Street, Sabail District, Baku, Azerbaijan.
The General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on Wednesday rejected the action submitted by Wizz Air regarding the aid granted by Romania to the national airline TAROM as compensation for the damages suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and decided that the aid, which amounts to almost two million euros, is compatible with the internal market, informs a press release of the CJEU.

On February 3, 2022, Romania notified the Commission of an individual aid of almost two million euros, in the form of a capital increase, intended for the Romanian airline TAROM. This aid is financed from the general budget of Romania and seeks to compensate TAROM for the damages suffered on 14 specific international routes in the period between July 1 and December 31, 2020, due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 29, 2022, the Commission considered this aid to be compatible with the internal market, pursuant to Article 107 paragraph (2) letter (b) TFEU, without opening a formal investigation procedure. However, the competing airline Wizz Air contested this decision before the Court of the European Union, which today rejected its action.

The court recalls, among other things, that aid compensating for damage caused by extraordinary events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, is authorized and that the measure in question seeks to compensate TAROM for the damage it would have suffered between July 1 and December 31, 2020, as a result of the travel restrictions in force during that period related to this pandemic.

In addition, the General Court equally rejected Wizz Air's arguments that the Commission had not taken into account the rescue aid previously granted to TAROM under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and that the Commission had underestimated the competitive advantage obtained by TAROM.

On the one hand, the previous aid and the measure in question are distinct and do not cover the same costs and, on the other hand, the Commission is not obliged to take into account a possible advantage that TAROM would have benefited from indirectly, such as the competitive advantage invoked by Wizz Air, it is also shown in the reasoning of the General Court.
Almost 180,000 Romanian farmers have received over EUR 106 million in funding for the continuation of their agricultural activities, including EUR 88.7 million coming from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the Rural Investment Financing Agency (AFIR) reported on Wednesday.

"Between October 28 and November 4, 2024, the Rural Investment Financing Agency (...) worked around the clock to provide Romanian farmers with much-needed funding for the continuation of their agricultural activities. In an unprecedented effort, AFIR teams worked 24 hours a day, making a record number of payments. Thus, AFIR made payments totalling EUR 106.6 million to 179,966 farmers," according to AFIR

Out of the total amount paid, EUR 88.7 million is the contribution of the European Commission (EC) through the EAFRD, and EUR 17.9 million are provided from the national budget.

"We have proved that it is essential to act quickly and efficiently so that the funds reach our beneficiaries promptly. AFIR employees worked tirelessly, day and night, for a whole week, mobilising all resources to ensure the advance of IACS payments for coupled income support. In order to make payments of over EUR 106 million, 359,662 payment certificates were issued in an accelerated manner, as against a usual 10,000 certificates. This effort has allowed farmers to receive the crucial support they need in this critical period for the autumn agricultural works (...)," AFIR Director General Dan-Florin Scarlat is quoted as saying in an AFIR press statement.
Hackers are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to amplify their attacks, while there is an ongoing debate about whether unprivileged username spaces provide more security or make the system more vulnerable, are two of the conclusions of cybersecurity experts on the first day on Wednesday of the DevCon 2024 event in Bucharest.

According to Ignat Korchagin, engineering manager (Linux team) at Cloudflare, not granting permissions to some applications can turn a system into a more secure one.

"Unprivileged Linux user namespaces is a rather controversial topic in the security community, Linux Kernel community and in software engineering in general. On one side it allows building unprivileged and sandboxed services and applications, which would otherwise require elevated privileges to successfully run and provide features to their users. Not granting privileges to such applications follows the least privilege principle and makes our systems more secure. On the other side, this mechanism has been repeatedly used in various vulnerabilities and exploits as a starting attack vector, multiplying the damage and impact of these exploits. And since it became so popular within the offensive industry, many Linux distributions and security guidance started recommending disabling this feature altogether. There is an ongoing debate whether unprivileged user namespaces provide more security or make the system more vulnerable," Korchagin said.

David Lilja, senior threat analyst at Truesec, pointed out that hackers are now increasingly turning to AI technology to amplify their cyberattacks.

"'Hacking Human OS' dives deep into the psychological, cognitive, and behavioural factors that expose even the most secure systems to cyber threats. Human erroroften overlooked but highly exploitablecan be hacked through social engineering and cognitive manipulation. Developers who build the digital future are not immune to these vulnerabilities. As pressures mount to deliver quickly, their decisions can inadvertently introduce weaknesses. However, by rethinking how developers approach security, from the habits they form to the code they write, we can help them transform into formidable defenders against modern cyber threats, " said Cyber Solutions Hub founder Andrei Codrut on the event's website.

Cybersecurity professionals have lately warned about the impact of the use of Generative AI (GenAI) in cybercrimes.

Thus, a report called "AI in Cybersecurity: Friend or Foe?" recently published by Deep Instinct highlighted the fact that 97% of cybersecurity experts are worried that their organisations will be affected by the use of AI in cybercrime operations, while 75% admit that the evolution of AI has affected and changed their cybersecurity strategy in the last 12 months.

At the same time, Eset experts reckon that cybercrime could cost companies USD10.5 trillion in 2025, an amount that includes the profits made by hackers through various means.

Over 2,500 IT professionals and technology enthusiasts from Romania meet on November 6-7 for the sixth edition of DevCon 2024 in Bucharest.

The concept of this year's edition provides a broad vision of Artificial Intelligence and how it can be integrated and interconnected with other technologies.
Special AGERPRES correspondent Tudor Martalogu reports: European Commissioner-designate for internal affairs and migration, Magnus Brunner, on Tuesday evening expressed his hope that Romania and Bulgaria will fully enter Schengen Area, as decision belongs to member states [of the Justice and Home Affairs Council - editor's note].

"Of course that the member states are to decide who enter Schengen and who doesn't. There has been made extraordinary progress, if I may say so, in the cases of Romania and Bulgaria, and they are already in the Schengen Area, although just partially. However, as I've found out this morning, Austria is maintaining a very good dialogue with Romania and Bulgaria. Discussions continue and I am positive, or at least this is my approach, that this dialogue will bring a full integration of Romania and Bulgaria as soon as possible. Of course that there is much talk in my country on this topic too, but this is my opinion. And I am glad that discussions were increasingly frequent between the foreign affairs ministers and the presidents," the Austrian Commissioner said at his hearing in the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).

He answered thus to a question addressed to him by a Bulgarian MEP related to the decisions taken in the recent month by several Schengen states to reintroduce border control.

"A better management of migration means a balanced and determined approach, which means that we decide who comes in Europe and under what circumstances, and not the so called guides," underscored Brunner. He mentioned that a priority would be to apply the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, which is scheduled to come into force in 2026, with the EU member states to play an important role in its adoption.

According to the Commissioner, some of this Pact's elements are to be implemented even before 2026, while observing the balance between "responsibility and solidarity."

The Austrian politician announced that, if he would be validated as Commissioner, in the first half of next year he will draft a new European Internal Security Strategy, with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation Europol, which needs to be consolidated, to play an essential part in it.

Another topic he tackled was that related to the external border, as Magnus Brunner underscored the need for strengthening the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex, and informed the EU Executive that he is going to propose tripling the number of Frontex employees, up to 30,000.
The exhibition "Forgotten Neighbourhoods of Bucharest - The Jewish Quarter" will open at the headquarters of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilisation today in Bucharest.

The exhibition is divided into four sections - "Religious Buildings and Personalities," "Cultural Buildings", "Public Buildings - Education and Schools", "Medical Institutions and Personalities, Bankers, Industrialists, Philanthropists, Cultural Personalities - Architects". The themes reflect the overall contribution of the local Jewish community of Bucharest to the modernisation and development of Romania.

The National Heritage Institute is running throughout November the project "Forgotten Neighbourhoods in Bucharest - The Jewish Quarter," co-financed by AFCN, together with its partners, the Institute for Advanced Studies for Levant Culture and Civilisation and the Matei Basarab National Collegiate High School.

The project is designed to contribute to the knowledge and promotion of the material heritage of the Jewish community, young people and the general public. It envisages the research and organisation of a documentary and multimedia fund and a digital archive dedicated to the Jewish heritage, which will complete with new information and data the history and evolution of the built heritage and the constitution of the Jewish quarter in Bucharest.

The project also includes a brief history of historical monuments and buildings with historical value, as well as the design of micro-biographies of personalities of Jewish origins who contributed to the modernisation and economic development of Romania, in general, and of Bucharest, in particular.
Writer Mircea Cartarescu is in Spain from Wednesday until November 11 on a tour to promote his novel "Theodoros", informs Agerpres.

He will go to Madrid, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela and A Coruna.

Cartarescu is also invited to the Ene Literature Festival, an annual literary event that transforms the Spanish capital city into an epicenter of creativity and passion for literature, bringing together over 100 writers and editors, the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) announced in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.

The events are organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute in Madrid, Impedimenta Publishing House, Ene - La Fabrica Literature Festival, Contemporary Foundation and Europa House, Rafael Alberti Libraries, Letras Corsarias, Follas Novas and Moito Conto, under the auspices of the Romanian Embassy in the Kingdom of Spain.

Considered to be one of the editorial phenomena of this autumn in Europe and one of the best-selling books on the literary market in Spain, "Theodoros" reached its second edition, the first print run of 15,000 copies selling out in just three weeks.

Mircea Cartarescu is one of the most important contemporary Romanian writers, awarded with numerous international prizes for literature: the Leipzig Book Prize for European Cooperation (2015), the Austrian State Prize for European Literature (2015), the Thomas Mann Prize (2018), The Formentor Award (2018), the FIL Award for Romance Languages (2022) and the Dublin Literary Award (2024).
The city of Oradea is represented, between November 5 and 7, at the most prestigious event in the tourism industry, the World Travel Market London (WTM London), Visit Oradea informed on Wednesday, in a press release, informs Agerpres.

"Participation in WTM London represents the effort of the municipality of Oradea to strengthen the presence of our city in the international tourism industry and to attract as many tourists as possible to Oradea. The presence of the Visit Oradea team at WTM London also comes as a result of the launch of direct flights Oradea - London operated by the HiSky company starting in October of this year, thus facilitating the access of British tourists to Oradea and strengthening the efforts of international promotion of the city", the press release states.

Visit Oradea is present at the Romania stand together with 34 other exhibitors including Visit Borsa - Maramures, Visit Timisoara, Sibiu, Visit Craiova, Discover Eco-Romania, Global Transilvania Medical Tourism and other operators from the tourism industry in Romania.

World Travel Market London is considered the epicenter of the global tourism industry, attracting over 40,000 professionals annually. Both visitors and exhibitors represent a wide range of companies and sectors active in the tourism industry, presenting the newest destinations, and the most current products and services in the tourism industry. Thus, WTM London represents an essential opportunity for business meetings and the consolidation of strategic partnerships in various sectors of the tourism industry.

With this active presence at the prestigious event, Visit Oradea continues its commitment to promote Oradea as a first-class tourist destination, thus supporting the development of local tourism and attracting international tourists, the release states.
Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the presidential election and stated, during a visit to Vrancea county, that he wants the USA to become the main investor and trade partner of Romania outside the European Union.

"I've congratulated President Trump. In my opinion, the strategic partnership with the US will continue in the same parameters and I really wish, and I think that this is not the first time that I say this, for the US to become Romania's main investor and trade partner outside the EU, and I have recently discussed with Mrs. ambassador [the US ambassador to Romania, Mrs. Kavalec - editor's note] and all the ministers about this. It would be the greatest sustainability, after all the security issues come together with the economy and I still consider that the politics of the next 5 years at least will be about the economy and we will continue at the same pace. Coming from the business area, Mr. President, I am firmly convinced that he will encourage this trade collaboration," Ciolacu said.

Asked what he thinks Donald Trump's victory would mean for Ukraine, the prime minister avoided giving an answer.

"We have a strategic partnership with the USA. Let's wait for President Trump to be sworn in," said Ciolacu.

Marcel Ciolacu went to the Vrancea county on Wednesday where, together with the minister of transport, Sorin Grindeanu, he checked the status of the investment objective of the Buzau - Focsani Motorway (A7).
Romania's President Klaus Iohannis will participate, November 7-8, in the fifth Summit of the European Political Community (EPC) and in an informal European summit that will take place in Budapest, Hungary, the Presidential Administration reported on Wednesday.

The European Political Community is an intergovernmental forum for political and strategic discussions about the future of Europe.

"The EPC Summit in Budapest will include a plenary session, where discussions will focus on the security challenges facing Europe, with emphasis on the situation in Ukraine, and roundtable conferences where leaders will address specific topics of shared interest, such as migration and economic security. During the debates, President Klaus Iohannis will reiterate the need for a united and firm position of the leaders regarding the security situation in the region, as well as continuation of support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity amidst Russia's war of aggression."

Iohannis will also attend a roundtable conference touching on migration, where he is expected to plead for finding illegal migration management solutions at European level in the short term, but also through a more comprehensive long-term approach, which will allow greater cohesion and efficiency at European level in addressing the issue.

The informal meeting of the European Council, hosted in Budapest by the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, includes an in-depth debate on European competitiveness, a priority on the EU agenda in the coming years.

"EU leaders aim to adopt a political declaration on a new European pact for competitiveness to guide the work of the European institutions in the field, given the urgency to act decisively at EU level in addressing the current challenges. During the debates, the President of Romania will underline the major role of cohesion and convergence as instruments for achieving the European Union's competitiveness objectives. He will also plead for the elimination of all barriers on the single market and for the full assurance of freedom of movement on all its components," according to the Presidential Administration.
More than 25 Roma craftsmen from all corners of Romania, representatives of the most important craft guilds, will be present on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in Izvor Park in the capital, at the Roma Autumn Festival, informs a press release from the National Center for Roma Culture - Romano Kher transmitted, Wednesday, AGERPRES.

During the 3 days of the festival, a series of cultural activities will be organized especially for children, but also for the general public, with the aim of promoting traditional and modern Roma culture.

Musical recitals supported by established Roma violinists are announced, the "Roma for Romania" exhibition will be set up with personalities of the Roma culture who have contributed to the development of Romanian society, and children are invited to participate in craft workshops.

An area with dishes belonging to Roma and Romanian gastronomy will also be set up.

The Autumn Festival of Roma is an initiative of the National Center for Roma Culture - Romano Kher, which promotes the richness and beauty of Roma culture.
Bilateral cooperation between Romania and France on labour and social security will be strengthened and extended under the two countries' strategic partnership, Romania's Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity Simona Bucura Oprescu said meeting her French counterpart Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet.

According to a social media post by Romania's Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity (MMSS), a government delegation led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu paid an official visit to France, with Bucura Oprescu meeting the French minister of labour and employment.

"It is important to coordinate our policies on employment, job security, employees' rights. We also need to invest more in both training and upskilling to meet the growing challenges of an increasingly complex labour market. We will develop new partnerships that will also support social economy, thus contributing to the creation of new, more inclusive jobs," said Bucura-Oprescu.

Talks between the two ministers aimed at strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation, based on the a roadmap in the strategic partnership between Romania and France for 2020-2024.

The roadmap is designed to promote social inclusion, develop the social economy, recognise and defend the rights of Romanian workers in France and French workers in Romania, support vulnerable groups. The two officials agreed to extend cooperation to other areas of their competence, aiming at exchanges of experience in the area of labour inspection, field visits by labour inspectors, information and joint control over the working conditions of the citizens of the two countries.

Other lines of cooperation include supporting the autonomy of older people and strengthening the integration of marginalised groups with the labour market, including youth not in employment, education or training. In the area of social benefits, joint projects include collaboration for the development of strategies for family policies and the digitalisation of social assistance services.

The Romanian minister also visited the Alter Mundi workshop in Paris, a solidarity enterprise of social utility, where he met Alexandre Lourie, international director of Groupe SOS, the largest consortium of social integration enterprises in France, of which Romania's Workshops Without Borders Association (AFF) is a member, and Jean-Marc Borello, founder and chairman of the SOS Board of Directors.

"France is a model to follow in terms of the social economy. Its experience is very valuable for the development of the social economy and the implementation of pilot projects in this regard in Romania. France is a valuable source of inspiration for good practices and public policies regarding the social economy and beyond," said Bucura-Oprescu.

The Romanian government retinue also visited the Euronaval Centre, the main and oldest world exhibition of naval defence. They also met leaders of the Romanian community in France in Suresnes, in the western part of Paris, where the new headquarters of the Dumitru Staniloae Christian Orthodox Centre for Studies and Research was recently inaugurated. The Romanian delegation was welcomed by Romanian Christian Orthodox Metropolitan of Western and Southern Europe Iosif.

France is one of the most important trading partners and investors in Romania. Ties between the two countries have been continuously strengthened in recent years, including at a political and defence level, thanks to their strategic partnership.

There are 400,000 people making up the Romanian community in France. Romanians make up the second largest community of doctors in France, almost 10,000, and also the second largest workforce in construction and agriculture (10% of the total). France is Romania's third largest trade partner.
The Romanian Farmers' Club is organising the 6th National Conference on Wednesday, dedicated to promoting the Multi-Sectoral Pact for an Integrated Agricultural Policy of Romania - 2035 objective.

The event will bring together successful Romanian farmers, alongside Romanian and European officials responsible for the development of agricultural policies and strategies, leaders in agricultural technologies, and leaders of representative farmer associations at both the European and national levels.

According to the organisers, among the speakers are: European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski, Global Coordinator for Agriculture at the World Bank Holger Kray, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Florin Barbu, Undersecretary of State in Poland's Ministry of Agriculture Adam Nowak, and Romania's Plenipotentiary Minister to the EU Achim Irimescu.

Dedicated to promoting an Integrated Agricultural Policy for Romania - 2035 objective, the goal is to encourage a long-term, sustainable, and cross-party partnership between farmers, authorities, and the agricultural industry, to achieve strategic priorities: food security and rural development, by combining traditional values with the technologies of Agriculture 4.0.

Among the topics on the conference agenda are: mechanisms and response models - at both national and farm levels - to the challenges posed by current security, economic, and climate change crises affecting agriculture; new approaches regarding major projects and challenges for agricultural development: irrigation and drainage, processing & Romanian products, energy & sustainability; new business models and technologies for Agriculture 4.0 and the sustainability of farmers' businesses; financing resources for agricultural development: the European framework and stimulating private investments; business succession and the generational pact in agriculture.
A lorry loaded with 11 tonnes of waste from Latvia has been stopped from entering Romania by border guards of the Bors II border crossing.

"The driver failed to produce the documents necessary for importation, thus the control authorities did not allow the entry into Romania of the respective vehicle and cargo," the Oradea Local Border Police Inspectorate (ITPF) Oradea reports.

On November 4, border guards of the Bors II border crossing carried out specific control of a lorry driven by a Belarusian national coming into the country. According to the cargo manifest, he was shipping second-hand goods from a commercial company in Latvia to a company in Romania.

As there were suspicions about the legality of the shipment, the border guards requested authorised support from the Bihor County Commissariat of the National Environmental Guard.

Checks revealed 11,000 kilograms of waste for which the driver failed to present the required documentation for the import of such products.

Consequently, the vehicle was denied access to Romania.
We have in Romania all the problems which we have in agriculture in Western Europe, but we have also specific problems which we have in Eastern Europe, such as those generated by the conflict in Ukraine, European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said in Bucharest on Wednesday.

While on an official visit to Romania, the commissioner participated in the National Conference of the Romanian Farmers' Club.

"I'd like to use this opportunity and to express my, first of all, thank you for the invitation to understand the problems of the European agriculture. There is no country in which there is a bigger accumulation of the all European problems than Romania. We have in Romania all the problems which we have in agriculture in Western Europe, but we have also specific problems which we have in Eastern Europe, like questions of external convergence, like questions of the situation that is all time we say new member states after 20 years, in case of Romania 18 years, after enlargement, and also the problems after the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the consequences especially for five frontline member states and among them the most important, the most heavy impact is in Romania," Wojciechowski said in the conference opening.

The European official also mentioned that the agricultural trade balance with third countries reached a record surplus worth 70 billion euro in the EU in 2023.

"I'd like to use once again the opportunity to express my thanks for all Romanian farmers, for you, ladies and gentlemen, for your huge contribution in this very difficult time to ensure food security for all European citizens and also for your contribution that in this difficult time we achieved in the European Union record level of the surplus in our trade balance, agri-food trade balance with third country. 70 billion euro in 2023, huge achievement, huge success, thank you, thank you very much for that, this is good to express at the beginning of our meeting," he showed.

The European Commissioner for Agriculture pointed out he is at the end of his mandate, nonetheless he mentioned the visit to Romania is not the last, but he is also planning on going to Lithuania.

"We are in a very important time. As you know, this is end of the first mandate of the President Von der Leyen Commission, also for me. This is not the last country visit. I am planning also the visit to Lithuania. But thank you very much. To be in Romania is very, very important and a good opportunity to summarise our cooperation and to present which should be the vision of agriculture in the future, taking into account the specific of the countries, especially in Romania. Thank you. It is a great opportunity to meet you and to discuss," Janusz Wojciechowski also said.

European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski is attending the Romanian Farmers' Club National Conference on Wednesday.

According to a press release from the European Commission, the commissioner was invited as a special guest to participate in the EU-Romania Interactive Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, where he will discuss the perspectives of European farmers in light of environmental, geopolitical, and EU enlargement challenges. Additionally, the European commissioner will make an intervention during the plenary session on the topic "Vision and Action for the Sustainable Transformation of Agriculture."

The Romanian Farmers' Club National Conference is attended by successful Romanian farmers, alongside high-ranking Romanian and European officials in charge with developing agricultural policies and strategies, leaders in agricultural technologies, as well as leaders of representative farmer associations at both the European and national levels.
ST. LOUIS  An owner of Missouri Baking Co. said on Tuesday that he was completely blindsided by a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the business and that he has no intention of shuttering the 100-year-old bakery.

Anthony Favazza, a new co-owner of the shop on the Hill, said he was approached this spring to buy in, called the owners a bedrock of the neighborhood and the bakery a beloved institution.

I want to make sure this things open another 100 years, Favazza said on Tuesday.

Last week, Camille Lordo, a co-owner of Missouri Baking Co., sued to close the bakery and sell off its assets, saying she and Favazza were unable to agree upon the desirability of continuing the business of Missouri Baking Company.

Lordo and her brother Chris Gambaro were the third generation in their family to own and operate the Italian bakery on the Hill at 2027 Edwards Street.

Favazza said that he bought Gambaros shares of the business just three weeks ago after being first approached by him in May.

It was very flattering when the family called me, Favazza said in an interview with the Post-Dispatch Tuesday. It was totally out of the blue. They said, We need your help and I said, Im happy to help.

But the newcomer said Lordo initially didnt want to meet with him. Eventually, Favazza said Lordos lawyer reached out to set up a meeting with Lordo, her son Joseph, the lawyer and Favazza. Still, Lordo never said she wanted to shutter her familys bakery. In fact, she told Favazza she wasnt going anywhere, he said.

She never gave me any indication she wanted to close the business, he said. She did tell me frequently what a bad business it was and what a poor investment I had made.

Favazza has a history with taking on and preserving St. Louis legacy food businesses, which is why the Gambaros sought him out, he said. He owns Amighettis, opened in 1916, and Hanks Cheesecake, which has been around since 1987.

Its important these things continue for future generations, he said.

Missouri Baking Co. was started by Stefano Gambaro, who emigrated from Genoa, Italy, in the early 1900s. In the business early days, it was a wholesale bread company.

Stefanos children took over the bakery after Stefano died. The youngest sibling, Ben, eventually sold Missouri Baking Co. to his kids  Stefanos grandchildren  Camille Mimi Lordo and brother Chris Gambaro. The bakery has since become a staple in the community, celebrated for its traditional Italian cookies and pastries. Longtime residents of the Hill recall growing up with visits there. And it has also won accolades from national and local press.

Favazza said he envisioned ramping up wholesale production and introducing online ordering to Missouri Baking Company.

But, for the immediate future, the restaurateur said he is still trying to figure out his legal next steps.

I think her lawsuit speaks for itself, Favazza said. She wants to close the bakery and I want to keep it open.

Lordos attorney, Mark Sanders of Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
JEFFERSON CITY  Republican Josh Hawley won a second term in the U.S. Senate, fending off a well-financed challenge from Democrat Lucas Kunce.

The Associated Press called the race for Hawley at 9:28 p.m. Tuesday. With about 44% of votes counted statewide, Hawley was leading Kunce by a 54%-to-43% margin.

Hawley told supporters Tuesday that Missourians voted to save the United States of America. They sent a message, he said, that we believe in this country, that God is not done with America yet. And we are here to fight for Americas future.

Hawley, 44, was seeking his second six-year term. The former Missouri attorney general caused nationwide blowback for his actions to overturn the 2020 election, which helped fuel Kunces insurgent bid against the incumbent.

Hawley has also stoked controversy for his embrace of Christian nationalism, which promotes the United States as a Christian nation.

Kunce, 42, a Marine veteran, made worker issues central campaign planks as he leaned into his familys personal story of financial hardship.

While Hawley has endorsed certain pro-worker legislation, Kunce has portrayed the Republicans moves as a casual attempt to scam votes.

Hawley, in attacking Kunce, latched onto a statement the Democrat made in a 2021 opinion piece in which Kunce made a national security case for ditching fossil fuels.

While Kunce tied his campaign closely to the abortion-rights amendment on the ballot, Hawley argued the measure would legalize transgender surgeries for minors in saying he would oppose it.

Kunce spent $19.8 million on his bid through Oct. 16, outspending Hawley and an allied political action committee. Combined, the pro-Hawley groups spent $18.4 million through mid-October.

While Kunce raised $20.2 million, the other five Democrats running for statewide positions in Missouri raised a combined $3.1 million for their campaigns.

Despite Kunce having the resources to run a robust operation, public polls still showed him trailing Hawley heading into Election Day.

Kunce made an unsuccessful attempt to weaponize Hawleys certification challenge. He announced his intention to run for Hawleys seat on the anniversary of the attack in 2023. He aired an ad highlighting the photo of Hawleys raised fist, as well as video footage of Hawley running through the Capitol later that day.

But Republican voters in Missouri, where Trump won by huge margins in 2016 and 2020, still turned out for Hawley this year. He had been heavily favored to win in the state, where no Democrats hold statewide office and Republicans control both the state House and Senate.

Kunce put up a fight, outraising Hawley and securing support from Missouri-born celebrities John Goodman, Jon Hamm and Andy Cohen. He was ahead handily in St. Louis, Kansas City and Boone County, home to the University of Missouri-Columbia, but it wasnt enough to overcome Hawleys dominance in the rest of the state.

Kunce lauded supporters in a concession speech, calling them a ball of energy.

I just say dont let it die, Kunce said. Keep it rolling. Lets take it forward, lets let the next person pick it up. Lets all come together, and lets finally take some of that power back for ourselves.

Jack Suntrup and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photos: St. Louis-area voters cast their ballots on Election Day
JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed his popular defense minister, Yoav Gallant, in a surprise announcement that came as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region. The move sparked protests across the country, including a mass gathering that paralyzed central Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. But Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival before taking the step as the worlds attention was focused on the U.S. presidential election. Netanyahu cited significant gaps and a crisis of trust in his Tuesday evening announcement as he replaced Gallant with a longtime loyalist.

In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defense minister, Netanyahu said. Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defense minister.

In the early days of the war, Israels leadership presented a unified front as it responded to Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack. But as the war has dragged on and spread to Lebanon, key policy differences have emerged.

While Netanyahu has called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Gallant had taken a more pragmatic approach, saying that military force has created the necessary conditions for at least a temporary diplomatic deal that could bring home hostages held by the militant group.

In a late-night news conference broadcast on national TV, Gallant said that he had disagreed with Netanyahu over three main issues: the need to end controversial exemptions from the military draft for ultra-Orthodox men, the urgent need for a hostage deal and the need to establish an official commission of inquiry into the political and security failures of Oct. 7, when Hamas militants stormed into Israel and killed 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage. Israel estimates that about 100 hostages remain in captivity, only about 65 of them still alive.

With military service compulsory for most Jews, Gallant said that drafting the ultra-Orthodox was both an issue of fairness and security at a time when Israel faces so many challenges.

He said a hostage deal was needed as quickly as possible, when they are still alive and said there will be no forgiveness for neglecting them. And he said a full investigation into the events of Oct. 7 was the only way to ensure the government would learn the proper lessons. Netanyahu has rejected calls for an inquiry, saying it should only take place when the war is over.

Gallant ended his statement by honoring the soldiers serving in the army and those who have died in the wars. He held up his hand and saluted as he walked away from the podium.

Many of the families of the hostages, along with tens of thousands of people who have joined anti-government protests, accuse Netanyahu of scuttling a deal in order to maintain his hold on power.

Netanyahus hard-line partners have threatened to bring down the government if he makes concessions to Hamas, raising the risk of early elections at a time when the prime ministers popularity is low. This week, authorities announced the arrest of a Netanyahu aide on suspicion of leaking classified information to foreign media that gave the prime minister political cover as hostage talks fell apart.

Firing Gallant in the middle of a war is an act of madness, opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X. Netanyahu is selling Israels security and the Israeli army soldiers for a disgraceful political survival.

Israels president, Isaac Herzog, whose largely ceremonial office is meant to help unify the country, called the dismissal the last thing Israel needs.

The grassroots forum representing hostage families said Gallants dismissal is a direct continuation of the efforts to torpedo the abductee deal.

Within hours, thousands of protesters gathered in central Tel Aviv, blocking the citys main highway and crippling traffic. The crowd, many holding blue and white Israeli flags and others blowing whistles and pounding drums, gathered around multiple bonfires. Several thousand people demonstrated outside Netanyahus home in Jerusalem and elsewhere in the city. Protesters gathered and blocked roads in several other spots across the country, and Israeli TV stations showed images of police scuffling with protesters.

The dismissal comes at a delicate time. Israeli troops remain bogged down in Gaza, over a year after invading the territory in a war that has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, including tens of thousands of civilians, and caused widespread destruction, while Israeli ground troops are pressing ahead with a month-old ground invasion against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed in the fighting.

Israel also has clashed with Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and is facing the possibility of another strike by Iran. Iran has vowed to avenge an Israeli strike that came in response to an Oct. 1 Iranian missile attack, itself a reprisal for earlier Israeli attacks on Iranian-linked targets.

On Monday, Gallant announced he had sent out thousands of draft notices to young ultra-Orthodox men. The system of exemptions for religious men has bred widespread resentment among the secular majority, and Israels Supreme Court has ordered the government to scrap the system. Netanyahu, whose governing coalition depends on ultra-Orthodox parties, has not yet implemented the order.

Channel 13 TV said Netanyahu had also taken advantage of the U.S. election, when American attention is focused elsewhere, to dismiss his rival.

The White House on Tuesday declined to comment on the firing but called Galant an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel.

As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israels next minister of defense," the White House National Security Council said.

Gallant, a former general with a gruff, no-nonsense demeanor, has emerged as the most popular figure with the public in Israels wartime government. Gallant has worn a simple, black buttoned shirt throughout the war in a sign of sorrow over the Oct. 7 attack and developed a strong relationship with his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

A previous attempt by Netanyahu to fire Gallant in March 2023 sparked widespread street protests against Netanyahu. He also flirted with the idea of dismissing Gallant over the summer but held off until Tuesdays announcement.

Katz, his replacement, currently serves as foreign minister and is a longtime Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister. Katz thanked Netanyahu and pledged to lead the security establishment to victory in the wars against Israels enemies.

Katz, 69, was a junior officer in the military decades ago and has little military experience, though he has been a key member of Netanyahus Security Cabinet over the years. Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu rival who rejoined the government in September, will take the foreign affairs post.

Netanyahu has a long history of neutralizing his rivals. In his statement, he claimed he had made many attempts to bridge the gaps with Gallant.

But they kept getting wider," he said. Our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it.

Associated Press writers Eleanor H. Reich in New York and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed reporting.

Updated at 5 p.m.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Spotline to be on nuclear energy at COP29, said Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov at the inaugural meeting of the World Fusion Energy Group (WFEG) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Rome, Trend reports.

Shahbazov underscored the pivotal role nuclear energy plays in the global energy shift, serving as a clean, steady, and long-haul source of power. He highlighted its remarkable efficiency, knack for cranking out substantial electricity with a shoestring budget, and its feather-light carbon footprint.

The minister also stressed the importance of improving safety standards, proper handling of radioactive waste, financial support, and boosting public trust in nuclear energy as key challenges for its development.

Shahbazov acknowledged the global efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to promote the safe, peaceful, and sustainable use of nuclear energy, along with the Atoms4NetZero initiative, which aims to enhance nuclear energys role in the global energy transition alongside renewable sources.

The Minister highlighted that Azerbaijan, a trusted partner in energy security, is currently executing large-scale projects that will secure up to 35.5 percent of renewable energy in its electricity generation capacity by 2030, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2.8 million tons.

He also pointed out Azerbaijans significant role in the global green energy transition, particularly through the creation of a "green energy corridor" that stretches from the Caspian Sea and Central Asia to Europe.

The Minister emphasized that Azerbaijans priorities for its presidency at COP29 further solidify its commitment to the vision of becoming a green growth country, advancing the green energy initiative, and updating its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reflect the importance of leveraging all sources of "clean" energy.

"In this context, we believe that nuclear energy, including small modular reactors, could play a crucial role in supporting our long-term energy transition strategy. Azerbaijan, while honoring its international obligations and adopting best practices, is ready to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to introduce new technologies into the energy sector," Shahbazov added.

Azerbaijans Country Programme Framework for 2024-2029 will significantly contribute to the further development of cooperation with the IAEA in the fields of nuclear technology and energy.

Shahbazov also underscored Azerbaijan's strong commitment to using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. He stated that following COP28 and the Atomic Energy Summit, COP29 will provide a platform to emphasize and promote the crucial role of nuclear energy in combating climate change.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Pluto TV Announces New Partnership With NBCUniversal

Pluto TV is thrilled to announce a new partnership with NBCUniversal (NBCU) Global TV Distribution to bring an exciting array of comedy, dramedy, iconic action, and fan favourites to viewers in the UK and Canada, starting November 1, 2024.

In Canada, Pluto TV is proud to introduce all seasons of critically acclaimed Will & Grace as the crown jewel of the More Pluto TV Comedy channel, alongside other great comedies such as Becker, Wings, and Dear John.

In the UK, Pluto TV is bringing the much talked about, not-so-hidden gem, Psych to its brand new Pluto TV Comedy Drama channel. All seasons of the highly addictive series will be available on Pluto TV for free for all fans of the dramedy genre. The channel will also showcase light-hearted action dramas like Scorpion and comedies including The Millers and The Odd Couple.

Additionally, Pluto TV is launching two new dedicated channels in the UK and Canada: PLUTO TV 80s Action and PLUTO TV Sci-Fi

PLUTO TV 80s Action will feature NBCUs action-packed nostalgic hits The A-Team, Knight Rider, and Miami Vice.

will feature NBCUs action-packed nostalgic hits The A-Team, Knight Rider, and Miami Vice. PLUTO TV Sci-Fi (known as PLUTO TV Sci-Fi Series in the UK) will showcase NBCUs intergalactic favorites Quantum Leap, Sliders, and Battlestar Galactica.

Starting in November, PLUTO TV 80s Action will kick off with The A-Team, and PLUTO TV Sci-Fi with Quantum Leap.

Olivier Jollet, Executive Vice President and International General Manager at Pluto TV said: Partnerships are our superpower, and collaborating with industry leaders like NBCUniversal not only brings legendary titles to our platform, but also helps strengthen the FAST business, giving our fans access to the content they love. With a strong affinity for comedy among our audiences in the UK and Canada, were thrilled to deliver a treasure trove of comedic content.

Rob Bell, Executive Vice President of Digital Distribution and Global Content Strategy at NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution said: We are delighted to expand upon our partnership with Pluto TV and bring NBCUs fantastic, much-loved series to their viewers.

About Pluto TV

Pluto TV, a Paramount Company, is the leading free streaming television service delivering hundreds of live linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience. The Emmy award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels, in partnership with over 400 international media companies, offering a wide array of genres, languages and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids and much more. Pluto TV can be easily accessed and streamed across mobile, web and connected TV devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Pluto TVs growing international footprint extends across four continents and over 35 markets.

About NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution

NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution is responsible for the licensing and distribution of NBCUniversal product to all forms of television and new media platforms in the U.S., Canada and in over 200 territories internationally. NBCUniversals content portfolio includes a vast and diverse library of more than 6,500 feature films and 170,000 television episodes, including current and classic titles, non-scripted programming, kids, sports, news, long-form and short-form programming from Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Universal Television, UCP, Universal International Studios, Sky Studios, Universal Television Alternative Studio, NBC Late Night properties, DreamWorks Animation, Telemundo, and more, as well as locally produced content from around the world. Global TV Distribution is a division of Comcast NBCUniversal.

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Army Spc. Kyle Moore of the Michigan National Guard provides perimeter security near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12, 2021. (Capt. Joe Legros/U.S. Army National Guard)

National Guard troops in 18 states and Washington, D.C., had been activated or placed on standby orders by their governors for duty amid fears of a tense Election Day on Tuesday, defense officials said.

More than 250 Guard troops had been called by Tuesday to active duty, according to the National Guard Bureau. Another 600 troops were on standby orders to be activated quickly if governors deemed them necessary, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons top spokesman, told reporters on Monday.

Guard officials said almost half of the troops activated were cyber specialists who would be embedded to advise and aid election workers on cyber issues, which the National Guard has done in past elections. The other forces were mainly general support troops, according to a defense official.

The Guard troops activated were from Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia, according to the Guard. Ryder said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had approved a request to allow Washington, D.C., troops to be activated between Tuesday and Nov. 13, if needed.

It is routine practice for the [Defense Department] to authorize the D.C. National Guard to support or augment security for large scale events in the district and activated Guardsmen will remain under the command and control of the D.C. National Guard, Ryder said.

Troops were also on standby in Colorado, Florida and Nevada, a National Guard spokesperson said.

National Guard officials said some of its troops could be activated for security purposes, if needed. Guard troops spent more than four months ensuring security in Washington in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot by supporters of former President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol.

Already more than two dozen states have committed to send National Guard forces to Washington, if officially requested, ahead of the next presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, Guard leaders announced Monday.

Some fear the potential for violence amid a contentious presidential election between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump, whose supporters ransacked the Capitol in 2021 in an unsuccessful effort to halt the formalization of President Joe Bidens election victory, has used violent rhetoric in the leadup to the 2024 election and has refused to pledge to accept the results of the vote if he loses. Trump also has been targeted twice by would-be assassins during the 2024 campaign.

The FBI warned last month that domestic terrorists could be plotting violence around the election and might target political candidates, elected officials, election workers and journalists, according to an Oct. 3 memorandum. It warned violent extremists might be motivated by beliefs of election fraud, which federal and state officials, including judges, have repeatedly said are unfounded.

[Domestic violent extremists] continue to create, exploit, and promote narratives about the election process or legal decisions involving political figures, and we are concerned that these grievances could motivate some [domestic violent extremists] to engage in violence, as we saw during the 2020 election cycle, the FBI memo reads.

In Oregon, Gov. Jay Inslee activated troops this week in response to an Oct. 28 incident that saw a makeshift bomb explode in a ballot drop box in Vancouver, Wash., destroying hundreds of ballots, according to his office. Another such bomb was set off at a ballot box in Portland, Ore., which law enforcement officials have said was a related incident.
The U.S. Army has dropped the charges against Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lane, discharging the soldier who disappeared from his base in Germany and turned up at a military hospital under a false name. (U.S. Army)

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany  A U.S. soldier who disappeared from his Bavarian base last year and turned up at a military hospital under a false name is being allowed to exit the Army without charge after a judge dismissed the case against him.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lane, 31, requested a discharge in lieu of military court martial during a pretrial hearing Oct. 30 at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, 7th Army Training Command spokeswoman Lacey Justinger said Tuesday.

He had been charged with one count each of attempted voluntary manslaughter, child endangerment and desertion. His court martial was scheduled for February, and he would have faced up to 31 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

After reviewing the evidence, Brig. Gen. Steven Carpenter, commander of the 7th Army Training Command, agreed to the request by Lane, who received an other than honorable discharge and was reduced in rank to private.

Lane was released from custody and is processing out of the Army, Justinger said. He was a helicopter repairer assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade at U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach.

On June 27, 2023, Lane was reported missing after not showing up for duty. Four days earlier, he had been spotted trying to access Ramstein Air Base and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center under the name David Hersher.

Army officials declined to say whether he received treatment at the hospital, citing medical privacy rules. Ramstein is about 125 miles west of Lanes former duty station.

Lanes car was later found abandoned near Urbach in the state of Rheinland-Pfalz, about two hours north of Ramstein, the Army Criminal Investigation Division said previously. His last known location was the main train station in Koblenz on June 29, 2023.

Notices appeared in military post offices in Germany seeking the publics help in locating him. He was caught April 5 near the southwestern city of Trier.

The charges will be officially withdrawn and dismissed on the date of Lanes separation from active duty, Justinger said. Under his discharge, he will be denied many veterans benefits under state and federal law.

No further stipulations or restrictions were placed on him, Justinger said.

Clarification: While military judge Lt. Col. Tom Hynes presided over the case, it was convening authority Brig. Gen. Steven Carpenter, commander of the 7th Army Training Command, who approved the withdrawal of charges.
This undated handout picture released on Sept. 21, 2022, by the Instagram account of Interpol Venezuela shows Malaysian fugitive Francis Leonard Glenn, known as Fat Leonard, after his capture in Maiquetia, Venezuela. (Interpol Venezuela Instagram, AFP, Getty Images via TNS)

SAN DIEGO (Tribune News Service)  The Malaysian contractor known as Fat Leonard, who bribed dozens of high-ranking U.S. Navy officers in the Navys worst-ever corruption scandal, was sentenced Tuesday in San Diego federal court to 15 years in prison.

The sentence means that Leonard Glenn Francis, 60, will spend about 8 more years in federal prison when taking into account the credit hell receive from the more than six years he has already spent in custody, though likely even less if he qualifies for early release.

U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino was also prepared to order Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy on top of the $35 million he was already ordered to forfeit as part of his plea agreement.

Francis, who has only ever said a handful of words in open court, somberly addressed the judge and asked for mercy so he could be reunited with his children.

I sincerely regret my misconduct that led to this day, Francis said. He called his actions inexcusable and wrong.

Francis, who was arrested in September 2013 during a sting operation that lured him to San Diego, pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to defraud the United States. His company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which contracted to provide goods and services to Navy vessels for 25 years in ports across Asia, pleaded guilty to the same charges. Francis also pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge related to his flight from custody and failure to appear for his previously set sentencing in 2022.

In the 3,582 days since his guilty plea, Francis was at the heart of many of the most dramatic twists in the Navy corruption prosecution.

He became the key witness for the government, providing what prosecutors called unprecedented cooperation over the course of 65 meetings. Then, in a move that was kept secret for months, Sammartino released him from custody to be treated for cancer and other ailments. Soon, Francis had used the medical furlough to move himself and his family into a $7,000-per-month mansion.

While living large in the multimillion-dollar home, he secretly recorded a podcast that was released months before he was expected to take the witness stand in a trial against five Navy officers. He never took the stand. Then weeks before he was finally set to be sentenced in September 2022, he absconded, cutting off his GPS ankle monitor and going on the lam. After his capture in Venezuela, he spent 14 months imprisoned before he was traded back to the U.S. late last year as part of a prisoner swap.

During roughly that same time period, authorities investigated some 1,000 individuals for potential criminal links to Francis. Prosecutors secured guilty pleas or jury convictions against more than 30 people, most of them Navy officers who took bribes from Francis, and referred more than 600 individuals to a Navy task force convened to determine which of its personnel should face administrative or disciplinary action.

Government attorneys later admitted to serious issues involving the prosecution, including trial misconduct, which led to eight defendants having their felony convictions thrown out in favor of misdemeanors and one defendant having his case entirely dismissed.

Francis and his company were the final defendants to be sentenced in a web of related cases, though the attorney for a retired Navy captain who was previously sentenced to prison said Sunday that he will seek relief for his client related to the prosecutions misconduct and the governments promise to review cases for potential redress related to those issues.

And even after Tuesdays sentencing, several other questions still remain about the sprawling corruption scandal, most notably whether Francis will pay what he owes in forfeiture and restitution to the government. In the podcast that he recorded while on house arrest, Francis appeared to boast about hiding his assets in the year or so between his arrest and his guilty plea.

Francis exploits have become well-known over the years. Dating back at least as early as 2004 but likely much longer, he showered Navy officers with bribes that included gourmet meals, five-star hotel rooms, premium liquor, prostitutes, designer bags and cash. The Navy officers in turn steered ships to the Southeast Asian ports that he controlled. Francis then charged the U.S. government heavily inflated prices for services such as security, tugboats, food, water replenishment and trash removal. He bilked the government out of at least $35 million, according to his plea.

Internal prosecution documents reviewed by the Union-Tribune revealed Francis spent years ingratiating himself with a rotating cast of officers from the Navys 7th Fleet in the Western Pacific. He was a constant presence at change-of-command ceremonies and annual Navy balls. And he was gifted at reading people, figuring out their vices and manipulating them.

Francis flashed his wealth constantly and had a crew of employees tending to his needs. He lived in a 40,000-square-foot house in Singapore and owned a fleet of luxury cars and SUVs, including two Rolls-Royces and several customized H2 Hummers.

Francis also avoided accountability for years despite his corruption being something of an open secret among 7th Fleet sailors. For years, investigators launched criminal probes  at least 14 from 2004 to 2012, plus 10 criminal intelligence reports  but the allegations never seemed to stick. At one point, Francis corrupted a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, bribing the agent to leak him information about and keep him abreast of the various investigations.

The stunning corruption scheme finally came to an end in September 2013, when authorities tricked the NCIS mole into thinking the most serious investigations had been closed and then invited Francis to San Diego for a meeting with Navy officials. After the meeting, armed federal agents burst into Francis 21st-floor hotel room at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina and arrested him.

2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Visit sandiegouniontribune.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Staff work the front desk of the Navy Gateway Inns & Suites at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Nov. 6, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)

Navy Exchange Service Command is splitting its Navy Gateway Inns & Suites into two distinct brands and opening the first revamped accommodation this month.

The hotels will be renamed Navy Inn and Navy Inn Crew Stay, with each brand featuring a new logo along with modern design elements and added amenities, according to a Navy news release Monday.

The two new versions of the rebranded lodging facilities will accommodate a specific clientele.

Navy Inn will provide modern, high-quality accommodations for military personnel traveling on [temporary duty] orders, while Navy Inn Crew Stay will focus on group accommodations for mission-driven stays, command spokeswoman Kristine Sturkie told Stars and Stripes by email Tuesday.

A third property brand, Navy Lodge, will receive a refreshed version of its logo, but its services and accommodations will remain essentially as-is, the release said.

Military families on permanent change of station orders primarily stay at Navy Lodge locations, Sturkie said. In addition, authorized guests use Navy Lodges for leisure travel, based on availability.

Navy Inn will provide modern, high-quality accommodations for military personnel traveling on orders, according to Navy Exchange Service Command. (U.S. Navy) Navy Inn Crew Stay will focus on group accommodations for mission-driven stays, according to Navy Exchange Service Command. (U.S. Navy) Navy Lodge will receive a refreshed logo, pictured here, but its services and accommodations will remain essentially as-is, according to Navy Exchange Service Command. (U.S. Navy)

NEXCOM Hospitality Group is composed of 36 Navy Lodge and 59 Navy Gateway Inns & Suites worldwide. Last year, the lodging facilities sold nearly 4.1 million room nights, according to the release.

Navy Inn will debut at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., on Thursday, and will feature several upgrades to the interior design and amenities, the release states.

This soft launch offers NEXCOM Hospitality Group a valuable opportunity to appraise various elements of the rebrand, from refined materials, vibrant color schemes and associate uniforms to a captivating Lone Sailor display, enhanced lighting and inviting lobby features  including a distinctive heritage wall, the release said.

Navy Inns will also feature updated eco-friendly bath amenities and plush towels.

NEXCOM is planning to open a rebranded Navy Inn Crew Stay in 2025 at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev., followed by a second location at Naval Base Okinawa in Japan.

The rebranding of Navy Lodges, Navy Gateway Inns & Suites and the launch of Navy Inns is a strategic decision to align our services with modern hospitality standards, ensuring that we continue to provide unparalleled comfort and support to our military community, Ronald Loman, NEXCOM Hospitality Group Senior Vice President, said in the release.
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum, a Hawaii native, has been chosen to lead the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu. (East-West Center)

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  Retired Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum has been chosen to lead a Honolulu-based Defense Department think tank focused on advancing security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Vares-Lum, who was born and raised in Hawaii, will become director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in January, the security center said in a news release Monday.

She has been president of the East-West Center in Honolulu since 2022.

Leading the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is a profound honor, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me, Vares-Lum said in the news release.

She is a graduate of the centers Transnational Security Cooperation course, making her the first alumni and first native Hawaiian to serve as the organizations director.

In a message sent to East-West Center staff on Monday, Vares-Lum wrote, Making the decision to depart this great institution was very difficult, but ultimately I believe this new appointment is the best opportunity for me to draw on my cumulative experiences toward making a positive impact on our region.

In a news release Monday, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, an ex officio member of the East-West Centers board, lauded Vares-Lums remarkable tenure as the first woman and first Native Hawaiian President of the East-West Center.

The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies provides a focal point where national officials, decision makers and policy makers can gather to exchange ideas, explore pressing issues and achieve a greater understanding of the challenges that shape the security environment of the Indo-Pacific region, according to the organizations web site.

The center conducts research and offers courses and workshops for military and civilian leaders from Indo-Pacific nations.

Vares-Lum was previously vice-chief and then chief of staff of the Hawaii National Guard. She also served in various Army intelligence units. She was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom III from August 2004 to March 2006.

She has been active in the Hawaii community, serving on boards that include the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council and the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research.

She holds a bachelors degree in journalism and a masters degree in education from the University of Hawaii. In 2011, she earned a masters degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

She became a national security fellow of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 2019.

The security centers previous director, retired Navy Rear Adm. Pete Gumataotao, left the position this summer after serving six years. Deputy director Russell Bailey has filled in as acting director since that time.

Vares-Lum said she is eager to begin collaborating with the security centers team and stakeholders.

As we navigate this journey, I am committed to fostering a culture of innovation, unity, and shared purpose as we partner to address security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region through education, connection, and empowerment, she said in the news release.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan emerge as key hubs for logistics, energy, and business within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), said Damir Belgibaev, an analyst with the Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development, in an interview with Trend.

Belgibaev praised the progress in cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, noting substantial advancements in energy, trade, and transport logistics. According to him, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route through Azerbaijan connects Kazakhstan to European markets, while routes through Kazakhstan provide Azerbaijan with access to Central Asia and China.

"The development of transport corridors and expanding trade ties will deepen cooperation even further," Belgibaev commented, adding that initiatives like joint logistics projects, a shared investment fund, and partnerships in agriculture and tourism could strengthen bilateral relations.

The analyst also emphasized the strategic importance of the upcoming OTS summit in Bishkek for Kazakhstan, noting that the event enhances the country's role in Central Asia and fosters regional economic cooperation.

As Central Asias largest economy with considerable transit potential, Kazakhstan aims to strengthen its ties with other OTS member states. Belgibaev suggested that Kazakhstan can play a leading role in promoting regional peace and stability and actively support integration efforts within the OTS.

"Economically, Kazakhstan is focused on expanding export markets and developing logistics infrastructure through the OTS," he noted. Belgibaev added that Kazakhstan's expertise in renewable energy and digitalization could also offer valuable insights for other member countries.
South Korea launches a Hyunmoo-2 missile from an undisclosed location on its eastern coast, July 5, 2017. (South Koreas Ministry of National Defense)

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea  South Korea plans to test-fire a domestically made, short-range ballistic missile in response to the North recently launching an intercontinental ballistic missile, according to a South Korean news report.

The Missile Strategy Command may test its Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile this week in reply to North Korea escalating its provocations on Oct. 31 by launching an ICBM, an unnamed military official said in a Yonhap News report published Wednesday.

The South Korean missile is capable of striking North Korea in a contingency and serves as a warning to the North, the official reportedly said.

North Koreas ICBM flew 620 miles eastward from the Pyongyang area at a maximum altitude of 4,350 miles, according to Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. It was the first launch of its kind since Dec. 18.

The Norths state-run Korean Central News Agency reported the launch broke the flight records of previous missiles and hailed the ICBM, called the Hwasongpho-19, as a milestone achievement.

The communist regime also fired at least seven short-range ballistic missiles Tuesday, according to South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff and Japans Ministry of Defense. They flew roughly 250 miles before coming down in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, the Joint Chiefs said.

North Korea launches a Hwasongpho-19 intercontinental ballistic missile, Oct. 31, 2024, in this image from the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper. (Rodong Sinmun)

North Korea has fired approximately 45 ballistic missiles in 12 separate days of testing so far this year.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols administration has often responded to the Norths missile launches with shows of military force, sometimes in concert with the U.S. and Japan.

A day after the latest ICBM launch, fighter jets from all three countries escorted a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber on a demonstration between the air identification zones of Japan and South Korea.

Seoul test-fired its Hyunmoo-2 missile on Oct. 5, 2022, a day after the North launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile that flew over Japan and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. North Koreas missile traveled nearly 2,800 miles at a peak altitude of 602 miles; it was the first time in five years that a North Korean missile flew over Japan.

The Souths response failed. The missile crashed inside a South Korean military base due to a faulty gyroscope, the Ministry of National Defense said at the time. The warhead did not explode, and no injuries were reported by the military.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather in Vicenza and march to Caserma Ederle, home to U.S. Army Garrison Italy, on Nov. 5, 2024. The protest was largely peaceful despite an outer wall of the army post being spraypainted. The paint was quickly removed, military officials said. (U.S. Army)

VICENZA, Italy  About 200 protesters marched Tuesday outside Caserma Ederle to protest U.S. support of Israel in a demonstration that military officials said left graffiti on a base wall but was otherwise largely peaceful.

The protest, organized by Vicenza for Palestine, started in the Stanga neighborhood around 9:15 p.m. and moved north on Via Aldo Moro before arriving at the home of U.S. Army Garrison Italy.

Protesters set off a few fireworks and spraypainted Stop War on an outer wall of the base, garrison spokesman Rick Scavetta said.

The public works department cleared the graffiti immediately, he said.

We respect Italians right to peacefully demonstrate. Our main priority was the safety and security of post and the people who live and work here, Scavetta said. It speaks volumes of the partnership we have with the Italian authorities off post, because they helped this happen with little violence.

The garrison knew about the protest about a week in advance and had sent out warnings to the U.S. Army community. Because it was after hours, there were few people at Ederle. All gates, including the 24-hour drive-in gate, were locked during the protest.

The protest, which wrapped up around 11 p.m., marked the second time in two months that pro-Palestinian crowds have marched outside a U.S. base in the Vicenza area.

In September, demonstrators damaged a fence at Caserma Del Din, home of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
U.S. soldiers assigned to the 41st Field Artillery Brigade engage targets with a pair of high mobility artillery rocket systems, or HIMARS, during an exercise in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, in May 2023. The reelection of Donald Trump as president will likely mean changes to the U.S. militarys mission in Europe. (John Schoebel/U.S. Army National Guard)

STUTTGART, Germany  Donald Trumps imminent return to the White House will likely transform the U.S. militarys mission in Europe, alter its relationship with NATO and upend the Pentagons whole strategy for assisting Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Trump, who won Tuesdays presidential election in a dominant showing that also saw Republicans retake the Senate, is now in prime position to settle business unfinished during his first term from 2017 to 2021.

Pressure will intensify on allies in Europe to ramp up defense spending and prepare to take on the bulk of the security load on the Continent, where the U.S. has long been seen as the ultimate security underwriter.

In Europe, Trumps win was widely met with an awareness of a looming onus on NATOs militaries to do more.

The right response for Europe is not to cry publicly, but to take a deep breath and return with a wise plan for rebalancing in NATO to save it, Jakub Janda, director of the European Values Center for Security Policy in Prague, said Wednesday.

U.S. soldiers conduct security during a live-fire exercise at Bemowo Piskie Training Area in Poland on Feb. 28, 2024. Reduction or elimination of an American tank brigade and troop rotations to Europe could be on the table in a second Donald Trump administration. (Cecil Elliott II/U.S. Army) U.S. M1A1 Abrams tanks arrive at Grafenwoehr, Germany, in May 2023 to be used for training of Ukrainian military personnel. The reelection of Donald Trump as president could upend the Pentagon's strategy for assisting Ukraine in its war against Russia. (U.S. Army) At the 2017 NATO summit in Brussels, President Donald Trump walks with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Rutte, now NATO's secretary-general, has a reputation for working well with Trump. (NATO)

Regarding weapons support for Ukraine, Europe also must prepare to carry the load like now, he said in a statement.

Marko Mihkelson, a parliamentarian in Estonia, which is vulnerably positioned on NATOs eastern flank and borders Russia, said Wednesday that NATOs toughest years lie ahead.

Regardless of the fact that the next president of the USA is most probably Donald Trump, Europe must do everything to preserve the transatlantic alliance, Mihkelson, chairman of Estonias foreign affairs committee, said in a statement.

During the campaign, Trump made it clear that he opposes arming Ukraine and considers Kyiv at least partially responsible for Russias invasion.

He also asserted that a peace deal can be reached with Russia, although its unclear whether that is possible or what the terms of an agreement would look like.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country has depended on American support to fight Russia for nearly three years, was among the first world leaders to congratulate Trump, saying that he looked forward to working with him.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs, Zelenskyy said, adding that this principle can practically bring a just peace in Ukraine closer.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who had a reputation for working well with Trump when he was prime minister of the Netherlands, struck a similar tone Wednesday.

His leadership will again be key to keeping our alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO, Rutte said in a statement.

Still, the situation in Ukraine could be a source of internal conflict. Rutte said Monday that he is confident the United States under Trump would remain committed to Ukraine.

We will work with Donald Trump and make sure that the alliance stays united, Rutte said. I have no doubt, because it is in our interest. It is our interest here, but also the United States, because they are not in this to ... repeat the mistake after the First World War of withdrawing (from) Europe.

Its unclear to what degree the Pentagon under Trump would recalibrate the U.S. European Command mission. At the end of his first term, a plan was put in place to remove some 12,000 troops from Germany and reposition them in the U.S. and other European locales.

The proposal was slapped together with less than a year left in his term and was rejected when President Joe Biden stepped into office.

Trumps plan to send the Vilseck, Germany-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment stateside and shift EUCOM to Mons, Belgium, among other moves, could be resurrected.

Other possibilities included reducing or eliminating rotations of tank brigades and other units that have reinforced NATOs eastern flank for the past 10 years.

EUCOM has been experiencing a period of growth. The war in Ukraine has led to larger rotations of troops and the Army in Europe has added artillery capabilities in recent years.

Other future plans made during the Biden administration, such as the deployment and permanent basing of long-range artillery units in Germany, could be canceled. Such assets, in high demand across the military, could be repurposed for a Pacific mission.

China hawks in Trumps orbit argue that allies in Europe are wealthy enough to furnish the bulk of conventional forces required to deter Russian aggression on NATO territory. Meanwhile, Chinas military buildup means the Pentagon needs to save and redirect resources for a potential conflict there.

While Trump critics have warned that his ultimate aim is to quit or weaken NATO, Trump himself hasnt indicated that he intends to do that in a second term.

His campaign platform states that he will finish the process ... of fundamentally reevaluating NATOs purpose and NATOs mission.

Last week, his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, said Trump would keep the country in the alliance.

Of course, were going to honor our NATO commitments, Vance said on NBC. But I think its important ... that we recognize that NATO is not just a welfare client. It should be a real alliance.

Trumps return to the White House also would put a spotlight on allied defense investments. While most member countries have increased spending, nine of the 32 do not dedicate 2% of gross domestic product to defense as expected under NATO protocols.

That was a major priority for Trump in the first term and will most likely be a point of emphasis once again.

The benchmark is regarded as a bare minimum, and numerous officials, including NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Christopher Cavoli, have said defense spending should be even higher than 2% of GDP.

Poland, which is expected to dedicate 5% of GDP to defense next year, will likely be regarded as a model ally in Trumps second term.

The question is whether other countries will be prepared to meet Trumps expectations and what the consequences will be if they fall short.

At a rally in February, Trump said American willingness to defend allies from a Russian attack hinges on a countrys compliance with defense spending obligations.

No, I would not protect you, he said he had told an unidentified European leader. In fact, I would encourage (the Russians) to do whatever the hell they want. Youve got to pay. You got to pay your bills.
Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio (center) in Portland, Oregon, in 2020. (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post)

A D.C. police lieutenant has asked to be tried by a federal judge, instead of a jury, next month on charges that he warned the leader of the far-right Proud Boys group that he would be arrested days before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, then lied to investigators about their interactions, according to a court filing Tuesday.

Shane Lamond, a 24-year veteran of the D.C. police and the departments head of intelligence at the time he was talking to Proud Boys leader Henry Enrique Tarrio, signed the request for a bench trial on Sept. 30, and U.S. prosecutors approved it Tuesday, according to the filing. The request still must be approved by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, but given that both sides agree, that is largely a formality.

Lamond, 48, of Stafford, Virginia, has pleaded not guilty and faces trial on Dec. 2 on one count of obstruction of justice and three counts of making false statements. He is accused of leaking information to Tarrio during the groups planned protests in D.C. in 2020 and the run-up to its central role in the Capitol riot. Lamonds duties at the time included monitoring extremist groups. Lamond is also accused of lying to investigators when asked if he had told Tarrio he would be arrested for his part in burning a Black Lives Matter flag stolen from a historic African American church during a pro-Trump rally in the weeks before the Capitol riot.

We have a great deal of faith in the court, and we want to take any politics and emotion out of this case, because the facts are clear: Shane Lamond has neither made false statements nor obstructed justice, defense lawyer Mark E. Schamel said in an interview.

Schamel has previously described his clients contacts with Tarrio as professional and part of his work to obtain intelligence and prevent clashes between the Proud Boys and other groups. Lamonds wife had posted on social media that her husband was being criticized for doing his job.

Prosecutors alleged during Tarrios trial that the Proud Boys anger at police deepened when they received word that Tarrio would be arrested in Washington, spurring them to plan for violence.

Tarrio, who is serving a 22-year prison sentence for seditious conspiracy after being found guilty with three other Proud Boys leaders in the Capitol riot, is a potential witness in Lamonds trial, while his own case remains on appeal. Tarrio argued during his trial that his communications with Lamond showed the Proud Boys did not conspire to commit violence and that the group had shared its plans with law enforcement.

U.S. prosecutors alleged in Lamonds indictment that the officer was sharing other information, which Tarrio passed on to other Proud Boys members and acted on.

Lamond faces a mandatory three-year minimum sentence and up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the obstruction of justice charge. The false statement counts are each punishable by up to five years. Federal advisory sentencing guidelines for a first offender would fall around three years.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon in May. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

The open-ended crisis in the Middle East has begun to squeeze the Pentagon, fueling unease over the U.S. militarys ability to balance imminent threats to American interests there with longer-term objectives as Russia and China test Washington elsewhere in the world.

Signs of strain were underscored in recent days by a decision to withdraw the sole U.S. aircraft carrier in the region, the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose imposing presence defense officials credit with helping to contain the ongoing violence between Israel, Iran and its network of well-armed proxies.

The Biden administration has kept at least one, and sometimes two, aircraft carriers in the Middle East for more than year, since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023 spawned a multifaceted conflict with no end in sight. When the Lincoln departs in coming days, the Defense Department instead will rely on a mix of other forces, including naval destroyers, B-52 bombers and land-based fighter jets, to sustain its expansive and potentially combustible deterrence mission that stretches from the eastern

Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf and other volatile shipping routes around the Arabian Peninsula.

Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters that the new deployments will provide a significant amount of capability on par with what weve been doing in the Middle East since the crisis there began.

The shake-up occurs as the Pentagon grapples, too, with shortages of key munitions it has used to fend off attacks by Yemens Houthis, who have waged an aggressive, months-long campaign targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and to help Ukraine resist Russias nearly three-year-old incursion. U.S. military officials have acknowledged also that they are struggling to distribute enough air-defense systems to protect assets and allies in Eastern Europe along with those in the Middle East, and analysts warn the strain could hinder Washingtons ability to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.

The Lincoln, and the dozens of combat aircraft that operate from its flight deck, was scheduled to deploy to the Asia-Pacific region as part of a Pentagon strategy meant to show force in an area where key U.S. partners have had to contend with an expansionist China and a wildly unpredictable North Korea. In August, after tensions between Israel and Iran hit a peak with the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the carrier was ordered from the Pacific to the Middle East and later had its deployment extended as senior officials evaluated the potential risks of making such a significant shift.

The quandary simmered for weeks, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, weighing various options mindful of the mounting demands the Middle East conflict has imposed on U.S. personnel and equipment, and Washingtons ability to address other pressing geostrategic objectives. Brown said in a recent interview that the Pentagon must step back and take a look at the totality of whats being asked of the military, not just in the Middle East but really all around the world.

The chairmans force-posture recommendations go to Austin, who ultimately makes the weighty decisions that could create long-term complications for the Pentagon. Those considerations require very real trade-offs, said a senior defense official familiar with this thinking, who like some others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military movements.

I dont think there are any easy decisions, the official said.

- - -

Outsize demands on the Navy

When the Gaza war began, the Pentagon moved quickly to reinforce its presence in the Middle East, shuffling around tens of thousands of troops, realigning defenses and deploying dozens of attack aircraft to complement Israels Iron Dome air defenses and project a message of deterrence to Iran and its proxies. The ongoing crisis has affected the Navy like no other service.

In the days after Hamas attacked Israel, President Joe Biden announced that a deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerard Ford and its escort ships would be extended to help protect the Jewish state as another carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, was dispatched to the region. The Eisenhower strike group also carried out an extended assignment, from November 2023 until June. In that time, U.S. personnel launched hundreds of weapons at a total cost of more than $1 billion, according to Navy data.

The Eisenhower was replaced in the Middle East by the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, and Austin ordered the Lincoln to join it after the assassination of Haniyeh prompted Iranian threats of retaliation. In late September, when Israels killing of Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah in Lebanon triggered additional declarations from Tehran, Austin extended the Lincoln. In recent days, it was

in the Gulf of Oman with several escort ships, defense officials said.

Another aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman, deployed from Virginia in September and in recent days was in the North Sea for a scheduled deployment to Europe, where Russias actions in Ukraine and beyond have been met with alarm. Officials said the Truman could be diverted to the Middle East if necessary.

Another concern, officials say, is the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, a three-ship flotilla carrying U.S. Marines and sailors and various aircraft that has been in the eastern Mediterranean since late June due to concerns that a U.S. evacuation from Lebanon may be necessary. Those ships and personnel have been deployed since April, and several defense officials familiar with the situation said there is no similar replacement ready to step in because of the Navys long-standing struggle to maintain its modest fleet of such vessels.

James Foggo III, a retired Navy admiral, said the extended deployments have enhanced security in the Middle East but will result in second-order effects that include delayed maintenance, upended training schedules and shortfalls in munitions.

Two more months - 60 more days - of wear and tear on the ship means more things need to be fixed, Foggo said. Its very important to be able to fix the ship  and to get it back in the rotation.

The Navys top officer, Adm. Lisa Franchetti said in a recent event at the Atlantic Council that she is focused on addressing challenges that have caused delays when ships require extensive maintenance after deployments. Franchetti said she has set a stretch goal of having 80 percent of the Navys ships and aircraft available to be surged in a crisis by 2027. That number, she told reporters recently, was 36 percent in 2022 and had come up to 67 percent as of June.

- - -

A drain on weapons stocks

In the past year, the United States has spent at least $22.7 billion on military aid to Israel and U.S. operations in the region, according to a cost analysis by the Brown Universitys Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. The authors of the analysis said that is a conservative estimate that does not include additional U.S. security assistance provided to Egypt and Saudi Arabia and other U.S. partners.

More than $4.8 billion has been spent to boost offensive and defensive operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden where, the analysis found, the U.S. Navy has been intercepting Houthi drones and missiles on a near-daily basis. The Watson Institutes report calls the operation the most sustained military campaign by American forces since the height of the Pentagons extended bombing campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

William D. Hartung, one of the co-authors, said in an interview that one of the major problems is the context in which this is happening. He cited the Ukraine war, the conflict in the Middle East and the need to keep munitions on hand for any confrontation with China.

Rising tensions with China have focused heavily on its plans for the self-governing island of Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. China has dramatically expanded the size of its military and its presence in the South China Sea in recent years, and

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has suggested Beijing may eventually attempt to seize it by force. The United States has sought to counter Chinas influence by expanding its networks of allies and partners in the region.

Hartung, an analyst at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, which advocates military restraint, said that after years of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries, the United States has shifted from having American boots on the ground to a strategy focused on arming allies and partners.

It ends up that could have its own disastrous results, Hartung said, alluding in part to the depletion of U.S. stocks. Its not as safe an alternative as maybe they thought.

Foggo, the retired Navy admiral, said it is clear the Biden administration has sought to grow production of key munitions. But Washington could still do more, he said, including utilizing the Defense Production Act, a law that grants the president power to take control of key components of industry to bolster national defense.

During a recent panel discussion, Becca Wasser, a senior fellow in the defense program at the Center for a New American Security, said it appears the Houthis are waging a cost-imposition campaign intended to wear down the United States until it is forced to change its policy or retreat. She cited the Navys heavy use of pricey Tomahawk cruise missiles and the Standard Missile-2, a surface-to-air missile that sailors have used to ward off incoming drones and missiles in the Red Sea.

Should the Navy end up in any conflict with China, Wasser noted, its probable the United States would need to rely on such rounds - and a lot of them.

The rate of fire for those is really high, said Wasser. If you look at the rate of build, that circle does not square.
A federal judge in Maine ruled last week that the Pentagon violated the constitutional rights of two transgender women by denying them health coverage for gender-affirmation surgery. (Joshua Magbanua/U.S. Air Force)

The Pentagon violated the constitutional rights of two transgender women by denying them health insurance coverage for gender-affirmation surgery recommended by their doctors, according to a recent ruling by a federal court in Maine.

The plaintiffs, identified in their civil rights complaint as Jane Doe and Susan Roe, are children of two former service members insured by Tricare, the U.S. militarys health care program, according to court documents.

They challenged a 1976 federal law enforced by Tricare that mandates exclusion of all surgical treatments for gender transition for eligible spouses and children of service members.

It specifically bars coverage of any surgery that improves physical appearance without significantly (restoring) functions, including sex gender changes.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen awarded summary judgment, ruling Nov. 1 that Pentagon enforcement of this guidance violated equal protection rights under the Fifth Amendment based on sex and transgender status.

She also found that the military had failed to identify a single governmental interest to justify the exclusion.

The judge directed the parties to confer and inform the court by Nov. 15 on next steps. If the Pentagon doesnt drop the enforcement, Torresen could issue an injunction ordering it to do so.

The suit was filed in 2023 against the Defense Department, the Defense Health Agency, Tricare and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The plaintiffs were assigned male gender at birth and identify as female. Both were diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a condition that can cause significant distress or impairment when a persons gender expression doesnt match their gender identity, according to court documents.

Doe was 21 and a college student when the suit was filed last year, and Roe was 20, according to the complaint.

At the time, they received health benefits through Tricare as dependents of their fathers, each of whom served honorably for more than two decades in the U.S. military, court papers state.

Both Roe and Doe say their treatment is ongoing and they may need future surgeries. Does symptoms included acute anxiety, racing thoughts, a rapid heartbeat and social isolation, according to court documents.

She was diagnosed with gender dysphoria at age 17. Court documents say Tricare did not dispute that diagnosis and covered the expenses of her counseling and hormone replacement therapy as medically necessary treatments.

In 2021, the insurer denied Doe authorization to consult with a surgeon for a procedure that doctors had recommended to treat her gender dysphoria, court documents state.

She paid for other interventions to address male facial and vocal features through alternative health insurance at her university at her own expense, according to court papers.

Roe needs medically recommended facial feminization surgeries to treat her gender dysphoria and will need additional gender transition surgery later, according to the complaint.

Tricare doesnt cover gender-affirmation surgery for beneficiaries who arent active duty service members. DHA policy outlines the process for providing gender-affirming surgical care to service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

It includes requirements for endorsements from the patients transgender care team and their chain of command prior to authorization, according to the DHA.

Torresen disagreed with the Defense Departments interpretation that gender-affirming surgery would be prohibited under a separate regulation that bars coverage of surgeries performed primarily for psychological reasons.

The plaintiffs agreed not to seek damages in their suit.

Congress continues to debate whether federal health programs like Tricare should cover gender-affirming care and related support services.

Under the prior administration of President-elect Donald Trump, active duty transgender members could continue to receive gender-affirming medical treatment if they received a gender dysphoria diagnosis before April 2019.

But those with a diagnosis after that date had to serve in their sex assigned at birth and could not receive gender-affirming care. President Joe Biden rescinded the policy upon taking office in January 2021.
Press Release

November 6, 2024 EDCOM 2 partners with UNFPA, seeks data-driven reform through landmark youth study The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on November 5, 2024, formalized a collaborative partnership aimed at driving data-driven reforms in the Philippine education sector. UNFPA, an agency attached to the United Nations, provides an opportunity to explore the complex relationship between adolescent health and education for the Filipino youth. The partnership focuses on findings from UNFPA's Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child (LCSFC), a 15-year research initiative launched in 2016. The study tracks the lives of Filipino children, monitoring them from age 10 until they reach 24, or in 2030. The study is designed to collect data capturing significant milestones from childhood to young adulthood. The study also seeks to inform national policy making and program planning, particularly on how development goals are contributing to maximizing the potentials of the Filipino youth. "What we need to do so that your education system is reformed, is to diagnose, and prescribe the right solutions," said Dr. Leila Saiji Joudane, UNFPA Philippines' Country Representative. Joudane emphasized that addressing issues that affect education can help policy-makers to implement solutions that will enable adolescents to stay in school and have quality education. EDCOM 2 looks forward to utilizing the data from the landmark LCSFC to further inform its policy recommendations, especially given the rich opportunities for data. "This is a humongous contribution to the work we do for Philippine education", said EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee. "As we enter our final year, we are counting on this partnership, on this study to help inform our policy recommendations in reforming our education system. We need partners like you that will sustain data-driven initiatives even when EDCOM is done," he added. Also present at the signing was Dr. Moya Collett, Deputy Head of Mission from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who expressed strong support for the collaboration. "The Australian government has been supporting Philippine education for about 30 years now. I hope this Longitudinal Cohort Study will really help EDCOM 2 in pushing for data-driven policies, she said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Hungarys trade with countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) exceeded $5 billion in 2023, said the country's PM Viktor Orban as he addressed the 11th Summit of OTS Heads of State in Bishkek, Trend reports.

PM Orban also informed the meeting that Hungary has started fulfilling its commitment to contribute $100 million to the Turkic Investment Fund.

"We hope that more and more Turkic companies will invest in Hungary, and we will increasingly participate in your economic growth," he stated.

The PM also added that, this year, OTS countries have contributed more than ever before to ensuring Hungarys energy security.

"Hungary became the first non-neighboring country to receive natural gas shipments from Turkiye, and the first shipment of natural gas from Azerbaijan has also arrived in the country. Furthermore, Hungarian oil company MOL has begun production at its field in Kazakhstan," Orban said.

At the end of his speech, the PM reminded that Hungary is expecting OTS leaders for the next informal summit in the first half of next year in Budapest.
Daljeet Singh (52) of Oldbury, West Midlands, United Kingdom, was also carrying boxes of foodstuffs and bottled water when he was stopped by customs

A delivery driver who was stopped in Dublin Port earlier this year had a million euro worth of cannabis in the back of his van, a court has heard.

Daljeet Singh (52) of Oldbury, West Midlands, United Kingdom, was also carrying boxes of foodstuffs and bottled water when he was stopped by customs during a routine search coming off the ferry from Holyhead.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis herb for sale or supply at Dublin Port on April 3, 2021.

At a hearing today, Garda Stephen Flynn said Singh told customs officers that he was taking a consignment of food and bottled water to Cork.

Officials checked the back of the van and found 50 bags of cannabis herb concealed in brown cardboard boxes, with an overall weight of 55 kg and an estimated street value of approximately 1 million.

Singh was taken to Store Street Garda Station where he was interviewed seven times.

During the first five interviews, Singh maintained he was contracted to deliver groceries to an address in Cork and that he had not packed the van himself or looked in it.

During the sixth interview, gardai obtained a photo from Singhs mobile phone taken from inside the van and he accepted that he had known he was transporting cannabis.

However, he said he thought it was just one bag of cannabis, not 50 bags.

Singh said he was to be paid 1,000 sterling, which he was going to use to clear an overdraft.

He told gardai he had been subject to certain amount of pressure from third parties but he didnt elaborate on this.

Singh has no previous convictions and lives with his two elderly parents in the UK, the court heard.

He has five daughters and a number of grandchildren.

Gda Flynn agreed with Garnet Orange SC, defending, that Singh had issues with alcohol and gambling which had precipitated his divorce and financial difficulties.

The prosecuting garda also agreed that Singh had been susceptible to pressure from more sinister aspects of the community to carry a load of drugs over to Ireland.

Mr Orange said although his client was initially in denial, he ultimately made full admissions and came forward on signed early pleas of guilty.

Counsel said Singh has been in custody since his arrest in April and that prison is necessarily more difficult for him, as he has no connections to this country.

Singh made a catastrophic mistake, counsel said and put himself in a position where he was under an obligation to sinister elements.

Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation next week, November 13.
Paul Moody was jailed for three years and three months in 2022 after pleading guilty to a charge of coercive control over Ms Hanney

I give my boy a lovely, peaceful life. I want others to have that too - coercive control survivor Nicola Hanney

Coercive control survivor Nicola Hanney is taking a civil case against the gardai, the Sunday World can reveal.

Ms Hanneys former partner, Paul Moody, was jailed for three years and three months in 2022 after pleading guilty to a charge of coercive control while a serving Garda.

She has named him alongside the Commissioner of An Garda Siochana, the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General in the case.

The action has been filed by John M Quinn & Co on October 30, 2024, whom we have asked for comment.

Ms Hanney, a Mum of the Year winner at the recent Womans Way and Beko Mum of the Year Awards 2024, was awarded the title for her work in sharing her story of overcoming coercive control and becoming a champion of courage and strength.

Nicolas brave decision to speak out has given a voice to women who live in fear for their childrens safety, and her resilience is nothing short of inspiring, organisers said.

Nicola says that everything she has done has been for her six-year-old son, to give him the most beautiful, peaceful life, a normal life that every child deserves.

Ms Hanney received a second diagnosis of breast cancer when she was five months pregnant with her son.

She was being treated for stage-four cancer at the time of the sustained abuse she endured at the hands of her former partner. Ms Hanney has sole custody of her son after the courts took away Moodys guardianship rights.

Paul Moody

Moody was jailed for three years and three months in 2022 after pleading guilty to a charge of coercive control over Ms Hanney, while he was still a serving Garda.

The awards, which were described as a celebration of some of the true heroes of our society by judging panel chair Norah Casey, took place in Dublin.

Last December, Ms Hanney spoke about how said she would leave the country to keep her child safe.

Although he had been stripped of guardianship rights, Moody will be able to apply for supervised visits with his son, The Irish Times reported at the time.

He will then be able to reapply for the restoration of parental rights, although a judge will make that decision.

He will be determined, Hanney told the The Irish Times. He will do the supervised access until he gets unsupervised access. Then Im back in the same position.

The law in Ireland does not protect me. Because you had intercourse with someone and had a child with them, does that give them the right to destroy the rest of your life?

If I have to leave the country to keep my child safe, I will.

Speaking on RTEs Upfront with Katie Hannon, Nicola said she doesnt take a minute of her life for granted now.

The Dublin hairdresser appeared on the programme alongside her family and friends after featuring in an RTE documentary titled Taking Back Control, which detailed how she met Mr Moody on a dating app and fell in love.

The pair then went on to have a child together as his violent and controlling behaviour escalated.

She had been given the all-clear from cancer the year before she met Moody but mid-way through her pregnancy, she discovered a lump on her breast.

Nicola said: I feel that if I dont break my silence, how can I send a positive message to other people that are living in these situations.

Its very difficult to actually believe that was my life at one time but Im just so glad that Im one of the survivors because there are so many women out there that havent got the same story to tell.

The mother-of-one said she decided to break her silence in order to encourage other victims to come forward and said there is no shame in telling the truth.

Since this has happened to me, I find other women are coming forward to me already about their friend or somebody that they work with. I feel like theres a lot of judgement out there, as in I think women should be supporting women and men also, she said.

At the end of the day, no one should have to live in these situations. For now, I have the rest of my life to live. My life was horrendous for them years, but now I want to give people a positive message that you do not have to live like this, its wrong.

There are all different forms of abuse. When youre put in these situations its impossible to leave. I found myself going into shock so many times every time these things happened.

She urged people to look out for any early warning signs within a relationship that may be considered red flags.

When you go on a date or you meet somebody, listen very clearly to how they speak about their past relationships, she said.

Nicola said she believes that a lot of things have to change in this country and that children have no voice in similar circumstances.

Im one of the lucky victims, Im alive. There are so many people who havent survived. Things have to change. We have to be heard, if we want the cycle to change in this country, the law has to change also, she said.
Sources said the incident, which has been widely viewed by the stricken officers colleagues on the prisons internal CCTV system, has caused shock and concern.

Five officers were injured during a melee in the Midlands Prison after a 20-year-old inmate launched an unprovoked one punch attack on an officer.

The shocking incident took place at the end of last month.

Calvin Barry from Fr. Delahunty Terrace in Kilkenny was being escorted back from the showers to his cell on the B2 landing when he struck a male officer with a king hit to the side of the head.

Sources said the blow knocked the officer towards the interior of the cell.

Three other officers who went to their stricken colleagues aid subsequently sustained fall associated injuries as they sought to protect him - while a fourth officer is understood to have sustained a suspected bite injury in the ensuing melee.

According to sources, one officer sustained a serious back injury in the fall and, despite the prisons close proximity to a hospital, had to wait for an hour before an ambulance arrived to take him to hospital.

Sources said the incident, which has been widely viewed by the stricken officers colleagues on the prisons internal CCTV system, has caused shock and concern.

The officer who was punched is a long-term member of staff who has 25 years under his belt and knows what he is about, a source said.

But this was utterly unprovoked and the attack came without warning.

It just shows how suddenly things can go wrong.

The source said the incident highlights how the placement of mentally unwell prisoners in general population is endangering the welfare of prison officers.

This inmate is known to be mentally unwell, his condition was noted at his sentencing hearing  and yet he was placed in general population, the source said.

Although he was on B1, he was on a waiting list to be moved to C1 left where inmates with known mental health issues can be better cared for as there are single cells and a higher staff to prisoner ratio.

In the wake of the incident, hes been moved to Portlaoise but the damage has been done.

Barry, a first time offender, was jailed for 10 months in July of this year after he was convicted on charges of endangering traffic, assault causing harm and making threats to kill or injure.

He also pleaded guilty to six charges of causing criminal damage.

The charges arose out of incidents where he threw things at cars using the Old Callan Road, including, on one occasion, a bicycle.

Barry had no previous convictions, the court heard.

Solicitor Chris Hogan said his client had asked him to apologise to the court and to each of the injured parties.

He said Barry found it difficult to explain his offending behaviour.

Mr Hogan said there was a background of intoxicant use, alcohol, tablets and cannabis.

His client also has mental health difficulties.

When arrested Barry made certain admissions, the solicitor said.

Because of his intoxication he could not remember each incident but when shown CCTV he identified himself.

When taking medication, Barry is pleasant to deal with, Mr. Hogan said.

When not, he is a different person.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said the lack of previous convictions was a mitigating factor.

Aggravating was that this was not a once-off.

This was a series of events and a serious amount of damage had been caused, causing a financial burden on the injured parties.

Endangerment was a very serious offence to come before the court, she added.

On one of the criminal damage charges Judge Carthy imposed a 10-month prison sentence, marking all other charges as convicted and taken into consideration.

Addressing Mr Barry, the judge said she hopes when he got out of prison, he would be another Mr Barry.
Ms Entrambasaguas of Knocknasartnett, Killarney, appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court

A Killarney woman charged with possession of crystal meth for sale or supply following the discovery of ingredients for a meth lab has been refused bail.

A special sitting of Cork District Court heard that Anna Entrambasaguas (43) is also charged with the possession of a number of stolen and forged driving licenses from countries, including the Czech Republic.

Ms Entrambasaguas of Knocknasartnett, Killarney, appeared before a special sitting on Saturday evening.

The mother-of-one is alleged to have been found with all the items required for a meth lab at her home when it was searched by Gardai on foot of a warrant last Thursday.

Anna Entrambasaguas

Detective Garda OSullivan argued there was substantial evidence that the drug was being produced at the Killarney property.

We did discover the ingredients for a meth lab boxed together...like it has been used or for future use. Boxed together like a kit, he said.

Ms Entrambasaguas now faces a total of seven charges  with Gardai informing Judge Joanna Carroll that further serious charges may be brought.

Det Garda Ger OSullivan gave the court evidence of arrest, caution and charge.

The defendant was charged at 8.30pm on Friday evening at Killarney Garda Station.

The court was told that Ms Entrambasaguas made no reply when the charges were formally put to her under caution.

It was outlined that around 500 of crystal meth was allegedly seized from the property during the Garda operation at the Killarney property on Thursday.

Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) has already confirmed that the substance involved is in fact crystal meth.

Two of the driving licenses seized by Gardai were forged and two others were stolen.

Ms Entrambasaguas is charged that she had in her possession at her Killarney home a quantity of crystal meth for sale or supply on October 31 last.

She faces two charges of possession of stolen driving licenses.

The seized equipment

A fourth charge alleges that, at the same address, the defendant had a machine which had been specially designed for the making of an instrument with the intention that it would be used in the making of a false instrument and that the instrument would be used to induce another person to accept it as genuine.

A fifth charge was that Ms Entrambasaguas had a forged Czech Republic driving licence in the name of a third woman which she knew to be a false instrument.

The sixth charge alleges that she had in her possession a forged Czech Republic driving licence in the name of a fourth woman.

The seventh and final charge is that Ms Entrambasaguas allegedly had crystal meth in her possession.

Det Garda OSullivan said that Gardai were objecting to the defendant being granted bail on a number of grounds.

Gardai had concerns over whether the defendant would remain in the jurisdiction to face the charges if released on bail - and also said that the women had a history of drug addiction problems.

Officers also believed that the woman had used different aliases over the years.

She is in Ireland (for) twenty years but has no ties. She has the capability to hide her true identity, he said.

Anna Entrambasaguas

The court was told that the defendant has also, at times, lived a transient lifestyle.

Gardai are awaiting more detailed instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and more serious charges cannot be ruled out.

Defence solicitor, Brendan Ahern, applied for bail and said his client was willing to abide by the most stringent of bail conditions that the court might require.

He noted that his client would face considerable difficulties in custody and had fears over just how long the preparation of the case might take.

She could be in custody for a long time awaiting trial, he said.

Judge Carroll noted that the charges before the court were very serious and refused bail.

Judge Carroll granted free legal aid after being informed the defendant is in receipt of disability allowance.

She remanded Ms Entrambasaguas in custody to appear before Tralee District Court today, November 6.
Brian Meagher went [off] his own back for his own principles to the front line in Ukraine and suffered horrendous, life-threatening wounds

A prison officer who went AWOL to fight in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion was sacked after a senior official saw him give a TV interview from his hospital bed when he was severely wounded in action.

Brian Meagher went [off] his own back for his own principles to the front line in Ukraine and suffered horrendous, life-threatening wounds when a landmine exploded during an ambush on 5 September 2022, his barrister told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) today.

He has lodged a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 against the Irish Prison Service after being dismissed the following spring on the basis that he had absented himself without permission and broke the terms of his employment.

Brian Meagher in a hospital in Ukraine

The tribunal heard today that the prison service continued to pay Mr Meagher for several months after rumours circulating in that he had gone off to war had reached the Prison Services HR directorate  Mr Meaghers lawyer explaining that his client had an unofficial arrangement with a colleague to cover his shifts for the duration.

Patricia Kelleher, who was then the assistant governor at Mountjoy with responsibility for human resources, said she had been told towards the end of June 2022 by a supervisor of Mr Meaghers that the complainant hadnt reported for duty any day since the start of the month.

Efforts by her office to reach Mr Meagher by phone got no answer, she said. The rumour among prison staff at that time was that he had gone to fight in Ukraine, Ms Kelleher said, which she reported in a phone call to the Prison Services HR directorate.

Ms Kelleher saw Mr Meaghers appearance on an episode of RTEs Prime Time in mid-September 2022, speaking from hospital in Ukraine, the witness said.

After that, the matter was referred to the Prison Services absence management office, which sent a letter on September 21st noting that Mr Meagher had failed to provide an explanation for his absence and it was deemed to be absence without leave, the tribunal was told.

All absences have an explanation, and if theres none, its AWOL, Colette Mulvey, the official in charge of the absence management office said.

The absence management official added that because it seemed Mr Meagher was not in a condition to fulfil his contract of employment, the office would consider recommending that consideration be given by more senior officials to dismissal, and invited him to respond.

Ms Mulvey said by then the Prison Service had no option but to force a response from Mr Meagher.

On 7 October 2022, she said she prepared a submission to the prison services director-general stating that Mr Meagher had gone missing and that there was a media report the previous month stating that he was fighting in Ukraine and received injuries.

Weve been paying this man from June to September. He hasnt been at work; were recommending he be dismissed, Ms Mulvey said.

We cant have a situation whereby people just dont turn up  we tried to give every opportunity to Mr Meagher, she said  adding later that Mountjoy Prison, where Mr Meagher had worked, was in crisis mode at the time of the absence, with prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor.

She said it was disingenuous to suggest other prison officers were covering Mr Meaghers shifts.

She said that during this process Mr Meagher started providing medical certification, but we were dealing with his absence being unauthorised.

It was tried to be turned retrospectively into a sick leave absence, but his absence was already unauthorised for three months before that, she said.

The case was referred to the Prison Service director-general and then to the secretary-general of the Department of Justice, who ultimately decided to dismiss Mr Meagher in February 2023, the witness said.

Peter Leonard BL, for the State, said the Prison Service was a very large-minded organisation and that explanations would always be considered.

In the abstract, if someone looks at this, they might take a very positive view of someone taking part [in the Ukraine war]. In our case, we have to manage the prisons of Ireland. Theres a staff crisis in the prison service. If someone wants to leave, or take a career break there are processes and procedures, he said.

The prison service was under pressure staff-wise and could not have the position where a prison officer abandons work. He submitted that Mr Meagher seemed to have been in a contractual relationship with a military organisation to take part in the war.

Brian Meagher who went to fight in the Ukraine

Brian Carroll BL, appearing for Mr Meagher, said his client went to Ukraine to fight with the foreign legion and went there without any remuneration went on his own back for his own principles.

He said there was an unofficial system of shift swaps among prison officers and that Mr Meagher took it upon himself to make arrangements to manage his shift while he was away. You could call it naive because ofhis reliance on this system in the Irish Prison Service, he added.

He said his clients unit was ambushed on 5 September 2024 and left him suffering horrendous, life-threatening injuries  a situation compounded when his client contracted a superbug during a stay in Cork University Hospital.

Mr Meagher addressed the hearing just once to confirm that he was repatriated to Ireland at the end of October 2022. He is expected to give evidence at a later stage in the proceedings, as the State bears the burden of proving his dismissal was fair in the first instance and must present its evidence first.

Adjudicator Brian Dalton adjourned the case to a future date, to be set in due course by the WRCs schedulers.
Prosecutors suggested a poker or a hammer may have been used as a weapon to inflict injuries to 74-year-old Michael McConville

Police at the scene on Annaghmare Road in Crossmaglen. Credit: Presseye

A pensioner beaten to death in his south Armagh home suffered at least 17 blunt force blows to the head, the High Court heard today.

Prosecutors suggested a poker or a hammer may have been used as a weapon to inflict injuries to 74-year-old Michael McConville.

Details emerged as a neighbouring farmer charged with his murder was granted bail.

Malachy Quinn (68) of Annaghmare Road in Crossmaglen denies any involvement in the killing.

Mr McConville was found dead at his home on the same road on June 15 this year.

The victim, who lived alone, had been subjected to a vicious attack, a Crown lawyer said.

She revealed that a pathologists report indicated blunt force trauma with an absolute minimum of 17 blows to the head.

Counsel submitted: Lacerations are in keeping with the use of a weapon such as a poker or a small hammer.

Mr McConville had also suffered five blows to the mouth area, as well as further injuries to his hands, wrists and arms.

This could have been a fist or kicking, causing blood to enter the airways, the barrister said.

This can only be described as a very vicious attack on an elderly and vulnerable gentleman.

The court heard some members of the local community told detectives the victim and the defendant had fallen out over land and farm payments.

Quinn was said to have leased some land from Mr McConville for cattle.

He was allegedly seen on CCTV footage approaching the victims home after he was last seen alive.

A bloodstained towel recovered from the accuseds home also forms part of the case against him, according to the prosecution.

With the murder weapon still to be located, counsel opposed his application to be released from custody.

Police believe CCTV and forensic and witness evidence strongly connects Mr Quinn to the offence of murder, she added.

During police interviews he confirmed that he had kept cattle on Mr McConvilles land but denied any fall out between the two men.

Defence barrister Joe Brolly insisted there was no motive for his client to have carried out the killing.

He told the court Quinn is frail and suffers from a serious heart condition.

Hes 5ft 6in, he weighs just under eight stone and hes never been violent in his life.

There is not a single scrap of evidence linking this man to the murder scene he fully cooperated with police and answered every question, Mr Brolly insisted.

Quinn was granted bail under strict conditions to live at an address in Newry.

Mr Justice McAlinden ordered the lodgement of 10,000 in cash sureties and banned him from entering Crossmaglen.

The judge stated: We cannot lose sight of the fact that a 74-year-old man was viciously beaten to death in his own house.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The Memorandum on the creation of the Central Banks Council of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) could play a key role in strengthening economic ties between these countries, said Tair Nigmanov, a political analyst from Kazakhstan, in an interview with Trend.

"The Memorandum focuses on cooperation through consultations and the exchange of expertise, which could help close the economic development gap with developed nations. Collaboration in areas such as fintech, payment systems, and others allows OTS countries to save resources and more quickly integrate into the global financial system. This knowledge-sharing helps boost the region's resilience in the face of global competition," said Nigmanov.

He noted that cooperation among OTS countries is developing dynamically and productively. While it was once mostly focused on cultural exchanges, it has now evolved to include more pragmatic aspects, such as trade, economics, and politics. The positive momentum in OTS development is clear, which is a key factor in strengthening the organization.

"The summit plays a vital role in maintaining stability and coordinating actions between countries. Such events are necessary to align positions and define future development directions. Some progress was made during the summit, but more concrete steps are expected to implement economic and political initiatives. Regular high-level meetings also foster greater cooperation," the expert remarked.

Nigmanov also highlighted that relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have significantly strengthened in recent years, with more frequent meetings between their leaders. This has had a positive impact on trade, which has nearly tripled since 2018, reaching $556 million in 2023. Azerbaijan's share in Kazakhstan's trade has also grown, underscoring the importance of their bilateral economic ties.

"Azerbaijan is becoming a strategic partner for diversifying logistics. Kazakhstan continues to develop infrastructure projects within the Middle Corridor framework, which will help diversify export routes for oil and other goods, boosting economic independence and flexibility in international relations," he added.
Four men are charged with the murder of Tristan Sherry on 24 December 2023, at Brownes Steakhouse, Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Noah Musueni, 18yrs, of Corduff Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for his trial. Pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

Three young men accused of the "savage" murder of gunman Tristan Sherry at a busy Dublin steakhouse last Christmas Eve have made a number of admissions aimed at speeding up their trial.

Noah Musueni (18), Michael Andrecut (22) and David Amah (18) each formally entered not guilty pleas to the murder of Tristan Sherry at the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court this morning. The court has heard that a hooded Sherry entered Browne's Steakhouse with his face covered and shot and killed Jason Hennessy Snr, before moments later being dragged to the ground.

Noah Musueni, 18yrs, of Corduff Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for his trial. Pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC opened the trial, saying that Sherry was subjected to "savage levels of violence". She said the prosecution intends to prove that each of the three murder accused engaged in unlawful violence with the intention to kill or cause serious injury and Tristan Sherry died as a result.

Following the opening speech, lawyers for each of the three admitted that their clients were present at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown when Sherry died.

They also accepted that Sherry died as a result of injuries sustained during violence at the steakhouse and that the accused men were correctly identified on CCTV footage of the fatal incident that is relied on by the prosecution.

There were further admissions relating to the lawfulness of the arrests of the three, the seizure of exhibits, DNA samples and fingerprints, and that the crime scene was properly preserved.

David Amah (18), of Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin. Photo: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

Jonas Kabangu, Brandon Hennessy and Diarmuid O'Brien are charged with violent disorder arising from the same incident. Their lawyers also accepted that Sherry's death was as a result of injuries sustained during the violence.

Four men are charged with the murder of Tristan Sherry on 24 December 2023, at Brownes Steakhouse, Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

The three currently on trial are Noah Musueni (18), Corduff Park, Blanchardstown; David Amah (18), Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin; and Michael Andrecut (22), Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown.

Michael Andrecut (22), of Sheephill Avenue in Dublin 15. Photo: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

Wayne Deegan (26), Linnetsfield Avenue, Phibblestown, Dublin 15 is also charged with murder but is awaiting a report by a neuro-psychologist and will be tried at a later date.

Jonas Kabangu (18), Corduff Park, Blanchardstown, is charged with violent disorder at the same location on that date, as is 18-year-old Diarmuid O'Brien from Corduff Place in Blanchardstown.

Brandon Hennessy (21) of Sheephill Avenue, Dublin 15 is also charged with violent disorder.

All the accused pleaded not guilty today..

18-year-old Jaures Kumbu of Brookhaven Grove, Blanchardstown has previously pleaded guilty to removing from the scene the sub-machine gun that was used by Sherry to kill Hennessy. The gun has not been retrieved.
Zoltan Nemeth (63) was a former Soviet fighter pilot

Two men, including a former Soviet fighter pilot, who flew heroin worth 8.4 million into Dublin on a light aircraft last year, have been sentenced to ten and eight years in prison.

Aradi Ignac (50), of Kecskemet, Hungary and Zoltan Nemeth (63), of Sukosd in Hungary, pleaded guilty to smuggling heroin into Weston Airport on dates between November 28 and December 1 last year.

A further charge against Aradi, of facilitating or enhancing organised crime, was taken into consideration.

In a ruling at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today, Judge Elma Duffy set a headline sentence of 13 years for Aradi, imposing an actual term of ten years.

Judge Duffy said Aradi was higher up in what she described as a sophisticated operation, as he had been involved in the planning of bringing a planeload of drugs into Ireland on a light aircraft, effectively by the back door.

Its clear there was a big operation behind this and he was part of this big operation, said Judge Duffy.

She set a headline sentence of ten years for Nemeth, a retired army pilot with 25 years of public service, as she said he may not have been involved in planning and had turned something of a blind eye as to what was being transported.

Nemeth told gardai that he was aware that what they were carrying was illegal, but that he thought it was some kind of prohibited earth or metal material used in the making of microchips.

Judge Duffy said it was particularly tragic that Nemeth, who put in many years of public service in the former Soviet Union and Hungary, retiring at the level of major, had found himself engaged in illegal activities.

Both accused have been in custody since their arrest last December where they are on 23-hour lock up for their own protection, the court heard.

Detective Sergeant Leo Clayton told Jane Horgan-Jones BL, prosecuting, that the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) had received confidential information about the scheduled landing of a specific Cessna 210 light aircraft.

The court heard that staff at Weston airport noted that the aircraft piloted by Nemeth appeared to be tail-heavy as it was coming in to land, and that men requested a hangar, which was unusual.

Both men indicated to airport staff that they would be staying for a few days, before they left the airport in a taxi.

Gardai then found 60kg of suspected diamorphine in blocks inside black bags, hidden in the tail of the aircraft.

The haul was analysed by Forensic Science Ireland as comprising 120 packages of heroin, each weighing approximately half a kilo, with a total estimated street value of 8.4 million.

The aircraft and the men were kept under observation for a few days before Nemeth was arrested after he arrived back at Weston Airport intending to fly to a smaller airfield in Celbridge, Co Kildare.

Photo of the seizure

Aradi was arrested when the car he was driving was stopped on Hazelhatch Road in Celbridge.

Nemeth told gardai he was a qualified pilot and instructor who had served in the Hungarian military between 1979 and 2005.

He said he didnt know what was in the plane, although he knew the packages were illegal.

Gardai confiscated the sums of 3,270 found on Aradi and 630 found on Nemeth.

Aradi said he had owned a number of construction companies but had fallen into debt to unnamed, but very dangerous, individuals, to the tune of around 1 billion euro.

Photos of the drugs were found on his mobile phone and he admitted that he was aware he was transporting controlled drugs and that he was the person with the keys for the aircraft.

Aradi said he was to have 200,000 cleared from his debt for transporting the drugs.

The court heard that both men had landed in Weston Airport several times in the two months prior to the offence, travelling either together or with a different pilot, once using the same plane and once using a different plane.

Both Aradi and Nemeth outlined their flight route, giving details of travelling via the Netherlands and France en route to Ireland.

Nemeth has no previous convictions in any jurisdiction.

Aradi has ten previous convictions, including theft, criminal damage, fraud, obstructing the operation of public interest and smuggling counterfeit goods.

Sgt Clayton agreed with Michael Bowman SC, defending Aradi, that he had been mannerly with gardai and had answered all questions, although he had refused to give details on any third parties involved in the operation as he feared for his familys safety.

My family is in danger, Aradi said, apologising for not being able to say to whom he owed money or where he was to deliver the drugs.

Aradi told gardai he had fallen into debt and had borrowed about 200,00 from a loan shark, but that interest was added to the loan almost every day and he ended up owing a billion.

He said he felt he had been tested by doing a few trial runs to Ireland in the months before the delivery, to see if he was someone that could be used to transport a large amount of drugs.

Commenting on the operation behind the offence, Sgt Clayton said: Drugs go hand-in-hand with money-laundering and hand-in-hand with violence.

The court heard that Aradi has five children, one of whom died in a car crash two years ago at the age of 21.

He began abusing pain medication and was diagnosed with a brain tumour, although he appears to be in remission.

Fiona Murphy SC, defending Nemeth, said he had also answered all questions, cooperated with gardai and pleaded early.

Counsel said Nemeth had spent a significant portion of his life in public service, initially training as a fighter pilot in the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.

He then worked his way back up in the Hungarian military where he served for 25 years and raised five adult children before an amicable divorce, the court heard.

Nemeth also has a young child with his second wife.

On his retirement from the army, Nemeth worked as an instructor in an aerobatic school.

Letters of reference speaking highly of both accused were handed into court from family members, friends and former employers, including a testimonial for Nemeth from the former president of an aviation association.

The court heard that both men have received four visits from family since they went into custody and that they find being in an Irish prison a very lonely and very isolating experience.

Both have very little English and Nemeth suffers from chronic heart and kidney issues, the court heard.

Judge Duffy directed that Nemeth receive medical assistance for his conditions. She said he was a man of previous good character and was lower down the ladder in the offence but added that he had brought his piloting skills to bear in this operation.

Both sentences were backdated to December 1 last year, when the men went into custody.
Mother-of-one Nikita Hand was in tears from the outset as her counsel resumed taking her through her evidence

A woman who alleges she was raped by mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor and another man, was left devastated when a decision was taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to charge either man.

Nikita Hand (35) said she was really upset after receiving correspondence from the Office of the DPP telling her of the decision.

It was really hard [to take] I thought there was more than enough evidence, Ms Hand told a court today.

Details of the DPP decision were disclosed on the second day of Ms Hands civil action against McGregor (36) and his associate James Lawrence.

She alleges she was raped by both men in a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel in Dubin on December 9, 2018 and is claiming damages.

The High Court heard Ms Hand requested a review of the DPPs decision in 2020, but that the decision was upheld.

In a letter to the DPP, she wrote: I am very unhappy. I feel I am being treated differently from other victims because one of the accused is a famous person.

In response, a letter from Office of the DPP said the identity of one of the suspects had no bearing on the decision.

Correspondence from the Office of the DPP made reference to Ms Hands statement, in which she outlined the amount of alcohol and drugs she had consumed the night before and the morning of the alleged rapes.

Nikita Hand outside the High Court in Dublin. Photo: PA

Reference was also made to the fact she had no recollection of any sexual contact with Lawrence. The correspondence stated CCTV evidence and a statement from a taxi driver were also considered by the DPP.

Ms Hand earlier broke down in tears and started shaking as she resumed giving evidence this morning.

She twice sought breaks from giving evidence so she could compose herself.

The mother-of-one, a hair colourist from Drimnagh in Dublin, was in tears from the outset as her counsel Ray Boland SC resumed taking her through her evidence.

She had told the court yesterday how McGregor pinned her down to a bed in the penthouse shortly after she refused to perform oral sex on him.

Ms Hand was asked by Mr Boland to continue her account of events.

In tears, she told the court: He pinned me down to the bed, pressed his whole body weight down on me so I couldnt breathe.

Within second of resuming, Ms Hand was shaking, tearful and struggling to stay composed.

I couldnt get up or breathe, she continued.

The more I tried to struggle and tried to get away, the more he liked it. He said: I like that.

Ms Hand told the presiding judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, she was trying her best to give evidence.

I am really sorry, she told the judge as she broke down in tears.

She continued: The only thing I could move was my head. My only defence was to bite.

Ms Hand told Mr Boland she bit McGregor, but she was not sure what part of his body she bit.

She said McGregor didnt like it and flipped her around.

Ms Hand sought a break to compose herself just three minutes into her evidence. She briefly left the courtroom and resumed her evidence a few minutes later.

I remember his arm around me and choking me, she said.

I couldnt move. I was trying to fight as much as I could.

Ms Hand continued: He put his arm around my neck and choked me three times.

I couldnt move. I couldnt breathe. I just looked at the bedpost.

I kept thinking I was going to die and I would never see my daughter again.

Ms Hand said that while McGregor had her pinned down, he told her: Thats how I felt when I was in the Octagon when I had to tap myself out three times.

She told Mr Boland: I thought it was such a weird thing to say.

Conor McGregor. Photo: Collins Courts

She said McGregor was really aggressive, pulling at her clothes and pushing her head down towards his penis.

I just let him do whatever he needed to do so I could survive, she said.

She said he pulled off her black jumpsuit and they were both naked.

He pushed me down and he raped me. I just completely froze, she said.

He raped me. He put his penis inside me, in my vagina. I was lying down at that point, on my back. That felt like it was going on for ages. Then it was over. It was done.

Ms Hand said McGregor eventually let her go and that she repeatedly said sorry to him.

I felt I had done something wrong. I remember saying sorry to him to reassure him I wouldnt tell anyone, she said.

Ms Hand told the court she noticed bruising on her upper arms, her legs, backside and a big scrape on her breast, caused by her watch being pressed against it in the struggle.

I started to put my clothes on and he told me Lie down here with me for a few minutes and I fell asleep.

Ms Hand told Mr Boland she was in the middle of her period at the time and had been wearing a tampon when she was raped.

She said she woke up in a panic and asked McGregor what time it was, but neither her watch nor his were working.

She went to her bag to tell the time from her phone and texted her then partner Stephen as she knew he would be worried when she hadnt come home.

I told him: Im having a great time, Im so drunk. I didnt want to worry him, Ms Hand said.

Lawrence and her friend Danielle had been in another room in the penthouse, when the rape allegedly occurred.

McGregor arranged for cars to bring them all home.

While McGregor and Danielle left in one car, Ms Hand was to travel home with Lawrence as they lived near each other.

However, she told the court that after McGregor and Danielle left via the hotels underground carpark, she and Lawrence went back to the penthouse.

Ms Hand told Mr Boland she remembered asking Lawrence: Do you all put blind eyes to what Conor does to women?

She said Lawrence replied: What are you trying to say? Conor done that to you?

I cant believe I was in that room and I was here while Conor did that to you.

Ms Hand said she remembered food being ordered to the room, a burger and chips, but didnt remember eating it.

The next thing she remembered was waking up in a taxi.

She said she tried unsuccessfully to make contact with her friend Jennifer Redmond, her then partner Stephens sister.

I didnt want to go home. I didnt want to face Stephen and the reality of what happened, she said.

Ms Hand said she contacted Eimer Brennan, the manager of the salon where she worked, as she had to give her keys to the premises.

I remember arriving at Eimers house and telling her what happened, she said.

She told Mr Boland she also told Ms Brennan who was involved.

She told me she was very upset for me. She told me not to go home and have a shower and to ring the rape crisis centre, said Ms Hand.

She was just shocked how much bruising was on her body.

McGregor and Lawrence deny her claims and say that what transpired that day was consensual.

In defence papers, they allege a claim for damages so she can relocate to a new home amounted to extortion.

The case, which is being heard by a jury of four men and eight women, is due to last two weeks.
A short time after the seizure, the decision was made to revoke the counsellors security clearance pending the outcome of this inquiry.

A counsellor has had their security clearance to enter Mountjoy Prison revoked following a drugs seizure in the prison shortly before noon today.

The move to revoke the clearance came after a prisoner was searched following a counselling session and discovered to be in possession of two packages of tablets.

Its understood the counsellor is not an employee of the Irish Prison Service.

Sources confirmed to the Sunday World that todays operation was intelligence led and comes as the Irish Prison Service is engaged in a major clampdown on the smuggling of illegal drugs to prisoners.

A source said: The decision to search the prisoner immediately after the counselling session was intelligence led.

During the search, a quantity of drugs was recovered from the prisoner and gardai were alerted.

Gardai subsequently entered the prison and the drugs were taken for analysis.

No arrests occurred but investigations are ongoing.

A short time after the seizure, the decision was made to revoke the counsellors security clearance pending the outcome of this inquiry.

Todays operation follows on from the arrest of three people last month during an operation aimed at preventing individuals throwing drugs to inmates over the walls of Cloverhill Prison.

Separately, on October 24th, the Irish Prison Service seized a substantial number of phones, weapons and drugs following a general search at Wheatfield.

Twenty-four phones, including iPhone chargers and accessories were first discovered on a landing and some hidden in light fittings.

The prison was then locked down as officers from the Operational Support Group along with the canine unit carried out a wider search.

Another 13 phones were recovered along with tablets, cannabis and other drugs packaged in dealer portions and for internal concealment.

Five weapons, blades, shivs and homemade knives were also discovered.

In a statement issued this evening, a spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said: The Irish Prison Service can confirm that a quantity of contraband was recovered today at Mountjoy Prison following an intelligence lead search operation.

However, as this matter is now being investigated by gardai, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

The Irish Prison Service continues to have high level engagement and the sharing of intelligence with An Garda Siochana on a regular basis which is resulting in the seizure of contraband, arrests and significant disruption to organised crime involved in smuggling contraband into Irish Prisons.

An Garda Siochana continues to support the Irish Prison Service operationally with ongoing operations in each relevant Garda Division, including Operation Throwover which is supporting the Irish Prison Service at Mountjoy Prison.

Operations such as Operation Throwover are intended to disrupt, interdict and prosecute attempts to introduce contraband into prisons."

The statement continued: The Irish Prison Service is committed to preventing the access of contraband into prisons and continues to be a high priority for the Irish Prison Service.

The Irish Prison Service has committed to continuing to invest in new technologies and measures to support our efforts to keep contraband out of prisons.

Prison staff have increased the use of random and intelligence led cell searches on a daily basis.

Our Canine Unit carry out searches around the prisons, including a greater focus on searching deliveries into prisons.

There is a free confidential telephone line (1800 855 717) and text line (086 180 2449) which is operational.

Prisoners, visitors, staff or members of the public with information on the trafficking of prohibited items into our prisons can pass on that information in the strictest confidence.
Oisin Osborn was killed in Hamburg in May 2019 in what his parents have insisted was excessive police force

Oisin Osborn had just become a father when he was shot dead in Hamburg in May 2019

Oisin Osborn, who was shot dead by police in Hamburg, with wife Nikol

The killing of a young Irishman by police in Germany just 10 days after he became a father is to be examined by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Oisin Osborn was shot dead in Hamburg in May 2019 in what his family has insisted was excessive police force.

The case, which never came to trial, is the focus of a new German TV documentary that aired on Tuesday evening as well as an upcoming RTE Radio 1 documentary on Saturday.

Oisin Osborns parents and his widow, Nikol, say he was struggling with mental health issues on May 22, 2019 when she woke up to find her 34-year-old husband pacing and laying out knives around the room.

She made an emergency call seeking medical assistance for the trained engineer but the mention of knives meant the call was forwarded to the police.

According to a report in the The Irish Times, when a special forces unit burst into the family home, officers mistook a cigarette lighter for a cartridge, and rushed upstairs expecting an armed man.

There, they encountered Oisin Osborn, wearing a pot on his head and a spatula tucked into his waistband.

Police officers, in protective gear and wielding large protective shields, thought it was a knife and later said they used pepper spray to no avail.

Oisin Osborn had just become a father when he was shot dead in Hamburg in May 2019

When Osborn approached them, two officers fired six shots in total that went through his throat area, his trunk, thigh, arm and chest.

The police officers who shot Osborn declined to testify in the subsequent investigation. Oisins mother Katrina told The Irish Times how the decision to close the case without trial seems like a systematic cover-up not just by police, but by the public prosecutor and the courts.

According to Katrina, the police had no taser, no body-cams and no training. They were exonerated, she said, on grounds of self-defence after putting six bullets through our sons body.

The German NDR documentary aired on Tuesday revealed how 16 federal states have no independent police ombudsman for such fatal police shooting cases.

Instead they are investigated by the colleagues of the suspect as well as prosecutors. Only three federal states have obligatory police training for recognising and dealing with people who may be in psychologically extreme situations.

The Osborns petition to the ECHR in Luxembourg has passed initial screening stage, but could still take years to progress.

However, Oisin Osborns father David said he is hopeful that the renewed media interest will increase interest in their case while contributing to change in Germany.

This is not just us, he said. Over 90pc of the time in these cases police are exonerated, prosecutors close the case, blame the victim and brush everything under the carpet.

Meanwhile, a new investigative book, All Just One-Off Cases by Mohamed Amjahid reveals how the Osborn case fits into a pattern in Germany.

According to the book, about 75pc of people killed by police either have a history of mental health issues or are having a psychotic episode during the confrontation.

The scandal is not just that this keeps happening, but that police continue to cover things up, he said. And it appears societal consensus that this is an effective solution: to send in the police and side line the problem.

In 2022, Nikol told Laois Today how she believed there was no difference in the law between criminals or people who are behaving strangely or finding themselves in an altered state or emotionally deprived for whatever reason.

Society itself isnt prepared for people in these kinds of situations either, she said.

We dont talk about it and we dont know how to handle these people and these people dont realise what is happening to them.

Katrina spoke at the time about how they were concerned about Oisin as two days before the shooting, he spoke about not having been sleeping and about how the clinic had treated them with indifference when care and medication were needed.

She said that instead of defusing the situation by standing back and calming the victim, the police who broke into the house in an aggressive way, aggravated Oisins state of mind.

We are aware that this kind of shooting victims of severe anxiety attacks occurs relatively frequently in Germany, she said.
Craig Garland (37) and Brandon Guthrie (31) had been working under the orders of gang boss Ronald Ferrie when they were snared

Two criminals who moaned about how Covid was a disaster for their cocaine operation have admitted their involvement in a leading Dundee-based mob that planned to flood Scotland with the drug.

Craig Garland (37) and Brandon Guthrie (31) had been working under the orders of gang boss Ronald Ferrie when they were snared.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how Ferrie, who later died in 2021, was part of the focus of an ongoing police probe called Operation Ranger.

Ferrie was involved in large-scale drug trafficking throughout Scotland but his gang was caught after the EncroChat phone network favoured by criminals was infiltrated by law authorities.

Recovered messages revealed Guthries role was in ferrying significant quantities of drugs and collecting payment while Garland helped store, prepare and bulk out the narcotics to maximise profits.

Gang boss Ferrie who was known as northjoshua on the communications platform, exchanged messages with Garland who was known as surlybuster and Guthrie, whose handle was summernorth.

The chats revolved around high-purity cocaine valued at 41,000 per kilogram, but in one exchange, in April 2020, at the height of the Covid lockdown, Guthrie told Garland that the coronavirus had resulted in a 400,000 reduction in revenue.

In what the criminals described as a f***ing disaster, it also emerged Ferrie was owed 250,000 at one stage.

Police who swooped on Guthries home on October 30, 2020 found a Peugeot van parked outside with metal plates for a hydraulic press, often used to help prepare and package drugs, inside.

This van was later found to be registered to Ferrie.

Garlands home was also searched where approximately 2,000 of a well-known substance to bulk out illegal substances according to STV News, was seized.

A mobile phone was found with texts linking him to drug dealing while police also seized 23,000 of cocaine as well as a 20-tonne hydraulic press.

The court also heard how other messages showed another more senior members of the group had fitted trackers to vehicles so that Guthrie and associates movements could be followed as a form of work monitoring.

Garland and Guthrie have both admitted to charges of being involved in serious organised crime as well as the supply of cocaine.

They had both been on bail but were remanded in custody by judge Lord Arthurson ahead of sentencing next month.
The investment plan features a large elevated solar farm to provide 25pc of the airport's future electricity

Cork Airport has unveiled an ambitious investment programme aimed at preparing the facility to handle five million passengers a year.

The investment plan features a large elevated solar farm to provide 25pc of the airport's future electricity.

It also includes a new mezzanine level, a second aviation fuel farm, expanded security screening facilities, enhanced gate capacity, greater car parking capacity and, in the long term, proposed new pier extensions.

A major bonus of the solar farm is that it will be elevated over the airport's long-term car park - offering cover for drivers from inclement weather while also generating up to 1540MegaWatts of power.

Planning will be sought for the development this month with 50pc support funding applied for from the Department of Transport.

Construction is planned after the summer traffic peak next year with the solar farm set to be completed by Christmas 2025.

Cork Airport chief executive Niall MacCarthy said the airport was embarking on an exciting new period of growth and expansion.

"We are expecting 9pc annual growth in 2024 to see our passenger numbers grow from 2.8 million to 3.1 million," he said.

Cork is now the fastest growing regional airport of its size.

It handled 341,300 passengers in August alone - with passenger growth also critically increasing over the shoulder season with business up by 14pc.

The airport is now putting measures in place to allow it handle up to five million passengers, a growth target that could be achieved by 2030.

"There was also a 91pc average load factor for airlines in August," Mr MacCarthy said, while noting that virtually all airlines operating from Cork are examining expanded services for 2025/26.

Ryanair remains the biggest airline at Cork with 851,509 seats planned for the coming winter followed by Aer Lingus with 376,740, KLM with 54,364 and Emerald Airlines with 41,160.

Air France is examining plans to boost its operations while KLM is to double its services.

New routes have already been announced for Brussels/Charleroi and Glasgow - with further new services in the pipeline.

"We are also delighted to note that passengers have delivered a 94.4pc satisfaction rating for their experience at Cork Airport which is something we are very proud of."

In September, Cork lodged an application with the Government for capital support on 11 different sustainability projects with a total capital spend of 7.3m.

The new mezzanine level will provide a substantial increase in space for baggage and security screening operations - while freeing up space for a major expansion of the Cork Airport shop.

The airport is already the best performing State or semi-State agency in terms of sustainable operations.

A study indicated that 99pc of passengers flying from Cork come from the Munster catchment area.

Just 1pc originate from Leinster.

The majority of those who use Cork Airport say it is for leisure or holiday reasons (43pc) - with business or conference use accounting for 13pc.

Airport operations were boosted three years ago by the installation of an advanced new runway.
Amira OToole Rauf was 13 months old when she was catastrophically injured

Amira OToole Rauf from Ballinabranna, Co Carlow who was left paralysed after a car crash when she was a toddler. Photo: Collins

A seven-year-old girl who was left paralysed from the waist down in a car crash when she was a toddler has settled a High Court action with a 1.4million interim settlement.

Amira OToole Rauf was 13 months old when she was catastrophically injured in a head-on collision as she sat strapped in her child seat in the back of her mothers car six years ago.

The court heard Amiras mother Caroline OToole Rauf has devoted all her time to caring for her daughter.

Two years ago her mother spoke publicly about how adequate resources were not available to help her little girl and she pleaded for more services to help her daughter.

Amira, from Ballinabranna, Co Carlow, through her mother, sued Tom Hanlon South East Plant Hire Ltd with registered offices at Kellymount Quarry, Paulstown, Co Kilkenny, which was the owner of the car involved in the crash.

It was claimed that suddenly and without warning the other car crossed onto the incorrect side of the road and crashed into the family car. It was further claimed there was a failure to keep any or any proper lookout and a failure to exercise due care and consideration for other road users.

Prior to the accident, Amira was capable of pulling herself to a standing position and had developed words.

Amiras counsel Jonathan Kilfeather SC, instructed by Callan Tansey solicitors, told the court that the accident happened before 9am in the morning of November 6, 2018. Counsel said the other car came onto the side of the road where Amira and her mother were travelling in Co Laois and there was a head-on collision.

Counsel said the driver of the other car was killed in the accident and Amira suffered catastrophic injures. Her mother was also injured.

He said Amira who will never walk also has cardiac difficulties and has had to have a pacemaker inserted.

He said she had been in and out of multiple hospitals and after the attendance at the High Court she was due in a Dublin hospital for another appointment.

Counsel said Amiras mother had put her life on hold to look after her daughter and they have had considerable difficulty over the years.

Approving the interim settlement, which is for the next two years, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said he was satisfied it was fair and reasonable. He said he was delighted to see Amira in court and he conveyed his best wishes to her and her family.

The case will come back before the court in two years time when future care needs will be assessed.
The 62-year-old and his neighbour, 25-year-old Daniel Sherwin, were remanded into custody last Wednesday accused of having an imitation gun to cause fear and holding a man prisoner

This is the moment James Kenny was arrested by cops in an early morning raid before he was charged with having a gun.

The 62-year-old and his neighbour, 25-year-old Daniel Sherwin, were remanded into custody last Wednesday accused of having an imitation gun to cause fear and holding a man prisoner.

Standing side by side in the dock of Limavady Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, Co Antrim, both men confirmed their identities and that they understood the charges against them.

James Kenny, from Ballymena

The two defendants, both from Orkney Drive in Ballymena, are jointly charged with three offences including causing the male complainant actual bodily harm, false imprisonment of the alleged victim and possessing a firearm, namely a handgun, with intent to cause fear of violence.

In addition, Kenny faces further accusations of non-fatal strangulation in that he allegedly intentionally applied pressure to the neck or throat of the complainant as well as possessing Class A cocaine and Class C pregabalin.

Sherwin, pictured here for the first time, was also charged with possessing Class B cannabis and possessing fireworks without a licence.

Daniel Sherwin

Giving evidence to the court, Detective Constable Robinson said he believed he could connect both men to the charges against them.

The alleged facts of the case were not formally opened but in a police statement at the time, Detective Inspector Lenaghan said: The injured man, aged in his 20s, reported that he had been attacked at a residential property in the Orkney Drive area of the town.

He sustained injuries to his face, abdomen and leg, which at this stage are not thought to be serious.

Shortly afterwards, a 62-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including false imprisonment, non-fatal strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including false imprisonment, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of Class B controlled drugs and possession of fireworks.

Both men remain in custody at this time. Our inquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who may have information which could help our investigation to contact us on 101, quoting reference number 174 of 29/10/24.

Alternatively, you can make a report online at psni.police.uk/report. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Sherwin applied for bail and DC Robinson said police were objecting to him being freed due to concerns he would put pressure on the alleged victim to withdraw his statement and also that he would commit further offences.

The detective agreed with a suggestion from defence counsel Thomas McKeever the defendant had given a prepared statement during the police interview process.

He further agreed that Sherwin had made a counter-allegation that the alleged victim, armed with what was allegedly a paintball gun, had stuck his arm through his letterbox.

According to Sherwins statement he disarmed the alleged victim and it was not made clear how, but the officer alleged that Kenny had shot the complainant in the leg.

There appears to be a lack of independent evidence, Mr McKeever said, adding that despite his poor record Sherwin had been engaging well with probation and drug addiction counselling programmes.

District Judge Oonagh Mullan said she was concerned so refused bail.

Both men were remanded into custody and their cases adjourned for a month.
Niamh and her fiance Jamie Gill plan to go all out this weekend with three days of wedding celebrations.

Influencer Niamh Cullen has jetted off to Italy with fiance Jamie Gill ahead of their destination wedding this weekend.

The pair dated for six years after meeting at a Bingo Loco event and got engaged in December 2022.

Now, theyre getting ready to tie the knot in Rome in front of their closest friends and family on Friday.

Niamh took to Instagram this morning to share a photo of her and Jamie in Dublin Airport, with the couple grinning from head to toe as they held up dust bags holding their wedding gown and suit in Terminal 2.

Captioning the post, she wrote: Next stop Romaaa, adding some festive emojis.

The Dubliners friends and followers flocked to the comments section to wish the blushing bride luck as she prepares to walk down the aisle.

Fellow influencer and pal Louise Cooney said: Oh shes gorgeoussss! Enjoy every second, while Terrie McEvoy added: Oh Niamh the best of luck.

And fitness influencer Siobhan OHagan chimed in: Ahhhh have the most amazing time! Cannot wait to see it all, so happy for you both.

Niamh also posted a photo from her seat on the plane, sitting in between her husband-to-be Jamie and one of her bridesmen, Frank.

Social media star James Kavanagh will also act as one of the 32-year-old's bridesmen on the day.

Niamhs decision not to have bridesmaids wasnt a political choice but did make the wedding planning process run more smoothly.

Speaking to Charleen Murphy and Ellie Kelly on the Hold My Drink podcast, she explained: Im really close with all my girls and Ive been bridesmaid so many times that it feels like you want to ask them back.

I would have had the three lads there anyway, so it was going to make my bridal party huge, like twelve people.

Her girlfriends will still get to celebrate in a special way by wearing black on the day, she explained: Im going to get a good few photos of them being my unofficial bridesmaids. They were all delighted and because they love black. Im trying to include everyone. Itll be lovely.

Niamh and Jamie plan to go all out this weekend with three days of wedding celebrations with the likes of influencer Bonnie Ryan in attendance.

The bride-to-be admitted that she was buzzing for the big day and is looking forward to letting her hair down.

I just want my wedding to be what represents me and Jamie as a couple, and thats a party. I just want music, high vibes, good fun, good craic, not formal, nothing too fancy  just fun, she said.

One thing I never thought Id do was get married in a church. I also thought Id burn up in flames.

Im not against religion or anything, but I knew I never wanted a church ceremony. Im not very religious and I think they go on way too long. Theyre not as personal and were making our ceremony really personal.

Jamies brother is marrying us. Our ceremony is full of poetry and music. My mam is getting up to say a poem, Jamies mam is, my sister. Our vows are going to be lyrics of a favourite song, so were doing nice stuff.

I hope Im zen. I just want to have a good time and that everyone makes it over there safe. Thats all that matters, she added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Azerbaijans Ministry of Energy has explored avenues for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding the use of nuclear energy in the context of the countrys transition to green energy, Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov shared in a post on his X page, Trend reports.

"We had a fruitful meeting with Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Rome. In the context of Azerbaijan's green energy transition plans, we discussed cooperation between the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan and the IAEA in the direction of exploring the opportunities of using nuclear energy. We also shared our views on the holding of the event Financing of Low Carbon Technologies, including Nuclear Energy within COP29," the publication reads.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A group of residents say jetskiers on Ohiwa Harbour will be a risk to safety, a menace to wildlife and a bad fit for the culture of the Eastern Bay of Plenty harbour.

Seven Ohiwa residents opposed to jetskis using the harbour voiced their concerns about Bay of Plenty Regional Councils new Navigational Safety Bylaw, both at a hearing earlier this year and, more recently, at a meeting with council staff.

Ohiwa Reserves Care Groups Meg Collins said she wanted jet skis to be banned or for the regulations to go back to the status quo.

"With 80 percent of the harbour being exposed at low tide, it is not suitable for jetskis. Jetskis are made for speeding, not tottering along at 5 knots, she said.

This piece of legislation may suit big harbours such as Wellington and Tauranga, but certainly not Ohiwa.

We might have to wait until someone is killed or severely injured before the council finally makes some sensible bylaws that can be enforced.

The regional councils regulatory services general manager Reuben Fraser said it was not legally possible for the regional council to keep the jetski exclusion zone.

As part of its five-yearly review of the bylaw, the regional council sought legal guidance on 2019 changes to the Maritime Transport Act - specifically section 33M, which focuses on the councils mandate to make rules for the purpose of navigation safety.

The advice confirmed the bylaws needed revision to comply with current legislation, especially personal watercraft exclusions in Ohiwa Harbour, which were originally introduced in 1998 to protect the harbours natural character, Fraser said.

The updated boating rules for the Bay of Plenty were adopted at a regional council meeting in September and will come into force midway through next year.

Under the current bylaw, personal watercraft such as jetskis are excluded from most parts of the harbour except certain areas, such as a channel between the Port Ohope boat ramp and the entrance.

Under the new bylaw, the exclusion zone will be replaced with a five-knot rule that will apply to all vessels for most parts of the harbour.

The speed limit is due to its extensive sand bars, mud flats and increasing sedimentation build up, which are hazardous to navigate at speed.

There will also be a 20-knot transit area for entering and exiting the harbour from the Ohope and Ohiwa Loop Road boat ramps.

Collins is not a lone voice against jetskis having free run of the harbour.

Ohiwa residents opposed to jetskis using Ohiwa Harbour are Kenny McCracken, Meg Collins, Dido Eden, Tanja Rother (standing) and Lynne Hickling, Tilmann Loewe Stuart Slade (sitting) and Trevor Ransfield (absent). Photo supplied

Kayak tour operator Kenny McCracken said there had been instances in the past where children were run over.

Jet skis have also run into sandbars several times in the past few years.

Nukuhou Care Groups Stuart Slade said jet skis did not fit the culture of the harbour.

The open water areas of the harbour are too limited in area for jetskis, especially at low tides when 80 percent of the area is above water.

Shallow water covering a multitude of sand bars are not always easy to see.

"Jet skis do not fit the culture of the greater part of the harbour. I can see jet skis in much of the harbour being a real safety risk for themselves, kayakers, swimmers and fishers.

Eastern Bay of Plenty Forest and Bird secretary Lynne Hickling is concerned about the safety of birds on the harbour.

There are hundreds of birds that roost and feed on the Kutarere channel and these would be very disturbed if jet skis were to be able to hoon up and down there.

Te Upokorehe iwi representative Trevor Ransfield said, as tangata whenua, Te Upokorehe, had always disapproved of jetskis in the harbour, especially in the area around the boat ramp on the eastern side of the harbour.

Our mokopuna fish there, our mokopuna swim there, and having jets skis being able to launch at Loop Road, is a danger to all our children.

The residents met with Fraser recently to share their concerns.

They were told the regional councils harbourmaster had lobbied unsuccessfully against jet skis with Maritime New Zealand.

The regional council had also talked to Whakatane and Opotiki district councils about measures they could take to prevent jetskis from being allowed on the harbour.

We considered the possibility of maintaining the status quo restrictions via a local bylaw and a Resource Management Act transfer agreement with Opotiki District Council and Whakatane District Council, Fraser said.

While we engaged both councils on this possibility, it ultimately did not proceed.

Among their concerns was how the 5-knot rule would be enforced.

Fraser said the regional councils usual approach to new bylaws was to educate people in the first instance, but enforcement remained an option where necessary.

This summer, well have dedicated patrols in Ohiwa Harbour, supported by students, and will use updated signage, educational materials, and geotargeted messaging. As with other public safety measures, however, our resources cannot guarantee constant coverage.
Last week, a ceremony at Burnham Military Camp consecrated the new Colours of the 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR).

The Battalion was honoured by Her Excellency, The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand, on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III.

This event began an essential new chapter for the 2/1 RNZIR.

The backstory of the Colours (hand-embroidered ceremonial flags) is also remarkable and steeped in history.

The new Colours were hand-stitched by three women from Wyedean Weaving in Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. 2/1 RNZIRs Colours are the first in New Zealand to be updated with the Kings insignia.

Aileen Henderson, Wendy Hatton and Susan Jones collectively have nearly 120 years of experience perfecting the intricate embroidery of military history worldwide.

Henderson says the process of creating Colours can only begin after the designs have been submitted to The King for approval.

We can only start production once we receive this approval. I have an exceptional memory for patterns wed created for Hobsons, the previous supplier of Colours before Wyedean. I can identify if we already have them on file, patternmaker Henderson said.

If we dont, new patterns are developed. Following the recent change in the monarchy, new patterns have been required to incorporate the Kings crown.

The craftsmanship of 2/1 RNZIRs new Kings and Regimental Colours took more than 900 hours of meticulous embroidery.

We utilised three metres of pure silk cloth, 75 grams of gold thread and 150g of pure silk embroidery thread, embroiderer Wendy Hatton said.

The highlight of this project was working with the distinctly different design compared to our usual Colours, particularly the vibrant colours set against the dark blue silk background, which added unique visual appeal.

Working on this project was especially significant for Hatton and Jones, who had previously worked on the embroidery of the Royal New Zealand Air Forces Kings Colour (formerly a Queens Colour), which was presented by then Prince Charles in 2019.

We feel an immense sense of pride and honour in contributing to such significant pieces of history for militaries around the globe, Jones said.

The previous 2/1 RNZIR Kings and Regimental Colours were presented to the unit in 1980, and after more than 44 years of general wear and tear, they had reached the end of their lives.

When Colours are replaced, the old ones are laid up, typically hung in a church or chapel associated with the regiment, although some particularly significant Colours may be displayed in cathedrals or other public buildings such as museums.

We take great pride in seeing the old Colours laid up in Westminster and other churches, especially when our families ask which ones we created, Henderson said
Coromandels Pahi Coastal Walk has taken out an NZI Rural Women NZ Business Award 2024.

The scenic three-day visitor experience near Port Jackson on the northern tip of the peninsula leads across the 11,000ha farm of sheep and beef farmers Catherine and Zander Ward.

The Wards decided to open the walk in 2022 because they said they wanted to share the spectacular views and stunning landscapes from their farm with the community.

Now, the walk caters for more than 2000 guests a season.

Catherine said she was really delighted her familys project had won the Rural Women NZ Business Award in the category Love of the Land.

We do love our land, our little piece of paradise, and it has been really nice to share it by operating the walk that brings in extra revenue for the farm.

The Pahi farm has been in Zanders family for six generations  he and Catherine took it over in 2001.

Catherine, formerly of Whangarei, said she started developing ideas for the walk after her three children had left for school and university.

She said coastal farming was beautiful and she wanted to share that beauty with more people.

So I looked at glamping and the walk ... [and something] where I could do food because I love making food.

The walk is fully catered and includes accommodation with the Pahi Coastal Walk team transporting visitors bags and preparing meals.

The walk is 26-34km and leads across the Pahi farm and Department of Conservation walkways.

Rural Women NZ said while the Pahi Coastal Walk started as Catherines hobby project, it quickly flourished into a fully fledged business, and meant more hands were needed to manage the flood of visitors.

This provided an opportunity to involve women whose partners were working on the farm in the business ... The ripple effect of the walks success has had a massive flow-on effect for Caths community, Rural Women NZ wrote on its website.

Catherine Ward, founder of the Pahi Coastal Walk.

A partnership with Hike & Bike Coromandel has been hugely successful for both parties. Caths love of the land has created a sense of purpose that has transformed her life and lifted the community around her.

The annual Rural Women NZ Business Awards have been developed to encourage and celebrate rural women, strengthen rural communities and nurture economic resilience in the regions.

Rural Women NZ national president Gill Naylor said there were seven award categories this year.

We refreshed our award categories this year and the response to the two redefined categories, Experience Rural and Creative at Heart, has been excellent with this years awards attracting the highest-ever number of entries.

The awards ceremony will be held on November 22 in Wellington, where the Supreme Award winner will be announced.

To find out more about Pahi Coastal Walk, go to pahicoastalwalk.co.nz.

To find out more about the Rural Women NZ Business Awards and the other winners, go to ruralwomennz.nz/businessawards.

Rural Women NZ Business Award winners

 Creative at Heart Award

Botanical  Amy Burke (Tasman)

 Emerging Business Award

Hemprino  Siobhan OMalley & Harriet Bell (Staveley)

 Innovation Award

Repost  Dansy Coppell (Mapua)

 Love of the Land Award

Pahi Coastal Walk  Catherine Ward (Coromandel)

 Rural Champion Award

Tairawhiti Contractors Ltd  Katareina Kaiwai (Tokomaru Bay)

 Experience Rural Award

Nest Treehouses  Elizabeth Hayes (Hakataramea Valley)

 Rural Health and Wellness Excellence Award

Nicola Smith Massage  Nicola Smith (Marlborough)

-The Country
Multi-award-winning fashion designer and Bay of Plenty resident, Donna Dinsdale, has earned national recognition once again with her work, Pakanga  The Heat of the Battle.

Donna, who teaches fashion design at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, was awarded first equal in the Fibre Art category at the 2024 Taranaki National Art Awards, held in Taranaki last week.

Pakanga  The Heat of the Battle is a two garment ensemble, representing the emotional bond between a mother and son during World War II.

The pieces tell the story of Donnas great uncle, Dudley Lewis Stagpoole, who was a Lance Corporal in the 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion, and his mother Edith Blanche Stagpoole.

Dudley would write letters to his mother daily during the war. He served in the trenches in the Western Desert in North Africa, and died in action in 1942, aged 32.

Donna says Dudleys original letters are still dearly held and treasured by her family.

Dudley and his parents lived in New Plymouth, so to take Pakanga  The Heat of the Battle to Taranaki was a way to acknowledge his memory and family history, as well as his contribution. He was proud to serve for our country.

Pakanga  The Heat of the Battle. Photo supplied.

Words from Dudleys letters, incorporated on the garments, represent the true narrative between a mother and son and the emotional bond they shared.

I layered text, materials and codes of dress to make sculptural garments that are tinged with sentiments of loss, longing and memory, she says.

Taranaki National Art Awards judges, Aaron Lister from City Gallery Wellington | Te Whare Toi and Taarati Taiaroa from the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre, commented on Donnas highly attuned attention to detail and sensitivity to storytelling.

Clothing, like words, are what we use to correspond with one another to remember, to honour. In this work, eclectic signs and materials are woven together to form cohesive, tailored garments that emanate narrative and demand further enquiry These stories are personal, revealing some things but not everything.

Donnas latest award comes at a significant time for the tertiary institute where she teaches.

The Bachelor of Creative Industries degree at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year.

This milestone emphasises the long-standing impact of the programme, which has trained hundreds of graduates in the fields of fashion, graphic design, and visual arts, many of whom have gone on to establish successful careers in the creative industries.

Some of the amazing and talented students Ive taught at Toi Ohomai have won their own awards and been successful in starting their own labels, Donna says.

We witness the incredible talent that is emerging from our Bachelor of Creative Industries programme.

Students grow in skills and confidence, and mentoring them throughout their studies and into the industry is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.

Donna has several other creative accolades to her name, including being a three-time World of Wearable Arts finalist, receiving the Supreme Designer Award at the former Westfield Style Pacifica Fashion Awards, achieving highly commended (2022) and being a finalist (2023) at the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award for Three Dimensional Artform, as well as winning the Overall Award of Excellence at the annual MLT Hokonui Fashion Design Awards (2019).

This latest win cements Donna's ability to challenge traditional fashion boundaries, creating designs that are equally relevant on the runway as they are in exhibition spaces.

Now in its 22nd year, the 2024 Taranaki National Art Awards were held in Opunake on Friday, 1 November 2024.

For those interested in a creative career like Donnas, enrolments for Toi Ohomai Institute of Technologys Bachelor of Creative Industries degree are open for 2025.

This three-year study programme offers majors in fashion design, graphic design and visual arts.

Students learn in modern facilities that support creativity and collaboration, and they graduate with skills that match the needs of todays creative industries.
SUR Malaga Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 17:38 Compartir

The Andalusian coastline is famous for its bustling beaches, but it also offers lesser-known spots perfect for a seaside break. Here are just a few suggestions.

La Doncella, Nerja

La Doncella is a hidden cove at the eastern end of Malaga province, an ideal retreat from the Costa del Sol's busy beaches. Tucked within the Maro cliffs, it is accessible only by foot, via a narrow, rocky path starting at El Canuelo beach. Visitors are advised to wear sturdy footwear, as the steep and uneven trail lacks signs and requires intuition to navigate. The descent winds through a thick grove of trees, adding to the sense of seclusion and adventure.

Framed by rugged rocks, La Doncella's shoreline features crystal-clear waters inviting visitors to dive in. On old maps, the beach is labelled as Playa de los Genoveses of La Vaca, named after a local legend about a cow that found its way down to the beach but could not return. Today, this untouched spot retains its natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere.

While the larger nearby beach, El Canuelo, attracts more visitors with its pebbly sands and beach bars, La Doncella remains a lesser-known haven for those willing to brave the descent. For nature lovers and solitude seekers, this cove provides a peaceful experience - a true retreat from the typical Costa del Sol scene.

Punta Chullera, Manilva

Punta Chullera, also known as Punta Cala Sardina, is the westernmost beach on the Costa del Sol, located in Manilva with stunning views of the Rock of Gibraltar. This officially declared "rincon singular" is renowned for its unique beauty, characterised by a diverse ecosystem where rugged rocky formations contrast with fine sand and transparent waters. Enclosed by weathered cliffs, shaped by wave erosion, the area holds ecological significance due to its rich marine and coastal habitats, including unique plant species like sea fennel and a variety of coastal birds such as skuas, terns and sandpipers.

Situated near the Cadiz border, the beach is easily accessible via the N-340, with parking available nearby. A short walk down a dirt path and some steps leads to the beach, where visitors can also explore the nearby Los Toros Cove and enjoy refreshments at the Dieguichi beach bar.

Overlooking the area is the historic Nasrid tower of Chullera, which guarded the Strait of Gibraltar until the 18th century. Protected as a Zona de Interes Territorial, Punta Chullera remains one of the few unspoiled beaches on the Western Costa del Sol - a retreat for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

Zoom Dunas de ka Carraca, Torrox. SUR

Dunas de la Carraca, Torrox

Dunas de la Carraca in El Morche, Torrox, is a natural treasure on the Eastern Costa del Sol. The unspoiled stretch of Cenicero beach offers an idyllic retreat where visitors can connect with nature in a tranquil setting. The soft sands and beautiful dunes create the perfect backdrop for sunbathing, walking or simply enjoying the environment.

Despite its name, cenicero translating to ashtray, the beach is remarkably clean. Minimal signs of human presence, however one sign playfully points to famous destinations like Ibiza and the Bahamas.

Unlike other beaches along the Costa del Sol, Dunas de la Carraca is not overshadowed by bustling promenades or beach bars, ensuring a peaceful atmosphere. Visitors can explore nearby dunes and soak in breathtaking coastal views. Whether for a quiet morning walk or lounging in the sun, Dunas de la Carraca is a destination to experience the area's stunning natural beauty.

Zoom The wooden walkway, La Cala de Mijas. SUR

La Cala, Mijas

Butibamba, also known as La Cala beach, is a vibrant destination on the Costa del Sol, offering plenty of activities for relaxation and enjoyment. While it may not be the quietest spot, its excellent facilities make it easy to unwind, even during peak season.

La Butibamba features fine sand that stretches for 1,320 metres and is about 30 metres wide. Visitors can enjoy four beach bars (chiringuitos) and a variety of nearby restaurants, including the renowned La Butibamba restaurant, famous for its delicious pork dishes.

Just a short walk from the beach is the Torreon de la Cala, a historic watchtower holding a museum collection. The coastal boardwalk, one of the first sections of the Malaga Senda Litoral, offers scenic strolls between Playa del Bombo and Playa de las Buganvillas, with wooden walkways overlooking tidal pools.

For families, there is a playground near the Torreon, featuring a pirate ship for children to explore, making La Butibamba an excellent choice for a fun day by the Mediterranean.

Zoom La Herradura. SUR

La Herradura, Almunecar

La Herradura, located in Almunecar on the Costa Tropical, is a beach celebrated for its striking crescent shape and beautiful natural surroundings. Framed by lush green hills and dramatic cliffs, its a refreshing escape from the more commercial areas of the Costa del Sol.

The calm, clear waters are perfect for swimming, while the gentle slope of the sandy shore makes it an ideal spot for families. La Herradura is also a prime destination for snorkelling and diving enthusiasts as it has a rich underwater ecosystem, full of marine life. Snorkellers can explore the nearby protected marine reserve, where the rocky seabed provides excellent opportunities to observe sea creatures in their natural habitat. Local shops offer equipment rentals, ensuring that newcomers can easily join in.

The promenade features a variety of beach bars and restaurants serving delicious local cuisine, particularly fresh seafood. With its combination of natural beauty and accessible water sports, La Herradura is an excellent choice for those seeking relaxation or to explore the underwater world.

Zoom Torremolinos beach. SUR

Torremolinos

Torremolinos is renowned for its four beautiful beaches: Los Alamos, Bajondillo, Playamar and La Carihuela, each recently awarded the S for Sustainable Tourism.

This recognition, along with the three Blue flags which is an international eco-label granted to beaches and marinas that achieve high standards in water quality, safety and environmental management, demonstrates a strong commitment to cleanliness and safety at these popular coastal spots.

The beaches not only provide perfect settings for sunbathing and relaxation but also host a variety of events throughout the year, such as the renowned triathlon. The annual competition attracts athletes from across the globe, highlighting the vibrant community spirit and active lifestyle in Torremolinos.

The S for Sustainable Tourism is awarded by the Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality, ensuring that these beaches meet high environmental standards and promote responsible tourism practices.

Visitors can enjoy pristine waters, well maintained facilities and educational initiatives that highlight the importance of preserving the coastal ecosystem.

Playa de Monsul, Almeria

Playa de Monsul is one of the most famous beaches located in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park, in Almeria, known for its stunning beauty and appearances in numerous films and adverts.

The beach stands out due to the eroded lava formations that surround it, its fine golden sand and its crystal-clear waters. With a length of 400 metres and a gently sloping entry into the water, it is yet another beach perfect for children and families.

Famous for its iconic rock formation, La Peineta de Monsul, the beach has appeared in films like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Its natural surroundings are truly breathtaking.

Zoom Bolonia beach, Cadiz. SUR

Playa de Bolonia, Cadiz

Playa de Bolonia, located on the Costa de la Luz in the municipality of Tarifa, is a beach known for its soft white sands and clear waters.

The picturesque cove also offers a glimpse into history with the nearby ruins of Baelo Claudia, an ancient Roman city. Visitors can explore the impressive remnants of the forum, baths and salting factory that highlight the region's rich past. The beach is framed by the striking Bolonia Dune, a natural monument that provides stunning coastline views of Cadiz.
Jennie Rhodes Malaga Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 17:39 Compartir

One of the many attractions of Andalucia is its historic, whitewashed towns and villages, many of which date back to the region's Islamic period of Al-Andalus.

The narrow, labyrinthine streets that wind up and down these hilltop villages are paradoxically filled with secrets of the past yet bursting with modern life. Many are home to foreign residents who have fallen in love with these rural gems, living side by side with their Spanish neighbours who pass on legends and traditions dating back many generations.

One of the most photographed streets is Calle Nerja in Torrox Pueblo. Located in the heart of the Axarquia town, it is by far the most decorated street not only there, but quite possibly in the whole province of Malaga.

Miniature lighthouses, a mini windmill, colourful flowerpots and even a small fountain adorn this small street which measures just 15 metres in length.

Local resident Nieves Cortes is the mastermind behind this quaint street and her hard work and dedication has even won her recognition from Torrox town hall on a number of occasions.

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Flowerpots

In nearby Frigiliana, which is regularly voted one of the prettiest towns in Spain, Calle Real stretches up through the historic centre, guiding visitors past traditional shops selling local products, including the sugar cane honey produced in the town's mill, the only surviving one of its kind in Europe.

Uniform blue doors and windowsills combine with brightly coloured flowerpots to create a truly Andalusian 'pueblo'.

To the west of Malaga province, Benalmadena Pueblo has been a firm favourite for decades among British holidaymakers. Despite its popularity, the village has retained its traditional Andalusian feel.

At 280 metres above sea level, the centre is a maze of narrow, whitewashed cobbled streets, adorned with displays of colourful flowers spilling out of plant pots attached to the facades of buildings.

At every turn there is an opportunity to photograph an old door or windowsill with flowers, plants and even the occasional cat or dog posing for a snapshot.

Plaza de Espana is the central point of the old village and it is also the home of the 'Nina de Benalmadena' (the little girl of Benalmadena), the sculpture of a little girl holding out a large seashell was sculptured by the Malaga artist Jaime Pimentel in 1967.

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Mijas Pueblo, another popular destination among visitors to the Costa del Sol, has long been famous for its donkey taxis, but it is another example of how southern Spain has preserved its Islamic past.

Calle San Sebastian is arguably one of Malaga province's most photographed streets. At the top of the steep steps that lead down this narrow street, the Mediterranean Sea can be seen and the views are particularly atmospheric at dusk when the lamps on the whitewashed houses light up the path.

Again, the traditional flowerpots adorn the facades of the houses that line the street, which guide visitors to the beautiful seventeenth century San Sebastian Church on nearby Plaza de la Libertad.

A street for Christmas

If you visit the Costa del Sol in December, be sure to take a peak at Calle Cordoba in Marbella, where since 2019 the small street, which connects Calle Huerta de los Cristales with Calle Penuelas has been decorated by its residents who use recycled materials to make their festive creations.

It all started when Daniel Lima decorated the outside of his house. The following year, in 2020, the rest of the residents decided to join in, in an effort to bring some cheer to what was otherwise going to be a fairly dismal Christmas during the pandemic.

Ever since then these festive friends have been decorating the street with lollipops made from rubber, cakes made from recycled tins, candy canes made from swimming floats, wrapped presents, snowmen made of rope and even two Nutcracker soldiers made of flowerpots, painted and dressed, who guard. The lights go on on 2 December and traditional Christmas carols play in the background.

Marbella and Estepona are perhaps better-known for their offer of high-end, luxury escapes and lifestyles, but they too are traditional Andalusian whitewashed towns, with historic centres that are steeped in history and narrow, winding cobbled streets.

Marbella's picturesque Plaza de los Naranjos or Estepona's Pasaje Maria Cintrano and Plaza Antonio Gala evoke images of a bygone Andalucia and offer peace and tranquility away from the busier coastal areas of the two towns.

Back on the eastern stretch of the Costa del Sol, the iconic Balcon de Europa in the popular resort of Nerja is still a favourite spot for photographers and couples getting married, with its breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and backdrop of the Almijara, Alhama and Tejida mountain range which straddles Malaga and Granada provinces.

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But explore any of the coastal or mountain villages of Malaga province and you will find streets that are lovingly looked after by local residents. Take for example the crocheted awnings made by local residents that provide shade in the small village of Almachar in the Axarquia during the hot summer months, to the Christmas decorations made with recycled materials of Calle Cordoba in Marbella, or the streets of Canillas de Aceituno.

Window boxes, patios and flowerpots bursting with colourful flowers adorn the streets of so many of the province's pretty towns and villages, so whether you choose the coast or mountains, the Axarquia, Serrania de Ronda, Antequera or the traditional Costa del Sol towns of Marbella, Mijas or Benalmadena, wherever you turn there is always a breathtakingly pretty view waiting to be discovered and photographed.
Pilar Martinez London Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 11:04 | Updated 12:33h. Compartir

The Costa del Sol's high level of air connectivity is the key to its continued growth in its main international outbound market, the United Kingdom. This is a country from which 2.2 million travellers arrive at Malaga Airport, 6.4 per cent more than in the first nine months of the year, and where the airlines expect to increase this rate in the last quarter of the year. On the opening day of the World Travel Market (WTM) in London on Tuesday, the CEO of Turismo Costa del Sol, Esperanza Gonzalez, was responsible for announcing the evolution and strategy that the province will carry out to win more British tourists, who stay longer in the destination and make a greater disbursement. In this regard, she pointed out that the airlines have programmed 11 per cent more seats to fly to the airport from October to December, which means that they have put 719,320 seats on the market.

A commitment that will allow the province of Malaga to be connected to 16 British cities, one less than in the same period last year due to the suspension of the connection with Southampton. Eight airlines are responsible for maintaining and accelerating the idyll of British tourists with the Costa del Sol.

Of this programmed air capacity, almost 300,000 seats are concentrated in the connection with London, which will have 11 per cent more seats. It is followed by Manchester, with 79,598 seats, and Bristol, with 50,884. The 'Top 10' British destinations best connected to Malaga airport for this final stretch of the year are completed by Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, East Midlands, Belfast, Leeds and Newcastle. However, it is the route to Bournemouth, located on the south coast of England, which has experienced the greatest increase in the number of seats on offer for the last quarter. Specifically, according to data from Turismo Costa del Sol, they have shot up by 36.5 per cent, to more than 13,800.

Birmingham and Liverpool are the other two cities where the airlines have made the biggest bets on the route to Malaga, with growth of 25 and 19 per cent, respectively.

Upward trend

On the flip side of the coin are Cardiff, Exeter and Aberdeen, where airlines have reduced their supply of seats. Specifically by 5.1 per cent, 5.8 per cent and 19.7 per cent, respectively. As for the airlines that will operate these routes, all eight have improved air capacity, with Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair scheduling the largest volume of seats, followed by easyJet, Jet2.com and British Airways.

Esperanza Gonzalez explained that "2024 has been the best year in the British market", confident that the trend will continue to rise next year. In fact, from January to September, Malaga received passengers by air from 20 cities and major towns in the United Kingdom, with London being the main sending city with 909,417 passengers; followed by Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, East Midlands, Liverpool, Leeds and Belfast, with arrivals of between 100,000 and 250,000. Newcastle and Edinburgh follow, with over 50,000 passengers so far this year.

The Costa del Sol is presented as a safe value in view of the fact that thirteen of the fourteen main issuing cities and towns are growing in arrivals, with the exception of East Midlands. And, according to data from Turismo Costa del Sol, compared to 2019, only four cities are recovering: Bristol, Bournemouth, Liverpool and Manchester.

Gonzalez insisted that "the challenge is to attract a holidaymaker who travels to the destination throughout the year and stays longer" and has pledged a firm commitment to this market, which will result in an increase of 1.5 million euros in the investment that the province of Malaga will make in the United Kingdom next year. This is an increase of 500,000 euros compared to the investment made this year. She also said that the forecasts confirm that this market continues to respond to the diversity of the Costa del Sol's offer.
Cristina Pinto Malaga Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 11:30 Compartir

In the midst of the wave of comradeship shown following the flooding devastation caused by the deadly 'Dana' storm after it hit Spain, there has been an unusual tool to help the mobilisation: the social media networks. And in them, content creators - commonly known as influencers - play an essential role and function as a network of volunteers and donations for the victims. With millions of followers on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X they are able to reach a mass audience and, as the word itself indicates, influence society.

This has happened with those from Malaga, who are dedicated to the cause, as is the case of the young couple Carliyo El Nervio and Natalia Palacios, who managed to collect donations, move them to Valencia and get there themselves to help with the distribution, as well as Curly Azahara and Juanma Furio. These are just a few examples of what influencers, in this case, from Malaga, can do.

1.1million followers The young couple who fill trailers and take it to Valencia Carliyo El Nervio and Natalia Palacios

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The mobilisation capacity of Carliyo El Nervio (@carliyoelnervio) and Natalia Palacios (@nataliapxr) never ceases to amaze on social media networks, where they have more than a million followers between them. On Sunday they brought together thousands of people from Malaga to fill a trailer and several vans with cleaning materials and food that went directly that same day to the affected areas of Valencia. Then, they themselves went there to make the distribution and give visibility to the situation on their Instagram accounts.

756K followers From sharing trendy content to reaching out to those affected Moda Just Coco

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Malaga-based influencer Veronica Diaz (@modajustcoco) is not only sharing her best beauty and fashion tips these days. She has thrown herself wholeheartedly into helping those affected, both in Valencia and Malaga, from her Instagram account. In her stories she shares information about what is needed in each area, the volunteer points and even publishes what her own followers affected by the Dana claim, being a loudspeaker for her almost 800,000 followers on this social network.

340,000 followers A voice for the work that can be done Marina Llorca

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Two months ago, Marina Llorca (@marinallorca) made history by being the first model with a size 44/46 to show at Mercedes Fashion Week. But now, the Marbella local is participating in her most supportive cause with more than 300,000 followers: that of being a voice for the work that can be done in the province of Malaga. She creates this through her 'stories', where she informs and shares content about the material that is most needed and the places where you can go to collaborate with the victims in the province of Malaga.

2,4M Concern for the survival of animals Dani Rovira

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Dani Rovira's (@danirovira) call through social media networks has always been focused on solidarity through his Ochotumbao foundation, which he created together with the actress Clara Lago. Now, with more than two million followers, the comedian from Malaga shares all the information and aid destined for animals in need of veterinary and urgent care, as well as collecting food and searching for lost cases. So far, he has raised 10,000 euros to help with repairs to facilities.

640K followers Surfer vans become solidarity transport Curly Azahara

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Solidarity has taken the reins of the vans and the desire to help of Azahara Luque (@curly.azahara) from Malaga, with more than 600,000 followers on Instagram. Together with her partner, the Valencian Juanma Furio, she has created a collection point with the collaboration of the Colegio Europa, which has given them the storage space. They will arrive in Valencia with vans full of basic necessities and, as they themselves say, with all the beautiful energy of the most supportive people from Malaga.
Juan Soto Marbella Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 13:50 Compartir

The company behind the legendary Ku Ibiza nightclub chain wants it to be reborn in the heart of the Costa del Sol. The owners of the name, which was considered to have the best nightclub in the world during the 80s, are looking for premises in the Marbella area to revive the brand.

The company headed by nightlife entrepreneur Santiago Llorens is actively looking for locations with a view to opening next summer. For the time being, he says that he has already held conversations with different groups of hoteliers interested in making the project a reality.

The businessman explained that the future Ku Marbella will adapt the appropriate form to the space they find, which could be a nightclub, a beach club or even a restaurant. "There have been conversations with entrepreneurs interested in opening franchises using the brand in good locations," he said.

Llorens considers Marbella to be an ideal location because it has "one of the best audiences in the world" and because for any prestigious brand "it is important to be present in such emblematic locations". Ku currently has a venue in Benidorm.

Ku Ibiza was recognised as the world's largest nightclub in the Guinness Book of World Records.

With more than 25 years of experience as a nightlife entrepreneur, Llorens has been a franchisee for more than ten years of the Pacha group with the Pachito nightclubs in the Olympic Port of Barcelona and in Terrassa Leisure Centre, and with the Pacha nightclub in Maresme (Barcelona). He has also managed two of the most important clubs in Spain: Pacha Madrid and Joy Eslava Madrid.

First large-format disco

Ku was Ibiza's first large-format discotheque and the echo of its endless nights still resonates on the island. It was founded by three Basque entrepreneurs in 1978 in the San Rafael club and for more than a decade it represented the spirit of freedom, spectacle and transgression that characterised the island's wild years. Ku Ibiza was considered the largest discotheque in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Throughout the 1980s, Ku was at the forefront of Spain's nightlife culture. Visitors from all over Spain and Europe came to the iconic venue. It was the birthplace of the well-known group Locomia and hosted historic moments, such as the meeting between Montserrat Caballe and Freddie Mercury performing the anthem of the Barcelona Olympics.

The club closed in 1990, when it was renamed Privilege, a brand that operated for more than 25 years. The Ibizan pavilion is currently under construction to house the UNVRS nightclub, owned by the same people as Ushuaia and Hi Ibiza.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The energy ministers of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan held discussions in Italy on issues related to the Central Asia-Azerbaijan green energy corridor, Azerbaijans Ministry of Energy told Trend.

The meeting focused on energy cooperation between the two countries, discussions on the Central Asia-Azerbaijan green energy corridor, and preparations for the upcoming COP.

Specifically, the ministers reviewed the draft "Agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan on strategic partnership in the field of development and transmission of green energy, which is expected to be signed during COP.

Additionally, the ministers addressed the efforts to unify the energy systems of the three countries, including the establishment of a joint venture in Baku, the allocation of shares to national energy companies, and the key issues arising from the project's feasibility study.
Alfonso Torices Madrid Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 15:23 Compartir

People in Spain are the Europeans who most admire and respect the work of researchers and scientists. Two out of three Spanish citizens of legal age, 65% to be precise, place their full trust in the work carried out by these professionals. This figure puts the level of respect our fellow citizens have for scientists 10 percentage points above the global average, according to research carried out by multinational pollster Ipsos, which at the end of spring questioned the inhabitants of 32 countries on five continents about which professions and professionals they trust most and least.

In the case of the people of Spain, the survey's findings indicate that they have very strong opinions on this issue. Their answers are far from the middle ground. They either trust certain activities more than anyone else or criticise others more strongly than any other country.

Top 5 professions

The Spanish people's preferences are very clear. The top five professions they trust the most are led by doctors and surgeons and by scientists. Their support for each is almost identical. Doctors win by just one point, 66% support among Spaniards aged 18 to 75 compared to 65% for scientists.

But, in addition, as was already the case with researchers, popular support for doctors is among the highest in this international barometer. Trust in scientists, however, was ten points above the global average, and the nation's respect for the work of doctors and surgeons is eight points higher than the average for the 32 countries polled.

Among the under-35s there is a very high level of distrust of those employed in banks and financial institutions.

Third place in the ranking of most admired professionals goes to teachers, whose work is trusted by almost six out of ten Spaniards, 58% to be exact. In fourth place of the job roles garnering most popular support, the accolade is shared by the work of the different police forces and that of the three armed forces (46%), mostly for their exemplary efforts such as the work they are carrying out right now in the areas devastated by the Dana floods. The top five of professionals in whom the majority of people have confidence ends with waiting staff, whose work is much appreciated by four out of every ten Spaniards. On this occasion, however, they do so somewhat less strongly than in other countries, four points below the international average.

Least confidence and trust

Yet, where Spaniards' opinions really stand out is not at the top, but rather at the bottom end of the list - those professionals who invite the lowest levels of public confidence and trust. This group is clearly led by politicians, whose activity is distrusted by 70% of the country's citizens. They distrust politicians in general, but also specific political roles. For instance, the third most reviled job, rejected by almost two out of three of the Spanish public, is that of government ministers and their equivalents in other layers of government. In fact, the Spanish people are the Europeans who most dislike the work of politicians.

Age gaps

In second place among the professions most distrusted in Spain is the activity of 'influencers', those who make their living by attracting followers to their profiles, videos or blogs on social media. Two out of every three Spaniards (66%) distrust this new way of earning a living. The percentage rises above all due to the greater rejection of influencers by the over-50s, 14 points higher than that of younger people. In this case it is not the most reviled job in Europe, but it almost is. It is the third highest on the continent. Only Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands are narrowly ahead in their dislike of this job role.

The profession for which Spain is once again at the top of the European ranking in terms of distrust is the clergy (56%), which is the fifth most disliked profession in general. With this highly critical assessment, Spaniards are not only the Europeans who most dislike priests, but they are also among the biggest detractors of the clergy across the world.

Among younger people, there is another business activity that stirs up a lot of distrust and one which, with its outright rejection by many people, rises to fourth place in this negative top five. These are bank employees, frowned upon by 57% of the population. Some food for thought: these are also the people turning down many of the under-35s for loans and mortgages who will have participated in this poll.
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Syracuse, N.Y. -- Rite Aid Corp. has revealed in a state filing how many workers will lose their jobs when it closes its distribution center in Liverpool next year.

Rite Aid will lay off 233 workers when it closes the center at 7245 Henry Clay Blvd., according to a notice filed Tuesday with the state Department of Labor under the state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.
When We Were Young, an annual music festival held at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds in Winchester, Nevada, on October 18, 2025, has announced its 2025 lineup of more than 50 pop-punk, emo and alternative rock artists.

This years festival will be headlined by Panic! At The Disco, who are coming out of retirement for a one-off performance of their iconic debut album A Fever You Cant Sweat Out.

Joining them on the festival bill are Blink-182, Weezer, Avril Lavigne, The Offspring, The Used, All Time Low and many more acts that defined the early 2000s rock scene.

Where to buy When We Were Young tickets

Although the festival is completely sold out, general admission tickets and VIP packages can be purchased on secondary market platforms such as Vivid Seats SeatGeek and StubHub, which offer verified tickets with buyer guarantees.

At the time of publication, general admission prices start at $427 on Vivid Seats.

Fans can also sign up for the waitlist to add a day two on the When We Were Young website.

What is When We Were Youngs 2025 lineup?

One of the most exciting aspects of the 2025 When We Were Young festival is the reunion of Panic! At The Disco  the Las Vegas-based band that officially disbanded in early 2023.

After a successful run with seven studio albums, the groups frontman, Brendon Urie, announced that Panic! would no longer be performing. However, for this special festival appearance, Urie will take the stage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album A Fever You Cant Sweat Out.

Fans can expect the band to perform the album in its entirety, including hits like I Write Sins Not Tragedies and The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage, alongside other fan favorites.

Headlining alongside Panic! At The Disco will be pop-punk legends Blink-182. The band, who were also featured in 2023s festival, will bring their high-energy performance to Las Vegas with tracks from classic albums like Enema of the State and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.

Other notable performers include Weezer, Avril Lavigne, The Offspring, Yellowcard, Bad Religion, Knocked Loose, Taking Back Sunday, Jacks Mannequin, The Gaslight Anthem, The Story So Far, Motionless in White, Ice Nine Kills and Plain White Ts, just to name a few.
Democrat Josh Riley won election to a U.S. House seat representing New York on Wednesday, defeating Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro, the Associated Press is projecting.

Riley, an attorney, first faced Molinaro in the 2022 midterm election and narrowly lost to him.

Molinaro was one of several first-term Republicans in New York running for reelection in a district that Democrat Joe Biden carried in the 2020 presidential election.

This district stretches from the Hudson River Valley to the Finger Lakes.

The Associated Press declared Riley the winner at 1:17 a.m.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Ten minutes after declaring victory in a bruising House race, John Mannion pledged he would be a role model in Congress who seeks to end the bitter polarization in American politics.

We are a divided country, Mannion told about 100 family and friends who gathered at Sky Armory in Syracuse on Tuesday night. We must unite. And Im committed to doing that.

Mannion had just pulled off a historic win over Rep. Brandon Williams, becoming the first Democrat to flip a Republican House district in Tuesdays election.

Democrats will need to flip three more Republican seats to win a majority in the House.

Mannion also became only the third Democrat in 60 years to win the Syracuse-based congressional seat.

But rather than talk about his place in history, Mannion focused on trying to heal a divided House district in Central New York. He said he wants to help end the corrosive politics that made its way into his election and the presidential race.

We have a country we can still be proud of, Mannion said. Were not perfect. But if we continue to tear each other apart, perpetuate a false narrative that our elections are not functioning, are not valid, and continue to spread disinformation and misinformation out there. Then this country cannot be what it has been to us.

Mannion, a former science teacher, entered politics four years ago and won two terms in the state Senate. He said one of his motivations was to change a political system where the truth didnt seem to matter.

We must restore it, Mannion said. The truth is so important. We have to be truthful. We have to be truthful with each other. We have to serve as role models. I have to serve as role model to my fellow colleagues in Congress to be truthful. And then we need individuals from both parties to stand up against their own leadership that perpetuates that false narrative.

Mannion, a moderate Democrat, was among state senators who split most often with the Democratic majority.

During his campaign for the 22nd Congressional District seat, he promised to put people over politics and vote for whats right for Central New York.

Mannion told syracuse.com that he plans to join the New Democrat Coalition of moderate Democrats in Congress, a group that sometimes splits on issues with its more liberal colleagues.

His campaign against Williams was marked by occasional bitter exchanges at debates where both candidates accused each other of lying to voters.

But when Williams called in the middle of Mannions victory speech, the tone was much different.

That was Representative Williams, Mannion said after the brief call. He was very gracious. You know, he just conceded. But I thank him. I thank him for handling this situation the way that he did. I certainly thank him for his service to this country.

Mannion added, What I remember growing up is that we respected each other even if we disagreed. And we got it. We got to get back there, and I respect his service to this country in this district.

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Syracuse, N.Y.  Democrat John Mannion has defeated Republican Rep. Brandon Williams in one of the nations most hotly contested House elections, boosting Democratic hopes of controlling at least one chamber in Congress.

Mannion took the stage at his election night party in Syracuse and declared victory shortly after 11 p.m. Williams has conceded.

Mannion was leading Williams 52.59% to 44.57%, with all election districts reporting in the 22nd Congressional District in Central New York, according to unofficial returns from the state Board of Elections.

Williams trailed by about 27,000 votes.

Mannion, a state senator from Geddes, becomes only the third Democrat in the past 60 years to win the Syracuse-based seat in Congress.

Hes also the first congressional candidate to unseat an incumbent for the House seat since Republican John Katko defeated former Rep. Dan Maffei, D-Syracuse, in the 2014 election.

This year, both parties viewed the 22nd District seat as one of the keys to winning the House majority.

Democrats need a net gain of only four seats in the 435-member House to win back the majority they lost to Republicans in the 2022 election.

Mannion is the first Democrat in the nation to flip a House seat tonight from red to blue, according to The New York Times.

New York state emerged as the top national battleground because Williams, R-Sennett, and three other first-term Republicans (Anthony DEsposito, Mike Lawler and Marc Molinaro) represent swing districts that President Joe Biden won in the 2020 election.

In Central New York, the candidates, their parties and other political groups spent more than $18 million combined on the election, according to Federal Election Commission records.

The big money paid for a barrage of political ads in which both sides tried to portray the other as too extreme or radical for the average person in Central New York.

Mannion, 56, a former high school science teacher, made abortion rights the top issue in the campaign.

The two-term state senator promised to vote in Congress to restore the abortion rights lost in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Williams opposes abortion rights.

Congressman-elect John Mannion takes a concession call from Brandon Williams on Election night at SKY Armory in downtown Syracuse. (Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)dennis nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Williams, 57, a Texas native and former technology executive, mostly stuck to a conservative message that helped him win the congressional seat in 2022.

Williams made crime and border security the top issues. He tried to portray Mannion as a rubber stamp for Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and her polices.

Mannion and Democratic groups told voters that Williams is a MAGA extremist who is closely tied to former President Donald Trump.

In the campaigns final weeks, the election turned personal with dueling TV ads that claimed Mannion and Williams each engaged in abusive behavior toward their government staffers. Mannion was cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent investigation ordered by the state Senate.

The importance of the Central New York election for both parties was underscored in the final weekend of the campaign.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made dueling visits to Syracuse to lead rallies for Williams and Mannion.

Johnson attracted some unwanted national headlines during his visit when he told reporters that Republicans probably will seek to overturn the CHIPS and Science Act that lured Micron Technology to Syracuse.

Micron plans to build a $100 million complex of computer chip plants in Clay over the next 20 years that would employ up to 50,000 people. Its the largest economic development project in New York state history.

Johnson later tried to walk back his comments saying he misheard a reporters question. Williams said he would try to convince Johnson of the importance of the CHIPS Act for places like Central New York.

Williams had been a top target of House Democrats for two years because he won his election in 2022 by about 2,600 votes or 1 percentage point. He is one of only 16 House Republicans in a district won by Biden in 2020.

Top political analysts in Washington, D.C., had listed Williams as the nations most vulnerable House member whose seat was most likely to flip in todays election.

At the start of the year, New York lawmakers added about 10,000 Democratic voters to the 22nd Congressional District through the redistricting process  giving Democrats a roughly 30,000-voter edge in the district.

The new 22nd Congressional District spans all of Onondaga and Madison counties and parts of Cayuga, Cortland and Oneida counties. The district includes the cities of Syracuse, Utica, Auburn and Cortland.

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Washington  Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was reelected to a U.S. Senate seat representing New York on Tuesday, the Associated Press projects.

Gillibrand defeated Republican Mike Sapraicone, a retired New York City police detective.

This victory makes it absolutely clear that New Yorkers believe in a government that works, and that we must put people over politics, Gillibrand said in a statement. I am committed to finding common sense solutions, which is why I always reach across the aisle to find common ground, from delivering health benefits for first responders and veterans, to taking illegal guns off the street, to bringing down costs for New York families.

Gillibrand has been New Yorks junior senator since 2009. In Washington, shes been a voice against sexual harassment and assault in the military.

Gillibrand was first elected to Congress in 2007, winning a House seat in a conservative part of Upstate New York and toppling an incumbent Republican. She won a 2010 special election for Senate and full terms in 2012 and 2018 reelection campaigns.

She was among a crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates seeking the partys nomination in 2020 but dropped out of the race in 2019.

New York hasnt elected a Republican to the Senate since Al DAmato won in 1994.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Azerbaijani banks must consider environmental issues when lending, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Vugar Karimov said at the conference "For sustainable development of Azerbaijan: presentation of the Unified Platform and National Standard for Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG)" in Baku today, Trend reports.

"Azerbaijani banks, when granting loans, must consider not only economic factors but also environmental issues. Currently, it has become necessary to focus on environmental indicators when allocating financial resources. These steps will not only reduce carbon emissions but also strengthen Azerbaijan's economic sustainability," he emphasized.

More detailed information about the Unified Digital Platform for ESG Standards can be found here.

To note, the volume of loans issued in the capital and regions of Azerbaijan increased by 4.4 billion manat ($2.5 billion), or 19.86 percent compared to the same period of 2023, amounting to 26.7 billion manat ($15.7 billion) as of September 30, 2024. The average annual interest rate in the country amounted to 13 percent; in Baku, it was 11.65 percent.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Azerbaijan will demonstrate its commitment to fight global climate change at the upcoming COP29, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vugar Karimov said at the conference For sustainable development of Azerbaijan: presentation of the Unified Platform and National Standard on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG), Trend reports.

Azerbaijan will demonstrate its commitment to fighting global climate change at the upcoming COP29. Azerbaijan has put forward 14 key initiatives as part of its COP29 chairmanship. Our goal is to introduce new approaches and innovative solutions not only at the national but also at the global level. Through these initiatives, Azerbaijan will continue to support the transition to a green economy and maintain its leading position in the international arena. These steps will also strengthen the image of our country as a reliable and productive partner. The establishment of a climate finance fund that supports public and private investments in climate change adaptation, mitigation, and research projects is one of the key initiatives. This fund is particularly important for financing the elimination of the consequences of natural disasters in developing countries, he noted.

According to him, the BICFIT initiatives put forth by Azerbaijan during its COP29 chairmanship are designed to kickstart investments in green economy diversification and to pave the way for the development of pertinent policies, acting as a springboard for dialogue and the sharing of experiences.

The goal of this initiative is to fortify the connections between climate finance, investment, and trade. As part of the COP29 events, a day dedicated to the theme of Finance, Investment, and Trade on November 14 is scheduled to present these initiatives. Emphasizing the important role of business in this process is crucial, as a shift to sustainable business models is key to achieving global climate goals. The initiatives presented at COP29 will accelerate the transition to a green economy. Finally, we encourage businesses to seize every opportunity to transition to a sustainable economy, which will not only improve their competitiveness but also make a meaningful contribution to achieving global climate goals by promoting more sustainable and responsible operations, he added.

To note, Baku is hosting a conference titled For sustainable development of Azerbaijan: presentation of the Unified Platform and National Standard on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG).

The event sees the attendance of Sadig Gurbanov, the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology of the Azerbaijani Parliament, along with Vladanka Andreeva, the UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, and a host of other officials.

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DCEite Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NCR Posts: 3,577 Thanked: 3,451 Times

Re: The cheaper car / bike in your garage that you love as much as the more expensive one Well, both my cars are "cheap" in relative sense (to the topic of this thread), but the cheaper one is the Ignis Zeta MT (The other one being the Grand Vitara Zeta AT).



I like the Ignis more purely from Fun to drive perspective, but not necessarily that I will take everyday to work or leisure everyday.



The reasons I love my cheap Ignis:



1. Its an Manual transmission, and a very good one at that. The gearshifts are sure slotting, short, precise and the clutch is well weighted. The steering is good by segment standards, but I wish it centered 100% to after turning (it does around 90% only).



2. The K12M on the Ignis, though misses out on the Dual VVT setup, offers blistering performance specially in the mid range. This is something I miss in the Grand Vitara. Take the revvs to 2000 rpm, push the accelerator pedal, and this thing just flies.



3. The car is a point and shoot machine in city traffic. In rush hour traffic, a car of this dimensions and agility can take some stress out of navigating heavy traffic.



4. The visibility all around is just fantastic. There are zero blind spots, and the ergonomics are spot on.



5. Bad roads, water logging ? Not much of an issue, with the healthy 180mm ground clearance and short wheelbase.



6. The heigh speed stability is surprisingly good for a small light weight car. Partly to do with stiffer suspension setup. Last edited by DCEite : 5th November 2024 at 12:14 .
With this small utility, you simply select the text you want to translate and then press the hot key (Ctrl+Q to show translation in the popup window or Double Ctrl click to show the translation in the main window). The program also has the ability to speak text (Ctrl+E) and perform a dictionary search (Win+Q). Also, you can open the main window and type text manually.

Note: The program translates a text by using online translation services, so you need an Internet connection.

Features

Translate text in any application that supports text selection (Google Chrome, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Acrobat Reader, Skype, IE and etc.);

Search in online dictionaries;

Back translation;

Replace the selected text with its translation;

Instant translation;

Spell checking;

Text to speech synthesis;

Word suggestion/autocomplete;

History of translations;

Virtual keyboard.

The current version supports the following translation services:

Google Translate

Bing Translator

Promt

Babylon

SDL FreeTranslation.com

Yandex.Translate

youdao

Baidu

The program has two modes of translation by mouse selection (click on the program icon in the system tray to turn this mode on):

Show icon (Select text in any program, the program icon will appear near the cursor. Click on the icon, the popup window with the translation of the selected text will appear);

Show translation (Select text in any program and the popup window with the translation of the selected text will appear immediately).

What's New
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

What just happened? Enterprise users at companies that employ CrowdStrike antivirus software and have received prompts to upgrade their operating systems to Windows 11 24H2 should probably wait. The security toolchain has encountered another faulty update that could make Microsoft Office apps unusable. Fortunately, the problem isn't as widespread as the incident from earlier this year.

Microsoft is investigating an error that causes Microsoft Office applications like Word and Excel to crash after users upgrade to Windows 11 24H2. The problem only impacts companies and managed IT environments, so those using Windows 11 Home or Pro on personal devices need not worry.

The issue was traced to an update for CrowdStrike's Falcon sensor software. It triggers when a host's Prevention Policy engages the "Enhanced Exploitation Visibility Prevention Policy." Other antivirus programs and older versions of Windows likely aren't affected, but Microsoft hasn't ruled out the possibility.

Update (Nov 6, 9am): A CrowdStrike spokesperson has requested us to publish the following clarification, although Microsoft does not place blame on CrowdStrike for the issue, they do associate their security software with the problem: "This is not a CrowdStrike issue. An issue in Windows 11 24H2 is causing some specific applications to hang. CrowdStrike identified and reported the issue with Windows 11 24H2 to Microsoft and are waiting for them on a resolution."

Although the company hasn't yet fully resolved the problem, it has stemmed the spread by temporarily disabling the affected security policy and delaying the deployment of Windows 11 24H2 on impacted devices that haven't installed it.

CrowdStrike users should check the company's security bulletin for more information.

A related problem with CrowdStrike's Falcon sensor infamously caused a BSOD (blue screen of death) on over eight million PCs earlier this year, halting airliners, broadcasters, and other important infrastructure around the globe.

Microsoft's policy of granting security software access to the Windows kernel quickly took the blame. The company has since been working to reverse the practice despite regulations that require it.

CrowdStrike isn't the first company to encounter problems with Windows 11 24H2. Soon after Microsoft deployed the major update last month, some DRAM-less Western Digital SSDs encountered BSODs and other bugs. Those still affected should download the company's latest firmware.

Windows 11 24H2 is designed to embed generative AI features deeply into the operating system. As Microsoft continues to deploy the update, enhanced chatbot, image editing, and other functionality will come to PCs with NPUs.

These include devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, Intel Core Ultra, or AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors. The company's controversial Recall feature, which allows AI to remember nearly everything that happens on a PC, has faced multiple delays but remains a keystone component of the update.
What just happened? Gift card scams are a popular tactic used by scammers, who trick people into buying the cards and providing the codes they contain so the criminals can access the money without a trace. Companies such as Google make a commission on these gift card purchases, and according to a lawsuit outcome, they have no obligation to refund victims.

The story starts in April 2021 when Brownsville, Indiana resident Judy May fell victim to a scammer posing as a relative who told her she was eligible for federal grant money if she bought Google Play gift cards.

May was told she needed to send codes from the back of the gift cards to cover certain costs upfront to receive same-day delivery of the grant money. She says she lost $1,000 because of the scam  money Google refused to refund.

May launched a proposed class-action lawsuit against Google that accused the firm of illegally profiting from the scams by refusing to refund victims. The suit also claimed that Google engaged in a range of unfair practices and should place warnings on its gift cards informing buyers of potential scams.

US District Judge Beth Labson Freeman dismissed the suit this week. The judge said that it was the scammers, not Google, who persuaded May to buy the cards, adding that the plaintiff had failed to show that Google knew it was receiving stolen funds or caused the losses.

Google receives 15% to 30% commissions on gift card purchases. Judge Freeman said the tech giant was not liable for keeping the money as Google's conduct was unrelated to the original fraud.

Freeman also said Google did not engage in unfair practices and agreed with the company's view that the funds were not considered stolen when May purchased the cards.

May also failed to prove that Google deployed technology to detect scams when her purchases were made.

Freeman ruled that "May suffered economic harm because of third-party scammers' fraudulent inducement, not Google's omission or misrepresentation."

Freeman said May could try to refile an amended lawsuit within the next 45 days, but dismissed a claim seeking triple damages as the complaint "failed to show a likelihood that May will be a victim of gift card scams again given her awareness of such scams."

According to the FTC, Americans lost $217 million in gift card or reload card fraud last year, and that only includes the cases that were reported, meaning the actual amount is likely much higher. May said Google Play cards account for 20% of gift card scams.
Get Bing, Get Rich: Microsoft Rewards began in 2010 as Bing Rewards, a loyalty program offering credits for using Microsoft's products and services. While the rewards aren't as generous as they once were, the program remains active  and now even includes a rare chance for participants to win big.

Microsoft recently notified Microsoft Rewards users about an exciting new promotion. The "Ultimate Giveaway" includes a chance to win a grand prize of $1 million, and follows a similar setup to the original Rewards program. Participants simply need to engage regularly with Microsoft services and products to earn entries.

The Microsoft sweepstakes is currently available in select countries, including the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, the UK, France, and Germany. After signing up, users can begin earning entries. Initial signup grants five entries, with up to 200 additional entries available through various tasks listed on the site.

These tasks include installing the Microsoft Edge browser, searching on Bing daily, setting Edge and Bing as the default browser and search engine, and more. The sweepstakes runs through December 31, featuring a single $1 million grand prize and additional secondary prizes valued at $10,000 each.

Users can also redeem their existing rewards points to enter the new sweepstakes, with 2,000 points equating to five entries. In addition to individual prizes, Microsoft is donating up to $500,000 to the World Wildlife Fund and Unicef  a generous act from a company that reported $30.6 billion in operating income over a recent three-month period.

Though the giveaway offers a unique chance to win big simply by using everyday digital services, it remains closely aligned with Microsoft Rewards' original goal: promoting Microsoft products. The program was initially launched to advertise the Bing search engine, yet Bing's popularity remains limited despite being a decade old.

Those who spend substantial time in Microsoft's ecosystem may find rewards especially beneficial, as Bing, Edge, and Xbox activities can yield thousands of points with minimal effort. Recently, however, Microsoft reduced the daily points cap, frustrating some users who actively pursue every point opportunity.
There have been massive leaks behind Samsung's plans to develop and release a cheaper version of its Galaxy Z Flip smartphone, but the South Korean company has now spoken up to say that it is not making one. It was initially believed by the industry as rumors from internal communications revealed that it is planning a cheaper version of the flip phone, to the delight of many.

Additionally, this is not the first time that Samsung was rumored behind cheaper foldable smartphone plans, particularly as its flagship Galaxy Z Fold was also rumored to be getting an affordable version in the future.

Samsung Says 'No' to Cheaper Galaxy Z Flip and Z Flip FE

According to a new report from Android Central, Samsung is "not building" a cheap Galaxy Z Flip smartphone for the time being, with the company focusing on what it offered this year for its flagship devices. The company recently updated its foldables with the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which also got a Z Fold Special Edition, alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and no other smartphones followed.

In the latest report, Android Central noted that this decision by Samsung is beneficial to its rivals as they continue to deliver more affordable foldable devices while the South Korean technology is out of reach to those who do not have the budget.

Currently, Samsung sells its foldables for over $1,000, with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 starting at $1,099 for its entry-level variant, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is available for $1,899 (but now offers it with a $200 discount).

Cheaper Foldables Can Be Found From Other Brands

That being said, despite the discounts and trade-ins available for Samsung's foldable, its competitors offer significantly cheaper smartphones without the discounts yet, each having unique offers for users.

Motorola offers one of the top flip smartphone devices in the world, the Razr, and it is available for as low as $699 (but is now offered at $150 off) over at Amazon. Also, Chinese rivals are also taking up the space with their more affordable devices with Honor, Oppo, OnePlus, and more.

Samsung's Affordable Foldable Phone Rumors

Rumors have centered on Samsung's foldable developments that will opt for cheaper and more affordable devices to offer to the public, and last year saw an influx of claims regarding this new venture. The sources claimed that Samsung will deliver cheaper foldable devices to the public this 2024, with both of its smartphone lineups speculated to bring these versions that will appeal to the masses.

This was followed up by more reports earlier this year which said that the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 release will deliver its novel second variant that will be the more affordable version of the device. It was said to be an 'entry-level' Galaxy Z Fold 6 from the company that would sacrifice several premium features from its flagship foldable smartphone to make it available to more customers.

The South Korean tech giant has since seen many Chinese rivals take a more prominent presence in the market since their arrival, with their devices significantly cheaper compared to what Samsung offers. Despite the massive anticipation of the public regarding Samsung's cheaper foldable, the company denied the rumors about its development of the affordable Galaxy Z Flip and a 'Fan Edition' version of it coming to the public.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Green energy transition must be fair, General Director of the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation at the Tshwane University of Technology (South Africa) Rasigan Maharajh said during a panel session themed "Habitat: everyone has their own, everyone has the same" at the 21st Annual Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi today, Trend reports.

"We must unite to ensure a transformation that organizes us as a society and ensures mobility, and this will undoubtedly require us to abandon the subjugation of others, oppression, and inequality.

Thanks to new technological developments, this is becoming more widespread. However, it's necessary for high-quality infrastructure to be spread in sufficient quantity across all habitats as quickly as possible," the expert also said.

He pointed out that 650 million people live on Earth without access to electricity, and 600 million of them live on the African continent.

"Therefore, we must integrate the principles of a just transition. We must ensure that the transition from fossil fuels to green energy is economically conscious, environmentally responsible, and just," he explained.

Maharajh mentioned the necessity of preventing the promotion of antagonistic development models and implementing the principle of solidarity in relationships.

"We have everything we need to ensure that all of humanity can enjoy a certain standard of living without despair and humiliation. We must go beyond mere adaptation or mitigation of climate change impacts, and this will require scientific and technological progress, which results from shared agendas for environmental research and study," he added.

To note, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club commenced in Russias Sochi on November 4.

This year's theme is "Lasting Peace On What Basis? Common Security and Equal Opportunities for Development in the 21st Century".

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A massive rally before the 2024 US Election almost led the top cryptocurrency to a new record, but what made it true was the recent win of the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, which led to Bitcoin reaching a new all-time high. It is a rarity for Bitcoin to reach a new all-time high twice in a year, but since the support expressed by Donald Trump to it, supporters of Trump and BTC have rallied for it this election day.

The massive surge from Bitcoin saw it break the $73,000 threshold and reach $75,000 after this comeback win for the former president, with many traders rallying the top coin as they showed support for the candidate.

Bitcoin Reached New All-Time High at $75,000

Bitcoin made a significant rise following the recent results of the 2024 US Presidential elections, and seeing its pro-crypto candidate win the bid prompted a new all-time high (ATH) for the top coin. After recently rallying close to an ATH earlier this week, Bitcoin reached a new record of $75,389, almost $2,000 more than its previous record this March that saw it peak to $73,803.25.

According to the Financial Times, crypto traders have placed big bets on Trump winning his re-election bid for his second term, as well as Bitcoin, with the top coin seeing a surge following the win.

Trump has previously claimed specifically that he will make Bitcoin a "superpower" should he be elected for office, claiming massive promises for the industry, which is now speculated for brighter days ahead.

Trump Win Helps BTC Reach New Record

Trump made a comeback win in this November elections and Bitcoin also made a significant rally after its perilous early second half of the year where it faced notable crashes and doubt. With this Trump win, Bitcoin achieved a new record which has been previously predicted by analysts, claiming that it will record $75,000 by year's end, arriving earlier following the election.

There are expectations that Trump will hold his promises once he is sworn into office, but analysts and experts are now perceiving this as a new beginning for the crypto industry, starting with Bitcoin.

Trump's Support for Crypto and Bitcoin

Earlier this year during the campaign season, Donald Trump was rumored to be positioning himself in line with the cryptocurrency industry's best interests, including speculations on the US' strategic reserves focusing on BTC. Shortly after the rumor, Trump attended the Bitcoin 2024 Conference in Nashville and professed his support for crypto as well as the top cryptocurrency.

The Republican presidential candidate also revealed that it will end the 'persecution' of cryptocurrency in the United States government, and will push for its adoption in countries, in line with its regulations. Additionally, Trump announced the launch of his and his family's decentralized finance (DeFi) platform which was later revealed to be 'World Liberty Financial' that will offer an escape from the oppressive 'Big Banks.'

Trump saw immense popularity when he aligned himself with the cryptocurrency industry and many Americans celebrated this decision, looking forward to its rise by year's end which envisioned the former president's win. Trump has made a comeback win in the 2024 US elections and this prompted another win for Bitcoin, with the top crypto rallying to an all-time high and seeing a beneficial position now.
The United States Supreme Court will deliberate over a crucial case on Meta's Facebook on Wednesday, Nov.6. This is as the social media company is calling for the dismissal of a lawsuit of federal securities fraud led against it by its shareholders.

The claims stated in the suit are based on how Facebook has fooled its investors regarding the application of its user data and with reference to the case in connection with the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This class action lawsuit, along with a similar case related to artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia, might just set precedents that make it much more difficult for private investors to bring securities fraud claims against companies.

The Cambridge Analytica Scandal and Shareholder Lawsuit

In 2018, the lead defendant filing a class-action lawsuit argued that Facebook had committed fraud under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 since it misled investors, as per USA Today.

The plaintiffs argue that when Facebook rejected to make any public notice concerning the case in 2015 of involvement between the company and the British political consulting firm about the harvesting of the data of over 30 million users on the platform.

The app used these for the successful presidential campaign by then-candidate Donald Trump in the 2016 presidency. By then, Facebook made a deliberate falsehood.

The news broke in 2018. This led to a considerable fall in Facebook's share prices. Investors believe that it is a violation of federal securities law since it withholds critical information that affects stock performance. The claim seeks monetary compensation for a drop in the value of the stocks experienced by investors after the scandal.

Did Facebook Mislead Investors?

At the heart of this Supreme Court review is whether Facebook's failure to disclose the previous data misuse was a violation of securities laws.

Shareholders claim that Facebook depicted data misuse as a theoretical risk rather than acknowledging the fact that the risk had already materialized. However, Facebook claims that it was not under a legal obligation to disclose the previous breach since its disclosures were meant to be forward-looking.

Based on Facebook's legal team's arguments as Reuters finds, "a reasonable investor" would interpret this kind of risk disclosure with regard to future events as opposed to past incidents. Furthermore, they argue there was no requirement to actually provide risk disclosures of specific prior events in a manner that was strictly tied and related to ongoing business risks.

Previous Court Rulings and Expected Outcome

In 2021, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila dismissed the case, giving Facebook an upper hand. Conversely, in 2023, the case was brought back to court by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 vote, allowing the lawsuit to proceed. Facebook appealed at the Supreme Court, which is most likely to produce a judgment by June 2024.

Consequences in Securities Fraud Cases and on Big Tech

This is a case of great interest because it has the potential to redefine standards for liability in securities fraud, especially as applied to major corporations. The decision could determine just how transparent companies must be in disclosing events that can have an impact on their stock performance.

A ruling by the Supreme Court in favor of Facebook would make it far more difficult for private litigants to bring corporations into court over allegations of securities fraud.

The Cambridge Analytica scandal led to shareholder suits but also investigations by U.S. government agencies. The SEC took an enforcement action against Facebook in 2019, imposing a settlement of $100 million. The Federal Trade Commission levied a separate $5 billion penalty against Facebook related to privacy violations tied to the scandal.

Nvidia's Case and Future of Securities Litigation

The Supreme Court will also listen to, on Nov. 13, a similar case involving chipmaker Nvidia. A class action alleges that the company lied about how much of its revenues came from the cryptocurrency industry.

These cases follow Supreme Court decisions that have sequentially limited the authority of the SEC to enforce its powers of enforcement in matters of fraud in securities. It presents a trend towards the prohibition of regulatory and legal restraints against corporate interests.
American Big Tech companies are facing a digital web tax in Italy and other countries in Europe which the United States government wants gone, and is now calling again for its removal from the country. It was revealed by reports that the US views this taxation as 'unfair' and a form of 'discrimination' as it targets several of the American tech companies according to sources.

However, it was also revealed that Italy is currently waiting on the results of the 2024 US Presidential elections, especially as a new administration is on the verge of handling these matters.

US Wants Italy to Drop its Digital Web Taxes

The United States has renewed its calls to Italy to have the country drop its digital web taxes that are mostly affecting America's Big Tech companies, with sources claiming this latest plea according to Reuters. Moreover, it was also revealed that this continued demand by the United States may prompt a risky situation for Rome, saying that Washington may retaliate should its request not be met.

It was revealed that Italy is yet to make its move because of the current 2024 US elections, awaiting the next leader and their administration's stand regarding the issue, according to officials who asked to be anonymous.

This particular matter saw Italy imposing this three percent levy on transactions taking place on the internet in 2019, focusing on digital companies that make at least 750 million euros in revenue and 5.5 million were made in Italy.

Despite Donald Trump already claiming the win in this current election, it will still take some time before the new leader of the White House makes a move regarding this, with Italy continuing with its taxation.

US Big Tech Faces Discrimination in Italy

The companies that were classified to be taxed by the Italian government include Mark Zuckerberg's Meta, Alphabet's Google, and the biggest e-commerce platform in the world, Amazon. With Italy's 3 percent levy, it earns almost 500 million euros per year, which is a relatively small revenue claims Reuters.

That being said, the current US administration has already threatened Italy with tariffs if this digital web taxation continues. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has plans to remove the 'minimum conditions' of the tax, to make it fair for these US Big Tech corporations and subject more companies to pay their share and remove the 'discrimination.'

Europe's Policies Against US Tech

The European Commission and the EU member countries have exerted their rules and regulations against Big Tech companies which significantly affected American corporations as most of these are from the US. One of the most strict legislations was the Digital Markets Act which designated many US Big Tech names to be 'gatekeepers,' with Apple effecting massive changes because of this.

Other US tech companies have also faced many antitrust complaints which the European Union investigated, urging these companies to open up their services and remove their 'anti-competition' practices for EU operations. Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and more also face these scrutinies in the region, with significant changes made to make it fair for Europeans to use their technologies.

That being said, the United States and its Treasury Department noticed these EU regulations, particularly with Italy's taxation which mostly affected American Big Tech companies during its run. While Italy previously proposed a solution by removing the minimum conditions and making it fair for all tech companies to face taxation, the case is yet to move forward.
The American multinational tech corporation best known for its GPUs, Nvidia, is now the world's largest company with a significant surge this late in the year, seeing a valuation of $3.73 trillion in the current market. Nvidia's successful climb to the top is credited to its artificial intelligence (AI) offers, and this includes its foundational model, as well as renowned GPUs that help run companies' models.

In this recent rise to the top, Nvidia has beaten Apple yet again as the world's largest company, with the previous 'most valuable company' starting late on its artificial intelligence offers that only arrived this year.

Nvidia is Now the World's Largest Company Valued at $3.73 Trillion

TechCrunch reported that Nvidia is now the world's largest company and it is touting its $3.73 trillion valuation when the market closed earlier today, overtaking Apple who previously held the top spot. It remains unknown how long Nvidia will maintain its current standing as it has been seen throughout this year that it had a push-and-pull relationship with Apple on the charts.

Apple is currently valued at $3.38 trillion and has seen a massive gap from Nvidia's current value in the market. Previously, Nvidia surpassed Apple last June to be the world's largest company, but it only held this recognition for one day.

It was revealed by Bloomberg that Nvidia's massive jump today saw a skyrocketing 850 percent growth since late 2022, with the company facing significant successes as it welcomed the current advancements in tech.

Nvidia's Climb to the Top is Thanks to its Focus on AI

Nvidia's growth and current state are credited to its renowned focus on artificial intelligence, with the company focusing on its development of AI chips and GPUs for running the technology for many brands and clients. Not only that, Nvidia also developed its large language model (LLM) that is available for its partners to access.

It is known that top AI companies are using Nvidia's AI chips for running and developing the models, with the likes of Tesla, xAI, and more. Most recently, OpenAI has been one of its top customers, but the company switched to AMD chips and soon developed its own.

Nvidia's Recent Successes With AI

Before Nvidia released its first AI model to accompany its processors and GPUs in powering computers and other devices to help develop and run artificial intelligence, it was the world's top brand for AI chips. Because of this move, Nvidia propelled itself as one of the top companies for all things artificial intelligence, and it also helped the company inch closer to Apple's valuation.

Earlier this year, Nvidia unveiled its humongous performance in the market after seeing a 628 percent increase in its profits, also giving the company a 268 percent revenue growth and one of its top-performing quarters. Because of this, the company also saw a four percent jump in its stocks, as well as $6.12 earnings per share, all crediting its success in its newfound focus on AI.

The company also ramped up its development of its AI chips offered to clients and partners in the industry, promising that it can deliver one new chip per year, looking to deliver new experiences that promote artificial intelligence. Nvidia is now at the apex of the world's largest companies after surpassing Apple's massive valuation, all thanks to its artificial intelligence developments that helped boost its significance.
South Korea imposed a massive fine of 21.62 billion won or around $15.67 million USD on Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, for collecting the sensitive data of millions of South Korean users and sharing them with other parties without explicit permission.

The blow came huge as the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), the data protection agency of the country declared the decision.

Meta Allegedly Breached User Privacy

According to the PIPC, Meta collected information about around 980,000 Facebook users in South Korea. The information collected was beyond just standard data and included some sensitive personal details such as the political and religious beliefs of its users, and sexual orientation among others.

However, the company did not seek explicit consent while collecting this information. A move against South Korea's strict data privacy laws.

The data was then passed on to about 4,000 advertisers, who then used it to customize ads for these users, raising even more concerns over the possible misuse of highly personal information. This is an eye-opener for other nations concerned about user dataand how tech giants collect and monetize them.

Data Categorization and Privacy Violations

The investigation found that Meta categorized users based on specific personal details, such as their religious beliefs, political leanings, and even sensitive identities like being North Korean defectors or identifying as transgender. Such detailed user categorization can significantly impact user privacy, especially when the individuals have not given informed consent.

In response to the findings, Meta's Korea division has chosen not to comment on the matter. However, this fine highlights the importance of transparency and user control over personal dataa critical focus for South Korea's data protection laws.

Denial of User Access to Personal Information

The PIPC also noted that Meta failed to honor users' requests to access their own personal information stored on the platform. In South Korea, users have the right to view, access, and control their data on digital platforms.

However, the agency reported that Meta declined requests from users to review their own information, thereby violating South Korea's Personal Information Protection Act.

Furthermore, the agency stated that Meta had failed to protect data from hackers, with information on around 10 South Korean users reportedly leaked during a cyberattack. This lack of security measures has led to concerns about Meta's handling of user data on a global scale.

The fine from South Korea marks the latest in a series of challenges Meta has faced globally concerning its data privacy practices. The company has been under scrutiny in several countries for how it handles user data, with regulators in Europe and the United States also pushing for stricter oversight and larger penalties for privacy violations.

With this recent fine, South Korea's PIPC has sent a strong message to Meta and other tech giants, emphasizing the need to adhere to stringent data protection standards.

"While Meta collected this sensitive information and used it for individualized services, they made only vague mentions of this use in their data policy and did not obtain specific consent," Lee Eun Jung, a director at the commission who led the investigation on Meta, told The Associated Press.

The Importance of Compliance with Privacy Laws

With this latest fine, Meta should take note that bypassing other country's policies comes at a price. The company should take proactive measures to ensure compliance the next time it collects users' data.

South Korea knows that tech giants will take advantage of thisand they will ditch the need for transparency and respect for user content when handling sensitive information.

In light of this fine, Meta may face further scrutiny in other markets, potentially leading to more stringent policies and internal reforms to align with privacy expectations worldwide.

Back in July, Brazil banned Meta from gathering user data for AI training.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. Hungary supports Kyrgyzstan in its development aspirations, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at a meeting with Cabinet Chairman Akylbek Japarov in Bishkek, Trend reports via the Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet of Ministers.

Hungary supports Kyrgyzstan in its aspirations for development and is ready to find common ground in priority sectors of cooperation for the realization of mutually beneficial projects, Orban said.

The Prime Minister emphasized the similarity of views of Kyrgyzstan and Hungary on many issues, including the strengthening of comprehensive ties, as well as the development of trade, economic, and investment cooperation.

In the course of the meeting, the parties discussed the possibility of implementing joint projects in various areas, including investment, energy, infrastructure, and tourism.

The Head of the Cabinet of Ministers emphasized the importance of the previous day's talks between the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov and Viktor Orban, where important bilateral documents were signed, including the Joint Declaration on Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Kyrgyzstan and Hungary.

Japarov also stressed the importance of cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, recalling that Bishkek will host the 11th Summit of this organization, and Kyrgyzstan is taking the baton of chairmanship. He expressed gratitude for the participation of Viktor Orban in the upcoming summit.

Moreover, the sides exchanged views on the development of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the European Union, taking into account the current Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. Kyrgyzstan is set to hold a high-level meeting on mountain agenda at COP29, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov said at the 11th Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States in Bishkek, Trend reports.

Kyrgyzstan is actively promoting the agenda and initiatives related to mountain regions in the international arena. In this direction, we propose joint actions on international platforms. In this context, I would like to note the UN General Assembly resolution Sustainable Mountain Development, adopted at the initiative of Kyrgyzstan. According to the resolution, the years 2023-2027 are declared the Five-Year Action Plan for the Development of Mountain Regions. We propose to the parties to the Framework Convention on Climate the Annual Dialogue on Mountains and Climate. In this regard, we request brotherly Turkic countries to support Kyrgyzstan's initiative to institutionalize this dialogue at the COP29 Conference to be held in Baku, Zhaparov said.

According to him, within the framework of the conference, Kyrgyzstan is preparing to hold a high-level meeting on Promotion of the mountain agenda and inclusion of mountain issues and climate change in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Given the overlapping positions of our countries on the climate agenda, we invite you to participate in this high-level meeting. In addition, we hope for the support of brotherly countries in the implementation of the conceptual document Turkic Green Vision: Unity for a Sustainable Future initiated by the Kyrgyz side, the President said.

To note, in a few days, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will start in Baku. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.
Spain unveils $11 bn aid plan after catastrophic floods



Valencia, Spain, Nov 5 (AFP) Nov 05, 2024



Spain announced Tuesday an aid package worth 10.6 billion euros ($11.5 billion) to rebuild regions devastated by its worst floods in a generation that have killed 219 people.

The exceptional Mediterranean storm that lashed eastern Spain a week ago triggered surging torrents of muddy water that have left a trail of destruction.

Regional judicial authorities in Valencia said late Tuesday that they had listed 89 people as missing based on analysis by police and forensic investigators.

Their estimate was the first time a provisional figure had been put on an unknown number of people yet to be accounted for following the deluge.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a series of measures including aid to small and midsize businesses, self-employed workers and households that have suffered deaths, incapacity and damage to homes and belongings.

Tax relief and a three-month postponement to repaying mortgages and loans were also among the announcements, which Sanchez likened to the state's intervention during the Covid-19 pandemic to protect the economy and livelihoods.

The government will take on all emergency spending by local councils linked to clearing mud, debris and ruined property and restoring drinking water, Sanchez told a news conference.

Spain has also requested aid from the EU solidarity fund, he added.

Security forces and emergency services personnel are working around the clock to repair damaged infrastructure, distribute aid and search for bodies in Spain's largest peacetime deployment of its armed forces.

Sanchez said almost 15,000 troops, police officers and civil guards were in the eastern Valencia region that has suffered most of the deaths and destruction, up from 7,300 on Saturday.

Firefighters combed through piles of damaged vehicles and pumped water from inundated garages and car parks where more victims may be discovered, AFP journalists saw.

Maribel Albalat, mayor of the ground-zero town of Paiporta, told public broadcaster TVE they were doing "better, but not well" with many streets still inaccessible and residents struggling to get a phone signal.

Rescuers in the southeastern town of Letur have found one of the missing bodies they were looking for, announced the central government's representative in the Castilla-La Mancha region, Pedro Antonio Ruiz.

Two Chinese citizens, two Romanians and an Ecuadorian are among the dead, authorities in those countries have said. The floods also claimed three British victims, UK media have reported.



- 'Dereliction of duty' -



Many survivors are furious with the authorities for failing to warn the population on time last Tuesday and provide urgent rescue and relief work.

That anger reached a breaking point in Paiporta on Sunday when crowds heckled and hurled mud at King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Sanchez.

The outrage was also palpable in Valencia -- Spain's third-largest city that was unharmed despite being a stone's throw from the hardest-hit zones -- when AFP visited on Tuesday.

Local humourist Jose Antonio Lopez-Guitian, 61, had just returned from the town of Massanassa with his boots covered in mud and said residents were left to fend for themselves.

The situation was "a national disgrace" and "a dereliction of duty by all the institutions", he said.

The floods affected more than 4,100 hectares (10,100 acres), the civil protection service said on X, using a map provided by the European Union's Copernicus satellite.

Storms coming off the Mediterranean are common during this season. But scientists have warned that human-induced climate change is increasing the ferocity, length and frequency of extreme weather events.

"Climate change kills... we have to adapt to this reality," Sanchez said at his news conference, lashing out at the "irresponsible discourse of deniers".
Cuba on hurricane alert as storm Rafael approaches



Havana, Nov 5 (AFP) Nov 05, 2024



Cuba was bracing for Tropical Storm Rafael, which is expected to make landfall on the island as a hurricane Wednesday, compounding the misery wrought by a massive blackout and Hurricane Oscar.

Rafael was strengthening as it headed towards the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center in the United States.

Four provinces in the west of the island, including Havana, have been placed on cyclone alert.

The NHC said Rafael was expected to become a Category 1 hurricane (Category 5 is the strongest) as it passed near the Cayman Islands and to strengthen further before making landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday.

According to Cuban media, over 70,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, mostly in Guantanamo in the east of the island, where eight people were killed by Hurricane Oscar last month.

While Guantanamo is not expected to experience hurricane conditions persistent rain this week has left the ground saturated.

In Havana, state television showed workers clearing drains, collecting garbage and cutting back trees to prepare for Rafael.

The US State Department urged citizens to reconsider travel to Cuba in light of the weather conditions.

Hurricane Oscar lashed Cuba last month as it was in the throes of a four-day nationwide blackout caused by the failure of the island's biggest power plant and a shortage of fuel.

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Brazil must act on probe into UK journalist's murder: media watchdog



Sao Paulo, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



Brazil must bring to justice all those behind the 2022 double murder of British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders urged on Wednesday.

The demand came in the wake of Brazilian federal police on Monday wrapping up a two-year probe into the killings which took place in the Amazon rainforest.

That investigation concluded that Phillips, who freelanced for outlets including The Guardian and The Washington Post, and Pereira were shot dead because of Pereira's monitoring of poaching and other illegal activities going on in the vast Amazon.

It said an alleged mastermind behind the killings was charged for having "supplied the rounds for the perpetration of the crime, provided financial support to the criminal organization's activities and who was involved in coordinating the concealments of the bodies."

While the police report did not name the alleged mastermind, Brazilian media reports identified him as Ruben Dario da Silva Villar, a Colombian national who has been in custody since December 2022 and who is being investigated for illegal fishing and drug trafficking.

Phillips, 57, and Pereira, 41, disappeared on June 5, 2022 while traveling through a remote Indigenous reserve in the Amazon, close to the borders of Colombia and Peru.

Their hacked-up bodies were found and identified days later, after an alleged accomplice confessed to burying them. Autopsies showed they had been shot with shells used for hunting.

According to police, other accomplices took part in the murders and hiding the bodies. Three fishermen were arrested and arraigned for trial.

The killings became a symbol in Brazil and abroad for the corruption and lawlessness fueling the destruction of the Amazon, the world's biggest rainforest, and the dangers faced by journalists and Indigenous experts in the country.

Reporters Without Borders (known by its French initials RSF) said it welcomed the conclusion of the Brazilian police report but stressed all the perpetrators must be put on trial.

"Justice for Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira will only be achieved when all guilty parties are held accountable," said RSF Latin America director Artur Romeu.

"Dom's murder cannot be dismissed as collateral damage to Bruno's death. Both were deliberately targeted by a criminal network operating with impunity in the Amazon."

ffb-rmb/mlm
Spanish region says 93 missing after devastating floods



Valencia, Spain, Nov 6 (AFP) Nov 06, 2024



Some 93 people are listed as missing after devastating floods ravaged southeastern Spain over a week ago, killing more than 200, regional judicial authorities in Valencia said on Wednesday.

Valencia's superior court of justice had on Tuesday listed 89 people as missing but said another four missing persons had been reported to law enforcement officers on Wednesday.

The worst floods to hit Spain in a generation have killed at least 219 people, mostly in the Valencia region.

That figure is expected to rise with many of the missing people presumed to have died, although the court said that authorities have not ruled out finding some of them alive.

Search and rescue operations on Wednesday targeted underground garages and waterways in the Valencia region.

The 15,000 police and soldiers deployed to the region have been helping clean up the devastation and repair roads and infrastructure.

Spain's government on Tuesday announced an aid package worth 10.6 billion euros ($11.5 billion) to rebuild the devastated regions.

On Wednesday, the European Investment Bank also pledged 900 million euros to finance reconstruction in the affected regions.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. Kyrgyzstan is ready to provide comprehensive support to Azerbaijan during the upcoming COP29, said President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov at the 11th Summit of OTS Heads of State in Bishkek, Trend reports.

Zhaparov expressed his country's solidarity with Azerbaijan as it prepares to host the major international event  the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

"We extend our best wishes for the successful organization of this important summit and are ready to fully support our brotherly country, the Republic of Azerbaijan," the head of the state said.

The President further added that Kyrgyzstan plans to hold a high-level meeting at COP29 focused on "Advancing the Mountain Agenda and Including Mountain and Climate Change Issues in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change."

To note, next week, Azerbaijan will host COP29, the decision about which was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

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Press Release

November 6, 2024 SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

SPONSORSHIP SPEECH AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, STOCKPILING AND USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS, PROVIDING FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION, IMPOSING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND APPRORIATING FUNDS THEREFOR In March 1995, an odorless, colorless and toxic nerve agent Sarin was released in Tokyo subway system during rush hour. The coordinated terrorist attack killed 13 people in Japan and left a thousand others injured with temporary vision problems, paralysis, and permanent damage. Chemical weapons were also used in reported targeted assassination plots of high-profile personalities, as in the case of Russian political activist Alexei Navalny in August 2020 when he was poisoned using Novichok, a highly toxic nerve agent; and in the case of the brother of North Korean leader using V-X, which in small dose induces rapid respiratory paralysis and death. And there are numerous other assassination attempts or deaths caused by chemical weapons. These incidents show how horrific chemical weapons are, and how tragedies can ensue once these substances fall into the wrong hands. Maging ikaw ay isang inosenteng train commuter or a prominent public figure, maaari po tayong maging biktima ng chemical weapons. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, twenty-eight years since the Senate (under the leadership of then Senate President Neptali Gonzales) concurred in the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and Their Destruction in August 19, 1996 through the adoption of Senate Resolution No. 49, Congress has not enacted the national legislation needed to fully enforce the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention. This is despite the fact that the Philippines was among the first countries to sign the Convention when it was opened for signature on January 13, 1993 - just 45 days after the UN General Assembly approved the same on November 30, 1992. The Chemical Weapons Convention is a landmark agreement which is a product of nearly 26 years of negotiations and is considered to be a major breakthrough, as it is the first multilateral disarmament convention to provide for a complete ban on a whole class of weapons of mass destruction. The CWC belongs to the realm of arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament treaties, which include the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. These instruments are intended to reduce the likelihood of war and to delimit its effects should said war occur.[1] Mr. President, as your Chairperson of the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, I am honored to sponsor Senate Bill Number 2871 under Committee Report Number 344, or the "Chemical Weapons Prohibition Act." The enactment of this bill will make the Philippines fully compliant with the Convention, as a State Party and as a peace-loving nation. As echoed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA): "The Philippines remains firm in its position on the total and complete elimination of all weapons of mass destruction. Disarmament and non-proliferation are compelling issues for the Philippines given that ten percent (10%) of our population live and work overseas, many in hot spots in the Middle East and Africa." According to the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), which is designated as the Philippine National Authority on the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and other disarmament issues by virtue of Executive Order No. 39 series of 2011, the Philippines is among the 4 countries in ASEAN that have legislation covering some initial measures pursuant to the CWC alongside Myanmar, Brunei and East Timor, and is therefore only "partially compliant" to the CWC. The other 7 ASEAN countries have already enacted legislation covering all initial measures pursuant to the CWC. Kahit po sa aspeto ng lubos na pagpapatupad ng Chemical Weapons Convention ay nahuhuli po tayo. Globally, as of December 31, 2023, out of the 193 States Parties to the Convention, 128 states already have comprehensive national implementing legislation. A similar version of this bill was already approved by the Senate in 2014 during the 16th Congress and was sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence, but unfortunately was not enacted into law. Aside from criminalizing the development, acquisition, retention, transfer and use of chemical weapons, this bill establishes regulatory framework through declaration and verification mechanisms for toxic chemicals, particularly scheduled chemicals or those with legitimate pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial purposes, but can be diverted for the production of chemical weapons. Habang layunin natin na huwag magamit ang dual-use chemicals sa pagbuo ng mapaminsalang chemical weapons, hindi natin nais na bigyan ng dagdag na pasanin o pigilan ang paglago ng ating local chemical industry, lalo't ito ay isa sa pinakamalaking manufacturing sub-sector sa bansa na kinabibilangan ng 1,400 chemical manufacturing firms at 147,000 direct employees. Ipinapanukala natin ang pag-streamline ng mga polisiyang sinusunod ng nasabing industriya at ang pagkakaroon ng coordination mechanism sa pagitan ng mga regulatory agencies upang hindi maging paulit-ulit o doble-doble ang mga permit na kailangan nilang kunin. Apart from being an international obligation, this measure provides the regime to manage chemicals of security concern, as well as the tools to prevent, respond to, and manage chemical incidents, that is crucial for national security and regional stability. Moreover, this acts as a deterrence as the bill provides stiff penalties for violations, in consonance with the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, and the Strategic Trade Management Act (STMA). This bill seeks to effectively reduce the threat of chemical terrorism and ensure that advancements in chemistry will only be for peaceful purposes. Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, this representation respectfully seeks your support in moving this long overdue legislation forward. I look forward to the deliberations of this measure and welcome inputs from the honorable members of this chamber with the sincere hope that this Senate will not delay any further the passage of this bill that is almost three decades behind. The specter of chemical weapons being released in public spaces and its catastrophic and cruel consequences remain, especially with the presence of criminal groups and lawless elements and dramatic breakthroughs in the scientific community thus, allowing ease in synthesis and weaponization of chemicals. I invite our dear colleagues to take this important step in renewing our commitment to fully eliminate chemical weapons in our midst. Thank you, Mr. President. ________________ [1] "Banning the 'Poor Man's' Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Philippines in the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons." J. Eduardo Malaya and Ma. Theresa Alders. Ateneo Law Journal. Vol. 66:129
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. Kyrgyzstan has achieved remarkable progress in the digitalization of public services, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov said during the 11th Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Bishkek, Trend reports.

Kyrgyzstan has made significant progress in the digitalization of public services. Since 2021, the portal of state electronic services and its mobile version function as a single platform for interaction between business and the state, Zhaparov said.

According to the head of state, at present the portal offers more than 100 public services from 37 different government agencies, and 1.5 million citizens access it every month. Digital documents have legal force and can now be used through a mobile application.

We are also simplifying tax administration and licensing, making these processes accessible and understandable for all market participants, Zhaparov said.

The President emphasized that the Turkic States Forum on Artificial Intelligence in Bishkek was successfully held, which became a unique platform for discussing strategies for the development of artificial intelligence and stimulating technological progress in the OTS countries.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. Kyrgyzstan proposed creating a center for technology and 'green' initiatives within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov said at the 11th Summit of Heads of State of the OTS in Bishkek today, Trend reports.

"We propose to consider the creation of a regional center for technologies and 'green' initiatives within the framework of the OTS, which will allow the development of renewable energy sources," Zhaparov explained.

The head of state noted that Kyrgyzstan also pays special attention to pressing issues such as climate change and environmental pollution.

"One of the key areas of our presidency is to take joint measures with OTS member states to address challenges related to climate change and environmental pollution," he said.

According to Zhaparov, in the last 70 years, the expanse of Kyrgyzstan's glaciers has diminished by 16 percent. In certain areas of the country, glaciers have nearly vanished entirely.

"These glaciers are a source of drinking water not only for our country but for the entire Central Asian region. Given that our region is one of the most vulnerable to warming, by 2100, we could lose more than half of our glaciers," he added.

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Eating outJust open Its tropical drinks, below-zero martinis, and elite snacks at new Filipino bar Inuman Your summer starts here. Climb the stairs to reach a rooftop bar thats channelling island vibes coupled with big-city style. Emma Breheny November 7, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

As featured in the Melbourne hit list for December 2024. See all stories .

Melbournes best bar snack might be at new Filipino rooftop bar Inuman on Exhibition Street. On paper, its just a chicken sandwich, but this one packs in enough thrills to make you sit up and take note. The Inuman team, who also run Askal restaurant two storeys below, have plenty more lightbulb moments for your tastebuds. Inumans chicken skin sandwich and Tito Ray cocktail both channel tropical resort. Justin McManus Theyre calling Inuman  which means to drink  Melbournes first Filipino cocktail bar. The list is by co-founder Ralph Libo-on, who was previously shaking at Serai, also part of Melbournes current wave of contemporary Filipino venues. Once again, Libo-on is putting Filipino ingredients, from ube to tapuy rice wine, front and centre in tongue-in-cheek yet delicious drinks. Snacks are by Askals culinary director John Rivera (also a co-founder at Inuman), who trained in fine dining then brought Melbourne gelato shop Kariton Sorbetes before opening these venues. Think of Inuman as a capsule of the Filipino flavours that are on show downstairs at Askal. Or just a really fun spot for snacks and drinks that you wont find elsewhere around town.

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Inuman is serving Filipino-inspired cocktails and bar snacks on a city rooftop in Melbourne. Justin McManus What to drink Were calling it: the Sari-Sari Sparkle will be the most photographed drink of the summer in Melbourne. The thirst-crushing vodka, lemongrass, feijoa and hibiscus number comes in a crumpled-looking glass that Libo-on spent months hunting for. He wanted it to resemble the plastic pouches that soft drinks are served in at Filipino convenience stores, called sari-sari. The rest of the cocktail list covers freezer martinis to daiquiris, with a story behind each one and boutique booze from the Philippines in most drinks. Filipino and New Zealand beers (both nods to Libo-ons heritage) join a short list of smashable wines. The Sari-Sari Sparkle (left), W.A.M martini and Tito Ray each come with a backstory. Justin McManus

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What to eat Back to that chicken sandwich. The best part of roast chicken  the skin  is made ultra-shattery and laid on white bread with sweet-sour inasal sauce (a popular Filipino chicken marinade). Lemongrass, makrut lime and other fresh herbs are packed in for extra punch. When youre three Old Fashioneds in and you need something fatty and salty to give you a second wind, this is it, says Rivera. The chicken skin sandwich is layered with bright herbs and Filipino flavours. Justin McManus The rest of the menu reimagines typical Melbourne bar snacks through a Filipino lens. There are olives but theyre warmed in a dressing inspired by Filipino adobo, with lots of sour notes and aromatic spice. Cheese comes with Riveras take on Skyflakes, a Filipino cracker. And Inumans Gildas combine the culture of Spain (a long-time ruler of The Philippines) with a Filipino method of preserving fish to create a new entry into Melbournes Gilda Hall of Fame.

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Whats the vibe There are two sides to Inuman. Theres the rooftop scattered with plants and candy-striped cushions for lounging on. Then theres the more intimate bar inside, which is decorated with a deep-red stone bar, jade-coloured ruffled curtains and other flowing fabrics. The rooftop at Inuman is designed for big gatherings of friends. Justin McManus Its a love-letter to the Philippines and its laidback drinking culture, but the team is going beyond nostalgia. The attention to detail in the cocktails and snacks puts Inuman in a category thats above most peoples expectations of a rooftop bar. Rivera sums it up best: You can unwind, but you can also take your date there and well be your best wingman.

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Our favourite detail The illustrated cocktail menu helps you pick a drink for your mood. Are you ready for a sharp and boozy nightcap or something more resort-adjacent? Open Wed-Thu 4pm-12.30am, Fri-Sun 12.30pm-12.30am. Level three, 167 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, inumanmelbourne.com Golden hour: 12 of Melbournes best rooftop dining and drink specials

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The owner of a restaurant rammed by a ute that was then set alight, burning his business, says he doesnt know why it was targeted, as police release CCTV footage of two suspects.

A stolen Isuzu ute crashed through the front of Arabellas Middle Eastern restaurant in West End some time before 3am on Wednesday.

No one was injured. Two men allegedly left the scene in a white Ford Falcon.

I dont have a problem with anyone and I know nothing, owner Sami Alsabag told Brisbane Times.
Education benefits

As a Baby Boomer who was the recipient of a studentship to do teaching, and then was in a position to pay for my upgrade to degree status upfront I am more than happy to help todays students get an education.

An educated community benefits everyone.

Marilyn Hoban, Mornington Reasonable fee

The article Victorians to be slugged thousands of dollars to claim their inheritance (6/11) makes clear that the cost depends on the value of the inheritance.

As a senior person with a will, I consider that these costs are fair and reasonable for my heirs. But then, I wont be leaving behind an estate over $2 million. Nor will many other Victorians. For those heir to estates over $2 million, a fee of $5000 to $20,000 seems perfectly reasonable to me, especially since those inheriting under $250,000 will pay nothing.

Donna Runner, Lake Wendouree Not a model system

Your correspondent, in commenting on the Trump v Harris saga (Letters, 6/11) opines that the ancient Greeks must be looking down on the US with disdain at their version of democracy. Be careful what you wish for. Athens is said to have invented democracy. But only male adult Athenians born of Athenian parents could vote: excluded were women, slaves and foreign born residents, more than half the population.

Peter Price, Southbank Twain at the races

Mark Twain attended the Melbourne Cup in 1895 and stated: The grandstands make a brilliant and wonderful spectacle, a delirium of colour, a vision of beauty ... The champagne flows, everybody is vivacious, excited, happy ... Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to a whole nation.

Steve Barrett, Glenbrook Progressive Tories

Kemi Badenochs recent appointment as UK Tory party leader means the conservatives have now elected four female party leaders, despite not having a gender quota. By contrast, the UK Labour Party has never appointed a woman as party leader, despite having a gender quota since 1993. It seems the Tories in Britain are more progressive than the progressive party.

Greg Hardy, Upper Ferntree Gully

Not party to this

The future of fancy dress parties will be in doubt if participants struggle to find a character to dress up as that will not be in poor taste nor offend someone.

If the AFL is prepared to suspend an umpire who dressed up as Osama bin Laden (Umpire banned for bin Laden costume, 5/11), the mastermind of the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York, then what would be the fate of someone who dressed up as Coalition of the Willing leaders Tony Blair, George W. Bush and John Howard whose unnecessary and unprovoked invasion of Iraq killed many more people than the terror attack on the towers?

Peter Martina,

Warrnambool Relationships with land

We need to think more deeply about the concept of private ownership of land. We know about First Nations relationship with land where people have custodianship and responsibility to look after it. We know that in some places publicly owned land is temporarily leased to people. Currently we believe that people should be able to buy, sell and profit from land like any commodity in the free market.

I, along with many Baby Boomers, have become millionaires simply by owning a piece of land to which I have done nothing since building a house on it 60 years ago. The value of the land increased simply by what was going on around it. That is, more people wanted to live there. This has resulted in young people feeling anxious when contemplating how they will provide a basic need, shelter. I do not know the answer. But I believe we must work out ways of treating the surface of this planet other than as another commodity.

Howard Tankey, Box Hill North Boronia blooms

Thank you, Everard Himmelreich (Comment, 5/11), for your lovely article on your suburb Boronia. I particularly like the thought of the Boronia CWA on Sundew Avenue. A welcome relief from horse races and US politics.

Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn Electing vanity

While the fad of lip plumping is horrifying (Letters, 5/11)  we need to stop blaming the pressures that society place predominantly on women and just start encouraging people to take responsibility for their own actions.

In most cases, these elective procedures are born out of vanity, pure and simple.

Tim Habben,

Hawthorn Coalition needs to reflect

Re Peter Dutton reads riot act to MPs on abortion (6/11), it may pay the Coalition to reflect on why this has cost them votes. A statement to support this as a health issue that is between a woman and her doctor is required. Anything less is unacceptable and will cost them the next election.

Rosslyn Jennings, North Melbourne

Flexible logic

Re Coalition is stretching the truth on yoga workers (5/11), we need more yoga teachers to help those people finding it hard to make ends meet.

Robin Jensen, Castlemaine Its mega madness

How can we be in a cost-of-living crisis when I see an ever-increasing horde of mega-SUVs and massive utes, which cost a lot of money and guzzle petrol? The Toorak tractors have gone mad, complete with snorkels for fording all the wild rivers of suburban Melbourne.

Jane Palomountain, Eltham Skinny influencers

The quality of influencers has declined badly since the days of Voltaire, Rousseau and their ilk. Anyway, contemporary influencers all seem in need of a good feed.

Michael Read, Carnegie Macbeth deals trumps

If Shakespeare were to write to The Age of his dark forebodings and fears regarding the US election, he could do worse than quote himself to convey the darkness that lies in Donald Trumps mind as he surveys the political landscape.

Light thickens and the crow makes wing to the rooky wood. Good things of day begin to droop and drowse; whilst nights black agents to their preys do rouse.

Claude Miller, Castlemaine Things falling apart

Ive got Yeats poem The Second Coming in my head and it wont go away.

Wendy Batros, Templestowe

Now, for the planet

Now that the US presidential campaign is over can we direct our attention to matters of much greater long-term importance? The 2024 State of the Climate Report once again indicates the severity of climate change and the danger in which it is putting the inhabitants of the planet. Evidence of this is everywhere, from extreme floods in Spain to abnormally high temperatures in Canada, and more destructive floods and bushfires in Australia.

Despite this, the political classes in most countries  certainly including Australia  refuse to take the warnings seriously, preferring to focus on increased growth and retention of the capitalist status quo, which is now proving to be so destructive.

Our prime minister and government must recognise the disaster that is unfolding for present and later generations and take action to phase in plans for equitable degrowth, irrespective of what other countries do. This will set an example for other countries and demonstrate our governments concern for later generations and the health of the biosphere.

Greg Bailey, St Andrews Physics is warped

All the Trekkies will be devastated and wish to be beamed up. Apparently there is something faster than Warp Speed. It was proven at the Melbourne Cup when Knights Choice won. Scotty from the engine room was heard saying, I cannae change the laws of physics. Im giving you all Ive got captain. She cannae take any more!

Greg Tuck, Warragul <> Credit: Matt Golding AND ANOTHER THING Politics

Democracy brings responsibilities as well as benefits. How can the US be called a democracy when voting is optional?

Doris LeRoy, Altona

Donald Trump would return the US to the Wild West if he could  Gunfight at the OK Corral. But it is not, and never was, OK.

Greg Curtin, Nunawading Will a future film, based on Donald Trump and Elon Musk in government, be entitled The Rise of the Efficiency Machines (subtitled: Youre terminated!) be made?

Peter Thomas, Pascoe Vale It appears that the media have sent as many reporters to the US election as they sent to the Queens funeral. I hope they are not anticipating the death of democracy.

Dick Noble, Lucknow We should note how much cheaper it is to run a political campaign in Australia because we have compulsory voting. Billions have been spent to cajole Americans to get out and vote. A president can be elected by merely 25 per cent of voters.

David Baylis, Drouin East Furthermore

Pray for lovely and brave Ukraine; not prey, Mr Trump.

Richard Pentony, Hawthorn
Children under 16 would be banned from social media platforms under laws Prime Minister Anthony Albanese plans to introduce to protect the mental health of young people.

Albanese said at a press conference on Thursday that the government planned to make social media companies responsible for enforcing the ban, while children and their parents would not be penalised if they flouted it.

The onus will be on social media companies to police the age of users.

Social media is doing harm to our kids, and Im calling time on it, Albanese said. I want parents to be able to say: Sorry, mate, its against the law.

But the government has not unveiled key details, including the technology that would be used to keep children out, the scale of penalties for social media firms that breached the rules and the extent of exemptions to the ban.
The core issues during the US presidential election were the cost of living, immigration, abortion and the character of the candidates. These same issues  intractable, incendiary and dispiriting  will also figure here in the next federal election, which threatens to be as close, as unpredictable, and as divisive.

When combined with a sharp campaign, the potency of those issues  plus youth crime  was shown last month in Queensland, where the expected landslide for the LNP failed to materialise.

Illustration by Dionne Gain

When the campaign began, Labor faced a wipeout. It calculated it would retain 14 or 15 seats. Now it could be 36, including the Greens seat of South Brisbane.

Sentiment shifted significantly at the beginning of the second week after Katters Australian Party leader, Robbie Katter, pledged to repeal abortion laws. Labors nimble campaign had ads running by the end of that week on TV, YouTube and Meta, reminding voters that the LNP leader David Crisafulli had voted against decriminalising abortion in 2018. They warned women their health rights were under threat. State and federal Labor campaigners have no doubt Queenslanders heeded the warning.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. Kyrgyzstan will present its pavilion at the upcoming COP29 for the first time, providing an opportunity to showcase the country's achievements and hold meetings with international partners, Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan Meder Mashiev said during a meeting with the US Ambassador Leslie Viguerie in Bishkek today, Trend reports via the Kyrgyz Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision.

The discussion addressed the hot-button issues of climate change and the involvement of both countries in the upcoming COP29, set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 through 22.

The ambassador pointed out that ecological issues and climate change are coming to the forefront and are more relevant than ever on the world stage.

Both parties expressed mutual readiness to strengthen cooperation and shared their plans for the upcoming event.

In just less than a weeks time, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be kicking off in Azerbaijan, the decision of which was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai in December last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The abbreviation COP (Conference of Parties) means Conference of Parties and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin with its secretariat in Bonn.

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More than 50 major projects to construct water infrastructure for Victorians were delayed last year, prompting the essential services regulator to warn that providers were failing to properly forecast costs.

The Age on Wednesday revealed Treasurer Tim Pallas expanded his cash-grab on Victorian water providers with a new efficiency dividend as part of the COVID debt repayment plan, prompting concerns he risked pushing up bills or infrastructure investment being scrimped.

Water projects were delayed for reasons including the need for more planning and design work and delays in planning and tendering. Credit: Jason South

A new report into the performance of the states water businesses reveals that 51 major projects  or 28 per cent of the pipeline  blew their planned timelines in 2023-24.

That was a high number considering for most businesses this is only the first year of their regulatory period, the Essential Services Commission said in the report released last week.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that flying has never been safer. Last year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), was the safest on record, with just a single fatal accident involving a commercial passenger plane (the crash of Yeti Airlines Flight 691, which killed 72 people). Thats despite there being 37 million aircraft movements in 2023, an increase of 17 per cent on the previous year. For comparison, on average 148 people die every hour in road accidents, according to UN figures. The Airbus A350 ranks as one of the safest airline models ever built. Furthermore, the A350, which was introduced in 2015, ranks as one of the safest models ever built, having experienced just a single hull loss in its decade of service: a runway accident on January 2 this year, when a Japan Airlines jet collided with a smaller coastguard plane on the runway at Tokyo Haneda. Only seven major models can boast a flawless record: the Boeing 717 (out of production since 2006), the Bombardier CRJ700 series (favoured by airlines around the world for regional services), the 747-800 (the jumbo jets final series), the A380 superjumbo (out of production since 2021), the Airbus A220 (originally developed by Bombardier as the CSeries), the A330neo (introduced in 2018), and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Thats according to Boeings own data, covering the period from 1959 to 2023. Where does the 737 Max rank?

The stats dont quite look so rosy for the 737 Max. Those two fatal crashes early in its existence mean it has a hull-loss with fatalities accident rate of 0.7 per million departures  above the average of 0.55 for the 64-year period in question. However, with 1586 of the 737 Max aircraft now built, and thousands of flights landing safely every week, that ratio is quickly improving. More than 1500 Boeing 737 Max planes have now been built. Credit: Bloomberg Passengers should be comforted by the extraordinarily low accident rates on other popular aircraft. For the 777, Boeings long-haul workhorse, the rate is 0.13. The 737 Next Generation family? That would be 0.08. Other models might give pause for thought. The A310 family, out of production since 1998 but still in the fleets of little-known airlines including Iran Air and Ariana, has a hull-loss with fatalities accident rate of 1.89 per million departures  still small, but markedly higher than more modern jets. For the McDonnell Douglas MD-11, another rarity in 21st-century skies, it is 1.58. For the Fokker F28, now almost entirely absent from the heavens, it is 2.31. What about Concorde?

Boeings data, the source for the table above, only includes aircraft that have operated commercially in the past five years  which means no Concorde, Comet, 707, Trident, VC10, DC-8 or 747-100/-200/-300/SP, among others. The supersonic Concorde had one fatal crash, but did not fly as many times as other aircraft, giving it a poor safety ratio. Credit: AP The figure for the DC-8, not built since 1972 and now little more than a museum piece, is about 4. For the 707, out of production for over 40 years, it is 4.28. And Concorde would certainly sit near the bottom of the table. It was involved in just one fatal crash but only flew 90,000 times  thats 11.36 per million departures. What about Soviet-era aircraft? Statistics for such aircraft are hard to come by, but some of the most popular models from the Soviet era would almost certainly make the lower end of our table. The Tupolev Tu-104, for example, the first Soviet jet airliner (of which 200 were built), was involved in a remarkable 33 hull-loss accidents resulting in 1028 fatalities, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. The Ilyushin Il-18, of which an estimated 678 were made, had 97 hull-loss accidents resulting in 2483 deaths.

The Sukhoi Superjet-100 had a troubled introduction. Credit: AP Since the end of the Cold War, Russian manufacturers have been unable to compete with the Boeing-Airbus duopoly, and few Soviet-era aircraft are still in service. However, Moscow firm Sukhoi, historically associated with military planes, has attempted to revive the fortunes of Russias civilian aircraft industry with its Superjet 100. This new model, like the 737 Max, also had a troubled introduction. How to find out your aircraft model before you fly Some airlines only use one model, though Australian airlines tend to have a variety of jets. Qantas fleet features Airbus A380s and A330s, along with Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 737s. It will soon add Airbus A321s and A350s to its collection, the latter to fly its planned ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise flights to London and New York. Virgin Australia mostly flies 737 variants with a few Airbus A320s, while Jetstar uses mostly Airbus A320 variants with 787 Dreamliners for its international routes.
Kyiv: Ukrainian officials congratulations of President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday were fast and effusive  but did little to mask the fears and uncertainty that now hangs over Ukraines future.

Many Ukrainian MPs recognise that securing the American weapons needed in the war against Russia will require convincing Trump to back a fight that he appears to consider too expensive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Credit: Getty

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it an impressive election victory. He reminded Trump of the great meeting they had in September in the United States and talked about ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential office and Zelenskys main adviser, echoed his bosss congratulations, adding that it was essential that Ukraine has bipartisan support in the US.
Earlier, jubilant college kids had danced on the lawn as R&B blasted through the speakers. Im feeling really excited; were witnessing history at our school, and its just amazing to see a black woman to be able to be in this height of power, said student Kai Taylor. But within hours, Trump had claimed victory, becoming only the second president to win re-election after a loss, in one of the most extraordinary political comebacks in history. This is karma, ladies and gentlemen! shouted UFC president Dana White from the stage in Florida.

Nobody deserves this more than his family does. This is what happens when the machine comes after you. Couldnt stop him. He keeps going forward. Hes the most resilient man Ive ever met in my life! Trump is due to be sentenced on November 26 for falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal with porn star Stormy Daniels. He was also meant to face trial in Georgia for election interference in that state, and Washington, DC, for the events leading up to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Republican vice-president-elect J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance (left), with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner during Donald Trumps speech. Credit: AP But Trumps performance capped one of the most fiercely contested and turbulent presidential campaigns in modern history, tapping into voters fears about an invasion of illegal immigrants, crime, inflation, and biological men in womens sports. The campaign was also one of the most violent, with two assassination attempts against the former president, bomb threats on polling centres from foreign actors, and attacks on ballot drop boxes across the country.

I said that many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason, Trump said. And that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness, and now we are going to fulfil that mission together. Loading The task will not be easy, but I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit, and fight that I have in my soul to the job that you have entrusted to me. At 78, Trump is the oldest person elected to the office. His vice presidential nominee, 40-year-old J.D. Vance, will become the highest-ranking member of the Millennial generation in the US government. I think we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America, Vance told the crowd.

Trump is now expected to give vaccine sceptic Robert F. Kennedy a role in his administration overseeing health. Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, who bankrolled much of Trumps campaign, will also be appointed to a role reducing government red tape and expenditure. The two candidates could not have offered a more different vision. Trump painted a bleak picture of a nation destroyed under the Biden-Harris administration, promising to embark on the biggest deportation program in history to get rid of illegal immigrants, an immediate expansion of gas and oil drilling, and tariffs on all imported goods. Abortion was an issue that Harris campaigned heavily on, along with populist economic policies targeting middle-class families, such as building more affordable homes, banning price gouging and expanding child tax credits, and one which brought millions of women to the polls. The election was also the first to take place after the deadly January 6 attack at the US Capitol and the first to be held after Trumps conservative judges on the US Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights in America.
Donald Trump has declared victory in the 2024 US election, claiming at least 295 electoral college votes, with an expected total of 312. Kamala Harris, who appeared competitive earlier in the evening, finished with 226 votes, 44 shy of the 270 needed to claim the presidency.

Trump has already won five of the seven swing states  Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  and leads in the remaining two, Arizona and Nevada.

The polls have closed and vote-counting continues.

So far, more than 139 million votes have been counted, with Trump leading Harris in the popular vote by almost 5 million.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been awarded the Supreme Order of the Turkic World, Trend reports.

The award was presented to him by the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov within the framework of the 11th Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Bishkek.

To note, on November 6, the capital of Kyrgyzstan hosted the 11th summit of the OTS under the theme "Strengthening the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, Digital Future, and Security for All".

The leaders of the member states discussed the further development of multilateral cooperation within the OTS framework, made decisions on relevant issues on the current agenda of the organization, and signed several multilateral documents, including the final declaration.

The presidency of the OTS for 2025 was handed over to Kyrgyzstan.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 6. Uzbekistan Railways and Tajikistan Railways signed an agreement on cooperation, Trend reports.

The document was signed at a meeting between the Chairman of the Uzbekistan Railways Board, Zufar Narzullaev and the Head of Tajikistan Railways Kamil Jumahan.

During the meeting, the parties discussed establishing favorable conditions for freight carriers, aiming to boost cargo volumes between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and implementing competitive tariff rates to support this growth.

In general, the trade turnover volume between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan amounted to $486.2 million from January through September 2024. This figure has decreased by 12.1 percent year-on-year ($545.4 million in January-September 2023).

As to the exports from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan, they reached $371.4 million, while the imports to Uzbekistan amounted to $114.8 million during this period.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 6. Uzbekistan and Hungary have discussed the formation of a new project portfolio for trade, economic, and investment cooperation between leading companies of both countries, Trend reports.

The discussion was held during a meeting between Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban as part of the Turkic States Summit in Bishkek.

During the meeting, the parties discussed key issues related to the further development of Uzbek-Hungarian strategic partnership and multifaceted cooperation.

Furthermore, the parties emphasized tangible outcomes of collaboration, including increased trade volumes, enhanced industrial cooperation, and the continued development of an industrial park in the Tashkent region. They also recalled the inaugural Regional Forum held in Kokand in October and noted forthcoming significant joint cultural events scheduled to occur in Budapest this month.

The parties also exchanged views on current regional issues.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has wished Azerbaijan a successful hosting of the upcoming COP29 Conference, Trend reports.

Speaking at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Bishkek, the President of Uzbekistan noted: Once again, I sincerely congratulate and wish great success to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the beginning of the COP29 Conference in Baku next week.

Mirziyoyev added that in order to find solutions to acute environmental problems related to climate change, Uzbekistan considers it necessary to speed up the establishment of the Turkic Ecological Council at the ministerial level. We are ready to hold its first meeting next year in Uzbekistan, he noted.

To note, in a few days, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will start in Baku. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed to adopt a treaty on strategic partnership, eternal friendship, and brotherhood of Turkic states, Trend reports.

According to information, the President of Uzbekistan stated this in his speech at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Bishkek.

Given the current high level of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between our states, we are in favor of expanding and strengthening the treaty-legal base of the Organization. I think that the development of this comprehensive document will raise the activity of our structure to an even higher political level, he said.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev also noted that the adoption of the historic document of the OTS - the Charter of the Turkic World - is a vivid reflection of the growing multifaceted cooperation of brotherly countries and peoples of the organization.

I am convinced that on this basis we will achieve even greater unity of the Turkic world, increase its authority, deepen mutually beneficial and friendly ties, and bring our cooperation to a qualitatively new level, Mirziyoyev added.

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AMERICA VOTES WORLD WAITS





WASHINGTON :

The race remained stubbornly deadlocked for weeks, with some of the election forecasters giving Harris an edge over Trump in some of the key battleground states like Pennsylvania.

MILLIONS of Americans headed towards polling stations across the United States on Tuesday to elect the 47th President between Republican leader Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in an election billed as one of the most consequential contests for the White House in decades. The race remained stubbornly deadlocked for weeks, with some of the election forecasters giving 60-year-old Vice President Harris an edge over former President Trump, 78, in some of the key battleground states like Pennsylvania. In her campaign rallies, Harris said supporting the middle class, effecting a tax cut to benefit over 100 million Americans, ensuring affordable housing and lifting the ban on abortions to safeguard the reproductive rights of women will be her top priorities as the President.

On his part, Trump has pledged to strengthen the economy, promised to bring down lower energy costs, proposed higher tariffs on foreign goods, especially imports from China and vowed to rid the US of all undocumented immigrants by launching a major deportation programme. In her campaign in the last few days, Harris has been projecting the election as the one to protect the countrys fundamental freedoms, safeguard constitutional values, ensure womens rights and make a fresh beginning. In his concluding arguments, Trump maintained his aggressive rhetoric and even suggested that he should not have left the White House after the 2020 election, triggering apprehensions that he may not accept the polls if defeated. This is the most consequential election in our lifetime, senior US senator Bernie Sanders told CNN while explaining why Trump as President will be detrimental to the US foundational values.

As fears of post-election violence loomed large, cities and towns across the US have been put under strong security cover with police erecting barricades around the White House and Capitol Hill in Washington DC. In their final rallies, Harris and Trump concluded their campaigns with virtually opposing visions of how to take the country forward with Harris calling for a vision to overcome hate and divisiveness and Trump warning of a bleak future under a Democratic regime. Tonight, then, we finish, as we started with optimism, with energy, with joy, said Harris, closing her campaign in Pennsylvania. In his concluding remarks, Trump said: My message to you, and to all Americans tonight is very simple: we dont have to live like this. TheUShas50statesandmostofthem vote for the same party in every election except the swing states. Based on thevolumeofpopulation,thestatesare assigned electoral college votes. Overall, a total of 538 electoral college votes are up for grabs.

Acandidate with 270 or more electoral votes is declared winner. If both candidates register victory in all the states that historically support the same party, then it will leave Harris 44 electoral college votes short of victory and Trump 51 votes short. In that situation, the 93 votes of the swing states will decide who the next American president will be. The swing states of Pennsylvania, MichiganandWisconsin,knownaspart of the Rust Belt, have been traditionally the strongholds of the Democratic Party. However, Trump won the three of them in 2016.The states returned to the Democratic fold in the 2020 election. Political experts said Harris will be thenextUSpresidentif shewins the Rust Belt swing states.

The four swing states of Arizona, Georgia,NevadaandNorthCarolinaare calledSunBeltwithatotalelectoralcollege vote of 49. TheRepublicanshaveastrongersupport base in the Sun Belt states. Even if Trump wins all four Sun Belt states, hewill stillbe requiredtowinonemore in the Rust Belt. While Harris will watch the election results at her alma mater Howard University in Washington DC, Trump ishaving anelectionwatchparty atthe PalmBeachCountyConventionCentre near his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. If Harris wins the race, history will be made as she will become the first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to become the US President.
BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale meets former Governor Banwarilal Purohit





BJP candidate for West Nagpur constituency Sudhakar Kohale with former Governor of Punjab Banwarilal Purohit at the latters residence.

Staff Reporter :

Sudhakar Kohale, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the West Nagpur Legislative Assembly Constituency, met with senior BJP leader and former Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh Banwarilal Purohit on Tuesday. The meeting, which took place at Purohits residence, was aimed at seeking his guidance and blessings for Kohales election campaign.

In a press release issued after the meeting, Kohale expressed his deep gratitude for Purohits valuable suggestions and support and believed that it will play a key role to ensure a victory in the upcoming elections. Kohale said that the insights shared by Purohit had given a new direction to his vision of serving the people of West Nagpur through public welfare initiatives. Kohale further added that the suggestions from the senior BJP leader would help shape the future course of action for the constituency especially for developmental projects and service to the people.
BSI scientists discover new species of orchid in Arunachal

BSI scientists discover new species of orchid in Arunachal





Itanagar, Nov 6 (PTI)A team of scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) here recently discovered a new species of orchid in Arunachal Pradesh's Lohit district.Gastrodia Lohitensis, the leafless orchid, was found by Krishna Chowlu and the BSI team here, sources said.The rare orchid flourishes without sunlight, relying on fungi in leaf litter for nutrients, they said.Found only in bamboo canopies near Tezu, the headquarters of Lohit district, Gastrodia Lohitensis has unique features like linear calli and ridged lower lips, distinguishing it from similar species in Southeast Asia.Named after its home district, the orchid highlights India's incredible biodiversity, the sources added.Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed delight over the new discovery."A new mycotrophic species of the genus Gastrodia (Orchidaceae), Gastrodia lohitensis, has been discovered in the pristine landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh! This remarkable species, distinguished by its unique white flowers and parallelly arranged oblong-linear calli along the labellum, has been classified as "Endangered" according to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List criteria," Khandu posted on X.Named after Lohit district, where it was found, this discovery adds to the rich biodiversity of our region and highlights the importance of conservation, the chief minister said in the micro-blogging site.Congratulations to Dr Krishna Chowlu and the entire team at the Botanical Survey of India, Arunachal, for this incredible achievement! Khandu added.
Cabinet ratifies 35 pc reservation for women in civil services





Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav presiding over the Cabinet meeting held at Mantralaya on Tuesday. Deputy CMs Jagdish Devda and Rajendra Shukla along with other ministers were also present.

Staff Reporter :





The Cabinet meeting was held in the Mantralaya under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Tuesday. In the meeting, the Cabinet ratified the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Special Provisions for Appointment of Women) Rules, 1997, order of the Chief Minister dated September 13, 2023, and the notification dated October 3, 2023, issued by the department in compliance with this. With this decision, women reservation will be 35 per cent. The Cabinet decided that the State Government will reimburse possible expenditure on human resources up to the maximum limit of Rs 1.72 crore for setting up 254 new fertiliser sales centres in the year 2024-25 (in Kharif and Rabi seasons). The Cabinet decided to retire (de-commission) the units installed in power house number 2 (410 mega watt) and power house number 3 (420 mega watt) of Satpura Thermal Power House, Sarni of MP Power Generating Company Limited. It is noteworthy that units number 6 and 7 (200 + 210 mega watt) located in power house number 2 of Satpura Thermal Power Station, Sarni of MP Power Generating Company Limited and units number 8 and 9 (2X210 mega watt) located in power house number 3 have completed their designed life.

These units have been in operation for about 39 to 44 years. In view of the condition and performance of these units, the Council of Ministers has granted the permission sought by MP Power Generating Company Limited to retire (de-commission) these units. As per the decision, permission was granted to retire (de-commission) units number 6 to 9 (total capacity 830 mega watt) located in power house number 2 and 3 of Satpura Thermal Power Station, Sarni, from September 30, 2024. Disposal of retired (de-commissioned) units will be done through e-auction. Feasibility study will be conducted by MP Power Generating Company Limited for setting up a new ultra super critical unit (unit number 13) of 660 mega watt capacity in place of these units. Keeping in view shortage of medical teachers in new government medical colleges, the Council of Ministers has approved to hike maximum age limit for appointment to the vacant posts of Assistant Professor from 40 years to 50 years.

Pending proceedings of repealing the MP Paramedical Council Act, 2000, the recognition process for the academic session 2023-24 and upcoming sessions, as well as registration of personnel passing paramedical courses and conducting of examinations of certificate courses as per the rules prevalent under the earlier MP Paramedical Council Act, 2000, after reviving previously dissolved Madhya Pradesh Paramedical Council, and completing it, and after the National Commission issues the regulations provided under the Act, revived Madhya Pradesh Paramedical Council will automatically come to an end on formation of autonomous boards by Madhya Pradesh Allied and Health Care Council in accordance with the regulations and as per the decision taken earlier by the Council of Ministers, the proceedings for repealing the Madhya Pradesh Paramedical Council Act, 2000 were approved. The Cabinet gave in-principle approval to the project for computerisation of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies office of the State under centrally sponsored project Strengthening of Cooperatives through IT Interventions implemented by the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India. This will cost Rs 3.68 crore, of which 60 per cent amount will be borne by the Centre and 40 per cent by the State Government.
CBI raids 20 places in Jkhand mining scam





NEW DELHI :

THE CBI searched 20 locations in three states, including pollbound Jharkhand, on Tuesday in connection with an illegal stone mining case in Nimbu Pahar in which Chief Minister Hemant Sorens alleged political aide Pankaj Mishra is under probe, officials said. The searches were conducted in Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar. The central probe agency launched the operation at 11 locations in Jharkhands Sahibganj, three in Ranchi and one location each in Patna and Kolkata at the premises of the suspects and their associates, they said. Later, it expanded the searches to two more locations in Sahibganj, one location in Jharkhands Gumla and one in Kolkata, taking the total number of searched premises to 20, the officials said. Assembly polls in Jharkhand will take place on November 13 and 20.The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha ( JMM) and the INDIA bloc will face the BJP and its NDA allies. The CBI has recovered Rs 50 lakh cash, of which Rs 40 lakh was seized from the premises of RanjanVerma.

One kilogram of gold and 61 live cartridges of 9 mm pistol were seized from Bhagwan Bhagat in Sahibganj. Verma and Bhagat are understood to be close associates of Mishra, the officials said. Sale deeds related to properties, documents related to investments and shell companies, agreement papers and other incriminating documents have been seized, a CBI spokesperson said in a statement. The agency registered thecase on November 20, 2023, at the direction of the JharkhandHigh Court. In its FIR registered onNovember 20 last year, theRanchi unit of the CBI bookedMishra, Pavitra Kumar Yadav, Rajesh Yadav, Sanjay KumarYadav, Bacchu Yadav, SanjayYadav and Suvesh Mandal. They are allegedly involvedin the pilferage and illegal extraction of stones at Nimbu Pahar in Sahibganj. Investigation revealed that largescale illegal mining activities in Sahebganjdistrictallegedlycausedsubstantial losses to the government, primarily through unpaid royalties and the violation of mining laws, the spokesperson said. The official said Tuesdays searches are being carried out atthe premises of suspects whose roles came up during further investigation.

e said field investigations suggest that key individuals and entities were allegedly involved in this operation, usingmultiplemethodstoconcealtheir activities and divert illicitly obtained resources or money. Initial investigation gathered evidence which revealed the involvement and nexus of key individuals and firms to carry out the illegal mining activity and conceal the proceeds thus obtained, he said. TheJharkhandHighCourthaddirected the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into theconduct of the accused personsbookedbytheSahibganjpolice andalsothe conductofpetitionerBijay Hansda, who had sought to withdraw the writ petition. It issued the orders on the petition filed by Hansda, who alleged that for two-and-a-halfyears, thestonemafia werecarryingoutillegalmininginconnivance with government officials, including mining officials, of his district. Healleged that they were usingearth moving machines and carrying out blaststhatresultedincracksinthehouses of villagers. Hansda also alleged that he had seen illegal mining being carried out in the presence of Mishra but his complaints to district officials did not result in any action. Thecourthadalsodirectedtheagency to register a regular case after the preliminary enquiry (PE) and look into the role of other public servants.
COWARDLY





CANADA, under Prime Minister Mr. JustinTrudeau, is walking a path of disaster by repeatedly missing signals from India. Things have now crossed the limits of absurdity as sheer ugliness is driving the Trudeau governments behaviour towards the Hindu community in the country. The attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, a hotbed of pro-Khalistani activities, has triggered another round of fight between the governments of India and Canada with Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi terming the latest incident as a cowardly attempt of intimidation. There is now a fundamental disconnect of Mr. Trudeau with what India views and seeks and New Delhi has no option remaining than to shut down relations with Canada at all levels totally. The clash between pro-Khalistani elements and Hindus in Brampton shows how Mr. Trudeau has given political space to extremist forces in the country. Involvement of police personnel in backing pro-Khalistani elements has also come to the fore in the latest incident which again exposes the support the Sikh separatist forces are getting from the ruling dispensation. Despite criticism from opposition members and also some of his own party members, Mr. Trudeau continues to walk a dangerous path to fulfill his electoral agenda.

The clashes have come on the back of the absurd and ridiculous allegations of involvement of Indias Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah in ordering a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists inside Canada. New Delhi has trashed these statements made by Canadas Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. David Morrison while warning of serious consequences. Now, the warning by Prime Minister Mr. Modi to the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law must be taken up with some earnest steps to make Ottawa realise that New Delhi means business. Canadas allegations against Indian diplomats and now Mr. Shah have come at a time when Mr. Trudeau appears to be battling anti-incumbency with elections barely a year away. A new poll has revealed that only 28% overall think Mr. Trudeau deserves re-election and only 26% would vote for the Liberals which has forced the ruling party to focus on pro-Khalistan members among the 7,70,000 Sikh diaspora living in Canada. Myopic electoral gains have forced Mr. Trudeau to deliberately miss all signals from New Delhi regarding Indian concerns over pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.

By granting political space to these extremists and allowing their anti-India tirade and violent activities as mere activism and dissent protected by free speech, Canada is stretching things to a point of no return. The dirty allegations against Indian diplomats and intelligence agents of their involvement in the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a listed terrorist, are part of whipping up frenzy among the pro-Khalistan forces. Despite repeated demands, Canada has failed to provide any substantial proof of involvement of Indian officials in the killing of Nijjar. It is a reason enough for India to dial the top international agencies and expose Canadas designs of starting a war minus weapons against India. New Delhi must leverage its relations with the United States and the countries which are part of the Five Eyes surveillance grouping to grill Canada on the unsubstantiated and utterly ridiculous charges against India. It is time New Delhi summoned all its dexterous diplomatic strategies for shaping a solid and powerful response that Ottawa should remember for years to come. The gallery show by Mr. Trudeau needs a definite closure now
Like UP, bring BJP topower in Jkhand tobulldoze mafia, says Yogi





RANCHI :

UTTAR Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday accusedtheJMM-ledcoalition in Jharkhand of patronising mafia and urged people to vote for BJP which wouldbulldoze them. Adityanath also claimed that such actions were being taken against the mafia in his home State Uttar Pradesh. He also claimed thatitis the BJP that can guarantee security and safety to people.

The JMM-led coalition is patronising mafia in sectors, suchas land, sand,forest,mining, and liquor, in Jharkhand...Like UP, bring the BJP to power in Jharkhand to bulldoze mafia, he claimed while addressing an election rally in Koderma.

Adityanath also alleged,Like Aurangzeb looted the countryswealth and destroyed temples,the JMM-led coalition and itsMinisters,includingAlamgir Alam looted Jharkhands people. He claimed that the BJP is theonlypartythatcanguarantee the countrys security andpride, womens empowerment and employment to youths. Adityanath accused theCongressofcreatingobstaclestotheconstructionofRam Temple in Ayodhya.
PRO-KHALISTAN PROTESTCanadian cop suspended





OTTAWA :

A CANADIAN police officer has been suspended for participating in a pro-Khalistan protest outside the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, according to a media report. On Sunday, protesters carrying Khalistani flags clashed with people at the Hindu temple and disrupted a consular event co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate. There were unverified videos circulating on social media about the protest. The videos appeared to show demonstrators holding banners in support of Khalistan, as reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Peel Police is aware of a video circulating on social media which shows an off-duty Peel Police officer involved in a demonstration, said Media Relations Officer Richard Chin in an email to CBC News. This officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act, he said.

We are investigating the circumstances in totality depicted in the video and are unable to provide further information until such time that this investigation is complete. Peel police previously said three people have been charged after violence erupted as Indian consular officials visited the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple Sunday. Videos circulating on social media show demonstrators holding banners in support of Khalistan, the CBC report added. Later in the day, demonstrators made their way to the Westwood Mall in neighbouring Mississauga, according to the World Sikh Organisation of Canada. A short time after, a third protest was held outside the Malton gurudwara, a Sikh place of worship on Airport Road in Mississauga, the report added Although these demonstrations occurredatthreedifferentlocations,they appear to be related to one another.

Several incidents between protesters andworshippersbrokeout,policesaid inanewsrelease.IndiaonMondaycondemned the attack on the temple with an expectation that those indulging in violence will be prosecuted. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that New Delhi remains deeply concerned about the safety andsecurity of Indian nationals in Canada. Wecondemntheactsofviolenceperpetrated by extremists and separatists attheHinduSabhaTempleinBrampton, Ontario. We call on the government of Canada toensure that allplacesofworship are protected from such attacks, MEASpokespersonRandhirJaiswalwas quoted as saying in the statement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. Iran's nuclear program will not undergo any changes due to a change of government in any country or for any other reason, Iran's Vice President and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami told reporters following a Cabinet meeting in Tehran on November 6, Trend reports.

He claimed that Iran is keeping its eye on the prize with its nuclear program and is making strides to hit the bullseye on its strategic objectives.

Eslami remarked that even with all the heat on Iran, the nation's nuclear program is moving forward.

The Iranian vice president stated that three irradiation centers have hit the ground running in the country this year. The agricultural processing plant and irradiation centers are just around the corner from going live in Ardabil, Khuzestan, and Kerman Provinces.

To recall, back in January 2016, Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) rolled up their sleeves and put the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action into action regarding Irans nuclear program.

However, in May 2018, the US pulled the plug on the deal and slapped sanctions back on Iran.

By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to put their ducks in a row with a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a halt in any further steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement, which caused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take a hit, resulting in a 2030 percent cut in their monitoring capabilities.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Raipur Central Jail shootout Key accused, aides held; weapon seized

Staff Reporter

Raipur,

In response to a brazen daylight shooting outside Raipur Central Jail on other day, Raipur Police swiftly arrested key suspects and several associates connected to the targeted attack on a habitual offender Sahil Khan, resident of Tikrapara. The incident unfolded as unknown assailants on a motorcycle fired at Sahil with a country-made pistol before fleeing the scene. Acting on urgent orders, Ganj Police registered a case, and senior officials deployed 10 specialised teams to track down the culprits. This attack demonstrated a well-planned criminal effort, and we were resolute in our commitment to apprehend those responsible, stated senior police officials. Initial investigations led to the capture of two primary suspects: Sheikh Shahnawaz, alias Shanu Maharaj (25), and Shahrukh (19), both residents of Maudhapara. Police recovered the weapon used in the assault, along with an empty cartridge from the crime scene. Interrogations of Shahnawaz and Shahrukh provided critical leads, allowing authorities to identify other suspects and intensify search efforts at various hideouts. During this phase of the investigation, police intelligence indicated that additional suspects were planning to escape to Odisha, prompting Crime Branch officers to act decisively and apprehend two principal conspirators, Abdul Sheikh Ghaffar, alias Wadia (47), and Heera Chhura (24), who were reportedly preparing to flee.

Authorities have directly linked Ghaffar and Chhura to the orchestration of the attack, which appears to have been part of a coordinated criminal effort. Our intelligence indicated an imminent escape attempt, which allowed us to intercept these suspects before they could leave the state, senior police officials revealed. Alongside the main suspects, the police detained two other individuals, Narendra Jagat, alias Sudama (22), and Ravi Jal (34), who allegedly aided Ghaffar and Chhura in their attempted escape, highlighting the extensive network involved in this operation. Police are now compiling a dossier on each of the suspects and their criminal records while identifying all associates who may have assisted them.

The list of those apprehended includes Sheikh Shahnawaz alias Shanu Maharaj (25) from Maudhapara; Shahrukh (19) from Maudhapara; Abdul Sheikh Ghaffar alias Wadia (47) from near Navbharat Press, Rajbandha Talab, Maudhapara, Raipur; Heera Chhura (24) from Lal Ganga Rajiv Awas Colony, Gol Bazar; Narendra Jagat alias Sudama (22) from Block V-4, House No. 14, Kabir Nagar, and Ravi Jal (34) from Adarsh Nagar, New Rajendra Nagar. Commending the swift action and coordination, the Raipur Range Inspector General of Police has announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for the team, while the Senior Superintendent of Police has offered an additional Rs 10,000 as a token of appreciation for their commitment and vigilance in apprehending the suspects. The investigation remains active as authorities leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of further accomplices who may have played a role in this high-stakes case.
Salman gets another threat with a demand ofRs 5 cr; sender claims to be Bishnois brother





MuMBAi :

BOLLYWOOD superstar Salman Khan has received a fresh threat along with a demand of Rs 5 crore from a person claiming to be the brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, police officials said on Tuesday. A suspect was tracked down at Hubballi in Karnataka and apoliceteamhasreachedthere though no arrest has been made yet, they said. The threat message, which also asked Khan to apologise apparently over the 1998 blackbuck poaching incident, was received on the WhatsApp helpline of the Mumbai traffic police control room located in Worli late Monday night, an official said.

The messagesender claimed he is the brother of Lawrence Bishnoi, he said. If Salman Khanwants to stay alive, heshould go to our (Bishnoi community) temple and apologiseor pay Rs 5 crore. If he does not do so, we will kill him;our gang is still active,the message said. AcasewasregisteredatWorli PoliceStation,and Khans security was also beefed up,the official said.
Sanjay Verma isnew DGP of Mah





MUMBAI :

SENIOR IPS officer Sanjay Kumar Verma on Tuesday evening took over as the new Director General of Police of Maharashtra, a day after the i n c u m b e n t DGP Rashmi Shukla was removed on an Election Commission of India (ECI) directive ahead of the assembly polls. Earlier in the day, the State Government, with the ECIs approval, appointed the 1990- batch IPS officer to the top post after selecting him from a panel of three names. Hours later, Verma, who was serving as Director General (Legal and Technical) at the time of his elevation, took charge of his new responsibility at state police headquarters at Colaba in South Mumbai. Speaking to media persons after assuming his new role, Verma said, I thank the Election Commission and the state government for showing faith in me.Ihave taken charge of the post.

The Assembly election process is going on and the code of conduct is also in forcefortheNovember20voting.During this period, police will strictly follow all orders and work accordingly, he said. I will sit with all officers, discuss with them, andtake allrelevantinformation andmonitorthe(poll)process,thenew DGP said. The senior IPS officer is due to retire in April 2028, an official said. Asked about the posting of Shukla, the first woman DGP of Maharashtra, the official saidthere wasnoclarityonhernew assignment.Vermahadheadedthestate policesSpecialInvestigationTeam(SIT) which probed the 2015 killing of Communist leader and rationalist Govind Pansare in Kolhapur district. Ahead of the November 20 assembly polls, the ECI on Monday ordered that Shukla be removed as the state police chief with immediate effect following complaints from opposition parties.

The Congress had approached the EC seeking Shuklas transfer, citing her allegedrole intappingphonesofopposition politicians when she headed the State Intelligence Department. The poll panel on Monday directed theMaharashtrachiefsecretarytohand over Shuklas charge to the next seniormostIPSofficerinthecadre.Accordingly, Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar was given the additional chargeofDGPbythestategovernment. The chief secretary was also directed to send a panel of three IPS officers by Tuesday afternoon for appointment of one of them as the new DGP.
SC upholds UP MADARASA LAW





NEW DELHI :

IN A major relief to madarasas in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutional validity of the 2004 State law regulating the Muslim minority educational institutions and said a statute cannot be struck down on the ground of secularism. The significant ruling, which overturned an Allahabad High Court decision, would benefit over 17 lakh students studying in over 16,000 madarasas recognised by the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarasa education under the State law. The High Court had asked for the closure of such institutions and directed the State Government to accommodate students in a formal schooling system. The top court said a statute could be declared ultra vires on two grounds -- being beyond the ambit of the legislative competence or violating fundamental rights or any other Constitutional provision.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra therefore set aside the High Court verdict quashing the 2004 law on the ground that it was violative of the principle of secularism. MinervaMillscaseof1980,declaredtwo provisions of the 42nd Amendment, which prevented any constitutional amendmentfrombeingcalledinquestion in any court on any ground and accorded precedence to the Directive Principles of State Policy over the fundamental rights of individuals, as unconstitutional. Article 31C protects a law made underArticles 39(b) and (c) empoweringtheStatetotakeovermaterialresourcesofthecommunity,including private properties, for distribution to subserve the common good. The topcourt hadheard 16 petitions, including the lead petition filed by the Mumbai-based Property Owners Association (POA) in 1992.

The POA has opposed Chapter VIIIA of theMaharashtra HousingandArea Development Authority (MHADA) Act. Inserted in 1986, the chapter empowers State authorities to acquire cessed buildings and the land on which those are built if 70 per cent of the occupants makesucharequestforrestorationpurposes. TheMHADAAct was enacted inpursuance of Article 39(b), which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy and makes it obligatory forthe State to create a policy towards securing that theownershipandcontrolofthematerial resources of the community are so distributedasbesttosubservethecommon good.
Vice President Dhankar to inaugurate All India Kalidas Festival in Ujjain: CM





Staff Reporter :

Next Regional Industry Conclave in Narmadapuram on December 7

Tourism activities focusing on elephants permanently settled in Umaria-Bandhavgarh area will be encouraged

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said that Govardhan Puja was organised by the State government as an effort to preserve cultural heritage. This innovation, showing sensitivity towards our culture, was appreciated everywhere. This festival, which shows love for cows, will also help in promoting milk production in the state. He said that the Regional Industry Conclave held in Rewa has been encouraging. Industrialists and investors have shown interest in conducting activities in the state. Investment proposals worth Rs 31,000 crore were received in Rewa and about 28,000 employment opportunities were created. Chief Minister Dr Yadav informed that the next Regional Industry Conclave will be held in Narmadapuram on 7 December 2024. Chief Minister Dr Yadav gave this information in his address before the meeting of the Council of Ministers in the Ministry.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Yadav began in the Ministry with the singing of Vande Mataram. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Neemuch, Mandsaur and Seoni Medical Colleges. Appointment letters were also given to 512 Ayurvedic doctors in the program held on Dhanvantri Jayanti. These gifts received by the state in the medical field made Dhanvantri Jayanti unforgettable. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar is coming on 12 December to inaugurate the All India Kalidas Festival.

He directed the ministers to provide information regarding new posts in their departments to the Public Service Commission in the next three days. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the assistance amount on loss of life due to wild animals has been increased from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Talks have been held with the Chhattisgarh government regarding the exchange of prior information regarding the movement of elephant groups, necessary vigilance and precautions and their management. Efforts are being made to ensure that such an incident does not recur. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that more than a hundred elephants have settled permanently in the forest areas of Umaria and Bandhavgarh. For their management, standard operating instructions will be implemented including implementing Hathi Mitra Yojana, forming a task force. The state government will try to keep forests populated, elephants present in them and there is no loss of life. The state's reputation in the field of forests and wildlife has improved; Madhya Pradesh is first in the country in the conservation of tigers and leopards. Activities will be increased by exploring tourism possibilities centered on elephants in the State.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The 60th presidential election in the United States will determine the countrys 47th president, Trend reports.

Donald Trump has strengthened his lead, securing 198 electoral votes with 52.5% of the vote (42,520,660 votes). Kamala Harris follows in second place with 109 electoral votes (37,452,293 votes).

A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the election.

The Associated Press continues to gather data from polling stations across the country as the vote count progresses. Results may change as more information is received.

xxx

07:12

The 60th presidential election in the United States will determine the countrys 47th president, Trend reports.

Donald Trump has strengthened his lead, securing 177 electoral votes with 52.5% of the vote (26,888,034 votes). Kamala Harris follows in second place with 99 electoral votes (23,693,880 votes).

A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the election.

The Associated Press continues to gather data from polling stations across the country as the vote count progresses. Results may change as more information is received.
Press Release

November 6, 2024 VILLAR: "We stand with our DFA retirees as they stood for us in the international arena" Senator Mark Villar delivered his sponsorship speech on the proposed measure-- Adjusting the Monthly Pension and Disability Benefits of Retirees of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Senator Mark opened his speech with a creative re-imagination of the service of foreign service officials-- "Imagine, if you will, an Ambassador who has spent decades representing our country, navigating complex diplomatic waters, safeguarding our national interests abroad, and being the face of the Philippines in foreign lands in times of crisis and triumph. Now, picture this same individual after a lifetime of service, struggling to make ends meet for their daily and medical needs. Imagine the lot of those who have served and retired with lower salaries and ranks, but have served the DFA with equal passion and commitment. This, my dear colleagues, is not a hypothetical scenario, but the stark reality faced by many of our retired foreign service personnel." The bill is formulated to benefit Filipino foreign service personnel who have reached the age of 65 and have served for at least 15 years, offering them a lifeline-- a chance at a dignified retirement befitting their service. In addition, also covered by the bill are retired officers and employees of the DFA who retired under Republic Act No. 1616, provided they have also reached the age of 65, served the agency for at least 15 years, and remained Filipino citizens. The Senator clarified the difference of the proposed pension with that of the Government Service Insurance System-- "This is not a departure from the Government Service Insurance System. The DFA will remain within the GSIS framework, and its personnel will continue to contribute thereto. Instead, the bill merely proposes a monthly pension differential, to be administered by the DFA, that will bridge the gap between the retirees' monthly pension and the existing rate for those holding the same rank and years of service, ensuring a dignified retirement for retirees." Another feature of the bill is the regular and periodic review of the differential to ensure sustainability. The proposed bill will not pose a burden on the national government as funding will come from the fees charged for consular services collected under Executive Order No. 906, series of 2010, and not from the General Appropriations Fund. The bill also addresses the concerns of family members left behind in the event of a DFA retiree's death. The bill allows the surviving legal spouse, as long as he or she has not remarried, and the qualified dependent children to receive 50% of the pension differential that the deceased retiree was receiving or entitled to receive. "Mr. President and dear colleagues, it is important to note that this bill is not solely about financial compensation. It is a long-overdue recognition of the extraordinary and unique sacrifices made by our foreign service personnel. These brave individuals have been our first line of defense in unfamiliar territories, far away from their loved ones, often risking their own lives to fulfill their duties. They have faced countless battles, both literal and figurative. Their service comes at a great personal cost," Senator Mark appealed to his colleagues.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, November 6. A meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has been held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

This meeting was held in anticipation of the 11th OTS Summit, which will focus on the theme "Strengthening the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, Digital Future, and Security for All."

During the meeting, the FMs discussed the further development of multilateral cooperation within the OTS framework.

At the conclusion of the OTS Summit, the chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States will be transferred to the Kyrgyz Republic for the year 2025.
The 7th art will meet the 12th art on Wednesday 13 November at the Theatre du Leman in Geneva, as iconic French actress Carole Bouquet hosts this 24th edition of the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Geneve (GPHG) celebrating the excellence of the watchmaking art

Join us from 6.15 pm on WorldTempus to enjoy live coverage of the red carpet followed by the announcement of the 2024 winners. Available in French or in simultaneously translated English, the awards ceremony scheduled to start at 6.30 pm sharp will also be broadcast on the GPHG YouTube and Facebook pages.

Euronews will broadcast the event live on its website in several languages, while Hantang Culture will share this not-to-be-missed happening in Chinese on its many channels. Leman Bleu will provide deferred coverage of the ceremony at 8.15 pm on Saturday 14 December 2024.

The 90 timepieces nominated by the GPHG Academy and in the running to win one of the 20 prizes - including the famous Aiguille d'Or Grand Prix - are on display until 17 November at the Musee Rath in Geneva. The Bucharest University Library will host the award-winning watches from 21 to 23 November, on the initiative of MisterWatch Magazine.

Watch the GPHG ceremony live
LVMH is hosting the sixth edition of the LVMH Watch Week event from January 21-24, 2025 in Los Angeles. Nine LVMH watchmaking Maisons will present their latest horological creations to trade journalists, retailers and select clients from around the world. The LVMH brands will spotlight their unique positioning and expertise in revealing their new timepieces

After holding LVMH Watch Week in Dubai, Singapore and last year in Miami, LVMH brings the event to the West Coast of the United States. Maisons that have regularly taken part in this event, now a must on the watch industry calendar  Bulgari, Hublot, TAG Heuer, ZENITH, DANIEL ROTH and gerald genta  will be joined in 2025 by Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and LEpee 1839.

"This sixth edition of LVMH Watch Week in Los Angeles will feature nine of the Groups watchmaking Maisons, three of them new to the event, driving further momentum for what has grown into a cant miss rendezvous for watch aficionados. Were thrilled at the prospect of welcoming our clients and all our partners at the very start of the year for a display of new timepieces, great surprises and exceptional creations that will mark 2025," commented Frederic Arnault, Chief Executive Officer of LVMH Watches.

Each of the Groups Maisons will host exclusive presentations of their latest products during this sixth edition of LVMH Watch Week, showcasing the unparalleled creative energy of the Groups Watches division.
To celebrate the 24th anniversary of its launch, GMT offered its readers and those of WorldTempus a week of Manufacture visits and watch-related experiences from 27 October to 1 November. An absorbing time of learning, sharing and encounters

As exclusive as it was original and intensive, the program was thoroughly enjoyed by 15 participants from England, the United States, France, Sweden and Switzerland (both French and German-speaking). They all describe the experience as fabulous and look forward to the 2025 edition.

Some of the participants in front of the Hublot factory in Nyon  WorldTempus

The richness of the industry

After a cocktail reception set to music on the GMT Publishing premises, where they got to know each other and the publishing house where this journey through (Swiss) time and space was conceived, they spent five days in the heart of the watchmaking scene, which they described as transformational. Each day included intensive exposure to a niche brand and a major brand, along with an evening in the company of key industry figures, from Geneva to Schaffhausen, via Le Locle, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Bienne. There was an immediate connection between participants very different personalities, united by the same passion!

At the Omega Manufacture in Bienne  WorldTempus

Accompanied by two members of the editorial team (including a videographer whose videos you'll find on our social media), the participants were welcomed into temples of creativity and watchmaking icons: La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, Musee Audemars Piguet, Piaget, MB&F, Hublot, Zenith, Jaquet Droz, Omega (museum and Manufacture), H. Moser & Cie, Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve (exhibition and workshop) and Gerald Charles. As the icing on the cake, they attended the official launch of the Pioneer Dual Time GMT limited series, the collab developed by GMT and H. Moser & Cie. for GMT's 24th anniversary. Three of them bought it immediately. For Rajan Virdee, the success of this week lies in the depth of the experience, including the diversity of brand styles, which enabled us to better understand the richness and challenges of watchmaking. For me, as I am just starting to take a serious interest in watchmaking, this full-day focus accelerated my understanding and increased my knowledge and passion for watches. It's a similar story for the experienced Gerry Elam: At the end of the day, you think you've seen enough, but then the Safari opens up a whole new angle, a radically different Manufacture, which re-boosts your interest and motivation. With my engineering background, I loved discovering all these manufacturing techniques, components and processes: it's fabulous!

Movement assembly at MB&F  WorldTempus

In the workshop with artisans and watchmakers

From the very first morning at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, GMT Watch Safari participants were immersed in the heart of watchmaking creation, discovering the processes involved in the creation of unique timepieces, Haute Horlogerie decorations and finishes, as well as artistic crafts. They were not only able to watch the experts at work, but also to ask them questions and even benefit from introductory workshops to better understand the extreme complexity of the various skills. At the end of the safari, ten of them sat down again at the workbench, to try their hand at assembling their own movement with the help of members of the Geneva Watchmaking School, assembled at the Musee Rath by the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve. Virtually all Manufacture visits included explanations from watchmakers, engineers or artisans. It was a revelation for most participants. Victor Longeaux, for example, evoked a magical week, with almost unknown places and crafts that we had no idea were so technical and required such a level of expertise. Gote David Johansson agreed: I loved the passion of the people who create these watches, sometimes made to measure, as well as the production processes at Hublot, Omega and Zenith, as my entire career has been spent in production within other industries. Accompanying her husband, Gail Pollock said: Now that I've seen all the work that goes into creating watches, I understand their value better as well as why it takes so long to make them.

At the Fabrique du Temps de Louis Vuitton  WorldTempus

Among the emotional highlights, many were moved by the stories of visionaries such as Zenith founder Georges Favre-Jacot as well as Charles Vermot, who saved the El Primero caliber during the quartz crisis. Presented with commentary by those who created them, Jaquet Droz's unique works of art, MB&F's futuristic design, Hublot's innovation in the field of materials and H. Moser & Cie.'s production of balance springs delighted the small group of enthusiasts. For Nicolas Crowson, brimming with enthusiasm throughout the week, it was very intense, with a very high degree of learning, but also fun; I feel privileged to have been able to gain access to such places and enjoy this very original experience that would have been impossible on my own, a factor that is always appreciable.

In the attic of the Zenith Manufacture  WorldTempus

Meeting the CEOs

The CEOs who had included the GMT Watch Safari in their diary definitely scored points. More than simply giving a word of welcome, Julien Tornare (Hublot) and Raynald Aeschlimann (Omega) captured participants attention. Their extremely open speeches on their vision for the brand and the state of the market kept everyone on their toes. Steven Pollock, a seasoned collector, commented: The week was fantastic, being able to talk to the managers and listen to them explaining their strategy proved to be captivating.

Alain Delamuraz, Jaquet Droz CEO  WorldTempus

Alain Delamuraz (Jaquet Droz) and Edouard Meylan (H. Moser & Cie.) participated in a particularly personal way during the visit, as well as by taking part in wine tastings at their respective Manufactures before inviting all participants to dine at a number of very fine local restaurants. A guaranteed success! These CEOs all left a lasting impression. For Colleen and Robert Picchi, accustomed to exceptional experiences: we loved understanding the radically different strategies of these brands, we were incredibly fortunate and it was an extraordinary experience. Lior Arussy, another high-flying collector, sums up the general feeling: It's a dive inside the industry and the creation of watches that would have been impossible for us to grasp without the Safari. You can read articles and watch videos, but it's nothing like meeting people, talking to them, seeing how creations come to life through their skills, manufacturing processes and passion.

Brice Lechevalier (WorldTempus Director) and Edouard Meylan (H. Moser & Cie) taste wine after the visit of the H. Moser & Cie. Manufacture  WorldTempus

Even Florent Longeaux, better known by his Instagram name @Watcheshunter and a regular on the watchmaking scene, admits he was blown away: In addition to the meticulous organization, we were immersed in the poetry of watchmaking, grasping the soul within the object, as well as the reality of its price. We felt privileged throughout this week, which was all the more unforgettable for being a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Only once? That remains to be seen... Throughout the week, some of the participants expressed a strong desire to take part in a similar adventure again next year. Duly noted!

The GMT Watch Safari will return at the end of October 2025 with a new program just as original and extraordinary, combining small independent niche brands, giants and a wide variety of talents. Registration and information on www.watch-safari.ch.

Many thanks to our sponsors:
Panama's representative at Miss Universe 2024, 19-year-old Italia Mora, will not be able to participate in the beauty pageant to be held on November 16 in Mexico City, Mexico, due to disqualification. The show's organizers announced the reason, but did not provide specifics. The decision to disqualify her was made after an "exhaustive evaluation by our disciplinary committee".

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While the pageant representatives were explaining the reason with the help of terminology, Italia Mora noted that she was denied participation in Miss Universe 2024 because of "leaving the room". This was reported by Hello!

"The Disciplinary Committee, responsible for preserving the integrity and values of the competition, has conducted a full audit of this matter and, based on the information collected and reviewed, has concluded that withdrawal from the competition is the most appropriate course of action under the current circumstances. It is important to note that we have made this decision with the utmost respect for all parties involved. Our number one priority remains the welfare and transparency of all our contestants, who exemplify diversity, talent and commitment," the show's representatives said in a statement.

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Due to the agreement between the Miss Universe organization and Panama's representative, Italia Mora was not supposed to give any behind-the-scenes details of the show. Moreover, the pageant representatives structured their statement so as not to disclose the contestant's confidential data or provide details of the incident.

Afterwards, Italia Mora posted an explanation of the situation on her Instagram, but deleted the post after a while. According to the source, she considers her disqualification a "harsh measure" that could have been avoided by establishing a dialogue between the parties involved.

According to her, the organizers refused to allow the Panamanian representative to participate further on November 1, when she was going to attend the gala. The reason was that she had left the room without permission, and the competition considers this a violation.

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"On November 1, 2024, I was informed of my withdrawal from the Miss Universe contest. As I was preparing to attend the gala, the organization informed me of its decision that I should leave the organization. I was told that this action was taken because of my failure to follow the rules for leaving the room, which I admit happened when I was putting on my makeup and picking up my personal belongings. Unfortunately, I trusted and followed the instructions without thinking about the consequences," the participant explained.

The girl also denied rumors online that she had allegedly had a conflict with one of the contestants and was secretly dating a boyfriend, and that is why she "dropped out" of the competition.

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"With this statement, I also hope to clarify any false information being circulated about my departure and ask for respect and privacy while I go through this moment. I sincerely appreciate the support and love I have received, and once again thank all those who have trusted me during this process," she said in a statement.

Cesar Anel Rodriguez, president of Senorita Panama Official, also intervened in the conflict and said that he had negotiated with Miss Universe: "We have no disagreements or conflicts with the organization. We have been working together all day to make a statement and inform you that, unfortunately, our country will not be represented, at least until today, in the next Miss Universe pageant.

Today, Italia Mora said that the pageant organizers violated her rights and threatened her. "I stand by my position and demand from the Miss Universe International Organization a copy of my official dismissal and the sanctions imposed. I am not the first Miss Universe who was fired for exposing violations of rights and extortion by national and international organizations," she said.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that Alina Ponomarenko from Odesa will represent Ukraine at Miss Universe 2024. The girl is already in Mexico and showed the first photos from the contest.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Ukraine's representative at Miss Universe 2024 Alina Ponomarenko showed a photo of herself wearing a pink vintage costume that her mother once wore. The Odesa resident probably took it with her to Mexico, as this country is hosting the beauty contest, and the contestant has been there since the end of October.

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The girl posted two photos on Instagram: the first one shows her posing among the stone blocks, and the second one shows her mother by the sea. Both pictures were taken in the same crimson-colored suit and almost identical poses.

Moreover, Alina Ponomarenko also wore vintage glasses. She did not forget about her main attribute - a white ribbon with the inscription "Ukraine," which is worn by the contestants at Miss Universe.

One outfit and different generations. Me and my mom, and a beautiful pink suit that I first wore many years after my mom wore it. I miss my family very much, and these beautiful little things make me very happy and remind me that my family on another continent loves and supports me with all their hearts," Alina Ponomarenko said.

The costume consisted of a T-shirt and a skirt in a wrap. Its accent details were the cross-weave under the chest and on the hem of the skirt. Ponomarenko's followers were delighted with the look and left a lot of heart-shaped emojis in the comments.

As a reminder, Miss Universe 2024 will take place in Mexico City on November 16, the first time since 2007 that Mexico will host the event. This year, the number of semifinalists has increased to 30, which is the highest figure in the history of the contest.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The recent political journey of Kamala Harris, the United States first female Vice President, has brought new attention to an ongoing question: Is America truly ready for a female president? While Harris has broken significant barriers, her path to the highest office seems uncertain. In contrast, Africa, a continent often stereotyped as traditional and patriarchal, has seen a surprising number of women serve as presidents. African nations have placed trust in female leaders time and again, raising the question of why the United States, a self-styled global leader in democratic ideals, has been reluctant to fully embrace female leadership at the national level.

In light of these contrasting experiences, a thought-provoking picture emerges: Could African countries be more disposed to elect women as national leaders than the United States? This article examines the surprising openness in African nations to female presidents and the cultural, social, and historical factors that may make America more resistant to a woman leading the country.

Over the past few decades, a series of African countries have witnessed women rise to the highest political offices, often in circumstances that required decisive, unifying leadership. Some notable examples include Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Liberia, Joyce Banda in Malawi, and Sahle-Work Zewde in Ethiopia. These leaders did not just serve as figureheads; they actively addressed national crises, implemented policies, and represented their countries on the world stage.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africas first elected female head of state, came to power in 2006 and led Liberia through a period of post-civil war reconstruction. During her two terms, Johnson Sirleaf spearheaded efforts to stabilize the economy and foster peace. Similarly, Joyce Banda took office in Malawi during an economic downturn and implemented tough policies aimed at addressing corruption and revitalizing the economy. Sahle-Work Zewde, who left office in October 2024 served as Ethiopias president, and left Tanzania as the only African country with a female head of State. She was lauded for her work in diplomacy and peacekeeping, continuing the legacy of strong female African leaders.

While African women in leadership have faced obstacles, their ability to step into roles traditionally held by men highlights the continents unexpected openness to female presidents. Each leader brought unique strengths, often emphasizing social welfare, economic growth, and stability.

It will be recalled in this context that Kamala Harriss election as Vice President marked a historic milestone. Not only did she shatter the glass ceiling as the first woman to serve in this role, but she also broke new ground as the first Black and South Asian individual to do so. Yet, despite her prominent position, Harriss political journey underscores Americas complex relationship with gender and leadership. Despite her qualifications and visibility, her potential path to the presidency remains fraught with challenges, including public scrutiny, limited support within some voter groups, and a lingering societal reluctance toward electing a female head of state up to the moment she lost the presidential election.

Polling data and public opinion surveys repeatedly reveal Americans hesitancy to support a female president. While more Americans are open to the idea now than in the past, some still hold biases against female candidates. For instance, a 2023 Gallup poll showed that only around 60% of respondents would consider voting for a woman president, compared to nearly 90% who were open to male candidates. These attitudes suggest that many Americans still view a female president as a radical departure rather than an inevitable step forward.

Moreover, Harris has often been judged more harshly than her male counterparts, held to a standard that demands more than experience and competence. This scrutiny reflects a deeper cultural perception: while the idea of equality is celebrated, its realization in high office remains elusive.

Africas surprising readiness to embrace female leadership may stem from its complex cultural and historical contexts. While many African societies are traditionally patriarchal, women have historically played prominent roles as community leaders, queens, and spiritual figures. From Queen Nzinga in Angola to the Asantehemaa (Queen Mother) of the Ashanti Empire, Africa has long had a legacy of powerful women, even if these roles were not always political.

In times of crisis, some African nations have turned to women leaders, viewing them as symbols of peace, empathy, and restoration. Leaders like Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Joyce Banda came into office during periods of national turmoil, bringing a sense of stability that many citizens found comforting and essential. Additionally, African societies are often built around communal values, which may make it easier for female leaders to find acceptance as figures of unity and care.

In contrast, Americas individualistic culture tends to emphasize qualities traditionally associated with male leadership, such as decisiveness and strength. These attributes, while valuable, may sometimes overshadow qualities like empathy and diplomacy that female leaders often bring to the table. This difference in cultural values may partially explain why African countries have been more willing to elect female leaders, especially in times of need.

Africas history of female presidents, though limited, is noteworthy. Beyond Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Joyce Banda, the continent has seen leaders like Sylvie Kinigi, who served as Burundis interim president in 1993 after the assassination of President Melchior Ndadaye. Catherine Samba-Panza took office in the Central African Republic in 2014 amid a violent civil conflict, guiding the nation through a difficult transitional period. Ethiopias current president, Sahle-Work Zewde, continues to break barriers as the countrys first female head of state, focusing on diplomacy and unity.

These examples demonstrate that African societies have repeatedly turned to women leaders, often valuing their unique contributions in times of need. Even in cases where female leaders held interim or acting positions, the trust placed in them signifies a broader societal acceptance of women as competent national leaders.

The United States reluctance to elect a female president reflects a broader societal bias that affects women in many professional fields. Studies on gender and leadership show that women are often viewed through a double bind lens: if they exhibit traditionally masculine traits like assertiveness, they may be perceived as unfeminine or aggressive; if they embody stereotypically feminine traits, they may be viewed as weak or unfit for leadership.

This double standard contributes to a challenging environment for female candidates, making it difficult for them to appeal to the broader electorate. For Kamala Harris and future female presidential hopefuls, the path to the White House is complicated by these longstanding biases, suggesting that Americas journey toward gender equality in leadership may still have a long way to go.

Africas experiences with female leadership offer valuable lessons for the United States. African countries have demonstrated that women can lead successfully in times of crisis and stability alike, bringing unique strengths that complement traditional notions of leadership. By examining Africas openness to female presidents, Americans might find inspiration to move past outdated stereotypes and embrace a future where gender is not a barrier to the presidency.

The notion that Africa, often labeled as conservative, could be more progressive in this respect than the United States highlights the need for introspection. For a nation that prides itself on democratic ideals, Americas resistance to a female president is a stark contrast to the progress made in many African countries.

In fact, while Kamala Harriss failed attempt to become American President for now, is regrettable, it is no doubt a step forward, even as it also underscores a deeper societal hesitation in America. Meanwhile, Africas acceptance of female presidents serves as a powerful example that gender does not determine ones capacity to lead. By learning from African nations, America can move closer to achieving true equality in its highest offices, paving the way for a future where female presidents are as common as their male counterparts.
Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is often referred to as the Maldives of Europe due to its stunning coastline. Sardinia is located to the west of the Apennine Peninsula between Sicily and Corsica and is part of Italy as an autonomous region.

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Some of the island's beaches are even ranked among the best in the world. Experts told us where to spend an unforgettable vacation in Europe.

The western shores of the island are mostly low-lying, while the eastern shores are steep. The mountainous terrain creates a unique landscape and incredibly beautiful panoramas. The highest mountain, Gennargentu, is 1834 meters high.

The climate in Sardinia is dry subtropical (Mediterranean), with an average temperature of 7-10 C in January and 26 C in July.

The island has beautiful nature reserves and parks: National Park of the Bay of Orosei and Gennargentu, Arcipelago di La Maddalena National Park, Asinara National Park, and regional nature parks: Molentargius-Saline and Porto Conte.

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Experts advise visiting Spiaggia del Principe and Liscia Ruja, wonderful beaches on the famous Costa Smeralda, or to feel more secluded, explore Cala Luna and Cala Mariolu.

You can also go hiking to the historic site of Tiscali, surrounded by stunning mountains in the Gennargentu National Park.

The island's capital, Cagliari, also has amazing historical monuments, such as the Roman amphitheater.

In general, the island has a long history, which is reflected in its architecture. In the 7th century B.C., the Phoenician colonization of Sardinia began, with the cities of Nora, Sulch, Bitia, and Tarros being built. Then Rome, taking advantage of the anti-Carthaginian uprising, captured the island. The history of Sardinia includes a long Byzantine period and the era of the Moors.

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Since 1326, Sardinia was ruled by the Crown of Aragon and later belonged to Spain.

In 1708, the island was captured by Austria, and in 1720, according to the Treaty of London, Piedmont, Savoy, and Sardinia were united into the Kingdom of Sardinia, which became part of Italy after its unification.

Among the most famous sights:

Tombs of the Giants;

prehistoric burials near Carbonia;

Tuvikseddu necropolis;

Roman amphitheater in Cagliari;

Basilica di San Saturnino;

Tower of Saint Cristopher;

Grottoes of Cala Gonone.

The island has three international airports and two regional airports. Sardinia has a ferry connection with mainland Italy  there are more than 40 tourist harbors.

The highway network is quite dense, but Sardinia is the only region of Italy without highways.

Every visit to Italy is also a gastronomic tourism. Indulge in traditional Sardinian dishes such as stuffed pasta (culurgiones), Sardinian gnocchi (malloreddus), and the famous pecorino cheese.

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The Salvation Army is excited to announce the return of its annual Red Kettle Campaign in Orange, spreading joy and the festive spirit of Christmas. As The Salvation Armys primary fundraising initiative, the Red Kettle Campaign plays a vital role in providing life-changing programs and services throughout the year. These programs include food assistance, emergency financial assistance, youth programs and disaster response.

Since its humble beginnings in 1891, when a Salvation Army Captain used a crab pot to collect funds in San Francisco, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown to become one of the most recognized charitable initiatives worldwide, said Captain Dante Salgado of The Salvation Army in Orange. The funds raised through the red kettle will serve as a lifeline in our community, offering essential assistance such as nourishment and vital social services to those in their greatest time of need.

From the beginning of November until Christmas Eve, red kettles will be stationed outside various stores and local businesses in Orange from Monday to Saturday. Last year, The Salvation Army successfully raised $92,962.52 through the campaign, and this season, they are aiming to raise $100,000 to support the community.

We are immensely grateful for the spirit of giving in our community and the unwavering support we receive from our generous donors and corporate partners, added Captain Salgado. Together, we can ignite hope and provide support to those in our community who are in the most need.

The Salvation Army is also seeking volunteers to ring the bells at the red kettle locations. Those interested can sign up by visiting RegisterToRing.com or by calling 832-526-9689.

To donate or learn more about how you can support The Salvation Army this Christmas, please visit southernusa.salvationarmy.org/orange or call 832-526-9689.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed the morning attack on Kaspiysk in Russian Dagestan. As a result of an "innovative special operation," a Russian flotilla was hit in the Caspian Sea, 1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

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According to preliminary data, two missile carriers Tatarstan and Dagestan and several small missile ships of the 21631 project could have been damaged. This was reported to OBOZ.UA by intelligence sources.

According to the source, on the morning of November 6, the DIU conducted an innovative special operation that resulted in the first defeat of the Russian flotilla in the Caspian Sea.

The distance from the state border of Ukraine to the target is about 1500 kilometers.

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At least two facilities in the city of Kaspiysk, Dagestan, were hit by Ukrainian UAVs.

In particular, these are allegedly the Tatarstan and Dagestan missile ships. In addition, small missile ships of the 21631 project were probably damaged.

Russian media confirm that the targeted facility is home to coastal troops, including marines. The attacked flotilla had been launching missile strikes against Ukraine, and the 177th Marine Regiment took part in battles in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

The operations also suspended the operation of the airport in Makhachkala.

As a reminder, the explosions in Kaspiysk became known on the morning of November 6. The governor of Dagestan claimed that Russian air defense had attacked and destroyed one Ukrainian UAV. At the same time, local residents claimed that there were at least four drones and published "tasty" footage of their arrival near the seaport in Kaspiysk.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
They've done it again and are headed to the State Competition, stated LK Anderson Photographys Facebook page about Bridge City High Schools advancement to the UIL State marching competition. The photography studio shot the official group photo of the band.

Bridge City came in 3rd place at the UIL Area Marching Contest, which was held on Nov. 2 in Lindale. That entitles them to compete in the Alamodome this weekend in San Antonio.

The band has demonstrated exceptional skill, precision, and dedication, embodying the spirit of excellence that Bridge City is known for, stated an earlier release from the school.

The bands success is guided by the leadership of the band director Tami Goss and its drum majors: Mallory Bailey, Evan Hull, Gracin Weldon and Emily Jones.

The Band Boosters sold t-shirts online through Tuesday morning for family and friends to wear at the competition in support and are selling pink and purple pom poms for $10.

They held an informational meeting Tuesday after the press deadline to disseminate information on the travel plans.

The band ranked 3rd out of 24 bands in the Area competition. This is their fifth year in a row to advance to UIL State Marching Band Competition.

The journey to this point has been nothing short of extraordinary, with countless hours of hard work, rehearsals, and teamwork contributing to their success. The Cardinal Marching Bands unwavering commitment to their craft continues to inspire pride within the community, stated the school representative after their regional win. Lets cheer them on as they represent Bridge City with the same passion and energy that earned them this prestigious achievement.

All their hard work, dedication, and talent have paid off, and we couldn't be more proud, said Anderson. Go show them what BCHS is made of!

The Record Newspapers wishes BCHS Cardinal Marching Band the best of luck in San Antonio this weekend.
Lamar State College Orange will have the grand opening its new Academic Building on Green Avenue at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 6.

The $38 million building in downtown Orange has 55,000 square feet and includes the latest in technology. Eight classrooms, two computer labs, and student commons areas are included in the building, along with offices for faculty and information technology.

LSCO President Dr. Tom Johnson will preside over the event. Money for the campus expansion came from the Texas Legislature as the local college has gained a reputation for training people to get good-paying jobs in local industries. Members of the Board of Regents for the Texas State University System, which oversees LSCO, are also expected.

The building's official address is 305 North Fourth Street, but the multi-story facility is right off Green Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets. It was constructed at the site of the modern-style 1970s Orange National Bank with exterior walls of mirrors. That building had to be carefully demolished to make room for the new Academic Building.

The new building has a town that faces Green Avenue with a vertical light design of the letters LSCO that are already glowing at night and can be seen in either direction.

The college's Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Plaza, named in honor of the legendary Grammy-winning musician from Orange, is to the east of the new Academic Building. The plaza was dedicated in October, 2021.
Orange County election finals were in before 9 Tuesday night with the Vidor school bond issue passing locally. Donald Trump was leading in early national returns and enough returns in Texas were in for media to call a victory for incumbent Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, against Democrat Colin Allred.

The Orange County Elections office under the direction of Donna Alford reported the county has 56,515 registered voters with 36,450 voting for 64.5 percent. Of those votes, 6,935 were cast on Election Day. The rest of the votes came from early ballots.

All the local county offices had incumbent Republican officials running unopposed. However, there were some areas of the county with their own races.

The Orangefield school board had one contested race after the incumbent chose not to run for the Place III at-large spot. Jude Grafagnino won with 1,708 votes, or 49.74 percent. Dustin Loga had 890 or 25.92 percent, and Robert Lasseigne Jr. had 836 or 24.34 percent.

Incumbents Bo Henley and Chris Kovatch ran unopposed.

The Vidor school bond election was for $98.4 million to build new schools and renovate other facilities. Voters approved the bond 5,215 in favor and 4,449 opposed. A total off 9,664 votes were cast.

The Orange County Emergency Management District No. 1, which provides fire and rescue work for the city of Vidor and areas around Vidor, drew 10,869 voters to choose two of three at-large candidates to sit on the board of directors. Ronnie Hurrera led the voting with 5,147, or 47.3 percent to be elected. Wyatt Boyett also won a seat with 4,381 votes or 40.31 percent. Rose Luce had 1,341 votes for 12.34 percent.

The Orange County Emergency Services District No. 3 for the Little Cypress area had a total of 2,825 votes cast to elect two of four candidates to the district's board of directors. Scott McDonald won with 1,237 votes, or 43.79 percent. Also winning a seat was Cathy Drake with 623 votes, or 22.05 percent. Others were Jeremy Kent Nichols with 571, or 20.21 percent, and Jeff Braus with 394, or 13.95 percent.

For U.S. Representative District 14, incumbent Republican Randy Weber won reelection. Orange County voters cast 29,523 votes for him with 5,629 for Democrat Rhonda Hart.

Donald Trump has carried Orange County by more than 80 percent all three times he has run for the office of President of the United States. This year the Republican carried Orange County by 83 percent, with 30,183 votes compared to 5,931 for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz.
Another lie on Government portal Feeding lies and more lies

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It is not a question of many, but Manipur which should object and strongly so with a sense of conviction. Anyone vaguely familiar with the history of the Tangkhuls in Manipur or Ukhrul, now bifurcated into Kamjong and Ukhrul district, will laugh at the idea of an Anglo-Kuki clash at Longpi or Nungbi village in Ukhrul and credit ought to be given to news portal Ukhrul Times for bringing this up, a story which The Sangai Express carried with due courtesy as its lead story in the 6th November edition and datelined, Ukhrul November 5. How did the words, Anglo-Kuki War at Longpi (Nungbi) 1917-1919 enter the Government website amritmahotsav.nic.in under the Digital District Repository section ? A question which Imphal should raise with all the seriousness it deserves for this is nothing but a gross misinterpretation of facts and entering such a false narrative in the Government archive is bound to give an erroneous narrative of the land and her people. The question is, was it an oversight or can one read a deliberate hand for letting the error creep in ? The Government of India is answerable for this gross error and it is only Imphal which is placed to impress upon the Centre to rectify the error. The question is whether Imphal has it in them to present the case of Manipur and the affected people, particularly the people of Longpi (Nungbi) effectively before the Centre. Only time will tell whether the State Government has woken up to this and is willing to take things up with the Centre to set right the wrongs, and this is where it would do the State Government to remember the strong voice of opposition raised by none other than the United Naga Council against the attempt to erect an Anglo-Kuki War Memorial gate or memorial site at a place which the UNC says does not come under the Kukis. And it goes without saying that the Kukis are well known for laying false claim and declaring any place as their ancestral land, such as on Mount Koubru or how Mount Thangjing was found changed to Mount Thangting. Even today the attempts made to give Thangjing a Kuki presence can be seen in the very attempt to erect a Cross atop the said mountain. Or as questions have been raised, was it a case of the Ukhrul district administration feeding the wrong information to the Government of India to name Longpi as one of the places where the Kukis came in clash with the British ? That the fabricated inclusion of Longpi as one of the places where the Kukis clashed with the British should come at this time when many have questioned whether there was really a war between the Kukis and the British should say so many significant things. And this observation should be made in the face of the ongoing clash between the Meiteis and the Kukis when concocted narratives have been fed to other parts of the country and abroad, a point perhaps best underlined by the fact that it was no one other than the Mizoram Chief Minister who raised the call for a Christian country in the region by bifurcating territories from India, Myanmar and Bangladesh while addressing a gathering at the USA.

While it remains to be seen whether the Government of Manipur will take cognizance of the gross error which has the potential of giving an official stamp to the false narratives that have been doing the round, the first point should be to see why and how such a gross blunder was allowed to enter the website of the Government of India. It is such false histories which will go a long way in distorting the facts about the indigenous people of the land. A point which the Government should take note and accordingly act. Along with trying to rectify the gross blunder it is also important to find out if there was a design behind the act of cooking up a false history. This is where Manipur needs to be very, very cautious and the important question is whether the people who swear by the idea of Manipur have come around to the reality that there are some elements who have been working overtime to give a sort of an official stamp to the false stories that are being scripted or have been scripted. The task ahead is tough but not impossible and the only thing needed is sincerity in approach to the task at hand. And this is where Imphal would need to keep its ears and eyes open and listen to ideas and proposals even though such ideas may not always be to its liking. Apart from this, Imphal should have the gumption to present its side of story convincingly to Delhi. This is what leadership should be about.
Bomb planted at ZEO office

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Ukhrul, Nov 6 : Unknown armed miscreants planted a bomb inside the premises of Zonal Education Office (ZEO) at Phungreitang, Ukhrul today, reports our correspondent.

The bomb was reportedly detected at around 9.15 am.

According to a well placed source, a staff of ZEO, while opening the office gate, saw a plastic bag kept in a suspicious manner and immediately informed the VDF personnel who were on duty about it.

Later, it was discovered that a hand grenade was wrapped in the plastic bag.

Ukhrul police immediately rushed to the site and cordoned the ZEO office off soon after the bomb was discovered.

The bomb was disposed of at an isolated area of Ukhrul at around 4 pm by a bomb squad from Imphal.

No organization has claimed responsibility at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, ZEO Ukhrul Thaimei Badan appealed to all concerned to come for a talk if they have any grievances instead of resorting to violence or intimidation.

The Ukhrul/Hunphun Village Authority and Hunphun Katamnao Long (HKL) have strongly condemned the planting of a bomb at the ZEO office 'within the Ukhrul/Hunphun village jurisdiction.'

"Such inhuman actions are a grave threat not only to the safety and well being of our community but also to the stability and progress of our institutions dedicated to the advancement of education," they added.

Urging all the individuals and groups concerned to respect the sanctity of an educational institution and refrain from disrupting public peace, it appealed to all the people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police. They also urged the law enforcers to book the culprits at the earliest.


Russian troops continue to terrorize the civilian population of Ukraine. On the morning of November 5, they attacked an infrastructure facility in Zaporizhzhia.

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As of the morning of November 6, at least seven people were killed and 25 wounded. The head of the Zaporizhzhia regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov, spoke about the attack.

"Russians struck at Zaporizhzhia. They hit an infrastructure facility. Preliminary, two people were wounded. The extent of the damage is being established," the statement, published at 10:05 a.m., reads.

An hour later, he said that six people were killed as a result of the enemy strike. At least nine other people were wounded, and medics are providing them with medical aid.

"A fire broke out at the site of the hit," noted Fedorov.

As of 12 p.m., the number of wounded increased to 16 people, and in another hour - to 20. After 2 p.m., the JFO reported that the number of injured had increased to 23.

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On the morning of November 6, it became known that seven people had been killed in the attack and 25 others were injured.

Nine of the victims of yesterday's enemy attack on the regional center are in medical institutions in Zaporizhzhia.

Two people - a 44-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man - are in serious condition. Doctors assess the condition of seven other victims as moderate.

The seventh victim was a woman who was taken to a medical facility in a critical condition: she died in the hospital.

Fedorov urged residents of the region not to neglect safety rules during the air alert.

"A pre-trial investigation has been initiated in criminal proceedings over the violation of the laws and customs of war, which led to the death of people," the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration said.

The head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak reacted to the latest terrorist attack.

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"Zaporizhzhia. Another Russian attack, dead and wounded. Violence must be stopped by strong actions. We need a stronger position of our allies," he said.

The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets also called on the international community to act decisively.

"This attack once again confirms the cunning and cruelty of the enemy, who does not care about civilians and continues to terrorize Ukrainian cities. The world must take decisive action to stop the violence!" he wrote.

As a reminder, on the night of November 5, Russia attacked Ukraine again, launching two guided missiles and 79 UAVs. The air defense forces destroyed 48 Shaheds and both missiles, another 30 drones were lost locally, and one flew back to Russia.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
The Royal Meteorological Society (UK) has announced the winners of this year's Weather Photographer of the Year competition for the best weather photography in the world. The judges selected the most interesting of 25 photos submitted by photographers from 84 countries, and the final decision was made by an international jury.

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In addition to showcasing beautiful photographs, the contest organizers hope to draw attention to the many environmental issues facing our planet. IflScience offers to view the top 10 images, which show red lightning, flood, frost, and dust from the Sahara.

"From African dust affecting Athens to calm weather over volcanoes, from a sudden local downpour to increased intense rainfall and flooding around the world. We remind you that climate change is affecting weather conditions everywhere. The global community must come together to curb any further temperature rise," said Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society.

The main prize of the competition was awarded to Wang Xin from China for his image under the mysterious title "Sprites Dancing in the Dark Night".

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Traveling in Shanghai's Chongming district amidst a severe thunderstorm, Xin managed to capture a flickering red squall in the clouds. This form of short-lived light event is very rarely seen in the upper atmosphere when thunderstorm lightning is raging below. It is extremely difficult to capture on camera, scientists say.

Andy Gray from the United Kingdom took second place with his photo "Frosty Paradise," which depicts a frosty day over the Derwent Valley, England.

And the third place went to Jamie Russell from the UK for his photo "Evening Shower Over Pine Needles".

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"The big showers started developing about 30 kilometers to the northwest. Realizing that they might cross the Needles with a rainbow, I got my camera ready," commented Jamie.

The contest also offers prizes for images taken with a smartphone rather than a professional camera. In this category, the winner was Noor Sairin Natasia Binti Azaharin from Malaysia for her amazing shot of smoking volcanoes in East Java.

Ukrainian photographer Yevhen Samuchenko is among the winners of the competition . The photographer used a drone to take an original photo from the Kherson region. Yevhen managed to capture people standing on a frozen section of the Black Sea. This region freezes because it is fed by fresh water from the Don, Danube and Dnipro rivers, which freezes at a higher temperature than salt water.

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"The winning images in this year's competition tell a powerful story about our planet and the extraordinary power of extreme weather events. Many of the images draw urgent attention to the impact of climate change on our world," said Marisa Drew, Standard Chartered's Chief Sustainability Officer.

"We hope to further raise public awareness of the threat posed by rising temperatures and related extreme weather events," Drew added.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (ADPC) has beefed up the security coverage in the Bhootnath and Riverside Chhath ghats, under Hirapur police station for the festivities.

Sunil Kumar Choudhury, commissioner of police of ADPC has said that six watch towers will be set up along with 25 CCTVs.

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Drones will be used to monitor the safety and security of the huge crowd of devotees for the two-day Chhath Puja in the region.

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Similar measures are being taken in the Dishergarh Chhath Ghat, under Kulti police station and in Chittaranjan Chhath ghats on Ajay river.

The traffic department has also called a meeting with top officials for maintaining smooth flow of vehicles during the Chhath Puja days.

Street lights have been erected and the ghats have been cleaned by the Asansol Municipal Corporation and roads leading to various ghats are also being repaired.

The Asansol division of Eastern Railways has also geared up to clean the various ghats. The division has undertaken a comprehensive cleaning initiative at major waterbodies, including Panagarh, Sitarampur, and Asansol. This essential work aims to provide a clean and sacred environment for devotees performing traditional rituals associated with the worship of Sun god.
Bus operators in the city are heaving a sigh of relief after the Calcutta High Court directed the state to reconsider the age limit for phasing out of private and minibuses.

The bus operators have welcomed the Calcutta High Court direction that came against the backdrop of a petition filed by the owners of route 24. The court is said to have directed the principal secretary of the state transport department to reconsider the age of 15-year phasing out of buses.

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The private bus operators are considering the court direction as oxygen to their crippling industry that they claimed to be on the verge of collapsing. Wishing for the implementation of extension of the age-limit for phasing out of private buses and minibuses, the operators are considering the two-year relief as a breather that could help them survive in more than one ways. We had been demanding extension for a long time and were later forced to approach the court, said the general secretary of Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, Tapan Banerjee. If two year extension is given, it will come as a great help in enabling us to survive. We would have lost many buses, their operators as well as owners. The earlier the direction is acted upon, the better it is for the people associated with the industry and the commuters of the city. Around 2,000 buses that were on the path of being phased out in a month or so, would now be retained, he added.

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According to Pradeep Narayan Bose, general secretary of West Bengal Bus and Minibus Owners Association, had such steps been taken earlier, the transport industry, which has been reduced considerably over the recent past, would have been in a better situation. The number of buses that have shrunk in the recent years particularly in the post-covid era, could have been retained while the numerous labourers associated with the industry would not have changed their profession, rued the leader of a private bus operators union. Nevertheless, the extension of two years also can help us sustain the challenges. It will not only help the operators, drivers, conductors or even owners in terms of income, but will also enable us to get some time for improving financial capabilities in replacing the phased out vehicles with the new ones, he added.
Faculties associated with different departments in government medical colleges across the state from now will have to take written clearance from principals of respective teaching hospitals before meeting health bosses at Swasthya Bhaban, health department headquarters at Salt Lake.

Dr Aniruddha Neogy, officer on special duty (OSD) and acting director of medical education (DME) has directed principals of all medical colleges and director of the Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGME&R) as well as SSKM Hospital to give green signal to teaching doctors before the latter visit officials at Swasthya Bhavan on different personal issues.

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It has been found that faculties of different medical institutions are visiting Swasthya Bhavan frequently on different personal issues, which is not matching with their duty schedule, according to Dr Neogys directives sent to the principals.

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All the directors and principals are requested to notify their faculties to collect approval slips, signed by the heads of departments (HoD) and director/principal prior to their visit, otherwise their requests will not be entertained, the directives stated.

In order to get their personal interests solved, a large number of faculties frequently visit Swasthya Bhavan during office hours, affecting healthcare services in medical colleges. They meet officials at the health headquarters regularly for three or four days every week. We want to stop this practice that hampers patient care, Dr Neogy told The Statesman on Tuesday.

We have no problem if medical teachers come to the headquarters to discuss issues related to development of public healthcare services. None of us will meet the faculties if they want to meet us without slips signed by their principals or directors, he added.

Sources in the health department headquarters felt that the move is to streamline a large number of errant medical teachers in the rank of professors, associate professors and assistant professors attached with 26 government teaching hospitals, who frequently flock the Salt Lake office seeking to solve their personal issues during office hours.

One principal associated with a state-run medical college in the city said, Its true that a section of faculty regularly go to Swasthya Bhavan ignoring their duty at the hospital. This should be stopped and I think all of us (principals) will sincerely check their reasons for visiting headquarters and sign approval slips.
Giorgi Rurua, shareholder of the Mtavari Arkhi TV company, has been summoned by the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) as a witness in an ongoing investigation. The investigation is reportedly focused on two charges - coup and violent overthrow of the state.In response to the summons, Rurua criticized the charges, claiming the SSG had "got the address wrong." He pointed out, "The coup and overthrow of the state was carried out by the Russian Dream, led by one man. I sent him to Sololaki, will you remind me the address of this man? I think his name is Bidzina. And the last name starts with the letter I." Rurua also stressed that Georgia's future belongs with Europe, not Russia, stating, "Georgia will be a European country, not a Russian one."The SSG confirmed that Rurua had been summoned as part of the ongoing investigation. However, the agency did not disclose specific details about the investigation. The case is being pursued under the first part of Article 315 and the first part of Article 323 of the Criminal Code, which relate to conspiracy and terrorism.According to the SSG, Rurua refused to attend the interview and will likely be questioned in the presence of a judge. The agency also confirmed that multiple individuals have been questioned as part of the investigation.On November 5, 2024, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) announced that two Georgian citizens, Khajarat Akhvlediani and Giorgi Romelashvili, have been released and are now safe in territory controlled by the central government.Akhvlediani had been illegally detained by Russian occupying forces near the village of Takhtisdziri in the Kareli municipality on February 28, 2024, while Romelashvili was allegedly detained near the occupied Tskhinvali region on May 25, 2024.The SSSG stated that the release of Akhvlediani and Romelashvili was made possible through the active use of the "hotline" mechanism of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, as well as other tools available to the central government. The matter was discussed at meetings held within the framework of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) and during the Geneva International Discussions.The SSSG emphasized that all responsibility for actions in the occupied regions of Georgia and along the occupation line rests with the occupying power. The agency also noted that the central government, in cooperation with international partners, continues to work toward the release of all Georgian citizens detained in the occupied territories.
Action adventure movies are a great option for evening viewing with family or friends. Interesting stories and intricate plot twists will make you forget about all the problems and plunge into the fictional world of trials and difficulties.

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OBOZ.UA publishes the top movies about both fictional and real travelers and daredevils who fight for life in difficult conditions. These films show human strength and endurance in the wild.

Everest

Genre: adventure, drama.

Director: Baltasar Kormakur.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke.

Climbers strive to conquer the highest peak - Mount Everest. It's a real challenge because the climb is fraught with many dangers. Many years of experience, training, reliable equipment and professional training cannot always save the lives of the heroes. The movie is based on real events of May 1996.

The Revenant

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Genre: drama, thriller.

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy.

Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is a professional hunter and mountain guide. A routine hunt in the mountains of North America ends tragically when Glass and his assistants are attacked by Indians. Glass escapes from the warlike tribes but falls behind his group. He will have to face the challenges of the wilderness for a long time. Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar for Best Actor for his performance.

Against the Ice

Genre: drama, thriller.

Director: Peter Flinth.

Starring: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Joe Cole.

The Alabama expedition sets sail for Greenland in search of the notebooks and diaries of a previous exploration group. Experienced travelers Ejnar, the ship's captain, and Iver, the mechanical engineer, find themselves in a terrible snow trap from which it seems they will never be able to escape.

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Nowhere

Genre: thriller, drama.

Director: Albert Pinto.

Starring: Anna Castillo, Tamar Novas.

Nico and his wife Mia, who is expecting a child, are fleeing a totalitarian regime. Mia gets on a ship in a cargo container but it the container falls into the open sea during a terrible storm. The woman will have to survive with limited water and food and the risk of drowning at any moment.

Jungle

Genre: adventure.

Director: Greg McLean.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Thomas Kretschmann.

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Traveler Yossi and his friend decide to take a risky trip. They decide to explore the Amazon jungle. It was supposed to be an interesting and quite safe adventure - they even hired a guide. However, the guide deceives the group and tries to kill them. Yossi escapes from the pursuit but finds himself alone in the middle of the impenetrable tropics.

Cast Away



Genre: adventure, drama.

Director: Robert Zemeckis.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt.

This story has already become a cult one. Chuck (Tom Hanks) finds himself stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. He will have to survive in the wild without access to the basic achievements of civilization. Critics have called the film a modern interpretation of the classic Robinson story.

Society of the Snow



Genre: thriller, adventure.

Director: Juan Antonio Bayona.

Starring: Enzo Vogrincic, Matthias Recalt, Agustin Pardella.

The story is based on real events. A plane carrying the Uruguayan rugby team among other passengers crashed in the mountains. Some passengers survived but were stranded in the inaccessible Andes region. They will have to make difficult choices while waiting for help.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
Birbhum Police have arrested two youths allegedly for gangraping a wife of a priest in Tarapith today.

Supriyo Roy and Barshan Pal, have been forwarded to a local court today. Police have sought custody for further investigations.

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Police sources said the housewife was married to the priest about a year ago and used to stay with her husband at his workplace.

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But recently, she had been into a relationship with another person. The arrested duo came to know of the matter and took her photographs and started blackmailing her. Yesterday they took her into an isolated place and allegedly gangraped her at night.

They sent her photographs with her lover on her husbands cell phone. The housewife then went to the police station and lodged an FIR at night.

After receiving the complaint, today morning Mallarpur police arrested the two accused and seized their cell phones. The victim was sent to hospital for medical examinations.
A 46-year-old patient, Sushil Haldar died at SSKM Hospital on Tuesday allegedly without getting any medical attention.

The patient, a resident of Garia, was taken to the N R S Medical College Hospital on Monday night showing symptoms of bleeding from mouth and nose.

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He was taken to the SSKM Hospital after the concerned doctors at N R S Medical College Hospital denied his admission, his relatives alleged.

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But he didnt get any bed at the SSKM Hospital and then relatives took him to the N R S Medical College Hospital again.

This time he was again denied admission to the N R S Medical College Hospital and rushed to the SSKM Hospital today.

But the SSKM Hospital also could not arrange any bed for him to give emergency treatment.

Finding no other alternative, his relatives rushed to the chief minister Mamata Banerjees residence at Kalighat requesting her intervention.

Her office at Kalighat reportedly wrote a note to the SSKM Hospital authorities directing them to admit the patient to the hospital.

But the patient didnt get minimum treatment at SSKM Hospital despite the directive, the relatives alleged.

He was taken to the emergency ward at SSKM Hospital after his condition deteriorated without getting any treatment since Monday night. Finally, he died soon after he was taken to the emergency ward.

SSKM Hospital authorities denied allegations of negligence in treatment of the patient and claimed he died of a cardiac attack.

The incident occurred hardly four days after the state health department launched an online central referral system of patients seeking admissions to five teaching hospitals  SSKM, Medical College Hospital (MCH), N R S Medical College, R G Kar Medical College and Calcutta National Medical College in the city on 1 November.
M Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS) reviewed the progress of credit disbursement to agri-allied activities including animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries.

The meeting was held with Public Sector Banks (PSBs) NABARD and State/ UT Level Bankers Committee.

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The DFS secretary urged PSBs to take all necessary steps to ensure that respective targets are met during the current financial year, and stressed on the State Governments to facilitate banks in improving flow of credit to these sectors.

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Nagaraju underscored the importance of the allied sector in driving agricultural growth and its employment potential in rural area and highlighted the trend of regional disparity in credit disbursement in allied activities.

The Secretary directed banks to conduct regional level assessment/meetings to ensure disbursement of credit in all areas as all regions have huge potential in allied activities.

DFS Secretary also directed NABARD to coordinate with state line departments and LDMs in identification of fish farmers and providing them benefit of KCC scheme.

He underlined Government of Indias focus on seamless access to affordable credit to allied sectors and urged all stakeholders to take all necessary steps to increase credit flow to the sector.
The countrys largest IPO, Hyundai Motor India, has disappointed investors to date.

The stock has been continuously declining since its public listing and on Tuesday, the stock closed at Rs 1,829, which is about 7 per cent below the issue price of Rs 1,960.

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The reason for the weak performance of Hyundai Motor Indias stock is the lack of growth in the companys sales.

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In October, the company sold 55,568 vehicles in the domestic market. It grew by just 0.80 per cent on an annual basis, which is much less than the average growth of the market (which was 1.82 per cent).

In the same period last year, the company had sold 55,128 vehicles.

Hyundai Motor Indias stock was listed on October 22. The stock was listed at Rs 1,931 with a decline of 1.47 per cent. Since then, the stock has been witnessing a continuous downside.

Hyundai Motor Indias Rs 27,870 crore IPO received a mixed response from investors. The IPO received more than double the subscription.

Hyundai Motor India is the second largest car company in the country after Maruti Suzuki India. The companys market share was around 14 per cent in June 2024. In the financial year 2023-24, the company sold 7.77 lakh vehicles, out of which 21 per cent were exported to countries like Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

Hyundai Motor India has 1,550 service outlets and 1,366 sales outlets in the country. Hyundai Motor Indias revenue in FY 2023-24 was Rs 69,829 crore. During this period, the company had a profit of Rs 6,060 crore and the margin of the company was 13.1 per cent. In the June quarter of the financial year 2024-25, the companys revenue was Rs 17,344 crore. During this period, the company had a profit of Rs 1,489 crore and the margin was 13.5 per cent.
The stock market extended its winning streak for the second consecutive session on Wednesday amid buying across sectors, especially in IT, realty, oil & gas, and power stocks.

At the close, the Sensex was up 901.50 points, or 1.13%, at 80,378.13, and the Nifty was up 270.75 points, or 1.12%, at 24,484.

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Both the indices recorded their strongest performance since September 20.

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On the Nifty, the biggest gainers were Bharat Electronics, Adani Enterprises, TCS, Tech Mahindra, and Infosys. On the losing side were SBI Life Insurance, Titan Company, IndusInd Bank, HDFC Life, and HUL.

On the BSE, over 200 stocks hit fresh 52-week highs in intraday trade. These included Coforge, City Union Bank, Deepak Fertilisers, eClerx Services, Gillette India, Mankind Pharma, and National Aluminium Company.

TCS, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, and Adani Ports ended as the top gainers in the Sensex index. On the flip side, shares of Titan, IndusInd Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Axis Bank, and HDFC Bank ended as the laggards in the index.

The rupee fell by 21 paise to reach a record low of 84.30 against the US dollar as the US Dollar index strengthened with Donald Trump poised to win the US presidential election.

Among the sectors, all indices ended in the green with the IT index rising 4%, and oil & gas, power, capital goods, and realty sectors gaining 2% each.

The BSE Midcap index rose by more than 2%, while the Smallcap index gained nearly 2%.

Among some key performers were the shares of Dr Reddys Labs which rose over 2% after the company posted decent quarterly earnings. Dr Reddys revenue surged by 17% to an all-time high of Rs 8,016 crore.

Oil India shares surged around 6% following a robust earnings report.

Shares of GAIL India surged over 6% after the company reported positive earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Hindustan Zinc shares took a beating and plummeted 8% as the government announced offloading a 2.5% stake in the company through an OFS.

Shares of RVNL surged over 4% after the company, in partnership with Rithwik Projects Pvt Ltd, emerged as the lowest bidder for a major contract with Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Ltd.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders price rose 2% after the state-run company reported strong September quarter results.

Sensex and Nifty 50 extended their rally as Donald Trump claimed victory in the 2024 US Presidential election. Donald Trump is set to be the 47th President of the worlds largest economy.
Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, known for her work in films like Bombay, 1942: A Love Story, and Dil Se, recently opened up about why she has no plans to step into the world of politics, despite her prominent family legacy in Nepals political landscape.

Her father, Prakash Koirala, served as a Cabinet Minister, while her grandfather, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, was once the Prime Minister of Nepal. She campaigned for the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party in Nepals last federal and provincial elections.

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In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Manisha Koirala offered candid insights into her perspective on politics and why she believes its a tough arena for actors. For an actor to be a good politician, it is a struggle, she remarked.

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Koirala explained that actors are often in the spotlight, receiving constant attention and admiration. This, she said, contrasts sharply with the nature of political service, where leaders must prioritize the needs of the people over personal attention.

As an actor, we get so much attention. So much is like on our call. We are like bosses. A politician is basically though there is a leader and you drive the people but you are also a servant of the people, she elaborated.

Reflecting on her political roots, Koirala explained that she has a thorough understanding of the expectations that come with a political career. Yet, her focus remains on her craft rather than pursuing power.

Politics for me is service. Politics for me is not power, Manisha Koirala emphasized, highlighting her belief that true politics revolves around dedication to public service rather than personal gain. Her family heritage, which ingrained in her a sense of responsibility and an understanding of the complexities of governance, does not sway her decision to stay out of the political field.

Raised in a politically influential family, Koirala grew up with an appreciation for the importance of public service. Her grandmother, whom she affectionately called dadi, often described politics as a form of seva or service, an ethos that shaped Koiralas outlook on life.

Manisha Koirala recounted a conversation with her father, who described politics as a dream for the people. Koirala pointed out that this idea resonates deeply with her. Everything is for the people. And whenever that gets detached from reality, theres trouble, she noted.

Despite her family background, Koiralas journey led her into the film industry, a world that was foreign to her family. Describing herself as the black sheep of the family, Koirala recalled her initial steps into acting, which began with a chance opportunity in a Nepali advertisement.

Encouraged by her mothers cousin, a filmmaker, she discovered her passion for the camera and ultimately decided to pursue a career in Bollywood. This decision, though initially met with resistance from her family, allowed her to find her unique path and achieve success on her own terms.

Koiralas experiences also lend her a unique perspective on Nepals political environment, which she has observed from both a personal and cultural standpoint. According to her, Nepal is a landlocked country with a complex blend of traditional values and progressive views.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manisha Koirala (@m_koirala)

Nepalese people are also very forward-thinking and very open, she said, describing the country as a society deeply rooted in tradition yet open to change. She believes that this dynamic creates both opportunities and challenges for Nepals political leadership.

Touching on Nepals political evolution, Koirala reflected on the countrys transition to democracy and the adoption of a new constitution in 2015. In her view, democracy is essential, but only if its genuine and functional.

I think there is no other solution to democracy. However, not a facade of democracy. But in a true sense, there should be a democracy. A stable democracy, she asserted. She also mentioned the delicate balance between tradition and modernization, suggesting that the role of the monarchy should not have been in entire dismissal.

90 or 80 percent of the people are Hindu in Nepal. Somehow or the other, they respect the king. That factor should not have been overlooked. And somehow it was, she said.

The actress also recounted her experience of the 2001 royal massacre, an event that deeply affected her. The massacre, which occurred at the Narayanhiti Palace, shocked the nation, leading to widespread mourning and a sense of loss.

Koirala shared that she was in London at the time, filming for a project. She recalled how devastated she felt upon hearing the news. I was shooting and I was in London at that time. And it was completely devastating. I was like howling, she said, adding that her parents were equally shaken.

On the professional front, Koiralas career in Bollywood spans decades, with critically acclaimed performances in films that have left a lasting impact on Indian cinema. Recently, she earned accolades for her role in Heeramandi, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis debut web series. Set in the 1940s, the series explores the lives of courtesans against the backdrop of Indias independence movement. It sheds light on the social and cultural intricacies of the period.

Koirala portrays the character of Mallika Jaan. She shares the screen with Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, and Aditi Rao Hydari, among others.
The Kolkata Police recently lodged an FIR against Bollywood actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty, following allegations that he made inflammatory comments during a party gathering in the city.

This complaint was filed after Chakrabortys remarks at a BJP organizational meeting last month, attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stirred controversy.

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The complaint, submitted by an anonymous individual for security reasons, alleges that Chakrabortys statements could incite violence and unrest.

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Kolkata Police has filed an #FIR against the Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee actor and BJP leader #MithunChakraborty based on a complaint accusing him of making a highly provocative statement at a party meeting of BJP in #Kolkata last month.#BJP #LatestNews #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/X7LpjVZEaD  The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) November 6, 2024

The complainant, who approached the Bowbazar Police Station on Monday evening, urged authorities to investigate the actors remarks made on October 27. Following the complaint, an FIR was registered, though specifics about the subsequent legal steps remain unclear.

During the meeting, Mithun Chakraborty reportedly voiced his commitment to West Bengal, stating, I will do whatever is required for West Bengal.

Many saw his speech, targeting Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, carrying hidden meanings that hinted at taking action against certain community demographics.

The actor referenced Kabirs earlier statements on the religious composition of the Murshidabad district, which has a significant Muslim population, insinuating that such comments by opposition leaders had gone unchecked by the Chief Minister.

Chakrabortys remarks sparked particular controversy as he condemned Kabirs previous statements about population ratios, which allegedly hinted at violent consequences for Hindus in the area.

Kabirs comments had already attracted attention, prompting the Election Commission of India to issue a formal warning and a show-cause notice. Kabir later claimed that his words were taken out of context to portray them as a threat, a defense that has only added to the debate surrounding communal tensions in the state.
Ariana Grande is gearing up for the release of her film Wicked, based on the eponymous 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. In the film adaptation featuring characters from Frank L Baums The Wonderful Wizard of OZ, Grande essays the role of Glinda. Ahead of the theatrical release, the makers are screening the title for media, critics, and influencers. While viewers shared their opinions on social media, fans of the Side to Side hitmaker couldnt help but notice that Arianas name appears as Ariana Grande-Butera in the films credits. This has sent fans into a frenzy and now the songstress has revealed the reason behind using her full name.

The Wicked world press tour kicked off on Sunday in Australia. During her interview for The Streaming Service podcast, Ariana was asked about the credit roll. I just feel like this experience was such a homecoming for me. I feel like I came home to myself in a lot of ways, through what I learned from Glinda, from Elphaba, Grande explained, glancing at Erivo, who was seated next to her. And, you know, that was my name when I went to see the show when I was 10 years old. And it felt like a really lovely way of honouring that. It felt really full circle, and it just felt like something I wanted to do.

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Ariana Grande started her career as a teenager with the 2008 musical 13. Soon, she gained fame for playing Cat Valentine on Nickelodeons Victorious and Sam and Cat. Subsequently, she forayed into becoming one of the bestselling music artists of all time. The 7 Rings hitmaker boasts nine Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits and two Grammy wins among other laurels. Grande has also starred in films like Zoolander 2 and Dont Look Up.

Also Read: Kiki Hakansson, first Miss World, passes away at 95

The epic musical Wicked is a two-part film helmed by John M Chu. Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox have penned the script. The upcoming film is the first of the two-part film adaptation. The film is based on the stage musical of the same name by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman. The play, in turn, was based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire. It features characters from L. Frank Baums 1900 classic novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Meanwhile, Wicked features Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Additionally, it features Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, and Peter Dinklage in supporting roles. The film releases on November 22.
Kiki Hakansson, the first-ever Miss World, has passed away at the age of 95. She died peacefully in her sleep on November 4 at her home in California, surrounded by family who confirmed she was comfortably and well taken care of. Miss Worlds official Instagram account shared the news.

Hakansson made history in 1951 when she was the Miss World at the very first Miss World pageant, held in London on July 29. Initially conceived as a one-off event tied to the Festival of Britain, the pageant took place at the Lyceum Ballroom and went on to become a global phenomenon.

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In a tribute posted on social media, the Miss World organization expressed deep sorrow at her passing. The statement read, We extend our deepest sympathies to all Kikis family, sending our love and offering our prayers at this difficult time.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss World (@missworld)

Kikis son, Chris Andersen, remembered her as real, kind, loving, and fun, praising her brilliant sense of humour and wit and noting her big heart. He added, She will be remembered by all who knew her for her warmth and generosity.

Julia Morley, the Chairwoman of Miss World, also paid tribute, calling Kiki a true pioneer whose place in history was secure as the first Miss World. Morley further stated, We will continue through eternity to celebrate the memory of the first-ever Miss World, Kerstin (Kiki) Hakansson, who is forever in our hearts.
The 21st edition of the India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting concluded on Wednesday at the Manekshaw Centre after focussing on deepening defence ties between the two nations.

The discussions during the meeting ranged from capacity building, training exchanges, defence industrial cooperation to advancing joint exercises to bolster readiness for both conventional and hybrid threats.

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The meeting was co-chaired by Lieutenant General JP Mathew, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, representing India, and Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd, Deputy Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, representing the United States. senior officials from both countries took part, reviewing ongoing initiatives and exploring additional areas for collaboration.

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Both sides underscored the significance of the Indo-US defence partnership, reaffirming their commitment to strengthen this strategic relationship through proactive engagement and enhanced interoperability. They also highlighted the shared need to expand the scope of military cooperation, addressing the dynamic security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
November 6 is a date that has gone down in human history with several significant events. In particular, it marks both religious holidays and important international historical dates.

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On November 6, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople, a famous confessor of the faith who lived in the fourth century. His activity came at a time of struggle against the Arian heresy, which claimed that Jesus Christ is only a creation of God, not God Himself, and serves as a mediator between the Creator and the world.

Paul the Confessor

This doctrine was condemned by the First Ecumenical Council in 325, but some of its adherents remained influential afterward. The Orthodox doctrine, as articulated by the Holy Fathers, recognizes Jesus Christ as the true God, who is begotten of God the Father and is eternal and one with the Father. These principles are enshrined in the council's decrees, which became the foundation of the Orthodox faith.

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At that time, the emperor supported the Arianism and even deprived St. Paul of his patriarchal dignity, giving this power to one of the supporters of Arianism. St. Paul, along with other Orthodox bishops, was forced to go into exile in Rome. Subsequently, when Constantinople was left without a primate, he returned to the city, where he was warmly received by his flock.

But a new exile soon followed. In 350, St. Paul was exiled to Armenia, where he was martyred: he was strangled during a service to end his ministry. Three decades later, the Arian doctrine was finally rejected.

The relics of St. Paul were kept in Constantinople for a long time, and now they are in Venice, in the Church of St. George. Many pilgrims turn to St. Paul in faith to receive healing and spiritual support.

Historical events:

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Kyiv Liberation Day: On this day in 1944, Kyiv was liberated from the German occupiers, which became an important milestone in the history of Ukraine.

On this day, various events took place that influenced the course of world history, from the election of Abraham Lincoln as president of the United States to the launch of the first stage of the Kyiv subway.

1657 - The Council of Korsun, a document on the Ukrainian-Swedish military and political alliance, is signed;

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1860 - Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th President of the United States of America;

1919 - The command of the Ukrainian Galician Army signs an armistice and an alliance agreement with the Volunteer Army;

1932 - the National Socialist Party wins the majority of votes in the German elections;

1942 - the first flight of the German Heinkel He 219 "Owl" takes place, and for the first time in history, a pneumatic ejection seat for the pilot is mass-produced;

1944 - Kyiv radio station resumes its work;

1951 - the Kyiv Professional TV Center on Khreshchatyk was launched;

1960 - the first stage of the subway was launched in Kyiv. It was a 5-kilometer section of the Svyatoshyno-Brovarska line that connected Vokzalna, Universytet, Khreshchatyk, Arsenalna, and Dnipro stations;

1962 - the UN General Assembly adopts a resolution condemning the racist apartheid policy of the South African Republic and calls on all UN members to end all economic and military relations with South Africa;

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1964 - Ternopil Porcelain Factory is put into operation;

1980 - a new 485-meter-long Ingul bridge is built in Mykolaiv;

1984 - Republican Ronald Reagan wins the US presidential election for the second time;

1987 - The 28th subway station, Teatralna, is opened in Kyiv;

1999 - In Australia, 54.5% of voters opposed the declaration of the country as a republic, again recognizing the British monarch as the formal head of state.

International holidays:

International Day for the Prevention of Environmental Exploitation in Time of War and Armed Conflict: this day reminds us of the need to protect nature even in the most difficult times.

International Day for the Remembrance of Animals Killed by Human Hands: this date is dedicated to the memory of all animals that have suffered from human cruelty.

World Paperless Day: This day calls for reducing paper consumption and switching to more environmentally friendly alternatives.

November 6 birthdays

Today is the day of the angel: Pavlo, Luka, Oleksandra, Klavdiya, Yefrosyniya.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused permission to hold Chhath Puja on the banks of highly polluted Yamuna river.

A bench led by Chief Justice Manmohan and also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said that the river is highly polluted and taking a dip into it could be harmful.

It will be very harmful to you. The fact is that the river is so polluted that if you dip into it, there is the likelihood that person will suffer harm. We cant allow that. The river itself is highly polluted, the bench said.

The ruling followed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Delhi High Court, which challenged the governments decision to prohibit celebrations on the Yamunas banks.

The court, however, refrained from issuing any directives to lift the ban, stressing that there are other ghats and designated areas available where devotees can safely observe the puja rituals.

The bench suggested that the restriction was likely implemented in response to the high pollution levels in the river, cautioning that exposure to the contaminated water could lead to serious health issues for those taking a dip in it.

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A local court here on Wednesday rejected an application filed by Sanwar Mal Chaudhary, seeking the cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in a 13-year-old case related to Gopalganj riots.

In her ruling, Additional District Judge (Jaipur-4) Anamika Saharan held that since the applicant is neither a victim in the case nor has any conflict of interest or suffered any damage or loss, his application is not maintainable and is therefore rejected.

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In fact, Chief Minister Sharma has been on anticipatory bail in the 2011 Gopalganj riots case. When granting bail, the trial court had imposed a condition that Sharma would not leave the country without the courts permission.

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However, the Chief Minister recently traveled to Japan and South Korea without obtaining prior court approval, prompting Sanwar Mal Chaudhary to file the application for cancellation of his bail.
Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly has got a clean chit in the rape case registered against him. The Onnukal Police have, on Wednesday, filed a report in the Kothamangalam Judicial First Class Magistrates court stating that he was not involved in the alleged crime and that he should be removed from the case related to the rape of a woman at a hotel in Dubai.

The case was registered at the Onnukal Police Station in Ernakulam against six persons including Nivin for allegedly raping a woman in Dubai on December 14 and 15 last year.

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The victim had alleged she went to the hotel after being offered a role in a film. According to her, after the rape, the accused recorded her videos and threatened to release the footage. She decided to disclose the incident after several women came forward with complaints of sexual offences by actors and other people in the film industry following the revelations in the Justice Hema Committee report.

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However, during the probe conducted by a team under DySP TM Varghese, it was found that Nivin was not in Dubai when the alleged incident took place. The police examined the mobile phone of Nivin, and checked his travel history including entries on his passport as part of the investigation.

The probe team found that the allegation made by the complainant against Nivin did not corroborate with evidence collected by them as part of the probe. However, there is evidence against other accused in the case, the probe team said.
A midnight police raid at a hotel occupied by Congress women leaders in the Palakkad Assembly constituency on Tuesday triggered protests and clashes between Congress workers and the police. The police claimed the search was for alleged black money, but they found nothing in the hotel.

A large police team from the North and South police stations in Palakkad conducted a search at a hotel where Congress leaders, including Shanimol Usman and Bindu Krishna, were staying. The police team, including plainclothes ones, searched the rooms on suspicion of hidden black money. Concerns arose when officers tried to enter a female leaders room without the presence of female officers. Congress supporters quickly assembled outside the hotel to protest the police action. The police claimed that the raid was based on a tip-off about black money transactions linked to UDF/Congress candidate Rahul Mamkoottathil. However, Congress leaders said that the raid was a pre-planned attempt to implicate them in black money dealings and score brownie points ahead of the November 20 elections.

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The raid began in the room of Congress leader Bindu Krishna, after which the squad proceeded to the room of former MLA Shanimol Usman. However, Usman did not allow the officers to enter inside, insisting that only female police officers be allowed to enter. By this time, more Congress workers had gathered at the scene and the situation grew increasingly tense. Soon after, Shafi Parambil MP and VK Sreekandan MP reached the hotel and held discussions with the police to defuse the situation. Despite their efforts, the situation eventually escalated into a physical altercation.

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Assistant Commissioner of Police Aswathy Jiji told the media that it was a routine inspection as part of election procedures. She explained that female police presence is not mandatory for every search; however, in this instance, officers refrained from searching a particular room when it was requested that only female officers perform the inspection.

Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan alleged conspiracy on the entire chain of events. The opposition leader alleged that the BJP-CPI-M collusion is behind the raid.

Meanwhile, the CPI-M has filed a complaint with the district police chief, demanding a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of black money reaching Palakkad ahead of the by-election. According to the complaint filed by the CPI-M Palakkad district secretary, the accused in the fake identity card case, Feny, delivered the money in a blue trolley.

The BJP also filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India. In its complaint, the BJP alleged that the UDF is using large amounts of illicit funds to influence the by-election and urged the Election Commission to investigate the matter. It also requested to check the hotels CCTV footage.

Police on Wednesday afternoon seized the CCTV hard disk of the KPM Hotel where the controversial search was conducted by the police on Tuesday midnight. A team of cyber experts led by Town South Circle Inspector Adam Khan seized the hard disk.
Amid optimism in New Delhi over Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated his friend Trump and offered to work with the American leader to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity, the PM wrote on X as soon as it became clear that the Republican candidate was poised to win the election.

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Modi also posted a few pictures of his previous meetings with Trump when the latter was at the helm in the US from January 2017 to January 2021.

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The two leaders had established great personal chemistry between them during Trumps first term in office. They aligned closely on defence and security. They often took a hard stance against terrorism, especially Pakistan-based threats.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also congratulated Trump on his election victory and extended his best wishes to the American leader.

India and the US have been collaborating intensively to counter Chinas influence in the Indo-Pacific region, enabling New Delhi to play its expected role in the Quad alliance with the US, Japan, and Australia.

New Delhi is confident that ties between India and the US will grow from strength to strength under Trumps presidency. Sources in the government pointed out that the multifaceted relationship between the two countries has reached a level of stability, supported by bipartisan consensus on both sides.

Trump has already made public commitments to strengthen ties with India. He has also spoken on record on a few occasions during his election campaign about his friendship with PM Modi.

Also, Trumps promise to protect the human rights of Hindus across the world came as a pleasant surprise for the people in India. I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos, the American leader recently wrote on X in what was seen as a strategic outreach to Indian immigrants in the US.

However, his criticism of India over very high tariffs did not go down well in New Delhi. Any attempt by the US to push India to bring down tariffs could hurt sectors like IT, pharmaceuticals and textiles.

Trumps stance on immigration, particularly the H-1B visa programme, may also become a sticking point between India and the US since it is likely to affect Indian professionals. New Delhi will have to find ways to deal with this ticklish issue.

However, Trumps hawkish approach towards China may benefit India in the rapidly changing global order in the wake of the ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Europe.

Notwithstanding the differences between the two countries, mandarins at the South Block believe that the relationship with the US can possibly take a new direction under Trumps presidency.
In a scathing attack on Narendra Modi, Congress General Secretary and UDF candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypolls Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Wednesday that the prime minister is a leader who spreads mistrust and fear among communities and divides the people to keep himself in power.

Addressing an election meeting in the Wandoor segment of the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, she said PM Modi ignores the peoples needs. His sole aim is to remain in power by all means.

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Priyanka alleged that the BJP and Prime Minister Modi are trying to destroy the Constitutional values of equality, justice, and secularism.

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She also alleged that the prime minister was selling public sector undertakings to his businessmen friends. PM Modi is selling public sector undertakings to his businessmen friends. His government has written off loans amounting to 16 lakh crore availed by large businesses. But the government is offering little support to farmers and small and medium enterprises, she contended.

Responding to the criticism that if she wins the Wayanad by-election and goes to Parliament, she wont visit the constituency, Priyanka said women know the responsibility best. I always perform my responsibilities well. I will not back down but will fight for you. I will not disappoint you, she assured the voters.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was adjourned following intense protests after it passed a resolution on Wednesday seeking the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which was revoked by the Modi Government in 2019.

The resolution, passed by voice vote, urged the Centre to engage in dialogue with elected representatives to restore the regions special status.

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Opposition leader and BJP MLA Sunil Sharma opposed the resolution, stating it was not part of the days agenda.

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BJP MLAs subsequently stormed into the Well of the House, raising slogans against the ruling National Conference (NC) government.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary introduced the resolution, which called for the restoration of J&Ks special status and constitutional guarantees that had protected the identity, culture, and rights of its people.

The motion was seconded by Health and Education Minister Sakeena Itoo and was listed in the Houses supplementary business.

Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather put the resolution to a voice vote, where it garnered support from the PDP, Peoples Conference, AIP, and NC allies.

The BJP members reacted with protests, tearing copies of the resolution and occupying the Assembly staffs table.

Amid shouts of National Conference, have some shame! and No to Pakistani agenda, the Speaker initially adjourned the House for 15 minutes before adjourning for the day due to continued disruptions.

The resolution urged the Government of India to engage in dialogue with Jammu and Kashmirs elected representatives for restoring the regions special status. It read:

The Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguard the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expresses concern over their unilateral removal. This assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees, and to establish constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions. This assembly emphasizes that any restoration process must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Central government had revoked Article 370 in 2019, which had granted Jammu and Kashmir special status and privileges. The former state was then restructured into two Union TerritoriesJammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The Supreme Court upheld the revocation, deeming Article 370 a temporary provision, following a legal challenge.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, on Wednesday, described the resolution on the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir moved by the National Conference (NC) in the legislative assembly as half-hearted and lacking conviction.

On the other hand, the NC claimed it had fulfilled another poll promise with the passing of the resolution in the Assembly.

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Addressing media persons in Srinagar, Mehbooba said the resolution intended to call for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, fell short in language and intent. The language could have been better, this is a half-hearted attempt, and we are thinking of bringing amendments to the resolution, she added.

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She further said that while NCs resolution did acknowledge concerns about the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmirs special status, it failed to explicitly condemn the decision, which she described as unconstitutional. She noted that instead of firmly calling for the complete restoration of Article 370, the resolution only suggested that dialogue be held on the matter. Dialogue with whom? the representatives of the BJP who opposed the resolution even today, she asked.

The newly-appointed UTs BJP chief Sat Sharma led a protest against the passing of the resolution outside the party office in Jammu while National Conference activists celebrated it.

Congress Legislature Party leader GA Mir said his party, through a resolution passed in the CWC on 5 August 2019, expressed support for the peoples opposition to the downgrading and bifurcation of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State.

The Congress Party has stressed the need for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir with constitutional guarantees, including the protection of rights, land, jobs, resources, and cultural identity, without further delay, he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) leader Sajad Lone expressed satisfaction after the Assembly passed the resolution against the actions taken on August 5, 2019.

Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra said his party was committed to fighting for statehood to J&K and safeguarding the rights of its people over land, jobs, natural resources and its unique cultural identity. After the verdict of the Supreme Court, it is the first democratic expression of the people of J&K reflecting the aspirations of the people.

BJPs opposition to the resolution makes it evident that their petty political interests are not only at loggerheads with the aspirations of the people of J&K but also their sole priority, no matter at what cost. It (the BJP) is not only disrespecting the overwhelming sentiment of the people of J&K but is actively hindering the process of restoration of constitutional and democratic rights, guarantees like that of cultural identity, land, jobs, and natural resources. They cannot claim to represent our people while acting against their rights, he said.

The resolution provides a much-needed opportunity for a meaningful engagement between New Delhi and the people of J&K in the backdrop of mistrust created by the acts of the BJP Government over the last several years, he added.
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition of Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray), and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), kicked off its campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled for November 20.

An announcement to this effect was made by the MVA leaders here on Wednesday.

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The MVAs poll guarantees are likely to be announced during the Swabhiman Sabha event at Mumbais Bandra-Kurla Complex ground. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar will address the gathering.

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The MVAs key poll guarantees are likely to be farm loan waiver and caste census. The alliance is also expected to counter the BJP-backed Eknath Shinde governments Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, under which Rs 1,500 is deposited in bank accounts of women below the poverty line (BPL), by promising a Universal Basic Income Scheme if the MVA is voted back to power.

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Kharge, along with Rahul Gandhi, as well as other senior MVA leaders are scheduled to arrive at Mumbais Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) grounds for the public rally of the MVA called Swabhiman Sabha, as stated by Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe earlier. We will present the Congresss commitments to the people of Maharashtra before the assembly elections, expose the corrupt practices of the ruling Mahayuti alliance government, and discuss how they have compromised Maharashtras dignity to benefit Gujarat, among other detrimental actions, Londhe stated.

MVA leaders will also counter what they describe as false narratives by the Bharatiya Janata Party-Mahayuti administration while illustrating how Congress guarantees have been successfully implemented in Karnataka and Telangana with an assurance that similar measures will be adopted in Maharashtra if they were elected to power in the state.

Earlier at noon, Kharge and Rahul Gandhi arrived in Nagpur to participate in the Samvidhan Sanman Sammelan (Honour the Constitution Conference).

Kicking off his visit to Maharashtra today, Gandhi paid tributes at Deekshabhoomi, the historic site where Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Constitution of India, along with thousands of his followers, converted to Buddhism 68 years ago.

Speaking on the occasion, Gandhi stated that Dr. Ambedkars words echoed the voices of millions, representing the suffering and struggles of the marginalised. He spoke about how Dr Ambedkar, who was entrusted with drafting the Constitution, incorporated the interests of the Dalits and the oppressed.

In a scathing attack on the BJP and the RSS at the event, the Congress leader said since their members cant openly criticise the Constitution of India, they do everything to undermine it covertly. These organisations use terms like development, progress, and economy to camouflage their real intention to weaken the Constitution of India.

He asserted that the Constitution is much more than a book. It embodies the ideals of equality, respect, and dignity for all. While the BJP and the RSS refrain from attacking the Constitution openly and directly, they assault its values by attempting to erode it from within. He equated this covert assault to stabbing in the back and said the BJP and the RSS attack the Constitution indirectly because they fear a direct confrontation would expose their hidden agenda.

Gandhi warned that destroying the Constitution would lead to the downfall of democratic institutions like the Election Commission, besides public education and health services. He compared the actions of the RSS and the BJP to a fox attacking from behind, rather than fighting their opponents directly.

Emphasising the need for a caste-based census, which was discussed at the Honour the Constitution conference, the Congress leader projected it as a matter of justice and equality. He said mere talk of respect without any rights, wealth and opportunity is meaningless. He called for empowerment, allowing individuals to live with dignity as well as self-respect.
Striking a big blow to the gangster-narco nexus, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted a trans-border narcotic smuggling racket with the arrest of three drug smugglers and recovered 1kg Ice (Methamphetamine) and 1kg Heroin from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Wednesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Karandeep Singh (22), a resident of village Bhakna Kala in Amritsar, Jeewan Singh (19) and Manjinder Singh (21), both residents of Chohla Sahib in Tarn Taran. Police teams have also impounded their car Toyota Etios in which they were travelling.

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DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that arrested accused Karandeep had been living in Dubai and Moscow in Russia before returning back to Punjab after six years.

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After returning to Punjab, accused Karandeep has established contacts with the Pak-based drug smugglers using various social media apps and started smuggling narcotics from across the border to further supply them in Amritsar and neighbouring districts, he said, while adding that drones were being used by Pak-based smugglers to influx narcotics into the territory of the state.

The DGP said the probe has also found that the accused Karandeep was also in touch with foreign-based Gangster Gurdev alias Jaisal. An FIR under NDPS Act registered at Police Station Airport Amritsar and Investigations ongoing to establish backward and forward linkages, he added.

Pertinently, Gurdev Jaisel is a key operative of Canada-based terrorists Lakhbir alias Landa and Satbir Singh alias Satta, who were behind the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at Police Station Sarhali and numerous plots to commit targeted killings in Punjab.

Sharing operation details while addressing a press conference, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that acting swiftly on a secret input, police teams from CIA Staff-1 under the supervision of DCP Investigation Harpreet Singh Mander laid a naka near Puli Sua at Ajnala Road in Amritsar and arrested trio accused persons after recovering drug consignments from their vehicle.

The CP said that further investigations are going on. More arrests and recoveries are expected in coming days, he added. A case FIR No. 44 dated 5.11.2024 has been registered under sections 21C, 22C and 23 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Airport Amritsar.
The charitable foundation of Ukrainian investor Maksym Krippa, MK Foundation, has donated two modern resuscitation vehicles to the Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology. Each of them is designed to transport one patient in serious condition or three in stable one.

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The vehicles are equipped with all the necessary equipment: each has a defibrillator, an electrocardiograph, a patient monitoring system, an aspirator, oxygen cylinders for artificial lung ventilation and other.

"The ambulances will help us save lives every day. We will be able to provide medical care even more efficiently, deliver patients to our center or transport them to other medical facilities for specialized treatment. The vehicles will also be useful in transporting donor organs, as speed is one of the decisive factors in transplantation, especially when it comes to the heart and liver," said Ruslan Saliutyn, Medical Director of the facility.

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Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology is one of the leading medical institutions in Ukraine. Every year, more than 8,000 surgical operations are performed here for transplantation, prosthetics and treatment of the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs and other vital organs. The center's researchers also develop the latest methods of diagnosis and surgical treatment of internal organs.

"Providing medical institutions with equipped resuscitation vehicles is one of the most important areas of MK Foundation's work. We have handed over ambulances to the State Border Guard Service, several brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. In total, the Foundation has purchased 30 medical vehicles that are already helping medical staff in their daily work," the MK Foundation said.

MK Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Ukrainian investor Maksym Krippa, specializes in logistical support for the units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and medical services. More than 1800 vehicles have been purchased with the foundation's assistance.

Earlier, the MK Foundation, together with GSC Game World, joined the United24 initiative to support Okhmatdyt when Russia targeted the medical facility with a missile, transferring UAH 10 million to restore the hospital.
Amid uproarious scenes by the BJP, the legislative assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution seeking restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir that was abrogated by the Modi government in 2019.

The Assembly passed by voice vote the resolution asking the Centre to hold dialogue with elected representatives for restoration of the Special Status.

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Leader of the Opposition and BJP MLA, Sunil Sharma opposed the resolution saying it was not part of the business. The BJP MLAs stormed into the well of the House raising slogans against the National Conference (NC) government.

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The resolution was moved by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary demanding restoration of J&Ks special status and Constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expressed concern over their unilateral removal.

The resolution was seconded by the Minister of Health and Education Sakeena Itoo.

The resolution was listed in the supplementary business of the house.

It urged the Centre to initiate dialogue with the elected representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of special status.

The resolution said; The Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and Constitutional guarantees, which safeguard the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expresses concern over their unilateral removal.

This assembly calls upon the government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of special status, Constitutional guarantees and to work out Constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.This assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Protesting BJP MLAs walked into the Well of the House against the move, leading to uproar. They were shouting slogans like National Conference sharam karo (have some shame) and Pakistani agenda nahi chalega after the Speaker passed the resolution with a voice vote.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House amid din.

The BJP-led central government in 2019 revoked Article 370, which granted Jammu and Kashmir special status and privileges. The move was legally contested, and in December last year, the Supreme Court upheld the revocation, deeming Article 370 a temporary provision.

The abrogation also saw Jammu and Kashmir being restructured; the former state was divided into two union territories  Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, asked Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to publish within 36 hours disclaimers in newspapers, including Marathi dailies, stating that the use of the clock symbol by the NCP remains a sub-judice matter.

A direction by a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta, and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan came as it was assured by senior advocate Balbir Singh, representing Ajit Pawar, that a disclaimer would be published within 36 hours.

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Why are you taking time to publish a disclaimer in newspapers? We are not giving you days, we are asking in how many hours you can do this? asked the bench.

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Initially, senior advocate Balbir Singh said that NCP was complying with all conditions imposed by the Supreme Court for the use of the clock symbol and that the party has contacted newspapers to publish a fresh undertaking and within two to three days disclaimer can be published.

The bench, however, said, Within 24 hours, maximum 36 hours, you publish a disclaimer in newspapers and make sure whatever you are relying upon, is there, Justice Surya Kant told senior advocate Balbir Singh.

The advocate appearing for Sharad Pawar told the bench that the Ajit Pawar faction was destroying evidence by deleting the videos that were uploaded on social media without the disclaimers.

The photographs taken on November 1 from the Baramati constituency show that the posters of Ajit Pawars side have no disclaimers, the court was told.

Senior Pawars faction is being forced to come to the court again and again due to the repeated violations by Ajit Pawar, the court was told.

A fresh application was filed by the Sharad Pawar group alleging violation of the conditions by the Ajit Pawar faction.

On March 19, the top court allowed the Ajit Pawar faction to use the clock symbol, with certain conditions, including that his party would issue a public declaration that the use of the clock symbol by it for Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly Elections is sub-judice and subject to the outcome of the challenge made by the Sharad Pawar group to the decision of the ECI.

It had also asked the Ajit Pawar faction to not use the name and images of Sharad Pawar in its campaign materials.

Following a rift between the Sharad Pawar and the Ajit Pawar factions of the NCP, the Election Commission of India recognised the Ajit Pawars party as the real NCP based on its legislative majority and allotted the clock symbol to it.

The top court had asked the Sharad Pawar faction to use the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Chandra Pawars name for upcoming elections and the man blowing turha symbol.

Earlier, the top court had directed that the Election Commissions order of February 7 allotting Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Chandra Pawar as the party name for the Sharad Pawar faction will continue till further orders.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and ruling DMK president MK Stalin on Wednesday made it clear that his cabinet colleague Senthil Balaji is an important cog in the wheel of the DMK and his comeback into the government was significant.

Senthil Balaji has made a comeback to implement the government schemes. Demolishing all the stumbling blocks placed against him by some as he was an able performer. He has returned to serve Coimbatore better than before, he said after laying the foundation stones for the ultra-modern Periyar Library and the Science Centre at Anupparpalayam in Coimbatore.

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It was a reiteration of his earlier remark on Tuesday evening at the interaction with party functionaries of Coimbatore district where he said, Coimbatore has given many stalwarts for the DMK. Senthil Balaji is one such though he hails from neighbouring Karur district. Stalin effusive in his praise of Senthil Balaji is not without reason. For he was instrumental in turning the tables in Western Tamil Nadu, considered a bastion of the AIADMK, in favour of the DMK.

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Arrested on June 14 last in a money-laundering case linked to a cash-for-job scam when he was a minister in the then Jayalalithaa government, Balaji secured bail from the Supreme Court in September this year. Within a week, he was re-inducted into the cabinet, along with the elevation of Udhayanidhi Stalin as the Deputy CM, and allocated his previous portfolios of Electricity and Prohibition and Excise.

Stating that only the DMK had an enviable strong organisational structure in the state, he urged the functionaries to spread the achievements of the government and also inculcate the Dravidian ideology among the youth through appropriate programmes. I have fixed a target of winning 200 seats out of the 234 assembly segments. Lets work for the resurgent DMK to capture power for the seventh time For this, create 10 to 15 ideologically committed youth in your locality and spend at least two hours a day for and a day on the weekend for party work so that we not only repeat the performance in the 2024 LS polls but better our performance, he said.

On the DMKs role in developing the state into an industrial powerhouse and second in economic might, he told the audience at Anupparpalayam that when CN Annadurai launched the party way back in 1949, the slogan was North is flourishing, south is declining. But, we have changed that and Tamil Nadu is far ahead of northern states. In fact, it is the south which is providing the north liberally, he maintained. We have a vision and being in power is a tool to realize that vision, he added.
Addressing an election rally in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday criticised the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, labelling it as the Maha Anadi alliance.

Recalling that Navneet Rana had also been fighting for Hanuman Chalisa in Maharashtra, Yogi said that those who dont like Lord Bajrang Bali can go wherever they want to, wondering, Who in India doesnt believe in Lord Ram and Bajrang Bali?

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On an election tour of Maharashtra on Wednesday, the UP Chief Minister said, In the Treta Yuga, when Lord Bajrang Bali existed, the concept of Islam didnt even exist. Why are people being stopped from taking out Ram Navami processions or reciting Hanuman Chalisa?

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Yogi said that two major alliances are contesting in the election. On one side, there is the Maha Yuti alliance which includes BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. On the other side, there is the Maha Aghadi, which he called a Maha Anadi alliance. He explained that an alliance that doesnt care about the countrys values, religion, nationalism, or the moral boundaries of society is Anadi. This is what the Maha Anadi alliance is doing. For the Maha Vikas Aghadi, power is a means for corruption, looting, and promoting terrorism and Naxalism for political gain.

He added that the Maha Yuti alliance, under Modis leadership, believes in Tera vaibhav amar rahe maahum din char rahein na rahein (May your glory be eternal, motherwhether we live or not), while the Maha Aghadi alliance believes, Mera vaibhav amar rahe maaChahe tum raho na raho (May my glory be eternal, motherwhether you stay or not).

He said that power will come and go, but India must remain and, under Modis leadership, become the worlds greatest power. He criticised the Maha Anadi alliance for playing with the respect and self-respect of India and its culture.

He pointed out that Congress and NCP leaders once claimed that Lord Ram and Lord Krishna never existed, but now even those who opposed Ram have started remembering him. He mentioned that after 500 years, Lord Ram celebrated Diwali and Deepotsav at his birthplace.

Yogi also spoke about the struggle of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, saying it was a fight for Indias self-respect and honor. He recalled that Shivaji Maharaj went to Agra to challenge the Mughal emperor Aurangzebs rule.

CM Yogi said that when he became the Chief Minister, he visited Agra, where he was informed about the construction of a Mughal museum that would house memorabilia related to Aurangzeb. He questioned the relevance of such a museum, stating that Aurangzeb was a foreign invader, and asked, What connection do you have with him? He directed that the museums name be changed in memory of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj instead.

After independence, Congress ruled for a long time but never thought about India and its culture. There was a time when Pakistan carried out terrorist attacks in India, Pakistani infiltrators would plant bombs, and China would violate Indias borders. Whenever the issue was raised, Congress leaders would say, Dont speak, it will harm relations. They were more concerned about relations than national security. However, under Modis leadership, India is different, he said.

Now, if anyone tries to cross the border, they will face the journey of Ram Naam Satya, and if bombs are planted, there will be strong airstrikes and surgical strikes, making even Pakistan tremble, the CM roared. He highlighted that during Congresss time, national security was at risk, but under PM Modis leadership, India does not quietly endure humiliation. He also mentioned a news story that reported three days ago that the Chinese army was retreating, while the Indian Army was patrolling the border.

CM Yogi shared an incident from his visit to Jammu and Kashmir during the elections when he landed at Jammu Airport and was greeted by a Maulvi with Ram-Ram. Initially, he didnt understand but the Maulvi clarified, saying, Yogi Ji, Ram-Ram. This left the airport officials surprised, to which CM Yogi responded, Dont be astonished, this is the effect of Article 370 being removed.

He also spoke about Lord Rams journey into exile, recalling that when Lord Ram was leaving for the forest, Nishadraj was the first to offer him shelter in his kingdom. Nishadraj told Lord Ram that he would serve as a servant, but Ram explained that he had to follow his fathers command and go to the forest, not to any kingdom. He said to Nishadraj, You may live anywhere outside Ayodhya, but I cannot.

CM Yogi emphasised that despite their friendship, Lord Ram never sought the comforts of a kingdom. He gave power to Sugriva and Vibhishan, but never spent a day in the royal palace. This, he said, was Lord Rams selflessness and ideal, which is why Lord Ram lives in our hearts.

The UP CM said that the new India does not bend, bow, or retreat; instead, it works for the security and prosperity of its 140 crore people. He recalled that when Lord Rams idol was placed in Ayodhya, PM Modi had said that it was just the beginning. Not only Ayodhya, India has now made progress towards Kashi and Mathura.

CM Yogi said that the name of Aurangabad, named after the cruel Afzal Khan, who was defeated by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, should be changed. He suggested that it should be renamed Sambhaji Nagar in the honour of Shivaji Maharajs legacy. He emphasised that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj united every Indian, and it is from his inspiration that he often says, Batiye Mat, Jab Bhi Bate The Toh Kate The. Ek Hai To Nek-Safe Hai. (Do not divide, for when we are divided, we are weakened. Unity brings safety and strength.)

With unity, there will be no stone pelting during processions, but people will clean the streets in front of you. The focus should not be on fighting and dividing but on uniting to ensure the victory of the Maha Yuti alliance in Maharashtra and defeat the Maha Anadi alliance, he said.

In Teosa, CM Yogi remarked that whenever there is a festival, procession, or celebration in India, some individuals can be seen waving Pakistans flag instead of expressing pride or reverence for the country. Rather than worrying about India, they shed crocodile tears for Pakistan and Palestine. He emphasised that the focus should only be on national duty within India.

The CM further criticised Congress leaders, stating that whenever the country faces a crisis, they go abroad for vacations. He pointed out that during times of crisis, Rahul Gandhi is often found in Italy, and Congress leaders spare no effort in criticising India while abroad. He also accused Congress of conspiring to deny Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes their rightful reservation benefits.
Botswanas election, which saw the ruling party ousted after nearly sixty years in power, signals a major shift in the political landscape of southern Africa. For decades, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) was hailed for maintaining stability and responsibly managing the nations diamond wealth. However, the prolonged reliance on a single commodity ~ diamonds ~ has left the economy vulnerable, and the recent downturn in the global diamond market has made clear the need for economic diversification.

Voters, particularly young people grappling with high unemployment and a bleak economic outlook, have demanded change. The results signal not only dissatisfaction with economic conditions but also the need for fresh ideas and a dynamic approach to governance. The message from Botswanas electorate is that stability alone is not enough. Citizens want a government that can adapt to new economic realities, especially as global markets shift and challenges mount. For the countrys young population, high unemployment rates reflect a deeper issue: the current system, rooted in dependence on diamonds, is failing to create sufficient opportunities. The new administration has promised to reform social services, increase wages, and build an independent judiciary, addressing social and economic grievances that the BDP may have overlooked or underestimated. While Botswana has managed its diamond wealth better than many other resource-rich nations, its current economic framework no longer meets the aspirations of its population.

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Young people, in particular, are increasingly vocal about the need for a government that understands their struggles and offers tangible solutions. Botswanas example speaks volumes to the entire region, where longstanding ruling parties are facing similar pressures. Political dominance in many southern African nations has relied on liberation credentials or a historical track record, but these factors alone no longer resonate with voters who are more concerned with job opportunities, better wages, and access to quality services. This election could have a ripple effect across southern Africa. In neighbouring countries, ruling parties have also faced scrutiny and calls for accountability. Botswanas election outcome may embolden citizens elsewhere, signalling that a lack of economic innovation, regardless of past achievements, will not sustain voter loyalty. It highlights a generational shift where voters prioritise responsiveness to contemporary issues over allegiance to established political legacies.

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The approach of newly-elected President Duma Boko to the diamond industry will be critical. Botswanas dependence cannot be reversed overnight, but its leaders can adopt policies that prioritise long-term sustainability and seek to diversify the economy. President Bokos commitment to collaborating with international diamond companies, while also fostering economic reforms, offers a balanced approach that may provide both immediate stability and lay the groundwork for a diversified future. Ultimately, Botswanas election outcome is a reminder that unmet expectations will inevitably bring about change. In a region where stability is often equated with staying power, Botswana has shown that political longevity depends on progress and adaptability. Its a lesson that may resonate well beyond its borders.
Indias Act East policy was launched in 2014. As pointed out by Prime Minister Modi, it rests on four pillars: Culture, Commerce, Connectivity and Capacity. The policy was nothing but an action-oriented upgrade of the Look East policy that was launched by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao in 1991-92, soon after India had embraced globalisation by dumping its command-control based Nehruvian economic structure that had kept growth under a stranglehold ever since independence. Circumstances then forced India to direct its gaze eastward, and circumstances again forced India to refocus and re-strengthen its engagement with the east. In 1991, the old-world order was crumbling fast.

The Berlin Wall had fallen, the Soviet Empire had imploded and disintegrated and the Cold War was over. Barriers that defined the pre-1991 world were giving away to integration, command was replaced by contracts, and control by liberalisation. These structural changes also forced the Indian economy to liberalise and globalise, saving it from imminent collapse, and its foreign policy to become multidimensional replacing its earlier USSR-centric approach. India then started seriously engaging with the USA, discarding its earlier attitude defined by mutual hostility and contempt to one of cooperation and closeness, culminating in the civil nuclear cooperation agreement of 2008.

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But engagement with the USA still lacked wholesome trust, the Russian Federation remained weak, and the USSR on which the Indian economy depended much existed no more. Indias relations with SAARC countries, though old and with shared historical and cultural roots, were also fraught with lack of trust; besides the region was economically backward and could not offer much scope for trade and investment. Meanwhile, the Gulf War had imposed heavy costs upon the economy through rising fuel costs and import bills to finance which there was no foreign exchange whose reserves had fallen to an abysmally low level of $1.2 billion in June 1991, which looks absurd today in comparison with our current reserves of $700 billion.

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The economy was on the brink, and the country was forced to liberalise and globalise its economy. There was also an urgent need to develop strategic relations with new friends in a world that was turning friendless for India. Thus, in 1991, we started to look at the east ~ towards southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region ~ not only for trade, investment and economic collaboration, but also for security and defence co-operation as well as building strategic relationships with the Asian Tigers. China and Japan, the two biggest economies in the world, had already established their footprints in the Asean region by setting up manufacturing bases and India could no longer ignore them.

The economic engagement was to be based on boosting trade, investment and technological exchanges with Southeast and East Asian countries, to tap into their fast-growing economies and integrate with regional production networks and value chains. Thus, India signed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreements (CECA) in 2009 with the 10-member Asean block, with Singapore (2005), Malaysia (2011) and similar Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) with Japan (2011) and South Korea (2009). It also signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand in 2003. Building strategic partnerships was focussed on enhancing diplomatic relations and security cooperation including military and maritime ties with countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. India became a dialogue partner with Asean in 1992 and gradually engaged in Asean-led institutional mechanisms like the Ase a Regional Forum (ARF) and East Asia Summit (EAS).

Over time, as India forged partnerships with several countries in the region, it also promoted connectivity along with common economic and strategic interests. Meanwhile, the world kept on changing and by 2014, it had become almost unrecognisable to the world that existed in 1991. One major goal of the Look East policy was to leverage Indias north-east to enhance its historical ties with neighbouring countries, to encourage people-to-people exchanges and reinforce the historical trade relations between them in order to develop and transform the economically backward north-eastern states. This did not happen due to the inadequacy of infrastructure and internal security challenges in the region. Also, Chinas muscular approach was becoming a constant threatening feature that heightened regional tension in the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea.

India was now no longer a third world country known as the Sick man of Asia. It was one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with increasing political, economic and military heft. It was necessary for its own security to strengthen security and defence collaboration with its eastern friends, like Japan, Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines through engagement on joint exercises, arms exports, and strategic partnerships to respond to the changing regional dynamics. The rising economic opportunities in the region offered further incentives to modify the Look East Policy to a refocused, proactive Act East Policy, more comprehensive in scope and outreach.

To support a free and open IndoPacific, India formed the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad) with the USA, Japan, and Australia and kept on making this engagement deeper and stronger, to the chagrin of China which has already extended its influence and penetrated deeply into the region through its BRI projects. To enhance connectivity with eastern neighbours and Asean, India took on initiatives such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and Kaladan MultiModal Transit Transport Project to boost regional trade and access to Southeast Asian markets.

The idea was to connect India through creation of physical and digital infrastructure with Southeast Asia and beyond. Going beyond ARF, EAS and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), and the Quad, the Act East Policy also focussed on the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) countries through the ambitious SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) project launched in 2015 to help strengthen Indias role in shaping regional security, rule of law, and open sea routes. SAGAR aims at promoting collaboration with the 23-member IORA not only to address shared challenges such as maritime security, economic connectivity and sustainable development, but also in countering Chinas String of Pearls strategy, by enhancing Indias own connectivity and security partnerships with Indian Ocean nations.

Prime Minister Modi indeed gave a new thrust to intensify economic, strategic and diplomatic relations with countries that share common concerns with India on Chinas growing economic and military strength and its implications for the evolving regional and the global order. It has brought an IndoPacific perspective into our foreign policy, partnering with the Quad, IORA and ASEAN nations. India now conducts joint military exercises and maritime security cooperation with several countries, like SIMBEX with Singapore, IND-INDO CORPAT with Indonesia, and JIMEX with Japan. On the economic front, India entered into a FTA with Asean in Goods in 2009 (Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement, or AITIGA) which reduced or eliminated tariffs on thousands of goods traded between India and Asean countries, followed by an FTA in Services and Investment in 2014.

These FTAs are part of the Asean-India CECA, which seeks to deepen economic integration and cooperation between India and Asean in goods, services, and investment. Indias trade with ASEAN countries has grown from $76 million in FY 2015 to $121 billion in FY 2024. Indias major Asean trading partners include Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, with varied trade balances across member nations. In the same period, Indias global trade increased from $758 billion to $1.1 trillion, which means that Asean countries toge  ther account for only around 10- 11 percent of our global trade which is not increasing, despite the far larger potential that exists in one of the worlds largest free trade areas with more than 2 billion people and a combined GDP of US$ 7.4 trillion as of 2023, and home to the next highest number of unicorns in the world after USA, China and India. We also run a trade deficit which is now equivalent to around one third of our total trade. However, Indian investment flows to Asean countries have increased significantly. In 2014- 15, Indias outward FDIs to Asean stood at $1.23 billion, with the majority directed towards Singapore, which has long been Indias top investment destination within Asean. The Asean-India Investment Agreement signed in 2014 to ensure protection of investments and non-discriminatory practices coupled with Asean-India FTAs saw an upswing in direct investment inflows into Asean, which reached $5.6 billion out of total FDI outflows of $13.3 billion from India in 2023. Though FDIs into Asean are dominated by the USA, China and Japan, India today ranks within the top ten sources of FDIs into the region. Alongside economic engagements, cultural exchanges and connectivity also received a boost through many collaborative student and youth exchange programmes, fellowships and scholarships including at the Nalanda University. The number of tourist arrivals from India to Asean increased from 2.39 million in 2022 to 4.29 million in 2023. In 2023, 6.5 lakh Asean tourists visited India. Asean is much more important now to India than our old home block SAARC, with whom we traded only $30 billion in 2023- 24, of which $25 billion comprised of exports from India. Of course, border and trade barriers have reduced the trade potential, but the situation is unlikely to im  prove any time soon. SAARC is in hibernation since 2016 following the Uri terrorist attack sponsored by Pakistan, and is no longer a part of Indias larger strategic vision.

(The writer is a commentator, author and academic. Opinions expressed are personal)
The Fox News declared Donald Trump the winner of the US presidential election shortly after 1:45 A.M. on Wednesday based on its analyses of the results pouring in.

The network gave the Republican 277 electoral college votes to 226 for Democrat Kamala Harris, with 35 results to come.

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In the 538 electoral college that will formally elect him, 270 are required to win the presidency.

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NBC said that he is winning the race, even though it did not make a formal announcement.

It said that he had reached 266 seats in the electoral college and was likely to pick up at least four more in states where he is leaving.

The announcement came after it and other media declared that he had won Pennsylvania, the crucial swing state needed to win.

The other networks have not yet declared a winner in the bitterly-contested election, although The New York Times estimated that Trump would be getting 306 seats and Harris 232.

The Times estimate was based on analysis based on live poll data and demographic and historical information.

Trump was expected to speak to supporters celebrating his victory at the campaign headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida, where a jubilant crowd was waiting.

Meanwhile, the venue for Vice President Kamala Harris victory celebration at Howard University in Washington shut down by 1:30 A.M and her campaign announced that she had gone home.
In the first results of the 2024 race for the White House, US Vice-President Kamala Harris was projected to win Vermont, a reliably Democratic state, and former President Donald Trump was projected to win Kentucky, a solidly Republican state.

These projected results by US media outlets give Harris three electoral college votes and Trump 16 (11 from Indiana and 5 from Kentucky). They must secure at least 270 of the 538 electoral votes to win.

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These projections were announced immediately after the close of polling in some states, including Georgia, one of the seven battleground states that will determine the outcome of the 2024 race for President. These early projections are based on the history of polling in the state and are based on early trends that are not expected to change much through the night or later, on the completion of the full count of the polled votes.

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Early trends from Georgia will give the first real indication of how the contest will shape up.

If Harris is ahead or looks set to win either Georgia or North Carolina  President Joe Biden won Georgia in 2020  she will open up multiple pathways to the White House.

If Trump wins both states, the race will come down to the three Blue Wall states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, which have been must-win states for Democrats since Trump breached the wall and won all three states to beat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

More than 82 million American voters had already cast their ballot before Tuesday, called Election Day, either through in-person voting at early voting stations or through postal ballot. This was more than 51 per cent of the total of 158 million votes that were cast in 2020, at the height of a raging Covid-19 pandemic.

Harris and Trump ended their campaign with rallies in Pennsylvania and Michigan respectively, also both battleground states. There are in all seven battleground states that will determine the 2024 White House race.

Unlike others, they are neither solidly Democratic or Republican and they can swing between the two and are, therefore, also called the Swing States. They are Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Biden had all of them but North Carolina in 2020 to beat Trump.
The 4th edition of the AIM-ICDK Water Innovation Challenge 4.0 successfully concluded at the 2024 Next Generation Digital Action (NGDA) in Copenhagen, Denmark, marking a significant achievement in the growing Indo-Danish Green Strategic Partnership.

This years challenge reinforced its position as a premier platform for fostering innovative and sustainable solutions to global water issues. The challenge brought together key collaborators, including Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Innovation Centre Denmark (ICDK), and DTU Skylab under the DTU Next Generation Action Programme, alongside invaluable support from the International Centre for Clean Water (ICCW), the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Embassy of Denmark, Denmarks Environmental Protection Agency, and the DANIDA Fellowship.

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The partnership between the two countries has proven instrumental in driving impactful innovation. The AIM-ICDK Water Innovation Challenge has been particularly effective in empowering young innovators from both countries to address urgent environmental challenges.

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According to Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, the importance of this initiative, The AIM-ICDK Water Challenge, now in its fourth year, exemplifies India and Denmarks commitment to fostering sustainable, innovative solutions for global water challenges. Our young innovators remarkable achievements at the Next Gen Digital Action 2024 in Copenhagen underscore the power of international collaboration in addressing pressing environmental issues.

The challenge encourages not only technological innovation but also practical solutions with the potential for long-term impact. Teams from both India and Denmark showcased groundbreaking solutions to improve water management, conservation, and accessibility. This years event highlighted the growing synergy between the two nations in technology, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

Consul General and Head of Trade and Innovation at the Consulate General of Denmark in Bangalore Eske Bo Rosenberg shared his optimism about the collaboration and said, Indias participation at the Next Generation Digital Action and Digital Tech Summit showcases the strength of Indo-Danish relations in addressing global challenges. It is inspiring to see young entrepreneurs developing solutions that embody the spirit of global cooperation, advancing our shared goals for sustainable development and innovation.

The Indian delegation included five startup teams that participated in the global Next Generation Digital Action program, engaging with young talents from leading universities and innovation hubs in 10 countries. Among them, the three university teams  Clim8 (VIT Vellore), Checkmate (VIT Vellore), and Qualgrip (IIT Madras)  alongside early-stage startups Navmarg and Scrapify, developed promising solutions that tackle critical global water challenges.

Notably, Clim8, a team of three young innovators from VIT Vellore, won the Acceleration Award for the challenge posed by South Africa on Leveraging Machine Learning and AI for Infrastructure Pricing. They were also recognized with the Best Startup Award in the national category.
Former US President Donald Trump has secured 120 electoral college votes and Vice-President Kamala Harris 99 as polling closed in states at 9 p.m. Eastern time, according to projections by the Associated Press.

The projections are basically in predictably partisan states that have historically voted either Democratic or Republican. They did not include any of the seven battleground states. And there were no surprises from previous outcomes.

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Trump was projected to win Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Louisiana.

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Harris was projected to take Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Illinois, and New York.

The winner needs to cross 270 of the 538 electoral college votes.

The contest is on in the battleground states of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

These projections were announced shortly after the close of polling in some states, including Georgia, one of the seven battleground states that will determine the outcome of the 2024 race for president.

These early projections are based on the history of polling in the state and are based on early trends that are not expected to change much through the night or later, on the completion of the full count of the polled votes.

More than 82 million American voters had already cast their ballot before Tuesday, called Election Day, either through in-person voting at early voting stations or through postal ballot. This was more than 51 per cent of the total of 158 million votes that were cast in 2020, at the height of a raging Covid-19 pandemic.

Harris and Trump ended their campaign with rallies in Pennsylvania and Michigan respectively, also both battleground states. There are in all seven battleground states that will determine the 2024 White House race. Unlike others, they are neither solidly Democratic or Republican and they can swing between the two and are, therefore, also called the Swing States.
During the 23rd South Korea-UN Conference, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul called on UN officials to "strongly condemn" North Korea's actions. This refers to the DPRK's assistance to the Russians in the war against Ukraine.

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According to Yonhap, Cho Tae-yul met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, and a group of European diplomats in Seoul. The South Korean foreign minister called on the UN to declare the need for "the immediate withdrawal of DPRK troops from Russia and the cessation of their illegal military cooperation."

For her part, Rosemary DiCarlo expressed the UN's "great concern." According to her, "the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia violates UN Security Council resolutions and threatens the peace and stability of the international community."

Cho Tae-yul separately stated that the deployment of DPRK troops on the battlefield is a "serious challenge" to the international community on nuclear disarmament. He also met with the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu to inform her of the risks of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

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The UN did not respond to whether the statement requested by Seoul would be made or whether it would remain at the level of "great concern" that the organization has already expressed.

Europe responded more concretely when Cho Tae-yul discussed these issues with EU High Representative for Diplomacy Josep Borrell. The latter said that Brussels and Seoul "must cooperate" to confront the "growing threat."

"This is a very big concern because the war is on the borders of Europe. And North Korean troops are going to take part in this war. That is why we have to cooperate," Borrell said.

Although, according to Borrell, the DPRK military is only going to fight, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the information that the first military clash between Ukrainian troops and DPRK soldiers fighting for Russia took place in the Kursk region of Russia. According to the minister, this should be regarded as the official beginning of North Korea's participation in the war against Ukraine.

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Back on October 31, it became known that Russian troops had begun to deploy North Korean engineering units to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular to Donetsk. As of that time, they had not yet taken part in hostilities.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Zelenskyy blamed his partners for the lack of reaction to the DPRK's participation in the war with Ukraine. According to him, Putin is testing the West's reaction to his actions, and if it is the same as during the seizure of Crimea, the aggressor will go further, increasing the North Korean contingent.

It is known that the DPRK military, who were sent to war in Ukraine, are headed by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the North Korean Army, Kim Yong Bok.

As a reminder, South Korea has already provided NATO representatives with the main facts of military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK at an emergency meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
After voting in the presidential election, Republican candidate Donald Trump has said that this was the best campaign he has run and indicated that it may be his last.

I ran a great campaign. I think it was maybe the best of the three, he said on Tuesday at a polling station in Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago home.

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He said that it would be crazy, to think that he would not concede if the election was fair.

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If I lose an election, if its a fair election, Im going to be the first one to acknowledge it, and I think its  well, so far, I think its been fair.

When a reporter asked the 78-year-old former President if this would be his last campaign, he said, Yeah, I would think so.

Trump won his first election against Hillary Clinton, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, in 2016, but lost the second to President Joe Biden in 2020.

He has not conceded defeat in the last election and insists he is the winner.

We did great in the first one. We did much better in the second one, but something happened. And, this was the best, I would say this was the best campaign we ran, he said.

As he insisted that he had defeated Biden and the election was stolen, his supporters rioted on January 5, 2021, and invaded the Capitol while Congress was certifying Bidens election.

They made death threats against Vice-President Mike Pence and made members of Congress flee.

Trump said that he did not expect violence this time.

My supporters are not violent people, he added.

Trumps wife Melania joined him at the polling station set up at a tightly guarded recreation centre.

Earlier he posted on X, Voter enthusiasm is THROUGH THE ROOF because people want to Make America Great Again. That means lines are going to be long!

He exhorted his supporters to stay in line and vote no matter how long it took.

The Radical Communist Democrats want you to pack up and go home, he added.
In a highly anticipated race for the US presidency, former President Donald J Trump is currently leading with 247 electoral votes against his Democratic rival and Vice President Kamala Harriss 210, according to the New York Times.

With 270 electoral votes required to secure the presidency, the competition remains intense as counting in key swing states is underway.

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Donald Trump has registered a crucial victory in North Carolina, marking the first major swing state in his favor in what is being seen as a major jolt to Kamala Harriss chances of reaching the required 270 electoral votes.

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Trump is also on track to secure another critical swing state, Georgia, following his earlier North Carolina win.

Republicans set to take control of Senate

The Republicans are also on the verge of securing the second biggest prize  the Senate. They have already won key Senate seats, with Bernie Moreno taking Ohio, Jim Justice winning West Virginia, and Deb Fischer in Nebraska, bringing the Republicans closer to a Senate majority.

The Democrats faced tough losses, including Sherrod Browns seat in Ohio, and Jon Tester in Montana.

The Democrats hopes are dwindling in competitive states. Once-considered close races in Florida and Texas have now slipped away, and Independent Dan Osborne trails Republican Deb Fischer in Nebraska with 69 per cent of votes counted.

If Donald Trump wins the presidency, Vice President JD Vances tie-breaking vote in the Senate would secure a majority for the Republicans, regardless of other results.

While the final outcome of the election is yet to come out, the advantage is clearly shifting towards Donald Trump, who may return as US President for the second time.
Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6)

Today

Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High 58F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain ending overnight. Low 39F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Cristian Macario began searching for people gone missing in Valencias flash floods before he even knew that his own father was one of them. Like many other residents of affected areas in this part of eastern Spain, he went out in search of survivors on Wednesday, October 30, just as everyone else was beginning to explore the extent of the destruction. Because hed lost his cell phone reception, he did not find out until the next day that his father, Jose Carlos Macario Gil, had not given any signs of life since Tuesday afternoon, when he began to drive home from work with a colleague.

At that point Cristian was forced to prioritize. Starting from the last place where the GPS signal from his fathers colleagues cell phone was detected, he has combed many miles of land together with his brother Paco and several friends. The task seems almost impossible. The search area is gigantic, and many vehicles are buried under the mud. But Cristian prefers this titanic task to just waiting for the phone to ring with fateful news: I know we are groping in the dark, but if I stand still, I get nervous.

The searches begin early in the morning and end when the sun sets. To coordinate their efforts, the two brothers and their friends have created a WhatsApp group called Siempre Fuertes (Always Strong), a name that is followed by three emoticons: a flexed arm, crossed fingers and a four-leaf clover. Cristian, who has some military training, has instructed everyone to fan out. They wear boots, gloves and masks. And they have seen all kinds of things. Four or five corpses, says Cristian, a 40-year-old bricklayer. More than I would have liked to have seen in this lifetime.

Cristians father is 63 years old and he was driving a black Nissan Almera minivan with license plate number 0023 CPC. Sitting in the passenger seat was Juan Vicente Madrid, 50. Both men left the town of Aldaia on Tuesday on their way to Cheste. The last thing the brothers know about Jose Carlos is that one of their stepbrothers, aged 11, phoned him and the father replied that he could not talk on the phone because he was driving and could barely see because of the rain.

Members of the military unit UME searching for bodies on Tuesday in Cheste, Valencia. Kike Taberner Cristian speaking with a member of UME. Kike Taberner Cristian shows a picture of his father, who has been missing since the flash floods on Tuesday of last week. Kike Taberner A damaged road in Cheste, pictured on Tuesday. Kike Taberner Cristian shows a picture of his father's colleague, who is also missing. Kike Taberner

Cristian tells his story on his first day of rest, eight days after a catastrophe that has left a death toll of at least 218 and residents in shock as they struggle to resume their lives. He does so on a broken bridge outside the center of Cheste, just above the Poyo ravine, which has become ground zero of the destruction. He is accompanied by his brother-in-law Daniel and stepsister Charo.

From this vantage point, they can see a good part of the territory they have already searched. Below the bridge, about 50 meters away, they see a car buried in the ground and marked off with police tape as if it were the scene of a crime. Some members of the military unit UME approach with a search and rescue dog. At times there is silence. The dog sniffs around. More silence. If the animal doesnt bark, there is no body, explains Brigadier Canizares, who watches from the top of the bridge as his colleagues and the dog move away from the vehicle.

Cristian has seen this scene play out several times. On Monday, they found a graveyard of cars, all piled up. None of them was his fathers Nissan. When the two brothers and their friends find a body in a vehicle, they mark it with a stick and a rope, so that the authorities will know. They have hardly come across any uniformed officers. Many more would be needed for the job that is still left to do. Those they have seen have taken down information about their father and the car. The Civil Guard has taken DNA samples from Paco. The search could end at any time, with just one phone call. What we want is for it to end. For better or for worse. But for it to end now, says Cristian.

Tomorrow at 9 a.m. they will resume their searches. They hope to comb an industrial area where they have heard that drivers who wanted to enter Cheste were diverted to. They return on foot towards the center of Cheste, a town of around 9,000 residents. As they move away from the ravine area, they barely notice any damage. Cristian, who has been walking for days along paths that smell of corpses, is surprised by the contrast: I dont know if the reality is this over here or what there is back there.

View of the Poyo ravine at sunset, this Tuesday. Kike Taberner

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Your term will end 48 hours from the receipt of this letter. I would like to thank you for your service as defense minister, read the letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, dated Tuesday, November 5. Through this missive, the dismissal of Yoav Gallant, Netanyahus colleague in the right-wing Likud party, was announced, citing differences in the way of managing the war in Gaza and Lebanon. Netanyahu made the decision, in addition to being surrounded by criticism over the measure, with the country amid a deep-seated conflict, mired in violence and uncertainty.

Downtown Tel Aviv immediately became the scene of protests as hundreds of people tried to block traffic on one of its main arteries. Meanwhile, calls for people to take to the streets were being made elsewhere in the country. Around 1,000 people surrounded the area around Netanyahus residence in central Jerusalem and marches were being organized in other parts of Israel.

Netanyahu and Gallant had clashed on several occasions throughout 13 months of conflict in which the prime minister has always tried to impose his hard line on the army, which was interpreted as a slamming of the door on the possibility of achieving a truce, freeing the hostages in Gaza, and moving toward the end of the war.

Gallants replacement at a critical moment in the conflict will be Israel Katz, the current foreign minister. The new head of diplomacy will be Gideon Saar, who was appointed as a minister without portfolio by the government just a month ago amid rumours of Gallants departure. Sources close to Netanyahu have not ruled out further dismissals and point to the head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), General Herzi Halevi, and the head of the internal secret services (Shin Bet), Ronen Bar, according to the daily Haaretz.

Netanyahu justified Gallants dismissal by citing a growing crisis of faith that prevented the former military officer from remaining at the head of the ministry, as he had made statements and carried out actions that contradict the decisions of the government, according to a video statement. According to Netanyahu, Israels enemies have even benefited from these internal fractures in the cabinet, since they are more than evident. Gallant, for his part, stressed: The security of the State of Israel always was, and will always remain, my lifes mission.

The prime minister announced the changes while the fronts in Gaza and Lebanon remain open, with a high level of death and destruction, Iran has promised to respond to the latest Israeli attack, and there are still 101 hostages held in the Strip. For more than two months, none of the captives have left Gaza, dead or alive. Meanwhile, families have come to terms with the fact that around half of them could already be dead. Meanwhile, there is no prospect of a ceasefire agreement, despite the fact that contacts were resumed two weeks ago after being frozen for the previous two months.

Applause from ultra-nationalists

Reactions to the changes in government were not long in coming on a day when Israel, in addition to following the different fronts of the conflict, had its attention focused on the presidential election that its main ally, the United States, held Tuesday. On the one hand, the most radical wing of the government celebrated Gallants departure. The head of the National Security portfolio, Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultra-nationalist settler who despite the more than 43,000 dead in Gaza calls for an even tougher hand, congratulated Netanyahu on the social network X. Ben-Gvir considered Gallant a burden on total victory. The prime minister did well to dismiss him, he concluded.

On the contrary, the forum that brings together the families of the hostages, both civilian and military, expressed in a statement its deep concern about Netanyahus decision and about how this sudden change may affect the fate of the 101 hostages. In any case, they are already calling on Katz to give priority to an agreement and to work closely with the mediators and the international community to guarantee the immediate release of all remaining captives. The main obligation of the Defense Minister is to guarantee the security of our citizens [...] Our future as a society depends on the return of all the hostages and the end of this war, they stated.

For opposition leader Yair Lapid, who has called on citizens to protest in the streets, Gallants downfall is an act of madness. Netanyahu is selling out Israels security and army fighters for his shameful political survival, he wrote on X.

The government crisis coincides with a new scandal that has hit the prime minister after it emerged that leaks by people close to him may have undermined contacts and negotiations to secure the release of the captives, according to a court investigation. Netanyahu denies this, while opposition members and relatives of the hostages accuse the government of sabotaging the negotiations.

A statement issued shortly before the defence ministers dismissal cited an unprecedented campaign against the Prime Ministers Office in the midst of a war. According to this version, it is an attempt to inflate accusations against the prime minister and those around him, but the present matter will also not yield anything whatsoever, the statement added. After a year in which there has been a flood of criminal leaks from security cabinet discussions and discussions regarding the hostages and the missing, which have provided our enemies with highly valuable intelligence, the only two investigations that have been opened are directed against the Prime Ministers Office.

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is one of those who has been held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza since October 2023, said during one of the protest marches in Tel Aviv that the leaks, which appeared in the UK-based Jewish Chronicle and the German tabloid Bild, support Netanyahus propaganda lies to scupper the deal that would allow them to return home.
Job Title: EFM- Political/Economic Management Assistant (Office Management Assistant) (Fresher Jobs)

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Salary Range: USD $37,896 /Per Year

Announcement Number: Kampala-2024-033-RA1

About US Embassy:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador William W. Popp currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Peace Corps

Job Summary: The U.S. Mission in Uganda is seeking eligible and qualified eligible family members to apply for the EFM- Political/Economic Management Assistant (Office Management Assistant) position in the Political/Economic office..

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The Political/Economic Management Assistant is a key member of the 13-person POL/ECON Section. The positions direct supervisor is the Deputy Political Counselor. The position is primarily responsible for supporting the POL/ECON Counselor and Deputy Counselors for Political and Economic Affairs, but also assists the other officers in the section as requested and time permits. S/he performs a full range of office management, administrative, records, logistics and protocol duties. The incumbent backs up the Human Rights Officer on overseeing all Leahy vetting functions in his/her absence.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Requirements:

All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a: Secret security clearance.

Education Requirements: Completion of Secondary School is required.

Completion of Secondary School is required. Experience: Three years of clerical, administrative, office support, event or travel management in an office setting is required.

Three years of clerical, administrative, office support, event or travel management in an office setting is required. Language: Level 4  Fluent; written/spoken, including the ability to translate

Level 4  Fluent; written/spoken, including the ability to translate Job Knowledge: The incumbent must become aware of pertinent U.S. government regulations and Embassy policies, understanding and correctly applying them. The incumbent must also quickly grasp the basics of the sections substantive work enough to provide needed support for those functions.

The incumbent must become aware of pertinent U.S. government regulations and Embassy policies, understanding and correctly applying them. The incumbent must also quickly grasp the basics of the sections substantive work enough to provide needed support for those functions. Skills And Abilities: The incumbent must be aware of pertinent U.S. government regulations and Embassy policies, understanding and correctly applying them. The incumbent must also quickly grasp the basics of the sections substantive work enough to provide needed support for those functions.

How to Apply:

All those interested in working with the United States Embassy, US Mission in Kampala should send their applications online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 19th November 2024

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Date Posted 2024-11-06T13:30 Valid Through 2024-11-20T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization U.S. Embassy in Uganda Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda

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Job Title: Officer  Records (Fresher Jobs)

Organisation: MTN Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Senior Manager  Commercial Legal & Company Secretarial

About the Company:

MTN Uganda is a subsidiary of MTN Group, a multinational Telco operating in Africa and Middle East, with over 280milllion subscribers, making it the largest in Africa

Job Summary: To effectively handle the companys records management and organizational. Additionally, responsible for arranging, describing, preserving and providing access to Company records, documents and other materials with long-term, historical value and importance.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Receive, verify, record, and safely shelve and store documents.

Retrieve, register, and issue documents as requested and approved.

Arrange for destruction of obsolete records as per approved lists.

Receive, record, and sort incoming mail for distribution and dispatch outgoing mail.

Prepare and process necessary paperwork related to mail services and maintain records of quantities and descriptions of materials received and distributed.

Assist in supervising all service providers carrying out works in the archives e.g. fumigators.

Maintain an inventory of all records in the records repository and keep the access register up to date.

Advise on records that have overstayed their return dates.

Preserve and conserve from time to time all the records in his or her jurisdiction to facilitate the continued existence of the MTNs information sources.

Timely retrieval of records requested by authorized staff against formal fully signed requisitions submitted to the Records Office and ensure correct refilling of the returned records.

Maintain a well-organized and neat Records Repository with orderly filling and shelving as per MTN standards.

Maintain an updated process flow for the management of all categories of records in the Records repository and maintain an updated records status of all records movement outside the Records Repository.

Restrict access to unauthorized staff from gaining access to the company Information sources.

Catalogue, classify and index all the records delivered to Stores for proper storage.

Advise on emerging filling space needs in a timely manner.

Recommend and assist with implementation of records storage and indexing solutions and may develop databases and information access systems, as time and resources may allow.

Perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time by the supervisor.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Education

Bachelors Degree in Records and Archives Management, Library and Information Science or a business related field.

Work Experience

Minimum of 2 years work experience, with experience in digital records systems and management.

Good understanding of records and archives management principles.

Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to continuous improvement and learning.

Ability to balance working independently with collaborating effectively with a team.

Strong organizational skills and detail-oriented.

Competencies

Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to continuous improvement and learning.

Ability to balance working independently with collaborating effectively with a team.

Strong organizational skills and detail-oriented.

How to Apply:

All candidates who wish to join MTN Uganda in this capacity should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 13th November 2024

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Date Posted 2024-11-08T01:32 Valid Through 2024-11-14T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization MTN Uganda Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda

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On Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that by passing the resolution for the restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the Assembly "has done its job".

The resolution read: "This Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expresses concern over their unilateral removal. This Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with the elected representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of special status, constitutional safeguards, and mechanisms for restoring these provisions. This Assembly emphasizes that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary introduced the resolution, which was seconded by Sakeena Masood (Itoo), Minister for Health and Medical Education. The carefully worded resolution did not explicitly mention Article 370 but demanded the restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

READ - Half-hearted, lacking conviction: Mehbooba Mufti on Article 370 resolution passed in J&K assembly

Upon its introduction, opposition members from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested, voicing their disapproval.

Despite the BJPs protest, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather allowed the passage of the resolution, leading BJP members to storm into the well of the House.

The 28 BJP legislators shouted slogans against the resolution, including religious slogans such as Jis Kashmir ko khoon say seencha, woh Kashmir hamara hain (The Kashmir that has been nurtured with blood is ours). They thumped desks and charged toward the Speaker, calling for his removal. As the ruckus escalated, the Speaker dared the BJP MLAs to bring a no-confidence motion against him if they wanted him removed.

BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma argued that the resolution has no constitutional validity and lacks the power to challenge decisions made in Parliament and upheld by the top court of India.

The discussion on the Lieutenant Governors speech was scheduled for today, during which the government would have been questioned about their promises of 200 free electricity units, 12 gas cylinders, one lakh jobs, and other things, he said. But this morning, the resolution about the Parliaments decision, also acknowledged by the Supreme Court, was moved instead. He also urged the Congress to clarify its stance on the resolution.

"The top leadership of Congress in New Delhi, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, should clarify their position. If they oppose the resolution, it cannot pass with the support of only a minority of House members," he added.

The resolution was passed by a two-thirds majority, including MLAs from the PDP, Peoples Conference (PC), and the Aam Aadmi Party.

Observers note that while the resolution is not binding on the Centre, it reflects the will of the people. By passing the resolution, the NC has fulfilled its election promise to the public to bring forth a resolution for the restoration of special status in the Assembly.
Police on Wednesday held a 23-year-old man from Pune in connection with the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 16.

A team of Mumbai Crime Branch took Gaurav Vilas Apune, a resident of Karvenagar locality of Pune city, into custody after his alleged role in the conspiracy was revealed by some of the other accused arrested earlier.

Police said Apune had been trained in the use of firearms by some of absconding accused and that he had been promised a substantial amount of money for his role in the conspiracy.

A local court has sent him in police remand till November 9.

Siddique, a former minister, was shot dead by three armed men near his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Bandra on October 12. Police believe that jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's brother Anmol Bishnoi is behind the murder.

Soon after Siddiques death, a Facebook post allegedly shared by a Bishnoi gang member, had claimed responsibility of the incident.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called the Article 370 resolution by the National Conference (NC) in the legislative assembly on Wednesday as "half-hearted" and the one that lacks conviction.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Mufti said that the resolution, demanding the restoration of Article 370 and 35A, was inadequate in both language and intent.

"The language could have been better," she said. "This is a half-hearted attempt, and we are considering amendments to the resolution."

She said while the resolution acknowledged concerns regarding the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, it failed to explicitly condemn the "unconstitutional" move by the BJP government.

"Instead of unequivocally calling for the complete restoration of Article 370, the resolution merely suggests a dialogue. Dialogue with whom?," she asked.

Mufti said the PDP is considering amendments to ensure the resolution genuinely reflects the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"This isn't about taking credit," she added. "Our stance is clear: we are committed to our election promises to fully oppose the revocation and seek its restoration."

On November 4, PDP legislator Waheed Parra had tried to submit a resolution demanding the restoration of Article 370, but the Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather didn't allow the move. The BJP and the NC legislators had opposed the submitting of resolution by Parra.

Like the Constituent Assembly of Sheikh Abdullah time, this Assembly, too, is a transition to negotiate our relation. I have a small request that a resolution is passed in the House, Parra told Rather.

"I, on behalf of my party, bring a resolution to oppose the J&K Reorganisation Act and for the restoration of Article 370, Parra said.

However, Rather told Parra that the agenda of the House didn't permit such a move.
Election season has come to a close at Europes CERN, the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. On Wednesday, representatives from its 24 member states selected British physicist Mark Thomson as its new director-general, entrusted with leading the institution into its next chapter. The gigantic facility employs 2,500 workers and has a network of nearly 20,000 collaborators around the world. Its top priority is to finalize plans to build the biggest particle accelerator on the planet, a circular superconducting proton accelerator ring measuring 62 miles across. With it, humanity will attempt to enter unknown territory.

Thomson, 58, was the first to publicly announce his candidacy to replace Italian former director-general Fabiola Gianotti in January 2026. His two competitors were also men: Paris Sphicas, a veteran Greek CERN researcher, and Robbert Dijkgraaf, a theoretical physicist and former minister of education, culture and science in the Dutch government.

Thomson, the son of a shopkeeper father and housewife mother, says that when he was 13, he was already reading books on particle physics and yearning to know about how the universe works in greater depth. His search for the most essential components of matter led him to become a professor of particle physics at the University of Cambridge and to work in the worlds great temples of the discipline: the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, at the headquarters of CERN, and the gigantic underground neutrino detector DUNE, which is being built 4,500 feet underneath the earths surface in the United States. Currently, the Brit is the executive chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council in the United Kingdom, a vast organization of thousands of scientists with a budget of over $1 billion, comparable to that of CERN.

In this interview with EL PAIS that took place during Thomsons brief visit to the British embassy in Madrid  before his appointment  he defends the importance of Europe continuing to be a world leader in the field over the next 70 years, despite recent gains made by China. To achieve that, he warns, Europe will have to seek out accords that would allow it to carry out one of the largest engineering projects in history, which will cost $16 billion and take more than 15 years to build.

Question. What is the big question that CERN is currently trying to answer?

Answer. The first is really understanding what the Higgs boson is. This is the particle we discovered in 2012 at CERN. Its very strange, completely unique. Its not just another particle. It doesnt look like anything weve ever seen before. And it plays a really unique role in determining how the universe works. What it does is, if you go into the deepest space, into the vacuum where theres nothing, the presence of the Higgs boson is always there. The Higgs field, we call it. And if it wasnt for that Higgs field, then all of the particles that we know would have no mass. The universe would look very  well, we wouldnt be here. So thats fascinating. Now we really want to understand how it works, exactly what it is doing. It is possible that there is more than one Higgs bonson and we want to understand its interaction with the rest of the matter that we know with very, very, very high precision. That would provide a new window on the universe that we havent had before.

Q. The Higgs acts upon conventional matter. Is the rest of it totally unknown?

A. That is the second question to answer. So about 5% of the universe, in terms of its mass, is the stuff we see, the visible universe. And then another 25% is what we call dark matter. We know its out there. We can kind of see its presence in the way it affects galaxies and the way galaxies move, but we really dont know what it is. So thats a very large part of the universe that we notice, but that we havent seen at all. Then theres dark energy, which is the remainder, and who knows what that is, Im not even going to go there.

Q. Three big questions to answer, then.

A. The other question that I find really, really fascinating is that every particle, elementary and fundamental  there arent very many of them  like electrons in atoms, they have a heavier copy named muon and an even heavier copy called the tau lepton. We have no idea why there are three copies. They all have different masses, so they interact differently with the Higgs. So, this is really about understanding why there are this particular number of particles in the universe and why they have these very strange patterns of mass. And we dont really have any real insights at the moment as to why thats the case. Maybe its linked to the Higgs boson, maybe not. Thats called the flavor puzzle. Weve measured all these things, but we dont understand the origin of their differences.

Q. Youve said you love neutrinos, why is that?

A. When I started my PhD back in Oxford in the mid-1980s, I worked on an underground experiment in the United States which was actually looking for proton decay. In proton decay, there is the interaction of these ghostly particles called neutrinos. Theyre all over the place, millions of them going through you every second and they almost never do anything. At that time, we were starting to see in some of the experiments hints that neutrinos were doing something we didnt really understand at that time called neutrino oscillations. Ive always had huge interest in, what are these particles? Thirty years ago, we thought their mass was zero, because their mass was so small. Now we know theyre not zero, but theyre much smaller than any other particle. So, theres another puzzle there, why is a neutrino mass so, so light?

Q. There are some physicists who say that without neutrinos, we wouldnt be here.

A. This is the other thing about neutrinos that is potentially really, really important. This is the focus of the current generation of big neutrino experiements, like DUNE, where I worked years ago. Another reason why humans are here is because we are all made of matter. We believe that at the start of the Big Bang, matter and anti-matter were created equally. What should happen is that they come together and meet each other and then annihilate and turn into light. So, the universe should be a very boring place, no matter the amount of matter left. And what we know has happened somewhere in the history of the universe very early on for every, lets say, billion anti-matter particles, there were 1,000,000,001 matter particles. This subtle difference is what we see today in the universe. Whats the origin of that? I think our best bet, which may not be true, is something to do with neutrinos. That requires two things: that neutrinos and anti-particles are subtly different, and also that neutrinos are different types of particles, compatible with the other particles and thats kind of a technical thing.

Q. Where do you want to take CERN over the next five years if you are selected?

A. I wanted to be very open and transparent about the fact that I wanted to be considered for this role and that I have the experience to be able to do the job. CERN is unique in the world and we are very lucky to have it in the heart of Europe. Its maybe the unique area where Europe is right at the lead of science. Weve got this unique scientific infrastructure built just over 70 years of deep European collaboration. We really want to track out its future.

Q. What needs to be done to achieve that?

A. We are currently running the Large Hadron Collider, which is the most powerful collider ever built. Were making it a more powerful machine thats putting in some more advanced magnet technology near where the experiments are. This will be an incredible opportunity as a discovery machine  you dont know what youre going to discover, and you might not discover anything, but thats the whole nature of discovery. The new LHC will give us a new frontier to see the universe as well as other really exciting measurements, including some really subtle property of the Higgs boson that I think well be able to measure at the high limit LHC. So that sets out CERNs future until 2040.

Q. And after that?

A. The second challenge for CERN is, whats the long-term future of the Sun? These big projects take 20 years or more from start to actual operation. Now is the time to start to take that decision of what comes next. At the moment, the prime candidate for what comes next is something called the Future Circular Collider. Hopefully they will drop the future at some point.

Q. What kind of accelerator will it be?

A. The Large Hadron Collider is a 17-mile ring. This will be a 57-mile ring, which enables us to accelerate particles to higher and higher energies. The initial phase of this machine will collide electrons and anti-electrons, and it will essentially be a factory for making Higgs bosons. This is the place where we can study this unique, completely new type of matter and really understand it. The challenge, of course, of these big projects is not just time but cost, which is estimated at around $16 million. That will require all of the member states of CERN to come together and have a real consensus behind the machine. And that would be my prime goal, parallel with deliver the LHC. It sounds like a very large amount of money, but it will be shared among the 25 member states over a period of 15 years or so. The way you make breakthroughs is you have to do stuff thats never been done before. And building this accelerator will push forward technology, which will be an engine for the economy and innovation.

Q. Do you think that the leadership of Europe particle physics is in peril?

A. China has some ambitions to build something quite similar to the plans that were putting forward at CERN. I would say that we have the advantage of 70 years of heritage of building accelerators and turning them into colliders. Its absolutely critical to success. I dont think we should underestimate the difficulty of starting from  I wont say starting from scratch, because technology in China is very strong, but actually its very hard to reproduce that experience.

Q. The LHC consumes as much power as a small city. The accelerator would require much more electricity and to excavate an underground tunnel between France and Switzerland. Can a project like that be sustainable?

A. This is a really important question, and it depends on the perspective you come at it from. A lot of the power comes from the French grid, and a lot of that is nuclear. So, in one sense, depending on your perspective on nuclear, in terms of carbon impact, its not that high. The thing that probably drives the carbon footprint of the huge circular collider is the construction, the concrete, the excavation. You can look at that as a negative or huge opportunity for scientists and engineers at CERN to say what we can do to make it more sustainable.

Q. Do you feel that other European countries will look at your candidacy from a different point of view because of Brexit?

A. I hope it wont come into it. The United Kingdom is the second-largest contributor to CERNs budget. The leadership of this laboratory is really very critical and it should be about the person. Its not a role in which youre representing your nation, youre representing CERN and the member states of CERN.

Q. Has leaving the European Union hurt science in the United Kingdom?

A. Yes. Now that were back in Horizon Europe [the European Union scientific funding program], I think were starting to rebuild those relationships, but theres no question they were damaged and that has not been good.

Q. CERN has decided to end its collaboration with Russia and Belarus due to the invasion of Ukraine. Would you support taking similar action against Israel, a member country, given its invasion of Lebanon and military operations in Gaza?

A. Thats a very political question and it really comes down to the member states. Scientific collaboration is really important. We saw the value of those links with Russian scientists. But the invasion of Ukraine was an act of aggression against one of the associate members of CERN. I think the CERN Council took a very difficult decision.

Q. Will you feel comfortable as the director-general of an organization like CERN, taking into account Israels membership?

A. The prime directive of CERN is science for peace. I think the director-general supports that particular direction, then its really up to the members to decide. Its not something I would be uncomfortable with, because I really believe in the ethos of scientific collaboration.

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Karnataka Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur is facing serious allegations of corruption, as wine merchants have accused him of taking huge bribes for transfer of department officials and renewal and transfer of liquor shop licences. The Federation of Wine Merchants Association, Karnataka, has threatened to shut down all liquor shops in the state in protest against the rampant corruption in the excise department, on November 20.

S. Guruswamy, president of the association, said, We have decided to shut shop on November 20 if the chief minister fails to replace the excise minister and end the corruption. We will also petition the governor and the CBI.

He said that since the excise minister took bribes, the other officials felt emboldened to followed suit.

Any new DC, superintendent or deputy superintendent who is posted in our region tells us he has given a hefty bribe of Rs 2 crore to the minister for the plum posting. The excise officials ask us for assistance to make up for the money lost as bribe, Guruswamy said.

If we dont pay the bribe, we are harassed by officials who inspect our stocks and licence and raise issues, slap cases and impose a penalty of Rs 50,000. The monthly hafta is fixed for each shop (around Rs 8,000 per shop) and takes Rs 1 lakh for every renewal, and shifting (relocation) of the shop could cost anywhere between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. Even the request for a name change (of the licensee) would leave you poorer by Rs 5 lakh. The transfer of licence to a family member following the licensees demise also costs huge money, he said, adding that the wine merchants cannot survive if the corruption was not plugged immediately as most of them had debts of around Rs 3-4 crore.

Meanwhile, a letter reportedly written by an RTI activist Ajith to the chief minister and the governor, has alleged that Minister Timmapur is pocketing Rs 180 crore to Rs 200 crore annually for transfer of officers across grades, and extorting another Rs 180 crore (Rs 15 crore every month) from wine merchants as monthly money(hafta) besides the huge bribes taken for sanctioning the liquor licences. The association has urged CM Siddaramaiah to replace the minister.

Leader of Opposition R. Ashok, in a social media post, claimed that the wine merchants association had alleged that CL7 bar licences were given for a bribe of Rs 30 lakh to Rs 70 lakh. In the last one year, at least 1,000 such illegal licenses have been issued by the excise minister, which amounts to Rs 300-700 crore, said Ashok, adding that liquor scam was the latest entrant to the long list of scams by the Siddaramaiah governmentfrom Valmiki corporation scam, MUDA, KIADB to Waqf land scam.

In 2022-23, the state had 12,614 licenced liquor outlets, including 3,988 retail wine shops (CL2), 277 clubs (CL4), 82 star hotels (6A), 2,279 hotels and boarding houses (CL7), 66 military canteen (CL8), 3,626 bar and restaurant (CL9), 1,023 MSIL shops (11C), 730 retail vendor of beer, 192 wine taverns, 97 wine boutiques, 68 micro-breweries and 32 others. The CM, during a review meeting held recently, set a target of Rs 38,525 crore for excise tax collection in 2024-25.

The wine merchants feel that extortion and harassment by the excise officials would soon force them to shut shop.

Timmapur, who denied all charges, said the aggrieved persons were free to complain against the erring officials. I wonder why they would bribe officials. The wine merchants need to bring it to my notice and I will initiate action against any official who demands a bribe. All are routine transfers and renewal of licence. Some persons making allegations do not prove that I am corrupt or guilty, the minister said.
For two consecutive days, a Supreme Court of India's bench led by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud postponed the hearing of the tragic rape and murder incident at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The matter is now expected to be addressed on Thursday, although the timing remains uncertain.

Initially scheduled for 3 pm on Tuesday, the hearing was rescheduled to Wednesday. It was reported that the three-judge bench, comprising CJI Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, would hear the RG Kar incident on Wednesday morning before it was postponed to 3 pm.

Reportedly, the chief justice wanted to schedule the hearing on Thursday afternoon. However, senior counsel Kapil Sibal, representing the Government of West Bengal, asked for the matter to be hard in the morning.

During the hearing, the CBI was anticipated to present its status report on the ongoing investigations into the rape and murder case, as well as the financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government was expected to submit an affidavit detailing the process hiring civic volunteers in the state's police force. The prime accused in the rape and murder of the trainee doctors, Sanjay Roy, was a civic volunteer at the time of his arrest.

The state government would have also provided an update on its efforts to improve the safety and security of doctors and other staff at hospitals and medical institutions.

Meanwhile, the junior doctors, who have been protesting since the trainee doctor was found dead at RG Kar on August 9, expressed their disappointment over the consecutive postponements of the hearing, stating that it was becoming increasingly difficult for them to maintain faith in the judiciary.

"We are beginning to believe that the Supreme Court of India has failed to grasp the gravity of the situation. If not the judiciary, where else can we seek justice for Abhaya? We are losing patience now, Dr Rumelika Kumar, a protesting junior doctor said.
In an unprecedented, and almost unbelievable political comeback, Donald Trump has clinched victory in the US presidential election 2024 against Kamala Harris. Trump won Wisconsin early in the morning on November 6 Eastern Time, crossing the 270 mark in the electoral college, and securing a second term. It would make Trump the first president to serve two non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland in 1892. Harris's defeat marks the second instance in the last eight years when a woman fell short of victory in the presidential race.

ALSO READ | What Donald Trump said after creating history as the 47th US President

The race between Trump and Harris was fiercely contested, with pre-election polls indicating a tight fight in the critical swing states. Experts and news anchors had prepared the US for a prolonged vote count, anticipating a lengthy and uncertain process. However, as the results rolled in on Election Day, Trump quickly began to pull ahead, reminiscent of his 2016 victory, despite the controversies surrounding his post-presidency years.

Donald Trumps comeback was largely fuelled by his strong performance in several key battleground states, which had been crucial to the Democrats' path to victory in 2020. The former president managed to retain North Carolina, while also flipping back Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsinstates that had turned blue in the last election but now back in Trumps column. As the night wore on, Trump appeared in command, establishing leads in Michigan and Wisconsin, two states, which along with Pennsylvania, was central to the "Blue Wall" that had been instrumental in the Democrats' success in 2020. With Trump going from strength to strength, Harriss campaign, which had heavily relied on winning these states, began to falter.

This marks a dramatic shift from the previous election, when Joe Biden flipped Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin back to the Democratic column. Harris, however, was unable to replicate Biden's success. The loss of the Blue Wallonce thought to be a firewall for Democratic controlwas a major blow, and by the time North Carolina was officially called for Trump, Harriss supporters had grown increasingly silent. The mood at her watch party in Washington D.C. turned quiet, in sharp contrast to the earlier excitement of the evening.

Trumps victory speech in West Palm Beach, Florida, was full of confidence and optimism. In his address, he promised to usher in a "golden age of America," emphasizing that his mandate was clear. Before the election was called in his favour by all major news outlets, Trump declared victory, positioning himself as the leader who would restore prosperity and safety to the country.

In addition to his presidential win, the Republican Party saw significant gains in Congress. The GOP has secured control of the Senate, picking up an open seat in West Virginia and defeating incumbent Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown. These victories further solidified the partys momentum, offering Trump a solid foundation for his policy agenda.

ALSO READ | Historys greatest comeback!: Modi, Netanyahu, Macron... how world leaders reacted to Trumps win in US Elections 2024

For the Democratic Party, the results were deeply disappointing. Despite running a campaign centred on defending abortion rights, protecting democracy, and promoting diversity, Harris struggled to connect with voters on key issues. Exit polls revealed that economic concerns, safety, and the overall direction of the country were far more important to most voters than the issues Harriss campaign had prioritized. While abortion rights remained a popular issue, only 14% of exit poll respondents identified it as their top concern. More than 75% of Americans expressed frustration with the countrys direction, signalling widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration.

ALSO READ | Donald Trump's 'Project 2025': Abortion to gay rights and gun laws, 5 subjects that make new POTUS 'scary' for many

Many analysts pointed to Harriss inability to distance herself from the controversial policies of the Biden administration as a key factor in her defeat. In hindsight, some observers suggested that a more robust Democratic primary contestperhaps with Biden stepping aside after his partys strong midterm performance in 2022could have resulted in a more compelling contest or a different candidate. Additionally, Harriss loss of support among Hispanic and Black male voters, combined with her failure to increase turnout among white women, weakened her standing in key swing states. The Democratic Partys messaging on issues like the Gaza conflict also alienated some of their traditional base, particularly Arab and Muslim Americans, and young college graduates, who had historically supported the party but now felt betrayed by its stance.

Trumps victory not only signifies a personal political comeback but also a broader repudiation of the direction many voters felt the country had taken under the Biden administration. With his win, Trump is poised to return to the White House with a stronger mandate, a Republican-controlled Senate, and the backing of a divided nation. He faces the challenge of unifying a deeply fractured country while fulfilling the promises he made during his campaign. For Democrats, the aftermath of this loss will likely prompt an intense period of self-reflection as they search for answers to why their coalition failed to hold together and what, if anything, they can do to reclaim the popular mandate.
Kamala Harris is defeated and Donald Trump is set to become the President of the United States for a second term. The septuagenarian Republican Trump, who has called the US media members of the enemy camp, is likely to implement a series of "changes" that may upset liberal Americans. A crackdown on the free press is the least of the worries for many Americans, who threw their weight behind Democrat candidate Harris to keep Trump out of the White House.

ALSO READ | Historys greatest comeback!: Modi, Netanyahu, Macron... how world leaders reacted to Trumps win in US Elections 2024

After a close Presidential election, it is confirmed that Donald Trump will return to the office of the most powerful man on the planet. Among the many issues that bother those who voted against him, here are five areas that Donald Trump's second term is almost certain to have far-reaching consequences.

1. Climate Change:

During his first term in the White House, Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Accords -- an international treaty that aims to limit global warming. Trump had famously declared climate change "a hoax" and called people batting for reduced carbon footprint "poor fools." Donald Trump's administration is likely to enact "Project 2025" a policy where non-conventional energy sources including wind and solar power are gonna take the sidetracked in favour of gas and coal.

2. Abortions:

Abortion rights were among the salient campaign topics of the polls. Federal restrictions on abortion are likely to be imposed by "Trump 2.0". According to media reports, a ban on shipping abortion pills is likely under the new government as these are the means of two-thirds of total abortions in the United States (to be used in the first trimester of pregnancy).

ALSO READ | 'Most fabulous Diwali gift for Hindus, Bharat': Shalabh Kumar, Trump's close aide, to THE WEEK

There is a federal law that protects emergency abortion access in the country known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act or the 'Emtala'. The wakening of the Emtala may result in a ban on medical equipment that clinics need to carry out abortions to doctors fearing to treat miscarriages in fear of the law.

3. Gay rights:

State-sponsored homophobia is likely to make a comeback in the United States under Trump, who had famously banned trans people from joining the most powerful military in the world. If elected once again, Donald Trump vowed an aggressive crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights, to ensure the formation of stable, married, nuclear families and heterosexual, intact marriage.

According to a report by The Guardian, "Project 2025" aims to replace the Democrat administration's pro-LGBTQ+ policies with more conservative ideas. Adoption agencies, healthcare workers and businesses should be able to reject LGBTQ+ people, Trump believes. Queer and trans youth are likely to be placed in supportive homes under the Trump regime, which are against citizens who dont fit biblically based definitions of marriage, The Guardian report said.

4. Federalism

The concept of mass deportation may get an entirely new meaning if Donald Trump is serious about using federal immigration agents to send back people from the US. If city administrations are unable to maintain law and order, the National Guard will be deployed to do it for them, he said. This means, that in case the citizens of the United States take to the streets to protest against the policies of the US government, Trump may use brute force to suppress them. Both concepts of mass deportation of illegal migrants and the use of the National Guard against protestors could open a war front between the US government and Democrat-ruled cities across the country, US media worry.

5. Gun laws:

The Joe Biden administration passed the first major federal US gun safety law in almost three decades, The Guardian said. The new Republican is likely to reverse it and close the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention -- a department overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris. According to the White House website, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in nearly 30 years.

ALSO READ | Trump in party mode as Elon Musk, Ivanka and Caitlyn Jenner join Mar-a-Lago ballroom bash

This legislation is already saving lives by keeping guns out of the hands of individuals under 21 who are prohibited from purchasing firearms, empowering the Justice Department with new authorities to prosecute firearms traffickers, improving access to mental health services in our schools to help young people deal with the trauma and grief resulting from gun violence, and investing in community violence interventions. This may all become history under the new POTUS.

Since 2015, 25 Republican states have enacted laws allowing residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit, US media said. Both Trump and his running-partner JD Vance have openly played down gun violence and have proposed increasing the number of school resource officers to avoid mass shootings at schools.



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As Donald Trump inches closer to victory in the US presidential race, excitement is palpable within the Republican camp and among Trump supporters.

In the electoral college count, as of now, Trump has 266 votes when compared to Harris's 195, with each candidate pulling out all the stops to reach the crucial figure of 270.

ALSO READ: Donald Trump on the brink of victory, says 'God spared my life for a reason'

FULL SPEECH: Donald J. Trump Delivers Powerful Victory Speech After Winning 2024 Presidential Election & Securing 2nd Term As POTUS 47



Watch & Share The Live Feed Of Our Election Coverage Here:https://t.co/SvmawgYDmy pic.twitter.com/0pFHW5YF73  Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) November 6, 2024

With Trump winning battleground state of Georgia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and leading in Wisconsin and Michigan, it is almost certain now that he is going to be the 47th president of the US.

"America has spoken. This is a fantastic victory [for Trump]. Hindus and Bharat have gotten the most fabulous Diwali gift," said Shalabh Kumar, a prominent Indian American supporter of Trump and founder of the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC), to THE WEEK.

ALSO READ: Trump is totally pro-India, says close aide Shalabh Kumar

Last week, Kumar spearheaded a mega $1.2 million campaign that was aimed at mobilising Hindu American and Indian American voters in Trump's favour. A Chicago-based industrialist, Kumar is seen as as Trump's most-liked Indian American. Over the years Kumar, has been the principal architect of Trump's outreach to the Indian American community.

In August 2016, some months before Trump took over as president, Kumar was appointed chairman of the Indian Advisory Board for Trump's campaign. He spearheaded the "Abki bar Trump Sarkar' initiative, adapted from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014 slogan, to appeal to Hindu and Indian voters. The campaign had an advertisement where Trump spoke in Hindi, expressing his huge admiration for India and Hindus.

ALSO READ: Bernie Moreno to Suhas Subramanyam, meet history makers of 2024

Later, to further engage Hindu Americans with the Republican Party, the party's national committee established the Hindu and Indian American Coalition with Kumar at the helm. With an estimated six million Hindu Americans in the US, there are around 3.3 million registered voters.

In an earlier interaction with THE WEEK, Kumar had said that Harris hardly acknowledges her Indian roots. He said he looked forward to J.D. Vance becoming the US president in 2028. "And Usha Vance will be the first lady. She has a great influence on Vance," said Kumar.
After winning North Carolina, Donald Trump added Georgia to his kitty to reclaim the state for the Republicans. Both swing states have 16 electoral votes each. The Pennsylvania, the key battleground state with 18 electoral votes, has also gone to Trump, closing off Kamala Harris's chances of victory.

HI REPUBLICANS! IF YOURE IN LINESTAY IN LINE pic.twitter.com/5vEA2kXZXU  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2024

Pennsylvania is the largest swing state with 19 votes in the Electoral College while another battleground state, Michigan, has 15 votes. Other swing states are Arizona with 11 seats, followed by Wisconsin and Nevada with 10 and six votes each.

In 2020, Trump lost Georgia against President Joe Biden. He had won Georgia in 2016 as his GOP predecessors did since 1996. With the latest win, Trump has sealed Georgia's status as a red state.

The Democrats seemed to have gained in Atlanta and its outskirts but Trump roped in rural votes to his advantage. He had visited the swing state six times in 2024 alone with crowd-pulling rallies in Atlanta, Rome and Savannah.

Interestingly, Trump is facing criminal charges of conspiracy to steal the 2020 elections in Georgia but he has pleaded not guilty.

Most of the voters in the state voted early ahead of the election day since October 5.

Multiple bomb threats were reported at 12 polling centres across Georgia on Tuesday, with the authorities saying the non-credible threats from Russia briefly disrupted the polling processes.

The FBI revealed that it is aware of bomb threats to polling sites in Georgia and that many of them seem to have originated from Russian email domains.
Multiple bomb threats were reported across Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania on election day as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump head to a tight presidential race. In Georgia and Arizona, authorities said the non-credible threats from Russia briefly disrupted the polling processes.

In Georgia alone, 12 polling places received threats. "We identified the source, and it was from Russia. Theyre up to mischief, it seems, and they dont want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election, said Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Threats were also targeted at two non-voting sites.

ALSO READ: US Elections Live: Trump is the clear winner in American betting markets ahead of poll results

The FBI said it is aware of bomb threats to voting sites in several states and that many of them seem to have come from Russian email domains. "None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," it added.

The Russian embassy in Washington, DC has dismissed the allegations as "malicious slander".

A government building in Pennsylvania's West Chester where voting services are located was evacuated after receiving a bomb threat.

Josh Maxwell, chair of the Chester County Board of Elections, said the voter services are located at the Government Services Centre where in-person ballots are delivered after 8 pm. He clarified that the mail-in ballots are canvassed and tabulated at a different place.

The building was searched by the dog squad and was expected to resume services if no threat is found.
US Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to address the nation Wednesday (local time) to officially concede the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump.

Democrat Kamala Harris, who was defeated by Donald Trump to become the 47th POTUS on Wednesday, is expected to address her supporters at Howard University in Washington D.C., American media reports said. Howard University was chosen for her public appearance after the polls as the prestigious varsity is her alma mater, a Democrat campaign co-chair reportedly told NBC News. However, it was not confirmed the exact time of Kamala's speech.

"You won't hear from the vice president tonight"

According to a Democrat campaign co-chair, Kamala Harris will wait until the last vote is counted before she addresses the nation. They plan to track the counting overnight until every state is called, NBC quoted him as saying.

This means it will be at least a few hours before Kamala Harris officially concedes her defeat to President-elect Trump.

WATCH | Ending wars to sealing borders, 5 Donald Trump victory speech quotes from Florida as Republican leader becomes 47th POTUS

Had Harris won the closely-fought polls, her victor speech would have also happened at Howard, which was her election night headquarters. "...you won't hear from the vice president tonight. But you will hear from her tomorrow, because she will be back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only to address her supporters, but to address the nation," NBC Washington quoted Kamala's campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond as saying.

US Presiential polls 2024: As it happened

Donald Trump on Wednesday won the US presidency for a second term after emerging victorious in a closely-fought contest. 277 electoral votes had gone to Republican candidate Trump while Harris got 224. The 78-year-old Trump won the key battleground state of Wisconsin to become "POTUS 47." After he crossed the magical numbers, Trump addressed his supporters at West Palm Beach in Florida earlier today.

FULL REPORT | 2024 US elections: Donald trumps Harris, makes the greatest comeback ever!

The Democratic leader's defeat to Trump in a bitterly contested election shattered her dream to become the first woman President of the United States. 60-year-old Kamala Harris was the district attorney for San Francisco -- the first woman, first African-American and first Indian-origin person to be elected to the position. As vice president, she is the first woman to hold the post. Also, she happens to be the first African-American or Indian-American person to make it there.
Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Israels Benjamin Netanyahu did not hold back on his enthusiasm as he took to his official X account to tweet as soon as Donald Trump announced his victory in the US presidential elections on Wednesday.

Dear Donald and Melania Trump,



Congratulations on historys greatest comeback!



Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.



This is a huge victory!



In true friendship, pic.twitter.com/B54NSo2BMA  Benjamin Netanyahu -   (@netanyahu) November 6, 2024

Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America, he added, in a tweet from Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu addressed to both Melania and Donald Trump, in what seemed like a couple friendship callout.

While most of the world viewed the run-up to the US elections as a tight race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, American voters decidedly chose Republicans, with major swing states going Trumps way.

ALSO READ | Swing states go MAGA way: Trump wins Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina as he eyes White House return

Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also penned a lengthy message on X for his friend @realDonaldTrump.

Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, pic.twitter.com/u5hKPeJ3SY  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024

Modi tweeted: As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

French President Emmanuel Macron was quick to remember Trumps last presidency Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity, he said on X.

Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 6, 2024

Pakistans PM Shehbaz Sharif also took to social media to congratulate his political ally, calling it a historic victory for a second term! Sharif added, I look forward to working closely with the incoming administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-US partnership.

Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! I look forward to working closely with the incoming Administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-U.S. partnership. @realDonaldTrump  Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 6, 2024

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote a lengthy one, specifically focussing on Trumps hardline stance as his commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs.

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory!



I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer, Zelenskyy posted on X.

Turkiye President Tayyip Erdogan also congratulated his friend Donald Trump, which also included an appeal to bring regional wars to a close. More efforts will be given for a fairer world in this new era that began with the election by the American people, Erdogan said on X.
The resounding victory of Donald Trump, who will once again assume the presidency in what may be the most extraordinary political comeback in American history, shattered numerous precedents in the early hours of Wednesday. It has been more than a century since a president reclaimed the White House four years after leaving office, and never before has a convicted criminal  guilty, according to a New York jury, of 34 felony counts  been elected to lead the worlds most powerful nation.

Trumps victory also brings with it an unprecedented concentration of power in his hands. The Republican Party has secured control of the Senate and is on track to take over the House of Representatives, once the final votes are counted, a process that could still take several days. Additionally, the Supreme Court now boasts a superconservative majority of six justices, a composition not seen since the 1930s, with three appointed by Trump himself. This consolidation of power across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches paints a striking picture of a leader who controls all three levels of governance in Washington.

The first major uncertainty about the new, presumably all-powerful president concerns his criminal future and how this concentration of power might influence the cases against him. In addition to the conviction related to payments made to actress Stormy Daniels to silence her about an extramarital affair, Trump faces three other major criminal proceedings. One is in Florida, related to the handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, which he took without authorization after leaving the White House following the January 6 Capitol assault. Another case is in Atlanta, where he is being tried for election subversion in Georgia in 2020. The third case is in Washington, concerning his role in the events that led to the January 6 insurrection.

What future awaits Trump in New York?

The first deadline on the horizon for Donald Trumps trial is set for November 26, when the reading of the sentence is scheduled. This has been postponed twice, thanks in part to the brilliant delay tactics employed by his legal team. Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, has until next Tuesday to decide whether to annul the sentence altogether, based on a ruling by the Supreme Court in early July that granted Trump  by extension, anyone in his position  partial immunity for official duties. If Merchan determines that this ruling applies to the current case, the defendant would not face sentencing.

However, if the judge decides otherwise, Trumps lawyers are expected to request a delay to file an appeal, which Merchan is likely to approve. This case could  after all appeals are exhausted  end up back in the hands of the Trump-friendly Supreme Court. This potential delay presents a unique challenge: by then, it would no longer be about sentencing a candidate, but a sitting president, a situation without precedent. Given these complications, Merchan has another option: imposing a sentence less than the maximum four-year term allowed for a case like Trumps, such as probation, house arrest, community service, or a fine.

And in the other three cases?

Unlike the Manhattan criminal case, the other three legal proceedings against Donald Trump involve federal crimes. Two of these  one in Florida and one in Washington  share a common factor: both are being prosecuted by special counsel Jack Smith, Trumps main adversary and a name high on his enemies list, in the words of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Trump has vowed to get rid of Smith. I would fire him within two seconds, during an interview with a conservative radio host. Oh, its so easy. So easy. Such a dismissal would allow Trump, once he regains control of the Justice Department, which hired Smith, to drop those charges.

Trumps comments about the ease of firing Smith raise another question: what does the special counsel  a figure with a long tradition in American presidential history, from Richard Nixon to Bill Clinton  intend to do about it? It depends on whether the status of the president-elect is considered equivalent to that of a sitting president. If they are viewed as the same, Smiths days are likely numbered. However, if they are not, Smith would have until January 20  the day Trump is sworn in for a second term  to continue his efforts.

The case in Washington, in which a federal judge is presiding over Trumps attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, motivated the Supreme Courts ruling granting partial immunity to a White House occupant. The key question now is how much this ruling will impact Trumps case.

Meanwhile, in the Mar-a-Lago documents case, Trump has had a staunch ally in the judge overseeing the matter, Aileen Cannon, who was appointed during his first term. In July, Cannon dismissed the case, two days after the first assassination attempt against Trump, arguing that the role of a special counsel was unconstitutional. That decision has been appealed.

Donald Trump, in a mugshot image provided by the Fulton County Jail. condado de fulton

What about the case in Atlanta?

Its another case that Trumps defense strategy has managed to stall. The outcome may hinge on whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is disqualified due to a reported romantic relationship with a special prosecutor. That question is not expected to be resolved until 2025. It seems likely that if Willis is removed from the case, no one will be willing to finish what she started once Trump is back in the Oval Office, especially since it is unclear whether a district attorney has the authority to prosecute a sitting president.

Could Trump pardon himself?

He could, with one exception: the New York case. The 34 charges for which he was convicted are state-level offenses, and the federal power of a president does not extend to state matters.

Speaking of pardons, Trump has also pledged to free from prison the hundreds of individuals convicted for their involvement in the Capitol attack. On that violent day, at least 140 police officers were injured, one died, and three insurgents lost their lives. Trump, who has repeatedly decried his legal troubles as political persecution, has called these prisoners as hostages of the Democrats.

Could he be president in the highly unlikely event that he is sent to jail?

The short answer is yes. Although it seemed possible that his legal issues might discourage voters from voting for him, it is clear that did not happen. The U.S. Constitution not only allows Trump to run for office  even if hes convicted of felonies  but it also does not prohibit a convicted person from becoming president, even if they are incarcerated. The only exception is for a conviction on a very specific crime: insurrection. While one could debate whether Trumps role in the Capitol assault on January 6, 2021, fits that definition, it is worth noting that none of the 91 charges he faces in the four cases against him is for insurrection.

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The results on Election Day will come down to seven states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have visited them the most. Together, these states are likely to deliver the Electoral College votes needed for the winning candidate to get a majority of 270.

It will be a game of hopscotch to keep up with key times in each of the states, which stretch across four different time zones.

A look at the Election Day timeline across the seven, with all listings in Eastern Standard Time:

Arizona

Polls open at 8 a.m. in Arizona, which Joe Biden carried in 2020 by 0.3%. He was only the second Democratic presidential candidate to do so in nearly 70 years. Polls will close at 9 p.m.

Arizona does not release votes until all precincts have reported or one hour after all polls are closed, whichever is first.

In 2020, The Associated Press first reported Arizona results at 10:02 p.m. ET on Nov. 3, Election Day, and declared Biden the winner at 2:51 a.m. ET on Nov. 4.

Georgia

Polls open at 7 a.m. in Georgia, which played a key role in 2020. Biden was the first Democrat in a White House race to carry the state since Bill Clinton in 1992, defeating Trump by less than one-quarter of a percentage point, a margin of 11,779 votes.

Since then, Trumps efforts to overturn those results have been at the heart of a criminal case in Fulton County. It is on hold while his legal team pursues a pretrial appeal to have District Attorney Fani Willis removed from the case and the indictment tossed. The Georgia Court of Appeals will hear those arguments after the election.

Georgias polls close at 7 p.m.

In 2020, the AP first reported Georgia results at 7:20 p.m. ET on Nov. 3 and declared Biden the states winner at 7:58 p.m. ET on Nov. 19, more than two weeks after Election Day.

Michigan

Polls open at 7 a.m. ET in Michigan, one of the blue wall states that went narrowly for Trump in 2016 after almost 30 years of voting for Democratic candidates. Biden won it back four years later. His margin was about 154,000 votes out of more than 5.5 million votes.

Michigan covers two time zones, but polls in most of the state close at 8 p.m. ET, with the rest at 9 p.m. ET.

In 2020, the AP first reported Michigan results at 8:08 p.m. ET on Nov. 3 and declared Biden the winner at 5:58 p.m. ET on Nov. 4.

Nevada

Polls open at 10 a.m. ET in Nevada, the smallest electoral vote prize of the battlegrounds. But it has one of the best track records as a presidential bellwether. The candidate who won Nevada has gone on to win the White House in 27 of the past 30 presidential elections.

Polls close at 10 p.m. ET. The state doesnt release results until the last person in line has voted, so theres usually been a wait between poll close and the first results.

In 2020, the AP first reported Nevada results at 11:41 p.m. ET on Nov. 3 and declared Biden the winner at 12:13 p.m. ET on Nov. 7.

North Carolina

Polls open at 6:30 a.m. ET in North Carolina, which has been carried by Democrats only two times in presidential elections since 1968. But the state has stayed competitive for both major parties. Trumps 2020 victory in North Carolina, by about 1 percentage point, was his smallest winning margin in any state.

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. ET.

In 2020, the AP first reported results at 7:42 p.m. ET on Nov. 3 and declared Trump the winner at 3:49 p.m. ET on Nov. 13.

Pennsylvania

Polls open at 7 a.m. ET in Pennsylvania, another blue wall state. Bidens 2020 margin in Pennsylvania was about 80,000 votes out of more than 6.9 million votes. This year, its the spot where Harris and Trump met for the first time at their sole debate in September in Philadelphia.

Polls close at 8 p.m. ET in a state with more electoral votes, 19, than any of the battlegrounds.

In 2020, the AP first reported results at 8:09 p.m. ET on Nov. 3 and declared Biden the winner at 11:25 a.m. ET on Nov. 7.

Wisconsin

Polls open at 8 a.m. ET in Wisconsin, the third blue wall state in this group. Wisconsin is no stranger to close elections; the margin of victory in the state was less than 1 percentage point in 2020, 2016, 2004 and 2000.

Polls close at 9 p.m. ET.

In 2020, the AP first reported Wisconsin results at 9:07 p.m. ET on Nov. 3 and declared Biden the winner at 2:16 p.m. ET on Nov. 4.

(AP)
Election Day voting unfolded largely smoothly across the nation Tuesday but with scattered reports of extreme weather, ballot printing errors and technical problems causing delays.

Most of the hiccups occurring by mid-day were largely expected routine and planned-for events, said Cait Conley, senior adviser to the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in a press briefing. She said the agency was not currently tracking any national, significant incidents impacting election security.

In swing-state Pennsylvania, early reports that Republican poll watchers were not allowed into some polling sites were soon resolved. A software malfunction was affecting ballot scanning machines in the states Cambria County, but no one was being turned away from the polls and all ballots would be counted, county and state officials said.

A technical malfunction in Champaign County, Illinois, and challenges with e-pollbooks in Louisville, Kentucky, also delayed voting, but those issues were soon fixed and voting was back up and running.

In Missouri, flooding made one St. Louis area polling site hard to reach and knocked out power to another, requiring poll workers to turn to a generator to continue election operations. Still, in various states affected by rain, voters were enthusiastically huddling under umbrellas as they lined up to cast their ballots.

Well be like post office workers: in rain or snow or sleet, voter Mary Roszkowski said after she cast her ballot in windy Racine, Wisconsin, wiping raindrops off her face.

In Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said there were some reported bomb threats to polling places, but all were deemed non-credible and authorities were investigating.

Helping voting run relatively smoothly on Election Day was the fact that tens of millions of Americans had already cast their ballots. Those included record numbers of voters in Georgia, North Carolina and other battleground states that could decide the winner.

As of Monday, Associated Press tracking of advance voting nationwide showed roughly 82 million ballots already cast  slightly more than half the total number of votes in the presidential election four years earlier. Thats driven partly by Republican voters, who were casting early ballots at a higher rate than in recent previous elections after a campaign by former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee to counter the Democrats longstanding advantage in the early vote.

Despite long lines in some places and a few typical glitches, early in-person and mail voting also proceeded without any major problems.

That included in the parts of western North Carolina hammered last month by Hurricane Helene. State and local election officials, benefiting from changes made by the Republican-controlled legislature, pulled off a herculean effort to ensure residents could cast their ballots as they dealt with power outages, lack of water and washed out roads.

By the time early voting in North Carolina had ended on Saturday, over 4.4 million voters  or nearly 57% of all registered voters in the state  had cast their ballots. As of Monday, turnout in the 25 western counties affected by the hurricane was even stronger at 59% of registered voters, state election board Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell said.

Brinson Bell called the voters and election workers in the hurricane-hit counties an inspiration to us all.

Besides the hurricanes in North Carolina and Florida, the most worrisome disruptions to the election season so far were arson attacks that damaged ballots in two drop boxes near the Oregon-Washington border. Authorities there were searching for the person responsible.

The absence of any significant, widespread problems has not stopped Trump, the Republican nominee, or the RNC, which is now under his sway, from making numerous claims of fraud or election interference during the early voting period, a possible prelude to challenges after Election Day.

Trump and Republicans also have warned about the possibility that Democrats are recruiting masses of noncitizens to vote, a claim they have made without evidence and that runs counter to the data, including from Republican secretaries of state. Research has consistently shown that noncitizens registering to vote is rare. Any noncitizen who does faces the potential of felony charges and deportation, a significant disincentive.

One case of noncitizen voting was caught during early voting last month and resulted in felony charges in Michigan after a student from China cast an illegal early ballot.

This is the first presidential vote since Trump lost to Joe Biden four years ago and began various attempts to circumvent the outcome and remain in power. That climaxed with the violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol to halt certification of the results after Trump told his supporters to fight like hell.

Even now, a solid majority of Republicans believe Trumps lie that Biden was not legitimately elected, despite reviews, audits and recounts in the battleground states that all affirmed Bidens win. A survey last month from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed Republicans remain much more skeptical than Democrats that their ballots will be counted accurately this year.

Seeking to rebuild voter confidence in a system targeted with false claims of widespread fraud, Republican lawmakers in more than a dozen states since 2020 have passed new voting restrictions. Those rules include shortening the window to apply or return a mail ballot, reducing the availability of ballot drop boxes and adding ID requirements.

On the last weekend before Election Day, Trump continued to falsely claim the election was being rigged against him and said a presidential winner should be declared on election night, before all the ballots are counted.

Vice President Kamala Harris urged voters not to fall for Trumps tactic of casting doubt on elections. The Democratic nominee told supporters at a weekend rally in Michigan that the tactic was intended to suggest to people that if they vote, their vote wont matter. Instead, she urged people who had already cast ballots to encourage their friends to do the same.

Through four years of election lies and voting-related conspiracy theories, local election officials have faced harassment and even death threats. That has prompted high turnover and led to heightened security for election offices and polling sites that includes panic buttons and bullet-proof glass.

While there have been no major reports of any malicious cyberactivity affecting election offices, foreign actors have been active in using fake social media profiles and websites to drum up partisan vitriol and disinformation. In the final weeks, U.S. intelligence officials have attributed to Russia multiple fake videos alleging election fraud in presidential swing states.

On the eve of Election Day, they issued a joint statement with federal law enforcement agencies warning that Russia in particular was ramping up its influence operations, including in ways that could incite violence, and likely would continue those efforts well after the votes have been cast.

Jen Easterly, the nations top election security official, urged Americans to rely on state and local election officials for information about elections.

This is especially important as we are in an election cycle with an unprecedented amount of disinformation, including disinformation being aggressively peddled and amplified by our foreign adversaries at a greater scale than ever before, she said. We cannot allow our foreign adversaries to have a vote in our democracy.

(AP)
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

The American Torah community awaits a momentous occasion: the imminent arrival of one of Klal Yisroels most distinguished Torah leaders, the revered Rosh HaYeshiva of Slabodka, Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlita.

As one of our generations most esteemed Torah leaders, the Rosh Yeshiva shoulders tremendous responsibilities for Klal Yisroel. Yet at the heart of his sacred work lies his primary mission: nurturing the prestigious Slabodka Yeshiva, where hundreds of students delve in advanced Torah study.

Beyond his role as an influential teacher and mentor who delivers profound Chiddushim in Torah and Mussar, the Rosh HaYeshiva faces the considerable challenge of maintaining the yeshivas substantial operating budget through ongoing partnerships with dedicated supporters of Torah education.

When unprecedented budget cuts struck Torah institutions across Eretz Yisroel this past summer, Harav Moshe Hillel demonstrated extraordinary leadership. Despite his already demanding obligations to Slabodka, he embarked on an intensive global campaign to selflessly safeguard other vital centers of Torah learning  the Yeshivos HaKedoshos in Eretz Yisroel.

Now, the American Torah community has the privilege to support this noble mission and help lighten the considerable burden the Rosh HaYeshiva carries. His two-week visit to the United States begins Wednesday, November 20th.

Among the communities the Rosh yeshiva will be visiting are the Five Towns/Far Rockaway community and Lakewood. Each community blessed by Harav Moshe Hillels presence during his stay will benefit from his profound wisdom and practical guidance across all facets of Torah life. His visits consistently prove transformative for those seeking practical counsel in ruchnius and in gashmius.

The visits crowning event will be an exclusive Shabbos retreat at the prestigious Malon Resort in Florham Park, New Jersey. This intimate gathering offers Slabodka alumni and their families the rare opportunity to spend meaningful time with the Rosh HaYeshiva and other distinguished faculty members.

The Shabbos weekend culminates in an elegant Melave Malka Dinner, where Tomchei Torah can partner with the Rosh Yeshiva shlita in sustaining Slabodkas legendary legacy of Torah scholarship and excellence.

The author may be reached at [email protected]
Democratic challenger Aron Wieder has unseated incumbent Republican Assemblyman John McGowan in New Yorks 97th State Assembly District. Wieder, a long-serving Rockland County legislator, secured the seat by a narrow margin, reflecting the districts dynamic political landscape.

Wieders campaign emphasized his extensive experience in local governance and a commitment to addressing community-specific issues. His victory marks a significant shift in the district, which encompasses parts of Ramapo and Orangetown in southern Rockland County.

McGowan, who has represented the district since 2023, focused his re-election efforts on his legislative accomplishments and ongoing projects. Despite a vigorous campaign, he was unable to maintain his seat in the face of Wieders challenge.

The 97th District has witnessed fluctuating political allegiances in recent elections. In 2022, McGowan won the seat with 66.9% of the vote, succeeding Republican Mike Lawler. Prior to that, the district was represented by Democrat Ellen Jaffee, indicating its potential as a battleground for both major parties.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr, who served in President-elect Donald Trumps first administration, is calling on prosecutors at the state and federal levels to dismiss the pending legal cases against Trump before he takes office once again.

Barr told Fox News Digital that voters were well aware of all the allegations against Trump when electing him to a second term in office on Tuesday, and that it is in the countrys best interest for prosecutors to listen to them.

The American people have rendered their verdict on President Trump, and decisively chosen him to lead the country for the next four years, Barr said. They did that with full knowledge of the claims against him by prosecutors around the country and I think Attorney General Garland and the state prosecutors should respect the peoples decision and dismiss the cases against President Trump now.

Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., on Wednesday called on the Department of Justice and prosecutors in New York and Georgia to drop all their criminal cases against President-elect Trump.

The American people have spoken: the lawfare must end, Scalise posted on social media. I call on Attorney General Garland, Alvin Bragg, and Fani Willis to immediately terminate the politically-motivated prosecutions of President Donald Trump.

Special Counsel Jack Smith is leading two federal prosecutions of Trump, one in Washington, D.C., for Trumps alleged involvement with the Jan. 6, 2021 riot and another in Florida based on retention of classified documents.

New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg secured a conviction of Trump for falsifying business records related to a hush payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is prosecuting Trump for alleged election interference in a conspiracy case with 18 co-defendants.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges in all cases.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
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US Advances $680M Arms Deal with Israel, Claims Unrelated to Ceasefire A U.S. official has confirmed to The Times of Israel that the Biden administration is moving forward with a $680 million arms deal for Israel. The official emphasized that the sale is unrelated to the ceasefire with Hezbollah, which took effect this morning. Earlier, on Tuesday, Washington reiterated that the truce was not linked to any weapons transfers to Israel.

Wizz Air to Resume Israel Flights December 20 Wizz Air, a budget airline based in Hungary, plans to restart operations at Israels Ben Gurion Airport starting December 20. The decision follows the implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

WATCH AND ENJOY: What Dead Nasrallah Said A Few Weeks Ago OH THE IRONY: Remember when Nasrallah, who is now a rotted carcass, said, A ceasefire in Lebanon without one in Gaza would mean all our sacrifices were for nothing. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/26101313/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-26-at-9.46.01-AM-1.mp4

REPORTS: Ceasefire Expected In Hours Numerous reports state that a joint statement from the United States and France will confirm a ceasefire in Lebanon shortly after 10 p.m. local time. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati is expected to issue a separate statement welcoming the agreement.

The Scene In Jabaliya, Gaza Meanwhile. this is the scene of what once was Jabaliya, Gaza. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/26100905/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-26-at-9.00.57-AM.mp4

IDF UPDATE: 8 Fighter jets, 20 Strikes, Two Minutes The IDF reports that eight fighter jets struck 20 Hezbollah-linked sites in Beiruts southern suburbs within two minutes. Targets included seven buildings tied to Hezbollahs financial operations, such as headquarters and branches of the Al-Qard al-Hasan association, as well as 13 military sites, including an aerial forces center, weapon depots, and intelligence facilities. Civilians in the area were warned to evacuate prior to the strikes. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/26101042/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-26-at-9.06.21-AM.mp4

Massive Wave Of IDF Airstrikes Underway The IDF is still carrying out additional airstrikes in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh, a suburb in Southern Beirut. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/26100834/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-26-at-8.55.21-AM.mp4

IDF Launches Dozens of Airstrikes in Beirut After Evacuation Warnings UPDATE: Dozens of IDf airstrikes underway in Beirut. The strikes come just a short while after the IDF sent warnings to the residents of around 20 residential buildings to evacuate. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/26100707/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-26-at-8.42.09-AM.mp4

Israeli Airstrike in Beirut Amid Ceasefire Talks; Evacuations Ordered As discussions of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a major Israeli airstrike just took place in Beirut. The strike occurred outside Hezbollahs stronghold in the citys southern suburbs. The lack of an evacuation warning suggests the attack may have been an assassination attempt rather than a strike on Hezbollah infrastructure. Simultaneously, the IDF has issued evacuation notices to residents of around 20 buildings in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut, ahead of planned airstrikes targeting the groups assets. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/26100536/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-26-at-8.09.20-AM.mp4

Direct Rocket Strike In Nahariya [VIDEO] The IDF reports that 10 rockets were fired from Lebanon toward the Western Galilee. Some of the rockets were intercepted, while others landed. Magen David Adom, are currently inspecting impact sites in Nahariya for any injuries. A fire has also broken out in Nahariya, reportedly caused by an impact or debris from the attack. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/25170137/My-movie-66.mp4

WATCH: Celebrations In Lebanon Ahead Of Ceasefire Confirmation People in Lebanon celebrate ahead of a likely ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/25113820/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-25-at-11.33.48-AM.mp4

Video: Israeli Airstrike Hits Hezbollah Site in Beirut Video captures an Israeli airstrike earlier today targeting a Hezbollah-linked site within a high-rise building in southern Beirut. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/25113530/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-25-at-11.34.53-AM.mp4

WATCH: Haifa Demolishes Rocket-Hit Building to Prevent Collapse Municipal crews in Haifa are demolishing a residential building heavily damaged by a direct rocket hit during a Hezbollah attack on northern Israel yesterday. The Haifa municipality stated that experts recommended the demolition to prevent the structure from collapsing onto a nearby apartment complex. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/25112623/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-25-at-11.12.30-AM.mp4

WATCH: See The Scene In Beirut On Monday This was the scene in the Hezbollah stronghold neighborhood of Dahiyeh in Southern Beirut, earlier on Monday, after the IDF pounded dozens of targets. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/25112448/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-25-at-11.09.46-AM.mp4 https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/25112501/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-25-at-11.10.10-AM.mp4

Hezbollah Launches Rocket Barrage; Israel Responds with Strikes on Key Targets This morning (Monday) at 8:35 a.m., Hezbollah launched approximately 20 projectiles from southern Lebanon toward the Nahariya region in northern Israel. In response, the Israel Air Force (IAF) struck the launcher used in the attack, located near Bazouriye in southern Lebanon. In a series of additional operations, the IAF carried out intelligence-driven strikes targeting critical Hezbollah infrastructure. These included command centers of the groups coast-to-sea missile unit, communication facilities, and two military command centers in Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/25111546/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-25-at-11.04.28-AM.mp4

Massive Destruction Following IDF Strikes In Beirut Massive destruction to residential buildings and Hezbollah infrastructure in the city of Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, as a result of the recent Israeli airstrikes.

IDF Carries Out 25 Airstrikes In Lebanon In One Hour Over the past hour, the IAF conducted intelligence-based strikes on approximately 25 terror targets belonging to Hezbollahs Executive Council in Lebanon, including in Nabatieh, Baalbek, Beqaa Valley, Dahieh, and the outskirts of Beirut. Among the targets struck were the Executive Councils command centers, and intelligence control and collection centers, where Hezbollah commanders and operatives were located. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/25111445/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-25-at-11.05.00-AM.mp4

IDF Airstrikes In Gaza Against Hamas Targets The IDF bombard several homes in the Manshiya area of Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, that were being used by Hamas to attack the IDF. https://yeshivaworlds3.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/25114144/WhatsApp-Video-2024-11-25-at-11.07.41-AM-1.mp4
Sources involved in the negotiations for a hostage deal with Hamas claim that the chances of a hostage release deal are almost nil, following Hamass statement that it will not agree to compromise on anything less than ending the war, Walla reported on Tuesday.

A senior Israeli official said: The truth must be told  there will be no deal now. Not a small one, not a large one, and not even a crumb. The big question is whether the time has come to save the remaining hostages and end the war in Gaza.

Thats the entire discussion, and thats whats happening behind the scenes. There will be no deal without a decision to end the war in Gaza. We need to acknowledge the facts.

Israeli intelligence officials estimate that only 51 of the 101 Israeli hostages being held in Gaza are still alive.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
IDF forces have been fighting terrorists in Gaza for over a year and are still suffering casualties and serious injuries from weapons manufactured by terrorists who were trained to do so in Iran, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, IDF found proof of this when they discovered 14 pages of notes in Gaza that belonged to a terrorist who participated in such a course in Iran.

The notes included drawings of drones and parts of rockets and detailed instructions on how to manufacture Iranian-designed drones.

The report quoted an Israeli official as saying that the drones and rockets detailed in the documents are in line with those used by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

Bloomberg added that the courses, which are led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), last for three to five months and began to be offered in 2016. Dozens of Hamas and PIJ terrorists traveled to Iran to participate in the courses.

A CIA official told Bloomberg that Iran also offered the courses to the Houthis in Yemen and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Donald Trump is on his way to the White House. The distribution of votes across the country is expected to remain close. At this hour, The New York Times predicts that the real estate magnate will win by a narrow margin of just one point over Kamala Harris. However, the turnout of certain voter groups has proven to be decisive.

To analyze shifts in voting behavior, we have utilized CNNs exit polls, focusing on changes in the preferences of approximately 20 key voter groups.

Trump makes notable gains among women and young people

Kamala Harris won the female vote, but by a smaller margin than in 2020. Trump, who was 15 points behind Joe Biden four years ago, is believed to have cut his lead by 5 points in this election.

Another traditionally Democratic-leaning group where Harris has lost momentum is the younger generation. In 2020, Biden secured their support with a 24-point lead. This year, however, Harris advantage has narrowed to just 13 points.

Trump also received more support among voters aged 45 to 64. In contrast, Harris has made gains only among older generations, possibly bolstered by the so-called Vietnam generation, a traditionally Democratic-leaning group that now falls within this age bracket.

Trumps progress among young voters is particularly notable, with gains of approximately nine points among both young men and women. This trend stands in contrast to patterns seen in other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Spain, where the growth of right-wing and far-right support among younger demographics has been more concentrated among men.

Latinos turn to Trump

One of the major stories of the results is the significant surge in support for Trump among Latino voters. Trump nearly erased the Democratic advantage in this group, narrowing the gap from 33 points to just 8.

Trumps gains among Latino voters have been particularly pronounced among men. While Biden secured 59% of the vote from this group four years ago, Trump has now overtaken Harris, leading by 10 points.

Harris managed to maintain her support among Black voters, despite earlier polls suggesting a significant Republican shift in this group.

Trump still dominates among voters without a college degree

A key constituency for Trump due to its size  57% of the census  has been voters without a college degree. The Republican has gone from a 2-point lead to an 8-point lead in this group.

Trump once again dominated among non-college-educated white voters. In 2020, he led this group by 35 points, and in 2024, he maintained a strong lead of 31 points. While the poll indicates that Harris may have slightly narrowed this gap, it was not enough to secure the three crucial Rust Belt states, where non-college-educated white voters are particularly prevalent.

Trump gains support among the lowest income brackets

Reflecting the trends in the previous graph, Trump has made significant strides among lower income groups, increasing his support by 12 points among those earning less than $50,000 per year and 17 points among those earning between $50,000 and $100,000. In both of these groups, he has effectively erased the Democrats advantage and has slightly overtaken them.

The opposite shift has occurred among those with the highest incomes of over $100,000. In 2016, this group overwhelmingly supported Trump, giving him a 12-point lead over Biden. This year, however, Harris has managed to reverse that advantage, increasing her support by 20 points

Republicans widen rural lead, flip suburbs

Trump won, albeit by a narrow margin, in the suburban areas, where half of Americans reside. Additionally, the Republican candidate has expanded his lead in rural regions, where he now holds a 27-point advantage over Harris.

Trump makes decisive gains among independents

Voters who do not identify with any political party have shifted from favoring Democrats by 13 points to a narrower margin of just 5 points. This group is particularly significant due to its size  comprising one in three voters  and its tendency to change support between elections. Additionally, it is likely that among the independents who back Trump, there has been a higher level of mobilization this time around.





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The United States warned Iraq that if it does not prevent an Iranian attack from its territory against Israel, it will face an Israeli attack on its own land, two US officials told Walla.

According to the report, the Biden administration is trying to prevent an Iranian attack on Israel and is concerned that if it occurs from Iraq, the result will be a serious further escalation of the regional war.

US and Israeli intelligence officials say that Iran is planning a significant attack against Israel from Iraqi territory as retaliation for the Israeli attack in Iran on October 25. The New York Times reported on Thursday that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the attack after he read a detailed report on the extent of the damage caused by Israels attack, including to Irans air defense systems over Tehran, Irans missile production capabilities, essential energy infrastructure and a main port in the south.

Since the Israeli attack on Iran, Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has transferred drones and ballistic missiles to Shia militias in Iraq in preparation for a joint attack against Israel.

The US has publicly and privately warned Iran against carrying out such an attack. Unsurprisingly, the Iranians have shown no willingness to avoid escalation since the Biden administration is unwilling to back up its warning with actions.

The US officials told Walla that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Blinken spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani and warned him to prevent attacks by local Iranian militias against Israel as well as against US forces in Iraq and Syria.

If you dont, we wont be able to stop Israel from striking Iraq, they told Al-Sudani.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Two Israelis were lightly injured in an attempted car-ramming/stabbing attack at the Shilo junction in Binyamin early Wednesday afternoon.

The terrorist rammed into the Israelis and then emerged from his car with a screwdriver in an attempt to stab them. BChasdei Hashem, he was neutralized before he could stab anyone by armed civilians at the scene.

The victims, a 15-year-old male and a 26-year-old female, were treated at the scene and evacuated to Hadassah Har HaTzofim Hospital in Jerusalem. Several people were also treated at the scene for shock.

A large number of emergency forces arrived at the scene.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Hezbollah fired a heavy barrage of about 50 rockets within 15 minutes at the Galil and Tzfas on Wednesday afternoon, apparently targeting the air force base in Tzfas.

Only about half of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome.

Several rockets hit the Avivim moshav near the Israeli-Lebanese border and there are reports that four people were injured, several seriously. Several fires broke out on the moshav as a result of the rocket hits.

One of the rocket impact sites in Avivim:

Shortly after the attack on northern Israel, Hezbollah fired a second barrage of rockets at central Israel, following their first barrage on Wednesday morning.

Residents of Bnei Brak, Petach Tikvah and Elad reported hearing the sounds of explosions.

Shortly later, the IDF said that they intercepted one rocket launched by Hezbollah at central Israel.

Magen David Adom said that they didnt receive any reports of injuries.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
AstraZeneca shares suffered their worst one-day drop in more than four years following reports executives in its China business are embroiled in a widening fraud probe.

The FTSE 100 pharma giant, one of the UKs largest companies, saw 14.4billion wiped off its value after a Chinese state-controlled media outlet said dozens of managers at the business were implicated in a scandal.

An announcement from the group last week revealed that its Chinese arm president Leon Wang was under investigation.

Shares hit: In a blow to boss Pascal Soriot (pictured), AstraZeneca saw 14.4bn wiped off its value after Chinese media said dozens of managers were implicated in a scandal

An insider at the drugmaker has alleged that stretching targets put extreme pressure on AstraZenecas sales reps and contributed to issues around compliance, according to Shanghai-based Yicai.

The news outlet also reported that the investigation into AstraZeneca has expanded to include several government agencies.

Shares tumbled 8.4 per cent, or 928p at 10114p. That took losses since its peak in early September, soon after it became Britains first ever 200billion company, to 24 per cent.

The sell-off over the past two months  which have coincided with a string of issues in China  has seen its value fall from 205billion to 156billion.

The probe is a setback for chief executive Pascal Soriot who has been hailed for his stewardship of the company since taking over in 2012.

Shares had more than quadrupled on his watch, before the recent sell-off, and still remain some 250 per cent up.

An AstraZeneca spokesman said: As a matter of policy, we do not comment on speculative media reports including those related to ongoing investigations in China. If requested, we will fully cooperate with the Chinese authorities.

In October, reports emerged that Eva Yin, a former senior executive at AstraZenecas China business, had been detained.

The previous month, five current and former employees were also held by Chinese authorities, reportedly for questioning over possibly breaching data privacy laws and importing unlicensed medications.

It is not the first time that AstraZeneca has butted heads with Chinese officials.

In 2022, local police arrested several employees as part of a probe into whether they had faked patient gene-testing results to claim funds from Chinas state-run medical insurance fund.

The fallout from this latest investigation threatens AstraZenecas business in one of its most critical markets. China accounts for 4.5billion in sales last year, about 13 per cent of its total.

AstraZeneca is the largest pharmaceutical company operating in China and has around 17,000 staff. The group is also planning to build a 350m factory and has also recently signed a number of licensing deals with Chinese companies.

These include a 1.5billion agreement struck last year with Chinese firm Eccogene to develop a weight-loss drug as AstraZeneca moves to take advantage of soaring demand for medicines such as Ozempic.

It is not the only British pharma firm on the hunt for deals in China.

Last week, FTSE 100 rival GSK signed a 653million deal with Chinese biotech firm Chimagen to buy an experimental drug for the autoimmune disease lupus.
The UK Government has ordered a China-registered firm to sell its majority stake in a Scottish semiconductor maker for national security reasons.

Feite Holdings, a division of Beijing Jianguang Asset Management, acquired an 80.2 per cent stake in Glasgow-based Future Technology Devices International (FTDI) for $414million in February 2022.

Founded in 1992 by Fred Dart, FTDI manufactures Universal Serial Bus (USB) technology, such as cables and peripheral chips, that helps connect old electrical products to modern computers.

Demand: The UK Government has ordered a Chinese-registered firm to sell its majority stake in a Scottish semiconductor maker for national security reasons

It has research and development sites in Glasgow and Singapore, as well as regional and technology support premises in Oregon, USA, and Shanghai, China.

The group's effective takeover two years ago came just after the National Security and Investment Act 2021 was made law.

This legislation allows the Government to examine and intervene in business deals, like mergers and acquisitions, in the interests of national security.

Following a review, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has ordered an entity called FTDI Holding to sell its FTDI stake 'within a specified period and by following a specified process.'

It said this would reduce the dangers of UK-produced microchip technology and affiliated intellectual property being 'deployed in ways that are contrary to UK national security.'

The Government also said a sale would protect the firm's products from 'being used to pose a risk to critical national infrastructure'.

Since coming into effect, the NSI Act has been invoked numerous times in relation to Chinese-owned companies buying British businesses.

A high-profile example was Nexperia's purchase of an 86 per cent stake in Newport Wafer Fab, a large semiconductor fabrication plant in Wales.

Nexperia is headquartered in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, but is a subsidiary of Wingtech Technology, a partly state-owned Chinese group.

Following concerns that the deal could seriously impact the UK's ability to produce microchips, Nexperia ended up selling its stake in the site to American electronics giant Vishay.

Two other deals the Government has blocked include Super Orange's purchase of Bristol-based electronics designer Pulsic and the licensing of robotic vision technology by the University of Manchester to Beijing Infinite Vision Technology.
The Paper: The seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) kicked off in Shanghai yesterday. We noted Chilean cherries cultivated in high-altitude areas of the snow-capped Andes Mountains made their global debut in the CIIE exhibition hall. Besides, many star products from Latin America, including Peruvian blueberries cultivated in the countrys desert areas, have become popular in Chinese supermarkets. Whats your comment?

Mao Ning: Companies from Latin America and the Caribbean who every year travel from the other side of the world with their specialty products to the CIIE are participants, witnesses and more importantly beneficiaries of the event. Thanks to platforms such as the CIIE, Latin American products that you just mentioned as well as Honduran whiteleg shrimp and coffee and Nicaraguan honey and seafood have become more popular in China. The Chilean Fruit Exporters Association reached cooperation agreements with multiple Chinese e-commerce platforms, and the Xiamen-Sao Paulo cross-border e-commerce air express route was launched to bring more Latin American products to Chinese customers.

The Chinese market is shared by the world. The high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Latin America will further facilitate exchanges that span a hemisphere, and Latin American and the Caribbean countries will find new opportunities and achieve new development in the Chinese market.

Reuters: Yesterday, two Chinese were shot in Pakistan. Does the Foreign Ministry see this attack as an escalation of attacks against Chinese citizens in Pakistan? Will China ask Pakistan to take new security measures and advise its citizens not to travel to Pakistan?

Mao Ning: On the morning of November 5, two Chinese citizens were injured in a shooting in Karachi, Pakistan and were taken to hospital for treatment.

After learning about the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately activated the consular emergency response mechanism and provided instructions to the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi for emergency response. The Consulate General sent officials to visit the injured in hospital at once. We urge Pakistan to do everything it can to save and treat the injured, swiftly investigate the case, hunt down the perpetrator, and take concrete actions to protect the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.

China will maintain close communication with Pakistan on the treatment of the injured, investigation of the case and protection of the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.

Financial Times: President Donald Trump is gaining ground in the US election. He said he would sharply increase tariffs on China. How is China preparing for this possibility of higher tariffs? Could it be more fiscal stimulus if this happens?

Mao Ning: The presidential election of the United States is its internal affair. We respect the choice of the American people.

As for what you asked about, we do not answer hypothetical questions.

Reuters: Today the Ministry of State Security of China said that Zhang, a former government employee, was sentenced to death for leaking much classified information to an overseas spy agency. Which countrys spy agency is it? Is this the first death penalty China issued after the newly revised Counterespionage Law came into force?

Mao Ning: Im not familiar with what you mentioned. Id refer you to competent authorities.

NHK: How will the result of the US presidential election affect Chinas foreign policy or China-US relations?

Mao Ning: Chinas policy on the US is consistent. We will continue to view and handle our bilateral relations under the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

ABC Spanish Daily Newspaper: At this point, President Trumps victory seems almost certain. If that ends up being the case, will the Chinese side congratulate him?

Mao Ning: We will handle relevant matter following customary practice.

Shenzhen TV: Weve learned that the International Mangrove Center was officially set up in Shenzhen. Can you share more details?

Mao Ning: The signing ceremony for the Establishment Agreement of the International Mangrove Center was held in Shenzhen this morning. Representatives from 18 member states, the first batch of member states, officially signed the agreement and unveiled the plaque for the center.

In November 2022, at the opening ceremony of the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, President Xi Jinping proposed to set up an international mangrove center in Shenzhen, which received extensive recognition and strong support from the international community. The International Mangrove Center will serve as an important platform and window for joint exploration of mangrove protection and reasonable utilization, and joint effort to advance exchanges and international cooperation on mangroves. It will help set up and improve the international cooperation mechanism on mangroves and coastal blue carbon ecosystems that is open, inclusive, built by all, shared by all and win-win. It will advance the global mangrove protection cause and contribute to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the building of our home planet where man lives in harmony with nature.

China will make full use of the platform provided by the International Mangrove Center to deepen exchanges and cooperation with all parties, advance global joint action to protect mangroves, and improve the quality and stability of mangrove ecosystems for the benefit of people across the world.

AFP: Joint naval exercises held frequently by the Philippines, the US and other Western powers are helping rein in aggressive Chinese actions in the South China Sea, a Filipino military official said today. Whats your comment?

Mao Ning: China has sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and its adjacent waters. We safeguard our sovereign rights in accordance with domestic and international law. We always believe that defense and security cooperation between countries should contribute to regional peace and stability rather than target any third party, still less harm the interests of any third party. Flexing muscles and inciting confrontation in the South China Sea will only escalate the tensions and destabilize the region.

AFP: Its reported that dozens of senior executives of AstraZeneca China have potentially been implicated in an insurance fraud case. Could you share more details?

Mao Ning: Im not aware of what you mentioned.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 6, 2024 - 20:17 | All, Japan

The body of a German university student was found off the coast of Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, a few weeks after he went missing, police said Wednesday.

The body of Claudio Worm, 21, was discovered last Friday around 1.5 kilometers from Takurazaki Lighthouse, wearing only jeans and underwear, police said.

He went missing after his last interaction with his mother on social media on Oct. 10. The Wakayama police launched an open investigation on Oct. 21 after his father's friend living in Japan reported the disappearance around a week before.

The police believe Worm, who only purchased a one-way air ticket to Japan, had stayed at a business hotel in the city of Wakayama from Sept. 30 to Oct. 10.

He arrived in Japan on Sept. 21 and was in Tokyo before going to Wakayama.

He was last seen on security footage at Nankai Electric Railway Co.'s Wakayamashi Station on Oct. 11, according to the police.

The cause of death is unknown, and an autopsy found no distinctive wounds. The police concluded he died in the first half of October.

His belongings, including his passport, hat and toothbrush, were found in a public toilet at the riverbed of Kinokawa River near Wakayamashi Station that leads to the sea where he was found, the police said.

His suitcase was found in a locker in JR West's Wakayama Station. According to the police, he is believed to be a student at Leibniz University Hannover in Germany.

Related coverage:

Japanese police seek info on French woman who vanished in 2018

French man says sister missing in Japan since 2018 a victim of crime

Kin of missing French woman renews call for Japan to do more
Spotlight Japan - Nov 6, 2024 - 20:20 | Spotlight, Japan

A live viewing event for Tuesday's U.S. presidential election was held at a university in Tokyo, with students wondering how the outcome may affect Washingtons management of alliances with Japan and other countries.

Rio Naritomi, a freshman majoring in international affairs at Temple University Japan Campus, said during the event Wednesday at the university she would like to see Kamala Harris as the first female U.S. president, and that she thinks the Democratic vice president is more "predictable" than Republican Donald Trump in conducting foreign policy.

The event took place before Trump was elected president, a development that marked a dramatic political comeback for the businessman-turned-politician four years after he was voted out of the White House.

"What I care the most is, I would say, the Japan-U.S. relationship...Kamala is more predictable," Naritomi said. "Its hard to tell what he (Trump) will do next. His policy is about America First, so Im not sure, but he will take some sort of very aggressive policies toward other countries like imposing high tariffs."

Soren Dickson, a junior studying international affairs at the university, expressed a similar view, saying, "I think that Harris has much more continuity with our allies. I think our allies feel more comfortable and consistent with a Harris presidency."

"Trump, with his America First policy, has a tendency to cause some discontent, or concern, among certain allies especially in Europe," Dickson said. "I think that it can be very sporadic and very rocky for allies."

Sean McLean, a sophomore majoring in computer science at the university, said he prefers Trump to Harris because the former president attaches greater importance to border control and he appreciates Trumps record of curbing international conflicts.

"When he was president last time, he was really big on border control but people didnt take it seriously. Now since we are having a lot of issues with it, people are starting to notice that it was a problem," McLean said. "So getting him back in office will help secure America."

"When Trump was president, there was no global war at that time. And almost as soon as he left office, Russia invaded Ukraine, and now we have Israel and Gaza," he said. "I think Trump did a really good job of keeping people on their toes and not wanting to start any international conflicts."

Tokuko Shironitta, Japan country director for the Asia Group who attended Wednesdays event, predicted that under a second Trump administration, the United States may step up demand on Japan to boost its defense budget and strengthen the countrys defense capability.

While she expected a Harris administration to continue the foreign and security policy of President Joe Bidens administration, a second Trump administration may pressure Japan "to do more, and that can either go positively or negatively because Japans political leadership is very weak."

Referring to the loss of majority by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas ruling coalition in the House of Representatives in the Oct. 27 general election, Shironitta said, "Whether the Japanese political leadership can stand this pressure from the U.S. is another question, and that may actually make the alliance a little unstable."
Taoiseach Simon Harris has issued an understated statement congratulating Donald Trump on his US Presidential Election victory overnight.

Controversial Republican candidate Trump cruised to victory over Democrat Kamala Harris, winning multiple key swing states including Georgia and Pennsylvania.

His return to the White House as a convicted felon is a first in US history and is just the second time a former US President has regained the presidency after losing an election. Trump was defeated by Joe Biden in 2020 having been elected to the top job back in 2016 against Hillary Clinton.

Taoiseach Simon Harris issued a message of congratulations to the newly elected 47th president via X, a platform owned and controlled by Trump supporter Elon Musk.

READ NEXT: 'It is hard to believe' - Ireland reacts as Donald Trump wins US Presidential Election

Mr Harris wrote: "Congratulations to US President-elect Donald Trump on your victory. The people of the United States have spoken and Ireland will work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and our nations in the years ahead."

In a slightly longer official statement, the Taoiseach said: "I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.

"Ireland and the United States have deep and historical bonds of people, and we will work to make these even stronger in the years ahead.

"The world faces many challenges and needs leadership to meet them. With the US and Irelands shared commitment to democracy and international law, we can, and will, tackle these challenges."

The X post sparked a huge reaction with the Taoiseach mostly inundated with abusive messages from apparent Trump supporters.

Most revelled in Trump's victory and looked forward to Ireland's own election which will be called this week for late November.

One comment read: "Dont think hell be too bothered what you think somehow."

Congratulations to US President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your victory. The people of the United States have spoken and Ireland will work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and our nations in the years ahead.  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) November 6, 2024

Another sang Donald Trump's praises and also extended congratulations: "Congratulations, Donald Trump. You listened to the people's concerns about illegal migration, rising costs, the housing crisis and fears about crime. It was obvious you were going to win! We look forward to you delivering on your promises."

A third replied: "Oh I bet that stung having to write that."

A further comment referred to Trump's stance on immigration: "You might learn a few things from this result. Normal people don't want infinity migration, we don't want to pay for it and we don't want all our services and resources stretched to breaking point because of it."
The president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has called reports of Dutch cheddar being supplied to children under the School Meals Programme surreal and nothing less than an insult to Irelands hard-pressed 18,000 dairy farmers.

ICMSA chief Denis Drennan said the organisation had received a complaint about the programme from a parent who is a member of the ICMSA.

He said that the whole episode came under the You Couldnt Make It Up category.

We received a complaint from a member whose primary school going child was given some Dutch cheddar under the auspices of the School Meals Programme operated by the Department of Social Protection.

"We obviously cannot give any identifying details beyond saying that the particular area concerned is one of the most traditional and famous milk-producing districts in the state and the fact that an Irish Government Department could not  or would not  be bothered to source Irish cheese speaks volumes about the real attitude that hides behind all the lip-service and platitudes.

Read Also: Love/Hate star teases return of iconic RTE crime series amid wild fan theory

"Its shocking, but strangely unsurprising set against the prevailing attitude to Irish farming and food, Mr. Drennan continued.

According to the Department of Social Protection however, the School Meals Local Projects Scheme provides funding directly from the department to primary schools, secondary schools and local groups and voluntary organisations, who then operate their own school meals projects.

Noting that Irish dairy products were scientifically proven to involve lower emissions than their Dutch counterparts, Mr. Drennan asked what sustainability considerations were brought into play for these Government contracts.

We are told on a literally daily basis that Sustainability and Environmental Impact should be the paramount consideration in all our decision-making.

"Whats the point of us acting on that and being so guided if our own Government  the ones pushing through regulation after regulation compelling us to do just that  are going to buy less sustainably produced dairy to give to Irish school children. Farmers  and not just farmers  will find this absolutely bizarre and infuriating, he said.

Calling for the Government to immediately review the sourcing of food for the School Meals Programme, the ICMSA president said that he didnt think it was an unreasonable ask for the Irish Government to source Irish produced food  where possible  to give to Irish school children as part of an Irish Government policy.

We would have thought that that would be the minimum that Irish farmers had a right to expect  and, for that matter, Irish parents and their children.
The Department of Education has estimated an additional 1.7 million euros in annual costs for the controversial school phone pouch scheme.

The figure is based on an estimated 20% replacement rate for the pouches every year.

It comes on top of a nine million euro allocation in the Budget for a fund which would enable schools to purchase pouches to hold pupils mobile phones, in a bid to minimise disruption.

In the Dail on Wednesday, Mary Lou McDonald criticised the overall plan and the projected recurring costs  as she put forward a larger figure of two million euros annually.

Ms McDonald said it is an example of the Government being a serial waster of the publics money.

Speaking during Leaders Questions, she said the public is angry at the lack of accountability on spending.

This shows, again, that your Government cant be trusted to spend the publics money wisely.

You cant be straight with people about your waste and you refuse to be accountable for your mess.

Ms McDonald said documents obtained by her colleague, Pearse Doherty, show the Government was presented with several options for dealing with mobile phone use in schools.

She said these included leaving phones in bags or lockers, or having them handed into a central point  each at zero cost.

Instead, you have gone with an option that will cost the taxpayer nine million euros initially, and then a further two million euros every single year, she said.

The Department of Education later acknowledged an estimate of 1.7 million euro annual costing for replacing the pouches.

Ms McDonald said the money for the phone pouches should instead be invested in youth mental health services.

Taoiseach Simon Harris defended the overall plan, which he said would cost 20 euros per student.

He said the policy came from engagement with school principals and the mental health concerns of students themselves.

He also said the scheme is not obligatory or mandatory, adding: Nobodys going to demand a school take pouches  this is if a school wants to avail of this.

While not responding to Ms McDonalds central claim around annual costs, he added: Its about 20 quid per student. A 20 euro investment in the mental health and wellbeing of a student.

A similar scheme has been rolled out in Northern Ireland, where Sinn Fein is in Government.

Mr Harris asked whether it is Ms McDonalds policy that the pouches are good in Northern Ireland but not appropriate in the Republic.

The most breathtaking thing about your presentation is that youre rolling out a similar initiative but, you know what, its costing a hell of a lot more.

He added: Will you call on the Sinn Fein Minister for Finance in Northern Ireland today to speak to her Executive colleague and stop the rollout of the phone pouches in Northern Ireland?

Because in Northern Ireland, youve already spent a quarter of a million pounds sterling on the provision of phone pouches.

Ms McDonald responded in the negative in relation to Mr Harris query, advising him to take it up with the DUP as they hold the education portfolio in Northern Ireland.

A spokesman for the Department of Education said the pouches are easy to use, cost-effective and better for equity among students.

He said the Department had engaged with a number of schools already using pouches who found they were very positive and transformational for school life.

A working estimate of 20 euro per pouch was outlined to lead to a cost of around 8.57 million euro in the first year of use.

The briefing estimated a replacement rate of about 20% each year, meaning an annual costing of 1.7 million euros.

It should be noted that these figures were used to estimate the ongoing funding requirements of the initiative along with some additional contingency funding also being provided for.
The next Irish general election will be called on Friday, the Tanaiste has said.

The highly anticipated announcement will kick of a campaigning period widely expected to conclude before the end of the month.

It is the constitutional responsibility for Taoiseach Simon Harris to travel to Aras an Uachtarain and seek a dissolution of the Dail from the president.

On Wednesday evening, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said that will happen on Friday.

Speaking to Virgin Media News, Mr Martin said: It is my understanding that it will be called on Friday and were looking forward to it.

He added: It will be on Friday.

While an official date announcement has not been made, a senior Government spokesman has said it is an ambition that the election will be held on November 29.

Mr Martins comments come after senior Government figures faced weeks of questioning on when the election would be called and held.

Last month, the Greens Roderic OGorman was the first coalition leader to publicly state a preference for an election date  November 29.

Mr Harris has yet to formally state a specific date and, at the time of Mr Martins comments on Wednesday, had not confirmed when he would seek a dissolution from the president.
Green Party leader Roderic OGorman has said a man threatened to kill him while he was having coffee with his husband, adding that he no longer looks at online abuse directed towards him.

He said he has repeatedly been called a paedophile or a groomer online while also facing other homophobic abuse.

His comments come after an entirely separate incident in which a man has since pleaded guilty through his solicitor to assaulting Mr OGorman while he was on an election canvass on Saturday.

In a pre-election broadcast interview on Wednesday, the Green Party leader said he was conscious that it was entirely legitimate for him to face robust scrutiny, criticism and accountability as an elected representative.

However, while not referring to the incident on Saturday, he raised concern over abuse of politicians being normalised.

Asked if he believed he became a target for abuse early in the lifetime of the Government due to homophobia, Mr OGorman said: Yeah, to be honest  a significant part of it is.

Often when I get abuse or when someone tackles me on the street, if the conversation goes on, often it gets kind of coarse, homophobic abuse quite quickly.

Speaking on Virgin Medias Group Chat, he added: If I put up a post on anything, within the first five minutes youll see paedo, groomer and all this kind of stuff come up.

Even three weeks ago on a Sunday, myself and Ray [Mr OGormans husband] were out getting a coffee in Phoenix Park and an older couple  maybe in their early 60s  and the man started shouting you effing paedo, Id effing kill you if you werent in public.

So, in my head Ive partially normalised this a little bit because its happened so often  it is what I have to do to keep moving.

Mr OGorman said the experience in other countries was that the public had less access to politicians.

He said there was very real evidence of politicians in Ireland being attacked during the local elections earlier this year.

He continued: If I allow myself to get upset or dwell on it, I might not even get out of bed in the morning  so I just have to keep going.

It is not actually okay for our political system at all because it is so important that politicians in Ireland go to the doors and have that kind of direct contact with people.

The TD for Dublin West said it was a big relief that his own parents were not on social media to see the abuse he faces.

The personal interview came days before Taoiseach Simon Harris will formally seek the dissolution of the Dail ahead of the election on November 29.

Mr OGorman said the Green Party had delivered really important policies during its time in the coalition.

He said: Whether its the stuff on climate in terms of the lowest emissions for 30 years, the really meaningful stuff weve done for parents in cutting the cost of childcare.

Thats what inspires me to keep going  the knowledge that in the Irish system a small group of people can make a really meaningful difference.

Mr OGormans term as Minister for Integration has been characterised by the departments response to a dramatic rise in the number of people seeking asylum in Ireland, coupled with Ireland accommodating more than 100,000 people who fled the war in Ukraine.

The crisis around accommodation for international protection applicants manifested itself in the development of a series of makeshift migrant camps along canals in Dublin city centre.

There have also been a series of protests and arson attacks surrounding locations earmarked for use for asylum seekers.

Mr OGorman said: Absolutely Id recognise there have been real challenges across the last two years, but we were able to provide people fleeing from war and persecution looking for safety.

We have been able to do that, but, fundamentally, we have to radically change how we provide accommodation for people in this country  less reliance on private hotels.

I set that out in the new accommodation strategy published earlier this year, a move to state-owned accommodation.

 The Group Chat is available on podcast apps and the Virgin Media player.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 6, 2024 - 21:19 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump after the Republican nominee declared victory in the U.S. presidential election, expressing a desire to establish contact with him soon.

Ishiba told reporters he wants to elevate relations with the United States, Japan's longtime security ally, to "new heights" under the next U.S. president.

"I heard Mr. Trump declare victory. I would like to congratulate him from the bottom of my heart," Ishiba said, adding that he respects the democratic choice made by the people of the United States.

"I wish to coordinate closely with him to bring the Japan-U.S. alliance and relationship to new heights," Ishiba said.

Ishiba made the remarks days before he is also expected to be reelected as prime minister in Japan's parliament, following a general election in late October.

While vote counting was still under way, Trump, who has won some of the battleground states, declared victory.

His return to the White House after his first term between 2017 and 2021 comes as Japan is aiming to boost its defense capabilities and spending to counter security threats from an assertive China as well as nuclear-armed North Korea and Russia.

Japan views a robust U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific region as essential. However, Trump's protectionist streak, as seen in his preference for higher tariffs and bilateral over multilateral trade arrangements in his first term, rattled Japan and other advocates of free trade.

Earlier Wednesday, Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said the bilateral alliance will remain the "linchpin of Japan's foreign and security policies" and serve as the "foundation" of peace and prosperity in the region.

"We will closely communicate with the next U.S. administration to further beef up the alliance's deterrence and response capabilities," Hayashi said.

In recent years, Japan and the United States have been deepening their alliance, extending security partnerships to include like-minded countries such as South Korea and Australia.

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who previously served as defense minister, underscored the importance of holding high-level summit talks between Ishiba and the next U.S. president.

Related coverage:

U.S. presidential vote count continues, Trump wins 1 swing state
KYODO NEWS - Nov 6, 2024 - 11:09 | All, World

North Korean troops have entered the fight in Russia's war against Ukraine, clashing for the first time with Ukrainian forces who are occupying a large chunk of Russia's Kursk region, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing a senior Ukrainian and a senior U.S. official.

The Ukrainian official offered no details about casualties, but the U.S. official said a significant number of North Korean troops were killed, according to the newspaper.

The engagement was limited, and the North Koreans fought together with a Russian naval infantry brigade, according to the Ukrainian official, the newspaper reported, adding it was unclear when the fighting took place.

In a statement released Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, "The first battles with North Korean soldiers open a new page of instability in the world."

The president called for support for his country's defense, saying the world needs to make the "Russian step to expand the war" a "failure." He did not provide details about the encounter with North Korean troops.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed in an interview run by South Korean public broadcaster KBS on Tuesday that his country's military had engaged for the first time with North Korean troops.

Zelenskyy, who is seeking to shore up support in the war against Russia, said in the statement, "Terror, unfortunately, can spread like a virus when it does not meet sufficient counteraction."

Zelenskyy said Monday that 11,000 North Korean troops have completed training in Russia's Far East and been sent to Russia's western region of Kursk near Ukraine.

The Ukrainian official quoted by the U.S. newspaper said many of the North Korean troops in the Kursk region could enter the fight in the coming days.

Russia and North Korea have stepped up military cooperation since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

They signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June during Russian President Vladimir Putin's rare visit to Pyongyang. The treaty includes a provision for mutual assistance if either of them comes under attack.

Related coverage:

Ukraine confirms 1st engagement with N. Korea troops: S. Korea media

North Korea launches short-range missiles ahead of U.S. election

Sending troops to Russia a "gamble" for N. Korea leader: ex-diplomat
By Su Xincheng, KYODO NEWS - Nov 6, 2024 - 12:00 | All, Japan

Extended trading hours are expected to present more opportunities for investors to trade, though analysts note that swifter corporate information disclosure may be needed to maximize the effect of the Tokyo Stock Exchange's latest tactic to entice investors.

As of Tuesday, the Tokyo stock market now closes 30 minutes later, at 3:30 p.m., marking its first change in closing time in 70 years. The opening time remains unchanged at 9 a.m.

The TSE aims to improve convenience for investors and strengthen its global competitiveness after reclaiming its status as Asia's largest bourse by market capitalization earlier this year.

"Our mission is to maximize trading opportunities and provide as many trading chances as possible," said a senior manager of the strategic planning group in the TSE's equities department in a recent interview with Kyodo News.

The expanded five-and-a-half-hour trading window, excluding the midday break, still lags behind the New York Stock Exchange's six and a half hours and the London Stock Exchange's eight and a half hours.

The decision to lengthen trading hours followed a major system failure on Oct. 1, 2020, that halted trading for an entire day, marking the worst outage since the exchange fully computerized trading in 1999.

The bourse expects the extension to provide not only more trading opportunities but also additional time for system restoration, even if only for a short period, in the event of a failure.

All listed companies are required to disclose important information immediately upon a decision or occurrence. However, in September, the TSE urged companies to implement measures to enhance timely disclosure rather than delaying the filing of critical corporate information in preparation for the longer trading hours.

The request comes as far fewer companies release earnings during trading hours in Japan. According to the bourse, 1,862 companies, or roughly 80 percent of the companies listed on the TSE that reported earnings for the April-June quarter this year, disclosed their results after the market closed, while the other 20 percent did so during trading hours or the midday break.

With the market now open until 3:30 p.m., some companies are bringing forward their schedule for July-September earnings from after-hours to during trading hours to enhance investor accessibility.

Honda Motor Co. said it will move up its earnings disclosure from 3 p.m. to 1 p.m. in response to the TSE's request, starting Wednesday when it is scheduled to release its latest quarterly results.

"We expect that providing information earlier will increase market accessibility, potentially leading to more active trading," a Honda spokeswoman said.

Heavy machinery maker IHI Corp. also plans to announce its July-September earnings at 1 p.m., two hours earlier than before.

IHI said that the release before market close should help investors digest results promptly within the same day after the release.

When a company announces news after the market closes, investors in the Tokyo market must wait until the next trading day to act on the information, although traders may react earlier if the company's shares are listed on overseas markets.

Some companies, however, still plan to release their earnings after trading hours.

Of the 1,103 firms that reported April-June earnings between 3 p.m. and 3:29 p.m., around 800, as of Oct. 18, intended to announce their July-September results on Tuesday or later, with about 30 percent delaying their releases to 3:30 p.m. or later, according to the TSE.

They have expressed concern that releasing earnings during trading hours could lead to hasty investor reactions, potentially raising volatility, with some investors struggling to fully analyze the information.

"We are concerned that our company's stock may become volatile until investors fully understand the results," a spokesperson at Zensho Holdings Co., which operates its Sukiya beef bowl chains, said, though the company decided to report its latest earnings at 2 p.m., an hour earlier than before.

Atsushi Kamio, a senior researcher at the Daiwa Institute of Research, said close communication with investors is as vital as timely disclosure.

"The key is not only to respond to the TSE's request...but also to build stronger communication with investors by carefully considering what information to disclose and when to better meet their needs," Kamio said.

Companies will need to provide clear and prompt explanations alongside their earnings releases to help investors interpret the information smoothly, market analysts say.

"If the shift (in timely disclosure practices) leads to more active engagement between investors and companies, it could be seen as a first step toward revitalizing the market," Kamio said.

Related coverage:

Tokyo Stock Exchange extends trading hours for 1st time in 70 years

BOJ chief warns of risks of raising interest rates too slowly

Tokyo Metro surges 47.3% on debut in Japan's biggest IPO in 6 years
KYODO NEWS - Nov 6, 2024 - 23:58 | All, Japan, World

Survivors of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan on Wednesday expressed concerns that former President Donald Trump, who has won the U.S. presidential election, would be passive about global nuclear abolition and called for the incoming leader to embrace a nuclear-free world.

"Trump may believe that the world is stable because of nuclear weapons," said Toshiyuki Mimaki, 82, who heads the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations. "It's difficult to predict in which direction the United States will move, but as hibakusha, we just want him to aim for a world without nuclear weapons."

U.S. media outlets have projected victory for Republican Trump, who is slated to return to the White House in January following a four-year hiatus.

His victory follows the awarding of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, Japan's leading organization of atomic bomb survivors, by the Norwegian Nobel Committee last month amid growing concerns that the taboo of nuclear weapons was coming under pressure.

"He seems like a conservative and belligerent person. Based on his past behavior, I believe he is unlikely to take a stance toward nuclear abolition, and the road toward peace and abolition will move backward," said Koichi Kawano, chairman of the Hibakusha Liaison Council of the Nagasaki Prefectural Peace Movement Center, said.

"I believe (Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba) needs to keep his distance and be clear about what's right and what's wrong, rather than simply following him," the 84-year-old added.

Also on Wednesday, the younger brother of Megumi Yokota, a symbol of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s, expressed hope that Trump's projected election victory could bring progress on the abduction issue.

"Improving North Korea's relations with the United States is of our utmost interest, and we hope the change in government will bring fundamental improvements and progress on the abduction issue," said Takuya Yokota, 56, who represents a group for abductees' families.

In his previous administration, Trump engaged in unprecedented summit diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. They met in person three times in 2018 and 2019 in a bid to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Contact between the two nations had stalled after their second summit in Hanoi produced no deal.

Trump said in his July Republican Party nomination acceptance speech that he plans to "get along" with Kim if he returns to the White House. North Korean state media later said Trump has a "lingering desire" for better relations but that his previous efforts "did not bring about any substantial positive change."

Yokota also urged the Japanese government to exercise its leadership on the issue, saying he hopes it will "realize the return of all abductees immediately and their reunion" with their families while their parents' generation remains healthy.

His older sister was 13 when she was abducted by North Korean agents in Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast in 1977 on her way home from junior high school badminton practice. Their father, Shigeru, died at 87 in 2020, while their mother, Sakie, is 88.

Japan officially lists 17 people as having been abducted by North Korea, with five already repatriated in 2002. However, Pyongyang maintains that the issue has been resolved.

Meanwhile, in Okinawa Prefecture, residents urged Trump to heed their voices on issues regarding U.S. military bases and concerns over China-Taiwan tensions.

Despite strong local opposition, the Japanese government is pushing ahead with its plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the residential area of Ginowan to the less populated coastal area of Henoko in Nago.

Takemasa Kinjo, a 67-year-old resident who is against the plan, said the U.S. and Japanese governments "should be choosing a road to peacebuilding in the area, not building a new base" in Okinawa, which hosts some 70 percent of U.S. military bases in Japan.

Local anger has also flared after it came to light earlier in the year that the Japanese government held off on disclosing allegations of an attempted rape and a sexual assault involving U.S. military personnel.

Trump's return to the White House comes amid heightened tensions over China's stance on Taiwan and the Japanese-controlled, Chinese-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Masaaki Gabe, an honorary professor at the University of the Ryukyus, called for caution.

"For Trump, an America with strong bases on Okinawa is a card to flaunt at the Chinese. While it is unclear what U.S.-China relations will be like in the future, I'm hoping for their efforts to avoid direct conflict," he said.

Related coverage:

Japan PM congratulates Trump on U.S. election victory

Trump wins back White House after showing strength in key states

FOCUS: Trump's victory portends trade war impacting Japan, other U.S. allies
By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - Nov 6, 2024 - 19:36 | All, World

WASHINGTON - Donald Trump has won three of the seven battleground states that will most likely decide the outcome of one of the most consequential presidential elections in U.S. history, and holds a commanding lead in the race for the White House against his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, major U.S. media projected Wednesday.

While vote counting for Tuesday's election continued, former President Trump -- who would be the first in 132 years to be sworn in for a nonconsecutive second term in the White House -- racked up North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Early counts showed that Vice President Harris -- who would be the country's first female commander-in-chief -- was performing weaker than expected in the remainder of the seven swing states.

Trump declared victory in the election early Wednesday, saying, "We're going to fix everything about our country."

"This will truly be the golden age of America. That's what we have done," he told supporters in Florida. "This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again."

The election matters beyond the United States as the two rivals have offered sharply contrasting worldviews, with people in Asia, Europe and elsewhere watching closely and preparing for what may come next in U.S. foreign and economic policies.

To win the U.S. presidency, a candidate must secure at least 270 of the 538 total electoral votes allotted to the 50 states and the District of Columbia largely based on population size.

Pennsylvania's 19 electoral votes, the most among the seven battleground states also including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin, make it a pivotal contest for the opposing campaigns.

The next-biggest prizes among the swing states are Georgia and North Carolina, with 16 electoral votes each, and Michigan, with 15. According to U.S. media analyses, Harris needs a total of 44 electoral votes from the toss-up states to get to the required 270 threshold, while Trump needs 51.

As widely expected, Harris, 60, won a group of states in the Northeast, including New York, Maryland and Massachusetts, while Trump, 78, racked up reliably Republican states such as Florida, South Carolina and Texas.

The winner will be sworn in on Jan. 20 next year, succeeding Joe Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history. Biden abandoned his reelection bid in July in the face of growing doubts among his supporters over his age and mental acuity.

Harris swiftly ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket after the 81-year-old president, who defeated Trump in the previous election, stepped aside.

Since accepting the nomination, Harris, who, if elected, would also be the country's first Black woman and Asian American president, has reenergized the party and recovered ground lost by Biden, but not to the point of establishing a clear lead in any battleground state.

She has continued Biden's line of attack that Trump, the first former president to face criminal charges, is a threat to democracy.

Trump has been indicted on federal and state charges in connection with his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020, as well as on federal charges over alleged mishandling of classified documents.

He was convicted in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a New York case involving hush money payments to a porn star during the 2016 race, but an election win this year would greatly boost his odds of escaping sentencing or the resumption of the other cases against him.

Harris, while leaning into "freedom" and "the future" as her core themes, has emphasized her middle-class roots and background as a prosecutor, asserting that she, unlike Trump, respects the rule of law.

Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has continued slamming the Biden-Harris administration as a complete failure on almost every front, making claims such as that prices have skyrocketed and too many illegal immigrants have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in the years since he left office.

Trump still asserts without evidence that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. His campaign messages are often laced with hateful rhetoric, as retribution against political enemies has been an important part of his motivation for seeking office again.

The two candidates have presented conflicting visions for the country's future on issues ranging from abortion access and transgender rights to taxes and energy.

On issues that generally carry more weight for other countries, Harris has said she will follow the Biden administration's commitment to championing multilateralism. She has pledged to tackle global and regional challenges with U.S. allies and partners.

As Trump did in his first term, under his "America First" mantra, the reality TV host-turned-politician is expected to pursue an isolationist approach that could be even more drastic and implement far-reaching tariffs on imports from China and other parts of the world.

In stark contrast to Harris, Trump, who believes Russia would not have invaded Ukraine had he been president, has suggested that providing billions of dollars in assistance to the war-torn country is a waste of American money.

Trump, who is also skeptical about NATO and seems reluctant to protect Taiwan from China, has repeatedly said he is capable of ending the war in Ukraine swiftly by bringing Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table, should he return to the White House.

Although Trump has refrained from saying whether he wants Ukraine to prevail in the war, his past remarks have signaled that the territorial integrity of Ukraine is a secondary concern.

Related coverage:

PROFILE:Harris casts self as forward-looking leader of more diverse America

PROFILE: Trump, pursuing political revenge, remains loyal to key goals

U.S. votes in tight presidential election between Harris and Trump
Followup on community conversation and ongoing discussion . . . We'll have more on this one but for now here's the local the talk this week . . .

During the public hearing, leaders from non-profits and community organizations, such as the Mattie Rhodes Center and Englewood Arts, explained how they would use the money.



These organizations were made aware that they were going to be awarded much-needed funds to continue our missions. Those funds have still not come over a year later, said public hearing speaker and Executive Director of Englewood Arts Michael Baxley. Our organization and many others in this room that provide critical services to families and citizens of Jackson County are still feeling the impacts of COVID to this day. We urge you to find a compromise to get these final funds obligated before the end of 2024.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Public hearing held in Jackson County regarding use of ARPA funds A public hearing regarding the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds was held during the Jackson County Legislative meeting on Monday afternoon.

Developing . . .
As we wait for the voting numbers to come through . . . We take a moment to share our admiration for hottie Samantha during her glory daze AND some somewhat important news links on the topic that we accept because they confirm our bias or reject because they offer a moment of down.

Either way . . .



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City immigrants hurt by racist election ads Racist and nativist rhetoric has made headlines in the 2024 election, and immigrants and refugees around Kansas City have taken notice. Plus: One of Missouri's few openly gay Republican lawmakers says his vote on transgender rights cost him his party's support - and reelection.

Steady flow of Johnson County voters cast their ballots on Election Day Polls are open across the Sunflower State, and Johnson County continues to see thousands of voters flock to the polls on Election Day.

Where to find reliable 2024 election results in Missouri and Kansas How to find 2024 election results and news that's trustworthy. Advice for voting outcomes you can believe in.

Election Day 2024: Live updates, results, reactions and key moments across Kansas and Missouri After months of political ads, polls, stump speeches and campaign text messages, Election Night 2024 has finally arrived.

Wright County, Missouri, poll workers killed in flash flooding The Wright County Clerk's Office is mourning the loss of two poll workers who died early Tuesday in a drowning incident.

Missouri Election Day FAQ: What you need to know to make sure your vote counts Months of campaigning and TV ad wars will come to a close Tuesday, as Missouri voters head to the polls to pick their next member of Congress, the state legislature and nearly every statewide office. The Independent tried to answer some of the questions you may have about voting in Missouri.

Kansas voting update: More than a half-million ballots cast, election chief predicts record turnout * Kansas Reflector Before early voting poll locations closed at noon Monday in Kansas, the state's top election official already predicted record-breaking voter turnout.

Josh Hawley, Lucas Kunce make final TV ad buys in Missouri U.S. Senate race * Missouri Independent The U.S. Senate race is the only candidate race in Missouri elections where both candidates have aired television ads since August primaries.

Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes put election differences aside Mahomes went public with her Donald Trump support in September, liking multiple posts endorsing Trump and JD Vance at this week's election.

Law enforcement on high alert for Election Day threats Election workers across the country are being bombarded with threats, and law enforcement agencies are dedicating "substantial resources" to ensure public safety during the election.

Developing . . .
Redux double post for Tuesday given that a couple more takes on the story are also worth sharing.

Check-it . . .

For 60 years, the cinema has provided a variety of movies to the Kansas City area as one of the only drive-in theaters in Missouri.



Many fans of the drive-in movie theater shared their grief and admiration for the business in the comment section. From shared experiences of watching classic cinema under the stars to making plans to revisit one last time.



Longtime customers and new fans went to the comment section to share their grief and admiration for the business. From shared memories of watching movies under the stars to making plans to revisit one last time, the community of Independence, Missouri, are sad to see the beloved drive-in go.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Independence's historic Twin Drive-In movie theater to close after 60 years of screenings After 100 years of bringing cinema to the Kansas City area, B&B Theatres Twin Drive-In announced on Monday that it will close on Nov. 17.
Right now activist, celeb and hottie Kim inspires today's peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Local Landmark Reporting

It's a Bird, It's a Plane ...No, It's a Hereford Bull? When driving along 12th street near the I-35 exit, drivers might spy something a bit unusual through the west foliage-a giant Hereford bull.

South Side Fears

Feast Scarcity

Will the Red Bridge grocery store open before Thanksgiving? "It's really important for us to have this feel like a brand new grocery store."

Counting Cowtown Choices

Nearly 30% of the Kansas City area voted before Election Day. Here's where See how election officials in Jackson, Johnson, Clay, Platte and Wyandotte counties are preparing for Election Day amid big absentee turnout.

Fast Casual Financial Fight

Applebee sues franchisee for $8M after it closed eight KC-area locations - Kansas City Business Journal A Kansas City-area Applebee's franchisee that closed eight local restaurants and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy now faces a federal lawsuit from the parent company.

Kangaroos Conflicted

Students on campus are divided by the vote coming up on Nov. 5. While polling across the state has the majority of voters in support of lifting Missouri's two-year-old abortion ban, some students have found it hard to silence their opinions on the subject. Amendment Three has been the topic of conversation for Missourians as election day nears. People are voicing their opinions on the controversial proposal,...

Celeb Still Winning

Crocodile Named After Kim Kardashian Wins Annual Race in Australia Kim Kardashian is sure to say "crikey" when she hears how she played a role in one crocodile winning big at an annual croc race Down Under.

Republican Election Reminder

GOP senator sends warning to Biden admin about obligations for potential Trump transition Sen. Bill Hagerty is reminding the federal government of its obligations in the event of a presidential transition ahead of the upcoming election.

MAGA Savors Moment

Trump casts vote in Palm Beach, says 'this was the best campaign we ran' Former President Donald Trump after casting his vote in Florida on Election Day declares that "this was the best campaign we ran."

Veep Selects Tonight's Stage

Opinion | Kamala Harris and this Election Day represent the promise of Howard University Vice President Kamala Harris watching the election results at Howard University is not only an authentic choice, but it is also, perhaps, the only choice.

Deuce Fires Off One Last Dig

Vance riffs on Biden's remarks: 'The trash's name is Kamala Harris' Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, on Monday riffed on recent comments from President Biden in which he appeared to compare former President Trump's supporters to garbage, stating that Vice President Harris is "trash." "And our message to Kamala Harris is very simple, the citizens of this country, they are not...

Reality Star Uncertain

Dr. Phil Appears To Walk Back His Trump Endorsement In Ambiguous Interview Dr. Phil McGraw appeared to walk back his endorsement of former President Donald Trump during an ambiguous interview with Piers Morgan on Tuesday.

America's Mayor Ducks Payout

Rudy Giuliani shows up to vote in the car he was ordered to surrender Rudy Giuliani has yet to surrender any of the valuables he was ordered to turn over to the two election workers he defamed, their lawyers say, including the Mercedes he was spotted riding around in West Palm Beach Tuesday.

Holy Land Clears Bench

Netanyahu fires Gallant as Israel's defense minister Gallant will be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Netanyahu said in a statement issued on the day the world's attention was focused on the United States election.

Rocketman Confronts Attack

North Korean troops in Russia shelled by Ukrainians: Official North Korean troops have been fired upon for the first time since sending thousands of soldiers to fight alongside Russians against Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian official. Andrii Kovalenko, Ukraine's head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, said in a Monday post on Telegram that the first North...

Iconic Election Traditions

Beyonce Channels Pamela Anderson In "Bodyguard" Music Video That Urges People To Vote Beyonce pays tribute to Pamela Anderson as she encourages everyone to vote in an Election Day and rare music video.

Constitutional Adultery?!?

Fox News host says wife voting for Harris is the same thing as an affair Historian Allan Lichtman suggested that the gender gap in swing state early voting could be a "huge advantage" for Harris.

Local Foodie Scene Documented

Kansas City Restaurant Openings, Closings, and News - October 2024 Total Wine Spirits Beer & More is opening a new location at 4201 Main Street in Kansas City, Missouri. The building was formerly an Office Depot. Mud Pie Bakery is moving from Overland Park to a new location in Mission at 6850 Johnson Drive.

Cowtown Tradition Reconsidered



How the Mayor's Christmas Tree Comes to Be - IN Kansas City Magazine If you went to Crown Center last Friday to see the Mayor's Christmas Tree, you'd have seen something strange: a towering trunk fully bare, save for a cowlick of branches at the top. The tree's piney limbs sat in heaps on the square. Charlie Brown didn't pick the tree this year-it's just still getting dressed....

Home Team In Demand

Westport Flea Market Forever

KC burger joint survived a serial killer, Hooters and COVID. Now, it serves 5,000 kids Long known for Kansas City's best burgers, this restaurant survived a public association with serial killer Bob Berdella and a date with a wrecking ball. Now it serves school lunches to thousands of kids.

Democracy Forecast For Now

Chilly, breezy Election Day with more rain moving in this weekend Gusty and 60 by 5 a.m. is the warmest part of Election Day as temperatures fall into the lower 50s through this afternoon

Black Sheep - The Choice Is Yours is our old school song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
XIAOGAN, Hubei, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged fully intensifying troop training, enhancing combat preparedness and improving airborne operation capabilities to build a strong and modernized airborne force.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks Monday when inspecting an airborne corps in the city of Xiaogan, central China's Hubei Province.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets representatives of officers and soldiers when inspecting an airborne corps on Nov. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese experts at a special forum in Beijing have pointed out that the root causes of the instability in the South China Sea are the United States picking sides on the South China Sea issue, certain claimants in relevant disputes attempting to enforce their illegal interests, and the illegal award of the arbitration tribunal in 2016.

The experts from various research centers and universities discussed the issues at an event on Tuesday organized by the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI).

Responding to claims by some Western countries that China's construction on some islands and reefs in Nansha Qundao had changed the "status quo" in the area, Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Research Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, explained that related moves by China are measures aimed at countering the Philippines' arbitration claim and improving China's unfavorable position on relevant islands and reefs under its jurisdiction.

Such measures are both reasonable and lawful, Wu said.

Hu Bo, director of the Center for Maritime Strategy Studies of Peking University, said that China's claims to sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea have remained consistent and continuous.

Hu said the main sources of the current instability and turbulence in the South China Sea can be attributed to two factors. Firstly, some claimant countries, such as the Philippines, have attempted to alter the status quo and even undermine the commitment made by all parties in the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" not to occupy new uninhabited islands or reefs. Secondly, the involvement of the United States in the South China Sea disputes and its intensified military deterrence measures.

Hu pointed to the fact that the situation in the South China Sea was generally more stable during the period from the end of the Cold War to 2009, when the United States paid less attention to the area and the Southeast Asian region.

Some other experts, including Lei Xiaolu, a professor at the China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies of Wuhan University, and Zheng Zhihua, an associate professor at the Center for Japanese Studies under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, criticized the illegal "arbitral award" in 2016.

They stressed that it was made by a tribunal that had no jurisdiction, and that the award, in breach of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and of China's rights as a State Party under the UNCLOS, is null and void and has no binding force.

The experts also warned that the United States is attempting to draw forces outside the region into the South China Sea issue by hyping up fake narratives regarding freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, making the situation more complicated.

However, the experts also said they believe the situation in the South China Sea is far less tense than claimed by some countries and portrayed by some media organizations.

"It is the United States that poses the greatest threat to the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea," said Yan Yan, director of the Research Center for Oceans Law and Policy, National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

The United States interprets international maritime law navigation rules in a manner that aligns with its own national interests and imposes them as standards to compel regional countries to accept, a typical manifestation of American maritime hegemony, Yan added. 
A woman talks with a staff member at the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LONDON, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal.

The pavilion is set to feature a range of destination promotions, business networking sessions, and showcases of intangible cultural heritage. Attendees can also enjoy interactive experiences, including Chinese "baijiu" liquor tastings, Tai Chi workshops, and samples of Chinese cuisine.

This year's Chinese delegation consists of representatives from nine provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Xinjiang and Shaanxi, alongside dozens of airlines and tourism companies.

After browsing brochures and speaking with representatives at the China pavilion, Gary King, head of trade sales at London-based Wendy Wu Tours, told Xinhua that his top two destinations for future trips to China are Zhangjiajie in the central Hunan Province and Guilin in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, both renowned for their "spectacular scenery."

King said he traveled to China for the first time last year and was "absolutely captivated," highlighting the local cuisine, welcoming people, extensive high-speed railway network, and the diversity between cities as the aspects he loved most about the country and his experience.

Since last year, China has been expanding its visa-free entry policies to boost the recovery of inbound tourism, making it increasingly easier and more appealing for foreign tourists to explore the country.

This year's China pavilion at WTM London, themed "high-quality tourism development in China," emphasized green and sustainable tourism, showcasing the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature.

"Tourism businesses and boards have a responsibility to help businesses become greener and more regenerative, while also helping consumers make sustainable choices," Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, the UK's national tourism agency, told Xinhua.

She noted that international tourism not only generates economic value but also enriches people "personally and mentally" by providing opportunities to "speak with different people, understand different cultures, and learn about diverse lives and experiences." High-quality tourism, she added, encourages travelers to stay longer and explore more deeply in their destinations.

Over the decades, China has made remarkable strides in facilitating travel, enhancing various aspects like tourism infrastructure, cultural heritage site accessibility, mobile payment services, and transportation convenience -- including a rail network that spans the entire country.

At the event, Shi Zeyi, an official from China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said that China is dedicated to fostering practical, mutually beneficial partnerships with worldwide tourism professionals and contributing to the growth and prosperity of the global tourism industry.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry.

The 44th edition of WTM London, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled. 

People visit the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A woman talks with a staff member at the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A man visits the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

People visit the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

People visit the booth of Morocco during the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The WTM London 2024, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A man sits at the exhibition booth of Malawi during the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The WTM London 2024, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

A visitor (lower right) is pictured at the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The WTM London 2024, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows the booth of Egypt during the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain. The WTM London 2024, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Models pose for photos at the booth of Morocco during the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 in London, Britain, Nov. 5, 2024. The WTM London 2024, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
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Protests after Netanyahu sacks Defense Minister Yoav Gallant

Benjamin Netanyahu has fired Yoav Gallant, Defense Minister and a member of his war cabinet, in a move exposing deep divide in the far right Zionist regime of Israel and sparking protests

Wednesday November 6, 2024 3:27 PM , ummid.om News Network

[Fresh protests began against Netanyahu after he fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.]

Tel Aviv: Benjamin Netanyahu has fired Yoav Gallant, Defense Minister and a member of his war cabinet, in a move exposing deep divide in the far right Zionist regime of Israel and sparking protests.

In a letter that Netanyahus Office said was handed to Gallant during an 8 p.m. meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister informed him that his tenure would end 48 hours from the receipt of this letter.

Interestingly, Netanyahu fired Gallant even as a massive protest is ongoing across Israel demanding him to quit as Prime Minister.

His decision to sack Gallant has sparked fresh protests in Tel Aviv and other cities of Israel.

Politically motivated move: Watchdogs

Meanwhile, the Israel Democracy Guard and the Movement for Quality Government (MQG) have filed petitions to the High Court of Justice against Defence Minister Yoav Gallants dismissal, according to The Times of Israel.

The firing of the defense minister in the midst of a war, and while the State of Israel is under an unprecedented multifront threat, was made out of ulterior and narrow political motives, the report says citing MQG.

The Israel Democracy Guard has demanded that the court freeze Gallants dismissal until a ruling on its petition, the newspaper said.

Following his dismissal, Gallant issued a one-line statement of his own, writing on X that the security of the State of Israel always was, and will always remain, my lifes mission.



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NEWS PROVIDED BY

Coral Ridge Ministries

Nov. 6, 2024



FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 6, 2024 /Standard Newswire/ -- Coral Ridge Ministries President & CEO, Dr. Robert J. Pacienza, issued the following statement today:

The American people delivered a resounding verdict last night by returning President Donald J. Trump to office, capping the greatest political comeback in U.S. history.



It was a great day for America! A huge victory for our nation and our future as one nation under God. We at Coral Ridge Ministries offer our heartfelt and celebratory congratulations to America's next Commander-in-Chief.



We are deeply grateful for the immense blessing of a free election and that we live in a nation ultimately governed by "We the people." Our prayer is that God will grant us grace to renew our national unity around policies that reflect God's standard of righteousness.



We also pray that God will give President-elect Trump protection from his enemies, discernment in the selection of his cabinet and advisors, continued stamina for the challenge ahead, and wisdom to bring Americans together.



Here in Florida we are celebrating the defeat of the pro-abortion Amendment 4 -- a far-reaching and purposely deceptive measure that, if passed, would have cemented an unlimited right to abortion into Florida's constitution. Amendment 4's defeat made Nov. 5 a great day for the future of every preborn boy and girl in the Sunshine state.



The election outcome nationally, and in Florida with the defeat of Amendment 4, shows what happens when the church is mobilized---when concerned Christians speak and act publicly on behalf of their biblically informed consciences.



One takeaway from last night is that America is growing weary of progressive, woke, Marxist ideology. It offers no hope. Just chaos. I believe America is hungry for new answers, new solutions, a new direction, a new message. Donald Trump is championing a new direction for our nation but, ultimately, the message most needed today is the gospel of Jesus Christ.



America has pivoted from a too-long detour into a secular, woke wasteland. Our prayer is that churches and preachers in America will boldly and unashamedly preach biblical truth in this cultural moment. Christ is building His unshakable kingdom (Heb. 12:28-29), and He's doing it through the proclamation of the good news that Christ died and rose to save sinners. This is the ultimate hope for our nation!



Coral Ridge Ministries proclaims this hope to our nation as we stand at what I believe is a civilizational momenta time when America is ripe for revival! May God send it soon.
BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council announced the appointment and removal of several officials on Wednesday.

Zhang Zhili was appointed vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs, replacing Ma Youxiang.

Li Jing was appointed deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China, while Wang Ruilian and Zhou Jinqiang were removed from this position.

Peng Jinhui was named vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Li Bin was named deputy head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

Wang Jiangping will no longer serve as vice minister of industry and information technology and Chang Zhengguo was removed from the post of vice minister of veterans affairs. 
CANBERRA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government's monitoring and curfew regime for former immigration detainees has been ruled invalid by the High Court.

The High Court on Wednesday ruled that the electronic ankle bracelets and curfews imposed on former immigration detainees by the government overreached the separation of powers between the courts, which administer criminal punishment, and the federal government.

The regime was introduced by the governing Labor Party in 2023 after the High Court ruled that indefinite detention of non-citizens without valid visas is unlawful even in circumstances where the individual cannot be deported.

As of October, a total of 215 non-citizens had been released from immigration detention as a result of that ruling. Of those, 143 have electronic monitoring bracelets and 126 are subject to a curfew.

Wednesday's ruling means that those restrictions will be lifted.

The case was brought in the High Court by a stateless Eritrean man who was released from immigration detention in 2023 and was subsequently charged with six offenses relating to breaching curfew and monitoring conditions.

Under the law, breaking electronic monitoring restrictions or a curfew resulted in a mandatory one-year prison sentence.

Lawyers for the Eritrean man argued that the law was unconstitutional because the measures were a form of punishment, which can only be imposed by the courts, while the government said it was justified because it was needed to protect the community.

The seven justices of the High Court ruled 5-2 that the law was not valid.

Lawyers for the Eritrean man described the ruling as a major victory.

"This is an important ruling because it underscores the bedrock principle that for everyone, whether citizen or non-citizen, the government does not have the power to punish people by stripping them of their fundamental rights to freedom and dignity," they told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

A representative from the Department of Home Affairs told a senate hearing on Monday that 65 of the 215 non-citizens have been charged with a criminal offense since their release from immigration detention. 
A farmer from a local planting cooperative harvests rice in a paddy field in Xidoujiazhuang Village of Baichigan Town in Zhuozhou City, north China's Hebei Province, Nov. 6, 2024. Zhuozhou City has a long history of rice cultivation. In recent years, relying on local agricultural business entities such as leading agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, and family farms, the local government has continuously cultivated and expanded the rice industry to enhance the popularity and market competitiveness of local rice brands, effectively increasing the income of farmers. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Farmers process harvested rice at a family farm in Zhuozhou City, north China's Hebei Province, Nov. 6, 2024. Zhuozhou City has a long history of rice cultivation. In recent years, relying on local agricultural business entities such as leading agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, and family farms, the local government has continuously cultivated and expanded the rice industry to enhance the popularity and market competitiveness of local rice brands, effectively increasing the income of farmers. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 6, 2024 shows a harvester working in a paddy field in Xidoujiazhuang Village of Baichigan Town in Zhuozhou City, north China's Hebei Province. Zhuozhou City has a long history of rice cultivation. In recent years, relying on local agricultural business entities such as leading agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, and family farms, the local government has continuously cultivated and expanded the rice industry to enhance the popularity and market competitiveness of local rice brands, effectively increasing the income of farmers. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 6, 2024 shows a harvester working in a paddy field in Xidoujiazhuang Village of Baichigan Town in Zhuozhou City, north China's Hebei Province. Zhuozhou City has a long history of rice cultivation. In recent years, relying on local agricultural business entities such as leading agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, and family farms, the local government has continuously cultivated and expanded the rice industry to enhance the popularity and market competitiveness of local rice brands, effectively increasing the income of farmers. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

A farmer from a local planting cooperative harvests rice in a paddy field in Xidoujiazhuang Village of Baichigan Town in Zhuozhou City, north China's Hebei Province, Nov. 6, 2024. Zhuozhou City has a long history of rice cultivation. In recent years, relying on local agricultural business entities such as leading agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, and family farms, the local government has continuously cultivated and expanded the rice industry to enhance the popularity and market competitiveness of local rice brands, effectively increasing the income of farmers. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 6, 2024 shows a harvester working in a paddy field in Xidoujiazhuang Village of Baichigan Town in Zhuozhou City, north China's Hebei Province. Zhuozhou City has a long history of rice cultivation. In recent years, relying on local agricultural business entities such as leading agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, and family farms, the local government has continuously cultivated and expanded the rice industry to enhance the popularity and market competitiveness of local rice brands, effectively increasing the income of farmers. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 6, 2024 shows the paddy fields in Baichigan Town of Zhuozhou City, north China's Hebei Province. Zhuozhou City has a long history of rice cultivation. In recent years, relying on local agricultural business entities such as leading agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, and family farms, the local government has continuously cultivated and expanded the rice industry to enhance the popularity and market competitiveness of local rice brands, effectively increasing the income of farmers. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
SHANGHAI, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Amadou Thera banged an African drum in tune with the exciting music playing at the ongoing seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), while saying "hello" and "welcome" in fluent Mandarin Chinese, as more and more passers-by crowded around him.

The exhibitor from Mali was using the drum to promote shea butter produced by his manual workshop at the 2024 CIIE in Shanghai, running from Nov. 5 to 10.

"Our company has participated in the CIIE on three occasions, and I always see numerous opportunities here," said Thera, adding that he is confident of attracting more big clients over the next few days.

According to Thera, his wife, a Chinese national, was the first person who told him that shea butter, a specialty he was all too familiar with during his childhood, may prove a surprising skin care cream option for Chinese people, while the CIIE is the first platform that has shown him he can cooperate with merchants from various countries.

China is offering over 120 free booths and other support measures to 37 of the world's least developed countries at the 2024 CIIE, thereby helping them showcase their products at the expo. China has also expanded the exhibition area for African agricultural products.

In the area around Thera's booth, other African exhibitors can be seen introducing farm produce including coffee beans, cashew nuts and tropical fruits, with constant streams of visitors stopping to have a look or taste.

China's imports of African agricultural products have registered strong growth over the past years with the country rolling out supporting policies, including streamlining customs procedures and reducing or exempting tariffs, said Sun Hong, deputy director of the Institute of African Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Sun defined the CIIE as one of the platforms enabling Chinese consumers to learn more about African agricultural products, and said that efforts should be made to support more Chinese enterprises in investing in relevant industries in African countries, such as processing, logistics and warehousing.

Holding a large piece of beeswax in one hand and a small box of honey in the other, Jackson Mponela, production manager for commerce and development at Tanzania Future Enterprises Company Ltd., said he is confident about the products and hopes to capture the Chinese market of over 1.4 billion people.

"I watched a video about the CIIE held last year and I was so impressed by the hustle and bustle there, so I figured we should start our first CIIE journey this year," said Mponela, adding that he expects to secure new partnerships at the expo and learn more about how other companies are being operated.

"We brought many varieties of newly designed handmade Afghan carpets to the expo to better cater to the needs of Chinese consumers," said Ali Faiz from Biraro Trading Company, which has participated at the CIIE for five consecutive years. Ali added that it used to be difficult for small businesses in Afghanistan to find overseas markets for local products.

To attract more Chinese buyers, Ali decided to use short videos and livestreaming to share knowledge about Afghan carpets and hold cultural experience activities together with other exhibitors during this year's CIIE.

Helping enterprises from the least developed countries tap the Chinese market and integrate into the global economy is a feature of the CIIE, said Tang Wenhong, assistant minister of commerce, adding that the expo has always been a public good for the whole world.

The CIIE is just one of China's endeavors to support the least developed countries. In September, China announced that the least developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China would enjoy zero-tariff treatment for all tariff lines starting from Dec. 1 this year.

China will also strengthen cooperation with those countries in terms of inspection and quarantine, and provide vocational training for e-commerce enterprises to help the least developed countries improve their trade capacity, said Tang. 
During an April campaign rally, President Joe Biden touted his ambitious "life-changing" student loan cancellation plan to a Wisconsin audience, promising relief for over 30 million Americans. However, as Vice President Kamala Harris takes the reins as the Democratic nominee, the issue has largely faded from her campaign trail rhetoric. Harris, who has replaced Biden as the party's presidential candidate, has barely mentioned student loans in her speeches, opting to appeal to moderate voters with policies prioritizing Americans without a college degree.

At a September rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Harris emphasized the need for the country to value alternative career paths beyond a four-year college degree. "For far too long, our nation has encouraged only one path to success: a four-year college degree," she said, drawing applause as she highlighted plans to remove unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs.

In recent years, student loan cancellation has transformed from a key Democratic talking point to a controversial issue. Republicans have seized upon it as an example of catering to elites, criticizing it as unfair to those who have either repaid their loans or never attended college. This shift has turned the topic into a political liability for Democrats, as seen in the latest presidential debate where former President Donald Trump criticized Harris and Biden for failing to deliver on their promise of widespread loan forgiveness, calling it a "total catastrophe."

Legal Challenges and Changing Political Dynamics

Biden's efforts to deliver student loan forgiveness have faced numerous legal obstacles. Initially, the Supreme Court blocked his plan to forgive up to $20,000 for millions of borrowers last year. A subsequent, more limited plan has also been paused by a federal judge following lawsuits from Republican-led states. Additional measures aimed at reducing payments for struggling borrowers have similarly been halted due to legal battles.

Most recently, the Biden administration introduced a new approach targeting Americans with significant financial burdens beyond their student loans. The move comes less than two weeks before the upcoming Nov. 5 election and remains uncertain, given the legal hurdles ahead.

Read more: Teachers Union Lawsuit Accuses Student Loan Company of Misleading Millions of Borrowers

According to Michelle Dimino, education program director at the centrist think tank Third Way, the ongoing legal battles have likely influenced Harris' cautious approach.

"There's not too much new she can offer before we know what will happen in the courts," Dimino said, according to AP News."Now, it's a totally different landscape than it was in 2020, when it was a clean slate."

Harris's decision to downplay the issue reflects the political risks involved, particularly in a closely contested election. Reviving the promise of loan cancellation could energize Republican opposition and alienate moderate voters. As Preston Cooper from the American Enterprise Institute said, "The Harris campaign has realized this is not necessarily a winning political issue."

Student Loan Cancellation's Declining Popularity

Public support for student loan cancellation has declined, including among Democrats. A June poll from the University of Chicago and AP-NORC found only 3 in 10 Americans approve of Biden's approach, with just over half of Democrats and 18% of independents supporting it.

Harris has avoided specifics on loan cancellation, briefly mentioning it in her platform while prioritizing policies for non-degree holders. She focused on skills-based hiring at a Pennsylvania rally, saying degrees don't necessarily reflect skills.

Andrew Gillen from the Cato Institute noted Harris' shift likely aims to appeal to non-college-educated voters, as loan forgiveness has become politically divisive. This pivot indicates a strategic move to gain moderate support and distancing from the loan issue.
Kamala Harris has an upcoming election night event at her college alma mater, but local businesses, residents, and students are feeling the impact.

Around the area of Howard University, D.C. police already directed traffic to the north of Florida Avenue on Monday, although there are still major traffic clearings to be done within the nearest roads from the campus.

According to DC News Now, business owners are adjusting to the challenges posed by road closure and barriers around Howard. For commuters, reaching work in the area is more difficult than usual. Employees also struggle to find a parking spot and expect that more time will take them to settle on election night. Despite the inconvenience, some already prepared for it in advance, understanding the importance of the event.

Read more: VP Kamala Harris Could Become First President to Graduate From A Historically Black College or University

Preparations Around Howard University for Kamala Harris Event

Security measures are now being set up with fencing and barricades along Georgia Avenue. Students are more concerned with protests should Harris take the lead, reminding them of the memories of the January 6, 2021 violence from MAGA Trump Supporters.

While it's an uneasy feeling to have strict security around, students feel more protected due to the possibility of outrage from the opposition.

Besides local residents, students, and businesses, there are now visitors to D.C. who are embracing the experience despite the heavy disruptions. For Harris supporters, they are ready to witness history even if it means facing inconveniences.

Currently, road closures are expected to begin at 7 PM until when security officials will deem it safe, with parking restrictions lifted by November 10.

University Herald previously mentioned that Harris would be the first president to graduate from an HBCU, or a university built to educate students of African-American descent.
US business schools are about to reach gender parity as more women enroll this year, compared to other graduate courses.

Over the past four years, female enrollment increased by 13%, with about 6,100 women starting their MBA this fall in all 61 programs of the US and international business schools.

Bloomberg shared that this outpaces the combined 3% increase for all students in all courses, which means more women are leaning toward these programs by a great percentage. With this, women now make up 42% of total MBA enrollment in the US,

While there is stability, some are still concerned about its progress. Experts believe that a slowdown is expected, however, it doesn't change the fact that women now represent 45% to 50% of classroom students. This means a run towards an inclusive environment in the US educational industry.

Gender Equality in MBA Programs

Now, there is progress in MBA programs when it comes to gender parity. So far, 8 institutions reached at least 51% female enrollment this fall, which is a new high. Leading the list is Johns Hopkins University, which according to US News & World Report, record 55% female enrollees. Not only does this imply access to education, but also progress towards support and representation on campuses.

Besides Johns Hopkins, 19 schools also reported female enrolment of 45% or more, the first time it hit the mark in the history of US MBA enrollees.

However, while some schools were able to achieve this, they weren't able to maintain it for a long time due to unsustainable practices that will support female participation in MBA programs. This is where targeted recruitment will come in handy, with the State University of New York at Buffalo actively engaging with prospective female students through focus groups and webinars.

Looking ahead, more MBA schools are hoping to achieve 50% women students to support the ultimate goal of transitioning these students into corporate leadership roles. Currently, only 7.4% of S&P 500 CEOs are women with MBA degrees.
After deciding to spend the election night at Howard University, her alma mater, Kamala Harris supporters are standing by for support.

On the night of November, a crowd of Harris supporters gathered at the university to await results. The event, currently being held in The Yard, is the heart of the historically Black campus. Community members, alumni, and students are coming together in high spirits.

According to CNBC, the night was initially filled with hope until it grew tense as Trump slowly led the race to 270, though no definite results are expected at the moment yet.

To support their alumni, the Howard University Gospel Choir performed uplifting songs with students cheering and bonding over Harris' historic candidacy. University President, Wayne Frederick reminded everyone that the university honored generations of Black excellence and resilience, in parallel to Harris possibly making history in the US as the first woman and Black woman president.

US 2024 Election Results Through the Night

At the moment, projections showed Trump leading in many states, which dampened spirits. Supporters reacted intensely in the area, with cheers erupting every time Harris gained a state. For the crowd, the stakes are high since a Harris win would mean increased support for black communities, women, and American-leaning policies.

Despite the tension, and regardless of the outcome, some Howard students expressed pride in seeing an alumna in such an important political position that can move the country. For students, Harris' candidacy showed that hard work can lead to historic achievements, even in a country that constantly blocks people of color from progress.

Her co-alumni stated that, in a way, Harris had already won by gathering the Howard community together and making a historic mark on the US presidency.

A recent update from NBC showed that Trump had just won Pennsylvania, gaining 266 electoral votes against Harris'194. The Republican candidate will only need 4 more to secure his second term as the United States President.
November 6 2024

The Department of Culture Media and Sport has been pressed by an MP to address the 'international tragedy' of the Glasgow School of Art and help break the present restoration logjam.

Torcuil Crichton, the newly elected MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, points to essential conservation works at Kisimul Castle on the Isle of Barra and the newly refurbished Lews Castle on Stornoway as examples of best practice. Contrasting these successes with the forlorn state of the Mackintosh Building, after a 35m restoration budgeted after the initial 2014 blaze went up in smoke in 2018, Crichton called for additional support.

Addressing a parliamentary committee Crichton said: "Glasgow is still in trauma over the loss of the Mack, the pall of it hangs over the city and the tang of burnt timbers could still be smelled on Garnethill when I walked up to the Art School last week as the ABC building, also damaged in the fire, is demolished.

"So much of Glasgow's built heritage is in danger of falling to the elements, neglect, lack of funding or malicious demolition.

"Above Sauchiehall Street, wrapped in a white plastic shroud, is the burnt-out corpse of the Mack. The site is sealed like a sarcophagus against the elements. The art school board and engineers, architects and firefighters have done their utmost, the walls are still standing, but there is no sign of a phoenix rising from these ashes."

The restoration has suffered a series of setbacks following the second fire, notably ongoing arbitration over insurance and a flawed procurement process. Calling for a national effort comparable to that of France in the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral, Crichton added: "The Art School is a structure which is integral to Scotland's identity, central to the image of brand Scotland we want to portray and an asset to the UK on the world stage. Glasgow is a cultural lighthouse and a beacon, though much decayed in present days, but its buildings do speak to the world and will again when the Mack is restored."

In response, a government official dashed hopes of direct intervention, despite donating 10m following the initial fire, stressing that heritage is a devolved matter. Instead, officials state that they are 'open and willing' to facilitate applications to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, where Glasgow was selected as one of 11 priority places to receive a share of its 200m heritage place initiative - which includes the Sauchiehall Street cultural quarter. The government would also throw its weight behind applications to the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Architectural Heritage Fund.

Reiach and Hall with Purcell have been appointed by the Glasgow School of Art to prepare a business case by early 2025 for how a faithful reinstatement of the Mackintosh Building can be delivered.
MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Nov, 2024) Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) South Punjab, Fuad Hashim Rabbani, announced that Gulf countries were showing strong interest in investing in Pakistans livestock and dairy farming sectors, recognizing the vast potential of South Punjab.

Speaking during a visit by senior officers attending the 36th course at the National Institute of Management (NIM), Islamabad, he stated that these investments could significantly boost the regional economy and support food security efforts.

During the visit, ACS Rabbani, accompanied by Secretary Services Engineer Amjad Shoaib Khan Tareen and Director staff member Shumaila Zubair, highlighted agriculture and livestock as the backbone of South Punjabs economy.

He shared that the South Punjab Secretariat was integrating advanced technologies, including drones and sensors, into the agriculture sector, along with modern irrigation systems to optimize water use and increase crop and meat production.

Our collaboration with China in these technological advancements is transforming our agricultural landscape, he noted. Mr Rabbani also underscored the global halal meat markets immense value, positioning South Punjab as a key player.

He outlined Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharifs "Livestock Card" program, designed to empower rural women across 13 districts by distributing 11,000 livestock through a lottery. Secretary Services provided an update on the regions progress, discussing the "Zero Out of school Children" campaign, clean water initiatives, Subhe Nau Schools, and digital reforms such as e-filing and e-procurement systems.

At the events close, a shield was presented to ACS Rabbani in recognition of his dedication to regional development.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Nov, 2024) The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration launched a city-wide crackdown against unauthorized wall chalking, leading to several arrests and charges.

This swift action aims to enforce the recent ban on wall chalking in public spaces, targeting those who deface city walls for promotional campaigns, said the spokesman of ICT administration on Wednesday.

In a recent operation, the Islamabad district administration intensified efforts against illegal wall chalking across the city.

As many as eleven people were arrested for violating the ban. Of these, seven were detained by the Assistant Commissioner (AC) of the Secretariat area in Barakahu, while four were taken into custody by the AC Saddar from Margalla Avenue. Authorities have registered cases against all accused individuals involved.

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon, has issued strict instructions to clamp down on wall chalking across the city.

Memon emphasized that both the individuals creating the chalking and the businesses behind them will face consequences.

This crackdown targets advertisements by various entities, including private clinics, flats, marriage halls, a wood company, and a training institute, which had been promoting their services through wall chalking.

Meanwhile, five more individuals were apprehended in connection with recent theft cases linked to this ongoing campaign.

The AC Secretariat registered a case at the local police station against the latest group of individuals, reinforcing the administration's stance against defacing public property.

DC Islamabad Irfan Memon has directed his team to identify all parties involved in running such ad campaigns on city walls and ensure compliance with the wall chalking ban throughout Islamabad.
BAGHDAD, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a Shiite militia group, said on Wednesday that it had carried out three drone attacks on Israeli targets.

In online statements, the group said that its fighters launched two drone attacks at dawn on "vital sites," one of which was in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, and the second targeted a location in southern Israel.

Another drone attack was carried out on Tuesday night on a site in Eilat in southern Israel, the group added.

The statements did not provide further details about the targeted sites or report any casualties.

According to the group, the drone attacks were carried out "in solidarity with our people in Palestine and Lebanon," pledging to continue targeting "the enemy's strongholds at an escalating pace."

Since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has repeatedly attacked Israeli and U.S. positions in the region to show support for Palestinians in Gaza.

The militia has stepped up its attacks on Israel after the latter intensified strikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon on Sept. 23. 
As Pakistan confronts the pressing challenges of climate change, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) organized a high-level dialogue at the 27th Sustainable Development Conference to foster private sector-led solutions for green financing and climate resilience

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Nov, 2024) As Pakistan confronts the pressing challenges of climate change, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) organized a high-level dialogue at the 27th Sustainable Development Conference to foster private sector-led solutions for green financing and climate resilience.

The Pre-COP29 Policy Dialogue brought together leaders from the private sector, government, and international organizations to address the role of corporate investment in advancing Pakistans climate goals said a news release.

Highlighting the private sectors role in climate action, OICCI Senior Vice President & Nestle Pakistan CEO Jason Avancena called for a strategic response from the business community. Climate change is a reality we cannot ignore, Avancena said addressing the session. As we prepare for COP29, the private sector has a critical role to play, and OICCI remains committed to mobilizing the investments and technologies necessary to make Pakistan more climate-resilient. Our goal is to bridge the $152 billion adaptation financing gap by making green finance and sustainability a core focus.

The devastating 2022 floods, which displaced nearly eight million people and caused $15 billion in damages, underscore the urgency of investing in sustainable solutions. OICCI Secretary General M Abdul Aleem reinforced the need for private investment in these areas. Climate change is not just an environmental issue but an economic and social challenge that threatens our stability, he said.

He said OICCI has a longstanding commitment to sustainability, and through green financing, our members can be part of a solution that benefits both the planet and our economy.



Dr Abid Suleri, Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), emphasized the value of public-private partnerships in achieving Pakistans climate objectives. Our shared goals can only be realized through a concerted effort, Suleri remarked. By creating policies that incentivize investment and enable the private sector, we can close critical financing gaps and strengthen Pakistans climate resilience.

The dialogue included keynotes from prominent figures like Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative of UNDP Pakistan, who shared insights on innovative financial instruments to attract climate capital. Panelists from leading corporations such as Unilever Pakistan, Coca-Cola Company, HBL, and Engro Foundation discussed their sustainability initiatives and explored ways to enhance public-private collaboration in green finance.

The event underscored OICCIs significant contributions toward climate action, including its role at COP28 and its commitment to advocating for sustainable practices.

OICCI members collectively contributed over Rs13 billion to corporate social responsibility in 2023, with Rs1.5 billion specifically earmarked for environmental protection.

As Pakistan heads toward COP29, the OICCI remains committed to supporting national climate goals through actionable steps.

With plans to continue advocating for sustainable business practices, the organization aims to leverage this platform to drive meaningful change.
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, Khazar Farhadov called on Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam at her office here on Wednesday

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Nov, 2024) Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, Khazar Farhadov called on Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam at her office here on Wednesday.

The meeting focused on preparations for the upcoming COP29 summit and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts for effective climate action.

During the meeting, Alam outlined Pakistan's ongoing efforts in preparing for COP29, highlighting the importance of building international consensus on key climate issues and enhancing the country's climate action plans.

She stressed that Pakistans participation in COP29 would be aimed at ensuring its national interests are represented and strengthening its position within the global climate discourse.

"Pakistan's preparations for COP29 are part of a broader strategy to engage with international partners and bolster its stance on vital climate issues," she said.

She emphasized that the country is actively working towards meeting its emission reduction targets as part of its nationally determined contributions while underscoring the need for international support in achieving sustainable development goals related to climate change.

The Coordinator to the prime minister also highlighted the critical role of developed countries in fulfilling their financial commitments to assist developing nations in their climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Pakistan, she noted, has been making significant strides in transitioning to renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, and aims to showcase its renewable energy initiatives at COP29.

The ambassador expressed Azerbaijans strong commitment to enhancing cooperation with Pakistan, particularly in the context of climate action.

He emphasized the importance of closer bilateral ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in the areas of sustainable development, climate change, and regional cooperation, noting that the upcoming COP29 summit presents a significant opportunity for both countries to collaborate and advance their mutual interests in these critical areas.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to working together to address the challenges posed by climate change and to strengthen global climate action efforts.
(@FahadShabbir)

SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Nov, 2024) Police arrested 12 dacoit gangs, 362 proclaimed offenders,illegal weapon holders and drug peddlers during the last month.

According to the monthly performance issued here on Wednesday, police conduced 180 crackdowns and held 12 dacoit gangs.The teams nabbed 362 proclaimed offenders as well and recovered valuables worth Rs 50.

9 millions from their possessions.

Police said 223 cases were registered against illegal weapon holders and recovered recovered 15 Kalashnikov, 19 riffles, 35 guns, 159 pistols, 1254 bullets from them.

Meanwhile, 175 cases against drug peddlers were booked and 81.85 kg hashish,2.7 kg heroin,3.2 kg opium,700 liters wine and 5601 liters of liquor were recovered from their possessions.
(@FahadShabbir)

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari distributed certificates among 180 students, who completed the internship course here at the special ceremony, held at the Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR)

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Nov, 2024) Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari distributed certificates among 180 students, who completed the internship course here at the special ceremony, held at the Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR).

Speaking at the event, Azma said that it was an honour for her that within a few months, 180 students had completed the internship course. These students had made significant contributions to the electronic media, social media and print media, which was highly commendable. My department's doors were open to students from all universities, she added.

The DGPR plans to further expand internship programme.

Students were provided with a good, family-oriented environment at DGPR. "In line with the demands of the modern age, it has become essential to educate students about both conventional and digital media."

The students who completed the internship course belong to Forman Christian College University, Lahore College for Women University, the University of Narowal, and the University of Punjab. The ceremony was attended by DGPR Punjab Ghulam Sagheer Shahid, Director Electronic Media Sohail Rana, Deputy Director Hafsa Javed, and Rida Malik from the Digital Media Wing.
Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) in partnership with the Karachi Press Club launched an awareness campaign regarding the Benazir Mazdoor Card

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Nov, 2024) The Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) in partnership with the Karachi Press Club launched an awareness campaign regarding the Benazir Mazdoor Card.

Addressing the event, Labour and Human Resources Minister Shahid Abdul Salam Thaheem highlighted that the Benazir Mazdoor Card offers medical and financial benefits to workers.

He shared that SESSI currently provides services through 42 dispensaries and five major hospitals, with no limit on medical benefits, and in cases where services are not available, costs incurred at private hospitals are reimbursed.

The Minister further announced plans to establish a cancer hospital soon and confirmed the inauguration of a modern hospital in Sukkur on November 11.

Commissioner SESSI, Mianfad Rahoojo, noted that millions of patients received treatment last year, and SESSI also offering pensions, disability allowances and other financial benefits to employees.

In case of accidents, additional grants are provided to beneficiaries. He emphasized that SESSI has simplified the registration process, allowing workers to register from home through an app and the Labour Registration Portal.

Secretary Karachi Press Club, Shoaib Ahmed, stated that providing workers their rightful benefits is essential, urging media owners to uphold the rights of journalists and media workers.
Berlin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Nov, 2024) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump after he claimed victory in the US presidential election, vowing Berlin would work with him for "prosperity and freedom".

"I congratulate @realDonaldTrump on his election as US President," Scholz wrote on X, shortly after discussing the vote outcome with French President Emmanuel Macron.

"Germany and the USA have long been working together successfully to promote prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the benefit of our citizens," he wrote.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also congratulated Trump and pledged Berlin stood ready to remain "a close and reliable ally" to Washington.

The minister, just back from a visit to war-torn Ukraine, added in comments to the media that "Europeans will now have to assume even more responsibility for security policy".

During Trump's last term in the White House, bilateral ties were badly strained as the Republican president berated the NATO ally on what he deemed insufficient defence spending and on trade issues.

Baerbock said that "Germany will be a close, reliable ally for the future American government, that is what we are offering."

"As in any good partnership, where there are undoubtedly political differences, an honest and, above all, intensive exchange is more important than ever."

She said that during her latest visit to Ukraine, as it fights against Russian forces, "I have felt more clearly than ever before how much depends on Europeans and Americans standing up together for freedom, international law and democracy".

The minister said that a just peace there "will only be possible with the Ukrainians, with the Europeans and with the USA".

"For me, for us, it is clear: We Europeans will now have to take on even more responsibility for security policy."

Baerbock added that "in these stormy geopolitical times, we need to work together, on both sides of the Atlantic, more than ever -- for our freedom, our prosperity and our way of life."
Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Nov, 2024) Russian lawmakers on Wednesday voted unanimously to ratify a landmark mutual defence pact with North Korea, as Kyiv and the West say Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to fight for Russia against Ukraine.

The agreement formalises months of deepening security cooperation between the two nations, which were Communist allies throughout the Cold War.

North Korea has become one of the most vocal and important backers of Russia's full-scale offensive on Ukraine.

The West has long accused Pyongyang of supplying artillery shells and missiles to Moscow to fire on Ukraine.

The latest accusations, based on intelligence reports, that North Korea has deployed around 10,000 troops to Russia suggest even deeper involvement in the conflict and have triggered an outcry and warnings in Seoul, Kyiv and Western capitals.

Ahead of the vote, presidential official Andrei Rudenko addressed the house, saying Moscow's relations with Pyongyang have reached new heights.

Rudenko praised North Korea for being the "only country in the world to publicly support" Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and 2022 annexation of eastern Ukraine following Moscow's full-scale offensive.

"I believe this treaty is very timely," he told the house.

The vote came as Donald Trump claimed a victory in the US presidential election.

- 'Mutual assistance' -

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed the strategic partnership treaty in June, during the Kremlin chief's visit to Pyongyang.

They said it would obligate "mutual assistance in case of aggression", with Putin calling it at the time a "breakthrough document".

It also commits them to cooperate internationally to oppose Western sanctions and coordinate positions at the United Nations.

Putin visited Pyongyang this summer in his first trip to North Korea in 24 years.

Kim has called Putin his "closest comrade" while Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said last week that North Korea would "stand firmly by our Russian comrades until victory day".

She called Moscow's offensive against Ukraine a "sacred struggle" and said Pyongyang believed in Putin's "wise leadership".

- 'Frontline' -

The treaty will now go back to Putin's desk for a final signature.

The ratification comes as North Korea faces growing international pressure not to send its troops into combat alongside Russia.

South Korea warned Tuesday that a substantial deployment was already near the combat zone, including in Russia's western Kursk region, where Kyiv has been mounting a cross-border offensive since the summer.

"More than 10,000 North Korean soldiers are currently in Russia, and we assess that a significant portion of them are deployed to frontline areas, including Kursk," Jeon Ha-gyu, a spokesman for the South Korean Defence Ministry, said Tuesday.

Asked directly about the reports last month, Putin did not deny that North Korean troops had been sent to Russia.

And several other Russian officials have deflected requests to comment on Western intelligence.

"The Kyiv regime is trying to do everything to involve Seoul" in the conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday, refusing to comment on the substance of the allegations.

- Missile tests -

In exchange for sending troops, the West fears Russia is offering North Korea technological support that could advance Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.

The reclusive state fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles early Tuesday, Seoul's military said, its second launch in days.

But sending North Korean troops to fight against Ukraine would be a major escalation in the conflict, more than two and a half years after Moscow launched its full-scale offensive.

Russia has seized the momentum on the battlefield this year as it grinds through the eastern Donbas region, capturing a string of towns and villages as Ukraine struggles with manpower and ammunition shortages.

bur/db
With the return to the White House of Donald Trump, the United States and the world are set for a major new shakeup as the nationalist president turns the page on four years of nurturing allies and confronting foes

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Nov, 2024) With the return to the White House of Donald Trump, the United States and the world are set for a major new shakeup as the nationalist president turns the page on four years of nurturing allies and confronting foes.

Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris will likely have the most immediate reverberations in Ukraine, where the Republican has mused about quickly ending the war by forcing concessions by Kyiv to the Russian invaders.

Trump is expected also to offer robust support to Israel, as he did during his first term from 2017 to 2021, and unleash major new pressure on Iran's clerical state.

After Trump's first term, outgoing President Joe Biden put a priority on restoring historic US relationships, which again could see tumult as Trump accuses allies of freeloading off the US military and renews questions about NATO, a bedrock of US foreign policy since the Cold War.

On the campaign trail, Trump has raged against China, with both he and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance casting the Asian power as an enemy.

Trump, however, has also insisted that he has a strong relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping -- a sort of emphasis on personal diplomacy not entirely different than Biden.

Trump's personal style could see more fireworks in Latin America, where key US partners Brazil and Colombia and now Mexico are led by leftists.

One of Trump's key campaign promises -- the mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants -- could threaten havoc in the region if carried out, although Trump managed a stable, transactional relationship with Mexico's leader in his first term.

Trump is not known to have an interest in Africa and is unlikely to push for renewal next year of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a key trade pact and priority for the continent, although Republican lawmakers support reauthorization.

- Unrestrained 'Trump 2.0' -

Trump has broken sharply with the post-World War II consensus of the two major parties on building military and diplomatic alliances around the world, pursuing an "America First" platform of promoting US primacy above all, especially on trade.

Brian Finucane, a former State Department official now at the International Crisis Group, said Trump could be emboldened compared with his last term.

"A Trump 2.0 would be very different. He would not have any of those figures who did in fact restrain Trump at some point and in some fashion including at the Pentagon," Finucane said.

Trump has already raised fears in Taiwan by publicly questioning whether to defend the self-governing democracy, which Beijing claims and has not ruled out seizing by force.

Biden, by contrast, went further than previous US presidents by explicitly saying he would send US troops to defend Taiwan.

In the Middle East, Trump has reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to enjoy free rein in the war in Gaza for the two months until Trump takes office. In his first term, Trump fulfilled a wish-list for Israel including moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Further pleasing Netanyahu, Trump has vowed maximum pressure on Israel's adversary Iran, with some of his aides in the previous term stopping just short of calling for the overthrow of the clerical state.

Trump is expected to encourage more Arab states to recognize Israel, after spearheading a landmark 2020 accord in which the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain normalized with Israel.

The Biden administration has raced to coax Saudi Arabia to normalize with Israel. But Arab states may feel more comfortable making deals with Trump, who has brushed aside concerns about human rights.

While most Western allies will shudder to deal again with Trump, his victory is welcome news for conservatives such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and autocratic leaders fond of Trump's transactional approach, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump, with his knack for made-for-television pageantry, would be expected to seek a summit quickly with Putin.

But Leon Aron, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, cautioned that Trump still had institutional constraints, with Putin unlikely to budge on Ukraine and Trump potentially facing opposition by Congress and his advisers to any deal seen as a US defeat.

"I think that his initial step would be some sort of very dramatic personal diplomacy - 'Vladimir, let's talk. We could resolve this,'" Aron said. "How far would that go? It's hard to predict."

lb-sct/adp
(@Abdulla99267510)

In the US presidential election, Donald Trump has so far secured 277 out of 538 electoral votes while Kamala Harris has received 226

WASHINGTON: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Nov 6th, 2024) Trump won the electoral battle as per the polling results from all 50 states for the U.S. presidential election on Wednesday.

In the U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump has so far secured 277 out of 538 electoral votes, while Kamala Harris has received 226.

As per the current results, Republicans have won 188 seats in the House of Representatives, while Democrats have secured 160 seats. In 27 out of 50 states, Donald Trump has emerged victorious, while Kamala Harris has won in 19 states.

In the Senate, Republicans have gained a majority with 51 seats, while Democrats have won 43 seats in the upper house.

According to the current results, Republican candidate Donald Trump leads with 248 electoral votes while his opponent Kamala Harris trails with 216 votes.

The reports said that Trump has secured key states like North Carolina and Georgia, which is considered a significant development in his favor. Analysts believe that North Carolinas results could impact the overall outcome.

On the other hand, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has won Virginia, a state that Democratic candidate Joe Biden won in 2020.

According to a Reuters report, Trump holds a lead in Indiana and Kentucky, although counting is still ongoing. In Kentucky, 21% of the votes have been counted, with Kamala Harris leading with 209,745 votes (54.1%), while Donald Trump has 172,720 votes (44.4%).

The BBC reports that 60% of the votes in Indiana have been counted, with Kamala Harris leading at 49.7% and Trump close behind at 48.6%. Trump previously defeated Joe Biden in Indiana in 2020 by a 7% margin and Hillary Clinton in 2016 by a 19% margin.

In Georgia, with 3% of votes counted, Trump currently leads with 91,381 votes (51%) compared to Kamala Harriss 87,032 votes (48.5%).

According to the Associated Press, the current results show former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump with 248 electoral votes, while Democratic candidate Kamala Harris trails with 216 electoral votes.

In Senate races, Republicans are also leading with 51 seats compared to the Democrats 43 seats. In the House of Representatives elections, Republicans hold a clear lead with 179 seats, while Democrats have 152 seats.

For the governor races, the Republicans have a lead in 25 states while Democrats lead in 22 states.

In a small town in New Hampshire, the voting process traditionally begins late at night, with the result being the first to be announced.

In the small town of Dixville Notch, there are only six voters, with three votes going to Kamala Harris and three to Donald Trump.

In the 2020 election, all five votes went to Joe Biden, but with six voters this time, Trump tied the result at three votes each.

Voting started at local times across the US, although more than 70 million voters had already cast their ballots through early polling and mail-in voting.

This result from Dixville Notch has set the tone for the country, indicating a tight race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris nationwide.

To become the U.S. President, a candidate must secure at least 270 out of the 538 electoral votes.
WUHAN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has urged accelerating rural revitalization to advance Chinese modernization.

Xi made the remarks on Tuesday during an inspection trip in Xianning City, central China's Hubei Province, where he visited a vegetable farm and a village. 
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
Boulenophrys lichun is pictured in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian province, Feb. 2, 2024.(Xinhua)

GUANGZHOU, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A biodiversity research team from Guangdong Polytechnic of Environmental Protection Engineering has identified a new amphibian species, Boulenophrys lichun, in the city of Ningde, east China's Fujian province. The discovery has been recently published in the international zoological journal ZooKeys.

The new species is a member of the Boulenophrys genus. It has a yellow-brown body, a small horn-like protrusion on its upper eyelid, and a distinct "X" shape on its back. Unlike many amphibians, the Boulenophrys lichun lacks webbing between its toes.

Lin Shishi, the research team leader, explained that the species' name is inspired by "Lichun", meaning the "Beginning of Spring", which is the first of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms. The Boulenophrys lichun's breeding season begins each February, with its calls signaling the arrival of spring and the start of the agricultural season.

To enhance research and conservation efforts, the team reviewed six Boulenophrys species found in Fujian, creating a distribution map and identification guide for the genus in the province.

According to Lin, the new species is primarily active in the hilly regions of eastern Fujian. With the continuation of ecological surveys in south China's coastal mountain ecosystems, biodiversity conservation is moving more toward specialized and detailed phases. 
In a vibrant Nairobi community center, American citizens living in Kenya gathered with palpable excitement early Wednesday to watch the U.S. election results unfold. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as expatriates shared snacks and stories, their eyes glued to screens displaying real-time updates.

As the results of the U.S elections trickled in, a mix of American citizens and local Kenyan friends anxiously monitored the results.

Robyn Emerson, an American expatriate in Nairobi and chairperson of Democrats Abroad Kenya, which organized the event, said all American citizens were invited to the event, regardless of the party they support.

American voters have come to a central place so that we can be together and watch the election come in so that we can really celebrate the right to vote, Emerson said. That we have done our part; we participated in a democratic process. And watching how the different states are coming in, and the results that are there.

Bentley Wilson, an independent voter from the western state of Utah, agreed.

Its important for us to see each other as one country. And no matter whether we go for a certain party, its important for us to come together because it's our countrys significance thats at stake, Wilson said. So, we better come together. I like coming together no matter whether Im leaning one side or another, to come together with citizens of my country to support the cause of  choosing an elected official.

The Democrats Abroad Kenyan chapter estimates that approximately 30,000 American expatriates reside in the country.

Tom Wolf, an American researcher based in Nairobi, said most expatriates are keen to engage in the election process back home.

They are well educated people  or they wouldnt be allowed to stay in Kenya, they wouldnt have jobs here, Wolf said. Whether they are diplomats or businesspeople, or with NGOs. So, they tend to be of higher education levels than the averages in their home countries. And we all know from studies of voting that people with higher education levels are more likely to vote.

Lisa Maroni, a native of Detroit, said the event provided her with a special opportunity to interact with fellow citizens.

Im so grateful for the community in Kenya. I think its really special. Ive lived in other countries and never had such an opportunity to spend time with other Americans and friends, she said. There are some allies from other countries here who are interested in whats happening in the country, and Im just very grateful to have somewhere to share that experience.

Given that the event was organized by Democratic Party supporters, the early morning excitement began to dissipate as it became clear that their candidate, Kamala Harris, was losing to the Republican, former president Donald Trump.

Wilson, a Harris supporter, was among the disappointed people.

"I was really hopeful that we would vote the first U.S. woman and woman of color president this year, Wilson said.

Disappointed in the results, most of the participants started leaving the event and it ended earlier than scheduled.
Donald Trumps victory over Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris dominated the news cycle across Africa on Wednesday, with coverage reflecting the anxiety being felt by some on the continent.

In South Africa, the newspaper Business Day ran an opinion column headlined Trumps comeback heralds harder U.S. approach to Africa, while another local newspaper, The Sunday Times, was running a poll for readers asking: Are you worried about Donald Trump being elected U.S. president?

A cartoon by renowned South African political cartoonist Zapiro in the Daily Maverick newspaper depicted a frightened looking globe watching TV as U.S. election results came in.

The markets were also affected, with South Africas currency, the rand, dropping almost 3% on the news in the early hours of trading.

Trump inspires mixed views on the continent, having riled some by calling African countries a derogatory name in his first term, and being viewed positively by others as a kind of strongman leader.

Steven Gruzd, a political analyst with the South African Institute of International Affairs, told VOA that Trump did not pay much attention to Africa in his first term and he doesn't expect that to change.

Africa is not going to be a priority for the second Trump administration by any measure, and I dont think we should expect too much, he said. I think were also going to see a world that has a very different USA in operation, and African countries will have to decide how they deal with that.

Asanda Ngoasheng, an independent analyst in Cape Town, said she believes a Trump presidency will affect Africa in terms of trade, with South Africa possibly seeing its exports to the U.S. reduced.

Ngoasheng said public health funding for Africa could also be affected under the incoming Republican administration, particularly for reproductive health. Likewise, any reduction in U.S. contributions to the United Nations could have negative effects on the continent, she said.

Donald Trump has been very clear that his administration will be an America-first administration.  This is going to have implications for Africa, Ngoasheng said.

As is diplomatic custom, leaders around the world congratulated the U.S. election winner.

Kenyan President William Ruto, who recently paid a state visit to the U.S. at President Joe Bidens invitation, praised what he called Trumps visionary, bold and innovative leadership."

Nigerian leader Bola Tinubu said he hoped Trumps presidency would usher in an era of beneficial and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the U.S.

And South Africas Cyril Ramaphosa said he looked forward to continuing a mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries.

The statements come as African governments are hoping the U.S. will renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, next year. The preferential trade policy gives some countries duty-free access to the U.S. market.

However, the president of the Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, had other concerns about what a second Trump presidency could mean for his Indian Ocean island nation, which is under particular threat from climate change and rising sea levels.

We are going through a climate crisis, so will the U.S. once again pull out of the Paris Agreement? ... What will be the pronouncement of President Trump? Ramkalawan asked.

Ramkalawan, speaking at a press event in Johannesburg, was referring to the fact that in his first term Trump withdrew the U.S. from a major international agreement to limit global warming. The U.S. rejoined the pact under President Biden.
Arab leaders quickly congratulated Donald Trump on his U.S. presidential election victory. Some are hopeful he could bring an end to conflicts raging in the Middle East while others are looking for a stronger stance against Iran.

Saudi Arabias King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, United Arab Emirates leaders, and Qatars emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, all congratulated Donald Trump on his win, saying strengthening strategic partnerships is important.

Dania Koleilat Khatib, president of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building in Beirut, told VOA that during the election, Trump emphasized personal ties with such leaders compared to what she called Bidens more transactional approach.

Khatib said Arab leaders want Trump to end war in Gaza and Lebanon.

One of his main campaign promises was to end the war in Gaza. But end it how? Would it end with a Palestinian state? We dont know, she said. The thing that is worrying is [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu attacking Iran. This will be major. Handling Iran will not be easy for Trump.

Bin Salman has reiterated that his country would not consider improving ties with Israel unless the Gaza war ended and a Palestinian state is established.

Wealthy Gulf states have bolstered ties with Iran and given the Islamic Republic assurances that they won't allow Israel to use their airspace to facilitate attacks on Iran.

In its response to the elections, Iran played down the results, saying it was ready for confrontation with Israel.

Jordans King Abdullah, Egypts Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Najib Makati, who are involved in trying to negotiate an end to the raging conflicts, also congratulated Trump.

Analyst Osama Al Sharif in Amman said he believes Trump will pressure Netanyahu to end the conflicts before the presidential inauguration next year.

He will boldly tell Netanyahu ... to wrap things up before the 20th of January because those two wars, especially Gaza, have become so toxic and they have become part of the [President Joe] Biden stigma, which was also eventually inflicted on [Vice President Kamala] Harris, he said.

Trump doesnt need to start his first day at the office with more news of children getting killed and hospitals being blown up.

Al Sharif told VOA that Iran will be a big challenge for Trump, who he says is an isolationist who wants to extract America from any conflict. He predicted Trump may tighten sanctions on Iran.

More sanctions, he said. He may be able to communicate with Tehran through [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, who is now a very close ally of the Iranians. That remains to be seen.

Al Sharif, however, expressed concern that Trump might recognize Israels annexation of most of the West Bank under Israels current hard right government, which he said would complicate things dramatically for the Palestinians and Jordan.
Editor's note: This article has been corrected to reflect the name of Bangladeshs leader and the reason for student demonstrations and updated to include a response from the Bangladesh Embassy sent after publication.

The Bangladesh government has revoked the press credentials of dozens of journalists in a move that critics call an "alarming" form of censorship.

The interim Information Ministry in the past week scrapped the accreditation of over 50 journalists.

Over 20 senior journalists had their credentials revoked on October 30, and another 30 suffered the same fate on Sunday, local media reported.

Some of those affected include Zafar Wazed, former director-general of the Press Institute of Bangladesh; former press minister Shaban Mahmud; and journalists at outlets including ATN News, Ekattor TV, and The Dhaka Times, according to the Dhaka Tribune.

Some media watchdogs said journalists who were supportive of the ousted Awami League political party appear to have been mainly affected.

The Awami League government fell in August after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country after 15 years of power. Since then, an interim government has been formed under Nobel-laureate Muhammad Yunus to prepare the country for new elections.

In response to a query for comment, the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, after publication, directed VOA to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The ministry did not immediately respond to VOA's email sent Wednesday.

The revoking of press credentials should be protested because of its "chilling" effect on other journalists in the country and around the world, Celia Mercier of Reporters Without Borders, known as RSF, told VOA in an email.

"Such decisions threaten the growth of opposition media," she said. "This will encourage self-censorship, and critical space in media will shrink."

Media watchdog the Committee to Protect Journalists also condemned the action, saying on social media, "The interim authorities must safeguard press freedom during this critical period of the country's political transition."

Hasinas fall was prompted by student-led mass protests over proposed changes in government job quota policy and a deadly response by security forces. During the unrest, five journalists were killed, and others were beaten and fired at.

Reporters at the time told VOA they were being threatened for their coverage.

The country currently ranks 165 out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index, where 1 shows the best environment. RSF, which compiles the index, described the country as a "hostile" environment for journalists, where editors often avoid challenging the government.

During the last months of Hasinas rule, draconian laws for journalists emerged in the country, according to RSF.

Her government introduced the Cyber Security Act in January, which allows authorities to imprison journalists for up to 14 years for publishing content that goes against the prime minister and the party in power.
VOA is projecting that former U.S. President Donald Trump has defeated current Vice President Kamala Harris following key victories in several key states. VOAs Senior Washington Correspondent Carolyn Presutti was at the election night celebration in Florida where Trump celebrated his win before most news networks had decided the race. Camera: Henry Hernandez
It's Election Day in the U.S. This year, voters around the country will choose whom they want to send to the White House for the next four years. Also to be decided are 34 Senate seats, all 435 House of Representatives seats, 13 governorships and a plethora of local elected positions.

This blog will be updated throughout the night.

Former President Donald Trump is speaking now in Florida.

Battleground state counting continues

Its just after midnight Eastern time, and ballots are still being counted in several states, including the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Vice President Kamala Harris now has 209 electoral votes, having won Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon and Virginia. Trump now has 230, having won Idaho and North Carolina.

As for the Senate, Democrat Adam Schiff won his race in California, and Republican Bernie Moreno won his race in Ohio to flip the seat from the Democrats.

In Missouri, voters approved a ballot amendment that enshrines the right to abortion in the state constitution. Missouri was the first state to adopt an abortion ban following the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

And in Florida, a marijuana amendment failed to meet the 60% supermajority required to approve constitutional amendments. The amendment would have allowed recreational sales of marijuana to people older than 21 from existing medical marijuana dispensaries.

This is the last post of this blog.

Trump maintains lead

Vice President Kamala Harris has 179 electoral votes, and former President Donald Trump has 214.

Harris picked up California, Washington state, Washington, D.C., and an electoral vote from Maine. Trump, meanwhile, won Idaho, Iowa and Kansas.

Most polls are now closed in the country. They closed at 11 p.m. Eastern time in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and are set to close at midnight Eastern time in Hawaii and 1 a.m. Eastern time in Alaska.

Votes are still being counted in the key battleground states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona. As predicted, the election will be close, according to Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

"It's going to come down to a handful of states," she told VOA.

In the race for the U.S. Senate, Maryland and Delaware made history Tuesday night by electing Democrats Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester, respectively, to the Senate. This will mark the first time two Black women, both Democrats, will serve in the Senate at the same time.

"From the bottom of my heart, Delaware, thank you," Rochester said in a post on the social media platform X.

Elsewhere in the Senate race, Virginia's Tim Kaine and New Mexico's Martin Heinrich, both Democrats, won re-election.

For the Republicans, Ted Cruz from Texas and Josh Hawley from Missouri both won re-election. Republican John Curtis also won his Senate race in Utah.

Abortion was on the ballot in 10 states this election cycle.

New York residents voted in favor of a measure designed to safeguard protections for abortion. But in Florida, residents rejected an effort to overturn the state's six-week abortion ban.

"It's a hot button issue in much of the country, and that's, I think, what we're going to see play out in a lot of states," Kamarck told VOA about abortion.

Trump leading at 10 PM hour

As of 10 pm EST, former President Donald Trump has 198 electoral votes, and Vice President Kamala Harris has 109.

Trump added to his lead with wins in Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

Trump also won the statewide popular vote in Nebraska, giving him two electoral college votes. Trump has also won one congressional district electoral vote in Nebraska, out of three up for grabs. Nebraska is one of two states that apportions its electoral votes partially based on victories in congressional districts.

Harris added New York and Colorado to her list of wins. The Empire State gives her 28 electoral votes. Colorado gives her 10.

Plenty of states are still in play, including battlegrounds Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

As for the battle for control of the Senate, New York Democrat Kristen Gillibrand and Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar both won re-election. Delaware Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester also won her Senate race.

And Democrat Andy Kim won his Senate race in New Jersey to become the first Korean American member of the Senate. He has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019.

In Maryland, Angela Alsobrooks, a Democrat, won her Senate race against Republican Larry Hogan, a former state governor.

Meanwhile, Republicans Pete Ricketts from Nebraska, John Barrasso from Wyoming, and Kevin Cramer from North Dakota, all won re-election.

Bomb threats continue

Security threats continued into the night on Election Day, with new bomb threats reported in Arizona and Pennsylvania.

The elections office in La Paz County, Arizona, was evacuated Tuesday evening after two local officials received an emailed bomb threat. No one was harmed.

Earlier on Tuesday, several polling places in Navajo County also received bomb threats by email, but Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said that state officials determined that they were not credible.

Those threats in Arizona were part of an array of hoax bomb threats that also targeted polling stations in Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. Many of the threats appeared to originate from Russian email domains, according to the FBI.

Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, a bomb threat prompted the evacuation of a voting services government building, an election official said Tuesday evening.

"There was a bomb threat to the Government Services Center in West Chester, PA," Josh Maxwell, chair of the Chester County Board of Elections, said in a post on the social media platform X.

"Voter Services is located there, and in-person ballots are delivered after 8 pm. Mail-in ballots are canvassed and tabulated at a different location," Maxwell added.

The building was being searched by dogs and would be back in service shortly if nothing was found, Maxwell said in a later post.

Harris, Trump continue to win expected states

With polls in half of the country closed, Vice President Kamala Harris has won eight states, and former President Donald Trump has won 10. So far, Harris' and Trump's state wins have followed predictions.

In addition to Harris' earlier Vermont win, she has also won Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. She now has 71 electoral votes.

Trump, meanwhile, has added Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia to his list of wins, following his victories in Indiana and Kentucky. The Republican candidate now has 101 electoral votes.

At least 270 electoral votes are needed to win the presidency.

Various Senate races are also being called.

Longtime Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent, won reelection to a fourth six-year term. The 83-year-old is a self-described democratic socialist who caucuses with the Democrats.

Also in New England, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy won reelection in Connecticut; Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren won reelection in Massachusetts' and Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse won reelection in Rhode Island.

Meanwhile, in West Virginia, Republican Jim Justice won his Senate race, as predicted, flipping the first seat in the battle for control of the chamber. Justice has served as governor of West Virginia since 2017.

In Indiana, Republican Jim Banks has won Indiana's open Senate seat. Senator Mike Braun left the Senate after one term to run for governor, which he won. Banks, a military veteran, has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2017.

Adding to the Republican Party's wins are Senator Rick Scott, who won reelection in Florida; Roger Wicker, who won reelection in Mississippi; and Marsha Blackburn, who won reelection in Tennessee.

These wins are taking place against the backdrop of more warnings from the FBI about influence operations designed to promote election falsehoods. The FBI has warned of three new fake videos and posts using the bureau's name and insignia to promote false information about the election.

One video involved a purported statement warning journalists not to publish information about violence at polling stations. Another falsely claimed schools were closed until November 11 because of the risk of election-related violence. The third falsely claimed the FBI had received 9,000 complaints about malfunctioning voter machines.

"These three instances are the latest in a series of fabricated videos and statements falsely attributed to the FBI designed to mislead the American public," the FBI said in a statement.

Trump wins Indiana, Kentucky, Harris wins Vermont

Former President Donald Trump has won Indiana and Kentucky, while Vice President Harris has won Vermont.

The results do not come as a big surprise.

The Republican candidate has carried Indiana in seven of the last eight presidential elections and Kentucky in six of the eight last elections.

Vermont, meanwhile, has gone to the Democratic candidate in each of the last eight elections.

Indiana carries 11 electoral votes, and Kentucky is worth eight. That means Trump currently has 19. Harris, meanwhile, has three electoral votes from her Vermont win.

At least 270 electoral votes are needed to win the presidency.

Abortion is on the ballot

This presidential election is the first since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago. That decision, made possible by three justices appointed by former President Donald Trump, laid the groundwork for states to impose restrictive rules on abortion around the country.

Defending a woman's right to choose has been central to Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, saying she would sign a bill restoring the protections of Roe nationwide. Trump has said it should be decided state by state.

An October KFF poll found that abortion had become the biggest issue in the election for women younger than 30. And a September poll from Quinnipiac University showed women favoring Harris 53% to 41% for Trump.

In addition to deciding who they want to be the next U.S. president, voters in 10 states will vote on whether to add abortion rights protections to state constitutions. Those amendments are on ballots in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York and South Dakota.

In some states, including Arizona and Florida, voters will decide whether to overturn restrictive bans that state legislatures passed after Roe v. Wade was overturned. In other states, voters are deciding on whether to enhance existing abortion protections.

Strong voter turnout

Voter turnout appears to be strong in the United States this Election Day, especially in the swing states expected to ultimately decide the election.

Election officials in Georgia, a key battleground state, estimated that total state turnout this year would surpass that of the 2020 presidential election. More than 4 million Georgia residents voted early, either in person or by mail. That's a turnout of 55.4%, according to the secretary of state's office.

And in Michigan, another major swing state, "turnout is off the charts," said Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's secretary of state, in a post on the social media platform X. At least 3.3 million people in Michigan voted early, putting the state on track to match or beat its highest election turnout on record in 2020 when 5.5 million people voted.

Meanwhile, the battleground state of North Carolina is on track to either meet or surpass its voter turnout record set in 2020, according to the State Board of Elections and the New York Times.

More than 5.4 million people voted in North Carolina in 2020. But this year, more than 4.4 million people voted early.

By 3 p.m. Eastern time in Pennsylvania's usually red Lancaster County, elections workers had finished opening and scanning more than 50% of the estimated 64,000 returned mail-in ballots, county officials said during a news conference.

"This could be record turnout," said Commissioner Josh Parsons. He noted long lines at polling stations, especially in suburban and rural parts of the country.

Trump won Lancaster County in 2016 and 2020.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro predicted Tuesday that counting the ballots won't take as long as it did in 2020, when counting continued until the Saturday after the election.

First polls close at 6 p.m.

The first polls to close will be in parts of Indiana and Kentucky at 6 p.m. Eastern time. Voting locations in parts of both states that are in the Central time zone will remain open until 7 p.m. Eastern time.

At 8 p.m. Eastern time, all polls will be closed in half of the country's states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

Polls stay open the latest in Alaska, where they will close at 1 a.m. Eastern time.

As of Tuesday, tracking from The Associated Press of early voting nationwide showed more than 82 million ballots were cast before Election Day, which is slightly more than half the total number of votes in the presidential election four years ago.

Still, results in many of those states will take hours, if not days, to be announced.

The presidential election is expected to come down to results in a few battleground states.

Hoax bomb threats were directed at polling locations in three of those swing states  Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin, the FBI said on Tuesday. Many of the threats appeared to originate from Russian email domains, according to the FBI.

"None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," the FBI said in a statement, adding that election integrity was among the bureau's highest priorities.

At least two polling sites targeted by the hoax bomb threats in Georgia were briefly evacuated on Tuesday.

Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger blamed Russian interference.

"They're up to mischief, it seems. They don't want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election, and if they can get us to fight among ourselves, they can count that as a victory," Raffensperger told reporters.
France is looking at a second Trump presidency with a mix of trepidation, stoicism and  in some cases joy. Even as President Emmanuel Macron rushed to congratulate Donald Trump for his win, French businesses worry about threatened tariffs and critics fear a similar tilt to the right could usher France's far-right National Rally party to power. Lisa Bryant reports on the fallout from Paris.
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- About ten rockets were launched Wednesday by Hezbollah in Lebanon on central and northern Israel, with one rocket striking Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israeli officials said.

Residents reported hearing explosions in the Tel Aviv area.

Sirens warning of rocket attacks sounded in roughly 150 cities and communities across central Israel, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and northern Israel, including in Tel Aviv, Israel's financial hub.

Israeli police confirmed that a rocket hit Ben Gurion Airport. A photo circulating on social media showed damage to an empty parking lot at the airport area. In Ra'anana, a suburb of Tel Aviv, another rocket struck an empty car in a parking lot.

Hezbollah said in a statement that the attack targeted the Tserfin base near the airport.

"In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and support of their brave and honorable resistance, and defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted ... the Tserfin base which contains military training colleges near Ben Gurion Airport, south of Tel Aviv, with a salvo of qualitative missiles," said the statement.

Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said there were no immediate reports of injuries. 
A century of straw polls at the iconic Harrys Bar in Paris have accurately called almost every U.S. election. This November was no different. The tallies displayed on the bars window on a chilly Wednesday morning were another reminder of Donald Trumps decisive victory  with uncertain consequences for France and Europe.

Even as some French celebrate the former presidents comeback to the White House, others fear its repercussions and wonder whether their country will follow the same rightward tilt in its own 2027 presidential elections.

I guess were disappointed but unfortunately not surprised, said freelance producer and Paris resident Charlotte Danglegan. The fascist powers are taking more and more importance, and its the same case in France.

Not everyone sees it that way. On social media platform X, right-wing French politician Eric Ciotti saluted Trumps victory as a magnificent victory against a system, a hope for peace and a defeat for wokists.

David Gil, a member of the far-right National Rally Party is also pleased.

For us, its good news, he said. But its a bit early to see what it means for France.

French President Emmanuel Macron was an early bird in congratulating Trump  sending his wishes to work for more peace and prosperity, before the Republicans win was officially confirmed.

But Macron followed that message with another on X, declaring he and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wanted to work for a Europe more united, stronger, more sovereign in this new context.

French government officials echoed similar themes, reflecting Macrons longstanding push for beefing up Europes military and other defenses.

We need to find ways to work on our common interests, but fundamentally, the answer lies with us, European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad told France Inter radio.

Europeans, he said, cant accept that their security will be decided without them, that tomorrow a capitulation will be imposed on Ukrainians without them, without the Europeans.

Cooling relations

Macron struck up initially cordial relations with Trump during his first term in office, marked by the U.S. presidents visit to Paris in 2017 during Bastille Day celebrations. But ties cooled over differences on trade, climate change and Iran. Now, there are other areas of disagreement, including the future of Ukraine and support for NATO.

Its really time for us to wake up and do something, said Jean-Yves Camus, an analyst at the Jean Jaures Foundation in Paris. Because if we do not have the military capacity to weigh in on Ukraine and the Middle East, then we are dependent on what Washington will do.

For their part, French businesses are worried about the potential impact of Trumps promised tariffs on imports, which could affect industries such as beverages and aeronautics. Still, observers say, France is less exposed to a potential trade war than other countries, including neighboring Germany.

Walking near Harrys Bar, phone salesman Cameron Orilia said he had not been closely following the U.S. presidential campaign.

I hope things will work out for business during Trumps term, he said, that customs will work out. Im just looking at the economic side of the politics.

Wake-up call?

But other Paris residents are worried about the political side.

I feel a bit scared, said Lucy Bone, a Briton who has lived in Paris for 25 years. Im thinking [about] what happened to all our democracies? We are now going to be in a world thats driven by dictators.

As with Americans, the French are worried about high prices and immigration  themes that catapulted Trump to victory. The hard-right National Rally emerged on top of both of Frances European and parliamentary elections this year. Today it holds the most seats of any party in the lower house  although not the majority.

Some believe Trumps election may set a precedent for National Rally leader Marine Le Pen to do the same in 2027. Still, Le Pen has been cautious in reacting to another four years under Trump, who remains highly controversial in France.

The only thing I think about is Frances interest and Europes interest, she told reporters Wednesday. Under a Trump presidency that defends U.S. interests, Europe has got to wake up and do the same.

Le Pen has been very, very strong in saying that National Rally members of parliament should not support President Trump, should not take sides in this election, Camus said, for fear that the bad image of President Trump would damage her own chance of becoming president.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday conceded her presidential election defeat, calling former President Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory and telling her supporters that it was no time to end the fight for a progressive vision for the country.

"It's OK to feel sad and disappointed," she told a crowd at Howard University in Washington, her alma mater. "While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign."

The Democratic candidate said the battle would continue "in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square."

"Sometimes the fight takes a while," she said. "That doesn't mean we won't win."

Trump won Tuesday's election to become the country's 47th president as he captured at least five of the seven pivotal battleground states and was leading in the other two as vote counting continued. Trump and his vice presidential running mate, first-term Ohio Senator JD Vance, will take office on January 20 for a four-year term.

In a tightly contested race, Trump, a Republican, secured at least 295 of the possible 538 electoral votes, easily giving him the necessary majority to become only the second U.S. leader to win nonconsecutive terms, after Grover Cleveland in the 1890s.

Trump's campaign said that in his call with Harris, he acknowledged her "strength, professionalism and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country."

President Joe Biden also called the president-elect to offer his congratulations. The White House said Biden invited Trump to visit the White House soon and "expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together."

Biden plans to discuss the election in a Thursday speech, the White House said.

Trump, at 78 the oldest elected U.S. presidential candidate, claimed victory early Wednesday as he thanked his supporters at a rally in Florida.

"This was a movement like nobody's ever seen before, and, frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time," Trump said.

Trump, who vowed in his campaign to deport millions of undocumented migrants living in the U.S. back to their homelands, pledged to "fix our borders" with Mexico and "fix everything in our country."

Trump also said he would work to deliver a "strong, safe and prosperous America."

Harris, 60, who joined the race late after Biden dropped out in July, was trying to become the first woman elected to the U.S. presidency and the second Black president after Barack Obama.

Trump is the billionaire head of his familys New York real estate conglomerate who first emerged on the U.S. political scene in 2015. In winning the presidency again, he overcame an array of obstacles, including scathing condemnations from some of his closest advisers who served him during his 2017-21 term as president.

Some contended that if elected again, Trump would govern as an authoritarian and that he met the definition of a fascist.

He faced two assassination attempts in recent months, with one shot grazing his right ear at a campaign rally.

Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts linked to his hush money payment to a porn film star just ahead of his successful 2016 run for the presidency and faces sentencing on November 26.

He was impeached twice by the House of Representatives stemming from actions during his presidency, including for fomenting a riot at the U.S. Capitol seeking to block his 2020 election loss to Biden, although both times the Senate acquitted him, once after he left office in 2021.

Inroads with voting groups

On Tuesday, exit polls of voters showed that he rode a wave of voter dissatisfaction with the direction of the country under Biden and Harris.

Harris pledged to push for a new way forward in the country, characterizing Trump as an unserious man and a threat to the countrys democratic norms.

But when first asked the question of what she would have done differently than Biden over his White House tenure, she said, There is not a thing that comes to mind.

Trump linked Harris to rising consumer prices over the last four years and the influx of thousands of undocumented migrants across the southwestern U.S. border with Mexico. Trump accused the immigrants of causing a crime surge in the U.S. despite evidence that violent crime had declined.

Exit polls of voters on Tuesday showed he won a new term in office by winning a majority of votes from men and white voters without college degrees, while cutting into two usual Democratic constituencies, Latinos and young voters.

Trump could win the national popular vote, the first time a Republican has achieved that since 2004, although that will depend on Harris final margin in the Democratic stronghold of California, the countrys most populous state.

Trump and Vance will enter office with a new Republican majority in the Senate. Political control in the House of Representatives was uncertain on Wednesday.

Criminal charges

Trump still faces federal criminal charges stemming from his attempt to upend his 2020 election loss and his hoarding of classified national security documents at his oceanside Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after he left office.

But during the campaign, he vowed to fire the prosecutor in both cases, special counsel Jack Smith, within two seconds when he takes office and said he would consider pardoning many of the protesters who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as Congress met to certify Trump had lost the 2020 election.

Trump pledged during his campaign, without offering specific plans, that if elected, even before he takes office, he would end Russias 33-month war on Ukraine. Israeli media accounts say that Trump has pressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end Israel's 13-month war against Hamas militants in Gaza before he takes office.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Netanyahu and Hamas leaders have not given any indication that an end to the fighting in the two conflicts is near.

Another key foreign policy focus in a new Trump administration will be relations between the United States and China, including conflicts over trade, Taiwan and Chinas actions in the South China Sea.

Trump instituted a series of tariffs against Chinese imports amid a trade war with China during his previous administration.

Kim Lewis contributed to this report.
Foreign adversaries used increasingly sophisticated meddling operations to target the November 5 U.S. presidential race between Democratic party candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and her Republican party opponent, former President Donald Trump.

Iran has sought to influence and interfere with the results of the poll by promoting disinformation narratives favorable to its own foreign policy goals.

The societal division in the U.S. and predictions of "post-election unrest," as well as depictions of the United States support for Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war as Americans historic "support for genocide," dominated the Iranian state-controlled media coverage of the U.S. elections.

An Iran-operated network of social media accounts and fake news sites targeted U.S. voters on opposite ends of the political spectrum with polarizing messaging.

In the days before the election, Press TV, a state-owned English language outlet, has run analyses and news items depicting the United States as a "defunct" nation, which the presidential elections only amplified.

"As America heads to the polls, the only certainty seems to be that division, disunity, dissatisfaction and maybe even disfunction arent going away anytime soon," Press TV analyst Ramin Mazaheri said in a November 4 report that exemplifies the overall coverage.

Iran has long accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Israel says it is Iran who is responsible for the violence in Gaza and Lebanon, citing Tehrans decades-long effort to destroy Israel via proxy forces.

Tehran-based commentator Alireza Akbar wrote for Press TV that in supporting Israel, both Harris and Trump are no exception from their predecessors and that "US presidents have always been on the side of genocide, massacres and holocausts."

Speaking with Press TV in October, U.S. academic and Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Rectenwald likewise said "[b]oth Harris and Trump will continue to support Israel's psychopathic genocidal rampages."

Press TV has repeatedly promoted the narrative that Harris support for Israel could cost her the election among Muslim voters, and repeated claims she is responsible for civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.

In one November 4 report, Press TV correspondent Mazaheri said that "Vice President Kamala Harris participation in the Gaza genocide has shocked voters of all types," adding "polls show Muslim Americans are capable of tipping the balance."

The Israel-Hamas war, and its impact on civilians in the Gaza Strip, is a key issue for Arab and Muslim American voters, particularly in Michigan, a key swing state.

During a rally in Michigan on Sunday, Harris vowed to do "everything in her power" to stop the Israel-Hamas war if elected president.

Sources told The Times of Israel in late October that Trump wanted the war in Gaza to conclude before he returns to office if he wins the election.

Researchers at Microsoft found disinformation narratives similar to those on Press TV being amplified by covert news sites and social media accounts.

Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) reported on October 23, that its researchers discovered an "Iranian operated cyber persona" called "Bushnells Men," named after Aaron Bushnell, who died after setting himself on fire outside Israels embassy in Washington, D.C., in February.

Microsoft reported Bushnells Men attempted to foment anti-Israeli protests in the United States and Europe, and had called on call on Americans to "sit out the elections."

Microsoft also reported that "four websites masquerading as news outlets are actively engaging US voter groups on opposing ends of the political spectrum with polarizing messaging on issues such as the US presidential candidates, LGBTQ rights, and the Israel-Hamas conflict."

One of those websites with a left-leaning bent, called Nio Thinker, published an article criticizing the "democratic partys deafening silence on Palestine," Al Monitor reported.

While Harris features prominently in more recent Press TV reports, U.S. intelligence agencies and the Microsoft researchers earlier documented how Iranian cyber-enabled influence operations have sought to undermine the campaign of Trump in this and previous elections.

That included what the Department of the Treasury in September called Iranian state-sponsored "spear-phishing" and "hack-and-leak operations" intended to "undermine confidence in the United States election processes and institutions and to interfere with political campaigns."

A September New York Times report found that Irans targeting of President Joe Biden and Harris along with Trump may reflect "a wider goal of sowing internal discord and discrediting the democratic system in the United States more broadly in the eyes of the world."

That report cited two Iranian officials who said Tehran was "unconcerned" over who won the presidential race, claiming "Washington's animosity transcends either political party."

In July, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warned that Iran "is seeking to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions," and "opportunistically take advantage of ongoing protests regarding the war in Gaza."
Israeli airstrikes hit multiple towns in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley on Wednesday, killing and injuring dozens, as the new head of Hezbollah warned that his forces will battle Israel until it is forced to appeal for peace.

"We will make the enemy seek to demand an end to the aggression," Naim Kassem said in a prerecorded speech from an undisclosed location.

He said there could be a road to indirect negotiations if Israel stopped its attacks.

"When the enemy decides to stop the aggression, there is a path for negotiations that we have clearly defined  indirect negotiations through the Lebanese state and speaker [of parliament Nabih] Berri," Kassem said.

In the eastern Baalbek-Hermel governorate, Governor Bachir Khodr said on the social media platform X that at least 40 Israeli raids had killed 38 people and wounded 54. He said the work to remove rubble is ongoing at multiple locations.

Hezbollahs stronghold in Beiruts southern suburbs was also targeted with at least four strikes on Wednesday, following Israeli military orders to residents to evacuate the area. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The death toll in Lebanon surpassed 3,000 on Monday, in the 13-month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with the vast majority killed since hostilities dramatically escalated in mid-September and Israeli forces entered south Lebanon on October 1. More than 1 million people have been displaced.

In northern and central Israel, sirens sounded, including in the Tel Aviv area, as Hezbollah launched 10 rockets toward Israel. No casualties were reported.

In Gaza

Meanwhile, in the northern Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces have intensified their incursions targeting Hamas fighters in the past month, the United Nations estimated that 100,000 people recently have been displaced.

Between 75,000 and 95,000 people were estimated to remain in north Gaza. The death toll there over the past month is thought to be in the hundreds, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

On a positive note, a massive polio vaccination campaign wrapped up on Tuesday. Dujarric said in central Gaza there was 103% coverage achieved  meaning more children under age 10 were vaccinated than initially expected. In southern Gaza, 91% of children received the necessary double dose of the oral vaccine, but in northern Gaza, because of a lack of access from the fighting, 88% coverage was reached.

The effort was led by the World Health Organization, the U.N. childrens fund known as UNICEF and the U.N. relief and works agency for Palestine refugees known as UNRWA.

UNRWA under fire

At the United Nations on Wednesday, UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini appealed for international support following the adoption of two new laws in Israel on October 28 that seek to ban the agency. They are set to take effect early next year.

For the past year, UNRWA has been a lifeline for the people of Gaza, Lazzarini told a meeting of the General Assembly. It is the only pillar of their lives left standing.

He said if Israel succeeds in dismantling UNRWA, it will result in the collapse of the U.N. humanitarian response to the Palestinians, which relies heavily on UNRWAs long-established infrastructure.

Without intervention by member states, UNRWA will collapse, plunging millions of Palestinians into chaos, he warned.

Israel officials have criticized UNRWA for years, alleging that Hamas uses its schools for terrorist activities and promotes an anti-Israel curriculum. After the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel, the rhetoric intensified, and in January, Israel alleged that 12 UNRWA staffers were involved in the attacks. The staffers were immediately fired, and an internal investigation was launched.

Israel has since made further public allegations against several UNRWA staffers, but the agency says it has not received any evidence or information to act upon.

Ambassador Danny Danon said Wednesday that it is time to move on from UNRWA.

Ive often spoken about Gazas future without Hamas, the same applies to UNRWA, he told the assembly. Without UNRWA, cooperation could flourish. Without UNRWA, aid workers could be trusted. Without UNRWA, Gazas children might learn peace, not hate.

Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour said, This attack against the U.N. is not only a smear campaign, it has real-life consequences.

He noted the killing of 238 UNRWA staff in Gaza, the detention of several staffers by Israel and strikes on UNRWA facilities, including shelters housing the displaced.

UNRWA was established by a resolution of the U.N. General Assembly in 1949 to assist Palestinian refugees.

I must voice my deep alarm at the decision taken by the Israeli parliament, General Assembly President Philemon Yang said at the meeting. It constitutes an intolerable affront to the authority of this assembly, an affront to international law and, most importantly, an affront to the human dignity of innocent Palestinian civilians.

States expressed concern at the Israeli parliaments move, and many pointed to the governments campaign against UNRWA.

The eviction of a U.N. agency by the decision of one single U.N. member state would set an alarming precedent globally and would constitute a grave violation of the U.N. Charter, Belgian Ambassador Philippe Kridelka said on behalf of a group of 16 states that support the organization.

He echoed many other states, saying UNRWAs role is indispensable and irreplaceable to the humanitarian effort, especially as Gazans face the potential of famine.

In the face of the unprecedented threats and attacks targeting UNRWA and its staff, the General Assembly must show unprecedented resolve, Ambassador Kridelka said.

VOA United Nations Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some material came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Human Rights Watch on Tuesday accused Kenyan security forces of abducting, torturing and killing people believed to be leaders of anti-government protests that took place between June and August.

The group said security officers held abductees in unlawful detention facilities, including in forests and abandoned buildings, and denied them access to their families and lawyers.

Mary Muthoni Mwangi of Kirinyaga, in rural central Kenya, said she lost her son in the protests, in which thousands of young Kenyans demonstrated against a bill that would have increased taxes.

Her son, 20-year-old Kennedy Njeru, took part in a protest on June 25, she said, when demonstrators stormed the parliament after lawmakers passed the tax increase.

Mwangi said she searched for her son for four days, finally finding his body in the city mortuary. She said a postmortem examination found a bullet wound to his head.

Human rights groups say 61 people were killed across the country during the weeks of protests.

Human Rights Watch blamed Kenyan security agencies for the abduction, torture and killing of people seen as leading or taking part in the demonstrations.

Mausi Segun, head of HRWs Africa division, said, "Whoever the initial abductors were, the police were involved because people were taken to police stations and many times the torture happened while people were in police custody.

She added, Those who are dead, we don't have details of what happened to them, but people who witnessed their abduction said that individuals who took them away were clearly security agents.

HRW researchers spoke to 75 people, including victims, family members, journalists, parliament staff and police officers.

The interviewees said that police officers hunted down protesters. But because the officers wore plain clothes, covered their faces and traveled in unmarked vehicles, it was difficult for family members, rights groups, lawyers and government agencies to trace victims whereabouts.

Segun said some of those taken away were tortured and killed.

"Many of the bodies of those who have been abducted have showed up sometimes on the streets, sometimes in quarries, unmarked places where they have been dumped, she said.

Many of those bodies have shown signs of torture and dismemberment of body parts, showing what they went through at the hands of their captors, she said. Many of these bodies have not been released to family members."

Kenyan security forces deny that their officers were behind the abductions and killings.

President William Ruto, speaking at a town hall gathering in Kisumu in late August, said he was not aware of any abductions and called on family members to forward the names to the government to take action.

Human Rights Watch said reports of abductions, missing people and killings are well documented and called on the president and other government institutions to hold those responsible to account.

On September 24, Mary Mwangi was among dozens of activists and victims family members who tried to submit a list of the missing and dead to the presidents office.

They were driven back with teargas.

Ruto ultimately declined to sign the tax increase into law.
A caravan of approximately 3,000 migrants set off on Tuesday from southern Mexico, headed toward the United States on the day when U.S. voters were deciding between U.S. presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

Immigration has been a key issue in the U.S. election campaign.

Before heading northward, the migrants gathered in Tapachula, the capital of the southern Chiapas state, carrying banners with messages such as "NO MORE MIGRANT BLOOD" and images of the Virgin of Guadalupe, an important religious and cultural symbol in Mexico, according to Reuters witnesses.

"We want U.S. authorities to see us, to see that we are people who want to work, not to harm anyone," said Honduran migrant Roy Murillo, who joined the caravan with his two children and his pregnant wife.

In recent years, several caravans with people hoping to enter the United States have attempted to reach the U.S.-Mexican border, traveling in mass groups for safety. Most have dispersed along the way.

"I'm afraid to travel alone with my family. Here, the cartels either kidnap you or kill you. ... That's why we're coming in the caravan," Murillo said.

Murillo recounted his unsuccessful attempts to secure an asylum appointment through a mobile app developed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

Tapachula, a mandatory crossing point for tens of thousands of migrants, has become one of Mexico's most violent cities in recent months, with migrants frequently targeted by organized crime, according to official data.

"I feel suffocated here. That's why we decided to leave," said 28-year-old Venezuelan migrant Thais, who spoke on condition that her surname not be used due to safety concerns.

She joined the caravan with her husband and 3-year-old daughter.

"I wish Mr. Trump and Ms. Kamala would see that we are human beings, that we want to live and support our families," she added.

Voters cast ballots on Tuesday in the race between Vice President Harris, a Democrat seeking to become the first female U.S. president, and Trump, a Republican immigration hard-liner aiming to regain the presidency.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, sparking protests around Israel. Some say the move could endanger the countrys security, as Israel continues to fight in both Gaza and Lebanon.

After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the dismissal of his popular defense minister, thousands of Israelis took to the streets, blocking roads  including the main highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem  and setting tires on fire. Police used force to break up the protests and arrested dozens of people.

Netanyahu said he fired Gallant because he no longer trusted him.

Netanyahu said full trust is required between the prime minister and defense minister, especially in the midst of war, and while such trust existed at first, it has since cracked.

An emotional Gallant said he disagreed with Netanyahu on several issues, including the need to draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, which is sharply opposed by key parties in Netanyahus coalition government.

Gallant said he believed everyone of conscription age must serve in the Israel Defense Forces and defend the state of Israel, so he planned to vote against a proposed law to permanently exempt the ultra-Orthodox from army service. Netanyahus coalition partners have vowed to bring down the government unless the law is passed.

Some Israeli analysts said Netanyahu fired Gallant in an effort to preserve his coalition and stay in power.

The leaders of Israels opposition parties responded harshly to Netanyahus move, with opposition leader Yair Lapid calling it an act of insanity by an incompetent prime minister.

Israeli analysts say the dismissal of Gallant could make it harder for Israel to meet its goals on both fronts of its current war  Lebanon and Gaza. Dr. Efraim Sneh, a former senior general, said Gallants replacement, Yisrael Katz, has no military experience.

In a time of war, one of the most complicated wars in several arenas with a lot of complexities, in the middle of the war, the political person, the ministerial authority, above the IDF, someone with obviously no experience, Sneh said.

Netanyahu tried to fire Gallant a year and a half ago, before the war between Israel and Hamas had started. That time, he changed his mind amid demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of Israelis. Opposition groups are calling for large-scale protests again this time.
Nigerian army chief Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has died, according to a statement Wednesday from the countrys president.

On the social media platform X, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced Lagbajas death and expressed condolences to his family and Nigeria's armed forces.

Lagbaja, 56, died in Lagos on Tuesday night after a period of illness, authorities said. They did not elaborate on his illness.

Two weeks ago, Nigerian defense authorities denied rumors suggesting the army chief had died after his prolonged absence from the public and active duty.

The Nigerian army has been fighting various adversaries across the country, including bandits and the Boko Haram insurgents.

Lagbaja is not the first Nigerian army chief to die while on active duty in recent years. In 2021, Ibrahim Attahiru died in a military air crash along with 10 other high-ranking officials.

Tinubu appointed Lagbaja in June 2023, shortly after taking office. Lagbaja launched a campaign seeking to repair the reputation of the military, which is often accused of mistreating civilians and extrajudicial killings.

Last week, Tinubu appointed Olufemi Oluyede as acting army chief and, on Tuesday, promoted him to the rank of lieutenant general.
Russia is flagrantly violating its agreements with the oil cartel OPEC by concealing the true amount of oil it is producing and selling, according to a new report that says the profits are funding Moscows war on Ukraine. Henry Ridgwell reports.
Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the U.S. Senate, said the incoming Senate Republican majority would be an important guardrail for the country.

Its a good day for the GOP [Republican Party], McConnell told reporters Wednesday.

The Republican party won back a majority in the Senate with at least 51 of 100 seats in Tuesdays election. Control of the House of Representatives, which is currently held by Republicans, was not yet decided early Wednesday.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives were at stake in elections throughout the United States for new two-year terms, while 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate were contested for new six-year terms.

Before Election Day, Democrats had narrow control of the Senate and Republicans of the House. Key Republican victories for Senate seats in West Virginia and Ohio put them in position to be back in the majority.

In the House, Republicans held a 220-212 edge, with three vacant seats going into the election. Control of that chamber has not been confirmed yet. Control of the House may not be known for several days, as California has often taken days to count ballots, and recounts and runoffs of close races can take weeks to resolve.

Political surveys throughout the election campaign have shown voters  much like in the Kamala Harris-Donald Trump race for the White House  evenly divided in their political preference for congressional control.

An October Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 43% of registered voters would back the Republican House candidate in their district, while 43% would back the Democratic candidate.

A Republican majority in the U.S. Senate could jeopardize any future U.S. aid packages to Ukraine to aid its fight against Russia.

McConnell, who has often been at odds with his own party in support of that aid, reiterated its importance on Wednesday.

It may seem old-fashioned to some, but I'm still a Reagan Republican who thinks that America's role in the world is absolutely indispensable, even if you're concerned about cost.
BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged efforts to promote high-quality development of social work in the new era.

In a recent instruction on social work, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, highlighted the need to promote social governance under socialism with Chinese characteristics.

A central conference on social work was held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Xi's instruction was read out at the conference.

Social work is vital to the Party's long-term governance, the country's enduring peace and stability, social harmony and stability, and the well-being of the people, Xi said in the instruction.

China's social structure is currently undergoing profound changes, with the rapid development of emerging sectors, Xi said, calling for a stronger sense of responsibility and more actions in the face of new situations and tasks in social work.

It is essential to strengthen Party building in new types of economic and social organizations and among groups in new forms of employment, and to enhance the Party's influence, cohesive power and appeal in the emerging fields, Xi said.

It is important to give full play to the leading role of Party building in community-level governance, Xi added.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the conference and delivered a speech.

Cai, who is also a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, called for following Xi's instruction as guidance for developing social work.

He emphasized the importance of prioritizing Party building in emerging sectors and called for concerted efforts to expand the reach of Party organizations and the scope of their activities.

Cai also underscored the significance of uniting and serving the people. He urged Party committees at various levels to strengthen their leadership in social work and foster high-quality development of social work through reform and innovation. 

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attends a central conference on social work and delivers a speech in Beijing, capital of China. The conference was held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday. The instruction of Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was read out at the conference. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
The FBI said more than 50 election sites across five battleground states received hoax bomb emails on Election Day in the U.S., and the emails in four of these states came from a Russian domain.

None of the threats sent to polling sites in Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Arizona were deemed credible, and while causing a brief disruption, they did not affect the voting, the FBI said.

We identified the source, and it was from Russia, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a news conference, adding that the Russians dont want us to have free, fair and accurate elections, and if they could make us fight among ourselves, they could count that as a victory.

Russia denied involvement, claiming to never have interfered in elections in the U.S. or elsewhere. Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Russian Embassy in the U.S. used similar language, calling the FBI allegations malicious slander.

That belies a well-documented decades-long history of Russian attempts to meddle in the domestic affairs of numerous nations across continents, including systematic efforts against the United States, ranging from malicious cyberattacks to multimillion-dollar disinformation campaigns.

Just last week, German officials said Russia organized bomb threats targeting polling stations during the presidential elections in Moldova, where the Kremlin is accused of trying but failing to replace the pro-Western president, Maia Sandu, with a more amenable candidate.

As it became clear that former U.S. President Donald Trump was poised to return to power, Russian officials and state media signaled their satisfaction with the result.

Vice President Kalala Harris, the Democratic candidate, is finished, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev posted on social media platform X. The objectives of the Special Military Operation [Russias war in Ukraine] remain unchanged and will be achieved.

The Kremlin-owned Sputnik News branch in India posted on X a short AI-generated video showing a laughing Harris against a background of exploding bombs and destroyed towns in Ukraine. Harris is leaving behind a rich foreign policy legacy, the post said.

Russia-linked accounts shared posts saying goodbye to nearly all officials in the current U.S. administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whom they called a butcher for his support to Ukraine.

Russias state-controlled news network RT [formerly Russia Today] published an election night story featuring its U.S. correspondent Valentin Bogdanovs experience among Trumps most loyal supporters near his Mar-a-Largo residence in Florida.



Bogdanov described the affairs in the U.S. as a deep people against a deep state, and predicted a civil war in a dysfunctional state. He painted a picture of a chaotic, fraudulent election with officials at polling sites in Michigan, Arizona and Maryland among other states faking technical issues to cast Trump votes for Harris.



None of those claims proved credible. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency described the elections as free, fair and safe.

Russias meddling efforts are not limited to its alleged role in the hoax bomb threats on Election Day. On November 1, the Office of the Direction of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued a joint statement from the U.S. Intelligence Community stating that "Russian influence actors" created a fake video falsely showing people claiming to be from Haiti voting illegally in various Georgia counties.
A Swedish court sentenced a far-right politician Tuesday to four months in jail for two counts of "incitement against an ethnic group" after making hateful comments at political rallies two years ago.

The Danish-Swedish 42-year-old man, who was not named but has been identified by Swedish media as Rasmus Paludan, founder and head of the Danish nationalist anti-immigration party Stram Kurs, had been previously convicted and sentenced by a Danish court on a similar charge, the Malmo District Court said.

In 2022, Paludan made his offensive remarks directed at Muslims, Arabs and Africans during protests that he led in the southern city of Malmo, the court said. He also burned a copy of the Quran, Islam's holy book, on at least one occasion. In response, a violent wave of riots swept the country.

Some observers also say Paludan's actions may have momentarily risked Sweden's chances of joining NATO after increasing political tensions with Turkey. Sweden joined the alliance in March this year.

The court in a statement Tuesday said Paludan's remarks against Muslims "cannot be excused as criticism of Islam or as political campaign work."

Chief Councilor Nicklas Soderberg, the court's chairman, said: "It is permitted to publicly make critical statements about, for example, Islam and also Muslims, but the disrespect of a group of people must not clearly cross the line for a factual and valid discussion."

He added that during the Malmo rallies in April and September 2022, "there was no question of any such discussion," and that Paludan's public statements "only amounted to insulting Muslims."

The court took particular interest in whether the politician knew the protests were filmed and published on Facebook. Paludan had said that he wasn't aware of it, but the district court disagreed and said his "actions at the gatherings would be downright illogical if he didn't know about the publication on Facebook."

Paludan, a lawyer by profession, told Swedish media outlets that he wasn't surprised by the verdict.

"It was expected. We will appeal," the Swedish newspaper Expressen cited him as saying.
Judicial investigators in Taiwan have indicted a couple affiliated with a small political party on charges of receiving millions of dollars from Chinese authorities to promote the Chinese governments political agenda and influence Taiwans elections and referendums.

Taiwans Chiayi District Prosecutors Office said Monday it has charged Chang Meng-chung and his wife, Hung Wen-ting, with violating Taiwans Anti-Infiltration Act and election laws by making radio and digital media propaganda for Beijing in exchange for NT$74 million, approximately $2.32 million, paid out over more than a decade.

Prosecutors allege Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing and the TAO branch office in Chinas Fujian Province paid the couple between 2011 and 2023 to promote candidates favored by Beijing, disparage Hong Kong democracy activists and members of the Falun Gong spiritual group, boast about Chinas military power, and urge Taiwans troops to surrender in the event of Chinas invasion.

Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province that must one day reunite with the mainland, by force if necessary, and carries out frequent military drills around the self-governing island to assert its claim. Most Taiwanese oppose rejoining China.

Chang and Hung are members of the China Unification Promotion Party, or CUPP, a small Taiwanese political party that Reuters reports has about 60,000 members and promotes Taiwans unification with the mainland.

Prosecutors allege the couple went to mainland China many times to provide program summaries and plans for Chinese authorities review.

In a response to the charges broadcast by multiple Taiwanese TV stations, Chang said, "Taiwan says it's democratic, but it's not democratic at all. The CUPP has always been championing cross-strait reunification, so what I said is the same as what the CUPP has always advocated."

According to a report by Taiwans Central News Agency, if found guilty, the couple could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to NT$10 million, roughly $313,400.

Chao Fang-yi, a non-resident fellow at the Research Institute of Democracy, Security, and Emerging Technology in Taiwan, told VOA Mandarin that the use of the Anti-Infiltration Act, which came into effect in January 2020, was significant because authorities have struggled in the past to connect CUPP finances to China.

"Actually, if China wants to give them money, it may be in a very obscure way, and it may be difficult to trace it, said Chao. So, this time, there is clear evidence so it can be prosecuted. I think it's also a pretty powerful thing."

Taiwan authorities have long sought to prosecute CUPPs founder Chang An-lo, also known as the White Wolf, who had links to organized crime. Chang was imprisoned for 10 years in the U.S. in the 1980s for drug trafficking and then lived in exile for 17 years in China before returning to the island in 2013 and turning himself in to authorities. But charges of organized crime were later dropped.

Taiwanese police in 2018 raided Chang An-los house and CUPP headquarters to look for evidence of funding from Beijing, which Chang denied. Charges that he violated a political donation law were dropped in July 2024, but Chang was sentenced to eight months in prison for forging documents and tax violations.

In August, Taiwans High Prosecutors Office charged three Taiwanese affiliated with CUPP with developing a spy network to infiltrate the Taiwanese military.

The Investigation Bureau of Taiwans Ministry of Justice said in its statement Monday that authorities investigating Chang Meng-chung and his wife searched 24 locations between December 2023 and July of this year. The bureau said it seized mobile phones, computers, financial records and other evidence.

The bureau and prosecutor's office said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on the mainland has taken advantage of Taiwan's democratic freedoms to instruct, entrust or fund domestic collaborators to carry out infiltration and division and spread disinformation against Taiwan to manipulate and interfere in its elections and national security.

VOA has not seen any comments on the arrests from Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office of the CCP Central Committee or the Taiwan Affairs Office of Chinas State Council, Bejings relevant authorities who speak on Taiwan issues, by the time of publication.

Adrianna Zhang from VOA Mandarin Service contributed to this story.
Americans will head to the polls to cast their vote for president of the United States. Well check in with VOA correspondents across the country. And while every vote counts in presidential elections, not every vote carries the same weight. How a candidate wins is more complicated. It comes down to what is called the Electoral College, where the winner is decided by which candidate gets the most votes in individual states. Matthew Lebo, Political Science Professor at Western University joins us to help explain how the Electoral College works and what to watch for on election night.
At least six journalists have been denied media credentials to cover Donald Trumps election night watch party in Florida, at least one of whom was told it was because of her coverage of the Republican presidential candidate.

VOA confirmed that the six journalists work for the media sites Axios, Politico and Puck.

In the case of Politico, three reporters and a photographer had been approved to attend the event in Florida.

On Monday, Politico Magazine reported that a White nationalist had been fired from working on the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania. The following morning, the Politico reporters and photographer found out that their credentials had been withdrawn.

Politico declined to comment to VOA.

Tara Palmeri, political correspondent at the news site Puck, was publicly denied access by Trump campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita.

In a post on the social media platform X last Thursday, LaCivita said Palmeri was denied credentials to enter Mar-a-Largo.

Palmeri confirmed the incident in an email to VOA. She was scheduled to cover the Republican watch party as part of Amazons election night special hosted by Brian Williams.

On a podcast, the journalist said she would now broadcast from Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Axios reporter Sophia Cai was denied a credential not long after she reported on anxiety within the Trump campaign ahead of Election Day, according to media reports.

Cai referred VOA to Axios communications team. In a statement emailed to VOA, Axios Editor-in Chief Aja Whitaker-Moore defended Cai, calling her an excellent reporter who has covered the 2024 presidential election with essential, clinical coverage.

VOA contacted the Trump campaign for comment, but as of publication had not received a response.

The broadcaster CNN reported that VOA journalists were among those denied accreditation for their coverage, which a VOA spokesperson denied.

VOA requested several credentials to cover Trump headquarters and some were granted, but not all were able to be accommodated, a VOA spokesperson said.

Separately, Trump last week sued CBS News over an interview of Democratic rival Kamala Harris and filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against The Washington Post.

Media analysts have expressed concern that Trump will restrict press freedom in the United States if he returns to the White House. Throughout his campaign, he has called for major news networks to lose their broadcasting licenses.

Trumps campaign and his former administration have previously revoked credentials from journalists, including CNNs then White House correspondent Jim Acosta in 2018.
Ukraines military said Wednesday it shot down 38 of the 63 aerial drones that Russian forces launched in overnight attacks.

The Ukrainian air force said it intercepted the drones over the Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Zhytomyr and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Vitaliy Kim, the governor of Mykolaiv, said on Telegram that Russias attack damaged energy infrastructure but did not hurt anyone.

Russias Defense Ministry said Wednesday it destroyed two Ukrainian drones over the Kursk region and another drone over Oryol.

Russian officials said there were no reports of damage or casualties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that his countrys forces have engaged in battle with the North Korean troops that were deployed to Russia to assist in its war on Ukraine.

"The first battles with North Korean soldiers open a new page of instability in the world," Zelenskyy said Tuesday in his daily address  his first official acknowledgement of the encounter between the two forces.

Rustem Umerov, Ukraines defense minister, has also confirmed the arrival of the North Korean forces. In an interview with South Koreas public broadcaster KBS, he said the Ukrainian and North Korean forces have engaged in "small-scale" fighting.

"The first North Korean troops have already been shelled in the Kursk region," said Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the counter-disinformation branch of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council.

On Wednesday, foreign ministers from the Group of 7 nations, along with South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, issued a joint statement expressing grave concerns over DPRKs direct support for Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, referring to North Koreas formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including the DPRKs export and Russias unlawful procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles in breach of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, as well as Russias use of these missiles and munitions against Ukraine, the ministers said, warning that this could dangerously expand the conflict with serious implications for European and Indo-Pacific security.

They also voiced serious concerns about any potential transfer of nuclear or missile-related technology from Russia to the DPRK.

According to a U.S. official quoted by The New York Times late Tuesday, a "significant number" of North Korean troops had been killed, although the report said it was not clear when the fighting had occurred.

Some information for this story was provided by Agence France-Presse, Reuters and The Associated Press.
A U.S. Army soldier who was injured in May while working on the American-built pier to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza has died.

Sargeant Quandarius Stanley, 23, was a motor transport operator and was critically injured when high winds and heavy seas damaged the pier, causing four Army vessels to become beached. Two other service members also were injured but later returned to duty.

U.S. military officials have not provided details on how exactly Stanley was injured but have noted it was not in combat. He died last Thursday and had been assigned to the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.

"Sergeant Quandarius Stanley was an instrumental and well respected first-line leader in the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary (TBX), especially during the mission to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. We will continue to provide support to his family during this difficult time," said Colonel John "Eddie" Gray, brigade commander. "Our entire unit mourns alongside his family."

Captain Shkeila Milford-Glover, spokesperson for the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, said Stanley had recently retired and was receiving treatment in a long-term care medical center.

The massive pier project was hampered by unexpected bad weather and security issues, as well as persistent safety issues involving Israeli forces that prompted aid agencies to halt distribution of the supplies out of fear of being injured and killed.

The Defense Department formally pulled the pier from the Gaza shore on June 28 and declared an end in mid-July to the mission to bring aid into the territory besieged by the war between Israel and Hamas.

The military moved nearly 20 million pounds of aid onto the Gaza shore in what officials said was the "largest volume of humanitarian assistance" ever delivered into the Middle East.

But aid agencies had difficulty moving the food brought ashore to areas farther into Gaza where it was needed most because humanitarian convoys came under attack.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that students eligible for free or reduced price school meals cannot be charged processing fees beginning in 2027.

School districts currently work with processing companies to offer cashless payment systems for families. But the companies can charge "processing fees" for each transaction. By law, students who are eligible for reduced price meals cannot be charged more than 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. With processing fees, however, families can end up paying 10 times that amount. Processing companies charge as much as $3.25 or 4% to 5% per transaction, according to a recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

For families with lower incomes who can't afford to load large sums in one go, processing fees can arrive weekly or even more frequently, increasing costs disproportionately. Families that qualify for free or reduced lunch pay as much as 60 cents per dollar in fees when paying for school lunches electronically, according to the report.

The Agriculture Department's new policy becomes effective starting in the 2027-2028 school year. With this rule, the USDA will lower costs for families with income under 185% of federal poverty guidelines, which equals $57,720 for a family of four.

"USDA and schools across America share the common goal of nourishing schoolchildren and giving them the fuel they need to learn, grow and thrive," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement Friday. "While today's action to eliminate extra fees for lower-income households is a major step in the right direction, the most equitable path forward is to offer every child access to healthy school meals at no cost. We will continue to work with Congress to move toward that goal so all kids have the nutrition they need to reach their full potential."

The decision by the USDA follows a CFPB report that found online school meal payments predominantly affect low-income families. School lunch fees collectively cost families upwards of $100 million each year, according to the report.

The USDA has mandated since 2017 that school districts inform families of their options, but even when parents are aware, having to pay by cash or check to avoid fees can be burdensome.

"It's just massively inconvenient," said Joanna Roa, 43, who works at Clemson University in South Carolina as a library specialist and has two school-aged children.

Roa said that when her son was in first grade and she saw the $3.25-per-transaction fee for lunch accounts, she and her husband decided to send him to school with packed lunches instead.

"A dollar here and there, I expected," she said. "But $3.25 per transaction, especially here in rural South Carolina where the cost of living is a lot lower  as are the salaries  is a lot."

Roa said packing lunch for two kids every day became a burden in both time and effort for two working parents. For the past two years, thanks to surplus funds, her school district has been providing free school lunches, which has changed the equation, but Roa said that could end at any point.

In its review of the 300 largest public school districts in the U.S., the CFPB found that 87% of sampled districts contract with payment processors. Within those districts, the companies charge an average of $2.37, or 4.4% of the total transaction, each time money is added to a child's account.

While payment companies maintain that school districts can negotiate fees and rates before they agree to contracts, the CFPB found that complex company structures "may insulate companies from competition and make school districts less likely to negotiate." Just three companies  MySchoolBucks, SchoolCafe and LINQ Connect  dominate the market, according to the report.

Without the ability to choose which company to work with, "families have fewer ways to avoid harmful practices," the agency said, "including those that may violate federal consumer protection law."
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have spent the past few months battling for the White House, and experts say that votes for third party candidates could be a deciding factor for who will become the next president of the United States.

With the latest polls showing Harris and Trump in a dead heat in battleground states around the country, ballots cast for third-party candidates Jill Stein of the Green Party, independent Cornel West and Libertarian Chase Oliver could be enough to tip the scales.

VOA Persian spoke with all three of them. Their responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Green Party candidate Jill Stein

VOA: During one of his final campaign rallies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump praised you, saying he loved the Green Party and that you might be one of his favorite politicians. What do you make of this?

Jill Stein: I make of that about as much as I make of Donald Trump's assessment of climate change, which is that he sort of believes the opposite of reality. I am in this race to provide an alternative to the two parties that are bought and paid for, that are serving Wall Street and the war contractors and definitely not the American people. So I don't have a lot of high regard for Donald Trump's political strategies or his values.

VOA: How much support do you expect to receive in battleground states like Michigan? There were some polls that suggested you have support of over 40% of the Arab American population there.

Stein: Exactly what the numbers will turn out to be, it depends how many people are turning out to vote. It depends how strong the vote of the, not only the Muslim population, but also many African Americans and Hispanics and young people who feel like they do not have a future under Kamala Harris, and they do not have a future under Donald Trump. At this point, it's too soon to say. We ourselves do not strictly work based on polls. We're really in this based on principle and for the long haul. We would be delighted if we make the 5% cut in the national poll in the national results, but it's very hard to say at this point.

VOA: What would be your position regarding the government of Iran?

Stein: I think we need to open the door to negotiations with Iran. Iran has elected a new president who is said to be moderate and interested in improving relations with the West, and we need to explore that. I think the most critical thing in the Middle East right now is resolving this expanding war and the intention of Bibi [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu to create a wider war and drag the U.S. into it. I think that is the greatest threat to peace in the Middle East right now and has the potential to grow into a conflict that's even bigger than the Middle East.

Independent candidate Cornel West

VOA: How many states allowed you to have your name on the ballot and why did others not?

Cornel West: We've got 16 states where we have direct ballot access. We have 24 states where we have write-in access, and that did require petitions and signatures. So that required a lot of work on behalf of magnificent volunteers. But it was very difficult. There's been a tremendous struggle, but we come up swinging.

VOA: How different will your policy be compared to what we hear from Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump?

West: Martin Luther King [Jr.] said, militarism, racism, poverty and materialism are the four forces that are sucking the democratic energy out of the American social experiment. I take very seriously his critique of militarism. I see that as a criticism of American foreign policies in which we are so eager to create these lethal armed forces rather than engage in wise diplomatic processes. And so there would be no genocide. I would have had an embargo on any kind of military or financial support of Israel as it was very clear that they were laying bare this kind of massive massacre on innocent people, especially innocent children and women and men.

The same would be true in terms of being able to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. Same would be true in terms of trying to be more diplomatic with China. I see Kamala Harris as a militarist, Black woman. That is to say she's willing to not just provoke, but to push [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. And I think Putin himself is still very much a gangster and a war criminal in his own way, but he has a right  Russia has a right to security. And the same is true with China. There's too much provocation, and I think that moves us toward World War III in the same way that Trump moves us towards Civil War II at home. And that was one reason why I wanted to provide some kind of alternative to Trump and [U.S. President Joe] Biden.

And then when Biden had his LBJ moment [referring to Biden's poor debate performance] something that we talked about many, many months ago, we just predicted that Harris now is following through on the same militarism in Gaza. And of course, genocide, the crime of genocide, is a litmus test of morality of any nation, any country, and if you deny it, if you enable it, it's a sign that you don't have a moral fiber in your military policy.

VOA: Many people in the occupied West Bank are disturbed by Tehran's support for militants in Gaza. How do you see this considering the moral aspects of your vision, your doctrine and your policy?

West: Malcolm X used to say, I'm for truth, no matter who's for it, and justice, no matter who supports it. People can actually support just movements for motivations that themselves are highly suspicious. When the French supported the American revolutionaries, when Lafayette came to the United States, it was partly because the French were over against the British in Europe, they didn't have a whole lot of solidarity with these colonists responding against the British Empire. ... The Soviet Union supported the freedom struggles in Africa. It wasn't always because they just love Africans so much. It was anti-United States. They had a Cold War going on, and their policies were strategic and tactical in that way. The same would be true for Iran vis-a-vis Palestinians.

So I think we have to be very truthful about the ways in which the motives might not always be attractive, but when you're a people like Palestinians this moment, whose backs are against the wall, they need help from anybody, and it's very important that people highlight their plight so that their babies are not crushed. But that doesn't mean that those who are supporting them always have the right motives, and therefore we can still be critical of what those motives are.

Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver

VOA: In your platform, you mentioned that Libertarians seek the United States at peace with the world. How different will your foreign policy be?

Chase Oliver: It would be a drastic difference than what the status quo has been, certainly since I've been an adult. Since I've been an adult, let's just call it the post-9/11 War on Terror kind of foreign policy mindset that we've had, which I think is rooted in ideas that are very black and white. You're either with us or you're with the terrorists.

The best way to solve a problem is through a preemptive war or through increasing our military presence in the region, to flex our muscle. And what I think that has done is actually created further instability, particularly in the Middle East, which I don't think has been a success despite the trillions of dollars we've spent in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I don't think you can say either of those nations are particularly bastions of democracy, or that the region itself is now more stable than it was.

And so for me, I would say let's remove our military footprint and start flexing our diplomatic muscle. Let's start meeting with world leaders directly, one on one. Let's start forming coalitions around peaceful ideas and free trade and voluntary exchange to tear down barriers between our nations so that we can have cultural exchanges with one another. I think these are the ideas that we really need to be pushing, and not a militarized foreign policy that's ruined the idea that the United States must be the world's enforcer.

VOA: So you don't see America as the leader of the free world with its responsibilities?

Oliver: I absolutely see America as a leader in terms of the markets of the world, the economic engine of the world, the diplomatic arm of the world. But it doesn't need to be coming, using the military might of the world. Teddy Roosevelt said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." We have a very powerful military that can defend ourselves, and ultimately, if there were a need and if Congress declared a war, fight a war anywhere in the world with absolute certainty that we could dominate our opponent. But you don't flex your muscle like that around the world. That's not a position of strength. When you use that military might to push your agenda, that's actually a position of weakness, because good ideas should not require force, and you should be able to diplomatically work throughout the world.

And I recognize the world is not perfect. The world does not lack violence. The world is not lacking for bad people, particularly governments around the world who represent good people. And Iran is no different. The government of Iran is abhorrent. They're abusive to their people. They curtail their rights. But the people of Iran are good, innocent people who don't deserve to have things like airstrikes and missiles raining down upon them because of the evils of their government. And I hope that ultimately, we can liberalize the world more towards more liberalized things like free speech, freedom of movement and freedom of religion. But that's not going to come just from us beating people down.

VOA: How difficult is it to run as a third-party candidate?

Oliver: Running as an alternative party candidate has a lot of challenges because the two mainstream parties have a lot of built-in incumbency power, both in the number of elected officials they have as well as things like taxpayer-funded primaries. So they basically take taxes out of my wallet to fund primaries that help promote the candidates that are Republicans and Democrats.

And as a Libertarian, we're kind of left in the lurch there. So there's a lot of challenges, especially around things like ballot access. There's a lot of solutions. And actually a big part of my platform is a thing called the voter bill of rights that will open up this process, not just for Libertarians like myself, but all sorts of other alternative parties that really need to have their voices heard.
World leaders offered congratulations to Donald Trump as he secured victory early Wednesday in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Trump defeated his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, marking a historical political comeback for the former Republican president following four years out of office.

Early Wednesday, many world leaders took to the social media website X to congratulate Trump, whose unpredictable America First foreign policy approach complicated relations with many U.S. allies and foes alike during his first term in office.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the first U.S. allies to send a message of support, praising Trumps historic return, which he said offers a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in a congratulatory cable, said his government will remain steadfast in its commitment to peace and is confident that the United States will support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.

Qatar, a key mediator in the Gaza ceasefire talks and hostage release deal, extended its congratulations to Trump. Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said he looks forward to working with the U.S. to promote security and stability both in the region and globally.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a post on X, congratulated his "friend" Trump for winning the U.S. presidential election after "a great battle." He added that he hoped regional and global crises, especially the wars in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war, "will come to an end."

Watch related video by Dorian Jones:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has called for more U.S. and Western support to fight off Russias invasion, spoke positively of what he said was Trumps commitment to peace through strength in world affairs.

This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together, said Zelenskyy.

The head of NATO  the Western military alliance that Trump has long criticized for not doing enough to take care of Europes defense  made similar comments in his congratulatory message for Trump.

His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through #NATO, said Mark Rutte, the NATO secretary general.

French President Emmanuel Macron also quickly offered congratulations, saying he is ready to work together as we did for four years  with your conviction and mine.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government stands shoulder to shoulder in defense of shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the U.K.-U.S. special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come, Starmer said.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU Commission, said she "warmly congratulate[s]" Trump and praised the "true partnership" between the European Union and the United States.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a televised statement on Wednesday that while many things will certainly be different under a government led by Donald Trump, Germany remains a reliable transatlantic partner of the United States.

During Trump's first term, friction erupted between the EU and the U.S., partly over Trump's imposition of tariffs on European exports.

Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, a conservative Trump ally, called Trump's victory the "biggest comeback in U.S. political history" and said it was a "much needed victory" for the world.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala congratulated Trump and said on X that a shared goal between the Czech Republic and the U.S. is to ensure that relations remain at the highest level despite changes in administration.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Trump on his election victory. "The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations," he said in a post on X.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office last month, told reporters that she will wait to formally recognize a winner in the U.S. presidential election until certain U.S. states finish counting their votes. "There's no reason to worry," she said, adding shes convinced that "there will be good relations with the United States."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not commented on the U.S. election results. But on X, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev relished the apparent defeat of Harris, saying "Kamala is finished ... let her keep cackling infectiously."

"The objectives of the Special Military Operation remain unchanged and will be achieved," Medvedev continued.

Asian leaders also began sending congratulatory messages.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered the heartiest congratulations to Trump, whom he called his friend.

As you build on your successes of the previous term, I look forward to reviewing our collaboration to further strengthen the U.S.-India relationship, Modi said.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he is looking forward to working closely with Trump. Under your strong leadership, the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance and America will shine brighter, he added.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued heartfelt congratulations to Trump, saying he hoped to further bolster the Japan-U.S. Alliance & cooperate to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.

In a statement, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed hope that the "unshakeable alliance" between Washington and Manila, "will be a force of good that will blaze a path of prosperity and amity, in the region, and in both sides of the Pacific."

A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said Beijing will continue to handle China-U.S. relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, in a post on X, offered his sincere congratulations to President-elect Trump and said he is confident that the longstanding partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan, built on shared values and interests, will continue to serve as a cornerstone for regional stability.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a statement that he is hopeful that the "unshakeable alliance" between the two nations, tested in war and peace, "will be a force for good that will blaze a path of prosperity and amity in the region and on both sides of the Pacific."

In Kabul, Afghanistans hard-line Taliban leaders, reacting to Trumps election victory, said they expect a balanced U.S. foreign policy and tangible progress in relations with the United States under the future Trump administration.

The Taliban foreign ministry said in a statement that it hopes Afghanistan and the U.S. will be able to open a new chapter in their bilateral relations. The Taliban recalled that their Doha agreement with the previous Trump administration in February 2020 ended Afghanistan's 20-year occupation.

In Latin America, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva congratulated Trump. In a post on X, the leftist leader stated that democracy is the people's voice and should always be respected, adding that the world needs dialogue and joint work.

Argentinas President Javier Milei also congratulated Trump on his formidable electoral victory. You know that you can count on Argentina to carry out your task, Milei said in a post on X.

In Africa, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed congratulated Trump on his "election victory and comeback" and said he looks forward to working together to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries, in a post on X.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi also congratulated Trump, hoping his return to the White House could help bring peace to the Middle East.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated Trump on his U.S. election win in a post on X, saying he looks forward to continuing the close and mutually beneficial partnership between their two nations.

Several international organizations commended U.S. democracy.

In a statement, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, congratulated President-elect Trump and reaffirmed his belief that cooperation between the United States and the United Nations is an essential pillar of international relations.

Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi said he expects to work cooperatively with the next Trump administration, adding that the new U.S. administration means adjustments and different approaches in dealing with Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran downplayed the importance of the U.S. elections. A government spokesperson said the U.S. elections are not really our business and will not impact people's livelihoods.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing, who is in China for the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit, in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

KUNMING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- China has always placed its relations with Myanmar at an important position in China's neighborhood diplomacy, and will always support Myanmar in choosing a development path suited to its national conditions, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday.

Li made the remarks during his meeting with Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing, who is in Kunming, Yunnan for the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit from Nov. 6 to 7.

"China supports Myanmar in advancing the political reconciliation and transformation, and stands ready to work with Myanmar to steadily advance the construction of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation," Li said.

He called on both sides to strengthen cooperation in education, culture and tourism, enhance local exchanges, and jointly crack down on cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud.

He expressed the hope that Myanmar will ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects there.

Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar thanks China for its valuable assistance to Myanmar's economic and social development and response to natural disasters.

He said Myanmar appreciates China's positive role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Myanmar, and will make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects.

Myanmar hopes to take the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year to consolidate bilateral friendship and deepen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, investment, agriculture, poverty reduction and people's livelihoods, Min Aung Hlaing said. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing, who is in China for the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit, in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
Mr. Rudd. Photo: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images

Politicians are thirsty for votes, and voters are thirsty for water. Enter Paul Rudd. During the last presidential election in 2020, Rudd gave out cookies in New York. This year, the actor stopped by polling sites near universities in the swing state of Pennsylvania to help people in hourslong lines stay hydrated. I just wanted to give people water. Theyre waiting in line for a long time, and its a wonderful thing that all these young people are out voting, he said live on MSNBC at Temple University. Rudds presence seemed to be an incentive for students to stay in line, with some taking the opportunity to accept a bottle of water and ask him for a selfie.

While stopping at Villanova University, he told the student newspaper that casting a ballot is very important, especially for young voters who are going to be having to live with the results longer than old farts like me. The 55-year-old added that he encourages everyone to vote to keep our democracy alive. Other social-media posts suggest that Rudd also made an appearance at Lehigh University. If Rudd somehow still has any water left after hes finished trekking through Pennsylvania tonight, we hear that people are getting pretty hot while watching the Kornacki cam 

BREAKING: Paul Rudd has made a surprise appearance at Villanova handing out water and snacks to students that are waiting in line to vote on Election Day. pic.twitter.com/J87BOIpIPP  Ryan Hartnett (@ryanmhartnett) November 5, 2024
Photo: Frank Masi/Prime

This review was originally published on November 6, 2024. Red One is now streaming on Prime Video.

There are many questions left unanswered in Red One, but the most pressing has to be: Is the Rock playing an elf or not? His character, Callum Drift, is definitely the head of an organization called ELF, which stands for Enforcement, Logistics, and Fortification (there are multiple cute little acronyms like that in this movie), and which is basically the North Poles answer to the Secret Service. Callum isnt human and is hundreds of years old, and when he fights, he likes to shrink himself down to approximately half his usual size, a trick whose utility isnt entirely clear, but that does support the whole elfin theory. And yet, if the obvious joke is that Dwayne Johnson is playing an unlikely 270 cod- and creatine-fueled pounds of Santas little helper, the movie never quite gets around to landing it. Its as though, because Will Ferrells Elf got there first, Red One is content with a gesture in the general region of the known hit. Red One was written by the Fast & Furious franchises Chris Morgan and directed by Jake Kasdan, and the whole thing is like that  rife with elements that are reminiscent of better movies without ever bothering to follow through on what its aping.

If Red One were a disaster, itd be more interesting. Instead, its a technically passable action-comedy transparently stitched together from parts scavenged from other movies. Its brawny take on Santa, played by an unsettlingly swole J.K. Simmons, is reminiscent of the one in Rise of the Guardians. Its high-tech military approach to gift delivery recalls Arthur Christmas. And sure, there are only so many possible re-imaginings of Yuletide lore, which is why theres a polar-bear guy out of His Dark Materials and a government organization (MORA, the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority, run by a stern Lucy Liu, in a thankless role that seems intended to be the Nick Fury of a theoretical holiday franchise) that feels co-opted from Hellboy. Callums fight choreography recalls a less exaggerated Ant-Man. The dynamic between Callum and tracker Jack OMalley (Chris Evans), meanwhile, is your classic buddy-cop back-and-forth, with the gruff Callum slowly warming to the disreputable criminal hes forced to partner up with when Santa gets kidnapped two days before Christmas. Johnson and Evans could play these types in their sleep, and sometimes look like they might as well be, as they bicker and battle their way through various locations while on the case before making it to the final showdown.

The familiarity is the point with Red One, which might as well have been engineered to run in loops on cable, if that were still a thing. Its a new movie thats meant to feel like something youve already seen, like, I dunno, Jingle All the Way if the villain in Jingle All the Way were a Christmas witch played by Kiernan Shipka. The only surprising thing about it is that it reportedly cost $250 million, with details of its troubled production, up to and including bottles of A-lister piss, recounted entertainingly by The Wrap. Theres no real indication of the massiveness of that sum onscreen, which is enough to make you pine for the day when infamously bloated budgets were the result of scenes involving thousands of extras or sets knocked down and rebuilt to fit a directors demanding vision. Red One darts from Philadelphia to Aruba to Bavaria to the Arctic, but doesnt look like it takes place anywhere in particular. The North Pole itself is a cloaked jumble of old-fashioned buildings and modern skyscrapers that could only exist in a computer. Theres a dearth of establishing shots when our heroes magically transport themselves halfway around the globe by way of portals that connect the worlds toy stores that makes it feel like theyre really just stumbling around a backlot.

Evans, playing a compulsive gambler and deadbeat dad with a heart of gold, acquits himself well enough as a wise-cracking rogue whose redemption arrives with anticlimactic ease. The bigger issue is Johnson, who once upon a time was such a promising leading actor, a mountain of a man capable of embodying unexpected vulnerability. But as hes gotten more powerful and more capable of shaping the projects he stars in, Johnson has gotten duller as an onscreen presence, and Callum is just another stoic, impossible badass in a growing line of them. Its notable that even in a fantasy that gives him a device that transforms toys into their real-life equivalents, the only thing that sets Callum apart from the other characters Johnson has played in recent years is that his Under Armour shirt comes in muted Christmas colors. Most disappointing of all is that theres a moment right out of the incredible scene at the start of 2010s The Other Guys, when Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson leap off a tall building in pursuit of suspects as though their swagger will save them, only to splat on the pavement and die. In Red One, Johnson does the exact same thing unironically, diving off Santas tower after his captors, then swinging off other structures and finding his way into a snowmobile-chase sequence. It doesnt look like theres room for that kind of self-deprecation in Johnsons career anymore.
Smith, taking a book break with a quick comic. Photo: Andy Freeberg/Getty Images

If you couldnt tell by everything about him, Robert Smith is a bookworm  the kind of guy who used the pandemic as an excuse to read John le Carres entire 26-book oeuvre and to finally tackle War and Peace. (He didnt care much for the latter.) As the Cures front man and primary songwriter, Smiths never been shy about drawing blatant lyrical inspiration from his favorite books and poems. The bands very first single, 1978s controversially titled Killing an Arab, is a riff on Albert Camuss The Stranger, in which a then-20-year-old Smith attempts to condense a few key scenes from the novella into a post-punk portrait of apathy. Since then, every Cure album has offered a glimpse into whatever bookish brew of anguish and elation is swirling around in Smiths mind at a given moment in time. Theres even an entire website dedicated to tracking literary references in Cure songs.

Last week, the Cure returned with their first album in 16 years, Songs of a Lost World. Notably, its only the second Cure album (after 1985s The Head on the Door) on which Smith has sole writing credit on every song  a feat that apparently did not come easily. Its the one thing that as Ive grown older, Ive found much much harder to do  write words that I want to sing, the 65-year-old told the BBC. With a little help from his literary inspirations, he eventually found ones he did want to sing, and the result is the bands best album in decades  a richly textured, patient meditation on death and the passage of time.

However age may have changed him, much about Smiths songwriting remains the same, and Lost World brings with it a classically Smithian spate of literary and historical reference points, some of which probably went over my head. Below are the ones that I did catch.

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Smith has described Alone  the stunning, Disintegration-esque opener to Songs of a Lost World  as the song that unlocked the entire record for him. After struggling to find the right words to open the album, he perused an old notebook and found that some younger version of himself had transcribed the poem Dregs, by Ernest Dowson, a 19th-century English poet who met a tragic end at 32 after his father died of tuberculosis and his mother hanged herself. (Did you think Smith wouldnt be drawn to outrageously ill-fated poets?) Much like Alone, Dregs contends with oblivion, the ghosts of the past, and the end of every song man sings. Perhaps a century from now, Alone will pay it forward by freeing another lonesome poet from writers block.

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It doesnt matter if we all die, Smith sings at the beginning of One Hundred Years, the paranoid freakout that opens 1982s Pornography. The lines nihilism is emblematic of the Cures early albums, which often confront the specter of death with absurdism and existential angst. Smith couldnt have known then that, 42 years later, hed release the songs inverse, And Nothing Is Forever  an earnest ballad about a promise he made to be by a loved ones side when they died. Over swelling strings and a treacly piano motif, Smith sings about his world growing old and holding someone for the last time in the dying of the light. That last bit, of course, is from Dylan Thomass Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, about resisting death even when youre at its threshold. Despite the shout-out, Smith seems more at peace. It really doesnt matter, he sings, echoing One Hundred Years before turning it on its head: if you say well be together.

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Okay, I admit this reference is somewhat subliminal, but Smith really wants you to know that he fucking hates drones, and what could be more Bradburyian than that? Drone:Nodrone is the albums most aggro tune, cutting through all the rumination on death with heavy guitars as Smith spirals out: Im breaking up again / I feel it in the air. In the press materials for the album, Smith explains the song was inspired by an experience he had behind his house when a camera drone flew by. It disturbed me, he writes. It was a horrible reminder of the intrusive, surveilled nature of the modern world. Smith has shared his admiration for the Fahrenheit 451 author a few times, and once explained to Spin why he turned down the opportunity to have lunch with him: He gave me a signed copy of Something Wicked This Way Comes, but he wouldnt come to the concert. He said it wasnt his thing. I thought, Well, if hes going to be such a staid old bastard anyway, then lunch isnt my thing.

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Right after Drone:Nodrone, Smith invokes Bradbury more explicitly on I Can Never Say Goodbye, a song about the unexpected death of his brother. Over funereal keys, Smith sings of shadows growing closer and dreamless sleep before directly mentioning his brother: Something wicked this way comes / to steal away my brothers life. The first part of that is spoken by one of the three witches in Shakespeares Macbeth and was later repurposed by Bradbury as the title of his 1962 fantasy novel, Something Wicked This Way Comes. The lines vagueness  whats coming, exactly?  serves the songs general framing of death as incomprehensible.

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In interviews about Songs of a Lost World, Smith has indicated that there could be at least two more Cure albums coming, thanks to the amount of material the band stockpiled during the long gap between their last two releases. Given how long he teased Songs of a Lost World for, thats a bit of a fool me once situation. But if this does end up being the bands last album, you could hardly ask for a better capstone than its closing track, Endsong, another Disintegration-esque, ten-minute slow burn on which Smith doesnt start singing until after the six-minute mark. When he does, its to describe an experience he had staring up at the moon the summer he turned 60, thinking about how its somehow the same moon he looked up at during the Apollo 11 landing when he was a kid, even though the world isnt the same and neither is he. Accepting mortality is one thing, but across the album, Smith cant seem to square the many versions of himself hes been over the years with the person he is now. Invoking Dowson again, all he knows is that at the end of every song, hell be left alone with nothing.
China import expo attractive to global exhibitors as country pledges further opening-up

Xinhua) 08:15, November 06, 2024

SHANGHAI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged to open the country's huge market further to share more growth opportunities with the rest of the world on Tuesday as the seventh edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the seventh China International Import Expo and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

The business exhibition of the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports has attracted about 3,500 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions this year. Notably, a record high of 297 Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders are attending the six-day expo. And more than 400 new products, new technologies and new services are unveiled.

Experts believe the large scale of the expo highlighted the global companies' confidence in the Chinese market and their commitment to further development in China despite the sluggish global economic recovery.

ENORMOUS MARKET

China is willing to open up its enormous market further and will continue to expand market access to sectors including telecommunications, the internet, education, culture and healthcare in an orderly fashion, Premier Li said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 7th CIIE.

The sound fundamentals of the Chinese economy remain unchanged, according to Li, adding that the country's new growth drivers are fast-growing, with double-digit investment growth in high-tech industries and development booms in emerging industries including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and the green economy.

During a meeting on Monday with select exhibitors and buyers attending the expo, Li said that China is able to sustain steady economic recovery, improve the quality and capacity of its market, and provide more extensive growth space for global businesses in terms of trade, investment and innovation. He added that the Chinese market is still one of the best choices for companies worldwide.

The keen interest from global participants has shown the growing influence of the CIIE and the charm of the Chinese market and also highlighted China's determination to push forward the building of an open world economy, said Zhao Fujun, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council.

In 2018, China inaugurated the CIIE to build an open platform for international trade cooperation and to support free trade and economic globalization, making it a "golden gateway" to the world's second-largest consumer market.

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows the Tanzania Pavilion during the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

More than 420 billion U.S. dollars worth of tentative deals were signed at the CIIE's earlier six editions since 2018. Beyond the event, global companies can reach a larger customer base and make further investments in the country.

Toshinobu Umetsu, president and CEO of Shiseido China, said he is very inspired and encouraged by Premier Li's emphasis on China's commitment to continuing high-level opening-up and to sharing development opportunities with the rest of the world.

The Japanese cosmetics giant will continue to strengthen its long-term investment in China. It has never wavered in its confidence and determination to invest in China, as the incredible vitality and resilience of the Chinese market make it a very important international market, Umetsu said.

German healthcare and agribusiness giant Bayer AG is among more than 180 companies and institutions that have attended all seven editions of the CIIE since 2018.

Bayer's participation at the expo demonstrates its unwavering commitment to this important market, said Bill Anderson, chairman of Bayer AG Management Board.

"International cooperation and economic globalization are important factors in the world's development. That's why Bayer is glad to be part of the expo for the seventh consecutive year," said Anderson.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The CIIE unlocks new opportunities for the world, Bayer said, adding that it will actively leverage this vital platform to continuously unleash its innovative potential while looking forward to forging partnerships with global collaborators.

A visitor learns about a bronchoscope robot at the exhibition area of Intuitive Fosun during the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Penne Kehl, Asia Pacific Group president of Cargill Agriculture and Trading, expects a very busy schedule at the import expo, including meeting with customers and partners and signing a few important deals and partnerships. U.S. food giant Cargill has participated in CIIE for seven consecutive years.

As its influence grows, the expo is attracting new foreign enterprises over the years. Canadian sportswear giant Lululemon is among the first-time participants.

The Chinese mainland is Lululemon's largest market outside of North America and is also one of the most dynamic and exciting ones, which is key to driving the company's international business, said Calvin McDonald, CEO of Lululemon.

"It's an exciting opportunity to showcase the brand, drive awareness to our growth story and what we have planned for the future," said McDonald. He added that Lululemon will continue to open more stores in the country, adding to its current 137 stores in 41 cities.

China offers free booths and other support measures to 37 least-developed countries to help them showcase their products at the import expo. It also expanded the exhibition area for African agricultural products.

China has been opening up its market to Africa, enabling transformation on the African continent, said Peter Kagwanja, founder and president of the Africa Policy Institute.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Armenian lobby in the European Parliament is struggling to justify the fees it receives from Armenians. On Tuesday, another meaningless piece of paper was produced in the EP. Ahead of COP29, many such documents were rubber-stamped, and none had any impact. Armenians have an incredible tendency toward masochismrepeatedly putting themselves in a foolish position. This time, the statement was signed by 52 members of the Armenian lobby. The content remains the sameprisoners of war, occupied territories, Armenian heritage, and the usual rhetoric.





The content of these proclamations is always the same. These documents are churned out like carbon copies, drafted by local Armenian communities. After each such statement, Armenians fall into euphoria and start dancing. Some time passes, and seeing no results, another piece of paper is submitted to the EP, signed by parliamentarians, neo-Nazis, and Islamophobes on the diaspora's payroll. Fifty-two signatures out of 720 is hardly a victory, yet the paper demands that the EU leadership take into account the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament and act in accordance with their spirit. Its worth recalling that the EP regularly adopts offensive resolutions against Azerbaijan, but EU leadership still refuses to act in accordance with their spirit. But no mattertheres something to feel good about.





The masterminds behind this mess are growing nervous about the lack of results. In October alone, the European Parliament mentioned Baku in an unflattering light several times and passed resolutions that made no impact. The Armenians frustration has reached the point where they no longer pretend that European parliamentarians are acting purely out of their own hearts and consciences, while the Armenians quietly stand on the sidelines.





This time, the head of the European Office of Ai Dat ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Gaspar Karapetyan, stated that the Dashnaks are constantly working with EP members and will continue to encourage the EU executive authorities to report and take effective steps. The demand for a report from the EU leadership sounds more like a threat than a request.





This EP statement is the result of the Dashnaks' "work." The Armenian terrorist organization not only operates freely in Europe but also dictates terms to the European Parliament. Quite something, isn't it? But why be surprised? Just ahead of the SORA in Baku, in Geneva, the World Council of Churchesat the request of the Armenian communityis planning to hold a prayer service for war criminals and terrorists in Azerbaijani prisons. A very touching gesture, especially considering the short memory of the WCC. Today, no one seems to remember that the newly-formed ASALA carried out its first terrorist attack in 1975 at the World Council of Churches office.





So, everything is business as usual. The Dashnaktsutyun terrorist organization has orchestrated another anti-Azerbaijani statement, worked its way through the parliamentarians, no doubt discussing with each one the amount of remuneration and other perks from the Armenian community. Now, the Dashnaks are boasting about their success and warning the EU leadership that they will continue to encourage them to comply with Armenian demands. So far, the EU leadership has shown little understanding of the Armenians hysteria, but the Armenians are determined to "persevere." They have an extensive toolkit for motivation. The office of the World Council of Churches was bombed, allegedly because it prevented the transfer of Turkish territories to the Armenians. The setbacks have made the Armenians furious, and they have resorted to terrorism.





If the EU leadership continues to ignore the demands in the resolutions and statements from the European Parliament, which sides with Armenia, the Diaspora may become increasingly enraged and begin to encourage them in purely Armenian ways. After all, so much money has been spent, but COP29 will still be held in Baku, and it is becoming clear that no one will be discussing any Araiks or Rubiks there.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian man was shot and killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Wednesday after allegedly attempting a car-ramming and stabbing attack, according to a statement by the Israeli military.

The military said that the suspect drove into civilians at Shiloh Junction, north of the city of Ramallah. "He then exited the vehicle and attempted to carry out a stabbing attack," the statement said.

An armed civilian passerby fatally shot the suspect, with the military later confirming his death at the scene.

"Soldiers are currently operating in the area," the military added.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service reported that a 26-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy sustained light injuries and were taken to a hospital.

The attack occurred amid escalating violence in the region, including an ongoing Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, intensified raids in the West Bank, and clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. 
Trump claims victory over Harris in US presidential election.

Italy's rightwing prime minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday welcomed the results of the US presidential election, offering Donald Trump her "most sincere congratulations" on behalf of herself and the Italian government.

"Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship" - Meloni wrote on social media - "It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further."

A nome mio e del Governo italiano, le piu sincere congratulazioni al Presidente eletto degli Stati Uniti, Donald #Trump.



Italia e Stati Uniti sono Nazioni sorelle, legate da unalleanza incrollabile, valori comuni e una storica amicizia.



E un legame strategico, che sono certa  Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) November 6, 2024

Italy's deputy premier and Lega leader Matteo Salvini also congratulated Trump, writing on social media: "Patriotism, border control, tax cuts, Christian roots, freedom of speech, commitment to world peace. Common sense, passion, and hope WIN in the US! What a historic day!"

"I am very happy to have been one of the very few in Italy who has never hidden a preference for Trump", Salvini told Radio Rtl 102.5 on Wednesday, stating that his support is based on "logic and Italy's national interest".

Patriotism, border control, tax cuts, Christian roots, freedom of speech, commitment to world peace.

Common sense, passion, and hope WIN in the US!

What a historic day!



CONGRATULATIONS, President Donald Trump #GoDonaldGo #Election2024 pic.twitter.com/T8b1ZN4SZh  Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) November 6, 2024

Antonio Tajani, deputy premier and foreign minister, sent his best wishes to Trump, pledging to "work well with the new administration, also for the good of Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa", congratulating the American people for "this great demonstration of democracy".

Giuseppe Conte, former Italian premier and leader of the populist Movimento 5 Stelle, contratulated Trump on social media, noting the "traditional friendship between our peoples and the solid alliance between our two countries".

"The challenges that await the United States are many and concern us all" - Conte wrote - "stopping the wars in progress, opposing with the utmost firmness the violations of international humanitarian law, opening up to a multipolar vision of the new geopolitical balances, aiming for fair rules for international trade avoiding the protectionist spiral of tariffs and counter-tariffs."

Auguri di buon lavoro al 47^Presidente degli Stati Uniti, Donald Trump. Lavoreremo al meglio con la nuova amministrazione, anche per il bene dell'Europa, del Mediterraneo e dell'Africa. Congratulazioni al popolo americano per questa grande manifestazione di democrazia. pic.twitter.com/mmbstiWmPc  Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) November 6, 2024

Matteo Renzi, former Italian prime minister and leader of the centrist Italia Viva party, wrote on social media that there "are many reflections that the political world can and must make on this clear response from the polls" before noting that the "first moral and civil duty" is to congratulate Trump and bestow honour on "the defeated Kamala Harris", adding: "I hope that this is the moment of awakening for Europe".

On Tuesday evening the leader of Italy's opposition centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) Elly Schlein declared her full support for Kamala Harris.

"Even in recent days Trump has made no secret of his hatred for the European Union" - Schlein said at an event in Rome - "The relationship between the US and the EU has never been simple, but it would be further complicated by a Trump victory."

Photo credit: Jonah Elkowitz / Shutterstock.com.
COLOMBO, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers has approved the construction of 1,996 housing units for low-income families with funding provided by the Chinese government, cabinet spokesperson Vijitha Herath announced on Wednesday.

At a press conference detailing the cabinet's decisions, he said the housing units will be built in three suburbs of Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka.

According to former State Minister of Urban Development and Housing Thenuka Vidanagamage, 789,242 families in Sri Lanka are without permanent housing, as reported to Parliament in November 2023. 
To celebrate 150 years Tramore Coastguard Station, a blue plaque is to unveiled at the site this week.

This will be the first blue plaque erected in Tramore.

The Blue Plaque initiative is ran by Waterford Civic Trust, which has to date installed over seventy blue plaques throughout the city and county to commemorate links between a particular location, a famous person or event.

The round blue plaques feature inscriptions which tell us of events or people connected with Waterford and the building/place you are passing by.

The historic coastguard station, which first opened in 1874, was used by the Coastguard service until 1922.

In 1924 the Garda Siochana took up occupation of the building. The station was used as a Garda Barracks and Gardai and their families lived in the 6 residential cottages.

The Gardai vacated the building in 1988 when they moved to a new station in Market Street, Tramore. The building remained unoccupied and was destroyed by a fire in October 2000.

The station facilities are now used by the Tramore unit of the Irish Coast Guard. A modern boathouse and training facilities meet the needs of this State-run emergency service responsible for maritime Search & Rescue.

The station is also the home to a Community Cultural Arts Centre which hosts art exhibitions and performances.
Classes on SETUs Waterford campuses have resumed following a cyberattack incident which impacted the operation of the university last week.

However, staff and students have been advised that they may still experience some disruptions as efforts continue to resume normal services.

SETU have released a statement reminding everyone to stay alert for any suspicious or unexpected emails:

Just as in normal practice, please dont share personal information like passwords or usernames, and avoid clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown or unverified sourceseven if the message appears to be genuine.

If you havent already done so, please reset your password as a precaution. Over the next few days, you may also receive prompts to change it.

In relation to working from Waterford campuses, students have been advised that office desktops should not be used on the Waterford Campuses until further notice. However, you can use your work laptop on an external Wi-Fi.

It is advisable to use the online version of Microsoft Office to minimise any potential risk.

Laptops may be connected directly to projectors in classrooms and Wi-Fi is currently unavailable on the Waterford campuses.

Students can print using a USB drive at the staff printers and photocopiers in Reprographics. If your USB has been used on a university-connected device on or after the 22nd of October 2024 please do not use the USB key.

OneDrive is fully accessible off campus, and you can safely use Moodle from your home computer.

While some library databases are restricted, others remain available through the SETU Library website using your university login. The library and other buildings on the Waterford campuses are open for group work and study, but please keep in mind that there is no Wi-Fi or network access, and desktops should not be used.

As an extra safety measure, it is advisable that your home devices have software protection packages installed e.g. antivirus software.

A SETU spokesperson said: The IT helpdesk continues to operate and will endeavour to answer all queries as soon as possible.
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Eating outRestaurants Mid-week wonders: dining bargains and meal deals to get you through the hump day slump Including approachable fine dining, one-dollar chicken wings, half-price pizzas and all the mussels you can eat. Max Veenhuyzen November 7, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Earlier this year, we published a collection of Monday meal deals across Perth to help ease the transition from weekend to working week. (Or for those that work in the hospitality industry, end the last day of the traditional hospo weekend on an up-note.) This time around, were switching our focus to the rest of the week via round-up of wallet-friendly midweek meal deals you might like to keep up your sleeve. We hope they help you with everything from planning midweek date nights and impromptu catchups with mates to saving the day  or night  on those occasions where turning on the stove is the last thing you want to do when you get home. Its no coincidence, I think, that many of these offers involve comfort foods and dishes: precisely the sorts of reassuring flavours we turn to when life threatens to get the best of us. Sometimes you just cant beat a midweek pub meal. Rob Broadfield The enduring appeal of the pub meal

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Is there anything more comforting than sitting down at your local watering hole and putting away a counter meal? On Tuesdays, the crew at The Quarter Acre in Applecross will shout you a beer or wine with every chicken parmy you order (on Monday and Wednesdays, the free drink offer applies to burger and steak sandwich purchases respectively). At the Claremont Hotel, Tuesdays are steak night with $25 getting you either rump or sirloin plus chips, salad, peppercorn jus and bearnaise sauce. Moving over to The Elford, the fourth day of the week is henceforth known as Wings and Jugs Thursday where patrons can score saucy chicken wings for a buck (minimum order of five wing) and $15 jugs of Swan Draught. The supreme comfort of good pasta Then again, maybe pasta is the safety blanket that we all reach for when were feeling down. As part of The Standards recent reboot and shift to a more Mediterranean food offering, the inner-city pub is offer two-for-one pastas on Wednesdays. On Tuesdays, spirited Mount Hawthorns wine bar La Madonna Nera hosts Pasta & Vino night featuring your choice of two pastas plus a glass of wine for $30. Braised goat ragu with handkerchiefs of fazzoletti pasta at La Madonna Nera. Jessica Shaver Bennett Pizza for all (and for less)

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Is it just me or did everyone else miss the memo that Wednesdays are now cut-price pizza day in Perth? While Italians (and teenagers) often pair pizza with beer, Lyndon Waples and the crew at Canteen Pizza believe pinot noir is pizzakinds true ride-or-die. So much so that Wednesdays have been appointed Pizza & Pinot night where all bottles of pinot are sold at half-price. Oysters shucked-to-order by Jerry Fraser and funk vinyl from Charlie Bucket sweeten an already attractive deal. If discount pinot doesnt do it for you, Wednesdays see riverfront stalwart The Raffles offer half-price pizzas. Magnetic Italo funhouse Si Paradiso has recently launched Wednesday night Pizza Club where guests can hook into Sis puffy pizze for $15 along with snappy drink specials. Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review Imaginative dishes make South Freos Madalenas an essential address for lovers of seafood Make lunchtime great again When Adrian Fini and co were granted permission to resurrect three of Perths oldest buildings as the sprawling State Buildings precinct, it came with the stipulation that they ensured the buildings were accessible to all West Australians. These lunchtime dining deals are two ways team State Buildings is making good on that promise. The two-course Flow lunch at Wildflower (from $69) is a great way to experience the pleasures of COMO The Treasurys rooftop fine diner without locking yourself into a tasting menu. Down in the basement, Long Chims $44 two-course Silom lunch deal includes a choice of entree and main course. Assemble a posse, order strategically and treat yourselves to a well-priced Thai banquet. Seafood specials worth diving into Tuesday evenings see Leedervilles Kailis Brothers give diners a mussel workout of a different kind. For $30 per person, enjoy two hours of bottomless mussels prepared in one of three ways: Italian-style with fresh tomato and chilli; with nduja and cream; or a Thai-inspired mix of coriander and coconut cream. Between Wednesday and Saturday, William Street newcomer Margots is flipping the lid on $1.50 oysters from 4pm to 6pm: briskly made martini optional yet highly recommended.
The Albanese governments plan to cut $16 billion from Commonwealth student debts has come in for strident criticism since the scheme was announced at the weekend.

The federal opposition has branded the plan a desperate giveaway that is unfair because it only benefits about 3 million of the nations 21 million taxpayers.

Any reduction in student debts will help the economy. Credit:

Others have argued scarce government resources could be better used than giving debt relief to the tertiary-educated, a group that tends to go on to enjoy relatively high incomes.

But the denunciations are overblown and ignore the social and economic damage being done by rising student debt.
One of two directors of embattled building company Nicheliving Paul Bitdorf has resigned from his second role as the Polish Honorary Consulate in Perth  a position highly involved with the states political elite.

Queries made by 9 News Perth and WAtoday to the Republic of Poland Ministry of Foreign Affairs last month revealed officials were unaware of the controversy surrounding the embattled builder, and that Bitdorf had stepped down.

Former Niche Living director Paul Bitdorf (right) with former WA Premier Mark McGowan.

The Ministry confirmed on Wednesday his position was now vacant.

We would like to inform you that Mr Paul Bitdorf, Honorary Consul of Poland in Perth has resigned from his position, and his resignation has been accepted, the Republic of Poland Ministry of Foreign Affairs told this masthead.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke will urgently introduce new laws aimed at restoring ankle bracelets and curfews for former immigration detainees, after the High Court struck down the Albanese governments monitoring regime by finding it was punitive and unconstitutional.

Labor sought to fend off a fresh political storm after a majority of justices on Wednesday ruled the federal government did not have the authority to impose curfews or electronic tracking devices on 140 former detainees who have been released into the community since last year.

A High Court test case has found that ankle bracelet orders for former immigration detainees are unconstitutional. . Credit: Marija Ercegovac

Threatened with a Coalition attack on immigration and community safety, as opposition frontbenchers immediately called on Labor to explain its plans to keep people safe, Burke said he would sign off on the regulations by the end of Wednesday to adjust processes so that electronic monitoring and curfews could still be used.

[On Thursday] I will introduce new legislation to support those regulations. The legislation will also strengthen the governments power to remove people who have had their visas cancelled to third countries, Burke said in a statement.
As millions of Americans headed to the polls to cast their ballot in what was likely to be one of the most consequential elections in recent history, bomb threats were reported at a number of polling sites amid claims of foreign interference and voter fraud.

In Fulton County, Georgia, which has the states largest black population and was one of the strongest counties for the Democrats in the 2020 election, five polling sites were temporarily closed after bomb threats were made. Out of the 177 polling places in Fulton County, 32 faced bomb threats.

A voter works on her ballot at a polling place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, California. Credit: AP

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said similar threats were made throughout the state, but all were deemed non-credible and authorities were investigating. The FBI also reported multiple bomb threats were made nationwide that were not being treated as credible threats. All threats appeared to originate from Russian email domains.

On Tuesday AEDT, US officials issued a joint statement with federal law enforcement agencies warning that Russia was ramping up its influence operations, including in ways that could incite violence, and would probably continue those efforts well after the votes had been cast. The statement also noted that Iran remains a significant foreign influence threat to US elections.
THE HAGUE, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Dutch and French authorities conducted a search of Netflix's offices in Paris and Amsterdam on Tuesday as part of an investigation into alleged tax fraud, reported Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

The investigation, initiated by French authorities in November 2022, has involved close cooperation between France and the Netherlands, according to De Telegraaf. Netflix's European headquarters is based in Amsterdam.

The streaming giant has been under investigation in France regarding its tax filings for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. When news of this investigation surfaced last year, Netflix emphasized its commitment to complying with tax regulations in all countries where it operates.

French investigative media outlet La Lettre reported last year that Netflix's French operations were structured so that all subscribers were registered with a Dutch subsidiary until 2021, which allowed Netflix to reduce its tax obligations in France for 2019 and 2020.

Authorities in the Netherlands and France are now investigating whether Netflix continued similar practices to minimize its reported profits and tax responsibilities. 
He didnt have to seize power. America, the modern worlds greatest champion of democracy for the past eight decades, has lost faith in its calling. Loading That is the true uniqueness of this election  not the candidates, not the policies, not the pageantry. They matter. And, in a democratic system, the power holders and their policies can be replaced, renewed, reviewed. But in an autocracy, an absolute leader is not interested in being replaced nor his policies reviewed. The great advantage of democracy is not that it produces the best possible government but the bloodless removal of a bad one, as Karl Popper said. Trump has made clear, over and again, that, if given power, he will not surrender it. As he said to an audience this year, vote for him just this time, you wont have to do it any more. Four more years, you know what? Itll be fixed, itll be fine, you wont have to vote any more.

When Joe Biden took power, he said he would try to save American democracy. From the very beginning, nothing has been guaranteed about democracy in America, he said in 2022. Every generation has had to defend it, protect it, preserve it, choose it. Until now. Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris, failed. Donald Trump smiles at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Centre. Credit: AP Democracy has been in retreat on planet Earth since the democratic recession took hold at the time of the global financial crisis 16 years ago. Only 24 full democracies survive among the worlds 200 nations, according to The Economists Democracy Index.

And now the centrepiece of the system, the hub of a network of democratic allies embracing more than 40 nations, has collapsed in on itself. American democracy was hollowed out by a failure of its promise to its people. Most Americans believe that their country is riddled with corruption, most believe that government serves the elites and not the people, and nearly half of all voters are sceptical that the American experiment in self-governance is working, to summarise a New York Times poll published last month. And now they have delivered the death sentence to the system they feel betrayed them. Not because they expect Trump to actually fix a broken system. In her landmark work, The Politics of Resentment, political scientist Katherine Cramer described how she took regular part in a wide range of community groups in her home state of Wisconsin, one of the swing states in deciding elections and part of the great swath of left-behind, fly-over America. When Cramer asks groups of Trump supporters how they expect he will improve their lives, they are surprised at the question, she reports. They dont expect Trump to be the vehicle for their improvement but for their disenchantment and anger.

When Trump said last year, For those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution, he spoke for those voters. They have given up on their system, feeling abandoned by smug big-city elites, but have confidence in Trump to offend the elites and damage their system. The US, the nation that kept liberty alive in the face of a fearsome axis of autocracies eight decades ago, seems to be losing confidence that its worth the effort. Loading Will Trumps America be prepared to confront the rising partnership of autocracies in their fast-forming new front  Xi Jinpings China, Vladimir Putins Russia, the ayatollahs Iran and Kim Jong-uns North Korea? It must be in question. A former Trump national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, explained why Trump prefers the worlds worst dictators to Americas traditional allies. Its part of his struggle for self-worth. If hes accepted by so-called strongmen, he might convince others, and especially himself, that he was strong.
This was always a challenging race for Vice President Kamala Harris. She started late and ran against a tough opponent in a bleak environment. She faced an electorate hungry for change, upset with the direction of the country and the economy.

If she wins, she will be able to credit a handful of factors that helped her fight those headwinds and defeat former president Donald Trump.

A Kamala Harris victory would leave little doubt about the potency of reproductive rights as an issue. Credit: Marija Ercegovac

Here is what analysts will be saying should Harris win.

Turnout, turnout, turnout
Hello, this is the moment where we put this news feed to rest and bring you a whole new one as Americans and people around the world continue to take stock of what a second Trump presidency means for them.

Thank you to everyone who has been following along, and to the spectacular team at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age for their work on bringing Australians the best angles on this historic event.

Heres a summary of what weve brought you over the past 24 hours:

Donald Trump has claimed victory in the US election, with 295 electoral college votes clearing his path to the White House. Votes are still being counted in the swing states of Nevada and Arizona, with both leaning towards Trump.

US President Joe Biden is set to address the nation from Washington DC at 11am local time (3am AEDT), after he released a statement praising Vice President Kamala Harris, who earlier delivered a speech that struck an uplifting tone as she told supporters she conceded the election, but not the ideals of her campaign.

European leaders are holding a summit in Budapest, where Trumps victory will be central to discussions about the future of regional and global security.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has congratulated Trump in a phone call but is facing questions at home about the ability of Australias ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, to work with the new administration, with the former prime minister scrubbing critical comments of Trump from his social media.

A leading analyst has warned Trumps policy agenda could spark a global financial crisis and fuel inflation, with fears Australians could be buffeted by higher interest rates and a $36 billion hit to the domestic economy.

Follow along as we continue to provide updates on our new blog here.
SHANGHAI, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- This year marks a milestone in China-Africa relations.

At the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September, China announced it would unilaterally expand its market and pledged support for African products through platforms like the China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Two months later, the 7th CIIE opened in Shanghai. Various African products were showcased, and investment talks took place, aiming to turn China's big market into an ample opportunity.

China's sincerity in continuing to open up has been showcased to the world through the CIIE, as well as its principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith toward Africa.

OPEN MARKET

Since its first edition in 2018, the CIIE has leveraged China's vast market advantages and served as a vital platform for international procurement, investment promotion, and openness and cooperation. As China opens its door to Africa wider, more agricultural products are joining the CIIE to gain a share of the Chinese market.

Ethiopian coffee is a familiar presence at the expo. Since its debut in 2019, Ethiopian coffee has gained significant recognition and increased visibility in the Chinese market, said Ruth Wondosen Tesfaye from Addis Coffee.

"CIIE offers a unique platform to engage directly with consumers and distributors, which will be invaluable for enhancing our export strategies," Ruth told Xinhua in Shanghai, adding that China's large market and increasing demand for unique products, such as coffee from Ethiopia, present immense potential for African businesses.

This is the first CIIE for Madagascar's mutton products this year. China imported its first mutton from Africa in September when mutton from Madagascar was cleared at Changsha Customs in central China.

Michel Anondraka, director general of agriculture and livestock at Madagascar's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, said in a recent interview with Xinhua that China's huge market would boost production for local livestock farmers and speed up the African country's agricultural modernization.

Tanzanian honey also made its debut this year. "This expo is a significant opportunity for honey businesses across Tanzania, as it not only paves the way for our products to enter the Chinese market but also marks a solid step for Tanzanian honey brands in the global market," said Jackson Mponela, production manager for commerce and development at Tanzania Future Enterprises Company Limited, which produces, processes, packages, and sells beekeeping products.

Khozeni Farming from South Africa joined this year's expo for the first time with their avocados. Nkateko Khoza, CEO of the farming company, told Xinhua that the Chinese market will bring new growth opportunities for the South African avocado industry, adding that the opportunity will allow the company to at least double its growth in the next three to five years.

POLICY SUPPORT

Philip Myburgh, group head of trade at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking, told Xinhua in a written interview that policy support is one of the main drivers of the growing economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa.

He explained that under the FOCAC, there are broad initiatives supporting African countries' participation in the CIIE to facilitate trade.

Since the 8th FOCAC Ministerial Conference in 2021, China and Africa have steadily advanced the forum's initiatives, including the "green channel" for African agricultural products entering China. Inspection and quarantine processes have been expedited, and tariff exemptions expanded, benefiting Africa's flower industry, avocado, citrus, coffee and other agricultural products.

China's trade promotion measures have significantly boosted Africa's exports to China. In the first nine months of this year, China's imports from Africa reached 626.74 billion yuan (about 87 billion U.S. dollars), marking a 10.3 percent year-on-year increase, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.

This year, the CIIE welcomes Mauritian sugar. Since the China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement took effect in 2021, Mauritius's sugar industry has seen opportunities in the Chinese market.

Sugarcane is one of the most important crops on the island, which is known as the "Sweet Island." Once accounting for nearly a third of the country's GDP and over 90 percent of export revenue, the sugar industry still contributes over 2 percent to Mauritius' GDP.

Devesh Dukhira, CEO of the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate, told Xinhua that the Chinese market's long-term contribution will be substantial, thanks to the CIIE and the China-Mauritius FTA.

GLOBAL SOUTH

This year at the CIIE, the Global South is heavily featured. The 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum has spotlighted "Sustainable Development of Global South and China-Africa Cooperation" as a key topic for discussion, aiming to offer insights and recommendations for fostering inclusive growth within the least developed countries.

Myburgh said the CIIE can play a crucial role in helping developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development by providing access to new markets, investments, technology, and knowledge.

China has always been committed to promoting South-South cooperation. During this year's FOCAC Beijing Summit, China announced it has decided to give all the least developed countries having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step.

The action plan, adopted at the Beijing summit, which outlined 10 partnership initiatives to guide the next phase of China-Africa cooperation, could have a far-reaching impact on the people of Africa, said Peter Kagwanja, Chief Executive at the Africa Policy Institute in Kenya.

"What we appreciate is the fact that China is opening up the market for Africa," he told Xinhua at this year's CIIE. "China is a real and true friend of Africa." 
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Zambia are pursuing cross-border reforms and modernization at their common border crossing in Kasumbalesa. These efforts respond to eminent challenges traders and transporters face in conducting cross-border trade through the Kasumbalesa border crossing. Strategically, the Kasumbalesa border post is an important border crossing located at a point where several Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade corridors converge, including North-South Corridors, Dar es Salaam Development Corridor, Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor, Beira Development Corridor, and the Lobito Development Corridors.

As part of the broader Kasumbalesa Initiatives, the Customs Systems Interconnectivity Project, aimed at enhancing cross-border trade efficiency and reducing trade barriers, is bolstered by the support of World Customs Organization (WCO) through the Trade Facilitation and Customs Modernization Programme for Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa 2020-2024 (Sida-WCO TFCM Programme), in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation through the Cooperation for the Enhancement of SADC Regional Economic Integration (GIZ- CESARE Programme) and the SADC.

With the technical expertise of the WCO and financial support of the GIZ, the Direction Generale des Douanes et Accises (DGDA) and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) launched an inaugural meeting of the Project Steering Committee on Customs System Interconnectivity on 1 November 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This highly engaging meeting considered and approved the terms of reference of the Steering Committee and the Work Programme for the project. The Steering Committee is further supported by the Technical Working Groups, which convened from 28 to 31 October 2024 to continue developing the technical frameworks and tools. These tools, which are modelled on WCO standards and instruments, include Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance (CMAA) and the Globally Networked Customs Utility Block for the bilateral exchange of Customs data.

With the setting up of the Project Steering Committee, the project is poised to launch the Customs system interconnectivity and data exchange in May 2025.

For more information on this activity, you can contact the WCO at the following address: capacity.building@wcoomd.org
From 7 to 9 October 2024, the World Customs Organization (WCO) hosted the 5th Meeting of the Working Group on Data and Statistics (WGDS), bringing together global experts from Customs administrations to discuss advancements in customs data management, statistical standards, and innovative technological solutions. Held virtually and in Brussels, the meeting featured in-depth discussions on the groups achievements, ongoing projects, and strategic initiatives aimed to enhance the effectiveness of data-driven customs operations.

During the meeting, attendees reviewed the progress made since the last meeting in May 2024, particularly regarding the expansion of statistical standards and definitions, which had been endorsed by the Policy Commission and integrated into the 2024 Illicit Trade Report. Discussions centred on the development of new standards and definitions for emerging statistical areas, ensuring that WCO Members have the tools to collect and harmonize data effectively.

A significant focus of the meeting was the endorsement of the Compendium on Data Sharing and Data Exchange, which compiles WCO Members national, regional, and subregional experiences. Delegates explored best practices and challenges in data sharing, emphasizing the importance of knowledge exchange to strengthen global Customs operations. The compendium aims to promote the benefits of cross-border data sharing, with insights from Members case studies, underscoring the value of collaboration and shared experiences.

A key highlight of the meeting was the focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Customs operations, including discussions on the SMART Customs Project and the Smart Customs Survey results, which identified priority areas like predictive analytics and automated decision-making. Delegates reviewed AI-related capacity-building activities and shared use cases of AI transforming Customs processes, enhancing efficiency and security. The meeting also covered AI regulatory frameworks, exploring the challenges and opportunities of emerging legislation and how Customs can navigate these while leveraging AI for innovation and streamlining operations.

A key agenda item was the review of the WCO Data Strategy, which was adopted in 2022. The Working Group assessed the progress made, aligning with internal stakeholders to ensure the strategy continues to meet the organizations goals. Members shared national use cases and best practices, providing valuable insights into how data strategies can be effectively implemented within Customs administrations.

In his closing remarks, WCO Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Trevino Chapa expressed his gratitude for the engaging discussions and the valuable contributions from the delegates. He underscored the importance of aligning the Working Groups evolving mandate with the WCOs broader modernization plan and highlighted the need to expand the scope of the groups work, given that several key objectives have already been achieved.

For more information, please contact the Capacity Building Directorate at capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes struck southern Lebanon on Wednesday, killing Hussain Abd Al-Haleem Harb, Hezbollah's commander in the Khiam region, Israel's military reported.

In a statement, the military said Harb "directed and executed many rocket attacks against communities in the Galilee, and against the area of Metula specifically."

Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli Air Force has conducted around 70 strikes in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, according to military figures.

In Lebanon, ground forces coordinated aerial strikes that killed "a number" of Hezbollah fighters, while in Gaza, Israeli soldiers reportedly killed "dozens" of individuals the military identified as militants. 
BEIRUT, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon on Wednesday renewed its call for a ceasefire and submitted a new complaint to the UN Security Council regarding Israel's attacks on the country.

The ongoing and escalating Israeli attacks against Lebanon have turned into "crimes" against humanity and civilization and a violation of all international charters and laws, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said at a cabinet meeting, according to a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers.

"Our position and decision are to preserve Lebanon's dignity and to ensure respect for national sovereignty by air, sea, land, and international resolutions; we will not tolerate any breach or attack," he said.

Mikati emphasized the need to stop the war, fully implement UN Resolution 1701, and elect a new president so that the country could start with the reconstruction process.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants submitted a new complaint to the UN Security Council regarding Israel's attacks on Lebanon.

A statement released by the ministry said that in the new complaint, Lebanon condemned Israel's continued aggression against it, the violation of its sovereignty, the ground incursion into its territory, the committing of more "massacres," and the continuous and systematic destruction of border villages.

It said that Israel blew up villages with 400 tons of explosives, warning that this "systematic destruction" indicates the Israeli army's efforts to transform the border strip into an uninhabited buffer zone.

Lebanon also condemned Israel's ongoing attacks on densely populated residential buildings, places of worship, and religious shrines, as well as the cities of Tyre and Baalbek, which contain archaeological sites. It also criticized Israel's continued targeting of the Lebanese army, ambulances, and civil defense centers and personnel, along with its use of internationally prohibited white phosphorus bombs.

Lebanon called on the UN Security Council to condemn Israel's hostile actions, take firm measures to stop them, hold it fully responsible for the heavy losses in lives and property, demand its immediate and unconditional withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories, and implement UN Resolution 1701 fully and comprehensively to ensure the security and stability of the region. 
WELLINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government said it will co-invest 8 million NZ dollars to boost New Zealand beef and lamb exports to the Chinese market.

New Zealand aims to position its beef and lamb as the highest-quality red meats of choice for Chinese consumers, Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said on Tuesday at a signing ceremony during the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

The New Zealand government has launched the "Taste Pure Nature" campaign with the country's red meat sector to strengthen the Kiwi red meat brand in China, differentiating it from competitors, and driving better returns for kiwi farmers and processors, said the minister.

New Zealand's largest red meat exporter Silver Fern Farms has established its presence in China for nearly 30 years, with China being one of the company's key markets, Silver Fern Farms Limited Chief Executive Dan Boulton told Xinhua last week.

This year, Silver Fern Farms has expanded its retail channels to cover China's central and western regions, supplying high-end grass-fed beef and lamb products to local supermarket stores to cater for China's growing middle class, Boulton said.

The Chinese market remains an important growth engine for global meat exporters, Boulton said, adding that he expects to leverage the spill-over effect of the ongoing CIIE to enhance the company's understanding of the Chinese market. (1 NZ dollar equals 0.6 U.S. dollars) 
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa, who is in China for the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit, in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

KUNMING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday said that he hopes China and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will continue to focus on development and extend the frontiers of bilateral cooperation.

Li made the remarks during a meeting with ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa, who is in Kunming, Yunnan, to attend the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit from Nov. 6 to 7.

China is the largest developing country in the world and the ADB is a multilateral development institution that is committed to common development in Asia and the Pacific region, Li said.

China is ready to strengthen financial cooperation with the ADB in the areas of environmental protection, green and low-carbon development, elderly care and medical care, and deepen knowledge cooperation in such areas as the development of emerging industries, the reform of fiscal and tax systems, and how to respond to an aging population, he said.

He noted that China hopes to share its experience in poverty reduction, the digital economy and green development with other developing countries through the ADB platform.

China will continue to participate in and support Greater Mekong Subregion economic cooperation, and work with all parties to promote regional development and prosperity, Li said.

China's economy has been generally stable and seen progress this year, the premier said, and the country will advance its high-level opening-up continuously.

The Chinese economy's steady growth is of great significance to the economic recovery of the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, Masatsugu Asakawa said.

The ADB is committed to developing a more robust, comprehensive cooperative relationship with China, and will continue to support China's high-quality development, he said.

He noted that the ADB is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in the areas of green and low-carbon development, climate change response, ecological diversity protection, energy transition, and knowledge and innovation.

The ADB will facilitate further practical outcomes of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program, and join China in upholding free trade and opposing protectionism. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa, who is in China for the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit, in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
There will be a meeting in Crossmolina this Thursday to discuss the towns preparations in the event of a serious flood event this winter.

The North Mayo town was devastated by floods when the River Deel burst its banks in December 2015 and there has been anxiety in the area about a repeat of those events.

Cllr Michael Loftus said the organisers are asking local residents to attend, as well as representatives from various agencies such as An Garda Siochana, the Fire Service, Mayo County Council, the HSE and representatives from the community.

We are going to have a get-together to discuss what will happen in Crossmolina in the event of a flood and were calling on the relevant agencies to be there, he said.

A lot has changed since 2015 and were trying to refresh our preparations so were ready for any eventuality.

The meeting takes place this Thursday, November 7, at 11am in the Cultural Centre.
COMMUNITY NOTES: CLAREMORRIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (NOVEMBER 5 EDITION)

Claremorris rail workers were highly commended at this years Iarnrod Eireann Customer Experience Awards. The awards took place at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin recently.

The event recognises excellence in customer experience in all aspects of service that is provided to rail customers. Workers were nominated by their peers and this year also featured a Peoples Choice Award, where nominations came from customers. Claremorris station staff were highly commended in the Customer Experience Team of the Year Category. This is an important category, which demonstrates their dedication to customer service excellence.

The team at Claremorris consists of four colleagues, Tom Byrne, Tom Charles, Jan Pilbrow and Terence Heaney. Together, they resource the station from the first train until the last, seven days a week. All four are warm engaging people and are very proud of the roles that they perform. They are always well-presented, portraying a positive and professional image of themselves and ensuring that the station is cleaned to a high standard and welcoming for our customers.

Their nomination said: The team at Claremorris is supportive and helpful to all our customers but do pay special attention to those that need help the most. The team is a strong example of the group that represents the Customers at the heart of the Business value.
Local councillors in Castlebar are working to make Lough Lannagh and its adjoining leisure complex one of the biggest visitor attractions in the region, with Cllr Blackie Gavin describing the amenity as the "jewel in the crown" for the town.

Both Cllr Gavin and Cllr Ger Deere submitted motions to the October meeting of Castlebar Municipal District seeking ongoing works and developments at the amenity to increase its offering to the public, while Head of the District David Mellett said the tenders for the Lough Lannagh masterplan had been issued, with feedback expected in December.

Cllr Gavin appealed to Mayo County Council to develop additional car-parking spaces around Lough Lannagh and the adjacent leisure centre, saying that the value of the amenity is growing exponentially as increasing numbers travel to enjoy its many offerings.

Welcoming the announcement of over 350,000 in funding for the development of a climbing wall at the leisure centre, an impassioned Cllr Gavin said parking was a big issue at the leisure centre and needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Once this climbing wall is completed in 2025, it will be one of the biggest attractions for this county and we will have families from all over Ireland coming to it.

I have already congratulated the Lough Lannagh complex on their national award for which all staff there must be complimented. Its a huge success. I see it myself, from 6.30am to 10pm at night, the amount of people using the facility day and night is phenomenal."

With Christmas fast approaching Cllr Gavin also referred to the festive attractions at Lough Lannagh and said the council should create a Christmas lighting scheme around the lake.

This would be the start of a huge attraction for people coming shopping to Castlebar and maybe we could bring some big event also to Lough Lannagh to tie in with Christmas."

In his notice of motion, Cllr Ger Deere itemised a list of works needed around the lake, including new public lighting and CCTV cameras on the section of walkway overlooking the cemetery, completing the tarmacadam on all sections of the walkway, erecting new signage including map and distance markings, removing all ivy from Burkes Castle and erecting secure fencing around it, installing a water station, procuring mink traps if required and clarifying if all dogs should be kept on lead and whether e-scooters are allowed. He also asked the council to identify costs and a suitable location for the provision of portable toilets.

In an additional motion, Cllr Deere called for bylaws to be drawn up to facilitate the parking of mobile coffee vans at the Lough Lannagh car park, stating: There was unbelievably positive feedback to the coffee van at the recent triathlon event. People afterwards were thrilled with the provision of the coffee van and particularly elderly people who said it made them feel that going around the lake walking, that it was supervised and that it made them feel safe."

Cllr Deere said he had spoken to local business people and they were not opposed to the idea.

All proposals were supported by members, with Cllr Harry Barrett adding that the council needed to appoint a manager to oversee Lough Lannagh as well as Castlebar Town Park.

Head of the district David Mellett said the council was seeking funding to develop additional parking spaces but it wouldn't be straightforward. Referring to the various ideas outlined at the meeting, he remarked:

There is no doubt Lough Lannagh is a fantastic facility and there is no shortage of ideas there. But the danger is doing too much and ruining it, so that is the purpose of the master plan."
Cardinal William Conway (Archbishop of Armagh and the leader of the Irish Catholic Church, 1963-'77) was known as a cute man who had a talent for playing his cards close to his chest. Once, upon arriving in Maynooth for a meeting after travelling from Armagh, someone casually asked him what the weather was like in Armagh that morning. Conways reply  as ever considered and circumspect  was a measure of the man: 'I think it was raining but dont quote me on that.'

After the Second Vatican Council, Conway was responsible for the smooth introduction into Ireland of the Mass in the vernacular  a huge change from Latin to the everyday language of the people. At the time introducing change from a heretofore universal acceptance of the unalterable Latin in the Mass to a universal acceptance of the vernacular seemed a challenging task. If Latin could be summarily sidelined as no longer suitable or acceptable after centuries of practice, what else might need to be jettisoned as surplus to modern requirements?

Conway was an astute leader of the Irish Catholic Church and his policy of gradualism  introducing change bit by bit  was regarded as the key to the almost universal acceptance of the new vernacular Mass in Ireland, unlike in Britain (especially England) where Latin Mass societies formed to lead opposition to the change. And still do. Conways drip-feed approach of introducing the vernacular bit by bit was both insightful and successful  as the absence of Latin Mass societies in Ireland attested.

His policy of managing change gradually became the wisdom of the day  bolstered by an unquestioned acceptance at the time that the Archbishop of Armagh knew what was best for the Irish Catholic Church.

Times, as we know, have changed. While gradualism still has something to say for itself, the idea that ordination confers wisdom now has a very potted history. As has the accumulation of precedence, entitlement, presumption and control that defined the clerical world. Thats now bulked under the collective term clericalism which, thanks to Pope Francis, is now reviled as the cardinal clerical sin. As a result, the Archbishop of Armagh no longer knows better.

But old clerical habits die hard and those who seek to perpetuate them are doing a lot of damage to our Church. As, for example, whatever genius decided that of the 10 study groups set up at the recent Rome Synod to further examine issues facing the Catholic Church, the one on the role of women would be swathed in secrecy.

The composition of the other study groups was public and even had photographs of the members attached but Study Group Five (on the role of women) was clouded in secrecy. This, of course, was the one that had created a flurry of expectation of change (as with the possibility of ordaining women deacons) and the secrecy involved had already been highlighted by two commissioned reports on women deacons that were unpublished! If a calculated effort was being made to suggest a conspiracy of control, it couldnt have been more successful.

The perception or rather realisation that in the Catholic Church clerics in authority simply dont get things has long defined frustration with a cossetted elite who often live in a world of their own. The glaring example of an inability to actually GET IT was the handling of the recent child abuse scandals. While parents almost immediately recognised the terrible damage inflicted on innocent children as the central issue, church authorities distracted by peripheral concerns like preserving the reputation of the Church didnt hear or lost sight of a key truth. Like Sinn Fein, more recently, with an abundance of caution, the Church took its eye off the ball and had to be dragged bit by bit to what the primary moral focus demanded.

The debacle of the recent Roman Synods Study Group Five (mentioned above) is yet another glaring example of an inability to actually GET IT as the handling of the role of women in the church follows the same unbalanced trajectory. At a time when it is clear to most people that womens place in society is undergoing a seismic revolution and when Catholics, as the Synod reports from the dioceses of the world confirm, wait patiently for that historic quantum jump to be implemented in our Church, the tactic seems to be a cloak and dagger effort to avoid facing an inescapable reality.

If women have taken or are taking their rightful place in every conceivable area of expertise in todays world, why do we pretend that this beneficial tsunami will successfully avoid the Catholic Church, which of all institutions clearly needs the positive input it will bring? The present effort to stem the tide or to stay the hand of history has the fingerprints of Vatican bureaucrats all over it. Its not just unwise but foolish and, lets face it, profoundly embarrassing.

Yes, I know there are other views. Theres the danger that the Church could fragment as a result of a worldwide schism. And I appreciate that the Catholic Church is so diverse that delivering change is complex and takes time. And I know that theres an argument to be made for Pope Franciss determination to prioritise process over content.

And that, despite the disappointment of yet another can being kicked down yet another road, the synod has achieved important objectives not least the radical departure that the lay voice is bringing in approach, governance and ministry to the Church. It will take time to dismantle old structures and implement new ones.

Its important too that the hot-button issues are still there and that, one way or another, the 10 study groups will have to report by June 2025. Once more we live in hope that light-bulb moments will illuminate what sometimes appears as an enveloping darkness. When will we GET IT?
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Cloudy, breezy, and warm with occasional showers developing, especially in the afternoon; a gusty downpour or strong thunderstorm possible in the afternoon and evening. .

Tonight

Cloudy, breezy, and mild with showers and a few gusty storms or downpours in the evening; drying out late at night.
BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Gao Peng, former vice mayor of Beijing, has been arrested on suspicion of bribe-taking and dereliction of duty, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said on Wednesday.

The case was handed over to prosecutors for examination and prosecution following the conclusion of an investigation by the National Commission of Supervision, the SPP said.

Further investigation into this case is still underway. 
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Republican candidate Donald Trump declared victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election early Wednesday, as Fox News projected he held 277 Electoral College votes.

At least 270 Electoral College votes are needed to clinch the presidency. As Trump spoke, no other major U.S. media outlets called the election for him.

Speaking at his election headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump promised "to help our country heal," adding that the U.S.-Mexico borders will be fixed.

"It's a political victory that our country has never seen before," Trump said, thanking the American people "for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president." Trump was the president preceding the incumbent 46th U.S. president, Democrat Joe Biden.

"I will fight for you, for your family and your future," Trump said, adding that he "will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and you deserve."

Trump's remarks came as most U.S. media outlets put his Electoral College vote tally at either 266 or 267, after calling the crucial battleground states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania for him. Among them, Georgia and Pennsylvania are states that Trump flipped from four years ago, when Biden carried them.

Trump was also leading his opponent, Democratic candidate and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris, in the four swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada where it is still too early to call a winner. With votes continuing to be counted nationwide, Harris' path toward the White House has become increasingly narrow.

Harris, whose election night headquarters is in Washington, D.C., did not address her supporters during the night. 
Azerbaijani carpet expert, Doctor of Arts, Professor Roya Taghiyeva has been awarded the international JIAPICH Prize 2024 in South Korea, Azernews reports.

The Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage (JIAPICH) aims to encourage the model safeguarding practices of ICH in the global community regardless of nationality , ethnicity, religion, race, age, gender, or any other political, social, economic or cultural orientation.

It is the only annual international award in the world that assesses activities aimed at preserving and protecting intangible cultural heritage, supporting social unity and national identity, as well as promoting the further development of international communities.

This award was established in 2017 at the initiative of the city of Jeonju, renowned for its unique traditional culture.

In his speech at the award ceremony, Jeonju Mayor Beom-ki Woo emphasized the importance of encouraging all initiatives to protect and transmit intangible cultural heritage to future generations and noted the readiness to support those who "stand shoulder to shoulder" with them on this path, spreading their positive experiences around the world.

According to him, Azerbaijani carpet expert, Doctor of Arts, and Professor Roya Taghiyeva was awarded the JIAPICH for her efforts to preserve the art of carpet weaving and engage the younger generation of Azerbaijan, as well as her significant role in promoting Azerbaijani carpet culture worldwide.

Roya Taghiyeva is the chairperson of the Azerbaijani Carpet Makers' Union.

She organizes various exhibitions, and makes significant contributions to the promotion of Azerbaijan's intangible cultural heritage, which is part of the global intangible cultural heritage, said Beom-Ki Woo.

Chair of the international award's jury, Professor Gilad Zuckerma, noted in his speech that if one were to add a single letter to the phrase by the famous Roman poet Horace, Carpe Diem (Seize the day), the words would become Carpet Diem (Live the Carpet), which could perfectly apply to the life and work of Professor Roya Taghieva.

In turn, Professor Roya Taghiyeva, while discussing the efforts to preserve intangible cultural heritage in her country, first mentioned the name of her teacher, the founder of the world's first Carpet Museum, Latif Karimov.

She stressed that the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, paid special attention to the museum, Azerbaijani carpets, and the development of carpet weaving during various periods of his leadership. Under relevant decrees by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, new buildings for the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum have been constructed, along with carpet factories and workshops in the regions. Training of specialists has been expanded.

At the initiative of the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, in 2010, Azerbaijani carpets were included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and exhibitions of Azerbaijani carpets have been held in prestigious exhibition halls around the world.

Today, alongside traditional carpets, modern types are being developed, new interpretations are taking shape, and platforms for innovative ideas in this field are emerging.

Roya Taghiyeva thoroughly discussed the work of the Azerbaijani Carpet Makers' Union.

She mentioned that the union is working on special programs to convey both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, including various forms of decorative and applied arts, to the younger generation.

In conclusion, Roya Taghiyeva expressed her gratitude to the jury members and organizers for considering her deserving of this award, stating that she accepted it with pride as a recognition of Azerbaijani culture and intangible cultural heritage.

Founded in 1967, the National Carpet Museum holds more than 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets.

Initiated by eminent carpet artist Latif Karimov, the museum is beautiful inside and out.

The museum's new building is designed in the form of a rolled carpet. Now, the museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences, and various exhibitions.

In 2019, the museum received national status for its significant contribution to promoting Azerbaijani carpet weaving art.

In 2020, the Carpet Museum enriched its collection with a beautiful pile of carpets purchased by the Culture Ministry at the Sartirana Textile Show in Italy.

The 19th-century Guba carpet "Ugakh" was donated to the Carpet Museum, while the Garabagh carpet "Chelebi" enriched the collection of the museum's Shusha branch.

For four years, the Carpet Museum won the Travellers' Choice Awards. The award proves once again that the professional activity of the National Carpet Museum is highly appreciated by visitors from all over the world.
A supporter of the Republican Party attends an election watch party in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the United States, Nov. 6, 2024. Republican candidate Donald Trump declared victory early Wednesday in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as Fox News projected that he would win 277 Electoral College votes. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Supporters of the Republican Party attend an election watch party in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the United States, Nov. 6, 2024. Republican candidate Donald Trump declared victory early Wednesday in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as Fox News projected that he would win 277 Electoral College votes. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
Women still opt for unsafe abortions

A review of abortion-related morbidity in South Africa shows that unsafe methods continue despite progressive legislation - FALF research symposium.

An analysis of cases of women who presented with incomplete abortion at public hospitals, comparing the period between 1994, 2000 and 2018, suggests that women continue to make risky choices that may endanger their lives.

The Act on Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOP) of 1996 permits early and safe termination of a pregnancy within 12 weeks of pregnancy. Thereafter, termination may be granted under certain conditions.

Dr Daphney Nozizwe Conco, Senior Lecturer in the School of Public Health at Wits, found that the incidence of incomplete abortion has remained constant since 1994 as well as after the Act was passed.

This suggests that in 2018 the number of women who did not have access to an abortion in formal health settings has not significantly changed since 1994.

This is a disturbing picture signifying how we have failed women in South Africa by not affording them their rights, says Conco.

Concos research interests cover a range of topics including epidemiology of incomplete abortion in South Africa, social determinants of health, among others.

In her 2018 study, she reviewed 913 medical records from a representative sample of 56 public hospitals in South Africa.

Documented barriers to safe abortion included stigma, provider opposition, lack of trained providers and designated facilities  particularly outside urban areas  as well as women not knowing their rights, says Conco.

Conco presented the findings at the third research symposium hosted by the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship (FALF) in October. The symposium showcases research by female academics enabled by the Fellowship since its inception in 2021.

FALFs mission is to transform academia by investing in the professional development of female academic leaders who will transform the skewed knowledge production landscape in the country.

Featured research included presentations and posters from a range of disciplines.

[Watch] Dr Ida Risenga, a medicinal plant expert give an overview of how elevated carbon dioxide affects the medicinal and nutritional properties of Spekboom, an indigenous plant that grows abundantly in parts of the country.

Change without Change

An awards dinner to recognise the best papers and fellows who have played a significant role in driving the FALFs mission and excellence followed the symposium.

Guest speaker Dr Phethiwe Matutu, Chief Executive Officer of Universities South Africa (USAf), delivered the keynote address, digging deep into the state of gender equality in 26 South African universities.

Applauding FALF, Matutu said the fellowship directly responds to the Sustainable Development Goal 5 [Gender equality] and 10 [Reduced inequalities]. In addition, FALF responds indirectly to quality education and numerous others, depending on the areas of focus of the fellows.

While noting progress in the sector, Matutu expressed concern about the finding of a research report titled, The state of transformation in South Africas public universities, published in 2023 by the Ministerial Oversight Committee on Transformation in the South African Public Universities.

The report shows that half (of the institutions) are intellectually and programmatically engaged in transformation within a strong improvement culture. In the other half, the transformation project is contested (and contestable), typically resulting in a half-hearted conceptualisation of transformation and a culture of compliance likely to result in change without change.

FALF is therefore necessary, and the culture of institutions will determine if there is real transformation. Read FALFs Impact Study assessing the programme.

Matutu praised FALF for adopting an intersectional lens when it comes to developing interventions. She warned of the danger of using general terms when developing programmes and called for the disaggregation of data.

Not all women are the same, she said, and a blanket approach will not yield meaningful transformation.

New FALF Association Office Bearers and Awards

Sustainability and building strong ties that will enable FALF to continue its mission is crucial. Towards this, FALF announced the formation of the FALF Association, an alumni network of fellows, which will continue to champion the goals to increase the number of South African black and coloured female academic leaders and create a supportive environment.

The executive comprises Dr Dineo Tsabedze (President), Professor Mary Evans (Vice-President), Dr Ida Risenga (Secretary), Ms Jane Ndlovu (CA) (Treasurer), Dr Nomalanga Mashinini (Legal Advisor), all supported by a team of fellows.

The evening concluded with awards in the following categories: Research Excellence; Leadership; Social Responsibility; International Collaboration; Best Symposium Paper; Unpublished and Published Papers and the FALF Spirit Award. View the 2024 FALF award winners.

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War and the supernatural in Congo

Former soldiers recall the ritual practices used to prepare for battle. Rituals can function as a source of strength and sense confidence and security.

War takes a toll on soldiers bodies and minds. To prepare for battle, soldiers are taken through various forms of training. Part of this training aims to strip candidates of their civilian values and inculcate military culture.

While armies have access to an array of contemporary strategies and weaponry during training, one element isnt often discussed: the rituals incorporated in training and those performed before engaging in warfare.

Rituals include the magico-religious practices performed for various purposes, such as seeking blessing, power or protection or even imbibing military customs. Rituals or ceremonies are believed to bestow specific abilities upon individuals and shape their behaviours.

War rituals arent exclusive to Africa. Many armed forces all over the world perform them. A study of rituals in the American military, for instance, found that these ceremonies help soldiers cope with trauma, loss and moral challenges during conflict.

As a scholar focused on the memories of war and violence experienced by former soldiers, I set out to study the role rituals play in shaping soldiers identities, preparation for war and coping with wars realities in battle and after.

My findings suggest that rituals can function as a source of strength for soldiers. They instil a sense of confidence and security, as initiates feel encompassed by supernatural power. Additionally, these rituals enhance team unity, and reinforce discipline and loyalty to commanding officers.

My study highlights the integration of rituals into military tactics, and their influence on soldiers lives amid stress and uncertainty on the battlefield. I argue that while the effectiveness of an army relies on the quality of its training and equipment, rituals can significantly influence the mindset of combatants.

The study

I interviewed 21 former Congolese soldiers from the Zairean Armed Forces (now known as the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the countrys renaming in May 1997) to gather data on their military experiences. These respondents served as the primary sources of information regarding the use of rituals.

A retrospective study like this raises concerns about potential memory lapses. Former soldiers reflecting on their army experiences may struggle to recall certain aspects due to the passage of time. However, research suggests that significant events are remembered more persistently, implying that military rituals can be recalled accurately.

I chose soldiers from the Zairean Armed Forces for two reasons. First, many soldiers left the national army and fled the country to South Africa after Laurent-Desire Kabila overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997. Secondly, despite being plagued by corruption and mismanagement, Mobutus army was widely regarded as disciplined and powerful.

Consequently, participants were more willing to discuss their military experiences as former members of the national defence forces. The respondents are now living in various Johannesburg suburbs.

The findings

I analysed the data I collected to identify patterns and extract common themes. I found that rituals involved the perceived creation of material shields or the acquisition of supernatural powers. They were aimed at offering a sense of protection of the body. Rituals also provided a mystical dimension, notably through the ceremonial treatment of uniforms.

The overarching aim of rituals was to disconnect soldiers from civilian life and cultivate a specific form of masculinity aligned with military objectives. This helped foster camaraderie, establish strong connections among troops and contributed to the maintenance of discipline.

Respondents in my study said initiation rituals focused on training and indoctrination to build a military identity centred on sacrifice and endurance for the nation. Before recruits donned military uniforms, for instance, they underwent rituals to consecrate their bodies to the army. One respondent, Makemba, explained:

A soldier is not afraid of death; a true soldier cant be afraid of death, I tell you. Because you live with death, you eat with death, and you clothe death  military uniforms are taken to cemetery where they spend two or three days before you wear them to tell you that you are deaths friend; you are brother of those who are dead, and you and those who are dead are the same.

This graveyard ritual symbolised the soldiers connection with the deceased and transformed their individual identities into a collective body.

To reinforce discipline, respondents said, they were required to utter specific words before entering someones field as a form of confession and permission. This, they said, would shield soldiers from negative impulses, such as using belongings without consent. The DRC army has a notorious reputation for exploiting civilians to supplement meagre salaries. Observing discipline was, therefore, considered essential for personal protection and the success of military operations.

Additionally, before being deployed for war, respondents said soldiers participated in various religious practices, and received blessings along with religious items. These magico-religious rituals served to provide a sense of protection from enemy attacks. These religious ceremonies, respondents said, provided a measure of solace and self-confidence before combat. As Lokole explained it:

You know, before joining the army I was an athlete and already knew something about power and protection because I had to protect myself against my opponents. But I joined the army, I was given leopards bones and water in which the bones were kept. When I had to go to the battlefield, I washed my face, hands, and feet with that sacred water. The bones were strung together on a thread, which I was instructed to fasten around my waist. This was the source of power and protection for me, and I can tell you, I survived many deadly dangers because I had these powers.

Respondents believed that these rituals proved effective while on the frontlines. In his account, Amani said:

Many of our colleagues found themselves face to face with the enemy who fired them at point-blank range but the bullets only passed through the clothes they were wearing without touching them. They returned with military uniform pierced by bullets, but they themselves were unharmed. Rituals were very protective. We witnessed many cases like this.

The effectiveness of these rituals, respondents believed, was contingent on strict adherence to them. Failure to do so, they said, could lead to fatalities. Soldiers also combined traditional beliefs with Christian faith to cope with battlefield challenges despite debates over the compatibility of these belief systems.

Why it matters

The data collected from former Congolese soldiers indicates that they believed their protection in battle was dependent on the quality of the weapons, as well as magico-religious resources. This indicates that rituals can play a key psychological role in preparing soldiers for war, fostering strength, cohesion and discipline. Their importance in the armed forces shouldnt be underestimated.

Dostin Lakika, Research Associate, University of the Witwatersrand. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the seventh China International Import Expo and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

SHANGHAI, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday pledged to further expand opening up and turn China's vast market into great opportunities for the world.

Li made the remarks during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai.

Hosting the CIIE is an important measure for China to expand opening up and cooperation, representing China's solemn commitment to the world, Li said.

If the first CIIE was a one-way invitation from China to the world, then each subsequent edition has become a mutual commitment between China and the world, reflecting the shared aspiration for opening up and cooperation, the premier said.

Li stressed the need to strengthen consensus on opening up, adding that all parties should jointly adhere to international economic and trade orders and rules and earnestly fulfill multilateral and bilateral economic and trade agreements.

China will further expand institutional opening up and actively align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, Li said, pledging efforts to implement the strategy for upgrading pilot free trade zones.

Li said the country is willing to open up its enormous market further, including implementing the unilateral opening up and offering zero-tariff treatment for all tariff lines from the least developed countries, and effectively turn the huge market into great global opportunities.

China firmly safeguards the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core and supports developing countries in sharing more benefits of globalization, Li said.

He said China stands ready to continue close coordination and cooperation with all parties in international economic organizations, take the lead in exploring the implementation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, and join efforts to build an open world economy.

"The fundamentals of the Chinese economy remain sound, and the Chinese government is capable of promoting steady economic growth and contributing more to global development and the welfare of humanity," said the premier.

In their speeches at the ceremony, foreign leaders and heads of international organizations remarked that the CIIE has become an important international platform for promoting trade and investment and boosting opening up and cooperation.

They voiced their confidence in the Chinese economy and its prospect, and expressed willingness to advance cooperation with China in jointly building the Belt and Road as well as in areas such as economy, trade, connectivity and green development, maintain free trade, and promote equality, progress and sustainable development in the world. 




People visit the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. The newest edition of the CIIE, the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, opened on Tuesday in Shanghai. (Xinhua/Xu Liang)

Russian companies will fully utilize the CIIE platform to promote their products, seek large-scale partners, and establish long-term trade partnerships, a Russian exporter said.

MOSCOW, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- China, a true champion of fair and open markets, has set a global example of supporting multilateralism and free trade, said Veronica Nikishina, general director of the Russian Export Center (REC).

"The China International Import Expo (CIIE) provides an exceptional opportunity for Russian producers and exporters to showcase their products, connect with Chinese buyers, and secure long-term, large-scale orders," Nikishina said in an interview with Xinhua recently.

"Such tangible access to the Chinese market will strongly encourage foreign exporters to explore opportunities in China," she added.

She said that since the first CIIE in 2018, the REC has actively organized and supported participation by Russian companies, making it a core component of its annual initiatives.

"We see growing interest among Russian and Chinese companies in deepening their trade cooperation by attending the expo," Nikishina said.

According to her, Russian exhibitors will offer a wide range of products to Chinese consumers and distributors this year.

In addition to sweets, chocolate, butter, alcohol and beverages, there will be a special focus on cosmetics, nutritional supplements, medical products, and household items, as well as advanced technology solutions in digital products and industrial production.

"Face-to-face meetings are highly effective, and there is strong enthusiasm from both Russian and Chinese companies to establish or expand cooperation," she said.

Nikishina noted that many Russian companies will attend the CIIE for the first time this year and are eager to understand Chinese consumer preferences.

"Russian companies will fully utilize the CIIE platform to promote their products, seek large-scale partners, and establish long-term trade partnerships," she added.
WUHAN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged central China's Hubei Province to forge ahead with the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, speed up efforts to build itself into a strategic fulcrum for the rise of the country's central region, and write its own chapter in Chinese modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in the province from Monday to Wednesday.

On Monday afternoon, Xi visited an exhibition of ancient bamboo and wooden writing slips from the dynasties of Qin (221-207 BC) and Han (202 BC-AD 220) at a museum in Yunmeng County, the city of Xiaogan.

After learning about the content of the slips and their value, Xi stressed intensified archaeological research to provide a solid foundation for carrying forward fine traditional Chinese culture and boosting cultural confidence.

Before the invention of paper, bamboo and wooden slips were the primary writing medium in ancient China. They have been discovered in various parts of the country, offering a rare glimpse into the nation's time-honored history.

On Tuesday morning, Xi visited a vegetable farm in Jiayu County, the city of Xianning.

Noting that technological progress is essential for modern agricultural development, he urged local officials and residents to embrace technological advancements and further boost vegetable production to bring tangible benefits to more people.

He then traveled to a village in Jiayu to inspect local elderly care facilities and community services. He called for more targeted measures to address public concerns, with a focus on the needs of older people and children.

Xi visited a villager's home and talked with the family about their livelihood and access to medical and elderly care services.

As villagers bid him a fond farewell, Xi said that to advance Chinese modernization, efforts must be made to speed up rural revitalization. He encouraged the villagers to boost the economic returns of specialty industries and make their village more beautiful under the Party's leadership. 
BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A 24-hour emergency response system has allowed 91-year-old Chen to feel safe at anytime of the day, living alone in Shanghai.

The new system provides Chen, who chose to be referred to by surname, with around-the-clock care and peace of mind, as she knows that help is just a phone call away. "It's such a relief," her son said.

There were 297 million people aged 60 or above in China at the end of 2023, accounting for 21.1 percent of the country's total population. And more than 90 percent of this elderly population would prefer to grow old at home, a poll has shown.

Integrated in-home and community care is likely to be the dominant model elderly people in China will choose for their golden years over the next one to two decades, said Lei Xiaoyan, a professor of economics at Peking University's National School of Development, citing both demand and financial realities.

In response to this trend, Wuliqiao, where Chen lives, has established a 24-hour emergency response center as well as a quick response point in each of the three city blocks of the sub-district, which is an administrative unit equivalent to a township.

In addition to managing emergencies like injuries, falls and burns, the system also provides daily living assistance, including personal care after incontinence, and people to accompany seniors to medical appointments when needed. Including Chen, 176 residents have signed up for the service.

In Panjin, a city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, Li Qinghe's home now features accessibility rails, an adjustable backrest support and a wooden chair designed for seniors. Across town, 86-year-old Wu Huanlai has received a wheelchair, a four-leg cane and a shoe bench.

Both are beneficiaries of minimum subsistence allowances. The Chinese government is working to support its most vulnerable citizens, experts say.

Authorities in Liaoning, for example, allocated a sum of 30 million yuan (about 4.22 million U.S. dollars) in 2023 -- and again in 2024 -- to assist elderly individuals who face difficulties with home renovations, focusing on bathroom safety, indoor mobility features, smart monitoring and support equipment.

By the end of 2023, 27,000 homes of elderly people in the province had been remodeled, with an additional 15,000 households expected to be upgraded by the end of this year.

STEPPING OUT OF HOME

Li Xiurong, 77, said that the installation of an elevator in her apartment building has transformed her life in ways she had long dreamed of.

She had yearned for the freedom to take her grandson downstairs for leisurely walks and grocery trips, she said, without fearing a fall on wet steps or the exhaustion of the summer heat when tackling the eight flights of stairs leading to her home in the Longcheng sub-district of Shenzhen, which is located in south China's Guangdong Province.

"I have to take a break after climbing each flight of stairs because my back and knees hurt so badly. So I tried to make do at home and avoided going downstairs whenever possible," she said.

With the recent installation of 395 elevators in Longcheng, over 30,000 people living on the upper floors of apartment buildings no longer need to struggle to go outside.

An accessible environment is essential for elderly individuals to participate fully and conveniently in social life, experts say. China enacted its first law on barrier-free environments in September 2023, making specific stipulations for the installation of elevators in older communities.

DINING & SOCIAL LIFE

In the early morning light, 87-year-old Zhang Ling recently made her way to her community's elderly care center in Huichun, a city in northeast China's Jilin Province, for a rejuvenating massage.

And as she was soothed into relaxation, her 89-year-old husband, Yu Chenghai, played Chinese chess in an adjacent room, bursts of hearty laughter echoing through the walls.

"The dining hall here is convenient and offers great prices for us," Zhang said. "The community even brings health check-ups right to our doorsteps. I couldn't be more content with life."

In 2023 alone, provincial authorities invested 100 million yuan to establish 102 elderly care centers and 100 dining halls at communities across Jilin.

And by the end of June 2024, there were 410,000 elderly care institutions and facilities across the country. These included 369,000 community-based ones, which was 120 percent up from the number reported in 2019, according to official data. 
Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with Laszlo Kover, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning met with Laszlo Kover, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, in Beijing on Wednesday.

Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Hungary relations have been elevated to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, with fruitful cooperation in various fields and tangible benefits for the two peoples.

China is willing to work with Hungary to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, and jointly open up a broader future for bilateral relations, Wang said, adding that the CPPCC is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Hungary and contribute to the development of China-Hungary relations.

Kover said although Hungary and China are geographically far apart, the two countries share common values and similar views, and both adhere to the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Hungary appreciates China's achievements in economic development and efforts in promoting world peace and common development, Kover said, adding that Hungary looks forward to closer bilateral cooperation and international multilateral coordination. The Hungarian National Assembly is willing to contribute to that end. 

Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with Laszlo Kover, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)
YANGON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese organizations in Myanmar have donated foodstuffs and stationeries for flood victims of Typhoon Yagi in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Wednesday.

The China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC) Myanmar and the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) made the donation at the Disaster Management Centre of Myanmar's Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, the report said.

The donated items included rice, beans, instant noodles, and stationeries, the report said. 
Faced with growing revulsion and mass opposition among workers and youth to Israels imperialist-backed genocide in Gaza and its expanding slaughter in Lebanon, Canadas ruling class is waging a war on basic democratic rights. Employing the repressive apparatus of the capitalist statethe police, courts and intelligence agenciesand increasingly far-right vigilantes, its aim is nothing less than the criminalization and suppression of all opposition to Israels genocide, and to Canadian imperialisms war drive.

Confirming that it is now open season in Canada to violently attack anti-genocide activists, Crown Prosecutors have dropped assault charges against the Zionist Lorna Bernbaum for assaulting and pulling a hijab from Hayfa Abdelkhaleq outside Ottawa City Hall on May 14, where she was demonstrating against Israels genocide.

The Crown ruled that Abdelkhaleqs chant, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free disqualifies her from the protection of the law, because her attacker Lorna Bernbaum or a jury could have drawn an interference that it is a call for genocide of the Jewish people, and that therefore anyone chants this at his or her own peril. This is a deeply chilling decision, standing objective reality and justice on their heads.

The entirely counterfactual conflation of demands for Palestinian liberation with genocide is enabled by the fraudulent IHRA definition of antisemitism that the Canadian state and its institutions are now openly adopting and promoting. Virtually any criticism of the state of Israel, exposure of its systematic dispossession of the Palestinian people and demands for Palestinians democratic and national rights are to be treated as antisemitism and liable to prosecution as hate crimes.

So alarmed is the Canadian ruling class at the persistence of mass opposition to it and Washingtons war plans, of which Israels genocide is an essential component, that such legal mechanisms alone are now felt be insufficient. It has therefore started to deputize Zionist vigilante groups to violently intimidate and silence opposition to genocide and imperialist war, and to spy on and report dissenters to the police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

Under the newly announced Canada Community Security Program, which was officially launched October 1, funds will now flow to vigilante groups, euphemistically termed time-limited security personnel, long associated with the Zionist far right and terrorism. Former Liberal public security minister Marco Mendicino has led the campaign within the government to fund these organizations.

That a former cabinet minister, tasked less than three years ago with demobilizing vigilante groups associated with the fascistic Freedom Convoy, is now helping steer millions in public funds to similar groups is politically significant. It signals that a rapid shift towards authoritarian rule is underway within the Canadian capitalist class.

On September 5, Torontos main pro-Zionist organization, The United Jewish Appeal, announced the creation of the Jewish Security Network. Noting the importance of confronting opponents of Israels genocide on university campuses, the UJA declared with students throughout our community returning to school this week, we have reached a critical new phase. The plan aims to centrally coordinate the activities of community membersa thinly veiled reference to various Zionist vigilante groupswith CSIS, the RCMP and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, based on successful models from other Diaspora Jewish communities that are well advanced in taking ownership of their security. These models all revolve around deputized vigilante groups.

One day later, anti-genocide students at the University of Toronto (UofT) organized under U of T Occupy for Palestine were confronted by organized Zionist thugs protected by Toronto police as a march made its way across College St. West towards Kings College Circle. The confrontation had zero to do with providing security to Jewish students, and everything to do with silencing political opposition to Israels genocide.

The vigilantes included Israel Now, the Canadian offshoot of the Jewish Defence League, a private security firm called J-Force and a newly formed group with an Orwellian sounding name, the Magen Herut (Defenders of Freedom) Canada Community Surveillance Team.

Workers must familiarize themselves with these gangsters.

Israel Nows roots lie in the Jewish Defence League, a banned terrorist organization in the United States, that was founded by Meir Kahane, whose Kach Party was itself declared an illegal terrorist organization by the Israeli government in 1994.

Israel Nows Canadian leader Meir Weinstein has no ideological differences with the JDL, making his splinter group a JDL franchise in all but name. According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, Israel Now actively promotes physical confrontations with Palestinian supporters and encourages direct harassment of individuals online and potentially offline, as well as more broadly promoting anti-Muslim hatred. The Canadian state refuses to list the JDL or Israel Now as terrorist groups, and when JDL members commit crimes in full view of the police, the police shrug.

Canada does, however, list the Kach Party and its Kahane Chai split-off as terrorist groups. But this proscription is not enforced. Kahane Chai supporters openly brandished its black-on-yellow flag at UofT, and uttered objectively genocidal statements in full view of police, including, Lets make Gaza a parking lot.

Multiple uniformed members of the Magen Herut Canada Community Surveillance Team also confronted the anti-genocide students.

Magen Herut was founded by Aaron Hadida, and is composed of those who are ideologically aligned, love Israel and the Jewish people and have some sort of policing, security or military background, according to the Canadian Jewish News. Magen Herut members are trained in Krav Maga, a hand-to-hand combat technique. The slogan on their patch says, Nothing says never again like an armed Jew. Jews can shoot.

Thus, the groups professed purpose, to de-escalate and make sure members of the (Zionist) community are safe at all times, is a pack of lies. The group is simply a gang of fascistic thugs and former IDF soldiers in branded T-shirts. They exist to provoke demonstrations that have been peaceful and nonviolent. If such incidents serve the interests of the Israeli state, its because Magen Herut is organizationally tied to it.

Magen Herut is the product of Herut Canada, a Zionist group originating in the Likud Party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It is thus effectively a tool of Israeli state policy operating with an entirely free hand on Canadian university campuses, including UofT, Toronto Metropolitan and York universities. It boasts that it is expanding across the country.

Herut emerged directly out of the terrorist Irgun organization in 1948, which was famously condemned by Albert Einstein as a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties.

The deputy leader of Canadas Conservative Party opposition, Melissa Lantsman, a right-wing Zionist zealot, has emerged, along with Mendicino, as a main advocate for Zionist vigilantism within the political establishment. She has posed proudly with members of Magen Herut, and a second vigilante groups, the Shomrim (Guard). Not a single Canadian politician has said a word in opposition.

Deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman poses with members of Shormrim Toronto [Photo: X/Melissa Lantsman]

The Shomrim are an international vigilante/para-police group, originating in the Hassidic community in Brooklyn. They are deputized by the police departments in New York City, Brooklyn and London, England. In some cases, the Shomrim take the law into their own hands, and have been accused of covering up crimes committed within the Jewish community.

Torontos Shomrim group sport black uniforms and police-style badges. They drive small SUVs with markings similar to a police car, sirens and flashing lights.

The Shomrim are drawn from the same social milieurabidly right-wing Zionistswho have carried out violent assaults against anti-genocide demonstrations. These types include Meir Gerichter, a former security guard at Torontos US Consulate, charged with kicking a female demonstrator in the pelvis, and Ilan Reuben Abramov, a former IDF reservist who shot at another female protester with a nail gun while shouting that Every f**king Palestinian must die. Both of these assaults, along with several others, occurred during Palestinian protests at the Aish Hatorah synagogue in Thornhill, where the Keller Williams Real Estate firm was promoting the sale of Palestinian land for illegal Zionist settlements. These are the kinds of community events the Shomrim are supposed to protect.

These and dozens of other incidents expose the entirely fraudulent nature of Liberal and Ontario Conservative government claims that the deputizing of gangs of Zionist thugs by the police and the state has anything to do with community safety. Rather, their purpose is the creation of a fascistic proxy force which will permit the Canadian state to strike out violently at its political critics without suffering the exposure and outrage which would ensue from open acts of state violence and intimidation.
Ten activists who targeted Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems in Bristol remain behind bars three months after they were arrested and detained under draconian anti-terror laws.

The Filton 10most aged in their 20swere arrested over a protest organised by Palestine Action (PA). Six of the activists were arrested on site after they drove a van into Elbits Horizon research and manufacturing centre. They destroyed weapons including drones that are being used to commit mass murder and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

A protest outside Elbit Bristol HQ, January 18, 2023 [Photo: Palestine Action]

Four were arrested subsequently during raids on their homes by counter-terrorism police, one of them at gunpoint.

All 10 were held incommunicado and interrogated without charge for seven days under anti-terrorism laws. They were later charged with non-terror related offences, including criminal damage, but were imprisoned on remand under harsh and repressive conditions due to their initial questioning by counter-terrorism police.

An online petition by the families of Filton 10 detainees, demanding the withdrawal of the counter-terrorism procedures against them and their release on bail, has gathered more than 25,000 signatures.

The petition, started three weeks ago, explains the detainees are being subjected to greater restrictions upon their rights and freedoms than those faced by regular prisoners, on spurious counter-terrorism grounds. This has included being denied reading materials and the right to practice religion, intrusive medical testing, and restrictions on association with other prisoners and communication with the outside world.

The families describe police state measures: One of the ten has been designated an escape risk without due cause, so that they are subjected to additional ill-treatment, including being woken up every hour, all night, every night. This sleep deprivation is a clearly politically motivated form of psychological torture.

Following a campaign by supporters of the Filton 10, Madeleine Norman, held at HMP Bronzefield, is reportedly no longer being designated an escape risk. But the pre-trial detention of all 10 remains, with a full hearing not scheduled to begin until November 2025.

Clare Rogers, whose daughter Zoe was arrested shortly before her 21st birthday, wrote an article about her daughters detention, titled: Is my daughter a terrorist for trying to stop a genocide? Clare only learned of her daughters arrest when four police officers arrived on her doorstep with a search warrant on August 6. She was unable to speak with Zoe for two weeks.

Although the Filton 10 have not been charged with terrorism, Clare explains: they are still effectively terror suspects. Terrorism connection appears on the webpage about their case on the Crown Prosecution website. The investigation is being led by counter terrorism police. The word terrorism has clung to the ten and stripped them of their rights at every step. It is probably why they were refused bail.

Clare recalled that a month after her daughters arrest under the Terrorism Act, I answered the door to a team of 12 counter-terrorism police officers who spent hours searching my home, leaving me physically shaking. The bracketing of their cases as terror related could mean that if they are convicted of charges such as criminal damage, their sentences will be much longer.

Starmers Labour government: genocide and domestic repression

The arrest and detention of the Filton 10 and other PA activists is part of escalating state repression by the Labour government aimed at silencing opponents of the genocide in Gaza. On Friday, Jewish Israeli historian Professor Haim Bresheeth was arrested under the Terrorism Act during a protest outside the official London residence of Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely. Bresheeth, 78-years-old and the son of Holocaust survivors, was accused of hate speech for stating that Israel has failed to defeat the Palestinian resistance.

Documents obtained recently by Palestine Action under Freedom of Information (FOI) have exposed direct collusion between then Home Secretary Priti Patel, Elbit Systems, and police agencies in the targeting of its activists. A cover note prepared by a Private Secretary in the Home Office on March 2, 2022, stated that government officials have been in contact with the police about PA [Palestine Action].

In April 2023, Elbit Systems UK met with Policing Minister Chris Philp and a representative from the Attorney Generals office to discuss threats to manufacturing at Elbit Systems from protest groups.

Police surround protesters at outside Elbit Bristol HQ, January 18, 2023 [Photo: Palestine Action]

A note prepared for that meeting complained, Although there have been successful prosecutions of Palestine Action members, there have been multiple instances of charges being dropped and defendants acquitted by juries and magistrates. Other documents obtained under FOI show Israeli Embassy officials intervening via Douglas Wilson, Director General of the Attorney Generals Office, over legal rights available to PA activists at trial, resulting in their acquittal by juries. As PA notes, the Israeli embassys intervention coincided with the courts increasingly disallowing activists to argue that their actions were proportional to the crimes of the weapons factories they disrupted.

PA concluded: The first of Palestine Actions activists to receive a conviction did so on the 29th of March, 2022shortly after Patel and [Elbit UK CEO Martin] Faussets meetingand its likely that political interference has shaped the outcomes of cases against us. Furthermore, the police have escalated their use--and subsequent abuse--of counter-terrorism powers to indefinitely keep activists in detention, though Palestine Action simply does not fit the definition of a terrorist organisation.

Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, told a CAGE International meeting on Sunday that political and foreign interference in the targeting and prosecution of the groups activists was an abuse of process and that consequently the charges have to be dropped.

Lawfare against pro-Palestinian activists is being intensified, led by Sir Keir Starmers government, with the mounting use of anti-terror laws to suspend fundamental democratic rights and criminalise dissent. As Director of Public Prosecutions (2008-2013), Starmer helped spearhead the US-led political vendetta against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, colluding with Swedish authorities to prevent the resolution of state-manufactured sexual assault allegations in that country aimed at preparing the ground for his onward extradition to the US.

More than one year since Israel launched Operation Swords of Iron, backed by US and British imperialism, with the aim of exterminating the Palestinians in Gaza and obliterating their culture, the only people behind bars are those who have protested Israels crimes against humanity.

While anti-genocide protestors are being persecuted in Britain under the Terrorism Act, Israel is escalating its campaign of state terror against the Palestinian people. The carpet bombing of Gaza has killed 43,400 Palestinians since October 7, including 16,700 childrenequal to one child murdered every 30 minutes. Thousands more Palestinians are buried under rubble. Starmers support for these measures, declaring Israels right to self-defence, is bound up with the broader aims of imperialism, including a regional war targeting Iran, aimed ultimately against Russia and China.

Palestine Actions direct action methods of individual protest serve to deflect young people from Marxism, the working class, and the struggle for socialism. Only the working class on a world scale has the power to defeat imperialism. But notwithstanding our fundamental disagreements with the perspective and class orientation of PA, the Socialist Equality Party denounces the state attacks on its activists and members and calls for the widest political mobilisation by workers and young people to secure their freedom.
Former MP and candidate for the ruling National Peoples Power (NPP), Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, declared at an election meeting in Kesbawa on October 31 that strikes by workers would be unnecessary under the new government. The NPP is the electoral front of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi [Photo: Facebook/Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi]

Remember the words I say to you today. Such strikes will be relegated to a thing of the past. Against whom are they [workers] going to strike? If they have issues, they can discuss them with the government and resolve, he said.

Nipuna Arachchi stated that under the JVP/NPP rule the need to have a strike will end and to set an example the JVP would dissolve its own trade unions.

These comments by a righthand man of newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake signal the preparation to ban industrial action, all in the name of ending the sufferings of people caused by strikes.

We are passing a transitional period until November 14 [day of general elections]. Because of this you must build a strong government. Why? That is, in order to take forward the country without any interruption, Nipuna Arachchi continued.

The meaning is simple: Strikes will be banned and the workers right to organise abolished so as to take the country forward.

These remarks come in the wake of the newly-elected President Dissanayakes assurances to big business and foreign investors that the International Monetary Funds (IMF) harsh austerity program of increased taxes, privatization, and jobs and essential services will be implemented in full under his rule.

Dissanayake and the ruling class as a whole are fearful that working class opposition will erupt against the austerity program. In 2022, a months-long mass uprising over intolerable social conditions brought down the government of President Gotabhaya Rajapakse, who fled the country.

Beginning in early 2023, hundreds of thousands of workers have engaged in strikes and protests to oppose the attacks of the previous government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe on their living and social conditions.

Now the Dissanayake government has refused to pay the inadequate 25 percent wage hike announced by the previous regime to 1.4 million public sector workers, emphasizing the treasury has no money.

Nipuna Arachchis comments are a sharp warning that the new regime is preparing to eliminate the basic democratic right of workers to organise and fight for their class interests.

Other repressive measures are in train. The new Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath told a weekly cabinet briefing on October 30 that the government has abandoned its pledge to abolish the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), promised in their manifesto for the September 21 presidential election.

To justify the banning of strikes, Nipuna Arachchi repeatedly referred to the suffering they causethe stock-in-trade argument of big business against any industrial action.

If children go to school, either teachers or principals were on strike. If you go to hospital, doctors, nurses or attendants were on strike. If you want to go somewhere, either the [state owned] CTB or private buses were on strike. We had a bitter history of strikes, he declared.

The hostility of the JVP/NPP towards strikes is an expression of its deeply entrenched hostility to the working class. It is appealing to sections of middle class and other backward elements of the working class to create a battering ram against the opposition of workers to the austerity agenda it will implement.

From its very formation, the JVP based itself on reactionary Sinhala populism dressed up as socialistic phrase-mongering derived from Stalinism which it has since ditched. Its preparation to ban all strikes is a clear expression of the fascistic character of its program which has been inherent in its virulent Sinhala patriotism.

It is precisely for this reason that sections of the ruling class have turned to the JVP as the means to crush any opposition in the working class amid the deep crisis of Sri Lankan capitalism and the fragmentation of the traditional parties of bourgeois rule.

Nipuna Arachchis comments echo those of JVP trade union leaders in recent months.

Just two days after the July 8-9 strike by around one million public sector employees, the JVPs National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) president K. D. Lalkantha announced the NTUCs decision. He declared that any suggestion of strikes at this time of preparation for the September 21 presidential election was a blatant reactionary act.

The NTUC leader continued: Our vision should be to strengthen the electoral battleground. If the trade union movement cannot change to accommodate this change, it is a crime. He declared that the JVP trade unions would not engage in strikes that cause suffering for people and antagonize them.

A few days later, another top JVP leader, Nalinda Jayatissa, told a YouTube channel that under the JVP/NPP government the party and state become one. Managements and trade unions would work togethera recipe for corporatist class collaboration of a fascistic character.

Other trade union leaders inside and outside the JVP are now openly lining up with the Dissanayake governments campaign against the democratic rights of the working class.

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) United Trade Union Alliance Convener and NPP parliamentary candidate Ranjan Jayalal was responsible for scuttling the fight by CEB workers against privatisation. He told the media as the government has pledged to review taxes affecting employees and to adjust salaries every six months there was no need for strikes.

The Ceylon Teachers Union leader Joseph Stalin told media that if the government addresses the problems faced by teachers and public servants, there will be no strikes in the country. He was the trade union bureaucrat who betrayed the 100-day strike by teachers in late 2021 by accepting just one third of the pay rise demanded.

The working class can only counter the IMFs austerity program and the attacks on its democratic rights by organising itself as an independent political force, breaking free from the trade union bureaucracy and establishing its own independent fighting organisations.

The Socialist Equality Party calls on workers and rural toilers to form Action Committees, independent of the trade unions and establishment parties including the JVP, in factories, workplaces, plantations and rural areas. A network of Action Committees must be established to coordinate the fight to defend basic social and democratic rights that reaches out to workers internationally.

The SEP is calling for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of workers and rural masses comprising delegates from the action committees to discuss, formulate and implement a political and industrial strategy to oppose the governments austerity agenda on the basis of a socialist and internationalist perspective.

The SEP is campaigning for this program in the November 14 general elections, running 41 candidates for three electoral districtsthe capital Colombo, Jaffna in the north and Nuwara Eliya in the central plantation area. We urge workers and youth to support our campaign and vote for our candidates, but above all join the SEP to build the necessary revolutionary leadership for the class battles ahead.
The entry into Turkish ports of ships belonging to ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, Israels largest shipping company, sparked protests in Istanbul, Mersin and Kocaeli.

Through its important role in Israels foreign trade, ZIM fuels the Zionist regimes war machine and plays a crucial role in perpetuating the occupation and genocide in Palestine. Eli Glickman, CEO of ZIM, stated that the company supports Israels operations in Gaza and announced in October 2023 that it had offered to bring all its ships and infrastructure facilities into use for Israel.

Screenshot of video of the protest against the Israeli ship docking at the harbour in Kocaeli Diliskelesi [Photo: Direnis Cadr/X]

A mass protest was organised on Sunday after reports that the ship MV Kathrin, which docked at Haydarpasa Port in Istanbuls Uskudar district, has been carrying ammunition to Israel. Five of the youths who boarded the German-flagged ship were detained, while the ship was allowed to leave the port.

On October 1, the state-owned Anadolu Agency reported that Amnesty International has called on Slovenia and Montenegro not to allow the ship MV Kathrin carrying explosives to Israel to dock in their ports and not to facilitate the transfer of weapons to Israel.

Another port protest took place in Mersin at the end of this October. Journalist Metin Cihan reported that ZIM ships were in the port of Mersin, using videos posted by the pro-Palestinian account Direnis Cadr (Resistance Tent) on the X/Twitter platform. Cihan had previously revealed that trade between Turkey and Israel continued despite President Recep Tayyip Erdogans condemnation of the genocide.

I have found new evidence that trade with Israel is continuing, Cihan said: I found that a container loaded from the Israeli port of Haifa on 9 October arrived at Mersin port on 17 October and was unloaded.

After this revelation, the anti-genocide demonstrators who came with banners to the entrance of the port of Mersin to protest against the ZIM ship were not allowed to protest and the demonstrators were dispersed by port security.

On the evening of October 31, when a ZIM ship was seen at the Ambarli port in Beylikduzu, Istanbul, anti-genocide activists staged a protest. During the demonstration, a truck carrying ZIM containers was stopped and port security fired shots in the air. The stamp of the container being transported was recorded by a demonstrator during the protest which read, Israel, Haifa.

(The X posting reads: Security forces open fire in the air as they try to prevent protesters from entering the port of Ambarl in Istanbul.)

The same ship later docked at Kocaeli Diliskelesi port, which was also the target of protests. In a post on the Direnis Cadr X/Twitter account, it was reported that those protesting the arrival of the ZIM ship at the port were blocked by the police.

According to the Ses Kocaeli newspaper, the crowd, chanting slogans such as Turkeys ports should be closed to Israel and No transport with Israel, expressed their anger at Israels operations in Palestine. The demonstrators gathered at the entrances of the ports of Colakoglu and Yilport and blocked the passage of trucks and lorries for a while.

(The X posting reads: Protest against the Israeli ship docking at the harbour in Kocaeli Diliskelesi )

Zims support for the genocide in Gaza and its transport of military supplies to Israel have led to protests around the world. Workers from the Port of Newark-Elizabeth in New Jersey to Canada, Italy, Australia and Greece have organised actions to stop ZIMs shipments.

Greek dockers stopped a shipment of 21 tonnes of ammunition to Israel with a protest at the port of Piraeus on October 17. The container of ammunition from northern Macedonia was due to be loaded onto a Marshall Islands-flagged ship bound for Haifa. Chanting slogans such as Freedom for Palestine and NATO is a murderer, the workers prevented the truck from entering the port.

The harsh condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu by President Erdogan, who stands at the head of the second largest army of NATO, cannot hide the complicity of the Turkish bourgeoisie in the Gaza genocide.

Seven months after the start of the genocide, the Erdogan government was forced to announce that it was cutting off trade with Israel. During these seven months, a significant part of Israels steel imports came from Turkey. Cement, chemicals, even gunpowder, barbed wire and parts for weapons were also sent. It has now been revealed that this trade never stopped but continued uninterrupted routed through Palestine.

Nevertheless, in his speech in Istanbul on Monday, Erdogan claimed without blushing, We are the country that has given the most aid to Gaza. We have completely stopped trade with Israel. We have sacrificed a trade volume of $9.5 billion.

US-NATO bases in Turkey continue to support Israel and Turkey continues to facilitate Azerbaijans vital oil supplies to Israel.

While Turkish trade union confederations do nothing to block shipments to Israel and, like their international counterparts, turn a blind eye to the genocide in Gaza and Ankaras complicity in it, pro-Palestinian demonstrators are taking a brave stand despite police repression.

Protests calling on governments to change their policies have proved insufficient to stop genocide and war. This and other historical disasters are a product of imperialism and will only end with its abolition. This depends on mobilising the working class as the leading social and political force in the struggle against Israel and its allies.
On Tuesday, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing significant disagreements between them over how Israels wars in Gaza and Lebanon should be managed.

Netanyahu said, In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and the defence minister. Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, over the past few months this trust has cracked between me and the defence minister.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken inspects progress of the Gaza genocide during a visit to the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Iseral and Gaza. Behind him walks Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who called the Palestinians "human animals." (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP) [AP Photo]

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the fascistic National Security Minister and leader of the Jewish Power Party, applauded the move, saying that Netanyahu had made the right decision and that it was impossible to achieve a total victory as long as Gallant was Defence Minister. His comments express the governments intention to pursue an even more aggressive stance in Israels wars on the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.

Gallant is to be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, a member of Netanyahus Likud Party who is publicly opposed to a Palestinian state in any form. Gideon Saar, a former Likud member who split with Netanyahu to form his own party New Hope and joined his coalition last September, will become foreign minister.

Responding to calls from opposition leaders, anti-Netanyahu protest groups and hostages families, thousands of Israelis took to the streets in protest. In Tel Aviv, they marched on the Ayalon Highway where the police blocked them. In Jerusalem, around 1,000 demonstrators gathered near Netanyahus residence. Other protests took place in Haifa and Beer Sheva.

That Netanyahu and Gallant were barely on speaking terms was well known. Netanyahu had tried to sack him in March 2023 over Gallants opposition to his plans to neuter the judiciary and establish an authoritarian regime and had only backed down in the face of mass opposition to his move.

Gallant is a vicious war hawk, whose disagreements with Netanyahu are over how best to assert Zionisms interests militarily. In the immediate aftermath of October 7 he infamously ordered a complete siege of Gaza, no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, saying, We are fighting human animals. He had earlier warned Lebanon saying in August 2023 that Israel would not hesitate to attack Hezbollah and return Lebanon to the Stone Age if Israel was attacked. Days after the start of Israels all-out war on Gaza, he threatened, What we can do in Gaza, we can also do in Beirut.

In a speech on his sacking, Gallant declared, The decision to dismiss me comes after a series of impressive achievements, unprecedented in the history of the State of Israel. Achievements of the IDF, the Shin Bet, the Mossad and the entire security system. We struck in Gaza and Lebanon, in Judea and Samaria. We eliminated terrorist leaders across the Middle East and, for the first time ever, carried out a precise and lethal strike in Iran, among other operations. I am proud of the security establishments achievements. I trust the commanders and the soldiers. Israels security has been and remains the mission of my life, and I am committed to it. Since October 7, I have focused on one and only one issue: victory in the war.

He said he had been fired over disagreements on three issues: the need to end an exemption from conscription for almost all ultra-orthodox Jews, the importance of a deal to free hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, and the need for an immediate, all-encompassing commission of inquiry into the failings that allowed the Palestinian militant groups October 7, 2023 incursion, including into those of the Israel Defense Forces, the security services and the government, including Netanyahu.

The row over ending the ultra-orthodox Jews (known as Haredim) exemption from compulsory military service if they are studying in religious seminaries (yeshivas) was placed centre stage by Gallant. It has roiled Netanyahus coalition, amid increasing concern over the IDFs lack of manpower to prosecute war simultaneously on the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, Hezbollah in Lebanon and against Iran and its allies in Syria and Yemen.

Gallant insisted that everyone of conscription age must serve in the IDF and defend the State of Israel. This issue is no longer just a social matter; it is the most critical matter for our existencethe security of the State of Israel and the people living in Zion. In this campaign, we have lost hundreds of soldiers, we have suffered thousands of wounded and disabled, and the war is still continuing. The coming years will present us with complex challenges; wars are not over, and the sound of battle has not ceased Under these circumstances, there is no choiceeveryone must serve in the IDF and participate in the mission to defend the State of Israel.

At least 772 soldiers and security personnel have lost their lives in the genocidal assault on Gaza and at least 12,000 more have been injuredwhile tens of thousands of reservists have been forced to do months of reserve duty, provoking anger among secular Israelis already alienated by the increasing dominance of the religious authorities over daily life.

Last June, the High Court ordered an end to the Haredi exemption by November this year, with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara later ruling that draft evaders would not be entitled to government allowances and day-care subsidies. Just under half of ultra-Orthodox males do not work and rely on the allowances negotiated by the ultra-religious parties as the price for their support for keeping Netanyahu in power.

A government-supported bill to overturn the Attorney Generals ruling, and subsidize day care for children of full-time yeshiva students who dodge the draft at a cost of $54 millionin return for the support of the religious parties for the 2025 budgetprompted uproar. When at least nine members of his own coalition members, including Gallant, threatened to vote down the bill, Netanyahu was forced to withdraw it.

Netanyahu has refused to consider any deal to rescue the remaining hostages, believed to number around one hundred, still held in Gaza. Last week, a court partially lifted a gag order on an investigation into the leaks over discussions with Hamas over a deal to release the hostages that were published last August by a fake journalist in Britains Jewish Chronicle and Germanys Bild to undermine negotiations. Five people, including one of Netanyahus media advisers, have been arrested. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed their outrage and deep concern at discovering that officials had worked to undermine public support for the hostage deal.

Gallants sacking comes amid increasing concerns within the military establishment that the war in Lebanon and Gaza has exhausted itself and risks heavy troop losses if the IDF is required to continue the fighting. Sections of the military would prefer a deal to secure a ceasefire in Gaza to concentrate on the conflict with Lebanon and Iran.

Gallant had played a key role in discussions with the Biden administration, which has funded and directed Israels war of annihilation of the Palestinians in Gaza, and its war on Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. He was sacked on the day it became clear that Donald Trump had won the US presidency. Netanyahu congratulated Trump effusively for what he called historys greatest comeback and called his campaign a huge victory and a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.

Trump, who draws significant support from the US evangelical Christian movement, which has long supported the Zionist project, has made contradictory remarks on the campaign trail about the war in Gaza, alternately condemning the anti-Israel protests while promising peace in Gaza and Lebanon to US voters of Arab origin. But Netanyahu calculates that he will be backed by Trump once he becomes president.

During his 2017-2021 term of office, Trump gave Netanyahu his full supportclosing down the Palestine Liberation Organisations office in Washington; recognising Jerusalem as Israels capital; moving the US embassy to Jerusalem; recognising Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights; withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council; cutting $200 million funding to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank; unilaterally abandoning the nuclear treaty with Iran; negotiating the Abraham Accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco; designating Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organisation; assassinating its leader General Qassem Soleimani; and strengthening US ties with the dictators in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Recognising the threat posed by Trumps call for Israel to end its wars in Gaza and Lebanon before he takes office in January, and sacking Gallant, Netanyahu is following Israels well-worn policy of creating facts on the groundpreparing for an even more aggressive military policy now so that the incoming Trump administration will have to support him.
Railroad workers: Tell us how youre voting on the latest contracts, and why, by filling out the form below! All submissions will be kept anonymous.

A worker rides a rail car at a BNSF rail crossing in Saginaw, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. [AP Photo/LM Otero]

Train and engine service workers at the railroad BNSF have rejected a tentative agreement between management and the SMART-TD union. The contract was a massive sellout which would have set the table to eliminate conductors from locomotives and replace them with a ground based position.

This is the third major rail contract to have been rejected in recent weeks, following the defeat of another SMART-TD deal with Norfolk Southern and the rejection by maintenance of way workers of a contract at CSX.

An official document with the BNSF results was originally posted on Reddit on November 1st. However, undoubtedly under pressure from the union bureaucracy, the image was deleted by the original poster. As with the rejected Norfolk Southern deal, SMART-TD has made no mention of the results on their website.

But the BNSF results showed that 58.77 percent of workers rejected the wages, rules and healthcare tentative portion of the agreement. As with dozens of similar contracts being pushed through across the industry, the deal contained a meager 17.5% wage increase over 5 years. It also would have implemented a two-tier health plan which the companies have been pushing for years, and some minor vacation improvements that cost the carriers essentially nothing.

Significantly, 69.86% of workers voted to reject the crew consist modification agreement, that also included a $27,500 buyout of trainmen (brakemen and yardmen), eliminated the third crew member on some assignments, as well as allowing the establishment of a road utility position (RUP).

The RUP is a ground based conductor that would be assigned within a certain area, provided with a company vehicle, and would theoretically travel from train to train as needed to provide assistance to broken down trains, or facilitate switching operations. The companies have long wanted to establish this job-cutting measure under the guise of providing conductors with a better quality of life, but workers see through this farce.

Eliminating the second crew member on a locomotive removes a second set of eyes that assist the engineer, which can be decisive in avoiding accidents. Train crews already notoriously work long and irregular hours without sufficient rest time, and trains often operate through desolate areas where assistance, whether operational or emergency, is hours away. But these factors count for nothing compared to the railroad companies ever-insatiable thirst for more profits.

BNSF had previously negotiated a deal with SMART-TD to begin engineer-only operations on routes with operational positive train control in 2014. Workers, however, rejected the deal.

Jeremy Ferguson, president of SMART-TD, in defense of the current rejected crew consist scheme, states ...these agreements (if ratified) will secure another five years where no changes can even be proposed under Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act Ratifying these agreements now will protect and guarantee the future of our conductors, while providing another five years for us to focus on passing a rail safety bill through Congress, which would make two-person crews the literal law of the land.

The claim that this buys space for Congress to pass a safety bill is absurd. Congress did the exact opposite by imposing a strike ban two years ago after workers rejected a sellout deal. SMART-TD and the other unions played a decisive role in buying time until after the midterms to give Congress the space to rip up workers right to strike.

The fight for single person crews is not going away anytime soon; railroad companies backed by their Wall Street puppet masters demand it. The Association of American Railroads, a railroad industry mouthpiece, maintains a page and fact sheet on their website stating, Efforts to require at least two-person crews in the freight rail industry lack a safety justification and ignore the successful use of single-person crews in the US and globally.

Undoubtedly the residents of Lac Megantic, Quebec would disagree with this statement. In July of 2013 an oil train with 72 cars and five locomotives operated by a single crew member broke free from its handbrakes, rolled down a grade and derailed in the town. The highly flammable crude on board exploded and incinerated the town, killing over 50 residents.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) enacted a minimum two-person rule in 2024, but it was filled with loopholes easily exploited by the railroads.

The union bureaucracy is working with both the carriers and the two corporate parties to enforce labor peace in industries critical to US supply chains. The Biden administration, which calls the AFL-CIO its domestic NATO, has made clear it sees this as key to preparing the country for war.

Boeing workers waged a courageous seven-week strike, causing the company to hemorrhage cash and ground production to a halt at Americas largest exporter and a major defense contractor. But the Biden administration intervened with the International Association of Machinists to push through a deal that satisfied none of the workers demands, especially the reinstitution of a defined benefit pension plan.

Dockworkers waged a three-day strike in October, but despite militant-sounding rhetoric from the International Longshoremens Association were ordered back to work with no protection from automation.

The new contracts on the railroads are a continuation of the bureaucracys role two years ago. By announcing dozens of separate, bilateral contracts between the 12 unions and 6 Class I carriers, they are attempting to peel off as many workers as possible from the national bargaining framework which is only now beginning, in order to disrupt workers unity.

The working class is facing a tripartite alliance consisting of the government, the corporations, and the union bureaucracies. Workers operate the mechanism of society, and it is through labor that all profits are created. It is through these profits the capitalist class funds their lavish lifestyles, initiates wars to defend their interests, and through massive accumulation of wealth and power further exploits the working class.

By rejecting the deal at BNSF workers have sent an important message, but rejecting contracts is only the first step. The experience of the past, especially the last two years, proves that the union bureaucrats will not come back with something better but only respond even more ruthlessly.

The union apparatus cannot be pressured; it must be smashed and replaced with organs of workers power. The Railroad Workers Rank-and-File Committee, which played the leading role in campaigning against the contracts two years ago, is fighting to build such structures to enable workers to fight against the carriers, the bureaucracy and the two Wall Street parties.
According to Ukrainian, South Korean, US and European officials, North Korea has sent up to 12,000 troops to Russia to bolster its military forces in the war against Ukraine. Following training in the Russian far east, thousands have now been transported to the war zone in the Kursk region of Russia, parts of which remain occupied by Ukrainian troops following an offensive in August backed by Washington and its NATO allies.

Soldiers march in a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Koreas founding day in Pyongyang, 2018. [AP Photo/Ng Han Guan]

Andriy Kovalenko, Ukraines top counter-disinformation official, claimed on Monday that their forces had fired on North Korean soldiers in Kursk for the first time. The Financial Times reported that an unnamed senior Ukrainian intelligence official had confirmed the military engagement but declined to provide any details.

Where exactly the North Korean troops are, their numbers, what their military role might be, and whether they have indeed come under fire is the subject of a lack of evidence, widespread speculation and no doubt a heavy dose of disinformation. There appears little doubt, however, that numbers of North Korean troops are in Russia. Russian officials have largely dropped their initial denials while stopping short of confirming the North Korean deployment.

Russian President Vladamir Putin indirectly confirmed the troop presence. Questioned about a video released by South Korean intelligence purportedly showing North Korean soldiers training in the Russian far east, he stated that he never doubted at all that the North Korean leadership takes our agreements seriously. During his visit to North Korea in June, Putin reached a comprehensive strategic partnership with Pyongyang providing for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties.

The US has seized on the North Korean deployment to ratchet up their denunciations of Russia. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin branded the North Korean presence in the war a very serious escalation that had ramifications in Europe and Asia. John Kirby, White House national security spokesman, declared that North Korean troops were fair game if deployed in fighting against Ukrainian forces.

In the UN Security Council on Monday, US deputy ambassador to the UN Robert Wood demanded to know whether North Korean troops were present in Russia. Were not in a court here, Russian deputy ambassador Anna Evstigneeva responded, and the question of the United States, in the spirit of an interrogation, is not something I intend to answer.

Washingtons accusations of escalation are entirely hypocritical given that the US and NATO have systematically crossed their own red lines in providing main battle tanks, artillery, warplanes and missiles in a war that is increasingly planned and directed in the Pentagon and NATO headquarters.

Ukraine has exploited the North Korean troop presence to once again demand further military assistance and support from its US and European allies. President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Monday that 11,000 North Korean troops were now stationed in the Kursk region. We see an increase in North Korean forces, but, unfortunately, we do not see an increase in response from our partners, he said.

South Korea is also being further drawn into the US/NATO conflict with Russia. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell met on Monday in Seoul and issued a joint statement condemning the North Korean troop deployment in the strongest possible terms and voicing concerns that Russia may assist in boosting North Koreas military capacity, particularly through the provision of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology.

A comment on the European Council on Foreign Affairs website declared, North Koreas troop deployment to the Russian front represents a fundamental shift in Europes security relations with east Asia. The Europeans should respond by not only bolstering support for Ukraine but also strengthening security ties with South Korea, building on Borrells visit to Seoul.

Such security ties with South Korea must begin with enhanced intelligence cooperation, but for Europeans, the big prize remains persuading South Korea to arm Ukraine. In reality, South Korea is already providing lethal military aid to Ukraine.

While condemning North Korea for providing missiles, shells and other armaments to Russia, South Korea has been replenishing depleted US stockpiles of 155mm shells and thus indirectly arming Ukraine. Under South Koreas foreign trade legislation, it is prohibited from sending lethal weapons to live conflict zones.

As the US and its allies escalate the war against Russia in Ukraine, the global dimensions of the conflict become ever clearer. Far from being an isolated war in Eastern Europe, it is one front in an emerging world war. The second front is already under way in the Middle East, targeting Iran in particular. The integration of US allies such as South Korea and Japan into the Ukraine conflict takes place as the US escalates its economic war against Beijing and preparations for military hostilities against China.

In foreign policy and strategic circles in Washington, there is an increasingly open discussion about the needs to prepare for World War III against the so-called axis of upheavalRussia, China, Iran and North Korea.

A comment in the Washington Post on October 27, headlined, North Korean troops in Russia bring a World-Island conflict a step closer, based itself on the central strategic importance of Eurasiathe World Islandas elaborated by British 19th century geo-strategic thinker Halford Mackinder.

The author Nicholas Eberstadt, an analyst at the right-wing American Enterprise Institute, declared: There is now a coordinated challenge to the existing US-led security order that stretches from the Middle East through Eurasia, all the way to the Far East We must come to understand that, for all intents and purpose, the war in Gaza and Lebanon against Israel by Iranian proxies is the war by Russia against Ukraine, as would be the war in Taiwan that China may unleash, at a time of Beijings own choosing. All one.

In reality, it is US imperialism that is responsible for provoking and escalating the war in Ukraine against Russia; arming and backing Israels genocidal war in Gaza and encouraging its expansion in the West Bank, Lebanon and Iran, and deliberately inflaming dangerous flashpoints in Asia, above all Taiwan, to goad China into war in the Indo-Pacific.

The US is engaged in an utterly reckless effort to offset its historic decline and defend its global hegemonythe existing US-led security orderthat is plunging humanity towards a catastrophic conflict between nuclear-armed powers. Only the political intervention of the working class can end the danger of nuclear Armageddon by building a unified international anti-war movement to abolish the capitalist system that is the root cause of geo-political tensions and war.
On November 2, the campaign of Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) presidential candidate Claudia De la Cruz entered into a vote-swap agreement with Jill Steins Green Party presidential campaign. The same day, De la Cruz announced a separate cooperation agreement with the campaign of Cornel West. Jill Steins campaign has also been endorsed by the Dearborn-based pressure group Abandon Harris, as well as Socialist Alternative and Kshama Sawants Workers Strike Back.

The announcement on the PSL-Green Party agreement stated: In Montana and Arkansas, the Claudia De la Cruz campaign is calling on its supporters to vote for Jill Stein, who is, in turn, calling on her supporters to write in Claudia De la Cruz in Indiana and North Dakota.

From left to right: Jill Stein, Vijay Prashad, and Claudia De la Cruz. [Photo: Vijay Prashad]

A video posted on the PSLs national YouTube channel announcing the deal with Cornel West stated: The Claudia/[VP candidate] Karina campaign is calling on its supporters to vote for West and [VP candidate] Abdullah in Alaska. In turn, West/Abdullah are calling on supporters to vote for Claudia and Karina in Florida, Hawaii, New Mexico, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

The pre-election rush of these middle-class radical groups to coalesce behind Stein and the Greens exposes their reactionary role in opposing a political break by the working class with the Democratic Party and the capitalist two-party system.

These same forces have led the mass protests against the US/Israeli genocide in Gaza into a dead end by orienting them to pressuring the Biden-Harris administration and US imperialism to end their support for the slaughter, rather than mobilizing the working class in a political struggle against the two capitalist parties and all of the war criminal governments on the basis of an international socialist program. The result has been an intensification of the genocide, its extension into Lebanon and the launching of war against Iran. At home, the Biden-Harris administration has overseen an unprecedented police-state crackdown on anti-genocide protests on college campuses across the country.

The statement announcing the deal between the PSL and the Greens declared that its aim was to  send the strongest possible message that people are fed up with the war machine, genocide against Palestinians, and the other injustices that characterize this system dominated by the billionaire class! Send a message to whom? Obviously, to the Biden-Harris administration, the Democratic Party and the powers-that-be.

The Green Party election campaign is in no serious way politically independent of the Democrats. On the contrary, it continues the role the Green Party has long played as a pressure group in the orbit of the Democratic Party. Stein herself has made this clear in the course of her campaign.

At an October 8 press conference in Dearborn, Michigan, at which Abandon Harris announced its endorsement of Stein, the Green Party candidate said of the Harris campaign: They can win this election right now. All they have to do is implement that weapons embargo now, and you will win the election. They need to have their feet held to the fire.

At that event, Abandon Harris explicitly oriented its appeal toward the Democratic Party, arguing that a protest vote for the Green Party would bring a reckoning to the Democratic Party. At a June 13 panel discussion held by Abandon Harris, under its previous name Abandon Biden, which featured Stein, West and De la Cruz, the organization defined the task at hand as working hard to transform the Democratic Party and to bring Republicans towards declaring peace and the end of occupation. None of the three candidates challenged this orientation.

On October 7, Stein gave an extensive online interview to Newsweek magazine in which she said of Harris loss of support among Arab Americans: The Democrats could win those votes back right now simply by doing it.  They can fix it. Theres absolutely nothing stopping them from fixing it.  We have to represent the continuing pressure of the American people for our government to actually represent us.

In fact, Harris and the Democrats in the run-up to Election Day have dropped any talk of Trump being a fascist and promised the Republicans a seat at the table of a Harris administration, i.e., a de facto coalition government. This is a call for a united ruling class offensive to prosecute and expand the genocide in Gaza and wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, combined with a brutal intensification of attacks on the social needs and democratic rights of the working class at home.

There is, according to Steins analysis, no objective crisis of American and world capitalism driving the US imperialist-led global war (In her interview, Stein made no mention of the US proxy war against Russia in Ukraine or the war preparations against China). There is no growth of class conflict that is prompting the capitalist ruling elites all over the world to turn to fascism and dictatorship, exemplified in the US by Trump and the MAGA makeover of the Republican Party.

Therefore, there is no need for socialism or revolution in ending the worst abuses of the present system. Indeed, in the same Newsweek interview, Stein explicitly rejected being called a socialist. I dont particularly look at isms, she said. I look more at policies and whos running the show. I dont care what label you put on it.

Steins official election platform, posted on her campaign website, lists many reforms, but they are all based on the tattered fiction that the ruling class, via the Democratic Party, can be pressured into ceding a significant portion of its vast wealth and economic power. She and her party are bourgeois defenders of the capitalist system. Their platform calls for putting the health care industry, the utilities and some banks under public ownership, but rejects the abolition of the capitalist system of private ownership of the means of production and production for profit.

And it rejects the role of the working class as the revolutionary social force in modern society and the fight for the political independence and political mobilization of the working class in the struggle for powerfor the destruction of the capitalist state and establishment of a workers state.

This perspective, fought for by the Socialist Equality Party and the International Committee of the Fourth International in opposition to the various pseudo-left and reformist organizations, will find growing support in the aftermath of the election, whatever the outcome. None of the contradictions of American and world capitalismthe economic crisis and decline of the United States, the staggering growth of social inequality, the collapse of bourgeois democratic forms of rulewill be resolved. The aftermath of the election will see an explosive intensification of the class struggle, a sharpening of the objective preconditions for socialist revolution and the growth of the influence of the Trotskyist movement in the working class.
This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a city view taken from Senayan Park in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 12, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a view of Jakarta seen from the top of National Monument in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 19, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people taking photos with Selamat Datang Monument on a nearby observation deck in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 10, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows the Patung Pemuda Membangun statue in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 12, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people riding bikes in Taman Fatahillah in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 11, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows Selamat Datang Monument in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 10, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a city view taken from Senayan Park in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 12, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows the Jakarta City Railway Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, Nov. 2, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows sunset view near KOMPAS Multimedia Tower in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 12, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a view near Selamat Datang Monument in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 10, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows traffic flow during the evening rush hour in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 8, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people visiting Taman Fatahillah in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 11, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a city view in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 12, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people learning traditional Balinese dance in Bali Pavilion of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in Jakarta, Indonesia, Nov. 2, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows traffic flow on Sudirman Street in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 13, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a city view in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 12, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows high-rise buildings in Sudirman Central Business District in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 13, 2024. Located on the northwest coast of Java Island, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and is currently the political, economic and cultural center of the country. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
Last Friday, Liberal Democrat (FDP) Finance Minister Christian Lindner published an 18-page document calling for an economic about turn with a partial fundamental revision of key political decisions. Since then, speculation has been rife that the coalition government of the Social Democrats (SPD), FDP and Greens may be coming to an early end.

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) in the Bundestag [Photo by DBT/Kira Hofmann/photothek]

Lindners document is being compared to the infamous paper with which the then FDP economic affairs minister, Otto Graf Lambsdorff, collapsed the SPD-FDP coalition of SPD Chancellor Helmut Schmidt in 1982, ushering in the 18-year rule of Helmut Kohl (Christian Democratic Union, CDU). It is a deliberate provocationnot so much against his Social Democratic and Green coalition partners, as against the working class.

After decades of social redistribution favouring the rich, of austerity in education, healthcare and infrastructure, and of falling real wages, the finance minister is calling for massive tax cuts for the wealthy, a frontal attack on social services, social rights and environmental regulations, and strict austerity measures.

Lindner wants to halve the solidarity surcharge, which has been in place since German reunification in 1991 and now only applies to very high incomes and profits, in the coming year and abolish it altogether in 2027. Corporation tax, the most important levy on corporate profits, is also to be reduced by 2 percent in 2025 and even further in the following years. Both measures will mean substantial additional profits for the super-rich and corporations and a corresponding decline in tax revenues.

The debt brake, which restricts annual structural deficits to 0.35 percent of GDP, is to be strictly applied, and Lindner also rejects further special funds that could be used to circumvent it. Instead, the falling tax revenues and rapidly growing military expenditureswhich, according to the paper, are to be prioritisedare to be financed through cuts in social spending.

In the name of reducing bureaucracy, Lindner wants to put all legislative proposals that protect employees social rights on hold.

Under the heading Mobilisation of the labour market, he calls for a significant increase in working hours and a substantial reduction in the citizens income welfare benefit to strengthen work incentives. The citizens income cut alone is expected to save 3 billion a year. Individual disadvantages compared to the status quo are unavoidable, but also to be welcomed in the sense of activation and incentive orientation, the paper states.

For example, the cost of accommodation and heating is no longer to be recompensed according to the actual expense incurred, but replaced by a region-specific flat rate, which, in view of the explosion in rents and heating costs, would mean homelessness for many. The federal contribution is to be reduced and benefits for asylum seekers are to be cut by 800 million.

Lindner also has his sights set on pensions. Through genuinely flexible retirement and high deductions for early retirement, employees are to be forced to work into old age and relieve the pension funds accordingly. The paper envisages savings of 4.5 billion in comparison to the already adopted draft budget.

Lindner also wants to stop climate targets that have already been agreed. It does not help climate protection if Germany, as a supposed global pioneer, tries to make its economy climate-neutral as quickly as possible, and consequently [suffers] with avoidable economic damage and political upheaval, the paper states.

Lindner and his FDP, which once called itself the high earners party, embody like no other party the arrogance of those parasites who have acquired their wealth through exploitation, real estate and stock market speculation and inheritances, and look with scorn and contempt on workers who, despite working hard, are just making ends meet.

The FDP is now so hated that it received only between 0.8 and 1.1 percent of the vote in the last three state elections in eastern Germany and, if federal elections were held today, would have little chance of meeting the 5 percent threshold for remaining in parliament. If Lindner is nevertheless so arrogant, it is because he knows that he not only has the support of the business elite and the CDU under its leader and former BlackRock manager Friedrich Merz, but also of his coalition partners, the SPD and the Greens.

The dispute in the coalition government over fiscal policy is not about whether, but only how upward social redistribution and attacks on the working class will be carried out. While Lindner is provocatively going on the offensive and paving the way for the attacks, the SPD and the Greens are proposing different methods to avoid open class confrontation for as long as possible and to suppress the resistance of the working class with the help of the trade unions.

The Green Party vice-chancellor and economics minister, Robert Habeck, wants to continue to support corporations and banks with billions of euros of state money, as was already the case during the 2008 financial crisis and the coronavirus pandemic. This money will then be squeezed out of the working class through corresponding austerity measures.

To this end, Habeck wants to set up a German fund for investment that subsidises company purchases by 10 percent. So if a firm buys a machine for 1 million, it will get 100,000 in tax money. Energy costs, electric cars and investments in infrastructure and digitisation should also be subsidised accordingly.

The SPD and Chancellor Olaf Scholz also have similar ideas, albeit somewhat different in detail. Above all, they want to support large corporations and subsidise the price of electricity and the sale of electric cars. The SPDs assurances that it would not allow any cuts in social spending are a blatant lie. The SPD had made the same claim before it passed the Agenda 2010 and Hartz laws implementing welfare cuts and worsening labour protections 20 years agothe most comprehensive social cuts in the history of post-war Germany.

The SPD and Greens, like the FDP, reject higher taxes for the rich. All parties represented in the Bundestag (parliament) agree that the time when the class struggle could be ameliorated through social concessions is over. The enormous costs of military rearmament, the financing of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the intensification of trade war and protectionism no longer allow for social compromises.

The imperialist struggle for world power, raw materials and markets is being fought out on the backs of the working class, just as it was a hundred years ago. This is made unmistakably clear by the announcement of the VW Group, which for decades was considered the epitome of social partnership, that it would lay off tens of thousands of workers, close entire plants and cut wages by 20 percent.

The presidential election in the US will further accelerate this development. Green Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock travelled to Kiev just yesterday to assure the Zelensky regime that Germany will continue to support it financially and militarily even if Trump wins the election.

Unlike in 1982, the FDP cannot simply change the coalition today. The FDP and CDU do not have enough representatives in the Bundestag to overthrow Scholz through a no confidence vote, unless they rely on votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The only way to replace the government would therefore be early elections, which would endanger the FDPs existence.

But which parties are in the government is ultimately secondary. They all agree on the fundamental issuesmilitary rearmament, support for the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, austerity and upward social redistribution. The only way to stop these dangers is to build an independent movement of the international working class that fights for the overthrow of capitalism and a socialist perspective.
Join the fight against the jobs massacre! Join the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee by filling out the form at the end of this article.

UPS Velocity warehouse in Louisville, Kentucky. [Photo: UPS Media]

During a Third Quarter earnings call last week, UPS management announced progress in the companys plans to reduce capacity, automate operations and slash jobs. Management said it has reduced capacity by 1 million packages so far this year, the product of the closure of 45 operations, including nine full buildings.

Part of the Network for the Future cost-cutting plan, the closures resulted in a reported 8 percent improvement in the number of parcels processed per work hour, equivalent to an efficiency gain of 11 million hours.

This reduction in capacity is aimed at re-sizing UPSs operations to shrink the companys surplus capacity of an average of 12 million parcels a day, double the surplus from years before the pandemic. The surplus capacity is due to both the expansion of operations to meet increased demand during the height of the pandemic and a steady decline in demand over the past few years. Daily volume in quarter three 2021 was 23.4 million but declined to 20.3 million the same time last year.

Reductions in capacity really means a reduction in jobs. By levering automation to increase efficiency, management is seeking to cut labor costs and boost profitability at the expense of the working class.

Towards this end UPS announced earlier this year that it would close around 200 facilities in the US while tripling the number of automated facilities to 400 by 2028. In preparation for this the company is laying off more than 10,000 people in middle and lower management, and it already employs tens of thousands fewer workers than it did a few year ago. But this is only the start of a larger jobs bloodbath.

Closures will be joined with consolidation. UPS is boasting plans to consolidate four facilities in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island and has highlighted its operations in Chalk Hill, Texas, and its New York Capital Village Center hub for closure.

Earlier this year UPS reported its volume-per-resource ratiocalculated as the average daily volume divided by the number of US employeesas 51. The company plans to increase that ratio to 59 by 2026, a 15.7 percent increase. With UPS looking to reduce capacity to match lower demand, that ratio can only come through mass layoffs.

These changes are already yielding increased profits for company shareholders. UPS reported a 5.6 percent increase in revenue in quarter three with a 22.8 percent increase in non-GAAP adjusted operating profit, a measure of income that excludes non-recurring costs. The quarterly report also reported a 4.1 percent decrease in cost per piece, demonstrating the effect automation is having on the reduction of the companys operational costs.

This year CEO Carol Tome reported that We now process 63 percent of the volume in our hubs in some sort of an automated way. Thats up five percentage points from a year ago.

These changes are not isolated to UPS. Rival FedEx is also implementing automation schemes at 50 locations as part of its Network 2.0 plan, aiming to save $2 billion in costs by 2027 through these changes. Meanwhile, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking to consolidate its operations into large hubs, eliminating many smaller offices, particularly in rural areas as part of the Delivering for America plan, which threatens the jobs of tens of thousands of postal workers.

In the US the auto industry is slashing thousands of jobs after the phony stand up strike of the UAW bureaucracy sold out 150,000 autoworkers. This year Stellantis cut over 2,000 jobs at its Warren Truck facility, while Ford has cut 1,400 jobs at its electric truck plant in Dearborn, Michigan. Internationally, Volkswagen has announced that it will be closing at least three plants in Germany, eliminating tens of thousands of jobs, while Stellantis is looking to cut 25,000 jobs across Italy. Volkswagen has also demanded a 20 percent pay cut from its 120,000 workers in Germany to save 2 billion euros a year.

Boeing has also announced plans to lay off 17,000 workers across its global operations, and thousands of writers and actors in Hollywood face being replaced by AI after their strikes were betrayed last year.

The changes underway at UPS further expose the bankrupt claims of the Teamsters bureaucracy that the 2023 UPS contract was a historic victory for workers. Instead it was a historic betrayal, which is being used to carry out some of the deepest cuts in the companys history.

The Teamsters bureaucracy has maintained a guilty silence over the last year as job losses continue to mount, outside of occasional references to a contract enforcement campaign, which is cover for the fact that the deal contained no protections against layoffs. Last year, the Teamsters bureaucracy also abandoned 22,000 Yellow freight workers who lost their jobs when the company went bankrupt.

The collaboration between management and the union bureaucrats is so close that Tome boasted of the deal last year: [W]e can put together plans to mitigate that cost [of pay increases], plans to drive productivity inside of our business through automation, which, oh, by the way, we retained the ability to do so.

The union bureaucrats are doing nothing to mobilize opposition to layoffs because they accept the companys so-called right to profit and are working with management to impose them. Bureaucrats like Sean OBrien, who is one of 160 Teamsters officials who make more than $200,000 a year, have aligned their interests with management to preserve their inflated salaries and their positions as labor contractors for corporations. This finds further expression in OBriens courting of Donald Trump and fascist Republican Senator Josh Hawley as a servant to capitalist reaction.

In defiance of these betrayals there is growing opposition to austerity in the working class. The strike by 33,000 Boeing workers defied both the company and the IAM bureaucracy for nearly two months before a sellout contract was rammed through, and sellout contracts in the rail industry were rejected by conductors at Norfolk Southern and maintenance of way workers at CSX. Workers at Canada Post have also voted to authorize strike action, while postal workers in the US are outraged over a union-government offer of just 1.3 percent pay increases. And in Italy tens of thousands of Stellantis workers launched a national strike to oppose the layoffs.

In all of these cases the rank and file is locked in a fight both with management and the bureaucrats. In order to carry forward the fight, workers must form rank-and-file committees to organize a rebellion to transfer power from the bureaucracy and management to workers themselves, while uniting their struggles in a global movement of the working class against exploitation.

The push towards automation and the attacks on jobs and wages by the capitalist class raises the question of which class must control production. Under capitalism automation is a tool for the destruction of jobs and the enrichment of the ultra wealthy, raising profits by cutting labor costs. But under workers control automation could be a force for raising living standards and reducing working hours without reducing pay. Ultimately, it is not automation that is destroying jobs but a social system that prioritizes private profit over social need.

In the fight against layoffs, the rank and file must take up the fight to place new technology under the control of the working class, turning automation into a force for social benefit and not capitalist profit. This requires a conscious struggle against the capitalist system and profit motive that is turning labor-saving technology into weapons against the working class.
American actress Teri Garr died October 29 at the age of 79. Reportedly, she succumbed to the multiple sclerosis whose symptoms she first experienced in the early 1980s. Garr made her medical condition public in 2002, by which time her career had significantly slowed. She retired for good in 2011. The Associated Press reports that Garr battled other health problems in recent years and underwent an operation in January 2007 to repair an aneurysm.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

The actress brightly and endearingly enlivened numerous films and television series in the 1970s and 1980s in particular. Her appearance in Mel Brooks comic Young Frankenstein (1974) was undoubtedly a high point in the early days of her career. Garr played the seductive, vivacious, slightly dizzy Inga, assistant to Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder), complete with faux German accent (the feeling is mu-tu-al). Brooks film, of course, was also blessed with the presence of two other great female comic talents, Cloris Leachman and Madeline Kahn.

Garr was born in the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, Ohio (or Los Angeles, depending on the source) in 1944, but raised primarily in North Hollywood. Her father Eddie Garr was a performer, an actor and a comedian, who struggled in show business. Her mother Phyllis had been a model and a dancer. In her memoir, she revealed that her father had tried to warn his children away from pursuing a career in Hollywood: Dont be in this business. Its the lowest. Its humiliating to people.

According to biography.com,

She was only 11 years old when her father died. Years later, in her 2005 memoir, Teri described Eddies propensity for drinking and gambling as well as his declining health that kept him in bed or drove him to the hospital. Propelled back into the workforce, Phyllis supported Teri and her brothers by working in the wardrobe department at NBC and later other studios.

Garr told the Chicago Tribune in 1988 that her fathers death

left us bereft, without any kind of income. And I saw my mother be this incredibly strong, creative woman who put three kids through collegeone of my brothers is a surgeon. Any kind of lessons we wanted, we had to have scholarships or sweep the floors. It had to be free. And so we always had to try harder. That was instilled in me very early.

Garr studied ballet dancing intensely, practicing three, four hours a day; my feet would be bleeding, she told another interviewer in 1983.

Dustin Hoffman, Teri Garr, and Sydney Pollack in Tootsie (1982)

After two years in college in the Los Angeles area, she took off for New York City where she occupied herself dancing in Broadway chorus lines by night and studying at the Actors Studio by day, interrupted by occasional commutes to Hollywood for dancing parts in beach party and Elvis Presley movies. (Chicago Tribune)

Garr appeared in a number of television series in the 1960s and early 1970s (Dr. Kildare, The Andy Griffith Show, Star Trek, That Girl, M*A*S*H) before coming to greater prominence in Francis Ford Coppolas Conversation (1974), a film very much of the Watergate era, in which she played the girlfriend of tormented surveillance expert Gene Hackman.

Her appearance in The Conversation led to an interview with Mel Brooks, who reportedly indicated he would hire her for his new film if she could speak with a German accent. According to Garr, she learned the accent from a German woman who made wigs for Cher.

Her standing with the public was forever changed by Brooks Young Frankenstein, a film with an irreverent attitude toward almost everything, science, Hollywood, the police, sexuality and more.

Dr. Frankenstein and Inga fall into one anothers arms, while he awaits the arrival of his fiancee, Elizabeth (Kahn). The prim Elizabeth eventually shows up.

Freddy: I'd like you to meet my assistants Inga and Igor.

Elizabeth: How do you do? How do you do?

Freddy: This is my financier Elizabeth.

Inga: Oh, I'm so happy to meet you at last.

Freddy: Financee.

Elizabeth: Excuse me darling, what is it exactly that you do do?

Inga: Uh, well, I assist Dr. Frinkensteen in the laboratory. We have intellectual discussions on we. As a matter of fact we were just having one as you entered, aren't we now? What?

Her role in the Brooks film opened numerous doors, and Garr remained active throughout the rest of the decade in film and television. In 1982, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as the friend of cross-dresser-by-necessity Dustin Hoffman in Sidney Pollacks satirical comedy Tootsie.

She co-starred with Michael Keaton (who paid a kind tribute to Garr following her death) in Mr. Mom (1983, Stan Dragoti), about an engineer in the auto industry who loses his job and finds himself, unexpectedly and unwarily, in charge of the children and the household chores.

Mr. Mom (1983)

The same year, Garr appeared with Donald Sutherland in The Winter of Our Discontent (Waris Hussein), a television film based on John Steinbecks final novel, about an unhappy suburbanite. On the whole, however, in conventional Hollywood fashion, she was typecast as a comic performer, something about which she later expressed regret.

Many of her later films are fairly inconsequential, through no fault of Garrs. She had a small part, along with dozens of others, in Robert Altmans The Player (1992), a scathing picture of the movie industry. She later performed in the same directors Ready to Wear (1994), about the fashion business.

It was also during those years, reports Shoot, that Garr began to feel a little beeping or ticking in her right leg. It began in 1983 and eventually spread to her right arm as well, but she felt she could live with it. By 1999 the symptoms had become so severe that she consulted a doctor. The diagnosis: multiple sclerosis.

For three years Garr didnt reveal her illness.

I was afraid that I wouldnt get work, she explained in a 2003 interview. People hear MS and think, Oh, my God, the person has two days to live.

Brainandlife explained that after appearing

in more than 100 films and TV series, garnering an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress in Tootsie, and earning a large and loyal fan base for such roles as Inga in Young Frankenstein (I love to roll in ze hay!!) and Caroline in Mr. Mom, she found that the work had dried up. I think my career would have changed anyway at a certain age, but Hollywood's very finicky about everyone being perfect. When things slowed down, it was either the MS or that I'm a stinking actress, so I chose to believe it's the MS, she says. There's definitely fear and misunderstanding out there about what MS is, and that's one of the reasons why it's so important to me to go out and talk about it.

Garr was also well-known for her many appearances on various talk shows, where her gift for spontaneous humor and her vitality made her a favorite with the public.

As the result of a brief interaction in 1988, this writer can report that Garr was as funny, charming and down-to-earth in real life as she was on the screen.
At least 54 Palestinians were killed across Gaza on Tuesday by the Israeli military, the majority in the northern region of the Strip where aid has been cut off entirely for weeks by the Zionist regime.

Palestinians gather to receive aid distributed by UNRWA, the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees, in Nusairat refugee camp, Gaza, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 [AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana]

An air strike on a civilian residence in the town of Beit Lahiya north of Gaza City killed 25 people, mostly women and children who were sheltering there.

A report by PressTV said 39 people were killed in northern Gaza and that, The death toll from an Israeli attack on the Masry family home in the town of Beit Lahiya in the north reached 25. The Wafa news agency citing medical sources said the victims included children.

PressTV also reported, Six people including a mother and her two children were also killed in strikes on the central city of Deir al-Balah. Another home was hit by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, which killed two children and their parents.

Strikes in other parts of Gaza on Tuesday killed another ten people, according to health ministry officials.

The renewed attack on civilians in northern Gaza began on October 6 and has included a ground assault focusing on the towns of Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoon. Israel has claimed it is fighting Hamas in these isolated areas of the region that have been repeatedly attacked during more than a year of the Gaza genocide.

A report by Associated Press said, Dozens of Palestinians trickled out of Beit Lahiya on Tuesdaymostly women and childrendragging rucksacks and satchels with belongings. They entered Gaza City on a street where every building had been completely flattened or heavily damaged. We came barefoot. We have no sandals, no clothes, nothing. We have no money. There is no food or drink, said Huda Abu Laila.

We are hungry. Hunger has killed us. We were under siege for one month without water or food, the gaunt elderly women continued, before erupting in tears.

The fleeing Palestinians reported that there were bodies lying in the streets because no one was able to retrieve them. At least three people were reported to be trapped alive under the rubble of the buildings destroyed in Beit Lahiya, but rescue teams were prevented from reaching them by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The Gaza Health Ministry said there are no ambulances operating north of Gaza City.

Associated Press reported that the IDF has ordered the complete evacuation of Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoon. Jabaliya contains a refugee camp where the United Nations estimates 100,000 Palestinians continue to live after tens of thousands fled over the past month of the renewed Israeli offensive in northern Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Israelis targeted medical facilities in the north, including devastating attacks on Monday and Tuesday on Kamal Adwan Hospital, the only remaining hospital in the north. The Gaza Health Ministry said Israel bombed and destroyed the hospital and the attacks caused numerous injuries to medical staff and patients.

The New Arab reported on Tuesday, Houssam Abou Safia, the hospitals director, said that the situation at Kamal Adwan was catastrophic, with Israeli forces bombing it without any warning, while WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that six children were injured by Israeli bombing.

With its present offensiveair strikes and forced evacuations combined with cutting off of aid and destruction of medical facilitiesthe Israeli regime of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is putting into practice the Generals Plan to purge northern Gaza of all Palestinians by a mass military onslaught and starvation.

The plan for ethnic cleansing of Gaza has been attributed to a group of retired Israeli generals, including former head of national security Giora Eiland, in which the entire Palestinian population north of Netzarim Junction is to be removed to the south, and anyone who refuses to leave will be shot on sight. The purpose of the Nazi-style operation is to prepare the area for the construction of Zionist settlements.

In an interview with Associated Press, Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli military intelligence officer who is now a professor at Tel Aviv University, elaborated on Israels program. Its endless war, Milshtein said, We are in Jabaliya for the fourth time, and maybe in the next month we will find ourselves there for the fifth and the sixth.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, amid a growing political crisis within Israel. The removal of Gallant, who has been identified with calls for a cease fire in Gaza to secure the release of the hostages taken by Hamas last year, strengthens the drive by the Netanyahu government and fascist forces in Israel to implement a final solution to the Palestinian question in Gaza.

The New York Times reported, Mr. Netanyahu named Israel Katz, the foreign minister with scant security experience, as the new defense minister. Mr. Katz, an ally of the prime minister, is unlikely to stand in the way of Mr. Netanyahus approach to cease-fire talks, which critics say have undermined the possibility of a deal.

The firing of Gallant sparked protests across Israel, including a large demonstration near Netanyahus residence in Jerusalem. Protesters also blocked traffic and lit bonfires in Tel Aviv.

Also on Tuesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported at least seven people killed during an Israeli military raid on the occupied West Bank. Five were killed in Qabatiya, near Jenin, and two were killed in the Tammun area, in Tubas. Israeli bulldozers have also severely damaged infrastructure in the Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps and demolished seven homes in occupied East al-Quds.
Western Texas College announces the upcoming celebration of First-Generation College Day from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on November 8 in the Student Center. The event is for Western Texas College (WTC) students, faculty, and staff.

First-generation college students are trailblazers, says Cassandra Saenz, Director of TRiO Student Support Services. Saenz is a first-generation college graduate herself.

Its about breaking barriers and believing in your potential, no matter the odds, she added. We want to celebrate that journey and remind our students that they are never alone in this experience.

The date of the event recognizes President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Higher Education Act on November 8, 1965. The law helped make a college education more affordable and a degree more attainable by creating programs to help students pay for school.

Some of the federal programs help students from families with limited income who are the first in their families to go to college. These programs support students in getting into college, staying in school, and finishing their degrees. Western Texas College supports three of these programs on campus: Student Support Services, Talent Search, and Upward Bound.

Saenz is the director of Student Support Services (SSS) at Western Texas College. SSS provides services that support first-generation students, including academic support, advising, tutoring, assistance with applications, monthly skills workshops, and direct financial assistance to qualifying students. All services are free of charge to college students.

Navigating college-level expectations and responsibilities can be extremely difficult, even more so for the first-generation college student, notes Dr. Barb Beebe, College President. As a first-generation college graduate myself, I understand these difficulties and work with faculty, staff, and students across campus to address the challenges.

The event highlights the journeys of first-generation faculty and staff members who have successfully earned a degree. A photo gallery will showcase stories of determination, resilience, and triumph over obstacles. Each portrait includes a photo and a summary of the graduate's college journey, from the first steps they took to the hurdles they overcame to achieve their dreams.

We want our first-generation students to understand that there are employees on campus who were just like them, added Saenz. We know that connections are key to success for students.

Saenz invites all students, faculty, and staff to the come-and-go event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on November 8 in the Student Center. Attendees can connect, reflect, and find inspiration in these remarkable stories. Each first-generation faculty and staff participant will also receive a door hanger proudly identifying them as a first-generation graduate.

For more information or to be featured in the First-Gen Photo Gallery, please contact Cassandra Saenz at 325-574-7925 or email cassandra.saenz@wtc.edu.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a museum to learn about efforts to enhance the protection, research and use of cultural relics in Yunmeng County of Xiaogan, central China's Hubei Province. Xi inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

WUHAN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged central China's Hubei Province to forge ahead with the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, speed up efforts to build itself into a strategic fulcrum for the rise of the country's central region, and write its own chapter in Chinese modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in the province from Monday to Wednesday.

On Monday afternoon, Xi visited an exhibition of ancient bamboo and wooden writing slips from the dynasties of Qin (221-207 BC) and Han (202 BC-AD 220) at a museum in Yunmeng County, the city of Xiaogan.

After learning about the content of the slips and their value, Xi stressed intensified archaeological research to provide a solid foundation for carrying forward fine traditional Chinese culture and boosting cultural confidence.

Before the invention of paper, bamboo and wooden slips were the primary writing medium in ancient China. They have been discovered in various parts of the country, offering a rare glimpse into the nation's time-honored history.

On Tuesday morning, Xi visited a vegetable farm in Jiayu County, the city of Xianning.

Noting that technological progress is essential for modern agricultural development, he urged local officials and residents to embrace technological advancements and further boost vegetable production to bring tangible benefits to more people.

He then traveled to a village in Jiayu to inspect local elderly care facilities and community services. He called for more targeted measures to address public concerns, with a focus on the needs of older people and children.

Xi visited a villager's home and talked with the family about their livelihood and access to medical and elderly care services.

As villagers bid him a fond farewell, Xi said that to advance Chinese modernization, efforts must be made to speed up rural revitalization. He encouraged the villagers to boost the economic returns of specialty industries and make their village more beautiful under the Party's leadership.

On Tuesday afternoon, Xi inspected the Wuhan Institute of Industrial Innovation and Development, where he learned about the achievements of the technological innovation supply chain platform and talked with researchers and business leaders.

He called on scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to contribute to boosting the overall performance of China's innovation system and modernizing its industrial system.

On Wednesday morning, Xi was briefed on the work of the CPC provincial committee and the provincial government of Hubei, and he acknowledged the province's achievements.

Hubei should forge ahead to bring about new achievements in technological and industrial innovation, Xi said, noting that the province should enhance research to achieve more fruitful results in developing core technologies in key fields and develop new quality productive forces in accordance with its local conditions.

Xi stressed that restoring the eco-environment of the Yangtze River is a top priority.

He also said that Hubei needs to integrate itself comprehensively into the unified national market, promote the positive interplay and common development of businesses under all forms of ownership, and participate actively in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Hubei should strive to deliver in the integrated development of its urban and rural areas, as well as comprehensive rural revitalization, Xi said.

He urged the province to center on the metropolitan areas of Wuhan to advance the coordinated development of city clusters in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

He also called for efforts to consolidate and expand poverty alleviation achievements, accelerate the revitalization and development of old revolutionary base areas, and ensure the people's well-being through solid work on various fronts.

Xi underlined the importance of boosting cultural resource protection and the innovative development of the cultural sector, enhancing origin-tracing studies and exhibitions of the Yangtze River civilization, and developing the cultural tourism sector into a pillar industry.

Noting that the year 2024 will end in less than two months, Xi stressed the need to push forward with various work, especially the economic work, in an effective and solid manner, so as to deliver on the economic and social development goals for the whole year. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a museum to learn about efforts to enhance the protection, research and use of cultural relics in Yunmeng County of Xiaogan, central China's Hubei Province. Xi inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a museum to learn about efforts to enhance the protection, research and use of cultural relics in Yunmeng County of Xiaogan, central China's Hubei Province. Xi inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a vegetable farm in Panjiawan Town of Jiayu County in Xianning, central China's Hubei Province. Xi inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a vegetable farm in Panjiawan Town of Jiayu County in Xianning, central China's Hubei Province. Xi inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Siyi Village in Panjiawan Town of Jiayu County, Xianning, central China's Hubei Province. Xi inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Siyi Village in Panjiawan Town of Jiayu County, Xianning, central China's Hubei Province. Xi inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Siyi Village in Panjiawan Town of Jiayu County, Xianning, central China's Hubei Province. Xi inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Siyi Village in Panjiawan Town of Jiayu County, Xianning, central China's Hubei Province. Xi inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers as he visits Siyi Village in Panjiawan Town of Jiayu County, Xianning, central China's Hubei Province. Xi inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Wuhan Institute of Industrial Innovation and Development in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 5, 2024. Xi made an inspection tour to Hubei Province from Monday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with researchers and business leaders while visiting the Wuhan Institute of Industrial Innovation and Development in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 5, 2024. Xi made an inspection tour to Hubei Province from Monday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Rolling out a very special welcome mat, Uncle Wei brings joy and warmth to Chinese astronauts returning from space. Join us on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia as we explore his hero's welcome under the starlit sky. #Shenzhou18
BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's autumn grain harvest this year has received a boost from the "Heavenly Palace."

At a crop breeding center in Shanghai, rice ears have turned yellow and fully matured after over 100 days of growth. These rice seeds were part of a 6-month-long breeding experiment conducted aboard China's space station Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) in 2022. They were planted upon return to Earth and have recently yielded plentiful harvests.

Scientists said they sent six rice seeds to space aboard the Wentian spacecraft two years ago. In-orbit taikonauts bred 59 seeds from the group and brought them back to Earth. After a selection, the scientists cultivated some high-quality ones in an artificial climate room. They subsequently got around 10,000 new seeds and continued selecting a portion for further large-scale growth in the farm field.

The seeds bred in the space station can be seen as the first generation, those cultivated in the artificial climate room as the second, and those grown in farm fields as the third, according to Zheng Huiqiong, a researcher responsible for the space rice study at the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She said her team had obtained preliminary findings by studying the three generations of space rice seeds.

"The research findings demonstrate that the seeds grown in space can still reproduce on Earth, suggesting the possibility of food production in a space environment," Zheng noted.

Space breeding refers to exposing seeds and strains to cosmic radiation and microgravity during a spaceflight mission to mutate their genes.

When the space-bred samples are brought back to Earth, scientists will examine and evaluate their mutations. Compared with natural bred types, some are positive, conferring properties favored by farmers, such as greater yields, shorter growth periods and better resistance to diseases.

More importantly, space food is safe for human consumption. Zhao Hui, an expert with the China Academy of Space Technology, said that unlike genetically modified food-transferring genes from other species, space-bred seeds and strains undergo a mutation of their own genes only.

SWEETER TASTE, MORE ENERGY

How does the rice with an out-of-this-world origin taste? Zheng said it might be sweeter than those bred on Earth.

The research team discovered that the content of glucose and fructose, two types of sugar, in the space-bred seeds was significantly higher than that of ordinary seeds. "We estimated that they are approximately five or six times higher," Zheng said. Furthermore, the space-bred seeds also contained slightly more protein than ground-bred ones.

"That means space-bred rice tastes sweeter and has more energy," the researcher added.

The density of rice leaves also differs. Compared with naturally bred types, the leaves of the space-bred rice are relatively sparse, making it difficult to achieve high-density planting. Researchers said they would conduct further studies to find the reasons and make molecular modifications.

The 120-day rice experiment on the Tiangong space station in 2022 represented an achievement as it is the first time ever that rice has been cultivated from germination to reproduction in orbit, showcasing the complete life cycle of this crop. Previously, such seed-to-seed cultivation had only been achieved with Arabidopsis, canola, peas and wheat on the International Space Station.

"Growing rice in space is much more challenging compared to growing on Earth," Zheng said.

The vacuum environment of space requires an artificial setting for rice cultivation, which involves a completely enclosed environment where light, gas, and water are controlled by taikonauts. Especially for the light, as rice requires high levels of sunlight for photosynthesis. However, since artificial light sources cannot replicate sunlight perfectly, these rice varieties have to undergo screening or modifications to adapt to the artificial light, Zheng explained.

China has been a pioneering country seeking to apply the technology of space breeding to agricultural farming on the ground.

It conducted its first space breeding experiment in 1987, launching packets of seeds on a satellite and returning them to Earth after exposure to cosmic radiation.

Since then, hundreds of plant species seeds have traveled with dozens of the country's retrievable satellites and Shenzhou spaceships.

In the follow-up study, scientists will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the yield and agronomic characteristics of space-grown rice for space food security concern. 
MOSCOW, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- China, a true champion of fair and open markets, has set a global example of supporting multilateralism and free trade, said Veronica Nikishina, general director of the Russian Export Center (REC).

"The China International Import Expo (CIIE) provides an exceptional opportunity for Russian producers and exporters to showcase their products, connect with Chinese buyers, and secure long-term, large-scale orders," Nikishina said in an interview with Xinhua recently.

"Such tangible access to the Chinese market will strongly encourage foreign exporters to explore opportunities in China," she added.

She said that since the first CIIE in 2018, the REC has actively organized and supported participation by Russian companies, making it a core component of its annual initiatives.

"We see growing interest among Russian and Chinese companies in deepening their trade cooperation by attending the expo," Nikishina said.

According to her, Russian exhibitors will offer a wide range of products to Chinese consumers and distributors this year.

In addition to sweets, chocolate, butter, alcohol and beverages, there will be a special focus on cosmetics, nutritional supplements, medical products, and household items, as well as advanced technology solutions in digital products and industrial production.

"Face-to-face meetings are highly effective, and there is strong enthusiasm from both Russian and Chinese companies to establish or expand cooperation," she said.

Nikishina noted that many Russian companies attend the CIIE for the first time this year and are eager to understand Chinese consumer preferences.

"Russian companies will fully utilize the CIIE platform to promote their products, seek large-scale partners, and establish long-term trade partnerships," she added. 
This photo shows damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Jiyeh, Lebanon, on Nov. 5, 2024. At least 25 people were killed and 32 others wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 people were killed and 32 others wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, an Israel airstrike targeting a residential apartment in Barja, a town in the Chouf district in Mount Lebanon, killed 15 people, and civil defense teams were still searching for casualties under the rubble.

Additional casualties were caused by Israeli attacks on the municipality of Talia in Baalbek, the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, as well as towns and villages in southern and eastern Lebanon.

Moreover, one person was injured in an Israeli raid targeting a pickup truck on the Masnaa-Jdeidat Yabous border crossings between Lebanon and Syria.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said that its fighters attacked the Ma'ale Golani barracks, the headquarters of Israel's 810th Hermon Brigade, in the occupied Golan with a barrage of rockets, adding that they also struck Israeli forces in several Israeli cities with rockets.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the onset of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict on Oct. 8, 2023, has reached 3,013, while the number of injured has risen to 13,553. 

This photo shows damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Jiyeh, Lebanon, on Nov. 5, 2024. At least 25 people were killed and 32 others wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

This photo shows damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Jiyeh, Lebanon, on Nov. 5, 2024. At least 25 people were killed and 32 others wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Rescuers search for casualties under the rubble after Israeli airstrikes in Barja, a town in the Chouf district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, Nov. 6, 2024. At least 25 people were killed and 32 others wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, an Israel airstrike targeting a residential apartment in Barja killed 15 people, and civil defense teams were still searching for casualties under the rubble. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

Rescuers search for casualties under the rubble after Israeli airstrikes in Barja, a town in the Chouf district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, Nov. 6, 2024. At least 25 people were killed and 32 others wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, an Israel airstrike targeting a residential apartment in Barja killed 15 people, and civil defense teams were still searching for casualties under the rubble. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

A man checks a destroyed building after Israeli airstrikes in Barja, a town in the Chouf district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, Nov. 6, 2024. At least 25 people were killed and 32 others wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, an Israel airstrike targeting a residential apartment in Barja killed 15 people, and civil defense teams were still searching for casualties under the rubble. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

Rescuers search for casualties under the rubble after Israeli airstrikes in Barja, a town in the Chouf district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, Nov. 6, 2024. At least 25 people were killed and 32 others wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, an Israel airstrike targeting a residential apartment in Barja killed 15 people, and civil defense teams were still searching for casualties under the rubble. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

Rescuers search for casualties under the rubble after Israeli airstrikes in Barja, a town in the Chouf district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, Nov. 6, 2024. At least 25 people were killed and 32 others wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, an Israel airstrike targeting a residential apartment in Barja killed 15 people, and civil defense teams were still searching for casualties under the rubble. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

Rescuers search for casualties under the rubble after Israeli airstrikes in Barja, a town in the Chouf district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, Nov. 6, 2024. At least 25 people were killed and 32 others wounded on Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

According to NNA, an Israel airstrike targeting a residential apartment in Barja killed 15 people, and civil defense teams were still searching for casualties under the rubble. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
An heirloom piano takes on immense significance for one family in 1936 Pittsburgh in August Wilsons The Piano Lesson. Generational ties also permeate the film adaptation, in which Malcolm Washington follows in his father Denzel Washingtons footsteps in helping to bring the entirety of The Pittsburgh Cycle  a series of 10 plays  to the screen.

Malcolm Washington did not start from scratch in his accomplished feature filmmaking debut. He enlisted much of the cast from the recent Broadway revival with Samuel L. Jackson (Doaker Charles), his brother, John David Washington (Boy Willie), Ray Fisher (Lymon) and Michael Potts (Whining Boy). Berniece, played by Danielle Brooks in the play, is now beautifully portrayed by Danielle Deadwyler. With such rich material and a cast for whom its second nature, it would be hard, one imagines, to go wrong. Jacksons own history with the play goes back to its original run in 1987 when he was Boy Willie.

Its not the simplest thing to make a play feel cinematic, but Malcolm Washington was up to the task. His film opens up the world of the Charles family beyond the living room. In fact, this adaptation, which Washington co-wrote with Mudbound screenwriter Virgil Williams, goes beyond Wilsons text and shows us the past and the origins of the intricately engraved piano thats central to all the fuss. It even opens on a big, action-filled set piece in 1911, during which the piano is stolen from a white familys home. Another fleshes out Doaker's monologue in which he explains to the uninitiated, Fishers Lymon, and the audience, the tortured history of the thing. While it might have been nice to keep the camera on Jackson, such a great, grounding presence throughout, the good news is that he really makes narration shine as well.

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Wilson purists will certainly have opinions on these artistic choices; But they let the film breathe a bit, offering some respite from the living room with the looming piano. And most of the film stays right there, in 1936. Boy Willie and Lymon descend early one morning, uninvited, on the Pittsburgh home of Berniece and her uncle Doaker. Its a family reunion with an agenda: Theyve driven a truck full of watermelons up north from Mississippi, and Willie, Bernieces younger brother, wants to sell the watermelons and then the piano. The dusty old instrument represents to him a chance to let the past go and start a future. With the money, he wants to buy the land that his enslaved ancestors worked. Berniece has other ideas about the piano, namely keeping it. Its a connection to the past, not an anchor. Besides, it might be haunted.

Yes, The Piano Lesson, in theaters Friday and streaming on Netflix on Nov. 22, isnt just a meditation on family history. Its also a literal ghost story, with creaks, spooks and shadows lurking when the piano is disturbed. Deadwyler is electric as Berniece, who bears the brunt of the haunting, walking on eggshells in her life, trying to care for her young daughter and fend off passes from men who assume she can only be fulfilled with one at her side. Now she must deal with her somewhat manic brother who might, Doaker wisely reminds, actually, annoyingly, have a point. Perhaps the film academy will make up for their snub of her performance in Till with this turn.

Regardless of your familiarity with Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle, The Piano Lesson is a worthwhile, captivating and moving watch full of charismatic performers. Talent isnt always genetic, but the Washington family is putting in the work to prove otherwise. And with Fences,Ma Raineys Black Bottom and now The Piano Lesson, theyre making a mark with a bold and ambitious project that is probably long overdue. Only seven more to go.

The Piano Lesson, a Netflix release in theaters Friday and streaming Nov. 22, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for strong language, violent content, some suggestive references and smoking. Running time: 125 minutes. Three stars out of four.
Originally appeared on E! Online

The 2024 presidential election has come to a close.

And Donald Trump is projected by NBC News to have won against Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris in a race that became a battle fought on all playing fieldsincluding the podcast space.

While Harris made waves when she sat down with Call Her Daddys Alex Cooper to discuss the impact this election could have on women, Trumps conversation with Joe Rogan was equally pivotal, and theres one person he says was a key voice in encouraging him to take the interview: his and wife Melania Trumps 18-year-old son Barron Trump.

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He tells me about all the hot guys, Trump told Maria Bartiromo in October. People I never heard about.

And indeed, following his conversation with Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience, the podcaster, who had previously shown support for Bernie Sanders in 2020, subsequently endorsed the 78-year-old.

As for how the appearance may have helped Trump reach his second term in the White House? The Joe Rogan Experience podcast averages 11 million listeners per episode, with a predominantly male audience, a key demographic the former president was looking for.

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According to Today, for the 2016 and 2020 electionsthe former of which saw him beat Hillary Clinton before losing reelection to Joe Bidenabout four in 10 men under the age of 30 supported Trump, whereas that number rose to almost half during the Nov. 5 election.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

But while Trump and Rogan sat down for a three-hour conversation, Rogan said he was unable to meet the requests from Harris teamincluding flying to meet her on the campaign trail.

For the record the Harris campaign has not passed on doing the podcast, the comedian wrote on X, formerly Twitter, Oct. 29. They offered a date for Tuesday, but I would have had to travel to her and they only wanted to do an hour. I strongly feel the best way to do it is in the studio in Austin.

He continued, My sincere wish is to just have a nice conversation and get to know her as a human being. I really hope we can make it happen.

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Ultimately, however, it didnt happen.

And on Nov. 5 Americans voted to reinstate Trump in the White House.

I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president, he said at a campaign party Nov. 6. "This was a movement like no one has ever seen before. Frankly, I believe this was the greatest political movement of all time.

He continued, Now it is going to reach a new level of importance. Because we are going to help our country heal.

Read on to learn more about Trumps youngest son and the President-elects family tree.

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(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Ivana Trump

Ivana Trump was the first wife of President-elect Donald Trump. Born in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakianow Zlin of the Czech Republicin 1949, she rose to fame as a competitive skier. And, thanks to her marriage to Austrian ski instructor Alfred Winklmayr in 1971, Ivana was able to travel often outside of Czechoslovakia.



According to her book Raising Trump, the model met Donald three years after her 1973 divorce during a New York trip, where she'd traveled for a Canadian fashion show ahead of the Montreal Olympics. They wed in 1977 and welcomed three kids: Donald Trump Jr. born in 1977, Ivanka Trump born in 1981 and Eric Trump born in 1984.

The pair's divorce was finalized in 1992 following his affair with Marla Maples, whom he later married.



However, Ivanawho then married Riccardo Mazzucchelli for two years followed by Rossano Rubicondi for less than a yearand Donald remained on good terms. Donald during the divorce was brutal, she told ABC News in 2017. He took the divorce as a business deal, and he cannot lose. He has to win. So he took about two years. And after the final situation was straightened up, we would just talk and we are friends.



Ivana died in 2022 at age 73. According to NBC News, the New York City Medical Examiner said she died of blunt impact injuries and that her manner of death was an accident. A senior NYC official with direct knowledge added the circumstances were consistent with a fall on the stairs in her New York apartment.





Donald Trump Jr.

In 1977, Ivana and Donald welcomed their eldest son Donald Trump Jr. He began working for his fathers company The Trump Organization in 2001 and now serves as the executive vice president. Don Jr. has also been involved in his dads political campaigns, including speaking at rallies and the Republican National Convention during his father's presidential runs.



He shares five children with his ex-wife, model Vanessa Haydon: Kai (who made a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention) Donald III, Tristan, Spencer and Chloe. Don Jr. is now engaged to Fox News alum Kimberly Guilfoyle.





Ivanka Trump

Four years after the arrival of Don Jr., Donald and Ivana became parents to daughter Ivanka Trump.



Before her fathers presidency, the University of Pennsylvania alum worked at The Trump Organization. But after he was elected in 2016, the fashion brand founderwho had her own eponymous linetook on the role of Advisor to the President.



After her dad announced he would be running for president again in 2024, Ivanka revealed she would be stepping out of the political arena to focus on her family with husband, former White House senior advisor Jared Kushner, and their children Arabella, Joseph and Theodore.



I love my father very much, she said in part of a 2022 statement obtained by NBC News. This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics.

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Eric Trump

Born in 1984, Eric Trump is the third child of Ivana and Donald. Like his brother, he works as executive vice president of The Trump Organization, which he joined in 2007.



He is married to Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, with whom he shares kids Luke and Carolina.





Marla Maples

Marla Maples is Donalds second wife, whom he met while still married to Ivana. In Raising Trump, Ivana wrote the actress approached her about the affair during a trip to Aspen in 1989. Still, Marla said on a 2018 episode of the ABC podcast Journeys of Faith with Paula Faris that she never considered herself a mistress.



"My intention was to never bring hurt," she continued. "Do I wish more than anything that we could have had this relationship after his divorce papers were signed? Absolutely. I mean, with all my heart. How much heartache would it have saved so many people if I had seen that piece of paper before we got involved? But it didn't happen that way."



Marla and Donald welcomed daughter Tiffany Trump in 1993, and the couple wed later that year. However, the Dancing With the Stars alum and the 45th commander in chief announced their separation four years later and finalized their divorce in 1999.





Tiffany Trump

After her parents breakup, Tiffany Trump relocated with her mother to California.



"She moved us out of New York to get out of the spotlight and let me grow up and find my own identity versus being in the shadow of a name or growing up very young with all that pressure, Tiffany told People in 2016. So, she wanted me to have a chance to have a normal childhood. As normal as possible. I think that she did well in that.



She released her 2011 single Like a Bird" and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 with a B.A. in sociology, focusing on law and society. She then went to Georgetown Law School, where she graduated with a JD in 2020.



In 2022, Tiffany wed Michael Boulos. Her father announced they're expecting their first baby during an October 2024 speech at the Detroit Economic Club. "Shes an exceptional young woman," he said during his remarks. "And shes going to have a baby. So thats nice.





Melania Trump

Melania Trump is Donalds third wife and incoming First Lady of the United States. Born in Mesto, Slovenia in 1970, she is the second First Lady to be born outside of the U.S. and the only First Lady to become a naturalized U.S. citizen.



Melania met Donald in New York in 1996 while she was working as a model.



It was a big fashion party that my friend organized, fashion week, and he invited me, she recalled on a 2016 episode of On the Record With Greta Van Susteren. Thats how we met with Donald.



Melania and Donald married in 2005, and they welcomed son Barron Trump the following year.

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Barron Trump

Born in 2006, Barron Trump is Donald and Melanias only child. While he has lived a more private liferelocating with his parents from New York to live in Washington, D.C. and then Floridait looked like he might enter the political world after he was selected in May 2024 as a Florida delegate to the Republican National Convention. However, Barron declined the offer.



"While Barron is honored to have been chosen as a delegate by the Florida Republican Party, a statement from Melanias office shared with NBC News at the time said, he regretfully declines to participate due to prior commitments.



Like studying, perhaps, with Barron starting his freshman year at New York University in 2024. "He was accepted to a lot of colleges," his father told the Daily Mail in an interview published Sept. 4. "He's a very smart guy, and he'll be going to Stern, the business school, which is a great school at NYU."



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No contest: Barron Trump is the tallest member of the Trump family.

After his "proud mom" Melania Trump tweeted a viral photo of her very tall 18-year-old son voting on Election Day 2024, search engine queries about Donald Trump's youngest son's height spiked the morning after.

The Palm Beach Daily News, a USA TODAY Network newspaper, reported early Tuesday, Nov. 5, that Donald and Melania Trump voted at the Mandel Recreation Center near Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. It wasn't known at the time whether Barron Trump cast a ballot there  until Melania Trump's tweet. As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, the tweet has already been viewed more than 11.6 million times. Its message? "Voted for the first time - for his dad! #18yearsold #presidentialelection #proud"

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Though the photo of Barron Trump does not show his face, it is on the official X account (formerly known as Twitter) of Melania Trump, and it's a view of him from the back with very long legs.

How tall is Barron Trump, son of Donald and Melania Trump?

It's quite possible that Barron Trump, youngest son of former president Donald and Melania Trump, is apparently still growing.

While we can't confirm, if you Google "Barron Trump's height," search results show he is 6 feet, 9 inches tall. The Palm Beach Post first reported this in July 2024. During the 18-year-olds graduation in May 2024 from Oxbridge Academy in suburban West Palm Beach, he was 6-foot, 7-inches tall, according to multiple reports.

Seems odd that he'd have a 2-inch growth spurt in a few months, but while most men stop growing at 18, after puberty, some may continue to grow into their early 20s.

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If Barron Trump is now 6-foot, 9-inches tall, that puts him in rare company. Consider NBA legend LeBron James is 6-foot, 9-inches tall as are former NBA greats Karl Malone, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Also 6-foot, 9-inches is boxer Tyson Fury and Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton.

Photos: Barron Trump's life in Florida, New York and the White House

Is Barron Trump the tallest of the Trumps?

Even at 6-foot-7, Barron Trump was the tallest of the Trump siblings, and rises above his father, who is listed as 6 feet 3 inches, although some reports say he's actually 6-2. His mother, former model Melania Trump, is 5-11. Among his half-brothers, Eric Trump is 6-5, and Donald Trump Jr. is 6-1.

About how old was Barron Trump when he became taller than his mother, Melania Trump?

First Lady Melania Trump walks with son Barron, and grandson Joseph Frederick Kushner towards the Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House prior to a leaving Aug. 25, 2017, in Washington, D.C. President Trump is spending the weekend with his family at Camp David.

Barron Trump, who was born March 20, 2006, seemed to be as tall if not taller than his mother, Melania Trump, by 2017. Some photos in 2017 and 2018 show the pair walking side by side, almost eye to eye, and she in high heels.

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Photos of Donald Trumps youngest child show him to be as tall if not taller than his father by 2018.

Where does Barron Trump go to college?

Barron Trump is a freshman at New York University. And he's not the only celebrity Bobcat.

After graduating high school from Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida, the sole child of Donald and Melania Trump started fall 2024 classes at NYU. On Sept. 4, Donald Trump revealed Barron was a student at New York University's Stern School of Business.

The NYU campus is not far from Trump Tower in Manhattan, where Barron Trump spent much of his childhood and lived until his father was sworn in as the 45th president in early 2017. Barron Trump lived in the White House with his parents until 2019, when Donald and Melania Trump permanently relocated to Trump's private club, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

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With Barron Trump attending college in New York, it is notable that he is breaking away from family tradition. Barron Trump is not attending the University of Pennsylvania or Georgetown University, which have strong ties to the Trump family. Donald Trump and his other children  Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump  have attended or graduated from the prestigious universities in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., respectively.

There is, however, one Trump family member with ties to NYU.

The youngest Trump is following much of the family in pursuing a business degree, but forging a new path in choosing New York Universitys Stern School of Business, known as NYU Stern. Barron Trumps brother-in-law Jared Kushner, who is married to Barrons half-sister Ivanka Trump, has an undergraduate degree from Harvard and business and law degrees from New York University. Kushner graduated from NYU Stern.

Barron Trump is now a Sternie, showing #VioletPride and living college life.

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In addition to NYU Stern, other undergraduate schools include the Gallatin School, Steinhardt School and Tisch School of the Arts.

Each school has its share of celebrity students, with Barron Trump likely the most famous at NYU Stern.

Both sons of a president: Barron Trump and John F. Kennedy Jr. are (unintentional) magnets for public attention

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How tall is Barron Trump? Google lists his height as 6 feet, 9 inches
Some healthcare products marketed to parents may not be quite as healthy as they claim to be  and in a few cases, one pediatrician has warned, they could be doing more harm than good.

Beachgem10 is a pediatric emergency medicine doctor with four kids, and she has parents hanging on her every word in a viral TikTok video with 3.5 million views.

The doc admits that there are five product she detests, saying theyve been marketed well but can have side effects for kiddos.

Pediatric doctor Beachgem10 has gone viral with the five products she detests. TikTok / @beachgem10

Under-six medicines

As cold and flu season gets underway, Beachgem10 says shes against any cough and cold medications that say that theyre for children under six.

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These are not recommended, she warned. They are expensive. They generally do nothing. And they have a lot of side effects associated with them.

They could also end up leading to more problems.

In pediatrics, we dont really recommend cold medicines. Certainly not for kids under six anyway, because theyre younger and theyre more susceptible to side effects, Dr. Brittany Chan, a pediatrician at Texas Childrens Pediatrics in Spring, Texas, told the American Medical Association.

Those side effects can include irritability, fatigue, and behavioral changes.

Instead, the TikTok doc says that during the sick season, its better to just give kids ibuprofen and Tylenol, Pedialyte and Gatorade, saline, and cold mist humidifiers.

She warned that kids under six shouldnt be taking any cough or cold medicines, though ibuprofen and Tylenol are good for bringing down a fever. Getty Images

Neosporin

Neosporin, an antibiotic ointment made with neomycin, polymyxin B and bacitracin, is also on her no-no list  and shes not the only one to warn against it.

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Several dermatologists have spoken out  and gone viral on social media  with words of caution.

One potential downside: A 2021 study found that when Neosporin was used, wounds healed more slowly than when it wasnt.

Whats more, derms caution that it lead to allergic reactions and cause rashes  and that sensitivity can even develop later in life, after years of using it with no problem.

It is a common source of allergic contact dermatitis, dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, MD, told Allure.

Instead, she and many other derms recommend simply washing cuts and scrapes and coating them with petroleum jelly (like Vaseline).

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Petrolatum keeps the wound from drying out and, as it happens, is the lead ingredient in most antibiotic ointments  the one doing most of the heavy lifting, she added.

Fragrances

If its meant for kids  soap, lotion, laundry detergent  it shouldnt have fragrance, as far as the doc is concerned.

So many of these kiddos end up with contact dermatitis or worsening eczema symptoms. They are super rashy, she said, advising parents to toss them.

Toddler formulas

If your kid doesnt medically need toddler formula, this pediatrician says to avoid them  not just because they teach kids to drink their calories but also because theyre so unnecessarily expensive.

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Last year, the the American Academy of Pediatrics published their verdict, reporting that toddler formulas offer no nutritional advantage despite claims from manufacturers that they improv brain development or improv immune function.

The AAP said these drinks shouldnt even be called formula, noting that there is no mandated criteria for formulas for children over 12 months old.

Composition of these drinks is unregulated by the FDA and their promotion typically characterized by misleading claims, said George J. Fuchs III, M.D., FAAP, a lead author of the AAPs report.

Shes not a fan of gummy vitamins, noting that dosing is inconsistent because the vitamins are sprayed on top of the candy. Getty Images

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Gummy vitamins

The TikTok pediatricians final dont may be a tricky habit to break  including for adults, many of whom also get their multivitamin in the form of a sugary treat.

These are literally candies that have vitamins sprayed over the top of them, she said, claiming that dosing is inconsistent, the candy can cause cavities, and most kids dont actually need a vitamin supplement.

Gummy vitamins have certainly been the subject of debate, but there does seem to be a consensus among experts that dosages listed on bottles arent necessarily accurate.

We find that there are many more quality problems with gummies than there are with tablets or capsules, Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, told Today.

Many companies seem to have trouble controlling the amounts of ingredients in each gummy, he added to Time, confirming that the vitamins are often sprayed on the outside of the gummy.
If navigating the airport gives you a headache and you wish you had a personal escort who took care of you along the way then CLEAR's latest offering may be of interest.

CLEAR recently launched an Ambassador Assist service "to ensure your travel experience is seamless and stress-free," according to its website. The service provides a guide who will meet passengers at the curb, help with any luggage and then lead them through the CLEAR Plus lane at security in an option called Curb-to-CLEAR for $49. You can even be escorted past security and all the way to the gate in the other option known as Curb-to-Gate for $149.

"With Ambassador Assist, were further personalizing the travel journey to create the most seamless CLEAR Plus experience yet," Kyle McLaughlin, CLEARs EVP of aviation, said in a statement to USA TODAY. "With the curb-to-gate service, members are guided through the airport every step of the way, adding yet another benefit to ensure their day of travel is even more predictable and frictionless."

A CLEAR ambassador will guide you through the airport.

Here's how to get through TSA quickly: What's allowed and prohibited in your carry-on

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It's open to passengers on any airlines as long and must be booked 10 hours in advance of their flight.

As of Tuesday, the service is only available at three airports, having first launched at Denver International Airport in September and expanding to Washington Dulles International Airport last Thursday. It's also currently offering free bookings for a limited time ahead of its official start at Orlando International Airport later this month.

The service will rollout to the majority of the 58 airports in the CLEAR network throughout next year, a CLEAR spokesperson told USA TODAY.

Passengers over 18 must be CLEAR Plus members to book the service, which has an annual membership fee of $199 and uses eye or fingerprint scans for quick identity verification at airport security checkpoints. TSA PreCheck is not required and kids under 17 can join for free. If some members of your party don't have TSA PreCheck, the ambassador will share options to keep everyone together.

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The ambassador will coordinate a meeting time and place upon your arrival at the airport via text message. "Theyll try to meet you where youll be arriving to help you along the fastest way through the airport," the website states.

Ambassadors will also assist with checking in any luggage with the airline, according to the website. Once through security, they will drop you off at a lounge if you have access, restaurant or gate in addition to locating food or restrooms and waiting for you during quick stops. However, they won't babysit your kids or watch your pets. Those reserved wheelchair services with their airline will also get assistance by the ambassador.

If your flight is delayed, you can adjust your booking within 12 hours.

Passengers can book the CLEAR Ambassador Assist online.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New CLEAR service offers personal airport escorts
Spirit Airlines is making yet another change to its operations, axing 24 flights from major airports across America. The airline confirmed the change in a statement to The Points Guy. This latest announcement comes after Spirit announced the cancellation of 32 routes last month.

Major hubs such as Charlotte Douglas International, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, and Los Angeles LAX will be most heavily impacted. Each of those locations will have at least three Spirit routes cut. Spirit is discontinuing service from Charlotte to Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Los Angeles. That means there will now be less competition in those markets, and major airlines will be likely able to raise their ticket fees. For example, American Airlines is now the only airline which offers a direct route from Charlotte to Los Angeles.

Spirit also cut its Boston-Newark route, a particularly interesting move considering the airline just restarted it back in May. Spirit had two daily flights making the trip, but the airline faced significant competition from Delta and United, which offered many more options in a given day, not to mention frequent Amtrak service.

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Spirit has already updated its itineraries. The airline assured customers that anyone who purchased tickets for one of the canceled flights will be given a full refund, or rerouted on another Spirit flight.

In a bit of good news for travelers, Spirit is adding seven limited-time routes for the Mardi Gras season in February. The airline will begin flights from New Orleans to Columbus; Indianapolis, Memphis, and San Antonio beginning on Feb. 25.
Starbucks unveiled its 2024 holiday menu Wednesday and it includes the return of popular seasonal beverages like the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte and Chestnut Praline Latte, in addition to new refreshers and pastries.

The new items will be available beginning Thursday, Nov. 7 at Starbucks locations across the country, the company said in a news release, includes:

Cran-Merry Orange Refresher: Flavors of sweet orange, tart cranberry and warm spices, including notes of cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg, shaken with ice, water and real cranberries.

Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher: Combines the Cran-Merry Orange Refresher shaken with ice, lemonade and real cranberries.

Cran-Merry Drink: Features the Cran-Merry Refresher with creamy coconut milk poured over ice and real cranberries.

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Some popular beverages returning to the holiday menu include:

Peppermint Mocha: Features Starbucks Signature Espresso combined with steamed milk, mocha sauce and peppermint-flavored syrup, topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls; Available hot, iced and as a Frappuccino blended beverage.

Caramel Brulee Latte: Combines Starbucks Signature Espresso with steamed milk and rich caramel brulee sauce, topped with whipped cream and caramel brulee topping; Available hot, iced and as a Frappuccino blended beverage.

Chestnut Praline Latte: Features Starbucks Signature Espresso, steamed milk and flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spices, topped with whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs; Available hot, iced and as a Frappuccino blended beverage.

Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte: Sugar cookie flavored syrup combined with Starbucks Blonde Espresso, ice, and almond milk, topped with red and green sprinkles; Available hot, iced and as a Frappuccino blended beverage.

Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai: Combines warm chai spices, creamy oat milk and ice, and topped with nondairy gingerbread-flavored cold foam and a spice topping.

Starbucks unveiled its 2024 holiday menu Wednesday. Here's a look at what's on it.

The holiday menu also features a variety of food items, including:

Turkey Sage Danish: A flaky savory pastry filled with turkey sausage and a creamy bechamel sauce.

Dark Toffee Bundt: Deep toffee flavor notes swirl together in a personal-sized bundt cake.

Penguin Cookie: A buttery shortbread cookie adorned with a merry penguin design.

Snowman Cake Pop: Vanilla cake mixed with buttercream, dipped in white chocolaty icing.

Sugar Plum Cheese Danish: Cream-cheese filling is surrounded by a fluffy Danish, topped with a spiced sugarplum spread.

Cranberry Bliss Bar: A blondie cake with dried cranberries, finished with a layer of cream cheese icing flecked with orange zest and a sprinkle of dried cranberries.

Starbucks unveiled its 2024 holiday menu on Wednesday. Here's a look at what's on it.

Starbucks also offering holiday cold foams and seasonal whole bean coffee

In addition to the new and returning beverages, customers can also enjoy a "variety of new and returning" cold foams to complement Starbucks Cold Brew or iced coffee, the company said in the announcement.

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These cold foams can be made non-dairy and added as a customization for an additional charge, according to Starbucks. The flavors are listed below with a description provided by the company.

Gingerbread Cream Cold Foam: Sweet and deliciously spicy gingerbread flavors blended with Starbucks signature vanilla sweet cream.

Peppermint Chocolate Cream Cold Foam: Peppermint-flavored syrup and chocolate malt powder blended with Starbucks signature vanilla sweet cream.

Sugar Cookie Cold Foam: Sugar cookie-flavored syrup blended with Starbucks signature vanilla sweet cream.

Chestnut Praline Cream Cold Foam: Festive flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spices blended with Starbucks signature vanilla sweet cream.

Caramel Brulee Cream Cold Foam: Rich caramel brulee sauce blended with Starbucks signature vanilla sweet cream; Not available as a non-dairy cold foam.

Starbucks also unveiled three exclusive, limited edition seasonal blends that will be available throughout November and December.

The Starbucks Thanksgiving Blend is "an expression of gratitude to the world's most distinctive coffee regions", according to the company, and is described as "elegantly flavorful and aromatic." The blend features notes of candied pecan, sage and dried fig, Starbucks said in the news release.

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The Starbucks Christmas Blend returns for the 40th year, according to the company, and combines Latin American beans and mellow Indonesian coffees. The finishing touch, according to Starbucks, was the addition of spicy Sumatra beans that were aged for three to five years for a "full-bodied, spicy and rich cup of coffee."

The Starbucks Holiday Blend is a "balanced, sweet and toasty blend" of bright Latin American beans and rich Sumatran coffee, according to Starbucks.

All three blends are available for purchase as whole bean throughout the holiday season while supplies last at participating stores.

Starbucks unveils 2024 holiday cups

Starbucks has released a new holiday cup collection as the company prepares to start the holiday season.

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Just ahead of the holiday season kickoff at Starbucks on Nov. 7, the company wants to bring their customers joy as they sip on their favorite hot or cold beverages.

We love finding these genuine moments of joy and coffee to inspire the creative, Kristy Cameron, Starbucks creative director, said in a statement. Whether thats coffee trees growing, beans roasting, cups toasting, or lights glowing  we wanted to share the warmth of our coffeehouse and the anticipation of the red cups arriving with our customers and partners.

Starbucks unveil their holiday cups for the 2024 season.

To achieve the color of the new cups, the company decided to incorporate the traditional Starbucks green color as well as adding cranberry red to set the festive tone, Starbucks said.

We're really excited to lean into greens this year, Cameron said. The jade green is so vibrant and bright, and we love how it references our brand colors in a way that brings a spark of joy to our holiday cups this season.

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This years theme, Merrier Together, is a recognition of community the holidays bring as people unite through song. We kept thinking about this notion of voices coming together, like our siren singing, Cameron said. It feels musical in a way.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

Ahjane Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjane covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, food recalls, health, lottery, and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Starbucks holiday menu 2024 includes new refreshers, food items
DOHA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Qatar's constitutional amendments were approved in a national referendum, the state news agency QNA reported on Wednesday.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of Interior and chairman of the General Referendum Committee, said in a statement that the project for constitutional amendments to Qatar's permanent constitution received a popular approval rate of 90.6 percent of the total valid votes, the QNA reported.

On Oct. 29, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani issued a decree calling on all citizens 18 and older to participate in the referendum.

According to previous reports from the QNA, the latest constitutional amendments introduce significant updates to Qatar's domestic and foreign policy frameworks, including whether to end its limited voting for legislative seats. 
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  One of two Democratic state attorneys in Florida who Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis removed from office in what opponents say were political moves won back their old job from voters.

In the Orlando area, Democrat Monique Worrell on Tuesday defeated Andrew Bain, the candidate DeSantis had replaced Worrell with last year and who was running without party affiliation. In the Tampa area, Andrew Warren, who DeSantis removed in 2022, conceded to Suzy Lopez, the Republican DeSantis had picked to replace the Democrat.

DeSantis claimed Worrell failed to prosecute crimes committed by minors and didnt seek mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes, putting the public in danger in her central Florida district. She disputed his claims as false and politically driven.

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Speaking before supporters Tuesday night, Worrell dedicated the victory to her father who died unexpectedly last June. Before he took his last breath, he told me, Go get your seat back, she said.

I want to thank the voters for standing with me and saying, We dont believe you Ron DeSantis,' Worrell said.

DeSantis removed Warren over his signing of pledges that he would not pursue criminal charges against seekers or providers of abortion or gender transition treatments as well as his policies on not bringing charges for certain low-level crimes.

Im proud of the race we ran, Warren said in a statement Tuesday night. The best candidate doesnt always win, especially when the other side cheats  illegally suspending you, then spending millions of dollars lying about you.

The governor's office on Wednesday didn't immediately respond to an email inquiry.

___

Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform X: @MikeSchneiderAP.
People at an election night watch party react after an abortion rights amendment to the Missouri constitution passed, in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 5, 2024. Credit - Charlie RiedelAP

The 2024 election was a mixed bag for abortion rights.

Voters in seven states moved to protect abortion access by passing ballot initiatives to include protections for reproductive rights in state constitutions. But similar measures in three other states faileda blow to abortion-rights supporters. And the country ultimately decided to reelect the man who has claimed credit for the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade: former President Donald Trump.

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Measures meant to protect abortion rights passed in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and New York, but failed in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota. This election saw the highest number of statewide abortion-related ballot measures in a single year, surpassing the previous record of six in 2022. The results break a previous trendbefore this year, voters had sided with abortion rights every time the issue has been on state ballots since the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision two years ago.

While reproductive rights advocates celebrated the wins, they were dismayed by the measures that failed and worried about the potential threats a Trump Administration would pose to abortion access nationwide. But overall they argued that the ballot measure results indicate, once again, strong support for abortion rights across various states.

We have seven big wins in states that are really different from each other, and that brings the total of abortion or reproductive freedom state constitutional amendments to 11, says Elisabeth Smith, director of state policy and advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights, referring to three previous ballot measures that passed in 2022 in California, Michigan, and Vermont, and one that passed in 2023 in Ohio. Eleven state constitutional amendments in two years  is a huge success. (Smith adds that, in 2022, voters also protected abortion rights by rejecting three measures meant to restrict access in Montana, Kansas, and Kentucky.)

Many polls have shown that most Americans support abortion rights, but 21 states have either banned or restricted abortion since the Dobbs decision that overturned the constitutional right to abortion. As state lawmakers have taken steps to curtail abortion rights, advocates have turned to state ballot initiatives to try and protect access. The majority of the statewide abortion-related measures that appeared on the ballot this year were citizen-led initiatives.

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Here are the results of the statewide abortion-related ballot measures in 2024.

Arizona

In the battleground state of Arizona, voters approved a measure that will establish a fundamental right to abortion under Arizonas constitution, allowing abortions until fetal viability or later if an abortion is needed to protect the pregnant persons life or health.

Nearly 62% of voters supported the measure, while about 38% voted against it, with about 60% of votes counted as of 9:40 a.m. ET on Wednesday. The Associated Press called the race at 3:31 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Currently in Arizona, abortion is banned after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for medical emergencies. But the newly-passed amendment is expected to upend the states existing restrictions on abortion.

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We are excited for the future of Arizona, says Chris Love, spokesperson for the campaign behind the states ballot measure. Were pleased that Arizonans who have supported us from the beginning of our effort really turned out yesterday and showed the country that Arizonans truly believe that patients should have the freedom to make their personal and private decisions about abortion with their healthcare providers and without government interference.

Colorado

Voters in Colorado supported a ballot measure that will enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, with more than 61% voting in favor and nearly 39% voting against it, as of 5:40 a.m. ET on Wednesday when about 73% of votes were counted. The AP called the race at 10:26 p.m. on Tuesday.

The state already allows for abortion at any stage of pregnancy, but supporters of the measure have said that the amendment will ensure that future state lawmakers wouldnt be able to roll back abortion rights. The amendment will also repeal a nearly 40-year-old ban on state and local government money being used to pay for abortion services.

Florida

In Florida, a measure that would have amended the state constitution to guarantee the right to abortion up until fetal viability or when necessary to protect the health of the pregnant person, failed. The measure needed the support of at least 60% of voters to pass, but fell short, with about 57% of Floridians voting in favor and nearly 43% voting against, as of 9:49 a.m. ET on Wednesday when about 99% of the votes were counted. The AP called the race at 9:06 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

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Florida has banned abortion beyond six weeks of pregnancy, which is before many people know theyre pregnant. The restriction carries some exceptions, such as when the life of the pregnant person is at risk. With the failure of the proposed amendment, the states existing six-week ban will remain in place.

The lead-up to Election Day was contentious for the ballot initiative. Those behind the measure launched an extensive campaign to reach voters, sharing the stories of many people who were unable to receive care because of the states restrictions. But state officials tried to keep the initiative off the ballot and repeatedly attacked the campaign.

Lauren Brenzel, director of the campaign behind the ballot measure, said at a press conference Tuesday night that the vote breakdown showed that the majority of Florida voters supported it, even though the measure ultimately failed. Brenzel called on Florida politicians to repeal the six-week ban, given the vote breakdown.

They are tired of women dying because of abortion bans. They are tired of women being forced to give birth to children who died in their arms because of abortion bans, Brenzel said. A bipartisan group of voters today sent a clear message to the Florida legislature.

Maryland

Maryland voters passed a measure that will enshrine the right to reproductive freedom in the state constitution. The AP called the race at 9:28 p.m. on Tuesday. About 74% of Maryland voters supported the measure and nearly 26% rejected it, as of 4:34 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 76% of votes were counted.

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Unlike most of the other statewide abortion-rights measures this year, this initiative was placed on the ballot after a vote from Marylands Democratic-controlled legislature. Abortion is already legal in the state until fetal viabilityor after that if necessary to protect the pregnant persons life or health, or if the fetus has a serious abnormalitybut, as with the initiative in Colorado, supporters have said that this amendment will prevent the possibility of state lawmakers restricting access in the future.

Missouri

In a major win for abortion-rights supporters, Missouri voters decided to amend its state constitution to guarantee the right to abortion until fetal viability, with exceptions after that if the pregnant persons life or physical or mental health is at risk. Nearly 52% of voters backed the measure, while 48% rejected it, with about 99% of the vote counted by 9:34 a.m. ET. on Wednesday. The AP called the race at 11:24 p.m. on Tuesday.

The newly-passed amendment is expected to invalidate Missouris existing near-total ban on abortion, which is one of the strictest in the country and was the first to be enacted after the Dobbs decision in 2022. The result marks the first time that a citizen-initiated ballot measure will overturn an abortion ban in the wake of the Supreme Courts controversial ruling.

This is the first time that voters in a state with a total abortion ban have voted to enshrine abortion rights in their state constitution, and they did that to repudiate their elected officials who have put a draconian abortion ban in place against the will of their constituents, Smith says. The win in Missouri cannot be overstated.

Montana

In Montana, more than 57% of voters supported amending the state constitution to guarantee the right to abortion until fetal viability, or after that if necessary to protect the pregnant persons life or health. The measure passed, since it only needed a simple majority, with nearly 43% of voters rejecting it, as of 9:47 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 87% of the votes were counted. The AP called the race at 6:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

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Abortion is currently legal until fetal viability in Montana, and the Montana Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that abortion is protected under the state constitution. But state lawmakers have tried to restrict abortion in the past few years, and reproductive rights advocates have said that the measure would protect abortion rights if lawmakers continue those attempts in the future.

Montana voters previously weighed in on reproductive healthcare in 2022, when they rejected a legislative referendum that would have further restricted abortion by classifying an embryo or fetus as a legal person entitled to medical treatment if they are born prematurely or in the rare case that they survive an attempted abortion.

Nebraska

Unlike the other states voting on the issue this year, Nebraska had two competing abortion-related measures on the ballot.

Ultimately, voters backed the measure that will amend the state constitution to include a ban on abortion in the second and third trimesters, with exceptions for medical emergencies, rape, or incest. About 55% of Nebraskans voted in favor of the measure, while nearly 45% voted against it, as of 6:52 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 99% of votes were counted. The AP called the race at 1:02 a.m. on Wednesday.

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The other initiative, which would have enshrined the right to abortion until fetal viability in the state constitution (with exceptions beyond that in situations when an abortion is necessary to protect the pregnant persons life or health), failed, with more than 51% of voters rejecting it and nearly 49% supporting it, as of 6:52 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 99% of the votes were counted. The AP called the race at 3:27 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

In Nebraska, abortion is currently prohibited beyond 12 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest, and to save the pregnant persons life. The failure of the abortion-rights initiative allows the states existing restriction to remain in place, and the passing of the anti-abortion amendment will enshrine the restriction into the states constitution.

Nevada

Voters in Nevada took the first step to enshrining the right to abortion until fetal viability, or later when necessary to protect the pregnant persons life or health, in the state constitution. About 63% of voters supported the abortion-rights measure and about 37% rejected it, as of 5:09 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 84% of the votes were counted. The measure only needed a simple majority to pass, but voters will need to approve it again in 2026 in order to officially amend the state constitution. The AP called the race at 3:21 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Nevada currently allows abortions until the 24th week of pregnancy.

New York

New York will amend its state constitution to include equal rights protections, such as declaring that no one should be discriminated against because of pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy. Nearly 62% of people voted in favor of the measure, while almost 39% voted against it, as of 9:49 a.m. ET on Wednesday, with about 88% of the vote counted. The AP called the race at 9:31 p.m. ET on Tuesday. New York was the only other state, in addition to Maryland, that had a legislative abortion-related initiative on the ballot.

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Abortion is allowed until fetal viability in New York. The New York initiative didnt explicitly mention abortion, but was a broad equal rights amendment that included protections for reproductive healthcare, as well as factors like ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

South Dakota

South Dakota voters rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have guaranteed the right to abortion in the first trimester. The measure needed a simple majority to pass, but only about 40% voted in favor, while nearly 60% voted against it, as of 9:55 a.m. ET on Wednesday, when about 90% of the votes were counted. The AP called the race at 2:49 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

The initiative would have also amended the state constitution to allow the state to regulate abortion in the second trimester only if reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman, and permit the state to regulate or prohibit abortion in the third trimester except in situations where abortion is necessary to protect the pregnant persons health or life.

Because the measure failed, South Dakotas near-total abortion ban will remain in place.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Donald Trump has now run for president a handful of times, and one consistent thread throughout each campaign is his ability to shock us with new, creative lies.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Here are 10 shockingly false things he's said about his most recent opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris:

1.Trump claimed Harris "turned Black."

While being interviewed at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago, Trump said, "She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting the Indian heritage. I didnt know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black. So I dont know, is she Indian or is she Black?" Scott Olson / Getty Images

In reality, Harris has always identified with both her Black and Indian heritage. When she was a senator, her bio said she was, "the second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator in history."

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2.Trump claimed Harris wore a hearing device during their only presidential debate.

At a Las Vegas rally, Trump said, "I also heard she had something in the ear, a little something in the ear. No Kamala, do this. Say it this way, Kamala. Okay, be quiet. Too many people watching.'" Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images

In reality, Reuters found no evidence of Harris wearing an earpiece, and asserted that, "Candidates were not allowed props, pre-written notes or interaction with their campaign staff during commercial breaks..."

3.Trump claimed Harris's rally crowd was fake and AI-generated.

On Truth Social, Trump wrote, "There was nobody at the plane, and she 'A.I.d' it, and showed a massive 'crowd' of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDNT EXIST!" Truth Social: @realdonaldtrump

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Trump was referring to Harris's rally in Michigan. Her campaign responded on X, "This is an actual photo of a 15,000-person crowd for Harris-Walz in Michigan."

1) This is an actual photo of a 15,000-person crowd for Harris-Walz in Michigan2) Trump has still not campaigned in a swing state in over a week... Low energy? pic.twitter.com/VgTfoMAcuk  Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 11, 2024

Truth Social: @realdonaldtrump / Via Twitter: @KamalaHQ

4.Trump claimed Harris wants to bring back the draft and force Americans to go to war.

At a rally in Las Vegas, Trump said, "Would anybody like to be drafted in the audience? Because thats what theyre doing. Shes already talking about bringing back the draft. She wants to bring back the draft, and draft your child, and put them in a war that should never have happened." Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

In response, an aide for the Harris campaign told CNN, "We have no idea what he's talking about."

5.Trump claimed Harris is a Marxist, communist, and fascist.

While speaking at a Las Vegas rally, Trump said, "Shes a Marxist, communist, fascist person, which isshes a fascist. Who the hell ever thought wed be voting for a communist president? She is. Look at her record." Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

In response, Harris's campaign told Politifact that she's a capitalist.

6.Trump claimed that Harris wants to take away Americans' guns.

In their presidential debate, Trump said, "She wants to confiscate your guns She has a plan to confiscate everybody's gun." Win Mcnamee / Getty Images

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In an interview with Oprah, Harris rejected that statement revealing that both she and her running mate Tim Walz are gun owners themselves.

Oprah says she was surprised to hear Kamala Harris is a gun owner. Harris: If somebody breaks into my house, theyre getting shot. pic.twitter.com/1paBEwuuPX  Yashar Ali  (@yashar) September 20, 2024

YouTube: Kamala Harris / Via youtube.com

And in that same debate, Harris responded to Trump, "This business about taking everyone's guns away  Tim Walz and I are both gun owners. We're not taking anybody's guns away, so stop with the continuous lying about this stuff."

7.Trump claimed Harris has a plan to defund the police.

In their debate, Trump said, "[Harris] has a plan to defund the police. She has a plan to confiscate everybody's gun." Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images

A fact check revealed Harris has not discussed plans to defund the police. She has discussed "reimagining public safety and how we achieve it."

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8.Trump claimed Harris is pushing the largest tax increases in American history.

At a rally in Las Vegas, Trump said, "Unions are going to be losing all of their power, all of their clout, but the Black worker and the Black family, they're losing their jobs. Hispanics are losing their jobs to people that pour into our country illegally. Now Kamala is pushing the largest individual and small business tax increase in American history, and she said that a 70% to 80% tax rate is something that's very, very doable." Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

In reality, Harris has publicly discussed a proposal including tax increases for the wealthy and large corporations. However, the New York Times asserts that her proposals do not qualify as the largest tax increases ever.

9.Trump claimed when Harris was attorney general in California, she redefined "horrible" crimes as nonviolent.

At a Las Vegas rally, Trump said, "[Harris] defined and redefined child sex trafficking, assault with a deadly weapon, and rape of a unconscious person  an unconscious person raped  as nonviolent. These were nonviolent crimes...to help spring child predators and dangerous criminals out of prison all over the state. Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

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A fact check revealed that Harris did not define those crimes as nonviolent. It explained that the California penal code specified 23 crimes as a "violent felony," which means they, "merit special consideration when imposing a sentence to display societys condemnation for these extraordinary crimes of violence against the person."

10.And finally, Trump claimed Harris wants "open borders."

Republicans often referred to Harris as President Biden's border czar. So, in a speech along the southern border in Sierra Vista, Arizona, Trump said, "She loved the title, but she didnt want to do the work, or shes lazy... And probably more importantly than being lazy, she wants to have an open border. Rebecca Noble / Getty Images

In reality, Harris has stated that she supports increased border security and asylum restrictions if border crossings reach high rates.

What do you think about the shocking claims Trump has made about Harris? Let us know in the comments.
Seven of the 10 states that sought to enshrine reproductive freedoms in the 2024 elections prevailed, and in some cases, the new constitutional amendments will overrule existing abortion bans

Josh Ritchie for The Washington Post via Getty

After the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was handed down in 2022, states were given the power to decide how to move forward with reproductive health care.

According to an Associated Press-NORC poll conducted in June, 70% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, though several states began passing or enforcing pre-Roe abortion bans.

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During the 2024 elections, voters in 10 states had the opportunity to weigh in on abortion rights, through amendments that aimed to enshrine protections into their state constitutions. Here are the seven states that successfully voted to protect reproductive freedom, and three that didn't.

Arizona - PASSED

In April, Arizona enacted a near-total ban on abortion and ruled that doctors could be criminalized for providing or assisting in the procedure. In August, the secretary of states office announced that it certified enough signatures to put the Arizona Abortion Access Act on the ballot.

The Arizona Abortion Access Act, or Proposition 139, asked voters to agree that every individual has a fundamental right to receive an abortion before fetal viability  the point at which a fetus can survive outside of the uterus, typically about 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Colorado - PASSED

In May, the Colorado Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative  Amendment 79  received enough petition signatures to be placed on the ballot. It aimed to ensure that the right to abortion is added to the state Constitution and the use of public funds for abortion would be allowed.

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Abortion is currently legal in Colorado. However, this amendment was proposed to prevent the government from taking the right away. It also sought to override a 1984 measure that prohibits health insurance from covering abortion care for "public employees and people on public insurance."

Florida - NOT PASSED

In May, abortion in Florida was banned after just six weeks of pregnancy  when fetal cardiac activity is detected, but before many women are aware of their pregnancy.

The Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion, or Amendment 4, proposed enshrining reproductive freedom. It stated that no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patients health, as determined by the patients healthcare provider.



Related: Judge Orders DeSantis Administration to Stop 'Threatening' Florida TV Stations for Airing Abortion Ads

Getty

Maryland - PASSED

In Maryland, abortion is currently legal before fetal viability. However, this election, voters cast ballots on the Reproductive Freedom referendum. This proposed adding a section in the state constitution that guarantees reproductive freedom, which includes "the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end one's own pregnancy."

Missouri - PASSED

In 2022, Missouri enacted a trigger law that effectively banned abortion with exceptions only for specific medical emergencies.

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Amendment 3, the Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom, offered voters the chance to protect the right to abortion until fetal viability, in addition to making other forms of reproductive health care a fundamental right.

Montana - PASSED

In Montana, abortion is currently legal until fetal viability.

The Right to Abortion Initiative, or CI-128, proposed amending the state constitution to provide a right to make and carry out decisions about ones own pregnancy, including the right to abortion. It also included language to prohibit the government from denying that right until fetal viability or when its medically indicated to protect the pregnant patients life or health.

Nebraska - NOT PASSED

Abortion is currently banned in Nebraskas after 12 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

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Unlike other states, Nebraska had two dueling ballot measures in the general election. The Nebraska Right to Abortion Initiative sought to enshrine in the state constitution the right to an abortion until fetal viability or to save the life of the mother.

Additionally, Nebraska voters were given a conflicting proposal that would ban abortion in the second and third trimesters, with exceptions for cases of rape, incest or medical emergencies.

The proposal to ban abortion prevailed.

John Parra/Getty

Nevada - PASSED

Abortion is currently legal in Nevada up to 24 weeks of pregnancy or if the pregnancy can be fatal for the mother.

Question 6, or the Right to Abortion Initiative, asked voters to amend the state constitution and provide the right to an abortion until fetal viability or when necessary to protect the life or health of the mother.

New York - PASSED

In New York, abortions are currently legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Afterwards, the procedure is only allowed in cases where the pregnancy or the mothers life is at risk.

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Proposition 1, or the New York State Equal Rights Amendment, gave voters the option to amend the state constitution and prohibit discrimination by the government based on pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

South Dakota - NOT PASSED

In South Dakota, abortion is currently banned due to a trigger law that went into effect in June 2022. There are exceptions in cases where the procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother.

The South Dakota Freedom Amendment sought to amend the state constitution and "restore protections of Roe v. Wade, allowing the right to abortion before 12 weeks of pregnancy. During the second and third trimesters, the procedure would be legal in cases where the mothers life is at risk.


(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)

Six-term Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry has a slim lead over Democrat Janelle Stelson in unofficial results, mere 1.2 percent with 98 percent of the vote counted, according to unofficial results.

The Associated Press projected Perry as the winner Thursday afternoon. Neither camp had declared victory or conceded defeat as they await the tallying of provisional and military ballots.

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York County has about 5,000 provisional ballots, and President Commissioner Julie Wheeler said Thursday morning the staff is working through them, but the process could take days. The two other counties in the 10th District, Cumberland and Dauphin, are similarly working through their provisional ballots.

Perry, a leader of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, was ahead of former WGAL anchor by a 6,412 votes out of 400,508 cast in the 10th Congressional District, which encompasses Dauphin, Cumberland and part of York counties, according to results reported Wednesday morning by the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Rep. Scott Perry is fighting to keep his seat in the 10th Congressional District.

Perry has received 203,460 votes to Stelson's 197,048.

It was Perry's closest re-election run since 2018, when he beat Democrat George Scott by 2.6 percent.

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Stelson led Perry by an 8.6 percent margin in Dauphin County, 78,881 votes to Perry's 66,280. Perry held a 2,418 vote lead, a margin of 4 percent in Cumberland County. Both counties reported 98 percent of the vote counted Wednesday morning.

In York County, he has his widest margin, 11.2 percent, leading Stelson by 3,595 votes. Perry received 67,554 votes in York County to Stelson's 53,959 with 96 percent of the vote counted, according to unofficial results.

Stelson held an early lead in the race, dominating in the mail-in vote, building a margin of 29,964 votes out of 113,200 cast, but election day voting made up the difference for Perry.

Democrats had viewed Stelson as their best chance to defeat Perry, noting her celebrity in Central Pennsylvania as a long-standing anchor for top-rated WGAL News, a fact that Stelson touted, often saying that she had spent nearly four decades voters' living rooms. Also, Stelson had been a Republican before switching parties to run against Perry.

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The race attracted national attention - and the large sums of money that goes with that. The amount spent on the race could be a record for district.

Stelson widely outpaced Perry in fund-raising and spending, spending nearly $2.6 million down the stretch, according to Federal Election Commission reports. During that same period, Perry spent $925,287. For the election, Stelson raised $4.4 million to Perry's $3.2 million. A total of $6.5 million had been spent on the race, according to the last reports from the FEC, $3.4 million by Stelson and $3.1 million by Perry.

Stelson's contributions included $1 million from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which targeted the seat believing that Stelson had a good chance of unseating Perry in what is considered a Republican district.

Democrats were also buoyed by the changing demographics in the district, the expansion of the suburbs in northern York County and the West Shore in eastern Cumberland County, saying that traditionally Republican voters in the burbs tend to be more moderate.

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Recent election results demonstrate the district isnt as solidly red as it once was. In 2020, Trump beat President Joe Biden by a mere 4 percentage points in the district. In 2022, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro won the district by 12 percentage points over extremist MAGA Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano.

However, Republicans point out that in both of those elections, Perry prevailed, outperforming his partys candidates at the top of the ticket, an indication of his connection with the districts voters. In 2020, he beat Democrat Eugene DePasquale, the former state auditor general, by 6.6 percentage points. In 2022, he defeated Democrat Shamaine Daniels by 7.6 points.

The polls had been close with party-sponsored surveys putting the race within a percentage point or two. An independent poll by Harrisburg-based Susquehanna Polling, had Stelson with a healthy lead over Perry, 48 percent to 39 percent, with a five-percentage-point margin of error. The same poll found that 38 percent have an unfavorable opinion of Perry, while 40 percent have a favorable opinion of Stelson. That poll was viewed as an outlier by both parties.

During the race, Stelson campaigned on preserving reproductive rights and on Perry's role in former President Donald Trump's effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election, a role that resulted in the FBI seizing his cell phone during its investigation into the that effort.

Jenelle Stelson takes a selfie with voters in York city on Election Day

Perry has said he has also heard from voters - thousands of people - who believe the 2020 election was rife with fraud, saying he merely called for an investigation. He has repeated a widely debunked conspiracy theory that the U.S. Postal Service shredded ballots.

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Perry tried to define Stelson as a one-issue candidate - abortion rights - and criticized her for not living in the district. Stelson has said that if she won the seat, she would move from Manheim in Lancaster County's 11th Congressional District into the 10th.

Stelson also framed the race as a referendum on Perrys 12 years in office, saying that he has little to show for it. Perrys tenure and his membership and leadership of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus has led to chaos and dysfunction, she said, and voters she has spoken to are exhausted by it. She said Perry has become out of touch with the district, calling him a life-long politician.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Scott Perry has slim lead over Janelle Stelson in unofficial results
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Kern Secret Witness is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the death of Matt Odom, fatally stabbed in 2014 while in his front yard.

Secret Witness previously offered a $10,000 reward.

Odom, 28, was found wounded the morning of Sept. 15, 2014, in the 9400 block of Waterbury Drive, south of Brimhall Road and east of Calloway Drive. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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Mega pet adoption event happening at the Park at Riverwalk this weekend

Public accusations have been made, but police have not made an arrest nor named a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111 or Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A suspect was arrested in connection with a deadly shooting on Nursery Street in Springfield.

According to Springfield Police Spokesperson Ryan Walsh, at around 12:35 a.m. on Saturday, October 19th officers were called to the area of the 100 block of Nursery Street for a ShotSpotter activation. Upon arrival, officers located an adult man who died due to his injuries.

Easthampton woman sentenced to prison for ex-boyfriends murder

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The Hampden District Attorneys Office identified the victim as 19-year-old Matthew Chaney of Springfield. The Springfield Police Homicide Unit identified the shooting suspect and was granted a warrant on October 28th for the arrest of a 16-year-old boy on murder charges,

On November 1st the suspect was arrested in a home in Manchester, New Hampshire by members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Massachusetts State Police VFAS, and Manchester, NH Police Department.

The suspect was taken into Springfield police custody on Wednesday. According to the Springfield Police, due to the boys age, his name and mugshot will not be released.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
MOLINE, Ill.  With Republicans winning back the White House and the U.S. Senate on Tuesday and the final balance of power in the House still unclear, Illinois Democrats successfully defended their 14-3 dominance over the GOP in the states congressional delegation.

In the states most closely watched race, first-term Democratic Rep. Eric Sorensen fended off a challenge from Republican Joe McGraw in the 17th Congressional District, a sprawling territory that spans 14 counties and melds Democratic-leaning areas such as Rockford, the Illinois half of the Quad Cities, Peoria and Bloomington-Normal by running through vast expanses of farmland and ruby-red rural communities.

Democrats have held the seat for all but two years over the past four decades, but the GOP saw an opportunity because Sorensen two years ago underperformed Joe Bidens 2020 margin of victory over Donald Trump in the area that now makes up the district.

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Sorensen, a former TV weather man from Moline, led McGraw, a recently retired judge from Rockford, 54% to 46% Wednesday, with about 88% of the estimated vote counted, according to unofficial results tabulated by The Associated Press.

AP also called the states 16 other congressional races for the incumbents, including 12 other Democrats in Chicago and the suburbs and one downstate, along with three downstate Republicans, two of whom ran unopposed.

Sorensen pierced through the quiet of his increasingly glum Democrat crowd Tuesday night when he bounded up a small stages steps and threw his arms in the air at a little before midnight to declare victory.

Illinois made history electing its first LGBTQ member to Congress for a second time, he told the crowd to cheers. Now its about coming together to represent all of us.

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The incumbent thanked his staff and lauded his work to bring federal money back to northwest Illinois. But he quickly turned his attention to the challenges ahead, nodding to the elephant in the room of likely Republican victories.

We are going to do whats right. We are going to create new jobs at home. Were going to secure reproductive rights for everyone. And we are going to make this region sustainable for our kids and grandkids, he said.

After the presidential race was called for the Republican former president early Wednesday, Sorensen told reporters on a conference call that he would continue to find ways to work across the aisle in Washington, including working with GOP colleagues to try to pass a farm bill.

Im still able to work with everyone, Sorensen said. May just be a little bit more difficult, but my door is open, my ears are able to listen, and by standing there on the aisle, Ill still be able to have a handshake with those on the other side.

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In a statement on social media Wednesday, McGraw conceded defeat, writing that his unsuccessful campaign gave voice to tens of thousands of Illinoisans who are sick of watching politicians stack the deck against working families, leaving our communities behind.

Downstate, first-term Democratic Rep. Nikki Budzinski, of Springfield, was declared the winner over Republican challenger Joshua Loyd, of Virden, to represent the 13th District, which cuts across central Illinois from Champaign-Urbana through Decatur and Springfield to the Metro East suburbs of St. Louis. Budzinski led Loyd 58% to 42%, with an estimated 91% of the vote counted, according to the AP.

In far southern Illinois, GOP Rep. Mike Bost, of Murphysboro, was declared the winner by the AP after facing a nominal challenge from Democratic Rep. Brian Roberts, of DeSoto, in the 12th District. Bost led Roberts 76% to 24%, with an estimated 74% of the vote counted.

Bosts two fellow Republicans in the delegation, Reps. Mary Miller, of Hindsboro, and Darin LaHood, of Peoria, ran unopposed.

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In the 17th District, both Sorensen and McGraw have tried, and at times struggled, to distance themselves from their respective political parties. The race in the heavily blue-collar district has centered on many of the controversial issues that have driven the presidential race at the top of the ballot, including immigration, crime, the economy and abortion rights.

In addition to the national issues at play in the race, the role religion plays in society also entered the debate, with Sorensen in a TV commercial criticizing past comments from McGraw about how prayer guided his judicial decisions, underscoring the former judges affinities with the religious right.

Responding to the ad, McGraw told an audience at a private event last month that he would not apologize for praying and that there is no separation of church and state.

Republicans, meanwhile, have criticized Sorensen, the states first openly gay member of Congress, as being too liberal for the district. Theyve latched on to past social media posts from Sorensen discussing youth drag events and criticized his support for gender-affirming health care treatments. In campaign ads, the McGraw campaign has attacked Sorensen, saying the congressman supports exposing minors to life-altering sex changes.

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Sorensen has said voters in the district are more concerned about their own livelihoods and well-being than those issues.

In Chicago and the suburbs, all 12 Democratic incumbents faced challenges this year, but all were expected to hold onto their seats, having outraised opponents by a 16-to-1 margin.

In the 1st District, representing the South Side and southwest suburbs, first-term Rep. Jonathan Jackson, the son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, defeated Republican Marcus Lewis, a Trump supporter who in an interview with the Tribune called the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, a dummy who was selected by the devil to run for president. Jackson lead Lewis 64% to 36%, with about 93% of the estimated voted counted, according to the AP.

Rep. Robin Kelly, of Matteson, also won reelection, according to the AP. She has held the seat since 2013, when Jacksons brother, Jesse Jackson Jr., resigned from Congress amid a federal corruption probe. Kellys challenger for the seat representing the 2nd District, which stretches from the south suburbs to Danville, was Ashley Ramos, a Latina Republican from rural Clifton. Kelly was beating Ramos 67% to 33%, with an estimated 96% of the vote counted.

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Winning a second term representing the 3rd District, which runs from Chicagos Logan Square neighborhood through DuPage County to west suburban Wheaton, was progressive Rep. Delia Ramirez, of Chicago, according to AP. She faced Republican John Booras, of Homer Glen, carrying 66% of votes to Booras 35%, with an estimated 93% of the vote counted.

Coming off a disappointing fourth-place finish in last years Chicago mayoral election, Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia was declared the winner in his reelection bid with 67% of the vote, with an estimated 94% of ballots counted. He faced a challenge in the 4th District from Republican Lupe Castillo, a relative newcomer who lives just down the street from Garcia in the Little Village neighborhood. Castillo received about 28% of the vote. Also on the ballot in the district, which goes from Little Village to Melrose Park, was Ed Hershey of Chicago, running under the banner of the left-wing Working Class Party, who got 5%.

The AP called the North Side and northwest suburban 5th District for incumbent Rep. Mike Quigley, of Chicago, who faced a fourth challenge from self-described MAGA Republican Tommy Hanson, a Chicagoan who aligns himself with Trumps Make America Great Again slogan. Quigley was beating Hanson 67% to 33%, with an estimated 95% of the vote counted.

In the 6th District, Rep. Sean Casten, of Downers Grove, won a fourth term representing territory that ranges from west suburban Lombard to south suburban Tinley Park, facing a challenge from Republican Niki Conforti, a Glen Ellyn businesswoman. Casten had nearly 54% of the vote, a 7-point lead over Conforti, with 97% of the estimated vote counted.

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The oldest member of Illinois congressional delegation, 83-year-old Rep. Danny Davis, of Chicago, won reelection with nearly 83% of the vote, with an estimated 89% of ballots counted, the AP declared. He survived a bruising five-way Democratic primary in March to take on perennial GOP candidate Chad Koppie, 86, in the 7th District, whose boundaries go from downtown Chicago to Hillside. Koppie received less than 18% of the vote.

The largely suburban 8th District was called for Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, of Schaumburg, one of the most prodigious fundraisers in Congress. He beat back a challenge from Republican Mark Rice, a first-time candidate and an energy entrepreneur from Chicago, besting Rice 56% to 44%, with an estimated 97% of the vote counted.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, of Evanston, won another two years in a seat shes held since 1999, facing Republican challenger Seth Cohen, of Skokie. The 9th District runs from Chicagos Uptown neighborhood through the North Shore to Lake and McHenry counties. Schakowsky had garnered 67% of the vote to 33% for Cohen, with an estimated 96% of ballots counted.

In the neighboring 10th District, which stretches from the North Shore to the Wisconsin border, Rep. Brad Schneider, of Highland Park, won a fifth consecutive term and a sixth overall in a race against Republican Jim Carris, of Lake Forest. Schneider was beating Carris 59% to 41%, with an estimated 98% of the vote counted.

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The self-proclaimed only physicist in Congress, Rep. Bill Foster, of Naperville, was declared the winner in the 11th District, which spans from Naperville to Belvidere, with 55% of the vote, when an estimated 99% of ballots had been counted. Foster served in Congress from 2008 to 2011 and returned in 2013. This year, he faced a challenge from Republican Jerry Evans, of Warrenville, who received 45%.

Rep. Lauren Underwood, a fellow Naperville resident who became the youngest Black woman ever elected to Congress in 2018, was declared the winner in the 14th District, which runs from the Joliet area through parts of Naperville and Aurora to DeKalb and LaSalle counties, securing a fourth term. She faced a challenge from perennial candidate and former Kendall County GOP Chairman James Marter, of Oswego. Underwood had 55% of the vote to Marters 45%, with an estimated 99% of votes counted.

Petrella and Freishtat reported from Chicago.
TOOELE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  The Utah Highway Patrol arrested two men on several drug charges Monday following a police chase on I-80 in Tooele County.

Timothy Marion Barfield Jr., 36, and Caleb Lamontese Graham, 23, were arrested by UHP on Monday, Nov. 4.

US Marshals identify suspect as Known white supremacist in Salt Lake City shooting

Barfield was charged with the following:

Five counts of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance

One count of failure to stop at the command of law enforcement

One count of failure to stop or respond at the command of police

One count of reckless driving

One count of possession of a controlled substance  marijuana

One count of use or possession of drug paraphernalia

One count of obstruction of justice

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Graham was charged with the following:

Five counts of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance

One count of failure to stop at the command of law enforcement

One count of possession of a controlled substance  marijuana

One count of use or possession of drug paraphernalia

One count of obstruction of justice

According to an affidavit of probable cause, the Davis County Narcotic Strike Force and the FBI have spent the past several months investigating a known source of supply tied to a drug trafficking association. Barfield and Graham stand accused of being part of the operation that has moved drugs in and around the Salt Lake Valley area.

Police say they were able to identify a possible vehicle that Barfield was said to be driving. With that, police initiated a traffic stop on the car, which had two occupants. Police requested additional units and that is when they recognized Graham as the second occupant. DPS also deployed a helicopter to assist in the investigation

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Police decided to conduct a high-risk stop, and while giving commands to stop the suspects allegedly fled eastbound toward Salt Lake City on I-80.

Graham reportedly threw a backpack out the window, which police later found. They said the backpack was filled with narcotics, including several restricted substances. The backpack was subject to a field test and contained 6,000 pills of fentanyl, 13.8 grams of fentanyl powder, 440 grams of methamphetamine, 471 grams of cocaine, 107 grams of crack cocaine, and user amounts of marijuana and scale.

Police deployed a spike strip that successfully disabled the car. Graham and Barfield allegedly attempted to flee on foot but were found and taken into custody with the assistance of the DPS helicopter.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Two hotel workers and a friend of Liam Payne are now the focus of Argentine authorities probe into the pop stars death last month.

On Tuesday night, authorities conducted raids on the homes of two CasaSur Palermo Hotel employees, who they believe had contact with the One Direction alum, 31, before his Oct. 16 death, Buenos Aires law enforcement sources told TMZ. The staffers lockers at the hotel were also searched.

Payne fell to his death from one of the hotels third-story balconies that day, just moments after a hotel receptionist called emergency services, requesting assistance for a guest who was allegedly trashing the room while high on drugs. The receptionist at the time said he feared the guest was at risk, due to the balcony in the room.

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The friend, who authorities identified from texts found on Paynes phone, was not found during the most recent raids.

Officials last month said they were focused on determining who sold Payne the drugs found in his system, which according to a toxicology report included cocaine, benzodiazepine, crack and a drug cocktail with the street name of pink cocaine.

A preliminary autopsy said Paynes fall caused multiple traumatic injuries resulting in internal and external bleeding and that he may have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness. Authorities, on the other hand, said he jumped from the balcony.

In the days after Paynes death, a source within Argentinas National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutors Office told People that an indictment could be in order, as evidence suggested a hotel employee sourced the drugs for Payne.

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The hotel was raided a week after Paynes death, with sources close to the investigation telling Us Weekly that CasaSur must provide additional security camera footage.

Local authorities subsequently told TMZ they were focusing on both the drugs found in Paynes system as well as small objects in his hotel room, in particular a soap box believed to have been used to disguise the substances.

Late last month, an Argentinian reporter said CCTV footage showed Payne fainting and tragically because of where he is, falls from that balcony.

Its not that he jumped deliberately, Paula Varela told Canal 13s Socios del Espectaculo at the time. This footage is in the official case files.
Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, attends a lawmakers' symposium held on the sidelines of an NPC Standing Committee session on Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji on Wednesday urged deputies to the people's congresses to perform their duties according to the law, and serve as the bridge that links the Party and the country with the people.

Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks at a lawmakers' symposium held on the sidelines of an NPC Standing Committee session.

Deputies should enhance their political competence and awareness, and their capacity for law-based duty performance, Zhao said.

He called on the deputies to participate in inspections and investigations to learn about the country's economic and social development, as well as the people's concerns.

In addition, Zhao urged them to make comprehensive analysis and suggestions from the institutional and legal aspects, and incorporate people's wisdom and concerns into relevant proposals and suggestions.

Zhao called on the standing committees of the people's congresses at all levels to refine the systems and mechanisms to communicate with the deputies, and ensure that they perform their duties and participate in activities in an orderly manner according to the law.

He also called on the deputies to set an example by observing the Constitution and laws, have integrity and serve the public interest, and subject themselves to oversight. 
CHICAGO  Two men were fatally shot Tuesday afternoon at Navy Pier by a gunman who authorities believe was a recently terminated worker.

Speaking with reporters at the pier, Chicago police Chief of Patrol John Hein stressed that authorities did not believe the suspect posed a danger to the public, though the shooter remained at large, as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

This was an isolated incident with a disgruntled ex-employee, Hein said.

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The gunman, thought to have been terminated Oct. 14, had sought out two employees around 1:20 p.m. in a loading dock and nearby administrative office at the far end of the pier and fired multiple shots.

The two men were taken to Northwestern Hospital, where they died. Their identities werent immediately released.

Hein offered few details about the investigation into the slayings, saying only that authorities were actively seeking a person of interest.

Navy Piers Chief Operations Officer Brian Murphy said the facility went on lockdown and notified all tenants of the building of the shooting.

Once we were able to determine that the offender had left the property, we were able to open back up, he said.

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Hours after the shooting, red crime scene tape blocked the entry to the loading dock at the far end of the pier and one officer advised another be careful of that blood as she left the entryway.

Cars exited the parking lots alongside the north end of the pier as construction workers were milling around a crane at the piers far end. A commander directed the news media to move away from the crime scene.

People were coming and going from the piers main hall even as police still clustered at the entrance.

Navy Pier is considered one of the citys main tourist attractions downtown, drawing nearly 9 million visitors annually, according to the venues website.

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The boy was "locked behind a wooden and metal enclosure that was secured with a padlock," police in Kentucky said on Monday, Nov. 4

Carrollton KY PD Facebook Shelby Turocy, William Mahoney, Tammy Simmons, Codey Johnson, Brenda Chilton Shelby Turocy, William Mahoney, Tammy Simmons, Codey Johnson, Brenda Chilton

Five people have been arrested in Kentucky after a 2-year-old boy was found "unclothed" in a "caged area."

On Monday, Nov. 4, Detective Dave Roberts and the Carrollton Police Department responded to reports of a child possibly being held in a confined area at a property on 7th Street after receiving a "prior tip from the community," a Facebook post confirmed.

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"Upon arrival, Detective Roberts and Sgt. Taylor located a male child, unclothed and under the age of 3 that was locked behind a wooden and metal enclosure that was secured with a padlock," police stated in the post.

Brenda Chilton, 71, of Carrollton; William Mahoney, 72, of Carrollton; Codey Johnson, 29, of Carrollton; Tammy Simmons, 52, of Carrollton; and Shelby Turocy, 28, of Ghent, KY. were all arrested and face charges of criminal abuse and wanton endangerment, police confirmed in the Facebook message.

Turocy is also facing charges for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, the post stated.

Google Maps A photo of 706 7th street in Carrollton, Kentucky A photo of 706 7th street in Carrollton, Kentucky

"Detective Roberts, Sgt Taylor, Chief Willhoite, Assistant Chief Dews and Sgt. Dews secured the scene and executed a search warrant on the property," police confirmed in the Facebook post. They added that "following a preliminary investigation two children were removed from the home by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services."

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Per a criminal complaint, the young boy was "kept in a room with urine and feces," reported The Sacramento Bee and The News & Observer, citing publishing company McClatchy News.

According to local outlet WDRB, Detective Roberts said of the scene, "A child was behind there, completely unclothed."

"There was feces, and then you're in that contained area," the officer added.

The publication also claimed the detective said a delivery driver had alerted police after "seeing a young child locked in what appeared to be a cage," adding that eight to 10 dogs "in poor health" had also been found at the property.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Police haven't confirmed that the boy is related to any of the five people arrested, who are currently lodged in The Carroll County Detention Center.

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"If you see something, say something," Roberts said of the case, per WDRB. "This case serves as a reminder of the vital role that bystanders can play in ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable children."

An investigation is ongoing.

Carrollton Police Department didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.


ATLANTA (AP)  Democrats toppled two Republican incumbents in the Georgia state House, but won't narrow the Republican majority as much as they once hoped.

With four races still uncalled Wednesday, Republicans have 99 of the 180 House seats, while Democrats have 78. If all the candidates leading Wednesday win, Republicans would hold 100 seats and Democrats 80. But candidates in two of those races lead by fewer than 100 votes, meaning those elections could be headed to recounts.

Republicans held a 102-78 lead when voting began. GOP incumbents Mesha Mainor and Ken Vance lost to Democratic opponents, but Democratic efforts to unseat three more Republican incumbents in Atlanta's northern suburbs were falling short. That's a win for Republicans, who will avoid the headaches of a significantly smaller majority, and for Gov. Brian Kemp, whose political organization pumped $2 million into helping House GOP candidates.

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It was the first election after a court ordered lawmakers to draw new lines to create more Black-majority districts. With Black voters strongly supporting Democrats, that created some Democratic opportunities in the House. But GOP mapmakers redrew Georgia's 14 Congressional Districts and 56 state Senate districts, resulting in little meaningful partisan competition for those offices. The partisan balance in the state Senate remained at 33 Republicans and 23 Democrats, as it was before the election, after all incumbents won.

Senate Republicans finished the drill tonight, said Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy, a Macon Republican.

Democratic leaders admitted they couldn't win a majority in the lower chamber of the General Assembly this year. But the minority party hoped to show progress toward a majority after Republicans held the line in 2022, as Kemp swept to reelection.

Democrats campaigned on overturning Georgias abortion restrictions, doing more to limit guns, and expanding the Medicaid program to more low-income adults. Republicans touted their support for low taxes, police and school vouchers.

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From historic tax cuts and investments in education to strengthening public safety, increasing access to healthcare and creating more opportunities to succeed, Georgia House Republicans continue to deliver results  and tonight's results reflect that," said House Speaker Jon Burns, a Newington Republican whose case for another term as leader was bolstered by the results. We will continue working hard, expanding the tent of the Republican Party and addressing kitchen table issues that matter to families across the state.

Ken Vance was a direct casualty of redistricting, after his Milledgeville-area House district was drawn into Macon and became majority Black. Democrat Floyd Griffin, a former state senator and mayor of Milledgeville, beat Vance.

Mainor, the other GOP incumbent who lost, had been elected as a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party over disagreements about school vouchers and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. She lost overwhelmingly to Democrat Bryce Berry, and had always faced an uphill climb in a central Atlanta district that is one of the most Democratic in the state.

One Democratic incumbent was narrowly trailing  another consequence of redistricting. Farooq Mughal of Dacula was behind Republican challenger Sandy Donatucci of Buford by fewer than 100 votes on Wednesday. The Associated Press has not declared a winner in that race. Republicans redrew Mughal's district to make it more favorable to their party.

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Republicans failed, though, in their effort to unseat Democratic state Rep Jasmine Clark of Lilburn.

Democrats had targeted Republican incumbents Scott Hilton of Peachtree Corners, Matt Reeves of Duluth and Deborah Silcox of Sandy Springs, centering arguments around abortion and guns. But Hilton, Reeves and Silcox each defeated Democratic challengers.

Some Democrats outside the Atlanta area also had difficult nights, with Republican vote share surging in Georgia's smaller cities and rural areas. Rep. Mack Jackson of Sandersville was fewer than 100 votes ahead of Republican Tracy Wheeler of Sparta on Wednesday in another uncalled race. Democrat Tangie Herring of Macon was a little farther ahead of Forsyth Republican Noah Harbuck in a middle Georgia district that was created during redistricting and had no incumbent. But that race also remained uncalled.

Herring and Jackson were both running in districts that have a narrow Black majority, and higher GOP vote totals imperiled Democrats. Like Herring and Jackson, longtime incumbent Patty Stinson of Butler had a close race in a rural Black majority district, although she won clear victory.

Rural Georgia is what's really turning out the votes for Republicans in Georgia, Stinson said Wednesday. As Democrats, we must start focusing more attention in rural Georgia.
Left, Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens. Right, Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman. (Photos by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal. Republish only with original article.)

In an election in which Republicans dominated in Ohio, Democrats flipped two Ohio House seats, reducing the GOP supermajority, which still stands at a robust 65 seats out of 99. Democrats also won two Ohio Senate seats, leaving Republicans with 24 of 33 seats instead of 26.

There were about ten tight races in the House, with Democrats leading in nine of them throughout Tuesday evening. But by the time the unofficial results came in, only two seats flipped.

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House Districts 10 and 41 were open seats previously held by Republicans, but Democrats got the wins. Democrat Mark Sigrist is replacing state Rep. Dave Dobos (R-Columbus) and Erika White is replacing state Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova). Dobos chose not to run again, and Merrin narrowly lost in his bid to unseat longtime U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09).

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For many regulations within the House, a two-thirds majority  66 votes  is needed. In the 135th General Assembly, Republicans had 67. That meant that the GOP could do seemingly anything it wanted without bargaining with the Democrats for votes  such as adding an emergency clause to bills so that they start immediately and not after 90 days.

Republicans still have a veto-proof majority of 60 votes.

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The state Senate also had some seat flips. State Rep. Willis Blackshear (D-Dayton) won an open seat previously held by state Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg). State Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) will replace state Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Dublin) after the incumbent failed to flip Listons soon-to-be former seat in the House.

The Senate still has a total GOP supermajority. Twenty-two members make a large supermajority, and the GOP has 24 officeholders while the Democrats have nine.

House battle

The seat flips impact more than the House supermajority.

The most interesting political battle in Ohio has been between two Republicans vying for the same leadership position  and whichever side wins will determine the states conservative ideology. This election could impact if House Speaker Jason Stephens keeps his gavel or if Senate President Matt Huffman grabs it from him.

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Stephens needed to maintain 50 votes Tuesday to keep speakership.

In 2022, the Republican caucus had chosen state Rep. Merrin as speaker. However, on the full House floor vote in Jan. 2023, Stephens won the speakership.

Twenty-two Republicans (known affectionately by the other faction as the Blue 22) and 32 Democrats voted for Stephens for speaker during the actual vote, while the majority of Republicans voted for Merrin. Stephens, still a conservative, is significantly more moderate than Merrin  he is also more moderate than Huffman.

A bitter rivalry has existed between the two GOP factions. Huffman has not been shy about his desire to replace Stephens.

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Huffman has been in campaign talks for months, gaining support from a significant faction of House representatives and national and statewide groups looking to oust Stephens and his allies during the March primary.

Although the Democrats would prefer to have the majority, Stephens is the more moderate option for the party than Huffman.

Stephens supports public school funding, union rights and following what the voters chose in the November election on abortion and marijuana. Stephens supports the private school voucher system to an extent but wants to fund public education fully. He does not want to overhaul the college education system and didnt think the August special election to make citizen ballot initiatives more difficult was a good idea. He has tried to protect against other anti-Democratic proposals that the Senate has sent to the House, such as making it more difficult for citizens to get issues on their local ballot. He is interested in lowering taxes but has not said anything about completely repealing the income tax  just that he supports a flat tax.

Huffman differs from Stephens on each of those issues. He did help fund public schools, but he is more interested in legislation around the voucher system. Also, he would likely eliminate the income tax, which could double the sales tax. Huffman does want to change universities to prevent so-called liberal bias and supported the August election from the beginning  even suggesting that the amendment to raise the threshold for ballot initiatives could be implemented in a future ballot. His leadership team has said that voters didnt know what they were voting for when they legalized marijuana, so they should be able to change the policy.

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It is expected Stephens will keep all the Democrats on his side.

Because the Democrats flipped two seats, he needs 34 Republicans to win the internal caucus vote. However, he would only need 16 Republicans to win the floor vote with Democrats.

The speakership vote is scheduled to take place Nov. 20.

Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook.

This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.

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The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council will look different next year, with five newcomers on the 15-member council.

Two incumbents were defeated Tuesday, while two incumbent councilwomen successfully held off challengers. Two races involved open seats.

It will also be historic. Emma Curtis became the first openly transgender person to be elected to Lexington city council on Tuesday  and the first transgender person elected to a city office in Kentucky.

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Come January, the council will also have two people younger than 30  Curtis, 28, and Tyler Morton, 26  in another big change for the council. No one on the current council is younger than 30.

One of the new faces on the council come January is Amy Beasley, who was the only candidate to file for the 8th Council District seat. Beasley will replace retiring Councilman Fred Brown The 8th Council District includes neighborhoods around the Tates Creek schools campus.

There were six contested council races Tuesday. All council races are nonpartisan. Council members serve two-year terms.

1st District

Tyler Morton, a former council aide, beat incumbent Councilwoman Tayna Fogle in the 1st District race.

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According to unofficial results Morton received 58% of the vote compared to Fogles 42%.

Fogle was first elected in 2022. Morton has promised to immediately start working to address homelessness, gun safety and traffic safety and understand the root causes of those problems.

The 1st Council District includes parts of downtown Lexington north of Main Street and extends to Interstate 75. It encompasses neighborhoods along Newtown Pike, North Broadway and North Limestone.

2nd District

Councilwoman Shayla Lynch will return for another two years after defeating challenger Jacques Wigginton.

Lynch received 63% of the vote. Wigginton received 37%, according to unofficial results.

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A lawyer who has spent two decades working for nonprofits, Lynch has said she wants to focus on infrastructure improvements in the 2nd District and continue her work advocating for more affordable housing solutions.

The 2nd Council District includes neighborhoods in the Georgetown and Leestown Road corridors.

4th District

Challenger Emma Curtis defeated Councilwoman Brenda Monarrez in the contentious 4th District race.

Curtis received 52% of the vote. Monarrez received 48%, according to unofficial results.

Curtis has said she wants to tackle problems on Nicholasville Road and do more to address Lexingtons affordable housing needs.

Emma Curtis, left, speaks with Kentucky state Senator Reggie Thomas (D-Lexington), after Curtis was announced the winner in Lexingtons 4th Council District during an Election Night party hosted by the Fayette County Democrats at Old North Bar in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Monarrez was first elected in 2022. Her tenure on council has not been without controversy. A Fayette Circuit judge entered a three-year protection order against the first-term councilwoman in October after a fellow councilwoman accused Monarrez of being sexually aggressive toward her twice over three years.

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The order barred Monarrez from entering city hall until 2027. Monarrez has been attending council meetings virtually.

The 4th Council District includes neighborhoods south of New Circle Road between Nicholasville and Tates Creek roads.

5th District

Councilwoman Liz Sheehan won a third term Tuesday.

Sheehan, who was first elected in 2020, received 60% of the vote compared to challenger Meredith Prices 40%, according to unofficial results.

Sheehan is a faculty member in the department of psychology at the University of Kentucky. She previously won re-election to the seat in 2022.

Sheehan has helped shepherd some of the councils most complex legislation, including ordinances regulating short-term rentals and complete streets. She has pledged to continue to work on affordable housing and homelessness during her third term.

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The 5th Council District includes many downtown neighborhoods including Chevy Chase and Idle Hour.

7th District

Joseph Hale bested Heather Hadi in the 7th Council District race.

Hale received 55% of the vote compared to Hadis 45%, according to unofficial results.

The seat was open after incumbent Councilman Preston Worley announced last year he would not run for re-election.

Hale said he wants to hear from all areas of the district, and he said getting out and talking to people was an important part of his campaign.

District 7 is a broad district, he said, noting that safety might be a top concern for one part of the district, while another area might be more interested in parks and bike trails. One issue isnt bigger than the other.

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The 7th District encompasses the areas of Richmond Road and Athens-Boonesboro Road, including neighborhoods around Woodhill and Codell drives, Squires Road and Hays Boulevard.

12th District

In the other open seat up for grabs Tuesday, Hil Boone beat Chad Walker to represent Lexingtons rural district, which includes areas outside the urban service boundary.

Boone, the owner of Boonedogs, received 64% of the vote compared to Walker, who received 36%.

Boone is a farmer and business owner who has said he will serve as a truly independent voice focused on whats best for District 12.

Boone has said one of his top priorities will be protecting Lexingtons green belt from development.
Challenger Emma Curtis beat incumbent Lexington Councilwoman Brenda Monarrez Tuesday in a hotly contested race to represent Lexingtons 4th Council District.

According to unofficial results, Curtis received 52% of the vote compared to Monarrezs 48 %, with 285 out of 286 precincts reporting.

Curtis, 28, an independent filmmaker and organizer for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, made history with her victory Tuesday night. She becomes the first transgender person to be elected to the 15-member Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council.

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Curtis is also believed to be the first transgender person in the history of Kentucky to be elected to a city office.

Curtis said she was grateful, humbled and honored to serve the people of the 4th District. She pledged to increase transparency and accountability on council as well as try to tackle problems plaguing traffic-clogged Nicholasville Road.

Our people are sick and tired of pettiness and drama and they cast their votes to put that behind us, Curtis said. Im beyond humbled and am ready to get to work on their behalf.

The district includes neighborhoods south of New Circle Road between Nicholasville Road and Tates Creek.

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The race to represent the people of the 4th Council District has been overshadowed by allegations of sexual assault.

Fayette Circuit Judge Traci Brislin entered a three-year protection order against Monarrez on Oct. 16, barring her from entering city hall and contacting fellow Councilwoman Denise Gray.

Gray accused Monarrez of sexually assaulting her two times over three years, most recently in August.

In her Oct. 16 ruling, Brislin sided with Gray, saying the sexual assault occurred.

Protection orders are civil orders. No criminal charges have been filed.

Monarrez, 53, has denied the allegations and appealed the protection order barring her from entering city hall. A judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals denied her appeal on Nov. 1.

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Curtis called for Monarrez to step down from her seat after the Oct. 16 decision. Monarrez refused and has maintained her innocence.

On the campaign trail, Monarrez touted her ability to tackle longstanding issues in the 4th District. That includes the completion of the Wilson Downing Road sidewalk project, which had long been stalled, as well as a host of other traffic improvements around Nicholasville Road.

Monarrez also said she has been aggressive in addressing odor complaints stemming from the citys West Hickman sewage treatment plant that is near many 4th District neighborhoods.

Curtis has said she would focus on fixes to issues involving Nicholasville Road, develop more options for affordable housing and supports proposed changes to city rules regarding short-term rentals. That would allow city officials to reject potential short-term rentals if there are too many Airbnb or VRBO operators in certain neighborhoods.

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In the May primary, Monarrez had the lead, receiving 48% of the vote compared to Curtis 30%. Third-place finisher Brack Marquette received 22%. The top two vote-getters in the primary move on to the general election.

Curtis out-raised and outspent Monarrez, campaign finance reports show.

Curtis raised $9,455 and spent nearly $6,000, according to Kentucky Registry of Election Finance Oct. 23 reports.

Monarrez raised $2,378, almost $1,000 of that coming from the Kentucky Realtors Political Action Committee.

Council members serve two-year terms. Council races are nonpartisan.
Monica Mundy, Kathleen Penny Christian and Amy Green have won election to the Fayette County Public Schools Board.

Green is the only school board incumbent who won reelection, while Mundy and Christian are both newcomers to the board, according to unofficial election results on Tuesday night.

Heres the recap:

District 1

Monica Mundy has won election to the District 1 Fayette County Public Schools Board seat, unofficial results from Tuesdays election show.

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Im very thankful and overwhelmed that I get the opportunity to represent our district and our students and our families, Mundy said Tuesday night.

She defeated incumbent Marilyn Clark, who has held the seat since 2023. Mundy received 52% of the votes, while Clark received 48%, according to unofficial results.

Mundy is a district parent and assistant extension agent at UK. She was inspired to run for school board after being involved with her daughters schools and parent teacher association, particularly with the Rise STEM Academy for Girls.

Mundy said she will bring a parents perspective, but also her experience working with community members, to her role as board member.

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Mundy said her first step will be to get out in the district and familiarize herself with the needs of teachers, students and schools.

Im ready to put in the work to make sure that Im there, Im present and Im listening to our families and what the constituents have to say, and that were doing whats best for students, Mundy said.

An economic inclusion manager at the University of Kentucky, Clark previously held roles at the district and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Clark has held the District 1 seat since being appointed in January 2023.

She won a one-year term last November, when she became the first Black woman on the school board since integration.

District 3

Education and family advocate Kathleen Penny Christian has won election to the District 3 seat on the Fayette County Public Schools Board.

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I am honored and grateful, Christian said Tuesday night. Our children have always been my priority, and I look forward to working with my fellow board members to make FCPS everything it can be.

The seat became vacant when 3rd District school board member Jason Moore chose not to run for election.

According to unofficial results, with 285 out of 286 precincts reporting , Secretary of State results show Christian received 38% of the votes. Her opponents. college professor Danny Anthony Everett, received 30% of the vote; dentist Isaac Sebourn, 32%..

Christian is chair of the National PTA Family Engagement Committee and a member of the Kentucky United We Learn Council. She has said that her first goal on the board would be to rebuild community trust.

District 5

Incumbent Amy Green retained her 5th District seat on the Fayette County Public Schools board. .

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She was opposed by former Fayette principal Betsy Rutherford.

According to unofficial results, with 285 out of 286 precincts reporting, Green received 61 percent of the vote and Rutherford, 39 percent.

I am honored by our communitys support and am grateful to continue this most important work - serving our students, families, educators and the entire Fayette County community. Let us all come together, united in keeping our students as our No. 1 focus, Green said Tuesday night.

I remain committed to fulfilling the mission that every FCPS student receives a world-class education, equipped with the tools to make their dreams come true.

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Board chair Tyler Murphy congratulated Green on her re-election in District 5 in a Facebook post.

And I congratulate Penny Christian and Monica Mundy on their election to the Board of Education in Districts 1 and 3. We look forward to welcoming them to the Board and to continuing our shared work on behalf of students and families in Fayette County, rooted in protecting, promoting, and strengthening public education, he said.
Once again, District 1 on the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council will have a fresh voice.

With 285 of 286 Fayette County precincts reporting, Tyler Morton was leading incumbent candidate Tayna Fogle, according to unofficial results, with 58% of the vote.

Fogle served one term on council after James Brown left his seat to pursue an at-large position.

I am overfilled with joy and gratitude to the constituents of the 1st District for believing in our vision, Morton said after winning the council seat. That vision for a unified 1st District, one with accessible leadership and more information and resources to share.

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The 1st District includes parts of downtown Lexington north of Main Street and extends to Interstate 75. It encompasses neighborhoods along Newtown Pike, North Broadway and North Limestone.

Mortons win means the district once again has a political newcomer in office, as Morton has never held an elected position.

He promised to immediately start working to address homelessness, gun safety and traffic safety and understanding the root causes of those problems.

Along with decreasing gun violence and improving road safety, Morton said he will be accessible. He touted transparency as one of his campaign promises, saying he will work to represent the voice of every minority in the district.

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There must be wraparound services tailored to the community  addressing those most at risk of committing crimes, committing violence, or most at risk of being a victim of violence  and making sure that they have all the unique services needed in that area, he said.

Morton also wants to put more speed bumps and traffic signs in the 1st District to discourage speeding.

Fogle prioritized traffic safety during her term, erecting multiple pedestrian crosswalks near district schools to make safer routes for students.

After hearing Tuesdays results, she congratulated Morton and said everything is in Gods plan. She will stay engaged with local government through her work with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, a grassroots community organization.

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Ive just been doing the work that Ive always done, and I will always continue to stand for the people in my full-time position at Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, she said. I just did the everyday work. Im not going to stop. I still am here to work for the people.

Fogle said she hopes the council will put people before finances looking into the future.

I still believe that the 1st District is not for sale. Im really afraid of the downtown master plan, she said.
Republican Steve West won the Kentucky Senates 27th District Seat Tuesday, knocking off Molly Gene Crain, a first-time Democratic candidate.

West was winning handily, according to unofficial results. With all except one precinct reporting results, he took 63% of the vote.

The 27th Senate District stretches from the northern part of Fayette County and seven other counties: Bourbon, Harrison, Nicholas, Fleming, Robertson, Mason and Rowan.

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West has held the seat since 2015. He won a special election that year to replace Walter Blevins, a Democrat who resigned to become Rowan County judge-executive.

West won full four-year terms in 2016 and 2020.

His reelection keeps another Republican voice in Kentuckys legislature who opposes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion measures, which were a hot-button topic last session.

The American Psychological Association defines DEI as a conceptual framework that promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people, especially populations that have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination because of their background, identity, disability, etc.

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West is also opposed to measures that create a way for authorities to remove guns from people who might be a danger to themselves or others.

Crain, a Fleming County native, is a fourth-generation co-owner of the Crain Family Farm in Flemingsburg.

She ran on a Four Fs platform, focusing on families, farms, funding and fixing Frankfort.

West told the Herald-Leader earlier this year that one of his proudest accomplishments from his near decade in the legislature was successfully sponsoring a measure in 2022 called the Read to Succeed bill, aimed at trying to make sure all Kentucky students could read by the end of third grade.

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West said Republican state lawmakers increased funding for public schools by hundreds of millions of dollars in the past two budgets.

The Paris, Ky., native earned a communications degree from Eastern Kentucky University and his law degree in 1996 from Northern Kentucky University.

Headed into Election Day, West expressed support for Amendment 2, a school choice matter that appeared on Tuesdays ballot. Kentuckians shot that down, voting against it with 65% of the vote.

It would have allowed Kentucky lawmakers to give taxpayer money to private schools, religious schools and charter schools. The state constitution currently bars spending public money on non-public schools.

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Supporters of the amendment argued it would give parents more choices on where to send their children to school, including helping get kids out of failing schools.

Opponents feared the measure would hurt state funding for public schools that serve most of the students in Kentucky, resulting in layoffs in schools.

I kind of bristle at this idea that the evil Republicans are out to destroy public education, West said.
As votes are counted in Southern Nevada, the latest results flow in on high-profile races for U.S. Senate, Congress, Las Vegas mayor, and more.

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. federal and local officials said Tuesday that none of the bomb threats sent to polling sites in several swing states were credible, as vote-counting was underway to pick the country's next president.

According to local media, bomb threats were received in such states as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin, whose results could influence the outcome of the presidential election.

The FBI was aware of the threats and "none of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," ABC News reported, citing the agency's statement.

Extended voting hours were authorized in Georgia, where an FBI official said over a dozen bomb threats had been received, to offset time lost as polling stations were forced to assess the threats. The threats mostly targeted counties considered Democratic strongholds.

In Arizona, such bomb threats were delivered to polling sites in Navajo County where Native Americans reside, according to the state's secretary of state, Adrian Fontes.

The Michigan secretary of state's office confirmed bomb threats occurred in "a few" polling sites in the state but dismissed them as non-credible.

Ann Jacobs, head of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said fake bomb threats were sent to two polling locations in Madison, the state's capital, but voting was not disrupted. 
Four more South Carolina men have been arrested on charges connected with a fatal Oct. 12 shooting in Elberton, Georgia, at a homecoming afterparty.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced that it arrested Destanne Mathis, 20; Aanidras Parks, 18; Jerimiyah Hughes, 19; and Desmond Latimer, 18, last week.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

All four are residents of nearby Anderson, South Carolina, and face murder and gang charges. Mathis and Latimer are also charged with being a party to a crime, while Parks and Hughes are also charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

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More than a dozen shots were fired at the 7 Grand nightclub, where many teens were gathered after Elbert County High Schools homecoming.

Bryshun Treviyus OBrian Jordan, 15, of Hartwell, was killed. Four other teens were shot, and three additional teens were injured but not shot, officials have said.

Investigators had previously arrested Jarquavious Scott, 18, of Anderson, charging him with murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and violating Georgias anti-gang law.

Its unclear if any of the men have lawyers who can speak for them.

Investigators have not discussed why they believe the shooting took place.

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A Hamilton County magistrate Wednesday approved the eviction of four Frischs Big Boy restaurants, one week after another order for the eviction of six others in the county.

The latest Frisch's restaurants affected are:

7706 Beechmont Ave. in Anderson Township.

11990 Chase Plaza in Forest Park.

5351 North Bend Road in Green Township.

1181 Stone Drive in Harrison.

Frisch's Big Boy in Green Township, a Cincinnati suburb.

Magistrate Michael Inderhees, who issued last week's ruling, gave Frisch's seven days to vacate the latest properties.

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Frisch's didn't send any legal representatives to the court in downtown Cincinnati and company officials did not respond on Wednesday to a request for comment.

Last week, the same court gave Frisch's seven days to vacate locations in Blue Ash, Cheviot, Colerain Township, Delhi Township, Norwood and Symmes Township.

The looming threat of closures comes as Frisch's Restaurants admitted Oct. 23 it faces an unspecified number of evictions from several locations due to "unforeseen circumstances." Court records reveal "more than 20" properties face eviction in Southwest Ohio  or a quarter of Frisch's Restaurants' 78 total locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Records also show the landlord claims Frisch's owes more than $4.5 million in rent.

The decision also comes a week after a Clermont County municipal judge approved the eviction of Frisch's from locations in Loveland and Bethel. The restaurant chain's landlord, Orlando-based NNN Reit Inc., also filed to boot the eatery out of another location in Batavia, court officials confirmed.

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Two weeks ago, Frisch's also shut down two other locations: at 1330 Columbus Ave. in Lebanon and at 3560 S. Dixie Highway in Middletown.

NNN owns 66 Frisch's properties, according to its portfolio on its website, nnnreit.com. Attorneys in the courtroom for NNN declined to comment.

The Enquirer will update this story.

This story was updated to add a video

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What Frisch's Big Boys are closing?
(NEXSTAR)  Tuesday looked to be a potentially big day for cannabis advocates, with voters in four states  Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota  responding to legalization measures on their ballots.

Nearly half the country has already legalized medical cannabis, recreational marijuana or both as of 2024.

Voters in Florida rejected an effort that would have added their state to that list.

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The amendment would have allowed adults 21 years old and older to use and possess marijuana for non-medical purposes, Nexstars WFLA reports. While it received a majority support with nearly 56% voting in favor of the measure, it failed to reach the necessary 60% threshold it needed to pass.

Trump wins presidency for second time, completing improbable comeback

The measure was opposed by the Florida Republican Party and Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said it would reduce the quality of life by leaving a marijuana stench in the air.

Voters in South Dakota have also seemingly rejected a measure to legalize recreational marijuana in the state for a third time.

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In 2020, voters approved marijuana legalization, but the legality of the measure was challenged by the head of the states highway patrol, Nexstars KELO previously reported. The South Dakota Supreme Court ultimately ruled against the measure.

As of early Wednesday morning, with 90% of precincts reporting in the state, only 43.6% had voted in favor of the measure passing.

North Dakota voters were also asked for a third time about legalizing recreational marijuana. According to Nexstars KXMB, Measure 5 would make it legal for adults 21 years old and older to produce, process, sell and use cannabis in North Dakota while establishing a state body to regulate it.

Like South Dakota, voters in North Dakota rejected the legalization effort: 52.5% voted against Measure 5, according to the Associated Press.

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How close does the presidential election have to be for a recount?

North Dakota and South Dakota have already approved medical marijuana.

The lone victory for legalization advocates came in Nebraska, where voters approved two measures that legalize medical marijuana and regulate the industry. Despite passing easily  nearly 71% voted in favor of legalization, while almost 67% voted in favor of establishing a commission to regulate the industry, according to the AP  local outlets reported it could face legal challenges.

For the legalization efforts to get on the ballot, advocates had to collect over 230,000 signatures, WOWT reports. A judge in Lancaster County, however, has yet to rule on whether some of those signatures were tainted. Should roughly 3,500 signatures be discredited, the results of Tuesdays election could be voided.

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Nebraskas election results are set to be certified on Dec. 2.

Nationally, the federal process of rescheduling marijuana as a less dangerous drug continues.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A 45-year-old man was killed in Dorchester on Tuesday night.

Around 8:-3 p.m. officers assigned to District B-3 (Mattapan) responded to a report of a person shot at 15 Michigan Ave. in Dorchester.

Upon arrival, officers located a 45-year-old male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The man was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Additional information is not available.

Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Vice President Harris fell short of making history as the first woman  and first woman of color  to ascend to the presidency on Tuesday, but multiple other candidates of color did seal their place in the history books.

Here are five candidates of color who made history this election.

Lisa Blunt Rochester

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) defeated Republican Eric Hansen and independent Michael Katz for Sen.Tom Carpers (D) seat, becoming the only Black woman to ever represent the First State in the upper chamber.

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She also becomes only the third Black woman ever elected to serve in the Senate, behind Carol Mosley Braun and Vice President Harris.

During her victory speech, the 62-year-old mother of two paid homage to the trail blazed by three strong Black women senators before her.

Here is my commitment to you: that I will go to the Senate, each and every day, with you in my heart and on my mind, Blunt Rochester said. Whether you voted for me or not.

Angela Alsobrooks

Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) defeated former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in the Maryland Senate race, becoming the first Black woman to serve the Old Line State in the Senate.

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Alsobrooks had the backing of some of the nations most prominent Black leaders, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D).

Its remarkable to think that in two years, America will celebrate its 250th birthday, Alsobrooks said during her victory speech Tuesday evening. And in all those years, there have been more than 2,000 people who have served in the United States Senate. Only three have looked like me.

And so I want to salute all those who came before me, who made it possible for me to stand on this stage tonight, whose sacrifices and stories I will continue to carry with me, she added.

Andy Kim

Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) becomes the first Korean American elected to the Senate, having defeated Republican Curtis Bashaw.

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I say to you from the bottom of my heart as the Jersey kid who never thought he would be able to say this: I am your next United States Senator, Kim told supporters in his victory speech Tuesday night.

Kim has represented New Jerseys 3rd Congressional District since 2019, and he received outsized national attention after he was photographed cleaning the Capitol rotunda following the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Emily Randall

Emily Randall becomes the first openly LGBTQ Latina to serve in Congress after being elected to serve Washington States 6th Congressional District.

She also becomes the first out LGBTQ person to represent the Evergreen State.

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Currently a state senator, Randall credits the 2016 election of Donald Trump with inspiring her to run for office.

In 2018, Randall flipped one of the states most competitive senate districts for Democrats, winning by 102 votes and helping Democrats regain control of the states upper chamber.

Monroe Nichols

Oklahoma State Rep. Monroe Nichols (D) has become the first Black mayor of the city of Tulsa. He defeated his competitor, Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith, by more than 15,000 votes.

Nichols delivered his acceptance speech in front of images of Black Wall Street in the days before the Tulsa Race Massacre on Tuesday.

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Were not going to be a city that marks time. We may not always agree on a pathway to greatness, but we will always be united in our commitment to get there, and I will be an honest leader, Nichols said.

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CARROLLTON, Ky. (FOX 56)  A 2-year-old boy and several dogs were reportedly found in cages in a northern Kentucky home.

According to the Carrollton Police Department, on Nov. 4, a detective received a tip alleging that a child was being held in a caged area in Carroll County.

At the scene, authorities said a 2-year-old boy was found without clothes and locked in a wooden and metal cage that was secured with a padlock.

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Further investigation showed that there were around eight to 10 dogs found in poor health in the home, with several of them in cages, according to the FOX affiliate in Louisville, WDRB.

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An arrest citation showed that the floor inside the caged area was covered in urine and feces.

Authorities confirmed the child was safely removed from the home. The police charged the following in connection with this case:

Brenda Chilton 71, of Carrollton: First-degree criminal abuse and first-degree wanton endangerment

William Mahoney, 72 of Carrollton: First-degree criminal abuse and first-degree wanton endangerment

Codey Johnson, 29 of Carrollton: First-degree criminal abuse and first-degree wanton endangerment

Tammy Simmons, 52, of Carrollton: First-degree criminal abuse and first-degree wanton endangerment

Shelby Turocy 28 of Ghent: First-degree criminal abuse, first-degree wanton endangerment, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana.

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The five of them were booked into the Carroll County Detention Center and appeared in court Wednesday morning.

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Five people, including a child, were killed when a small plane crashed through a fence and hit a car while aborting takeoff at an Arizona airport Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

The Honda HA-420 jet crashed around 4:40 p.m. at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, a city about 25 miles east of Phoenix, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Preliminary information indicates that the plane impacted the airport perimeter fence and a passenger vehicle during an aborted takeoff, the NTSB said in an emailed statement to CNN Wednesday morning.

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Five people were killed in the crash, according to Marrisa Ramirez-Ramos, a spokesperson for the Mesa Fire and Medical Department.

Five people were on board the plane, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement to CNN. The aircraft struck a vehicle outside of the airport property.

Four people on the plane died at the scene, according to the Mesa Police Department.

They were identified as Spencer Lindahl, 43, Rustin Randall, 48, Drew Kimball, 44 and Graham Kimball, 12, all of Arizona. The fifth person survived the crash and is hospitalized with burn injuries, police said.

The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash also died, but police are withholding the persons name pending official confirmation of their identity.

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The plane crashed through a metal fence and a few concrete walls, a witness, Joshua Golabi, told CNN affiliate KPNX.

A pilot himself, Golabi said he didnt see the impact of the crash but heard it.

We were just about to get into our aircraft and go when we heard a pop and saw a plume of smoke, Golabi said.

The plane was consumed by flames at one point, KPNX reported.

Its just very jarring and its a reminder to all pilots to always fly and maneuver as safe as you can, Golabi said.

The NTSB is leading the investigation into the crash, a spokesperson said.

CNNs Sara Finch and Cindy Von Quednow contributed to this report.

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Trumps latest presidential victory has sent shockwaves through Black America and for good reason. The Heritage Foundation outlined their plans for his administration with Project 2025, an extreme far-right Christian agenda. Here are the five reasons why Black folks should be worried about what Trump will do next.

1. Making The White House White Again

The Biden-Harris administration made history by having the most diverse staff in this countrys history, with 50 percent of current employees describing themselves as racially or ethnically diverse. According to Project 2025, Trump would eliminate job protections for those government employees who could be replaced by political appointeesmeaning his White House would be white again.

2. Saying Good Riddance To The Department Of Education

The 900-page document promises to dismantle the Department of Education. It would also get rid of federal education funding, divert taxpayer funds to private schools, and systemize book bans and classroom censorship on a national level. Without federal oversight, a second Trump administration would be able implement extremist anti-public education teachingslike slavery had benefits, for examplethat are already being carried out at the state level across America.

3. Deporting Immigrants At Record Rates

Project 2025 hopes to complete the U.S.-Mexico border wall, which could cost up to nearly $22 billion. Trump attempted to execute the wall during his first term, but it led to a government shutdown and state of national emergency. Visa categories would also be eliminated, including victims of human trafficking and transnational crime.

4. Further Eroding Abortion Rights

During his first presidential term, Trump padded the Supreme Court with conservative justices who wound up overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022. Project 2025 requests that the Food and Drug Administration reverse its 24-year-old approval of the widely used abortion pill mifepristone. It also calls for the Justice Department to enforce the Comstock Act against providers and distributors of abortion pills. Both of these things will disproportionately affect Black women who have the highest rate of maternal deaths during childbirth.

5. Ending Climate Change Initiatives

The Biden administration has funded initiatives to counter the dangerous effects of global warming. However, the Heritage Foundation plans to cut federal spending on investment and research into renewable energy sources. Carbon-reduction targets will be replaced with security goals and increased energy production. It would also mean an end to over a million clean energy jobs. Environmental racism disproportionately affect Black people.

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Former President Trump completed an extraordinary comeback early Wednesday morning, becoming the first president to win nonconsecutive terms in more than a century by defeating Vice President Harris in an unprecedented battle for the White House.

The comeback is remarkable for a host of reasons.

The 45th presidents political career seemed to be over after he sought to overturn his 2020 election defeat and spurred his supporters to march on the Capitol, an event that led to a riot and the evacuation of Congress.

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Since that event, Trump became the first president ever to be twice impeached; was charged in four separate criminal cases; was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case; and was convicted in criminal court of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

But Trump was buoyed by a fervently loyal support base  most of whom believe his narrative that he has been unfairly victimized by a corrupt political, legal and media establishment.

We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, Trump told supporters during his West Palm Beach, Fla., victory speech in the early hours Wednesday, calling his win a magnificent victory for the American people.

He also gained from public dissatisfaction with President Bidens record.

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Here are the main takeaways.

It all went wrong from early on for Harris

The writing was on the wall from early in the evening for Harris.

The first warning sign was a very early call that Trump would win Florida. The result itself was no shock  but the fact Trump was winning by roughly double the 6-point edge that polling averages had predicted was ominous for the Democratic nominee.

The pro-Trump pattern continued for much of the night, with supposedly safe Democratic states such as Virginia and even New Jersey hanging undecided for uncomfortably long stretches for Team Harris, while Trump jumped into early leads in every swing state.

Harris left her event at Washingtons historic Howard University without speaking publicly. She is expected to speak later Wednesday.

The big demographic surprise: Latino men swing heavily to Trump

Much media coverage in advance of Election Day had focused on whether Trump would make inroads with Black voters, especially Black men, or with younger voters.

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In fact, changes within those demographic groups were modest  at least according to the current exit polls, which may still shift somewhat as fresh data is added.

But there was one real shock.

Latino men shifted toward Trump by a breathtaking margin, according to the CNN exit polls.

In 2020, those exit polls showed Latino men voting for Biden over Trump by a 23-point margin, 59 percent to 36 percent.

The current iteration of Tuesdays CNN exit poll showed them voting for Trump over Harris by a 10-point margin, 54 percent to 44 percent.

The astonishing 33-point swing is going to lead to a lot of searching and uncomfortable questions among Democrats.

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Trump supporters will contend that his cultural conservatism and promise of a better economy helped turn the tide.

But that explanation doesnt really make sense of why Latina women shifted only very slightly in their partisan support.

Its tough to find a plausible argument that doesnt include some level of sexism.

Harris, of course, now becomes the second female Democratic nominee to lose to Trump, after Hillary Clinton in 2016.

The abortion issue failed to make the difference

A lot of Democratic hopes were riding on the idea that women would come out in unprecedented numbers to elect the nations first female president, just two years after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.

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It didnt happen.

There was a wide gender gap, to be sure  but the exit polls so far dont indicate it was bigger in a meaningful way than four years ago.

To the contrary, women went for Biden over Trump by 15 points in 2020, according to the CNN exit polls. So far this year, the exit polls show Harris carrying female voters by just 10 points.

That doesnt mean abortion has been transformed into a winning issue for Republicans  it hasnt.

For example, a ballot initiative on abortion in Florida didnt get the 60 percent supermajority it needed to pass. But a clear majority, about 57 percent, lined up on the liberal side of the question.

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Still, the bottom line is that the abortion issue didnt prove nearly as potent as Harris needed it to be.

There will be serious Democratic infighting

The result is a cataclysm for Democrats. Their nominee has lost to a man whom many in their party consider an active danger to American democracy.

So, the finger-pointing will immediately begin.

Many Democrats will dwell on the sequence of events that led to Bidens withdrawal from the race in July. That came after a debate debacle in late June.

The number of people who believe the president would have done better than Harris is vanishingly small.

But his decision not to step aside after one term  and the partys lack of appetite for a competitive primary against him  will be second-guessed by those who feel such a process would either have strengthened Harris or produced a better nominee.

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The messaging of the Harris campaign will also be subject to harsh scrutiny.

Did she spend too much time arguing Trump was a fascist in a way that was merely preaching to the choir?

Was the attempt to win over disaffected Republican voters by campaigning with conservative figures such as former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) always doomed to fail?

Would a more vigorous concentration on working-class concerns have helped stanch Trumps appeal, or would a more adventurous media strategy have paid dividends?

At some level, its possible these questions are unfair. Maybe the headwinds Harris faced on the economy  and as the deputy of a president with mediocre poll ratings  were just too stiff to overcome.

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But that wont stop those questions from being asked.

Trump might well have unified GOP government

Trump will have a Republican majority in the Senate  and quite possibly in the House as well.

Democrats were always going to have a hard time in the upper chamber, where they were on the defensive in several red-leaning states.

Deeply red West Virginia was always a near-certain loss once Democratic-turned-Independent Sen. Joe Manchin announced he would retire. Republican Gov. Jim Justice was duly elected there.

Elsewhere, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) lost his seat to GOP challenger Bernie Moreno. Incumbent Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) are in trouble too, though they could yet rally and prevail.

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In the House, the picture remained unclear in Wednesdays early hours, and may take several days to be settled. But it is certainly possible that the Republicans could retain a narrow majority.

If that comes to pass, it would complete a remarkable sweep by the GOP.

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(The Hill)  Former President Trump completed an extraordinary comeback early Wednesday morning, becoming the first president to win nonconsecutive terms in more than a century by defeating Vice President Harris in an unprecedented battle for the White House.

The comeback is remarkable for a host of reasons.

Trumps political career seemed to be over after he sought to overturn his 2020 election defeat and spurred his supporters to march on the Capitol, an event that led to a riot and the evacuation of Congress.

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Before that event, Trump became the first president ever to be twice impeached; was charged in four separate criminal cases; was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case; and was convicted in criminal court of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

But Trump was buoyed up by a fervently loyal support base  most of whom believe his narrative that he has been unfairly victimized by a corrupt political, legal and media establishment.

We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, Trump told supporters at West Palm Beach, Fla., in the early hours, calling his win a magnificent victory for the American people.

He also gained from public dissatisfaction with President Bidens record.

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Here are the main takeaways.

It all went wrong from early on for Harris

The writing was on the wall from early in the evening for Harris.

The first warning sign was a very early call that Trump would win Florida. The result itself was no shock  but the fact that Trump was winning by roughly double the 6-point edge that polling averages had predicted was ominous for Harris.

The pro-Trump pattern continued for much of the night, with supposedly safe Democratic states like Virginia and even New Jersey hanging undecided for uncomfortably long stretches for Team Harris, while Trump jumped into early leads in every swing state.

Harris left her event at Washingtons historic Howard University without speaking publicly. She is expected to speak later Wednesday.

The big demographic surprise: Latino men swing heavily to Trump

Much media coverage in advance of Election Day had focused on whether Trump would make inroads with Black voters, especially Black men, or with younger voters.

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In fact, changes within those demographic groups were modest  at least according to the current exit polls, which may still shift somewhat as fresh data is added.

But there was one real shock.

Latino men shifted toward Trump by a breathtaking margin, according to the CNN exit polls.

In 2020, those exit polls showed Latino men voting for Biden over Trump by a 23-point margin, 59 percent to 36 percent.

The current iteration of Tuesdays CNN exit poll showed them voting for Trump over Harris by a 10-point margin, 54 percent to 44 percent.

The astonishing 33-point difference is going to lead to a lot of searching and uncomfortable questions.

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Trump supporters will contend that his cultural conservatism and promise of a better economy helped turn the tide.

But that explanation doesnt really make sense of why Latina women shifted only very slightly in their partisan support.

Its tough to find a plausible argument that doesnt include some level of sexism.

Harris, of course, now becomes the second female Democratic nominee to lose to Trump, after Hillary Clinton in 2016.

The abortion issue failed to make the difference

A lot of Democratic hopes were riding on the idea that women would come out in unprecedented numbers to elect the nations first female president, just two years after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.

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It didnt happen.

There was a wide gender gap, to be sure  but the exit polls so far dont indicate it was bigger in a meaningful way than four years ago.

To the contrary, women went for Biden over Trump by 15 points in 2020, according to the CNN exit polls. So far this year, the exit polls show Harris carrying female voters by just 10 points.

That doesnt mean that abortion has been transformed into a winning issue for Republicans. It hasnt.

For example, a ballot initiative on abortion in Florida didnt get the 60 percent supermajority it needed to pass. But a clear majority, about 57 percent, lined up on the liberal side of the question.

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Still, the bottom line is that the abortion issue didnt prove nearly as potent as Harris needed it to be.

There will be serious Democratic infighting

The result is a cataclysm for Democrats. Their nominee has lost to a man whom many in their party consider an active danger to American democracy.

So, the finger-pointing will immediately begin.

Many Democrats will dwell on the sequence of events that led to Bidens withdrawal from the race in July. That came after a debate debacle in late June.

The number of people who believe the president would have done better than Harris is vanishingly small.

But his decision not to step aside after one term  and the partys lack of appetite for a competitive primary against him  will be second-guessed by those who feel such a process would either have strengthened Harris or produced a better nominee.

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The messaging of the Harris campaign will also be subject to harsh scrutiny.

Did she spend too much time arguing that Trump was a fascist in a way that was merely preaching to the choir?

Was the attempt to win over disaffected Republican voters by campaigning with figures like former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) always doomed to fail?

Would a more vigorous concentration on working-class concerns have helped stanch Trumps appeal, or would a more adventurous media strategy have paid dividends?

At some level, its possible these questions are unfair. Maybe the headwinds Harris faced on the economy  and as the deputy of a president with mediocre poll ratings  were just too stiff to overcome.

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But that wont stop those questions from being asked.

Trump might well have unified GOP government

Trump will have a Republican majority in the Senate  and quite possibly in the House as well.

Democrats were always going to have a hard time in the Senate, where they were on the defensive in several states.

Deeply red West Virginia was always a near-certain loss once Democratic-turned-Independent Sen. Joe Manchin announced he would retire. Republican Gov. Jim Justice was duly elected there.

Elsewhere, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) lost his seat to GOP challenger Bernie Moreno. Incumbent Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) are in trouble too, though they could yet rally and prevail.

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In the House, the picture remained unclear in the early hours of Wednesday, and may take several days to be settled. But it is certainly possible that the Republicans could retain a narrow majority.

If that happened, it would be a remarkable sweep by the GOP.

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Barrages of approximately 50 rockets launched by Hezbollah forces from Lebanon crossed into northern Israel's Upper Galilee Wednesday afternoon, causing damage and injuring several people, Israeli sources said. 
Business Insider asked bartenders which hot drinks people should skip this season.

Spiked hot chocolate is festive, but the flavors usually aren't balanced right.

An Irish coffee is a nice substitute for a traditional hot-buttered-rum cocktail.

It's officially time to swap margaritas and pina coladas for more season-appropriate beverages.

However, some classic warm cocktails don't always offer much bang for your buck.

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There are already enough ways to waste money in the holiday season, so Business Insider asked bartenders, sommeliers, and bar leads which hot drinks they'd never order  and what to get instead.

Ditch the hot-buttered-rum cocktails.

Hot-buttered-rum cocktails can be hard to make. Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Bernadette James, a sommelier at Stages at One Washington and The Living Room, told BI that rum enthusiasts should skip hot-buttered-rum cocktails.

The expert said the drink, which typically mixes rum, butter, hot water, a sweetener, and spices, is difficult to make correctly.

"I would instead order an Irish coffee with Bailey's and whipped cream and ask the bartender to substitute a spiced rum for the Irish whiskey," she told BI.

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Mulled wine is overhyped.

Warm wine isn't for everyone. vk_st/Shutterstock

Stevie Johns, the owner of June Bar Mobile Bartending, said she'd never ask a bartender for a mulled wine.

"Even with a cinnamon stick and some brandy, wine shouldn't be enjoyed warm," she said.

Instead, Johns recommended ordering a hot apple cider with a shot of bourbon as a cozy replacement.

There are better options than a hot toddy.

Most bars don't have all the ingredients for a hot toddy. Mateusz Gzik/Shutterstock

Jordan Antley, a bartender at Calissa in the Hamptons, told BI he doesn't order hot toddies at a bar.

"The array of ingredients required to execute this cocktail is enough to stress out even the best bartenders," he said.

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Although the drink can be made with just whiskey, lemon, and honey, most bars don't stock spices like whole cloves or cinnamon sticks, which make the cocktail much better.

If you're trying to warm up, the bartender recommended ordering a hot whiskey ginger  a simple drink made of whiskey, fresh ginger, hot water, and a lemon slice.

Boozy hot chocolates arent always worth it.

Boozy hot chocolate is usually extremely sweet. Stefan Lambauer/Shutterstock

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Bryce Tomberlin, the general manager and bartender of The Mountaineering Club, told BI that spiked hot chocolate is a risky bar order.

He said that in many cases, the warming drink is much too sweet, leaving the overall flavor unbalanced.

Instead, he'd order an Irish coffee for a similar vibe. The classic drink combines Irish whiskey, hot coffee, sugar, and cream.

Avoid ordering a Tom and Jerry cocktail.

Tom and Jerry cocktails are usually popular around Christmas. Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

"I don't think I'd ever order a Tom and Jerry unless it was explicitly on the menu," Levi Tyma, the general manager and bartender at Central Park Bar in Chicago, told BI.

The traditional Christmas cocktail is a decadent combination of eggs, milk, spices, and liquor. Like hot-buttered rum, mixing one can be complex.

To spare your bartender the hassle, go for something a little more mainstream, like an Irish coffee or a hot whiskey.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The tragic incident occurred at a storage unit in Minnesota on Monday, Nov. 4, according to reports

Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Minneapolis Star Tribune/ZUMA Wire/Alamy Hennepin County Medical Center Hennepin County Medical Center

Five brothers from Minnesota have been seriously injured in a propane tank explosion.

The siblings aged 6-14 years old suffered severe burns in an explosion at a storage unit north of Bagley, Minn., at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, Clearwater County Sheriff's Office reported, per CBS News and local outlets KROC-AM News and The Minnesota Star Tribune.

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Preliminary investigations determined that the explosion occurred after a leaking propane tank inside the storage unit was accidentally ignited by an adult male lighting up a cigarette.

Brothers Keegan, Kaeto, Braedyn, Tannen and Zander Ritchie, were left in critical condition from the explosion and they were transported to a burn treatment center at Hennepin, Minn. for further care, according to a GoFundMe page set up for the boys by their sister Kyra Frank.

google street view The storage unit north of Bagley, Minnesota The storage unit north of Bagley, Minnesota

My five little brothers were involved in an explosion, Kyra wrote. All prayers are needed and appreciated. My mom is a single working parent and is now taking time off to be with her boys. She could use any and all the help given. We know very little at the moment but will give updates as we hear.

The brothers suffered burns ranging from 5-55% in the incident, according to the GoFundMe page.

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Authorities shared that the man who lit the cigarette also suffered serious burns in the explosion, per CBS and KROC-AM News. He is reportedly the brothers father, per The Minnesota Star Tribune.

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In an update shared on their GoFundMe page, the brothers are said to be in stable conditions with a long road ahead of them."

The surgeon informed us that all of them will need surgery at some point throughout this process, their sister Kyra continued. The stays are going to be extensive and the medical bills are high as well as Mom being unable to be at work. We have upped the donation goal, and we sincerely appreciate all of your help and prayers.

So far, over $43,000 has been donated to the GoFundMe page for the brothers.

PEOPLE has reached out to Clearwater County Sheriff's Office for further comment.
A lucky lottery player has won $500,000 playing Powerball in Waupaca.

The winning ticket sold at Kwik Trip, 226 W. Fulton St., for Monday's drawing matched four of the five numbers drawn  6-18-33-48-53  plus the Powerball  21, according to Wisconsin Lottery.

Normally that would result in a $50,000 prize, but because it included a $1 Power Play add-on option, the 10X multiplier increased the prize substantially.

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According to the Multi-State Lottery Association, a 10X multiplier for the Powerball game has been only drawn 21 times since 2006.

The 10X multiplier is available on non-jackpot prizes when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less. When the jackpot is $150 million or more, the highest multiplier possible for Power Play is 5X.

The winner has 180 days from the draw date to claim their winnings.

The odds of winning a $50,000 Powerball prize are 1 in 913,130. For the $1 Power Play add-on option, the odds of a 10X multiplier being drawn was 1 in 43.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: $500,000 Powerball ticket sold at Kwik Trip in Waupaca
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  There are 546 PG&E customers in northwest Bakersfield impacted by a power outage Wednesday afternoon.

According to the PG&E power outage map, the outage was reported around 11:15 a.m. in the area of Hageman Road, Fruitvale Avenue, Mohawk Street and Knudsen Drive.

A PG&E spokesperson told 17 News, when the power outage was first reported 2,600 customers were impacted.

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According to the schools website, students at Centennial High School were released from classes early due to the unplanned power outage. School will resume as scheduled on Thursday, Nov. 7.

Power is expected to be restored to the impacted areas at about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to the PG&E website.

Crews are investigating the cause of the power outage.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
The 2024 election brought some historic victories for the country on Tuesday, which will see Congress welcome its first openly trans member and the Senate its first Korean American.

Here are some of the groundbreaking candidates elected on Tuesday:

Its the first time in history two Black women will serve together in the Senate. Its also the first time Delaware will have a female senator.

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Maryland Democrat Angela Alsobrooks are projected to win their Senate races and will become the first two Black women to serve in the chamber simultaneously.

"From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every Marylander. To serve this state, my home, is the honor of a lifetime," Angela Alsobrooks wrote on social media after her Senate victory. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Individually, their victories are historic: Blunt Rochester is the first woman and the first Black person to win a Senate seat in Delaware, and Alsobrooks is the first Black person to win in Maryland.

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From the bottom of my heard, Delaware, thank you, Blunt Rochester wrote on social media.

Only three other Black women have ever served in the chamber.

Andy Kim is elected as first Korean American in the Senate.

Rep. Andy Kim handily won the Senate race in New Jersey. The son of immigrants will become the first Korean American in the chamber and the third-youngest when he heads to Washington in January.

I believe that the opposite of democracy is apathy, and, by extension, I hope that you see our campaign as a means of being the opposite of that helplessness, he told supporters late Tuesday.

Delaware has sent the message loud and clear," Sarah McBride said after her victory in a U.S. House race. Hannah Yoon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Sarah McBride elected as the first openly trans member of Congress.

Sarah McBride, a progressive who ran on issues affecting workers and families, will become the first openly trans member of Congress. Her tenure in Washington comes amid an effort by Republicans to roll back the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans.

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Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all our families, that ensures that housing and health care are available to everyone and that this is a democracy that is big enough for all of us, she tweeted on X.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, will have its first Black mayor.

Monroe Nichols, a state representative, won his race to become the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, defeating a longtime Tulsa county commissioner.

If there is anyone out there who still questions if Tulsa is a place where big things are possible, if there is anybody out there who doubts you can make an impact, tonight you got your answer, Nichols said in a victory speech, according to the Tulsa World.

Its been a long time coming, and tonight, we made history.

Monroe Nichols, seen in 2017, will become the new mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Pamela Goodwine will be the first Black woman on the Kentucky Supreme Court.

Pamela Goodwine made history once again on Tuesday after previously becoming the first Black woman in Lexington, Kentucky, to be a district judge and the first Black woman to become a circuit judge in the state. In 2018, she became the first Black woman to serve on the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

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She won her election to the state Supreme Court, a victory she called an honor, after running a campaign based on experience, honesty and a commitment to impartiality and the rule of law to protect and serve every citizen.

Shomari Figures becomes just the fourth Black member sent to Congress from Alabama since Reconstruction.

Shomari Figures handily won his race for Congress, flipping a seat held previously held by Republicans after it was redrawn by a federal court.

This journey that we are on now, this is the beginning of the work, Figures told supporters after his victory, according to AL.com. Today is great. We are grateful that we have the opportunity to sit here today and be elected and be put into a position to go do the work. But now we got to do the work.

Alabama House member Shomari Figures speaks with reporters in Mobile on Tuesday before becoming the projected winner of Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. Kim Chandler/Associated Press

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YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  The York County Coroners Office released the identity of the woman who was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer in Manchester Township on Tuesday.

According to the Northern York County Regional Police Department, on Nov. 5 at 5:54 p.m., a Pennsylvania man, 60, driving a tractor-trailer, struck a 64-year-old woman walking on Arsenal Road between George Street and North Court Avenue.

Police said the victim, Tina Aldinger of York County, was rushed to WellSpan York Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead early on Nov. 6.

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Police say the victim was not in a crosswalk when struck. Police are investigating.

An autopsy was completed on Nov 7. The coroners office said the cause of death was blunt force injuries.

Aldingers death has been ruled an accident.

Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact the Northern York County Regional Police Department at 717-467-TELL (8355) or tips@nycrpd.org.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Neil Parrott, the Republican nominee for Maryland's 6th Congressional District, speaks to supporters at Havana nightclub in Hagerstown on election night. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Its wait-and-see in Western Maryland.

Republican former Del. Neil Parrott and Democratic political newcomer April McClain Delaney told supporters at election night parties Tuesday that the race was still too close to call, with Parrott holding a 1.75% lead with about 86% of Election Day precincts reporting by 11:30 p.m.

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Parrott is running for Congress for the third consecutive time as the GOP nominee in the 6th District, this time against McClain Delaney, a former Commerce Department official looking to keep the Western Maryland seat that Democrats have held for the last 12 years.

So what we have to do is wait for the whole process to play itself out, but Im feeling very cautiously optimistic and very excited, McClain Delaney said, as supporters gathered shoulder-to-shoulder at her election night watch party at Mayan Monkey Brewing Co. in Gaithersburg.

April McClain Delaney, Democratic nominee for Marylands 6th Congressional District, addressed supporters at an election night party. Photo by Elijah Pittman.

Parrott said the same at his election night party at Havana, a night club in Hagerstown.

I was hoping we would know tonight, but Im looking at the numbers. This is going to be a very tight race, he said. The volunteers have really worked diligently and gotten us to this place where its very, very competitive.

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In early returns, Parrott was showing large leads in the states three westernmost counties: Garrett, Allegany and Washington. Frederick County was more evenly divided with about 80% of precincts reporting at 11 p.m. McClain Delaney had a wide lead in her home county, Montgomery, the northern-third of which is in the 6th District.

The 6th District was the most closely watched in Maryland, despite the fact that it was one of three open House seats in the state this fall.

But Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, a Democrat, had a comfortable lead over Republican Kim Klacik and Libertarian Jasen Wunder in the 2nd District race to replace Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D), who had held the seat for 11 terms. With 227 of 230 precincts reporting, Olszewski had 55.4% of the vote to Klaciks 42.3% and Wunders 2%.

And state Sen. Sarah Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel) held a comfortable lead in the 3rd District race to replace Rep. Paul Sarbanes (D), a seven-term incumbent. With 212 of 213 precincts reporting, Elfreth had 57% of the vote to 40% for Republican Robert Steinberger and 2.6% for Libertarian Miguel Barajas.

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All five incumbents  four Democrats and Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st), the only current GOP member of the states congressional delegation  were headed to easy reelection Tuesday.

The 6th District seat came open when current Rep. David Trone (D) ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate, spending almost $64 million  a staggering $63 million of it his own money  to lose the Democratic nomination to Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Trone held the seat for the last six years, winning it from John Delaney  McClain Delaneys husband, who also held the seat for six years before mounting a failed bid for U.S. president.

The district, which stretches from northern Montgomery County through Western Maryland, is the most competitive in the state in terms of partisan voter registration, and it only became more competitive in the latest round of congressional redistricting.

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Parrott, then a state delegate, sued over the prior district maps, which were widely criticized as a Democratic gerrymander, in 2012; he said the current district boundaries, the result of another court challenge in 2022, are much more fair, much more representative.

Still, the race was considered a likely win for Democrats, until analysts in recent weeks downgraded their rating of the district to leans Democratic.

The race has drawn an usual amount of funding for a mostly rural district in a heavily Democratic state.

Parrott has been heavily outspent, as he was in his previous races against Trone. He reported raising $910,000 as of last month, according to the Federal Election Commission, compared to $4.3 million for McClain Delaney. She has loaned her campaign more than $3 million.

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Both campaigns have received funding from outside groups. The most recent was Gov. Wes Moores Unity First PAC, which was set up to oppose the run by former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) for Senate, but last week diverted $50,000 to mount attack ads against Parrott.

McClain Delaney has tried to paint Parrott as too conservative for the district, pointing to his opposition to abortion rights and votes he took in Annapolis that Democrats said weakened domestic violence protections.

Parrott has responded by saying McClain Delaney is out of touch with the conservative district, just another lawyer and Washington bureaucrat without ties to the district. (McClain Delaney lives in the neighboring 8th District, as did her husband during his term representing the 6th.)

The charges and counter-charges boiled over into a shouting match at the end of an early October candidate forum at Hood College, with Parrott accusing McClain Delaney of distorting his record, and both candidates pointing fingers and raising voices. The campaigns followed that display the next day with statements accusing the other of being unfit for office.

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They managed to keep things more civil at a debate 10 days later in Hagerstown, where each candidate outlined policy positions that were more in keeping with their respective party positions on immigration, crime, climate change and housing.

All election results are preliminary until theyre certified. There were 102,730 mail ballots sent out in the 6th District. A little more than 43,000 were included in Election Day reporting results.
Seven Salisbury University students face assault and hate crime charges in an incident that, according to police, occurred at an off-campus apartment complex.

Here's what we know now.

Seven suspects are in custody as a result of mid-October assault

On Oct. 31, 2024, the Salisbury Police Department was contacted by members of the Salisbury University Police Department regarding an assault that was alleged to have occurred in an off-campus apartment complex for college-aged students. Detectives met with witnesses and observed cellular phone video of an adult male victim being assaulted by several college-aged men.

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In a letter to the Salisbury University community, President Carolyn Lepre confirmed that "seven of our students were arrested on charges of committing several violent crimes. It is alleged that these students, some of whom are fraternity members, committed crimes including first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, false imprisonment, and associated hate crimes motivated by an individuals sexual orientation, at an off-campus apartment complex."

Election 2024 live updates: Election Day 2024 live updates: Long lines will delay Maryland results

Police: Victim was kicked, punched and spit on by SU students

During the course of the investigation, detectives identified and met with the victim from the video. Detectives discovered that on Oct. 15, 2024, a group of men used a social media account and invited the victim to a residence within the 1400 block of University Terrace under false pretenses.

When the victim responded and entered the residence, numerous college-aged men surrounded the victim and forced him to sit in a chair isolated in the middle of the living room. After being forcefully seated, the victim was kicked, punched and spit on while the men called him derogatory names, according to police.

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The victim conveyed to detectives that he tried to leave the apartment multiple times, but was thrown to the floor during every initial attempt to flee. The assault lasted for several minutes until he was eventually allowed to leave, according to police. Due to the assault, the victim sought medical assistance and learned that he had sustained bruising throughout his body, as well as a broken rib.

Police: Victim was targeted due to his sexual orientation

The investigation revealed that the victim was targeted due to his sexual orientation. As detectives continued the investigation, they identified the following seven men as those who allegedly took part in the assault and were also determined to be members and or associates of a fraternity at Salisbury University.

Ryder Baker, 20, of Olney, Md.

Bennan Aird, 18, of Milton, Del.

Riley Brister, 20, of Davidsonville, Md.

Cruz Cespedes, 19, of Jarrettsville, Md.

Dylan Earp, 20, of Gambrills, Md.

Elijah Johnson, 19, of Crofton, Md.

Zachary Leinemann, 18, or Crofton, Md.

All are charged with first-degree assault, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment and associated hate crime charges. Each was brought to the Salisbury Police Department for processing and later released to the Wicomico County Detention Center to be seen by a District Court Commissioner.

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This investigation is ongoing and the Salisbury Police Department is requesting anyone with information about this incident, or incidents similar in nature, to contact its Criminal Investigation Division at 410-548-3165. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

Reward offered in fatal shooting: UPDATE: Reward offered in fatal Wicomico County shooting that took life of Salisbury man

Salisbury University issues official statement on incident

In an official statement on the incident, Salisbury University shared:

"Salisbury University condemns all acts of violence. We are committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming environment for all, both on and off campus. Any student who commits an act of violence can expect to face criminal charges, as well as disciplinary action under SUs Student Code of Community Standards. The crimes described are in direct conflict with Salisbury Universitys values and what we stand for. Hate has no place at SU.

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"SU continues to cooperate with law enforcement in this investigation and is actively monitoring the situation."

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Seven Salisbury University students face assault, hate crime charges
The Abandon Harris campaign argued Wednesday that former President Trumps electoral victory didnt have to be inevitable.

The truth is, a Trump presidency didnt have to be inevitable. Democrats had every opportunity to win this election with ease, the group, which urged voters to protest Vice President Harris due to the war in Gaza, said in a new release.

But instead, they chose to betray their base, to abandon the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and to align themselves with some of the darkest figures in American history  like Dick Cheney, the statement reads.

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Trump secured the White House for a second time Wednesday, rattling Democrats nationwide. Harris had faced criticism from the left for the Biden administrations backing for Israel amid its war with Palestinian militant group Hamas during her campaign for the presidency.

Abandon Harris said that more than a year prior, the administration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris launched and actively oversaw one of the most horrific, catastrophic genocides of modern timesperpetrated by the Israeli government, with full support from this administration.

We started as a few voices from a grieving, shattered community, bound by a single, uncompromising demand: stop the genocide, the group continued. Our message to them was plainstop the genocide, and we will vote for you.

We set deadlines. We offered to meet, it added. We asked them to listen. Instead, we were ignored.

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Abandon Harris had previously endorsed Green Party candidate Jill Stein in this years presidential race and pushed for Muslim Americans as well as those upset over the Biden administrations handling of the Israel-Hamas war to vote for her.

The Hill has reached out to the Democratic National Committee, the Harris campaign, the White House, the vice presidents office and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Student enrollment is a big player in district funding. So what happens when students leave the district, and where are they going?

The number of students transferring out of Abilene ISD has more than doubled in the past decade.

Every student who leaves the district for education elsewhere takes $6,160  the basic allotment in state funding per student  to their new district.

Although Abilene officials expressed optimism about maintaining the district's student enrollment, Texas Education Agency numbers show more students are leaving than coming to the district.

Abilene ISD administration building Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.

For instance, in the 2023-2024 school year, AISD had 1,376 students who transferred to schools out of district and had 441 students who transferred in.

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The net loss for the last school year was 935 students and around $5.76 million in state funding.

While smaller districts around the city gain some AISD students, a significant number are transferring to an Abilene public charter campus.

But Alison Camp, AISD executive director of student services, said they are seeing more students transferring into the district compared to past years.

Alison Camp, executive director of student services, is employed at Abilene ISD.

In the 2024-2025 school year, student services has handled around 470 out-of-district transfers, Camp said.

Out-of-district students can more than likely be attributed to parents travelling into Abilene for work from neighboring towns, Camp said. But they are seeing more students that are not coming from either public or private schools compared to previous years.

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The district has also kept a watchful eye on its overall enrollment.

In September, Abilene ISD reported 14,559 students were enrolled as of the tenth day of school. The number reflected a decrease of 122 students compared to the 2023-2024 school year.

The Texas Education Agency discloses in an annual district transfer reports the number of students that transfer in and out of a district. Abilene ISD has continually seen an increase in students transferring out in previous years.

The district's enrollment numbers dropped during the COVID pandemic and never really came back up, Camp said. In an effort to figure out what happened, the district sent out a survey last year to gain information from the public.

More: Student enrollment fluctuates at AISD elementary and high schools

Survey responses indicated they were seeking a small school environment, she said.

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"And so, I would assume that's probably why because that's very different than our schools," she said. "We have very large high schools, and it's a benefit because you can have a lot of programs to offer many different things, but then, you know, we're not going to have the small school feel."

In her position, Camp handles student transfers on a regular basis.

Although the district is able to see where a student is coming from  due to requesting student records from the student's prior district  they are unable to see where a student goes, she said.

It may not be clear to AISD at the time where a student is transferring to, but the TEA tracks a district's transfers and generates annual reports to show where students are going. That information becomes publicly available online.

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The out-of-district transfers are greater compared to those into the district in the 2022-2023 school year with 1,184 students, the 2021-2022 school year with 1,050 students and even the 2020-2021 school year with 929 students.

School Year Transfers In to Abilene ISD Transfers Out of Abilene ISD 2023-2024 441 1,376 2022-2023 418 1,184 2021-2022 431 1,050 2020-2021 374 929 2019-2020 386 940 2013-2014 785 571 2011-2012 791 530

The data shows lots of the students are transferring to nearby school districts like Wylie, Hawley, Clyde, Merkel and Eula.

But according to the 2023-2024 school year transfer report, the majority of Abilene ISD students are going to Texas Leadership Public Schools  807 students total.

A graduate holds his diploma at a Texas Leadership Charter Academy graduation on May 19, 2023.

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This number makes up 58% of the total AISD student transfers for the last school year.

Established in 2009, TLPS is a public charter system of schools that originated in San Angelo. They have since grown to include campuses in Abilene, Midland, Cedar Hill and Arlington.

Jill Jones, TLPS advocacy director and public relations administrator, believes the district's culture is what attracts students and families to enroll.

"I think that more than likely it is our culture, because we ingrain a leadership-type culture into all of our students, starting in kindergarten and goes through the 12th grade," Jones said.

Officials cut the ribbon on the new Texas Leadership Charter Academy high school in Abilene on Aug. 9, 2021. The building is located in the former YMCA on State Street.

"We are 'The Leader in Me' schools, so our kids learn 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' starting from a very early age and that curriculum is integrated into their everyday curriculum," she said.

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The Leader in Me program teaches students basic life skills like how to be responsible, disciplined and the importance of teamwork which will prepare them for post-secondary education or to go into the workforce, Jones said.

Jones said the smaller classroom environment helps students get more individualized attention from teachers, which may be a contributing factor to the district's growth.

To accommodate the demand, Jones said they have had to implement a waiting list for some of the schools and grade levels.

"We do have a waiting list, which is a good thing, and it's also not a good thing for families that want to be in one of our schools," she said.

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This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Out of district student transfers continue to climb in Abilene ISD
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Multiple U.S. media called the state of North Carolina for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Election Day Tuesday, hours after polls closed in the key swing state. 
Abortion was one of the defining issues of the 2024 election, in part because Election Day came less than two years after the Supreme Court returned control over abortion rights to states in a June 2022 ruling.

Ten states voted on abortion-related ballot measures on Tuesday, and abortion rights supporters came out on top in most of the contests, although only two will notably expand abortion access.

Heres a look at 2024 ballot measures on abortion.

States that expanded abortion access

Arizona abortion vote

In Arizona, Proposition 139 passed with around 62% support. The measure provides a right to abortion before the point of fetal viability, which is around the 24th week of pregnancy.

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Arizonas amendment will mean replacing the current law that bans abortion after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy, The Associated Press reported.

Missouri abortion vote

In Missouri, voters passed Amendment 3, which establishes a right for reproductive freedom in the state, per NBC News.

With Amendment 3 on the books, opponents of Missouris current abortion ban will be able to sue to force changes to it.

Missouri is positioned to be the first state where a vote will undo a ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with an amendment that would allow lawmakers to restrict abortions only past the point of a fetus viability, the AP reported.

States that affirmed support for abortion access

Ballot measures aimed at protecting access to abortion passed in several states that already guarantee a right to abortion until at least the point of fetal viability.

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In these states, voters were essentially voting to make current abortion laws more difficult to change in the future.

Colorado abortion vote

In Colorado, voters passed Amendment 79, which enshrines the right to an abortion in the state constitution. The amendment also allows public funds to be spent on abortions.

That will clear the way for the state to potentially cover abortions under Medicaid and some state employee health insurance plans, CNN reported.

Maryland abortion vote

In Maryland, nearly three-quarters of voters supported Question 1, enshrining the right to an abortion in the state constitution.

The abortion rights amendment is a legal change that wont make an immediate difference to abortion access in a state that already allows it, per the AP.

Montana abortion vote

In Montana, voters passed a right to abortion initiative. It wont change current abortion policy in the state, but it will make it harder for state Republicans to restrict abortion access in the future.

Nevada abortion vote

In Nevada, Question 6 passed, bringing abortion rights supporters one step closer to adding abortion protections to the state constitution.

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The amendment will need to pass again in 2026 in order to be added to the constitution due to state law governing amendments, per CNN.

New York abortion vote

In New York, voters supported a change to the state constitutions equal protection clause. It will now bar discrimination on the basis of not just pregnancy, but also pregnancy access and reproductive health care.

The amendment could affect more than just abortion policy in the state.

While proponents focused on abortion rights, opponents used the measures broad nature to raise concerns about transgender and parental issues, CNN reported.

States that rejected an effort to expand abortion access

Efforts to expand abortion access failed in Florida, South Dakota and Nebraska. The three states are the first to reject ballot measures on expanding abortion access since the Supreme Courts June 2022 abortion ruling.

Florida abortion vote

In Florida, Amendment 4, which would have created a constitutional right to abortion before the point of fetal viability, failed to get enough votes.

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The proposal got support from about 57% of Florida voters. It needed to cross the 60% threshold to be approved, per The Washington Post.

If Amendment 4 had passed, it would have invalidated Floridas current ban on abortion after six weeks.

South Dakota abortion vote

In South Dakota, Amendment G did not pass. It garnered only around 40% of the vote, per NBC News.

Amendment G would have forced changes to the states strict abortion ban. South Dakota currently only allows abortions in cases where an abortion is needed to save the life of the mother.

Nebraska abortion vote

Nebraska was unique in that it was voting on dueling abortion-related measures. Initiative 439 would legalize abortion through the point of viability through a constitutional amendment, while Initiative 434 would uphold the status quo, a ban on abortion after 12 weeks.

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State officials had said that even if both measures won a majority of votes, the amendment that received more would prevail, according to The New York Times.

The AP has determined that Initiative 434 has passed, meaning that most Nebraska voters support the states current abortion policy.
The 2024 election gave voters in 10 states the opportunity to vote directly on abortion, and with the results now in, we can confirm that the majority of pro-abortion measures have passed. Its a glimmer of good news in an election cycle that many saw as a referendum on reproductive rights  among many other issues  and that went decisively the way of Donald Trump, the former president who made possible the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Trumps win represents a deadly threat to reproductive health and justice in the US, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement provided to SheKnows. The first Trump administration brought down the federal right to abortion and kicked off a domino effect of states outlawing it, which led to OB/GYNs leaving those states out of fear of legal retribution and created maternal care deserts across vast swaths of the South and Midwest, Northup said. A second Trump administration will not only compound these harms, she continued, but add to them with policies like ending the availability of medication abortion by mail.

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Thats why its even more important for abortion to be protected at the state level, and passing ballot measures like the ones below is where it starts. Heres what to know about abortions legal status in those states now.

Arizona

Abortion status: Now legal until fetal viability

Arizonas near-total abortion ban has been overturned by the Arizona Abortion Access Act, which passed 61 percent to 38 percent. The ban, which went into effect in April, stated that doctors could be criminalized for providing or assisting in an abortion. With the passing of Prop 139, voters have agreed that every person has the right to get an abortion before fetal viability (aka the point when a fetus can survive outside the uterus), which is usually around 24 weeks.

Colorado

Abortion status: Legal, now protected under the state constitution

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Abortion was already legal in Colorado, but voters have now passed Amendment 79 (61 percent to 38 percent) to add the right to the state constitution and ensure that using public funds for abortion is allowed. The amendment also overrides a decades-old measure that banned health insurance from covering abortions for public employees and people on public insurance.

Florida

Abortion status: Banned after six weeks with exceptions

Floridas Amendment 4 sought to protect abortion under the state constitution, stating that no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patients health, as determined by the patients healthcare provider. While the majority of voters, 57 percent, voted to pass the amendment, Florida required it to reach a 60 percent supermajority to pass  the highest threshold in the country, per The Hill.

Maryland

Abortion status: Legal until fetal viability, now protected under the state constitution

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Abortion was already legal in Maryland before fetal viability. Now, voters in the state have passed the Reproductive Freedom referendum, which guarantees reproductive freedom in the state constitution  including, the referendum notes, the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end ones own pregnancy. The measure passed by a wide margin, with 74 percent of voters voting yes and just 25 percent voting no.

Missouri

Abortion status: Now legal until fetal viability

Missouri was one of the states with a trigger law set to ban abortion as soon as the Supreme Court allowed it in 2022. But Amendment 3, which voters in the state just passed, now protects the right to abortion until fetal viability under the state constitution. The amendment passed 51 percent to 48 percent.

Montana

Abortion status: Legal until fetal viability, now protected under the state constitution

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In Montana, where abortion was already legal until fetal viability, voters have now approved an amendment to protect it under the state constitution. The constitution now includes the right to make and carry out decisions about ones own pregnancy, including the right to abortion. Voters passed the amendment 57 percent to 42 percent.

Nebraska

Abortion status: Now banned in the state constitution after 12 weeks, with exceptions

In Nebraska, two opposing abortion proposals were on the ballot. The Nebraska Right to Abortion Initiative looked to protect the right to abortion until fetal viability under the state constitution; the Protect Women and Children Amendment looked to do the opposite, amending the state constitution to ban abortions after the second and third trimesters, with exceptions for medical emergencies, sexual assault, and incest.

The anti-abortion measure won, garnering 55 percent of the vote for and 44 percent against. (The pro-abortion measure was rejected, with 51 percent of voters casting no votes compared to 48 percent yes.)

Nevada

Abortion status: Legal until fetal viability or if the pregnancy may be fatal to the mother, now protected under the state constitution

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Nevadas Right to Abortion Initiative has passed, 63 percent to 36 percent. This will amend the state constitution to provide a right to abortion until fetal viability, or to protect the life or health of the mother.

New York

Abortion status: Legal until fetal viability or when the pregnancy or mothers life is at risk, now protected under the state constitution

Abortion was already legal until fetal viability in New York. Now, the New York State Equal Rights Amendment has prohibited discrimination from the government based on pregnancy and reproductive healthcare. The amendment passed by 61 percent to 38 percent.

South Dakota

Abortion status: Banned with exceptions to save the life of the mother

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South Dakotas proposed amendment to allow the right to abortion before 12 weeks (and after, if the mothers life is at risk) failed. Voters rejected the measure 59 percent to 40 percent.

Before you go, read about these celebrities whove shared their abortion stories:

celebrity abortion stories

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Constitutional amendments to protect or expand abortion rights passed in seven of the 10 states where they appeared on the ballot Tuesday, NBC News projects.

Voters in Arizona and Missouri approved ballot initiatives that will effectively protect abortion rights until fetal viability and undo existing abortion laws on the books. But voters in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota rejected proposed amendments that would have done the same  becoming the first pro-abortion-rights ballot measures to fail since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

Meanwhile, voters in Maryland, Montana, Nevada and New York (where abortion is already legal through fetal viability) and in Colorado (where there are no laws restricting abortion and no gestational limits for women seeking abortions), passed measures that will formally enshrine those existing rights. Organizers have said the amendments are designed to prevent lawmakers from undoing existing protections in the future.

Protesters march at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix in June 2022 to protest the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

In Nebraska, two dueling abortion-related measures were on the general election ballot. The one voters approved will protect abortion rights in the first trimester while barring the procedure in the second and third trimesters, except in medical emergencies or when pregnancies are the result of sexual assaults or incest. Passage effectively codifies the states existing law banning abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions, in the state constitution.

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The other amendment, that would have enshrined abortion rights until fetal viability in the conservative states constitution, was rejected.

The defeats of the amendments in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota ended what had been an unbroken winning streak for ballot measures backing abortion rights in the 2 years since the fall of Roe.

In Florida, voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have barred restrictions on abortion before fetal viability and would have included exceptions past that point for the patients health, as determined by the patients healthcare provider.

Under Florida law, the measure needed the support of 60% of voters to pass rather than a simple majority. With 96% of the expected vote in, the abortion-rights amendment had 57% support.

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Its failure preserves the states six-week ban on abortion, which includes exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the woman.

In South Dakota, the proposed amendment on the ballot would have made abortion legal in all situations in the first trimester of pregnancy. It would have allowed regulation by the state of abortion in the second trimester, but such regulation must be reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman. The amendment would have allowed regulation or prohibition by the state in the third trimester, except in cases when a physician has determined that the care would be necessary to preserve the life or health of the woman.

South Dakota has a near-total ban on abortion, which snapped back into effect after Roe was struck down in 2022. The ban, which abortion-rights groups say is among the most restrictive in the country, prohibits all abortions except when necessary to save the womans life.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Leslee Unruh (left) and Jon Hansen (right), leaders of Life Defense Fund, celebrate the anticipated failure of Amendment G at the group's election night watch party in Sioux Falls on Nov. 5, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

An attempt to restore abortion rights in South Dakota went down to defeat Tuesday.

The Associated Press called the results at 1:49 a.m. Central time Wednesday. The tally at that time was 61% against Amendment G and 39% in favor, with 64% of statewide votes counted.

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When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the national right to an abortion in 2022, a trigger ban adopted by the South Dakota Legislature in 2005 immediately took effect. The ban has one exception for abortions necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant female.

Amendment G would have prohibited first-trimester regulations on a pregnant womans abortion decision and its effectuation. In the second trimester, it would have allowed regulations reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman. In the third trimester, it would have allowed an abortion ban with a mandatory exception to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman.

This was the third time South Dakotans have voted on a statewide abortion ballot question. Voters rejected a ban passed by the Legislature in 2006 that had one exception to preserve the life of the pregnant woman. They also rejected a citizen-initiated abortion ban in 2008 that included additional exceptions for cases of rape and incest. Both of those measures were defeated by about 55% of voters.

During the campaign against this years measure, some anti-abortion ads said the states current laws may need to be changed, while saying Amendment G is too extreme.

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Jon Hansen, co-chair of the anti-abortion Life Defense Fund and a state representative from Dell Rapids, said Tuesday night that those discussions will continue in the months and years to come.

Theres already lots of people talking about what the law should look like, Hansen said.

At the polls Tuesday, Colleen Maguire, 64, and her daughter Caitlyn Schwarz, 34, both of Sioux Falls, said theyre Republicans but voted in support of the amendment, against the wishes of many in their party.

We are women before were Republican, Maguire said.

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Donna Mitchell, an independent from Sioux Falls, also voted to pass the amendment.

Its a step in the right direction, Mitchell said. I hated when the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade. As a woman, I want to be able to make decisions about my fertility.

Meanwhile, Kenya Mejia of Sioux Falls said she was concerned the amendment would make it too easy to get abortions late in the second trimester of pregnancy or later.

There should be something, but I dont think this is the right amendment, Mejia said.

South Dakota was one of 10 states with an abortion-rights measure on its general election ballot Tuesday. The other states were Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and New York.

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Signature gatherers for Prop. 139 take a selfie in front of boxes of signature petition sheets in Phoenix, Ariz. on July 3, 2024. The Arizona for Abortion Access campaign gathered more than 823,000 signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot, more than double the number needed. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror

Arizona made abortion a constitutionally protected right, in a move that sends a strong rebuke to the states GOP legislative majority, most of which backed a near-total ban earlier this year.

Support for Proposition 139, the Arizona Abortion Access Act, overwhelmingly outweighs opposition. With about half of expected ballots counted, 63% of Arizonans voted in favor of the initiative compared to 37% who voted to defeat it. The Associated Press officially called the contest shortly after 1 a.m.

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Backers of the campaign to protect abortion rights celebrated the news, calling Arizona an example for anti-abortion politicians to consider.

Next time the nation wonders how much government interference in reproductive healthcare is acceptable, or what type of arbitrary abortion ban is popular, they can look at Arizona and know the answer is none, said Chris Love, the spokeswoman for YES on 139.

Arizona was one of 10 states that had abortion on the ballot this election. As of Tuesday, seven of those initiatives were on track to pass by wide margins. And Floridas won approval from 57% of voters, but ultimately wont pass because it didnt meet a 60% threshold required for constitutional amendments to be ratified.

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Victoria Lopez, with the Arizona branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the passage of Prop. 139 was a resounding referendum on the anti-abortion stance of the states GOP majority.

For far too long, Arizonans have been subject to the whims of extremist politicians seeking to ban abortion completely, she said. Today, Arizonans emphatically affirmed that decisions about abortion belong to us.

The Grand Canyon State is currently under a 15-week gestational ban that includes no exceptions for rape or incest victims. Only abortions performed to prevent a patients death or the impairment of a major bodily function, are legal beyond the 2022 laws deadline.

Prop. 139 would enshrine abortion as a fundamental right in the Arizona Constitution, striking down the 2022 law and shielding the procedure from any future restrictions pushed by lawmakers. It would also restore the standard previously upheld in Roe v. Wade, guaranteeing Arizona womens ability to obtain an abortion until the point of fetal viability. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates fetal viability to be around 23 weeks.

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Along with adopting Roes gestational standard, the initiative includes an exception that allows abortions to be performed beyond fetal viability if a provider deems one is necessary to preserve a patients life, physical or mental health.





A coalition of local reproductive rights groups and progressive organizations drafted the initiative last year to challenge the 15-week law, after a bid to repeal it failed to earn enough signatures in 2022 to qualify for the ballot, due in part to a lack of time. Prop. 139, however, drew widespread support from voters, collecting more than double the number of signatures needed to land on the 2024 ballot.

In April, new attention to the initiative came when the Arizona Supreme Court revived a Civil War-era near-total abortion ban that mandated prison time for doctors. All but 6 of Arizonas 45 GOP lawmakers resisted a move to repeal the law before it could go into effect.

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Along with removing the states gestational ban on abortion, the initiative is expected to invalidate other laws that were passed as barriers to abortion access, including a 24 hour waiting period and a mandatory ultrasound. The initiative expressly prohibits the passage or enforcement of any law or policy that denies, restricts or interferes with a womans right to obtain an abortion, unless its purpose is to improve or maintain her health. Lawyers for the campaign have said those laws and others would likely need to be contested in court.

Abortion opponents attributed the win to deceit and lies. It Goes Too Far, a campaign made up of pro-life organizations that sought to paint Prop. 139 as too extreme for Arizonans, criticized backers of the initiative for misleading voters about the actual legality of abortion in the state. Leisa Brug, the campaign manager of It Goes Too Far, said that characterizing the 15-week gestational law as a ban convinced Arizonans to support Prop. 139.

Proponents repeatedly told Arizona voters that there was a ban on abortion and women would have to be on deaths door before doctors could treat them for miscarriages or late term complications, she said in an emailed statement. The fact is none of that is true; many voters were duped.

Pro-life advocates, including It Goes Too Far, have framed the 15-week law as simply a limit on abortions, and emphasized the fact that the vast majority of procedures occur within that time frame. In 2022, the year for which the latest data is available and before the gestational ban went into effect, 96% of all Arizona abortions were performed before 15 weeks.

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And while critics of abortion have said the states 15-week law doesnt apply for women suffering miscarriages, the reality in hospital rooms and doctors offices is more complicated. Multiple studies in states with restrictive abortion laws have found that doctors hesitate whenever criminalization is on the table, even if life-saving interventions are needed and when the care is likely to be legal. In Arizona, doctors have voiced concerns about providing routine procedures that may later need to be justified in court, including when women are facing health emergencies.

Cathi Herrod similarly criticized the campaign behind Prop. 139 for making false statements, and said its passage would lead to the removal of critical safety regulations for Arizona women. Herrod is the president of the Center for Arizona Policy, an organization that has been behind many of the states anti-abortion laws, including the 15-week law, and also backed the reinstatement of the 1864 near-total ban.

Arizona will come to regret passing Prop 139  when girls and women lose their doctors and safeguards, when parents get shut out, when a staggering number of unborn lives end before they even begin, and when voters realize they have been lied to by proponents who would say anything to pass their extreme abortion amendment, she said in a written statement.

A key argument from opponents of the abortion initiative has been that it will lead to the elimination of laws that keep women safe. They argue that the requirement that only a qualified medical provider, for example, perform an abortion will be ignored or that precautions to protect women from sepsis or hemorrhaging will be bypassed to uphold the right to an abortion above all else.

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But the language of Prop. 139 includes a caveat that expressly allows for the enforcement of laws that are intended to improve or maintain the health of the person seeking an abortion, even if those laws interfere with the patients goal of ending their pregnancy.

***UPDATE: This story has been updated with additional comments.

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Reproductive rights were broadly popular at the state level Tuesday night, as seven states passed ballot measures aimed at preserving, expanding or restoring the right to an abortion.

The measures won in blue states like New York and Maryland and in red and purple states like Montana, Arizona and Missouri  victories that could dramatically expand abortion access for millions of women. There have now been 14 states that have approved abortion-rights amendments since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The measures won despite strong institutional opposition from anti-abortion advocacy groups, GOP politicians, judges and others who tried to stop the measures from even getting on the ballot in the first place.

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But abortion ballot measures were defeated in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota, a reminder that abortion rights remain a complicated patchwork across the country. Prior to Tuesday, abortion-rights amendments had never lost when they were on the ballot.

The amendment victories also show competing election priorities. Voters largely approved of local abortion protections, but voters in some of the same states voted for openly anti-abortion Republican senators. Voters in Arizona, Missouri and Montana elected former President Trump, who appointed three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade, but still largely supported abortion rights.

National abortion-rights groups said despite Trumps victory, the message from voters on abortion was clear  even in Florida, where a majority supported a measure to protect abortion access, but it failed to reach the 60 percent threshold to pass.

In poll after poll, voters said abortion mattered to them  mattered in their lives and mattered in the voting booth. In Missouri, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, and Florida  the majority of voters were clear and unequivocal: people are dying. People are suffering. Fix this, Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund said in a statement.

Red, purple state victories

Missouri was the first state to impose a near-total abortion ban after Roe was overturned, and last night it became the first state where voters paved the way to undo it.

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The state currently bans abortion at all stages of pregnancy with one of the most restrictive laws in the nation. The amendment will allow lawmakers to restrict abortions only past the point of a fetuss viability.

Today, Missourians made history and sent a clear message: decisions around pregnancy, including abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care are personal and private and should be left up to patients and their families, not politicians, Rachel Sweet, campaign manager of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, said in a statement.

This win is proof that Missourians are ready for a future where everyone has access to the health care they need, Sweet said.

The measure wont repeal the current ban; the next step is lawsuits asking courts to overturn laws that advocates say run counter to the amendment.

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In Arizona, voters overwhelmingly rejected the states current 15-week abortion ban in favor of protections until fetal viability. Many Republicans and anti-abortion advocates had argued 15 weeks would be a popular compromise.

Nevada voters approved an abortion protection amendment, but theyll need to do it again in 2026 before it takes effect.

Colorado also passed an amendment that aside from access, overturned a longstanding ban on using public funds for abortions. That means the state could start covering abortion for people on Medicaid and state employees.

Florida, South Dakota, Nebraska

The biggest loss of the night for abortion advocates was in Florida, where a more than $100 million campaign to undo the states six-week ban fell just short of the 60 percent supermajority needed to pass. As of Wednesday morning, the amendment had about 57 percent support.

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The reality is, because of Floridas Constitution, a minority of Florida voters have decided that Amendment 4 will not be adopted, Lauren Brenzel, campaign director for Yes on 4, told supporters Tuesday.

The effort faced a juggernaut of opposition from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who used state resources to challenge voter petition signatures, threaten local television stations for airing ads in support of the measure, and a state-sponsored website telling the public the amendment would harm women.

Opponents gave DeSantis credit for helping to block the amendment and indicated his tactics could be replicated in other states.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis deserves special recognition for taking the abortion industry head on and setting a new standard for what it means to be a Pro-Life Champion as a states chief executive, said Carol Tobias, the president of National Right to Life.

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The defeat means the end of Florida as the last haven for women who need abortions in the South, at least for now. With a six-week ban remaining in place, the closest states with looser restrictions are hundreds of miles away  North Carolina, Illinois or Virginia.

Floridas voters again had the choice  do we want to be like California? Their answer was NO, Vote No on 4 spokesperson Taryn Fenske said in a statement. Floridians commonsense, family-focused values prevailed.

Voters in Nebraska meanwhile were confronted with two competing amendments that used similar language. They passed the measure that codifies the current 12-week ban, while leaving room for more restrictions.

In South Dakota, reproductive rights activists chose not to campaign for the measure, arguing it was not strong enough. The amendment would have legalized abortion in the first trimester, but lawmakers could have restricted it after 12 weeks.

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Measures enshrining abortion rights in state constitutions failed in Florida but passed in New York and Maryland, US media reported on Tuesday.

Of the three, Florida was the most closely-watched measure, as Republican candidate Donald Trump, who as president nominated the judges seen as responsible for overturning a woman's national right to abortion, won the state, according to projections.

Florida voters needed 60% of the vote to pass the measure, which would have allowed an abortion when "necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider." Supporters managed 57%, so the measure failed.

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The measure was seen as a victory for Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who had lobbied hard against it.

In Democratic Maryland and New York, both of which were called for Harris by US networks, the measures were expected pass.

In Maryland, a whopping 74% passed the measure, which establishes reproductive freedom rights, including "the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end one's own pregnancy." That figure was with 55% of the votes counted, according to NBC News, but the measure is expected to pass with ease.

In New York, the network reported that some 70.3% of the vote was in favour of the measure which states that people cannot be denied rights based on "ethnicity, national origin, age, and disability" or "sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy."

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"Right to Abortion" measures are on the ballot in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, which also has a competing abortion prohibition measure on the ballot, and South Dakota.

Democratic candidate Kamala Harris made reproductive health and abortion rights a cornerstone of her campaign.


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Former president Donald J. Trump has officially won the 2024 presidential election.

Now, many voters have questions about what a second Trump term might look like. One of the biggest looming issues is access to safe and legal abortions.

After Roe v. Wadethe landmark ruling that guaranteed the federal right to an abortionwas overturned in 2022, 14 states implemented near-total abortion bans.

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During the 2024 election cycle, several states had measures on the ballot regarding abortion access: Some expanded rights and protections, while others reinforced already-strict policies in place.

So where do things stand for abortion access across the United Statesand where is this fight headed? Heres what to know right now.

Meet the experts: Mary Ziegler is a professor of law at the University of California at Davis and author of Abortion and the Law in America: Roe v. Wade to the Present. Jennifer Driver, is the senior director of reproductive rights at State Innovation Exchange.

What were the 2024 abortion results?

Most states that considered abortion rights amendments ended up approving themseven out of 10, to be exact. Those states are:

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Missouri

Arizona

Colorado

Nevada

Maryland

Montana

New York

In terms of legislative next steps, nothing is happening this second. But the election results put in place motions which will eventually become state law.

Which states expanded abortion access?

Voters in Missouri, which currently has a very strict abortion ban in place, approved an amendment that would guarantee the right to abortion access up to fetal viability, which is usually considered the 24th week of pregnancy.

Arizona voters also approved a ballot to allow abortion access in the states constitution up to fetal viability, plus exceptions for abortion beyond viability for the life or physical or mental health of the mother.

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Several other states also confirmed and codified abortion rights for residents, including Colorado, Nevada, Maryland, Montana, and New York.

Which states rejected abortion amendments?

Three states rejected abortion amendments:

Florida upheld its ban on abortions after six weeks.

Nebraska banned abortion after 12 weeks.

South Dakota banned abortion with the exception to save the life of the mother. There are no exceptions for pregnancies from rape or incest, or for the health of the mother, per the Argus Leader.

Worth noting: Florida voters overwhelmingly voted to overturn the states strict abortion ban, but didnt meet the 60 percent approval required for passage, according to NBC News.

Whats next in the fight for abortion?

Right now, abortion access is decided on a state level. Given that the incoming president is a Republican, and that the House of Representatives and Senate will be controlled by Republican lawmakers, there is a chance that access could be impacted again.

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Abortion access is certainly at risk at the federal level, says Jennifer Driver, senior director of reproductive rights at State Innovation Exchange. We ended up electing someone who went back and forth on their stance on abortion, even though Trump was the reason that we were in this position in the first place.

A federal abortion ban is unlikely, although I wouldnt rule it out, Driver says.

Are there more anti-abortion laws coming?

Driver expects anti-abortion lawmakers to try to enforce the 1873 Comstock Acta law that prevents contraceptives, so-called lewd materials, and drugs that could be used to terminate a pregnancy from being shipped in the mailto make medication abortion much more difficult.

Even though the Comstock Act was passed in 1873, it has never been overturned, explains Mary Ziegler, a professor of law at the University of California at Davis and author of Abortion and the Law in America: Roe v. Wade to the Present. Because the law is still technically in the books, there are concerns that access to medication abortionand even tools that could be used in surgical abortionsin the mail may become federal crimes, she says.

What about the State and Supreme Courts?

On election night, there were races in 33 states where supreme court seats were on the ballot.

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Republicans retained their majority on Ohio's top court. Democratic-backed candidates won in Kentucky and Michigan. And Arizona voters retained justices who previously upheld a 1864 abortion ban.

"If you are a conservative or a progressive, you look at last night's supreme court elections and see mixed results," Douglas Keith, a senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice who tracks judicial elections, told Reuters.

During Trump's second term, he has the opportunity to expand the Supreme Court's conservative majority to 7-2 if one of the three liberal justices steps down during his presidency. I could also see the appointment of more Supreme Court justices that are anti-abortion to stack the court, Driver adds.

How can I advocate for abortion rights?

If reproductive rights are important to you, its understandable to feel helpless right now. But you can still support abortion rights organizations to try to increase access in the future.

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Check out a list of 14 organizations to consider supporting here. You can also contact your local Planned Parenthood to see if there are ways to volunteer or donate.

Finally, remember that election results arent foreverand elections for the House of Representatives happen every two years. If youre not happy with the way things went this time around, youll have another chance to influence the outcome again soon.

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Donald Trumps presidential victory  declared early Wednesday morning  will make abortion rights more vulnerable, even as seven states across the country voted to protect access to the procedure on Election Day.

Trump has taken credit for the fall of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, and has strong ties to the anti-abortion community. A collection of his former advisers, writing in the conservative policy blueprint Project 2025, have argued a second Trump administration should limit access to abortion nationally  using federal powers without relying on Congress  even though Trump on the campaign trail declined to take a clear stance on the issue.

Since his victory, abortion opponents have begun to clamor for executive action that could move the country toward a national abortion ban.

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President Trumps first-term pro-life accomplishments are the baseline for his second term, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, an influential anti-abortion group. Dannenfelser went on to say that GOP efforts should be centered on the unalienable right to life that exists under the 14th amendment  an allusion to an anti-abortion argument that the U.S. Constitution grants equal protection to embryos. That theory could lead to banning abortion and in vitro fertilization.

The stakes have never been higher for abortion access, said Molly Duerte, an attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights, who has worked on numerous lawsuits challenging state abortion bans.

Republicans are positioned to control the U.S. Senate, and the fate of the House of Representatives is yet to be determined, leaving uncertainty over whether abortion opponents could have the votes in Washington to push for new legislation banning the procedure.

Passing new legislation would be an uphill battle. Even if Republicans control the House of Representatives, they will likely have a slim margin  and they will not have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, meaning they would have to suspend the bodys ordinary rules to pass a law.

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But new legislation may not be necessary. Former advisers to Trump have suggested the president-elect could leverage the Food and Drug Administration to revoke federal approval of mifepristone, the medication used to induce abortions  the most popular method to terminate a pregnancy. Some have also argued he could revive an 1800s anti-obscenity law known as the Comstock Act, which outlaws mailing anything designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion.

Melissa Estes, center, manager of a Planned Parenthood health center, holds hands with fiance Sabrina Dennig during a watch party by advocates of Floridas Amendment 4, which would have enshrined abortion rights in the state, but fell short of the 60% vote threshold it needed to pass on November 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)

Such an approach would be litigated in the courts, but if adopted, it could effectively ban abortion nationwide. In oral arguments over a separate abortion case this year, Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito expressed openness to the idea that the Comstock Act could ban abortion, and the theory has become popular in conservative legal circles.

They might prefer to use Comstock first, because it would be much easier and would go more under the radar than passing a new federal law, said Greer Donley, a professor at the University of PIttsburgh who studies abortion law.

Despite repeated questioning, Trump declined to answer on the campaign trail whether, if elected president once more, he would leverage the Comstock Act or other executive authority to limit access to abortion In his acceptance speech early Wednesday morning, he did not mention abortion.

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Down-ballot races suggest a complex picture for abortion, due to mixed results for individual abortion rights measures, state legislative elections and state supreme court races.

Abortion opponents broke their losing streak at the ballot box  notching in particular a high-profile victory in Florida. There, a ballot measure that would have enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution was defeated, which will overturn the states six-week ban. Though a majority of Floridians supported the amendment, it fell just shy of the states 60 percent threshold for ballot measure.

The measures failure leaves open the door for the Sunshine State to enact an even stricter ban, a move that would decimate access to abortion in the South. In the region, only North Carolina and Virginia allow abortion past six weeks of pregnancy, and North Carolina outlaws it after 12.

Abortion rights measures also failed in Nebraska, where the state currently bans abortion at 12 weeks, and in South Dakota, which has a near-total ban, according to The Associated Press. Nebraska voters endorsed a measure that enshrines its 12-week ban and leaves the door open to future restrictions.

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Only two other states with abortion bans  Oklahoma and Arkansas  allow for ballot measures that could overturn those laws; this year, the Arkansas secretary of state refused to let a proposed abortion rights measure make it to the ballot, a decision upheld by the state supreme court. North Dakota also allows for abortion rights measures, though the procedure is legal in that state, the result of a state court ruling that struck down its ban.

In Ohios state Supreme Court races  which had become an abortion rights proxy battle  Republicans swept three open seats, cementing a 6-1 majority, despite significant campaigning by the ACLU. Though the state constitution protects abortion rights thanks to a 2023 ballot measure, the courts are tasked with interpreting how that measure affects abortion bans. In Texas, too, Republican state Supreme Court justices won their elections, despite widespread disapproval of the state anti-abortion policies they have upheld. Polling from the Public Religion Research Institute finds that only 11 percent of Texans support banning abortion entirely.

Abortion protections could grow stronger in some states after the election. That includes Colorado, where a successful abortion rights measure would eliminate the states ban on public dollars paying for the procedure, paving the way for state insurance plans to cover abortion.

Missouri and Arizona could move to eliminate their abortion bans, after voters amended their state constitution to protect abortion rights, according to Decision Desk HQ. They would be the first states to overturn an active abortion ban because of direct democracy. But implementing the new measures could take months, and will rely on judicial interpretation.

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Abortion rights measures also passed in New York, Maryland and Montana, Decision Desk HQ projected, though notably, the procedure was already legal in all of them.

In other states, victories for abortion rights will maintain a restrictive status quo, but stave off new limits on the procedure. Campaigning in part on abortion rights, North Carolina Democrats narrowly broke Republicans supermajority in the state legislature  a development that, coupled with their resounding gubernatorial victory  ends Republicans chances of passing further restrictions. Amarillo, a conservative town in Texas, rejected an anti-abortion measure that would have made the state an anti-abortion sanctuary by creating civil liabilities for those who aid and abet people seeking to travel for abortions. The results dont reverse the states near-total abortion ban.

People at an election night watch party react after an abortion rights amendment to the Missouri constitution passed, on November 5, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

Meanwhile, conservative gains in Texas could create an opening for new state-specific restrictions, paving the way for a new phase of anti-abortion activity.

In that state, where abortion has been almost completely outlawed since the June 2022 decision on Roe, abortion opponents have a stronger legislature than we have in the last six years, said John Seago, the head of Texas Right to Life, an anti-abortion group. This year, 15 Republican incumbents in the state legislature lost their primaries to more conservative challengers.

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With some distance now from the fall of Roe, which engendered blowback across the country, Texas legislators appear more receptive to pushing for abortion restrictions even beyond the states ban, Seago said. Namely, that means developing policies that could dampen or even put an end to the trend of Texans ordering abortion medication from doctors who work in states with laws protecting reproductive rights  a practice that is medically safe and effective, and that has frustrated abortion opponents by allowing some people to circumvent their states abortion bans.

This is a really great legislature that is going to be in a position to take some really bold stances for life, and to tackle some policy issues they have not been able to take on in the last session, Seago said. All the ingredients are there.

The post Abortion rights won in seven states  but a Trump presidency makes them vulnerable appeared first on The 19th.

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In the years since the federal right to abortion was struck down by the Supreme Courts conservative majority in 2022, no measure seeking to protect abortion (or to reject new restrictions) had ever lost at the ballot box. That winning streak ended on Tuesday, as Amendment 4, which would have enshrined the right to access abortion in Florida, and ensure access across the South, fell just short of its 60 percent threshold. For now, Floridas six-week abortion ban will remain in effect.

A similar effort in South Dakota was overwhelmingly rejected by voters: Almost 60 percent voted against a proposal to recognize a statewide right to abortion. There is currently a total ban on abortion in effect in the state. And in Nebraska, where dueling measures were placed on the ballot  one to restore the right to abortion, and one that would maintain the current 12-week ban  voters chose to keep their current ban in place.

In the seven other states where abortion was on the ballot, though, voters extended protections for care. The outcomes of those races will have enormous consequences for millions of women who live in those states and neighboring ones, including Missouri, where voters overturned a total ban on abortion.

Arizona

What does the ballot measure propose? Proposition 139 would amend the state constitution to recognize Arizonans have a fundamental right to abortion before fetal viability. After viability, the law would protect abortions to protect the life or health of the pregnant person. The amendment would also prohibit laws seeking to punish anyone assisting another person obtaining an abortion.

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What is the law now? Abortion is currently banned in Arizona after 15 weeks. The state mandates a 24-hour waiting period to obtain an abortion, and a medically unnecessary ultrasound, among other restrictions. Earlier this year, the states conservative Supreme Court majority allowed an even more restrictive ban  a total ban on abortion passed in 1864  to go into effect. The Republican-controlled Legislature only repealed the ban  after initially refusing, twice, to consider doing so  under enormous public pressure.

Result: Proposition 139 passed, with 61.7 percent of voters in favor and just 38.3 percent against.

Colorado

What does the ballot measure propose? Amendment 79 would amend the Colorado Constitution to recognize a right to abortion, and to prohibit state or local governments from denying, impeding, or discriminating against the exercise of that right. It would also allow public insurance plans to offer coverage for abortions.

What is the law now? Abortion is currently legal in Colorado, but there is an existing ban on Medicaid coverage of abortion. Minors are also required to secure their parents permission before obtaining an abortion.

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Result: Amendment 79 passed, with Colorado voting to protect abortion access via the state constitution and remove a four-decade ban on using government money to pay for abortions. The vote was 60.9 percent in favor when The Associated Press called it.

Florida

What does the ballot measure propose? Amendment 4 proposes adding language to the Florida Constitution to ensure the state cannot prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patients health. The measure also states explicitly that it would do nothing to restrict the states authority to require parental notification prior to an abortion.

What is the law now? Florida currently bans abortion at six-weeks gestation, with exceptions for rape, incest, and threats to a pregnant persons health only until 15 weeks. There are a host of additional restrictions on the books: The state requires in-person counseling, a 24-hour waiting period, and medically unnecessary ultrasound before an abortion. Minors are required to both notify their parents and obtain their permission before terminating a pregnancy. Telemedicine abortion care and the mailing of abortion pills are both banned; the abortion pill can only be dispensed in-person. Only doctors are allowed to perform abortions, and the state has a number of targeted restrictions on abortion providers, or TRAP laws, on the books as well.

Result: Amendment 4 failed, despite receiving support from 57 percent of voters. Thats because ballot measures require 60 percent support to pass in Florida  and also thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis waging an unprecedented state-sponsored campaign to defeat the measure.

Maryland

What does the ballot measure propose? Question 1 proposes amending the state constitution to guarantee Marylanders reproductive freedom, including the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end ones own pregnancy.

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What is the law now? Abortion is legal in Maryland up to the point of fetal viability, and after that point if there is a fetal anomaly or if continuing the pregnancy would endanger the pregnant persons life or health. Minors are required to notify a parent or guardian before an abortion.

Result: Question 1 was approved in a landslide margin by Maryland voters, with more than 70 percent of the states electorate voting in favor. The result far exceeded the 50 percent majority needed to pass.

Missouri

What does the ballot measure propose? Amendment 3 proposes amending the Missouri Constitution to recognize a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including the right to make and carry out decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions. Under the amendment, state lawmakers would be allowed to regulate abortion after the point of viability, but would be prohibited from passing laws that would deny, delay or restrict care at any point if the physical or mental health or life of the pregnant person is in jeopardy.

What is the law now? Missouri has one of the most restrictive bans on abortion anywhere in the country. Abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy, with no exceptions. In place of an exception, the law says anyone who is sued or criminally charged for providing an abortion can offer an affirmative defense that the abortion in question was provided because of a medical emergency and intervening was necessary to avoid death or substantial and irreversible bodily harm.

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Result: Amendment 3 passed, with Missouri voting to enshrine abortion in the states constitution, overturning the states near-total ban. It won 54 percent to 46 percent when The Associated Press called the race.

Montana

What does the ballot measure propose? The proposal would amend the Montana Constitution to guarantee a right to make and carry out decisions about ones own pregnancy, including the right to abortion through the point of fetal viability. The state would be empowered to regulate abortion after viability, with the exception of abortions necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.

What is the law now? Abortion is currently banned after fetal viability, around 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy, and Montana has a parental-notification law on the books.

Result: Voters approved Amendment 128, with more than 57 percent voting in favor of protections.

Nebraska

What does the ballot measure propose? There are dueling measures on the ballot in Nebraska. Initiative 434, backed by anti-abortion groups, would essentially preserve the current abortion ban in the states constitution, prohibiting abortions after the first trimester, except in the cases of rape, incest, or a medical emergency. Initiative 439, on the other hand, would amend the Nebraska Constitution to establish a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability and after that point if necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.

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What is the law now? Abortion is currently banned after 12 weeks in Nebraska, and there is a 24-hour waiting period in effect. Telemedicine abortion is also banned, and minors are required to obtain their parents permission before an abortion, among other restrictions.

Result: Initiative 434, which sought to keep the current ban in place, was approved by 55 percent of voters. Initiative 439, which would have created a constitutional right to access abortion, fell short; 48 percent of voters cast ballots in support of the measure, and 51 percent against.

Nevada

What does the ballot measure propose? Question 6 proposes amending the Nevada Constitution to recognize a right to an abortion through fetal viability, while recognizing the state has authority to regulate abortion after that point, except in cases where a health care provider deems it necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.

What is the law now? Abortion is currently banned in Nevada after 24 weeks.

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Result: A commanding majority of voters backed Question 6. The measure passed with more than 63 percent support.

New York

What does the ballot measure propose? Proposal 1, if passed, would amend New Yorks equal-protection-of-law amendment to specify that New Yorkers cannot be denied rights based on their sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health care and autonomy. (The law already protects against discrimination based on race, color, creed or religion.)

What is the law now? Abortion is currently banned in New York at 24 weeks gestation or the point of fetal viability.

Result: Proposal 1 was approved by voters by a wide margin, with more than two-thirds of the New York electorate voting in favor.

South Dakota

What does the ballot measure propose? Amendment G would prohibit the state government from regulating abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy, allow regulations reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman in the second trimester, and regulate or ban abortion in the third trimester, except when necessary to preserve the life and health of the pregnant woman.

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What is the law now? Abortion is currently banned in South Dakota at all stages of pregnancy. There is a single exception: if an abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant person.

Result: Amendment G was defeated, with almost 60 percent of voters casting ballots against the proposal.

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BISHKEK, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree "on the introduction of a moratorium on the registration and issuance of operator certificates to airlines," his press service reported Tuesday.

The moratorium aims to strengthen national aviation standards and improve transparency, reliability, and compliance with international regulations, said the press service.

According to the decree, the State Civil Aviation Agency will inspect airlines that operate exclusively outside the country or have aircraft stationed abroad for over a month. Airlines found non-compliant with the requirements may have their certificates revoked.

The moratorium will remain in effect until further notice from the president. 
Actor John Cusack has joined the long list of Hollywood figures to react to Donald Trumps 2024 election victory.

The election marks a historic moment in U.S. history, as Trump becomes the first President-elect to have a criminal conviction. In May of this year, a jury found the 77-year-old guilty of charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The guilty verdict, read on May 30, 2024, followed years of legal scrutiny, ultimately making Trump the first President in U.S. history to carry a felony conviction into office.

John Cusack, known for his outspoken political views, commented on the election result, stating that the country has destroyed itself "by voting in a convicted felon.

'Blood Money' Star John Cusack Goes Off In Social Media Post Following Election Results

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Known for his roles in films like "Say Anything" and "Being John Malkovich," Cusack lamented the state of the country, arguing that electing a convicted felon sends a troubling message about the values and standards upheld by the American electorate.

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"Harris may well come through Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania," he wrote in an X post shortly after midnight on Wednesday, November 6. "The fact that the country would choose to destroy itself by voting in a convicted felon rapist and Nazi is a sign of deep nihilism -- To put it mildly."

Donald Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Counts In Hush Money Trial

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In a landmark decision, a New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 charges in a case involving a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. This ruling makes Trump the first former U.S. President to be convicted of a felony, marking a profound moment in American political and legal history.

The 77-year-old Trump faced trial on charges linked to a $130,000 payment made to Daniels in 2016, which prosecutors argued was intended to silence her regarding a 2006 encounter with Trump.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented evidence to support their argument that Trump and his associates orchestrated the payment as part of a broader effort to shield his campaign from damaging revelations. This move, they argued, violated campaign finance laws and further highlighted a pattern of concealment and deception aimed at protecting Trumps political image.

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After two days of deliberation, the jury reached its verdict on May 30, 2024, concluding that the payment was meant to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election in Trumps favor.

John Cusack Speaks Out After Donald Trump Was Found Guilty

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Cusack has been a vocal critic of Trump throughout his political career and used his platform to share his concerns about the election's impact on the countrys future.

"The dumb treacherous criminal is now a convicted felon - 34 times over," he said earlier this year in regard to Trump's hush money trial. "Now, what will [the] judge do with Trump contempt violations."

Actor Billy Baldwin also spoke out at the time. "Guilty on all counts. E. Jean Carroll ... Stormy Daniels... Election interference, espionage and inciting an insurrection coming up," he said earlier this year.

John Cusack Suggests He will No Longer Speak To Friends And Family Who Arent Aggressively Anti-Trump'

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In 2020, John Cusack indicated that he would no longer engage with friends and family who were not aggressively anti-Trump.

At the time, the actor informed his Twitter followers that he was blocking anyone who wasnt actively committed to removing Trump from the White House in the upcoming November election.

"Im sure youve all been through it with some family co-workers  or friends," he said, per The Independent. "Those who cannot see or choose not to see what [Trump] is, we are done talking  permanently."

He added, "Sorry, no time for your BS."

Donald Trump Is Facing More Legal Battles As He Returns To The White House

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This conviction is just one of several legal challenges Trump is confronting; however, his presidential win may largely shield him from facing these criminal cases in the near future, experts told Business Insider.

For now, Trumps supporters and critics alike await the next steps, as the former President stands on the brink of a historic sentencing that could redefine the boundaries of American political life.
Adam Hinojosa has defeated state Sen. Morgan LaMantia in South Texas, tightening Republicans hold on the Texas Senate by winning a Senate district in the Rio Grande Valley for the first time since Reconstruction.

Hinojosas win in Senate District 27 flips the only competitive seat in the Texas Senate this cycle, besting LaMantia two years after he came within 659 votes of defeating the Palm Valley Democrat in their first bout.

Hinojosa declared victory just before midnight, fleshing out a night of Republican gains  and holds  in South Texas.

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The election results in our district are nothing short of historic, Hinojosa said in a statement. Our campaign has changed the balance of power in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.

LaMantia thanked her supporters in a statement Wednesday afternoon, shortly before The Associated Press called the race for Hinojosa.

We fought hard, and while voters have chosen a different path, our vision endures, LaMantia said. This outcome will shape our region, but my faith remains in the strength, resilience and heart of District 27 to keep pushing for the progress we deserve.

Hinojosa will be the first Republican to represent any part of the Rio Grande Valley in the Texas Senate since 1874.

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The win is also a victory for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Republican who has presided over the Senate for a decade and has shaped the chambers composition and role as a conservative force.

His election is historic and ushers in a new era of Republican representation in South Texas and in the Valley, Patrick said in a statement welcoming Hinojosa to the Senate.

Hinojosa, an entrepreneur with several small businesses, campaigned on the economy, border security and stopping the sexualization of our children. Despite Democrats considering abortion a winning issue for them, Hinojosa embraced being 100% pro-life.

The people of this district have rejected the woke absurdity of the left  open borders, boys playing girls sports, sex change operations and fiscal insanity, Hinojosa said in his victory statement.

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LaMantia beat Hinojosa in 2022 to succeed state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., a conservative Democrat from Brownsville who established himself as a bipartisan defender of the Rio Grande Valley during his more than 30 years in the Senate.

Lucio, an anti-abortion Democrat, endorsed LaMantia during that years Democratic primary but endorsed Hinojosa last month, citing his alignment with Hinojosa on abortion issues. His son, former state Rep. Eddie Lucio III, a more progressive Democrat, endorsed LaMantia.

Hinojosas victory also marks the first time since the 1970s that Brownsville and Cameron County have been represented by a senator hailing from Corpus Christi.

SD 27 spans the South Texas Gulf Coast from Brownsville to Corpus Christi, extending from San Patricio County to the southern border in Cameron County and part of Hidalgo County.

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Democrats have historically controlled the Rio Grande Valley, but redistricting made SD 27 less safe for Democrats in 2022, changing it from a district that President Joe Biden won by 16 percentage points to one he would have carried by 6 points in 2020. LaMantia scored a two-year term last year during a lot-drawing necessitated by the recent redistricting.

Hispanic voters have been increasingly voting for Republicans, a trend the party tried to capitalize on in 2022. Early indications from the 2024 election show that former President Donald Trump grew his support among Latinos.

Hinojosa received broad support among Republicans and Republican groups. Trump endorsed him, as did Gov. Greg Abbott, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah. Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a tort reform group and a top donor in Texas Republican politics, was the top contributor to his campaign, giving at least $600,000 since August. Texans United for a Conservative Majority, the PAC primarily funded by far-right West Texas billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, contributed at least $463,000.

Earlier this year, Patrick launched the Texas Senate Leadership Fund, a PAC formed in order to ensure the resources to support the mission of the conservative majority in the Texas Senate. The PAC spent at least $300,000 supporting Hinojosa beginning in late October.

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Hinojosa, who was endorsed by Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, accused LaMantia of supporting overreaching regulations on the oil and gas industry. And in a rare move for Republicans this cycle, he embraced the abortion conversation, first with Lucios endorsement and later highlighting legislation LaMantia authored regarding funding for womens health services.

The Texas Tribune answering reader questions about 2024 elections. To share your question or feedback with us, you can fill out this form.
The Big Short and Dont Look Up director Adam McKay took to social media as Donald Trump edged closer to victory in the U.S. presidential election, saying he plans to leave the Democratic Party.

In a post on X, he shared a link for updating voter registration and wrote: It is time to abandon the Dem Party. Im registering Green Party or Working Families. But am open to ideas.

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McKay has previously supported the Democratic Party, and endorsed Bernie Sanders for president in 2016 and 2020. However, in 2019 he said he had also joined the Democratic Socialists of America. He has been vocal about the need for climate action and signed an open letter to Joe Biden in October 2023 calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

He criticized the Democratic Partys election strategy in a post on X earlier in the night, writing: Who would have guessed lying about Bidens cognitive health for 2 yrs, refusing to do an open convention for a new nominee, never mentioning public healthcare & embracing fracking, the Cheneys & a yr long slaughter of children in Gaza wouldnt be a winning strategy?

Anyone with half a brain? he continued. But I thought liberals whole thing is being smart? Its not? They actually just blindly cheer the parade of rickety optics wrapped up in New York Times fonts that is the modern Dem Party?

McKay concluded that at least its time for the dusty hacks & careerists to spread their feathers wide post election and blame Russia and third party candidates. That should fix things.

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Though Trump has not yet won all 270 electoral votes, he was declared the winner of the presidential race early on Wednesday morning after winning Pennsylvania, which brought him to 267.

This is a movement like no one has ever seen before, Trump told cheering supporters. Were going to help our country heal  we have a country that needs help and it needs help very badly.

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Adam Schiff now holds the Senate seat that belonged to Dianne Feinstein for three decades.

Surprising no one, the Democratic longtime congressman from Hollywood easily beat Republican and former Los Angeles Dodgers great Steve Garvey tonight. The Associated Press called the race for Schiff mere seconds after the polls closed in California. The Golden State and its 54 Electoral College votes went solidly for Vice President Kamala Harris in a very close race with Donald Trump.

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Seeing his seat in Californias 30th District likely going to fellow Democrat Laura Friedman over GOP contender Alex Balekian, Schiff will take over from incumbent Sen. Laphonza Butler until early next year. Butler announced not long after Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed the former Emilys List chief in late 2023 to fill out the deceased Feinsteins seat, that she would not seeking a full Senate term for herself. Schiff will begin serving a full six-year term on January 3.

RELATED: Deadlines Regularly Updated Election Coverage

A protege of former House Speaker and Democratic queenpin Nancy Pelosi and an alum of Donald Trumps impeachment trials, Schiffs real electoral battle this year was winning his partys very competitive primary back in March. With Feinstein being in office from 1992-2023, and current Vice President Kamala Harris taking over Barbara Boxers seat in 2016 before becoming Joe Bidens running mate in 2020 and a candidate for the White House herself this year, the primary was the first truly competitive race among the Dems in decades.

To ward off having to face another Democrat like Katie Porter on Election Day under Californias top two rule, Schiffs campaign boosted Garveys bid. Since the dust settled in the spring, neither Schiff nor Garvey has spent a lot of time on the campaign trail in their home state. Besides a sometimes very personal October debate between the candidates, Garvey and Schiff spent a lot of their respective time in other states.

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A big draw among Democrats, Schiff has been out in battleground states for the VP as well as campaigning with other down-ticket Dems including the re-election run of Nevadas Sen. Jacky Rosen.

Schiffs win tonight means that with Sen. Alex Padilla, who was appointed to serve out the rest of Harris term in late 2020 and won election himself in 2022, California has two male senators for the first time since Year 1 of Bill Clintons presidency.

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Trump will try to use his new status as president-elect to his advantage in NY, experts tell BI.

Trump is expected to ask immediately to adjourn his hush-money sentencing, they predicted Wednesday.

He may also use his new status to ratchet up his ongoing state and federal sentencing-delay efforts.

Donald Trump will use his new status as president-elect in a renewed effort to challenge his upcoming sentencing on his Manhattan hush-money conviction, legal experts predicted Wednesday.

Trump, the only US president to be convicted of a felony, is scheduled to be sentenced November 26. He faces as little as no jail time and as much as four years prison for falsifying business records to retroactively hide a $130,000 hush-money payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels made two weeks before the 2016 election.

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As Candidate Trump, he fought to delay his sentencing repeatedly, arguing that he was too busy and that his responsibilities as the GOP standard-bearer were too important for the case to interrupt.

He'll push that argument even harder as president-elect, as his lawyers continue to pursue time-consuming legal challenges through the state and federal appellate courts and potentially to the US Supreme Court, as legal experts said he is entitled to do.

"He's definitely going to throw that around now," said Charles Solomon, who was a Manhattan-based state supreme court justice for 33 years before his 2017 retirement.

"Wouldn't you use that argument if you were president-elect? Of course he's going to argue that he's about to become leader of the free world, and this is a special case, something that's never happened before," Solomon added.

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"What he's going to try to do is adjourn, adjourn, adjourn," while his lawyers challenge his indictment, trial, and conviction on presidential-immunity grounds, Solomon predicted.

"And if he doesn't get an adjournment, he can appeal that," the former judge added. "He can seek delays in so many ways."

Donald Trump at his hush-money trial in Manhattan. Reuters/Timothy A. Clary

Trump's legal challenges to his hush-money case

Manhattan prosecutors should expect Trump to file a request in the next few days asking the trial judge to adjourn the November 26 sentencing because he's too busy ahead of assuming office, experts predicted Wednesday.

The judge, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, is meanwhile weighing a previous defense request to toss the entire indictment, or at least the conviction. Trump's defense team has argued prosecutors exposed grand jurors and the trial jury to evidence that would be considered "official-act" evidence  meaning evidence involving actions Trump took in his official capacity as president  now barred under the SCOTUS presidential immunity opinion.

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Prosecutors with the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg have countered that any official-act evidence used in their case amounts to "harmless error."

Merchan has said he will issue a written decision on Tuesday, November 12, a week before the sentencing date. Trump's lawyers have said they are prepared to file an immediate state-court appeal if he loses.

In a separate effort, Trump is fighting to have the case moved to federal court in Manhattan, again on presidential immunity grounds. A US District Court judge rejected that effort in September, and it remains under appeal by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

If Merchan wants to proceed with the sentencing  and he may view himself as required to on speedy-trial grounds  Trump can seek a delay in the state and federal appellate courts, said Michel Paradis, an attorney who teaches national security and constitutional law at Columbia Law School.

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"Any of those tracks can get you to the US Supreme Court pretty fast, if that's his goal," Paradis said.

A sketch of Merchan presiding in his courtroom. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

A 'unique place in this nation's history'

Merchan addressed the unique circumstances of prosecuting, trying, and sentencing Trump in September, when he agreed to delay the sentencing for a second time.

The original sentencing date was July 11, Merchan said in a four-page decision that set the November date.

"However, on July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States rendered a historic and intervening decision in Trump v. United States," a decision the defense needed time to respond to, Merchan wrote.

He decided to postpone the second sentencing date, September 18, until after the election in recognition of "the unique facts and circumstances of this case," Merchan wrote at the time.

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"This matter is one that stands alone, in a unique place in this Nation's history," the judge added, alluding to Trump's presidential candidacy.

Trump's prosecution was already unprecedented when Trump was only a nominee and former president, said Mark Bederow, a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor for the Manhattan district attorney's office.

Trump's election "takes it to a whole other level," Bederow said. "There's no playbook for any of this," he added. "A state judge is now potentially setting himself up to sentence the most powerful federal officer in the world."

President-elect Donald Trump at the defense table at his Manhattan hush-money trial with attorneys Todd Blanche, left, and Emil Bove. Pool/Getty Images

Even if the sentencing happens before Inauguration Day, it's highly unlikely that as a 78-year-old first-time non-violent offender, Trump will get a jail sentence, former New York City judges have told Business Insider.

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"What's Merchan going to do? He's not going to argue that the next president should go to state prison," said Solomon, the former judge. "He's not going to have him do community service on weekends, and pick up trash in Central Park when he's not dealing with the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

Any sentence Merchan metes out would be put on hold, or "stayed," pending Trump's appeal of his conviction, which itself would take years, experts said.

Assuming Trump's sentencing delay bids fail, "Merchan will sentence Trump and Trump will appeal the conviction and sentence, first through the New York appellate courts and then the United States Supreme Court," said former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani.

"It's more likely that Trump is fined and sentenced to no time and he has to appeal the conviction. This is all unprecedented," Rahmani, the president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, added as a caveat. "And we're in uncharted legal waters."

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Trump's campaign and lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Bragg did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Illinois voters overwhelmingly approved referendums that called for expanding health care for reproductive health and to create a new tax bracket for the very wealthy.

Voters statewide voted 60% to 40% that they would like to see a new tax bracket for those making more than $1 million a year. The measure would amend the state constitution to impose a new 3% tax on those in that bracket which would be dedicated to helping with property tax relief.

The other referendum, which was approved by 73% to 27% margin of victory, was insure that all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization, be covered by any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides coverage for pregnancy benefits.

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Voters also sided with a measure that would hold any candidate running for office liable for civil penalties if that candidate interfered with an election workers official duties. That won by a margin of 89% to 11%.

All of those measures were advisory, meaning they were done by state lawmakers to gauge what the publics reaction would be to them. Whether they make it into law or not, however, remains to be seen.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
AES Indiana will save $281 million over the 20-year period under the conversion plan. (Getty Images)

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission on Wednesday cleared the way for AES Indiana to transition two units at its Petersburg Generating Station from coal to gas.

The move came after opposition from the coal industry and even U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, who was elected governor Tuesday night.

AES Indiana has no plans to retire Petersburg Units 3 and 4, as it views these units as valuable capacity and energy resources. AES Indiana proposes to repower these units to reduce operating costs and environmental regulatory risk so that the units may further the utilitys provision of reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable service, the IURC order said.

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Substantial evidence demonstrates that the proposed repowering of Petersburg to natural gas is a long-term, low-cost solution that will help provide resource adequacy for a long period of time.

Evidence in the case is that the Petersburg conversion will save $281 million over a 20-year period compared to keeping the units on coal.

The approval will allow AES Indiana to be the first Hoosier investor-owned electric utility to stop burning coal, according to the Indiana Utility Report.

Braun sent a letter last month to the states top utility regulators, saying he was concerned that taking offline legacy sources of energy too quickly will have lasting implications that cannot be reversed.

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The conversion process will temporarily not permanently  close the units.

The repowering will be staggered so that only one unit is offline at a time. Unit 3 conversion is expected to start in February 2026 and be completed in May 2026. Once completed, it will take about one month for startup, commissioning, and testing to reach a commercial operation date in June 2026. Unit 4s outage would start in June 2026 and be completed in October 2026.

Braun urged commissioners to deny the conversion, and encouraged collaboration with policymakers to preserve coals role  the most reliable baseload fuel  while looking to the future.

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The order said the energy industry and commission have long operated under uncertain environmental, regulatory and political conditions.

Because neither the Commission nor the parties are capable of predicting the future, we must make decisions in the face of uncertainty. We do so by logically and reasonably assessing the extent of uncertainty and the possible effects of this uncertainty, avoiding supposition, the order said.

The five utility commissioners agreed that the project will have positive social and economic impacts on the community of Petersburg and Pike County.

The Project will provide support for intermittent renewable resources because the units provide firm capacity that is required for a reliable and stable grid, the order added. As (AES Indiana Chief Operating Officer for Generation John) Bigalbal testified, the converted units operating on natural gas will be significantly more flexible than a coal plant.

ruling
By Francois Murphy

VIENNA (Reuters) - Opium poppy production in Afghanistan, long the world's dominant supplier of the raw material for heroin, has risen by a fifth in the second full year since the Taliban banned it but remains a fraction of pre-ban levels, a U.N. report said on Wednesday.

The Taliban's supreme spiritual leader banned the cultivation of narcotics in April 2022. That prompted opium farming in the country to plummet an estimated 95% in 2023, according to an annual survey by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

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This year, cultivation increased an estimated 19% to 12,800 hectares (32,000 acres) and the centre of production shifted from its traditional heartland, the country's southwest, to the northeast, the latest UNODC report published on Tuesday said.

"Despite the increase in 2024, opium poppy cultivation remains far below 2022, when an estimated 232,000 hectares were cultivated," the UNODC said in a statement.

Dry opium prices stabilized around $730 a kilogram in the first half of this year, far above the pre-ban average of $100, the report said. Last year's report said that in August 2023 those farm-gate prices had reached a "20-year peak" of $408.

In Afghanistan's southwestern region, which borders Pakistan and accounted for almost half the country's production in 2023, cultivation collapsed 65% this year, the report said. Of that region's poppy-farming provinces, the only exception was Helmand, which saw a 434% increase but from a low base.

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In the northeastern region, which borders Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, cultivation surged 381% this year to 7,563 hectares, four times the area cultivated in the southwest, the second-biggest producer, the report said.

Almost all the northeast's production was in one province, Badakhshan, a mountainous area that includes a stretch of the Hindu Kush and Afghanistan's relatively short border with China.

"The high prices and dwindling opium stocks may encourage farmers to flout the ban, particularly in areas outside of traditional cultivation centers, including neighboring countries," the UNODC said.
As we age, our bodies undergo a series of changes. While some are visible, others occur at the cellular level.

New research has uncovered a surprising link between a common antibody and the aging process.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is a key antibody that helps our immune system fight off infections. However, this new study suggests that excessive IgG can contribute to cellular aging and chronic inflammation.

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Immunoglobulin G (IgG) accumulated across the aged tissues in both male and female mice, and a similar phenomenon was observed in human tissues, suggesting the potential of the abnormal elevation of immunoglobulins as an evolutionarily conserved feature in aging, the researchers wrote in the study paper.

The study team included researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, BGI Research, Capital Medical University in Beijing, several hospitals around China, and Altos Labs San Diego Institute of Science in the US.

Build-up in tissues

Our bodies defend against pathogens by producing protective proteins called immunoglobulins, or antibodies. IgG, the most prevalent antibody in our bloodstream, can neutralize toxins, viruses, and bacteria.

This recent study delved into the effects of aging on tissue integrity and organ function.

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The researchers examined nine tissues from male mice at different life stages. These included tissue from the brains, spinal cords, hearts, lungs, livers, small intestines, spleens, lymph nodes, and testicles.

By examining nine mouse tissues, researchers pinpointed specific regions  known as senescence-sensitive spots (SSSs)  characterized by cellular disarray and a buildup of immunoglobulins.

This buildup can trigger a chain reaction, leading to cellular senescence, where cells stop dividing and start releasing inflammatory substances.

They also examined human tissue samples collected from surgeries and deceased individuals.

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The study revealed that IgG levels escalated with age in both male and female mice, as well as in human tissues.

They further noted that elevated IgG levels can trigger a pro-inflammatory, aging state in macrophages (immune cells responsible for clearing debris), and brain cells involved in neural development.

Furthermore, we observed that IgG could induce a pro-senescent state in macrophages and microglia, thereby exacerbating tissue aging, the researchers noted in the study paper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG-9MLr8d7k

Anti-aging therapies

Interestingly, reducing IgG levels in mice was found to mitigate aging effects across multiple tissues.

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The researchers believe that their findings about the role of IgG in aging can lead to new treatments that target the accumulation of IgG.

One potential approach is to eliminate the cells responsible for producing these antibodies. By doing so, they hope to reduce the levels of IgG in the body and potentially slow down the aging process. This could open up new avenues for developing anti-aging therapies.

The discovery of IgG as a biomarker points to a potential intervention target. In the future, we might be able to reduce IgG levels related to aging and inflammation in humans, Gu Ying, the co-corresponding author, told South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Reportedly, the findings could also contribute to the development of a tool that measures IgG levels to estimate biological age.

The researchers state that a better grasp of the aging process of individual organs could help people make more informed health choices.

The findings were published in the journal Cell.
Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian poses for photos with a prize winner during the Panda Competition at the Chinese Embassy in Australia, in Canberra, Australia on Nov. 6, 2024. Australian children in Canberra were awarded on Wednesday for their paintings, sculptures, poems, creative collage and constructions surrounding the subject of "the Chinese and the Australian gold rushes." The Panda Competition, which is its 30th edition this year, is to encourage Australian school students to increase their knowledge of the Chinese culture and history, said Carol Keil, president of the Australia China Friendship Society, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Branch, the event's organizer. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)

CANBERRA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Australian children in Canberra were awarded on Wednesday for their paintings, sculptures, poems, creative collage and constructions surrounding the subject of "the Chinese and the Australian gold rushes."

The Panda Competition, which is its 30th edition this year, is to encourage Australian school students to increase their knowledge of the Chinese culture and history, said Carol Keil, president of the Australia China Friendship Society, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Branch, the event's organizer.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian told the awarding ceremony that he highly appreciated Australian children's interest in Chinese culture, history and art, as the future depends on the future generations and children are the future of the bilateral friendship.

"Through culture, we understand and appreciate each other," Xiao said, adding China and Australia are two different countries, but there is much more shared in common.

Starting in 1995, the Panda Competition was named after its first-year activity under the theme of giant panda. Each year the competition chooses a different theme related to China, mostly of traditional Chinese culture, for the ACT primary and secondary school students to participate.

Initially the competition was only drawings and paintings but as time went on, the organizer started receiving more and more models such as sculptures and three-dimensional construction, Keil said.

"We were most impressed with the research that had gone into many of the entries with detailed explanations of the activity in the drawings or models," she added.

Wednesday's awarding ceremony was followed by a fan dance and Chinese Guzheng performance by Australian students. 

A student shows his panda doll award during the Panda Competition at the Chinese Embassy in Australia, in Canberra, Australia on Nov. 6, 2024. Australian children in Canberra were awarded on Wednesday for their paintings, sculptures, poems, creative collage and constructions surrounding the subject of "the Chinese and the Australian gold rushes."

The Panda Competition, which is its 30th edition this year, is to encourage Australian school students to increase their knowledge of the Chinese culture and history, said Carol Keil, president of the Australia China Friendship Society, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Branch, the event's organizer. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
A fan of Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) at her victory celebration Tuesday night. Photo by Josh Kurtz.

The driving distance from The Hotel in College Park, which is across the street from the University of Maryland campus, to Howard University in Washington, D.C., is just 7.2 miles.

But as election night lurched toward an uncertain Wednesday morning, the psychic distance between the two venues widened.

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A large segment of the crowd that had gathered to celebrate Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks historic win for U.S. Senate Tuesday night stifled that joy to worry and wonder about the fate of Vice President Kamala Harris, who was joining supporters at Howard, her alma mater, awaiting results of the presidential election. It did not look good for Harris in early returns.

Some Maryland Democrats left the Alsobrooks celebration early so they could get to the Howard campus. They missed a good party.

It was hard for Alsobrooks supporters not to be swept up by the history of the moment and the size of Alsobrooks victory over former Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who had tried to defy the political odds and Marylands voting patterns one more time by running for Senate. Gov. Wes Moore (D), himself a historic figure in state and national politics, called it her-story.

With Angela, I dont just see a great leader, Moore said. I see my daughter. I see my wife. I see my sisters. I see my mom. I see all those who came before us, and theyre all smiling tonight.

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Even Hogan acknowledged the import of the moment.

Tonight, regardless of who you voted for, we can all take pride in the election of the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate, he said in a written message to supporters.

That same history was repeated next door in Delaware Tuesday night, where U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) was also elected to a Senate seat. Come Jan. 3, for the first time in history, two Black women, Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester, will be serving side-by-side in the Worlds Greatest Deliberative Body.

Of all the people who have served in the United States Senate, only three have looked like me, Alsobrooks told the cheering crowd. She also sought to assure her supporters about Harris fate.

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What youre going to learn tonight is that youre going to be led by a woman, by my friend, Kamala Harris.

But at that point, even the most optimistic Democrat wasnt all that certain.

Earlier in the evening, before Maryland results came in, five big-screen TVs in the hotel ballroom projected MSNBCs coverage of the White House election and other races. The crowd invariably cheered the good news for Democrats. They cheered Blunt Rochesters projected victory especially loudly.

Can you feel it? asked Charlene Dukes, the vice chair of the Maryland Democratic Party. Were going to make history.

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But as the night ground along, the jubilation was tempered by the grim reality that Harris appeared to be trailing Republican former President Donald Trump.

We have too much PTSD from 2016, one veteran Democrat said.

Im feeling great for Angela, a little nervous for Kamala, said Prince Georges County Councilmember Wanika Fisher (D), who like the vice president is half-Black and half Indian-American. Earlier in the day, Fisher had campaigned alongside Alsobrooks in Bladensburg with Maryland first lady Dawn Moore and U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who had herself attempted unsuccessfully to join the Senate earlier this year.

That was really fun, Fisher said.

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Asked early in the evening about the historic import of Alsobrooks victory and Harris candidacy, Montgomery County Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles (D), who had campaigned for Harris in Pennsylvania, replied, If I start thinking about it and talking about it, Im going to get emotional.

At the time, she said she still felt confident about Harris prospects: Well be celebrating later this week.

But as the clock ticked past 11 p.m., and Harris seemed stuck in the Electoral College, Sayles admitted to feeling a little queasy, looking over Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrichs shoulder as he checked election results on his phone.

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Im OK. Im hanging in there, she said.

After Alsobrooks victory speech, which ended shortly before 11 p.m., the big-screen TVs went off to make way for loud, celebratory music and dancing. But dozens of party-goers retreated to the hotels hallways to hash over election results from across the country.

One of Alsobrooks chief arguments against voting for Hogan was that his election could flip the Senate to Republican control. But that happened anyway, as the GOP picked up at least three seats Tuesday, with a few more hanging in the balance.

This is like a national disaster, Elrich said, who predicted that total Republican control of the White House and, possibly, both chambers of Congress, could eviscerate the federal workforce, which could have dire economic consequences for Marylands D.C. suburbs.

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Were going to lose all kinds of money, he said.

Former state Del. Alice Johnson Cain (D), who represented Anne Arundel County, arrived late to Alsobrooks party after attending the victory celebration in Annapolis for state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel), who was elected to Congress Tuesday. Cain said it was good to see two strong women elected to represent Maryland on Capitol Hill, but she said she felt compelled to head home to more closely follow the presidential tally.

Im scared as hell, but hoping for the best, she said.
Complete Election Night results are in for San Luis Obispo Countys four seats up for grabs in the California Legislature this year.

And all four incumbents are headed toward solid wins in both the state Senate and Assembly.

John Laird leading in Senate District 17

Four candidates are running to represent San Luis Obispo County in the State Senate. In District 17  covering the northern portion of the county  incumbent John Laird, top left, is facing Republican challenger Tony Virrueta, top right. In District 21  encompassing the South County  college student Elijah Mack, bottom right, is challenging incumbent Monique Limon, bottom left.

In state Senate District 17, Democratic incumbent John Laird was well on his way to victory over Republican challenger and Army veteran Tony Virrueta.

As of 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Laird had 66.2% of the vote while Virrueta was polling at 33.8%, including mail-in votes and with all precincts reporting, according to the California Secretary of State reports.

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Im very happy with my own races, Laird told The Tribune on Wednesday. Its a great victory. At this point Im running better than I was four years ago against the headwinds of this election.

As of 12:20 a.m., roughly 45.1% of SLO County voters eligible to vote in the race had their ballots counted, with 56.4% of county voters choosing Laird and 43.6% supporting Virrueta.

Im very pleased that I ran strong in San Luis Obispo County, Laird said. Ive done a lot of work there the last four years, so that was really gratifying. I want to thank everyone who supported me and really look forward to a lot of the work we have coming up.

District 17 covers the northern portion of SLO County and extends into Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties.

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According to the most recent voter registration numbers from the California Secretary of State, the district is mainly blue, comprised of 50.2% Democrats, 22.9% Republicans and 19.7% no party preference.

Approximately a quarter of District 17s voters are registered in SLO County.

Senate District 21 sees Monique Limon in front

In state Senate District 21, Democratic incumbent Monique Limon is set to win out over Republican college student Elijah Mack, garnering 62.2% of the vote compared to Macks 37.8% as of 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday, with mail-in votes and all precincts reporting.

The race is slightly closer among local voters. Roughly 44% of SLO County voters eligible to vote in the race have had their ballots counted, with 52% of county voters choosing Limon and 48% supporting Mack.

District 21 encompasses the southern half of SLO County and extends to Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

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Similarly to the countys other state Senate district, District 21 is largely blue, with 46.3% registered Democrats, 25.7% Republicans and 20.3% no party preference.

However, San Luis Obispo County comprises only about 6.4% of District 21s voters.

Dawn Addis set to take Assembly District 30

At top, in District 30, incumbent Assemblymember Dawn Addis, left, is being challenged by broadcast journalist Dalila Epperson. At bottom, in District 37, incumbent Assemblymember Gregg Hart is being challenged by retired business analyst Sari Domingues.

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In state Assembly District 30, covering most of San Luis Obispo County and Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, Democratic incumbent Dawn Addis is heading for a smooth win over her opponent, Republican Dalila Epperson.

Addis was polling at 64% to Eppersons 36% as of 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday, including mail-in votes and with all precincts reporting.

Its a huge honor to be where were at at this moment, Addis told The Tribune from an Election Night party in San Luis Obispo on Tuesday night. If I have the honor of being reelected, Im absolutely committed to the voters to work as hard as they do and to uplift the voice of the Central Coast in the California state Legislature.

Addis noted that the turnout during this election has been just so inspiring, saying it comes from hard work from hundreds of people across many, many, many months.

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I think SLO County in particular is gonna wake up happy tomorrow, she added. Democracy works when we work.

In SLO County, 45.2% of voter ballots for this race were counted as of 12:20 a.m., with 56.1% of the local vote going to Addis and 43.9% to Epperson.

SLO County voters account for just over half of Assembly District 30s largely blue registered voter base, made up of 45.7% Democrats, 27.5% Republicans and 19% voters no party preference, according to the California Secretary of States Oct. 21 registration report.

Assembly District 37 leans toward Gregg Hart

In state Assembly District 37, which clips a small portion of southern SLO County, Democratic incumbent Gregg Hart was heading toward a sure win, with 60.9% of the vote secured while his Republican challenger Sari M. Domingues took 39.1% as of 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday, including mail-in votes and with all precincts reporting.

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Im proud and honored to have the strong support from my constituents for my work in Sacramento, Hart told The Tribune on Wednesday. We have a lot to do to protect the residents of the Central Coast.

Hart attended two Democratic Party Election Night celebrations in Santa Barbara, where moods were somber as Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed the presidency, but the assmeblymember told his supporters not to lose hope.

California is an important leader in the country and in the world, and we have a responsibility to continue that leadership in difficult times, Hart said. Im looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting back to work in Sacramento.

SLO County voters preference flipped in the opposite direction from the districts overall voter base. After a neck and neck split that had Hart slightly in the lead, the local vote tipped in favor of Domingues, with 50.9% of SLO County voters casting their ballots for the challenger and 49.1% in favor of the incumbent, with 45.7% of eligible voters ballots counted.

District 37 is mainly decided by Santa Barbara County voters, with only 7% of the districts registered voters hailing from SLO County.

Like other local districts, it is majority blue with 45.7% of voters registered as Democrats, 26.1% as Republicans and 20.6% with no party preference.
The study also reveals which airlines are most affected.

Leonard Ortiz/Orange County Register via Getty Images The flight information display at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California The flight information display at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California

Winter weather can be a threat to holiday travel plans, though new data reveals that certain airports and airlines are more prone to delays than others.

San Francisco International Airport sees the highest likelihood of weather-related disruptions for travelers between November and January with 42.3% of flights delayed, according to a new study from Upgraded Points, a company that analyzes travel and credit cards.

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Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) followed closely with 42.1 percent of weather-related delays, trailed by New Yorks LaGuardia Airport (LGA) at 38.3 percent, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) at 38.1 percent, and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) at 31.3 percent.

The study also found that major airports in milder climates usually faced the fewest weather-related disruptions. Leading the list was Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) with only 11 percent of delays due to weather, followed by Houstons William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) at 12.3 percent; Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 12.4 percent; Dallas Love Field (DAL) at 12.7 percent; and San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Miami International Airport (MIA) tying at 13.1 percent.

With the holiday travel season on the horizon, we looked at historical data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to find the most weather-delayed airports across the U.S., both during peak holiday months and throughout the year, Upgraded Points wrote in the study. We also analyzed the data to uncover the airlines most affected by weather delays during the holiday rush and pinpoint the months with the most weather-related setbacks.

In the same period, Alaska Airlines, which operates major hubs in San Francisco and Seattle-Tacomatwo of the most weather-affected airports during the holiday seasonreported the highest rate of weather-related delays among major carriers, averaging 30.2%. The remaining nine major airlines averaged:

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United Airlines: 29.4 percent

Allegiant Air: 24.5 percent

Spirit Airlines: 24.4 percent

Delta Air Lines: 22.6 percent

Frontier Airlines: 19.4 percent

American Airlines: 19.0 percent

JetBlue: 18.9 percent

Southwest Airlines: 14.9 percent

Hawaiian Airlines: 7.5 percent

The survey reviewed data from the 60 busiest U.S. airports and 10 major domestic airlines between 2019 and 2024, excluding 2020 from COVID-19-related disruptions. Savvy travelers can get ahead of the curve this holiday season by knowing how to check for delays before official announcements, while airlines like United will text live radar maps to passengers during weather delays and automatically rebook flights that are significantly delayed or canceled.


Voters pass a sign at First Baptist Church on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Huntsville, Alabama. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen said Wednesday turnout for the presidential election was 58.5%, the lowest in the state since 1988. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector)

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen Wednesday said 58.5% of registered voters cast ballots in Tuesdays presidential election, the lowest turnout for any state presidential election since 1988.

In a statement, Allen said 2.263 million Alabamians cast ballots on Tuesday, not counting provisional ballots. That was just over 65,000 fewer ballots than were cast in 2020, when 2.3 million voters participated in the election.

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Yesterdays election was administered with election security as the primary goal, Allen said in the statement. I am proud to say that, because of our dedicated local election officials, that goal was achieved.

Alabama has some of the lowest voter participation rates in the nation, due in part to a lack of early voting options and a lack of competitive races in the state. Republicans dominate federal and state offices and Democrats have made little headway in challenging them. Shomari Figures, who won election Tuesday in Alabamas 2nd Congressional District, represented the only pick-up for party in the election.

The states highest participation race in a presidential election took place in 1992, when 76% of eligible voters cast ballot. In 2020, about 63% of registered Alabama voters participated.

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Alaska voters will apparently have to wait a while longer to find out who won the closely watched race for the states sole House seat, currently held by Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat.

None of the four candidates on the general election ballot drew a majority of first place votes Tuesday in Alaskas ranked choice voting system, meaning another tabulation will be needed to determine a winner.

On Wednesday, Republican Nick Begich led, with 49.8% of the vote, with Peltola trailing, at 45.5%.

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The results of a second tabulation, and any more required, would be released Nov. 20, according to the Alaska Division of Elections.

In August, during the primary election, Peltola had the largest proportion of votes at 50.9%. But it is unclear whether she will pick up enough votes from supporters of other candidates who drop off the ballot with each tabulation round. That happened in 2022, when she defeated former Gov. Sarah Palin for the seat.

Under Alaskas ranked choice voting system, used by only one other state in Maine, voters rank their picks in a field of candidates instead of only picking one candidate to vote for. If no one gets a majority of first place votes, then the second round of tabulation begins, with the first place votes of the lowest-ranked candidate thrown out and the second place choices of those voters allocated among the remaining candidates. This process goes on until a candidate gets a majority.

The 2024 race was a rematch of sorts between Peltola and Nick Begich, whose grandfather of the same name posthumously won election to the House in 1972 when his plane disappeared but his name could not be taken off the ballot. An uncle of Begichs, Mark, was also an Alaska senator. In 2022, enough of Begichs supporters chose Peltola over Palin with their second choice votes to give Peltola the House seat.

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But Republicans had hoped for a different scenario this time. After the primary, the third- and fourth-place candidates dropped out, moving the fifth- and sixth-place ones up into the final four names on the ballot. One of those, Eric Hafner, is serving time in a New York jail, and Democrats charged he was maneuvered onto the ballot as a second Democrat to help swing the election to Begich.

Peltola made history as the first Alaska Native elected to represent the state in the House. Peltola is Yupik, and Alaska has the largest proportions of Indigenous residents of any state, at about 20.4%. Peltolas seat was held by longtime Rep. Don Young, a Republican, for 49 years until his death in 2022. While Peltola has tried to carve out a niche as a moderate, House Republicans targeted it early in the 2024 cycle and the Cook Political Report listed the race as a toss-up.

See full results from the Alaska House election here.
Voters line up at the polling site at Anchorage City Hall on Nov. 4, 2024. City Hall was one of the designated early voting sites in Alaska's largest city. It is not a designated site for Election Day voting. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska House of Representatives will have two fewer Republicans, according to preliminary election results published by the Alaska Division of Elections after polls closed on Election Day.

As of 3 a.m. Wednesday, the House was poised to stand at 20 Republicans, 14 Democrats and six independents, increasing the odds that the incoming House will be controlled by a predominantly Democratic coalition instead of the current predominantly Republican majority.

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Thousands of absentee and early votes remain to be counted in races across the state, meaning that current vote leaders could change as more ballots are added to the tally.

Additionally, if there are three or more candidates in a race and none have more than 50% of the vote, ranked choice voting will be used on Nov. 20 to determine a final winner.

Farthest north and farthest south see changes

In Ketchikan, independent Rep. Dan Ortiz did not run for reelection and is likely to be replaced by Republican Jeremy Bynum, who had 51.6% of the vote Tuesday night with 10 of 10 precincts reporting results. Some ballots cast in early voting or by mail have not been counted, so even results with all precincts reporting are subject to change.

That Republican gain is likely to be balanced with returns from the North Slope and Northwest Arctic Borough, where Republican-turned-independent Thomas Baker is likely to lose his election. Baker was appointed to the House as a Republican by Gov. Mike Dunleavy late last year but dropped his party affiliation after the legislative session ended.

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With 14 of 20 precincts reporting, he had 20.7% of the vote, head of Democratic candidate Saima Ikrik Chase, with 20.5%, but behind Robyn Niayuq Burke, with 58%. If no candidate has at least 50% of the vote, the final winner will be chosen by ranked choice tabulation on Nov. 20.

Current minority coalition likely gains three seats

In Anchorage, Democratic candidate Ted Eischeid led Republican Rep. Stanley Wright by 111 votes out of 3,937 cast, with all precincts reporting in House District 22.

Elsewhere in Anchorage, Republican and former Rep. Chuck Kopp led Republican Rep. Craig Johnson by 23 percentage points at the end of Election Day. Kopp served in a multipartisan coalition majority that governed the House from 2019 through 2021 and has expressed an interest in restoring that coalition.

Also in Anchorage, nonpartisan candidate Ky Holland is on track to defeat Republican Lucy Bauer in a race to replace Rep. Laddie Shaw, who did not run for reelection. At the end of Election Day, Holland led Bauer by 6.4 percentage points.

Mainstream Republicans may have ousted Eastman

Hardline Republican Rep. David Eastman has frequently been at odds with the Houses Republican leaders and isnt a member of the House majority. On Tuesday night, a majority-endorsed Republican challenger, Jubilee Underwood, held a 211-vote lead over Eastman out of 6,246 ballots counted so far.

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If Underwood replaces Eastman, it likely gives a Republican-led House caucus an additional vote.

JBER race is too close to call

In House District 18, which covers Anchorages Government Hill neighborhood and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Democratic Rep. Cliff Groh is leading Republican candidate David Nelson by 28 votes out of 2,703 counted by the end of Election Day.

Through Nov. 1, Alaskans had requested 1,805 absentee ballots in the district and returned 705. Only 569 absentees were included in the Election Day tally, indicating that results could change.

Nelson previously held the seat for one term. In 2022, Groh defeated Nelson with the support of second-choice votes from supporters of third-place Democratic candidate Lyn Franks.

Republicans replace Republicans

On the Kenai Peninsula, Republican Bill Elam is leading Republican John Hillyer, 51.3-47.3% in the race to replace Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski. Carpenter declined to run for re-election and is seeking a Senate seat instead. He trails Republican Sen. Jesse Bjorkman in that race.

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In Wasilla, Republican Rep. Jesse Sumner declined to run for re-election, withdrawing after the primary. A three-way race to choose his replacement is too close to call, with Republican Elexie Moore leading Republicans Steve Menard and Jessica Wright.

Moore had 37.2% of the vote to Menards 36% and Wrights 25.3%, and the race is almost certain to be decided by ranked choice tabulation.

A change in Southwest Alaska?

With 16 of 24 precincts reporting in Southwest Alaskas House District 38, Democratic candidate Nellie Unangik Jimmie leads incumbent Democratic Rep. CJ McCormick, 36-33.6%. With neither candidate likely to break 50%, the race will almost certainly be decided by the second-place and third-place votes of Democratic candidate Victoria Sosa, who has 4.5% of the vote, and Veterans Party candidate Willy Keppel with 25.7%.

Mia Costello returns to the Legislature

Former state Representative and state Senator Mia Costello will be reelected to the state House, according to preliminary results Tuesday night. Costello, a Republican, led Democratic opponent Denny Wells by almost 8 percentage points with all precincts reporting results.

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Wells lost by just seven votes to Republican Tom McKay in a 2022 state House race and had been set to face McKay again this year, but McKay stopped his campaign and was replaced by Costello.

Schwanke likely to replace Cronk in House District 36

Republican candidate Rebecca Schwanke leads in Interior Alaskas vast House District 36, with 37 of 40 precincts reporting results as of 3 a.m. Wednesday. The incumbent, Republican Rep. Mike Cronk, is on track to be elected to the state Senate.

Schwanke had 36.6% of the vote in a four-way race, with Democratic candidate Brandon Putuuqti Kowalski in second with 32%. Schwanke is favored in the ranked choice tabulation because fellow Republican candidate Pam Goode is third with 25.5% of the vote, and her second-choice voters are expected to support Schwanke. Libertarian candidate James Fields has 5.5% of the vote despite suspending his campaign after the primary election.

Incumbents sweep in Fairbanks

All of Fairbanks state House Representatives are on pace to be reelected, according to results at the end of Election Day.

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With 4 of 4 precincts reporting, Democratic Rep. Maxine Dibert is leading Republican challenger Bart LeBon by 6.8 percentage points in House District 31. LeBon held the seat for four years but lost to Dibert in 2022 during a race that also featured a second Republican. LeBon challenged Dibert in a head-to-head contest this year.

In neighboring House District 32, Republican Rep. Will Stapp is leading Democratic challenger Gary Damron by 37.5 percentage points in a district that covers Fort Wainwright. Stapp is finishing his first term in office.

Republican Rep. Frank Tomaszewski, first elected in 2022, is likewise on track for reelection to a strongly Republican district covering Fox, Two Rivers and Salcha. At the end of Election Day, he held a 13.6 percentage-point lead over a more moderate Republican, Joy Beth Cottle.

In western Fairbanks, Democratic Rep. Ashley Carrick led Republican candidate Ruben McNeill by 7.7 percentage points at the end of Election Day. Carrick has represented the district since 2022.

A quarter of House seats were unopposed

Of the Houses 40 members, 10 were unopposed in the general election, including one newcomer:

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In Southeast Alaska, Reps. Rebecca Himschoot, I-Sitka; Sara Hannan, D-Juneau; and Andi Story, D-Juneau were unopposed but for write-in votes.

In Anchorage, Democratic candidate Carolyn Hall was elected with more than 55% of the vote after her lone opponent, nonpartisan candidate Nick Moe, suspended his campaign but failed to file formal withdrawal paperwork on time.

Also in Anchorage, Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, was reelected without opposition except for write-ins.

Rep. Dan Saddler, R-Eagle River, was unopposed, as were his Matanuska-Susitna Borough colleagues, Reps. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, and Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton.

Rep. Mike Prax, R-North Pole, was also reelected without opposition.

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Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, and Carey Fristoe, owner of Black Spruce Brewery in Fairbanks, carry signed petition booklets for Ballot Measure 1 on Jan. 9, 2024, in Anchorage. They were among the leaders of the initiative campaign to increase the minimum wage and mandate paid sick leave. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska voters favored a ballot measure backed by labor unions by a margin of 12.46 percentage points with roughly 70% of the ballots counted early Wednesday.

Voters weighed in on Ballot Measure 1, which would provide three new protections for workers: an increase in the minimum wage, a mandate for paid sick leave and protection against employer-required attendance at political or religious meetings or events unrelated to job duties.

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If approved by voters, the measure would phase in the minimum wage increase from the current rate of $11.73 an hour to $15 an hour in mid-2027. It would require employers to grant an hour of sick paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, with a cap of 40 hours for small companies and 56 for larger companies. And it would forbid employers from requiring workers to attend political or religious meetings unrelated to their job duties.

The measure was put on the ballot through a citizen petition.

Backers, who include labor unions and some business owners, argue that the measure is needed to provide what they characterize as an overdue boost to workers wages. They point out that Alaskas current minimum wage  which is the product of a ballot initiative passed 10 years ago  is the lowest on the U.S. West Coast. They also have argued that the sick-leave protections and protections against forced political or religious communications level the playing field for the businesses that are already being responsible in the way they treat their employees.

But several prominent Alaska business groups oppose the measure, saying it will drive up costs and harm smaller businesses that may be operating on thin margins. Those groups that have banded in opposition include the Alaska Chamber; the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association; the Alaska Travel Industry Association; and the Alaska Support Industry Alliance.

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At the end of 2023, 15 states and the District of Columbia had mandates for paid sick leave. Depending on the outcome of this years election, there may be more states added to the list.

Voters in Nebraska and Missouri also weighed in on ballot measures that would require paid sick leave. The Missouri measure, like Alaskas, was coupled with a minimum wage increase. And as with the Alaska measure, the Missouri measure proposed that employees accrue an hour a sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

The Nebraska measure appeared to be passing easily, according to early results. The Missouri measure was similar to Alaskas; it couples a requirement for paid sick leave to be accrued by workers over time with an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026.

Additionally, there are proposed minimum wage hikes on the ballots in Massachusetts and California.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) held a news conference on Tuesday, November 5, to address the 10th officer-involved shooting of 2024. It left a suspect dead and an officer wounded on October 14, 2024.

APD said around 11:30 p.m. officers responded to a domestic disturbance call near Central Avenue and Eubank Blvd. When officers arrived on scene, they said an armed man, identified as 41-year-old Matthew Sanchez, walked out onto the street toward officers.

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APD stated Sanchez was non-compliant, and shots were fired. Sanchez was killed, and APD Officer Jeff Schwarzel was struck in the hand and arm. However, police speculated that another officer was possibly the one who shot Schwarzel.

We are fairly sure that our officer was struck by another officer as they all engaged an armed subject, and they were shooting at that individual because of the threat that he created, said Chief Harold Medina.

Commander Kyle Hartsock stated Sanchez was a felon and not allowed to have a firearm.

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Authorities are still investigating this matter, and all three involved officers have not returned to work yet.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Several brands of soft-ripened cheeses are being recalled because they may be contaminated with listeria, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Savencia Cheese USAs brie and camembert cheeses, sold under the Aldi, Market Basket, La Bonne Vie, Supreme Oval, Industrial and Glenview Farms brands, were distributed to select regional stores and retailers.

The few retailers that received the product have been informed of this possible contamination and are in the process of removing products from shelves, the FDA explained.

(Courtesy: Savencia Cheese USA)

The potential contamination was discovered through routine testing of processing equipment at Savencia Cheeses manufacturing facility in Lena, Illinois.

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While finished product testing has not identified contaminated product, we have initiated a voluntary recall to retrieve the potentially affected product, the FDA continued.

There have been no confirmed reports of illnesses connected to the voluntary recall.

Anyone who purchased the recalled cheese is urged not to eat it and to instead throw it out or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Listeria infections are especially dangerous for the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms, which typically include fever, muscle aches and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, can occur quickly or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food.

(Courtesy: FDA) (Courtesy: FDA) (Courtesy: FDA) (Courtesy: FDA) (Courtesy: FDA)

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
NEW YORK (AP)  Allison Greenfield, the law clerk whom Donald Trump assailed with falsehoods during his civil fraud trial last year, has been elected as a New York City judge.

Greenfield, 38, was one of six candidates for six seats on Manhattans civil court, which handles small claims and other lesser-stakes lawsuits. A local Democratic committee unanimously endorsed her candidacy in February, avoiding a primary and clearing the way for her to run unopposed in Tuesdays general election.

As a principal law clerk to Judge Arthur Engoron, Greenfield was a frequent target of Trump and his lawyers during the former presidents civil fraud trial.

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Trump made a disparaging social media post about Greenfield on the trials second day, leading Engoron to impose a limited gag order barring participants in the case from smearing court staff.

Engoron fined Trump $15,000 for twice violating the order and subsequently expanded it to include Trumps lawyers after they complained in court about Greenfield passing notes to Engoron.

They accused Engoron of letting Greenfield act as a de facto co-judge, and questioned whether her political leanings were influencing what they perceived as a demonstrable anti-Trump bias.

Trump lawyer Christopher Kise said he felt like he was fighting two adversaries. Engoron responded that he had an absolutely unfettered right to Greenfield's advice.

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Trumps lawyers later asked for a mistrial, which Engoron rejected, after conservative news site Breitbart News highlighted a citizen complaint that accused Greenfield of violating court rules by making monetary donations to Democratic causes. Many of those contributions were made during Greenfields prior, unsuccessful run for the bench in 2022.

Election to the civil court can be a pathway for judges to eventually join New Yorks main trial court, known as the State Supreme Court. Engoron joined the bench as a civil court judge and was appointed to the trial court a decade later.

Greenfield studied economics and politics as an undergraduate at New York University and received her law degree from Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan in 2010. She started working for Engoron in 2019. Before that, she was a lawyer for the city.
Delegates attend a seminar held during the 12th session of the World Urban Forum in New Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 5, 2024. Participants at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Egypt on Tuesday spoken highly of the Chinese experience in promoting green cities.(Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

CAIRO, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Participants at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Egypt on Tuesday spoken highly of the Chinese experience in promoting green cities.

"The Chinese steps towards urban greening, with much focus on promoting the concept of nature in cities, are noticeable," said Simon Borelli, urban forestry officer and coordinator of Green Cities Initiatives Forestry Division of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

"Looking at recreating natural ecosystems, and not just rows of trees and plantations, is an essential step forward for making cities more resilient and more prepared for climate change," he added, stressing that China has been working on building park cities with a more holistic view.

Noting China's focus on improving urban living, the coordinator said its experience could benefit Africa, home to the largest number of developing countries.

Shi Nan, secretary general of the Urban Planning Society of China, said, "We are trying to share our experiences and also the lessons regarding sustainable development."

"The city is not only ... a settlement for people, but also the home for animals, forest, trees, and grasses," he said.

Regarding Egypt's urban development, Shi said he was impressed by Egypt's rich civilization, which has played a significant role in the country's urban growth.

There is significant potential for cooperation between China and Egypt, both of which boast ancient civilizations, he added.

Co-organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Egyptian government, the WUF12 commenced on Monday and will continue until Friday. 

This photo taken on Nov. 5, 2024 shows a scene of a seminar held during the 12th session of the World Urban Forum in New Cairo, Egypt. Participants at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Egypt on Tuesday spoken highly of the Chinese experience in promoting green cities.(Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Shi Nan, secretary general of the Urban Planning Society of China, speaks at a seminar held during the 12th session of the World Urban Forum in New Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 5, 2024. Participants at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Egypt on Tuesday spoken highly of the Chinese experience in promoting green cities.(Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Simon Borelli, urban forestry officer and coordinator of Green Cities Initiatives Forestry Division of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, speaks at a seminar held during the 12th session of the World Urban Forum in New Cairo, a satellite city on the southeastern edge of the capital Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 5, 2024. Participants at the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Egypt on Tuesday spoken highly of the Chinese experience in promoting green cities.(Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
Utahs largest school district  the Alpine School District  appears to be heading for a split.

Initial returns late Tuesday on Proposition 11 by voters in several northern Utah County communities  Lehi, American Fork, Highland, Alpine, Cedar Hills and the portion of Draper located within Utah County  signal approval to form a new school district in the region.

As Tuesday night was giving way to Wednesday morning, about 58% of the unofficial vote results pointed in favor of Proposition 11.

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Meanwhile, voters on the west end of Utah County were giving a resounding thumbs-up to Proposition 14, calling for a new school district to include the cities of Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Cedar Fort and Fairfield.

Early Wednesday, more than 62% of the vote favored Proposition 14.

With two new districts expected to be formed in Utah County, the four remaining cities in the current Alpine School District  Orem, Vineyard, Lindon and Pleasant Grove  would become a reorganized district by default.

A history-rich school district

Tuesdays vote marked a historic moment for Utah County. The Alpine School District was formed over a century ago and today serves over 84,000 students.

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Prior to Tuesdays vote, Proposition 11 proponents argued that creating a new district would offer significant tax savings while avoiding school closures, reduced services and strains on employees. A new district in the countys northeast communities, they added, would result in more balanced and responsive school board representation.

Opponents of Proposition 11 meanwhile, countered that splitting the existing Alpine School District would prove detrimental to students  even while unnecessarily dismantling one of the states highest-performing districts.

A split, they added, would be costly. Keeping the district intact would allow 14 Utah County cities to share the districts expenses while allowing communities to work together and weather changing demographics and economic fluctuations.

The existing Alpine School District, argued opponents, is fully capable of handling challenges such as economic changes and political pressures.

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But supporters of the proposition maintained that claims that bigger districts save money is misleading; arguing that inefficiencies increase when districts grow too large. Stretching resources across 14 cities leaves us paying more for fewer benefits.

Ultimately, a majority of voters appear to be supporting Proposition 11 because they wanted to keep local control of the decisions made by the school district  while keeping our local tax dollars here and having better representation, Cedar Hills Mayor Denise Andersen told the Deseret News following the vote.

A smaller school district wont diminish educational opportunities for its students, assured the mayor.

We have great parental support for programs  and the new school district will be keen to ensure that it offers our kids all of the programs and opportunities that they have received in the larger district, she said. We will still be the sixth-largest district in the state.

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Assuming the numbers in favor of Proposition 11 hold, the new school district in northeastern Utah County is not expected to be formed until 2027. The new school board, which will be elected next November, will decide on the districts new name.

Western Utah County to have its own school district.

Meanwhile, proponents for Proposition 14 argued that a smaller district in western Utah County would ensure local control and fair representation while keeping taxes local and addressing overcrowded and underserved westside schools.

Proposition 14 opponents warned that a smaller district on Utah Countys west side would diminish existing educational opportunities and could lead to educators in local schools leaving for opportunities elsewhere.

After seeing the initial numbers suggesting passage of Proposition 14, Saratoga Springs City Councilman Chris Carn said Tuesdays vote marks a referendum that a new school district needs to be formed to better serve the students of the western interlocal.

Carn said a future school district in western Utah County would be the 10th largest in Utah. Were just going from a 4XL district to an XL district  so our students will have plenty of opportunities.
Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks gives a thumbs up alongside her daughter, Alex, second from right, and other Democrats after her apparent victory in the race for Senate. Photo by William J. Ford.

Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks appeared to be on her way to a historic Senate win Tuesday, with early returns giving her a comfortable lead over Larry Hogan, the popular former governor.

With 92% of the 1,958 precincts reporting at 11:20 p.m., Alsobrooks, a Democrat, had 1.2 million votes to 1.1 million for Hogan, a Republican, a 52% to 46% lead. Libertarian Mike Scott had 59,395 votes for 2% of the early total.

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The vote capped a hard-fought, and occasionally bitter, race in which Alsobrooks looked to make history by becoming the first Black woman from Maryland  and one of a handful in U.S. history  to be elected to the Senate, while Hogan looked to recapture the magic that let the Republican be elected governor twice in a heavily Democratic state.

They were running to replace Sen. Ben Cardin (D), who sought not to seek reelection after 58 years in elected office. The apparent victory would make Alsobrooks the first woman senator from Maryland since Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulksi, who stepped down in 2017; Hogan was seeking to become the first GOP senator from the state since Sen. Charles Mac Mathias left in 1987.

During a 20-minute victory speech before several hundred supporters at The Hotel at the University of Maryland in College Park, Alsobrooks said Marylanders proved to be absolutely amazing people during her campaigning across the state.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every Marylander. To serve this state, my hometown [of Prince Georges County] is the honor of a lifetime, she said. I had the great honor of traveling all across this state to meet Marylanders where they love, where they worship, where they build businesses, where they educate their children and where they dream of a better day.

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Alsobrooks also pledged to work with Marylanders who didnt vote for her or who didnt vote.

I will never stop working to prove that public service, that the work we do, can and must change the lives of people for the better, she told her supporters.

The enthusiastic crowd, some sporting black-and-lime-green Alsobrooks for Senate T-shirts, cheered, clapped and yelled her name throughout the speech. Many were like Wanda Durant, a community activist in Prince Georges and the mother of NBA superstar Kevin Durant.

It is an exciting opportunity for the state of Maryland to have a Black woman, in particular, Angela Alsobrooks. She is intelligent. She is a person who is a lover of the people. She does not see her own interest, Durant said a few minutes after Alsobrooks speech. She has proven time and time again that Maryland does matter to her.

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Hogan supporters gathered in Annapolis clinging to hope that the states two-term Republican governor  an acknowledged underdog in the Senate race  could pull off an improbable win. Delays in releasing initial early and mail-in voting tallies briefly kept that hope alive, but by 9:30 p.m., the race was called for Alsobrooks.

Tonight did not bring the outcome we had hoped for, Hogan told the crowd, before striking a conciliatory tone.

In our nations history, only three African American women have ever served in the United States Senate. Tonight, regardless of who you voted for, we can all take pride in the election of the first Black woman to represent Maryland, Hogan said. Now is the time for us to come together and to move forward as one state and one nation, to respect the will of the voters and the outcome of the democratic process.

He called on supporters to work together with Democrats to fix a broken political system, and to hear the voices of the exhausted majority rather than defer to the demands of the loudest and angriest few who seem hell-bent on tearing America apart.

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From day one, this was the only campaign in America that reached out to Republicans, Democrats and independents alike, because thats what its going to take to solve the serious problems we face, he said, echoing a theme of his campaign.

We need to stop dismissing or even hating those we disagree with. We have got to find a way to listen and to believe in each other once again, because there really is far more that unites us, Hogan said.

The race attracted tens of millions of dollars in outside campaign funding, unusual for Maryland where Republicans are typically given little chance in statewide races. But Hogans history of being elected statewide, and leaving office in 2022 with high popularity ratings, put the state in play.

Larry Hogan waves to supporters Tuesday night after delivering a concession speech in Annapolis. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

The themes were set early in the race and repeated often, with partisanship being a key Alsobrooks campaign attack line against Hogan, who was recruited at the last minute by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to enter the Senate race. Democrats currently hold a one-seat edge in the Senate but are likely to lose control of the chamber in this falls elections, a point hammered by Alsobrooks.

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Democrats also made abortion rights a central element of their campaign at a time when states  including Maryland  are struggling with abortion rights and restrictions after the Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade, the nearly 50-year-old case that recognized a right to an abortion. Alsobrooks campaign pointed to Hogans history of abortion opposition and his veto of some abortion-rights legislation as governor, and they tried to tie him to former President Donald Trump, who has boasted about appointing three of the six Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe.

The Maryland Democratic Party flooded email inboxes almost daily with two main messages: A vote for Hogan means Republicans control the Senate, which could lead to extreme policies, such as a push on a national abortion ban.

That message gave pause to voters like Naekasah Johnson of Prince Georges County, a first-grade math and science teacher who said Tuesday that she voted for Alsobrooks because she was worried about Republican control of the Senate. Sometimes he [Hogan] could say one thing and then could possibly do something else, Johnson said.

Hogan pushed back forcefully, against both the abortion rights charges and the claims that he would be a partisan in the Senate.

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He said during the one-and-only televised debate with Alsobrooks last month that he would support codifying the protections of Roe v. Wade nationwide, despite being personally anti-abortion. He accused Democrats of mispresenting his record.

Supporters of Larry Hogan gather early at The Graduate Hotel in Annapolis to await returns in the Senate race. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Even though he ran as a Republican, Hogan also insisted that he would be in independent voice in the Senate, able to work across party lines as he said he did as governor. Hogan, long a critic of Trump, tried to distance himself from the former president, whom he briefly considered challenging for the presidential nomination in 2020.

In a phone call with reporters Tuesday afternoon, campaign aides complained about what they called false and misleading advertising directed at Hogan, as well as really dishonest ads they said misrepresented Hogans position on abortion.

Were still optimistic and we think that this is going to be a very close race and a long night, said David Weinman, Hogans campaign manager, said Tuesday afternoon.

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About $27 million came into the campaign in support of Hogan from Marylands Future PAC, with at least $11 million spent mostly on TV and radio ads and mailers that attacked Alsobrooks.

The ads highlighted Alsobrooks failure to pay all the property taxes on homes she owned, one of which she rented even though it was listed as her primary residence at the time. Alsobrooks chalked it up to simple mistakes in filing her taxes, and quickly worked with officials in the District of Columbia and Prince Georges County to pay the back taxes.

Democrats responded with a series of attacks on Hogan for land deals the state made while he was governor that benefited his real estate company  deals Hogan and supporters insisted were proper and vetted by state ethics officials.

Hogan also questioned Alsobrooks effectiveness as Prince Georges County executive and, before that, as the states attorney, claiming crime rose under her watch. But its unclear how much impact those charges had.

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Pollsters suggested that Hogans previous magic touch, that allowed him to attract large shares of Democratic and independent voters, was not enough to overcome Maryland voters dislike for Trump, who was beaten soundly in unofficial Maryland returns Tuesday by Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.

Hogans campaign predicted  consistent with that early polling  that he would attract more votes overall than the top of the Republican ticket in Maryland, but that the popular Republican former governor still faced an uphill battle in a presidential election year in a state not inclined to vote Republican.

The election puts Alsobrooks on track to become the first Black woman elected to the Senate from Maryland, and the first woman since Mikulski, who was the first woman to hold the office from Maryland.

Alsobrooks was also angling to become the just fourth Black woman elected to the Senate, with Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), who was declared the winner in her race for Senate from Delaware. The two would follow former Sen. Carole Mosely Braun (D-Ill.), elected in 1992, and Harris, who was elected to the Senate from California in 2016.

Victories by Alsobrooks and Rochester would mark the first time the Senate chamber had two elected Black women serving at the same time.
LISBON, Ohio (WKBN)  A Lisbon man is battling a rare brain cancer. Itll be a long road to recovery and the treatment is going to be costly.

Read next: Election results from Your Local Election Headquarters

Trevor Reese is 26 years old and is battling Glioblastoma brain cancer. Reese and his family learned about the diagnosis in May. His cousin Brook Huffman says he just received his first treatment on Monday in Cleveland.

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Its in his left frontal lobe so its non-operable. The treatment will hopefully maybe be able to shrink the tumor or stop the growth  thats what were planning for. He seems to be in good spirits, so were just hoping and being positive for him, Huffman said.

Insurance is not covering this particular cancer treatment, and its going to cost $6,500 a month for the next five years unless he can get into clinical trials.

Theres not many out here, but hes trying to get into those. Until he gets into a clinical trial, itll be $6,500 a month for the next five years for treatment, Huffman said.

Huffman says the situation has been difficult for the family.

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We took it really hard back in May, but weve had time to think about it, process it. So when we start telling people about this again, the GoFundMe, it was kind of like ripping off the band-aid all over again, he said.

Trevor Reeses family is collecting donations online to help cover the cost of his treatment, and there will be a benefit dinner at the Lisbon Lions Club on Dec. 28.

In addition, Trevor Reese and Caroline Constantinovich were nominated as WYTVs Hometown Hero just a month ago for starting Rescue Oasis Foundation  a rescue to help stray cats find a permanent home.

On top of Reeses treatments, Huffman says there are 25 cats in their care and up for adoption.

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They can make a donation to Rescue Oasis to help feed their cats, pay for hospital bills, stuff like that. That way, its not coming out of their pocket, Huffman said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
The future of delivery is taking flight. Amazon, the e-commerce giant, has received regulatory approval to expand its drone delivery service.

Amazon's latest drone, the MK30, is smaller, quieter, and more capable than its predecessors. With the ability to fly longer distances and in light rain, this advanced drone is set to advance the delivery industry.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Amazon permission to conduct beyond-visual-line-of-sight deliveries in Tolleson, Arizona. This means drones can now fly farther and without constant human supervision.

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Our new drone, the MK30, has received FAA approval to begin operations to customers. Our approval includes the ability to fly Beyond Visual Line of Sight, using our sophisticated on-board detect and avoid system, Amazon said in the press statement.

This is a historic, first-of-its-kind approval for a new drone system and a new operating location following a rigorous FAA evaluation of the safety of our systems and processes, it added.

Less than hour delivery

Customers in the Tolleson, Arizona area can now receive eligible items weighing up to 5 pounds via drone delivery in less than an hour. However, they need to live near the companys Same-Day site.

Interestingly, they can choose from over 50,000 everyday essentials, such as household products, beauty items, and office/tech supplies, for fast drone delivery at a service fee.

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The drone delivery will work in the West Valley of the Phoenix Metro Area in Arizona.

This kind of delivery is the future, and its exciting that it will be starting in the Phoenix Metro Area, said Kate Gallego, mayor of Phoenix, in the statement.

The shift toward zero-emission package delivery will help us reduce local pollution and further cement our city as a hotbed for the innovative technology of tomorrow, added Gallego.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANVnSFHkhBE

Drone is 50% quieter

The Prime Air engineering team spent nearly two years developing the MK30 drone.

With advanced, safety-critical features, the drone can deliver packages to customers in smaller backyards and more crowded suburban neighborhoods.

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The drone boasts twice the range of our previous models, is 50% quieter, and is designed to withstand rainy conditions.

The MK30 received aerospace-grade certification through a collaborative process with the FAA.

As per the company, the MK30 drone has also expanded its delivery operations to College Station, Texas. Amazon achieved record-breaking same-day and next-day delivery speeds for over 5 billion items globally earlier this year.

Reportedly, Amazon isn't alone in the race to dominate drone delivery. It faces competition from companies like Wing (owned by Alphabet), UPS, Walmart, and various startups including Zipline and Matternet.

"As Amazon embarks on the national expansion of its Amazon Drone Delivery Program, we're proud to have their innovative presence in our community. By bringing this service to new communities, they're not just delivering goods; they're delivering opportunities and economic growth for all, stated Juan F. Rodriguez, Tolleson mayor, earlier this year, the press release noted.
(Photo by Carol Yepes/Getty Images)

Fueled by efforts by Gov. Ron DeSantis that included using taxpayer funds to combat the proposal, Florida voters have rejected Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational cannabis use for adults 21 and older, joining 24 other states.

North and South Dakota also had referendums on adult use of cannabis that they were voting on Tuesday.

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The final vote in Florida was 56%-44%, falling short of the 60% requirement for passage.

The Vote No on 3 Campaign was exultant after the amendment came up short, releasing the following statement today from its Director of Advocacy Dr. Jessica Spencer .

Even after spending over $150 million  the most in any drug legalization effort in American history  the people of Florida saw through Amendment 3s web of deception and defeated this corporate power grab, Spencer said.

We are grateful for the unbending support of the Governor and First Lady of Florida, whose conviction, courage, and fearlessness  even in the face of Big Weeds unprecedented $150-million cash bomb  was unwavering.

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Smart & Safe Florida, the advocacy group pushing to get the measure passed, spent more than $120 million on their efforts  most of that from Trulieve, the states biggest medical marijuana company.

That largesse was ultimately not enough, as the amendment needed to get 60% support from the public, something that only three other states that legalized recreational cannabis  Maryland, New Jersey, and Arizona  have ever achieved.

The group released a statement following the defeat of the measure.

Tonight, a strong majority of Floridians voted in support of legalizing recreational marijuana for adults. While the results of Amendment 3 did not clear the 60 percent threshold, we are eager to work with the governor and legislative leaders who agree with us on decriminalizing recreational marijuana for adults, addressing public consumption, continuing our focus on child safety, and expanding access to safe marijuana through home grow.

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We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the majority of Florida voters who voted yes on Amendment 3 and everyone who stood with us in this effort. We remain committed to advocating for a smarter and safer Florida and will continue to work towards solutions that benefit all Floridians.

Weaponized

There was also the unprecedented level of government funding that advocates of the measure claim DeSantis weaponized against the measure. Smart & Safe said late last month that a combination of 13,000 television ads, more than 5,000 radio ad hits, along with digital and billboard ad hits around the state totaled more than $50 million in taxpayer funds, by its estimate.

DeSantis recruited several state agency heads  including leaders of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Children and Families, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the Department of Health  to join the effort against the weed proposal and unleashed state resources against the measure.

The fact that one company bankrolled much of the campaign to get the measure passed was a key talking point zeroed in on by DeSantis. He portrayed it as a product of a Big Weed company more concerned with benefitting its own bottom line than in helping Floridians  all in hopes of keeping the margin of support for the measure below 60%.

Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers in Tampa on Oct 23, 2024 (photo by Mitch Perry / Florida Phoenix)

As a CEO of a publicly traded company, you have a fiduciary duty to maximize value of your shareholders, DeSantis said last month at a press conference in Cape Coral, referring to Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers.

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So, when this amendment is being written, this amendment is being written to benefit this one big weed company. It is not meant to benefit you. It is not meant to benefit the state. If they did anything other than benefitting themselves, it would be a violation of their business responsibilities. They are not spending $100 million because they want to benefit you or they want to benefit the state of Florida.

There is no question that Trulieve would benefit if Amendment 3 passes, but it is by no means the only company in the state that could see revenues grow  25 companies are licensed to sell medical marijuana in the state, with another 22 licenses pending approval from the governors office.

Reeking of marijuana

DeSantis expressed outrage that the amendment does not allow individuals to grow their own cannabis, known as home grow or home cultivation. That is against the law in Florida, and courts have struck down attempts to legalize such procedures.

The governor began his public campaign by decrying how the state would reek of marijuana if the measure was approved.

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That prompted Sarasota County Republican state Sen. (and former Republican Party of Florida chair) Joe Gruters to announce that he would file a proposal if the amendment passed to ban smoking in all public places in Florida. Critics argued he wouldnt be able to do that  that the amendment couldnt be changed by the Legislature.

That stance amused former Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes, who said last week, Were at the point right now where people are just saying crazy things in order to try to sway a handful of votes. It isnt going to work.

Greuters and Brandes both supported the proposal.

Hemp industry

An interesting inside-Tallahassee aspect of the campaign was how DeSantis was able to get representatives from the states thriving hemp industry to financially contribute to Amendment 3s passage.

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Grateful for the governors veto of a controversial bill in June that many in the industry treated as an existential threat to their business models, which is centered around already-legal products, a group of hemp entrepreneurs sent at least $1.7 million to the Republican Party of Florida between June 25 and June 28, campaign records show.

The measure also got a boost when GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump endorsed the measure in early September.
Abortion rights activists rally in protest against six-week abortion bill at the old Florida Historic Capitol on March 29, 2023. (Photo by Briana Michel/Florida Phoenix)

Florida voters declined to protect abortion access in the state constitution, making it the first state to reject such a proposal since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Amendment 4, aimed at limiting government interference with abortion, fell short of the 60% approval it needed to become part of Floridas Constitution, getting 57% approval, with 43% opposing it. The result marks a major victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who deployed state resources litigating and advocating against passage of the measure.

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Amendment 4 wasnt just extremeit was intentionally deceptive, said Taryn Penske, a spokesperson for the Vote No on 4 Campaign in a written statement. It wasnt just about abortion; it was about eviscerating parental rights, forcing taxpayers to pay for abortions, and even allowing late-term abortions when babies can feel pain to be performed by non-doctors. Floridians commonsense, family-focused values prevailed.

Lauren Brenzel, the campaign director for the Yes on 4 Campaign, addressed the audience at the Yes on 4 official campaign watch party in St. Petersburg, shortly after 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

Lauren Brenzel, the Yes on 4 campaign director, speaking in St. Petersburg on Nov. 5, 2024 (photo by Mitch Perry/ Florida Phoenix)

A minority have decided that Amendment 4 will not be adopted. The reality is a majority of Floridians in what is the most conservative presidential election in Florida history just voted to end Floridas abortion ban she said to raucous cheers. Republicans, Democrats and independents do not support these extreme bans on abortion. They are tired of women dying because of abortion bans. They are tired of women being forced to giving birth to children who die in their arms because of abortion bans. They are tired of doctors being threatened with prison sentences because of abortion bans.

She went on to call on the GOP-controlled Legislature to repeal the current six-week abortion in next years legislative session.

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Palm Beach County Democratic state Sen. Lori Berman said it was devastating that Amendment 4 has failed.

This was our opportunity to safeguard the right to choose, and now, Floridians will continue to face uncertainty and restrictions on their reproductive rights. The consequences will be most harmful to marginalized communities who already struggle to access care, she said in a written statement. While this is a setback, the fight for reproductive justice is far from over. I remain committed to fighting for every Floridians right to make healthcare decisions, free from government interference. We will not stop until reproductive rights are fully protected in Florida.

Amendment sponsor Floridians Protecting Freedom had to meet a higher voter approval threshold than most other states. And to do so, the group raised $100 million, far outraising any other abortion rights ballot measure in the post-Roe years.

The failure follows the enactment in May of a law banning most abortions after six weeks of gestation.

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Messaging from the Yes on 4 campaign portrayed the amendment as a nonpartisan last resort against an extreme abortion ban that harms women and puts doctors at risk of going to prison. That depiction wasnt enough to counteract DeSantis push for voters to reject the amendment because of what he called its vagueness and removal of a parental consent requirement.

In the months leading to the election, the governor mobilized state agencies against the amendment, drawing legal disputes and intense backlash. Those efforts included a report accusing the sponsor of fraud in the petition collection process, threats of criminal charges against broadcasters airing a Yes on 4 ad, and a webpage claiming the amendment threatens womens safety.

DeSantis spent two weeks touring the state criticizing Amendment 4 with agency heads and a group of anti-abortion doctors.

The governor also sought to defeat the amendment to legalize recreational marijuana for adults, but his show of strength against the abortion amendment stretched further into delegitimizing it.

Supporters of the amendment are expected to soon speak at the Yes on 4 Campaigns event in St. Petersburg. Well update this story with some of those comments.
Ameren Missouri closed the Rush Island Energy Center on the Mississippi River rather than installing pollution controls to comply with a court order. (photo courtesy of Ameren Missouri)

Ameren Missouri would spend more than $61 million to offset its past clean air violations under a joint proposal filed Wednesday in federal court.

The St. Louis-based electric utility, which serves 1.2 million customers, has been in litigation for more than a decade over its Rush Island Energy Center, which operated for years in violation of the Clean Air Act.

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Ameren shut down Rush Island last month rather than install pollution controls to bring it into compliance with clean air standards.

In the joint proposal with the U.S. Department of Justice and the environmental nonprofit Sierra Club, Ameren agreed to spend $25 million to provide vouchers for at least 125,000 Missouri households to purchase High Efficiency Particulate Air, or HEPA, filters, prioritizing low-income communities.

Ameren would spend the remaining $36 million to help St. Louis-area school districts switch to electric buses.

Federal officials will accept comments on the proposal, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, before submitting it to the court for approval.

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In a statement, Jenn DeRose, a senior field organizer for Sierra Club, said Ameren must pay for having broken the law but cannot bring back the innocent lives that utility executives cut short or repair the environmental harms of the illegal and toxic air pollution spewed by the coal plant.

I cannot stress enough that civic leaders need to understand that Amerens unethical business decisions harm our communities, DeRose said, whether its polluting our air and water, slow-walking the transition from coal and gas to clean energy, or disconnecting people from electricity that they desperately need to survive.

A spokesperson for Ameren said in an emailed statement that the Department of Justice resolves the case and will fund the implementation of two mitigation relief programs, in addition to retiring the energy center.

Rush Island operated without pollution controls for years, releasing more than 250,000 tons of excess sulfur dioxide. Shutting down the plant will prevent future emissions, but the agreement with federal officials and the Sierra Club is meant to offset the ones Ameren cant take back.

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Ameren opened Rush Island in the mid-1970s, narrowly avoiding a 1977 update to the Clean Air Act requiring pollution controls at newly-constructed coal plants. As long as Ameren didnt make any upgrades beyond routine maintenance, it wouldnt have to install the controls.

But the company updated Rush Islands two units in 2007 and 2010 without installing pollution controls, violating the 1977 Clean Air Act update and sparking a lawsuit by the U.S. Attorneys Office.

In 2019, U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri Rodney Sippel ordered Ameren to obtain a permit, install scrubbers and lower its sulfur dioxide emissions. Sippel also ordered Ameren to install scrubbers to temporarily lower sulfur dioxide emissions at its larger Labadie Energy Center in Franklin County to make up for the excess emissions at Rush Island.

The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in 2021 upheld Sippels order requiring Ameren to install scrubbers, but struck down the requirement at Labadie.

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Later in 2021, Ameren announced it would retire Rush Island. It argued the retirement should mark the resolution of the lawsuit. But Sippel ordered Ameren and prosecutors to negotiate potential mitigation measures to make up for the sulfur dioxide emissions, which he said harm public health and the environment, contribute to premature deaths, asthma attacks, acid rain and other adverse effects in downwind communities, including the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

Sippels order, issued in June, said over the 14 years since Rush Islands second unit was updated without scrubbers installed, it has released 275,000 tons of sulfur dioxide. Ameren argues the figure is closer to 256,000 tons.
Vice President Kamala Harris is projected to lose the presidential election, a stunning outcome for millions of Americans who had hoped to elect the first woman to the presidency.

Harris defeat follows a truncated and unusual campaign that left her with just over 100 days to make her case to the American people, against a rival who had long cemented his grip over the Republican Party. Harris promised Americans an end to the chaos and division she said have plagued the nation, making a pitch for an opportunity economy, reproductive freedom, and a robust standing military to quiet global unrest. In the final weeks of the campaign, Harris increased her appeals to voters centered on the threats that a second Trump presidency would pose, highlighting the warnings from many people who had worked with him.

At the top of the Democratic ticket, Harris made history as the first woman of color to become a major partys presidential nominee. Harris campaign kicked off when President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in late July, three weeks after his faltering debate against Trump heightened concerns about his age. Even as calls for Biden to step aside intensified, Harris nomination was far from assured and the prospect of an open convention remained on the table. That all changed quickly: Within hours of dropping out, Biden threw his support behind Harris and in short order, the partys most powerful figures, even those with presidential ambitions, got behind her.

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In less than a month, Harris had picked a running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and built a campaign apparatus that posed a formidable challenge to Trump.

A robust grassroots network sprang up around her campaign, organizing and fundraising on her behalf. The very evening of Bidens exit and endorsement, Win With Black Women held a Zoom call, breaking all records for Zoom attendance and fundraising on the platform: 44,000 Black women joined the call, raising $1.8 million. A series of other Zoom calls sprung up in its wake, including White Women for Harris, which brought in 164,000 attendees and raised $8.5 million in 24 hours. Other groups followed suit, organizing around everything from ethnicity (like Latinas for Harris) to livelihood (Broadway for Harris).

Though her candidacy came about in a most unusual way, it has continued to tick off unprecedented firsts: first woman of color nominee of a major political party, most money raised on Zoom and, most notably, most money raised  period. The Harris campaign raised over $1 billion  a record for any campaign, ever  in its 14-week existence.

Trumps victory weighed heavily on Democrats left to reckon with the way in which the former reality television stars frequent attacks on immigrants, women, the media and the idea of democracy failed to break through to the electorate.

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Trump has been convicted of 34 felony counts and faces at least two other criminal cases, though their future is now in question. He also has been found liable of sexual assault, defamation and business fraud.

In a defining moment, Trumps longest-serving chief of staff John Kelly said publicly that he was concerned about the possibility of a second Trump presidency, saying that the former president fits the definition of a fascist and had sought to use the military against domestic targets. Another former member of the Trump administration said Trump had praised the military generals of former Nazi leader Adolf Hitler for their tact in executing genocide. Few voters seemed moved by these remarks.

A number of prominent Republicans  including former Rep. Liz Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney  endorsed Harris, speaking passionately of a desire to prioritize country over party to confront the way that Trumpian ideals had overtaken the party of Ronald Reagan. On the campaign trail, Cheney and other Republicans outreached to voters, asking them to not lose sight of the principles of conservatism and foster an awareness of the way in which Trumps very candidacy rebuked an investment in small government and norm-keeping.

On the campaign trail, Harris made the word freedom the running theme of her candidacy: freedom to make reproductive health care decisions, freedom from gun violence, freedom to make a better life for yourself and your family.

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With the word, Harris sought to boldly and unapologetically lay claim to the idea of patriotism itself, offering an alternative choice for Americans who were proud of their country but rebuked the assault on democratic norms posed by Trumps repeat candidacy.

In her first campaign ad, titled Freedom and set against the Beyonce song of the same name, Harris narrates the stakes for her candidacy: In this election, we each face a question: What kind of country do we want to live in? There are some people who think we should be a country of chaos, of fear, of hate  but we choose something different. We choose freedom.

The word became a staple in signs and banners flanking the stage at campaign events and framing discussions of policy proposals on everything from abortion to gun safety to voting rights. At the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in late August, Harris doubled and tripled down on this theme  something that progressive coalition groups quickly keyed into as well, organizing to talk about the ways in which so many of the issues of the election, from LGBTQ+ rights to IVF protections, are all connected by a common assault on individual liberty.

In the first presidential election to be held since the fall of Roe v. Wade and the end of a constitutional guarantee of abortion rights, much was made of what it felt to be a woman in America confronting the reality of a legal landscape where they held fewer rights today than they did a generation ago. Trump flip-flopped on his personal stance on abortion throughout this cycle, typically defaulting to a position that most Americans wanted to see abortion rights returned to the states, something not supported by polling. An undercurrent of outrage and fear fueled much of this cycle, as women shared stories of times their lives were in grave danger as a result of pregnancy complications whose treatment options have been limited since the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Center ruling in 2022.

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Those close to Harris say the freedom framing was designed to appeal to moderates and independents disillusioned by Trump, as well as traditional Republicans who disagreed with Trump or were upset by the January 6, 2021, insurrection or end of federal abortion rights.

In the homestretch of the campaign, Harris appealed to voters looking to overcome the partisanship and divisiveness that have overwhelmed American politics of late. Harris called attention to the way Trump has taken to referring to his political foes as the enemy within. In her closing argument speech, she explained she would be a president for all Americans, even those who did not vote for her, and would seek out input from people who disagree, in part by appointing a Republican to her Cabinet. Harris, who said she would come into office with a to-do list and not an enemies list, has promised to build an opportunity economy from the earliest days of her campaign. Shes proposed expanding the child tax credit, giving more Americans a pathway to homeownership, easing the burden on family caregivers and taking on price gouging and corporate greed to lower prices.

America, for too long, we have been consumed with too much division, chaos, and mutual distrust, and it can be easy then to forget a simple truth: It doesnt have to be this way, Harris said.

She fell short in building a coalition of voters who agreed, and now is added to the list of women who have tried, and failed, to become the first women president in America.

The post America, again, chooses Trump over a woman appeared first on The 19th.

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An American flag is flown upside-down near the U.S. Capitol on Sept 29, 2007. Photo by Brendan Smialowski | Getty Images

Today feels like a new America, one I dont recognize. One that doesnt make sense. One that has abandoned the promise of our great country. One I now fear. One I weep for.

We have transformed ourselves from the shining city on the hill to a monument to the grotesque, an experimental empire set to be destroyed in a madness of our own making.

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The ascension of Donald Trump to the presidency in 2016 was terrible, and ushered in all manner of national embarrassment, scandal, destructive policies and political violence, but his defeat in 2020 left us with the belief that America realized it made a mistake and corrected its course and the nation would resume its course toward the exceptionalism that had defined us for more than 200 years.

This is different, and demonstrably worse. In 2016, no one knew exactly how Trump would govern  or that his incompetence was consistently an impediment to his worst instincts and kept him from implementing the most noxious parts of his agenda.

No longer. This is a new and far more dangerous Trump, one hell bent on revenge and with the backing of a conservative movement that has turned him from a morally bankrupt real estate tycoon and reality show huckster into a deity. Those allies have spent the past four years devoted to ensuring he can carry out every terrible thought that enters his mind, and whatever other radical policies they want.

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Trump has told us all of this, and hes been frighteningly explicit about what he will do as president this time, particularly in the final weeks leading up to yesterdays election.

He will seek to root out every undocumented immigrant in a bloody and violent mass deportation. He will build concentration camps. He will institute ideological screenings for legal immigrants and end birthright citizenship.

He will end the prosecutions he is facing for fomenting a coup on Jan. 6 and illegally hoarding classified documents, and he will sic the Justice Department on his political enemies. He will pardon his violent supporters who sacked the Capitol in 2021 to overturn an election he lost and tried to kill members of Congress and Trumps own vice president.

He will use the military to violently suppress dissent and round up the enemy within, which amounts to anyone who criticizes him. He will deploy soldiers to take over cities run by Democrats.

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He will replace the civil service with his cronies to ensure there is no resistance to implementing his policies, no matter how un-American or unconstitutional, and to dismantle the government from the inside.

He will oversee the implementation of a national abortion ban, undoing the will of the voters in Arizona and other states  many deep red  that voted decisively to guarantee a right to abortion.

We have transformed ourselves from the shining city on the hill to a monument to the grotesque, an experimental empire set to be destroyed in a madness of our own making.

He will appoint lunatic anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to oversee public health.

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He will target transgender people, particularly children, and seek to erase their existence from American life. He will aggressively attack LGBTQ+ rights.

He will impose 1,000 percent across-the-board tariffs that will cost the average American family an extra $3,954 per year and eliminate 1.4 million American jobs.

He will eliminate the Department of Education and withhold funding from American schools that teach truths, be they about the nations history of racial inequality or the existence of gay and transgender people.

He will withdraw from NATO and give Vladimir Putin a green light to attack our NATO allies. He will cede Ukraine to Putin and abandon a critical ally in the fight against the Russian dictators desire to reestablish the Soviet Union.

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He will scrap policies that aim to mitigate climate change and accelerate the use of fossil fuels, which will drive America further into crisis with worsening droughts, deadly heat waves, dangerous winter storms and increasingly intense and frequent hurricanes. He will roll back the incentives for electric vehicles that are a key part of reducing carbon emissions.

He will do nothing to stop gun violence, and will instead take aim at existing policies like expanded background checks and regulating ghost guns.

He will remake America in his fascist image.

Arizona will be the epicenter of any deportation effort, with families being ripped apart. We just passed a constitutional right to abortion that federal action will either overrule or make irrelevant. Our increasingly scorching and interminable summers will become more extreme, with more deaths and higher utility bills and less water. Our Indigenous brothers and sisters, who have been prioritized by the Biden administration in a way never before done in America, will once again be cast aside and, at best, ignored.

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And Americans, it seems, cant wait. Arizona and every other battleground state has gone for Trump, and decisively handed him a second term. My colleague wrote recently about the deeper meaning of the promise of America that Kamala Harris invoked on the campaign trail.

But that America is not the one we live in today. This America is cruel and vicious, uninterested in equality or justice, instead intent on indulging its basest desires.

I hope my kids inherit some semblance of that promise of America. But Id be lying if I said I believed, in this moment, that we will.

But the greatness of America has always been our resilience and our commitment to truth and justice. We may not be championing those ideals right now, but I have to believe that we will once again find our way.

If we dont, then there wont be much of a country worth saving.

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It seems that the most important issue for US voters is the state of their democracy. That may sound, to a jaundiced British audience, rather pious but I am quite sure that it is absolutely true. And if it is, that does seem to suggest that they regard Donald Trump as more of a problem than an antidote to the countrys problems and that they are fully aware of the peril in which his campaign has put their constitutional system.

On the more specific questions of policy, the first exit polling has abortion ranking as more important than immigration. If that is the case, then something quite dramatic may be about to happen in terms of Kamala Harriss chances.

But all of this is speculative and hinges on precisely what respondents mean by words (like democracy) and how much their theoretical concerns have actually determined their votes.

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The demographic information is easier to interpret because it is less ambiguous. Latino voters  particularly young Latino men  are considerably more inclined to support Trump than older white women. On the face of it, this should be surprising since Trump has said such extraordinarily nasty things about Latino migrants, whom he has characterised as criminals and drug dealers. One explanation for this is that Hispanic communities already settled in the US resent the influx of illegals and are most concerned about their own economic prospects which they expect to improve under a Trump presidency.

But it has to be said that there is almost certainly a macho element in this: Latino men may be unlikely to vote for a woman president. And that is not the only area where sexual politics will figure. White women over 65 are apparently most likely to be supporting Harris and this is assumed to be on the very specific issue of abortion.

That is almost certainly true. Women of that age would have been part of the first wave of US feminism which saw abortion rights as a key reform. But their aversion to Trump could be more visceral: he is just the sort of sexist bully that women of their generation were determined to undermine. In the end, it may be deep resentments rather than the current state of the nation that determine the outcome of this election.

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Delegates attend a signing ceremony of an agreement on the establishment of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 6, 2024. An agreement on the establishment of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) was officially signed on Wednesday in the city of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Delegates from 18 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention attended the ceremony. In September 2023, a proposal to establish the IMC in Shenzhen was approved by the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

SHENZHEN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- An agreement on the establishment of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) was officially signed on Wednesday in the city of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

Delegates from 18 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention attended the ceremony. In September 2023, a proposal to establish the IMC in Shenzhen was approved by the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention.

The establishment of the IMC is a concrete step toward improving global environmental governance, and is expected to contribute to the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mangroves play a crucial role in purifying seawater, mitigating storm surges, maintaining biodiversity and sequestering carbon.

Prioritizing mangrove conservation, China has enacted a wetland protection law and supporting regulations, established a nature reserve system, and implemented national wetland protection plans and special action plans for mangrove restoration.

Today, China has a total mangrove area of 30,300 hectares, an increase of approximately 8,300 hectares compared to the beginning of the century.

The IMC will be a platform for deepened exchange and cooperation with member states of the Ramsar Convention, promote global action for mangrove protection and sustainable utilization, and enhance the quality and stability of mangrove ecosystems, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. 

Delegates pose for a photo outside the venue of a signing ceremony of an agreement on the establishment of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 6, 2024. An agreement on the establishment of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) was officially signed on Wednesday in the city of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

Delegates from 18 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention attended the ceremony. In September 2023, a proposal to establish the IMC in Shenzhen was approved by the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

An aerial drone photo shows a view of a mangrove wetland in Futian of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 6, 2024. An agreement on the establishment of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) was officially signed on Wednesday in the city of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

Delegates from 18 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention attended the ceremony. In September 2023, a proposal to establish the IMC in Shenzhen was approved by the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

Delegates attend a signing ceremony of an agreement on the establishment of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 6, 2024. An agreement on the establishment of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) was officially signed on Wednesday in the city of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

Delegates from 18 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention attended the ceremony. In September 2023, a proposal to establish the IMC in Shenzhen was approved by the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

Guests view photos of mangrove wetland in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 6, 2024. An agreement on the establishment of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) was officially signed on Wednesday in the city of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

Delegates from 18 contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention attended the ceremony. In September 2023, a proposal to establish the IMC in Shenzhen was approved by the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
Donald Trump, shown her on Oct. 23 at a campaign rally in Duluth, Georgia, will be returning to the White House. Alex Brandon/Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  Donald Trump, who attempted a coup to remain in power the last time he had the job and is now also a convicted criminal, is now projected to return to the White House.

A sea of his supporters in the cavernous Palm Beach County Convention Center hall let out a roar when Fox News called the race for him at 1:47 a.m. Wednesday. Many wore the red Make America Great Again hats the campaign had handed out as they arrived early Tuesday evening.

We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, and it is now clear weve achieved the most incredible political thing, Trump said a half hour later from the stage. Look what happened! Is this crazy?

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Trump, as he read from his teleprompter, hit standard victory speech themes of unity and healing. I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president. And every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and your future.

Then, as he often does his in his rallies, he veered off topic  describing at length the landing of a SpaceX rocket booster, for example  which led his supporters to start streaming out the exit about halfway through his 25 minutes of remarks.

The former president will retake office on Jan. 20, allowing him to dismiss two outstanding federal indictments against him and almost certainly delaying both a Georgia state prosecution against him and any prison term he might receive at a sentencing later this month in a New York state case.

More ominously for supporters of American democracy, his return to the presidency gives him the tools to attack the foundational principles of the 236-year-old republic from within. He came to appreciate those tools only in the final weeks of his first term, when he tried to order officials at the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security to help him steal the election he had lost. He had months earlier seen top military officials state publicly that they would have no part in the coming elections and were loyal to the Constitution, not to the president personally.

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This time, he comes into office with a deeper understanding of the scope of his near-absolute power over the executive branch of the federal government, especially as commander in chief of the armed forces, as well as the knowledge that the U.S. Supreme Court effectively gave him complete immunity from prosecution for his actions as president.

What that means for the future of elections and the rule of law remains unclear.

Trump has essentially promised to rule as an autocrat: prosecuting his political opponents, using the military to put down protests in American cities and even using the military to go after people he has deemed to be the enemy within.

Some experts on authoritarianism worry that Trump, once sworn in and given control of the armed forces, will never willingly leave office. They cite his Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt to remain in power even after he had lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.

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But small majorities in enough of the seven swing states, as well as tens of millions of voters in the rest of the country, apparently did not share that concern. In fact, exit polls found that while a full 73% of voters said they believed democracy was under threat in America, they split their support evenly between Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

Many Republicans say that Americas institutions are too strong and the bureaucracy too unwieldy for Trump to be able to seize absolute power. They concede, though, that those institutions have never been tested as they are likely to be in a second Trump term.

Trump basically has been seeking his White House return the whole time he has been out of office, dropping his first big hint that he would run again at the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, just two weeks after Senate Republican leaders decided not to convict him on his impeachment for inciting the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, which had capped off his attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

He appeared to be at his political nadir following the 2022 midterm elections, when his insistence on pushing candidates who would spread his lie that the 2020 election had been stolen from him ended up undermining the red wave Republicans had been hoping for.

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But his GOP rivals failed to take him head on, and when prosecutors started filing criminal charges against him in April 2023, Trump successfully used the legal actions to drive up his support among Republican primary voters. He cruised through the primaries easily, spending most of his time and money in those months running against President Joe Biden rather than his Republican rivals.

Bidens disastrous performance in a June debate against Trump led to his decision a month later to end his reelection bid and endorse his vice president, Kamala Harris. She received an immediate bump in the polls and overtook Trump for a few weeks after the Democratic National Convention in August and after having the better of Trump in their sole debate in September.

Her support in the polls began to slide by the end of that month, though, and Trump took the lead for good in October, although the margin appeared to be narrowing in the final weeks.

See full results from the presidential election here.
Donald Trump  the twice impeached former president, Jan. 6 coup leader, convicted felon, adjudicated sexual abuser, and man who mismanaged the 2020 economic implosion and coronavirus disaster that killed more than 1 million people in this country  has persuaded American voters to give him another term in the White House.

After a campaign marked by nativism, open bigotry, and aspiring authoritarianism, Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris, despite being denounced by several of those who worked most closely with him in his first term as a fascist. The 45th president will become the 47th in late January.

Trump got out to an early lead on Tuesday and never looked back, securing North Carolina and Georgia before shattering the Democratic blue wall of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The race was called at 5:35 a.m. EST by The Associated Press after Trump earned 270 electoral college votes by winning Wisconsin.

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Trump declared victory to a packed crowd of jubilant supporters at the Palm Beach convention center, promising a golden age for the nation while surrounded by his family and closest allies. He added toward the end of his characteristically rambling speech that his win was a massive victory for democracy and freedom, and that many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason.

I will govern by a simple motto: Promises made, promises kept, Trump said.

The stakes of a Trump victory could not be higher for many of the most vulnerable people living in this country. Trumps central campaign promise has been to embark on the largest mass-deportation program in the nations history, a supercharged version of a racist Eisenhower-era program called Operation Wetback. Trump has promised to forcibly remove millions, and said that it will be a bloody story. He has vowed to employ local law enforcement, sheriffs, and, if necessary, the armed forces.

Trump has also vowed to use the Justice Department as an instrument of revenge on his political enemies, to crack down on media outlets that have criticized him, to hollow out the professional ranks of the federal government (and stock it full of his MAGA cronies), and to impose massive tariffs that will increase the cost of everything from avocados and automobiles to iPhones and apparel.

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Americas democracy has rarely been in a more fragile place. The country has chosen a leader who has promised to govern as a strongman, and who will not be held accountable for breaking the law, thanks to a ruling by his hand-selected, far-right Supreme Court majority that puts the presidency beyond the reach of criminal prosecution.

This implausible victory  coming after a chaotic campaign that saw Democrats change candidates mid-election, and Trump galumph down the closing stretch with an increasingly bizarre series of stunts, including dressing up as a garbage man  also has huge stakes for Trump personally.

As early as the summer of 2021, according to three sources familiar with the matter, longtime political operatives and GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill who had remained in direct contact with Trump were coalescing around a shared belief: If the criminal investigations into the former president keep ramping up, and especially if charges materialize, there is no way he doesnt run for the presidency again.

This conviction was based on conversations these Trump allies had been having with the ex-president at the time, when Trumps fixation on, and barely veiled anxiety about, prosecution and potential prison sentences was already palpable. As time inched closer and closer to the 2022 midterm elections, Trump would, in discussions with close advisers about running again, increasingly ramble about the unique legal protections from prosecution that a sitting American president enjoys.

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Two years, several history-making indictments of a former president, and billions of dollars later, those anxieties continued to fester in Trumps brain. Over the 2024 election season, he and his allies had brainstormed and plotted numerous ways to shield him from dire legal consequences; earlier this year, the former president personally pressured multiple Republican lawmakers to pass legislation essentially designed to keep him out of prison forever. (This law did not pass, but stay tuned.)

Trump appears in the clear for at least another four years after voters handed him his long-coveted get-out-of-jail-free card on Tuesday.

The special counsel cases against the president-elect are headed for spiteful decimation  and likely reprisals  by Trump and his government-in-waiting. If Jack Smith and his team dont already have [their own] lawyers looking into worst-case scenarios, theyre not thinking straight, says a lawyer close to Trump, who has been in the room multiple times this year when Trump has railed against Smiths supposedly illegal investigations. I am not saying that as a threat, this attorney adds. Im saying it as someone who has a TV and can see what Donald Trump says  when he talks about what he will do once reelected.

Trump won this year even though  and, surely in some cases, because  he ran on imposing upon the American people and global community an openly authoritarian regime concerned largely with score-settling. In addition to pledging mass deportations, militarized crackdowns, and disassembling and reconstructing the federal government around protecting and empowering himself, the former president loudly and explicitly ran on a platform of letting fellow Americans die if he doesnt get his way or if your local leaders dont bend to his will. Trump has recently threatened to deny potentially life-saving natural disaster aid to states whose leaders dont bend to his wishes, threats that should be taken seriously given his history of withholding such aid for political reasons.

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Trump has also steadfastly denied that the increasing frequency of such natural disasters has anything to do with the climate crisis, which he has called a hoax. He has said he will be a dictator for a day in order to drill, baby, drill, and he has been working hand in glove with the fossil fuel industry. As climate writer Jeff Goodell wrote for Rolling Stone recently: Trump is running a pro-climate chaos campaign. To him, a superheated planet is a feature, not a bug. Think about this way: The more chaotic our world becomes, the easier it is for him to stoke fear, build walls, deploy the military, and cosplay the Strong Man.

Trump said in the home stretch of the campaign that the U.S. military should be used on Americans who oppose him, a frightening indicator of just how violent his second administration could be. Despite surviving an assassination attempt at a rally this past summer when a bullet barely missed his head, grazing his ear, Trump heads back into office wholly unrepentant for any of the political violence and wave of death threats he has inspired against so many others over the years.

The idea that we are on the cusp of normalizing political violence in this country is false. We have already normalized it  especially over the past three and a half years  and in the aftermath of Jan. 6, retired D.C. Metropolitan Police officer Michael Fanone, who was brutally attacked while fighting the pro-Trump mob at the Capitol during the riot, tells Rolling Stone. Its been normalized because elected leaders, government officials, and people in positions of authority in this country feel its OK to settle a policy disagreement by using violence and the threat of violence and inspiring their supporters to use violence. So, here we are.

Fanone, who has been speaking out against Trump for years, notes that he regularly receives threats, all while Trump continues to glorify his supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol and beat him. Trump has indicated he plans to pardon those who have been convicted for their actions that day.

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Despite everything thats occurred over the past two years alone that screamed out as a warning to the American voter that this man may not be the greatest custodian of the nuclear launch codes, millions and millions of voters have renewed Trumps contract of executive and near-absolute power.

The crowd inside the Palm Beach convention center on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning when the race was called couldnt have been more excited for him to seize it. Multiple Trump campaign officials were absolutely giddy in their real-time assessments to Rolling Stone throughout the night, while MAGA luminaries like Rudy Giuliani, Corey Lewandowski, actor Kevin Sorbo, and far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer smiled for pictures with adoring supporters. Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., J.D. Vance, Mike Johnson, and other allies who figure to help Trump enact his agenda were in attendance, either at the convention center or at nearby Mar-a-Lago.

Trump aides fist-bumped each other as it became clear Trump would win, with songs like Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville and Elvis Presleys Suspicious Minds blaring over the loudspeaker. So too was the Village Peoples YMCA, accompanied by video of Trump dancing to his longtime favorite on the big screens set up in the hall. The crowd erupted, beside itself over the magnitude of the former presidents victory.

Trumps team had been ready to challenge a close result, and late into the night, one of the conservative lawyers who had been working on Trumps post-election legal strategies told Rolling Stone that they were unpacking the go-bag they had ready in case they needed to jet or drive to a swing state to contest close results. There were no close results to contest  Trump romped.

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Trumps win demonstrates that the most powerful people in the country are indeed above the law. An elderly, foul-mouthed, racist game-show host can try, in broad daylight, while the TV cameras are fixed on him, to execute a coup detat in our nations capital, people can die from it, and in a few shorts years be rewarded with the full-throated support of his political party, and now the keys to the White House.

No matter what policies Trump does or doesnt manage to shove through when he takes office in January, there is no doubt that he and his new Justice Department are going to shut down the federal cases against him. He will get away with it all, and his enemies will have to choke on that for the rest of their careers and lives.

And that will just be the beginning.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A furniture company is closing all locations, including five in the Miami Valley.

According to documents filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, American Freight will close all locations following a move by parent company, Franchise Group, to file bankruptcy protection.

Documents show the following area locations will close:

8284 Old Troy Pike, Huber Heights

2000 E. Dorothy Lane, Kettering

2800 Springboro Pike, Moraine

987 E. Ash St. Suite 125, Piqua

4782 Muhlhauser Road, West Chester

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The debtors concluded that American Freights limited amount of profitable store locations could not support the rightsizing of its business through a plan of reorganization, said David Orlofsky, chief restructuring officer for Franchise Group.

Franchise Group is also the parent company of Buddys Home Furnishings, Pet Supplies Plus and The Vitamin Shoppe. Andrew Laurence, president and CEO of Franchise Group said his company will focus on the three remaining.

Each of these businesses has a demonstrated value proposition and provides great products and services to customers, which they will continue to do seamlessly during this process, said Laurence.

Closing sales were expected to begin Nov. 5.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
(Bloomberg) -- Crypto advocates took a victory lap on Wednesday as the vast amounts of money they poured into the US elections yielded huge dividends, from Donald Trumps reelection to down-ballot wins for politicians friendly to the sector.

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Once a crypto skeptic, Trump corralled tens of millions of dollars in industry support for Republican candidates by promising to make America the Bitcoin superpower of the world. On the campaign trail this summer, he pledged to fire US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, create a government-owned Bitcoin reserve and ensure all future Bitcoin is mined on US soil.

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Bitcoin jumped to a fresh record on Wednesday as Trump barreled towards reelection. Tokens from Ether to Uniswap also rallied.

Some of the sectors largest companies and wealthiest entrepreneurs, including Coinbase Global Inc., the Winklevoss twins and Ripple Labs Inc., poured unprecedented amounts of money into the race. Fairshake, a pro-crypto super PAC, spent over $180 million on ensuring candidates who supported the industry would secure their place in the Senate and House of Representatives.

We are on the brink of a new American Renaissance, said Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of crypto exchange Gemini Trust Co., in a post on X on Wednesday.

Heres how some other crypto advocates and executives, from El Salvador President Nayib Bukele to Coinbase Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong, reacted to the election results and interpreted the market moves:

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Timo Lehes, co-founder at Swarm Markets:

Crypto markets see Trump as much more favorable to the sector than a Harris administration might have been. This comes principally down to the view of how regulators in the US treat crypto. If we look at the last four years of the Biden administration, then this tells you all you need to know about how crypto has been treated by the Democrats.

Of course we had the FTX disaster among others, but beyond that the targeting of the sector has been pointed. The Trump relief rally here is a euphoric response to the potential for this regulatory bullying to now end.

Anatoly Crachilov, CEO of Nickel Digital:

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Bitcoins overnight price action reflects market expectations for constructive crypto policies under the incoming president and his technocratic team. This shift signals an end to regulation-by-enforcement, creating a new opportunity for the US to establish itself as a global leader in the digital asset space. [...] The focus now shifts to implementing the crypto-friendly policies promised on the campaign trail, a key factor for the markets current optimism..

Seth Hertlein, global head of policy at Ledger:

Its been a historic year for crypto on the ballot. We are now seeing across political lines that the force of crypto is undeniable, particularly across pro-crypto congressional candidates.

Toby Lewis, co-founder of OrdinalsBot:

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A Donald Trump victory was what the crypto markets were waiting for, and clearly this market reaction with a massive rally was expected. Plans for a Bitcoin standard, stated intention to fire Gary Gensler and a much more pro crypto policy in general should see a more welcome environment for crypto in the US. The Democrats in terms of crypto policy were frankly stuck in the past.

--With assistance from Sidhartha Shukla.

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More than 4,000 miles from home, small groups of Democratic and Republican voters in the British capital gathered within 2 miles of each other to witness what both sides have framed as one of -- if not the -- most important elections in American history.

There are some 306,000 American voters in the U.K., according to the Federal Voting Assistance Program, making them the second largest foreign voting block behind their 660,000 compatriots in Canada.

Those who gathered in London on Tuesday were pitching vastly different visions crafted by wildly different directors.

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Vice President Kamala Harris had vowed to give opponents "a seat at my table," promising to bridge the widening divides fracturing American political culture. She decried former President Donald Trump as a "fascist" seeking "unchecked power."

PHOTO: Briton Paul Chambers and wife Cheryl Martin from New York react while watching the election coverage during a Democrats Abroad event in a pub in London, U.K., on Nov. 6, 2024. (Isabel Infantes/Reuters)

Trump had threatened to set the military on what he called the "enemy within," telling supporters they "won't have a country anymore" if he does not win back the White House. The former president still baselessly claims he won the 2020 election, and was hesitant to commit to accepting the results of Tuesday's vote if he lost again.

The Democrats Abroad event in central London kicked off just before polls closed, when confidence was high among Democratic voters in the U.K. and elsewhere. The group booked its event location through until Wednesday morning, prepared for a long wait for a clear result.

By the early hours of Wednesday morning, though, Trump had claimed victory as he neared the all-important 270 electoral college vote mark. Harris cancelled her planned address at Howard University in Washington, D.C., as supporters trickled away.

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Democrats Abroad U.K. Chair Kristin Wolfe was among those who were supremely confident in the final hours of voting.

"I feel like this is really going to be the night," she told ABC News. "Not only are we going to turn a page on this old, stale rhetoric that has been coming out of the Trump camp for nine years, but we also get to look forward to something so optimistic."

The ornamentation was assured. The event location -- the details of which were not published due to security concerns -- was decked out with red, white and blue bunting, hung around countless posters bearing Harris' campaign refrain, "When we fight, we win."

MORE: With Harris' path to victory narrowing, Trump declares victory

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"I'm trying not to get too excited," Harris supporter PK Whalen said. "We've been disappointed before."

One volunteer told ABC News they felt like "a joyful warrior," and that they were "completely and utterly convinced" that Harris would win.

Others were less sure, but still positive. "I can either be worried or I can hope for the best," attendee Kshitij Kumar said.

The organized Republican footprint in the U.K. is smaller. Unlike the Democrats Abroad UK group which is organized and funded by the Democratic Party, Republicans Overseas is not an official part of the GOP.

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Republican organizers like Greg Swenson always expect their team to place second within the U.K., given that Americans living in the country skew towards the demographic, educational and economic groups with which Democrats generally perform better. Some groups, though -- particularly the 10,000 or so military personnel in the U.K. -- do somewhat lean right.

PHOTO: A cake bearing the image of Vice President Kamala Harris is cut during an event by Democrats Abroad in a pub in London, U.K. on Nov. 6, 2024. (Isabel Infantes/Reuters)

Swenson and a handful of colleagues planned to gather at a bar in central London on Tuesday to follow the results while juggling media appearances. A larger event was planned for Wednesday night. "Hopefully it's a victory party," Swenson told ABC News.

If not, Swenson said he hoped for a clear result and a graceful response from Trump. "If Trump doesn't accept the results of the election, I don't think that's good news," he said, adding that the former president's baseless claims of electoral theft in 2020 were "foolish" from a campaign perspective.

"I would love it if Trump won by several points," Swenson said. "And if Kamala wins, good for her. I hope it's by five points."

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Foreign policy generally does not move the needle significantly in U.S. presidential contests, though its importance may be somewhat elevated in 2024 with ongoing wars in eastern Europe in the Middle East in which U.S. forces are deeply involved -- and in some cases, directly threatened.

Foreign policy will likely be a more pressing concern for Americans living outside of the country, as might be the thought that this week's election will cast the country in one of two very different international roles.

Trump's message to the world, Swenson said, is that America remains "the land of opportunity, and there's a reason people want to move here."

"We can be prosperous again -- that's better for the world and we can bring peace back," he added, though acknowledged Trump "might exaggerate a little bit there."

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"People might not miss Trump, but they miss peace and prosperity. And I think Americans living abroad are a little closer to it."

MORE: Harris will not speak as tearful supporters leave watch party

The former president's embrace of controversial figures like Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Swenson said, suggests that the new Republican movement is one of "future- and forward- looking people that aren't yesterday's news."

For Trump's opponents, his election would mean a return to provocative nationalism, naked transactionalism and fawning praise of authoritarians.

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If Trump wins, "It means we cannot give up," Wolfe said.

"But I don't think it's going to happen. I think that the American people know exactly what Donald Trump stands for, and they don't like it."

American voters in London pitch competing visions of US originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), left, campaigns with Rhode Island Sen. Walter Felag, a Warren Democrat seeking reelection to his District 10 seat, outside the Mary V. Quirk School in Warren on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 5, 2024. (Ken Castro/Rhode Island Current)

U.S. Rep Gabe Amo easily defeated his Republican challenger in Tuesdays general election to win his first full term representing Rhode Island in the 1st Congressional District seat he won in last years special election.

The Associated Press called the race at 9:17 p.m. for the states first Black congressman, who had then secured 60.5% of the vote compared to 34% for his lesser funded Republican opponent Allen Waters, with 67% of the votes counted. Independent C.D. Reynolds had just 5.1%.

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Polls closed at 8 p.m.

I am honored that voters in Rhode Islands First Congressional District have overwhelmingly reelected me to serve as their voice in Washington, said Amo, 36, in a statement. During my first year in office, Im proud of what we have accomplished to positively impact the lives of my constituents, by bringing resources home and ensuring that I share our states values in Washington. There is work to do to continue to lower costs, deliver economic opportunity for Rhode Island families, and protect our freedoms. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and continuing to work for all of us.

Amo had a significant campaign war chest  with over $1 million on hand  compared to Waters $4,355 for the filing period ending Sept. 30, according to quarterly federal campaign finance reports filed on Oct. 15.

The race featured no debates. The two candidates had previously squared off in 2023s crowded Democratic primary for the seat Amo eventually won with a 30-percentage-point lead over Republican challenger Gerry Leonard Jr. Amo led the dozen-candidate primary with 32% of the vote. Waters captured just 1.3%  about 500 people in all  and was the third-lowest vote-getter.

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Amos reelection also means he may potentially choose a new office space later in November. Because he had filled the unexpired term of his predecessor David Cicilline, who served from 2011 to 2023, Amo was assigned to Cicillines spot in the Rayburn House Office Building. But lawmakers retire or lose elections and leave offices vacant. More senior members choose first when the selection process for new offices opens up before members of Congress.

Cicilline resigned from the U.S. House to become president of the Rhode Island Foundation in 2023.

Amo started his day at 7:15 a.m. voting in person at Hope High School in Providence before heading to Temple Beth El on Orchard Avenue on the East Side, the first of at least a half dozen morning campaign stops in Providence, Woonsocket, Smithfield and Lincoln. His schedule was to take him to Warren, Barrington, East Providence and Pawtucket before returning to Providence.

I will be hopping around polling places all over the 1st District today to thank people for participating in this really sacred opportunity for us to shape our nation, he said.

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Amo said he planned to talk to voters till the last possible minute before join with other Democrats across the state at the Graduate Hotel for an Election Night celebration in downtown Providence.

I will certainly be tuned in to make sure that that if theres any news that Im that Im up to date on it, and Im hoping that were able to win the House and have Hakeem Jeffries as our next speaker, and have Kamala Harris be declared as our next president, Amo added. At some point, it may not be tonight, but at some point, before its all said and done.

Waters did not release a schedule for the day. I dont have one, he said when reached for comment in the early afternoon. I will be quiet.

The 1st Congressional District spans the eastern half of the state. Democrats make up 42% of the districts registered voters while Republicans account for 12% and 45% are independent, according to the Rhode Island Secretary of State.

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All 435 seats in the Republican-controlled House are up for grabs. About 40 tight races will play a pivotal role in determining the majority before the 119th Congress convenes on Jan. 3, 2025. The Cook Political Reports recent findings suggest that Democrats are expected to snag up to 13 GOP-held seats, while the Republicans are likely to seize eight seats  leaving 22 tossup races and uncertainty over who will control Congress by January.

Waters, a fourth-generation Providence resident, switched parties back to Republican to run against Amo. Waters mounted unsuccessful bids as a Republican for U.S. Senate in 2020, and Congress in 2022. He works as a ride-share driver and substitute teacher. Prior to that, he spent 30-years as an investment consultant with firms like Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab, and TIAA-CREF.

Before running for Congress, Amo worked in the the Biden White House as a special assistant to the president and deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, serving as a liaison for mayors and other local elected officials. He also worked under former Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo as a director of public engagement and community affairs.

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ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  A registered sex offender was taken into police custody after they arrived at Lake City Elementary School on Friday, according to Anderson County Schools.

When the individual who is on the sex offender registry entered the school, school protocols immediately flagged them, prompting software and school officials to alert law enforcement, the school system shared. Part of the security protocol includes mandatory background checks for all visitors.

Arrest made in Maryville decades-old cold case

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The school system said that the Rocky Top Police Department and the Anderson County Sheriffs Office responded to the school. Anderson County Schools added that students, staff and faculty were not put at risk at any time while this was happening thanks to the prompt and decisive response of staff and law enforcement.

The Rocky Top Police Department released a statement to 6 News Wednesday afternoon, identifying the registered sex offender who is believed to have attempted to access Lake City Elementary School as Tariq S. Mohammed, 40, of Stone Mountain Georgia. Mohammed and a Rocky Top woman were found and taken into custody at a local restaurant, Rocky Top Police said.

Tariq S. Mohammed. (Anderson County Sheriffs Office)

Following the investigation, Mohammed was charged with violating the sexual offender registration, by allegedly not reporting to local law enforcement within 48 hours of establishing a presence in Tennessee, and two counts of violating sexual offender residential or work restrictions. The woman who was taken into custody with Mohammed was charged with child neglect and endangerment on allegations that she allowed Mohammed to have an overnight visit in a home where a minor lives.

According to the Georgia Sex Offender Registry, Mohammed was convicted in Georgia of one count of sexual exploitation of children in March of 2013. That is the only offense listed on his profile.

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What happens to Trumps criminal prosecutions now? Lawyer explains

Anderson County Schools expressing appreciation for the Rocky Top Police Department and the Anderson County Sheriffs Office for their rapid response and unwavering support on social media Wednesday.

We are truly blessed to live in a community where our law enforcement partners work hand-in-hand with our schools to ensure the highest level of safety and security for our children and employees, Anderson County Schools wrote. The strong relationship between our district and local agencies is a critical component in creating a secure and safe learning environment, and todays events highlight the importance of this collaboration.

EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated with new information from the Rocky Top Police Department.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
ANDOVER, Conn. (WTNH)  An Andover man is accused of looking through a window to watch a woman and young child bathe.

The trooper investigating the case was familiar with the accused from previous incidents of the same nature, according to a report from Connecticut State Police.

Joshua Gonsalves, 34, has been charged with voyeurism, third-degree criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. He is being held on a $10,000 bond.

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The woman told police that she was bathing with her child on Tuesday when she saw Gonsalves outside her bathroom window watching her, according to police. She slapped the window, shattering the glass and cutting her hand. Gonsalves then ran off.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
Andrew Bailey is hoping to win his first full term as Missouri's attorney general after being appointed to the position in November 2022 by Gov. Mike Parson (Photo provided by Andrew Bailey's campaign).

Republican Andrew Bailey will remain Missouri attorney general for another four years, defeating Democrat Elad Gross.

Final results with all precincts reporting to the secretary of states office show Bailey defeated Gross 60% to 38%.

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Bailey has held the office since November 2022, when he was appointed attorney general by GOP Gov. Mike Parson after his predecessor won a U.S. Senate seat. At the time, Bailey was Parsons general counsel and had never run for elected office.

Bailey has vowed to continue fighting the Biden administration and strengthening consumer protection.

His most high-profile cases since becoming attorney general include twice suing to block federal student loan forgiveness, and carrying forward a lawsuit alleging the Biden administration was censoring conservatives online by pressuring social media companies.

But hes also faced accusations  from both Democrats and Republicans  of corruption, incompetence and grandstanding, with his critics alleging hes more interested in scoring appearances on Fox News than effectively running the sprawling office or winning in the courtroom.

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An Army veteran, Bailey has said much of his career has been shaped by his time as an assistant prosecutor and working in a county juvenile office in Missouri. He and his wife went on to foster and then adopt three of their four children.

I grew up thinking working with police to lock bad guys up was about the coolest job on Earth, Bailey told The Independent in July. And thats really all I ever wanted to do.

After completing law school at the University of Missouri, Bailey worked as an assistant prosecutor in Warren County where Bailey said he was particularly moved by his interactions with victims. But his additional role as attorney for the county juvenile office  which Bailey said he took on to help make ends meet at home  changed his life.

He watched children come in and out of the system. He said the number of children who didnt have a home to go to on Christmas broke his heart. Eventually, he and his wife decided to foster and then adopt three of their four children, who now range in age from 2 to 11.

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Andrew is one of those people that has not only put his money where his mouth is on those topics, said James Lawson, his longtime friend and campaign manager. Hes a guy thats pulling kids out of the foster system.

This article has been updated to reflect final, unofficial results.
Andrew Warren, suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis, holds a news conference in Tallahassee on Aug. 17, 2022. Flanking him is his attorney, J Cabou. Credit: Michael Moline

In one of the most closely observed elections in Florida this year, Hillsborough County Republican State Attorney Suzy Lopez has defeated Democrat Andrew Warren, 53%-47%.

The election results are a bitter blow for Warren, who was elected on a criminal justice reform platform in Hillsborough in 2016 and 2020 but was stunningly suspended by DeSantis in August 2022 for comments he made about not prosecuting certain abortion and transgender rights cases, as well as policies discouraging prosecution of certain low-level crimes.

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DeSantis followed up in August 2023 by suspending another progressive state attorney, Orange/Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, allegedly for being too soft on crime.

However, Worrell on Tuesday defeated the man appointed to replace her, former Orange County Judge Andrew Bain, who ran without a party affiliation. The final results in Floridas 9th Judicial Circuit race were Worrell with 57%, and Bain with 43%.

A direct mail piece targeting Andrew Warren paid for by Protecting Americans Project Action Fund, a conservative Super PAC based in Virginia

Dead-set DeSantis

DeSantis made it clear early this year that he would do all he could to ensure that both state attorneys would not be returned to office. In June, he said in Tampa that a recently created political committee would use its resources to campaign against the re-election campaigns of both Democrats.

Here in Hillsborough, I mean obviously, you need to elect a prosecutor that is going to put criminals away and hold them accountable, and you have someone in office right now whos doing that, DeSantis said, referring to Lopez. So, I think thats an important race.

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In September, the Phoenix asked DeSantis at a press availability in Pinellas County if he would suspend either of the two Democrats if they were successful at the ballot box?

When those folks were in office, they took the position that they didnt have to enforce laws that they disagreed with, he said. That caused people to be put back on the street who then victimized folks who should not have been victimized.

He said that Hillsborough, Orange, and Osceola counties were all much safer now than before.

Talk to [Hillsborough County] Sheriff [Chad] Chronister, talk to the folks who are on the beat in Osceola and Orange counties, people who work for the deputy sheriffs and police officers. They want a prosecutor who is willing to stand up for them against the criminals, he added.

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The governors committee ultimately paid for television ads attacking Warrens record as a prosecutor that seemed to air on a loop in Hillsborough County, with nary an ad from Warren to rebut the claims. Loads of direct mail pieces blasting Warren hit mailboxes throughout the county.

Lopez and Warren both raised more than half a million in their campaign accounts, but Lopez had lots more cash-on-hand in her political committee, Friends of Suzy Lopez, at the beginning of last week  nearly $300,000 more.

Court challenge

After Warren was suspended in August 2022, he challenged it in federal court. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled that DeSantis had violated the First Amendment in removing Warren because of political differences and the anticipated political benefit to the governor  but said that he lacked power to reinstate him. A federal appeals court ruled in January that Hinkle should reconsider that decision  but that ruling has been appealed by the DeSantis administration. The matter remains pending.

Warren initially said that he wouldnt run again, but changed his mind and announced his candidacy shortly before the deadline to qualify emerged in April.

Monique Worrell via her webpage

No cases cited

In Orlando, Monique Worrell was celebrating her victory.

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On Aug. 9, 2023, DeSantis suspended her, claiming in an executive order that she had neglected her duty to faithfully prosecute crime in her jurisdiction.

She challenged her suspension, but lost that argument in June, when the Florida Supreme Court upheld DeSantis move on a 6-1 vote, concluding that his decision was reasonable based on allegations he spelled out when relieving her of her duties.

The order did not list specific cases but alleged she had authorized or allowed practices or policies that have systemically permitted violent offenders, drug traffickers, serious-juvenile offenders and pedophiles to evade incarceration when otherwise warranted under Florida law.

It went on to say that these practices or policies include non-filing or dropping meritorious charges or declining to allege otherwise provable facts to avoid triggering applicable lengthy sentences, minimum mandatory sentences, or other sentencing enhancements, especially for offenders under the age of 25, except in the most extreme cases.

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Worrell disputed those allegations, asking in a radio interview why the governor never listed any specific cases?

The thing about the Florida criminal system is that when you make an allegation regarding how cases are resolved, its very simple to cite to a specific case. Thats the way the law works. Cite to a specific case where there is a systemic pattern of individuals who commit any type of offense who are permitted to evade incarceration. He cant, because there arent any, she said on WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa.

What now?

Now the question is: Will DeSantis suspend her again? He steadfastly avoided responding when asked that question while on the stump earlier this year. However, an Orlando attorney who ran in the Republican primary in the Ninth Judicial district in August, Thomas Feiter, said he was told by a DeSantis associate that he would indeed.

If Monique wins, I think  well, they told me that the plan is to remove her again, and just put [Andrew] Bain back in, Feiter said in September on WMNF. He initially made that charge in a complaint with the Florida Bar, which declined to pursue the claim.
A sub-forum titled "International Cooperation in Protecting IPR and Fighting Against IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting" is held during the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

A sub-forum titled "International Cooperation in Protecting IPR and Fighting Against IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting" is held during the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

A sub-forum titled "The Future of Global New Energy Vehicles" is held during the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

A sub-forum titled "Deepening Cooperation on Industrial and Supply Chains for High-quality Development of Enterprises" is held during the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

A sub-forum titled "Global Drug Safety Governance and Chinese Drug Regulation Innovation" is held during the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

A sub-forum titled "Deepening Cooperation on Industrial and Supply Chains for High-quality Development of Enterprises" is held during the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

A sub-forum titled "Globalization and Youth Development: Creating a Shared Better Future" is held during the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

A sub-forum titled "A Shared Silver Economy: New Opportunities in an Aging Society" is held during the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

A sub-forum titled "Sustainable Trade Amid Climate Change" is held during the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2024. (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)
Andy Cohen has clapped back at critics who claimed celebrities that endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president were only doing so as a flex.

On Wednesday (November 6) morning, Donald Trump  the Republican candidate for president  surpassed the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the 2024 election. Shortly after, Cohen turned to Instagram where he asked his five-year-old son Benjamin what he thought about the results.

Donald Duck won, Benjamin replied.

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As Cohen appeared to become teary eyed in the video, he then told the camera: We love our country, we do. We will persist, we will move forward.

The Bravo executive echoed the sentiment in the caption of the post, which read: God Bless America!

In the comments section, however, one follower responded to Cohens post by criticizing celebrity endorsements for political office. Leading up to the election, Harris had notably received the support from A-listers like Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Meanwhile, Trump was endorsed by Jake Paul, Dennis Quaid, and Mel Gibson.

We will persist, Cohen says after Donald Trump wins 2024 presidential election (Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Im impressed with this post Andy, its gracious and Im glad we agree we all love our country, the commenter wrote. But the celebs all endorsing her was not the flex you think it was. Americans are tired of the liberal extremism. I hope we can all move on together and find some unity somewhere. Its exhausting being this divided.

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In response, Cohen clarified that celebrities are allowed to support any candidates they choose given their rights as Americans to vote.

This is America, he wrote back. If celebs want to express themselves they should be allowed to like everyone else. Standing up for what you believe in is not a flex, it is AMERICAN.

Cohen has shown his support for the vice president multiple times before Election Day. The TV producer first announced his endorsement at the end of October, posting a photo of himself standing next to Harris while wearing a T-shirt that read: Kamala for president.

In the Instagram caption, he provided a long list of reasons why he made the decision to endorse Harris.

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I am voting for Kamala Harris because: I believe women should have jurisdiction over their bodies. As a gay American dad who had kids through IVF, the Supreme Court is on the ballot and I dont want it filled with (more) right-wing extremists who will take away my rights, his caption read.

I believe in sensible gun control. I believe in building the middle class and raising the minimum wage. She is mentally fit to serve as Commander in Chief and not too old for the job. America should never cozy up to dictators. She will be a President for all Americans. I believe January 6 was one of the darkest days in our history, the result of a weak mans fragile ego. I dont want to go back!

He once again showed his support for Harris when he posted a photo of himself on Election Day with an I Voted sticker, as he snapped the selfie with his daughter Lucy. The two year old was also wearing a sticker, which read: Im a future voter.

I voted for Her, for her, Cohen captioned the post, indicating he cast his ballot for the current vice president.
Victory for Asian Americans: During his victory speech in Cherry Hill, where his family once stayed after immigrating, Kim called his win a tribute to his roots and a signal for greater inclusion in American politics. The greatness of America is not what we take from this country but what we give back, he stated. Kim described his success as not only personal but also a symbolic victory for Asian American communities nationwide, encouraging them to participate more actively in public life.
NBC News projects that Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks has defeated former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in Marylands U.S. Senate race. She is the first Black woman to win statewide office in Maryland.

Follow MSNBCs live blog for the latest updates and expert analysis on the 2024 election.

Alsobrooks was first elected states attorney for Prince Georges County in 2010, the youngest and first woman to hold the office. Among the people to support her in that run was Kamala Harris, then the Democratic nominee for Senate in California. After two terms as states attorney, Alsobrooks won the race for Prince Georges County Executive in 2018, and won re-election in 2022.

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In the primary, Alsobrooks received endorsements from many of the states most prominent Democrats, including Gov. Wes Moore, Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Jamie Raskin. But her main opponent, Rep. David Trone, D-Md., poured over $60 million of his own money into the race, making it one of the most expensive Senate primaries ever. Nevertheless, Alsobrooks won decisively with 53% of the vote.

In the general election, Alsobrooks faced Hogan, a popular two-term governor who won re-election in 2018 with 55% of the vote. His entry into the race, after lobbying from Republicans like Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., made what would otherwise be a safe Democratic seat competitive. Several polls taken immediately after his announcement showed Hogan leading, likely a reflection of his name recognition statewide. But Alsobrooks pulled ahead over the summer, as she campaigned heavily on the threat of a Hogan victory tipping the Senate to the GOP.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, the top elected official in Prince George's County, will become Maryland's newest senator after beating Republican Larry Hogan. Associated Press

Angela Alsobrooks, the top elected official in Prince Georges County, Maryland, is projected to beat Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan, becoming the states first Black female senator.

Marylands U.S. Senate race turned unexpectedly competitive in the general election after Hogan, the last Republican to win statewide in one of the countrys bluest states, entered the GOP primary at the last minute in February.

Democrats are adding two Black women to their ranks in the Senate  Alsobrooks and Delawares Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is expected to easily win Tuesday. Only two Black women have ever been elected to the U.S. Senate: Kamala Harris of California and Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois. The chamber currently has zero Black women.

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Hogan, a moderate Republican, was elected governor twice by vowing to be a check on Marylands Democratic legislature. But his popularity didnt translate to a federal race in which Democrats tried to argue he would empower Republicans to enact a GOP agenda and restrict abortion access. Hogan stressed, however, that he was pro-choice and would be an independent voice in the upper chamber.

Youre going to hear nothing but red versus blue, Hogan said during an October debate with Alsobrooks. I care more, a lot more, about the red, white and blue.

At the debate, Alsobrooks vowed to stand up for our values ... creating economic opportunity for every Maryland family. Ill also fight for our freedoms, like a womans right to choose, contraception and IVF.

Alsobrooks, a 53-year-old former states attorney and the county executive of Prince Georges County, will replace retiring Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin. She beat Rep. David Trone, a wealthy liquor store magnate, in the Democratic primary.

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Republicans tried to suggest Alsobrooks was a corrupt politician after it was revealed she improperly benefited from a tax break she did not qualify for on two of her properties. Alsobrooks is working to repay the money owed.

Its top elected official since 2018, Alsobrooks led the majority-Black Prince Georges County through the pandemic and has prioritized its economic development, including the push to open a new FBI headquarters there. But Republicans had seized on crime in the Washington-adjacent county, including a string of carjackings, to try and paint her an ineffective leader.

Democrats were able to successfully wield the abortion issue and tie Hogan to Trump in a way they couldnt when Hogan was running for a second term as governor.

Ive been able to talk to families all over the state, and most are concerned about economic opportunity  tax cuts for the middle class, want to bring down the cost of goods, Alsobrooks told The Independent last week. Choice is a huge issue. Im seeing cross-generational voters who are coming out, from the youngest voters to the oldest voters, and fathers and uncles and grandfathers who are very concerned about choice.

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The website Open Secrets ranked Marylands Senate race as one of the most expensive Senate contests this election cycle, with both sides and their allies raising more than $105 million combined.

See full results from the Maryland Senate election here.

Related...
Democrat Angela Alsobrooks will win the Maryland Senate race, CNN projects, defeating Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan, whose candidacy made the race to replace retiring Sen. Ben Cardin competitive in this otherwise deep-blue state.

Alsobrooks, the Prince Georges County executive, will be just the fourth Black woman elected to the Senate, after Delawares Lisa Blunt Rochester won earlier Tuesday, and the first Black senator to represent Maryland.

Her victory is a relief for Democrats, who were facing a daunting Senate landscape before this race came on the map. With most competitive races playing out in states that former President Donald Trump either won or narrowly lost four years ago, Democrats had not been expecting to have to spend in a state President Joe Biden won by more than 30 points.

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Democrats central argument against Hogan, who left office with high approval ratings after two terms, was that he would be a vote for Republicans in the Senate  especially on the issue of abortion.

Hogan tried to pitch himself as an independent voice, unbeholden to this party. In his first general election ad, he said hed support codifying Roe v. Wade in federal legislation. And he rejected Trumps endorsement after the former president said hed like to see him win the state.

But Democrats effectively nationalized the race. Over the course of the summer and fall, Alsobrooks grew her name recognition and made gains among voters who said they cared about Democrats holding the Senate, according to Washington Post/University of Maryland polling.

Alsbrooks, a mentee of Vice President Kamala Harris, also benefited from her ascension to the top of the ticket, which boosted enthusiasm about electing Black women. Neither made their history-making potential a key message on the trail, but it was resonant in a state where Black voters  and Black women in particular  are a crucial part of the electorate. Alsobrooks home turf of Prince Georges County is home to one of the largest middle-class Black populations in the country.

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Alsobrooks history-making potential was also influential for some voters in the primary, when she scored a stunning primary defeat over Rep. David Trone, who broke the record for self-funding a Senate primary campaign. The co-owner of Total Wine & More spent more than $60 million of his own money but came up more than 10 points short. The Democratic Party quickly united around Alsobrooks, who already had the backing of most of the states congressional delegation.

Her general election victory will now add a woman to the states all-male congressional delegation.

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

This article was originally published by The 19th.

Two years ago, the U.S. Senate did not have a single Black woman. And before that, only two Black women had ever served in the upper chamber of Congress.

Lisa Blunt Rochester in Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks in Maryland will change the math. They are both projected to win their races on Tuesday  making history while bringing greater representation to Congress and maintaining the Democrats hold on the seats.

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This is also the first time that two Black women will serve as senators together  and they will each take seats held by White male Democrats.

Were at a particular moment in American history where people, I think, are wanting a change, said Sydney Carr-Glenn, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the College of the Holy Cross. We have more minority voters relative to, lets say, 20 years ago. And minority voters are often going to vote on descriptive and substantive representation. Oftentimes theyre going to vote with people who not only align with their interests, but also align with them identity-wise.

Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks were two of three Black women running as Democrats for open Senate seats. Valerie McCray ran for a seat in Indiana, but struggled to compete in the Republican stronghold.

Blunt Rochester first made history in Congress eight years ago as the first Black person and woman elected to represent Delaware. She got her start interning for then-Rep. Tom Carper  the man she will succeed in the Senate. In the 1990s, she served in state government roles, as deputy secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and secretary of the Department of Labor.

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Alsobrooks interned for Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and the Congressional Black Caucus early in her career and went on to become states attorney for Marylands Prince Georges County, and then county executive since 2018.

As Black women candidates running for the same office in neighboring states, Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks have developed a friendship as aspiring sister senators. They will join the small but growing sisterhood of Black women who have held the title of U.S. senator. Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks not only have a relationship with each other, but also with Vice President Kamala Harris, who won a Senate seat in California in 2016 and Laphonza Butler, who was appointed to her Senate seat in California last year.

In a conversation with The 19th in September, Blunt Rochester spoke about the significance of having other Black women to lean on during her campaign.

Running for office can feel very isolating. You might be around a whole lot of people, but theyre not having the experience that youre having. Theres so much pressure sometimes, because you want to not make a mistake, because you know so much is on the line. So many people are counting on you. And so, the ability to have that kind of sister support means that you understand, Im not in this alone, she said.

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Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks competed in very different races for the Senate, with Blunt Rochester viewed early on as the favorite to win. Alsobrooks on the other hand, defeated a wealthy millionaire in the Democratic primary and entered a tightly competitive general election race against former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who is popular among constituents. By Election Day, Alsobrooks was polling ahead of Hogan by double digits.

Both Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester rooted their campaigns in highlighting lived experiences that are often underrepresented in the Senate. Blunt Rochester worked her way through graduate school with a young son. She divorced her first husband in the early 2000s and later remarried Charles Rochester, who died suddenly from blood clots in 2014.

Alsobrooks, for her part, was raising a daughter during each of her campaigns for states attorney, county executive and the U.S. Senate. She previously told The 19th how she had to think about things like childcare. During her Senate campaign, she was also caring for her aging parents. She touts her personal experiences and work in law enforcement as qualities that connect her with voters.

"Im the only person in the race who has any experience at all in dealing with these issues. Its one thing to talk about the issue, you know, from a theoretical standpoint, about what you feel, Alsobrooks told The 19th in the spring. Its a different experience to say, I know what it means to keep communities safe, while also working not to harm our children, and also making sure that we have the appropriate justice and second chances built into the system.

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Researchers and political advocates who spoke with The 19th said the victories by Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester are a powerful moment for a country where Black women candidates often struggle to secure seats in statewide elected offices. Their campaigns further debunk the myth that Black women cannot fundraise or cannot appeal to a wide variety of voters across their diverse states. Alsobrooks raised more than $28 million in her Senate campaign and outraised Hogan by nearly $17 million, according to OpenSecrets.

These successes are built on the foundation of others who came before them, including Cheri Beasley, who ran for Senate in North Carolina in 2022, Val Demings, who ran for Senate in Florida that same year, and Stacey Abrams, who ran for governor in Georgia twice.

Barriers still remain, however, particularly during a time when women and women of color in public office face targeted disinformation, misogyny, racism and threats against their personal safety.

In terms of policy, even though Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks are individuals who will be expected to address specific needs for their constituents, there is an opportunity for them to amplify each others perspectives, said Wendy Smooth, a political science professor at Ohio State University.

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With more than one voice at the table, there is this opportunity for amplification that doesnt exist in spaces where you are the only one, Smooth said. Studies have shown that people are more likely to hear the voices of those who are underrepresented in the room, if they are not the singular voice.

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Democrat Angela Alsobrooks has won Marylands Senate race, NBC News projects, defeating popular former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan and becoming the first Black woman elected to represent the state in the Senate.

The unusually competitive contest to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin was always a must-win for Democrats, who are trying to hang onto their Senate majority. It also means that, for the first time in history, Maryland will have a Black senator, governor and mayor of its largest city, Baltimore.

Alsobrooks' victory, along with Democratic Sen.-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester's in Delaware, also means that the Senate will have two Black women next year for the first time in history.

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We are looking at a time that is like a time weve never seen before, Alsobrooks told NBC News on the campaign trail in August. This election will help us decide the kind of future we want for our children and grandchildren and what kind of state and country we will build for them.

Democratic Maryland Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks cheers during an election night watch party Tuesday in College Park.

The county executive in Prince Georges County, Alsobrooks handily won the Democratic primary this year despite being outspent 10-to-1 by Rep. David Trone. Campaign spending only ballooned from there, with both Alsobrooks and Hogan spending tens of millions of dollars to sway voters in a state President Joe Biden won by more than 30 points in 2020. I think its wonderful having her in the Senate. Shes eminently qualified. Shell do a great job for her state and for the people of the country, former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, D-Ill., told NBC News this fall.

Polls consistently showed Alsobrooks pulling ahead in the weeks before the election. Hogan could never quite replicate the support he received from Democrats as governor in his Senate campaign. In his two terms as governor and as a Senate candidate, Hogan tried to distance himself from former President Donald Trump, going so far as to reject an endorsement.

But sharing the Republican column with Trump on the ballot appeared to be a bridge too far for those Democrats who had once been willing to vote for Hogan, said David Lublin, chair of the department of government at American University.

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I dont think hell win precisely because of the reluctance of Democrats who might be willing to vote for him at the state level to give him a try at the federal level, Lublin said before the election. Frankly, the sad thing in this case is that the Senate could use more moderates, and more moderate Republicans.

The race stood out to Lublin because, in a national political environment marked by one unprecedented event after another, he felt it maintained a relative degree of normalcy  or at least what was deemed normal a decade ago. In Hogan, many Marylanders saw a Republican who represented an increasingly rare version of the party prior to Trumps takeover. And Alsobrooks has been embraced by the Democratic establishment as a liberal who doesnt come off as unrealistic, according to Lublin.

In many ways its like an old-fashioned race because neither party is running someone extreme, he said. Were not going to be voting simply for the person we hate the least. These are both good politicians.

But national narratives have still managed to make their way into the race, according to Candace Turitto, director of the University of Marylands applied political analytics program.

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Alsobrooks main attack on Hogan has still been to paint him as a member nonetheless of this more extreme Republican party who would ultimately be a vote promoting a far-right agenda, Turitto said in an email to NBC News before the election. Hogans public record does not lead to that conclusion in my opinion, but that message is likely a successful one when voters consider the totality of their ballot.

Alsobrooks election is also historic in showing the increasing normalcy of electing Black politicians, Lublin said.

In Maryland alone, Wes Moore, the states first Black governor, and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, both Democrats, gained national attention after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. Moore, in particular, is seen as a rising star in the national party.

In Maryland, theres a tacit feeling among many Democrats that, just like it was time to elect our first Black governor, its past time to elect our first Black senator, Lublin said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach voted for their next mayor in Tuesdays general election. Holmes Beach voters also picked two city commissioners.

Heres a look at the results:

Anna Maria

Mark Short defeated Brian Seymour to become the citys next mayor, according to preliminary results. Short received 378 (60.58%) votes compared to 246 (39,42%) votes for Seymour. Earlier in 2024, Dan Murphy announced he was stepping down after 10 years as Anna Marias mayor.

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Short, chair for the Anna Maria city commission, previously told the Herald that he was focused on getting the city pier functioning, water ferry service running again,businesses reopened and people back into their homes following the devastation that Hurricanes Helene and Milton delivered in September and October.

Seymour, a former Anna Maria city commissioner, owns multiple businesses on the island, including the Anna Maria General Store. Seymour was elected in 2016 to the city commission, re-elected in 2018 and resigned in 2019.

Holmes Beach mayor race

Judy Titsworth narrowly won the Holmes Beach mayoral race over Mike Roth, according to preliminary results. Titsworth won 1,000 votes (50.81%) and Roth won 968 votes (49.19%).

Titsworth holds a 32-vote  or 1.62%  victory margin. State law requires an automatic recount if the margin is 0.5% or less.

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Holmes Beach is named after Titsworths grandfather. Shes been the mayor since 2018. Titsworth previously told the Herald that protecting home rule and resiliency are top issues she wants to tackle in her next term.

Its been a battle ever since Ive been mayor, Titsworth said. But with the attacks that (were) happening against the city with the parking garage and the consolidation, it was just trying to educate people on what that really means.

Home rule is the right for local governments to make decisions or laws for their communities without needing state approval, according to the Florida League of Cities.

Roth has lived on the island since 2002 and is a United States Army veteran. He said prioritizing post-storm cleanup of the island and mitigating stormwater issues were top priorities.

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Its depressing and demoralizing to come to Holmes Beach particularly, Roth previously told the Herald. When I go to Anna Maria, I look at that and I see a city government that has taken the initiative, looked out for the residents first and the rules have been abided by. But its been a direct action and decisiveness that I believe were missing in Holmes Beach.

Holmes Beach commission race

Holmes Beach voters were also asked to pick two city commissioners from a batch of four candidates.

Carol Whitmore and Dan Diggins garnered 1,079 (38.7%) and 815 (29.23%) votes, respectively, to claim the seats, according to early results. Steve Oeflke (577 votes, 20.7%) and Bill Romberger (317 votes, 11.37%) did not gather enough support to win.

Diggins is a current commissioner. Whitmore started her political career on Holmes Beach before becoming a county commissioner. Oeflke is a city planning commissioner. And Romberger is an owner and agent of the Anna Maria Island Real Estate Corp.

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Diggins previously told the Herald that plans for new island bridges and how best to use those lanes is a top focus. He also said hes concerned about cyclists and pedestrian safety on the island.

Whitmore previously told the Herald that her top priorities include establishing good communication between the island cities and other governmental entities and dealing with the heavy tourist influx while maintaining quality of life for residents. She also said she would review city rules to see what needs revising.
Anne Hathaway is encouraging university students to continue braving the long Election Day lines to make sure their voice is heard  and what better way to appeal to Gen Z than with a Sabrina Carpenter song?

The Oscar winner posted a video to Instagram on Tuesday, embedded at the bottom of this post, about the crazy long lines at polling locations on college campuses, calling attention to several organizations that are providing food, water and other assistance to young voters waiting to cast their ballots.

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She also had a special plea for anyone currently standing in line: Please, please, please stay on the line.

Please, please, please, especially at UPenn and Temple, you just wait out your time, she sang to the tune of Carpenters chart topper Please, Please, Please, specifically calling out the Pennsylvania schools that could seriously impact election results in the swing state.

Voting is magic, but also annoying. Youve waited out this long, lets make it not boringplease, please, please, hold the line, she finished.

In her caption, she also reminded all voters that, by law, anyone standing in line when polling locations close are still entitled to cast their vote and cannot be turned away.

RELATED: Chris Pratt Stays Neutral On Election After Avengers Endorsed Kamala Harris: I See Things From Both Sides

Earlier on Tuesday, Hathaway officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, writing in a separate Instagram post that she voted like half the countrys lives depended on it.

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The Princess Diaries star isnt the only celebrity to encourage voter turnout Tuesday. Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Mark Ruffalo and more urged U.S. fans to get out and vote.

And speaking of Carpenter, the pop star is the artist who registered the most new voters for the 2024 Presidential Election while on tour, according to HeadCount.

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As voters hit the polls on Election Day, celebrities are showing up to voting centers and posting selfies with I voted stickers en masse. Some are taking it one step further, like Anne Hathaway, for instance, who hopped on social media to encourage voters at colleges and universities  particularly in Pennsylvania  to stay in line, all to the tune of her own rendition of Sabrina Carpenters Please Please Please.

Hey everybody, so I hear that theres crazy long lines at college campuses, which oh my gosh, you guys thank you for showing up to vote, she says before slapping on a pair of shades and singing Carpenters hit, with adjusted lyrics. And I just wanted to say if you are on a line right now: Please, please, please stay on the line / Please, please, please, especially at UPenn and Temple just wait out your time / Voting is magic but also annoying / You waited out this long, lets make it not boring / Oh please, please, please, hold the line.

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While Hathaway is doing her part, one lyric change at a time, Carpenter has been engaged in this years presidential election by encouraging people to register to vote. In fact, she managed to engage more voters through HeadCount than any other artist in 2024, registering 35,814 new voters and engaging 263,087 voters through giveaways, in-person activations and video boards on her Short n Sweet arena tour.

Among celebrities who are showing up on Election Day, Paul Rudd made a surprise appearance to hand out water to students who were waiting in line to vote in Pennsylvania. I just wanted to give people water, Rudd told MSNBC. Theyre waiting in line for a long time, and its a wonderful thing that all these young people are out voting.

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People view an underground salt pond while visiting the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira in Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, Nov. 4, 2024. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, an underground church built within the tunnels of a salt mine some 200 meters underground, is a famous tourist destination of the country. (Xinhua/Zhou Shengping)

A tour guide leads tourists into the salt mine in Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, Nov. 4, 2024. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, an underground church built within the tunnels of a salt mine some 200 meters underground, is a famous tourist destination of the country. (Xinhua/Zhou Shengping)

People visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira in Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, Nov. 4, 2024. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, an underground church built within the tunnels of a salt mine some 200 meters underground, is a famous tourist destination of the country. (Xinhua/Zhou Shengping)

People pose for photos with a miner statue outside the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira in Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, Nov. 4, 2024. The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, an underground church built within the tunnels of a salt mine some 200 meters underground, is a famous tourist destination of the country. (Xinhua/Zhou Shengping)
Abortion opponents clinched their first victories in ballot measure fights since the fall of Roe on Tuesday night, with Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota upholding bans on the procedure.

The results end a two-year winning streak for abortion-rights groups that had successfully defended reproductive health rights or overturned prohibitions in several purple and red states, including many that voted overwhelmingly for President-elect Donald Trump.

Yet seven states voted Tuesday to restore, preserve or expand the right to terminate a pregnancy, including in conservative strongholds like Missouri and Montana.



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Many of the measures won  and in Florida, came close to winning  despite widespread efforts by GOP state officials, Republican-appointed judges and anti-abortion advocacy groups to prevent them from passing or from reaching the ballot, using legislation, lawsuits and public pressure campaigns.

But the losses in GOP-controlled states highlighted the lefts struggle to keep voters focus on the issue as well as the rights evolving strategies to kneecap the ballot measure process. And abortion opponents have vowed to keep fighting initiatives that have already passed, with plans to file legal challenges and, should those fail, pursue additional ballot measures to wind back the clock.

This won't be the last time Missourians vote on so-called reproductive rights, said GOP state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman on Wednesday.  I will do everything in my power to ensure that vote happens.

Here are the results remaking the post-Roe landscape:

Toppling abortion bans

Arizona became the first state since the fall of Roe to override a 15-week ban, the policy conservatives have long argued is a compromise embraced by a majority of the public. The states abortion-rights initiative won with the backing of voters across the political spectrum, including conservatives who oppose government intervention in personal health decisions and liberals moved by the stories of patients in Arizona and around the country denied care during obstetric emergencies.

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Missouri became the first state since Dobbs to overturn a near-total ban on the procedure, with a majority of voters backing a measure enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution even as a majority also reelected its staunch anti-abortion Sen. Josh Hawley.

Shoring up access

A slew of states that have become destinations for those traveling from places where the procedure is outlawed voted to codify or expand access to abortion Tuesday night, with measures passing in Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Nevada and New York. Most of these ballot initiatives largely codify existing law  a hedge against future attempts to roll back access. But some, like Colorados, aim to make abortion more accessible by allowing state Medicaid funding of the procedure.

Falling short

A majority of Floridians backed a ballot measure that would have toppled the states six-week ban and restored access through fetal viability in a state that had once been an abortion access hub for the entire southeast region. But the state requires ballot measures to win with at least 60 percent support, thwarting the amendments passage after a race marked by legal battles and an influx of tens of millions of dollars from abortion-rights groups.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials deployed aggressive tactics to defeat the measure, suing and launching investigations targeting its backers and using taxpayers funds to run ads in opposition. Anti-abortion groups said these actions were key to the measures defeat and called on other governors to adopt them.

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Gov. DeSantiss leadership was critical and points to a successful model other states should look to when facing similar challenges, said Jeanne Mancini, the president of March for Life.

South Dakota voters rejected a ballot initiative, leaving the states near-total ban in place. National abortion-rights groups that poured tens of millions into other state measures did not support South Dakotas due to disagreements with local advocates over its scope and language, making an uphill battle in the conservative state more difficult. SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser called the state a beacon for the anti-abortion movement.

Nebraska was the only state where voters faced two competing abortion initiatives  one to restore access up to fetal viability and the other to uphold the states current 12-week ban. The latter prevailed, thanks in part to a campaign bankrolled by some of Nebraskas richest residents, including Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts and his family, who donated millions. Abortion-rights advocates had additionally warned that having dueling measures would confuse voters.

Whats next?

Ballot measures have proven to be the lefts most effective tool in the post-Roe era, allowing voters to circumvent anti-abortion state officials. But the number of states with abortion bans that have the ability to put forward citizen-proposed ballot initiatives and have not yet done so is dwindling, with just the deep-red states of Idaho, Oklahoma and Utah left. Activists have also vowed to try again in Florida and in Arkansas, where GOP state officials and conservative judges blocked an abortion-rights measure from the ballot this fall.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Former President Donald Trump won Tennessee on Tuesday, keeping the firmly Republican state and its 11 electoral votes in his win column.

Trump won Tennessee by about 23 percentage points in 2020 and by 26 points in 2016. The states two Republican U.S. senators, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, both won their first elections behind endorsements from Trump.

The state has not voted for a Democrat for president since Bill Clintons reelection in 1996. Voters in 2000 turned on Clintons vice president from Tennessee, Al Gore, and voted for George W. Bush.

The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 7 p.m. EST.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., speaks to supporters Nov. 5, 2024, after being elected to another term. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota Republican U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer is set to serve in the Senate for another six years after voters stamped his return ticket to Washington.

Cramer defeated Democratic-NPL candidate challenger Katrina Christiansen with 66% of the vote on Tuesday in complete but unofficial results.

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During his acceptance speech Tuesday night in Bismarck, Cramer said he believes the Republican Party is going to control the U.S. Senate once all the votes are counted across the country.

Its looking a lot like Im going to be in the majority and thats a big, big deal, he said.

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For more statewide coverage, visit our North Dakota Election 2024 page.

Cramer said he was relieved that the race is over and that North Dakotans chose him to return to Washington, D.C.

But I also just feel overwhelmed with joy and gratitude to be able to work for the most incredible people in the world, Cramer said.

Cramer was first elected to the Senate in 2018 after defeating Democratic-NPL Party incumbent Sen. Heidi Heitkamp with 55% of the vote. Before his election to the Senate, Cramer represented North Dakota in the House of Representatives since 2013. He also is a former North Dakota Public Service Commissioner and former chair of the state Republican Party.

North Dakota Democrat Katrina Christiansen announces that she has conceded her race for the U.S. Senate to Republican Kevin Cramer. Christiansen made the announcement at the ND Democratic-NPL watch party at the Delta Hotel in Fargo on Nov. 5, 2024. (Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor)

Christiansen, an agricultural engineer and assistant professor at the University of Jamestown, was making her second bid for U.S. Senate after unsuccessfully challenging Sen. John Hoeven in 2022.

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I am incredibly proud of this campaign, Christiansen said at a Democratic election results watch party in Fargo.

Asked if she planned to continue in politics, Christiansen said she has been told many times in the last 48 hours not to quit. Well see, she said.

Democratic-NPL Rep. Corey Mock of Grand Forks told the watch party that longtime U.S. Sen. Quentin Burdick ran for office six times before being elected. Burdick represented North Dakota in Congress for more than 30 years.

We build upon our progress, Mock said.

This story was updated with comments from the candidates and the latest results.
The Associated Press called former President Donald Trump the winner in Utah against his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, on Tuesday night, giving him six Electoral College votes.

Polls closed statewide at 8 p.m. Tuesday night, but people were still waiting in line to vote at that hour.

Hundreds of Utahns waited outside Tuesday in snow, sleet and rain to vote for their presidential candidate.

Trump takes Utah amid GOP rifts

Winning Utah was not a concern for former President Donald Trump.

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With a 61% lead in a recent poll over his Democratic competitor, Vice President Kamala Harris, who only received 31% in a Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by HarrisX, both candidates pitched themselves to the states family-oriented, religious majority.

Though the state has not voted for a Democratic president since Lyndon Johnson in 1964, when it came time to vote, some Republican constituents struggled with their partys candidate.

Some Utah Republicans remained wary of Donald Trump due to various factors, including his combative style. Local leaders like Sen. Mitt Romney  whose seat is up for grabs this election  have been openly critical of Trump, further shaping public opinion.

Eddy Turpin, dressed up as former President Donald J. Trump, holds a flag and waves outside the Draper Justice Center as Utah residents turn out to vote on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The internal divisions within Utahs GOP were highlighted in the states gubernatorial primary, where incumbent Governor Spencer Cox defeated Trump-endorsed candidate Phil Lyman.

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However, following his win, Cox, who had earlier withheld support from the former president, switched to a supporter.

My commitment to him was that I would help him try to lower the temperature in this country, and I sincerely hope  from what Ive heard from people around him  that hes committed to that, he said in a press conference in July.

On the other side of the Trump favorability spectrum, Utah Sen. Mike Lee went from not voting for Trump in his first run for office in 2016 to becoming one of the former presidents most outspoken supporters.

Believing Trump aligns more with Utahs constituents than his rival, Lee posted on X in October that Biden and Kamala Harris are leading a grave assault on families, children, medicine, and common sense.

Several Utah officeholders endorsed Trump, including Reps. Burgess Owens and Celeste Maloy, House Speaker Mike Schultz, Attorney General Sean Reyes and Senate President Stuart Adams.

Rebekah Cummings, Democratic nominee for Utah lieutenant governor, gets some help voting from her daughter Harper as Rep. Brian King, Democratic nominee for Utah governor, votes also at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Voters cast their ballots at City Hall in Cottonwood Heights on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Voters cast their ballots at the Sandy Library in Sandy on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

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A ballot is dropped off at City Hall in Cottonwood Heights on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Voters wait in a line to cast their ballots at City Hall in Cottonwood Heights on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Voters enter City Hall in Cottonwood Heights on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Voters stand in an hourlong line at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

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Poll watcher Mel Calvert smiles at the voter turnout at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

A voting booth in Cottonwood Heights on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Lauren Ricci votes at the Sandy Library in Sandy on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Voters wait in a line to cast their ballots at City Hall in Cottonwood Heights on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

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Wendy Downs, Sandy city recorder, hangs a sign at Sandy City Hall in Sandy on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Voters cast their ballots at the Sandy City Hall in Sandy on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Sydney Kowalski waits in line to vote at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Voter return cards at Sandy Library in Sandy on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

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Voters stand in an hourlong line at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Annie Gardner yawns while waiting in the two-hour line to vote at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Bobbi Palmer, along with her daughter Kaylee, 5, votes at the Sandy Library in Sandy on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Voter stickers at Sandy Library in Sandy on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

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Olivia Langi votes at the Sandy City Hall in Sandy on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Rep. Brian King, Democratic nominee for Utah governor, kisses his wife Ann while standing in line to vote at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Rep. Brian King, Democratic nominee for Utah governor, and Rebekah Cummings, Democratic nominee for Utah lieutenant governor, vote at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Rebekah Cummings, Democratic nominee for Utah lieutenant governor, shoots a photo of the ballot with her daughter Harper prior to voting at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

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Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters in a campaign visit to Council Bluffs on July 7, 2023. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Former President Donald Trump won Iowa in the 2024 presidential election, the Associated Press projected Tuesday in what was a closer race than initially expected for the state.

The AP called the race at 9:40 p.m. with 56% of votes counted in unofficial results. Trump stands at 55.8% and Harris at 42.8% as of 9:45 p.m. in Iowa. Results have not yet been finalized.

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Many election forecasters predicted that Trump would win Iowa again in 2024, after he won the state in 2016 and 2020. But in the final days before the election, the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll published Saturday found that Harris gained an unanticipated lead over Trump, with 47% of likely voters in the poll saying they support the Vice President while 44% supported Trump.

Independent women and women age 65 or older were shown in the poll to support Harris over Trump by large margins, indicating that these voter groups could be the edge needed to secure Democrats victory in 2024 elections.

Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann declared that former President Donald Trump won Iowa in the 2024 general election at the GOP Election Night watch party in Des Moines Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann came to the stage at the GOP Election Night watch party in Des Moines before the AP called the race to declare that Iowa had given Trump a win we always knew was going to happen.

Our people knew that Iowa was going to be for Trump, and then we got this outlier that was not double checked, that was professional malpractice, Kaufmann said. So lets say it one more time  Donald Trump won Iowa.

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Trump campaign Senior Deputy Political Director Alex Latcham congratulated Trump in a statement: After four years under Kamala Harris, Hawkeye state voters are eager for President Trump to fix what Kamala Harris broke.

Trump initially entered the 2024 election with strong assurance of Iowa GOP support, dominating the 2024 Republican caucuses in January against contenders like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

But Trump was not the only presidential candidate who spent significant time in Iowa. Though Harris became the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee in August shortly after President Joe Biden announced ending his reelection campaign, both Democrats spent time in the state for the 2020 Democratic caucuses.

However, neither Biden or Harris saw major enthusiasm in 2020 coming from the former first-in-the-nation state. Harris withdrew her bid for the nomination in December 2019, before the Iowa caucuses. Biden, who went on to become the Democratic nominee, came in fourth place in the caucuses, behind now-U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

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Because of issues with reporting results from the 2020 caucuses, as well as criticisms of issues like a lack of diversity, the Democratic nominating calendar changed beginning in 2024. Iowa Democrats held its first mail-in caucuses this year with results released on Super Tuesday in March, overwhelmingly supporting Biden for reelection.

As the 2024 general election approached, Iowa did not see the surge of visits from presidential candidates or surrogates to Iowa that nearby states like Wisconsin and Michigan  swing states  saw, as both major parties predicted that Trump would easily win in the state. However, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart predicted that Harris replacing Biden at the top of ticket would make Iowa more competitive than initially expected.

While Trump did not visit Iowa following the January caucuses, many Iowa Republicans have joined the former president on the campaign trail in other states. Elected officials like U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson have held events supporting Trump and other GOP candidates in states like Pennsylvania and Georgia in the weeks ahead of Nov. 5. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and Iowa GOP chair Jeff Kaufmann spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention in July, holding significant nominating roles during the event.

Iowa voters vary in enthusiasm for the candidates

Vicky Scott, 73, said that she has been a supporter of Trump since he was on The Apprentice and wanted to return to Trumps tenure in office, calling it the best four years of my life.

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I always thought to myself, you know, that guy needs to run for president someday, Scott said. I dont like politicians, and he wasnt one, and he has never been one.  The day he walked down the elevator was probably the best day of my life, because I thought to myself, Oh, my God, it came true, my wish came true. Yeah, so that four years was phenomenal.

Some Trump voters werent always on board with him.

Caden King, left, and his father Troy King voted at the Carper Vineyard and Winery Nov. 5, 2024 near Norwalk. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Troy King, 50, and his 20-year-old son, Caden King, who was voting in his first presidential election, said they cast their ballots for Trump, both citing concerns about the economy under the Biden administration.

The two voted at the Linn precinct in Norwalk over the noon hour on Tuesday.

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Troy King said he didnt vote for Trump in 2016. I didnt vote for Hillary (Clinton) either, but I felt like my vote was wasted.

He said he felt comfortable with Trumps policies during his time in office.

Caden King, who plans to study business at Des Moines Area Community College, said hes just not liking where the economy is going.

Shawn Powers said he was a never Trumper until this year. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Another Norwalk voter, Shawn Powers, said he was a never Trumper before this year and cast his ballot for third-party candidates. But he said he voted for Trump this year because he has a fundamental difference in world view with progressives.

Its about an ideological way of looking at the world, he said, adding that hes pro-life and disagrees with trans(gender)-ing our children.

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Asked whether he was concerned about whether Trump would undermine the legitimacy of the election if he lost, Powers said, I think our Constitution is more durable than one person.

Some Harris voters were more concerned about the future of U.S. democracy.

On Des Moines south side, Scott and Ruth Thompson braved a light rain to cast their ballots at the Wakonda Christian Church on Fleur Drive.They pulled up to the voting site in a car festooned with a Harris/Walz window sticker and Unions for Harris sign in the rear window.

I used to be a Republican, Scott Thompson said, adding that it was former U.S. Rep. Steve King, known for his far-right stance on many issues, who caused him to rethink his party affiliation.

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By education, I am a sociologist, Thompson said. And I am scared to death that democracy is slipping away from us in this country. Electing Kamala Harris wont necessarily fix all of that, but if we were to elect Donald Trump, you can be damn sure it wouldnt ever get fixed and that he would put us even further behind. He is so unstable and he doesnt have the leadership ability to do the job. Even worse, he doesnt have the necessary people surrounding him to staff the leadership roles and cabinet positions in his administration.

Thompsons wife, Ruth, agreed.

I know Joe Biden has some deficiencies, but he has good people around him, and he listens to people  so I can sleep at night, she said. But Trump just has degenerates around him  people like him. And who knows if he even listens to them.

Some Harris voters in Des Moines said Tuesday they arent entirely thrilled with their choice.

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John Neale, 38, who voted in Des Moines, said he cast his ballot to make sure Trump doesnt get in office again.

Neale said he would have preferred a different Democratic candidate to support, saying hes unhappy with the Biden administrations handling of the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. But he said he supports abortion rights for women and hopes to see a better path to citizenship for immigrants.

Mark Rouw, 67, said he would have liked to hear more about the environment from the candidates. He said he settled on voting for Harris because Democrats at least recognize the problem of climate change. Republicans dont seem to do anything, he said.

Clark Kauffman and Kathie Obradovich contributed to this report.
Voting booths at Friendship Baptist Church in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by Kate Kealey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowans have approved a constitutional amendment changing language on voter age and citizenship requirements, the Associated Press has projected.

The news organization has not yet projected whether the amendment related to the states gubernatorial line of succession has been approved.

The first amendment proposal, on voter age and citizenship, was called by the AP as approved at 9:43 p.m., and as of 10:15 p.m., had 76% approval. The AP did not make a call on the gubernatorial line of succession amendment, but the measure is leading with 80% approval as of early Wednesday, according to latest results.

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This year, Iowans saw two proposed amendments on their ballots. The highest profile piece was on the states gubernatorial line of succession  specifically, what happens when a sitting governor leaves office, resigns or passes away. When former Gov. Terry Branstad left office to become U.S. ambassador to China during former President Donald Trumps administration, then-Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds took the office.

But Reynolds was not able to formally appoint a new lieutenant governor to fill her vacant role until she was reelected in 2018, because former Attorney General Tom Miller issued a legal opinion in 2017 stating that she had not technically vacated the position of lieutenant governor.

Though Reynolds had appointed former Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg to the position before their 2018 reelection, then-Senate President Jack Whitver would have taken the office of governor if Reynolds had vacated the seat.

The amendment is a change to clarify language in the Iowa State Constitution that when a lieutenant governor takes the position of governor, a vacancy is created in the governors former position. The new governor then can appoint a person to fill that role.

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Though the measure passed with bipartisan support through two general assemblies, some Democrats brought up concerns about a lack of legislative oversight on who will fill the lieutenant governor position, asking for a Senate approval process for the seat similar to the state procedure for appointing directors of state agencies.

There was also some confusion about the amendments role given Greggs resignation as lieutenant governor in September. The amendment does not impact Reynolds ability to fill this seat  because Reynolds and Gregg were reelected as a ticket in 2022, there was a vacancy left in the lieutenant governors office with his departure that Reynolds can fill at will. The governor said she plans to appoint someone to the position in late fall.

The other amendment concerns constitutional language on age and citizenship requirements for voting in Iowa elections. The changes would not alter current Iowa voting laws, but would codify in the constitution that 17-year-olds are allowed to vote in primary elections if they will be age 18 by the general election, as well as officially change the voting age from 21 to 18. These provisions are already in place for Iowa elections.

The other, more controversial component of the constitutional amendment alters the wording that states every citizen of the United States who meets voter requirements can participate in elections in Iowa to instead read only a citizen of the United States who meets qualifications can participate. It is already currently illegal for noncitizens to participate in U.S. elections.

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Though the measure passed with bipartisan support through the Iowa Legislature, there has been a greater focus on citizenship requirements for voting ahead of the 2024 general election. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in October that 2,022 registered voters in Iowa must cast provisional ballots because they may be noncitizens, as they identified themselves as noncitizens to the Iowa Department of Transportation in the past 12 years. However, voting advocacy groups and some other election officials said that these individuals are likely naturalized citizens who legally have the right to vote, and that Pates release discourages immigrant U.S. citizens from participating in the election.

Though other states had voters weigh in on issues from abortion access, marijuana legalization and private school scholarship programs through ballot measures, Iowa has a slightly different system than many states. The only statewide measures that appear on Iowans ballots are constitutional amendments, which must first be passed by lawmakers during two consecutive general assemblies before voters weigh in for final approval in a general election. For the constitution to be amended, a simple majority of voters must approve the language.
Getty Images: Donald Trump by Win McNamee/Kamala Harris photo by Alex Wong

Former President Donald Trump has won the state of North Carolina, notching his third consecutive victory in the Tar Heel State and securing critical electoral votes in his bid for a second term.

The Associated Press projected that Trump had won the state, with 50.5% of the vote as of 11:18 p.m. Vice President Kamala Harris came up short, earning just over 48%.

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North Carolina was one of just a few states considered in play for both parties in the 2024 presidential cycle, despite a recent trend of Republican success. It was the first major swing state to be called Tuesday night  a far cry from the 10 days it took to call in 2020, when it delivered Trumps narrowest margin of victory.

President Joe Bidens withdrawal from the race in the summer  and Harris entry in his place  saw a surge of enthusiasm among Democrats, and increasingly narrow polling margins. But Trump managed to hold together a coalition that led him to victory twice prior en route to a win.

The former president sought to sharpen his attacks throughout the race in a series of North Carolina visits alongside his running mate, Ohios U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance. His first rally after Harris ascension as the Democratic nominee saw him call her stupid and a lunatic in Charlotte; he warned of a Kamala crash in attacks on her economic agenda; and after Hurricane Helene, he blasted the government response, calling it terrible.

Harris, meanwhile, debuted several new lines of attack and policies while visiting the state with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. She unveiled her plan for the economy at an August speech in Greenville, and debuted an attack line calling Trump weak and unstable in October.

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North Carolina has voted Republican in five of the past six presidential elections; its selected the winner in four of those six cycles. But it has remained a definitively purple state  the largest margin of victory since 2008 was 3.6 percentage points.

Prior to Trumps back-to-back victories, North Carolina swung for Mitt Romney in 2012 after narrowly going for Barack Obama in his first election. George W. Bush handily won the state in 2004 and 2000, racking up 56% of the vote in both races.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
DENVER (AP)  A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that a Colorado law raising the age to purchase a gun from 18 to 21 can take effect while the legal battle over it continues.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals said that lawyers for one of the young men who challenged the law with a gun rights group, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, did not meet the legal burden for having the law blocked while the lawsuit played out. It sent the case back to a lower court for further proceedings.

The law was one of four gun control bills signed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis in 2023 following the lead of other states trying to confront a surge in violent crime and mass shootings.

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U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer issued a preliminary injunction against it before it could take effect. His ruling frequently referenced a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded Second Amendment rights, and concluded that the lawsuit would likely succeed. That 2022 Supreme Court decision in a New York case changed a test lower courts had used for evaluating challenges to gun laws.

Colorados law effectively sought to prevent those between 18 and 20 from buying rifles and shotguns. A federal law already prevents licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to those under 21 but that ban has also been challenged in light of the Supreme Court decision.

A Polis spokesperson, Shelby Wieman, said in a statement that the law was commonsense gun safety legislation."

The executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, Ian Escalante, did not immediately have a comment on the ruling.
DENVER (AP)  A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that a Colorado law raising the age to purchase a gun from 18 to 21 can take effect while the legal battle over it continues.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals said that lawyers for one of the young men who challenged the law with a gun rights group, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, did not meet the legal burden for having the law blocked while the lawsuit played out. It sent the case back to a lower court for further proceedings.

The law was one of four gun control bills signed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis in 2023 following the lead of other states trying to confront a surge in violent crime and mass shootings.

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How every Colorado county voted for president in 2024

U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer issued a preliminary injunction against it before it could take effect. His ruling frequently referenced a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded Second Amendment rights, and concluded that the lawsuit would likely succeed. That 2022 Supreme Court decision in a New York case changed a test lower courts had used for evaluating challenges to gun laws.

Colorados law effectively sought to prevent those between 18 and 20 from buying rifles and shotguns. A federal law already prevents licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to those under 21 but that ban has also been challenged in light of the Supreme Court decision.

A Polis spokesperson, Shelby Wieman, said in a statement that the law was commonsense gun safety legislation.

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The executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, Ian Escalante, did not immediately have a comment on the ruling.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
The complexity of the upcoming storm system moving into Colorado has meteorologists perplexed, with a wide variety of outcomes possible as of Tuesday.

The models meteorologists use to forecast such events aren't in agreement, complicating matters.

Fort Collins is expected to see less than an inch of snow from the system.

The National Weather Service said on X that there are two likely storm timelines:

First timeline calls for a weaker system that is slower to organize

Under this scenario:

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Tuesday night into Wednesday: Light snow showers with minor accumulations

Thursday into Friday: Little to no impactful weather with less moisture and less snow

Second timeline includes an organized system producing more rain and snow

Under this scenario:

Tuesday night into Wednesday: Light to moderate snow, mainly along and south of Interstate 70

Thursday: Snow and rain continues, especially over the Eastern Plains

Friday: Additional round of moderate snow for the Front Range and Eastern Plains with impactful conditions through Friday night

Colorado's mountains, foothills under winter weather advisory

According to the National Weather Service:

When: Tuesday through Wednesday evening for the mountains, including Cameron Pass and Rocky Mountain National Park in western Larimer County. Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening for the foothills west and south of Denver and the Palmer Divide.

Expected snowfall totals: 3 to 8 inches

Travel impact: Expect winter driving conditions at higher elevations

A look at snowfall ranges for Larimer County and other Colorado locations

According to the National Weather Service's snowfall prediction as of Tuesday:

Larimer and Weld county municipalities

Fort Collins: 0-1 inch

Loveland: 0-2 inches

Windsor: 0-1 inch

Wellington: 0-1 inch

Red Feather Lakes: 0-4 inches

Estes Park: 0-4 inches

Berthoud: 0-2 inches

Greeley: 0-1 inch

Larimer County mountains

Bear Lake (Rocky Mountain National Park): 2-7 inches

Cameron Pass: 3-7 inches

Buckhorn Mountain: 0-4 inches

Other Colorado municipalities

Denver: 0-6 inches

DIA: 0-5 inches

Boulder: 0-5 inches

Golden: 1-8 inches

Longmont: 0-3 inches

Colorado mountains, ski areas

Eisenhower Tunnel: 3-7 inches

Berthoud Pass: 3-9 inches

Loveland Pass: 3-7 inches

Winter Park: 2-7 inches

Rabbit Ears Pass: 6-12 inches

Copper Mountain: 2-7 inches

Keystone ski area: 2-6 inches

Vail Pass: 3-7 inches

Breckenridge ski area: 3-8 inches

Snowmass ski area: 5-10 inches

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado snowfall totals all over the map with approaching storm
BEIRUT, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed and two others injured Wednesday morning in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanese Civil Defense and military sources.

An anonymous source in the Lebanese Civil Defense told Xinhua that its members, in cooperation with the Lebanese Red Cross, retrieved seven bodies from the rubble of a house in the village of El Ain, adjacent to Lebanon's eastern city of Baalbek.

The source added that search operations were still underway for two other missing persons.

Eyewitnesses said that the two-story building was destroyed, and rescue teams were struggling to remove the rubble.

Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes carried out 21 airstrikes Wednesday morning on 15 towns and villages in southern Lebanon and eight raids on five villages and towns in eastern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in statements that its military wing targeted several Israeli targets with rocket barrages, including villages and towns, as well as the headquarters of the Israeli 188th Brigade in the Rawiya barracks in the occupied Golan. 
Archaeologists discovered a walled city in the northern Saudi Arabian desert that was likely home to 500 people as far back as 2,400 B.C.

The experts believe the citys roughly 1,000 years of use showed a growing urban complexity in the region.

The town was functionally subdivided into different areas, but also included towers and ramparts for defense.

A newly discovered ancient oasis in the Saudi Arabian desert shows that, centuries ago, the area had a completely unexpected level of urban sophistication. The remains of the walled and fortified city include towers, ramparts, organized zones of residential areas connected by small roads, a centralized area, a cemetery, and a place to cultivate food.

In a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE, a team of archaeologists (led by Frances National Center for Scientific Research) unveiled the discovery of an exceptional Bronze Age fortified site called al-Natah, located in the Khaybar oasis and uncovered by the Khaybar Longue Duree Archaeological Project.

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The find marks the first time in northwestern Arabia that researchers have seen the characteristics of a second or third millennium B.C. settlement over a large area. Preliminary surveys show that across six acres, a fortified townbuilt around 2,400 to 2,000 B.C. and used for roughly 1,000 yearswas functionally subdivided into a residential area, probably a decision-making zone, and a necropolis, the authors wrote. The dwellings followed a standard plan, all connected by small streets separated from the farming area, the cemetery, and the central district.

By comparison with neighboring oasis centers, the study authors wrote, we suggest that northwest Arabia during the Bronze Agelargely dominated by pastoral nomadic groups and already integrated into long-distance trade networkswas dotted with interconnected monumental walled oases centered around small, fortified towns. These types of discoveries also show evidence of weak but increasing social complexity through the Early and Middle Bronze Ages.

The team estimated that the roughly 50 dwellingsthat number could still rise to 70 upon further investigation, they wrote in the four-acre residential area could have housed a population of around 500 people, as some of the dwellings had three levels.

The compact city site included a slope with a cultivated area in the valley, located at a junction between a key east-west road and a north-south road. Two large towers with ramparts show the defensive nature of the walls.

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Topography thus played a decisive role in the siting of structures, as can be unambiguously seen around and along the small ridge on the northeastern side of the site, the authors wrote.

The walled oasis of Khaybar included water in the form of springs and aquifers, which would have facilitated the agricultural production that provided a steady and secure food supply for inhabitants. The outer fortifications were thus clearly designed to protect the sites resources and to regulate access and trade, the authors wrote, adding that the radical change in lifestylefrom a pastoral-nomadic way of life to a more agropastoral subsistencewould have had a profound impact on the complexity of their settlements.

Discovering a large quantity of small and medium-sized basalt grinding stones, mortars, and pestles showed that the residents ground cereals and prepared meals, which often included meat and milk from animals raised on site.

Access to Saudi Arabia over the last 20 years has helped reshape our collective understanding of regional oases, and transformed the knowledge about the area from the fourth to second millennium B.C., the authors wrote, noting that this discovery could be part of a larger regional network of fortified cities.

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On Tuesday, Arizona voters chose to expand access to abortion and enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Arizonians passed the Arizona Abortion Access Act, or Proposition 139, which establishes the right to an abortion until viability, which is usually considered to be around 24 weeks. The measure also creates exceptions after fetal viability to protect the life, or physical or mental health, of the pregnant person.

Earlier this year, Arizona politicians undid a near-total abortion ban, repealing a Civil Warera abortion ban. Prior to voters taking to the polls, the state had a far more restrictive 15-week abortion ban on the books.

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Seven states chose to protect or expand abortion access this election (eight states if you include Florida, where a majority of voters passed a pro-abortion ballot measure but did not meet the required 60 percent threshold).

One bit of damper on this good news: In states like Arizona, where abortion rights have been expanded, state Supreme Courts will ultimately, and frighteningly, have the final say.
Arizona Proposition 313 has passed. This is bad news, no matter how much the ballot measure's backers portrayed it as a simple measure to indicate that "children are not for sale."



Obviously, selling children is already banned, federally and in Arizona. And the specific crime that Prop 313 is concerned withsex trafficking of minorsis already illegal at the state and federal level, with heavy prison sentences for those who disobey.

Proposition 313, which institutes a mandatory life sentence for this crime, passed with more than 60 percent of the vote, per the Associated Press. But this measure will mean more injustice in Arizona, not less. It could even mean more injustice for victims of sex trafficking.

What "Child Sex Trafficking" Means in Arizona

In Arizona, sex trafficking someone under age 18 can already mean life in prison under some circumstances. The crime generally comes with a mandatory minimum sentence of between 7 and 13 years for a first offense, and a possible sentence of 21 to 27 years imprisonment. One or more previous felony conviction for anything ratchet up the mandatory minimums and the potential sentences, with up to 50 years a possibility. The only circumstance in which child sex trafficking can result in a lesser sentence is when the crime involves "engaging in prostitution with a minor who is fifteen, sixteen or seventeen years of age" in a situation where the perpetrator couldn't have plausibly have known the minor's age.

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The wide range of sentences under current law reflects the wide range of conduct that falls under the rubric of child sex traffickinga crime that, in the U.S. at least, seldom looks like Hollywood or Washington portrays it. In most cases that get prosecuted, it involves teenagersand, in many cases, teenagers willfully engaged in prostitution.

For those charged, ignorance of a minor's age is not generally considered a defense. Nor is the fact that a perpetrator may themselves be a trafficking victim.

And while force or coercion may be involved, it's not a necessary component for a conviction. One can violate Arizona's child sex trafficking law byamong other things"causing a minor to engage in prostitution," "permitting a minor who is under the person's custody or control to engage in prostitution," "providing a means by which a minor engages in prostitution," "enticing, recruiting, harboring, providing, transporting, making available to another or otherwise obtaining a minor with the knowledge that the minor will engage in prostitution or any sexually explicit performance," or "engaging in prostitution with a minor."

The law targets not only people forcing or coercing minors into prostitution, porn, stripping, or similar activities but anyone who merely knows a minor is engaging in such activities and fails to stop them. It also targets driving a minor to a location where they will engage in prostitution, or doing anything that enables the prostitution of a minor, if the state determines someone "should have" known the minor's age.

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These parameters give law enforcement broad leeway to go after friends of any minor selling sex; people who don't condone what they're doing but are trying to help them do it safely; people who think they're facilitating or engaging in prostitution with an adult; and sex workers who, even unknowingly, work alongside someone under 18. It could also be used to go after minors aiding each other in prostitution.

It's important to understand the broad contours of this law before considering the change that Proposition 313 will make.

A One-Size-Fits-All Sentence



Here's the text of the proposition:

Subject to voter approval, statutorily requires an adult who is convicted of a class 2 felony for any child sex trafficking offense to be sentenced to natural life imprisonment.

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Unlike the current statute, which provides a range of punishments that vary based on circumstances, Proposition 313 will take away discretion from judges and imposes a one-size-fits-all life sentence nearly regardless of circumstances.

This isn't a policy that corrects for injustice but one that increases it.

"Sex trafficking is an arena where many participants are themselves victims, forced to participate by others," noted Hanna Liebman Dershowitz, a senior policy fellow at Reason Foundation (the nonprofit that publishes this magazine). "So, a law with no ability for a judge to adjust the sentence if the accused is a victim or was forced to participate can create its own injustices."

I've seen many cases where victims of abuse and coercion are themselves charged with sex trafficking. Under this measure they, too, could face life in prison.

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So could an 18-year-old who compensates a 17-year-old for sex, if the state says the 18-year-old "should have known" the 17-year-old's age. So could an 18-year-old sex worker working with a 17-year-old friend. So could an older sex worker who didn't condone a teen selling sex but did engage in some actiongiving them a place to stay, giving them a ride, etc.that helped them do so more safely. So could a person managing a strip club where an older teen with a fake ID got hired. And so on.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona even opposed the measure on the grounds that it could punish victims harshly and that it removes too much power from judges.

Who Benefits?

And who is safer in all of this? "Longer sentences demonstrably do not improve public safety," noted Liebman Dershowitz. Proponents of Proposition 313 "are seeking to 'send a message,' but there is no evidence that increased penalties deter sex trafficking or that current punishment is inadequate."

Even Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, the director of the Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention and Research at Arizona State University and a longtime crusader for getting tough on sex trafficking, was opposed to Proposition 313. "She believes Prop. 313 'is not necessary,'" Arizona's Family reported. "Roe-Sepowitz emphasized that the current justice system effectively holds those who commit these crimes accountable."

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Roe-Sepowitz also suggested that Proposition 313 could make punishing sex trafficking more difficult, since crimes that come with life sentences necessitate a higher burden of proof and it's already "very hard to get information and very hard to get evidence."

"Additionally, Roe-Sepowitz noted that such measures would prolong the legal process, placing more demands on victims who typically don't receive witness protection," noted the Arizona's Family article. She continued: "We are asking the victim to do even more, to testify more, to be a part of appeals that are naturally part of that system."

Proposition 313 follows in the path of the escalating war on drugs. Drug warriors kept proposing harsher and harsher sentences, in the name of prevention and justice. But all that accomplished was crowding prisons and ruining any chance for rehabilitation in many cases. It didn't stop drug use or stem the flow of drugs into American communities. And mandatory extreme sentences for sex trafficking won't stop sexual exploitation or vulnerable teenagers from selling sex.

"This proposition is an extreme measure based on an emotional, punitive and unscientific response to a serious situation and offers essentially nothing that would work to protect the most vulnerable among us," wrote John Covert, a member of the executive committee of Arizonans for Rational Sex Offense Policies, in an Arizona Republic op-ed.

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As it stands, there's nothing stopping judges from imposing harsh punishments on people forcing girls into prostitution, knowingly paying to have sex with 14-year-olds, or anything else that might warrant a long sentence. And there's nothing stopping lawmakers from passing a narrow sentencing expansion that would increase the maximum allowable sentence for child sex trafficking.

There are ways to increase penalties for certain types of cases without catching all sorts of people who do not deserve decades or life in prison. Instead, Proposition 313 and the voters who supported it opt to create a blanket draconian solution.

More Sex & Tech News

 It was a pretty good night for ballot initiatives supporting reproductive freedom.

 "In California, voters have passed Proposition 3 , guaranteeing the right for same-sex, as well as interracial, couples to marry," reports NPR. "Colorado voters have also passed Amendment J , repealing a ban on same-sex unions."

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 "Donald Trump's re-election as U.S. president will have massive repercussions for the technology sector," suggests David Meyer at Fortune.

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Hyattsville, Maryland | 2020 (ENB/Reason)

The post Arizonans Approve Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking a Minor appeared first on Reason.com.
Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Arizonans voted down Proposition 140, which would open up the states primaries, and were also poised to reject Proposition 133, which would keep the states status quo with closed, partisan primaries.

As of 2 a.m. Wednesday, with roughly half of expected votes counted, about 60% of voters opposed both Prop. 133 and Prop. 140.

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Early Wednesday morning the Associated Press called the race against Prop. 140, also known as the Make Election Fair Act, reporting that the measure had failed. At that time the AP had still not called the Prop. 133 race.

We are so grateful for the Arizonans who stood up to oppose this radical transformation of our elections systems, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb and former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould, co-chairs of the No on Prop 140 Committee, said in a written statement. Voters of all political persuasions wisely concluded that Prop 140 would do irreparable harm to our state if enacted. Arizona elections must be free, fair, and transparent, and that is what our system remains after this just result.





The Make Elections Fair Act was a citizen initiative amending the state constitution to create open primary elections in which all candidates for an office would appear on the primary election ballot, regardless of political party affiliation or non-affiliation. All voters, regardless of their own party affiliation, would then vote for any candidate or candidates.

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Proponents of Prop.140 said that it would make the election process more equitable for independent candidates and voters and aimed to fix the issue of extreme divisiveness in politics by forcing candidates to attempt to hear from and appeal to voters outside of their party.

Arizona law currently requires partisan primary elections for any elected office that isnt explicitly nonpartisan, and those elections are mostly limited to voters registered in that party.

Voters not registered with a party can vote in a partisan primary election, but must request to cast either a Democratic or Republican ballot. Partisan voters who are on the Automatic Early Voting List will receive mail-in ballots every primary election, while voters not registered with a party who are on the Automatic Early Voting List must request an early ballot in the primary.

In 2023, Republicans in the Arizona Legislature voted to put Prop. 133 on the ballot to counter a proposed ranked-choice voting initiative. Prop.133 would have amended the state constitution to forbid open primaries and outlaw ranked-choice voting.

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In a ranked-choice system, voters rank the candidates from their favorite to least favorite. A process of elimination takes place once voting ends. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Those voters second choices are then counted, and the process continues until someone crosses the 50% threshold.





The ranked-choice voting measure that Republican lawmakers feared never materialized, at least not directly. Its backers reworked their proposal to transform Arizonas partisan primaries into nonpartisan elections, with a path to ranked-choice voting  but only if legislators or the Arizona Secretary of State authorize it. The resulting initiative, known as the Make Elections Fair Act, qualified for the ballot as Prop. 140.

While Prop. 140 would have opened the states primary elections to all voters and all candidates, regardless of their party, it would give the state legislature the power to decide how many candidates for each office move on from the primary to the general election. And if the legislature decides that more than two candidates should move on to the general election in a race for one seat, ranked-choice voting would be required.

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If the state legislature failed to decide how many candidates would move to the general election by Nov. 1, 2025, that decision would be handed to the secretary of state, a point of contention for the propositions opponents.

The Secretary of States Office is currently occupied by Democrat Adrian Fontes, and will be at least through January 2027, depending on who voters elect for the post in 2026.

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***UPDATE: This story has been updated to reflect that the Associated Press called the race against the Make Elections Fair Act, reporting that it failed.
Arkansas voters are sending all four Republican members of the states congressional delegation back to Washington. The Associated Press called the race for all the incumbents by 9:36 p.m. Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford defeated Democrat Rodney Govens and Libertarian Steve Parsons in a three-way battle to represent the 1st District, which encompasses the eastern half of the state. Crawford will begin his eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives in January.

The vote count for U.S. House District 1, with 78% of votes counted, according to the AP:

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Crawford  158,488 (71.8%)

Govens  55,383 (25.1%)

Parsons  6,707 (3.0%)

Crawford told the Advocate Tuesday night that it means a lot and is very humbling that people have put a lot of trust in him.

Its very gratifying, very fulfilling work that we do, he said.

He also expressed gratitude for his staff.

Theyve been with me from the jump and continue to support me and I appreciate them, he said.

Parsons congratulated Crawford in an emailed statement.

I also want to thank everyone who voted for me, visited my website SteveParsonsLibertarian.com, or listened to my arguments about smaller government, personal liberty and the U.S. constitution in the two televised debates, in person, or in various news articles, Parsons said.

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In a speech at a Democratic watch party in North Little Rock, Govens used his time to speak about his Democratic counterparts in the 2nd and 3rd district races, Marcus Jones and Caitlin Draper.

I want to talk about Marcus Jones French Hill didnt know what hit him, Jones said.

He puts in the work and he puts in the effort and he pounds the sand, and he goes out to every single door and he goes and meets people where they are because that is what leadership is Govens said.

I want to say to the Marcus Joneses of the world, thank you, because the foundation that he laid, the foundation that Caitlin Draper laid in the 3rd District, the foundation that we worked so hard for over a year now  now is the time that were building on something.

U.S. Rep. French Hill gives an acceptance speech to a crowd at the Republican watch party in Little Rock on Nov. 5, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Congressional District 2

Prior to the race being called, Jones echoed those sentiments and said he was proud of how hard his campaign worked to connect with people across the district.

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We made the commitment that we were going to meet people on their doorsteps and talk to them about issues that they were concerned about and we did that and we knocked on, as a campaign and with others in the district, nearly 20,000 doors, he said.

With 90% of votes counted, according to the AP, the vote by central Arkansas residents was:

Hill  178,196 (59.3%)

Jones  122,272 (40.7%)

We have our own time for choosing in politics every few years, and weve made that choice tonight here in Arkansas, Hill said at Republican watch party in Little Rock. Im so proud to be able to represent this great Central Arkansas area for another two years in the United States House of Representatives.

Congressional District 3

Congressman Steve Womack secured his eighth term as representative of Northwest Arkansas 3rd District with a victory over Democrat Caitlin Draper and Libertarian Bobby Wilson.

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With 93% of the votes counted, the AP reported these unofficial results:

Womack  188,078 (63.8%)

Draper  93,911 (31.8%)

Wilson  12,969 (4.4%)

In an emailed statement, Womack said the election showed that his constituents agreed with him that conservative principles like less government and lower taxes create a better America for everyone.

I remain committed to fighting against the socialist wing of the Democrat party and restoring the American dreamServing my state and country is the greatest honor of my life, and I will never take it for granted, Womack said. Thank you for your continued trust in me and making your voice heard.

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Draper said shes grateful for the support and believes a better Arkansas is possible, while Wilson said he firmly believes that more choices lead to better outcomes.

Congressional District 4

In District 4, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman won a sixth term in office after defeating Democrat Risie Howard.

According to the AP, with 87% of votes counted:

Westerman 183,122 (72.9%)

Howard 67,937 (27.1%)

It is an honor of a lifetime to continue representing the 4th district of Arkansas, Westerman said in a statement. I still stand by the statement that Arkansas has what America needs, and I look forward to getting back to work in DC.

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Howard said Wednesday that running for office was one of the most wonderful experiences of her life and everyone she met on the campaign trail was nice.

It just confirms that we have more alike when it comes to humanity than those things about us that are different, Howard said. This is a great state and I am and remain committed to helping the people of the 4th District.

The 4th District encompasses the southwestern portion of Arkansas.

Reporters Tess Vrbin and Mary Hennigan contributed to this report.

Editors note: This story was updated at 7:50 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2024 with comments from Risie Howard.

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(From left) Democrats Diana Gonzales Worthen, Rey Hernandez and Billy Cook, candidates for House District 9, 11 and 19, participate in a Northwest Arkansas candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Washington County Oct. 8, 2024 at the Fayetteville Public Library. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)

This story was updated at 1:22 a.m. with House District 62 results.

Arkansas Democrats gained a seat in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday and will continue to be the minority party in the chamber in January when new members are sworn in.

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Republicans will keep their sizable supermajority in the House, but Democratic Party of Arkansas chairman Grant Tennille said Tuesday night he was proud of the party for fielding more candidates than it had in years.

Diana Gonzales Worthen won Springdales House District 9, the states first and only majority-Latino district, according to the unofficial but complete results from the Arkansas Secretary of State. She defeated freshman incumbent Republican Rep. DeAnna Hodges by 472 votes, a rematch of their 2022 race that Hodges won by 109 votes.

The results were:

Gonzales Worthen  2,658 votes (54.9%)

Hodges  2,186 votes (45.1%)

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Gonzales Worthen said her victory was unbelievable and not something she had seen as guaranteed.

We worked so hard, my campaign team, supporters, just so many people on the ground helping, and thats what it takes, she said. [Im] just so proud to live in Springdale, so proud of the people in Springdale who came out to support me. So many first-time voters, so many new citizens, and its just incredible and I just cant wait to get to work.

Of the 72 Democrats running for state legislative seats this year, the vast majority of the 55 contested races were in the House.

Tennille said some candidates were running in parts of the state that had not seen a Democratic House candidate in years. He also said the party was learning new ways to campaign.

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It all comes down to really working with them and encouraging them to pursue direct voter contact as a big part of their campaigns: getting out, knocking on peoples doors and having a conversation with them on the doorstep, Tennille said. Its hard, its not comfortable, but the ones that get after it get better at it over time, and it really does make a difference.

Tennille also said he was glad to see Democrats keep control of the seats in two Delta districts with the city of West Memphis split between them.

Democrat Jessie McGruder defeated Republican Robert Thorne in District 35 by 120 votes, and Democrat Lincoln Barnett defeated Republican Tammi Northcutt Bell in District 63 by 742 votes.

The District 35 results were, per the Secretary of States website:

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McGruder  4,798 votes (50.6%)

Thorne  4,678 votes (49.4%)

The District 63 results:

Barnett  4,213 votes (54.8%)

Northcutt Bell  3,471 votes (45.2%)

Incumbent Reps. Milton Nicks of District 35 and Deborah Ferguson of District 63 did not run for reelection.

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The two East Arkansas districts were among seven contested House seats with no incumbents defending them. The other five districts saw Republican victories.

Elsewhere in the Delta, GOP Rep. Mark McElroy of Tillar faced Democrat Dexter Miller in a rematch of the 2022 race to represent District 62. McElroy won by 663 votes, according to the Secretary of State. The district includes the entirety of Lee and Phillips counties and portions of Desha, Arkansas, Monroe and St. Francis counties.

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In addition to Gonzales Worthens race, Northwest Arkansas saw two other rematches between first-term Republican incumbents and their Democratic opponents from 2022. Republican incumbents Mindy McAlindon of Centerton and Rebecca Burkes of Lowell retained their seats, defeating Kate Schaffer and Rey Hernandez respectively.

Burkes is the mother of Nick Burkes, a Republican who won an undefended seat in Benton Countys House District 14.

Meanwhile in District 19, Democrat Billy Cook lost to one-term incumbent Rep. Steve Unger, R-Springdale, by 1,326 votes.

Cooks race was one of several that Democrats had considered competitive, along with a few in Central Arkansas.

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In suburban Little Rock, GOP Rep. Karilyn Brown of Sherwood defeated Democrat Andrew Cade Eberly of Jacksonville. Eberly said Tuesday he was proud of the amount of doors Ive been able to knock during the campaign and being able to meet people who are ready for a change.

Democrat James Henry Bartolomei expressed frustration Tuesday that he fell short in his effort to unseat Rep. Keith Brooks, R-Little Rock, to represent West Pulaski County.

If were not willing to ask the difficult questions, were never going to be able to solve the problems of why were dead last in maternal mortality, why were near dead last in crimes and corrections, why were almost last in education, Bartolomei said. We have to bring up these issues and continue to ask the tough questions because the other sides not willing to do it. They just rubber-stamp their way through what the special interests and the PACs (political action committees) and the lobbyists are telling them to do.

Advocate Deputy Editor Antoinette Grajeda contributed to this report.

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Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally on Saginaw Valley State University campus in Michigan on Oct. 3, 2024 ahead of the presidential election. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols/Michigan Advance)

This story was updated with the latest results at 11:30 p.m., Nov. 5, 2024

Arkansas voters again chose Republican Donald Trump as their preferred presidential candidate on Tuesday, defeating his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris.

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The Associated Press called the race for the former president shortly after the polls closed.

With 8%.of Arkansas 75 counties fully reporting results, the Secretary of States website showed these votes:

Trump  675,694 (63.8%)

Harris  359,373 (33.9%)

This means all six of Arkansas Electoral College votes will go to Trump. Electoral votes are allocated based on how many representatives and senators a state has in Congress; Arkansas has four U.S. representatives and two senators.

John Thurston, who was Arkansas Secretary of State until winning his own race for state treasurer Tuesday, said Trumps win in the state was unsurprising.

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In my opinion, I dont know if its so much Trump as it is were conservative, Thurston said a Republican election watch party. Weve always been conservativeeven when Democrats were in control.

Arkansas has been a reliably red state for more than two decades, voting for the Republican nominee since 2000, when George W. Bush won 51.3% of the vote. The last time Arkansas voted for a Democrat for president was in 1996, when Arkansas native Bill Clinton won his reelection bid with 53.7% of the states votes.

Trump won the state in 2020 with 62.4% to 34.8% for Joe Biden, who won the presidency.

Advocate reporter Mary Hennigan contributed to this report.

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BENTON, Ark.  An Arkansas State Police sergeant has been placed on administrative leave after a Tuesday incident at his Benton home.

ASP officials said 41-year-old Sgt. Brandon Lofton was arrested by the Saline County sheriff after an incident with his wife Tuesday morning. They said he is facing charges of aggravated assault on a family or household member, two counts of felony terroristic threatening, two counts of third-degree domestic battery and interference with emergency communications.

Central Arkansas woman starts nonprofit, turns her story of healing after being victim of domestic violence into hope for others

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Deputies took Lofton to the Saline County Detention Center and will be investigating, as will the ASP, officials said.

We take allegations of this nature very seriously, ASP Colonel Mike Hagar said. Our Office of Professional Standards is conducting a thorough investigation.

Arkansas State Police special agents make arrest in Georgia tied to Interstate 630 shooting

ASP hired Lofton in August 2009.

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(Catherine Lane/Getty Images)

Arkansas Scholarship Lottery funds could be available as soon as next fall to students attending vocational-technical schools and institutions thanks to passage of Issue 1 on Tuesday.

With an estimated 41% of votes counted, according to The Associated Press, the constitutional amendment received 447,789 (89.2%) yes votes to 53,983 (10.8%) no votes.

The Legislature referred Issue 1 to voters after receiving bipartisan support for the proposed measure in 2023. Lead sponsor Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs, said limiting the scholarship funds to students attending two- and four- year colleges and universities turned a blind eye to a whole segment of our population.

Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs, speaks during a legislative meeting on Oct. 28, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

The ballot measure does not define vocational-technical schools and institutions, and lawmakers will likely determine what schools are eligible for funding in the 2025 legislative session. Thats when the Legislature will also likely set the funding schedule for students at vo-tech schools, as is established for students at other colleges and universities.

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Since 2009, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has provided students at two- and four-year colleges and universities with funding, primarily through the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. An average of 30,000 students received the scholarship annually, though the number of recipients has been generally decreasing since a peak in 2012-2013.

Each year, $20 million from the states general revenue budget is allocated to the lottery program. With Issue 1 approved, another $2 million will be earmarked for students at vocational-technical schools.

Also commonly known as trade schools, the institutions provide students with career-specific training such as nursing, real estate, welding or culinary arts.

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MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Law enforcement officials spoke Wednesday morning at the Maryville Municipal Building regarding a decades-old cold case.

He was never forgotten not by the investigating officers, and not by the community in Blount County, not by the City of Maryville, Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond said. We remembered Billy Wayne Hearon, that case file was always there, always being worked on.

According to Chief Tony J. Crisp, an arrest has been made in the January 1985 murder of Billy Wayne Hearon, who was found dead in a residence at the 27 Shady Acres Trailer Park in Maryville, having suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma.

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Despite initial efforts to solve this case it remained unsolved for nearly four decades, Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said. Thanks to the tenacity of our investigating team and new investigation techniques the case was reopened with new and fresh vigor and determination. 

I cant find another Marvell Moore Oak Ridge Police Chief mourns shock loss of lieutenant

Crisp named the murder suspect during Wednesdays press conference as 62-year-old Roger Oody, who is currently serving time with the Tennessee Department of Correction for a separate homicide that occurred in Monroe County in 1987.

He was convicted of killing an individual named Roy Stephens out of Monroe County, Desmond said. Without going into too much detail I think youll learn that homicide is related to our homicide.

Roger Oody (Blount County Sheriffs Office)

This development marks a significant step towards justice for the victim and his family, Crisp said.

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Hearon was one of 15 children. He served in the United States Army until he suffered a career ending injury.

To the Hearon family, I just want them to know that you know we are very pleased to bring some resolve and closure to them in regards to their brother because I know that has weighed heavy on their hearts and minds because they shared that with me, Crisp said.

Oody was indicted for first degree murder. He is due in court on Friday, November 8, at 9am.

Lonely Bones: Stories of the Forgotten Dead

EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Joel Cheruiyot Sum of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry described the CIIE as a global platform that facilitates the flow of businesses, expressing his desire to secure more cooperation opportunities during the event.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said detectives made an arrest Tuesday in a deadly hit-and-run that happened in March.

PAST COVERAGE: Man dies after car intentionally hits him on Brookshire Boulevard

Tony Ray Smith, 58, was struck by a vehicle at 3:30 a.m. on March 16 along Brookshire Boulevard near Interstate 85 in northwest Charlotte. He was taken to a hospital where he died.

Detectives went to Jonesborough, Tennessee, on Tuesday to talk to Henry Fernando Centeno Renteria, 45 who was then placed into custody by the Washington County Sheriffs Office.

The sheriffs office charged Renteria with being a fugitive from justice.

CMPD will charge the suspect with murder pending extradition to North Carolina.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Several people connected to an ongoing investigation involving drug trafficking and criminal street gang activity have been arrested by the Columbus Police Departments Special Operations Unit.

A search warrant executed by the unit on Nov.3 led to various items seized and multiple arrests associated with criminal gang activities.

The items seized by the Special Operations Unit included:

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3,096.2 grams of marijuana

19.5 grams of spice

18.7 grams of THC

Six firearms recovered

$31,624.50 of narcotics seized

According to police, the following people have been arrested in connection to the operation:

Frank Jackson Jr., 45 18 counts of criminal street gang activity Possession with intent to distribute Drug related objects Possession of controlled substance Possession of machine gun Convicted felon in possession of firearm Theft by receiving stolen firearm Possession of firearm during commission of certain crimes

Treveyonne Campbell, 30 21 counts of criminal street gang activity Possession with intent to distribute Drug related objects Possession of controlled substance Possession of machine gun Convicted felon in possession of firearm 2 counts of theft by receiving stolen firearm Possession of firearm during commission of certain crimes

Brandon Lee, 31 18 counts of criminal street gang activity Possession with intent to distribute Drug related objects Possession of controlled substance Possession of machine gun Convicted felon in possession of firearm Theft by receiving stolen firearm Possession of firearm during commission of certain crimes

Rizanno Powell, 29 15 counts of criminal street gang activity Possession with intent to distribute Drug related objects Possession of controlled substance Possession of machine gun Theft by receiving stolen firearm Possession of firearm during commission of certain crimes

Khalil Abdulhayy, 25 15 counts of criminal street gang activity Possession with intent to distribute Drug related objects Possession of controlled substance Possession of machine gun Theft by receiving stolen firearm Possession of firearm during commission of certain crimes

Elajuwon Rogers, 30 Convicted felon in possession of firearm 14 outstanding warrants

Maurice Dillard, 45 Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute



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SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  South Dakota State University reported a simple assault happened Tuesday evening.

Minnehaha County still reporting results on Wednesday

SDSU police sent in an email to students about a crime that happened at Abbott Hall on campus. No description of the individual is available, according to police.

University Police is seeking information about their whereabouts, as they believe there is potential for an ongoing threat, the alert to students said.

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[Source]

Astronaut Sunita Williams, along with her colleagues Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague and Don Pettit, cast their votes for the U.S. election from the International Space Station.

On Tuesday, Hague shared an Instagram post showing the group in patriotic socks, writing, It doesnt matter if you are sitting, standing or floating  what matters is that you vote!

This milestone in voting history began in 1997 when the Texas Legislature passed a law enabling astronauts to vote from space, with NASA astronaut David Wolf becoming the first to do so from Russias Mir Space Station. The process involves astronauts completing a Federal Post Card Application for absentee voting. A secure, electronic ballot is then transmitted via NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System to the Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in Texas, ensuring a seamless and private voting experience.

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Retired NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao was the first U.S. citizen to vote for president from space.

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Incumbent District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez lost her bid for reelection in the Western Judicial Circuit. Gonzalezs campaign put out a concession message online early Wednesday morning.

Preliminary results from the Georgia Secretary of States Election Hub show her opponent, Independent candidate Kalki Yalamanchili, took home nearly 60% of the vote to her slim edge over 40%.

In terms of direct voter tallies, the election data from Georgia officials show Yalamanchili earned 44,984 votes to Gonzaelzs 30,607. The Western Judicial Circuit includes Clarke and Oconee counties.

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While the data from the state showed the gap in thousands of votes, Gonzalezs concession says the race was close, with just over 600 votes in the gap.

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The difference comes from the way the Western Judicial Circuit is set, with Clarke County voters backing Yalamanchili with 25,138 votes to Gonzalezs 24,515. In Oconee County, the other county in the judicial circuit, the gap in voters was much larger with 19,846 backing Yalamanchili and 6,092 backing Gonzalez.

From the statement by the Gonzalez campaign, it appears she was focused mainly on voters in Clarke County, where the vote difference was 623.

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In this election, we faced significant financial disparities, with our opponent receiving substantial backing from large donors, Gonzalez said in a statement. While we may not have had the same economic power, we worked diligently with the resources we had, focusing on serving the voices of our constituents who often go unheard. Our commitment to community engagement and advocacy remains unwavering.

Gonzalez also called on Yalamanchili to keep his promises made during the campaign to preserve some of the now-outgoing DAs social issue priorities and asked the community to come together to address those issues and move forward together.

The presumptive DA-elect has not yet put out a statement. Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the Yalamanchili campaign for comment on Gonzalezs concession and a more general statement on the election results and are waiting for their response.

Like all races in Georgia, the election results have not yet been certified so the candidates have not yet officially been declared a winner or loser, but the concession speech makes it clear that Gonzalez has accepted the electoral defeat.

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The race to fill Atlanta City Councils post-3 at-large vacancy is headed to a runoff election between civil rights attorney Eshe Collins and business owner Nicole Evans Jones.

Community activist Duvwon Robinson, Black Futurists Group founder Devin Barrington-Ward, and business owner Amber Higgins-Connor were also vying to fill the remainder of former council member Keisha Sean Waites term on the city council.

None of the candidates received the required more than 50% of votes needed to legally win the race outright, so a runoff between Evans Jones and Collins  the two majority vote-getters  will take place on Dec. 3.

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Evans Jones received 40.05% of votes cast during the general election, while Collins received 24.48% of votes. Barrington-Ward received 13.41% of votes cast, Higgins-Connor received 15.29%, and Robinson received 6.76%.

Whoever wins the race will take office in January before running for reelection again next fall.

Increasing Atlantas supply of affordable housing, battling homelessness, and addressing public safety concerns are three of the major issues with which city council members must contend next year.

Black Atlantans being priced out of their rental homes has fueled a rise in the citys homeless population for the last two years in a row, according to Partners for HOME, the nonprofit that conducts Atlantas annual point-in-time homeless census count.

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The city saw a 7% surge in its homeless population in January after it skyrocketed 33% a year prior, according to the groups latest annual report, which noted overall homelessness is down 30% from where it was in 2016.

Black people made up 86% of Atlanta residents living on the streets, in shelters, or in temporary housing this year, a 3 percentage-point rise from 2023, researchers found.

Atlanta City Council has 16 total seats. Waites vacated her seat earlier this year after launching a failed bid to serve as Fulton County clerk.

Evans Jones wants to improve transportation equity and increase attainable housing in addition to promoting safe neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Collins is focused on increasing economic opportunities for legacy residents, lowering the citys rising cost of living, and holding elected leaders accountable.

The post Atlanta City Council Post 3 At-Large Race Headed to Runoff appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  Atlantic City's mayor, already accused of abusing his teenage daughter, now faces a new charge that he asked her to lie about how she sustained a head injury.

Marty Small Sr., 50, was charged Monday with witness tampering involving the girl, whom he and his wife, La'Quetta  the New Jersey seaside gambling resort city's superintendent of schools  were previously charged with assaulting and abusing.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said Marty Small, a Democrat, asked his daughter to twist up a statement she had given to investigators regarding his alleged abuse of her on occasions in December and January.

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Specifically, the mayor is accused of asking his daughter to falsely say that a head injury occurred when she tripped and fell in her room.

Small's lawyer, Edwin Jacobs, called the latest charge sheer nonsense," adding that Small asked his daughter to tell the truth about what happened.

When a parent encourages a child to be accurate and truthful in statements to investigators, that parent is not witness tampering, he said Wednesday. That parent is doing what a good, responsible parent should do. And that is precisely what Marty Small has done.

Jacobs called the charge one more effort by the prosecuting authority to second-guess my client's parenting and corrupt his relationship with his daughter.

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The attorney did not say whether the teen is still living at home with her parents. As recently as last month, Small said she was doing so.

Prosecutors allege that Small asked his daughter to contradict her previous claim of being abused while knowing he was about to be indicted on the original child abuse charge. The alleged request was made two days before a grand jury indicted Marty and La'Quetta Small.

They say both parents hit and emotionally abused the girl, who was 15 to 16 years old, on occasions last winter. The couple deny the allegations.

Prosecutors said that on Jan. 13, Marty Small hit his daughter multiple times in the head with a broom, causing her to lose consciousness. Ten days earlier, they said, Small argued with his daughter, grabbing her head, throwing her to the ground and threatening to throw her down the stairs. The mayor also is accused of punching his daughter in the legs, causing bruising.

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LaQuetta Small, 47, is accused of punching her daughter multiple times on the chest, leaving bruising. She is also accused of dragging her daughter by the hair and striking her with a belt on her shoulders, leaving marks.

The couple pleaded not guilty to the original charges last month. Marty Small has a court date on the witness tampering charge set for Dec. 3.

___

Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI)  The city of Attleboro is in a water conservation emergency and residents are being asked to cut back on their water usage.

The announcement comes as the city faces an ongoing and historic lack of seasonal rainfall, which is relied on for their water supply.

Attleboros Water Superintendent Kourtney Allen said that, because there hasnt been enough rain, a reservoir at Manchester Pond is at its lowest amount of water in four decades.

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Weve had historic low rainfall, Allen told 12 News on Tuesday. Basically every month since then has been much, much lower than average and going into the end of October, were about a foot short on rain since June 1.

Some tips provided by the city for conservation include not flushing toilets unnecessarily, taking shorter showers, fixing leaky faucets and not running faucets while shaving, washing hands or brushing teeth.

Some of these restrictions could stay in place for far longer than we may think, because we need to replenish our reservoirs, Attleboro Mayor Cathleen DeSimone said. We need to get the water levels back up, and we have to have either rain or serious conservation to let those levels build.

The city has worked with Pawtucket the last few years to create an emergency interconnection pumping station. Thats expected to be finished in the coming weeks, letting Attleboro buy water from Pawtucket during a crisis.

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The emergencys impact is also on the radar for Attleboro Fire Chief Scott Lachance.

We look at obviously the fire risk, which is worse now because of the drought and then we also look at our ability to fight those types of fires with the water supply, Lachance said. While we presently have sufficient water to do that, we certainly dont want to waste a significant amount of water on brush fires that can be prevented.

He added that a boat for the department also suffered a damaged propeller because the water in that reservoir is so low.

I mean, now its like 8 feet down, Lachance said.

An outdoor burning ban was also put in place on Monday due to an increased risk of wildfires in town.

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Residents with questions about the water conservation emergency will be able to ask them during a community meeting next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Attleboro High School.

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Austin school district voters approved a tax rate that will raise their property tax rates by 9.1 cents to inject another $41 million into the districts budget at a time its facing a $119 million deficit, an investment school officials say will stave off the most painful cuts.

Voters decisively approved the tax hike with 58% of the 305,254 votes, according to complete but unofficial results.

District staff and trustees who had gathered for a watch party at the Punch Bowl Social on Congress Avenue chanted, Prop A! Prop A! Tuesday night when Superintendent Matias Segura, tears in his eyes, declared that the measure  Proposition A  had passed.

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Passage of the tax rate will allow the district to give teachers and other staff a much-needed raise that will help retain them in Austin, which is a benefit to students, Segura said.

The single unit of change in our classroom is our educators and if were not investing in them, then our students are not going to get what we need to be successful, Segura said.

In passing Proposition A, voters agreed to raise their school tax rate from 85.95 cents per $100 of property valuation to 95.05 cents, about $420 annually for an average-value Austin home.

The rate will raise $171 million total, $41 million of which will go to Austin schools. The other $130 million will go to the state as part of a decades-old program called recapture. The program functions as a Robin Hood, taking tax revenue from districts that collect more than their state-determined need for education funding and redistributing it to those that collect less in revenue than their state-determined need.

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The district has pledged $17.8 million of the $41 million it keeps will go to raise salaries for teachers and other staff, particularly for those who are mid- to advanced-career level. Another $3 million will go to hiring instructional aids and the rest will pay down the districts $119 million deficit.

Board President Arati Singh vowed to spend the tax revenue in a way that will benefit students and teachers.

"We are going take this and spend this money in a way that is strategic, in a way that is going to increase student outcomes, that's going to give our kids the education they deserve," Singh said.

With the passage of the tax rate, it feels like the community is looking out for teachers, said Kynan Murtagh, a social studies teacher at Travis Early College High School.

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People know that what were going through is hard and were doing our best and we care about their kids and that deserves to be adequately paid, Murtagh said.

People who voted in favor of Proposition A on Tuesday said they did so to help teachers and schools, while those opposed worried about higher taxes.

Amanda Armond didnt have to think about whether to vote for the tax rate election. Her daughter goes to fifth grade at Davis Elementary School and she wants to ensure teachers and students have the resources they need, she said.

If I have to pay more in taxes for the benefit of schools, teachers, what have you, I will, always, Armond said.

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Jose Brownlee, who has lived in Austin since 1996, voted against the district's tax rate proposal because he said his taxes already are too high. He stood in line outside the Gus L. Garcia Recreation Center in Northeast Austin on Tuesday.

"We're already struggling out here and everything's already tough," Brownlee said.

Trustees and officials also pledged to pressure state lawmakers in the upcoming 2025 legislative session for more state funding for public schools.

Since the 2023 legislative session, when lawmakers didnt pass an increase in per-student funding that educators said they sorely needed, the states contribution to Texas education has been a source of ire for many state school board trustees.

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This community stands up for schools and I challenge the Legislature to stand up for schools and for kids, said Ken Zarifis, president of Education Austin, which represents district staff. Its their turn to do something.

Even with passage of the higher tax rate, the district plans to slash at least $90 million from its budget over the next three years.

This fall, an ad hoc committee of staff and community members has been meeting to identify potential places to cut back. Now that district officials know voters approved the tax rate, there is a clearer budget plan, Segura said Tuesday.

Were going to do it in a dignified way, Segura said. We have to think about retention plans. We have to think about how to make adjustments and not create disruptions in the classroom.

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Teachers could see the raises on their paychecks as early as December, Segura said. Those paychecks will also include the higher pay staff members would have received for the first few months of the school year, had the raise been in place.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Voters pass AISD's Prop A for $41M in teacher pay, lower deficit
SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian government will legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday, in what it calls a world-leading package of measures that could become law late next year.

Australia is trialing an age-verification system to assist in blocking children from accessing social media platforms, as part of a range of measures that include some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date.

"Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it," Albanese told a news conference.

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Albanese cited the risks to physical and mental health of children from excessive social media use, in particular the risks to girls from harmful depictions of body image, and misogynist content aimed at boys.

"If you're a 14-year-old kid getting this stuff, at a time where you're going through life's changes and maturing, it can be a really difficult time and what we're doing is listening and then acting," he said.

A number of countries have already vowed to curb social media use by children through legislation, though Australia's policy is one of the most stringent.

No jurisdiction so far has tried using age verification methods like biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off, two of the methods being trialed.

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Australia's other world-first proposals are the highest age limit set by any country, no exemption for parental consent and no exemption for pre-existing accounts.

Legislation will be introduced into the Australian parliament this year, with the laws coming into effect 12 months after being ratified by lawmakers, Albanese said.

The opposition Liberal Party has expressed support for a ban.

There will be no exemptions for children who have parental consent, or who already have accounts.

"The onus will be on social media platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to prevent access," Albanese said. "The onus won't be on parents or young people."

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"What we are announcing here and what we will legislate will be truly world leading," Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said.

Rowland said platforms impacted would include Meta Platforms' Instagram and Facebook, as well as Bytedance's TikTok and Elon Musk's X. Alphabet's YouTube would likely also fall within the scope of the legislation, she added.

TikTok declined to comment, while Meta, Alphabet and X did not respond to requests for comment.

The Digital Industry Group, a representative body which includes Meta, TikTok, X and Alphabet's Google as members, said the measure could encourage young people to explore darker, unregulated parts of the internet while cutting their access to support networks.

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"Keeping young people safe online is a top priority ... but the proposed ban for teenagers to access digital platforms is a 20th Century response to 21st Century challenges," said DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose.

"Rather than blocking access through bans, we need to take a balanced approach to create age-appropriate spaces, build digital literacy and protect young people from online harm," she added.

France last year proposed a ban on social media for those under 15, though users were able to avoid the ban with parental consent.

The United States has for decades required technology companies to seek parental consent to access the data of children under 13, leading to most social media platforms banning those under that age from accessing their services. (This story has been refiled to correct a typo in the headline)

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal and Byron Kaye in Sydney; Editing by Stephen Coates)
PARIS, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday after the U.S. Republican presidential candidate declared victory.

"Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity," Macron wrote on social media platform X.

Macron said he also spoke to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after Trump's election night speech addressing supporters.

France and Germany "will work for a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe in this new context, by cooperating with the United States of America and defending our interests and our values," Macron wrote on X.

Trump declared victory early Wednesday in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as Fox News projected he held 277 Electoral College votes.

At least 270 Electoral College votes are needed to clinch the U.S. presidency. 
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  Australias highest court ruled Wednesday that migrants cant be forced by law to wear electronic tracking bracelets or to comply with curfews.

The ruling is a blow to the government, whose lawyers have unsuccessfully argued that laws imposing curfews and tracking technology are justified to protect the community.

Five of the seven High Court judges ruled that the tough restrictions placed on more than 100 migrants, usually because of their criminal records, were unconstitutional because the conditions amounted to punishment. The constitution states that punishment must be imposed by judges, not lawmakers.

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The restrictions were part of emergency laws hastily passed in December in response to another High Court ruling that non-citizens could no longer be detained indefinitely as an alternative to deportation. That ruling in the case of a stateless Rohingya man reversed a 28-year-old High Court precedent that allowed indefinite detention where there were security concerns.

Wednesday's ruling means the government can no longer electronically track the more than 200 non-citizens with criminal records who were released and, for a variety of reasons, couldnt be deported.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he would introduce legislation to Parliament on Thursday that will allow for an adjusted process for electronic monitoring devices and curfews to be used. He did not detail those adjustments.

The courts decision is not the one the government wanted  but it is one the government has prepared for, Burke said in a statement.

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The security and safety of the Australian community will always be the absolute priority for this government, he added.

The latest High Court case was brought by a 36-year-old stateless man, identified as YBFZ, who was born in Eritrea. His family initially fled to Ethiopia because they feared persecution in their homeland as Jehovahs Witnesses, and they arrived in Australia as refugees in 2002.

His refugee visa was canceled in 2017 due to convictions including burglary and recklessly causing injury, part of a criminal record that extended for more than a decade. He was held in custody until 2023, when the High Court outlawed indefinite detention.

YBFZs lawyer, David Manne, described Wednesdays verdict as a major victory for fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Australia.

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This is an important ruling because it underscores the bedrock principle that for everyone, whether citizen or non-citizen, the government does not have the power to punish people by stripping them of their fundamental rights to freedom and dignity, Manne told reporters.

Opposition lawmakers described the High Court decision as an embarrassing loss for the government.

The effect of this decision will be that 215 dangerous non-citizen offenders including 12 murderers, 66 sex offenders, 97 people convicted of assault, 15 domestic violence perpetrators and others will be free in the community without any monitoring or curfews, an opposition statement said.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has congratulated US presidential candidate Donald Trump as he looked poised to re-enter the White House, although he has not yet been declared the winner.

"We look forward to further expanding and strengthening our trans-Atlantic relations to successfully address global challenges together," Nehammer wrote on the platform X.

The Republican Trump is on the verge of winning the US presidential election and has already declared himself the winner.
CHICAGO  Chicago police officials and prosecutors are set to announce charges in the fatal shooting of CPD officer Enrique Martinez earlier this week.

A press conference was scheduled for later Wednesday at CPD headquarters with Superintendent Larry Snelling, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx.

Martinez, 26, was shot and killed Monday night in the 8000 block of South Ingleside in Chatham. Martinez joined CPD less than three years ago, according to the department.

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Monday night, Martinez responded to a 911 call a couple of blocks from where he was later shot, according to police. Martinez was involved in a traffic stop when he was gunned down, police have said.

Other responding officers ultimately took him to the University of Chicago Medical Center in a police vehicle.

Police recovered two guns, including at least one that had an extended magazine.

Martinez was the first CPD officer to die in an on-duty shooting since Andres Vasquez Lasso in March 2023. The slaying also contains tragic echoes of the death of CPD Officer Ella French, who was also gunned down during a traffic stop. In September, Frenchs shooter was sentenced to life in prison.

Vasquez Lasso was shot and killed on March 1, 2023, while responding to a domestic violence call, an emergency call often fraught with risk to responding officers, victims and bystanders.

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A behavioral specialist at Groden Centers day school in Providence participates in a September 2023 strike. Another strike was planned for Thursday, but after prolonged negotiations, staff and workers have reached a tentative contract. (Will Steinfeld/Rhode Island Current)

After months of negotiation, behavioral specialists at a Providence day school for young people with autism reached a late-night contract agreement with their employer on Monday, precluding a strike the unionized workers had planned for Thursday.

The tentative contract now goes to a member vote, which is expected to take place Thursday, said Amelia Abromaitis, a union spokesperson via email.

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The 38 behavioral specialists, who are represented by SEIU 1199 NE, work at the Groden Centers day school on Mount Hope Avenue in Providence. The workers provide a portion of the services offered at the Groden Center, which include children from birth up through age 22. Across the centers offerings are instruction in things like communication skills, emotional growth and vocational training, with the intent of helping kids gain more self-reliance and functional life skills.

But turnover has been high with entry-level pay for specialists set at $18 an hour, or about $35,000 a year.

Staff arent staying because management wont pay, behavioral specialist Katherine Siguenza, an employee of 13 years, told Rhode Island Current in September, during the frontline workers initial three-day strike.

Workers cited the need for a livable wage, one that could sustain recruitment and retention efforts for staff, as a reason for the picket. A turbulent amount of turnover, they argued, also affected and potentially diminished the continuity of care for the schools students.

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The cost of living for food, housing and gas keeps going up while the starting wage at Groden is literally less than what one can make at Canes Chicken, who are currently advertising $20 an hour to start, said Richard Jenkins, a behavioral specialist, in a statement released during the September strike.

A representative for the Groden Center did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.

Contract negotiations began in June 2024 but eventually hit a wall. While the September strike had a limited duration, the union warned that an indefinite strike was an option should bargaining stall. That outcome appeared likely on Friday, Nov. 1, when the union released a video announcing their intentions to begin an unfair labor practice strike the following week.

A written statement released the same day alleged regressively and unlawfully withdrew its wage proposal, leaving workers with only one wage increase over the next three years.

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Details of the contract will be announced when it becomes ratified, Abromaitis said.

Update: Union members ratified the three-year contract Thursday evening, with senior staffers seeing up to a 42% wage increase over the contract duration. New hires will receive up to a 25% increase over the contracts lifespan.

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Dr. Danny Avula, former director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts and 2024 mayoral candidate. (Photo courtesy Dr. Danny Avula for Richmond Mayor)

Updated Nov. 6 at 11:55 a.m.

City of Richmond residents appear to have selected Dr. Danny Avula as their new mayor, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.

All the precincts were fully reported just after midnight by VDOE, where Avula came in with 44,832 votes, which was 46% of the votes overall. His closest rival was Michelle Mosby, who had 24,798 or just over 25% of the votes. When current Mayor Levar Stoney was elected in 2020, he carried enough of the majority in the districts to win outright, having 37.7% or 41,145 votes, according to results from VPAP.

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Avula, the former director for the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, is now poised to be the citys first-ever mayor of Indian descent.

Per Virginia law, Avula had to win five out of the nine city districts. By 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, he had won the 1st, 2nd and 4th districts; and won the majority in the 3rd and 5th districts  which is not a full five district win.

On Wednesday just before 11 a.m., Avula posted his thanks to Richmond voters and his family on X, formerly Twitter.

I am incredibly humbled and honored by your confidence in me, and I hope youll continue to share your ideas and experience with me going forward. My door and inbox is always open, he wrote. Its going to take all of us, but together we will build a Richmond where everyones rights are protected, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and where no gets left behind. Thank you, and lets get to work.

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One of Avulas biggest priorities for his term include expanding the number of affordable housing for low-income residents, with a target goal of helping those who earn $50,000 or less a year. He pledged on his website to demand transparent decision making from the leaders of City Hall.

Candidate Michelle Mosby came in a close second, winning both the 8th and 9th Districts, while sliding in just behind Avula in many of the other districts.

Other goals Avula wants to achieve include installing more tree coverage to help combat heat islands, which are areas where heat indexes are higher due to a lack of trees; build more sidewalks in majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods and collaborate with the school board and school superintendent to help support students.

In this years Richmond mayoral election, the five candidates knocked on doors, held fundraisers and gave their views during a fistful of debates and forums  including one at Armstrong High School, in which Armstrong students moderated the event.

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All the candidates expressed strong views on housing, after the city council passed a resolution in 2023 declaring a housing crisis in the region, but approached the topic of how to secure more affordable housing differently.

Addison rallied for the city to put the states 2020 land tax law to use, which allows property to be taxed by the land and not the structure built on it. Mosby called for the creation of an Affordable Housing Strike Team composed of department leaders who sign off on housing developments who would report directly to the mayors office in an effort to cut through the red tape and get affordable housing projects completed as quickly as possible, Mosby said.

Roday had also signaled a desire to expedite the building permit process, while he and Avula pitched creating boards to advise the city on housing policy. Avula also suggested strengthening the Office of Community Wealth Building with an aim to help low-income Richmonders be empowered to secure higher incomes. Most of the candidates outlined plans to support public housing residents, and many supported the idea of continuing the localitys existing partnerships with housing-focused nonprofits that help Virginians achieve homeownership and find affordable places to live.

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Kelly Ayotte, the newly elected governor of New Hampshire, waves to supporters during her watch party in Salem on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Will Steinfeld | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Republican former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte will be New Hampshires next governor, after defeating Democratic former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig Tuesday in a campaign built on a promise of economic continuity, increased focus on crime and immigration, and staunch opposition to progressive policies.

When I announced this campaign, I said that we were one election away from becoming Massachusetts, Ayotte said as she emerged to a crowd of supporters Tuesday evening. And guess what: Not on my watch.

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Ayotte, 56, sought to build on her six years in the U.S. Senate, and her five year stint as the states Attorney General. She made promises to continue Gov. Chris Sununus low-tax economic policies and devote more police resources to enforcement of the states northern border and the opioid crisis.

With 57 percent of the vote in, the Associated Press called the race for Ayotte shortly after 10:30 p.m. Ayotte, of Nashua, had secured 51.8 percent of the vote to Craigs 46.1 percent when the race was called.

Craig failed to rack up wide enough leads in Democratic leaning cities to overcome Ayottes advantage in more rural areas. As of 10:30, the two were in a dead heat over control of Manchester, Craigs hometown.

Taking the stage at a conference center in Manchester around 9:45 p.m., Craig, 57, said she had spoken to Ayotte and congratulated her on her victory. Supporters groaned.

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While tonight isnt the result we wanted, said Craig, looking out on the crowd with family members standing behind her, Im proud of our campaign and the issues that we focused on.

Throughout her campaign, Ayotte leaned into opposition to Democratic policies in Massachusetts, such as its taxes on wealthier residents and its housing policies for migrants and refugees. She accused Craig of attempting to replicate those policies. Early in her campaign, Ayotte used the slogan Dont Mass up New Hampshire to capture that sentiment, plastering it on signs and campaign mailers.

Democrat Joyce Craig said around 9:45 p.m. that she had spoken to Republican Kelly Ayotte and conceded the governors race. (Claire Sullivan | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Over a blistering series of campaign ads, Ayotte heavily criticized Craig for her leadership of Manchester, where Craig served as mayor for six years. Ayotte and other Republicans argued Craigs policies led to higher rates of homelessness, crime, and opioids; Craig countered with examples of policies enacted during her tenure that sought to reduce crime, gun violence and the homeless population.

Craig tried to use her tenure as mayor as its own credential, arguing she had unique executive experience and that she was more connected to the states broader issues. Craig noted that violent crime rates dropped 40 percent when she was mayor, touted her efforts to get plans for 2,000 new housing units in the city, and highlighted decreases in opioid overdoses to claim her policies worked at alleviating the crisis.

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Craig attacked Ayottes record, too, drawing attention to a number of votes Ayotte made as a U.S. senator to pass a national ban on abortions, reduce access to in vitro fertilization, and strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood. Ayotte countered that she supports New Hampshires 2021 ban on abortions after six months, with exceptions, and said she would not seek to tighten that law.

Craig also criticized Ayottes membership on the board of Blackstone Inc., an investment management company that has been accused of buying rental properties across the country and increasing rents, sometimes dramatically. Ayotte noted that the company had relatively few property holdings in New Hampshire.

And Craig brought up Ayottes support of former President Donald Trumps re-election effort this year, noting that Ayotte had declined to support Trump in 2016, objecting to his taped comments admitting to sexual assault.

In an interview Tuesday, Sununu praised Ayottes campaign, and argued Craig and Democrats had made a strategic error by directing too much of their messaging around the issue of abortion, rather than connecting over economic issues.

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Thats not what people are about, he said. People dont live their lives based on one issue. They dont look for leadership based on one issue. And so anytime  if either party were to try that, it just doesnt work.

The two candidates sparred frequently over taxes. Ayotte said she would keep the tax cuts passed by the Legislature under Sununu, including the reductions to the business profits tax, the business enterprise tax, and the full repeal of the interest and dividends tax, which will take effect in 2025. And she contended that that economic model had contributed to the states low unemployment rate and had created a positive environment for businesses.

Craig criticized Sununus approach to New Hampshires economy, noting persistently high local property taxes and arguing the state should do more to send money to towns to offset the taxes. Craig also opposed the interest and dividends tax elimination, framing it as a tax that largely affected wealthy residents and vowing to restore it but to target it to higher earners. Ayotte assailed that position, using it to run advertising stating that Craig would raise taxes.

And both candidates agreed the housing crisis is a top issue and produced lengthy policies for how to address it. Ayotte focused many of her proposals on streamlining the state approval process from agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Services, pledging to reduce the wait time to 60 days. Craigs plan emphasized state investments in affordable housing and included proposed state laws to reduce the requirements local land use boards can impose on new developments.

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The two followed familiar partisan divisions around education policy. Craig called for an increase in state funding of schools, citing two school funding lawsuits pending before the Supreme Court, and disavowing the recently created education freedom account program, which allows low-income families to use state education dollars toward private school and home school expenses. Ayotte endorsed that program, and voiced disagreement with an order by Rockingham County Superior Court for the state to nearly double its per pupil education spending to meet its constitutional requirements.

And while Craig vowed to boost New Hampshires efforts to transition its energy grid to include more renewable sources, such as offshore wind and solar developments, Ayotte expressed more caution. Ayotte said the state should adopt an all of the above approach to energy but emphasized the need for the state to continue to ensure a supply of natural gas and other fossil fuels in order to lower rate costs.

The consistent attack ads made Manchester  and its legacy  a central player in Ayottes campaign, and raised some criticism among business owners that the effort was painting the city in a poor light.

But Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais, a Republican who succeeded Craig in the Queen City, supported Ayotte, rejecting that argument. He said Ayottes advertising about the city was meant to criticize Craigs leadership, not the people of Manchester themselves.

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I think what Kelly was looking at was the stewardship of the city of Manchester, and here are the things that we know Manchester has the potential to achieve, he said in an interview Tuesday.  She was always very clear that Manchester is an incredible place. Its a very special place to raise your family, to send your kids to school.

Craig, for her part, paid tribute to Manchester in her final speech

I love Manchester, Craig said, and I want to thank all of you again, all of you for working to make sure that we make New Hampshire a stronger place.

Ayottes victory speech capped several hours of electric energy in the Artisan Hotel in Salem, as Republican representatives, officials, and voters packed a ballroom, cheering loudly whenever the WMUR election broadcast revealed a state that had voted for Trump.

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When Ayotte took the stage, she led the crowd in a happy birthday song for Sununu, who turned 50 Tuesday. And she paid tribute to Sununus help in her election.

But, she added: Were not going to be content to rest on the successes of Gov. Sununu and what he has brought to our state, she said.

 Together, we will work to tackle this housing crisis. Together, we will work to strengthen our mental health system. Together, we will work to make sure that New Hampshire remains a great place to raise a family, well back up our teachers, and well continue to improve education for all of our students.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Just after the noon hour Wednesday, and 16 hours after voting closed in the state, the Democratic challenger in Iowas 3rd Congressional District has conceded the election to incumbent Congressman Zach Nunn (R).

Lanon Baccam released a statement:

Its been the honor of a lifetime to be the Democratic nominee for Iowas Third Congressional district. I cant thank our tireless team enough, including our staff and incredible volunteers, and my family for being with me every step of the way. While this is not the outcome we wanted, the fight for a better Iowa must continue. We still know its not okay for politcians to tell women what to do with their bodies, we know theres still work to do to lower costs, and we have to make sure Iowans can retire with dignity by protecting Social Security and Medicare. Thank you to everyone who stood with me in this race. Lanon Baccam, Democratic candidate, IA-03

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The concession comes after the campaign did not concede late into election night Tuesday. Iowa Democratic Party Communications Director Paige Godden informed members of the media that the race would not be conceded as there were still votes to count. Baccam did not make an appearance on stage at the watch party at Hotel Fort Des Moines.

Lanon Baccam received 48.07% of the vote in the unofficial results, tallying 197,777 to incumbent Congressman Zach Nunns 51.93%, with a tally of 213,625.

View more Iowa Election results here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
BOSTON (SHNS)  Gov. Maura Healey, whose candidates and causes had a rough day on Tuesday, is slated to hold a post-election availability with reporters Wednesday afternoon in the corner office.

Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll will gather at 1:30 p.m. in the executive suite, the governors office announced Wednesday morning.

Watch live on the Governors YouTube channel

Healey was in New Hampshire on Tuesday to rally support for Democrat Joyce Craig, who lost her gubernatorial bid to Republican Kelly Ayotte. Healey was supposed to spend Tuesday evening at the Massachusetts Democratic Partys watch party at the SoWa Power Station in Bostons South End, though she never showed up. Party Chair Steve Kerrigan told the crowd at around 8:20 p.m. that Healey was still in New Hampshire, and Treasurer Deb Goldberg said the governor could not tear herself away from the states northern neighbor.

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She was there to talk to every last voter that she could get her hands on, Goldberg said. And there I was, passing out the water bottles, to make sure they stayed in the lines.

As attorney general and governor, Healey has been among the chief critics of Donald Trump, who is now poised to serve as president during the final two years of Healeys four-year term.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., addresses supporters outside of his west Omaha campaign office on Wednesday morning at a press conference claiming victory. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  U.S. Rep. Don Bacon has survived another close race in Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, declaring victory Wednesday morning after pulling away from State Sen. Tony Vargas overnight to secure a fifth term.

Vote tallies will keep climbing. On Friday, the Douglas County Election Commission will count the early votes received on Election Day, resolution ballots and provisional ballots that need to be verified. That combined number is expected to reach about 15,000.

Tony Vargas addresses supporters during a watch party at the Cottonwood Hotel in Omaha, Nov. 5, 2024. (Hayden Rooney/Nebraska News Service)

At last count Wednesday, Bacon led Vargas 51%-49%, slightly closer than their first contest in 2022. In raw votes, Bacon led by more than 8,300 votes as of 8:45 a.m.

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All three county election commissioners in the 2nd Congressional District  in Douglas, Saunders and parts of Sarpy Counties  have at least some votes yet to count, but none has more than Douglas County, home to Omaha and the largest share of the districts Democrats.

Political observers said the votes remaining will likely mirror the trends of early voting overall in the precincts where they are being turned in. Early voting favored Vargas, but the remaining votes are highly unlikely to narrow the gap enough to alter the result.

Bacon celebrates with GOP leaders

Bacon celebrated the win on Wednesday morning at his west Omaha campaign headquarters, with more than 75 people attending, including Gov. Jim Pillen, the other four members of Nebraskas congressional delegation and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert.

This districts a 50-50, Bacon said, of the swing district. Its a full contact sport to deliver here.  My commitment to all the voters here, whether they voted for me or against me, my job is to serve the entire district.

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Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, has credited his record of working with both parties on targeted investments in national security, roads, bridges and airports for his popularity.

He spent the campaigns final days stressing that with a world at war, Congress needed someone with his national security bona fides. He hosted a forum recently featuring several generals he has worked with, for example.

Bacon has said his work in Congress helped the House pass legislation funding repairs to Offutt Air Force Base and Camp Ashland, as well as helping to strengthen the levee systems that protect the base from flooding.

New goals

On Wednesday, he said his goals for the next term were to work with his colleagues to secure federal funding for a new VA hospital for the Omaha area, along with help from private donors; improve cybersecurity nationally for government and business targets; improve how quickly the Pentagon can deploy civilian technology; and improve nuclear command and control structures within the military.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen applauds U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., for his service to Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District on Wednesday in Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Bacons ability to draw support from organized labor and avoid identity politics helped him, political consultants said, as did some effective outside ads that attacked Vargas for asking voters to increase state senators pay.

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Bacon also spent more of his 2024 rematch with Vargas attacking the South Omaha senators record than he did in 2022. Bacon hammered at Vargas having missed legislative votes, often for Appropriations Committee work.

Bacon and supporters criticized Vargas for supporting criminal justice reforms to address prison crowding, including juvenile justice reforms that the unions blamed for upticks in youth violence.

Vargas defended those efforts as necessary and humane for young people, many of whom, he said, were facing solitary confinement and warehousing that was making them more likely to reoffend.

Bacon highlighted his own record of supporting law enforcement and said the support he received from law enforcement unions was crucial in helping him push past Vargas attempt to paint himself as pro-public safety.

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The Vargas campaign spent much of the race arguing that Bacon was willing to say and do whatever it took to be re-elected, including inflaming tensions over immigration and crime.

Vargas argued Bacon was not as bipartisan as he and some of his ads made him out to be. Bacon pointed to independent ratings showing him as being among House Republicans most likely to work with a Democrat.

Abortion was a factor again

Vargas and his supporters spent much of the campaign focused on abortion rights and reproductive health, arguing that Bacon is more socially conservative on the issue than he portrays.

Bacon, like many House Republicans, has tried to soften his stance on abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and since Nebraska passed a stricter ban in 2023.

Support for former President Donald Trump created a sign of his avatar with hair eating the Democrats blue dot in Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Current Nebraska law bans abortion after 12 weeks gestational age, with exceptions after that for the life of the mother and for rape and incest.

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Vargas and his campaign reminded voters that Bacon co-sponsored federal legislation that would have banned abortion nationally by granting legal personhood to a fetus.

The measure Bacon supported contained no exceptions, though Bacon argued that he had been told it would have allowed for protecting a mothers health, an exception he has long advocated.

Some Democrats privately criticized Vargas for being too careful. A few argued that he tried too hard not to offend any of the partys major constituencies and excited too few of them.

Nebraska Democrats had described 2024 as the partys best chance at winning the seat since then-State Sen. Brad Ashford, D-Neb., a former Republican, upset U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., in 2014.

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Bacon and his campaign made a big deal out of an endorsement this fall from Ann Ashford, a former Democratic congressional candidate and Brad Ashfords widow.

Vargas has not yet conceded

Vargas had not formally conceded as of 11 a.m. Wednesday. In a statement issued earlier in the day, he asked his supporters to be patient. He said the past few years have taught Americans that counting votes takes time  and that accurate results are worth it.

He said his goal with his campaign was to give voice to working families and unite the community. He said part of that is giving space to finish the count.

I am humbled to have earned so much trust and support from the voters in this district, Vargas said. Many more votes are still being processed and need to be counted. I am eagerly awaiting the results.

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Bacon won his 2024 rematch with Vargas despite a more difficult competitive environment for swing-district Republicans who havent always supported former President Donald Trump.

Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha speaks at a Harris-Walz rally in La Vista, Nebraska, on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. Vargas is running for a second time against Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon. (Naomi Delkamiller/Nebraska News Service)

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Trumps campaign and his supporters spent millions less on ads and staff in the Omaha area in the current campaign than they did in 2016, when Trump won the district, or in 2020, when he lost the district.

Trump won Nebraska statewide in 2020 but lost in the 2nd, which is partly why his campaign tried to sway Nebraska lawmakers this year to change the way the state awards its Electoral College votes.

Nebraska and Maine award a single electoral vote to the winner of the presidential popular vote in each congressional district and two more to the winner statewide.

The other 48 states award all their electoral votes to the statewide winner, a process known as winner-take-all.

Race caught in Harris-Trump tide

The Nebraska Republican Party has long sought to convert the state to winner-take-all. Bacon and the rest of the states congressional delegation  all Republicans  signed a letter supporting the change. Bacon, however, later said he wished the rest of the country would adopt Nebraskas approach so the presidential campaigns would visit more of the country.

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Bacon has complained of swimming against the tide of Vice President Kamala Harris and her backers, who were outspending Trump in the 2nd District roughly 20 to 1.

The 2nd District race is costlier, in part, because of the potential for the stray electoral vote, or blue dot. Its one of a dozen or so swing districts nationally that either party can win, though Republicans hold a slight advantage in voter registrations.

As of mid-October, the two candidates had already raised a total of nearly $13 million and spent more than $11 million, with Vargas having a slight edge, according to federal campaign finance filings.

Outside groups have spent more than $20 million, combined, on the race. Bacon had more outside help last time than Vargas. This time, the tallies are closer, though they tilt toward Bacon.

Local political observers have said the win puts Bacon in position to climb in congressional leadership. In April, he was named chair of the Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee.

Matthew Zacher, Bacons campaign manager, joked on Wednesday that the 2nd District should be called the Bacon dot instead of the blue dot. Zacher raised eyebrows Wednesday at the congressmans campaign headquarters by saying he looked forward to Bacon running again in 2026.

Bacon, asked about the comment after his victory speech, said he wanted some time before worrying about the next election cycle.

Ill let people know, he said. Ive got to pray on it. I thought Id just take the victory lap today.

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Nebraska voters in the state's 2nd Congressional District will face a rematch between Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas, left, and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. (Candidate photos courtesy of the campaigns; Capitol photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

OMAHA  Nebraskas most competitive congressional race may have to wait a little longer to declare a winner, as votes for U.S. Rep. Don Bacon and State Sen. Tony Vargas remained too close to call early Wednesday.

Bacon led Vargas, 51%-49%, by 6 a.m. Wednesday in the 2nd District race. The Republican incumbents lead grew overnight to 8,300 votes. Election officials still need to count at least 9,000 ballots, including last-day early votes in Douglas County and provisional ballots that need to be verified.

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., talks about his work with U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Bacon told the Examiner that he was encouraged by the results but that there were more votes to count. His campaign manager, Matthew Zacher, told a gathering of Republicans that Bacon hoped to be able to speak about the race Wednesday.

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Zacher said he was cautiously optimistic that Bacon would beat Vargas, a Democrat.

Vargas, in a statement, asked his supporters to be patient. He said the past few years have taught Americans that counting votes takes time  and that accurate results are worth it.

Our democracy is worth waiting for and were going to have to be patient until all the work of tallying the votes is finished, Vargas said. We feel really good about where we are, and after every vote is counted, we are confident that well win this race.

Early votes returned Tuesday are unlikely to depart significantly from the trends of early voting overall, which favored Vargas. A similar trend could narrow the gap. Others said those early votes could skew toward west Omaha, helping Bacon.

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All three county election commissioners in the 2nd Congressional District have at least some votes yet to count, but none has more than Douglas County, home to Omaha and the largest share of the districts Democrats.

State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha speaks to a crowd of supporters at Big Mamas Kitchen in North Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Bacon has complained of swimming against the tide of Vice President Kamala Harris and her backers, who were outspending Trump in the 2nd District roughly 20 to 1.

The 2nd District race is costlier, in part, because of the potential for the stray electoral vote, or blue dot. Its one of a dozen or so swing districts nationally that either party can win, though Republicans hold a slight advantage in voter registrations and redistricting added rural Saunders County and swapped out some purpling suburbs in Sarpy County.

The 2nd District includes all of Douglas and Saunders Counties and a slice of western Sarpy County.

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As of mid-October, the two candidates had already raised a total of nearly $13 million and spent more than $11 million, with Vargas having a slight edge, according to federal campaign finance filings.

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Multiple major U.S. media outlets projected on Wednesday that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has garnered enough Electoral College votes to win the presidency, drawing public concerns.

Earlier in the day, Trump took the stage at West Palm Beach County Convention Center in the U.S. state of Florida to speak to supporters and declare victory.

In the U.S. presidential election, the candidate who receives more than half of the 538 electoral votes wins the presidency. His Democratic opponent, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris did not speak on election night at Howard University, her alma mater in Washington D.C.

Alongside the presidential race, several U.S. media outlets projected that the Republican Party would regain control of the U.S. Senate after flipping two seats from the Democratic Party.

The only unresolved issue is the House, making the fight for the lower chamber the Democrats' final opportunity to maintain a foothold of power in Washington and resist a second Trump administration, reported the Hill.

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Trump on Wednesday, writing on social media platform X: "Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity."

In a statement released by his office and posted on X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump's return as a "new beginning for America" and emphasized a renewed commitment to the U.S.-Israel alliance, calling it a "huge victory" for both nations.

The Russian foreign ministry said Wednesday that Moscow holds no illusions about Donald Trump, who has declared victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as Washington's ruling elite continues to maintain an anti-Russian agenda.

"Russia will work with the new administration ... firmly defending Russian national interests and focusing on achieving all the goals of the special military operation," it added.

The election, widely regarded as one of the most divisive in American history, has caused deep concern among voters. According to an annual survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 77 percent of U.S. adults said the future of the nation was a significant source of stress in their lives. Additionally, 74 percent said they were worried that the election results could lead to violence.

"The U.S. is now more divided along ideological and political lines than at any time since the 1850s," said Bruce Stokes, an associate fellow at Chatham House. "America's friends and allies need to understand that the United States has become a Disunited States. There are effectively two Americas -- and they are at war."

It has also become one of the most contentious and costly campaigns in U.S. history. According to OpenSecrets, political spending across major-party campaigns, related political action committees (PACs), and other groups is projected to reach a record 15.9 billion U.S. dollars, with deep involvement of U.S. billionaires.

After decades of staying out of politics, Bill Gates recently donated about 50 million dollars to a nonprofit supporting Harris's presidential campaign. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has given more than 75 million dollars to his pro-Trump super PAC.

Despite the enormous financial outlay, voters appear increasingly disillusioned with their nation's institutions and political landscape. A New York Times/Siena College poll revealed that nearly half of American voters doubt the effectiveness of U.S. democracy, with 45 percent believing it fails to represent ordinary people.

Three-quarters of the voters say democracy is under threat, and more than half feel that the government mostly serves elite interests, reinforcing concerns about corruption and deep-seated dysfunction. Notably, 58 percent of voters say the political system needs major reform or a complete overhaul, according to the poll.

"When it is over, no matter who wins, we will be more divided, with our fragile democracy and our country's unity at greater risk," said James Zogby, president of the Washington-based Arab American Institute. 
In a rebuke of the Biden administrations handling of Israels brutal bombing campaign of Gaza and Lebanon, the city of Dearborn, Michigan, has broken in favor of Donald Trump, with 39.6 percent of votes cast.



Dearborn is the largest majority Arab American city in the country, and as of 11:35 p.m. EST Trump had 46.8 percent of the vote compared to 27.8 percent of the vote for Harris and 22 percent for Green Party Candidate Jill Stein. In 2020, Joe Biden won the city with a 74.2 percent of the vote, compared to 24.2 percent for Trump.



Dearborn election results

Over the past year, there were concerns that Democrats would lose ground with the states Arab American and Muslim populations due to the Biden administrations support of Israels brutal war on Gaza over the past year. In Dearborn, those concerns appear to have some merit and show that Democrats should not have dismissed Arab American and Muslim voters. The Harris campaign refused to have a Muslim or Arab speaker at the Democratic National Convention in August, and just last week, the party sent Bill Clinton to the state, where he drew a huge backlash for saying Israel was forced by Hamas to kill civilians in Gaza.



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Stein made inroads in the city, holding a campaign event there in September and supporting an immediate cease-fire in the war, saying, We do not need and will not tolerate genocide in Gaza.



Overall in Michigan, the Associated Press shows Harris trailing with 1,408,266 votes, or 45.9 percent compared to Trumps 1,604,225 votes, or 52.3 percent.


State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, left, and Jason Heitkamp, right. (Contributed)

Kirsten Baesler will serve a fourth term as North Dakota superintendent of public instruction.

Roughly 57% of ballots were cast in Baeslers favor in complete but unofficial results. Challenger Jason Heitkamp, a former state senator, had about 42% of the vote.

Baesler, who has held the office since 2013, focused much of her campaign on her track record in the position.

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Weve made so many great strides in K-12 education during the last 12 years, but the reason I ran again is that theres always more that we need to do for our students, Baesler said in a statement on election night. My philosophy as state superintendent has been to strive for continuous improvement each and every day, for all students, and that will continue.

More election news

For more statewide coverage, visit our North Dakota Election 2024 page.

The Mandan resident has counted the creation of a teacher apprenticeship program, reducing the size of the Department of Public Instruction and creating an online school funding dashboard among her most significant accomplishments in the role.

Shes also pledged to make progress on issues like student attendance, teacher retention and diversifying educational opportunities for students in her next term.

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Heitkamp, a resident of Wyndmere, campaigned heavily on property tax relief. He argued the North Dakota Constitution says its the states responsibility to fund 100% of public education  and that if elected, he would hold the state accountable to that mandate.

Currently, the state covers about 70% of public education costs while local property taxes support another 23%, according to data published by the State Department of Public Instruction.

Baesler has said that the North Dakota Supreme Court has already taken cases related to this provision in the state constitution but never found that the state was required to fully fund public schools.

Heitkamp doesnt have a professional background in education but served in the state Senate from 2021-2022, is a former Richland County commissioner, and served on the Bottineau and Prairie Rose city councils. Hes currently a truck driver and also has experience working as a financial adviser, farmer and emergency medical technician, among other jobs.

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Heitkamp also promised to reform public education by simplifying curriculum to focus on fundamentals like math, reading, writing, physical education and civics.

The superintendent doesnt control the curriculum of public schools.

Superintendent of public instruction is a nonpartisan position, though candidates can receive letters of support from political parties.

This is the first election cycle in which Baesler did not receive support from the North Dakota Republican Party.

At the NDGOP state convention in April, delegates instead voted overwhelmingly to back Jim Bartlett, a former engineering instructor and advocate of homeschooling who campaigned on a far-right, faith-heavy platform. Bartlett did not advance to the general election.

Heitkamp didnt seek letters of support from either party.

This story was updated with the latest results.
Electrochemical storage technologies are essential to modern life, fueling everything from smartphones to sustainable transportation. Yet, the roots of this technology extend deep into antiquity, far beyond today's lithium-ion marvels. The so-called Baghdad Battery is among the most mysterious artifacts in the annals of ancient technology.

Unearthed in 1936 near the ruins of Ctesiphon, this assembly of a ceramic pot, copper tube, and iron rod presents a puzzle that has baffled the scientific community for nearly a century.

Was it an ancient tool for electrochemical energy storage, or does its significance lie elsewhere? The debate continues, as does the quest to unlock the secrets of our electrochemical past.

Exploring the Baghdad Battery's archaeological context

The Baghdad Battery was discovered in 1936 at Khujut Rabu, near Baghdad, Iraq, not far from the historical metropolis of Ctesiphon, the capital city during both the Parthian (150 BC  223 AD) and Sasanian (224650 AD) empires.

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The artifact consists of a ceramic pot about 140 mm tall, a copper tube created from a rolled copper sheet, and an iron rod centrally positioned within the copper tube. This unusual assembly has led to significant debate regarding its purpose and origins.

Initial hypothesis by Wilhelm Konig

In 1938, Wilhelm Konig, then the director of the National Museum of Iraq, posited a theory that captured the imagination of many. He suggested that these artifacts could be remnants of a galvanic cell, potentially used for electroplating or electrotherapy. This hypothesis was inspired by the object's design and materials, which are conducive to creating a galvanic reaction when an acidic or electrolytic solution is added.

Archaeological context

Discovery Circumstances : The artifacts were discovered while constructing a railway line, exposing several ancient graves and their contents. Such incidental discoveries often provide a rare glimpse into the past, though they can sometimes lead to less systematic recovery of artifacts.

Cultural and Temporal Relation : The artifacts were located in an area rich with history, once ruled by the Parthian empire from 150 BC to 223 AD and subsequently by the Sasanian empire from 224 to 650 AD. The ceramic style and the construction technique of the metal components suggest a Sasanian origin.

Comparable Finds: Similar artifacts were found in nearby regions such as Seleucia and Ctesiphon. Some of these artifacts, found under controlled archaeological conditions, included clay jars with copper cylinders and iron rods, resembling the components of the Baghdad Battery. These jars were often sealed with bitumen, indicating that they might have held papyrus scrolls, possibly hinting at ceremonial or storage uses.

From myth to science: Investigating the Baghdad Battery's true purpose

The Baghdad Battery continues to spark diverse theories regarding its purpose, ranging from practical to spiritual applications, reflecting the enigmatic nature of its design and construction.

Electroplating theory

Some scholars suggest that the Baghdad Battery may have been used to electroplate precious metals like gold or silver onto less valuable objects. However, no known electroplated objects from the same period exist.

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The use of asphalt as a sealant and evidence of corrosive properties inside the jar indicates that it may have contained an acidic substance, such as vinegar or wine, which could have served as the electrolytic solution needed for electroplating.

Medical use

The potential medical applications of the Baghdad Battery include electrotherapy, which might have been used for pain relief and other treatments. This theory gains support from the discovery of bronze and iron needles alongside the batteries in Seleucia, suggesting they could have been used for acupuncture practices known in China at the time.

Additionally, historical records indicate that ancient Greeks and Romans may have used electric fish to treat ailments such as headaches and gout, indicating familiarity with electrical treatments.

Spiritual use

Another intriguing possibility is that the Baghdad Battery was employed in religious or spiritual rituals. One hypothesis posits that it was used to electrify religious idols, creating a shocking experience when touched, thereby imbuing the object with a sense of divine or supernatural power.

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However, if the battery had been intended to store and preserve sacred scrolls, the presence of an electrolytic liquid would have made document preservation unsuitable, complicating this theory.

Experimental replications

Researchers have attempted to replicate the Baghdad Battery to understand its functionality and potential uses:

Willard Gray: Following World War II, Gray conducted experiments showing that when filled with grape juice, a reconstruction of the Baghdad Battery could produce an electric current, lending some credence to the theory of its use as a galvanic cell.

Arne Eggebrecht, 1978: Eggebrecht attempted to use a reconstruction of the Baghdad Battery to electroplate gold onto a small statue. Although the experiment reportedly succeeded, no direct records (photographic or written) of the procedure or results exist, which has led to skepticism among the scientific community.

Modern scientific opinion

The interpretation of the Baghdad Battery has seen varied opinions, from enthusiastic support of its capabilities to staunch skepticism:

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Scholarly Consensus: The archaeological community remains predominantly skeptical of the battery theory. Many experts argue that the artifacts were likely used for more conventional purposes, such as storage vessels for sacred scrolls, based on similar findings at nearby sites and the cultural context of the time. The electroplating theory is particularly disputed due to the lack of definitive archaeological evidence supporting the existence of electroplating knowledge during the Baghdad Battery's era.

MythBusters, 2005: The popular science show built replicas of the jars, using lemon juice as an electrolyte, and demonstrated that they could produce about 4 volts of electricity when connected in series. This setup was capable of minor electroplating and electrostimulation but not strong enough to deliver a significant electric shock.

Recent analyses

Examination of Galvanic Cell Properties : Studies have compared the properties of the Baghdad Battery's materials and construction to ancient and modern electrochemical cells. These analyses aim to understand whether the assembly could function as a battery and under what conditions it might have been effective.

Comparative Technological Assessments: Comparisons with other known ancient technologies suggest that while the Baghdad Battery might have been technologically feasible, using such devices for electroplating or medical therapy remains highly speculative without further concrete evidence.

The evolution of battery Technology

From speculative ancient devices like the Baghdad Battery to today's sophisticated systems, the evolution of battery technology reflects a continual push towards more efficient, safe, and high-capacity energy storage solutions.

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The journey to modern battery technology began with Alessandro Voltas invention of the Voltaic Pile in 1791. This device, which produced about 1V from zinc and copper plates separated by brine-soaked paper, marked the first true battery and set the stage for future developments in electrochemical storage.

The 19th century saw the introduction of the lead-acid battery, the first rechargeable battery to be widely used, particularly in automobiles. Despite its drawbackssignificant weight and a limited lifespanit was a pivotal development. The early 20th century brought Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries, offering improved energy density and longer cycle life but accompanied by environmental and health concerns.

A major advancement occurred in 1991 with Sony's commercialization of lithium-ion batteries, which achieved energy densities up to 275 Wh/kg by 2020. These batteries revolutionized portable electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and relative lightness.

Looking ahead, solid-state batteries using non-flammable solid lithium conductors are on the horizon. These promise even higher energy densities, exceeding 600 Wh/kg, and enhanced safety. While still under development, solid-state technology aims to address many limitations of current lithium-ion batteries, potentially transforming energy storage for a wide range of applications.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A judge increased bail to $150,000 for a Las Vegas Metro police sergeant Wednesday after prosecutors said detectives found additional child pornography on his devices.

This comes one day after a grand jury indicted Kevin Menon, 42, for two counts of possession of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a child Tuesday. Menon also faces an additional two child pornography-related charges after prosecutors filed an amended complaint Monday.

Clark County District Court Judge Ron Israel allowed Menon to remain out of custody for 24 hours when his attorney Dominic Gentile said arrangements were already made with a bail company to post bond.

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Prosecutors had asked Israel to revoke the bail. Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney said Menon chose to keep child pornography even after his first arrest.

Hes not throwing it in the trash, Hamner said. He retains possession because he wants it.

Prosecutors also pointed to a character letter Menon submitted to the judge falsely stating he attended Harvard College. Gentile confirmed Menon did not attend Harvard College but insisted he had been guaranteed admission.

The problem is the only witness that I have who made the guarantee is dead, Gentile told Israel.

Menon pleaded not guilty in connection with the first case and invoked his right to a speedy trial. Israel set a trial date of March 31.

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Menon already faced two previous child pornography-related charges in his second criminal case.

In his first case, a grand jury indicted Menon for 13 charges related to an alleged scheme that resulted in individuals, mostly Black men, being detained on the Las Vegas Strip as Menon worked in plain clothes along with uniformed officers. Menon posted a $27,000 bond to remain out of custody after his Aug. 30 arrest.

On the day of his first arrest, Las Vegas Metro police executed a search warrant at Menons North Las Vegas home. Detectives found approximately 200 images of child sexual abuse material on two laptops, according to prosecutors.

Video shows Las Vegas police officers arrest one of their own

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On Oct. 23 as Menon headed to a court appearance for his first case, police took him into custody at the Regional Justice Center in connection with the new charges. Detectives executed a second search warrant at Menons home.

Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Nadia Wood set bail at $100,000 cash with a condition of high-level electronic monitoring. Menon posted bail and was released from jail on Oct. 26.

In court documents filed Monday, prosecutors said detectives found a flash drive inside a backpack in Menons garage on Oct. 23. The device contained 19 child sexual abuse material images, nine images considered age difficult, meaning the individuals in the images may or may not be underage, and 166 child erotica images, according to prosecutors. Detectives also found a laptop that contained 54 child sexual abuse material images, 90 age difficult images, and 54 child erotica images, prosecutors wrote.

Police find child pornography on Las Vegas sergeants laptops amid unrelated investigation: docs

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In a character letter submitted in a previous court document by Menons defense team, Menon pointed out he is a 42-year-old bi-racial first-generation American, has a history of volunteerism starting at the age of 14, and had been selected by Sheriff Kevin McMahill to participate in a law enforcement program overseas.

Menon claimed he was the only recruit in history to teach while also in the academy, he later became an instructor teaching search warrant preparation and execution classes, and a quote of his, with the will of a warrior, but the heart of a guardian, was placed on banners.

I served in specialized units, including the gang unit, central intelligence, and counterterrorism sections, Menon wrote. On 1 October, I was assigned the acting sergeant of my squad in the gang unit, and was awarded a medal of honor for my actions.

Menon was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2023, is fluent in four languages, has a working knowledge of three more, and had previously converted to Judaism, he wrote.

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Menon stated he has been married to his wife for 10 years and hopes to be the father of at least two children.

Menon also claimed he attended Harvard College in his character letter. Prosecutors said they found a fake Harvard transcript on Menons device and that according to a representative from Harvard University, they found no records to indicate Menon was admitted to Harvard College or Harvard Medical School.

After his arrest, the department placed Menon on leave with pay and his police powers were suspended pending an investigation. The department has since stopped paying him

This is a developing story.

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To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@8newsnow.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Most Americans used to vote on Election Day, and a small percentage of voters cast their ballots as absentee voters through the mail. That changed starting in the late 1970s, when some states began to allow no-excuse absentee voting and early in-person voting. Many more states chose to add these methods after the 2000 election, and by 2022, 60% of votes were cast in person at a polling place on Election Day, 21% were cast by mail and 19% were cast early in-person.

In the 2020 election, many states accelerated the shift already underway to voting by mail to keep people safe from contracting COVID-19. Mail ballots were the dominant method of return that year: 43% of ballots were voted by mail, 31% on Election Day and 26% early in-person. Voting by mail remains the second-most common method of returning ballots and will continue to grow  though it may never reach the level of 2020.

This rise in usage has created an issue that wasnt seen much before: The need to fix a ballot where, due to a variety of reasons, the identity of the voter who cast the ballot cant be verified. This process is called ballot curing, and its how states ensure that every valid vote is counted.

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The Conversations politics and democracy editor, Naomi Schalit, spoke about ballot curing with Reed College political scientist Paul Gronke, founder and director of the Elections & Voting Information Center, who studies early voting, election administration, public opinion and elections.

What is ballot curing?

Ballot curing is a process that is allowed in some states that, if a ballot has been rejected or challenged because the signature didnt match or a copy of an ID needed to be included, then the voter has an opportunity to come in within a limited period of time and cure that problem. They can, for example, come in and provide an updated or corrected signature  the most common problem  or provide the required identification.

An election worker curing a defective ballot cast in the 2024 presidential primary in Provo, Utah, on March 5. George Frey/AFP via Getty

Can that process happen after Election Day?

The process is triggered when an election office receives a ballot and identifies a problem that falls within the scope of the law and can be cured. As with seemingly everything in American elections, the deadlines and the window vary by state. Some states provide a quite lengthy period after the election. In Oregon, for example, the law provides a window of up to the 21st day after the election. In other states, its pretty narrow. In Michigan, its the third day after the election. In many but not all states, its tied to the deadline for certification of the vote.

So the idea is that everybody should have the opportunity to have their vote count.

I would agree with that. The idea is that we want to give everyone an opportunity to be represented. No one should be disenfranchised because of something relatively innocuous, like their signature doesnt match, or when their ballot was being transported, it was humid or it rained, or something happened that meant the signature cant be verified, or they forgot to include a copy of necessary identification. These are certainly not reasons why you would want someone to be disenfranchised.

The Nevada Secretary of State said told a CNN reporter on Nov. 5, 2024, that the state is seeing a surge in ballots with signature problems, many from young voters. As The Wall Street Journal reported, 12,939 ballots have been cured successfully, and 13,906 ballots remain to be cured. This is an opportunity, probably their first time theyve had to really use an official signature, Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar told CNN, and whats on their drivers license, whats on their voter registration form and whats on their ballot is a little bit different. Whats going on here?

Young people these days  really, anyone under 40  did not learn cursive when they were in grammar school. Why is that relevant in an election? Because there are clear patterns that people of a certain generation didnt sign checks and were not sort-of trained in what election officials describe as writing their formal signatures. We also know that as people age, or suffer certain kinds of injuries, their signatures can change. And sometimes, people are just in a rush and dont sign carefully.

Are there problems with how election officials in different states handle ballots that need to be cured?

In 2020, there were these major changes to our election system in order to adapt to provide a safe and secure voting environment during the pandemic. Many states ramped up vote-by-mail for the first time. What we saw in 2020 was that there were laws and procedures that fell out of sync with how people were voting. In some states, they mailed ballots to all eligible voters, yet they had laws that said you cant begin the process of counting absentee ballots until the day of the election. That led to some slow counts in 2020 and opened up a window for charges of malfeasance, even though all that was happening was that officials were working through these piles of mail ballots.

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Since then, many states have improved their laws and brought them in sync with voter behavior. For example, many more now allow election officials to begin the process of processing mail ballots  checking signatures, opening envelopes, preparing to scan  before Election Day. That should improve the speed of ballot counting in 2024.

Volunteers inform a voter in Nevada that a ballot mailed from his address has a discrepancy that must be fixed, or cured, for it to be counted. David Becker for The Washington Post via Getty Images

But there are still some places that could improve. I will highlight Michigan as an example of a place where Im a little bit concerned, and Ive heard this also from Michigan officials. Michigan law says the county clerk shall notify the voter of the ballot deficiency by telephone, email, or text message, if available. If neither a phone nor email is available, the clerk uses U.S. mail. The voter may cure the ballot by filling out a cure form and returning it in person, electronically or by mail, but the cured ballot has to arrive back at the clerks office by 5 p.m. on the Friday following the election  thats only three days. Thats really not much time!

Imagine a number of new voters casting ballots by mail in Ann Arbor, in Washtenaw County, and they vote by mail but turn it in at the last minute. And if theres a problem with their ballot, then election officials have to generate some communications to them, and maybe they dont have their cellphone, or the voter isnt immediately responsive to email, and the whole process has to be completed in three days.

I have spoken to some local officials in Michigan who think that needs to be changed because the rate of voting by mail in Michigan is so high now  nearly one-third of registered voters requested an absentee ballot as of 21 days before the election, and there will be more absentee ballots requested and returned by Nov. 5.

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Its not just Michigan. There are a number of states that have comparatively high levels of voting by mail and fairly short curing periods. I dont know the optimal time period, but anything less than five days is asking too much of clerks and of voters, and could disenfranchise people for making an innocuous mistake.

The way America votes in 2024 is not the way the country voted in 2000 or even the way we voted in 2016. We are in a world where one-third or more of ballots are vote-at-home ballots, and those numbers will continue to increase. Best practices include providing ample time to allow clerks to notify voters of any problems with their ballots, and voters to provide the necessary information to make sure their ballots are counted. If we can do it that way in Oregon, where I live  and Colorado, and Washington, and many other states  Im sure other states can do it as well.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Paul Gronke, Reed College

Read more:



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Paul Gronke receives funding from Elections Trust Initiative and Democracy Fund. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab (MEDSL) and a member of the Circle of Advisors of the National Vote At Home Institute.
Massachusetts voters have approved a ballot question that gives the state auditor the authority to investigate the Legislature and allows app-based drivers the ability to unionize, while rejecting an attempt to legalize psychedelic substances under certain circumstances.

Question 1 giving the auditor investigative power passed with the largest majority of any of the five statewide questions on this year's ballot.

With just under 95% of the votes counted, 71.5% had voted yes and 28.5% no, according to unofficial results.

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The state auditor, Diana DiZoglio, had campaigned hard on behalf of the ballot measure, against the opposition of fellow Democrats in the state's legislative leadership.

"I am a believer in the power of government to do amazing things  to make life better for everyone, everywhere, DiZoglio, a former state senator from Methuen, said in a statement Tuesday night. I have seen that power first hand, but Ive also seen the work that remains to build a state government that lives up to its values. Tonights victory is an opportunity for all of us to look forward and work to make our legislature better. The people of Massachusetts want the equity, transparency and accountability that a legislative audit would bring, not because of division or partisan lines, but because of our great potential to push forward progress together.

""I'm excited, it's looking good," DiZoglio said around 9 p.m., taking a moment to address the question while she was attending the Sen. Elizabeth Warren watch party in South Boston. She was gratified that so many people across the political spectrum were responsive to her bid for increased transparency of state government, to inspect the spending patterns and contracts awarded by the state to vendors. "This is a unique opportunity."

Lawmakers say they already undergo audits from an outside firm and that an investigation from the state auditor's office would violate the separation of powers clause of the state constitution, as the auditor's office falls under the executive branch in the state constitution.

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Consistent with how the Legislature has moved forward with every voter-approved ballot question in the past, we will consider next steps regarding how to best respect the Question 1 election results in a manner that aligns with the fundamental principles of the Massachusetts Constitution, including separation of powers," House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka said in a joint statement.

Meanwhile Question 3, on allowing app-based drivers to collectively bargain, was the closest of the five statewide ballot questions, despite the fact that it did not have any organized opposition.

It had the support of 53.9% of voters, according to unofficial results.

The ballot question will allow drivers across multiple companies to negotiate wages, benefits and work conditions, and also allow multiple transportation companies, like Uber and Lyft, to form their own association to represent them while bargaining with the drivers union.

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The state will supervise the labor agreements and the secretary of labor will have the responsibility to approve or disapprove the negotiated recommendations.

Question 4, the psychedelic substances question, was opposed by 57% of voters, according to the unofficial results.

The initiative would have allowed residents 21 and older to possess and consume certain natural psychedelic substances  psilocybin (magic mushrooms), psilocyn, ibogaine, mescaline and DMT  in their homes or under the supervision of trained facilitators at licensed therapy centers. It would have also created a commission, similar to the Cannabis Control Commission, to oversee the licensing of facilitators and centers and the regulation and taxation of the substances.

Supporters, including some veterans advocates, said the substances could be useful in treating mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety and depression, as well as for addiction treatment. But many medical professionals cautioned that there had not been enough study to substantiate the medical benefits of psychedelic substances and expressed concern about their side effects.

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With reports from Telegram & Gazette staff writer Kinga Borondy and State House News Service.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: MA ballot question roundup: Legislative audit yes, psychedelics no
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  UPDATE (7:19 p.m.): The Pierson precinct in Woodbury County has had ballots delivered.

Some Woodbury County voting precincts are running out of available ballots.

Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill told KCAU 9 that the Pierson precinct was running out of ballots.

Officials are working to get ballots to those precincts as quickly as possible.

This is a developing story. KCAU 9 will update as we learn more.

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Baltic leaders congratulated Donald Trump on his US election victory, while at the same time highlighting the need for strength and security.

"Estonia values its enduring alliance with the United States, founded on shared democratic ideals and a joint commitment to global security," wrote Estonian President Alar Karis. "We look forward to continuing to strengthen our close cooperation in years to come."

His Lithuannian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda said the US is a "key strategic ally," adding that trans-Atlantic unity is "crucial."

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"We both take our security seriously," he wrote on X, noting that Lithuania currently allocates 3.5% of gross domestic product to defense and "will continue increasing our investment."

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said he looked forward to working with Trump.

"Europe needs strong US and US needs strong Europe. Latvia is and will be a strong and reliable partner of the US," he wrote on X.
(Bloomberg) -- Banks are gearing up for late-night US credit trades as results trickle in from presidential and legislative elections that could impact company profits.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co.s derivatives trading desk will be staffed all night for CDX trading, according to a notice to investors seen by Bloomberg. Citigroup Inc., Royal Bank of Canada and BNP Paribas SA have also informed investors that their derivatives desks will be open, according to people familiar with the matter. All four banks declined to comment.

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Last month, Barclays Plc recommended that investors buy credit derivative protection ahead of the election to hedge against possible spread widening. The bank suggested buying investment-grade or junk CDX outright or using pay ladders as hedges against near-term volatility.

For credit spreads it is important to remember that they have been very stable for the past four weeks even with the big swings in the polls and in rates, JPMorgan strategists led by Eric Beinstein wrote in a Tuesday note. Strong technicals are driving credit spreads and these are unlikely to change with either election outcome tonight.

JPMorgan expects sectors like banks, industrials and transportation to benefit from a Republican sweep, while those exposed to global trade and tariffs, like technology, would be vulnerable to a shift in trade policy. There could also be significant volatility in US Treasury rates whichever party wins, according to the bank.

Pricing in US fixed-income markets more closely resembles the lead-in to Donald Trumps 2016 victory with a red sweep, UBS Group AG strategists led by Matthew Mish wrote in a Sunday note. The average US investment-grade bond traded at 83 basis points over Treasuries on Monday, the same as level as Friday, while average risk premiums on junk bonds widened four basis points to trade at 279 basis points.

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A Republican sweep would be the most beneficial immediate outcome for US credit spreads as it signals likely deregulation and lower corporate tax rates, according to UBS. The bank had previously noted that a democratic victory would be supportive for basic industry, capital goods and utilities sectors, but a negative for telecoms, technology, banks, and autos.

--With assistance from Josyana Joshua.

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This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli warplanes in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

BEIRUT, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes on Wednesday afternoon launched eight violent airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs after days of cautious calm, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The Israeli airstrikes, targeting areas including the municipalities of Haret Hreik and Burj Barajneh, started around an hour after the first evacuation warnings issued by the Israeli army for six buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs late this afternoon.

According to the NNA, one of the airstrikes targeted areas near Bahman Hospital, and another targeted the vicinity of the Beirut airport.

No immediate casualties were reported.

This photo shows the damage caused by Israeli warplanes in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

Also on Wednesday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a televised speech that his group "relies on the battlefield rather than negotiations" to halt the war with Israel, adding that any negotiation would be based on an end to Israel's "aggression" and violation of Lebanon's national sovereignty.

"We will remain on the ground until we defeat the enemy," Qassem said.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been launching an intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah. In early October, Israel initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon.

The ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah began on Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prompting retaliatory fire and airstrikes by Israel in southeastern Lebanon. 
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  With 100% of the vote reported by the Associated Press, State Rep. Barbara Gleim is expected to defeat Democrat Richard Christie to represent Pennsylvanias 199th District.

Before her election to the House of Representatives in 2018, Rep. Gleim served as the Director of Operations and Director of Business Development at John W. Gleim Jr. Inc. Excavating. She is also the co-owner of Hayman Farms, the family farm where she and her husband continue to work growing hay and raising Hereford beef.

Gleim currently serves on the following House committees: House Aging & Older Adult Services, House Education Committee (chairman of Subcommittee on Basic Education), House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, House Labor and Industry Committee, Rare Disease Caucus (co-chair), Pro-life Caucus, Prayer Caucus, Second Amendment Caucus, Economic Growth Caucus, State Commission for Agricultural Education Excellence, and State School Safety and Security Commission.

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Gleim, a Middlesex Township native, is the mother of three children and previously served for eight years on the Cumberland Valley School Board.

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Former Attorney General Bill Barr encouraged prosecutors to drop pending charges against President-elect Trump, saying the public have rendered their verdict.

The American people have rendered their verdict on President Trump, and decisively chosen him to lead the country for the next four years, Barr said in an interview with Fox News, after the White House race was called for Trump.

They did that with full knowledge of the claims against him by prosecutors around the country and I think Attorney General Garland and the state prosecutors should respect the peoples decision and dismiss the cases against President Trump now, he added.

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Trump was convicted in New York on 34 felony charges related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and still faces indictments in three other trials. His actions to block the peaceful transfer of power after his 2020 loss sparked federal charges as well as a case in Georgia, while the former president also faced federal counts for retaining classified documents at his Florida estate, before the case was indefinitely postponed by the judge.

Trump is set to face sentencing in the New York case later this month but has also sought to toss the case after the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents retain broad immunity after leaving office.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) under a second Trump administration is widely expected to move to drop both federal cases against the president-elect.

The GOP presidential nominee also pledged to fire special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the election interference cases, within two seconds.

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Hell be one of the first things addressed, Trump said last month.

Barr added that Smith and the DOJ should drop the cases before Trump even takes office.

Further maneuvering on these cases in the weeks ahead would serve no legitimate purpose and only distract the country and the incoming administration from the task at hand, he said.

The public interest now demands that the country unite and focus on the challenges we face at home and abroad. Attorney General Garland and all the state prosecutors should do the right thing and help the country move forward by dismissing the cases, the former attorney general added.

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Battleground states continued counting outstanding ballots into the early hours of Wednesday after Election Day voting that largely went smoothly despite fake bomb threats that targeted multiple states.

The results showed Donald Trump won the 270 Electoral College votes needed to take the White House and that Republicans will control the Senate. The House remains up for grabs.

On Election Day, bomb threats were reported across five key battleground states, both to polling places and government offices where votes are counted. The threats were not credible, but they led to temporary closures at precincts in several states. The FBI, which engaged with local and state officials, confirmed that some of the threats originated from Russian email domains.

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US officials continue to say that at least some of the bomb threats made to polling locations in multiple states appeared to originate from Russian email domains. But the investigation is ongoing, and the FBI has yet to publicly confirm that someone in Russia was behind the threats.

Fulton County  a key Democratic-heavy county in Georgia  saw 32 threats on Tuesday, according to officials there.

Attention is now focused on the states that have yet to be called in the presidential race and open House and Senate races that will determine the balance of power.

While some sporadic issues popped up  long lines, isolated problems with machines, lawsuits and baseless claims of cheating  states reported a mostly straightforward Election Day.

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Heres where things stand with the key states:

Michigan

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said the Wolverine State is still on track to be the first presidential battleground state to report complete unofficial results, potentially overnight.

Benson said she expects a final delivery of about 4,000 Detroit ballots to arrive at the citys counting center in about an hour or so. Those ballots will need to be processed and tabulated before the city can begin reporting results from that batch.

Thats this sort of human aspect of this process. But the tabulation itself is mostly done, she said.

Benson said that the state had a successful in-person early voting period as a result of Michigans new voting laws. This was the first general election in the state since the new measures went into effect allowing at least nine days of early voting and early tabulation of mail ballots.

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A total of five locations across Michigan received bomb threats that were not deemed to be credible: four precincts and the secretary of states office in Lansing, per Benson.

Unlike some of the other states that also received similar threats, Benson said that Michigan did not see any disruptions of the voting process as a result of the threats. She emphasized that the election went smoothly in precincts across Michigan.

Georgia

CNN projected that Trump will win Georgia just after 12:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

A big chunk of the roughly 400,000 outstanding ballots in Georgia are in-person votes from metro Atlanta that were cast on Tuesday, Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer with the Georgia secretary of states office, told CNN.

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There are also two batches of absentee ballots  including 10,400 ballots in Chatham County in the Savannah area  that still need to be sent in.

A total of 12 voting locations had their hours extended due to bomb threats, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, as well as three additional polling locations due to normal causes.

Fulton County officials said it feels amazing to have the counting go so smoothly, particularly after the county grappled with 32 bomb threats on Tuesday.

Nevada

That last polls closed in Nevada after midnight ET thanks to long lines at polls.

Nevada officials are working on tallying in-person Election Day data as the last voter in the state cast a ballot at 12:45 a.m. ET, Clark County registrar Lorena Portillo told reporters. Authorities will start processing mail ballots in Clark County on Wednesday, she added.

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There were no major issues across the state in the election process, said Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar.

In the state, however, an issue with ballot signatures emerged among young voters  many of them do not know how to sign their name, Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar told CNN.

State officials are urgently reaching out to a large number of young voters to confirm their signatures so their votes can be counted. But officials say many teenagers and young adults in their 20s only know how to sign their names electronically.

What were finding is theres a lot of younger people who have a signature issue because they live in a digital world, they havent used a real signature in real life, said Aguilar.

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In Clark County, Nevada, more than 11,000 ballots still need verification.

Voters who need to cure ballots with signature issues have until November 12 to do so, according to state election rules.

The state saw multiple polling places with waits over an hour on Tuesday, including nine in Washoe County. In Nye County, a county clerk says the estimated line is 2.5 hours for at least one polling place.

Pennsylvania

CNN projected that Trump will win Pennsylvania, a key state for his path to the White House.

There are still votes outstanding in the state to be counted. Philadelphia received 202,713 mail-in ballots and another 437,427 votes have been cast at polling places as of 11:55 p.m. ET, city commissioner Omar Sabir said.

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The citys results are important because Vice President Kamala Harris will need a large pickup there to win Pennsylvania, where she trails Trump in the current count.

We will continuously post updates. We will not stop until we have finished, Sabir said in a news conference early Wednesday morning.

In Pennsylvania, Cambria County is conducting a hand-count of ballots that could not be scanned at the precinct earlier Tuesday due to a software issue, Secretary of State Al Schmidt said, adding that process can take some time.

The hand-count is typically done by partisan teams of two who work together, and the process would be open to observation by candidates and authorized representatives, he said.

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Voting time in the county was extended after a software malfunction disrupted voters abilities to scan their ballots, the Office of County Commissioners said. The malfunction was caused by a printing error, Scott Hunt, the countys top election official, told CNN earlier Tuesday, and new ballots are on their way to polling places. The ballots that were already cast but could not be read by the machine will be hand-counted, he said.

By contrast, the vast majority of votes  both in-person votes and mail-in ballots  in the second largest county in Pennsylvania will be counted by midnight, according to Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato.

Its been smooth sailing here in Allegheny County, Innamorato told CNN, noting the turnout has been major. The vibes are good when it comes to elections here in Allegheny County.

Pennsylvania saw voting extended in several counties that saw bomb threats. A building that houses the Centre County Elections office in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, was temporary evacuated to investigate a threat received via email to the elections office.

Wisconsin

CNN projected that Trump will win Wisconsin at about 5:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, giving Trump the necessary Electoral College votes to win the presidency.

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Milwaukee has finished processing about 75% of all absentee ballots as of about 10:45 p.m. ET, city election commission chair Paulina Gutierrez told reporters.

Polling places around the city have also reported the results from about 132,000 Election Day votes to Milwaukee County, with eight polling sites still sending results, she said.

Were still a couple hours away from finishing the absentee count, Gutierrez said, predicting that the tally would wrap up sometime after midnight.

In Milwaukee, an error in setting up tabulator machines required a recount of about 30,000 ballots. The city redid all of those 30,000 ballots and has been progressing swiftly since then, city spokesperson Jeff Fleming said, while declining to share a specific estimate of when the count will wrap up.

Despite the swift recount, Republicans are already raising concerns about the snafu and demanding answers from Milwaukee.

Election workers process ballots for the 2024 General Election, in Milwaukee on November 5, 2024. - Morry Gash/AP

Sen. Ron Johnson and Wisconsin GOP chair Brian Schimming visited the citys central count as election observers and spoke with the citys chief elections official.

Wearing a neon green election observer sticker and trailed by a bevy of reporters and Republican election observers, Johnson walked around the hangar-like counting center, looking at the machines and watching the vote count take place.

In an exchange that lasted several minutes, Johnson told Gutierrez to preserve all surveillance videos of the count and all records about the vote totals from the first tally of the roughly 30,000 ballots.

Arizona

As polls closed in Arizona Tuesday evening, hundreds of college students were still waiting in line to vote at Arizona State Universitys Tempe campus fitness center, according to Alysa Horton, an ASU student and digital editor-in-chief at the universitys State Press newspaper. The line continued to grow in the final hour of voting.

The line looks like students are determined to get their vote in and theyll go to any extreme to stay in line, Horton said. I saw no one leave the line because of the wait.

With many students opting to vote on Election Day in person, the line  which at one point consisted of roughly 300 people  extended for less than a quarter of a mile, Horton said.

Arizona also was one of the states that received non-credible threats to polling places that appeared to originate in Russia, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said. Four polling locations in Navajo County received the hoax bomb threats from a .ru email address, although officials have not confirmed attribution to Russia.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Sean Lyngaas, Dalia Faheid, Brian Todd, Zachary Cohen, Casey Tolan, Holmes Lybrand, Scott Glover, Pamela Brown, Jim Acosta and Laura Dolan contributed to this report.

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BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (WDTN)  A bond issue poised to build new facilities for Beavercreek City Schools has failed.

Voters failed to pass a Beavercreek bond issue to build a new high school and renovate current buildings.

The $265 million bond would have cost homeowners $172 per $100,000 property value.

The bond issue was introduced to fund the Master Facilities Plan, which would help alleviate school crowding as elementary enrollment continues to increase. Currently, there are 18 trailer classrooms outside of the elementary buildings due to capacity concerns.

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The Beavercreek City Schools Master Facilities Plan also planned to reduce the number of building transitions for students from four to three throughout their school career. Students would have also come together as a graduating class in sixth grade instead of ninth grade.

Now that the bond issue has failed, the school district must rethink how it will address current overcrowding and enrollment growth concerns.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Austrian aviation company CycloTech is preparing to test a new electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft demonstrator featuring its innovative CycloRotor propulsion system.

The company has been developing its 360-degree thrust vectoring technology for several years and aims to showcase the seventh generation of this system in its upcoming BlackBird flying car.

CycloTech is introducing a new flying vehicle, the BlackBird demonstrator, that features a new propulsion system for any type of manned or unmanned aircraft but especially for flying cars, said the company in a press release.

360-degree thrust vectoring

Unlike conventional propellers, CycloRotors are cylindrical devices capable of generating thrust in any direction along a 360-degree axis.

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This propulsion system is the only system that can control the thrust vector in strength and direction in a full circular path (360 degrees), highlighted the company.

This omnidirectional thrust vectoring capability unlocks unprecedented maneuverability. This enables the aircraft to perform vertical takeoffs and landings, precise hovering, and even mid-air braking.

CycloTech is the only company in the world currently working on the commercial application of CycloRotors as the main propulsion system, asserted Hans-Georg Kinsky, CEO of CycloTech.

Unique design with enhanced safety

The BlackBird demonstrator will have six CycloRotors strategically integrated into the aircraft's design, with two positioned along its longitudinal axis. The aircraft's unique propulsion system ensures a smooth, turbulence-free ride, even during complex maneuvers.

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The 2 CycloRotors in the longitudinal axis of the aircraft enable lateral flight without banking the aircraft and increased maneuverability, explained the press release.

Additionally, the use of multiple CycloRotors guarantees redundancy, meaning that the aircraft can maintain control and stability even if one engine fails.

Thats why we at CycloTech use at least six CycloRotors to ensure that the aircraft can continue to fly in a controlled manner in the event of an engine failure, remarked Kinsky.

The BlackBird demonstrator will be a compact and agile vehicle, measuring 16 feet (4.9 m) in length, 7.5 feet (2.3 m) in width, and 6.5 feet (2 m) in height. Besides, it is projected to achieve a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h).

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The new BlackBird demonstrator, with a maximum takeoff weight of 750 lb (340 kg), is now in development and expected to be completed by the end of 2024, added the press release.

However, specific details regarding BlackBird's passenger capacity and range are yet to be made public.

Potential applications and future outlook

That said, one can expect a vast range of applications for the BlackBird. No doubt, it will function as a personal aerial vehicle to help individuals bypass ground-based traffic and swiftly navigate densely populated urban areas.

But it can also be used for more challenging tasks such as rescue operations, thanks to its ability to hover and land precisely even in adverse weather and terrain conditions.

The BlackBird demonstrator is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. Notably, the competition in the flying car market is getting intense, with several companies, such as Volocopter, Airbus, and Joby Aviation, developing their own models to boost urban mobility.
Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich and his supporters wave campaign signs at the corner of the Seward Highway and Northern Lights Boulevard on Nov. 4, 2024, the day before Election Day. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich is ahead of Democratic incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola, according to early results released early Wednesday morning by the Alaska Division of Elections.

With 296 of 403 precincts reporting results at 11:32 p.m., Begich led Peltola by 5 percentage points. Begich had 50.02% of the votes so far, and Peltola had 45.1%.

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Few results have come in from Democratic-leaning rural Alaska, which favors Peltola. Total turnout is expected to be near 355,000 votes; thus far, 245,425 have been counted.

Alaskan Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe and imprisoned, out-of-state Democrat Eric Hafner trailed the frontrunners by wide margins.

Howe had just 3.8% of the vote, and Hafner less than 1%.

Voters who backed those two candidates could still decide the election. If neither Peltola nor Begich have at least 50% of the states first-choice votes by the time counting is finished, ranked choice voting will be used to decide the ultimate winner.

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On Nov. 20, the Alaska Division of Elections will redistribute votes for Howe and Hafner to Peltola and Begich, based on voters second and third choices.

Additional absentee ballots will be added to candidates totals on Nov. 12, Nov. 15 and Nov. 20, according to the Division of Elections.

Alaskas election will have significant consequences for the rest of the country. Control of the U.S. House remains uncertain after Election Day, and a victory by Begich would increase the odds of a Republican governmental trifecta.

Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Begich said the election results brought huge victories for Republicans, who won the presidency and a solid majority in the U.S. Senate.

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Alaskas House seat has never mattered more than it matters today because weve got to move the America First agenda through Congress and to President Trumps desk so we can make America great again, Begich said.

Alaskas congressional district is one of only eight in the country where voters supported Donald Trump for president in 2020 and elected a Democrat to the House in 2022.

That made it one of a few tossups among the 435-seat House, which was closely divided between Republicans and Democrats before Election Day.

As a result, pro-Democratic and pro-Republican campaigners spent more than $40 million on the race, making it one of the most expensive in the nation.

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In Alaskas final four August primary election, Peltola earned just under 51% of the overall vote, and Begich finished in second with 26.6% of the vote among 11 candidates.

After the primary, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom  a Republican candidate who finished third  withdrew from the race, as did Matthew Salisbury, a Republican who finished fourth.

That put Howe and Hafner into the general election.

The Alaska Democratic Party sued, arguing that Hafner was ineligible to run, but an Anchorage Superior Court judge  upheld on appeal by the Alaska Supreme Court  ruled that Hafner can run for office, even if he may not legally be able to serve.

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Peltola declined interviews Tuesday night, but in a written memo provided before the first results, her campaign said that it believes Peltola will gain ground in the results as rural votes and absentee ballots are counted.

It pointed to the August primary, which saw Peltolas performance rise by almost a percentage point between election day and the end of ballot counting.

This story is developing and will be updated.
TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  Belarusian authorities have launched a new wave of arrests, seeking to uproot any sign of dissent ahead of January's election in which authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko is seeking a seventh term, rights campaigners said.

The Viasna human rights center said Wednesday that more than 100 people have been arrested across the country since Thursday. The group said that the arrests specifically targeted participants in online chats created by residents of apartment buildings in various Belarusian cities.

During massive demonstrations that were triggered by the 2020 presidential vote seen by the opposition and the West as rigged, such chats were widely used for coordination of protests. Belarusian authorities responded to the demonstrations with a sweeping crackdown in which about 65,000 people were arrested.

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Major opposition figures were either imprisoned or fled the country in the crackdown. Human rights activists say 1,300 political prisoners are now detained in Belarus, many of them denied adequate medical care and contact with their families.

Just before the latest wave of arrests, the authorities designated dozens of online chats as part of an alleged extremist nationwide network. The chats were created by residents of apartment buildings to coordinate their daily needs, such as house maintenance and communal services.

Some of those arrested have been accused of plotting a conspiracy to seize power, charges that carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Belarusian jails are already overcrowded, with 15-20 inmates packed into cells intended for three prisoners.

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The new massive wave of arrests and searches is a planned action of intimidation ahead of the election, said Viasna's representative Pavel Sapelka.

Earlier this week, Belarus Central Election Commission allowed seven politicians loyal to Lukashenko to start collecting signatures to run against him in the vote set for Jan. 26 in an apparent bid to create a semblance of competition. It has refused to permit two opposition politicians to gather signatures to try to qualify for the race.

Belarus' opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is in exile after challenging Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, urged the West to respond to the recent arrests.

The scale of the latest wave of repression reflects the atmosphere of terror for the sham presidential vote, said Tsikhanouskaya, who has urged Belarusians to vote against all candidates.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Bell Textron announced today that Wichita will help build fuselage assembly for the aircraft that will replace the US Armys Blackhawk helicopters.

The Future Long Range Assault Aircraft V-280 is similar in design to the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, which has a tiltrotor VTOL system.

The fuselage assembly will be manufactured at an existing facility at the Beech Field on Textron Aviations East Campus. Other components will be manufactured at facilities in Texas, with final assembly in Amarillo.

The Bell V-280 technology Demonstrator (Photo courtesy of Bell Textron Inc.)

The Bell V-280 technology Demonstrator (Photo courtesy of Bell Textron Inc.)

Spirit AeroSystems says layoffs, furloughs may be needed

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As Bell prepares for the next stage of FLRAAs Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase, we are committed to investing in advanced manufacturing to ensure we deliver exceptional performance at an affordable cost to our customer, said Lisa Atherton, president and CEO of Bell. Textron has a rich history with the state of Kansas as well as the city of Wichita, and we are proud to deepen that relationship as we establish this new facility.

Bell Textrons decision to continue production of the Armys Future Long Range Assault Aircraft in Kansas marks an historic day for the Air Capital of the World, said Sen. Jerry Moran. This announcement is a testament to the Kansas workforce and the unique combination of academia and industry that Wichita has to offer. I look forward to our state supporting this generational aircraft that will impact our national security and workforce for years to come.

The announcement of Bell Textron building the FLRAA fuselage in Wichita is great news for the Air Capital of the World and highlights Textrons commitment to our region, said Rep. Ron Estes. This program is critical for the Armys aviation modernization, and I look forward to expanding Bells presence in south central Kansas. We know that our skilled workforce is the best in the world, and this announcement is a testament to the quality of our aviation manufacturers and supply chain.

The FLRAA will fly twice as fast and twice as far as the UH-60 Blackhawk. It will be capable of transporting and evacuating troops and performing medical evacuations.

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It is expected to enter service fully by 2030.

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Belleville City Council has taken action to strengthen the citys ban on public camping, which police and other officials have viewed as a worsening problem in recent years.

Such camping was formerly prohibited by a one-paragraph section of an ordinance that governs offenses against public peace and safety. On Monday night, aldermen voted 16-0 to amend and expand it.

The ordinance now includes a more detailed, four-page policy, including a formal process by which officials can remove tents, sleeping bags and other personal property from illegal camps.

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Im all for it, said Police Chief Matt Eiskant, who sees the amended ordinance as a helpful tool for law enforcement.

According to Eiskant, homelessness has increased throughout the metro-east, most people living in camps are addicted to methamphetamine, some are engaged in panhandling and residents often complain that it makes them feel uncomfortable and fearful.

Belleville is a great, vibrant community, Eiskant said. Our downtown is second to none, and we want people to feel safe.

The amended ordinance prohibits sleeping in cars or camping in parks, under bridges or viaducts or on sidewalks, streets, lanes, alleys, benches or other publicly-owned property.

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It maintains the existing structure of fines, ranging from $75 for the first violation to $750 or jail time for the sixth, although violators could work off fines with community service.

A football helmet stands out among bags of items left in woods near North End Park last week. Its one of several Belleville locations where people have been camping illegally.

Court upholds Oregon policy

Belleville based its amendments on guidance from the Illinois Municipal League and recent court decisions that clarified what municipalities could and couldnt do to regulate public camping without violating constitutional rights, City Clerk Jenny Meyer said.

Anytime you can strengthen your ordinances by following the law, you always want to do that, she said.

The most significant court case was City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. In June, the U.S. Supreme court held that criminalization of public camping, as described in that citys ordinance, didnt unconstitutionally infringe on the Eighth Amendment rights of homeless people.

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The Eighth Amendment protects citizens from excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. Grants Pass penalties for violators ranged from fines to 30 days in jail.

Brad Cole, the Illinois Municipal Leagues chief executive officer, declined a BND interview this week, but he forwarded a letter that the organization sent in July to municipalities across the state, along with a link to its model ordinance on public camping.

The letter quoted a statement issued by the National League of Cities and International Municipal Lawyers Association after the Johnson decision, calling it a win for local control.

This case returns the hard task of solving the homeless crisis to state and local policymakers, where it belongs, with resource support from the federal government, the statement read.

Swansea Police Chief Matt Blomberg surveys a squatters camp with a tent, chair, plastic tubs of clothing and a barbecue grill in woods along the MetroBikeLink Trail last year.

Advocates decry lack of shelters

For years, cities across the country have been battling with advocates who argue that many homeless people have no choice but to live on the streets due to mental illness, financial hardship and other issues and decry the lack of shelters and affordable housing.

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In September, Springfield City Council tabled a vote on a new ordinance to prohibit public camping, after a packed crowd of residents, as well as some aldermen, opposed it.

The city of Springfield is rushing to add this tool to our tool box without knowing how it would affect our city, one alderwoman said, according to a story in the Illinois Eagle.

Springfields proposed new ordinance was similar to Bellevilles amended one. The latter calls public camping a nuisance and states that regulation is necessary to protect public health.

No residents spoke against the amendments at Monday nights meeting in Belleville, and aldermen approved them without discussion.

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City officials can now remove tents, sleeping bags and other personal property in illegal camps. But first they must post violation notices and leave them up for 24 hours, giving owners time to clear out voluntarily.

Officials also must inform agencies that could offer social services.

(Non-exempt personal property) shall be stored by the appropriate law enforcement agency of the City, for a minimum of 30 days, during which time it shall be reasonably available for and released to an individual confirming ownership, the ordinance states.

Swansea Police Chief Matt Blomberg talks to an unidentified man staying in an illegal camp along MetroBikeLink Trail last year. The man turned down supplies and promised to move.

Camps common along bike trails

In recent years, Belleville police have been working with other metro-east departments on issues related to homelessness, including efforts to clear camps along bike trails.

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Last year, the village of Swansea saw an increase in complaints about people sleeping in tents, building fires, strewing trash, using illicit drugs, yelling and cursing at passersby and crossing through private yards, according to Police Chief Matt Blomberg.

Around the same time, Belleville residents were reporting burglaries and vehicle and other thefts they believed were perpetrated by people living in camps next to Southside Park and North End Park.

Eiskant said his officers offer Metro passes to homeless people so they can get to a shelter in East St. Louis and refer them to drug-treatment facilities and other agencies that provide social services.

I would estimate that 90% of the individuals that we come in contact with do not want any assistance, he said, noting that most shelters prohibit alcohol and other drug use.

Beyond camps, Belleville also has experienced problems with people squatting in vacant, derelict buildings. A man was found dead in a burned garage behind a North Illinois Street home in January.
A supporter of the Republican Party attends an election watch party in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the United States, Nov. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Multiple major U.S. media outlets projected on Wednesday that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has garnered enough Electoral College votes to win the presidency, drawing public concerns.

Earlier in the day, Trump took the stage at West Palm Beach County Convention Center in the U.S. state of Florida to speak to supporters and declare victory.

In the U.S. presidential election, the candidate who receives more than half of the 538 electoral votes wins the presidency. His Democratic opponent, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris did not speak on election night at Howard University, her alma mater in Washington D.C.

Alongside the presidential race, several U.S. media outlets projected that the Republican Party would regain control of the U.S. Senate after flipping two seats from the Democratic Party.

The only unresolved issue is the House, making the fight for the lower chamber the Democrats' final opportunity to maintain a foothold of power in Washington and resist a second Trump administration, reported the Hill.

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Trump on Wednesday, writing on social media platform X: "Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity."

In a statement released by his office and posted on X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump's return as a "new beginning for America" and emphasized a renewed commitment to the U.S.-Israel alliance, calling it a "huge victory" for both nations.

The Russian foreign ministry said Wednesday that Moscow holds no illusions about Donald Trump, who has declared victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as Washington's ruling elite continues to maintain an anti-Russian agenda.

People watch a live broadcast of the exit poll results for the 2024 U.S. presidential election in Times Square in New York, the United States, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

"Russia will work with the new administration ... firmly defending Russian national interests and focusing on achieving all the goals of the special military operation," it added.

The election, widely regarded as one of the most divisive in American history, has caused deep concern among voters. According to an annual survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 77 percent of U.S. adults said the future of the nation was a significant source of stress in their lives. Additionally, 74 percent said they were worried that the election results could lead to violence.

"The U.S. is now more divided along ideological and political lines than at any time since the 1850s," said Bruce Stokes, an associate fellow at Chatham House. "America's friends and allies need to understand that the United States has become a Disunited States. There are effectively two Americas -- and they are at war."

It has also become one of the most contentious and costly campaigns in U.S. history. According to OpenSecrets, political spending across major-party campaigns, related political action committees (PACs), and other groups is projected to reach a record 15.9 billion U.S. dollars, with deep involvement of U.S. billionaires.

After decades of staying out of politics, Bill Gates recently donated about 50 million dollars to a nonprofit supporting Harris's presidential campaign. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has given more than 75 million dollars to his pro-Trump super PAC.

Despite the enormous financial outlay, voters appear increasingly disillusioned with their nation's institutions and political landscape. A New York Times/Siena College poll revealed that nearly half of American voters doubt the effectiveness of U.S. democracy, with 45 percent believing it fails to represent ordinary people.

Three-quarters of the voters say democracy is under threat, and more than half feel that the government mostly serves elite interests, reinforcing concerns about corruption and deep-seated dysfunction. Notably, 58 percent of voters say the political system needs major reform or a complete overhaul, according to the poll.

"When it is over, no matter who wins, we will be more divided, with our fragile democracy and our country's unity at greater risk," said James Zogby, president of the Washington-based Arab American Institute.
BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO)  Members of the United Auto Workers in Belvidere plan to vote on whether to authorize a strike Thursday, against automaker Stellantis.

According to UAW Local 1268, the vote will happen between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the union hall, located at 1100 W. Chrysler Drive.

I dont think anyone likes being in this position to have to take this vote. This is the position the corporation has put us in. We need to show them and the rest of the membership that we are in favor of fighting for Belvidere and the loss of the Durango at the Detroit Assembly Complex (JNAP), President Matt Frantzen said.

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n October 2023, Stellantis agreed to build a $3.2 billion battery plant in Belvidere and invest $1.5 billion to retool the Belvidere Assembly Plant for an all-new mid-sized truck.

The automaker said market conditions were the reason for the delay, saying that to ensure the companys future competitiveness and sustainability, which are necessary to preserve U.S. manufacturing jobs, it is critical that the business case for all investments is aligned with market conditions and our ability to accommodate a wide range of consumer demands. Therefore, the company confirms it has notified the UAW that plans for Belvidere will be delayed, but firmly stands by its commitment.

Stellantis said it notified the UAW of plans to delay reopening of Belvidere. Still, they said it stands by the commitment and strongly objects to union allegations that its violating terms of the UAW contract.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Va.) and United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain laid the blame for the delay in the reopening of the Belvidere Assembly Plant on former President Donald Trump during a union rally on October 8th.

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Fain said the Trump administrations USMCA (United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement) encourages companies like Stellantis to break their promises and short workers, for short-term gains.

Stellantis idled the Belvidere plant in February 2023.

The facts are indisputable: the transition to electrification is happening at a slower pace than expected, Stellantis told workers in an email. We knew that slowing consumer EV adoption could potentially delay our product launches and investment decisions. In fact, many of our competitors know this too, and also have announced investment and product delays as well as outright product cancelations.

The Belvidere plant opened as a Chrysler factory in 1965, manufacturing the Plymouth Fury. When it was idled in 2023, it was making the Jeep Cherokee.

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Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has been under fire from U.S. dealers and the United Auto Workers union after a dismal financial performance this year, caught off guard by too many high-priced vehicles on dealer lots.

The company said that Tavares will step down in early 2026.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in Detroit, Nov. 5, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

More than 5.5 million Michiganders turned out in the election, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said during a news update in Detroit Wednesday, the morning after the election.

In contrast to some of the chaos of the 2020 election, which took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, Benson said the process went relatively smoothly, without large-scale disruptions.

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Votes are still being counted throughout Michigan. The state is expecting about 6,000 ballots, postmarked by Election Day, to come in the mail from overseas, Benson said, noting her gratitude for all the election workers, including those in Detroit who worked through the night to process ballots.

Years of planning went into ensuring the protection of every voter and every election official in this election, and Im pleased to report that the preparation we endured led to a successful 2024 election, Benson said. Im also grateful to the voters of Michigan, who, once again to the third state election cycle, turned out in record numbers to have their voice heard and to help define our collective future.

More than 2 million people voted in-person on Election Day, Benson said, after 2.2 million people voted absentee and 1.2 million participated in early in-person voting. As the last ballots are tabulated in Michigan, this year could mark the highest voter turnout in state history, Benson said. But regardless its worth celebrating that turnout is reminiscent of 2020 when the state had more than 5.5 million voters, setting a state record.

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And almost 22,000 new voters participated in the election, Benson said, noting college college towns like East Lansing, where Michigan State University is located, and Ann Arbor, where the University of Michigan is located, accounted for the bulk of those new ballots.

These numbers were the result of voter education efforts and programs which were implemented, along with partners in the business community, the faith community and many others throughout the state, Benson said.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in Detroit, Nov. 5, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

Michigan took several steps since the last election to ensure the safety of voters and election workers, Benson said. She recalled how in 2020, supporters of former president Donald Trump were emboldened by his debunked claims that the election was stolen, and came to cause disturbances in Detroit where the majority Democratic and Black citys votes were being tabulated.

Former President Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election and was declared the winner in Michigan by the Associated Press shortly after Bensons news conference.

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The 2024 election wasnt without some of the same attempts at misinformation as 2020, Benson noted, calling attention to Trumps Election Day claims on his social media platform Truth Social where he said, Philadelphia and Detroit! Heavy Law Enforcement is there!!!

Earlier in the night on Tuesday, in anticipation of efforts to subvert the will of Michigan voters, Benson said, Candidates dont declare who wins elections, voters do.

There were also bomb threats at Michigan polling places that the FBI determined were hoaxes and originated from Russia.

Members of law enforcement were spread around and inside Huntington Place in Detroit, where the citys votes were being tabulated, but claims of law enforcement doing anything other than protecting election workers are easily debunked, Benson said.
(NewsNation)  NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for the U.S. Senate seat for Ohio in favor of Bernie Moreno. See all Ohio race results here.

Three-term Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown was defending his seat in Republican-leaning Ohio against GOP businessman Bernie Moreno, who had won the Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trumps endorsement.

The Ohio Senate race is one of the tightest and most closely watched races of the 2024 election, barring only a few other races including the race to the White House. Both Democrat and Republican groups have poured money into the race, seeking to prop up their candidate and tip the scales in their favor. The result has been turning the race into one of the priciest Senate races of the election cycle.

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Brown has held the U.S. Senate seat since 2007 after defeating two-term Republican incumbent Mike DeWine, who went on to be elected as state governor. Brown is a former congressman and former Ohio secretary of state and had been relying on his longevity in office to help garner votes.

Brown had staked his Democratic position by making himself a leader for the working class and securing key endorsements from labor unions in the state. His policy positions include fighting issues stemming from the border by supporting both the bipartisan border legislation and the FEND Off Fentanyl Act to stem the flow of the deadly drug into the country, restoring abortion access protections and access to fertility treatments like IVF, raising the minimum wage and protecting and creating union manufacturing jobs in his state, among other issues.

Moreno, a former luxury car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur, is a Colombian-born businessman who self-funded much of his campaign. Moreno has pitched himself as a political outsider and immigrant whose family worked their way up. Moreno hasnt previously held public office. He first ran for U.S. Senate in the 2022 race won by now-Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance but dropped out at Trumps behest.

As part of his campaign, Moreno laid out 16 issues he said would be his priority if elected, which include: Parental choice in schools, securing the borders, stop amnesty and destroy the Mexican Drug Cartels, restoring election integrity, supporting a ban on late-term abortions, among others.

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See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

Less than a month before the election, The Hill/ Decision Desk HQ Election Center designated the Ohio Senate race a tossup with Brown having a 58% chance of winning reelection in the state. Brown raised more than $51 million and spent more than 42 million, far outpacing Morenos $15 million raised and $11 million spent, according to Open Secrets. Ohio was once considered a battleground state but, in recent election cycles, has leaned more to the right. Trump took Ohio in 2020 with 53% of the votes.

A total of 34 Senate seats are up in 2024 with 23 being held by Democrats and independents. Republicans can retake control of the upper chamber of Congress by flipping two seats from Democrats or by winning the 2024 presidential election and voting in just one other seat. As a result, the outcome of this race will affect the balance of power within the Senate in 2025.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) thinks theres a strong chance Donald Trump will proclaim an early victory once polls close this Election Day.

During a Tuesday appearance on CNNs The Source, Sanders offered anchor Kaitlan Collins a dire warning when she asked what will happen if Trump falsely declares himself the winner of the 2024 presidential race.

Its not what if, Kaitlan. It is not what if. He will, the senator said. Everybody should be aware.

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Sanders went on to predict that Trump would rush to announce he won before reminding his followers how the only way he could lose was through voter fraud.

NEW TONIGHT: Sen. Bernie Sanders tells @kaitlancollins that Trump will declare victory on election night no matter what the results are.



Watch: pic.twitter.com/yt6JHwRZJ4  TheSourceCNN (@TheSourceCNN) November 5, 2024

That is what will happen, the Vermont politician continued. This is why he has got to lose, because this is exactly how you undermine democracy: The only way I can lose is if there is fraud. Well, that means you cant lose a legitimate election.

We have to be prepared for that, Sanders said, adding how many Trump voters are already convinced cheating is the only thing that can thwart their candidate.

In the run-up to Election Day, Trump has refused to outright commit to conceding if he does, in fact, lose. Hes also continued to claim his 2020 race against President Joe Biden was rigged despite irrefutable evidence there was no widespread election fraud.

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Trump stayed on message while in Palm Beach, Florida, to cast his ballot Tuesday morning. While at his polling place, he told reporters, If I lose an election, if its a fair election, Im gonna be the first one to acknowledge it.

Sowing seeds of doubt hours later, the Republican took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to allege there was massive cheating going on in Philadelphia.

Related...
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) struck a pessimistic tone the day after Donald Trump became the projected winner of the presidential election, saying Democrats shouldnt be shocked by their losses among key demographics but are unlikely to change course.

It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them, Sanders said in a lengthy statement Wednesday. First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well. While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And theyre right.

Election returns so far show Vice President Kamala Harris campaign for the presidency lost footing in demographics that were key to her success in such a tight race, specifically Latinos, young people and rural residents, among other groups Democrats could once count as reliable supporters.

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Sanders, who ran as a progressive against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, offered little hope that Democrats  with whom he caucuses in Congress  will see the error in their ways.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks at a labor rally for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 27. NurPhoto via Getty Images

Will the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign? Sanders asked. Will they understand the pain and political alienation that tens of millions of Americans are experiencing? Do they have any ideas as to how we can take on the increasingly powerful Oligarchy which has so much economic and political power?

To all those questions, Sanders answered: Probably not.

Americans disillusion with the Democratic Party makes sense to him, he explained, noting that 60% of them continue to live paycheck to paycheck as the wealth gap soars, and that despite massive spending, Americans pay obscene sums for health care that other developed countries treat as a human right.

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Sanders, a vocal opponent of the U.S. support in Israels war in Gaza, added that Democrats stance on that issue should not be overlooked, either.

Despite opposition, he said, we continue to spend billions funding the extremist Netanyahu governments all out war against the Palestinian people which has led to the horrific humanitarian disaster of mass malnutrition and the starvation of thousands of children.

U.S. involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict proved to be difficult waters for Harris to navigate, and her pro-Israel stance clearly alienated some Arab American voters, even with Trump offering an even more aggressive stance on the issue. In Dearborn, Michigan, the largest majority Arab American city in the country, Trump trampled Harris despite Biden winning nearly three-quarters of the vote there in 2020.

In the final days of the election, Sanders urged Americans who disagreed with Harris position on Israel to still support her.

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Some of you are saying, How can I vote for Kamala Harris if she is supporting this terrible war? and that is a very fair question, he said in a video posted to social media. And let me give you my best answer, and that is that even on this issue, Donald Trump and his right-wing friends are worse.

We will have, in my view, a much better chance of changing U.S. policy with Kamala than with Trump, who is extremely close to Netanyahu and sees him as a like-minded, right-wing extremist ally, he continued, noting Republicans opposition to sending humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

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US President Joe Biden's administration plans to use up the entire balance of funds allocated for military assistance to Ukraine by the day of Donald Trump's inauguration on 20 January 2025.

Source: Politico, citing two White House officials, as reported by European Pravda

Details: As of the close of the 2024 fiscal year on 30 September, the US administration retained over US$6 billion in available funds designated for military aid to Ukraine.

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Politico says the Biden administration currently has US$4.3 billion at its disposal to provide weapons from US Army stockpiles, which are then replaced, and another US$2.1 billion to purchase weapons under contracts with US defence companies.

According to Politico, the White House is now working to deploy these funds as quickly as possible to ensure that Ukraine has enough weapons to counter Russian offensives even if Trump refuses to continue sending aid.

Politicos sources point out, however, that it "normally takes months" to send US-allocated weapons to Ukraine, so any packages announced in the coming weeks are unlikely to arrive in full before the end of January 2025, at which point Trump could suspend the shipments.

Another problem, Politicos sources say, is the lack of sufficient weapons in US Army stockpiles. Although the cost is covered from the US$6 billion allocated, replacing them could take a long time.

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During the election campaign, Trump made it clear that he would cut or drastically reduce military aid to Ukraine if he won on 5 November. He also refused to say that he wanted Ukraine to win the war.

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President Joe Biden spoke to former President Donald Trump on the phone Wednesday to congratulate him on winning the presidency, the White House said in a statement.

"President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together," the White House said.

MORE: Donald Trump wins 2nd term in historic return to White House

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Biden invited Trump to meet with him at the White House, the statement said.

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump points to supporters with former first lady Melania Trump during an election night event, Nov.6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said the meeting "will take place shortly."

"President Joe Biden called President Donald J. Trump to congratulate him on his victory and extended an invitation to the White House to ensure a smooth transition between the current Administration and the incoming Administration. President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call," Cheung said in a statement.

Biden also spoke to Vice President Kamala Harris on the phone Wednesday to congratulate her on "her historic campaign," the White House said.

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Later, following Harris' concession speech to the nation on Wednesday afternoon, Biden released a statement praising Harris, saying she has been a "tremendous partner and public servant full of integrity, courage and character."

"Under extraordinary circumstances, she stepped up and led a historic campaign that embodied what's possible when guided by a strong moral compass and a clear vision for a nation that is more free, more just, and full of more opportunities for all Americans," Biden said.

Biden said choosing Harris as his running mate was "the best decision" he made.

"Her story represents the best of America's story. And as she made clear today, I have no doubt that she'll continue writing that story," Biden said.

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"She will continue the fight with purpose, determination and joy. She will continue to be a champion for all Americans. Above all, she will continue to be a leader our children will look up to for generations to come as she puts her stamp on America's future," Biden added.

MORE: What Trump said he would do on Day 1 if reelected

Trump and Harris also spoke by phone on Wednesday, according to the Trump campaign. Harris told Trump she will work with Biden to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, unlike the transition in 2020, according to an email Harris campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon sent to campaign staff.

Biden plans to talk about the election results and the transition on Thursday, according to the White House.

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Harris' defeat came as Trump clinched wins in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin overnight. Trump went on to win another swing state, Michigan, on Wednesday.

ABC News' Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.

Biden congratulates Trump in phone call, invites him to meeting at White House originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The dust has not yet settled on the second election of Donald Trump, but some members of the Kamala Harris team have already found a reason for the vice president's stunning loss: Joe Biden.

We ran the best campaign we could, considering Joe Biden was president, a Harris aide told Politico. Joe Biden is the singular reason Kamala Harris and Democrats lost tonight.

If the current math holds, Harris will have lost in every single swing state she needed to carry to the election. That Harris aide was far from alone in thinking Biden was a weight around the Democratic candidate's neck.

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Throughout election night, anchors and analysts were clear that Harris was fighting an uphill battle. Their exit polls showed that the typical voter was dissatisfied with the Biden administration.

I got to say, I think that with the present conditions in the country  I mean, in conventional terms, it would be a miracle that Kamala Harris could win with that kind of headwind, CNN host Chris Wallace said. If she is able to overcome those numbers and still win this election, then she has done a remarkable job of somehow separating herself."

Harris did little to distinguish her platform from the work of the Biden administration. The lack of distance between her vision of America and Biden's was thrown into disastrously stark relief with a gaffe during a visit to "The View." Harris was directly asked by the hosts what she would do differently from Biden, and she said that "not a thing...comes to mind."

That message of stagnation played horribly, with the Trump campaign turning Harris' words into a campaign ad.
Congressman Sanford Bishop (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Democratic Congressman Sanford Bishop of Albany will return to Washington for a 17th term after defeating Wayne Johnson of Macon, a former Trump administration official, in the 2nd Congressional District in the southwest corner of the state.

The Associated Press called the race shortly before 10:30 p.m. on election night. With 29 of 30 precincts reported, Bishop was in the lead with just under 56% of the vote, according to unofficial election results.

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The race was considered the most competitive congressional contest in the state, but Bishops seat was still seen as relatively safe. In 2022, he defeated his Republican challenger by 10 percentage points.

Bishop, whose committee assignments include the House committees on Appropriations and Agriculture, sought to portray himself as a moderate Democrat who has supported the districts farmers and veterans.

With Bishops seat safe, the balance of power within the states Congressional delegation is expected to remain 9 to 5 in favor of Republicans.

In Georgias other closely-watched Congressional race, an advisor to former president Donald Trump, Brian Jack is poised to become west Georgias next congressman after declaring victory over Democrat Maura Keller, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and nuclear medicine technologist.

Brian Jack Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

The Associated Press called the race shortly after 8 p.m. on election night. With 11 of 15 precincts counted, Jack was in the lead with about two-thirds of the vote, according to unofficial election results.

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The race opened up when Republican Congressman Drew Ferguson announced he would not be seeking re-election.

Jack leaned heavily on the former presidents endorsement during the primary campaign, which he won in a runoff against former Georgia Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan after fending off competitors in a crowded primary field.

Jacks win was the most likely outcome in the conservative west Georgia district where Ferguson won by more than 37 percentage points in 2022.

Jack has pledged to be a stalwart Trump ally in Congress and to prioritize his economic and domestic agenda, focusing especially on immigration.

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Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Zebulon Oct. 23. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Former President Donald Trump has won Georgias 16 electoral votes, according to the Associated Press.

The win puts Georgia back into the Republican column after the state backed President Joe Biden in 2020 by less than 12,000 votes.

Georgia Democrats gathered in downtown Atlanta for an election night party had remained hopeful that the uncounted votes from metro Atlanta would be enough to tilt the race in Vice President Kamala Harris favor. But just before 11 p.m., Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told reporters that Trump had an insurmountable lead.

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It looks like this is done, he said.

The Associated Press called the race just before 1 a.m. Wednesday.

At a Republican election night party in Buckhead, state GOP Chairman Josh McKoon declared victory at about 10:30 p.m., before the APs call.

People talked about this state being flipped. Well, it was a fluke. Were back!

Both presidential candidates campaigned feverishly in Georgia in the final weeks of the election. Georgia was seen as one of seven swing states, a remarkable shift from just a decade ago when presidential candidates spent comparatively little time or money here.

The campaigns jockeyed to win over suburban women and Black men in the homestretch, with Harris finding strong support among women and Trump appearing to make inroads with Black voters, particularly men.

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Voters responded with strong turnout, with more than 5 million people casting a ballot. Georgia has 8.2 million registered voters.

Georgia has been firmly at the center of national politics since 2020. President Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Georgia since former President Bill Clinton. Georgia voters came back a few months later to flip two U.S. Senate seats and hand Democrats control of the chamber.

But Democrats running statewide struggled in 2022, with only U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock winning his race in a runoff.

The state was also the setting for a major moment in this years election. It was in a TV studio in Atlanta where President Joe Biden shocked a national audience as he fumbled through the closely watched CNN debate in late June, ultimately leading to his decision to bow out of the race and endorse his vice president to run in his place.

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That set up a frenzied push for Harris to launch an abbreviated campaign, which she quickly brought to Georgia for a packed rally. Harris, who regularly visited Georgia as vice president, would return to the Peach State several times and dispatch a parade of high-profile surrogates  including Clinton, the Obamas and a series of star performers like Megan Thee Stallion and Bruce Springsteen  in her quest to court Georgia voters.

Georgia has also been a central part of Trumps yearslong insistence that the 2020 election was rigged against him, though the results were confirmed after three counts  including one done by hand  and unsuccessful court challenges.

Trump and 18 of his allies were indicted in 2023 for what Fulton County prosecutors argue was a coordinated attempt to overturn the election results in Georgia and a handful of other states.

Four of Trumps co-defendants pleaded guilty, but the case was stalled after it was revealed that District Attorney Fani Willis had a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor handling the case. The Georgia Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments Dec. 5 on an appeal from Trump and other defendants who argue Willis should be disqualified from prosecuting the election interference case.

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Georgia lawmakers have since changed the states election laws in response to concerns over aspects of the 2020 election, including the surge in absentee voting during the pandemic.

But a late push by Trump-aligned members of the State Election Board to further tweak the rules  including a requirement that poll workers do a hand count of ballots on election night  were blocked by court challenges.

There were 3.6 million votes cast in Georgia during early voting, while more than 344,000 absentee ballots were returned to county election offices prior to Tuesday.

A new Georgia law made the 2024 election the first time local election offices were required to post by one hour after polls closed election night the total results from early voting and absentee ballots that were returned prior to Election Day.

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Raffensperger said after polls closed Tuesday night that Georgias elections are more secure because of new election rules, such as photo ID requirements for absentee ballot voting and Georgia joining a multi-state coalition to keep voter rolls more accurate.

Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com. Follow Georgia Recorder on Facebook and X.
JUBA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Wednesday called for stronger regional efforts to combat illegal smuggling of gold and other minerals across its borders.

Minister of Mining Martin Gama Abucha said the country faces significant challenges in tackling illicit trade in gold, which is often smuggled out of the country to avoid taxes.

"South Sudan is capable of producing over 30 tonnes of gold annually from informal sources, much of which is leaving the country without benefiting our people," Abucha said during the three-day gathering of the member countries of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

The meeting focused on mineral value addition and cross-border trade in the region.

Abucha emphasized the importance of regional cooperation to formalize the mining sector and ensure that mineral wealth benefits local populations.

He also affirmed South Sudan's commitment to establishing a strong regulatory framework to support its nascent mineral industry, adding that partnerships with the private sector to build refineries would help add value to the country's gold.

"We strongly support the theme of this forum, because a coordinated regional approach is essential to making meaningful progress, and without this collaboration, individual countries cannot achieve the desired impact," Abucha said.

Abucha also revealed plans to create a national mineral trading company, the first of its kind in the country to regulate and formalize mineral trading, improve traceability, and ensure certification of minerals.

Head of Delegation of the European Union in South Sudan Timo Olkkonen called for enhanced cooperation and cross-border trade to develop integrated mineral-based value chains in the region.

Olkkonen noted that addressing illegal artisanal mining and aligning policies at the regional level would help create more efficient and competitive mineral supply chains, thus stimulating economic growth and value addition.

ICGLR is an inter-governmental organization of 12 member states including Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, the Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A lion that has called John Ball Zoo home for more than a decade is moving to a new facility.

Kiume will be moving to a different facility that is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in the near future, the zoo shared in a social media post, saying the move was recommended by the AZA. The African lion will be paired with an older female lion at his new home.

The move comes after Abena, a female lion Kiume shared a strong bond with, died this spring. The 17-year-old lion was humanely euthanized after monthly injections stopped helping her move comfortably through arthritis and mobility challenges, the zoo said at the time.

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Abena and Kiume were often seen relaxing together at the zoo, typically on the heated rock up front or the back portion of their habitat.

Kiume first came to Grand Rapids in 2012. John Ball Zoo did not specify where hell be headed next. The zoo called the move a bittersweet farewell.

While we will miss him greatly, we are confident that he will receive exceptional care in his new home and continue to serve as a remarkable ambassador for African lions in the wild, the zoo said on social media. Please join us in wishing Kiume the best on his next journey by visiting him at the Zoo this week or sharing your favorite photos of him.

Currently, Kiume is the zoos only lion, according to its website.

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Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU (Getty Images)

More than 80 percent of Black Americans voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, which might be why so many of us woke up feeling numb and betrayed. In this modern-era, the way Black folk express ourselves is to jump on social media. And this particular Tiktok users funny response reflects just how so many African Americans feel this morning.  Phenix S Halley

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Donald Trump has secured a second presidential term and will most likely enact Project 2025, a 920-page policy document devised by the conservative Heritage Foundation that outlines a far-right Christian agenda. The plan will dismantle educational opportunities for Black people, go after LGBTQ+ protections, cut Medicare and stop anti-white racism, among other things.  Candace McDuffie

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Halloween may be over, but for many Black people around the country, the nightmares have not stopped. The combination of the stakes of the 2024 presidential election and the fact that polls show a statistical dead heat between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is keeping plenty of us up at night worrying about what a second Trump term might mean for the country  and more specifically for communities of color.  Angela Johnson

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To frame the very reality that Donald Trump just beat Vice President Kamala Harris in the election last night: In a 2015 conversation with astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, former president Bill Clinton described his use of a rock brought back from the moon landing in 1969 to keep perspective.  Madison J. Gray

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Thanks to the 24-hour news cycle, weve all been inundated with coverage of the 2024 election. And now the news of former President Donald Trumps win has a lot of us worried about what another four years of this dude might actually look like.  Angela Johnson

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The entire country was on the edge of its seat, biting fingernails and watching the shocking results roll in from each state. And now, the people have elected former President Donald Trump back into office for a second term. Although many Harris supporters were certain shed claim victory, Jason Nichols, a senior lecturer at the University of Maryland, said he was cautiously optimistic.

The hope was that she was going to hold the blue wall, and as the numbers continued to come in, we saw that wasnt going to happen Nichols said.

Not only did the White House flip red last night but so did the Senate and the House of Representatives. Nichols said he expected the Senate to be red, but the House remaining a Republican majority shocked him. I was hoping we would be able to flip the House... that was disappointing, he told The Root.

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In response to the shocking results, Gevin Reynolds, a political commentator and former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, said Its hard to know what to say when the bad guy wins.

Even with such a devastating loss for the vice president, Reynolds wants us to remember what she accomplished in just over 100 days. In the shortest presidential campaign in history, Harris collected over a billion dollars in donations, dozens of celebrity endorsements, and maybe most impressively, permission from Beyonce to use Freedom as her campaign song.

Kamala Harris had three months to pull off the impossible, and she ran her race with dignity, determination, and grace, He said. Reynolds went on to say Harris showed strength while he [Trump] showed weakness, had plans while he had only concepts, and promised to bring us together while he threatened to drive us apart.

Despite a loss, Reynolds said we must accept that the American people have spoken. While its on us to accept the results, we cant ignore the fact that so many communities are scared right now, he continued. As the country continues to recover from the first Trump presidency, Reynolds notes this is no time to harp on the past or fear for the future.

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Even as Donald Trump remains hellbent on taking us backwards, our community must keep moving forward,  Reynolds said, adding that he is hopeful that, like always, the country will pull through. On this dark day, my prayer is that we will light flames of hope all across America to illuminate our path for the four years ahead, he said.

Randi B, an author and DEI activist, took to TikTok to express her frustration. Sometimes I underestimate the power of whiteness and the power of the resistance to change, she said. Regardless of the loss, she continued saying she was proud of how close we got.

tiktok-7434162964850035999

Its not lost on Nichols, the lecturer at the University of Maryland, that come next year, the entire government and the Supreme Court will be under GOP rule. When you give one party the House, the Senate, and the presidency, you basically give them a mandate, he said. The future is definitely going to be affected.

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But this is not where the story ends. Nichols continued saying when you are under the leadership of someone who is unfit, thats not where the work ends, thats where the work begins.

Most importantly, Nichols said Everybody needs to regroup and figure out what the next steps are, he said.

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Forget abortion rights. Forget democracy itself. White women collectively made it clear what the top issue has been all along: White privilege.

For the third straight election, white women, the biggest share of the nations electorate by gender and race, voted for Donald Trump. For the second time out of the last three elections, they voted against a woman for president of the United States. By bringing Trump back to the White House, they betrayed their comfort with a race-baiting misogynist who should be in prison as a convicted felon instead of sitting in the Oval Office.

In the CNN exit poll, 52 percent of White women, the same as in Trumps victory in 2016 and no serious change from the 55 percent in 2020. However, 98 percent of Black women voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

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There was no movement in battleground states that President Biden took from Trump in 2020, and Trump clawed back. In Pennsylvania, white women gave Trump 51 percent over their votes, comparable to the 52 percent of 2020. In Wisconsin, white women gave Harris 53 percent of their votes, barely budging from the 52 percent of 2020.

In Georgia, white womens support for Trump increased from 67 percent to 69 percent, approaching the 74 percent Trump support by white men. In Arizona, white women were frozen at the same 52 percent support for Trump of 2020.

To be sure, exit polls are a rough first draft of the electorate. And there were other subplots, such as a big Latino shift toward Trump despite the castigations of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. Other subplots did not pan out. Despite the talk that many Black men might desert a Black woman candidate, 20 percent of Black men voted for Trump, little different than the 19 percent of 2020.

In the end, this election was not the nailbiter of 2020 because Trump maintained an iron grip on white women without a college degree, and only suffered minor erosion among college-educated white women. Trump won 60 percent of women without a degree in Pennsylvania.

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White women simply deserted their Black sisters (who gave 92 percent of their vote to Harris), voting for the curmudgeon who boasted of grabbing womens genitalia, uttered fecal references about Black nations and Harris, and packed the Supreme Court with judges who overturned a womans right to an abortion. White women voted for a man who is sure to cut government services that benefit everyone. Having been the biggest beneficiaries of affirmative action, which the Trump courts haves effectively killed, white women collectively have cemented themselves as the front-line soldiers in destroying it for everyone else.

The only possible conclusion is that many white women remain hypnotized by Trumps promise to take America back to a time where white was right. Several studies show that the more racial resentment a voter holds, the more likely they were to vote for Trump. Trump rode that resentment all the way back to the White House, with white women as his caddy.

Derrick Z. Jackson is a former Opinion writer for the Boston Globe

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Mark Robinson, the North Carolina Republican whose extensive history of bigotry was shocking even for a Donald Trump-endorsed politician, lost his gubernatorial race to Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein on Tuesday.

Stein led Robinson by nearly 30 points as early results came in on Tuesday, enough for Fox News, NBC News, and others to call the race for the Democrat.

Robinsons track record of offensive, racist remarks defined his campaign. Hes attacked Jews, Muslims, the LGBTQ community, called abortion genocide and survivors of the Parkland school shooting spoiled. He also made a series of wild, lewd posts on the message board of a pornography website called Nude Africa, as CNN reported in September, writing that Martin Luther King Jr. was worse than a maggot and describing himself in one post as a black NAZI!

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Donald Trump was a vocal supporter of Robinson, officially endorsing him at a rally in March. The former president dubbed Robinson Martin Luther King on steroids, as well as calling him better than Martin Luther King and Martin Luther King times two.

Trump first said hed endorse Robinson at last years North Carolina Republican Partys annual convention, calling for donors to quadruple their campaign contributions, saying they should cherish Robinson, while praising his incredible, booming voice and beautiful rhetorical statements.

Robinson joined Trump at a rally in Asheboro, North Carolina, this August, but by September, after CNN reported on his porn forum comments, Trump backed away from the controversial candidate. Rolling Stone reported in September that Trump wanted to know if Robinson was mentally ill, and the two havent appeared together since, with Trump claiming in October that hes not familiar with the state of the race right now.

Trump feigning ignorance isnt surprising considering the nature of Robinsons comments on the porn forum. Robinson called himself a perv and detailed how he secretly watched women in a gym locker room as a teenager. Ahhhhh memories!!!! he wrote in one of several jaw-dropping posts. Slavery is not bad, he wrote in another. Some people need to be slaves. I wish they would bring it back. I would certainly buy a few. In 2012, during Barack Obamas presidency, Robinson wrote: Id take Hitler over any of the sh*t thats in Washington right now!

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In addition to writing that Martin Luther King was worse than maggots, Robinson called the civil rights leader a commie bastard, and in one post wrote, Im not in the KKK. They dont let blacks join. If I was in the KKK I would have called him Martin Lucifer Koon!

Kings son, Martin Luther King III, said that Robinsons praise for slavery, disparaging rhetoric, and grotesque characterization of my dad and his legacy are deeply worrisome for North Carolinians and all Americans who oppose racism and bigotry.

Robinson has denied making these comments. This is not us. These are not our words. And this is not anything that is characteristic of me, he said. Robinson sued CNN over its report.

Robinson first came into the public eye in 2018 when he made comments about his support of gun rights at a Greensboro City Council meeting. The comments were made in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed. The criminals are going to hold on to their guns, Robinson said. Theyre still going to have them. Theyre still going to break in my house. Theyre still going to shoot me with them. Guess who is going to be the one that suffers? Its going to be me.

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In a Facebook post around the same time, Robinson called Parkland survivors advocating for gun control spoiled, angry, know it all CHILDREN. He also called them bastards and silly little immature media prosti-tots.

Robinson has also made inflammatory remarks about abortion, calling it genocide and suggesting that the founders of Planned Parenthood were satanists involved in witchcraft, referring to abortion as an idea straight from the devil. He hasnt been so outspoken on the campaign trail, however. In July, Rolling Stone reported that Robinson said, days after the states abortion ban went into effect, that he did not want to say the A-word, for fear that the issue would hurt him politically.

It turned out to be the least of his problems.

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North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson was handily defeated by Democrat Josh Stein on Tuesday, bringing an end to a chaotic campaign ultimately defined by Robinsons many scandals.

Cue the mockery.

Steins win doesnt come as a surprise, given that among other things Robinson, currently the lieutenant governor, had among other things his history of calling himself a Black Nazi on a pornography websites message board exposed by CNN.

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And that stuff  along with related scandals  came up a lot in the social media commentary.

Mark Robinsons loss gives him more time to spend with his porn collection.  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) November 6, 2024

Read more reactions to Robinsons loss in North Carolina:

How is Mark Robinson going to pay off his porn debt now? https://t.co/4ThTMzgdHM  Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan) November 6, 2024

Mark Robinson going to be on them porn sites all night  BPaiz (@bpaiz) November 6, 2024

Wonder if Mark Robinson is going to pick up a few pizzas tonight and  Charlotte Squawks (@CltSquawks) November 6, 2024

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Mark Robinson did Nazi this coming.  Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) November 6, 2024

@FoxNews has called the race for Josh Stein. Theyre changing the channel here at the Mark Robinson watch party. #ncpol pic.twitter.com/kOdUcjaQhd  Brandon Kingdollar (@newskingdollar) November 6, 2024

Mark "I'm a Black Nazi" Robinson ruined his campaign so bad, the people of North Carolina elected their first Jewish Governor.



Congratulations to Governor-Elect Josh Stein. https://t.co/p0f9UIx08v  Michael Zimmelman (@MZimmel) November 6, 2024

And the first major anti-trans candidate of the night goes down!



Fox News projects that Democrat Josh Stein wins North Carolina Governor, beating Republican Mark Robinson.



Robinson criticized Biden for Trans Day of Visibility.



Then it came out he was a purveyor of trans porn. pic.twitter.com/tmHgaRjyei  Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) November 6, 2024

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While Robinsons statewide political career appears to be over (for now, anyway), hell still likely be in the news for some time to come, as hes currently suing CNN for $50 million over their coverage of his scandals.

Robinson claims the harm to his political career dealt by CNNs reporting was deliberate and appears to be a coordinated attack aimed at derailing his campaign.

As CNN reported, in the aforementioned porn website message boards, Robinson stated his full name and a frequently used email address. He also admitted to spying on girl as they showered when he was 14, and referred to himself as a Black Nazi.

The report sparked a mass exodus of Robinsons senior staff, including his chief of staff and general counsel, policy director and others.

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The scandal isnt Robinsons first. In July 2023 he told attendees at an event thrown by the far-right activist group Moms for Liberty, Whether youre talking about Adolf HitlerIt is time for us to get back and start reading some of those quotes.

The post Black Nazi Mark Robinson Mocked for Losing North Carolina Governor Race: He Did Nazi This Coming appeared first on TheWrap.
Sens.-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) will become the first two Black women to serve together in the Senate. Neither Delaware nor Maryland have ever had a Black senator. And Delaware has never been represented by a woman in the upper chamber.

Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks become only the fourth and fifth Black women to serve in the senate and only the third and fourth ever elected. Carol Moseley Braun (D-Ill.) and now Vice President Harris were the first and second. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) is the third serving Black woman, but she was appointed following the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Its remarkable to think that in two years, America will celebrate its 250th birthday, Alsobrooks said during her victory speech Tuesday evening. And in all those years, there have been more than 2,000 people who have served in the United States Senate. Only three have looked like me.

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And so I want to salute all those who came before me, who made it possible for me to stand on this stage tonight, whose sacrifices and stories I will continue to carry with me, she added.

Blunt Rochester, who currently represents the at-large congressional district of Delaware, made history in 2016 as the first woman of color to be elected to the House from Delaware.

But her senatorial campaign, she said, wasnt about making history. Still, she paid homage to the trail blazed by three strong Black women senators before her.

Here is my commitment to you: that I will go to the Senate, each and every day, with you in my heart and on my mind, she said in her victory speech. Whether you voted for me or not.

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And she added a special message to young voters.

I have a message to the young people who are standing up, speaking up and giving your all for your country and the world: I see you. Im grateful to you. And you got next.

In a statement, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) PAC said it was overjoyed by both womens wins.

On Blunt Rochester, the group said her trailblazing victory came as no surprise.

Lisa will make Black women and Black Americans from coast to coast proud as Delawares next United States Senator.

The group also said it is proud to welcome Alsobrooks as one of the newest CBC members.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A winner has been declared in the race for the newly redrawn Ohio State Senate District 6.

Unofficial results show Democrat Willis Blackshear, Jr. defeating Republican Charlotte McGuire. Blackshear will replace outgoing GOP State Senator Niraj Antani.

Mike Turner wins reelection in 10th District

Antani resides in Miamisburg, which happens to be the city that was cut out of District 6 during redistricting.

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2 NEWS spoke with State Senator-elect Blackshear about whats next for him. Blackshear says he is going to take his new role as seriously as his current role, and that he is ready to serve in this capacity.

Blackshear is currently in his second term as state representative for the 38th district. He was first elected in 2020.

According to his office, as a state representative, he helped to secure nearly $23 million in funding for several programs and organizations in Montgomery County, like the Boys and Girls Club and the Dayton YWCA.

Blackshear says he wants to continue what he started while in the statehouse in the Ohio senate. He says his priorities are to bring more jobs and dollars to the district.

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He says he also wants to work on school funding, housing policies and public safety policies.

I believe that, you know, people need to advocate at the state House. So Ive been proud to represent District 38 and I look forward to representing District 6, said. Rep. Blackshear.

Blackshear says that he thanks the voters who went out and waited in long lines to support him.

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The video above is from October 28, 2024.

BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  A levy that would staff more ambulances at each fire station in Boardman has failed, according to unofficial election results.

The levy was 4.5 mills and five years, which would have raised $6.1 million a year for the department. It would have allowed the township to staff three EMS units, one for each station. Homeowners with a house valued at $100,000 would have paid $158 per year.

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The township got a new ambulance in May and wanted to add two more to address the areas aging population.

If the levy passed, Boardman residents would have been soft billed when they used the ambulance service. People who dont live in Boardman would have gotten billed for the entirety of the bill.

Some residents against the levy said they cannot afford another tax.

They questioned the need for the township to be in the ambulance business since the private company Lane LifeTrans currently operates there.

Township leaders have said the number of private EMS companies has dropped significantly in Mahoning County, and it can take them much longer to respond to emergencies. Leaders are also worried about relying on a private company that could close in the future.

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The levy would have allowed the township to run fire and ambulance calls at the same time, said Township Administrator Jason Loree.

Currently, Boardman has two ambulances, which are staffed by firefighters working overtime  Loree said thats not sustainable.

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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  One of Pennsylvanias two U.S. Senate seats is before voters Tuesday.

Incumbent Democrat Bob Casey is vying for a fourth term against Republican challenger and businessman Dave McCormick.

Lets start with incumbent Senator Bob Casey. He has been in the Senate since 2007 and is looking to grab his fourth six-year term in office. Casey is a Scranton native a former state auditor general and treasurer.

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We caught up with Casey voting Tuesday morning at Scranton High School with his wife and family by his side.

LIVE: Election Day coverage and analysis

This is a basic choice about fundamental rights. The rights of women the rights of workers and voting rights are on the ballot in this race. I think people will vote in favor of people protecting those rights, stated Sen. Bob Casey (D) Pennsylvania.

I think the contrast and the choice in my case between change and the status quo between someone whos an outsider, a business guy, West Point grad, combat Vet versus a career politician, said Dave McCormick (R) U.S. Senate candidate.

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McCormick voted by mail last week. McCormick was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, and raised in Bloomsburg. He was CEO of Bridgewater Associates, the worlds largest hedge fund, sat on former president Donald Trumps defense advisory board, and served in top positions under President George W. Bush.

A statement given by Bob Casyes campaign said;

There are more votes that need to be counted in areas like Philadelphia and its important that every legal ballot will be counted. When that happens we are confident the Senator will be re-elected.

Stay up to date on the current election results on our website.

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The passenger plane A350-1000, named "Ethiopia: Land of Origins," lands at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Nov. 5, 2024. Ethiopian Airlines has received its first Airbus A350-1000, becoming the first African carrier to operate the largest model in the A350 family. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Airlines has received its first Airbus A350-1000, becoming the first African carrier to operate the largest model in the A350 family.

The passenger plane, named "Ethiopia: Land of Origins," landed Tuesday at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

Speaking at the official welcoming ceremony, Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew said with the addition of the A350-1000, Ethiopian Airlines is poised to expand its global reach, connecting more destinations across five continents.

"The A350-1000 is the first of four airplanes we will receive in the coming few months. The addition of A350-1000 aircraft into our fleet represents our desire to continue leading the aviation sector in Africa and effectively compete in the aviation industry worldwide," Tasew said.

The A350-1000 variant has 395 passenger seats across business and economy classes, making it the largest aircraft in Ethiopian Airlines' fleet.

"The A350-1000 aircraft is built with state-of-the-art aerodynamics, a carbon-fiber fuselage, and the most fuel-efficient technology, reducing 25 percent carbon dioxide emissions compared to previous generations' twin-aisle aircraft," Tasew added.

For his part, Hadi Akoum, representative of Airbus, said the A350-1000 aircraft is the first of its kind to be operated by an Africa-based operator and will enable Ethiopian Airlines to enhance its premium service and reduce operating costs.

"With its state-of-the-art technology, the A350-1000 is better environmentally friendly and offers the largest business class, to reduce operating costs per seat," Akoum said.

Ethiopian Airlines has become one of the fastest-growing carriers globally since it started operations in 1946.

According to the company, it commands the lion's share of the African passenger and cargo network operation, with its youngest and most modern fleet to more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. 

The passenger plane A350-1000, named "Ethiopia: Land of Origins," lands at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Nov. 5, 2024. Ethiopian Airlines has received its first Airbus A350-1000, becoming the first African carrier to operate the largest model in the A350 family. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  A systemwide boil water notice has been issued for the Mt. Olive Water Association in Hinds County.

Officials with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) said the notice was issued due to the result of equipment failure in the water system. The notice affects all connections.

Downtown Port Gibson closed due to downed power lines

Health officials strongly recommend that all water be boiled vigorously for one minute before it is consumed.

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Residents will be notified immediately when the advisory is lifted.

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(WHTM)  Election Day in Pennsylvania saw a huge voter turnout, though bomb threats were called into some polling places.

Numerous polling sites across the state received bomb threats throughout the day, prompting officials to call law enforcement to investigate.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said in a Tuesday night press briefing that the threats were NOT credible.

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Weve also been made aware that in the course of the last hour, multiple bomb threats have been called into polling and municipal sites across Pennsylvania, Shapiro said. State and local law enforcement  along with the FBI  are investigating these threats and thus far, there is no credible threat to the public.

One of those counties was York County. The York County Board of Elections said a threat targeted the East York location of the York County Elections and Voter Registration Office.

They said the threat did not impact election operations.

The Juniata County Elections Office also received a bomb threat Tuesday evening, according to the State Police at Lewistown. A sweep of the courthouse in Mifflintown was conducted and no device was found, troopers said.

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Other counties which received threats included Blair, Cameron, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Luzerne, Mercer, and Snyder counties.

Other than threats, other hiccups going on at polling places include issues with ballot machines, especially in Cambria County which has extended polling hours to 10 p.m., and long lines.

Schmidt said Cambria County took appropriate action in doing so.

abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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A voter deposits a mail-in ballot at the drop box outside the Chester County Government Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Capital-Star/Peter Hall)

Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said polling places and municipal buildings across Pennsylvania had received bomb threats Tuesday as voting came to an end and election officials started tallying.

My team and I have been in direct communication with [Pennsylvania] State Police Col. Christopher Paris who is coordinating with local and federal law enforcement, as well as FEMA, Schmidt. State and local law enforcement along with the FBI are investigating these threats and thus far there is no credible threat to the public.

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Counties affected include Chester and Clearfield, according to public officials. A spokesperson for Chester County said officials would be releasing information later Tuesday evening. Other counties affected include Bucks, Centre, Delaware, Luzerne, Perry, Philadelphia and York counties, according to media reports.

The Centre County election office in Bellefonte was temporarily evacuated for a bomb threat received via email, according to officials. The FBI is investigating. pic.twitter.com/Q7JFi0g9r4  Marley Parish (@marley_parish) November 6, 2024

Perry County officials said in a statement that they would suspend scanning ballots until Wednesday morning.

We do know that these were not credible bomb threats, but that doesnt mean you dont take those sorts of things seriously, Schmidt, who was the target of threats following the 2020 presidential election. Ive had experience with threats of violence and theyre not always credible. You always have to take them seriously, but threats are intended to intimidate and coerce, and our election officials and our voters are not going to be intimidated.

About half an hour before polls closed at 8 p.m., Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell posted on social media that the Government Services Center where the county elections office is located was being evacuated due to a bomb threat.

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Maxwell noted that the building outside the county seat of West Chester is where in-person ballots are received and tallied, but mail-in ballots are handled at a different location. He later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the threat mirrored those sent to election offices across Pennsylvania and the United States.

Chester County emergency officials are investigating a bomb threat sent to the Chester County Government Services Center which mirrors the bomb threats sent to election offices across Pennsylvania and the United States.  Josh Maxwell (@maxwelljosh) November 6, 2024

Two polling places located in the Government Services Center were disrupted. Voting hours for the two polling locations were extended to 10 p.m. Voters were redirected to nearby polling places where they could cast provisional ballots.

Stacey Witalec, a spokesperson for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Court, said a judge in Clearfield County granted a motion to extend voting hours to 9 p.m. after a threat was received at the Clearfield County Administrative Building.

(This article was updated at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.)
Bomb threats have been made against four voting sites in Navajo County, Arizona.



The threats are unsubstantiated, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said, adding, We have no reason to believe any voters or polling places are in jeopardy.

The threats originated from a .ru email address, but Fontes said there was no confirmation that the threats came directly from Russia.



The motive appears to ensue chaos, not to impact any political outcome, Fontes said.



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This is anotherwe believeprobing attack, Fontes added. We also have reason to believealthough I wont get into specificsthat this comes from one of our foreign enemies, namely Russia.

Also in Arizona, the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office is investigating a bomb threat made inside the Maricopa County Superior Court where the recorders office is located. The threat is similar to the other threats in Arizona and elsewhere around the country, the sheriffs office said.

This is a national and state trend we are seeing with bomb threats. The information contained in the threat has been the same to all the other areas in the county. MCSO and our local partners are taking this matter seriously and will investigate. At this point there is no credible information to this issue, Maricopa County Sheriffs Office Sergeant Joaquin Enriquez said in a statement.

Bomb threats have been reported in several other battleground states, including Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. None have been shown to be credible, the FBI says.


Californias new political center, one that is not set in stone, is about to reveal itself. The Democrats running Sacramento, who do not appear to always be on the same page with the voting public, would be wise to listen. So should Republicans seeking greater relevance.

The states many crises - housing, homelessness, insurance, electricity retail theft and gasoline - have altered the mood of the electorate. It does not inspire confidence when the state wildly swings from surplus to deficit. The public only gets periodic opportunities via the ballot box to share its collective voice. This feels like some change is in the wind. But how much?

Here is how certain initiatives on this ballot may help to reshape the states agenda:

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Opinion

Proposition 5

If there is one ballot initiative all about trust in California government, this one is it.

Proposition 5 would lower the approval threshold of local infrastructure bonds from two-thirds to 55 percent. The two-thirds threshold has prevented many local governments from passing bonds to finance their civic projects.

Voters must trust that local governments wont abuse the lower threshold. A yes vote would indicate that voters believed local governments were on the right track with their construction plans and that a lower approval percentage is best for California. Its outcome will reveal if voters trust their local governments and the states Democratic leadership that placed this initiative on the ballot.

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If Prop. 5 passes, the prospects of future local bonds passing would go up by as much as 50%, according to one state estimate. Either way, a lot is on the line.

Proposition 3

This is a reminder that Californias political center is not cemented for all time, but shifts along with our culture. It was only 16 years ago that voters banned gay marriage in California via Proposition 8. The initiative was ruled unconstitutional by the California Supreme Court, legalizing gay marriage ever since.

Proposition 3 would erase the Prop. 8 vote from 2008 and rewrite the state constitution accordingly. The stronger this proposition performs in this election, the more gay marriage moves into the mainstream. California Republican politicians obsessed with culture wars on sexual orientation and identity should pay attention.

Proposition 36

Democrats such as Gavin Newsom were loudly against this proposal for a somewhat tougher approach against repeat petty thieves and fentanyl users until polls started to show overwhelming support by the public. Proposition 36 would elevate a third petty theft to a felony and empower district attorneys to offer treatment or prison time to repeat fentanyl users.

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Prop. 36 may be the most high-profile example of how Sacramentos left wing is not on the same page as California voters. It requires initiatives such as this to amend a previous measure to reduce sentences for certain crimes approved by voters in 2014, Proposition 47. If the political center is shifting to a tougher approach to repeat criminals in certain circumstances, Democrats can either respect or reject the public they serve.

Proposition 32

This initiative would address Californias affordability crisis by raising the minimum wage and it cuts both ways. Proposition 32 proposes increasing that wage from $16 to $18 an hour. Its goal is to put more money in the pockets of workers. However, opponents say higher wages can translate into higher costs for goods and services that could hit voters in their pocketbooks.

And that potentially hits the pocketbook of voters who have the final say.

Congress and California arent on the same planet on minimum wage policy. The federal minimum has remained at $7.25 an hour for the past 15 years. In California, periodic adjustments are a tradition. This outcome will reveal just how generous the prevailing mood is of the electorate.

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Newsom and Sacramento Democrats raised food workers to $20 an hour earlier this year in an inside power play with its union allies. The Prop. 32 outcome will reveal whether these leaders are on the same page as the public.

For Republicans, it has been 18 long years since California elected a member of their party to statewide offices, Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor and Steve Poizner for insurance commissioner. This election cycle tees up the issues for the next one in 2026, when all the statewide offices are on the ballot.

Neither party seems to represent the true California political center particularly well. If a lot of Californians left the voting booth on Tuesday a tad cranky, they have plenty of company.
The boy has been identified as Laith Alaid, whose family moved to Australia from Iraq

Getty A file photo of the Entrance in Australia A file photo of the Entrance in Australia

The body of a boy who was swept away during a fishing outing with his family in Australia is believed to have been found.



The New South Wales Police Force said in a news release that authorities were notified on Sunday, Nov. 3, that a child had been swept into the ocean while attempting to cross the Entrance Channel, which is located in the mouth of the Tuggerah Lake.



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An extensive multi-agency search for the missing boy was subsequently conducted, with ongoing taskings continuing today," officials added.

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, around 2:30 p.m. local time, authorities were called to the scene following reports that a body had been located in the water.

Related: Body of Woman Swept Away in Flood Caused by Hurricane Helene Found More Than a Month Later

While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing boy, the New South Wales Police Force said in its statement.

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A spokesperson for the New South Wales Police Force told PEOPLE in an email on Nov. 6 that the matter is now in the hands of the coroner and no further updates are likely.

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While the New South Wales Police Force has not named the victim, Sky News, 9News and News.com.au have identified the boy as 11-year-old Laith Alaid.

According to a Monday, Nov. 4, update by police, a 43-year-old man was attempting to cross the Entrance Channel with his four sons, when the 11-year-old boy was "swept into the ocean by the current."

Related: Girl, 4, and Brother, 2, Swept to Their Deaths by Rapid River at California Picnic Area

Lots of people try and move across that channel, it is not advised though, Inspector David Piddington told reporters earlier this week, The Guardian reported.



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Police noted in their Nov. 4 update that as the father tried to reach his son, his other children were being looked after by bystanders.

Authorities are uncertain why the family, who reportedly moved to Australia from Iraq, crossed the channel, although Piddington said it was a shortcut from the beach, according to News.com.au.

Related: Search Underway for Woman, 33, Swept Away in Grand Canyon Flash Flood

The boy's family issued a statement expressing gratitude to those involved in the search before his body was found, Sky News and The Guardian reported.

Thank you to all the volunteers, emergency services, and members of the Central Coast community, who have selflessly dedicated their time and resources to the search efforts," they wrote. "During this difficult time, we kindly request privacy from the media as we support each other."


Governor-elect Mike Braun greets supporters at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis on Nov. 5, 2024. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The Indiana Republican Partys dominance in the states highest elected office remains intact following the election of Mike Braun as governor and his running mate Micah Beckwith as lieutenant governor.

Im going to make sure that all of us, as Hoosiers, prosper; Im going to do it with everything Ive learned in the real world, Braun told an enthusiastic crowd at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis just before 9 p.m.

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Were going to take Indiana to places weve never seen before, he vowed.

Associated Press called the race early. As of about 9:45 p.m., Braun had 55% of the vote. His opponents, Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater, had roughly 40% and 5% votes, respectively.

McCormick encouraged supporters to stay positive even though the results werent what they wanted.

And although were small, were mighty. And we gave Sen. Braun a run that not many people thought we could do, McCormick said.  And so tonight, we congratulate Sen. Braun and a lot of other Republicans who won this evening. We will go into tomorrow knowing we still have work to do.

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Throughout the race, Braun relied on his business background as the owner of Meyer Distributing in Jasper, Indiana.

Ive always said, politics and government are a lot easier than running a business, Braun said Tuesday night. Hell, in government you just got to be smart enough to not spend more than you take in. In business, youre signing the note (and) your livelihood is on the line.

Braun, McCormick and Rainwater grew increasingly competitive as Election Day neared, battling it out in campaign mailers and warring attack advertisements. However, the business community rallied behind the Republican team, which saw a surge in contributions, while small donors flocked to Democrats.

The Republican Governors Association also gave Braun $2 million, which the Democratic counterpart nearly matched.

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Beckwith encountered a fair number of controversies in recent weeks, making national headlines for saying hed fire state employees using pronouns in their signatures and saying the Democratic ticket invoked a Jezebel spirit, a derogatory term used against women.

Noblesville pastor Micah Beckwith, Indianas next lieutenant governor, pumps his fist as the crowd cheers at the Republican watch party in downtown Indianapolis on Nov. 5, 2024. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Braun said, under his leadership, Indiana would become a place  where our kids and grandkids want to move back to with Texas, Florida and Tennessee as the inspiration.

McCormick and her lieutenant governor nominee focused on a commonsense campaign, releasing several proposals across dozens of topics.

The Braun campaigns foundation arm pitched its own ideas, wading into brewing health care fights in the Legislature and vowing to reform property taxes.

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At 70, Braun is the oldest person ever to be elected as governor of Indiana.

Jennifer McCormick, the Democratic nominee for Indiana governor, is comforted by a supporter after delivering her concession speech on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Braun will still return to Washington D.C. to finish out his term in Congress, where he serves as a U.S. senator.

I promised all of you, when I ran for Senate, Id be the most accessible Senator weve ever had. Im going to be the most entrepreneurial  and weve proven that in just six years, Braun said. Imagine what you can do when you set the agenda. When you get along with a legislature that believes in freedom and opportunity, faith, family and community.

He is scheduled to be sworn into office as governor in January.
Republican candidate Donald Trump claims victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, foreign leaders issue messages, congratulating the former president on returning the White House.

The Republican Party will also take control of the U.S. Senate. The House election results are still being counted. This will impact how  if at all  any future aid arrives in Kyiv from Washington.

President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election, voicing hopes for "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

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"Congratulations, President Trump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity," wrote French President Emmanuel Macron.

The result is the culmination of one of the most consequential political contests in modern times  not least for Ukraine.

When Trump and Senator J.D. Vance are inaugurated as the 47th president and vice president of the U.S. on Jan. 20, Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine will be mere weeks from the 1,000 days mark.

Trump's election victory partially answers Ukraine's nervous questions about what lies ahead for the country's defense efforts as it continues to rely on support from its largest Western backer, one of the issues that most starkly separated Trump, 78, from Harris, 60.

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As Ukraine struggled to contain Russian advances in Donetsk Oblast during the waning hours of the election, a consensus remained that Trump's victory would bring a more unpredictable future for U.S. support for Ukraine than if Harris  who promised to stand with Kyiv until Ukraine prevails  had been the victor.

"With Trump, the basic idea is going to be  take any deal (Russian President Vladimir) Putin gives (him), declare it a victory, and try to change the subject," Timothy Snyder, an American historian specializing in Central and Eastern Europe, told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Im going to stop the wars  Trump says, as he claims victory

"What Trump has actually said about Ukraine is not that he will try to solve the problem but rather he will essentially try to present the Ukrainians as the problem, and then punish them for defending their own country."

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It is unclear how Trump's at times hostile history with Zelensky will impact the approach he takes toward Kyiv's wartime needs. In October, when Trump blamed Zelensky for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it was just the latest installment of a fraught years-long relationship.

The first major fracture revolved around a 2019 phone call between Zelensky and then-President Trump, which occurred one week after Trump had instructed his acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, to hold back almost $400 million in military aid for Kyiv.

During the call, Zelensky said he needed more aid to purchase U.S.-made weapons, in particular Javelin anti-tank missiles.

"I would like you to do us a favor, though," Trump replied, before asking Zelensky to dig up dirt on the family of his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden. Trump's request for a favor resulted in his first impeachment and a permanent stain on the two leaders' relationship.

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The two have since spoken in July, and again in September when Zelensky presented Trump with Ukraine's victory plan in New York.

"We have a very good relationship," Trump said, standing next to Zelensky, "and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin, and I think if we win I think we're going to get (the war) resolved very quickly."

Zelensky, interrupting Trump, added "I hope we,"  gesturing between Trump and himself with his hand  "have better relations between us."

But in his only debate with Harris on Sept. 10, Trump refused to say he wanted a Ukrainian victory.

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"I think it's the U.S.'s best interest to get this war finished and just get it done, negotiate a deal," Trump said.

Trump's plan to end the war within "24 hours" and get the U.S. "out" of Ukraine, would benefit Russia by ceding Ukrainian territory and creating autonomous regions in the east, according to reporting in October.

"Trump's view is he wants to do everything he can to help Putin because for whatever reason he likes these strong men, he's fascinated by him in particular," Evelyn Farkas, the executive director of the McCain Institute, said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent.

"So, it will take all the will and the fighting of people under him to maintain the existing policy of support for Ukraine and an opposition to Russia's autocratic agenda."

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If Trump does slash U.S. aid to Ukraine, the American economy will take a hit. The U.S. defense industrial base has received over $50 billion in investment due to America's support of Ukraine, with billions sent to states that helped Trump secure the White House again like Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida.

"Trump and Vance have made getting assistance to Ukraine difficult," Representative Gregory Meeks, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement to the Kyiv Independent.

"We have no indication their approach will change, but a Democratic-controlled Congress can work across the aisle to push for that support."

Read also: Zelensky used talk with Trump about nuclear weapons as leverage before crucial US election, analysts say

Putin's 'cheerleader' or Kyiv supporter?



"Trump played a critical role in inviting Putins aggression in 2022," Alexander Vindman, Trumps former director for European affairs at the National Security Council (NSC), told a crowd of Ukrainians for Harris in Philadelphia.

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"It's because Trump was a cheerleader for Putin  (so he) felt emboldened to launch the war. We're looking at a world in which Trump and J.D. Vance, the worst vice presidential candidate you could possibly think of, not just for Ukraine but for European security, will be able to do and initiate enormous amounts of harm to Ukraine."

Boris Johnson, the former British prime minister whos been one of Kyivs loudest advocates, said in an interview with CNN on Nov. 4 he doesn't think Trump will abandon Ukraine, citing the Javelin missiles Trump approved for Ukraine in 2017 as supportive evidence.

"There are folks that believe Trump is better for Ukraine  he is not. This narrative that he was somehow the one that provided military aid, that's not entirely true," Vindman, Trump's former Director for European Affairs at the NSC, said.

"It was the adults in the room around him that really counseled the provision of aid, these folks do not exist any longer and would not be a part of a second Trump administration."

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Along with Snyder, voters in the Ukrainian diaspora who spoke with the Kyiv Independent said they're aware of many Ukrainian Americans who believe Trump was the better candidate for Ukraine, citing his appearance of power and strength.

Snyder believes this argument has a gendered undertone as it primarily comes from men who didnt want to see a female in the White House.

"This is a big argument, it goes like this; Trump is strong and therefore Trump will make America strong, and therefore America will be able to solve all of its foreign policy problems including Ukraine," Snyder said.

"It's a way to rationalize what Trump explicitly says about Russia and Ukraine because it's a big narrative about strength which allows you to forget the details, which are that Trump is historically not at all strong vis-a-vis Putin, he's extremely submissive."

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Trump's victory comes after the Harris campaign deliberately sought the vote of Ukrainian Americans with a message of security for all of Eastern Europe. However, even within the diaspora, a common argument that boosted Trump to victory is that the Democratic party is too close to communism, according to a Harris-supporting Ukrainian American, Marta Fedoriw, who spoke with the Kyiv Independent and said she hears this from her Republican neighbors in Pennsylvania.

The Trump campaign played into this throughout the campaign, with Trump himself referring to Harris as "a Marxist, communist, fascist, socialist."

"This is a deliberate manipulation of trauma," Snyder said, adding that this rhetoric had the power to potentially impact thousands of voters from other Eastern European diasporas.

"It's perfectly understandable for Ukrainians to be traumatized by communism."



Read also: Trump wants to do everything he can to help Putin, McCain Institute head says

Biden's last moves

For the Ukrainians who are fearful that Trump's term will spell the end of American support for Ukraine, President Biden has nearly three months to cement his decades of foreign policy experience on a legacy of Ukraine policy.

Since Harris took over for Biden atop the Democratic ticket, there's been a holdout of hope among Ukrainians that after the election, Biden will make concrete moves to aid Kyiv once he doesn't have to worry about damaging Harris's campaign.

Farkas, who also served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia and Ukraine under former President Barack Obama, thinks now that the Biden administration doesn't have to worry about harming Harris's campaign, they'll very likely lift the restrictions on Kyiv's ability to strike deep inside Russia with U.S.-made weapons.

"(Biden) has no foreign policy legacy right now beyond normality  he managed to restore the idea that the U.S. is a normal country, we do have allies now," Snyder said.

"But if he wants to have a specific foreign policy legacy, it's got to be Ukraine  its certainly not going to be the Middle East."

This is within reality, as Snyder says Biden could release arms, lift restrictions on Kyiv's ability to strike deep inside Russia with U.S. weapons, and work on extending an invitation to NATO before Trump takes office.

As a historian of Eastern Europe who has studied autocracies, Snyder is most concerned by the things Trump has already said. In September Trump declared that Ukraine is already "demolished."

What he's doing here, Snyder says, is setting up for when he gets in office and gives Putin a free hand. Snyder expects Trump will project this grim outlook on Ukraine and blame the Biden White House.

Trump's line will be that "Ukraine was already destroyed, and that it was Biden's fault, so let's move on."

Read also: Trump fundamentally doesnt care about Ukraine  Michael McFaul on US elections

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Voters wait in line outside the Oklahoma County Election Board on Oct. 30 to cast a vote in the Nov. 5 election. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Brian Bingman won the election for the open seat on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on Tuesday.

Bingman, the Republican candidate, received nearly 64% of the vote over Democrat Harold Spradling and Libertarian Chad Williams.

Bingman said he feels fortunate for the solid victory.

Brian Bingman, the Republican candidate for Corporation Commission, won a seat on the board Tuesday. (Photo provided)

Now the hard work begins, he said. I cant wait to meet all the Oklahoma Corporation Commission employees and jump right into the business at hand.

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He will serve a six year term, taking over Commissioner Bob Anthonys seat.

Bingman has worked in the private sector managing properties for oil and gas companies in Tulsa and has also served in the Oklahoma House and Senate.

He previously said his top priority would be to ensure the Commission is an efficient operation.

Bingmans campaign reported raising over $500,000 for the campaign. The other candidates raised around $1,200 combined, according to reports on the Oklahoma Ethics Commission Guardian website.

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SYDNEY, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Residents of a town in the Australian state of Queensland have been evacuated due to a threat posed by a fast-moving bushfire.

Queensland Police on Tuesday night declared an emergency situation for the town of Dirranbandi, 500 km southwest of the state capital of Brisbane, and ordered the approximately 600 residents of the town to leave immediately at 8 p.m. local time.

As of Wednesday morning, a "Watch and Act" warning remained in place and it was not safe for the residents to return to the town.

The evacuation was ordered on Tuesday as two bushfires burning to the southeast and northeast of the town were moving north.

An evacuation center was set up 80 km north of Dirranbandi and evacuees were told to take bedding and essential items.

"This is a very extraordinary circumstance and not something that we would normally be experiencing," Samantha O'Toole, the local mayor, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday night.

Fire crews from Queensland and the neighboring state of New South Wales, including aerial water-bombing crews, fought the fires through the night and were expected to return on Wednesday.

The Queensland Fire Department said that crews would work to establish a state of containment.

Power lines in the area were down and O'Toole said that Dirranbandi has been without telecommunications since 1 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

The maximum temperature in Dirranbandi was forecast to reach 42 degrees Celsius on Wednesday as a heatwave hit the state.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an official heatwave warning for much of Queensland, with temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than the long-term November average. 
35,725 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?

35,725 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?
They still dont get it! Perhaps the most enjoyable part of being witness to Donald Trumps victory  easily the greatest comeback in modern political history  has been watching the reaction of liberal commentators, both in the United Kingdom and in the USA. In their eyes, it is 2016 all over again, as though a dark cloud has descended over the Western world.

This attitude also extends to the Democratic Party, whose chief protagonists are, as I write this from a hotel room in West Palm Beach, giving a press conference in New York. Theyre talking about gender alignment and immigrant rights. What none of them can or will see is that Trump has put together a new electoral coalition of the most remarkable breadth.

This is the first time for 20 years that the Republican Party has won a majority of the vote in a US presidential election. Trump managed to do this by getting a record number of black and Hispanic voters to come the Republicans way. These communities care about the family, they deeply resent illegal immigrants coming into their country, and they are looking for robust leadership.

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The same goes for the under-30s, especially young men who look up to Trump as a figure of strength. Above all else, most Americans wanted an economy that fires on all cylinders. Trump will give that to them.

It is fair to argue that Trumps victory is bringing American society together in a quite remarkable way, rather than dividing it as liberal commentators choose to think.

That principle of coalition applies to the leadership of the campaign itself. While Trump, by necessity, remained the dominant figure, it was the additions of Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr. that offered the American public the chance to consider what is now a much more extensive Republican Party.

Vice presidential candidate J. D. Vance spoke of aspiration, of the American dream, and of the idea that anyone can succeed regardless of the circumstances from which they come. It is no wonder people found this inspirational.

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Trumps victory will have profound consequences for politics across the Western world, including in the United Kingdom. At the moment, Britains energy costs are among the most expensive globally, thanks partly to our socialist governments green policies. Might Trumps cheaper energy policies now influence our own?

There are also parallels on the thorny topic of immigration. Legal immigration has been running at record levels in Britain but it is illegal immigration that has really outraged the British public, just as voters in America have become furious by the huge numbers crossing the Rio Grande.

The sense of disconnect between our political class and the people who live outside the M25 is as wide as it is in the USA. Ditto in Europe. Americans have had enough and are looking to Trump to solve the problem. You can bet Britons feel similar impatience.

Those from younger generations with no traditional tie to any political party are beginning to shape a very different future. The vast majority look up to Trump and will, in their way, seek to emulate him. Be in no doubt, politics, including our own, is moving rightwards.

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All of this will put pressure on a Labour Party that has been deeply disobliging about Trump.

Perhaps the biggest worry that Sir Keir Starmer faces in policy terms is that Trump has announced a big tariff regime. Britain is, potentially, in a fortunate position. Such tariffs might be avoided  but only by direct negotiations with Team Trump, something of which Starmers friends in the European Union would not approve. Which way will Starmer jump?

On defence, I see deep tensions over the surrender of the Chagos Islands, in particular Americas long-term use of the base at Diego Garcia.

Britain is really going to have to roll out the red carpet for Trump very quickly. If we dont, a great opportunity will be squandered.

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Im overjoyed that this process has already begun, with our very sensible Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, making clear that Trump will be able to address Parliament during his State visit next year.

However, there is no time to waste. If I can be helpful in any way when it comes to bridging the divide that exists between Starmers Government and Trump, I will be glad to assist.

I might not agree with almost anything that Starmer and his Cabinet stand for, but I do believe in something called the national interest.

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A British fugitive has been arrested for allegedly shooting dead a Serbian gangster at an illegal party on the Costa del Sol.

The unnamed 43-year-old man, who police say was previously implicated in an attempted murder case in the UK, was found in the UAE after an international arrest warning over the killing in August.

According to the Spanish National Police, the 36-year-old victim had attended the party along with other revellers after an evening spent at a nightclub in Marbella.

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They were invited to continue partying at a villa in El Paraiso, an upscale residential area in the resort town of Estepona.

At the house, the British suspect met the Serbian man and an altercation broke out, although it is unclear what provoked the dispute.

As the victim walked away from the clash, the suspect shot him several times in the back, police said.

He was dead before emergency services arrived at the scene.

The alcohol and drug-fuelled house party was allegedly organised in a villa in Estepona by a Cuban squatter living there - ASA/NPZ/SOLARPIX.COM

The police said in a statement: The consumption of drugs and alcohol was the trigger for the clash between the parties.

Investigators discovered that the victims Belgian passport was fake and that he was on the run from Serbia, where he was wanted over his alleged links to Balkan criminal organisations.

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The British suspect is now in prison in the UAE, awaiting extradition to Spain, where he will face a judicial investigation and a probable murder charge.

The UAE, and Dubai in particular, has been accused of being a safe haven for foreign fugitives due to the difficulty in extraditing wanted criminals from the Gulf state.

The organiser of the party, a Cuban whos linked to a series of high-end property occupations in the area, was well known to the police because of previous complaints by neighbours of public disorder and drug-taking at past parties held there.

He has been expelled from Spain for five years. Police said he is currently residing in the Czech Republic after applying for asylum to avoid being repatriated to Cuba.

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Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Three unidentified men in Britain were arrested Wednesday as suspects in a recent deadly house explosion that killed two people, including a young boy.

A man in his 50s and two other men in their 30s are suspected of being connected to the Oct. 16 blast that killed 35-year-old Jason Laws and 7-year-old Archie York in Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle.

"This has been a truly tragic incident which resulted in the loss of two lives," Northumbria police detective Kate Smith told the BBC.

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The three men remain in police custody.

They were arrested on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter and production of cannabis, which is labeled as a "Class B" drug in Britain, according to the local Northumbria police.

Reports say more than 120 civilians had been forced out from their residences as a result and three adults were taken to hospital where one remains with "serious" injuries.

A local Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service official on scene roughly a half hour after the deadly incident took place described it as the "most challenging" incident faced by the department years.

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Meanwhile, Northumbria police asked the public on social media to avoid rumors and speculation surrounding the incident both online and in the local community.

The young victim's parents and then-2-month-old brother were treated in hospital at the time and released soon after.

The family relocated to the Benwell home in Britain's county of Tyne and Wear in northeast England -- under Scotland -- not long after Archie had been born seven years ago. British news media said young Archie was a primary school student learning how to swim and enjoyed violin playing.

Archie was a "loving boy, with a cheeky little grin on his face all of the time," his aunt, Abbie York, told BBC.
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. (WFLA)  A Brooksville man with a history of traffic offenses was booked into jail on a no bond status Monday after deputies said they caught him driving a motorcycle without a valid license.

Dennis Koehler, 52, reportedly raised Hernando County deputies suspicions when they saw him quickly walk away from a motorcycle in a 7-Eleven parking lot.

Armed suspect arrested after Tampa standoff: TPD

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According to authorities, Koehler had been walking toward the vehicle until he noticed the sheriffs deputies at the gas station on Cortez Boulevard.

Deputies followed Koehler as he walked around the business and found him kneeling down near a patch of bushes.

Koehler reportedly told them he was walking to a friends house but could not provide the name or address of his friend.

When asked, officials said Koehler initially denied owning the motorcycle. However, after being read his Miranda rights, deputies said Koehler admitted to riding the vehicle to the gas station.

Koehler told them he got scared when he saw law enforcement because he did not have a valid drivers license, the sheriffs office reported.

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Upon further investigation, deputies said they noticed the motorcycle also had an altered Vehicle Identification Number.

Koehler was arrested on charges of possession of a vehicle with an altered VIN and driving with a suspended license  his third or subsequent offense. A third offense is considered a third-degree felony in Florida.

He was taken to the Hernando County Detention Center, where he was being held on a no bond status due to his bond on unrelated charges being revoked after his arrest.

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BROOME COUNTY, NY (WIVT/WBGH)The 2024 presidential election concluded in the early hours of Nov. 6, with Donald Trump elected the 47th President of the United States. Trump won Broome County in a tight race, prolonging an impressive streak of county voters siding with the next president.

How long has this streak lasted?

Broome County was narrowly taken by Trump in 2024, by a margin of 551 votes in total. This marks the fifth consecutive general election in which Broome County has predicted the winner.

Before the 2008 general election, Broome County hadnt sided with the victor since voting for Bill Clinton in 1996 with 51% on the vote. Voters chose Al Gore in 2000 with 52% of the vote, followed by John Kerry in 2004 with 50.4% of the total.

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In 2008, Broome County voted in favor of the Barrack Obama / Joe Biden ticket over John McCain and Sarah Palin by over 7,000 votes. The streak of picking presidents has not stopped since then.

The streak continues

In 2012, Broome once again chose Obama / Biden, this time over Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan by a margin of 5.3%.

2016 is when the county shifted Republican for the first time in over 20 years (New York State Board of Elections data on presidential races goes back to 1996). In 2016, Donald Trump claimed Broome County by 1,731 votes over Hilary Clinton.

2020 swung back to the Democratic party, favoring Joe Biden and Kamala Harris by just over 3,000 votes.

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On Nov. 5, 2024, Donald Trump took back Broome County, and later on the White House as he was named 47th President of the United States, which moved Broome Countys streak of choosing in favor of the next president to five elections in a row.

This spans 16 years of predicting correctly and 20 years since favoring the loser of the presidential race.

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BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  The Broome County Democratic Chair released a statement on Wednesday after several local democrats were victorious during Tuesdays election.

According to broomevotes.com, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar was reelected to another term. Running opposed, Garnar received 56,698 votes.

District 123 Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo beat Republican Lisa OKeefe with 58.97% of the vote while Lea Webb defeated Mike Sigler, maintaining her spot in the New York State Senate. Webb secured 34,453 votes to Siglers 32,890.

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In addition, Josh Riley came out on top in a rematch against incumbent Marc Molinaro in the most anticipated race in local politics. Riley will represent District 19 in Congress, narrowly beating Molinaro by less than 1,000 votes.

Democratic Chair Karen Beebe released the following statement:

Last night, we celebrated important wins for Broome County. Reelection of county legislators, County Executive Jason Garnar, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, Senator Lea Webb and election of Rebecca Rathmell to Binghamton City Council, city judges, and Josh Riley to Congress. Prop 1 passed in New York, enshrining abortion access and protecting New Yorkers from discrimination. Prop 2 in Binghamton passed, allowing for City Council Democrats to hold up human rights in our city. Those wins matter.

Beebe also commented on the results of the presidential election, calling Donald Trump a threat. Beebe voiced her personal concern and called on local Democrats to stay strong.

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Beebe said the following:

This morning, we feel the weight of the loss on a national level. A President Donald Trump is a threat to us all. While we feel deep despair and fear, we must also prepare to care for those who are first and most impacted. We must push back against the hatred that is emboldened by his leadership. We must plan for a better future to ensure we get this country back in four years and democracy continues. Im ready to do this work alongside all of you, regardless of party affiliation or when you join us down the road. We must and we will do this  grieve, organize, act  together

The results are not official until certified by the New York State Board of Elections.

Click here for a full list of unofficial election results.

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James Brown signs his candidate filing paperwork. (Photo: James Brown campaign)

Republican James Brown will become the next Auditor of Montana, one of five statewide, constitutionally mandated positions.

Late Wednesday morning, the Associated Press had called the race for him, even as the Montana Secretary of States Office was still counting ballots. Brown had held a commanding lead over his Democratic challenger John Repke.

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Brown, the current chairman of the Montana Public Service Commission, had recently come under fire for signing in at the office using the name of superheroes, but that seemed to have little effect on his chances as he appeared poised to cruise to victory.

Brown had tallied 329,396 votes to Repkes 201,791 as of 10:45 a.m., Wednesday.

Brown will replace outgoing Auditor Troy Downing who appears to have won the race for Second Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.

Downing has been the auditor for four years. Prior to that, Matt Rosendale served in the position before being elected to Congress.

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The Auditors Office oversees securities and insurance, including investment companies and even bail bonding service.

Brown has been a key figure in recent election races. The attorney based in Dillon was involved in a series of lawsuits where he represented Western Traditions Partnership, a dark money group that described itself as combatting environmental extremism. Later, Brown ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Montana Supreme Court.

In 2020, he won a seat on the five-member Montana Public Service Commission, where he has served as its chairman, including during some controversial hearings on substantial rate increases by the states largest utilities. Hes also been a key figure in hiring an executive director for the PSC, which handles complex utility and rate case. Brown has been credited by lawmakers with tackling a critical audit that showed internal practices at the commission had been lax when it comes to business expenses.

Repke is a financial executive from Whitefish. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the PSC in 2022.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a victim with an illegal gun on New Years in Buffalo, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced.

Officials said just before 3:30 a.m., 22-year-old Terrance Johnson intentionally fired shots toward two victims with an illegal gun at the intersection of Main and Merrimac Streets.

One of the victims, 18-year-old Rashaad Brown, was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he died. The other victim wasnt injured in the shooting, authorities said.

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Johnson pleaded guilty to the following in September:

second-degree murder, one count

second-degree attempted murder, one count

second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count

He was arrested back in March.

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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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Waco, Tx (FOX 44)  Waco police responding to a break-in and assault in progress found their suspect hiding on the roof of the house that was broken into.

Joseph Orlando was taken into custody after residents of the house were evacuated and police had set up a perimeter around the home Sunday.

An arrest affidavit stated that police had responded to a home on Haden Drive for what was originally sent out as an assault call. Officers were told that the victims ex-roommate had broken in and assaulted him. The victim told the officer responding that he thought the man was perhaps in the back yard and was possibly armed with a rifle that was missing from the residence. The home was evacuated and more officers were called to the scene.

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After the backyard was cleared, offices noticed a backpack on the roof, then spotted a man up there. He was taken into custody. Officers retrieved the backpack and found a red and black Windham Model WW-15 assault style rifle in it with a loaded magazine and a round in the chamber.

Man accused of trying to set fires, fighting officers

The victim told officers the man had been allowed to stay with him in the house beginning in June but he had kicked him out in September.

Orlando was transported to the McLennan County Jail where he remained Tuesday on new charges of burglary of a habitation, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and violation of a protective order. Jail records also indicate he had previously been out on bail on another burglary charge and a separate drug charge.

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His bonds totaled $170,000.

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BISHKEK, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan calls on Israel to comply with the principles and norms of international humanitarian law, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the 11th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States held in Bishkek, Japarov said that Kyrgyzstan supports the international community's efforts to peacefully resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and adheres to the principle of "two states for two peoples" in accordance with UN resolutions.

"We call on Israel to comply with the principles and norms of international humanitarian law, including obligations to protect civilians and infrastructure, and ensure unimpeded access to humanitarian aid," the Kyrgyz president said.

Japarov also stressed that Kyrgyzstan recognizes and supports the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the creation of their own state, and full membership in the UN.

"It is unacceptable that women and children are dying every day in Palestine, and that civilians are subjected to severe physical and moral suffering," he said. 
Rachael Mikkelsen, Annemarie Anderson and Anna Werb won the race for school board members for District 191 in Tuesdays election, Nov. 5, 2024.

Mikkelsen won about 29% of the vote while opponents Anderson received 27% and Werb 23%.

Mikkelsen is the parent to three children whove graduated or attend District 191 schools. She told the Pioneer Press that her experience as a CPA, can be put to use for the budget process and to look at issues from multiple perspectives that are brought to Board.

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My top priorities would be graduation rates, safety, test scores, and student retention, Mikkelsen said to the Pioneer Press.

Anderson has two sons in the district and has served on the PTO board at Gideon Pond Elementary for three years.

I believe the real role of the school board member is to be a voice and advocate for the members of the school community, Anderson said to the Pioneer Press.

Andersons priorities include educational equity, transparency and lobbying.

For more results from the Nov. 5, 2024, election go to twincities.com/news/politics/elections.

To find out what else was on your ballot and other election information, visit the Minnesota Secretary of States elections page at sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting.

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill.  The Cahokia Heights deputy mayor was charged with driving under the influence after a single-car crash early Saturday morning.

Illinois State Police told FOX 2 Demario Helm Sr., 42, was driving alone when his vehicle crashed on Mousette Lane and Sauget Business Blvd. in Sauget, Illinois. Police responded to the crash around 4 a.m. Saturday.

Helm was arrested at the scene and charged in St. Clair County with DUI.

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This is not Helms first run-in with police, as he was charged in 2015 for aggravated battery against a police officer in St. Clair County.

Helm currently works as the deputy mayor of Cahokia Heights, advising the citys mayor on city issues and assisting in developing policy, according to the Cahokia Heights website.

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In one of the most closely watched U.S. House races in the country, results in the Central Valley contest between GOP Rep. John Duarte and Democratic challenger Adam Gray for California's 13th Congressional District were too close to call on election night, with vote counting scheduled to continue.

The election marked the second time the pair have vied for this seat in Congress. In 2022, after weeks of counting, Gray lost to Duarte by 564 votes, making it the second-closest House race in the nation that year.

Once again, the hotly contested race was seen as pivotal in this year's fight for control of Congress. It was one of several California seats that could shape whether Democrats or Republicans will win the House of Representatives.

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The rural district stretches from Coalinga to Modesto, encompassing Merced County and parts of Fresno, Madera, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Here, 42% of registered voters are Democrats, compared with 29% registered as Republican and 22% registered with no party preference.

While Democrats have an advantage over registered Republicans, the Central Valley is home to many conservative Democrats, who often cross party lines to elect Republicans. Unlike the deep blue congressional districts that surround the Bay Area and Los Angeles, the Central Valley is often purple.

Read more: 2024 U.S. elections results

Duarte campaigned on lowering gas prices and the cost of living. He pitched himself to voters as a moderate Republican, saying he bucked his party on abortion and immigration, instead sticking to middle-of-the-road policy proposals.

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Duarte described himself as pro-reproductive rights, but he supports the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe vs. Wade, which previously established abortion as a federal right, saying he instead supports leaving abortion policy to each state. He has voted in favor of legislation that would threaten medical providers with prison time for failing to resuscitate infants born alive during an attempted abortion, an exceedingly rare occurrence.

Read more: Nursery owned by Central Valley congressman has history of safety violations

Read more: In key congressional race, Republicans criticize Democrat's Central Valley real estate deal

Gray, who served in the Assembly for 10 years, campaigned as a radical centrist who pointed to his time in the state Legislature to show his record of working across party lines. In August, he told The Times that he chose to run against Duarte again despite losing in 2022 because he felt Duarte and Republicans had accomplished little in Congress to help everyday Americans.

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In the Assembly, Gray helped create a bipartisan group of moderates called the Problem Solvers Caucus. He bucked his party on water conservation issues, opposing Democratic-led efforts to curtail the amount of state and federal water flowing to San Joaquin Valley irrigation districts.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Donald Trump won the presidency for a second time in Tuesdays election but voting in California showed strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris.

More than five and a half million Californians chose Harris (57.3%) over Trump (40.1%) who trailed by more than a million and a half votes Wednesday morning.

An interactive map showing the county-by-county breakdown shows the strongest support for Harris along the coast dominating in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sonoma counties.

Click any county on the map below for voting details in that area

Trump had a stronger showing further inland in Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino counties.

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Orange County also slightly favored Trump along the Southern California coast.

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SACRAMENTO, California  California voters dealt a blow to the states decade-long experiment with progressive criminal justice reform by approving a tough-on-crime ballot measure and ousting a high-profile progressive prosecutor in the states most populous county.

Preliminary results show Golden State voters overwhelmingly embraced Proposition 36, a statewide ballot measure to increase penalties for certain retail theft and drug crimes. The measure rolls back parts of Proposition 47, a 2014 ballot measure that reduced sentencing for a host of nonviolent crimes.

In liberal Los Angeles County, voters rejected progressive incumbent George Gascon, electing Republican-turned-independent Nathan Hochman. And early results in the San Francisco Bay Area show a sizable lead for the effort to recall progressive Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price from an office she has held for less than two years.

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Taken together, the preliminary results are a striking shift away from Californias once nation-leading movement to roll back harsh sentencing rules for nonviolent offenses  one punctuated by a pandemic-era spike in property crimes and retail theft, as well as growing concern about highly visible fentanyl use and homelessness on city streets.

Safety is a crossover issue, Hochman told reporters at his election night watch party in Beverly Hills. Whether you're on the left or the right, whether you're Black, white, Latino, Asian, people want to be safe again in this community. They want the police to actually do a very good job at their job.

California spent more than a decade unraveling punitive sentencing laws dating back to the 1970s after a panel of federal judges ordered the state to reduce its prison population to address severe overcrowding.

Voters and lawmakers passed initiatives and legislation shifting inmates convicted of lower-level crimes from prisons to jails, reducing penalties for some nonviolent offenses and making it easier for inmates to earn early release credits. Prop 47 was among these efforts, which substantially reduced Californias prison population.

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Criminal justice swings back and forth, and four years ago was a huge time of interest in reform, said Attorney General Rob Bonta, who said he was not surprised the measure passed, despite his concerns it would lead to mass incarceration. Bonta demurred about whether he voted for the measure but argued there needs to be greater accountability for breaking the law. People want both. They want fairness and justice on the one hand, and they want safety on the other.

Bonta said that Californians  himself included  were fed up with viral smash-and-grab videos and other brazen crimes. You cannot have that in an ordered society, he said. It must stop.

California Republican Party Chair Jessica Millan Patterson said in a statement that the election results in the state showed California voters are fed up with failed, radical policies that have taken our state and nation in the wrong direction  from the never-ending homeless crisis to failing public schools, rising crime, and surging costs.

Yes on Prop 36

A group of prosecutors tried to roll back reforms in 2020 with a sweeping ballot measure, Proposition 20, that would have reclassified many nonviolent theft-related crimes as felonies and tightened rules for inmates to request early parole. But the measure suffered from poor timing, given the national racial reckoning triggered by George Floyds murder months earlier by a Minneapolis police officer. Prop 20s backers also failed to unify prosecutors and law enforcement figures behind its broad push to prioritize public safety above all else.

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The architects of Prop 36 built a broader coalition by crafting a more precise measure focused on punishing repeat offenders who commit drug and property crimes without touching Californias parole process. Their approach splintered Democrats, with Gov. Gavin Newsom opposing it and big-city leaders like San Francisco Mayor London Breed endorsing it, scuttling resistance to the measure.

And unlike 2020, Prop 36 backers had the political winds at their back, as voters and a slate of local and state leaders grew increasingly frustrated with persistent drug and homelessness issues.

This vote tonight was a demand for change, Greg Totten, head of the California District Attorneys Association and co-chair of the Yes on 36 campaign, said Tuesday night after the race was called. The public has awakened to what theyre seeing every single day  this is a powerful mandate for change in the state to address retail theft, homelessness and fentanyl.

But Democratic Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, a criminal justice reform advocate nearing the end of his final term, argues Prop 36 will embolden law enforcement to use overly harsh tactics against people accused of committing lower-level crimes.

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Unfortunately for us, when it comes to law enforcement and reeling them in, we have to wait until they kill someone of color before we become outraged, he said. They now feel they have the authority to go out there and actually shoot someone for stealing a pack of gum.

Also caught up in the shift toward tough-on-crime policies was Proposition 6, an amendment to ban involuntary servitude in the state constitution. The measure, part of a nationwide movement to close the so-called slavery loophole in state constitutions, at first seemed like a straightforward sell in a progressive state like California, but it was difficult to explain to voters. Early returns show it trailing.

Prop 6s backers said the strong support for Prop 36, combined with a lack of funding, complicated their efforts to get voters on board.

Los Angeles loss

Those same political headwinds hurt Gascon, even in deep-blue Los Angeles County. His sweeping changes  largely ending cash bail, banning his prosecutors from seeking the death penalty and rejecting the use of many sentencing enhancements  sparked immediate backlash that tanked his popularity.

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The rightward shift across America last night is heartbreaking, Gascon said in a statement after his loss. Democrats have a long road ahead, but the work is more vital than ever and our commitment will not waver.

Hochman capitalized on frustrations over crime in his campaign, accusing his opponent of enacting "pro-criminal extreme policies"  though he was careful to avoid making partisan attacks. He even adopted some talking points from reformers including vowing to address the root causes of crime.

He said he would keep some of Gascons initiatives, including prosecuting police officers for misconduct and maintaining a unit that analyzes cases to determine if innocent people are behind bars.

Not only would I keep that unit, I would actually scale it up, he said.

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A pre-election survey suggested reform efforts maintain some support with voters. About half of Californias voting public said in a Berkeley IGS poll from October that they would prioritize expanding rehabilitation and treatment for first-time offenders  equal to the number of voters who said they would prioritize stricter penalties for lawbreakers.

Alameda County recalls

A similar story appears to be playing out for Price in Alameda County, though the race is still too early to call. Price rocked the countys Democratic establishment in 2022 by winning on a pledge to seek shorter sentences, reduce incarceration and prosecute police officers who unlawfully use lethal force. But surging crime in Oakland, the largest city in her district, propelled the recall push against her, which was funded largely by real estate and finance interests but also supported by influential community activists.

Prop 36 is only good when you have district attorneys who are willing to prosecute. I'm not only talking about Alameda County, said Carl Chan, a recall supporter and president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.

The recall effort to remove Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao from office leads in early results by nearly the same margins as the recall targeting Price. If she falls, Thao will have succumbed to a months-long recall campaign over the citys crime and its financial concerns compounded by a June FBI raid on her home.

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Some people here are about 90 years old. They want change. Theyve never seen Oakland like this, and it frightens them. said Cynthia Adams, president of Oaklands NAACP branch, who supported the Thao recall. Theres nothing wrong with change.

Still, Thao was defiant on election night. We know that the work that we have done was actually great and it's positive, she said. And it is because of doom-loopers that continue to talk about nasty crimes in the city of Oakland that allows for people to believe that somehow crimes arent coming down.

Alex Nieves, Eric He and Melanie Mason contributed to this report.
Gavin Newsom wants the newly reelected Donald Trump to know California has a line, and the former president better think twice about crossing it when he returns to the White House next year.

Waiting until Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech this afternoon in Washington DC, the Governor praised his longtime political ally and, at the same time, gave the newly minted president-elect a warning.

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Vice President Kamala Harris set out to fight to defend our fundamental freedoms and build a country that works for everyone, Newsom said Wednesday of Harris and her short lived campaign for the White House. She stood up for working families, decency, and opportunity. Though this is not the outcome we wanted, our fight for freedom and opportunity endures.

Having found an uneasy balance with Trump during the former Celebrity Apprentice hosts chaotic first term, Newsom took a carrot and stick approach to the soon to be 47th POTUS today.



California will seek to work with the incoming president  but let there be no mistake, we intend to stand with states across our nation to defend our Constitution and uphold the rule of law, the Governor, who was married to Don. Jrs current fiancee Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle when he was Mayor of San Francisco, insisted.

Again a leading contender for the 2028 presidential nomination now that Harris has been defeated, Newsom has long proclaimed that he will protect reproductive rights in the Golden State, immigrants and LGBTQ+ rights from Trump and his Project 2025 pals.

With revenge very much in mind, Trump trounced Harris last night in both the electoral college and the popular vote for a quicker than expected historic return to the office he was booted out of in 2020.



Federalism is the cornerstone of our democracy, Newsom added today. Its the United STATES of America.

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A top surrogate for his political adopted father Joe Biden, and a sparring partner with the likes of mini-MAGA leaders like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Newsom got a mixed bag out of the ballot in California in the November 5 election. The pro-incarceration Proposition 36 passed with nearly 70% of the vote yesterday, despite opposition from Newsom. On the other hand, propositions that sought to reaffirm the right of same-sex couples to marry, as Prop 3 did, and raise billions for environmental and infrastructure initiatives passed with the backing of Newsom, who recently backed a major increase in the states annual film and TV tax credits program to $750 million, and big majorities.

While fellow Democrat and Trump foe Adam Schiff easily won his Senate race on Tuesday, Newsom also saw George Gascon, the man he appointed SF DA in 2011 to replace Harris, go down to a harsh defeat in his bid for another term as LA DA.

Karen Bass is sworn in as mayor of LA by Vice President Kamala Harris as her daughter Yvette Luchuga holds the Bible on Dec. 11, 2022

In that, LA Mayor Karen Bass, a big ally of both Newsom and the VP, put out her own statement after Harris concession speech was concluded. Like Newsoms remarks, Bass applauded Harris and drew a line on Trump policies like mass deportation of illegal immigrants.

No matter what, Angelenos will always protect each other, the Mayor said. The fabric of our city is woven by the hearts of people from all over the world coming together in pursuit of opportunity and equity. Thats who we are  and thats what our policies in the City of Los Angeles will uphold.

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Bass added: Vice President Kamala Harris has inspired millions all over the country and all over the world  and she continues to do so. Its our responsibility to ensure that the flame she has lit still burns bright. We will fill the sky with stars. No matter where you were born, how you came to this country, how you worship, or who you love, Los Angeles will stand with you. This is not a time for despair, this is a time for action. Ive spoken with leaders across the city, the state and the country. We are ready.

Point of fact: Though a proposed sanctuary city law has been suggested to the LA City Council as recently as last year and put out from lawyers to draft up, nothing has been brought to a vote. That may change after yesterdays election.

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In the first hours after polls closed in California, yes votes for Proposition 2, a measure that would allow the state to issue $10 billion in bonds to help build or provide upgrades to educational facilities, comfortably led by around 1 million votes.

If the initiative were to pass, $8.5 billion in bonds would be destined for K-12 schools, including charter schools, with the other $1.5 billion for community colleges.

The measure would also require that the state provide a higher percentage of the money needed for schools in lower-resourced districts. The state traditionally matches 50% of the cost of new construction and 60% of renovation projects.

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Included in the measures language is funding for schools to help reduce lead levels in water, funding for transitional kindergarten classrooms and funding for technical education facilities.

According to a report from the Public Policy Institute of California in 2020, 38% of students statewide go to campuses that do not meet minimum standards, and 15% of students go to schools that have at least one extreme deficiencylike gas leaks, power failures and structural damage.

The PPIC also states that school facilities may need more than $100 billion over the next decade, yet in 2020, voters rejected the largest school construction bond in the states history.

Proposition 2 was put on the general election ballot after being approved by the state Legislature.

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Arguments for the proposition say that the state badly needs to fix aging school facilities, that lower-resourced schools need more help and that the measure requires strict accountability at the local level.

Opponents of the proposition say that taxpayers will ultimately pay back the $10 billion plus another $8 billion in interest over a 35-year period.

In support of the measure are the California Teachers Association, California Chamber of Commerce and Community College League of California.

Those in opposition include the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Reform California and Assemblymember Bill Essayli.

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California voters on Tuesday approved a November ballot measure that will impose stricter penalties for repeat theft and crimes involving fentanyl, steering away from recent progressive policies that critics blamed for increased lawlessness.

The Associated Press declared the passage of Proposition 36 about an hour after polls closed, an indication of the strong voter support for the measure.

Read more: Election results for California's statewide propositions

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Proposition 36 will make it a felony for someone to steal merchandise of any value after two previous offenses and can lead to longer jail or prison sentences.

The ballot measure also allows judges to sentence convicted drug dealers who traffic in large quantities of hard drugs, including fentanyl, or who are armed with a gun while trafficking the drugs to state prison instead of county jails. It will also create a treatment-mandated felony" as a new category of crime, by giving some eligible drug offenders an option for treatment instead of jail time.

The measure undoes key parts of a 2014 ballot measure, Proposition 47, which voters overwhelmingly passed during a time when the state Democratic leaders sought reverse what they argued was an ineffective tough-on-crime era that swelled the states prison population to unconstitutional levels.

Proposition 36 is expected to cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars a year. About $100 million in annual savings that were directed to anti-recidivism programs are likely to be reduced by the passage of this measure.

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Read more: Democrats in tight California House races back anti-crime measure opposed by Newsom

Supporters of the measure spent $16.23 million. Early funders included Walmart, Home Depot and Target. Others included the California Republican Party, which contributed $1 million. Mayors of big cities including San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego supported the measure, as did prosecutors and law enforcement leaders, including the California District Attorneys Assn. and the California Sheriffs Assn.

Read more: Trump elected as the United States 47th president following wins in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

Opponents of the measure were outspent, having raised just over $7.5 million. Those funders included criminal justice reformists Patty Quillin, Stacy Schusterman, Elizabeth Simons and husband Mark Heising, and Quinn Delaney. Unions representing healthcare workers and teachers were also major contributors to the opposition.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
God help us.

I cant do better than those words, uttered last year by Donald Trumps longest-serving White House chief of staff, retired Marine Gen. John F. Kelly, when he dolefully contemplated Trump returning to power.

This is not going to be a standard day-after reflection on how the election is over, the voters have spoken and now we can look forward to the next presidents leadership of our nation and hope for the best. Thats what I felt eight years ago, after Trump had upset another Democrat who would have been the first female president.

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In 2016, having covered presidents of both parties as they came and went, I naively believed that even the narcissist Trump would be humbled by the august power and responsibility of being the leader of the free world. That he would grow in the job.

He wasnt, and he didnt. We know that now  after his tens of thousands of lies in office, the near-daily chaos, his deadly botched response to the pandemic, undermining of Americans faith in elections, flirtations with autocrats, unprecedented refusal to accept loss and peacefully transfer power in 2020, and his absconding with the nations top secrets.

In 2017, it was possible to believe that Trump, the purported deal-maker, meant it when he said he wanted to compromise with Congress on both gun control and immigration . He did neither, vexing Democrats and Republicans alike by his deal-breaking. Not only that, Trump ever after demagogued immigration  right back to the White House, it seems.

Read more: Donald Trump elected as the United States 47th president

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And now, if hes true to his dystopic words on the campaign trail about murderous migrants poisoning the blood of our country, we can look forward to bloody deportations of millions of people, starting on day one. Which, if carried out, would doom Trumps other big promise: to further grow the economy. Nonpartisan economic analyses suggest mass deportations of workers  because thats what the undocumented residents are: tax-paying workers  would hit the economy harder than the last decades financial collapse.

Many years ago, a well-known Republican strategist first schooled me in the political truism that although Americans profess to want our candidates to embody hope and comity, fear and anger are by far the stronger vote-motivators. Trump never needed to be schooled. His superpower is his innate grasp of the power of fear and anger to build an aggrieved following, what he called in his victory declaration early Wednesday the greatest political movement of all time.

The now-vanquished Kamala Harris said at her final, hopeful rally in Philadelphia on Monday night: We have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page on a decade of politics that has been driven by fear and division. We are done with that.

No, sadly, we arent.

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Read more: With new Trump presidency, California is in for the fight of our lives

Harris envisioned a United States where we see our fellow Americans not as an enemy, but as a neighbor. Trump, who began his campaign last year vowing retribution, couldnt get through his 10-minute victory lap early Wednesday morning without referring to the enemy camp. He was talking about the TV networks, but for weeks in his closing campaign arguments hed expansively  and ominously  defined an enemy within that included Democrats, journalists, his Republican critics and former advisors-turned-Cassandras, a la Kelly.

Democrats are demonic, Trump said on Sunday, and he repeatedly singled out Californians Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker (an evil, sick, crazy, b-b-b  starts with a b ), and pencil neck Adam Schiff, now a senator-elect. Both are among the many Trump targets whove needed costly security as a consequence of his attacks.

Trump repeatedly demeaned Harris as stupid and worse. His running mate, Mini-Me JD Vance, called her trash at the campaigns end. Trumps former vice president would never have said such a thing, but Mike Pence also wouldnt help Trump overturn the 2020 election, which is why Trump dumped him for someone who said he would have. So the 40-year-old Vance will be the MAGA heir apparent to the oldest person ever elected as U.S. president.

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Read more: Quiet dismay, open glee: U.S. adversaries, allies around world react to historic Trump win

In victory, Teleprompter Trump mostly said the right things: Were going to try to help our country heal, he read, eyes shifting left to right to scan prepared remarks. This will truly be the golden age of America. (Real Trump ad-libbed the enemy camp remarks.)

But we know Trump too well. We are entering not a golden age but a new dark age in America.

The Constitution-respecting advisors that acted as guardrails in his first term have been banished. The Supreme Court he packed has given presidents virtual immunity from criminal prosecution. Hes surrounded by sycophants whove compiled the extremist Project 2025 agenda and a database of vetted MAGAts for federal jobs. As president, he will escape legal accountability for the alleged federal crimes of his first term, and likely the sentencing for 34 felony convictions in New York that he faces in just three weeks.

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Unlike Trump and his supporters who never accepted Joe Biden as their president, I will recognize Trump as mine. And I trust Biden and Harris will be at the west front of the Capitol  where Trumps violent supporters first breached the building in their attempted coup  to witness his swearing-in on Jan. 20, despite his failure to do the same for them four years ago.

Eight years ago, it wasnt completely nuts on the morning after election day to hope that Trump could be a president for all of us. Fool me once  well, you know the rest.

@jackiekcalmes

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BERLIN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Inequality and risk of poverty have hardly changed in Germany, despite increases in overall wealth in recent years, according to a report published on Wednesday.

In 2021, the top 10 percent of households in Germany held 56 percent of the country's total wealth, placing Germany among the most unequal nations in Europe, according to the 2024 Social Report, jointly published by the Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB), the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), and the Federal Institute for Population Research.

The disparity in wealth distribution is particularly stark between East and West Germany. On average, East German households hold just 150,900 euros (161,782 U.S. dollars) in wealth, compared to 359,800 euros in the West -- a gap that has seen little improvement over the past decade, the report noted.

It also highlighted that in eastern Germany, nearly one in four people aged 60 to 79 is at risk of poverty.

According to WZB expert Philip Wotschack, as reported by the German news agency DPA, the persistent imbalance between East and West Germany is partly due to lower wage levels in the East, which limit wealth accumulation.

Additionally, property values in eastern Germany have shown little to no increase, partly due to population decline, he added. (1 euro = 1.07 U.S. dollar) 
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  Several races are underway in Centre County on top of the race for President and U.S. Senate.

Races include the positions of 82nd District State Representative currently held by Paul Takac and United States Representative for the Pennsylvania 15th District held by Glenn Thompson. Republican nominee Therese Hollen challenges Takac and Democratic nominee Zach Womer challenges Thompson.

In an interview, Takac says that if re-elected he will continue to push and focus on full and fair funding for public education, protecting individual rights, and economic development in rural & underserved communities.

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Cambria County granted 10 p.m. extension at polls after issues plague vote machines

Hollen said she is pushing to keep communities safe, supporting parental rights and protecting the Second Amendment.

WTAJ was able to catch up with Takac while he was going around precincts talking to voters. He said during the interview that he was happy to see a large turnout.

Its very encouraging to me and it makes me happy that so many people are invested in our democracy that theyre out there making their voices heard. I greet everybody doesnt matter what party you are, thank you for coming out and thank you for participating in our democracy because its much stronger when everyone does, Takac said.

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Takac also added election day is a celebration of democracy.

Meanwhile, Congressman Glenn Thompson made the rounds throughout Centre County on election day greeting supporters.

One stop was at Penn State Universitys HUB building. Thompson talked about key items hes still looking to finish if re-elected. Thompson also mentioned the issues that several Pennsylvania counties faced today but he is confident that the outcome of the elections will be fair and accurate.

I think were looking at a record turnout and so I think the whole goal that Ive had all along of Too Big To Rig. So at the end of the day, we all have confidence we may not like the outcome or we may like the outcome, but well have confidence it was done in a fair way, Thompson said.

Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters.

Thompson says his first priority if he wins another term will be the farm bill.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden meets with voters during an October campaign event in Eastport, Maine. (Photo courtesy of campaign)

The result of the race for Maines 2nd Congressional District that drew national attention was too close to call as of 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.

With 60% of the vote counted, incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden had 50.18% of the votes compared to the 49.5% earned by his challenger, freshman state lawmaker Republican state Rep. Austin Theriault, according to the Associated Press.

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In a message posted just before 2 a.m., Theriault said that the race is not over.

Lets keep the faith and continue to pray  weve got a lot of votes yet to count, he wrote on social media. Lets continue the fight tomorrow and lets win this thing!

Addressing supporters earlier in the evening, Theriault had said that hes cautiously optimistic that were going to pull this off.

I feel confident about where we are right now, he told the crowd assembled at Hollywood Casino in Bangor. We really want to fight for rural Maine, thats what this campaigns been about.

Shortly after the polls closed, Golden issued a statement saying that amid a divisive political landscape he felt good about running a campaign focused on the issues that matter to Mainers  our safety, our freedoms, our health care and our jobs.

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As we wait for every ballot to be counted, I want to thank Maine voters for turning out to participate in the greatest democracy the world has ever known, he added.

Austin Theriault, Republican candidate for Maines 2nd Congressional District, poses for a picture with supporter Zach Wood during an election watch party at Hollywood Casino Hotel in Bangor on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. (Photo by Michael G. Seamans/ Maine Morning Star)

All eyes on Maines 2nd District

The district was among just a few that Republican leaders had hoped to flip in order to grow their slim majority in Congress. Golden was identified by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as a so-called frontline member, whose purple districts are what campaigners describe as in play.

During a visit to Maine this summer, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the matchup between Golden and Theriault was one of the top five races for Republicans in the country. In fact, Johnsons fundraising committee Grow the Majority, which was created to support Republicans running for House seats, donated more than $116,000 to Theriault before the June primary.

And in the months leading up to the general election, a billionaire-funded Illinois super PAC spent more than $2 million on ads opposing Golden.

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Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump endorsed Theriault in late March. Shortly before 2 a.m. Trump was declared winner in the 2nd District, securing himself one of Maines split electoral votes.

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A Capitol Police intelligence assessment obtained by ABC News warns of a heightened threat to government officials and election-related sites in the wake of the 2024 presidential election.

The report highlights the "likelihood of violence and civil unrest" around the 2025 electoral vote certification process and the presidential inauguration.

Released earlier this month, the report states while there have been fewer threats to members of Congress in 2024 than in 2020, threats rose significantly after Election Day four years ago, a trend that Capitol Police anticipates will repeat in 2024.

PHOTO: CA Capitol Police officer watches supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Cheriss May/Getty Images)

MORE: Former Capitol Police officer wants to end the falsehoods about Jan. 6

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The report adds that the escalating rhetoric on social media "could suggest an environment that is conducive to politically-motivated violence following the US Presidential Election."

Capitol Police expect demonstrations targeting the electoral certification process and say an activist group "with a history of large-scale demonstrations involving illegal activity plans to protest the Inauguration regardless of the outcome."

They also expect protests related to the ongoing war in Israel, noting that the groups are "nearly certain to target the Inauguration."

PHOTO: Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Their decision to target the inauguration is regardless of the outcome of the election. One group has already applied for a permit for Inauguration Day within the security perimeter, but the request will be denied.

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However, there are now planned protests for Jan 6., the day of the electoral vote certification.

Capitol Police have reported a surge in social media posts alleging that the election will be "stolen."

They noted that foreign influence efforts to spread conspiracies to undermine, manipulate and tamper confidence in the electoral process "could exacerbate existing political tensions."

Russia remains the primary foreign threat, though Iran also attempted to exacerbate tensions over the conflict in Israel, according to the assessment.

PHOTO: Trump supporters storm Capitol building in Washington D.C. on Jan. 06, 2021. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

MORE: Law enforcement on alert for Election Day threats, new report says

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The report emphasizes that threat actors view electoral vote certification and the inauguration as "their last opportunities to influence the election results through violence."

The Capitol Police intelligence assessment warns that some threats "remain unknown," particularly that of "lone actor violence."

"The motives of some recent assailants are not entirely coherent or remain unknown, highlighting the difficulty in predicting lone actor violence," the report notes.

Capitol Police warn of post-election violence risk, Jan. 6 and inauguration threats originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Donald Trump said he'd pardon January 6 rioters if he won the presidential election.

Now that he's won, January 6 defendants are filing motions to postpone their hearings.

Legal experts told BI it is unlikely a judge would grant the requests.

Hours after most news outlets declared Donald Trump the winner of the presidential election, lawyers for January 6 defendants started to file motions, hoping to reap the benefits.

On Wednesday morning, an attorney for Christopher Carnell, who was found guilty of obstruction and other charges related to the riot on January 6, 2021, filed a motion to postpone a status hearing scheduled for Friday, court documents say.

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Carnell sought to move the hearing to December because he "is now awaiting further information from the Office of the President-elect regarding the timing and expected scope of clemency actions relevant to his case."

Carnell is one of those arrested in the aftermath of the Capitol riot who is now hoping Trump will follow through on a promise of a pardon.

"President-elect Trump made multiple clemency promises to the January 6 defendants, particularly to those who were nonviolent participants," the filing said. It added that Carnell "is expecting to be relieved of the criminal prosecution that he is currently facing when the new administration takes office."

A judge denied Carnell's request on Wednesday. Carnell's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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An attorney for Jaimee Avery, another January 6 defendant, also filed a motion to delay a sentencing hearing scheduled for Friday. Avery's lawyer is seeking to postpone it until after the presidential inauguration in January because of the "real possibility that the incoming Attorney General will dismiss Ms. Avery's case or, at the very least, handle the case in a very different manner." As such, it would be "fundamentally unfair" for Avery to be sentenced this week.

"Moreover, it would create a gross disparity for Ms. Avery to spend even a day in jail when the man who played a pivotal role in organizing and instigating the events of January 6 will now never face consequences for his role in it," a footnote in the filing reads.

Avery's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Justice Department's investigations and trials related to January 6 are ongoing. As of November, the Justice Department said that over 1,532 people had been charged, including 571 people who face felony charges of assaulting or impeding the police.

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Throughout his campaign, Trump described imprisoned January 6 defendants as "political prisoners" who were "ushered in" to the federal building by Capitol Police.

Despite objections from some prominent Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence, who was a target of the rioters, Trump has maintained that he would pardon many of the defendants, with the exception of those who are "evil and bad," he told Time in April.

Speaking to the National Association of Black Journalists in July, Trump said he would "absolutely" pardon rioters.

"If they're innocent, I would pardon them," he said. "They were convicted by a very tough system."

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Nadia Shihata, a former assistant US Attorney best known for her role in the New York sex trafficking prosecution of R. Kelly, told Business Insider that it's unlikely a judge would change their schedule based on the promise of potential clemency.

"Generally, in judicial proceedings, you're not focused on what political decisions may or may not happen in the future," Shihata said. "And so I don't know that a judge would necessarily be convinced to change their schedule based on that."

David Shapiro, director of inspection and oversight at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former prosecutor, told Business Insider that most defense attorneys will probably take a "wait and see approach" to see if Trump actually starts granting clemency to defendants.

"In the beginning, if he does something like that to a couple of defendants, yeah, you'll see a trend," Shapiro said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo of Thornton, left, faces a challenge from Republican state Rep. Gabe Evans of Fort Lupton in Colorado's tossup 8th Congressional District race. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)

Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo of Thornton was ahead by 1.5 percentage points early Wednesday as she faced a Republican challenger in her bid to win a second term representing Colorados 8th Congressional District.

Caraveo won 49.5% of the vote to the 48% won by Republican state Rep. Gabe Evans of Fort Lupton, according to preliminary results.

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Caraveo, a pediatrician and former state lawmaker, is the first Latina to represent Colorado in Congress. She was narrowly elected in 2022 to become the first representative of the states newest and most competitive congressional district.

Drawn by an independent redistricting commission in 2021, the 8th District encompasses Denvers Democratic-leaning northern suburbs as well as more conservative rural areas in southern Weld County.

The 8th District was one of several toss-ups in the country, with both parties hoping to eke out a small majority in the House of Representatives. Republicans have held a razor-thin majority in the House for the last two years.

Both candidates benefited from millions of dollars in outside spending by partisan super PACs. Caraveo received support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Environmental Defense Fund, the League of Conservation Voters and Fairshake, a group funded by the cryptocurrency industry.

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Evans was aided by the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC with ties to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, along with the National Republican Congressional Committee and Americans For Prosperity, the group founded by right-wing billionaire Charles Koch.

Evans, a first-term state lawmaker from Fort Lupton, coasted to victory in the 8th Districts Republican primary in June thanks in part to an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Throughout the campaign, he echoed Trumps hard-line positions on crime and immigration, and appeared onstage earlier this month at a Trump campaign rally in Aurora, where the Republican nominee doubled down on false and exaggerated claims that the city had been conquered by Venezuelan gangs.

During her first term in Congress, Caraveo has frequently been among a group of moderate Democrats crossing the aisle to back legislation advanced by the U.S. Houses Republican majority. Her voting record in the 118th Congress has been by far the most conservative of Colorados five House Democrats, according to VoteView, a database of congressional roll call votes maintained by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles.

She said during an Oct. 8 debate that her record in Congress reflected what she called a responsibility to portray the opinions of my constituents in a very evenly divided district.

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A billboard seen on Oct. 24, 2024, in Sioux Falls urges voters to oppose a ballot measure that would alter laws regulating carbon dioxide pipelines. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

A proposed law regulating carbon dioxide pipelines was losing in unofficial South Dakota election results.

The tally was 60% against Referred Law 21 and 40% in favor as of 8 a.m. Central time Wednesday, with 90% of statewide precincts fully reported.

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State lawmakers and Republican Gov. Kristi Noem adopted the law last winter. Opponents gathered more than 31,000 petition signatures to refer it to voters. A yes vote supported the law, while a no vote opposed it.

The law came in response to a controversial proposal from Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions. The company has partnered with ethanol producers to capture some of the carbon dioxide emitted by 57 ethanol plants in several midwestern states  including eastern South Dakota  and send it via pipeline to North Dakota for underground storage. The project would capitalize on federal tax credits that incentivize the prevention of climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

Wednesday morning, Summit issued a statement saying it will reapply on Nov. 19 to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission for a permit after being denied a permit last year. That denial was partially due to the pipeline routes conflicts with local county siting laws.

Our focus continues to be on working with landowners and ensuring the long-term viability of ethanol and agriculture in the state, Summits statement said. Projects like ours have successfully navigated South Dakotas existing regulatory landscape in the past. We will continue to operate within the current framework, knowing that the future of ethanol and agriculture is vital to our shared success.

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Referred Law 21 would have implemented a list of protections for landowners and counties impacted by the construction of the pipeline but would have stopped short of preventing pipeline companies from using a legal process known as eminent domain to gain land access from unwilling landowners.

The lack of protection against eminent domain was a sticking point for the laws opponents. They also opposed a provision in the law requiring local governments to demonstrate their restrictions on pipeline locations are reasonable, rather than requiring pipeline companies to prove those regulations are unreasonable. Opponents labeled that provision a seizure of local authority.

A sign opposing carbon dioxide pipelines stands alongside an eastern South Dakota farm field in July 2024. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

One of those opponents, affected landowner Ed Fischbach, issued a statement Wednesday morning.

South Dakota voters have spoken: South Dakota is not for sale, he said. Summit and its big-moneyed partners thought they could buy the voters as easily as they bought the Legislature. They outspent us by over a tenfold, but voters saw through their lies.

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As South Dakotans, we value local control and our communities. By defeating Referred Law 21, the voters have proven that we value people over profits. Hopefully this time the Legislature will listen.

The referred laws complicated backstory contributed to voter confusion. Poll results published last month found 24% of respondents undecided on the ballot question.

Kenya Mejia, of Sioux Falls, said Tuesday outside her polling place that she wasnt sure how to vote on the pipeline measure, and ultimately voted no.

I kept reading it and reading it and was so confused, she said.

Linda Price, also of Sioux Falls, said she endured a similar struggle before voting no.

I shouldnt have voted on that one at all, she said. I just dont know.

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A billboard seen on Oct. 24, 2024, in Sioux Falls urges voters to oppose a ballot measure that would alter laws regulating carbon dioxide pipelines. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

A proposed law regulating carbon dioxide pipelines was losing in unofficial South Dakota election results.

The tally was 60% against Referred Law 21 and 40% in favor as of 8 a.m. Central time Wednesday, with 90% of statewide precincts fully reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State lawmakers and Republican Gov. Kristi Noem adopted the law last winter. Opponents gathered more than 31,000 petition signatures to refer it to voters. A yes vote supported the law, while a no vote opposed it.

The law came in response to a controversial proposal from Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions. The company has partnered with ethanol producers to capture some of the carbon dioxide emitted by 57 ethanol plants in several midwestern states  including eastern South Dakota  and send it via pipeline to North Dakota for underground storage. The project would capitalize on federal tax credits that incentivize the prevention of climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

Wednesday morning, Summit issued a statement saying it will reapply on Nov. 19 to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission for a permit after being denied a permit last year. That denial was partially due to the pipeline routes conflicts with local county siting laws.

Our focus continues to be on working with landowners and ensuring the long-term viability of ethanol and agriculture in the state, Summits statement said. Projects like ours have successfully navigated South Dakotas existing regulatory landscape in the past. We will continue to operate within the current framework, knowing that the future of ethanol and agriculture is vital to our shared success.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Referred Law 21 would have implemented a list of protections for landowners and counties impacted by the construction of the pipeline but would have stopped short of preventing pipeline companies from using a legal process known as eminent domain to gain land access from unwilling landowners.

The lack of protection against eminent domain was a sticking point for the laws opponents. They also opposed a provision in the law requiring local governments to demonstrate their restrictions on pipeline locations are reasonable, rather than requiring pipeline companies to prove those regulations are unreasonable. Opponents labeled that provision a seizure of local authority.

One of those opponents, affected landowner Ed Fischbach, issued a statement Wednesday morning.

South Dakota voters have spoken: South Dakota is not for sale, he said. Summit and its big-moneyed partners thought they could buy the voters as easily as they bought the Legislature. They outspent us by over a tenfold, but voters saw through their lies.

Advertisement Advertisement

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As South Dakotans, we value local control and our communities. By defeating Referred Law 21, the voters have proven that we value people over profits. Hopefully this time the Legislature will listen.

The referred laws complicated backstory contributed to voter confusion. Poll results published last month found 24% of respondents undecided on the ballot question.

Kenya Mejia, of Sioux Falls, said Tuesday outside her polling place that she wasnt sure how to vote on the pipeline measure, and ultimately voted no.

I kept reading it and reading it and was so confused, she said.

Linda Price, also of Sioux Falls, said she endured a similar struggle before voting no.

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I shouldnt have voted on that one at all, she said. I just dont know.

South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Seth Tupper for questions: info@southdakotasearchlight.com. Follow South Dakota Searchlight on Facebook and X.
A billboard seen on Oct. 24, 2024, in Sioux Falls urges voters to oppose a ballot measure that would alter laws regulating carbon dioxide pipelines. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

A proposed law regulating carbon dioxide pipelines was losing in unofficial South Dakota election results.

The tally was 60% against Referred Law 21 and 40% in favor as of 8 a.m. Central time Wednesday, with 90% of statewide precincts fully reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

State lawmakers and Republican Gov. Kristi Noem adopted the law last winter. Opponents gathered more than 31,000 petition signatures to refer it to voters. A yes vote supported the law, while a no vote opposed it.

The law came in response to a controversial proposal from Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions. The company has partnered with ethanol producers to capture some of the carbon dioxide emitted by 57 ethanol plants in several Midwestern states  including eastern South Dakota and Nebraska  and send it via pipeline to North Dakota for underground storage. The project would capitalize on federal tax credits that incentivize the prevention of climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

Wednesday morning, Summit issued a statement saying it will reapply on Nov. 19 to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission for a permit after being denied a permit last year. That denial was partially due to the pipeline routes conflicts with local county siting laws.

Our focus continues to be on working with landowners and ensuring the long-term viability of ethanol and agriculture in the state, Summits statement said. Projects like ours have successfully navigated South Dakotas existing regulatory landscape in the past. We will continue to operate within the current framework, knowing that the future of ethanol and agriculture is vital to our shared success.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Referred Law 21 would have implemented a list of protections for landowners and counties impacted by the construction of the pipeline but would have stopped short of preventing pipeline companies from using a legal process known as eminent domain to gain land access from unwilling landowners.

A sign opposing carbon dioxide pipelines stands alongside an eastern South Dakota farm field in July 2024. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

The lack of protection against eminent domain was a sticking point for the laws opponents. They also opposed a provision in the law requiring local governments to demonstrate their restrictions on pipeline locations are reasonable, rather than requiring pipeline companies to prove those regulations are unreasonable. Opponents labeled that provision a seizure of local authority.

One of those opponents, affected landowner Ed Fischbach, issued a statement Wednesday morning.

South Dakota voters have spoken: South Dakota is not for sale, he said. Summit and its big-moneyed partners thought they could buy the voters as easily as they bought the Legislature. They outspent us by over a tenfold, but voters saw through their lies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

As South Dakotans, we value local control and our communities. By defeating Referred Law 21, the voters have proven that we value people over profits. Hopefully this time the Legislature will listen.

The referred laws complicated backstory contributed to voter confusion. Poll results published last month found 24% of respondents undecided on the ballot question.

Kenya Mejia, of Sioux Falls, said Tuesday outside her polling place that she wasnt sure how to vote on the pipeline measure, and ultimately voted no.

I kept reading it and reading it and was so confused, she said.

Linda Price, also of Sioux Falls, said she endured a similar struggle before voting no.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I shouldnt have voted on that one at all, she said. I just dont know.

This article first appeared in the South Dakota Searchlight, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.
Donald Trump has declared victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, after the Associated Press and other major news outlets called the presidential race in his favor.

Addressing his supporters from his campaigns watch party in Florida, Trump said, Every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and your future. He added he was going to make people very happy and very proud of their vote.

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We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly, Trump said. Were going to fix our borders. Were going to fix everything about our country.

At the time of his speech, Trump had 267 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House and is leading in several key races, including Michigan and Wisconsin. The count continues.

Meanwhile, the Harris campaign announced that the Vice President would not immediately deliver a speech and supporters were seen leaving her election night watch party.

While some celebrated, many in Hollywood and the music industry were stunned  including Bette Midler, who quoted journalist and essayist H.L. Mencken in one of the nights most scathing responses.

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When a candidate for public office faces the voters he does not face men of sense; he faces a mob of men whose chief distinguishing mark is the fact that they are quite incapable of weighing ideas, or even of comprehending any save the most elementalThe Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people.

The quote continues, On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

Cardi B kept it short but direct as Trumps lead grew throughout the evening: We need a Hail Mary, she tweeted, clearly shaken by the turn of events after endorsing Kamala Harris. On Instagram, she went a step further, posting to her Story, I hate yall bad.

Cardi posted again on Wednesday morning (Nov. 6), directly addressing Harris, writing, No matter what theyve said to bring you down or belittle your fun for presidency they can never say you didnt run your race with honesty and with integrity! The rapper added that shes proud of the Vice President, noting that nobody has ever made her change her mind and thanking the VP for being an example for being empowered [and] being a real example of what the American dream should be!

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Marc Rebillet posted on X, F DONALD TRUMP.

After claiming that he turned down a $3 million check to appear to Trumps Madison Square Garden rally last week, 50 Cent  who had supported Trump in his failed 2020 re-election bid, only to change his mind  was once again on the Trump train in the wake of Tuesdays victory. I dont care how the fight goes, Im leaving with the winner st, he wrote.

Singer Ethel Cain typed out a lengthy response to Trumps win as well, in which the singer wrote that, the problem is that America has beaten down its people for decades and gotten them weak and desperate and now promises a way out, a way to transcend and rise above, through selling out their fellow man.

Calling out an embarrassingly large chunk of white men who she said are just straight up Nazis who she said will vote/align themselves with anything for a taste of power and control that makes them feel a little less helpless, Cain lamented that she feels everybody is so incredibly hateful. We are a loveless, disrespectful nation.

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While Cain said its not even about Trump, she did note that if you did vote for the twice impeached former and future President, I hope peace never finds you.

Trump supporter Lil Pump posted a selfie in which he wore a MAGA hat  with Trump on TV in the background, writing, They put him in jail try to assassinate him and hes still here and became president thats a fuing warrior MAGA. I lost a lot of friends over this, but dont come back over on this side because now Trump won and your dumbass was on the other side.

Trump would be the first former president to return to power since Grover Cleveland regained the White House in the 1892 election. He also stands to be the first person convicted of a felony to be elected president and, at 78, he will be the oldest person at the outset of a presidential term.

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CARTHAGE, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 48-year-old man received serious injuries after a reported stabbing incident according to the Carthage Police Department.

Authorities stated that they are investigating an incident that took place Monday on the 600 block of South Washington Street in Carthage.

Former judge charged with allegedly threatening St. Lawrence Co. polling site

According to officials, a man was stabbed in the chest and was transported to Carthage Area Hospital. The victim was stabilized and then moved to SUNY Upstate, where hes currently listed in stable condition.

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Police officials are conducting an investigation, but they stress theres no current threat to the community.

Carthage Police were assisted by the New York State Police, West Carthage Police Department, Carthage Fire Department and Carthage Area Rescue Squad.

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BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Italian President Sergio Mattarella will pay a state visit to China from Nov. 7 to 12.

Mattarella was born in July 1941 in Palermo, Italy, and graduated from the Faculty of Law at Sapienza University of Rome.

He was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1983 and later served as minister for parliamentary relations, minister of public education, deputy prime minister, and minister of defense.

He participated in the founding of the Democratic Party in 2006 and was appointed as a judge of the Constitutional Court in 2011.

He assumed the presidency in February 2015 and secured a second term in January 2022. 
CARTHAGE, Mo.  It was an historic election in Carthage, as residents in the citys fifth ward took to polls to vote in the first recall election in Jasper County history.

Around 10:15 Tuesday night (11/5), Jasper County Clerk, Charlie Davis read the election results to those gathered in the atrium of the Jasper County Courthouse.

The last result Davis announced was the Carthage Question, which asked Ward Five residents to vote yes or no for the removal of Tiffany Cossey from the office of Carthage City Council Ward Five.

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The decision to recall councilmember, Tiffany Cossey was placed in the hands of approximately 2,000 registered voters of Ward Five in Carthage.

The crowd cheered when Davis announced Cossey lost the battle with 1,187 total votes cast  730 were a yes, while 457 were a no. Of the 1,277 Ward 5 voters, 90 people skipped the question on the ballot.

The results of the election sealed Cosseys fate and takes effect immediately.

This past summer, more than 500 signatures were gathered on a petition to recall Cossey. A total of 508 signatures were certified by Jasper County Clerk, Charlie Davis, and allowed the recall question to be placed on the November 5 ballot.

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In less than 30 days, volunteers supporting a recall were able to collect all the signatures required.

Tiffany Cossey

Cossey has been at the center of controversy since 2023 when the previous council moved to censure her. The censure came after a city employee filed a claim against her for allegedly creating a hostile work environment.

Her behavior at council meetings has left many residents stunned  not only in Carthage but around the area  all of it leading to a successful and historic recall.

I think it kind of lets everyone know, hey, we dont get to say whatever we want, we dont get to do whatever we want, we dont get to come into meetings and say were going to fire people. We dont get to block peoples unanimous appointments. I think it puts us on a path to better behavior overall, said recall supporter, Kirk Friesen.

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Weve reached out to Cossey for comment but have yet to hear a response. She did, however, post on Facebook just prior to when polls closed Tuesday night.

Regardless of tonights results, I have appreciated the opportunity to serve as your Ward 5 representative, and I will continue to do what is right for Carthage, wrote Cossey.

Another Facebook post from Cossey came from her Reject the Recall campaign page. On Tuesday evening, prior to the release of final election results from Jasper County, Cossey stated, Win or lose, Im going to be right there with you, continuing to work to make things right in our community.

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In an effort to fight back and convince voters to reject the recall by voting no, Cossey raised a considerable amount from local donors in Carthage. Most of them are affiliated with, or have donated money to the political action group, Carthage Citizens United (CCU).

According to a disclosure report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission in late October, Cossey raised $3,348.90 since October 1, all in an effort to maintain her seat on the Carthage City Council. The report also shows a loan in the amount of $1,500 from herself, to her reject the recall efforts, more formally known as the Carthage for Cossey Committee.

This now leaves three open council seats, the mayors impeachment still in question, no city administrator, no city attorney, and no fire chief.



We will check in with the city to see what happens next. The next city council meeting is scheduled for November 12.

How Did We Get Here?

This tense power struggle within Carthage city government first emerged in mid-2023, when Mayor Dan Rife fired all the board members of the city-owned Carthage Water and Electric Plant because they failed to comply with his request for financial details.

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The City Council immediately reinstated the members of the board, drawing a battle line that pitted former City Administrator Greg Dagnan, Mayor Dan Rife, and former City Attorney Nate Dally against the council and backers of the CWEP board.

That was followed by criminal charges of embezzlement against former Parks & Recreation Director Mark Peterson, after Dagnan reportedly found money missing when preparing the city budget. After a forensic audit, Peterson is facing felony charges of money laundering and stealing.

Backers of CWEPs board, dotted with powerful people, including some elected officials, formed a political action committee, Carthage Citizens United, to promote candidates for the City Council who would fire Dagnan and impeach Rife.

That slate of Jana Schramm, Tom Barlow, Dustin Edge, and Derek Peterson  son of the accused former Parks & Recreation director  was elected April 2, and immediately fired Dagnan and started the impeachment of Rife, who had blocked the firing. The city attorney, the administrative assistant, the fire chief, and a few other city employees resigned.

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Dagnan has sued the City for wrongful termination and defamation, and against CCU for tortious interference with his contract, and Rife had sued to stop his impeachment because of due process. All of this has led to legal missteps, illegally closed meetings, and rebuke by the state attorney generals office. Dustin Edge resigned from the council. Tiffany Cossey lost her council seat after a large majority of voters from Ward 5 said yes to a recall question on the November 2024 ballot.

The city also received a letter from its insurer warning that coverage could be lost or diminished because terminations by the council were not following employment law.

| The Latest From Carthage City Council:

(Story Date: April 1, 2024  April 30, 2024)

(Story Date: May 1, 2024  May 31, 2024)

(Story Date: June 1, 2024  June 30, 2024)

(Story Date: July 1, 2024  August 31, 2024)

(Story Date: September 1, 2024  October 31, 2024)

(Story Date: November 1, 2024  Present)

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Hurricane Rafael, a strong category 2 storm, has moved through Cuba on Wednesday night and is now heading toward the southeastern Gulf of Mexico .

As of the 8 p.m. update, Rafael was about 60 miles west of Havana and 130 miles southwest of Key West.

A few hours earlier, Mariel, Cuba reported sustained winds of 80 mph with a peak gust of 115 mph as the eye passed nearby. The island nation has recently been struggling with prolonged power outages.

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Life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds and flash flooding are still affecting portions of western Cuba.

The lower and middle Florida Keys are also seeing tropical-storm-force wind gusts, one recorded at 66 mph at Sand Key.

The Florida Keys remain under a tropical storm warning

Recent track shifts have moved Rafaels future track further from Florida, sparing the peninsula. Chances for sustained tropical-storm-force winds in South Florida have dropped below 1%, according to the Miami office of the National Weather Service.

Up to an inch of rain may fall on the state through Thursday, the NWS said.

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Forecasters expect the storm to see little change in strength in the next day or so as it moves over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Once in the Gulf, forecasters are confident Rafael will weaken somewhat, but exactly how much  or where it could end up making landfall  is still up in the air.

The latest forecast hooks Rafael toward Mexico and weakening to a tropical storm on Sunday.

As of 8 p.m., Rafael had 105 mph maximum sustained winds and was headed northwest at 14 mph.

Chances are slowly rising for the disturbance near Haiti to develop into a tropical depression in the next few days.

Elsewhere in the Caribbean, forecasters are also watching a tropical disturbance that could form north of Haiti in the next week. As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, the hurricane center gave the system a 30% chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 7 days and a 20% chance of developing in the next two days.

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Some gradual development of this system is possible toward the end of the week and into the weekend while it moves near or to the north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and approaches the Southeast Bahamas, forecasters wrote.

Miami Herald staff writer Milena Malaver contributed to this report.
As state after state announced Donald Trump as winner of the 2024 presidential election, celebrities took to social media to react. The Republican candidate claimed a second victory on Tuesday evening, following a long and divisive campaign.



In the months leading up to the election, numerous stars announced their support for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, including A-listers like Beyonce and Taylor Swift.



Donald Trump received endorsements from names like Elon Musk and Billy Ray Cyrus.

As votes began to be counted, rapper Cardi B took to X, stating We need a Hail Mary.

We need a Hail Mary  Cardi B (@iamcardib) November 6, 2024

Later, she went live on Instagram, where she added that she is proud of Harris.



Jamie Lee Curtis made a statement on her Instagram account, where she noted that Trumps win means a sure return to a more restrictive, some fear draconian time.

A disturbed Christina Applegate responded, "Please unfollow me if you voted against female rights. Against disability rights."

Please unfollow me if you voted against female rights. Against disability rights. Yeah that. Unfollow me because what you did is unreal. Dont want followers like this. So yeah. Done. Also after today I will be shutting down this fan account that I have had for so many years  christina applegate (@1capplegate) November 6, 2024

Embracing positivity, actor Colman Domingo quoted James Baldwin. Good Morning, let's work toward the light. There is always work to do, in an Instagram post made Wednesday morning.

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In a thread on X, director Adam McKay of the Oscar-nominated film Dont Look Up expressed his frustration with the Democratic party. Who would have guessed lying about Bidens cognitive health for 2 yrs, refusing to do an open convention for a new nominee, never mentioning public healthcare & embracing fracking, the Cheneys & a yr long slaughter of children in Gaza wouldnt be a winning strategy? McKay wrote.

Who would have guessed lying about Bidens cognitive health for 2 yrs, refusing to do an open convention for a new nominee,

never mentioning public healthcare & embracing fracking,

the Cheneys & a yr long slaughter of children in Gaza wouldnt be a winning strategy?

1/  Adam McKay (@ZombiePanther2) November 6, 2024

Meanwhile, commentator and actor Joe Rogan posted a video of himself watching Fox News announce Trumps victory with the caption, WHOLE. LEE. SH*T.

Rogan endorsed Trump on his podcast one day before the election.

Actor Zachary Levi said on X that he was incredibly grateful to those who saw thru all the noise, and chose to vote for [Donald Trump].

Honestly, I dont really feel vindication, because I didnt need a win to know that I was fighting for whats right. Win or lose, I was going to follow the conviction and calling that God put in and on me from the time I was born. That said, I am so incredibly grateful to, and https://t.co/8q51wJorNh  Zachary Levi (@ZacharyLevi) November 6, 2024

Celebrities played a critical role in this years election, helping to register countless numbers of new voters. Most notably, Sabrina Carpenter was recognized for her partnership with HeadCount, a nonpartisan organization aimed at increasing new voter registration. She registered 35,814 new voters during her Short n Sweet tour, more than any other HeadCount collaborator.

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Despite hard feelings, others acknowledged that, from here, we must find a way to move on.



Said Maria Shriver: "Id be lying if I didnt say I was heartbroken by the results of this election. But the American people have spoken, and so it is. Congrats to the Trump Vance team. ... My hope as a human being is that we find our humanity, our kindness, and our love for one another and start showing it across gender lines, party lines, racial lines."

Id by lying if I didnt say I was heartbroken by the results of this election. But the American people have spoken, and so it is. Congrats to the Trump Vance team. My birthday hope is that we can find our way forward together. My hope as a human being is that we find our pic.twitter.com/p1WKy8kzjL  Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) November 6, 2024

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CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WDTN)  After two unsuccessful tries, the tax levy in support of Centerville City Schools has officially passed.

Voters in Centerville have chosen to pass/fail a 3.9-mill operating levy for Centerville City Schools. The levy won with 20,551 votes for the levy and 17,374 votes against.

Five Rivers MetroParks levy passes

It will cost homeowners $136 per $100,000 property value and generate $11.2 million per year for the school districts ongoing operational expenses.

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If the levy would have failed, cuts would have included staffing, bussing and extracurricular activities like several sports and art programs. So far, the district has already made $3.5 million in cuts.

Superintendent Jon Wesney says this will help the district continue to build on their strategic plan.

Were committed to being good stewards of the taxpayer money, of our community, said Jon Wesney, Centerville City Schools superintendent. And this additional passage will help us get back to our strategic plan, looking at some of our strategic initiatives and moving the district forward. And were thankful to have that opportunity to build a focus on our strategic plan.

District officials say this levy will strengthen the district financially for the next five to six years. With the passage, the district will be able to keep current educational programming.

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Centerville City Schools serves more than 8,000 students in Centerville and Washington Township, with 13 school buildings and two preschools.

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A bomb threat was emailed in Tuesday night to the Willowbank Office Building, home to Centre Countys elections office, and local police cleared the threat shortly after 8 p.m.

According to Centre County Sheriff Bryan Sampsel, the threat was emailed in about 6:50 p.m., before about 40 or 50 people were evacuated.

In a press release, J.J. De La Cruz, the countys communications coordinator, wrote that Centre County is among about a dozen Pennsylvania counties to receive threats.

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Out of an abundance of caution, the Willowbank Building was cleared for about an hour while state and local police investigated the threat and swept the building, he wrote.

The FBI is also investigating.

Workers are allowed back into the Willowbank Building, where the Centre County Elections Office is located, after it was evacuated for about an hour due to a bomb threat on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

As of 8:20 p.m., employees were back in the building and continuing all operations, Cruz wrote.

During the evacuation, mail-in ballots were still being accepted at the road outside of the building. The evacuation did not affect voters returning their ballots, Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins said, but per court order from Centre County Judge Julia Rater, the county accepted mail-in ballots at the Willowbank Building until 9 p.m.

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In a statement, County Administrator John Franek, Jr. said that the Elections Office and ballots were under constant supervision while the building was swept.

Higgins said the temporary evacuation is not expected to delay Centre Countys election results.

Clearfield County Commissioner Chairman Dave Glass confirmed the county also received a bomb threat by email, Gant News reported. Voters could return mail-in ballots until 9 p.m. there as well.

The polls in Pennsylvania closed at 8 p.m.
The school boards for Richland Countys two largest districts saw a shake-up as late election results Tuesday night showed challengers leading several races.

Richland County voters chose who would be leading their schools in Richland District 1 and Richland District 2 after several years of controversy and respective investigations by the state Inspector General.

Two at-large seats and two district-specific seats on the Richland 1 school board were on the 2024 ballot.

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Two candidates ran for the District 4 seat. Challenger and former district principal Ericka Hursey won in a landslide against incumbent Cheryl Harris.

Four candidates ran for the District 2 seat. Incumbent Jamie Devine kept his seat.

Five candidates ran for two at-large seats. Incumbent Angela Clyburn and challenger Richard E. Moore won the contest, with Angela Brown and incumbent Tamika Myers following close behind.

Ten candidates were vying for three at-large seats on the Richland 2 school board. Incumbent Monica Elkins kept her seat. Newcomers Shelley Williams and Gary Dennis were also elected, beating out incumbent Lashonda McFadden in a tight race.

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Both boards have seven members, and the winners will serve four-year terms. Here are the results of Tuesdays election.

Richland 1

Richland 1 serves about 22,000 students in central and southern parts of the county from St. Andrews to Hopkins, including the capital city.

Voters throughout the district picked two at-large board members from five candidates, including incumbents Clyburn and Myers and challengers John Black, Brown and Richard Moore.

In the at-large election, winners Clyburn and Moore received 25.29% and 24.34% of the votes, respectively. Brown received 23.69%, Myers received 18.41% of votes and Black received 7.81%.

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Voters near downtown Columbia chose a board member from four candidates for the District 2 seat, including Devine and challengers Lee Carroll, Steven Diaz and Christa Williams.

Devine won with 33.95% of the vote. Diaz received 29.53%, Williams received 26.43% and Carroll received 9.8%.

Voters in Lower Richland elected a board member from two candidates for the District 4 seat, Harris and Hursey.

Hursey held a strong lead throughout the night and won with 62.83% of the vote while Harris received 36.84%.

The 2024 election follows a year of controversy for Richland 1 including fiscal concerns and on the tails of another state-ordered audit.

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The district was forced to halt construction of the $31 million Vince Ford Early Learning Center in Lower Richland after failing to obtain the proper permitting. It quickly came under fire by state education Superintendent Ellen Weaver, who ordered an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General.

The investigation determined that Richland 1 broke the law and cost taxpayers more than $350,000 when it began construction without proper permissions by state and local authorities. The probe also found illegal or unauthorized procurements.

Soon after, Weaver escalated the Education Departments financial status for Richland 1 from fiscal watch to fiscal caution, the second most severe, and then urged the district to abandon the project, claiming it had already wasted $6 million.

The early learning center site on Caughman and Rawlinson roads has been untouched since January. At least three lawsuits have been filed against Richland 1, one involving violations of South Carolinas Freedom of Information Act and two that claim the early learning center construction site has led to flooding and damage to nearby homes.

Richland 2

Richland 2 serves nearly 30,000 students in the northeastern parts of the county, from Blythewood to Fort Jackson.

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Voters throughout the district elected three at-large school board members from ten candidates. Monica Elkins (formerly Monica Scott) and Lashonda McFadden were running for reelection. Candidates Brenda Branic, Franklin Davis, Gary Dennis, Dionne Sumpter Fleshman, James Mobley, Brett Porterfield, Larry Smalls and Shelley Williams also ran.

Current board member Lindsay Agostini did not run for reelection.

Elkins kept her seat with 18.39% of the vote. Williams won a seat with 15.08%. Dennis also won a seat with 10.78%. Branic received 10.38% and McFadden lost reelection with 10.37% of the vote. All other candidates received less than 10%.

A 2022 report by the Office of the Inspector General, ordered by Gov. Henry McMaster, criticized the board for dysfunction and infighting, and found that only 14% of its agenda items related to academic concerns.

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Soon after the last Richland 2 election, which restructured the board majority, the board dismissed former Superintendent Baron Davis after a six-hour, closed-door meeting. They paid him $615,000 to resign. New Superintendent Kim Moore was hired last June.

The district was also put on fiscal watch by the state Department of Education for submitting an audit four months late in 2023. They were released from that status earlier this year.
CHAMPION, Ohio (WKBN)  A 21-year-old from Champion is following her dream by creating a stuffed animal brand as a way to express herself and bring joy to other people.

Heather Carey from Champion owns a stuffed animal brand called Tropical Critters. Her plush toy version of her pet parrot, Pauli has already garnered over 150 backers and $5,000 on Kickstarter.

It all started when I wanted a stuffed animal of my pet Pauli but there was no one that makes a Quaker parrot stuffed animal and that inspired me to start my plushie brand and I created a Quaker parrot, Carey said.

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Stuffed animals are something Carey knows a lot about. She has nearly 500 of them  mostly big cats and exotic animals from lots of different brands.

I like to collect the realistic ones that are good quality like these ones so I wanted to make my plush from my brand good quality too, Carey said.

Pauli the Parrot plush is Careys first successful Kickstarter campaign and creating it means a lot to her. She was diagnosed with autism as a second-grader and her diagnosis meant she struggled with school and bullying but Pauli was always there for her.

I would be crying and Pauli was like emotional support. He always snuggled with me and made me feel better. Yeah, and he also makes me laugh, she said.

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Carey says shes grateful for everyone who supported her campaign and she couldnt have done it without her familys support.

It means a lot to me. Without them, I wouldnt be able to do this, said Carey.

Shes created stickers and keychains of Pauli too and now she can share the parrot thats brought her so much happiness with the rest of the world.

Im super excited for him to go on into production, she said.

But Heathers not done yet. She plans on making more Quaker parrot stuffed animals in different colors.

Im also planning on making a lot of other animals of different types that are hard to find, Carey said.

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You can keep up with Tropical Critters on Careys Instagram and website.





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Times are a-changin on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.

Not since 1996, and only two times since 1980, has an incumbent Fresno County supervisor lost a reelection bid.

In Tuesdays general election, the practically unheard of happened twice. In the two county supervisorial districts that encompass most of Fresno, a majority of voters shook up the status quo by casting their ballots for the two challengers.

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Given that Garry Bredefeld and Luis Chavez have both been members of the Fresno City Council for multiple terms, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors will have an unfamiliar-but-familiar look in January.

Opinion

Bredefeld held a sizable margin over incumbent Steve Brandau with 55.92% of the vote compared to Brandaus 43.55% in the latest returns provided by the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters, proving his strong showing in March was a harbinger of things to come.

Chavez, meanwhile, led incumbent Sal Quintero 54.35% to 45.20% in District 3  an apparent reversal of the primary result.

While neither Bredefeld nor Chavez declared victory Tuesday night, both sounded confident it was only a matter of time.

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It says people want real change at the Board of Supervisors, Bredefeld said during his election night party at Pardinis Red Room. I think it speaks to the fact that the city gets things done, and people want to bring that to the county.

Unless theres a massive reversal among the final batches of votes, Bredefeld and Chavez will become the first challengers to defeat a sitting Fresno County supervisor since 1996 when Juan Arambula bested Doug Vagim. Eight years earlier, in 1988, Vagim himself unseated Betty Ramacher.

Until Tuesday, those were the only two instances since 1980 of an incumbent losing a bid for reelection, according to county voting records.

Fresno County Board of Supervisors candidate Luis Chavez cheers after seeing election results showing him leading incumbent Sal Quintero during an election watch party with supporters at Chavezs home in Fresno on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Same majority but new makeup

Even though the Board retains its 3-2 Republican majority with Bredefeld supplanting a fellow Republican and Chavez replacing a fellow Democrat, the new makeup could lead to a seismic shift on several key issues.

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Which is something organized labor, in particular, is counting on after employee unions poured tens of thousands into both winning campaigns.

Chavez received his largest single contribution  $25,000  from the SEIU Cal State Council for Working People and $6,740 more from SEIU Local 2015, the chapter that represents 23,000 home healthcare workers who have unsuccessfully lobbied county leaders for pay increases.

Besides monetary donations, SEIU Local 2015 funded campaign mailers portraying Quintero as asleep at the wheel and absent from meetings while members manned phone banks and sent mass text messages on Chavezs behalf.

While the votes were still being counted, Chavez paid a visit to the labor unions election night party to thank members for their support.

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I owe them something that the current Board of Supervisors did not give them, and thats treating them with dignity and respect, said Chavez, whose mother was an SEIU Local 2015 member. When you have incumbents who refuse to even meet with them and discuss working conditions and compensation, I think thats a big slap in the face and a big reason why you saw labor coalesce around me.

Organized labors backing of Chavez isnt surprising considering his track record and stated support for a project labor agreement policy for county public works contracts, similar to the one he helped approve for the City of Fresno in 2021.





Labor groups gamble on Bredefeld

By contrast, Bredefeld was the lone council member to vote against the project labor agreement. Despite that, he still garnered a $30,000 contribution from the SEIU Local 2015.

Dillon Savory, executive director of the Central Labor Council, which represents 50 unions and 105,000 workers in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, and Kings counties, said the SEIU chapter took a gamble on Bredefeld based on his dealings with the citys police, firefighters, bus drivers and airport workers.

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If you remove all the political stuff and look at his track record with the city  Garry is clearly going to be better than Steve on these issues, Savory said. Brandau has zero track record of supporting unions. He doesnt agree that people deserve wage increases that are collectively bargained.

Bredefeld said he didnt promise the labor unions a pay raise  only that he would listen to their concerns. Which is more than Brandau or Quintero have apparently been willing to do.

The old way of doing things is not going to fly anymore, Bredefeld said. This good ol boys club where they all march in the same way, where they spend half an hour on a budget and restrict public comment to 15 minutes on important issues, thats not going to happen any longer.

Like Bredefeld, Chavez said he wont hesitate to upend the established order.

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At the end of the day I dont owe anything to any of the current supervisors, Chavez said. They didnt support me  they supported Sal  and thats a great position to be in because my only responsibility will be to the residents of District 3.
With the U.S. Postal Service tasked with ensuring all mail-in ballots are received by local election officials on or before Election Day, the federal mail delivery agency introduced extraordinary measures on October 21 to expedite ballot deliveryas it does each election year. However, a social media user has falsely claimed that those extraordinary measures compromise election integrity and accused USPS of being complicit in voter fraud. USPS denied these claims to The Dispatch Fact Check.

Peter Bernegger, who filed more than a dozen lawsuits challenging the results of the 2020 electionall of which were dismissedand in 2022 was fined $2,400 by the Wisconsin Elections Commission for filing frivolous complaints, tweeted Monday: US Postal Service DOING IT AGAIN! Changing the mail delivery method of absentee ballots coming into election clerks.

Bernegger referenced a prior tweet he posted on October 27, which he described as a bombshell. They are hiding the evidence of absentee mail-in ballot fraudby not allowing the evidence to be created in the first place, he alleged. Bernegger continued, claiming that USPS changed how it processes ballots sent via mail. You cant get the absentee mail-in vote ballot images from the USPS because they are not sending them to the central sorting facilities! he said. The UPSP recently directed, less than a month, post offices to NOT send absentee mail-in ballots to central sort. But instead take them to the election clerks. Meaning again: no electronic ballot images are being created in the first place. The USPS is doing this on purpose.

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While U.S. mail that passes through larger facilities goes through sorting machines that take images of the pieces, the change is not evidence of voter fraudit is standard USPS procedure. USPS senior public relations representative Marti Johnson explained that the recent change to USPS ballot processing Bernegger referenced is part of what the mail delivery service calls extraordinary measures designed to accelerate the delivery of ballots mailed close to election day.

Those changes were made in this election cycle, Just as we have done in past general elections, Johnson told The Dispatch Fact Check. Those extraordinary measures began nationwide on October 21 and include additional collections, extra deliveries, special sort plans on processing equipment, and local handling, including postmarking and transportation of ballots.

So while Bernegger is correct that, after October 21, ballots are no longer sent to large centralized mail processing facilities, he is wrong that that is evidence of voter fraudthe purpose is to expedite ballot delivery. For example, under normal operations, any piece of mail, including an absentee ballot, is handled and postmarked at the processing facility closest to its originating post office and, depending on how far it is going, will be handled again at one or more processing facilities closer to its destinating post office, Johnson explained. Starting on October 21, return ballots that are destined to a local or nearby election office will bypass the processing operation and will instead be postmarked at the local unit and delivered to the election office.

Regardless of whether USPS extraordinary measures have been deployed, the U.S. Postal Inspection Servicea federal law enforcement agency arm of USPSphysically observes how ballots are processed and delivered throughout the election. As Johnson explained, They will review the physical security of election mail as well as the physical security of processing and delivery locations and report their findings to Inspection Service and Postal Service leadership so that corrective action may be taken for any concerns that are identified. She added that all postal inspectors have specialized training and equipment to ensure the integrity of all absentee mail-in ballots handled.

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The Dispatch Fact Check has reached out to the Postal Inspection Service for clarification on whether its ballot security operations take scanned photos of ballots processed in the mail.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

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U.K. news anchor Emily Maitlis was reprimanded by her co-host live on air after cursing during her coverage of the U.S. election.

Maitlis, who is best known for her interview with Prince Andrew, was hosting Channel 4s election coverage through the night, U.K. time, alongside Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

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In the middle of the broadcast, she was asking one of the guests in the studio about Trumps immigration policies when she said: When Donald Trump talked about the eating cats and dogs, half of America was just thinking This is batshit, I cant believe what hes saying, this is gonna be the end of him 

Before she finished her question, Guru-Murthy interjected, saying Stop swearing! I had to tell them off for swearing and then you do it, he continued, referring to the rotating line-up of guests through the night.

Maitlis, who spent almost two decades at the BBC before leaving to front her own podcast, was unapologetic, replying: I dont know what else, how else, you would describe it.

Later Guru-Murthy again refenced Maitliss cursing while she briefly went off air, reportedly to record an episode of her podcast, saying: Ill tell Emily off later because I know she started the swearing. It may be the middle of the night in Britain but theyre still a little bit sensitive about that stuff.

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In the U.K. there are strict rules governing the use of curse words during broadcasts. Media regulator Ofcom, which classes the word shit as a moderately offensive word, has the power to investigate and even sanction networks where the broadcasting code has been flouted.

Earlier this year the regulator ruled that a radio station had breached U.K. broadcasting code by playing a clip from Savage Love by Jason Derulo, which contains the word fucks.

Variety has reached out to Channel 4 for comment.

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Multiple major U.S. media outlets projected on Wednesday that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has won enough Electoral College votes and will be the next president of the United States.

Earlier in the day, Trump took the stage at West Palm Beach County Convention Center in the U.S. state of Florida to speak to supporters and declare victory.

In the U.S. presidential election, the candidate who receives more than half of the 538 electoral votes wins the presidency. His Democratic opponent, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris did not speak on election night at Howard University, her alma mater in Washington D.C..

Alongside the presidential race, several U.S. media outlets projected that the Republican Party would regain control of the U.S. Senate early Wednesday after flipping two seats from the Democratic Party.

The election, widely regarded as one of the most divisive in American history, has caused deep concern among voters. According to an annual survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 77 percent of U.S. adults said the future of the nation was a significant source of stress in their lives. Additionally, 74 percent said they were worried that the election results could lead to violence.

"The U.S. is now more divided along ideological and political lines than at any time since the 1850s," said Bruce Stokes, an associate fellow at Chatham House. "America's friends and allies need to understand that the United States has become a Disunited States. There are effectively two Americas -- and they are at war."

It has also become one of the most contentious and costly campaigns in U.S. history. According to OpenSecrets, political spending across major-party campaigns, related political action committees (PACs), and other groups is projected to reach a record 15.9 billion U.S. dollars, with deep involvement of U.S. billionaires.

After decades of staying out of politics, Bill Gates recently donated about 50 million dollars to a nonprofit supporting Harris's presidential campaign. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has given more than 75 million dollars to his pro-Trump super PAC.

Forbes had recorded 83 billionaires supporting Harris and 52 backing Trump by Oct. 30. Many more billionaires might also financially back a candidate, but their donations won't be learned until after the election.

Despite the enormous financial outlay, voters appear increasingly disillusioned with their nation's institutions and political landscape. A New York Times/Siena College poll revealed that nearly half of American voters doubt the effectiveness of U.S. democracy, with 45 percent believing it fails to represent ordinary people.

Three-quarters of the voters say democracy is under threat, and more than half feel that the government mostly serves elite interests, reinforcing concerns about corruption and deep-seated dysfunction. Notably, 58 percent of voters say the political system needs major reform or a complete overhaul, according to the poll.

"When it is over, no matter who wins, we will be more divided, with our fragile democracy and our country's unity at greater risk," said James Zogby, president of the Washington-based Arab American Institute. 
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  Charleston County voters did not approve the transportation sales tax referendum during Tuesdays election.

A majority of residents voted no on the ballot questions, meaning the sales tax will not be renewed this year.

Unofficial results from the South Carolina Election Commission show nearly 60 percent of voters opposed the half-cent sales tax. Precincts across the county rejected the referendum  and for those in opposition, this is a big win.

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Im pretty excited, I cant lie. Its hard to do something for so long and think youre getting through to people and you think that its logical and get it. But you dont know until tonight and to see what hard work weve done, grassroots people who are fighting for causes that we believe in for the people  and to see it work, its invigorating, said Herbert Adam Friend, Woodland Shores Coalition founder.

For those in favor, with no wins, their transportation projects including the Mark Clark Expressway extension will need to be reworked.

Tonights result unfortunately means this county will continue to face challenges when it comes to enhancing safety and fixing Charlestons gridlock. At this time, theres no guaranteed funding for the projects included in the referendum or to improve major intersections, fund mass transit projects and preserve green space, said Keith Summey, former mayor of North Charleston/Citizens for Safe Roads.

Charleston County Council is expected to meet again to rewrite a new referendum in the next couple of years, which advocates hope will bring transparency and teamwork.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
While battleground states continue counting votesand some may not have official results for some timeit seems that the Libertarian Party (L.P.) will fall short of its relative recent successes. The 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections constituted three of the four highest vote totals in the party's history. The 2024 L.P. candidate Chase Oliver looks likely to underperform 2020's numbers, when candidate Jo Jorgensen won more than 1.8 million votes and 1.2 percent of the national total.

Speaking from his election night watch party in Dallas, Texas, Oliver tells Reason he isn't surprised that he fell short of other recent L.P. presidential tickets, but he has no regretsand he has some choice words for his party.

"I think we did the best we could, considering there's been a lot of headwinds in this campaign," he says. "First and foremost, the two-party system is always trying to relegate alternative parties' voice[s]," and "internal disputes within the partyled to less than full-throated support from our national leadership."

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"National party support is very important, especially in the initial couple of weeks to get a campaign on the right track. And we just didn't have that," he continues.

This was the first presidential election since the L.P.'s takeover by the Mises Caucus, an internal party faction more conservative than the previous rank and file. Michael Heise, the Mises Caucus founder who helped engineer the party takeover, endorsed former President Donald Trump last week in a post on X. Over the weekend, L.P. Chair Angela McArdle shared a pro-Trump video and added, "You know you wanna be a part of this. It is irresistible."

Oliver sees his campaign as indicative of the party's struggles, and he hopes it can turn around in the future: "Our campaign is not the low-water mark. In fact, we've been seeing a downward trendbecause leadership has just not been able to retain membership. And I think that's due to the internal conflict. That's due to focusing more on shooting inward at each other than actually doing the professional party building. And I'm going to be looking forward, as an activist, as a lifetime party member, as a former candidate for president, to be looking to find members of the Libertarian Party who want to professionalize our operations and put us into a growth mode."

That said, Oliver says he does not have regrets about his experience. "Running as the presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party, the party that I love, for the principles that I stand by, has been the true honor of my life," he says. "Even with any headwinds that I faced, I know that I've done everything I can to try to spread the message of liberty in a positive way. I'm so thankful that I have a staff and volunteers across the country who have put in the work."

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Would he run again in the future? "I think so," he says. "But what I need to do first is focus on building our party [so it] can properly support a presidential campaign the way we have in the past. And I think that's my work over the next four yearstrying to identify people across the libertarian spectrum, in states across the country, who want to organize and really build our party up going forward, and not being the [junior varsity] league for the Republican Party, and not thinking that Donald Trump is what we have to settle [for] in this country."

The post Chase Oliver Calls Libertarian Party Presidential Run 'Honor of My Lifetime' appeared first on Reason.com.
In addition to Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, voters on Election Day may have also noticed Libertarian Party presidential candidate Chase Oliver on their ballots.

Oliver, 39, is a "Libertarian activist living in Atlanta," according to his campaign.

"Oliver is a champion of the rights of the individual against the growing power of the state," his biography on his campaign's website reads.

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According to his campaign website, Oliver began his political activism opposing the Iraq War and aligned with the Libertarian Party "after an encounter at the Atlanta Pride Festival in 2010."

Libertarian candidate for U.S. President, Chase Oliver, on October 16, 2022.

The Gazette, a newspaper in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, described Oliver in 2023 as a pro-gun, pro-police reform, pro-choice Libertarian who is armed and gay.

A 39-year-old Libertarian who is ready to speak our principles boldly and loudly to the American public will look so great compared to two 80-year-old decrepit, old-party machine people, who are going to be spouting the same lines and the same mudslinging that they do every four years, Oliver told a group of eight people at a meet-and-greet event with Linn County Libertarians in Cedar Rapids, per the Gazette.

Here's what to know about Oliver.

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Presidential election live updates: Trump wins Kentucky; Harris wins Vermont; map

Chase Oliver ran for John Lewis' seat in Congress

Before throwing his hat into the 2024 presidential race, Oliver ran for Congress in Georgia's 5th district in 2020, according to his campaign. He did not win the special election, losing the seat formerly held by the late civil rights icon John Lewis to Democratic candidate Kwanza Hall.

In 2022, Oliver ran in Georgia's 2022 U.S. Senate election. According to his campaign biography, he is "widely credited" for causing a runoff election between incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker.

How many ballots is Chase Oliver on?

Oliver and his vice presidential candidate, Mike ter Maat, are on the ballot in 47 states, according to his campaign.

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Although Oliver is not on the ballot in New York, Illinois or Tennessee, he is an official write-in option in these three states.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chase Oliver: Libertarian presidential candidate appearing on ballots
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A city man who was caught after a car and foot chase during the summer was sentenced to two years in prison.

Nicholas Calloway, 45, received the sentence from Judge Maureen Sweeney in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty in one case to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of fentanyl, as well as charges of receiving stolen property, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of fentanyl and resisting arrest in a second case.

The charges in the later case stem from a chase in July that started in Beaver Township and ended in Boardman.

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Reports said Calloway was driving a stolen vehicle, and Boardman police found it in the 3500 block of Hillman Street.

Calloway ran away and had to be hit with a stun gun before he could be taken into custody, reports said. Reports said police found a gun where Calloway started running, and he is not allowed to have a gun because of several past felony convictions.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The battle for Oregons 5th District between Republican incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Democratic challenger Janelle Bynum continues post-Election Day as votes are tallied.

As of 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6, Bynum maintained the lead with 47% of the vote and Chavez-DeRemer with 45% of the vote, according to the Oregon Secretary of States Office. More than 7,000 votes separate the candidates and over 330,000 votes have been counted.

Just before 10:30 p.m. the night of the election, Bynum released a statement saying her campaign is confident, noting every vote must be counted.

DONT MISS: Oregon, Washington Election Results 2024

We are still waiting for final results for Oregons 5th Congressional District, but its imperative that every lawful vote is counted, and our team will continue to monitor the returns. We are confident in our path to victory, Bynum said.

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She continued, I am grateful for the outpouring of support for my campaign and the vision that we built together, of Oregon over the last 16 months. Thank you to everyone who trusted me with their vote, volunteered for the campaign, and spoke to their friends, family, and neighbors about the importance of this election. Well provide updates as Oregonians voices continue to be counted.

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Just after 11 p.m. on election night, Chavez-DeRemer said, The initial results have shown this is a close race, which we all expected. With over 100,000 left to be counted, I encourage everyone to have patience as counties continue to count their ballots. As we wait, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported my campaign. Oregonians want a strong, independent representative who will get things done to improve our communities. Im confident that voters appreciate my track record as the second-most bipartisan member of Congress and that will bring us across the finish line.

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The race has received national attention as Democrats see Oregons 5th District as a seat that they can win in order to tip the balance of power in the House of Representatives.

Bynum has focused her campaign on voting rights, abortion rights, and health care reform  such as lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

2024 Portland Mayoral, City Council Election Results

Chavez-DeRemer has focused her campaign on addressing the fentanyl crisis and enhancing security at the U.S. southern border.

As reported by The Hill, Democrats see Chavez-DeRemer as particularly vulnerable on an issue of outsize prominence this cycle: abortion, where shes wavered between vows to oppose any bans on federal funding for the procedure, and voting to do just that when legislation hit the floor.

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Chavez-DeRemer supported the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and has also said she supports a womans right to choose. During a debate hosted by KOIN 6 News, the congresswoman said while abortion access has become a state issue, she will continue to support abortion access in Oregon.

Meanwhile, Bynum emphasized the importance of codifying national abortion protections once held under Roe.

In the lead up to Election Day, Oregons 5th District has been deemed a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, naming the race among the most competitive in the nation. The race also brought House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to Oregon to rally for Chavez-DeRemer and Bynum, respectively, as the parties vie for the House majority.

Stay here for updates on Oregons 5th Congressional District race.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A Powerball ticket worth $500,000 was sold in the Miami Valley this week.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The ticket, which matched four of five winning numbers for Mondays drawing, was sold at Smokers Paradise in Bellefontaine, according to Ohio Lottery.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The winning numbers for Mondays drawing were 6, 18, 33, 48, and 53, Powerball 21, and the Power Play option was 10x.

No one won the $63 million Powerball jackpot, which now climbs to $75 million.

The next drawing is Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 10:59 p.m.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]




Fast-food giant Chick-fil-A continues its recent Michigan expansion, opening its first location in St. Clair County.

A Fort Gratiot location, which is nearby Port Huron, is set to open its doors at 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

Located at 4783 24th Ave., the new spot will offer dine-in, drive-thru and carry-out service from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Chick-fil-A locations are noted for being closed on Sundays.

Fast food giant Chick-fil-A expected to add 25-30 Michigan stores by the end of 2028.

Chick-fil-A is known for its signature fried or grilled chicken sandwiches with a pickle and special sauce, waffle fries, and a menu of salads, sides, and breakfast items.

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Ryan Weston is the local owner and operator of the Fort Gratiot location. On Thursday, Weston, according to a news release, will honor 100 local heroes with free Chick-fil-A entrees for a year.

In addition, and as with most Chick-fil-A openings, the new restaurant will donate $25,000 to Feeding America that will benefit hunger relief efforts.

More: Veterans Day 2024: Where to find free, discounted meals and other deals in metro Detroit

The Fort Gratiot restaurant will also participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, which donates surplus food to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and nonprofits.

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About 125 full- and part-time people will be employed at the Fort Gratiot location.

More recently, Chick-fil-A announced a significant investment and expansion of its Michigan footprint. The fast-food giant expects to add more than two dozen locations in metro Detroit and statewide. Across these new anticpated Michigan locations, Chick-fil-A expects to create 2,500 jobs.

Chick-fil-A already operates nearly 30 restaurants across the state and about a dozen in metro Detroit, from Woodhaven to Novi to Shelby Township.

A cult-like favorite  and oft-criticized for its past donations to anti-LGBTQ+ causes  Chick-fil-A ranks as a popular fast-food chain with consumers. For the 10th year straight, the chain remained in the top spot for fast food on the American Customer Satisfaction Indexs 2024 report released last June. The family-owned Chick-fil-A was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy and is headquartered in Atlanta. There are more than 3,000 Chick-fil-A locations across 48 states and in Canada and Puerto Rico, according to chick-fil-a.com.

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Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.

Support local journalism and become a digital subscriber to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chick-fil-A opens first St. Clair County location: Here's where
A 12-year-old boy was among five people killed after a small jet crashed moments after take-off in Phoenix, authorities said.

The Honda HA-420 aircraft took off at around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday from Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, but struck a vehicle outside the airport minutes later and caught fire.

Five people were on board the aircraft at the time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Four died while one  a flight crew member  survived after suffering serious injuries, the FAA preliminary accident report said.

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The Mesa Police Department released the identities of four of the five victims Wednesday.

They were named as Spencer Lindahl, 43; Rustin Randall, 48; Drew Kimball, 44; Graham Kimball, 12. The driver of the car involved was also killed, but police did not release his identity.

The Honda HA-420 aircraft took off at around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday from Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, but struck a vehicle outside the airport minutes later and caught fire (AP)

Video captured what appeared to be a wreckage in flames on a road near the airport, the Associated Press reported.

The cause of the crash is currently unknown with an investigation involving the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board and Mesa authorities now underway.

Authorities said that Greenfield Road will be closed in both directions between McKellips to McDowell roads for a considerable amount of time.

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Our community suffered a tragic loss this afternoon, Mesa Fire spokesperson Marrisa Ramirez-Ramos said.

We are working a plane crash at Greenfield and McKellips Road in Mesa. The entire area will be closed down for several hours. Please look for an alternative route. pic.twitter.com/zJsOexMBLU  Mesa Police Dept. (@MesaPD) November 6, 2024

Joshua Golabi, a pilot who was present at the scene during the incident, told MSNBC that he had been about to get into his own aircraft before he heard a pop and saw a plume of smoke.

He went through that dip. He went past the road through the metal gated fence that they have, through I believe a few concrete walls, Golabi said. We were just about to get into our aircraft and go when we heard a pop and saw a plume of smoke.

Investigators with the NTSB are at the scene and more are expected to arrive Wednesday, officials said. The plane will be taken to a secure facility for further investigation and preliminary report should be available within 30 days.

Its just very jarring and its a reminder to all pilots to always fly and maneuver as safe as you can, Golabi added.
China has publicly unveiled another new combat aircraft, with the arrival of the Shenyang J-15T single-seat carrier-based fighter at Zhuhai Airport for the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, better known as Airshow China, which opens next week. Just days ago, TWZ reported on the surprise appearance of the modernized naval fighter during unprecedented dual-carrier operations in the South China Sea.

The appearance of the J-15T also follows yesterdays official public debut of the Shenyang J-35A, a land-based mediumweight stealth fighter for the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force. You can read our story on that development here. The 15th edition of Airshow China will be held in Zhuhai from November 12 to 17.

A J-15T fighter arrives in Zhuhai ahead of the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China 2024, on November 6, 2024, in Zhuhai, Guangdong province of China. Photo by Yu Caiwang/VCG via Getty Images VCG

Previously thought to be designated J-15B, the improved carrier-based fighter has been in development for some time, with a first flight in prototype form reported back in July 2016. The new version is primarily distinguished from the original J-15 in being equipped for catapult takeoff but assisted recovery (CATOBAR) operations, rather than short takeoff but assisted recovery (STOBAR) operations.

An inflight view of the first prototype J-15T. via Andreas Rupprecht



The J-15T on arrival at Zhuhai. via X

This means the J-15T can operate from Chinas latest aircraft carrier Fujian, which is equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).

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The previous two Peoples Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, both employ ski-jump takeoff ramps to launch fixed-wing aircraft.

A STOBAR J-15 fighter taking off from the aircraft carrier Shandong during a combat readiness patrol and military exercises around Taiwan, on April 9, 2023. Photo by An Ni/Xinhua via Getty Images Xinhua News Agency

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The J-15T  which now appears to be in operational service  will be able to operate from both CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers, although the biggest benefits will be achieved through catapult launch. This will allow the fighter to take off from the carrier with a heavier payload of fuel and weapons.

The CATOBAR features of the J-15 are clearly seen in the example at Zhuhai. They include a strengthened nose landing gear with a longer and wider shock-absorbing oleo strut and an accompanying catapult launch bar. Modifications will also have been made to the airframe to better cope with the stresses of catapult launch.

J-15T my fucking god you gracious wonder pic.twitter.com/wq7AxtcG24  Fighterman_FFRC (@Fighterman_FFRC) November 6, 2024

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However, the J-15T will bring more capabilities, too, building significantly upon the original J-15. This, in turn, was a Chinese development of the Soviet-era Su-33 Flanker, albeit with Chinese-made avionics and weapons, but the basic design of the Su-33 traces back to the 1980s and is very much in need of modernization.

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According to Andreas Rupprecht, a longtime Chinese military observer and contributor to this website, a total of 66 examples of the original J-15 were completed (in four production batches), while there are now at least 14 operational J-15T fighters, likely equivalent to low-rate initial production airframes. Added to these are at least 15 two-seat J-15S and perhaps a handful of two-seat J-15Ds for electronic warfare (not including the prototypes)  we will return to these later.

A video showing the original J-15 fighter in action aboard the aircraft carrier Liaoning:

Most surprisingly, the photos and videos of the J-15T at Zhuhai reveal that its fitted with domestically produced WS-10 turbofans in place of the Russian-made AL-31F engines previously found on production J-15s.

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Chinas long struggle to locally develop reliable and powerful turbofan engines has been well documented and, in the past, this issue was regularly identified as the Achilles heel of the countrys military aerospace industry.

Many key types had long relied on Russian-supplied engines, but this is now a thing of the past, with all the latest series-production J-10, J-11, J-16, and J-20 fighters using Chinese-made engines. Until now, the only exception has been the carrier-based J-15, with the Russian engines perhaps being retained as a tried and tested solution to help mitigate the riskier aspects of carrier operations. There have also been suggestions that the Russian engine was more resilient to saltwater than the Chinese one.

After at least two J-15s were fitted with WS-10s on an experimental basis, it now appears that the turbofan has been adopted by the production-standard J-15T, which is a major development in itself, reflecting growing confidence in homegrown engines.

An earlier J-15 fitted with WS-10 engines:

This could be another major surprise 



The PLAN Naval Aviation converted at least one J-15 to WS-10B engines replacing the standard Russian AL-31F, so after only a few prototypes tested it in the early phase, this is eventually a hint that the WS-10 is ready for the J-15 too. pic.twitter.com/sTwdVnQU2k  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 23, 2022

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Considering that the first J-15 prototype was powered by WS-10s, it seems likely that the plan was always to use these engines on production machines. In the meantime, that same prototype was apparently used to test out both EMALS and traditional steam catapults at Chinas land-based carrier test facility at Huangdicun. Ultimately, EMALS was chosen for the Fujian.

Other changes are found in the J-15Ts cockpit. These include a new wide-angle holographic head-up display (HUD) as well as bars for the pilot to grab onto during catapult launches  a familiar feature of aircraft in this category.

A head-on view of the J-15T showing its head-up display. via X

The radome of the J-15T is different from that of the J-15, not only being a lighter gray color but having a revised shape, with a canted connection to the nose, and the pitot boom removed. The radome is understood to house a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, probably the same as used on the J-11D  the ultimate Chinese version of the land-based J-11 Flanker.

Just a rough side by side comparison of a J-15T (top) vs a regular J-15!



(Image above via @wanquanfoto /  and Ni Shuai) pic.twitter.com/TBJwnhp0wW  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 6, 2024

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The J-11D also incorporates new cockpit displays, electronic countermeasures, and communication systems some or all of which might also be ported over to the J-15T.

The radar is compatible with the latest short-range PL-10 and medium-range PL-15 air-to-air missiles, as well as a range of precision air-to-surface weapons. Previously, the J-15 relied primarily on the older PL-8 and PL-12 air-to-air missiles. You can read more about these missiles, and others, in this review of the air-to-air weapons that arm the combat aircraft of the Peoples Liberation Army.

J-15 fighters on the aircraft carrier Liaoning in April 2018. The aircraft are armed with PL-8 and PL-12 missiles. AFP via Getty Images 

A minor but interesting detail   the J-15T does not have the same wing-tip pylons for the PL-10 AAMs but they are slightly different / reprofiled.



Top J-15T bottom J-16



(Image via @ from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/Od9BiBeG5m  @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 6, 2024

Continued Chinese development of the J-15, even while pursuing the more advanced J-35 carrier-based fighter, surprised some observers. But the fact that the J-15T can operate from all three PLAN carriers and is ready for service immediately makes it a very attractive proposition before the stealthy J-35 arrives. At the same time, it will build valuable experience within the personnel of the PLANs growing carrier air wing contingent. Then, once the J-35 is in service, the J-15T will also provide a very capable counterpart to the stealth jet.

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The J-15T should also address any lingering concerns about the capability and reliability of the original J-15.

There have been high-profile reports of several J-15 losses, as well as questions about the safety of the baseline aircraft, which The War Zone addressed here. With that in mind, the J-15T might well have further changes to help address those reported shortcomings, which are rumored to relate primarily to an unstable flight control system. It might be the case that a version of the fly-by-wire flight control system used in the J-11D is also installed in the J-15T.

A dramatic overhead formation of J-15 fighters over the first two PLAN aircraft carriers. At least 14 J-15T fighters are visible, together with original J-15s. Chinese Internet via X



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In CATOBAR form, the J-15T promises to finally get the most out of the impressive fuel and weapons loads that the Flanker has always been capable of carrying, but which have been strictly limited when configured for STOBAR operations. This is something that has hampered Russian Navy carrier operations, as much as Chinese ones.

As well as the J-15T, which is a multirole fighter broadly comparable with the U.S. Navys F/A-18E Super Hornet, China is also working on a line of two-seat carrier-compatible J-15s, to take on additional roles. While few details are available, like the J-15T, these are also expected to be compatible on both CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers.

While the J-15T is somewhat analogous to the F/A-18E, the two-seat J-15D electronic warfare aircraft is expected to operate in a role similar to the U.S. Navys EA-18G Growler, although its also thought to have a secondary strike mission. Examples of the J-15D might also have appeared on the deck of the Shandong as it conducted dual-carrier ops in the South China Sea, although we cant be certain of that.

A prototype J-15D with its characteristic wingtip electronic warfare pods. Chinese Internet via X

Finally, the PLAN also looks set to receive another two-seat J-15 broadly comparable to the F/A-18F Hornet. This is the J-15S, which remains somewhat mysterious, with suggestions that it has entered service initially as a trainer. Ultimately, however, it may be further of developed into a two-seat carrier-based multirole strike and electronic warfare platform, possibly designated J-17. This would provide the PLAN with a versatile platform that could take on a range of missions including long-range strike, air defense, and perhaps working as a command and control platform for carrier-based combat drones.

The future PLAN carrier air wing, for the Fujian, could eventually closely replicate that of the U.S. Navy, with the J-15T and J-15S in place of the F/A-18E/F, the J-15D for the EA-18G, the J-35 as an F-35C equivalent, and the KJ-600 performing the same airborne early warning and control mission as the E-2D Hawkeye. With various carrier-based drones in the works, China could also end up with a crewed/uncrewed carrier air mix similar to that being envisaged for the U.S. Navy.

Another view of the J-15T fighter as it arrives in Zhuhai ahead of Airshow China 2024, on November 6, 2024. Photo by Wan Quan/VCG via Getty Images @wanquanfoto

In the meantime, the J-15T looks set to bring much-needed new capabilities to the PLANs carrier air wing, which has so far been entirely reliant on the increasingly outdated J-15 for its combat missions. Furthermore, a blend of familiarity, availability, affordability, and multirole capabilities should ensure the J-15T has a long future ahead of it on Chinas three carriers, and potentially other flattops beyond those.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Premier Li Qiang expressed support for Myanmar's political reconciliation and 2025 election plans in a meeting with Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on Wednesday, according to state media outlets.

Li met army chief Min Aung Hlaing, on his first visit to China since seizing power in a 2021 coup, in Kunming in southwestern China's Yunnan province, according to China's official Xinhua news agency.

The junta is planning an election next year in which opposition forces have either been barred from contesting or have refused to take part, dismissing it as a sham.

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The election is unlikely to be recognised by western governments and political analysts expect it will perpetuate the military's dominant role in politics, after the generals intervened in 2021 to hit the reset button after a decade of tentative, civilian-led democracy.

According to Myanmar's state media on Thursday, Li pledged China's support for Myanmar's election and voiced appreciation for the military government's efforts to seek dialogue to end armed conflicts via political means.

It quoted Min Aung Hlaing saying that for Myanmar's rebel alliances to participate in dialogue, they need to present clear and specific actions for peace.

According to the report, Li stressed that the border posts should remain under the control of the respective governments, and that China reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and opposes actions that harm the country's interests.

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Myanmar has been in turmoil since the coup, particularly along its border with China, as the junta wrestles with a coordinated offensive by rebel groups calling themselves the "three brotherhood alliance".

The alliance, comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA), and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), has won a succession of victories along the frontier, including taking control of strategic border gates.

Xinhua said Li also pledged China's willingness to strengthen solidarity and overall cooperation with Myanmar and offered to further promote the China-Myanmar economic corridor, Xinhua reported.

He called upon Myanmar to protect the safety of Chinese nationals and organisations in the country, and highlighted the need for joint efforts to combat cross-border crime, including online gambling and telecom fraud.

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Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government (NUG) this week expressed concern that China's invitation to the junta chief could create misunderstandings between the people of Myanmar and China.

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Martin Petty and Michael Perry)
China's Foreign Ministry has congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory in a statement released on Wednesday.

Source: statement released on the Foreign Ministry's website

Details: Chinese leader Xi Jinping has not yet publicly commented on the US election results.

"We respect the choice of the American people and express our congratulations to Mr Trump on his election as president," the Foreign Ministry said in the statement.

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"Our policy towards the US is consistent," said Mao Ning, spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry, at a regular press conference in Beijing, answering a question about how Trump's return to the Oval Office would affect US-China relations.

"We will continue to view and handle China-US relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation," she was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Background:

Russian media outlet Verstka claimed that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had informally congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the presidential election, although it was not publicly reported.

CNN previously reported that Donald Trump, who values flattery and loyalty, closely monitors which world leaders attempt to reach out to him.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his victory, recalling their "great meeting" in September, during which they discussed the Ukraine-US strategic partnership in detail.

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Beijing's "massive provision" of dual-use goods, as well as diplomatic and economic support, allow Russia to continue its war against Ukraine, the chief of Australia's intelligence agency said on Nov. 6, Reuters reported.

Beijing's support is "killing innocent Ukrainians just as surely as if they were providing artillery ammunition and missiles," Andrew Shearer, the chief of the Office of National Intelligence, said at a conference in Canberra.

Despite claiming neutrality, China has been the leading source of dual-use goods, feeding Russia's defense industry and supporting Moscow against Western sanctions.

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"This is a profoundly troubling strategic development and we are all grappling to catch up with it and put in place effective measures, but I think this is one of the strategic challenges of our time," Shearer said.

Chinese companies have been sanctioned by the U.S. for producing drones used in Russia's war. Various countries have accused China of aiding Russia by providing machine tools, weapons technology, satellite imagery, semiconductors, and other dual-use technologies.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 17 that intelligence data indicates that "China is actively helping Russia drag out this war."

Russia's war is also receiving support from Iran in the form of drones and missiles, while North Korea has dispatched over 10,000 soldiers to join the war against Ukraine.

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Read also: China was well aware of North Korean troop deployment ahead of time, expert says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Chinese accounts helped spread Russian disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining the U.S. 2024 elections, according to research from the Atlantic Council published Nov. 4.

U.S. intelligence agencies have recently warned that foreign adversaries are engaging in influence campaigns to mislead voters ahead of and during the 2024 election.

Analysts at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab identified multiple videos linked to Russia disseminating false reports about voting. Fake social media accounts in China helped amplify these videos, researchers said.

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These accounts previously focused on pro-China propaganda and only recently pivoted to the U.S. election.

A U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report on Oct. 2 said that Russia, China, and Iran posed the most significant threats to the integrity of the upcoming presidential election.

The report came a month after the U.S. announced a sweeping crackdown on Russian propaganda outlets due to alleged election interference.

As U.S. voters cast their ballots on Nov. 5, some Russian interference tactics moved beyond online disinformation into disruptions at polling sites. Bomb threats originating in Russia targeted polling centers in several key states, causing evacuations at some locations.

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The 2024 presidential election holds high stakes for Ukraine. The future of U.S. aid to Kyiv is on the line, with the two candidates delivering sharply different messages on their hopes for Ukraine's future.

Read also: Ukraine struggles to contain Russian advance in Donetsk Oblast as US elections loom

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The big picture: Disinformation campaigns have become more sophisticated, especially with advancements in AI. Russia, Iran and China are the most prominent foreign states spreading disinformation, according to federal agencies. Russia reportedly favors former President Donald Trump, Iran supports Harris while China spreads false information about both candidates. The rapid spread of false claims is also exacerbated by social media platforms inconsistent content moderation. Max Lesser of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told AP News in September, Were going to see a widening of the playing field when it comes to influence operations, where its not just Russia, China and Iran but you also see smaller actors getting involved. Despite federal agencies debunking viral deepfakes and other fabrications  such as claims of voter fraud in Pennsylvania  disinformation persists, reflecting a high-stakes battle over truth and democratic engagement.
Yoinked

Here's an unintended consequence for you: Reuters reports that Facebook owner Meta's open source Llama model is already being used by the Chinese military.

According to the report, the military-focused AI tool dubbed "ChatBIT" is being developed to gather intelligence and provide information for operational decision-making, as laid out in an academic paper obtained by Reuters.

Unsurprisingly, allowing a foreign adversary's military to make use of your large language model isn't exactly a good look.

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In a thinly-veiled attempt to own the narrative, Meta's president of global affairs Nick Clegg published a blog post just three days after Reuters' report, arguing that it's working to make Llama "available to US government agencies and contractors working on national security applications."

The blog post desperately attempts to tug at the heartstrings of American tech leaders, with Clegg arguing that AI models like Llama will "not only support the prosperity and security of the United States, they will also help establish US open source standards in the global race for AI leadership."

But its timing is certainly suspicious, as Gizmodo notes. What else could explain the saccharine chest-thumping appeal to Americans now, while China's People's Liberation Army was making use of its AI before the US government even considered doing the same?

Please and Thank You

As Reuters points out, Meta's blog post also flies in the face of the company's acceptable use policy, which forbids "military, warfare, nuclear industries or applications, espionage."

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But since the AI is completely open source, these provisions are utterly ineffective and unenforceable, serving largely as a way for Meta to cover its tracks.

Clegg argued that by open-sourcing AI models, the US could better compete with other nations "including China," which are "racing to develop their own open source models" and "investing heavily to leap ahead of the US."

"We believe it is in both America and the wider democratic worlds interest for American open source models to excel and succeed over models from China and elsewhere," the former deputy prime minister for the UK wrote.

But whether that kind of reasoning will satisfy officials at the Pentagon remains to be seen. Meta's flailing is symptomatic of a massive national security blindspot. Now that the cat is out of the bag, the United States' adversaries are enjoying the exact same leaps in tech as it and its allies.

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Last month, the Biden administration announced that it was finalizing rules to limit US investment in AI in China that could threaten US national security. But given Meta's fast-and-loose approach, these rules will likely be far too little, far too late.

Meta, on the other hand, thinks its AI is far too puny to make any difference for China anyway.

"In the global competition on AI, the alleged role of a single, and outdated, version of an American open-source model is irrelevant when we know China is already investing more than a trillion dollars to surpass the US on AI," a spokesperson told Reuters.

More on Meta's AI: Meta's AI Says Trump Wasn't Shot
Chinese state-owned company Sinosure that insures export supplies against the risk of non-payment has begun to refuse to cooperate with Russian entrepreneurs, Russian newspaper Vedomosti reported on Nov. 5, citing four unnamed sources from importing companies.

Sinosure, a Chinese state-funded insurance company, was founded in 2001 to promote Beijing's trade development and cooperation. When a foreign importer agrees with a Chinese supplier to defer payment, it reportedly turns to Sinosure for delivery insurance.

Trade between Russia and China has reportedly surged by 121% since 2021, underscoring Beijing's role as Moscow's economic lifeline.

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According to Vedomosti's sources, Russian business has recently faced difficulties with Sinosure.

One of the Chinese suppliers told a Russian importer, citing internal policies, that the company refused to insure their deal because of the nature of the exported goods.

Another Russian unnamed entrepreneur told the outlet about several cases of zeroing the limit on delivery amount for companies from Russia. At least three suppliers have recently informed another Russian source that their company has been blacklisted by Sinosure, according to Vedomosti.

In its interaction with Russian individuals, Sinosure has begun to act similarly to Chinese banks and refuses to insure exports of goods whose list coincides with the blacklist of the large state-owned Bank of China, sources told the newspaper.

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Since July, China has tightened export controls on military and dual-use products, the Moscow Times reported.

Beijing has positioned itself as neutral in the ongoing war but has deepened economic ties with Russia and become Moscow's leading source of dual-use goods, feeding the Russian defense industry.

Read also: Chinas support keeps Putins army in the field in Ukraine, Australias intelligence chief says

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You might not think twice about flipping on your stove to make dinner, but the type of appliance you cook with could be affecting more than just your meal.

While California lawmakers recently tried to shed light on this kitchen concern, their effort hit an unexpected roadblock, according to The Washington Post.

What's happening?

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed a bill that would have required warning labels on new gas stoves. The labels would have informed shoppers about the pollutants these appliances release into homes, including nitrogen dioxide and benzene.

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"We are disappointed that Governor Newsom vetoed legislation to give consumers more information about the health risks of gas stoves," Jenn Engstrom, state director of CALPIRG, told the Washington Post. "Gas stove emissions increase the risk of childhood asthma and other respiratory problems, but most people are unaware of this threat. Consumers deserve the truth when it comes to the danger of cooking with gas."

Research shows that most appliance store employees aren't trained to discuss the health aspects of different stove types with customers. When consumer advocates posed as shoppers, they found about three out of four salespeople denied or knew little to nothing about potential health concerns.

Why are gas stoves a threat to our health?

The air quality in your home affects your family's health, especially for little ones. Recent studies from Stanford University found that gas stoves can release levels of nitrogen dioxide that exceed safety guidelines set by major health organizations, and scientists at Harvard discovered that 95% of gas stoves they tested leaked benzene, even when turned off, according to the Post.

Young children and people with asthma or breathing difficulties are particularly sensitive to these indoor pollutants.

What can I do about gas stoves?

While the labeling law didn't pass, you have plenty of options to protect your family's health.

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If you're cooking with gas, always use your range hood, if possible, to help ventilate your kitchen. It can make a real difference in air quality.

Do you think gas stoves should be banned nationwide?

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind

Consider switching to an electric or induction model, especially when it's time for a new stove. These alternatives cook food more efficiently and keep your indoor air cleaner. Government entities and many utility companies even offer rebates to cover the cost of switching to electric appliances.

In the meantime, simple steps like opening windows while cooking and using your back burners (your hood better ventilates them) can help reduce exposure to cooking pollutants. Even small changes in how we cook can create a healthier home environment for everyone.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is undoubtedly one of the best financial assets anyone could've owned in the past decade, turning tiny amounts of capital into huge sums of wealth. But there is still huge upside, at least based on the perspective of an expert in the field.

According to billionaire tech executive Michael Saylor, who founded software company MicroStrategy, the world's top cryptocurrency could soar 18,600% from its current price of $69,300 (as of the evening on Oct. 31) to $13 million in 2045. Here's what investors need to know about this prediction.

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Saylor's bullish outlook

Michael Saylor made headlines when he used his company's cash reserves to start accumulating Bitcoin in August 2020. He was surprised by the massive amounts of government stimulus to get the economy past the COVID-19 pandemic, and wanted to move MicroStrategy's assets toward something that had a fixed supply. Naturally, he was drawn to Bitcoin.

Today, MicroStrategy has become a full-fledged Bitcoin-based enterprise. Saylor hasn't shied away from his goal, which is to raise money in the capital markets via equity and debt to continue buying more Bitcoin. His business just announced plans to raise $42 billion over the next three years for this very purpose.

This plan has worked tremendously well, as MicroStrategy stock has skyrocketed 1,830% since that first Bitcoin purchase. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 has generated a total return of 81% during that same period. It's hard to argue with the numbers.

However, Saylor thinks that by 2045, Bitcoin's price will reach $13 million per coin, translating to an other-worldly gain of almost 19,000% from today's levels. He believes that if 7% of global wealth finds itself owning Bitcoin, up from about 0.1% today, then the price can reach that lofty target. On an annualized basis, this would mean a gain of 28% per year. That would certainly outpace the stock market by a wide margin.

Bitcoin as an escape valve

It's helpful to think of Bitcoin as an asset that is truly separate from the current monetary and financial architecture and that's not controlled by a single entity. As more people learn about Bitcoin's attractive characteristics, particularly that it has a fixed supply cap of 21 million, they won't struggle to become bullish on it. Saylor feels that simply having exposure to a finite financial asset, especially when compared to the constantly exploding money supply, seems like a smart move.
The seven seats and court of the Montana Supreme Court (Photo by Eric Seidle/ For the Daily Montanan).

Cory Swanson, the Broadwater County Attorney, will be heading one county over to become the Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, while district court Judge Katherine Bidegaray will replace outgoing justice Dirk Sandefur on the states highest court.

The Associated Press called both races shortly after 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

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In the race to replace outgoing Montana Chief Justice Mike McGrath, Cory Swanson had taken and maintained a lead over Jeremiah Lynch early Wednesday morning. Swanson tallied 272,969 votes to Lynchs 229,953.

Thank you to all the Montanans who supported us and made this victory possible! I will work every day to reward your trust by delivering fair and impartial legal rulings, and removing partisanship from justice, Swanson wrote in a post on Facebook.

For Montana Supreme Court Seat 3, Katherine Bidegaray maintained a lead that she had held nearly as soon as results started coming in. Bidegaray had 270,456 votes to district court Judge Dan Wilsons 234,771.

There are seven seats on the Montana Supreme Court, including the chief justice. All positions for the states highest court, and only appellate court, are elected statewide, rather than by district, and are nonpartisan.

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Both races are for open seats without incumbents.

The chief justice serves for eight years and serves as the chief administrator for the states highest court. Lynch is a former U.S. federal court magistrate who served in that role for 28 years, while Swanson was elected Broadwater County attorney in 2014, a position he still holds.

Bidegaray currently serves on the Seventh Judicial District bench covering Dawson, McCone, Prairie, Wibaux and Richland counties. Shes been elected four times as judge for the district court since 2003.

Wilson is a former prosecutor who has served as a Flathead District Court Judge for 12 years.
CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash agreed Tuesday that a fresh exit poll was brutal for Kamala Harris.

The networks poll showed that voters in key swing statesArizona, Michigan, and Wisconsinstrongly disapproved of Joe Bidens performance as president.

His approval rating in the three battlegrounds was just 43, 42, and 38 percent, respectively.

This would have been a very different race if Joe Biden had stayed in it, Tapper joked in response to the results. If it ends with a Trump victoryand we have no idea how its going to end, so dont misinterpret what Im sayingbut theres going to be a lot of finger-pointing and recriminations, and wondering and wondering.

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But these approval ratings for Joe Biden are brutal, he added.

Bash was in agreement.

Six in ten, in Wisconsin, say that they dont approve of the president, I mean, it is brutal, she said. And theres no other way to look at it. That is, no question, a big headwind for Kamala Harris despite the fact that she has tried to separate herself.

Bash suggested that Harris team was assuredly hoping that Bidens abysmal approval percentages dont bleed into the vice presidents election results.

Harris had reportedly sought to distance herself from President Bidenand his poor approval ratings and penchant for gaffesin the days leading up to the election.

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Earlier in the night, CNN anchor Chris Wallace said that another exit poll, one of the networks first of the night, boded poorly for Harris, even though his co-hosts were more skeptical. Based on the numbers, though, which similarly showed dissatisfaction and anger with Bidens performance, Wallace suggested it would be a miracle if Harris could separate herself enough to earn a victory.

The neck-and-neck race continues to hang in the balance, as key swing states have yet to be called one way or the other.
As the polls began to close Tuesday evening, CNN host Chris Wallace shared the opinion that Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party need to pull off a miracle to win the presidential election over Donald Trump, given the countrys majority negative opinion of incumbent President Biden observed in the networks own early exit polls.

When you see current voters saying, by a three-to-one margin, that they are dissatisfied with the country with the present conditions in the country. In conventional terms, it would be a miracle that Kamala Harris could win with that kind of headwind, Wallace said during a panel conversation on the network Tuesday evening. Remember she was part of the administration. The Biden-Harris administration was 41% approved, 58% disapproved. Thats not even close to 50%.

If she is able to overcome those numbers and still win this election, then she has done a remarkable job of somehow separating herself  that shes part of the solution, not part of the problem, Wallace continued.

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Wallace, a career cable news anchor who has been with CNN since 2022, gave his comments roughly 50 minutes before the first polls closed on the East Coast. The panel, led by CNN anchor Jake Tapper, was discussing the networks own early exit polling data of voters. Of the other figures included, polled individuals answered how they were feeling about the way things are going in the U.S., with 7% answering enthusiastic, 19% satisfied, 43% dissatisfied and 29% angry. On whether Americas best days are in the future or in the past, 61% said they were in the future, while 34% answered they were in the past.

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CNN officially called the 2024 presidential election in favor of Republican nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

But two hours earlier, with the results already obvious to outside observers, one of the networks top talents went rogue and called it himself.

Donald Trump is knocking on the door, said anchor John King at 3:21 a.m. ET. Hes going to get there. Hes going to get there. I was going to say barring this or that or the other thing. Hes going to get there.

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Im probably not supposed to say that on television, he added, boldly entrenching himself in the moment before moving on to a voting map. We havent projected it yet, but hes going to get there.

When King stated the obvious, CNN had already forecast Trump was the winner of 266 electoral college votes, just four shy of the 270 required for victory.

CNNs official election call happened when it projected swing state Wisconsin for Trump. NBC News and ABC News made near identical calls, giving the state and the general election to the Republican nominee, around the same time.

Until that point, print and broadcast outletswith the exception of Fox News, which made a bullish call for Trump victory nearly an hour before Kingused hedging words to wink at Trumps impending victory.

Trump poised to clinch presidency read the chyron on the screen below King as he dispensed with the subtleties.
A version of this story appears in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

Millions of Americans will be tuning in to CNN and other networks on election night as returns roll in. Theyll be waiting to see who wins, something CNN will determine with a series of projections.

With polls so close this year and a few hotly contested states set to determine the outcome of the presidential election, everyone should be prepared to go to bed on election night not knowing who will win the White House.

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I talked to Jennifer Agiesta, CNNs director of polling and election analytics, about how CNN approaches the job of projecting a winner. Its a complicated and exhaustive process. Our conversation is below.

Does CNN project races or call races? Whats the difference?

AGIESTA: We project races. We dont call them. We are telling you where we think the race will wind up based on what we see in front of us. That is a projection by any normal definition of the word.

Who is involved in making projections for CNN?

AGIESTA: There are several layers of people involved in projections for CNN.

At the start of it, we have a decision team thats made up of people who are experts in either politics or statistics, and theyre paired together based on those areas of expertise. They are all reviewing individual states, individual races, making a recommendation on a projection that gets passed up to the decision desk supervisory team  which is two people, one of whom is a statistician, one of whom is a political person.

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They review every projection that those individual teams are making, and then they pass it to me. If theyre comfortable with it, I give it a check, make sure Im good, and then, as long as all three of those layers have gone, were good.

We pass it on to the control room and work with them. I answer any of their questions about why we are or are not making projections at a given moment, and then it will find its way to air or online.

What is the decision desk looking at as polls close?

AGIESTA: There are a lot of different pieces of information that go into any given projection. Theres obviously vote data. We want to see whats been counted and what hasnt, and our expectations of how large those votes were and how they would be distributed based on past votes.

Were looking, as much as we can, wherever its available, at what types of votes we have, whether theyre absentee votes or Election Day votes, and how the balance of those things matches up with what we thought it would be before Election Day.

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Were looking at the geographic distribution of votes. Did they come from a really Democratic county or a really Republican county, or from a place that counts really fast or counts really slow?

Based on what we know about those things, all of that gets dumped into statistical models that tell us what level of confidence we can have with the estimate that it gives us. We also are looking, to some degree, at exit polls in some states and what those are saying about how voters split in a given place.

All of that kind of comes together to make the ultimate projection.

How do things progress over the course of the night?

AGIESTA: It starts off being much more exit poll focused. In states with exit polls, we have reporters out in the sample of precincts where those exit polls have been conducted who are collecting votes from those specific precincts. So we can see how the exit polls are performing in real time.

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That also is, in a lot of ways, a representative sample of at least the Election Day vote within a state, and so that gives us another marker of how things are going. Those kinds of measures will be more important earlier in the night.

Well then start to transition to looking at the actual votes and where things are, and the models become important for a really long time once were basing things entirely on what the counties are telling us about whats counted and what types of votes those are.

Then really late in the night, thats where the states that are super close that were projecting last  those are the ones where were looking for the math problem that you and I talked about four years ago, where its like, is there enough vote out there that the candidate whos trailing could catch up? And that becomes more of an algebra problem than a modeling problem.

Voters cast their ballots during early voting at a polling location in Houston on October 25, 2024. - F. Carter Smith/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Is the presumption that there will be states that we cant project on election night?

AGIESTA: I think there will be some states that we cant project on election night just because of the nature of how they count their votes and what we know about the speed of the reporting.

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It doesnt necessarily mean that theres anything wrong in those states, or that things have gone haywire, or anything like that. It just is the process of counting these ballots that takes time.

In Pennsylvania, theyre not allowed to process by-mail ballots until Election Day itself, so those election officials have to go through the process of opening every single envelope and unfolding the ballot and feeding it through the scanner and whatever other verification processes they go through. And all of that takes time.

So they do as much as they can during Election Day, and then when the polls close, they tend to stop and come back to whats left of those ballots later. But it tends to be after Election Day in a place like Pennsylvania.

The same thing kind of happens in Arizona and in Nevada, where you have a lot of by-mail ballots. A lot of them returned later in the process  the late earlies that everybody talked about in Arizona (in 2020), they just take some time to work through and actually get them counted.

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But other states are super fast, and we can probably get those projected on election night. States with a wide margin will probably be projected on election night, but close states where they have those sort of slower counts are just going to take some time.

Is there a threshold or marker youre looking for to make a projection?

AGIESTA: What were looking for with our models is 99% confidence. And I believe the exact figure is 99.7% confidence from those models that we actually have the statistical backing to make any projection.

It really is knowing the full picture of what (votes are) out and what has been counted and how those things are expected to go, making sure that we really know that theres not some wild thing out there that could totally change the trajectory of what weve seen so far.

Is there a different approach to projecting who will win the White House vs. who will win an individual state? One is 538 votes; the other could be many millions.

AGIESTA: Obviously we want to consider every projection we make carefully, and we dont really have different standards for how were projecting these things.

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Every projection that we make, were going to look for that same level of confidence, level of certainty before we do it, whether its a race for president or a race for dog catcher.

Theres a lot more attention on one of those than the other, so we will have more people involved and a bigger set of fact checks on a more important projection. There will be more people making sure, asking every possible question all the way down the line before we project anything that is of serious consequence.

What will be different this year compared with previous years?

AGIESTA: We expect to see a lot fewer mail-in ballots generally, just because were not in the middle of a pandemic. We saw in 2022 that the share of voters who chose to vote through mail-in ballots has dropped back to where it was before the pandemic. I think well see that continue.

That doesnt mean there wont be any mail-in ballots. There will be a lot of them, and they still take time to count. But in a state like Georgia or North Carolina, where you had a huge number of mail-in ballots in 2020, thats dropped back to a lower share, with most of the preelection voting happening early in person.

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In North Carolina specifically, they no longer accept mail-in ballots after Election Day, even if they were postmarked by Election Day, so you wont have that uncertainty about the number of mail-in ballots that could be out there.

I think in Pennsylvania, its all but two of the counties there have taken grant money that requires that they count continuously through the end. So rather than having some counties that might count during the day and then stop overnight, theyre going to be counting around the clock.

Whether theyll be reporting around the clock is a different question, but it should get them to the end of the count faster, even if it does extend beyond Election Day itself.

CNN rates seven states as being battlegrounds. What are the early bellwethers in those states?

AGIESTA: In Georgia, well start to see early in-person votes reported quickly. Well see mail-in ballots reported really quickly. So well get a good sense of whether that batch of early votes is as Democratic as it had been in the past, or is there any shifting in the partisan balance of preelection votes versus Election Day votes.

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I think well see a similar dynamic in North Carolina.

A person picks up a sticker at a polling station in Atlanta on October 16, 2024. - Megan Varner/Reuters

Within each of those states, well be looking at the margins in specific types of counties. Are the rural counties as strongly (Donald) Trump as they used to be? Its been a pretty prominent (Kamala) Harris strategy to try to shrink the margins in those rural counties. Is that happening in those counties that count pretty quickly?

At the same time, in the more urban counties in these earlier reporting states, is the turnout looking like it would in an election where a Democrat winds up winning? Or is it looking more like it did in 2016, when urban turnout was a little bit down relative to the norm?

Are the vote divides in those more urban counties similar to what they were in 2020, or do they look different this year?

Those changes year to year in different types of counties are probably where wed be focusing our attention early on.

Within the states that happen later in the night, in Arizona, in Nevada, Michigan and, to some extent, Wisconsin, there are the key counties that I think everybody who follows elections knows at this point.

In Arizona, its all about Maricopa.

In Nevada, its Clark and Washoe, because those are where the people live.

In Wisconsin, well be looking at those Milwaukee suburbs. How strong is the Democratic turnout in a place like Dane County?

What are we seeing in an area like Grand Rapids in Kent County in Michigan thats been kind of swinging over the last few elections?

We have those places identified that are critical to watch, and well see how they turn out over the course of the night.

Is there a precedent in your career for a race thats this close heading into Election Day?

AGIESTA: I was an actual adult in 2000. Thats probably as close as its ever gonna be.

WOLF: But did it seem as close in 2000 heading in? Im trying to remember.

AGIESTA: I dont think it did. I dont know that it was quite as close in so many places. But I mean, it ultimately came down to a few hundred votes in Florida. New Mexico was decided by a few hundred votes. New Hampshire was decided by a very small margin. The places were different, but it was pretty tight.

Conversely, could it end up being not close at all?

AGIESTA: It could. I mean, polls are wonderful tools, and obviously I think that they are wonderful measures of how people are feeling, what theyre thinking, how they are making the decisions that they ultimately will make in any given election.

But theyre not precise to the level that they would need to be to tell you that a 1-point shift is happening, or that a margin that looks like its going to be a tied race, who actually is up or down in that kind of race. A poll cant tell you that. We have to wait for the votes to be counted to know.

Theres a surprise every election. What is something youre worried about this year?

AGIESTA: (Laughs.) Im worried about so many things. I think my biggest worry is that it could potentially take a lot longer than we expect, given the tightness of the preelection polls.

In 2020, we were able to make a final projection on the presidency on Saturday. I think the most likely scenario this year is that its a little bit earlier than that.

But if it comes down to a situation where were waiting on a state that has to go through a recount process, or were waiting on a tied Electoral College or something, then it stretches out into possibly December.

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CNNs Van Jones had a grim and deeply concerned reaction as he realized Donald Trump was on the verge of defeating Kamala Harris and regaining the presidency.

The cable news commentator was live on the networks election coverage panel Tuesday night as he described Trump returning to power as a nightmare, and showed particular empathy for Black women who supported Harris, along with immigrants and trans youth.

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Im thinking about the people who are not a part of anybodys elite who are hurting tonight, Jones said. There are African American women who know a little bit about being talked down to, and know a little bit about having their economic dreams crushed, who tried to dream a big dream over the past couple months. And tonight, theyre trading in a lot of hope for a lot of hurt. And they were hoping that maybe this time, one of their own could be seen as worthy. And once again, theyre facing rejection, and that hurts. They thought tomorrow morning theyre going to walk out with their shoulders back a little bit, maybe able to breathe for the first time and feel like they belong someplace. They did everything that they knew how to do, and its going to be harder than it should be tomorrow for them to hold their heads up.

Continued Jones: And theyre not the only people who are hurting tonight. If youre trans, if youre a parent of a trans kid, your childs face was used as a springboard to power for somebody, and that doesnt feel good. There are going to be people tomorrow; were going to be handing clothes [to immigrants at] the dry cleaners who dont have papers. Theres going be people who are going to be cleaning your teeth tomorrow who dont have papers and they are terrified tonight. So its easy to blow this off  Oh, look at the elite, theyre gonna get their comeuppance. Its not the elite who are going to pay the price. Its people who woke up this morning with a dream and are going to bed with a nightmare, and those people deserve to be respected and held and talked to. Those are the people who are going to pay the price, whatever Donald Trump decides to do.

The rest of the CNN panel respectfully remained dead silent during Jones comments.

The comments come as Hollywood celebrities likewise are reacting to Trumps victory. Dont Look Up filmmaker Adam McKay wrote: Who would have guessed lying about Bidens cognitive health for 2 yrs, refusing to do an open convention for a new nominee, never mentioning public healthcare & embracing fracking, the Cheneys & a yr long slaughter of children in Gaza wouldnt be a winning strategy? Anyone with half a brain. But I thought liberals whole thing is being smart? Its not? They actually just blindly cheer the parade of rickety optics wrapped up in New York Times fonts that is the modern Dem Party? Well at least its time for the dusty hacks & careerists to spread their feathers wide post election and blame Russia and third party candidates. That should fix things.

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Meanwhile, on The Daily Shows election night special, a visibly frustrated Jon Stewart ended with a message of hope and reassurance: I promise you, this is not the end.

Harris is expected to give her concession speech later on Wednesday from her alma mater, Howard University.

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Van Jones on CNN - Credit: CNN.com

CNN commentator Van Jones spoke for millions of Americans last night when he acknowledged the harm and fear a second Donald Trump presidency will cause. Jones reflected on the election results on air early Wednesday morning, becoming audibly choked up as he spoke.

Im thinking about the people who are not part of anybodys elite, who are hurting tonight, Jones said. There are African American women who know a little bit about being talked down to. They know about having their economic dreams crushed. They tried to dream a big dream over the last couple of months. Tonight, they are trading in a lot of hope for a lot of hurt.

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He added that Black women had been hoping to see themselves mirrored in their leader for the first time. They were hoping that maybe this time, this time, one of their own could be seen as worthy, Jones said. And, once again, they are facing rejection, and that hurts. They thought tomorrow morning they are going to walk out with their shoulders back a little bit. Maybe be able to breathe for the first time, and belong someplace.

Jones also expressed concern for other minorities, many of which Trump disparaged during his campaign.

If you are a parent of a trans kid, your childs face was used as a springboard to power for somebody, he said. That doesnt feel good. There are going to be people tomorrow were going to be handing clothes at the dry cleaners to people who dont have papers. There are going to be people cleaning your teeth tomorrow who dont have papers. They are terrified tonight.

The commentator said that it wont be the liberal elites who suffer during a second Trump term, but in fact many of his own supporters along with those who supported Harris.

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Its easy to blow this off and say, Oh the elites, theyre going to get their comeuppance, Jones said. Its not the elites who are going to pay the price. Its the people who woke up this morning with a dream and are going to bed with a nightmare. Those people will pay the price for whatever Donald Trump decides to do.

Jones shared a video of his appearance on social media, noting, People woke up this morning with a big dream. They are going to wake up tomorrow in a nightmare. But we will find a way through.

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(WFRV)  As the weather begins to cool off with snow and sleet inevitably approaching Wisconsin roads in the coming months, authorities are urging caution while driving in poor conditions.

The Wisconsin State Patrol posted on Facebook urging drivers that the posted speed limit is intended for ideal travel conditions:

Clear weather

Dry roads

Low traffic

Police: Wisconsin driver hurt after crashing while going 100+ miles per hour

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The post added as slogan, SNOW=SLOW, to urge motorists to drive at safe speeds when road conditions are poor, especially when the winter driving season hits Wisconsin.

For information and tips on driving during the winter, visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportations website.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
A key milestone in Benins textile industry development is the recent construction of a textile production centre south of Cotonou where all cotton used is verified by CmiA.

AbTF senior project manager Gerlind Baz praised the initiative and said: "African textile production is gaining momentum, and cotton made in Africa makes a major contribution to ensuring that sustainability plays a key role."

The CmiA standard supports sustainable cotton farming across Africa, covering 30% of the continents cotton production in 11 countries south of the Sahara and working with 900,000 small-scale farmers.

In Benin, cotton farming has adhered to CmiA standards since 2005. Together with three cotton companies in Benin, AbTF is working through its CmiA and CmiA Organic standards to improve market access for cotton producers and to make people more resilient to the effects of climate change while protecting the environment and biodiversity. Worldwide, the standard has more than 2,700 partners in the textile chain.

During World Cotton Day celebrations in early October, an AbTF delegation visited Benin alongside partners from GIZ and PAN UK to observe the CmiA projects impact.

The group toured CmiA Organic cotton farms in the Aklampa area, meeting farmers who are part of the Growing Benins Organic Cotton Sector project, which improves the living conditions of small-scale farmers and helps them transition to organic practices.

Around 45,500 individuals are said to benefit indirectly from this project, which is coordinated by PAN UK, implemented under the leadership of the non-governmental organisation OBEPAB (Organisation Beninoise pour la Promotion de lAgriculture Biologique), and supported both financially and substantially by AbTF and the cotton trading company Paul Reinhart AG.

It is also supported by GIZ as part of its Sub-Saharan Cotton Initiative, with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) hosted the first Hamburg Sustainability Conference on 8 October 2024, where global leaders gathered to discuss sustainable cotton production and solutions for tackling climate change's impact on small-scale farmers and the textile industry.

"AbTF, CmiA support Benins sustainable cotton sector" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.




Its an absolute tragedy, Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard said

Montrose County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Dallas Roberts Dallas Roberts

Dallas Roberts, a college student who went missing in Colorados Gunnison National Park, has been found dead.

Its an absolute tragedy, Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard told McClatchy News in a phone interview published on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The Montrose County Sheriff's Office first reported Roberts was missing in a Facebook post shared on Oct. 30. According to the department, the 19-year-old was last seen on Oct. 28 in "the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park area."

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Related: 20-Year-Old Bowdoin College Student Found Dead in Off Campus Parking Lot: 'Heartbroken'

The search for Roberts ended after his body was discovered inside the national park, the Montrose County Sheriffs Office confirmed on Nov. 2, reports KKCO.

Park rangers found his vehicle "crashed 150 feet off the road and down a hill" in the park on Oct. 28, but his body was not found, KKCO adds. Roberts vehicle was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed before veering off the road.

The family is quite concerned as well. Theyve been trying to do searches on their own too. Theyve been very cooperative in trying to find Mr. Roberts, Lillard said before Roberts' remains were found, the Montrose Daily Press reported.

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Related: Missing Dartmouth College Student, 26, Found Dead in Connecticut River: 'Exceptionally Gifted'

Were gravely concerned because of the extremely cold weather, Lillard added at the time.

Grand Junctions Daily Sentinel previously reported that park rangers could not immediately respond after Roberts' crash because they were on the North Rim of Gunnison at the time.

Lillard said a cadaver dog was brought in by the Montrose County Sheriffs Office and Mesa County Sheriffs Office to assist with the search, reports McClatchy News. National Park Service officials found a sweater, later identified by Roberts' family as his, about half a mile from the wreck days later.

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Related: Missing College Student Found Dead in Submerged Car  Weeks After Accidentally Driving into River

Lillard said drone footage assisted emergency rescue crews in locating his body lying in bushes about 200 feet beneath a bench midway down the granite cliffside.

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Roberts was a student at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction and formerly lived in Montrose, where he still has family, reports the Daily Sentinel.

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Roberts official cause of death has not yet been determined.

The Black Canyon area of Gunnison National Park sits on approximately 31,000 acres and is known for its exceptionally rugged, remote terrain, as well as being home to the Gunnison River.


Colorado voters thwarted a proposed hunting ban Tuesday, according to election results from the Secretary of State. Although the most recent polling had Coloradans evenly split over the issue, the results show that the majority of Colorado voters heeded the concerns voiced by the states hunters, conservationists, and wildlife experts. The Associated Press called the race Wednesday after the ban failed to pass by a margin of more than 55 percent. Although votes were still being counted that morning, the latest numbers showed 1,347,538 no votes and 1,080,260 yes votes.

If passed, Prop 127 would have banned all mountain lion hunting and bobcat trapping in the state, and it would have placed a preliminary ban on lynx hunting should the species ever lose protections in the future.

The ballot measure asked voters: Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning a prohibition on the hunting of mountain lions, lynx, and bobcats, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting the intentional killing, wounding, pursuing, entrapping, or discharging or releasing of a deadly weapon at a mountain lion, lynx, or bobcat; creating eight exceptions to this prohibition including for the protection of human life, property, and livestock; establishing a violation of this prohibition as a class 1 misdemeanor; and increasing fines and limiting wildlife license privileges for persons convicted of this crime?

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But the proposal was about more than just big cat hunting. Hunters and conservationists viewed it as a referendum on the future of wildlife management in Colorado (and potentially elsewhere), as Prop 127 would have set the stage for future hunting bans and taken even more decision-making power away from the wildlife managers at Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Those wildlife professionals saw the efficacy of ballot-box biology during the last major election in 2020, when Colorado voters narrowly passed Prop 114, an initiative to reintroduce gray wolves into the state. The measure passed even though CPW rejected a similar proposal in 2016. But since the agency is prohibited from taking a stance on ballot initiatives, CPW stayed silent while a slim majority of Coloradans (less than 51 percent) enacted the first voter-led predator reintroduction in North American history.

Hunters gathered at a rally in Denver last month to raise awareness about the proposed cat hunting ban. Photo by Dac Collins

Prop 127, it would seem, was a tipping point for some employees in the agency. Because this year, the Colorado Wildlife Employees Protective Association, which includes around 200 CPW employees, broke with 77 years of tradition by speaking out against Prop 127. In early October, the CWEPA issued a first-of-its kind resolution supporting science-based wildlife conservation and the North American Model of Wildlife Management.

[We] hold it to be self-evident that all wildlife in Colorado is best protected, enhanced, and managed via the science-based wildlife professionals employed by the State of Colorado for such purposes, the resolution reads. And while it didnt name Prop 127 specifically, CWEPA president Casey Westbrook told The Post Independent that the initiatives inclusion on the 2024 ballot was the main impetus for having a resolution to explain where were at.

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Although its unfortunate this explanation was necessary, it likely played a role in the final vote, which has been celebrated by Colorado hunters and conservationists. Those groups won a hard-fought political battle by reminding voters that wildlife management should be guided by science, not emotions, and that regulated hunting drives ecological success.

Colorados mountain lions are perhaps the best example of this. There were only a couple hundred of these cats left in 1965, when CPW began managing them as a big-game species, and after 59 years of regulated hunting, their population is around 4,000 strong. Todays lion hunters have little impact on this population, as cougar hunting remains one of the most highly regulated activities in the state. The average success rate for lion hunters is around just 19 percent, according to CPW. Out of the 2,599 cougar tags purchased last year, 2,097 went unfilled.

Dan Gates, who led the opposition to Prop 127 as the executive director of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, also thinks that the controversial passage of Prop 114 helped increase voter turnout this election season. He pointed to the ongoing concerns around wolf reintroduction in Colorado, and the fact that many voters are fed up with the idea that public opinion should replace scientific expertise when it comes to managing the states wildlife.

A biologist checks a darted cougars teeth. Mountain lion populations are currently healthy and well managed in Colorado. Photo by Jacob W. Frank / NPS

It just got people to pay attention, Gates says, referring to the narrow passage of Prop 114 in 2020. And he explains that the emotionally-charged campaign for Prop 127 was taken straight from the anti-hunters playbook. Proponents of the hunting ban tried and failed to convince state wildlife commissioners of their opinions, even though a couple of those commissioners have backgrounds in animal welfare. Then they tried to lobby for change at the state legislative level, and when that didnt work, they fell back on Colorado voters as their last resort.

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Read Next: Florida Voters Pass Right to Fish and Hunt Amendment

If anyone thought their intent was to do anything other than to ban all hunting, then they werent paying attention, Gates says. They shot for the moon, and they didnt get what they wanted. So they were hoping the voters would help them accomplish their ultimate goal.

It turns out Colorado voters are more informed than they anticipated.
Michael Fuller, 30, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1, for allegedly murdering his 71-year-old mother, Toni Fuller

Toni Fuller/Facebook Toni Fuller Toni Fuller

Michael Fuller was arrested on Oct. 9 for second-degree assault on a police officer in Namaqua Park in Loveland, Colo.

On Oct. 14, he was released on a $250 cash bond

Then, on Nov. 1, he was arrested for first-degree murder, allegedly killing his mother, Toni Fuller, in her Loveland home

A man was arrested for allegedly killing his mother, weeks after he allegedly assaulted a police officer, in Loveland, Colo., CBS News, 9News and ABC 7 report.

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Michael Fuller, 30, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m. According to a Loveland Police Department Facebook post, his arrest followed a 7 p.m. welfare check-in call on Toni Fuller at her home on Foothills Drive. The caller, reportedly Tonis daughter, said she was worried after she could not reach her mother.

Upon arrival, police allegedly found Michael in the residence and a woman lying on the floor inside. Officers tried to get Michael to step outside to speak with them. The authorities then entered the home and confirmed the woman was dead.

The Larimer County Coroner identified the victim as 71-year-old Toni Fuller, who died of blunt and sharp force injuries. Her death was ruled as a homicide.

Michael was booked into the Larimer County Jail. He was charged with first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and violating a protection order. He's being held on a $10 million cash-only bond.

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Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Loveland Police Department Tip Line at 970-962-2032 or Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868.

Toni Fuller/Facebook Toni Fuller Toni Fuller

Court records note that Toni was Michaels mother, according to 9News. In June 2022, Tonis husband filed for a protection order for both of them, alleging that their son had become physically abusive after using drugs and alcohol.

Michaels father also installed door locks in their bedrooms and alleged that "threats of violence is always there, per 9News.

Related: Prosecutors Say Teen Killed Mom and Showed Friend Corpse: 'Are You Squeamish Around Dead Bodies?'

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Weeks before Michaels Nov. 1 arrest, he was taken into custody for threatening a woman at Namaqua Park in Loveland on Wednesday, Oct. 9, per an LPD Facebook post. At the time, officers arrived at the park around 3 p.m. after learning the woman, who was walking her dog by the park river, was allegedly being yelled at by Michael for allegedly not having a cigarette when he asked for one.

He allegedly threatened to kill her and her dog. He also allegedly threw a beer bottle and a large rock at them, police said. She tried to get away but didn't want to leave her dog behind. Police said Michael then got closer before the woman sprayed pepper spray toward his face and went into the river.

Once officers arrived at the scene, Michael and the alleged victim were in the water. Officers asked him multiple times to get out of the water. He appeared to be intoxicated and was slow to comply with directions, per police's Facebook post.

Officers attempted to use a Bola wrap (remote restraining device) on him, but the attempt was unsuccessful. A few minutes later officers Bola wrapped him again and upon officer contact the male began to physically fight with officers in the water, police continued.

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Michael then allegedly grabbed an officers neck in an attempt to pull him underwater. As he was getting arrested, he allegedly continued to resist and injured another officer.

Katie Wood/The Denver Post via Getty Loveland Police and Courts Building on March 7, 2016. Loveland Police and Courts Building on March 7, 2016.

Related: Ohio Man Accused of Killing Mother, Injuring Father During Argument After Being Kicked Out of Home

Michael was then charged with multiple counts, including second-degree assault on a police officer, felony menacing, and resisting arrest for the Oct. 9 incident, per the Larimer County Jail.

Michaels bond was set at $250 and he was released after posting the bond on Oct. 14, per 9 News.

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A representative for Larimer County Sheriffs Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for more information on Tuesday.


Roxanne McKnight and Dusty Spencer were charged by misdemeanor information on Monday, Nov. 4

CanyonlandsNPS/X Dusty Spencer (left) and Roxanne McKnight Dusty Spencer (left) and Roxanne McKnight

Two residents from Colorado have been charged after allegedly trespassing and stealing artifacts from a historic cowboy camp.

On Monday, Nov. 4, the United States Attorneys Office, District of Utah, announced in a press release that Roxanne McKnight, 39, and Dusty Spencer, 43, of Durango, Colorado, had been charged by misdemeanor information after the incident that occurred on March 23, at the Canyonlands National Park.

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The attorney's office claims the pair entered a fenced-off area of Canyonlands National Park where they then handled and stole numerous historic artifacts preserved in the Cave Springs Cowboy Camp.

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CanyonlandsNPS/X Dusty Spencer (left) and Roxanne McKnight Dusty Spencer (left) and Roxanne McKnight

Related: Arrest Made in Theft of Statue of Buddha Valued at $1.5 Million

This historic camp was protected by fencing and clear warnings prohibiting visitors from entering the area, which McKnight and Spencer disregarded, authorities continued in the release.

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McKnight and Spencer are charged with theft of government property, less than one thousand dollars; possessing or distributing cultural or archaeological resources; and walking on or entering archaeological or cultural resource, authorities stated.

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They're scheduled to appear before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead at the United States District Court in Moab, on Nov. 8.

NPS/Neal Herbert Historic artifacts at Cave Springs Cowboy Camp Historic artifacts at Cave Springs Cowboy Camp

Related: Texas Man Admits to Destroying Estimated $5 Million of Art at Museum to Vent Anger Toward Girlfriend: Police

According to KSL.com, the government property that was allegedly stolen was worth less than $1,000. The outlet reported that the man and woman were captured on camera entering the fenced-off area.

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A number of artifacts were allegedly taken, including antique nails.

In May, Canyonlands National Park released a statement following the incident.

Law enforcement park rangers at Canyonlands National Park are seeking information from the public to help identify suspects involved in an archeological theft incident at Cave Spring Cowboy Camp in the Needles district of the park, they wrote at the time.

They added, In a video recorded at the archeological site, the individuals entered a signed-as-closed area, removed artifacts from a cabinet, and handled historic harnesses in a manner that had potential to damage them.


From left, former DaVita CEO Kent Thiry, Unite America executive director Nick Troiano, First Choice Counts founder Jason Lupo and Republican activist Candice Stutzriem participate in a debate on Proposition 131 at the University of Denver on Oct. 24, 2024. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)

Colorado voters on Tuesday rejected a sweeping plan to overhaul the states elections system hatched by some of the states wealthiest and most influential political donors.

Results for Proposition 131, backed by the group Colorado Voters First, showed 55.2% opposed to 44.8% in favor as of 9:43 a.m. Wednesday. The Associated Press called the race at 9:13 a.m.

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The measure proposed to abolish party primaries for most state and federal offices, replacing them with all-candidate primaries for each race, and established ranked choice voting for general elections.

The Colorado measure was one of six on the ballot in 2024 bankrolled by the nonprofit Unite America, which backed a successful effort to establish such a system in Alaska in 2020. The group is co-chaired by Kent Thiry, former CEO of Denver-based dialysis services company DaVita, who previously sponsored successful efforts to open Colorados primaries and create independent redistricting commissions.

Thiry and other proponents, including Gov. Jared Polis and U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, argued that ending partisan primaries will reduce polarization and political dysfunction. Colorado Voters First received over $16 million in contributions from a list of donors that included Thiry, Unite America, Walmart heir Ben Walton, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and Kathryn Murdoch, the daughter-in-law of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

Critics of Proposition 131 argued that it would have privileged wealthy candidates and diminish the value of grassroots campaigning. Both the Colorado Democratic Party and the Colorado Republican Party opposed the measure.

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In the face of a deep-pocketed and well-connected campaign in support of the measure, however, organized opposition was scant. Voter Rights Colorado, a left-leaning issue committee, raised a roughly $500,000 to campaign against the measure. First Choice Counts, an opposition campaign with Republican ties, raised even less, reporting just $8,000 in donations.

Some local elections officials also expressed skepticism about the feasibility of some of Proposition 131s provisions and deadlines.

Ranked choice voting, also known as instant-runoff voting, is a method in which voters rank as many or as few of the four candidates as they wish; candidates with the fewest first-place votes are eliminated until one candidate receives a majority. Variations of ranked choice voting systems have been proposed and adopted in the U.S. going back more than a century, and its already in use at the local level in a handful of Colorado communities, including Boulder, which held its first ranked choice voting election last year.

The elimination of partisan primaries in favor of an all-candidate primary, sometimes known as a jungle primary, was a newer idea. Currently, only California and Washington state hold jungle primaries for congressional and state legislative elections, from which the top two candidates advance to a head-to-head general election.

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Unite Americas model fuses the two ideas into the top-four system. Alaska approved a ballot measure adopting the model in 2020 and became the first state to hold an election under the Unite America model in 2022.

The system was credited with helping to elect Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, who defeated former Gov. Sarah Palin to become the first Democrat to represent the state in the House in 50 years, as well as with moderate Republican Lisa Murkowskis defeat of a more conservative challenger.

But those results helped fuel a backlash to the new system, especially among many Alaska Republicans, who put a repeal measure on the ballot this year.

Editors note: This story was updated at 9:45 a.m., Nov. 6, 2024, after The Associated Press called the race.

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A mountain lion lounges in a cottonwood tree on Rooney Road, south of Golden. (Justin Shoemaker via USFWS/CC BY 2.0)

Colorado voters on Tuesday rejected a grassroots ballot initiative that would have banned the hunting and trapping of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx.

The Associated Press called the Proposition 127 race at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, when resulted showed 55.5% opposed and 45.5% in favor. The measure was backed by the group Cats Arent Trophies.

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Under the measure, a person who hunted any of the newly protected species would have been charged with a misdemeanor and faced jail time, fines or the revocation of hunting licenses.

Cats Arent Trophies placed its measure on the 2024 ballot through a signature-gathering campaign after years of unsuccessfully lobbying the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to enact a similar trophy hunting ban.

An average of 500 mountain lions are killed in Colorado annually during a winter hunting season managed by state wildlife officials. Activists have long criticized mountain lion hunts as a cruel practice facilitated by outfitters who advertise an unsporting, guaranteed kill using electronic calls and GPS technology, during which the animals are typically cornered in trees by packs of hounds and then shot by hunters at close range.

An average of 880 bobcats are trapped for their furs in Colorado each year. The hunting or trapping of lynx, a federally protected species, is already prohibited under state and federal law.

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Proposition 127 was opposed by hunting and trapping advocates including the Sportsmens Alliance, which calls the ban the work of animal extremists. Opponents said a ban on hunting mountain lions would cause deer and elk populations to decline, a claim that the measures supporters said isnt backed by science.

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A Colorado pride flag hangs on the west side of the Colorado Capitol on June 15, 2021. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

A defunct ban on same-sex marriage added to the Colorado Constitution in 2006 has now been repealed by voters.

Amendment J, referred to the 2024 ballot by the Colorado General Assembly, had 63.6% of the vote as of 9 p.m. Tuesday. The Associated Press called the race at 8:50 p.m. As a constitutional amendment, the measure needed 55% of the vote to pass.

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The measure removes language added by a previous constitutional amendment, approved by Colorado voters 18 years ago, that stated that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.

That provision has been inoperative since the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. But supporters of Amendment J argued it was necessary to protect LGBTQ+ rights that have been put at risk by the U.S. Supreme Courts 6-3 conservative majority.

The measure was backed by the Freedom to Marry Colorado campaign, which received funding from organizations including the Rose Community Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign and LGBTQ+ advocacy group One Colorado.

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(Oliver Helbig/Getty Images)

Colorado voters appear to have approved a ballot measure that would allocate state funding for police training, according to preliminary election results.

Proposition 130 would make a one-time appropriation of $350 million to a new police officer training fund under the Colorado Department of Public Safety. It would also implement a death benefit of $1 million for families of law enforcement officers, first responders and firefighters killed in the line of duty.

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The measure was ahead with 53.1% in favor as of noon Wednesday. The Associated Press had yet to call the race.

The Colorado Legislature would be required to allocate funding for CDPS to distribute to local law enforcement agencies to recruit, train and retain officers. The measure doesnt require one lump-sum payment, so the Legislature will likely distribute the funding over a few years.

Potential uses for the funding include increased salaries, one-time recruiting bonuses, new hires, training programs and the death benefit.

Advance Colorado, a conservative dark money nonprofit that has spent millions to influence state elections in recent years but which is not required to disclose its donors, sponsored the measure.

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A coalition of organizations including the ACLU of Colorado, the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, New Era Colorado and the Colorado Center on Law and Policy opposed Proposition 130.

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Teachers stage a sit-in at the Colorado Capitol while students meet with the governor's staff to voice their concerns about gun violence during a protest in the wake of recent shootings at Denver's East High School, in Denver, March 24, 2023. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline)

Colorado will become one of the first states in the country to impose a tax on the sales of guns and ammunition.

Proposition KK, a measure referred to the ballot by Democrats in the Colorado General Assembly earlier this year, won with 54.2% in favor and 45.8% opposed as of Wednesday morning. The Associated Press called the race at 2:18 a.m.

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The new law will levy a new 6.5% excise tax on sales of guns, gun parts and ammunition, with the funds going towards mental health services, gun safety programs and support services for victims of violent crimes.

California lawmakers imposed a similar 11% tax on gun sales last year. These new state-level taxes will be collected on top of an existing federal firearms excise tax of 11%.

Groups including Violence Free Colorado, the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance campaigned in support of the measure. It was opposed by the National Rifle Association, which called the proposed tax nothing more than an attack on the Second Amendment and those who exercise their rights under it.

State fiscal analysts projected that the tax will raise up to $39 million annually. It will allocate $30 million a year to the Colorado Department of Public Safetys fund for crime victim services. An additional $8 million will fund behavioral and mental health services, with the remainder going towards a state fund for school security grants.

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The latest research from the Access Group has identified that the lack of integration between technology systems is impacting accountants' time management, reported Accounting Times.

The report, titled Beyond the Numbers: An Accountants Perspective 2024, draws on a survey of 422 accountants to shed light on the industry's hurdles.

Among the surveyed accountants, 68% feel that their profession is harder now than ever before, with 9% stating that work has become easier since the start of their careers.

The role of technology in accounting, according to 91% of respondents, could save them at least one hour per day if systems were better integrated.

About 53% estimate they could save four hours or more each day, while 33% foresee saving upwards of seven hours weekly if their systems worked cohesively.

The Access Group APAC president Kerry Agiasotis said: Despite the promise that technology would streamline processes, too many tools that required manual interaction had the effect of creating more work.

Technology is often billed as the key to relieving workload, but our research has shown that the urban sprawl of unplanned, non-integrated and siloed technology is negatively impacting accountant workloads.

The research also revealed that 85% of accountants consider technological proficiency essential for success, yet 40% are burdened with a heavy workload, and 26% feel overwhelmed.

In addition, the report uncovered that 84% of participants believe their clients value advice, mentoring, and guidance.

It also showed that many accountants are managing three to five different technology platforms to automate workflows, but those with more platforms are less likely to have integrated systems.

Agiasotis emphasised the desire among accountants to move away from manual processes, which involve re-keying data and necessitate double-checking for accuracy, as these tasks consume valuable time.

He noted that the Access Group is committed to addressing the issue of disconnected point solutions for accountants and firms in Australia and New Zealand.

"Access Group: Lack of tech integration hurts time management " was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand.




LISBON, Ohio (WKBN)  Voters did not approve a levy for the Columbiana County Park District.

According to unofficial returns, over 62 percent voted no on the levy.

This was the fourth time that the park district had put a levy on the ballot. This time, they scaled back how much they were asking.

The Columbiana County Park District oversees three parks across the county. Previously, the county used money from oil and gas leases to fund the parks, but the revenue from those leases is running out. That is what prompted officials to explore putting a levy on the ballot.

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The failure will force the park board to cut maintenance costs for upkeep of the parks.

So thats where well be looking to really curtail to a bare minimum the maintenance that were able to do on the parks. Which is unfortunate because weve got them in really good condition right now. But we just wont be able to keep that up in the future, said Columbiana County Park Board Chairperson Eileen Dray-Bardon.

The park board did put in a request to the county commission for financial help in the event of a levy failure but after the sales tax levy was voted down, its unlikely they will get any additional funding from the county.

Jon Rudder contributed to this report.

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Don Kelly has won the race for district attorney of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit, beating Anthony Johnson by a margin of 3,978 votes.

Kelly (R), the acting district attorney, told the Ledger-Enquirer after his victory Tuesday night, Im really grateful to all the people who turned out and voted.

Kelly said he also is grateful for the clean campaign run by Johnson.

Nobody attacked the other person personally, and I respect that a lot, and Im glad thats the way it was done, Kelly said.

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Kelly said he plans to make the system more efficient in his first elected term as DA, which he said his office already has been working on. The circuits judges will start a schedule in January that he said will be a step toward this goal.

They (the judges) agreed to a scheduling system where we can put four attorneys going to every judge for every trial docket as opposed to two attorneys, he said.

Kelly said he will be looking at a couple of different programs that offer services geared toward people at risk for violence before they commit a serious violent crime.

This was certainly a team effort and there were a lot of people who helped me along the way, Kelly said.

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Kelly succeeds Stacey Jackson, who died in May.

Johnson (D), a prominent defense attorney in the Columbus area, told the Ledger-Enquirer after the final results were reported Tuesday night, Even though I lost, and I wouldve loved to have won, Im not discouraged.

Johnson said he thinks the close nature of the race shows his philosophies are welcomed throughout the circuit.

Johnson also spoke about the style and substance of the race by both candidates.

I think we (Johnson and Kelly) ran a very clean race, a race that was about the issues, he said.

When asked if he would run again, Johnson said hes not willing to commit.

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What I will say is that I have thought long and hard about running for other elected positions throughout the community, Johnson said.

Kelly, a Republican, is from Columbus and graduated from Hardaway High School and from the University of Georgia. He earned his law degree from Georgia State University College of Law.

Acting District Attorney Don Kelly waits for updates to the election results during his watch party at the downtown Columbus Marriott hotel Nov. 5, 2024.

Kelly has 22 years of experience as a prosecutor with most of it in the local circuit. He has run the DAs office since Jackson went on medical leave on Nov. 27, 2023. Kelly was appointed DA in May by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp after Jackson died.

Kelly previously pledged to continue to focus on public safety, especially violent crimes, by holding those who commit crimes in our circuit responsible for their actions.

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Don is running for District Attorney because now, more than ever before, we need a proven leader with a clear mission to protect every citizen from the growing threat of gang violence in our community, Kellys campaign website says.

Johnson is a Columbus native who graduated from Carver High School in 2005 and then joined the Air Force, where he gained an associates degree before earning his bachelors degree from Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, New Jersey, in 2009.

Johnson received his law degree in 2012 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Auburn Hills, Michigan, he said.

Johnson said he was on active duty in the Air Force from 2005 to 2009 before serving in the Air Force reserves from 2009 to 2016. Johnson has been in the Army Reserves since 2016, he said.

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Johnson received his license to practice law in 2012 with experience working as a public defender in addition to his private practice.

Johnson said he wants to focus on gangs and juvenile violence with another priority being speeding up the discovery process in court cases. Discovery is the process in which prosecutors share their evidence with defense attorneys prior to trial.

Johnson said he would also employ the judicial systems accountability courts more often diverting first-time offenders from serving extended jail or prison time. The aforementioned courts specialize in cases involving issues like mental health and drug addiction.
Ysabel Jurado marched into the Highland Park hipster bar Block Party on election night dressed to impress her cheering supporters.

Hot pink power suit and heels. Fuschia satin blouse. Hoop earrings. Hair tied back with a clip. A smile as wide as the double-digit lead she had over the incumbent, Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de Leon, in early returns.

My eyes went to Jurado's neck. In an Instagram video the day before, she had worn a red and silver pendant of the archangel Michael, his wings spread out in triumph, a shield in one hand and a sword in another. She had it on again.

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In the Book of Revelations, Michael and his army of angels cast Satan and his minions out of heaven. I couldnt think of a better metaphor for the battle over District 14 that was ending that night.

Read more: Ysabel Jurado leads Councilmember Kevin de Leon; Hutt and Nazarian also ahead

For a year and a half, De Leon  "that old serpent," as Revelations 12:9 would have called him  had stymied opponents who demanded that he resign from his Eastside seat for his role in a secretly recorded, racist conversation that scandalized the city in 2022.

Then came Jurado, a Highland Park native and first-time candidate who stunned L.A.s political establishment by placing first in the March primary ahead of De Leon and two Eastside Latino Assembly members. If Tuesday's results hold, she will be the city's first Filipino American council member, besting a Latino politician who has served as an Assembly member and leader of the state Senate.

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De Leon's camp dismissed the primary win as an anomaly and Jurado as a not-ready-for-prime-time joke. In tense debates, the incumbent repeatedly called his challenger a liar and a complainer and openly theorized that she had faked a COVID diagnosis to have a debate rescheduled. His supporters spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on negative mailers and ads casting Jurado as everything from a puppet of outside interests to a usurper who would end nearly 40 years of Latino representation in the district.

Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de Leon speaks to supporters as election results are seen on a screen during an election watch party in Los Angeles. (Ryan Sun/For The Times)

In the last two weeks of the campaign, the Los Angeles Police Protective League contributed $445,000 to De Leon's side after Jurado quoted a song with the lyric F the police in response to a question by a student, who turned out to also be a De Leon aide, about defunding law enforcement.

The archangel Michael is the patron saint of police officers, so I wanted to ask Jurado if her pendant was a sly dig at her antagonists.

I had no chance: The Block Party crowd swarmed her.

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The 34-year-old single mother hugged everyone in the narrow bar area as she walked toward the patio, where the applause grew even louder. A volunteer presented her with a bouquet of white orchids  her campaigns official flower  and red roses, the emblem of the Democratic Socialists of America, which supported her campaign.

More people! she proclaimed in happy disbelief.

One of those people was Nithya Raman, a member of the councils progressive bloc that will grow to four if Jurado maintains her lead.

You did it! Raman told Jurado. Incredible. Now, the real work begins.

Next up was former Councilmember Mike Bonin. He and his young son, who is Black, were the subjects of some of the nastiest attacks on the leaked audio.

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My God," Bonin exclaimed, "youre the only bright spot in my evening." At that point, Donald Trump already had a commanding lead over Kamala Harris.

L.A. Unified board member Rocio Rivas was there, along with Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and City Controller Kenneth Mejia, who wore a warm-up jacket done up like the flag of the Philippines.

Nearby was Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, Jurado's fellow Democratic Socialists of America member. I asked him how he felt, with District 14 residents doubling down on progressive politicians on a night when Trump was on the verge of the presidency and Republicans were taking the Senate.

Ysabel Jurado gives an upbeat speech to supporters at her election night party in Highland Park. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

It goes to show that L.A. has to take the lead on how to win with a multiracial coalition on issues that matter, and fight like hell, Soto-Martinez replied. She was able to speak to issues that Latinos care about, like housing and wages. And folks were looking for hope. She was able to give that.

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For every elected official present, there were far more regular folks, like Rose Hills residents Naida Serak and Roxanna Stroska. They showed me photos of shattered sidewalks in their neighborhood and senior citizens forced to use wheelchairs in bike lanes. The two said they invited De Leon and Jurado to a neighborhood meeting, and only Jurado showed up.

I felt if Ysabel could do something, she would, even though she wasnt even in office, the 38-year-old Serak said.

Kevin did nothing in his time to address our problems, added Stroska, 53. She mentioned the food giveaways that De Leon ramped up across District 14 after the audio leak. Instead, he played into the needs of constituents to survive.

Read more: Column: Ysabel Jurado made history in the primary. Can she do it against Kevin de Leon?

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Axel Orozco said he knocked on doors across his native Boyle Heights and asked residents what they wanted from a council member. When most cited safety, he organized a meet-and-greet with Jurado and other local mothers at the Wabash Recreation Center.

They liked her so much that a lot of them said, Even if I cant vote, Ill tell my sisters or daughters who can to vote for her,' said Orozco, 24. We did so much of this. Our legs may be tired, but those muscles came in clutch!

Ysabel Jurado receives flowers from a supporter as she arrives at her election night party in Highland Park. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Lincoln Heights resident and business owner Memphis Perez didnt vote in the primary. About three months ago, he reached out to Jurados campaign after the rent on his corner store rose dramatically. He said they connected him with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, along with applications for business grants.

Dude, thats what made everything for me, said the 44-year-old. If Ysabel can do that for me with no power, imagine what she can do for any tiendita when shes at City Hall.

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Jurado tried to make her way to a podium to address the jubilant crowd, but well-wishers kept pulling her aside for selfies or just to stand in her presence. When she finally got there, chants of Ysabel! drowned out her voice, inspiring Jurado to do a quick, in-place happy dance.

My dad dropped me off, she began, and he said, Watch your language.

The audience laughed. Then she got serious.

Speaking without a microphone in a soft but direct voice, Jurado said in a prepared speech that what motivated her to run was the audio leak.

Once again, my community had been betrayed by our leadership, she said  a reference to the parade of District 14 council members who have brought scandal to the Eastside over the decades.

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They ridiculed us and belittled us, she said of her opponents, adding that they called her every depraved slur in the book.

Jurado cited the oft-repeated axiom of the left: They tried to bury us but didn't know we were seeds.

And here we are, she exclaimed, to roars of approval. Unbroken, unyielding, unapologetically unyielding and present and blooming.

"Theyre going to say that it was just luck or it was a fluke," she continued. "I say we earned every step of our journey."

She credited her team with knocking on 170,000 doors, shouting, Put respect on my teams name!

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We are the orchids that grew from the concrete," she concluded. "And no matter how much they stomp on us, well rise more brilliant than ever before. Heres to all of us, so lets f party!

I pulled Jurado aside for a quick interview and immediately asked about the archangel Michael pendant.

My dad gave it to me a few weeks ago, she responded, adding that it's the patron saint of his hometown in the Philippines. Him and his friend said the St. Michael prayer every night so that I could be unscathed and brave. Things got tough in the end.

How did she come out ahead of De Leon? I asked.

Its like an extension of the family parties we used to throw every week growing up in Highland Park, she said, gesturing around us.

People ate from a buffet from The Parks Finest, the delicious Filipino barbecue spot run by a friend of hers. A DJ spun remixes that spanned the eras, from Stayin Alive to reggaeton.

Thats why we have the music and the food," she said. "All these people are characters from my life, where we know each other and help each other. Were just bigger now.

Is she done citing song lyrics as a response to policy questions?

No! Music is a different language and a way to access. Yeah! I dont think Ill ever quit.

She then recited Nicki Minajs Moment 4 Life in her trademark dorky-but-charming mom way:

Clap for the heavyweight champ, me/ But I couldn't do it all alone, we ...

Then, the Eastside's aspiring archangel flew off to her night.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
My first thought, not particularly original, was to leave the United States.

But then I realized I already have.

I live in California.

If you do, too, you might be hung over right about now. Or youre wondering if this is all a nightmare.

Its not. Well, it kind of is.

Vice President Kamala Harris, a California native, lost to former President Trump, and it wasnt even close. A convicted male felon ran against a female former prosecutor and won decisively, running the table even in so-called battleground states, and Republicans also reclaimed the Senate and could well keep the House.

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A guy whose own running mate referred to him as Americas Hitler, called him a reprehensible idiot and a total fraud, will soon be moving back into the White House after months of juvenile name-calling and vulgarity.

Putin is partying. Ukraine is weeping. And youre Googling real estate listings in Portugal, or Canada, or maybe youre looking into those homes in Italy that sell for $1.

No need.

You live in California, which stands apart (along with 18 other states).

Not entirely, of course. Roughly 40% of the states votes will be logged for Trump when the counting is complete, with red streaks running down the center of the state.

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And California had its own mini-version of a rightward tilt, with Proposition 36 (tougher penalties for criminal and drug offenses) leading in a rout as of Wednesday morning, and criminal justice reform-minded L.A. County Dist. Atty. George Gasc o ns reelection bid going down in flames.

To be fair, Californias dominant, supermajority liberal leadership has been feeble in the face of homelessness, income inequality, child poverty and the housing affordability crisis.

Not that Trump policies as president had much of an impact on those problems in California or any other state, and not that hes come up with any new or ambitious plans since then.

The state of California is a mess, Trump said in September, using us as a foil, but also as a springboard, casting a global economic powerhouse as a failure, a sanctuary cesspool and a symbol of wretchedly woke excess.

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Insult, or badge of honor?

California said no to the candidate who has waged an assault on womens reproductive rights and called his female opponent dumb as a rock.

No to the candidate who called climate change a hoax.

No to the candidate who calls immigrants savages and animals.

No to the candidate who has embraced Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who wants to pull vaccines off shelves, get fluoride out of drinking water, and who knows  maybe send the nations science teachers off to a gulag somewhere.

No to the candidate whose allies put together a second-term playbook called Project 2025, which would seek to wage war nationally on the very idea of Californias progressive policies on abortion, inclusion, gun control, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and the environment.

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No to the candidate who appeals to the worst in us.

Jimmy Carter once said, We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.

Donald Trump once said, They are eating the dogs. The people that came in, they are eating the cats.  They are eating the pets of the people that live there."

In California, we did not vote for that candidate.

We understand that immigration reform is badly needed but know that Trumps promised deportation of millions of people would cost a fortune, destroy major industries, raise the prices of goods and services, rip families apart and cripple the economy.

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In California, defeat does not signal the end of the fight (the state could well end up in court, forced to defend and preserve its progressive policies against Trump attacks). And dont forget that while we stand apart, we do not stand alone.

The other states that went for Harris are Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Illinois, Virginia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

So I suppose you could consider moving to one of those places in these ever-more-divided United States.

But I was born in California and plan to stay put for now, here in the home of the resistance.

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steve.lopez@latimes.com



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LISBON, Ohio (WKBN)  Columbiana County Commissioners say they will try again next year to win approval of the countys sales tax.

The 1% issue was overwhelmingly rejected on Tuesday. Commissioner Mike Halleck thinks the ballot language was too confusing and that led to its defeat.

Well give it another shot. I think we need to do a better job of explaining to the public what its about, but the overriding sentiment was the verbiage. A lot of people just that it was a next tax, Halleck said. Were very simple people. We dont need things explained to us in legal format and if you heard that  I was very concerned from the very beginning, frankly.

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The sales tax brings in about $21 million a year for county government, which is about 70% of the general fund budget.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)Caddo Parish Public Schools newly selected superintendent will host several events to hear directly from stakeholders about their educational needs.

Superintendent Keith Burton will host five listening and learning sessions at several Caddo schools in the coming weeks. Starting today, community members can offer feedback by visiting the district website or texting their thoughts to 318-497-7331, a district news release said.

The series of forums is designed to allow community members to engage directly with the superintendent and provide insights. See the Listening and Learning Tour schedule below.

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November 11: Booker T. Washington High School Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.

November 18: Huntington High School Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.

December 2: Broadmoor STEM Academy Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.

December 5: Northwood High School Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.

December 9: Woodlawn High School Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.

These events are the first step in Burtons plan to seek community input to help inform his decision-making.

Every student, employee, parent or guardian, and community member is encouraged to help shape the future of Caddo Schools by sharing their thoughts on how we can move forward together, Burton said. This is a district where we have so many incredible students and staff members that make us who we are. We want to take what is working well, support those key people, and build on that success to make Caddo a premier school system we can all be proud to call home.

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The state Capitol. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)

 Competitive Virginia races could play a critical role in the battle for Congress.Associated Press

 Richmond voter precinct chief removed from polling location after ballot issues.Richmond Times-Dispatch

 Is casino gambling coming to Petersburg? Voters say loudly, Yes!'Progress-Index

 Veterans Voices: Project Healing Waters helps Richmond veterans heal through fly fishing.WRIC

Some Virginia farmers concerned about drought conditions.WTKR

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IRVING TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  The same township clerk who allowed the Barry County sheriff to seize a voting machine for an investigation into unfounded claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election has asked a judge to allow her to bypass the system for this election.

Irving Township Clerk Sharon Olson asked a judge to allow her office to hand-count ballots, which is not allowed under state law. Shes also asking a judge to keep the Michigan secretary of state from accessing the townships Dominion voting machines before, during and after Tuesdays election.

The 92-page case, originally filed Friday in Barry County against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, was refiled on Tuesday in the state Court of Claims.

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Olson claims a nationwide glitch in Dominions voter-assist terminals, meant to help those with disabilities, automatically destroys the integrity of the machine and of the voting process itself. The machines, she said, wont guarantee voters of Michigan a secure election.

The secretary of state has said the glitch can make it more difficult for those with disabilities to vote but does not affect security.

Benson addresses Dominion ballot machine programming issue

A statement released by the Michigan Department of State on Oct. 25 explained that the Dominion Voter Assist Terminals (VATs) allow voters with disabilities to mark their choices, print the ballot and then put it through the tabulator.

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If a voter using the Dominion VAT votes straight party but then splits their ticket, the voter will receive an error message. The voter will need to go back and de-select their straight-party selection and vote for candidates in the races individually or vote straight party without splitting their ticket. As is always the case, the VAT will allow voters to review their selections before printing the ballot, the statement said.

The Secretary of States Office said it was not possible to fix the programming so close to the election and that it would only make the process more inconvenient for voters who use the VATs.

The issue will be corrected for future elections, the statement said.

Barry County First Deputy County Clerk Sarah VanDenberg said voters should not worry.

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That voter assistance terminal, those have been around for a long time. Its like a large marking pen to help a voter. Its somebody who might be blind or somebody who cant use their hands, VanDenburg said. So, its not anything thats going to flip a vote or change anything.

Trump allies in Michigan charged with felonies involving voting machines, illegal testing

The Irving Township clerk made headlines in 2021 when she allowed a Barry County deputy and a third party to take one of the townships three Dominion tabulators for an investigation by Sheriff Dar Leaf.

The machine was later returned with a broken security seal. The state police seized that machine later for an investigation.

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The Barry County Prosecutors Office said the sheriff found no proof of fraud and has criticized Leaf for continuing to investigate.

The sheriffs investigation into claims of voter fraud all started with a call just before the November 2020 election from the Irving Township clerk to the county clerks office, according to then Barry County Clerk Pam Palmer.

Olson reported a vehicle parked across the street from the township hall with antennas and wires sticking out of it, Palmer said.

She (Olson) was convinced that they were probably scrambling or doing something to her (voting) machine remotely, the former county clerk later said.

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Olson refused to speak with Target 8 on Tuesday.

The clerk is represented by attorney Stefanie Lambert, who is facing criminal charges in an alleged scheme to illegally access voting machines in Michigan after the 2020 election.

In an email to Target 8, the attorney said, Glitch is slang for malfunction.

The deputy county clerk said Irving Township assured her it is using the Dominion tabulators despite the legal dispute.

She said that voters should absolutely trust the system.

Its not clear when the state Court of Claims will rule on the injunction.

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By Ernest Scheyder

(Reuters) -Albemarle, the world's largest lithium producer, said on Thursday it lost more than $1 billion in the third quarter and that it would slash its capital budget amid a 71% drop in prices for the electric vehicle battery metal.

The results underscore the supply glut engulfing the entire lithium industry amid oversupply from China and a softening of aggressive EV adoption rates that has dragged down prices for the ultralight metal.

Charlotte, North Carolina-based Albemarle is making business decisions on the assumption that lithium prices stay in their current range of roughly $12 to $15 per kilogram for the foreseeable future, CEO Kent Masters told Reuters.

"We do think the price is going to be lower for longer," Masters said. "We're positioning the company to compete at that level."

The company last month announced its second reorganization in as many years, describing the move to shrink its business units as necessary to "adapt to dynamic market conditions."

The moves - including cutting at least 6% of its staff - are expected to save at least $300 million to $400 million each year moving forward.

The company also cut its 2025 capital budget in half from this year's levels to a range of $800 million to $900 million.

Masters said the trimmed budget would be used to maintain facilities that operate "at the lower end of the cost curve," although he declined to name specific sites.

Albemarle, which has also cut other costs twice this year, reported a net loss of $1.11 billion, or $9.45 per share, compared with a net profit of $302.5 million, or $2.57 per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Revenue fell more than $1 billion to roughly $1.35 billion, although volumes of lithium sold rose from the year-ago quarter. The sales drop was partially offset by long-term supply contracts with customers that include Tesla.

Shares fell less than 1% in after-hours trading to $96.50.

The company has been financially supported in part by Washington, including a recent grant of $67 million from the Energy Department.

Funds that Albemarle has received under President Joe Biden are expected to all or partially dry up once President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, a concern that dragged down shares of Albemarle and peers on Wednesday.

"We work on both sides of the aisle," Masters said when asked about the U.S. election results. "The energy transition is happening. It's a global dynamic. We'll have to see what Trump does."

FUTURE DEMAND EXPECTATION
Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Democrats spent more money than ever in their bid to flip control of Arizonas legislature away from Republicans, but preliminary  and partial  election results show those efforts came up short of convincing voters in swing districts to award them the levers of power at the Capitol.

Although its too soon to make any declarations, as of 1 a.m. Wednesday, Democrats were positioned to split the 30-member state Senate with Republicans, while the GOP maintained its slim majority in the House of Representatives.

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But a lot could change in the coming days, as county elections officials count ballots overnight and throughout the week.

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Seeing this year as their best opportunity to wrest legislative control from Republicans since the GOP rose to power in the mid-1960s, Democrats went all out, spending more than $10 million in a handful of battleground races.

Republicans tried to match the flood of spending by Democratic groups, managing to counter with almost $7.4 million to protect the one-seat majorities they have in each chamber.

The vast majority of that spending was concentrated in 13 races, mostly in suburban Phoenix and Tucson districts.

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And even among the battleground races, the money has been concentrated in a few contests, with the top five races accounting for nearly $10 million of that spending  and two races attracting more than $2 million in outside spending each.





The battle for the two House seats in Chandler-based District 13 has attracted the most money from outside groups, with $2.43 million flowing into the contest. Nearly two-thirds of that  more than $1.5 million  has gone to boost Democratic newcomers Brandy Reese and Nicholas Gonzales, with about $880,000 spent trying to persuade voters to back incumbent Republican Rep. Julie Willoughby and former GOP lawmaker Jeff Weninger.

With 91% of precincts reporting, the four candidates were at one point separated by fewer than 1,000 votes. Reese had led the field in the early Wednesday morning hours, but by sunrise had fallen into third place, where she trails Willoughby by 2,200 votes.

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One of the districts representatives is currently a Democrat, making it critical for Democrats to win at least one of the seats.

And voters in north Phoenixs District 2 have been bombarded with $2.35 million in outside spending in the Senate contest between incumbent Shawnna Bolick, a Republican, and Democratic state Rep. Judy Schwiebert. The lions share of that spending, more than $1.3 million, has gone to help Schwiebert, with another $1 million backing Bolick.

While Schwiebert jumped to an early lead when initial early ballot results were reported, Bolick overtook her when ballots cast on Election Day were tallied. As of Wednesday morning, she sat with a 1,200-vote lead.

But Democrats are poised to capture a southern Arizona Senate seat that has long been held by Republicans. John McLean, a former Republican, held a more than 5,000-vote lead over Vince Leach, a former legislator, in the race to represent the suburban Tucson Legislative District 17, but Leach has since narrowed the gap to about 2,100.

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Other key Senate races appeared likely to maintain the status quo, with incumbent Democrats Christine Marsh and Eva Burch fending off GOP challengers, while Republican Sens. J.D. Mesnard and T.J. Shope defended their seats.





In other House contests, Republicans and Democrats appeared likely to swap seats in neighboring districts. In Legislative District 16, which encompasses much of Pinal County, Democratic incumbent Keith Seaman trailed Republican Chris Lopez for the second seat by almost 1,200 votes. But in District 17, political newcomer Kevin Volk seemed almost certain to oust GOP Rep. Cory McGarr, who was in third place, about 1,700 votes behind his seatmate, Rep. Rachel Jones.

The Democratic incumbents in Mesa-based Legislative District 9, Lorena Austin and Seth Blattman, held a solid lead over GOP challengers Kylie Barber and Mary Ann Mendoza, though by early Wednesday morning, Mendoza had closed to with 600 votes of Blattman. And Rep. Michele Pena seemed to have defended her seat in heavily Democratic Legislative District 23, which stretches from the southwest Phoenix suburbs to Yuma.

***UPDATED: This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. Nov. 6 to reflect early morning vote tallies.

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Donald Trump has won his second term in office and will soon be the 47th President of the United States, and he may have a Republican-led Congress backing him over the next four years.

Trump's victory was confirmed in the early morning hours of Wednesday, and not too long after it was confirmed that the GOP gained control of the Senate. The U.S. House of Representatives though is still up for grabs with a number of election results needed to be counted after election night on Tuesday.

In Tennessee, the fight for Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn's seat between her and challenger Gloria Johnson came out in favor of Blackburn who will return for her second term in the Senate.

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Here's a look at where it stands now on the House race and which seats cinched the Senate for Republicans.

Who controls the House?

Ahead of Election Day, the House of Representatives was firmly in control of the GOP, a few changes in the House could pull it over to the Democrats though.

There are about two dozen tossup House races, where either party could come away with the win regardless of incumbency, according to Cook Political Report as of Wednesday morning. And while some seats are still up for grabs, other well-known faces have retained their seats in the House.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have already won-reelection. Out of Tennessee, Democrats put up candidates in hopes of ousting seated Republicans, but nothing changed coming out of the red-leaning state.

Who controls the Senate?

The U.S. Senate had 34 seats up for grabs at the start of Election Day. In the early morning hours of Wednesday, Republicans confirmed their control of the Senate with 52 seats going to the GOP.

What's next after Trump's win? When is Inauguration Day?

Now that Trump has been elected as the next president, the next steps start in December.

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Before Trump heads back to the White House states must issue certificates of ascertainment, electors then have to vote in their states and finally, the electoral votes arrive. Once that is completed, it will head to Washington, D.C., to the archivist who will send sets of certificates to Congress, as requested. On Jan. 6, Congress will convene and count the electoral votes.

Finally, we come to Inauguration Day, which takes place on Jan. 20 every four years, here Trump and vice-president elect JD Vance will take their Oath of Office. In 2025, Inauguration Day falls on Monday.

Diana Leyva contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who controls the House? Who controls the Senate? See latest results
After the U.S. Senate was called for Republicans late Tuesday night, attention turned to the fight for control of the U.S. House of Representatives. By early Wednesday morning, control of the chamber was still unclear, as several races were too close to call.

Republicans, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, hoped to defend their narrow eight-seat majority. Meanwhile, Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, hoped to capture control of the lower chamber.

With all 435 seats contested, whether Republicans or Democrats control the House comes down to just a few swing districts. In the current Congress, Republicans hold 220 seats, while Democrats hold 212.

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A few of the swing districts poll-watchers were keeping an eye on Tuesday include:

Michigans 7th District: Republican Tom Barrett beat out Democrat Curtis Hertel, according to The Associated Press.

Maines 2nd District: Democrat Rep. Jared Golden versus Republican Austin Theriault, with the race still too close to call.

Pennsylvanias 7th District: Democratic Rep. Susan Wild versus Republican Ryan Mackenzie, with the race still too close to call.

As of Nov. 1, The Cook Political Report predicted 22 House seats across the U.S. would be closely contested.

Several of the most competitive races that will determine control of the House are in California and other western states where polls closed late in the evening.
CORONADO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Richard Bailey has reached the end of his second and final term as mayor of Coronado and three candidates are vying to replace him.

Voters had their pick between three candidates this November, all of whom are currently sitting on the Coronado City Council  Michael Donovan, John Duncan and Casey Tanaka.

The mayor of Coronado serves a four-year term and is responsible for making decisions on various issues affecting the city. The mayor also serves as the official head of the city for all ceremonial purposes, and makes appointments to boards, commissions and committees.

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Voters had until 8 p.m. on Election Night to vote to determine who will be the next mayor of Coronado.

Unofficial results released Thursday evening shows Duncan initially taking the lead with 46% of the vote, followed by Casey Tanaka with 41% of the vote, and Donovan with nearly 13%.

With the polls closed, the Registrar of Voters will release results in batches until a winner is called. Election officials say the results released immediately after the polls closed largely account for ballots cast prior to Monday, Nov. 4 through early voting opportunities.

San Diego and California Key Race Results 2024

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Election results will continue to roll in over the coming days and weeks as the Registrar of Voters counts ballots cast on Election Day. The county then has until Dec. 5 to certify the results.

FOX 5/KUSI is following the results of the Nov. 5 election. Check back for real-time updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Former President Donald Trump has already had one term in office and his win this election is his second. So he can't run again...right?

How presidential terms work might be a bit confusing since it has been so long since a president has lost a re-election bid after their first term, only to try for the seat again after four years. Essentially, it only allows a person to hold the highest office in the United States twice (which does not have to be consecutive) and not indefinitely.

The U.S. hasn't always had them, but presidential term limits are not something new either. They have been around for more than 70 years.

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NEVADA ELECTION RESULTS: See where the federal, state and local races in Nevada stand

Here's a look at the ins and outs of presidential term limits and how long they have been around.

Is there anything in the Constitution about presidential term limits?

Yes, it is clearly outlined in the 22nd Amendment that a person serving as president can only hold the office twice. Here's what it says:

"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once."

When did presidential term limits become part of the Constitution?

The 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951, according to the National Constitution Center. The idea of term limits came about from Republicans after President Franklin D. Roosevelt won four consecutive elections. His presidency started in 1933 during the Great Depression and spanned over 12 years until his death on April 12, 1945, during his fourth term.

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It took nearly four years for the amendment to be ratified though.

Have there always been presidential term limits?

Not in writing.

America's first president, George Washington, set an unofficial precedent when the first elections in the United States were happening. Washington only served as president twice, declining multiple times to serve a third term.

In later years, Washington's decision to not seek a third term was seen as a safeguard against the type of tyrannical power wielded by the British monarchy during the Colonial era. According to the National Constitution Center, the concept of term limits was discussed at the Constitutional Convention when America was first founded but not added to the Constitution at that time.

Has anyone sought more than two terms as president?

Only a handful of people have sought a third term as president before the 22nd Amendment was ratified.

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Ulysses S. Grant tried for a third term in 1880, but he lost the Republican Party nomination to James Garfield

Grover Cleveland lacked party support for a third term

Woodrow Wilson hoped a deadlocked 1920 convention would turn to him for a third term

Theodore Roosevelt originally passed on running for a third term in 1908, but would later run as third-party candidate in 1912 after a fallout with then-President William Howard Taft. Roosevelt beat Taft, but both lost to Woodrow Wilson.

Has any president won non-consecutive elections?

Yes, but only one. Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States.

Others tried and failed.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Can Trump run again? How many times can a person be president?
Kentuckians voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump for the third time in eight years.

But it was the highly engaged battleground states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina that are sending him back to the White House for a second term.

This will truly be the golden age of America, Trump said at his victory party early Wednesday morning.

The former and now-future president clashed dramatically with Vice President Kamala Harris on policy issues from taxes to healthcare and immigration.

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Trump made major promises including the implementation of strict immigration policies, cutting taxes and embracing an America First approach to problems foreign and domestic.

Its difficult to gauge the unpredictability of such a singular figure in American politics. But based on what he said over the last year on the campaign trail, heres what a second Trump term will likely mean for Kentucky:

Taxes

One of the first issues Trump is likely to act on is pushing for a full extension of his expiring Tax Cut & Jobs Act, which he signed into law in 2017.

The former and future president wants an extension of all of his tax cuts and to go further by attempting to slash taxes on tips and Social Security, which could be a heavier lift in a divided Congress.

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With roughly a third of Kentucky households having a family member receiving Social Security, a tax cut on the entitlement could prove to be a significant windfall for the elderly population.

But it could spark a fight among deficit hawks who have shown a preference for coupling such relief with cuts to other government programs.

Rep. Thomas Massie co-sponsored a bill which would exempt tips from both income and payroll taxes, which could provide an olive branch to Trump. But the proposal faces challenges due to its estimated cost of $150 to $250 billion over ten years.

On the face of it Trumps tax individual cuts should benefit the majority of Kentucky households that make less than $400,000 a year.

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But some analysts say when adding Trumps tariff plan to the mix, his cuts actually turn out to be a net tax increase.

Under the Trump proposals, the middle fifth of Americans would see a tax increase of 2.1 percent of their income while the poorest fifth would see a hike of 4.8 percent. The richest 1 percent would receive an average tax cut equal to 1.2 percent of their income, wrote Jon Whiten, deputy director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Bourbon Tariffs

Regarding those tariffs  no Kentucky industry would be impacted more than bourbon producers.

Trumps unorthodox trade posture, in which he levied significant tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum during his presidency, ended up ensnaring American whiskey, a $9 billion industry in Kentucky. As a candidate hes threatened even more, musing that the word tariff is his favorite in the language.

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But Trump will only have a few months to figure out a way to negotiate out of a dramatic tariff that is dangling over the commonwealths nearly 100 bourbon producers.

Following Trumps first term, the Biden administration worked with the European Union to suspend a 25% European Union tariff on American whiskey. But that suspension faces a cliff at the end of March 2025.

If the U.S. government doesnt negotiate a deal with the EU, a 50% tariff is scheduled to hit American whiskey producers.

Chris Swonger, the president of the Distilled Spirits Council in Washington, which represents numerous Kentucky distilleries, said he would work with the Trump administration to achieve a favorable outcome for domestic producers.

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If we get caught back up in a trade disputeit can have a dramatic impact on American whiskey exports, and we dont want to do that, Swonger said.

During the four years of the previous 25% tariff, American whiskey exports declined by 30%, according to Swonger. Until the threat of the 50% tariff is resolved, Kentucky distillers are unlikely to invest in attempting to bring their product to the European Union.

A Kiplinger study found that Kentucky would be the state hit hardest by Trumps proposed tariffs.

Kentucky would bear the largest total tariff payment, with tariff payments totaling nearly 5% of its state GDP, according to the Kiplinger survey.

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Trump has been dismissive of critiques, saying his tariffs will lure back manufacturing jobs to the U.S. and reduce the domestic trade deficit with China. But critics say it will hurt those at the lowest income rung.

This will be regressive, hitting low-income residents of Kentucky hardest, according to Lindsay Owens, executive director of Groundwork Collaborative and Groundwork Action, an economic think tank in Washington.

Healthcare

For the approximately 75,000 Kentuckians who get their healthcare through the Affordable Care Act, a good amount of money is at stake in 2025 when Trump will likely be pressured by congressional Republicans to allow Obamacare tax credits to expire.

Itll be a high stakes battle over access to a program Republicans have been obsessed with repealing for more than a decade.

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Without those Obamacare tax credits, thousands of Kentuckians may no longer be able to afford healthcare through the federal exchange.

Four million people wouldnt be able to afford it and become uninsured, said Chris Jennings, a private health care consultant who advised former Presidents Obama and Clinton. If its not extended, people would see their marketplace premiums and overall cost-sharing increase.

Jennings believes Trump would likely sacrifice the healthcare subsidies in order to help pay for his tax cuts, and hell likely have a helping hand with a new Republican Senate.

Weve heard ... Mitch McConnell say they dont want to make these tax credits permanent, added Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood on Amazon Primes Election Night.

Immigration

Of all the policies Trump stumped on, immigration was the issue he remained most passionate about, even to the chagrin of some of his advisers.

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Its also the policy his detractors are most fearful hell implement.

There are a litany of promises. Finishing the construction of a border wall and limiting immigration from countries he deems a security risk are among them. The most drastic is his idea to unleash a mass deportation force across the country

While theres no official count of the number of immigrants in the country illegally, the idea has sent a chill through most immigrant communities, regardless of their status.

According to the most recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services numbers, there are 3,004 people in Kentucky with temporary immigration status, more commonly known as TPS holders.

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While the architecture of Trumps immigration overhaul is still in question, advocates hope they can convince the incoming president to better understand their situations and make distinctions.

Protecting family unity is a key concern, and many TPS holders have built families and businesses in the U.S, said Yanira Arias, a TPS holder and activist who works with immigrants in Kentucky.

The greatest need is a legislative reform that enables those under TPS for several years to apply for permanent residence. Neither party included that pressing need in its platform. For TPS holders, the support and actions of local and state officials in places like Kentucky will be critical.
Arguably the most fascinating moon in the Solar System is the Saturn satellite Titan, which has the only known body with liquid seas and rivers (of methane) on its surface.

A new study suggests that the planets icy interior and liquid ocean could be insulated with a three-to-six-mile-thick layer of methane clathrate, which is solid water ice with methane gas trapped in the crystalline structure.

Understanding these geological dynamics on Titan helps scientists study methanes affect on our own atmosphere as well as prepare astronomers for when NASAs Dragonfly mission arrives at the moon in 2034.

Its no secret people love Titan . Some of the fascination comes from its somewhat Earth-like qualities, as its the only body in the Solar System with surface-level lakes, rivers, and seas. However, the planet is also undeniably alien, as the water in the those extraterrestrial waterways is made of methane, and because methane is half as dense as water, swimming isnt an option. Any future spacefarer would sink like a rock (if they somehow survived the moons -180C surface temperature).

But that doesnt mean that other parts of the moon couldnt be potentially more hospitable to life. A team of astronomers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa provided evidence in a study, published in The Planetary Science Journal , that a subterranean ocean could be separated from the surface by a six-mile-thick crust of methane ice. As part of the NASA Cassini Data Analysis Program project, which pores through data gathered from the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft which arrived at Saturn back in 2004, the team discovered that impact craters on Titans surface were shallower than expected. This realization led the scientists to rethink the famous moons internal structure.

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This was very surprising because, based on other moons, we expect to see many more impact craters on the surface and craters that are much deeper than what we observe on Titan, says Research Associate Lauren Schurmeier, a co-author of the study, said in a press statement . We realized something unique to Titan must be making them become shallower and disappear relatively quickly.

To figure out exactly what was going on, the researchers computer-modeled the planets possible topography and concluded that the moons ice shell could be insulated by a three-to-six-mile-thick layer of methane clathrate ice, which is simply a kind of solid water ice with methane gas dispersed through its crystalline structure. Because the authors were unsure of the craters initial size, they compared impact sites with Jupiters similarly-sized icy moon Ganymede, and the results showed a surprise side-effect of this icy crust.

The methane clathrate crust warms Titans interior and causes surprisingly rapid topographic relaxation, which results in crater shallowing at a rate that is close to that of fast-moving warm glaciers on Earth, Schumeier says.

The researchers note that studying Titans methane crust, and how it impacts its hydrological cycle, could help scientists understand how methane can impact Earths climate back home, especially as methane clathrates continue to seep from the permafrost in Siberia . Of course, a warming effect with an ocean far below the surface is a surprisingly similar condition to that of Europa , and NASA just launched a mission to this Jovian moon in search of life beneath its icy surface. So it makes sense that NASA already has a mission, called the Dragonfly mission , to go check out this methane-filled world with a rotorcraft.

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If life exists in Titans ocean under the thick ice shell, Schurmeier says in a press statement, any signs of life (biomarkers) would need to be transported up Titans ice shell to where we could more easily access or view them with future missions. This is more likely to occur if Titans ice shell is warm and convecting.

Well find out when Dragonfly arrives at Titan in 2034. Mark your calendars.



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(NewsNation)  Former President Donald Trump has secured a White House win and now will need to mull over who will join him for his second administration.

While he hasnt confirmed anyone, several names have been swirling as possible contenders.

At the start of his first term, Trump assembled an original Cabinet that featured some more mainstream Republicans and business leaders who ultimately disappointed, or broke publicly with him, or both.

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This time, Trump has promised to value loyalty as much as possible  a philosophy that may ensure he makes picks that are more closely aligned to his ideological beliefs.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

Heres who could join his administration:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

RFK Jr. said Trump asked him to reorganize federal health agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention if he wins the 2024 presidential election.

Hes asked me to clean up the corruption, number one, Kennedy said during a town hall with NewsNations Chris Cuomo. Number two, end the conflicts of interest, return those agencies to their rich tradition of gold standard, empirically based, evidence-based science, evidence-based medicine, and to end the chronic disease epidemic in this country.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks as he endorses Republican presidential nominee former President Trump at a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena, Aug. 23, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz.

Kennedy ran as first a Democrat and later an independent in the election before dropping out and endorsing Trump.

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Trump said he would let Kennedy go wild on issues related to food, medicine and health if elected to another term.

Kennedy, in the past, has disseminated false information about health topics such as vaccines and is known for spreading conspiracy theories, as well. Because of this, NewsNation partner The Hill reports that medical experts have raised concerns about Kennedys potential influence in a future Trump administration.

Elon Musk

Trump has said that Tesla CEO Elon Musk would probably be too busy to serve in his Cabinet if he wins the election in November but suggested the billionaire tech mogul could consult.

Elon Musk speaks as part of a campaign town hall in support of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump in Folsom, Pa., Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

He wants to be involved. Now, look, hes running big businesses and all that, so, he cant really, I dont think hed be [free] for the Cabinet, Trump said in an interview on the Shawn Ryan Show.

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Id put him in the Cabinet, absolutely, but I dont know how he could do that with all the things hes got going, he continued. But he could sort of, as the expression goes, consult with the country and give you some very good ideas.

Trump said in September he would create a government efficiency commission first proposed by Musk, whom Trump said agreed to lead the new task force.

Marco Rubio

The Republican senator from Florida is rumored to be a choice for secretary of state.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks to reporters outside the Senate Chamber on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

Rubio has served on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and as the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee. He was a finalist to be Trumps running mate, and while some members of Trumps base may view the senator skeptically, he would have no trouble getting confirmed by his Senate colleagues.

Aileen Cannon

Cannon is the federal judge who dismissed Trumps federal classified documents and is in the running to be the former presidents attorney general.

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ABC News reported that a proposed personnel roster circulating within Donald Trumps campaign and transition operation lists the Trump-appointed judge as a possible candidate for attorney general.

Mike Pompeo

Pompeo, who served as CIA director and secretary of state during Trumps first term, is considered a top contender for secretary of defense but could land in various slots involving national security, intelligence or diplomacy, reported Reuters.

He stands out as possibly the fiercest defender of Ukraine among Trumps close allies, a position that puts him at odds with most high-ranking figures in Trumps orbit.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, seen here in February 2021 at the Conservative Political Action Conference, has no idea what happened to the whiskey, his lawyer stated. ( Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Vivek Ramaswamy

Businessman Ramaswamy was once on the shortlist as a running mate for Trump and may still be in line for a spot in Trumps White House.

Ramaswamy ran against Trump for president, but after dropping out of the race he threw full support to the former president.

Bloomberg reported that Trump told Ramaswamy he was considering him to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

LACONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE  JANUARY 22: Vivek Ramaswamy encourages voters to support Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in the basement ballroom of The Margate Resort on January 22, 2024 in Laconia, New Hampshire. Ramaswamy ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination but later dropped out and endorsed him. Trump is rallying supporters the day before New Hampshire voters will weigh in on the Republican nominating race with the first-in-the-nation primary. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Donald Trump is set to become the 47th president of the United States, and Elon Musk and Joe Rogan got shout outs while Trump was on stage declaring victory Tuesday night.

Trump wins the White House in a political comeback rooted in appeals to frustrated voters

Musk is one of the wealthiest men in the world, an entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla. Rogan is a well-known podcaster with millions of subscribers. Both based in Austin, Musk and Rogan endorsed Trump for president.

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Its these specific ties to Austin, and Texas at large, that arguably could have helped him get reelected.

Rogan had a major influence in helping Trump break through with younger male voters. Trump visited Austin just weeks before the election to make an appearance on Rogans podcast.

Working class young voters, thats the audience and demographic that Joe Rogan reaches out to, Brian Smith, a political science professor at St. Edwards University said. It really magnified Trumps message to people who might not otherwise hear it.

Trump appears on Joe Rogan podcast

Smith told KXAN he thinks Rogan and Musk will be big players in the Trump administration, because of their influence in his campaign.

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Elon Musk was one of Trumps largest donors instrumental to The Trump victory, and Trump is not going to forget that, Smith said. [People] dont give money to a candidate without expecting something in return. Thats how big money in politics works.

Brian Hughes, a Senior Trump Campaign Advisor, told NBC News in a statement that Trump did want Musk on some sort of commission during his second-term presidency.

With Donald Trump being president, he might actually tap some Texans to move into his cabinet, Smith said. We saw that in 2016 with Rick Perry.

As expected, most Texans voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller posted a photo together, saying they were in Mar-a-Lago on Election Night, supporting Trump.

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After Sen. Ted Cruz secured a win in Texas Senate race  with a margin wider than expected  Trump gave a nod to the outcome of the race that had the incumbent maintaining his seat.

Texas obviously is going to be a big part of the Trump administrations policy, Smith said.

The local and state influence, during the campaign leaves questions whether that influence will continue during Trumps upcoming presidency.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Q : Can you provide details on the 2025 contracts for North American metallurgical and thermal coal? A : Paul Lang, CEO, stated that Arch Resources values the North American market but is willing to walk away if pricing is unfavorable compared to international markets. For 2025, they have committed about half a million tons at just under $150 per ton. Deck Slone, Senior VP, added that this includes about 20% high vol B, which affects the pricing. For PRB, they are maintaining an average price above $15, and for West Elk, legacy contracts at $40 are being replaced with prices up to $30 higher.

The company is cautious about pushing coal into the market due to current weak market conditions, which may affect short-term sales volumes.

Production volumes were depressed in Q3 due to transitioning through difficult reserve areas, leading to higher than normal operating costs.

Arch Resources Inc ( NYSE:ARCH ) anticipates significant cost savings and synergies from the merger, estimated between $110 million to $140 million annually.

The company managed to maintain pricing levels for its PRB and West Elk operations despite a soft market, indicating effective management of customer relationships and contracts.

Arch Resources Inc ( NYSE:ARCH ) reported strong progress in developing the B-Seam reserves at their West Elk mine, which is expected to improve thermal coal production.

The company completed a multi-quarter transition to more favorable geology, which is anticipated to enhance production efficiency and reduce costs.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .

Legacy Contracts: Lower realizations impacting results, with most contracts expiring at the end of the year.

Story Continues

Q: What is your perspective on the high vol A markets, and are they oversupplied? A: Deck Slone, Senior VP, acknowledged that the high vol A market is currently soft but believes it is not far from balance. He emphasized strong demand for Arch's high vol A product in Asia due to its high CSR quality and other properties. Paul Lang, CEO, noted that they are not seeing customers push back on volume, indicating normal demand.

Q: Can you provide an update on the geological challenges at Leer and when operations might return to normal? A: Paul Lang, CEO, explained that the challenging geology at Leer started in late September and continued through October. Both longwalls are now through the difficult areas, with Leer South expected to start up later this week. They anticipate production to return to normal levels soon.

Q: How do you view the role of thermal assets in light of the upcoming merger with CONSOL Energy? A: Paul Lang, CEO, stated that West Elk fits well with their strategy for high-quality seaborne business and will remain a significant player. For PRB, they are open to alternatives if a clean exit is possible, meaning no ongoing liabilities or obligations.

Q: Are you seeing any supply-side stress in Appalachia due to current market conditions? A: Paul Lang, CEO, noted that labor availability and pressure on wages have diminished, indicating a slowdown. Deck Slone, Senior VP, added that current prices are unsustainable for many producers, including in Australia, suggesting potential supply-side pressure that could positively impact market dynamics in 2025.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Now Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election, all eyes are on who he appoints as his top team.

The individuals selected for Cabinet positions are meant to be the presidents close allies, ideally with some interest or experience in the department they head.

But the former president has made it clear his priority will be appointing loyalists rather than those best suited for a position  a takeaway from his first administration where he faced record Cabinet turnover.

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It is worth noting that being chosen for Trumps cabinet is no guarantee of longevity or success - far from it. Some of his first term administration ended up being charged with crimes or serving time in prison.

That being said, here are some of Trumps potential Cabinet picks as he looks towards taking office again in 2025.

Chief of Staff

Brooke Rollins

Brooke Rollins, former director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Rollins is a loyal Trump ally who currently serves as the CEO of the America First Policy Institute  the right-wing think tank expected to have a large influence on Trumps administration.

A lawyer who served as the White House domestic policy adviser in Trumps final year in the White House, Rollins was generally considered one of Trumps more moderate advisers while in office.

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Policies she supported during Trumps first term were criminal justice reforms that lessened prison sentences for some relatively minor offenses.

Secretary of State

Richard Grenell

Richard Grenell, former Acting Director of U.S. National Intelligence (Getty Images)

Grenell espouses the same rhetoric and values as the former president, helping push false claims of election interference after the 2020 election and is noticeably combative toward skeptics and critics.

He was the first openly gay holder of a Cabinet position during the first Trump administration and served as Acting Director of National Intelligence, Ambassador to Germany and Special Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations.

Several people close to Trump told the New York Times that Grenell has a good chance of becoming Secretary of State or holding another top foreign policy position.

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F Kennedy Jr has appeared alongside Trump on the campaign trail, advocating to Make America Healthier Again (Getty Images)

Since dropping his own independent bid for president, Kennedy fully joined Team Trump with the president-elect confirming he will take a leading role in health during the campaign.

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Kennedy is often criticized for sharing health-related conspiracy theories and has pushed misinformation about vaccines and HIV/AIDS denialism.

His other concerning ideas include removing fluoride from drinking water and potentially banning certain vaccines.

Secretary of Defense

Marco Rubio

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaking at a campaign rally

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Rubio, a Florida Senator, has historically backed Trumps foreign policy and current skepticism toward Ukraine military funding, making him another potential Secretary of Defense option.

The former GOP presidential candidate has long been involved in foreign affairs in the Senate, particularly as it relates to Latin America, and he has solid relationships throughout the party.

Tom Cotton

Cotton is an Army veteran and MAGA-aligned Senator from Arkansas whose name has been floated around for Secretary of Defense thanks to his hawkish views.

He has favored taking a more aggressive approach to foreign policy with Iran and China and is a strong supporter of Israel.

Bill Hagerty

A U.S. senator from Tennessee who worked on Trumps 2016 transition effort, Hagerty is considered a top contender for secretary of state.

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Aligning with Trumps strong offensive position to China and Iran, Hagerty is not afraid to take a less popular position in the name of maintaining a hawk-like attitude making him a viable candidate for a Cabinet position, eight people with knowledge of the matter told Politico.

Before becoming a MAGA-aligned Tennessee Senator, Hagerty served as Trumps ambassador to Japan.

Attorney General

Ken Paxton

Ken Paxton has served as the attorney general for Texas (AP)

Former senator Paxton has been Texas attorney general since 2015.

Perhaps one of the more well-known state attorney generals, Paxon has made a name for himself fighting for Texass strict abortion ban, aggressive anti-immigration policies and defeating his own set of impeachment charges.

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Earlier this year, Trump called Paxton talented and told reporters he was considering him for attorney general.

Mike Lee

Utah Senator Mike Lee and Trump, pictured in 2017, have grown close to one another over the years (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Utah senator Lee is a Trump-critic turned ally. He refused to endorse Trump during the 2016 Republican primaries but changed his tune in 2020 and 2024. He led the effort to acquit his impeachment charges and supported Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Having become a close confidant of Trump in recent years  even launching an X account dedicated to sharing MAGA views  Lee could also be a top contender for AG.

Secretary of Energy

Doug Burgum

Billionaire businessman Burgham is one of the wealthiest politicians in the US. During his short-lived presidential campaign, Burgum made energy a pillar of his proposed policies and even focused his Republican National Convention speech on energy.

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Trump has praised the North Dakota governors knowledge of energy. In July, Burgum told CNN that during a conversation with Trump, the former president referred to him as Mr. Secretary  hinting at a potential Cabinet position.

Secretary of Homeland Security

Stephen Miller

Miller was known for supporting some of Trumps harshest anti-immigration policies during his first administration (AFP via Getty Images)

Trumps senior advisor Miller has been a familiar face on the campaign trail, frequently opening for his boss at rallies with a torrent of anti-immigrant rhetoric.

To carry out his mass deportation plan, Trump may rely on familiar faces who helped shape his immigration policies during his first administration like Miller  one of the staunchest anti-immigration supporters.

He was among those who strongly supported separating families at the border, banning Chinese students from studying in the U.S. and more.

Other high-profile figures

Elon Musk has been a high profile convert to Trump and MAGA (Getty Images)

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Other Trump supporters who could be considered for Cabinet positions are former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and New York Representative Elise Stefanik.

And although Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been a major supporter of Trump during the campaign, he may not have a formal role during his second term.

While he could play a role in Trumps administration, and has discussed his enthusiasm for cost-cutting, the former president said it would not be a Cabinet position because Musk himself does not want that.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  As former President Donald Trump secured a return to the White House, it seems one of the other big winners from Tuesday nights presidential election is likely to be tech multibillionaire Elon Musk  along with his companies such as the xAI supercomputer facility in southwest Memphis.

According to the Federal Election Commission, Musk donated almost $119 million to a political action committee for Trump. He also appeared at Trump rallies and used his social media platform X to intensify the campaigns message

Im not just MAGA, Im dark, gothic MAGA, Musk has said.

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Trump wins the White House in political comeback

The potential benefits could be wide-ranging for Musk and his companies such as Tesla, Space X and the xAI data center, which is housed in a former Electrolux facility in Memphis.

Its believed xAI could now get special treatment from the incoming Trump administration as it hopes secure funding to modernize the energy grid.

Its also been speculated that Musk could also play an influential role possibly as an adviser in the upcoming Trump Administration.

xAI expanding in Memphis with 522-acre lease

But recently some Memphis activists voiced their concern about Musk and whether other corporations moving here will be environmentally friendly.

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Right now, we got Elon Musk and his xAI plant with 18 methane gas turbines continuously operating and with a plan to double that, and you got to stop polluting the areas first, said state Rep. Justin J. Pearson.

As new industry is attracted, we have to hold a higher standard to what we expect from corporations from coming into this community, said Sarah Houston, executive director with Protect Our Aquifer.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  With 99% of the vote counted on Wednesday afternoon, data shows how each of northern Illinois counties voted in the presidential election.

While Illinois went to Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump handily took both the Electoral College and the popular vote nationwide.

Winnebago County voters were nearly evenly split on their support of both Trump and Harris, with Associated Press data showing 49.4% of voters voted for Trump, 49.1% for Harris, and 1.5% for Robert Kennedy.

In neighboring Boone County, voters were more decisive in a Trump victory, with the former president garnering 56.6% against Harris 41.9%, and Kennedys 1.6%.

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In Stephenson County, 58.9% of voters went for Trump, while 39.5% voted for Harris, and 1.6% for Kennedy.

In Ogle County, Trump won a large 64.0% of the electorate, with Harris drawing 34.4%, and 1.6% for Kennedy.

Lee County voters also awarded Trump a large 60.3% of the vote, with 37.8% going to Harris and 1.9% for Kennedy.

DeKalb County went for Harris, with the Vice President taking 50.1% of the vote, Trump with 48.2%, and 1.7% for Kennedy.

In Jo Daviess County, Trump locked up 57.7% of the vote, with 40.75% going to Harris, and 1.6% to Kennedy.

In McHenry County, Trump commanded 52.6% of the vote to Harris 45.9%, and Kennedys 1.5%.

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Carroll County voters overwhelmingly chose Trump, with 64.9% of the vote, while Harris managed 33.2% and Kennedy 2.0%.

In Whiteside County, Trump took 56.4% of the vote, compared to Harris 41.7%, and Kennedys 2.0%.

Cook County went overwhelmingly for Harris and helped the Vice President to secure Illinois 19 electoral votes, with the majority of its population giving her 68.8% of the vote, while Trump took 30.0%, and Kennedys 1.2%.

Suburban Lake County followed suit, with Harris winning 58.8% of the vote against Trumps 39.8%, while Kennedy garnered 1.4%.

Kane County also voted for Harris, with 53.7%; Trump managed 45.0% and Kennedy, 1.4%.

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DuPage County likewise voted 55.5% for Harris, 42.9% for Trump, and 1.6% for Kennedy.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The race to replace Clark County Commissioner Ross Miller in District C promises to be a close contest.

When Miller announced he would not seek re-election, Democrat Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod gave up her seat in the Nevada Assembly to run. Republican April Becker, who narrowly lost races for Nevada Senate (2020) and the U.S. House of Representatives (2022) is her opponent.

ELECTION RESULTS: Get the latest numbers as votes start rolling in

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District C covers the western Las Vegas valley, including the fast-growing Centennial Hills area and extending up Kyle Canyon.

Bilbray-Axelrod, 50, is a business consultant with a record of community service that dates back two decades. Her father, James Bilbray, was a well-known figure in Nevada politics, serving in federal, state and local offices.

My familys roots run deep in this city, and no one is more devoted to the people of District C than me, Bilbray-Axelrod said when she announced her candidacy in February. I will stand up for the residents and I have and a real plan to protect neighborhoods and improve lives.

She has served in the Nevada Legislature since 2017, But Ive seen first-hand that the old adage is true; all politics is local, she said.

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In Nevada, the Clark County Commission is among the most prestigious positions in government. Theres no shortage of money and big ideas as commissioners benefit from the engine that fuels the state economy: the Las Vegas Strip, which is in unincorporated Clark County.

Bilbray-Axelrod discussed her priorities for the district  managing rapid growth, water issues, affordable housing and traffic  when she appeared on the 8 News Now Daily Voting Guide in October. Becker did not participate.

Becker, a business litigator, was a strong Republican challenger for U.S. Rep. Susie Lees seat in Congress two years ago, and she nearly took down Nicole Cannizzaro in the Nevada Senate in 2020. But the strong showings havent resulted in a win yet.

She was seen as a likely challenger in Congressional District 4 against U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford. Instead, she set her sights on the Clark County seat.

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In a campaign announcement on Twitter, Becker criticized Miller and District F Commissioner Justin Jones, saying she was running to bring accountable leadership to Clark County.

The District C race hasnt been in the news much as national politics has drowned out talk about local election races. Negative campaigning typical of other campaigns has been remarkably absent since Bilbray-Axelrod and Becker advanced from the primary. Leading up to that, a campaign ad supporting Becker had criticized Bilbray-Axelrod as a political insider who would leverage her access to power, saying, We cant trust her to represent our needs, when she sold out America for a Saudi pay day.

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This article was originally published in Illinois Answers Project.

Among Chicago Public School employees, no one has been a bigger cheerleader for an invention designed to reduce dangerous amounts of lead in water from school drinking fountains than top administrator Robert Christlieb.

Christlieb, the districts executive director of facilities, operations and maintenance, has worked for at least seven years on the problem of lead in drinking water at CPS schools, a critical issue for student health.

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Hes appeared on panel discussions, in news articles and podcasts to highlight the districts strategies, which has included installing an invention called Noah  a device that automatically flushes student drinking fountains on a set schedule to reduce the build up of lead in stagnant water. Christlieb has touted the device as a cheaper solution than doing extensive plumbing work in hundreds of aging school buildings.

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In public, Christlieb says Michael Ramos, who works for a CPS contractor as the chief building engineer at Von Steuben High School on the Northwest Side, is the inventor of Noah. Christlieb tells the story of how Ramos wanted to protect his students from lead and worked to create a low-cost, reliable device to do just that.

A closeup look at a Noah autoflushing device installed at a water fountain at Von Steuben High School. (Victor Hilitski/For Illinois Answers Project)

Michael [Ramos] has solved the lead problem in public schools, not just in Chicago, Christlieb was quoted as saying in a 2019 Seattle Times article,. He added in the story that the district had approved expanding Noah to 25 schools as part of a pilot program. But the expansion never happened, due to resources, staffing and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CPS. For now, the Noah device is in five CPS schools  three high schools and two elementary.

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Christlieb, who makes more than $170,000 a year at CPS, neglects to mention one key detail as he tells the story of the devices creation.

Hes more than just a fan of Noah. Hes listed as the co-inventor of the device hes been promoting for years. Christlieb and Ramos share the U.S. patent for the Noah device, federal records show.

Nor does he mention that he once formed a business with Ramos to sell the device  a business that has since dissolved.

CPS declined to make any school official available to Illinois Answers Project reporters to discuss the districts actions. CPS repeatedly did not address questions regarding whether Christlieb violated any of its conflict of interest policies but stands by him continuing to promote autoflushing, despite him having a patent on the Noah device. CPS said Christlieb does not supervise Ramos or oversee the contract with the CPS contractor that employs him.

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The district explicitly prohibits its employees from working as a vendor and doing business with the school system. Christlieb formed a company with one of his friends and Ramos, in March of 2017 called RCS Water Quality Solutions to sell Noah. RCS listed as its corporate address a residence Christlieb owns in Wisconsin.

In the fall of 2017, CPS says it learned of the partnership and told Christlieb that he could not continue to work at CPS if he didnt divest.

On the same day that Christlieb dissolved RCS, he completed paperwork to create a new business called Lead Out Manufacturing and listed Ramos as the registered agent. He again used his residence in Wisconsin as corporate headquarters, corporate filings show.

CPS said in a statement that Christlieb volunteered his time to help Ramos fill out the administrative paperwork to set up Lead Out and allowed Ramos to use his Wisconsin address but has nothing to do with the company.

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CPS said it has no evidence that Christlieb ever profited from the Noah devices. Christlieb wrote in answers to questions that he did not make a profit, and Ramos, in an interview, agreed that Christlieb never made any money from them. Both men indicated that they had been interviewed by the CPS inspector generals office regarding their ties to Noah, and no action was taken against them.

Mr. Christlieb helped develop a product that helps remove lead from drinking water and kept his name on the patent as a matter of intellectual property, CPS said in a statement.

Christlieb used CPS testing data to support the patent for the Noah device as well as for a white paper designed to promote autoflushing at Orr High School, where Noah had been installed. When asked whether Christliebs use of the testing data for personal use violated CPS policy, the district noted that water testing data can be obtained by anyone through a public information request.

Despite Christliebs significant role in the school water testing, CPS argued that the fact that he has a patent on the Noah device did not compromise its water testing.

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The district said in a statement: CPS implements a proactive lead testing program that goes above and beyond any state requirements and uses the best known practices for testing and preventing lead build up in drinking water. A flusher system  is in a handful of our more than 600 schools and we stand by our districts proactive practices and testing procedures. The districts lead mitigation program is overseen by a team of professionals in our facilities department. Mr. Christliebs invention of one tool in this field  and that tools use in a small fraction of the 600-plus schools in the district  has no impact on the quality or veracity of the districts program to test for lead, mitigate lead in water and/or repair/resolve for lead in water.

Conflicting stories

In separate interviews, the two men, once partners in selling the device, disagree on basic facts about who invented the device, what money they contributed to get it patented and what roles they played in the business, called Lead Out Manufacturing. Christlieb has offered varying accounts of his role in the firm, from initially writing in response to questions from reporters that he had 49 percent ownership of Lead Out, to saying in a CPS statement that he divested from the company soon after it was created, to indicating, in a final CPS statement, that he was never an investor at all. Ramos, in an interview, said Christlieb was involved for a couple years in Lead Out.

In an interview, Ramos said he is the sole inventor of Noah and he put Christlieb on the patent to persuade Christlieb to become a partner with him. Ramos noted that Christlieb as a high-ranking CPS official had a big reach and having him as part of the company could help sales of the device to other school districts. He said that they werent necessarily going to go after CPS business.

His name does appear on the patent, but that doesnt mean that he had anything to do with the invention, Ramos said in an interview with Illinois Answers reporters earlier this year.

Michael Ramos, chief building engineer at Von Steuben High School, shows a Noah device installed at one of the drinking fountains there in December last year.(Victor Hilitski/For Illinois Answers Project)

Ramos said initially after they met in 2016 both men were basically planning on starting a partnership to take it to New York, New Jersey, and do all these other things, you know, because Rob has a big reach. And I felt like, wow, what a better partner than having Rob, you know, so  as a sign of like, good faith to, like, try to bring him in and say, Rob, you know, Ill put you on a patent with me.

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Im trying to introduce this to districts, Ramos said. The schools need it. I figured this is something thats affordable, the districts could use. Why wouldnt I reach out to someone like Rob, who has the title, who has the name and has the respect in the industry?

Earlier this year, Houston Public Schools found elevated lead levels within some school buildings, prompting Ramos to text Christlieb.

Good morning Rob, this is another candidate for Noah. Is there any way you can reach out to them? I can reach out, but they usually dont respond because I seem to come across as selling snake oil. If it comes from you, they will see it as valid. Records provided by CPS do not include Christliebs response.

Ramos said the men worked together for a couple years trying to sell the device to school districts across the country but never realized much success. Ramos said he and Christlieb parted ways after he realized the arrangement could look suspect to CPS but argued the men never did anything wrong and that Christlieb never received any money from the company.

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In an interview at Von Steuben High School in December last year, Christlieb credited Ramos with inventing the device and marveled at how Ramos was able to build what Christlieb could only think about. He talked about how just the month before he came out to Von Steuben High School, where Ramos worked, to see his Noah device, he had just been thinking the month before about such an invention.

So the interesting thing was, before I came out here in October of 2016, to see what he had done. In September of 2016, I had sat down one night, and I sketched out the idea of doing a bypass filter and having some type of controller on it, Christlieb said in the interview with Illinois Answers reporters. And Im like, Man if I could build something like this. But I didnt have the skill set, right? And Michael did, and Michael must have been listening to me across the city because we didnt know each other at that time and then all of a sudden Im being called out here a month later and Im like this is exactly what I was hoping for. But someone was actually able to put it together and the concept works and the mechanics work. Its very simple  Simplicity is key for us.

After reporters discovered that Christliebs name was on the patent, they attempted to interview him at his Wisconsin address where he was staying. He declined to answer questions in person but responded to a set of written questions.

Christlieb wrote that he was on the patent because he had made substantial contributions to the invention of Noah. He did not answer follow-up questions that asked him to detail those contributions.

The men also disagree on other issues regarding the patent. Ramos said he paid all the legal fees for the patent work on the Noah device. Christlieb, though, wrote he contributed about $5,000 for the legal work. The patent was granted to Ramos and Christlieb in 2021.

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CPS provided two documents that it said showed that Christlieb had nothing to do with Lead Out. One is the most recently available Wisconsin corporate filing that shows Ramos is the registered agent for the firm, but while Christliebs name is not on the document, it does not address ownership. The document lists Lead Outs corporate address as Christliebs Wisconsin address.

The other document provided by CPS and Christlieb involves him assigning his rights to the patent on the Noah device to Lead Out. The document is dated June 2018, more than six months after Lead Out was formed. The document is signed by Christlieb, but not by Ramos, and once again lists Christliebs Wisconsin address as Lead Outs corporate address.

Starting with Flint

The district began focusing on assessing its drinking water in 2016 after the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and began a 10-year testing program by sampling its over 12,000 water fixtures for lead levels.

In the first year of testing, 60% of the 490 schools tested returned at least one sample with a lead level over 5 parts per billion, exceeding the states action level for lead in water. Last year, the district tested 174 schools, and 92, or 53%, had at least one sample exceeding the state limit.

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Since replacing all lead pipes could cost up to $2.5 billion, according to district estimates, CPS first focused on limiting the stagnant water in pipes, where lead collects, by having building engineers manually flush all drinking water faucets in its 528 campuses. Building engineers, tasked with maintaining the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems, are required by district protocols to flush schools after a period of nonattendance, such as a weekend or break, once a week.

At a campus like Von Steuben, where Ramos works, manual flushing would require him and his team of two engineers to individually run the water on all 42 fixtures in the school for 3 minutes before students arrive on Monday or after a long break, Ramos said. Additionally, they would still need to complete other responsibilities such as preventative maintenance and repairs before students arrive. Experts say that while flushing can decrease lead levels, the manual process doesnt guarantee water is safe to drink because its prone to human error. The district employs 685 engineers who oversee 800 buildings, meaning some engineers cover multiple schools.

A sign on the wall at Von Steuben High School tells students the Noah device has been installed at a drinking fountain there. (Credit: Victor Hilitski/For Illinois Answers Project)

Christlieb and Ramos argue that Noah works well because the device automatically flushes the water fountains and doesnt rely on employees to do it.

In addition to Von Steuben, the devices have been added to drinking fountains in CPS schools at Orr High School, Belding Elementary, Onahan Elementary and Kelvyn Park High School.

All the devices installed at CPS schools have been donated by Ramos or purchased by local school councils. There are no records showing that CPS has cut a check to Lead Out Manufacturing, but in some instances, CPS paid a contractor to install the devices. The devices cost about $395.

The devices also have been installed at two suburban school districts  Crete-Monee School District Indian Springs School District 109, according to documents obtained by Illinois Answers.

Years of promoting autoflushing  and Noah

Christlieb has promoted the Noah device for years, at times using CPS resources, starting as early as July 2017.

In that month, Christlieb drafted a case study about the Noah flushing system at Orr Academy. And Christlieb shared the Orr case study widely to multiple school districts and city governments using his CPS email account.

In March of 2019, he appeared in a Chicago Health Magazine article that promoted autoflushing and appeared in a photo with Ramos in the story.

In a podcast interview, Christlieb said he installed Noah in his own home and that it worked perfectly.

And as recently as May of this year, Christlieb, using his CPS title, appeared with Ramos as a guest speaker at a Noah-hosted seminar for Chicago Water Week, in which he discussed the Orr High School pilot program and Noahs benefit to the district.

CPS emails and text messages show that Christlieb and Ramos also talked during the workday about promoting Noah to schools in Chicago such as City Colleges and outside Illinois including Philadelphia Public Schools and New York City Public Schools.

Christlieb appears to have played a role in efforts at establishing Noahs credibility as an effective solution.

In March of 2021, Christlieb emailed the white paper he wrote on Noahs use at Orr as well hundreds of pages of testing data to a Philadelphia school official, who was interested in the invention and who thanked him for his time explaining the benefits of your Noah system.

Christlieb responded to the official by telling him who else at CPS was involved in the project.

For Noah, Christlieb added, I would recommend talking with Michael Ramos.

This article first appeared on Illinois Answers Project and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Editors Note: The following arrest and incident reports were supplied by the Abilene Police Department. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law.

Incidents

3000 block of San Miguel Drive  Assault

A known suspect assaulted a staff member at a group home.

100 block of Caddo Drive  Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information

A former employee is accused of using a company card to charge $330 after quitting the business.

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1300 block of S Danville Drive  Theft of Property

An Abilene business reported tools were stolen.

1700 block of Hwy 351  Burglary of Building

A manager of the store reported an unknown person broke into his store by shattering the front door.

2800 block of S 25th Street  Theft of Property

A victim reported his vehicle was stolen during the night.

4500 block of S 1st Street  Theft of Property

An Abilene citizen reported her property was missing after she let a neighbor into her home to use the bathroom.

2900 block of Cedar Street  Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon

A victim reported his neighbor pointed a firearm at him in north Abilene.

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4300 block of Treanor Drive  Theft of Motor Vehicle

A resident reported his vehicles were stolen overnight.

2800 block of N 6th Street  Criminal Mischief

A student punched a paper towel dispenser in a bathroom, causing it to break.

4500 block of S 1st Street  Theft of Firearm

A citizen reported a firearm was stolen from their vehicle.

2600 block of Nonesuch Road  Criminal Mischief

A report for criminal mischief was taken in south Abilene.

1900 block of Westview Drive  Theft of Property

A north Abilene resident reported several items were stolen from her garage.

800 block of S 14th Street  Burglary of Habitation

A lawn mower worth $150 was reported stolen in south Abilene.

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2600 block of Nonesuch Road  theft of Property

A bicycle worth $650 was reported stolen.

2600 block of N Willis Street  Burglary of Vehicle

Arrests

Mandy Kennedy  Warrant

Braulio Rivera  Possession of Controlled Substance

Travis Goodman  Warrant

Corrina Lara  Warrant

Jaime Avalos  Warrant

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If there is one lesson to be learned in these incredibly politically polarized times, its this: The only people who should be tuning into primetime television coverage on Election Day evening are political junkies, math nerds and the hopelessly masochistic.

Early in the evening, CNNs Jake Tapper, reciting numerous early results, constantly repeated the warning, Its still very early! It certainly was, since in most cases the percentage of tallied votes was in the single digits. Tapper also advised us to settle in and brew a pot of coffee, which was not exactly what viewers needed to calm their jittery nerves or maintain sphincter control.

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Whether you were watching the broadcast networks or the cable news stations, the coverage was largely dominated by commentators, mostly white men, standing in front of electronic screens while frantically waving their arms like weathermen on speed. Foremost among them, of course, remains MSNBCs Steve Kornacki, who shot to fame in 2020 thanks to his quicksilver delivery and trademark khaki pants. He came across tonight like an over-caffeinated Harry Potter, analyzing historical trends and the voting history of particular counties with the sort of in-depth detail that would make a Talmudic scholar envious.

All of the networks have similar figures working their fancy screens, such as CNNs John King and his Magic Wall and Fox News Bill Hemmer and his Bill-board. This year, MSNBC even provided an online Kornacki Cam  streaming on Peacock and YouTube  to satiate those viewers unwilling to tolerate any moment hes not on the air.

The coverage began in relatively lighthearted fashion, via such moments as an exit poll interview with a young man in North Carolina who confessed to CNN that he had no intention of voting until his girlfriend gave him an ultimatum. He voted, of course, for Harris, and it made you think that women concerned about their reproductive rights might have wished theyd followed through on those whimsical notions about a Lysistrata-style sex strike.

Speaking of male votes, particularly of the younger variety, we learned that the Trump campaign was laser-focused on getting them to the polls that night. And why shouldnt they be, considering the young Arizona man who told an MSNBC interviewer that he voted for Trump because Harris hadnt bothered to appear on Joe Rogans podcast? Is it any wonder that the country is in trouble when Rogan, formerly best known as the host of Fear Factor, has become one of the most influential figures in American society?

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Needless to say, the folks at Fox News could barely contain their glee as Trump racked up early wins in state after state. Their economic panel, consisting of such supposed intellectual heavyweights as Maria Bartiromo and Fox Business Larry Kudlow, affirmed that the electorate was turning against Harris because of the Biden administrations open border policy and stimmy checks.

Kellyanne Conway helpfully explained that wokeness and weakness were on the ballot. Sean Hannity was practically drooling over the possibility of a Trump win. And Laura Ingraham was already declaring it the greatest political comeback in history. Throughout the evening, Fox called states for Trump earlier than the other networks, to the point where Jesse Watters mockingly complained, Are we sure about New Jersey? when that reliably blue state was called for Harris.

Plenty of races were decided early, of course, including the defeat of referendums in Florida involving loosening abortion restrictions and the legalization of recreational marijuana. Both measures received the majority of votes, mind you, but not the required supermajority of 60 percent. Its all part of Gov. Ron DeSantis apparently successful crusade to make Florida the most regressive state in the country. As MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell put it, the outcome represented Republican-defined, minority-rule government.

As the results poured in, commentators from all of the networks kept referring not only to bellwethers but also bellwethers within bellwethers, to numbing effect. Along the way, we learned about various election hiccups, including the Trump campaign claiming election fraud in Philadelphia (shocking, I know); bomb threats called in to numerous polling places in Georgia, some apparently traced to Russia; and problems with mail-in ballots in Nevada because, and Im not making this up, young voters dont know how to sign their names.

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Ultimately, the downbeat tone of the evening was summed up by, of all people, Sen. Joe Manchin, who never managed to pick a side. He told CBS Jim Acosta, We will survive whoever wins. Which pretty much explains why practically no one in America can stand Joe Manchin.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition is facing its toughest test of unity since it came to power in 2021, as a budget dispute threatens to tear the government apart.

A series of high-level meetings on Wednesday will determine whether the centre-left coalition of Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) have enough common ground to continue governing together until the next elections due in September 2025.

Coming on top of numerous other disputes and tensions between coalition leaders, the budget problems have led to weeks of speculation that Germany may be heading for early elections.

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The main sticking point is how a huge hole in the 2025 budget can be plugged, and how the ailing German economy can be dragged back to growth as it faces another year of being in recession.

Added to that, all three parties in the coalition are performing miserably in the polls. The FDP in particular is polling under the crucial 5% mark for entering parliament.

The divisions came to a head over the last few days after a policy paper by the finance minister, FDP leader Christian Lindner, was made public on Friday. In the paper he demanded a fundamental "reorientation" of the government's economic policy.

Before a formal committee meeting in the evening involving senior party figures, Scholz, Lindner and Economy Minister Robert Habeck from the Greens will meet for two three-way sessions.

If the coalition cannot find agreement on Wednesday or overnight, various scenarios for the end of the coalition government are conceivable: from the FDP simply leaving the government to the chancellor calling fresh elections via a vote of confidence.
Phil Cromer had an 843-vote lead over Josh Scallate with most of the votes counted in Beauforts mayoral race in Tuesdays election, based on unofficial election results.

The results include 100% of the precincts reporting but do not include absentee ballots, which still had not been counted as of 12:50 a.m. Wednesday.

The campaign to lead the city of 14,000 residents for the next four years pitted the youngest and oldest members of the City Council and competing visions. Scallate argued new leadership was needed. Cromer touted his experience.

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With 100% of the precincts reporting, Cromer had 3,158 votes, or 57.25% to Scallates 2,315 votes or 41.97%, a difference of 843 votes.

Cromers first act as mayor-elect?

Take a beach vacation, beginning this week.

This has been an exhausting campaign, Cromer said Tuesday evening, before the vote count had been finalized, at his election party that drew about a 100 supporters to the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club.

City of Beaufort Mayor Phil Cromer, center, chats with his supporters at his re-election watch party at Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, on Ladys Island in Beaufort. Cromer was won the mayoral race against Josh Scallate.

If his lead holds, his first real act as mayor will be meeting will council members, including Scallate and Mitch Mitchell and Neil Lipsitz, who also were reelected, and Mike McFee to say, alright, this is a clean slate. Its about Beaufort. Its not about us.

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Scallate was proud of the campaign he ran. He knocked on doors, went to countless meet and greets, hustled and did his best to refute attacks he said were frustrating.

We gave it our best shot and thats all you can do, Scallate said at an election night party at Shellring Ale Works, before the outcome was known. The rest is up to voters.

Josh Scallate awaits election results with his supporters, including his son, Jake, at the Shellring Ale House Tuesday evening.

Cromer, 74, retired from local politics in 2022 after serving two terms on City Council from 2014 to 2022. But he was lured back to run for mayor after Stephen Murray resigned before his term expired. Cromer, a retired town manager who also worked for the South Carolina Municipal Association, then won a special election in December 2023.

During the campaign, Cromer said he wanted to ensure that the citys history, natural environment and architecture are protected. You have to preserve whats special about your community, he said.

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Scallate, 33, a firefighter, joined the council in 2022 but he decided to run for mayor with two years remaining in his term arguing the city needed better leadership on infrastructure and growth issues and better communication with the public.

The citys failing Waterfront Park infrastructure; its attempt renegotiate an unfavorable lease with a private party that manages the city marina; rapid development; and hurricane preparation emerged as issues during the campaign.

Phil Cromer

If his lead stands, Cromer must now lead a city that has been beset at times with infighting over development in the citys historic downtown and other issues.

Theres quite a bit to do, Cromer said.

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But the Waterfront Park infrastructure problems rise to the top of heap in Cromers view. Engineers need to come up with options and then the city needs to go after state and federal funding to pay for it, he said.

The citys rapid growth, which he says is outstripping the citys infrastructure, is also a priority, Cromer said.

During the campaign for a full term as mayor, Cromer played up his experience and temperament and said he would encourage civility but Scallate said he wasnt pleased with some of the accusations and actions of Cromers supporters. One example: An accusation that Scallate signed the controversial marina lease with Safe Harbor Marinas, which he did not.

I just dont like being accused of things that arent true, Scallate said.

Josh Scallate

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He wants to see the city make it easier for the public to access information and be more proactive in getting information to the public so residents are less susceptible to misinformation.
(Bloomberg) -- Republican Bernie Moreno unseated the incumbent Democrat in Ohios senate race, a major win for crypto companies that had funneled millions of dollars into his campaign.

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Moreno, a car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur, defeated Sherrod Brown late on Tuesday, putting the GOP on track for a Senate majority. Brown, a crypto skeptic and the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, was one of the most high-profile Democrats vying for election.

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Pro-crypto super PAC Fairshake spent some $40 million to defeat Brown in one of its priority races. Brown is an ally of Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who led the agency in a crackdown on the crypto sector over the past few years. Donors to Fairshake  one of the most powerful PACs in Washington  include Coinbase Global Inc., Ripple Labs Inc. and the founders of Andreessen Horowitz.

Morenos race was a crucial test of whether the more than $180 million donated by the crypto industry to candidates on both sides of the aisle this election cycle had been well spent.

The sector poured unprecedented amounts of funding into the campaigns of candidates viewed as more likely to pass cypto-friendly laws. The SEC has been engaging in litigation with firms including Coinbase and Ripple, where its argued that existing financial rules also apply to crypto.

Born in Bogota, Colombia, Moreno has been a longtime supporter of crypto and a regular attendee at industry conferences. In 2018 he co-founded blockchain firm ChampTitles, which aims to eliminate the need for states to issue paper titles for cars. He recently sold his stake in the company, according to his website.

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Moreno has also clashed with Elizabeth Warren, one of the Senates most prominent crypto skeptics, who was reelected in Massachusetts according to the Associated Press.

A large number of pro-crypto candidates have been elected to Congress so far, according to data from the Stand with Crypto Alliance advocacy group. More than 240 pro-crypto candidates had won seats in the House of Representatives, while 15 were elected to the Senate as of 10:53 a.m. in London.

Welcome to Americas most pro-crypto Congress ever, said Coinbase Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong, commenting on Morenos victory in a post on X.

Bitcoin jumped to a record high on Wednesday, part of a wave of trades across global markets as Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States. The largest digital asset rose as much as 9% to peak at $75,371.67 before retreating slightly.

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(Updates candidate figures and last paragraph to reflect Trump victory)

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SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Chip designer Arm Holdings (ARM) forecast revenue in line with Wall Street targets, sparking a 5% drop in shares in extended trading Thursday that some analysts attributed to dashed hopes for stronger, AI-fueled growth.

Bets that Arm, which licenses its designs, will benefit from a surge in AI computing have more than doubled the chip designers share price since its initial public offer last September, giving it a market value of about $144 billion. Its forecast on Wednesday, however, failed to live up to expectations set by companies like AMD (AMD) and Nvidia (NVDA) that directly design AI chips.

Arms done a good job of associating themselves with some of these AI semiconductor trends and the challenge is because theyve done that, theyve created expectations perhaps that arent quite being met yet," said Bob O'Donnell, president and chief analyst at TECHnalysis Research. "They're several steps removed from the final chips," he added.

Arm results topped revenue and profit expectations for the second quarter on Wednesday, in part because customers like Apple are using a more profitable version of its next-generation technology.

However, for the current fiscal third quarter, Arm forecast revenue in a range between $920 million and $970 million, with a midpoint of $945 million, compared with an average analyst estimate of $944.3 million, according to LSEG data.

The company said it expects fiscal third-quarter earnings of between 32 cents and 36 cents per share. Analysts had expected a third-quarter profit of 34 cents a share.

"Investors want to see the current AI boom in its results," said Kinngai Chan, senior research analyst at Summit Insights Group.

"This quarter is all about the validation of the strategies we've been talking about," Chief Executive Rene Haas told Reuters in an interview. "We've got some real proof points."

Arm derives revenue from licensing fees for its chip designs and collects a royalty for each chip sold that uses its technology. The company is in the midst of introducing its v9 architecture, which is expected to generate higher royalty payments.

Arm's designs power nearly every smartphone in the world, and it has attempted to make headway in data centers and other markets. It has developed a number of pre-built designs that enable customers to build chips more quickly and has doubled the number of pre-built design licenses this fiscal year, the company said.

Haas said the company has signed up its first smartphone chip customer for its premade blueprints. Arm has previously sold those designs to server chip designers.
CONNECTICUT (WTNH)  Veterans will be able to get free rides on CT Transit buses on Veterans Day, according to a press release.

Veteran Voices: Share a photo of Connecticut veterans

According to the release, the company is offering complimentary rides on all buses in Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and surrounding providers to veterans, active-duty military personnel, retirees and disabled veterans.

They must show a valid military ID to any professional bus operator within the CT Transit service system on Mon., Nov. 11.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Incumbent Republican Congressman Dan Meuser has won a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Democrat challenger Amanda Waldman a second time.

Meuser and Waldman had previously faced each other in the 2022 election when Meuser won by 116,000 votes.

I am grateful to the people of Pennsylvanias Ninth District for entrusting me once again to represent our community in Washington. When I first ran for office, I promised to deliver the best constituent services in Congress, and I am confident weve fulfilled that pledge. My team and I remain committed to providing top-tier services to the residents of our region to ensure their needs are met effectively and in a timely manner. In Washington, my priority remains pursuing legislation that is in the best interest of the vast majority of Americansincluding growing our economy, securing our border, promoting American energy dominance, and restoring peace through strength. Ill continue working to advance common-sense solutions that strengthen our economy, create jobs, make the cost-of-living more affordable, and keep our communities safe. While it is still early in the night, I am confident that Republicans will retain the House majority, take the majority in the Senate, and that Donald J. Trump will be elected the 47th President of the United States. Unified Republican leadership across our government would empower us to advance policies that promote fiscal responsibility, reduce burdensome regulations, curb illegal immigration, and defend our national security. Together, with President Trumps leadership, we will pursue an agenda that puts America and working families first. To every volunteer, supporter, and member of my campaign teamthank you for your dedication and hard work. And to the voters of the Ninth District, thank you for your trust and your vote. Your support is invaluable, and I look forward to continuing serving you in Washington. Dan Meuser

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After serving as Pennsylvanias Secretary of Revenue, Meuser was elected in 2018 to the 116th Congress to represent the 9th District. Currently, Meuser serves on the House Financial Services and Small Business Committees.

Meuser also serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access for the Small Business Committee.

Meuser was born in New York and went on to attend New York Maritime University. He went on to attend Cornell University while on a Navy ROTC scholarship.

After his education, Meuser went on to work for a small healthcare products manufacturer called Pride Mobility Products in 1988. Meuser would go on to serve as the President of Pride USA, which is a role he would hold for seven years.

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In 2011, Meuser was nominated by former Governor Tom Corbett to serve as Pennsylvanias Secretary of Revenue. Meuser went on to be recognized by the Council on State Taxation for the most dramatic improvement of any department of revenue in the country.

Meuser has been married to his wife, Shelley, for 30 years and together they have two daughters and a son. The family currently resides in Luzerne County.

Waldman is a graduate of Bloomsburg University and currently works as an Appeals Representative in the Medicare Industry. She is also a board member of the Center for Independent Living and a member of the Lycoming County Commissioners Diversability Committee.

Waldmans key priorities going into this election were womens rights and equal rights, lowering drug prices and increasing equitable access to care, investing in renewable and sustainable energy sources, supporting unions, and supporting veterans.

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Despite his status as a political pariah four years ago, former President Donald Trump pulled off a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris as he was elected to another term Wednesday.

Trump's win is being hailed as one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of American politics. He was considered an outcast in Washington after losing the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden  which he believed was stolen  before playing a part in thousands of his supporters attacking the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Influential in Trump's 2024 victory was UFC CEO Dana White, who has been among his biggest public supporters. Through the UFC, White gave Trump a platform to appeal to young, male voters, which played a big part in his re-election.

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That was not lost on Trump, who invited White onstage to address his supporters Wednesday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Fla. White took the opportunity to revel in his good friend's win.

"Nobody deserves this more than him, and nobody deserves this more than his family does," White said. "This is what happens when the machine comes after you. What you've seen over the last several years, this is what it looks like. Couldn't stop him, he keeps going forward, he doesn't quit, he's the most resilient, hard-working man I've ever met in my life, his family are incredible people.

"This is karma, ladies and gentlemen. He deserves this. They deserve it as a family."

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 06: CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship Dana White greets Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 06, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Americans cast their ballots today in the presidential race between Republican nominee former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as multiple state elections that will determine the balance of power in Congress. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Before stepping away from the podium, White followed up those words by thanking a list of influencers/podcasters who welcomed Trump as a guest on their shows during the campaign  the Nelk Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Vonn, "Bussin' with the Boys" (hosted by Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, and finally "the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan."

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Trump spent 3 hours on "The Joe Rogan Experience," the most popular podcast in the world hosted by the UFC commentator, on Oct. 25, less than two weeks before the election.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dana White goes full MAGA during Donald Trump victory speech, thanks 'mighty and powerful Joe Rogan'
Longtime news anchor David Dave Elliott, who said he was fired from WLOX-TV because of his political views, has been snapped up by rival station WXXV-TV.

Dave brings with him a wealth of experience and a distinguished career in Mississippi journalism, a news release from the television station says.

Elliotts first appearance as an anchor will be on the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. news on Monday, November 25. The newscasts air on NBC.

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Elliott went to work at WLOX in 1985 and lost his job Oct. 25. WLOX general manager Rick Williams mentioned Elliotts feed on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he has posted multiple videos about the presidential race. But Elliott said he didnt hang around to hear details, saying See ya, after 30 seconds.

Dave Elliott has made a significant impact on Mississippi journalism over the years, WXXV general manager Don Moore said in the news release announcing Elliotts hiring. Twice recognized by the Magnolia Tribune as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Mississippians, he is well-regarded as a leader in the industry and across the state.

Elliott also has been inducted into the Mississippi Associated Press Broadcast Association Hall of Fame, the news release points out.

Dave Elliott talks about his new job

Elliott told the Sun Herald after Wednesday mornings announcement that hes looking forward to his new job.

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I feel re-energized, Elliott said. Im ready for a change of scenery. This has been in the works for months.

I dont look back. Im a forward thinker and Im all about the future.

Elliott did say he plans to be maybe a little more of a restrained Dave Elliott on social media because I think it would be a good idea on my part.

He posted a video to X Wednesday morning about the presidential election results, ordering breakfast by saying, Ill have bacon, eggs and a side of landslide victory, and going on to say Trump will accomplish a lot before he takes office.

Elliott also said that hes committed to generating revenue for WXXV, even if that means bringing over advertisers from WLOX, which has the larger audience.

Im really looking forward to affecting the ratings here in the market, he said, although Im not naive enough to believe that I alone can do that.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  State Rep. David Rowe has defeated Democrat Nicholas Jacobson to represent Pennsylvanias 85th District.

Rowe has represented Pennsylvanias 85th District since 2019 after previously serving as vice-chairman of the East Buffalo Board of Supervisors.

Rowe has also served as a member of the Capital Campaign Council of Evangelical Community Hospital, Director of the Central Susquehanna Fire and Emergency Services Board; and Commissioner of the Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department.

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Rowe attended National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan and participated in its Mandarin Chinese Immersion Study program after two years of Christian missionary work as an educator in Southeast Asia.

Jacobson, 23, is a lifelong rural Pennsylvania resident who graduated from Lewisburg public schools in 2019. Jacobson graduated from Yale in 2023 and has worked in the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Office of the Auditor Generals Legal Counsel.

abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout is "reviewing the results" and U.S. Rep. Don Davis claims victory in North Carolinas First District. (Photos by Lynn Bonner)

Thsi report has been updated.

U.S. Rep. Don Davis of eastern North Carolinas First District has retained his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. His opponent, Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout, conceded Wednesday afternoon in a statement that read in part:

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Thank you to the voters of North Carolinas First Congressional District. Ive spent my life fighting for our country, fighting to defend our Constitution, and yes, fighting for extraordinary great Americans just like all of you! It was an honor and privilege to campaign to serve the people of Eastern North Carolina.

Don Davis ran a spirited campaign, and I congratulated him on his hard-fought victory earlier today. While Don and I have different visions, it is obvious to everyone he cares about this district.

We have to get our economy back on track and we have to secure our border. Congressman Davis said the same during this campaign and I hope he will work with the Trump Administration to help make this happen. The people of Eastern North Carolina deserve no less.

The state Board of Elections reports that all 281 precincts in the district have submitted their tallies, and that Davis enjoys a lead of 5,826 votes (49.46% to 47.90%). Libertarian Tom Bailey received 2.63%. The Associated Press only called the race on Thursday.

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Davis claimed victory in the wee hours of the morning. WRAL.com reported that Davis told supporters in Snow Hill shortly after midnight that he had won the race, saying, We did it!

Buckhout initially declined to concede and indicated she was exploring the possibility of seeking a recount, but ultimately abandoned that idea.

The First Congressional District race was the states only competitive contest for a U.S. House.

The outcome of the race could be critical to control of the House, where Republicans have held a slim majority for the past two years.

The Republican-led state legislature changed district lines in 2023 to make the district harder for a Democrat to win by removing Greenville from the district and adding several Republican counties.

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Davis is a first-term Democrat, former state senator, and U.S. Air Force veteran.

Buckhout is a retired Army colonel who followed the GOP campaign template with her emphasis on immigration and closing the southern border. Her ads highlighted her combat experience.

She told volunteers in September that immigration was her top issue.

Davis presented himself as a congressman seeking bipartisan solutions. He is one of the House Democrats most likely to vote against his party. His ideology score calculated by GovTrack clusters him with Republicans and to the right of all Democrats and about two dozen GOP House members. Davis endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, but was one of six House Democrats who voted for a resolution condemning Harris and President Joe Biden for immigration policies.

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The district has been represented by Democrats for more than a century and by Black Democrats since former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton was elected in 1992.

Davis raised more money for his campaign. The FEC reported that he had raised about $5.2 million through Sept. 24. He attracted significant contributions from agriculture PACs, including the North Carolina Cotton Producers Association, the National Cotton Council of America Committee, and the National Pork Producers Council. The American Israel Political Affairs Committee has been a conduit for more than $224,000 in donations. AIPAC worked this year to defeat progressive U.S. House members in their primaries. A picture of Davis and his wife flashes across the AIPAC webpage.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers named Davis as one of its champions of the industry and recorded an interview where Davis talked about his great grandmother preparing ham and cheese biscuits for road trips.

Buckhout had raised about $3.9 million through Sept. 24, which included $1.6 million she loaned the campaign.

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Buckhouts largest PAC contributions came from organizations that solely support Republicans, such as Freedoms Defense Fund and the Koch Industries PAC. Each contributed $10,000.

The National Republican Committee helped Buckhout buy ads. Democratic campaign groups such as House Majority Forward have run ads supporting Davis.

The anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America PAC backed Buckhout. Daviss website says he would vote to codify Roe vs. Wade.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
Marvin C. McClendon Jr. was arrested in 2022, decades after Melissa Ann Tremblay was found dead in Lawrence, Mass., on Sept. 12, 1988

Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via AP Marvin C. McClendon Jr. Marvin C. McClendon Jr.

Marvin C. McClendon Jr. has been found not guilty after being arrested in 2022 following the 1988 killing of 11-year-old Melissa Ann Tremblay

"Mr. McClendon was greatly relieved by the verdict," McClendon's lawyer told the Associated Press

"My thoughts are with the family of Melissa Ann Tremblay, who have suffered greatly due to the crime that took her life," Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said, per WBZ-TV

A former Massachusetts Department of Corrections officer has been found not guilty of killing an 11-year-old New Hampshire girl who died more than 36 years ago.

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As previously reported by PEOPLE, Marvin C. McClendon Jr., of Breman, Ala., was arrested and charged as a fugitive from justice by authorities in Massachusetts in April 2022, 33 years after Melissa Ann Tremblay, of Salem, N.H., was found dead alongside train tracks in Lawrence on Sept. 12, 1988.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, a jury  which was deadlocked on Monday  found McClendon not guilty on the sixth day of deliberations, per the Associated Press, which reports that the case hinged on whether or not DNA found on the victim belonged to the suspect.

McClendons lawyer, Henry Fasoldt, told the news agency, Mr. McClendon was greatly relieved by the verdict.

We appreciate the jurys careful and thoughtful deliberations, Fasoldt added.



Essex DA Melissa Ann Tremblay

At the time of Melissa's killing, McClendon had been living in Chelmsford, Mass., and working as a carpenter. Fasoldt told the AP his client was now looking to return home to Alabama after being held for two and a half years.

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Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said he was disappointed with the verdict, according to WBZ-TV.

I recognize the work and dedication of the jury during their long deliberations in this case, Tucker said, per the outlet.

My thoughts are with the family of Melissa Ann Tremblay, who have suffered greatly due to the crime that took her life, he added.

Neither Fasoldt or the Essex County District Attorney's Office didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.

Cullman County Sheriff's Office Marvin C. McClendon Jr.

Melissa's body was found the day after she "accompanied her mother and mother's boyfriend" to a social club in Lawrence on Sept. 11, 1988, authorities previously said in an Essex District Attorney's Office news release.

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"While her mother and mother's boyfriend remained inside the club, Melissa played in the adjacent neighborhoods and was last seen by a railroad employee and pizza delivery driver during the late afternoon hours," the 2022 release read. The young girl was reported missing to Lawrence Police later that night.

She was then found dead "in the old Boston & Maine Railway Yard near Andover Street and South Broadway in Lawrence," the following day after being "stabbed to death" and then "run over by a train car causing her left leg to be amputated," the release said.

"Over the years, scores of witnesses, suspects, and persons-of-interest were interviewed by police," authorities added. "Evidence recovered from the victims body was instrumental in solving the case."

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Authorities previously said that McClendon "had multiple ties" to Lawrence, but his lawyer Fasoldt told the jury this week that his client had "no meaningful connection" to the city, per the AP.

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During the trial, Essex County Assistant District Attorney Jessica Strasnick also told the jury that McClendon seemed to know key details about Melissa's death, adding that he was "fixated on the fact that she was beaten, ladies and gentlemen, because he knew that she wasnt just stabbed that day, that was she was beaten," the AP reported.

Strasnick argued, as well, "that the DNA evidence taken from under Tremblays fingernails excludes 99.8 percent of the male population" as potential suspects.

But McClendon's defense said there was no proof the DNA belonged to the suspect, or that it was found under the victim's fingernails, the AP reported.

Tuesday's decision came after a judge declared a mistrial in Dec. 2023 after the jury couldn't reach a verdict, NBC10 Boston, the AP and the Eagle-Tribune previously reported.

Per an online obituary, Melissa's mom, Janet M. Tremblay, died at age 70 on Nov. 20, 2015.


Former President Trump has won Pennsylvania, securing a coveted battleground state that was increasingly seen as the center of gravity in the presidential election, according to a Decision Desk HQ projection.

Pennsylvania comes with the prize of 19 Electoral College votes, the most of any of the swing states. Its a major victory for Trump, after he lost the state in 2020 to President Biden.

Trump, like Vice President Harris, traveled to the Keystone State several times in the lead-up to Election Day.

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Trump in July held a rally in Butler, Pa., during which a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop just a few minutes after he took the stage. The former presidents ear was hit by a bullet, multiple attendees were injured and one was killed.

The former president returned to the site of the assassination attempt in October for a major rally with high-profile guests and allies, including Elon Musk.

Trump also made a memorable campaign stop in Bucks County in mid-October to work the drive-thru and fry cooker at a McDonalds, while donning an apron.

Pennsylvania was considered a toss-up until Election Day, with Trump and Harris both vying for the state that could help decide the election. Erie County, in particular, which Biden narrowly won in 2020 and Trump won in 2016, is considered a bellwether for how the Keystone State votes.

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By David Stanway

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Efforts by the United States and others to persuade more countries to contribute to a new global climate financing initiative risks undermining the Paris agreement, Singapore's Environment Minister Grace Fu told Reuters on Wednesday.

Nearly 200 nations will gather in Baku, Azerbaijan for COP29 climate talks on Monday to thrash out the details of a deal known as the New Collective Quantified Goal, designed to deliver billions of dollars of climate finance to the regions that need it the most.

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But the United States, Europe and others will only commit to the fund if the list of countries contributing to it is widened to include the likes of China, South Korea and Singapore, and the resulting deadlock could block progress during the talks.

Fu said there were "tough negotiations" going on about the definition and structure of the fund, but widening the donor base risks "unravelling" the Paris Agreement.

"The Paris Agreement has clear provisions  that talk about the responsibility of developed parties in supporting developing countries in mitigation and adaptation," she said.

She said Singapore, which has already set up funds designed to speed up decarbonisation in Southeast Asia, would be willing to participate in the NCQG on a voluntary basis, but not as a "donor".

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The issue could be further complicated by the United States' presidential election, with Donald Trump expected to withdraw from the Paris agreement for a second time if he is re-elected, narrowing the existing donor base.

Fu said it was too early to talk about the impact of the U.S. election on COP29, adding that Singapore hopes Washington will continue to be "involved, engaged and providing the necessary leadership".

Also on the agenda in Baku will be Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, with countries still negotiating the small print on a global carbon credit market that will allow them to meet their climate goals by financing green projects beyond their borders.

There were hopes that Azerbaijan would be able to announce the completion of a key part of Article 6 in the first few days of COP29, which could build momentum for success elsewhere, but Fu said it was too early to say whether that would happen.

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"The presidency has expressed their intention or their desire to see an early conclusion, and we, as co-facilitator are doing all we can to help bring that process forward," she said.

"Obviously, there's still a lot of work that needs to be done."

(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Michael Perry)
An affiliate of Aterian Investment Partners, a private investment company, has acquired Outlook Group, a provider of pressure-sensitive labels and turnkey packaging solutions based in the US.

This acquisition by Aterian marks a significant step in supporting Outlook's growth trajectory.

Outlook, headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, is known for its capabilities in design, printing, converting, co-packaging, and others.

The company serves several prominent food and beverage, consumer, and healthcare brands in North America.

Established in 1977, it has approximately 260 employees across two locations in Wisconsin.

Aterian co-founder and partner Brandon Bethea said: "We are excited to partner with the Outlook team to support the company through its next phase of growth.

Outlook has an industry-wide reputation for quality earned through decades of superior levels of service that has resulted in a longstanding customer base."

The acquisition represents the sixth investment from Aterian's Fund IV, which is an investment vehicle valued at $834m.

Legal company Weil, Gotshal & Manges alongside PricewaterhouseCoopers and Perella Weinberg Partners provided advisory services to Aterian during this acquisition process.

Aterian managing director Ryan Miller said: "Outlook is positioned for future success due to the company's strong management team, high-touch service model and deep capabilities.

"We look forward to working closely with the company's management team to drive growth through both organic initiatives and M&A [mergers and acquisitions]."

"Aterian Investment Partners acquires Outlook Group to support growth" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand.




I know you feel awful. I know you spent the whole night trying to not look at the New York Times historically unreliable needle, which proved to be intolerably accurate this time around. I know you mainlined cigarette after cigarette, I know you drank melted ice cream like a sleeping potion, I know you wept so much that you could drown in a self-made sea. I know you hugged your daughters and wondered, What kind of world can she inherit when this country hates her so much for merely having a body? I know that you feel as if you woke up in a familiar hell, because we all did. Of course it feels so bad: We were hopeful, again.

As the election results steadily beat us down, it became abundantly clear that a Kamala Harris win would not be inevitable. By the early hours of Wednesday morning, Donald Trump was announced as the victor, fair (in an unfair system) and square. I know that it feels as if the sun is being blocked out for good.

I dont have it in me to do the whole unbiased-journalist schticknot that I ever really didbut its simply too bleak to even be able to pretend that this is anything other than the worst-case scenario. Im too scared to perform. I was afraid in 2016 toobut eight years ago, we didnt know what to expect. Now its the fear of what we already know, and the fear of what we cant even imagine.

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The options in this election were ultimately between two bad ones: one, an administration ready to support an ongoing genocide, and another gleeful in its repudiation of abortion rights, its restriction of trans freedom, its terror around immigrants, and, of course, its support of that very genocide. There was never going to be any real victory in this elections results; it was only ever a choice between the irretrievably broken and the devastatingly, skull-crushingly, irredeemably broken.

But the skull-crushingly, irredeemably broken option still feels worse. Theres no subtlety in what the results of the Electoral College tell us: This is a country where half the population is content in its hatred of women, of queer people, of brown and Black people, of anyone who comes to the United States from a poorer country. A Republican candidate for president has not won the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004, and while the final count may still be pending, the fact that Donald Trump swayed a majority of the country in his third attempt at office is fucking disgraceful. Could I find more elegant language for this betrayal from the people who are supposed to be my neighbors? Could I be gentler about the majority percentage of Americans who are satisfied with aligning themselves with the core tenets of brutality? No. It is a waste of my time, and time is the thing I have never had. Hillary Clinton called them a basket of deplorables in 2016, and Joe Biden called them garbage mere days ago. Perhaps that rhetoric loses elections, but its still language too soft for this current moment. More than 50 percent of the country wants to shape the republic, more and more, into something inhumane, inhospitable, destined for fascism and decline. In 2016 and 2020, journalists and academics and voters alike tried to understand the Trump voter, to better make sense of their political choices. I dont give a shit anymore. There is nothing more to understand.

Despite this, Harris still has herself to blame for the result. She lost voters in places like Dearborn, Michigan, which is dominantly Muslim, a region Biden won handily in 2020. Her rhetoric about Palestine was inhumane too, her continued vehement support of Israels siege on Palestinians an impossible hurdle for many left-of-center voters to even consider. Nothing was more shortsighted than the Democrats sending Bill Clinton to give a speech days before the election, saying Israel was forced to kill more than 41,000 people in the past year. The cruelty is often the point, and thats true even from a party that cant own up to its own cruelty.

In the days running up to the election, the 2000 Octavia E. Butler essay A Few Rules for Predicting the Future started going semiviral among left-leaning voters facing an overpresent dread no matter what was bound to happen Tuesday. Theres no single answer that will solve all of our future problems, Butler wrote. Theres no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answersat least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.

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This election was never going to save us, and so I have to believe it was never going to doom us either. This, maybe, is a measure of my own delusionI cant bring myself to rise every morning if I think its all a wash. But governments and institutions and gerrymandered districts are not heroes. Harris was not a savior; she was only ever a placeholder for somethingsomeonebetter. During the first Trump administration, we were tasked with taking care of one another, in whatever ways we could. We would have been tasked with that same duty under Harris, though perhaps in fewer ways. Maybe my chest wouldnt feel so heavy. Maybe I wouldnt feel as angry as I do. But there was only ever us: sending money to UNRWA, driving a friend across state lines to get an abortion, keeping an eye on the trans teenager who lives in your building to make sure they make it home when theyre walking around late at night.

I still wanted Harris to win. I wanted it for my mother, who was holding on to hope of a brown and Black president, even though she doesnt even live here. I wanted a sign that it can get better. But I cant give up my hope entirely, even if this years results are perhaps telling me I should. I refuse to feel foolish in my longing for more humanity. I cant let myself sink too deep in my despair; there are simply too many of us to save.

Hope doesnt have to come wholesale. You can pick and choose and take what you can getin fact, right now you should, because its the only thing keeping our hearts from atrophy. Even in the rubble, light breaks through. Sarah McBride won her race for the House, making her the first openly trans member of Congress. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has been pursuing charges against Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election, won her bid for reelection. Mark Im a black NAZI! Robinson lost his race for North Carolina governor. As of this writing, all but two states with abortion amendments on the ballot voted to protect abortion rights. Floridas Monique Worrell, pushed out of her state attorney job by Ron DeSantis, won her seat back. For the first time ever (yes, ever, bleak), there will be two Black women serving in the Senate.

I have to dig for hope, like a truffle-seeking pig, like a dog trying to find a bone he cant remember where he buried. I will dig for it until I am dead.

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For now, as we wait for Inauguration Day, there is nothing to do but rest for a moment. Not for too longtheres so much more work on the other side of tomorrow, and the next day, and the next week, and the year after that, forever, for the rest of time, until you die, and likely even after that. You can still be an answer to a future problem. But now is the time for grief: grief over whom were sure to lose in the next four years, and grief over whatever last strings of democratic innocence we had left. You will never find a shortage of policies or laws or social mores that demand desperate and immediate improvement, for yourself or others. Soon, despair will wrap itself around you again, as we all begin to realize what another brutalizing four years of Trump policy will be. Today is for suffering.

But tomorrowtomorrow is for community. Ill be there, chest heaving, limbs heavy, eyes blurry, waiting for you.
The death toll has risen to at least 30 a day after an Israeli air strike hit the coastal city of Barja in Lebanon.

Rescue workers also discovered body parts in the wreckage, the civil defence said. Three injured people were taken to hospital.

Barja is located around 30 kilometres south of the capital Beirut.

Rescuers also pulled dead and injured people out of the wreckage in other places that were attacked by Israel, which was targetting the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah militia, according to the Israeli military.

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At least 15 bodies have been recovered in the Tyre region, the state news agency NNA reported.

Lebanese media also reported renewed attacks in the Beeka plain in the east and in the border area with Israel in the south, both Hezbollah strongholds.
(The Hill)  Vice President Kamala Harris was projected to win New Mexico, according to Decision Desk HQ, picking up the states five Electoral College votes.

Heading into election day, New Mexico was seen as a likely Democratic state, according to DDHQ forecasts  just a step shy of being solidly blue.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the state by 8 points in 2016, and President Biden expanded that to 11 points in 2020. Democrats have held all statewide offices since 2019, with a trifecta of control over the state legislature and governors mansion.

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Before his historic exit from the race, Biden easily won New Mexicos Democratic primary earlier this year, but a notable 10 percent of the vote went to uncommitted, largely seen as a protest vote over the administrations handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Another seven percent went to Bidens longshot challenger, Marianne Williamson.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(NewsNation)  The Republicans have won control of the U.S. Senate after the party flipped three seats in elections on Tuesday across the nation, NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ projects. See the results of the presidential election here.

The Democrats have controlled the Senate since January 20, 2021, when President Joe Biden took office. Of the Senates 100 seats, the Democrats have occupied 47 while the Republicans have filled 49 entering Tuesdays election. Despite the GOP filling more seats, the Democrats maintain a slim majority because of the caucusing status of four independent U.S. senators.

They include Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vermont), Sen. Angus King (Maine), Sen. Krysten Sinema (Arizona) and Sen. Joe Manchin (West Virginia).

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Sanders, King, and Manchin all caucus with the Democrats while Sinema  a former registered Democrat  has said she wont caucus with the Republicans, USA Today reported. Because of these alliances, the Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority despite occupying fewer seats.

Both Sinema and Manchin are not seeking reelection.

A total of 34 Senate seats were up for re-election on Tuesday with Democrats and independents representing 23 of those races.

Three of the most heavily watched races involving incumbent Democrats fall in key swing states that could determine the outcome of the presidential election.

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In Michigan, Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin faced former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers to fill an opening created by the retirement of Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Ohio incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown, the only Democrat to hold a statewide office in the Buckeye State, was locked into a toss-up race against Republican challenger Bernie Moreno, a businessman who has been publicly backed by former President Donald Trump.

In Wisconsin, Democratic incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin was in another tight race with Republican investor Eric Hovde, who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2012.

Bloomberg reported that while the three swing state races remained among the nations most competitive, the push for Sinemas open seat in Arizona also created another opportunity for the Republicans to gain an edge in a possible balance of power in the Senate.

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Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego, who has served five terms in Congress, was hoping to help Democrats maintain control of the seat against Republican Kari Lake, the former Phoenix television news anchor and former gubernatorial candidate.

Manchins retirement from the West Virginia Senate seat he has held for 14 years was expected to create one opening for the Republicans, who are looking to flip enough seats to regain control of the chamber.

Jim Justice, West Virginias two-term Republican governor, built and maintained a big lead over Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, which was expected to all but guarantee a Senate victory for the Republicans.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

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In addition to the issue of which party controls the Senate, the chambers leadership could also shift depending on the elections outcomes.

Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer has served as Senate majority leader since the Democrats took control in 2021. Schumer is not up for re-election but would likely become the Senate minority leader should the balance of power shift to the Republicans.

The GOPs leadership within the Senate will also shift as longtime Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell announced earlier this year that he will step down as minority leader.

A trio of candidates have emerged as a possible successor to McConnell, headed by South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the Senate Republican Whip as well as Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso.

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Some gun violence prevention groups said Wednesday that they plan to double down in their fight for stronger firearm-control laws in the wake of former President Donald Trump recapturing the White House and promising to roll back President Joe Biden's efforts to curb the national plague.

During his victorious campaign, Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, voiced opposition to most of Biden's executive orders to combat the scourge that the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions found to be the leading cause of death in the United States for adolescents under the age of 19 for three straight years.

"The election of Donald Trump is deeply troubling for our safety and freedom from gun violence," Kris Brown, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement Wednesday. "And that's why we are doubling down on our work and fighting harder than ever."

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Gun violence was a big issue during the campaign. In an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll released in August, gun violence was ranked eighth in importance among voters after the economy, inflation, health care, protecting democracy, crime and safety, immigration and the Supreme Court.

PHOTO: Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during an election night event in West Palm Beach, Florida, Nov. 6, 2024. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

In preliminary national exit polls analyzed by ABC News, voters said they trusted Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris, 50% to 48%, in handling the issue of crime and safety.

In his campaign, Trump often railed against what he described as a "surge" in migrant crime, including several high-profile homicides allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants. A 2020 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found U.S.-born citizens are over 2 times more likely than migrants to be arrested for violent crimes.

MORE: What Trump said he would do on Day 1 if reelected

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Brown said it won't be the first pro-gun rights administration that has occupied the White House, adding that Trump's previous four years in the Oval Office were marked by a "deadly period for Americans." Among the mass shootings that occurred during Trump's first term was the 2017 massacre at the Route 91 Harvest Festival music concert in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead and more than 850 people wounded; the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 students and staff; and the 2019 shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, that claimed 23 lives and injured nearly two dozen other people.

U.S. Mass shootings between the 1st presidential debate on June 28 and the vice presidential debate on Oct. 1 (ABC News Photo Illustration)

"So even though we won't have a friend in the White House, Brady isn't giving up an inch," Brown said of her organization named after White House press secretary James "Jim" Brady, who was shot and permanently disabled in the 1981 assassination attempt on then-President Ronald Reagan and later died in 2014 as a result of his wounds.

Brown added, "The movement to prevent gun violence has always been larger than one office, and we'll continue to work with activists, survivors, community leaders and elected officials in states across the country to fight for progress that makes the whole country safer from gun violence."

Trump and Vance, who have said they oppose a national ban on assault weapons, were endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA).

PHOTO: People are brought out of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after a shooting at the school that reportedly killed and injured multiple people on February 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

In February, Trump told NRA members at a forum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, "No one will lay a finger on your firearms" during his second term in office.

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"During my four years, nothing happened and there was a lot of pressure on me having to do with guns," Trump said at the time. "We did nothing, we didnt yield. And once you yield a little bit thats just the beginning, thats [when] the avalanche begins."

MORE: Gun violence among top issues in DNC Platform

In May, Trump spoke at the NRA convention in Dallas and outlined some of the actions he'll take in his second term.

"In my second term, we will roll back every Biden attack on the Second Amendment -- the attacks are fast and furious -- starting the minute that Crooked Joe shuffles his way out of the White House, Trump said in the speech.

PHOTO: Republican vice presidential candidate, Sen. J.D. Vance speaks alongside former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during an election night event in West Palm Beach, Florida, Nov. 6, 2024. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

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Trump also vowed during the speech to fire Steven Dettelbach, the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). House Republicans have also said they want to abolish or drastically cut funding for the ATF.

MORE: JD Vance and Tim Walz claim to be 2nd Amendment stalwarts. But where do the VP picks really stand on guns?

"At noon on Inauguration Day, we will sack the anti-gun fanatic Steve Dettelbach," Trump told NRA conventioneers. "Have you ever heard of him? Hes a disaster."

Gun control advocates said they expect Trump to try to water down the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), the first major gun safety law enacted in 30 years that Biden signed in June 2022, about a month after a teenage gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The BSCA enhances background checks for gun buyers under 21, closes the so-called "boyfriend loophole" to prevent people convicted of domestic abuse from purchasing guns, and allocates $750 million to help states implement "red flag laws" to remove firearms from people deemed to be dangerous to themselves and others.

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Advocates also expect Trump to abolish the first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention established under the Biden administration and overseen by Harris.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action released a statement on social media Wednesday, saying her gun violence prevention group also plans to continue to fight for laws that protect Americans from gun violence.

"If this work has taught me anything, it's that no matter what, we always can and will secure victories to protect our communities from gun violence. This obstacle is no different. Today, we are crushed by this result," Ferrell-Zabala said of Trump's victory. "Tomorrow, we're going to continue to organize like our lives depend on it -- because they do."

'Deeply troubling': Gun-violence prevention groups react to Trump victory originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The defense for Richard Allen, the man accused of killing two teenagers in Delphi, Indiana, in 2017, rested its case Wednesday after several days of calling witnesses, including a cell phone forensic expert and a psychiatrist, according to CNN affiliate WTHR.

After the prosecution recalled witnesses, the trial now heads to closing arguments, jury instructions and deliberations, WTHR reports.

Allen, 52, is accused of killing Liberty Libby German, 14, and Abigail Abby Williams, 13, who lived in Delphi  a small town about an hour northwest of Indianapolis.

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He has pleaded not guilty to four charges, including two counts of murder and two counts of felony murder, court records show.

The trial began three weeks ago as prosecutors alleged Allen committed the killings, citing ballistics evidence and his own confessions, according to The Associated Press.

I did it. I killed Abby and Libby, Allen said in an audio recording played in court.

However, the defense has argued there is no DNA or weapons evidence tying him to the killings and said those confessions were involuntary and stemmed from being in solitary confinement for months.

Liberty "Libby" German and Abigail "Abby Williams were found dead after going on a hike in February 2017 in Delphi, Indiana. - FBI

On Tuesday, a cell phone forensic expert testified that data from Libbys cell phone shows someone inserted a headphones cord into the phone on the night the girls went missing and then removed it five hours later, according to WTHR.

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In addition, a psychiatrist testified about how people kept in solitary confinement can become confused and delirious, and a forensic scientist took the stand and criticized how state investigators handled the examination of an unspent round found near the girls bodies, WTHR reported.

Allen did not testify in his own defense.

The long path to trial

On February 13, 2017, the two eighth-grade girls went hiking on a day off from school near the Monon High Bridge, an abandoned rail bridge along the 10-mile Delphi Historic Trail, but failed to meet Libbys dad at a prearranged time, Indiana State Police said.

The next day, their bodies were found in a wooded area about a half mile from the bridge, police said. But the case went cold.

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Over the years, authorities released sketches and portions of a video recorded on Libbys cell phone in hopes of finding a suspect. The video shows a man in a dark jacket and jeans walking behind the girls and then telling them, Guys, down the hill, according to a probable cause affidavit in Allens arrest.

A pathologist who performed the girls autopsies testified both had wounds on their necks, which seemed to be from a serrated edge, according to CNN affiliate WLFI. Neither of the victims bodies showed any signs of sexual assault or defensive wounds, Kohr said, according to CNN affiliate WRTV.

Allen was arrested in 2022 after investigators found that an unspent .40-caliber round located between the two victims matched a pistol he owned, the affidavit said.

When Allen initially spoke to police in 2017, he admitted he was on the trail for roughly two hours on the day the girls were killed, the affidavit said. In a subsequent interview in October 2022, Allen told authorities he had gone out there to watch fish, according to the affidavit.

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CNN previously reported that Allen, who was employed at the local CVS, helped an aunt of one of the victims print funeral photos at the store.

Once arrested, Allen had been held in solitary confinement for 13 months, and the defense has sought to place the confessions within the context of Allens mental health crisis while incarcerated.

He was placed on suicide watch multiple times, exhibited bizarre behavior and was at one time diagnosed with a brief psychotic disorder, according to testimony from Monica Wala, the prison psychologist who treated Allen at Westville Correctional Facility.

Allen was placed on suicide watch in November 2022 and in April 2023. He engaged in some strange behaviors in prison, including refusing to wear clothes, banging his head and eating his own feces, Wala said.

CNNs Nicole Chavez contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Auditor General Tim DeFoor (campaign photo)

Incumbent Republican Auditor General Timothy DeFoor won reelection to a second term as Pennsylvanias fiscal watchdog, defeating Democratic challenger Malcolm Kenyatta 51.4% to 45.6% according to unofficial election results. The Associated Press called the race at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

As one of the states three elected row offices, the auditor generals office comes with a bully pulpit of sorts in choosing which policies and programs to scrutinize.

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DeFoor, elected auditor general in 2020, faced a reelection challenge from Kenyatta, who became the first openly gay person of color elected to state office in 2018. Among the most vocally progressive members of the House Democratic Caucus, Kenyatta, of Philadelphia, emerged on the statewide political stage with an unsuccessful bid to be the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022.

DeFoor is a Harrisburg native and served as an investigator for the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General seeking out fraud, waste and abuse in state government. He then worked as a special agent for the state Office of the Attorney General investigating Medicaid fraud and illegal prescription drug diversion. He also worked as a fraud investigator for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and for several federal agencies. He was elected Dauphin County controller in 2015.

In his reelection campaign, DeFoor stood behind his background as a professional fraud investigator and auditor, noting that he has only held two elected offices, both centered around financial accountability. In a second term, DeFoor said he would continue to focus on risk and vulnerability in state government, expanding the offices capabilities to conduct health care and forensic audits.
AGUA CLARA, Brazil (AP)  Forest loss in Brazils Amazon dropped by 30.6% compared to the previous year, officials said Wednesday, the lowest level of destruction in nine years.

In a 12-month span, the Amazon rainforest lost 6,288 square kilometers (2,428 square miles), roughly the size of the U.S. state of Delaware.

The results, announced in Brazils presidential palace, sharply contrast with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who prioritized agribusiness expansion over forest protection and weakened environmental agencies. Deforestation hit a 15-year high during his term.

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Deforestation in Brazil's vast savannah, known as the Cerrado, decreased by 25.7%, the first decline in five years. The area destroyed reached 8,174 square kilometers (3,156 square miles). Located in central Brazil, it is the worlds most biodiverse savannah but has fewer legal protections than the Amazon.

Despite the success in curbing Amazon deforestation, Lula's government has been criticized by environmentalists for backing projects that could harm the region, such as the pavement of a highway that cuts from an old-growth area, oil drilling in the mouth of the Amazon River and building a railway to transport soy to Amazonian ports.

Brazils deforestation monitoring system tracks Aug. 1 to July 30, so Wednesday's report doesnt capture the destruction from the past few months, as a historic drought opened the way to a surge in forest fires that burned an area larger than Switzerland.

Much of the damage from fires is classified as degradation, not clearcutting deforestation, as the fire in the Amazon rainforest spreads mostly through leaves on the ground, and not through treetops. But the full impact will be assessed in the following months through further satellite monitoring. Government officials already fear that the deforestation rate may increase next year as the Amazonian city of Belem prepares to host the annual U.N. climate talks, known as COP30.

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The Amazon, an area twice the size of India, holds the worlds largest rainforest, about two-thirds of it within Brazil. It stores vast amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that causes climate change. The Amazon thus prevents the climate from warming even faster than it would otherwise. The basin also holds about 20% of the worlds fresh water and biodiversity includes 16,000 known tree species.

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The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride made history on Tuesday night, becoming the first openly transgender person to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, NBC News projects.

The Democrat won the state's only House seat, defeating her Republican opponent John Whalen III, a retired police officer and former construction company owner.

McBride, 34, was heavily favored going into Tuesday's election in the deep-blue state. In September, she easily defeated her Democratic primary opponents with 80% of the vote.

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The congresswoman-elect already celebrated her projected win on social media, posting a thank you message to the voters of Delaware on X.

"Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress," McBride wrote.

"Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all our families, that ensures that housing and health care are available to everyone and that this is a democracy that is big enough for all of us," she continued.

Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress.



Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all our pic.twitter.com/QgwRkpUlbD  Sen. Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) November 6, 2024

As NBC News reports, McBride is no stranger to making history. In 2012, she became the first trans woman to work in the White House when she interned for then-President Barack Obama, which she wrote about in her 2018 memoir, Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality.

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In 2016, she spoke at the Democratic National Convention and became the first trans person to deliver a speech at a major political convention.

In 2020, McBride added another first to her list, securing victory in Delaware's 1st Senate District and becoming the country's first openly trans state senator.

In addition to McBride and Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman of color to run for president on a major party ticket, voters in the state also had a chance to make history by casting their ballot for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lisa Blunt Rochester.

Blunt Rochester, who currently serves as Delaware's sole representative in the House, is set to become the first Black woman to represent the state in the U.S. Senate, NBC News projects.

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Earlier on Election Day, McBride reflected on the historic nature of that Democratic ticket in her state.

That ticket is not an ultimate destination," McBride said. "But it is a reflection of how far weve come, that no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from or the gender with which you identify, that you can live your truth and dream big dreams all at the same time. Its not the end, but its the beginning.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Audi Group, the premium brand of Volkswagen Group, has reported a profit after tax of 2.42bn ($2.6bn) in the first nine months of 2024, down 45.8% from 4.47bn during the same period in 2023.

Revenue also fell by 8.2% to 46.26bn, reflecting the challenging macroeconomic situation, including a difficult market environment, and expected restructuring expenses, including potential changes at the Brussels plant.

The financial result after the third quarter of 2024 amounted to 1bn, a decrease from 1.21bn in 2023.

Deliveries to customers across the group declined by 10.9%, with a total of 1,251,381 units delivered, compared with 1,404,428 in 2023.

By brand, Audi delivered 1,235,590 units, a 10.9% decrease from the previous year.

Bentley faced a more pronounced drop of 26.6%, delivering 7,380 units.

In contrast, Lamborghini saw an 8.6% increase in deliveries, reaching 8,411 units.

Ducati motorcycle deliveries decreased by 8.5%, with 43,773 units delivered.

In Europe, deliveries decreased by 9.8%, with significant drops in Germany (19.8%) and more moderate declines in the UK (5.5%) and France (1.7%).

Italy, however, experienced a growth of 4.4%. Spain saw a 7.1% decrease in deliveries.

In the US, Audi deliveries fell by 16.8%, with sharper declines in Mexico (18.6%) and Brazil (8%).

Mainland China and Hong Kong also saw an 8.5% decrease in deliveries.

Despite the downturn, Audi Group maintains its revenue expectation for 2024, projecting between 63bn and 68bn.

Audi Group CFO Jurgen Rittersberger said: Audi is consistently working on its financial performance against the backdrop of a complicated macroeconomic situation and stiffer competition.

Our current focus is on further increasing our efficiency and competitiveness. With the Performance Program 14, we are addressing both cost and revenue potential. At the same time, we are launching numerous new models onto the market during a challenging transition phase, which will gradually impact volumes and earnings from 2025.

"Audi Groups profit drops 45.8% to $2.6bn in Q1-Q3 2024" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17) speaks to reporters at an event highlighting the Biden Administration's investment in infrastructure at the Kingsley Center Pittsburgh's Larimer neighborhood on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Steve Mellon/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-17th District) won reelection in the southwestern Pennsylvania district, according to unofficial tallies. The Associated Press called the race at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

As of 12:35 a.m. unofficial results on the Allegheny County elections website showed Deluzio with 53.7% of votes, compared to his GOP challenger, state Rep. Rob Mercuri (R-Allegheny), who had 46.3%.

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Deluzio was elected to Congress in 2022, beating Republican Jeremy Shaffer in the redrawn 17th District that incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb left to pursue the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Lamb lost in the primary to John Fetterman.

Although Deluzios seat was one that Republicans targeted early on, he regularly raised more money than Mercuri according to quarterly campaign finance reports.

Deluzio did not immediately comment on Wednesday morning.
Kim made headlines when he was photographed cleaning the U.S. Capitol following the Jan. 6, 2021 riots

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Andy Kim Andy Kim

New Jersey Democrat Andy Kim has won his bid for the U.S. Senate. He will become the first Korean-American elected to the Senate  and, at 42, its third-youngest member.

"We just won our Senate race!" Kim wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Nov. 5. "As a son of immigrants, a public school kid, I never couldve imagined Id get to serve as a US Senator. Im deeply humbled and grateful to NJ and for everyone who got us here. I promise Ill serve with honor and integrity as a public servant for all."

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Kim, currently a second-term U.S. Representative, made headlines on Jan. 6, 2021 when he spent hours on his hands and knees to help clean the U.S. Capitol following the riots, and was photographed doing so by Associated Press photographer Andrew Harnik.

In the days following the riots, Kim told the AP it "broke his heart" to see the destruction, and he felt compelled to assist in the clean-up. "What else could I do?" he said at the time.

"When you see something you love that's broken you want to fix it," he continued. "I love the Capitol. I'm honored to be there. This building is extraordinary and the rotunda in particular is just awe-inspiring. How many countless generations have been inspired in that room?"



Andrew Harnik/AP/Shutterstock Andy Kim cleans debris at the U.S. Capitol

Related: Rep. Andy Kim Donates Iconic Blue Suit From Viral Post-Capitol Riot Photos to the Smithsonian

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Kim will take the Senate seat previously occupied by Democrat Bob Menendez, who resigned in August following federal bribery charges.

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The longtime politician and his wife, Nadine, were indicted in September 2023, following an investigation into his business dealings with three businessmen connected to Egypt's government.

Although the former senator, 70, pleaded not guilty to initial charges related to conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, a New York City jury found him guilty on 16 federal charges in July 2024.

The decision came one month after the high-ranking senator filed papers to run for reelection as an independent candidate.

Kim, meanwhile, announced that he would run for the Senate seat as a Democrat just days after the indictment was first unsealed. Menendez ultimately resigned from his seat and withdrew from his independent bid for the seat.


Democrats and political talking heads have initiated the circular firing squad as they search to blame anyone else for Donald Trumps victory in the 2024 election.

Vice-president Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party lost the White House, lost the Senate, and still may lose the House. The Supreme Court has a conservative majority that handed Trump a presidential get out of jail free card for almost anything he does in office between 2025 and 2028.

So, who is to blame?

Kamala Harris started her campaign with a wave of enthusiasm but failed to convince enough Americans to power her into the White House (Getty Images)

Some Democrats think swapping Joe Biden for Harris was their deadly mistake. Others have blamed Biden himself, saying he took far too long to drop out. Progressives point to the Biden administration's stance on Israel and the Harris campaign's attempts to appeal to moderates and anti-Trump Republicans.

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Maybe it's not a single person, but the issues themselves; some analysts have argued that Americans resonated with Trump's stances  however sometimes disturbing  on immigration, on the economy, on foreign wars.

Here are the leading scapegoats Democrats and analysts are trying to serve up to enraged liberal voters:

Harris and the Democratic Party

The vice-president has never had a showing as a strong national candidate. She lost her primary race in 2020, and took the reins from Biden without a primary or any other input from actual voters. Harris was appointed the 2024 Democratic Party presidential candidate; she was not elected to that role.

Harris's campaign hung its hopes on voters from marginalized backgrounds and women  including Republican women concerned about their abortion rights  to come through for her on election night. But that does not appear to have panned out, with Black men and Hispanic voters moving toward Trump.

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Others, like progressive U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, argued Harris and the rest of Democratic Party leadership has continued to ignore the concerns of working-class voters, who have been strained by inflation and may not have personally felt the impacts of the Biden administrations longer-term investments in U.S. manufacturing.

It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them, the Vermont senator, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, wrote in a statement on Wednesday.

First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well, he continued. While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change.

Harris also tried to appeal to moderates and suburbanites, running on platforms of criminal crackdowns and bolstering the military  typically Republican stomping grounds  to little effect. The campaign highlighted former Congresswoman Liz Cheney after she and her war-profiteering father decided to back Harris. The move likely did little to sway moderates and a lot to disgust progressives.

Harris supporters were distraught on election night - but the blame game has already started (AFP via Getty Images)

Harris's campaign was insistent that she was picking up new voters and that the race would be close; a recent poll out of Iowa only helped bolster that idea.

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A Democratic National Committee official, speaking anonymously, told Reuters that they were fielding angry calls from party members on election night.

"They feel lied to by the campaign," the official said.

Harris may also have been too close to a Biden Administration that did little to stand against Israel's rampant and unchecked killing of Palestinians in Gaza. Despite comments she made indicating she might have taken a tougher stance on Israel, it does not appear to have moved many Democrats critical of the Biden administration's response to the continuing crisis.

Politico argued that it was Harris's inability to make a clean break from Biden that ultimately doomed her presidential hopes, claiming she could not both back the work of the Biden Administration and convince voters that she would effect significant change if she took power.

Joe Biden and the Democratic Party

President Joe Biden stepped down as the nominee but only under pressure (AP)

Bill Ackman, a longtime Democratic donor who backed Trump in 2024, accused the party of lying to voters about Joe Biden's mental fitness.

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"The party lied to the American people about the cognitive health and fitness of the president," he said, and pointed out that there was no primary held to replace him. He said the party needed a "complete reboot," according to Reuters.

Biden's decision to step away from the race in July came on the heels of immense pressure from within the party and a disastrous debate with Trump earlier in the campaign. But that left Harris with only three months to sell her vision to a deeply divided nation.

At least one Harris campaign staffer complained that the ghost of the former administration chopped her off at the knees.

We ran the best campaign we could, considering Joe Biden was president, the Harris aide told Politico on condition of anonymity. Joe Biden is the singular reason Kamala Harris and Democrats lost tonight.

Tim Walz and Progressives

There were questions over whether Gov. Tim Walz was really the best running mate Harris could have chosen (AP)

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It wouldn't be a Democratic loss without the party's centrist members punching left. Democratic National Committee official Lindy Li told Fox News that Harris picking Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate over Minnesota Governor Tim Walz may have been enough to push her over the line.

"People are wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket. And not only in terms of Pennsylvania," she said, not explaining who "people" were.

She then suggested that Walz was too progressive, and that picking a moderate like Shapiro  who has been vocal in his support for Israel as it continues to tear apart Gaza  would have shown she wasn't a "San Francisco liberal."

"But she went with someone actually to her Left. In the eyes of the American people, Walz was the governor who oversaw the protests," she said, referencing the fact that Walz was the governor of Minnesota during the George Floyd demonstrations.

Israel

A Palestinian woman looks on at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in the southern Gaza Strip on November 6 (REUTERS)

The Biden Administrations response to Israels war in Gaza was a continuous concern for analysts monitoring the election. The fear was that Biden allowing Israel to slaughter Palestinians unchecked would alienate progressive, Muslim, Arabic, and other voters with family, friends, or loved ones in the region.

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On Wednesday, the Uncommitted National Movement, which describes itself as anti-war, pro-peace, and pro-Palestine, issued a statement laying the blame for the 2024 election results directly on the Biden Administrations response to Gaza.

"The outcome of this election is not a reflection of Donald Trump's appeal; it is a sobering reminder that the Democratic Party has lost touch with the very communities that once fueled it's progress. This defeat is not simply about policies or candidates; it underscores a deeper disconnection from our values and our people," the group said in its statement.

Our statement on the election results. pic.twitter.com/RoHdIDqp5v  Uncommitted National Movement  (@uncommittedmvmt) November 6, 2024

It went on to say that for "Arab and Muslim Americans, this election was profoundly personal."

"Many have watched in anguish as American-supplied Israeli bombs have fallen on loved ones in Palestine and Lebanon. Our calls for understanding and action from Democratic leaders have too often been met with silence," the group wrote. "For many in our communities, Biden's legacy is now defined by war and grief rather than hope."

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The organization then noted that the vacuum left by the Democrats allowed Trump to "lie" and position himself as "a 'pro-peace' alternative  an illusion that has emerged from our party's failure to see us."

According to a poll conducted byThe Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research between October 11-14, more than half of Democratic respondents blame Israel a lot for escalating violence in the Middle East.

Approximately 60 percent of Democratic respondents said Israel bears a lot of responsibility for the war, compared to only about one-quarter of Republicans, according to Jewish News Service.

The voters themselves

Voters cast ballots at a polling site in the lobby of the Brooklyn Museum on Election Day (EPA)

Some pundits have blamed the voters who Democrats assumed they had on lock for failing to show up for Harris.

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MSNBC's Joy Reid blamed white women, chastising them for not making "their numbers" while discussing Harris's loss in North Carolina.

"In the end, they didn't make their numbers. We have to be blunt about why, black voters came through for Harris, white women voters did not," Reid said.

JUST IN: An increasingly depressed Joy Reid goes on rant against white women for not voting for Kamala Harris in North Carolina.



"Black voters came through for Harris, white women did not. That is what appears happened."



"This is the second opportunity that white women in this pic.twitter.com/voTD4qYzoo  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 6, 2024

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It isnt quite that simple. While white women may have voted in fewer numbers than the party had hoped, many Black voters  particularly Black men  abandoned the party for Trump.

According to exit polls, Trump only won eight percent of Black voters in 2020, but that share increased to 13 percent in 2024. He also gained with Hispanic voters, where his support rose from 32 percent in 2020 to 45 per cent in 2024.

That revelation led to MSNBC's Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough to blame misogyny for Harris's loss.

MSNBCs Joe Scarborough says that Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump because blacks and Latinos are sexist and Latinos are racist:



A lot of Hispanic voters have problems with black candidates



Al Sharpton says black men are among the most sexist people pic.twitter.com/bDMJNS4Mof  Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 6, 2024

Democrats need to be mature, and they need to be honest. And they need to say Yes, there is misogyny, but its not just misogyny from white men," he said. Its misogyny from Hispanic men, its misogyny from black men  things weve all been talking about  who do not want a woman leading them.
Kamala Harris has been accused of picking the wrong running mate as the Democratic blame game over her humiliating election defeat began.

The US vice-president appeared on course to lose every one of the seven swing states that determined the White House race.

Ms Harris, 60, declined to address the nation on election night, leaving Democratic officials to fill the vacuum.

Some blamed her choice of Tim Walz, the unassuming Minnesota governor, as her vice-presidential candidate.

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The leading alternative had been Josh Shapiro, the charismatic and popular governor of all-important Pennsylvania.

Lindy Li, a Pennsylvania-based senior Democratic official, told Fox News: People are wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket. And not only in terms of Pennsylvania.

Ms Li said that as a moderate, Mr Shapiro would have signalled to the American people that she is not the San Francisco liberal that Trump said she was.

But she went with someone actually to her Left, she added. In the eyes of the American people, Walz was the governor who oversaw the protests.

Harris failed to stake out policy positions

Democrats also argued Ms Harris had failed to stake out her policy positions and sufficiently distance herself from Joe Biden, who was underwater in public approval ratings.

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They pinpointed her appearance on the talk show The View, when she was asked what she would have done differently to Mr Biden during the past four years, and replied: There is not a thing that comes to mind.

Meanwhile, Joy Reid, the MSNBC commentator, blamed white women in North Carolina for the Democrats loss in the swing state.

In the end, they didnt make their numbers. We have to be blunt about why; black voters came through for Harris, white women voters did not, she said.

Van Jones, a CNN contributor and former Barack Obama adviser, criticised the Harris campaigns focus on celebrity-filled rallies.

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I dont think people understand, working people sometimes have to choose. Am I going to go to the big, cool concert and pay for babysitting for that or am I going to figure out a way to get to the polls? I dont like these big star-studded events, he said.

Symone Sanders, a former adviser to Ms Harris turned MSNBC commentator, said: We have to listen to what the voters are saying.

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The Democratic Party on Wednesday morning began a painful postmortem on Kamala Harris campaign, which ended in a bitter defeat to Donald Trump on Election Day.

The Republican president-elect scored a stunning victory despite polls showing an astonishingly close race. Exactly how Trump pulled it off despite his own considerable liabilities as a candidate will doubtless leave many of his opponents asking where they went wrong.

Some are asking questions of President Joe Biden, who faced intense scrutiny around his mental fitness during his re-election bid. His disastrous performance in his debate against Trump in June triggered a crisis of confidence in his leadership that eventually led to him dropping out of the racein turn giving Harris just a few months to campaign herself.

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That condensed period of campaigning deprived her, I think, of the long runway that a typical candidate has to really lay out what they see their vision as if they were to win office, Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker said of Bidens late exit on Wednesdays Today show.

We ran the best campaign we could, considering Joe Biden was president, one Harris aide told Politico . Joe Biden is the singular reason Kamala Harris and Democrats lost tonight.

Why did Joe Biden hold on for as long as he did? He should have not concealed his (health) and dropped out a lot sooner, one unnamed Democratic donor told Reuters . A Democratic National Committee official separately told the news agency theyd received angry messages from party members on Tuesday night after exit poll data showed Trump gaining ground among some demographics Harris was relying on.

They feel lied to by the campaign, the official said.

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Others questioned Harris selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Before she announced Walz as her VP pick in August, many party insiders thought Josh Shapirothe governor of Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state that Trump ultimately wonwas the stronger option.

A lot of people are probably wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket, Lindy Li, a member of Harris National Finance Committee, said in a Fox News interview on Tuesday. She added: Im not sure how much Tim Walz contributed to the ticket.

The Harris campaigns broader failure to find a message that resonated with enough voters has also been blamed for the outcome. Kamala Harris lost this election when she pivoted to focus almost exclusively on attacking Donald Trump, veteran GOP pollster Frank Luntz wrote of Harris defeat in an X post.

Voters already know everything there is about Trumpbut they still wanted to know more about Harris plans for the first hour, first day, first month and first year of her administration. It was a colossal failure for her campaign to shine the spotlight on Trump more than on Harris own ideas.

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There will inevitably be much more Democratic soul-searching to come in the weeks before and after Jan. 6, 2025, when as vice president, Harris will have the unenviable duty of certifying her own defeat.

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Rep. Elissa Slotkin will win the competitive Michigan Senate race, CNN projects, keeping the seat in Democratic hands and making her the youngest Democratic woman elected to the Senate.

She will defeat former Rep. Mike Rogers, who once chaired the House Intelligence Committee and was endorsed by former President Donald Trump earlier this year. Rogers called Slotkin and conceded the race, according to two sources.

Donald Trump and I were both elected by the people of Michigan. Tens of thousands of Michiganders voted for Donald Trump and Elissa Slotkin on the same ballot, and it is my responsibility to get things done for Michiganders no matter who is in office, just as I did in President Trumps first term, Slotkin told reporters Wednesday in Detroit.

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Im a problem solver, and I will work with anyone who is actually here, to work as your senator. That will always be my first priority, she added, reiterating her belief that America is at its best when we have two healthy parties that push and pull and debate on issues of policy and substance and make our laws better.

Slotkin will be sworn into a GOP-controlled Senate that will be in position to boost Trumps presidency. The GOP is also looking to defend its narrow majority in the US House of Representatives, though it remains uncalled.

Slotkin will succeed Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Michigans first female US senator, who announced early last year she would step aside and pass the torch to a new generation of leadership.

First elected to the House in 2018, Slotkin made appeals to conservative voters, ending both of her debates with Rogers by noting that her dad is a lifelong Republican who feels betrayed by his partys loyalty to Trump.

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You will always have an open door in my office. You will always have a place at the table, because I want to hear from you, she vowed during the campaign.

Rogers, who cozied up to Trump despite his previous criticism of the former president after the January 6, 2021, insurrection, highlighted Slotkins voting record in support of the Biden-Harris administrations agenda, as she touted her abilities to be an independent thinker.

The Michigan Republican, whom Democrats attacked for moving to Florida after leaving the House in 2015, repeatedly linked Slotkin to efforts by the administration to incentivize a transition to electric vehicles, a hot-button issue with Michigans auto workers.

Slotkin ran television ads across the state telling voters that she doesnt care what kind of car they drive, as Rogers accused her of wanting to essentially ban gas-powered vehicles in the state.

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I live on a dirt road, nowhere near a charging station, so I dont own an electric car. No one should tell us what to buy, and no ones gonna mandate anything, she said in one spot, explaining that her priority is making sure EVs are made in Michigan instead of in China.

Slotkin also ran a multimillion-dollar ad campaign highlighting Rogers previous voting record on abortion legislation, arguing that though access to the procedure is protected in Michigans constitution, Republicans would enact a national abortion ban if given the levers of power.

Its not a talking point to women, it is our lives. Its whether we bleed to death in a parking lot. Its who and when gets to decide how we have a family. Do not trust him, Slotkin fired back as Rogers vowed in their first debate that he would not defy the will of the Michigan people in Washington.

The Democratic congresswoman said that she would support reforming the Senates filibuster rule if elected so that legislation to codify Roe vs. Wade could pass with a simple majority vote in the chamber.

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Slotkin also emphasized her position on gun safety, pointing out that she is the first US congresswoman to represent a district that suffered two school shootings, one at Oxford High School in 2021 and another at Michigan State University in 2023.

This idea that we cant go after the No. 1 killer of children in America is broken, she said on the debate stage in Detroit.

In 2022, Slotkin, then the congresswoman for the 8th District, ran to represent the 7th district after Michigans congressional map was redrawn to capture a significant part of her Lansing-area constituency in that seat.

Slotkin, who embarked on a road trip-style tour of the state with Stabenow shortly after securing the Democratic nomination for Senate, said when she first decided to launch a bid for the seat, it wasnt even a question if a woman could run, thanks to Stabenow.

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Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who often touted her service under presidents of both parties, asked voters just after she won the Democratic primary to join us on team normal, a message that persisted throughout her campaign as she tried to build a broad coalition.

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By Bo Erickson

(Reuters) - U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, a third-term lawmaker with extensive national security experience, won election to the U.S. Senate in Michigan, Edison Research projected on Wednesday, a boost for Democrats trying to hold their majority in the chamber.

Slotkin beat Republican former Representative Mike Rogers in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow.

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A former analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency, Slotkin, 48, touted her bipartisan work on national security in the administrations of former presidents George W. Bush, a Republican, and Barack Obama, a Democrat.

Slotkin, a party moderate, focused on offering solutions for rising costs including prescription drugs and higher education, and defended abortion rights in her campaign. The state is home to the Detroit Three automakers and the industrys powerful union, the UAW, endorsed Slotkin.

(Reporting by Bo Erickson; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis)
Democrat U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson and Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop. (Photos: house.gov)

Democrat Jeff Jackson will be North Carolinas next attorney general after defeating Republican Dan Bishop.

The Associated Press projected Jackson as the victor at around 11:30 p.m. As of 11:39 p.m., Jackson had 51.8% of the vote to Bishops 48.1% with more than 90% of precincts reporting, according to the State Board of Elections.

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WRAL.com reported that Bishop called Jackson to concede around 11:00 p.m.

Both attorneys-turned-members of Congress, Bishop and Jackson represent neighboring House districts in the Charlotte area. Jackson serves the largely urban 14th Congressional District while Bishop was elected in the 8th Congressional District, representing a large swath of the Piedmont region including the Charlotte suburb of Concord.

The contest, expected to be one of the closest attorney general races in the country, drew an enormous amount of campaign spending. Jackson said in a video across social media that it is the most expensive attorney general race in American history, with more than $30 million spent by the two campaigns and outside groups as of the end of October.

The attorney generals office has in recent years been a launchpad to the governors mansion in North Carolina. Gov. Roy Cooper served the state as attorney general for 16 years until his election as governor in 2017. His predecessor, Mike Easley, made the same jump in 2001, and Coopers successor, Josh Stein, became the Democratic nominee for governor after just seven years overseeing the states legal arm.

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Despite periods of GOP control of the governorship and the legislature, North Carolina has not elected a Republican as attorney general in 128 years, when Zeb V. Walser  born a year after the end of the American Civil War  held the office. The last Republican to hold the post was James H. Carson Jr., appointed in 1974 only to lose his special election the following year.

Steins office made headlines with lawsuits against corporations like DuPont and Chemours for releasing harmful chemicals into the states air and water as well as drug manufacturers and marketing firms for their role in the opioid crisis. Under his tenure, the North Carolina Department of Justice has also made consumer protection a priority, most recently by going after price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

The North Carolina Department of Justice has at times been most impactful in the cases where it has chosen not to weigh in. Stein declined to defend state laws banning abortion after 12 weeks and the abortion drug mifepristone and recused himself from election disputes like a case charging that the state Senate map infringes upon the voting rights of Black North Carolinians. Stein has said he does not believe the attorney general is obligated to defend laws he views as violating the U.S. Constitution, a belief shared by Jackson.

Bishop, a longtime commercial litigator, pitched a sharp turn away from that approach, accusing Cooper and Stein of abusing the offices powers to spread liberal propaganda. He campaigned on overseeing a harsher criminal justice system, particularly with regard to undocumented immigrants and offenses against police officers  and condemned Jackson for standing with Black Lives Matter protesters and immigrant advocates.

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Jackson largely pitched a continuation of the work of his predecessors, promising an attorney generals office that would continue to prioritize fighting consumer fraud, the impacts of the opioid epidemic, and environmental harm. He also vowed to probe corruption in government  a force he blames for gerrymandering in the state, including the 2023 redistricting map that relocated him to a heavily Republican district, which he called an act of blatant political corruption.

As a lawmaker, Bishop has been an active soldier in conservative culture wars and no stranger to controversy. During his time in the General Assembly, he authored HB 2, the 2016 bathroom bill that prohibited transgender individuals from using the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity, leading droves of businesses to temporarily cut ties with the state.

In Congress, he was among the lawmakers who voted against the certification of the 2020 presidential election, endorsing false claims of mass voter fraud put forth by ex-president Donald Trump. He carried this crusade into his campaign for attorney general, framing his pitch for North Carolinians around election integrity. In an October campaign stop in Greenville alongside the former president, Bishop urged Republican voters to build a lead that was too big to rig.

Jackson achieved a national profile in recent years as the TikTok lawmaker, garnering more than 2 million followers on the app by churning out videos explaining issues like abortion bans, the war in Ukraine, and the affordable housing crisis to a largely Gen Z audience.

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In August, he introduced an anti-bribery bill alongside Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) seeking to prohibit payment of public officials for official acts after the U.S. Supreme Court found no prohibition on gratuities, though it has yet to see a vote in Congress. His campaign against political corruption stretches back to his earliest days in the General Assembly, where he introduced a 2015 bill in the state senate to set up an independent, nonpartisan redistricting committee  a proposal that never came to a vote.

Late in the campaign, Bishop sued Jackson for defamation over a push poll he linked to the latters campaign. The survey asked North Carolinians whether learning that as a lawyer, [Bishop] represented people who stole money from the elderly would change their vote  a claim Bishop denies but said was likely a reference to reporting on his legal career by The New Republic magazine.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Democratic U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson will become the next attorney general of North Carolina.

Jackson edged the Republican candidate, fellow U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, in the state general election on Tuesday, according to a race call by the Associated Press.

Click here for live results from the 2024 General Election in North Carolina

Hes set to succeed Democratic North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, who defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the North Carolina gubernatorial race. Democrats continue to dominate the position  a Republican hasnt been elected as attorney general since 1896  even as the GOP has performed well for decades in other statewide races. In 2016 and 2020, Stein won by less than 25,000 votes over his GOP opponent.

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Both Jackson and Bishop are lawyers who have represented the Charlotte area on Capitol Hill as well as previously held office in the state legislature, but thats where the similarities largely end. Each has accused the other of being too radical in their political stances.

Jackson, an Afghan war veteran and National Guard attorney, began his tenure as representative for North Carolinas 14th District in Congress in 2022. However, redistricting made it all but impossible for his reelection due to the increase in GOP voters within the new lines that expanded west of Mecklenburg County.

Hes acquired a vast following on social media, particularly on TikTok with over 2.2 million followers and 38.4 million likes. The Democratic nominee cited his time as a prosecutor and his dedication to performing his duties in a nonpartisan matter as the reasons that make him the most qualified candidate.

The job is fundamentally about being a shield for people against those who mean them harm, Jackson said in a recent interview with the Associated Press. Ive spent my entire career doing that as a soldier, as a prosecutor. Thats why I want to be attorney general.

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Bishop is a longtime commercial litigation attorney who joined Congress in 2019. He represents the 8th congressional district, which includes Cabarrus, Montgomery, Hoke, Stanly, as well as a portion of Cumberland and Rowan counties. He also served as a member of the Mecklenburg County Commission (2004-2008) before spending two separate terms in the N.C. House of Representatives (2015-2017) and the N.C. Senate (2017-2019).

The Republican nominee highlighted what he calculated as his 400-plus appearances in state and federal courts, while downplaying his rivals legal history as an assistant district attorney in Gaston County.

What I have had is extensive and complex experience with the judicial system in North Carolina, Bishop said in an interview with the Associated Press. He has not had anything like that career.

The attorney general is charged with representing the state in court and defending the work of locally elected district attorneys in appeals of criminal cases. They also make legislative recommendations to the General Assembly, and have sued specific industries in the past for damages, including tobacco, drug and social media companies.

 The Associated Press contributed to this report

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Democratic challenger Jodi Habush Sinykin declared victory against Republican incumbent Duey Stroebel for Wisconsin's Senate District 8 seat in one of the most competitive state elections under the new legislative maps that broke spending records.

Three hours after midnight on Wednesday morning, Habush Sinykin appeared to be in the lead with a narrow margin of 1,854 votes with around 95% of the votes cast, according to the Associated Press, though it has not yet called the race.

By 3 a.m., she had received 50.8%, or 58,809 votes, in comparison with Stroebel's 49.2%, or 56,955 votes.

Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Duey Stroebel for Wisconsin's Senate District 8 seat in one of the most competitive state elections under the new legislative maps

In a statement following the announcement declaring victory, Habush Sinykin said, "the culmination of building a strong sense of community and solidarity with people across this district, as weve worked together towards a shared vision for our state.

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This isn't the first time Habush Sinykin has fought for the seat in Senate District 8.

During a 2023 special election, Sinykin ran against Republican incumbent Dan Knodl, losing by less than 2 percentage points in a district with a 55.6 modeled GOP lean, according to an analysis by Marquette University Lubar Center research fellow John Johnson.

The new legislative maps trimmed that lean down to 53%, raising questions from Republicans and enthusiasm from Democrats over whether the seat would flip parties under the new maps.

To everyone who helped spread the word, knocked on doors, wrote postcards, hosted events, and contributed to our campaign  you made this happen," she said in the statement.

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"Thank you, Senate District 8 for putting your trust in me. Now lets get to work!"

Stroebel's campaign could not be reached for comment early Wednesday morning.

Stroebel and Habush Sinykin's platforms agreed on lowering costs with targeted tax cuts but diverged on several other key issues to voters, such as reproductive health care freedoms and funding levels for schools, local governments and environmental issues.

Habush Sinykin, an environmental attorney, centered her campaign on reproductive health care freedoms and increasing investments in education and local governments.

She also took shots at Stroebel's record, particularly his support for Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban, as well as his obstruction of millions in already-approved investments for education and addressing Wisconsin's PFAS, or "forever chemicals," problem during his time a vice chair of the Joint Finance Committee responsible for dispersing those funds.

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Stoebel, who previously worked in real estate management and development in Cedarburg, focused his campaign on legislative wins achieved during his time in the state Senate, including support for the $525 billion bipartisan affordable housing package in 2023.

He also touted his support for the bipartisan 2023 Shared Revenue Act, which modified shared revenue formulas to boost funding to local governments and mostly repealed Wisconsin's personal property tax, a longtime target of Stroebel's.

Stroebel was technically the incumbent for the 20th Senate District, which he has held since 2015, is running in District 8 due to the redrawn districts.

The new district added Port Washington, more of Grafton and excluded chunks of the old district west of Menomonee Falls. It also includes Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, River Hills and Bayside in Milwaukee County; Mequon, Cedarburg and Thiensville in Ozaukee County; Butler, Lannon and Menomonee Falls in Waukesha County; and Germantown in Washington County.

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Habush Sinykin, an attorney, ran for the 8th District seat in the 2023 special election, narrowly losing to Republican incumbent Dan Knodl. (Knodl is currently running for the 24th District Assembly seat).

The two candidates are also locked in a legal battle over advertisements Habush Sinykin ran claiming Stroebel's did not support access to IVF and contraception, which he denies.

The race also broke election spending records in Wisconsin.

By mid-October, it was already the most expensive state legislative race in Wisconsin history, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein released a statement welcoming Habush Sinykin to legislature.

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Jodi and her team ran an incredible campaign, centering the values and ideas of voters in the 8th Senate District. As the underdog, she did not shy away from the hard work necessary to win this race," Hesselbein said.

"Jodis deep ties to the community, thoughtful decision-making, and experience as an attorney will allow her to effectively legislate for the needs of this community.

Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democrat Habush Sinykin declares victory in state Senate District 8
B89, a Peruvian fintech company, has announced that it is partnering with PagBrasil, a pioneer in developing cross-border global solutions for Pix.

This collaboration will allow B89 to offer Pix International to merchants outside Brazil including Panama, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela and Ecuador. This allows Brazilian citizens either tourists or residents, to pay in Brazilian reais with a guaranteed exchange rate at the time of purchase, eliminating uncertainty in exchange rate fluctuations. Furthermore, transactions made through Pix Internacional are completely secure, ensuring protection for both customers and merchants.

By integrating Pix International, merchants in Latin American countries outside of Brazil can offer their Brazilian customers an optimised payment experience, attracting and retaining this important consumer segment.

Key benefits include the ability for merchants to integrate Pix as a payment method in their app, website, or physical point of sale

Moreover, Pix offers lower fees compared to traditional payment methods, with no risk of chargebacks, helping merchants reduce operating costs.

Amparo Nalvarte, CEO of B89, said: At B89, we are committed to creating cost-efficient, agile, and borderless financial solutions. This collaboration strengthens our mission to provide merchants with innovative tools to enhance their profitability and customer experience. 

Alex Hoffmann, co-CEO and co-founder of PagBrasil, added: "At PagBrasil, we want to help create a more connected and efficient financial ecosystem for Brazilians, no matter where in the world they are. The partnership with B89 represents an excellent opportunity to expand Pix's reach globally, consolidating it as one of the most innovative payment methods in the world. This process began in May 2023 when we became the first Brazilian company to enable the use of Pix outside of Brazil."

With the expansion of Pix International, B89 and PagBrasil are transforming the way international transactions are conducted. This alliance promises to improve both e-commerce and physical commerce in the region, offering an efficient, secure and accessible solution for everyone.

"B89 and PagBrasil join forces to expand Pix in Latin America" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.




NEW YORK  Democrat John Mannion flipped a central New York House seat Tuesday, clinching a must-win district for his party to recapture control of the chamber.

A state senator who represents the Syracuse area, Mannion unseated Republican Rep. Brandon Williams, a freshman lawmaker who Democrats had pegged early in the election cycle as a vulnerable incumbent.

Mannion drew considerable support from labor organizations, including teachers unions. He will represent an area that has elected a Republican lawmaker to the House for the last decade.

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Williams replaced moderate Republican Rep. John Katko in 2022 and, as a more conservative lawmaker, struggled to gain traction in the swing district. He is an enthusiastic supporter of former President Donald Trump and has been a staunch opponent of abortion.

Democrats gave Mannion a boost earlier this year when the district was redrawn to be slightly more favorable to their partys nominee.

And Williams case didnt get much help in the races final days when House Speaker Mike Johnson said House Republicans would be supportive of repealing the CHIPS and Science Act. Johnson later said he misheard the question. The spending package, meant to spur high-tech development and jobs, has been a linchpin for Micron Technology to build a factory in the district.

Mannions success came after his own fumbles. Former staffers anonymously accused him of presiding over a toxic office culture, claims the publicly avuncular legislator denied.

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Mannion, an Albany lawmaker first elected in 2020, also had to overcome Republican efforts to link him to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who remains deeply unpopular statewide in New York.

Williams campaign released a TV ad featuring John Walsh of Americas Most Wanted fame blasting his Democratic rival over public safety  an issue that has resonated for Republican campaigns. The ad yoked Mannion to Hochul, and by extension Democratic Albany.

But Mannion sidestepped the associations with Hochul by focusing on his legislative record in the state Senate and hammering Williams over abortion and IVF access.

He has not been supportive of left-leaning criminal justice measures in Albany and has voted against bills that would limit solitary confinement in state prisons.

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Both candidates were supportive of the CHIPS and Science Act, making Johnsons botched comments over appealing the measure last week all the more damaging to the Republicans slim chances.

Micron plans to build four computer chip manufacturing facilities in the Syracuse area  a project that was spurred by the federal package and the Hochul administration.

The construction will include $6.1 billion in federal spending and $5.5 billion of incentives from New York state. Officials have been optimistic the spending will be a jobs boon to a region that has been stuck in the economic doldrums for more than a generation.

Mannion touted his support for a state-level provision meant to encourage Microns construction of the facilities.

A Williams victory was not expected by either party, and privately New York Republicans had all but written off their chances of holding the seat.
ITHACA, N.Y. (WSYR)  Supporters of Democrat Josh Riley cheered for victory after winning the race for the 19th Congressional District against incumbent Congressman Marc Molinaro.

The race was too close to call for hours until 2 a.m., winning with 50.5% of the votes.

When we face adversity, we pull together and we push through it, Riley said. When we see injustice in the world, we stand up to itwhen we always fight for and stand with the underdog.

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During Rileys speech, he proudly spoke of New York States values and standing up for the working class when he is in Congress.

For too long in our economy and our politics, the deck has been stacked against everyday people, he said.

He told his supporters he would fight for them and those who did not vote for him, advocating for womens rights and fair wages to leaving behind a better world for the next generation.

Women deserve the right to make their own healthcare decisions so I will sponsor the Womens Health Protection Act on day one and together we will fight to put Roe v. Wade back into law, he said.

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He ended his remarks by thanking everyone in the Empire State for exercising their right to vote.

You have your voice and you have your vote and that is good enough for me, he said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
Democrat Josh Stein is projected to defeat Republican Mark Robinson in Tuesdays election for North Carolina governor, bringing an end to a race that made national news almost entirely because of Robinsons years of disgusting and offensive claims coming to light.

Stein, currently the states attorney general, used a campaign strategy of behaving like a normal and reasonable person. He talked about the need to make the economy work for everyone. He made a commitment to protecting womens reproductive rights and helping lift up small businesses. His strategy worked.

Robinson, the states lieutenant governor, took a different approach: align with Donald Trump, appeal to far-right conservatives, and constantly insult women, Black people, transgender people, Muslims and pretty much everyone who isnt a far-right conservative.

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He did this for years on social media, and for some reason left all of his posts public even once he became a state government official and then the GOP gubernatorial nominee. Robinson also fanned wild conspiracy theories, including that the 1969 moon landing may have been fake and that theres a secret ruling class of reptile people.

When asked about his claims that, for example, Michelle Obama emanates the stench of human waste, or that Martin Luther King Jr. was an ersatz pastor and the 1960s civil rights movement was crap, or that children who are raped will grow up to become monsters, or that young women shouldnt have access to birth control (a point he emphasized by gesturing to his groin), Robinson simply ignored the questions and continued demeaning people.

Democrat Josh Stein has defeated Republican Mark Robinson in the race for North Carolina governor. via Associated Press

During the campaign, Stein, who previously served as a state senator for seven years, called for lowering taxes for workers and rejecting political division. Robinson typically railed against birth control and transgender people.

Stein was already leading Robinson in the polls for months, but he pulled way ahead after a CNN report in September unearthed disturbing comments that Robinson made on a porn site. The report found Robinson referring to himself as a black Nazi in a forum on the site, called Nude Africa. He described being sexually aroused by spying on women and girls in public showers. He called himself a perv who likes pornography featuring transgender people  a sharp contrast to his transphobic public stances.

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Republican Party officials wanted nothing to do with Robinson after the CNN report. His campaign staff resigned en masse, and GOP groups stopped giving him money. Even Trump, who enthusiastically endorsed Robinson in March and has shared stages with him at campaign events, was suddenly pretending he didnt know who he was.

Robinson has condemned the CNN report and is suing the network for $50 million. But he has yet to present any evidence that refutes the story, which meticulously lays out how CNNs reporters connected him to a trove of comments in the Nude Africa forum.

Robinson even initially suggested that the things described in the CNN report possibly happened.

In the final days before the election, Stein was leading Robinson in the polls by a whopping 17 points, per the polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight.

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Both were competing to replace North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), who is term-limited out this year.

Related...
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has defeated Republican Mark Robinson, the states lieutenant governor, in their race for the governorship, NBC News projects.

Polling data showed Stein with a sizable lead for much of the race, seemingly due to Robinsons raft of controversies. Robinson was dogged by stories of putrid social media posts and public declarations over the years, which included an attack on school shooting victims along with antisemitism, misogyny and transphobia.

In the closing weeks of the race, senior members of his staff abandoned his campaign after a CNN story linked him to a pseudonymous account on a porn site. The account allegedly declared itself a Black Nazi, expressed support for slavery, and shared some X-rated musings. As a result, Robinson, who has denied the allegations, seemed to face ostracism. As an example, Ive been keen to note one of his loudest backers in conservative media  Jason Whitlock  basically told him to fess up to his sins. And Donald Trump, whod disturbingly labeled the far-right extremist Martin Luther King on steroids, stopped appearing publicly with Robinson in the months leading up to the election. Weeks before Election Day, Trump refused to give a solid answer when asked if he thought voters should back Robinson.

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Stein, who became the first Jewish person elected to statewide office in North Carolina when he won his AG race in 2016, will now become the states first Jewish governor.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
North Carolina voters have spoken  Attorney General Josh Stein has won the race for governor.

The Democratic nominee beat Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Decision Desk HQ projects. Robinson, a Republican who gained national notoriety with social media posts invoking misogyny, racism, homophobia and transphobia, was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who called him Martin Luther King on steroids.

Stein will replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. North Carolinas position as a swing state in the presidential election heightened scrutiny of the governors race, as did Robinsons disturbing comments on a porn forum and its aftermath. He pressed ahead despite the mass resignation of key campaign members and distancing from Republican Party leaders and candidates, including Trump.

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Steins promises to protect abortion rights will be crucial during his term as Republican legislators have discussed restricting reproductive health care in 2025 across North Carolina even further by attempting to pass a six-week abortion ban in the state.

As of July 1, 2023, North Carolina has had a 12-week abortion ban, tightened from a previous 20-week ban. The new restrictions have made it more challenging for people traveling in search of abortion care from other southern states, where access is heavily restricted.

The 12-week abortion ban had been vetoed by Cooper, who had been supportive of abortion rights, but Republican legislators overrode his decision by one vote.

In the year since, this ban has contributed to a heightened shortage of OB-GYNs and primary care doctors who no longer want to practice in the state due to a fear of government prosecution for performing abortions, the Cicero Institute reports.

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Stein has also said he is committed to defending access to contraception and IVF.

A four-year Stein term as governor could also mean more protections for the LGBTQ+ community across the state, especially after legislators enacted a law last year that restricts how gender identity and sexual orientation are taught and addressed in public schools.

Six additional anti-LGBTQ+ bills were recently introduced in North Carolina.

Stein had been endorsed by a national LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, the Human Rights Campaign.

The post Democrat Josh Stein wins pivotal North Carolina governors race appeared first on The 19th.

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This article originally appeared in The 19th.

North Carolina voters have spoken  Attorney General Josh Stein has won the race for governor.

The Democratic nominee beat Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Decision Desk HQ projects. Robinson, a Republican who gained national notoriety with social media posts invoking misogyny, racism, homophobia, and transphobia, was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who called him Martin Luther King on steroids.

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Stein will replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. North Carolinas position as a swing state in the presidential election heightened scrutiny of the governors race, as did Robinsons disturbing comments on a porn forum and its aftermath. He pressed ahead despite the mass resignation of key campaign members and distancing from Republican Party leaders and candidates, including Trump.

Steins promises to protect abortion rights will be crucial during his term as Republican legislators have discussed restricting reproductive health care in 2025 across North Carolina even further by attempting to pass a six-week abortion ban in the state.

As of July 1, 2023, North Carolina has had a 12-week abortion ban, tightened from a previous 20-week ban. The new restrictions have made it more challenging for people traveling in search of abortion care from other southern states, where access is heavily restricted.

The 12-week abortion ban had been vetoed by Cooper, who had been supportive of abortion rights, but Republican legislators overrode his decision by one vote.

Anti-LGBTQ\+ GOP Candidate Mark Robinson Expressed an Affinity for Trans Porn, CNN Reports

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The outlet also unearthed message board posts in which the North Carolina gubernatorial candidate allegedly referred to himself as a black Nazi, among other racist comments.

In the year since, this ban has contributed to a heightened shortage of OB-GYNs and primary care doctors who no longer want to practice in the state due to a fear of government prosecution for performing abortions, the Cicero Institute reports.

Stein has also said he is committed to defending access to contraception and IVF.

A four-year Stein term as governor could also mean more protections for the LGBTQ+ community across the state, especially after legislators enacted a law last year that restricts how gender identity and sexual orientation are taught and addressed in public schools.

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Six additional anti-LGBTQ+ bills were recently introduced in North Carolina.

Stein had been endorsed by a national LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, the Human Rights Campaign.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
The results are in for Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District.

DFL candidate Kelly Morrison has defeated Republican Tad Jude to win Minnesota's only open Congressional seat. It was a race that was notable for its lack of vitriol compared to other races around the state and nation.

As of 11:15 p.m., Morrison had collected 59.2% of the vote, a lead of more than 66,000 votes, with 85% of precincts reporting.

Kelly Morrison Kelly Morrison for Congress/Facebook

Morrison and Jude, a former state representative who ran for the state's Attorney General in 2022, were vying for a vacant seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after Rep. Dean Phillips announced in 2023 that he would not seek reelection.

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Until running for Phillips' seat, Morrison had served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023. She subsequently was the 45th district representative in the Minnesota Senate.

She held a significant financial advantage over her opponent, having raised more than $2 million compared to Jude's $330,000, per the Star Tribune.

Phillips, who ran as an early primary challenger to President Joe Biden before he stepped back from the nomination, is a Democrat who has held the seat since 2018, with the district covering the western Twin Cities suburbs and exurbs trending bluer over the past decade.

Prior to Phillips' tenure, the seat was held by Republican Erik Paulsen for a decade. He was preceded by Republican Jim Ramstad, who held the seat for 18 years. The last Democrat to win the 3rd Congressional District before Phillips was Roy Wier, who was elected in 1948 and held the seat until 1961.

Related: LIVE UPDATES: Minnesota election results 2024
Democratic candidate Matt Meyer will serve as Delawares next governor. Meyer will take over from two-term Gov. John Carney, who will serve as Wilmington's next mayor.

Meyer, a newcomer to state politics, defeated Republican nominee Mike Ramone, a businessman and the state Senate Minority Leader.

In a contentious Democratic primary in September, Meyer outpaced party-endorsed Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and former Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control secretary Collin OMara with 48.5% of the vote.

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Meyer, a former public-school teacher and small business owner, campaigned on expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare and housing, strengthening public safety and increasing funding for the statewide education system.

Ramone, a moderate Republican, advocated for criminal justice reform, investment in statewide infrastructure and support for educators and entrepreneurs across the First State.

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer discusses the work being done by the New Castle County Hope Center with The News Journal on Monday, October 14, 2024.

Meyer said he first entered politics because he was "fed up with unfulfilled promises" from state officials and leaders, determined to garner real results for all Delaware residents.

Election results live updates: Trump, Harris battle in swing states; see electoral map

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Meyer said his administration's priority will be not to "make promises, but to make plans... (and) turn those plans into progress," including using executive action to enhance the state education system, refining transparency and further enhancing efforts for police reform.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Matt Meyer wins the race for Delaware governor
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Democrat Mo Green will become the next superintendent of public instruction in North Carolina.

Green defeated Republican opponent Michele Morrow in the state election on Tuesday, according to the final race call from the Associated Press. Green is set to succeed Republican Catherine Truitt, who lost to Morrow in the primary.

Educators, alongside parents and voters, rejected extremism and prioritized a vision for public schools that supports all students, parents, teachers, and public school personnel, said Tamika Walker Kelly, North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) President. With [Mo Greens] extensive experience and passion for public education, we are confident that we have a strong partner to help strengthen and improve education for the millions of children in our public schools, along with their parents, teachers, and school staff.

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Green is a former superintendent of Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, the third-largest school district in N.C., for more than seven years.

Green also served as the executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, an N.C. foundation that supports many causes, including public education, from 2016 to 2023. He has been an advocate for student safety, increasing teacher salaries and implementing more literacy skills in elementary schools.

As it turns out I actually worked with the current superintendent [Catherine Truitt] on implementing early literacy efforts in North Carolina, Green said in an interview with CBS 17. There was an implementation team that was working with five other states as to how best to implement early literacy skills. And so we need to continue that work, I think well need to expand it to our middle schools as well where their reading rate is struggling there as well.

Morrow is a former nurse and homeschool educator. Though she comes with less experience than her opponent, she told CBS 17 in a previous interview that she has been a longtime advocate for education.

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Its time for us to ensure that every student and every teacher is protected inside the classroom as well as out and thats one of the reasons why Ive put as the top priority that were going to make our schools the safest buildings in the state, Morrow said during a debate in October.

Morrow told CBS 17 that school systems should also focus on catching early on if younger students have potential learning differences, like dyslexia, to better help their learning proficiencies down the line.

PREVIOUS | Republican nominee for NC superintendent says + in LGBTQ+ includes pedophilia

Morrow, who identifies herself as a Christian conservative, has been at the center of controversy and criticism, including making comments that the + in LGBTQ+ includes pedophilia and previously calling for the execution of former President Barack Obama.

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The N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction is the secretary and chief administrative officer of the State Board of Education. They are responsible for implementing the states public school laws for pre-K through 12th grade schools.

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Nick Brown, left, a Democrat, and Pete Serrano, right, a Republican, candidates int the 2024 Washington state attorney general race. (Photos courtesy of campaigns)

Democrat Nick Brown is poised to be Washingtons next attorney general after defeating Republican Pete Serrano on Tuesday.

Brown had received 56.3% of the vote while Serrano received 43.7% as of Tuesday night. Vote counting will continue in the days ahead. The Associated Press called the race for Brown.

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He will succeed Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat who defeated Republican former congressman Dave Reichert in the governors race on Tuesday.

As attorney general, Brown would be the states top lawyer, representing the state government when it is sued, counseling lawmakers and leading the states consumer protection office.

Brown is the former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, a position he resigned from to run for office.

Before that, he served as general counsel to Gov. Jay Inslee from 2013 to 2017. As Inslees counsel, he helped write the administrations opposition to a federal ban on travel from predominantly Muslim countries imposed by then-President Donald Trumps administration. He also oversaw work that led to Inslee issuing a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

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Brown, whos an Army veteran, was a partner at Pacifica Law Group in Seattle where he was working part-time through the election.

Serrano helped establish the Silent Majority Foundation, a group that has repeatedly and unsuccessfully sued to overturn state gun restrictions, including on semiautomatic firearms and large-capacity magazines. The group also fought to block COVID-related mandates and sought clarity on the use of executive powers by Gov. Jay Inslee during the pandemic.

Serrano is also the mayor of Pasco, where he was first elected to the city council in 2018. Previously, he was an environmental lawyer for the U.S. Department of Energy at the Hanford nuclear cleanup site and then for Energy Northwest, an agency that operates four electric generating facilities in the region.

Throughout the campaign, Brown and Serrano viewed the role of attorney general differently. Brown wants to use the office as a vehicle for change, similar to Ferguson who sued the Trump administration almost 100 times and went after large corporations in court. Ferguson also pushed heavily for state legislation creating stricter gun laws.

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Serrano, on the other hand, thought Ferguson went too far in advocating for new policies. He also criticized Fergusons use of the Consumer Protection Division for political gain.

Public safety was the top priority for both candidates throughout the election.

Brown wants to continue upholding the states gun laws while making more investments in substance abuse treatment and holding illegal drug traffickers accountable.

In contrast, Serrano does not agree with Washingtons gun laws, though he said more should be done to protect youth from gun violence. To address the rise in fentanyl deaths, he said he wants to see harsher penalties for distributors, along with more treatment for those suffering from addiction. He said the states current drug laws are too lenient.

As of Nov. 1, Brown had raised $2.2 million and spent $2.1 million. Serrano had raised $460,600 and spent $383,800.
Sustainable aluminium packaging company Ball has acquired Alucan, a supplier of extruded aluminium aerosol and bottle technology in Europe.

This move is set to bolster Ball's global extruded aluminium aerosol and bottle business by adding manufacturing facilities in Llinars del Valles in Barcelona, Spain, and Lummen, Belgium.

The acquisition is also in line with Balls strategy to offer scalable aluminium packaging solutions that simplify sustainability for customers.

The newly added plants will enhance Ball's capability to meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging options across Europe.

Both facilities are equipped with advanced technology and are committed to minimising their environmental impact.

The move aims to support Balls existing reusable bottle customers and allow the company to diversify its customer base. It aims to cross-sell with food and beverage manufacturers and expand its bottle offerings to include personal and home-care products.

Ball Growth Ventures president Jay Billings said: "We are excited to welcome Alucan to Ball. Alucan has built a strong reputation over many years as the leading speciality impact-extruded aerosol and bottle producer in Europe.

By integrating Alucans expertise, we can offer greater flexibility, innovation, and capacity to help our customers bring new products to market faster and more sustainably, ensuring that we remain a trusted partner in driving our customers success.

Furthermore, the acquisition is poised to enhance Ball's innovation efforts and reduce its carbon dioxide (CO) footprint.

The company will reduce the weight and increase the recycled content in Alucan cans.

Greater proximity to customers will also optimise truck capacity, reducing CO emissions significantly.

This step is seen as crucial for Ball Corporation as it seeks to better serve the burgeoning aerosol and impact-extruded bottle market in Europe.

"Ball acquires extruded aluminium packaging company Alucan" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand.




State Senator Rachel Hunt (D-Mecklenburg) is leading the race to be North Carolina's next lt. governor. (Photo: ncleg.net)

Democrat Rachel Hunt has defeated Republican Hal Weatherman in the race to be North Carolinas next lieutenant governor.

The Associated Press called the race on Wednesday. With all precincts reporting, Hunt lead 49.44% to 47.75%  a gap of more than 95,000 votes.

Hunt will succeed outgoing Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.

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A Charlotte resident, Hunt has represented Mecklenburg County in the North Carolina Senate since 2023. Before that she served two terms in the North Carolina House, where she was first elected in 2018.

During her time at the state legislature, Hunt has supported bills expanding healthcare affordability, defending reproductive rights, and protecting the environment, among other issues.

Hunt is a political legacy in the Tar Heel state. Shes the daughter of former Gov. Jim Hunt, who holds the record as the longest-serving governor in North Carolina history over 16 non-consecutive years.

Her campaign website describes her as an attorney and a mom. Hunt graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of South Carolina School of Law.

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While the office is not a constitutionally powerful position, the lieutenant governor serves as the presiding officer of the state Senate (a duty Robinson rarely chose to exercise) and casts tie-breaking votes in the event the chamber becomes deadlocked on legislation. Then Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue famously cast the deciding vote that created the state Education Lottery in 2005. The lieutenant governor also serves on multiple state government boards and ascends to the governorship in the event that office becomes vacant during their term in office.

Weatherman is a longtime conservative activist and nonprofit head who has served as a staff person for both former U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick and Myricks son, former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  The daughter of North Carolinas longest-serving governor is following in her fathers footsteps.

Democratic state senator Rachel Hunt won her first term in office, defeating Republican state official Hal Weatherman, according to election results from the Associated Press. She will succeed Republican incumbent Mark Robinson, who lost his bid for governor to Democratic state attorney general Josh Stein.

Click here for live results from the 2024 General Election in North Carolina

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While ballots were being cast on Election Day, Hunt met with voters outside of a polling location at Lacy Elementary School in Raleigh.

My top issues are restoring womens reproductive health care rights, especially in North Carolina, making sure we keep them in the country, and fully funding public schools, Hunt said. We have a huge problem with [public school funding] now.

Ive had people from all over the state come up to me and say they have to fill in because theres not enough staff, she continued. For instance, [theres not enough staff] working in the lunchrooms of their kids elementary school. We should not have a state where that happens.

Hunt is the daughter of Jim Hunt, who served as North Carolinas lieutenant governor from 1973 to 1977 and four non-consecutive terms as governor from 1977 to 1985 and from 1993 to 2001. She has served in the North Carolina Senate since 2019.

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Hunts victory makes her the first Democrat elected lieutenant governor since Walter Dalton in 2008.

Democrats will hold the governors and lieutenant governors offices for the first time since 2013.

The lieutenant governor of North Carolina is the states second-highest elected official and presides over the North Carolina Senate. The lieutenant governor has the ability to break ties in the state Senate and is the only elected official with powers in both the executive and legislative branches of North Carolinas government.

North Carolina is one of 17 states that hold separate elections for the governor and lieutenant governor.

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Democrats and Republicans each won a Kansas City-area race for the Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday, according to unofficial results, but the final makeup of the board remains in flux as conservatives seek more influence over public education in the state.

Melanie Haas, a current board member, won a second term in District 2, which includes much of eastern Wyandotte County and northeast Johnson County. She defeated Republican Fred Postlewait, a retired computer systems administrator who said schools had downplayed traditional academic instruction in favor of social engineering.

Haas addressed supporters at a watch party Tuesday night, saying: Thank you for doing your homework. This was an interesting race.

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Weve got a lot of candidates running this year that are using wedge issues and culture wars, and its really important that we support our public schools, she said. I think the students of Kansas should know that they have people in their communities who care about them, that want to see them succeed.

Republican Connie OBrien beat Democrat Kris Meyer in District 4. The district includes portions of northern Johnson and southern Wyandotte counties, along with other areas of eastern Kansas.

OBrien, a former Tonganoxie state legislator, has indicated dollars should follow the child  phrasing many public education advocates liken to code for vouchers. Meyer, a former elementary school principal from De Soto, had been critical of OBriens stance.

In a call with the Kansas City Star Tuesday night, OBrien thanked her supporters and said she looks forward to improving education in Kansas.

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OBrien emphasized her campaign motto: Good, Better, Best, Ill never let them rest until good is better and better is best.

District 4 includes portions of northern Johnson and southern Wyandotte counties, along with other areas of eastern Kansas.

All precincts were reporting in the two races, according to unofficial results from the Kansas Secretary of State.

Haas led Postlewait 62% to 33%, according to unofficial results. OBrien had 51% of the vote to Meyers 49%.

Half of the Kansas State Board of Educations 10 seats were on the ballot on Tuesday. Going into the election, conservative Republicans controlled four seats, with Democrats and moderate Republicans holding the other six.

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The balance of the boards next term remained unclear Tuesday night. In District 6  which includes the far northern portion of Douglas County, much of Shawnee County and four other counties in eastern Kansas  Democrat Beryl Ann New had 57% of the vote to Republican Bruce Schultzs 43% with nearly all precincts reporting.

In District 8, which includes part of Wichita, incumbent Democrat Betty Arnold led Republican Jason Carmichael 54% to 46% with most precincts left to report, according to unofficial results,

Conservatives and other critics of public education had been eager for a chance to disrupt the status quo. In their view, schools have strayed too far from core academic subjects, and they voice concerns with test scores and student performance.

Moderate Republicans and Democrats have feared a right-wing board would support efforts by the GOP-controlled Legislature to incentivize private education.

The state Board of Education has long been a battleground pitting conservative Republicans against moderate Republicans and Democrats. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the board famously fought over the teaching of evolution, adopting a series of science standards over several years as members struggled with each other over the topic.
By Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Edison Research projected on Tuesday, winning election to Delaware's at-large seat.

McBride, a 34-year-old state senator, won a competitive primary for Delaware's at-large congressional district, considered safely Democratic, in September.

She became the first openly transgender person to serve as a state senator when she was elected in 2020, first to speak at a U.S. national political party convention in 2016, and first to intern at the White House in 2012, under Democratic former President Barack Obama.

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In an interview with Reuters ahead of her election, McBride sought to focus instead on the issues she would prioritize, rather than the history-making nature of her candidacy.

"Whenever you are first, you often have to try to be the best version that you can," she said, acknowledging that comes with "added responsibilities."

"But none of them matter if I don't fulfill the responsibility of just being the best member of Congress that I can be for Delaware," she said.

Lawmakers in 37 U.S. states introduced at least 142 bills to restrict gender-affirming healthcare for trans and gender-expansive people in 2023, Reuters reported, nearly three times as many as the previous year.

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In Congress, Republicans have pushed anti-trans bills at the national level for years.

McBride grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and came out in 2011 after years of knowing she was trans.

She became involved in politics in part to create a more inclusive environment.

Asked what message young transgender Americans should take from her expected election, McBride said, "Anyone who worries that the heart of this country is not big enough to love them should know that they belong ... Our democracy is big enough for all of us."

(Reporting by Moira Warburton; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis)
Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Massachusetts on Tuesday.

Lynch brushed back an effort by Republican Robert Burke to unseat him.

Lynch has represented the states 8th Congressional District, including parts of Boston, since he was sworn in to Congress in October 2001 following the death of Democratic Rep. Joseph Moakley.

The former ironworker is a member of the Financial Services Committee and serves as the top Democrat on the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion and is a member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets.

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The Associated Press declared Lynch the winner at 11:09 p.m. EST.

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Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) is projected to secure a third term in the Senate, according to Decision Desk HQ, defeating Republican Eric Hovde and handing Democrats a key hold in a battleground state former President Trump won Tuesday.

The toss-up race was considered a must-win for Democrats. It was perhaps the GOPs best shot at picking up a Democratic-held Senate seat outside of West Virginia, Montana and Ohio, and Baldwins victory could help limit Republicans ability to extend the Senate majority they secured on Election Day.

The contest had narrowed considerably in the final weeks, and polls showed Hovde nipping at Baldwins heels. Republican operatives said GOP-leaning men came home to the party as the race drew to a close.

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However, it was not enough to topple Baldwin in what was her toughest reelection fight since she won the seat in 2012, having won by a wide margin six years ago in a midterm cycle.

Hovde, in a statement Wednesday morning, said his team would continue to monitor returns and make sure that every vote is counted.

Were watching the final precinct results come in. Were certainly disappointed that the Democrats effort to siphon votes with a fraudulent candidate had a significant impact on the race, with those votes making up more than the entire margin of the race right now, he said.

Democrats were confident Baldwin would survive, arguing she could win even if Trump carried the state.

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But Republicans sensed an opportunity to take down what many on the GOP side viewed as a Democrat who had not done much to separate herself from the partys brand.

Hovde was heavily recruited to run by top Republican officials in Washington and Wisconsin. He was also the beneficiary of top party brass essentially clearing the primary field, allowing him to sidestep a potentially rough-and-tumble intraparty fight in mid-August that could have proved costly and hurt him less than three months later.

That exact scenario happened six years ago and allowed Baldwin to skate to a second term in office.

He was also the latest in a string of GOP candidates who were able to largely bankroll their operation; Hovde had loaned his campaign $20 million as of the end of September.

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That brought attacks from Democrats who attempted to paint him as a carpetbagger who was parachuting into the state to win a Senate seat after spending years in California. Baldwins campaign spent heavily during the summer in an effort to define Hovde to the masses, including labeling him a jerk over some of his business activity and practices.

The lone debate between Baldwin and Hovde featured both candidates arguing they had greater ties to Wisconsin.

Im supposedly the jerk from California. Yet, Im born and raised here in this state, spent my last 12 years living where you grew up, Hovde said. Im a [University of Wisconsin] grad, youre not.

Baldwin responded that she was.

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Law school, not undergrad, Hovde shot back.

Hovde had some missteps during the campaign, including questioning the ability of nursing home residents to vote given that they, in his experience, have a five-, six-month life expectancy.

Almost nobody in a nursing home is at a point to vote, he said during a radio interview in April.

Hovde previously ran in the 2012 GOP Senate primary, in which he fell short against former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R). Thompson ended up losing in the general election to Baldwin.

Across the aisle, Republicans launched a number of attacks centered around Baldwins refusal to disclose assets, investments and business dealings of Maria Brisbane, her partner and a top Wall Street wealth adviser.

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Spouses of lawmakers are required to release that information, but because Baldwin and Brisbane are not married, they do not fall under that rule.

Baldwin was the first openly gay person to be elected to the Senate 12 years ago and has been dating Brisbane since 2018. She pointedly told Hovde during their debate to stay out of my personal life.

Part of the reason the issue came up is because the Wisconsin Democrat helms an appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, and Brisbane managed a biotech mutual fund.

Sen. Baldwin, I could care less about your personal life, but when your partner is investing in companies that youre overseeing and youre not disclosing that, thats an absolute conflict of interest, Hovde retorted.

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Updated at 10:41 a.m. EST

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NEW YORK  Josh Riley defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro in an upset victory flipping the seat to the Democrats as the party looked to gain a House majority.

The race, a bitter rematch from 2022, saw Riley win by a scant 7,000 votes, a margin of 51-49, uncertified ballot returns showed after the polls closed, according to the Associated Press.

The fight to represent New Yorks 19th congressional district, which stretches from the states border with Massachusetts to the Finger Lakes region, was one of six extremely competitive House races in New York.

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Republicans currently hold a majority in the House by an eight-seat margin. New York, typically a deep-blue state, emerged as a battleground this year, with several seats seen as possible to flip back to Democrats.

As of early Wednesday, its too soon to tell which direction the House will go.

Immigration, a major issue for the state after an influx of migrants arriving from the southern border, and abortion rights featured heavily in the race.

Molinaro has sought to link Riley to what he has said are failed border policies. Previously a more moderate Republican, this election cycle Molinaro has embraced former President Donald Trump and more hard-right ideologies.

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In September, Molinaro repeated a debunked conspiracy theory that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, had been eating pets which he laced into political attacks where he claimed Riley enabled migrants to illegally enter the U.S. when working as counsel for the U.S. Senate.

Riley, an attorney, has jabbed the finger right back at his opponent, pointing out that the influx of migrants from the southern border happened under his watch as Congressman. He has also criticized Molinaro for repeatedly voting to restrict abortion access.

Molinaro, who also was the Republican nominee running for governor against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2018, defeated Riley by less than two points in 2022.

_____
Perhaps Vice President Kamala Harris thought she could take Michigan's Middle Eastern communities for granted. In a state with a huge Iraqi-American community, Harris touted the endorsement of former Vice President Dick Cheneywho helped destroy Iraqand campaigned alongside his equally neoconservative daughter, former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney. And in a state with a huge Lebanese- and Palestinian-American community, one of the Harris campaign's closing messages was a pro-Israel rant delivered by former President Bill Clinton.

The Uncommitted movement, which represented around 100,000 dissatisfied Democrats in Michigan, warned that Harris would have to give at least a symbolic concession to Palestinian rights in order for those voters to come home. Democratic leadership brushed off the risks, arguing that the wars in the Middle East wouldn't be a salient issue. After all, former President Donald Trump "wants to put a ban on Arabs coming into the country," President Joe Biden said. "We'll make sure we understand who cares about the Arab population." What would Arab Americans do? Vote for Trump?

The answer, it turns out, was yes. Trump won around 42 percent of the vote in Dearborn, a heavily Arab suburb of Detroit, compared to 36 percent for Harris, and the rest for third-party candidates, according to the latest results. It was a shocking result in a community that had gone 74 percent for Biden in 2020. But it wasn't a surprising one. Muslim and Arab-American figures had been warning for months that foreign policy was a make-or-break issue in parts of Michigan. And Trump made a real effort to win over those votes, including reaching out to Abdullah Hammoud, the Democratic mayor of Dearborn.

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Hammoud refused to endorse either candidate. He said he wouldn't be "fooled" by Trump, who supported Israel against Palestinians and supported the Saudi-led war in Yemen. (It's worth mentioning that Michigan also has a large Yemeni-American community.) Hammoud also denounced the Biden administration's massive support for Israeli military campaigns and the Harris campaign's decision to send Cheney and Clinton to Michigan as surrogates.

Clinton's speech on November 1 appeared to be particularly insulting to the Arab and Muslim communities. He started off by saying that he understands "why young Palestinian- and Arab-Americans in Michigan think too many people have died" in Israel's wars. "The people who criticize it are essentially saying, yeah but look how many people you've killed in retaliation, so how many is enough for you to kill to punish them for the terrible things they did?" he said.

But Clinton quickly took a different turn: "That all sounds nice until you realize, what would you do if it was your family and you hadn't done anything but support a homeland for the Palestinians and one day they come for you?" Then, unprompted, Clinton began to talk about how Israelis "were there first" in "Judea and Samaria," an Israeli nationalist term for the West Bank, and how a Palestinian leader had told him that Arabs "only care about [Palestinians] when they need to blame America and Israel for their people being upset."

Trump, instead of being condescending to Middle Eastern voters, spoke to them as if he wanted their votes. "They could turn the election one way or the other," Trump said at an October 26 rally alongside Muslim clergy in Michigan. "The Muslim and Arab voters in Michigan and across the country want a stop to the endless wars and a return to peace in the Middle East. That's all they want," Trump added. He also attacked Harris for campaigning alongside Cheney, the "Muslim-hating warmonger."

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Harris tried to do damage control at a November 4 rally alongside Arab-American leaders in Michigan, promising to "do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza, to bring home the hostages, end the suffering in Gaza, ensure Israel is secure and ensure the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, freedom, security and self-determination."

Michigan has around 211,405 Arab-American residents, and around 241,828 Muslim residents. Each community on its own makes up just above 2 percent of the state's population. (They overlap, but not entirely. Many Muslims in Michigan are not Arab, many Arabs are Christian, and many of the Chaldean-Assyrian Iraqis in Michigan consider themselves neither Arab nor Muslim.) As it stands, Trump leads in Michigan by a little over 93,000 votes.

Whether Trump actually follows through on his promisesor uses ending endless wars as an excuse for even more military escalationremains to be seen. After all, his first administration was filled with Iran-obsessed war hawks, and many of the same names are on his cabinet shortlist.

But the fact that he made those promises to begin with shows how the foreign policy dynamics of presidential elections have changed. Democrats had assumed that it was a matter of out-hawking the competition. Now, dovish swing voters have made clear that there is a political cost to war. Both parties ignore it at their peril.

The post Democratic Hubris Blows Up in Michigan appeared first on Reason.com.
DETROIT (AP)  Democratic freshman U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten has secured her second term representing Michigan in Congress.

In 2022, Scholten became the first Democrat to represent the city of Grand Rapids in the U.S. House since the 1970s after the district was redrawn.

I set out to build a new political home in West Michigan, and with this decisive victory, weve proven that what we made is built to last, Scholten said in a statement posted to X.

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However, the district in western Michigan is still seen as a Republican stronghold, especially in the populous Kent County. The Republicans targeted the county with multiple visits as former President Donald Trump campaigned to return to the White House.

The county went for Trump in 2016 and President Joe Biden in 2020.

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Former FDIC director Sheila Bair. Reuters

US debt is surging and Trump and Harris's plans will only add to the pile, the former FDIC chair says.

Sheila Bair warns that high debt cause the next financial crisis.

She says neither candidate has focused on the crisis because higher taxes and lower benefits would drive away voters.

The US debt has soared in recent years, and with no solution proposed by either presidential candidate, it will likely hit unprecedented levels that could spur a crisis, former FDIC Chair Sheila Bair said.

Surging debt levels could cause the next financial crisis if left unchecked, Bair warned. Bair, who chaired the FDIC during the global financial crisis of 2008, said the government employed deficit-financed spending and tax relief during past crises in 2008 and during the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001.

At the time, those were correct decisions, but the government has kept up that level of spending since, driving up the debt and creating a risk to the economy.

"Now, the resulting overhang of federal debt could itself be the cause of a future crisis," Bair wrote in an op-ed last week.

What's more, Bair said both presidential candidates lack plans to fix the debt, and their proposals will likely continue to drive government borrowing to sustainable levels. That raises the risk of a scenario in which global investors lose faith in the country's ability to pay its debt, eroding confidence in the hugely important US Treasury market.

Investors could demand higher premiums, driving up the government's interest payment, which could forced tax hikes, spending cuts, and Treasury losses, Bair says.

Those factors would cause widespread economic distress, she said.

"Both parties have decided that deficits don't matter anymore, which is pretty distressing because they do. At some point we're going to reach the inflection point, and they're going to matter a lot to investors who are going to question if they want to keep buying our debt," Bair told CNBC in a Monday interview.

The gross national debt has topped $35 trillion. Trump's proposed policies would pile on a whopping $7.75 trillion in the next 10 years, while Harris's plans would add $3.95 trillion, Bair said, citing findings from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Bair says the debt problem is getting little attention in this election cycle because to solve the debt crisis, the candidates would likely need to hike taxes or lower spending on social programs  neither of which would be popular among voters.

"There's no political payoff for it. People don't want to hear that their taxes are going to go up, or their benefits are going to go down," Bair told CNBC. "And even if you go and make those hard decisions and institute some reforms, the next generation of leadership could come in and just squander it all, so I think politicians have just decided it's not worth it."
Political newcomer and Democratic candidate Jody Madeira will serve as Monroe County commissioner for District 3, beating out Republican candidate Joe VanDeventer Tuesday.

In Tuesday night's preliminary returns, Madeira had received 29,464 votes, about 60.08%, while VanDeventer had 19,581 votes, or 39.92%.

Im looking forward to going out and meeting people in the county, Madeira said Tuesday. Im looking forward to meeting voters in rural areas.

Jody Madeira at the John Waldron Art Center during the Democratic Party's election gathering on Nov. 5, 2024.

Madeira previously beat out incumbent commissioner Penny Githens in the Democratic primary in May, earning about 44% of the vote. A professor and co-director for the Center for Law, Society & Culture at Indiana Universitys Maurer School of Law, Madeira has listed improving city-county relationships (and) reinvigorating Monroe Countys health and human services infrastructure as top legislative priorities.

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We need some changes, Madeira said. We need living-wage jobs, we need affordable housing. We know the values we stand for.

The site of Monroe Countys new jail at North Park on the Ind. 45/46 Bypass, which was chosen last month, and housing and development have been among the most contentious issues of the commissioner election this year. Madeira has called for the commissioners to address urban sprawl through legislative efforts towards denser and missing middle housing. VanDeventer advocated for increased collaboration between the city of Bloomington and Monroe County, including extending sewer lines to allow for denser development.

Joe VanDeventer talks to friends during the Republican Party's election gathering at Hoosier Hank's on Nov. 5, 2024.

Madeira will serve alongside vice president Lee Jones, who represents District 1, and president Julie Thomas, who represents District 2 and was uncontested.

Madeira said she was looking forward to learning from her fellow commissioners and engaging in outreach with residents of the county.

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Im interested in making sure were out there as much as theyre in here, Madeira said. Only then will we become the county Monroe needs us to be."

Reach Brian Rosenzweig at brian@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Jody Madeira elected Monroe County commissioner for district 3
Republican Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte delivers the 2023 state of the state speech in the Montana House chambers on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Republicans will continue holding strong majorities in both chambers of the Montana Legislature when next years session starts in January but will no longer have a veto-proof supermajority after Democrats picked up a handful of seats following redistricting and Tuesdays election.

While Tuesdays election results are not yet finalized, tentative results with about 560,000 votes counted statewide show Democrats picking up two seats overall in the Senate and nine in the House.

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That would put Republicans at a 32-18 majority in the Senate and a 59-41 majority in the House. In 2023, Republicans carried a 34-16 majority in the Senate and 68-32 majority in the House.

Thats about in line with what both parties had forecast both before and after the primaries in June. Republicans expected to have around 30 Senate seats, while Democrats had hoped to pick up three or four seats in the Senate and eight to 10 in the House.

In the Senate, both parties had kept close tabs on three races seen as toss-ups: Senate District 2 in the Flathead Valley; Senate District 21 on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations; and Senate District 24 in Billings.

Rep. Dave Fern, D-Whitefish, was able to win the seat for Democrats in Senate District 2, defeating Republican Doug Adams 52% to 48%.

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But Republicans won the two other seats. Republican Gayle George Lammers defeated Rep. Sharon Stewart Peregoy, D-Crow Agency, 57% to 43% as of early Wednesday afternoon in Senate District 21. And Rep. Mike Yakawich, R-Billings, won Senate District 24, 54% to 46% over Democrat Mark Nicholson.

Senators Yakawich and Lammers pulled off major victories in those tough districts last night and are a major reason why were heading into the 2025 session with such strong majorities, Senate President Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, said in a statement.

Senate Republicans spokesperson Kyle Schmauch said Republicans were pleased with how hard the two candidates had worked, and said they had earned their wins. He said Adams loss to Fern was the only other seat Republicans thought they might be able to take.

But Dave Fern is a very strong candidate for Democrats and very well-known and liked in that area, he said.

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Schmauch said he believed that losing the supermajority would mean little during the 2025 session because the same measures that passed with a supermajority would still pass with a large, but slightly smaller, majority.

By definition, there cant be a discernible difference from last session because nothing happened last session that took a supermajority to accomplish, he said. As far as working with the governor and whatnot, every session is completely different in its own way, but it wont be based on numbers. Itll be based on personalities and the specific individuals that are serving in each chamber.

Senate Democrats spokesperson George Wolcott said the caucus was pleased with Ferns victory, especially in an election in which most of the electorate in Montana moved further toward supporting Republicans, who swept every statewide race.

It was a hard night across the board, but it wasnt without some high points like that, he said.

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Wolcott said that Democrats simply holding more seats than during the 2023 session should help their chances of passing bills they support in 2025, chief among them extending Medicaid expansion in Montana, which is expected to be one of the more contentious issues of next session.

Im happy for that, and I think that were going to have a good crew ready to do some good work and be ready to represent folks in Helena this upcoming session, he said.

In the House, incumbents held strong even in some of the more contentious districts, and Democrats netted nine overall seats  about what they said they expected following redistricting. There are remaining votes left to be counted in Yellowstone and Gallatin counties as of early Wednesday afternoon, but most races in those counties were separated by enough votes they were unlikely to flip in the final tally.

Evangeline Lancette, a spokesperson for House Republicans, said she had not dug deeper into the results, but they were about what Republicans were expecting as well.

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I think theres a relatively good feeling about how itll turn out, and I think that pretty much its what was kind of expected, she said.

Scott McNeil, director of the Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said the results showed Montana rejected having a Republican supermajority in power.

Despite the disappointing results, Montanans made it clear on Tuesday that they wanted to rein in a Republican supermajority that was focused on getting involved in their personal lives and not on the issues they care about. Montana Democrats are ready to get to work on what they campaigned on, taking on the rising cost of living, renewing Medicaid expansion, and fighting for everyday Montanans.

Rob Saldin, the director of the Mansfield Ethics and Public Affairs Program at the University of Montana, said the changes to the makeup are largely due to redistricting.

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You cant really compare to two years ago, the pickups are almost entirely a function of new district lines out of the reapportionment process, he said. That said, Democrats do have some seats and maybe even did slightly better than one might have thought.

As it stands and if current forecasts hold once the election results are finalized, the makeup of the Legislature would be identical to that of the 2017 body, which also had a 59-41 split in the House led by Republicans, and a 32-18 split in the GOP-led Senate.

The four respective caucuses will meet at the Capitol next Tuesday morning for caucus meetings and to elect their leadership for the session and biennium. The spokespersons said there would be multiple people competing for the top position in each caucus except for Senate Democrats, who are expected to elect Sen. Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, as minority leader again.

The Daily Montanans Micah Drew contributed to this report.

Editors note: This story has been updated to show that Republicans had a 34-16 majority in the Senate in 2023, not 36-14.
Democrats held on to both U.S. House seats in Rhode Island in Tuesdays election.

In the 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, the first Black representative in Congress from Rhode Island, easily beat his Republican challenger Allen Waters. In the 2nd Congressional District, Rep. Seth Magaziner, the former state treasurer in Rhode Island, defeated Republican Steve Corvi.

Amo promised to work on ending gun violence to supporting reproductive freedom, as well as fighting to protect Social Security and Medicare. He said that he was honored to have been overwhelmingly elected by voters to serve as their voice in Washington.

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During my first year in office, Im proud of what we have accomplished to positively impact the lives of my constituents, he said in a statement. There is work to do to continue to lower costs, deliver economic opportunities for Rhode Island families, and protect our freedoms.

Waters campaigned on his support for gun rights, ending government-backed student loans for college and a promise to clean up the swamp of poorly managed government departments like the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Magaziner, the former state treasurer in Rhode Island, won a second term.

He defeated Corvi, who was making his first run for political office and has been vastly outspent. In 2022, Magaziner won the seat vacated by longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, who retired after two decades representing the district.

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Magaziner, the son of former Clinton administration policy adviser Ira Magaziner, said he was honored by the trust and confidence voters in the 2nd Congressional District had placed in him.

As I return to Washington, I remain committed to fighting for the priorities that matter most to Rhode Islanders; protecting Social Security and Medicare, cutting costs for working people, protecting the Affordable Care Act, enacting common-sense gun safety legislation, and defending womens right to choose, Magaziner said in a statement.

During the campaign, Corvi highlighted the fact he was an average American who has no prior political experience and no connections. An adjunct university professor who specializes in British and American military history, Corvi campaigned for what he called a merit-based immigration system, support for Israel and policies that grow the economy.

On Tuesday night, Corvi thanked his supporters and said he got into the race because he believes something needs to change in our state." By running for the House seat, he said we made our voices heard.

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We always knew this was going to be an uphill battle," Corvi said in a statement. "While tonights outcome isnt what we all hoped for, Im incredibly proud of what we built and the conversations we sparked.

Last year, Amo beat out a crowded field in a special election to replace Democratic Rep. David Cicilline, who stepped down to lead a nonprofit foundation. The son of Ghanaian and Liberian immigrants, Amo has worked as a senior adviser to President Joe Biden. He previously worked in state government and in the White House during the Obama administration.

Amo went to Wheaton College and studied public policy at Oxford University, and he has said he was inspired by his parents drive. His mother studied nursing and his father opened a liquor store in part so he could be his own boss.
L to R: Rep. Rachel Jones, Rep. Cory McGarr, Kevin Volk. Photos via Gage Skidmore (Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0), Kevin Volk (Facebook)

Democrats hold sizeable leads in flipping two legislative seats in a southern Arizona legislative district, victories that would be key for the partys quest to flip control of the legislature away from Republicans.

In the race for Legislative District 17s state Senate seat, political newcomer John McLean is leading GOP nominee Vince Leach, who represented the region in the legislature from 2015 until 2022, by more than 6,000 votes as of 1 a.m. Wednesday.

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And in the contest for the districts two seats in the House of Representatives, Democrat Kevin Volk held a roughly 10,000-vote lead over the Republican incumbent Cory McGarr, who trailed his seatmate, Rachel Jones, by 2,000 votes.

While registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats in the district, its the unaffiliated voters that make up a sizable portion of voters in the region that both parties aimed to win over. For Democrats, victory is only possible if they capture the lions share of independent voters  and convince some right-of-center Republicans to cross party lines.

Early results indicate they may have done just that.

And the stakes couldnt be higher. The outcome of the Tucson-area races will be pivotal in determining if Republicans keep their slim hold on control at the legislature, or if one chamber  or both  flips to Democratic control for the first time in more than 60 years.

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Legislative District 17 spans a portion of Pima and Pinal counties, running from Marana in the west and wrapping around the northern part of Tucson  capturing Oro Valley and Saddlebrooke along the way  before swinging south to take in eastern Tucson and Tanque Verde. It has been seen as a safe haven for the Republican Party and the area has elected some of the most far-right lawmakers in the state.

Volk told the Arizona Mirror last month that his was the most important district to flip in the state this year.

While Volk, a former teacher, focused much of his campaign on boosting funding for Arizona schools, McLean, a former Republican, sought to appeal to GOP voters who felt Donald Trump was too extreme.

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Incumbent Republican Reps. Elaine Davis of Knoxville and Mike Sparks of Smyrna won Tuesday in districts targeted by Tennessee Democrats. (Davis photo: ElectElaineDavis.com, Sparks photo: Tennessee General Assembly)

Tennessee Republicans turned back challenges from Democrats in six targeted races, ensuring Democrats remain in a solid super minority for the next two years.

Democrats targeted four House races to flip. Wins in all four would have cut the number of seats the party needs to win to get out of super minority status to 11, but the party lost all four races.

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And the Democratic party managed to retain three Democratically held seats, as Shaundelle Brooks defeated Republican Chad Bobo in the race to replace retiring Nashville Democrat Darren Jernigan in District 60, while Rep. Ronnie Glynn in Clarksville-based District 67 narrowly defeated Republican newcomer Jamie Dean Peltz. Nashville Rep. Bo Mitchell prevailed in a contest with Metro Councilmember Jennifer Frensley Webb.

House District 18

Rep. Elaine Davis, a Knoxville Republican, retained her seat after defeating Bryan Goldberg, a Democratic newcomer.

Davis beat Goldberg 54% to 46%.

Goldberg focused on public education and health care, and remained competitive financially with Davis, who hewed to traditional Republican positions, including school safety, public safety and eliminating government red tape.

House District 49

Rep. Mike Sparks was returned to office Tuesday, beating back a challenger from political organizer Luis Mata in suburban Rutherford County. The outcome gave Sparks 57% to Matas 43%.

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Sparks, a Republican first elected in 2012, took a hard line on immigration in his campaign, blaming illegal immigrants for strained finances in Rutherford County. Mata, a naturalized citizen whose family immigrated from Mexico, attempted to capitalize on changing demographics in the district.

House District 60

Nashvilles District 60, which encompasses a swath of Davidson County ranging from Old Hickory in the northeast to Antioch in the southeast, will remain under Democratic control after gun safety advocate Shaundelle Brooks defeated Republican Chad Bobo, a former staff member for House Speaker Cameron Sexton.

Shaundelle Brooks outside the Tennessee Capitol. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Republicans hold no legislative seats within Davidson County and worked to win this one to gain a toehold in the states capital city.

Brooks, who became involved in politics after her son was killed in a 2018 mass shooting at a South Nashville Waffle House, beat Bobo 54% to 46%.

House District 67

In a nail-biter, Democratic Rep. Ronnie Glynn won reelection by 128 votes, defeating Jamie Dean Peltz, a Republican who campaigned on her support for infrastructure improvements, health care and opportunities for veterans.

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This was Glynns second race to be decided by fewer than 200 votes: he won office in 2022 by 153 votes. On Tuesday, his percentage of votes was 50.3% to Peltzs 49.7%.

House District 75

Allie Phillips, the Clarksville woman who ran for office because of her experience obtaining an out-of-state abortion after a nonviable pregnancy endangered her life, lost to first term Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart.

Burkhart tallied 55% of the vote to Phillips 45%.

Even before Phillips entered the race, she gained a large following on social media by discussing her personal experience and received national media coverage. In 2023, she joined the Center for Reproductive Rights as a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Tennessees near-total abortion ban.

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Burkhart, who previously endorsed Tennessees abortion law, focused his campaign messaging on fiscal conservatism, while also advocating for deeper investments in infrastructure, school security and law enforcement. He also pledged to work to increase the Tennessee National Guard presence at the southern border.

House District 97

In Memphis, Republican Rep. John Gillespie defeated Democratic businessman Jesse Huseth 52% to 48%, notching a loss for Democrats who hoped to take control of the seat in a district with historically tight races.

Gillespie, a two-term representative, focused on tough on crime positions, touting his legislative record of supporting laws that enact harsher punishments for certain crimes. Gillespie rankled some Memphians with a 2024 bill he passed as a prime sponsor that reversed Memphis effort to stop police from making pretextual traffic stops. The citys measures stemmed from the 2023 death of Tyree Nichols, who was beaten by Memphis police after such a stop.

First-time candidate Huseth, whose campaign prioritized funding for public education and opposition to school vouchers, safe storage for guns and support for a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime lab, kept pace with Gillespie on fundraising and received financial support from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

Cassandra Stephenson contributed to this story.

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WASHINGTONEarly Wednesday morning, Democrats began to leave Kamala Harris election night party at Howard University as The New York Times predicted doom.

A campaign official told CBS News that Harris would not be speaking after all. That news was later confirmed by Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond, who said Harris will instead appear on Wednesday not only to address supporters but to address the nation. Exit polls and media projections spelled disaster for the Democratic presidential candidates chances. The music played on as the crowd began to thin.

Speaking to the Daily Beast around 10:30 p.m., Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas was among the guests waiting for results and feeling good.

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Im glad that the vice president is ahead in some key states right now, he told the Daily Beast, naming Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and emphasizing the importance of the blue wall. Were hopeful that the night will turn out well.

But as the night wore on, Harris prospects looked increasingly grim. North Carolina had already been called for Trump, and the other swing states were trending in his direction. The Democrats only remaining path appeared to run through the blue wall states, but signs werent looking good there either.

Pennsylvania, the biggest prize of them all among the seven swing states where the election will be decided, remained a jump ball with latest returns showing Trump leading Harris 51 percent to 48 percent with 84 percent of the vote counted. It became increasingly clear that Harris had to carry Pennsylvania if she had any chance left.

In Wisconsin, at 12:13 a.m., Trump led 51 percent to 47 percent for Harris with 77 percent of the votes counted.

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Castro said he hadnt recently checked The New York Times election needle. Moments after he spoke to the Daily Beast, it showed the odds of a Trump victory above 85 percent. Then it rose to 90 percent.

Earlier in the night, floodlights put the crowd, stuck in its bubble of hope, on full display. Families and students pumped their fists and jumped up and down to a high-octane soundtrack that included Kendrick Lamar and Panic! At the Disco. CNN played on screens around the venue. The crowd roared whenever the channel flashed to a state Harris was winning. Old friends hugged as they reunited after a long election season. Volunteers, reporters, and MVPs alike munched on Chick-fil-A, which maintained a line out the door through the evening.

Despite the concert atmosphere there were plenty of signs of nerves at Howard.

The venue itself underscored the history-making moment within reach as it slipped further from reality. The stage was framed by Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall, and the night opened with student performers from the historically Black college. Women in pink and green, the colors of the vice presidents sorority, lined the risers.

As results began to pour in, the music stopped. Some people still appeared excited, but something else was creeping in: doubt, and even dread.

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While CNN began to tick off the states that had been called for Trump, guests began to cross their arms and look off into the distance. Others pulled out their phones, scrolling intently. Still others simply sat down on the grass, appearing to settle in.

Its a long night, Castro said.

By midnight, there was little good news for CNN left to show. Audience members exchanged anxious looks. Many began to stream out. Harris hadnt yet taken the stage, but they had already seen enough.

Harris for President Campaign Co-Chair Cedric Richmond: "We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken. So, you won't hear from the Vice pic.twitter.com/6bUXCdKAxW  CSPAN (@cspan) November 6, 2024

More than half an hour later, a grim Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond took to the stage, confirming the news Harris would not speak.

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Thank you for all that you have done. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being believing in the promise of America, he said, assuring supporters, we still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken.

Richmond said Harris will instead appear on Wednesday not only to address supporters but to address the nation.

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MADISON - Democrats gained key victories in the state Senate, narrowing the majority for Republicans, but falling short of flipping power in either chamber of the state Legislature.

Among the key victories for Democrats were the 8th Senate District, where Democratic challenger Jodi Habush Sinykin declared victory over state Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Cedarburg. The Associated Press hadn't called the race, the most expensive legislative contest in state history, as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

In Wisconsin's Senate District 8, Republican incumbent Duey Stroebel will face Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin in one of the most competitive races in the state under new legislative maps.

Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein welcomed Habush Sinykin to the Legislature in a statement, and said she ran an "incredible campaign."

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As the underdog, she did not shy away from the hard work necessary to win this race," she said. "Jodis deep ties to the community, thoughtful decision-making, and experience as an attorney will allow her to effectively legislate for the needs of this community.

The 8th Senate District covers northern Milwaukee suburbs.

Other Democratic gains in the Senate were:

 The 14th Senate District, covering the north side of Madison and Richland and Sauk counties: Democratic candidate Sarah Keyeski defeated incumbent Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan.

 The 30th Senate District, covering the Green Bay area: Democratic candidate Jamie Wall defeated Republican candidate Jim Rafter.

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 The 18th Senate District, covering much of the Fox Cities: Democrat Kristin Alfheim and Republican candidate Anthony Phillips. The race still hadn't been called as of early Wednesday morning, though Alfheim had 52% of the vote at 9:30 a.m.

Republicans held a 22-10 majority with one vacancy in the Senate heading into the election. If all four Democratic gains stand, the GOP majority would shrink to 18-15, with Dora Drake running unopposed to fill the vacant seat of Milwaukee Democrat Lena Taylor, who left the Senate for a judgeship.

Republicans also lose the two-thirds supermajority in the chamber, which they have used in the past to attempt overrides of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' vetoes.

"On what was a tough night for Democrats nationwide, we made key gains in the State Legislature last night  demonstrating the power of the Republican gerrymander that crushed democracy in our state for more than a decade and the strength of Democratic state legislative efforts," Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Ben Wikler said in a statement.

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Andrew Whitley, the director of the State Senate Democratic Committee, said in a statement that the victories marked a path for a potential flip in the next election.

"We are really proud of our candidates' hard work in their races and the results we are seeing reflect their dedication to voters. The candidates knocked on thousands of doors, listened to voters, and clearly articulated their vision for Wisconsin," he said. "Senate Democrats have defeated the Republican's manufactured supermajority and we are on a pathway to the majority in 2026."

Democrats fall short of flipping state Assembly

Democrats had also hoped to flip the Assembly to their control in the first election since the state's legislative districts were redrawn.

But as of Wednesday morning, the AP had called more than 50 races for Republicans, with some still not called. That continues Republicans' majority in the lower chamber, which stood at 64-35 going into the election.

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All of the seats in the Assembly were up for election and a number of seats in the Senate. Democrats saw it as an opportunity to flip seats in their favor after new maps were created earlier this year and set their sights on taking the majority in the Assembly, which has remained under Republican control for more than a decade.

In a call with reporters, Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming said "Democrats spent the last couple weeks bragging about how they might be able to take over the state Assembly, and they didn't."

"Majorities matter in the Legislature. The Democrats don't have either of them," Schimming said. "The truth of the matter is they had their one moment when they had a huge turnout to take over this year, and they failed in both houses."

Schimming added the party is already looking forward to upcoming races for state Supreme Court, attorney general and governor.

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Following the redistricting ruling, this year's election season saw a fuller slate of Democrats running in newly drawn districts that they say were the most competitive in years.

That competition resulted in heavy spending, including in the 8th Senate District where a whopping $3 million or more was expected to be spent by the campaigns, candidates and other groups, a record for a Wisconsin legislative race.

Both Republican and Democratic strategists agreed that the spending was because of more competitive districts, as well as the desire to have the candidates be seen amidst the heavy advertising for the presidential race.

While Republicans firmly believed they could hold control of the Assembly, Democrats believed voters were ready for a "breath of fresh air" in the Legislature.

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Republicans will still hold control of the Legislature and will seek to hold those seats in upcoming elections.

Here are the results of some of the other closely watched legislative races

13th Assembly District, covering parts of Wauwatosa, Brookfield and Elm Grove: Rep. Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa, defeated fellow state Rep. Tom Michalski, R-Elm Grove.

21st Assembly District, covering a portion of the south Milwaukee suburbs: Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, R-Oak Creek, narrowly defeated Democratic candidate David Marstellar.

26th Assembly District, covering the Sheboygan area: Democratic candidate Joe Sheehan defeated Amy Binsfeld, R-Sheboygan.

30th Assembly District, covering parts of St. Croix and Pierce counties: Rep. Shannon Zimmerman, R-River Falls, held his seat against Democratic candidate Alison Page.

53rd Assembly District, covering Neenah, Menasha and the southern part of Appleton: Republican candidate Dean Kaufert and Democratic candidate Duane Shukoski. The race hadn't been called as of early Wednesday, but Kaufert had over 52% of the vote.

61st Assembly District, covering the southwestern Milwaukee suburbs: Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield, defeated Democratic candidate LuAnn Bird.

85th Assembly District, which covers Wausau: Rep. Pat Snyder, R-Schofield held his seat against Democratic candidate Yee Leng Xiong.

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X at @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democrats make key pickups in state Senate, narrow GOP majority
Sheehy dealt a major blow to Democrats on Election Day, expanding upon Republicans' new Senate majority

Kevin Dietsch/Getty; Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Jon Tester; Tim Sheehy Jon Tester; Tim Sheehy

Republican Tim Sheehy has unseated Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in Montana's 2024 Senate race, The Associated Press projects, marking a significant victory for Republicans in this election cycle.



The Montana Senate seat was identified as Republicans' clearest path to retaking the Senate majority, as polling predicted that Sheehy would overtake Tester. In turn, the race proved to be one of this year's priciest. According to Fox News, $309 had been spent on each voter by late October  adding up to $243.3 million.

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By the time Sheehy was declared the winner on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Republicans had already secured the Senate majority for the upcoming 119th Congress after an upset victory in Ohio that unseated incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown.

Related: Montana Senate Candidate Calls Women Under 25 'Indoctrinated' for Supporting Reproductive Rights

Photo Courtesy of the Jon Tester for Senate Campaign

Tester, 68, has represented Montana in the Senate since 2006, when he flipped the seat blue for the first time since 1988. He has served on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and he was previously the president of the Montana state Senate.

A farmer and former music teacher, Tester has received generally positive approval ratings throughout his time in the Senate, but heightened national partisanship made his seat more difficult to defend this time around in a deeply conservative state.

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Tester had been reportedly considering retiring from politics, but announced in February 2023 that he would run for reelection, as per Politico. He has voiced support for protecting women's reproductive freedoms and has been ranked one of the most effective lawmakers in Washington, D.C., according to The Center for Effective Lawmaking.

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Less popular in Montana, though, was his vote to convict Donald Trump, 78, during both of the former president's impeachment trials. He declined to endorse Kamala Harris for president in 2024, Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported.

Michael Ciaglo/Getty Tim Sheehy in 2024 Tim Sheehy in 2024

Sheehy, 38, proved a strong candidate for the Republican Party when he secured the nomination in June.

A Minnesota-born veteran and businessman, Sheehy touted on the campaign trial that he "built one of the largest aerial firefighting companies in America" and "started a veteran-led cattle ranching and feeding operation."

The father of four ran as an anti-choice candidate, but says he supports IVF. He earned Trump's endorsement.
Ottawa County logo | Sarah Leach

As most Michigan residents awaited the outcome of the 2024 presidential race, Ottawa County Democrats waited to see if they gained additional seats on the board of commissioners after two years under Ottawa Impacts leadership.

Full Ottawa County results are here.

Instead of gaining seats, however, Democrats lost one of their two current seats on the board as Chris Kleinjans  who won in a special recall election in May  lost in the general election to non-traditional Republican Jordan Jorritsma.

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Ottawa Impact, the far-right fundamentalist group formed in 2021 over frustrations with the county and state over COVID-19 mitigation measures, officially lost the majority on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 6 Republican primary. However progressives hoped to make bigger gains in the general election.

OI won a controlling majority on the county Board of Commissioners in 2022; the groups two-year tenure saw the county commission sued six separate times in a 20-month timespan between 2023 and 2024  three remain active as of publication, including one filed last month over allegations that the county isnt properly following state transparency laws.

Several controversial hirings and firings, along with mounting legal costs, inspired non-OI conservatives and Democrats to vie for public office, resulting in an unprecedented 33 people running for the commissions 11 seats.

A recall petition targeted one OI commissioner  Lucy Ebel  and Kleinjans ultimately defeated her by a 20% margin in May 2024. In the August primary, Ebel lost again to Jorritsma by nearly the same margin.

Ottawa County Commissioner Chris Kleinjans | Courtesy photo

In the general election, Jorritsma earned 6,556 to Kleinjans 6,319  a difference of just 237 votes. According to Michigan law, automatic recounts only occur in statewide races when the results are within 2,000 votes, meaning Kleinjans would need to request a recount.

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As of Wednesday morning, neither Kleinjans nor Jorritsma responded to requests for comment.

Of the six OI incumbents who ran for reelection  plus one seeking re-election after being voted out in a special recall election in May  four survived primary challengers to the general election, where all faced Democrats and won.

The remaining positions on the 11-member board didnt change from the primary outcome, with other Democrats unsuccessfully challenging the remaining OI commissioners as well as the incoming traditional Republicans.

Heres who won:

District 1:

Jim Barry (R): 10,397 (61%) Danielle Smith (D): 6,741 (39%)



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District 2:

Jordan Jorritsma (R): 6,556 (51%) Chris Kleinjans (D): 6,319 (49%)



District 3:

Doug Zylstra (D): 7,383 (58%) Orlando Estrada (R): 5,299 (42%)



District 4:

Chris Crothers (D): 4,953 (30%) Jacob Bonnema (R): 10,370 (62%) Rob Thurkettle (I): 1,315 (8%)



District 5:

(i) Joe Moss (OI-R): 12,806 (74%) Jon Rabideau (D): 4,402 (26%)



District 6:

Michelle Dieleman (D): 5,551 (33%) (i) Kendra Wenzel (OI-R): 11,477 (67%)



District 7:

Heather L. Majestic (D): 4,686 (29%) John Teeples (R): 11,717 (71%)



District 8:

Becky Patrick (D): 4,397 (40%) (i) Sylvia Rhodea (OI-R):6,578 (60%)



District 9:

Angela Stanford-Butler (D): 6,409 (38%) Phil Kuyers (R): 10,508 (62%)



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District 10:

Josh Brugger (R): 10,672 (64%) Oliver Shampine (D): 6,058 (36%)



District 11:

Keith Courtade (D): 4,847 (30%) (i) Allison Miedema (OI-R): 11,136 (70%)



In August, OI-backed candidates for prosecutor, sheriff and treasurer lost to non-OI Republicans; no Democrats filed to run in those races for the general election.

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The North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

Republicans will remain in power in both houses of the North Carolina legislature when lawmakers convene in January, but they appear to have lost their veto-proof supermajority in the state House after Tuesdays election.

In the current General Assembly, the GOP holds exact 60% supermajorities in both the House (72-48) and Senate (30-20). As of early Wednesday morning, however, unofficial results appeared to show that Democrats had picked up a net gain of one seat in the House, thus reducing the majority to 71-49.

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For too long, the supermajority has operated without checks, pursuing extreme agendas that left too many North Carolinians behind, House Minority Leader Robert Reives said in a statement late Tuesday night.

Tonight, voters made it clear that they want a government that prioritizes working families, access to quality education, affordable healthcare, and the safeguarding of our fundamental rights.

The national Democratic Leadership Campaign Committee issued a statement that said the results mark a monumental shift in the balance of power in North Carolina and is a testament to the DLCCs work alongside many partners and allies to challenge unchecked Republican power in the state.

Senate Republicans, on the other hand, appear to have increased their margin to 31-19, though at least two races one for each party  are currently led by less than 40 votes each. Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) touted the continued control as a testament to his partys policymaking.

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Tonights results affirm (voters) continued support of the policies that make North Carolina the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family, Berger said.

Our platform of low taxes, job creation, quality education, and educational freedom spoke to North Carolinians then. Now, the voters are returning Republican majorities to the legislature for the eighth consecutive election.

In a news conference Wednesday, Berger and Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell), who is expected to be the next House Speaker, praised their partys wins. And they dont expect the supermajoritys status to radically alter their plans.

I dont think it changes our agenda  whether were at 72 or 71 (members), Hall said. I dont know that its going to substantively change what we end up doing.

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He added that he was confident there were Democrats who Republicans will be able to work with on specific policy items.

If the tentative result in the House holds, it would significantly enhance the power of Democratic Governor-elect Josh Stein when the legislature convenes in 2025. He would be able to veto bills with much less risk of seeing those vetoes overridden.

Yesterday, North Carolinians sent a clear message that they believe we will go further when we go together, not as Democrats, Republicans or independents, but as North Carolinians, Stein said in a statement Wednesday morning.

The issues facing our state  rebuilding western North Carolina, creating good jobs, strengthening public schools, ensuring safe neighborhoods, and protecting personal freedoms  are not partisan issues; they are North Carolina issues. To build a brighter future for everyone in our state, we must come together across our differences and get to work. Im ready to go.

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Whether the result will hold, however, remains an open question. Some races remain extremely close, and all are unofficial.

Whats more, in 2023, Republican House leaders succeeded in convincing Rep. Tricia Cotham, then a Democrat from Mecklenburg County, to switch parties months after the election as the House convened for its new session. It was Cothams seat that cemented the GOP supermajority in the House.

Whether a similar switch might be possible in the coming months is unknown, but Cotham, who was leading her opponent on Tuesday, was appointed co-chair of a pair of House education committees as a partial reward for her action.

Among the notable race results in the North Carolina legislature:

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Cotham, now a Republican, was leading Democratic challenger Nicole Sidman by 275 votes, according to unofficial results. That is within the margin for Sidman to request a recount.

Rep. Ken Fontenot (R-Wilson) lost to Democratic challenger Dante Pittman.

Democrat Woodson Bradley is ahead of Republican Stacie McGinn in a Senate district currently held by Sen. Rachel Hunt by 27 votes. It will almost certainly go to a recount.

Sen. Lisa Grafstein (D-Wake) defeated Republican Scott Lassiter by just over 4,000 votes to retain her seat. Grafstein is the only out LGBTQ+ state senator. She notably moved after Republicans double-bunked her with a fellow Democrat in the latest round of redistricting.

Democrat Bryan Cohn was narrowly ahead of first-term Republican Frank Sossamon in a district that includes Granville and Vance counties.

In a Mecklenburg County House district that Republican Rep. John Bradford is vacating, Democrat Beth Helfrich has defeated Huntersville Republican Mayor Melinda Bales.

The head of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee said breaking the supermajority in North Carolina means the end of unchecked Republican power.

That unchecked GOP power ends today with Gov.-elect Josh Stein and an incoming Democratic caucus that can sustain his vetoes of extreme Republican overreach, DLCC President Heather Williams said.

Democrats will play a key role in holding Republicans accountable as we work together to eventually overcome the egregious gerrymandering and other structural barriers to true representation in North Carolina.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
Well soon find out how KE Holdings performed during the third quarter of this year, but we can look back at the 2Q24 numbers for an idea of where the company is headed. Revenues in Q2 came to US$3.2 billion, up almost 20% year-over-year and $120 million over the estimates, while the bottom-line figure, of 31 cents EPADS by non-GAAP measures, was 10 cents per share better than had been forecast. The company registered a gross transaction value during the quarter of US$115.5 billion, an increase of 7.5% from the prior-year period.

For KE, the result has been clear. The stock hit a recent bottom in mid-September, and although share performance in October has seen both ups and downs it remains elevated from its recent low  with a net gain of more than 65%.

Starting in mid-September, KE Holdings has seen its stock price climb  at the same time that the Chinese government has started pushing a set of stimulative policies. The government has lowered the reserve requirement ratio that the banks must meet, as well as loosening purchase restrictions in the real estate sector. The immediate result was to make it easier for buyers to access capital, which has stimulated purchasing activity in the real estate markets.

Well start in China, with KE Holdings. This company, as its name states, is a holding company; it works in Chinas real estate sector, in which it is the largest online real estate transaction platform. The company facilitates both online and offline transactions and services in the Chinese real estate sector. Even with the recent headwinds it has been facing (a slowing economy, developer bankruptcies, accusations of shoddy construction), Chinese real estate remains a huge market. KE Holdings has leveraged that into a big business, generating some US$11 billion in revenues in 2023 and building up a market cap of more than $27 billion.

Using the TipRanks database , weve delved into what makes these stocks stand out. Heres a closer look at the details.

On two of these stocks, the analysts have upgraded their stance  a clear sign for investors that these shares deserve a closer look. The Bank of America choices come from widely different areas of the stock market, making them a clear example for investors that the current bullish turn is broad-based.

The stock analysts at Bank of America may have some suggestions. Theyve been scouring the market  looking for lesser-known names that offer solid potential for gains.

President John Kennedy famously said that a rising tide lifts all boats, and that is looking to be the case in todays bullish stock market environment. The big question for investors now is, where to buy in, to ride that rising tide?

Story Continues

This all gives KE Holdings a solid foundation to work from, and that is an advantage that has caught the attention of Bank of America analyst Miranda Zhuang. The China real estate expert writes, We upgrade KE Holdings to Buy from Neutral, because: 1) as the clear market leader in property brokerage in China, it is a key beneficiary of the recent China policy pivot and potential cyclical recovery; 2) we expect it to outgrow the housing market during this recovery and also in the long term, given a) it has high exposure to the better segment within the housing market  existing-homes (>60% GTV mix), tier-1 cities (c.40% revenue mix); b) it is gaining share in the existing + new home sales market, from 18% in 2023 to 22%+ in 2025E (BofAe); and c) its new growth engine  home renovation and rental services  is growing fast to address another multi-trillion (RMB) market.

Looking ahead, Zhuang adds, Though housing market uncertainties remain and BofA has not raised property market estimates, we believe the risk-reward for KE Holdings has become more attractive.

The upgrade to Buy comes along with a $28 price objective, implying a one-year upside potential of 26%. (To watch Zhuangs track record, click here)

This stock, which offers investors a way to tap into Chinas real estate market, boasts a unanimously positive Strong Buy consensus rating from Wall Street, based on 6 recent upbeat share reviews. The stock is trading for $22.17, and its $23.68 average target price suggests that it has a gain of 7% in store for the year ahead. (See BEKE stock forecast)

Incyte Corporation (INCY)

The next stock on our list is Incyte, a multinational biopharmaceutical firm with joint headquarters in the US and Switzerland. The company operates at both the clinical and commercial stages, with drug candidates in the clinical trial pipeline and approved products on the market for use by prescription.

The companys leading product is its approved drug ruxolitinib, which is on the market in two formulations under the brand names Jakafi and Opzelura. As Jakafi, the drug is used in the treatment of myelofibrosis, a rare and dangerous blood cancer that affects the bone marrow. As Jakafi, ruxolitinib was approved for use in 2011, and since then has become Incytes major revenue driver, generating 65% of the companys top line.

The Opzelura formulation of the drug is in the form of a dermatologic cream, and is approved in the US for the treatment of both atopic dermatitis and vitiligo. The drug, which is a Janus kinase inhibitor, was the first of its class approved for topical use in the US. Opzelura has also been approved in Europe as a vitiligo treatment, and is advancing in the Canadian regulatory process as well. As Opzelura, ruxolitinib accounts for another 12% of Incytes total revenue stream.

On the clinical trial side, Incyte has multiple programs ongoing  and expects to have several updates in the near-term. During the first half of 2025, the company will release data on a bioequivalence study of ruxolitinib in an extended release, or XR, formulation. Also next year, Incyte expects to have data available for release from Phase 1 studies of new drug candidates, mCALR and JAK2V617Fi. These studies are currently enrolling patients. And finally, later this year, Incyte plans to release additional data on the use of ruxolitinib as a twice-daily combination treatment with zilurgisertib and BETi.

This is only a sample of Incytes active development pipeline and upcoming catalysts; the company has multiple tracks in the research clinic, featuring 20 different compounds that have 17 different molecular targets.

On the financial side, Incyte generates impressive revenues. The companys 3Q24 top line came to $1.138 billion, up 24% year-over-year and beating the forecast by $60 million. At the bottom line, the company runs a net loss, as is not uncommon in the biopharma industry. Incytes Q3 loss, of $1.07 per share by non-GAAP measures, was 3 cents deeper than had been anticipated.

Of note to investors, Incyte updated its 2024 revenue expectation for Jakafi, setting the guidance in the range of $2.74 billion to $2.77 billion. This is higher than the previous guidance, which had a top end of $2.75 billion.

For BofA analyst Tazeen Ahmad, the key point here is Incytes combination of a known revenue generator with plenty of upcoming catalysts. She writes, Following another strong quarter, we are upgrading INCY to Buy from Neutral We were cautious on competitive pressure to Jakafi in MF but think the strong continued demand indicates less risk at this point. We are also encouraged by continued growth for Opzelura with potential to expand into pediatric AD (approval expected in 2H25). We note 2025 will be a catalyst-rich year with several pivotal readouts and see multiple shots on goal given the breadth of the pipeline. While we think clinical validation is still needed, we expect some of these programs could address the upcoming Jakafi LOE in 2028.

Ahmads upgraded Buy rating is paired with a $90 price objective that suggests a 19% upside for the stock in the next 12 months. (To watch Ahmads track record, click here)

Overall, Incytes stock gets a Moderate Buy consensus rating from the Street, based on 20 reviews with a breakdown of 8 to Buy, 11 to Hold, and 1 to Sell. The shares have a current trading price of $75.75, and their $76.65 average target price implies the stock will remain rangebound for the time being. (See INCY stock forecast)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
Despite his many scandals, Republican Tim Sheehy has defeated Democrat Jon Tester and flipped Montanas only blue Democratic Senate seatdelivering an even stronger Senate majority to Mitch McConnell.



Sheehy leads Tester 52.9 to 45.4 percent, according to the Associated Press, which called the race on Wednesday morning, with 85 percent of votes reported.

The news is a major win for Republicans, who now hold a 10-seat majority in the Senate, with six races remaining to be called. Trump won the state in 2016 and 2020 and yet again this year.

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Sheehys campaign was one disaster after the next. You might remember Sheehys disparaging comments about Native Americans and young women, or his mysterious story about a gunshot wound he received in battle.



In August, a local news outlet released recordings in which Sheehy made several racist remarks about the Crow Reservation at private fundraisers last year. In one clip, Sheehy called an event with the Native community a great way to bond with all the Indians out there, while theyre drunk at 8 a.m. Sheehy acknowledged the comments were insensitivebut refused to apologize despite Native leaders demands. Native voters make up about 6 percent of Montanas electorate, and played a large part in voter mobilization efforts.

Sheehy then attracted even more ire from his states voters when he called women under 25 single-issue voters who are indoctrinated on the topic of abortion. Thats all they want to talk about. They are single-issue voters. Its all about pro-choice, pro-choice, Sheehy whined at a meet and greet last year.

And just days before the election, Sheehy admitted there are no medical records to back up his story that he was shot in combat in Afghanistan. A former national park ranger went public stating that in reality, Sheehy shot himself at the Glacier National Park in 2015.



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While Sheehy campaigned on being a Navy Seal and successful businessman, he is additionally being sued by his former employees for allegedly scamming them out of millions, while at the same time losing his company $77 million.



But big business came in to save the day for Sheehy. Twelve billionaires gave more than $1 million to help boost the Republican. These included members of the Walton family, organizations linked to Charles Koch, and the founder of the Jimmy Johns sandwich chain. Additionally, the CEO of the private equity group Blackstone Group donated $5 million alone to a group that funneled money into efforts to defeat Tester. Blackstone not so coincidentally owns the Wyoming oil and gas pipeline company Tallgrass Energy, of which Sheehys brother is the president.



All of Sheehys strange stories, coupled with Montanas rapidly changing demographics, ultimately werent enough to catapult Tester to victory over the Republican and his billionaire friends.


The News

Even as Democrats nurse their despair over Donald Trumps triumphant victory in the presidential race, theyre still clinging to hope that they can take narrow control of the House of Representatives.

But their optimism is running into reality.

Democrats path to retaking the House now hinges on winning nearly all of the still-uncalled races, mostly in the West. Some of their biggest hopes to pick up GOP seats are nearly out of reach: Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon is running ahead of his Democratic challenger, while Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden saw his victory called in the middle of Wednesday.

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The path is there. Tight and narrow, one senior House Democratic aide insisted to Semafor.

That tight path relies on gains in California, where Republican Reps. Michelle Steel and Ken Calvert are currently ahead of their challengers, as well as Oregons 5th District, where Democrat Janelle Bynum is leading GOP Rep. Lori Chavez-Deremer. Democrats also hope to lock in a third New York pickup thanks to Laura Gillen, who currently has a thin lead over GOP Rep. Anthony DEsposito.

But half of those Democratic gains were effectively wiped out as Trump cruised in Pennsylvania, helping Republicans topple incumbent Reps. Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright. And some Democratic lawmakers are urging their party to recognize its in the wilderness.

We swung the pendulum too far to the left, Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., told Semafor. We are increasingly becoming the party of the college educated rather than the working class. And as a result, we are paying an electoral price for it. I hope we have a serious reckoning with the results of the election.

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A Democratic takeover of the House would pave the way for its first Black speaker in current minority leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. By contrast, a narrow Republican majority would give Trumps party complete control of Washington.

Democrats will presumably start grappling with the huge implications of their loss during a planned Thursday call, although some of them seem doubtful that their leaders, at any level, are prepared to face reality.

Another Democratic senior aide told Semafor that they would be shocked if any of the leaders have a plan.

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Republicans are still projecting confidence when it comes to holding the House: We are right where we thought we would be, one party operative said about the still-uncalled races.

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The GOP flipped at least one of its targets in the Lansing, Michigan area, taking the House seat currently held by Senate hopeful Rep. Elissa Slotkin. But in other areas, centrist Democrats are hanging on so far: Rural Maine Rep. Jared Golden is ahead of his Republican opponent with three-quarters of the vote in, and rural Washington Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is also ahead of her GOP challenger.

Those potential victories, however, wont quell the clear desire among some Democrats for a wholesale revisiting of how their party talks to voters.

We fared very poorly yesterday, Sen. George Helmy, D-N.J., said on Wednesday. Theres opportunity, and the opportunity here is [for] the Democratic Party: that we look at its messaging and look specifically at how its talking to the working class.

Regardless of which party takes the House, people on both sides acknowledge whoever is speaker will inherit a slim majority  setting up two more years of frantic struggles to get legislation passed, as Republicans have experienced this year.

Buckle up, one GOP operative said, predicting that another two years of narrow control by either party will embolden individual members to take legislative hostages: Every House member is about to be Joe Manchin.
Democrats clung to one last hope Wednesday that they could still retain some serious clout in Donald Trumps Washington as control of the House of Representatives remained uncertain.

It takes 218 seats to win a House majority. It appeared more Democratic-held seats than Republican were in danger of flipping to the other party.

Republicans Tuesday won control of the White House and the Senate in decisive fashion. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to control the House next year, and at least 27 races remained too close to call.

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California is the state most closely watched. Five seats now held by Republicans remain undecided.

Reps. John Duarte of Modesto, Mike Garcia of Santa Clarita, Ken Calvert of Corona and Michele Steel of Seal Beach each had leads of less than 5 percentage points with ballots still being counted. Rep. David Valadao of Hanfords race also still has not been called.

One Democratic seat remained a tossup. Republican Scott Baugh led for the seat now held by Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, who left the House to run for the Senate. She lost the March primary.

A Democratic-run House would put a powerful check on Republicans. The party running the House controls the committees that write legislation and decide spending and tax priorities.

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Unlike the Senate, where the minority party has more power, a simple House majority is usually able to block the other partys initiatives. Thus if Republicans win the House, Trump would take office and find it much easier to quickly approve of his less controversial proposals.

Every president since Bill Clinton in 1993 has assumed office with control of both the House and Senate, and each got major legislation through Congress in his first year.

Its expected Trump would move quickly to extend the massive tax cuts his administration pushed through in 2017. Most of those tax breaks are set to expire at the end of the year.

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Senate tossups

Republicans will control the Senate. They picked up Democratic-held seats Tuesday in West Virginia, Montana and Ohio, giving the GOP 52 of the Senates 100 seats.

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They could pick up more, as Democratic incumbents early Wednesday were struggling in Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin.

Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada had a small leads, while Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., was losing in a close race.

Also ahead was Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, where he was vying for the seat now held by the retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Democrats retained one close seat Wednesday, as AP projected Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, would win re-election.

House uncertainty

Most of the remaining tossup House rates are in states where the presidential race was close. Among the more closely watched races are those involving Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and the Virginia seat held by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat who is leaving Congress to run for governor.

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In Ohio, Democrats Marcy Kaptur and Emilia Sykes clung to small leads in a state Trump was winning by 12.

Also up slightly were Democrats Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Don Davis of North Carolina and Yadira Caraveo of Colorado.

Democrats trailing include Reps. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania and Rep, Mary Peltola of Alaska.

The best chances for Democrats to flip Republican seats were in Arizona, where Rep. David Schweikert had a small lead; Pennsylvania, where Rep. Scott Perry was up slightly; New York, where Rep. Anthony DEsposito was behind and Nebraska, where the center-right Rep. Don Bacon was struggling.
In one of the most expensive Senate races in the country, Democrat Angela Alsobrooks prevailed and won Marylands open seat, defeating former Republican Governor Larry Hogan by a nine-point margin.

The Associated Press called for the race for Alsobrooks on Tuesday evening, with Alsobrooks leading Hogan 54.6 percent to 43.3 percent, with 52 percent of votes reported.

Alsobrooks defeated the moderate Hogan, who ran as an anti-Trump (but not pro-Harris) Republican and who enjoyed widespread popularity in Maryland during his two terms as governor despite the state being solidly Democratic in presidential elections. Alsobrooks is the county executive of Prince Georges County in Maryland near Washington, D.C., and will be Marylands first Black senator.



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Over $105 million was spent by both candidates in the race, making it the fourth-most-expensive Senate race in the 2024 election cycle, according to nonpartisan organization OpenSecrets. In contrast, the previous holder of the seat, retiring Democrat Ben Cardin, spent only $5.1 million in his 2018 reelection effort.



Hogans entry in the race in February made what was considered a reliable Democratic Senate seat competitive and seemingly put Democrats plans to retain control of the chamber in jeopardy. Republican megadonors poured money into Hogans campaign, with one conservative super PAC flooding Marylands airwaves with attack ads against Alsobrooks. In the end, it wasnt enough, as Alsobrooks was able to overcome the onslaught much like her victory over another well-funded candidate in the states Democratic primary, Representative David Trone.



Ultimately, Hogans war chest was not enough to overcome Alsobrookss advantage in the polls and Democrats counter-fundraising. The fact that he publicly criticized Donald Trump and admitted that he wouldnt vote for the former president didnt win him enough Democrats or independents to carry the state. Democrats can breathe a sigh of relief that theyve held onto the Senate seat, which will bolster their efforts to retain control of the Senate. As it stands, they hold a 10-seat deficit, with 18 Senate races still to be called.


Despite Republicans taking back the White House and the U.S. Senate, Democrats at the local level had a strong showing across DuPage County in Tuesdays election.

In perhaps the biggest local surprise of the night, three-term DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen appears to have been unseated by Democratic challenger Judith Lukas. As for other county-wide races, Democratic incumbents seeking reelection as circuit clerk and auditor and the Democratic candidate vying for recorder all prevailed, according to uncertified ballot counts.

On the DuPage County Board, one Democratic challenger has apparently unseated her Republican predecessor while other Democratic incumbents held onto their seats, leaving the body with 12 Democrats, six Republicans and a Democratic chair.

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In the race for coroner, unofficial results show Lukas clinched the win by capturing nearly 5,400 more votes than Jorgensen. The vote count as of the last tally of ballots Tuesday night was 216,901 votes for Lukas to 211,513 for Jorgensen.

The county wants a change, Lukas said in a call Wednesday. And I am ready to enact that change.

A lifelong resident of DuPage County, Lukas is a registered nurse and has served as a Winfield Township Board trustee since 2021. She ran on a campaign focused on modernizing the coroners office, making the offices role in the county more well-known and championing mental health.

Speaking to preliminary results, Lukas said, I think of all the feelings that Im feeling today, gratitude is probably the biggest one.

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She also thanked her opponent.

I want to thank my predecessor because he was in the position for 12 years, and he did a good job, she said. Im going to continue that good work, and Im going to strive to make improvements as they come.

Jorgensen was first elected coroner in 2012. Prior to his election, he practiced general and trauma surgery in Chicagos western suburbs for more than 20 years. Through his tenure as coroner, Jorgensen held onto his seat through three elections, running unopposed in 2012 and 2016 and winning against a Democratic challenger in 2020.

Jorgensen did not return a request for comment Wednesday.

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Alongside Lukas, unofficial results show that Democratic incumbents Candice Adams and William White are headed to victory in their races for circuit clerk and auditor, respectively. Liz Chaplin, a DuPage County Board member since 2012, also appears to have bested her Republican opponent for recorder.

In vying for recorder, Chaplin left her District 2 county board seat up for grabs. Democrat Andrew Honig is positioned, according to unofficial results, to assume the position. All five other county board races pitted incumbents against challengers. Four incumbents appear to have snagged enough votes to keep their seats, including District 3 representative Lucy Chang Evans.

As things currently stand, Evans is slated to win over Republican challenger Baron Leacock by more than 2,700 votes. Evans, of Naperville, was first elected in 2022. District 3 covers much of southeastern DuPage, including the Naperville neighborhoods of University Heights, Cinnamon Creek and Green Ridge Estates.

In a call Wednesday, the former U.S. Secret Service agent said, Im very happy with the results. With another term, Evans wants to prioritize public safety and using infrastructure to address climate resilience in the county, she said.

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District 5, which comprises most of Naperville and sections of Aurora in DuPage, was the lone county board race that saw a challenger outperform its sitting representative. Democrat Saba Haider appears to have defeated Republican incumbent Patty Gustin, with the former receiving 39,265 votes to the latters 30,844.

Haider, an Aurora resident and small business owner, currently serves on the DuPage County Health Departments Public Health Board. She ran her campaign on making DuPage a safe, successful and sustainable county, she said. Haider promises to be a mental health advocate on the board, while also ensuring the county uses its tax money judiciously and champions sustainability efforts.

With Haider positioned to win, Gustin is faced with losing the seat she won in 2022. Prior to the county board, Gustin served two terms on the Naperville City Council. She said Wednesday that its really been my honor to represent our residents and businesses.

Still, despite being down more than 8,400 votes in the unofficial vote count, Gustin said her campaign would not be conceding until the results are finalized later this month.

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Ballots cast before and on Election Day have been counted, Chief Deputy DuPage County Clerk Adam Johnson said Wednesday. Whats still outstanding are mail-in ballots the county has yet to receive or count. Mail-in ballots received up to two weeks after Election Day can still be added to the tally as long as they are postmarked Nov. 5, Johnson said.

As of the end of tabulation Tuesday, the clerks office had counted 87,005 of 105,090 requested mail-in ballots, leaving some 18,000 still outstanding. At most, thats how many mail-in ballots could conceivably be postmarked and returned to the clerks office over the next two weeks, Johnson said.

Asked if he had an estimate for how many outstanding ballots the clerks office expects to see returned, Johnson said its hard to speculate.

Between mail-in, early and Election Day voters, 72.54% of all registered voters cast ballots in this years general election.

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Compared to four years ago, turnout this year was apparently lower. In 2020, the county reported 76.55% turnout. Still, versus 2016, which saw 70.61% turnout, this year proved to entice more people to the ballot box.

In addition to the strong showing of Democratic candidates in local elections, the majority of DuPage voters threw their support behind Kamala Harris for president. The vice president captured 55.55% of ballots cast in DuPage to Trumps 42.86%.

However, Trump, who nationally scored a decisive victory over Harris, did gain points in DuPage over his previous presidential bid. In 2020, he captured 39.91% of the countys vote. More consequential, though, are the grounds that Harris lost. While Joe Biden snagged 281,222 votes across DuPage in 2020, Harris in Tuesdays election collected 245,192, some 36,000 less than the president four years ago.

tkenny@chicagotribune.com
The Senate career of seven-fingered Montana dirt farmer Jon Tester came to an end on Tuesday after an expensive battle with former Navy Seal and questionably wounded Tim Sheehy, a Montana businessman. The win, called on Wednesday morning, is part of a massive Election Day for Republicans, with Donald Trump coasting to a presidential win and the GOP taking back control of the Senate.

For three terms, Tester had fought the headwinds of the Republican takeover of Montana, where Donald Trump won by 16 points in 2020. All six of the states key officeholders are Republicans, and the GOP holds solid majorities in the state legislature. Tester made a point of distancing himself from the national party by not officially endorsing Kamala Harris or attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He declined most interviews with national reporters while concentrating on touting federal dollars and projects he brought back to the Big Sky State, particularly his work on behalf of farmers and veterans.

That did not inoculate Tester from Republican attacks. He faced off not only against Sheehy but a vindictive Trump, who held an August rally in Montana  not a swing state  where he mocked Testers weight and turned the microphone over to Congressman Ronny Jackson. Tester, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affair Committee, had blocked Jacksons nomination to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs over credible allegations of misconduct  including drunkenness and the liberal distribution of prescription meds to Jacksons colleagues while he served as Trumps presidential physician. Perhaps seeking payback, a visibly furious Jackson declared at a Bozeman rally that Tester was a sleazy, disgusting, swamp politician.

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All the mudslinging conveniently drew attention away from Sheehy, the longtime CEO of Bridger Aerospace, an aerial firefighting company. A generically handsome, first-time candidate, Sheehy had been recruited by the Republican Senate Campaign Committee, who saw defeating Tester as key to the GOP gaining the majority in the Senate. While he looked the part, Sheehy, a Minnesota native and prep school graduate, rarely held press availabilities or announced his public schedule. His Montana campaign signs read American Warrior, but his introduction to the rest of America came through a series of damning articles, first in The Washington Post and then in The New York Times, questioning his story about how Sheehy received a bullet wound in his arm.

The facts suggested Sheehy had wounded himself by the accidental discharge of his handgun while in Glacier National Park. However, Sheehy claimed he had lied about that, and he had been wounded in a friendly fire incident while serving in Afghanistan and did not report it at the time because he feared his comrades would be disciplined. Recently, Sheehys story changed again, and he told podcaster Megyn Kelly a different account, suggesting he might have been wounded by an Afghan soldier.

Democrats have been mostly wiped out in the Plains states as the party leaned more on coastal college graduates than non-college rural whites, but there was hope that the plain-spoken Tester could buck the trend. (The senator from Big Sandy, Montana, still owns the butchering machine that took three of his fingers as a youth). But the colorful Tester couldnt beat back Montanas demographic wave as MAGA refugees from the West Coast relocated in droves to Big Sky country over the past decade. Montana had long been considered the key seat in determining control of the Senate and money was spent accordingly, the two campaigns topping over $250 million in spending.

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Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, points at fellow Senate Freedom Caucus members as he tells reporters that the Missouri Senate Freedom Caucus will outlive their time in the chamber (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

Republican state Sen. Denny Hoskins will be Missouris next chief election official, defeating Democratic state Rep. Barbara Phifer.

With all precincts reporting, the final, unofficial tally showed Hoskins defeated Phifer 58% to 40%.

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The right to vote is fundamental, Hoskins said, and I will work hard to ensure voters know that their ballots are safe and that our elections are secure.

Hoskins, a certified public accountant and former member of the Army National Guard, has been running with promises of election integrity and protecting children.

During the campaign, he advocated for a switch to hand-counted ballots, eliminating voting machines. The idea has been criticized by local election officials and researchers.

Hoskins would like to audit voter rolls, hoping to eliminate ineligible voters. He also seeks to restrict early voting to those who are disabled or serve in the military, and he would like Election Day to be a holiday to make it easier to get to the polls that day.

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He also promises to withhold state funding from libraries with X-rated material in the kids section or that host events with drag performers.

The secretary of state does not control state funds but oversees library certification. A rule proposed by the office in 2022 sought to revoke certification from libraries that shelve books believed to be age inappropriate in sections for children. Librarians called the rule unnecessary and burdensome, as reported by KCUR.

Hoskins isnt new to backlash. He is a member of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers vetted by organizers, which disrupted the Missouri Senate and created three factions in the chamber.

In April, Hoskins and two other members of the caucus were sued for defamation after they incorrectly labeled a Kansas man as an undocumented immigrant and the shooter at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory celebration.

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Hoskins, who is represented by a Missouri Attorney Generals Office litigator, filed a motion to dismiss the case in June, citing a lack of jurisdiction in Kansas. There have been no updates since.

Missouri Right to Life gave Hoskins the sole endorsement in the secretary of state race primary, which included other seasoned lawmakers.

He also received the endorsement of Mike Lindell, inventor and CEO of MyPillow and election conspiracist. Lindell is also the subject of defamation lawsuits, with voting machine companies suing over claims of fraud in the 2020 election.

This article has been updated to reflect the final, unofficial results.
The Montana Women's Prison in BIllings (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

A captain for the Department of Corrections Billings Probation and Parole has been hired as warden at the Montana Womens Prison in Billings, the DOC announced Tuesday.

Katie Weston will assume her new post on Nov. 18, the Department of Corrections said in a news release.

Were excited to have Katie in this new position as warden at MWP, said DOC Director Brian Gootkin in a statement. She comes to the post with 12 years of experience in the DOCs Probation and Parole Bureau, much of that in supervisory roles. Katie brings the enthusiasm we need to be effective as we build the future of corrections in this state.

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As captain for the DOCs Billings Probation and Parole region, she oversees about 60 employees across 13 counties, the DOC said. Prior to that, she served as a probation officer and as a sergeant.

I am thrilled to take on this new opportunity and look forward to continuing my career with the DOC, Weston said in a statement.

The DOC said the Montana Womens Prison houses approximately 240 inmates.

The DOC said Weston is active in the community, coordinating events including Tip-A-Cop, and collaborating with other agencies to participate in community-oriented activities.

Katies connections in the Billings community are essential to the work the department wants to do over the next several years, said DOC Deputy Director Cynthia Wolken in a statement. Those relationships will be key as we move into the 2025 Montana Legislative Session and work to manage our prison population challenges.
A police officer stands beside a roadblock outside Schemengees Bar & Grille in Lewiston one day after a mass shooter killed eight people at the location. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

A sergeant from the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Department who was named for failing to remove weapons from the perpetrator of the Lewiston mass shooting lost his run for sheriff.

The Associated Press called the race for Sagadahoc County sheriff just before noon Wednesday with incumbent Joel Merry, a Democrat, earning 63% of the vote with 79% of the vote counted. Republican Aaron Skolfield earned 37% of the vote.

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Earlier this year, the states independent commission tasked with investigating the Lewiston shooting specifically mentioned Skolfield in an interim report for making only limited attempts to contact Robert Card II when he was called to do a wellness check the month before the Oct. 25, 2023, shooting.

The interim report said Merry was on medical leave at the time.

In her response to the commissions findings, Maine Gov. Janet Mills called out Skolfield by name during a Sept. 6 press conference. Mills did not name incumbent Sheriff Joel Merry, though spoke about the overall offices failings under his leadership.

This will be Merrys fifth consecutive term as sheriff.

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BC Platforms, a provider of real-world data, healthcare data management, and analytics, has launched EHDS-Ready Trusted Research Environment (TRE).

TREs, alternatively known as Secure Data Environments or Secure Processing Environments, are protected and regulated computational spaces.

They provide authorised individuals with a secure method to access, handle, and examine confidential information.

This technology is tailored to assist EU healthcare institutions, such as university hospitals, in complying with upcoming European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulations.

The regulations pertain to both primary and secondary patient data and are expected to be implemented within the next two to six years.

BC Platforms interim CEO Mikaela Bruhammar said: At BC Platforms, were focused on providing key EU-based healthcare institutions, such as University Hospitals, with the significant digital capabilities required to meet the needs of EHDS in a fairly tight timeframe.

Secondary data, such as real-world data, also presents a particular opportunity where we have significant expertise.

The EHDS initiative is designed to overcome the current challenges in effective data collection at the EU level.

It includes a comprehensive legal framework, common standards, practices, and infrastructures for healthcare data governance, incorporating real-world data (RWD).

The implementation of EHDS is projected to save the EU approximately 5.5bn ($5.99bn) over ten years.

However, the widespread adoption of EHDS across the EU will necessitate considerable investment in time, resources, and technology to facilitate rapid and equitable data access and sharing.

BC Platforms' EHDS-Ready TRE provides a scalable platform with advanced research analytics capabilities within secure workspaces.

The solution is hardware-agnostic, suitable for both local and national secure data environments, and incorporates automation and AI tools to meet the EU's data demand.

It will streamline health data research queries and secure data access, boosting research productivity and harmonising healthcare data accessibility and standards.

The technology is set to support an increase in feasibility studies and data release approvals, with EHDS legislation expected to be in force from 2025 and full implementation by 2028.

BC Platforms' solution will also facilitate federated analysis by enabling open communication channels between TREs for simultaneous data analysis across different EU countries.

BC Platforms chief science officer Timo Kanninen said: With EHDS, the need of the healthcare sector across the EU will be almost exponential in scope. Our initial calculations indicate that, in Finland alone, data queries will increase by approximately 25 times  a substantial increase that will require new solutions.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The winner for the open Kansas House of Representatives seat has been decided Tuesday.

The Associated Press has declared Republican Derek Schmidt the winner of the race for the District 2 House of Representatives race on Nov. 5. He defeated Democrat Party candidate Nancy Boyda and Libertarian Party candidate John Hauer.

The seat was left open after Republican Congressman Jake LaTurner announced he would not be seeking reelection in April 2024. Schmidt was later declared the winner of the Kansas Primary Election in August 2024 as the Republican candidate while Boyda was declared the victor as the Democrat candidate for the seat. Hauer also competed for the open seat as the Libertarian candidate.

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Trump wins state of Kansas in General Election

For a full list of election results from area races, click here.

For more Kansas election news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
The winning streak has come to an end. For the first time since the Supreme Court ended a federal right to abortion in 2022, voters have rejected a ballot measure seeking to enshrine the right to an abortion in a state constitution  even as a solid majority of Floridians voted to approve the measure.

It was always going to be a tall order: Florida requires at least 60 percent support for proposals amending the state constitution  the highest threshold for any measure that has gone before voters in the past two years. With 86 percent of the vote in, Amendment 4 had received support from 57 percent of voters, while 43 percent voted against.

Beyond the practical challenges, organizers were also forced to contend with an unprecedented state-sponsored campaign to defeat the measure.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expended huge amounts of effort and political capital in an effort to tank the measure, after signing back-to-back bans into law restricting abortion  first at 15 weeks, and later at six weeks. DeSantis threw the full weight of the state government into a campaign to ensure the ballot measure went down in defeat.

His state agencies spent millions of dollars in public money on TV and radio ads peddling misinformation about the measure, and the state also put up a website that claims Amendment 4 threatens womens safety. DeSantis and the Heritage Foundation teamed up to add misleading language  ostensibly a financial impact statement  to the ballot measure claiming the amendment would result in significantly more abortions and fewer live births per year in Florida and that this may negatively affect the growth of state and local revenues over time.

DeSantis sent his election goon squad to knock on the doors of Florida voters who signed petitions supporting the amendment, then, just a few weeks before the election, his Office of Election Crimes and Security issued a report accusing organizers of submitting a large number of forged signatures or fraudulent petitions  months after organizers paid the state of Florida to validate those signatures.

His office ordered a Health Department lawyer to send cease-and-desist letters to TV stations airing ads in support of Amendment 4, threatening them with criminal penalties. (The lawyer resigned in protest when he was asked to send additional letters.) His administrations Faith and Community Initiative has promoted the oppositions bus tour on official channels.

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Shortly after officials began reporting election results, DeSantis posted on X: With polls now closed in Florida  Amendment 3 has failed. Amendment 4 has failed.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference in Sarasota County on Oct. 17, 2022, with Education Commissioner Manny DIaz Jr. Credit: Screenshot/Gov. Ron DeSantis Facebook

Following his so-so results with school board endorsements during the primary election in August, Gov. Ron DeSantis said these campaigns hadnt drawn as much of his attention because he had so much other stuff going on.

DeSantis endorsed 23 candidates and watched 11 lose, six win, and six have their fate on hold until this week. Tuesday, four runoffs went in favor of DeSantis endorsees, with wins in Brevard, Miami-Dade, Volusia, and Lee counties.

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In all, DeSantis watched 13 of his 23 endorsements lose, while 10 won  eleven counting his less-formal endorsement of Laurie Cox in Leon County, who won in August against Democratic-endorsed candidate Jeremy Rogers.

Eight-year member Matt Susin won reelection to the Brevard County School Board, fending off Ava Taylor with a margin of nearly 20%. He previously served as chair of the board, which remains fully conservative, Florida Today reported.

DeSantis-endorsed Donna Brosemer challenged incumbent Carl Persis to win a seat on the Volusia County School Board. Brosemer finished with 58% of the vote to Persis 41%.

Vanessa Chaviano, a DeSantis endorsee running for an open seat on the Lee County School Board, beat Sheridan Chester with 69% of the vote to Chesters 30%, with nearly 300,000 votes cast.

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DeSantis endorsement was not enough for Stacy Geier to claim an open seat on the Pinellas County School Board; she lost to Katie Blaxberg, a fellow Republican. Geier held a 2% edge on Blaxberg in the August primary, although the general favored Blaxberg by more than 4%.

DeSantis endorsee and Air Force veteran Mark Cioffi lost his bid for the Hernando County School Board. He lost to Michelle Bonczek by nearly 10% in the general, despite earning 44% of votes to Bonczeks 28.8% in the primary, which prompted the runoff.

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Democratic endorsements both lose

Two of the Democratic Partys 11 school board endorsements faced runoffs Tuesday. Of the 11 the party backed, seven won in August. Facing runoffs were Max Tuchman in Miami-Dade and Stephanie Arguello in Seminole County.

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Tuchman, a tech entrepreneur, lost in a big way to incumbent and DeSantis endorsee Mary Blanco, who earned 67.88% of votes  86,151 to Tuchmans 40,773. Blanco was appointed to the board a year ago by DeSantis.

Arguello, a public health PhD student, lost to incumbent and chair of the board Abby Sanchez by nearly 6%. Sanchez earned 52.95% of votes, or 114,630 votes to Arguellos 101,842.

Other stuff

The other stuff DeSantis alluded to included Amendment 3, which would have legalized recreational use of marijuana, and Amendment 4, which would have guaranteed a right to an abortion in the Florida Constitution. Both fell just short of the 60% voter approval threshold.

The governor, the First Lady, and other GOP officials paraded around the state campaigning against the two amendments in the weeks between two major hurricanes and Election Day. Some said the outcomes of the amendments could be a major mark on the governors record, for better or worse, if he chooses to pursue the White House again.

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Nonpartisan school board elections will remain, as voters rejected Amendment 1 Tuesday, which would have printed candidates political party affiliations next to their names on the ballot. The races will remain nonpartisan on paper, although partisan endorsements likely will not stop any time soon.

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Ballot measures across the country gave voters the chance to weigh in on drugs in their states, mainly marijuana. The results were a mixed bag, including in Florida, where a majority of voters wanted to legalize recreational marijuana but couldnt reach the states required 60% threshold.

A Pew Research Center analysis from earlier this year found that 54% of Americans live in states with legal recreational use of marijuana, while about three out of four Americans live in states where cannabis is legal for recreational or medical use. The plant is still illegal federally but is in the process of moving to a less restrictive control status.

Heres what happened in the elections:

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Though an Arkansas medical marijuana measure was on the ballot, it couldnt pass after a recent state Supreme Court ruling. The court split in deciding that the measure was too misleading, over dissent that observed that our nations founders came to a fork in the road, and rather than following the well-worn path traveled by tyrants and kings throughout history, they chose instead to trust their people with self-governance.

Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in Donald Trumps legal cases.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Gov. Ron DeSantis was not on the ballot Tuesday, but his influence was felt.

The two constitutional amendments he waged taxpayer-funded war against, one legalizing recreational marijuana and the other guaranteeing abortion access, were both defeated. One of the two state attorneys the governor removed from office was defeated by a candidate he endorsed. Republicans continue to hold 20 of the state's 28 House seats with a similar supermajority in the state Senate.

The state itself saw the highest percentage of voter turnout in more than 30 years.

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Republicans in general outperformed expectations in Florida. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott won by the highest margin of his career, and Donald Trump took the state with a resounding 13-point victory over Vice-President Kamala Harris, the largest margin in a presidential race in the state since Republican George H.W. Bush beat Democrat Michael Dukakis by more than 21% in 1988.

DeSantis now has two more years to work with a government largely loyal to him, under a Republican president, a Republican U.S. Senate and possibly a Republican U.S. House. But what happens next? Can he run again?

When DeSantis' term ends

DeSantis was first elected in 2018 and began his term in office on Jan. 8, 2019. He was re-elected by a landslide in 2022.

He will be ineligible to run again in the next Florida gubernatorial election in 2026 and will leave office in Jan. 2027.

How old is Ron DeSantis?

DeSantis is 46 years old. His birthday is September 14.

What are the qualifications for Florida governor?

The governor must be at least 30 years old and have been a resident and registered voter of Florida for at least seven years, according to the Florida Constitution.

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The same qualifications hold for lieutenant governor and each cabinet member.

Is DeSantis up for reelection? Could DeSantis run for Florida governor again?

While DeSantis isn't up for reelection, he could someday run for governor again.

The Florida Constitution says "No person who has, or but for resignation would have, served as governor or acting governor for more than six years in two consecutive terms shall be elected governor for the succeeding term."

But that would not prevent DeSantis from running again after someone else has served a term as governor since it would not be consecutive. And that's assuming that restriction isn't changed before his time runs out.

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In 2023, after heated debate over the legality of DeSantis' impending (and ultimately failed) presidential campaign launch, the Florida Legislature rushed through a bill "clarifying" that Florida's "resign to run" law doesn't apply to anyone campaigning for president or vice president. DeSantis signed it into law before announcing his candidacy.

What are the Florida governor term limits?

Florida, like 22 other states, limits governors to two consecutive, four-year terms.

The others are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Arkansas, California, Delaware, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota and Oklahoma all limit governors to no more than two terms in a lifetime.

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Vermont and New Hampshire have no term limits on their governor but they limit terms to two years instead of four.

Virginia is the only state with a one-term lifetime limit.

How many Florida governors have served two terms?

Four state governors have served two full four-year terms:

Bob Graham: 1979 to 1987 almost served two full terms but resigned with three days left in his term to take a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Lawton Chiles was elected to two consecutive terms, in 1991 and 1994, but died suddenly in office in 1998 before his second term was completed.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Ron DeSantis: When Florida governor's term ends, can he run again?
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On Nov. 6, 1964, James C. Fletcher was installed as the eighth president of the University of Utah. Under his tenure, the university underwent significant growth in student and faculty numbers, campus size as well as funding and research awards.

He later served twice as administrator to NASA during a time of great space exploration

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Born June 5, 1919, in Millburn, New Jersey, Fletcher attended high school in New York City and earned a bachelors degree in physics from Columbia University in 1940. He worked as a research physicist for the Navys Bureau of Ordnance, then became a research associate at Harvard University.

According to his biography, Fletcher attended Princeton University in 1942 as a teaching fellow, instructor and researcher. Following World War II, Fletcher earned a doctorate in physics at the California Institute of Technology. He joined Hughes Aircraft Co. and was instrumental in developing the Falcon air-to-air missile and the F-102 interceptor. He spent the next 10 years working in the space booster industry.

Courtesy of NASA

His time as campus leader also came during the Vietnam War, but Fletcher was known for his uncommon ability to mediate disputes between students, faculty and administrators with tolerant wisdom.

In March 1967, he was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson to the Presidents Science Advisory Committee. He also served other advisory panels, such as the Task Force on Higher Education.

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In 1971, he was named head of NASA, guiding the space agency through many of its most important missions as well recovery from the Space Shuttle Challenger mission tragedy.

Fletcher died in 1991 at age 72.

Here are a collection of stories from Deseret News archives about Fletcher, his time as university president and as NASA administrator:

Fletcher hailed for leadership

Fletcher will direct U. fusion program

Utahs role in the space shuttle program

BYU alumni group salutes Ex-U. president Fletcher

Fletcher rates Hubble flaws among top NASA foul-ups

Funeral for James C. Fletcher is Saturday

James Chipman Fletcher

Well done, Dr. Fletcher
There were six constitutional amendments on Floridian ballots on Tuesday and Amendment 4, which would have enshrined Floridians' rights to abortion after 6 weeks, failed.

Amendment 4, titled 'Amendment to limit government interference with abortion' or 'abortion amendment', sought to protect abortion access in Florida. It would have made abortion legal until fetal viability, which is generally considered to be around 23 to 24 weeks.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in June 2022 with a 6-3 vote, shifting the battle to states. And since Amendment 4 failed, Florida remains to be the one of three states where abortion is illegal after 6 weeks.

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Here's how Amendment 4 failed despite receiving more than 55% "yes" votes, what that means for abortion laws in Florida, Donald Trump's stance on reproductive rights and a list of states where abortion is limited or illegal altogether.

Did Amendment 4 pass in Florida?

From left, Tim Kunkleman, Annah Boyd, and Elijah Boyd hold signs urging people to vote no on Amendment 4 outside Warrington Church on Election Day in Pensacola on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Despite receiving 57.1% of votes, Amendment 4 did not achieve the 60% threshold needed to pass. It saw 5,754,423 votes in total, according to unofficial results.

Florida Amendment 4 didn't pass. What it means for abortion laws in Florida

Florida will uphold its six-week abortion ban.

The state's previous 15-week ban passed in 2022 after the state's Supreme Court overruled a 34-year-old decision that said a privacy provision in the state constitution protected a womans right to terminate a pregnancy.

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However, an even more restrictive 6-week ban was passed by the Florida Legislature last year and went into effect in May of this year.

Trump was elected president again. What is Trump's stance on reproductive rights?

Trump's views on reproductive rights have, at times, been conflicting.

"Im very pro-choice. I hate the concept of abortion. I hate it. I hate everything it stands for. I cringe when I listen to people debating the subject. But you still  I just believe in choice," Trump said in a 1999 "Meet the Press" interview.

In March of 2016, he was asked at an MSNBC town hall if he believed in punishment for abortion as a principle.

"The answer is that there has to be some form of punishment, he said.

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When he was asked to clarify, he said "For the woman? Yeah, there has to be some form." He later released a statement walking back these comments.

But would he ever support a nationwide ban? He said he would not.

After the abortion issue came up again during the vice presidential debate back in October, Trump declared on Truth Social that he would veto any proposals for a nationwide ban.

EVERYONE KNOWS I WOULD NOT SUPPORT A FEDERAL ABORTION BAN, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WOULD, IN FACT, VETO IT," Trump's post said.

U.S. News and World Report has a longer list of Trump's quotes on abortion through the years, spanning from 1999 through April of this year.

Can you get an abortion at 20 weeks? Here are the seven states where you can't

The point of fetal viability is generally around 23 to 24 weeks. These are the states that restrict abortion at 18 weeks or less, weeks before fetal viability. Since Amendment 4 failed, Florida will remain on this list.

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Florida - Banned after six weeks. Some exceptions such as rape or danger to a pregnant individual's health.

Georgia - Banned after six weeks.

Iowa - Banned after six weeks.

Nebraska - Illegal after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

North Carolina - Illegal after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

South Carolina - Illegal after detection of a "fetal heartbeat" which is usually five or six weeks.

Utah - Legal up to 18 weeks

Amendment 4 fails in Florida: List of states where abortion is legal, illegal or limited

Where is abortion illegal in America?

According to Reproductiverights.org, these are the states where abortion is illegal, with a few exceptions, as of Nov. 6:

West Virginia

Alabama

Arkansas

Idaho

Indiana

Kentucky

Louisiana

Mississippi

Oklahoma

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Amendment 4 failed in Florida. What that means for abortion
Continuing a trend that dates back several decades, Manatee County voters chose the Republican nominee in Tuesdays presidential election.

Manatee County has voted for a Republican in every presidential election dating back to 1944, according to USElectionAtlas.org.

Former President Donald Trump had more than 136,000 votes from Manatee County voters, according to preliminary results, en route to picking up Floridas 30 electoral votes and winning the White House. Trump had more than 61% of the vote in Manatee County.

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With all of Manatee Countys precincts reporting Tuesday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris won 37.63% of the vote.

As of Tuesday, there are 281,798 registered voters in Manatee County, according to the countys Supervisor of Elections website. Of those, 136,575 are registered Republicans, with 71,611 registered as Democrats and 76,015 registered as another designation.

Nearly 172,000 eligible voters made their decision prior to Tuesdays general election.

So how did Trumps performance this year compare to his last two presidential elections?

2020

In 2020, Trump lost his presidential re-election bid but carried Manatee County and Florida. A total of 124,987 (57.6%) voters picked Trump over Joe Biden, who became the countrys 46th president, according to CNN.

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Both the total number of voters and percentage were higher for Trump in Manatee County for the 2020 presidential election compared to 2016.

2016

Trump carried Florida en route to becoming the 45th President of the United States in the 2016 election. Manatee County voters pulled the lever for Trump at a 56.4% clip that year, according to the New York Times.

A total of 101,944 Manatee residents voted for Trump compared to 71,224 (39.4%) for his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, and 4,177 (2.3%) for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson.
Four years ago, Joe Biden said only he could beat Donald Trump.

Maybe he was right.

Trump is Americas past and future president, and nobody should be surprised.

Biden handed Vice President Kamala Harris the steering wheel too late. The Democratic Party was already going off the cliff.

By running a hard campaign while she was still teaching voters how to pronounce her name, Harris saved Democrats from an even worse meltdown.

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But two truisms won out:

Celebrities are popular.

And populists are popular.

The average Republicans I talked with this fall couldnt think of anything bad to say about Trumps campaign,. other than hes crude and uses bad language and does as much damage to the party as he helps.

So much for that. America has put its faith in him to lead the Republican Party back into power.

Now, he has a chance to take a sledgehammer to government for two years before a midterm election that traditionally goes against the party in the White House.

If youre a Texas Democrat whos looking for something to grab onto in rough waters, that means a Democrat might have a good chance to win some statewide office in 2026.

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But Democrats have to hope that Trump chops enough benefits, or cuts services so much, or angers so many Texans that they turn away from Republicans.

When Biden beat Trump in 2020, Biden was a far better candidate with the foreign policy background and Senate experience to be a convincing leader. In 2024, Harris limited experience was unconvincing.

It wasnt totally about gender, although that hurt Harris with some traditional Democratic voter blocs.

If Nikki Haley had been rhe Republican nominee, she would have won.

When the prices of food, housing and insurance are higher than anyone ever imagined, voters are going to want change, no matter how well their 401(k) is doing.

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And Harris didnt play to her strengths.

Shes a prosecutor. Yet she didnt make law and order or cracking down on crime an issue.

Instead, she went all-in arguing abortion law. But that didnt show up in polls as a decisive issue for voters, and by Election Day voters were worried more about the state of the country.

Biden was no help to her campaign at all, and failed to give her enough runway for takeoff.

Yes, she had the support of a few Republicans like Rep. Liz Cheney.

But Harris and Cheneys father, Dick, were two of the least popular vice presidents in recent memory. Neither was in position to rally voters against a former president who rose defiantly shaking his fist from a near-fatal assassination attempt.

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By the campaigns end, Harris was far more popular. She argued her case with strength and spirit, hard enough to push Trump up to the very last day of a lightning-fast presidential campaign.

Make no mistake: There are plenty of Republicans who dont like Donald Trump.

But they really dont like Democrats.
The victory of Missouri Amendment 3, which overturns the states abortion ban, began across the border in Kansas.

Weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal right to abortion, Kansas voters in August 2022 rejected a state constitutional amendment that would have allowed lawmakers to ban abortion. Abortion rights supporters emphasized freedom from government interference and womens personal autonomy.

It worked  and created a playbook for convincing voters in conservative states to affirm abortion rights on the ballot.

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Two years later, Missouri voters took their turn. Amendment 3, a sweeping measure that protects abortion access and enshrines a right to reproductive freedom in the state constitution, passed on Tuesday after receiving 53.7% of the vote according to unofficial results.

Messaging that leaned into themes related to freedom and autonomy that had proven effective in Kansas and elsewhere, a priority on a non-partisan campaign and a massive financial advantage all helped drive Amendment 3 supporters to victory, producing a pivotal moment in Missouri history. The vote once again legalizes abortion after state officials swiftly imposed a ban moments after the end of Roe v. Wade.

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the main campaign supporting the amendment, framed abortion as a personal choice best left in the hands of doctors, patients and families. They excoriated Missouris current ban for its lack of exceptions for rape and incest and said politicians had meddled in reproductive affairs for far too long.

First of all, I think the government overreach resonates because its so real. Its not hypothetical that having politicians make what are extremely personal decisions for you or remove the ability to make those decisions is happening right now in health care settings in Missouri and it wasnt happening in Kansas yet, but it was real that it might happen, Emily Wales, director of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, said in the final days before the vote.

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Missourians for Constitutional Freedom went as far as borrowing its name from the group that successfully fought the Kansas amendment, Kansans for Constitutional Freedom. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom also had the same campaign manager, Rachel Sweet, as Kansans for Constitutional Freedom.

The Missouri campaign featured a range of ads that made different appeals to voters. They included one featuring an ad and another featuring a Christian woman who both planned to vote yes  an effort to counteract religious opposition. In others, doctors described how the ban had affected their work.

The ads also included individuals and families sharing stories of decisions to get abortions, often in heartbreaking circumstances. In one ad, a woman identified as a mom from Kansas City spoke about leaving Missouri to obtain an abortion after learning of a fetal anomaly.

While the Missouri vote involved restoring abortion rights and the Kansas vote centered on protecting abortion rights, the parallels between the two campaigns were clear.

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Kansans across the political spectrum believe in personal liberty and freedom, Sweet said immediately after the 2022 Kansas vote. Earlier this month, she sounded a similar note, describing Amendment 3 as about protecting the health, safety, and freedom of Missouri women and their families.

On Monday, Sweet said in a statement that the campaign had emphasized that this amendment is about the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions without political interference.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes associate medical director Selina Sandoval knocks on a door in Kansas City on Saturday as part of a canvassing effort in support of Amendment 3 and Proposition A.

Freedom message

Amendment 3 recognizes a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which the measure defines as the right to make decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions.

The measure prohibits the General Assembly from banning abortion until fetal viability, defined in the measure as the point in pregnancy when theres a significant chance the fetus can survive outside the womb without extraordinary medical measures.

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The amendment allows but does not require, lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability; Republicans in the General Assembly will almost certainly pass a ban on abortions late in pregnancy when its annual legislative session begins in January.

Any post-viability ban would be required to allow at least three exceptions  for the life, physical and mental health of the woman.

The pro-Amendment 3 campaign went to pains to distance itself from partisan politics, a task made difficult by the fact that the state Democratic and Republican parties took opposing positions on the amendment.

Democrats, hoping to ride the coattails of voter enthusiasm generated by Amendment 3, spoke strongly in favor of abortion rights. Many of their candidates, including their nominee for governor, House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, regularly said they supported the measure.

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Major Republicans voiced opposition, with the GOP nominee for governor, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, calling the measure extreme. Still, some Republicans attempted a delicate balance between opposing the proposal and avoiding alienating conservative and moderate voters who might support it.

Amendment 3 supporters steered clear of all of that.

Wales said that in other states where abortion rights have won the ballot, its been primarily because it wasnt a partisan issue.

People, at the end of the day, do not want the government involved in their medical decisions, Wales said. And you can identify as a Republican, an independent, a Democrat  you just dont want the government telling you what to do and you trust doctors to be the guide.

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An urban-rural divide exists in Missouri and doesnt necessarily correlate with whether individuals support or oppose abortion rights, said James Harris, a Jefferson City-based Republican consultant. While the states metro areas lean Democratic, its rural areas are heavily Republican  with potentially more libertarian attitudes toward government power.

It might be that there was, within the yes vote, a segment that wondered or did not believe that maybe it was the role of government to say whether an individual may or may not have an abortion, Harris said.

I think many people, lawmakers, will believe that Missourians were maybe hoodwinked, he said. They didnt understand what all was in the amendment.

A flier in favor of Amendment 3 in Missouri hangs on a door in Kansas City.

Cash advantage

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom also enjoyed a significant financial advantage. The group raised more than $30 million, including contributions from former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.

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Opposition groups fell behind. One of the groups, Vote No on 3, had raised roughly $456,000 by the end of September.

Since then, the group has received several high-dollar donations, including $157,000 from D. John Sauer, a former solicitor general of Missouri who serves on former President Donald Trumps legal team. The Concord Fund, a group tied to the conservative activist Leonard Leo, gave $1 million in the final days of the race.

Missouri Stands with Women, another group opposing the effort, had raised nearly $212,000 through the end of September.

I think the pro-life community and organizations seemed a little splintered, Harris said. I think theres probably 100,000 signs around the states and say, vote no on three, but I think theres probably six or seven different iterations of those and not a clear, coherent message on what all was in amendment three.

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Opponents made a variety of arguments against the measure, from appeals about the morality of abortion to warnings that Amendment 3 specifically was too extreme to allegations that it would allow gender transition surgeries for minors without parental consent, an outcome legal and medical experts say is unlikely.

None of those messages proved effective enough. Public polls in August and September showed Amendment 3 winning an outright majority.

A mid-September survey of likely voters by Emerson College Polling and The Hill found 58% of respondents support Amendment 3, compared to 30% who oppose it. At that time, 12% were undecided. The results were also roughly reflected in an August survey by Saint Louis University and YouGov.

I think there is majority support, certainly, for maintaining abortion rights the way they had been before the Dobbs decision, said Peverill Squire, a political science professor at the University of Missouri.

And I think, again, it put the Yes on 3 campaign on the side of personal freedom and liberty, which usually has been commandeered by more conservative forces. But this time, it worked in favor of a more progressive issue.
On the surface, there's plenty of reason to be excited about Taiwan Semi's long-term prospects. Businesses are eager to gain first-mover advantages due to the rise of AI, which means plenty of demand from industry leader Nvidia . Taiwan Semiconductor is expanding its chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS) capacity at a rapid pace to accommodate added AI-graphics processing unit (GPU) production. CoWoS packaging is necessary for the high-bandwidth memory used in AI-accelerated data centers.

The biggest eyebrow-raiser in AQR Capital Management's portfolio was Asness and his team of advisors showing shares of world-leading chip fabrication company Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) to the door. Over just a three-month stretch, Asness oversaw the sale of 1,411,917 shares of Taiwan Semi, which represents 92% of what AQR held at the end of March.

Among the thousands of trades executed by Asness and his team during the June-ended quarter, perhaps none stands out more than him dumping one of Wall Street's hottest artificial intelligence (AI) stocks and piling into an ultra-high-yield stalwart that's been crushing it of late.

While Warren Buffett is easily the most-followed of all billionaire asset managers , there are a number of other billionaires whose moves are closely watched by smart investors. This includes billionaire Cliff Asness of AQR Capital Management. Asness oversees more than $65 billion in AUM at the fund he helped co-found.

Although 13Fs aren't perfect -- since they're filed up to 45 calendar days following the end to a quarter, they can provide stale information for active hedge funds -- they can still offer useful clues as to which stocks, industries, sectors, and trends are enticing Wall Street's top investors.

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For example, Aug. 14 marked the deadline for institutional investors with at least $100 million in assets under management (AUM) to file Form 13F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A 13F offers a clear and easy-to-understand snapshot of which stocks Wall Street's brightest and most-successful money managers bought and sold in the latest quarter. In this instance, the Aug. 14 filing date corresponds with trading activity ending in the June quarter.

Whether you're a relatively new investor or someone who's been putting their money to work on Wall Street for decades, you're probably aware of just how overwhelming the number of data releases can be. Between thousands of public companies reporting their operating results each quarter and economic data being released daily, it can be easy to miss something important.

Story Continues

Taiwan Semi is also more than just a company that manufactures AI-GPUs. It's responsible for producing the lion's share of the world's advanced logic chips.

Nevertheless, there are three possible catalysts behind AQR's big-time selling in Taiwan Semi. The first, and possibly most-logical, is that Asness and his crew were taking profits. Shares have more than doubled over the trailing year on the hope that demand for AI-GPUs won't slow anytime soon. AQR is an active hedge fund, so seeing Asness and his advisors ring the register isn't out of the question.

Asness and his team might also have hedged their portfolio ahead of the November election. Even though Taiwan Semi opened a manufacturing plant in Japan earlier this year and is expanding its operations into the U.S., it still generates the lion's share of its revenue from its home market of Taiwan. The potential for import tariffs or poor trade relations between the U.S. and other countries may have sapped the optimism surrounding Taiwan Semi for AQR's brightest investment minds.

But the biggest concern of all might just be the possibility of an AI bubble taking shape. Over the last 30 years, investors have consistently overestimated the utility and consumer/business uptake of new technologies and innovations early in their existence.

Put another way, we've watched every hyped innovation work its way through an early stage bubble. If this trend were to continue, the AI bubble is eventually going to burst, and this would, undoubtedly, hurt Taiwan Semi's growth prospects. Not as much as Nvidia, mind you, but potentially enough to make investors think twice about its aggressive earnings multiple.

Image source: Getty Images.

Cliff Asness's fund has been buying this smoking-hot stock hand over fist

With AQR dumping shares of Taiwan Semi, as well as paring down its stake in Nvidia for that matter, you might be wondering what high-growth/innovative company Asness and his advisors piled into instead. What if I told you that one of his fund's biggest buys of late has been ultra-high-yielding tobacco stock Altria Group (NYSE: MO)?

When June 2023 came to a close, AQR was holding 3,057,215 shares of Altria, the company behind premium tobacco brand Marlboro. But over a 12-month stretch, Asness's fund had increased its stake by 112% to 6,490,441 shares.

There are pretty obvious downsides to investing in tobacco stocks. Front-and-center is the reality that consumers have become more educated about the potential risks of long-term tobacco use. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the adult cigarette smoking rate has declined from around 42% in the mid-1960s to an estimated 11.5% in 2021. A shrinking pool of consumers is, generally, not good news for a company.

But even with Altria fighting this uphill battle, it still has a couple of key catalysts in its sails.

The biggest advantage Altria Group brings to the table is its pricing power. Tobacco contains nicotine, which is an addictive chemical. Altria is able to raise the price of its cigarettes to more than offset any weakness it may be contending with in total shipments.

To add to this point, being the parent company of the most-dominant premium brand (Marlboro) helps when increasing prices. Through the first nine months of 2024, Marlboro has held a nearly 42% share of the domestic cigarette market. Regardless of how well or poorly the U.S. economy is performing, history shows that smokers still purchase cigarettes, which leads to predictable cash flow year after year.

Don't overlook Altria's push into smokeless products, either. Last year, it closed a $2.75 billion deal to acquire NJOY Holdings, a maker of electronic-vapor products. Unlike the overwhelming majority of the companies supplying e-vapor products, NJOY received a half-dozen marketing granted orders (MGOs) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before it was acquired by Altria. Whereas non-MGO products can be, in theory, pulled from retail shelves at any moment, NJOY's have clearance to be marketed.

Altria's valuation and supercharged dividend yield were likely the final selling points. Shares of the company were valued at roughly 8 times forward-year earnings throughout much of the second quarter. Further, its yield had been dancing around the 9% mark, which is considerably higher than what U.S. Treasuries were offering. In hindsight, Asness and his team piling into Altria looks to have been a smart wager.

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Sean Williams has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Billionaire Cliff Asness Sold 92% of AQR's Stake in Taiwan Semiconductor and Is Piling Into This Scorching-Hot Ultra-High-Yield Dividend Stock was originally published by The Motley Fool
"The pier is clear now. The pier is safe," said Chicago Police Chief of Patrol Jon Hein following Tuesday's incident

CBS Chicago/Youtube Scene of incident Scene of incident

Two men at Chicago's Navy Pier died at the hands of what officials are calling a "disgruntled ex-employee."

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, officers from the Chicago Police Department responded to a call regarding "shots fired, possibly several individuals shot." The incident happened at the north side of Navy Pier near an administrative office in a loading dock area at about 1:18 p.m., said Chief of Patrol Jon Hein at an afternoon press conference.

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According to Hein, the "disgruntled ex-employee," who had been fired on Oct. 14, entered the loading dock and fired "multiple shots," striking two individuals. They were later taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where they died from their injuries.

Although the victims' identities have not been released, WBBM-TV reports that they are two males, ages 47 and 51.

Leena Porter, who was visiting the tourist attraction when the incident occurred, told the news outlet that she saw a heavy police presence afterward.

"The police, they were just everywhere. They just came through, and they started telling people to come up out of the way, moving people around, no cars were coming through. They blocked it off," she said.

Getty Stock image of police sirens Stock image of police sirens

"It's crazy. I just hope they get whoever they were looking for," continued Porter.

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While Hein noted that it is still "very early" in the investigation and that detectives are still processing the scene, he said police have a person of interest who they are "actively seeking" and referred to the shooting as an "isolated incident."

"The pier is clear now. The pier is safe. We wouldn't open if we didn't believe and know for sure that it was safe," he said.

Navy Pier Chief Operating Officer Brian Murphy echoed similar sentiments, expressing that the "isolated incident" occurred at a "private office in the loading deck area," which is a "non-public space" at Navy Pier.

Raymond Boyd/Getty Image of Navy Pier on July 1, 2013 Image of Navy Pier on July 1, 2013

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"We immediately implemented our security protocols and locked down Navy Pier," said Murphy, noting that officials confirmed via security cameras the former employee left the area.

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"At no time did we feel like anybody from the public was in danger. This was more of a targeted issue that occurred today at Navy Pier," he said. The lockdown has since been lifted.
Apiyo Charles, 22, of Gorham voted for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Nov. 5. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Apiyo Charles of Gorham voted for President Joe Biden last presidential election, the first time she was old enough to vote.

Four years later, the 22-year-old cast her vote Tuesday for Republican nominee Donald Trump.

One of her key deciding factors: immigration.

Charles was born in a refugee camp in Uganda. Her family is originally from South Sudan and they came to the United States in 2008. Id never liked politics, Charles said. But as she got older, she started to plug in more and do her own research, she said.

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I understand when Americans are like, You are welcome but you have to stay in line and come through legally, Charles said. If I was in my country and there were other people coming but I see my people not being taken care of, I would feel the exact same way.

Overall, she ultimately felt her priorities would be better served by Trump, Charles explained at Deering High School in Portland Tuesday afternoon, waiting for a friend to cast a ballot.

The nation agreed, as the former president won a decisive victory over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, which The Associated Press called early Wednesday when Trumps win in Wisconsin put him over the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to clinch the presidency.

The comeback validates his appeal to frustrated voters like Charles.

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Charles listed off some of her other priority issues: the tax prices, the grocery prices, all of that. She is also frustrated with U.S. spending on issues abroad, such as the Russia-Ukraine war. Most of my Christian beliefs align more with Trump than Harris, Charles said, explaining that she does not support abortion.

Harris picked up Maines 1st Congressional District and is likely to win the statewide vote. But, as predicted, Trump secured an electoral vote from Maines 2nd Congressional District, marking the third consecutive election hes done so. Maine is one of two states that allow for split electoral votes, which did not occur until 2016 when CD2 went for Trump.

Magdalena Elwell (left) accompanied her son Fred Elwell, and service dog Bella, as he voted early in Auburn. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Several voters in the 2nd District told Maine Morning Star in the lead up to Election Day that they were voting for Trump in order to, in their view, save America. Much like Charles, immigration and the economy were top of mind. Some had long voted Republican, like Magdalena and Fred Elwell, a mother and son, from Topsham and Auburn, respectively.

Were a Republican family, Magdalena said.

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But for people like Charles, their votes transcend party loyalties and speak to exasperation with the status quo.

The Democrats have been in office for the last four years and I feel like if theres new policies coming up we should have done something prior to this election, Charles said, so part of me feels like this was kind of a save the policies for this election and then start new. You had the opportunity the past four years.

I would have continued to vote Democratic, but I feel like not enough change has been done.

While the president has overarching authority on some areas, a lot of policy change at the federal level requires the approval of Congress, which has been divided during the current administration. One example of this was a bipartisan immigration deal that Republicans pulled out of after Trump said it would be a political gift to Biden.

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However, on Tuesday Republicans took control of the U.S. Senate and are fighting to keep their majority in the U.S. House, which would produce a GOP trifecta with President-elect Trump in the White House. If Democrats manage to flip the House, maintaining a divided Congress, it would mean continued obstacles for achieving leaderships goals.

Control of the U.S. House was still too early to call by Wednesday morning.

Charles shared some doubts about election integrity, echoing other Republican voters across the state and Trump, who ramped up unsubstantiated claims about noncitizen voting this election cycle. Despite fears, violence did not materialize on Tuesday, although threats of violence, which turned out to be hoaxes, occurred in Maine and disrupted voting in some battleground states.

Maine voter concerns about election security also had roots in the former presidents refusal to accept defeat against Biden in 2020.

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When Trump lost the election in 2020, a group of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attack the FBI has classified as domestic terrorism that threatened the peaceful transfer of power, resulted in several deaths and injured approximately 140 police officers. The U.S. House Jan. 6 committee concluded that Trump was the central cause of the attack, but some Maine voters said they didnt hold Trump accountable and questioned whether election results this year would be credible.

Charles also said Trumps rhetoric, laden with insults and threats, did not supersede her belief that he would better serve her interests. I think we have to separate emotions from politics, Charles said.

This, too, was a view shared by others who cast votes in his favor, some of whom felt Trump had toned down his rhetoric this election cycle, including Erin Larsen of Sanford, who said she doesnt like some of Trumps derogatory comments but overall believed he had cleaned up.

This is despite researchers finding the opposite. Rather, political scientists and historians warn Trumps speeches and social media posts have become darker and more violent since his political career began in 2015.

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Despite this increasingly divisive and threatening trend in Trumps speech, Charles, Larsen and other Republican voters in Maine said they still personally want the heat of political rhetoric to be toned down.

As someone who is a person of color voting for Trump, I feel like sometimes it is difficult because you feel judged or very shameful, Charles said. I dont want it to be like that.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Amid a cooling labor market, the greater Grand Rapids area is seeing a growing population that is more educated and diverse, a new talent report found.

Regional economic development agency The Right Place on Monday released the 2024 Talent Report, assessing trends in the areas labor market and talent landscape. Its the first time the organization, which serves eight counties in West Michigan, released a talent report, Senior Vice President of Talent and Diversity TaRita Johnson said.

Read: The Right Place Talent Report 2024 (PDF)

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Our breadth and depth and opportunity to touch companies that are existing here, as well as companies coming to the area, gives us a real pulse on the talent landscape, she said, explaining that the Right Place works with more than 600 companies a year.

The report was offered as a tool for local businesses, schools and other organizations to inform best practices.

TALENT DEMOGRAPHICS

Top-line numbers in the report found that the area has a population of about 1.1 million, with a labor force of around 615,000. The greater Grand Rapids unemployment rate sits at 3.5%, compared to the national rate of 4.1%.

Like the rest of the country, the regions population is aging, with the 60 and older population increasing from 14% in 2004 to 23% in 2024, compared to national growth of 17% to 24%.

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But at the same time, the area has a higher concentration of young workers under the age of 35.

Something that is really interesting to know is that greater Grand Rapids outpaces state and nation in the concentration of workers 35 and younger, Johnson said. So at the same time where were (seeing an) aging demographic, we still have this population of young talent right here in greater Grand Rapids that we want to retain.

Grand Rapids wants to be a tech hub. Is it succeeding?

She said thats partially because there are so many colleges and universities in the area, and the fact that the area is thriving, with more to offer than just a school.

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The young population is becoming more educated: Since 2019, the 25 to 34-year-old age range saw a 20% growth in those with a bachelors degree or higher, compared to a 9% nationwide increase.

The population is also becoming more diverse. In 2004, the areas racially diverse population made up 17% of the community. That number has grown to 23.4% in 2024, and is expected to grow to 35% by 2050.

There must be more investment making sure that we see racial and ethnic diversity at every layer of our organization, not just the ground floor, Johnson said. We need folks in leadership. We need folks on the board. We need them consistently throughout the organization.

Data: Kent County continues to shift toward Democrats

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Birthrates nationwide are declining, with a 3% decline from 2022 to 2023. In West Michigan, Ottawa, Kent, Ionia and Allegan counties are expected to see a 8% to 9% population increase between 2020 and 2050. Newaygo and Montcalm counties are expected to see a 4% increase, while Muskegon County is expected to see a 1% decrease. Lake, Mason and Mecosta counties are expected to see a 6 to 7% decrease. Oceana County is expected to see a 9% decrease.

LABOR MARKET COOLING, BUT ITS NOT COLD

Like the rest of the country, the areas labor market has come down from the intensity of the pandemic era, the report found  which is part of the reason for an increase in education levels, Johnson explained.

The labor market is cooling, but its not cold, she said. As a labor market slows down, more people go to school.

One industry the report saw a fast-growing demand in is tech and AI-related jobs. Job postings in the greater Grand Rapids area that reference AI increased by 338% since 2022, the report found.

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The increase comes as The Right Place works to turn the area into a tech hub, with the goal of bringing in 20,000 new tech jobs over 10 years. In a September update, The Right Place said the area has created 3,754 tech jobs since it implemented the plan in November of 2021.

Inside WOODTV.com: AI in West Michigan

Overall, labor demand has slowed, and hiring cooled significantly between 2023 and 2024. In 2023 from January to August, the greater Grand Rapids area saw just over 12,000 job gains; so far this year, its seen around 2,000 job gains.

Local companies are also not struggling as much to recruit talent, with 38% citing talent recruitment issues between 2023 and 2024, compared to 47% between 2022 and 2023.

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Still, job postings remain near record highs, the report says. There were around 140,000 unique postings in the greater Grand Rapids area in 2022; this year, there were around 130,000.

For candidates that are looking for jobs, sometimes it can feel like theyre just applying to all of these different opportunities and nobody is getting back to them, Johnson said. My encouragement to them is to network, to leverage tools like LinkedIn, to talk to hiring managers, alums if youve gone to a certain institution, to really try to make sure that what theyre applying for actually matches the criteria of the job description. Because a lot of times  one job can get several different applicants, so how are they standing out?

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
The Justice Department is reportedly trying to wind down the federal criminal cases against President-Elect Donald Trump before he returns to the White House.

DOJ officials are considering ways to fizzle out the two federal criminal cases that Trump faces  one involving his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the other related to improperly storing a trove of classified documents  in order to comply with its long-standing policy not to prosecute sitting presidents, sources told NBC News and USA Today.

The policy states: The indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions.

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Its not immediately clear whether the cases would be dropped or put on hold during Trumps second term. The Justice Department declined to comment on the allegations.

Eric Columbus, who represented the House panel investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, suggested that the cases could be paused. He wrote on X: Clearly a sitting president cant be prosecuted. But that doesnt mean this DOJ need [to] dismiss the Trump cases rather than just putting them on hold. Of course, the Trump DOJ would dismiss the cases. But dont do it for them.

But Chuck Rosenberg, a former federal prosecutor and NBC News contributor, told the outlet that he wasnt surprised by the claims, saying that winding down the cases was sensible, inevitable and unfortunate.

Jack Smith was appointed as special prosecutor to investigate Trumps alleged crimes (AFP via Getty Images)

The cases led by Special Counsel Jack Smith would not be brought to trial before Trump returns to the White House in January.

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Aileen Cannon, the judge in the classified documents dismissed the case in July, prompting Smith to try to appeal the move. Last month, a document revealed that Cannon was on the shortlist for top law enforcement positions in a second Trump administration.

Trump spokesperson Steven Chung told the outlets in a statement: It is now abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system, so we can, as President Trump said in his historic speech last night, unify our country and work together for the betterment of our nation.

The President-Elect still faces state-level cases.

He is scheduled to be sentenced after the conviction in his so-called hush money case in New York criminal case on November 26. On Tuesday, Trump became the first convicted felon to ever be elected president.

He also faces criminal charges in a 2020 election interference case in the state of Georgia.
(Bloomberg) -- The special counsel overseeing the federal criminal cases against Donald Trump is preparing to drop the prosecutions of the president-elect before he is sworn in, according to a Justice Department official.

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Special Counsel Jack Smith is evaluating how to wind down two federal cases against Trump in order to comply with a department policy that a sitting president cant be prosecuted, said the official, who asked to remain anonymous speaking about non-public matters. Smith may still seek to prosecute two of Trumps co-defendants in one of the cases.

Smith charged Trump with illegally trying to remain in office after the 2020 election, which he lost to President Joe Biden. In a separate case, Trump was charged with illegally retaining classified documents and obstructing federal efforts to retrieve them after he left the White House.

A Justice Department policy put in place in 2000 states that the indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions.

Several questions remain unanswered about how the prosecutions will be brought to a close, including whether Trumps co-defendants in the classified documents case can still be prosecuted.

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The classified documents case already was dismissed by a federal judge in Florida who ruled that Attorney General Merrick Garland didnt have authority to appoint and fund a special counsel. The department is currently appealing the ruling in an effort to preserve the institutional ability of the agency to appoint special counsels in the future.

Smith may choose to leave the special counsel position when Trump takes office but it wasnt clear whether he would leave the Justice Department or move to another position. If Smith remains in the department, Trump could seek to have him fired when he becomes president.

The mechanics of how the cases will wind down will become clear in the coming days as court deadlines approach.

The special counsels office is due to make a filing in the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Nov. 15 with regard to the classified documents case.

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Trumps lawyers have several filings due on Nov. 21 before a federal court in Washington regarding the election interference case.

--With assistance from Zoe Tillman.

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According to exit polls carried out by CNN, over half of white women voted for President-elect Donald Trump in this election. Im a white woman, and before I voted for Harris in 2024 and Clinton in 2016, I was a Republican who phone banked for George W. Bush. I still live in the red state of West Virginia, and many of my friends cast their votes for Donald Trump.

I believe that the Harris campaign made major mistakes in campaigning to white women who they thought might switch sides in the wake of Dobbs. Heres why.

On Instagram several days before the election, a political ad targeted to conservative women popped up on my feed. Your vote is secret, the ad said. No one needs to know who you cast your ballot for. A TV ad with a voice-over by Julia Roberts depicted a woman in a bedazzled American flag hat secretly voting for Harris, making eye contact with her liberal counterpart in the voting booth across the way, then lying to her husband about her choice. A news cycle followedNPR interviewed women secretly voting for Trump; right-wing talking head Charlie Kirk decried the Democrats tactic on the Megyn Kelly Show, describing the ad as the embodiment of the downfall of the American family.

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Another meme appearedan open letter to women who support Trump. The letter begged women not to become complicit in their own harm. It called for conservative women to recognize their own internalized patriarchy and victimhood. The message aimed to convert voters by appealing to shared trauma.

But this rhetoric does not understand the psychology of conservative women at all. While there are certainly conservative women who are in abusive situations (just as there are liberal women living through that), this is not how I would characterize the Republican women I know. These women have lives they consider fulfilling. Some of them are professionals in the labor market, while others have chosen to care for children full time. Their marriages, they say to me, are imperfect but happy enough.

Family secrets are real, and I dont know everything about what goes on inside their homes, of course. But more important than the exact nature of their daily domestic situations is this: The idea that they are anything less than active agents in their own lives is anathema to them. The memes they shared on social media in the lead-up to the election said things like, Next week, we find out if we are eating steak or ramen for dinner. The subtexthowever misguidedwas that Trump was steak and Harris was ramen. Most of these women seem to have voted for Trump in spite of who he is as a person. They held their noses as they cast their ballots.

I teach composition at the university level, and one principle I teach my students about argument is this: To convert someone to another position, you must first know what they want. And you cant know what someone wants if you dont listen to them. Assuring white women that they could secretly vote for Harristhat no one had to knowwas incredibly condescending rhetoric. It assumed that white women feared their husbands and their larger communities.

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Conservative women are not interested in being called victims. In fact, this characterization is the exact opposite of the quality that conservatives pride themselves on manifesting: grit. Therapeutic language is off-putting to conservatives. They consider it coddling, weak, and soft. Conservative women take pride in their own sense of responsibility and resilience.

It doesnt matter if the left disagrees with this self-assessment. In fact, the more that progressives protest that conservative women are wrong about who they believe themselves to be, the more entrenched those women become. This is natural human behavior. When a person tells another that they do not understand their own lived experience, it does not result in conversion. It leads to doubling down.

The rhetoric of victimhood is both insulting and ineffective when appealing to conservative white women. When I share a beer on my Republican neighbors porch, I know what line of reasoning may be able to convert her to the left. If I could convince her that Harris would help her household maintain a reasonable cost of living and keep her family safe, she may be talked into voting blue.

But these points were not the focus of political ads targeted to her. Instead, she saw herself caricatured by the opposing side. She was told that the problems she thinks she has are not her real problems. And even though she would not use this language (she would consider these words beneath her), she felt gaslit and silenced. As anyone who has been disbelieved and unheard will tell you, this made her feel rage.

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The sweeping characterization of conservative women as weak, fragile victims who unwittingly vote against their best interests underestimates both their power and their intellect. If the Harris campaign had identified the pain points of conservative white womenparticularly about the economyand offered substantive solutions, it would have had a good chance of gaining their vote.

When I spoke to my conservative friends, heres what they reiterated: The Harris campaign didnt sufficiently acknowledge the current economic hardships that people are experiencing. Even though Democrats and other experts insisted that the economy grew under Bidens administration, this was not the lived experience for people shopping at the grocery store.

My own political shift happened due to a series of personal events, most significantly a traumatic postpartum experience. My politics evolved because I saw firsthand how policies on the left would improve my own life. But I still cringe whenever I see Democrats appealing to conservative women based on their victimhood. Even though I voted for Harris, I feel insulted on behalf of the many conservative women I consider friends. If liberals had understood this constituency of women and taken them seriously, they may have had a serious chance of gaining their vote and avoiding another Trump presidency. Now well see.
CHICAGO  Jurors in the corruption trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan saw a series of undercover videos on Wednesday made by a former ComEd executive detailing an alleged scheme by the utility to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars through do-nothing contacts to some of the powerful speakers longtime associates.

The videos, taken by then-ComEd Vice President Fidel Marquez over a period of weeks in early 2019, go to the heart of the corruption charges against Madigan and Michael McClain, a former lobbyist who allegedly acted as a conduit between Madigan and ComEd, helping funnel a total of $1.3 million to a handful of the speakers loyalists from 2011 to 2019 for little or no work.

Marquez flipped and began cooperating with federal investigators after being confronted by the FBI in the early morning hours of Jan. 16, 2019.

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Two weeks later, he was wearing a hidden video camera when he lunched at the Union League Club in Chicago with John Hooker, a ComEd lobbyist who had previously headed the utilitys governmental affairs unit.

The pretense of the meeting was how Marquez was going to explain to incoming ComEd CEO Joe Dominguez, a former federal prosecutor, why the company was paying so much money to subcontractors and what, if any, work theyd been doing.

The subcontractors, who at that point included precinct captains Ray Nice and Ed Moody and former 23rd Ward Ald. Michael Zalewski, were being paid under a contract with Jay Doherty, a consultant and then-head of the City Club of Chicago.

On the video, which showed mostly the ceiling and the top of Hookers head, Hooker told Marquez he started the subcontractor arrangement with McClain and ran it through then-ComEd CEO Frank Clark, who stepped down in 2012.

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I was the one  me and McClain was  I was the one that created it, Hooker said on the recording. And I had to explain it to Frank, Hooker said.

On Feb. 7, 2019, Marquez had a similar meeting with McClain at Saputos, a popular restaurant in Springfield. The recording started as the two munched on pizza, and McClain pointed at a piece of paper on the table and told Marquez about the speakers reticence over McClains retirement.

So I prepared this for Madigan, all the things Im responsible for when I retired, McClain said. I handed it to him. He started reading it and he says, I dont think youre done yet.'

Marquez laughed. Is that like tendering your resignation, but it gets denied? It gets rejected?

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Yeah, McClain said.

The two then talked about how to tell Dominguez about the subcontractors. McClain urged, I would say you dont put anything in writing, saying it could end up being used against Marquez someday.

McClain told Marquez the subcontractors were on Dohertys contract so if the IRS ever comes in and says Who are these guys and what do they do?' then Dohertys gotta prove it.

Marquez lamented that Dominguez  whom he regarded as a tiresome micro-manager  was going to have his ex-prosecutor hat on, asking pesky questions.

Its very possible thats what his reaction is going to be, McClain said, telling Marquez he wanted to meet with Dominguez directly.

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Id ask you to recommend (to Dominguez) that before you do anything, can McClain and you have a sit-down?' McClain said.

After a lunch break, prosecutors are expected to play a third video Marquez made with Doherty in February 2019, in which Doherty laid out in detail how the subcontractors were arranged, how much they were paid, and that they did little to nothing for him on a day-to-day basis.

One of the prosecutions star witnesses, Marquez took the witness stand Tuesday for the first of what is expected to be multiple days of testimony.

Marquez pleaded guilty in 2020 to conspiracy to commit bribery. In exchange for his truthful testimony, prosecutors have said they will recommend a sentence of probation instead of prison time.

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On Tuesday, Marquez also admitted that earlier this year he incorrectly filled out an application for a gun, which he wanted to fend off rattlesnakes near his Arizona home. When the application asked whether he was under indictment or information for a felony, he said no. On the stand Tuesday, Marquez said that was inadvertent.

Marquez is not facing charges related to that application, but Madigan and McClains attorneys are almost certain to use it to attack his credibility. The judge overseeing Marquezs case warned him of that earlier this year, telling him he had basically given a really beautiful piece of ammunition to Madigans lawyers.

Madigan, 82, of Chicago, who served for decades as speaker of the Illinois House and the head of the state Democratic Party, faces racketeering charges alleging he ran his state and political operations like a criminal enterprise.

Both Madigan and McClain, 77, a former ComEd contract lobbyist from downstate Quincy, have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

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In earlier testimony Wednesday, jurors heard a wiretapped phone call in which Madigan gave the green light to Marquez to stop making payments to another subcontractor, former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, who had allegedly been hired by the utility as a favor to the speaker.

I can get rid of Eddie? Marquez asked McClain on the Dec. 5, 2018, call.

Yep, McClain replied.

Alright, so hes not gonna go screaming to the Spea hes gonna go screaming to our friend anyway? Marquez said, using McClains our friend euphemism for Madigan to indicate that Acevedo was sure to complain directly to the speaker.

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No matter what, McClain said.

McClain then told Marquez that hed had his share of tough conversations over the years, making him more of an enforcer for Madigan than even his former chief of staff, Tim Mapes.

Everybody else thinks that Tim Mapes is the enforcer, McClain said on the call. They have no (expletive) idea.

The exchange was one of the few new excerpts played so far in Madigans trial that were not previously made public in the related ComEd Four trial last year, where McClain, Doherty, Hooker, and former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore were all convicted of bribery conspiracy.

____
(NewsNation)  NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for North Carolinas District 1 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of Rep. Donald Davis. See results of U.S. House and U.S. Senate races from around the country here.

In what was expected to be North Carolinas lone close U.S. House race, freshman Democrat Rep. Don Davis was challenged by Republican and retired Army Col. Laurie Buckhout.

The 1st District was redrawn in hopes of giving Republicans a better chance of winning as the GOP looks to maintain its slim majority in the U.S. House.

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The district includes some of the states poorest communities and for two decades, was held by Democrat Rep. G.K. Butterfield, who announced he would not seek re-election and backed Davis in 2022. The seat has not been occupied by a Republican since 1883, according to WUNC.

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Davis, an Air Force veteran, previously served in the North Carolina Senate before being selected as Butterfields successor. He has been viewed as a moderate since joining Congress but was one of six Democrats who voted for a Republican resolution condemning Vice President Kamala Harris role in the Biden administrations handling of the U.S. southern border.

Buckhout has been closely aligned with former President Donald Trump and advanced to Tuesdays general election by defeating Sandy Smith, who lost to Davis in 2022. Buckhout is a political newcomer who started an electronic warfare and cyberspace consulting firm after she retired from the Army in 2010.

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With backing from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other top Republicans, Buckhout is hoping to flip the seat for Republicans in a swing state that could play a key role in determining the race between Trump and Harris.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

She believes that the federal government should close the southern border immediately and reinstate Trumps Remain In Mexico policy.

Davis has touted himself as a supporter of bipartisan efforts and said that he has worked to promote civility and respect for others regardless of their political affiliation.

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Heading into Tuesdays election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with a narrow majority of 220 seats while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.

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Donald Trump was leading in Orange County by more than 10,000 votes Wednesday night, a position that, if it holds, would hand him a victory that's eluded him for years.

Voters in this historically GOP-dominated county rejected his first bid for the White House in 2016, selecting a Democrat  Hillary Clinton  for the highest office for the first time in 80 years. He met the same fate in 2020 with Joe Biden.

For decades, Orange County was a conservative stronghold, adjacent to its left-leaning neighbor, Los Angeles County. Orange County is the birthplace of the 37th president of the United States, Richard Nixon, and was represented in Congress for many years by President Reagan's former speechwriter Dana Rohrabacher.

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But voters' rejection of Trump and the county's gradual shift from deeply red to a more politically diverse region has fascinated pollsters and political scientists for years.

Read more: Trump is elected 47th president, soundly defeating Harris to retake White House

UCI School of Social Ecology Dean Jon Gould said the close presidential race further cements the county's position as a bellwether "in terms of where America is and where it's going."

"This is not a sign that Orange County is suddenly a red county," he said. "This is exactly what it means to be a purple county, and with a third of the votes still left to be counted, I would hardly be making pronouncements about what is truly going to come out of this race."

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In 2016, Clinton received roughly 100,000 more votes in Orange County than Trump. In 2020, Biden fared even better, besting Trump by more than 137,500 votes.

Read more: In this once-red California county, Biden beat Trump by just 14 votes. What happens next?

Early returns in downballot contests also reflect where Orange County stands politically, swaying alternately between red and blue.

Republican candidates are leading in five of the county's nine Assembly districts up for grabs this cycle. And Rep. Michelle Steel, a Republican, and her Democratic challenger, Derek Tran, remain locked in a tight race for the seat representing the 45th Congressional District  one of the most competitive House races in the country.

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In the 47th Congressional District, which represents a swath of coastal Orange County, the race between Republican Scott Baugh and Democratic state Sen. Dave Min also remains too close to call.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
With this weeks presidential campaign victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, Donald Trump finds himself in rare company, joining Grover Cleveland as the second chief executive of the United States to be elected to nonconsecutive terms.

Trump  the nation's 45th president from 2017 to 2021  is now set to serve a second term, this time as the 47th president.

The first was Grover Cleveland, who served as the 22nd president from 1885 to 1889, followed by a second stint in the White House as the 24th from 1893 to 1897.

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And in addition to the century-plus between their eras, the two men had diverging views on tariffs.

Who was Grover Cleveland?

Born in New Jersey in 1837 and raised in upstate New York, Cleveland practiced law in Buffalo before beginning a rapid ascent through the political ranks. In 1881, Cleveland, campaigning as a reformer against corruption, was elected mayor of Buffalo. A year later, he was elected governor of New York and was nominated in 1884 as the Democratic Party's nominee for president.

Cleveland, again running on an anti-corruption platform, defeated James Blaine, a former U.S. senator and secretary of state, to become the first Democratic president since the Civil War. Cleveland overcame a scandal in which he admitted to having fathered a child out of wedlock with a woman named Maria Halpin in 1874.

Portrait of 24th United States President Grover Cleveland. (1837-1908)

Cleveland won his first presidential term with support from reform Republicans known as Mugwumps, and his term would see both the Haymarket labor riots in Chicago in 1886 and passage of the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887, the first federal effort to regulate the railroad industry.

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In 1886, at age 49, Cleveland became the only president to wed while in office, marrying 21-year-old Frances Folsom. His initial presidency was marked by other firsts: He was the first president to have a child while in the White House and, according to historian Louis Picone, the first to have the White House Christmas tree strung with electric lights.

His administration also stirred controversy when it blocked multiple bills offering pensions to Civil War veterans and distribution funds for seed grain to drought-stricken farmers. He said of the latter that federal aid "weakens the sturdiness of our national character."

Ryan McMahon, an assistant professor of political science at San Antonio College in Texas, said among Cleveland's 1888 reelection campaign goals was a reduction of high tariffs imposed by Republicans and supported by the wealthy, despite pushback from his party.

"Grover Cleveland as a Democrat was a big reformer, and he wanted to cut the tariffs because middle-class people pay that cost as an increased tax," McMahon said.

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Cleveland won the 1888 popular vote but ultimately lost the Electoral College to Republican challenger Benjamin Harrison, whose campaign was buttressed by wealthy elites who would become known as robber barons, McMahon said.

Four years later Cleveland, who remained a prominent figure within the Democratic Party, was once again nominated to run for president, defeating Harrison on a campaign promise to reduce high tariffs.

During his second term, this time as the nation's 24th president, Cleveland was embattled nearly from the start. His first year in office was marked by the economic crisis known as the Panic of 1893, and the following year, thousands of railroad workers began what became known as the Pullman Strikes, crippling large portions of the railroad industry and forcing Cleveland to deploy federal military troops to break up the work stoppages.

"The economy was a disaster when he came in," McMahon said. "He had run again on cutting down tariffs, but the U.S. Treasury was in desperate need of money, so couldn't accomplish what he had set out to do."

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By 1896 Cleveland enjoyed little support even within his party and chose to retire rather than seek reelection.

While Trump will be the second president to serve non-consecutive terms, there are others who were unsuccessful in their attempts to return to the White House after spending time as former presidents.

Martin Van Buren, the nation's 8th president from 1837 to 1841, ran an unsuccessful campaign in 1848 as a member of the Free Soil Party. Millard Fillmore, president from 1850 to 1853, accepted the 1856 nomination of the American Party, also known as the Know Nothing Party, but was not elected. In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt, who'd served until 1909, sought a third term as president, running unsuccessfully as a third-party candidate.

Can Trump run again in 2028?

Not according to the 22nd Amendment.

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A 2009 Congressional Research Service paper produced by national government specialist Thomas H. Neale notes that the four-year term for presidents and vice presidents is set down by Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution.

Until Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to a third term in 1940, U.S. presidents had honored a long tradition of a self-imposed two-term limit, Neale wrote in his paper, Presidential Terms and Tenure: Perspectives and Proposals for Change. Since 1789, he said, only seven of 31 presidents served consecutive terms until Roosevelt, who was elected to a fourth term in 1944, and began that term before he died in 1945.

Roosevelts longevity prompted passage of the 22nd Amendment in 1951, which provides that no president can be elected more than twice.

"You would have to have a Constitutional amendment to change that, and that is a long and painful and difficult process to do," McMahon said. "It's extremely unrealistic to think of that happening."

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Presidential historian Edward Frantz, chair of the history department at the University of Indianapolis in Indiana, had a final observation.

Given the historical nature of Trump's win, Frantz said, "The biggest winner of last night besides Donald Trump is Grover Cleveland and everyone asking about him."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grover Cleveland and Donald Trump both got 2 terms, but not in a row
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

With a win in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency and defeat Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump is the first person convicted of a felony to win the White House and the first former president to regain power since 1892. The victory marks an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, faced dozens of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

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He will be joined in the new administration by his vice president, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. At 40, Vance will become the highest-ranking member of the millennial generation in government.

The victory validates his bare-knuckle approach to politics. He attacked his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, in deeply personal  often misogynistic and racist  terms as he pushed an apocalyptic picture of a country overrun by violent migrants.

The coarse rhetoric, paired with an image of hypermasculinity, resonated with angry voters  particularly men  in a deeply polarized nation. As president, hes vowed to pursue an agenda centered on dramatically reshaping the federal government and retribution against his perceived enemies.

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Donald Trump has been elected president, defeating Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. As of Wednesday morning, Trump has won at least 270 electoral college votes, with results still coming in.

"This will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country," Trump declared to his supporters at Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida in the early hours of Wednesday morning. "We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible," Trump said, adding he would be in office with an "unprecedented and powerful mandate."

Votes are still being tallied, but he is expected to also win the popular vote.

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When he won in 2016, Trump won the electoral college vote and lost the popular vote. In 2020, he lost both the electoral college and the popular vote. In the years since he's been president, Trump became the first president to face criminal charges and the first president to be a convicted felon. He becomes just the second president in history to serve nonconsecutive terms (the first was Grover Cleveland, in the 1800s).

The Associated Press reported that Trump's victory "validates his bare-knuckle approach to politics. He attacked his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, in deeply personal  often misogynistic and racist  terms as he pushed an apocalyptic picture of a country overrun by violent migrants. The coarse rhetoric, paired with an image of hypermasculinity, resonated with angry voters  particularly men  in a deeply polarized nation."

Since the race was called, Vice President Harris has yet to deliver any public remarks, but her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, said she would speak today.



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Trump still faces state and federal charges after winning the presidential race on Nov. 5

Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Donald Trump Donald Trump

Following his 2024 presidential election win, Donald Trump will become the first convicted felon president as he still has several criminal cases tied to him.

Following Trumps reinstatement as commander in chief, the question of what happens to his impending state and federal charges remains  and whether he has the power to overturn them as president.

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His win in the election comes as he is scheduled to face sentencing in New York over his hush-money case on Tuesday, Nov. 26, after it was delayed for the second time in September.

On May 30, Trump, 78, was found guilty of all 34 felony counts in an attempt to bury evidence of an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The Supreme Courts July decision for Trump and former presidents to have immunity from prosecution means that Trump is entitled to some protective measures now as president.

Grant Baldwin/Getty Donald Trump Donald Trump

Related: Every Crime Donald Trump Has Been Charged With, Explained

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Judge Juan Merchan will decide on Tuesday, Nov. 12, whether or not to dismiss Trumps conviction based on the Supreme Courts protective ruling, according to CNN. If his charges are dismissed, Trump would not be sentenced as a result.

Per the outlet, Trump still faces up to four years in jail should the judge continue to keep his conviction or he may receive a lesser sentence of community service or a fine. It is expected that Trumps lawyers would appeal this decision.

Trump also faces multiple other federal and state charges. In June 2023, he was indicted by a federal grand jury in South Florida over allegedly mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House. He was indicted two more times in August 2023, over the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

However, when Trump becomes president, the act of self-pardoning could be a possibility.

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"The big unanswered question is whether the president might be able to pardon himself," Jeffrey Crouch, an assistant professor of American politics at American University, told CBS News. "No president has ever tried it, so we don't know what the result would be if it was attempted."

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Donald Trump at Manhattan criminal court in New York on May 30 Donald Trump at Manhattan criminal court in New York on May 30

Related: Donald Trump Says He Had 'Every Right' to Interfere in 2020 Presidential Election

Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution states that presidential pardons extend to federal crimes, not state crimes  and so Trump could potentially grant himself clemency on his federal charges. Pardons are administered by the Department of Justices Office of the Pardon Attorney.

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While Trump could possibly excuse himself of his federal charges, he could not eliminate his state case over racketeering in Georgia.

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"If a president tried to pardon himself, of course it would be legally quite controversial," Harvard constitutional scholar Mark Tushnet told CBS News. "On the other hand, it would also be quite difficult to challenge a pardon in any court of law. In order to challenge it, somebody would have to have what lawyers call 'standing,' that is, they'd have to be harmed by the president's action, and it's really hard to see who in particular would be harmed by it."

According to the outlet, any self-pardoning efforts made by Trump could be challenged by Congress in an impeachment, though this probably wont happen as Republicans have control of the Senate.

Trump's criminal cases might be excused altogether now that he has been elected president, should any form of punishment or imprisonment interfere with his governing duties, legal experts say.

"There's a sense out there that they would follow the norm of the feds and therefore delay the sentencing in the New York case until after he finished his presidency," Stanford law professor Robert Weisberg told USA Today.

"Say goodbye to all the criminal cases," Karen Friedman Agnifilo, the former chief of the Manhattan district attorney's trial division, told ABC News. "The criminal cases are over, whether it's legally or practically," she said, adding that Trump's presidential win would be a "get out of jail free card."


Donald Trump Jr. suggested he wont stick around the United States if Kamala Harris win the 2024 presidential election.

If we dont win, then Ill probably, you know, the way the Democrats function, Im going to have to fly to a non-extradition country and just, you know, take up shop there so I dont end up in the gulags with Elon and everyone else, Trump Jr. said in a TikTok live Tuesday.

The former presidents son caveated the comment by claiming he was only partially kidding.

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Trump Jr. is eligible for Czech citizenship through his mother, Ivana Trump. The 46 year-old businessman also speaks fluent Czech.

In August, his father made a similar claim, telling Elon Musk If something happens with this election, which would be a horror show, well meet the next time in Venezuela, because itll be a far safer place to meet than our country.

Trump Jr.s off-the-cuff remark echoed right-wing rhetoric accusing Democrats of politically persecuting Republicans.

Although the former presidents son didnt elaborate on why he would allegedly end up in the gulags, false claims of weaponizing the Department of Justice against Donald Trump and other MAGA allies have dominated right-wing messaging throughout the 2024 presidential election.

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If his father wins, however, Trump Jr. said he would be be fairly busy working on transition efforts and ensuring that the scumbags from last time are removed from power.

One way or the other, he said. Well either be busy or relaxed, or in hiding.

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During Donald Trumps first term, legal scholars were already debating whether a president can self-pardon.

With special counsel Robert Mueller investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, Trump and his attorneys said the president hadnt done anything wrongbut that he could legally pardon himself if he wanted to.

Legal scholars were divided on whether the U.S. Constitution bars self-pardons, which would put the president above the law, or whether self-pardons are legal but inadvisable. In any case, the Constitution clearly says presidential pardons only extend to federal crimes, not state crimes.

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That means Trump could perhaps pardon himself for the federal charges hes facing connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the Capitol, along with his alleged mishandling of classified military intelligence.

But he cant pardon himself for his 34 convictions of fraud in connection with hush money payments he made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels, which were handed down in a New York state court. He also cant pardon himself for the 2020 Georgia election interference case, which is being heard in a Georgia state court.

In theory, only the governor of New York or the five-member Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles can give the president clemency in his state cases. In practice, though, there would be little stopping the president from pardoning himself for all of his alleged crimes.

What crimes can Trump pardon?

Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution gives the president the Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

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That means the president can grant clemency for federal crimes, but not states crimes, according to the Department of Justice. Pardons are administered by the Department of Justices Office of the Pardon Attorney, which normally would not carry out an illegal pardon.

However, Trump officials have a plan to stack the White House Office of Legal Counsel with loyalists who will provide flimsy legal cover for anything the president wants to do. Project 2025, which was drafted by some of Trumps closest advisers, also calls for putting the Department of Justice under the presidents direct control.

The White House counsel could come up with a weak legal justification, such as a new judicial interpretation of the offenses against the United States described in the Constitution. Then Trump could order his new, lacky-ridden DOJ to carry out the pardon.

Who could challenge an illegal self-pardon?

Presidential pardons must be exercised in the public interest, which should mean that a president cant self-pardon, according to some legal scholars. But the question is who would challenge Trumps pardon.

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Normally the answer might be the Department of Justice, but that seems unlikely if Trump packs the agency with yes-men and -women. It would therefore fall to Congress to investigate, since the president cant pardon an impeachment. Thats not likely to happen with Republicans taking control of the Senate.

And if a challenge somehow did start making its way through the court system, it would end up in front of a very Trump-friendly Supreme Court.

The president hand-picked three of the justices, which held in July that a president has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts. The Court didnt say what would be considered an official versus unofficial act, meaning the president basically now has the power of a king, according to critics.

That ruling doesnt instill much confidence that the court would limit Trumps self-pardon power. After all, the justices have basically put the president above the law, meaning he might not have a conviction to pardon in the first place.

Can the president preemptively pardon himself?

One thing is certain: If Trump can, in fact, pardon himself for his alleged federal crimes, he can do it before theres even been a conviction. Although its highly unusual, presidents can pre-emptively pardon, according to the Office of the Pardon Attorney.

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President Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon after Watergate, President Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam War draft dodgers, and President George W. Bush pardoned Caspar Weinberger, who was indicted in the Iran-Contra scandal.

None of the defendants had been convicted of their alleged crimes. That means Trump can get rid of his federal charges on his first day in office, and it will be up to Congress to try and stop him.

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(NewsNation)  Former President Donald Trump is projected to win Pennsylvania, taking 19 electoral votes in the crucial swing state, according to NewsNation/Decision Decision Desk HQ. See the results of the presidential race in other states here.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump had been neck and neck in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, leading up to the election, according to polling by NewsNation partner The Hill.

Pennsylvania voters favored the Democrats in six straight elections prior to 2016, but Trump won the state that year by 0.7 percentage points. Biden clinched Pennsylvania back for Democrats in 2020 by 1.2 points.

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Pennsylvania lost an electoral vote from 2020 to 2024, going from 20 to 19 as the population declined.

An October survey by Emerson College Polling and The Hill found the economy was the top issue for Pennsylvania, followed by threats to democracy and immigration.

Much of Harris and Trumps strategy was to reach out to the states rural voters, who typically lean red.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

The Harris campaign hired a rural engagement director to make additional inroads into those communities.

In addition, Harris tried to reassemble the coalition behind Bidens winning campaign, including college students, Black voters and women animated by protecting abortion rights.

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Trump drilled into his support for fracking  extracting oil and natural gas from underground formations.

Its a key issue in Pennsylvania, which is the second biggest producer of natural gas in the country behind Texas. The state holds over 100,000 jobs, and the industry has an economic impact of $41 billion. Harris has said she will not ban fracking.

Meanwhile, Trump was the target of an assassination attempt in Pennsylvanias Butler County in July.

A gunman shot at the former president with a rifle from the roof of a building near the rally stage. Trump was hit in the ear and rushed off stage. One rally attendee was killed, and two more were injured.

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The gunman, Thomas Crooks, was shot and killed by the Secret Service.

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Pennsylvania was also the only place where Trump and Harris debated when they faced off in Philadelphia in September.

Harris had support from the states Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who backed the vice president despite being the runner-up as her choice for vice president.

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In fact, she introduced her selection for running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in Philadelphia with Shapiro there in support.

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(NewsNation)  Former President Donald Trump is projected to win Wisconsin, taking 10 electoral votes in the crucial Badger State, according to NewsNation/Decision Decision Desk HQ. See the results of the presidential race in other states here.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump had been neck and neck in key battleground states, including Wisconsin, leading up to the election, according to polling by NewsNation partner The Hill.

Wisconsin went to the Democrats in seven straight presidential elections prior to 2016. Trump broke the streak in 2016, narrowly beating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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Biden turned the state blue again in 2020, winning by about 20,000 votes.

Both Trump and Harris spent much time campaigning in the state, where the economy was the top issue for nearly a third of voters, followed by threats to democracy and abortion access, according to an October survey by Emerson College Polling and The Hill.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

Trump appeared at a manufacturing facility in Waunakee, a suburb of Wisconsins capital city of Madison in the Democratic stronghold of Dane County, in a bid to sway voters. Trump had never campaigned in Dane County nor visited as president.

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He also faced heat in the state for allegedly calling Milwaukee horrible in a closed-door meeting with Congressional Republicans at Capitol Hill in June.

Trumps campaign says the former presidents comments were referring to election integrity and crime, with Trump taking to Truth Social, posting, Democrats are making up stories that I said Milwaukee is a horrible city.

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Milwaukee was the site of the Republican National Convention, where Trump accepted the partys nomination days after an assassination attempt in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

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Harris held rallies in Milwaukee and Madison, telling voters that the path to the White House goes through Wisconsin.

Her campaign had a large operation in the state, with hundreds of staff and on-the-ground outreach efforts. Supporters in Wisconsin knocked on more than 500,000 doors, and the campaign signed up more than 3,000 new volunteers.

She focused on her message around the middle class, trying to appeal to the white working-class voters who are a key group in the state.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  In a stunning, sweeping victory Donald Trump has won back the White House.

Overnight he seized enough electoral votes to clinch the presidency.

Some Republicans are calling it a red wave. Former president Donald Trump outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris, setting up big wins in the Senate and potentially the House of Representatives.

Frankly the greatest political movement of all time theres never been anything like it, said Trump.

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Election night data shows Trump swept battleground states, including the prize of the night: Pennsylvania.

Trump made gains with younger voters, Latino voters, specifically men, and is winning the popular vote, the first Republican to do so in two decades.

Vice President Kamala Harris underperformed compared to President Joe Biden. In 2020 80 million Americans voted blue, this time that figure roughly 66 million.

Harris called Trump to congratulate him on his win.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is celebrating victory in the Senate. Republicans will reclaim the upper chamber after defeating at least two Democratic incumbent senators, Montanas Jon Tester and Ohios Sherrod Brown.

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People were just not happy with this administration, and the Democratic nominee obviously was a part of it, said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Control over the House is still up for grabs, several races will decide if Republicans hold unilateral power in Washington or if Democrats will flip the chamber blue.

President Joe Biden also called former President Trump to congratulate him. He invited him to meet in the White House and pledged a smooth transition.





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Former President Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, making it the second time he's run successfully for Oval Office.

So, can he run again in 2028?

Legally, no.

The two-term limit was set after Franklin Roosevelt was elected to four terms as president. He died in 1945, shortly into his fourth term.

The 22nd Amendment says: "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once."

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Constitutional amendments can be repealed, but its a difficult process. Any proposed amendment to the Constitution must be passed by the U.S. House and the Senate with two-thirds majorities. It then must be ratified by three-fourths of the 50 states.

Trump may not even want to run again in 2028.

He has been inconsistent in his remarks about running again. In September, Trump said he wouldnt run again in 2028 if he lost the 2024 election. But in May at the National Rifle Association annual meeting, Trump talked about running for a third term.

This has been an incredible journey, and its very sad in a way because weve done all these (rallies) and this is the last one, Trump said during his final rally on Nov. 5 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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Trump is 78 years old and would turn 82 in 2028. Voters have already voiced concerns about his age.

Arizona Republic reporter Catherine Reagor contributed to this article

Reach the reporter at zbradshaw@gannett.com or on X at @ZachBradshaw14.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Can Trump run for president in 2028? What the Constitution says
LONDON (AP)  The price of bitcoin hit a new high Wednesday and crypto-related shares rallied as investors bet that former President Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election will be a boon for cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin jumped nearly 8% in early trading, climbing above $75,000 and smashing its previous record set in March. Other cryptocurrencies also soared, including ether, the world's second most popular cryptocurrency after bitcoin, which rallied 8%.

Another token, dogecoin, rocketed as much as 18%. It's the favorite cryptocurrency of billionaire Elon Musk, one of Trump's most prominent supporters.

Crypto-related shares outran the rest of the stock market. Coinbase, one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, leaped 17%. Online brokerage Robinhood Markets, which offers crypto trading, soared 12% and MicroStrategy, which says it is the largest corporate holder of bitcoin, jumped 10%.

Trump was previously a crypto skeptic but changed his mind and embraced cryptocurrencies ahead of the election.

He has pledged to make America "the crypto capital of the planet" and create a strategic reserve of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted crypto fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin is up 77% this year.

Bitcoin is the one asset that was always going to soar if Trump returned to the White House," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, a British online investment platform. After touching its new high, the market is now speculating about when, not if, it will smash through $100,000," he said.

Trump has already declared his love of the digital currency and crypto traders now have a new narrative by which to get even more excited about where the price could go, Mould said.

But other experts warned of the risks.

Investors should only dabble in crypto with money that they can be prepared to lose, said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown. Because weve seen these wild swings in the past.

Crypto industry players welcomed Trump's victory, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they've long lobbied for.

Trump had already promised that, if elected, he would remove the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. governments crackdown on the crypto industry.

Tonight the crypto voter has spoken decisively  across party lines and in key races across the country, said Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong . Americans disproportionately care about crypto and want clear rules of the road for digital assets. We look forward to working with the new Congress to deliver it, Armstrong posted on X.
Donald Trump is stronger than ever in Texas.

Or maybe the Democratic Party is weaker.

Those can be the only takeaways from a general election in which Trump wasnt the lagging Republican on the Texas ticket  he was one of the partys best performers.

Sen. Ted Cruz was the one celebrating his easy victory over challenger Colin Allred, a little-known Dallas Democrat out of his element running a statewide race.

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But it was Trumps strength and the Republican Partys focus on a change of economic leadership and an orderly U.S.-Mexico border that sank Democrats across the state. The defeats cost the party even more of its scant few seats in the Texas Legislature, and neutralized Democrats former South Texas stronghold.

The abortion issue alone was not going to make Democrats competitive in Texas. Gaining votes from suburban women didnt make up for votes lost among those who might have wanted something more to hang onto.

In the end, Cruz didnt even bring out all his weapons. He usually runs on the three-legged stool of Texas political campaigns  God, guns and oil.

This tine, Cruz only had to preach conservative faith-and-values against Democrats LGBTQ sympathy and throw in some comments about how Democrats endanger West Texas energy industry.

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Texans didnt know Allred at all when the campaign started, and 20% of Democrats still didnt know much about him a few weeks before the election. A candidate from north Dallas might as well be from Oklahoma to party loyalists in Houston, Austin and San Antonio, and Democrats problems left Allred unable to win voters on the border issue.

In Tarrant County, Democrats offered little in a way of a campaign. The party continues to exist on paper but rarely in public, and sheriff hopeful Patrick Moses of Mansfield only raised $8,000 against celebrity Sheriff Bill Waybourns $200,000.

Democrats lost ground in countywide races and dropped a constables race in Arlington to Republican David Woodruff.

Waybourn, fresh off winning a national sheriffs award but criticized for poor training and management that led to way too many prisoners dying in the Tarrant County jail, was his ebullient self in a victory interview with WFAA/Channel 8.

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We were keenly aware of the threat of the border and dealing with the cartel and dealing with the fentanyl issue, Waybourn said, apparently referring to the jail since the sheriffs office handles law enforcement only outside cities near the county fringe.

Were a safe county, one of the safest in the country, he said, apparently referring to everywhere except in the Tarrant County jail.

In a bizarre moment, he dismissed the deaths in the jail by saying most of those prisoners really died in the hospital, as if that somehow absolved his jailers. He added: I cant raise people from the dead.

He was winning re-election with 55% of the vote, better than Trump or Cruz.
(Bloomberg) -- Rohit Chopras crackdowns on illegal car repossessions, home foreclosures and bank overdraft fees made him a hero to consumer groups and a foe of lenders.

Most Read from Bloomberg

But his future as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is jeopardized now that Republican Donald Trump is returning to the White House. In his second term, the president-elect will have the power to fire Chopra, if he doesnt resign first, after a US Supreme Court ruling in 2020 made the CFPB director an at-will employee and susceptible to termination for any reason.

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We expect Chopra to be out of his seat almost immediately after the inauguration, said Isaac Boltansky, the Washington-based director of policy research at the trading firm and investment bank BTIG LLC.

Since its formation after the 2008 financial crisis, the CFPBs regulations and very existence have been challenged repeatedly in the courts. Removing Chopra would be a resounding victory for businesses that have tried to weaken independent regulators: reining in an aggressive approach to consumer finance and eliminating a strong voice on critical banking regulation.

As a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.s board, Chopra raised concerns earlier this year about a plan to dial back US regulators landmark bank-capital proposal. He privately described the significant reduction in capital requirements as closer to a giveaway to Wall Street banks, Bloomberg reported in September.

Firing Chopra would give the Trump administration a two-for-one win because it increases influence over two agencies, said Brian Knight, a senior research fellow and director of innovation and governance at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

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A representative for the CFPB didnt provide comment.

Removing the heads of most financial regulators if they dont want to exit isnt so simple if the agencies are set up with boards or commissions. If Gary Gensler, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, were to decide to stick around until his term ends in 2026, this could lead to a protracted legal challenge to the Supreme Court over whether Trump can simply demote Gensler from his leadership role and make him a simple commissioner, or fire him outright.

In the latter case, the Trump administration may have to first provide proof of for cause grounds for removal, which can include malfeasance and neglect of duty.

The CFPB, Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are helmed by single directors who arent protected. The high courts 2020 decision made it easy to remove the CFPB and FHFA chiefs. By statute, the head of the OCC can be removed by the president, upon reasons to be communicated by him to the Senate.

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Chopra, appointed by President Joe Biden to a five-year term, hasnt shied away from taking on the largest banks and financial services companies, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Wells Fargo & Co. and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The CFPB survived a legal threat earlier this year, when the high court upheld its funding structure. But a number of Biden-era CFPB regulations are in limbo. The courts are still deliberating a rule that would cap credit-card late fees at $8, and the fintech industry recently sued over buy now, pay later regulation. The agencys open banking rule, which would require financial firms to provide free access to customer data, faces a legal challenge from bank lobbying groups.

They actually had, like, a 50-page lawsuit ready within hours of us being finished, Chopra said at a conference last month in Las Vegas. I havent read their lawsuit, and I dont think theyve read the rule.

JPMorgan Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon fired back at Chopra the next morning, demonstrating the banking sectors frustration with a regulator that some say has taken an overly aggressive approach to enforcement.

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Rohit is a very smart guy who has one major flaw, which Ive told him personally, is that you use your brains to justify what you already think, Dimon said.

--With assistance from Lydia Beyoud.

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Liz Cheney said that the democratic system functioned last night as Donald Trump was elected to a new term in the White House, but said that it would be up to citizens, courts, the press and those in government to be the guardrails of democracy.

Cheney endorsed Kamala Harris in the presidential race, voting for a Democrat for the first time. Her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, also endorsed Harris.

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Cheney wrote on X, Our nations democratic system functioned last night and we have a new President-elect. All Americans are bound, whether we like the outcome or not, to accept the results of our elections. We now have a special responsibility, as citizens of the greatest nation on earth, to do everything we can to support and defend our Constitution, preserve the rule of law, and ensure that our institutions hold over these coming four years. Citizens across this country, our courts, members of the press and those serving in our federal, state and local governments must now be the guardrails of democracy.

Trump had called for Cheney to face a military tribunal, after she served as vice chair of the January 6th Committee.

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Chip Somodevilla - Getty Images

In one of the most divisive presidential races in political history, former President Donald Trump came out ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris.

President-elect Trumps campaign with Vice President-elect JD Vance was built on promises to save the economy, pass massive tax cuts, and carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.

During one of his final appearances before Election Day, Trump told voters at a Pennsylvania rally: We had the safest border in the history of our country the day that I left. I shouldnt have left.

Chip Somodevilla - Getty Images

Trump is the only president in American history to get elected after being convicted of falsified business records. While in office the first time, he nominated three of the conservative justices who eliminated Roe v. Wade.

Anna Moneymaker - Getty Images

The 2024 presidential race was long and twisty and rife with unpredictability. The nations future felt like it was hanging in the balance following the devastating COVID-19 pandemic (which claimed the lives of more than 1.1 million Americans), a disturbing siege on the Capitol, and the loss of Roe.



The tumultuous, and at times violent, campaign trail didnt make things easier. There were assassination attempts, burning ballot boxes, and baseless claims about Haitian immigrants eating domestic pets. As reported in several outlets, more than half the country reported feeling elevated levels of anxiety and stress leading up to Election Day.



Finally, after months of white-knuckling, the nation finally has its answer. On Jan. 20, 2025, Trump and Vance will take the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol.

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Michigan was one of the largest swing states that Harris and Trump fought to win over in this election cycle, making up part of the northern "Blue Wall" that Democrats aimed to sweep this year

Joe Raedle/Getty Former President Donald Trump delivers a victory speech shortly before the race was called in his favor early on Nov. 6, 2024 Former President Donald Trump delivers a victory speech shortly before the race was called in his favor early on Nov. 6, 2024

Donald Trump won the swing state of Michigan on Wednesday, Nov. 6, adding its 15 electoral votes to his Electoral College majority, according to Associated Press projections.

Trump's total tally now sits at 292 Electoral College votes, well over the 270 required to secure the presidency. At the time of the call, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris had 224 electoral votes.

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Michigan is part of the historic "Blue Wall," a group of traditionally Democratic states including Wisconsin and Pennsylvania that were identified ahead of Election Day as Harris' easiest path to victory.

Trump disrupted the Blue Wall in 2016, delivering him a decisive victory over Hillary Clinton, and colored in the electoral map similarly this year.

Related: Trump Cracks That He'll 'Never Come Back' to Michigan If He Loses Battleground State in 2020 Election

Bill Pugliano/Getty Vice President Kamala Harris at an Oct. 18, 2024, campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Mich. Vice President Kamala Harris at an Oct. 18, 2024, campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Mich.

In 2024, unique concerns about President Joe Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war strained Democrats' relationship with some voters in Michigan, which has the largest Arab American population in the nation. In Michigan's primary election in February, more than 100,000 Democrats protested Biden's defense of Israel by saying they were "uncommitted" on ballots.

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Though Harris initially appeared to make progress in winning uncommitted voters back when she took over the Democratic ticket, concerns lingered on Nov. 5 that even a small number of voters abstaining from the election could harm her chances of winning the state.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.

Michigan has been crucial in the past few presidential elections, helping candidates secure the 270 votes needed to decide the election. Their electoral votes went to Biden in 2020, having previously gone to Trump in 2016.

Prior Trump's 2016 victory in the state, the Electoral College had a long track record of voting blue, choosing the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1992.

Harris is expected to deliver remarks at her alma mater Howard University on Wednesday afternoon to close out her history-making campaign.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Fmr. Pres. Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency, according to the Associated Press.

After a flurry of campaigning by both presidential candidates just ahead of Tuesdays in-person voting, Trump won North Carolina with 51.1% of the vote late Tuesday night.

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The Trump victory claims North Carolinas 16 Electoral votes making it the third time hes carried the state in White House races, after winning in 2016 and 2020.

Click here for live results from the 2024 General Election in North Carolina

The last few days of the contentious race, in which a record number of residents voted early, saw both candidates and their surrogates covering North Carolina with visits, including Trump with four state stops since Saturday.

A sign of the North Carolina barnstorming by candidates was a unique pairing of Trumps private jet parked beside Harris plane at the Charlotte airport Saturday as Trump was in nearby Gastonia and the vice-president was in Charlotte.

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Since Oct. 1 Trump had nine total events in North Carolina. Harris was in the Tar Heel state for five stops over the same period.

Kamala Harris in Charlotte last week as she steps from the stairs of her plane with Trumps jet nearby.

Polling numbers in North Carolina appeared steady as Election Day approached with the candidates separated by just a point dating back to polls in the state the summer.

In August, Trump held the 1% lead. In September, the state flipped to give Harris a 1% lead. In a poll released by CBS 17/Emerson College/The Hill on October 10, Trump had reclaimed the minuscule lead. Then, in new polling released Monday, the same 1% lead was claimed by Trump in North Carolina, well within the too close to call margin of +/- 3.3%.

Ahead of Tuesdays vote, Trumps team has said it was confident about his chances in North Carolina. But Democrats saw Trumps attention on the state as a signal of optimism for Harris.

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The repeat appearances may signal Trumps campaign is in trouble, said Democratic state Rep. Marcia Morey of Durham. If Trump continues with his dangerous, violent rhetoric these last few days, it may backfire. A campaign of personal retribution does not win votes from people.

 The Associated Press contributed to this report

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
Donald Trump has picked up 19 electoral votes with the critical Pennsylvania win, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday, Nov. 6

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Donald Trump campaigning in New Hampshire Donald Trump campaigning in New Hampshire

Donald Trump has defeated Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania and will earn 19 electoral votes  the most important swing state in 2024 the presidential race, according to the Associated Press.

After the AP's Pennsylvania call on Wednesday, Nov.6, Trump leads in the presidential race with a total of 267 electoral votes to Harris' 224. The first candidate to reach 270 wins the Electoral College  and the White House.

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Pennsylvania has been a critical component of the Democrats' electoral strategy and was identified as one of the best predictors of who would win the overall election.

Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Donald Trump at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey Donald Trump at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey

A "blue wall" victory  which would include Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin  has been a key strategy for Democrats to defeat Trump after the Republican narrowly won the states against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Joe Biden restored the blue wall in 2020  winning Pennsylvania over Trump four days after polls closed, which catapulted him across the finish line.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.



Trump and Harris made numerous stops in Pennsylvania while on the campaign trail. It was the state where Trump was campaigning when he survived an attempted assassination in July. He returned to the site last month.

Strategists also thought Harris picking the state's Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro would help her win the state. Instead, she went with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, which she said was a "gut" decision.


Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

After a campaign built around targeting immigrants and his political enemies, Donald Trump was reelected as president of the United States in the early hours of Wednesday morning. In a shocking turn of events, the Republican nominee easily won the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina and Wisconsin, securing more than the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the presidency, per the New York Times. He even appears on track to become the first Republican presidential candidate in 20 years to win the popular vote.

Trump, 78, will become the oldest president in history, and the first with a felony conviction. He had threatened not to accept the results of this election unless he won, after instigating an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol following his loss in 2020.

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Trumps win is a devastating blow for supporters of reproductive rights, undocumented immigrants, LGBTQ Americans, and many marginalized communities. On the campaign trail, the former president vowed to launch mass deportations of immigrants, smearing them as criminals who are destroying the country. Trump alarmed civil rights groups by calling for the removal of protections for trans students and workers based on gender identity and to limit access to gender-affirming care. While his comments about abortion were all over the map, as president, he appointed conservative Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v Wade  something he later bragged about.

His administration is also likely to worsen inequality and accelerate the climate crisis, as the New York Times has reported. Trump wants to further lower corporate tax cuts and is eager to drill, baby drill, expanding the production of fossil fuels in the U.S.

Trumps anti-democratic streak has also grown more alarming. He and his running mate JD Vance repeatedly refused to acknowledge the results of the 2020 election and to agree to a peaceful transfer of power if they lost. As recently as mid-October, Trump referred to his Democratic opponents as the enemy from within, saying, We have some sick people, radical left lunaticsand it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military. The New York Times reported that never before has a presidential nominee openly suggested turning the military on Americans simply because they oppose his candidacy,

Despite the many twists and turns of the 2024 race  from Joe Biden dropping out and being replaced by Harris to two assassination attempts against Trump  the fundamental dynamic remained stubbornly fixed. Polls showed a tight contest between the Democratic and Republican candidates, especially in key swing states in the Midwest.

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Trump ultimately made gains with nearly every demographic group compared with his 2020 loss, including young men, Latinos, and rural voters, according to CNN's analysis of its exit polls.

Republicans also won control of the Senate, meaning Trump will have an easier time getting his nominees for the Cabinet and federal judiciary confirmed. Control of the House of Representatives has not yet been called.

Activists and civil rights organizations have promised to keep fighting for reproductive rights and equality for all. We will deploy our millions of activists and card-carrying members  alongside our 2,200 staff spanning every state, DC, and Puerto Rico  to ensure that erosions of civil rights or civil liberties will be hard-fought and hotly contested, the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement.

Election night did bring some wins for Democrats and progressives, with abortion rights measures passing in seven of the 10 states where they were on the ballot, according to NBC News. Far-right North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson lost his race, while Sarah McBride became the first trans member of Congress. With Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware winning their races, the U.S. will see two Black women serve as senators together for the first time. Progressives including Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida, the first Gen Z member of Congress, and Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian American to serve in Congress, also won their races for reelection.

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This article will be updated. It was originally published on Wednesday November 6.

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Former President Donald Trump was declared the winner in Wisconsin early Wednesday morning, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the state and securing the election victory as he smashed through Democrats blue wall.

The Associated Press called the race for Trump shortly after 4:30 a.m. local time. Unofficial results showed Trump with about a one-point edge  approximately 41,000 votes  on Harris with more than 95% of the vote tabulated in Wisconsin. The states 10 electoral votes pushed him over the 270 threshold and cemented his unprecedented return to the White House.

With the call, Trump extended his lead to 277-224 in the Electoral College, though four states had yet to be called. He was poised early Wednesday to win nearly every key battleground state.

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The Harris campaign had not yet conceded the race in the early Wednesday hours.

This was a movement like nobodys ever seen before, Trump told supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, during his victory speech. Frankly this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. Theres never been anything like this in this country and maybe beyond. And now its going to reach a new level of importance.

And to every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and your future, Trump added, after saying he would help the country heal. Every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.

Trump maintained a lead in Wisconsin even after Milwaukee reported its approximately 108,000 absentee votes, which were overwhelmingly Democratic.

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And even though Harris gained nearly 40% of the vote in suburban Waukesha County, Trump outperformed his 2020 race in a number of rural areas. He also extended his lead in Brown County as of early Wednesday and won more votes in the Democratic stronghold of Dane County than he did in his previous run.

The result for Trump means Wisconsin has flipped from Republican to Democratic to Republican in the last three presidential elections. Trump won the state by about 22,000 votes in 2016 but lost it to President Joe Biden by a little more than 20,000 votes in 2020.

It was a bleak night for Democrats across the country. Trump crumbled Democrats blue wall as he won Pennsylvania and was projected to win Michigan. Republicans on Tuesday also took control of the U.S. Senate, though Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin appeared to hang on to her seat.

Both Trump and Harris campaigned aggressively in Wisconsin since Biden dropped out of the race and Harris effectively became Democrats new presidential nominee when she launched her campaign on July 23. The Republican National Convention was held in Milwaukee in mid-July.

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In the time since, the two presidential nominees and their running mates made a combined more than 40 individual stops in Wisconsin. Harris and the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, made 25 separate stops. Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, meanwhile, made 18 separate visits.

More: Trump, Harris are ramping up their travel in Wisconsin. See all the places they've been

The race culminated with dueling rallies Friday night in the Milwaukee area. Harris and Trump spoke at nearly the same time and just six miles apart.

Harris, rallying at Wisconsin State Fair Park, struck a unifying tone in her Wisconsin finale. She pledged to seek common ground and common sense solutions and reiterated her promise to give those who disagree with her a seat at the table.

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Trump, meanwhile, described the current state of the country in dark terms in his rambling remarks at Fiserv Forum as he railed against the Biden administration and hurled insults at Harris. He promised the U.S. would be bigger, better, bolder, richer, safer and stronger than ever before if he is elected.

Both campaigns poured tens of millions into the Wisconsin contest.

Between the beginning of March and Election Day, the two campaigns spent more than $150 million combined on advertising across the state, according to AdImpact. That figure includes about $84 million for Democrats and $73 million for Republicans.

Republicans bombarded Harris over the Wisconsin airwaves on social and culture war issues. They zeroed in on transgender people as they pushed the line: Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.

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Harris and Democrats cut ads featuring Republicans who claimed they would never vote for Trump again, painting him as unfit for office after thousands of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capital on Jan. 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the 2020 election.

The Harris campaign touted Republican support for the vice president throughout Wisconsin. Former Wyoming GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, a top Trump critic who sat on the House panel investigating the attack on the Capitol, made two stops in Wisconsin with Harris.

Trump has continued to falsely claim he won the 2020 election, including in recent visits to Wisconsin.

Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond as votes rolled in for Trump late Tuesday evening told supporters at Howard University in Washington, D.C., that Harris would not address the crowd.

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Richmond said there were still votes to count and states that had not been called.

We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, he said. That every voice has spoken.

Trump, however, declared victory just hours later.

He boasted of winning the battlegrounds of North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

And he proclaimed: This will truly be the golden age of America.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Donald Trump wins Wisconsin presidential vote in 2024 election


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Donald Trump is back in the White House.

The Republican won the presidential election against Democrat Kamala Harris, and took up the highest position in the country for the second time.

We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, Trump said at a Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida before the election results were called.

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Every single day I will be fighting for you and with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America, he said.

Trump has run for the presidency three times during his short political career: in 2016, when he won over Hilary Clinton, in 2020, when he lost to Joe Biden, and now this 2024, when he beat Harris.

During his first administration, he was impeached for his role in inciting an insurrection against the Capitol on January 6, 2021. And currently, he is battling dozens of sexual abuse accusations. He is also now the first convicted felon to be elected president.

Over the course of his 2024 race, Trump and his now-vice president, JD Vance, have repeatedly voiced their Make America Great Again priorities: improving the economy and putting harsh restrictions on immigration. They have given loose explanations for how they will solve these issues, and continued to be vague about other major problems plaguing the country, including climate change, gun control, student loan forgiveness, and access to abortion (which was restricted during Trumps first pregnancy, with the fall of Roe v. Wade).

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Trumps win comes as he came out on top in the key states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, with pushed him to reach the 270 electoral votes necessary to win the presidency.

Despite having led entirely contrasting campaigns, with contrasting values, Trump and Harris remained tied for most of the race. As recently as November 3, each got the support from 49% of registered voters in a poll released by NBC News. Meanwhile, and Emerson College poll showed that 50% of voters had a favorable view of Harris, while 48% had a favorable view of Trump.

Trump will assume office on January 20.

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We recently published a list of 10 Oversold Energy Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Borr Drilling Limiteds (NYSE:BORR) stands against other oversold energy stocks to buy now.

Amrita Sen, Founder and Director of Research at Energy Aspects, a global data & intelligence provider for energy commodity and macro markets, on October 14, shared her insights on the current state of the energy market. According to Sen the prices of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and ICE Brent have remained relatively on the lower side despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which is surprising because in the past, in a situation like this, oil would jump over $100 per barrel. Sen notes that the market is waiting to see how the situation in Iran and Israel pans out. Looking ahead to the future the market is expecting a surplus in 2025, which is driving the bearish sentiment.

However, Sen warns that the industrys inventory levels are low, and if a significant event were to occur, such as an attack on Iranian energy infrastructure, there could be a lot of volatility ahead. She notes that many traders are trading via options, which could lead to significant price movements if they are forced to cover their positions in the futures market. This could lead to a rapid increase in prices, as traders scramble to cover their short positions, which could lead to a significant increase in prices.

Regarding the supply side, Sen notes that production in the United States has been flat this year, despite the expectation of 1-1.5 million barrels of growth. She attributes this to the fact that the industry is running out of acreage and that the biggest and mid-sized companies are unable to grow regardless of price. The Saudis have been warning other producers to stick to their allotted production limits and that if they dont stick to their allotted production limits, they can produce a whole lot more oil. However, Sen notes that this is not a threat to flood the market, but rather a message to those who are not complying with their production limits. The Saudis want to ensure that everyone is working together to maintain a stable market, rather than trying to gain a competitive advantage. Sen acknowledges that the sanctions against Russia were never designed to lose Russian oil but it was designed to reduce the revenue going into Russia. The Russian oil is now redirected to China and India and that is why the market is jaded.

The current energy market dynamics are characterized by complex geopolitical tensions, supply chain constraints, and shifting demand. As the situation within the Middle East continues to unfold, markets can face significant volatility and price swings.
Doral residents voted Tuesday to eliminate runoff elections, increase the salary of city council members and diminish the powers of the mayor.

Doral Mayor Christi Fraga won re-election easily on Tuesday, successfully retaining her position and securing the re-election of her close ally, Rafael Pineyro, on the city council, but they couldnt avoid changes in the government, as eight of 10 proposed amendments were approved.

Amendment 8 eliminates runoff elections except in the case of a tie. Almost every electoral cycle in Doral has had a runoff. This election, when three seats were on the ballot including the mayors, ended with a runoff for Seat 3 between Nicole Reinoso and Juan Carlos Esquivel. This might be the last runoff.

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The previous runoff election in 2022 cost the city $55,782, while the 2020 runoff election incurred expenses of $52,144. Some politicians view the costs as a compelling argument for eliminating the runoff election altogether. These amounts are included in the citys yearly budget.

This isnt the first time the citys charter committee has placed eliminating runoff elections on the ballot. In 2014, the city proposed a similar measure that would allow council members to run as a group during municipal elections. The proposal was narrowly rejected, with 51% to 49%, by just 15 votes.

Another proposal approved Tuesday, Amendment 5, will increase council members salaries. Residents voted in favor the measure, with 53% votes approving a plan to triple the annual compensation, from $18,611 to $54,310.90. Council positions are part-time, except for the mayor. The amendment sought to cap the mayors salary at its current annual level of $77,587.

This amendment was also on the ballot in 2014, where 73% rejected it.

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Another election-related amendment on the ballot, Amendment 4, was approved with 64% of the vote. It mandates that a mayor who has served two terms must take a four-year break before running for a council seat. Prior to this change, a mayor could serve two terms and immediately run for a council position without any mandatory break.

Mayors authority diminished

Seven amendments on the ballot affect how appointments to city boards will be made and how power is shared in city government. Voters approved all but one.

Currently, the Doral mayor leads council meetings, votes on council matters, creates committees, represents the city at events and in legal matters, works with other governments, and signs contracts approved by the council. Unlike cities with a strong-mayor system, where the mayor is the top executive, Dorals mayor has a limited role. But now, the authority the mayor has on the council will be diminished under some of the new amendments.

Heres what the other amendments will do.

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 Amendment 2, approved with 54% of the vote, will allow the council to create and organize committees. Currently the mayor creates committees and appoints members, subject to council approval.

 Amendment 3, approved with 61% of the vote, will force the mayor to get council approval for official actions involving other government entities Currently, the mayor represents the city in all such dealings.

 Amendment 6, approved with 68% of the vote, will change the process for appointing the city manager. Currently, the mayor nominates the city manager, and the council confirms the appointment. Now the city manager would be selected by the council based on recommendations from a search committee, similar to the process for appointing the city attorney and city clerk.

READ MORE: Doral city manager resigns after claiming retaliation for refusing to be a puppet

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 Amendment 7, approved with 61% of the vote, will change how members are appointed to city boards and agencies. Each board or agency will have five members, with the mayor and each council member each appointing one person. Currently board and agency members are appointed by the mayor subject to council approval.

 Amendment 10, approved with 77% of the vote, replaces the Office of Charter Enforcement with an Office of Inspector General. The new office will be responsible for conducting investigations, audits, reviews, and oversight of municipal matters, including city contracts, programs, projects and expenditures.

Fraga said Doral voters approved the proposals because she and her team didnt invest on the amendment election, focusing instead on the three seats on the council.

We tried to keep the residents as informed as possible, but we didnt spend a single dollar on the amendments, Fraga said. Now, we have to explain to the residents who were confused what the impact of these changes will be.

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Fraga said the newly approved amendments, as they stand, could lead to mismanagement in the citys government. She said if Reinoso wins the runoff election the council will work alongside residents to change them.

We need to revise the charter in a way that truly benefits the residents, Fraga said. We will develop a plan to ensure residents can voice their opinions and actively participate in the necessary changes to the Doral charter.

Councilwoman Maureen Porras, who ran on a slate with Fraga and Pinyero in 2022, but began voting against Fragas proposals, positioning herself as a significant opposition force, said that Doral voters sent a loud and clear message. We need a balanced city council, as seen by the overwhelming support for the charter amendments and the support for a candidate who was seen as a true independent.

READ MORE: Fraga and Pineyro reelected in Doral. One council seat remains open, headed to runoff

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Only two proposed amendments were not approved. Amendment 1 was rejected with 53% of the vote. This amendment sought to transition from the Mayor-Council-Manager form of government to a Council-Manager system. As a result, the current structure, which has been in place for the citys 21-year history, will remain unchanged.

Amendment 9 was rejected with 52% of the vote. The amendment proposed extending the review period for the Charter Revision Commission from every five years to every ten years. As a result, the review period will remain at five years.

The approval of the amendments will significantly reduce the mayors authority, shifting some of the powers to the city council. The council will take on the responsibility of making key appointments to city boards and would also need to approve the mayors interactions with other government entities. The supporters of the amendments said that this would clarify the form of government in the city, the detractors claimed this would diminish the mayor authority in the city council.
Early results showed Rachel Dreon and Wayne Fournier leading in two competitive races for seats on the Thurston County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night.

Rachel Dreon, a Democrat, was leading JW Foster, an independent, by more than 6,700 votes in the race for the District 2 seat, according to the first tallies released Tuesday by the county Auditor. Whoever wins this race will replace Gary Edwards, an independent, who is retiring.

In the District 4 race, current Commissioner Fournier, a Democrat, is leading Rob Laymon, who stated no party preference.

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The winners will join Commissioners Tye Menser, Carolina Mejia and Emily Clouse, all Democrats, on the board. Mejia was also up for re-election this year, but she ran unopposed. The five-member commission serves over 300,000 residents and will manage an operating budget of about $474.2 million in 2025.

The county Auditors Office indicated they had counted about 97,000 votes on Tuesday, which represents 47% of the 207,296 registered voters. However, there were still many votes left to be counted. Ballots only need to be dropped off or postmarked by Nov. 5, and crowds of people lined up at county voting centers throughout the day Tuesday to vote or register and vote.

Auditor Mary Hall told The Olympian the election was going well and there were still long lines at the countys voting centers 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Its been a terrific day, Hall said. Its been a busy day. We did three trips to our ballot boxes and they were heavy every time we went out there. Turnout at the voting centers was fantastic.

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There were still about 35,000 ballots left to count and more coming in, Hall said. She said she hopes turnout will eventually reach about 80%.

In 2020, the last presidential election year, about 83.8% of the countys then 201,865 registered voters participated, according to final certified results. In the August primary, turnout was at about 43.9% of 200,449 registered voters.

Thurston County will post any changes in vote tallies and outcome as additional ballots are counted until the county certifies the results on Nov. 26. The Washington Secretary of State will then certify the results by Dec. 5.

District 2

In the District 2 race, Dreon led with 47,686 votes (53.5%) as of Tuesday night. Foster had 40,929 votes (46%).

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Dreon learned of the results at Octapas Cafe in Olympia where she spent the evening with other Democratic candidates. She said she felt incredibly grateful for the trust and support of Thurston County voters.

The results are still not all the way decided, but it feels like a victory, Dreon said. And it really reflects the hard work and dedication of my team and the thousands of conversations that weve had.

Dreon thanked those who knocked on doors and shared her message. She added shes ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work for the people of Thurston County.

We set out to bring real solutions and build a Thurston County that works for everyone, Dreon said. I think that tonights results affirm that vision.

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When reached for comment, Foster congratulated Dreon on the early results and said the vote difference appeared too large to overcome.

She did a really good job in her campaign and clearly the voting populace would prefer the Democrat to the independent in this race, Foster said. I wish her well and look forward to returning to my retirement.

Dreon describes herself as a progressive Democrat and proud 2004 graduate of Thurston County Drug Court. She has a professional background in behavioral health.

She previously worked as a budget chief for the Washington State Department of Health and Human Services and as a Business Operations Administrator for the DSHS Office of Forensic Mental Health.

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She currently works for the King County Department of Community and Human Services as a Behavioral Health Workforce Investments Manager.

Dreon also serves on the Thurston County Treatment Sales Tax Advisory Committee, a group of nine volunteers who make non-binding recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners about how to spend Treatment Sales Tax dollars. The volunteers are appointed to the board.

If elected, Dreon has promised to support more affordable housing and protect the environment and use her budgetary experience to further mental health services, homelessness initiatives and address the opioid epidemic, according to her voter guide statement.

Foster, an independent, became interim mayor of Yelm in 2016 and then won a four-year term in the 2017 election. Prior to that, he served on the Yelm City Council from 2011 to 2016. Notably, he also served as a firefighter and paramedic from 1979 to 2013.

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He has said his experience and connections in the South Sound region should help him hit the ground running to serve the public.

Foster, a Marine Corps veteran, previously told The Olympian he chose to run as an independent because he believes he has supported people and issues on both sides of the political divide and he feels the commission should be non-partisan.

He has also promised to use his bipartisan support to get results for the community as well as recruit, hire, train and retain the best employees for the county, according to his voter guide statement.

District 2 covers eastern Thurston County from the Nisqually Reach to Alder Lake and includes the City of Yelm and parts of Lacey.

District 4

The election tally for Thurston County Commissioner District 4 showed Fournier with 55,127 votes (62.6%) as of Tuesday night. Laymon had 32,369 votes (36.8%).

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Fournier reacted positively to the early results and said it marked a career high for him.

Im pretty happy, Fournier said. I was feeling good coming into it and Im over the moon. Those are the best results of any of the elections Ive ever run in Thank you for all the support. Im looking forward to continuing to work to make Thurston County a better place for us all to live in.

Fournier has only served a one-year term as county commissioner. He previously served as Mayor of Tenino from 2015 to 2023 and as a City Council member from 2012 to 2015, according to his official county biography.

Fournier campaigned on his record as a county commissioner. If re-elected, Fournier has promised to foster sustainable growth that preserves the countys natural beauty and bring people together to collaboratively address shared challenges, according to his voter guide statement.

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Laymon did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday night nor multiple previous requests this election cycle.

If elected, Laymon has promised to change excessive property taxes, regulations and permitting fees. He also intends to give people experiencing homelessness and mental illness a hand-up, not a hand-out, according to his voter guide statement.

Whoever wins this race will serve a full four-year term on the board. Fourniers shortened term was a product of a staggered election schedule for the District 4 and 5 seats, both of which were created in 2022 after the county population surpassed 300,000.

Commissioner Clouse, who holds the District 5 seat, is set to serve a three-year term, meaning she will be up for re-election in 2026.

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District 4 covers southwest Thurston County including south Tumwater and the cities of Tenino, Bucoda and Rainier.

Fire Protection District 8 Levy

Voters appeared to be leaning in favor of approving a levy lid lift with 3,259 votes (60.4%) for yes.

If approved, Thurston County Fire Protection District 8 (South Bay) will be authorized to levy a maintenance and operations excess levy of $1.9 million in 2024, $2 million in 2025, $2.1 million in 2026 and $2.2 million in 2027, according to the voter guide.

The District estimates the total estimated 2024 tax levy with the excess levy is about $2.01 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The Board of Fire Commissioners for District 8 sent this proposition to the voters because current assessed values in the district are insufficient for maintaining needed service levels, according to their explanatory statement.
BOSTON (SHNS)  Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts will be able to negotiate wages, benefits and working conditions, under a ballot question approved on Tuesday.

With 95 percent of the votes counted as of 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 54 percent of voters supported Question 3 and 46 percent were against it. The campaign waited overnight while more ballots were counted and declared victory on Wednesday afternoon.

We cannot wait any longer to begin to exercise our union rights  the same union rights that have provided millions of workers in Massachusetts and across the country with secure, good-paying jobs, Yosef Woldeyes of Dorchester, who drives for Uber and Lyft, said in a statement released by the campaign. Drivers like us are parents, grandparents, siblings, neighbors and members of Massachusetts communities who depend on our jobs to provide for our families. With a union, we can sit down with Uber and Lyft and shape a rideshare industry that works for all of us  drivers and riders.

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The approach outlined in the ballot question is called sector-based bargaining, and it will allow drivers across multiple companies to negotiate with employers, and also allow multiple transportation companies, like Uber and Lyft, to form their own association to represent them while bargaining with the drivers union.

The states Commonwealth Employment Relations Board will supervise the labor agreements and the secretary of labor will have the responsibility to approve or disapprove the negotiated recommendations.

The question was intended to improve drivers welfare, the new law saying: These persons often suffer poor pay, inadequate health coverage, and irregular or inadequate working hours. It is hereby declared that the best interests of the commonwealth are served by providing transportation network drivers the opportunity to bargain collectively in order to obtain sustainable wages, benefits, and working conditions.

There were no official opponents to the law, though some warned that Uber and Lyft prices would likely increase if it passed.

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With the passage of this ballot measure, we look forward to working collaboratively on its implementations and addressing some of the language concerns we have during the legislative session next year, Lyft said in a statement on Wednesday.

A Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis report said that drivers may not be able to start forming unions right away.

In 2015, when the city of Seattle endorsed a version of sector-based bargaining for rideshare drivers, their effort was met with multiple lawsuits, including from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which stalled implementation for years and ultimately scuttled the effort, the report says.

It says the drafters of the Massachusetts proposal made changes to address some of the issues targeted in the Seattle suit, such as being clearer about the intent to exempt workers from state and federal antitrust laws and clearer about the states role in overseeing any agreement.

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The report warns, however, that opponents of Question 3 could still have an opportunity to raise objections through the courts  and effectively put implementation on hold as that process plays out.

There was a lot of thoughtfulness on crafting our ballot measure in a way that would be protected from any legal challenge. So we feel pretty confident that we would be able to back our ballot initiative if the need comes, Roxana Rivera, assistant to the president at 32BJ SEIU told the News Service at the election night party.

Lawmakers could also choose to make adjustments to the ballot measure, though top Democrats have not publicly expressed an opinion on whether they plan to make any amendments.

Were focused on exercising their right once they get it, and were going to just move and see if these drivers now want to join a union and collectively bargain and have a voice in the workplace. So were laser focused on that, and were ready for anything anybody else brings, said Mike Vartabedian, who leads the states machinists union.

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The Yes on 3 party in the 32BJ SEIU headquarters in downtown Boston was packed full of drivers, where they were blasting Latin music, had a buffet bar of food, and at one point had a conga line of dancers.

Its really something Ill never forget, Vartabedian said. Ive been doing this for a long time. Ive been in labor a long time, and to see workers who have never had the option to join a union, have had a voice in the workplace, with being mistreated, being underpaid, etc. etc., to be able to have that option, to have that voice Its something you never get used to.

Before there were official results, driver Cletus Awah expressed his optimism at an election night party in Boston hosted by 32BJ SEIU.

They thought they were too big for us to stand against them, Awah said. They thought that will we not have our union.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A suspected murderer was arrested at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., while trying to flee to El Salvador early Sunday morning.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Christofer Antonio Argueta Ramirez, 19, at Dulles at 1:30 a.m. EST Sunday.

Argueta Ramirez is a U.S. citizen and a resident of Woodbridge, Va., and is wanted for murder in Prince William County, Va.

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CBP officers observed Argueta Ramirez buying a one-way ticket to El Salvador and stopped him at the departure gate for the flight.

The CBP officers detained Argueta Ramirez and turned him over to Metropolitan Washington Airports Police officers.

Argueta Remirez is one of two people accused of murder in the December 2022 death of Jose Guerrero.

Olvin Daniel Argueta Ramirez last week pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Guerrero's death.

Olvin Daniel Argueta Ramirez and a "17-year-old" initially were arrested on murder charges. Both lived in Woodbridge at the time.

The pair allegedly told police they intended to rob Guerrero during a drug transaction in a parking lot in Lost Canyon Court in Woodbridge.

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An argument ensued, and the pair allegedly repeatedly stabbed Guerrero, took him in his car to another location to ensure he was dead and dumped his body in a wooded area in Adelphi, Md.

The pair then allegedly drove Guerrero's car back to Woodbridge, where it was found abandoned.

Christofer Antonio Argueta Ramirez initially was charged in the murder, but the Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney's Office on March 24 released the him due to a lack of evidence.
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  A dump truck accident has left around 800 residents and a polling location without power.

Blue Grass Energy (BGE) posted to Facebook that around 3:40 p.m. a dump truck broke two poles near Christman Mill and Water Works Road.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

This is causing an outage for about 800 members, BGE said.

According to the Jessamine County Sheriffs Office, the polling center hosted at Little Hickman Christian Church was also affected.

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The sheriffs office said that the location was briefly without power, running off a generator until it had been restored.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

A crew is onsite and will backfeed power to all but 152 members on Christman Mill, Cobb Lane, Hunters Ferry & Waterworks, BGE said. The remaining 152 will be restored by 10:00 p.m. tonight.

For updates, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
INLAND EMPIRE, CA  Two Inland Empire residents were arrested Tuesday on a nine-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they fraudulently obtained more than $2.1 million in COVID-19 relief funds after they filed more than 120 bogus applications for unemployment insurance benefits using stolen identities  including those of California state prisoners.

Lisa Puente, 43, of Rialto, and Arthur Marquez, 53, of San Bernardino, were arraigned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Riverside. Both are charged with six counts of mail fraud and one count of use of unauthorized access devices. They are also charged with one count each of aggravated identity theft. The duo pleaded not guilty to all charges.

According to the indictment returned Oct. 9 and unsealed Tuesday, federal prosecutors allege that from February 2020 to August 2023, Puente and Marquez filed with the California Employment Development Department fraudulent applications for UI benefits in the names of other people.

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The other people included individuals who did not qualify for UI because they were incarcerated in California state prisons and whose personal identifying information was used without their permission.

The applications falsely stated that the named claimants' employment had been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered eligibility for UI benefits under federal law.

The applications also falsely stated that the claimants resided and had worked in California. Instead, most of the identity theft victims did not live in the state, according to prosecutors.

The applications also used false mailing addresses, bogus prior annual income information, and falsely stated that the named claimants were unemployed, self-employed individuals whose work was adversely impacted by COVID-19.

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As a result of the bogus UI applications, EDD authorized Bank of America to issue debit cards in the names of dozens of victims and straw claimants.

Once Marquez and Marquez got their hands on the debit cards, they spent some of the money and withdrew the remaining funds to receive cash.

In total, Puente and Marquez filed at least 124 fraudulent applications for UI benefits, causing losses to EDD and the United States Treasury of approximately $2,136,768, prosecutors said.

If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each mail fraud count, up to 10 years in federal prison for the unauthorized access device count, and a mandatory two-year consecutive prison sentence for the aggravated identity theft count.

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A Dec. 30 trial date was scheduled for the duo, who both remain free on bond. A federal magistrate judge ordered Puente released on $20,000 bond and ordered Marquez released on $10,000 bond.

Duo Files 124 Bogus Unemployment Apps, Receives $2.1M In Pay: Feds originally appeared on the Banning-Beaumont Patch
Dutch right-wing populist politician Geert Wilders has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory as he looked poised to win the US presidential election.

"Congratulations President Trump! Congratulations America! Never stop, always keep fighting and win elections!" Wilders wrote on X before the official result was announced.

The right-wing populist is a declared supporter of the Republican presidential candidate. Wilders won the election in the Netherlands almost a year ago and his Party for Freedom (PVV) has been part of the coalition government for about four months.
With just over 2.6 million votes counted in Washington state, early results indicate that Initiative 2117, Initiative 2109 and Initiative 2124 are on track to fail, but Initiative 2066 is passing by a slim margin of 51.2% to 48.8% so far.

If it passes, I-2066 would repeal statewide restrictions on natural gas, and allow Puget Sound Energy to incentivize its customers to use gas-powered appliances.

The four statewide initiatives, backed by conservative political action committee Lets Go Washington, each aimed to repeal or amend a recent piece of statewide legislation. I-2117 would have repealed Washingtons statewide carbon emissions cap, I-2109 would have repealed the states capital gains tax. and I-2124 would have let employees in the state opt out of the states mandatory long-term care program.

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County and state officials will update results over the coming days and weeks, before the final count is certified on Dec. 5.

Initiative 2066 leads by slim margin

I-2066, which is the only initiative with a narrow lead in early tallies, would repeal parts of a 2024 law that pushes the state toward using more electricity and less natural gas. The initiative targets the Washington Decarbonization Act, which required Puget Sound Energy to report a single annual plan to the state, where it previously had several different reporting requirements.

The plan includes details on the companys expected customer energy use and proposals to reduce the companys greenhouse gas initiatives and transition from gas to electricity. Additionally, the law doesnt allow PSE to offer rebates to customers for buying gas appliances, and requires the company to inform customers of any rebate available for buying electric appliances.

If it passes, I-2066 will amend the 2024 law to prohibit PSE from offering plans that restrict a customers access to gas, and allow the company to offer rebates for the purchase of gas appliances. It would require local governments and gas utilities to offer natural gas services. Additionally, under the initiative, any utility plan that disincentivizes or bans the use of natural gas would be prohibited.

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Proponents of the ballot measure argue that it gives Washington residents the ability to choose the type of energy they would like in their homes or businesses, while broadening the availability of natural gas would lower energy prices.

Its opponents, on the other hand, claim that the measure would roll back necessary climate protections while increasing costs in the long run, since natural gas is less efficient than electricity.

Initiative 2124 trailing in WA election

I-2124 received the next-most votes, although its still on track to fail. As of Tuesday night, the ballot measure trails by a margin of 55.6% to 44.4%.

If the results hold, Washingtons statewide long-term care program will remain mandatory. Under current state law, all employees in Washington are required to pay a 0.58% tax that goes to a state-run long-term care insurance program, known as WA Cares. Everyone who pays into the program can get a payout of up to $36,500 should they need long-term care services.

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I-2124 would make the program optional. Under the proposal, WA Cares is still an option for those who choose to pay into it, but employees can opt out of the program as well.

The measures proponents argue that it allows Washingtonians to choose how they allocate their money, instead of being forced into participating in the program. Additionally, they claim that some pay more money in the additional tax than the $36,500 they could receive, and that the amount only covers a few months of care.

Its opponents argued that the measure would effectively do away with WA Cares, since it relies on tax revenue from high earners, who would be more likely to opt out. Without WA Cares, they argued, many Washingtonians would have no way to afford long-term care and would be forced to turn to private insurance, which tends to be more costly. Additionally, they point out that the burden of providing or paying for elderly care often falls on someones family or children, and disproportionately women. If someone opts out of WA Cares, their children, who didnt have a say, would be left with the costs.

Initiative 2109 trailing

Washingtons capital gains tax appears likely to remain in place, as I-2109 is on pace to fail after preliminary election results were released Tuesday night. The ballot measure trails by a margin of 63.3% to 36.7%.

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The ballot measure targeted RCW 87.82, which imposes a 7% tax on capital gains for Washington residents. The law allows for a $250,000 deduction, and taxes net gains, meaning that it only applies to each dollar earned over that amount. So if an investments value rises by less than $250,000 between the time you buy and sell it, the tax doesnt apply.

Money collected from the tax goes to education. The first $500 million each year is allocated to the states education legacy trust account, which funds new enrollments, financial aid, early education and childcare. All the remaining money collected from the tax goes to the states common school construction fund.

The measures proponents argued that RCW 87.82 was, in effect, a form of income tax. Since Washington doesnt have a statewide income tax, it therefore unfairly taxed those whose income comes from investments, potentially driving investors and business out of the state.

Its opponents, on the other hand, claimed that the initiative needlessly eliminates hundreds of millions of dollars in school funding each year, only to provide a tax break for the rich, as less than one percent of Washingtonians have to pay the states capital gains tax. In addition to the $250,000 deduction, the tax includes exemptions for retirement funds, family owned businesses, real estate and farms.

Initiative 2117 trailing

I-2117 would have repealed Washingtons cap and invest program, a program established by 2021s Climate Commitment Act. Instead, the measure looks poised to fail. As of Tuesday night, the ballot measure trails by a margin of 61.8% to 38.2%..

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Cap and invest established a limit to the amount of carbon emissions that businesses in the state can collectively use each year. The state then creates a set number of carbon emissions permits, totaling the statewide limit, which businesses can buy at an auction or trade with each other. The money that the state makes from selling these permits is then invested into sustainable infrastructure. Businesses, meanwhile, can only produce as many carbon emissions as they have the permits for. The program aims to slowly lower the emissions limit over time, and reduce statewide emissions by 95% by 2050.

Proponents of the ballot measure argue that requiring companies to purchase a permit in order to produce carbon emissions raises prices, particularly for gas and energy, which drives up the cost of living as a whole.

Its opponents argue that repealing the cap and invest program would increase the amount of pollution in Washingtons air and waters, while taking away crucial funds from sustainable infrastructure projects and the states transportation budget.
By Ismail Shakil

(Reuters) -Canada on Wednesday ordered Chinese-owned TikTok's business in the country to be dissolved, citing national-security risks, but added the government was not blocking Canadians' access to the short-video app or their ability to create content.

"The government is taking action to address the specific national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd's operations in Canada through the establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc," Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement.

Ottawa last year began reviewing TikTok's plan to invest and expand its business in Canada. ByteDance is TikTok's Chinese parent company.

Under Canadian law, the government can assess potential risks to national security from foreign investments, such as the TikTok proposal. The law prevents the government from revealing the details of such investments.

"The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada's security and intelligence community and other government partners," Champagne added.

TikTok said it will challenge the order in court.

"Shutting down TikTok's Canadian offices and destroying hundreds of well-paying local jobs is not in anyone's best interest, and today's shutdown order will do just that," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement.

Canada has banned the TikTok app from government-issued devices, saying it presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.

TikTok and ByteDance sued in U.S. federal court in May, seeking to block a law signed by President Joe Biden.

The law, signed by Biden on April 24, gives ByteDance until Jan. 19 to sell TikTok or face a ban. The White House has said it wants to see Chinese-based ownership ended on national-security grounds but not a ban on TikTok.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa and Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Rod Nickel)
Lancaster County and Chester County voters chose not to approve massive school bonds, unofficial election results show.

Almost 60% of voters picked no on the school bond in Lancaster County, with all precincts reporting. Results wont be official until theyre certified later this week. The bond wouldve built new Indian Land schools and renovate facilities elsewhere. The five northernmost precincts supported the bond and everything farther south opposed it, among posted results.

The Lancaster County School District asked voters to approve what may be a state record $588 million school bond.

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The proposal included a new high school and elementary school in Indian Land. Two more new elementary schools would consolidate four facilities in Lancaster, Kershaw and Heath Springs. The bond included renovations and upgrades throughout the district.

The South Carolina School Boards Association tracks referendum results back to 1978.

Only two votes put more money to schools than the one voters saw on Election Day in Lancaster County. Neither of them were true bond votes. Each was a sales tax to fund schools.

The Lancaster school bond was debated in numerous school district and community forums. Groups like Vote Yes Lancaster School Bond and Lancaster Vote No School Bond formed online.

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Support came from parents concerned with school overcrowding, particularly in Indian Land. Opposition focused on the high price, the amount of resources devoted solely to the countys panhandle and the need for a new high school.

More than than half of the registered voters in Lancaster County cast ballots before Tuesday. More than 38,000 early and absentee ballots make up 54% of all voters. York County had 53% of its registered voters participate early. Chester County was at 45%.

York School District bond

The York School District asked voters for $90 million to pay for a new middle school, expansion and renovation of district facilities. The plan included the conversion of the districts alternative learning school, York One Academy, into an early childhood learning center.

More than 64% of the votes in York supported the bond, with all precincts reported.

Chester County School District bond

The Chester County School District asked for $227 million to replace Chester and Lewisville high schools with new facilities. The bond also included money to upgrade classrooms, security, gym and fine arts space.

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Like the even larger amount in Lancaster County, the bond request in Chester County is higher than any approved school bond amount on record in the Rock Hill region. A $226 million bond approved by Fort Mill voters in 2015 was the highest heading into Election Day.

Chester County voters did see the only one larger, when they turned down a $263 million bond two years ago.

About 54% of votes were against the school bond once all precincts reported.

Historic school bond vote results

Coming into election day, six school districts across the three-county Rock Hill region had a 71% passage rate for 38 bonds all-time.

Lancaster County (67%) and Chester County (17%) fell below that mark. York (80%) passed bonds at a higher rate.

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The Lancaster County bond Tuesday was more than twice the amount of all three of its prior referendum questions combined. Voters turned down a $30 million school bond in 1991 and a $37 million bond in 1999.

The school district went the other way in 2016. Thats when 74% of voters approved a $199 million bond for a new high school in Indian Land, an elementary school and other upgrades.

York approved four bonds from 1985 to 2007, combining for $119 million. Voters there voted against a $69 million bond in 2003.

Chester County last passed a bond in 1996.

Since 1989 there were five failed bonds, including three in the last six years. Before Tuesdays decision, Chester County voters turned down $482 million worth of bonds while passing only the $19 million vote almost three decades ago.

This is a developing story.
By James Oliphant

(Reuters) - Republican Donald Trump was on the verge of a convincing win over Democrat Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election, avenging his own loss to President Joe Biden four years ago.

How did Trump pull it off? He had the fortune of running when Americans were frustrated by high prices and, to a lesser extent, illegal immigration across the U.S. southern border.

Those were Trump's signature issues, ones that proved to be anvils that weighed down Vice President Harris' candidacy. The result was a quicker-than-expected set of returns that placed Trump on the cusp of securing the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House.

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Here are some takeaways from the exit polls and results:

TOUGH SLEDDING

The national exit poll of voters conducted by Edison Research underscored what public opinion surveys had long shown: Voters are in a bad mood and have been for some time.

Three-fourths of voters surveyed by Edison said the country was going in a negative direction. Of those voters, 61% went for Trump. Of the voters who called themselves "angry," 71% backed the Republican.

Voters who said the economy was their top concern broke 79% to 20% for Trump, according the poll.

Voters who believe abortion should be a legal procedure in most instances surprisingly only backed Harris 51% to 47%, suggesting Trump's efforts to blur his position may have partially negated one of her largest advantages.

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Trump said he opposed a federal abortion ban but that states are free to pass laws as restricted or unrestricted as they choose. He also became a vocal advocate for having insurers cover the cost of in vitro fertilization, or IVF, treatments.

Perhaps most notably for Harris, the three-fourths of voters who said they felt U.S. democracy was "threatened" split their vote evenly between the two candidates.

While Democrats have pointed to Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election as proof of his authoritarian tendencies, Trump has argued he was a target for politically minded prosecutors in the Biden administration.

TREND LINESAs the evening progressed, Harris and Trump each prevailed in the early states they had been expected to win. Trump's lead in electoral votes continued to build.

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Edison Research projected Trump would win the battleground states of Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, while Fox News projected Trump to be the winner of the election. Other news organizations had not yet called the election.

As Trump drew near to an official victory, there were some emerging trends that helped illustrate how he did it.

Though many blocs of voters were supporting the Democratic or Republican candidate in similar numbers to 2020, according to the exit polls, Trump was showing greater strength with male voters of color and with voters under 45 compared to four years ago.

He also appeared to be holding onto enough women supporters in America's suburbs to prevail despite Harris' best attempts to pull them away. The national exit poll showed Trump with a 51% to 47% edge with suburban white women voters.

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VOTERS OF COLOR

The Trump campaign put a great deal of effort into persuading Black and Latino voters to defect from the Democratic Party  and there were some indications those efforts paid off.

In North Carolina, exit polls showed Trump boosting his share of the Black vote to 12%, from 5% in 2020. He garnered the support of 20% of Black male voters, the poll said.

According to the Edison national poll, Trump's support among Latino male voters jumped 18 percentage points from four years ago.

Trump was up 11 percentage points with Latino voters in Nevada, according to the poll, and up 4 points in Arizona from four years ago. He was on track to do as well or better than Republican President George W. Bush did 20 years ago, when Bush garnered 44% of Hispanic voters.

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Trump was projected to win in North Carolina despite exit polls showing a 5-point slide in support among white voters compared with four years ago.

In Pennsylvania, Trump's support among white voters dropped 3 percentage points compared with four years ago, Edison said  and his support was down 4 points among white male voters.

But he was able to make up for that drop in support by picking up voters of color.

A GENDER GAP?

Harris campaign was looking to exploit a large gender gap in the electorate, with the hope that legions of women voters would flock to the vice president because of issues such as abortion rights.

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But Trump seemed to hold onto the support of at least white women voters, according to exit polls. Black women overwhelmingly supported Harris.

In Pennsylvania, Trump was maintaining close to the same level of support among white women voters that he enjoyed in 2020. That was also true in Georgia.

Trump's campaign, conversely, paid significant attention to pulling in male voters, particularly young men, through social media, sports, podcasts and online gaming.

National exit polls showed Harris picking up less support among women  54%  than Biden did in 2020 when he received 57%.

AN AGE GAP

The national exit poll showed Trump slightly edging Harris among men between the ages of 18 and 44 and beating her solidly with men 45 and up.

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In Michigan and Wisconsin, Trump was up 5 percentage points with overall voters under 45 compared with four years ago. In Nevada, he jumped 6 points with those voters.

Trump won new voters, a relatively small share of the electorate, by 9 percentage points over Harris.

But at the same time, Trump appeared to be losing ground with older voters, according to the polls.

In Wisconsin, Trump's share of voters 65 and older fell 11 points from 2020. In Michigan, he fell 6 points.

Trump won the 65-and-over vote over Biden in 2020 by 3 percentage points. In the Edison national poll for 2024, Harris and Trump were essentially tied.

(Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Daniel Wallis and Deepa Babington)
Of all the tidbits from Tuesdays vote that appear to defy all logic, its this thats perhaps the most staggering.

Latino voters, historically some of the most maligned in Donald Trump s rally speeches and by his legislative agenda, seem to have shouldered a significant share of the responsibility for carrying the Republican president-elect to victory.

Early voting data suggests Trump enjoyed the support of 45 percent of Latino voters against Kamala Harris  53%, constituting a mind-boggling 25 percent swing in his favor among the demographic compared to his results in the run-off against Joe Biden in 2020.

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It also stands against the 33 percent loss he suffered four years ago on his 2016 results, potentially representing the most potent Republican performance among Latino voters in almost 20 years.

The swing is thought to have been largely driven by Latino men, who threw their backing behind Trump at an average of ten points over Harris.

As the fastest growing portion of the electorate, internal polling from the Democratic Party indicates this historically blue-leaning demographic has been steadily shifting toward the right in recent years.

Despite the racist, often even fascistic tone of Trumps recent remarks, Axios reports that many Latino voters appear to share the president-elects concerns over the rate of undocumented migrants passing into the United States across the southern border.

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Its not a trend that has passed Republicans by, either.

Ted Cruz the firebrand Texas senator who is himself Cuban American, and who successfully fought off his Democratic challenger Colin Allred in Tuesdays pollsdedicated a sizable portion of his victory speech to Spanish-speaking voters who had backed his re-election bid.

We are seeing tonight generational change in South Texas, Cruz said on Tuesday. This decisive victory should shake the Democrat establishment to its core.

Sentiments, it seems, that would appear to have applied across the country as the presidential results came in over the following hours.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
Pasco is now home to four legal pot shops.

The newest is Lucky Leaf Co. and is licensed under a unique Washington program bringing diversity and equity to an industry that racked up $1.2 billion in sales last year.

David Slim Penn Jr. opened Pascos second Lucky Leaf store this week. He is partners with Lucky Leaf owner David Morgan, who operates stores in both Spokane and Pasco with his wife, Shilo.

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Penn, who is Black, is 51% owner of the downtown location. The store is one of five so-called social equity stores licensed by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.

The category was created in 2020 to award licenses to people who have been shut out of the industry because they lack income or have been affected by poverty or because their families were affected by the war on drugs, which led to a disproportionate number of minorities being convicted of cannabis-related crimes.

Penn is running his new venture with his longtime partner Jamie Badden, who serves as the stores general manager. The couple have 17 employees, many recruited from the neighborhoods around the store at 528 W. Clark St., near Moon Security.

Owner David Slim Penn Jr. discusses the process of opening the Lucky Leaf Co. cannabis store in downtown Pasco.

Penn is thrilled to be part of downtown and to secure a future for his family.

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Its about getting minorities into this cannabis world and building generational wealth, he said.

Pasco roots

Penn and Morgan are longtime friends with roots in east Pasco. Penn supported Morgan when he pushed the Pasco City Council to reverse its ban on legal cannabis sales to adults in 2022.

The council removed the ban in 2023, leading to three stores opening by this spring, all operating under standard licenses. Pasco is home to a Lucky Leaf on Road 68, Green2Go on Road 90 and Pacific Outpost on Court Street.

Penn said hes ready to be part of the downtown revival by employing local contractors for his business and being a good neighbor. He intends to channel store profits into a youth-focused nonprofit.

Employee Andrea Santillan sets up the displays at the new Lucky Leaf Co. cannabis store.

Penn and Badden initially planned to open their shop on East A Street, near the Amazon warehouse complex.

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It was one of the few spots that met the states strict rules about keeping cannabis retailers away from schools and other other sensitive spots.

They were deep into planning when the A Street landlords realized they couldnt lease to a cannabis business because their loan was guaranteed by the federal government via the U.S. Small Business Administration. Cannabis remains illegal under U.S. law.

Electrician Clayton Purser works on the final steps of installing new signs at the Lucky Leaf cannabis store on Clark Street.

The couple turned to their backup location, a former bank spot near Moon Security. The property owner was agreeable and they leased the 2500-square-foot space.

They gutted the interior and rebuilt, investing about $30,000 in the new interior, including a secured back area where inventory is managed.

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Penn said he is channeling his mother in his new business, vowing to bring excellence even when no one is looking.

Being excellent to my mom is cleaning the bathroom and cleaning behind the toilet, he said.

He built his first business as a child, offering to mow a neighbors law. The neighbor made a deal: Penn would mow his yard every Friday, then could use the mower over the weekend as long as he provided his own gas. He was a paper boy as well, working a Tri-City Herald route, including collecting fees from subscribers.

I remember those 20 pound papers, he said, only slightly exaggerating the heft of Sunday papers laden with inserts.

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He attended Pasco High, then joined the army, serving as a heavy equipment mechanic. The military helped him mature, he said, calling the memory a blessing.

Employee Junior Jacquez rings up a customer at the new Lucky Leaf Co. cannabis store in Pasco.

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Community building

The social equity program created an opportunity for him to own his own business. He wants the store to give its workers the same opportunity to develop their own careers.

I want my people to use my store as a trampoline, he said.

Lucky Leaf held its soft opening the weekend after Halloween as customers arrived at its door. It isnt fully stocked, but it is catering to those it can and sending others to its fully open rivals.

A display of drink products at the new Lucky Leaf Co. cannabis store in downtown Pasco.

Once fully open, Lucky Leaf in downtown will be open the maximum hours allowed under law: 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Eight days, if we could, he joked.

Washington voters legalized recreational cannabis use for adults in 2012, but the impact is blunted locally because of a series of local bans like the one Pasco implemented. Franklin County and the cities of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and West Richland all banned cannabis stores from opening in their jurisdictions.

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The bans on retail sales do not make it illegal under state law for adults to possess or use cannabis.

Benton County followed suit, but only after several stores opened in unincorporated areas, including Green2Go in Finley and Nirvana Cannabis Co. next to West Richland. Its ban did not apply to the already-open stores.

A display of cannabis products at the new Lucky Leaf Co. cannabis store in downtown Pasco.

Ongoing battle

Pasco is the only city to allow legal cannabis stores.

Efforts to allow stores in Richland and West Richland have failed. In August, West Richland voters overwhelmingly advised the city council to hold firm on its cannabis ban, with 56% of nearly 4,000 ballots cast saying they oppose marijuana sales in the city.

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As of this spring Washington had issued 473 cannabis retail licenses, according to a May 2024 analysis by economist Beau Whitney, commissioned by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, which oversees implementation of the cannabis rules.

The report concludes that the legal stores collectively sell about 50-55% of cannabis or marijuana sold in the state. Illicit sales account for the rest. If all cannabis sales were channeled through legal stores, the state could support nearly 800 licenses, the report noted.

Owner David Slim Penn Jr. and his partner, Jamie Badden, hired 17 employees to open Pascos newest cannabis store.

For fiscal 2024, the state distributed nearly $23 million in cannabis-related taxes to the cities and counties that allow stores. The state retains most of the money generated to support health and education initiatives, resulting in relatively paltry checks for local governments.

In the Mid-Columbia, Benton County received nearly $479,000, Benton City received $6,200, and Prosser received $23,400.

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The city of Pasco does not appear on the 2024 distribution list because its stores havent been open a full year. It confirmed it received a quarterly cannabis payment of $11,000 on Sept. 30.

Jon Funfar, spokesman for the city of Pasco, said the city will earmark cannabis tax proceeds to support its parks.
Kris Warner, the executive director of the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, won the Republican primary for Secretary of State on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Courtesy photo)

Kris Warner, director of the state Economic Development Authority, will be West Virginias next secretary of state.

Warner, a Republican and brother to outgoing secretary of state Mac Warner, won the general election over Democrat opponent Thornton Cooper, a South Charleston attorney.

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The Associated Press called the race for Warner at 8:46 p.m. Tuesday, when Warner had pulled in about 70% of the votes that had been counted, compared to Coopers 30%, according to unofficial results.

Mac Warner is among Republicans who have denied the results of the 2020 election, which then President Donald Trump lost to President Joe Biden. Asked if he shared the same views as his brother, Kris Warner told West Virginia Watch in May the election was not stolen in West Virginia, but he was not in a position to talk about whether it was stolen in other states.

Warner handily beat his Republican opponents in the May primary election, despite being outspent, something he attributed then to his more than three decades of experience with the state Republican Party, including five years as the party chair.

Warners campaign against primary election opponent Doug Skaff, a former Democrat, was promoted by the Conservative Policy Action, a federally registered political action committee.

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Mark Scott, the states former Administration Secretary, resigned in July after serving in that role and as chairman of the PAC for months, according to reporting by West Virginia MetroNews. Reporting by the Charleston Gazette-Mail found heavy ties between the PAC and beneficiaries of the Economic Development Authority. He did not respond to the newspapers request for comment at the time.

Another of Kris Warners opponents in the primary, Ken Reed filed a complaint asking the secretary of states office to investigate the ties. A spokesman for the secretary of states office said state law prohibits the office from confirming the existence of an investigation into an election complaint or an outcome.

As of mid-October, Warner had outraised Cooper $157,000 to $22,000, according to campaign finance reports.

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GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  With multiple tight races, WNCT is taking a deeper dive on what has been seen throughout this years election.

WNCT reached out to East Carolina University political expert Dr. Peter Francia to give a breakdown as to why the numbers were so close this year, especially in North Carolina.

The democrats perform competitively, which is why its still placed on the map as a battleground state, Dr. Francia said. But, their won/loss record in North Carolina is not very good. The Republicans seem to win these close races in North Carolina time and time again. Last night again was no exception.

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Click the above video to see more.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
On the eve of Election Day, the FBI and the federal agencies responsible for cyber security and national intelligence issued a joint statement, warning Americans that Russian nationalists were behind bogus accounts of election fraud, including a video that claimed fake overseas ballots for Kamala Harris were being created in Arizona.

The motive, according to U.S. officials: sowing seeds of doubt in the integrity of the presidential election to further divide Americans and weaken the country.

Scary? Yes. A new phenomenon born in era of social media and digitally altered images?

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Hardly.

Truth is, manipulation via the media is as old as America itself. Ben Franklin, in an effort to gain sympathy from France and other Europeans nations, produced a fake newspaper that looked exactly like the real Boston Independent Chronicle to falsely claim Britain had enlisted Native Americans to brutally attack revolutionaries.

At The Enquirer, were constantly on guard to prevent bad actors from using us to spread propaganda and falsehoods. During election season, were on high alert, knowing that savvy campaign managers carefully time news releases to put their candidate in the best light possible; meanwhile, political foes often toss out accusations against each other, hopeful that one sticks.

With less than a week before Election Day, our defense mechanisms against becoming a political pawn were put to the test.

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Opponents of Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers  armed with an affidavit signed by Democrat State Rep. Cecil Thomas  asked the court to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate claims that Powers, a Republican, backdated a court entry in 2021 when she was a juvenile court judge. We were provided with a copy of the complaint a day before it was filed.

Hamilton County Prosecutor elect Connie Pillich speaks to members of the media during an election night watch party at OTR StillHouse in Over-the-Rhine.

Was the accusation legit, or was this a manufactured October surprise designed to create bad press before the election? Heres what went on behind the scenes at The Enquirer after catching this political hot potato.

As fate would have it, both prosecutor candidates  Powers and her challenger, Connie Pillich  were scheduled to meet with our editorial board the day the complaint was filed. Pillich said she was unaware of the complaint. Powers staff, on the other hand, knew it was coming and had their response all but crafted. As we reported, Powers and her team explained the court entry in question was not backdated, which would have been illegal. Rather, Powers said she corrected a clerical error by issuing a new court entry. Thats legal.

A high-ranking staffer with the prosecutors office urged me not to run the story, calling it the dirtiest of dirty politics. I explained that because there was a court filing, which included an affidavit from an elected official (Thomas), it was impossible for us to ignore. But I promised him our reporting would be thorough and responsible, understanding the timing of the court filing was extremely suspicious.

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Two reporters started working the phones, talking to sources in an effort to find the truth. We learned the story had been out there for a week or so, with local Democrats shopping it around to at least one other news outlet. No one would touch it, perhaps forcing their hand to involve the court.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers was chosen to serve out Joe Deters' term as prosecutor after he was appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court.

The complaint was filed by Joshua Engel, a Warren County-based attorney and registered Democrat who had his law license suspended for six months in 2012. Why was it filed by someone outside Hamilton County? Not to state the obvious, but the fact Pillich supporters couldnt find a local attorney willing to dirty his hands, so to speak, speaks volumes.

Before publishing the story, we had to settle on what exactly was the story. Or, put another way, what was the most ethical and responsible way to frame it with the election only days away? We decided the lead (or lede, as we often style it in our business) was that an accusation was filed against Powers by political opponents, and she flatly denied it, calling attention to the political timing.

In the end, Pillich narrowly defeated Powers by 2 percentage points, solidifying the Democrats dominance in Hamilton County with an office they havent held in decades.

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Was Powers loss inevitable in a blue county? Will a special prosecutor be named? Was there a there there, or did Cecil Thomas overreach? And, most intriguing to me, who provided Thomas with the information in the first place. Hes not saying.

Whats not in doubt is the fact those questions werent going to be answered before the election. And we had a decision to make.

Did we make the right call? As always, I appreciate hearing your thoughts.

Enquirer Executive Editor Beryl Love writes a biweekly column that takes you behind the scenes at The Enquirer. Occasionally, he shares his thoughts on local issues, particularly as they pertain to a free press and open government. Email him at blove@enquirer.com. He cant respond personally to every email, but he reads them all.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Claim against Powers in Hamilton County prosecutor race tests newsroom
Much will be studied, analyzed and written for years to come about why Americans voted an openly authoritarian leader back into power in apparently greater margins than they did eight years ago. What's clearer and more important at this moment is what millions of our fellow citizens did by putting Donald Trump back in the White House.

Today we must reckon with the harsh reality that authoritarianism has arrived in America, that its broadly popular and that millions of our fellow citizens have given it their votes. We are entering a dark and dangerous time. But while this is a moment of reckoning that we must acknowledge, we should also refuse to give in to despair and continue to assert and rely on our rights and protections as Americans.

Read more: Opinion: Foreign interference is now the norm, and it could fuel more violence under Trump

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Over the next four years, the worlds most powerful office will be inhabited by a twice-impeached convicted felon with a history of flouting laws and norms  a narcissist who fomented the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and has promised to make decisions based on retribution and prejudice rather than what's best for the country. Americans are right to be frightened and disillusioned by the resurgence of a man who ran on racism and sexism. Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, spent the closing days and weeks of their campaign spewing racist vitriol and calling Vice President Kamala Harris a b.

Though large swaths of the country, chief among them California, rejected Trump's fearmongering, it was not enough to overcome his appeal across much of the nation. Huge segments of American voters, some concerned about immigration and the rising cost of living, preferred Trump, with all his glaring flaws and demonstrated incompetence, to a more qualified woman of color. His victory has us wrestling with the question of how two such starkly different visions of the United States coexist.

Trump's agenda is poised to further erode many of our rights, especially those of women, LGBTQ+ Americans and immigrants. We can expect him to use the office in blatantly transactional ways and be easily manipulated by opportunistic actors, foreign and domestic. He has promised to abandon U.S. allies, including Ukraine, and give Israel free rein to, as he told Benjamin Netanyahu last month,  do what you have to do. 

Read more: Abcarian: Trump would allow RFK Jr. to infect the body politic with crackpot theories

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We can also expect the weaponization of basic government services, including aid for disasters such as wildfires, which Trump has said he could withhold from California. He has always been eager to undo environmental and climate protections. There will be more attacks on science, as evidenced by his willingness to give Robert F. Kennedy Jr. control of health policy. And he has threatened to round up millions of immigrants in deportation camps.

Thanks to a deferential Supreme Court, a subservient Republican Party that won a Senate majority and a determination to assemble a more pliant administration, there will be fewer checks on his power.

Many of Trump's former staff members who have worked closest with him have warned that he is unfit for office and a grave threat to our democracy. His election does not change any of that. History has shown that dictators often come into power through democratic means.

Times like these test the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous words that "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice  even as modified by former President Obama, who added that progress is bumpy. It always has been.

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But we still enjoy safeguards in the state and federal constitutions, the courts, the rule of law, the free press and democracy  even if they are tested like never before. We still have legions of elected officials, civil servants, advocates and journalists who will use their positions to resist the next administration's excesses.

California will once again play an indispensable role in defending individual liberties and protecting vulnerable communities as well as defending environmental protections. We endured Trumps tumultuous first term and we will get through the next one.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A national political earthquake dominated the election night news, but, closer to home, Chicagos first-ever Board of Education election created tremors of its own.

As we write, four school board candidates endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union appear to have won seats in 10 districts. One of those ran unopposed, so CTU-backed candidates won only a third of the contested races.

The apparent victors in the remaining six districts are a combination of candidates supported with funding from school choice advocates (which CTU pilloried as out-of-state billionaires) and independents.

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The union has attempted to spin the seats it won as some sort of repudiation of big money in politics, but few will buy that story. Money mattered, for sure, but the CTU spent as much or more as did its political enemies. And the union, having elected its own mayor in 2023, was believed to have the clear upper hand in terms of organization and boots on the ground.

Whats remarkable then is that an election in which the CTU had every advantage (unfamiliar candidates, public confusion over districts, a paucity of time to organize opposition) ended up sending six non-CTU people to the new 21-member Chicago Board of Education. Mayor Brandon Johnson will get to appoint 11 new members, giving him and his CTU friends control for another two years, until voters get to elect the full board. But, critically, there will immediately be several voices of dissent on this board, a result the CTU desperately wanted to avoid.

Clearly, voters in a majority of districts searched out which candidates the CTU endorsed and attempted to line up behind alternatives believed to have the best chance of winning. Thats a clear rebuke, and the union ought to get the message that it is badly overreaching in its push for 9% annual raises for teachers and a massive state bailout to prop up a bloated school system. Will it? We wont hold our breath.

The other big loser is Johnson, the former CTU organizer whom the public rightly believes is in thrall to the union. For the second time this year, voters have sent him a stark message that they intensely dislike the direction in which hes attempting to take Chicago. The first example, of course, was the startling voter rejection in spring of his Bring Chicago Home referendum to quadruple tax rates on sales of property worth more than $1.5 million (covering essentially all commercial property sales and multifamily buildings).

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Johnson didnt appear to get the first message, preferring to blame billionaires. Will he register this second?

Progressive policies were unequivocally rejected, both nationally and locally, on Tuesday. Politicians (and unions doubling as political machines) will ignore these results at their political peril.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Edwardsville residents voted Tuesday to create an additional sales tax that city officials plan to use for building a new City Hall, and police and fire stations.

Voters supported two separate ballot measures that each carry a half-cent tax on every retail dollar spent in the town. Both passed by margins above 56%, according to unofficial results from the Wyandotte County Election Office.

City leaders pitched the plan to residents as a necessary measure to rebuild aging and inadequate buildings.

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The local police station is a modular building  essentially a series of trailers bolted together  that was purchased for $1 in 2014. Early redesign plans developed for the city envision briefing rooms, secure file storage, holding cells and locker rooms.

Under the concept pitched to residents, the city will build a new City Hall and police station as one. That building would also include a public library and computer lab.

The fire station, whose chief is in an office trailer outside the main building, would see an addition to include separate sleeping quarters and other modern features.

The ballot measures had support from city council members and the mayor. Edwardsville City Manager Mark Mathies told The Star previously that the hope is to pay off the bonds  in part thanks to projected economic growth in the town  within a 10-year window.

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Mathies said during an interview last month the citys plan is a very conservative one that will also accomplish longer term goals of making a new public square the community can be proud of.

Were not just building Taj Mahal, he said.

City officials put the two measures on the ballot to align with Kansas legal caps on sales tax initiatives.

Half of the penny is a special sales tax with a 10-year sunset. The measure earmarks the tax dollars collected to pay off roughly $16 million in bonds authorized under the same vote.

The other half is technically an unrestricted sales tax collection with no statutory end date. Elected and administrative leaders have said those funds are pledged to the project, promising to phase out the tax when the debt is paid.

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Edwardsville, a small town of roughly 4,700 residents, has little retail to tax.

But the city is home to a large industrial park. And under Kansas law, retailers are required to abide by destination-based rules that consider where a product ends up. That provides Edwardsville the ability to tax sales on items purchased elsewhere that are shipped into town.

City officials have described the sales tax as a way to raise the money needed for the project without overburdening residents. It comes as Wyandotte County leaders face heightened pressure to lessen the cost of property taxes.

The total project cost is estimated at roughly $18 million. The added sales tax is expected to generate roughly $900,000 in its first year.
CaroMont Health, in collaboration with InVita Healthcare Technologies and LifeShare Carolinas, has introduced iReferral, North Carolina's first electronic organ and tissue donor referral system.

iReferral streamlines the process of notifying organ procurement organisations (OPOs) about potential donors directly from the hospital's electronic medical records (EMR). It also enhances efficiency and regulatory compliance.

The technology is designed to replace CaroMonts previous manual method of referral, which involved time-consuming phone calls to OPOs.

CaroMont Regional Medical Center critical care services director Brian Grieg said: Providing the latest software and tools to enhance the patient experience ensures CaroMont Health can continue to provide the best care to our community.

It is critical to seamlessly connect individuals with supportive specialists and this programme expands our ability to provide compassionate care when patients and their families are at their most vulnerable. For organ donation, timing is everything.

With iReferral, CaroMont's nurses can stay with their patients while securely submitting referrals through a web portal, eliminating the need for manual data entry and expediting the donation process.

LifeShare Carolinas chief operating officer Ericka Harrison said: We are grateful to our partners at CaroMont for their continued dedication to organ, eye, and tissue donation. The decision to implement this new technology highlights the hospitals commitment to honouring the wishes of those who want to donate organs, eyes, and tissue to save and improve lives.

CaroMont is the first hospital in LifeShares service area to take this huge step toward ensuring that no opportunities for donation are missed.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandates that hospitals notify their federally designated OPO of all potential organ, eye, and tissue donors.

With over one hundred thousand Americans awaiting life-saving transplants, the iReferral system directly improves compliance with these federal mandates and aims to increase the number of lives saved.

InVita Healthcare Technologies donation and transplant chief product officer and general manager Wade Liu said: At InVita we are continuing to launch these interfaces in partnership with OPOs and hospitals across the country in support of revolutionising the organ, eye, and tissue donor referral process.

As a direct result of each implementation we have seen tremendous outcomes demonstrating improved compliance to federal mandates and more lives saved.
Idahoans for Open Primaries spokesman Luke Mayville addresses the crowd to announce that Proposition 1 did not get enough votes to pass in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, during the Prop 1 watch party in Downtown Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

In one of the most closely watched elections in Idaho, the Proposition 1 ballot initiative that sought to end closed party primary elections and bring ranked-choice voting to general elections, was defeated, according to unofficial election results released Tuesday night by the Idaho Secretary of States Office.



The Associated Press called the race at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday.

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According to results released at 2:15 a.m. Wednesday by the Idaho Secretary of States Office, 69.6% of Idaho voters voted against Proposition 1, while 30.4% of voters voted for it, with 33 of Idahos 44 counties fully reporting. Incomplete election results show 537,553 voters voted against Proposition 1, while 234,407 voters voted in favor of it.

Were looking to have some big wins tonight and defeat Prop 1 big time, Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon said to a round of applause at the Idaho GOP election night watch party Tuesday night in Meridian.

Proposition 1 required a simple majority of votes to be approved.



Proposition 1 supporters issued a news release at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday conceding the initiative did not have the votes to pass.

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We are full of pride that we dared to take on the biggest structural problem facing Idaho: the closed primaries, Luke Mayville, Idahoans for Open Primaries spokesperson, said in a written statement. Its never easy to reform a broken system. But one thing is clear to us after talking with hundreds of thousands of voters: Even if Idahoans didnt support our specific proposal, the vast majority believe the closed primary system is broken. Its only a matter of time before Idahoans demand reform.

Election results do not become official in Idaho until they are certified by the Idaho State Board of Canvassers, which will happen Nov. 26 at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise.

We are all hoping that Proposition 1 goes down, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador said Tuesday night at the Idaho GOP election party.

Before the election, the Idaho Republican Party, Republicans in the Idaho House of Representatives and Gov. Brad Little came out in opposition to Proposition 1. The Idaho Education Association, former Republican Gov. Butch Otter, the Idahoans for Open Primaries coalition that includes Reclaim Idaho and the Idaho chapter of Mormon Women for Ethical Government and a group of about 50 former Republican elected officials came out in support of Proposition 1.

Dorothy Moon, chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party, addresses partygoers at the Idaho Republican Partys general election watch party on Nov. 5, 2024, in Meridian. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

How does Idahos Proposition 1 work?

In Idaho a ballot initiative is a form of direct democracy where the voters  not the Idaho Legislature  decide whether to pass a law. If it would have passed, Proposition 1 would have changed primary elections and general elections in Idaho. Proposition 1 would have repealed Idahos closed party primary law, House Bill 351, which the Idaho Legislature passed in 2011. Under the 2011 closed primary law, political parties do not have to let voters vote in their primary election unless they are affiliated with that political party.



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In Idaho, more than 275,000 of the states 1 million registered voters are unaffiliated voters who are not allowed to vote in closed party primary elections, such as the Republican, Libertarian or Constitution Party primary elections.

Only the Idaho Democratic Party allowed outside voters to vote in its primary elections, the Idaho Secretary of States Office said.

Instead of closed party primary elections, Proposition 1 called for a single, nonpartisan primary election that is open to all voters and all political candidates, regardless of party affiliation. The four primary election candidates who received the most votes all advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. That would have meant that there could be multiple candidates from the same political party  or even races with candidates all from the same political party  in the general election.

For the general election, Proposition 1 would have created a system of ranked-choice voting, which is sometimes called an instant runoff system, in the general election. Under that system, voters pick their favorite candidate and then have the option to rank the remaining candidates in order of preference  second choice, third and fourth. Voters are not required to rank all candidates if they dont want to. Voters ballots will still be counted even if they dont rank the candidates.

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To count the results in the general election, the candidate with the fewest votes would have been eliminated and their votes would have transferred to the next-highest-ranked active candidate on ballots where other candidates were ranked. That process would have continued until there were two candidates remaining and the candidate with the most votes would be elected the winner.

Even if Idaho voters approved Prop 1, the Idaho Legislature could have still blocked it or changed it

Even if voters had approved Proposition 1, the Idaho Legislature could have still amended or repealed it, just like any other state law. In the lead up to the election, two prominent members of the Idaho House of Representatives, House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, and Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, told the Idaho Capital Sun that they did foresee scenarios where Republicans in the Idaho House would amend or repeal Proposition 1, even if voters approve it.

The 2025 Idaho legislative session is scheduled to convene Jan. 6, less than nine weeks away.

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Good morning, Greater Lansing!

It's the day after, and the voters have spoken. Follow along today as we cover the aftermath of Tuesday's local elections and what that means here in mid-Michigan.

Slotkin score narrow win over Rogers

Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin was declared the winner of a tight race for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat on Wednesday afternoon, beating Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, 48.6%-48.3%.

With 99% of the estimated vote total counted, the Associated Press called the race for Slotkin shortly after 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The difference in the vote total at the time of the call was 18,435 votes.

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- Todd Spangler

MSU board race remains tight

The race for two open seats on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees was so close votes were still being counted Thursday morning.

Mike Balow, a Plymouth Republican, had 25% of the vote with more than 95% of precincts reporting as of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to unofficial results. How the rest of the race was to play out remained to be seen.

Julie Maday, R-Novi, had 24.2% of the vote, but so did Rebecca Bahar-Cook, D-Lansing. Bahar-Cook was trailing by roughly 9,000 votes, a razor-thin margin in a statewide election.The fourth candidate, Thomas Stallworth, D-Detroit, had 23% of the vote.

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- Sarah Atwood

Slotkin-Rogers race too close to call

More than 12 hours after voting ended, the race for Michigans U.S. Senate is too close to call.

As of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, with more than 95% of the states unofficial results having been released, Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake and Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Holly are effectively tied.

Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties have released their full unofficial results.

It was a close race in Eaton County where Rogers took 50.1% of the vote, according to unofficial results. In Clinton County, 53% of voters backed Rogers.

And 66% of Ingham County voters went for Slotkin, according to unofficial results.

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 Matt Mencarini

Eaton, Ingham county-wide proposals

No to increasing the operating millage in Eaton County.

Yes to a special millage in Ingham County for housing for low-income and underhoused people.

No to an increase in the hotel excise tax in Ingham County, which would have been used to encourage tourism and convention business in the county.

More: Voters reject two county-wide proposals - one in Eaton and one in Ingham

State House races

Incumbent Democrat Angela Witwer won a close race over Republican challenger Andy Shaver in the Michigan 76th District.

Incumbent Democrats Julie Brixie (73rd District), Kara Hope (74th District), Penelope Tsernoglou (75th District) and Emily Dievendorf (77th District) were re-elected, as were incumbent Republicans Brian BeGole (71st District) and Gina Johnsen (78th District)

Vote totals for contested races

Barrett wins in 7th Congressional District

Republican Tom Barrett of Charlotte flipped the tightly contested 7th District, beating Democrat Curtis Hertel, according to the Associated Press. It was considered among the most competitive U.S. House races in the country.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Election 2024 live updates: Recap: Here's what happened on Election Day
(This story has been updated to add new information.)

Palm Beach County voters have overwhelmingly supported extending the schools' portion of a 2016 penny sales tax increase that has helped schools as well as local cities and unincorporated Palm Beach County.

With 100% of precincts reporting, 60% of voters approved the sales tax referendum, according to the Supervisor of Elections Office. Nearly 690,00 voters weighed in on the ballot question.

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Now that the half-penny question is settled, Palm Beach County's sales tax will actually drop to 6.5% from 7%. Voters in 2016 agreed to a full penny increase in the sales tax to 7% from 6%, but that increase will sunset in December 2025.

Half of that 2016 increase went to the schools and the other half-penny went to the county and municipalities. Now, the county and cities are not attempting to renew their half of the increase.

 Palm Beach County 2024 General Election Results

 2024 Florida General Election Results

The money from the sales tax increase is being used primarily to upgrade school buildings: replacing aging roofs, restrooms, upgrading lighting and HVAC systems throughout local schools, enhancing school security, buying buses and updating technology.

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The money will be shared with charter schools, which are public schools run by private boards of directors.

The half-penny increase will go into effect in January 2026 and is projected to generate $2 billion over 10 years. The tax would end in 2035 regardless of how much money it raises.

More on how the sales tax works: Your November ballot will include a sales tax increase for schools. Here's what to know

Palm Beach County schools sales tax election result: How is the sales tax increase different from previous funding approvals?

Recent construction projects by the School District of Palm Beach County include, clockwise from top left, Dr. Joaquin Garcia High, the exterior of West Boynton Middle School, Blue Lake Elementary School and the interior of West Boynton Middle School. The projects are part of a capital plan that school leaders say they may need to supplement with a sales tax increase starting in 2026.

Sales taxes are paid by any person who buys goods or services in Palm Beach County.

This proposed sales tax increase is different from a property tax increase voters approved in 2018 and again in 2022 that funds teacher pay, school safety and mental health counselors in schools. The property tax increase, which only affects homeowners, began in 2023 and ends in 2027.

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Florida school districts are increasingly looking to voters to approve such ballot measures because a majority of the property tax for schools is controlled by the state.

Unlike the property tax increase, the proposed sales tax increase can be spent only on capital projects such as buildings, new schools and buses. The money cannot be spent to fill needs such as teacher salaries or specific school programs.

"Existing funding streams are not sufficient to maintain current needs due to escalation of construction, materials, and maintenance costs," according to a school district presentation on the proposed sales tax increase. "There are no other funding options available for schools."

Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today!

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County 2024 schools sales tax increase on way to approval
(This story has been updated with new information.)

State Sen. Bobby Powell, Jr., D-West Palm Beach, defeated Republican Richard Serratore to claim the Palm Beach County Commission District 7 seat.

With 99% of precincts reporting, Powell had a 30-point lead over Serratore, collecting just over 52,000 votes to Serratore's 22,000-plus votes.

Powell, 43, is scheduled to be sworn in this month to succeed Mack Bernard, a fellow Democrat who has represented the district for the past eight years.

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Bernard will continue on in public service, returning to the state Legislature as the senator for District 24, which covers coastal Palm Beach County from North Palm Beach to Hypoluxo. Bernard had previously served in the state Legislature as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

Bobby Powell wins as County Commissioner district 7

Powell is following a well-worn path from the state Legislature to the Palm Beach County Commission. Bernard and numerous other commissioners in recent years had previous stints in Tallahassee before winning a seat on the Commission, which, without the back-and-forth trips to the state capital and a $100,000-plus salary, offers a more stable lifestyle.

 Palm Beach County 2024 General Election Results

 2024 Florida General Election Results

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Commissioners in Palm Beach County can serve no more than two consecutive four-year terms.

Powell said his focus would be on providing affordable housing, combating homelessness and mental illness, expanding health care, economic opportunities and early childhood education, addressing traffic, managing growth and preserving the environment.

Florida state Sen. Bobby Powell Jr.

Serratore, 69, was making his third bid for elected office after unsuccessful runs for a seat in the U.S. House. The retired airport operations supervisor faced a tough task in trying to defeat Powell. District 7, which stretches from Riviera Beach and West Palm Beach southward, and includes parts of Palm Beach, Lantana, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach, is heavily Democratic, and voters there have long chosen members of that party to represent them on the Commission.

That reality made the Democratic primary battle between Powell and former West Palm Beach City Commissioner Richard Ryles the true test of who would ultimately represent the district.

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Both men had well-established reputations in Palm Beach County, and both had strong support among Black voters. In Tallahassee, Powell led the state Legislative Black Caucus. Ryles, an attorney, has represented Black clients battling discrimination and was a frequent critic of what he and others viewed as the anti-Black policies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Leonard Serratore

Powell, a project manager for Urban Design Kilday Studios in West Palm Beach, handily defeated Ryles in the primary and is now poised to succeed Bernard.

Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today .

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Election 2024 results: Palm Beach County Commission District 7
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is investigating an altercation Monday between supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and people backing Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, a Democrat running for re-election.

The incident, caught on video, has made it onto social media, prompting a Facebook post from a Trump supporter who accused members of the Police Benevolent Association of acting like Antifa, a network of far-left militants that have been involved in violent demonstrations.

PBSO could not immediately provide any information about the incident, which occurred a day before Election Day, but multiple sources said it is being investigated.

Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association supporters of Sheriff Ric Bradshaw clashed Monday afternoon with Trump supporters at State Road 7 and Okeechobee Boulevard.

The PBA has endorsed Bradshaw and has financially supported him as well. John Kazanjian, its president, said supporters of Michael Gauger, the Republican candidate for sheriff, instigated the incident.

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"These were Gauger people masquerading as Trump supporters. One of them got very aggressive with an off-duty deputy and a scuffle ensured. PBSO is investigating this, and I'm sure the deputy will be cleared," Kazanjian said.

Gauger called Kazanjian's claim that his supports instigated the fight "nonsense."

ELECTION 2024: Canvassers report in-party feuding at one Palm Beach County site

ELECTION 2024: Donald and Melania vote in Palm Beach: Former president said this campaign was his best

On Monday, PBA members arrived at the corner of State Road 7 and Okeechobee Boulevard, the same spot where Trump supporters have rallied for the past six months. Lonnie Weinberg, one of the Trump organizers, said a deputy struck him in the face as he tried to break up the fight.

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"I was barely grazed," said Weinberg, "but there was no reason for this to have occurred. We have been at this same spot more than 20 times and then, out of nowhere, these people (Bradshaw supporters) show up. They (the PBA) had a bad apple who was just too aggressive."

Weinberg noted the man involved in the scuffle with the deputy wore a Trump shirt and carried a Trump flag. If he was a Gauger supporter, he would have been wearing a Gauger shirt, Weinberg said, adding that he disputed the claim that all these people were Gauger supporters.

ELECTION 2024: Voters turn out on Election Day 2024 in Palm Beach County

"We have nothing against the PBSO," he said. "We support law enforcement, but what happened Monday was just wrong."

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Robert Fix, a Trump supporter who was also at therally, posted on Facebook that the Trump people did not invite the the PBA-Bradshaw people to the Trump rally. Kazanjian said the PBA had as much right to be in the area as did the Trump people.

Fix said the off-duty PBSO deputy attacked the Trump supporter.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump supporters tussle with sheriff backers in Palm Beach County
Election Day 2024 is here.

The Deseret News has reporters on the ground throughout the country  from Arizona to Florida to Washington, D.C.  bringing you up-to-the minute news and analysis on the tightly contested presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Were also following the balance of power in the U.S. House and Senate.

Check back for updates throughout the night.

App users can see live coverage here.
Polls have closed in some states and the first results are coming in in the high-stakes presidential match-up between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. According to 538's forecast, both candidates have a roughly equal chance to win.



Voters are still at polling places around the country, casting ballots to decide who controls not only the White House, but also Congress, state and local governments.



Reporters from 538 and ABC News will be following along every step of the way with live updates, analysis and commentary on the results. Keep up to date with our full live blog below!





Latest Developments





Nov 6, 12:51 AM

Uniform swings are not uncommon

Many presidential elections have seen most states swing in the same direction. Here's a figure showing what fraction of states swung towards the Democrats (or GOP in red) between each pair of elections. Tonight's outcome is not unusual. pic.twitter.com/GhZV21fwwf  Dan Hopkins (@dhopkins1776) November 6, 2024









Nov 6, 12:47 AM

Trump wins back Georgia for the GOP and inches closer to victory

PHOTO: (R) Key Race Projected (ABC News)

ABC News has projected that Trump will carry Georgia and its 16 electoral votes. In 2020, Georgia was the closest state in the country, going for Biden by just 0.24 points. This time around, with 97 percent of the expected vote reporting, Trump leads by 2.3 points over Harris, 50.7% to 48.4%. The Georgia win puts Trump at 246 electoral votes, with just 24 more needed to win.





Nov 6, 12:44 AM

Republicans have won 50 Senate seats

With ABC News' projection that Republican businessman Bernie Moreno will win Ohio's Senate seat, a flip for the GOP, the Democrats have lost any real chance at keeping control of the chamber. While they started the night holding 51 seats (including the independents who caucus with them), Democrats can hope now to win at most 50  tying the Republicans in an environment where Trump is overwhelmingly likely to be the next president (and thus, JD Vance will supply Republicans the tie-breaking vote in the Senate).



But things could get even worse for Democrats. Montana's incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester currently trails Republican opponent Tim Sheehy by 20 points in Montana, though just 16 percent of the vote is in. If the votes there go the way they are going in other red-state Senate seats, Tester doesn't stand a chance. And Republicans currently lead the Senate races in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.



If you were waiting up to see who would win the Senate ... go to bed.





Nov 6, 12:44 AM

Republicans pick up seat in northeast Pennsylvania

PHOTO: (R) Key Race Projected (ABC News)

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Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright had managed to hold onto a GOP-leaning seat for three cycles, but his ability to win enough conservative voters to hold the seat appears to have run its course. ABC News has projected that Republican Robert Bresnahan will defeat Cartwright, making it a GOP pickup. The win is part of a stronger GOP showing in northeast Pennsylvania, which is part of the broader Democratic weakness in Pennsylvania that has put Harris in a trailing position.





Nov 6, 12:39 AM

Conservative Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar faces a dangerously close reelection bid



As election results are tabulated, the results we have so far for Texas's 28th District suggest that Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar might win reelection  but only barely so. With 80% of the vote in, Cuellar only leads his challenger, Republican Jay Furman, by four percentage points.

If this trend continues, it would represent a marked shift to the right for the district, which stretches from San Antonio to the southernmost point of the Texas-Mexico border. In 2022, Cuellar sailed to reelection by 14 points. At the time, his overwhelming win was viewed as somewhat surprising since Cuellar's home and office were raided by the FBI in the week's before the 2022 primary election. Cuellar has long denied any wrongdoing.

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It seems like Cuellar, who was first elected in 2004, might be able to hold onto his seat tonight. But he'll have to work for it. And  who knows  maybe winning by a narrow margin tonight will convince Cuellar to fall in line with his party more. Though he's a relatively reliable vote for the House Democratic Caucus, he's distanced himself from his more-liberal colleagues on a number of issues, including abortion. Notably, Cuellar is the only Democrat in the chamber who is anti-abortion. While his colleagues have called for federal protections for abortion, Cuellar has said that abortion-related policies should be left up to the states.

It's unclear how much of Cuellar's current vote margin is due to a rightward shift among Texas's voters who live along the state's southern border. It's also possible that Cuellar is suffering in the polls due to his own personal issues. He was indicted in May on charges of bribery and money laundering.





Nov 6, 12:32 AM

Wither the House?

Right now, the presidential race is looking good for Trump and the Republicans, who have already taken North Carolina and have more votes in all three Blue Wall states. In the Senate, the question mainly remains over the size of their gains.



But the House looks a bit different so far  with the caveat that it's early. But in wave elections, you often see seemingly safe members of the losing party go down to defeat, and so far, the Democrats are only behind in a single seat that was rated by the Cook Political Report as one that Democrats were expected to win (narrowly). That may well change as more ballots are counted  but it is also a quirk of American electoral geography that winning a trifecta means winning in a variety of different types of communities.





Nov 6, 12:48 AM

Republicans hold Wisconsin's 1st District

ABC News projects that Rep. Bryan Steil will win reelection in Wisconsin's 1st District. Our forecast rated this seat "Likely Republican," so this isn't necessarily a surprise, but Democrats were hopeful they could make inroads in this suburban district.







PHOTO: U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) speaks at a campaign event Oct. 28, 2024 in Racine, Wisconsin. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)





Nov 6, 12:30 AM

Republicans hold top Utah seats

Both incumbent Republican Gov. Spencer Cox and Senate candidate John Curtis have been projected to win their races in Utah by ABC News. While some early polls suggested that Republican write-in candidate Phil Lyman might cut into Coxs lead in the gubernatorial race, ultimately Lyman is only taking 8 percent of the vote with 35 percent of the expected vote reporting.







PHOTO: Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, speaks to the fans after the final round of the Black Desert Championship 2024 at Black Desert Resort on Oct. 13, 2024 in St George, Utah. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images, FILE)





Nov 6, 12:52 AM

Harris projected to win New Mexico

ABC News is projecting that Harris will win New Mexico's five electoral votes. ABC News is also projecting the state's U.S. Senate race for the Democratic incumbent, Martin Heinrich.





Nov 6, 12:20 AM

Why Senate seats are worth so much

Blue Wall Democratic Senate seats seem to be on the knife's edge. Here's why they are so key: Senate seats are held for six years, and there are only 100 of them, versus 435 House seats held for two years. So that makes each Senate seat worth roughly 13 House seats. And the Senate looks very different with, say, 55 Republican Senators than with 52 Republican Senators. With 52 Republican Senators, moderates like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski are key. But with 55 Republican Senators, more expansive GOP policy goals are well within reach.

Click here to read the rest of the blog.
Former President Donald Trump goes on stage to talk about his presidential campaign and the importance of turning out the vote in Michigan at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before the polls open on Nov. 5, 2024. (Anna Liz Nichols/Michigan Advance)

Vibes arent enough.

From my perspective on election night at 10 here in Kansas, thats the takeaway from a day of voting that didnt produce much in the way of thundering progressive results in Kansas  or anywhere else, really. That might be the proverbial bitter pill, but sometimes we all need a dose of strong medicine.

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Another term of Donald Trump as president? Likelier than not, from all indications. The Republican supermajority in the Kansas Legislature? Apparently still in place come January.

I wrote about a multitude of encouraging shifts and promising signs in Kansas over recent months. There were the PACs and educational groups boosting moderate Statehouse candidates. There was the 32,000-plus Facebook group supporting Kamala Harris. There was a spate of polling, including numbers showing Trump ahead by only five in Kansas and Harris up by three in Iowa, that suggested a broader realignment thanks to fired-up women.

All of these stories happened, of course. But if you dont have the votes to support the vibes, those stories remain anecdotal. Regardless of your enthusiasm or that of your friends, the folks with the most votes win elections, and theyre the ones who will make the choices we have to live with over the next two to four years.

This column has come together without knowing the final results of all these races. Final tallies may take days to arrive.

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But I think its worthwhile for all of those who follow politics or work somewhere in the spectrum of public affairs to recognize that our own personal morality doesnt matter one iota when it comes to wielding political power.

The vibes the progressives clung to over the past few months  at least since Harris entered the presidential race  appear to be nothing more than vibes. Not just in Kansas, either. When a nation has fractured 50-50, winning takes ambitious strategy, relentless focus and a willingness to rethink your basic approach.

Perhaps one day that will change and a progressive, idealistic wave of hope will sweep across the nation. But no such wave crested Tuesday.

At this point, Im not drawing wider conclusions about the United States or Kansas. I will leave that to others with more time to process raw information into steaming hot takes. My mental oven takes a bit more time to engage.

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I have two additional thoughts this evening.

One is that Kansans and voters across the United States have made their decisions. Thats how our representative democracy works. We will now see how those decisions play out. I hope, regardless of my personal beliefs about our leaders character or ideology, that they succeed in improving our state and nation.

Second, as I wrote on Monday, everyones lives continue. Everyones world continues. Those of us interested in making it a better place, in whatever way we can, should keep doing so. If that means speaking truth to those in power and making our voices heard, so be it. If that means taking care of ourselves and our families and our communities, so be it.

Ill be here, writing these columns and editing this commentary section, because thats what I know. See you soon.

Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Only a few hours remain before the polls close for the day.

But right as the polls opened up, local candidates were out bright and early to greet voters.

Most of the voters that Ive been talking to are excited to be out here today, I feel like they feel its a very important election, and theyre doing their civic duty, said Pennsylvania State Senator Dan Laughlin.

I think that energy, that spirit is good and I think its positive for us at the end of the day, said Jim Wertz, running for Pennsylvania State Senate.

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City of Erie Mayor Joe Schember accompanies voters to the polls

Of the different races, one that could be close is the battle for the state senates 49th district seat between Republican incumbent Dan Laughlin and Democratic challenger Jim Wertz.

Laughlin has been touting his standing in the Pennsylvania Senate, and his record throughout his eight years there.

Wertz transitioned from his role as the Erie County Democratic Party chairman, where after helping others lead campaigns, hes built one of his own.

It feels really good. We had a great campaign plan, we were able to do everything that we set out to do and now theres just one more box to check. Well see how that comes in tonight, said Wertz.

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Meanwhile, both candidates vying for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 3rd district seat spent time appealing to voters in Millcreek and Fairview this morning.

Both democratic incumbent Ryan Bizzarro and republican challenger Micah Goring know that their voices in Harrisburg could make a difference for our community.

What people need to understand is that the decisions we make affect your life on a daily basis. Were your first line of defense in a lot of the issues that we face. Were also your first line of defense when you have an issue, you can come to our office, touch a real person, and get it solved, said Bizzarro.

Ive lived in this area for 16 years, but going around and knocking on 8 thousand doors, Ive met a lot of people, learned a lot about the district, learned a lot about Millcreek and Fairview, said Micah Goring, running for Pennsylvania state representative.

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Millcreek residents share their voting experience in the 2024 election

Candidates hope that this excitement leads to people seeing more eye-to-eye in whats been a contentious political year.

What Im hoping for, besides a win obviously, is that our country comes back together. Its been pretty divided as of late, and I hope that whoever wins the top of the ticket is a clean win, and Americans can get back to work and business of being America, said Laughlin.

If you havent gone out and voted yet  Do it! Youve got until 8:00 p.m. before polls close for the day.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is a cash-generating machine. The oil company's integrated operations produce a lot of cash each quarter, giving it money to invest in growing its business and return cash to shareholders.

The company's cash returns hit a record $7.7 billion in the third quarter, fueled by its growing dividend and a record amount of share repurchases. Chevron has put itself in a strong position to continue returning a lot of cash to its investors in the future.

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Gushing cash returns

Chevron produced $9.7 billion in cash flow from operations during the third quarter, bringing its year-to-date total to $22.8 billion. Its third-quarter tally was roughly flat compared with the year-ago period despite lower oil prices during the third quarter. Chevron offset the impact of lower oil prices by growing its production by 7%, thanks to record production in the Permian and the impact of its PDC Energy acquisition, and by receiving higher dividends from an equity affiliate.

The oil giant reinvested $4.1 billion into maintaining and growing its operations during this period. Chevron is investing heavily in its advantaged resource portfolio to grow its higher-margin output in places like the Gulf of Mexico, Permian Basin, and Kazakhstan.

Chevron also returned a record $7.7 billion in cash to its shareholders during the quarter. It paid $2.9 billion in dividends. While that was flat with the year-ago period, it has increased its per-share payment by 8% this year, its 37th consecutive year of raising the dividend. Chevron also repurchased a record $4.7 billion of shares, up from $3.4 billion in the year-ago period. The company has now paid $8.9 billion in dividends this year, $400 million higher than the same period of 2023, and repurchased $10.7 billion of its stock, $800 million less than its 2023 year-to-date pace.

The company was able to deliver the record quarterly cash returns thanks to its elite balance sheet. It used its balance sheet capacity to borrow money to cover the difference between its free cash flow and cash returns. Even with that debt issuance, CEO Michael Wirth noted on the third-quarter earnings conference call, "We've got AA credit and below 12% net debt." Its leverage ratio is currently well under its 20% to 25% target range.

Priming the pump to return more cash

Chevron is positioning its business to continue returning significant cash to its shareholders in the future. It's investing heavily to grow the production of its highest-margin assets. For example, It started up three projects in the Gulf of Mexico during the third quarter and has more project start-ups coming online through 2025. These projects will boost its production in that region by 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d) by 2026. In addition, it has projects under way in the Permian, Kazakhstan, and elsewhere to increase its production from high-margin assets in the coming years.
Caleb Fisher stands in front of his polling staff at Grace Chinese Baptist Church. Fisher became a chief election officer at a very young age. (Nick Caffacus/VCU Capital News Service)

By Nick Caffacus and Alyssa Hutton/VCU Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va.  Central Virginia voters showed up to the polls on Tuesday Nov. 5 for their last chance to make their voices heard in the 2024 election.

Voters, depending on their locality, voted for a presidential candidate, a Senate seat, congressional representative, a state constitutional amendment and local positions, such as mayor and city council. The City of Petersburg will also vote on a casino referendum, which the City of Richmond rejected twice at the polls.

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Almost 6.4 million Virginians are registered to vote, and 2.3 million votes were cast early, a figure that is down from 2020, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Capital News Service reporters traveled to polling locations in Chesterfield, Goochland and Henrico Counties, and the cities of Petersburg and Richmond.

Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly has a 10-point lead in Virginia over former President Donald Trump, according to a poll by Roanoke College. There was a Republican push for early voting, encouraged strongly by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and even Trump, who appeared at a rally in Salem on Saturday.

The vote count begins when polls close at 7 p.m., and provisional ballots will not be counted until later in the week.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The area outside of the Bay County Supervisor of Elections Office was a busy place Tuesday.

As voters drove into the parking lot, they passed by protestors voicing their opposition to Amendment 4 dealing with abortion.

Were hoping and praying for the defeat of Amendment four. We know that it is a pretty radical amendment in the state of Florida right now. We have a six-week ban with a 15-week exception for many cases. And this would remove all of that. It would also remove parent parental consent, Amendment 4 protester Claire Iceminger said.

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At least one candidate showed up while we were on site. Congressman Neal Dunn wasnt campaigning or voting.

Polling station rules for Election Day

He already cast an early voting ballot. He drove his wife to the polls so she could vote. He also has strong feelings about one of the states constitutional amendments.

Its not recreational marijuana for everybody. Its actually granting a constitutional monopoly in the state of Florida to several companies to grow produce and sell marijuana. And they only they can do that, Congressman Neal Dunn said.

Dunn also has concerns about Amendment 4.

Amendment four which repeals the Florida state law on abortion is actually worded very in such a way that it makes it a wide-open affair. Theres no limits on this whatsoever. And so I hope that people find it in their hearts to vote no on that as well, Dunn said.

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Others showed up for the biggest race on the ballot, the presidential contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. This man is supporting Trump.

I would like for ours, hes not right now but its time for him to get back into it for more, Trump supporter Billy Austin Douglass said.

All of this activity is taking place outside of the precincts 150-foot no-solicitation zone. Some voters say they want past presidents to be elected back in office.

61st annual Florida Seafood Festival boosts Franklin County economy

Supervisor of Elections Nina Ward was pleased by the large turnout for early voting and is encouraging all voters to exercise their rights.

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Election day is your last opportunity to vote I would just hope that everybody you know comes out today, makes their vote count. A lot on the ballot obviously presidential election is all over the news but we have a lot of other decisions that need to be made today as well, Bay County Supervisor of Elections Nina Ward said.

The deadline to vote or bring your ballot into your precinct is at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
A majority of voters across the United States have a pessimistic outlook on the country with the state of democracy and economy among the top two concerns, preliminary exit polling data indicates.

Approximately three-quarters of voters surveyed feel negative about the direction the country is headed in  a figure consistent with polling data over the past few months. About 29 percent of those surveyed said they feel angry, according to NBC News exit polling data.

Overall, 35 percent of voters said democracy was the most important issue to them while 31 percent ranked the economy as number one. Fourteen percent said abortion, while immigration was only ranked by 11 percent.

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While abortion was expected to be a top issue for women voters, two in 10 said it was the most important to them.

Men ranked immigration as their top issue  slightly higher than women, the exit polling data found.

Concerns for democracy matched the grim outlook many voters reported. Roughly 3 in 4 voters said they believe democracy is being threatened  a concern that Vice President Kamala Harriss campaign has attributed to Donald Trumps actions.

The NBC News exit polling data found that concerns about democracy were a top issue for voters who cast their ballot for Harris. Those same voters listed abortion as their second-most important issue, another topic the vice president has made a pillar of her campaign.

Voters in Michigan, a battleground state, cast their ballot in the 2024 presidential election. Exit polls indicate that the economy and democracy are top issues this election cycle (AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, half of Trump voters listed the economy as the most important issue while 20 percent pointed to immigration.

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The former president has continuously claimed immigration is the top concern for voters, not the economy, despite polling data indicating the opposite. Hes promised voters to conduct mass deportations of undocumented immigrants if he is re-elected.

Vice President Kamala Harris has made reproductive rights and protecting democracy pillars of her campaign (AFP via Getty Images)

Most voters said they cast their ballot for a candidate based on their ability to lead. A quarter said they chose a candidate who could bring change to the country while roughly 21 percent said they prioritized a candidate with good judgment.

Exit polls are surveys conducted immediately after voters leave their polling station. Pollsters will typically ask voters who they cast their ballot for, why they voted for that candidate, what their biggest concerns are as well as the voters demographic information.

Donald Trumps campaign has asserted he will fix the economy, the border crisis, inflation, the housing crisis and more (AP)

These give media organizations and political analysts a sense of election results before official data is available.

Exit polling data may change throughout the night as more data comes in.
Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson talk to reporters at the Governors Mansion in Salt Lake City on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

This ongoing report of Utah election results was updated at 12:16 a.m.

After they were delayed more than two hours after polls closed due to long voting lines, unofficial election night results showed Utah Gov. Spencer Cox had a commanding lead over his opponents on Tuesday, positioning him to continue on as Utahs governor for the next four years.

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As expected in a red state that hasnt elected a Democratic governor since 1980, Cox led with 56.47% of the vote to Democrat Rep. Brian Kings 31%. Libertarian Robert Latham had 2.53%, Independent American Tommy Williams had 1.78%, and unaffiliated candidate Tom Tomeny had 0.37%. Write-in candidate Rep. Phil Lyman  Coxs Republican challenger who refused to concede after he lost the primary  got 7.82%.

The Associated Press called the race for Cox shortly after the results were released.

Election results arent final, however, until the statewide canvass on Nov. 25. Results will be updated in coming days as county clerks count remaining ballots and more votes are tallied. Races leading on election night arent likely to flip unless margins are thin.

Great night for Cox

Cox privately watched election night results while hosting a friends-and-family-only party at the Governors Mansion in downtown Salt Lake City late Tuesday night. Reporters were not allowed inside the mansion, guarded by a black iron-wrought gate, until about 8:30 p.m., when media members were sequestered in a small room near the entryway.

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When results were posted at about 10:15 p.m., Coxs partygoers could be heard cheering from the upper floors of the mansion. The governor didnt address reporters until about 10:45 p.m., when he held a news conference in the frigid cold on the front steps of the mansion.

Gov. Spencer Cox talks to reporters at the Governors Mansion in Salt Lake City on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Now, this is a great night for us, and obviously lots of people are celebrating. (But) theres people who arent celebrating tonight, who didnt have as good a night, and I want to thank them as well, Cox said, pledging to also listen to Kings and Lymans supporters in his next term as governor.

Our promise, as it has always been, is we will work harder than everyone else and we will represent you, we will learn from you, Cox said. We have learned so much listening to the people who disagree with us, who didnt vote for us over the past several months, and were better leaders because of that. We look forward to continuing that dialogue.

King  from an election night party with some fellow Democrats at the Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City  was quick to call Cox to congratulate him on his win.

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I wish them, him and Lt. Gov. Henderson, all the success that theyre going to need in caring for our state in the future, and we will be there to help them over the next four years, King said.

Just before the state released its first batch of election night results, the Democrats party was booming with loud, upbeat music. But some anxious faces watched a screen with national news anchors discussing former President Donald Trumps lead in the race for the White House.

King, despite Republican victories in Utah and across the country, still celebrated the hard work of Democrats.

Hope is running high, King said. Look, were going to have some wins and were going to have some losses. Were going to have some wins in the Legislature. Were going to have some wins in important county races. Id love to see wins in some of our statewide races. (But) those are tougher.

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King said his campaign gave Democrats a voice in Utah, particularly on issues including income gaps between men and women, inaccessibility to health care, housing affordability and bad air quality in the state.

Brian King looks at election results during the Elevate Strategies Election Night Party at Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)

(Utahns are) not interested in culture wars. Theyre not interested in ideological purity tests or political purity tests, he said. Theyre interested in elected officials who will address their needs on a day-to-day basis.

Lymans campaign account on X, which for months has been posting incessant attacks against Cox, was silent on the governors win as of 11:30 p.m.

Cox, in a statement posted on X two hours before polls closed, thanked his most high-profile opponents, King and Lyman, for their willingness to run.

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Running for office is hard and Im grateful to everyone who is willing to run in any capacity. Utah is a special place and I admire the passion of every candidate and voter who works to make it better, Cox said.

With all eyes on the presidential race, the governor also urged Utahns to remember that our country is bigger and stronger than any one person. No matter what happens tonight, the United States will continue to be the greatest nation in the history of the world.

How will Cox work with the next president?

With Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris in the tight presidential race, Cox said regardless of who takes the White House, Utah will be successful.

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We have a track record showing that we were incredibly successful during a Trump administration, and we were incredibly successful during a Biden administration, Cox said.

Even though Cox has been outspoken about his misgivings about Trump  only deciding to change his mind to vote for him after the former presidents first assassination attempt  the governor said if he wins, we will have a very positive working relationship.

Cox acknowledged he and Trump have a different style, but Trumps seems to work.

Well see what the final results come to be, but my hope is to be able to work with him and our party across the country to help bring our tone to the rest of the country, Cox said. I believe that one of the reasons were so successful is because of the way that we treat each other, and I believe we can be more successful if were able to work together with people who disagree with us.

A bitter election

The outcome of Utahs gubernatorial race isnt unexpected after Cox emerged the victor from a bitter primary in June that divided the Utah GOP. In that election, Cox beat Lyman by nearly 9 percentage points or 37,525 votes. Lyman, however, refused to accept those primary results, and he continued his bid as an unaffiliated write-in candidate.

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While Lymans write-in bid was a long shot, his scorched-earth campaign did continue to resonate with his most ardent supporters, and he captured over 7% of the general election vote. That hands Lyman one of the most successful write-in campaigns Utah has ever seen. Typically, write-in candidates only garner a fraction of a percentage of the vote.

Still, Cox and his running mate Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson are on track to win a second term after first being elected to the Governors Office in 2020. When campaigning for their first term, Cox pledged to run for no more than two terms  so if he keeps that promise, Cox will remain governor no later than the close of 2028.

Hailing from the rural community of Fairview where his family owns an alfalfa farm, Cox has worked as an attorney and served as a city councilman, a mayor, a county commissioner, and a legislator in the Utah House before former Gov. Gary Herbert appointed him as his lieutenant governor.

Cox and Henderson focused their campaign on their administrations accomplishments, parading their support for more than $1 billion in tax cuts from the Utah Legislature over the last four years, increased teacher pay, support for a new school choice voucher program, efforts to protect kids from social media harms, and legislation aimed at increasing supply of affordable starter homes.

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The Cox campaign, however, fielded attacks from multiple angles this election cycle.

King, who has served in the Utah House for 16 years, campaigned on Democratic policies while accusing Cox of being unwilling to stand up for whats right, preferring instead to rubber-stamp the culture war agenda coming out of the Legislature. King also spoofed Coxs own Disagree Better campaign in a joint ad alongside Lyman, saying that while they disagree on many policies, both agreed Spencer Cox should not be our next governor.

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Compared to King, though, Lyman waged a more attack-heavy campaign against Cox, accusing him of not being a true conservative while also pulling from the Trump playbook, alleging corruption and attempting to cast doubt on Utahs elections. He catered especially to Republicans who favor the caucus-convention system and have long detested the passage of SB54, a 2014 law that allows the dual path to the primary ballot via signature gathering and not just through a convention nomination.

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Lyman repeatedly but unsuccessfully attempted to challenge Coxs signature gathering qualification, losing records requests seeking voter records that are classified as private under Utah law, and even going as far as attempting to contest the election in court. The Utah Supreme Court in August tossed his demand to annul the results, rejecting Lymans assertion that a political partys internal nomination should trump state election law.

As a last-ditch effort, Lyman also filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to toss out the primary election results and make himself the Republican Party nominee. The court, which accepts 100 to 150 of the more than 7,000 cases it is asked to review each year, did not take up the case before Election Day.

One of the biggest moments during this years election came in July, when Cox flipped his stance on Trump after the former presidents assassination attempt and pledged to vote for him after previously not voting for a major presidential candidate since 2012, when Sen. Mitt Romney ran for the office.

That move prompted outcry from Democrats in Utah. King accused Cox of caving to outside pressure, special interests, donors and extremists. Cox defended his endorsement of Trump, telling The Atlantic he was left with a sick-feeling pit in my stomach after the assassination attempt. Cox also wrote a letter to Trump, in which he quoted religious scripture and urged the former president to turn down the temperature and find ways to come together again before its too late.

Coxs win  especially his primary victory over Lyman, who employed a populist campaign that in several ways mirrored Trump  shows that many Utahns continue to balk at MAGA-style politics. However, the election showcased the fact that the Utah GOP continues to face deepening divides as Trumps influence permeates national and local politics.

Coxs challenge as he heads into his second term will be healing those divides. But its possible Lymans campaign has done lasting damage and Cox may never regain some of Lymans most ardent supporters.

Throughout Lymans write-in campaign, some pundits wondered whether his bid would actually give King the edge hed need to pull off an unexpected upset, but in the end Lymans campaign only fractured some of the vote.

Cox, when asked how he planned to build bridges with other voters even within his own party after such a bitter election, told reporters elections are always contentious and what he went through is nothing new.

I think the way we do that is to listen and be responsive, he said. The people have spoken. They like what weve accomplished over the past four years, and we have more to do. I think by solving those problems  working together, working collaboratively with those who disagree with us  will certainly help to mend some of those fences.

Contributing: Alixel Cabrera

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Donald Trump won the 2024 election, notching a slew of swing-state victories.

Republicans won back the Senate, while the House remains undecided and may take days to call.

Investors rallied around the "Trump trade" for the rest of the week.

Former President Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris after pivotal victories in four swing states.

In Congress, Republicans retook the Senate, though it could take days to know the outcome for the House of Representatives.

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CNN, ABC News, and NBC News, all called the race for Trump at around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, following a Fox News call hours earlier.

Victory in Wisconsin gave him the final Electoral College votes he needed.

Trump captured the swing states of North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania before reaching Wisconsin.

Taken together, the results spelled a crushing defeat for Harris.

On Wednesday morning, hours after the race had been called, Trump's lead widened when CNN and Fox News announced he'd won in Michigan, one of the remaining three battleground states. On Friday, the Associated Press and Fox News called the race for Trump in Nevada, and as the final presidential election results came in on Saturday, the Associated Press and NBC announced he'd swept the last of the battleground states by winning Arizona.

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Trump won with a final tally of 312 electoral votes to Harris' 226, per the Associated Press and NBC News.

Investors rallied around the "Trump trade" through the week as results came in.

Stock futures were up ahead of the open, with Tesla and Trump's social-media company making strong gains.

All three benchmark indexes rose in early-morning trading on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing over 1,200 points, marking its biggest single-day increase in two years.

Bitcoin surged to a record high above $75,000 before dipping slightly. The US dollar gained against other major currencies.

Jubilation from Trump, silence from Harris

Harris did not address her supporters at a watch party at Howard University in Washington, DC, on Tuesday night. She was expected to speak sometime Wednesday.

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Trump spoke to a crowd of jubilant supporters at an election night event at his resort in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," he said. He went down a list of issues he hammered during his campaign, including border security and strengthening the economy.

His running mate, JD Vance, called Trump's electoral performance "the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America."

Trump's running mate, JD Vance, described his electoral performance as the "greatest political comeback" in US history. AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Trump also praised Elon Musk, one of his biggest backers this election. "We have a new star, a star is born," Trump said. "Elon. He's an amazing guy."

Business and world leaders congratulated Trump

Mark Cuban, the billionaire investor and a key Harris surrogate, congratulated Trump on winning the election.

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"You won fair and square," Cuban wrote, before any network had called the race. "Congrats to @elonmusk as well. #Godspeed."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his "impressive" victory early on Wednesday, saying his country will "rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

Trump has been notably more skeptical of US support for Ukraine than President Joe Biden.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel and a longtime Trump ally, also issued a statement saying his victory "offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America."

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Other world leaders followed suit, including France's Emmanuel Macron, Italy's Giorgia Meloni, the UK's Keir Starmer, and India's Narendra Modi.

Republicans have retaken the US Senate, but the House remains in play

Republicans are projected to win at least 52 seats in the US Senate, putting an end to four years of Democratic rule.

It comes after Republicans won Senate seats in Ohio, West Virginia, and Florida.

Republican Sen. Deb Fischer also held off a stronger-than-expected challenge from independent candidate Dan Osborn in Nebraska.

In Montana, Democratic Sen. Jon Tester was facing a hard fight from his GOP challenger.

It remains far from clear who will control the House of Representatives.

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Democrats picked up two GOP-held seats in New York's 19th and 22nd congressional districts.

Republicans, meanwhile, flipped Pennsylvania's 8th district, North Carolina's 6th, 13th and 14th districts, and Michigan's 7th district.

It could take days to know who controls the House, with several competitive races taking place in California, which historically takes a long time to count ballots.

Voters in line to cast ballots in Gwinnett County, Georgia, on November 1, 2024. Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images

Trump and Elon Musk were seen chatting at the Mar-a-Lago election night watch party

Billionaire Elon Musk posted a photo of himself huddled with Trump over a table at Mar-a-Lago, where the former president hosted his election watch party.

Musk has emerged as a key, if not the key, advocate for Trump's campaign.

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He has dumped millions into a super PAC supporting the former president, joined him at rallies, and campaigned loudly for him on X. The Tesla CEO tweeted as the results rolled in, celebrating Trump's performance.

The future is gonna be so   pic.twitter.com/x56cqb6oT5  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

States are voting on ballot measures, with abortion rights being defeated for the first time since Dobbs

Reproductive rights were a key issue this election, with voters deciding on issues around abortions in 10 states, including the battlegrounds of Arizona and Nevada.

Referendums to enshrine the right to have abortions passed in New York, Maryland, Colorado, Montana, Arizona, and Nevada. The measure also passed in Missouri, overturning a near-total ban in the first state to outlaw the procedure. Voters in suburban areas turned out to pass the measure in large numbers, propelling it to its anticipated victory.

In Florida, the effort to enshrine a constitutional right to abortion failed. Yet the referendum faced a heavier lift in the Sunshine State than is typical  it needed to garner 60% of votes rather than a mere majority, as in other states.

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The Florida abortion referendum's failure is particularly notable, given that abortion-rights advocates have racked up a string of unbroken victories in states around the country since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. As a result, Florida's ban on almost all abortions after six weeks will remain in place  one of the most restrictive policies in the country.

South Dakota's effort to protect abortion rights also failed, meaning its ban remains in place with no exceptions apart from when it would avert a woman's death. Nebraska, meanwhile, rejected a measure to expand abortion rights and instead enshrined the state's current 12-week abortion ban.

History made: Two Black women elected to the Senate, and Trump won Miami-Dade

Tuesday's elections also saw some historic results.

In just one election cycle, Democrats doubled the number of Black women who have won election to the US Senate.

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Prince George's County executive Angela Alsobrooks and Democratic Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester were both projected to defeat their Republican opponents in Maryland and Delaware, respectively. It will be the highest number of Black women to serve in the upper chamber at the same time.

Democratic Maryland Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks was projected to win in Maryland's Senate race. AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel

Only three Black women have served in the Senate: former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Sen. Laphonza Butler.

Meanwhile, Trump made history in Florida. He's the first GOP presidential candidate to win Miami-Dade County since 1988, and his win there illustrates the phenomenal rightward swing of the Sunshine State.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton won Miami-Dade by 30 percentage points; in 2020, Biden won it by 7 percentage points. Trump is projected to win the county by double-digit margins, the Associated Press reported, with 95% of the vote counted.

There's a significant Latino population in the county, and the key demographic group has started to move toward Republicans. Harris' campaign didn't spend a lot of money in Florida, considering the state, once a battleground, out of reach.

Correction: November 6, 2024  An earlier version of this story misstated Volodymyr Zelenskyy's title. He is the president of Ukraine, not the prime minister.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Fred Blackman II, a minister, poses for a photo at the Peoples Community Clinic in Austin, Texas, where he is board chair. Blackman has to take dozens of pills every day to deal with the pain and complications of a catastrophic back injury. The results of Tuesdays election could have a huge impact on health care coverage. (Blaine Young for Public Health Watch)

This story originally appeared on Public Health Watch and was republished on Stateline.

A decade ago, an old work injury put Fred Blackman II in the hospital with a slipped spinal disc that threatened to paralyze him.

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The Austin, Texas, minister spent the next five months there, enduring five back surgeries, extreme pain and a brain infection. He almost died.

After discharge, he returned to a life he didnt recognize. Hed lost his job at an insurance company, his health coverage and his house, and his marriage was falling apart. He could barely walk and owed more than $500,000 in medical bills.

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He got emergency Medicaid coverage with the hospitals help, but it lapsed after a few months. He was in desperate need of health care and therapy. I had nothing, he says.

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The minister, now 51, would eventually emerge from the crisis, but the health and financial effects persist. And Blackman says he came to better understand the importance of having access to affordable care  and the governments role in providing that. Hes now a public advocate of expanding health care access in Texas and the nation.

If Texas had expanded Medicaid eligibility for low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act, as 40 other states and Washington, D.C., have done, Blackman would have easily qualified for coverage of the care he needed.

More Americans could find themselves in Blackmans position  uninsured, in financial stress and locked out of the largest federal safety net for health care  if leading conservative visions for the program come to fruition.

Three notable blueprints  The Heritage Foundations Project 2025 report, the fiscal year 2025 Republican Study Committee budget plan and the FY 2025 House budget resolution  all propose Medicaid cuts and changes that are more likely to happen under a Trump administration and a Republican Congress. Some researchers say all three plans would slash federal Medicaid dollars and scrap the 90% federal matching rate for Medicaid expansion enrollees.

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In interviews with Public Health Watch, health economists and policy experts said the plans would drive up the uninsured rate and financially strain hospitals and health providers that care for uninsured and Medicaid patients.

The people most likely to be affected would be those with the fewest resources to obtain health insurance elsewhere, such as from private employers and the federal marketplace.

Some of the proposals, such as cutting federal Medicaid funds and imposing work requirements on beneficiaries, have been Republican staples for years. The latter was tried and struck down in federal court during the first Trump administration.

In his current run for the White House, Donald Trump has not talked specifically about his plans for Medicaid and denied any association with Project 2025. A New York Times report found numerous ties between the project and his campaign.

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I think they may use the same playbook they did during the first Trump administration, said Nicole Huberfeld, a professor of health law at Boston University School of Law and School of Public Health, referring to attempts to repeal both the ACA and Medicaid expansion. It could just happen faster this time around because they already have a blueprint for the policies they want.

The trio of conservative plans assert that Medicaids financing is in need of reform to address a substantial rise in federal Medicaid spending.

This unrestrained growth in Medicaid spending is unsustainable, states the House budget resolution. The Congressional Budget Office projects that Medicaid spending will rise by more than 60% over the next decade, to $898 billion, or 2.2% of gross domestic product.

The GOP plans also cite a few studies that have found, in some cases, Medicaid patients are more likely to have poor health outcomes than the uninsured, and health care expansions have minimal effects on health. A review of nearly 200 studies by KFF, a nonprofit research group, found instead that Medicaid expansion benefits patients with many conditions, from cancer to mental health.

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Asked how Project 2025 and the GOP plans would affect uninsured rates, the Heritage Foundation declined to comment. A spokeswoman said it doesnt comment on coverage related to an election because, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it is prohibited from involvement in campaigns.

A spokeswoman for the Republican Study Committee and its chairman, U.S. Rep Kevin Hern, an Oklahoma Republican, did not respond to requests for comment.

The stakes are high. As of June, almost 73 million adults and children, or more than one in five Americans, relied on Medicaid for affordable health care. The federal-state insurance program pays for more than 40% of U.S. births, provides supplemental coverage to 7.2 million poor seniors and insures more than 10 million people with disabilities.

Nearly 60 years old, Medicaid covers more Americans than Medicare, the insurance program for people aged 65 and older.

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Some experts say that conservatives plans would likely result in a radical downsizing of Medicaid and destabilize a critical piece of the countrys health care infrastructure.

Tens of millions of people could either become uninsured entirely or lose access to the care they need, said Edwin Park, a research professor at Georgetown Universitys Center for Children and Families.

Capping Medicaid dollars

After COVID-19 sent the country into recession, state Medicaid rolls ballooned to record highs, catching millions of Americans who suddenly were jobless and couldnt afford health insurance.

The jump in enrollment wasnt a surprise. Medicaid numbers typically surge during severe economic downturns, such as during the Great Recession in the late 2000s.

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State Medicaid programs can respond quickly in economic crises because states have a deal with the federal government: It pays a percentage of state Medicaid costs regardless of how many people enroll. States are guaranteed a certain share.

The percentage for traditional Medicaid varies by state, ranging from 50% to 78%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. For people covered by expansion  low-income, nonpregnant adults without dependents or disabilities  the federal government pays 90% of costs.

Park said that flexibility could fade under conservative proposals because they would use block grants or per-capita caps to limit federal Medicaid dollars.

Block grants would give Medicaid programs a fixed amount of federal funds instead of a percentage of overall costs. A risk is that if states faced unexpected Medicaid demands  such as from a natural disaster or an expensive new drug therapy  they could be on the hook for 100% of costs.

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Per capita caps are similar, with states getting a fixed amount of federal dollars per beneficiary. The Project 2025 plan also includes lifetime limits on Medicaid benefits.

Park said the GOP plans dont detail how the grants or caps would be implemented. But such measures are typically designed to generate large savings over years, he said, as states see a diminishing flow of federal Medicaid dollars.

The three plans also would slash the 90% federal rate for people covered by Medicaid expansion, which as of February this year insured more than 23 million people.

Thats a huge cut, Park said. Eventually, most states would likely have to drop expansion because its such a big cost shift.

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The Trump administration tried to cut Medicaid funding using budget legislation and the Medicaid waiver process but didnt succeed. Park said if a major cut is made, states could face stark choices: Increase state funding, perhaps by raising taxes, or reduce Medicaid services and eligibility.

How some states might react could be seen in the recent Medicaid unwinding, in which states began removing enrollees again after a suspension of the process during the pandemic, said Benjamin Sommers, a professor of health care economics and medicine at Harvard.

Texas, for example, was aggressive in its approach to unwinding, removing more than 2 million people from the Medicaid rolls, most of them children. A Texas Tribune/ProPublica investigation found the state ignored federal guidance meant to prevent eligible Texans from being disenrolled.

I imagine, in some states, it would be a race to the bottom, Sommers said. Those who are eager to have small Medicaid programs will move fast.

Federal cuts could also cause a surge in uninsured rates. Medicaid expansion alone covers tens of millions of people.

The newly uninsured can turn to already-strained safety-net programs, such as federally qualified health centers, or FQHCs. But research shows that having health insurance is associated with better health outcomes and longer life. A wave of coverage loss would likely worsen all kinds of health measures, Sommers said.

After Blackman, the Austin minister, lost his health insurance, his providers recommended that he visit the Peoples Community Clinic, a local FQHC that serves uninsured residents.

He credits the clinic, where he now serves as board chair, with saving his life and pulling him out of a deep depression. But it cant provide all of the complex specialty care Blackman needs.

After two years of going uninsured and failed attempts to qualify for Texas Medicaid, he qualified for Medicare because of his new disabilities. But it doesnt cover his costs as much as Medicaid would, so he depends on family, friends and his church to help fill the gap.

Hes lucky. In 2020, they raised $10,000 for his latest back surgery. His bones had finally healed enough so doctors could insert the metal screws and plates to keep his spine intact. Hed put the surgery off for more than a year because he couldnt afford the out-of-pocket Medicare costs.

How many people are in my position? Blackman asked. I see homeless people in wheelchairs and I think, Could that have been me if I didnt have family or church?

Impact in every state

Medicaid is the single largest source of health coverage in the U.S. If Republican and right-leaning Medicaid proposals were to become reality, no state or community would be left unaffected.

Timothy McBride, a health economist and professor at Washington University in St. Louis, put it bluntly: Turning Medicaid into a block grant would cause states to run out of money.

Is it the fault of the Medicaid program that health care costs are rising so much? he said. I dont think it is.

Rural areas, which generally have higher uninsured rates than urban ones, could be especially hard hit, McBride said. Almost half of children and 1 in 5 adults in small towns and rural areas depend on Medicaid or CHIP, according to a Georgetown University report.

Shifting to block grants wouldnt be an easy lift. Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush proposed such a change, but the efforts failed. During Trumps first term, GOP lawmakers supported bills to repeal the Affordable Care Act that also included measures to block-grant or cap federal Medicaid dollars.

Huberfeld, the health law professor in Boston, said the federal-state funding arrangement for Medicaid is enshrined in statute, and to alter it, Republicans would need enough votes in Congress and a president willing to sign the bill.

In her view, the way the Medicaid Act is written, this is not a waive-able feature of the program.

But another Trump administration might try to go around Congress, using tactics it tried in his first term.

Under Medicaid, states can apply for federal waivers, which gives them the flexibility to try different approaches in carrying out the program. Near the end of Trumps term, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services used its waiver authority to approve a demonstration project in Tennessee that capped nearly all of the states federal Medicaid dollars for a decade.

The Biden administration renegotiated the Tennessee waiver, scrapping the block-grant plan.

Also in Trumps first term, the CMS used waivers to approve work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries. Only one state, Arkansas, implemented those, which data show resulted in large coverage losses and didnt increase employment.

A federal court struck down the requirements in 2020, calling the administrations decision to approve them arbitrary and capricious. Project 2025, the Republican committee budget plan and the House budget resolution call for Medicaid work requirements.

Its unclear exactly how another Trump term would target Medicaid. But Park, at Georgetown, said that cutting the program could be floated as a way to offset the costs of extending the Trump-era tax cuts, which expire in 2025.

Ultimately, I think the goal is to dramatically shrink Medicaid, Park said of conservatives efforts over years.

Blackman, the Austin minister, knows more than most what its like to live in a state with a bare-bones Medicaid program.

In Texas, low-income adults who are not pregnant or in postpartum or dont have dependents or disabilities dont qualify for Medicaid. Parents in a household of four dont qualify if they make more than $4,000 a year. Republican state leaders oppose Medicaid expansion.

Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation  which Blackman considers a badge of shame.

His own experiences have turned him into an outspoken advocate for improving health care access in the state where generations of his family have lived. He meets with lawmakers in Austin and travels to Washington, D.C., to tell his story.

At the state Capitol, he said, the words Medicaid expansion are a nonstarter these days, despite polls showing most Texans support it.

He works around this, undeterred, drawing strength from his favorite Bible verse, which says that old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.

I know Im on the right path, Blackman said. I know that advocating for health care for Gods people is something that needs to be done.

This story is part of Uninsured in America, a collaborative project led by Public Health Watch that focuses on those with little or no health insurance and the 10 states that havent expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X.

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EDMOND  Voters overwhelmingly rejected all three bond issue proposals after a short but rancorous contest that had some people accusing the city of breaking the law by promoting the $231 million package for public works, not just informing voters about it.

Each question required approval by more than 50%. According to unofficial vote totals from the Oklahoma Election Board, the results on each question were:

Proposition 1, street improvements: 31.49% for and 68.51% against .

Proposition 2, park improvements: 29.12% for and 70.88% against .

Proposition 3, a new fire station: 35.83% for and 64.17% against.

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"The residents of Edmond have made their voices heard, and we appreciate everyone who came out to vote and supported the democratic process," Mayor Darrell A. Davis said. "There has been a lot of spirited debate on both sides, and we will take that input and use it as we move forward. The projects on the ballot remain high priorities, and our job now is to create a way to efficiently fund the work that is still needed."

City Manager Scot Rigby said, "We appreciate everyone who came out to vote on the Edmond GO bond proposals. Having that input helps the city as we work to move forward on not just these projects, but also as a community. The projects proposed by the GO bond committee remain a high priority and now our job as a City is to continue the process of finding a path forward  including a way to fund the work that still needs to be done."

Approval of any one, two, or all three questions would have raised property taxes by 14.3%, even for homeowners 65 and over with a Senior Assessment Freeze. The freeze applies to the county's assessed value of a property, the taxable value upon which rates are applied, not to tax rates themselves. The extra burden on seniors living on fixed incomes was one complaint made against the proposals.

Proceeds from the bonds would have paid for a long list of street repairs, park improvements and a new fire station. The City Council approved the wish list based on recommendations of a 25-member, council-appointed General Obligation Bond Advisory Task Force.

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The task force was another bone of contention because many members of the now-disbanded group were home builders or otherwise involved with land development, which was seen as a conflict of interest.

Opponents also worried that voters after a successful city bond vote, whether they voted for it or not, would be reluctant to approve the next school bond election. Schools cannot raise sales taxes for funding, as cities can, and rely on temporary property taxes.

A "Vote Yes" sign in favor of the Nov. 5 Edmond city bond election, at S Santa Fe Drive and W Edmond Road. RICHARD MIZE/THE OKLAHOMAN

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Results: Edmond votes 'no' on public works bond issues
Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun will be Indiana's next governor, continuing more than two decades of GOP rule in the state with a decisive double-digit victory Tuesday night.

It was an anticlimactic end to a tumultuous few months, during which the race seemed to take a competitive turn,  so much so, that Democrat Jennifer McCormick held out hope for hours. Braun's victory was declared the minute Indiana's final polls closed at 7 p.m. eastern standard time  same as during his primary win in May  but McCormick did not concede until around 10 p.m.

Braun will replace outgoing Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is term-limited. In his victory speech to an enthusiastic crowd at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Braun promised to "hit the ground running."

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We're going to take Indiana to places we've never seen before, he said, prompting chants of We like Mike from the crowd.

With 80% of the votes counted shortly before 11 p.m., Braun stood at 54% of the vote, compared to McCormick's 41% and Libertarian Donald Rainwater's 5%. His 13-point win margin is the largest for an open governor's seat since 1980, when former Gov. Robert Orr beat Democrat John Hillenbrand by 16 points.

That gap had been narrowing slowly throughout the night, starting at a 20-point margin when the Associated Press originally called the race at 7 p.m. For hours, the McCormick campaign refused to concede, arguing that there were multiple populous counties, such as Marion and Lake, whose votes hadn't been counted.

Presidential election 2024 results: Election Day live updates as Hoosiers head to the polls to vote for president, governor

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But by 9:30 p.m., Indiana Democrats' three statewide candidates arrived at their watch party at the Athenaeum in Indianapolis to give concession speeches: Senate candidate Valerie McCray, then attorney general candidate Destiny Wells, then McCormick. Supporters by and large stuck around.

"We gave Sen. Braun a race not many people thought we could," McCormick said.

She said with her candidacy, she sought to make sure we gave people a reason to come to Indiana," calling out her goal of protecting reproductive freedoms.

Extremism will not win in Indiana," she said.

For most of the election season, the race has been thought of as Braun's to lose. Indiana hasn't elected a Democrat to the position in more than two decades. The state is heavily rural and conservative.

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But Braun faced a unique set of challenges that made the race less straightforward for him. His ticket was a forced marriage, as the delegates selected Micah Beckwith to be his running mate over his own endorsed candidate. Beckwith dominated the news cycle  and Democrat talking points  with his divisive comments about women, pronouns and immigrants, much to Braun's chagrin.

Meanwhile, his Democratic opponents included a former Republican in McCormick and a rural farmer in former state Rep. Terry Goodin.

McCormick struggled to attract the kind of funding it would take to mount a serious challenge against Braun for much of the race, until this summer. A number of events contributed to a sea change in the race: A boost of energy from the change in the presidential ticket, September polling that showed a relatively tight race, national observers shifting their ratings of the race from "safe" to "likely" Republican, a digitally altered ad blunder by the Braun campaign, and any number of controversial Beckwith musings.

Suddenly, with just a month to go, the Republican and Democratic Governors Associations found themselves in a fiscal horse race, pumping a series of mega contributions one after another into the Braun and McCormick campaigns.

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All of this made Braun's early victory difficult for Democrats to accept.

Most of the crowd of roughly 100 at the Democrats' watch party remained long after the Associated Press call.

Rick Klemczewski, 40, said, like McCormick, he was holding out hope until more votes were counted.

Im just waiting and seeing, he said.

Earlier in the night, McCormicks husband of 28 years, Trent, said McCormicks spirits were high even as she was aware of her underdog status.

With limited resources she has logged tens of thousands of miles meeting Hoosiers everywhere, he said.

The mood was jovial early on at the Republican watch party, where attendees took selfies with a Donald Trump-themed garbage truck parked outside. The Trump campaign has adopted the garbage truck as a symbol in an effort to draw attention to a comment from President Joe Biden in which he compared Trump supporters to garbage. Bidens comment was in response to a comics insult at a recent Trump rally referring to Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage.

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A cheer erupted among the crowd when the AP called Braun's race so early. During his victory speech, Braun contrasted between Indiana, where hell be working with a Republican-dominated legislature, and his time in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats held the majority.

People at the Indiana Republican Party election watch party react to the Indiana governors race being called for Mike Braun. pic.twitter.com/HT6ud6UWZ2  Tony Cook (@indystartony) November 6, 2024

Imagine what you can do when you set the agenda, he said, and you get along with a legislature that believes in freedom and opportunity, faith, family and community.

Notably, Beckwith did not give a speech.

Holcomb sent out a congratulatory note about Braun through his former governor campaign email.

"As we run through the tape during these last two months of my term, our Administration, like all those before me, will provide the support Governor-Elect Braun needs to ensure a smooth transition for our great State and most importantly the citizens that call Indiana home," he wrote.

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Republican Sen. Todd Young also posted his congratulations to X, saying Braun is prepared to be an "incredibly effective governor."

"Weve partnered together on issues that affect Indiana, and Mike is always thinking about how his decisions will impact Hoosiers," he wrote.

Braun is already crafting his transition team, which will be chaired by Victor Smith, a partner at Bose McKinney and Evans LLP and a the Secretary of Commerce under former Gov. Mike Pence. Anne Hathway, Indiana's Republican National Committeewoman, will chair his inaugural committee. On Thursday, Braun plans to meet with Indiana House and Senate Republican caucuses, as well as Holcomb.

Live Indiana Governor election results

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mike Braun declared winner of Indiana governor race; McCormick concedes
Mansfield City Schools Superintendent Stan Jefferson said he is not sure what comes next for the district after voters rejected a tax issue in Tuesday's general election.

City residents turned down a combination of a property tax and an earned income tax by a total of 8,363 to 3,702 in final, unofficial results from the county board of elections. More than 69% of voters rejected the issue.

"Without these funds, we would need to carefully assess our options moving forward and explore how we can best continue serving our students with the resources available," Jefferson said. "We appreciate the ongoing support as we work though these challenges together.

Stan Jefferson

"We will continue to communicate openly with our school community as we determine the next steps. We will have to do an assessment, and I will have to have further discussions with the board. We will share that with our school community," Jefferson said.

District officials wanted to spread cost more evenly

District officials asked voters to approve a combination of a property tax and an earned income tax. The idea was to spread the cost more evenly throughout the community.

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The five-year, 5.6-mill property tax would have generated $3 million a year, while the 1% income tax was expected to bring in $4.8 million.

The ballot issue would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home $197.40 a year, while someone making $50,000 in earned income would have paid $500.04.

Earned income is money people receive in wages, salaries, tips and other employee compensation.

Retirement income, unemployment compensation and workers' compensation would not have been affected.

"This levy was intended to generate funding for operating expenses," Jefferson said, listing classroom materials, building maintenance, transportation, staffing and instructional supplies.

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Budget reductions could include transportation as well as cuts to staff and extracurricular activities.

Teana Sykes co-chaired the levy committee with Dawn Kitchen.

"We certainly did all we could do, but we fell short," she said. "What the vote doesn't tell us is why."

Sykes said voters could have been worried about the cost, unclear about the combined tax or have concerns about the district.

MCS faces funding shortage

The school district faces a significant funding shortage because of increasing operating costs, state mandates and the growing needs of students.

Mansfield City Schools last asked for "new" money in 2013.

The district has taken steps to reduce costs, including closing Prospect and Woodland elementary schools and Tyger Digital Academy.

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In addition, school and department budgets were reduced by $1.2 million. A reduction in administrative costs included workforce reduction and no cost-of-living wage increase.

Still, in fiscal year 2024, the district paid $3.6 million more in expenses than the revenue it received.

If the issue had passed, the district would have been able to eliminate deficit spending, cover the increasing costs of day-to-day operations, avoid cuts in staffing and courses and maintain and care for all buildings, facilities, grounds and transportation fleets.

"While the election results did not turn out as we hoped, we respect the decision of the voters," Jefferson said. "It's a setback, but our commitment to providing a quality education for students remains."

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

X: @MarkCau32059251

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield City Schools tax issue fails in general election
We recently published a list of 15 Trending AI Stocks on Latest Analyst Ratings and News. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) stands against other trending AI stocks on the latest analyst ratings and news.

The AI Boom in Big Tech is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. This past week, artificial intelligence was the key focus for the Big Five, which together are valued at more than $10 trillion. The reporting season not only highlighted the push these big tech companies are making in AI investments but also demonstrated that they arent afraid to take it up any further than they already have. Previously, concerns regarding the returns from substantial AI investments had led to negative investor sentiment and even triggered a sell-off in major AI plays. However, some results are demonstrating that AI investments may be worth the wait.

READ ALSO: Top 10 Trending AI Stocks to Watch in November and Top 10 Trending AI Stocks in Q4.

The AI theme is intact if youre the mega caps, as companies show that they can monetize their investments while maintaining existing profitability. As long as that infrastructure continues to be built, then we continue to be in a good place for the broader AI trade.

That said, executives of the major AI plays have fair-warned that their AI splurges will continue next year. Tech giants are racing to secure high-end chips and build sprawling data centers, forging partnerships with energy providers and much more. Each company wants to prove to Wall Street that these investments will eventually lead to greater profitability as compared to their current businesses.

Ray Wang, principal analyst and founder at Constellation Research, believes that only a handful of technology names will be able to come out at the top, especially considering the high costs related to AI. This makes the situation quite favorable for well-capitalized companies.

The Latest Developments in AI

As companies ramp up their spending on AI, lets take a closer look at how other AI players are advancing to make headlines. For starters, Perplexity, an AI conversational search engine that uses large language models to answer queries, has announced a dedicated hub for US general election information. Even though the AI-powered search engine has been seen to hallucinate from time to time, the company is keen on showing its trustworthiness when it comes to tracking election results.
Oklahoma voters made their final changes Tuesday to the Republican-controlled state Senate, which has undergone a series of dramatic shifts this year thanks to elections and term limits.

Twelve seats were decided by voters in the general election. While Republicans are expected to hold on to their supermajority, several close contests and open races have made it difficult for political observers to predict exactly how many seats Republicans will hold next year. Currently, the GOP controls 40 seats while Democrats have eight.

A slate of freshman lawmakers, coupled with new Senate and House leaders and a governor in his final two years in office, could spark a power struggle between two of the states three branches of government

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Live election results: Get real-time Oklahoma 2024 election results for key OKC area and statewide races

As votes are still being counted, here are the leading candidates in Tuesday's Senate races:

District 3

Republican Julie McIntosh, who ousted incumbent Sen. Blake Cowboy Stephens in the primary, has defeated independent candidate Margaret Cook. The district covers an area east of Tulsa.

District 7

Incumbent Republican Sen. Warren Hamilton has reclaimed his seat after facing a challenge from Democratic Jerry Donathan in the race to represent the far southeastern part of Oklahoma.

District 15

Republican Lisa Standridge has defeated Democrat Elizabeth Foreman to represent an area surrounding Norman. The seat was open after it was most recently held by Rob Standridge, the husband of Lisa Standridge.

District 21

In another race to fill an open seat, Republican Randy Grellner defeated Democrat Robin Fuxa. The winner will succeed Republican Sen. Tom Dugger, who retired from office. The district covers Stillwater, Cushing and surrounding areas.

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District 25

Republican Brian Guthrie claimed a Tulsa-area seat in a race against Democrat Karen Gaddis. The two competed to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Joe Newhouse.

District 33

Republican Christi Gillespie defeated Democrat Bob Willis. The winner of the Tulsa-area race will fill the seat currently held by outgoing Sen. Nathan Dahm, who also chairs the Oklahoma Republican Party.

District 35

Incumbent Democrat Jo Anna Dossett, who has held the seat since 2020, defeated Republican Dean Martin in a race to retain her Tulsa-area seat.

District 37

Republican Aaron Reinhardt, who defeated incumbent Sen. Cody Rogers in the primary, defeated independent Andrew Nutter in a Tulsa metro-area race.

District 39

Incumbent Republican Sen. Dave Rader defeated a close challenge from Democrat Melissa Bryce. Rader has held the Tulsa-area seat since 2016.

District 43

Republican Kendal Sacchieri has defeated Sam Graefe, a Democrat. The winner will succeed outgoing Sen. Jessica Garvin, a Republican, who was defeated in the primary election. The district covers an area southwest of Norman.

District 46

In a rare three-way race to succeed outgoing Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, Democrat Mark Mann has won the seat. Republican Charles Barton is in second while independent David Pilchman is in third in the Oklahoma City race.

District 47

In this Oklahoma City metro-area battle for the seat of outgoing Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, Republican Kelly Hines defeated Democrat Erin Brewer. Treat is retiring due to term limits.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma elections 2024: See state Senate results
Benton County and Franklin County both had a majority of their board members on the ballot Tuesday, and the incumbents dont seem to be in any danger of losing their seats after initial vote counts.

Some of the biggest challenges the winners will face over the next 4-year term is managing post-pandemic budget crunches, bringing the regions 911 communications system up to date and finding a way to pay for a potentially budget-busting series of changes proposed for public defense attorneys.

The commissioners make up a three-member board in each county, setting policy and budget.

Franklin County

Franklin County Commission Commission Pos. 1 candidates Stephen Bauman, left, and Caleb Atkins.

Bauman v Atkins

In the Position 1 race, appointed incumbent Stephen Bauman leads with 4,994 votes, or 63%, to challenger Caleb Atkins 2,897 votes, or 36%. Both are Republicans.

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The winner will take the seat vacated by former longtime Commissioner Brad Peck, who stepped down at the beginning of the year. Peck served 15 years on the board, but his last term became increasingly contentious with other members of the board and he eventually resigned citing workplace toxicity and bullying.

Bauman was most recently caught up in a criminal investigation after changing the locks to his county office and refusing to provide the sheriffs office with a copy of the key.

Franklin County Commission Pos. 3 candidates Rocky Mullen, left, and Blanche Barajas.

Mullen v Barajas

In the Position 2 race, incumbent Rocky Mullen leads with 2,027 votes, or 61%. Challenger Blanche Barajas, an independent, received 1,310 votes, or 39%.

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Mullen, a Republican businessman, has been on the commission four years and is the current chairman. Barajas is a Pasco councilwoman and was the citys first Latina mayor.

Mullen was under criminal investigation earlier this year on suspicion of tampering with a witness, official misconduct and making a false or misleading statement to a public servant.

A special prosecutor declined to file charges due to a lack of evidence on two of the potential crimes and said the state lacked the resources at the time to pursue charging him with making a false or misleading statement to a public servant.

Benton County

Benton County Commission Pos. 1 candidates Jerome Delvin, left, and Jeff Smart.

Delvin v Smart

In the race for the Position 1 seat, incumbent Jerome Delvin leads with 34,032 votes, or 64% to challenger Jeff Smarts 18,914 votes, or 35%. Both are Republicans.

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Delvin is the current chair of the board, and its longest serving incumbent. Prior to his 2012 election to the board, Delvin served as a state representative and state senator. He is a retired Richland police officer.

Smart is the president of the Washington Association of Realtors.

Benton County Commission Pos. 3 candidates Will McKay, left, and Zach Fluharty

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McKay v Fluharty

In the race for Position 3, incumbent Will McKay leads with 37,864 votes, or 73%, to challenger Zach Fluhartys 13,176 votes, or 25%. Both men are Republicans.

McKay told the Tri-City Herald Editorial Board last month that he has learned a lot in his first term and wants to continue the work the board is doing, such as an ongoing overhaul of Benton Countys Canine Shelter and dangerous dog response and the forthcoming Columbia Valley Center for Recovery.

Fluharty did not respond to the Heralds request to be interviewed.

Benton-Franklin Superior Court

In the race for a seat on the Benton-Franklin Superior Court, Court Commissioner Bronson Brown had the narrowest of leads with 36,254 votes, or 49.8% to Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sants 36,241 votes, or 49.79%.

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The two men are running to replace embattled former Judge Sam Swanberg, who resigned after being investigated for harassment and domestic violence. He was cleared of the domestic violence charges and eventually resigned, but the Washington Commission of Judicial Standards still recommended to the Supreme Court that he should barred from holding a position as a judge.

Franklin 911 sales tax and fire levy

Franklin County voters are on the path to reject a new sales tax that would pay for replacement of critical 911 communications infrastructure and radios. Early voting returns have the No votes at 51%.

In the Connell area, voters are likely to reject a levy lid lift request from Fire Protection District 1, with 57% casting No ballots in early voting returns.
Although the race to the White House dominated Election Day reporting, the outcome of several congressional elections could help determine the future success of President-elect Donald Trumps second term.

Republicans won a majority in the U.S. Senate and now have control over the chamber for the first time in four years. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were up for reelection, and Democrats hoped they could flip the current Republican majority. As of Wednesday afternoon, 201 Republicans and 186 Democrats have been elected to the House, while 48 races still need to be called, according to the Associated Press.

Key Senate race results and why they matter

Democrats held a slim majority in the Senate going into Election Day, but three seats were flipped by Republican candidates, in Montana, Ohio and West Virginia, giving Republicans a 52-42 advantage with six races left to be called. As the vice president-elect, Sen. JD Vance will now become the Senates tie-breaking vote.

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In Montana, three-term incumbent Sen. Jon Tester lost his seat to Navy SEAL veteran Tim Sheehy. Sheehys victory emphasizes the Republican dominance in Montana, where the party now controls every state-level political office.

Republican businessman Bernie Moreno beat Sen. Sherrod Brown for Ohios seat, becoming the first Latino to represent Ohio in the Senate. It was the most expensive Senate race in the country, with both candidates spending more than $324 million on ads as of August, tracking firm AdImpact reported.

In West Virginia, Republican Gov. Jim Justice won the seat previously held by Independent Sen. Joe Manchin, who did not seek reelection. Justice made headlines after the Republican National Convention for bringing his English bulldog, Babydog, onstage with him.

Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin won reelection to a third term representing Wisconsin.

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Other notable races that have not been called yet include:

Arizona: Rep. Ruben Gallego (D) vs. former TV anchor Kari Lake (R)

Michigan: Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) vs. former Rep. Mike Rogers (R)

Nevada: Sen. Jacky Rosen (D) vs. Army veteran Sam Brown (R)

Key House race results and why they matter

As of Wednesday afternoon, which party will control the House has yet to be undecided. Republicans have won 201 seats to Democrats 186, with 48 races still needing to be called.

All of the seats in the House were up for reelection, with three seats vacant  Wisconsins 8th district, New Jerseys Ninth District and Texass 18th District.

Notably, Republican Tom Barrett flipped Michigans Seventh Congressional District, defeating Democrat Curtis Hertel Jr.

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Republican-held toss-ups that have not been called yet:

Arizonas First and Sixth Districts

Californias 13th, 22nd, 27th and 45th Districts

New Yorks Fourth District

Oregons Fifth District

Alaskas at-large District

Maines Second District

Pennsylvanias Ninth District

Washingtons Third District

Key Gubernatorial results

There were 11 gubernatorial races on the 2024 ballot, four of which were considered competitive. In New Hampshire, Republican Kelly Ayotte beat Joyce Craig; Democrat Josh Stein beat Mark Robinson in North Carolina. Democrat Bob Ferguson won Washington, and Republican Mike Braun won Indiana.
Voters make selections at their voting booths inside an early voting site. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

In Ohio and nationally, Democrats hopes were high going into Tuesdays election.

Theyd pulled off a string of victories since Republican appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated protections for abortion rights. And they were running against a candidate in Donald Trump who had been convicted of dozens of felonies, tried to overturn the last election, and who used violent, misogynistic and racist rhetoric in the current race.

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But as Tuesday night faded into Wednesday morning, it became apparent that Trump had grown his margins in Ohio and across the country, enabling him to become the first Republican to win the popular vote since 2004.

That left stunned Democrats and observers groping for answers. Among those offered on Wednesday were a truth-free information ecosystem, lack of a consistent economic message, and an unwillingness among millions of 2024 voters to consider facts that run counter to what they believe is true.

Columbus native Morgan Harper has run in Democratic primaries for the U.S. Senate and House. She now is director of policy and advocacy for the American Economic Liberties Project, a Washington, D.C.-based group that tries to reduce harm to consumers by concentrated economic interests.

She said the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris didnt do enough to address the issue most important to the working-class voters who broke so hard for Trump.

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There wasnt a consistent economic message, Harper said. There was a plan released. There was talk of taking on price-gouging in the grocery market and middlemen in pharmacy. But it wasnt something that was brought up every day. It wasnt an overarching vision, and I do think that thats something people are desperately wanting to hear from all political figures right now, but especially Democrats as we purport to represent the working class.

She said thats especially true in Ohio.

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I think theres still a lot of frustration with the fact that we have two tracks to the economy  folks who are tied to the stock market and how thats doing, and everybody else, Harper said. I hear from a lot of Ohio voters who feel like even though they work hard or even though theyve got a good job, theyre just not getting ahead. If thats how youre feeling, thats something youre going to feel every day.

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As a Harris national co-chair, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, knocked on a lot of doors across the swing states and in her hometown of El Paso. On Wednesday, she took to Facebook to say that she encountered a mountain of misinformation.

Everywhere I canvassed, it was clear that the majority of voters get their news from sources that promote outrageous lies, Escobar wrote. I saw people Ive known and respected for many years here in our own community repeat completely factually inaccurate statements. Its tough to win elections in a country where truth no longer exists.

She added, The information landscape in our country is poison.

University of Cincinnati political scientist David Niven agreed that a lot of garbage information is swirling, but he pointed to an even deeper problem.

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Its not just the (Democratic) losses in the states they lost, its the losses in the states they won, Niven said. That suggests a fundamental failure to get the plane off the ground.

He said people have never wanted to hear information that doesnt fit with their preconceived ideas, and with todays limitless platforms they dont have to. Niven conceded that the national media struggled to cover Trumps outrageous statements and actions in a way that was proportional to its coverage of Harris.

But more powerful is the capacity to choose your own reality with present-day media; to never confront a countervailing thought, he said. It never happened on Fox News, but the Biden administration is literally building bridges, but theres a general assumption among the American public that nothings happened in the last four years.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  President-elect Donald Trump made promises during his campaign to revamp the Department of Education in his return to the White House, but what could those changes mean for New York City schools?

Trump has mentioned wanting to eliminate the federal Department of Education, which was established in May 1980 by then-President Jimmy Carter.

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The Education Department helps fund education nationwide through programs like the Pell Grant and Title 1 that help low-income students. For the 2020-21 school year, New York received more than $1,200,300 in Title 1 allocation.

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Education officials also conduct research to improve the quality of education and investigate alleged discrimination in schools, among many other responsibilities.

Click here for election results

Now that Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States, could he eliminate the Department of Education? At the very least, he cant do so single-handedly.

Dismantling the Education Department would require an act of Congress, and its not the first time Trump has attempted to do so. While serving his first presidential term, Trump proposed merging the Education and Labor departments; however, the proposal did not make it to Congress.

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Even if Trump cannot fully eliminate the Department of Education, he has proposed pressuring schools to eliminate tenure and scrap diversity programs. He has also called for pulling federal funding for schools that teach Critical Race Theory, gender ideology, and more.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Elizabeth Steiner (Campaign photo)

UPDATED at 9:29 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 with reaction from Boquists campaign.

State Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, a Portland Democrat who has played a key role in crafting legislative budgets for years, is on track to be Oregons next treasurer.

Steiner declared victory a few hours after the first results were published Tuesday night.

As your next state treasurer I commit to bringing many perspectives together to find both/and solutions that will benefit people across our great state. Please join me as we work to make Oregonians the most financially secure, healthiest people in the nation, she said in a statement via email.

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Election results from the Secretary of States Office gave Steiner nearly 50% of the vote, compared with nearly 45% for her Republican opponent, state Sen. Brian Boquist of Dallas. Boquist Wednesday morning said via email he would wait until all votes were counted.

Long ways to go as we saw in 2020, he said.

A third candidate that Steiner had worried could spoil her bid  Mary King, a retired Portland State University professor and candidate for the Working Families and Pacific Green parties  earned about 6%.

If the trend holds, Steiner would be the first woman in Oregon history to hold the position.

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Tonight, Ive broken the glass ceiling as Oregons first woman state treasurer, she said in the statement. This is a win shared by all those who believe in the idea that every Oregonian should have the tools they need to reach financial security.

Oregons treasurer manages the nearly $98 billion Public Employees Retirement System, or PERS, which currently provides benefits to about 146,000 retirees. The treasurer also manages public banking and savings programs, including the Oregon College Savings Plan and Oregon Saves, a retirement savings program run through the treasury.

Steiner helped pass Oregon Saves in the Legislature and has been trying to expand the states college savings plan. A family physician and adjunct associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University, she has spent 12 years in the Legislature, including six as co-chair of the powerful budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee.

She campaigned on increasing financial literacy among Oregonians and creating a webpage for residents to enroll in savings accounts for college, retirement and future care and then monitor their savings. She said she wants to double the number of Oregon children with a savings plan for post-secondary education and ensure they understand how it would work. She also said shed start a baby bond program for every kid born in Oregon who would get a one-time deposit from the state into a savings account that family members could contribute to over time and that the recipient could access after they turn 18.

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She said she would work to make PERS solvent and less reliant on fossil fuel investments.

Boquist, who believes smaller government is better government, did not propose any new programs during the campaign and said divestment in fossil fuels was a red herring political issue and that those holdings only represent about 3% of PERS investments. Instead, he said PERS should slowly reduce investments in private equity companies and bonds outside Oregon and step up investments in housing.

Like Steiner, Boquist is a longtime lawmaker, with nearly 20 years in the Legislature, including the last 15 in the Senate. He was disqualified from running for another term after participating in a six-week walkout by Senate Republicans in 2023.

He ran a lackluster campaign  he didnt have a campaign website and filed to run at the last minute. He only raised about $16,000 this year, and his single biggest expenditure was $3,000 to the Secretary of States Office for appearing in the Voters Pamphlet.

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In comparison, Steiner raised more than $930,000 this year and spent tens of thousands on advertising, both on TV and radio stations and social media.

State treasurers are elected to a four-year term and are limited to two terms during any 12-year period.

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Elm Grove voters have approved a referendum for the village to complete a longtime stormwater management plan by resurfacing a portion of Underwood Creek from underneath a downtown parking lot.

More than 3,800 Elm Grove residents, or about 88% of voters, voted in favor of the $8.5 million project that village officials say would not cost taxpayers more money. About 500, or about 12% of voters, voted no for the referendum.

Village of Elm Grove President Jim Koleski told the Journal Sentinel he's grateful for the support residents have shown to greenlight a project that's more than 15 years in the making.

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Next, village officials will work to acquire the remaining properties for the project, open the construction bid process in January 2025 and then start construction in the spring of next year, Koleski said.

What does it mean to 'daylight' a creek?

Stream daylighting brings buried waterways that have been diverted underground, in most cases for development, back to the surface. The result is an uncovered, restored stream.

In downtown Elm Grove, about a 900-foot portion of Underwood Creek that once flowed freely was confined by concrete so what is now the Sendik's building and parking lot could be developed. The stream flows through a box culvert underground, which is now failing, according to the village.

Daylighting the creek will improve flooding, the area's ecosystem and downtown's walkability and connectivity, according to Village Trustee John Schindler.

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"It's going to be great for the environment," Schindler told the Journal Sentinel.

Why should part of Underwood Creek be brought back to the surface?

Long before downtown Elm Grove was developed, Underwood Creek was in its natural state as a long, winding channel that took up a lot of space and was surrounded by a wetland, Schindler previously told the Journal Sentinel.

"This wetland acted like a giant sponge, absorbing water during heavy rainfall, and letting water out slowly during dry spells," Schindler describes in a video educating residents about the daylighting project.

By 1958, part of the stream in Elm Grove was developed over, and routed into a concrete culvert, which no longer absorbed the water as the wetland did.

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Downtown flooding became a regularity, including a deadly flood in August 1998 in which two boys drowned.

The village took flood management measures in 2005, but paused one of the final steps  bringing the creek to the light of day  until it secured grants to fund the project.

This last effort to mitigate flooding will affect dozens of communities both upstream and downstream in the Menomonee River watershed for the better, according to Schindler.

How will the Underwood Creek daylighting project be paid for?

Village Manager Tom Harrigan previously told the Journal Sentinel the project could cost about $8.4 million. Less than half that cost would be covered by Tax Incremental District No. 2, which is mostly made of commercial properties and created to help flood control implementation. Stormwater User Fees, which property owners already pay, would be reallocated to cover about $5 million of the project, he said.

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The project had to go to referendum because it exceeds $1 million, following an Elm Grove rule that all public works projects that exceed that cost must be decided on by voters in a referendum.

Bridget Fogarty can be reached at bfogarty@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Stormwater management referendum passes in Elm Grove
It's hard to find a political operator as chaotic as Donald Trump. But in Elon Musk, he might just have met his match.

As his private jet landed in Palm Beach, Florida to spend election night at Trump's private resort on Tuesday evening, the Tesla and SpaceX boss  who also owns the social network X  couldn't have known whether he has backed a winner or a loser (though he did proclaim game, set, and match for Kamala Harris as early voting data turned against her).

But he can at least rest assured that he has made the 2024 election stranger, more confusing, and more clogged with false information.

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His $1m sweepstake for registered voters is under investigation as an "illegal lottery scheme". His Michigan door-knocking operation is accused of badly mistreating its workers. And his fundraising group America PAC, which was put in charge of a big chunk of Trump's canvassing operation, has reportedly suffered from dodgy data and other dysfunctions.

Meanwhile, Musk himself has spent election day making and spreading false claims about voter fraud  though he later deleted or corrected some of them.

"I'm headed to Florida, to Mar-a-Lago, and I'll be there with President Trump, and JD [Vance], and a bunch of other cool people," Musk said in an audio discussion on X on

"The Trump team, I think they're good people. But they're also just  they're fun. They've got a great sense of humour, they're making jokes. Trump actually has a quite a bit of self-deprecating humour."

All hell has broken loose

Since fully endorsing Donald Trump in the wake of his first assassination attempt this July, Musk  estimated to be the world's richest person  has become a centerpiece of his campaign.

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As well as donating more than $130m to Trump and other Republican politicians, he has regularly appeared at rallies and taken charge of door-knocking operations in crucial swing states including Nevada, Michigan, and Arizona.

However, according to an investigation by NBC News, that project has been missing some of its targets and has suffered from high levels of suspected fraudulent activity by canvassers on the ground, such as activity reports that were geotagged as being more than 100 feet away from the door they were supposedly knocking on.

You would never ask a political consultant to build rocket ships. I dont think you should be asking someone that builds rocket ships to manage political operations," said one former member.

Insiders described the project as overpopulated with "broccoli-cut Zoomers" with little experience in "get out the vote" operations, with one claiming: "All hell has broken loose."

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Spokespeople for America PAC's subcontractors called these claims "lies peddled by anonymous sources with agendas and a lack of knowledge of the facts".

Then there is Musk's much-ballyhooed sweepstake, in which he promised a $1m prize every day for one registered voter in seven swing states who signed a pledge supporting the First and Second Amendments.

Pennsylvania officials have accused it of being an illegal lottery scheme under state law, and in court, a lawyer for America PAC admitted that winners were not actually "randomly" selected but were specifically chosen to be paid "spokespeople".

That disclosure in turn attracted a class action lawsuit from people who 'competed' in the program, alleging that it broke laws against deceptive trading practices.

Musk has transformed X into a political operation

Just to be clear, Google is not intentionally manipulating search results to help Kamala Harris get more votes than Donald Trump. Rather, according to the company, it was showing maps of voting locations to people who googled where to vote for Harris because there is a county in Texas called Harris County.

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Moreover, there is no evidence that ChatGPT is only willing to persuade Americans to vote for Harris and not for Donald Trump.

But those are both claims that Musk approvingly shared with his 203m followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday  in addition to a video featuring references to QAnon, an extremist millenarian cult that wants Trump to round up his political opponents with a military coup.

Thats nothing new for Musk. By now he has a long history of sharing misinformation and bigoted material. In this case, he deleted some of his posts and thanked Google for its clarification.

Thanks for the clarification https://t.co/JReZUGiWF8  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 5, 2024

Whats worse is that Musk has been accused of tweaking Xs algorithms to promote his own posts shortly after he came out in support of Trump. In other words, he is allegedly using the entire social network as a pro-Trump megaphone.

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Indeed, the respected tech journalist Casey Newton  who has been reporting on X and claims of biased social networks for years  said on Monday that Musk has transformed X into a political operation designed to get Trump elected at all costs.

Even so, his attempt to hold a town hall event on X on Monday night was thwarted by the endemic technical problems that have dogged the site since his takeover in 2022. Lets cancel this, he eventually said. Not a brilliant omen for how Musk could impact the federal government if he is given a government position by a second Trump administration.

Either way, expect Musks role in politics to stick around. America PAC is going to keep going after this election  and preparing for the midterms and any intermediate elections, as well as looking at elections at the district attorney and sort of judicial levels, he said in Tuesdays X discussion.
(Bloomberg) -- An ultra-rich American pouring tens of millions of dollars into a presidential race is nothing new. Nor is lobbying for their business interests or vying for a position in the next administration.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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But in what could prove to be a consequential shift, the worlds richest man has become one of the most prominent propagators of falsehoods, leading other billionaires and business executives in favor of their preferred candidate.

Elon Musk has used X, the social media platform he bought for $44 billion in 2022, to unleash misinformation about immigration and voter fraud and make claims that are deceptive and impossible to verify.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, before Americans lined up at polling places, he continued to echo some of the same themes to his 203 million followers, responding ! to a misleading video that claimed a nonprofit was encouraging undocumented immigrants in Pennsylvania to vote illegally.

Musk, whos worth $263.8 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, has become Republican candidate Donald Trumps most high-profile donor and supporter, campaigning alongside him and funding his ground game in swing states. He didnt respond to a request for comment.

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I cant think of anyone who has spent as much time with as big of a mic as Elon Musk, who has spent time talking about voter fraud, said Justin Grimmer, a political science professor at Stanford University and an expert with the MIT Election Data and Science Lab. Theyre laying the groundwork for more people to be wrapped up in this vague sense that something is wrong even when theres no hard evidence that there is.

Grimmer, who has done research on voter fraud in the US, said while it does happen, its very rare and never enough to sway the results of an election. He also said there has never been any evidence of systemic voter fraud.

Musk also engages with influential, like-minded users including hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman and Sequoia Capital general partner Shaun Maguire  an investor in several of Musks companies  who hype pro-Trump posts to their own Wall Street and Silicon Valley audiences.

At times this content has been misleading, too.

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After the presidential debate, Ackman and Maguire both expressed outrage over a whistleblower affidavit attributed to an unidentified ABC News employee that claimed the network shared questions with the Harris campaign in advance. No evidence emerged to back up the claims, which were shared from an anonymous X account. (The account, called Black Insurrectionist, could be traced to a white man in upstate New York who was repeatedly accused of defrauding business partners and lenders, the AP reported.)

Later, both men backed away from it: Ackman wrote that it seemed clear the story was a fake and Maguire wrote that it was likely not credible.

A spokesman for Ackman declined to comment. Maguire declined to comment.

Trump has normalized lying. In no other environment, no other business environment, would you tolerate your senior person consistently lying and misusing data, said former American Express CEO Ken Chenault in a pre-election briefing held by the Business & Democracy Initiative, a group that works on rebuilding trust in democratic institutions. One of the things I think thats critical for leaders is the quest for truth.

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Bloomberg News spent Election Day fact-checking prominent billionaires and business leaders social media posts. Heres what we found:

The Post:

Early Tuesday morning, Musk responded ! to a misleading video from far-right activist and journalist James OKeefe that claimed a Philadelphia nonprofit was telling non-citizens they can vote with just an ITIN number, or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

Fact Check:

It is illegal for non-citizens to vote and you cant register to vote if you are not a citizen. Trey Hood III, a political science professor at the University of Georgia and member of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, emphasized this, adding that in some states, they check voter rolls against databases of citizens.

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On Pennsylvanias voter registration application, it asks for the last four digits of your social security number, your drivers license number or ID card number. There is nowhere on the voter registration application that asks for an ITIN or any taxpayer number.

It appears OKeefe is misrepresenting the non-profit Ceibas ITIN program, which it runs to help people without social security numbers file taxes. In his video he shows a flier from Ceiba with information about ITINs, as if its evidence of his claims that theyre encouraging voter fraud. There is nothing on the sheet that says anything about voting. The video also includes partial audio clips that OKeefe claims are evidence of the nonprofit workers encouraging voter fraud.

The nonprofit didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Post:

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Musk wrote that voting machines have terrible reliability in response to a post about a software malfunction in the electronic voting system in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Fact Check:

Like all technology, voting machines sometimes have occasional hiccups, but hand-counting ballots has been found to be less accurate, according to 2018 research from Charles Stewart III, the founding director of MITs Election Data and Science Lab. There are several checks voting machines go through to make sure they are working properly, including audits from election officials, who keep a ballot chain of custody.

A Pennsylvania court order extended voting hours in Cambria County until 10 p.m. after the software glitch.

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The Post:

Musk posted that men are coming out to vote in record numbers, which he has said would be a good sign for Trump.

Fact Check:

Exit polls with information on who is showing up to vote werent available when Musk posted this, so was impossible to say yet whether more men are voting this election. Data on early voters showed that far more women showed up than men.

The Post:

Musk and other tech allies amplified a rumor several times on Tuesday afternoon that Google showed a Where to vote panel with a map for users entering the query, Where can I vote for Harris, while noting there wasnt a similar panel that appeared when people asked about Trump.

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Fact Check:

In response, Google swiftly quashed the rumor, saying it was triggering for some specific searches because Harris is also a name of a county in Texas. Musk thanked Google for the clarification, and in a live conversation on X later, acknowledged it was less nefarious than it seemed.

--With assistance from Amanda Gordon.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
While Tuesday was overall a good day for Elon Musk as his fellow celebrity Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, it wasnt without its complications for the worlds richest man.

Thats because a new pair of lawsuits filed against the Tesla billionaire  one in Michigan and one in Texas  allege that Musks $1 million per day giveaway was actually one giant fraud scheme. This comes after the America PAC admitted it did not actually choose its swing state winners at random, but rather pre-selected petition signers based on their personal stories  and perhaps their political affiliations, per the docs.

Robert Anthony Alvarez of Michigan and Jacqueline McAferty of Arizona (though filed in Texas) now accuse Musk and the America PAC of committing fraud and breach of contract. The former seeks $1 million in damages, while the latter demands injunctive relief and a jury trial for her class action suit.

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Per the lawsuits, obtained by TheWrap, the Petition in Favor of Free Speech and the Right to Bear Arms was crafted in October and offered $47 for each registered voter referral who signed. Additionally, it was publicized that one registered voter who signed from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin or North Carolina would be randomly selected to win $1 million per day, regardless of political party.

We really want to get as many people as possible to sign this petition, so I have a surprise for you, Musk said when announcing the incentive program on Oct. 19. And its that well be awarding $1 million dollars, randomly, to people who have signed the petition. Every day from now until the election.

While the Pennsylvania District Attorney initially tried to block the contest as voter interference, a judge subsequently ruled it would be allowed to continue. On Monday, Musk lawyer Chris Gober even admitted in court that they werent picking winners by chance, and therefore were not violating any laws: There is no prize to be won, instead recipients must fulfill contractual obligations to serve as a spokesperson for the Pac.

A day later, Alvarez and McAferty are now asking a judge to determine whether that distinction instead constitutes as fraud  especially since signees had to give their personal information to enter and winners were supposedly forced to sign NDAs.

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Musk and the PAC concealed the true nature of the opportunity, method in which the winners would be selected and the terms/conditions under which Alvarez, if selected, would be awarded the $1 million, Alvarezs lawsuit states. Musk and the PACs fraudulent conduct was intentional, willful and designed to deceive Alvarez and others into participating in their program under false pretenses.

It continues, A closer look at the recipients of the $1 million prize show a clear pattern: that the selection not only is not random, but is a targeted process that eliminates anyone who is not a Republican or vocal supporter of Donald Trump.

Defendants representations were false because they have since admitted that the winners were pre-determined, McAfertys added. Defendants knew their representations were false at the time they were made; Defendants have continued to promote the petition as a chance to win $1,000,000 randomly while simultaneously choosing winners based on selective, pre-determined criteria.

Regardless of the outcome, the giveaway is now over as of Election Day. Musk did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment.

The post Elon Musk Sued for Fraud, Breach of Contract Over $1 Million Giveaway Stipulations appeared first on TheWrap.
Dusit Foods, a subsidiary of Thailand's Dusit International, has formed a partnership with Japanese food industry leader Green House to propel the global growth of Epicure Catering, a provider of food and beverage services to the international school sector in Thailand.

The collaboration is set to broaden Epicure's services to healthcare, corporate clients and domestic and international airlines.

Under the new agreement, Green House will collaborate with Sumitomo Corporation to form a special purpose vehicle for purchasing a 20% stake in Epicure Catering.

Dusit Foods will maintain a 70% shareholding, while current Epicure shareholders will hold the remaining 10%.

The partnership between Dusit International and Green House began with consultancy services provided for the Dusit Thani Kyoto hotel in 2023.

The success of this venture highlighted the potential for further collaboration extending into the broader foodservice industry.

Dusit International Group CEO Suphajee Suthumpun said: "We are delighted to deepen our collaboration with Green House and embark on this strategic partnership that underscores our commitment to expanding Dusit's food business on a global scale.

"With Epicure Catering's position as a leading provider of food and beverage services for the international school sector, holding a more than 70% market share in Thailand, we see tremendous potential for growth. Together with Green House, we aim to leverage our combined expertise and resources to bring Epicure's high-quality offerings to new markets in education, healthcare and airlines across Thailand and Asia."

Since its establishment in 2018, Dusit Foods has pursued a strategy of investing across the "farm-to-fork" spectrum within Dusit's food supply chain.

Dusit Foods' investment portfolio comprises The Caterers in Vietnam, Bonjour Bakery Asia in Thailand, Savor Eats (Pinto Hub) comprising cloud kitchens and a central kitchen hub in Bangkok, and Dusit Gastro  a sourcing and distribution centre supporting Dusit Hotels and Resorts and other HoReCa sector businesses.

"Dusit Foods partners Green House to expedite Epicure Catering growth " was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.




The News

Billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk was sued Tuesday over claims that his $1 million-a-day giveaway to registered voters in swing states was a fraud.

An Arizona voter filed a proposed class-action case against the billionaire, alleging Musk falsely said his pro-Trump America PAC would choose winners randomly, when the selections were predetermined.

The complaint cites comments made by a Republican lawyer Monday in a hearing in a separate Philadelphia case against the PAC. The lawyer, whom CNBC identified as the PACs former treasurer, claimed the $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance, contradicting Musks claim that the funds were awarded randomly. We know exactly who will be announced as the $1 million recipient today and tomorrow, he said.

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America PACs sweepstakes were open only to registered voters in key swing states, including Arizona, who have signed an America PAC petition in support of free speech and gun rights. Legal experts are divided over whether the giveaway is illegal or if it could fall into a gray area of federal law in regard to vote-buying.

Musk and his lawyers have yet to comment on the lawsuit.
On election night, as Republican Donald Trump inched closer to reclaiming the U.S. presidency, some tech executives and venture capitalists rejoiced.

The people of America gave @realDonaldTrump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight, Elon Musk posted on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The eccentric billionaire, who shared a Photoshopped image of himself carrying a sink into the Oval Office, has been a vocal supporter of Trump , who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris to win the White House.

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The 2024 U.S. presidential election has been a wild ride, highlighting a divide between venture capitalists and tech executives  some of whom spent millions of dollars backing Trump while others poured money into Harris campaign. Both sides argued the candidates they support would benefit the tech industry.

Read more: Trump wins key battleground states and claims victory in historic campaign

Box Chief Executive Aaron Levie, who backed Harris and made the case the Democrat is pro-business, congratulated Trump on his win late Tuesday night. Whats great about America is that were on a rocket ship right now and can keep accelerating with the right policies and execution, Levie posted on X.

Musk stands to benefit from a second Trump presidency. He runs companies such as Tesla and SpaceX that hold billions of dollars in government contracts, but has also clashed with regulators. Trump said he would make Musk the head of a new government efficiency commission, sparking concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Once critical of policies that benefit electric vehicles, Trump softened his tone after Musk endorsed him.

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Trump's and Harris' campaigns didn't respond to requests for comment.

Heres how a Trump presidency could reshape the tech industry:

Artificial intelligence

Trump plans to repeal President Bidens 2023 AI executive order, which aims to ensure businesses develop technology responsibly because he thinks it hinders innovation.

Read more: In San Francisco, Biden says AI has 'enormous promise but comes with risks

In its place, Republicans support AI Development rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing, according to a document that outlines policies he supports.

There will probably be some form of AI regulation under Trump, analysts say, but exactly what that will look like is unclear.

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Knowing what youre going to be dealing with really matters for the business community," said Todd OBoyle, senior director of technology policy with the Chamber of Progress, a tech industry advocacy group. "We are entering really uncharted waters.

Under Trump, there could be rejuvenated interest" for state AI regulation, he said.

In California, lawmakers proposed a slew of AI-related bills this year and OBoyle expects that will continue. Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1047, a hotly contested bill that aimed to require developers of advanced AI models to adopt safety measures.

Trump could make a big push into AI innovation, analysts say. As the use of AI in the military rises, Trumps campaign says he would invest in cutting edge research and advanced technologies in part to modernize the military, which would benefit tech firms such as Palantir and Anduril Industries.

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Palmer Luckey, who founded Anduril Industries and supports Trump, urged his followers on X to "Pokemon Go to the polls." As Trump moved closer to victory on election night, Luckey posted a photo of Pokemon character Ash Ketchum with a tear (apparently of joy) streaming down his face.

Read more: Palmer Luckey: Millennial slayer of U.S. defense giants

When it comes to AI, what will rule is, if theres money to be made, itll be supported, said Olaf Groth, faculty member at UC Berkeleys Haas School of Business and chief executive of think tank Cambrian Futures.

Trump could also punish companies that cross him.

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His campaign has said he would pass a digital bill of rights and legislation to drastically limit the ability of big social media platforms to restrict free speech. Trump, who operates his own his own social media platform, Truth Social, has been critical of Facebooks parent company Meta Platforms and Google, accusing them of censoring his speech, allegations they deny.

Citing competition with China, Trump has proposed imposing tariffs so businesses prioritize American suppliers. In the past, tech titans such as Apple that rely heavily on China to manufacture products such as the iPhone and the Apple Watch have managed to get tariffs waived.

OBoyle said that the tech industry is tariffs skeptical.

Tariffs are a tax on consumers, OBoyle said. Its hard to see how tariffs are going to address the economic challenges in the country. Tariffs slow trade. They create friction to trade.

Cryptocurrency

Some of Trumps vocal supporters include investors and twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who co-founded cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, and have accused the Biden administration of trying to destroy their industry.

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Read more: Why some Silicon Valley investors are backing the Trump-Vance campaign

A Trump presidency is a "huge win for crypto," said Daniel Ives, a managing director at Wedbush Securities.

The Biden administration has proposed tax reporting requirements for cryptocurrency brokers and issued an executive order in 2022 to crack down on cryptocurrency scams, fraud and theft. The executive order also mentions exploring the creation of a digital U.S. dollar.

In his policy document, Trumps campaign signaled he would be more friendly toward the cryptocurrency industry and roll back the Biden's administrations actions. Republicans oppose the creation of a digital U.S. dollar.

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"To the extent that the Biden administration was skeptical of fintech and crypto, its a reasonable bet that the Trump administration will reverse any fintech and crypto skeptical policies that the Biden administration stood up, OBoyle said.

Antitrust and TikTok

U.S. regulators have been trying to rein in the power of tech heavyweights such as Meta, Amazon and Google, which the U.S. government is considering breaking up after a federal judge declared that the search giant has an illegal monopoly on search.

Read more: Google loses major antitrust case over search, declared a monopoly by judge

For all his concerns about the power of tech companies, Trump signaled hes wary about breaking up Google. In an October interview moderated by Bloomberg News, Trump said he would do something but stopped short of saying he would break up the search giant.

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Its a very dangerous thing because we want to have great companies, he said. We dont want China to have these companies. Right now, China is afraid of Google.

Some tech industry observers expect that Trump will name a new Federal Trade Commission chair, pushing Lina Khan out of the role.

The previous Trump administration pushed for Chinese tech company ByteDance to sell TikTok due to the U.S. governments security concerns with the popular video apps ties to China. Trump, who has raised free speech concerns about banning TikTok, might be open to allowing the tech platform to stay in the U.S. so it can compete with Google and Meta, analysts say.

The irony is, even though Trump started the TikTok ban narrative, he's changed his tune significantly and would actually support TikTok within the U.S. with restrictions, and any talk of a ban would actually dissipate for TikTok, Ives said.

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In a video posted on social media in September, Trump said, Were not doing anything with TikTok.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Walker's Point Youth & Family Center was there for Hazel Scott and her daughter Nei'lanii when they were at their lowest point last year.

The shelter gave Scott and Nei'lanii a room and connected her with an in-house therapist, who helped her find a job and a day care for Nei'lanii.

"It really was like my home," said Scott, now 17.

Unfortunately, the south side shelter can't help youth like Scott for much longer.

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In two months, it will shut its doors due to a sudden loss in federal funding. That leaves Milwaukee County with just eight emergency beds for youth and no shelters for teen parents amid a growing homelessness crisis.

"The loss of this funding will have a profoundly detrimental impact on the most vulnerable youth in greater Milwaukee," said Walker's Point Youth & Family Center executive director Audra O'Connell.

Last month, O'Connell said, the shelter was notified it would not receive the federal grant it has gotten for the past 38 years. The three-year Basic Center Program grant, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is $200,000 annually  a significant portion of the shelter's budget.

O'Connell said the shelter was not given an explanation. She suspects it could have to do with the Runaway Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, which was passed by Congress in the 1970s to fund youth shelters. Congress hasn't reauthorized the act in five years.

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U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore and the Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services have all reached out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to track down an explanation. None have received a response, O'Connell said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the department's Administration for Children and Families said the agency "receives hundreds of applications each year."

Due to the competitive nature of awards and the limited availability of funding, (the Administration for Children and Families) is not able to fund all requests," the spokesperson wrote.

The agency's Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth awarded 210 grants totaling more than $46.7 million in fiscal year 2024.

Audra O'Connell, executive director at the Walker's Point Youth & Family Center, talks about the loss of funding for the center while giving a tour.

Pathfinders is the only other state-licensed youth shelter in Milwaukee. Between the two, they had 16 emergency beds for homeless and runaway youth. Without Walker's Point Youth & Family Center, the county will be down to half that.

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Walker's Point Youth & Family Center is also the only shelter in Milwaukee licensed to house parenting teens and their families. About half of the shelter's clients in the past three years were pregnant or parenting a child, O'Connell said.

Tim Baack, the chief executive officer of Pathfinders and board president of the Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services, said nearly 12,000 youth between 10 and 24 years old experience homelessness annually in Milwaukee County. That's an estimation based on national data from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and U.S. Census Bureau data.

"This is largely an invisible problem," Baack said. "We can't just lose half of our current capacity when we know the current number of beds is already insufficient."

No explanation for sudden loss of funding

According to O'Connell, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notified the shelter it wasn't awarded the grant on Oct. 2  the day after the grant cycle was expected to start.

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"You don't expect that to just not come through without some kind of warning," she said.

O'Connell said the center's grant application scored high enough to be funded, but wasn't. She has emailed the department three times in the past month for an explanation, without success.

The organization was on track this year to help about 200 youth between 11 and 17 years old with shelter and another 500 youth through its free therapy services.

Both programs will stop Dec. 31 unless another funding source comes through, O'Connell said.

The shelter will have to lay off seven full-time staff members and four other employees.

Positive messages line the walls where youth receive art therapy.

The main reason youth come to the shelter is family issues, O'Connell said. Sometimes there is trauma and abuse at home, or they need separation to heal. Others face housing instability, sex trafficking and gang violence.

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In the past three years, 81% of the center's clients have been youth of color and 41% have been LGBTQ+.

For Scott, staying at home wasn't an option. Both times she turned to the shelter were due to her tumultuous relationship with her mother, she said.

Scott's been in therapy at the center for over a year to process her relationship with her mother, the recent loss of her father and the stress of being a teen mom.

She recently finished high school early and celebrated Nei'lanii's second birthday. Now, Scott is applying to colleges in Milwaukee.

She is grateful for her therapist at the center. She often feels overwhelmed and isn't sure how losing access to therapy will affect her down the road, she said.

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"It's not just therapy," Scott said. "They connect with me."

Last year, Hazel Scott sought refuge at the center as a teenage mother. "My first day here felt like home. I had my own room with my daughter," said Scott.

Youth can stay at the shelter for up to 21 days. While there, they maintain school attendance. They are given a bus pass to transport them to school and work.

They have one-on-one therapy, group therapy and art therapy at their disposal, as well as space to develop friendship with others. Each night, the youth and staff prepare family-style dinners.

Many of the youth staying at the shelter are struggling with mental health issues, O'Connell said. She is concerned that the shelter's closure will cause some to end up in juvenile correctional facilities like Lincoln Hills.

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Milwaukee County pays a hefty price to house youth at such facilities. Lincoln Hills, Copper Lake and the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center cost taxpayers $420,000 per youth annually.

That's more than half of Walker's Point Youth & Family Center's $700,000 annual operating budget, O'Connell pointed out.

"It makes a lot more sense to fund programs like Walker's Point Youth & Family Center," O'Connell said.

O'Connell hopes to garner public support to keep the shelter operational. She contacted the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County for help. Both are looking into it, she said.

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She plans to reapply for the Basic Center Program grant next year. If the organization is successful, the grant would take effect in October 2025.

"I'm not going to lose hope," O'Connell said.

Youth homelessness is on the rise, advocates say

Pathfinders can't shoulder the youth homelessness crisis alone in Milwaukee, Baack said.

Homeless youth look different from adults. Homeless adults might live in encampments, like at the park-and-ride-lots or near resources like Guest House of Milwaukee. But youth staying at encampments are at risk of exploitation by adults, Baack said.

More commonly, youth stay on friends' or relatives' couches. That means they often don't qualify as "homeless" under federal definitions, which makes it harder to get funding, Baack said.

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Across the country, there is a growing need for youth shelters. However, Congress has failed to authorize the funding necessary to meet the need, Baack said.

Since the 1970s, Congress has reauthorized the Runaway Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act every five years. The law helps Congress determine the amount of funding for community-based services for homeless youth shelters, therapy and other support.

But Congress hasn't reauthorized the act since 2019.

Pathfinders is in its third and final year of its Basic Center Program grant. Like Walker's Point Youth & Family Center, it will need to reapply and compete against other applicants next year.

"When Congress fails to award appropriate levels of funding, it forces all programs like ours across the country to compete for really limited funds," Baack said.

Gina Lee Castro is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at gcastro@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Walker's Point Youth & Family Center may close due to loss of funds
In a pleasing moment of candor, British journalist Emily Maitlis called out Donald Trumps bats--t rhetoric live on air. The remark earned her admonishment from her colleague, not because she was wrong, necessarily, but because of her swearing.

During Channel 4s election coverage, Maitliswho conducted Prince Andrews disastrous Newsnight interviewsaid that when Trump talked about the eating of cats and dogs, half of America was just thinking, This is bats--t. I cant believe what hes saying. This is gonna be the end of him.

Maitlis was referring to the far rights conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants in Ohio stealing and eating their neighbors pets, which had absolutely no truth to it but which Trump and his lieutenants spent months repeating anyway.

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As she made her point, her co-host, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, cut her off and told her to stop swearing because it set a double standard for their guests. I have to tell them off for swearing, and then you do it, he continued.

For what its worth, Guru-Murthy was laughing as he said it, and reports that Maitlis was ordered off air over the remark, or that she quit the broadcast in a huff, are false. As Deadline reports, she left to record her podcast, The News Agents, and then came back to resume election coverage.

According to Guru-Murthy, the person who was fired from the panel was former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whom Maitlis grilled earlier in the evening over his Trump-like behavior.

Rather than answering her questions, Johnson largely deflected and talked about his new memoir, Unleashed, instead.

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When Johnson eventually disappeared from the rotation, Guru-Murthy told viewers the ex-PM had been axed for banging on about his book, though the host may have been joking. Other highlights from Channel 4 studio included Stormy Daniels and former Trump fixer Michael Cohen meeting each other in person for the first time.

Anyway, Maitlis apparently did not earn herself a big network reprimand. Guru-Murthy merely told viewers, Ill tell Emily off later because I know she started the swearing. It may be the middle of the night in Britain, but theyre still a little bit sensitive about that stuff.

Whether or not half of Americans consider Trumps claims to have been bats--t is less clear. Trump had beaten Kamala Harris with 277 electoral votes to her 224 when the Associated Press called the race early Wednesday. He was leading the popular vote, too, at 71 million votes to Harris 66 million. Five states had yet to be called, but four of those were leaning his way, too.

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An emperor penguin surprised locals when it appeared on a beach in Australia after making an epic journey of thousands of miles from its home in Antarctica.

The penguin arrived on Ocean Beach in Denmark, Western Australia, on Friday, according to a statement from Australias Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), sent to CNN on Wednesday.

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A spokesperson described the penguin as malnourished, adding that the animal remains in the care of a trained and registered local wildlife carer.

The penguin is being cared for by a local expert. - Supplied by DBCA

The rehabilitation process is expected to take a few weeks, said the spokesperson, who added that the wildlife carer is being supported by a DBCA officer.

Ocean Beach is more than 2,200 miles due north of Antarctica, suggesting the penguin probably swam significantly further to reach Australia.

Belinda Cannell, a research fellow at the University of Western Australia, told Australian public broadcaster ABC News that this is the first time an emperor penguin has been seen so far north.

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The penguin may have followed a current north from Antarctica, she said.

What they tend to do is follow certain currents where theyre going to find lots of different types of food, Cannell told ABC.

So maybe those currents have just tended to be a little bit further north towards Australia than they normally would.

Local surfer Aaron Fowler told ABC that he saw the penguin emerging from the sea.

It was massive, it was way bigger than a sea bird and were like, what is that thing coming out of the water? And it kind of had a tail sticking out like a duck, Fowler said.

It stood up in the waves and just waddled straight up to us, an emperor penguin, he was probably about a meter high, and he was not shy at all, he added.

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He tried to do like a slide on his belly, thinking it was snow, I guess, and just face-planted in the sand and stood up and shook all the sand off, Fowler said.

Emperor penguins are the tallest and heaviest of the 18 penguin species. They can weigh up to 88 pounds (40 kilograms) and stand 45 inches (1.1 meter) tall.

A female emperor lays one egg per breeding season, then passes it over to her male partner to incubate while she forages for food for about two months.

The animals are only found in the wild in Antarctica, but they are increasingly threatened by the climate crisis.

Emperor penguins rely on sea ice to form their breeding colonies, avoid predators in the ocean and forage for food. But as Earths temperature rises as a result of greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions, sea ice is at risk of disappearing.

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Four out of five emperor penguin colonies analyzed in the Bellingshausen Sea, west of the Antarctic Peninsula, saw no chicks survive in 2022 as the area experienced an enormous loss of sea ice, according to a study published in August 2023.

This widespread catastrophic breeding failure is the first such recorded incident, according to the report, and supports grim predictions that more than 90% of emperor penguin colonies will be quasi-extinct by 2100 as the world warms.

CNNs Ashley Strickland and Rachel Ramirez contributed to this report.

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A leading manufacturer of solar panels is expanding its reach to the Gulf Coast states, with the first facility to open in Alabama.

According to PV Tech, First Solar is opening a 3.5 gigawatt solar facility in Lawrence County, the result of a $1.1 billion investment. This is the company's fourth facility in the U.S., with the three other facilities in Ohio. Once all four are operational, it will have an "annual nameplate global capacity [that] will exceed 21GW."

Earlier in 2024, First Solar opened a facility in Tamil Nadu, India. It also plans to open one in Louisiana, which is currently being built and is expected to be operational by 2025.

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Mark Widmar, First Solar CEO, said of the Alabama facility: "This is the first of two fully vertically integrated solar manufacturing facilities that solidify the role of the Gulf Coast states in enabling America's all-of-the-above energy strategy."

The company also opened a second U.S. research and development facility in Ohio this year. This facility is developing "CdTe thin-film solar cell and module technology," according to PV Tech.

Switching to solar has many benefits, including saving you money. According to Forbes, an average household could save $1,500 yearly on energy bills.

It's also an excellent tool for stopping the planet's temperatures from rising since it's a renewable power source. It also lowers the amount of toxic gases released, per the U.S. Department of Energy.

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More investments are needed to meet the demand for solar power, so facilities like the one in Alabama are crucial for switching to renewable and cheaper energy sources. You can use your voice to vote for pro-climate candidates and speak to your representatives to ensure more facilities like this are made.

Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said in a press release: "First Solar's $1.1 billion manufacturing facility in Lawrence County is likely the largest investment project ever undertaken in one of our rural counties, demonstrating that our rural communities are prepared to meet any challenge."

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
England may soon see its largest onshore wind farm built in Greater Manchester, with Cubico, a global renewable energy developer, announcing plans to construct 21 wind turbines on a site north of Manchester.

This ambitious $245 million (200 million) project, Scout Moor II, could generate enough electricity to power 100,000 homes, with a target completion date before the end of the decade.

The proposed development is a major step forward for onshore wind energy in England, following the Labour government's earlier this year reversal of the Conservative-imposed restrictions. These restrictions have stalled onshore wind projects since 2015, as any objections from the public could halt progress.

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Now, with these rules lifted, Cubico's proposal will soon be open to public consultation before it is reviewed by local planning authorities.

Clean energy boost for UK

Cubicos wind farm project at Scout Moor aligns with Labours goal of fully decarbonizing the UK's power system by 2030, a move that the UK grid operator recently described as a "huge challenge" but "achievable." Labours decarbonization plan is ambitious, aiming to double onshore wind capacity, triple solar energy output, and quadruple offshore wind production within this decade.

If approved, the Scout Moor wind farm would add approximately 100 megawatts (MW) to the UK's renewable energy capacity, becoming Englands largest onshore wind farm and the fifth largest in the UK, where the other four major onshore wind farms are located in Scotland.

David Swindin, Cubicos CEO, expressed the companys optimism about the UKs renewable energy future. This plan reflects our strong confidence in the UK renewables sector and Britains potential to become a global clean energy powerhouse, Swindin stated.

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Were encouraged by the Governments vision to accelerate the build-out of renewable energy infrastructure across the country, and we are committed to delivering projects that decarbonise our power system, enhance energy security, and benefit local communities.

Cubico is a key player in the renewable energy industry, backed by the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan and PSP Investments, a major Canadian investment firm. This project is part of the companys broader vision of expanding renewable energy sources and establishing the UK as a leader in clean energy.

Onshore wind power's revival in England

The Scout Moor project signifies a renewed focus on onshore wind power in England, a sector that had been largely stalled due to strict policies enacted in 2015 by the Conservative government. Under these regulations, onshore wind projects were treated differently from other energy developments, with the power of local communities to object to these projects often bringing them to a halt.

However, with Labours policy reversal, the pathway has reopened for significant developments in this sector.

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The Scout Moor wind farm will also help reduce reliance on electricity imports from Scotland, where ideal wind conditions have spurred renewable energy projects, but where grid constraints have hindered the effective transfer of generated power to England.

By establishing more onshore wind farms in England itself, Cubicos project is expected to support more local energy needs directly, making power distribution more efficient and less reliant on cross-border infrastructure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMVnoJpwLAM

Wales joins the push for renewable wind energy

While Cubicos plans progress in England, Wales is also moving forward with renewable energy projects. The Welsh government has just approved the Twyn Hywel wind farm, a 92-MW development near Caerphilly.

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This project, developed by Bute Energy, is expected to be operational by 2027 and will feature 14 wind turbines. Twyn Hywel is the first of 16 wind projects that Bute Energy has planned across Wales, signaling a significant investment in clean energy infrastructure in the region.

The concerted effort to expand wind energy across the UK highlights a national commitment to renewable energy sources. With both England and Wales accelerating onshore wind developments, the UK aims to meet its environmental goals and support the transition to a sustainable energy future.
Rikard Jozwiak, Radio Liberty's Europe Editor, has said that EU ambassadors have extended the term of the EU military training mission, which trains Ukrainian soldiers, by two years.

Source: Jozwiak, as reported by European Pravda

for sure not the biggest news this morning but.... ambassadors just extended by 2 years its training mission. nearly 70,000  soldiers has been trained across 24  member states in the last two years.  Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) November 6, 2024

Details: Jozwiak reiterated that over the previous two years of its activity, about 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been trained in the territory of the 24 countries involved.

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Background:

The European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) was established in October 2022 to provide comprehensive training for the Ukrainian military and coordinate the actions of the countries involved.

The mission's initial mandate was two years, and the financial benchmark for total expenditure for this period was 106.7 million.

In August 2024, EU defence ministers decided that they would not move Ukrainian military exercises to Ukraine's territory but would hold them as close to its borders as possible.

They also agreed to increase the number of Ukrainian troops to be trained as part of the EUMAM Ukraine mission.

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Democrats will keep the battleground Virginia seat being vacated by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who is leaving Congress to run for governor, Decision Desk HQ projects.

Democrat Eugene Vindman, a former Army colonel, defeated the GOP candidate, Derrick Anderson, a former Army Green Beret, in a contest that had been considered a toss up right up to Election Day.

Vindmans victory denies Republicans an enticing pickup opportunity in a sprawling district in north-central Virginia that spans the far suburbs of Richmond, Charlottesville and Washington, D.C.

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Vindman is the twin brother of Alexander Vindman, who played a central role in the first impeachment of then-President Trump in 2019.

Republicans framed Vindman as a staunch partisan and were hoping his association to the impeachment would alienate moderate voters to the benefit of Anderson  particularly in a district where Spanberger had grown her popularity around a reputation for bipartisan consensus building.

But it was always going to be a tough climb for Republicans. President Biden won the 7th District by almost 7 points in 2020. And Vindman enjoyed a large cash advantage throughout the cycle, outraising Anderson $15.6 million to $2.8 million, according to OpenSecrets.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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By John Irish, Ingrid Melander

PARIS (Reuters) -The European Union must be united and coordinate closely in view of Donald Trump's coming return to the White House, the leaders of the bloc's two main powers, Germany and France, said on Wednesday after holding talks to coordinate their response.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Trump on Tuesday's election victory, but were also quick to stress the challenges posed by his "America First" protectionist trade policy and isolationist rhetoric.

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"The European Union must stand close together and act in a united manner," Scholz told reporters, adding that he and Macron were coordinating closely with other EU heads of state and government.

Macron said on X that Berlin and Paris would work for a united, stronger Europe within "the new context".

Achieving European unity will however be challenging, not least because over the past years Paris and Berlin have been increasingly at odds on issues ranging from how to finance increased defence spending to trade, and in particular tariffs on China's electric cars.

The French and Germany leaders are also in delicate political positions at home, with Macron losing much of his power after defeats in elections earlier this year and Scholz struggling to keep his coalition together.

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"Contrary to claims, Europe is not prepared for the economic impact of higher tariffs, the likely U-turn on Ukraine, and defence spending ultimatums  we expect the EU to divide on similar lines to the US itself," Eurointelligence analysts said.

TRADE WARS?

Many European officials had said ahead of Tuesday's election they were worried about a Trump win, given tense transatlantic relations in his first term, his strong criticism of NATO, his ambivalent view of Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion and stance on climate change.

One particular concern for Europe is trade: Trump said last month the European Union would have to "pay a big price" for not buying enough American exports if he won the election.

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European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the Republican former president on his victory but also said avoiding trade wars would be in the U.S interest as well as Europe's.

"Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship," she said.

Trump, who will take office in January, has said he would impose a 10% tariff on imports from all countries, and 60% duties on imports from China. This would hit supply chains throughout the world, likely raising costs, and China seeking to divert its exports towards Europe, economists warn.

UKRAINE

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Another worry for Europe is shifting U.S. foreign policy, in particular on the war in Ukraine. Trump has criticised the level of U.S. support for Ukraine's war effort and before the election promised to end the conflict before even taking office, without explaining how.

Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who unlike other EU leaders had openly endorsed Trump's presidential bid and posted enthusiastic messages on X on his victory, said Europe would now need to rethink its support of Ukraine. Orban has regularly angered Brussels with his close ties to Russia and opposition to aid for Ukraine.

NATO chief Mark Rutte was among many others in Europe who congratulated Trump and hoped for good cooperation, with several ministers saying his return to the White House would require Europe to take greater responsibility for its security.

"We must now think big and make big investments in our European security," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters in Berlin.

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France and Germany's defence ministers were due to hold a hastily arranged meeting later on Wednesday in Paris, ahead of long-planned meetings of dozens of European leaders in Budapest on Thursday for a European Political Community summit and a meeting of EU leaders, also in Budapest, after that.

The EU summit will allow for a first exchange of views but was unlikely to bring a full response to Trump's win, one European diplomat said.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than in Budapest, Sarah Marsh in Berlin, Lili Bayer and Phil Blenkinsop in Brussels, Bart Meijer in Amsterdam, John Irish, Elizabeth Pineau in Paris; Writing by Ingrid Melander and John Irish;Editing by Frances Kerry)
By Nupur Anand

NEW YORK (Reuters) -JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon will remain at the bank and has no plans to join Donald Trump's administration despite questions about whether he would take a senior government role after the U.S. presidential election, a source said.

Dimon, 68, has been the subject of repeated speculation in recent weeks as a candidate for Treasury secretary by both Republicans and Democrats, but he said last month that his chances of taking an official post were "almost nil". Reuters was the first to report his intentions to stay at the helm.

The executive, who is one of the most prominent leaders in corporate America, has run JPMorgan for almost 19 years. The bank's board has named four candidates to succeed Dimon when he eventually steps down.

Dimon and the other members of the bank's operating committee congratulated Trump, incoming Vice President JD Vance and other elected representatives, according to a memo to staff on Wednesday seen by Reuters.

"Our firm has a long history of working across the political spectrum and looks forward to engaging the new administration and elected officials in both parties," they wrote, underscoring Dimon's Tuesday statement calling for unity after a hard-fought, divisive election. Goldman Sachs sent a similar note to employees on Wednesday.

While the veteran banker continued his tradition of not endorsing any presidential candidate this year, Dimon frequently weighed in on economic and financial policies, as well as geopolitical and national challenges.

Meanwhile, media reports said his wife Judy Dimon traveled to Michigan last weekend to campaign for Kamala Harris, Trump's Democratic opponent.

Dimon had previously downplayed the chances of taking a government position, telling analysts in October that "I probably am not going to do it... but I always reserve the right" to reconsider.

JPMorgan's stock jumped over 10% on Wednesday alongside a similar gain for a broader S&P 500 index of bank stocks as investors speculated the incoming administration would be more friendly to lenders.

Taylor Krystkowiak, an investment strategist at asset manager Themes ETFs in Washington, said investors would welcome the CEO remaining in place.

"Dimon has continued to guide JPMorgan effectively throughout his long tenure at the banks helm, and his decision to remain there is unsurprising," Krystkowiak said.

"Given that the bank has delivered robust results under his leadership, markets will likely laud Dimons decision to stay, renewing fresh confidence in the stocks prospects."
Poland's Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has announced the country's intention to play a leading role in enhancing the resilience of the European Union and that Europe must immediately assume greater responsibility for its own security.

Source: Sikorski during a media briefing, quoted by Ukrinform news agency

Details: Sikorski stressed that Poland respects the decision of the American people.

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He noted that the relevancy of Poland's foreign policy, which consists of maintaining political contacts with both Democrats and Republicans, has been confirmed.

Sikorski thanked both US presidential candidates  Donald Trump and Kamala Harris  for their kind words about Poland and for reaffirming the alliance between Warsaw and Washington.

Journalists reported that Sikorski had stressed that he is in constant contact with the highest security officials in the Trump team.

Quote: "Europe must immediately assume greater responsibility for its security with defence spending and migration policy decisions. Poland is doing what its allies will only begin to do."

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More details: Sikorski believes that with restored trust in the EU and good relations with the US, Poland will be a leader in increasing the EU's resilience.

"The winds of history are blowing even stronger, and Polish leadership will fulfil its mission," he concluded.

Background:

The day before, it was reported that the European Union would determine its further position on aid to Ukraine depending on the results of the US elections, but the general line of support for Ukraine would remain unchanged.

Several different models of the US presidential election results have predicted the victory of Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Trump has already declared his victory in the presidential election and promised to fight every day for a "strong, safe and prosperous America".

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  Dozens of European leaders will be assessing a new global outlook on Thursday, during a one-day summit bound to center on the concerns of many and the jubilation of a few in the wake of the election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president that could have far-reaching consequences for the continent.

During his election campaign, Trump has threatened anything from a trade war with Europe to a withdrawal of NATO commitments and a fundamental shift of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia  all issues that could have groundbreaking consequences for nations across Europe, especially the 27-nation European Union.

It was already beyond doubt that the transatlantic relationship would change after Tuesday's vote. But under a Democratic president, that was expected to be gradual. Based on Trump's own campaign promises, seismic changes may lie ahead.

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And for the populist and hard-right forces within the EU, who have already opened fissures with the political establishment, the election of Trump reinforces their position.

For summit host and ardent Trump fan, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Wednesday was a day of celebration  even if EU relations were extremely turbulent during Trump's first term, from 2017-2021.

I see a brilliant victory, perhaps the biggest comeback and giant struggle in Western political history," Orban said. For the world, it means the hope for peace.

Serbias populist leader Aleksandar Vucic, who will be another high-profile guest at Thursday's summit in Budapest, was equally enthusiastic.

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Serbia is committed to cooperation with the USA on stability, prosperity and peace, Vucic said.

The EU had prepared for months for a potential return of Trump, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated him once his victory became clear.

She said that the EU and the United States are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens.

Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens. Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship, she said.

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Von der Leyen can only hope for better. Trump's administration slapped tariffs on EU steel and aluminum in 2018, based on the claim that foreign products, even if produced by American allies, were a threat to U.S. national security. Europeans and other allies retaliated with duties on U.S.-made motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans, among other items.

The impact of the U.S. election result could be felt in Europe for years to come, on issues including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as migration or climate change.

The string of geopolitical conflicts is putting peace, stability and prosperity at risk in our region, said the summit invitation letter to the leaders of the European Political Community, which unites almost 50 nations across Europe, barring Russia and Belarus.

Among the leaders likely to attend on Thursday is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is expected to make another plea for more aid as his country fends off Moscow's invasion. The timing is laden with significance as Trump has vowed to end the war within 24 hours of being elected  something leaders in Kyiv interpret as an impending evaporation of U.S. support should Trump win.

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Orban makes plain his support for Trump

Not so long ago, such a meeting  which is also expected to include leaders from non-EU countries like Turkey, Serbia and the United Kingdom  would end with praise for European unity and a common political direction. Yet with Orban as the host of the summit, friction is as good as assured.

Orban predicted a Trump victory and suggested that civil and criminal cases against him were the result of a politically motivated U.S. Justice Department  a common Trump refrain.

Orbans foreign policy dream came true, said Peter Kreko, the head of the Political Capital think tank in Budapest.

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Having played the obstructionist for years within the 27-nation EU, Orban now holds the bloc's rotating presidency, giving him a more prominent platform and making him the host of Thursday's EPC summit, as well as another gathering of leaders in the EU Council on Friday.

He always uses these international meetings to promote his own agenda. And also he pretty much has taken hostage the whole Council presidency, Kreko said.

The presidency under Orban caused turmoil from day one, when he declared Make Europe Great Again the motto of his six months in charge. It was a strikingly clear reference to his affection for Trump, which he followed up with unannounced visits to Moscow and Beijing, angering EU leaders who said he wasn't acting on their behalf.

While Orban has cast the result of U.S. elections as pivotal for Europe's future  he's even delayed passing Hungary's 2025 national budget until after a new president is elected  not all EU leaders are comfortable with the bloc's fate being so tightly bound up with the movements of American politics.

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Donald Tusk, the center-right prime minister of Poland, said that Europe must forge a more independent path that is less sensitive to changes across the Atlantic.

"Some claim that the future of Europe depends on the American elections, while it depends first and foremost on us, on the condition that Europe finally grows up and believes in its own strength," Tusk said in the days before the summit. Whatever the outcome, the era of geopolitical outsourcing is over.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and outgoing European Council President Charles Michel, the bloc's top two officials, have congratulated Donald Trump as he looked poised to return to the White House.

The European Union and the United States "are more than just allies," von der Leyen said in a statement, adding that they "are bound by a true partnership" that unites 800 million citizens.

Von der Leyen said she looked forward to working with the presumptive 47th president of the United States on "a strong trans-Atlantic agenda" that delivers for their people.

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Von der Leyen said their ties are based on the EU and US's "shared history, commitment to freedom and democracy, and common goals of security and opportunity for all."

"Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship," she added.

Michel said the EU looked forward to cooperating constructively with the US in line with its own strategic agenda, while "defending the rules-based multilateral system."
Police are looking into a reported bomb threat at Central Piedmont Community College Wednesday afternoon.

Several buildings on campus have been evacuated while the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating the threat, school officials confirmed to Channel 9.

CMPD was working to clear multiple areas of the college, and the Harris Campus was declared all clear by 2:51 p.m.

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the college and spotted multiple police officers blocking intersections and roads leading to the campus. Students and staffers were seen outside of the buildings, standing along greenspaces.

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The Charlotte Area Transit System reported that the police activity is impacting Gold Line service.

Due to police activity near CPCC, trains are currently being held at stations away from the area. Expect delays. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/k7JdfZYLCD  Charlotte Area Transit System (@CATSRideTransit) November 6, 2024

No explosives have been found and nobody has been reported hurt.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

(VIDEO: 15-year-old charged after making school threats, Monroe police say)
Despite victories for Donald Trump across the country, several states that went red also chose to raise the minimum wage and ensure paid sick leave for their workers.

In Missouri, where Trump captured 58 percent of the voters, the same number of Missourians voted to raise the states minimum wage to $13.75 per hour starting in 2025 and to $15 per hour starting in 2026.

Alaskans also appear to have voted to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027 while securing paid sick leave for workers. Fifty-six percent of Alaskans supported the measure as of Wednesday morning, with 76 percent of voters reported. Meanwhile, Trump won the state and Democratic Representative Mary Peltola lost her House seat.

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Similarly, in Arizona, where the presidential race has still yet to be called, voters shot down a ballot measure to reduce the wages of tipped employees nearly three to one. In Nebraska, where Trump handily beat Kamala Harris, voters approved a measure to ensure paid sick leave by similar numbers, with 74 percent voting in favor of allowing workers to accrue paid sick time hours at both large and small companies. Nebraskas union man, independent candidate Dan Osborn, however, did not win. The Senate candidate, who led a strike against Kelloggs in 2021, lost to Republican incumbent Deb Fischer Tuesday night.

Strangely enough, similar ballot measures in Arizona and Massachusetts had opposite results. While Arizonans voted down the proposal to pay up to 25% per hour less than the minimum wage for tipped workers in Proposition 138, Massachusetts voters appear to have voted down their Question 5, which would have increased the minimum wage for tipped workers. This decision means that Massachusetts workers will continue to make a subminimum wage for tipped work, rather than be brought up to the states minimum wage of $15 an hour by 2029. At the same time, Massachusetts residents may have voted to give ride-share drivers the right to join a union.

Though most of Californias ballot measures are too early to call, the results as of Wednesday morning are disappointing. Californians voted to essentially keep slavery legal by voting down Proposition 6, which would have amended the state constitution to end involuntary labor for people in prisons and jails. Moreover, the state also most likely will strike down a proposal to increase the minimum wage.

Meanwhile, Harris won over union members with 57 percent of their vote, compared to Trumps 39 percent, according to the Associated Press, after she picked up endorsements from most major unions this fall.

Though the results for workers are a mixed bag, its clear that Americans care deeply about the economy and their material conditions and that populist proposals that better peoples working lives can win, even in red states.
A 34-year-old former police officer in Ventura County has been charged with two felony counts of grand theft, officials announced Tuesday.

Prosecutors allege that between Sept. 2022 and May 2024, Randi Breon Vines, a former officer with the Oxnard Police Department, stole $4,500 in total.

According to a news release from the Ventura County District Attorneys Office, Vines bought $3,300 worth of fuel for his personal vehicle using his city-issued credit card. The 34-year-old is also accused of stealing approximately $1,200 from an arrestee in May of this year.

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Kidnapping victim in Southern California rescued with help of Find My iPhone app

Vines was given possession of the arrestees personal property, which included cash, following the arrest of the man by the Oxnard Police Department, the release noted. Prior to booking the suspect into the Ventura County Jail, Vines is accused of stealing most of the arrestees cash from an envelope.

Both incidents were investigated by Oxnard PD, with Chief Jason Benites saying no one should be above the law.

Southern California man, 30, had child exit car before firing on other vehicle

We take matters such as this very seriously, and we hold accountable those persons who cross the line, including our own employees, he said.

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Vines appeared in Ventura County Superior Court Tuesday, where he pled not guilty. He is scheduled to appear again in December.

Police officers are entrusted to protect and serve the community, Ventura County DA Erik Nasarenko said. When that trust is violated, they must be held accountable.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A former New York bank manager was sentenced to 13 months in prison for allegedly stealing more than $200,000 from a now-deceased bank customer.

James Gomes, 43, of New York, used his position as a branch manager of an "international financial institution" to illegally access the bank account of a customer in order to embezzle roughly $208,938.68 from a client who is now dead, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

But the government did not reveal which financial institution was involved or who the unidentified victim was.

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In addition to his yearlong stay in jail, Gomes was sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay the same amount he allegedly stole in both restitution and forfeiture of criminal proceeds for abusing his bank position.

The investigation, lead by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery section of DOJ's criminal division, was implemented by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit and the FDIC's Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the local Morristown Police Department.

According to the Justice Department, Gomes allegedly linked his personal phone number to the customer's accounts without authorization to enroll the client's accounts in the bank's online services.

It's further alleged Gomes created a fake email address to cover his tracks and that it contained the customer's name, which the federal government says he used to "engage in fictitious conversations with his own official bank email address to make it appear that the customer was communicating with him," DOJ added.

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He supposedly committed the fraudulent transactions from January to April 2020, even after the bank client's April 5, 2020, death, according to legal documents and statements made in court.

In March and April of that year, Gomes "fraudulently transferred the customer's funds" to his own personal bank and investment accounts at other banking institutions.

The MLARS Bank Integrity Unit has so far garnered penalties totaling more than $25 billion.

It investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions -- including its officers, managers and employees -- whose actions "threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system," the department said.

The Justice Department added that since 2010, its Bank Integrity Unit has prosecuted a series of financial institutions for alleged Bank Secrecy Act violations, money laundering, sanctions and for various other laws or crimes.
Exeter Democratic Rep. Megan Cotter waves to passing cars outside the Exeter Chapel on Election Day. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Rhode Islands House District 39 rematch between Democrat Megan Cotter and Republican Justin Price was not the nail-biter many expected.

Cotter, a first-term Democrat, maintained a solid 7.7% lead over Price  equal to 659 votes  as of midnight, according to preliminary, unofficial results from the Rhode Island Board of Elections.

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Cotters margin of apparent victory contrasts with the 2022 election, when Cotter ousted Price from his seat spanning Richmond, Exeter and a slice of Hopkinton by 32 votes.

I feel good we put in the work, said Cotter, who celebrated Tuesday alongside Exeter and Richmond Democrats at Frankies Restaurant & Pizzeria in North Kingstown. We worked so, so hard.

Cotter has spent at least five days a week since late June knocking doors across her district, drawing support and donations from top state and federal Democrats.

Yet the 40-year-old mother of three and district sales manager for Foley Fish in New Bedford, Massachusetts, distanced herself from the national party platform, maintaining a focus on local issues to appeal to voters in the conservative-leaning district: school funding, health care access and forest management and conservation, to name a few.

Republican Justin Price campaigns outside Richmond Town Hall on Tuesday morning as he tried to reclaim his seat representing Rhode Island House District 39. Price had lost his reelection bid in 2022 by 32 votes. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

I had one guy at a polling location today say I am the only Democrat hes voting for, Cotter said Tuesday night. My whole family was cheering.

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Cotters 18-year-old daughter, Emily, a first-time voter, joined her mom to cast her ballot Tuesday morning at Exeter Chapel.

Price did not return calls for comment Tuesday. Cotter also said she had not heard from her opponent.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who later worked as a fisherman and carpenter, Price attended the Jan. 6, 2021, rally outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., though he says he did not enter the building. Price has kept a low profile in his comeback campaign, not responding to media interview requests and raising only a small sum from a limited donor pool.

Republican House 42 candidate Richard Fascia speaks with a voter outside the IUOE Local 57 polling place on Central Avenue in Johnston. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Republican wins House 42 seat

Another buzzworthy matchup for House District 42, straddling Johnston and Cranston, also did not look like a close contest afterall. Republican Richard Fascia appeared to defeat Democrat Kelsey Coletta by nearly 10-percentage points as of midnight, according to preliminary, unofficial results.

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Fascia joined fellow Republicans at The Event Factory Kitchen and Stage in Warwick. Despite Rhode Islands solid backing of Kamala Harris and Democratic congressional incumbents, Fascia said the mood was upbeat.

I, of course, am very excited, Fascia, 67, a retired Providence police officer, said in an interview Tuesday night. This is the first step in the next two years of my life.

The House District 42 race featured drama over a state police union endorsement given, then rescinded, to Coletta. The union later explained it wanted to remain neutral because its policies prevent endorsements against law enforcement officials.

Fascias campaign, however, linked the rescinded endorsement to Colettas support for safe injection sites. Former seatholder, and fellow Democrat, Ed Cardillo Jr. also denounced Coletta as a radical. Coletta beat Cardillo by 29 votes in a three-way Democratic primary that also featured Cardillos nephew.

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Ben Branchaud, Colettas campaign manager, said in a text Tuesday night that Coletta conceded.

Coletta issued a statement Wednesday morning.

While the outcome of the election was not what I had hoped, Im proud of the campaign I ran and the hard work I put into it, Coletta said. I ran a genuine and transparent campaign, despite the lack of support from the Democratic party at both the state and town level.

She also expressed disappointment at the way Fascia ran his campaign, but offered congratulations.

I hope that moving forward, the representative-elect will be more respectful and honest with his peers and the people who have chosen him to represent them, Coletta said.

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The 34-year-old social worker was backed by the Rhode Island Working Families Party but also drew support from more moderate Democrats statewide, including House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi.

Just 43 of the states 113 legislative seats were contested in the general election, including eight open seats in which incumbent lawmakers did not run for reelection.

The wave of outgoing legislators did little to change the partisan makeup of either chamber, which remained solidly under Democratic control.

The IUOE Local 57 polling place on Central Avenue in Johnston. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Open seats feature few surprises

Republicans held on to a few seats in more conservative-leaning districts, including Cranstons House District 15, which was left open after former Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung entered the Cranston mayoral race. Republican City Councilman Chris Paplauskas narrowly beat Democrat Maria Bucci.

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And in House District 53, where freshman Republican Rep. Brian Rea opted not to seek reelection, Republican Paul Santucci claimed the open seat for Smithfield and Glocester. Santucci soundly defeated former seatholder and Democratic Rep. Bernie Hawkins. Hawkins lost his reelection bid against Rea by 58 votes in 2022.

Rhode Island Republicans also added Warwicks House District 21 to their list of wins, with Republican Marie Hopkins besting James McElroy in the seat formerly held by Democratic Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson. Vella-Wilkinson opted not to run for reelection this year.

Yet the state GOP was not so fortunate in the House District 26 race, long held by Republican Rep. Patricia Morgan, who instead opted to challenge U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. Democrat Earl Read flipped the seat representing West Warwick, Coventry and a piece of Warwick in a three-way race against Republican Jeffrey Fisher and independent candidate Vincent Marzullo.

Another Democratic win came in Johnstons Senate District 25, where Democrat Andrew Dimitri defeated Republican Karin Gorman for the open seat formerly held by Democratic Sen. Frank Lombardo III. Lombardo died in February of bladder cancer.

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In neighboring Senate District 26, Cranston Democrat Todd Patalano beat Republican Jennifer Caputi, filling the seat vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Frank Lombardi.

House 43 Democrat Rep. Deb Fellela, speaking with her and Democratic Senate candidate Andrew Dimitris supporters at the Sarah Dyer Barnes Elementary School polling place in Johnston. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

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Incumbent advantage reigns

Among the 19 legislative matchups featuring sitting lawmakers, incumbents appeared to prevail.

One potential exception: Warwicks Senate District 29, where Democratic challenger Peter Appollonio took a slight lead over Republican Sen. Anthony DeLuca. As of midnight, Appollonio had a 23-vote lead over DeLuca.

Appollonio and DeLuca both declined to comment when reached by phone just after midnight Wednesday.

Democratic Sen. Leonidas Raptakis handily defeated Republican challenger James Pierson in Senate District 33, despite Piersons pointed and personal attacks against the incumbent senator representing Coventry and West Greenwich.

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Another longtime Democratic legislator, Rep. Deb Fellela, staved off a challenge by Republican Nichola Grasso for Johnstons House District 43 for the second time. The pair also faced off in 2022.

Senate Democrat Victoria Gu also bested Republican challenger Westin Place in a rematch of the 2022 competition for the Senate District 38 seat representing Westerly and parts of Charlestown. Gu, a freshman lawmaker, beat Place by a decisive 19-percentage points two years ago, flipping a seat that had previously been held by Republican Dennis Algiere for 20 years.

Rep. June Speakman, a Warren Democrat, center, campaigns for reelection to her House District 68 seat, outside the Mary V. Quirk School in Warren Tuesday afternoon with U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, left, and US. Rep. Gabe Amo, right. (Ken Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Across the state in Bristol and Warrens District 68, an anti-housing campaign led by independent challenger John Hanley wasnt enough to unseat Democratic Rep. June Speakman. Speakman, a vocal affordable housing advocate and head of a legislative study panel on the same topic, won her fourth term.

The state elections board will continue tabulating results from mail ballots collected at state drop boxes, along with those received from military and overseas voters, in the coming days, with tentative plans to certify results on Nov. 12. That is also the deadline by which state and local candidates can submit recount requests.

Updated to include comments from House 42 Democratic candidate Kelsey Coletta.

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Claim:

On U.S. Election Day 2024, Google searches for "where can I vote for Harris" (the name of the Democratic Party presidential candidate) resulted in a special map being displayed, whereas the same search with the name Trump (the Republican candidate) did not.

Rating:

Rating: Mixture

What's True:

It's true that the query "where can I vote for Harris" triggered a map display, but not "where can I vote for Trump."

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What's False:

However, according to Google, the map wasn't triggered by "Harris," the surname of a candidate, but by "Harris," the name of a county in either Georgia or Texas. The special functionality operated based on users entering names the search engine recognized as U.S. cities, counties and states. Unlike "Harris," "Trump" was not recognized as the name of a city, county or state.

A rumor circulating on Election Day 2024 claimed that Google displayed a special map showing voting locations when users entered a particular search query that included U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' last name, but not former President Donald Trump's.

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For example, X user DogeDesigner (@cb_doge)  an account with nearly 955,000 followers  posted a screen-captured video demonstrating discrepancies in searches for "where can I vote for Harris" versus "where can I vote for Trump."

The user's post (archived) read, "BREAKING: Google shows a 'Where to Vote' section with a map for Kamala Harris, but not for Donald Trump. Google is the biggest corporate donor to the Democratic Party." As of this writing, the post displayed over 18.5 million views. (According to OpenSecrets.org, Google did not appear to be the largest corporate donor to the Democratic Party.)

X owner and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk amplified the rumor, asking in a repost (archived) of DogeDesigner's post, "Are others seeing this too?" Musk's post received an additional 17.2 million views.

However, the truth was less mysterious than it may have seemed at first glance. The special map appeared in Google search results based on users entering what the search engine recognized as a query for the name of a city, county or state. Harris is the name of two counties in Georgia and Texas, according to SimpleMaps.com. According to the same source, Trump is not the name of any cities or counties.

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Google clarified the matter in a post from the official X account News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle), explaining that while "Trump" didn't do the trick, identical searches using the surname of Trump's running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance, produced a map similar to the one that appeared for Harris. Google posted (archived): "The 'where to vote' panel is triggering for some specific searches bc Harris is also the name of a county in TX. Happens for 'Vance' too bc it's also the name of a county. Fix is coming. Note very few people actually search for voting places this way."

Additional Research

Within seconds of our searches confirming a query using "Harris" produced a map while "Trump" did not, we conducted a similar search inserting the surname of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. That search also produced no map, a result we expected, given that we found no cities or counties named Stein. (As an interesting counter-example, a search using the surname of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also displayed no map, even though Kennedy is the name of four locations  either towns or census-designated places  in Alabama, California, Minnesota and New York.)

Sources:

"Google Inc." OpenSecrets.org, 2024, https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/google-inc/summary?id=D000022008.

"U.S. Cities Database." SimpleMaps.com, https://simplemaps.com/data/us-cities.

"Who Are the Biggest Organization Donors?" OpenSecrets.org, 2024, https://www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/top-organizations.
We came across a bullish thesis on EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) on Value Degens Substack by Unemployed Value Degen. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on EZPW. EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW)'s share was trading at $11.53 as of Nov 4th. EZPWs trailing and forward P/E were 9.61 and 9.15 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

A loan officer discussing the terms of a loan with a customer in a pawn store office.

EZCORP (EZPW) presents a compelling investment opportunity and it is well-positioned to benefit from the economic divergence in a K-shaped recovery and the rapid growth in Latin America. In a K-shaped economy, wealthier individuals continue to thrive while the middle class faces mounting financial pressures, which drives sustained demand for pawnbroking services. This trend is particularly strong in Latin America, where economic growth has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic. EZCORP's pawnbroking model thrives on high-interest, short-term loans backed by valuable assets like jewelry. Jewelry makes up 60-65% of the companys U.S. inventory and roughly 30% of its inventory in Latin America. By focusing on larger loans against jewelry, EZCORP is gaining competitive traction in a fragmented market.

With rising precious metal pricesup by 30% over the past yearEZCORP's significant jewelry inventory, valued at $171 million, stands to appreciate, creating a favorable financial boost when these assets are sold. The company also benefits from Latin America's economic momentum, especially in Mexico, where GDP per capita has grown at an impressive 7% annual rate since 2020. Mexicos lower labor costs, at around one-third of Chinas, and its access to Texas energy resources support EZCORP's expansion in the region.

With 1,258 locations as of Q3 2024, EZCORP operates 541 stores in the U.S., accounting for 40% of its locations but generating 80% of its EBITDA. This is due to the companys recent turnaround focus in the U.S., while improvements in Latin America, where it also operates in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, are still gaining traction. Activist investor Kanen Wealth Management, which holds a 4% stake, has driven a strategy emphasizing U.S. profitability, leading to increased stability and growth. Over the past four years, EZCORP has expanded its store count by 5.5% annually, with revenues growing 8.5% per year and gross profit bouncing back significantly from pandemic lows.

EZCORPs historical issues, however, remain relevant, particularly regarding governance. Phillip Cohen, the executive chairman, has held control since 1989, and the boards stability has enabled questionable capital allocation decisions, including failed acquisitions outside of the core business. EZCORPs underperformance compared to FirstCash (FCFS), which has almost identical margins but a far better return record, underscores these challenges. The recent activist-driven turnaround has improved financial discipline, but the companys convertible debt of $300 millionrestructured multiple timescontinues to weigh on the balance sheet. Although management has authorized buybacks, only $3 million was used last quarter, even with a stock valuation significantly below tangible book value.
Police in North Carolina and Georgia and local NAACP leaders are investigating a social media threat that Ku Klux Klan white supremacists plan to attack Black Americans from now until the Inauguration.

KKK members from Lexington, North Carolina are plotting against Blacks, especially Black [sic.] women because in their eyes, we are easy targets! according to a post by a woman who said she learned of the threat from a friend in the Gwinnett County, Georgia, Sheriffs Office.

At 6:17 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, the sheriffs office said on Facebook that investigators learned of a circulating text thread suggesting potential attacks on African American women from now through the inauguration.

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We have not received any information indicating threats to any group(s) on or after election day, the sheriffs office said.

Lexington Police were made aware of the threat a few days ago, city of Lexington spokesman Derwin Hargrave told The Charlotte Observer on Tuesday after a reporter contacted the department about the threat.

We have not been able to confirm that its an actual threat, but were still remaining vigilant, Hargrave said.

The Davidson County Chapter-Lexington Branch also is looking into the threat, president Charles Clark said Tuesday. We just got that report in yesterday, Clark said, adding hes not clear whether its credible.

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In their post Saturday, Gwinnett County sheriffs investigators said:

Hateful discourse such as this aims to instill fear in the community and disrupt us from exercising our constitutional rights. The Gwinnett County Sheriffs Office remains dedicated to protecting all citizens and we will continue to monitor and respond accordingly to all suspicious and threatening behavior.

In our Reality Check stories, Charlotte Observer journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? RealityCheck@charlotteobserver.com.
Claim:

On Election Day 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden published an X post reading: "That's what you get for kicking me out of the race, you stupid b****."

Rating:

Rating: Fake

On Election Day 2024 and the day after, an image purporting to be a screenshot of a tweet allegedly posted by Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden, whose party lost that election, spread (archived) on social media. The message read: "That's what you get for kicking me out of the race, you stupid b****." As of this writing, one X post of the image had reached more than 9.3 million views, 222,000 likes and 16,000 reposts.

The image spread on multiple social media platforms, including Threads, X, iFunny and Reddit.

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"Biden's revenge," one X user captioned the purported tweet. The image was also posted (archived) by an Elon Musk parody account, with the caption "Is this real?," reaching more than 122,000 views.

In short, because Biden never posted such a tweet and it was digitally created, we have rated the image and claim as fake.

Users across platforms were skeptical yet entertained by the post, with one Threads user commenting "Man I know it might be fake but I'm crying." Another Threads user asked "STOPPPP! Is this real?," to which the poster responded "Nah it's not real but funny."

A search on X for the text of the alleged tweet yielded no relevant results, and it does not appear on Biden's official X account. As of this writing, his most recent post, on Nov. 5, 2024, time-stamped 6:30 p.m. Eastern time, read: "Folks, if you're in line to vote, stay in line. Electing @KamalaHarris and @Tim_Walz is that important. I mean it."

Folks, if youre in line to vote, stay in line.



Electing @KamalaHarris and @Tim_Walz is that important. I mean it.  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 5, 2024

Furthermore, an X search found zero indications of organic chatter about the supposed Biden post prior to the circulation of the fake screenshot.

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Finally, no reputable media outlets reported on the alleged tweet from Biden. If he had actually posted such a message, it would have made major headlines across mainstream media due to its unprecedented and controversial nature.

We reached out to the White House for a comment and will update this report if we receive a response.

For further reading, we recommend our page dedicated to Election Day 2024 rumors.

Sources:

Staff, Snopes. "Fact-Checking Election Day Rumors." Snopes, 5 Nov. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//live/2024-election-trump-harris/.


Claim:

U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin said, "Let folks cast their votes for Trump if thats their choice. But mark my words, we wont be certifying the election. He might win, but well ensure he doesnt step foot in the Oval Office."

Rating:

Rating: Misattributed

As results of the 2024 presidential election started streaming in, a rumor circulated that U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, said the Democratic Party would not certify vote totals if former President Donald Trump wins.

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The alleged quote spread with a post by X account @LarryDJonesJr, which included a video of Raskin supposedly making the comment. According to the X post, Raskin said: "Let folks cast their votes for Trump if that's their choice. But mark my words, we won't be certifying the election. He might win, but we'll ensure he doesn't step foot in the Oval Office."

(@LarryDJonesJr)

Despite the post putting the alleged statement in quotation marks, Raskin did not say those words. The video in the X post did not show him making the comment, and Raskin responded to the rumor on X, saying the "fictional 'quote' is 100% fabricated."

(X user @RepRaskin)

The video came from a Feb. 17, 2024, panel featuring Raskin at a bookstore in Washington, D.C. The panel centered on a book titled "A Real Right to Vote," which argues that U.S. legislators should attempt to add an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees the right to vote. The book's author, legal scholar Richard Hasen, was also on the panel.

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Toward the end of the discussion, a participant asked about the practicality of Hasen's proposed amendment and how it would be enforced. Hasen replied he "did not trust the Supreme Court," nor other legislative bodies, to enforce the hypothetical amendment and, therefore, his book proposed legal provisions for enforcement.

Raskin added legislators need to play "offense and defense" in order to protect people's right to vote, claiming for the "vast majority of American history, the Supreme Court has not been a friend to the people."

The video in the above-mentioned X post started after that comment. Here's what Raskin said in it:

But the court is not going to save us. That means the only thing that really works is people in motion, amending the Constitution. But again, it's necessary but not sufficient  because what can be put into the Constitution can slip away from you very quickly, and the greatest example going on right now before our very eyes is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which they're just disappearing with a magic wand as if it doesn't exist, even though it could not be clearer what it's stating. They want to kick it to Congress, so it's going to be up to us on Jan. 6, 2025, to tell the rampaging Trump mobs that he's disqualified. And then we need bodyguards for everybody and civil war conditions  all because the nine justices  not all of them  but these justices who have not that many cases to look at every year, not that much work to do  a huge staff, great protection  simply do not want to do their job and interpret what the 14th Amendment means.

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Despite the X post's claim, Raskin's comment was in reference to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Congress added that section to the Constitution in the 1860s to prevent Confederates who had defected from the U.S. during the American Civil War from holding office. In 2023, a Colorado legal case attempted to apply the provision, arguing President Donald Trump should not be legally able to run for president due to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capital. However, in March 2024, the Supreme Court ruled Trump could remain on ballots in Colorado.

Raskin made the in-question remarks weeks before that Supreme Court ruling. Based on his quote, he was expressing support for such legal actions challenging Trump's ability to run for the presidency, citing the 14th Amendment. He was not talking about results of the 2024 presidential election, much less referencing the certification of vote totals.

In sum, Raskin did not say, "Let folks cast their votes for Trump if that's their choice. But mark my words, we won't be certifying the election. He might win, but we'll ensure he doesn't step foot in the Oval Office." The purported quote was misattributed.

Sources:

- YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3If_fz8GatQ. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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"14th Amendment." LII / Legal Information Institute, https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

"Raskin and Wasserman Schultz Working on Legislation to Adjudicate and Bar Officeholding Insurrectionists from Returning to Office." Congressman Jamie Raskin, 5 Mar. 2024, https://raskin.house.gov/2024/3/raskin-and-wasserman-schultz-working-on-legislation-to-adjudicate-and-bar-officeholding-insurrectionists-from-returning-to-office.

"Supreme Court Rules States Can't Kick Trump off the Ballot." NBC News, 4 Mar. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rules-trump-cannot-kicked-colorado-ballot-rcna132291.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Toxic smog has shrouded Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore for days as surging pollution spurs authorities to curb activities and set up a panel to oversee preventive efforts.

Here is a look at what causes the hazardous air, and how the government is tackling it.

WHERE IS LAHORE?

The capital of Pakistan's most populated province of Punjab, Lahore is just 25 km (16 miles) from the border with India, and is considered the cultural capital of the country.

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Pakistan's second-largest city after the southern port city of Karachi has a population of about 13 million, and is a key hub for commerce, banking, and industry.

HOW BAD IS LAHORE'S AIR QUALITY?

Swiss group IQAir, which draws data from 14 regional monitoring stations, rated Lahore the world's most polluted city on Wednesday, with an air quality index (AQI) score of 1165, more than 120 times the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Pollution rose to unprecedented levels on Sunday on the city's outskirts, with a score of 1900.

WHAT CAUSES THE TOXIC AIR?

Several parts of South Asia suffer pollution every winter as cold air traps pollutants, such as emissions, dust and smoke from burning on farms to clear the remnants of rice crops before wheat is planted.

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Lahore officials have previously blamed pollution on vehicle fuel of poor quality, as well as construction and industrial activity.

This year, however, more than ever before, the provincial government has blamed toxic air wafting in from neighbouring India, where northern regions are also battling hazardous air.

The Indian capital of New Delhi was the world's second most polluted city on Wednesday, with a score of 299, IQAir said.

WHAT SORT OF CURBS HAVE BEEN IMPOSED?

The government has closed primary schools, banned three-wheelers or rickshaws, halted some building work, and told people to stay indoors. It has also set up a "smog war room" to monitor the situation and oversee action to combat the pollution.

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HOW WILL THE ISSUE BE RESOLVED IN THE LONG RUN?

Punjab plans to approach India through the foreign ministry for talks to thrash out a solution to the toxic air.

"We are hopeful that India will respond positively," Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb told the Indian Express newspaper in an interview published on Wednesday.

(Compiled by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
By Gram Slattery

(Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has picked his cabinet and a flurry of other high-ranking administration positions following his Nov. 5 election victory.

Here are Trump's choices for some of the key posts overseeing defense, intelligence, health, diplomacy, trade, justice, immigration and economic policymaking.

SCOTT BESSENT, TREASURY SECRETARY

As Trump's Treasury secretary, Bessent would hold vast influence over economic, regulatory and international affairs.

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A longtime hedge fund investor who taught at Yale University for several years, Bessent, 62, has a warm relationship with the president-elect.

While Bessent has long favored free-market policies popular in the pre-Trump Republican Party, he has also spoken highly of Trump's use of tariffs as a negotiating tool. He has praised the president-elect's economic philosophy, which rests on a skepticism of both regulation and international trade.

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE

If confirmed, Rubio, a U.S. senator, would be the first Latino to serve as the nation's top diplomat.

Rubio, 53, was arguably the most hawkish option on Trump's short list for the post. The Florida-born senator has advocated in the past for a muscular foreign policy with respect to U.S. geopolitical foes, including China, Iran and Cuba.

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Over the last several years, he has softened some of his stances to align more closely with Trump's views. The president-elect accuses past presidents of leading the U.S. into costly and futile wars and has pushed for a less interventionist foreign policy.

PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY

Hegseth, 44, is a military veteran who has expressed disdain for the so-called "woke" policies of Pentagon leaders, including its top military officer.

As secretary of defense, Hegseth could make good on Trump's campaign promise to rid the U.S. military of generals whom he accuses of pursuing progressive policies on diversity in the ranks that conservatives have railed against.

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It could also set up a collision course between Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, whom Hegseth accused of "pursuing the radical positions of left-wing politicians."

Hegseth, a former Fox News commentator, has denied allegations made in a police report that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 at a conference in California. No charges were filed, and he entered into a private settlement with the alleged victim.

PAM BONDI, ATTORNEY GENERAL

Trump picked former Florida Attorney General Bondi on the day his previous choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration in the face of opposition from Senate Republicans over allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug abuse.

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Bondi, 59, was the top law enforcement officer of the country's third most populous state from 2011 to 2019. She served on Trump's Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first administration.

Trump's inner circle has described the attorney general as the most important member of the administration after Trump himself, key to his plans to carry out mass deportations, pardon Jan. 6, 2021 rioters, and seek retribution against those who prosecuted him over the past four years.

Bondi has been a defender of Trump's false claims that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud.

KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR

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Patel, who during Trump's first term advised both the director of national intelligence and the defense secretary, has been a fierce critic of the FBI. He has previously called for it to be stripped of its intelligence-gathering role and for the firing of any employee who refuses to support Trump's agenda.

A former Republican House staffer, Patel, 44, frequently appeared on the campaign trail to rally support for Trump in his recent presidential bid.

With the nomination of Patel, Trump is signaling that he is preparing to oust the FBI's current director, Christopher Wray, a Republican first appointed by Trump. Wray's 10-year term at the FBI does not expire until 2027.

TULSI GABBARD, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

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Gabbard, a former Democratic member of Congress and an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, was appointed by Trump to serve as director of national intelligence, where she would oversee 18 agencies tasked with intelligence gathering.

Gabbard, 43, has been an outspoken critic of the Biden administration's foreign policy, particularly with regard to its support of Ukraine in the war with Russia.

KRISTI NOEM, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY

As homeland security secretary, Noem would oversee a sprawling federal agency of 260,000 employees that handles everything from border protection to cybersecurity to transportation safety and disaster response.

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The current governor of South Dakota, Noem, 52, rose to national prominence after refusing to impose a statewide mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOWARD LUTNICK, COMMERCE SECRETARY

The co-chair of Trump's transition effort and the longtime chief executive of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick has been picked to head the Commerce Department, the agency that has become the U.S. weapon of choice against China's tech sector.

A bombastic New Yorker like Trump, Lutnick, 63, has uniformly praised the president-elect's economic policies, including his use of tariffs.

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Trump said Lutnick also would be given "additional direct responsibility" for the Office of U.S. Trade Representative. It remained unclear whether Trump would still name someone to that position.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY

Kennedy, 70, an environmental activist who has spread misinformation about the dangers of vaccines, is now poised to lead the top U.S. health agency.

A former independent presidential candidate, he has suggested he would gut the 18,000-employee Food and Drug Administration, which ensures the safety of food, drugs and medical devices, and replace hundreds of employees at the National Institutes of Health.

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Kennedy has decried the U.S. food industry for adding ingredients that he says have made Americans less healthy.

The Department of Health and Human Services oversees the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the massive Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health coverage for the poor, those aged 65 and older, and the disabled.

A former family babysitter has alleged that Kennedy groped her 25 years ago. No charges were filed, and Kennedy has said he does not recall the incident.

LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER, LABOR SECRETARY

Trump's pick of Chavez-DeRemer, a U.S. congresswoman from Oregon, could be one of the rare selections who draws bipartisan support.

Chavez-DeRemer, 56, is considered one of the most union-friendly Republicans in Congress, and her selection was viewed as a way for Trump to reward union members who voted for him.

The pick was praised by Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, while some conservatives expressed dismay.

SEAN DUFFY, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY

Duffy, a former U.S. congressman from Wisconsin and Fox News host, would oversee aviation, automotive, rail, transit and other transportation policies at the department with about a $110 billion budget, as well as significant funding that remains under the Biden administration's 2021 $1 trillion infrastructure law and EV charging stations.

Trump has vowed to reverse the Biden administration's vehicle emissions rules, which have spurred automakers to build more electric vehicles.

Duffy, 53, first became known as a cast member on MTV's "The Real World" reality show in the late 1990s.

BROOKE ROLLINS, AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

As agriculture secretary, Rollins, the 52-year-old president of the America First Policy Institute, would be in charge of a 100,000-person agency whose remit includes farm and nutrition programs, forestry, and agricultural trade.

The institute is a right-leaning think tank whose personnel have worked closely with Trump's campaign to help shape policy for his incoming administration. She was the acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during Trump's first term.

DOUG BURGUM, INTERIOR SECRETARY AND 'ENERGY CZAR'

Burgum, 68, a wealthy former software company executive, has portrayed himself as a traditional, business-minded conservative. He ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination before quitting and becoming a supporter.

The Interior Department manages public lands and minerals, national parks and wildlife refuges. The department also carries out the U.S. government's trust responsibility to Native Americans.

As the chair of a new National Energy Council, Burgum is expected to coordinate with several agencies to boost oil and gas output, particularly with regard to drilling on government-owned land.

CHRIS WRIGHT, ENERGY SECRETARY

Wright, a top Trump donor, is the founder and CEO of Liberty Energy, an oilfield services firm based in Denver.

The 59-year-old is a promoter of fossil fuels and has been skeptical that extreme weather events are tied to climate change.

As Trump's energy secretary, he would, among other things, oversee the nation's nuclear stockpile. Wright also would serve on the new National Energy Council.

LINDA MCMAHON, EDUCATION SECRETARY

McMahon is a former executive CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment who served as the chief of the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term.

As education secretary, she would oversee an agency that Trump has pledged to eliminate.

It may be more likely, however, that McMahon, 76, works to further conservative education policy goals, including doing away with diversity programs in public schools and allowing tax dollars to be used for private school tuition.

SCOTT TURNER, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY

Turner, 52, a former Texas state legislator and National Football League player, would take over the Department of Housing and Urban Development if confirmed.

He was the first executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump's first term, a role in which he helped the country's distressed communities, Trump said in a statement.

MIKE WALTZ, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER

Waltz, a Republican U.S. representative and a retired Army Green Beret, has been a leading critic of China.

A Trump loyalist who also served in the National Guard as a colonel, Waltz, 50, has criticized Chinese military activity in the Asia-Pacific and voiced the need for the U.S. to be ready for a potential conflict in the region.

The national security adviser is an influential role that does not require Senate confirmation. Waltz will be responsible for briefing Trump on key national security issues and coordinating with different agencies.

JOHN RATCLIFFE, CIA DIRECTOR

Ratcliffe, who was director of national intelligence at the end of Trump's first term, would helm the Central Intelligence Agency in his second administration.

A former congressman and prosecutor, Ratcliffe, 59, is seen as a Trump loyalist who could likely win Senate confirmation.

Still, during his time as director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe often contradicted the assessments of career civil servants, drawing criticism from Democrats who said he politicized the role to curry favor with Trump.

RUSS VOUGHT, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DIRECTOR

Vought, a key architect of Project 2025, a conservative plan to overhaul the government, will return as director of an agency that helps determine the president's policy priorities and how to pay for them.

Vought, 48, who was OMB chief during Trump's 2017-2021 term, will play a major role in setting budget priorities and implementing Trump's campaign promise to roll back government regulations.

He has been deeply involved in the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, a set of policy proposals that includes a broad expansion in presidential power by boosting the number of political appointees and increasing the president's authority over the Justice Department. The plan also proposes eliminating the Department of Education.

ELON MUSK AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY, HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY

Outspoken tech billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy have been charged with leading a newly created Department of Government Efficiency, a reward for their staunch support during the campaign.

Trump said Musk, 53, and Ramaswamy, 39, will offer proposals to reduce government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut waste and restructure federal agencies, although the panel will hold no actual authority under federal law. Instead, the panel will work with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget, Trump has said.

TOM HOMAN, 'BORDER CZAR'

Homan has been tasked with one of Trump's biggest campaign priorities: securing the nation's borders. Trump made cracking down on migrants in the country illegally a central element of his campaign, promising mass deportations.

As "border czar," Homan, 62, has said he would prioritize deporting immigrants illegally in the U.S. who posed safety and security threats as well as those working at job sites.

He served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump's first administration.

SUSIE WILES, CHIEF OF STAFF

Wiles, one of Trump's two campaign managers, will be his White House chief of staff, likely making her one of the most powerful women in government.

The 67-year-old longtime Florida Republican political operative is credited with running an efficient campaign that helped Trump make inroads with new voters. Supporters hope she will instill a sense of order and discipline that was often lacking during Trump's first four-year term, when he cycled through a number of chiefs of staff.

LEE ZELDIN, EPA ADMINISTRATOR

Zeldin, a former congressman from New York state and a staunch Trump ally, would take over as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency with a mandate to slash environmental regulations.

Zeldin, 44, served in Congress from 2015 to 2023. In 2022, he lost the New York governor's race to Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul.

Trump has promised to overhaul U.S. energy policy, with the aim of maximizing the country's already record-high oil and gas production by rolling back regulations and speeding up permitting.

ELISE STEFANIK, AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Stefanik, a U.S. representative from New York state and staunch Trump supporter, would serve as his ambassador to the United Nations and function as the United States' voice on that body.

Stefanik, 40, the House of Representatives' Republican conference chair, took a leadership position in the House in 2021 when she was elected to replace then-Representative Liz Cheney, who was ousted for criticizing Trump's false claims of election fraud.

Stefanik will arrive at the U.N. after bold promises by Trump to end the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel's war in Gaza.

MARTIN MAKARY, HEAD OF THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Trump nominated Makary to lead the FDA, the world's most influential drug regulator with more than a $7 billion budget.

Makary, a surgeon and public policy researcher at Johns Hopkins University, raised concerns about a number of public health issues during the COVID pandemic, touting the protection from natural immunity while opposing vaccine mandates for the general public.

TODD BLANCHE, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

Blanche, 50, a former New York federal prosecutor who represented Trump in several of his recent legal cases, would serve as deputy attorney general if confirmed, the No. 2 job at the Justice Department which carries out many of the day-to-day managerial duties at the agency.

DAVE WELDON, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Weldon, a 71-year-old former congressman and medical doctor, is Trump's choice for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a sweeping agency with a $17.3 billion budget charged with protecting the nation's health.

JANETTE NESHEIWAT, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL

Nesheiwat, a director of a New York chain of urgent care clinics and Fox News contributor, would serve as U.S. surgeon general.

Nesheiwat treated patients during the COVID pandemic, tended to victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin tornadoes, and has worked for the Samaritan's Purse disaster relief organization providing care in Morocco, Haiti and Poland, Trump said.

JAMIESON GREER, U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

As U.S. trade representative, Greer would have a key role in executing Trump's sweeping tariff agenda that promises to upend global trade.

Greer, a 44-year-old trade lawyer, served as chief of staff to Trump's former U.S. trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, the architect of Trump's original tariffs on some $370 billion worth of Chinese imports during Trump's first White House term.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Ross Colvin, and Marguerita Choy)
Former President Donald Trump won the 2024 election in part because he was able to make gains with nearly every demographic.

Trump improved on his past performance among Hispanic voters, young voters and even liberal New York City voters, among many other groups, according to The New York Times.

But did he make gains among religious voters?

While more data on how people of faith voted in 2024 is still to come, The Washington Post included a religion analysis in its 2024 summary of exit polls, as it did in 2020.

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By comparing the two charts, you can see that Trump appears to have made gains among Christians, as well as among non-Christian people of faith.

Trumps share of the Catholic vote rose by nine percentage points.

In 2020, 47% of Catholics voted for Trump, while 52% voted for President Joe Biden, according to The Washington Post. In 2024, 56% voted for Trump, while 41% voted for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trumps share of the Protestant/Other Christian vote rose by two percentage points.

In 2020, 60% of Protestants or other Christians voted for Trump, while 39% voted for Biden. In 2024, 62% voted for Trump, while 37% voted for Harris.

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Trumps share of the non-Christian religious vote rose by four percentage points.

In 2020, 29% of non-Christian people of faith voted for Trump, while 69% voted for Biden. In 2024, 33% voted for Trump, while 60% voted for Harris.

Kamala Harris and religion

Harris did improve on Bidens performance among nonreligious voters, according to The Washington Posts exit polls.

Trumps share of the nonreligious vote fell by six percentage points.

In 2020, 31% of voters with no religion voted for Trump, while 65% voted for Biden. In 2024, 25% voted for Trump, while 72% voted for Harris.

These results are somewhat surprising because polling during the campaign showed that Harris entry into the race had done little to disrupt typical faith-related voting patterns, as the Deseret News previously reported.

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The shifts highlighted in a Pew Research Center analysis from late summer involved Black Protestants and Hispanic Catholics being more supportive of Harris than they had been of Biden, not less.

What wasnt surprising was Trumps strong performance among white, born-again Christians, a category thats also referred to as white evangelicals.

About 8 in 10 of them supported him nationally, larger than his margin in 2020, per The Washington Post.

The Latter-day Saint vote

The Washington Posts exit poll for 2024 did not include a look at how members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints voted. More information about the Latter-day Saint vote in 2024 will likely become available later this week.

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For now, we have an analysis from Fox News and The Associated Press, which draws on research from NORC at the University of Chicago.

The Fox News Voter Analysis says that 63% of Latter-day Saint voters supported Trump, while 33% supported Harris.

In 2020, 66% of Latter-day Saint voters supported Trump, while 30% supported Biden, according to the Cooperative Election Study.
Donald Trump will barely have slept going into election day, if at all, having wrapped up his final campaign rally at 2am.

But that didnt stop the former president from casting his own vote early on Tuesday and ranting about his enemies in a diatribe against Fox News and Oprah Winfrey.

Based in Mar-a-Lago, Trump then spent the day peppering aides with questions and hitting the phones to speak to Republican allies and officials, sources told CNN.

Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump in Palm Beach after voting (AP)

And as ever the Republican billionaire was not far from his beloved social media, posting regularly on Truth Social throughout the day as Americans went to the polls.

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He claimed - without evidence - that there has been massive CHEATING in Philadelphia and urged voters across the country to stay in line until they cast their ballot.

This is impressive, Trump said as he entered a room full of his supporters at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday morning, though noting Its too early to congratulate.

I hope they come up with a result tonight, he continued. Make sure theres no cheating. Trumps wife, Former First Lady Melania Trump, stood by him as he delivered the remarks, thanking the room full of supporters for their hard work and support.

It was hard work I know its hours and hours. I know how hard my husband is working, she said, wearing a black and white polka dot Dior dress. Thank you for all your support.

Trump urged his reporters to stay in line as every vote counts (REUTERS)

Trump voted at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach on Tuesday morning and briefly spoke to reporters there.

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I ran a great campaign. I think it was maybe the best of the three. We did great in the first one. We did much better in the second one, but something happened. I would say this is the best campaign weve run, Trump said, adding that he believes this is the last campaign he will run, win or lose.

He also used the opportunity to complain about alternatives to in-person paper ballots, which he said are likely to stall election results.

The former president speaking to reporters in Florida on Tuesday morning (AP)

Trump spoke with Republican leaders across the country as voters headed to the polls, including Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. Trump said his Republican base has shown up with force.

He will be watching the election results at Mar-a-Lago and also attend a watch party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center where he is expected to give a speech, according to CNN.

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Were going to have a very special group of people, Trump told reporters. That group will not include reporters at Politico, Axios, Puck, Voice of America and Mother Jones, who were denied credentials to the Mar-a-Lago event because of inaccurate coverage, the outlet reported.

Florida has historically been a swing state that Former President Barack Obama won twice. Trump is expected to be the favorite this year.
"During the course of our initial investigation, the NYPD misidentified the victim of a fatal vehicle collision," police said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE

Getty Stock image of an NYPD car Stock image of an NYPD car

A family is still reeling after being told that their loved one was killed in a crash, and then learning that wasn't true.

According to WABC-TV, police told Sheila Nagengast that her 44-year-old sister, Denise Owen, died after she was hit by a car on Staten Island on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

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"They said, 'I'm sorry to inform you but your sister has been killed fatally in a car accident, " added Nagengast, who said her sister experienced homelessness at times and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the New York Police Department said that "during the course of our initial investigation, the NYPD misidentified the victim of a fatal vehicle collision."

Related: Pregnant Mom and 8-Year-Old Son Pulled Over by Cops at Gunpoint in 'Case of Mistaken Identity'

Nagengast told WABC-TV that family members and friends also heard about the news as word spread.

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Then, as Nagengast was meeting with a lawyer, she said her other sister called to say Owen was alive. "She FaceTimed me, and my sister Denise..is standing directly in front of my (other) sister. Alive and well," Nagengast said.

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Related: Pastor Returns Home After Doctors Initially Declared Him Brain Dead, Wife Says: 'God's Kept Him Here'

Personal injury attorney Jonathan D'Agostino tells PEOPLE that had "police been more diligent in following standard protocol in this matter," the family "would have been spared the infliction of emotional distress."

D'Agostino adds that he is now working with the "actual victim of this accident" but is not at liberty to discuss additional details.



Related: Detroit Funeral Home Discovers 20-Year-Old Woman Declared Dead Is Actually Alive

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, police said that "upon further investigation, a proper identification and subsequent family notification was made."

They added, "We apologize for the unfortunate grief we may have caused."


The opposition far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has welcomed the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition as long overdue, calling it a "liberation" for Germany.

The AfD leaders in the Bundestag or lower house of parliament, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, charged late Wednesday that the coalition government comprising Scholz's Social Democrats, the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) had led the country with great strides to an economic abyss.

"After months of gridlock and countless self-centred therapy sessions, we now urgently need a fundamental political fresh start to lead the economy and the country as a whole out of the severe crisis into which it has been plunged by the ideology-driven policies of the SPD, Greens and FDP," they added.

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They urged Scholz to do the country a final favour and immediately call a vote of confidence.

Scholz had said earlier Wednesday that he would seek a vote on confidence in his government on January 15, after dismissing Finance Minister Christian Lindner, the FDP's leader.
Former military defense contractor Leonard Fat Leonard Francis was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for masterminding a decade-long bribery scheme that swept up dozens of U.S. Navy officers, federal prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino also ordered Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy and a $150,000 fine, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was also ordered to forfeit $35 million in ill-gotten proceeds from his crimes, the statement said.

Prosecutors said the sentence results from Leonard's first guilty plea in 2015 concerning bribery and fraud, his extensive cooperation with the government since then, and another guilty plea Tuesday for failing to appear for his original sentencing hearing in 2022.

Shortly before he was due to be sentenced in September 2022, Leonard cut off a GPS monitor he was wearing while under house arrest and fled the country. He was later arrested in Venezuela and brought back to the U.S. in December 2023.

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Sammartino sentenced him to more than 13 1/2 years for the bribery and fraud charges plus 16 months for failing to appear, to be served consecutively.

Leonard Francis lined his pockets with taxpayer dollars while undermining the integrity of U.S. Naval forces," U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in Tuesdays statement. The impact of his deceit and manipulation will be long felt, but justice has been served today.

How did Fat Leonard attend this former CNOs change of command? He was on the VIP list

Prosecutors said Francis actions led to one of the biggest bribery investigations in U.S. military history, which resulted in the conviction and sentencing of nearly two dozen Navy officials, defense contractors and others on various fraud and corruption charges.

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An enigmatic figure who was 6-foot-3 and weighed 350 pounds at one time, Francis owned and operated his familys ship servicing business, Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia, or GDMA, which supplied food, water and fuel to vessels. The Malaysian defense contractor was a key contact for U.S. Navy ships at ports across Asia for more than two decades. During that time, Francis wooed naval officers with Kobe beef, expensive cigars, concert tickets and wild sex parties at luxury hotels from Thailand to the Philippines.

In exchange, officers, including the first active-duty admiral to be convicted of a federal crime, concealed the scheme in which Francis would overcharge for supplying ships or charge for fake services at ports he controlled in Southeast Asia. The officers passed him classified information and even went so far as redirecting military vessels to ports that were lucrative for his Singapore-based ship servicing company.

In a federal sting, Francis was lured to San Diego on false pretenses and arrested at a hotel in September 2013. He pleaded guilty in 2015, admitting that he had offered more than $500,000 in cash bribes to Navy officials, defense contractors and others. Prosecutors say he bilked the Navy out of at least $35 million. As part of his plea deal, he cooperated with the investigation leading to the Navy convictions. He faced up to 25 years in prison.

While awaiting sentencing, Francis was hospitalized and treated for renal cancer and other medical issues. After leaving the hospital, he was allowed to stay out of jail at a rental home, on house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor and security guards.

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But three weeks before his scheduled sentencing in September 2022, he snipped off his monitor and made a brazen escape, setting off an international search. Officials said he fled to Mexico, made his way to Cuba and eventually got to Venezuela.

He was arrested more than two weeks after his disappearance  caught before he boarded a flight at the Simon Bolivar International Airport outside Caracas. Venezuelan officials said he intended to reach Russia.

Fat Leonard wrongdoing not a definite career killer for Navy officers

The cases were handled by the U.S. Attorneys Office in an effort to be independent of the military justice system. But they have came under scrutiny.

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The felony convictions of four former Navy officers were vacated following allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. Sammartino agreed to allow them to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and pay a $100 fine each.

Last year, Sammartino ruled that the lead federal prosecutor in the officers case committed flagrant misconduct by withholding information from defense lawyers, but that it was not enough to dismiss the case.
Despite the auto industry's shift towards battery electric vehicles (BEVs), GTXs turbo business remains resilient, with turbocharger penetration expected to exceed 50% in ICE-based vehicles through 2030. As BEV adoption has slowed due to infrastructure, cost, and consumer preference challenges, hybridswhere turbo penetration is even higherare likely to account for a larger portion of future vehicles. This benefits GTX, as hybrids require more advanced turbo systems, which offer higher margins. Moreover, GTXs commercial and industrial applications, such as backup power generators and marine engines, represent a significant growth area, accounting for about 30% of total sales and offering higher profitability than light vehicle applications. This segment continues to expand, especially in sectors like marine and backup power, where demand is surging due to their role in ensuring stable power for critical infrastructure, such as data centers. CEO commentary from recent earnings calls reflects GTX's confidence in the durability of its turbo business, which caters to both diesel and natural gas engines for high-demand applications like locomotives and off-highway vehicles.

Garrett Motion (GTX) operates as a key player in the mobility and industrial technology sector, focusing on high-performance turbocharging solutions for light vehicles, commercial vehicles, and industrial applications. Known for its mechanical and electrical turbo products, GTX caters to a broad spectrum of vehicle types, including gasoline, diesel, and natural gas engines, with some revenue now coming from its E-Boosting and hydrogen fuel cell compression solutions. As of 2023, GTX leads in turbochargers for internal combustion engines (ICEs), a critical technology that enables automakers to meet fuel efficiency and emission standards without sacrificing power or performance. This niche, heavily dominated by Garrett Motion and BorgWarner, has a high barrier to entry due to the technical complexity involved. Additionally, a significant portion of GTX's revenue is secured years in advance, with more than 80% of OEM sales planned four years ahead, providing solid visibility into future cash flows.

We came across a bullish thesis on Garrett Motion Inc. (GTX) on Value Investing by Double Alpha Factorys Substack by Maksim. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on GTX. Garrett Motion Inc. (GTX)'s share was trading at $7.34 as of Nov 4 th . GTXs trailing and forward P/E were 6.02 and 5.95 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Story Continues

In terms of financials, GTX projects substantial free cash flow (FCF) generation over the next five years. Management estimates between $1.7 billion to $2.1 billion in FCF, with the lower end of this forecast still translating to a FCF yield of approximately 20% based on its current market capitalization of around $1.6-$1.7 billion. This robust FCF, along with GTXs forward sales visibility, makes it likely that the company could repurchase its entire outstanding share base within five years, even after allocating around $0.5 billion toward new zero-emission technologies. Given the current 41% BEV penetration assumption in these projectionsan aggressive forecastGTXs outlook could improve further if BEV adoption rates continue to lag. The slow pace of the BEV transition, noted at the 2024 J.P. Morgan Automotive Conference, reinforces the durability of GTX's revenue base, as the turbocharger market retains a long tail of demand. Recent discussions, including those from major industry events and political forums, highlight various challenges facing BEV adoption, such as prohibitive costs, consumer hesitancy, and infrastructure inadequacies. In Europe, for example, the ambitious goal to ban non-BEV vehicles by 2035 faces substantial resistance, with auto executives and government officials questioning the feasibility of such rapid changes.

In the U.S., adoption rates for BEVs are likewise decelerating, as indicated by recent regulatory shifts to ease tailpipe standards. The Biden administration, for instance, reduced its BEV adoption targets amid political and industry feedback. Meanwhile, automakers are doubling down on hybrids, which offer a balance between emission reduction and operational efficiency. Companies like Ford and General Motors are pivoting to hybrids due to profitability concerns, reinforcing GTXs position in the evolving vehicle mix. In China, EV manufacturers are increasingly exploring hybrid technologies, acknowledging the profitability and flexibility advantages of hybrid systems over pure BEVs. Garrett's sustained focus on hybrids and ICE solutions aligns well with these market shifts, positioning it as a critical supplier for automakers facing stringent efficiency mandates but limited by BEV scalability issues.

From an investment perspective, Garrett Motion's (GTX) valuation is attractive, trading at a discount relative to its cash flow potential. With a market cap of approximately $1.6 to $1.7 billion, GTX is projected to generate $1.7 billion in free cash flow (FCF) over the next five years. This cash flow can be utilized for substantial stock buybacks, potentially enhancing shareholder value and driving the stock price higher. The companys diverse revenue streams, particularly in expanding commercial and industrial applications, provide resilience amid uncertainties in the transition to battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

In a worst-case scenario, investors can anticipate a 20% return over the next five years, followed by a 10% return in subsequent years, indicating a solid margin of safety. Comparatively, GTX's closest competitor, BorgWarner, trades at free cash flow yields of around 8-10%, about half of GTXs yield. This difference implies a potential upside of 50-100% for GTX if the market aligns its valuation with that of BorgWarner.

The investment thesis is based on GTX's strong market position, ongoing demand for internal combustion engines (ICE) and hybrid vehicles, clear revenue visibility, diversification into high-margin industrial applications, and robust free cash flow generation. Collectively, these factors underscore GTX's status as an undervalued entity with significant upside potential, particularly if the transition to BEVs is slower than anticipated.

Garrett Motion Inc. (GTX) is not on our list of the 31 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 32 hedge fund portfolios held GTX at the end of the second quarter which was 35 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of GTX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GTX but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.

Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey.
Voting was halted and polling stations across the US were evacuated on Election Day, after a slew of hoax bomb threats designed to ensue chaos were reported.

The FBI said it was aware of reports of bomb threats at polling locations in several states  including the battleground states of Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan  and said many of them appeared to originate from Russian email domains.

Some 32 threats were received in Fulton County, Georgia, alone  causing two polling stations to close.

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Later, authorities in DeKalb County, Georgia, said that five centers had been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure for the safety of voters and poll workers, while bomb sweeps took place. The DeKalb County Law Department said it would seek an emergency order extending the voting times at the affected polling locations.

Georgias Secretary of StateBrad Raffensperger also confirmed that the threats were of Russian origin but that they were not believed to be viable.

An officer in DC stands near an unidentified object - that turned out to be not a threat. Communities across the nation have dealt with hoaxes throughout Election Day (EPA)

Well just continue to be very responsible when we hear about stuff like that. Weve identified the source and it was from Russia, Raffensperger told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday morning.

Four bomb threats also were reported at three voting sites in Navajo County, Arizona, according to officials. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes told reporters that the motive behind the threats were to ensue chaos, not to impact any political outcome.

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We dont see anything in the pattern or distribution that would make us think this was to effect any political change but we do believe to get us to rattle in our boots is the reason that theyre doing this, he said.

In Pennsylvania, Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell confirmed that a polling station in the area had also been evacuated due to a bomb threat.

The FBI said it was aware of reports of bomb threats at polling locations in several states  including several key swing states (AP)

There was a bomb threat to the Government Services Center in West Chester, PA. Its being evacuated. Voter Services is located there, and in-person ballots are delivered after 8 pm. Mail-in ballots are canvassed and tabulated at a different location, Maxwell said, adding that there were no reported injuries.

Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein later confirmed that there had been concerns at about 10 polling places in the state.

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Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a former judge-turned-convicted felon was arrested and charged after threatening to burn down a polling station in upstate on Election Day. Paul Lamson was charged with making a terroristic threat on Tuesday morning after a failed attempt to vote. According to authorities, the incident occurred just after 6:30 a.m. in Fowler, New York, where Lamson, a convicted felon, tried to vote but was unable to, since he hadnt re-registered after he had been released from prison.

Voters line up in Austell, Georgia to cast their ballots on Election Day. Some Georgia polling centers are receiving bomb threats of Russian origin, their secretary of state said on Tuesday (Getty Images)

He became irate and started making threatening remarks such as burning the place down and returning with a firearm before fleeing the scene, according to New York State Police. A search ensued and state police took Lamson into custody without incident.

Police also arrested a man in Washington, DC, after he showed up to the visitors center of the US Capitol with a torch and a flare gun, smelling like fuel.

US Capitol Police said the man was in the process of going through security at the Capitol Visitor Center at around midday when officers discovered the torch and flare gun in his jacket.

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Officers also found bottles that appeared to have fuel residue inside his backpack and one officer noticed there was a faint odor of gasoline or some type of accelerant on the man, US Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said.

Authorities said that the bomb threats were not believed to be viable (AP)

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That odor became much stronger when they opened the backpack, he said. Officers arrested the suspect, a 28-year-old Michigan man, but his name or possible motive are yet to be released.

In addition to Election Day chaos, on Monday, a Republican candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives was arrested after being accused of violating a protection order.

Jim Schenke, 57, a delegate for the states 26th House district, was booked into Tippecanoe County Jail after police received a complaint late that he had allegedly contacted an individual on Facebook who has a protection order against him, the Lafayette Journal and Courier reported
Federal law enforcement and swing-state election officials reported bomb threats to polling stations on Tuesday, saying they believed the threats originated in Russia.

Russian officials denied any involvement in such threats.

The FBI in a statement said it was aware of such threats to polling locations in "several states," many of which appeared to "originate from Russian email domains."

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It said none of the threats were considered "credible."

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said Tuesday afternoon that his office was monitoring "unsubstantiated" bomb threats at four locations in Navajo Nation.

Read more: Trump elected as the United States 47th president following wins in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

"We have no reason to believe that any of our voters or any of our polling places are in any sort of jeopardy," Fontes said.

Fontes said he did have "some reason to believe," however, that the threats came from Russia because the threats came from a .ru email address, though that doesn't necessarily confirm they originated in Russia.

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"We dont see anything in the pattern or in the distribution that would make us think that this is to affect a political outcome," Fontes said. "We do, however, believe that invoking chaos, and trying to get us to kinda rattle in our boots, is the reason that theyre doing this."

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said at a news conference that "about five to seven" precincts across the state received bomb threats early Tuesday from a "foreign state actor." Two precincts shut down voting for 30 minutes while law enforcement investigated, but most polling places carried on without incident.

Read more: Forget election night answers: Why it could take a while to get final results

"We're pretty quick on our feet, and we catch them every time," Raffensperger said. He said voting was running smoothly, and that "lines are moving."

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Asked what his message was for the Russians, Raffensperger said that their mission was to try to destabilize America, but "Georgia is not going to be intimidated."

"I'm just really grateful I'm an American, and I'm not from Russia," Raffensperger also said.

U.S. officials have accused Russia and its agents of directly meddling in U.S. elections for years.

Asked for comment Tuesday, the Russian embassy directed The Times to Russian remarks from top officials in which they denied involvement. The embassy had also released a statement last week saying Russia does not interfere in U.S. elections, as if anticipating such allegations on election day.

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"Before every election, American authorities and media descend into hysteria about 'Russain disinformation and inference,'" the embassy wrote. "Russia has not and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, including the U.S."

The FBI said that election integrity is among its "highest priorities," and that law enforcement would "continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to our elections and to protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote."

Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  A federal judge has temporarily halted the planned execution of an Idaho man on death row whose first lethal injection attempt was botched earlier this year.

Thomas Eugene Creech was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection Nov. 13  roughly nine months after the state first tried and failed to execute him. Execution team members tried eight locations in Creech's arms and legs on Feb. 28 but could not find a viable vein to deliver the lethal drug.

U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow issued the stay this week in a lawsuit from Creech that contends it would be cruel and unusual punishment to try to execute him again after the first lethal injection attempt was botched in February. Creechs defense team also has another legal case underway claiming that prosecutors acted improperly during his clemency hearing.

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The Idaho Department of Correction declined to comment on the postponement because the lawsuit is ongoing but said it will take at least until the end of the month for both sides to file the written copies of their arguments with the court.

Per IDOC policy, Mr. Creech has been returned to his previous housing assignment in J-Block and execution preparations have been suspended, department public information officer Sanda Kuzeta-Cerimagic said in a statement.

Creech, 74, is the state's longest-serving person on death row. He has been in prison for half a century, convicted of five murders in three states and suspected of several more. He was already serving a life term when he beat another person in prison with him, 22-year-old David Dale Jensen, to death in 1981  the crime for which he was to be executed.

In the decades since, Creech has become known inside the walls of the Idaho Maximum Security Institution as a generally well-behaved person who sometimes writes poetry. His bid for clemency before the last execution attempt found support from a former warden at the penitentiary, prison staffers who recounted how he wrote them poems of support or condolence and the judge who sentenced Creech to death.

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After the last execution attempt failed, the Idaho Department of Correction announced it would use new protocols for lethal injection when execution team members are unable to place a peripheral IV line, close to the surface of the skin. The new policy allows the execution team to place a central venous catheter, a more complex and invasive process that involves using the deeper, large veins of the neck, groin, chest or upper arm to run a catheter deep inside a person's body until it reaches the heart.

___

This story was first published on Nov. 6, 2024. It was updated Nov. 8, 2024, to correct that Snow issued the stay in a lawsuit from Creech that contends it would be cruel and unusual punishment to try to execute him again after the first lethal injection attempt was botched, not in another legal case underway claiming that prosecutors acted improperly during his clemency hearing.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  The federal trial against the man accused of shooting to death a New Mexico State Police officer in March has been delayed again. Jaremy Smith is now scheduled to go to trial on September 22, 2025.

Two Santa Fe teens arrested, accused of shooting 16-year-old

Investigators said NMSP officer Justin Hare stopped to help Smith after finding him broken down on I-40, west of Tucumcari back in March. Smith responded by opening fire killing Officer Hare. If convicted, Smith is looking at a life sentence.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Julie Fedorchak gestures at supporters Nov. 5, 2024, in Bismarck after being elected to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

Republican Julie Fedorchak will be the first woman to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Fedorchak defeated Democratic-NPL challenger Trygve Hammer with 69% of the vote on Tuesday, in complete but unofficial results.

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Fedorchak told the North Dakota Monitor she learned a lot from the voters she encountered on the campaign trail.

I feel really ready to take what Ive learned, to know what North Dakotans are really concerned about and build a team and get to work on behalf of North Dakotans in D.C., Fedorchak said during a Republican Party event in Bismarck Tuesday night.

More election news

For more statewide coverage, visit our North Dakota Election 2024 page.

On becoming the first woman to represent North Dakota in the U.S House, she said it was an incredible honor.

I think its great to have diversity in genders, in backgrounds, in perspectives, she said. We need to have as diverse of representation as we can get in Washington, and Im happy to be part of that.

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Fedorchak has served on the North Dakota Public Service Commission since 2013. She was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven and Gov. Doug Burgum during the campaign, along with 65 state legislators and statewide officeholders.

She said she hopes to finish out the year on the Public Service Commission and leave her seat before she is sworn into office in January.

Fedorchak has four years left on her term on the Public Service Commission. After she vacates the position, the governor will appoint a commissioner to serve for two years. In 2026, voters will then elect someone to serve the remaining two years of the term.

Hammer, a Marine Corps veteran with a diverse work background, campaigned as a moderate during the statewide race.

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On Tuesday, Hammer said he was proud of the campaign and its fundraising.

We have a model we can build on, Hammer said.

He said his next goal is to recruit candidates for legislative districts 3 and 5 in the Minot area for the 2026 election.

I want to keep firing up Democrats around the state, he said.

This story has been updated with comments from the candidates and the latest results.
Voters across Michigan stood in line, danced to DJ music and sighed in relief, as they cast their ballots with the world watching and history beaconing.

After months of a contentious presidential campaign, more than 3.1 million Michiganders couldn't wait for Election Day. They voted early, either in person or by absentee ballot.

More: Find all 2024 Michigan election results here

More: We tracked voters in key counties all cycle. On Election Day this is what they had to say

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Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said 92% of absentee ballots mailed out had been returned by Tuesday and Election Day turnout appeared robust across the state. More than 3,700 new voters registered on Election Day and cast ballots.

Vote totals were still coming in at press time Tuesday night.

Temperatures in the low 70s and few polling place glitches made for a mostly smooth experience. One online threat to shoot up a polling place in Detroit was deemed not credible.

Inflation, immigration and abortion were top of mind for voters, not to mention the chance to make history by electing America's first female president or by returning Donald Trump to the White House four years after kicking him out.

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This feels like a major turning point for our country and its very important that Im here, said Nicole Merchant, 20, of Birmingham. She voted for Vice President Kamala Harris because of her support for womens rights, abortion freedom and LGBTQ+ issues.

Michigan could prove pivotal in the path to victory and both campaigns blanketed the state with visits in the weeks leading up to Eleciton Day. Pre-election polling showed Harris ahead in Michigan by 3%, less than the poll's 4% margin of error.

Josie LeBron, 34, of Ferndale, middle, sits and fills out her ballot at Ferndale High School on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

State elections also were closely contested, with Democrats working to hold a slim majority in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Josh Puckett, 47, of Redford, was grateful to cast his first ballot since Bill Clinton was president. He was released from prison in July after serving 29 years and said he wanted to vote for those who support reforming what he considered a flawed criminal justice system, though he wouldn't say who earned his vote in the presidential race.

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He spent Election Day volunteering as a nonpartisan poll observer at the Clippert Multicultural Magnet Honors Academy in the southwest Detroit neighborhood where he grew up.

Seeing it through to the end means making sure everyone's vote matters and no one gets turned away," he said. "Im really proud of southwest Detroit. This is well organized."

Kelly Flores-Mendoza, 23, of Detroit, said she was voting for Harris to protect reproductive rights, strengthen education and help elect the first female president. She also wanted to end to Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric.Her parents are Mexican immigrants and she said she fears a Trump win, as do others in her community. "His recent insane rhetoric and his extremist ideology  it ignites violence," she said.

The stark divisions in the country often played out just feet apart at Michigan precincts.

People vote inside the McDonald Elementary Schools polling place during Election Day in Dearborn on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Outside Ferndale Free Methodist Church, Matthew Flint, 26, said he cast his ballot to oppose Trump.

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He lacks character, said Flint, who works for Costco. I picked her (Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris) because hes so bad.

Moments later, Connor Elkins, also 26, from Ferndale, did the opposite. The former U.S. Marine who works as a union drywall installer said he voted for Trump because the former president would handle illegal immigration. Elkins also said he believes the countrys armed forces were stronger under Trumps leadership.

There is now a bold line between them, he added.

In Flat Rock, James Smith, 28, and his sister, Samantha, 24, walked into the Flat Rock Community Center confident in their decisions in casting their votes. The two said working class concerns, immigration and the border were their biggest concerns headed into the election. They planned to vote straight Republican.

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I voted for Trump last time. The reason I voted for him is I wanted him to shake up Washington. I think there was a lot of crooked politics in there, to be honest," James Smith, a former Marine, said And Trump, being a businessman, I think he knows how to run a country. He does pretty good for himself now.

Kevin Klindt, 51, of Warren, was one of the Michiganders who took advantage of early voting opportunities. He said he stood in line for about an hour for early voting at Warren City Hall roughly a week ago. He voted for Harris.

I think shes a better leader than Donald Trump, he said.

Hed like to see the Democrats successfully back a female president and said Democrats are better on Social Security, which he has needed because of his disability related to mental health.

People wait in line on Election Day to get their ballot to vote at the 18th precinct inside of the community building at Hess Hathaway Park in Waterford on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Cindi Hodgman, 56, of Royal Oak, is a personal trainer and Pilates instructor, took a long sigh before answering who was her presidential pick. Kamala Harris, Hodgman said, adding that the election season has been very tough on her. She had just filled out her ballot alongside her family at the Emmanuel Bethel Church. Why tough? Because he scares me, she added, referring to Trump.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Election turnout robust at Michigan polling places amid tight races
SCOTT COUNTY, Va. (WJHL)  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced on Wednesday a Disaster Recovery Center is now open in Scott County to assist survivors of Hurricane Helene.

The recovery center is located at 225 Boone Trail in Duffield, Virginia. Hours of operation are 8 a.m.  6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The centers offer disaster assistance for physical damage for homeowners, renters, private nonprofits and businesses. FEMA advises those with insurance not to wait for their settlement before applying for disaster assistance.

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FEMA delays Johnson, Washington Co. Disaster Recovery Center openings

Applications can be filled out online, in person or by calling the FEMA Help Line at 800-621-3362.

Several other FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are located within the Tri-Cities area:

Greene County : Greene County Courthouse/Annex, 204 N. Cutler St., Greeneville

Unicoi County : National Guard Armory/Unicoi Emergency Operations Center, 615 South Main Ave., Erwin

Carter County: 1749 Highway 19E; Elizabethton

For more information, click here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
This story was updated at 7:10 a.m. CT Wednesday.

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Republican Kristie Fiegen seemed to have the field to herself this fall as she crisscrossed the state campaigning for re-election to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.

Neither of her opponents, Democrat Forrest Wilson of Lead and Libertarian Gideon Oakes of Keystone, came close in raising funds or making campaign stops.

State Wide Results | State Senate Results | State House Results | National Results Map

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Nor did they appear to be anywhere close to beating her on Tuesday night.

With 618 of 691 precincts reporting, she looked to be well on the way to a big win. Fiegen, who lives in Sioux Falls, had 239,441 votes as of 7 a.m. CT. Wilson was in second place, but far back with 90,725, and Oakes was even farther back at 18,773.

Fiegen served eight years in the South Dakota House, leaving at the end of 2000. A decade later, she returned to government service, when Governor Dennis Daugaard appointed her to a vacancy on the PUC in 2011.

She won election in 2012 to a full six-year term, defeating Democrat Matt McGovern 187,383 to 140,443. In 2018, she won re-election to six more years, rolling past Democrat Wayne Frederick 206,436 to 108,925.

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Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen, a Republican, delivers her reelection victory speech on Nov. 5, 2024, in Sioux Falls. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Republican Kristie Fiegen was positioned to win reelection to her seat on the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission in unofficial election results.

She led with 71% of the votes at 1:30 a.m. Central time Wednesday with 70% of statewide precincts fully reporting. Democrat Forrest Wilson had 24%, and Libertarian Gideon Oakes had 5%.

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Oakes told South Dakota Searchlight he had conceded. Wilson did not return messages, and Fiegen gave a victory speech Tuesday night in Sioux Falls.

Republican former Gov. Dennis Daugaard appointed Fiegen to fill a commission vacancy in 2011. She was elected to a full term in November 2012 and reelected in 2018. Shes the commissions chairperson.

The states three public utilities commissioners oversee the regulation of private utility companies that provide essential services, including telecommunications, electricity and natural gas. They are assisted by a staff of analysts and lawyers.

The job of a commissioner is to ensure private utilities provide reliable services at fair rates. Commissioners also consider permits for major utility projects, such as power plants, transmission lines and pipelines.

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A group of activists dedicated to preserving film history has launched a petition asking the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to rehire 16 individuals the Academy laid off from its film archive and library staff last week.

On October 30, AMPAS let go of 16 employees  roughly 2 percent of AMPAS overall staff  including 14 from the Academy Film Archive and Margaret Herrick Library, and the other two from the Academy Museum collection staff.

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In a petition launched on Tuesday, November 5 on Change.org, a cohort called Missing Movies protested the Academys decision and wrote an open letter to AMPAS CEO Bill Kramer and its Board of Governors, saying the layoffs represent a deep disregard for the vital work of the Academy Film Archive.

These senior staff members have deep institutional knowledge of the Archives history and goals; they built the organizational structures, collections, and community outreach that allowed it to grow and thrive, the petition reads (in part). We are deeply concerned that these firings represent a deviation from the Academys stated mission to recognize and uphold excellence in the motion picture arts and sciences, inspire imagination, and connect the world through the medium of motion pictures.

The petition has received more than 850 signatures at time of writing.

AMPAS had no comment.

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Missing Movies is an ad hoc group of film professionals that tracks films considered lost or unavailable for any sort of public consumption. It works to address contract issues, locate film masters, and advocate for proper archiving, including the creation of high-definition digital transfers.

The group is led by co-presidents Amy Heller and Dennis Doros. Its board of directors includes Nancy Savoca, director Mary Harron, Susan Bodine, Geoffrey Fletcher, Rich Guay, and producer Ira Deutchman.

As IndieWire previously reported, among the people laid off were Anne Coco, the archives veteran poster curator, and Mike Pogorzelski, the head of the Film Archive. Others let go were several senior archive curators, library staffers, the nitrate vault manager, and the head of cataloging.

The cuts officially came as part of a reorg  the Academy has spent the last several months working on the structure of the archive, library, and museum. The Academy also last month added to its collection with Quentin Tarantinos handwritten Pulp Fiction script, some artwork from Hayao Miyazaki, and more. But there have been concerns that under the leadership of CEO Kramer, more resources in recent years have been diverted to the Academy Museum rather than to preservation efforts or the library.

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The news also caught the attention of other preservationists. Leonard Maltin said trimming the staff of the library was like cutting off its blood supply, while Smithsonians Brianna Toth wrote that this was a death knell for the third-largest film archive in North America.

Missing Movies argues that while streaming services offer the illusion of unlimited options and choice, there are many films that are still unavailable, and archivists are still vital to the industry.

With the rise of streaming and online access, some people may have come to believe that digitizing a film is the same as preserving it, the petition reads. But this is absolutely false. As film restorationists and archivists know, as technology advances, the ongoing need for access to original film and audio elements grows ever more important.

Editors Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Matt Severson, the executive vice president of Academy collection and preservation, had been let go. We regret the error.

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Fast-food giant McDonalds (MCD) isnt offering a great look these days. For one thing, the company waded into a political controversy when former President Donald Trump made a cameo appearance at one of its locations in Pennsylvania. Soon afterward, in an unrelated incident, an E.coli outbreak occurred, negatively impacting its restaurants and overall image. However, Im not bearish but Neutral, and I intend to show how traders can generate up to 34% yield through an options trade.

The reason Im not overtly pessimistic about MCD stock centers on positive results for the restaurant brand. During its recent third-quarter earnings disclosure, the company posted financials that came in better-than-expected. Specifically, McDonalds sales grew by 3% on a year-over-year basis to $6.9 billion. Plus, the firm benefits from everyday convenience and relatively low prices.

However, comparable sales also slipped by 1.5%, lower than the expected drop of 0.6%. Furthermore, some analysts have advised a cautionary take on MCD stock, suggesting a forward dynamic that is neither too hot nor too cold. Fortunately, the short iron condor allows us to profit from this potentially pensive outlook.

Explaining the Benefit of the Iron Condor

Typically, retail investors take a binary approach to the market: they either bet that the underlying security marches higher (long) or slides lower (short). However, a neutral position  such as the anticipation of sideways trading following an earnings report  seemingly offers no opportunity for accruing profits. Nevertheless, the modularity and flexibility of options offers creative ways to potentially make money.

Specifically, a short iron condor allows traders who anticipate that a security will trade sideways within a defined range to receive a positive yield. Practically speaking, this trade represents a combination of a Bull Put Spread and Bear Call Spread. Both spreads represent credit-based strategies, meaning that they start from a cash inflow position and offer limited risk. This structure is known as a Short Iron Condor because the trader receives a net credit upon entering the position.

For a quick recap, in a Bull Put Spread, the position wins when the target security stays above a defined profitability threshold. For a Bear Call Spread, the position wins when the stock stays below a given threshold. With a short iron condor, the asset must stay within an upper and lower boundary. Its riskier due to the two danger zones outside the desired range. However, for a consolidating security, the condor could be lucrative.
ROME  New versions of Italys PPA multimission navy vessels are to be kitted out with extra missile launchers, including cruise missile launchers, Italian industry officials said at the Euronaval trade show in Paris.

The ships new EVO variant, which the Italian Navy may order next year, will get extra Sylver 50 launch modules, which house Aster missiles, but also Sylver 70 launch modules which will fire Aster missiles as well as cruise missiles, including the MdCN naval land-attack missile.

The beefing up of the PPA vessel is the latest example of Italian cash being spent on renewing and upgrading its naval fleet, from new FREMM variants to Italys ordered Trieste Landing Helicopter Dock.

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Italy has ordered seven PPA vessels from local shipyard Fincantieri, but two of those have now been diverted to Indonesia following a purchase made by the Asian state.

The Italian Navy is set to order two more to make up the deficit and is likely to switch to the EVO configuration for the new buys.

Current PPA versions have two eight-cell Sylver 50 launchers in the forward part of the ship. Two more eight-cell modules will be added in that part of the vessel in the EVO ships. Additionally, a crane will be removed in the centre of the EVO ships to make way for four more modules, each with space for eight missiles.

At least two of the modules added on the EVO vessels will be Sylver 70, said a Fincantieri official.

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Other upgrades included the introduction of artificial intelligence to support the bridge and the use of a digital twin of the vessel to assist maintenance, the official said.

To prepare for the deployment of surface and sub-sea drones from the PPAs, the communication between the bridge and drones will be enhanced.

The first of the two PPA vessels ordered in a 1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) deal by Indonesia in March 2024 is due to be delivered by the end of this year.

Fincantieri previously signed to sell six FREMM frigates to Indonesia in 2021.

In July, the Italian Navy signed a 1.5 billion euro contract with Fincantieri and Leonardo for two new, upgraded FREMM frigates, dubbed the FREMM EVO, which will offer enhanced capabilities for defeating drone attacks and operating sub-sea, surface and aerial unmanned systems, among other improvements.

The two new FREMM vessels, which will join ten already ordered by the Italian Navy, will be delivered in 2029 and 2030.
Fire crews battled a brush fire at Georgetown-Rowley State Forest on Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.

According to Chief Matt McKay, the Georgetown Fire Department extinguished several brush fires in the Georgetown-Rowley State Forest Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning.

Boston 25 crews got an up-close look at the aftermath Wednesday night.

Very stubborn, very difficult to fight, McKay told Boston 25 Wednesday. For every fire you knock down, it pops back up again.

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He continued, Even with the high humidity levels overnight, the ground was still wet, it didnt really matter. It wasnt stopping this fire. It just goes to show how dry things are.

McKay claims the department will be investigating the brush fires off the highway.

We believe this to be suspicious in nature, he added.

Georgetown fire and neighboring municipalities will be monitoring the contained fire overnight and into the morning. The say state assets will be on scene Thursday to help their efforts.

The office of the states Fire Marshall claimed they have not been requested to investigate this incident as of Wednesday night.

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They explained in a statement, The statewide Fire Mobilization Plan has been activated to deliver firefighters and apparatus from outside the region to support local and mutual aid personnel.

On Tuesday, November 5, around 4 p.m. Georgetown Fire was dispatched to the Georgetown-Rowley State Forest for reports of a brush fire. The Georgetown Fire Tower confirmed three separate areas of smoke rising from the forest area.

Upon arrival, crews found three small areas burning in the forest. Fire crews from the State Department of Conservation and Recreation later arrived on the scene and identified a fourth fire in a different area of the forest.

All fires were knocked down on Tuesday evening and were pulled out of the woods once it got dark to ensure firefighter safety.

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The four fires were estimated to span about an acre of the forest.

On Wednesday, November. 6, at about 4:15 a.m., crews were dispatched back to the forest after a passerby on Interstate 95 reported flames.

Crews arrived on the scene to find that the fire had spread significantly overnight. Crews immediately strengthened the fire lines to help stop the spread of fire.

The fire was contained at about 8 a.m. and the fire is estimated to have grown to a ten-acre span of the forest.

Crews will remain on the scene throughout Wednesday to continue wetting the area and prevent further spread due to red flag conditions across the state, Georgetown Fire said.

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The Groveland, West Newbury, Newbury, Boxford, and Ipswich Fire Departments provided mutual aid during the fires. Rehab Five also responded on scene to provide food and drink to responding crews.

Georgetown Fire would like to remind residents that a red flag warning is in effect, the fire department said in a release. This warning means that dry, warm, and windy conditions create the potential for extreme fire behavior. While the warning is in effect, outdoor burning is prohibited.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to a house fire Wednesday morning.

Officials say crews arrived at a home near NE 63rd St. and Coltrane Rd. around 5 a.m. The fire was located in the kitchen and crews began knocking the fire down.

LOCAL NEWS: Im blessed because Im alive: Security at local bar speaks out after being shot

The fire was contained to the kitchen and dinette area, as far as we can tell. said A. McCann, District Chief with OKCFD.

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According to OKCFD, the residents were able to make it out safely. One firefighter was injured, but their injuries were minor.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
CHENANGO COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  Chenango County elected its first ever Family Court Judge on Tuesday.

According to Chenango County, Republican Diane Distefano was elected to the position, defeating Lisa Natoli. Distefano secured 64.43% of the vote.

This new judgeship was recently created by New York State Legislature as well as Governor Kathy Hochul through legislation passed earlier this year.

Distefano has worked as an attorney for nearly 30 years. She has represented clients on a broad range of issues, including a large caseload in Family Court.

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Distefano earned endorsements from members of Chenango Countys delegation in the State Legislature, most notably from Chenango Countys own Assemblyman Joe Angelino.

In a statement, Distefano thanked voters and her family for their support.

Distefano said the following:

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! I am honored to have earned the voters support to serve as Chenango County Family Court Judge.

A special thanks goes out my husband, Aaron, and the rest of our family. Your love and support during this sometimes-tense campaign has been invaluable. I love you and couldnt have done this without you.

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Thanks also goes out to my amazing campaign team and supporters from every corner of Chenango County. You put up signs, knocked on doors, made phone calls, posted on social media, and a million other actions that helped us accomplish this win. My heart is full of gratitude for your support.

The results are not official until certified by the New York State Board of Elections.

Click here for a full list of unofficial election results.

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It was hardly a secret that history would be made Tuesday night in Jackson County  either Melesa Johnson, a Democrat, or Republican Tracey Chappell would become the countys first African-American prosecutor.

But in this county, voters tend to lean Democrat, so none of us should be surprised Johnson was chosen as the first Black female prosecutor here.

In a statement, Johnson thanked voters for their support.

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Jackson County, this victory belongs to all of us who dared to dream of safer neighborhoods and a stronger community, Johnson said. Over these 14 months, your resilience, your stories, and your relentless support started a powerful movement. Together, weve proven that there is an incredible power of a united Jackson County. I am honored to carry your voices with me as we fight for real justice, fairness, opportunity, and lasting change. Thank you for believing in our vision and in each other but this is just the beginning  now the real work begins.

Johnson is Kansas Citys first director of public safety. In a statement, Mayor Mayor Quinton Lucas congratulated Johnson on her historic victory.

During her time in my office, Prosecutor-elect Johnson built and managed violence interruption strategies that saved lives and brought peace to long-challenged Kansas City neighborhoods, Lucas said. She is well suited to bring together our police, our communities, our businesses, and all of us in building a safer Kansas City.

I have no qualms with the job current Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has done. History will prove Baker an effective prosecutor. After all, Bakers office secured the first conviction of a white Kansas City Police officer accused of fatally shooting an unarmed Black man.

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In recent years, Baker has also held accountable other Kansas City officers who ran afoul of the law. Like those that came before her, Baker is white.

Despite Bakers performance, the coming change is welcomed.

In public office, I firmly believe representation matters. And the Ivy League-educated Johnson fits the bill. Shes young, ambitious, grounded and rooted in the Kansas City community. During the election cycle, Johnson made it a point to remind voters she still resides in the Third Council District neighborhood she grew up in.

While Johnson may not have decades of experience as a trial lawyer, she is astute enough to understand her shortcomings. My advice to her would be to do everything she can to surround herself with competent assistant prosecutors, some of whom are already in office. Here in Jackson County, crime is an issue that cannot be ignored. Especially in the Black community.

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Last year, 73% of the citys homicide victims were Black, according to Kansas City Police Department data. In the cases where a homicide suspect was identified, 58% were Black.

What the prosecutor-elect cannot afford to do is lose highly-seasoned prosecutors that help keep all Jackson Countians safe.

If possible, Johnson should raise their pay and try her darndest to keep office morale high. Weve seen what occurred across the state in St. Louis with former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner. Under Gardners leadership, prosecutors left that office in droves, leading to an inordinate amount of homicide cases that were dismissed.

Weve watched from afar the sudden rise and fall of former Baltimore City States Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Gardner and Mosby are two reformed-minded Black women who entered office to much fanfare but fell well short of any sort of criminal justice reform.

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Gardners second term ended early when Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey went after her for taking nursing classes while on city time. Corruption was Mosbys downfall. In 2023, she was convicted of perjury and mortgage fraud. Gardner resigned to keep Bailey from using the power of his office to remove her as circuit attorney.

Johnson knows she must stay clear of any sort of malfeasance.

Theres just some things that I will not be able to avoid, she said during an endorsement interview with The Kansas City Star Editorial Board. I am a student of black female prosecutors. And Ive learned a lot of lessons by watching their trajectory. The harsh reality is you could do everything right and still have some trouble land at your doorstep.

Its not every day that a young Black girl from Kansas Citys East Side grows up to become the top law enforcement official in the county. That must be applauded. But Johnson has a chance to be a transformative prosecutor.

It is my hope that she does indeed become one.
Just hours after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, a January 6 rioter lined up for his pardon.

Christopher Carnell, who was charged and convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding earlier this year, asked Judge Beryl Howell to delay a hearing that was set to occur on Friday so lawyers could contact the presidential transition team.

As of today, Mr. Carnell is now awaiting further information from the Office of the President-elect regarding the timing and expected cope of clemency actions relevant to his case, lawyers for Carnell wrote in a filing on Wednesday morning.

Christopher Carnell (left) was charged with obstruction of an official proceeding for his role in the January 6 attack on the Capitol (United States District of Columbia District Court)

Throughout his campaign, Trump has promised to pardon all Jan 6 rioters charged with crimes in connection to the attack on the Capitol.

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It was the former presidents incendiary rhetoric leading up to and after the 2020 presidential election that inspired thousands of angry Trump supporters to storm the Capitol the day Congress was set to certify election results.

Many rioters believed the 2020 election was riddled with election fraud and that it was stolen from the former president due to Trumps claims. Multiple independent investigations have found those claims are false and there is no evidence of mass voter fraud in any recent election.

As a result, more than 1,300 individuals have been charged with crimes related to the attack.

Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in protest of the 2020 election results (Getty)

Cases involving obstruction of an official proceeding, like Carnells, are currently in appeals and retrial processes because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the government must prove accused individuals physically impaired documents used in an official proceeding.

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But despite Carnells best efforts to move the hearing to benefit from Trumps promised pardons, Judge Howell denied the request.

Similarly, Anna Lichnowski, another person convicted of a misdemeanor for her role in storming the Capitol, was denied the opportunity to move her sentencing date in the hopes of getting a presidential pardon.

Lichnowskis lawyers asked a judge to delay her sentencing, set for November 8, to save both judicial and government resources in the event Trump pardons her.

The judge denied her request, saying any future use of presidential pardons is irrelevant to a courts obligation to carry out its responsibilities.

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It is unclear if Trump could even pardon Jan 6 rioters. Even presidential pardons are subject to some limitations like those that violate core constitutional principles.

However, it is expected that more rioters will request presidential pardons from Trump now he has won a second term.
Editors note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Keturah Herron is the first openly LGBTQ+ woman elected to the Kentucky Senate. Due to incorrect information from a PAC that supported her, an earlier version of this story misstated that she was the Senates first genderqueer member. Herron uses she/they pronouns.

A Kentucky lawmaker has made history as the commonwealths first openly LGBTQ+ woman state senator after a successful election on Tuesday.

Keturah Herron has served in the states House of Representatives since 2022, representing District 14 in parts of Jefferson County. Herron won an unopposed race on Tuesday for state Senate.

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I am very humbled to continue to work for all Kentuckians as I move to the senate. We know this work is very hard and we are at a pivotal time in our nation, Herron said in a news release. I will continue to speak the truths for our people, build coalitions, and find others to run for office as well. I will do it with courage, boldness, and confidence even when the days are dark.

Herron was endorsed by LPAC, an organization directed at advancing political representation of LGBTQ+ women and non-binary candidates.

In the South, Kentucky has fought to be an oasis for LGBTQ+ people, and we have Keturah Herron to thank for that, said Janelle Perez, Executive Director of LPAC. Keturah has been a champion for racial justice, gun safety and LGBTQ+ equality, and we are fortunate to have her as a leader for Kentucky. We are thrilled to see Keturah move up to the State Senate, where we know they will continue to tirelessly advocate for our community.

Herron replaces Denise Harper Angel, who was elected in 2005 and did not run for reelection.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) is projected to survive a well-funded challenge from Democrat Rebecca Cooke and win reelection in Wisconsins 3rd Congressional District.

Van Orden, who was facing his first reelection race, may be best known for being involved in an incident where he was accused of yelling at teenage Senate pages in the U.S. Capitols rotunda.

Cooke, a waitress at a made-from-scratch, farm-to-table restaurant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, had waged a high-profile challenge highlighting her longtime local ties, support for reproductive rights and even her job.

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Cooke herself reported raising and spending about $4.9 million on the race through mid-October, compared with $5.7 million for Van Orden, according to Federal Election Commission data.

Cooke was also picked for the Red to Blue program run by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee aimed at boosting competitive candidates in battleground races.

Van Orden had been slightly favored to win, as the Cook Political Report had listed the race as lean Republican, the category just above toss-up. An October poll commissioned by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee showed Cooke up by 1 percentage point, well within the margin for error. Prior to Van Ordens election in 2022, the district had been represented by Democratic moderate Ron Kind.

Van Orden generated headlines in July 2023, when a group of Senate interns, high school juniors who spend a few weeks in Washington running paperwork between senators, their offices and the Senate floor, accused him of shouting at them one evening while they were resting in the rotunda, the interior portion of the U.S. Capitols famous dome.

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Wake the f up you little s.  What the f are you all doing? Get the f out of here. You are defiling the space you [pieces of s], Van Orden reportedly told the pages, according to The Hill newspaper, which cited an account given by one of the pages.

The pages had stopped to lie on the floor and take pictures of the ceiling of the rotunda, which is crowded with tourists during the day. While Van Orden had said he was trying to get the pages to show respect for their surroundings, he received bipartisan criticism for the outburst.

See full results from the Wisconsin House election here.
Honda Reports 19.7% Profit Decline in H1, Lowers Annual Profit Forecast Amid China Sales Slump

Honda Motor Company, Ltd. (NYSE:HMC) shares are trading lower on Wednesday following a decline in the first-half profit and reduced annual profit forecast.

The company reported the first half of FY24 revenue growth of 12.4% year over year 10.798 trillion yen ($69.9 billion), while profits declined 19.7% to 494.6 billion Yen ($3.20 billion).

Automobile consolidated unit sales rose by 64,000 units, driven by strong ICE/HEV sales and the full-scale launch of EVs in North America.

However, group unit sales fell by 155,000 units, primarily due to lower sales in China.

In the motorcycle business, global sales remained robust, reaching a cumulative total of 10 million units by the end of the second quarter.

Operating profit rose 6.6% to 742.6 billion yen, with a margin of 6.9% (vs. 7.2% in the first half of FY23).

Additionally, a resolution was made at the companys board meeting to repurchase company shares, up to 100 billion yen.

Outlook: For FY25, the company reduced profit for the year attributable to owners of the parent by 50 billion yen to 950 billion yen due to lower equity method profit from reduced sales in China and decreased profit in Hondas affiliates in Japan.

On the other hand, the company raised the sales revenue forecast by 700 billion yen to 21.000 trillion yen.

Meanwhile, Honda reiterated its FY25 operating profit forecast at 1.420 trillion yen.

Price Action: HMC shares are down 9.72% at $27.36 at the last check Wednesday.

Image via Shutterstock

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Two years ago, the U.S. Senate did not have a single Black woman. And before that, only two Black women had ever served in the upper chamber of Congress.

Lisa Blunt Rochester in Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks in Maryland will change the math. They are both projected to win their races on Tuesday  making history while bringing greater representation to Congress and maintaining the Democrats hold on the seats.

This is also the first time that two Black women will serve as senators together  and they will each take seats held by White male Democrats.

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Were at a particular moment in American history where people, I think, are wanting a change, said Sydney Carr-Glenn, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the College of the Holy Cross. We have more minority voters relative to, lets say, 20 years ago. And minority voters are often going to vote on descriptive and substantive representation. Oftentimes theyre going to vote with people who not only align with their interests, but also align with them identity-wise.

Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks were two of three Black women running as Democrats for open Senate seats. Valerie McCray ran for a seat in Indiana, but struggled to compete in the Republican stronghold.

Blunt Rochester first made history in Congress eight years ago as the first Black person and woman elected to represent Delaware. She got her start interning for then-Rep. Tom Carper  the man she will succeed in the Senate. In the 1990s, she served in state government roles, as deputy secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and secretary of the Department of Labor.

Alsobrooks interned for Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and the Congressional Black Caucus early in her career and went on to become states attorney for Marylands Prince Georges County, and then county executive since 2018.

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As Black women candidates running for the same office in neighboring states, Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks have developed a friendship as aspiring sister senators. They will join the small but growing sisterhood of Black women who have held the title of U.S. senator. Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks not only have a relationship with each other, but also with Vice President Kamala Harris, who won a Senate seat in California in 2016 and Laphonza Butler, who was appointed to her Senate seat in California last year.

In a conversation with The 19th in September, Blunt Rochester spoke about the significance of having other Black women to lean on during her campaign.

Running for office can feel very isolating. You might be around a whole lot of people, but theyre not having the experience that youre having. Theres so much pressure sometimes, because you want to not make a mistake, because you know so much is on the line. So many people are counting on you. And so, the ability to have that kind of sister support means that you understand, Im not in this alone, she said.

Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks competed in very different races for the Senate, with Blunt Rochester viewed early on as the favorite to win. Alsobrooks on the other hand, defeated a wealthy millionaire in the Democratic primary and entered a tightly competitive general election race against former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who is popular among constituents. By Election Day, Alsobrooks was polling ahead of Hogan by double digits.

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Both Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester rooted their campaigns in highlighting lived experiences that are often underrepresented in the Senate. Blunt Rochester worked her way through graduate school with a young son. She divorced her first husband in the early 2000s and later remarried Charles Rochester, who died suddenly from blood clots in 2014.

Alsobrooks, for her part, was raising a daughter during each of her campaigns for states attorney, county executive and the U.S. Senate. She previously told The 19th how she had to think about things like childcare. During her Senate campaign, she was also caring for her aging parents. She touts her personal experiences and work in law enforcement as qualities that connect her with voters.

Im the only person in the race who has any experience at all in dealing with these issues. Its one thing to talk about the issue, you know, from a theoretical standpoint, about what you feel, Alsobrooks told The 19th in the spring. Its a different experience to say, I know what it means to keep communities safe, while also working not to harm our children, and also making sure that we have the appropriate justice and second chances built into the system.

Researchers and political advocates who spoke with The 19th said the victories by Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester are a powerful moment for a country where Black women candidates often struggle to secure seats in statewide elected offices. Their campaigns further debunk the myth that Black women cannot fundraise or cannot appeal to a wide variety of voters across their diverse states. Alsobrooks raised more than $28 million in her Senate campaign and outraised Hogan by nearly $17 million, according to OpenSecrets.

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These successes are built on the foundation of others who came before them, including Cheri Beasley, who ran for Senate in North Carolina in 2022, Val Demings, who ran for Senate in Florida that same year, and Stacey Abrams, who ran for governor in Georgia twice.

Barriers still remain, however, particularly during a time when women and women of color in public office face targeted disinformation, misogyny, racism and threats against their personal safety.

In terms of policy, even though Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks are individuals who will be expected to address specific needs for their constituents, there is an opportunity for them to amplify each others perspectives, said Wendy Smooth, a political science professor at Ohio State University.

With more than one voice at the table, there is this opportunity for amplification that doesnt exist in spaces where you are the only one, Smooth said. Studies have shown that people are more likely to hear the voices of those who are underrepresented in the room, if they are not the singular voice.

The post For the first time, the U.S. Senate will have two Black women appeared first on The 19th.

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A flood of first-time voters and hot-button issues such as abortion brought out a number of voters in Monroe County Tuesday.

Election Day 2024 began with warm temperatures, windy conditions and lines at many Monroe County polling sites.

Even before the first voters arrived, 30,625 people already had cast an in-person ballot during early voting, according to Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne, who said that was 32% of all registered voters in the county.

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More than 120 people lined up at the Family Life Worship Center on Fox Hollow Road when the polling site opened on Election Day. Inside in the lobby, 17-year-old Bloomington South student Aspen Siek was greeting voters. Although Siek is too young to vote, she was one of the high school students who served as election sheriff to get a close-up look at the voting process.

Nearly 200 voters had voted by 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 5, 2024, at Election Central on South Walnut Street, which was one of the polling sites on Election Day. By 11 a.m. nearly 45% of Monroe County registered voters had cast their ballots.

Within the first 20 minutes Tuesday, 984 voters had cast a ballot, Browne said in an email.

Sue Wanzer, a poll watcher at Bloomington High School South on Election Day, said she also had been a poll watcher for early voting. Wanzer said the early voting "was so smooth," and she expected the same on Tuesday. Voters at Bloomington South said they were anxious about the outcome of the election, especially the presidential race.

Monroe County voters line up at polls

Corey Chang, who has voted in New York and by mail-in ballots in the past, said he's voted in every presidential election since 2016. He was about 30th in line at Bloomington South on Tuesday to vote in person. He shared how important he believes voting is, saying, "We need as much information as possible as a country." Chang said voting is "how to know what the country wants."

Kurt Seiffert, inspector at the Bloomington High School South polling location, talks with clerks after the polls opened on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

At Election Central in downtown Bloomington, which had been the site for early voting, polling clerks said they were seeing many young voters cast ballots.

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"I have never seen so many young people. It's awesome," said polling clerk Janice Bizzari, who has worked polls on Election Day for almost a decade.

Youth, old enough to vote and not, participate in election

One of those young voters was 18-year-old Ansel Trinidad, who was voting for the first time. Trinidad said voting was more seamless than he expected.

"It was easy. It didn't take nearly as long as I'd expect," he said.

After being trained for Election Day, some high school students from Lighthouse Christian Academy were randomly placed at polling sites throughout the county. Elizabeth Sympson, a senior, was one of the sheriffs directing voters as they entered the polling site at Bloomington High School South. She said working the polls was "interesting."

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First-time voter Katherine Goodman, 18, said she felt compelled to vote, especially because a lot of voters and candidates are older.

It just feels important to be able to have my voice heard, she said.

Goodman said it also felt important for her to vote for Kamala Harris, because she would be the first woman president. Goodman said issues such as abortion and bodily autonomy were particularly important to her.

While she voted for Harris, Goodman said she disagreed with some of Harris positions and it almost felt as though she had to vote for the least objectionable candidate.

She said the registration and voting process went smoothly.

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It was super easy, she said.

Four polling sites  Eastview Church of the Nazarene, St. Johns Catholic Church, Ellettsville Christian Center and Grandview Elementary School  each had more than 1,000 voters on Election Day.

More than 1,100 people had voted by 3:30 p.m. at Eastview church.

Worst problem: Running out of stickers

Polling site inspector Eva Csejtey said traffic had been steady since morning, with a slight lull during lunch. A line of 24 voters had formed before voting began at 6 a.m., she said, and one voter arrived at 5 a.m.

Csejtey said voting ran smoothly, with voters biggest complaint being that the site ran out of I voted stickers  though poll workers got another batch of stickers to keep voters happy.

"I Voted Today!" stickers.

She said she had to turn away a few would-be voters because they failed to register on time or at all.

Presidential race drives turnout

Many voters who cast ballots said the presidential race held special importance for them.

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Michael Nugent, 32, made voting a family affair and came to the polling site with his wife and the couples three children.

Nugent did not want to say for whom he voted but said he followed the presidential race most closely, even though he was not super excited about it.

He said he voted only in the presidential election because he moved to Monroe County just two months ago from Utah, though he previously lived in San Francisco, so has lived in very conservative and very liberal areas.

Nugent said lots of issues weighed on his mind as he cast his vote, including abortion, the peaceful transfer of power, immigration and the economy.

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Nugent said abortion should happen only in certain circumstances, which was a mark against Harris, though Nugent also said he disliked how Trump handled the outcome of the last election and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

(On) the economy, I really dont like either of their stances, he said.

As a free trade supporter, Nugent said he did not like Trumps tariff plans, though Nugent said he also disliked Harris tax policies.

This was a tough one for me, he said.

Jennie Piorkowski, a 31-year-old special education teacher at Rogers Elementary School, said her occupation made her excited to vote for Harris and Tim Walz, an educator, and for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick, a former superintendent of public instruction.

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Piorkowski said her vote for Harris/Walz also reflected the importance of protecting womens rights, especially reproductive rights.

I honestly mostly came out to vote for the president and the governor, she said.

Jonathan Leslie, an economist, said he, too, voted only in the presidential race, in part because he is moving to Washington, D.C.

He said his vote was guided in part by his occupation, and he said the degree of tax cuts and tariff increases planned by the Trump campaign were unwise.

Leslie said he also wanted to vote in the race to express his disappointment with the degeneration of the national political discourse.

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In this particular election, as it has been in the past couple elections, a major motivating factor for me has been just kind of  the tenor of political discourse and the rhetoric being used, and deterioration of different norms that are  very valuable to me, he said.

Watch parties

Chair of the Democratic Party of Monroe County David Henry talks with attendees at the John Waldron Art Center during the party's election gathering on Nov. 5, 2024.

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Democrats gathered for a watch party at the Waldron Arts Center, with candidates including Jody Madeira, who won the race for county commissioner, as well as party leaders, such as Mayor Kerry Thomson, in attendance.

David Henry, chair of the Monroe County Democrats, said high turnout locally likely was a result, at least in part, because of competitive races for Indiana governor and U.S. president.

But he also lauded local advocacy groups, such as Monroe County Education Association, which strongly campaigned for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick, and other organizations that promote women's rights.

"There's a lot of concern about the future of public education in Indiana and how we're paying for it, and our side has definitely put out a business case that public education matters," Henry said.

"I do think that decisions in the state of Indiana about women's reproductive rights are on the ballot," he said. "I do think that we are seeing that turnout based on the reaction to decisions made by the Statehouse super majority of the Republicans over the past years."

Henry's Republican counterpart, Bill Ellis, too, said abortion drove some voters to the polls.

Chair of the Republican Party of Monroe County Bill Ellis watches results on a laptop during the Republican Party's election gathering at Hoosier Hank's on Nov. 5, 2024.

"Abortion, with Democrats, it's a reproductive rights issue. With Republicans, it's a human rights issue, and we can't seem to be able to communicate well with each other's side on this," he said at the watch party for Monroe County Republicans at Hoosier Hank's on Bloomington's east side.

"What concerns me long term, for not just Monroe County but the country, I don't know how this situation is going to come to a happy medium, because both sides seem to think the other is operating in bad faith ... We're taking away women's rights when Republicans (are) saying, 'Well, what about the rights of the child?'

"And I do think ... both sides of this are coming from an honest point of view, but they won't even accept that the other side is legit in their point of view, and I think that's a point of friction."

However, Ellis said, Republicans this year were driven to the polls primarily by economic issues.

Reporters Brian Rosenzweig and Laura Lane contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Election Day 2024 saw a steady stream of voters in Monroe County.
Congress will see its first openly transgender member with the election of Sarah McBride to Delawares single seat in the House of Representatives.

Ms McBride, a former state senator, easily defeated her Republican opponent, the former state trooper John Whalen, in the blue state.

The 34 year-old is a close friend of the Biden family and is credited with helping shape the US presidents stance on LGBTQ issues.

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She previously worked for Mr Bidens late son, Beau Biden, when he was running to be attorney general in his home state.

The president also wrote the foreword to Ms McBrides 2018 memoir, Tomorrow Will Be Different.

Although Ms McBride did not lean on the historic nature of her run, she campaigned on a theme of respect for all.

I didnt run to make history

Tonight is a testament to Delawareans that we have shown time and time again that in this state of neighbours, we judge candidates based on their ideas and not their identities, Ms McBride said in her victory speech.

I didnt run to make history. I ran to make a difference for my state and this country, she added.

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I think this is a powerful message that Delawareans are fair-minded and that our democracy is big enough for all of us.

Ms McBride has an established national profile as an LGBTQ activist and became the first openly transgender person to address a major party convention when she delivered a speech at the DNC in 2016.

She raised more than $3 million (2.3 millioon) in campaign contributions from around the country for her bid to enter Congress.

Delawares sole seat in the House was vacated by Lisa Blunt Rochester, who ran to replace the retiring Democratic senator Tom Carper in the state.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The first polls have closed in the razor-close presidential contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, but it could be days before a winner is declared as voters continued to line up in states across the United States to cast their ballots.

Voting ended at 6 pm (2300 GMT) at some polling places in the states of Indiana and Kentucky. In other parts of the two states, both of which former Republican president Trump is expected to win, residents have an hour longer to vote.

For months, the two candidates' campaigns have focused on the seven swing states that will almost surely decide the election: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

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The first wave of statewide poll closures takes place at 7 pm, including Georgia. Trump won the southern state in 2016, but Joe Biden flipped it in 2020, with Vice President Harris hoping to retain the state for Democrats.

Both Harris and Trump are battling to find a path to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. Trump could hit the magic number by picking up Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Harris, on the other hand, could lose Georgia and its 16 electoral votes if she wins Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin - three hard-fought battleground states where polls show tight races.

Both candidates projected confidence of victory on Election Day.

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Trump will spend Tuesday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. Harris, meanwhile, said she will have dinner with family at her Washington residence before joining an election watch party at nearby Howard University, the historically black college she attended.

Voters are also electing a new Congress. Control of both chambers is at stake, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives up for grabs and about a third of the 100 seats in the Senate.

Republicans are favoured to win the Senate back from Democrats. The fight for the House, which is currently controlled by Republicans, is seen as neck-and-neck.

People cast their ballots inside a polling station during the 2024 US Presidential election. Probal Rashid/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  State Rep. John Fitzgerald, a Democrat, will hold his seat in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Fitzgerald defeated Republican Tommy Brann, a restaurant owner and former state representative, in Tuesdays election. Fitzgerald earned about 53% of the vote and Brann about 47%.

Inside woodtv.com: Election results

The 83rd House District covers a portion of southwestern Kent County, including part of the city of Wyoming.

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The race was among about six around the state that were expected to help determine the balance of power in the Michigan House of Representatives. Democrats have controlled the House since 2022, but their majority is currently only two seats.

Election Day: Michigan goes to polls in tight presidential race

Democrats will hold on to their slim majority in the Michigan Senate  none of those seats were up for election this time around. The next time Michigan will vote for state senators is 2026.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, (R-1st District). (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1st District) was elected to a fifth term in Congress, according to unofficial results, defeating Democrat Ashley Ehasz for the second consecutive election.

Fitzpatricks victory in suburban Philadelphia could help Republicans maintain a majority in the U.S. House. Hes the only Republican member of the states Congressional delegation to represent a district that Democrat Joe Biden won in 2020 over Donald Trump.

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As he has in previous campaigns, Fitzpatrick kept his distance from Trump, who is once again the Republican Partys candidate for president and didnt announce who he was supporting for president during the campaign. The Associated Press called the race for Fitzpatrick at 1:23 a.m.

Fitzpatrick outraised Ehasz for most of the campaign, although the Democrat raised more than the incumbent in Q3. National ratings outlets ahead of the election rated the race as Likely Republican.
Results are in for Macon-Bibb County races for state House representatives after all precincts reported to the Georgia secretary of state.

Ten candidates were in the running across the five seats, including incumbents and new faces. Here are the winning legislators representing Middle Georgia.

District 142

Macon native and incumbent District 142 Rep. Miriam Paris (D) will go on to serve her eighth year in the role. Paris held an advantage of about 20% with 90% of the vote in Wednesday morning.

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Most bills she endorsed in the past year expanded educational resources for low income individuals, and bolstered medical access for women.

Paris was previously elected to the state Senate in 2011 and was the president of Macon City Council.

District 143

After serving in multiple Bibb County boards and committees such as the Macon Water Authority, Anissa Jones (D) won over District 143 voters as their new state house representative. Jones held an advantage of more than 23% with 94% of votes counted Wednesday morning.

Jones is confident in her comprehensive understanding of local issues that address climate change and support health care professionals, even in the most remote areas of our district, she told The Telegraph.

District 144

Conservative businessman and incumbent District 144 Rep. Dale Washburn (R) has secured his third term in the role. Washburn had an advantage of more than 40% with 79% of votes counted Wednesday morning.

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With over 45 years of experience in real estate, Washburn has passed bills that give more rights and less taxation of private property owners.

Washburn also believes in decreasing abortion access and increasing access to guns, according to his campaign website.

District 145

Tangie Herring (D), a public school teacher of around 30 years, will represent the recently created state House District 145, which covers parts of a handful of Middle Georgia counties including Bibb. Data from the Georgia Secretary of States office showed Herring had a lead of about 1% with all precincts in the district reporting early Wednesday morning.

Herring has been a driving force behind revitalization efforts in Macon and Atlanta, especially for low income and marginalized communities with her youth-centered organization, the Y Not Us Foundation.

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Long-term, my vision is to address economic disparities by increasing access to job training, healthcare and affordable housing, Herring told The Telegraph.

Republican candidate Noah Harbuck told The Telegraph he would call for a recount if hes confirmed to have lost when votes are finalized.

Its not going to be a hopeful recount, Harbuck said Wednesday. Its just something we have to do because of how close it was.

The deadline for Macon-Bibb Countys Board of Elections to certify results is Tuesday, Nov. 12. Candidates can request a recount within two days after results are certified.

District 149

Floyd Griffin (D) secured a win over one-term incumbent Ken Vance (R) as the new representative for state House District 149. Griffin had a vote advantage of about 11% with 88% of votes in Wednesday morning.

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Among Griffins top three priorities of improving quality healthcare, education and public safety, he would also back bills that support reproductive rights and survivors or domestic violence.

As a son of entrepreneurs who uplifted Black families in Middle Georgia, Griffin told The Telegraph he will lean on his parents priorities to enhance equitable and inclusive opportunities for all residents regardless of race or class.
Despite millions of dollars poured into ads and other voter outreach, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have protected abortion access in Florida failed Tuesday.

Amendment 4, backed by a coalition of groups supporting abortion access, received about 57% of the vote, short of the necessary 60% to pass.

The amendment was opposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who leaned on the power of state government to fight it. Its failure means that the states ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, which DeSantis signed into law last year, will continue.

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Heres what to know about abortion in Florida after Amendment 4 failed.

What is Floridas abortion law?

Florida law bans the vast majority of abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

Critics say that is before many women know they are pregnant. Weeks of pregnancy are generally calculated based on the first day of the pregnant womans last menstrual cycle. By the time a woman may have a missed period, she would already be considered about four weeks along.

Women seeking an abortion must have an in-person consultation at least 24 hours before the procedure. State law prohibits abortion medication from being mailed.

What about exceptions?

Victims of rape, incest or human trafficking can get an abortion up to 15 weeks. But a woman must provide some kind of documentation, like a police report, medical record or court order.

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Florida also has exceptions to allow for abortions later into pregnancy to save the life or health of the mother. Two physicians need to sign off and say that an abortion is necessary to save a pregnant womans life or avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. Only one physician needs to sign off if it is an emergency.

A woman can also access an abortion for a fatal fetal abnormality if two physicians sign off, so long as the pregnancy has not entered the third trimester.

Why do Amendment 4 proponents say Floridas exceptions dont work?

The Amendment 4 campaign has called Floridas current exceptions unworkable. They ran advertisements with a doctor who said the states abortion ban forces physicians to wait until women are on the brink of death to access an abortion.

They also ran ads featuring women like Anya Cook, a South Florida woman who ended up in intensive care and was denied an abortion after her water broke at 16 weeks, and Deborah Dorbert, a woman who had to carry her fetus to term despite knowing he would die shortly after birth.

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Floridas law makes it a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, for any person who performs an abortion in violation of the law. Doctors have said working with the threat of criminal prosecution makes it harder to act swiftly.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the campaigns assertions about the health exceptions not working are false and said if a doctor did not provide care, it would be malpractice.

Can minors get an abortion?

Floridians under 18 need notarized parental consent to get an abortion.

Minors seeking an abortion can get one without their parents permission if they petition a judge. The judge must determine that the minor is sufficiently mature to choose an abortion, weighing things like age, emotional development and ability to accept responsibility.

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Judges are supposed to rule on a waiver within three business days after a petition is filed, and if they deny the abortion, the minor can appeal. The appellate court must then rule within seven days.

What about the Amendment 4 lawsuits?

In the lead-up to Election Day, both the Amendment 4 campaign and opponents filed a flurry of lawsuits.

In one lawsuit, the campaign behind Amendment 4 sued the Florida surgeon general after the state health department sent letters to TV stations that threatened criminal prosecution if they didnt stop airing a pro-Amendment 4 ad.

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the state in that case, saying officials were the First Amendment. That order is set to expire on Nov. 12, after the election, and it will be up to the judge to determine whether the issue is moot after Election Day.

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Other lawsuits, filed by a group of anti-abortion activists, sought to remove Amendment 4 from the ballot or nullify it after the election because of alleged fraud. Those lawsuits leaned on a report from the DeSantis administration that said there was widespread fraud in the petition-gathering process.

The lawsuits were financially supported by an unnamed donor, and the plaintiffs are being represented by the former Florida Supreme Court justice Alan Lawson. Ahead of Election Day, Lawson said that if Amendment 4 failed, their case was moot and they would dismiss all of the lawsuits.

Can abortion access groups try again?

Groups in support of abortion access could come back and try to pass another amendment in another election cycle.

But it wont be easy.

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Florida lawmakers have made the ballot initiative process more difficult and expensive in the last few years, and DeSantis administration seems poised to make more changes that could again make the process harder to navigate.

  
CHANDAN KHANNA/Getty Images

On Election Night, Floridians voted by a majority to overturn its six-week ban on abortion and restore reproductive rights. But it didnt matter.

The Florida abortion measure, Amendment 4, which would have allowed abortion up to the point of fetal viability, lost anyway. The final tally was 57 percent yes to 43 percent no. The result effectively means that a minority of voters decided the states future on the issue, and gave the state the distinction of becoming the first to have an abortion ballot measure fail post-Dobbs.

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Confusing, I know. Youd think that an obvious and decisive percentage split like that would be a clear message on what voters wanted. But because the Florida abortion measure was an amendment to the state constitution, it needed a 60 percent threshold of votes to pass. This statute requiring a higher majority passed in 2006, ironically with just under 58 percent of the vote. Another proposed amendment, which would have legalized marijuana, also won the popular majority on Tuesday night but failed because of the threshold.

The amendments failure means that the states Heartbeat Protection Act will stay the law of the land. The act prohibits abortion once the unborn child has a detectable heartbeat, or around six weeks gestation, and went into effect in April of this year. There is an exception for rape and incest but only until 15 weeks gestation, and in a particularly cruel twist on the exception, women must show documentation of their assault to get one.

For activists, the loss was an infuriating but, they hope, temporary blow. Governor Ron DeSantis had campaigned hard against the measure, and declared victory soon after polls closed at 8 p.m. But the Yes on 4 Florida Campaign said in a statement that the majority split in the vote shows that Floridians actually do not want the ban his administration enacted.

Tonight, Floridians made their voices heard loud and clear, demanding an end to the states restrictive six-week abortion ban, they said.

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They called on the states lawmakers to make the will of the people heard.

Without immediate action from the legislature, Floridians will remain under a six-week banone that impacts countless women before they may even realize theyre pregnant, they said.

The amendments disheartening loss though, resonated not only with Floridians, but nationally among women. As confusion turned to anger, many found an allegory for the way they feel the will of the minority on abortion rights is being imposed on all American women.

The abortion rights measure in Florida lost with 57% of the vote and 1.5 million more votes than the opposition, said abortion rights reporter Jessica Valenti on X. And for what its worth: Amendment 4 got a million more votes than Ron DeSantis did in 2022.

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In a cruel but somewhat unsurprising reality, the Florida abortion vote shook out not too far off from the current sentiment on abortion rights in the US as a whole. Currently, 63% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in most and all cases, with 36% saying it should be illegal in most or all cases.

Its really not in question: The majority of Americans believe abortion should be legal. Yet we lost our federally protected rights in 2022 with the fall of Roe. v Wade. Now more than half of the states in the US have enacted legislation on reproductive rights that the Guttmacher Institute calls restrictive, ranging from nearly total bans on abortion to laws that make obtaining one cumbersome or difficult in one way or another.

In more than a dozen states, women cannot end a pregnancy after six weeks gestation, just two weeks after missing their period and before many women even realize they are expecting. And in many of these same states, it doesnt matter if you are a woman who is pregnant as a result of rape or if you are having a miscarriage or bleeding heavily, but your baby still has a heartbeat, or if you are an excited mother-to-be who finds out at your 20-week appointment that your baby will die.

In this way, the Florida result serves as an infuriatingly familiar allegory for the state of abortion rights in this country. A minority who does not believe in safe, legal abortions and reproductive rights for women is imposing their will on the majority who does. And with the second Trump presidency looming, things certainly do not look like they are going to change any time soon.

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As one woman on X said in response to the polling numbers, it's something all of us have felt before.

This entire image is actually a metaphor for what it's like to be a woman, she wrote.

Originally Appeared on Glamour

Abortion After Roe
Tessolve has acquired Dream Chip Technologies, a German semiconductor chip design firm, for up to Rs4bn ($47.4m).

The Indian semiconductor engineering company expects the deal to bolster its system on chip (SoC) design capabilities, particularly in the AI, automotive, data centre, and industrial sectors.

The acquisition not only enhances Tessolve's design prowess but also expands its European footprint, adding four delivery sites across Germany and the Netherlands.

This includes a specialised advanced driver assistance systems and imaging centre-of-excellence lab, positioning Tessolve among a select group of design companies worldwide capable of delivering turnkey design solutions for complex cutting-edge chips.

Dream Chip Technologies brings to Tessolve advanced chip architecture and front-end design capabilities.

This integration is expected to provide a critical "time to market" advantage and "operational excellence" to customers.

Tessolve co-founder and CEO Srini Chinamilli said: This acquisition solidifies our position as a top-tier semiconductor engineering firm globally with unmatched design to productisation capabilities.

Dream Chips capabilities further strengthen our ability to take on leading-edge ASIC design projects and greatly enhance our European footprint, he added.

Dream Chip Technologies CEO Jens Benndorf said: We are excited to join forces with Tessolve and bring our expertise in digital chip design and embedded software to a global platform.

By combining our design capabilities and IP with Tessolves established semiconductor services and embedded solutions, we can offer our customers a truly end-to-end solution from chip architecture to post-silicon test and supply chain management for their most complex designs.

Together, we will push the boundaries of innovation in automotive and enterprise designs, particularly in camera-based systems and AI-driven ASIC applications, he added.

"Indias Tessolve snaps up Dream Chip Technologies" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.




(Bloomberg) -- A ballot measure that will protect abortion access in Arizona has succeeded, according to ABC and NBC, a win in a state considered among the most restrictive for reproductive rights in the US.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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Arizona is one of 10 states where voters had a direct say on abortion rights this election through local ballot measures, the most in any cycle since at least 1970, according to Ballotpedia. The state will have to amend its constitution to establish a right to abortion and prohibit interference before fetal viability  or after viability, if a doctor determines the mothers life or health is threatened.

A separate ballot measure to limit abortion access in Nebraska won by a slim margin, according to the Associated Press. The state, which had two competing ballot measures on the issue, saw 54.1% of voters elect to prohibit abortion after the first trimester.

Pro-abortion rights ballot measures in Colorado, New York and Maryland, three states seen as protective of reproductive rights, have also won, the AP said. Voters in Missouri too passed a constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to abortion  the first time that has happened in a state with a total ban. Terminations are completely banned in Missouri, with limited exceptions.

Closely-watched

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Earlier Tuesday, a separate ballot measure to expand access to abortion in Florida failed even after garnering 57% support. The threshold for approval was 60%. The measure, known as Amendment 4, would have changed the state constitution to provide a right to abortion before fetal viability.

Florida was one of the most closely-watched after the state enacted a six-week abortion ban in May, making it among the most restrictive places for access in the country, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that backs reproductive rights.

Nancy Northup, president and chief executive officer of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which backs abortion rights, said that the vote will leave the southeastern US as an abortion desert.

Like so many Americans, Floridians are living under an abortion ban they didnt ask for and dont want, Northup said in an email.

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Meanwhile, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America welcomed the result in a statement Tuesday. The demise of pro-abortion Amendment 4 is a momentous victory for life in Florida and for our entire country.

Ballot measures, either initiated by citizens or state legislatures, have become a common tool in shoring up abortion rights since the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned two years ago. The Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision eliminated the constitutional right to abortion at the federal level but didnt preclude states from granting that protection to its own residents.

As of October, abortion rights supporters had raised $160 million for these measures, about six times more than their opponents, according to the AP.

In 2022 and 2023, residents in seven states including Ohio, Kentucky and Kansas voted on reproductive health-care measures. All ended in wins for abortion rights.

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Abortion has also been a key theme in this years presidential race. Even before Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Kamala Harris was at the forefront of the Democratic Partys messaging on the issue. Harris repeatedly blamed Donald Trump for the proliferation of restrictions since the Dobbs decision. Trump, who appointed three justices to the Supreme Court that overturned Roe, has repeatedly shifted his messaging on reproductive rights.

In October, after previously dodging the question, he committed to vetoing a federal abortion ban.

(Adds additional state results, quotes starting third paragraph)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
An effort to legalize the use of recreational marijuana in Florida has failed at the ballot box, NBC News projects.

Despite endorsements running the gamut from the Florida Democratic Party to former President Donald Trump, Amendment 3, which would have legalized the recreational use and manufacturing of marijuana in the state, failed to get the 60% voter support needed to pass a state constitutional amendment.

State law currently allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes if a doctor deems it necessary during the course of treatment for illnesses such as glaucoma, cancer and epilepsy. Florida voters expanded eligibility for medical use in a successful 2016 statewide vote.

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For the foreseeable future, however, recreational use of the drug will remain illegal in Florida.

The amendments downfall is a success for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a vocal opponent of the measure. In press conferences and media interviews, the Republican governor warned voters against approving the measure.

In an appearance on Fox News with prominent conservative media personality Sean Hannity in May, for example, DeSantis cautioned voters against supporting Amendment 3, saying he thought legalization would come with a high potential for public nuisance.

It would be everywhere. The state would smell like it. We dont need that in Florida, DeSantis said of the drug, also urging voters to reject Amendment 4, which would enshrine Roe-era reproductive health protections in the Florida Constitution.

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Trump, for his part, became a public supporter of the measure despite DeSantis strong opposition.

A Florida voter himself, Trump signaled his support in September, with the caveat that the nascent industry must have smart regulations.

As a Floridian, I will be voting YES on Amendment 3 this November, the former president wrote in a post on his social media site Truth Social.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(Reuters) -Voters approved most of the referendums expanding the right to abortion in U.S. states on Tuesday, while Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota rejected such measures, giving anti-abortion advocates their first victories since the U.S. Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to the procedure in 2022.

A proposal to amend Florida's state constitution to guarantee abortion rights fell short of the 60% vote threshold needed to pass, Edison Research projected on Tuesday.

In Nebraska, voters faced two opposing ballot measures. They approved one enshrining the state's current 12-week ban, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, The Associated Press projected. At the same time they rejected a measure that would have added the right to access abortions to the state constitution, the AP projected.

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South Dakota voters rejected a proposed amendment that would have guaranteed abortion rights in the state constitution, the Associated Press projected. Abortion is presently banned in South Dakota, with few exceptions.

Edison projected abortion rights measures would pass in Arizona, Missouri, Nevada, Colorado, New York, Maryland and Montana.

The Missouri ballot measure was a notable win, marking the first time that voters in a state enforcing a total abortion ban approved a constitutional amendment that will guarantee abortion rights through fetal viability. The measure's passage will not automatically void the state's ban, but abortion rights advocates now expect they will win a legal battle to restore abortion rights within months.

Before Tuesday, seven states had put the issue of abortion rights directly to voters following the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. Abortion rights campaigns had won all of those elections.

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Edison Research said the Florida measure was approved by 57% of voters with 95% of votes counted. Since it failed to meet the 60% threshold, a ban on abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy that came into affect in May will stand.

Florida's ban after the sixth week has few exceptions.

Anti-abortion advocate Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, called Florida's result "a momentous victory." Her group also celebrated the results in Nebraska and South Dakota, and thanked politicians such as South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen.

Anna Hochkammer, director of Florida Women's Freedom Coalition, which backed that state's measure, noted that 57% still represented a majority of voters.

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"The fight goes on because the women and girls of Florida continue to suffer," she said.

The Democratic Party's presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, had sought to build support for Tuesday's ballot measures that propose amending state constitutions to enshrine a right to abortion.

Democrats have blamed the Republican Party, led by former President Donald Trump, for the abortion bans that many of the measures sought to void. More than a dozen states banned abortion in all or most cases after the Supreme Court - with a Trump-appointed conservative majority - gutted the federal right to abortion.

Trump, a Florida resident, had said he would vote against the ballot measure, after initially appearing to suggest he would vote in favor.

(Reporting by Gabriella Borter, Donna Bryson and Daniel Trotta; editing by Deepa Babington and Jonathan Oatis)
TALLAHASSEE  Florida Democrats saw their hopes dashed Tuesday night when their Central Florida-centered efforts to break the GOP supermajority in the state House fell apart despite thousands of hours and millions of dollars spent trying to flip seats from red to blue.

Not only that, they lost a seat they narrowly gained in a special election in January.

The only targeted seat they won in 2024 was held by Rep. Carolina Amesty, who faced felony charges as she sought reelection. In the end, the House maintained the status quo with 85 Republicans and 35 Democrats. Democrats also failed to gain any Senate seats, so the GOP retains a supermajority there, too, with 28 of the chambers 40 seats.

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The seats Democrats hoped to win were mostly around Orlando and some of the bluer regions of the state. Republicans won them in 2022, but past presidential election results and current voter registration numbers suggested there were opportunities for Democrats to gain ground. . They didnt, nor did they win seats in South Florida held by vulnerable GOP lawmakers.

In the end, their theory didnt pan out, said Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida. It wasnt for a lack of effort.

Daniel Smith, head of the political science department at the University of Florida, blamed an enthusiasm gap, noting far more GOP voters cast ballots and turned out at a higher rate. For example, 57% of registered Republicans voted early or by mail in Orange County compared to 53% of registered Democrats.

There was a sizeable turnout gap going into Election Day, and it didnt close on Election Day, Smith said. There was a lack of enthusiasm for what Democrats are offering.

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That appears to be the case across the nation, with voters sending former President Donald Trump back to the White House in a huge victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, who failed to post the kind of numbers that President Biden had in 2020 both nationally and in Florida.

Florida Republicans, who already had 1 million more registered voters than Democrats, gave Trump a 13% margin of victory over Harris.

Nearly 11 million of the states 13.94 million registered voters, or more than 78%, cast ballots this election, with Republicans leading Democrats by more than 1.3 million  which means hundreds of thousands of registered Democrats stayed home.

Smith found turnout among Black and Hispanic Democrats in Central Florida to be depressed, similar to 2022.

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Its definitely the messaging and what Democrats are offering that doesnt seem to offset what Republicans seem to be providing, Smith said.

Democrats challenged six state lawmakers in Central Florida, but GOP Reps. Doug Bankson, Rachel Plakon, Susan Plasencia, David Smith and Paula Stark all were reelected.

Democrat Leonard Spencer narrowly defeated Amesty, a Windermere-area Republican, by 1.68 percentage points to win the District 45 seat Amesty held since 2022. She faces several felony forgery charges stemming from a document she signed for her familys private college.

Democrats would have struck out if not for her legal and ethical issues, Jewett said. She did not get much support from her party and had negative name recognition and still lost by a slim margin.

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Some of the races were close. Plasencia beat Democrat newcomer Nate Douglas by less than a percentage point to hold onto District 37, which encompasses the University of Central Florida. Likewise, Smith narrowly defeated Sarah Henry in District 38 by less than a percentage point. Stark beat Maria Revelle by 2 percentage points to hold onto District 47.

But Plakon hung onto District 36 and Bankson kept District 39 by comfortable margins.

Democrats invested over $200,000 into reelecting Tom Keen, who beat Republican Erika Booth in a special election in January. He outspent Booth this time around, but she won the seat that takes in parts of east Orange County and east Osceola County 53% to 47%.

Four of the districts lean Democratic by voter registration while the other three hold narrow Republican majorities. President Joe Biden won all seven districts in 2020.

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The increase in Republican voters and enthusiasm for Trump extended his coattails down ballot to those state races, Jewett said. And Trump was popular with people who arent aligned with any party, he added.

A red wave in 2022 helped the GOP win those Central Florida House seats and several South Florida House seats that had been held by Democrats, mostly due to a collapse of Democratic voter turnout, a surge in Republican voter registration numbers and record spending.

Those gains gave the GOP a supermajority and the power to control an agenda pushed largely by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

That allowed Republicans to waive rules governing lawmaking, shut down floor debates and push through conservative ballot initiatives and public records exemptions that require a two-thirds vote.

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Regaining just five seats in 2024 would have given Democrats some more leverage in the legislative process, but votes did not go their way.

Democrats, theyre in a pretty sad state, Jewett said. There is not much lower they can drop.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Florida Democrats saw their hopes dashed Tuesday night when their Central Florida-centered efforts to break the GOP supermajority in the state House fell apart despite thousands of hours and millions of dollars spent trying to flip seats from red to blue.

Not only that, they lost a seat they narrowly gained in a special election in January.

The only targeted seat they won in 2024 was held by Rep. Carolina Amesty, who faced felony charges as she sought reelection. In the end, the House maintained the status quo with 85 Republicans and 35 Democrats. Democrats also failed to gain any Senate seats, so the GOP retains a supermajority there, too, with 28 of the chambers 40 seats.

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The seats Democrats hoped to win were mostly around Orlando and some of the bluer regions of the state. Republicans won them in 2022, but past presidential election results and current voter registration numbers suggested there were opportunities for Democrats to gain ground. They didnt, nor did they win seats in South Florida held by vulnerable GOP lawmakers.

In the end, their theory didnt pan out, said Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida. It wasnt for a lack of effort.

Daniel Smith, head of the political science department at the University of Florida, blamed an enthusiasm gap, noting far more GOP voters cast ballots and turned out at a higher rate.

There was a sizable turnout gap going into Election Day, and it didnt close on Election Day, Smith said. There was a lack of enthusiasm for what Democrats are offering.

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That appears to be the case across the nation, with voters sending former President Donald Trump back to the White House in a huge victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, who failed to post the kind of numbers that President Biden had in 2020 both nationally and in Florida.

Florida Republicans, who already had 1 million more registered voters than Democrats, gave Trump a 13% margin of victory over Harris.

Nearly 11 million of the states 13.94 million registered voters, or more than 78%, cast ballots this election, with Republicans leading Democrats by more than 1.3 million  which means hundreds of thousands of registered Democrats stayed home.

Smith found turnout among Black and Hispanic Democrats in Central Florida to be depressed, similar to 2022.

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Its definitely the messaging and what Democrats are offering that doesnt seem to offset what Republicans seem to be providing, Smith said.

Democrats challenged six state lawmakers in Central Florida, but GOP Reps. Doug Bankson, Rachel Plakon, Susan Plasencia, David Smith and Paula Stark all were reelected.

Democrat Leonard Spencer narrowly defeated Amesty, a Windermere-area Republican, by 1.68 percentage points to win the District 45 seat Amesty held since 2022. She faces several felony forgery charges stemming from a document she signed for her familys private college.

Democrats would have struck out if not for her legal and ethical issues, Jewett said. She did not get much support from her party and had negative name recognition and still lost by a slim margin.

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Some of the races were close. Plasencia beat Democrat newcomer Nate Douglas by less than a percentage point to hold onto District 37, which encompasses the University of Central Florida. Likewise, Smith narrowly defeated Sarah Henry in District 38 by less than a percentage point. Stark beat Maria Revelle by 2 percentage points to hold on to District 47.

But Plakon hung onto District 36 and Bankson kept District 39 by comfortable margins.

Democrats invested over $200,000 into reelecting Tom Keen, who beat Republican Erika Booth in a special election in January. He outspent Booth this time around, but she won the seat that takes in parts of east Orange County and east Osceola County 53% to 47%.

Four of the districts lean Democratic by voter registration while the other three hold narrow Republican majorities. President Joe Biden won all seven districts in 2020.

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The increase in Republican voters and enthusiasm for Trump extended his coattails down ballot to those state races, Jewett said. And Trump was popular with people who arent aligned with any party, he added.

A red wave in 2022 helped the GOP win those Central Florida House seats and several South Florida House seats that had been held by Democrats, mostly due to a collapse of Democratic voter turnout, a surge in Republican voter registration numbers and record spending.

Those gains gave the GOP a supermajority and the power to control an agenda pushed largely by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

That allowed Republicans to waive rules governing lawmaking, shut down floor debates and push through conservative ballot initiatives and public records exemptions that require a two-thirds vote.

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Regaining just five seats in 2024 would have given Democrats some more leverage in the legislative process, but votes did not go their way.

Democrats, theyre in a pretty sad state, Jewett said. There is not much lower they can drop.

_____
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Its no surprise that students are pushing back on cellphone bans in classrooms. But school administrators in one South Florida county working to pull students eyes away from their screens are facing some resistance from another group as well  parents.

Since the beginning of the 2024 school year in August, students in Broward County Public Schools, the countrys sixth largest district, have been barred from using cellphones during the school day, including during lunch and breaks, unless given special permission.

The schools are some of the many across the country wrestling with how to crack down on cellphones, at a time when experts say social media use among young people is nearly universal  and that screen time is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression among kids.

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But a survey sent out by the South Florida school district earlier this fall found that of the more than 70,000 students, teachers and parents surveyed, nearly one in five parents believe the cellphone ban is having a negative impact on their students wellbeing.

Among the top concerns for the students and parents surveyed is not being able to communicate with their family members, especially in an emergency  an anxiety that cuts deep in the district thats home to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a 2018 shooting killed 17 people.

District officials have said students can use their phones during an emergency and that teachers have the flexibility to grant kids access for other reasons too.

I dont think any of us thinks kids should be on their phones during class, said Erin Gohl, a parent and advocate in the district.

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Were really talking about giving kids tools during those times when they need it, she added, including letting students use their phones for positive mental health purposes.

Officials in the Fort Lauderdale-area district have acknowledged that implementation of the policy has been inconsistent. Some teachers have struggled to monitor students phone use, and are facing the reality that for some kids, phones can be a needed tool to access online lessons and turn in assignments, especially for those who dont have a school-issued laptop. And parents have argued their students are better off with their phones, helping them coordinate afternoon pickup times or text their parents for advice about a school bully.

I dont expect students to say  or parents of high schoolers to say  right, that, they dont want their kids to have cellphones, said Howard Hepburn, Broward superintendent of schools. The expectation that were going to just have a hard stop is not reality. It takes time.

Landyn Spellberg, a student advisor to the Broward school board, said there are a lot of benefits to phones  and that the district's blanket ban isn't helping students with something many adults still struggle with: learning how to use technology in a healthy way.

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I think its important that we teach students about the negatives, he said. We dont inform students of those things.

___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Florida voters are projected to reject an effort to politicize the states public schools even further. They voted down Amendment 1, which asked Floridians if they wanted the states school board candidates to be identified by political party on ballots.

School board candidates in the state are nonpartisan, though these races have become increasingly politicized over the last several years. Floridas schools have been at the center of the conservative culture wars since parents began protesting coronavirus school-related closures and masking policies.

Florida is one of the nations leaders in book banning and censoring teachers. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, for his part, supported legislation that would restrict what teachers can say in the classroom about gender identity, sexual orientation and racism  including the Dont Say Gay law, which prohibits teachers from talking about gender identity or sexual orientation. The measure, which DeSantis signed in March 2022, sparked massive protests and a condemnation from Disney. DeSantis retaliated against the company by revoking its special tax status, and Disney subsequently sued the Florida government for violating its First Amendment rights. Both sides reached a settlement in March 2024.

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When Moms for Liberty, a far-right parental rights organization, was born in 2021, the governor quickly latched onto their so-called parental rights agenda. The group and other conservative activists quickly mobilized to install similar-minded candidates in school boards, leading to a right-wing takeover of schools.

In 2022, DeSantis endorsed 25 candidates for school board races across the state and 22 of them won. Moms for Liberty also posted big wins in that election. But this year, most of the DeSantis-backed candidates lost their races in Augustor moved on to runoffs after failing to get a majority of votes, signaling that DeSantis plot to remake the states schools was floundering.

Amendment 1 was widely seen as an effort to politicize the schools even further. Republicans said it would offer voters more transparency. Democrats, meanwhile, opposed the amendment because of the potential to disenfranchise voters. Florida is a closed primary state, meaning that voters cannot participate in partisan elections unless they are affiliated with a political party. In Florida, 30% of voters are unaffiliated, meaning millions of people would not be able to vote in school board primary races.

Amendment 1 needed to earn 60% of the vote to change the states constitution.
Preliminary election results show that voters in Florida passed the No. 2 Amendment to preserve forever the right to fish and hunt in the state. Its the 24th state to adopt such a resolution, according to the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation, as more wildlife-related ballot measures crop up across the U.S. and anti-hunters work to join wildlife commissions.

Ballot measures require 60 percent approval to pass in Florida, and voters there easily outstripped that margin with 67 percent of voters, or 6.8 million people, casting their ballots to protect hunting and fishing, according to the unofficial results posted Tuesday evening by the Florida Division of Elections. Roughly 33 percent of voters, or 3.3 million people, voted against adopting the amendment. (For comparison, roughly 1.2 million residents bought recreational fishing licenses in 2021, according to the American Sportfishing Association; about 207,000 residents bought hunting licenses that year.) Interestingly this trend bucks the urban-rural divide often seen in wildlife-based ballot measures; every single reporting county was in favor of the amendment, including the large metropolitan areas of Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville.

The ballot measure asked Floridians to vote yes or no on the following: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to preserve forever fishing and hunting, including by the use of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. Specifies that the amendment does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV of the State Constitution.

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Unsurprisingly, the amendment was vehemently opposed by anti-hunting organizations like the Humane Society of the U.S., who argued that the inclusion of traditional methods in the amendment would legalize gill net fishing, which was banned there in the 1990s. This is inaccurate, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Both our conservation and legal teams have stated that the current language proposed in Amendment 2 does not change or alter the existing net ban or the ability for it to be enforced. Traditional methods does not undo regulation, nor reset FWCs regulatory authority. Moreover, the net ban is protected by the constitution already, similar to private property rights. Nothing in Amendment 2s language affects these laws, FWC chairman Rodney Barreto said in September. The FWC maintains regulatory authority over all fish and wildlife in our state. Seasons, bag limits, methods and licensing are still in place and will continue to govern time, place and manner should Amendment 2 pass.

In other words, adopting Amendment 2 wont change any existing fishing regulations or the agencys ability to set seasons, bag limits, or methods, and sportsmen will still have to purchase fishing and hunting licenses.

A constitutionally-protected right to hunt or fish would make it substantially more difficult for attempts by the state to ban or restrict the hunting or fishing of species of animals, reads a guide to the states amendments. The measure was placed on the ballot with ready approval in the Florida legislature after it was introduced by state representative Lauren Melo. She referenced hunting and fishings economic contribution to the state and its role in funding the FWC.

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Read Next: Coloradans Likely to Vote Down a Big Cat Hunting Ban in a Massive Win for Hunters and Conservationists

Fishing is big business in Florida, with recreational fresh and saltwater fishing generating $13.8 billion annually in 2020.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.  Florida voters on Tuesday are projected to reject a pro-choice constitutional amendment that would have repealed the states six-week abortion ban and restored access to the procedure until about 24 weeks into a pregnancy.

Amendment 4, or the Right to Abortion Initiative, sought to add language to the Florida Constitution stating that no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patients health, as determined by the patients healthcare provider.

The amendment needed a supermajority 60% of the vote in order to pass, but received 57% of the vote. Its the first abortion rights amendment to fail since the fall of federal abortion protections, despite receiving support from a majority of Floridians.

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The election night watch party was filled with hundreds of supporters who started out the night excited; blaring feel-good music and passing around purple pompoms for supporters to wave around. The night had a David and Goliath feel to it  a small, but mighty group taking on Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and his extreme anti-abortion agenda. But as the night went on, supporters grew quieter, many staring at their phones watching as votes came in and support for Amendment 4 stalled out at 57%.

Lauren Brenzel, the director of the Yes On 4 campaign, took the stage around 9 p.m. ET to announce the amendments heartbreaking defeat. Several people in the room embraced each other, wiping away tears. Brenzel reminded the crowd that a majority of Floridians voted to repeal the states six-week abortion ban, and she plans to hold lawmakers accountable for their promises to repeal it.

I look forward to legislators keeping their campaign word, Brenzel said. We are mandating you to end Floridas extreme abortion ban this legislative session.

Supporters of Florida's Amendment 4 react after the amendment's defeat, during a watch party for the Yes On 4 campaign, on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. via Associated Press

The outcome is a disappointment for pro-choice advocates in the state who worked tirelessly and raised millions to get the measure on the ballot. For Floridians Protecting Freedom, the collective behind Amendment 4, the Right to Abortion Initiative involved a greater uphill battle than any other abortion rights ballot this election season, given the onslaught of attacks from Republican leadership.

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Sarah Parker, the board chair for Yes On 4, came out swinging when she spoke to the tearful crowd on Tuesday night.

This is war. This is war on our reproductive freedom. And not every battle lost is a war won. We did not lose tonight, she said.

We will continue to fight like hell ... I will be damned if we walk out of this room with a defeatist attitude, Parker continued. Eighty-four thousand patients depend on us. So tonight, hug your friends, hug your families, hug your loved ones, but you get out there tomorrow, and you let Florida know we had 57%.

DeSantis has turned Florida into one of the most extreme anti-abortion states in the country. Using taxpayer dollars, DeSantis launched a brazen assault on the pro-choice amendment months prior to Election Day. The governor traveled around the state weeks before the election hosting rallies in opposition to Amendment 4.

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The demise of pro-abortion Amendment 4 is a momentous victory for life in Florida and for our entire country, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, said in a press release on Tuesday night. Thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis, when we wake up tomorrow, babies with beating hearts will still be protected in the free state of Florida.

Floridians were out in full in the weeks ahead of Election Day. A couple dozen students at the University of Central Florida in Orlando were tabling for Amendments 3 and 4 on Monday, handing out literature about where to vote and answering questions about the ballot initiatives. The DeSantis administration also opposed Amendment 3, which seeks to legalize recreational marijuana use.

Florida House Reps. Anna Eskamani (D) and Maxwell Frost (D) joined UCFs College Democrats group on campus to get out the vote. Eskamani, who worked at Planned Parenthood for six years before she was elected to the state legislature, told HuffPost she shifted her entire get-out-the-vote campaign to fully focus on the Yes On 4 campaign in the days leading up to the election.

Jessica, a UCF sophomore and member of the College Democrats group, had been handing out literature to students every day for the last three weeks. She told HuffPost most of her conversations with other students have been simply educating them that there was a pro-choice amendment on the ballot and what it would do. Most students, she said, dont even realize theres a six-week abortion ban in place in Florida.

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Were just trying to get students to realize that its the top ticket that matters, but also yes on 3 and 4, Jessica said. Yes on 4 is a really big point because we want women to have autonomy over their bodies.

I think a lot of students really do care about reproductive rights, she added.

There were a handful of students from UCFs College Republicans group manning a table in support of Donald Trump and handing out flyers in opposition to Amendments 3 and 4. When Jessica took a mic to speak to the students passing by, encouraging them to get out and vote yes on Amendment 4 and support Harris/Walz, one of the Republican students yelled out, The election was stolen!

Other DeSantis attacks leading up to Election Day included adding a misleading fiscal impact statement alongside the pro-choice amendment. The statement was crafted by a supposedly nonpartisan committee that included a representative from the governors office and an economist from the Heritage Foundation, the ultra-conservative think tank behind Project 2025.

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The DeSantis administration also weaponized a nonpartisan government agency to launch a misinformation campaign against Amendment 4  claiming that the six-week abortion ban was designed to protect women from dangerous and unsanitary conditions. The allegation does not line up with the reality that several Florida women have made national news for having lifesaving abortion care delayed or denied under the six-week ban.

A month before the election, the Florida Health Department sent a cease-and-desist letter to several local news outlets, threatening criminal charges if the outlets continued airing an advertisement that supported Amendment 4. It was later revealed that the letter  signed by John Wilson, the general counsel to the Health Department at the time  was actually written by DeSantis attorneys. The DeSantis officials gave the document to Wilson and directed him to sign it under his name. Wilson resigned shortly after, writing in his resignation letter that a man is nothing without his conscience.

The states current six-week abortion ban, which includes vague exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the pregnant person, will stay in effect.

Related...
This coverage is made possible through Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting access. Sign up for Votebeat Texas free newsletters here.

After months of anticipation and partisan fights over election administration, voting in Texas went relatively smoothly on Election Day, with election officials reporting no major disruptions.

More than 9 million Texans cast ballots early in person or by mail, roughly half of the states 18.6 million registered voters. Two million moreo Texans cast ballots on Election Day, according to unofficial totals. The figure doesnt yet surpass the 11.3 million voters who cast ballots in 2020.

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As in every election, there were scattered problems or glitches.

Early Tuesday, vandals used spray paint to inscribe pro-Palestinian messages on a polling location in Tarrant County, but the incident didnt affect the countys ability to use the location for voting. In Dallas and Bexar counties, technical problems with equipment were reported and resolved early in the day.

Across the state, voters with disabilities struggled to find signs directing them to curbside voting, according to the Texas Civil Rights Project, a nonprofit voter advocacy group that ran an election protection hotline. Other voters said some poll workers werent familiar with a new law allowing voters with disabilities to move to the front of the line.

Other advocacy groups said theyll continue to monitor for issues that may arise in the coming weeks.

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Theres a lot that we wont find out about until later, like any problems inside the polling location, any potential issues with poll watchers. Theres still a million steps in the election process to come, said Anthony Gutierrez, executive director of Common Cause Texas. Well be watching that all the ballots that should be counted are counted, and that theres a smooth certification process.

First presidential election under new law

The mostly quiet Election Day came after a series of pitched partisan battles over how elections should be conducted in Texas.

This is the first presidential election since Gov. Greg Abbott signed a sweeping new election law, known as SB 1, in 2021. The law changed how people cast ballots by mail, expanded poll watchers access, and mandated that security measures such as video surveillance be added to the ballot counting process. Voting rights groups sued the state over dozens of the laws provisions. A federal judge has already struck down some of them, including a provision restricting voter assistance.

After two of the states largest counties, both Democratic-leaning, began efforts to send voter registration applications to residents, top state Republicans pushed back. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Travis County, arguing the effort could lead to ineligible voters, including noncitizens, to register to vote.

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Over the weekend, after the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would be sending poll observers to various states including Texas, Paxton filed a lawsuit against the agency. He argued that such monitors are not allowed inside Texas polling locations. Paxton withdrew the request after the federal agency agreed that the monitors would remain outside of the polling location and at least 100 feet away. The monitors were sent to Atascosa, Bexar, Dallas, Frio, Harris, Hays, Palo Pinto, and Waller counties.

A tense early voting period

During the states early voting period, election officials found themselves pushing back against bad information online and contending with at least one violent incident at the polls.

During the first week of early voting, a man was arrested and charged with a felony after he punched a poll worker in Bexar County, home to San Antonio. The poll worker had asked the voter to remove his hat, which showed support for former President Donald Trump. Wearing clothing showing support for a candidate or measure inside a Texas polling location is against the law.

Also during early voting, a video of a Tarrant County man who claimed a voting machine had flipped his choice for president went viral. He claimed he wanted to vote for Donald Trump, but when he double checked his printed ballot, it showed hed voted for Kamala Harris.

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Tarrant County officials said the man had made a mistake while making his choices. His ballot was spoiled so it wouldnt be tabulated, and he was permitted to cast another ballot.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said there were no errors to correct in that case, and the machines were not flipping votes. In Tarrant County, we have only had one person say their vote was flipped out of 591,885 votes cast to date, he said.

Disclosure: Common Cause has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Natalia Contreras is a reporter for Votebeat in partnership with the Texas Tribune. Contact Natalia at ncontreras@votebeat.org.

Correction, Nov. 5, 2024 at 10:36 p.m. : Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly reported where voters with disabilities had reported issues at the polls. Those reports came from voters with disabilities in counties across the state.
Key Insights

Mega First Corporation Berhad's significant private companies ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public

A total of 9 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership

Institutional ownership in Mega First Corporation Berhad is 19%

Every investor in Mega First Corporation Berhad (KLSE:MFCB) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 40% stake, private companies possess the maximum shares in the company. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Meanwhile, individual investors make up 31% of the companys shareholders.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Mega First Corporation Berhad, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Mega First Corporation Berhad

KLSE:MFCB Ownership Breakdown November 6th 2024

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Mega First Corporation Berhad?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that Mega First Corporation Berhad does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Mega First Corporation Berhad's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

KLSE:MFCB Earnings and Revenue Growth November 6th 2024

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Mega First Corporation Berhad. Rubber Thread Industries (M) Sdn. Bhd. is currently the largest shareholder, with 21% of shares outstanding. With 8.1% and 4.5% of the shares outstanding respectively, Qingdao City Construction Investment (Group) Co.,Ltd and FMR LLC are the second and third largest shareholders.

On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 9 shareholders, suggesting that the interests of the larger shareholders are balanced out to an extent by the smaller ones.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.
The former president of an evangelical get-out-the-vote nonprofit was charged Monday with multiple counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.

Jason Yates, 55, the former CEO of My Faith Votes, was charged with eight counts of possession of pornographic work involving minors under the age of 14. The charges come after a witness provided Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents in July with a hard drive that belonged to Yates and contained suspected child sexual abuse material, according to a probable cause statement obtained by HuffPost. Each charge noted that Yates has a prior conviction and is a registered predatory offender.

An attorney representing Yates declined to comment on Tuesday.

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According to the probable cause statement, the witness said they came into possession of the hard drive after a relative of Yates accidentally discovered it in his office. When the relative put the hard drive into their computer, they discovered a collection of child sexual abuse material, the probable cause statement said.

According to the statement, the contents of the hard drive included more than 100 sexually explicit images of children. The images allegedly showed children ranging in age from 5 to 11, and one file allegedly included a video approximately 17 minutes long.

Yates served for years as CEO and president of My Faith Votes, which describes itself as a nonpartisan group advocating for Christian citizens to vote in every election. The Texas-based group has collaborated with a number of influential conservative figures, including former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, and it lists former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) as a current honorary national chairman on its website.

A screenshot shows the website of the nonprofit group My Faith Votes. myfaithvotes.org

My Faith Votes did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment. The group reportedly told Religion News in an email that its board of directors separated Yates from the organization in early August.

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Earlier this year, Yates wrote an op-ed in the conservative Washington Times, urging Christians to stand against sexually deviant behavior in schools. The behavior that apparently offended Yates involved middle school students handing out Pride buttons and asking about others gender preferences at a robotics competition his son attended.

In a June press release on the My Faith Votes website announcing a video series called Think Biblically, Yates encouraged Christian voters to let their faith guide their politics on issues including gender and sexuality, abortion and socialism.

Its critical that we reject apathy and think Biblically about the issues in front of us, and this series is the ideal resource to help Christians navigate every political issue through the lens of the Word, he said.

Yates was released on Monday following his hearing. As a condition of his release, he is to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18.

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Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website.

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JACKSON, Tenn. (WKRN)  A former chief pilot with the Jackson Police Aviation Unit was indicted for theft, according to an investigation from the state Comptrollers Office.

A press release from the Tennessee Comptrollers Office determined that Terry Hopper improperly received at least nearly $29,500 in unearned wages and employer-paid benefits between May 1, 2021, and Aug. 31, 2022.

FBI speaks on plans to keep voting safe in Nashville

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Last month, a Madison County Grand Jury indicted him on one count of property theft over $10,000.

Employers should do their best to verify that employees are present at their assigned work location each day, Comptroller Jason Mumpower said in the release. Failure to do so increases the risk that errors or intentional misappropriations will occur and remain undetected.

The investigation also found that though Hopper was allowed to occasionally travel to neighboring law enforcement agencies under the pretense of training for advanced aviation certifications, he instead traveled to Millington to work for a private business.

Mt. View students get real lessons at mock election

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Investigators reviewed records, finding that the city of Jackson paid Hopper over 780 regular hours and 32 overtime hours when he was not present at his assigned work location. In all, his unearned wages totaled more than $23,000.

Further, Hopper reportedly abused vehicle privileges by fueling on days when he claimed to be working for the department but was not physically present at the hangar or any neighboring law enforcement agency.

To read the full investigative report from the Comptrollers Office, follow this link.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
GRANTSVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  More than two years after being arrested on accusations of forcible sexual abuse of a student, a former Grantsville High School teacher has pleaded guilty.

Richard Craig Harrison, 35, was originally charged with one count of first-degree felony object rape, four counts of second-degree forcible sexual abuse, and two counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

As part of his guilty plea submitted on Tuesday, Nov. 5, Harrison pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse and two counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual activity with a minor. The rest were dismissed with prejudice.

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Utah County voters appear to approve 3-way split of Alpine School District

Harrison was charged in 2022 when the victim told police she was abused during the 2017-18 school year at Grantsville High. She was 14 years old at the time of the abuse.

The victim told detectives that she was abused at multiple locations throughout the school, including the ice room, storage closet, weight room, and portable classroom. She said Harrison had allegedly grabbed her backside and her chest, going as far as putting his hands down the front of her pants, according to court documents.

Harrison would then reportedly send the girl a message asking if she was OK and telling her to delete her messages and not tell anyone about what happened.

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Harrison is now facing one to 15 years in state prison for the second-degree felony and a zero to five years sentence for each of the third-degree felonies. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 13, 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Pawficer Sage, a Black Labrador who served for five years as a therapy dog at Illinois State University, has died.

After becoming suddenly ill in July and spending three cherished months with her Redbird family, Sages health suddenly declined again, and she passed on November 4 with her handler at her side, stated a post on the ISU Police Departments Facebook page.

Sage joined the ISU department in July 2019 and retired from service on Oct. 18, 2024, the department said.

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During her five years of service, Sage attended over 1,000 events and positively impacted more than 71,000 lives, the department said. She inspired other police therapy dog programs, earned an honorary Dog-torate in Health Sciences, and appeared in campus promotions.

Sage had gotten a Neospora Caninum, which is a small parasite as well as an unknown neurological condition.

The University of Illinois Veterinary Hospital had extended her life by about three months but could not get her well enough to celebrate her retirement party, the department said.

To donate to help keep the therapy dog program at ISU, click here.

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President-elect Donald Trump won the state of Georgia in his bid for the White House, ABC News and the Associated Press project.

Georgia carried 16 electoral votes for Trump. The former president also won in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to finish picking up the 270 electoral votes necessary to win the election, according to the AP.

In a statement from Georgias Team Trump, it said:

Congratulations to Donald J. Trump and Georgia Republicans up and down the ballot on their victories. After four years under Kamala Harris, Peach State voters are eager for President Trump to fix what Kamala Harris broke. Starting on Day 1, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance will help to ease costs, secure the border  and Make America Great Again.

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Trump lost Georgia to Joe Biden in the 2020 election by nearly 12,000 votes after winning the state in 2016.

In 2020, Georgia was the closest state in the country, going for Biden by just 0.24 points. This time around, with 97% of the expected vote reporting, Trump leads by 2.3 points over Harris, 50.7% to 48.4%. The Georgia win puts Trump at 246 electoral votes, with just 24 more needed to win.

At this point, Harris trails in Wisconsin, 51-47% and Michigan, 52-46%.

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Throughout the campaign, both candidates made numerous stops in the Peach State to win over voters here.

Throughout the night, the numbers coming in from rural Georgia counties showed Trump winning at higher margins than he did in 2020.

Trump won Florida, a one-time battleground that has shifted heavily to Republicans in recent elections. He also notched early wins in reliably Republican states such as Texas, South Carolina, and Indiana. Harris won Virginia, a state Trump visited in the final days of the campaign, and took Democratic strongholds like New York, New Mexico, and California. Harris also won an Electoral College vote in Nebraska that was contested by Republicans.

The crowd at Harris watch party at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington, began to file out after midnight Wednesday. Harris did not speak at the party. Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Harris campaign, spoke instead, telling the crowd there were still votes to count and states to be called.

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We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted. That every voice has spoken, he said. So you wont hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow. She will be back here tomorrow.

ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this story.
South Carolina will cast nine electoral votes for former President Donald Trump, according to a call by the Associated Press.

The AP called the race in South Carolina for Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris at 8:01 p.m. Tuesday as results of the election began coming in.

Trump has been popular in the Palmetto State and also carried the state in 2016 and 2020, as well the GOP presidential primaries in 2016 and 2024.

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Trump won South Carolina in the general election in 2020 by 12 points. He carried the state in 2016 by 14 points.

Going into Tuesdays election, Trump led in the handful of polls of Palmetto State voters.

A Winthrop University poll in September had Trump leading by 10 percentage points.

The Citadel Poll, conducted between Oct. 17 and Oct. 25, had Trump leading by 12 points

Eastern Carolina University, in a poll conducted from Oct. 18-22, had a 13-point lead for Trump.

A Claflin University poll, in a poll conducted from Oct. 5-10, had Trump leading by 7 points.

Because of the influence by the top of the ticket and straight party ticket voting, the margin of Trumps victory is key on influencing down ballot races.

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Republicans are expected to keep control of the General Assembly, but the state had a handful of competitive Legislative races this year.

Going into Tuesdays elections, Republicans held 88 seats in the House and 30 in the Senate.

A smaller margin for Trump could be beneficial for Democrats in the state who hoped to gain seats in the House and defend seats in the Senate as only a handful of seats were truly competitive in this years elections.

In 2022, Republicans flipped several House seats that were expected to be held by Democratic lawmakers because of the size of their Black populations, including three within Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburns district.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A former Rochester firefighter has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison on child pornography charges.

Investigators said Brett Marrapese, who worked with the Rochester Fire Department, persuaded a 13-year-old girl to send images and videos of child pornography via Snapchat. This prompted the victims father to send a tip to the Irondequoit Police Department.

Police searched his home, camper, and RFD locker. The search ended with investigators finding over 1,300 images and 121 videos of child porn from Marrapeses cell phone.

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Around this time, the New York State Police was investigating tips that someone in Rochester was uploading child porn to the internet. Investigators said they tracked the IP addresses to Committee Rochester FD 2%. Marrapese denied the allegations.

Due to these accusations, the Rochester Fire Department placed Marrapese on leave with pay and later unpaid leave.

Marrapese was arrested and pleaded guilty to the distribution and receipt of child pornography. He was sentenced Wednesday to 17.5 years in prison and 15 years of post-release supervision.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo is projected to win Californias 16th Congressional District against fellow Democrat Evan Low, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Liccardos victory is notable given that Low, a state assemblymember, enjoyed the backing of the state Democratic Party, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and other prominent California Democrats.

Liccardo, meanwhile, received endorsements from California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D), California House members like Reps. Robert Garcia (D) and Mike Levin (D) and other groups.

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The district is located just south of San Francisco and includes portions of Silicon Valley. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) announced last year she would be retiring from her seat.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In the race to lead North Carolinas schools, a former district superintendent has defeated a homeschooling mom who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 Stop the Steal rally in Washington.

Maurice Mo Green, a retired leader of a progressive foundation who was recruited by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to run for state superintendent, defeated Michele Morrow 51% to 49%.

Related

Jan. 6 Protester, Former Supe Vie to Lead North Carolinas Schools

The work does not end here. Its now upon us to put forth and implement our bold vision, direction, and plan for [North Carolina] public schools, Green said in a statement. Our children and the future of our state depend on it.

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The race boiled down to both candidates accusing each other of extremism. Morrow, a former nurse who focused her campaign on school safety, portrayed Green as a left-wing radical who isnt tough on student discipline. Green, meanwhile, reminded voters of Morrows derogatory statements about public schools and her calls for violence against Democrats on social media, including a 2020 post that she wanted to see former President Barack Obama before a firing squad  comments that she said were blown out of proportion. In the final weeks of the campaign, Obama weighed in at a campaign rally in Charlotte, noting that someone saying just crazy stuff shouldnt be in charge of decisions about textbooks and funding for schools.

Michele Morrow, a former nurse who participated in the Stop the Steal rally preceding the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol , partly blamed smear messaging for her defeat. (Michele Morrow NC/Facebook)

In a statement, Morrow, who unexpectedly ousted incumbent Superintendent Catherine Truitt in the Republican primary, blamed smear messaging for her defeat and said the fact that the race was so close was evidence that a lot of voters agreed with her message.

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We nearly overcame incredible odds, she said. Between Mo Greens campaign funding and the support of his special interest groups, we were outspent nearly 300 to one.

Morrow ran as an outsider, frequently criticizing public schools as indoctrination centers pushing liberal ideas about race and gender. She considered her years teaching science and Spanish to homeschooled students, including her own, as adequate qualifications for the position.

Green, a lawyer, held a top spot in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and then led the 68,000-student Guilford district from 2008 to 2015. He plans to advocate for more funding for public schools. While he supports public school choice, he has been critical of the states voucher program. With lawmakers poised to approve a $1.1 billion budget deal that would fully fund private school vouchers and eliminate a waiting list of more than 50,000 students, Green said during a September debate with Morrow, that resources are being drained away from our public schools.

While he used Morrows past social media posts to his advantage, his background in public schools appeared to make the difference for education advocates.

Her lack of experience in the public education sphere was glaring, said Marcus Brandon, who leads CarolinaCAN, part of a network of policy and advocacy groups. Mo Green, being a former superintendent, made the case [that] he knew public education, and that literally is the job.
Infoline Tec Group Berhad's (KLSE:INFOTEC) robust recent earnings didn't do much to move the stock. However the statutory profit number doesn't tell the whole story, and we have found some factors which might be of concern to shareholders.

Check out our latest analysis for Infoline Tec Group Berhad

KLSE:INFOTEC Earnings and Revenue History November 5th 2024

Examining Cashflow Against Infoline Tec Group Berhad's Earnings

As finance nerds would already know, the accrual ratio from cashflow is a key measure for assessing how well a company's free cash flow (FCF) matches its profit. The accrual ratio subtracts the FCF from the profit for a given period, and divides the result by the average operating assets of the company over that time. The ratio shows us how much a company's profit exceeds its FCF.

That means a negative accrual ratio is a good thing, because it shows that the company is bringing in more free cash flow than its profit would suggest. While it's not a problem to have a positive accrual ratio, indicating a certain level of non-cash profits, a high accrual ratio is arguably a bad thing, because it indicates paper profits are not matched by cash flow. That's because some academic studies have suggested that high accruals ratios tend to lead to lower profit or less profit growth.

Infoline Tec Group Berhad has an accrual ratio of 0.52 for the year to September 2024. Statistically speaking, that's a real negative for future earnings. And indeed, during the period the company didn't produce any free cash flow whatsoever. In the last twelve months it actually had negative free cash flow, with an outflow of RM2.1m despite its profit of RM16.6m, mentioned above. It's worth noting that Infoline Tec Group Berhad generated positive FCF of RM14m a year ago, so at least they've done it in the past.

That might leave you wondering what analysts are forecasting in terms of future profitability. Luckily, you can click here to see an interactive graph depicting future profitability, based on their estimates.

Our Take On Infoline Tec Group Berhad's Profit Performance

As we discussed above, we think Infoline Tec Group Berhad's earnings were not supported by free cash flow, which might concern some investors. For this reason, we think that Infoline Tec Group Berhad's statutory profits may be a bad guide to its underlying earnings power, and might give investors an overly positive impression of the company. The good news is that, its earnings per share increased by 11% in the last year. Of course, we've only just scratched the surface when it comes to analysing its earnings; one could also consider margins, forecast growth, and return on investment, among other factors. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. To help with this, we've discovered 3 warning signs (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) that you ought to be aware of before buying any shares in Infoline Tec Group Berhad.
Dean Trantalis, longtime mayor of Fort Lauderdale, won a third and final term Tuesday despite a fierce challenge from three rivals who blamed him for what they referred to as overdevelopment that has gridlocked traffic downtown and along the coastline.

The four-way race for mayor included candidates Kenneth Cooper, an attorney who lost to Trantalis in 2020; Jim Lewis, an attorney making his 10th run for political office; and Barbra Stern, an attorney making her first run for mayor. A fifth candidate, Chris Nelson, dropped out of the race in mid-October.

In the two-way race for the District 1 commission seat, voters chose incumbent John Herbst over Norbert Norby Belz, a business owner making his first run for office.

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In District 2, incumbent Steve Glassman trounced former commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom and Chad Van Horn, an attorney making his first run for office.

In District 4, voters chose former commissioner Ben Sorensen over three challengers: incumbent Warren Sturman, a cardiologist elected two years ago; Kevin Cochrane, a tech entrepreneur who financed his own campaign; and Ted Inserra, a community activist known for speaking up at City Hall.

Mayors race

In Fort Lauderdale, the election came during an era of fast-paced growth that has seen a boom in high-rise construction amid ongoing challenges that include flooding woes, traffic gridlock and a worsening homeless crisis.

Trantalis, an attorney who has been mayor since 2018, argued he was the best choice to guide the city through the next four years. Voters agreed.

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Trantalis said he was proud of the positive campaign he ran.

I tried to run a clean campaign, talking about the issues and meeting face to face with neighbors trying to find ways we can all work together to make Fort Lauderdale the best city it can be, Trantalis told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Tuesday night. I just want to thank the entire community for its support. I think the residents want to see another four years of success weve come to enjoy so far.

Jacqueline Fenster, a business consultant, was not at all swayed by critics outcry over Fort Lauderdales growing skyline.

Fort Lauderdale has become a big city, she said Tuesday after casting her vote. Most people seem to be happy with the current mayor. I think hes doing a good job.

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In Fort Lauderdale, the mayor and commissioners serve a four-year term.

They are among the highest-paid elected officials in Broward County. The mayor earns $106,920 a year. Commissioners are paid $89,100.

The winners in all four races will be sworn in on Dec. 3.

District 1 race

Herbst spent 16 years as Fort Lauderdales city auditor before being fired in a late-night meeting in February 2022. That same year, he decided to run for the District 1 commission seat and won easily against three rivals.

He scored a second win Tuesday despite a challenge from Belz, a small-business owner and member of the city parks board making his first run for office.

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Herbst will continue to represent northeastern Fort Lauderdale, a sprawling district that includes Galt Ocean Mile and the Galleria mall.

I feel very good about this, Herbst said. We worked very hard at the campaign, similar to the last one where we walked through all the neighborhoods and knocked on doors every weekend. I want to continue working on closing the loop on Lockhart Park and other things I want to see get done.

District 2 race

Glassman soared to victory Tuesday despite a spirited challenge from two opponents who accused him of ignoring residents concerns over an ongoing development boom. Glassman argued that Fort Lauderdales master plan paved the way for high-rise development that has become the envy of other cities.

I feel very gratified, Glassman told the Sun Sentinel on Tuesday night. I feel that all of the hard work and accomplishments over the last six and a half years have been recognized by my constituents. And Im so looking forward to serving every single one of those neighborhoods, and we are going to keep moving forward.

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Glassman has represented District 2s high-profile neighborhoods on the barrier island and near Las Olas for the past six years.

He lost to Rodstrom in 2009, but ran again in 2018 and won. A retired teacher and former administrator for the Broward County Cultural Division, he was reelected in November 2020. This will be his third and final term as the District 2 commissioner.

District 4 race

Sorensen was the clear winner Tuesday night, beating three rivals to take back a seat he left in 2022.

Im so grateful for the neighbors of District 4 who stood up and worked together to ensure that this campaign was one driven by issues and solutions, Sorensen said Tuesday night. Im honored to be part of where our city is heading, putting neighbors first.

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Two years ago, Sturman narrowly won a seat on the commission, defeating Cochrane by only 49 votes.

This time, Sorensen held the lead in the four-way race, edging out Sturman, Cochrane and Inserra, a retired chef who ran for the District 4 seat in 2022.

Sorensen first joined the commission in March 2018. He was reelected without opposition in November 2020. Sorensen resigned in 2022 midway into his term to make an unsuccessful run for Congress.

As the District 4 commissioner, Sorensen will represent both downtown and neighborhoods south of Broward Boulevard.

I am so pumped, he said.

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested a Fort Walton Beach man for possession of child sexual abuse material on Wednesday.

46-year-old Michael Cameron Esarey was arrested on 30 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, one count of transmission of child sexual abuse material, and one count of using two-way communication to facilitate a felony.

According to a news release, the investigation began in October after agents discovered a file-sharing network user downloading. Agents said they also found transmitted files containing the sexual abuse of children.

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Celebrate some of our nations heroes in Bay County

The investigation identified Esarey as the user, officials said.

On November 4, agents served a search warrant at Esareys residence where his computer and several hard drives were located.

A preliminary forensic preview located thousands of child sexual exploitation files, some involving children as young as 7 years old, officials wrote.

Esarey was arrested and booked in the Okaloosa County Jail.

The case is being investigated by the FDLE Pensacola cybercrime unit.

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At least 40 people were killed and dozens were injured in Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon with the ancient city of Baalbeck worst affected on Wednesday, according to security sources, while Beirut's southern suburbs were also pounded from the air.

Earlier, Lebanon's Baalbeck-Hermel governor, Bashir Khodr said Israeli warplanes launched 20 airstrikes on eastern Lebanon, particularly on the ancient city of Baalbeck, known for its Roman ruins.

He added that one shell fell in a parking lot near the ruins in Baalbeck city, though it was unclear whether the site was damaged.

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Israel also carried out heavy airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, an hour after an Israeli army spokesman issued an evacuation warning for three areas in the Hezbollah stronghold.

Loud blasts echoed throughout the capital Beirut and black smoke covered the targeted areas.

Some eight powerful airstrikes were documented by a dpa reporter from an area which overlooks Beirut's southern suburbs.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee had warned residents to evacuate the southern suburbs of Burj al-Barajneh, Laylaki and Haret Hreik in a post on X.

His warning coincided with a recorded televised speech given by Hezbollah's Secretary General Naim Qassem during which he vowed to continue confronting the Israeli "aggression on Lebanon."

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Qassem was speaking to mark 40 days since his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike.

"We have tens of thousands of trained resistance fighters who can confront and resist. Of course, there are not tens of thousands now on the border, but there are many alternatives," he said.

"We have weapons that will last us for a long time," Qassem threatened. "The days will come when rockets will rain down on Israel." He stressed that his militia will not accept defeat.

Israel's army had issued evacuation warnings for Nabatiyeh but not for eastern Lebanon.

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The Israeli army said Hezbollah had fired about 120 projectiles across the border.

Later, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had struck Hezbollah targets in the Dahieh area of Beirut.

"A short while ago, in an intelligence-based strike, the IAF struck command centers, weapons storage facilities, and terrorist infrastructure in the Dahieh area of Beirut," the IDF said.

"All of the targets were embedded in the heart of a civilian area, an additional example of Hezbollah's cynical exploitation of Lebanese civilians as human shields."

The IDF said numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk to civilians before the strikes.

Death toll rises to 37 after Israeli attack on Barja

The death toll rose to at least 37 a day after an Israeli airstrike hit the coastal city of Barja in Lebanon, while 105 were injured, the Health Ministry said.

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Rescue workers found body parts in the wreckage, the civil defence said. Three injured people were taken to hospital.

Barja is located around 30 kilometres south of the capital Beirut.

Rescuers also pulled dead and injured people out of the wreckage in other places attacked by the Israeli military, which is targeting the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah.

At least 15 bodies have been recovered in the Tyre region, the state news agency NNA reported.

Lebanese media also reported renewed attacks in the Beeka plain in the east and in the border area with Israel in the south, both Hezbollah strongholds.

The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon has reached 3,050 while 13,658 have been wounded since the start of fighting, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
Democratic Reps. Frank Pallone, Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman represent largely Democratic districts. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)

A group of Democratic House incumbents easily won reelection Tuesday.

Democratic Reps. Frank Pallone, Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman all defeated their Republican opponents handily, the Associated Press projects. All represent largely Democratic districts and they were not expected to lose.

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Pallone was again reelected in the 6th Congressional District and will begin his 19th full term in January. Pallone, 72, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, beat out his Republican opponent, Scott Fegler, and three other candidates.

Menendez, 39, will again represent the states 8th District, a largely Hudson County district he was first elected to in 2022. He sailed to reelection Tuesday just months after his father, former Sen. Bob Menendez, was convicted of bribery and other charges in federal court. Menendezs GOP opponent was Anthony Valdes.

McIver, 38, is the most recent addition to New Jerseys House delegation, having represented the 10th Congressional District since September after winning a special election to serve the remainder of the late Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr.s term. Payne died in April at the age of 65.

On Tuesday, she defeated Republican Carmen Bucco  whom she also defeated for the term shes serving now  for the full two-year term that begins in January.

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Watson Coleman, 79, was elected to her sixth term in Congress Tuesday. She ran against Republican Darius Mayfield, a repeat of the 2022 election when she secured over 60% of the vote, and two third-party candidates.

She became the first Black woman to represent New Jersey in Congress after winning in 2014.

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Donald Trump has claimed an unprecedented and powerful mandate to govern in his victory speech.

If Republicans control all of Congress, he will have exactly that.

Republicans have already flipped several Democratic seats to seize control of the Senate. The party is odds-on favourites to retain the House.

A GOP trifecta of the House, Senate and the White House would grant the 78-year-old unfettered power to push through his agenda for the next two years.

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With the Supreme Court also having a six-three majority of conservatives  including three nominated by Trump himself  all potential guardrails will be off.

Tax cuts and tariffs

A GOP congress could move quickly on a major budget that would deliver on Trumps promise to cut taxes by trillions of dollars.

A key priority will be extending Trumps 2017 tax cuts  his signature legislative achievement of his first term and which are due to expire at the end of next year.

Republicans could go further by pushing to repeal the estate tax on inheritance left to relatives and further cutting the tax burdens for working people.

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Trump also plans to dramatically ramp up the protectionist trade policies of his first term with the backing of Congress.

He has threatened a tariff of more than 10 per cent on all foreign imports and perhaps even a 100 per cent tariff on some Chinese-made products.

Retribution against opponents

Trump has made clear that he will use the Department of Justice to pursue his personal agenda as much as his political one.

He has suggested he will seek retribution against his opponents and one of the few constraints on his ability to exert pressure on the Department of Justice was the threat of impeachment.

Since impeachment is a process that begins in the House of Representatives, if it is controlled by Republicans, that threat disappears.

Ukraine aid

US funding for Ukraine will almost certainly be at an end in a GOP-controlled House.

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Republican hardliners in the chamber have been among the most vociferously opposed to large-scale funding packages for Kyiv.

While Trump has suggested he will be able to broker a swift peace deal with Moscow, whatever the outcome, Republicans are unlikely to continue approving US dollars to defend Ukraine.

Immigration reform

With full control of Congress, Republicans can push ahead with plans to fund tough, ambitious immigration policies including completing Trumps signature border wall.

They will also be able to approve legislation to fund Trumps plan to enact the largest deportation programme in US history.

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Fox News anchor Bret Baier hailed Donald Trump as the biggest political phoenix from the ashes in the history of US politics, after the former president appeared to take a strong early lead on Election Night.

Despite a large number of votes in crucial swing states still left to count, Baier made the bold claim live on Tuesday night, noting that Trumps path to the White House was becoming clearer.

Were not there yet, Baier said. Were not calling these states. We are going to wait and see how these raw vote totals go. But, you would rather be him.

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By 1.40am ET, Trump led Harris by 247 to 210 on electoral votes, after claiming two key swing states of North Carolina and Georgia.

The path is getting clearer for him right now, Baier said.

Referring to the events of January 6 2021 when then-president Trump sent a mob to the Capitol to try to disrupt the handover of power to Joe Biden, victor of the 2020 election, Baier added: Even that hes here at this moment, from January 7th, 2021, until now  is probably the biggest political phoenix from the ashes that we have ever seen in the history of politics.

Fox News anchor Bret Baier hailed Donald Trump as the biggest phoenix from the ashes in US political history on Tuesday night (Fox News/ YouTube)

Fox has consistently aired favorable coverage of Trump throughout the 2024 cycle. Baiers fellow commentator Brit Hume agreed with his assessment, lavishing praise on the former president and his apparent comeback.

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In the days after January 6th, I remember sitting there I think with you, Bret, and I said, This guy, Trump, hes radioactive. Republicans have turned against him. They want rid of him. Hes an obstacle, hes a problem. he said.

Fox has consistently aired favorable coverage of Trump throughout the 2024 cycle (AP)

And I thought, I didnt think a political comeback by him was possible. And yet, here we are. He is the toughest son of a gun Ive ever seen, ever. I mean, all hes had thrown at him? I would be in an insane asylum!

Jesse Watters added that, should Trump win, the media and his political rivals would have to respond accordingly.

It would be up to Democrats and the media to determine, hows their posture going to be towards a seemingly very popular president whos had the greatest upset victory, followed by the most controversial election, followed by the greatest comeback victory weve ever seen, he said.
(Bloomberg) -- More than 42.3 million people tuned in to prime-time news coverage of the 2024 presidential election, a 25% decline from four years ago, according to data from Nielsen.

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Fox News, at nearly 10.3 million viewers, was the most-watched channel on election night, based on numbers provided by that network, followed by ABC and MSNBC.

Nielsens total revises results reported earlier in the day, which were based on a smaller number of channels. An estimated 56.9 million tuned in to watch prime-time coverage in 2020 based on 21 networks, the research firm said. This years tally was based on 18.

Republican Donald Trump won the election in an extraordinary political comeback.

In calling states for candidates, news networks showed caution and restraint, even as chances of a victory waned for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. While it took days for Joe Biden to emerge as winner of the 2020 race, Nexstar Media Group Inc.s NewsNation became the first outlet to declare Trump the winner just a little after 1:22 a.m. New York time on Wednesday, citing Decision Desk HQ, a research outfit.

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The 2024 election saw more options for streaming, including on Warner Bros. Discoverys Max and Comcast Corp.s Peacock, meaning the conventional broadcast and cable outlets faced more competition.

Amazon.com Inc.s Prime Video service featured an election show hosted by former NBC News anchor Brian Williams. The show, which lacked the huge screens and colorful graphics that are a staple of other networks, is part of an ongoing movement by streaming services to offer live programming.

(Updates Fox number in second paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Ingenico has partnered with Crypto.com, aiming to make crypto payments more accessible to merchants.

The collaboration offers a plug-and-play solution to help Ingenico merchants securely and seamlessly accept crypto payments.

Through the move, the company looks to serve more than 680 million users worldwide.

This further allows merchants to receive settlements in local currencies such as euros, American and Australian dollars, and the British pound.

Ingenico's new merchant wallet, linking to AXIUM Android terminals, is at the centre of the new proposition.

It simplifies merchants engagement with the cryptocurrency ecosystem and other services.

The integration is set to provide merchants the flexibility to incorporate crypto payments alongside their existing payment systems.

Ingenico CTO Patrick Blanc said: Our partnership with Crypto.com will redefine the payments landscape by seamlessly integrating crypto payments into commerce environments.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for merchant services worldwide, setting a new standard for innovative payment solutions that are moving commerce forward.

Additionally, the inclusion of Crypto.com Pay allows consumers to gain rewards on their transactions.

Ingenico, on the other hand, offers merchants additional services through their terminals, which include managing payments and services via mobile and tablet devices.

This joint solution is poised to normalise cryptocurrency payments in real-world retail settings, accelerating the adoption of digital currencies.

Crypto.com president and COO Eric Anziani said: We are on a mission to make it easier for people to use cryptocurrency in real-world payment scenarios and our partnership with Ingenico will go a long way to bringing crypto out of the web and increase its adoption as a powerful payment tool.

Crypto.com Pay is a secure and scalable technology, offering our customers yet another innovative way to interact with cryptocurrency  as the future of payments.

Ingenico is currently in talks with merchants, with support from Crypto.com, to initiate a live pilot with select partners in the first quarter of 2025.

The service is expected to be rolled out across multiple regions, including the US, Canada, the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, Asia, and Australia.

Earlier this year, Ingenico joined hands with CyberSource, Visa's global payment and fraud management platform.

This partnership is focused on creating a unified commerce solution, initially targeting the Asia Pacific region, with plans to expand to additional regions subsequently.
Doral Mayor Christi Fraga won re-election easily on Tuesday, successfully retaining her position and securing the re-election of her close ally, Rafael Pineyro, on the city council. However, Fraga was unable to secure a third vote on the city council without a runoff.

Fragas slate candidate for Seat 3, Nicole Reinoso, is going for runoff with Juan Carlos Esquivel. The contest for that seat, vacated by Vice Mayor Oscar Puig-Corve, will be decided on Dec. 10.

Although Fraga, 37, and Pineyro, 40, were re-elected, residents did not show overwhelming support for Reinoso, who received 45% to Esquivels 35%. Coming in third was Irina Vilarino, with 19%.

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Doral wants peace and harmony. Doral deserves professionalism, commitment, said Fraga, who got 79% of the vote. The right people, the right time.

Fraga said that there are many things to work on: better transportation, improve security, a new park that she proposed to create.

There are a lot of things we can solve with three people in the council, with the same vision, Fraga said.

Roxanna Garay, who challenged Fraga, said she feels like a winner after she got 21% of the vote. I had the opportunity to meet residents, business owners, she said. I earned the support of many residents.

Doral 2024 Mayoral candidate Roxanna Garay hugs her daughter Franchesca Garay at La Matriarca restaurant on Election Night on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Doral, Fla.

She sees 2026 as an opportunity to gain a seat in the council.

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Reinoso, 38, holds a degree in health services administration and an MBA, said she got a great result for her first time running from office. Im confident we are going to do the work and win in December.

Reinoso is also the executive director of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, a position she intends to retain, ensuring there is no conflict of interest between her roles. Reinoso served as a legislative analyst for Fraga when Fraga was a councilwoman in 2019.

Despite Reinosos close relationship with Fraga, she had emphasizes that her vote will be independent. Im going to look at things that come up to council. One by one. Whats going to benefit our residents, she said. And my goal is really to work with everybody on the council.

Esquivel, 58, who holds a Masters in Business Administration and has been running companies in the transportation and logistics sector in Doral since 1991. He said that the support he received from residents shows the communitys desire for a government that isnt fixed or an arranged government.

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The residents voted for a balanced government, and thats what I represent, Esquivel said. Im not aligned with any particular team. We are restoring balance to our government, and I stand with the residents of Doral. I dont take sides.

He has a track record of campaigning for Doral council seats, having challenged Puig-Corve in 2020 and Councilwoman Digna Cabral in 2022.

Since the beginning of 2024, Fraga has been eager to regain influence on the council, with Reinoso as a key member of her team, saying that with three votes on the council would end the polarization in City Hall. The power dynamic shifted in January when Councilwoman Maureen Porras, who ran on a slate with Fraga and Pinyero in 2022 began voting against Fragas proposals, positioning herself as a significant opposition force. This change ultimately allowed Porras to emerge as the leader of the opposing faction in the city.

Porras said that Doral voters sent a loud and clear message. We need a balanced city council, she said.

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Fraga said she was confident Reinoso will win in December.The residents will see her qualifications and her commitment, and the need of a stable government. Nicole represent all of this, she said. Esquivel is my friend and he is a great man, but I believe Nicole is better for the government.

Pineyro is confident that Reinoso will be elected in December. We are not two, we are three, he said. Today we celebrated, but from tomorrow, again, we have the commitment to take Nicole to the council in Doral.

United Doral won, Pineyro added.
Millions around the world know actor Robert Englund as iconic villain Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street film series. But for a while, back in the late 1960s and early 70s, he was just another aspiring actor in metro Detroit.

Horror icon Robert Englund, who lived in Detroit in his youth, will attend a 40th anniversary screening of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" this weekend as part of Motor City Comic Con.

I have such great, fond memories of working there, Englund told the Free Press. I spent 4 or five years at Oakland University. It had a great theater adjacent to it called the Meadow Brook Theatre, and its still there. At that time, it was all of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts faculty and actors from Stratford, Ontario, New York and London, and it was just a wonderful, magical time for me as a young actor  to hang with all these old, English actors who told stories about Peter OToole and Laurence Olivier and everything.

Wed go down and work at the Detroit Institute of Arts once every six weeks or so, and wed cruise down Woodward and through downtown Detroit. I taught at Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills one summer when I didnt audition in time for summer stock. I was young and I was dedicated to, you know, the craft of stage acting, and that was going to be my life. Back in the late 60s and early 70s, a buck was still a buck, and my wife and I, we had enough money for hamburgers and beers at night. Some great, great times there. Except for the winters, all of my memories there are really fond.

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Englund, who's originally from Glendale, California, is delighted to return to metro Detroit this weekend for Motor City Comic Con. On Saturday at 8 p.m., hell host a 40th anniversary screening of the original 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street at Emagine Novi (44425 W. Twelve Mile Road). Englund will take part in a pre-show Q&A discussion; attendees will also receive a commemorative badge and exclusive art print.

(Nightmare co-stars Ronee Blakely and Amanda Wyss are also on the MC3 schedule this year.)

More: 'Nightmare on Elm Street' star Robert Englund to host metro Detroit screening of film

Englund recalled his first encounter with the Freddy character, decades ago, when he was fresh off the 1983 hit sci-fi miniseries V.

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I had a hiatus, he said, and the only thing that fit in my schedule was this little film called A Nightmare on Elm Street. I remember being intrigued by the challenges of it, of the makeup, and I remember being interested in it because of (writer and director) Wes Craven. I thought, This guys really tapped into some subliminal, dark st. I was a tanned surfer, so I greased my hair back with some motor oil from under the hood and I put a little bit of cigarette ash under my eyes, to sink them. Its an old theater trick. And I went in for the audition and played that old staring game that you play as kids, where you try not to blink.

Englund landed the role, and the modestly produced Nightmare went on to become one of 1984s top-grossing films and a defining film in the horror genre. Its financial success propelled the fledgling New Line Cinema to prominence, earning New Line the nickname The House That Freddy Built. In 2021, Nightmare was selected by the Library of Congress to enter the United States National Film Registry for its historical significance.

Seemingly overnight, Englund was propelled to international fame.

After part two came out, he said, I was in Milan, Italy for an awards show. I was up for best supporting actor or something for V and I was up against Richard Chamberlain for The Thorn Birds or something like that. I remember getting dragged out of the car that brought me to the venue and the crowd chanting, Freddy! Freddy! I remember thinking, Wait a minute, were international. This  this is bigger than I thought.

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Wes taught me to respect the genre. I had been a bit of a snob. Id been an A-list actor in the 70s and worked with some greats  Henry Fonda, Jeff Bridges, Susan Sarandon and others. I thought, Ive stepped into something here, and I have to decide whether I want to maybe stick with it because they want me to do more horror movies. And I thought, Maybe this would be fun.

I remembered when I was a child how much I loved (horror films), and how theyd captured my imagination. That helped me make the decision to stick with it. And the one-two punch of V, which was a big science fiction hit, and then the first couple of Nightmare on Elm Street franchise films, I realized theyd made me an international actor. Not only did people know my name for the first time, they could put my name to my face, and I was being offered roles.

After eight outings as the razor-gloved Freddy (he names 1994s New Nightmare as his favorite  That one was the most fun for me) and scores of other films and projects (including directing 1988 cult classic 976-EVIL), at age 77, Englund remains in demand for screen projects and festival appearances. In 2022, to great fan enthusiasm, he made a guest appearance on the fourth season of Netflixs throwback horror megahit Stranger Things.

I had auditioned for season three, for the mayor, Englund revealed. A friend of mine, the wonderful actor Cary Elwes, got the role. They remembered my audition, and they called me up for season four, which was great. I was a huge fan of Millie Bobby Brown, and the extraordinary Maya Hawke, whos Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurmans daughter  shes breaking huge right now, and Im so, so happy for her and all her success. And I got directed by Shawn Levy, who I think is the hottest young director today. That was really a treat.

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The actor is excited to see Detroit again and to attend the Q&A.

Im just going to be brimming with nostalgia for my time there, he said. I keep forgetting how long its been since I made my way down I-75 in a snowstorm, but I love to talk about my experiences there. I want to share a little bit of my time that I had in Michigan with people, and I just like to answer questions where they get to see the real Robert. Im an old fart now, but Ive done nearly 100 movies and Ive got a lot of great stories.

Im looking forward to it, and Im looking forward to maybe having my driver show me a couple of my old houses and things like that.

MC3s 40th anniversary screening of A Nightmare on Elm Street will be held at Emagine Novi, 44425 W. 12 Mile Road, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9. Tickets are $40, but attendees must also attend the Motor City Comic Con. For information and tickets, visit motorcitycomiccon.com.

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Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Freddy Krueger actor Robert Englund headed to Motor City Comic Con
Germany's pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) are pulling all their ministers from government, parliamentary leader Christian Durr said late on Wednesday, announcing the party's withdrawal from the coalition government.

It comes after Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier dismissed Finance Minister Chrstian Lindner, the FDP's leader, following weeks of wrangling over economic policy.

Scholz also tabled a vote of confidence on the centre-left government's future for January 15, which is expected to pave the way for early elections in March.

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Durr said the four FDP ministers would submit their resignation to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as a group, factually bringing the three-way coalition of Scholz's Social Democrats, the Greens and the FDP to an end.

Durr said that the coalition government had been unable to make a fundamental decision on the economy, adding that the chancellor's proposals were not nearly enough to get Germany's economy back on track.

Now it was up to the voters to make a fundamental decision for the country, he added.

Durr promised FDP lawmakers in parliament would continue to act constructively until the next elections and discuss individual issues with all democratic parliamentary groups.
PARIS  France and Germany emphasized the need to keep up military spending and for unity on European security, including with the U.K., following a meeting between the two countries defense ministers in response to Donald Trumps victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

NATO members need to translate defense spending into a tangible contribution in the coming years, with troops, ships and aircraft that show their citizens the alliance is a military organization, not just a political one, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in a press briefing with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, after they met in Paris on Wednesday.

During his first term, Trump regularly slammed European countries for not spending enough on defense, saying they were taking advantage of U.S. military power. At a campaign rally in February, the former president said he would encourage Russia to do whatever they hell they want to NATO members that didnt meet their financial obligations to the alliance.

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The question of multilateralism is at stake, the question of how we as Europeans position ourselves in this world order, Pistorius said. We have to close ranks in order to be able to fully develop our strength. In the future, this will be even more important than in the past.

Germany and France have a significant contribution to make on defense, as the European Unions largest economies, but Poland also has a central role to play as NATOs largest country in Eastern Europe, Pistorius said. The U.K and Italy should also be part of defense cooperation, and the German minister said he and Lecornu will invite their counterparts from Warsaw, London and Rome for a meeting of the five countries in Berlin within the next two weeks.

The U.S. will remain an important partner  it cant be any different  Pistorius said. The EU and the U.S. have shared interests, and geopolitical challenges such as upholding international law, guaranteeing free trade, security of the seas and freedom of movement can only be tackled by the NATO partners sticking together, according to the minister.

The call for unity comes at a tenuous time for both nations. France held snap elections this year that resulted in a parliament without any majority, and a government without a clear mandate that nevertheless has announced billions of spending cuts to reign in a galloping budget deficit.

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Lecornu emphasized the need for France to pursue its 2024-2030 defense spending plan regardless of the countrys domestic difficulties.

In the German capital, as Pistorius was speaking in Paris, the governing coalition collapsed, with social-democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz pushing to oust Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Free Liberals. Differences had come to a head within the three-party coalition over Lindners resistance against emergency spending on everything from energy price caps to Ukraine assistance, Scholz said in statement Wednesday evening.

The incoming U.S. President has been skeptical about continuing to support Ukraine as it fights off a Russian invasion, and European leaders and defense analysts are worried about how to avoid a Ukrainian defeat should Trump decide to cut aid to the embattled nation.

The war waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine makes clear that Europe cant afford to have any defense capability gaps, according to Pistorius. Ukraine will continue to need the support of European nations, with the military situation anything but promising at the moment, the German minister said.

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Trumps anticipated victory creates considerable uncertainty for both Ukraine and its international partners, said Matthew Savill, military sciences director at the U.K.s Royal United Services Institute, in an emailed comment. Europe and NATO should consider whether they can do more for Ukraine, as Trumps desire for a peace deal does not bode well for sustained U.S. support.

NATO will have to focus on keeping the alliance together, rather than on the growing threat of Russia, said Ed Arnold, RUSIs senior research fellow for European security. If neither NATO or the EU can step up quickly to continue support for Ukraine, then European coalitions of the willing must step up, requiring bold leadership which has been lacking for several years, Arnold said.

Europe has to be able to do more to defend itself, as well as protect its defense industries, Lecornu said. He said the first necessity, and this will come as no surprise, is to continue re-arming.

Sebastian Sprenger in Cologne, Germany, contributed to this report.
Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson talks to an election worker during the Sioux Falls city and school board election on April 9, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

SIOUX FALLS  Statewide scrutiny fell on the shoulders of a controversial Minnehaha County official Tuesday night and Wednesday as her office failed to timely report the countys election results.

The office of Auditor Leah Anderson still had not completely reported the countys results as of mid-afternoon Wednesday, although results were trickling out at that time. That held up definitive results in some races, including legislative races, many of which are clustered around Sioux Falls, the county seat and the states most-populated city.

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Anderson, a Republican, has been a lightning rod for criticism since taking office in 2022 after questioning the integrity of the 2020 election. Wednesday, she blamed the delay on the number of voters, limited staffing and the timing of absentee voting.

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Its the sheer volume of ballots, and a lot of absentee ballots, Anderson said. We had a good amount of staff, but additional staff would be great.

Election officials statewide knew Tuesdays turnout would be high. Secretary of State Monae Johnson predicted turnout around 75%, which would be the states highest general election turnout in 20 years. The actual turnout figure remained unknown early Wednesday afternoon due to Minnehaha Countys incomplete results.

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Republican Minnehaha County Commissioner Joe Kippley said he looks forward to Fridays canvassing review to verify vote totals. He expressed concerns about the delay and Andersons role in it.

She didnt request staff. She didnt request any of the stuff she evidently needed, Kippley said. She said she had a plan. Its hard to believe this is according to plan.

State Rep. Tony Venhuizen, a Republican who represents a Sioux Falls district, said frustration with Anderson is growing.

I dont know what exactly is going on down there, but Im hearing from legislators of every stripe who are very concerned that its taking longer to count the votes in Minnehaha than it did in the entire state of Florida, Venhuizen said. I think there would be great interest in a legislative fix if thats necessary. Trust in our election system relies on quick, reliable results.

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Im hearing from legislators of every stripe who are very concerned that its taking longer to count the votes in Minnehaha than it did in the entire state of Florida.

 State Rep. Tony Venhuizen, R-Sioux Falls

Anderson offered numerous explanations when asked to explain the delay in vote-counting.

According to Anderson, nearly 30,000 early or absentee ballots were submitted in Minnehaha County, with voters continuing to cast those ballots through Monday. Processing absentee ballots involves several time-intensive steps, she said, including verifying voter information, opening envelopes and preparing ballots for scanning.

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However, Bob Litz, Minnehaha Countys retired former auditor, said 30,000 absentee ballots do not necessarily take that long to process.

I had 42,000 absentee ballots in 2020, he said. Yeah, sure, it takes time. But we were done the morning after the election by about 9 or 10 in the morning. I wasnt as far behind as she is, thats for sure.

Litz said he also had three ballot tabulator machines compared to Andersons four, which would make a huge difference. Litz said he also shut down for a period overnight while the ballots were guarded.

When people are up all night, thats where mistakes happen, Litz said.

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Anderson said some members of her team worked all night.

My core team has not come home. They have barely gotten off their feet, Anderson said Wednesday morning. Were working as hard as we can.

Election workers handle absentee ballots for Minnehaha County on Nov. 5, 2024, in the county administration building. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Anderson said after early and absentee voting ended Monday night, the team had to reorganize the space for vote counting, a process that wasnt complete until about 10 p.m. Monday.

We need to not have absentee voting on the Monday before the election, Anderson said. It needs to end on the Friday before or something.

Her core team came to the office at 6 a.m. Tuesday, she said, responding to calls from voters, precinct workers and county staff. At 8 a.m., absentee superintendents  election officials overseeing absentee ballot processing  began organizing ballots, which started around 9 a.m., when about 50 additional workers arrived to help prepare the ballots for scanning.

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Anderson said the county only reports results to the secretary of state  which reports them to the public  when about five precincts have been fully counted. That process pushed initial reporting well into late Tuesday night.

Litz said Andersons reporting protocol is a preference, not a rule or standard.

She could be reporting partial precincts to the Secretary of States Office if she wanted, he said. Thats what we did.

Court order received for counting problem

Court documents reveal that Andersons count was also affected by other problems.

At 10:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Anderson filed an affidavit in pursuit of a court order. In it, she said that while counting ballots for Precinct 4-6, a tabulation machine jammed. After clearing the jam and restarting the machine, the ballots were returned to a sealed ballot box as required by law, according to Anderson.

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Upon reviewing the count, Anderson and her staff found a discrepancy: The machines tally showed 21 fewer votes than there should have been. They determined that some ballots affected by the jam were not counted.

Because the number of counted ballots did not match the total number of ballots cast, her team did not complete the tabulation or transmit the results to the South Dakota secretary of state. She pointed to a law stating ballots that cannot be accurately counted by the tabulation equipment should be referred to the Minnehaha County Resolution Board for review. And since the ballot box for Precinct 4-6 had been sealed, she was unable to unseal it without a court order, she said in the court documents. That order was issued Wednesday morning.

The 2024 election is Andersons first time overseeing a presidential contest since her election as county auditor in 2022. She has drawn controversy for questioning the integrity of the 2020 election, calling Minnehaha Countys election system untrustworthy, and publicly engaging with groups such as South Dakota Canvassing, which have promoted some unsubstantiated claims of election fraud and interference.

In the June primary election, activist Jessica Pollema challenged 132 ballots from one Minnehaha precinct, claiming they were fraudulent due to the use of P.O. box addresses. The South Dakota Supreme Court ultimately ruled against her, siding with the county and state officials. Pollema was assisting with the Minnehaha County vote count on Wednesday morning.

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Additionally, Anderson recently amended county rules to allow voters to wear election-related apparel at polling places, a change that some viewed as undermining election decorum.

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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis gets to keep that title for another four years.

Attorney Courtney Kramer announced in March that she was running against Willis on the Republican ticket, saying that Willis prosecution of former President Donald Trump was a politically motivated case and a waste of resources. But she said if she became district attorney she would recuse herself from that case because she worked with two of the defendants.

Kramer worked in the White House counsels office during the Trump presidency and is active in GOP organizations. Shes the first Republican to run for district attorney in Fulton County since 2000.

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Willis took office in January 2021 after beating her predecessor  and former boss  longtime District Attorney Paul Howard in a bitter Democratic primary fight in 2020.

She made headlines just a month into her tenure when she announced in February 2021 that she was investigating whether Trump and others broke any laws while trying to overturn his narrow loss in the state to Democrat Joe Biden. Two and a half years later, after an investigation that included calling dozens of witnesses before a special grand jury, she obtained a sprawling racketeering indictment against Trump and 18 others in August 2023.

Four people have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the remaining defendants have all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Willis, 53, said she is proud of a pre-indictment diversion program she started and a program in schools to encourage students to choose alternatives to gangs and crime, as well as reductions in homicides and the backlog of unindicted cases during her tenure. She said she would focus on creating more county resources for domestic violence victims during a second term.
Foreign ministers from the world's seven leading industrialized democracies and other countries on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

In a joint statement, the diplomats expressed their "grave concerns regarding the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia, potentially for the use on the battlefield against Ukraine."

DPRK is the acronym of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

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The United States estimates there are as many as 12,000 North Korean troops in Russia, with 10,000 of those in the Kursk region.

"The DPRK's direct support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, besides showing Russia's desperate efforts to compensate its losses, would mark a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific peace and security," the statement read.

"It would be a further breach of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter."

The diplomats went on to "condemn in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia" as well as the export to Russia of North Korean ballistic missiles and munition.

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They added that North Korean "soldiers receiving or providing any training or other assistance related to the use of ballistic missiles or arms" is also a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

"We are also deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology from Russia to the DPRK in violation of the relevant UNSCRs. We urge the DPRK to stop providing assistance to Russias war of aggression."

The statement was signed by the G7 countries - the United States, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, France and Germany - as well as Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and the High Representative of the European Union.

The troops from Pyongyang arrived in Russia last month, US officials have said. Moscow's forces have been training them in infantry and artillery tactics, trench clearing and operating drones, the US has stated. The Russians have provided the North Korean troops with Russian uniforms and equipment.
(NewsNation)  NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for New Mexicos District 2 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of Rep. Gabe Vasquez. See the results of U.S. House and U.S. Senate races around the country here.

Democrat U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez entered the rematch with Republican challenger Yvette Herrell, whom he defeated in 2022 to win the seat.

The district represents much of southern New Mexico, including communities such as Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Silver City and Las Cruces as well as part of the greater metropolitan Albuquerque region.

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The Cook Political Report called the District 2 race a toss up, making it an important election nationwide as Republicans entered Tuesday hoping to maintain their slim majority in the U.S. House.

Both candidates have gotten national party support, with Vasquez drawing backing from House Minority Speaker Hakeem Jeffries while Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have campaigned as Herrell is attempting to reclaim the seat for the Republicans.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

Abortion and border security remained top talking points for both Vasquez and Herrell during their respective campaigns.

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Vasquez, a former councilor in Albuquerque, continually held up Herrell as an anti-abortion stalwart and has used her voting record on the issue to back up his claims.

Herrell has portrayed Vasquez as an extreme liberal whose opposition to Republican-led border legislation has led to failures in attempts to curb the number of immigrants entering the country illegally.

Heading into Tuesdays election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with a narrow majority of 220 seats while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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By Vladimir Soldatkin

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russian industry may suffer the fate of car makers in Germany, which have shed tens of thousands of jobs, if it moves too fast to replace fossil fuels, a Kremlin adviser said on Wednesday.

"The Russian Federation supports a gradual transition, a gradual transformation, so as to avoid shock scenarios on the energy markets, industrial markets," Kremlin climate envoy Ruslan Edelgeriyev told a conference in Sochi, southern Russia.

"Miscalculated ambitions damaged Germany's auto industry," he said, speaking five days before the next U.N. climate change conference begins in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Russia is the world's biggest exporter of natural gas and number two exporter of oil. It is one of the world's top carbon dioxide emitters along with China, the United States and India.

Russia joined the Paris climate change pact in 2019, which commits countries to setting targets every five years to curb greenhouse gas emissions. It has faced - and rejected - criticism from the United States that it is not doing enough.

A 2050 deadline to halt net carbon emissions - a process in which forests, hydro and nuclear energy are intended to play key roles - is widely cited as necessary to prevent the most extreme global warming; Russia and China have both committed to a 2060 target instead.

The transformation of the German car industry could lead to 186,000 jobs losses by 2035, of which roughly a quarter have already occurred, a study commissioned by the VDA auto industry association released showed last month.

The 46,000 jobs already lost between 2019 and 2023 were due mainly to the transition to electric vehicles, according to the study conducted by research institute Prognos.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Democratic Senate candidate Ruben Gallego answers questions during a Clean Election Commission debate against GOP candidate Kari Lake. Photo by Joe Rondone | The Arizona Republic/Pool

Democratic U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego has an early lead over Republican opponent Kari Lake in the race for one of Arizonas U.S. Senate seats, according to early unofficial results released by the Secretary of States Office on election night.

Gallego, a former U.S. Marine who has represented the states 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House since 2015 led Lake, a Trump-endorsed longtime former Phoenix news anchor, by nearly 7 percentage points as of 8:45 p.m. on election night, with about half of the estimated votes tallied.

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With more than 1.8 million ballots counted, Gallego has garnered 52.5% of votes to Lakes 45.7%. There are around 4.3 million registered voters in Arizona.

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In costly and aggressive campaigns, Lake and Gallego have fought for the Senate seat currently held by Democrat-turned-independent, Kyrsten Sinema, who did not run for reelection.

Lake is a well-known purveyor of the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. She followed in his footsteps with her own unfounded claims that Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs rigged the 2022 race for Arizona governor against her.

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Even as she ran for Senate, Lake continued to unsuccessfully challenge the results of the gubernatorial race in court, and two years later she still has not conceded the race.

During the only Senate debate, Lake claimed that she had never lied to the people of Arizona, even though in April she legally conceded that she had spread lies about Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer after he filed a defamation suit against her.

Both Gallego and Lake attempted to paint the other as too extreme for Arizona. Lake sought to align Gallego with Democratic President Joe Biden and his open borders and Gallego reminded voters that Lake had drastically moderated her stance on abortion in the past year.

Lake most recently stuck to the Trump talking point that states should determine abortion policy, when just two years earlier she said she was 1,000% pro-life, and called abortion the ultimate sin.

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Gallego garnered support from many moderate Republicans who said they couldnt support Lake and her vitriolic style, including Mesa Mayor John Giles and former staffers for the late U.S. Senator from Arizona John McCain.

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Republican State Auditor Josh Gallion, left, is challenged by Democratic-NPL Party candidate Tim Lamb in the 2024 general election. (Photos contributed)

Josh Gallion will serve another term as North Dakotas state auditor, voters decided Tuesday.

The Republican incumbent secured 69% of the vote in complete but unofficial results. Democratic-NPL candidate Tim Lamb, an attorney from Grand Forks, had about 31% of votes.

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Gallion has been state auditor since 2016.

In his campaign, he highlighted updates to the State Auditors Offices policies and procedures, as well as improved communication with the public as some of his major accomplishments in the job.

His office also advocated for a law passed in 2023 that simplified periodic auditing requirements for small governments. Gallion said this change helped reduce what has historically been a significant cost to small communities.

He has promised to keep transparency a priority in his next term, including by making auditing data easier for members of the public to access and analyze.

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Before becoming auditor, Gallion spent time in the Air Force in addition to working for the North Dakota Public Service Commission and the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

Lamb has been critical of Gallions administration, pointing to cost complaints from local governments and a pending performance audit of the State Auditors Office ordered by lawmakers last year. He has said North Dakota needs a Democrat in office to uphold transparency in state government transparency.

Gallion has said his office is routinely evaluated on both its performance and its compliance with financial regulations, and that the additional audit is unnecessary. He also said his office has changed its policies to make sure clients are never caught off guard by unexpected costs.

This story has been updated with the latest results.
The hotly contested congressional race between Republican Rep. Mike Garcia and Democrat George Whitesides, a former NASA chief of staff, to represent northern Los Angeles County was too close to call on election night.

The race between Garcia and Whitesides to represent California's 27th Congressional District had been considered a toss-up and was closely watched across the country as one of several swing districts that could help determine which party wins control of the House.

The once staunchly conservative district  which stretches from Santa Clarita to the Kern County line and includes the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale  has become more favorable in recent years to Democrats, whose growing voter registration advantage made the thrice-elected Garcia one of the most vulnerable GOP incumbents in the country.

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Redistricting after the 2020 census made the district bluer by excising conservative Simi Valley. Just over 41% of registered voters are Democrats, and about 30% are Republicans. More than a fifth are independents.

Read more: National party leaders descend on California, where voters could determine control of Congress

Garcia, a former Navy pilot and former executive with defense contractor Raytheon, first won his seat in a 2020 special election after Katie Hill  a millennial Democrat who had unseated a Republican incumbent in 2018  resigned amid a sex scandal. Garcia retained his seat in two subsequent elections. In all three elections, he defeated the same Democratic rival, former Assemblywoman Christy Smith.

Whitesides  the deep-pocketed former chief executive of Mojave-based Virgin Galactic, who lent his campaign more than $1 million  had major backing from the Democratic Party, which did not rally as forcefully around Smith. The top Democrat in the House, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, came to the Antelope Valley last month to campaign for Whitesides, a sign of the race's importance to the national party.

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Whitesides campaigned heavily on reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, as well as job creation and increasing funding for law enforcement. He cast Garcia as a pro-Trump sycophant, emphasizing the congressmans vote against certifying the 2020 presidential election results after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, and his push to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

Read more: A theme in GOP attack ads in California House races: Linking Democrats to pedophiles over support for LGBTQ group

As a first-time candidate, Whitesides had no voting record to scrutinize. So, Garcia focused on his opponent's hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to progressive candidates and causes, attempting to portray him as a far-left mega-donor using his personal wealth to try to buy a congressional seat.

In previous elections, Garcia's focus on California's high cost of living and gasoline was effective in the commuter district, where many residents drawn by cheaper housing commute two hours or more to work in Los Angeles.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Stacy Garrity (official portrait)

Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity was projected to win her bid for reelection on Tuesday, unofficial tallies showed, defeating Democrat Erin McClelland 52% to 45%. The Associated Press called the race shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Her campaign focused on her military background and successes in office, leaning into the record amounts of unclaimed property she returned to Pennsylvanians and efforts to make state-backed savings accounts more accessible.

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I am deeply honored that the people of Pennsylvania have expressed their confidence in my record by granting me a second term as your state treasurer, Garrity said in a statement declaring victory. This victory belongs to every Pennsylvanian who believes in responsible stewardship of our tax dollars, in transparency, and in a brighter future for our commonwealth.

Garrity often campaigned with Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump. She has said she will make it a priority to push for the creation of a tax-deductible, 401k-style retirement savings program.

McClelland, whose background is in substance abuse recovery program management in Pennsylvania, fought an uphill battle from the start. In Aprils primary, she defeated the state Democratic Partys preferred candidate, Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie), despite a fundraising gap, surprising many observers.

When Gov. Josh Shapiro was under consideration to be Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris running mate, McClelland publicly criticized his previous handling of sexual harassment allegations against a top aide in his office. This drew criticism from some influential state Democrats. Shapiro, notably, refused to endorse her, even as he backed other Democrats running for row offices.

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Garritys campaign had its own struggles as well. In January, 2021, she spoke at a rally in Harrisburg pushing for the decertification of the presidential election results in Pennsylvania, even after winning her race for treasurer on the same ticket. And in 2022, she joined Trump at a rally and appeared to affirmed her belief the election was illegitimate. Her 2024 reelection campaign, however, tried to walk back these statements.

The two candidates often traded barbs during the campaign. McClelland often criticized Garritys decision to invest in Israeli bonds after the country went to war in Gaza. Garrity tried to paint McClelland as inexperienced.

As we look to the future, I am excited to continue working for you, Garrity said in her election night statement. Together, we will build on our successes and tackle the challenges ahead. Thank you, Pennsylvania, for your trust and support. I am honored to serve as your state treasurer for another term.
Democrats swept key races in Northwest Indiana on Tuesday, securing major wins for U.S. House and state legislature seats critical to Gary and the surrounding areas.

Rep. Vernon Smith held on to his Indiana House District 14 seat, defeating Republican Ivan Ursery II handily, securing 72% of the vote. Smith, who was originally elected to the seat in 1990, is one of the longest serving members of the House.

I am humbled that the citizens of the 14th House District considered my past service worthy and extended me two additional years to serve them, Smith told Capital B Gary.

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I do not take their support lightly. I will represent them, whatever the majority of the people in my district want, thats the way I will vote.

State Rep. Vernon Smith is Garys longest serving statehouse politician. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B)

Asked about his expectations of the upcoming legislative session, Smith acknowledged what may be an uphill battle.

I have trepidations because I know that with [Republicans] controlling both houses and the governors office again next year, well get more of the same legislation, which is not good for the average citizen in the state of Indiana. I expect them to continue to try to destroy public education because youre shifting all that money to funding for private schools and charter schools.

With 78% of the vote counted, state Rep. Earl Harris Jr. retained his House District 2 seat with the largest win of all the races, defeating his Republican opponent, Ben Ruiz, with more than 80% of the vote.

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Forecasting the 2025 legislative session, Harris spoke to the health-focused agenda of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus that he chairs but also as a focus of the legislature as a whole.

State Reps. Earl Harris Jr. and Vernon Smith sit on a panel at Indiana University Northwest for the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B)

I think its going to be the focus of the session in general, because we have some health care issues to deal with and make sure that people are taken care of, Harris said. Whether it has to do with in-home care, at-home care, insurance, hospital costs, and cost of medication. Theres a lot of things on the table. So, I expect us as a House and a Senate, not just the IBLC, to spend a lot of time discussing this.

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Mark Spencer, a relative political newcomer, won the race for Indianas District 3 Senate seat comfortably over Republican challenger Will Miller with 73% of the vote. Spencer garnered over 33,000 votes in the race and will vacate his seat on the Gary Common Council at the beginning of the year.



The win returns the Senate seat to Gary Democrats, who have held it since the 1970s under leaders like the late Earline Rogers, former Mayor Rudy Clay, and current Mayor Eddie Meltona history not lost on Spencer.

The lineage is quite great in terms of the shoulders I stand on, Spencer said.

The likes of Earline Rodgers, who was just a great educator. Ive known her since my youth, and shes been a mentor and leader to me as well.

Faced with a Republican supermajority in both houses of the legislature, Spencer looks to lean on diplomacy.

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Reaching across the aisle is essential if were going to move the needle forward and make any progress at all, he said.

Negotiation is important. And my position as an educator, from a foundation of public education, my passion, is to preserve that model and to enhance it, and its imperative that we work together.

Democratic incumbent state Rep. Ragen Hatcher won reelection to the House District 3 seat over Republican Leslie Dallner from Hobart by more than 25 percentage points. The Associated Press called the race Tuesday evening. Hatcher now heads into her fourth term in the state legislature.

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan (left) speaks with Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon at the Gary Police Department. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B)

In the race for Indianas 1st District U.S. House seat, Democratic incumbent Frank Mrvan defeated Republican challenger Randy Niemeyer, extending Democrats hold on the seat to more than 20 years.

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While he enjoyed a sizable 12-point win in Lake County, Mrvan saw much slimmer margins in the two other counties that make up his district. In Porter County, Niemeyer finished 3 points ahead of Mrvan, while losing LaPorte County by less than 2 percentage points.

Mrvan will be heading back to Washington for his third term.

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The post Gary Voters Keep Democrats in Key Seats for State and Federal Leadership appeared first on Capital B Gary.
A canny political survivor, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon has run out of electoral lives.

The incumbent prosecutor has lost his bid for reelection against ex-U.S. Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hochman. The race ends with the latter getting 61.3% of the vote to the formers 38.7%.

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Despite some high profile moves such as seeking an early release from the life without parole sentences of the Menendez brothers and their 30 years behind bars, the one-term Gascons defeat was a done deal weeks ago. Backed by Netflixs co-CEO Ted Sarandos and Oscar nominated documentary director Rory Kennedy, former George W. Bushs appointee Hochman has held a double digit lead over ex-San Francisco D.A. Gascon for most of the campaign.

With no small irony, the success of Ryan Murphys nine-part Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was instrumental in bringing the case back to the headlines.

In some revenge served slightly delayed from the bitter 2020 race, Jackie Lacey, Gascons two-term predecessor in the now deeply divided D.A.s office, is an enthusiastic supporter of Hochman. I am endorsing Nathan Hochman for District Attorney because I feel a lot less safe than I did four years ago, Lacey said for the ex-LA Ethics Commissioner.

Nathan Hochman speaks at the KNX News 97.1 FM & LAT DA debate between George Gascon and his challenger on Oct. 8, 2024

Homelessness on the streets all over the county and a perceived increase in crime in L.A. dogged self declared progressive Gascon through failed recalled efforts, but proved poison arrows in this campaign.

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Now Independent Hochmans D.A. victory is a stark contrast to his crushing defeat as a Republican by incumbent Golden State Attorney General Rob Bonta just two years ago.

Even with Gascon asking Gov. Gavin Newsom last week to grant clemency to Erik and Kyle Menendez, Hochmans win also could complicate the siblings desire to get out of their incarceration at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego. In the D.A. debate last month, Hochman slammed Gascon for the suspicious timing of his sudden interest in the case. All indications are the newly minted D.A., who takes office before a December 11 hearing on a potential resentencing of the brothers, that could see them move considerably closer to release from their 1996 imposed sentences, will be going over the case carefully.

As Deadline reported before, that doesnt mean Hochman will hit the brakes on the Menendez case, with evidence of the sexual abuse they suffered from their father without dispute. But, with zero dispute that the brothers brutally killed their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills home in 1989 with reloaded shotguns, it doesnt mean he wont.

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George Gascon, a champion of criminal justice reform whose ascension four years ago as the top prosecutor in Los Angeles County signaled a pivotal victory in the movement to elect progressive district attorneys, has lost his reelection bid.

Among the possible moves Nathan Hochman can make in the following weeks: Withdrawing a recommendation from the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez. Hochman, who hasnt taken a position on the case, has said hell review the decision if he wins the race once he gets access to confidential records and filings.

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Ryan Murphys polarizing nine-part series following the 1989 killings of Jose and Kitty Menendez, a documentary and an army of TikTok supporters spurred renewed scrutiny into the trials.

Last month, Gascon announced that hed move for reconsideration of the decades-old case involving the brothers, who killed their parents in a salvo of shotgun blasts in the den of their Beverly Hills mansion. Theyve served 34 years in prison, exhausting all of their appeals in 2005.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has set a Dec. 11 hearing on the recommendation for the brothers to be resentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. If granted, the proposal will go to a parole board, which will determine whether they should be set free. They could immediately be eligible for release.

Asked whether a new district attorney could undue his recommendation at a press conference, Gascon voiced skepticism. I dont think so, he said. Once its filed, its filed. Its up to the court to take it from there.

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Under Gascon, the district attorneys office also sent letters to Gov. Gavin Newsom in support of clemency  a move the brothers attorney told TMZ could see them released by Thanksgiving by entirely eliminating the resentencing process. On a podcast, Newsom indicated that he was told by Murphys producing team before the series debuted that it would trigger renewed scrutiny in the case.

I met with the team that put the series together about nine months ago, and they gave me a heads-up, Newsom said. They said, Watch and see what happens after this series is released, because its going to generate a lot more conversation around whether these guys should be released or resentenced. And here we are, fast-tracked not so many months later.

The show was inspired by a TikTok movement that saw users pointing to new evidence suggesting that Jose Menendez had also molested a member of the 1980s boy band Menudo. This was featured in the Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed Peacock docuseries by Robert Rand, a journalist who also unearthed a letter written by Erik Menendez to his cousin Andy Cano corroborating accusations that he was sexually abused.

With Gascon out of office, Los Angeles County will see more punitive measures to deter crime. Hochman has criticized his predecessors policies not to prosecute juveniles for misdemeanors or pursue gang enhancements, which are additional prison sentences added on top of underlying felonies that involve gangs.

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In the months leading up to the election, a narrative took shape that Gascons time as district attorney facilitated an increase in crime across the region. On the campaign trail, he stressed that neighboring areas with traditional prosecutors, like Orange and Sacramento counties, saw larger surges in violent crime, which is trending down in L.A. this year.

Gascon, the former district attorney and police chief in San Francisco who also had a stint as an assistant chief in the Los Angeles Police Department, faced long odds in the race. Two days before the election, he trailed Hochman by 25 points.

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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) is projected to win reelection, per The Associated Press, defeating Courtney Kramer, a former Trump White House legal intern who said the charges Willis has pursued against the former president and his allies had prompted her to run.

Fulton is the most populous county in Georgia and a Democratic stronghold. Willis raised more than eight times as much money as Kramer, The Associated Press reported a few days before Election Day, noting that no Republican had even run for district attorney in Fulton County since 2000.

Kramer, 31, was an intern in the White House counsels office during Donald Trumps presidency.

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Willis has for years pursued criminal charges against Trump and others who sought to overturn the 2020 election. She launched her investigation just a few months into her first term in office, shortly after Trump pressured Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) to find 11,780 votes during a phone call on Jan. 2, 2021. A grand jury ultimately indicted Trump and 18 others in August 2023.

The resources that were used for that investigation could have been used for many other things that would have been much more beneficial for the citizens of Fulton County, and I want to give those citizens a voice, an opportunity to vote for somebody else, Kramer said of the Trump prosecution when she launched her candidacy.

The case hit turbulence with the revelation that Willis had a past relationship with the special prosecutor she assigned to lead the case, Nathan Wade. A judge allowed Willis to continue the prosecution if Wade stepped down from the case, which he did, but the case was stalled as a result of Trumps legal teams appeal of that decision. A hearing is set for December.

Last month, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee tossed three counts in the indictment, including two in the case against Trump. That was on top of six counts, including three against Trump, that he dismissed earlier this year. Prosecutors from Willis office have asked an appeals court to reinstate those counts.

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Out of 13 original counts against him, Trump currently faces eight, including the most serious, allegedly violating Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, Act. Four of Trumps co-defendants have pleaded guilty.

Willis has faced threats to her safety due to her offices prosecution of Trump and his allies. A man who left threatening voicemails targeting Willis and Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat was recently sentenced to nearly two years in prison, after pleading guilty in June. Another man, Marc Shultz, pleaded guilty in August to making death threats against Willis in online posts. Willis father said earlier this year that she has moved homes so often as a result of the threats that he doesnt know where she lives.

Willis has also faced personal attacks. Trump has referred to her name as Fanny, like your ass, and Rudy Giuliani has referred to the prosecutor as a ho.

I could drop the ho part if shed just quit and go away, said Giuliani, who has been disbarred in New Yorkand Washington, D.C., as a result of his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. A judge recently ordered him to hand over several luxury items and ownership of a Manhattan penthouse apartment to two Georgia election workers who he defamed following the last presidential election.

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The majority of voters in Gwinnett County rejected a potentially $17 billion tax increase to fund transit projects.

According to data from the Georgia Secretary of States Office, 53% of Gwinnett County voters said no to the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, also called a TSPLOST for short.

Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson previously covered how the TSPLOST would work, if approved by voters.

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The transit referendum would have increased sales taxes in the county by 1% over 30 years to pay for a variety of projects, including an expanded Bus Rapid Transit system.

County officials had earmarked 75 projects to be included in the funding package if the tax increase was approved, with estimates showing the increased sales tax was expected to generate $12 billion over the next 30 years.

Had it passed, county officials previously told Channel 2 Action News they would have used the money to pay for a direct shuttle route to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, expanded micro transit shuttle service across all of Gwinnett County, plus the aforementioned Bus Rapid Transit system.

Due to the majority of voters saying no on the ballot, those plans are dashed unless the county can find another way to fund the projects in question.

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GENEVA (AP)  Lebanon filed a complaint against Israel at the U.N.s labor organization over the string of deadly attacks involving exploding pagers, saying workers were among those killed and injured, a Lebanese government minister said Wednesday.

The wave of remotely triggered explosions that hit pagers and walkie-talkies carried by Hezbollah members in mid-September were widely blamed on Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. The blasts which went off in grocery stores, homes and on streets killed at least 37 people, including two children, and wounded around 3,000 people, according to Lebanese authorities, deeply unsettling even Lebanese who have no Hezbollah affiliation.

In addition to fighters, the detonating devices hit workers in Hezbollahs civilian institutions, including its health care and media operations.

Lebanese Labor Minister Moustafa Bayram and other officials said he traveled to Geneva and formally filed the complaint Tuesday against Israel at the International Labor Organization, a sprawling U.N. agency that brings together governments, businesses and workers.

This method of warfare and conflicts may open the way for many who are evading international humanitarian law to adopt this method of warfare, he told reporters at the U.N. compound in Geneva.

Its a very dangerous precedent, if not condemned, he said. We are in a situation where ordinary objects  objects used in daily life  become dangerous and lethal.

Speaking in Arabic, Bayram insisted that ILO conventions guarantee the safety and security of workers, who were in their workplace and had their pagers or walkies-talkies exploding all of a sudden, according to an interpreter.

"I do not know where the outcome (of the complaint) will go, but at least we raised our voices to say and warn against this dangerous approach that strikes at human relations and leads to more conflicts, he added.

An ILO spokeswoman said she was not immediately aware of the complaint or what redress might be possible through it.
The bulk of Cobb County voters rejected a 1% sales tax increase to help the county expand bus and shuttle transport over the next 30 years.

The ballot item, a Mobility Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or MSPLOST, Cobb voters denied the countys plan at a 62.3% to 37.6% margin.

Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell broke down county officials goals for the MSPLOST add-on before the election.

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At the time, Cobb Countys Director of Transportation said the 1% tax increase would bring in just over $10 billion to expand transit and operations.

It would expand 100 miles worth of high capacity transit and thats transit that based on bus route transit that is providing a rail-like service to connect key activity centers including the Battery, KSU, Six Flags and other areas, Drew Raessler, Director of Cobb County Transportation, told Channel 2 Action News previously.

Raessler also said previously that the funding would have helped Cobb build more activity hubs and would help as the county population grows over the next several decades.

According to the Georgia Sec. of States Office, almost 240,000 Cobb voters said no to the MSPLOST tax.

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Most polls across the state of Georgia are set to close at 7 p.m. But some sites across metro Atlanta will be staying open a little later.

Some of them are staying open because of late starts, others because of breaks that had to be taken because of non-credible threats made against some polling locations.

A DeKalb County polling location at the Reid Cofer Library in Tucker has been evacuated because of a bomb threat. There is no word yet on if it will stay open late.

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Here are the polling places where you will have a little extra time to cast your ballot for the next President of the United States:

Cobb County

Mount Paran Church of God (1700 Allgood Rd NE) - Open until 7:20 p.m.

Kell High School (4770 Lee Waters Road) - Open until 7:20 p.m.

Fulton County

Etris Darnell Community Center  Open until 7:45 p.m.

C.H. Gullatt Elementary School  Open until 7:15 p.m.

Southwest Arts Center  Open until 7:43 p.m.

Northwood Elementary School  Open until 7:45 p.m.

Lake Forest Elementary School  Open until 7:10 p.m.

Gwinnett County

Precinct 52 (Mountain Park Activity Building at 1063 Rockbridge Road) - Open until 7:58 p.m.

Precinct 112 (Mountain Park Activity Building at 1063 Rockbridge Road) - Open until 7:58 p.m.

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Several Georgia polling locations in the Atlanta area received bomb threats on Election Day that are believed to be linked to Russia, state and federal authorities said.

Five polling sites in Fulton County, six sites in DeKalb County, one in Gwinnett County and one in Clayton County received threats on Election Day that authorities said were not credible. However, all the locations had to close temporarily while law enforcement and the FBI investigated the threats.

The polling locations obtained court orders to stay open beyond the statewide 7 p.m. closing time to make up for the closures. Under Georgia law, poll hours can be extended for as much time as a precinct lost to closures and delays.

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State and federal officials said Tuesday that they concluded the threats, which were sent by email, came from Russia due to the Cyrillic letters in the text. Cyrillic script is the alphabet used in the Russian language.

Theyre up to mischief it seems, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a Tuesday press conference about the threats. They dont want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election.

Other swing states have received threats as well, including locations in Arizona and Michigan. The FBI also believes many of those threats may have originated in Russia. Those threats also were deemed to not be credible.

No polling locations in Middle Georgia received bomb threats on Election Day.

A polling location in Jones County received a threat in October. A 25-year-old poll worker from Milledgeville, Nicholas Wimbish, was arrested for the threats and charged with mailing a bomb threat, conveying false information about a bomb threat, mailing a threatening letter and making false statements to the FBI, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Wimbish faces up to 25 years in prison.
The far-right lawmaker, whose conspiracy theories and inflammatory comments have made her one of the most controversial members of Congress, cruised to reelection on election night

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at a news conference in Washington on May 18, 2023 Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at a news conference in Washington on May 18, 2023

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a controversial far-right Republican congresswoman, cruised to reelection on Tuesday, Nov. 5, handily defeating Democratic challenger Shawn Harris, a veteran and cattle farmer.

Greene, 50, will now serve a third term as the representative of Georgias 14th Congressional District, a Republican stronghold in the northwest part of the state.

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One of Donald Trump's staunchest allies in Congress, Greene has been the subject of considerable controversy since she was first elected in 2020.

Related: Marjorie Taylor Greene Rebuked for Displaying Nude Photos of Hunter Biden at Hearing: No One Deserves That

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Marjorie Taylor Greene Marjorie Taylor Greene

During her time in the House of Representatives, Greene has made several statements referencing conspiracy theories regarding both the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 election.

Her promotion of COVID-19 conspiracies led to the banning of her X account (when it was still Twitter) in 2022, though it was reinstated after Elon Musk bought the platform.

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Related: Congressman Who Lost Parents to COVID-19 Speaks on Marjorie Taylor Greene's 'Shameful' Fauci Comments (Exclusive)

Perhaps her most notable comment regarding the pandemic was when she compared mask-wearing to the Holocaust, remarks that she eventually apologized for after drawing fierce rebukes.

"I'm truly sorry for offending people with remarks about the Holocaust," Greene said at the tine. "There's no comparison and there never ever will be."

Those remarks led to Greene being stripped of her House committee assignments one month into her tenure in 2021, though she was named to new committees after Republicans took control of the chamber in 2023.

Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene shouts at President Joe Biden during the 2024 State of the Union Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene shouts at President Joe Biden during the 2024 State of the Union

Greene is no stranger to getting in heated arguments with her House colleagues, and has previously sparred with lawmakers on either side of the aisle, including former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

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On social media, Greene "liked" a Facebook comment that called for "a bullet to the head" of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and mused about whether a California wildfire was started by a space laser.

When fellow Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert  another fire-starter in Congress  introduced articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden in 2023, after Greene had previously introduced similar articles, the Georgia congresswoman confronted her on the House floor.

"Ive donated to you, Ive defended you. But youve been nothing but a little bitch to me," Greene told Boebert in front of their colleagues.

Related: House Hearing Spirals into Chaos After Marjorie Taylor Greene Insults Democrat's 'Fake Eyelashes': 'How Dare You?'

Win McNamee/Getty Marjorie Taylor Greene watches Lauren Boebert speak during a Capitol press conference on June 23, 2021

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Greenes second term in Congress was overshadowed by GOP infighting as the majority party in the House. The Rome, Ga., native filed an unsuccessful motion to remove Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position, a role he was elevated to after Republicans ousted previous Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

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After Georgia and other southern states were devastated by Hurricane Helene in September, Greene  who denies that human activity impacts climate change  popularized a false right-wing conspiracy theory that the government was controlling the weather and sending hurricanes to Republican areas ahead of the election.

Before Helene made landfall, Greene was one of the House Republicans who voted against supplying additional FEMA funding to help with recovery efforts.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. election, voicing hope for a "restart" of Georgian-U.S. relations.

Trump defeated his Democratic challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris, in a crucial vote on Nov. 5 with worldwide geopolitical and security implications.

"I am confident that President Trumps leadership will promote peace globally and in our region as well as ensure restart in U.S.-Georgia relations," Kobakhidze said on X.

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Tbilisi's ties with the West have deteriorated after the ruling Georgian Dream adopted controversial "foreign agents" law and anti-LGBT legislation and pulled the country into Moscow's orbit.

Tensions only mounted after Georgian Dream declared victory in the Oct. 26 parliamentary elections despite widespread accusations of a rigged vote. The U.S. called for an investigation of the irregularities accompanying the elections.

Georgian Dream's democratic backsliding and a shift toward Moscow led to the U.S. halting cooperation projects and cutting financial assistance, deepening the chasm between once close partners.

Trump candidate has traditionally boasted warm relations with illiberal and authoritarian leaders abroad.

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Hungary's illiberal Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally both to Trump and Georgian Dream, has celebrated Trump's reelection as a "much needed victory for the World."

Read also: Opinion: Rigged elections have stolen Georgias European future

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Germany's Cabinet approved legislation introducing a new form of military service on Wednesday, according to government sources.

The legislation, presented by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, reinstates a military register that young men must join when they turn 18, stating whether they are willing and able to do military service.

"The law on the new military service enables us to reinstall the military registration that no longer exists since compulsory basic military service was abolished in 2011. If a state of defence were to arise tomorrow, we would not know who we could conscript because there is no complete database," Pistorius told dpa ahead of the decision.

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Russia's war on Ukraine has prompted Germany to revisit its defence posture, which increasingly suffered from a lack of investment since the end of the Cold War as imminent threats appeared to diminish.

Compulsory military service was abolished in Germany in 2011 after 55 years, leading to the dismantling of all related processes, including a register.

However, the law continued to allow for compulsory military service to be reinstated if the parliament declared a state of defence.

The German military, or Bundeswehr, has been dogged by personnel problems. As of June, it had less than 180,000 troops on its records, as well as an additional 60,000 permanently integrated reservists.

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Pistorius said that Germany needs around 460,000 solders to meet NATO targets and that "a large proportion of these, around 260,000 must be able to be drawn from the reserves."

According to the Bundeswehr, there are currently about 15,000 training places for voluntary military service providers, of which 5,000 are regularly vacant.

The Bundeswehr also plans to create an additional 3,000 training spots per year.

Military planners believe the mandatory register and voluntary service places will be sufficient to secure enough applicants.

The German Constitution only provides for compulsory military service for men, which is why the register is optional for women.

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The basic training for the new military service is to last six months, with the option of extending it to up to 23 months if people choose to specialize in a specific area.

Pistorius said a salary of at least 1,800 ($1,900) is being considered for recruits, and possibly up to 200 more depending on the circumstances.

The legislation must now pass through Germany's two houses of parliament. It could come into force in May of next year.
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sacked his Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Wednesday after weeks of wrangling over the future economic direction of the government, two sources told Reuters.

Newspaper Bild had earlier reported that Lindner had proposed early elections as a solution to the impasse, a proposal Scholz had rejected.

Scholz's office invited reporters for a news briefing at 2115 local time (2015 GMT).

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; editing by Matthias Williams)
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is to travel to France for talks with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu on Wednesday evening, following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election.

The talks are expected to focus on the consequences of Trump's victory, in particular for the future support for Ukraine, which has been fighting for more than two and a half years against Russia, as well as for European defence policy.

Washington has been a central provider of military support to Ukraine, which Trump has long criticized.

During his election campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in a very short time and has held Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky jointly responsible for the war.
Germanys fragile government has collapsed after Olaf Scholz fired his finance minister on Wednesday evening.

The Chancellor sacked Christian Lindner after days of crisis talks and amid a deluge of rumours that his turbulent coalition was about to come to an end.

In a statement to the press on Wednesday evening, the chancellor accused his finance minister of breaking his trust and putting the short-term survival of his party over the wellbeing of the country.

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Mr Scholz, 66, said that he would put his chancellorship to a vote of confidence in January, a move that will clear the way for early elections in March.

Mr Lindner, head of the pro-business Free Democrats, had been pushing for corporate tax relief and a delay to net zero targets as part of a comprehensive package to get the economy moving after years of stagnation.

Last week, Christian Lindner set out his conditions for staying in government - Filip Singer/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mr Scholz claimed that he made a generous offer to Mr Lindner but that the finance minister showed no interest whatsoever in accepting this offer for the good of the country.

Too often, Mr Lindner has blocked laws in an irrelevant manner, too often he has engaged in petty party-political tactics, too often he has broken my trust, Mr Scholz said.

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Mr Lindner hit back in a statement made shortly after in which he accused Mr Scholz of not having the strength to give our country a new start.

He added that the Chancellor had tried to get him to suspend the countrys strict debt brake rules, something he refused to accept.

At the end of last week, Mr Lindner set out his conditions for staying in the government in an internal paper that called for an economic transformation.

Among the measures were a demand to cut the corporate tax level, freeze all new business regulations and push back the target of achieving net zero by five years.

The paper was immediately rejected by Mr Scholzs Social Democrats and the Greens, the third party in the coalition.

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Mr Scholz began non-stop crisis meetings with his finance minister and vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck of the Greens on Monday, but the three men failed to reach agreement.

Mr Habeck also made a statement on Wednesday. Seemingly referring to the outcome of the US election, he said the breakdown of the coalition was tragic on a day like this when Europe should be showing solidarity.

Mr Scholz formed Germanys first ever three-party coalition in 2021 on the promise to dare more progress.

However, plans to focus on investing in the green transition and modernise Germanys outdated infrastructure were thrown into chaos two months later by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Olaf Scholz has presided over a turbulent coalition since 2021 - Filip Singer/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mr Scholz and his ministers then had to switch into crisis mode as they sought new energy suppliers after previous governments had almost exclusively bought natural gas from the Kremlin.

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Ideological struggles, particularly between the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats quickly emerged over issues including fuel subsidies and the planned shutdown of the countrys remaining nuclear power plants.

An attempt by the Greens to ban all new gas heating installations in private homes led to the governments popularity plummeting, while Mr Scholz was often criticised for an inability to communicate properly with the public.

Polling has shown the coalition, often referred to as the traffic light coalition due to the colours of the three parties involved, as the least popular of any since polling began.

Mr Scholz points to the fact that the energy crisis has been stabilised as proof that his government has made progress despite the negative press.

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Local auto repair shops sending jobs back to the dealership due to financial restraints, costly tech for new cars

As the technology in new vehicles becomes increasingly sophisticated, local repair shops, like Ted's Auto Clinic in Chicago, owned by brothers George and Chris Geropoulos, face mounting financial and logistical barriers to repairing modern cars.

The auto repair shop, opened by their father in 1982, is increasingly unable to service newer cars, which often require a special scanner and a subscription service to access the car's computer to perform diagnostics and make repairs.

Don't miss

Its one of those things. As time goes by, we have to focus on more cars we can actually service and turn away work on a lot of the ones we cannot. A lot of the reasons we cannot service a car is because of financial constraints, George told Fox 32 reporters.

These scanner subscription tools, he reports, can cost between $65 and $40,000 per year, depending on the car type. These tools prevent hackers from accessing the car's computer and exploiting vulnerabilities.

But it appears  thanks to the expense  that theyre also preventing some mechanics from being able to service certain vehicles. Here's why that could be bad news for consumers.

How hackers have changed car repair services

In 2015, Andy Greenberg was driving a Jeep Cherokee when hackers took over his vehicle. They blasted the air conditioning, cranked the music, and even blurred the windshield with wiper fluid. Then, they cut the transmission, leaving the Cherokee stopped in the middle of the interstate with cars lining up behind it. Greenberg was the victim of a zero-day exploit that allowed hackers to access multiple systems in his vehicle.

Luckily for him, the hack was expected  he was a willing participant, allowing hackers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek to show how these exploits could be used to disable vehicles. Since then, car manufacturers have made drastic changes to how car mechanics can access car computers. New cars now feature gateway computers  secure systems that manage everything from the vehicles engine to safety features and prevent unauthorized access.

These gateways require costly tools and software to access, which often come with steep subscription fees. Independent shops must purchase the initial scan tools  the Geropoulos universal tool ran them between $4,000 to $5,000, and it works on multiple types of cars.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Donald Trump on his imminent victory in the US presidential election, as economists warned of the impact his return to office would have on the global economy.

Scholz wrote on X: "I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens."

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also called for continued close cooperation with the future US administration, stressing the importance of trans-Atlantic relations.

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"Especially in this troubled world full of conflicts and uncertainties, our cooperation is of great value and strength, bilaterally and as partners in NATO and the United Nations," Steinmeier said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, while congratulating Trump, noted that the US-Germany relationship would have "unquestionable political differences."

"Germany will continue to be a close, reliable ally for the future American government," she said, adding that "our transatlantic friendship does not rest on a single party."

But the minister emphasized that both domestic political conditions and foreign policy relations would need to be readjusted after the election.

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Awaiting the official result, German economists warned on Wednesday of the economic consequences of a second Trump presidency. The former president has previously said he plans to impose tariffs on EU products.

Jorg Kramer, chief economist at Germany's Commerzbank, warned that tariffs would not only raise the prices of German goods in the United States, but would also likely lead to counter-tariffs by the EU, "which would further burden foreign trade."

The president of Germany's BGA foreign trade association, Dirk Jandura, echoed this sentiment: "We take a critical view of import tariffs on European and Chinese products. The world needs fewer, not more, trade restrictions."

"An American president can and must never be just and exclusively 'America first,'" Jandura added.

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He said that the US is Germany's most important trading partner and ally in a time of global upheaval.

According to the BGA, German traders will watch cautiously for the first official acts of the future president.
Germany's Public Prosecutor has brought charges against a man in relation to a fatal knife attack in the south-western city of Mannheim, a spokeswoman from the prosecutor's office said on Wednesday.

The prosecutor accused the man of murder, attempted murder and grievous bodily harm. The state senate is now to decide whether to schedule a trial.

The man is charged with injuring five participants of a rally of the Islam-critical movement Pax Europa and a police officer in a market square in Mannheim at the end of May. The police officer later died of his injuries.

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Another police officer shot the attacker, who had to be taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery.

He was arrested a few weeks later and has been in custody since mid-June.

The German prosecutor assumes the attack was religiously motivated. Prosecutor General Jens Rommel said that the accused had resorted to massive violence, presumably to prevent criticism of Islam. He said he did not see a link to jihadism in the case.

The attacker, who is originally from Afghanistan, came to Germany as a teenager in 2013 and applied for asylum, which he was denied presumably because of his age, dpa learned.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone conference on Wednesday morning in view of Donald Trump's likely impending victory in the US presidential election.

A German government spokesman said the two European leaders had agreed to coordinate closely with each other. No further details of the conversation were initially disclosed.

"We will work in this new context for a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe. In cooperation with the US and defending our interests and values," Macron wrote on X after the conversation.

The conservative broadcaster Fox News had already declared Republican candidate Trump the overall winner against Democrat Kamala Harris, but other media networks and US news agency AP have not done so. Trump declared himself the winner in a speech in Florida.
Germany and Somalia are to cooperate on stepping up the deportation of migrants from the East African country.

After a meeting with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Berlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the leaders agreed that migrants without the legal right to remain in Germany "will be repatriated quickly and efficiently."

Scholz said the deportations would mostly affect serious criminals.

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"This is also in the interest of the very large community of Somalis here in Germany, who are doing well and are well integrated," the chancellor said.

A total of 65,000 Somalis live in Germany. Scholz said only a "small number" do not have the right to stay in the country.
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) plans to expel three party members who are suspected of belonging to a neo-Nazi group, the party leader for the eastern state of Saxony said on Wednesday.

Jorg Urban said: "The AfD rejects any form of violence in political debate. Even preparations for possible acts of violence or uprisings are unacceptable."

The party said that the executive committee's decision to expel the party members was unanimous, but still has to be ruled on by the state arbitration court.

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The leaders of the national party, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, said in a statement that they supported the expulsion.

The decision came after an AfD member was detained, along with seven other German nationals, for suspected membership in a militant group called the "Saxon Separatists" on Tuesday in Saxony and Poland.

Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office described the group as a militant organization of 15 to 20 individuals hoping to "establish a state and society based on National Socialism" in eastern Germany.

Its members, prosecutors said, share a profound rejection of Germany's free and democratic constitutional order, and an ideology marked by racist, anti-Semitic and apocalyptic beliefs.

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The group is reportedly convinced that Germany is on the verge of "collapse," after which the organization plans to take control of areas in Saxony and possibly other eastern German states by force.

Prosecutors said that, under the group's plan, "undesired groups of people are to be removed from the area by ethnic cleansing if necessary."

The AfD member who was arrested is a local politician for the party. According to security sources, he sustained a jaw injury during his arrest.

The man is said to have appeared before police officers with a long gun during the raid, prompting the police to fire two warning shots.

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According to dpa information, he is a hunter and, like one of the other people detained, has a firearms licence. Unregistered weapons and ammunition were also reportedly found during raids on Tuesday.

An investigating judge issued a pre-trial detention order for six of the suspects on Tuesday evening, according to a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office in the western city of Karlsruhe.

It was initially unclear when the remaining two suspects would be brought before the judge.

The AfD members concerned are to be excluded from exercising any rights as party members with immediate effect until the arbitration court makes its decision.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition met for more crisis talks on Wednesday in an attempt to avert a government collapse.

Scholz, of the Social Democrats, met with Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the Greens and Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business Free Democrats.

It was the second meeting the three politicians held on Wednesday alone and the latest in a series of discussions in recent days.

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The coalition parties are trying to find common ground ahead of a formal coalition committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening.

The main sticking point is how a huge hole in the 2025 budget can be plugged before a decisive meeting of the budget committee on November 14, and how the ailing German economy can be dragged back to growth as it faces another year of recession.
German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck says he regrets that the country's coalition government is falling apart, after Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

The coalition did not have the best reputation, Habeck, from the Greens, said in Berlin on Wednesday evening, admitting that the three coalition partners, which also include Scholz's Social Democrats and Lindner's pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), argued frequently.

"Nevertheless, I want to say for us that this feels wrong and not right tonight, almost tragic on a day like this, when Germany has to show unity and the ability to act in Europe," Habeck said following coalition crisis talks in the chancellery in Berlin.

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Although possible solutions were on the table, it had not been possible to plug the massive hole in Germany's 2025 draft budget, a major sticking point for the parties, Habeck said.

"The FDP was not willing to go down these avenues."

Lindner's dismissal was ultimately as logical as it was unnecessary, Habeck said.

The way would now be cleared quickly for new elections, he said, predicting that voters would go to the polls next spring, months ahead of the next elections originally scheduled for September 2025.

"Until then, we are in office. And we are determined to fully fulfil the duties of office," said Habeck. "From tomorrow, the work continues."
BERLIN (AP)  Germanys center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday he was firing Finance Minister Christian Lindner, signaling the collapse of the ruling three-party coalition that relied on Lindners pro-business party.

Scholz announced the move at a news conference following weeks of disputes among the coalition partners over ways to boost the country's ailing economy. He said he would seek a vote of confidence in January that he said might lead to early elections that otherwise would be due next September.

I feel compelled to take this step to prevent damage to our country. We need an effective government that has the strength to make the necessary decisions for our country," Scholz said.

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Lindner, from the pro-business Free Democrats, had rejected tax increases or changes to Germanys strict self-imposed limits on running up debt. Scholzs Social Democrats and the environmental Greens, who are also part of the coalition, wanted to see massive state investment and rejected the Free Democrats' proposals to cut welfare programs.

Lindner responded to his dismissal by accusing Scholz of failing "to recognize the need for a new economic awakening in our country. He has played down the economic concerns of the citizens.

He said the chancellor's proposals to reenergize the economy were dull, unambitious and make no contribution to overcoming the fundamental weakness of our countrys growth.

Scholz said about Lindner that he has broken my trust too often. He even unilaterally canceled the agreement on the budget. After we had already agreed on it in long negotiations. There is no basis of trust for further cooperation. Serious government work is not possible like this.

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He accused Lindner of publicly calling for a fundamentally different economic policy, including what Scholz said would be tax cuts worth billions for a few top earners while at the same time cutting pensions for all pensioners. That is not decent, Scholz said.

Scholz said he would seek the vote of confidence in Germany's Bundestag, or parliament, on Jan. 15, which would "allow the members of the Bundestag to decide whether to clear the way for early elections. The election could then take place by the end of March at the latest, in compliance with the deadlines set out in constitution," he said.

The regular election is scheduled for September 2025.

Germanys economy is expected to shrink in 2024 for the second year in a row, or at best stagnate, battered by external shocks and home-grown problems including red tape and a shortage of skilled labor.

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Scholzs center-left Social Democrats, Vice Chancellor Robert Habecks environmentalist, left-leaning Greens and Lindners pro-business Free Democrats  a party that in recent decades has mostly allied with conservatives  set out in 2021 to form an ambitious, progressive coalition straddling ideological divisions that would modernize Germany.

The government can point to achievements: preventing an energy crunch after Russia cut off its gas supplies to Germany, initiating the modernization of the military and a series of social reforms. But the impression it has left with many Germans is of deepening dysfunction.

Ahead of the vote of confidence in January, Scholz said he would reach out to opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the center-right Christian Democrats to confer on possible ways of strengthening the economy and defense.

I will now very quickly seek talks with the leader of the opposition, Scholz said. He said he wants to offer Merz the possibility of working together on issues that are crucial for our country, on quickly strengthening our economy and our defense."
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has congratulated Donald Trump, as the former US president appears poised to return to the White House.

"I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens," the chancellor wrote on X on Wednesday.

The conservative broadcaster Fox News had already declared Republican candidate Trump the overall winner against Democrat Kamala Harris, but other media networks and US news agency AP have not done so. Trump declared himself the winner in a speech in Florida.
Q : Can you clarify if the recent $3 billion in PCF sales are related to new customer announcements or previous deals? Also, how are these sales impacting your business growth? A : The $3 billion in PCF sales are part of the total $8.5 billion, and we won't differentiate between buckets. These sales act as a magnet, especially with all three clouds involved, creating an ecosystem. The uptick in IP and wave sales indicates customers' need for expanded networks due to increased workloads, aligning with AI strategies that require robust network strategies. Kathleen Johnson, CEO

The company acknowledges that its current financial results make it difficult to envision long-term success, requiring time for transformation efforts to reflect in financials.

The company is making significant progress in its transformation into a digital network services company, focusing on AI and cloud services.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .

Story Continues

Q: Regarding the incremental PCF sales, should we expect a similar timeline and structure as the previous deals? A: Yes, the incremental deals signed this quarter are similar in terms of margins, cash flows, and timing to the previous $5 billion. This consistency should help in modeling future expectations. Christopher Stansbury, CFO

Q: Are the new PCF sales mostly from big tech, or is there enterprise demand as well? How does this affect CapEx requirements? A: The customer mix includes both repeat and new business, predominantly from companies building AI models. Enterprises are also involved but on a smaller scale. The CapEx requirements for these sales are similar to previous deals, and future sales will involve new routes, which will be incorporated into next year's guidance. Kathleen Johnson, CEO and Christopher Stansbury, CFO

Q: Can you provide clarity on the mass market business and any potential interest in acquiring that asset? A: The mass market business is seen as two separate entities: copper and fiber. While we have no news to report today, the market is noticing our execution, and consolidation is expected. The economics of the consumer business are clear, and we are open to strategic options. Christopher Stansbury, CFO

Q: How does recent competitive activity affect the attractiveness of your mass market growth opportunity? A: The markets where fiber is being built are attractive, and our fiber footprint is significant. We are the largest asset yet to be consolidated, and we see potential for further fiber build-out. Christopher Stansbury, CFO

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sacked Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business Free Democrats, a government spokesman told dpa on Wednesday evening, as Germany's troubled coalition government threatened to collapse.

The move comes after days of crisis talks among Scholz's coalition of Social Democrats, the pro-business FDP and the Greens of Economy Minister Robert Habeck.

The main sticking point is how to plug a huge hole in the 2025 budget, with the parties at odds over how to address Germany's ailing economy. The opposition, meanwhile, is calling on the coalition to break apart and pave the way for early elections.

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Ahead of Scholz's dismissal, Lindner had suggested that Scholz pave the way for snap parliamentary elections, since the parties could not see eye to eye on economic and financial policy issues, dpa learned from participants in the top-level coalition talks.

Germany is next due to hold elections in September 2025.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Donald Trump to cooperate with Europe, following the former president's re-election to the White House on Wednesday.

"Together we can achieve much more than we can against each other," the chancellor said in Berlin, emphasizing that the offer of reliable cooperation also applies "in view of the threat that Russia poses to security in Europe in the opinion of all NATO allies."

The chancellor earlier congratulated Trump on his election victory and emphasized the importance of trans-Atlantic ties.

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"For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the well-being of our citizens," he wrote on X.

Washington's allies fear that Trump could withdraw vital US military support for Ukraine, which has been fighting against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than two and a half years.

Trump has been critical of US military support to Ukraine. During his election campaign, he promised to end the war in Ukraine in a very short time and has held Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky jointly responsible for the war.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also called for continued close cooperation with the future US administration: "Especially in this troubled world full of conflicts and uncertainties, our cooperation is of great value and strength, bilaterally and as partners in NATO and the United Nations."

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Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, while congratulating Trump, cautioned that the US-Germany relationship would have "unquestionable political differences."

"Germany will continue to be a close, reliable ally for the future American government," she said, adding that "our trans-Atlantic friendship does not rest on a single party."

But the minister emphasized that both domestic political conditions and foreign policy relations would need to be readjusted after the election.

Economists warn of consequences of Trump's re-election

German economists warned on Wednesday of the economic consequences of a second Trump presidency. The former president has previously said he plans to impose tariffs on EU products.

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Jorg Kramer, chief economist at Germany's Commerzbank, warned that tariffs would not only raise the prices of German goods in the United States, but would also likely lead to counter-tariffs by the EU, "which would further burden foreign trade."

The president of Germany's BGA foreign trade association, Dirk Jandura, echoed this sentiment: "We take a critical view of import tariffs on European and Chinese products. The world needs fewer, not more, trade restrictions."

"An American president can and must never be just and exclusively 'America first,'" Jandura added.

He said that the US is Germany's most important trading partner and ally in a time of global upheaval.

According to the BGA, German traders will watch cautiously for the first official acts of the future president.
Germany's governing Social Democrats (SPD) party said on Wednesday that it was more important than ever that the coalition finds a way out of the its government crisis in the wake of Donald Trump's re-election to the White House.

"I hope that everyone will now throw party-tactical considerations overboard, that they will look each other in the eye in the coalition committee this evening, that they will once again realize what responsibility they now bear," SPD leader Lars Klingbeil said.

The three parties have met for a series of crisis talks in recent days in an attempt to find common ground on the government's economic policy ahead of a coalition committee meeting on Wednesday evening.

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The leader of the Green party, which is also part of the government coalition, also emphasized the urgent need for the government to cooperate.

Omid Nouripour said: "We have the opportunity tonight to signal that we have understood the seriousness of the situation and are taking appropriate action and acting responsibly."

Finance Minister Christian Lindner, whose recent policy paper demanding a fundamental "reorientation" of the government's economic policy set off speculation of an imminent government collapse, said that Trump's victory was a reason for Germany, the European Union and NATO to "do our economic and security policy homework more urgently than ever."
In another brazen move by Rudy Giuliani, the former Trump attorney showed up at his polling place on Tuesday in a vintage Mercedes convertible that he was ordered to surrender to the former Fulton County election workers who he defamed during the 2020 election.

The former New York City mayor, who wore a US flag print shirt and FDNY hat, wielded a selfie stick from the passenger seat of the blue convertible 1980 Model SL500, which was once owned by Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall, the New York Post reported.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued the order late Monday after lawyers for Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea Shaye Moss reported to the court that they went to Giulianis Manhattan apartment last week to see what assets were there, but that it had been cleared out.

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Save for some rugs, a dining room table, some stray pieces of small furniture and inexpensive wall art, and a handful of smaller items like dishes and stereo equipment, the apartment has been emptied of all of its contents, attorney Aaron Nathan said according to the Post.

Liman had set an Oct. 29 deadline for Giuliani to surrender many of his possessions to representatives for Freeman and Moss, but none of the items has been turned over yet, lawyers for the former election workers said Monday. The judge ordered Giuliani and his lawyers to appear in court on Thursday.

Those possessions include his $5 million Upper East Side apartment, a 1980 Mercedes once owned by movie star Lauren Bacall and a variety of other belongings  from his television to a shirt signed by New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio to 26 luxury watches.

A spokesperson for Giuliani told The Post on Tuesday that his lawyers have requested documentation to transfer over the title of the Mercedes, but havent heard back from Freeman and Moss attorneys.

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Giuliani filed for bankruptcy after a jury awarded Fulton County election workers Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss $148 million after they said he continued to spread lies about them tampering with votes from the 2020 election.

When Giuliani filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December, he said he had less than $10 million in assets but more than $100 million in debt.

In July, a federal judge threw out Giulianis bankruptcy case, saying it was in the best interests of creditors.

In October, a judge ordered that Giuliani had to turn over all his possessions and his Manhattan apartment to Freeman and Moss to help pay off the $148 million judgement.

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Nathan pointed out the reports of Giuliani in the Mercedes to the judge in a court filing Tuesday.

It is clear that Mr. Giuliani is flouting his obligations under the Courts Turnover and Receivership Order, Nathan wrote.

Michael Ragusa, head of Giulianis security, sent a statement to The Associated Press referencing the 1980 Mercedes.

Mayor Giuliani, is an 80-year-old man with a bad knee and 9/11-related lung disease, he relies on this vehicle as his primary means of transportation in Florida, where there is no mass transit system like New York Citys, Ragusa wrote. The way he is being pushed toward poverty by those targeting him  after all he has done for this country  is appalling and it is clearly politically motivated.

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The judge originally scheduled a status conference by phone for Thursday but changed it to an in-person hearing and specifically ordered Giuliani to appear in person in response to the report by Freeman and Moss attorneys.

Goodman said Giuliani has made his possessions available to Freeman and Moss. He did not directly answer questions about why no assets have been turned over so far.

Opposing counsel, acting either negligently or deliberately in a deceptive manner, are simply attempting to further bully and intimidate Mayor Giuliani until he is rendered penniless and homeless, Goodman said in a statement. This is just another way that theyve weaponized our once-sacred justice system. It should concern each and every American.

Goodman added that Giuliani has put a few items in storage over the past year and anything else removed was related to his two livestream programs that stream each and every weeknight across his social media platforms.

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On Tuesday afternoon, Liman rejected a request made earlier in the day by Giulianis lawyer, Kenneth Caruso, to either postpone the in-person hearing to next week or hold it by phone on Thursday as originally planned. Caruso said in a court filing that Giuliani had a contractual commitment to perform a live radio broadcast on Thursday and Friday evenings.

In order to keep this commitment, he needs to be in his condo in Palm Beach, where he has his broadcasting equipment, Caruso wrote, referring to Giulianis property in Florida. We note that broadcasts, such as those described above, currently provide Mr. Giulianis only source of earned income.

Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and longtime ally of Trump, was found liable for defamation for falsely accusing Freeman and Moss of ballot fraud during the 2020 election. Giuliani accused them of sneaking in ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines, as he pushed Trumps unsubstantiated election fraud allegations.

Freeman and Moss said the lies led to death threats against them that made them fear for their lives. A jury awarded them $148 million last year, and they have been seeking to take possession of many of Giulianis assets in the court case in New York.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.




GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  The Grand Junction Police Department is seeking the communitys help in locating a missing teen.

Aubrie Vogel, 13, was last seen traveling southbound on 27 1/2 Road toward Patterson Road around 2:45 p.m., Saturday. Vogel was described as 53, 120 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing brown jeans with crosses on the back pockets, a tan hoodie and canvas shoes.

The police department said in a Facebook post it is wanting help locating Vogel to verify her welfare.

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If anyone knows her whereabouts, contact non-emergency dispatch at 970-242-6707. If anyone wants to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Mesa County at 970-241-STOP or 241stop.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
Two 18-year-olds from Glassboro died in Mantua when their vehicle hit two trees and overturned off Route 55, police said.

Separately, police are investigating fatal hit-and-run accidents in Pine Hill and Washington Township.

In other fatal crashes on area highways, a motorist lost her life in a fiery crash in Gloucester Township, while a trucker died when his rig left a ramp in Bellmawr.

The Glassboro teenagers  Gavin Stoner and Zembalist Lewis  were ejected when Stoner's car left northbound 55, hit two trees and overturned around 10:40 p.m. Nov. 2, according to New Jersey State Police. The accident occurred on northbound 55 near milepost 51.6.

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Highway shooting: Former Vineland man is facing a long prison term

Glassboro's school district issued a statement expressing sadness at "the tragic loss" of Lewis and Stoner.

Lewis was a Glassboro High School senior and Stoner was a 2024 graduate, according to the statement.

"We are thankful to have had them as our students, and we ask you to keep their families, friends, and the entire school community in your thoughts," it said.

In Washington Township, police say a car fled after striking a pedestrian on southbound Fries Mill Road near Adele Drive around 8 p.m. on Nov. 4.

The victim, 58-year-old John DeMarco of Turnersville, died at an area hospital.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact Washington Township Police Officer Frank Cicalese at fjcicalese@pd.twp.washington.nj.us or call the Detective Bureau at 856-589-0330.

The Pine Hill incident occurred around 1 a.m. Nov. 2 on the 900 block of Turnersville Road, between Estates Road and MacKnight Drive, local police said.

The victim was identified only as a 26-year-old man.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Pine Hill police at 856-783-1549, extension 426, or by emailing jfield@pinehillpd.com.

Also on Nov. 2, Joanne Gilkey, 45, of Bellmawr, was driving a car that veered off northbound Route 42 in Gloucester Township, police said.

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The vehicle hit a sign support and a tree near milepost 8, and then burst into flames at approximately 1:25 p.m., police said.

In the Nov. 5 accident, 46-year-old Jorge Valdivia died when his truck went off the ramp from eastbound I-76 to northbound I-295 in Bellmawr.

The North Arlington, Bergen County, man was ejected during the accident shortly after 2 a.m., police said.

All of the accidents remain under investigation.

(This story was updated to add information.)

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Gavin Stoner, Zembalist Lewis of Glassboro, NJ school killed in crash
DANVILLE, Va. (WFXR)  Gods Pit Crews Immediate Disaster Response Team will be sending out a second wave of volunteers as a start of their Holiday Relief Mission.

Volunteers will be sent to Western North Carolina to serve residents who are still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene.

With the Holiday season starting, most families are still struggling with tragic losses and damage after Helene. The Holiday Relief Mission will assist in restoration efforts and give hope to those impacted in the communities to help during the holidays.

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There have been recovery efforts over the last four weeks in Asheville with volunteers from 25 states to aid over 200 families.

Once they return home for a small break, volunteers will be sent out to North Carolina for relief efforts and as a part of Gods Pit Crew Holiday Relief Mission. There will be red tractor-trailers that are fully equipped to aid homeowners with flood cleanup, mold remediation, structure demolition, and damaged tree and debris removal.

Gods Pit Crew continues storm relief efforts after Hurricane Helene

If you are looking to volunteer visit GodsPitCrew.org. If you are in need of assistance there is a North Carolina Assistance Form on the website as well.

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Some of the most heartbreaking experiences and testimonies weve encountered in our 25-year run have come from this storm, shared Gods Pit Crew President Randy Johnson. Our prayers continue to pour out for everyone impacted  from immense property damage to loss in families, this will be a long road ahead to navigate for a lot of people.



Holiday Relief Mission will be a powerful way to come together and serve others in need  providing hope and love when it has seemed so distant over the past month, added Johnson. We pray to help as many people impacted by Helene as possible, and we rely on the donors and volunteers who act as the main heartbeats of the ministry to keep fueling us forward.

Volunteer and donation opportunities can be found at GodsPitCrew.org or by calling and talking to a representative at (434) 836-4472.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Spencerport, N.Y. (WROC) Congratulations to Ryan Barclay, our latest Golden Apple Award winner.

Barclay directs the 8th grade band at Cosgrove Middle School in Spencerport. Principal James Centola says, He works with 85 students in his 8th grade band, and he just does such an amazing job with connecting with students and tapping into their potential.

This is the third year in a row he has worked with this group of students. Centola adds, He has just done such a wonderful job of getting to know our students, to challenge our students to capitalize on their strengths to provide that feedback. He just does a wonderful job of working with our students in band.

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Carlianne Collyer decided to nominate him for a Golden Apple Award because she says he makes band fun by picking music the students like.

Hes like the sweetest teacher I have ever had, and he makes our band feel like a huge family and also if it wasnt for his teaching, I wouldnt still be in band, she says.

This is Mr. Barclays 20th year teaching. I love it, my entire life Ive loved it. I grew up in the band program. I just like seeing kids grow and have fun.

He cant imagine doing anything else. I dont know what else I would do. this is just what I do, says Barclay.

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He hopes his students will continue to love it as much as he does.

Good and bad teachers have inspired me. Teachers that are like hmm, I dont want to do that and teachers that are like wow, thats amazing. Ive had college professors, and my high school band director was a big influence, says Barclay.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
(Reuters) - Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon on Wednesday congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his election victory, echoing earlier comments from CEOs in the technology industry.

"Closer to Goldman Sachs, it's clear that a new administration will bring policy changes potentially important to our business and clients," Solomon said in an internal memo to employees that also called for unity after the result.

(Reporting by Saeed Azhar in New York)
Im 67 years old and have a good amount of money stashed away in my HSA  but how do I use it now that Im retired?

Health savings accounts were created in 2003 as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act. Those with qualifying high-deductible health plans can make deductible contributions to HSAs, with the goal of providing a pot of tax-free funds to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses.

HSAs come with annual contribution limits, which vary by year and depend on whether you have an individual or family plan. In 2025, for example, those with a qualifying individual plan will be able to contribute up to $4,300 while those with a family plan are allowed to invest up to $8,550.

Don't miss

This money doesnt have to be spent right away. You can invest and allow it to grow over time. If youve done that consistently since 2003, youd have tens of thousands in your account now, depending on how your investments performed.

But that leaves you with a big question: how should you spend all that money as a retiree? Heres what you need to know to figure that out.

You can withdraw HSA money tax-free for any reason after turning 65

The first thing to know is that youre allowed to withdraw money penalty-free from your HSA for any reason after 65. Before that time, if you withdraw money other than for qualifying medical expenses, youd face a 20% penalty.

This rule provides flexibility to use your HSA funds for anything you need in retirement. However, theres a big catch. HSAs allow tax-free withdrawals, but only if youre using the money for qualifying expenses related to health care.

If youre using HSA money for other expenses, youll be taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. Essentially, this will mean the account works like a 401(k). Your money was contributed with pre-tax funds, it grew tax-free, but youre taxed on it as a senior.

This isnt the worst outcome since you already got a tax break. However, you lose one of the biggest advantages HSAs offer  the ability to both make tax-free contributions and take tax-free withdrawals if the money is used for medical care.

Read more: The average American family spends $23,968/year for health insurance  just 3 minutes can help you nail down less expensive coverage
Democrat Maggie Goodlander (left) celebrated her victory with supporters in Concord. (Claire Sullivan | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Maggie Goodlander has spent years in D.C. working across the branches of government. On Tuesday, voters in New Hampshires 2nd Congressional District sent her back to the capital as their new U.S. representative.

Goodlander, a former Biden administration official with deep political connections, will replace Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster, who has held the seat since 2013 and did not seek reelection. Goodlander has spent months pitching her time in D.C. as a positive as her opponents criticized her time away from the district.

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She focused her campaign on taking on the bullies that she described as big corporations and extreme politicians. Goodlander also entered the race with a deeply personal story: She needed immediate care after losing her son at 20 weeks pregnant. Instead, she said, she faced delays caused by an influx of patients from states with restrictive abortion laws. With her appointment scheduled one day too late, she was forced to deliver her stillborn son in a hotel bathtub.

Goodlander has said she would fight like hell to restore federal abortion protections once guaranteed by Roe v. Wade, which was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.

Around 11:30 p.m., Goodlander, 38, embraced supporters in Concord, exclaiming: You guys, thank you  its official. Almost official, she added. Her Republican opponent had just called her to concede.

Talking to reporters, Goodlander  who served in the Biden administration as a senior White House adviser and a Department of Justice official  said she would work to represent all of her constituents regardless of whether they voted for her. To be productive in Congress, she said she would build on President Joe Bidens unity agenda, which she helped lead briefly. It focused on tackling issues related to mental health, Big Tech, veterans, cancer, and the opioid epidemic.

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The Nashua native defeated Lily Tang Williams, a libertarian-leaning Republican who has launched several unsuccessful bids for Congress in Colorado and New Hampshire. Williams, a rental property manager who said she feared the U.S. was becoming more like her native country of China, advocated for cutting government spending, including by eliminating the Department of Education, and wanted the issue of abortion to remain with the states. Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed Williams on Sunday.

With 86 percent of the vote in, Goodlander led Williams 53.6 percent to 46.4 percent. The race was called by the Associated Press at 1:07 a.m. Before polls closed, Williams posted online: I am a winner regardless of the outcome tonight.

Though this was her first run for public office, Goodlander has been deep in politics all her life. Her mother, Elizabeth Tamposi, is a former Republican state representative who worked in the administration of President George H.W. Bush; her grandfather, Samuel Tamposi, was a real estate developer involved in Republican politics.

After her upbringing in Nashua, Goodlander earned undergraduate and law degrees from Yale. She has spent her career in various government roles: an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve; a speech writer and foreign policy adviser to Connecticut independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman; a speechwriter for Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain; and a law clerk to Merrick Garland, then chief judge of the D.C. circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

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Less than a year ago, ahead of her run for Congress, she rented a home in Nashua, which is in the 2nd District. At an October forum, Goodlander said she plans to raise her future children in the 2nd District.

I am a renter, and there should be more renters in Congress, Goodlander told The Boston Globe  a statement that received backlash on account of the $1.2 million home she and her husband, Jake Sullivan, President Bidens national security adviser, own in the 1st District.

Goodlander has defended her ties to the district repeatedly, saying shes a Nashua girl through and through and pointing to her time teaching constitutional law at Dartmouth and the University of New Hampshire. This is the district who made me who I am, she said at a forum.

The national party establishment helped propel her to Congress. Amid a heated primary against former Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern, Goodlander received an endorsement from Hillary Clinton, who in 2015, between fundraisers for her presidential run, gave a reading at Goodlanders wedding, according to Politico. Sullivan, her husband, had been an adviser to Clinton.

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Goodlander had a roughly million-dollar fundraising edge  including a large portion of out-of-state cash  over her primary opponent, who quickly got behind her after losing the race by 28 points. In the general election, Goodlander outraised and outspent Williams several times over, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign finance.

Now, Goodlander heads back to D.C. with a new type of government gig.
Judge Jefferson Griffin and Justice Allison Riggs (Courtesy photos)

Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin leads incumbent Democrat Allison Riggs by a razor-thin margin in the contest to fill an associate justice seat on the state Supreme Court.

The Associated Press has not called the race, but with all precincts reporting this morning, Griffin had 50.09% of the vote to Riggs 49.91% for a gap of 9,851 votes out of nearly 5.5 million cast, according to the State Board of Elections.

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On Wednesday, the Riggs campaign issued a statement in which it said the race is too close to call and that it is closely monitoring the count of votes.

Every voice and every vote matters in this election, Embry Owen, campaign manager, said. We are monitoring the counting of all votes across the state, including absentee ballots and provisional ballots, and we will know more about our next steps in the days ahead.

If Griffins lead holds, it will give him an eight-year term on the high court and provide Republicans with a commanding 6-1 majority on the states highest court and all but assures that the GOP will maintain dominance of the court for years to come. Democrats had targeted this race in hopes it would lead to reclaiming a majority on the court before the 2030 legislative and congressional redistricting process  a process that almost invariably is subject to judicial review.

Griffin is an army veteran who began his legal career in private practice before joining the Wake County District Attorneys Office as a prosecutor. He has also served as a District Court Judge in Wake County.

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Griffin, whose campaign website identifies him as an adherent to the conservative judicial concepts of originalism and textualism, accused Riggs during the campaign of advancing a liberal agenda through the courts and violating judicial conduct rules.

During the campaign, Riggs did not shy away from explicitly expressing her support for abortion rights or how she would vote if the issue came before the court. She also released a campaign ad in which she said she will protect abortion rights, prompting critics from her opponents camp to charge that she was in violation of the states Judicial Code of Conduct. Griffin faced criticisms from his opponent for claiming racial bias does not exist in the criminal justice system.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
Republicans are projected to have won control of the U.S. Senate after flipping several Democratic seats, and as the battle for the White House and the House of Representatives rages on, the GOP appears to be in a position to take control of not only Congress but also the presidency -- potentially putting former President Donald Trump on a glide path for policy approvals and Cabinet appointees should he win.

With Senate control flipping from Democrats to Republicans, it could help boost the agenda of a possible Trump White House -- or block the priorities of a Kamala Harris presidency. Some of those priorities could be Cabinet appointees or potential Supreme Court justice confirmations. Federal judge confirmations could be either hampered or cleared depending on control, too.

All 425 House seats are up for election -- and all eyes are on the key races that could potentially determine which party has control. Republicans currently control the lower chamber, but maintain a slim majority.

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MORE: Election Day 2024 live results: Republicans projected to gain control of the Senate

PHOTO: Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno during a watch party on election night, Nov. 5, 2024, in Westlake, Ohio, with his wife Bridget. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

Should the Senate, House and White House all go for the GOP, it will be the second time Trump has enjoyed such unity. Trump began his presidency in 2017 with a GOP-controlled House and Senate. Both former presidents Barack Obama in 2009 and Bill Clinton in 1993 also began their White House stints with Democratic control in both the House and Senate.

Still, in the Trump, Obama and Clinton presidencies, at least one of the chambers flipped in the next election.

MORE: Sarah McBride will be the 1st openly trans member of Congress, ABC projects

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While it may seem rare to have single-party control of the executive and legislative branches, it's not all that uncommon at the beginning of a president's first term, according to an analysis by Pew Research Center. It has been the case for 16 of 21 presidents dating back to Theodore Roosevelt -- though a few exceptions exist: Republicans George W. and George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon, Pew Research Center found in its analysis of data going back to the 56th Congress from 1899-1901.

While control of the House and the White House still up for grabs, it's the first time in four years that the Senate has had control of the upper chamber -- something Republican senators are celebrating.

"As I've said, this election is not about us but rather what is best for the conference and the nation. I look forward to working with President Trump and our new conservative majority to make America great again by making the Senate work again," Texas Sen. John Cornyn said in a statement.

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said Senate Republicans are "focused on getting this country back on track."

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"Voters are trusting Senate Republicans with an extraordinary opportunity," Barrasso said in a statement. "As a new Republican Senate majority, our focus will be to take on an agenda that reflects America's priorities  lower prices, less spending, secure borders, and American energy dominance. That is what we will set out to do on Day One. Our new Republican Senators will be instrumental in the success of this agenda."

What a GOP congressional majority could mean for a Trump presidency originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Tennessee Democrats failed to gain ground in the state legislature  or widen margins in Congressional races  during elections Tuesday, despite new energy and significant fundraising hauls prompted by attempted expulsions of three state House members last year.

Republicans maintained their supermajority in the state legislature, and easily defeated well-funded Democratic challenges for Congressional seats, scoring double-digit victories  despite campaigns that avoided debates and, in some cases, even TV advertising.

Full results: Get the latest returns from across Tennessee

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Here are key takeaways from Tuesday's election results in Tennessee.

Despite new energy sparked by expulsions, Democrats fail to win ground

Election night in Tennessee led to remarkably few substantive changes across key elected offices. Democrats failed to capitalize on a turbulent two years in legislative politics, where the GOP supermajority courted major public protests over issues like gun safety reform that led to the increased profile of Democratic politicians like the Tennessee Three.

A Democratic effort to flip a handful of competitive seats foundered, but so did a similar Republican effort to unseat a few Democrats in Davidson and Montgomery counties.

More: After years of losses, Tennessee Democrats hope to flip these state legislative seats

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Though there were some open legislative seats up for grabs, voters reelected the same party's candidate for each.

In the end, the GOP will maintain its stronghold on legislative politics in the state, maintaining its supermajority status in the House with 75 seats and 27 seats in the Senate. Legislative Democrats didn't lose any ground in the state, but they also didn't chip away at Republican margins.

Johnson underperforms Bredesen in U.S. Senate race

Propelled to a national profile by a failed expulsion attempt by the Republican House supermajority last year, state Rep. Gloria Johnsons bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn was fueled by significant out-of-state fundraising and name recognition.

Its the most energy a statewide Democratic candidate in Tennessee has seen since former Gov. Phil Bredesen faced Blackburn in 2018.

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Blackburn win: Marsha Blackburn wins second term, defeating Gloria Johnson in Tennessee's US Senate race

While Blackburn was never considered in serious danger of losing her seat  polling had her with a 23-point lead over Johnson in the weeks leading up to Election Day  the race became a bellwether for whether Democrats could see a resurgence in a statewide race in the post-Bredesen era.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn speaks to her supporters during her watch party at the Hilton Hotel in Cool Springs, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Johnsons pitch to voters was about far more than Blackburns seat: she sought to energize Democrats to vote in races from the presidency to school board seats, seeking to galvanize historic political energy sparked by an expulsion attempt into significant voter turnout for Democrats.

But the hype didnt pan out.

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Johnson underperformed Bredesens 2018 bid, winning just two Democratic strongholds  Davidson and Shelby counties. As of 11:30 p.m., Johnson won about 34% of the vote.

By comparison, Bredesen, who in 2006 was the last Democrat to win a statewide race in Tennessee, won three counties and garnered 43.9% of the vote in 2018.

With few other up and coming Democrats able to court statewide appeal, it begs the question, if Johnson couldnt gain ground, who can?

Gloria Johnson gives a speech, conceding her race for U.S. Senate at the democratic watch party at the Mill & Mine in Knoxville on Election Day in Knox County on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Nashville's $3.1B transit referendum passes

Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly gave the green light for Nashville's $3.1 billion transit plan, backed by Mayor Freddie O'Connell.

The plan includes a major overhaul of the city's bus systems, sidewalks and traffic signals over the next several years, and creates a dedicated funding stream for transportation infrastructure in Nashville. Included are 86 miles of new or upgraded sidewalks, hundreds of smart signals that can improve traffic flow, upgraded bus stops and transit centers, 24-hour bus service and 54 miles of high-capacity transit corridors.

Mayor Freddie O'Connell speaks at a watch party for the transportation improvement referendum at The Malin South Gulch in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

It will also increase Davidson County's sales tax by half a cent, which will go into effect on Feb. 1, 2025, and bring the county into parity with surrounding counties' sales tax rates. Further funding for the plan will come from bond proceeds, transit fare revenue and federal grants, many of which are only available to cities with a dedicated source of transportation funding.

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Now for the next generation, we will all enjoy the things we deserve: sidewalks, signals, service and safety, O'Connell said in a speech declaring victory, referencing the plans four primary improvement areas.

The plan's passage is a shift from 2018, when voters derailed a similar referendum under then-Mayors Megan Barry and David Briley that also included an ambitious light-rail project. Voters this time around apparently had more of an appetite for change, as the city sees explosive growth and a need for better public transit as people are pushed to more affordable outer communities.

Transit vote: Nashville voters overwhelmingly approve $3.1 billion transit plan

Firebrand Republicans reelected after quiet campaigns

Republican incumbents running quiet campaigns became a theme in this election cycle. With a state so deeply Republican, it's not a question of wooing independent or swing voters here: candidates are more concerned with invigorating their base, and getting out the vote.

U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, talks to his constituents after arriving to his watch party at Stan's Restaurant in Columbia, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

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U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, was reelected without running a major campaign with TV ads and mailers. Following an FBI probe that resulted in confiscation of his cell phone shortly after the primary, Ogles campaign account scarcely sent a social media post since August.

Meanwhile, following an announcement this spring that he would not seek reelection, incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, also ran a quiet campaign, compared with his challenger former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry. Despite her heavy ground game that Green called his hardest challenge yet, Barry did not improve on 2022 Democratic margins in the 7th Congressional District, though she didn't lose ground.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ran TV ads, and outside PACs sent mailers on her behalf, but she avoided direct engagement with her opponent, state Rep. Gloria Johnson.

The strategy of eschewing traditional campaign strategies like engaging with legacy media, sitting for interviews, and debating their opponents seemed to work  Blackburn, Ogles, and Green all cruised to victories Tuesday, winning by double-digit margins.

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5th District: US Rep. Andy Ogles wins reelection, defeating Maryam Abolfazli in Tennessee's 5th District

7th District: U.S. Rep. Mark Green wins reelection in Tennessee 7th Congressional District over Megan Barry

Tennessee elects first openly LGBTQ+ woman to statehouse

In District 96, newly elected state Rep. Gabby Salinas, D-Memphis, will be the first ever openly LGBTQ+ woman to serve in the state legislature. Salinas will fill the vacancy left by Rep. Dwayne Thompson, D-Memphis, who did not run for reelection.

State Senate candidate Gabby Salinas thanks her supporters during an election night watch party Tuesday in Memphis.

An immigrant, three-time cancer survivor, and scientist, Salinas' family brought her to Memphis as a 7 year old to receive cancer care at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She first ran for state Senate in 2018, challenging former Sen. Brian Kelsey, and losing by less than 1,500 votes. She ran for state House in 2020, losing to Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, by 466 votes.

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This year, she was unopposed in District 96 in the general election.

LGBTQ+ people everywhere  and especially in states like Tennessee where lawmakers are actively targeting our community  deserve representative leaders who will defend our rights, LPAC Executive Director Janelle Perez said. Now, they will have that leader in Gabby Salinas, who I know will fight tirelessly for Tennesseans to be treated fairly in all aspects of their lives."

Kelly Puente and Evan Mealins contributed.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee election: Key takeaways from Election Day
If results hold, Democrats in North Carolinas legislature have blocked Republicans from maintaining their supermajority, preventing the GOP from passing veto-proof legislation next year without at least some Democratic support.

However, results are not yet official. They still need to be certified, and provisional ballots must be counted during whats know as the canvass. A few tight races have not been called, and recounts could be requested.

Results in two House races will determine whether Democrats gain a seat in the House, breaking the GOPs supermajority in that chamber. Meanwhile, a couple of close races in the Senate  which has retained its supermajority  could determine whether Republicans gain an additional seat.

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Republicans currently have 72 seats in the House and Democrats 48. In the Senate, Republicans hold 30 seats compared to 20 for Democrats. Thats exactly enough for a supermajority, which requires three-fifths of lawmakers, and enables the ruling party to override the governors veto of a bill.

So to override Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers vetoes, all GOP members need to be present to vote unless Democrats side with the GOP or do not attend a voting session. Republicans have passed more than two dozen bills into law over Coopers veto since Rep. Tricia Cotham switched parties to join them and restore their supermajority.

On Tuesday, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein decisively beat Republican nominee Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the gubernatorial race.

And Democrats appeared to end the night with a net gain of one House seat. But Republicans pointed to the possibility of reversing a narrow lead by Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn over Republican incumbent Rep. Frank Sossamon.

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If Democrats secure their victory in the legislature, the balance of power could shift significantly, as Stein would be able to veto legislation he opposes. In January, lawmakers elected in this Novembers election will take office.

Flipped seats

In the state House, Democrats flipped at least two seats: Beth Gardner Helfrich defeated Republican Melinda Bales in a northern Mecklenburg County district currently held by Republicans. Dante Pittman defeated Republican incumbent Ken Fontenot 51.05% to 48.95% in a Nash and Wilson county district. The Associated Press has called both races.

Offsetting those gains for Democrats, the GOP flipped two seats, according to AP. Democratic Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams lost her seat in Cabarrus County to Republican Jonathan Almond. And in northeast Wake County, Republican Mike Schietzelt won over Democrat Evonne Hopkins. This seat is currently held by Democratic Rep. Terence Everitt, who decided to run for Senate rather than for reelection after the district was redrawn during GOP-led redistricting.

Pittman told The News & Observer he was humbled and thankful to voters for his victory.

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We worked very hard, very hard throughout this campaign to reach as many voters as we could, to reach folks across the aisle, to not take anything for granted.

Were going to work to make sure that we represent this community well and make our folks proud, he said.

Fontenot did not reply to a call or email on Wednesday.

As for the role of his win in helping cement Democrats position in the House, Pittman said, We knew the race was going to be close, and that breaking the supermajority would come down to District 24. He said hed never been of the opinion that a supermajority is healthy for North Carolina. We dont need one party having all the control over the state legislature. So Im looking forward to that healthy balance so we can come to the table and govern from the middle of the road.

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During a press conference held by state Republicans, Senate leader Phil Berger said, the election results actually affirmed what weve known for over a decade: Our platform in the legislature is a platform that represents the vast majority of people in the state of North Carolina.

Republicans have held a majority in North Carolinas legislature for 14 years.

The voters are returning Republican majorities to the legislature for the eighth consecutive election. Republicans in the Senate will continue to honor that platform and work tirelessly for the people of the state of North Carolina, he said. I believe that after the canvass and the recount process, we very likely will build on that.

Rep. Destin Hall, who is likely to take over leadership of the House from Speaker Tim Moore, who is going to Congress, said theres one seat thats sort of too close to call, referring to Sossamons seat.

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In any event, whether our final number is 72 or 71, Im confident that were going to have a working supermajority for all intents and purposes, confident that well be able to pass the legislation that youve seen us pass in the same vein in the past, he said.

House seat within recount margin

Two more House seats  one that appears to have been narrowly won by Republicans and one flipped by Democrats  have not been called by the AP, though all precincts have been reported.

These two House races are within the margin that allows for a recount. If that happens and results in these races change, the GOP could still have a shot at retaining its supermajority.

It could also mean that Democrats win another seat.

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Candidates in the races can request a recount if theyre losing by 1% or less.

One race within the recount margin is for House District 32 in Granville and Vance counties, where Cohn led Sossamon by 182 votes.

Sossamon did not reply Wednesday to a phone call or email from The N&O.

Cohn told The N&O he knew the race was going to be close just by how the district is now drawn, but he said he and his campaign feel very, very comfortable, and were super excited. He said there would likely be a recount, but we dont anticipate the result changing post-recount.

Were not declaring victory and doing all that stuff quite yet. We want to be respectful of the process, but we feel that we won this and it was a great win, he said.

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As for the significance of his win in helping Democrats break the supermajority, Cohn said, Im super proud of having contributed to breaking that majority. It is never healthy, regardless if youre a Democrat or Republican, whichever party is in control, its unhealthy when you have absolute control.

Thats not really the intent of our democracy. Thats not the way we should be governing, he said. By breaking the supermajority, we now have the ability to negotiate, to have a seat at the table, and be able to advocate for all North Carolinians and not just a select few.

Cohn said he believed the success of his campaign was due to consistency in reaching out to voters to understand the issues they care about, including water quality, the disproportionate disadvantage of private school vouchers, and concerns about jobs and the economy.

Also within recount territory

The other race within the recount margin is House District 105 in Mecklenburg County, where Cotham received 50.26% (27,093 votes) and Democratic challenger Nicole Sidman received 49.74% (26,818 votes).

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Sidmans campaign manager, Anna Fiore, said Tuesday night they would likely call for a recount. On Wednesday morning, Fiore told the Charlotte Observer that the campaign would wait for all ballots to be processed across the county, adding, We wont know the results for a few more days.

The N&O was not able to reach Cotham on Wednesday afternoon.

Hall said during the GOP news conference Democrats came very hard at Tricia Cotham, spending millions of dollars against her. It looks like at this point, shes going to win that race, he said.

County boards of elections or the state board can order a discretionary recount after the canvass. However, a county board cannot order a recount if the state board has already denied it.

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County boards meet 10 days after Election Day to certify results, and the state board certifies final results in late November.

Tight Senate seats

In the Senate, Republicans have won 30 seats, while Democrats have won 18, but two close races have not yet been called by the AP: districts 18 and 42.

In Senate District 18, covering Granville and Wake counties, Republican Ashlee Adams have a difference of 38 votes between them.

Adams said, Were all waiting on information, since it was such a close race and there might be a recount, but we havent heard anything.

She said she was excited if the turnout is in my favor, and Im looking forward to serving District 18, but of course, I will continue to serve even if Im not the victor. She added that if she won, she looked forward to making some change for everyone, listening to the constituents, and getting their priorities on the voting block.

Everitt could not be reached by phone or email on Wednesday. In a news release shared with The N&O, Everitt said while we may not know the official result for a few days, I am deeply grateful to the voters and volunteers for their support and to the election workers who are working to ensure all votes are counted accurately.

In Senate District 42, in southeast Mecklenburg County, Democrat Woodson Bradley leads Republican Stacie McGinn for a seat currently held by Sen. Rachel Hunt, who won election as lieutenant governor Tuesday. There is a difference of 27 votes between them.

Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan and Mary Ramsey contributed to this reporting.

Under the Dome

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles has won reelection in Tennessee while facing an FBI investigation into his campaign finances.

Ogles, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, defeated Democrat Maryam Abolfazli in the Republican-favoring district that includes a section of left-leaning Nashville and winds through five conservative-voting counties.

The fate of this country is hanging by a thread, Ogles said in a victory speech. And you've got a Democratic Party that doesn't like the fact that you're conservative.

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In August, Ogles said on social media the FBI had taken his cellphone in an investigation of discrepancies in his campaign finance filings from his 2022 race. He said the FBI took the phone the day after he defeated a well-funded Republican primary opponent, Nashville Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston, by 12 percentage points.

Agents also have a warrant to access his personal email account, but have not looked through it yet, according to court filings.

Ogles has said he is cooperating and is confident that investigators will find his errors were based on honest mistakes.

Ogles reported making a $320,000 loan to his campaign committee in 2022. He later amended his filings in May to show that he only loaned his campaign $20,000, telling news outlets that he originally meant to pledge $320,000 but that pledge was mistakenly included in his campaign reports.

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Ogles also was the subject of a January ethics complaint by the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center over his personal and campaign finances, in which the group compared him to expelled GOP U.S. Rep. George Santos of New York.

Ogles won the seat in 2022 after Republicans redrew the states congressional districts to their advantage after the last census, splitting the heavily Democratic Nashville area into three seats and forcing Nashvilles then-Democratic congressman, Jim Cooper, into retirement. With the seat flipped, Tennessees delegation to the U.S. House went to eight Republicans and one Democrat - Rep. Steve Cohen in Memphis.

In one of the other seats that include Nashville, Republican Rep. Mark Green defeated Democrat Megan Barry, a former Nashville mayor. Green, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, had announced in February that he wouldnt run again, but reconsidered. Barry was attempting a political comeback after resigning as mayor in scandal in 2018 when she was a rising Democratic figure.

The rest of Tennessee's U.S. House delegation also won reelection, including Cohen and Republican Reps. Diana Harshbarger, Tim Burchett, Chuck Fleischmann, Scott DesJarlais, John Rose and David Kustoff.

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In January 2023, Ogles was among the Republican holdouts in Kevin McCarthys prolonged speakership nomination, voting against him 11 times before switching to support him. When McCarthy was ousted in October 2023, Ogles voted against removing him.

Later, Ogles ultimately said that he was mistaken when he said he graduated with an international relations degree after a local news outlet raised questions over whether he had embellished his resume.

When I pulled my transcript to verify, I realized I was mistaken. My degree is in Liberal Studies, he said.

Since his 2022 election, Ogles has been a vocal critic of President Joe Bidens administration and last year filed articles to impeach Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. He filed new articles to impeach Harris after she became the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination following Bidens exit from the 2024 race.

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Ogles is a former mayor of Maury County, south of Nashville. He also served as state director for Americans for Prosperity, which spent money trying to get him reelected.

His opponent, Abolfazli, is from Nashville and started Rise and Shine TN, a nonprofit organization that has advocated for gun control changes in the wake of a Christian elementary school shooting in Nashville that killed three children and three adults in March 2023.
Signs designating the Austin Tracy Fire Department as a polling location bend in the wind on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, in Barren County. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony)

LOUISVILLE  The partisan balance in Kentuckys legislature appears to have been unchanged by Tuesdays election, although a Democratic leader in the House was defeated.

Republicans went into  and came out of  Tuesdays election with 80 of the 100 House seats and 31 of the 38 Senate seats, according to unofficial results.

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Voters in Central Kentucky flipped two House seats:

House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson was unseated by Republican challenger Vanessa Grossl in the 88th House District which includes parts of Fayette and Scott counties.

Democrat Adam Moore defeated Republican Thomas Jefferson in the 45th House District in Fayette and Jessamine counties. Jefferson had defeated Rep. Killian Timoney in the Republican primary.

In the Senate, 19 seats were on the ballot. Republicans won 14 of them and Democrats won five.

County boards of election will certify election results by Friday, Nov. 8.

Senator Damon Thayer in Frankfort, Kentucky, on February 27, 2024. Photo by Arden Barnes

Outgoing Senate Republican Floor Leader Damon Thayer said in a phone interview with the Kentucky Lantern Tuesday night that he had no concerns about the Democrats chipping away at our supermajority  in either the House or the Senate. Thayer announced he planned to not seek reelection ahead of the 2024 legislative session.

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Republicans have maintained a supermajority in Frankfort for the last eight years. They took control of the House in 2016 and the Senate in 2000.

I think people really like that we are a supermajority that delivers results, Thayer said. We dont just make promises, we deliver. And our House and Senate supermajorities have worked really well together to deliver big legislative wins that have made Kentucky a better place to live, work and raise a family.

On the other side of the aisle, Sen.-elect Keturah Herron said the night had been a little disappointing and weve got a lot of work to do. Herron, of Louisville and a state representative, faced no opposition in seeking the 35th District Senate seat.

Weve got a lot of work to do as far as finding candidates. We got a lot of work to do with raising money. We got a lot of work to do with organizing and really just getting out and talking to Kentuckians. I think that when Kentuckians hear about whats really happening. I believe that they would really vote toward a Democratic platform. I dont know that were doing a great job of laying out what that platform is.

Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, speaking on the House floor, defends diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in education. The Republican-dominated House later approved the bill she was opposing. (LRC Public Information)

Ahead of the election, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear predicted his party would pick up seats in our state legislature. While drumming up enthusiasm during a Fayette County Democratic rally before early voting began last week, Beshear highlighted local Democrats seeking office and said Kentucky needs a General Assembly with more empathy, sympathy, compassion and confidence. Beshear particularly criticized the lack of legislative movement on bills that would have added exceptions in cases of rape and incest to Kentuckys abortion ban.

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However, as of early October, Beshears In This Together PAC had not reported donating to a Democratic legislative candidate in Kentucky. Meanwhile, U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnells PAC, Bluegrass Committee, gave 95 Republican candidates $2,100 each, the maximum allowed under state law, which mirrors donations the PAC has given in the past. This years number included 90 legislative candidates, three Louisville Metro Council candidates and two mayor candidates.

Within Republican ranks, the Liberty Caucus grew. Newcomers to the legislature, T.J. Roberts in the 66th House District and Aaron Reed in the 7th Senate District, are expected to be closely aligned with current Liberty Caucus members, who describe themselves as very conservative, dedicated to limited government and individual rights and eschewing establishment politicians.

Here are the unofficial results of some key races:

17th Senate District: Thayers open seat

Succeeding Thayer, the Georgetown Republican, will be Republican Matt Nunn.

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In the GOP primary, Thayer backed Nunn, a veteran and executive at Toyota Tsusho America. Kiana Fields, the Democratic candidate in the race, had hoped to flip the district blue after Beshear won three of its four counties last year.

The 17th Senate District includes Grant and Scott counties and parts of Fayette and Kenton counties.

29th Senate District: 11 write-in candidates

After Republican Sen. Johnnie Turner died in October, 11 write-in candidates filed for election in his Southeastern Kentucky district. Pineville mayor Scott Madon won Tuesday evening.

Republicans quickly endorsed Madon and Democrats backed attorney Justin Noble of Knott County.

30th House District: Grossberg unopposed

Despite calls from within his party for him to resign amid allegations of inappropriate behavior towards women, Louisville Democratic Rep. Daniel Grossberg sailed to reelection Tuesday evening. He faced no opponent in the general election after narrowly winning his primary this spring. Grossberg garnered 10,125 votes within the 30th House District.

37th House District: Stovall vs. Callaway

John Stovall, a union leader and Democrat endorsed by Beshear, lost his challenge to freshman incumbent Louisville Republican Rep. Emily Callaway.

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On her campaign website, Callaway highlighted her co-sponsorship of an omnibus crime bill, House Bill 5 during the last legislative session. Her website also says she supports eliminating the state income tax, giving parents more freedom and choices in education, is pro-life and supports the Second Amendment.

Stovall told the Kentucky Lantern earlier this year his top priorities include creating and protecting jobs, along with securing pensions and health care.

40th House District: Kulkarni battled to stay in race

After the Kentucky Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Louisville Democratic Rep. Nima Kulkarni, she won 10,293 votes in her district. She faced no opponent as Republicans did not nominate a candidate when a vacancy in the general election was declared earlier this year.

Adam Moore (Provided by campaign)

45th House District: Who will succeed Timoney?

Republican Rep. Killian Timoney was defeated in the GOP primary by a challenger from the right, Thomas Jefferson, earlier this year. On Tuesday Democrat Adam Moore won the general election by roughly 100 votes in the district that includes parts of Fayette and Jessamine counties.

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Jefferson, who aligned himself with Liberty Caucus candidates and lawmakers in the Republican Party, was critical of Timoney for voting against two recent GOP anti-transgender bills and brought culture wars into the race. Moore, the Democratic candidate backed by Beshear, said ahead of the election he hoped to implement policies like eliminating sales taxes on services and expanding Beshears executive order that restored the right to vote to nonviolent felons.

48th House District: Farrow vs. Fleming

Incumbent Louisville Republican Rep. Ken Fleming defeated Democratic challenger Kate Farrow, an education advocate backed by Beshear.

Earlier this year, Fleming introduced a resolution to establish the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force, which has been reviewing the governance of Jefferson County Public Schools. He also sponsored legislation this session to expand exceptions to Kentuckys abortion ban, including for rape and incest. That bill was never assigned to a House committee.

Fleming served in the House from 2017 to 2018 and again from 2021 to present.

Vanessa Grossl (Photo provided)

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Farrow, who worked at the Louisville Water Company, narrowly lost a 2022 race for the Oldham County Board of Education.

88th House District: Grossl vs. Stevenson

House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson, of Lexington was defeated by Republican opponent and business executive Vanessa Grossl in the 88th House District which includes parts of Fayette and Scott counties. Grossl won by about 200 votes

Stevenson has served in the House since 2019 and won a narrow election for the seat in 2022 after redistricting drastically changed her constituency. Grossl, of Georgetown, previously worked at The Council of State Governments (CSG) National Headquarters in Lexington.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  Republicans have tightened their hold on the West Virginia Legislature, notching election wins that will relegate Democrats to an even smaller fraction of the chamber's 134 seats and giving themselves one of the country's largest legislative supermajorities.

Just two out of West Virginia's 34 state senators will be Democrats come January, down from three this year. At least nine of the 100 delegates will be Democrats, down from 11, with the results of one key race still pending Wednesday.

GOP in control

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With the passing of a U.S. Senate seat from independent Joe Manchin to Republican Jim Justice, the GOP will control every statewide elected office for the first time in nearly a century.

In a Facebook video Wednesday taken in front of the U.S. Capitol, West Virginia GOP Chairman Matt Herridge said today is a amazing day for the state of West Virginia and for this country. We are poised for great things."

I was a child of the Reagan years. I remember Ronald Reagan said its morning in America again. Well, its morning in America once again, and also in the great state of West Virginia, he said.

Female lawmakers on the decline

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The election will reduce the number of women serving in the Legislature, which already has the fewest female legislators of any state.

Sixteen women currently serve in the Legislature, including four in the state Senate and 12 in the state House. Republican state Sens. Donna Boley, Amy Grady and Patricia Rucker all kept their seats in Tuesday's election. Republican state Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman's seat isn't up for election until 2026.

As of Wednesday, at least two Democratic and eight Republican women had been elected to the state House, with a call still pending in another race between two female candidates, Republican Del. Mickey Petitto and Democrat Shannon Welsh.

A lawsuit and a landslide

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Hours after a lawsuit was filed calling for a special election after Jeff Disibbios name was temporarily left off the ballot, the Democrat handily lost to Republican Craig Hart for a state Senate seat in southern West Virginia.

According to preliminary race results, Hart earned about 10,000 more votes than Disibbio.

During the first five days of the early-voting period, 624 ballots were cast in the state Senate race before it was discovered that Disibbio's name had been omitted from the ballot and that another candidate who wasn't running had been added in his place.

Senate District 6 includes parts of four counties.

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House of Delegates

One of the closest races was between Democratic Del. Kayla Young and Republican Andrew Anderson in Kawaha County, which includes the capital, Charleston. Young, who was declared the winner Wednesday, won by a margin of 3.5%.

Democratic Del. Anitra Hamilton, a nurse and county NAACP president from Morgantown who was running unopposed after being appointed to the seat last year, said candidate recruitment will be key to trying to win over more Democratic voters.

Until we get more counties to turn, it makes it more difficult to produce policies that stand a chance, she said.

State Senate

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Democratic Del. Ric Griffith, of Wayne County, narrowly lost a state Senate race to retired police officer Scott Fuller, a political newcomer. The seat, which represents Wayne and Cabell counties, was previously held by Democratic state Sen. Robert Plymale, who retired.

Democratic Del. Joey Garcia, of Marion County, narrowly defeated Republican Rebecca Polis in the race for the seat being vacated by Democratic state Sen. Mike Caputo.

Republican Thomas Willis, who bested Senate President Craig Blair in the May primary, easily won a seat representing part of West Virginia's eastern panhandle, defeating Democrat Anthony Murray.

Incumbents won 10 of the 17 state Senate seats that were at stake. Seven Republicans ran uncontested.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has congratulated former President Donald Trump on winning the 2024 presidential election.

Congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump. We look forward to working together to put hardworking Americans first and get our country back on track, Kemp posted Wednesday on X.

Congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump. We look forward to working together to put hardworking Americans first and get our country back on track.  Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) November 6, 2024

The Associated Press called the race for Trump early Wednesday morning after the former 45th president won in crucial battleground states, including Georgia.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Kemp initially backed Trump back in August after the two men began showing contempt for one another publicly after the 2020 presidential election where Trump lost Georgias electoral votes, which he believes cost him the White House.

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The former president is alleged to have called Kemp and Raffensperger and asked them to find 11,000 votes, which was the margin by which President Joe Biden won the popular vote in Georgia.

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to give a concession speech on Wednesday afternoon.

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Billionaire investor and entrepreneur Mark Cuban says that the potential of AI could offer the ideal side hustle for teenagers.

What Happened: Cuban suggested that if he were a teenager today, he would venture into an artificial intelligence side hustle.

He proposed a three-step strategy during a CNBC interview: mastering the art of writing prompts for AI language models, teaching peers to utilize these prompts for school assignments, and then extending these services to small and medium-sized enterprises that are yet to leverage AI.

Don't Miss:

"Then, I would go to businesses, particularly small- to medium-sized businesses that don't understand AI yet. Doesn't matter if I'm 16, I'd be teaching them as well," Cuban told the outlet.

A LendingTree report indicates that more than half of Gen Zers in the U.S. are currently engaged in side hustles. AI prompt engineering, which involves crafting queries to chatbots to elicit specific responses, can be a profitable opportunity.

As per ZipRecruiter, the average remuneration for AI tutors begins at around $30,000 annually, while full-time AI prompt engineers can earn up to $129,500.

Although a college degree is not a prerequisite to become an AI prompt engineer, practice and often certifications are essential to comprehend how large language models function.

Online certification programs from institutions like Vanderbilt University or IBM can aid in mastering the basics within a month.

Trending: The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year  for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market.

Why It Matters: Cubans entrepreneurial journey began with selling garbage bags door-to-door at the age of 12. He later sold collectibles to earn extra money, which aided him in financing his education at Indiana University.

After a brief period in the banking sector post-college, Cuban ventured into entrepreneurship, selling his first company, MicroSolutions, for $6 million in 1990.

His second venture, Broadcast.com, was sold to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in 1999, catapulting him into the billionaires club.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in Hamilton County Wednesday after the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, locally known as the Big Mac bridge, was damaged in a fire.

In a news release, DeWine attributed the state of emergency to "dangerous conditions and damages on the Ohio approach to the Interstate 471 Daniel Carter Beard Bridge."

More: Traffic, detours and a 'robodog': Here's the latest on the Big Mac bridge fire

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The state of emergency allows the Ohio Department of Transportation to utilize federal funding from the Federal Emergency Relief Program for immediate repairs and to reopen the highway as soon as safely possible, DeWine said in the release.

The bridge, which crosses over the Ohio River connecting Cincinnati to Northern Kentucky, was damaged by a fire that started underneath it in the early morning of Friday, Nov. 1.

The fire spread to the overpass, severely damaging the southbound supporting girders, bridge deck and support structures.

Both sides of I-471 were shut down Friday as a result. The northbound side, however, was reopened Friday night while the southbound side remains closed as of Wednesday afternoon.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio governor issues state of emergency for Daniel Carter Beard Bridge
Gov. Greg Gianforte listens to Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, outline his subcommittee's proposals out of the Property Tax Task Force at a meeting on Aug. 15, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Polls in Montana closed at 8 p.m. and the Associated Press immediately called the Montana governors race for Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Gianforte.

BREAKING: Republican Greg Gianforte wins reelection for governor in Montana. #APRaceCall at 10:00 p.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024

Serving as Montanas governor is the greatest honor of my life. Kristen and I are deeply grateful to serve Montanans for another four years to continue delivering on our promises to create more good-paying Montana jobs, open greater opportunities for more Montanans to achieve the American dream, and protect our Montana way of life. With what weve been able to achieve together, Montana can and should be a model for our sometimes fractured nation, Gianforte said in a statement.

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Tonights victory isnt about me. Its about all of us. And well continue the work together to bring the American Dream into greater reach for all Montanans. We live in an inspiring place  full of good people who work hard every day. Im filled with great optimism. Optimism for our state. Optimism for our people. Optimism for our future. Thank you, Montana, for putting your trust in Kristen and me for four more years. With a heart full of gratitude, its time to get back to work.

This is Gianfortes third gubernatorial election night, and second victory. He first ran for the states executive office in 2016 against then-incumbent Democrat Gov. Steve Bullock, losing by roughly 19,000 votes. He ran again in 2020, after serving two terms in the U.S. House representing Montanas at-large district, and won the governorship with 54% of the vote.

He defeated Democratic challenger Ryan Busse, a former firearm company executive and author from Kalispell who has been an adviser for the U.S. Senate Sportsmens Caucus and Joe Bidens presidential campaign and has testified in front of Congress about firearms. He has also been active in opposing fossil fuel drilling leases in the Badger-Two Medicine area near Glacier National Park.

Early returns reported by the Montana Secretary of States office show Gianforte with a 20% lead over Busse. A political newcomer, Busse, and his running mate Raph Graybill, focused their campaign on the recent hikes in property taxes across the state, and on Gianfortes wealth and perceived unpopularity.

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We congratulate Governor Gianforte and Lieutenant Governor Juras, and we wish them the best as they lead Montana in the years ahead, the candidates said in a statement early Wednesday morning. It is a high honor to fight for the Montana we love and for a future worth handing down to our kids. We were inspired by the many Montanans whose lives and livelihoods have changed in recent years. We fought for freedom and privacy, for public lands, and for lower taxes. To all Montanans who supported us along the way: thank you. Getting your Montana back is still more important than ever.

Meanwhile, Gianforte has touted his economic record on the campaign trail, pointing to data showing that compared to before he took office in 2020, Montanans have higher incomes, are more prosperous, and as a state, have become debt-free under his administration. He will serve another four years with current lieutenant governor Kristin Juras.



This story has been updated with comments from Ryan Busse.
Governor-elect Mike Braun talks about his transition team and more on Nov. 6, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Just over 12 hours after claiming victory on Election Night, Governor-elect Mike Braun announced the team of Hoosiers that will guide the transition of power, relying on several well-known politicos to oversee the changeover.

Such a team, as well as the future appointments for state agency heads, will be people that understand that its going to be my vision of being an entrepreneurial governor. Thats going to be conservative on the financial side but very entrepreneurial on the problem-fixing side, Braun told reporters in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Indiana GOP Chair Randy Head takes a selfie with Governor-elect Mike Braun onstage in Indianapolis on Nov. 6, 2024. Head will be one of the members of Brauns transition team. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Braun didnt rule out keeping some department heads from fellow Republican Gov. Eric Holcombs administration, though he has previously singled out both the Family and Social Services Administration and the Department of Child Services as agencies in need of improvement.

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Victor Smith, who previously worked as commerce secretary under former Gov. Mike Pence, will chair Brauns transition team. Josh Kelley, Brauns chief of staff in the U.S. Senate, will be transition director.

Former GOP Chair Anne Hathaway will lead the inaugural committee while Emily Daniels Spaulding will be the inaugural director.

Three of the members tapped for Brauns transition team are alums of former Gov. Mitch Daniels administration: Betsy Wiley, a pro-school choice advocate who was Daniels deputy chief of staff; Ryan Kitchell, who previously oversaw the Office of Management and Budget; and Brad Rateike, who was Daniels deputy press secretary.

A handful are members of the Braun campaigns foundation arm, including Wiley, conservative attorney Jim Bopp and lobbyist James Purucker.

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Remaining members include GOP Chair Randy Head, lobbyist and former Indiana Rep. Matt Bell and former Indiana Rep. Dan Dumezich.

Its been a heck of a journey

On the campaign trail, Braun and his opponents fought bitterly over rivaling property tax relief plans, with the Republican favoring a proposal that some said would trigger local cuts to public services like law enforcement.

Hopefully that can be Senate Bill 1, House Bill 1, Braun said about a property tax relief plan. That has been, by far, the thing Ive heard most about over the last two years.

Other topics could take several years to fully address, including health care. Braun said health care costs and reform measures werent tackled effectively because its got a political risk to it, but was one of the areas in which Indiana needed to improve the most.

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Its the one we have the worst results (in) compared to most other states, measuring it down as finitely as infant and maternal mortality, Braun said.

Governor-elect Mike Braun talks with staffers outside the House Republican caucus on Wednesday Nov. 6, 2024. (Niki Kelly/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Indianas high maternal and infant mortality rates are among the worst in the nation and the developed world. The state also ranks poorly across several public health measures and has some of the nations highest health care costs.

Those percentages are shameful, Braun said.

Braun contrasted Indiana, which is constitutionally required to have a balanced budget and maintains a low debt ratio, to Washington D.C., where he served for the last six years as one of the Hoosier States U.S. senators. While Republicans appear poised to regain control of the U.S. Senate, several U.S. House races are still too close to call.

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I think theres more potential back here at home, Braun said. I think the biggest issue D.C. is going to deal with, regardless of the outcome of the election, is the fact that they cant run the place functionally and financially responsibly.

In particular, Braun pointed to the Indiana House and Senate, which are both controlled by Republican supermajorities. Having the General Assembly on the same page would allow him to enact more priorities, Braun said.

Asked whether winning by such a large margin  or 54.6% of the vote as of 1 p.m. Wednesday  would give him sway over the legislative bodies, Braun said, It does.

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I think its an honor and its a big  platter of opportunity. And Ill accept it humbly and try to engage everyone in my own party along with good ideas across the aisle, Braun said.

However, initial budget forecasts appear to be signaling smaller revenues than previous cycles, when Indiana was buoyed by an influx of federal dollars. At the same time, lawmakers will be considering several expensive priorities  including education, which takes up roughly half of the budget, as well as Medicaid and road funding.

Ive always done more with the same or less. Thats being effective and creative, Braun said about the transition.  Dont assume that you got to have more to get more done. That doesnt mean in some areas youre not going to need to invest more to accomplish it, but that is something that I would say Ive been most trained (for).

Braun has repeatedly been critical of the funding formula for schools, claiming that a Hoosier classroom costs, on average, $245,000 annually and that just $60,000 typically goes to teachers. Too much is spent, he said, on overhead administrative costs and buildings.

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That has bolstered his support for school choice, though he said rural areas would need to grow economically in order to support such a model. Such growth should prioritize homegrown entrepreneurs over large outside businesses, he said, a criticism of the direction of Indianas state economic policy under Holcomb.

Micah Beckwith as second-in-command

Micah Beckwiths addition to the team as the lieutenant governor nominee was kind of unexpected, Braun acknowledged. Party delegates selected Beckwith, a self-described Christian nationalist, over Brauns choice, Indianapolis Rep. Julie McGuire.

Its been a benefit, in a way, because its kind of brought the party together. The part of the party he represents is where all the passion is, Braun said.  Its my job to make sure that the full spectrum of what being a Republican is about in the state (of Indiana) is then going to be focused on the kitchen table issues Ive been talking about.

Such kitchen table issues for his transition team wouldnt delve into the social topics Beckwith has touted, such as striking Indianas abortion ban exceptions for victims of rape or incest.

From left: Susan Beckwith, Lieutenant Governor-elect Micah Beckwith, Maureen Braun and Governor-elect Mike Braun in Indianapolis on Nov. 5, 2024. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Everyones going to have an opinion on the issues that divide us, and the emphasis is that they divide us. Youre probably not going to get much beyond that, Braun said.

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He noted that preliminary election results appeared to favor incumbents, many of whom wrote Indianas current near-total abortion ban  indicating support from their constituents.

Hes going to have his own duties  and his input will be there for me to consider, Braun said about Beckwith. Im going to clearly be setting the agenda (and) listening to all the folks that helped me get here in the first place.

In contrast, he criticized the campaign of his Democratic opponent Jennifer McCormick for being singularly focused on abortion access  a critical error.

I think it was probably disingenuous and foolish to think that that was going to carry the day in a state that had just looked at it a couple years ago, Braun said.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Governor Laura Kelly signed a proclamation earlier this month declaring November as Homelessness Awareness Month.

Kelly signed the proclamation on Nov. 1, according to the Office of the Governor. During Homelessness Awareness Month Kelly is recognizing organizations, service providers and advocates in the state who work to address homelessness.

It is vital for residents, businesses, and government leaders at all levels to unite in creating sustainable housing solutions, reducing stigmas, and promoting dignity for all individuals experiencing homelessness, the proclamation reads.

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New count shows homelessness on the rise in Topeka

The City of Topeka has been grappling with an increase in homelessness in recent years. The citys most recent Point in Time Homeless Count found an 18% uptick in homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County from 2023 to 2024. Of those individuals, 62% were male and 37% were female. 203 individuals were living without an emergency shelter or transitional housing.

You can read more about efforts being taken to tackle the issue in Topeka by clicking here.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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Homelessness Awareness Month by Colter Robinson on Scribd

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
(COLORADO)  On Wednesday, Nov. 6 Governor Jared Polis released a statement on the election of President-Elect Donald Trump and Vice President-Elect JD Vance.

Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump. Colorado remains strongly committed to protecting freedom, choice, and the opportunity for everyone to build the life they want in our great state. That is true no matter who is serving in the White House and I will work with the President-elect however I can to save people money, create more good-paying jobs, increase access to housing Coloradans can afford, protect our water and air quality, and improve our roads and bridges. I hope President-elect Trump and Vice-President-Elect Vance take this opportunity to try to unite our country and set aside the campaigns divisive rhetoric. No matter what, the Free State of Colorado will remain a beacon that reflects the values of economic liberty and personal liberty that this country was built on, and we will do everything in our power to protect all Coloradans and our freedoms, Governor Jared Polis

FOX21 NEWS ELECTION RESULTS PAGE

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Governor Polis also thanked Vice President Kamala Harris for her service to the county and the way she ran her campaign.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Michelle Morrow and Mo Green (File photos)

Democrat Mo Green will be North Carolinas next Superintendent of Public Instruction, after defeating Republican Michele Morrow.

The Associated Press projected Green as the victor early Wednesday morning. As of 1:30 a.m., Green had 51.18% of the vote to Morrows 48.82% with almost all precincts reporting, according to the State Board of Elections.

The superintendent of public instruction heads one of the states largest agencies with a multibillion-dollar budget and provides support to all of North Carolinas public schools. The position is currently held by Catherine Truitt, who lost in the Republican primary to Morrow.

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Green previously served as the superintendent of Guilford County Public Schools, the third largest district in the state with more than 70,000 students.

He has voiced his opposition to the opportunity scholarships program, which would use public tax dollars to provide vouchers for families to attend private schools. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the controversial bill, although the state legislature can still override it before the end of the year.

Greens campaign has reminded voters of his opponents past actions. The down-ballot race has gained national attention and scrutiny due to Morrows previous comments.

She attended the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol when insurrectionists attempted to overthrow Congress as it certified the results of the 2020 presidential election.

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Investigative reporters at CNNs KFILE found no evidence that Morrow entered the Capitol building that day or that she engaged in violence, and she was not charged with any crimes.

Morrow also expressed support in 2020 for the televised execution of Cooper, former President Barack Obama, then-President-elect Joe Biden, and other prominent Democrats.

Greens campaign also sought to link his opponent with the GOP tickets other controversial candidates, namely Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican gubernatorial nominee who recently gained national attention for offensive and lewd comments he made on social media prior to entering politics.

Before entering the world of education, Green worked as a lawyer in private practice. His two children both graduated from public schools in North Carolina.

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Green graduated from Duke University with a bachelors degree in political science and economics and a law degree.

The states largest teacher organization, the North Carolina Association of Educators, which endorsed Green, celebrated the victory. In a statement NCAE president Tamika Walker-Kelly said:

Educators, alongside parents and voters, rejected extremism and prioritized a vision for public schools that supports all students, parents, teachers, and public school personnel. With his extensive experience and passion for public education, we are confident that we have a strong partner to help strengthen and improve education for the millions of children in our public schools, along with their parents, teachers, and school staff.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will stay in his seat, after the 2024 general election was called for him on Tuesday night by the Associated Press at about 10:30 p.m.

At 11:15 p.m., Cox had 56% of the votes while Democratic candidate Brian King had 31.4% and write-in candidate Phil Lyman had 8%.

Tonight was a great night for the state of Utah said Cox, standing on the steps of the Governors Mansion, adding it put an exclamation point on what his administration, the people of Utah and lawmakers have worked toward for the last four years.

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We were not just elected to represent people who voted for us, said Cox. He promised to listen and learn from everyone, and said they were better leaders because they had listened to those who didnt agree with them.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said they came into office four years ago with the idea that Utah would stay special. She said it was a challenging four years but they were excited to do it again.

Cox added he received a call from Rep. Brian King and it was incredibly kind and gracious.

We came up a little short in this race this year, King, the Democratic candidate for governor told supporters gathered at an election night party at Hotel Monaco in downtown Salt Lake City. He said he had called and congratulated Cox.

Gov. Spencer Cox talks to members of the media after the gubernatorial election was called for Cox outside of the Governors Mansion in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

King said the campaign has been about standing up for the values that define who we are as Utahns, service, family, freedom, democracy and common sense: that reflect his own pioneer roots. I got into this race because Utah deserves better.

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The coalition of pragmatists that the campaign built is one of things King said hes most of from his bid to unseat Cox. He thanked voters willing to look beyond party labels.

As an attorney, King said he works hard for the Davids of the world who are pitted against Goliaths, saying Democrats recognize what its like to be in that position. He said he is incredibly proud of his campaigns accomplishments.

Tuesdays results marks the end of a contentious gubernatorial race, which followed a Republican primary election accompanied by litigation.

Heading into the Republican convention this past April, Cox faced challengers from state Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, former state GOP chair Carson Jorgensen, Marine Corps artillery officer Scott Robbins and Bountiful business owner Sylvia Miera-Fisk.

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Cox had already qualified for the primary ballot through gathering 28,000 signatures certified by the Davis County Clerks Office. At convention, Jorgensen, Robbins and Miera-Fisk were eliminated after the delegates voted in one round.

Receiving 67.5% of the vote, Lyman became the Utah GOP gubernatorial nominee for the June 25 primary  to win the nomination, a candidate has to receive 60% or more of the delegate vote.

Cox campaigned on the accomplishments of his administration during its first term in office. He touted signing the largest tax cut in Utah history, his efforts leading litigation and legislation to protect children from the harms of social media and positioned himself as a conservative who delivers on his promises.

Signing a law restricting elective abortions and moving forward on school choice were just two of the issues Cox highlighted. During the primary, he also spoke about what hes done to make progress on affordable housing in the state, telling reporters the Utah Legislature passed the most comprehensive housing reform in the United States.

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Lyman campaigned against Cox by criticizing the administration on a number of measures including its approach to illegal immigration in the state as well as transgender policy. At the gubernatorial debate before the primary, Lyman said, We see things very differently. Im a bottom-up kind of power dynamic person. Cox is very much a top-down power dynamic person. I think the comparison is stark.

Campaigns bring out the worst in people, said Cox. Weve certainly seen that with my opponents campaign.

Cox won the primary election with 54.4% of the total vote. After losing the primary election, Lyman went to the Utah Supreme Court to request the court remove Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson from office as well as toss out the primary election results.

The Utah Supreme Court denied the request saying Lyman cites no authority to support his assertion that a political partys internal rules override state election law.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Brian King and his running mate Rebekah Cummings attend the Election Night Watch Party at Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

King saw no contest at the Democratic state convention and became the official Democratic nominee. Libertarian attorney Robert Latham and Independent American Party candidate Tommy Williams also threw their hats into the ring. Lyman launched a write-in campaign.

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On the general election debate stage, Cox and King differed on their visions for Utah.

King was critical of Cox for reversing his position on former President Donald Trump (Cox endorsed Trump after years of criticizing him) and promised to do more to help people with affordable housing. He said he would also work to increase abortion access and public education funding.

You have a choice to keep Utah values, the things that have made us the best state in the nation, Cox said. I believe again that the conservative values that we hold dear are exactly what every state in this nation needs and the entire country needs to make our country a better place.

Heading into Election Day, Cox led King by 32 percentage points in the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted less than a month before the general election.

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In the poll, Cox received 51%, King received 19%, Independent American candidate Tommy Williams received 4%, Libertarian Party candidate Robert Latham received 3% and unaffiliated candidate Tom Tomeny received 2%.

Contributing: Lisa Riley Roche


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The future of reproductive justice in the United States has been reshaped, thanks to the results of the 2024 election.

More than two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and triggered a nationwide battle to protect a persons right to terminate a pregnancy, abortion rights appeared on the ballot in 10 different states. Seven of those measures saw victory, with voters in Arizona, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, and Nevada approving amendments that enshrined abortion into their state constitutions. Measures in Florida and South Dakota failed to pass.

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Ahead, we break down everything to know about each states ballot measures.

Arizona

Voters in Arizona overwhelmingly passed Proposition 139, which proposed to amend the states Constitution to include the fundamental right to abortion. The measure passed with nearly 62 percent of the vote, per the Associated Press.

Before the election, Arizona allowed abortion up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, and the law did not include exceptions for rape or incest. In April, the Arizona Supreme Court also ruled that an 1864 law, established prior to Arizonas statehood, which imposed a near-total ban on abortions is enforceable. The decision ultimately galvanized the states pro-choice movement.

Now, Proposition 139also known as the Arizona Abortion Access Actcreates the constitutional right to abortion and forbids the government from interfering with a persons decision to have an abortion prior to a fetus viability. Fetal viability, or the chance of a fetus survival outside of the womb, typically occurs around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Roe v. Wade had similarly ruled that the government could not prevent abortions before the point of fetal viability.

Colorado

Nearly 62 percent of voters in Colorado approved Amendment 79, which will preserve Coloradans constitutional right to abortion, according to the AP.

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Colorado is one of a few states that imposes no restrictions on the timeframe for a pregnant person to receive an abortion. The passage of the amendment will now enshrine abortion rights in the states constitution, as well as lifting a ban that prevented the use of public government funding for the procedure. The latter means that Colorado will now be able to provide abortions under Medicaid and in their state employees health plans.

Florida

While a majority of Floridians voted in favor of Amendment 4with 57 percent of voters approving the measure, according to the APthe proposal failed to meet the required 60 percent of voter approval.

People in Florida cannot receive an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy due to a law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis last year. The amendment would have enshrined the right to abortion in the states constitution up until the point of fetal viability, which is typically at 24 weeks of pregnancy.

New York

Proposal 1, also known as the Equal Rights Act, passed in New York with about 62 percent of the vote, according to the AP.

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In addition to enshrining the right to abortion in the states constitution, Prop 1 also protects against discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy outcomes.

New York is already largely considered a safe haven for abortion access in the U.S., with the state having legalized abortion in 1970three years before the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. Now, Prop 1 goes a step further by essentially prohibiting any legal obstacles to abortion access that may arise in the future.

Maryland

Voters in Maryland passed ballot Question 1, which will instate constitutional protections to a persons ability to make an effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end the individual's pregnancy. The amendment also includes broad protections for reproductive freedom, safeguarding access to birth control. Nearly three-fourths of voters approved of the initiative.

Maryland voters already legalized abortion in a 1992 referendum. The passage of ballot Question 1, however, further protects the right to abortion by making it unconstitutional for future laws to limit access to reproductive health care.

Missouri

In a state with one of the countrys most-restrictive abortion laws on the books, a majority of Missouri voters heralded the passage of Amendment 3, which establishes the constitutional right to abortion and birth control. The triumph is a stunning blow to the states previous legislation on abortion, which banned the procedure nearly entirely except in the case of medical emergencies.

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After the fall Roe v. Wade, Missouri was the very first state to ban abortion, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The amendmentwhich captured nearly 52 percent of Missourians votesnot only lifts the ban on abortion, but stipulates that an individuals right to obtain the procedure is now protected up until the point of fetal viability.

Montana

About 58 percent of voters in Montana approved Initiative 128, according to the AP.

The measure enshrines the right to abortion up until the point of a fetus viability in Montanas constitution. While the state already allows abortions within the same timeframe, the initiative will safeguard against potential legal threats to abortion access in the future.

Nevada

Per the AP, about 63 percent of Nevadans voted yes on Question 6, which proposed to establish the constitutional right to abortion up until fetal viability. However, the proposal will have to be approved by voters again in the 2026 election in order to go into effect.

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Abortion is already largely protected in the state, with voters having cleared the way for the legalization of abortion up to 24 weeks and in the case of medical emergencies back in a 1990 referendum. If Question 6 passes again two years from now, it will instate a constitutional protection to abortion access that will preserve an individuals right to the procedure against future legal threats.

South Dakota

Nearly 60 percent of voters in South Dakota voted against Amendment G, which would have allowed a pregnant individual to obtain an abortion in all cases during their first trimester, granted the state authority to regulate the procedure in the second trimester, and permit physicians to provide an abortion for a medically at-risk pregnancy in the third trimester.

The state imposed a near-total ban on abortion following the Supreme Courts 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Currently, South Dakota prohibits nearly all cases of abortioneven in cases of rape or incestexcept when a pregnant persons life is at stake.

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Bernie Marcus grew up in Newark, New Jersey. Photo by Erik Lesser/Liaison

Bernie Marcus, who co-founded The Home Depot with Arthur Blank, has died at the age of 95.

Marcus and Blank started the home improvement chain in Atlanta in 1978.

The former CEO was active in the company until 2002, and was a political and philanthropic donor.

Bernard Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot, has died at the age of 95.

The company confirmed Marcus' death on Tuesday. Along with Arthur Blank, Marcus opened the first two Home Depot stores in Atlanta in 1979.

Marcus served as CEO from the company's inception until 1997, and he was active in the company until 2002. "We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to Bernie," a Home Depot spokesperson said.

Here's how Marcus and Blank built Home Depot.

Marcus was born in 1929 in Newark, New Jersey.

New York Daily News Archives

He was the youngest of four siblings, and they and his Russian Jewish immigrant parents lived in a tenement when he was growing up.

"My parents, an immigrant couple struggling to make ends meet in Newark, taught me that generosity was a universal imperative no matter one's station in life," he told the Atlanta Business Chronicle. "You gave  if not from your wallet then your time and talent. It's why I was serving on boards of nonprofits when I couldn't find two nickels to rub together."

Marcus dreamed of becoming a doctor, but ended enrolled in a pharmacy program at Rutgers University in New Jersey instead.

Rutgers University. Ross Lewis/Getty Images

Marcus said he would earn extra money during those years by selling freezers door-to-door, graduating in 1954.

After college, he worked several manufacturing and retail jobs, rising to corporate leadership at Handy Dan Home Improvement, where he met Arthur Blank.

Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank. Getty Images

The now-defunct Los Angeles-based company fired Marcus, then the CEO, and Blank during a corporate restructuring in 1978. The pair would remain lifelong friends, even as their lives and opinions diverged.

After the two were fired, Marcus and Blank founded Home Depot in 1978, with Marcus serving as the company's first CEO.

The pair in Home Depot aprons. Rob Kinmonth/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images

The first two Home Depot stores opened in the metro Atlanta area in 1979 and were the first one-stop-shops for DIY home improvement.

The concept wasn't an immediate success.

A Home Depot in Atlanta. Home Depot

Marcus and Blank lost half the money they invested in the company during the first year the stores were open, according to Bloomberg.

But the company caught steam, and Home Depot went public in 1981.

Now, more than 45 years after its founding, Home Depot has more than 2,300 stores in North America.

A shopper and Home Depot worker. AP/Elaine Thompson

The company now employs over 465,000 workers and made nearly $153 billion last year, making it the 23rd largest US firm by revenue, and nearly twice the size of its nearest home improvement rival, Lowe's.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Many young first-time voters are experiencing mixed emotions as they participate in this historic election.

Ridiculously irresponsible  Toddler, drugs found during traffic stop, mom arrested: Daphne PD

Several University of South Alabama students talked to News 5 about their first-time voting experiences.

It felt like it was a different step in transition, said junior Jerome Anderson. The last time it was the election, I was in high school, so I couldnt even vote.

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So, I feel like now its a big impact. It actually matters now.

USA freshman Helen Hendrix said that as a child, her parents would take her to the polls while they voted.

2 Dollar General employees, 3 others arrested, 2 more sought after $300K+ inventory loss at Grand Bay store: MCSO

My moms a history teacher, and she always stressed the importance of voting, Hendrix said. And so, she always made sure to take us as a kid.

That experience made Hendrix look forward to the day she could go to the polls on her own, and on Tuesday, she did just that.

And so, it was really cool, you know, to actually fill the circle in myself, instead of watching my mom do it, Hendrix said.

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Brice Coates is also a freshman at USA and told News 5 that he sent in an absentee ballot because he was from another state.

It feels great. You know, this is what were supposed to do, Coates said.

Coates said every young voter must determine their future and participate in this years election.

If you look at all the people who are in government, theyre all older than the average age of Americans, said Coates. And so, I think it is very important for first-time voters, and especially young first-time voters, to vote so they can get their younger opinion out there and sort of get that representation that they dont really have.

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Murder warrant pending for homicide suspect injured in Saraland shootout after body found, officials say

Tuesday night, the University of South Alabama Student Government Association is holding a presidential election watch party at the Multipurpose Building on campus.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris bid for the White House showed up to Howard University  Harris Alma Mater  on election night (Nov. 5) to clock the election results in real-time, hear her final thoughts on the race, and celebrate a potential win for the HBCU alum.

With Republican nominee Donald Trump gaining an early lead, Harris supporters were still confident she could possibly make headway as the night went on. Trumps ability to secure the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, however, essentially confirmed hed have a second term in office following his 2016-2020 stint.

Rather than formerly concede the night/ early morning of the election  as most candidates have  Harris opted to not addresses her crowd of supporters, with Former US Representative Cedric Richmond announcing that she would, instead, address her followers the following day (Nov 6).

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The dejected crowd then made their way home, leaving behind a night of promise that didnt quite work out for their candidate. Check out gut-wrenching snaps from Howard University the night VP Kamala Harris battled Donald Trump for the nations highest office below.

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Wednesday dawned to a Michigan divided, as a large swath of voters celebrated a comeback victory for former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris, while a nearly equal share grieved the loss of what could have been as a second female presidential candidate failed to win a bid for the White House in the span of eight years.

The glee among conservative voters in the red wave Trump secured in this election was as palpable as the despair among liberal voters, who described themselves as shocked and in a state of disbelief about Harris' loss.

Mike Garvonic, of Macomb County, celebrates as Fox News announces its projection of Donald Trump winning the presidential election during an election night victory party at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.

"I'm happy, ecstatic, actually," said Blake Howard, 40, of Northville, who woke up about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday to discover Trump had won the election. "The turnout, it was like a red wave. I think the country needed that."

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Howard, who is married and has a 7-year-old daughter, said he didn't vote for Trump in 2016. And in 2020, felt himself "flip-flopping."

"I wasn't confident in my decision," he said. "I was a Democrat for the longest. I grew up with that brainwashed mentality that because you're Black, you have to vote a particular way; 2024 was the first time I went full force with bold confidence."

Blake Howard, 40, of Northville, said he voted for former President Donald Trump in this election to restore conservative values to the country, and to shore up the U.S. economy.

'Change happened last night when a country turned red'

He has matured, he said, and in this election, the economy was his No. 1 concern. He referenced an appearance Harris made in early October on ABC's "The View" as among the most damning moments of her campaign. In that appearance, Harris said she couldn't think of anything she would have done differently than sitting President Joe Biden.

In that moment, Harris' campaign mantra of change rang especially hollow to him.

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"So you're already in office, and you've already said on 'The View' there's not much difference between you and Biden. That's a little contradictory. Change happened last night when a country turned red."

Ron Fournier, who is a senior adviser at Detroit-based Truscott Rossman Communications Group and who worked as a journalist covering the White House for the Associated Press and the Atlantic from 1993-2016, agreed that America was seeking a change-maker this election cycle, and Harris didn't convince voters that she was the inspirational change the nation needed.

"There are handfuls and handfuls of tactical micro reasons that we can attribute to this loss, starting with Vice President Harris not having enough time to mount a campaign, Vice President Harris not separating herself from Biden, the Arab American and young progressive problem with Gaza," said Fournier, 61. "There will be all kinds of excuses and reasons."

But the big-picture takeaway, he said, is that the country has an angry populace at a time of economic, demographic and technological upheaval.

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"The country is angrier than hell," he said. "One party listens to them. ... Trump listened to them. The other party doesn't listen to them, and what we had was yet another change election. Voters were looking for change, and this year, they decided that a former president was the change agent most likely to disrupt the system, and that the vice president was too much of the status quo. I think that's what it comes down to.

"Change always wins in times like this, and in this election, Donald Trump was change and she wasn't."

Was America ready for a female president?

Though Howard was jubilant about Trump's win, in Macomb County, Erika Richter was dejected as she picked up her morning coffee Wednesday morning in Mount Clemens.

Standing outside the downtown shops with her iced dirty chai and caramel apple latte in hand, Richter, 36, of Harrison Township, said she didn't want to lose hope that Harris could win as the election results rolled in.

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"I am disappointed and I think just overwhelmed with the thought that hate and anger prevailed, and I unfortunately don't think that America is ready for a woman to be president," she said, especially not a woman of Black and South Asian descent.

Two days before Election Day, U.S. Vice President and democratic candidate Kamala Harris speaks to the congregation at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.

"It's about more than just progress; it's about morality and dignity," Richter said. "Not only that but she's exceptionally qualified; she is more than qualified to do the job."

Richter said she is worried about the fate of the country during a second Trump presidency, and is especially concerned that he could abuse his executive powers.

"He has said what he wants, and what he wants is to exact revenge against his enemies and have a sense of power and control that is not what our Founding Fathers had set out for America to be," Richter said.

A man picking up trash walks by a Harris-Walz yard sign early in the morning at Clark Park in southwest Detroit on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.

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Sabrina Shulman, chief political action officer Vote Run Lead Action, an arm of the nonprofit Vote Run Lead with a mission of training pro-democracy, anti-racist and feminist women, said it's impossible to dismiss the role gender played in the outcome of the presidential election.

"I think the most disappointing aspect of this is not just the gender dynamic, but the overlay that the country chose, not just a man, but a dangerous man, a man that has unequivocally made it clear that he will go after women's rights, that he will go after trans rights," Shulman said.

"The country chose a man who has outright attacked and diminished women's access to health care, reproductive health care. He and his party have made this election in many states about undermining transgender folks and their safety and their access to health care.

"Unequivocally, this country chose a dangerous man over an overqualified and incredible woman candidate."

Hopes that Trump will further boost the economy

In southwest Detroit on Wednesday morning, 67-year-old Richard Fling was all smiles as he stepped away from a construction project on West Vernor near Clark Park.

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Once Trump is in the White House again, Fling said he will be able to retire  again.

Fling worked in the construction industry for 35 years, and tried to retire six years ago, but said Social Security benefits didnt cover his expenses.

Richard Fling, 67, stands in front of a southwest Detroit construction site on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.

He believes that Trump will boost the economy in his second term. More work will be available, which, he said, should allow him to retire for good the next time.

He kept us all working, Fling said of Trump. There was no slacking.

Manuel Barraza, a 60-year-old factory manager who lives in Detroit's Mexicantown neighborhood, said he didn't believe that Harris would bring change.

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But what cemented his vote for Trump were the advertisements that said Harris would pay for sex changes for prisoners.

If you murder somebody, or you have done something really bad to our society where you deserve to pay for something time-wise, you shouldn't get any benefit other than the minimal, Barraza told the Free Press as he was working Wednesday morning.

He likes that Trump appears to be tough, a characteristic he believes Biden is lacking.

Former President Donald Trump is interviewed by U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 at Macomb Community College in Warren.

With Joe Biden in power, we became the laughingstock of the world, he said. He was an old, weak man, fumbling his words, falling down.  If you're going to be someone in power, you have to be willing to make the hard decisions, to be a man of your word.

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Barraza wants to see the tariffs on Chinese imports that Trump has promised, even if it leads to higher prices for him.

Barraza, whose father was born in Mexico, said the one thing that bothers him about Trump is the way in which he puts all the illegals in a pot, like theyre all murderers or theyre all criminals. Other ones that I know are hardworking guys.

Barraza has people who work for him who are living in the country illegally and supports Trump even though he has threatened mass deportations.

If it's one evil or the other evil, I think he's the lesser of the two evils, he said. That's the one thing I don't like about him. But like I said, I'm Republican and Im going to go Republican either way. I hope he doesn't do (mass deportations).

A question from a fearful student

A question from a student moved middle school teacher Alexys Sielewicz almost to tears on the morning after the election.

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It took a lot in me not to cry when I heard one of my students ask me today ... if he was going to be deported, said Sielewicz, 26, of Trenton. It was very upsetting to hear.

Sielewicz said she tried to calm the student, who is an immigrant, while fighting back tears.

She and other teachers were able to turn the situation into a civics lesson of sorts, explaining how the branches of the U.S. government work and reminding students that they should stay informed and, if they're eligible, some of them will have a voice as well when they're old enough to vote.

Sielewicz said she voted for Harris because her biggest priority at the ballot box was womens reproductive rights. She also had concerns about Trumps claims about closing down the Department of Education. Despite Harris' loss, Sielewicz said she is trying to keep perspective.

I guess I dont want to be a sore loser, either," she said. "I dont want to sit here and say all these things that he would say if he lost because I gotta trust the American system. I gotta trust that, or hope at least, that things are going to work out.

'Rest, but only for a moment ... rise, and we've got to resist'

In Detroit's Boston Edison neighborhood, Char Goolsby wasn't optimistic.

"Disappointed is an easy word" to use to describe how she felt hours after Trump secured his win. "I think frightened about what's possible is a better way to frame it."

Goolsby, 59, worked tirelessly in the lead-up to the election to get out the vote for Harris, opening her house to campaign events, hosting phone banks and canvassers. It's OK, she said, for Harris supporters to grieve and to rest now, but they can't wallow for long.

Char Goolsby, center, of Detroit, talks with returning citizen Demerius Allen, left, 33, of Detroit, and Christine Harris, left, of Highland Park, while addressing the group helping knock on doors to get residents to get out and vote for the 2024 presidential election at her home in Detroit on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024.

"There is always grief in loss, but we, historically, we have not had the luxury of grief. Black people throughout history, have not had a lot of time. We were too busy trying to figure out a way heal, run, hide, rebel.

"We've got to rest, but only for a moment, and we've got to rise, and we've got to resist  resist in ways that we are unaccustomed to resisting, and then we're going to have to keep doing it. I just wonder if our skin is thick enough to go through what we're going to have to go through."

She's concerned that a newly emboldened Trump will put the architects of the Jan. 6 insurrection in positions of power in his second administration, and use them to dismantle the framework of the nation's democracy.

"I've never been so concerned about the Constitution as I am now," she said, noting that the U.S. Supreme Court has a conservative majority likely to rule in Trump's favor, and the U.S. Senate also was taken by Republicans in this election. It sets up the possibility that Trump could refuse to leave office at the end of his next term.

"If you believe what he says, he's getting in and he's never getting out," Goolsby said. "We used to have the guardrails of the court. We don't have that anymore. This man has got hundreds of federal appointments that he can now make over the next four years. The complexion of this country has changed forever, and there are going to be a lot of groups that will be sorry for this."

'They paid the price for not standing with Lebanon and Gaza'

Samah Noureddine came to the United States when she was 16 years old with her family on July 4, 1997, to escape the violence in Lebanon and to seek a better life.

"We ran away from the war," she said, explaining that her dad wanted a better life for his children. "We had seen enough. He didn't want us to see more and more and more."

Now 44, she lives with her husband and children on Grosse Ile, but can't stop worrying about her eldest brother, Haythem Hussein, who was older than 21 when the rest of the family immigrated and wasn't allowed to leave. She has many cousins and other relatives, too, who are still in Lebanon, struggling for survival amid renewed Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah  a campaign occurring alongside the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Eight of Noureddine's loved ones were killed in a single bombing a few weeks ago in a southern Lebanese village, where they had fled.

"My first and second cousins, they're all displaced, all over Lebanon, in schools and houses in so many different places," she said. "They just ran from the border, trying to be somewhere safe. It was not even their house. Why are innocent people losing their lives?"

Noureddine couldn't bring herself to vote for Harris because she is so frustrated by the Biden administration's ongoing support for Israeli military options. And voting for Trump gave Noureddine pause because he issued an executive order during his first term in the White House temporarily suspending entry of refugees from several Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East.

Samah Noureddine and her brother, Haythem Hussein, pose for a photo together in 2004 in downtown Beirut, Lebanon.

"We are good citizens. We pay taxes," Noureddine said. "And I think, 'Oh, my God, this money that we are giving to the government is money that is going (to fund Israeli military campaigns).' What do we do?' "

She took back power at the ballot box, and decided "my vote is not going to go to either of these parties because my conscience tells me I am not going to give my money again to somebody who's going to support genocide."

She voted, but did not fill in any of the bubbles for a presidential candidate.

Upon learning that Trump won the election Wednesday, and seeing that voters supported him in Dearborn, where 55% of the population is of Middle Eastern descent, Noureddine said, "I have a bunch of emotions. ... This morning, I woke up ... thinking the country is broken, to be honest with you."

Still, Noureddine said, she's holding out hope that Trump will find a way to broker peace in her native land and across the Middle East.

"I am hoping Jan. 20 comes, and when he gets into office, I am hoping there's a light at the end of the tunnel," she said. "He could do something. He could at least just say, 'Stop it,' you know? I am hoping he can stop the war ... and say, enough is enough is enough.

"I've been a Democratic voter my whole life that I've been in this country. I've been loyal, thinking they're gonna bring the change. ... But seeing them go down like this and losing so many seats to the Republicans, ... they paid the price for not standing with Lebanon and Gaza and saying stop the war, cease the fire."

'I think it's OK to be grieving'

At the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Barbie Weingust was distraught while she watched the election results roll in from her dorm room. She tried to distract herself as Tuesday night turned into Wednesday morning.

I still wanted to believe that something could happen that would make it go the other way, said Weingust, who is 22 and is studying communications and media. It was consuming my mind. I had a moment where I got emotional when it was confirmed that Trump had won the presidency, she said. I wanted to wake up my roommate and tell her, but I didn't want to disturb her sleeping.

She was not feeling good after she reported to her 8:30 a.m. on-campus job and then headed to classes Wednesday. I think its OK to be grieving.

Weingust voted early for Harris, and attended an on-campus Democratic rally on the eve of the election that featured Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell. But she began to question Tuesday whether other college-age voters turned out to support the vice president in the way she thought they would.

Barbie Weingust, 22, a Clarkston native and senior at the University of Michigan, attends a rally on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Rackham Auditorium in Ann Arbor campus to support Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democratic candidates in the Nov. 5, 2024, general election.

Perhaps, she said, Gen Z voters didnt vote at all or didnt take advantage of absentee and early voting because of the way the Biden-Harris administration handled the war in Gaza. That may also have led them to vote for Trump.

That is a possibility, she said. And despite a massive early voting push on campus, she was surprised by how many students on Tuesday told her they hadnt yet cast their ballots.

Some people were asking me how to vote, even if they live out of state. I was really taken aback, she said.

Although Weingust was still processing what drove Trump to victory, she said shes digging deep to be hopeful.

There is always more work to be done.  Even if things didn't go the way we wanted it to, it was very an inspiring time, and the energy was there, and I think we can keep it going," she said.

'Take care of home before you take care of outside'

But Howard disgreed. He said the economy will get a boost with Trump in the White House.

"People are struggling," said Howard, who works in sales for a telecommunications company. "When you go to the grocery store and buy a couple items and you're coming out spending $100, that's ludicrous."

His customers can't afford their internet and cable bills.

"Everything goes up, prices go up," Howard said. "So you've got people paying $200, $300 bills, and saying, 'I can't afford this.' You feel for them. You see it every day."

Howard hopes that Trump will tighten the U.S. border and redirect federal spending from international aid to its own citizens. He wasn't pleased with the Biden administration's handling of that.

"Rolling out the red carpet for illegal immigrants when you have people inside your own country who are struggling, that doesn't match up. ... Take care of home before you take care of outside."

Public schools, he said, are too liberal for his daughter, who attends a Christian academy. "School systems are trying to take parental rights from parents about genders, and you have drag queens in school systems, and the bathroom situation is a little ridiculous," Howard said. "Trump will just restore it, keep it conservative. ... I don't think children need to be exposed to that type of life. ... You can't trust a child to not touch the hot stove, but all of a sudden they know what gender they are? Contradictory. This will set things on the right path, and I think the country is going in a great direction."

Free Press staff writer Eric Guzman contributed to this article.

Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This story has been updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump victory brings joy to some in Michigan, stokes fear for others
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY)  The Hampton Police Division are offering Hyundai owners a free steering wheel lock.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, Hampton police are urging current Hyundai owners to join them at their Police Training Academy, located at 300 Butler Farm Road, to receive a steering wheel lock. Itll be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The lock is limited to one per vehicle. Itll provide an additional layer of protection to your vehicle.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
As J.D. Vance becomes the next vice president, Ohios Republican Gov. Mike DeWine will fill Vances vacant senate seat

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance speaks on the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance speaks on the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Vice President-elect J.D. Vance is now set to take the countrys second-highest office in January. After the Republican leaves his Ohio Senate seat vacant, there is state protocol for how his successor will be chosen.



According to Ohio law, when a senate seat vacancy occurs, the sitting governor may appoint some suitable person having the necessary qualifications for senator.

This is good news for Republicans as Ohios Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to pick another member of the GOP to succeed Vance.

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DeWine's appointee will serve as interim senator until Dec. 15, 2026. Then, the winner of that years special election will fill the remainder of Vances term until 2028.

Related: J.D. Vance Isn't the Bridge-Building VP That Moderates Wanted: What He's Said About Women, Voting and Project 2025

Some of the likely top contenders include Lt. Gov. John Husted, Attorney General Dave Yost, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan.

Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images Former Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas

Vivek Ramaswamy, who ran against Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, also expressed interest in the job.

Related: Anti-Woke Republican Vivek Ramaswamy Buys Stake in Buzzfeed to Shift Companys Strategy: Stay Tuned

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To be frank, Id strongly consider it if I were asked to serve, the Ohio Republican told NBC News during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July. But I would also want to have a serious conversation with President Trump about the other ways I can have an impact on the country.



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Vance, 40, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2022. He beat former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan with 53% of the vote.

Before entering politics, the married father of three was a venture capitalist and rose to fame after writing his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which was later adapted into a 2020 Netflix film. The book detailed Vances life growing up in Middleton, Ohio.
There was a major shift in the Ohio political landscape on Tuesday night and it has enormous national implications. One of Ohios freshman senators has been elected vice president and the other helped Republicans take control of the United States Senate.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

With Bernie Moreno taking over for longtime Democratic senator Sherrod Brown and JD Vance heading to the White House as vice president, the focus now turns to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and who he will appoint to the vacant senate seat created by Vances departure.

TRENDING STORIES:

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As reported on News Center 7 at 5:30, Dr. Marc Clauson, a professor of history and law at Cedarville University, believes DeWine will be leaning toward a smooth transition.

I do think he will choose somebody relatively young, Clauson said. JD Vance was young and I think hed like to see that continue. Somebodys going to be there for a while. I also think hes going to pick somebody who is ideologically on the same wavelength that he is.

Whoever the governor appoints will have around two years in office before needing to run in a special election in 2026. That will be followed by another election in 2028 for a full six-year term.

Its an interesting scenario with Ohios senior US senator entering on their first term.

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An important aspect of these legislative bodies that enable senators and congressmen to get something for their states, to get something done for specifically their state, Clauson said. And this may be a slower process this time around for Ohio because you dont have a senior senator.

Clauson does believe that having Vice President-elect Vance in office will help Ohios national leverage and would not be surprised if that can lead to some higher-level committee appointments as well.

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Donald Trump has won the presidency for the second time, overcoming impeachments, indictments, and unforced errors on the campaign trail that would have taken down most other political candidates.

But he wont take office for another couple of months. During that time, states will certify the results, electoral votes will be counted, and a new Congress will convene.

Here are the dates that matter leading up to Inauguration Day on January 20, 2025:

November 7  States begin to certify election results

State election officials have to certify that the election results are accurate after all the votes are counted.

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The U.S. Election Assistance Commission states that Delaware is first in line, and has to certify their results by November 7. Georgia must certify their results by November 23, Michigan by November 25, and North Carolina and Nevada by November 26. Wisconsin follows on December 1 and Arizona on December 2, to name a few.

November 11  Transition briefings begin

Transition briefings for the new Trump administration have to start by November 11. Agencies will brief incoming officials on their most important work and the top positions that have to be filled.

Donald and Melania Trump celebrate his election victory in the early hours of November 6. Hes set to be sentenced in his hush-money case on November 26 (AFP via Getty Images)

November 26  Trump to be sentenced in New York hush-money case

The president-elect is set to be sentenced in his hush-money case in New York after being found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

December 11  Governors sign certificates of ascertainment

After certification of the results, state governors must sign certificates of ascertainment to officially hand the states electors to the candidate that won the state in question. These signed documents will be handed to Congress and treated as the official results.

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The documents, which will have to be signed by December 11, will include the names of the electors expected to cast the states votes in the upcoming Electoral College vote.

December 17  Electoral College vote

The electors will meet in each state to cast their votes for president and vice president. Along with the certificates of ascertainment, the recorded votes are sent on to Congress and the National Archives.

December 25  Electoral votes must arrive in Washington D.C.

The deadline for the Electoral College votes to arrive in the nations capital is the fourth Wednesday in December  this year thats Christmas Day. If the documents have yet to arrive, the president of the Senate or the Archivist may ask for an additional copy from a states top election officer.

January 3  Congress convenes

The new Congress begins on January 3 at noon. The House must first elect a speaker for its upcoming term.

January 6  Electoral votes are counted

A date seared in the memories of many, particularly the members of Congress present for the insurrection nearly four years ago. January 6, 2025, is the day when Congress officially counts the Electoral College votes to certify President-Elect Trumps election.

January 20  Inauguration

A new Trump era will begin on January 20, 2025, with the second inauguration of the former president. While Trump did not attend President Joe Bidens inauguration in 2021, Biden is expected to be there for Trumps swearing in.
Donald Trump has been reelected to the White House as a convicted felon who is awaiting sentencing in his hush money case in New York and still working to stave off prosecution in other state and federal cases.

Its an extraordinarily unique position for him to be in: Never before has a criminal defendant been elected to the nations highest office, just as an ex-president had never been criminally charged until last year.

Trump has said multiple times he plans to fire special counsel Jack Smith and end the federal cases against him for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and mishandling classified documents.

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Smith is in active talks with Justice Department leadership about how to end the federal cases against Trump, a DOJ official familiar with the discussions told CNN.

It clearly paid off to aggressively push to delay these cases as long as possible, said Jessica Levinson, a constitutional law professor at Loyola Law School.

In the meantime, a judge in New York seems has delayed deadlines to sentence the former president later this month after holding off on handing down the punishment ahead of Election Day to avoid any appearance of affecting the outcome of the presidential race.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Heres what to know about the four criminal cases:

New York sentencing

Trump was scheduled to appear in a New York courtroom on November 26 to receive a sentence for his conviction earlier this year on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment made during the 2016 campaign to adult-film star Stormy Daniels, who alleged a prior affair with the president-elect. (Trump denies the affair.)

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Whether that sentencing happens at all remains an open question.

The Trump legal team is going to try to make sure the sentencing does not occur. In the past it has been focused on delaying proceedings in the case, but now it is going to try to get it canceled altogether, according to a source familiar with the strategy.

On November 12, Judge Juan Merchan said he was delaying deadlines for sentencing Trump now that hes been reelected and asked both prosecutors and attorneys for Trump to file their views on the appropriate steps going forward by November 19.

Trumps attorneys are expected to argues that as president-elect, he is entitled to the same constitutional protections as a sitting president and should be protected from any action by state prosecutors.

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Merchan had previously faced a self-imposed November 12 deadline to decide whether to wipe away Trumps conviction because of the Supreme Courts ruling this summer granting a president some presidential immunity. If Merchan ultimately decides to wipe away the conviction, the charges would be dismissed, and Trump would not be sentenced.

But if the judge decides to keep the conviction intact, the former presidents lawyers are expected to ask Merchan to delay Trumps sentencing so they can appeal. And if thats not granted, his attorneys are planning to appeal the immunity decision to state appellate courts and potentially all the way to the US Supreme Court to ask the courts to delay Trumps sentencing until all appeals are exhausted, which could take months.

Should Merchan move ahead with sentencing, Trump could be ordered to serve as much as four years of prison time, but the judge is not required to sentence the president-elect to prison, and he could impose a lesser sentence, such as probation, home confinement, community service or a fine.

Any sentence, of course, will be complicated by the fact that Trump is set to take office on January 20, 2025. Trumps lawyers are likely to shape their appeals to raise constitutional issues challenging whether a state judge can sentence a president-elect, which could tie the case up in courts for years.

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Since it is a state case, Trump does not have the power to pardon himself next year after he is sworn into office.

Federal cases in DC and Florida

Trumps election victory is poised to have the greatest impact on the two federal criminal cases brought against him by Smith in Washington, DC, and Florida.

Since the cases were brought in 2023, Trumps main legal strategy has been to delay the trials until past the election so that, if elected, he could fire Smith, leading to the end of the two cases. In late October, the former president said he would take such a step without hesitation.

Oh, its so easy. Its so easy, Trump said when asked by conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt whether he would pardon yourself or fire Jack Smith if reelected.

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I would fire him within two seconds, Trump said.

The discussions between Smith and DOJ leadership are expected to last several days.

Justice Department officials are looking at options for how to wind down the two criminal cases while also complying with a 2020 memo from the departments Office of Legal Counsel about indictments or prosecutions of sitting presidents.

More than a half-dozen people who are close to the special counsels office or other top Justice Department officials previously told CNN they believe Smith doesnt want to close up shop before being ordered to do so or pushed out by Trump.

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Under federal law, Smith must provide a confidential report on his offices work to the attorney general before he leaves the post.

In the DC case, Smith charged Trump over his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020. The case was stalled for months as Trump pressed federal courts to grant him presidential immunity, and in July the Supreme Court issued a historic ruling that said he had some immunity from criminal prosecution.

The federal judge overseeing the trial has been deciding how much of Trumps conduct at the center of the case is shielded by immunity after prosecutors last month laid out their arguments for why the ruling should have no impact on the case.

The charges brought by Smith against the president-elect in Florida accuse Trump of illegally taking classified documents from the White House and resisting the governments attempts to retrieve the materials. That case was thrown out in July by Judge Aileen Cannon, but prosecutors have appealed her ruling, which said that Attorney General Merrick Garlands appointment of Smith violated the Constitution.

Georgia RICO case

The immediate fate of Trumps criminal case in Georgia largely hinges on whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat, is disqualified from prosecuting the matter after her prior romantic relationship with a fellow prosecutor. But even if she is allowed to continue prosecuting Trump, the case would almost certainly be imperiled now that he has been elected.

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The criminal charges against Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results are effectively on hold while the appeals court decides whether to disqualify Willis, a decision that is not expected until 2025.

Trump's motorcade arrives at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, August 24, 2023. - Will Lanzoni/CNN

If Willis is removed, sources told CNN they think its unlikely another prosecutor will want to take up the case and it will effectively go away.

Sources familiar with the case said it is unlikely that a state-level judge would allow proceedings to continue when Trump is president and, in that scenario, Trumps attorneys would certainly move to have the case dismissed.

There is no clear answer as to whether a state-level prosecutor, like Willis, can prosecute a sitting president. Trumps victory now forces Willis to confront that constitutional question in addition to the existing legal issues that have already cast uncertainly over the Georgia cases future.

Civil suits

The former president is also defending himself in a litany of civil lawsuits, including ones concerning his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, two E. Jean Carroll defamation cases, and a civil fraud case brought by the New York attorney general where Trump was ordered to pay nearly $454 million in damages.

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In September, state and federal appeals courts in New York heard arguments for two of Trumps civil appeals.

Trump lost two defamation cases to Carroll in 2023 and 2024 in federal court after a jury found him liable for sexually abusing the onetime columnist and subsequently defaming her. Two juries awarded Carroll $5 million and $83 million.

A federal appeals court heard Trumps appeal to dismiss the first Carroll verdict in September. The court has yet to issue a decision.

Later in the month, a state appeals court heard arguments in Trumps efforts to dismiss the $454 million civil fraud judgment against him, in which a judge found he, his adult sons and his company fraudulently inflated the value of Trumps assets to obtain better loan and insurance rates.

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The five-judge appeals court appeared open to at least lowering the fine levied against Trump, though it also has yet to issue a decision. That ruling can be appealed to New Yorks highest appellate court.

Trump is also still facing civil lawsuits brought by Democratic lawmakers and others over his role in the January 6 Capitol attack.

Its possible that all these cases continue to play out even as Trump serves his second term in the White House. In a 1997 Supreme Court ruling stemming from a civil lawsuit then-President Bill Clinton was involved in, the justices unanimously decided that sitting presidents could not invoke presidential immunity to avoid civil litigation while in office.

CNNs Katelyn Polantz contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

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(The Hill)  Former President Trump a year ago was staring down four potential criminal trials on 91 charges and decades in prison.

Trump staked his defense on winning back the White House, a strategy that looks to have paid off with his projected political victory.

Trump is expected to grind the cases to a halt after his projected victory against Vice President Harris, as called by Decision Desk HQ early Wednesday morning. He would also be the first convicted felon to reach the nations highest office.

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With impending control of the Justice Department, Trump can shutter his federal criminal cases. As for his state cases, Trumps lawyers are expected to ask judges to put his Georgia and New York prosecutions on ice.

World leaders congratulate Trump on election win

Trump has long signaled he plans to immediately dismantle special counsel Jack Smiths office upon retaking the White House.

Its so easy. I would fire him within two seconds, Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt last month.

That would effectively end two federal cases against Trump.

In the first case, he is accused of conspiring to subvert the 2020 election results. In the second case in Florida, he faces charges related to mishandling classified documents after leaving office and obstructing the governments effort to retrieve them.

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Trump could also have his Justice Department merely abandon its current appeal seeking to revive the documents case. A federal judge had dismissed the case by finding Smiths appointment was unconstitutional.

Trumps state-level criminal cases arent being prosecuted by the Justice Department, limiting his control over their next steps.

He cannot directly fire Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), who convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records for illegally concealing a hush money payment during his 2016 campaign, or Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D), who is prosecuting Trump on racketeering charges over the 2020 election.

Still, his lawyers have long signaled that an election victory would delay any prosecution until the end of his time in office  in 2029.

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Mr. Sadow, if your client does win the election in 2024, could he even be tried in 2025? Georgia Judge Scott McAfee asked Trump attorney Steve Sadow at a hearing last December.

The answer to that is, I believe, that under the Supremacy Clause and his duties as president of the United States, this trial would not take place at all until after he left his term of office, replied Sadow.

If Trump had lost, his criminal cases were expected to plow full steam ahead  likely starting with his sentencing in New York later this month for falsifying business records to conceal a hush money deal with a porn star ahead of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Judge Juan Merchan, the New York state judge overseeing that case, delayed Trumps sentencing earlier this year until Nov. 26, ensuring he would not face any criminal punishment until after the election.

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The Court is a fair, impartial, and apolitical institution, Merchan wrote in his Sept. 6 decision. Adjourning decision on the motion and sentencing, if such is required, should dispel any suggestion that the Court will have issued any decision or imposed sentence either to give an advantage to, or to create a disadvantage for, any political party and/or any candidate for any office.

Its unclear whether Trumps sentencing will go forward as planned.

In Georgia, Willis won her own reelection race, according to The Associated Press, allowing her to maintain her spot leading Trumps prosecution  at least for now. A state appeals court is weighing whether she should be removed over her romantic relationship with a former special prosecutor on the case.

With Trump headed to the White House, the appeals court may not have the chance to reach a ruling. Sadow, Trumps Georgia attorney, wrote on the social platform X that he now has the honor of representing the next & 47th president of the United States.

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Trump declares victory, claims powerful mandate

Trumps federal cases, meanwhile, face more dire straits.

If Trump lost, the special counsel was set to continue efforts to bring back the federal documents case in Florida. So far, legal teams for the government and Trump have filed their briefs to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit; a date for oral arguments has not been set.

In Trumps federal election subversion case, Smith filed a massive court filing last month laying out the framework of the future of his case within the new confines of the Supreme Courts immunity ruling.

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Trumps legal team was expected to file its reply in the coming weeks, after which U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan would determine how the prosecution should proceed. Attorneys on both sides and outside legal observers expected her ruling to ultimately be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Over her 15 months overseeing the case, Chutkan repeatedly said that she wouldnt consider Trumps campaign.

I am definitely not getting drawn into an election, she said during a September hearing.

Now, the election outcome is poised to draw the case to a close.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Nov. 5Missouri Southern State University's Plaster School of Business has announced its third annual Business Gateway  a free business competition and workshop event for area high school students.

It will be held Thursday on the campus.

"We're excited to hold Business Gateway again this year," Lucas Dille, assistant professor of accounting and coordinator of the Business Gateway, said in a statement. "Over 630 students from 32 schools will participate in the event. Our goal is to bring developmental and recruitment aspects as well as the competition. We want to introduce students to what the Plaster School of Business has to offer and give them a taste of what Missouri Southern is about."

A variety of competitive events and presentations will run from 9 a.m. to noon in Plaster Hall, followed by an awards ceremony at 1:15 p.m. in Taylor Performing Arts Center.

Workshops include video podcasting sessions and virtual production in filmmaking and advertising hosted by the communications department as well as food experiments presented by the kinesiology department. Participants may also partake in a tour of the communications department.

The competition will include individual and team-based events in categories such as social media, accounting, data analytics, tourism and business communication.

This free event for the area high schools is funded by area organizations, including Ozark Center, People's Bank of Seneca, Forvis Mazars, Southwest Missouri Bank, Commerce Bank, Land Development Group, Leggett & Platt, Schreiber, and the Trent family.

For more information, contact Dille at 417-659-4027 or dille-l@mssu.edu.
Democrat Kamala Harris urged unity in a concession speech at Howard University following her defeat to Republican Donald Trump. The election results prompted foreign leaders and President Joe Biden to congratulate Trump and left Democrats downtrodden after the former president scored victories in swing states.

Trumps victory was felt down ballot, with the GOP reclaiming control of the Senate by flipping seats in Montana, West Virginia and Ohio. House Republicans hold the upper hand to retain control though the lower chambers Democratic leaders insist the potential for their majority is still in play.

Harris told supporters gathered at Howard University that she had lost her race against Trump, conceding to the Republican president who is now empowered by a sweeping mandate.

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The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, Harris said. But hear me when I say, the light of Americas promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.

Harris had planned to address an audience like this at Howard on election night and had hoped she would have a more upbeat message to deliver. Instead, when Harris took the stage at her alma mater, she looked out at a sea of America flags and notably forlorn faces. She was flanked by 30 American flags.

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Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump on Wednesday afternoon to concede and congratulate him on winning the 2024 presidential election.

Harris discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans, according to CNN.

Trump declared victory to his supporters in Palm Beach, Florida, early Wednesday morning, saying the results were a massive victory for democracy and freedom, and that many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason.

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Trump won all of the key battleground states called thus far, and is on track to win them all. The Associated Press called the race at 5:35 a.m. EST after he won Wisconsin. Trump is also on track to win the popular vote  the first time a Republican will do so since George W. Bush beat John Kerry in 2004.

Harris had planned to speak to supporters at Howard on Tuesday night, but the campaign announced that she would postpone the speech until Wednesday.

On Tuesday, just before 11 p.m., the Harris campaign was projecting confidence, calling the race razor thin in an email obtained by Rolling Stone. Thanks to this amazing team, we have seen incredible turnout across the Battleground States, and the closeness of the race is exactly what we prepared for, the email read. The campaign referenced Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, all blue wall states that Harris ended up losing en route to an Electoral College drubbing.

Democrats also saw their margins in blue New York and New England states at the lowest theyve been in decades. Harris won New York by 11 percent and New Hampshire by 3 percent. She fared slightly better in Massachusetts, winning by 26 percent.

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Fewer people turned out for Democrats this year than in 2020. Trump logged 2.5 million more votes in 2020 than he has in 2024 so far, but 14.5 million more people voted for President Joe Biden in 2020 than Harris this year.

The Biden administration has committed to a smooth transition  unlike Trump, who sought to overturn his 2020 loss, culminating in his supporters violently storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Last week, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked whether Biden would be at the inauguration no matter who wins. Yes, he will, she said. Regardless of who wins, the American people need to see a peaceful transfer of power.

Trump now has 75 days to prepare to staff his administration and take office.

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The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has said that the vice president won't address supporters on election night, as the path to the White House narrowed for her.

"We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet," Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond said in the early hours of Wednesday.

"We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted. That every voice has spoken. So you won't hear from the vice president tonight. But you will hear from her tomorrow."

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As the last day of voting got underway on Tuesday, Harris had said she would have dinner with family at her Washington residence before joining an election watch party at nearby Howard University, the historically black college she attended.

Former US president Donald Trump appeared to be getting closer to a return to the White House, after US broadcasters called the battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia for the Republican.
The results are in and Donald Trump has won a commanding victory in the 2024 presidential race. Pundits, pollsters, and wonks will be trying to explain why Vice President Kamala Harris did so poorly on Election Day for a while.

Some of their explanations will be better than others. But there is a clear, obvious, overall reason why Harris' presidential bid went down in flames: her experience as a prosecutor left her ill-prepared to compete in a fair fight.

Harris spent 28 years of her professional life representing the governmentfirst as a county prosecutor, then as San Francisco's elected district attorney, and finally as California's elected attorney general. In every one of these posts, Harris enjoyed all the unfair advantages that America's judicial system confers onto the prosecution.

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In criminal cases, she was free to pile excessive charges onto defendants in order to coerce plea deals and threaten them with a "trial penalty" if they insisted on their right to a trial by jury.

She could also knowingly prosecute innocent people, withhold evidence, rely on untrustworthy witnesses, and violate defendants' civil rights, secure in the knowledge that "prosecutorial immunity" would shield her from any civil liability.

Throughout her career, Harris was unafraid of using these advantages.

As San Francisco's district attorney, Harris used California's "three strikes" law to pile sentencing enhancements on defendants accused of nonviolent crimes. She fought to keep cases out of the city's drug court where defendants faced lighter sentencing and the potential for avoiding jail time.

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Under Harris, San Francisco's D.A. office failed to notify defense lawyers of the misconduct of its drug lab technician. When she was attorney general, Harris' office defended dirty prosecutors who ran an unconstitutional jailhouse snitch program.

As attorney general, she was happy to tilt the scales of democracy in her favor as well.

In California, the attorney general is responsible for writing the titles and short summary language for ballot initiatives. Harris used this narrative-setting power to write biased language on a pension reform initiative she and her union allies opposed.

As a U.S. Senator, Harris continued to lean into the familiar prosecutorial opportunities that the job offered.

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She shined in committee hearings by asking unfair, leading questions to captive testimony givers. (The chamber's decorum rules prevented her victims from arguing back too much.) Her record of actual lawmaking was less impressive.

By 2019, her alleged talent for "prosecuting the case against Donald Trump" generated enough buzz for Harris to launch a bid for the presidency. It proved disastrous.

Without her prosecutorial safety net, Harris floundered. Instead of asking questions, she had to answer them. Her responses were characteristically rambling and unpersuasive. On the level playing field of the Democratic primary debate stage, she utterly failed to defend her record or make the case for herself.

The campaign trail policies she produced were risibly complex and totally uninspiring to the primary voters she needed to win over. She ended up dropping out of the race before a single vote was cast.

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Joe Biden did end up picking her as his running mate. It doesn't require much cynicism to think he put her on the ticket so as not to have a V.P. who might outshine him in the White House.

That seemed like a wise decision on Biden's part for a while. Harris' reputation as an untalented, vapid politician only hardened during her stint as vice president.

Her poor performance didn't stop her from being the right person in the right place at the right time when a mix of Biden's unpopularity and failing faculties made it clear to Democrats that he couldn't continue to be their nominee.

As a presidential nominee, Harris clearly attempted to correct for her flaws as a terrible retail politician by hiding. It took her weeks to do media interviews. The walk backs of all her past progressive policy positions were intermediated by anonymous staffers.

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That kind of opacity and risk aversion is fine for a prosecutor who knows they'll almost certainly win so long as they don't make huge mistakes. It doesn't work in a tough election where voters are expecting you to affirmatively make the case for yourself.

For Donald Trump's innumerable flaws, he's never been afraid to put himself out there like a high-profile defendant trying to poison the jury pool. That strategy ended up working out a lot better.

Last night's result is startling, given that polls predicted a much closer contest. But we shouldn't be too surprised by it.

Harris' whole career has been predicated on arguing from an advantaged position against weakened opponents. She excels in that role.

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But in a fair fight where she couldn't coerce people into doing what she wanted, she proved totally outmatched and unprepared.

The post Harris' Career As Prosecutor Left Her Totally Unprepared for a Fair Fight appeared first on Reason.com.
(This story has been updated to add new information)

WASHINGTON  Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign will come home to Howard University on Wednesday to address the election that resulted in a decisive victory for Donald Trump.

The historically Black institution was the site of her first political race  a campaign for freshman class representative that she won  and has featured prominently in her bids for higher office.

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Harris held a press conference at the private university hours after she launched her 2019 presidential campaign. She returned to the school in northwest Washington, D.C. for a rally on the day President Joe Biden announced he was running for reelection with her as his vice president.

And on the night of the presidential election, she invited her oldest friends, current and former students, and longtime supporters to Howard University to watch the returns.

Supporters watch results come in during an election night watch party for Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris at Howard University on Nov. 5, 2024 in Washington, D.C.

Harris declined to make an appearance on Tuesday evening at the watch party that began with hip-hop and Gospel and a choir performing, "Oh Happy Day." The mood dampened as the evening went on, as results rolled in that spelled trouble for Harris in key battleground states. North Carolina was called for Trump.

A campaign co-chair for Harris addressed the gathering instead, just before 1 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

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"We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to try to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken," campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond said. "So you won't hear from the vice president tonight. But you will hear from her tomorrow, because she will back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only to address her supporters, but to address the nation."

Howard alumni, Democratic activists, Biden administration officials and Harris supporters had packed into the schools Yard, where inspirational figures such as the late South African President Nelson Mandela, former U.S. President Barack Obama and talk show host Oprah Winfrey have delivered addresses over the years, hoping to see Harris speak on Tuesday evening.

Me'kayla Rothmiller, a junior from Miami, Florida, 21, said it was invigorating to see an alumna from her university top a presidential ticket. But she said, "I'm just so jittery, I'm so anxious to see what happens."

Harris gave Howards commencement address there in 2017 and wore a Howard sweatshirt in July as she worked the phones following Bidens abrupt departure from the 2024 race.

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When it was time for her debate with Trump later in the summer, she returned to the campus for her early prep.

Howard is one of the countrys more preeminent historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs. It counts Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice on the Supreme Court, and writers Toni Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston, seminal authors in African-African American literature, among its alumni.

Students and alumni refer to the well-regarded university as The Mecca for its leadership in Black higher education.

This is a belief system that we've had at Howard for a really long time, Jill Louis, a Dallas-based attorney who pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha at the same time as Harris, said in an interview prior to the event. And as Kamala Harris' line sister, I have also held a belief system in her greatness from the beginning of meeting her through all of her growth and all the different positions she's had.

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Harris received her undergraduate degree from Howard in 1986. She attended law school in California and served as the states attorney general and a U.S. senator before she was elected vice president.

She would have been the first HBCU graduate to become president of the United States. Harris is the first vice president in U.S. history to have attended an HBCU.

At the event, Trinity Garrison, a junior from Miami, said Harris' campaign brought the HBCU community together. "All HBCU communities, not just Howard," she said. "At first it was a little scary, putting one of our own out there for the world to nitpick and make opinions about, but the more we got into the race, I think the more we started to find our fire again, and that was very inspiring to watch, to see us all come together to stand behind Kamala and root each other on."

The university moved classes online the week of the election to make way for its most famous contemporary.

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"Tonight, as our nation votes, and we observe a time honored ritual of our democracy, encompassing the right for our voices to be heard, the right to express ourselves across aisles, tonight, as we continue the hard and necessary work of democracy, the work that advances our nation forward, we at Howard are proud and honored to be able to vote for our alumna and welcome her home," Howard University president Ben Vinson III said in remarks as programming got under way.

Harris braced for a long night and partial results

Harris spent part of her day calling into radio shows across the battlegrounds. She stopped by a phone bank at the Democratic National Committees headquarters in Washington, D.C. in the afternoon.

The vice president, who has said she ate a family-sized bag of nacho Doritos in 2016 after she won her Senate race and former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton lost the presidency, brought a box of chips.

Harris said in an August fundraising email that she tore up her notes and promised in her victory speech that night to fight Trump.

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And for the next eight years she did. First, as a senator on the Judiciary Committee, where she challenged his nominees, and later, as Bidens running mate, defeating Trump and making him a one-term president.

The results of the 2024 campaign, in which she replaced Biden in the sudden shake-up of the Democratic ticket, were not expected to come in as quickly as they did.

Her campaign warned prior to the event that it may have only partial results from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Arizona  three swing states that could determine the outcome - by the end of the evening on Tuesday. But the fact that the campaign said Harris planned to address the nation the next day suggested her aides were not feeling hopeful.

Before the race was called, Rothmiller said whether Harris wins or loses, she was happy to be part of history. "The fact that she's even up there, or even got this close, it's like dang, maybe I can get up there, too, one day. Or maybe if not me, my sisters can get there, too, one day," she said. "Just to know that we finally got this far in history, is like wow, what a time to be alive."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris nixed plans to speak at Howard, but her team pledged she'll return
Vice President Harris delivered a concession speech after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, thanking her family, staff and supporters. She said Americans must accept the results of the election and assured there would be a peaceful transition of power.
US Vice President Kamala Harris has called Donald Trump and congratulated him on his victory in the presidential election.

Source: Harris's representatives reported this to numerous American media outlets, including NBC News and AP, as reported by European Pravda.

Details: The Democrat called Trump "to congratulate him on winning the 2024 presidential election".

Harris's spokesman added that the phone call with the Republican discussed the "importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans."

Background: Kamala Harris is expected to address her supporters on Wednesday evening in light of her defeat.

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Gov. Gavin Newsoms political starpower dimmed as Vice President Kamala Harris rose to the top of the Democratic Party in the months before the 2024 election.

Fewer reporters tracked the California governors movements. Talk about his presidential prospects reduced to murmurs about whether he would be relevant in eight years. Some of his own political advisors shifted their attention to electing Harris.

That's all expected to change after her presidential campaign against former President Trump crashed and burned Tuesday and voters elected the Republican to a second term in the nation's highest office.

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Newsom is going to lead the resistance government for the next two years as governor, and then after that, he is a very prominent and nationally recognized party leader, said Dan Schnur, who teaches political communications at USC, UC Berkeley and Pepperdine.

There will be dozens of other plausible Democrats thinking about the 2028 race, but none of them start with the advantages that Newsom has developed for himself.

As the liberal antithesis to conservative dogma on abortion, immigration and LGBTQ+ rights, California is naturally poised to reprise the role the state played during the first Trump presidency as a GOP foil and protector of Democratic values. Democrats in the state Capitol are already talking about calling a special legislative session before Trump is sworn in to strengthen state laws against potential federal challenges.

Californias position automatically elevates Newsom, who has spent the last few years boosting his profile in the culture wars against Republicans, raising millions of dollars for Democratic candidates and touring the nation as a surrogate for Biden and Harris, in talks about 2028 presidential contenders.

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Read more: Trump is elected 47th president, soundly defeating Harris to retake White House

In an interview after he rallied for Democratic congressional candidates two days before the election, Newsom didn't want to discuss the reality of the election as a critical inflection point in his own political future. The governor is often coy about running for president and says it isn't on his radar.

Instead the Democratic governor shared his worries about Trump returning to the White House, and talked about his administration's work to prepare in the months before the election.

"He wants to put a crowbar in the spokes of our wheels within a nanosecond," Newsom said.

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In his acceptance speech Tuesday night, Trump declared that American had given him "an unprecedented and powerful mandate." He also pledged to make good on his campaign promises, which include mass deportations, prosecuting his political enemies and cutting off federal disaster aid for Californias wildfires, among dozens of other declarations.

The Newsom administration completed an analysis of Project 2025, which has been described as a playbook for a new GOP administration that includes plans for replacing thousands of career federal workers with Trump supporters who will carry out a far-right agenda. The governor's staff also analyzed what could be at risk in California.

His administration, with the help of state Atty Gen. Rob Bonta, has already begun to "Trump-proof" the state. They reviewed more than 100 lawsuits California filed against the federal government during the first administration to pinpoint potential vulnerabilities for the state and map out the president-elect's agenda.

Though Newsom said it's premature to definitively say that he would call the newly elected state Legislature into special session in December to pass laws to protect state policies before Trump takes office, both he and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) have said it's a possibility. A special session focused on abortion rights and climate change are top considerations for the Newsom administration.

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"There's a diagram of everything that these guys have talked about in relation to California, everything we've dealt with in the past," Newsom said Sunday. "There's an understanding of where they want to go in the future."

Trumps victory could make it more challenging for Newsom to carry out his own agenda before he terms out of office in two years.

Newsom said Sunday that he has a list of "73 things" he wants to get done. Before election day, aides said his sweeping list included better preparing the state for bird flu outbreaks and building enough electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support his goal of banning the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035.

The governor pushed back on the notion that Trump would thwart his plans, but said he wasn't naive about "this being a very challenged environment" if Trump won. He called the former president "delusional," "completely unmoored. Unhinged."

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"We continue to drive that hard with the same kind of energy," Newsom said Sunday. "But there's a lot of noise and I'm very familiar with it. I dealt with this guy for years. I'm better prepared than most."

Then-President Trump toured fired damage in Paradise, Calif., in 2018 with Gavin Newsom, left, who was then the governor elect, and outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)

As the state that's home to Rep. Adam B. Schiff, who was elected California's junior senator on Tuesday, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Harris, Newsom said, there's no bigger target for Trump than California.

"We're not going to be timid. We're not just going to sit here on the defense and we're going to build coalitions, and we're going to build partnerships with other states and AGs, not just other governors," Newsom said before the election.

Newsom burnished his brand as a fighter for the party after calling out national Democrats for failing to go on the offensive in the culture wars. The California Democrat launched his own "Campaign for Democracy" in 2023 and gave himself an avenue to travel the country to raise money for other Democrats and increase his name recognition.

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Newsom became a top surrogate for Biden after the president announced his reelection campaign, all the while continuing to visit other states in the name of Democrats and debating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Fox News. Newsom remained a Biden loyalist even as other top Democrats called for the president to step out of the 2024 race after his poor debate performance over the summer.

Read more: Gavin Newsom navigates new role behind Kamala Harris

Once Biden endorsed Harris as his replacement on the ballot, buzz about Newsom shifted to questions about what he would do after he termed out in California and if he would be able keep his name in the news for a potential presidential run in 2032 if Harris beat Trump and won a second term.

Mike Madrid, a Republican political consultant, said Newsom has positioned himself well on cultural issues within the party that matter to the Democratic base of white, college-educated, home-owning, upper-middle-class voters.

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But questions remain if another Californian can win over the American people in four years. Harris' failure in the presidential race underscored the reality that Democrats need to be able to speak to working-class issues if they want to beat Republicans and regain the White House, Madrid said.

"I think that no Democrat is going to be viable going forward, unless you can appeal to the Latino working class," Madrid said. "And that's not at the top of his resume."

So there's reason to be skeptical about how far Newsom could ascend, Madrid said, should he choose to run for president.

"In a primary, he plays really well, but there's going to be a question of viability, of can he get an Arizona, a Nevada, a Pennsylvania, a North Carolina back into the fold and make it competitive?"

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, left, the Democratic Senate nominee, with Vice President Kamala Harris during a June visit to Maryland. Harris' coattails were expected to help Alsobrooks campaign. Photo by William J. Ford.

The biggest question of the presidential race in Maryland may have been solved this summer, when President Joe Biden bowed out and Vice President Kamala Harris quickly consolidated support to replace him as the Democratic nominee. After that, it was all over but the counting.

With just under half of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Harris was on her way to an easy victory over former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. Harris had 971,923 votes to Trumps 422,080, with the top three other candidates accounting for just over 35,000 of the almost 1.5 million votes tallied by 10 p.m.

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But Maryland accounts for just 10 of the 270 Electoral College votes that Trump or Harris will need to win and counting in other states, particularly crucial battleground states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, is expected to take days. And could be challenged after that.

Harris victory in Maryland is hardly a surprise. The state last voted for a Republican presidential candidate in 1988, when then-Vice President George H.W. Bush was the partys nominee and eventual winner of the White House. Democrats have cleared 60% of the vote in Maryland in every presidential election here dating back to 2008.

Biden defeated Trump 65% to 32% four years ago. Harris was holding the same margin in early returns Tuesday.

The reliability of the Democratic vote in Maryland has made the state an afterthought in recent presidential campaigns, and 2024 was no different. While Trump and Harris, their running mates and their proxies all but inhabited the battleground states, spending the past weekend campaigning in Pennsylvania, Michigan and other swing states, Maryland became the political version of fly-over country. Prominent Democrats from Maryland were more likely to go to other states to campaign for Harris than have a candidate come here.

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Biden managed to carry 10 of the states 24 jurisdictions in 2020. But Democratic presidential nominees have traditionally won in Maryland by racking up big vote totals in the central part of the state, from Baltimore City along the Interstate 95 corridor down to Prince Georges and Montgomery counties.

That was the case Tuesday, where early returns showed Harris dominating in the big Central Maryland counties, while most rural counties were going for Trump.

While the presidential result was never in doubt in Maryland, Democrats were hoping Harris strength here would benefit Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), a friend and protege of the vice presidents who is running for Senate. Alsobrooks made their relationship a key selling point in her bid for the states open U.S. Senate seat, where she faced an unexpectedly tough challenge from former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican with high approval ratings going into the race, who twice won statewide in the Democratic state.

Democrats were also hoping that Harris coattails would boost former U.S. Commerce Department official April McClain Delaney, the Democratic nominee for the 6th District in the House. The Western Maryland district is the most competitive in the state, and Delaney was running against a Republican, former Del. Neil C. Parrott, who came into the race with high name recognition, as he was also the GOP nominee in each of the past two races.
By Nandita Bose, Jarrett Renshaw, Gabriella Borter and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Anger and soul-searching took hold of the Democratic Party on Wednesday, after Vice President Kamala Harris suffered an election loss that left some party officials and voters dumbfounded.

Harris was the self-styled underdog against her Republican rival, Donald Trump, having joined the race a little over three months ago, but the nature of her loss has some Democrats asking questions about the future of the party.

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The sharpest criticism contained accusations that the party had lied to its supporters about President Joe Biden's mental fitness until a disastrous TV debate with Trump in June raised alarm bells and ultimately led to the president exiting the race.

One Democratic donor asked: "Why did Joe Biden hold on for as long as he did? He should have not concealed his (health) and dropped out a lot sooner."

Biden, 81, has said privately he thought he was the only Democrat who could beat Trump, and vowed publicly that he was fit to be president for another four years. When he dropped out of the race in July, he said he had decided it was "in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down."

Biden's announcement in April 2023 that he would run for reelection was greeted with skepticism by many Democrats, but likely potential challengers quickly agreed to join his campaign as advisers, rather than challenge him.

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A Democratic official blamed "malpractice" by Biden's inner circle. "No one would tell him 'no'," the official said, criticizing the White House communications and political teams. "So it's Joe, but also Joe's core apparatus. Stunning and well documented chickens coming home to roost."

One Harris aide said the vice president's campaign was doomed from the start by her loyalty to the unpopular president. Democrats could have won with someone who broke from him, offered different policies, and presented as a candidate of change.

One major error was Harris' initial remark on the ABC show "The View" that she could not think of anything she would have done differently from Biden, the aide said.

Other left-leaning governments have also come under fire from conservative political movements that target immigrants. Canada's Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for example, cut immigration levels under criticism from the right, and Europe's far-right parties have vowed to toughen immigration rules, while peeling away votes from the center-left.

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That has not stopped calls for a reckoning within the Democratic Party from donors and voters after Harris' loss.

The party "needs a complete reboot," hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, a longtime Democratic donor who endorsed Trump in 2024, posted on X. "The party lied to the American people about the cognitive health and fitness of the president," he said, and then didn't hold a primary to replace him.

The Harris campaign and the White House declined to comment.

WOMEN AND YOUNG VOTERS

Concerns about the problems with Harris' run for president ran deeper, though.

Two groups Harris was counting on to beat the former president  increasingly diverse young voters, believed to be motivated by climate change, liberal values and her social media savvy, and women worried about shrinking abortion rights under a Republican  moved in Trump's direction instead.

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Trump's overall share of voters under 45 was up 2 percentage points from 2020 as was his share of women voters, Edison Research exit poll data show. Trump also increased his support in many suburban areas, where Democrats thought they had made inroads.

The shift came even as the Harris campaign insisted the race was close, and that she was picking up new voters.

One Democratic National Committee official said he was fielding angry text messages from party members late on Tuesday night. "They feel lied to by the campaign," the official said.

Harris' defeat is the Democrats' second bitter loss to Trump over the past three elections. Hillary Clinton's 2016 defeat had paved the way for Biden to run.

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"We dug out of a deep hole but not enough. A devastating loss," David Plouffe, senior adviser to the campaign, wrote on X, a remark that seemed to reference Biden's weak polls before he dropped out of the race.

A convicted felon, Trump has made unorthodox economic proposals, including blanket tariffs on imports, that may be costly for U.S. consumers and businesses, economists say. His plans to deport millions of people who are in the country illegally would upend industries and communities.

Still, Trump gained with Hispanic voters, and had easy wins in Georgia and North Carolina, states where Democrats thought they were competitive. Harris' whirlwind campaign had banked on a theme of inclusivity in its messaging and stronger fiscal support for families to unify a winning coalition, but fell short.

Biden and Harris' support of Israel during its assault on Gaza split the Democratic Party, with many progressive Democrats calling unsuccessfully for the U.S. to curb its military aid to Israel. That cost votes among left-leaning Democrats.

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Harris remained at her residence in Washington all Tuesday evening while crowds waited outside her alma mater Howard University, where the campaign had set up a stage and a media center, anticipating days of vote counting before a result.

She finally arrived at the university campus on Wednesday afternoon to deliver her concession speech, which included thanking Biden.

"While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign," she said.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose, Jarrett Renshaw, Gabriella Borter and Jeff Mason; Editing by Heather Timmons, Mark Bendeich, Deepa Babington, Jonathan Oatis and Daniel Wallis)
Musk once fashioned his image primarily around fighting climate change by building electric cars to reduce pollution and rockets that could one day help humans flee to Mars from a dying Earth. He's now at the forefront of a growing class of Silicon Valley billionaires championing a libertarian movement as a backlash to the California region's historically liberal ideology - which Musk now derides as a woke mind virus.

Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and Musk did not respond to requests for comment. The Trump campaign called Musk a "once-in-a-generation industry leader" in a statement to Reuters, adding that the "broken federal bureaucracy will certainly benefit from his ideas and efficiency."

Musk endorsed Trump on July 13, the day the candidate was shot in the ear in a Pennsylvania assassination attempt. Musk's donations financed an extensive get-out-the-vote effort as Trump faced a stiffer challenge after Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Joe Biden in July as the Democratic presidential nominee. Musk spent election night with the president-elect at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, and Trump has said he would name Musk as his administration's "efficiency czar."

Elon Musk sees all regulations as getting in the way of his businesses and innovation, said one former top SpaceX official who spoke on condition of anonymity. He sees the Trump administration as the vehicle for getting rid of as many regulations as he can, so he can do whatever he wants, as fast as he wants.

Musk's business interests - from Tesla electric vehicles to SpaceX rockets and Neuralink brain chips - depend heavily on government regulation, subsidies or policy.

Musk's politicking reflects a wider strategy to insulate his companies from regulation or enforcement and boost their government support, according to Reuters interviews with six Musk-company sources familiar with his political and business dealings and two government officials who have extensive interactions with Musk firms. The sources provided a rare view of the strategizing inside Musk's firms to take full advantage of his deepening relationship with Trump.

Musk contributed at least $119 million to a pro-Trump spending group, federal records show, and tirelessly touted the former president at the critical late stage of his campaign.

(Reuters) -Elon Musks backing of Donald Trumps decisive victory for a second presidency gives the billionaire entrepreneur extraordinary influence to help his companies secure favorable government treatment.

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His rising political involvement could put his industrial empire in a position that current and former employees likened to the Gilded Age, when industry barons such as J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller held broad sway over government policy impacting their businesses and wealth.

Musks growing power excited his backers who view government as an impediment to his high-tech operations, including Shervin Pishevar, a venture capitalist who has invested in SpaceX and advocated for Silicon Valleys shift toward Trump. Cutting regulation, he said, would speed SpaceX's efforts to get to Mars.

Hes going to make America function like a startup, Pishevar said of Musk. Theres no greater entrepreneur in American history than Elon Musk."

DRIVING AUTO POLICY

Musks political ascension comes after perceived slights under the Biden administration that accelerated Musk's embrace of Trumps right-wing populism. For example, Tesla wasnt invited to an August 2021 EV summit at the White House that featured only unionized Detroit automakers that produce a fraction of the EVs Tesla sells.

The fortunes of Tesla could rise or fall depending on Trump's treatment of the diverse array of subsidies, policies and regulatory schemes for electric and autonomous vehicles. Democratic administrations have historically championed many such pro-EV policies, with Tesla's support. Musk could potentially now protect them despite the Republican partys traditional rejection of EVs - and Trumps ridicule of Bidens EV policy on the campaign trail.

For Tesla, Musks goals include getting the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), its primary federal safety regulator, to hold off on potential enforcement actions involving the safety of Teslas current driver-assistance systems, called "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving," according to a person familiar with the matter.

Musk's "primary focus over the next four years," the person said, would be "de-enforcement."

Musk, the source said, could also push for favorable regulation of autonomous vehicles and robotaxis that Tesla plans. For his new artificial intelligence startup xAI, Musk could shape nascent rules or a new agency, the person said.

Musk said last month that he expects to roll out driverless Teslas in California and Texas by next year and start production in 2026 on a fully autonomous Cybercab with no steering wheel or pedals. Tesla would need a waiver from NHTSA to produce such a vehicle.

There are no nationwide regulations governing how autonomous vehicles can be deployed. That means operators have to deal with different regulations in each state. Musk bemoaned the challenges of the state-by-state regulatory landscape in a Tesla earnings call last month and advocated for one federal approval process.

Brian Mulberry, client portfolio manager at Zacks Investment Management, a Tesla investor, said a streamlined, uniform set of autonomous-driving regulations may provide Tesla the biggest boost of any policy Musk might influence. A "slimmer, trimmer federal Department of Transportation that gives common-sense guidelines" would give Tesla "room to prove their case" for the technology's safety, he said.

Despite Musks complaints of stifling bureaucracy, SpaceX currently leads the world in government-financed rocket launches and Tesla sells nearly two million heavily subsidized EVs annually.

Tesla shares closed up about 15% on Wednesday.

At his brain-implant startup Neuralink, Musk has long complained that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval process has slowed the firm from implanting the device in humans. Musk could use his rising clout in a Trump administration to cut through some of the safety-related approvals in that process, according to a source familiar with the companys operations.

Musk has long expressed frustration about the FDA's pace. Some Neuralink employees are considering the prospect that Musk, if he becomes Trumps efficiency chief, could get FDA officials he deems inefficient fired, said a person familiar with the matter.

GROWING POWER

Musks designs on setting up a lax regulatory environment come as his companies already face fewer regulatory requirements and softer enforcement of current federal rules, according to the six Musk company sources familiar with his regulatory dealings and political strategy. Some federal agencies already struggle to muster the political will to go after Musk companies for alleged policy violations or safety issues, they said, in part because Musk is the dominant player in highly-regulated and politicized industries such as electric cars and rockets.

NASA, for instance, has relied on SpaceXs know-how in missions such as the expected rescue of Boeings Starliner astronauts who are still stranded in space.

NASA and other agencies often try to avoid alienating the company, said a federal official who is familiar with the companys government interactions and spoke on condition of anonymity. NASA needs SpaceX more than SpaceX needs NASA, the official said.

NASA has invested more than $15 billion in SpaceX. SpaceX is also separately developing a network of hundreds of spy satellites with a U.S. intelligence agency, Reuters has reported.

A Reuters investigation last year documented at least 600 worker injuries at SpaceX facilities nationwide and found that Musks rocket company disregarded safety regulations and standard practices. Worker injury rates at SpaceX facilities also continued to exceed an industry average last year, according to a Reuters review of safety data.

Neither NASA nor OSHA, which regulates worker safety, has taken any significant enforcement action against SpaceX over worker injuries and related reporting violations. NASA declined to comment on Musks potential influence after Trumps election.

Musk has nonetheless excoriated the government for trying to enforce the rules even as his company has moved faster than competitors. In an interview before the election, he described federal enforcement as overly harsh and said he aimed to get rid of insane regulations.

Eventually, you just cant get anything done, said Musk during an appearance at the All-in Summit, a gathering affiliated with a tech podcast by the same name.

However, the U.S. government does not regulate the safety of participants in private space flights in orbit due to a temporary congressionally imposed ban on the agencys oversight, to encourage innovation in the industry. A Trump administration, influenced by Musk, is expected to push for softer regulations on this front, according to four SpaceX sources familiar with its regulatory strategy.

Musk and SpaceX see the companys dominance as evidence that it can handle less oversight, the sources said, even as an unfettered Musk could have unintended consequences for the industry.

One former SpaceX official cautioned that taking a lax regulatory attitude in a sector as dangerous as rocket-building "could blow up in everyones face and set back the industry for a decade.

(Reporting by Marisa Taylor, Rachael Levy and Chris Kirkham; editing by Brian Thevenot and Anna Driver)
US presidential candidate Kamala Harris is preparing to call Donald Trump to concede her defeat, and incumbent President Joe Biden is also planning a call to the Republican.

Source: NBC News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Harris is expected to call Trump on 6 November to acknowledge her loss in the election, two of her aides said. They added that Harris will deliver a concession speech, though the timing is not yet known. The Democratic candidate is currently working on her speech, one of her aides confirmed.

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President Joe Biden also intends to call Trump on 6 November and has planned a public speech addressing the election results, an unnamed White House official stated. The timing of Bidens call and speech remains unknown.

As a White House representative said, Bidens approach to Trumps victory will involve actions that Trump did not take after Bidens 2020 win. Biden aims to call the Republican to congratulate him, invite him to the White House, and attend his inauguration.

The White House had previously announced that Biden would attend Trumps inauguration in case of his victory.

Background: Trump is leading not only in the Electoral College count but also in the popular vote.

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Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. (Photos by Jonathan Ernst/Scott Olson/Getty Images)

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

As predicted, former President Donald Trump secured Maines electoral vote from the 2nd Congressional District as part of his successful bid to retake the White House. However, Vice President Kamala Harris picked up the 1st Congressional District and will likely be awarded Maines other two electoral votes.

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Unlike every other state but Nebraska, Maine splits its electoral votes. Two are awarded to the candidate who wins the overall popular vote and then each congressional district awards one to the candidate who secured the most votes in that district.

The Associated Press called the race in Maines southern district for the Democratic nominee at roughly 10:50 p.m. Harris had 65.7% of votes to former President Donald Trumps 31.6%, with 15% of votes counted.

Just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, the race for Maines 2nd Congressional District was called, with Trump earning 53.8% of the vote to Harris 43.9%, with 59% of votes counted.

In 2016, Trump won the 2nd District 51% to 41%. Four years later, he won the district 52% to 45%.

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As of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, the AP had not yet called the overall winner in Maine, though Harris was heavily favored.

Nationally, Trump appeared poised to be declared the overall winner of the presidential contest though several key states continue to tally results from mail-in and early absentee ballots. Its a result that will possibly take days to determine, given tight margins expected in several swing states.

In the months and weeks leading up to the election, Harris campaign was active in Maine with her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, making multiple fundraising stops after she announced her candidacy in July. However, neither the vice president herself nor her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, visited Maine on the campaign trail.

Maine saw a surge in voter registration that coincided with Harris replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the ticket and continued throughout the campaign season.

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Many leaders in Maine threw their support behind Harris including Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree and independent U.S. Sen. Angus King.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat who was fighting for his own reelection in the 2nd District, never endorsed a presidential candidate.

Though Trump endorsed the Republican candidate for Maines 2nd Congressional District, Austin Theriault, the former president didnt make any campaign stops in Maine. Neither did his running mate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio.

In addition to the presidential race, both seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one Senate race were on the ballot in Maine, as well as every seat in the Maine Legislature, several ballot questions and municipal races.

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The Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks during an event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Sept. 20, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

Vice President Kamala Harris won New Mexicos five electoral votes, Tuesday, according to a call by the Associated Press, despite a last-minute effort from Donald Trump to galvanize Republican support.

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While it was too soon to say whether Trump or Harris will set foot in the White House in January, the latest figures show Harris won New Mexico by a significant margin: 51.2% to 46.2%. That amounts to a roughly 40,000-vote advantage, with 75% of precincts reporting as of 9:38 p.m.

Trump drew thousands to a rally in Albuquerque the week before Election Day. During his speech, he falsely claimed hed won New Mexico twice during his previous campaigns, even though he lost the state by nearly 100,000 votes in 2020 and by a similar margin in 2016.

He told his supporters that he hoped to win Hispanics by a greater margin than Democrats. New Mexico is more than 50% Hispanic.

Harris was expected to win the state since she entered the race. Polls consistently gave her a 7- to 8-point lead here. Harris did not visit New Mexico as part of her campaign.
Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a day before she lost the race to Republican former President Donald Trump. Pennsylvania's 19 electoral votes went to Trump. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Rhode Island delivered on its solidly Democratic reputation in Tuesdays presidential race, but not by as strong a margin as recent presidential elections.

Kamala Harris, who earned all four Electoral College votes in the Ocean State, maintained a decisive 13-percentage point lead as of 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to preliminary, unofficial results with the Rhode Island Board of Elections. Mail ballots submitted via drop boxes on Election Day, as well as ballots cast by military and overseas voters, had not yet been counted.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris drew most of her support in Tuesdays presidential election from voters in Rhode Islands urban and coastal communities, shown in blue, while Republican former President Donald Trumps edge came from western cities and towns, shown in red. (Decision Desk HQ)

Republican Donald Trump  for whom the race was called nationwide early Wednesday  made his best showing in Rhode Island yet, securing more than 42% of ballots cast. Trump failed to crack 40% in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, against respective opponents Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

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The last Republican presidential candidate to receive more than 40% of the votes in Rhode Island was George H. W. Bush in 1988.

Polls ahead of Election Day predicted a wide range of margins for Harris victory in Rhode Island. A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll released Sept. 18 gave Harris a 20-percentage-point lead over Trump in Rhode Island. However, Harris margin shrunk to 14 percentage points in a subsequent UNH poll published on Nov. 3.

Biden beat Trump by nearly 20-percentage points in Rhode Island in 2020. In 2016, Rhode Island voters backed Clinton over Trump by more than 15 percentage points.

On Tuesday, Harris drew most of her support from the states urban and coastal communities, while Trumps edge came from western cities and towns. Trump bested Harris in 13 of Rhode Islands municipalities, including three which backed Biden in 2020: Woonsocket, West Warwick and Richmond.

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Harris popularity waned in several Rhode Island cities and towns considered Democratic strongholds. In Central Falls, for example, more than one-third of voters backed Trump this year. In 2020, Trump drew just over 25% of the vote among Central Falls voters.

Harris strongest showing was in Providence, where more than 73% of voters backed the Democratic nominee. Trump fared best among Foster voters, with 59.7% of the vote, closely followed by West Greenwich, where he received 59.5% support among voters.

The last time Rhode Island backed a Republican presidential candidate was in 1984 in Ronald Reagans reelection.

The Rhode Island Board of Elections expects to finish counting ballots and certify results by Nov. 12.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Police announced Tuesday they are investigating a homicide in Harrisburg after a man died from the injuries he got from a weekend shooting.

It was around 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 when officers responded to a report of shots fired and a person down in the area of Hunter and Nectarine Streets.

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Darius Stukes, 34, was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. However, police say he died at the hospital.

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Police say they are investigating and are asking anyone with information to contact them at 717-558-6900.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Hawaii voters cast their ballots in the 2024 general election on Tuesday, motivated in part by a tight presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and President-elect Donald Trump. In a state historically dominated by Democrats, Harris claimed victory, securing roughly 61% of the vote with 86% reporting.

In other races, Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono successfully won her third term in the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican challenger Bob McDermott by a wide margin. In Hawaiis two congressional districts, Democratic Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda comfortably defended their seats covering urban and suburban Honolulu and neighboring islands.

More: Hawaii is one of the bluest states in the country. But it wasn't always that way.

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One of the most closely watched local races  the Hawaii Island mayoral contest  saw Kimo Alameda unseat Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth. He currently leads with 54% of votes compared to Roth's 46%, according to early results from the Hawaii Office of Elections. The initial tally reflects an estimated 90% of the vote count.

Alameda, a psychologist and former vice president at Hawaii Island Community Health Center, focused on affordable housing, homelessness, and infrastructure improvements. His support from key unions proved decisive, despite a smaller campaign budget than Roth.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Board of Trustees race also favored incumbents this cycle. At-large Trustee Kelii Akina holds a strong lead over former trustee Lei Ahu Isa. Trustee Luana Alapa has a narrower lead against Kunani, while on Kauai, Trustee Dan Ahuna leads Laura Lindsey.

Hawaii residents line up outside of Honolulu Hale to vote in the Nov. 2024 General Election.

Former congressman Kai Kahele won the Big Island seat in the primary, replacing outgoing Trustee Mililani Trask. The board, which manages resources for Native Hawaiian communities, plays a major role impacting programs in education, business support, and community services.

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Hawaiis Democratic supermajority in the state Legislature remained strong after early Election Day results showed Republicans losing a seat in the 76-member body. Three first-term Republican representatives from Oahus Leeward Side and state Sen. Brenton Awa successfully held off Democratic challengers.

All 51 House seats and 13 of the 25 Senate seats were up for election this year. Once final results are in, Democrats are expected to hold close to 70 seats.

Hawaii residents pull up curbside to drop off their ballot to election officials for the Nov. 2024 election

Voters also appear to have approved two amendments which would alter Hawaii's state constitution.

Amendment on same-sex marriage  Hawaii voters appear to have approved a repeal of Section 23 of the state constitution, which had granted the legislature authority to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples. With an estimated 76% of the vote reporting, 56% voted in favor of the repeal, while 44% opposed it.

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With the majority yes vote, the state constitution will be amended to affirm the right to same-sex marriage in Hawaii.

Judicial appointment amendment  Hawaii voters overwhelmingly vote to standardize the appointment and confirmation process of District Court judges with that of state Supreme Court justices and other higher court judges. The goal is to simplify the judicial appointment process and improve the efficiency and uniformity of judicial selections.

With an estimated 73% of the vote reporting, 71% voted in favor while 29% opposed.

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hawaii election results; Democrats, incumbents, generally hold steady
Following the Israeli parliament's decision to ban the main UN agency helping Palestinians in the Middle East, UNRWA, from operating in Israel, its head Philippe Lazzarini has asked the United Nations General Assembly for help.

"For the past year, UNRWA has been a lifeline for the people of Gaza. It is the only pillar of their lives left standing," Lazzarini told the assembly in New York.

He asked the UN member states to work against the implementation of the Israeli legislation banning the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to maintain the financial support of the aid organization and to include and define its role in any plan for the future of the region.

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The ban, which is to come into force after a three-month period, has attracted a great deal of international criticism.

Israel alleges that some of UNRWA's employees were involved in the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Lazzarini said that accusations of "violations of neutrality" within UNRWA are taken very seriously. However, despite multiple requests, Israel has not provided any evidence to support its accusations, he added.
(Bloomberg) -- Netflix Inc. offices in Paris and Amsterdam were raided on Tuesday by investigators as part of a 2022 probe into alleged tax-related crimes and undeclared labor, according to a French justice ministry official.

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We are co-operating with the authorities in France, where Netflix is a significant contributor to the local economy  and we comply with the tax laws and regulations in all the countries in which we operate, the company said in a statement.

France and the Netherlands have been working together on the case since it was opened two years ago. The US-based streaming giant first came under scrutiny in France, one of the companys biggest European markets, for tax filings from 2019, 2020 and 2021, according to a 2023 report in French newspaper La Lettre. Netflixs French unit raised flags after it was discovered to be using a company in the Netherlands, where Netflix has its European headquarters, to reduce its tax obligation for revenue generated in France, according to the newspaper.

Netflixs French operation was structured until 2021 so that subscribers signed up with a Dutch subsidiary, allowing the company to pay less than 1 million in taxes in France in 2019 and 2020, even as it had about 7 million French subscribers, according to the paper.

Once it ended that agreement, Netflix France started posting significantly higher revenue in France, when it began to count the subscribers in France, not the Netherlands, according to La Lettre. By 2022, Netflix was generating about $1.3 billion euros of revenue in France, more in line with its 10 million subscribers by June 2023, according to the newspaper.

A preliminary investigation doesnt mean that criminal charges will be filed or that a trial will occur.

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HealthPartners and UnitedHealthcare said Tuesday theyve reached a multi-year agreement that will allow some 30,000 subscribers to UHCs senior Medicare Advantage plans to remain in-network next year, meaning patients can continue to visit HealthPartners locations such as Regions Hospital in downtown St. Paul and Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater.

The announcements should bring relief to thousands of former employees of Ramsey County, St. Paul Public Schools and the city of St. Paul, which had enrolled their retirees into UnitedHealthcares group Medicare Advantage program and were in danger of losing access to longtime providers.

In July, Bloomington-based HealthPartners informed subscribers across the Twin Cities that it was at loggerheads with UnitedHealthcare over the insurers many claim denials and limited reimbursements for medical care, and that HealthPartners no longer would accept the insurers Medicare Advantage coverage in 2025. City, county and school officials had urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach agreement prior to Medicare open enrollment, which runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

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The impasse left thousands of former public employees scrambling to determine whether to ditch the health insurer or risk not being allowed back to visit doctors, specialists and medical teams that some seniors have been seeing for years, if not decades.

Were sorry that this situation has caused uncertainty and stress for many of our patients over the past few months, wrote Steve Connelly and Mark Sannes, co-executive medical directors at HealthPartners/Park Nicollet, in an open letter to patients Tuesday.

Still time to change plans

The directors said that in 2025, the care system will remain in-network for several Medicare Advantage plans, including UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners and Medica. The Park Nicollet clinics and Methodist Hospital will be in-network for UCares Medicare Advantage plans.

Wed like you to know that we were able to reach an agreement with UnitedHealthcare that addresses our concerns, the letter continues.   If you already switched plans and would like to re-enroll in your UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, you still have time to do that.

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A spokesperson for UnitedHealthcare, a Minnetonka-based for-profit insurer, described the new agreement as a multi-year contract that ensures continued, uninterrupted network access to the health systems hospitals, facilities and its physicians for those enrolled in the companys group retiree and dual special needs Medicare Advantage plans, employer-sponsored commercial plans and the insurers Medicaid community plan of Wisconsin.

Alarmed by the possibility their retirees would lose hospital access, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners and St. Paul school board voted early last month to dig deep into reserve accounts to buy supplementary insurance, intended to keep access to HealthPartners sites, albeit at higher premiums.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter at the time rejected the prospect of paying another $1.5 million for Medigap coverage.

The city doesnt have the $1.5 million these corporations are demanding at the eleventh hour to stop blocking our retirees from the doctors theyve trusted for years, Carter said in a statement Oct. 14. This is a fight between two of the largest health care systems in the state; they must find a solution that releases our retirees and taxpayers from their crossfire.

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JD Vance is now just a heartbeat from the presidencyand thats the heart of the oldest man ever elected to the White House.

Just eight years ago, Vance was criticizing Donald Trump as a fraud and a moral disaster and reportedly told a friend he couldnt decide whether the MAGA mogul was a cynical ahole like Nixon or Americas Hitler.

Thanks to Trump, he now stands first in line to inherit the most powerful job on Earth.

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At 40, he becomes the youngest vice president since, er, that cynical a--hole Nixon. After his flip-flopping on Trump, the question remains, who is he, and what would he do as president?

Vances early story is well-known. He left home in Ohio after high school to join the U.S. Marines for a four-year stint that included six months in Iraq, deployed in a non-combat role as a military journalist. Then, with help from the GI Bill, he graduated from Ohio State University before studying at Yale Law School, where he met both his Indian-American wife, Usha, and his future mentor in the world of venture capitalism, the right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel.

But it was not his military service, legal acumen or business success that brought Vance to national attention. It was his 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy, which he had first been encouraged to write several years earlier by his Yale professor, Amy Chua.

Subtitled A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, the book was embraced by conservatives for its unflinching depiction of social disintegration in the Appalachians, the sort of disaffected white working-class communities whose support helped tip the balance for Trump in the 2016 presidential election, a few months after its release.

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The books success marked Vance out as a man with a particularly personal knowledge of the Republicans most prized constituency, although at the time, the tall, gawky intellectual seemed an unlikely conservative guru himself.

Vance continued to criticize TrumpIm a Never Trump guy, he told Charlie Rose in 2016and reportedly voted for the independent Evan McMullin.

After Trump settled into the White House, however, Vance put aside his natural contemptdeleting his disobliging tweetsto infiltrate the MAGA movement, winning Trumps endorsement for a long-shot tilt at the U.S. Senate for Ohio in 2022 and becoming one of his leading surrogates in D.C. as his re-election campaign got into gear.

But even though Vance featured on the shortlist for Trumps VP pickhis previous VP having run foul of the Jan. 6 mobmost expected Trump to choose a running mate with more experience of retail politics, the main candidates being Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Vance had been talked up by some of the most powerful figures in the wider MAGA movement, including Thiel, Elon Musk, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, as well as Trumps two elder sons, Don Jr. and Eric.

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Trumps decision to name Vance to his ticket on July 15, the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, was seen as a victory for the MAGA hardliners, and a sign of Trumps confidence in his election battle with the 81-year-old Joe Biden.

Two weeks later, Biden dropped out of the race, paving the way for his own vice president, Kamala Harris, and Trumps choice of running mate appeared to have come back to bite him. Awkward on the campaign trail, Vances weird obsession with childless cat ladies was seized upon by the Harris campaign.

Given Trumps age, and with clear signs of his cognitive decline, its fair to ask what sort of president Vance would be. On most policy issues he appears to be clearly to the right of his bossfirmly anti-abortion, anti-migrants, anti-trans, and of course, anti-childless cat ladiesalthough he has mostly managed to tailor his policy pronouncements.

The biggest clue as to what a President Vance might look like must be those who backed him as vice president: not just Thiel and Musk and the elder Trump sons, but the Heritage Foundation, the rightwing think tank behind Project 2025, a 900-page policy roadmap laying out the priorities of a second Trump administration, including radical cuts to federal government.

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Trump himself was forced to disown and distance himself from Project 2025 and its more extreme policy proposals. Vance was closely tied to the policy push and even wrote the foreword to a book by Heritage Foundation founder Kevin Roberts. Roberts told Politico in March this year that Vance is absolutely going to be one of the leadersif not the leaderof our movement.

Ush and JD Vance with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner

But after once again defying the pollsters to win not just the electoral college but the popular vote, Trump paid tribute to Vance at his victory rally in Florida early Wednesday.

I want to be the first to congratulate our greatnow I can sayvice president-elect, JD Vance, and his absolutely remarkable and beautiful wife, Usha Vance, Trump said, as the crowd chanted JD! JD!

Hes a feisty guy, isnt he? You know, Ive said go into the enemy camp, and you know the enemy camp is certain networks. A lot of people dont like that. Do I have to, sir? He just goes: OK, which one? CNN? MSNBC? Hell say Thank you very much. He really looks forward to it. And then he just goes and absolutely obliterates them.

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He went on: Hes turned out to be a good choice. I took a little heat at the beginning, but he wasI knew the brain was a good one, as good as it gets, and we love the family, and were going to have a great four years, turn our country round, make it something very special.

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Heavy Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, an hour after an Israeli army spokesman issued an evacuation warning for three areas in the Hezbollah stronghold.

Loud blasts echoed throughout the capital Beirut and mount Lebanon and black smoke covered the targeted areas.

Some eight powerful airstrikes were documented by a dpa reporter from an area which overlooks Beirut's southern suburbs.

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Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee had warned residents to evacuate the southern suburbs of Burj al-Barajneh, Laylaki and Haret Hreik in a post on X.

His warning coincided with a recorded televised speech given by Hezbollah's Secertary General Naim Qassem during which he vowed to continue confronting the Israeli "aggression on Lebanon."

Qassem was speaking to mark 40 days since his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike.

We have weapons that will last us for a long time, Qassem threatened. The days will come when rockets will rain down on Israel. He stressed that his militia will not accept defeat.

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Earlier on Wednesday, Lebanon's Baalbeck-Hermel governor, Bashir Khodr, said Israeli warplanes launched 20 air strikes on eastern Lebanon, particularly on the ancient city of Baalbeck.

He added that one shell fell in a parking lot near the Roman ruins in Baalbeck city. It was not immediately clear whether the ruins were damaged.

Israel's army had issued evacuation warnings for Nabatiyeh but not for eastern Lebanon.

The Israeli army said Hezbollah had fired about 120 projectiles across the border.
(Credit: Susie Hedalen/ Shannon O'Brien)

Statewide voting results show that Republican Susie Hedalen, the Superintendent of Public Schools Townsend, will become the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Montana.

For the very beginning, Hedalen opened up a 20-point lead over Democrat Shannon OBrien, and that margin held into Wednesday morning as she had a lead of more than 100,000 votes as of 7:45 a.m, with 60 percent of the precincts reporting. Hedalen had received 310,245 votes to OBriens 209,189.

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The Associated Press called the victory for Hedalen on Wednesday morning.

On Twitter, she praised Republican President-elect Donald Trump and declared victory.

As I take a moment to reflect on this journey, my heart is filled with gratitude for all of the support I have received. A special thank you to my husband, family, and friends. Im excited for Tuesdays results and the opportunity to serve as MTs next State Superintendent! pic.twitter.com/RuLTighw93  Susie Hedalen (@SusieHedalen) November 4, 2024

The race for the top education official in Montana pitted two longtime educators against each other. Hedalen has experience as the leader of public schools in Townsend, while OBrien has served as an educator, a college dean and the education adviser to former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock.

Hedalen will replace outgoing Republican Elsie Arntzen, who became the first Republican in nearly 40 years to win consecutive terms in the position that previously was a Democratic stronghold.

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Arntzen, a former longtime lawmaker from Billings, had launched an unsuccessful campaign to become the Republican nominee for Congress in Montanas Second District, but she was beaten in a crowded primary field by Troy Downing.

Hedalen will have several notable challenges ahead as the department has faced record turnover and recently received an audit that showed as much as $67 million in federal funds were either misspent or not documented properly. The next superintendent will also work with the newly implemented public charter school programs, which have garnered positive response from districts.

The superintendents office will also have to navigate several controversial items in the future that have become endemic to public school conversations across America including transgender athletes in sports, book banning and a movement to increase parental rights.
More than an hour after several races in Indiana had already been called, including the presidential and gubernatorial races, voters were still in line in Hendricks County.

While the polls closed at 6 p.m., voters were still waiting in line almost two hours afterward in Hendricks County.

"We still have voters voting, so we will not have initial results to report yet," Anita Pearman from Hendricks County Voter Registration said in an email at 8:10 p.m. on election night.

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The first round of results from Hendricks County were finally released at 9:25 p.m., after some counties had already finished counting votes for the night. Hendricks County had more contested races than some of the other central Indiana counties, including multiple school board races.

For live election night updates visit IndyStar's live blog below.

Election Day live updates: Trump and Braun win in Indiana. Here's what we're seeing and hearing.

Katie Wiseman is a trending news reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Hendricks County results were released later than other counties
Republican congressional candidate and former state Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) addresses voters at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Novi on Oct. 26, 2024. | Kyle Davidson

Former state Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) appears to have prevailed over former state Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing) in the early hours of Wednesday, as Hertel has conceded the 7th Congressional District race.

Hertel thanked his staff, family and volunteers and wished Barrett well.

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I got into this race because I believe that we can make meaningful progress by seeking compromise, that our freedoms are worth fighting for, that we can bring down costs by cutting taxes for working families and reducing drug prices, that we can bring manufacturing jobs back home, and that we can strengthen our democracy. Spending the past year and a half on the campaign trail meeting the good people of this district has been one of the great honors of my life. To everyone who shared our vision and supported this campaign, I thank you deeply for your support. Know that I will continue to work with you towards that better future we all seek, Hertel said.

The Associated Press called the race at 4:06 a.m. As of 6:05 a.m., Barrett led Hertel 50.3% to 46.5%, with 99% of unofficial returns posted.

Michigans 7th Congressional District has garnered a reputation as one of the most competitive U.S. House seats in the state, with the nonpartisan Cook Political report rating it as a toss up for most of the cycle. However, in the final days, the handicapper moved the district to lean Republican.

Barrett had expressed confidence after polls closed Tuesday night.

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The votes are in. Were counting them now, and when the dust settles, Im confident that were going to come out ahead, Barrett told supporters in Howell after taking an early lead in the returns.

The district houses reliably blue Ingham County, majority-GOP Livingston County and Republican-leaning Clinton and Shiawassee counties, as well as parts of Eaton, Oakland and Genesee counties.

Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), the super PAC endorsed by U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republican leadership, congratulated Barrett on delivering a big win for Republicans in Michigan.

We invested in this race early, confident that Tom had what it took to succeed. We were proud to support him and know he will serve Michiganders well in Washington, said CLF President Dan Conston.

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Barrett has flipped party control of the district, succeeding U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) whom he unsuccessfully challenged in 2022. In addition to serving in the state Senate, Barrett served in the military for 22 years, retiring from the Michigan Army National Guard in 2022. He also served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2015 through 2018.

Hertel was Gov. Gretchen Whitmers legislative director before resigning in 2023. He centered his campaign on reproductive rights, gun safety, lowering health care costs and supporting jobs in automotive and battery manufacturing.

Republicans are seeking to maintain their slim majority in the U.S. House and Barretts victory could prove critical.

Barrett (R-Charlotte) cast his ballot this morning at Carmel Township Hall in Eaton County, speaking with reporters around 8:15 a.m. about the state of his campaign for U.S. House and his tradition of going to the polls with his family.

Former state Sen. Curtis Hertel speaks at Vice President Kamala Harris rally UAW Local 652 in Lansing, Oct. 18, 2024 | Susan J. Demas

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Millions of Americans have shown up to vote for the 2024 General Election, which will determine who takes control of the presidency.

Get your LIVE election results here

The top names on the presidential race ticket were Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Several major races are also on the line in the state of Florida, including Rick Scotts senate seat and several congressional seats.

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In addition to choosing elected officials, Floridians have six ballot measures to vote on. The two most contested amendments are Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida, and Amendment 4, which would enshrine abortion rights protections in Florida.

As the votes are counted, Your Local Election Headquarters J.B. Biunno and WFLA Political Analyst Tara Newsom of St. Petersburg College will discuss election developments with our guests, Democratic analyst Jim Davis and Republican analyst Tom Lee.

Jim Davis

Jim Davis, our Democratic political analyst, was previously a U.S. Congressman for the 11th District of Florida from 1997 to 2007.

He was also the Democratic nominee for the Florida gubernatorial race in 2006 but lost the position to Charlie Crist, who was a Republican at the time.

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Davis now works as a partner with Holland & Knights Public Policy and Regulation Group, focusing his work on healthcare, international trade and foreign relations, telecommunications and financial services, according to the firm.

Tom Lee

Tom Lee, a resident of Thonotosassa, was previously a Florida state senator, having served twice from 1996 to 2006 and from 2012 to 2020.

Lee also served as the Florida Senate President from 2004 to 2006.

After resigning from the senate in 2020, Lee retired from politics.

The former state senator is also married to current U.S. Congresswoman Laurel Lee, R-Floridas 15th Congressional District, who won her election in 2022. Laurel Lees seat is also up for re-election.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Israel has launched an air strike against a site linked to Hezbollah within yards of the runways of Beirut airport.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) fired up to three missiles at a building located between two runways at Lebanons only civilian airport in the early hours of Thursday.



Footage posted on social media appeared to show several explosions at a site near the airport in Beirut after the IDF had warned nearby residents to evacuate.

All scheduled passenger flights to and from Beirut airport had already departed or landed by the time Israel struck the site.

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One video claiming to be of the strike showed staff inside a hangar at the airport move into cover as a missile struck nearby and exploded.

Others showed large explosions and the sound of up to three missiles hitting the building with airport buses, steps and lorries pictured in the foreground.

Earlier, it was claimed aircraft had been moved to the other side of the airport, further from the location of the warning.

The airport has been receiving aid from different countries and is a portal for people to escape the war.



The strikes came after Hezbollah had fired more than 120 missiles at northern and southern Israel, killing a teenager and injuring several others.

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The body of Sivan Sade was only discovered hours later in Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk near Acre after he suffered fatal injuries caused by shrapnel from a rocket.

Credit: will_christou/X

The Hezbollah rocket landed within the area of Israels main airport as the terror group fired over 120 missiles over the border.

Sirens were heard in central and northern Israel as barrages of rockets targeted towns and cities with several injured in the village of Avivim.

Smoke was seen at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport, the busiest in Israel, and a crater was pictured in what appeared to be a car park.

Ben Gurion airport would normally see more than 20 million passengers a year pass through but most airlines have cancelled flights as a result of the war.

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Passengers have previously been seen lying on the tarmac taking cover as air raid sirens have gone off, but it is rare for a missile to land within its boundaries.

People take shelter as a barrage of rockets is intercepted in the airspace above Ben Gurion International Airport - Nir Alon/Alamy

The Israel Airports Authority said that following the rocket impact the airport was open and working normally for arrivals and departures.

Debris from an intercepted Hezbollah rocket also struck a parked car in the central city of Raanana where it was pictured lodged in the roof of the vehicle.

The IDF said that 10 rockets were fired, most of which were intercepted.

Since Israels ground invasion of Lebanon last month Hezbollah has continued to launch missiles and drones over the border at Israeli towns and cities.

The car damaged by a falling artillery shell - JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

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On Wednesday morning, Israel said it had killed a Hezbollah battalion commander in the Khiam area of southern Lebanon in a recent air strike.

Hussein Abd al-Halim Harb was responsible for numerous rocket attacks on towns in the Galilee, especially Metula where five people were recently killed, according to the IDF.

The IDF said several Hezbollah operatives responsible for rocket fire on Israel were killed in air strikes directed by troops of the 36th Division.

It has said that Hezbollahs rocket arsenal is down to about 20 per cent of what it was before the war and it was down to 30 per cent of its drones.

Rockets intercepted in the airspace above central Israel and Tel Avivs Ben Gurion International Airport - Nir Alon/Alamy

The latest attack comes as protests broke out in Israel on Tuesday after Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, fired Yoav Gallant, his defence minister.

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Protesters took to the streets in cities including Nahariya, Haifa and in Jerusalem close to Mr Netanyahus residence. Israeli police dispersed protesters in Tel Aviv after they blocked highways and lit bonfires.

Mr Netanyahu claimed a crisis of trust over the management of Israels ongoing military operations and replaced Mr Gallant with Israel Katz, previously the foreign minister.

Mr Gallant and Mr Netanyahu, both in the Right-wing Likud party, have clashed for months over the objectives of Israels 13-month-old war in Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

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(Bloomberg) -- Nintendo Co. said its next console will be compatible with current Switch games, allaying fears about the companys ability to ride on the aging machines past success.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Backwards compatibility in the next-generation console is a key consideration for players trying to decide on further purchases of content in the waning months of the Switch. Nintendos next console will also support the companys online gaming services, it said during a business strategy briefing.

Further information about the upcoming console will come at a later date, Nintendo said. Its stock rose 4.7% after the announcement Wednesday.

Compatibility with the current Switch is good news for both investors and users, Toyo Securities analyst Hideki Yasuda said. Nintendo talking about its next consoles features and specifications suggests an announcement may be coming soon.

Flagging momentum for the Switch, launched in 2017, forced the Kyoto-based company to cut its full-year profit and sales forecasts below estimates. The company logged its fifth straight quarter of profit declines earlier this week, hurt by weak sales of hardware and software.

Consumers have eagerly awaited an announcement on a successor to the Switch, which faces sleeker and more powerful updates from rivals Sony Group Corp. and Microsoft Corp.

On Tuesday, Nintendo slashed its operating profit outlook by 10% to 360 billion ($2.4 billion) and said it now expects to sell only 12.5 million units of the Switch this fiscal year, versus a previously forecast 13.5 million units. For the September quarter, Nintendos operating profit fell a bigger-than-expected 29% to 67 billion.

Nintendos been expanding into new areas to capitalize on its intellectual property and reduce the ups and downs of an industry hostage to gaming hits. That includes Alarmo, a $99 alarm clock featuring Nintendos game characters and music, as well as a Nintendo Music smartphone app for online service subscribers. Its affiliate Pokemon Co., meanwhile, released a smartphone app version of its highly-popular trading card game.

The companys also putting more resources behind a push into Hollywood. Encouraged by the blockbuster success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie last year, Nintendos working on another animated film based on the franchise, as well as a live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda.
Hialeah Fire Chief Willians Guerra resigned suddenly Tuesday, two days after the Miami Herald published a story about allegations of cheating involving testing for the highest ranks of the department.

His resignation followed a year-long internal-affairs investigation into allegations of firefighters cheating on a promotional exam in August 2023.

The exam was taken by six candidates vying for promotion to battalion chief or assistant chief of operations. One of the candidates who failed the test, Robert Ortega, filed a formal complaint with the Hialeah Police Departments Professional Compliance Bureau.

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Test for highest ranks in Hialeahs fire department marred by allegations of cheating

The exam included both written and oral components, with a minimum passing score of 70 out of 100 required for each, and candidates have to pass in order to be eligible for promotion when vacancies open. In a sworn statement to the police departments internal affairs unit, Ortega said that a particular employee was given the answers to the oral exam to score exceptionally well. While Ortega did not name the candidate, he identified the person he believed had received an unfair advantage as the one who got a perfect 100 percent score.

The only candidate with a perfect score on the exam was Edward Altidor, chief of the departments Professional Standards division. Altidor declined to comment, referring questions to his attorney, Naomi Levi Garcia.

He did not cheat, and he did not have an unfair advantage, Garcia told the Herald in a statement.

Hialeah Fire Department Division Chief Edward Altidor attended the unveiling ceremony of three new fire rescue trucks at Hialeah Fire Station 1 in October 29, 2024. He is currently involved in an Internal Affairs investigation stemming from a complaint that he had an unfair advantage in the Battalion Chief examination for eligibility for that position.

The internal affairs investigation revealed that Division Chief Emmanuel Louis, another candidate who failed the test, had been given a copy of a previous years oral exam before the test. Hialeahs Human Resources department said Louis received the old exam because he was the designated contact for the Fire Department regarding tests. While the exam Louis received was not identical to the one used for the candidates, Human Resources Director Jaramillo-Velez stated it was very similar.

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Jaramillo-Velez reported to the internal affairs investigation she discovered emails indicating that Louis had forwarded a copy of the oral examination to Altidor before they took the test.

In response to the allegations, the Hialeah Personnel Board considered three potential courses of action: discarding the eligibility list and redoing the oral exam; discarding the entire exam; or maintaining the current eligibility list, which would allow candidates who passed the controversial exam to remain eligible for promotion when a vacancy arises. However, the board has yet to make a decision, saying it was awaiting recommendation from Guerra in a November personnel board meeting.

Guerra told the Herald a week prior his resignation that he was going to make a decision soon regarding the allegations without saying whether the exam would be redone. He resigned before announcing a decision.

Guerra had served as fire chief since 2019, when he was appointed interim chief under former Mayor Carlos Hernandezs administration. He had planned to retire in May 2025. Guerra began his career with the Hialeah Fire Department in 1993, as soon he finished firefighter academy.

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The Herald tried to reached Guerra by phone and text, but he didnt respond.

Mayor Esteban Steve Bovos chief of staff told the Miami Herald that since Guerra had been expected to retire in 2025, the city had already reached an agreement with the firefighters union to select a new fire chief from within the department.

The department will now be led by Humfredo Freddy Perez as interim chief. Before his appointment, Perez served as Division Chief of Logistics and Support Services.

Hermogenes Hermy Lacayo, a former battalion chief, is currently serving as interim deputy chief following the unexpected retirement of Deputy Fire Chief Raymond Malin shortly after he was interviewed by internal affairs about the cheating allegations.

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For now there will be no permanent appointments, just interim positions the mayors office told the Herald.

The city firefighters union said in a statement to the Herald that the resignation of Guerra will not result in any lapse in leadership or service to the community. The union also said it intends to work with the next fire chief in a committed and harmonious fashion.

The mayors office told the Herald that now that Guerra is no longer in office, city attorneys will need to determine whether the personnel board or the mayor will be responsible for deciding on any disciplinary actions related to the cheating allegations.

The union stated that it does not agree with the premise of punishing the entire group for an unfair advantage that applied to only a few, a reference to a recommendation by Jaramillo-Velez to the personnel board that the eligibility list based on the controversial test be discarded.

Ultimately, the decision rests with the personnel board, not the city or the union, the union said.
Content Warning: this post includes material about child sexual assault and sexual offenses. Victims of sexual assault can call the state-wide confidential hotline at 800-489-7273. For further assistance, see the Vermont Network against Sexual and Domestic Violence.

A 65-year-old man placed in the high-risk category for sexual offenses is set to be released from Northwest State Correctional Facility on Wednesday, November 6.

Alan Ziesemer, of New Jersey, was convicted for sexually assaulting one minor in 1980, and another in 2001. Ziesemer has been incarcerated for 23 years, and plans to live in Winooski.

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Based on his history, Ziesemer has been placed in the high-risk category for sexual offenses.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
In the moments after the Associated Press called the presidency for Donald Trump early Wednesday morning, magazines and newspapers began to roll out their covers and front-page spreads with their takes on the news.

Donald Trump claims historic comeback win, read the cover of the Independent.

Donald Trump claims historic comeback win  today's front page from The Independent 



You can download a digital newspaper every morning with a subscription to Independent Premium



Subscribe here  https://t.co/hepOhU5vPy pic.twitter.com/E7rydN5G6t  The Independent (@Independent) November 6, 2024

It was one of the first to roll out just after 5:30 a.m. ET. As more outlets pivoted coverage from Tuesday nights ongoing battle in the polls to the news of the former presidents victory, publications shared their own headlines on social media.

34 Felony Counts, 1 Conviction, 2 Cases Pending, 2 Impeachments, 6 Bankruptcies, 4 More Years, read the cover of Vanity Fair introducing Trump as The 47th American President.

Donald Trump has won the 2024 election.



Four years after launching an unprecedented attack on democracy and leaving the White House in disgrace, the convicted felon will return to Washington, DC, as the 47th president of the United States.



: https://t.co/rznxBpYKMZ pic.twitter.com/bBo5xS3BPU  VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) November 6, 2024

Time magazines headline stated President-elect Donald Trump, with a photo of him from his election night watch party in West Palm Beach, Fla. The cover story is titled How Trump Won.

Others have continued to focus on the story of The Comeback, as Newsweek has titled its Nov. 6 cover story. The New York Post also called Trumps victory a comeback for the ages, with the headline Hes Don It Again! In a blurb, the New York tabloid called it a runaway election and noted that Trump is the second man in American history to win the White House in nonconsecutive terms, after Grover Cleveland.

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New York Magazine revealed its take with a cover that read, "Americans Wanted Change and That Meant Trump," featuring a photo of Trump with his wife, Melania Trump, and son Barron.

The simplest explanation for Trump's victory may be the most compelling: This was a classic change election in which the out party had an advantage that the governing party could not overcome.



Read more: https://t.co/fbwH37IYAg pic.twitter.com/sfwjuwmzYG  New York Magazine (@NYMag) November 6, 2024

The New Yorker shared its Nov. 18 cover on social media, showcasing a silhouette of Trump. Titled "Back with a Vengeance," the magazine said that the image, by the artist Barry Blitt, is "a reminder that a second term, though bound to include more moves from Trump's all too familiar far-right playbook, will also undoubtedly usher in a new era of unprecedented extremism and intensified uncertainty in America."

We'll be updating this post as more covers are released.

Update, Nov. 6, 2024: This story was originally published at 9:35 a.m. ET and has been updated to include more covers.
From left to right, Democratic Delaware Senate candidate state Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Sarah McBride, Democratic candidate for Delaware's at-large congressional district, and Lt. Gov. Elect Kyle Gay embrace on stage during an election night watch party in Wilmington, Del., on Nov. 5, 2024. Credit - Pamela SmithAP

Amidst Donald Trumps return to the presidency, voters across the country also made decisions in the House and Senate. Some of these races resulted in historic and groundbreaking victories. Now, several candidates set out to be the first in their office.

Here are the historic wins of the 2024 presidential election.

Sarah McBride

Delaware State Sen. Sarah McBride made history and was elected as the first openly transgender member of the U.S. Congress on Nov. 5. McBride, 34, has served in the state Senate since 2021, and previously interned under former President Barack Obama. Her win, a resounding victory, comes as LGBTQ+ rights are under siege in multiple states in the U.S.in 2024, state legislatures have passed or proposed nearly 700 bills that seek to restrict transgender rights. While McBride wants her presence in Congress to be a healing one, she also hopes to turn attention away from her identity though, and onto legislative issues she ran on, like healthcare, she said in an interview with TIME.

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Read More: Sarah McBride Becomes First Openly Transgender Member of Congress

Rep. Andy Kim looks as his sons August Lai, right, and Austin Lai while speaking with reporters after he was projected the winner of his Senate race in Cherry Hill, N.J., on Nov. 5, 2024. James EstrinThe New York Times/Redux

Andy Kim

New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat, is set to become the first Korean American Senator in the U.S. after winning the seat of former Sen. Robert Menendez, who was convicted on corruption charges earlier this year. Kim had been widely expected to succeed Mendendez prior to his win.

I just have to say how incredible of an experience that this is and I want to ask you: are you proud of what we built? Kim said to his supporters when celebrating his win Tuesday night. The crowd responded with a resounding cheer.

Democratic Maryland Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks cheers during an election night watch party in College Park, Md., on Nov. 5, 2024. Jess RapfogelAP

Angela Alsobrooks

Democrat Angela Alsobrooks has won the Senate race in Maryland, beating former two-term GOP Gov. Larry Hogan. Alsobrooks will now be the states first Black female Senator, and with fellow Senator-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester, the two will be the first Black women to serve at the same time in the upper chambers 235-year history.

Lisa Blunt Rochester

Eight years ago, Democratic Rep. Rochester made history as the first Black person and first woman elected to represent Delaware in Congress. Now, shes done so again, as she is set to become Delawares first Black woman in the Senate after defeating Republican Eric Hansen. Rochester was expected to win the reliably blue state, and now with Alsobrooks, will be a part of the first pair of Black women to sit in the Senate at the same time.

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The people have spoken and we are bringing bright hope to the United States Senate, Rochester told supporters Tuesday night.

Read More: Trump Wins Presidency: TIMEs Election Coverage

Julie Fedorchak

Republican Julie Fedorchak is now set to become the states first woman in the House of Representatives. Member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission, Fedorchak defeated Democrat Trygve Hammer for the states 1st congressional district. After this win, Mississippi is the last state in the country to never elect a woman to the House of Representatives.

Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno during a watch party on election night in Westlake, Ohio, on Nov. 5, 2024. Sue OgrockiAP

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Bernie Moreno

Republican Bernie Moreno defeated Democrat and three-term incumbent Sherrod Brown to become Ohio's first Latino, and first person of color period, in the U.S. Senate. Moreno, 57, is a Cleveland businessman who was endorsed by Trump back during the primaries, has won in the most expensive Senate race this year. His win was key in the GOPs retaking of the upper chamber.

Kelly Ayotte

Kelly Ayotte, who served as a United States Senator from 2011 to 2017, is now set to become New Hampshires first elected Republican female Governor. Ayotte was up against another woman, Democrat Joyce Craig, and will now succeed fellow Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who declined to run for a fifth two-year term. Ayotte made history previously as the states first female Attorney General, and this win marks her political comeback after she lost her Senate re-election bid to Democrat Maggie Hassan, who still represents the state in the upper chamber.

Julie Johnson

U.S. Representative-elect Julie Johnson will make history as the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress to represent the state of Texas. Democrat Johnson beat out Republican Darrell Day and will succeed Rep. Colin Allred, who lost his race for a Senate seat against incumbent Ted Cruz.

Tonight, Team Julie made history, Johnson posted on X (formerly Twitter) after the results were official. Together, we have shattered barriers and proven that representation matters.

Democratic North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Josh Stein smiles during an election night watch party in Raleigh, N.C., on Nov. 5, 2024. Grant HalversonAP

Josh Stein

North Carolina has elected their first Jewish governor in Democrat Josh Stein, who succeeds Democrat Roy Cooper after beating controversial Republican Lieutenant Gov. Mark Robinson. Stein has served as the states Attorney General since 2017, the same office that Cooper held before his stint as governor. Stein utilized Robinsons recent media scandals to his advantage, referencing them in his own advertisements.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Hoax bomb threats targeting polling places and election offices briefly disrupted voting in five battleground states, with the FBI saying the threats in four of those states came from Russian email domains. The origin of the threats in the fifth state was not clear.

The threats targeted at least 50 sites across Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan, authorities said.

No bombs were found, and the few delays related to the threats appeared to have little impact on voting.

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The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains, the FBI said in a statement Tuesday night. Email addresses associated with a foreign countrys domain are easy to make online by people located anywhere, and a countrys email domains being associated with a message does not mean it was sent from that country.

The Russian Embassy in the U.S. said any accusation that it was behind the threats was vicious slander and nonsense, according to the government-owned news service RIA Novosti.

German officials accused Russia of orchestrating bomb threats against several polling places in Moldovas presidential elections last week. Experts say such threats could discourage voters from going to polling sites.

The potential to have suppressed votes is a huge escalation, said Bret Schafer, a senior fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund. Calling in a bomb threat takes things to a very different level than what weve seen them do in the past.

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If U.S. authorities conclude that Russia was behind the threats, I dont think anyone could look at this, regardless of party, and decide that this is not that big of a deal, he said.

Its not totally clear yet, but there seems to be a playbook here, added Schafer, who co-wrote an analysis earlier Tuesday saying Moscow might try the same approach it did in Moldova.

The emails and threats sent to the various states were similar in language and structure, according to a senior FBI official and a senior law enforcement official.

The largest number of threats appeared to target polling sites in Georgia. Fulton County received 32 bomb threats delivered in a variety of ways  some called 911, others dialed directly into target locations, and some were delivered via email, Fulton County Police Chief W. Wade Yates said.

A Fulton County Superior Court judge ordered five polling places to stay open less than an hour past their scheduled closing times to make up for evacuations.

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Other threats were made to sites in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, authorities said.

All told, about 10 polling places in Georgia were kept open 40 more minutes to make up for time lost to temporary evacuations, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said.

Delays related to the threats appeared to be short. A poll worker at the Etris Community Center in Union City told NBC News that the Fulton County center was evacuated suddenly around 9 a.m. for at least 45 minutes while local authorities cleared the building for safe re-entry.

The worker, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the majority of those evacuated came back in and voted after having waited in the parking lot. That was a good thing, the worker added.

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Beyond Georgia, limited information about the threats was available Tuesday evening.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said in a briefing Tuesday evening that four bomb threats were emailed to polling sites in Navajo Country. They came from an email address with a Russian domain, Fontes said, but he cautioned that it did not necessarily mean the threats came from Russia. The threats were deemed not credible, he said.

The motive appears to be to ensue chaos  not to impact any political outcome, he said. We dont see anything in the pattern or the distribution that would make us think that this is to affect a political outcome.

Police in Madison, Wisconsin, said they responded to emailed threats to several locations in the city, including current and former polling sites.

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Threats to polling sites and election offices were reported across about a dozen Pennsylvania counties, where targeted polling sites were ordered to stay open late, officials said.

Philadelphia police said they received 911 threats at about 10 locations Tuesday evening. One polling site was briefly evacuated, so a judge extended voting times there for 23 minutes, police said.

Officials said state election offices and law enforcement agencies had anticipated bomb threats to polling places or other election-related sites and had prepared for them.

Election officials and law enforcement have been planning for possible scenarios like this for the last couple of years, and their training has really shown, said Lawrence Norden, vice president of the elections and government program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School.

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But I think the number of these bomb threats is, if not surprising, very concerning, he added. The threats need to be investigated, and whoever is responsible must be held accountable.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Voters wait in line on Nov. 5, 2024, at a polling location in Chandler. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Arizona is one of several states where polling places have received bomb threats that the FBI is saying originated from Russia.

As for bomb threats in Arizona, they pertained to four specific locations in Navajo County only, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said in a press briefing Tuesday afternoon. Fontes called the threats unsubstantiated and the threats are believed to have Russian origin but would not elaborate further.

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The FBI has said that several states have seen bomb threats against particular polling locations and that the threats originate from Russian email domains. None of the threats have been deemed credible.

The threats in Arizona did not cause polling places to close and Fontes said that no voters were turned away due to them.

We dont have any reason to believe anyone is in jeopardy, Fontes said.

In a second update for reporters, Fontes said that the threats came from a .ru email address, but stressed that they cannot say for certain that the threats were made by the Russian government.

The motive seems to be to ensue chaos and not impact any political outcome, Fontes said. We do, however, believe that invoking chaos and trying to get us to rattle in our boots is why theyre doing this.

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Similar bomb threats caused disruptions in Georgia where election officials are now seeking a court order to allow select polling places to remain open past the 7 p.m. deadline.

Fontes said he has spoken in passing with his counterparts in the other impacted states but has not had substantive conversations with them. All of the states are continuing to work with state and federal law enforcement to investigate the threats.

Fontes would not give further information on which polling places were targeted and an email to the Navajo County Elections Department was not immediately returned. Other swing states have received similar threats.

It is going to be a busy evening, folks, Fontes said.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Nathan Hochman defeated George Gascon in the race for Los Angeles County district attorney, unseating an incumbent known as the godfather of progressive prosecutors.

Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, calls himself a hard middle candidate who would reject both mass incarceration and the public safety failure of Gascons tenure the past four years.

He advanced out of a primary field of 11 challengers and spent most of the campaign attacking Gascon policies that he says led to increased crime and a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders. During debates, he spotlighted rising violent crime in the county since 2019, a trend also seen statewide.

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The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is enough of D.A. Gascons pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to a safer future, Hochman said in a statement early Wednesday. As D.A., I look forward to representing all of the people, whether they voted for me or not, since their safety will be my responsibility.

Gascon conceded the race to Hochman and called him Wednesday, his campaign said.

The rightward shift across America last night is heartbreaking. Democrats have a long road ahead, but the work is more vital than ever and our commitment will not waver, Gascon said in a statement. Im deeply proud of what weve accomplished over the past four years and grateful to the communities who have been and will always be the heart of criminal justice reform.

Hochmans victory reflects growing discontent in the state with progressive district attorneys who have pushed criminal justice reform. Previously there were two attempts to recall Gascon that failed to qualify for the ballot. San Francisco voters ousted one of the first reform-minded prosecutors elected to office in 2022. Oakland voters were asked in Tuesdays election whether to recall their own district attorney, Pamela Price, another progressive prosecutor, but it was too early to call.

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Gascon co-authored a ballot measure passed by California voters in 2014 that reclassified certain low-level drug and property crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies. Also Tuesday, voters approved a measure to partly roll back that law, making shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders again and increasing penalties for some drug charges.

Despite Gascon being a former Los Angeles police officer, Hochman had the support of local police unions.

He was also endorsed by victims advocacy groups; former district attorney Jackie Lacey, whom Gascon defeated in 2020; developer and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso; and more than 70 current and former county elected officials. Hochman raised nearly $4 million for the campaign.

Hochmans victory was applauded by the prosecutors union, which in a statement called it a pivotal moment in the fight to return balance and accountability to the justice system.

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A Southern California native, Hochman emphasized his past prosecutorial experience as assistant US attorney in Californias Central District. He has also practiced as a private defense attorney.

He previously ran unsuccessfully for California attorney general as a Republican, but was an independent in this race and describes himself as a lifelong centrist.

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Let the Democrat dooming begin.

Hollywood went to bed on Tuesday night dreading Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election as the former president began racking up state after state. But there were perhaps still hopes of a 2020 style reversal on Wednesday morning, if the big swing states in the much-vaunted Blue Wall came through. Alas, the hopes were dashed after Wisconsin was called for Trump, clinching him his 270 electoral votes.

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Trump wasted no time in declaring victory, hitting the stage at his victory party at Mar-a-Lago at 2:30 a.m. ET. In his typical meandering and blustering style, the former president claimed a magnificent victory. Harris did not speak as election night turned into Wednesday morning and supporters gathered for what was supposed to be a celebration at her alma mater, Howard University. Her campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond told the crowd she will address the nation later Wednesday.

The reaction to Trumps victory was swift on social media, even before the pivotal state of Pennsylvania was called, with prominent Democrats and Hollywood figures lamenting the state of affairs and making clear their fears for the future under a second Trump administration.

Some reactions have been loud but brief  such as Cardi Bs Instagram Story saying, I hate yall bad  and others, like Oscar-nominated filmmaker and activist Adam McKay, didnt hold back. On X, he delivered an excoriating take down of the Democrat establishment. Who would have guessed lying about Bidens cognitive health for 2 yrs, refusing to do an open convention for a new nominee, never mentioning public healthcare & embracing fracking, the Cheneys & a yr long slaughter of children in Gaza wouldnt be a winning strategy? Anyone with half a brain? McKay wrote.

In a statement, former President Barack Obama wrote in part, As I said on the campaign trail, America has been through a lot over the last few years  from a historic pandemic and price hikes resulting from the pandemic, to rapid change and the feeling a lot of folks have that, no matter how hard they work, treading water is the best they can do. Those conditions have created headwinds for democratic incumbents around the world, and last night showed that America is not immune. The good news is that these problems are solvable  but only if we listen to each other, and only if we abide by the core constitutional principles and democratic norms that made this country great.

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The Dont Look Up director added, But I thought liberals whole thing is being smart? Its not? They actually just blindly cheer the parade of rickety optics wrapped up in New York Times fonts that is the modern Dem Party? Well at least its time for the dusty hacks & careerists to spread their feathers wide post election and blame Russia and third party candidates. That should fix things.

Bette Midler, who has been a vocal critic of Trump over the years, quoted journalist and essayist H.L. Mencken. She posted on X before deleting her account: When a candidate for public office faces the voters he does not face men of sense; he faces a mob of men whose chief distinguishing mark is the fact that they are quite incapable of weighing ideas, or even of comprehending any save the most elemental  men whose whole thinking is done in terms of emotion, and whose dominant emotion is dread of what they cannot understand. So confronted, the candidate must either bark with the pack or be lost All the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre  the man who can most adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

Jamie Lee Curtis wrote, in part: So the results are in. Many will be celebrating, possibly even gloating over their victory. Many will be stunned and sad with the terrible feelings of the loss. That is the same result despite who wins because thats what America and democracy looks like. Has always looked like. So what does it mean? It means a sure return to a more restrictive, some fear draconian time. Many fear their rights will be impeded and denied. Many, minority groups and young people will be afraid. Gay and trans people will be more afraid. We know that many women will now find it difficult to get the reproductive healthcare that they need and deserve. For all those people there will be those who will help you. Me included.

Jeff Bezos celebrated Trumps win by writing: Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.

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When a Twitter account told Zachary Levi, who had endorsed Trump in the election, The only consolation here is that you will never be part of mainstream Hollywood after this. You can make movies with Mel Gibson and Dennis Quaid, the Shazam! actor tweeted in response, Oh, its all gravy, Roger! My goal has always been to leave it at some point anyway, and build a better system that actually values and compensates the artists more than enriching far too many executives that, by and large, compromise the creative integrity of the art whilst taking the lion share of the proceeds, which they dont deserve. In addition, I plan on creating a studio that protects and promotes certified organic, human-made content, while mainstream Hollywood continues to replace all of its workforce with AI, simply to maximize their dwindling profits. Enjoy reporting on the sidelines of the Hollywood apocalypse!

Kerry Washington, who spoke at the DNC this election, wrote of the results, It was not a mirage. Swipe through. Thank you to @blackliturgies and @wetheurban for these pearls of love, truth, wisdom and humanity. Be kind to yourself today. There is more work to do.

Billie Eilish took to her Instagram Story to react to the results, writing, its a war on women.

David Sirota, a journalist and former Bernie Sanders adviser who co-wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Dont Look Up with McKay, was his usual blunt self on social media, posting on X: This is a very bad night. Some of us spent years warning Dems to take working-class politics more seriously & to not tout neocons. We did so in hopes of avoiding this & yet we were vilified as traitors by Dem elites & liberal pundits. Theres a lesson here.

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Speaking on his Breakfast Club radio show Wednesday morning, Charlamagne Tha God, who backed Kamala Harris and even hosted an audio town hall for the vice president, accepted the result and chalked it up to the economy and the border more than racism, sexism, homophobia, antisemitism.

Democrats are going to be looking for someone to blame. Let me be the first to tell you its not just one thing, he said. I personally feel like Donald Trump speaks to peoples grievances better than Democrats do. I know people are going to talk about misinformation and the dumbing down of society, I understand all of that, but you dont have to be intelligent to know you cant pay your bills. You dont have to be intelligent to know you cant afford groceries. People will forget what you did, they will forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.  I dont think its fair to just chalk up Trump winning to racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-semitism, yes, he tapped into all of the worst things America has ever had to offer and there are a lot of people who agree his rhetoric and voted for him because of those reasons, but I truly believe most people voted for him because they want more money in their pockets and they want to feel safe.  Im not saying Donald Trump is going to fix all of that. Im saying Donald Trump has made people feel like he will fix all of that in a way that Democrats havent. Once again, dont just chalk it up to racism, sexism. OK, I believe those things play a role, but at the end of the day, its the economy stupid and Democrats might just be really out of touch with what everyday Americans are feeling.

An exasperated Christina Applegate also wrote on X: Why? Give me your reasons why????? My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away. Why?And if you disagree , please unfollow me. She continued in a separate post: Please unfollow me if you voted against female rights. Against disability rights. Yeah that. Unfollow me because what you did is unreal. Dont want followers like this. So yeah. Done.

Black List founder Franklin Leonard was particularly active on social media on election night. Among his tweets, Leonard wrote on X, Too many of yall appear to have forgotten how absolutely wild the Trump years were. And early on Wednesday morning he tweeted, I dont have certainty about what just happened, and Im reasonably certain no one else does either.

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David Simon, the creator of The Wire, Treme and The Deuce, aimed his fury at the X platform in particular. On Tuesday night, Simon tweeted that hellsite X would become a rancid cesspool of lies and disinformation tonight and through the next several days. It was purchased and restructured for this precise purpose. Expect nothing less than a projectile vomiting of hype, falsehoods and petulant rage. And, of course, keep moving forward and toward the light. We can do this. On Wednesday morning, Simon had seemingly announced he was leaving the platform: Dormant account under present management of this social media site. Will return to post any subsequent platform, but otherwise unmonitored. God bless us all. Even the scrotes and shitheels.

Simons longtime artistic collaborator Wendell Pierce was also active on election night. The Wire and Treme actor was in a sobering mood, and among his many posts, he said, Elections have consequences. The Supreme Court will be changed for a generation. Ill never see a moderate court again in my lifetime. Alito and Thomas will step down and Trump will appoint 40 year old partisans to the bench. The damage he is about to inflict on our institutions the next 2 years will be irreparable.

A distraught Yvette Nicole Brown posted about Sherrod Brown losing his senate race in Ohio as well as Trumps dominant win. The Community actress tweeted: Sherrod Brown losing in Ohio is a lost to Ohio and our nation. This is a disgrace at a level I cant even quantify. My home state of Ohio chose a criminal. And it looks like this nation is choosing a criminal. AmeriKKKa is showing out tonight. Just showing out.

13 Reasons Why star Brandon Flynn took to his Instagram Story to share that he was finally getting out of bed and feeling rough. To those with Big Feelings, Big Fears and Big anxieties-who might think drugs and alcohol will solve your problems today they wont. Im sending you love and encouragement that just for today, you are not alone and you dont need to drink or drug. Call a friend, go to a meeting, scream and cry.

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John Cusack was similarly appalled, writing on X in a post that has now been deleted, The fact that the country would choose to destroy itself by voting in a convicted felon rapist and Nazi is a sign of deep nihilism. To put it mildly.

Philip Pullman, the British author behind the His Dark Materials books that have been adapted into movies and series, wrote on X, Goodbye, America. It was nice knowing you.

Former Desus and Mero co-host Desus Nice tweeted about the result, America having one of those gender reveals that starts a wildfire that burns for like 30 days.

Glee star Kevin McHale was very despondent and fearful of what a Trump victory meant. Supreme Court gone for the rest of my lifetime. Ultra-conservative evangelical bigotry, xenophobia, racism is the mandate, McHale tweeted.

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Read reactions below.

Congratulations President Trump on your victory! We look forward to engaging with you and your administration to help make sure the United States continues to lead with and be fueled by ingenuity, innovation, and creativity.  Tim Cook (@tim_cook) November 6, 2024

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Great job giving the MAGA gang more power, America. Wonder how many folks are seeing this and STILL saying But but but at least hes not a Black woman! in the privacy of their homes tonight. My heart is broken  https://t.co/Qiuh1PKTsd  Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) November 6, 2024

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I cannot fathom the feeling of the women who came forward about their sexual assault at the hands of Trump. Seeing millions of people vote for their abuser.

My heart absolutely breaks for these women. I believe you, and I am so sorry.  Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) November 6, 2024

so the election ISNT rigged????  Andy Cohen (@Andy) November 6, 2024

We must not delude ourselves in this moment. Multiracial democracy in the United States is less than 60 years old. It has always been contested, often violently so. It has always been fragile. Since this nation's inception large swaths of white Americans  including white women  Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) November 6, 2024

There's a sign you can see in many shops that sell beautiful but fragile items: LOVELY TO LOOK AT, DELIGHTFUL TO HOLD, BUT ONCE YOU BREAK IT, THEN IT'S SOLD.

You can say the same about democracy.  Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 6, 2024

My breakfast was a package of Double Stuffed Oreos and a cigarillo, for those considering a wellness check.  Paul Walter Hauser (@PWHIsAWrestler) November 6, 2024

But it is also true that we had not understood that Americans have changed. The majority have now made it clear that they want isolationism.  America first. Gone is much of what we valued in America- her nobility & moral commitment to help our allies and address the wrongs  Mia Farrow   (@MiaFarrow) November 6, 2024

Let's make sure the @nytimes gets all the credit they deserve for what happened tonight. They worked really hard to make Trump look like a normal viable alternative to Kamala and well  Travon Free (@Travon) November 6, 2024

Well, friends, right wing America has spoken and it is what it is but don't despair because the pendulum will swing back and we have wonderful people, like Secretary Pete and lots of young voters waiting in the wings.

Have some faith and breathe.  Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) November 6, 2024

I think we may have overestimated the goodness in people.  Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) November 6, 2024

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Donald Trump has been elected the 47th President of the United States and will return to the White House for the second time.

Following news of his second term, Hollywood immediately took to social media to share their reactions. While many expressed their disappointment and dismay, others celebrated the win.

In a lengthy post to Instagram, Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis reflected on the results.

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Many will be celebrating, possibly even gloating over their victory. Many will be stunned and sad with the terrible feelings of the loss. That is the same result despite who wins because thats what America and democracy looks like. Has always looked like, she wrote.

As for the meaning of this, Curtis said its a sure return to a more restrictive, some fear draconian time.

Live updates: 2024 Presidential election, California results

Many fear their rights will be impeded and denied. Many, minority groups and young people will be afraid. Gay and trans people will be more afraid. We know that many women will now find it difficult to get the reproductive healthcare that they need and deserve. For all those people there will be those who will help you. Me included, she continued.

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She did reveal that this is time to wake up and fight.

Fight for women and our children and their futures and fight against tyranny, one day at a time. One fight at a time. One protest at a time. Thats what it means to be an American. Thats what it has always meant and will always mean regardless of the outcome.

The Halloween actress offered this piece of advice in the meantime: Be gentle with people today. Be gentle with yourself today. Feel your feelings today but most of all..Be an American today.

Christina Applegate didnt mince words to X, formerly Twitter, late Tuesday night.

Why? Give me your reasons why????? My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away. Why? And if you disagree, please unfollow me, she wrote. Please unfollow me if you voted against female rights. Against disability rights. Yeah that. Unfollow me because what you did is unreal. Dont want followers like this. So yeah. Done. Also after today I will be shutting down this fan account that I have had for so many years because this is sick.

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On Wednesday morning she did apologize for her post as shes still reeling and sobbing. She did say shes not angry anymore and is going back to her bubble to watch a st ton of Bravo shows.

So, peace to all. I suggest you do the same. Very soothing.

Rapper Cardi B, who supported Vice President Kamala Harris presidential run and appeared at a recent rally simply wrote, I hate yall bad in her Instagram Stories.

For those who wondered how American society allowed the sins of our past, realize that tonight Trump won the majority in spite of his lack of character and integrity, wrote actor Wendell Pierce of The Wire fame. He demonstrated his racism, misogyny, xenophobia and tried to overthrow the government with an insurrection with any accountability or consequence. He is celebrated for his strategy of packing the court that will ultimately give him immunity and throw out his convictions. His indictments will disappear. This says everything about our society. We absolved this behavior by electing him. A celebration of criminality.

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Lakers star LeBron James posted a photo on Instagram of him and his daughter, Zhuri, with the caption: Heavy on my heart and mind this A.M., my princess. I promise to protect you with everything you have and more!! We dont need their help!

When I wrote If I Could Turn Back Time I didnt mean this, wrote Diane Warren to X.

Yvette Nicole Brown wrote to X that she still has hope but only in God.

I have always believed that He will keep me & mine. Any hope in this country and what it could be someday, is gone. It was founded as a racist nation made for white men only. It remains that. I see that now. My free labor for it is done, she continued.

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John Cusack also weighed in on X.

Harris may well come through Wisconsin Michigan and Pennsylvania  the fact that the country would choose to destroy itself by voting in a convicted felon rapist and Nazi is a sign of deep nihilism. To put it mildly.

Known Trump supporter Joe Rogan posted a video of Trumps victory rally with the caption Whole. Lee. St while laughing can be heard in the background.

Mark Cuban took to X to congratulate Trump saying he won fair and square as well as congratulated Elon Musk. #Godspeed he said at the end of his post.

Actor Scott Baio reposted various Trump victory messages to X. Early Wednesday morning he posted an over one-minute video to the platform listing numerous celebrities who supported Harris and then stuck his tongue out and blew a raspberry.

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Christ is King. Trump is President. Goodnight, wrote Hercules actor Kevin Sorbo to X.

Jeff Bezos also took to the platform to congratulate Trump on his extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory.

No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.

So far, Harris has made no public comments about the election results. Shes set to give her first public remarks since losing the election at Howard University in Washington, DC at 4 p.m. EST.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
We recently published a list of 10 Oversold Energy Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) stands against other oversold energy stocks to buy now.

Amrita Sen, Founder and Director of Research at Energy Aspects, a global data & intelligence provider for energy commodity and macro markets, on October 14, shared her insights on the current state of the energy market. According to Sen the prices of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and ICE Brent have remained relatively on the lower side despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which is surprising because in the past, in a situation like this, oil would jump over $100 per barrel. Sen notes that the market is waiting to see how the situation in Iran and Israel pans out. Looking ahead to the future the market is expecting a surplus in 2025, which is driving the bearish sentiment.

However, Sen warns that the industrys inventory levels are low, and if a significant event were to occur, such as an attack on Iranian energy infrastructure, there could be a lot of volatility ahead. She notes that many traders are trading via options, which could lead to significant price movements if they are forced to cover their positions in the futures market. This could lead to a rapid increase in prices, as traders scramble to cover their short positions, which could lead to a significant increase in prices.

Regarding the supply side, Sen notes that production in the United States has been flat this year, despite the expectation of 1-1.5 million barrels of growth. She attributes this to the fact that the industry is running out of acreage and that the biggest and mid-sized companies are unable to grow regardless of price. The Saudis have been warning other producers to stick to their allotted production limits and that if they dont stick to their allotted production limits, they can produce a whole lot more oil. However, Sen notes that this is not a threat to flood the market, but rather a message to those who are not complying with their production limits. The Saudis want to ensure that everyone is working together to maintain a stable market, rather than trying to gain a competitive advantage. Sen acknowledges that the sanctions against Russia were never designed to lose Russian oil but it was designed to reduce the revenue going into Russia. The Russian oil is now redirected to China and India and that is why the market is jaded.

The current energy market dynamics are characterized by complex geopolitical tensions, supply chain constraints, and shifting demand. As the situation within the Middle East continues to unfold, markets can face significant volatility and price swings.
Specialist Moses Brave Heart, a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard's 235th Military Police Company, has recently been granted a religious accommodation to grow his hair long, honoring his Oglala Sioux heritage.

This decision marks a significant step in acknowledging and respecting the cultural practices of Native American service members within the U.S. military.

Growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, Brave Heart was deeply rooted in Lakota traditions, where long hair symbolizes strength, spiritual connection, and cultural identity.

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Traditionally, hair is only cut during periods of mourning, with the cut hair either buried or burned as part of the grieving process.

Our hair is an extension of our spirit. We dont just let anyone touch it, and its only cut during times of deep loss, as part of the grieving process. We either burn or bury it as a way to return it to Mother Earth, Brave Heart told Native News Online.

In 2020, when Brave Heart enlisted in the North Dakota National Guard, he made the difficult decision to cut his hair, believing it was a necessary sacrifice to pursue a career in law enforcement and the military.

During a deployment in 2022-2023, Brave Heart learned about the possibility of obtaining a religious accommodation for his hair. With the support of Capt. Nathan Johnson from the North Dakota National Guard's 131st Military Police Battalion initiated the application process in October 2022.

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I saw other Native soldiers had been granted similar accommodations, so I looked into it. It wasnt easy; there was some pushback from those who saw short hair as a mark of discipline, Brave Heart said. But I also had support. I knew this could pave the way for other Native soldiers who want to honor their culture.

By May 2023, the Department of Defense approved his request, allowing him to begin regrowing his hair. This accommodation permits Brave Heart to adhere to the Army's female grooming standards regarding hair length and style.

Additionally, he is authorized to wear traditional Sioux head decorations, such as an eagle feather, during official Army portraits.

Brave Heart's journey has not been without challenges. He has encountered mixed reactions from fellow service members, some of whom hold traditional views equating short hair with discipline.

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"I got some weird looks initially," Brave Heart said. "People came up to me and said, I had no idea what long hair meant in Native culture, thats awesome. That support was encouraging. It was a big part of why I wanted to do this, not just for myself, but to educate and make people aware that Native culture is alive and important.

Despite this setback, he remains steadfast in his commitment to his cultural identity and views these interactions as opportunities to educate others about Lakota traditions.

Beyond personal expression, Brave Heart aims to serve as a role model for Native American youth, demonstrating that it is possible to honor one's cultural heritage while pursuing a successful military career.

"A lot of young people on the rez are told they need to leave to succeed," Brave Heart said. "But I want to be a role model for them, to show that you can be proud of your heritage and serve. If they see me doing it, maybe theyll believe they can too."

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He hopes his experience will inspire others to embrace their identities and consider service without feeling compelled to abandon their cultural practices.

Inspired by legendary Indigenous rights activists Dennis Banks and Russell Means from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, as well as Leonard Peltier from North Dakota, Brave Heart sees his path as a continuation of their legacy.

Brave Hearts story has gained widespread attention after going viral on TikTok, where users praised his dedication to preserving his cultural identity while serving his country. This exposure has even sparked conversations about the importance of cultural accommodations within the military.

I woke up to my phone blowing up, with people sending me screenshots, Brave Heart said. It was incredible to see so many people supporting this.

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The surname "Brave Heart" carries significant meaning. Originally bearing the last name "Little," he chose to change it to honor his grandmother, Betty Brave Heart, who played a pivotal role in his upbringing.

"I took my grandma's last name to honor her. She helped raise me, and it means a lot to carry her name, Brave Heart said.

Brave Heart's story is part of a broader movement within the U.S. military to accommodate the religious and cultural practices of its diverse service members.

In recent years, other Native American service members have received similar accommodations. For instance, in 2022, Senior Airman Connor Crawn of the U.S. Air Force was granted permission to wear his hair in a long braid, reflecting his Kanien'keha (Mohawk) heritage.

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His journey is a powerful reminder that heritage and service can coexist, exemplifying how commitment to ones culture can inspire and uplift others within the military.

I hope what Ive done shows others that its possible to embrace who you are, no matter where you are, Brave Heart said. Were still here, and our culture is strong. If this can give just one young Native kid hope, then I know Im on the right path.

About the Author: "Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq\/Sugpiaq Nation, and a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Berg, who is based in Wisconsin, previously reported for the Ho-Chunk Nation newspaper, Hocak Worak. She went to school originally for nursing, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. "

Contact: kberg@indiancountrymedia.com
Outside a modest yellow bungalow in West Berkeley, some dealt with their election day anxiety by making a pilgrimage to Kamala Harris' childhood home to snap selfies, hoping they would turn into treasured memories of the day the nation elected its first female president.

"We're very proud," said Diana Shapiro, 53, who lives about a block away from the apartment where Harris spent part of her childhood. Shapiro's front yard is adorned with Harris posters; inside her living room is a framed portrait of the vice president. Shapiro predicted the neighborhood, nicknamed "Poet's Corner," would erupt into a spontaneous street party if Harris wins. "It would be amazing to have our first woman president," she said.

Read more: 2024 U.S. elections results

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But first, she had to wait. As the sun set on election day, people across the country seemed to be holding their breath. They were waiting for the polls to close, so the election results could start to come in. Waiting to find out, after one of the wildest and most expensive political campaigns in American history, who would be president.

Thousand Oaks Elementary School students walk passed a mural picturing prominent women and school alumnus Vice President Kamala Harris last month in Berkeley. (Peter DaSilva / For The Times)

Perhaps nowhere in the country was this waiting more acute  or the excitement and anxiety higher  than in the Bay Area.

Would the hometown girl make good? Would Harris, a self-proclaimed daughter of Oakland who spent part of her childhood in Berkeley and launched her political career with an underdog triumph in the 2003 race for San Francisco district attorney, win the highest office in the land?

Joanie McBrien, 59, who lives near the yellow house where Harris once did, said she had headed out into the streets to try to walk off her anxiety. "It's just too stressful," she said. "It's a close race and who knows what will happen."

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Others came to mark the history. Phil Hackermann, 29, and Sarah Ball, 28, rode their bikes down from UC Berkeley to take photos to send to family in Germany.

"I thought, 'We need to take a picture and send it back home,' because everyone in Germany is just super interested in what's going on here," Ball said, adding, "We are all terrified of [Donald] Trump," particularly some of his foreign policy statements about NATO and the war in Ukraine.

Read more: In Kamala Harris' L.A. neighborhood, low-key quiet and cautious optimism

Others in the Democratic stronghold of the Bay Area, however, decided to throw caution to the wind and start partying early.

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Across the Bay Bridge at Johns Grill in downtown San Francisco, streets were closed off and already mobbed by early afternoon with folks crowding in for the restaurant's traditional election day lunch. The George Washington High School Marching Band played, and long-time San Francisco politicos, dressed in their election day best, worked the crowd and posed for photos.

Read more: Trump elected as the United States 47th president following wins in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

She won, insisted former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, an early mentor to Harris (and briefly, a romantic partner). Though polls were still open for nearly eight more hours, Brown, sporting a stylish maroon suit and a top hat, said he was so confident of the result that he was referring to this as the first celebration of her victory.

Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown speaks outside John's Grill in San Francisco in 2023. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press)

Nearby, Manny Yekutiel, owner of Mannys  a restaurant and civic gathering space in the citys Mission District  was buzzing around showing off his patriotic nails painted red white and blue and festooned with glitter. Im very excited to have Kamala Harris as my next president, he said, adding that he was certain it would be the beginning of a whole new moment in history for our country.

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So fervid was the excitement that many local news sites published guides to public election parties, where Bay Area residents could go celebrate or  though no one would dare say it  mourn the results.

In Oakland, many voters walked out of polling stations saying they felt the weight of history.

Read more: In Kamala Harris' Berkeley, political activism is part of growing up

"Kamala's a woman of color, and from Oakland," said Sophia Lewis, 24. While Lewis had some criticisms of Harris' policies, she said she far preferred her to Trump. "A lot of people are feeling prideful."

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Dropping off his ballot in Oakland, Kasper Dilmaghani, 35, said even thinking about having voted for a Black woman from Oakland for president was awe inspiring. "I'm getting chills," he said.

People get manicures outside an election watch party at Manny's in San Francisco. (Josh Edelson/For The Times)

As polls closed across the country, people crowded into Manny's. They were greeted by drag queens and cotton candy and drinks with names like "Kamala Katala"  a mixture of pina colada mix, pineapple juice and soju.

Even as the number of electoral votes in Trump's column surged, many at the party said they were determined to remain optimistic. To keep spirits high, Yekutiel began instituting "dance breaks," when people could stop watching the results and dance it out. Some people shouted choice words for the results in red states.

"I didn't want to just sit at home and wallow in my fear," said Isabella Madruga, 22, who was sipping a Kamala Katala. "I wanted to be here and listen to the news with other people."

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Times staff writer Jessica Garrison contributed to this report, as did special correspondents Ruchi Shahagadkar, Neha Gopal, I-Yun Chan, Raymond Matthews and Aisha Wallace-Palomares.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WASHINGTON D.C.  I woke up on Election Day wearing fuzzy feline headgear. My brown tabby, Joey, had wrapped his paws around my head and was purring in my ear as I remembered my plan to go to Washington D.C. to attend the watch party at Howard University for Vice President Kamala Harris. But with a cat draped across my skull, my mind drifted to a previous trip I'd made to D.C. in January 2017, when I covered the Women's March to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump. That day had been the one bright spot amid the years of MAGA hell, witnessing hundreds of thousands of people streaming in every direction, vowing to resist the fascist urges of a man who had bragged about sexually assaulting women. The symbol of the day: the ubiquitous p***y hats, cheerful pink knitted confections worn by women reclaiming control over a body part that Trump memorably boasted about grabbing against his victims' wills.

It looks now like my sweet cat was an ominous omen. With Trump's win, it's time for women to dig those hats out of storage, grab their "resistance" wine glasses, and get back to work. Trump's victory came at the hands of a majority of male voters, while most women once again turned out hoping to stop him. It will be up to women, again, to save America from this glowering fascist menace.

In 2017, the pink cat ears atop the Women's Marchers were often accompanied by signs adorned with angry cats declaring "p***y grabs back." Eight long years later, the common housecat continued to symbolize female resistance. Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, complained extensively of "cat ladies," a favorite MAGA insult for independent women. However, women, including pop star Taylor Swift, wore the term like a badge of honor, pointing out, correctly, that thinking for yourself is a point of pride.

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Spirits were high at Howard around 9 p.m. as the event filled up. Students decked out in university gear or their Greek letters crowded in. As hip-hop blared over the speakers, groups of women gleefully line-danced to Ciara and Missy Elliot tunes under giant American flags. By 10, the mood was flagging, as it became clear that, once again, American voters were showing themselves unable to make the correct and obvious choice between a good-hearted, competent woman and a screaming, hateful fascist. I snuck out demoralized at 11 p.m. and woke to find the worst had happened.

But even as it dawned on people that Trump could, once again, win this thing, it didn't feel quite as soul-crushing as it did in 2016. Perhaps it is because we are no longer surprised that so many of our fellow Americans harbor so much spite that they would rather burn down this country than share its bounty with others who helped build it. But part of it is that this crowd knows what they couldn't have eight years ago: They can pick up and keep fighting. We know that even when most men fail this country, most women square their shoulders and fight. In November 2016, we hadn't seen the Women's March. We hadn't witnessed the #MeToo movement. We haven't seen how women would rise up against abortion bans, forcing multiple states to protect the right even as Republican leadership tries to outlaw it.

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only.

Some of the richest men in the world, such as Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch, dumped billions of dollars into drowning Americans in far-right propaganda. The internet is awash in mind-melting conspiracy theories and people barely pay attention to real news anymore. The forces of basic decency are truly a David facing a Goliath. And yet, because women continue to turn out for the Democrats, they fought this election to a near draw. That is a sign of true strength. The MAGA movement has resorted to a tsunami of lies and distractions and even violence to win, because they never could compete in a fair fight.

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As Harris herself said when she first announced her run for president, "I know Donald Trump's type." With a massive propaganda apparatus built on lies and the intrinsic unfairness of the Electoral College, the MAGA movement has carved out more power than they have earned through popular will. The thumb has long been on the scale for rapists, misogynists and bigots. But the crowd at Howard on Tuesday night was a reminder that the MAGA movement will not win so easily. The culture is shifting toward the people there that night: young, diverse and heavily female. They will not crawl back to the kitchen just because some bitter weirdos call them "cat ladies" on Twitter. They will keep on living.

Harris very deliberately downplayed both her gender and racial identity this campaign, in sharp contrast to Hillary Clinton's 2016 run, centered around soaring rhetoric about the candidate breaking the final glass ceiling. But somehow it still turned into what some pundits called a "boys vs. girls" election, in no small part because polls predicted the largest gender gap ever in a presidential election. In truth, it was more of a "boys vs. adults" election. Despite Vance's grumbling about "childless cat ladies," the Harris campaign brought strong mom energy: cheerful but determined. Both male and female supporters embodied the vibe of any adult woman who smiles as she checks off her lengthy to-do list, busy but grateful to have such a full life.

Despite the advanced age of the candidate, the Trump campaign was characterized by petulance and immaturity, adopting the countenance of a spoiled rich kid sneering at his mom for telling him to do his homework. The premise undergirding the campaign was that lazy, childish men should be the leaders of society, not just despite but because they won't do the work to earn it. Men like Elon Musk, RFK Jr. and Joe Rogan wore their ignorance like a badge of honor, scorning those who put in years of effort to become experts, rather than just lazily spouting off conspiracy theories. The Proud Boys, whose name hat-tips their arrested development, re-emerged to threaten poll workers with violence. Trump and Vance spent the last days on the campaign trail awash in schoolyard sexism, calling female leaders "trash" and the b-word, while fantasizing openly about sending a convicted rapist after Harris.

Even the field operations of the two campaigns reflected this divergence. The Harris campaign tackled get-out-the-vote operations with the diligence of a straight-A student who always has her hand in the air, knocking over 800,000 doors in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Musk handled the ground game for Trump, resulting in an anemic canvassing presence. Instead, in the tradition of lazy frat daddies paying someone else to take tests for them, Musk purchased Trump voters with a $1 million-a-day lottery. This contrast has an unmistakably gendered flavor to it, as girls everywhere know they have to study hard and show up to get ahead, while rich white boys all too often coast on privilege.

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Even the locations of the candidates on Election Day highlighted the difference. Harris set up camp at her alma mater, showcasing not just her personal industriousness, but the historical determination Black people have put into education and labor in a country that has often worked against their aspirations. Trump kicked back at a country club he bought with inherited wealth. And yet, there is no doubt that Howard was the more fun place to be, simply because the people were more pleasant to be around. Even in the face of a crushing defeat, the Harris supporters who turned out knew it was not due to any lack of effort on their part. It's only because the nation is too sexist and racist still to deserve the sweat this crowd  racially diverse and majority female  put into the fight. And will continue to put into it. They have no other choice. Their lives and their freedoms depend on it.

Trump has done real damage to the American psyche, especially when it comes to his supporters, who have become angrier, more paranoid and more sadistic over the past nine years. Even in defeat, we must be grateful to Harris for a tremendous job embodying a different vision: One in which Americans can be kind, cooperative, and, yes, joyful. Even sticking with the journalistic practice of holding a campaign at arm's length, it's been a relief to attend Harris events, such as the rally at Temple University in August or the Democratic National Convention. It honestly has less to do with the candidates, and more to do with the people on the ground, who are funny, gentle, smart and, well, just plain normal, instead of bristling with the weird and hateful energy that Trump breeds in his followers. Despite the fear that is now settling over the country again, there's strength in seeing all these reasonable people come together, men and women both, who believe that women deserve better. That we all deserve better.

The women who voted for Harris aren't giving up. Vance and Musk and their army of Twitter trolls can fling the term "cat lady" around as much as they want, but voting for Trump will not make women en masse give up their jobs to play at being a "tradwife." Trump can and likely will usher in more restrictions on abortion and even contraception, but women have already shown they will respond with networks of mutual aid to smuggle care to those who need it. MAGA men keep telling a story where, if they hate and punish women enough, women will just lie down and take it. They're just making women angrier and more determined. Women understand they cannot depend on men's goodness to protect us. American women know: The only people who will save us are us.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  After some of the most memorable 15 weeks in presidential campaign history, now it was time to stop  and wait. But also, celebrate.

For Vice President Kamala Harris campaign, that wait was at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The storied historically Black college is Harris alma mater, a place she has frequently described as home. And the mood? Equal parts watch party and jubilant Harris rally.

The official campaign watch party was located within the Yard at Howard; students across campus were engaged in their own waiting game, taking in the significance of the moment  the possibility that a woman of color and HBCU grad was this close to winning the presidency.

Preparations are made ahead of an election night event on the Howard University campus on November 5, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Students, faculty and D.C.-area locals began to line up on the sidewalk awaiting entrance to the Howard University watch party by mid-afternoon, well in advance of its official 6 p.m. ET start time, an hour before polls started to close on the East Coast. As vendors hawked unofficial campaign merchandise, the energy was equal parts joyful and anxious.

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Cherion Worthem, a Howard senior originally from Atlanta, said she was experiencing a host of emotions. Im very nervous, but excited  and hope is my main emotion. The significance of the results of this election for womens rights was weighing heavily on her.

By 7:45 p.m., the Yard began to fill with students. As the crowd gathered, a DJ played music and attendees broke out into several of the line dances that are tradition and ritual at HBCUs and among Black Greek organizations. The mood felt celebratory, even in the absence of any actual results.

Worthem, a political science major, said she is hoping for a Harris win with everything in my being. She said she didnt just vote for Harris because they share an alma mater, but because shes not only the person with better character, but with better policies and a better plan  not just concepts of a plan.

Speaking to Zerlina Maxwell on Sirius XM radio Tuesday evening, Harris spoke of her goal to chart a new path forward for America, in both policy and culture.

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I do believe this is one of the most significant elections of our lifetime, and theres a real choice in front of usabout fanning the flames of hate and fear  or do we want to move forward and turn the page on that era and chart a new way forward thats about a new generation of leadership in America? Harris asked. She then gave details about the core tenets of her opportunity economy plan, including a $25,000 down payment assistance program for first-time home buyers, a $6,000 child tax credit, and $20,000 in forgivable loans for startup small businesses.

Harris also spoke passionately about the impact of the overturn of Roe v. Wade on Americans lives  and the role that her opponent, former President Donald Trump, played in creating this reality on the ground.

Women have had extraordinary complications with miscarriages and been denied care, have developed sepsis, and only then are receiving care. IVF treatments are at risk. Access to contraception is at risk, Harris said. So, and we are talking about such a fundamental freedom, which is the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.

Ve Wright, a junior journalism major at Howard from Broward County, Florida, was excited for the representation that Harris brings. As an Indian and Black woman herself, the thrill of what it means to see Harris in that position was peaking tonight. For Wright, Tuesday night was also very much about the future of reproductive rights. We definitely want women to be able to take care of their own health, to take charge of their own health. Seeing a powerful Black woman leading this charge only underscored the critical feeling of the moment.

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Denise Blackburn, a student who  like Harris  is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, said election night felt like a turning of the tide, just looking forward in terms of what we want our country to be and how we want it to represent us. All of us  not just a sliver of the population.

Wrapping up her conversation with Maxwell, Harris stressed this point, too.

His plan is about grievance. It is about himself, the vice president said of Trump. This is a moment where we have the ability to bring in a new generation of leadership in America and finally turn the page on all of that noise, frankly, that has been about dividing people. Lets bring people together knowing the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.

The post Hope is my main emotion: At Harris HQ, its equal parts watch party and jubilant rally appeared first on The 19th.

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KYIV, Ukraine  Soldiers in a Ukrainian artillery battery on the front lines of the countrys east were only vaguely aware of American election results pointing to Donald Trumps victory Wednesday  but firm in their hopes for the next president of the United States.

Their entrenched artillery battery fires on Russian forces daily  and takes fire nearly as often. Just the other day, one of their overhead nets snared a Russian drone.

I hope that the quantity of weapons, the quantity of guns for our victory will increase, the units 39-year-old commander, who goes by the name Mozart, said in the hours before Trumps win was confirmed. We dont care who is the president, as long as they dont cut us off from help, because we need it.

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Though Trumps election throws into doubt American support for Ukraine  and ultimately whether Kyiv can beat back Russias invasion  the soldiers who use their Starlink connection to the internet sparingly learned of the results from Associated Press journalists.

Mozart  who like other soldiers Wednesday did not give his name in keeping with Ukrainian military protocol and has given musical monikers to the battlefield positions  is among many Ukrainians who hope that Trump will hold the line on American support for their country. Russian forces have recently made gains in the east, although the commander described the front-line situation as static.

It was under Trump that the United States first sent weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russia in 2017. Those Javelin anti-tank missiles were crucial to Ukraines ability to fend off the full-scale invasion in 2022. But Trump overall is wary of U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.

Trump, who has touted his good relationship with President Vladimir Putin and called the Russian leader pretty smart for invading Ukraine, has repeatedly criticized American backing of Ukraine. He characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the greatest salesman on Earth for winning U.S. aid.

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Zelenskyy was among the first world leaders to publicly congratulate Trump and said the two discussed how to end Russian aggression against Ukraine when they met in September.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together, he wrote on the social platform X.

Donald Trump, right, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands during their Sept. 27 meeting in New York. Zelenskyy was among the first world leaders to publicly congratulate Trump on Wednesday. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Trump has said repeatedly he would have a peace deal done between Ukraine and Russia within a day if elected, although he has not said how. During his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, he twice refused to directly answer a question about whether he wanted Ukraine to win  raising concerns that Kyiv would be forced to accept unfavorable terms in any negotiations he oversaw.

In Kyiv, which comes under attack from Russian drones near daily, 18-year-old Viktoriia Zubrytska was pragmatic about her expectations for the next American president. She thinks Ukraine will be forced to give up territory in exchange for peace under a Trump presidency. But she said she preferred that to what she called the false hope that the Biden administration offered.

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We will live in a world of facts where we will be certain on what awaits us, said the law student. Certainty and objective truth is much better than lies and life in illusions.

According to VoteCast, 74% of voters who supported Harris favored continuing aid to Ukraine, while only 36% of Trumps voters did. AP VoteCast is a survey of the American electorate conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.

On the front lines in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region, Andriy, who goes by Rodych or Relative, was resigned to the fact that he has no power to influence the American vote.

We will come up with something" whatever happens, he said.

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We are a shield between Europe and Russia, he added. Other countries do not understand what is happening here, they see it on TV and for them it is far away.

Americas NATO allies were also closely watching the election. France and Germany arranged a last-minute, top-level defense meeting Wednesday in Paris to discuss the results, and Ukraine is likely to be central to the meeting. The two leading powers in the European Union provide significant support to Ukraine to defend it against Russias war.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, citing a more aggressive Russia, also invoked Trump's motto of peace through strength.

Rutte praised Trump for his work during his first term to persuade countries in the alliance to ramp up defense spending.

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In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had no information on whether Putin plans to congratulate Trump but emphasized that Moscow views the U.S. as an unfriendly country.

Peskov reaffirmed the Kremlins claim that the U.S. support for Ukraine amounted to its involvement in the conflict, telling reporters: Lets not forget that we are talking about, the unfriendly country that is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.

Still, he noted Trump's promise to end the war swiftly once elected.

The U.S. can help end the conflict, Peskov said, adding that it certainly cant be done overnight."

Konovalov reported from the Kharkiv region. Associated Press journalists Lorne Cook in Brussels; Hanna Arhirova, Illia Novikov and Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine; Danica Kirka in London; and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
Your vote in this election  and every election  is private. No one will know who you vote for come Election Day unless you tell them. Thats the message in an ad voiced by actress Julia Roberts, who assured women that their husbands will never know which candidate they select in the ballot box. Meanwhile, George Clooney gave his voice to an ad that encouraged men to hide their vote for Vice President Kamala Harris from disapproving friends. Both ads were released by the progressive Christian organization Vote Common Good.

In such a polarizing election environment, it makes sense for people to be concerned about others learning who they are voting for. In fact, according to a survey from Harris Poll, 1 in 4 people lie about who they vote for. And while some people on social media joke that their votes will cancel out the votes of their parents or even partners, others have expressed concern their spouse may find out who they vote for in the first place.

Can someone find out who I voted for?

No, your vote is private. The secret ballot is a cornerstone of the democratic process. The United States first adopted the secret ballot process from Australia in the late 19th century.

Whether you vote by mail or vote in person, no one can find out who you voted for unless you tell them. This is why our ballots are sealed and why there are privacy screens in voter booths: to ensure the privacy of the voting process. Those counting the votes do not have access to an individual voters choice, as ballots are anonymized.

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If you do want to share who you voted for on Election Day, be aware that posting a photo on social media of your completed ballot is illegal in some states.

What information about my voting record is public?

Some public information on your voting status is available, but who you voted for will never be public. Your public voting record indicates whether you are registered to vote and what the status of your registration is, and also indicates which elections youve previously voted in.

Will people know which political party Im voting for?

In some states, your public voting record may also indicate your political party affiliation  but its important to note that just because you are registered with a certain party, it does not mean you have to vote along those partys lines in a general election. You can read more on that here from USA.gov.
President-elect Donald Trumps recipe for victory in Tuesdays election was built on his ability to improve his support from 2020 with several different demographic groups, exit polls show.

Heres a breakdown of some of the most notable findings.

Popular vote

Trump is currently on track to win both the Electoral College and the popular vote, meaning he will become the first Republican to do so in 20 years.

Independent voters

For the first time in U.S. history, more independents voted than Democrats in a presidential election, Reuters reported. While 34% of the electorate was made up of independent voters, according to an exit poll conducted by Edison, just 32% of the vote came from Democrats while 34% were Republicans.

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While Harris beat Trump with independents by a margin of 50%-45%, he gained 4% among independents from his performance in 2020.

Latino voters

Trump saw a significant rise in 2024 in his support from Latino voters, according to a CNN exit poll. While Harris won Latinos by 8 points this year, in 2020 Biden won that group by 33 points.

An NBC News exit poll offered a similar finding  that Trump had improved his standing among Latino voters by 13 points in 2024.

Black voters

Though an exit poll conducted by the Associated Press found that Harris had won 80% of the vote of Black voters, that figure is 10 points less than the 90% of Black voters who supported Biden in 2020.

Younger voters

Support for the Democratic ticket among voters between the age of 18-29 dropped from 60% in 2020 to 55% in 2024, an exit poll conducted by CBS News found.

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CNNs exit poll found that the Democrats advantage with voters 18-29 years of age fell from +24 points in 2020 to an 11-point advantage in 2024.

Women voters

Trump managed to whittle away at a 23-point gender gap in 2020, in which women supported Biden by a margin of 57%-42% and men favored Trump by 53%-45%, to a 22-point gap in 2024. This year, women voted for Harris by a margin of 54%-44% while men supported Trump 54%-44%, according to an NBC News exit poll.

Asian voters

While Trump lost the Asian American vote to Harris by a margin of 56%-38%, he improved his share of that demographic by 4% from his 61%-34% loss to Biden in 2020, according to an exit poll from NBC News.

Rural voters

While Harris maintained a healthy 21-point advantage among urban voters, Trump doubled his 15-point margin in 2020 among rural voters to a whopping 30-point advantage in 2024, CNN reported.
Howard Stern says he was fearful going into the election that the country wasnt ready to elect its first woman president in Vice President Harris because he knows how men talk behind closed doors.

I think Kamala was a fine candidate. Shes a fine woman. The problem I had is that I thought [President] Biden was doing a really good job, actually. But I understand why people said they had to switch, Stern said on his eponymous SiriusXM show on Wednesday.

If I could go back in time and turn the time machine on, I think what would have been a better process would have been if Joe Biden said, Hey, I did a good job and Im ready to hand over the baton. And then let people in the Democratic Party nominate someone through the process of voting, through the primaries  that wouldve been ideal, Stern, a frequent critic of former President Trump, said.

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Biden dropped out of the White House race in July and quickly endorsed his vice president.

At the time when Kamala was chosen by Joe Biden, I said, sadly  I hate to say this, because I was a big Hillary Clinton supporter  I dont think America can vote for a woman, Stern, 70, said during a conversation with co-host Robin Quivers.

I say this because I know men. I know how men talk behind closed doors, said Stern, who backed Harris in the White House race.

I dont even want to say what I heard when she was selected, the media personality said of Harris, before repeating derogatory and racist terms.

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Saying he would devote his post-Election Day show to attempting to cheer up listeners who were saddened by President-elect Trumps win over Harris, Stern told a caller, Im not someone who believes in sour grapes. I love America. I hope America can thrive.

During a tense conversation with the caller, who identified himself as a Trump voter, Stern said, I hope Donald Trump is successful. He is now going to be my next president.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is calling for a new EU strategy on Ukraine following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election.

Since Trump might halt US aid to Kiev in its defence against Russia, the question arises as to whether Europe will be able to shoulder the financial and military support for Ukraine on its own, Orban said at a summit of Turkic-speaking countries in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

"There are serious doubts about this, so a new European strategy is needed," Orban said, according to the state-run Hungarian news agency MTI.

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An informal EU summit is set to take place in Budapest on Friday, following a meeting on Thursday of the wider European Politial Community. The outcome of the US election and its implications are likely to be among the dominant topics.

Hungary currently holds the rotating 6-month EU presidency.

In a Facebook video, Orban described Trump's election victory as "brilliant." He said it would "bring hope for peace to the world."

Orban maintains a good relationship with Trump, as well as with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Within the EU, the Hungarian prime minister is considered an outsider due to his pro-Russian stance and the dismantling of democracy and the rule of law in his own country.

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He only supports EU sanctions against Moscow half-heartedly, repeatedly diluting corresponding sanction resolutions with veto threats.

Orban is a staunch opponent of arms deliveries to Ukraine, without which the country would be defenceless against Russia's aggression.

Orban portrays himself as a "man of peace." According to experts, a peace plan envisaged by Orban would be entirely to Putin's liking and would amount to Ukraine's surrender.

In the Organization of Turkic States, Hungary holds observer status. Although Hungarian is not a Turkic language, Orban seeks close ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who dominates the organization, and with the Central Asian autocracies that are part of it.
The Durham semiconductor manufacturer Wolfspeed will lay off around 10% of its global workforce, the company told The News & Observer on Wednesday, in a move that eliminates several hundred jobs near North Carolinas Research Triangle Park.

Wolfspeed spokesperson Kris Camacho said the company will notify workers impacted by the layoffs over the next few days.

Prior to this weeks job cuts, the company had already reduced another 10% of its staff in the previous three months through attrition and voluntary exit agreements. As of June, Wolfspeed employed around 5,000 workers worldwide, with more than half based locally. The majority of the upcoming layoffs will impact workers in North Carolina, the company confirmed, though it did not share an exact figure.

Lowering spending has been a priority for Wolfspeed as investors have driven down its stock price over long-term liquidity and growth concerns. In August, Wolfspeed shared plans to shutter its 150-millimeter device factory in Durham as it prioritized producing 200-millimeter chip wafers. Combined, the 20% total staff reductions and factory closure will help save the company around $200 million annually, Wolfspeed stated in its latest earnings report released Wednesday.

We are taking steps to simplify the business and capitalize on the transition to 200mm, Camacho said. This includes changes to our workforce, which is not a move we take lightly.

Formed in 1987 under the name Cree, Wolfspeed has pivoted in the past five years away from producing LED lights toward exclusively making a unique semiconductor material called silicon carbide, which is sliced into chips to power appliances like electric vehicles, defense equipment and energy storage units. Wolfspeed has pioneered production of 200-millimeter silicon carbide substrates, or wafers, which are larger than the industry standard 150-millimeter size and can yield more chips.

On Wednesdays earnings call, Wolfspeed CEO Gregg Lowe said the company will phase out its 150-millimeter device factory in Durham over the next nine to 12 months. Wolfspeed will continue to operate its corporate headquarters, just outside Research Triangle Park, where the company also runs a 150-millimeter materials facility and a separate 200-millimeter materials site called Building 10.

These actions will foster a stronger, more agile company ready to seize the opportunities ahead, Lowe said. Many of these reductions have already occurred, and we expect to complete the majority of the actions by the end of the year.

He noted Wolfspeed remains committed to hiring 1,800 workers at its incoming 200-millimeter materials factory in Chatham County by 2030. The chipmaker expects to begin shipping wafers from this facility next summer. In October, Wolfspeed received a $750 million federal grant through the CHIPS and Science Act to help fund the site.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has congratulated US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on winning the elections despite the fact that official results are yet to be announced.

Source: Viktor Orban on X, as reported by European Pravda

Quote from Orban: "Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!"

Details: Orban also said that this is the "biggest comeback in US political history".

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Hungarys Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also congratulated Trump on his victory, saying that it will help "establish peace in Ukraine".

Quote from Szijjarto: "Following the decision made by American voters, we can hope that Hungarys political cooperation with the US will resume in its full force, because we share similar views on the world, illegal immigration and the protection of families. And after almost 1,000 days of war in Ukraine there is a greater chance than ever that peace will be established!"

Background:

Orban has repeatedly said he favoured Donald Trump in the US presidential race, even saying that he would open several bottles of champagne if Trump returned to power in the US.

Several different models of the US presidential election results have predicted the victory of Republican candidate Donald Trump.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has declared that he has become the 47th president of the United States ahead of the official election results, claiming that he will deliver a "strong, safe and prosperous America".

On 7 November, Hungary will host a European Political Community Summit, followed by a meeting of European Union leaders on 8 November.

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A detailed damage assessment of Hurricane Helenes destructive path through Georgia verifies a total impact of $1.28 billion on the states total timber resource.

The report, produced by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) and the University of Georgias Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources documented species, product class, the percentage of damage done, and location.

Hurricane Helene was a historic storm that created generational losses for Georgias landowners, Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo said. Right now, GFC is working closely with affected landowners and our state and federal partners. We want to match all available resources to those needing help.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The hurricane traveled across 8.9 million acres of forestland before exiting the northeast corner of the state with winds up to 100 miles per hour from Valdosta to Augusta.

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Private forested lands accounted for 88% of the impacted land ownership.

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As of Wednesday morning, Rafael is a Cat. 2 hurricane in the Northern Caribbean approaching Cuba. Landfall in western Cuba as a Cat. 3 hurricane is expected later today. After it passes Cuba, west-northwestward movement is expected as Rafael slides into the Central Gulf. While models had been fairly spread out on track, theyve shifted significantly southwest over the past 24 hours and seem to be honing in on a slower, further west storm.

With that westward shift, any influences on Central Alabama weather will be minimal. Rafael will rapidly weaken in the northern Gulf as wind shear batters the storm. No direct impacts on Alabama weather are expected, but we do still have some showers in the forecast for the weekend.

Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team:

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Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
The projected path for Hurricane Rafael, which on Wednesday is a Category 2 hurricane over Cuba, has changed dramatically. Since predictions on Monday that believed it would make landfall in the United States near Louisiana, the models for November 6 have a large spread for the storms track over the next seven days. Various weather experts and trackers do not agree on where it is heading, apart from the fact that it is moving toward the center of the Gulf of Mexico. Heres what we know so far about the path for Hurricane Rafael for the rest of the week.

What is the path of Hurricane Rafael?

While most trackers still have Hurricane Rafael moving past Florida and toward Louisiana, conditions in the Caribbean have many models predicting that it will move further west toward Mexico and Texas.

[Image Credit: NCAR]

Compared to models earlier in the week, Hurricane Rafael has trended westward, though the range of its path has swung wildly. As shown by the tracker from the National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR) above, the possible paths goes as far south as the Bay of Campeche and as far east as Florida.

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The good news is that the hurricane is still predicted to weaken in strength to a tropical storm or tropical depression when it finally makes landfall in Mexico or the US.

One of the most persistent models comes from a Wednesday report by Accuweather, which believes that the storm will move west before ultimately turning north and hitting the center of Louisiana by 7PM ET on Monday.

Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has changed its model, stating in a report on Wednesday at 10 AM ET that it will still be in the Gulf on Monday. It predicts that the storm will head toward the coastal border between Mexico and Texas several days past that, seeing it dissipate more harmlessly in the Gulf before reaching land.

The post Hurricane Rafaels Path Has Shifted Wildly, According to Tracker Models appeared first on Mandatory.
Hurricane Rafael surged toward Cuba on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm. But it will soon weaken in the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters say, and could break apart or not reach the United States at all.

The forecast past three days is still uncertain.

Rafael strengthened to a Category 3 storm after noon on Wednesday. It has 115 mph winds and will strike Cuba as a major hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said.

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It will enter the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday night. In the Gulf, Rafael will turn west and northwest and weaken when dry air, strong winds in the atmosphere and cooler water temperatures stifle its strength. The National Hurricane Center keeps shifting Rafaels track west and away from South Mississippi.

The National Hurricane Center shifted Hurricane Rafaels track farther south Wednesday afternoon. Forecasters originally predicted Rafael could impact South Mississippi but now say the storm will meander in the Gulf of Mexico through early next week.

There is a good chance it will be sheared apart before impacting any part of the U.S. coast, Alabama meteorologist James Spann said on social media Wednesday morning.

Risk is declining for Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama -- which forecasters had earlier predicted could get doused with rain. Forecasters have spent much of the week debating two storm tracks: one that showed landfall in Mississippi or Alabama, and another that tracked west, closer to Mexico. The National Hurricane Centers forecast track keeps shifting to the latter.

Possible impacts on the Mississippi Coast include higher rain chances, minor coastal flooding and high winds and seas Saturday through Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Slidell.

The storm has already forced one event to reschedule in South Mississippi: Gulfport announced it would push the annual Gumbo Fest to January, instead of this weekend.
Channel 9 meteorologists are monitoring Hurricane Rafael as it continues to strengthen.

1:00 p.m. update:

The Nationa Hurricane Center said Rafael is now a category 3 hurricane as it continues on a path toward Cuba Wednesday.

The 1 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center had winds of 115 mph, making Rafael a Category 3 major hurricane.

Rafael will make landfall as a major hurricane in Cuba later today and then move into the southern Gulf of Mexico later tonight.

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The system will slowly weaken as it moves westward across the southern Gulf, and it is expected to be a tropical storm by this weekend.

Tropical Storm Warnings continue for the Lower Florida Keys, but the storm will not impact most of the state.

Hurricane #Rafael Advisory 12A: Rafael Becomes a Category Three Hurricane as it Nears the Coast of Western Cuba. Expected to Bring Life-Threatening Storm Surge, Damaging Hurricane-Force Winds, and Flash Flooding to Portions of Western Cuba. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) November 6, 2024

7:15 a.m. update:

The National Hurricane Center confirmed Rafael has strengthened into a Category 2 storm.

It is projected to maintain Category 2 strength as it makes landfall in western Cuba later Wednesday.

Original report:

As of 4 a.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said Rafaels maximum sustained winds had increased to near 90 mph.

Rafael, a small but powerful storm, will move into western Cuba on Wednesday, possibly as a major hurricane.

Channel 9 is monitoring Hurricane Rafael as it moves toward Cuba and then into the Gulf of Mexico.

Meteorologist Brian Shields said the storm will then travel into the central Gulf of Mexico.

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READ: Warm Wednesday with showers possible in Central Florida

Rafael will stay away from Florida, Shields said.

Channel 9 is monitoring Hurricane Rafael as it moves toward Cuba and then into the Gulf of Mexico.

As we move closer to the weekend, Shields said Rafael will head toward the western and northern Gulf, where it will be on a weakening trend.

Shields said if it weakens enough, it is actually possible that we wont see a U.S. landfall with this storm.

Channel 9 is monitoring Hurricane Rafael as it moves toward Cuba and then into the Gulf of Mexico.

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Watch: After Milton: Severe Weather Center 9 Special

Follow our Severe Weather team on X for live updates:




Hurricane Rafael remained a "powerful compact hurricane" as it slowly churned in the central Gulf of Mexico, U.S. forecasters said Friday.

Where is the storm and what is its path?

According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Rafael is located about 230 miles north of Progeso, Mexico and 475 miles east of the mouth of the Rio Grande. It is moving west at 9 mph.

A slower west-northwestward motion is expected during the next day or so, the hurricane center said. "After that, Rafael is likely to meander over the central Gulf of Mexico through early next week."

A map showing Rafael's projected path. (NOAA/National Weather Service)

Rafael is currently a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph. But "steady weakening is expected during the next few days," the hurricane center said.

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Rafael made landfall in the Cuban province of Artemisa, just east of Playa Majana, on Wednesday, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, weakening slightly as it crossed the island.

What is the expected impact of Rafael?

A car drives along a road littered with fallen power lines after the passing of Hurricane Rafael in San Antonio de los Banos, Cuba, Thursday. (Ramon Espinosa/AP)

There are currently no coastal watches or warnings associated with Rafael, but the hurricane center said that interests in the southern and southwestern Gulf of Mexico should monitor its progress.

"Swells generated by Rafael are expected to spread across most of the Gulf of Mexico during the next few days," the hurricane center added. "These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions."

Will it hit the U.S.?

It's too early to say. Long-range forecasts models are not in agreement on its ultimate path as Rafael encounters wind shear and drier air in the gulf.

"Slight differences in Rafael's intensity and atmospheric steering winds could have a significant impact on its final track," AccuWeather meteorologist Bill Deger told USA Today. "It is also possible Rafael is torn apart by strong winds high in the atmosphere and dissipates in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall."
Classic rocks KC and the Sunshine Band celebrate 50 years of music with a stop at the Gallo Center. Comedian Tom Papa also will perform at the venue. And theres plenty more entertainment planned for the Modesto region from Nov. 9-15.

KC and the Sunshine Band

KC and the Sunshine Band celebrate their 50th anniversary at the Gallo Center. Harry Wayne Casey  KC for short  created a fusion of R&B and funk to produce hits such as Get Down Tonight, Thats The Way (I Like It) and Shake Your Booty. Limited tickets were available.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9

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WHERE: Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto

TICKETS: $77-$137

ONLINE: www.galloarts.org

Ballet Folklorico Anahuac

Ballet Folklorico Anahuac brings its 15th anniversary theater event to the Gallo Center, featuring a show that promises to transport you on an unforgettable journey through Mexicos cultural diversity, according to the centers website. Limited tickets were available.

WHEN: 5 p.m. Nov. 10

WHERE: Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto

TICKETS: $43-$83

ONLINE: www.galloarts.org

A Laurel Canyon Retrospective

Dustbowl Revival Presents A Laurel Canyon Retrospective at the Gallo Center. The show brings the music of hit makers such as Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Brian Wilson, The Byrds, Carole King, the Eagles, The Mamas and The Papas, Jimmie Hendrix, The Doors and more.

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WHEN: 5 p.m. Nov. 10

WHERE: Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto

TICKETS: $47-$77

ONLINE: www.galloarts.org

Hadestown

In the production of Hadestown, coming to the Gallo Center, a song can change your fate. The show won eight 2019 Tony Awards including best musical and the 2020 Grammy Award for best musical theater album. Limited tickets were available.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Nov. 12-13

WHERE: Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto

TICKETS: $67-$117

ONLINE: www.galloarts.org

Joshua Radin & Ron Pope

Americana singer-songwriters Joshua Radin and Ron Pope will play at the Gallo Center. Radin is known for the single Id Rather Be With You. Ron Pope emerged in the early days of music streaming with A Drop in the Ocean.

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WHEN: 7 p.m. Nov. 14

WHERE: Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto

TICKETS: $47-$77

ONLINE: www.galloarts.org

Tom Papa will bring his comedy to the Gallo Center.

Tom Papa

Comedian Tom Papa has been making people laugh for more than 20 years. Papa, who also is an actor, host and author in film, TV, radio and podcasts, will bring his comedy to the Gallo Center.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15

WHERE: Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto

TICKETS: $47-$77

ONLINE: www.galloarts.org

Camp Jack Hazard concert

The Camp Jack Hazard 100 Year Celebration will play at the State Theatre. Camp Jack Hazard, which serves the community and its youth, marks the milestone with a concert by The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit. The group plays traditional country and bluegrass, as well as folk, rock, roots and rockabilly.

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WHEN: 7 p.m. Nov. 9

WHERE: State Theatre, 1307 J St., Modesto

TICKETS: $30-$55

ONLINE: www.thestate.org

MAPS program

The next Modesto Area Partners in Science program will feature Sarah Wheeler, lab director of the Yolo-Sacramento Mosquito and Vector Control District. Shell speak about data used to select and implement mosquito control to protect the public from nuisance mosquitoes and mosquito-borne pathogens.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14

WHERE: MJC West Campus Sierra Hall 132, 2201 Blue Gum Ave., Modesto

ADMISSION: Free

ONLINE: www.mjc.edu/sem/maps.html
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Nevada voters passed Question 7 requiring voters to show ID at the polls with a resounding 72% of the vote.

The Associated Press called the election with 74% of the vote reported.

Question 7 is a proposed amendment to the Nevada Constitution, requiring passage in two consecutive elections. This is the first time it has been on the ballot.

WHATS NEXT: Question 7 will be on the ballot again in 2026. If it passes there, it will be included in Article 2 of the Nevada Constitution. If Question 7 fails in 2026, it would have to start the process over in future elections.

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A large segment of the population  74%, according to one poll  saw Question 7 as a common sense ballot question.

Question 7 reads: Should the Nevada Constitution be amended to require voters to either present photo identification to verify their identity when voting in-person or to provide certain personal information to verify their identity when voting by mail ballot?

ELECTION RESULTS: Get the latest numbers as votes start rolling in

Question 7 wants to know who you are when you vote. Proponents say they are concerned about election security and ID theft. Opponents argue theres no proof it would make a difference because voter fraud is virtually nonexistent  and it would discourage some people who are eligible to vote from going to the polls.

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When it comes to voting rights, we shouldnt be leaving anyone behind. The ID requirements in Question 7 will mean fewer eligible people will cast ballots, while the new law would do nothing to prevent voter fraud, according to one argument against passage.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 36 states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show some form of ID at the polls.

The list of accepted IDs would be:

Nevada drivers license

Identification card issued by the State of Nevada, any other state, or the U.S. government

Employee photo identification card issued by the U.S. government, Nevada government, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other Nevada government entity

U.S. passport

U.S. military identification card

Student photo identification card issued by a Nevada public college, university, or technical school

Tribal photo identification

Nevada concealed firearms permit

Other form of government-issued photo identification that the Legislature may approve

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Voters who vote by mail ballot would need to include certain information so that election officials can use it to verify the voters identity. That information includes:

The last four digits of their Nevada drivers license number

If the voter does not possess a Nevada drivers license, the last four digits of their Social Security number

There are also provisions for people over 70 years old  expired IDs are OK so long as they are otherwise valid.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

US climbed on Tuesday as Wall Street looked ahead to the result of the US election.

Some Trump trades edged up Tuesday morning after being hit on Monday by rising odds of a Kamala Harris win.

Palantir spiked as much as 20% on record earnings, lifting other AI names in the tech space.

US stocks rose on Tuesday as investors geared up for the result of the presidential election and mulled record earnings from Palantir.

Though new momentum from Harris over the weekend weighed on the Trump trade on Monday, Treasury yields, bitcoin, and Trump Media stock were all higher on Tuesday.

Palantir spiked as much as 20% after reporting record profit and signaling high demand for its artificial-intelligence software. It was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 by a considerable margin, and the results helped lift other AI-related tech names like Nvidia and Tesla. AI-focused exchange-traded fund rose more than 1%.

Immediately following the election, Wall Street will turn to the Federal Reserve's policy meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. According to the CME FedWatch tool, markets see a 96% chance the Fed cuts its benchmark rate by 25 basis points at the conclusion of the meeting on Thursday.

Here's where US indexes stood at the 9:30 a.m. opening bell on Tuesday:

Here's what else is going on:

In commodities, bonds, and crypto:

West Texas Intermediate crude oil climbed 0.38% to $71.76 a barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was higher by 0.35% to $75.34 a barrel.

Gold increased by 0.30% to $2,754.1 an ounce.

The 10-year Treasury yield gained 1 basis point to 4.327%.

Bitcoin rose 1.97% to $68,814.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Voters cast their ballots in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, at Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Editors note: This story was updated at 10:53 a.m. Wednesday.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson won a 14th term to represent Idahos 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Associated Press declared Simpson the general election winner at 10:46 p.m. Tuesday.

Mike Simpson was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1999. (Courtesy of Congressman Mike Simpsons office)

Simpson had 61.6% of votes over three challengers, with 249,380 votes, according to unofficial election results from the Idaho Secretary of States Office at 10:51 a.m. Wednesday. Democrat David Roth received 30.7% of the votes.

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Libertarian Todd Corsetti received 5.3% of votes, and Constitution Party candidate Idaho Law  Carta Sierra received 2.4% of votes.

Idahos 2nd Congressional District  home to almost 1 million people  splits Ada County, includes most of Boise, and spans central and eastern Idaho.

In a news release Tuesday night, Simpson thanked voters for support.

Its an absolute honor to represent the people of Idaho in Congress, and Idahoans can count on me to continuing my fight for lower taxes, a secure border, energy independence and other policies that ensure Idahoans and our nation thrive, Simpson wrote in a statement. Im deeply grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support by the voters of the Second Congressional District and their confidence in me. I look forward to continue serving our great state.

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Tuesdays general election results wont become official until the State Board of Canvassers certifies the election results. The canvass is scheduled to occur Nov. 26, said Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane.

In Congress, Simpsons top priorities are security for the southern border, restoring American energy independence and agriculture reform, he told the Sun last month.

Simpson chairs the House Interior and Environment Subcommittee on Appropriations. He also serves on the House Energy and Water Development Subcommittee and the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee on Appropriations.

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In May, Simpson won the primary election, securing the Idaho Republican Partys nomination with over 54% of votes over two GOP challengers, the Sun reported.

Simpson, 74, has represented Idaho in Congress since 1999 for 13 terms. U.S. House of Representatives terms are two years.

Simpson has widely won re-election bids. Since 2000, he has won general elections by a nearly 34-point vote margin, on average, over the next top-performing candidates, who ran as Democrats, the Idaho Capital Sun found in a review of past election results reported by the Idaho Secretary of States Office.

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A "Vote Here" sign is on display during the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, at Lowell Elementary School in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Editors note: This story was updated at 10:52 a.m. Wednesday.

Idaho voters approved a proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution to ban noncitizens from voting in Idaho elections.

The Associated Press declared the amendment passed at 12:49 a.m. Wednesday.

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Unofficial election results from the Idaho Secretary of States Office at 10:49 a.m. Wednesday showed 64.9% of Idaho voters supported the constitutional amendment  proposed by the Idaho Legislature this year  with 565,295 votes, while 35.1% of voters opposed it, with 305,153 votes. Forty-two of Idahos 44 counties were fully reporting election results by then.

The Idaho Constitution already required U.S. citizenship for people to be considered qualified electors, referring to eligible voters. But proponents of the amendment noted that the Idaho Constitution doesnt specifically exclude noncitizens.

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Similar to ballot measures in seven other states, Idahos amendment came as a handful of local governments across the U.S. have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections, and after years of election security fears fueled in part by false claims about droves of noncitizens voting in federal elections.

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Tuesdays general election results wont become official until the State Board of Canvassers certifies the election results. The canvass is scheduled to occur Nov. 26 at the Statehouse in Boise, said Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane.

In October, Idaho state Rep. Kevin Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, told the Idaho Capital Sun he proposed the amendment to make sure that Idaho law is clear: Noncitizens cant vote in government elections.

But some Democrat state lawmakers worried the amendment could be interpreted to block noncitizens  even immigrants who are legally in the U.S., but arent citizens  from voting in private elections, like homeowners associations and parent teacher associations.

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Andrus has said private elections wouldnt be affected by the amendment, and said that wasnt his intent.

No state lets noncitizens vote in statewide elections, according to a March article by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

According to the organization, municipalities in three states and Washington, D.C., let noncitizens vote in some local elections, such as school board elections in San Francisco, and municipal elections in cities in Maryland and Vermont.

Idaho is not among those states. But Idahos proposed constitutional amendment, Andrus previously said, would preemptively block any Idaho localities from potentially allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections.

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Dorothy Moon, chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party, addresses partygoers at the Idaho Republican Party's general election watch party on Nov. 5, 2024, in Meridian. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

As part of Tuesdays conservative red wave, Republicans were poised to expand their supermajority in the Idaho Legislature based on unofficial results from the 2024 general election.

Idaho Republicans were on the verge of gaining four legislative seats and adding to the GOPs robust supermajority.

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Idaho Democrats, meanwhile, were looking at coughing up four legislative seats and seeing their influence in Boise diminished again.

Based on partial, unofficial election results released early Wednesday by the Idaho Secretary of States Office, Republicans were poised to flip Idaho Senate seats in West Boises Legislative District 15 and Central Idahos Legislative District 26. Republicans were also in position to flip Idaho House of Representatives seats in District 26 and Bannock Countys District 29.

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For the past two years, Idaho Republicans controlled 87 of the 105 seats in the Idaho Legislature, while Democrats controlled 18 seats in the Idaho Legislature.

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If Wednesdays results hold, the balance of power would shift to a 91-14 advantage for the Idaho GOP. Broken down further, Republicans would control 30 seats in the Idaho Senate compared to five seats for the Democrats. Republicans would also see their influence in the Idaho House grow to a 61 to nine advantage over Democrats.

In the District 15 Idaho Senate race, former House Rep. Codi Galloway, R-Boise, was leading incumbent Sen. Rick Just, D-Boise, by a margin of 12,414 votes to 11,089 with all 197 Ada County precincts reporting early Wednesday, according to the Ada County Elections Office.

In the District 26 Idaho Senate race, former Rep. Laurie Lickley, R-Jerome, was leading incumbent Sen. Ron Taylor, D-Hailey, by a margin of 7,933 votes to 7,873 with one of the three counties fully reporting, according to the Idaho Secretary of States Office.

In the District 26 Idaho House Seat A race, Republican challenger Mike Pohanka was leading incumbent Rep. Ned Burns, D-Bellevue, by a margin of 9,127 votes to 8,404 votes with one of three counties fully reporting.

In the District 29 Idaho House Seat B race, Republican challenger Tanya Burgoyne defeated incumbent Rep. Nate Roberts, D-Pocatello, by a margin of 11,498 votes to 10,359 votes with all Bannock County precincts reporting.

Although it is too early to tell, losing seats in the 2024 general election could potentially cost Democrats some of the few seats they do hold on influential legislative committees such as the House State Education Committee and the House Health and Welfare Committee. Idaho legislators will convene an organizational session in early December to elect leadership positions, choose committee chairs and make committee assignments.

Election results in Idaho will not become official in Idaho until they are certified by the Idaho State Board of Canvassers on Nov. 26 in Boise.

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CHICAGO (AP)  Two first-term Illinois Democrats locked into competitive congressional contests held onto their seats as control of the U.S. House remained up for grabs.

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen beat Republican Joe McGraw in the 17th Congressional District, while Rep. Nikki Budzinski beat Republican Joshua Loyd in the 13th District. Democrats in other districts statewide also fended off Republican challengers hoping to maintain their party's control of the House.

Illinois Democrats had an advantage heading into the election, leading in fundraising and armed with a political map that favors incumbents. In hopes of boosting turnout, leaders in the blue state also put before voters three non-binding advisory questions on property tax relief, insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization and election worker interference.

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While Republicans took the U.S. Senate majority on Tuesday, dozens of House races around the country were yet to be called.

Heres a closer look at Illinois' competitive House races.

17th District

Sorensen was elected to a second term in the sprawling C-shaped northwest Illinois district in the state's most competitive race.

Covering union-heavy manufacturing areas and college towns, the territory leans Democratic. But it also features pockets of farmland, which trend conservative.

Sorensen, a former television meteorologist, was first elected to office in 2022. The 48-year-old had backing from unions and farmers and dominated in fundraising. According to Federal Election Commission data, he had more than $4.5 million in total contributions compared with McGraw's roughly $1.3 million.

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Sorensen thanked supporters gathered in Moline late Tuesday.

Over the past two years, Ive set out to make sure our community has a trusted neighbor serving them in Congress, Sorensen said in a statement. Now, its about coming together to do whats best for all of us and I am proud to be the good neighbor to represent you!

McGraw said Wednesday that he was he was disappointed with the results after fighting hard for voters.

Our campaign gave voice to tens of thousands of Illinoisans who are sick of watching politicians stack the deck against working families, leaving our communities behind, he said in a statement posted on the social platform X.

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On the campaign trail, Sorensen tried to appeal to Democrats and Republicans. Often touting his background in weather, he advocated for green energy and ways to fight climate change. At the same time, he noted he was one of only four Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee who backed a new farm bill earlier this year.

A former judge and prosecutor from Rockford, McGraw said Sorensen wasn't the right fit for the district, calling out his views on climate change and his support for LGBTQ+ rights. Sorensen is openly gay. McGraw touted support from law enforcement groups and national Republican groups.

13th District

Budzinski, 47, also won a second term in the narrow, Democratic-leaning district that runs through central Illinois. The territory extends from the St. Louis area to Champaign and includes college towns and agricultural communities.

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I'll continue to cut through the political noise and nonsense to support working families, lower costs and secure our southern border, she said in a statement Wednesday. And I'll push back on any efforts to undermine our democracy or restrict the fundamental rights and freedoms we hold dear.

During the campaign, Budzinski played up her role in helping secure a $51 million federal grant for an agricultural tech hub run by the University of Illinois.

Once a senior adviser to Gov. JB Pritzker and a labor union activist, Budzinksi had also vastly overtaken Loyd in fundraising. She raised roughly $4 million in total contributions, compared with Loyd's about $76,000, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Loyd, 26, says Budzinski could do more to help constituents. A graduate of West Point military academy, he said he struggled to get veterans benefits after being medically discharged from the military and elected leaders didn't help him.

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He says ensuring veterans get their entitled benefits is among his top priorities.

His campaign did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Other notable races

Two other incumbent Democrats' races  both in the Chicago area  also held onto their seats after spirited challenges from Republicans.

Rep. Sean Casten was reelected to a fourth term in the largely suburban 6th District over Republican Niki Conforti.

A scientist and businessman-turned politician, Casten first won office in 2018 when he flipped a longtime Republican territory and ousted a six-term incumbent. The redrawn district now leans Democrat and is comprised of communities southwest of Chicago along neighborhoods on its South Side.

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Casten thanked supporters and said he felt hopeful about the future.

No matter who you voted for in this election, who your neighbors or loved ones voted for, do not lose sight of the fact that we are one people  the American people  bound by these shared values," Casten said in a statement.

West of Chicago, U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood was reelected to a fourth term in the 14th District. Her opponent was Jim Marter, a software consultant and former chairman of the Republican Party of Kendall County.

Underwood was first elected in 2018, unseating a four-term Republican and becoming the youngest Black woman to join the U.S. House. She previously worked as a nurse.

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Reproductive rights was one of the main issues in the district that includes western suburbs and rural communities. Underwood has said she fully supports abortion rights while Marter opposes abortion without exception.

Underwood said the seven counties that make up the district are diverse.

Despite all our differences, we are a hopeful community, she said in a post on X. And together we will move forward, with a commitment to freedom and justice for all.
ORLAND PARK, Ill. (NewsNation)  An Illinois man was arrested after officials say he punched an election judge at an Orland Park polling location Sunday morning.

The Orland Park Police Department said at around 11 a.m., officers were sent to the Orland Park Township Office, located in the 14800 block of Ravinia Avenue, for reports of a man causing a disturbance in the voting line. When officers arrived, they found a man  identified as 24-year-old Daniel Schmidt  being restrained by multiple people inside the building.

Schmidt reportedly went into the building and walked past numerous other voters waiting in line to enter the voting area. An election judge posted at the entrance told Schmidt to go to the back of the line and wait his turn, which he refused.

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Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris: Track results live

At that time, another election judge was called to help diffuse the situation. Schmidt was again told to go to the back of the line, but he instead tried to push past the election judge. Several other employees stepped in and prevented Schmidt from entering, according to investigators.

Police said Schmidt then started yelling profanities and punched an election judge in the face, knocking their glasses off. Several other patrons then jumped in to help and restrained Schmidt until officers arrived.

Schmidt resisted arrest but was eventually taken into custody and taken to Orland Park Police Headquarters. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a victim over 60, two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, five misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A 51-year-old Lansing, Illinois, man was identified as one of the workers fatally wounded Tuesday afternoon at Chicagos Navy Pier, according to the Cook County medical examiners office.

Lamont Johnson, of the 18300 block of Glen Oak Avenue, was fatally wounded in the 600 block of East Grand Avenue Tuesday, officials at the medical examiners office reported Wednesday morning. The other victim has yet to be officially identified.

The gunman, thought to have been terminated Oct. 14, had sought out two employees around 1:20 p.m. in a loading dock and nearby administrative office at the far end of the pier and fired multiple shots.

As of Wednesday morning, the gunman was still at large. Police said the fatal shootings appear to be an isolated incident.

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Ill. (WTVO)  Illinois will receive $40 million from Kroger from a national settlement totaling $1.37 billion.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the majority of the settlement will go toward the states efforts to fund drug abatement programs.

This settlement ensures Kroger is held accountable and allows resources to reach communities hardest hit by this ongoing opioid crisis that continues to affect all corners of America, Raoul said in a statement. I am proud of the bipartisan work attorneys general continue to do to hold the companies accountable for fueling the opioid epidemic, and I am committed to ensuring that funding is distributed equitably throughout the state to help fund services needed to mitigate the opioid addiction crisis.

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Kroger was facing lawsuits from state and local governments as well as native American tribes. All governing bodies alleged the companys pharmacies helped fuel the opioid epidemic.

Raoul was among 30 attorney generals from different states who signed on to the settlement in September 2023.

Kroger is not taking any liability or confessing to any wrongdoing. Settlements have also been reached with Walmart, Walgreens and CVS.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
EDWARDS COUNTY, Ill. (WEHT)  The Edwards County Coroner confirms Judge Michael Valentine was killed at his home on November 5.

The coroner says one person is in custody. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow, but police were called to the home to investigate a shooting.

Some Republican-led states refuse to let Justice Department monitors into polling places

Edwards County Sheriffs deputies say they were dispatched to Valentines home at 12:15 p.m. for a welfare check. Authorities say they found Judge Valentine dead shortly after arriving.

(Courtesy: Village of Orland Park, Illinois)

ORIGINAL

The Illinois State Police (ISP) is investigating a death in Edwards County.

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Troopers state according to the preliminary investigation the ISP Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8 was requested by the Edwards County Sheriff Office (ESCO) to assist with a death investigation that occurred on November 5 at approximately 12:15 p.m. The incident occurred near County Road 600 in Albion.

The ISP say the investigation is in its infancy stages, and there is no additional information at this time.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
By Jaspreet Singh

(Reuters) - Perplexity is raising new investment that would value the search startup at $9 billion, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, a sign of heightened investor enthusiasm around artificial intelligence companies.

California-based Perplexity is set to raise $500 million in the new funding round led by venture capital firm Institutional Venture Partners (IVP), which also holds a board seat in the startup, the source said.

The company had raised $73.6 million in Series B funding in January. The funding round, led by IVP, had valued the company at about $520 million.

The meteoric success of OpenAI's ChatGPT has attracted investors to AI startups as businesses are racing to adopt the technology. Building large language models (LLMs) also requires billions in funding.

OpenAI closed a $6.6 billion funding round last month, which could value the company at $157 billion and cement its position as one of the most valuable private companies in the world.

Since the release of ChatGPT, publishers have been raising the alarm on chatbots that can comb the internet to find information and create paragraph summaries for the users.

Media conglomerate News Corp-owned publishers sued Perplexity in October, claiming that the startup engages in a "massive amount of illegal copying" of their copyrighted work.

New York Times also sent Perplexity a "cease and desist" notice last month, demanding it stop using the newspaper's content for generative AI purposes.

Perplexity, which provides information by searching the internet, is also backed by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos and chip designer Nvidia.

The AI company is among the leading firms attempting to uproot the search engine market dominated by Alphabet's Google.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the funding being finalized by Perplexity.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
When Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were vilified in a campaign of politicized fabrications about eating pets, Faranak Miraftab's mind went to a place she knew well. A professor of urban and regional planning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she had spent a decade writing a book about Beardstown, Illinoisa once struggling Midwestern community that has seen its population rebound since the 1990s, lifted by an immigrant population from around the world.

"I thought of Beardstown and how it exemplifies the opposite of the falsehood that is being spread about Ohio," she said. "Towns around Beardstown are boarded up and are ghost towns. Beardstown shines thanks to its immigrants."

For three decades, newcomers have flocked to Beardstown for opportunities in the hog slaughterhouse that anchors the local economy, and Miraftab was drawn to their stories as a lens to study globalization. Her research about them culminated in her 2016 book, Global Heartland: Displaced Labor, Transnational Lives, and Local Placemaking.

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In 1987, June Conner and her husband had just bought a Beardstown radio station when Oscar Meyer closed its pork plant and laid off some 800 local workers. Around the same time, two other large industrial employers and the only local hospital closed.

"It was like, you know, here we just bought this radio station, and what effect is all of this gonna have on the business in town?" Conner recalled. "What a scare that was to the community, and what an effect it had on all the properties and the housing and everything."

The plant, only 20 years old at the time, was still functional. A subsidiary of agricultural processing giant Cargill soon bought and reopened the slaughterhouse, and set about boosting productivity. "They wanted to create a second shift, and they didn't have enough workers to do that," said Conner, who produced and broadcast recruitment ads for the plant.

The second shift got started, and throughout the 1990s, the company cast a wide net across Central Illinois, even running commuter buses from 50 miles away to ease hiring.

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Meanwhile, in the early '90s, workers from Mexico turned up at the plant, willing to take jobs that were often tough and uncomfortable. Cargill sent recruiters to the Mexican border, according to local lore: "we'll give you a bus ticket to come to Beardstown," in Conner's telling. Other versions described immigrants first gaining experience in the meat industry in Iowa before relocating across the Midwest through personal networks to places like Beardstown.

Founded in the 1820s on the eastern bank of the Illinois River, Beardstown was always a little rougher around the edges than the more prosperous farming communities that sprang up from the black soil above the bluffs. As a circuit-riding lawyer, Abraham Lincoln's exploits included the 1858 acquittal in a Beardstown courtroom of a defendant from a drunken brawl, using an almanac to disprove eyewitness testimony of a fatal blow by moonlight. River bottoms on the Illinois frontier tended to be settled by Southerners arriving by water, especially from Kentucky, while the prairies between the rivers were filled by New Englanders and Northern European homesteaders who came overland.

That pattern echoed into modern political cultures, including Beardstown's well-known status as a "sundown town," where nonwhites were unwelcome. One Beardstown native described a sign at the edge of town in the 1960s that threatened, "Darkies: Don't let the sun set on you." Through the mid-20th century, gritty industrial employment including the slaughterhouse cemented Beardstown's blue-collar identity.

Beardstown reached a peak of more than 6,300 residents in 1980 but within a decade withered by 17 percent to a 90-year low of fewer than 5,300 people (still 99 percent white). The slide was halted in the early 1990s as Cargill upgraded the plant's sewer infrastructurepartly with incentives from state and local government coffersand invested in modernization and expanded capacity. Demographic change came, and by 2000 the population was approaching 5,800. The non-Hispanic white population had continued to fall, but the Latino population was now more than 1,000 people.

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According to the 2020 census' imperfect categories, Beardstown was about 50 percent white, 40 percent Hispanic of any race, and 11 percent African American.

Officially, the current population is near 6,000, but Katie Vitale, executive director of the Beardstown Chamber of Commerce, says there are estimates that the real number is thousands larger, given the mobility of newer immigrants. "Just because of people in and out," she said. "And a lot of undocumented workers don't want to answer the census."

The arrival of Mexican workersfollowed over the years by immigrants from Africa and Asia, even domestic migrants from Puerto Rico and Detroit's shattered car industry, and most recently Haitiansdidn't happen without social unrest that sometimes burst into the open. Miraftab counted some 30 countries of origin represented in her Beardstown ethnography. The early years of this in-migration were the most tense, with Ku Klux Klan (KKK) agitation in surrounding communities, culminating in a 1996 KKK rally and cross burning in Beardstown.

In her book, Miraftab documented longstanding complaints about local police, as well as interracial tensions on the production line, which she alleges were exploited by management despite United Food & Commercial Workers representation. In 2007, dozens of workers from an overnight cleaning crew were rounded up in a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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"There probably is a segment of the community that wants to complain about all of that. However, I was always in business and always tried to work with business. And I'll tell you, the immigrants have been an asset to this town," Conner said. "Beardstown would be dried up if it wasn't for that plant out there.I, for one, am very happy to see the change in our community, because I know what it would be if it hadn't changed."

In 30 years, Beardstown has gone from housing glut to shortage. The first waves of immigrants snapped up fixer-uppers and often cordoned larger houses into modest apartments. "A lot of the Hispanics will take better care of them than people who have lived here," Conner said. "And they may paint them bright colorsyou know, that's one thing they're known for. But they do make 'em better."

Having been homogenous until the 1990s, Beardstown presented a blank slate to new immigrants, and the emergent order across the town's 3.6 square miles was completely unsegregated by ethnicity or income. "The fact that it was a sundown town with no preexisting ethnic neighborhoods made it possible to have a complete mix of neighbors," Miraftab wrote. "The affordability of the housing market and the relative ease with which new immigrants become homeowners in the 1990s also played a role in creating a new generation of Mexican homeowners who could rent to newcomers, who happened to be by and large West Africans."

Rising property values have given local government and schools added revenueeven after favorable tax adjustments granted to the plantallowing Beardstown to build a new library and new schools, even as most rural Illinois school districts continue inexorable consolidations. Globalization even extended to ownership of the plant, which was acquired in 2015 by the U.S. subsidiary of Brazilian meat conglomerate JBS.

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As immigrants sink deeper roots in the community, many have left the plant behind and started their own businesses, including Latino and French groceries. Cato Institute immigration economist Alex Nowrasteh pointed out that immigrants are twice as likely to start a business as native-born Americans, an entrepreneurial boost that fuels even greater demand for labor.

Nowrasteh called it "a very familiar story" in communities from Beardstown to the Big Apple. New York City in the 1970s suffered a vicious cycle of decline: falling population, crumbling infrastructure, epic budget problems, and public disinvestment. "Then the population turned around in the '80s, which was driven by foreign-born migrationthat's a ton of the reason why that city renewed," Nowrasteh said. "You had greater demand for goods and services in the city. That's all good for the economy.With immigrants you have more taxpayers. They use some benefits of course, but just by increasing the property values, which is an enormous factor, the surge in property tax revenue to maintain at least the infrastructure helps significantly."

A particular problem for small, rural communities is that locally born young people tend to "leave for greener pastures," Nowrasteh said. Beardstown's own ambitious children often gravitate to St. Louis or Chicago. But the new arrivals are themselves ambitious, which is why they left Michoacan, Togo, or Burma, bringing a new vibrance to Beardstown. "It's just good for the economy all around," Nowrasteh said.

Has immigration saved the pork plant and, with it, Beardstown? "Yes, I would say that's very fair," Conner said. Thirty years ago, Beardstown was notorious in Central Illinois for rundown houses and racism. Today, its Cinco de Mayo and Africa Day celebrations attract foodie day-trippers from surrounding cities. "People come from other areas to eat in our restaurants, because they enjoy the authentic food," Conner said. "I kinda like the margaritas myself."

The post Can an Immigrant Workforce Save Dying Factory Towns? appeared first on Reason.com.
Negotiations over how much to pay incoming Los Angeles police Chief Jim McDonnell brought a rare moment of drama to the Police Commission on Tuesday, when one member broke ranks from her colleagues by arguing that McDonnell's proposed salary of nearly half a million dollars was too high given the city's financial constraints.

After initially proposing that McDonnell be paid $507,509 yearly, the commission voted to lower its salary request to $450,000 after some testy discussion. The body eventually approved the proposed salary by a 3-1 vote, with commissioner Maria "Lou" Calanche against.

An audibly frustrated Calanche, the longest-tenured commissioner, said she wished she had had a chance to weigh in on the new chief's salary before reading the amount in a memo circulated on Friday.

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Given some of the concerns around the city's financial picture, she also asked her colleagues "why wouldnt we start him at a lower end of the advertised pay range, which starts at $408,475.

While McDonnell would not be the highest-paid city employee (that remains Water and Power general manager Janisse Quinones, who earns $750,000 a year), he'll still make more than the mayor  and more than the next U.S. president, a position that draws $400,000 in yearly pay.

Read more: Incoming LAPD chief could make more than the U.S. president

The Police Commission's president, Erroll Southers, said $450,000 was an appropriate amount for someone with the "experience and qualifications" of McDonnell, who previously held high-ranking roles with the LAPD, Long Beach police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

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Southers noted that interim Chief Dominic Choi had also recently received a pay bump.

I just have concerns that the city is in a budget crisis ... and [with] other people in the city not having jobs. I think it would be prudent in saving money, Calanche responded.

She pointed out that McDonnell would over time be eligible for annual pay raises, much like his predecessor, former Chief Michel Moore.

So your suggestion is to offer him less than Chief Choi? Southers asked.

Yes," Calanche replied.

OK, thank you, Southers said.

There was some confusion about who was responsible for McDonnell's initial pay proposal.

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Southers and commission Vice President Rasha Gerges Shields seemed to suggest that the decision was made by commission staff and the city's personnel department, which oversaw parts of the nationwide chief's search.

But the commission's new executive director, Django Sibley said later in the meeting that the decision was the commissioners' alone.

At Tuesday's public comment period, several speakers blasted the decision to pay McDonnell such a large sum instead of using the funds to address the conditions that cause homelessness.

Read more: What type of LAPD chief will Jim McDonnell be? Clues may lie in the past

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The salary request has also caused grumbling among some inside the department, who question the optics at a time when some police facilities are deteriorating.

McDonnell, who was appointed to the chiefs job last month, cleared his first hurdle to the chief's office at the council's public safety committee. He will next appear before the City Council on Friday for his final confirmation hearing before taking over as head of the country's third-largest police department.

If approved by the full council, McDonnell would be sworn in on Nov. 14.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Nathan Hochman, who defeated incumbent George Gascon in Tuesdays election to become the next Los Angeles County district attorney, told CNN he could ask to delay a hearing to have Erik and Lyle Menendez resentenced nearly 30 years after their convictions for murdering their parents.

Before I can make any decision about the Menendez brothers case, I will need to become thoroughly familiar with the relevant facts, the evidence and the law, Hochman said in a statement.

I will have to review the confidential prison files for each brother, the transcripts from both trials, and speak to the prosecutors, law enforcement, defense counsel, and the victims family members.

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The statement concludes, If for some reason I need additional time, I will ask the court for that time.

Hochman is expected to take office December 2, and the hearing to determine the request made by his predecessor is currently scheduled for December 11  giving Hochman just nine days to review the case from inside his new office.

In an interview with CNN, Hochman said he would move as expeditiously as possible to review the case.

If I ask for a delay, it wont be a delay for delays sake because I think the Menendez brothers, the victims, family members, the public deserve to have a decision done as soon as it can be done in a thorough manner, Hochman told CNN on Wednesday.

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Gascon made the request last month to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez from life in prison without parole to life in prison with parole for the 1989 killing of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Under California law, the brothers would be immediately eligible for parole because they were younger than 26 when they committed the crimes.

Gascon cited new evidence of years of sexual and physical abuse at the hands their father, the support of all but one of their family members, and behavior demonstrating rehabilitation during their nearly three decades in prison.

I believe that they have paid their debt to society and the system provides a vehicle for their case to be reviewed by a parole board, and if board concurs with my assessment  they will be released accordingly, Gascon said in an October 24 news conference.

Resentencing is not the brothers only path to release. Gascon also last week wrote letters to Gov. Gavin Newson supporting the brothers in a bid for clemency, which could free the brothers immediately  possibly before Hochmans term as district attorney begins. Newsoms office declined to comment, stating clemency requests were confidential. A lawyer for the brothers has not confirmed to CNN whether they have made a formal clemency request.

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The re-examination of the case comes more than 35 years after Jose and Kitty Menendez were fatally shot in their Beverly Hills mansion. Their sons, who were 21 and 18 at the time, were arrested less than a year later, in 1990, and convicted of first-degree murder in 1996.

At their two high-profile trials, the brothers did not deny killing their parents but argued they should not be convicted because they acted in self-defense after enduring a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse by their father. The first trial  one of the first cases to be televised  ended in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked on the charges. In their second trial, much of the defense evidence about sexual abuse was excluded, and the brothers were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

The brothers story has taken on new interest following the September release of the Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, co-created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. Netflix also released a documentary on the Menendez case last month, featuring both men discussing what led to the killings.

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Early unofficial results from Stanislaus County show incumbent Modesto City Schools board member Abel Maestas leading his opponent Emma Alonzo.

The most recent update from the Stanislaus County elections office, at 1:17 a.m. Wednesday, shows Maestas with 4,773 votes, or 62%, while Alonzo has 2,889 votes, or 37.8%.

So far, I am excited to see the results and hopeful that I will get to continue working on our progress in Modesto City Schools, Maestas said.

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This northeast Modesto area includes Sonoma Elementary School.

Maestas is current board vice president and has been endorsed by the Modesto Teachers Association and North Valley Labor Federation.

His challenger, Alonzo, owns and operates a travel agency and is a member of the Modesto Police Departments DARE/PAL program, an organization that tries to prevent children from using drugs or other substances.

On her candidate website, she said she is concerned with school choice and parental rights, teaching educational basics and improving transparency.

Maestas believes facilities at Modesto City Schools are a big issue with its fourth bond measure in the last six years on the ballot.

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This seven-member body oversees city schools policies, curricula, budget and staffing. Board members will be sworn into office at the school board meeting on Dec. 16.

Bee reporter Trevor Morgan contributed to this report.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle is poised to continue representing Oregon's 4th Congressional District (Hoyle campaign)

Returns on Tuesday indicate that incumbent Democratic Rep. Val Hoyle will continue to represent Oregons 4th Congressional District in Congress.

Hoyle had nearly 53% of the vote compared with 43% for Republican and retired Air Force Col. Monique DeSpain, according to the Secretary of States Office a few minutes to midnight. In the 2022 election, Hoyle won by a comfortable margin  7 points  against Republican Alex Skarlatos, a former National Guardsman whose campaign was marred by revelations he joked about strangling women during sex.

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"Im grateful that my constituents have honored me with their support," Hoyle said in a news release. "But given the uncertainty of the national results, it is clear we have work to do to defend the values and priorities of Oregonians in Washington, DC."

DeSpain said in an email that she would be monitoring voting results through Wednesday morning before commenting further.

"We look forward to seeing the ballot tallies as they continue to come in this evening and tomorrow and will address the results of the election at that time, she said.

Local and national Republicans were counting on DeSpain flipping the district  which spans seven counties mostly along the southwest coast from the Oregon-California border to Lincoln City  to bolster their thin majority in the House. But DeSpain, a lawyer for Salem-area state Rep. Kevin Mannix, has not held elected office and had a fundraising disadvantage. She raised just over $750,000 as of the end of September compared with the nearly $2.4 million Hoyle raised.

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Hoyle is a longtime elected official. She served in the state House for eight years, including as majority leader, and was labor commissioner between 2019 and 2023. She was elected to Congress in 2022 following the retirement of former U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, who had represented the district in Congress for 36 years.

In her first two years in office, Hoyle said she brought millions in federal funds to the district for wildfire prevention and emergency communications, worked to increase firefighter pay and boost investments in housing and health care. She also said she would protect womens reproductive rights and access to abortion. Along with Vermont, Oregon has the highest protections for abortion in the country. Democrats warn that if Republicans take control of the White House and Congress, theyll try to pass a nationwide abortion ban.

DeSpain said during the campaign she opposes a federal abortion ban and would do everything she could to protect Oregons laws from federal interference. She said she was focused on border security, seen as a weak issue for Democrats, and she hammered Hoyle over an ethical issue, accusing her of being under federal investigation, which is not true.

But the FBI is investigating a cannabis company, La Mota, which won hundreds of thousands of dollars for an apprenticeship program while Hoyle was labor commissioner. Hoyle has also faced criticism over her close relationship with La Motas co-founder, though Hoyle has sought to distance herself from the company and denied granting La Mota any favors.

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Like many districts in Oregon, unaffiliated voters make up the largest voting bloc, accounting for 35% of the districts registered voters, compared with 32% for Democrats and 25% for Republicans.

UPDATED at 10:57 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 with reaction from DeSpain's campaign.

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Incumbents were faring well in the race for four seats on the Paso Robles school board, as of results released at midnight.

Eight candidates were competing for four positions on the seven-seat board, with the race determining the school boards direction over the next two years as trustees attempt to manage a million-dollar budget deficit, political strife and community division.

In Trustee Area 3, incumbent Nathan Williams was leading with 64.1% of the vote over challenger Hunter Breese with 35.8%, with 100% of precincts reporting as of 12:20 a.m.

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Im pretty humbled by the turnout and the show of support, Williams told The Tribune on Wednesday. I think it shows a reach across the aisle of support for the work Ive done over the past four years, and Im humbled by that.

If final results declare him the winner, Williams said hell be excited to continue the good work of serving our community and putting our kids first.

Breese also spoke with The Tribune on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old candidate said that running for election has been a fun experience, win or lose.

I plan on waiting until every last vote is counted, he added.

In Trustee Area 5, incumbent Laurene McCoy was leading with 56.4% of the vote, while challenger Tim Gearhart trailed with 43.4%, as of the forth ballot drop.

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In Trustee Area 6, Leo Castillo led over Adelita Hiteshew with 52.5% of the vote compared to Hiteshews 47.1%, as of 12:20 a.m.

And in Trustee Area 7, incumbent Kenney Enney held a lead with 57.6% of the vote, while challenger Tracy Dauterman had 42.4%, with all precincts reporting.

Dauterman told The Tribune she was disappointed by the early results but not surprised.

I went into this race knowing I would likely lose but willing to give it my all because I truly care about the students and doing what is best for them, Dauterman wrote in an email.

She added that she feels that Enneys past behavior on the school board distracts from the districts mission.

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This takes away from what our students need: focused educators who feel supported by the administration and the trustees. Otherwise our education system crumbles, Dauterman said. Ill continue to do what I can from the sidelines to prevent that from happening.

The final Election Night count included mail-in ballots received up to the weekend before Election Day as well as ballots cast in person on Tuesday.

Paso Robles school board election marked with controversy

From allegations of election fraud to postal violations, campaign season was marked with controversy for some Paso Robles trustee candidates.

Under the microscope for the past weeks was Breese  the 19-year-old candidate attempting to oust incumbent candidate Nathan Williams, who has served on the board since 2020.

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A complaint filed with the District Attorneys Office called Breeses residency into question, and spurred an investigation into the matter just weeks before Election Day. The complaint alleged that Breese does not live at the address he used to register to run for office.

Breese denied the allegations to The Tribune, and fellow candidate and incumbent Kenney Enney backed up the teenagers claims. Breese is currently registered to vote and run for office at an address belonging to Enneys fiancee.

Amidst the allegations, Breese turned the focus to his opponent, Williams, accusing the incumbent of illegally depositing materials in mailboxes in his district. Breese also alleged that Williams was involved in submitting the complaint against Breese to the DAs Office.

Williams denied that he was involved in the complaint submitted against Breese, and told The Tribune he had no clue about the federal law prohibiting the deposit of unstamped materials in mailboxes. Williams said he hung most of his campaign materials on doors, rather than depositing them in mailboxes.

Enney reported Williams to the United States Postal Service.
Populist independent candidate Dan Osborn has lost his bid for U.S. Senate in Nebraska to two-term Republican incumbent Sen. Deb Fischer. The result helps solidify the GOPs control of the chamber, which it secured for the first time in four years on Tuesday.

Osborn is a union leader, Navy veteran, and industrial mechanic who worked for nearly 20 years at the Kelloggs plant in Omaha, where he was president of the union.

Osborn has very deliberately avoided alliances with either party, declining calls from senators who have tried to get in contact with him. Washington, D.C., is broken, and we need somebody to fix it, he said. He added: I dont want to get in line with anybody. Ive never been good at that.

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Earlier this year, the Nebraska Democratic Party was considering an endorsement, but Osborn told The New York Times that he was not sure he wants that. Osborn ultimately, specifically, rejected support from the Democratic Party, a decision that infuriated state party leaders. He did not endorse a presidential candidate.

Only 2% of Congress is from the working class. The Senates a county [sic] club of millionaires who work for billionaires, with no one fighting for us, Osborn posted on X on Election Day.

Fischer disparaged Osborn over his refusal to ally with either side. You know, people have said to me: What do you think of him saying hes not going to caucus with Republicans or hes not going to caucus with Democrats? And I said, I think he needs a civics lesson because I just think that shows a lack of understanding, she said during a campaign stop in Omaha.

Nonetheless, Fischer and Republicans attempted to paint Osborn as a liberal. A conservative Super PAC, Heartland Resurgence, has run ads calling him Democrat Dan.

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He wants Nebraska to think hes an independent who will fight for you, says the ad. But hes really just another liberal Democrat wholl fight with them.

Osborns platform straddles both camps. He is in favor of legalizing cannabis and supports the Second Amendment. He has opposed extreme national measures to ban abortion, arguing that its not the federal governments job to legislate abortion.

He campaigned against illegal immigration, arguing on his website that it creates a pool of cheap labor with no rights and is detrimental to every American worker. Osborn said in a campaign ad that if Donald Trump needs help building the wall, well, Im pretty handy.

Early this year, Osborn said his campaign advisors told him to put out a statement on Israels war in Gaza, but he did not want his campaign tied to the issue.

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One of Osborns key goals is to improve union protections and make it easier for workers to unionize. As such, his campaign had strong support from organized labor. I think it would be huge, and I think it would send notice to both parties that they better get on board with working-class people if he was elected, United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain told The Nation.

Theres kind of a contrarian vibe to politics in the state, Mike Helmink, a railroad employee and labor leader, told Rolling Stone in July. The Independents, or nonpartisans, are becoming a larger and larger group. Weve got a large group of people that feel like their voice isnt being heard.

In 2021, Osborn led the Kelloggs strike. You sign on at a place like Kelloggs, and you know they basically own your life, he told Rolling Stone at the time. Theres been times during Covid when we were 100 workers under what we should have, he explained.

Osborn and his coworkers went on a 77-day strike. During Covid, we were working seven days a week, 12 hours a day, Osborn said. At one point in time, 50 percent of our workforce was forced to quarantine and/or [was] sick, but we kept the plants running at full capacity. [Kellogg] made record profits that year  they went from $19 billion to $21 billion. The CEO gave himself a $2 million raise. The board enriched themselves, the stockholders enriched themselves, [but] at the same swipe of the pen, after they gave themselves a raise, they tried to take from their workers, so we went out on strike.

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The workers won increased pay and improved benefits. Osborn was then fired for watching Netflix on his work computer, although he believes it was really because he was the union president. Still, he admits that he was indeed watching Netflix. I had three computer screens, and on my third screen I would usually have a comedy concert on as I ran my reports, he told Bloomberg.

The Associated Press called Nebraska for Trump on Tuesday.

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U.S. Rep. Jim Baird of Indiana. (From Baird's U.S. House Republican webpage)

Sitting U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, a Republican, will keep his congressional seat after claiming victory over his competitors, Democrat Derrick Holder and Libertarian Ashley Groff.

The Associated Press called the race shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday for the incumbent, who was leading with more than 66% of the vote. Holder, a former marine, earned 30%, and Groff, of Hendricks County, received almost 4%.

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Baird has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 4th Congressional District  which covers a large portion of the western part of the state  since 2019. Prior to that the Army veteran was in the Indiana House for eight years. He has largely focused on military issues while in Congress and called himself pro-life, pro-Israel, and (a) supporter of the Second Amendment during his latest campaign.

The 4th District seat has been a Republican stronghold since 1995.

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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 04: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena on November 04, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Indiana was among the first states on the board for President Donald Trump in the presidential race Tuesday night.

Early results have him leading 61% to 38% against Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris, according to Associated Press.

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It appears Trumps margin in the Hoosier state will grow in his third presidential contest. In 2016 he won Indiana with 57% of the vote compared to 38% for Hillary Clinton, a margin of 19 percentage points. In 2020, that margin dropped to 16 percentage points, winning 57% of the vote compared to Joe Biden at 41%.

Congratulations to the Trump-Vance ticket, Indiana Republican Party Chairman Randy Head said. We will continue to watch the results come in tonight as we look forward to President Trump returning to the White House!

Because of how reliably-red Indiana is politically, the presidential campaigns largely skipped the state. Harris appeared at one event in Indianapolis only days after Biden dropped out of the race. The event, though, was previously scheduled as an official visit by the vice president.

GOP Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance went to Fort Wayne but only for a private fundraiser. Trump did not visit Indiana though he did a late tele-call with Hoosiers supporting Mike Braun for governor.
A European Union naval vessel escorts a container ship through the Red Sea. (Photo: European External Action Service)

Houthi rebels are extorting as much as $2 billion a year from shipping lines in exchange for not attacking their vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, according to a new study.

The unreleased study based on research by a panel of Yemen experts for the United Nations Security Council found that the Houthis were pulling in $180 million per month in the tolling protection racket, one published report said, though the panel could not independently verify that number.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea  a critical route for ships sailing between Asia, the Mediterranean and the east coast of North America  with drones, missiles and watercraft, killing four people and sinking two vessels. The Red Sea provides access to the Suez Canal to the north and the Gulf of Aden to the south.

The Houthis claim to only block shipping from Israel-connected countries, but the study found attacks on vessels from Houthi-backing countries, including Iran, according to another news article.

Most major shipping companies have diverted containerships and tanker vessels away from the region and on to longer voyages via the Cape of Good Hope around the Horn of Africa. That route adds 10-14 days to the duration of a voyage, adding delays and costs for shippers. But a steady flow of local and region-based vessels continue to ply the Red Sea daily.

Among major carriers, only CMA CGM of France continues to operate scheduled rotations through the Red Sea. The company did not respond to an email request for comment.

The panel found that the Houthis carried out more than 130 attacks on merchant ships from November 2023 through the end of July 2024.

The panel wrote that [t]he groups shift to actions at sea increased their influence in the region. Such a scale of attacks, using weapon systems on civilian vessels, had never occurred since the Second World War, according to the news report.

The U.N. study found that the protection revenue is helping to finance and expand the Houthis operations in the region. This extended to cooperation with al-Qaida, Hezbollah and other terrorist groups, as well as pirates in Somalia and links to Irans military.

At the same time, the Houthis have built up a far-ranging network for money-laundering, recruitment, smuggling and moving arms.

The scale, nature and extent of transfers of diverse military materiel and technology provided to the Houthis from external sources, including financial support and training of its combatants, is unprecedented, the study found.

Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
(Photo illustration by John McGauley)

Republicans appeared poised to maintain their longstanding supermajorities in Indianas House of Representatives and its Senate on Tuesday, despite several races with razor-thin margins.

Going into Election Day, Democrats held 30 seats in the 100-person House and needed four more to break the Republican supermajority. Only 10 Democrats serve in the 50-member Senate, meaning theyd need seven more to gain power.

Close races in the House

Several seats in the House remained too close to call as of 11 p.m., according to AP vote counts  including House District 61, which includes portions of Brown, Jackson and Monroe counties.

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Incumbent Dave Hall, a Republican, held a slim lead over Democrat Thomas Horrocks, with 51.5% of the vote compared to Horrocks 48.5%. Hall won the seat with less than 100 votes in 2022.

Republicans were also leading in House District 10, held by Democrat Rep. Chuck Moseley. Republican challenger Jeff Larson had 50.9% of the vote while Moseley had 49.1%.

In one closely watched central Indiana race, Republican Hunter Smith  a former Colts player  was declared the victor over Democrat Josh Lowry. Smith succeeds Rep. Donna Schaibley, also a Republican, who retired earlier this year.

Another open seat in Hamilton County  formerly held by GOP Rep. Jerry Torr  showed Republicans with a slim lead. With over 39,000 votes counted, Republican Daniel Lopez had 53.7% compared to 46.3% for Democrat Matt McNally.

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Also in central Indiana, incumbent Rep. Becky Cash, a Republican, led by just over 300 votes over Democrat challenger Tiffany Stoner at 11 p.m. Voters in Boone and Hendricks counties favored Cash with 50.4% over Stoners 49.6%.

House District 71 had barely any votes counted by 11 p.m., which is likely to be another close race. Democrat incumbent Wendy Dant Chesser won a caucus vote for the seat after former Rep. Rita Fleming, also a Democrat, retired earlier this year. Republican Scott Hawkins is running for the seat a second time after losing narrowly to Fleming in 2022.

In the House, nearly two dozen Republicans ran unopposed, as did a dozen Democrats.

Wider margins in the Senate

A last-minute funding push from Republicans appeared to have paid off, with Republican Sens. Scott Baldwin, Cyndi Carrasco and Aaron Freeman all appearing to keep their seats.

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In Hamilton County, Baldwin had 59.9% of the vote while Democrat Joel Levi had 40.1%.

With just under two-thirds of votes counted, Carrasco led with 63.3% of the vote compared to Democrat Suzanne Fortenberrys 36.7%. Fellow southern Marion County lawmaker Freeman had 61.9% of the vote over Democrat Katrina Owens 38.1%.

Also in Marion County, incumbent Republican Sen. Mike Young led with 58.4% of the vote while Democrat Jessica McCormick had 41.6%.

Incumbent Republicans in five other seats, along with one Democrat, were also favored to win their races as of 10:30 p.m., with larger projected margins of victory.

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A dozen legislators, four Democrats and eight Republicans, didnt have any competition and were declared winners shortly after polls closed.

However, the chamber will have at least two new faces in January, including Republican Brett Clark. At 10:30 p.m., Clark led with 67.4% of the vote over Democrat Veronica Pejril, who had 32.6%. Sen. John Crane announced he would retire earlier this year, creating an opening in the west central seat that includes parts of Hendricks and Putnam counties.

Mark Spencer, a Democrat, will also join the Statehouse in January. According to The Associated Press, he had 70.9% of the vote compared to the 29.1% held by Republican Will Miller, as of 10:30 p.m.

Spencer won the May primary over former Sen. Dave Vinzant. Vinzant served one session after winning a 2023 caucus to succeed former Sen. Eddie Melton, who become the mayor of Gary.

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Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun wasted no time crafting his transition team as he prepares to take the Indiana governor's office.

Braun won the gubernatorial race handily Tuesday night, cementing Republicans' stronghold over Indiana politics and joining a national GOP wave that swept Donald Trump into office for a second, comeback term. His was a 14-point margin of victory over Democrat Jennifer McCormick, despite polling suggesting a closer race.

More: Trump dominates Indiana, Democrats are blown out and other election night takeaways

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The members of his transition and inaugural committees are well-known names in Indiana politics, and were cemented before Election Night was over. On Wednesday, Braun gave a press conference to formally announce the team, and later in the day met with GOP caucuses in the Statehouse as well as outgoing Gov. Eric Holcomb. These teams will develop policy proposals, review state agencies and plan inaugural events.

The chair of his transition team is Victor Smith, a partner at Bose McKinney and Evans LLP law firm and the state's commerce secretary under former Gov. Mike Pence. Directing the team is Joshua Kelly, Braun's chief of staff in the Senate and longtime campaign lead.

Anne Hathaway, Indiana's Republican National Committeewoman who chaired the RNC this year, is chair of Braun's inaugural committee. Emily Daniels Spaulding, owner of Daniels Spaulding Consulting, is the director.

Anne Hathaway, party chairwoman of the Indiana Republican Party, speaks Friday, May 24, 2024, with IndyStar at the Indiana Republican Party headquarters in Indianapolis. Hathaway is the first woman to lead the party and is doing so in a pivotal election year for Republicans in Indiana while also leading the organization of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July.

More: Hoosier Anne Hathaway rises from 'small town girl' to running the 2024 RNC

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Vice chairs of the transition team include several members of the nonprofit Hoosiers for Opportunity, Prosperity & Enterprise, or HOPE, a conservative think tank that formed this year and partnered with Braun on developing detailed policy proposals for the Statehouse. These policy proposals have tended to lend far more weight to fiscal issues, like taxes and health care, than social ones.

There are also multiple officials from the Gov. Mitch Daniels administration who've been tapped. Speaking with reporters Wednesday, Braun credited the Daniels administration with "fixing" the state's finances 20 years ago.

"What I'm going to pattern my approach after is the best of anything that's been part of the past," he said. "Then I'm going to amalgamate that in to something that's going to be unique to the state. ... If it's a good idea, I don't care where it comes from."

The vice chairs include:

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Betsy Wiley, president and CEO of Hoosiers for Quality Education who was also Daniels' chief of staff, and a HOPE board member.

Jim Bopp, an attorney who's become a national figure in the fight for abortion bans, and is also secretary, treasurer and general counsel of HOPE.

Ryan Kitchell, chair of Holcomb's Governor's Workforce Cabinet and the director of the Indiana Office of Management and Budget under Daniels.

James Purucker, president of lobbying firm John Frick & Associates, who is also on the HOPE board.

Brad Rateike, founding principal of Bar Communications and former deputy press secretary for Daniels.

Randy Head, the chair of the Indiana State Republican Committee.

Matt Bell, founding partner of lobbying firm Catalyst Public Affairs Group and a former state representative.

Dan Dumezich, a former state representative and a retired partner at Deloitte Tax LLP.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mike Braun packs transition team with Mitch Daniels-era operatives
Indiana Republicans appeared to maintain their supermajority grips on both chambers of the Indiana Statehouse after Hoosiers cast their ballots in the 2024 election Tuesday.

Leading up to Election Day, Democrats hoped to chip away at Republican dominance in the Indiana House and Senate and potentially break the two-thirds-plus supermajorities. There were opportunities in an unprecedented number of open Indiana House seats in Hamilton County due to legislator retirements, and potential for flips in other parts of the state where elections in recent years were within a couple hundred votes.

In the end, while a few final races were still too close to officially call Wednesday, neither party was poised to make substantive, if any, gains in the Statehouse.

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One of the races that remained too close to call on Wednesday morning was House District 9 in Northwest Indiana where Democratic state Rep. Pat Boy led Republican Joel Florek at 50.8% to 49.2% of the vote with about 89% of the vote counted. Additionally in House District 25, which overlaps Boone and Hendricks counties, Republican state Rep. Becky Cash led Democrat Tiffany Stoner 50.1% to 49.9% of the vote with nearly 95% of the vote in Wednesday morning.

But no gains for Democrats in either chamber at the Statehouse means that Republican leaders will continue to have the power to craft legislation without any Democratic or even moderate Republican support as the General Assembly heads into the 2025 budget session in January. And Statehouse Democrats will have few real ways to stop any bills to which they object.

House Speaker Todd Huston told IndyStar Wednesday that he was "thrilled" to see Republicans do well, especially in competitive areas around the state. Maintaining the supermajority in the House allows Republicans to keep working on its legislative priorities from recent years, he said.

"It just means we're going to continue to work on the things that I think have led to that supermajority being maintained, which is what we've been focused on, making Indiana stronger, more prosperous," Huston said. "So many great things are going on in Indiana. We're going to continue to build on our successes."

Central Indiana races

Outside of the close race in House District 25, the Statehouse seats in Central Indiana that were held by Republicans remained Republican districts and the seats held by Democrats remained Democratic.

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In the race for House District 39, which outgoing Republican state Rep. Jerry Torr has held since 1996, Republican Danny Lopez defeated Democrat Matt McNally with 54% of the vote to 46% of the vote.

The district, which is almost entirely in the city of Carmel, was viewed as a potential pickup opportunity, as McNally came within 5 percentage points of Torr in 2022 and Lopez received some pushback for a campaign ad against McNally that some people criticized for attacking transgender youth.

Pacers Sports & Entertainment Vice President Danny Lopez speaks during an event announcing new food options for the Indiana Pacers season Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Lopez, a Republican, won an Indiana Statehouse seat in Hamilton County on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

But following the debate of the ad, moderate Republican leaders in Carmel like Mayor Sue Finkam and former Gov. Mitch Daniels publicly endorsed Lopez.

In a post on X Tuesday night, Finkam said she was proud to have supported Lopez.

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Looking forward to working with him to represent the needs of Carmels residents in the General Assembly, she wrote on X.

Super proud to have supported @lopezforindiana! Looking forward to working with him to represent the needs of Carmels residents in the General Assembly. pic.twitter.com/gsGCJIetVh  Sue Finkam (@SueFinkam) November 6, 2024

One bright spot for Democrats in Central Indiana continues to be House District 32, which overlaps portions of Hamilton and Marion counties. Democratic state Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn won reelection Tuesday over Republican Patricia Bratton with 52% of the vote to 48% of the vote.

Garcia Wilburn actually made gains in the part of her district that is located in Hamilton County compared to her 2022 election win. In 2022, Garcia Wilburns Republican opponent won the Hamilton County portion of the district, but in 2024 Garcia Wilburn led there with 50.5% of the vote compared to Brattons 49.5%.

This victory is not just mine; it belongs to each of you who stood with me, volunteered your time, and shared our message with friends and family, Garcia Wilburn said in a campaign email Tuesday night. Together, we have shown what a united community can accomplish when we come together for a common purpose.

State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (HD 32) attends a state Democratic kickoff gathering for the Hoosier Freedom Tour" ahead of the general election on Tuesday, October. 8, 2024, in Westfield, Ind.

Other races across Indiana

In southern Indiana, Democrat Wendy Dant Chesser was leading Republican Scott Hawkins with 50% of the vote to 46% of the vote in House District 71 on Wednesday morning with about 89% of the vote counted. Libertarian Gregory Hertzsch had about 4% of the vote in that race.

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The seat was previously held by former Democratic state Rep. Rita Fleming, who resigned following Indianas May primary. In 2022, Hawkins came within a couple hundred votes of Fleming. The seat was viewed as a potential flip opportunity for Republicans as Hawkins' campaign was among the top races the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee donated to ahead of Election Day.

In the Bloomington area, Republican state Rep. Dave Hall also maintained a small lead over Democratic challenger Thomas Horrocks in the race for House District 62 at 51% of the vote to 49% of the vote with about 87% of the vote counted.

It mirrors Halls razor thin victory in 2022 where he won by less than 50 votes.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Republicans are poised to maintain Statehouse supermajorities
WESTON, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Lewis County Grand Jury returned indictments against 37 people this week, including those for child neglect, malicious assault and wanton endangerment.

Derek Woodson

Derek Woodson, 35 of Weston, was indicted on one count of felony malicious assault. He was arrested in September after allegedly assaulting another man during an altercation in the street near Robert L. Bland Middle School in Weston.

Four people were indicted on two counts of child neglect creating substantial risk of death or serious injury and five counts of animal cruelty. Richard Eagle, 56; Johnny Eagle, 32; Joyce Mayo, 30; and Destiny Robey, 20, all of Horner, were charged back in July after more than 60 animals were seized from a home. According to criminal complaints filed at the time, there was feces on the floor throughout the house, putting the two children who were living inside, an infant and a 9-year-old, at substantial risk of serious bodily injury.

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Morgantown man sentenced on child porn charge did not report to prison: US Attorney

Praxedis Delgado

Praxedis Delgado, 56 of Jane Lew, was indicted on one count of wanton endangerment involving a firearm, one count of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, one count of obstructing an officer, one count of battery on a law enforcement officer and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. He was arrested in August after allegedly firing a pistol into the woods a night of heavy drinking, according to a criminal complaint.

Although West Virginia law limits the information released on cases related to sex crimes, James Call, 62 of Weston, and Michael Lemaster, 23 of Rainelle, were each indicted on multiple charges relating to seducing a minor and child pornography.

Those who were indicted will appear in court again on Nov. 8.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Zara owner Inditex ditched a would-be Turkish supplier in the middle of sourcing negotiations after it confirmed reports of union-busting that culminated in the dismissal of 90 workers without compensation.

The move is a rare, if pyrrhic, victory for textile, weaving and leather workers union Birtek-Sen, which was less successful in persuading Levi Strauss & Co. to drop a different Turkish manufacturer. It, too, let go of scores of workers, albeit after they went on strike over what they claimed was the right to choose their own union.

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While an Inditex spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, it confirmed that it wont be working with Akcanlar Tekstil, which operates a quartet of yarn-spinning mills in the south-central city of Gaziantep.

Workers protested for 36 days in August and September over poverty wages, unreasonably long hours and inhumane conditions such as cigarette butts in their food, said Mehmet Turkmen, head of Birtek-Sen. They held out as long as they could despite what Turkmen described as police attacks and torture-ridden detentions, though the demonstrations ultimately had to end because of financial practicalities. Even Inditexs message to Birtek-Sen to let it know that the relationship wouldnt be moving forward was only a partial win, since workers still didnt have their jobs or severance pay, he said. Akcanlar Tekstil did not return a request for comment.

Turkmen contrasted Inditexs actions with those of Levis, which he said was never interested in what was happening at Ozak Tekstil in southeastern Urfa. A spokesperson for the denim giant, which decided to work with the factory on a conditional basis, previously said that it spent several months engaging with the factory to find solutions and wanting to ensure there is no further job loss.

Like Levis, Inditex has enshrined respect for freedom of association and collective bargaining in its code of conduct. The Bershka and Pull&Bear owner has also signed a so-called global framework agreement with IndustriALL Global Union, whose Turkish affiliate, Oz Iplik-Is, incidentally, was the incumbent union Birtek-Sen was feuding with. Under the protocol, Inditex acknowledges the right of both local and national trade unions to access production centers and propose any necessary measures to correct breaches in conduct.

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By and large, however, international brands close their eyes, close their ears to whats happening inside Turkeys factories, Turkmen said. He pointed out the widespread corruption and cronyism that stymies the enforcement of labor laws, including those that guarantee the rights of workers to form unions without obtaining permission and freely withdraw their membership should the desire arise. Brands need to have more awareness about this, he said.

Turkmen said that Akcanlar Tekstil still isnt speaking to Birtek-Sen, which makes things difficult. It also has few other avenues, since any legal process can take years to resolve. Three years is a long time for us, he said. So our campaign for action will continue. Birtek-Sen is in the process of identifying other brands that manufacture with Akcanla Tekstil so it can take the fight to them, too. It continues to have a bully pulpit in the form of social media.

Birtek-Sen isnt letting Levis off the hook, either. In May it filed a complaint under the German Supply Chain Act to charge the Red Tab purveyor with failing in its due diligence obligations. The union also included Hugo Boss and Inditex in its complaint, even though theyre customers of a different Ozak Tekstil plant in Istanbul. Turkmen said that he and other Birtek-Sen members will be traveling to Germany and Belgium to meet with other NGOs and trade unions to discuss the matter further. And even though more than 300 of the 470 fired workers have now received the compensation they were owed, he wants to see greater redress. The Worker Rights Consortium, which investigated the issue earlier this year, has called for the reinstatement of all dismissed workers.

We will not give up, Turkmen said. We will not let go.
Just weeks after Apple launched its new iPhone 16 models, the US tech giant still isn't allowed to sell them in Indonesia amid a dispute over local investments.

What about tourists entering the country with a brand new iPhone? That's fine, the Ministry of Industry has confirmed, so long as you don't try and sell it.

There had earlier been reports that using a new iPhone was going to be banned across the country. Tourists who own a new iPhone 16 were therefore being warned to switch to a different smartphone while travelling to the country to avoid problems.

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However, this is not necessary, a ministry spokesperson has said. Locals who bring an iPhone 16 with them must declare it to customs and pay an import tax. Tourists are also exempt from this.

The sales ban came after Indonesian officials said the new iPhone does not fulfil certain requirements, notably a lack of locally produced parts that smartphones would have to contain in order to be traded in Indonesia.

Apple was accused of failing to fulfil investment obligations amounting to the equivalent of around $117 million.

Although arriving in Indonesia with an iPhone isn't a problem after all, travellers heading to Indonesia do still need to fill out a new health questionnaire online before entering the country, due to concerns about the spread of Mpox.

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Tourists also need to provide proof they have completed the form when you check in at the airport and when entering the country. You can find the questionnaire online at the Indonesian Health Ministry website, at https://sshp.kemkes.go.id.

Officials may take your body temperature based on the information you provide in the questionnaire. If they find you have a higher temperature, they may carry out an Mpox test.
By Ted Hesson, Kristina Cooke

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump is expected to mobilize agencies across the U.S. government to help him deport record numbers of immigrants, building on efforts in his first term to tap all available resources and pressure so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions to cooperate, according to six former Trump officials and allies.

Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in a stunning political comeback, Edison Research projected, telling supporters America had given him an "unprecedented and powerful mandate."

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Trump backers - including some who could enter his second administration - anticipate the Republican president-elect will call on everyone from the U.S. military to diplomats overseas to turn his campaign promise of mass deportations into a reality. The effort would include cooperation with Republican-led states and use federal funding as leverage against resistant jurisdictions.

Trump recaptured the White House vowing a vast immigration crackdown. The centerpiece of his reelection bid was a promise to deport record numbers of immigrants, an operation Trumps running mate JD Vance estimated could remove 1 million people per year.

Immigrant advocates warn that Trumps deportation effort would be costly, divisive and inhumane, leading to family separations and devastating communities. Edison Research exit polls showed 39% of voters said most immigrants in the U.S. illegally should be deported while 56% said they should be allowed to apply for legal status.

Trump struggled to ramp up deportations during his 2017-2021 presidency. When counting both immigration removals and faster returns to Mexico by U.S. border officials, Biden deported more immigrants in fiscal year 2023 than any Trump year, according to government data.

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But a deportation operation targeting millions would require many more officers, detention beds and immigration court judges. American Immigration Council, an immigrant advocacy group, estimated the cost of deporting 13 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally as $968 billion over a little more than a decade.

Tom Homan, a former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) expected to join the new administration, said in a late October interview that the scale of the deportations would hinge on potential officers and detention space.

It all depends on what the budget is, he said.

While the incoming Trump administration could benefit from experience gained during his first term, it could again encounter resistance from ideologically opposed government employees, including officers that screen migrants for asylum.

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The American Civil Liberties Union and immigrant advocacy groups have been preparing for court battles if Trump again tests the bounds of his legal authority.

Lee Gelernt, an ACLU attorney who led the fight against Trumps contentious family separation policy, said more than 15 lawyers focused on immigration with the organizations national office spent the year readying for the possibility of a Trump return.

We definitely need to be coordinated and have more resources, because I think they will come in much more prepared, Gelernt said.

The State Department in particular could be one place where Trump acts more aggressively than during his first term, several Trump backers said.

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A key factor will be whether other countries will accept their citizens, an issue Trump faced with limited success during his first term. The Trump administration also struggled at times to convince other nations in the region - including Mexico - to take steps to stop migrants from moving toward the U.S.-Mexico border.

Ken Cuccinelli, former acting deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under Trump, said the State Department was a roadblock for immigration enforcement and that aggressive appointees will be key.

Christopher Landau, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico from 2019-2021, recently said he was frustrated with the reluctance of some U.S. diplomats to tackle immigration enforcement.

"Nobody really thought that was their problem, Landau said in an October panel discussion by the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors restricting immigration.

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About half of ICEs 21,000 employees are part of its Homeland Security Investigations unit, which focuses on transnational crime such as drug smuggling and child exploitation rather than immigration enforcement. Several Trump allies said the unit would need to spend more time on immigration.

HSI has distanced itself from ICEs immigration work in recent years, saying fear of deportation made it harder for its investigators to build trust in immigrant communities.

Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's first-term immigration agenda, said in 2023 that National Guard troops from cooperative states could potentially be deployed to resistant states to assist with deportations, which would likely trigger legal battles.

Trump plans to use a 1798 wartime statute known as the Alien Enemies Act to rapidly deport alleged gang members, an action that would almost certainly be challenged in court.

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The law has been used three times, according to the left-leaning Brennan Center for Justice: the War of 1812, World War One, and World War Two, when it was employed to justify internment camps for people of Japanese, German and Italian descent.

The Brennan Center and others have called on Congress to repeal the law.

"Many fear that a second Trump administration would seek to use this law to justify indefinite detention and remove people from the country swiftly and without judicial review," Naureen Shah, the ACLU's deputy director of government affairs, wrote in late October.

George Fishman, a former DHS official under Trump, said the Trump administration would need to prove the immigrants were sent by a foreign government.

I worry a little about overpromising, Fishman said.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Editing by Mary Milliken, Aurora Ellis and Daniel Wallis)
The recent discovery of a new type of invasive mussel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is raising concerns that the non-native species could cause major ecological harm and inflict costly complications for the infrastructure California relies on to deliver water across the state.

State workers discovered golden mussels attached to equipment and buoys in the Port of Stockton last month while carrying out routine water quality tests. The mussels were also recently found in ONeill Forebay , part of the states water delivery system south of the Delta near Santa Nella.

Any invasive species in our Delta is problematic, and we're going to do everything we can to control its spread, said Steve Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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Read more: Invasive mussel found in North America for first time, posing immediate threat in Californias Delta

The department announced the discovery last week, saying its the first time golden mussels have been found in North America . Native to rivers and creeks in China and Southeast Asia, the bivalves have appeared in waterways elsewhere in Asia as well as South American countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The species has colonized new regions when transported on ships hulls or in ballast water that is drained in ports.

The mussels can compromise water delivery systems by encrusting screens and filters, attaching to the walls of large pipelines, and clogging smaller pipes.

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The effects for the states water infrastructure could be similar to the complications that have been caused by an invasion of quagga mussels in the Colorado Rivers reservoirs. Since their discovery in Lake Mead in 2007, those mussels have spread throughout aqueducts and reservoirs in Southern California.

After finding the golden mussels in ONeill Forebay, state workers have begun surveys to determine the extent of the infestation in the State Water Project system, including the California Aqueduct, which transports water pumped from the Delta to cities and farmlands.

The increased monitoring and maintenance that will be required is expected to have an economic impact for the State Water Project, increasing water delivery costs, said Tanya Veldhuizen, manager of the Department of Water Resources Special Projects Section.

The estuary already has a long list of non-native species, including bass, water hyacinth, Asian clams and overbite clams. But golden mussels could be particularly problematic for water infrastructure and the Deltas ecosystem if the species spreads and flourishes, said Andrew Rypel, a professor of fish ecology and director of UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences.

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Its a major threat, Rypel said. They're very difficult to control once they're established.

Read more: Amid controversy, California and the Biden administration are preparing new water plans

Where the mussels attach and grow, they can create problems for all sorts of infrastructure, including docks and water intakes, requiring costly efforts to remove them.

It can create this major cost that simply has to be dealt with, just for you to effectively run your infrastructure, Rypel said.

Where the mussels take root, Rypel said, there are different methods of removing them: mechanically scraping them off, treating them with chemicals, or treating them with a certain dead bacteria that kill them  a controversial method because of concerns about potential ecological effects.

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If the mussels thrive in the Delta, they could dramatically alter the ecosystem, Rypel said. Their larvae swim and spread out in the water, colonizing solid surfaces and attaching themselves with fibers. The mollusks are efficient filter feeders and can increase the clarity of water by consuming large quantities of plankton, which native fish and other creatures depend on.

It could completely change the ecosystem, in a worst-case scenario, completely clarify the water, leaving less food for salmon and native fish, Rypel said. Thats the ecological problem that people will be concerned about.

The changes in the Great Lakes since the 1990s show how severely an ecosystem can be upended by an invasion of non-native mussels, Rypel said. There, zebra mussels and quagga mussels have thrived and caused a major decline in the yellow perch fishery .

In Californias Delta, there are threatened and endangered fish species, including steelhead trout, two types of Chinook salmon, longfin smelt, Delta smelt and green sturgeon.

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If the golden mussels take hold and dominate the ecosystem, Rypel said, that would mean less food resources for those native species. The non-native mussels also could kill native mussels in the estuary.

I think we want to do as much as we can to prevent that kind of a scenario, but it's going to be a challenge, Rypel said.

Read more: Another California fish is added to the federal endangered species list

He said the serious threats call for an aggressive, coordinated effort to contain and remove the mussels, and to prevent them from spreading to new areas.

To contain the mussels as much as possible, state officials are urging Californians to be sure to clean, drain and dry all boats and equipment when removed from a water body. They say this strategy has helped prevent the further spread of quagga mussels and zebra mussels beyond the lakes and waterways those species have colonized.

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The state Department of Water Resources has since 2007 had a program in place to monitor for the presence of zebra and quagga mussels at various locations in the Delta and throughout the State Water Project. The department has now expanded its monitoring to check for golden mussels, Veldhuizen said, and is also adopting other measures to protect pumping plants and reduce potential effects on water deliveries.

California State Parks officials have begun additional exit inspections of boats at ONeill Forebay, San Luis Reservoir and Los Banos Creek Reservoir to ensure all water is drained from livewells, bilges and outboard motors to prevent the spread of the mussels.

We're asking the public to do the same thing that they do for quagga and zebra, and clean, drain and dry their watercraft and equipment every time they go to a different water body in the state, Gonzalez said. It's important for all of us to pitch in on this.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WASHINGTON  JD Vance has come to be known as one of the top next-generation leaders of the populist conservative movement President-elect Donald Trump sparked. Now he will officially be Trump's heir apparent as vice president of the United States.

It has been a remarkable rise for the junior senator from Ohio, who gained national fame in 2016 as author of a bestselling memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," and who, at just 40 years old, will be one of the youngest vice presidents in American history.

Vance expects his job will be "very active," he told USA TODAY in September. "I know the president wants me to be involved in everything, and I certainly hope to be."

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Vance has evolved from a never-Trump Republican to a loyalist who has frequently been thought of as one of the leading heirs to Trump's brand of conservative politics.

After a childhood marked by family addiction and abuse in a struggling industrial town, Vance joined the Marine Corps and climbed his way to the elite circles of Yale Law School and Silicon Valley.

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance speaks as Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania watch as he addresses supporters at Trump's rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024.

His memoir illustrated some of the working-class frustrations that led to Trump's first victory in 2016 and laid the groundwork for issues that would become central to his politics today: criticism of foreign intervention, free trade policies and betrayal by Americas elites.

Vance became a translator of those working-class woes in liberal and centrist circles confused by Trump's rise, even as he called Trump "noxious" and "reprehensible" in public and "Americas Hitler in private.

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Over the next few years ahead of his election to the Senate in 2022, Vance would undergo a conversion that made him one of the top messengers in the media for Trump's MAGA movement. He was persuaded to look past Trump's demeanor and found he preferred his policies, Vance has said, while his critics have argued it is evidence he is duplicitous and willing to do anything for power.

I think that it actually makes him more relatable and even a better VP pick than others because he was a little Trump-skeptical early on, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk told USA TODAY earlier this year. He became a believer as he saw that President Trump implemented policies and decisions that were consistent with what he believes in. I think its more genuine and real.

Campaign victories and stumbles

Vance was deployed on the campaign trail to defend the president at fundraisers, rallies and news programs that weren't always friendly to him.

He emerged as the clear winner of the only vice presidential debate against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who lacked Vance's ease in front of the cameras, and he has regularly ended his rallies by taking questions from reporters.

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Vance stood with the president-elect throughout his most controversial moments of the campaign, including falsely claiming Trump won the 2020 presidential election and defending Trump's claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating residents' pets, which he said he had heard firsthand from constituents. Local officials said it was not true.

Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz greet before they square off during the CBS News vice presidential debate in New York City on Oct. 1, 2024.

He also stirred his own share of controversy. Old comments in which Vance called Vice President Kamala Harris one of the "childless cat ladies" running the country went viral shortly after he accepted the nomination, along with other past statements suggesting parents should have greater voting rights than childless adults.

Videos of awkward campaign encounters and stump jokes fed ridicule from the left. The combination became fodder for Walz to use the word "weird" to describe those at the top of the Republican ticket.

Trump picked Vance when he believed he was heading to victory in an easy race against President Joe Biden. When Biden dropped out of the race and Trump found himself up against a younger, more popular Democratic candidate, it prompted speculation that Republicans were regretting his choice of running mate  a rumor his campaign pushed back on.

Vance's short Senate tenure

Ohio Republican U.S. Senate nominee JD Vance boards an elevator as he departs the Republican Senate Policy Luncheon, which he was invited to attend after his recent win in the Republican Senate primary in Ohio, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., May 17, 2022.

Vance's election to the vice presidency will create an opening in his Ohio Senate seat, where he will have served only two years.

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Vance will have to resign before taking the oath of office on Jan. 20, and Ohio's Republican Gov. Mike DeWine will appoint a replacement until the state can hold a special election to fill his seat through the end of his term in 2028.

Despite his short tenure in the Senate, Vance became known as one of the chamber's leading critics of additional federal aid for Ukraine, arguing the effort mirrored misguided support for the war in Iraq. It put him at odds with the leader of his own conference, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

But he also has demonstrated a willingness to work across the aisle with populist senators of both parties on key economic issues. He pushed for action on internet affordability, worked with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to crack down on the executives of failed banks, and joining Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, to strengthen federal rail safety rules.

As vice president, he is expected to continue to advocate for the issues he touted on the campaign trail, including foreign isolationism, increased domestic oil production and tighter border security.

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Multiple conservative leaders have told USA TODAY they believe he models the future of the Republican Party.

Ohio Republican Party Chair Alex Triantafilou told USA TODAY in September that Vance represents "a realignment" of the party to focus on "working-class Americans who feel like they're left behind in a globalist economy."

And Kevin Roberts, president of the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, said he and Vance both believe "there needs to be a new conservative movement" that incorporates new ideas to longstanding policy goals and brings in new constituencies. I think that Sen. Vance is the leader of that effort, at least among elected officials in D.C."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JD Vance elected vice president, jumping from Senate to White House
Contributor/Getty Images

Russia's oil revenue fell sharply year-over-year in October.

Oil-related tax revenue dropped 29% last month, while oil and gas proceeds fell more than 25%.

The loss was largely driven by falling prices as oil has been volatile amid conflict in the Middle East.

Russia saw a double-digit drop in oil revenue last month, hitting an important source of funds for the Kremlin amid pressure on global crude prices.

Moscow's revenue from oil-related taxes plummeted 29% year-over-year in October, from 1.48 trillion rubles to 1.05 trillion rubles, according to data from Russia's Finance Ministry.

Oil and gas proceeds, which is largely made up of oil production taxes and profit-based taxes in the industry, also fell more than 25% to 1.21 trillion rubles.

Total oil and gas revenue rose on a monthly basis, with October levels up more than 75% compared to September. However, that's largely because the profit-based tax on Russia's oil industry is due four times a year, with companies paying taxes in March, April, July, and October, Bloomberg reported.

The yearly drop has largely been fueled by falling crude prices. International crude prices logged their biggest drop in two years last month after Israel's strike against Iran spared its oil infrastructure. Meanwhile, US producers are pumping more than ever, complicating efforts by OPEC+ to crimp supply and boost the price.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded around $75 a barrel on Tuesday, down 11% over the last year. Meanwhile, Urals crude, Russia's flagship oil blend, traded around $63.57, down around 24% compared to the same time last year, Bloomberg data shows.

The drop in oil revenue throttles a key source of funds for Russia's war-driven economy, which is becoming increasingly strained under the rising costs of its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia's oil and gas industries have accounted for around 30%-50% of Russia's federal budget revenue for the last decade, according to an analysis from The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Russia's defense state spending, meanwhile, is on track to hit a post-Soviet high in 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Voters cast ballots at the Lutheran Church of Hope near Drake University. (Photo by Mack Swenson for Iowa Capital Dispatch)

First-time poll worker Jill Foreman said the fun part of her job is observing the melting pot of voters who cast their ballots at Lutheran Church of Hope at the corner of the Drake University campus.

The melting pot of people in this community is just glorious  different ethnicities, seniors, young families, obviously students, teachers, and our future voters, Foreman said just before ushering a curious day care group through the polling doors.

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Voters who spoke to the Iowa Capital Dispatch also represented diverse viewpoints and voting experience. Drake student Matthew Bell was voting in his first presidential election, and he chose to do so here in Iowa rather than his native Illinois.

As a student at Drake in a smaller city in a state with a smaller population, my vote would potentially carry a little more weight, you could say, compared to voting back home in Chicago, Bell said.

Foreman said the dynamic of the Church of Hope precinct is distinguished by many first-time voters  voters like Leslie Howard, who made his first trip to the polls later in life due to the encouragement of his significant other. Howard, who cast his vote for Kamala Harris, expressed concern about Trumps age and mental acuity.

I just feel that Kamala is right. Im not voting for her because shes a Black woman, Howard said.

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Nick Friedrichsen has voted numerous times but is disgusted with the state of U.S. politics, prompting him to write himself in for president.

Neither [Trump nor Harris] are working in my mind, and Im not voting Libertarian, Im not voting grassroots, and Im not voting communist, so I wrote myself in, Friedrichsen said.

Friedrichsen, who said his top issue is the economy, has previously voted for independent candidates like Ross Perot, a businessman and philanthropist who garnered 19% of the electorate during his first independent run for president in 1992.

I dont think Ive had a choice since I started voting. The lesser of two evils is still evil, Friedrichsen said.

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Teacher Liz Jordan said she voted primarily for Democratic candidates to protect womens rights and the rights of marginalized people, such as the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.

A lot of the kids I work with are kids of color. Maybe their families struggle with food insecurity or their families come from outside of the country, possibly not having documentation as kids, and they dont have any control over that, so I think that impacts my vote a lot, Jordan said.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Two amendments to Iowas Constitution have passed following Tuesdays election.

Iowa voters decided to approve an amendment that essentially codifies the states constitution to match federal law, allowing 18-year-olds to vote. Theyve been able to since 1971 because of federal law, but Iowas constitution still has outdated language with the age of 21. The new amendment also includes language specifically addressing citizenship and making it clear that if the citizen turns 18 by the time of the general election they are also eligible to vote in the primary election.

The second amendment approved on the ballot addressed some vague language in the constitution about what happens in the transfer of power should a governor pass away, resign, or suffer a permanent disability that causes a vacancy.

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Voters approved the following text:

Section 17 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof: Sec. 17. Lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect to become or act as governor or governor-elect. If there is a temporary disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor until the disability is removed, or the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office. In case of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall become governor for the remainder of the term, which shall create a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor. This section shall also apply, as appropriate, to the governor-elect and the lieutenant governor-elect.

You can find more information on the results of Tuesdays elections here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
Voters lined up Nov. 5, 2024 at the Hearst Center for the Arts in Cedar Falls. (Photo by Bailey Klinkhammer for Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa Capital Dispatch is talking to voters at polling places around the state.

CEDAR FALLS  Black Hawk County voters filed into their polling place Tuesday at the Hearst Center for the Arts, lining up alongside oil paintings on canvas as children of voters waited excitedly in line alongside their parents.

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Cedar Falls voters carried their concerns surrounding the economy and womens

rights into the voting booth with them this year.

Sam Rutledge, left, and Bunni Reagan voted Nov. 5, 2024 at the Hearst Center for the Arts in Cedar Falls. (Photo by Bailey Klinkhammer for Iowa Capital Dispatch)

For Bunni Reagan and Samuel Rutledge, this election means protecting their rights as humans. I

kind of feel like my existence is on the line, not just as a woman but as a member of the LGBTQ

community as well, said Reagan, who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Rutledge expressed his concern regarding same-sex marriage being repealed at a federal level.

It was a huge milestone for the country. It happened when I was in middle school, I think that

kind of turn would change a lot of peoples lives, Rutledge said.

Both Reagan and Rutledge said they feel as though the race is close, but hope the best for Harris.

Depending on who all turns out, but I feel like she could win, Rutledge said. I feel like she

wants to protect people.

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Dyllan and Morgan Sparks said they cast their votes for former president Donald Trump on Tuesday with hopes to give their child a better life. Morgan Sparks is expecting their first son within the next month. I think its important to try to leave the country in the right direction for him, Dyllan said.

Both Dyllan and Morgan Sparks said they voted for President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. The two said they believe that Harris should have had a proper primary, and they like Trumps clear stances. As the two prepare to welcome their son, they also worry about the cost of living rising.

I just wasnt impressed with this administration, Morgan said. I thought Trump did a good job in his first term. Id like to see the economy go back to the way it was.

As Black Hawk County polls close at 8 p.m., Reagan and Rutledge said they are excited to see the results roll in. I just moved to Iowa, Reagan said. I think itll be a good turnout today, and I really

hope for the best.
Voters cast their ballots Nov. 5, 2024 at the Redfield American Legion in Redfield, Ia. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

After casting her vote Tuesday evening at the Redfield American Legion, Susan Barnett said she wished she could just vote for Mickey Mouse instead.

Im tired of voting for the lesser of two evils, Barnett said.

Other western Iowa voters expressed similar sentiments, saying it would be equally good or bad regardless of which candidate wins.

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The lesser evil for Barnett was former President Donald Trump, though she said he is too conservative. Vice President Kamala Harris, however, is too liberal, and Barnett didnt agree with her tax plans. One issue she hadnt heard either candidate address is Social Security and ensuring its future stability for Americans.

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In my opinion, we need someone closer to the middle to make our country better, not so far left or so far right, Barnett said.

Barnett was confident that Trump would win, unfortunately, she said.

Perry voter Beverly Xuncax said that while she voted for Trump, she wouldnt mind if Harris won the presidency. She also voted for Trump in 2020, and said she figured shed vote for him again.

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Xuncax and much of her family are concerned about immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border and migrants bringing crime into the country, she said.

Janet Sheehy, who also cast a ballot in Perry and named immigration as an issue shes following, declined to say who she voted for. She did say she felt scared about the election.

Whether Harris or Trump wins, she said all people can do is vote and hope for the best.

Darned if you do, and darned if you dont, Sheehy said.

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(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps victory in the race for the White House is set to inspire companies that have stuck to the sidelines to go public in the US as soon as next year, capitalizing on the stock markets positive reaction and the president-elects promises to cut red tape.

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Large rallies emerged across many of the markets riskiest corners in the wake of Trumps decisive win, with the Russell 2000 Index jumping to near a three-year high. The S&P 500 Index traded to a record of its own, cementing that the backdrop for investors to take on risk through buying shares of unproven companies has rarely been better. The VIX, Wall Streets fear gauge, tumbled back to the lowest level since September.

The election was an overhang  its not the only factor taken into account  but the outcome will now set up some private equity firms to initiate their processes, said Steve Parish, co-head of ICR Capital. For companies that are starting their process or are on the fence for a 2025 IPO, this could provide a boost to encourage them to push forward.

Nearly $40 billion has been raised via initial public offerings on US exchanges this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Thats a 64% jump from the stretch seen in 2023 through Nov. 6, but still below the average in the decade before the pandemic  including three quarters of Trumps first term in office, the data show.

Pro-Crypto Candidate

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Bitcoin also powered to a record, as investors digested the prospect of the pro-cryptocurrency candidate unleashing a wave of debuts that had been held up for years amid regulatory scrutiny. That could change if current US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler steps down or if Trump makes good on a promise to fire him.

While itd depend who takes the reins, its likely the industry would expect the Trump administration to nominate leadership which is more favorable to crypto assets based on his commentary supporting digital assets, said Matthew Kimmell, digital asset analyst at crypto asset manager and research firm CoinShares.

A second Trump administration could influence the outlook for crypto IPOs, but the extent of impact will largely depend on changes in SEC leadership and the regulatory framework they establish, Kimmell said.

Circle Internet Financial Ltd.s chief executive officer has been vocal about its intention to IPO, while crypto exchange Kraken and trading platform eToro are also considering going public.

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An immediate surge in IPO activity isnt in the cards, given that the list of companies that have paperwork publicly on file with the SEC is relatively short. For already-listed companies and their largest shareholders, however, Wednesdays rally could be the spark they need in order to cash in.

Companies will likely take advantage of the rally to raise growth capital and give insiders liquidity, said West Riggs, head of equity capital markets at Truist Securities Inc.

I would also expect an increase in convertible issuance, Riggs said. This is due in part to the rally in underlying equities but also due to the recent spike in rates.

While Riggs doesnt expect the IPO calendar to be pulled forward, there will be continued confidence in the demand for a larger set of IPOs next year and beyond, he said.

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There is no question that if youve been looking for a reason to do an IPO, anything that looked cloudy yesterday now looks like bright sunshine, said Peter Atwater of Financial Insyghts and an adjunct professor at William & Mary and the University of Delaware. Particularly for those industries that are tangentially related to the Trump trade, but there is a broader sense that the Trump administration will be positive for business.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters) - Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election drew mixed reactions among ordinary Iranians, with some fearing a heightened risk of war and economic hardship but others hoping his hardline stance might bring political change in Iran.

"I am so glad Trump won. I hope he continues his maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic and that it leads to the collapse of this regime," housewife Zohre, 42, told Reuters by phone from Tehran.

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Some Iranians like retired teacher Hamidreza feared further economic pressure with Trump in the White House if he continues the same tough policy he adopted in his 2017-2021 first term.

"I am disappointed Trump won. It means more economic pressure, the risk of a war with Israel. I am deeply concerned," said Hamidreza, 66, in the northern city of Rasht.

"I dont care who the U.S. president is. My main concern is Irans economy. If they lift sanctions on Iran, that would be a good thing," said government employee Nader, 34, a father of two in the southern city of Ahvaz.

Everyone is happy, and I am thrilled. Trump is a no-nonsense leader who will put pressure on the clerical rulers. This is good for the Iranian people who seek a democratic leadership," said Parastou, a 21-year-old student in Tehran.

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Like Zohre, Hamidreza and Nader, Parastou declined to be identified in full due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Publicly, Iranian political leaders have downplayed the significance of the U.S. election result on Tehran's policies.

However, the establishment's main concern is the potential for Trump to empower Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike Iran's nuclear sites, conduct assassinations and reimpose his "maximum pressure" policy through heightened sanctions on the country's oil industry.

Some, however, suspect Trump will be cautious about the possibility of war.

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"Trump is a businessman. He knows Iran is powerful and can turn the Middle East to hell if attacked. He wants to end wars in the region not fuel it," said Reza Mohammadi, a member of Iran's volunteer Basij militia in the central city of Isfahan.

'WE HAVE TO MAKE A DEAL'

In 2018, the then-Trump administration exited Iran's 2015 nuclear pact with six major powers and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to violate the pact's nuclear limits, such as rebuilding stockpiles of enriched uranium, refining it to higher fissile purity and installing advanced centrifuges to speed up output.

Efforts to revive the pact have failed, but Trump said in his campaign in September that "We have to make a deal, because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal".

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It was the bite of U.S., EU and U.N. sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program that forced Tehran to reach the 2015 nuclear pact, under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.

Trump's tough stance could force Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say in the country's foreign and nuclear policy, to approve talks "whether direct or indirect" with the United states, two Iranian officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

After casting his vote, Trump told reporters that "I don't want to do damage to Iran, but they cannot have nuclear weapons".

Iranian analysts and insiders did not dismiss the possibility of a detente between Tehran and Washington "without restoring diplomatic ties".

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"Iran will act based on its own interests. It is possible that secret talks between Tehran and Washington take place. If security threats against the Islamic Republic are removed, anything is possible," said Tehran-based analyst Saeed Laylaz.

While facing off against arch-foe Israel, Irans clerical leadership is also concerned about the possibility of an all-out war in the region, where Israel is engaged in conflicts with Tehran's allies in Gaza and Lebanon.

In an election speech in October, Trump stated his unwillingness to go to war with Iran, but said Israel should "hit the Iranian nuclear first and worry about the rest later", in response to Iran's missile attack on Israel on Oct. 1.

Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Iranian military targets, especially missile production sites, on Oct. 26.

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Trump, 78, recaptured the White House on Wednesday by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency, Edison Research projected.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by William Maclean)
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris is set to call a parliamentary election on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin said.

Harris has already said he will name the date this week and has been been laying the ground for an early election since last month's 10.5 billion euro budget giveaway. The vote is expected to be held on Nov. 29.

Its my understanding that it will be called on Friday, Martin told Virgin Media TV in an interview.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin, editing by William James)
(Bloomberg) -- Ireland will hold an election later this month after Prime Minister Simon Harris ended months of speculation about an early vote, taking advantage of favorable poll numbers and a slump in support for Sinn Fein, the main opposition party.

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Harris said late Wednesday that a vote will take place on Nov. 29, even though one isnt required until next March.

The 38-year-old became Irelands youngest ever prime minister  or Taoiseach  in April after taking over as leader of Fine Gael, the main party in the coalition government.

While hes had crises in immigration, housing and healthcare to deal with, hes generally enjoyed a honeymoon period with voters and seen a huge jump in his personal ratings. At the same time, Sinn Fein support has plunge from the highs of recent years and is now trailing in polls.

Harris has also benefited from having the resources to keep the public on side. Tax revenue from multinational firms like Google and Amazon, as well as a one-off back-tax payment of 14 billion ($15 billion) from Apple Inc., have put the country on track for a huge fiscal surplus this year.

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Harris used some of that for a 10.5 billion budget bonanza that included several tax credits and extra welfare payments to be dished out before Christmas.

But with Donald Trumps US election victory, theres concern about the potential impact that increased protectionism would have on Irelands corporation tax receipts, the majority of which comes from US firms based there. Speaking on national broadcaster RTE, Harris said that the government has prepared for any external shocks and set aside funds in case theres a decline in tax income.

The election announcement, widely expected to come on Friday, was surprisingly made on television and not in parliament. Harris said he will ask President Michael D Higgins to seek the dissolution of the Dail, as the parliament is known, on Friday when he returns from a meeting of European leaders in Budapest.

Im looking forward to the weeks ahead and asking the people of Ireland for a mandate, he said.

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Immigration

As seen in many other elections in recent years, immigration is likely to be a dominant issue for voters. Ireland was shocked by violent riots late last year, while there have been repeated protests and clashes with police outside accommodation used to house asylum seekers. While Ireland doesnt have a single, large far-right party  like AfD in Germany or National Rally in France  there has been an increase in support for independent anti-immigration figures.

Going to the polls now makes sense for Fine Gael given the growing crisis in Sinn Fein. At one point, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army terrorist group was topping the polls, with its numbers above 30%.

But its struggled to respond with a clear message on immigration, which has cost it support. Its also been damaged by a series of crises, including one related to a party member who sent inappropriate text messages to a teenager.

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Acknowledging the challenges, Sinn Fein director of elections, Matt Carthy, said that the party has work to do, but that elections have a way of crystallizing peoples minds around the policies that are being put forward and what various policy options are in place.

A poll by the Sunday Times newspaper last month put Fine Gael support at 24%. Approval for Fianna Fail, the second party in Harriss coalition, was on 19%, while Sinn Fein had fallen to 16%.

A separate survey in the Irish Times in September  before the budget  also showed Fine Gael leading. Harriss approval rating was 55%, up 17 points from May.

Still, given the public frustration over immigration, housing and healthcare, Harris is unlikely to get enough seats to govern alone. Should he win, hell have to form another coalition.

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Fine Gael has previously ruled out any partnership with Sinn Fein. Harris also said recently that he wouldnt go into an election with a vote transfer pact with any other party.

(Updates with polls, Sinn Fein comment, starting in fourth paragraph.)

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Many people are aware that retiring on Social Security alone isn't a great thing to do. With the average retired worker today collecting about $23,000 a year in benefits, an income that size doesn't give you a whole lot of leeway to tackle even your basic expenses. And it certainly doesn't give you a cushion for extras, whether it's home repairs, higher-than-expected medical bills, or leisure.

That's why it's best to save for retirement on your own. And the more time you give yourself to do that, the larger a nest egg you're likely to build up.

Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free 

Image source: Getty Images.

But figuring out how much to save for retirement is the big question. And to arrive at that number, you need to first determine how much money you can expect from Social Security in the future.

Thankfully, there's a pretty easy way to get an estimate of your future retirement benefits. But there are a few wild card factors you'll need to consider once you get a look at that number.

The information you need is waiting for you

If you want an idea of what Social Security will pay you each month once you retire, just go to the Social Security Administration's website and create an account. From there, you can access your most recent earnings statement, which will not only include a summary of your wages, but contain an estimate of your retirement benefit based on your income history to date.

Once you have that estimate, you can multiply your monthly benefit by 12 to see what annual Social Security income you're looking at. And from there, you can estimate your annual income needs to determine what sort of nest egg you should be building.

But you will need to take that estimated benefit with a grain of salt. If you're on the cusp of retirement, that number should be pretty accurate. But if you're 32 years old with another 25 years in the workforce to go, it may not be.

That's because Social Security takes your 35 highest-paid years of wages into account when calculating your monthly benefit. If you still have a lot of earning years ahead of you, that number could change in a big way.

There's also the possibility of Social Security cuts to consider. Those aren't set in stone, and you can bet that lawmakers will try to avoid them to at least some degree. But if there ends up being a broad reduction in Social Security payments, that's going to change your monthly benefit, too.

Save as best as you can

A good rule of thumb to figure out your retirement savings needs is to come up with an annual income you expect to need, subtract your annual Social Security benefit, and then multiply the remaining number by 25.
LONDON  Donald Trumps return to power could dramatically alter the course of the wars raging in the Middle East and Europe.

From the rubble of Israels deadly military campaigns in the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon to the battlefields of eastern Ukraine where Russian forces are advancing, the United States election has for months hung over these conflicts involving allies dependent on support from Washington.

Celebrations quickly rang out in Israel on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu among the first world leaders to congratulate Trump on what he labeled historys greatest comeback  a jubilant reaction that may fuel concerns of further escalation as the country presses its offensive in northern Gaza and prepares for an Iranian retaliatory attack.

Palestinians struggle to buy bread from the only functioning bakery in Deir Al Balah, in central Gaza, on Wednesday.

Another U.S. ally will likely be feeling less emboldened.

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Ukrainian officials offered their own praise of Trump, but now face an even more uncertain future given doubts over whether he will maintain the Biden administrations support for the countrys ailing defense  now facing North Korean troops bolstering the Kremlins quest to up the pressure on Kyiv to agree to unfavorable terms.

The president-elect is condemned by critics as a dangerous isolationist who emboldens strongmen and hailed by supporters as a forthright defender of American interests, and most observers at least agree that a second Trump era will be unpredictable. What is certain, said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, is that there will be surprises.

Israel thrilled by Trump win

In Israel, the countrys right-wing leadership was thrilled by Trumps victory, two officials there told NBC News  but they said that excitement was tempered by concerns that the Biden administration would ramp up pressure in its final days.

Israels most ultranationalist ministers were among the first to congratulate Trump on his success, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich openly celebrating on social media.

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Trumps success rippled throughout the Arab world, where officials told NBC News they watched the count unfold with a mix of surprise and fascination, while other observers expressed concern that the result could embolden Israel to further escalate an already-expanding conflict.

The Biden administration has ramped up efforts that have so far failed to secure cease-fires to end Israels deadly assault on Gaza and secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, as well as halt Israels bombardment and fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Trump has broadly called for an end to the war in Gaza, but he has yet to clearly outline how his incoming administration might help expedite that. He also said during the campaign that he would support what he described as Israels right to win its war on terror.

One Israeli official suggested that Netanyahu could look to end Israels offensive in Gaza early in Trumps term as a way of handing the Republican a quick diplomatic victory amid relief over Vice President Kamala Harris defeat.

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Nobody in Israel wanted Harris. Nobody trusted her over here, an official said.

Israeli protesters block a road in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night amid public anger over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Fawaz Gerges, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, said Netanyahu was undoubtedly betting on Donald Trump after having run the clock on Joe Biden.

Gerges said he feared that under Trump, Washington, already Israels biggest arms supplier, would basically give Netanyahu whatever he wants  in particular, a green light to not only continue the war in Gaza and Lebanon but even to escalate the fight against Iran itself. Already, U.S. spending on Israels military operations reached more than $17.9 billion from Oct. 7 last year to Sept. 30, according to Brown Universitys Costs of War Project.

Recalling Trumps 2016 presidency, Gerges said in a phone interview Tuesday that the Republican had already shown a willingness to go beyond the call of duty to give Netanyahu everything, including his controversial decision to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital and his recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the contested Golan Heights.

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Despite those concerns, Gerges said the overall sentiment in the Arab world was that ultimately it didnt matter who wins the White House as American foreign policy is historically wedded back to Israel.

Many Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where Israel believes Trumps win will mean more freedom to expand settlements, appeared to share that sentiment.

As a Palestinian, I think it doesnt matter, said Riyad Awad, 61, in the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday. Republican or Democratic  they didnt help us.

In video captured by NBC News crew on the ground in Gaza, Palestinians could be seen gathered in a makeshift shelter in Khan Younis watching the election results roll in on a television screen.

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Some expressed deep concern over Trumps victory, while others were curious about whether he might ultimately be the right figure to stop the fighting after months of failed U.S. efforts.

He said that hes going to end the war, said 19-year-old Hussam Alsharif, who was displaced from his home farther south in Gaza by Israels offensive. Hes a man of his own word. Once he calls the shots, no one can do anything but obey him.

Ukraine offers public praise

Ukraine sought to project a similar lack of concern over how the result might transform Americas approach to the war in Europe.

Trump said he would be able to resolve Russias invasion before he even takes office, which would surely require huge concessions that Kyiv deems unacceptable. He has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and incorrectly blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for starting the war, while refusing to commit to sending more aid to the embattled country.

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Trump will make attempts at appeasement with the aggressor  i.e. Russia, said Maksym Kostetskyi, head of the Centre for Policy Making, a think tank based in Kyiv. I am afraid it would have negative effects on Ukrainian society, he said, since talking about negotiations when Russia is on the offensive is absolutely unacceptable.

Still, Zelenskyy publicly welcomed Trumps victory, saying he looked forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership.

Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at Trump Tower in New York City in September.

The U.S. has approved $175 billion of aid to Ukraine, more than any country, since its full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022. If Trump did withdraw American support, Ukraines defense against the Kremlin would take a massive hit. It could well be forced into a surrender involving Putin annexing huge swaths of its territory, as well as promising never to join NATO.

Russian officials, speaking to NBC News, said Moscow expected changes under Trump.

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Less predictability is incoming, said a Russian diplomat not authorized to speak on the record. The result is not the most interesting part. The best is what is coming after.

If a Ukrainian loss doesnt sound like a big deal to Americans, Putin has signaled he would not stop there, and many Western experts believe that victory could embolden him to attack other Eastern European neighbors.

Then the question would be: Would Trump honor NATOs central promise, that if one member gets attacked, the others are expected to come to its aid? During his first term, the president suggested he would not  something that would undermine the entire point of the alliance.

In truth, Ukraine has been railing for months against the limits of American support under the Biden administration.

Trumps victory means great risks and opportunities, said Kostetskyi, of the Kyiv-based think tank. Only time can show where it will take.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A series of Israeli raids and airstrikes in towns and villages in the occupied West Bank that stretched overnight from Monday into late Tuesday have killed at least eight people, according to Palestinian authorities and local residents.

Two Palestinians were killed in the town of Tamoun, said the governor of nearby Tubas, Ahmad Assad, alleging that one of the bodies was removed from the scene by the Israeli military with a bulldozer. CCTV footage from the neighborhood, seen by CNN, appeared to show a bulldozer moving a body.

In the village of Al-Shuhada, near the city of Jenin, an Israeli airstrike killed two people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, who were identified by local residents as a man and his nephew. Footage obtained by CNN of the aftermath of the strike shows bloodied footprints smeared along a dusty pathway.

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Elsewhere, at least four people were killed in the city of Qabatya, according to the health ministry and emergency responders. Two were killed by Israeli gunfire, and two others killed when an Israeli military vehicle rammed a car and opened fire, according to residents and video seen by CNN.

Qatari-owned Al Araby TV alleged that Israeli fire in Qabatya also injured a Palestinian employee working there. Rabee Al-Munir, a photojournalist, is now hospitalized in stable condition, it said.

CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment on the incidents. Israel has previously described its stepped-up military offensives in the West Bank as targeting militants and terrorist infrastructure.

The bloodshed comes as violence surges in the West Bank, where the Israeli military has intensified incursions following the Hamas-led October 7 attacks.

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Since October 7, 2023, Israeli troops and settlers have killed at least 775 Palestinians, including 167 children, in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, the Palestinian health ministry reported on Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, Israeli settlers vandalized and set fire to vehicles in the city of Al-Bireh, in what Ramallah governor Laila Ghannam warned could have ended in a massacre.

Video taken by CNN in the aftermath of the fire showed burned vehicles, some reduced to ashes, next to an apartment block with burn marks on its walls. A community of residents, including young children, can be seen standing bewildered outside the block.

I woke up to the sound, I started screaming, said Ihab Al-Zahben, a father-of-four who lives in the area, to CNN.

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The West Bank, a territory that lies between Israel and Jordan, is home to 3.3 million Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation, as well as hundreds of thousands of Jewish Israelis who began settling there some 57 years ago.

In total, nearly 1,600 settler attacks against Palestinians have been recorded since October 7, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on October 31.

CNNs Mick Krever contributed reporting.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, saying he has lost confidence in him, according to a statement from the prime minister's office on Tuesday.

Gallant is to be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

"Although there was trust in the first months of the war and the work was very fruitful, this trust between me and the defence minister has unfortunately been broken in recent months," Netanyahu wrote.

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He said Gallant had made decisions and issued statements that contradicted the decisions of the cabinet.

Gallant issued his own statement. "The security of the State of Israel has always been and will always be my life's work," he said.

He warned of a "moral darkness" in the country after his dismissal.

Gallant named three points of contention with Netanyahu: his demand for a deal to release the hostages held by Hamas; his call for the establishment of a commission to investigate the October 7 attacks on Israel; and his opposition to a law that would exempt many religious extremists from military service.

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He also warned that Israel faces many challenges in its fight against arch-enemy Iran and its accomplices.

It is not the first time that Netanyahu has dismissed him, though he reversed the decision in April last year. Gallant criticized controversial judicial reforms but there were mass protests after he was sacked.

Members of the opposition criticized Netanyahu's move.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said dropping Gallant in the middle of the war was an "act of madness" and he called on Israelis to protest.

"Take to the streets," echoed Yair Golan, chairman of the left-wing Democrats party, in a post on social media platform X. Hundreds immediately followed the call in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, according to the Times of Israel.

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"Politics at the expense of national security," said the leader of the centrist National Unity, Benny Gantz, a former member of Netanyahu's now-defunct war cabinet.

His dismissal was welcomed by ultranationalist politician Itamar Ben Gvir, national security minister, who said winning the war with Gallant was impossible.

There were reports in the past that Gallant opposed plans for a major military operation in Lebanon, though these were supported by the military and Netanyahu also at least appeared to back the plans.

Gallant called for more diplomatic efforts and an attempt to reach an agreement with Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah as well as a ceasefire in Gaza.

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Netanyahu appointed Gideon Saar, previously a minister without portfolio, as the new foreign minister.

The appointment of Katz as defence minister came as a surprise to some who had seen Saar as the most likely candidate for the job.

Israel has been fighting for more than a year on several fronts, against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel has also been attacked by pro-Iranian militias in Syria, Iraq and Yemen and is now also in direct conflict with Iran itself and bracing for a possible counter-attack from Tehran.

The fighting began after the massacre in Israel on 7 October 2023 carried out by Hamas and other extremists from the Gaza Strip, in which 1,200 people were killed and around 250 kidnapped.

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant visit Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Central Command Headquarters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismisses Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, saying he has lost confidence in him, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO/dpa
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Arkansas voters have passed Issue 1, opening up state lottery-funded scholarships to include more vocational and technical students, according to a call by the Associated Press.

As of 9 p.m. Nov. 5, with over 7% of votes counted, the secretary of state reported 117,584 votes in favor of the measure and 16,386 votes against.

As of Nov. 5, Arkansass constitution will allow lottery fundspreviously limited to students at state- and federally-funded two- and four-year collegesto be used for scholarships at vocational and technical schools and institutes.

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Arkansas Issue 1: What does it mean?

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, more students pursuing hands-on careers in fields like welding, nursing and commercial trucking will be eligible for state-funded assistance through the lottery.

Currently, students attending state- and federally-funded trade schools, technical schools and community colleges are already eligible for these scholarships.

Its important to note that while this amendment expands the range of eligible institutions, it does not increase the total amount of scholarship funds available. Instead, it allows more vocational schools to compete for the existing pool of resources.

What did my vote mean?

(FOR) Voting For changes the constitution, allowing state lottery funds to support scholarships and grants for vocational-technical schools and technical institutes.

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(AGAINST) Voting Against retains the current constitution, restricting lottery funds to traditional two- and four-year colleges and universities.

More election results can be found here.

Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest election coverage.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner largely kept their distance from Donald Trumps campaign this time around, but took the stage with him when the Republican presidential nominee gave a victory speech early Wednesday.

The two clapped as the former president basked in his political comeback and in the GOP taking back control of the Senate.

But they played little role in the win, apparently.

The president-elects oldest daughter campaigned for him in 2016 and 2020, offering a softer side than her belligerent, bloviating father. She served as one of his top advisers in his first term.

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But when Donald Trump launched his third bid for the White House after his 2020 defeat amid mounting legal woes, she announced that she and Kushner, who was also a senior adviser in the first Trump White House, were leaving politics to focus on their family.

While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena, she said. (She did, however, appear with Kushner at the Republican National Convention in July to see her father accept the nomination.)

Kushner recently reaffirmed that he was not seeking to return to the White House, even if his father-in-law called and offered him a job.

Kushner told Axios he was committed to his $3 billion private equity fund, staked in part by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. His firm has raked in tens of millions of dollars in fees since 2021 despite no return of profit to the countries involved, according to a New York Times report.

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Kushner appears to be content staying on the political sidelines.

Were rooting for him  obviously, were proud of him, Kushner said of Trump to The New York Times last week. But, you know, either way, our life will just continue to move forward.

And cheered they did in the wee hours Wednesday as Trump declared victory.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner (right) applaud Donald Trump's victory speech with Usha Vance and Trump's running mate JD Vance. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

Related...
Special counsel Jack Smith is in talks with senior Justice Department officials about how to end his two federal criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump in line with a longstanding department policy that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, sources told ABC News .

CNN had previously reported , based on sources close to Smith and the DOJ, that the special counsel was likely to keep pursuing the cases against Trump, for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection and his mishandling of classified documents, even if the former president won a return to the office.

Hes not going to be the one to say, Im going to fold the tent, a former DOJ official told CNN.

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In contrast to his predicted defiance, though, it now seems like Smith will instead seek to wind the cases down.

Trump has said he would fire Smith within two seconds if elected, although he cannot do so until he officially takes over in January 2025. CNN had suggested that Smith would mull his options in the months leading up to Trumps inauguration.

Trump is unlikely to face further legal proceedings while he is in office as president.

Sources had told NBC News that DOJ leadership had been coming to grips with the reality that a trial of a sitting president, especially as both cases are mired in their own legal problems, was simply unfeasible.

Trump, who was convicted of 34 criminal charges in a separate case related to his hush money payments to a porn star, had been successful in delaying legal proceedings until after the election, where a victory makes any sort of legal penalty against him an uphill battle.

Trump was convicted of 34 criminal charges but delayed sentencing until after the election.

The classified documents case had been dismissed by a judge in July, but Smith announced the following month that he would appeal the decision. Meanwhile, Trump was granted a delay in proceedings related to his Jan 6. case as well as the sentencing for his hush money case.

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The latter had been set for a hearing in September, but Trumps legal team got it pushed back to after the election.

According to CNN, Trumps win last night means that the conviction could be wiped out in line with the Supreme Court ruling over the summer that provided sitting presidents a measure of immunity from criminal prosecution. The judge, Juan Merchan, has given himself until Nov. 12 to make that decision.
Jackson County voters approved a property tax levy Tuesday that will raise millions of dollars to support social programs for people at or near retirement age.

With all but one precinct reporting, it passed with 58% support. Jackson County now joins Clay, Platte, Ray and more than 50 other Missouri counties in having a tax to finance their own senior citizens services fund, which help finance programs to help people age 60 and up live independently as they get older.

Jackson County voters twice rejected tax increases in the past year by big margins. Last fall it was a new sales tax on online purchases that lost by a landslide. Then a 40-year stadium sales tax to support the Royals and Chiefs failed resoundingly at the polls in April.

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The countys elected officials were gambling that they would see a different outcome on this third try at a time when taxpayers are frustrated about their rising property tax bills as a result of the 2023 reassessments that hiked values.

The 0.05% property tax levy (a nickel on every $100 of assessed valuation) is expected to raise $8 million to $10 million a year and will subsidize services like home-delivered meals and health care assistance.

The money will go into a special fund administered by a seven-member board appointed by the county legislature.

State lawmakers passed the enabling legislation 35 years ago that lets Missouri counties create senior services funds, if their voters authorize it.
By Allison Lampert and Manas Mishra

(Reuters) -Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier to U.S. planemaker Boeing, warned on Tuesday there was "substantial doubt" the company would be able to continue as a going concern.

Last month, Spirit Aero said it was burning through dwindling cash reserves, as a strike by Boeing's U.S. factory workers hammered the Wichita, Kansas-based supplier that produces the fuselage for the planemakers strongest-selling 737 MAX jet.

Spirit's cash balance at the end of the third quarter of 2024 was $218 million, according to an October filing.

The latest disclosure on Tuesday comes as Boeing is seeking to revive production of its 737 MAX after the weeks-long strike ended on Monday night. The strike by more than 33,000 U.S. West Coast workers halted output of most of Boeing's commercial jet models including the 737.

We retain a range of options and levers to address our financial and spacing constraints and are working with our customers on these matters," said Joe Buccino, spokesperson for Spirit Aero, which is a critical supplier to Boeing and rival Airbus.

Boeing declined to comment.

The company raised more than $24 billion last month.

Spirit Aero said in October it had drawn down an entire $350-million bridge loan set up when Boeing agreed to acquire the supplier in June, confirming an earlier report from Reuters. Spirit Aero has previously disclosed it used up a $425-million customer advance from Boeing.

(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal, Manas Mishra and Aatreyee Dasgupta in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Rod Nickel)
Montana Republican Secretary of State candidate Susie Hedalen, Montana GOP Chair Don Kaltschmidt, and Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen greet attendees at a political rally in Bozeman on Aug. 9, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Montanas Republican Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen handily won re-election Tuesday, bringing in about 62% of the vote share as of Wednesday morning, compared to 35% for Democrat Jesse James Mullen and 3% for Libertarian John Lamb.

Democratic Secretary of State candidate Jesse James Mullen speaks at a rally for Montana Democrats on Nov. 4, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Jacobsen led Mullen by about 140,000 votes as of Wednesday morning, part of a sweep of statewide and federal offices by Republicans in Montana.

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Together, lets build on this momentum to ensure that Montana remains a shining example of what we can achieve when we protect our freedoms, support our businesses and honor the values that make this state so special, Jacobsen said in a speech late Tuesday. I look forward to the future. With you, I will bring this state to new heights.

Jacobsen served as deputy Secretary of State before winning election to office in 2020, when she defeated Democrat Bryce Bennet by about 19 percentage points.

Jacobsen has touted her efforts to boost business registrations in Montana, waiving of business fees, and election security efforts as successes of her first term.

Her Democratic opponent Mullen, the owner of a newspaper chain from Deer Lodge, had criticized Jacobsen, however, for a lack of transparency and some election gaffes during her time in office.

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She also faced criticism from proponents of three constitutional amendments Montanans voted on this year. They accused Jacobsen of trying to keep them off the ballot, delaying their certification to gather signatures, and fighting their certification for the ballot by contending that inactive voters were not qualified voters and could not sign petitions.

Her office responded to those allegations by saying it had to navigate complexities surrounding the initiative and that it had abided by court orders in which judges sided with the proponents of the initiative.

Lamb, a father of 12 from Norris, previously ran for Congress and the state Legislature and said he wanted to do away with all gun laws.
Washington Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges was pepper sprayed, beaten in the head, punched, and kicked in the chest and face at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He nearly had his eye dug out of its socket and was repeatedly assaulted and almost crushed to death in a doorway by supporters of Donald Trump.

Hodges was a stalwart defender of people inside the Capitol on Jan. 6. He has since been unequivocal in stating what happened that day, taking on critics, trolls and detractors with a resolute calm and even a sense of humor.

On Wednesday, when HuffPost asked Hodges what he made of Trumps victory and the path ahead for the nation, his answer was succinct.

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I dont get it, he said. Immigrants voted to be put in concentration camps. Women voted to be breeding stock. Men voted for cruelty, malice, to abandon allies. People voted for someone who would see them never vote again. I dont understand people. Its going to be a cold January.

Hodges has no doubt about what he saw, heard or felt on Jan. 6. He has testified before Congress and in courts at length, including in Colorado, where a group of Republican voters sought to disqualify Trump from ever holding public office again. They had sued to remove Trump from the ballot this year, pointing to his remarks at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, as well as the sea of evidence in the public record already underlining his failure to quell the mobs attack on the Capitol for three hours.

The voters said Trump violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars anyone from service in office who took an oath to uphold the Constitution and then abandoned that sacred document by aiding an insurrection or providing comfort to the nations enemies.

As HuffPost reported in March, a court in Colorado had initially ruled against challenges to Trumps eligibility for the ballot, finding that the office of the presidency was not something Section 3 considered. On appeal, the Colorado Supreme Court revived the case, finding Section 3 did apply to the presidency and, further, that Trump had engaged in insurrection, making him ineligible for future office. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, overruled that decision  and the rest is history.

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(Getty images photo illustration)

Democrat Janet Cowell will be the next mayor of Raleigh. The former North Carolina state treasurer, state senator and Raleigh City Council member defeated four challengers in the nonpartisan contest to lead North Carolinas capital city.

With all precincts reporting, Cowell had 59.77% of the vote to 18.39% for Paul Fitts, 11.34% for Terrance Ruth, 6.43% for Eugene Myrick, and 3.60% for James L. Shaughnessy IV, according to the State Board of Elections.

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Cowell stepped away from politics in 2017 after eight years as treasurer to pursue a career in the private sector. In recent years, she has served as the President and CEO of the nonprofit Dix Park Conservancy, which is partnered with the City of Raleigh to create one of the nations largest urban parks.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
(Bloomberg) -- Japans blue-chip stock gauge rallied while the yen slid to the weakest since July as Donald Trump pulled ahead of Kamala Harris in the US presidential election.

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Investors see the Japanese currency as likely to weaken further as Trump emerges as the victor, because his economic policy is seen as more expansionary and inflationary than that of Harris, making it less likely for the Federal Reserve to aggressively cut interest rates.

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Japans markets are in particular focus, given their size and liquidity, and the heavy focus on the dollar-yen currency pair during Asian trading hours.

The yen weakened 1.6% to 153.98 per dollar at 4:15 p.m. in Tokyo. Japanese share prices rose, with the tech-heavy Nikkei 225 climbing 2.6% while the broader Topix index gained 1.9%.

Bank shares rose 5.8% to become the top gaining sector on the prospects of higher interest rates and hopes of deregulations, while defense-related companies such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. jumped on speculation Trump will put pressure on Japan to spend more on its own defense.

Dollar-yen can gain further ground if the results continue to point to a Trump victory and equity markets continue to focus on his pro-growth policies, said Carol Kong, a strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Id just caution dollar-yen can unwind all the gains if equity markets turn their focus to the prospect of another trade war between the US and China.

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BOJ Implications

The yens persistent slide in recent years has been fueling imported inflation, putting pressure on the central bank to raise borrowing costs and adding to the woes of Japans Liberal Democratic Party, which needs to forge a new coalition after losing a majority in the Lower House in an election last month.

Given the fall in the yen, I think a BOJ rate hike in December is possible now, said Yasuhiko Hirakawa, head of investment at Rakuten Investment Management Inc.

Japans 10-year government bond futures dropped 49 ticks to 143.78. The 10-year benchmark cash debt yield rose 4.5 basis points to 0.980% while the two-year note yield rose to a 16-year high.

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Japanese shares have failed to climb back to record levels hit in July as the yens recovery from its nadir that month and rising borrowing costs weighed on sentiment. A 12% plunge in both the Topix and Nikkei indexes on Aug. 5 was a reminder that Japans recently high-flying stocks have a lot of room to fall if investor sentiment turns pessimistic.

The ruling coalitions loss of its majority led to sharp swings in domestic asset prices. Uncertainties about the coalitions fate have also weighed on stock prices.

Still, Takatoshi Itoshima, a strategist at Pictet Asset Management Japan, said hes become bullish on the nations equities, For all the talk about the Trump trade, I dont think many investors have ridden on that wave yet, he said.

The gains in Japanese contrasted with falls in Chinese stocks, which were hit by worries Trump will slap tariffs on products from China.

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Its going to be Trumps view on China that matters now. For the next four years at least, not a penny of US pension money will go to China or Hong Kong. Other than Japan, nowhere else in Asia is big enough or has the breadth to absorb it, said Neil Newman, head strategist at Astris Advisory Japan.

--With assistance from Momoka Yokoyama, Winnie Hsu and Alice French.

(Updates market prices)

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Japanese authorities want the conveyor-belt road to run between Tokyo and Osaka.

As well as tackling a trucker shortage, the road could reduce carbon emissions.

Test runs are expected to begin in 2027 and it could be up and running by the mid-2030s.

Japan is planning to build what it describes as a "conveyor-belt road" between the cities of Tokyo and Osaka to address a shortage of truck drivers.

The idea is that giant containers on pallets will be placed on a blocked-off, secure conveyor belt in the middle of the highway. Automated forklifts will be used to load and unload goods.

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A video made by the Japanese government shows how it might work.

AP News reported that a trial for the project, also known as an "auto-flow road," will begin in 2027 or 2028. The aim is to have full operations underway by the mid-2030s.

According to Japan News, the system could do the same amount of work as 25,000 truck drivers each day.

The publication said such a system linking Tokyo to Osaka, 320 miles (515km) away, would cost up to 3.7 trillion or nearly $24 billion.

Yuri Endo, a senior deputy director overseeing the project at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, told AP that the project will allow for a "24-hour automated and unmanned transportation system."

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"We need to be innovative with the way we approach roads," Endo said.

She added that, as well as helping combat a shortage of delivery drivers, the road could help reduce carbon emissions.

According to a recent Nomura Research Institute study cited by Kyodo News, Japan will have 36% fewer truck drivers than needed to meet the country's logistical demands in 2030.

The number of truck drivers is expected to fall from 660,000 in the fiscal year of 2020 to 480,000 in fiscal 2030, the think tank said.

"It will be necessary to improve the efficiency of logistics in order to avoid serious economic effects," Kazuyuki Kobayashi, the institute's logistics consulting group manager, said earlier this year.

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The shortage of truck drivers is partly due to an aging population. However, it is worsening due to laws introduced in April that limit the amount of overtime drivers can work.

According to government estimates, if the truck driver shortage remains unaddressed, it could leave a third of all cargo undelivered and leave a $76 billion dent in Japan's economy by 2030.

It follows similar systems being considered by Switzerland, which would involve self-driving pods on an underground pathway, and London, which is weighing up an automated transport system using low-cost linear motors, AP reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
JASPER COUNTY, Mo.  The 2024 general election may end up being historic for several reasons, on both the national and local levels.

A record number of voters have cast ballots before todays polls opened.

Missouri allows early in-person voting starting two weeks before election day.

And while those who cast their ballots today at the Jasper County courthouse in Carthage say theyre excited to have taken part in what may be a historic event, they wont miss the political ads.

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They say today is about setting an example for the next generation.

Ive always taught my kids the importance of this, and I can remember taking my kids with me to vote when they were, I still had to hold them in my arms so, this has always been important to our family, said Randy Shanks-Jasper County resident.

Its important to come out today to we get to dictate our future and our childrens future, and I think its important that we stand for what we believe is right, said Andrea Snyder, Jasper County resident.

Now that theyve voted, both people say they are anxious to see who wins.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Multibillionaire Jeff Bezos congratulated former President Donald Trump and wished him all success in leading and uniting the America we all love following his election win this week.

No nation has bigger opportunities, the Amazon founder and owner of The Washington Post said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Wednesday morning.

The business magnate last month was accused of spiking the Posts endorsement of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris over Trump, causing several staffers to resign and reader subscriptions to plummet.

Jeff Bezos has wished former President Donald Trump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love following his election victory. Rodin Eckenroth via Getty Images

It was the first time since 1976 that the Post did not endorse a candidate. The papers editorial board endorsed Trumps opponents in 2016 and 2020, and Trump complained about the papers at-times-critical coverage of him.

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Bezos defended the papers decision not to endorse a candidate, claiming newspaper endorsements are pointless to voters and they only demonstrate bias.

Shortly after news of the spiked endorsement broke, The Associated Press reported that Trump met with leaders from Bezos aerospace company Blue Origin in Austin, Texas, raising speculation that the papers silence was part of a deal between the parties.

A quote from Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post, is seen displayed on a glass wall in the newspaper's Washington, D.C., newsroom in 2016. Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

Trump waited to make sure that Bezos did what he said he was going to do  and then met with the Blue Origin people, columnist Robert Kagan, who resigned as the Posts editor-at-large following the news, told the Daily Beast. Which tells us that there was an actual deal made, meaning that Bezos communicated, or through his people, communicated directly with Trump, and they set up this quid pro quo.

Bezos last post on X before his Wednesday well-wishes also praised Trump.

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In July, he wrote that the former president showed tremendous grace and courage in the midst of an assassination attempt at his campaign rally.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPTs parent company OpenAI, also joined in on congratulating Trump on social media.

We have great opportunities ahead of us as a country. Looking forward to working with you and your administration, Zuckerberg wrote on Threads.

I wish for his huge success in the job, Altman separately added on X.

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Jeff Bezos has lead the way among billionaires in lining up to congratulate Donald Trump on his election win.

The Washington Post and Amazon owner, whos less than two weeks removed from dramatically blocking his newspaper from endorsing Kamala Harris, wrote that Trump had completed an extraordinary political comeback.

No nation has bigger opportunities, Bezos posted to X, adding that he was wishing Trump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.

Donald Trump speaks with Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, and Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, during a 2017 meeting.

Bezos, whos worth an estimated $222 billion according to Forbes, correctly added that Trumps victory was decisive.

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The 60-year-olds statement came approximately nine hours after Mark Cuban, an outspoken supporter of Kamala Harris, made a post of his own to congratulate Trump and to concede defeatwell ahead of his preferred candidate doing so herself.

Congrats, Cuban wrote, tagging Trumps account on X. You won fair and square.

Cuban, worth $5.7 billion, also congratulated his rival Elon Musk on the big win, which the latter spent tens of millions to help usher in.

Elon Musk hit the trail with Donald Trump in his campaigns final weeks.

Musk, the worlds richest man with a net worth of $284 billion, was at Trumps Election Night watch party in Florida. He spent Tuesday night and Wednesday morning celebrating on X, the social media platform he bought for $44 billion in 2022.

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Satya Nadella, the Microsoft CEO whos worth around $1 billion by most estimations, congratulated Trump in a statement on X, writing: Congratulations President Trump, were looking forward to engaging with you and your administration to drive innovation forward that creates new growth and opportunity for the United States and the world.

Also among the uber-wealthy relishing in a Trump win this week was Bill Ackman. The 58-year-old hedge fund manager, whos worth $9 billion, was an outspoken backer of Trump this year. Even before Trumps win was called in early hours of Wednesday morning, he made a lengthy post before midnight on Tuesday to say plainly that he hopes this election will lead to an implosion of the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party proved itself to be fundamentally undemocratic, he said, citing Democrats attempts to prosecute Trump and conceal Joe Bidens declining health. It needs a complete reboot. The leadership should be thrown out and those responsible should apologize to the American people. 

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
Mega-billionaire Jeff Bezos congratulated Donald Trump on his election-night victory. The comments by the Amazon founder and one of the worlds richest people came after Bezos fomented a major backlash when he decreed that the Washington Post, the iconic newspaper he bought more than a decade ago, would not endorse a U.S. presidential candidate this year.

Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory, Bezos wrote in a post on X, the social platform owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.

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Bezos touched off a backlash after the Washington Post, less than two weeks before the Nov. 5 election, announced it would not endorse a candidate. That led more than 200,000 readers, about 8% of the newspapers base, to cancel their subscriptions over the course of three days, NPR reported.

Critics saw the Posts move to stop endorsing presidential candidates as an attempt by Bezos to curry favor with Trump in the event Trump won a second term.

In a Washington Post article posted Oct. 28, Bezos defended the move and insisted that no quid pro quo of any kind was involved in the decision to stop endorsing U.S. presidential candidates. Rather, according to Bezos, the decision was intended to bolster consumers trust in the Post amid a dramatic decline in consumers faith in mainstream news outlets.

Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election. No undecided voters in Pennsylvania are going to say, Im going with Newspaper As endorsement. None, Bezos wrote. What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and its the right one.

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Bezos acknowledged that Dave Limp, the CEO of Bezos aerospace company Blue Origin, did meet with Trump on Oct. 25 and that I sighed when I found out, because I knew it would provide ammunition to those who would like to frame this as anything other than a principled decision. According to Bezos, the fact is, I didnt know about the meeting beforehand. Even Limp didnt know about it in advance; the meeting was scheduled quickly that morning. There is no connection between it and our decision on presidential endorsements, and any suggestion otherwise is false.

The Posts editorial board had reportedly already drafted an endorsement of VP Kamala Harris before word came down last week that Bezos was ending the practice. This is cowardice, with democracy as its casualty, former Washington Post editor Marty Baron said about the papers decision in a post on X, adding, @realdonaldtrump will see this as an invitation to further intimidate owner @jeffbezos (and others). Disturbing spinelessness at an institution famed for courage.

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Super Micro Computer (SMCI) stock fell over 18% Wednesday after the artificial intelligence server maker's outlooks for earnings and sales in the current quarter missed Wall Street's estimates.

Additionally, Super Micro still hasn't filed its 10-K annual report, which it initially pushed back on Aug. 28. The company said it "remains unable at this time to predict when the Form 10-K will be filed."

The company said late on Tuesday that it expects adjusted earnings per share of $0.56 to $0.65 in its fiscal second quarter, below consensus estimates of $0.80, per Bloomberg data. Meanwhile, its forecast for net sales in a range of $5.5 billion to $6.1 billion was weaker than the $6.79 billion Wall Street had expected.

"Certainly, it looks like revenues aren't where they wanted them to be, either for the quarter they just reported or moving forward at the same time," Wedbush Securities equity research analyst Matt Bryson told Yahoo Finance.

Bryson added that uncertainty on who Super Micro will hire as its next auditor or when it will be able to file its 10-K annual filing remains a headwind for the stock.

"There's a whole lot of unknown here," Bryson said.

The earnings came less than a week after accounting firm Ernst & Young resigned as Super Micro's auditor. EY said in a filing it was "unwilling to be associated with the financial statements prepared by management."

Super Micro responded to EY's claims on Tuesday with a response from an independent special committee that had been investigating them.

"Following a three-month investigation led by Independent Counsel, the Committees investigation to date has found that the Audit Committee has acted independently and that there is no evidence of fraud or misconduct on the part of management or the Board of Directors," it said in a release. "The Committee is recommending a series of remedial measures for the Company to strengthen its internal governance and oversight functions, and the Committee expects to deliver the full report on the completed work this week or next."

Super Micro Computer logos at COMPUTEX Taipei. REUTERS/Ann Wang  Reuters / Reuters

EY's resignation came two months after a short report from Hindenburg Research alleged, among other things, "accounting manipulation" at the artificial intelligence highflier.

The stock rallied earlier in the year as investors cheered SMCI's prospects in the AI data center space; however, shares are now down more than 60% over the past six months.

In August, Hindenburg said its three-month investigation "found glaring accounting red flags, evidence of undisclosed related party transactions, sanctions and export control failures, and customer issues." The firm also disclosed it had taken a short position in Super Micro.
Democrat Adam Frisch, left, and Republican Jeff Hurd, right, are running in 2024 to represent Colorado's 3rd Congressional District. (Left, William Woody for Colorado Newsline; right, courtesy of Jeff Hurd for Colorado)

Republican Jeff Hurd won the race to represent Colorados 3rd Congressional District, beating Democrat Adam Frisch despite Frischs more than a $10 million fundraising advantage in the race to take the seat Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boeberts has represented since 2021.

Hurd, a Grand Junction attorney, led the race with 50.1% of the vote to Frischs 46.8% on Thursday. The Associated Press called the race at 10:10 a.m.

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Frisch, a former Aspen City Council member, was by far Colorados best-funded congressional candidate.

He broke records while campaigning against Boebert and has continued to lead candidates across the state in quarterly fundraising totals even after she switched districts.

The district, one of three seats that were open in Colorado this election cycle, has been represented by Boebert since 2021. After winning reelection by just 546 votes against Frisch in 2022, Boebert switched districts this year to run in the more conservative 4th Congressional District on the other side of the state. She won her race in the 4th on Tuesday.

Both Frisch and Hurd started their campaigns contrasting themselves as sensible alternatives to Boebert. Frisch identifies as a conservative Democrat and had counted on appealing to Colorados unaffiliated voters.

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Hurd works as a commercial and regulatory attorney at the Grand Junction office of Ireland Stapleton Pryor and Pascoe and is the former board chairman of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. He grew up in Grand Junction, and this is his first campaign for elected office.

Frisch and Hurd differed little on policy stances in their two debates, diverging mostly on abortion policy.

The 3rd District encompasses Colorados Western Slope and the southwest corner of the state, sweeping east to include Pueblo, Otero and Las Animas counties. It historically leans strongly to the right, according to a 2021 analysis of recent elections.

Editors note: This story was updated to reflect that The Associated Press called the race for Jeff Hurd on Thursday.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Jenniffer Gonzalez of Puerto Rico's pro-statehood New Progressive Party was leading polls on Wednesday in a historic gubernatorial election that could see her party secure a third consecutive term for the first time.

Gonzalez had 39%, or 438,183 votes with 91% of precincts reporting, according to Puerto Ricos State Elections Commission.

Coming in second so far was Juan Dalmau, who ran for Puerto Ricos Independence Party and Citizen Victory Movement. He obtained 33% or 364,145 of votes, making him the first candidate from outside the two main parties in the island to finish second in Puerto Ricos general election.

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No winner has been certified, Jessica Padilla, the commissions alternate president, said at a news conference early Wednesday.

There are still votes in process of being counted, she said.

On Tuesday, the commission is scheduled to start reviewing all votes and eventually certify final results, although it's too early to say when that would happen.

While Gonzalez claimed a win, Dalmau said his party would wait until every vote had been counted.

This is the beginning of a glorious transformation of our country, he said late Tuesday. Thank you for helping me make history.

The Popular Democratic Party, a major party that supports the islands status as a U.S. territory, was pushed into third place as its candidate Jesus Manuel Ortiz obtained 21% or 233,470 votes. Meanwhile, Javier Jimenez of Project Dignity, a conservative party, obtained 7% of the vote.

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The winner will replace Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, who was defeated by Gonzalez in an upset in a primary election held in June by their New Progressive Party.

Im going to be a governor for all Puerto Ricans, Gonzalez said late Tuesday, promising to represent all those who voted for her, against her or didn't vote at all.

In the race to become Puerto Ricos new representative in U.S. Congress, Pablo Jose Hernandez of the Popular Democratic Party was leading. He obtained 46% of the vote compared with 35% for William Villafane of the pro-statehood party, according to partial results.

Dashed hopes

Dalmaus strong showing was a sign of a growing body of voters who are giving up on the islands two established parties.

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A growing number of voters old and young have said they were tired of persistent corruption, chronic power outages and a lack of affordable housing, among other things. Their search for new leaders has begun to loosen the hold that the New Progressive Party and the Popular Democratic Party had over Puerto Ricos politics for decades.

Voters like Aisha Rodriguez Diaz, 37, said that Tuesdays election gave them hope that a third-party candidate would win soon.

Theyve already made history, she said, referring to the alliance between Puerto Ricos Independence Party and the Citizen Victory Movement.

A question of status

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On Tuesday, voters also considered a seventh nonbinding referendum about Puerto Ricos political status.

It offered three options: statehood, independence and independence with free association, under which issues like foreign affairs, U.S. citizenship and use of the U.S. dollar would be negotiated.

Statehood obtained 57% of votes followed by independence with 31%, the first time that option clinched second place. More than 165,000 ballots were left blank, with 91% of precincts reporting.

Regardless of the referendums outcome, a change in status requires approval from the U.S. Congress.

Party officials have long said that despite being a part of the United States. Puerto Rico receives unequal treatment when it comes to Medicaid, Medicare and other federal programs.
Sen.-elect Andy Kim enters his victory party in Cherry Hill on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Ed Murray for New Jersey Monitor)

Rep. Andy Kim will ascend to the U.S. Senate seat once held by Bob Menendez, capping a tumultuous campaign that reshaped New Jerseys ballots and politics.

Kim defeated his GOP opponent, hotelier Curtis Bashaw, in a race where Kim, a former U.S. State Department and Obama White House staffer, was considered a heavy favorite. The victory extends New Jersey Democrats U.S. Senate winning streak to 52 years.

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Kim chose to give his victory speech at a Cherry Hill hotel that housed his family after they moved to New Jersey during the congressmans childhood.

There have been only a few moments in my life where Ive felt the weight of the moment as I do right now, like a gravity generated by the magnitude of the consequence in our country, Kim said.

The senator-elect will be the first Asian American to represent New Jersey in the upper chamber of Congress. He will replace Sen. George Helmy (D), whom Gov. Phil Murphy appointed to Menendezs seat after Menendez resigned on the heels of his federal convictions for bribery and other charges.

Because Helmy was appointed to the seat to fill a vacancy, state law allows Kim to take the seat after state election officials certify his victory. The deadline for them to certify election results is Dec. 5.

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Kim, a Burlington County resident born to Korean immigrants, was the first New Jersey public official to call for Menendezs resignation after the then-senator was indicted last September.

Kim has represented New Jerseys 3rd Congressional District since ousting Rep. Tom MacArthur (R) in 2018 amid a Democratic wave that left Democrats with 11 of the states 12 House seats.

He gained a national profile in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, when he was photographed cleaning up debris left by rioters who sought to stop the certification of President Joe Bidens 2020 victory.

Weve shown the country that theres a better way to be able to do this. It could mean a politics that lifts people up, that gives people hope, that delivers for everyone, Kim said Tuesday. It could mean a politics that changes the trajectory of our nation and builds a brighter future.

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Kims Senate campaign was initially met with opposition from New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy, who entered the race with backing from numerous Democratic county chairs  endorsements that promised her the coveted county line on primary ballots.

The primary balloting practice grouped candidates by slogan and, opponents argued, lent an advantage to party-backed candidates who found themselves in a single row or column with others endorsed by party officials for separate offices.

In February, Kim sued clerks in the 19 New Jersey counties that use county-line ballots, arguing the ballot design violated First Amendment protections on free association and impacted election results in violation of a separate provision in the U.S. Constitution.

Days after Murphy withdrew her candidacy in March, a U.S. District Court judge barred the use of lines in Democratic primaries. Most county clerks named in the suit have since settled Kims suit and agreed not to use the county line on ballots moving forward.

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With Murphy out of the race, Kim sailed to the Democratic nomination, easily defeating activists Larry Hamm and Patricia Campos-Medina. He entered the general election cycle as the clear favorite.

To my campaign team who carried out our message of change going forward, I know that many of you took risks to join this campaign. You had people doubt your choice to join this campaign. You worked long hours and struggled and stressed about the challenges we confronted. I hope you take pride in this moment, Kim said.

GOP Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw speaking to supporters after losing to Rep. Andy Kim. (Hal Brown for New Jersey Monitor)

The GOP had backed Bashaw, a pro-abortion rights and openly gay Republican who put more than $2 million of his own money behind his Senate bid.

Bashaw told reporters Tuesday shortly after the race was called for Kim that the acrimony in our politics is not where we want to be.

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I think New Jersey is a moderate state of people that just want to get things done, and so Im proud of having our own lane in this race throughout the entire time, Bashaw said.

Despite his moderate positions, Bashaw faced an uphill climb in a state that last elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate in 1972 and where there were 905,748 more registered Democrats than Republicans on Election Day, according to state data.

Bashaw conceded the race Tuesday night.

I believe we have fought a good fight. This race has played by the rules of our American values, keeping it civil and focusing on the issues. I am proud and grateful for the commitment, dedication, and tireless effort of our amazing campaign team who focused on our mission of restoring hope for New Jersey, he said during his concession speech.

Dana DiFilippo contributed.

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Normally a reliable blue bastion in federal elections, New Jersey surprisingly put up swing state numbers on Tuesday, coming the closest it has in a generation to casting its electoral votes for a Republican president.

Vice President Kamala Harris still won the state over Donald Trump, but the former president gained major ground in New Jersey. Having lost the state by double digits in 2016 and 2020, Trump closed election night down just five points  the closest presidential showing for a Republican since George H.W. Bush lost by 2.4 points in 1992. Tuesday night's margin is more striking considering registered Democratic voters in New Jersey grew threefold over Republicans since then and now have a 900,000 voter advantage.

Trump rallied in South Jersey and suggested throughout the campaign it would be competitive statewide, saying as recently as last weekend a little birdie told him he was leading Harris in the state.

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Trumps comeback was widespread  not only tearing down the Blue Wall and recapturing Sun Belt states, but also making gains in Democratic-leaning New York and deep-blue Massachusetts.

But few places turned as far to the right as New Jersey, though the bottom-line results dont make it evident. Republicans and Democrats alike looked agape at the numbers.

We had a beautiful day yesterday, said Jose Arango, the Republican Party chair of urban Hudson County  a deeply Democratic stronghold with a 41 percent Hispanic population.

Hudson County, though still Democratic, appears to have shifted from 26 percent for Trump in 2020 to about 35 percent this year. Neighboring Passaic County, traditionally Democratic and also with a large Hispanic population, was actually carried by Trump. Both counties contributed to a far closer than expected House race in the long-Democratic 9th District, where Democrat Nellie Pou won by just 4 points over Republican Billy Prempeh  who lost by 34 points in 2020 (before redistricting).

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We certainly saw a wave, a red wave, around the country last night, Pou said in an interview. When you think about it, when I started this campaign nine weeks ago after the unfortunate death of [former Democratic Rep.] Bill Pascrell Jr., I knew it was going to be a challenge to put together a campaign so fast.

Passaic also has one of the largest Arab American populations in the country and members of that community expressed frustration last year with the staunch support for Israel by its former representative, the late Pascrell Jr. It wasnt clear whether Arab American voters mobilized Tuesday for Prempeh or against Pou, the handpicked successor to Pascrell.

"I think people are at a point where they're willing to use any means electorally to get their voice out. I think this election showed that, said Ali Aljarrah, senior adviser and state lead for the Council on American-Islamic Relations Action New Jersey. It's not exclusive to the Arab or Muslim community. We see the Hispanic community even in Hudson County go rightwards."

Arango said that working-class Hispanics in Hudson County, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, are suffering from high rent and high prices, even as many of its neighborhoods have become thriving and well-to-do New York City bedroom communities. New Jersey as a whole, he and other Republicans noted, is an expensive state with some of the highest taxes in the country. A Fox News exit poll showed 56 percent of New Jersey voters who favored Trump said the economy and jobs were their top issue.



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The Democratic Party talks about helping the poor, but if you talk about Hudson County, its segregated and the working class, and the liberal enclaves are basically the people who are supporting Wall Street in the places they cant afford the rent. Theres no affordable housing, said Arango, who was born in Cuba and grew up in Spain. All that together, it was like a hurricane.

Despite the close margin and some Republican victories at the local level, Democrats managed to hold onto all nine of their House seats and a U.S. Senate seat, which hasnt gone Republican in 52 years.

This is a symbolic victory. I dont think any offices go along with symbolic victories for Republicans by cutting it close in New Jersey, said Democratic strategist Dan Bryan. That said, Democrats need to take this extremely seriously by looking at whether this is an individual one-off or if there is something deeper and more systematic.

(Bob Hugin, the Republican State Chair, noted that Democrats won the redistricting process in 2021 and locked in a map that helped preserve most of their incumbents).

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And as shocking as the rightward shift is in the state, its not without recent precedent. In 2021, when Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy was at the top of the ticket, he carried the state by just three points over Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli. Republicans also gained six seats in the Legislature that year, with barely-funded truck driver Ed Durr famously ousting Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney.

I think you saw the beginnings of this in 21. Theres a frustration by voters in New Jersey on economic stuff, on crime issues, and I also think theres an underbelly in the stuff Trump tapped into culturally, said Republican strategist Chris Russell, who advises Ciattarelli, whos running again in 2025. People are tired of being told theyre bad people, racists, bigots or Nazis  all these crazy aspersions that are cast on people who support Trump or things that he believes."

Murphy on Wednesday offered a sober reflection of the possible impacts that the 2021 contest he narrowly won. In some respects, our reelection might have been the canary in the coal mine, Murphy said at a press conference.

Most Democrats didnt fear those results would be repeated in federal elections, since New Jerseyans have long been willing to elect Republicans to state-level offices and the election took place before the pandemic had faded. Indeed, Democrats in New Jersey lost just one House seat the following year and reclaimed all their legislative losses in 2023.

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Durr, the truck driver who defeated Sweeney, lost reelection in 2023. Now hes running for governor in 2025. It mirrors what happened this year, Durr said of the 2021 election. It mirrors what has been taking place in the federal policies by [President Joe] Biden and Harris with ignoring things and worrying more about Zelenskyys border in Ukraine rather than our own border and illegals.

For Democrats  2021s close gubernatorial election notwithstanding  New Jersey has a history of electing governors from the opposite party of the last national presidential winner. But Republicans can look at the presidential margin and see evidence that Black and Hispanic voters long out of their reach are listening to their message.

Atlantic County, which runs along the Jersey Shore and includes Atlantic City, voted for a Republican in a presidential race for the first time in decades. Michael Suleiman, the countys Democratic Party chair, said that while Democrats have made inroads with white, college-educated voters, they are leaving behind those without advanced degrees and communities of color.

Our messaging needs to resonate with them, he said in an interview. We can't just have messaging that resonates with the affluent, elite liberals, quite frankly. He also wondered if Democrats have taken Black voters for granted. We need to earn it.
Andy Kim soared to victory after a roller-coaster campaign in which he capitalized on voters resentments over New Jerseys nepotistic politics and powerful party bosses. (Sophie Nieto-Munoz | New Jersey Monitor)

Rep. Andy Kim (D-03) is poised to become the first Korean American senator in U.S. history after the Associated Press projected he defeated his Republican opponent, hotelier Curtis Bashaw, in Tuesdays general election.

Kim, the Boston-born and Burlington County-raised son of Korean immigrants, soared to victory after a roller-coaster campaign in which he capitalized on voters long-simmering resentments over New Jerseys notoriously nepotistic politics and powerful party bosses.

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He was the first Democrat to announce a bid for the seat in September 2023, just a day after its longtime Democratic incumbent, former Sen. Bob Menendez, got federally indicted in a global bribery scheme. But he soon found himself with a formidable foe  Tammy Murphy, the governors wife, who party bosses quickly lined up to back after she announced her bid for the seat.

Public backlash was swift, and Kim took on the party bosses in court, challenging New Jerseys unique ballot design that gives an advantage to party favorites who snag whats known as the county line.

His subsequent court victories, along with Murphys withdrawal from the race and Menendezs corruption conviction and resignation last summer, made the past year one of the most tumultuous in New Jersey politics.

Kim, 42, will be the first U.S. senator from South Jersey in over a half-century. His win wasnt surprising: New Jersey Republicans have not won a contest for U.S. Senate in New Jersey since the state reelected Sen. Clifford Case in 1972. Kim also raised and spent more cash than Bashaw.

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When he launched his campaign, Kim vowed to restore trust and integrity in government  a promise that even cynical voters believed, given the AP photo that went viral of Kim cleaning up the Capitol after the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Kim, a father of two young boys and a former diplomat, is a three-term Congressman in the 3rd district who was first elected to the House in 2018, when he defeated the Republican incumbent, Rep. Tom MacArthur, by a slim margin in a district Donald Trump won in 2016.

In Junes primary, Kim beat two other Democrats, civil rights leader Larry Hamm and labor activist Patricia Campos-Medina. Thursday, besides Bashaw, Kim also beat four third-party candidates, Kenneth Kaplan, a Libertarian; Christina Khalil of the Green Party; Joanne Kuniansky of the Socialist Party; and Patricia Mooneyham, an independent.

Kim is expected to assume his Senate seat a bit early to replace Sen. George Helmy, a former chief of staff for Gov. Phil Murphy, who was sworn in in September to serve Menendezs unexpired term until a general election victor is certified.

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State Sen. Nellie Pou will succeed Rep. Bill Pascrell, who died in August, as the 9th District's House representative. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

Nellie Pou will be the first Latina to represent New Jersey in Congress after a tighter-than-expected race was announced early Wednesday afternoon.

Pou, 68, a state senator, jumped into the race after Rep. Bill Pascrell died Aug. 21 following a prolonged hospital stay. She was selected to replace him on the ballot in the 9th Congressional District at a special convention one week later.

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Pou won with 50.6% of the vote, or 123,772 ballots, while 112,936 votes (about 46%) went to Republican Billy Prempeh, the Associated Press reported Wednesday, with 95% of the vote in.

Thats closer than the margin between Pascrell and Prempeh in 2020, when Pascrell took 82,457 and Prempeh took 65,365, according to election data.

Pascrell, also a Democrat, had been seeking his 15th term in Congress. The 9th District, largely a collection of towns in Bergen and Passaic counties, is heavily Latino and Hispanic, with the community making up more than 40% of the population.

Pou has served in the state Legislature since 1997. There, she also succeeded Pascrell after he left the Assembly to serve in Congress. Pou moved to the state Senate in 2012, where she currently serves as the majority caucus chair. She also chairs the chambers commerce committee and serves as vice-chair of the judiciary committee.

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She has been the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus Chair since 2006. She was the first Latina elected to represent the 35th Legislative District.

Pou was born and raised in Paterson to parents who moved here from Puerto Rico in 1953, according to her campaign website. She attended Paterson Public Schools and, until recently, worked several different public jobs in Paterson.

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Assemblyman Herb Conaway, a physician, defeated Republican Rajesh Mohan to win the House seat now held by Sen.-elect Andy Kim. (Hal Brown for New Jersey Monitor)

Voters in the 3rd Congressional District elected Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington) to fill the seat left open after current occupant Rep. Andy Kim ran for U.S. Senate.

Conaway, a physician who chairs the Assemblys health committee, defeated Rajesh Mohan, another physician, to claim the seat. The Associated Press called the race for Conaway at 2:28 a.m.

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The 3rd District grew less competitive after congressional lines were redrawn in late 2021. It shed heavily Republican towns in Ocean County in favor of equally Democratic parts of Mercer County and more contested Monmouth County towns.

Conaway has been a member of the Assembly since 1998 and was a captain in the United States Air Force Medical Corps.

Democrats have held the 3rd District since Kim won its seat in 2018, ousting two-term incumbent Tom MacArthur amid a blue wave that left Democrats with 11 of the House delegations 12 seats.

The assemblymans victory will trigger a special convention to fill his seat in the state Legislature. Democratic county committee members in the district will select a successor to fill out the remainder of his unexpired term.

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Republican Gov. Jim Justice is projected to win the West Virginia Senate race, defeating former Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott (D) and accomplishing a long-sought GOP goal in the Appalachian state: total control of its federal offices.

Flipping the Mountain State seat marks a key victory for Republicans in their quest to wrest back control of the U.S. Senate. They need to win only one more seat out of a handful of competitive races across the country to gain a majority in the upper chamber.

Justice, 73, is a former billionaire coal executive who was elected governor in 2016 after switching parties and endorsing Donald Trump. Hes held high approval marks in the ruby-red state thanks in part to his folksy demeanor, handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Babydog, a 62-pound English bulldog that never leaves his side.

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Addressing the Republican National Convention earlier this summer, Justice praised Trump as an incredible man.

He genuinely cares. He cares about all of us. Every last one of us. And he loves this nation beyond good sense, the governor said in Milwaukee with Babydog seated onstage next to him.

West Virginia Gov. and Senate candidate Jim Justice and his English bulldog, Babydog, are seen on the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 16. Tom Williams via Getty Images

Justice has struggled with business debts and attendance issues during his time in office. Some Republicans expressed concerns about his health, including his ability to walk or stand for long periods of time. The latter issue could pose a problem for Republicans in the Senate if they win a narrow majority and require full attendance to vote on controversial judicial nominees or legislation.

Republicans dodged a potential setback late last year when Trump endorsed Justice over his conservative primary challenger, West Virginia Rep. Alex Mooney, avoiding a bruising brawl for the nomination. But it was incumbent Sen. Joe Manchins decision to retire that sealed the fate of the race in a state Trump won overwhelmingly in the 2020 presidential election, dealing a huge blow to Democrats odds of winning the Senate majority next year.

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Manchin, who left the Democratic Party earlier this year and registered as an independent, was appointed to the Senate in 2010 to replace the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D) and went on to win reelection twice on the strength of his moderate brand. Though he often voted with Democrats, including on judicial nominations, he was a regular thorn in the side of President Joe Bidens expansive domestic agenda, blocking many of his ambitious proposals.

Announcing his retirement last year, Manchin said he believed in my heart of hearts that I have accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia. He later flirted with running for president on a third-party ticket but ruled it out.

With Manchin out of the race, Justice felt confident enough about his chances that he did little campaigning and refused to debate his Democratic opponent, telling reporters he was too busy serving as governor.

The people of this state know me. They know me, and they know me really well. I have done almost zero campaigning, Justice said.

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All Elliott could do is shake his head.

One of the frustrating parts of the campaign is all the problems the governor has, for whatever reason, does not seem to be sinking in with your average voter, Elliott told The Associated Press.

See full results from the West Virginia Senate election here.
The stupidity and selfishness of Joe Biden cost Kamala Harris the US election, a major Democrat donor has said as a bitter blame game began after her humiliating election defeat.

Whitney Tilson, a Wall Street investor, said: Off the top of my head, right now, heres how Im allocating the blame.

Fifty per cent on Biden for stupidly and selfishly deciding to run again and then not withdrawing earlier.

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He later told the Telegraph: It saddens me that he [Mr Biden] will be remembered as the guy who saved us from four years of Trump and then now hes given us another four years.

His remarks were part of the soul-searching on Wednesday morning after what was a torrid evening for Democrat donors and officials.

As the dust settled, aides from the Harris campaign started briefing that Mr Biden was the only reason for the vice-presidents defeat.

Kamala Harris embraces Joe Biden - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Democrat sources told The Telegraph that Ms Harris was forced to inherit a campaign from a deeply unpopular president and had struggled to forge a different path from her boss.

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A campaign aide told Politico: We ran the best campaign we could, considering Joe Biden was president. Joe Biden is the singular reason Kamala Harris and Democrats lost.

Some of the sharpest criticism was reserved for the party machine of concealing the truth about the outgoing presidents mental fitness.

Why did Joe Biden hold on for as long as he did? He should have not concealed his (health) and dropped out a lot sooner, one party donor told the Reuters news agency.

The party lied to the American people about the cognitive health and fitness of the president, Bill Ackman, a longtime Democratic donor who endorsed Trump, added.

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Before his untimely withdrawal from the contest, Mr Bidens cognitive abilities had been called into question by his debate performance versus Trump and a series of gaffes, including referring to Volodymyr Zelensky as President Putin.

His delayed decision to step down left Ms Harris only 107 days between becoming the new Democratic nominee and election day.

However, both her campaign and the White House were confident going into decision day.

Internal polling by both camps suggested Ms Harris was on an upwards trajectory and only gaining new voters the longer the contest went on.

Campaign emails to the most important backers emphasised a surprise poll showing Ms Harris up in the state of Iowa as the main reason for their confidence, sources told the Telegraph.

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That study changed the narrative of the last 48 hours of the campaign, pollster Frank Luntz said. It turned out to be 16 points off the mark.

The positivity only triggered discontent among the campaigners who had been buoyed by the surveys.

But one Democratic National Committee official said: They feel lied to by the campaign.

Her supporters gathered at Howard University, her alma mater, where she was hosting her election night party.

Campaign officials and volunteers mingled in the ever-growing queue for fried chicken and Mac n Cheese from Chick-fil-A.

Even early Democrat losses in the state of West Virginia were brushed off as merely an inconvenience by one group of staffers, as they dipped their nuggets in the fast food chains special sauce.

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Outside, a lectern perched on a stage in front of an illuminated Frederick Douglass Hall was there firmly in the belief Ms Harris would at some point deliver her victory speech.

The roads around the university were completely locked down, only adding to the sense of expectation the Democrat would arrive at the venue, if she wasnt already hiding out in one of its historical red-bricked buildings.

Ms Harriss candidacy sparked a unique sense of intrigue and hope. She could have been Howards first alumni to take the keys to the Oval Office. For students at the traditionally black university, the prospect of a Trump presidency would usher in a bleak period for race relations in the country.

Supporters, students and campaigners danced along to a collection of DJs entertaining the crowd.

Kamala Harris made her concession speech from Howard University, her old alma mater - AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

The latest members of Ms Harris Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority were dressed in their traditional salmon pink suits, hanging off every song played.

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But as the clock struck 11pm that atmosphere dissipated almost entirely.

A CNN election night update was broadcast on the three big screens erected around the Yard at Howard.

Star election night anchor John King said he would rather be Trump than Ms Harris as predictions tilted in the Republicans favour.

Triumphant flag-waving was replaced by her supporters thrusting their hands into their pockets or folding them tightly across their chests.

What were once jubilant whoops and hollers at forecasts suggesting Ms Harris was on course to win another state were replaced with an eerie silence.

Diminishing crowd

Some people were sobbing at the prospect of a Trump presidency, others were slumped in their arms leaning on the metal fences erected to protect the stage.

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At one point, the only cheer came from a campaign official, signified by an official lanyard, trying to whip up the dying crowd.

As midnight arrived, what was left of the diminishing crowd was trying to maintain the party atmosphere.

Exactly 53 minutes later, only a handful of hardened campaigners were left, shell-shocked by the result.

Pictures taken less than an hour apart showed what was a heaving crowd in front of the stage transforming into an almost empty venue.

They had just been told Ms Harris would not be addressing the crowd, some of whom had been waiting more than eight hours for her to emerge.

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It brought back bitter memories of Hillary Clinton, who also pulled out of her election night speech in 2016 in the face of a looming defeat by Trump.

The few campaigners who were left started to discuss where it had all gone wrong, but were less willing to blame Mr Biden for the defeat.

One campaign source, who had spent the final weeks in the campaign in the swing state of Pennsylvania, lamented Elon Musks intervention.

They painted a picture of how Democrat headquarters could soon turn their focus on the South African-born tech billionaire for their defeat, rather than Mr Biden or Ms Harriss performance.

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Mr Musk had run the ground campaign in Pennsylvania, which was arguably the most important swing state to win, in the final weeks of the campaign.

His influence had been noticed and probably not accounted for, the campaign source said.

We need to understand the impact of Elon Musk on our country, she said. Elon Musk cant run for office but he can be president without being president.

The Tesla founder emerged as Trumps most fervent backer, using his America PAC to raise money and pour funds into door-knockers sent to Pennsylvania to convince voters to come out and cast their ballot.

Musk can do what he wants

Elon Musk can do whatever he wants now, he has bought our democracy and can dismantle it, the source added.

After the initial blame game plays out, the focus, according to other Democrats, will now switch to the future of the party.

Some blamed Ms Harriss decision to appointed Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor, as her running mate.

The leading alternative had been Josh Shapiro, the charismatic and popular governor of all-important Pennsylvania, which was ultimately won by Trump.

Lindy Li, a Pennsylvania-based senior Democratic official, told Fox News: People are wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket. And not only in terms of Pennsylvania.

Bernie Sanders also launched a scathing attack on the Democrats.

The Left-wing independent senator from Vermont, and former Democrat, said: It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.

Mr Sanders ran for president unsuccessfully in 2016 and 2020 and is considered something of a figurehead by Left-wing activists in the US, and progressives in the Democratic Party.

The biggest mistake, sources say, was allowing Ms Harris to take over the mantle without the challenge of a primary to discover whether she was the correct candidate.

Where Harris went wrong

A pensive Ms Harris monitors election results backstage - AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Failed to say what she will do differently

When Ms Harris herself was asked what she would do differently to the Biden administration, all she could muster was to point out that obviously, were different people.

Ms Harris sat in a grey blazer and her signature string of pearls, hands clasped together politely before her coffee cup.

What do you think would be the biggest specific difference between your presidency and a Biden presidency, The View host Sunny Hostin asked her, raising a hand to put an emphasis on specific.

It was her big opportunity to distinguish herself from Mr Biden, and she failed to summon a single idea.

There is not a thing that comes to mind, Ms Harris said when asked if there was something she would have handled differently. Ive been a part of most of the decisions that have had an impact.

Too little too late for media blitz

One of the reasons why some voters may feel they have not had an opportunity to discover who the real Ms Harris is could be because of her media-shy communications strategy.

Her presidential campaign may have started late, but her media blitz started later.

While Trump was speaking to everyone from video game streamers to Elon Musk, the Democratic nominee was maintaining a low profile.

Instead of set-piece interviews, Ms Harris opted for staged moments controlled by her campaign, avoiding questions from reporters, dodging scrutiny and leaving little room for mistakes  but also little room to sell herself to the public.

Ms Harris being interviewed by Bret Baier on Fox News

She would often be vague on policy and push instead to tell more colourful stories about her past.

She appeared to have devised a careful strategy to target younger voters, people of colour and women.

At Howard, Wesley Bell, 18, a nursing student, said: In my perspective, shes done a good job at marketing herself towards Gen Z and getting them to vote, getting their voice out.

Ms Canady, a fellow student, added: Her target audience [was] younger people, people of colour, women and minorities.

But because of narrow focus, Fox News, the pro-Trump broadcaster, frequently published articles highlighting the stark contrast in the number of interviews or questions taken by both candidates. Each showed the Republican to be leading the way.

Trump said her shy, quiet approach showed she was not fit for office.

Ms Harris is set to speak later on Wednesday to concede the presidency to Trump. She is then expected to take some time away from public life.

Late strategy shift

It took until the final weeks of the campaign before Ms Harris decided to dramatically shift her strategy.

She appeared on CBS News 60 Minutes, drank a beer on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and allowed herself to be grilled by shock jock Howard Stern and Fox Newss Bret Baier.

Ms Harris appears on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert - CBS Photo Archive

During the final weekend of the campaign, she appeared on the comedy show Saturday Night Live in a skit that portrayed Mr Biden as senile.

Her last-ditch media blitz has allowed Ms Harris to somewhat flip the narrative, throwing the spotlight on Trump and his mental and physical fitness.

But in a contest that saw almost 200 million voters come out, her lack of visibility to the mass audiences potentially proved a decisive factor.

The wrong running mate

Ms Harris chose Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor, to be her vice-presidential candidate.

She overlooked Josh Shapiro, the politically talented governor of Pennsylvania.

Both men were touted as running mates because of their credentials in the Midwest, a key area for election victory.

But having lost Pennsylvania, Ms Harriss decision to pick Mr Walz appears to be massively flawed.

Election experts say Mr Shapiro wrote the guide on how to win Pennsylvania, probably the most important of the swing states, by pushing a narrative of governing as a moderate and proving that Democrats dont look down on their voters.

Nate Silver, the pollster, said Ms Harris had missed a big opportunity in not selecting him as her running mate.

Lindy Li, a member of the DNC National Finance Committee, said: People are wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket. And not only in terms of Pennsylvania.

Hes famously moderate. So that would have signalled to the American people that she is not the San Francisco liberal that Trump said she was.

Instead, Ms Harris settled for a historically gaffe-prone politician, who did more to unsettle American voters than win them over.

A series of misleading claims by the Minnesota governor that did nothing to fight back against the aspersions that Ms Harris and her running mate lacked authenticity, and said anything for votes.

Reports surfaced that Mr Walz had claimed he was in Hong Kong in the spring of 1989 during protests in Chinas Tiananmen Square. Publicly available evidence suggests he was not.

Ms Harriss decision to pick Mr Walz as her running mate appears to be massively flawed - Erik S Lesser/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mr Walz also faced scrutiny over his military service after claiming he had carried weapons in war.

He never actually saw active service, according to his service records.

He retired from the National Guard before his battalion was deployed to Iraq in 2006. His departure from his unit actually came in July 2005, two months before it was alerted of the deployment.

A decades-old drink driving conviction also re-emerged to haunt the Democratic campaign.

The 1995 arrest first became an issue in 2006 when Mr Walz was running for Congress. At the time, his campaign blamed his drunken appearance on hearing loss from serving in a field artillery brigade in the National Guard.

In a later political campaign, Mr Walz told an entirely different story, admitting he had a problem with sobriety, leading him to quit drinking.

While a vice-presidential candidate is unlikely to sway the election results too much, Mr Walz opened himself up to attacks from the Trump campaign.

Unable to flip the narrative

Trump was successful in tarring Ms Harris as an untrustworthy candidate  and the mud stuck.

The Republican whipped up a scandal over whether his rival had worked in a McDonalds while a student in the early 1980s into a national news story.

She was never able to provide concrete evidence that she worked at the fast food chain, which was turned into a stunt by the Republicans when Trump visited a branch in Philadelphia.

Ive worked for 15 minutes more than Kamala, Trump said on a campaign stop at a McDonalds, where he manned the fryer and served at the drive-through.

Similar happened when Ms Harris was accused of plagiarism when it was alleged that sections of a book on crime were copied from various sources, including Wikipedia.

The Harris campaign said the allegations were a result of Right-wing operatives, but it was nonetheless damaging for her claims of integrity.

When push came to shove, Trump was the candidate who was able to land the most viral blows on his opponent, an important element of an election campaign that focused so much on two personalities.

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Republican Joe Deters won the statewide election Tuesday to remain on Ohio's Supreme Court, but he didn't fare so well on his old home turf of Hamilton County.

Deters, the former county prosecutor and powerful GOP politician, lost Hamilton County to Democrat Melody Stewart, 53.5% to 46.5%. He won the statewide race 55% to 45%.

The difference isn't shocking. Although Ohio has become a reliably Republican state over the past decade, Hamilton County has shifted to the Democrats. Most elected officeholders in the county, including all three county commissioners, are now Democrats.

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Even Deters' former job as prosecutor flipped to the Democrats on Tuesday for the first time since the 1930s, when challenger Connie Pillich beat incumbent Republican Melissa Powers, a former judge who took the job when Deters joined the Supreme Court.

Deters was appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Mike DeWine in 2022, taking office in 2023. .

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Joe Deters won Supreme Court seat but lost in Hamilton County
NEW YORK (AP)  Shares of Tesla soared Wednesday as investors bet that the electric vehicle maker and its CEO Elon Musk will benefit from Donald Trumps return to the White House.

Tesla stands to make significant gains under a Trump administration with the threat of diminished subsidies for alternative energy and electric vehicles doing the most harm to smaller competitors. Trumps plans for extensive tariffs on Chinese imports make it less likely that Chinese EVs will be sold in bulk in the U.S. anytime soon.

Tesla has the scale and scope that is unmatched, said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, in a note to investors. This dynamic could give Musk and Tesla a clear competitive advantage in a non-EV subsidy environment, coupled by likely higher China tariffs that would continue to push away cheaper Chinese EV players.

Tesla shares jumped 14.8% Wednesday while shares of rival electric vehicle makers tumbled. Nio, based in Shanghai, fell 5.3%. Shares of electric truck maker Rivian dropped 8.3% and Lucid Group fell 5.3%.

Tesla dominates sales of electric vehicles in the U.S, with 48.9% in market share through the middle of 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Subsidies for clean energy are part of the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022. It included tax credits for manufacturing, along with tax credits for consumers of electric vehicles.

Musk was one of Trumps biggest donors, spending at least $119 million mobilizing Trumps supporters to back the Republican nominee. He also pledged to give away $1 million a day to voters signing a petition for his political action committee.

In some ways, it has been a rocky year for Tesla, with sales and profit declining through the first half of the year. Profit did rise 17.3% in the third quarter.

The U.S. opened an investigation into the companys Full Self-Driving system after reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that killed a pedestrian. The investigation covers roughly 2.4 million Teslas from the 2016 through 2024 model years.

And investors sent company shares tumbling last month after Tesla unveiled its long-awaited robotaxi at a Hollywood studio Thursday night, seeing not much progress at Tesla on autonomous vehicles while other companies have been making notable progress.

Tesla began selling the software, which is called Full Self-Driving, nine years ago. But there are doubts about its reliability.

The stock is now showing a 16.1% gain for the year after rising the past two days.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  State Rep. Joe Kerwin has defeated Democrat Gene Stilp to represent Pennsylvanias 125th District.

Kerwin, who was first elected back in 2020, grew up in Lykens and graduated from Upper Dauphin Area High School.

After graduating from high school, he went on to receive a bachelors degree from Penn State University, a juris doctorate from Dickinson School of Law, and a masters of public administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

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At the age of 19, Kerwin enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and continues to serve in the role today.

Recently in 2023, Kerwin was deployed to the Horn of Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Horn of Africa.

Some of Kerwins key priorities include defending our right to bear arms, protecting the unborn, assisting veterans, and reducing taxes and regulations.

Kerwin currently resides in Upper Paxton Township.

abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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Ive had the opportunity to have him on my show more than once  Ive said no every time. I dont want to help him. Im not interested in helping him. So said the podcast host Joe Rogan about the marginalised former president Trump in 2022. He couldnt make it any clearer that he was not a Trump supporter in any way, shape, or form.

How times can change. In the two years that followed, Donald Trump would stage the most remarkable political comeback in living memory, soaring past his primary competition and brushing off indictments and assassination attempts to become the successful Republican challenger of the 2024 election.

And Trump knew he needed Rogan. The podcaster, with 15 million subscribers and a roster of A+ list guests, had warmed to Trump in the intervening period, even while maintaining the harsh-but-fair assessment of both the Republicans and Democrats that brought him widespread popularity. The agnosticism shifted to outright support with an 11th-hour endorsement for Trump on polling day.

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Rogans official stamp of approval may have come too late to have swayed many voters, but his sprawling three hour interview with the man he adamantly argued against having on the show the week prior certainly might have, exceeding an astonishing 45 million views on YouTube alone.

That Rogans views are of such interest is testament to his enduring relevance and popularity. It was strange, then, that Kamala Harris refused the opportunity to appear on the show after Trump, apparently claiming scheduling issues, an unwillingness to fly to Austin, Texas, and a desire to keep the interview to an hour  which any Joe Rogan Experience superfan would know is tantamount to sacrilege.

Dont let Rogans eventual endorsement retroactively tar him: he expressed his qualified admiration for Harris even while speaking to Trump, and was clearly seriously interested in hearing what she had to say. Rogan has happily hosted Democratic voices before, warmly chatting with Pennsylvania Dem Senator John Fetterman.

Call it hubris, then. The Harris campaign, aided by Silicon Valley Super PAC Future Forward, spent $700 million on state-of-the-art advertising. She massively outspent Trump on ground game operations, too, with sneering dismissals of the (admittedly chaotic) contributions of Elon Musk.

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Rattled by criticism that she was avoiding the press, she eventually submitted to a few brief televised interviews. A few, highly selective podcast appearances would follow  in retrospect, appearing on Call Her Daddy as Hurricane Milton battered North Carolina might have been a bad call  but Rogan was clearly a step too far.

Trump was savvy enough to follow Rogans star. Credit is due to Alex Bruesewitz, the young Vance staffer who apparently pushed for Trump to take advantage of alternative media networks.

The Joe Rogan listener isnt too dissimilar from the Donald Trump voter: both are sceptical of establishment authority, hate foreign interventions, are virulently anti-woke and  as this morning has proven  represent a diverse snapshot of modern American identity. He cant be dismissed as a bro influencer in the same way as the pro-Trump YouTube pranksters the Nelk Boys. As the world wakes up to the election results, its clear that America is now Rogan country.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Incumbent Republican Congressman John Joyce has won another two year term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Democrat challenger Beth Farnham, the Associated Press projects.

Life-long Altoona resident Rep. John Joyce, M.D. has served as the congressman for Pennsylvanias 13th district since 2019.

It is a great honor and privilege to represent and serve the hardworking families of Pennsylvanias 13th Congressional District in Congress, and I am grateful for the support, faith, and confidence shown in me by my constituents, said Joyce. I will continue to be south central Pennsylvanias strongest advocate in Washington, and I will never stop fighting to preserve our freedoms, protect our communities, grow our economy, and ensure that every family has access to affordable and innovative healthcare.

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Prior to running for public office, Joyce attended Penn State Altoona for two years before deciding to continue his undergraduate at Penn State University Park. Joyce went on to graduate with honors with a degree in Biology in 1979. He would then decide to continue his education at Temple University where he received his M.D. in 1983.

Joyce completed an internal medicine residency as a John Hopkins fellow in Baltimore and worked with the United States Navy at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

In Congress, Joyce serves as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and is also the Vice-Chair of the House GOP Doctors Caucus.

abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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John-Paul Miller, the former pastor at Solid Rock Church in Market Common, has applied to start a new ministry in Myrtle Beach.

Amid controversy regarding the death of his wife, Mica Miller, John-Paul Miller applied for a business license to start Living Water Church at Market Common Inc. on Oct. 17. The business license for Solid Rock Ministries is still active as of Nov. 6, although the website is no longer active.

Mica Miller committed suicide in April and following her death, John-Paul Miller has been accused of being involved in her death and abusing his wife, as well as contributing to her mental health issues, which Mica Miller had talked about on her Facebook page. He has repeatedly denied abusing or being involved in her death.

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Her death has gained national attention.

A group of protesters have gathered outside Solid Rock Church, 803 Howard Ave., every Sunday since May, demanding justice for Mica and for John-Paul Miller to be arrested.

Protestors line up outside of Solid Rock Ministries church in Market Common shouting Justice for Mica. Mica Miller, the wife of pastor John-Paul Miller, died from apparent suicide on April 27, 2024 but accusations of domestic abuse and theories about the nature of her death are wide spread on the internet and on social media. July 14, 2024.

On Nov. 5, movers were seen removing items from Solid Rock Church and placing them in moving trucks before driving away. The Solid Rock lettering was also taken off the sign in front of the building.

A business license for Solid Rock Ministries, LLC was first effective in 2006 and the church bought the former Air Force base chapel in 2013, according to land records and South Carolina Secretary of State documents.

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When controversy around Mica Millers death began in May, the church temporarily took down its website, stopped answering phone calls, deleted John-Paul Millers sermons online and stopped allowing people to comment on Facebook posts.

Charles Randall, who oversees the church, did not comment when asked why the church was packing up on Tuesday. A call to Russell Long, John-Paul Millers lawyer, was not returned.

Solid Rock Church in Market Common in Myrtle Beach has removed its sign as the church appears to be moving. Its been in the middle of controversy since the former pastors wife committed suicide in April.

Solid Rock bought a piece of land nearby in 2023 with plans to build a larger church. Construction has not begun for the new building. For an address for Living Water Church, John-Paul Miller put down his Cold Water Circle home in the Market Common area.

The move out of Solid Rock comes less than a week after the FBI searched John-Paul Millers house. The FBI has not released information on why officers were searching the residential home. The Sun News requested the search warrant and incident report but have not received the documents.
Johnson County voters chose Byron Roberson as their next sheriff in a close race Tuesday, electing a Democrat to lead the department for the first time in nearly a century and after heavy scrutiny of Sheriff Calvin Haydens leadership.

Roberson won 51% of the vote over Republican candidate Doug Bedford, a former undersheriff who knocked Hayden out of the race in the August primary, according to unofficial county election results. The historic win marks a new ground for Democrats and further cements in place Johnson Countys evolving identity as a party stronghold in Kansas.

Robersons leadership of the sheriffs office will continue a decades-long law enforcement career. He joined the Prairie Village police force in 1995, rising through the ranks with responsibilities to include officer and patrol division commander, before becoming the chief in 2021.

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On the campaign trail, Roberson, who will also become the countys first Black sheriff, cast himself as the best choice to take over an office that has received negative feedback from residents and county leaders in the wake of Haydens leadership.

Hayden, a Republican first elected sheriff in 2016, angered moderates with a long-running investigation of voter fraud that used time and resources of deputies and helped fuel election conspiracy theories.

The investigation, prompted by President Joe Bidens 2020 win in Johnson County, resulted in no criminal charges. Hayden abruptly put the probe on pause this summer, a few weeks before his loss at the polls.

Hayden also faced criticism this year for dropping the Johnson County Mental Health Center to contract with private jail health care provider VitalCore Strategies, a decision described as a financial one that met opposition from some county leaders.

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Those factors harmed Haydens reputation among fellow Republicans and became campaign issues of high focus. Bedford, who appealed to the more moderate wing of the party, defeated Hayden in the primary with 56% of the vote.

Roberson entered the contest with a background in many ways similar to Bedford, his political opponent on Election Day. Both candidates touted their administrative roles, as well as previous military experience.

But a key difference came with the precise type of experience each would bring and the visions for the future.

As Bedford promoted his direct background with the Johnson County Sheriffs Office, Roberson said his time leading a smaller police force would offer a needed new perspective that would enhance collaboration across area law enforcement agencies.

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On the issue of mental health, Roberson also campaigned with a deeply personal experience of the role law enforcement plays. In 2010, as an officer, Roberson shot and killed Susan Stuckey, a 47-year-old mentally ill woman who had clashed with police and said she wanted police to kill her.

Prosecutors cleared Roberson in the shooting and a federal lawsuit over the death was settled out of court. As a candidate for sheriff, Roberson called mental health crucially important to me and not just a campaign slogan.

In the leadup to Election Day, Democrats held a favorable view of Robersons prospects, pointing to energy among voters with Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket. And despite the tradition of GOP sheriffs, Johnson County has trended toward Democrats over the past 12 years, helping to elect Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids.

In 2012, Republicans outnumbered Democrats two to one. But like many suburban communities around the nation, Johnson County has witnessed a political transformation.

Johnson County voters registered as Republicans still exceed Democrats, though the gap is closing. As of September, 41% of voters were Republican, compared to 32.4% for Democrats. About 25% of voters are unaffiliated with either major political party.
Speaker Mike Johnson and the GOP are feeling increasingly bullish about holding onto the House of Representatives, believing they have defied political gravity in key suburban seats as President-elect Donald Trump powered his party toward what may become a full sweep of Washington.

Dozens of key races remain uncalled, and it could be days, or weeks, before the results are official. But House Republicans and Democrats alike privately believe the GOP will maintain control, according to a half-dozen senior campaign operatives.

Were going to hold the House, one senior GOP campaign official said Wednesday. The question is about what the size of the majority is right now.

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A senior Democratic source conceded to CNN that the party was unlikely to flip the House given the outstanding races. However, House Democrats insist its too early for a post-mortem. The caucus will have an internal call on Thursday afternoon to discuss the results so far, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Its not yet clear whether Republicans will maintain their same slim five-seat margin; they could still lose GOP incumbents in blue states like California and Oregon. Yet the seats the GOP is expecting to hold show surprising strength in places that Democrats were confident theyd win, like Nebraska and Pennsylvania.

Democrats are still expecting to hang onto a couple of key seats: Jared Golden in Maine and Marcy Kaptur in Ohio are both narrowly ahead, against the odds, in heavily Trump territory. And they have flipped one seat in New York, with Democrats optimistic about two more.

But several other must-hold seats have slipped away, including one seat in Pennsylvania and an open seat in Michigan. Another Democrat in Pennsylvania, Rep. Susan Wild, has conceded to her GOP opponent, though CNN has not projected that race yet.

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To win the House now, Democrats believe they need to keep all their remaining incumbents  including in tough terrain like Washington state and Colorado  while essentially sweeping GOP seats in California, Oregon and Arizona, according to multiple Democratic sources.

We need to pitch a perfect game and that probably wont happen, a senior House Democrat campaign official said.

Perhaps the biggest surprise so far for both parties is GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska. Democrats had been expecting to easily knock off the centrist Republican with Vice President Kamala Harris dumping millions of dollars to win the electoral vote there, while Trump put his money elsewhere. One Democratic operative called it a must win for their party to take the majority.

That race remains uncalled, but Republicans and Democrats alike expect Bacon to hold onto the seat.

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Mark Jordan has defeated Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker, who ran as a write-in candidate to avoid paying the qualifying fee, believing nobody would challenge his bid for a fourth term.

Jordan, the brother of Lake County Tax Collector David Jordan, filed at the last minute and paid the qualifying fee to get his name on the ballot. He won more than three-quarters of the vote against Baker, one of Lake Countys best-known elected officials.

Neither Jordan nor Baker could be reached for comment after election results were posted Tuesday night.

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Baker, the owner of a gun shop in Mount Dora and a military veteran who served in Iraq in 2003 while a member of the state Legislature, spent the weeks leading up to the election waving campaign signs reminding voters to write in Carey Baker.

The GOP incumbent in a county where Republicans outnumber Democrats nearly 2-to-1, Baker filed re-election paperwork in the last hour of the final day of qualifying as a write-in candidate, which allowed him to avoid paying the qualifying fee of $10,685.04. Election rules say write-in candidates dont have to pay the fee, but their names do not appear on ballots.

But after Baker left the elections office on the last day of the candidate qualifying period, Jordan  who was standing in line before the noon cutoff  withdrew paperwork hed previously filed to run for an unpaid post as a trustee for the North Lake Hospital Taxing District and paid the qualifying fee to become the only Republican candidate listed on the ballot for the position, which pays $168,000 annually.

After Mark Jordan qualified, Baker sued, claiming Lake Supervisor of Elections Alan Hayes should not have allowed him to switch races. He lost that case, and an appeal to the Fifth District Court of Appeal, but hasnt said whether he intends to take the appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.

anmartin@orlandosentinel.com
Joseph Hale on Tuesday defeated Heather Hadi to win the race for Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councils 7th District.

Unofficial results indicate that Hale got about 55% of the vote.

Hale, 45, an IT coordinator for state government, has said hes interested in addressing neighborhood issues, including traffic concerns, and is especially eager to help the city tackle affordable housing issues.

The 7th District encompasses the areas of Richmond Road and Athens-Boonesboro Road, including neighborhoods around Woodhill and Codell drives, Squires Road and Hays Boulevard.

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Preston Worley, who did not run for re-election, has held the seat since 2017.

This was Hales second run for office, having previously run against Worley in 2022.

Hale said he wants to hear from all areas of the district, and he said getting out and talking to people was an important part of his campaign.

District 7 is a broad district, he said, noting that safety might be a top concern for one part of the district, while another area might be more interested in parks and bike trails. One issue isnt bigger than the other.

He said one of his first efforts will be honing in on the R-cut project intended to improve safety and traffic flow on Richmond Road and ensuring that neighborhoods are heard on the project.

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Hale said he is also glad to have a seat at the table for Lexingtons discussion of affordable housing.

That is huge, he said. I really want to be a voice and an advocate for the people.

Hale was celebrating the win with a watch party Tuesday night.

Im excited, he said in an interview. It feels so surreal. ...Im just taking it in and preparing my mind for the work at hand.

I give all glory to God, he said.

In addition to his work for the Emergency Response and Preparedness Branch of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Hale is active in leadership at The Gate Church and runs his own mentoring program, Boys to Men.

All Fayette County council races are nonpartisan.
(NewsNation)  NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for the U.S. Senate seat for Missouri in favor of Josh Hawley. See all Missouri race results here.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley faced Democratic challenger Marine veteran Lucas Kunce in his bid for reelection.

Hawley was elected to the Senate in 2018, defeating two-term Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. Prior to that, he served as the attorney general of Missouri from 2017 to 2019.

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Hawley has been a key ally to former President Donald Trump, becoming one of the first senators to say he would object to the certification of the 2020 presidential election. He also faced bipartisan backlash by appearing to support pro-Trump rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, when he raised his fist while walking past them.

During his tenure, Hawley became known for his stances on culture wars and data privacy, calling for a ban on social media platform TikTok. For his reelection campaign, the Republican senator positioned himself as a constitutional conservative and someone who fights for religious freedom, keeping Big Tech companies from abusing their power and to prevent foreign interests from hurting American workers.

Hawley was up against Kunce, a 13-year Marine veteran and director of national security at the American Economic Liberties Project, an antitrust regulation nonprofit. Kunce hasnt held any public positions but ran for Senate once before to take Roy Blunts seat in 2022. Kunce eventually lost in the Democratic primary.

Much of his campaign centered around being the right person to beat Hawley. The Democrats policies include backing protections for organized labor and support for abortion rights. He condemned the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel carried out by Hamas and believes the U.S. should use its leverage to push for a cease-fire. Kunce took heat from fellow Democrats after refusing to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

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A notable moment that made headlines during the campaign was when Hawley arrived at a Missouri State Fair event in search of Kunce to challenge him to a live debate near the fair. The two candidates exchanged words and barbs for several minutes, surrounded by the media.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

In the red state of Missouri, where a Democrat hasnt held statewide office since Hawley defeated McCaskill in 2018, Kunce garnered significant momentum and became the best-funded Democrat in a statewide election, raising more than $11 million for his campaign. He outraised and outspent Hawley throughout the campaign cycle. But despite fundraising efforts, polling from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ in the weeks leading up to the election showed Hawley maintained a 93% chance of winning the election.

The outcome of this race will affect the balance of power in the Senate. A total of 34 seats are up in 2024, with 23 being held by Democrats and independents. Republicans can retake control of the upper chamber of Congress by flipping two seats from Democrats or by winning the presidential race and flipping just one other seat.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Sen. Josh Hawley, the polarizing Missouri Republican known for his political brawling, marched to victory in Missouris U.S. Senate race, defeating Democrat Lucas Kunce who attempted to unseat him with a populist message.

Hawley, 44, is already one of the youngest members of the Senate and now enters his second term with a mandate from Missourians to attempt to fundamentally reshape Republican politics in Washington in favor of a socially conservative agenda that focuses on the Republican Partys working-class base.

The Associated Press called the race at 9:28 p.m. Hawley was winning 50.9% of the vote, compared to 46.6% for Democrat Lucas Kunce, 1.1% for Green Party candidate Nathan Kline and 0.7% for Better Party candidate Jared Young, according to the AP.

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THANK YOU, MISSOURI, Hawley wrote on social media shortly after he was projected as the winner.

A member of a new wing of Republican politicians seeking to take the outsider appeal of former President Donald Trump and turn it into socially conservative policy, Hawley focused on working-class Missourians by denouncing the social and environmental policies of the Democratic Party while promising to restore manufacturing jobs and bring down taxes for working families.

I think Missourians are enjoying watching him grill people that come before his various committees he serves on, said James Harris, a Republican political analyst in Missouri. And I would not be surprised if he ends up moving the America First or President Trumps agenda, many pieces of legislation, through the United States Senate.

Nationalizing the race

Immediately after launching his campaign, Hawley began trying to tie Kunce to the National Democratic Party. He claimed Kunce  who had spent the past year courting Missouris labor unions  would try to ban gas and diesel trucks and made ads criticizing him for opposing policies that would deny medical treatment for transgender children.

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He even attempted to turn his criticism into a catchphrase for the campaign, leading call and response portions of his stump speech with the line its nuts, but its Kunce.

This election is about defending us, Hawley said at an October campaign stop in Jefferson City. Its defending our way of life. It is making sure it is strong for the years to come, and it is saying no to the nutty policies of Lucas Kunce and Kamala Harris.

Hawley, who had been talked about as a potential presidential candidate in 2024, instead focused his attention on winning reelection in Missouri after it became clear that Trump wasnt likely to step down from his role atop the Republican Party. Hawley repeatedly said he wouldnt want a role in the Trump administration  neither vice president nor a cabinet position.

While he still focused on issues with broad national appeal, like reining in the tech industry, Hawley also gave significant political attention to a bill that would expand health benefits for people in St. Louis County who were affected by nuclear radiation.

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He did what he needed to do, said Jeff Smith, a former Democratic Missouri state Senator. He pivoted immediately at the end of 2022, away from the really polarizing J6 stuff for which he was known, towards a kind of more hard edge populism, correctly identifying his vulnerabilities back home.

Kunce, meanwhile, argued that Hawley had done little for Missouri over the past six years  often pointing to the fact that Hawley doesnt believe in using earmarks to help local projects secure federal money.

While Kunce launched his campaign with a reference to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol  Hawley was the first Senator to say he would object to the certification of the 2020 presidential election  he effectively dropped the issue early in the campaign.

Instead, Kunce focused on portraying Hawley as someone who wanted control over Missourians freedoms  tying the race to Missouris abortion amendment  while saying he had done little for the state.

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He doesnt take care of us, he doesnt bring money back home, Kunce said in a debate on Fox 2 St. Louis. You want to help out Missourians? How about bringing home the $300 million a year that Roy Blunt brought home every year? Josh Hawley, every year its $0.

A late gaffe

In the final weeks of the campaign, that message was partially obscured by an incident at a photo-op north of Kansas City, where a reporter was accidentally hit by shrapnel while Kunce shot an automatic weapon at steel targets.

Hawley repeatedly mocked the incident  at one point telling reporters on the campaign trail that he promised not to shoot them.

I just want to say to you guys, listen, I promise you I will not shoot you, no matter how many tough questions you ask, Hawley said. And I call on Lucas Kunce right now to pledge never to shoot another reporter again.

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The incident made an already difficult task even more difficult for Kunce. By running in a presidential year, Kunce would have had to convince thousands of Trump voters to split their ticket in a state that has increasingly voted for conservative candidates over the past two decades.

Smith, the former state Senator, said Kunces struggles largely came down to the fact that he was a Democrat running in a Republican state.

He did more to show Missouri Democrats a path forward than anybody this cycle, and it involves economic populism, Smith said. Firming up the major metros, but then spending a lot of time in the hinterlands and talking about issues that matter to working-class people in the exurbs, in rural areas.

But Hawley was still able to defeat Kunce overwhelmingly in the rural areas, helping to overcome the Democratic votes in larger metropolitan areas like Kansas City and St. Louis.

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Hawley will likely enter his second term as a member of the majority party, as Republicans appeared poised to take control of the Senate on Tuesday night, giving him more power in the chamber.

Republicans are also poised to elect a new leader in the Senate after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced he would retire earlier this year. Hawley, who has frequently clashed with McConnell and has pronounced the old Republican Party dead, may benefit from having a closer ally leading the caucus.

Theres a good deal of populism in Josh Hawleys appeal, said John Hancock, the former chairman of the Missouri Republican Party. And I do think that he represents one of the newer directions in Republican politics.

Jared Young, an independent candidate who formed the Better Party, failed to get enough support to ensure that his party would be on the ballot for the next Senate election.

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Young attempted to run a moderate Republican campaign and secured the backing of former Missouri Sen. Jack Danforth, but he ultimately failed to pick up traction among voters.

Star Reporters Jonathan Shorman and Kacen Bayless contributed reporting to this article.
Global companies debut cutting-edge technologies amid innovation drive

Xinhua) 08:23, November 06, 2024

This photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows the automobile exhibition area of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Tang Rufeng)

SHANGHAI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- With the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) in full swing in Shanghai, global companies are unveiling their latest technological innovations, capitalizing on the opportunities arising from China's commitment to further opening up both its market and manufacturing industry.

GE Healthcare, a regular exhibitor at the CIIE, has brought an unprecedented lineup to Shanghai this year. The U.S. medical technology company is showcasing multiple products either making their global or Chinese debut.

Eyeing China's growing demand for advanced medical technology, GE Healthcare is exhibiting its largest collection of new products ever at this year's expo, where it has been participating since 2018, said Zhong Luyin, the company's China communications executive.

"Our goal extends beyond mere participation in the expo. More importantly, we look forward to engaging in China," Zhong said.

A STAGE FOR ALL

At the ongoing CIIE, over 400 new products, technologies and services from around the world are being showcased, spanning sectors such as artificial intelligence, new materials, autonomous systems and energy transition technologies.

During a meeting on Monday with select exhibitors and buyers attending the expo, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that China is able to sustain steady economic recovery, improve the quality and capacity of its market, and provide more extensive growth space for global businesses in terms of trade, investment and innovation. He added that the Chinese market is still one of the best choices for companies worldwide.

Just days ago, China removed all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector, with the country's new edition of its national negative list for foreign investment having taken effect on Nov. 1. This significant move marked the latest effort of the world's second-largest economy to open its doors even wider.

"Benefiting from the 'spillover effect' of the expo, many of our showcased products are now in use across Chinese hospitals," said Lu Yi, MRI marketing manager of Siemens Healthineers. At this year's CIIE, the German medical technology company is unveiling the MAGNETOM Terra.X, its latest generation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment -- the first time this new equipment is being displayed in Asia.

Lu revealed that Siemens Healthineers is advancing its localization strategy for cutting-edge product manufacturing. Notably, the MAGNETOM Terra.X is slated for future production at the company's base in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

Apart from traditional technological sectors, the ongoing expo showcases an array of futuristic exhibits that seem straight out of the world of science fiction, including tires designed for lunar exploration vehicles, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and innovative motor-powered shoes.

French tire maker Michelin, which is attending the expo for a fourth year, is exhibiting a futuristic prototype wheel for lunar exploration vehicles, among other products including car tires containing 71 percent sustainable materials and a new generation aircraft tire.

Serge Godefroid, research and development director of Michelin China, said Michelin has been innovating for the future of mobility and is even thinking about mobility beyond the Earth for future lunar or Mars exploration projects.

Michelin is already extensively testing tires in very rough conditions and with exposure to the range of temperatures that exist on the moon, Godefroid said. "You don't have somebody to help you inflate a tire on the moon, so you need to find a wheel that can sustain very difficult conditions."

RISING INNOVATION LANDSCAPE

A number of eVTOL aircraft are proving eye-catching at this year's CIIE. Vertaxi, an eVTOL startup which is attending the expo jointly with Ampaire, a global leader in hybrid electric aircraft systems, has brought three autonomous eVTOL drones to the 2024 expo.

Yue Tingting, vice president of Vertaxi, said the company's smaller eVTOL aircraft have been well received by the market and are being widely used for police, emergency and fire-fighting patrols, public and oil infrastructure inspections, and island logistics.

Yue admitted that it will take longer for the company's eVTOL aircraft to obtain the airworthiness certification needed for passenger transport. She, however, is very bullish about China's low-altitude economy and even envisions a future where people will be able to board eVTOL aircraft for daily commuting, much like taking a taxi or bus.

Shift Robotics, attending the expo for the first time, is exhibiting its new generation of motor-powered shoes, called Moonwalkers Aero, that allow people to walk at speeds of up to 11 km per hour.

Moonwalkers deliver smooth power when people who wear them speed up, while they offer very little assistance if the person wearing them walks very slowly. These motor-powered shoes can be used in virtually any environment, even on the subway, in a lift or on stairs, and people can move around in these Moonwalkers without taking off their normal shoes, according to Zhang Xunjie, CEO of Shift Robotics.

From industry giants to rising startups, the dedication shown to China by global tech companies is well-timed, as the country's prominence in the global innovation landscape continues to increase. According to the Global Innovation Index 2024 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization, China has moved up one spot to 11th place in the latest rankings of the world's most innovative economies -- becoming one of the fastest risers over the past decade.

"China's growth pattern has shifted from quantity-oriented to quality-oriented," said Tetsuro Homma, executive vice president of Panasonic Holdings Corporation. "To keep pace with this change, we are setting up more research and development teams in China to quickly adapt to the evolving Chinese market."

Over the past four years, this Japanese manufacturing company has steadily expanded its investment in China. Home to over 60 Panasonic subsidiaries, China now accounts for nearly a quarter of the company's business worldwide. "We are innovating for China, and we aspire to innovate in China for the whole world," Homma said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Electric vehicle stocks experienced mixed trading Wednesday as investors weighed the potential impact of Donald Trump's election victory on the industry.

Leading drops among Chinese EV equities, Nio (NIO, Financials) sank 7% in premarket U.S. trading, XPeng (XPEV, Financials) plummeted 7%, and Li Auto (LI, Financials) lost 7%. Kandi Technologies (KNDI, Financials) declined 1%; Zeekr Intelligent Technology (ZK, Financials) dropped 7%.

Early trading saw Rivian Automotive (RIVN, Financials) plummeting 5% and Lucid Group (LCID, Financials) falling 2%, which further affected U.S.-based EV companies worried about probable cuts in EV tax credits and incentives.

On the other hand, Tesla (TSLA, Financials) jumped 15% since investors expected possible advantages for the business in a less-subsidized environment. Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities claims that Tesla's size and reach give a competitive edge, particularly in a climate where Chinese EV manufacturers could encounter increased tariffs restricting their U.S. market entrance.

For its autonomous and complete self-driving capabilities, Ives pointed out Tesla might profit from a shortened timescale. He did, however, warn that if political relations between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Trump deepen, the company would have difficulty with consumer demand. Furthermore, rising trade conflicts can endanger Tesla's sales in China.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


In a landslide victory for a Democrat in a swing state, Josh Stein will become North Carolinas next governor over MAGA-backed opponent Mark Robinson.

Stein, who will be the states first Jewish governor, has singled out improving the states schools as his top priority as he switches roles from attorney general. He will succeed current Democratic governor Roy Cooper, who could not seek re-election as his term expired.

Though his win was anticipated by experts as the Robinson campaign crumbled in the wake of multiple scandals over the last few weeks, the vote was historic for North Carolina, which typically sees wins below a 4-point margin. Stein claimed a 14-point victory.

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In September, as polls began showing favor for Stein, CNN reported Robinson called himself a Black Nazi and said slavery is not bad on a porn site. His staffers quit and donations dried up. Former endorser President Donald Trump distanced himself.

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Addressing supporters on election night after the race was called, moderate Stein rejected hate and re-emphasized his commitment to working across party lines for progress.

We have big challenges ahead, but we have even bigger dreams to realize, Stein said. We must reject the politics of division, fear and hate that keep us from finding common ground. We will go further when we go together. Not as Democrats, not as Republicans, not as independents, but as North Carolinians.

For schools, Stein campaigned on plans to improve youth mental health by recruiting counselors, nurses and social workers; increasing teacher pay; expanding career and vocational education; and providing universal school meals. Stein was endorsed by the states teachers union.

Related

In North Carolina, Public Education Is at the Heart of Governors Race

Robinson, in contrast, threatened to reject billions of federal funding for education and campaigned on expanding the voucher system that allows families to attend private schools with public funding.

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Robinsons flare for hateful, anti-LGBTQ and misogynistic rhetoric, condemned by the NAACP, would have also likely fueled disrespect for educators, whom he called wicked, and distrust for the department of education, which he had said he wanted to get rid of entirely.

While electing Stein, voters split their ballots to support Trump, but also elected a Democratic schools chief, overlooking party affinities in the interest of their childrens education. Democrat Mo Green, a large-district superintendent, claimed victory early Wednesday morning for state superintendent, earning 119,000 more votes than right-wing homeschooling advocate and January 6 insurrectionist Michele Morrow.

Governor-elect Stein grew up in Chapel Hill, a college town, before studying history, law and government. He taught English and economics in Zimbabwe and served as a state senator for seven years before becoming attorney general in 2017.

Stein has also promised to protect abortion rights, in a state where Republican lawmakers are discussing restricting access with a 6-week ban.

A critical seat in the state legislature also flipped Democrat this Election Day, removing Republicans supermajority, which they used to repeatedly bypass Governor Coopers vetoes and enact legislation against LGBTQ youth. The body may now be forced to negotiate more with Stein.
WASHINGTON, D.C.When Vice President Kamala Harris watch party at Howard University began, attendees were line dancing.

The music was blaring, and those who came to celebrate a presidential campaign noted for its embrace of joy were, well, joyful. Entertained by various student musical groups from the historically black university, the crowd was full of hope for a Harris victory and anticipation for seeing in-person the first woman elected to the presidency.

But that was before results in battleground states began to take shape. As the tallies came in, the worse it looked for the Democrats chances to retain the White House. Returns from North Carolina and Georgia looked favorable for Donald Trump, and the New York Times needle moved steadily in the former presidents direction.

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Still, you wouldnt know it from being at Harris watch party, where the atmosphere seemed a world apart from the broader political discourse. The crowd outside of Frederick Douglas Hall at the vice presidents alma mater danced to such songs as Alright by Kendrick Lamar. Attendees cheered when CNN called states for Harris and booed when the network added states to Trumps column.

In the VIP section near the stage, elected officials and other special guests of the campaign looked increasingly downcast, and soon the pessimism seemed to spread to the general admission section. To cap off the sense of reality setting in, CNN turned to correspondent Abby Phillip, who was live at the rally. She reported that Harris campaign manager Jen OMalley Dillon sent a memorandum to staff focusing the vice presidents hopes on the Blue Wall states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

While we continue to see data trickle in from the Sun Belt states, we have known all along that our clearest path to 270 electoral votes lies through the Blue Wall states, she wrote. And we feel good about what were seeing.

OMalley Dillon might have, but attendees did not. As the night grew colder, so did the crowd. Smiles faded, and there was little more dancing. About 12:45 a.m., after CNN called North Carolina and Georgia for Trump, Democratic National Committee senior adviser Cedric Richmond announced to the crowd that Harris would not make an appearance.

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We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet, he said. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, so you wont hear from the vice president tonight. But you will hear from her tomorrow.

VIPs quickly filed out of the venue after Richmond made his brief announcement, but The Dispatch caught up with Rodney Ellis, a county commissioner from Harris County, Texas, and asked how he was feeling about the results.

Nervous, he said, but its not over with. I do remember we didnt know last go-round until Saturday what happened, so keep the spirits up. Ill be back tomorrow. He added that Democrats still have a shot.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  The Kentucky Democratic Party said a judge denied their motion to extend polling hours in Jefferson County.

We are extremely disappointed by this ruling given the extensive technical issues in Jefferson County, which caused some voters to wait in line for more than three hours. Polling locations across Jefferson County were functionally closed. These disruptions werent just unacceptable  they deprived Kentuckians of the fundamental right to vote, Kentucky Democratic Party Executive Director Morgan Eaves said.

 ELECTION RESULTS | See full Kentucky election results here

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The party said voters should make it to their polling location and stay in line.

We urge all eligible voters to get to their assigned polling location ahead of 6 p.m. For any Kentuckians still in line when the polls close, stay in line, Eaves said.

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The Kentucky Democratic Party has filed a motion to request extended polling hours after polling delays in Jefferson County.

A complaint filed by the party said polls did open on time, but poll workers e-poll books, which list qualified voters in a precinct, immediately failed.

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The machine shut down, crashed, or otherwise erred in finding voters such that there were numerous instances of voters unable to be checked-in and issued ballots, reads the complaint.

The complaint said the system would crash every 3 minutes for the first three and a half hours of polling.

The Kentucky Democratic Party requested that polling locations in Jefferson County remain open until 8 p.m.

 ELECTION RESULTS | See full Kentucky election results here

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky joined the Democratic Partys petition.

It is the constitutional right of every eligible voter in Kentucky to cast their vote in the election, Corey Shapiro, legal director, said. We join the KDP on behalf of our members in asking the court to order Jefferson County polling locations to remain open accommodating those who were turned away or had to leave their polling locations without voting.

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Charlamagne Tha God has scored a major W, as a judge has ruled in his favor to dismiss a sexual assault and battery case against him.

According to court documents obtained by In Touch, as of Sept. 30, a federal judge in New York dismissed the claims brought on by Jessica Nicole Reid against the radio host, ne Lenard McKelvey, due to exceeded statute of limitations.

Per outlet, Reids allegations against C Tha God were not only tossed out, but the judge even denied her request to revise her lawsuit, citing a lack of sufficient evidence.

Charlamagne Tha God onstage during The 2023 Black Effect Podcast Festival at Pullman Yards on April 22, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reids allegations date back over 20 years to July 8, 2001, when she claimed the 46-year-old invited her to a party. The woman alleged she felt dizzy after drinking something Charlamagne gave her, and other attendees had to help her upstairs when her legs gave out. She said that Charlamagne entered the room where she was resting and then sexually assaulted her. He has maintained his innocence since then.

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The lawsuit added that Reid claims to be dealing with PTSD, as his celebrity status constantly reminds her of what allegedly happened.

Every time Ms. Reid turns on the radio and hears his voice, sees him on TV, and walks past his books in the stores, she is reminded of what Charlamagne did to her, the lawsuit stated. Charlamagnes attorney, Michael Weinstein, fired back against the accusations, calling them unfounded. Weinstein said that several witnesses had seen Charlamagne leave the party long before the alleged incident even occurred. He also pointed out that Reids claims lacked any hard evidence to back them up.

Reportedly, in 2001, Charlamagne voluntarily provided his DNA to South Carolina authorities, and it didnt match with evidence in Reids rape kit.

The case was dropped, and even when it was revisited in 2018, South Carolinas Solicitor General refused to reopen it on ethical grounds. The recent case also includes claims of defamation against Charlamagne, which were also dismissed.

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A Platte County judge ordered body camera videos and other investigative materials from two fatal police shootings in Kansas City, Kansas, to be released after the local government sued to keep them secret.

Judge Myles Perrys decision came down Wednesday morning after more than 45 minutes of arguments.

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, sued the Kansas City Police Departments Board of Police Commissioners on Oct. 17 over the records.

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KCPD, in Missouri, was brought in to investigate two shootings by police in Kansas City, Kansas. Jon Anderton, 50, was killed in February 2023 and Amareeya Henderson, 25, was killed in April 2023.

After the investigations concluded, Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree declined to press charges on the officers.

Perry acknowledged the reality of communities that straddle the state line and the contract between the two police agencies, which addressed the somewhat unique situation.

Under Missouris Sunshine Law, case files are subject to open records requests once an investigation has been completed. Kansas open records law is stricter.

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The Star made requests to KCPD for the case files in April and June.

During an Oct. 22 hearing, Perry granted a temporary restraining order preventing the records from release until Wednesdays proceedings.

Perry granted a request for the newspaper to intervene in the case during Wednesdays hearing.

Bernie Rhodes, an attorney for The Star, said the case was simple: Under Missouri law, case files become an open record once an investigation has concluded, and the Anderton and Henderson cases had been closed.

John Anderton, 50, shown here with his daughter, was shot and killed by Kansas City, Kansas, police.

In its lawsuit, the Unified Government contended the use-of-force investigation records that KCPD maintained were the property of Kansas City, Kansas. Releasing the files to a third party, the argument continued, amounts to a breach of contract between the two agencies and would cause irreparable harm.

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Brian Denk, an attorney for the Unified Government, said that KCPD was not the records custodian and that the newspapers Sunshine requests were a blatant attempt to subvert Kansas open records law. He alleged that The Star wanted the footage because its graphic.

The two sides went on to argue about language in the inter-agency agreement. One section stated, the parties do not contemplate acquiring real or personal property. By copying body camera footage, Denk said, KCPD had acquired property, which should be returned. Rhodes said another part of the contract stated, Dissemination of records will be in accordance with the laws of the State of the Agency holding the records. And regardless, he said, the Sunshine Law trumps the inter-agency agreement.

Lisa Krigsten, an attorney for KCPD, said the department wanted to honor two competing interests: Its relationship with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department and complying with the Sunshine Law.

Perry vacated the temporary restraining order and declined to grant a further injunction on the records.

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The attorneys declined to comment following the hearing.

The Stars executive editor Greg Farmer said that Wednesdays decision was a victory for the publics right to know and the First Amendment.

Were grateful, and we will continue to fight illegal efforts by local public officials to operate in the dark, he said.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  A judge has refused to stop the nations third scheduled execution by nitrogen gas that is set to take place in Alabama later this month.

U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. on Wednesday denied a preliminary injunction request to block Alabama from executing Carey Dale Grayson on Nov. 21 using the same nitrogen gas protocol. The judge said Grayson failed to meet the high legal burden of showing that he is likely to prevail on his claim that the method is unconstitutionally cruel.

His evidence and allegations amount to speculation, a speculative parade of highly unlikely events, and scientific controversy at best. They fall well short of showing that the nitrogen hypoxia protocol creates an unacceptable risk of pain, let alone superadded pain, Huffaker wrote.

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John Palombi, an attorney with the Federal Defenders Program, which is representing Grayson, said they plan to appeal.

The execution method involves placing a respirator gas mask over the inmates face to replace breathable air with pure nitrogen gas, causing death by lack of oxygen. Critics have argued that the states execution protocol does not deliver the quick death the state says it does.

Kenneth Smith was put to death in January in the nations first execution with nitrogen gas, and Alan Miller was put to death last month. Media witnesses, including The Associated Press, described how the inmates shook on the gurney for two minutes or longer, the movements followed by what appeared to be several minutes of periodic labored breaths with long pauses in between.

Huffaker issued the ruling after a hearing where the Alabama corrections commissioner and others testified about what they saw at the first nitrogen gas executions. Attorneys for Grayson introduced news articles from media witnesses to the execution describing the two mens movements during the execution.

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Huffaker said the evidence concerning what actually happened, or what eyewitnesses observed during the Smith execution, was conflicting and inconsistent.

But what that evidence did show was that the nitrogen hypoxia protocol was successful and resulted in death in less than 10 minutes and loss of consciousness in even less time, Huffaker wrote.

Grayson was one of four teenagers convicted in the 1994 killing of 37-year-old Vickie Deblieux in Jefferson County. Prosecutors said Deblieux was hitchhiking from Tennessee to her mothers home in Louisiana when the teens offered her a ride. Prosecutors said they took her to a wooded area, attacked her, threw her off a cliff and later mutilated her body.

Grayson is the only one facing a death sentence. Two other teens had their death sentences set aside when the U.S. Supreme Court banned the execution of offenders who were younger than 18 at the time of the crime. Grayson was 19.

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Lethal injection remains the states primary execution method, but inmates can request to be put to death by nitrogen gas or the electric chair.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  A judge Tuesday set an early 2025 trial date for a former Georgia district attorney charged with interfering with the police investigation into the killing of Ahmaud Arbery,

Jury selection in the criminal misconduct trial of Jackie Johnson is scheduled to begin Jan. 21 in coastal Glynn County, according to an order by Senior Judge John R. Turner. He set a Dec. 11 hearing for attorneys to argue their final pretrial motions.

Johnson was the county's top prosecutor in February 2020 when Arbery was fatally shot on a residential street as he ran from three white men chasing him in pickup trucks. While Arbery's pursuers argued they mistakenly believed the 25-year-old Black man was a criminal and that he was shot in self-defense, all three were later convicted of murder and federal hate crimes.

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Johnson recused her office from handling the killing because the man who initiated the deadly chase, Greg McMichael, was a retired investigator who had worked for her. His son, Travis McMichael, had shot Arbery at close range with a shotgun. A neighbor, William Roddie Bryan, joined the pursuit and recorded graphic cellphone video of the shooting that leaked online more than two months later.

Johnson was voted out of office months later, a loss she blamed largely in outrage over Arbery's killing. In September 2021, a grand jury indicted her indicted her on a felony count of violating her oath of office and a misdemeanor count of hindering a police officer.

The case has moved a crawl since Johnson was first charged, reported to jail for booking and then released. She has yet to appear in court. The judge's scheduling order Tuesday was the first action taken since last November, when Turner denied legal motions by Johnsons lawyers to dismiss the case.

The judge told The Associated Press in September that the delays were unavoidable because one of Johnson's attorneys, Brian Steel, had spent most of the past two years in an Atlanta courtroom defending Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug in a sprawling racketeering and gang trial.

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Turner's order moving ahead with Johnson's case came less than a week after Young Thug pleaded guilty to gang, drug and gun charges.

Steel and attorney John Ossick, who also represents Johnson, did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment Tuesday evening.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said in a statement that "we look forward to presenting our case in court.

While the men responsible for Arberys death are serving life prison sentences, his family has insisted that justice wont be complete for them until Johnson stands trial.

Its very, very important, Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arberys mother, told the AP in September. She did not immediately return a phone message Tuesday.
Julie Johnson has made history as not only the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent Texas in Congress, but the first to be elected from anywhere in the South of the United States.

The 57-year-old Democratic representative claimed victory in the Lone Star States 32nd Congressional District on Tuesday, November 5  defeating her Republican opponent Darrell Day and Libertarian candidate Kevin Hale. She will succeed outgoing representative, Democrat Colin Allred, who unsuccessfully challenged Ted Cruz for his seat in the Senate.

Johnson celebrated her historic win after the results were called on Tuesday evening. Tonight, Team Julie made history, she wrote in a post shared to X/Twitter. I am incredibly honored and humbled that you have elected me to be your Representative for the 32nd district. Together, we have shattered barriers and proven [sic] that representation matters.

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Throughout her campaign, Johnson  who identifies as lesbian  advocated for reproductive rights and access to safe and legal abortion services, stronger gun laws, increased access to affordable housing, and the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis.

Since January 2019, Johnson has represented District 115 in the Texas state legislature, where she helped kill 141 of the 144 anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed this year alone. She was also one of five openly queer Texas Democrats to form the first LGBT+ caucus in the Texas House of Representatives, and passed a bill regulating prior authorizations for medications that treat autoimmune diseases such as HIV.

Julie Johnson defeated Republican opponent Darrell Day in Texass 32nd District (Facebook/juliejohnsonforTX)

Speaking to People, Johnson shared that she came out as gay at age 25 in the 1990s. The former attorney, whos been married to her wife Susan Moster since 2014, explained how its critically important to have LGBT+ representation in US Congress, especially when anti-trans legislation and bills attacking the rights of LGBT+ people are constantly being proposed by conservative lawmakers.

Everybody needs to be represented and have their voice and their perspective in the conversation of our governmental discourse, Johnson told the outlet. We all have to have a seat at the table.

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The representative-elect also emphasized how sick she is of seeing her community become a political punching bag by those who seek to limit the rights of LGBT+ Americans for their own political gain.

Im not going to tolerate [bigotry] and not going to have it, she said. I will call it out.

Last year, Texas lawmakers introduced more than 140 bills threatening the LGBT+ community  from prohibiting access to gender-affirming care and imprisoning physicians who provide such gender-affirming care, to banning classroom instruction on sexual health and stripping court-ordered custody rights of parents who travel out of state to get healthcare services for their transgender child.

In June, the Texas Supreme Court upheld the states ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, certifying a law that has been in effect in Texas since September 2023. The ban will continue to prevent trans teens from accessing hormone therapies, puberty blockers, and transition surgeries, though medical experts say such surgical procedures are rarely performed on children.

Republican nominee Donald Trump claimed victory in the presidential election on Tuesday evening, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris for a second term in the White House. Throughout his reelection campaign, Trump has promised to revoke federal policies that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. His campaign has pledged to use the federal government to stop gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors, and he has called gender-affirming care child abuse and child sexual mutilation.
When Sanjay Singh, a former pilot and flight instructor, launched a moving business in South Florida just before the pandemic hit in early 2000, his timing was not only bad  he had lousy credit. No bank would lend him any money.

So Singh and his associates tapped into a private network of mostly working-class investors, borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars with the promise of paying them double-digit returns and ownership of the trucks in his company, Royal Bengal Logistics Inc.

In the end, about 1,500 investors  including nurses, school teachers and military veterans of mostly Haitian descent  fell for Singhs sales pitch and lost $53 million in what federal prosecutors described as a Ponzi scheme. In Fort Lauderdale federal court, a dozen jurors deliberated for just over an hour on Wednesday afternoon and found Singh guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. At his sentencing in February, Singh faces a prison term in the 20-year range.

Prosecutors urged U.S. District Judge David Leibowitz to send Singh, 45, to a federal lock-up immediately, pointing out that hes a pilot and sent some of his ill-gotten money to India while swindling his companys investors. But Leibowitz allowed Singh to remain free on a $1 million bond until his sentencing.

During closing arguments on Wednesday, prosecutors Robert Moore and Roger Cruz said Singh, the former president of Royal Bengal in Coral Springs, raised $160 million from investors by exploiting new ones to pay off old ones while defrauding them between 2000 and 2023.

This was a sinking ship

Prosecutors said Singh stole tens of millions from investors and lied to them about how he spent their money; instead, they said, he used the proceeds to buy a Mercedes, renovate his Coral Springs home and play the stock market as a day trader, squandering millions of the victims investments.

He was just lying, lying, lying  gambling in the stock market, Moore told jurors during closing arguments after a three-week trial. He knew his company wasnt making any money, and he knew he was lying. ... This was a Titanic. This was a sinking ship.

But Singhs assistant federal public defenders, Abigail Becker and Victor Van Dyke, portrayed him as a hard-working family man who made mistakes in building his business, but he didnt intentionally mislead anyone, lie to his companys investors or commit fraud.

Defense: Didnt lie to investors

Its a story of a man who grew his business from zero trucks to 200 trucks with revenue of $18 million in three years, Van Dyke told jurors, arguing Singh didnt live lavishly. This case is about trucks, not Ferraris.
Karen Read arrives at Norfolk Superior Court for a hearing to dismiss murder charges against her. - Credit: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman who was accused of murdering her late boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe in 2022, is asking Massachusetts Supreme Court to dismiss her charges, the Associated Press reports. The news comes after Reads case garnered national attention and ended with a mistrial after jurors couldnt come to a decision.

Read was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death. She pleaded not guilty. OKeefes body was discovered in the snow after Read dropped him off at a party on Jan. 29, 2022. Surveillance footage showed she had several drinks while at the bar, and she admitted in a frantic early morning call to OKeefes niece that she remembered very little about the previous night and that OKeefe had not come home. After returning to the home where the party was to begin a search, Read and two other women found OKeefes body and called first responders. According to testimony from officers, Read said, I hit him repeatedly while crying to EMT, but her defense argued that she asked the statement as a question, saying, Did I hit him?

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The prosecution painted Read as an alcoholic girlfriend who ran from the scene of the crime. To the defense, she was a flawed girlfriend framed by members of the Boston Police Department. The result was a jury unable to come to a decision. On July 1, 2024, the 12-person jury informed the trial judge, Judge Beverly Cannone, that they were deadlocked. Despite our commitment to the duty entrusted to us, we find ourselves deeply divided by fundamental differences in our opinions and state of mind, a note sent to the judge read. The divergence in our views are not rooted in a lack of understanding or effort but deeply held convictions that each of us carry, ultimately leading to a point where consensus is unattainable. Their decision remained firm even after they were asked to deliberate a second time.

Because of the mistrial, another trial was scheduled to begin on April 1, 2025. But Reads attorneys are arguing that a new trial would violate the double jeopardy clause, which prevents defendants in America from being prosecuted twice for the same crime. Todays appeal goes to the core issues regarding double jeopardy protection that safeguard defendants, in this case Ms. Read, from the risk of reprosecution for the very same offenses for which a prior jury was discharged, Martin Weinberg, Reads attorney, told the court Wednesday, per the AP.

Much of the debate for whether Read will be retried revolves around the jurys conclusions. According to Weinberg, at least two members of the jury told him they were only deadlocked on one of the charges. According to this conversation, which Weinberg said was not communicated to the judge, the jury agreed unanimously that she was not guilty of second-degree murder or leaving the scene of a crime.

Reads attorneys are now asking for a hearing, where the jurors can state on the record whether they had agreed on all the charges but one. But both the states legal team and the Massachusetts Judicial Court seemingly remain skeptical on whether the request is legally sound. Read was already denied a dismissal in a lower court in August, after Cannone ruled that being retried after a mistrial didnt go against double jeopardy rules.

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Since her arrest, Reads case has become a staple for dissection and commentary among TikToks true crime community. During her trial, Read became a fixation on the app, garnering thousands of videos with millions of views over the last week. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has yet to make a decision in the case.

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Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BI

The 2024 election will affect taxes, with key policy changes expected in 2025 no matter who wins.

Trump's plans could mean tax hikes for lower earners; Harris' proposals would target higher earners.

This is the fourth in a five-part series about the impacts either a Trump or a Harris presidency could have on US consumers.

Election Day is here, and no matter who wins, you'll probably see changes to your tax bill in 2025.

In the fourth installment of BI's five-part election series, Business Insider is looking at the ways each candidate's policies could affect how much you pay in taxes. (Read part one about investments, part two about costs, and part three about housing.)

Each of the three sections below represents a key segment of the taxpaying population: low- and middle-income earners, high-income earners, and businesses. BI will unpack how a Trump or Harris presidency is expected to affect all three groups.

Low- and middle-income earners

Under Trump's proposal, lower- and middle-income Americans could see some tax reductions, especially if they're trying to pay off a car or have a job that relies primarily on tips. Trump has proposed extending his slew of tax cuts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017  also known as the "Trump tax cut." He's also seeking to eliminate taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits, as well as making car interest payments tax deductible.

Based on an analysis from the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, keeping the income-tax cuts from the TCJA alone could mean a tax reduction of just over $1,000 for the middle 20% of Americans.

But another part of Trump's tax policy  his plan to levy universal tariffs on all US imports  could end up undercutting this positive impact. Economic analyses have found that those tariffs could offset the tax benefits and then some for lower-earning Americans.

Factoring in the cost of tariffs, Trump's tax package could result in higher tax bills for everyone but the top 5%, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found.

"A lot of those tariffs do end up harming lower-income families and taxpayers who buy goods from abroad," Garrett Watson, a senior policy analyst at the right-leaning Tax Foundation, said.

Harris has proposed an expanded earned-income tax credit aimed at lower-income earners, and she wants to restore and expand upon a more generous child tax credit, similar to the one implemented under Biden's pandemic-relief bill in 2021. The Tax Policy Center estimates that Harris' proposals could bring down household taxes by an average of $750  with the lowest-income earners seeing their after-tax incomes grow the most.
The race to replace an embattled former Superior Court judge was hanging in the balance by just 13 votes on Tuesday night.

Court Commissioner Bronson Brown had a sliver of a lead with 49.8%, or 36,254 votes, and Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant had 49.79%, or 36,241 votes.

Brown said he felt happy the campaign is over, but a bit nervous about the narrow lead. His campaign is hopeful that the 30,000 votes still left to count in Benton County will add to his lead.

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The feedback that he received from potential voters seemed positive and he hoped for good news as more votes are counted.

I appreciated the way that Shawn ran his campaign, he said. I think we kept it really positive between us.

Sant told the Herald that he expected it to be a close race since both attorneys had a lot of name recognition in the community.

I didnt think we would have a clear winner tonight, he said. I left at 6 p.m. There were still a lot of people in the courthouse voting. ... We have a lot of ballots still left to count. 

The two longtime attorneys were looking to fill the spot left by former Judge Sam Swanberg, who left the bench ahead of a hearing by the Washington state Commission on Judicial Conduct.

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The commission ruled he should be barred from holding a position as a judge because of his alleged abuse of his ex-wife and harassment of an ex-girlfriend.

The person elected to the nonpartisan position will serve for four years and be paid $228,000 a year.

This was the second attempt for both men to earn a seat at the seven-member panel of Superior Court judges who handle cases in both Benton and Franklin counties.

Both men also ran in 2020 to replace Judge Bruce Spanner after his retirement. They were knocked out the six-person primary race. Judge Dave Petersen ultimately won.

After Brown was defeated, he pursued a position as a Benton County court commissioner and also became a Franklin County judge pro-tem.

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So the last two years, Im doing the job, he told the Tri-City Herald Editorial Board. Being on the bench is a little different. As a prosecutor, youre seeking justice. As a defense attorney, youre being an advocate for your client. As a judge, youre being a fair and impartial adjudicator and making sure peoples constitutional rights are safeguarded and the rules are being followed.

In his 21 years as an attorney, hes served as the general counsel for the Kennewick School District and other government agencies and as a Benton County District Court public defender.

A number of Tri-City legal luminaries lined up to back his campaign, including all the current Superior Court judges, most of the Benton County District Court judges and court commissioners.

Sant has been Franklin Countys elected prosecutor for 14 years and serves in the U.S. Army Reserves judiciary and legal system. Hes also served as a public defender and a deputy prosecutor in his 20 years of practicing law.

His role as a prosecutor has required him to help argue thousands of cases, weigh evidence and determine whether a charge is supported by the law.
Polling locations in Democratic strongholds across several key battleground states received a slew of phony bomb threats on Election Day, and while the FBI deemed that none of the threats were credible, they still represent a disturbing feature of U.S. elections: alleged interference from Russia.

The FBI released a statement Tuesday saying that it was aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains. While the FBI underscored that none of the threats had been found to be credible, their purpose was undoubtedly to sow chaos and fear as Americans attempted to cast their ballots.

Many of those threats were directed at sites in Fulton County, Georgia, the states most populous Democratic stronghold. Law enforcement officials received at least five threats toward two Union City voting sites, and two polling places were evacuated for 30 minutes each after receiving threats.

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Georgias Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement that the non-credible threats affected five to seven different precincts in the key swing state.

He also said that the bomb threats had been linked to one particular foreign state actor.

We identified the source, and it was from Russia, Raffensperger said. Theyre up to mischief, it seems, and they dont want us to have a smooth, fair, and accurate election.

Anything that can get us to fight amongst ourselvesthey can count that as a victory.

In Wisconsin, two polling places in the state capitol of Madison received threats according to Ann Jacobs, who leads the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Those threats also seemingly originated from Russian email domains, according to the FBIs office in Milwaukee.

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In Arizona, election officials received fake bomb threats at four polling stations. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said that the threats came from an email address ending in .ru, but emphasized that he could not confirm if the threats were actually from the Russian government.

There were also dozens of bomb threats that have not been linked to the alleged Russian email campaign.

Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state, also received a slate of hoax bomb threats. At least 10 polling locations received threats in Philadelphia alone. One location was shut down for 23 minutes but later received a court order extending its hours to make up the lost time.

The threats in Pennsylvania were not just limited to locations in Philadelphia County. Officials in Bucks, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Delaware, Luzerne, Perry, and York Counties also reported receiving bomb threats. Investigators in Pennsylvania have yet to specifically link any of these phony threats to Russia.

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In Michigan, there were reports of bomb threats at several polling locations, but none were credible, according to a spokesperson for Michigans Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

Russias diplomatic mission in the United States dismissed any allegations of Russian interference as malicious slander.

We would like to emphasize that Russia has not interfered and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, including the United States, the Russian Embassy said in a statement. As President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed, we respect the will of the American people.
Mayor Adams  who has seemed reticent in recent days to use Vice President Kamala Harris name  did so just before voting in Tuesdays high-stakes election for the White House.

Same person I endorsed: VP Harris, Adams told reporters when asked who he was voting for as he walked into Brooklyns PS 81 to cast his ballot.

Since being indicted on federal corruption charges in late September, Adams has upset Democrats by declining to disavow support from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. He also said Trump shouldnt be called a fascist, a stance that runs counter to rhetoric from Harris.

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At the same time, Adams hasnt called Harris by her name in recent weeks.

On Monday, Adams told reporters he has been cautious about what he can say when it comes to politics on advice from his lawyers. My legal team said, Eric, this is what you can do and what you cant do, and I have to make sure I do it correctly, he said when asked why he has refrained from calling Harris by her name.

Adams again referenced electioneering concerns Tuesday.

Yall may not know the rule, but this is electioneering, you cant do this in front of here, he said at the entrance of PS 81 in declining to elaborate on why hes backing Harris.

Under state law, electioneering  defined as engaging in partisan activity on behalf of a particular candidate  isnt allowed within 100 feet of a polling place.
The Arkansas Supreme Court building in Little Rock. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

The Arkansas Supreme Court justice who wrote a scorching dissent to a decision that kept an abortion rights amendment from the ballot will lead the court starting in January.

Justice Karen Baker defeated fellow Justice Rhonda Wood to become the first elected female chief justice, according to complete but unofficial returns from the Secretary of States office.

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With all 75 counties reporting, the vote was:

Baker  544,180 (52.65%)

Wood  489,327 (47.35%)

Im very pleased with the way things look at this point, Baker said in an interview just before midnight Tuesday. I trust the voters of Arkansas and always have. This shows the public does want judges to be nonpartisan.

Baker has been on the Supreme Court since 2011 and a jurist for almost 30 years, starting as a circuit judge in Pulaski County in 1995.

Wood became an associate justice in 2015 and will remain on the bench to fill out her eight-year term, which started in 2022.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will appoint a replacement to fill Bakers position who will serve until the next election, meaning the courts Republican-supported majority likely will expand from 4-3 to 5-2.

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The chief justice sets the courts calendar and budget meetings and is administrator of the states court system. The Supreme Court has a $53 million budget and more than 400 employees.

Arkansas Supreme Court justices, including the chief justice, are elected by voters in nonpartisan elections and serve staggered terms of eight years.

The chief justices current annual salary is $219,902. The other six justices are paid $203,625 a year.

If Baker is the ultimate winner, she will take office in January, replacing retiring Chief Justice John Dan Kemp.

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The campaign

Baker and Wood led a four-person race for the chief justice position in Marchs primary with Baker leading Wood by less than a percentage point.

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Wood outraised and outspent Baker during the campaign, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state Ethics Commission.

As of Nov. 1, Wood reported $254,313 in contributions and $100,000 in loans and spending $340,313.

Baker reported $21,086 in contributions and $13,200 in loans and spending $14,823.

While nonpartisan judicial races rarely feature the sharp policy exchanges typical of partisan campaigns, a late summer decision embroiled the Supreme Court in controversy.

A legal dispute over the release of Justice Courtney Hudsons emails culminated with the justices referring one another to the courts disciplinary tribunal.

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Baker and Wood are part of the courts conservative majority, but their written opinions in the email case diverged sharply.

Hudson sued in August to stop the release of emails between her and a former court employee that a journalist had sought under the states Freedom of Information Act.

Wood and four other justices snatched the case away from the circuit court; ordered emails sent to Hudson, but not from her, made public; and referred Hudson and her attorney to their respective disciplinary commissions for flagrant breaches of confidentiality by filing emails of other justices into evidence in the lawsuit.

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In a harsh dissent release a couple of days after the majority opinion, Baker criticized her colleagues for an unprecedented misuse of our authority and demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of the state Freedom of Information Act. The FOIA clearly exempts all correspondence to and from Supreme Court justices and court employees from public disclosure, she said in her dissent.

The majority has, once again, chosen to liberate itself from the shackles of our longstanding precedent and the plain language of statutory law in order to reach a particular result. Consequently, I believe that the majority has breached public trust. Therefore, I refer the majority to the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission for investigation.

Hudson and her attorney later released the emails that had been requested by the journalist.

Last month, Wood described the public spat over the emails as unfortunate and said the episode damaged the publics confidence in the court.

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Sure, its damaged the courts credibility, Baker said in an interview. It was embarrassing. Five members didnt understand the FOIA.

Baker said she was stunned that the majority referred Hudson and her lawyer to discipline and was completely surprised by her colleagues actions.

Wood said it was disappointing people are focusing on the emails case.

Nevertheless, she said she believes the court can return to normal once the winner takes office.

I think well go back to doing things the way we have, Wood said, noting that both of us are still going to be on the court.

I hope we can start rebuilding in January, Baker said.

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Editors note: This story was updated at 2:36 a.m. Nov. 6, 2024 with updated numbers from the secretary of states office and again at 4:33 p.m. with the final but unofficial count.

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(Bloomberg) -- West Virginia Governor Jim Justice won the race to fill the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat-turned-independent Joe Manchin, flipping it to Republicans, according to the Associated Press.

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Manchins retirement was a blow to Democrats hopes of keeping a seat in the Republican state.

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CARTHAGE, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 16-year-old juvenile has been in connection with a Monday stabbing.

Carthage Police charged a 16-year-old with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The charges stem from an alleged incident on the 600 block of South Washington Street in the village.

Carthage PD: Man injured in Monday stabbing incident

Authorities are not releasing the teenagers name due to their age. The teen was arraigned in the youth part of the Jefferson Count Superior Court.

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Police stated a 48-year-old man was stabbed in the chest on Monday. The alleged victim suffered serious injuries and was transported to SUNY Upstate Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.

Village police made a second arrest in regards to the investigation. Authorities arrested 47-year-old Danielle Plumadore of Carthage and charged her with endangering the welfare of a child. She was given an appearance ticket set for Monday, November 25.

New York State Police, West Carthage Police Department, Carthage Fire Department and Carthage Area Rescue Squad all assisted during the investigation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com.
On Wednesday afternoon, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the nation from Howard University in Washington, D.C., after losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump.

Many expected Harris to address her supporters from Howardthe HBCU where she graduated in 1986on election night. However, she never made it to her alma mater as the results began pouring in.

Campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond sent the audience home and informed them that Harris would make her speech on Wednesday. Since this announcement, Where is Kamala has been trending on X.

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During her remarks, Harris urged Americans to accept her loss.

Folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now, I get it. But we must accept the results of this election, she said, on Wednesday as reported by Associated Press.

While I concede this election. I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign. I will never give up a fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams ambitions and aspirations.

Shortly before Harris speech, she called Trump and congratulated him on his win and mentioned the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans, a senior aide to Harris told CBS.

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Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed the conversation and stated that throughout the call that Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country.

Harris mentioned this during her speech. Earlier today I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory, Harris said to a crowd full of boos.

I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.

After President Biden announced that he would not be seeking re-election in July, Harris shared that she would be running for President against Trump.

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Her nomination was clenched at the Democratic National Committee in Chicago in August, where Harris made history by becoming the first Black and South Asian first woman of color to run for president for a major political party.

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In a concession speech at Howard University, Vice President Kamala Harris officially ended her 2024 presidential election bid. Her historic candidacy as the first Black and AAPI woman to secure a major US political partys presidential nomination came to an end in the address at her alma mater and a storied historically Black university. Former President Donald Trumpwho was impeached for inciting an insurrection, convicted of felony charges related to attempts to influence an election, and found liable for sexual abuse  won, securing more than the necessary 270 electoral votes.

"This is not a time to throw up our hands," Harris told the crowd. This is the time to roll up our sleeves.

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The Vice President also urged young people to remember that they have power.

To the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel sad and disappointed, but please know its going to be okay, she said. On the campaign, I would often say, when we fight, we win. But heres the thing, heres the thing, sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesnt mean we wont win. That doesnt mean we wont win. The important thing is, dont ever give up. Dont ever give up. Dont ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power. You have power, and dont you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before.

On election night, Howard was the site of a watch party that quickly turned somber, according to reporting by The 19th. At roughly 12:40 a.m. ET, campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond addressed the crowd. You wont hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow. She will be back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only to address her supporters, but to address the nation. By 1 a.m., The 19th reported, the crowd at Howard had emptied out.

Howard has been at the center of many of the pivotal moments of Harriss career. In 2019, she held a press conference there hours after launching her first presidential campaign. She held a rally at the private university on the day President Joe Biden announced he was seeking reelection with Harris as his running mate. On the night of the 2024 election, Harriss oldest friends and longtime supporters watched at Howard as the votes were counted. And today, Harris has returned again to the place that helped shape her, this time not in jubilation or celebration or hope, but in concession.

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Harriss campaign ran for only 15 weeks after President Biden stepped down from the ticket following a disastrous debate performance that raised questions about his mental fitness and advanced age (though Trump is only three years younger than Biden and has had several missteps of his own).

The current Electoral College count stands at 292 for Trump and 224 for Harris. Harris lost the critical blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, making victory impossible. Though votes are still being tabulated, Trump is on track to win the popular vote (which he lost by nearly 3 million in 2016 when he won the presidency).

Read the full transcript of Harris' speech, courtesy of The 19th, below:

Good afternoon. Good afternoon everyone, good afternoon. Thank you all. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. So let me say, and I love you back, and I love you back. So let me say my heart is full today. My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country and full of resolve. The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say the light of Americas promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.

To my beloved Doug and our family, I love you so very much. To President Biden and Dr. Biden, thank you for your faith and support. To Governor Walz and the Walz family, I know your service to our nation will continue. And to my extraordinary team, to the volunteers who gave so much of themselves, to the poll workers and the local election officials, I thank you. I thank you all.

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Look, I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it  and the way we ran it. Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intentional about building community and building coalitions, bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united by love of country, with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for Americas future.

And we did it with the knowledge that we all have so much more in common than what separates us now. I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it, but we must accept the results of this election. Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.

A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle as much as any other distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it. At the same time in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States, and loyalty to our conscience and to our God. My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuels this campaign, the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people, a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up.

I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions and aspirations, where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body and not have their government telling them what to do. We will never give up the fight to protect our schools and our streets from gun violence

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and America, we will never give up the fight for our democracy, for the rule of law, for equal justice, and for the sacred idea that every one of us, no matter who we are or where we start out, has certain fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld.

And we will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square, and we will also wage it in quieter ways, in how we live our lives, by treating one another with kindness and respect, by looking in the face of a stranger and seeing a neighbor, by always using our strength to lift people up to fight for the dignity that all people deserve. The fight for our freedom will take hard work. But like I always say, we like hard work, hard work is good work. Hard work can be joyful work. And the fight for our country is always worth it. It is always worth it.

To the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel sad and disappointed, but please know its going to be okay. On the campaign, I would often say, when we fight, we win. But heres the thing, heres the thing, sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesnt mean we wont win. That doesnt mean we wont win. The important thing is, dont ever give up. Dont ever give up. Dont ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power. You have power, and dont you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before.

You have the capacity to do extraordinary good in the world. And so to everyone who is watching, do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.

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This is a time to organize, to mobilize and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice and the future that we all know we can build together. Look, many of you know, I started out as a prosecutor, and throughout my career, I saw people at some of the worst times in their lives, people who had suffered great harm and great pain and yet found within themselves, the strength and the courage and the resolve to take the stand, to take a stand, to fight for justice, to fight for themselves, to fight for others. So let their courage be our inspiration. Let their determination be our charge.

And Ill close with this, theres an adage and historian once called a law of history, true of every society across the ages, the adage is, only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all,I hope that is not the case. But heres the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a billion brilliant stars, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service. H-U [from Howard Universitys motto Veritas et Utilitas, which translates to Truth and Service, and to which the crowd responded: You know, the schools call and response).

And may that work guide us, even in the face of setbacks toward the extraordinary promise of the United States of America, I thank you all. May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. I thank you all.

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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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Originally appeared on E! Online

Kamala Harris is addressing the nation.

After Republican candidate Donald Trump was officially projected to win the 2024 U.S. presidential election, according to NBC News, the current Vice President spoke out after her opponent's victory.

"My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country, and full of resolve," she said during her speech delivered Nov. 6 at Howard University, her alma mater. "The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say, the light of America's promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting."

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And while Harris, who ran alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, may have been disappointed with the results, she assured the crowd that she would do everything in her control to make sure there's a "peaceful transfer of power."

"Earlier today, I spoke with President-Elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory," she said. "I also told him that we will help him and his team with his transition. A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it."

I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president, Trump told the crowd while standing onstage in West Palm Beach, Florida. "This was a movement like no one has ever seen before. Frankly, I believe this was the greatest political movement of all time.

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Harris went on to note she remains steadfast in looking ahead and fighting for "democracy, the rule of law, and for the sacred idea that every one of usno matter who we are or where we start outhas certain fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld."

"And to the young people who are watching," she continued, "it is OK to feel sad and disappointed, but please know its going to be OK."

Noting that throughout her campaign she would often say, "When we fight, we win," Harris added, "Here's the thing: Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesnt mean we wont win. The important thing is dont ever give up, dont ever stop trying to make the world a better place."

John Moore/Getty Images

Harris' comments come just hours after Trump spoke to his supporters at a campaign party, standing on stage with his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. Trump, who was previously elected as the 45th president alongside former Vice President Mike Pence, is set to now become the 47th president of the United States.

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I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president, Trump told the crowd while standing onstage in West Palm Beach, Florida. "This was a movement like no one has ever seen before. Frankly, I believe this was the greatest political movement of all time.

Meanwhile, Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond addressed the crowd of supporters that gathered at Howard University in Washington, D.C., noting that the vice president would not take the stage as the results continued to roll in.

"We still have votes to count, he explained. We still have states that have not been called yet, we will continue overnight to make sure every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken.

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Earlier this year, President Joe Bidenwho defeated Trump during the 2020 presidential electionannounced that he was pulling out of the 2024 race, endorsing Harris as the Democratic candidate shortly thereafter.

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My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term, he shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, July 21. "My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And its been the best decision Ive made."

He continued, "Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democratsits time to come together and beat Trump. Lets do this.

In the months that followed, Harris detailed her plan to seek common sense solutions, for issues such as abortion rights, as she expressed in her November campaign ad.

Together, we will build a brighter future for our nation, she added, where we stand for freedom, we stand for justice, we stand for the dignity of work.

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And though Harris spent much of her months-long campaign fielding criticism about her race and sex, she shared that she believed the work she did was all about representing all the people."

"I respect the fact that we all have so much more in common than what separates us, she told reporters on Oct. 30, per NBC News, and that most people want a president that understands that, that gets that and approaches their role of leadership that way."

(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)

To see which celebrities voted in the 2024 election, read on.

Lady Gaga

The "Applause" singer didn't need a million reasons to get her vote on.





Megan Thee Stallion

Hot Girl Summer? More like Hot Girl Election Day for the "Savage" rapper.

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Lupita Nyong'o

The Oscar winner celebrated her first time voting, captioning her video on Instagram, "I VOTED!!! Your girl is a #VirginVoter NO MORE!!!"





Zoe Saldana

The Star Trek alum struck a pose with her "I Voted" sticker in both English and Spanish.





Jessica Biel

The 7th Heaven actress looked like she was on cloud nine after casting her ballot.





Chelsea Handler

"Dont sit this one out," the comedian wrote on Instagram. "Vote with your conscious."

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Jenna Dewan

The Step Up alum stepped up to the ballot box with her youngest daughter Rhiannon.





Connie Britton

"With your vote today, give yourself a voice that can make the change that you envision in the world," the Friday Night Lights alum wrote on Instagram. "And feel how good that feels. Joy."





Gabourey Sidibe

The Precious star filled out her ballot at home, joking, "When you vote at the kitchen counter, you can wear what you want."





Brooke Shields

"Get out and VOTE!" the Blue Lagoon actress wrote on Instagram. "This is probably the most important election in our lifetime."

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Demi Moore

"We voted!" the Substance actress shared on Instagram. "Voting is such an important part of our democracy, dont forget to exercise your right to vote!"





Josh Gad

The Frozen star didn't let his ballot go to waste.





Halle Berry

"I hope you all exercised your fundamental right to vote and have your voice heard today," the Oscar winner wrote on Instagram Nov. 5. "I DID!"





Danielle Brooks

The Orange Is the New Black alum showed off her Georgia peach sticker.

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Christina Ricci

It may be a Tuesday, but the Wednesday actress headed to the polls nonetheless.





Saweetie

The "My Type" rapper tapped into voting.





Tina Knowles

Beyonce's mom got into formation on Election Day.





Jon Bon Jovi

The rocker gave voting a good name.





Johnny Galecki

Looks like the Big Bang Theory alum made a big bang at the ballot box.





Alec Baldwin & Hilaria Baldwin

The 30 Rock alum and his wife snapped a selfie after voting in New York City.





Jesse Tyler Ferguson

"It's a privilege and a duty," the Modern Family star captioned his voting selfie. "VOTE!"





Gigi Hadid

The model struck a pose with her "I Voted" sticker.





Jonathan Van Ness

The Queer Eye star had his sights set on voting this year.





Jimmy Kimmel

"If you ask nicely," the late night talk show host joked, "theyll put the sticker on your head."



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Vice President Kamala Harris called President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday to congratulate him on the victory and concede.

According to Wall Street Journal White House correspondent Ken Thomas, Harris emphasized the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans.

Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign communications director, confirmed the two spoke, telling HuffPost in an emailed statement that Trump acknowledged Harris strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country.

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President Joe Biden called Trump on Wednesday and invited him to the White House for a transition meeting, according to The Associated Press.

Both Harris and Biden are also expected to make public remarks about the election results, with Harris speaking this afternoon and Biden addressing the nation tomorrow.

Trump never conceded the 2020 election and refused to attend President Joe Bidens inauguration, instead directing a violent mob at the U.S. Capitol in his last days in office with the intent of overturning the results of the election.

In an email to campaign staffers Wednesday, Harris campaign manager Jen OMalley Dillon acknowledged the particular sting of the loss  but encouraged people not to relinquish the fight.

Here's the full email Jen O'Malley Dillon just sent to the Harris campaign staff.



"Ill leave you with this: losing is unfathomably painful. It is hard. This will take a long time to process. But the work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now." pic.twitter.com/GVzMDXHTHE  Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) November 6, 2024

Losing is unfathomably painful. It is hard. This will take a long time to process, she wrote in the email, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post.

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But the work of protecting America from the impact of a Trump Presidency starts now, she continued.

View this as the beginning, not the end. It will be hard work. But as the boss says: hard work is good work. And I look forward to standing beside you.

Related...
With Donald Trump poised to return to the White House, businesses on both sides of the Atlantic are evaluating how his administrations policies could affect equipment leasing and financing.

Trump's previous term was marked by tax cuts, deregulation, and an aggressive approach to trade  all of which had substantial impacts on capital-intensive industries. A second term could bring both opportunities and risks for the equipment finance sector, which is essential for industries ranging from manufacturing and construction to energy and healthcare.

Incentives for leasing?

Trumps 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) significantly lowered corporate tax rates and allowed businesses to expense capital investments, a provision particularly beneficial to those acquiring or leasing new equipment. If similar tax cuts and incentives are reintroduced, they could create favourable conditions for equipment leasing in the US. Lower tax rates can enhance cash flow, making it easier for companies to enter into long-term leasing agreements, while tax deductions for capital investments could drive demand for leased equipment as companies seek to maximise these benefits.

In Europe, however, the impact of US tax policies is less direct. European companies may still benefit indirectly if US-based suppliers, with improved cash flow and capacity, boost production and lower prices. But if Trumps tax approach sparks new rounds of international competition on corporate tax rates, European markets could experience changes in capital investment dynamics, potentially affecting the leasing markets attractiveness.

Deregulation and lower compliance costs

One of Trumps hallmarks is his commitment to reducing regulatory burdens for businesses. Deregulation could lower compliance costs for equipment-intensive industries, including energy, construction, and manufacturing, potentially freeing up resources for equipment leasing. This reduced regulatory oversight might be particularly beneficial for smaller firms, which often face high compliance costs that discourage major investments.

In Europe, by contrast, regulatory standards tend to be stricter and are often tied to environmental and safety goals. If Trumps policies favour deregulation over environmental protection, US businesses might gain a short-term cost advantage over European firms in high-equipment industries. However, companies with transatlantic operations could face additional challenges as they navigate these divergent regulatory landscapes, potentially affecting the demand for leased equipment depending on where compliance is more financially feasible.
Kamala Harris called Donald Trump on Wednesday to concede the presidential race, and to urge him to be a president for all Americans, according to a campaign memo.

Harris is expected to give a concession speech later on Wednesday at Howard University.

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In the memo, campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon said that Harris also pledged to work with President Biden to ensure a peaceful transition to power  a pointed allusion to the violent transfer in 2020.

A Trump campaign spokesman confirmed that Harris had called to congratulate him on his historic victory.

President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country, said the spokesman, Steven Cheung.

OMalley Dillon thanked her campaign staff for building a first-rate, historic Presidential campaign in basically 90 days.

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You stared down unprecedented headwinds and obstacles that were largely out of our control, she wrote. We knew this would be a margin of error race, and it was.

She also noted that the rightward swing to Trump was less pronounced in the contested states, arguing that showed the campaign had an impact in countering the national mood.

That speaks to both the work you did, and the scale of the challenge we ultimately couldnt surmount, she wrote.

OMalley Dillon also said that losing the race was unfathomably painful.

It is hard, she wrote. This will take a long time to process. But the work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now.

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Trump is poised to sweep all seven battleground states, though the race has not been called yet in Arizona and Nevada. The Republicans also took control of the U.S. Senate.

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Kamala Harris called President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday morning to concede the race and congratulate the Republican politician on his Election Night win.

In the conversation, the vice president emphasized the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and the need for Trump to be a president for all Americans, according to the AP and a campaign memo to media.

The Democratic presidential nominees concession came just hours after the 2024 presidential race was called in favor of Trump after the divisive GOP figure swept the southern states and broke through the so-called blue wall needed for Harris to claim victory.

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Harris is expected to address the nation in a live concession speech from Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

In the campaigns memo, chair Jen OMalley Dillon celebrated their launch of a first-rate, historic Presidential campaign in basically 90 days and thanked her staff for staring down unprecedented headwinds and obstacles that were largely out of our control. We knew this would be a margin of error race, and it was.

While she described Harris loss to Trump as unfathomably painful and hard, she maintained that the work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now.

In another statement to media, the Trump campaign said: President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier today where she congratulated him on his historic victory. President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country.

The post Kamala Harris Calls Donald Trump to Concede Race, Congratulate Him on Presidential Win appeared first on TheWrap.
Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. After defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump will serve a second term in the White House as the 47th President of the United States.

While Trump gave his acceptance speech early Wednesday morning, we are still awaiting a concession speech from Harris. How can you watch the speeches, and why are they so important? Here's what you need to know.

When will Vice President Kamala Harris give a concession speech?

A counterpart to Trump's victory speech, Kamala Harris is expected to give a concession speech later today.

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While not a legal requirement, the concession speech has long been a tradition in American democracy, often signals a peaceful transition of power and offers clarity to supporters once the electoral votes are counted. The voluntary gesture is also considered a graceful tradition of American democracy.

WATCH: President-elect Donald Trump gives victory speech from Florida

Just after winning three critical battleground states  North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania  victor Donald Trump addressed the crowd gathered at the Palm Beach County Convention Center at 2:30 a.m. ET. He surpassed the 270 electoral votes needed for re-election at 5:34 a.m. ET Wednesday.

During the 25-minute speech, Trump said the campaign "overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible," alluding to two assassination attempts while campaigning during the summer.

 USA TODAY contributed to this report. This story has been updated with new information.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Where to watch Kamala Harris speech today? Live from Howard University
Anadolu/Getty Images

In the early morning hours of November 6, the 2024 presidential election was called for Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio senator JD Vance. That afternoon Vice President Kamala Harris officially conceded the race in a phone call to the Republican candidate.

"President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country, Steven Cheung, the Trump campaigns communications director, said in a statement, per NBC News.

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In her concession speech, delivered at Howard University in Washington, DC, Harris was optimistic. The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say, the light of Americas promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting, the Democratic candidate said.

After giving thanks to the poll workers and the local election officials, Harris continued, I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it. Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intentional about building community and building coalitionsunited. By love of country with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for Americas future.

Harris pointedly framed her response to a loss as different from Trumps four years ago, when his refusal to concede resulted in an insurrection on Capitol Hill. We must accept the results of this election, Harris said, recalling her earlier phone conversation with her opponent. I told him that we will help him and his team with his transition. And that we will engage in a peaceful transition of power. A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results.

Harris emphasized her commitment to America, telling the crowd, We owe loyalty not to a president or to a party but to the Constitution of the United States. And loyalty to our conscience and to our God. My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign. The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness, and the dignity of all people. A fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation. The ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up. To reassure young people watching, she added, Please know its gonna be okay, and said, Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesnt mean we wont win. The important thing is dont ever give up.

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As a further call to action, she noted, To everyone who is watching, do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.

Harris became the Democratic nominee mere months ago after President Joe Bidens poor debate performance prompted him to leave the race, elevating his running mate as his de facto replacement. Harris soon replaced herself on the ticket with Tim Walz, and by the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August, the stage was set for a Harris-Trump showdown. She benefited from endorsements by many big-name celebrities, including Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift, but it wasnt enough to carry any of the key swing states.

US-VOTE-POLITICS-DEBATE-HARRIS-TRUMP SAUL LOEB/Getty Images

At the DNC, VP Kamala Harris laid out her vision for the country and made it clear that a second Trump term was a threat to our democracy, saying, Fellow Americans, this election is not only the most important of our lives. It is one of the most important in the life of our nation. In many ways Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious. Consider not only the chaos and calamity when he was in office, but also the gravity of what has happened since he lost the last election. And consider what he intends to do if we give him power again.

In his victory speech, Trump said, Every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and your future. Every single day, I will be fighting for you. And with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America. Thats what we have to have. This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.

Read more of Glamours 2024 election coverage here.

Originally Appeared on Glamour
Kamala Harris' supporters finally heard from the vice president on Wednesday afternoon. But her address at Howard University was far from the speech they wanted, and many listened in tears.

In somber remarks delivered at the Yard, a large outdoor space on the Washington, D.C., campus, the Democratic presidential nominee said she had conceded the race to Donald Trump and urged a divided country to come together.

"The outcome of this election is not what we wanted  not what we fought for, not what we voted for," said Harris, 60, a Howard alumna whose surprise candidacy began in July after President Biden announced he would not seek another term. "But hear me when I say: The light of America's promise will always burn bright."

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Harris spoke from the same place where her supporters had gathered a day earlier hoping to celebrate a historic breakthrough: the election of the first Black woman to the presidency. But on Wednesday, some of the patriotic regalia that had made the Yard an arresting backdrop was in disarray or gone.

"While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign," said Harris, whose voice momentarily quivered early in her remarks.

As the vice president spoke about her 107-day, whirlwind campaign, some attendees wiped away tears and wrapped their arms around each other.

The raw anguish on display at the prestigious historically Black university was emblematic of what many Democrats were experiencing across the country. The Republican, who declared victory in a speech early Wednesday morning, won several key battleground states. Trump, who ran a grievance-driven campaign suffused with racial animus, could also win the popular vote.

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Among those who came to hear Harris on Wednesday was Rebecca 'Toyin Doherty, a Howard alumna living in Washington. The former middle and high school teacher said the country must "admit that we have misogyny, we have sexism and we have racism.

I'm holding back tears, said Doherty, 42, her voice breaking. Im sorry. It just really speaks to America, the spirit of America. How would you run a campaign and belittle women, belittle Puerto Ricans, belittle immigrants, belittle just ... every type of group except a particular group. And people think that's OK?"

Jessica Finkel, a progressive fundraiser from Charlotte, N.C., who took in Harris' muted speech, said that her loss "felt crushing."

"It feels like since the founding of the country, we just haven't gotten away from our racist and bigoted ideals," said Finkel, 27.

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On Tuesday night, the gathering at Howard had begun before 7 with a sense of optimism  one buoyed by a playlist that included 1990s hip-hop and modern female empowerment anthems.

The possibility that Harris might become the first president to graduate from a historically Black college or university had animated much of the action on the Yard, where thousands of students and alumni were dancing even before Howard's gospel choir sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the hymn adopted by some as a Black national anthem.

But that enthusiasm was soon overtaken by anxiety that curdled into crushing despair.

Read more: 2024 U.S. elections results

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Revelers directed their nervous energy toward a large screen showing CNN's election coverage. The festivities were dampened when the network's John King said that Harris trailed President Biden's performance in the 2020 election in key areas.

By 11 p.m., the mood had darkened considerably  the dancing had long since stopped  and attendees watched in near silence as the CNN telecast projected an increasingly narrow path to victory for Harris. Well after midnight, Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the vice presidents campaign, told a dwindling audience that Harris would not be taking the stage.

South Carolina native Nicole Harrison, 42, who wore a sparkly blue and gold jacket Tuesday, recalled living through Trump's presidency, and the fear some people felt while walking the streets of Washington.

Thats the scary part about it  safety, said Harrison, who graduated from the University of South Carolina.

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Someones going to be upset, she said, adding that she hoped people channel their frustrations into change, not violence. I dont want to live like that again.

Read more: Trump elected as the United States 47th president following wins in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

The event had been a showcase for Howard and the wider network of schools serving mostly Black students. Many attendees wore their sorority or fraternity colors  a celebration of a storied strand of Black culture in America.

Before the vibes shifted, several people told The Times about their admiration for Harris  and the pride they felt watching the Democratic nominee strive for the presidency.

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It means so much more than you can imagine, said Marissa Jennings, 43, who grew up in the Crenshaw neighborhood of Los Angeles and attended Bennett College, a historically Black institution in North Carolina. "... It was something I couldnt have dreamed of."

Read more: A political awakening: How Howard University shaped Kamala Harris identity

Harris' time at Howard  she graduated from the school in 1986  helped shape her political identity. During her unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2019, Harris took to telling voters that her toughest political race was at the university, where she won a seat on the Liberal Arts Student Council during her freshman year, The Times has reported.

The vice president was also a member of the Howard chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha, the country's first Black sorority. Among attendees on Tuesday were women wearing the organization's signature salmon pink and apple green colors.

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Read more: In Kamala Harris' Berkeley, political activism is part of growing up

On Wednesday, Doherty, the former school teacher who has segued into a career practicing law, said that the vice president's loss had caused her to reflect on a lesson she had shared with her pupils.

"I remember teaching my students that one of the priorities was to make sure that you understood the importance of voting," she said.

Mehta and Bierman reported from Washington and Miller from Los Angeles.

Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.


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Kamala Harris is addressing the nation after her devastating loss to Donald Trump.

The current vice president arrived at her alma mater, Howard University, in Washington, D.C., this afternoon to deliver an incredibly impassioned concession speech.

My heart is full today, she began, noting that she feels proud of the race we ran and how we ran it.

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Harris said its okay for some to feel disappointed by Trumps win, but no matter who is in power, The light of Americas promise will always shine bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.

She thanked running mate Tim Walzwho was in the audience with his familyas well as her team and her supporters, campaign volunteers, and poll workers.

Harris added that while this isnt the outcome she wanted, she has accepted the result of the election, congratulated Trump on his victory, and promised to help him run the country the way it should be run.

We must accept the result of the election, she said, explaining that a peaceful transfer of power is a fundamental principal of American democracy, and distinguishes our democracy from monarchy or tyranny.

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And, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign, Harris said, to cheers from her audience.

The Democrat, who would have been the countrys first female president, assured her supporters that despite her loss, the fight is far from over. She said, Sometimes the fight takes a while; that doesnt mean we wont win. Dont ever give up. Dont ever listen when someone says something is impossible because it has never been done before.

This is not a time to throw up our hands, this is a time to roll up our sleeves, she added, before concluding: May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

Watch the entire speech here.

Kent Nishimura - Getty Images

Last night, as polls around the country closed, supporters of the Democratic nominee came together in the nations capital, where she was expected to give a victory speech. But as it became clear that the majority of the country had turned red, a member of her team confirmed that she would not be speaking publicly until today.

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We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to try to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, co-chair of the Harris campaign and former Rep. Cedric Richmond told the audience gathered at Harriss alma matter last night. So you wont hear from the vice president tonight. But you will hear from her tomorrow, because she will be back here tomorrow to address not only the [Howard University] family, not only to address her supporters, but to address the nation.

Kevin Dietsch - Getty Images

Trumps victory came after he won over the key states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which pushed him to reach the 270 electoral votes necessary to take the presidency. He will assume office on January 20.

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Kamala Harris is addressing the nation after her devastating loss to Donald Trump.

The current vice president arrived at her alma mater, Howard University, in Washington, D.C., this afternoon to deliver an incredibly inspiring, hopeful, and impassioned concession speech.

My heart is full today, she began, noting that she feels proud of the race we ran and how we ran it.

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Harris told voters that its okay for some to feel disappointed by Trumps win, but no matter who is in power, The light of Americas promise will always shine bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.

SAUL LOEB - Getty Images

She thanked running mate Tim Walzwho was in the audience with his familyas well as her team and her supporters, campaign volunteers, and poll workers.

Harris added that while this isnt the outcome she wanted, she has accepted the result of the election, congratulated Trump on his victory, and promised to help him run the country the way it must be run to honor the Constitution and the American people.

We must accept the result of the election, she said, explaining that a peaceful transfer of power is a fundamental principal of American democracy, and distinguishes our democracy from monarchy or tyranny. (Her statement brought to mind Trumps refusal to accept his loss against Joe Biden and VP Harris in 2020.)

SAUL LOEB - Getty Images

And, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign, Harris said, to cheers from her audience.

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The Democrat, who would have been the countrys first female president, assured her supporters that despite her loss, the fight is far from over. She said, Sometimes the fight takes a whilethat doesnt mean we wont win. Dont ever give up. Dont ever listen when someone says something is impossible because it has never been done before.

This is not a time to throw up our hands, this is a time to roll up our sleeves, she added, before concluding: May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

Kent Nishimura - Getty Images

Last night, as polls around the country closed, supporters of the Democratic nominee came together in the nations capital, where she was expected to give a victory speech. But as it became clear that the majority of the country had turned red, a member of her team confirmed that she would not be speaking publicly until today.

We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to try to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, co-chair of the Harris campaign and former Rep. Cedric Richmond told the audience gathered at Harriss alma matter last night. So you wont hear from the vice president tonight. But you will hear from her tomorrow, because she will be back here tomorrow to address not only the [Howard University] family, not only to address her supporters, but to address the nation.

Kevin Dietsch - Getty Images

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Trumps victory came after he won over the key states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which pushed him to reach the 270 electoral votes necessary to take the presidency. He will assume office on January 20.

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The results of the preliminary exit polls are dribbling in  and they will be triggering pangs of panic in both the Democratic and Republican camps.

One potential sub-plot that will unnerve the Trump campaign is that white voters estimation of Donald Trump has tumbled 8 points since 2020 to 49 per cent, according to the NBC exit poll. However, the same poll shows a slight uptick in the favourable views of Trump among both Black and Latino voters. Given that a Trump victory in battleground states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania may well hinge on his success in attracting minority voters, this is a tentatively encouraging sign for the Republicans.

But elements of the data will be causing serious concern for the Democratic camp, too. They hint that Kamala Harris will have to overcome incredibly strong headwinds in order to snatch this election. Americans feel extremely negative about the status quo.



Fox News voter analysis has also found that 70 per cent of respondents believe the US is on the wrong track. Only 13 per cent said they or their family were getting ahead in the current economy, while 63 per cent rated economic conditions as not so good or poor. One of the big criticisms of the Harris campaign has been her tactical decision not to emphatically distance herself from the Biden era, for fear that the consequent party infighting could scupper her campaign.

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She will be heartened, however, by the fact that the CNN polling at least suggests that the state of democracy is ranking as the single most important issue for voters  even more important than the economy. Harris decision to switch the emphasis of her campaign at the last minute  aggressively targeting undecided Republican voters with the warning that a vote for Trump imperils American democracy  might have raised eyebrows. But her high-stakes gamble may yet pay off, with the usual provisos that you cant read too much into exit polls released before voting has even finished.

Either way, its very early days and we are in for a long night. It will be several hours  perhaps even several days  before we can say with any confidence who is destined to become the next President of the United States.

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A campaign sign on Washington Street in Newport supports the presidential bid of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. (Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)

Democrat Kamala Harris won Rhode Island on Election Night, securing the Ocean States four Electoral College votes when

the polls closed at 8 p.m., according to preliminary, unofficial results. The Associated Press called the race for Harris because results from AP VoteCast showed she was leading by at least 15 percentage points.

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Harris victory over Republican Donald Trump, called by the Associated Press one minute after polls closed, was hardly a surprise in a solidly blue state that hasnt voted for a Republican in a presidential election since Ronald Reagans reelection in 1984.

Harris drew most of her support from Rhode Islands urban core and coastal communities, while the western and northern parts of the state were closely divided between Harris and Trump. Tuesdays projected results largely mirror what happened in 2020, when Democrat Joe Biden won Rhode Island with nearly 60% of the vote, compared with Trumps 39%.

As of 7:30 p.m., 30 minutes before polls closed Tuesday night, nearly 498,000 Rhode Island voters had cast ballots in the election, equal to 62.9% turnout, according to the Rhode Island Department of State turnout tracker. By comparison, 64% of Rhode Island voters participated in the 2020 presidential race; turnout in 2016 fell just short of 60%.

Neither presidential candidate paid a visit to the Ocean State during their campaigns. Harris running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appeared at a private fundraiser in Newport in August. More recently, on Oct. 24, U.S. Commerce Secretary and former Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo attended a fundraising reception at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence hosted by the Rhode Island Democratic Party. Both private fundraisers were billed as events to raise support for Harris in battleground states.

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Despite its reputation as a Democratic stronghold, nearly half of the states 723,000 registered voters are unaffiliated, according to the Rhode Island Department of State. Democrats comprise 38% of registered voters, while Republicans make up the remaining 14%.

A campaign sign supporting Republican former President Donald Trump and his running mate Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance is on display in the back of a pickup outside the IUOE Local 57 polling place on Central Avenue in Johnston on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

(Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

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Democrat Beryl New, a candidate for the Kansas State Board of Education, talks to reporters at a Nov. 5, 2024, watch party for Topeka-area Democrats. (Maya Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Far-right Republicans were poised to win two of five seats up for election on the Kansas State Board of Education, shifting the boards power to a conservative bloc.

With moderate board members on their way out and four conservatives already in place, the board is positioned for an ideological shake-up. Candidates differentiated themselves along the campaign trail on issues like parental rights, public school funding and school safety.

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Democrats appeared to maintain three positions on the board, based on unofficial results late Tuesday from the Kansas Secretary of States Office.

Incumbent Democrat Melanie Haas appeared to win reelection in the 2nd District with 62% of the votes in a three-way race and all precincts reporting.

She faced Republican challenger Fred Postlewait and independent Kiel Corkran for the seat that represents public school districts in Johnson and Wyandotte counties.

Kansans were actually doing their homework, Haas said by phone from a watch party in Overland Park. They realized Democrats are the ones who are supporting their public schools.

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The conservative bloc of candidates used issues like culture wars to try to kind of pick a fight, without a background in professional education, said Haas, who was first elected in 2020 and is the boards current chair.

Kansas State Board of Education candidate Melanie Haas poses for a portrait at the Democratic watch party on Nov. 5, 2024, in Overland Park. (Chloe Anderson for Kansas Reflector)

In the northeastern 4th District, Republican Connie OBrien and Democrat Kris Meyer were embroiled in a close race most of the night. OBrien led Meyer by 2 percentage points, according to preliminary results.

OBrien did not respond to Kansas Reflectors request for comment.

Meyer said the results did not look good for the future of Kansas education, as ultra conservative candidates that are looking to eradicate public schools are positioned to take over majority voting power on the board.

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But well keep working hard in the field to support our teachers and make sure our local boards are prepared for what is down the road, she said.

Democrat Beryl New, a former Topeka educator, led Republican Bruce Schultz, a retired professor of anatomy and physiology at Kansas State University, with about 57% of votes for the 6th District seat, which encompasses school districts in the Lawrence and Topeka areas, according to early results. The current board member, Republican Deena Horst, chose not to seek reelection.

There are conversations about vouchers, about privatizing education, and I know people have reasons for their agendas, but what we ought to always remember is that there are young people whose families cannot afford anything other than public education, New said Tuesday.

New also said she recognizes the reasons for school vouchers and privatizing education, but public schools are often the only option for families.

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So to keep that opportunity safe, we have to keep all our resources going in that direction to make sure every child, whether their parents are millionaires or their parents live in the rescue mission, that they can be guaranteed a high-quality public education with all the resources they need, with public funding going directly in public schools, she said.

In the Wichita-area 8th District, Democratic incumbent Betty Arnold led Republican Jason Carmichael with 54% of votes, per early results.

In the 10th District in south-central Kansas, early results show Debby Potter, a conservative Republican, leading Jeffrey Jarman, a Democrat, with 60% of votes in a three-way race.

This is a seat that normally runs unopposed, Potter said.

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She said she has been visiting Topeka for the past three years in preparation for a seat on the board.

Im just ready to do what Ive been preparing for for the past three years, she said.

This years early Republican winners align with the current boards conservative faction on issues like strengthening religion in schools, arming teachers, installing parental oversight of instructional and functional decisions and reevaluating public school funding.

The Democratic candidates have promoted fully funding public schools and rejecting voucher programs that could detract from that funding.

In the 4th District, OBrien, a former teacher and state representative, beat out two other Republican hopefuls in the August primary to clinch the general election nomination. Her Democratic opponent, Meyer, has been outspoken about the boards current conservative members. Those four board members  Danny Zeck, Michelle Dombrosky, Cathy Hopkins and Dennis Hershberger  are not up for reelection until 2026. OBrien has characterized herself in the past as a conservative.

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The 4th District seat is being vacated by Democrat Ann Mah, who didnt seek reelection. She said she worries a shift to the right could mean a continued rejection of federal funding, inadequate mental health resources for students and further departure from technical education opportunities.

I think weve been doing some good things for kids that would be put at risk if the board changes direction, she said.

The 10th District in south-central Kansas was contested in a three-way race. Jarman, a Democrat and professor, Potter, a conservative Republican, and Kent Rowe, an independent and active Green Party member, vied for the position vacated by moderate Republican Jim McNiece.

The state board is tasked with oversight of the Kansas State Department of Education and supervision of public schools, but it has little control over state funding, a responsibility of the legislative branch.

Election totals have not yet been finalized, and 3,447 of Kansas 4,126 precincts were reporting preliminary results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday.
A growing share of international candidates are less likely to pursue a graduate business degree in the U.S. due to the U.S. presidential election results

The unimaginable has happened.

A twice-impeached, four-times indicted convicted felon has been elected President of the United States.

Trump not only won the Electoral College. Shockingly, he won the popular vote.

Political experts are already saying fear and anger won Trumps reelection. In fact, this election was a triumph against elitism, reason, intellect, and politically correct dogma. In a country where fewer than a third of the citizens have a college degree, an impulsive man who is interested only in himself is returning to the most powerful office in the world.

DISILLUSIONED AND AGGRIEVED, THE UNEDUCATED BROUGHT TRUMP BACK

By and large, the uneducated, disillusioned and aggrieved over the countrys direction, won over Americas educated. If you need any more evidence of this truth, consider that the guy who claimed to hold a Michigan Ross MBA that he never had also won election to the Senate. Ohio Republican candidate Bernie Moreno beat incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown for a pivotal U.S. Senate seat.

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It was Democratic strategist Doug Sosnik who recently predicted that the biggest single, best predictor of how someones going to vote in American politics now is education level. That is now the new fault line in American politics. The data support this view. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis documented that for every dollar of wealth in a household headed by a college graduate, a household headed by a high school graduate has 22 cents. In his last victory, Trump gained the support of some two-thirds of White voters without a college degree, while losing White college-educated voters.

It is why President Biden has publicly said that the majority of jobs created by his infrastructure bill will go to those without college degrees. And it is why Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to nix unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs on day one, a day that will never come.

People who climbed the academic ladder were feted with accolades, while those who didnt were rendered invisible, writes David Brooks in an essay in The New York Times. Society worked as a vast segregation system, elevating the academically gifted above everybody else, Before long, the diploma divide became the most important chasm in American life. High school graduates die nine years sooner than college-educated people. They die of opioid overdoses at six times the rate. They marry less and divorce more and are more likely to have a child out of wedlock. They are more likely to be obese. A recent American Enterprise Institute study found that 24 percent of people who graduated from high school at most have no close friends. They are less likely than college grads to visit public spaces or join community groups and sports leagues. They dont speak in the right social justice jargon or hold the sort of luxury beliefs that are markers of public virtue.

They sought revenge, someone who would disrupt everything, regardless of whether it would actually help them. Its not something that any smart and ambitious international student could understand. As a round one international MBA applicant put it, Its challenging to grasp how such a significant portion of Americans resonate with the vision that Trump and the Republican Party represent. Whats even more concerning is how this might affect international students and professionals who contribute so much to the U.S. The climate feels less welcoming, and Im sure many others feel so uncertain about their place and future here.

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The implications for higher education in the U.S. are massive.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN A SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

While many say you cant take Trump at his word, they underestimate what a second-term Presidency with Trump in the White House would be like. Trump will now surround himself with right-leaning extremists, loyal to him not the Constitution or the country. He will have the support of a Republican-controlled Senate and House. And he will not have to worry about the consequences of his decisions because he will not be able to run again.

What can you expect?

A plunge in international applicants. Applicant pools and class cohorts will experience a significant decline in prospective students from abroad. Many international applicants decided to hold off on applying in round one deadlines so that they could submit an application knowing the outcome of this election. With this Trump win, they will perceive the country as unwelcoming and suspicious of them and choose to study elsewhere.

The elimination or diminishment of OPT (optional practical training). In the past ten years, one business school after another has rushed to get STEM designation for its graduate programs. Going STEM assured international students of landing a job in the U.S. for three full years. That extension allowed these graduates to apply for an H1b vision in three lotteries. Trumps senior advisor, Stephen Miller, has shaped Trumps draconian immigration policies. Miller, who played a role in Trumps zero-tolerance policy, has OPT in his crosshairs

The dismantling of the Department of Education. This long-promised piece of Trumps policy agenda is a likely outcome of the election. After all, it fits with the war on the educated that the Republican Party has been waging under Trump for some time. The impact of either the departments abolishment or a major reduction in funding could make it more difficult for students to access federal financial aid, harm schools that rely on federal money and make higher education a riskier proposition.

The elimination of all funding for universities and schools that have diversity and inclusion policies. Many universities have devoted significant resources to DEI offices and policies that are widely seen by Trump enthusiasts as disguised mandates for affirmative action.

IS THERE AN UPSIDE? DONT BET ON IT

Truth be told, its hard to imagine any upside to higher education in a Trump administration. Yet the dean of American Universitys Kogod School of Business has taken an optimistic view of things. Noting his own personal disappointment in the outcome of the election, Dean David Marchick wrote that he believes the work ahead is more critical than ever.

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I am struck that our work in academia is more important today than it was yesterday, he wrote in an email to the community. If you believe we need to address the climate crisis, we should work to create a more sustainable world through business, as progress in the next few years will come through business, not government. If you believe that better business practices can help people of color and those who are impoverished participate more fully in the economy, our scholarship and teaching in that area has never been more critical. Each of you changes lives every day with teaching, research, and engagement with students, helping young people reach their full potential and enabling them to launch meaningful and successful careers. 

The best advice? Hunker down. The next four years will be a highly challenging time for business education and for higher education in general.

Business Casual Podcast: Trumps Likely Impact On Business Education



What deans, students and applicants expect from a new Trump administration

The post What Trumps Victory Means For Business Education appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Rep. Ken Rahjes, left, a Republican from Agra in northwest Kansas, carried 85% of the vote in Tuesday's election for the highest percentage legislative victory in Kansas. On the other side of the partisan ledger, Lawrence Sen. Marci Francisco led Democratic candidates with 78% of the vote in her district. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Republican state Rep. Ken Rahjes appeal to voters in his rural northwest Kansas district made him the most popular legislative candidate on ballots.

Rahjes, elected to the Kansas House in 2014, prevailed in a reelection campaign against Democrat Ellace Henderson by pulling down 85% of the vote in Ellis, Graham, Norton, Phillips and Rooks counties. He didnt do much political advertising or dedicate himself to door-to-door campaigning in the far-flung district, but has been a steady presence in communities of the deep blue district.

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Get up every day with a servants heart and a servants mind, said Rahjes, who resides in Agra and chairs the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. I make myself available to anybody who has a concern or a complaint.

On the Democratic Partys ledger, state Sen. Marci Francisco of Lawrence topped the charts with 78% of the vote in a contest against Lawrence Republican David Miller, who previously led the Kansas Republican Party and ran for governor in the 1990s.

In terms of standout performances Tuesday at the polls, Republicans won 42 of 54 races in which the winner received at least 63% of the vote. Another factor: 58 seats in the Legislature were decided in the August primary election. Of those, 37 were claimed by Republicans and 21 by Democrats.

The results contributed to retention in the House and Senate of GOP supermajorities of at least 27 in the Senate and 84 in the House.

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Preliminary results from Election Day showed forces allied with Republican leaders in the Senate and House repelled a bid by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and her supporters to elect enough Democrats to break the GOPs two-thirds advantage.

Senate Republicans could welcome a 31-9 majority when the 2025 Legislature convened in January. Heading into the election, the Senate GOPs edge was 29-11. In the House, the GOP majority could expand to 88-37. The current Republican-Democratic split in the House is 85-40.

County election officials continue to count provisional ballots and mail-in ballots postmarked by the day of the election. Secretary of State Scott Schwab also said he would initiate two vote audits because the gap between candidates was within the 1% margin.

The auditing included Senate District 5 with Republican Jeff Klemp leading by 57 votes against Democratic Sen. Jeff Pittman of Leavenworth. The second audit involved an Olathe contest in House District 49 with Democratic Rep. Nikki McDonald sitting on a 95-vote advantage over Republican Kurtis Ruf.

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These audits are just another step in showing how fair, free and secure Kansass elections are, Schwab said.

Victory for democracy

Kelly, who must deal with stronger Republican majorities in her final two years as governor, welcomed new members of the Legislature a day after the election. She affirmed her agenda would include securing better access to affordable health care, protecting reproductive freedom and moderating the cost of living.

To the candidates who did not win their elections, I commend you for your efforts, hard work and dedication to Kansans, she said. You knocked on doors, had the hard conversations and inspired unprecedented turnout this election, which is a victory for democracy.

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In October, Kelly dropped television commercials into five Senate districts targeted by Democrats. She spoke in the ads about taxation, public education and abortion rights.

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, responded by asserting Kelly told outright lies about GOP Sens. Mike Thompson and Kellie Warren, GOP Rep. Adam Thomas and GOP newcomer candidates T.J. Rose and Klemp.

It is a sure sign of the Democrats desperation, Masterson said. Its also quite sad and a stain on the governors office.

The preliminary report of voting indicated Thompson, Warren, Thomas and Rose won their Senate campaigns. Klemp had the narrow lead over Pittman.

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Democrat Andrew Mall, who was touted as a potential breakthrough candidate against Thompson in Johnson County, told supporters he would cherish the experience despite carring 48% of the vote against Thompsons 52%.

This campaign has shown me that politics can be about so much more than left versus right, liberal versus conservative, Democrat versus Republican, Mall told supporters. Politics can be a way to make meaningful change in your community, even if you dont win. I hope you dont become cynical or jaded by this loss.

Party perspectives

Mike Brown, chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, said he had been confident the GOPs get-out-the-vote effort and an avalanche of mailers in legislative races would shield the supermajorities.

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I gotta admit I havent really contemplated not having it, he said. Very important for the future of Kansas and to advance Republican ideals in the face of a Democrat governor.

He said the supermajority was a key factor when considering overrides of Kelly vetoes, but also played a role in setting the policy agenda during legislative sessions.

Elizabeth Patton, state director of Americans for Prosperity-Kansas, echoed that sentiment and praised the 28 candidates endorsed by the organization who won seats in the Legislature. AFP said more than 200,000 Kansans were reached through mail, telephone and digital marketing as well as door knocking during the campaign. The organization pressed voters on the economy, taxation, government regulation and health care access.

We know a lot of commonsense reforms can be accomplished next year, she said.

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Jeanna Repass, chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party, said demise of the Republican supermajority would have made bills passed by lawmakers more reflective of Kansans.

She said the states residents should be prepared for a GOP legislative work product that diminished the value of public education and rights of women.

It will look like Groundhog Day, Repass said. Restrictive abortion amendments and bills that keep coming to the floor. Tax policies that want to take us back to a place where we bankrupted the state.

Rep. Rui Xu, a Westwood Democrat who won reelection with 64% of the vote, attempted to put the election results in perspective.

Theres no use sugarcoating it: President Donald Trump will lead America with a Republican-majority Senate, and the House remains too close to call, he said. Here in Kansas, we face an even deeper Republican supermajority in our state Legislature. Regardless of the reasons, we know the coming years will be challenging. They will try to enact policies outlined in Project 2025, and in Kansas, the Republican supermajority will be able to override most of the governors vetoes. While some may argue this is the mandate voters have chosen, I believe that Kansans and Americans deserve better.
Kansas Secretary of State's Office staff members perform a post-election audit on Nov. 6, 2024, in Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  As county officials across Kansas continue to submit final vote counts, the Kansas Secretary of States Offices post mortem of the 2024 election indicated a smooth transition of power.

Preliminary estimates show more than 1.3 million people, or about 64% of registered Kansas voters, submitted ballots this election, according to Whitney Tempel, a spokeswoman for the office.

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That number is expected to increase in the following days, she said Wednesday, but it hasnt yet lived up to Secretary of State Scott Schwabs pre-election prediction that 2024 would be a record-breaking year for voter turnout. Voter turnout in the 2020 election totaled 1.38 million votes.

Tempel said no major problems impacted voting or the tallying of votes.

We had a good night, she said.

The office conducts a post-election audit every year, during which a dozen staff members pull slips of paper from a glass bowl to randomly select an audit for one federal race, one state-level race and one local race in each Kansas county. Its a process that only takes the offices staff about 35 minutes, but it serves the purpose of ensuring a fair, accurate election. County election offices, which will verify that hand-counted tallies match electronically tabulated votes, have until Nov. 18 to complete their audits.

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The state office announced recounts Wednesday afternoon for two legislative races separated by fewer than 1% of votes cast.

In a Senate district encompassing parts of Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties, incumbent Sen. Jeff Pittman, a Democrat, and Republican Jeff Klemp were separated by 57 votes, based on unofficial results. Klemp held the slim lead. Another Democratic incumbent, Rep. Nikki McDonald, held a lead by 95 votes over Republican challenger Kurtis Ruf in the race for a Johnson County House seat.

The Secretary of States Office hadnt received any requests for wholesale recounts as of Wednesday afternoon. After the August 2022 primary election, the office recounted by hand ballots cast in nine counties, per the request of anti-abortion activists who made vague claims about election integrity. The recount request followed results showing Kansans overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment to end abortions in Kansas, and it resulted in the margin of votes narrowing by 64 after 556,364 ballots were recounted.

Not one outcome was overturned, Schwab told reporters during a virtual briefing Tuesday.

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This election cycle, Schwab got out ahead of false claims about election inaccuracy or interference, which were largely promoted by President-elect Donald Trump.

If we havent proven it by now, theres nothing more we can do, he said. I will say after that 2022 recount, our phones quit ringing. I mean, the proof was in the pudding.

Preliminary results indicated sizable victories for Kansas Republicans. They showed Republicans preserving their supermajorities in both the Kansas House and Senate and enough conservative wins on the Kansas State Board of Education to shift power in their favor. An estimated 57% of Kansas voters cast their ballots in favor of Trump.
Read is appealing a lower court's decision to deny a motion to dismiss two charges against her in her upcoming retrial

David Yannetti John O'Keefe and Karen Read John O'Keefe and Karen Read

Karen Read is asking Massachusetts highest court to dismiss two criminal charges against her in connection with the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her lawyers claiming that trying her again amounts to double jeopardy.

Read and her lawyers appeared in Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Boston on Wed., Nov. 6, to appeal Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannones decision to deny Reads request to dismiss two of three charges against her, the Associated Press reports.

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The appeal comes just months before Reads retrial, set to begin Jan. 27, after her previous trial ended in July with a deadlocked jury.

A full panel of judges at the Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments from her attorneys and state prosecutors, CBS News reports.

Speaking about double jeopardy, Martin G. Weinberg, an appellate lawyer for Read, said their appeal amounts to a fight for "protections that safeguard defendants, in this case Ms. Read, from re-prosecution for the very same offenses from which a prior jury was discharged without manifest necessity [for a mistrial declaration], without her consent," the Boston Globe reports.

The values at stake here are too important, he said.



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Read, 44, a successful equity analyst and former adjunct professor at Bentley University, is accused by prosecutors of backing into John OKeefe with her SUV and leaving him for dead after a night of drinking on the night of January 29, 2022.

Hours after Read dropped OKeefe, 46, off at a late-night party at the home of retired Boston police officer Brian Albert, O'Keefe was found severely injured and clinging to life and covered in snow in the Alberts front yard.

The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as blunt impact injuries of the head and hypothermia, but could not determine whether the manner of death was homicide or accidental.

Related: Jury in Karen Read Murder Trial Deadlocked Despite 'Exhaustive' Review

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Read was charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a collision causing death. She pleaded not guilty.

During her nearly three-month trial, her attorneys argued that OKeefe was attacked by people at the Alberts house who had some kind of issue with him. They claim they dragged him out of the house, left him in the yard  and framed her in a massive cover-up.

After deliberating for five days, the jury was unable to come to an agreement. On July 1, Cannone declared a mistrial.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

After the trial, some of the jurors told Reads lawyers that the jury had voted unanimously behind closed doors to acquit Read on two of the three charges  second-degree murder and leaving the scene, CBS News reports.

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One juror told CBS affiliate WBZ-TV that the jury wasn't sure how to let Judge Cannone know they decided to acquit Read on two of the charges but not the manslaughter charge.

Related: Karen Read, Awaiting Second Trial on Accusations She Killed Cop Boyfriend, Says, 'I Feel Incredibly Violated'

Her lawyers argued in a motion that those two charges should be dropped to avoid double jeopardy.

In August, Cannone wrote that she denied the motion because the defendant was not acquitted of any charges and defense counsel consented to the Courts declaration of a mistrial, double jeopardy is not implicated here, CBS News reports.


SRINAGAR, India (AP)  Indian-controlled Kashmir s regional legislature passed a resolution on Wednesday demanding the federal government restore the disputed regions semi-autonomy that was scrapped by Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration in 2019.

The assembly passed the nonbinding resolution by a majority vote to noisy scenes in the house.

This assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of special status, the resolution read.

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Modis Bharatiya Janata Party, which has 29 members in the 90-seat assembly, rejected the resolution. It requires the approval of Lt. Gov. Manoj Sinha, New Delhis appointed top administrator in Kashmir.

The National Conference party, which sponsored the resolution, came to power last month in the regions first vote in a decade and the first since Modis Hindu nationalist government scrapped its semi-autonomy. The federal government also downgraded and divided the former state into two centrally governed union territories, Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir.

The move  which largely resonated in India and among Modi supporters  was mostly opposed in Kashmir, including by the National Conference, as an assault on its identity and autonomy. Many fear it would pave the way for demographic changes in the region, which has since been on edge with civil liberties were curbed and media freedoms restricted.

The region continues to remain a union territory  directly controlled by the federal government with Indias Parliament as its main legislator.

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India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two of their three wars over the territory since they gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

Militants in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhis rule since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.

Modi and his powerful home minister, Amit Shah, have repeatedly stated that the regions statehood will be restored after the election, without specifying a timeline. However, they vowed to block any move aimed at undoing the 2019 changes.
Jackson County pastor Joe Nicola won election to the Missouri Senate on Tuesday as Republicans flipped a hotly-contested district previously held by the chambers top Democratic leader.

Nicola, a Republican from Grain Valley, defeated Democratic Rep. Robert Sauls from Independence. The district, Senate District 11, represents the Kansas City-area suburbs of Independence, Sugar Creek and Grain Valley.

As of 11 p.m. he had 52% of the vote, with all precincts reporting, according to the Missouri Secretary of States Office. Sauls received 48% of the vote.

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Nicolas election could hold significant consequences for the prominent district, which was previously held by Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo. Political observers expect him to be aligned with the hard-right Missouri Freedom Caucus, which has frequently sparred with GOP leadership.

Ahead of Tuesdays vote, Nicola promoted a more traditional conservative look to voters, including a focus on his opposition to abortion and promises to curtail crime. He also held several events where he helped seniors navigate a new property tax freeze.

But The Star also revealed his more fringe beliefs, outlined in his online writings and sermons, that critics said raised questions about how he would govern. Those beliefs included the idea that sometimes mental illness is actually demon possession, an argument that Missouri should decouple from the federal government and Nicolas claim that theres no such thing as separation of church and state.

Nicolas Independence church also donated money to a political action committee that supported his candidacy, a move questioned by legal experts who spoke with The Star.

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Despite the criticism, Republican lawmakers and strategists appeared confident that Nicola would be able to win the district.

But Nicolas campaign also suffered a blow last month when the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a historically Republican-leaning organization, endorsed Sauls, his Democratic opponent.

When the chamber announced its slate of endorsements, it pointed to political dysfunction that derailed the Senate during the 2024 session and stalled key business priorities, harming Missouri employers and families.

Infighting between members of the hard-right Freedom Caucus and the more moderate Republican leadership has roiled the Missouri Capitol in recent years, derailing a slew of GOP priorities.

The 2024 session was among the least productive in recent history as Missouri lawmakers left Jefferson City after passing a modern record-low 28 non-budget bills.
ANADARKO, Okla. (KFDX/KJTL)  To ring in the start of Native American Heritage Month, the city of Anadarko in southwest Oklahoma hosted the 89th American Indian Expo. Fourteen different tribes from across Oklahoma took part to showcase the best of their cultures and languages.

For Pete Neconie, the expos president, the expo is good for not only demonstrating the cultures to non-native people but also to each tribe in attendance.

Its best to learn what one tribe does so you understand what they do, Neconie said. It may not be what you do, but you can be a part of what they do. So, you get a better understanding of their dances, their songs, and their protocols.

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Among the tribes in attendance was the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. Though they share a reservation with the Fort Sill Apache, they are a different group.

Naveah Banderas is the Apache Tribal Princess, an elected position in many tribes now living in the state. Each tribal princess represents a cause they feel strongly for as well as the cultural interests of the tribe. For Banderas, her cause has close family ties.

My grandpa passed away a couple years ago, Banderas said. And I wanted to run and represent him and also represent his Native American veteran groups he was a part of because that was a big part of who he was.

The Apache tribe of Oklahoma has many traditions critical to their tribal identity, such as the Blackfoot dance, which pays special homage to Apache veterans in the armed forces. The preservation of such traditions among the tribe and tribal youth is another example of the importance of Banderass position.

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Its to keep our traditions alive, Banderas said. Our ceremonies and the way we pray and stuff is kind of what I think a princess should always have in her heart. Its to keep all that alive because without us, we wont have it no more.

As tribes fight to keep traditions and languages alive every day, tribal princesses like Banderas of the Apache tribe of Oklahoma are on the front lines.

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In the race to fill the vacant seat for the 1st District on the Citrus Heights City Council, Kelsey Nelson was in the lead against two other candidates vying to replace Mayor Bret Daniels.

Nelson, Amie Burgundy Brown and Andrew Wayne Saunders are hoping to win the election and represent District 1, which encompasses the northwest end of the Sacramento County suburb.

In the vote totals released Tuesday evening, Nelson had 66% of vote in the three-way race. Brown was in second place with 17% of the vote, and Saunders was in third with 16% of the vote as of 10 p.m.

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Daniels term representing the 1st District was set to expire at the end of this year. In late August, the Citrus Heights mayor announced he was resigning and leaving his seat on the City Council vacant a few months before the end of his term.

I have not been able to secure housing in my district and I do not want to put the city in any jeopardy, so I must resign, Daniels said in statement to his fellow council members, telling them he was moving to Kentucky.

In July, Daniels told CBS 13 that he planned to leave California at the end of the year due to an erosion of local control in the state and move to a place more in line with Christian, conservative values.

Daniels lost in the March primary election to replace Sue Frost, the then-outgoing Sacramento County 4th District supervisor. Daniels came in second with 26% of the vote, losing the county supervisor seat to Rosario Rodriguez. Frost endorsed Rodriguez, who received 51% of the vote.

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Jayna Karpinski-Costa, the Citrus Heights councilwoman representing the 4th District, was elected in September by the council to become the citys new mayor. The council elected MariJane Lopez-Taff as Citrus Heights vice mayor.

Incumbent City Councilman Tim Schaefer is running opposed to return to his seat representing 3rd District in Citrus Heights.
Election Day at the Landsdowne Elementary School precinct in Lexington, Nov. 5, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

LOUISVILLE  A constitutional amendment to allow the Kentucky General Assembly to fund nonpublic schools failed at the ballot box Tuesday.

Amendment 2  which 65% of voters rejected, according to unofficial results  would have opened a path for the Republican-controlled legislature to allow state dollars to flow to nonpublic schools, such as private or charter schools. Leading up to the election, Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, attempted to bolster support for the measure while Democrats led by Gov. Andy Beshear attacked the amendment as a threat to public education.

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Opposition to Amendment 2 spanned rural and urban Kentucky, said Will Powers, the policy and public engagement coordinator for the Kentucky Student Voice Team, which toured the state by bus rallying opposition.

I think its a ubiquitous message. Everyone resonates with it, Powers said Tuesday night during a Protect Ours Schools PAC watch party in Louisville. Every community has a public school, not every community has a private school. And I think were seeing the ramifications of that one true fact.

Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, said he was not surprised Amendment 2 failed.

The opposition to Amendment 2 was bipartisan, Bailey said. It was really defeated by a huge margin in many rural counties that also voted for Donald Trump. So Kentuckians are smart. They were discerning, and they they saw this for what it was. It was a scam funded by outside billionaires to shift dollars away from public schools and to fund private school vouchers. And Kentuckians, by it looks like a very wide margin, said no.

Kentucky Education Association President Eddie Campbell speaks to a crowd in Louisville after Amendment 2 is defeated. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

KyPolicy, a progressive think tank, opposed the measure and released a study earlier this year that showed how similar systems to fund private schools in other states could harm the states public schools if they were replicated in Kentucky. Bailey said the defeat of the amendment would be an end to this debate and politicians should focus on further investments in existing public schools.

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Outgoing Senate Republican Floor Leader Damon Thayer, of Georgetown, called the Amendment 2 defeat disappointing, but not surprising. He said in a phone interview that opponents of the amendment confused voters and added that its hard to get people to understand a constitutional question when the opposition completely misleads the issue.

Also, I wish the Republican Party of Kentucky had been more engaged in defending the issue, Thayer said.

Thayer said the Kentucky Democratic Party was engaged in getting voters to oppose the amendment. KDP held numerous press conferences around the state led by Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, and Democratic candidates often voiced their opposition to the amendment while campaigning. The RPK did not ever really engage despite the fact that it was a priority bill of our legislative supermajority, Thayer said. But its hard to change the Constitution. Thats the way it is. And its the one disappointment on what appears to be a really good night.

Beshear said in a statement that lawmakers should recognize the will of the people and get serious about ensuring that every Kentucky child gets a world-class public education. Beshear said that includes better funding public schools, raising teacher pay and establishing a universal pre-K program in Kentucky.

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Kentucky voters have once again definitively stated that public dollars belong only in public schools, Beshear said.

In a statement reacting to the defeat of Amendment 2, Kentucky Students First, one of the leading PACs supporting the amendment, said its members and volunteers fought hard to change the status quo protected by Kentuckys education special interests.

Though the results may not have been in our favor, this campaign has been a powerful force for standing up to the Kentucky education bureaucracy, Kentucky Students First said. Perpetuating the low performance of Kentuckys education system is a disservice to our children and our Commonwealth. Kentucky students deserve better, and our resolve to serve students over systems remains unchanged.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, left, and his wife, Kelley, campaigned for Amendment 2. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

A lot of money has been spent trying to sway voters on Amendment 2, with both sides reporting raising about $8 million each, according to the final pre-election finance reports. Beshear and Paul both took to airwaves in ads sponsored by political action committees. Most of the $16 million came from outside Kentucky, with much of it from dark money groups which structure themselves in a way that lets them keep their donors names private.

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Days before the election, Paul heralded Amendment 2, saying it would allow the legislature to do what theyre supposed to do  debate how best we should get education for our kids. Beshear decried the amendment as a blank check to Frankfort politicians.

Amendment 2 would have suspended seven sections of the state Constitution to allow public money to flow to nonpublic schools. The legislation for the amendment was a priority for Republican lawmakers earlier this year and an attempt to overcome constitutional hurdles cited by Kentucky courts striking down earlier charter school and private school tax credit laws.
ABC News is projecting that Donald Trump will win Kentucky's eight Electoral College votes.

Kentucky voters headed to the polls on Nov. 5 to cast ballots in the presidential race as well as several down-ballot contests.

State Significance

The Democratic presidential candidate has not won Kentucky since Bill Clinton in 1996, and in 2020, former President Donald Trump bested President Joe Biden in the state by roughly 26 points.

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Counties are colored red or blue when the % expected vote reporting reaches a set threshold. This threshold varies by state and is based on patterns of past vote reporting and expectations about how the vote will report this year.

Kentucky 2024 live election results: Trump projected to win originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Voters in Kentucky overwhelmingly approved a measure Tuesday barring non-citizens from voting  though its passage will not change much for the state.

Kentucky already limits voting to U.S. citizens.

To me, the takeaway here is that the amendment was not going to make a difference either way. Its not going to change anything about the way we run elections, said Joshua Douglas, who teaches elections law at the University of Kentucky.

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According to preliminary, unofficial results, with 67% of votes counted, the Associated Press declared that the measure, Constitutional Amendment 1, passed by a wide margin of 61.5% to 38.5%.

The language of Amendment 1 expressly declares: No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in this state.

However, voting in Kentucky already is limited by state law to a citizen of the United States of the age of eighteen years. Federal law likewise prohibits non-citizens from trying to vote in presidential and congressional races, at risk of fines and up to a year in prison.

Testifying to state lawmakers in June, Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams said elections officials clearly understand these laws to mean that only U.S. citizens can cast a ballot.

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To that end, I have good news, Adams said. During my tenure in office, I have seen no evidence that non-citizens have voted or attempted to vote in our elections.

So what problem was Amendment 1 meant to fix?

Nationally, a study by the Brennan Center for Justice analyzing nearly 24 million votes cast in the 2016 general election concluded that only about 30 votes could be identified as having been cast by noncitizens.

Feeding false narratives

Critics say Amendment 1 was a cynical ploy to use anti-immigrant sentiment in Kentucky to draw conservative voters to the polls for other races, such as Amendment 2, the question of whether public K-12 school funds should be allowed to flow to private and religious schools. (If so, it was unsuccessful. Amendment 2 failed on Tuesday.)

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Amendment 1 fed into false narratives about elections being rigged, eroding faith in the democratic process, and undocumented immigrants pouring uncontrollably across the borders, said state Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville.

Apart from being a lawmaker, Kulkarni is executive director of the nonprofit New Americans Initiative, which works to get naturalized citizens engaged in their communities, including registering them to vote.

Amendment 1 unfairly targeted people who might look or speak differently than a native-born Kentuckian or whose names appear unusual to some, Kulkarni said.

Weve heard from our elections officials that non-citizen voting is not a problem. We have voter ID requirements already, she said.

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But when you raise fears about this, you might end up in situations where individuals at the polls say, Its up to me to verify that this person here really is a U.S. citizen, and then what? I was naturalized when I was 14 years old, but I dont carry my naturalization papers around with me. Should I not be allowed to vote? she asked.

Seeking to be proactive

Sponsors called Amendment 1 a preventative measure.

Future Kentucky lawmakers, they said, might change state law to let non-citizens vote in state elections. Or local governments  cities, counties, school boards, special districts  might try to allow non-citizens to vote in their own local elections, arguing that state law doesnt cover those races.

That has happened with a handful of local governments in California, Maryland and Vermont. San Francisco, for example, amended its charter in 2016 to allow non-citizen parents or guardians of students to vote in local school elections, arguing that everyone with children in the schools has a stake in how the schools are run.

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That shouldnt ever be allowed to happen here, Kentucky lawmakers said.

Were seeking to be proactive with this amendment, state Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, said during last winters legislative session, when the language behind Amendment 1 was passed. We seek to get ahead of this before this does happen, potentially, in the commonwealth of Kentucky.

Joining a national trend

Despite Merediths concerns, Kentucky does not grant local governments the same degree of home rule, or authority to self-govern, that states like California, Maryland and Vermont do, countered Douglas, the UK law professor.

Joshua A. Douglas is a University of Kentucky law professor and expert in election law.

A locality in Kentucky that wanted to change its election rules likely would need the General Assembly to approve the change, and its hard to imagine the current Republican super-majorities awarding non-citizens the right to vote in any kind of election, Douglas said.

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The practical effect of Amendment 1 would be to tie the hands of a future legislature that might view things more liberally, he said.

With Amendment 1, Kentucky joined a national trend of states wanting to make U.S. citizenship an explicit and permanent requirement for voting in every race. Seven other states  Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin  proposed the same kind of amendment on this years ballot.

Since 2020, six states  Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota and Ohio  have amended their constitutions to limit the ballot to U.S. citizens, he said. Arizonas constitution already carried that requirement.
By Medha Singh

(Reuters) -Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election victory boosted the stock market on Wednesday as investors bet on lower corporate taxes and deregulation, lifting shares of Tesla , banks, small-cap companies and Trump's own media company.

His promise to make Tesla CEO Elon Musk head of a government efficiency commission after the billionaire backed Trump throughout his electoral campaign sparked a 15% surge in shares of the electric automaker.

Wall Street's main indexes jumped to record highs, with the Dow Jones industrial average rallying almost 4% and the S&P 500 more than 2% higher. The small-cap Russell 2000 index jumped almost 6% to its highest in nearly three years.

"Business animal spirits could be rekindled once again from Trump's pro-business approach, which could lead to a more robust capital expenditures and investment environment," said Jeff Schulze, market strategist at ClearBridge Investments.

Trump Media & Technology Group, majority-owned by Trump, jumped 6%. The company late on Tuesday reported quarterly results that showed the Truth Social parent's revenue was just $1 million.

The stock has more than tripled in value from its lows in late September, valuing Trump's stake at over $4 billion.

POLICY DETAILS AWAITED

Trump's Republican Party also secured the Senate and was making gains in the House of Representatives, potentially making it easier for the president to legislate his proposals and push through key appointments.

Markets "have priced in a pretty strong mandate for the Republicans and are biasing toward most of the Trump trades," said Scott Chronert, U.S. equity strategist at Citi.

"The market focus seems to be putting more emphasis on deregulation, tax cuts and a more business-friendly backdrop."

Wall Street lenders JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs jumped between 8% and 13% on prospects of looser regulations and more deals.

"There is an expectation that the regulatory landscape will ease under the Trump administration" and that is helping financials' shares, said David Ellison, portfolio manager at Hennessy Funds, which holds several bank stocks.

Investors will also be anxious to see how Basel III, a set of global banking regulations, will be implemented by the next administration, said Greg Hertrich, head of U.S. depository strategies at Nomura.

The latest version of the proposal called for a 9% rise in banks' capital. "Whether the banks will need 9%, 6%, 4% or 0% more capital creates very different scenarios," he said.
Kentucky voters on Tuesday rejected a proposal to amend the state constitution and allow the legislature to spend tax dollars on private, religious and charter schools.

The outcome was a blow to Republican leadership in the General Assembly who championed the proposal  Constitutional Amendment 2  and put it on the ballot as one of two statewide referendums.

As of 9:30 p.m., with and estimated 84% of the commonwealths votes counted, nearly 65% of voters had rejected the amendment, and 35% had approved it.

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Protect Our Schools KY, the group leading the No on 2 campaign, declared victory around 8 p.m.

Kelsey Coots, the campaign manager for Protect Our Schools KY, said the success of their effort is the result of teachers, students, parents and community leaders across the commonwealth working as a team.

People coming together to send a powerful message that we believe in the promise of public education, and we will not stand by as that promise undermined, Coots said.

Kentucky Students First, a group backing the Yes on 2 effort, released a statement soon after that read: The results may not have been in our favor.

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Our coalition of parents, educators, and concerned Kentuckians fought hard to change the status quo protected by Kentuckys education special interests, the group said. Though the results may not have been in our favor, this campaign has been a powerful force for standing up to the Kentucky education bureaucracy. Perpetuating the low performance of Kentuckys education system is a disservice to our children and our Commonwealth.

Kentucky students deserve better, and our resolve to serve students over systems remains unchanged.

The ballot question asked voters: To give parents choices in educational opportunities for their children, are you in favor of enabling the General Assembly to provide financial support for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are outside the system of common (public) schools by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below?

And the majority of them, rural and urban alike, responded: no.

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Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear praised voters decision Tuesday.

Kentucky voters have once again definitively stated that public dollars belong only in public schools, Beshear said.

Beshear called on lawmakers to recognize the will of the people and get serious about ensuring that every Kentucky child gets a world-class public education, he said, which starts with fully funding our public schools.

Brigitte Blom, president and CEO of the Pritchard Committee for Academic Excellence, said the failure of Amendment 2 is an expression of Kentuckians commitment to the promise of public education as the great equalizer and a public good  one every Kentucky child should have access to and benefit from.

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Blom said it was right for lawmakers to take the question directly to voters, but now that the citizens have spoken, it is the responsibility of state and community leaders to ensure the direction forward is one that supports our common goal to continuously improve outcomes in education and quality of life that rival any state in our nation.

Opposition to Amendment 2

Champions of Amendment 2, and school choice bills before it, have characterized it as offering parents more choices in how to educate their children, as well as a way to incentivize public schools to improve as they compete for funding with non-public schools. Theyve also said it would lead to more education parity for school-aged kids.

Public school officials across Kentucky, including in the states two largest school districts, publicly opposed Amendment 2, not only because it would funnel money away from the public school system, but because private and charter schools are not subject to the same accountability and transparency requirements as public schools, limiting oversight of how that money would be spent.

If Kentucky voters approve Amendment 2 in November, it will send your tax dollars to voucher schemes for unaccountable and non-transparent private school programs and harm every public school district in the state, 42 Kentucky superintendents wrote in an Oct. 30 op-ed opposing Amendment 2.

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In Kentucky, like other states, the vast majority of K-12-aged children attend public schools  roughly 90% in the commonwealth. In the case of surrounding states that have passed school voucher policies, the population of students most likely to choose vouchers are those already attending private schools.

Opponents of such measures have keyed in on this reality, saying voucher programs, in actuality, function mostly as a way to defray the cost of private school for families already paying to send their kids to private schools.

Repeat attempts to pass school choice policy

Though passage of Amendment 2 would not have directly created policy, it was the fruition of a years-long effort by Republicans, who control the House and Senate, to do just that, and one that has been thwarted by the courts.

The General Assembly in 2021 passed a bill into law known as the Education Opportunity Account Act  over Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears veto  that wouldve created a tax credit-funded scholarship system for students to attend private schools. The law also wouldve required schools to be without borders, so students could access benefits in another school district that might not be offered in the district in which they lived.

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Opponents, which included public school teachers, administrators and advocates, decried the program, saying it would take money away from public schools and hand it to private schools in a roundabout way.

And in 2022, the GOP-controlled legislature succeeded in passing into law a funding mechanism for charter schools. Charter schools, which are publicly funded but are operated by independent groups with fewer regulations than most public schools, are legal in Kentucky. But House Bill 9 wouldve created a means to fund them using public dollars.

Both laws were eventually declared unconstitutional and prevented by the courts from taking effect.

The Kentucky Supreme Court struck down the Education Opportunity Account Act in 2022. In her majority opinion, former Deputy Chief Justice Lisabeth Hughes invoked Section 183 of the Kentucky Constitution, which states, no sum shall be raised or collected for education other than in common schools.

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Common schools, according to state statute, refers to an elementary or secondary school of the state supported in whole or in part by public taxation.

We are compelled to agree that the (Education Opportunity Account Act) violates the plain language of Section 184, Hughes wrote. Simply states, it puts the commonwealth in the business of raising sum(s) . . . for education other than in common schools.

In December 2023, Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd struck down the charter school law using the same logic. The plain language of the Kentucky Constitution itself, yields the inescapable conclusion that charter schools do not meet the definition of public schools, he wrote.

The only way to bypass these rulings and lawfully allow the use of tax dollars for non-public schools is to change the wording of the constitution. Amending Kentuckys constitution requires voter approval, which is how Amendment 2 came to be on the ballot this month.

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Amendment 2 was the product of House Bill 2, filed in the General Assemblys regular session earlier this year House Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, R-Owensboro.

This has been a conversation for, really, multiple decades now. I think its time for us to let the voters decide, Miles said in March.

Now that voters have decided, Kentucky Parent Teacher Association President-elect Autumn Neagle said Tuesday night that decision tells everyone else, even if youre outside of Kentucky looking in, that we value our public school system and we want to keep it.

By defeating it, Neagle added, were saying public education is important, its a cornerstone of our community, it needs to be protected and fully funded, and it needs to really be what it was designed for: every child.

This breaking story will be updated.
Kansas Republicans have held onto key seats in Johnson County and appear poised to maintain veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature.

Vulnerable Johnson County Republicans fended off challenges and GOP candidates ousted two House Democrats in the county to expand their legislative advantage, according to unofficial election results from the Kansas Secretary of States Office.

The GOP appears to have picked up a new seat in Olathes House District 15, where Lauren Bohi led incumbent Allison Hougland by 131 votes with all precincts reporting. That outcome could still be influenced by late-arriving mail ballots and provisional ballots.

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Democratic incumbent Dennis Miller lost out more decisively to Republican challenger Charlotte Esau in Olathes House District 14 by a margin of48% to 52% as Esau reclaimed the seat she previously held from 2019 to 2023.

Angela Stiens, who was recently appointed to the District 29 seat, bested Democratic challenger Vanessa Vaughn West by four percentage points and will continue to represent parts of Shawnee, Lake Quivira and Bonner Springs.

On the Senate side, Republicans Mike Thompspon and Kellie Warren also survived challenges. Thompson beat Andrew Mall 52% to 48% in District 10, which includes north central Johnson County and much of Shawnee. In eastern Johnson Countys District 11, which includes parts of Leawood and Overland Park, Warren defeated Democrat Karen Thurlow by the same four-point margin.

In the race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Robert Olsen in Senate District 23, sitting state Rep. Adam Thomas led Stacey Knoell 53% to 47% with 85 of 88 precincts reporting. That district includes Spring Hill and parts of Gardner and Olathe.

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Elsewhere in the state, GOP challengers parlayed high enthusiasm for Donald Trump into down-ballot wins over Democratic incumbents state Rep. Jason Probst in Hutchinson and Usha Reddi in Manhattan.

The national Democratic Party took a special interest in Kansas legislative races this year, and Gov. Laura Kellys Middle of the Road PAC spent heavily on behalf of promising Democratic candidates in hopes of swinging the balance of power in Topeka.

But Republicans strong showing Tuesday preserved lawmakers ability to override Kellys veto on a party-line vote. In Kansas, overriding the governors veto requires two-thirds support of members in both chambers.

In their closing message to voters, Republican leaders painted Kelly as an extremist and framed supermajorities in the House and Senate as a necessary check on her power.

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She is so committed to things like Medicaid expansion and all of that. Shes completely radical on the social issues, Senate President Ty Masterson said of Kelly at a rally in Wichita last week. Abort your baby until it breathes, change your sex on your birth certificate  just kind of stuff that doesnt sit well with the general population at all.

Shes going to veto everything we do, including the budget, right? To try to leverage us on the things that she wants in those last two years. Thats why the supermajority is so important, Masterson said.

Democratic letdown

Democrats had high hopes for Johnson County this year. Kansas wealthiest and most populous county has trended to the left in recent cycles, favoring Joe Biden for president in 2020 and Kelly for governor in 2022, when voters also decisively rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have given lawmakers the ability to restrict or ban abortion.

But their bet that conservative Johnson County lawmakers were out of step with their voters underestimated the base of support that relative newcomers Thompson, Warren and Stiens have amassed while in office.

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Reflecting on the Republican triumph, Kansas Democratic Party Chair Jeanna Repass struck a defiant tone in an interview with The Star.

It is our responsibility to fight back and fight harder and fight earlier. We will not be deterred by having the results we were not hoping for, Repass said.

Theres no significant change that doesnt come with struggles and setbacks. We will not be deterred. If anything, were going to redouble our efforts. We know that the impact of dark money and PACs had an effect that again belies what we know that the people of Kansas, the constituents of Kansas, want.

At the same Wichita rally where Masterson lambasted Kelly, Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins predicted that the governors decision to raise and spend money on behalf of Democratic candidates would backfire and limit her ability to score legislative victories.

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How are you (Kelly) going to get anything done in the next two years? Because youve lied and lied and lied, Hawkins said. Youve made my whole caucus mad and probably the whole Senate caucus mad. Why would we work with you when you do the things that you do?

He said Kellys portrayal of herself as a middle of the road moderate is laughable.

Anybody that ever believed she was middle of the road, you can get rid of that thought because she never has been, Hawkins said. Shes always been in the left ditch, which is where she needs to stay.

Kansas GOP Chairman Mike Brown offered his own variation: The only thing you get for being in the middle of the road is run over.

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Alexandra Middlewood, chair of the political science department at Wichita State University, said if Democrats had broken the supermajority, Kelly could have framed the victory as a mandate for her agenda in her final two years as governor.

She could make the argument of saying, Look, Kansans have spoken. They elected more Democrats to the state legislature. Clearly, theyre supportive of my agenda and more centrist policies, Middlewood said.

Instead, the preservation of Republican supermajorities means the states bitterly divided government is likely to remain in gridlock, she said.

I would expect more of the status quo that we have seen the last couple of years, and maybe even a little bit more conservative than what weve seen over the last couple of years simply because they probably will feel that emboldened aspect of Kansans have spoken and they want Republicans to maintain the supermajority, Middlewood said.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va. 2nd District) took the cautious approach before declaring victory despite holding a comfortable lead throughout election night and apparently finishing 15,000 votes ahead of Democratic challenger Missy Cotter Smasal.

The Associated Press only called the race in favor of Kiggans Wednesday afternoon, while Cotter Smasal issued a statement conceding the race.

Today I concede the race for Congress. Im proud of our campaign that focused on essential freedoms and protecting our Democracy. That work must continue, and I know my supporters will continue to make their voices heard. To our voters, Im sorry that we did not win the day, but Im so thankful for your hard work and support. I carry your stories and experiences with me every day, and I am grateful for your trust and teamwork throughout this journey. The countless doors we knocked on, the phone calls we made, and our unwavering commitment to truth and justice in the face of extremism are evidence of our resolve and patriotism. I hope that Congresswoman Kiggans will develop the strength to stand up to extremism in her own party and focus on the needs of ALL Coastal Virginians. We will always know that we were on the right side of history. Keep the faith and keep up the fight.  Missy Cotter Smasal

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A long Tuesday night in the Westin Town Center ballroom became an exhausting Wednesday morning as Kiggans supporters awaited official word of victory.

While top Republicans, including Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears were there to cheer on the crowd, there would be no dramatic Kiggans victory speech.



The delay was the result of overwhelmed vote-counting machines in Virginia Beach, and that onslaught was the result of more than 100,000 early and absentee ballots.

So a hundred thousand votes cast that had to be processed last night, run through the machines, said Jeffrey Marks, chair of the Virginia Beach Electoral Board, and these are little bit older machines, theyre on their last legs of their tenure. So its just gonna take time.

Kiggans, in a statement on X, said it was an honor to be reelected.

It is the honor of a lifetime to be chosen to represent #VA02 in Congress again! Im incredibly thankful that Southeast Virginia has once again chosen commonsense conservatism together we will get our country back on the right track and secure Americas success! THANK YOU!  Jen Kiggans (@JenKiggans) November 6, 2024

Kiggans, the Navy veteran helicopter pilot, told 10 On Your Side what her priorities will be in her next term when it comes to military quality of life.

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We focused on things like pay compensation, housing, child care, health care and spouse employment, she said. We made some progress in those areas, but I need the administration and the White House to prioritize funding those initiatives. Weve got to improve our quality of life issues for our men and women in uniform.

For the past two years, Kiggans has been a member of the 118th Congress, which has historically low numbers when it comes to getting things done. Figures from Govtrack show the current Congress has enacted 106 bills into legislation. Compare that with the average of the past five congresses  355 new laws for each. So Kiggans and her fellow House lawmakers were outdone in the past five congresses at a rate of more than three to one.

Its likely a comment on how divided our political process currently stands.

Kiggans later offered another post on X, in which the expressed how honored she was that voters chose commonsense conservatism to represent them in Congress.

Im incredibly honored that voters in Southeast Virginia have once again chosen commonsense conservatism to represent them in Washington. It is a duty I do not take lightly.



Two years ago, we narrowly won one of the most consequential House races in the country when we flipped pic.twitter.com/1TVwZ07Wgm  Jen Kiggans (@JenKiggans) November 6, 2024

Marks said it will take at least a week to full certify the vote in Virginia Beach, the largest municipality in the 2nd Congressional District. The next Congress, the one to which Kiggans was just re-elected, begins Jan. 3.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
The second U.S. Senate debate, hosted by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, was held at the Augusta Civic Center on Oct. 30, 2024. From left to right, moderator Rob Caldwell of NEWS CENTER Maine, independent U.S. Sen. Angus King, Republican Demi Kouzounas, Democrat David Costello and independent Jason Cherry. (Photo via Maine State Chamber of Commerce)

It is not yet clear if U.S. Sen. Angus King will return to Capitol Hill as the four-way U.S. Senate race remained too close to call, as of 3 a.m. Wednesday.

At that time, the former Maine governor had more than 52% of the vote, which would be enough for him to secure a victory in the ranked-choice race, but with 69% of the vote counted, the race had not yet been called by the Associated Press.

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Republican challenger Demi Kouzounas had 33.8%, while Democrat David Costello and independent Jason Cherry had 10.6% and 2.5%, respectively, as of 3 a.m.

Even with this seat still in limbo, Republicans already gained control of the Senate by flipping seats in West Virginia and Ohio.

Though King is an independent, he mostly votes in line with the Democratic Party. However, the seat was not among those that Republican leaders had targeted to flip the Senate.

If the race comes to ranked-choice tabulation, the timing of which will be announced by the Maine Secretary of States Office in the coming days, Cherry will likely be eliminated and his votes reassigned to whomever the voters ranked second. The process will continue until one candidate reaches 50% of the vote.

This story will be updated.
A woman from King County, along with her sister and son, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for defrauding the Veterans Affairs benefits program.

On November 1, U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced veteran Kelly M. Lee-Carroll, sister Katoya F. Grant and her son Robert H. Nelson III were being indicted by a federal grand jury on an 18-count indictment charging conspiracy, theft of government property, health care fraud and making false statements.

According to the indictment, Lee-Carroll lied to the Veterans Administration about being disabled and bedridden requiring full-time care after claiming paralysis on a leg and an arm. Lee-Carroll falsely claimed to be dependent on a wheelchair to leave her home.

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Lee-Carroll named her sister and her son as caregivers, who were paid hourly by the VA for the care they claimed to have provided to Lee-Carroll.

According to the press release, Lee-Carroll did not need a wheelchair and had use of her arms and legs. Investigators also found that she was traveling at times without her caregivers. Grant and Nelson III also allegedly claimed to be caring for Lee-Carroll when they were doing other jobs.

Lee-Carroll served in the Army for three months in 1986 and the Army Reserves from 1986 to 1994.

The alleged acts occurred between July 2012 and October 2024 and resulted in over $1.1 million in fraudulent payments from VA programs.

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All three are charged with conspiracy to commit theft of government property, Lee-Carroll is charged with seven counts of theft of government property and Nelson and Grant are each charged with two counts of health care fraud. Lee-Carroll is also charged with three counts of making false statements.

Lee-Carroll and Nelson III are currently in state custody. All three are summoned to appear for arraignment on the indictment on Nov. 7
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  A series of volcanic eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki on Indonesias remote island of Flores killed nine people and injured dozens of others, as buildings crumbled and terrified residents ran for their lives in the darkness.

The eruptions on Monday affected more than 10,000 people in 10 villages. About 4,400 villagers moved into makeshift emergency shelters after the eruption, which destroyed seven schools, nearly two dozen houses and a convent on the majority-Catholic Island.

Authorities on Wednesday provided tons of logistical and aid supplies to displaced people and warned the thousands of people who fled not to return home, as rescue workers, police and soldiers continued to comb the devastated villages for survivors despite no missing people reported.

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Heres a closer look at the eruption and its aftermath.

How many active volcanoes are there in Indonesia?

The 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki is one of 120 active volcanoes in the country. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes, landslides and volcanic activity because it sits along the Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

Indonesias Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation has recorded 4,796 volcanic eruptions across the vast archipelago nation since January. Mount Ibu in North Maluku province has erupted 1,930 times, Mount Semeru in East Java province 1,634 times and Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki 872 times.

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About 6,500 people were evacuated in January after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki began erupting, spewing thick clouds and forcing the government to close the islands Frans Seda Airport. No casualties or major damage were reported, but the airport has remained closed since then due to seismic activity.

Why was the latest volcanic eruption so powerful?

Since January, Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki had erupted up to six times almost every day, but its activity drastically fell in early November, said Muhammad Wafid, who heads the geology agency at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

Analysis showed there was a blockage of magma in the crater, which reduced detectible seismic activity and increased pressure, Wafid said.

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The eruptions that occurred since Friday were due to the accumulation of hidden energy, Wafid said, adding that the agency has recommended the volcanos alert status be raised to the highest level.

Currently there is no technology capable of determining when a volcanic eruption will occur and how big the eruption will be, he said, What we do is monitor the signs that there will be an eruption, but we dont know when it will be.

How common are deadly eruptions in Indonesia?

Many eruptions in Indonesia are minor and cause little to no damage, but some can be deadly.

Mount Marapi erupted in December 2023, killing 24 climbers and injuring others who were caught by its sudden weekend eruption. Two climbing routes in the mountain have been closed since then. Five months later, monsoon rains triggered a landslide of mud and cold lava from Mount Marapi, causing rivers to breach their banks. The deluge tore through mountainside villages and swept away people and dozens of homes, killing 67 people.

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An eruption in December 2021 of Mount Semeru, the highest volcano on the densely populated Java island, left 48 people dead and 36 missing in villages that were buried in layers of mud. Mount Merapi also erupted in 2010, killing 347 people and displacing 20,000 villagers.

The monumental eruption of the Krakatau volcano in 1883 triggered a period of global cooling.
After discovering a human error with its vote tabulation machines, Milwaukee is recounting more than 30,000 absentee ballots that had already been processed, city officials announced Tuesday evening.

In a state that already waits until Election Day to count absentee ballots, the recount could further delay statewide election results in Wisconsin.

Here's what we know about the rerunning of ballots in Milwaukee.

How many ballots are being recounted?

The city is rerunning about 31,000 absentee ballots through its tabulators at its downtown Central Count location, city spokesman Jeff Fleming said Tuesday.

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In a post on X, Wisconsin Elections Commission Chairwoman Ann Jacobs put the number closer to 34,000 ballots.

"It will be a very late night here in beautiful Milwaukee," she added.

Important update on Wisconsin: Milwaukee Central Count hit a snafu today. The tabulator machines have doors that are supposed to be locked and sealed before tabulation. Sadly, that did not occur this morning. Both political parties agree that nothing was wrong with the 1/  Ann Jacobs (@AnnJacobsMKE) November 5, 2024

What was the error with the tabulation machines?

The doors on the tabulation machines had not been properly sealed the first time the ballots were counted, according to Caroline Reinwald, a spokesperson for the Milwaukee Election Commission.

In a statement, the Election Commission said "senior election officials" did not fully secure the doors. Fleming also attributed the incident to "human error."

"It's just out of an abundance of caution," he said. "We have no reason to believe that there was any compromise to any of the machines."

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Election Commission Executive Director Paulina Gutierrez said both Democratic and Republican party officials agreed to move ahead to the recount "to ensure the American public that this election is going to be run safe, secure and transparent."

How much will the rerunning delay election results in Milwaukee?

Fleming said the recount could delay final election results in Milwaukee by one to three hours.

Wisconsin election results were already expected to come in during the early morning hours of Nov. 6 at the earliest, since the state waits until 7 a.m. on Election Day to start counting absentee ballots. Milwaukee, in particular, gathers all of its absentee ballots at one central count facility, and then reports all of the results at once  often very late on Election Day, if not the morning after.

Vanessa Swales and Alison Dirr contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee absentee ballot rerun: how long will it delay results?
With the presidential election called for President-elect Donald Trump, the Biden administration is now preparing for a peaceful transfer of power to its predecessor 76 days from now  even though Trumps team has actively skipped a series of key deadlines during the initial planning process.

Representatives from Trumps team met with federal agency transition planners last week to discuss post-election readiness, according to a White House official.

But the president-elect still has not signed a pair of critical memoranda of understanding with the Biden administration to unlock transition activities that could begin as soon as Wednesday to ensure the next administration can hit the ground running quickly and begin to receive the information needed.

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I dont think it is possible run an effective transition without entering into the MOUs in order to get access to critical government support, Max Stier, the president and CEO of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, told CNN.

Stier added, The Biden team undoubtedly will do everything they can to square this circle but there are legal limits to what they can do without the Trump teams agreement to follow the law.

Led by the White House Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration, planning for a transition began before either the Republican or Democratic Party had selected its 2024 nominee.

CNN has reached out to the OMB and GSA for comment.

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Trumps transition team is chaired by Linda McMahon, who led the Small Business Administration through his first term, and Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick.

By September 1, both Trump and Harris campaigns were expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with the GSA that gives them access to office space, communications, equipment and IT support. The campaigns were also expected to submit an ethics plan and to identify the initial people who would need security clearances to begin receiving classified information during a transition.

Trumps team has not signed that memorandum.

GSA is prepared to provide services to the Trump transition team once an MOU is executed and services are accepted, a GSA spokesperson said.

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The federal transition coordinator, a White House spokesperson told CNN, is actively working with the president-elects transition team to complete its MOU.

By October 1, both the Harris and Trump campaigns were expected to sign a separate memorandum of understanding with the White House detailing the terms of access to agencies, including personnel, facilities and documents.

Trumps transition team also has not met that deadline.

Declining the federal government support, Stier said, is a tremendous and unnecessary risk to national security and readiness.

The Biden administration began preparing for this transition in 2023, starting with the appointment of a federal transition coordinator, a senior career official who serves as the main liaison between the candidates and eventual president-elect. Activity picked up in early 2024, and in April, OMB issued a memo to each federal government agency laying out what needed to be done.

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The Agency Transition Directors Council, co-chaired by OMB deputy director Jason Miller and the GSAs federal transition coordinator, Aimee Whiteman, began meeting monthly with career representatives from each agency.

Career officials  of which there are more than 2 million  generally serve from administration to administration, while political appointees  of which there are about 4,000  serve under one president and resign at the start of a new administration, though they can stay if asked by the new team.

Every government agency was required to identify a succession plan for all of its senior political officials by September 15. And by November 1, each agency must have briefing materials prepared for the eventual president-elects team.

The goal of those briefing materials is to help inform the next administration about what is facing them coming in, what the problems are, what the administration has done to address them, and where they think priorities should be in the future, according to Valerie Boyd, director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the Partnership for Public Service.

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Those materials focus less on policy and more on organizational structure, logistical information, and topics like budget processes and the distribution of political appointees. The memos and briefing materials serve as a useful guide to help organize the expected conversations between the Biden administration and the next administrations transition team, a senior administration official told CNN.

While organizations like Stiers have worked to institutionalize the transition process in recent years, the specter of partisanship looms large, leading to questions of how  or whether  such briefing materials would be used by a future administration.

Several Biden appointees who also served under former President Barack Obama have suggested their experience preparing the 2016 transition has provided both muscle memory and a cautionary tale: Hours spent preparing memos and briefings could be met by an incoming administration that has no desire or need for them.

We were waiting for the phone calls [from the Trump team], waiting for people to show up, and they never did. They never took our memos, said one senior official who has served under both President Joe Biden and Obama. The Trump campaign, this official said, has not shown any indication they want to use anything that we provide to them.

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Trump has also indicated that he plans to enact sweeping changes for career officials in federal government, including changing thousands of those jobs into politically appointed positions, CNN has reported. Policy experts have warned that federal workers could be fired unless they put loyalty to Trump ahead of serving the public interest.

Those experts warn that the moves would hollow out and politicize the federal workforce, force out many of the most experienced and knowledgeable employees, and open the door to corruption and a spoils system of political patronage.

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In what is likely to be remembered as one of the darkest days in U.S. history, a twice-impeached former president who is an accused rapist and convicted felon has once again been elected to the White House.

Donald Trump overtook Vice President Kamala Harris early Wednesday morning in an election defined by the Republican candidates anti-trans, anti-immigrant messaging. Trump won the key battleground states of North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin after weeks of polls showed Trump and Harris in a dead heat.

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Trump was likely to declare victory even if he lost, but his win will permit him to pursue what is poised to be one of the most extreme presidential agendas in the history of the country. The damage of yet another Trump presidency stands to be especially acute for LGBTQ+ Americans, with his campaign platform promising an all-out assault on queer rights. On his 2024 website, he vowed to pass a federal ban on gender-affirming care for minors and to redefine gender at the federal level so that male and female (as assigned at birth) are the only recognized genders. Trumps platform also urged the adoption of national Dont Say Gay policies targeting LGBTQ+ students in schools and promises to keep men out of womens sports. As a senator, his running mate, J.D. Vance, introduced a bill threatening to jail doctors who treat trans youth patients.

Those policies would be an extension of Trumps first four years in office, which saw a relentless onslaught of attacks against the LGBTQ+ community. Among the more prominent were banning out trans people from serving in the military, erasing mentions of LGBTQ+ people from federal websites, rescinding protections for trans students in schools, and opposing workplace protections for LGBTQ+ employees. His administration also banned people with HIV from military deployment, disbanded the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, and slashed global funding for HIV prevention and treatment.

LGBTQ+ Americans were already faced with an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ messaging during his 2024 campaign. Trump ran in vocal and staunch opposition to trans rights, with right-wing groups reportedly spending tens of millions on advertisements branding the trans community as a threat to public safety and decency. Among the most widely circulated ads of the election cycle was a commercial proclaiming: Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you. During his first and only debate against Harris, Trump infamously said that she supports transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison, which LGBTQ+ advocates later clarified refers to providing medically necessary care to people in custody as required by federal law. He also claimed that Harris running mate, Tim Walz, is very heavy into transgender.

As advocates have repeatedly said, the impact of Trump returning to the White House will be felt across vulnerable marginalized groups, however. He has repeatedly waffled on the question of whether he supports national restrictions on abortion and contraception following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, but Vance has stated unequivocally that he would like abortion to be illegal nationally. Trump has suggested that schools that teach the history and legacy of slavery could be defunded. He has repeatedly called to disband the Department of Education and intends to expel countless thousands of undocumented workers from the U.S. via a mass deportation program that would reportedly cost the federal government millions per year. His allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have also suggested yet another attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which could eliminate critical healthcare protections for seniors, pregnant patients, and people with disabilities, as well as LGBTQ+ people.

Supporters of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump await a campaign rally at the Aero Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, September 21, 2024. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Project 2025 Is Massively Unpopular According to a New Poll of Registered Voters

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Only 4% of respondents approved of the Heritage Foundations blueprint for a far-right takeover of the U.S. government.

Although it will be months before a second Trump administration takes shape, the public already knows a great deal about how he plans to govern. During his volatile presidential campaign, he vowed to be a dictator on day one and claimed that his first acts would include dismissing Jack Smith, the special prosecutor who is pursuing numerous criminal cases against him. Within just the past few weeks, he has suggested using the National Guard to target American citizens and fantasized about journalists being shot, while repeatedly referring to those who disagree with his fascistic views as the enemy from within. Trump has reportedly promised key roles in his administration to Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., an avowed conspiracy theorist who has called to ban vaccines and defluoridate public drinking water.

Some LGBTQ+ U.S. residents have reportedly already fled the country in fear of the impact of a second Trump term, particularly families of trans youth, but others impacted by these policies will not have the privilege to leave. As during his previous presidency, LGBTQ+ advocates are certain to fight his policies in the courts, the legislature, and through acts of public protest.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

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Read More on the 2024 U.S. Election
The UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is seeking evidence on standardised packaging for tobacco products.

The call for evidence focuses on all tobacco products, tobacco-related devices, cigarette papers, and herbal smoking products.

This initiative is part of the government's efforts to create a smoke-free UK and will explore the potential health impacts and use prevalence associated with standardised packaging.

The call is open to individuals and organisations within the UK, as well as seeks information from international examples.

DHSC is leading the call for evidence through agreements and partnerships with the UK's devolved governments. The process will formally close at 11:59pm on 28 January 2025.

This inquiry marks the second phase of a broader strategy to mandate quit information messages inside tobacco packaging.

In this phase, the department intends to expand legislation on pack inserts and explore stricter packaging requirements for various tobacco products after reviewing the evidence collected.

Stakeholder engagement is planned before finalising specifications and introducing legislation in parliament.

Previously, DHSC committed to combating misconceptions about smoking by legislating that tobacco companies include information on packaging to refute claims that smoking reduces stress and anxiety.

In March this year, the UK government introduced a new Tobacco and Vapes bill in parliament that places restrictions on the retail packaging of vapes and nicotine products.

"UK seeks evidence on standardised tobacco packaging" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand.




In his speech declaring victory in the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 6, Donald Trump made no mention of Ukraine yet alluded to just how consequential his second term in office will likely be for the country ravaged by Russias invasion.

"We had no wars, for four years, we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS," Trump said in comments referring to his first term as president.

"They said he will start a war. Im not going to start a war, Im going to stop the wars," Trump added.

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How does Trump plan to stop Russia's war against Ukraine?

That's the million-dollar question that is undoubtedly being discussed in capitals worldwide, not least in Kyiv and Moscow.

After Trump declared victory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky greeted him in a post on X, in which he recalled their face-to-face talks in New York City in September.

We discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan (presented to allies by Zelensky), and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine, Zelensky wrote.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer, he added.

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We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership.

President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (R) meet in New York during the visit to the United States in New York City, U.S. on Sept. 27, 2024. (Uliana Boichuk/Novyny LIVE/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

While Zelensky has revealed a breakdown of his Victory Plan, details from Trump himself on how he plans to end Russias war have been scarce.

Trump has repeatedly said he could end the war "in 24 hours."

Former businessman Trump  who in 1987 published a book titled The Art of the Deal  appears to believe that negotiating the end of a war is similar to negotiating the price of real estate in New York City.

"I would tell Zelensky, no more. You got to make a deal. I would tell Putin, if you don't make a deal, we're going to give him a lot. We're going to (give Ukraine) more than they ever got if we have to," Trump said in a July 2023 interview.

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"I will have the deal done in one day. One day," Trump added.

Some lawmakers in Kyiv have dismissed his claims as "election rhetoric," while Zelensky has called on Trump to release more details on several occasions before meeting him this September.

"If Trump knows how to finish this war, he should tell us today," Zelensky told Bloomberg Television in an interview published on July 3.

"If there are risks to Ukrainian independence, if we lose statehood  we want to be ready for this, we want to know... We want to understand whether in November we will have the powerful support of the U.S., or will be all alone."

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Read also: Russia has problems  We asked 5 Ukrainian soldiers about North Korean troops fighting for Moscow

Does Trump have a peace plan for Ukraine?

While few details have been forthcoming from Trump himself, numerous reports over the last year have given some clues about his plans to end Russias war against Ukraine. The very nature of such a quick deal heavily suggests Ukraine being forced to cede land to Russia.

In April, the Washington Post reported Trump would pressure Ukraine to cede the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia occupied in 2014, and the far eastern Donbas region it currently holds much of. A source told the paper that he believes both Moscow and Kyiv "want to save face, they want a way out."

The source also claimed Trump believes that Ukrainians in Russian-occupied territories would be okay with being part of Russia.

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In June, two top advisors to Trump proposed a plan that would cease military aid to Ukraine unless it agrees to hold peace negotiations with Russia, Reuters reported, citing the advisors, retired General Keith Kellogg and Fred Fleit.

Kellogg and Fleitz, who previously served on the National Security Council in the Trump administration, said the proposed ceasefire would freeze the front lines in their current position.

At the same time, Kellogg said the plan would entail additional warnings to Russia that the U.S. would increase its military support to Ukraine if Moscow refused the terms of the ceasefire.

Fleitz said Trump reacted positively to the plan but added: "I'm not claiming he agreed with it or agreed with every word of it."

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Read also: With Trump back in White House, can Ukraine opt for nuclear deterrence?

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said at the time that only statements from Trump or the campaign should be taken as official policy positions.

In July, Politico reported that Trump was reportedly considering the possibility of making a deal with Russia to block the future NATO accession of certain countries, namely Ukraine and Georgia.

One of the sources told Politico that Trump "would be open to something foreclosing NATO expansion and not going back to the 1991 borders for Ukraine."

The latest report came last month when the Financial Times, citing its sources close to Trump's team, reported that he planned to freeze the war.

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According to the paper, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, in September outlined the idea of freezing the war by establishing autonomous regions on both sides of the demilitarized zone and leaving Ukraine outside NATO.

According to one of Trump's longtime advisors, the new plan would rethink the failed Minsk agreements of 2014 and 2015, which were never implemented.

The agreements contained a plan that would create temporarily autonomous zones in Russian-occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts which would later be fully reintegrated with the rest of Ukraine. Occupied Crimea was not mentioned in the Minsk agreements.

Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us

The adviser said the new plan will include enforcement mechanisms and consequences for violating the agreement. However, in his opinion, European troops, not NATO forces or U.N. peacekeepers, will have to keep order.

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Fleitz, a former CIA analyst now at the America First Policy Institute Center for American Security, suggested in an interview with the Financial Times that Ukraine's membership in NATO could be taken off the agenda for several years to force Russia to the negotiating table.

"We freeze the conflict, Ukraine does not cede any territory, they don't give up their territorial claims, and we have negotiations with the understanding there probably won't be a final agreement until Putin leaves the stage," Fleitz said.

What does Ukraine think of Trumps plans?

Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials have pushed back against the notion of any sort of ceasefire that would cement Russia's battlefield gains.

When (Putin) gains strength, he might issue an ultimatum  to recognize all occupied territories, to stay out of NATO, to forget about European integration, Zelensky said in June.

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"And there will be many such conditions, depending on how strong (Putin) is at that moment. Therefore, a ceasefire is a trap."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, shake hands during a meeting on September 27, 2024 in New York City. The meeting coincides with President Zelensky's visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)

Kyiv has also refused to compromise on territorial integrity to end the war.

Following Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Moscow declared its annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts in 2022, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson  all of which Russia still doesnt fully control.

Referring to these declared land grabs, Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko told the Kyiv Independent in July that any sweeping plans announced by Trump before he became president are unlikely to go anywhere if he takes office.

"Putin cannot backtrack on annexations," Merezhko, the chair of the parliament's foreign affairs policy, said.

"When Trump realizes this, when Putin is not eager to make compromises, he will be very disappointed because there is no possibility of reaching a peaceful compromise.

"(Trump) doesn't want to be a failure; he wants to be a success, and if he wants success, he has to get Ukraine to agree, and Ukraine will never agree to territory concessions."

Read also: Trump wants to do everything he can to help Putin, McCain Institute head says

What does Russia think of Trumps plans?

Putin's stated aim for launching the full-scale invasion in early 2022 was to take all of Donbas, where in recent weeks the Russian armys grinding advances have gathered pace.

As Russia's position in the war becomes ever more favorable, the prospect of Putin stopping and agreeing to a ceasefire becomes more unlikely.

Moscow has been skeptical of Trump's ability to swiftly end the war even though Trump himself has boasted of having good relations with Putin.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) meets Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) on the first day of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan on June 28, 2019. (Photo by Kremlin Press Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Putin in June said that as a condition for peace negotiations, Ukrainian troops must leave Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. He added that Ukraine must recognize Russia's illegal annexation of the regions and abandon any ambition to join NATO.

Zelesnky rejected the conditions, comparing them to Adolf Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939.

When asked about Trumps statements about swiftly ending the war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reports on Nov. 6, Let us not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country, which is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state."

Earlier in July, Russias Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said there is a need to "be realistic" when considering what Trump says about peace negotiations.

"We saw the statements. Trump said he would resolve the conflict within 24 hours, then J.D. Vance said that China is a bigger problem for the U.S. than the Russia-Ukraine conflict," she said in comments reported by Reuters.

"It's necessary to separate pre-election rhetoric from statements by government officials vested with the appropriate powers. If we talk about whether it's possible to resolve the conflict, let's be realistic," she added.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Rep. John Curtis will be Utahs next member of the U.S. Senate.

The race to replace Sen. Mitt Romney was called by The Associated Press shortly after polls closed on Tuesday night. Romney announced in September 2023 that he would not be seeking reelection after his first, and last, six-year term in office.

A large field of Republican candidates quickly declared their intentions to fill the open senate seat but Curtis carried a clear lead in the polls and fundraising numbers before going on to win the GOP primary with a near-majority of votes. Curtis defeated his Democratic opponent, Caroline Gleich, by over 30 percentage points in the general election.

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Curtis received the promotion from Utah voters after seven years representing the states 3rd Congressional District and nearly eight years serving as Provo mayor. Curtis, known for spearheading a conservative approach to environmental policy, centered his Senate campaign on what he called Utah values, arguing for a pragmatic approach to cutting the debt, competing with China and supporting former President Donald Trump.

Heres what you need to know about Utahs newest U.S. senator.

What is Curtis background?

Curtis grew up in the East Millcreek area and attended Skyline High School where he met his wife. The two now share six children and 17 grandchildren.

Curtis served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Taiwan. A fluent Mandarin speaker, Curtis returned to Taiwan for another year after college to work in international trade.

Curtis received a bachelors degree in business management from Brigham Young University before working as a regional manager of O.C. Tanner, a Salt Lake City-based manufacturer of employee recognition awards.

Before entering politics, Curtis served for over a decade as the chief operations officer of Action Target, a shooting range supplier located in Provo.

What is Curtis record?

After joining Action Target, Curtis launched a short-lived effort to give Utahns more choices on the ballot by running unsuccessfully for the state Legislature as a Democrat.

Curtis was elected to the nonpartisan position of Provo mayor in 2009 and within a few years boasted a 94% approval rating, built on initiatives like the Provo Clean Air Toolkit.

Curtis entered Utahs congressional delegation in 2017, after winning a special election to replace former Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz.

Curtis is one of Congress most productive lawmakers. He has passed around 20 bills ranging from securing federal land for Utah to incentivizing nuclear energy projects.

In 2021, Curtis created the Conservative Climate Caucus with the goal of giving Republicans a seat at the table in environmental discussions.

What are Curtis goals?

Curtis has promised to advance a Republican approach to climate policy that prioritizes energy affordability and reliability as well as decreased emissions.

Curtis said he will push to implement Utahs baseline budget in the Senate, which would guarantee government funding while encouraging a return to more careful spending.

Curtis believes the country must become better prepared to fend off a security threat from China, whether its a cyberattack or an invasion of Taiwan.

If Trump wins the presidency, Curtis said he will be wind at his back as long as he acts in line with Utah values. Otherwise, Curtis said he will speak up in opposition to Trump.

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Curtis pragmatic approach became the target of criticism from primary and general election challengers. His Republican opponents criticized his interest in clean energy and his views on Trump, while his Democratic opponents argued he had not done enough to address climate change or to distance himself from the extreme wings of his party.

Instead of defending his loyalty to the GOP, or abandoning it, Curtis has said he is best defined by Utah values, like hard work, self-reliance and charity, that might not fit neatly under conservative, moderate or liberal labels.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond has decided to withdraw from the race for Knox County mayor instead choosing to campaign for re-election as Criminal Court Clerk.

In April, Hammond announced that he planned to run, however on November 5, he shared his decision to focus on his current position and how he can continue working to improve Knox Countys court system. This decision comes after Hammond shared he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Knoxville City Council Amendment 2 narrowly fails

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The decision is both personal and professional. My annual physical exam led to a diagnosis of very early-stage prostate cancer. A recent trip to New Yorks Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for a second opinion shows the cancer is indeed early stage and very treatable, wrote Hammond.

Because of this unexpected diagnosis, it has prompted me to look at my life and what is important. There is no question my number one priorities are my health and my family, which includes my wife Dawn, and our family which consists of 7 children and ten grandchildren, he added. Another priority is my strong desire to serve Knox County. Therefore, I have decided my focus should be on my present role, where my team has made wide-ranging improvements to benefit the court system and our citizens.

LIVE BLOG: Elections results, updates for East TN

Hammond has been the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk since 2014. Before that, he served two terms on the Knox County Commission. He also urged men to undergo regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, emphasizing the importance of early detection.

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In January, Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay announced he planned to run for mayor in 2026. Mayor Glenn Jacobs will not be running due to term limits.

Mike Hammond is a friend and celebrated public servant. I wish him the very best as he focuses on his health and family  the most important things in life. Mike has committed a great deal to community service, and Knox County is better because of him. Our family extends our support to the Hammond family during this critical time. Ive reached out to Mike to find ways we can work together as Knox County elected leaders and I will continue to work hard as an At-Large County Commissioner to focus on the issues that are important to our community while continuing my efforts to earn the vote and support of Knox Countys residents. At-large Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Knoxville residents rejected a proposal to change how city council candidates are elected, meaning six of the nine council members will be selected only by voters in the district where the candidate lives.

State lawmakers forced the change in 2023 by banning the process that allowed all city voters to select the winner for the six districts in the general election, prompting the referendum question that sought to maintain citywide voting for all nine council seats. Knoxville's three at-large seats, which don't require candidates to live in a district, will continue to be chosen by all city voters.

The issue was unique: notable Democrats were split on how to adapt to the Republican-passed law.

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Tennessee state Rep. Elaine Davis, who on Nov. 5 beat Democratic challenger Bryan Goldberg in District 18, had sponsored the state legislation that forced Knoxville to change the way it elects the city council.

In another referendum, city voters decided to align the year of election for the city council's Fifth District with the other five districts.

Knoxville residents rejected citywide voting

With a "no" vote of 51% on Amendment 2, Knoxville City Council's district representatives will be elected by district voters only.

The "no" vote defaults to the system set up by the new Tennessee law. "No" means only residents of a district will be able to vote in that district's primary and its general elections.

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Advocates of the "no" vote included both the City Council Movement, which seeks to diversify city politics; Hancen Sale, the former government affairs director for East Tennessee Realtors, who organized a letter opposing Amendment 2; and Republican leaders and elected officials.

I think that the people of the city of Knoxville have recognized that district representation matters. And I think thats a good thing. I think thats what most cities, most representative democracies across the country do. This is a good day for Knoxville, Sale told Knox News on election night.

The City Council Movement argued minority voters could have been disenfranchised if all city voters were able to determine representation for minority communities.

Amendment 2 was opposed by many Democrats in large part because the state legislature that created the new system was sponsored by Republican Davis.

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The importance of what I did  is that whatever geographic area that district entails, the people that live in that district choose their representative, Davis told Knox News. It wasnt about partisanship. I think it was about fairness and ensuring that you had an opportunity to elect your representative without being overshadowed by someone else."

What would a 'yes' vote have meant?

A "yes" vote would have allowed the entire city to vote in every district in the primary and general elections. Though council members still would have had to live in the districts they sought to represent, they would have been elected by voters to the entire city.

The at-large system was proposed by Councilmember Andrew Roberto, who serves in a nonpartisan position but participates in Knox County Democratic Party events. In suggesting the system, Roberto said the state unfairly changed the city's system, and that a "yes" vote would preserve the system he said has historically worked for Knoxville.

"Knoxville wins because we had the opportunity to decide how our elections will work going forward. Thats the essence of Amendment 2: empowering voters to make their own choice rather than simply accepting a decision made in Nashville," Roberto told Knox News in a text on election night.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville voters endorse city council elections based on districts
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday that relations with the United States were at a historic low, but that the Kremlin was open to dialogue and would see what happens if Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was not aware of any plans by President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump who has declared he had won the U.S. election.

"Let's not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country that is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state," he said, referring to U.S. support for Ukraine.

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Asked if relations would get even worse if Putin declined to congratulate Trump, he said: "It is almost impossible to worsen them further, relations are at their historically lowest point. What happens next will depend on the next U.S. leadership.

"President Putin has repeatedly said that he is open to constructive dialogue based on fairness and equality, and a willingness to take each other's concerns into account...

"At the moment, the U.S. administration is diametrically opposed, and what will happen in January - we will see."

Peskov said Trump had made tough statements during the election campaign but that he had also spoken of breaking the spiral of "continuing old wars and unleashing new ones".

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Russia would watch to see if Trump changed his tone when preparing to enter the Oval Office, Peskov said. "Therefore, we say that we carefully analyse everything, monitor everything, and will draw conclusions based on specific words and specific steps," he said.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Anastasia Teterevleva and Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
(NewsNation)  NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for Michigans District 8 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of Kristen McDonald Rivet. See the results of U.S. House and U.S. Senate races across the country here.

In one of the most anticipated races in Michigan, Democratic state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet and Republican Paul Junge faced off to fill a seat currently occupied by six-term Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee.

With the opportunity open for Republicans to flip a seat that would help the GOP maintain control of the U.S. House, the race was cast into a national spotlight.

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McDonald Rivet worked as the vice president of the Skillman Foundation, a grant-making organization that focuses on serving students in the Detroit area.

McDonald became the first woman to represent Michigans Bay region after she was elected to the state Senate.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

Junge worked in internal affairs of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services after being appointed to the position by former President Donald Trump. Junge, who worked as a television reporter after serving as a deputy district attorney, previously ran for the U.S. House seat in District 8 in 2020 and 2022.

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In a debate between the two candidates, McDonald Rivet and Junge differed on issues such as the economy and abortion. Junge said he does not support a national abortion ban and said that the issue should be decided at the state level.

In addition to being an outspoken advocate for womens reproductive rights, McDonald Rivet has also worked to pass gun safety reforms after the 2023 shooting at Michigan State University.

Heading into Tuesdays election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with a narrow majority of 220 seats, while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
The people of Kentucky have spoken.

What they said Tuesday night spoke to a belief about public education as a crucial pillar of this fragile house we call democracy.

From big cities like Louisville to tiny counties like Elliott, the people of Kentucky soundly defeated Amendment 2, by nearly 25 percentage points. They turned down the chance to rewrite the Kentucky Constitution, and they did so in the face of a multi-million dollar campaign by out-of-state school choice advocates who let loose a litany of lies about what Amendment 2 would do.

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They said it would raise teacher pay, they said it would improve school funding, they invoked the name of Gov. Andy Beshear, who is in fact a staunch opponent.

The people of Kentucky saw through it all because they prize their local schools. Voters understand they need more, not less school funding. In most rural communities in Kentucky, after all, local schools are the heart, and private schools hardly exist.

Not only that, thousands of voters split their ballots, voting overwhelmingly for former President Donald Trump, but against Amendment 2, even though Trump is a school choice advocate.

Rural Republicans dont like vouchers any more than Democrats, said Josh Cowen, a Michigan State University professor and the author of The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers.

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Its precisely the Trump voters in this community who are against this kind of thing.

The only remaining question: Now that the people have spoken, will the General Assembly, Sen. Rand Paul, the Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky Students First and all the other advocates actually listen?

Will they get serious about $2 billion in underfunding thats existed for decades? Will they stop their continual harassment of public school teachers, their library books, their history curriculums, their love and care for all children, even the marginalized ones?

Will they admit that diverting tax dollars to private and religious schools would hurt Kentuckys public schools?

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Probably not.

Legislators are not exactly know for saying they were wrong or had bad ideas on public policy. Theyll say its because the sitting governor had a bully pulpit to beat the amendment to death, not that it died of a self-inflicted wound.

We dont expect for this ongoing attacks to let up, said Tom Shelton, director of the Council for Better Education, which brought the first lawsuit against the General Assembly in 1989 for underfunding schools, and the lawsuits against tax credits and charter schools.

We will continue to monitor and evaluate the General Assembly, make sure they are living up to their constitutional responsibilities.

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But after the initial celebration, public school advocates need to listen, too. Not to out-of-state billionaires who want to wipe out public education all together, but to the parents and students who are frustrated by bureaucracies that ignore them or schools that just cant make progress.

We should rededicate ourselves to Kentuckys public schools with the same zeal that folks did in 1990, when advocates and legislators and the business community came together to create the Kentucky Education Reform Act.

We need to talk about the best ways to hold schools and school boards accountable, how to create more creative choices within our public districts, and make sure bureaucracies arent stifling different ways of learning. We need to improve achievement in the poorest schools in big cities and the smallest ones in rural places.

The good thing about constitutional amendments is that they represent the will of the people outside of gerrymandered political districts.

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On Tuesday night, Kentuckians made their desires very, very clear.

They know that public education is at the heart of making Kentucky a more prosperous state. We cant wash our hands of it. We need to make our public schools better for all kids.

We should all listen.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved the county's purchase of the Gas Company Tower, one of downtown L.A.'s most prominent skyscrapers, paving the way for the transfer of thousands of workers and public services out of the city's civic center.

With a 4-1 vote, the supervisors gave county officials the final green light to move ahead with buying the tower for $200 million.

The approval came over vehement objections from Supervisor Janice Hahn, who warned that the purchase would sound the death knell for downtown's civic heart and shunt the county's workforce to a "souless" office tower on Bunker Hill.

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None of you here are going to convince me that this is a good idea, Hahn said before casting her vote against the purchase with a "hell no."

County employees are currently based inside the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, a 1960 building named after Hahn's father, a longtime county supervisor.

The building is one of several county-owned properties considered vulnerable to collapse in a major earthquake. Officials have estimated that it will cost hundreds of millions to upgrade the buildings, making a new, presumably safer skyscraper an appealing alternative to some on the board.

If we know this building is not seismically safe, then we have an obligation and a responsibility to take action, Supervisor Holly Mitchell said from the room inside Hahn Hall where the board holds its weekly meetings.

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County Chief Executive Fesia Davenport, whose office spearheaded the sale, promised the purchase will save the county hundreds of millions of dollars compared with the cost of upgrading the Hall of Administration and other county buildings.

No supervisors have toured the building themselves, according to a county spokesperson, though several of their staff members have visited.

The 52-story tower at 555 W. 5th St. was widely considered one of the citys most prestigious office buildings when it was completed in 1991. It has nearly 1.5 million square feet of space on a 1.4-acre site at the base of Bunker Hill.

The price is a deep discount from the buildings appraised value of $632 million in 2020, underscoring how much downtown office values have fallen in recent years.

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At $200 million, the county would get the Gas Company Tower for about $137 a square foot, a bargain by historical standards. The county also agreed to pay as much as an additional $5 million in closing costs on the transaction.

"This opportunity will not last forever," Davenport warned, adding that the county could finance the purchase in part from money set aside for capital projects.

Hahn said the transaction was akin to "robbing Peter to pay Paul."

The money being used to pay for this purchase is being stolen from the funds that were meant to keep this building alive," she said from Hahn Hall.

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Richard Keating, the architect who designed the Gas Company Tower to appeal to corporate America, said it makes sense for a public entity to take ownership now.

"We're looking at a decline in need for standard office use, meaning lawyers, architects and accountants are doing things differently" since the pandemic, Keating said. "City and county employees are still hard at work in their office spaces, but they're tired, old, sometimes decrepit and oftentimes no longer up to code in terms of earthquake" safety requirements.

"It's a perfect time to take advantage of some of these more or less empty office buildings."

Moving hundreds of county workers into the Gas Company Tower also stands to lift shops, restaurants and other businesses in the nearby blocks by Pershing Square, he said. "I think it's a good move all the way around."

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In recent years, the downtown office market has turned against landlords as many tenants reduced their office footprint in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when it became more common for employees to work remotely.

Last year, the owner of the Gas Company Tower, an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management, defaulted on its debt, and the property was put in receivership, in which a court-appointed representative took custody of the building to help creditors recover funds they lent to Brookfield. The building has about $465 million in outstanding loans.

Other major tenants in the Gas Company Tower include law firm Latham & Watkins and accounting firm Deloitte. The county will assume the tenant leases as landlord.

When the Gas Company Tower is formally owned by the county, it will be removed from the tax rolls. The building's property tax bill last year was more than $7.1 million, according to real estate data provider CoStar.

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Tenants would, however, be required to contribute to the tax rolls by an unspecified amount through a "possessory interest tax" that can be levied on private companies leasing public buildings. Tenants in privately owned office buildings also commonly pay a share of the landlord's property taxes.

The building is in good condition with a remaining useful life of no less than 35 years, according to a recent property condition report prepared for the current owner that was obtained by The Times.

The report also said the tower and the World Trade Center garage at 333 S. Flower St. included in the deal require about $1.3 million to address urgently needed repairs and deferred maintenance. Additional long-term costs to maintain and modernize the properties were estimated at about $48.7 million over 12 years. Projected costs include roof repairs, refurbishing air conditioning systems and updating the elevators.

The county currently occupies about 16.5 million square feet of office space for 38 departments, which comprises 6.9 million square feet of leased office space and 9.6 million square feet of owned office space, Davenport said in a memo to the board recommending the purchase of the Gas Company Tower.

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The county spends about $195 million per year on leased office space, and the property it owns "is in poor condition and old," Davenport said. Nearly half of it is more than 50 years old.

By moving staff from both leased office space and aging buildings in poor condition, the county avoids paying rent and the "significant" costs of seismic retrofits and other needed renovations to old buildings such as aging air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems, the chief executive's memo said. Funds earmarked for seismic retrofits and other renovations of old buildings will be included in the payment for the Gas Company Tower.

The county inspected the building and will buy it "as-is," Davenport said. The Department of Public Works reviewed a seismic report for the tower and agreed with its findings. A county spokesperson said the findings will remain confidential until the deal closes.

If the county elects to complete a seismic retrofit and other improvements to the Gas Company Tower, it can realize a future return on its investment by selling the building when the market recovers, Davenport said.

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Southern California Gas Co. said in September that it is planning to move from its longtime headquarters in its namesake tower, where it has been a primary tenant since the building was completed, to another skyscraper a block north at 350 S. Grand Ave.

The utility signed a long-term lease for nearly 200,000 square feet on eight floors in the Grand Avenue building on Bunker Hill often known as Two California Plaza, its new landlord said, and is expected to move by spring 2026 after building out the new offices. SoCalGas will also have an office on the ground floor to serve customers.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, who ascended to office vowing sweeping reforms to the criminal justice system and then faced intense criticism over public safety issues, lost his bid for re-election, The Associated Press projected.

Gascon was defeated by Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor who seized on voter concerns about crime and homelessness in the nations most populous county and largest law enforcement jurisdiction.

In recent weeks, Gascon made national headlines when he announced he supported clemency for Erik and Lyle Menendez, the brothers who were found guilty in the 1989 killing of their parents. The legal saga drew renewed public attention this fall after the debut of a Netflix miniseries and documentary about their lives.

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Gascon was swept into office in 2020 amid national fury over the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He harnessed the progressive energy surrounding that summers protests over police misconduct and racial inequality, riding a political wave that in previous cycles helped elect crusading prosecutors in cities like Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.

In office, Gascon quickly got to work implementing his reformist agenda.

He barred prosecutors in his office from seeking the death penalty and various sentencing enhancements, stopped the prosecution of juveniles as adults and ended cash bail for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.

But many of those initiatives drew fierce backlash, including from some of the countys rank-and-file prosecutors.

Nathan Hochman in Buena Park, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2022.

Gascon staved off two recall efforts, both of which failed to secure spots on the ballot. Meanwhile, the resistance to aggressive criminal justice reforms continued building across California. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin was recalled from office in 2022 after his critics assailed him as a soft-on-crime progressive.

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Gascon and other Los Angeles political leaders have attempted to rebut charges that the city is unsafe, a perception deepened partly by videos of smash-and-grab retail robberies.

Gascon faced 11 challengers in the countys March 5 nonpartisan primary, advancing to a runoff against Hochman, an independent who ran for California attorney general as a Republican in 2022.

Hochman pledged to crack down on lawlessness and framed his candidacy as a sharp break from the Gascon era.

DA George Gascon has miserably failed to protect our residents, leading to a spiral of lawlessness that endangers all L.A. County residents, Hochman said in a statement announcing his candidacy. Its time to stop playing politics with peoples lives. Its time we had a DA who fights for victimsnot criminals.

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Gascon attempted to shift perceptions of his tenure and emphasized that he understood the spiking anxiety about public safety. But pre-election public polls showed him trailing Hochman. In a survey conducted Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, for example, Hochman was 30 percentage points ahead of Gascon.

Hochman, 60, was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California in the 1990s. He then was the assistant attorney general for the U.S. Justice Departments tax division under former President George W. Bush.

Gascon, 70, previously was San Francisco district attorney  a job once held by Vice President Kamala Harris before she won the state attorney generals office. He was also an assistant police chief in Los Angeles, as well as the police chief in Mesa, Arizona, and San Francisco.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
MILAN (Reuters) - UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel said on Wednesday banks need to be more efficient and profitable and expressed confidence that "people will look at the facts" when weighing up a potential deal with Commerzbank.

In beating expectations with its third-quarter earnings and improving the profit outlook, UniCredit said in presentation slides its German business yielded a return of 21.5% on the capital allocated to it, against 10.2% at Commerzbank when excluding its Polish unit.

UniCredit's interest in its German rival has sparked protests from Germany's government which has said it supports the independent strategy of the country's second-biggest bank.

Germany's Commerzbank also raised some financial targets on Wednesday and said its plan for growth was working.

In an interview with CNBC television, Orcel said banks needed to withstand competition from unregulated non-banking rivals and remain an attractive proposition for investors, and everyone would have to take responsibility if UniCredit had to walk away from a deal.

"There are tensions but I am quite optimistic," Orcel said.

"I think that beyond what is happening today, people will look at the facts and the facts are actually quite positive for Germany, the European Union and I'd say that they are quite positive for Commerzbank too."

UniCredit said its German business is a "mirror image" of Commerzbank and the better performance of UniCredit Germany in recent years is proof of what could be achieved if it were allowed to combine with Commerzbank.

UniCredit said in the slides that current trends in the banking industry meant that "difficult decisions" would be necessary if a merger went ahead, however the group has a good record in managing staff reductions in accordance with unions.

Orcel reiterated that UniCredit would only pursue a Commerzbank deal if it did not hurt returns for its shareholders, and had prepared the ground to also be able to just sell its Commerzbank stake at a profit.

"But then everybody will need to take their own responsibility and accountability for what's next. We're very, very confident that for us what's next is a positive thing."

(Reporting by Valentina Za, editing by Alvise Armellini and Elaine Hardcastle)
Backers of a ballot measure aimed at enlarging the pot of money available for homeless services in Los Angeles County claimed victory Wednesday, while voters remained deadlocked on a measure expanding the county Board of Supervisors.

Measure A, which had received about 56% of the vote in partial returns Wednesday evening, will double the quarter-cent sales tax that voters approved in 2017 for homeless services and extend it indefinitely, ensuring that a major funding stream wont dry up in a few years.

Voters are clear that they want bold solutions to addressing our countys most pressing issue," David Green, president of Service Employees International Union Local 721, said in a statement declaring victory.

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Read more: 2024 Los Angeles County elections results

Measure G would dramatically shift power within L.A. County government, nearly doubling the size of the Board of Supervisors and creating a new ethics commission as well as a new elected executive position that functions almost like a mayor.

The board would expand from five to nine supervisors, with each politician representing about 1.1 million people. Each supervisor currently represents 2 million constituents in America's largest county.

The county's current chief executive, appointed by the supervisors, is responsible for daily operations and drafting a $49-billion annual budget. Under the measure, the executive would be elected by county voters.

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The new ethics commission would be designed to punish corrupt officials and crack down on the revolving door of county officials-turned-lobbyists.

The deadline to create the ethics commission would be 2026, and the county executive would be elected by 2028. All nine supervisors wouldn't come on board until 2032, following a redistricting process.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the measure's co-author, said in a statement that she was "feeling hopeful" about the partial returns, which showed the measure leading by a narrow margin.

"We know there are still more votes to count, especially from those who voted in the final days and hours of this election," she said. "Measure G marks a new era for a better and brighter LA County for all of us."

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Horvath and Supervisor Janice Hahn got the ball rolling on Measure G this spring, arguing that the countys outdated government structure was long overdue for a refresh.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath at press conference with L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon. Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times Supervisor fourth district Janice Hahn at County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors meeting on Oct. 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times

The proposal won the support of Supervisor Hilda Solis, and the board voted 3-2 to refer the mammoth overhaul of county government to voters. Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Kathryn Barger voted against it, criticizing the process as rushed and the proposal as ill-conceived.

It proved instantly controversial.

Supporters like Horvath and Hahn argue that the basic form of county government has not changed substantially since the county's founding in 1850. They say the restructuring would also pave the way for a more racially diverse board.

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Five supervisors are nowhere near enough to properly represent the countys 10 million constituents, who rely on the board to oversee the regions jails, public hospitals and child welfare system, among other critical services, supporters argue.

Opponents of Measure G argued that a new elected position overseeing the county's executive branch would create unnecessary power struggles and that the proposal could needlessly drain the countys coffers.

Read more: Trump elected as the United States 47th president following wins in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

The county auditors office has put one-time costs for the measure at about $8 million, but critics expected the ultimate price tag to be much larger.

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County attorneys estimated last month that the ethics reforms detailed in the measure could cost $21 million yearly, mostly because of staff salaries. The campaign for Measure G disputed the estimate.

Voters have rejected the idea of expanding the Board of Supervisors at least eight times  most recently in 2000.

The quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters to fund homeless services through Measure H is scheduled to sunset in 2027. A coalition of labor unions, nonprofits and homeless service providers helped put Measure A, which will raise the tax to a half-cent with no expiration date, on the ballot.

There was no organized opposition, though the measure faced skepticism from some residents who believed the region has little to show for the millions already generated through Measure H.

A homeless encampment in the riverbed in Norwalk. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

But supporters of Measure A warned that homelessness would spike dramatically if the sales tax expires, drying up funds for temporary beds and rental subsidies, among other services.

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A cheer went up at the campaign party for Measure A when the first round of early results hit the board Tuesday night, showing the measure headed for passage with a healthy lead.

"Each vote brings us one step closer to being able to bring bold new solutions to tackling homelessness and improving the lives of all who call Los Angeles County home," Scott Mann, a spokesperson with the Measure A campaign, said in a statement.

After climbing for the last five years, overall homelessness leveled off in Los Angeles County in 2024, according to the annual count released in June.

There were 75,312 homeless people across the county, including in the city of L.A., the count showed, down 0.3% compared with the previous year.

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Read more: Your guide to obscure but important L.A. City Charter amendments, county measures

Measure H generates about half a billion dollars a year, which is most of the money the county spends on homeless services, including mental health treatment, drug treatment and job counseling.

According to estimates, the new sales tax would raise more than $1 billion each year, with 60% going to homeless services and nearly all the rest dedicated to housing production.

The tax will be permanent unless it is repealed by another ballot measure.

Times staff writer Doug Smith contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The first Budget of Sir Keir Starmers government took aim squarely at the traditional foes of the Left. Landlords were subjected to higher stamp duty costs, non-doms to higher taxes, capital gains rates were hiked, inheritance tax levied on family farms and VAT charged on private school fees.

While all animals are equal, however, some are more equal than others. Just as government departments received additional funds to shield public sector employees from the effect of National Insurance hikes, it appears that some employed by the state will also receive special treatment when it comes to their childrens education.

The Foreign Office is already set to spend more taxpayers money ensuring that the children of diplomatic staff can continue to attend private schools. It now appears that the department has also been seeking special discounts for diplomats children, suggesting that it might make schools more attractive to future customers.

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While the Government works to shield its own employees, however, parents working in the private sector will have to bear the full brunt of the raid, as will those attending the French or German schools in London.

This is fast becoming a theme for this Government; tighter belts for the private sector, abundance for those on the public payroll. That this approach further undermines the economic incentives that drive growth and entrepreneurship does not seem to register. The result is what appears to be an increasingly two-tier economy, with reward and opportunity handed out based less on the judgment of the market than on political connections. It is a most dispiriting trend.

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Latah County Sheriff Richie Skiles decisively won a third term in Tuesdays general election, fending off a challenge from two former members of local law enforcement who tried to unseat him.

The Republican incumbent faced two conservative-leaning independent candidates: James Fry, Moscows former police chief; and Christopher Middleton, a former Idaho State Police trooper and Latah County sheriffs deputy.

With 100% of precincts in the county reporting, Skiles captured 57.9% of the vote. Fry received 34.8%, while Middleton received 7.3%. Voters cast nearly 20,000 ballots in the race, results showed.

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Skiles, 59, of Potlatch, served in the U.S. Marines before tenures as a Latah County sheriffs deputy and the chief of police in the small town of Troy. After the bulk of results were in, he told the Idaho Statesman he spent election night with his wife and adult son, and was grateful for the continued trust of voters.

It means a lot to me, Skiles said in an interview early Wednesday morning. Ive worked hard for eight years as sheriff and I worked hard as a deputy, and thats one of those things thats helped me as sheriff. I just try to do the right things for the right reasons, and it shines through when people keep us in office.

Latah County Sheriff Richie Skiles, the two-term Republican incumbent, faces two challengers running as independents in Tuesdays election, including former Moscow Police Chief James Fry.

Fry, 55, who lives in Troy, retired in May after 29 years with the Moscow police, including the past eight years as its chief. He quickly announced his intent to run for sheriff, and Middleton, 55, of unincorporated Moscow, threw his name in the hat not long after.

Early Wednesday morning, Fry told the Statesman that Skiles ran a good race. He said he planned to contact the sheriff to offer his congratulations.

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I wish him well and success for the next four years, Fry said in a text message to the Statesman.

Fry said he wasnt sure what he would do next. Time will tell, he said.

Fry gained statewide and national recognition while overseeing the investigation into the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in November 2022. After nearly seven weeks, Fry announced the arrest of Washington State University graduate student Bryan Kohberger on suspicion of murder.

Former Moscow Police Chief James Fry is running as an independent for Latah County Sheriff. He retired from the city police department in May.

During the course of the homicide investigation, Fry and other local officials also garnered criticism. He chose not to hold a press conference for three days after the students violent deaths, in addition to withholding various pieces of information about the case from the public.

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The national stage granted to Fry during the high-profile investigation made for an intriguing variable in the local sheriffs race. But it did not win the day with Latah County voters.

To be honest, I didnt know how people were going to vote. Moscow is a little bit of a wild card, and I wasnt sure how people felt about how he did or didnt do in crisis, Skiles said. That crisis would be difficult for anybody, and, honestly, we learned a lot, he learned a lot, we learned a lot from the things that happened there.

Also Tuesday, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, who is leading the prosecution of Kohberger, ran unopposed in the election. First elected to the office in 1992, the Democrat secured his ninth term, which runs through 2028.
Democrat Kamala Harris conceded the election but urged her supporters to keep fighting for America's promise following her defeat to Republican Donald Trump. Foreign leaders, President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were among the people to congratulate Trump on Wednesday.

Trump's victory was felt down ballot, with the GOP reclaiming control of the Senate by flipping seats in Montana, West Virginia and Ohio. In the House, Republicans and Democrats are still battling for the majority, with both party leaders exuding confidence.

Follow the APs Election 2024 coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.

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Heres the latest:

FBI warns of false videos that misuse its name and insignia

The FBI is warning of additional fabricated videos that misuse its name and insignia to undermine confidence in the electoral system.

One of the videos falsely claims that the FBI was made aware that at least 301 electors reported attempted bribery and blackmail by a political party.

Another video falsely claims that the FBI is investigating voter pressure at US military bases overseas, a third claims that a U.S. social media company has seen an increase in the number of separatist groups to include a total audience of more than 40 million people and the fourth falsely claims that the FBI has ordered media to restrict the spread of information about the bribery of electors.

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The FBI says each of the videos contains false information.

South Korean president talks to Trump about threats from North Korea

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has congratulated Trump on his huge win and discussed strengthening security and economic cooperation between the allies, according to a Seoul presidential official.

Kim Tae-hyo, Yoons deputy national security director, said Thursday that Yoon and Trump also discussed the growing threats posed by nuclear-armed North Korea, including its intercontinental ballistic missiles targeting the U.S. mainland, and its reported provision of troops to Russia in support of Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine.

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Kim said Trump called for expanding the countries cooperation in the shipbuilding industries, highlighting South Koreas strengths in building warships and vessels, and called for more detailed discussions on improving U.S. competitiveness in ship exports as well as maintenance and repair.

Kim said Yoon and Trump agreed to arrange an in-person meeting soon.

Biden will deliver a Rose Garden address

President Biden will address the nation Thursday at 11 a.m. EST. The remarks to the nation will be Bidens first appearance on camera in the aftermath of Donald Trumps decisive victory over Kamala Harris.

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Steve Kerr: I believe in democracy, and I think the American people have spoken

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke about the election ahead of a game against the Boston Celtics. In August, he coached the U.S. Olympics mens team to a gold medal in Paris.

Well, I believe in democracy, and I think the American people have spoken and voted for Trump, and I want him to do well the next four years. I want our country to do well.

Its a complex world. Weve got a lot of interesting stuff between wars abroad, a global economy that has shifted everything in terms of what it means for our citizens and their day-to-day lives, he said. I want whats best for us. I hope Trump can deliver.

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Virginia House races decided, but neither party gains

A pair of closely-watched House races in Virginian have been decided, but with neither party gaining ground in a still tight race for House control.

Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans won reelection in the military-heavy southeast part of Virginia, while Democrat Eugene Vindman won a seat previously held by his party in the north of the state.

Vindman is filling the seat after Rep. Abigail Spanberger left Congress to run for governor.

Vindman and his twin brother, Alexander Vindman, played major roles in former President Donald Trumps first impeachment.

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Trump accepts White House invitation from Biden

Trumps campaign says he has accepted President Bidens invitation to meet at the White House to discuss the presidential transition. No date has been announced yet but Steven Cheung, Trumps communications director, said it would take place shortly. Cheung said Trump very much appreciated Bidens congratulatory call on Wednesday.

Biden breaks his silence on Harris loss to Trump

Biden, in a White House-issued statement, praised Harris as a tremendous partner and public servant full of integrity, courage, and character. It was Bidens first public comment in the aftermath of Trumps victory.

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The president also noted that Harris entered the campaign under extraordinary circumstances, a nod to his dropping out of the race 108 days before Election Day amid growing pressure from within his party after his cataclysmic debate performance against Trump.

Biden added that Harris stepped up and led a historic campaign that embodied whats possible when guided by a strong moral compass and a clear vision for a nation that is more free, more just, and full of more opportunities for all Americans.

Trump has vowed to shake some of democracys pillars

American presidential elections are a moment when the nation holds up a mirror to look at itself. They are a reflection of values and dreams, of grievances and scores to be settled.

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The results say much about a countrys character, future and core beliefs. On Tuesday, America looked into that mirror and more voters saw former president Donald Trump, delivering him a far-reaching victory in the most contested states.

He won for many reasons. One of them was that a formidable number of Americans, from different angles, said the state of democracy was a prime concern.

Even as Trump prevailed, most voters said they were very or somewhat concerned that electing Trump would bring the U.S. closer to being an authoritarian country, where a single leader has unchecked power, according to the AP VoteCast survey. Still, 1 in 10 of those voters backed him anyway. Nearly 4 in 10 Trump voters said they wanted complete upheaval in how the country is run.

 Read more about Trumps plans for American democracy

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Pence congratulates Trump after declining to endorse him

Former Vice President Mike Pence congratulated Trump for winning a second term in office, writing yet another awkward chapter in the relationship between the president-elect and his former running mate.

The American people have spoken and Karen and I send our sincere congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump and his family on his election as 47th President of the United States, Pence wrote on behalf of him and his wife. The former vice president also congratulated Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who ran in place of Pence as Trumps running mate.

We will continue to pray for all those in authority and urge every American to join us in praying for our incoming President, Vice President and elected officials at every level, Pence concluded.

Pences relationship with Trump fractured after the former vice president declined to follow the Republican presidents wishes and went ahead with certifying the 2020 election. Trump did not hold back in his contempt for Pence, questioning his judgment and calling him delusional on the campaign trail. Pence, in turn, declined to endorse his one-time running mate.

News outlets have a relatively traditional election night experience

For all the concerns about a tumultuous process that could leave Americans waiting for days to learn who its next president would be, news outlets instead experienced an election night that hewed close to tradition.

Fox News Channel declared Trump had reclaimed the presidency at 1:47 a.m. on Wednesday. Broadcast networks and The Associated Press had Trump on the precipice of returning to the presidency when he took the stage in Florida at 2:25 a.m. to declare victory.

Many journalists warned viewers that determining the winner could be a protracted process that could take several days like it had in 2020.

Yet from the first hints provided by exit poll results shortly after 5 p.m. EST, the election night story moved methodically in Trumps direction.

 Read more about how the media covered election night

Pelosi says to pray for Americas next chapter, doesnt say Trumps name

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement late Wednesday, saying that we all pray for Americas success under the next administration, but did not make mention of Trump by name.

Pelosi was seen as the architect of the Democratic partys strategic shift from Joe Biden to Kamala Harris as top of their ticket over the summer. The California Democrat has been Trumps biggest critic, saying previously that her goal is to ensure Trump never enters the White House again.

The peaceful transfer of power is the cornerstone of our democracy, Pelosi said. After every election, we all have a responsibility to come together and find common ground.

Melania Trump: Majority of Americans have entrusted us with this important responsibility

Melania Trump marked her husbands win in the 2025 election by saying a majority of Americans have entrusted us with this important responsibility.

The former  and future  first lady was an infrequent figure on the campaign trail with the Republican candidate. Melania Trump attended but did not speak at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. She did appear at Donald Trumps election party early on Wednesday morning.

We will safeguard the heart of our republic  freedom, Melania Trump wrote. I anticipate the citizens of our nation rejoining in commitment to each other and rising above ideology for the sake of individual liberty, economic prosperity, and security.

Where does Walz go from here?

As Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was leaving after his running mates concession speech, a reporter asked him: Whats next?

Minnesota, he answered.

Swing states live up to their name

Theyre called swing states for a reason.

On Tuesday, Trump led the Republican ticket to a sweeping national victory. He was on track to improve upon his 2020 vote performance in 48 states. This included bringing back into the fold the five states that had abandoned him for Democratic Joe Biden four years ago.

Six of the seven 2024 presidential battlegrounds that helped decide Tuesdays election had all moved sharply away from Trump in 2020. They included Georgia and Arizona, which hadnt supported a Democrat for president in more than 20 years, as well as North Carolina, which shifted sharply to the left but barely remained in Trumps column in 2020.

Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin all supported Trump in 2016 after supporting Democratic presidential candidates for at least six consecutive elections but swung back toward Democrats in 2020.

This year, Trump significantly outperformed his 2020 showing in all battlegrounds and had either won or was leading in the vote in the count as of Wednesday afternoon.

Nevada maintained a 2.4 percentage-point advantage for the Democratic candidate in both 2016 and 2020. But Trump led by almost 5 percentage points on Wednesday, although the AP had not yet called the race.

Obamas congratulate Trump and Vance on their White House win

In a statement issued Wednesday, former President Barack Obama, along with former first lady Michelle Obama, said the elections result is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for but noted that living in a democracy is about recognizing that our point of view wont always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power.

Congratulating Trump and Vance, the Obamas expressed pride for Harris and Walz, for both of whom they campaigned, calling them two extraordinary public servants who ran a remarkable campaign.

The Obamas cast forward with hope for a divided America, saying that the nations problems are solvable only if we listen to each other, and only if we abide by the core constitutional principles and democratic norms that made this country great.

Democrats promise peaceful transition of power

Shortly after Harris concession speech, a series of Democratic lawmakers issued their first statements in response to the election results and promised to ensure a peaceful transition for the incoming Republican administration.

As deeply, deeply disappointed as I am by the results of the election, make no mistake: my Democratic colleagues and I  unlike many Republicans after the 2020 election  will uphold the will of the American people, fulfill our constitutional duty and do our part to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois said in a statement.

Trump has been taking calls from world leaders, supporters

Transition talks have not yet begun in earnest, according to a person with knowledge of the Trump campaign. Instead, the president-elect was busy taking calls from leaders, domestic and international, donors and key supporters. Transition discussions are expected to ramp up later in the week, as attention turns to naming an inaugural committee and formal transition team. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Bernie Sanders calls for reckoning in Democratic Party following election losses

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders did not mince words in a scathing statement Wednesday.

It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them, Sanders, Vermonts senior senator, said.

First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well, Sanders said.

Sanders won reelection to a fourth term on Tuesday. He singled out wealth inequality, a slipping standard of living in the U.S., a lack of full health care guarantees and support for Israels recent military campaigns as problems Democrats need to focus on. Sanderss 2016 presidential run was a key factor in pushing the dialogue in the Democratic party to the left. Sanders has built his political career outside -- and often criticizing -- the Democratic Party, but he caucuses with Democrats in the Senate.

Harris wraps concession speech at Howard University

This is not a time to throw up our hands, said Harris. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.

Only when it is dark enough, she said, can you see the stars.

Just as she walked in, Harris made her exit to the strains of Beyonces Freedom, filing off the stage with her family.

Harris acknowledges loss in concession speech

Harris told supporters gathered at Howard University that she had lost her race against Trump, conceding to the Republican president who is now empowered by a sweeping mandate.

The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, Harris said. But hear me when I say, the light of Americas promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.

Harris had planned to address an audience like this at Howard on election night and had hoped she would have a more upbeat message to deliver. Instead, when Harris took the stage at her alma mater, she looked out at a sea of America flags and notably forlorn faces. She was flanked by 30 American flags.

Harris playlist

The hype music ahead of Harris remarks has been an eclectic mix of rap and R&B, including a nod toward what Harris would have been  Americas second Black president.

Ahead of her walk on to Beyonces Freedom, a mix included Jeezys My President, which includes the lyric, My president is Black.

Walz attends Harris concession speech

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris running mate, drew cheers from Democrats when he arrived at the vice presidents concession speech.

He was joined by his wife, Gwen.

Beyonces Run the World (Girls) plays at Harris concession speech

Beyonces Freedom became a mainstay of Harris presidential campaign, and some of the artists other music is providing the soundtrack of the event expected to include her concession speech.

Run the World (Girls) played through speakers at Howard University as supporters, members of Congress and other Democratic notables awaited the Democratic nominee.

Harris presidential campaign took on Beyonces 2016 track Freedom as its anthem, with Harris walking out to it at dozens of events, including her acceptance speech at this summers Democratic National Convention.

The singer appeared with Harris last month during a campaign rally in her hometown of Houston, bringing a high level of star power to what had become a key theme of the Democratic nominees bid: freedom.

The crowd gathers as Harris prepares to deliver her concession speech

House Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi, White House adviser Tom Perez and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser are among the crowd waiting for Harris to speak at Howard.

Abortion rights advocates win in 7 states and clear way to overturn Missouri ban but lose in 3

Voters in Missouri cleared the way to undo one of the nations most restrictive abortion bans in one of seven victories for abortion rights advocates, while Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota defeated similar constitutional amendments, leaving bans in place.

Abortion rights amendments also passed in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland and Montana. Nevada voters also approved an amendment, but theyll need to pass it again it 2026 for it to take effect. Another that bans discrimination on the basis of pregnancy outcomes prevailed in New York.

The results came in the same election where Trump won the presidency. Among his inconsistent positions on abortion has been an insistence that its an issue best left to the states. Still, the president can have a major impact on abortion policy through executive action.

 Read more about the national abortion landscape

Harris heads to deliver her concession speech

Harris has left the vice presidents residence and is traveling to Howard University, her alma mater, to publicly concede the election to President-elect Trump.

Harris has already spoken to Trump by telephone to congratulate him on winning, according to one of the VPs aides. Trumps team has confirmed the conversation.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will join Harris at Howard.

Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Heres what hes proposed

The former president and now president-elect often skipped over details but through more than a year of policy pronouncements and written statements outlined a wide-ranging agenda that blends traditional conservative approaches to taxes, regulation and cultural issues with a more populist bent on trade and a shift in Americas international role.

Trumps agenda also would scale back federal government efforts on civil rights and expand presidential powers.

 Read more about Trumps proposed policy plans

Belarus president congratulates Trump

Belarus authoritarian leader President Alexander Lukashenko has congratulated Donald Trump on winning the U.S. presidential election, despite tensions between the countries.

You did it first and foremost in the name of America and its citizens. I wish you good health, well-aimed political decisions that will make America great again, Lukashenko said in a statement.

Since protests against alleged fraud in the 2020 elections that gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office, he has led a harsh and extensive crackdown on opposition. The Trump administration adopted two packages of sanctions against Belarus for the falsification of its own 2020 elections and violence against protesters.

Trump gets congratulatory call from Jordanian king

Jordans King Abdullah II is urging Trump to boost international efforts to protect regional and global stability.

The Jordanian Royal Court posted on X that the king called Trump to congratulate him on winning the presidential election.

He noted in the call that the United States plays a pivotal role in maintaining stability in the Mideast and world, the royal court said.

Special counsel evaluating how to wind down two federal cases against Trump after presidential win

Special counsel Jack Smith is evaluating how to wind down the two federal cases against Trump before he takes office in light of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday.

Smith charged Trump last year with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. But Trumps election defeat of Kamala Harris means that the Justice Department believes he can no longer face prosecution in accordance with decades-old department legal opinions meant to shield presidents from criminal charges while in office.

 Read more about the special counsels decision.

Top Harris adviser says they dug out of a deep hole but not enough

David Plouffe, the longtime adviser to former President Barack Obama turned top Harris aide, wrote Wednesday that the Democratic operation left it all on the field for their county but eventually it was not enough against Trump.

We dug out of a deep hole but not enough, Plouffe wrote. A devastating loss. Thanks for being in the arena, all of you.

Plouffes comments come at a time when some Democrats are starting to blame President Biden for not stepping away earlier, constraining Harris to a truncated campaign.

Biden calls to congratulate Trump

President Joe Biden has called President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his election victory and to invite him to the White House to discuss the transition.

The White House said staff would coordinate a date in the near future. Biden plans to address the nation on the election results, which will have sharp implications for his legacy on Thursday. Biden also spoke with Vice President Harris to congratulate her on her campaign.

Doc Rivers: We want him to do the best job for the country, at the end of the day

Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers had campaigned for Kamala Harris and called Donald Trumps Madison Square Garden rally atrocious during an Oct. 28 pregame availability. Rivers struck a conciliatory tone Wednesday while discussing the election results.

I was disappointed in the results, you know, I really was, Rivers said during a post practice media session. This is the most involved Ive ever been in an election. A lot of it was personal because Ive known Kamala for over 15 years. I thought she would have been a terrific president. The problem is 65-million-plus disagreed with me, and now Donald Trumps our president, and were going to have to support him. We want him to do the best job for the country, at the end of the day.

El-Sissi: Egypt looks forward to working with Trump during his new term

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt has spoken with President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election, according to a statement from the Egyptian leaders office.

El-Sissi has affirmed: Egypt looks forward to completing the joint work with President Trump during his new term  in a way that benefits the Egyptian and American peoples and achieves stability, peace and development in the Middle East, the statement said.

El-Sissi cultivated close ties with Trump during his previous term. He was the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump when he won 2016 elections.

UN chief commends voters for their active participation in the democratic process

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulated President-elect Donald Trump and said he stands ready to work constructively with the incoming administration to address the dramatic challenges our world is facing.

I reaffirm my belief that the cooperation between the United States and the United Nations is an essential pillar of international relations, the U.N. chief said in a statement.

Guterres also commended the American people for their active participation in the democratic process.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric, responding to questions from reporters on Wednesday, said during Trumps previous administration four years ago, the secretary-general had very good relations with the president.

The fact that they had different opinions about a number of issues was clear to all, Dujarric said. It did not stop the secretary-general from engaging with the United States government just as all previous secretary-generals have.

Democrats get a little breathing room in their Senate minority

Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwins reelection win in Wisconsin wont change who controls the Senate, but it does give Democrats just a little breathing room.

With a handful of Senate races still undecided, Republicans on Wednesday have been anticipating just how much they could grow their majority. The Senates filibuster rules prevent one party from passing most major pieces of legislation without at least 60 votes, so if Republicans gain more seats, it gives their conference more strength in cobbling together a filibuster-proof vote.

There are also a few Trump critics within the Republican conference who may be willing to vote against his nominees for Cabinet positions. Outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday morning declined to go into whether he would support confirmation for potential Trump Cabinet picks like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Democrat Nellie Pou wins election to US House in New Jerseys 9th Congressional District

Democrat Nellie Pou won election to a U.S. House seat representing New Jersey on Wednesday. Pou won the seat vacated by longtime Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., who died earlier this year. She defeated Republican Billy Prempeh and two others. Pou is a longtime state legislator, serving in the Assembly from 1997 to 2011, then the state Senate from 2011 until now. The Associated Press declared Pou the winner at 1:47 p.m. EST.

Hakeem Jeffries says the US House is still in play

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says the House remains very much in play as Democrats hold out hope for avoiding a sweep in Tuesdays election.

He says the path to the majority now runs through close pick-up opportunities in Arizona, Oregon, Iowa and California.

The party that will hold the majority in the House of Representatives in January 2025 has yet to be determined. We must count every vote, Jeffries said.

Democrat Tammy Baldwin wins reelection to U.S. Senate from Wisconsin

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin won reelection to a third term representing Wisconsin on Wednesday. She defeated Republican millionaire businessman Eric Hovde, who was making his second run for Senate, having previously lost in the 2012 Republican primary. Baldwin argued that Hovde was disconnected from Wisconsin, given that he owns a multimillion-dollar estate in California. She also hammered Hovde over his prior opposition to abortion rights. Baldwin was first elected to the Senate in 2012. The Associated Press declared Baldwin the winner at 1:42 p.m. EST.

Republicans continue to chip away Democratic support in South Texas

Republicans had a big night in South Texas, flipping predominately Hispanic counties along the U.S.-Mexico border that have been a backdrop of President-elect Donald Trumps promises for tougher border measures.

Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz won reelection and Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, who was indicted earlier this year, survived his most competitive race in a decades-long career. Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez also won reelection by a narrow margin.

The GOP has targeted South Texas to make headway among Latino voters since Democratic support began to erode in previous elections. The border districts made an even bigger rightward swing toward Trump this election compared to 2020. Hidalgo and Cameron, the two most populous border counties, flipped entirely to Trump.

The trends represent weakening Democratic support in a region formerly considered a stronghold for the party. De La Cruz ran on border security and immigration enforcement to appeal to the districts predominately Latino and working-class population.
Latin American leaders from across the political spectrum on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump after his victory in the US presidential election.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on X: "I wish the new administration luck and success," while his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro - a firebrand known for his sympathies with Trump - added: "Congratulations, my friend, on this epic victory."

Argentinian President Javier Milei, another populist, said: "You know that you can count on Argentina to carry out your task."

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Despite Trump focusing his campaign on opposition to migration across the southern border from Mexico, newly inaugurated Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was confident that the two countries would continue to work well together.

"There is no reason for concern," Sheinbaum said.

Colombia's left-wing President Gustavo Petro also commented on the win, stating: "The American people have spoken and will be respected."
The News

With Donald Trump on his way back to the White House, Democrats are left to understand how they lost ground with their most reliable voter demographics  and in particular, with Latinos.

Slightly more than half of all eligible Latino voters supported Harris, which is a dramatic drop from the estimated 60% who voted for Biden in 2020. The bleeding was apparent in red and blue states alike: In Harris home state of California, she was barely ahead or even trailing Trump in some Hispanic-majority counties like Fresno.

Some of the shift is likely a reflection of the broader gaps in gender and education between Harris and Trump voters, with working-class and non-college educated men overwhelmingly tilting toward the former president. However, analysts pointed out that Trumps brand of conservative Christian and economic populism also had a role to play.

SIGNALS

Latinos are more concerned about economy than Democrats realized

Sources: The Spectator, El Mundo

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Democrats had hoped that Trumps frequent attacks on migrants would help sway Latinos against Republicans. But the surge in the Latino GOP vote indicates that established immigrant populations see economic downsides to having newer immigrant workers come in and compete for jobs, UK-based magazine The Spectator noted. This concern, and the broader sense that the US economy is not working for the working class, meant that even when presented with s Trump campaign message that took direct aim at Latino communities  a Trump rally guest called Puerto Rico garbage, a remark the campaign distanced itself from  Hispanic voters downplayed the issue and remained firm in their support of the Republican [candidate] and his promise of lower prices, El Mundo wrote.

Strategists debate the role of machismo among Latino men

Sources: The New Republic, Miami Herald

Trump saw his greatest gains among Latinos as a whole in men, a reflection of the gender divide that largely defined the election. The right-wing podcasters and social media figures Trump courted have big influences on Latino men, a Democratic strategist told The New Republic, feeding the perception of Trump as a powerful man, physically and economically, aligned with the culture of machismo, or masculine pride, that runs through many Latino communities. It may not be so simple, one Republican strategist told The Miami Herald: The gender divide among Latinos is more a story of education and, to a degree, social class, he said. Latino women are much more likely to have a college degree than men, he said, adding that If you go to college, youre much more likely to be a Democrat, and if you dont, youre more likely to be a Republican.

Many in Latino communities hold conservative, Christian values

Sources: NBC News, CBS News, National Catholic Reporter

For months, religious leaders had noted that Evangelical Latinos were more involved than ever in this election, NBC News reported, with the Trump campaign making direct appeals to Christian Evangelicals with hardline views on abortion and other social issues. Speaking to CBS News, some US Latino voters who had opted for Trump pointed out that they came from very conservative families, and that key Democratic campaign messages like access to abortion and safeguarding LGBTQ rights go against their values. Trumps supporters further emphasized these divisions by Latino-specific Christian symbolism and messaging into the campaign by celebrating the Virgin of Guadeloupe, a symbol of the Mexican diaspora, on social media, for example.
Minutes before Lauren Boebert took the stage Tuesday night at her election watch party in her new residence of Windsor, Colorado to celebrate her equally new-to-her Colorado congressional seat, a blond child in a God, guns and Trump t-shirt removed his red Make America Great Again hat and asked those assembled to do the same as he led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Boebert, 37, then addressed the sea of MAGA cap and cowboy hat-clad supporters in the same grain-bin themed venue on old Colorado farmland where she celebrated her June win over fellow Republicans in the CD4 primary. The sitting CD3 Congresswoman had announced plans late last year to abandon her re-election in that district  where shed lived since a teenager, married and raised her four boys  and move across the state to the more heavily-red CD4.

The decision followed her near loss two years earlier in CD3 to Democrat Adam Frisch, an Aspen businessman and former Independent who seemed primed to give her a run for her money again  literally  as his fundraising and campaigning continued barreling forward robustly for a 2024 rematch.

Lauren Boebert celebrates in Windsor, CO (Sheila Flynn / The Independent)

Despite facing local competitors who gleefully pointed to her carpetbagging, along with a growing list of personal dramas and unfavorable headlines, Boebert won the Republican nomination in June. Shed been the easy favorite in the heavily agricultural and conservative eastern Colorado district  which hasnt elected a Democrat since 2008.

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Boebert leaned into those values Tuesday as she spoke to gathered supporters in the Grainhouse Windsor, where earlier crowd pleasers included a man dressed as Uncle Sam and a woman proudly parading around in a dress fashioned from black garbage bags  a nod, presumably, to recent headlines about Biden comments.

There are some amazing, godly patriots here who care about our country, said Boebert, wearing a red MAGA hat, blue pants suit and sparkling cream stilettos. Its because of you and your life that our children have a chance at living in this great experiment called America  your ballot that you returned was not just a piece of paper, it was a battle cry for American values.

She continued: God said that he wants us to go forward, and thats exactly what we have done together: We have locked arms and gone forward into the fight, taking on every enemy who is against everything that we love.

Celebrating at the Boebert party (Sheila Flynn / The Independent)

Supporters, some sitting at reserved tables with centerpieces featuring Colorado and American flags, along with elephants to represent the Republican Party, dined on a buffet that included nachos and chicken. Eager fans could purchase Boebert Standing for Freedom hats, shirts and stickers, and Trump/Vance swag was on sale, too.

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One woman in the restroom pointed to the careful selection of toilet paper rolls named Right Choice.

Boebert railed against four years worth of crap policy and called attention to her favorite sticking points, reminding voters of the 13 service members that died on [Bidens] watch  for which she heckled him during the 2022 State of the Union  and gloating about how shed taken on Nancy Pelosi.

A staunch, long-time and vocal Trump stalwart, Boebert told the crowd: President Trump has said for years that they are after him. Theyre after you, and with a bullet to his head, he proves that hes just in the way  and so tonight is the night that we show him that we are standing by him to fight.

A Donald Trump cut out at the Boebert watch party (Sheila Flynn / The Independent)

After Boebert left the stage, the crowd continued watching Fox News presidential election results on a huge screen behind the bar  an unusual hipster setup fashioned from an old piece of farm equipment  and cheering wildly each time a state was called for Trump.

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Just after 8pm, when Trump was boasting 205 electoral votes to Harris 117, the assembled began chanting USA.

Around an hour later, Boebert returned to the stage to claim victory  inviting up her mother and three of her sons, one holding her grandchild. The babys father, Tyler, whose February arrest catapulted the Boebert family into the headlines yet again, did not join them.

The swamp, they thought I would fail  but you all welcomed me to Windsor, Colorado, Boebert said to cheers  adding that, rather than failing, the victory marked an A-plus with extra credit with this GED right here.

Boebert invited her mother and three of her sons, one of them holding her baby grandchild, onto the stage as she claimed victory on Tuesday (Sheila Flynn/The Independent)

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Boebert thanked grassroots supporters, big-name Republican donors and her family, also making sure to point out and goad the news media while reiterating her own narrative.

This is about the policies that change our future, she said. This is how we stand for our farmers, for our ranchers. This is how we get a booming economy once again; this is how we stand up to the school board, this is how we stand up to the unions, the Department of Education at the federal level, which I hope President Trump does away with ... this is how we regain the American dream, that fundamental principle thattkeeps us all going, working harder and harder each and every day.

My Democrat opponent just called and conceded and asked me to uphold our democracy, she said. And my response was: I promise you I will uphold Americas constitutional republic.
Fresno County election officials say operations at the countys voting centers ran smoothly Tuesday, though some polling places contacted law enforcement for undisclosed reasons.

Prior to Tuesdays election, officials took time to remind voters about Californias prohibition on electioneering and campaigning near voting centers and drop boxes.

That includes wearing clothing with the name, likeness or logo of any candidate or ballot measure.

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Those reminders continued on election day.

Its been a very busy day, said Fresno County Registrar of Voters James Kus.

Lines, sometimes hours-long, were reported at most of the countys 53 voting centers. Within those crowds, there were people who needed to be reminded of the rules, Kus said.

The vast majority have been very cooperative, Kus said.

Law enforcement was contacted a couple of times, Kus said, but he couldnt say what, if any actions were taken.

I cant comment beyond that, Kus said.

Police were dispatched to the voting center at the Hotel Piccadilly on Shaw Avenue around 5:30 p.m. for an incident of line cutting, but no arrests were made. Messages to the Fresno Police Department and Sheriffs Office about other possible incidents were not immediately returned.

The Clovis Police Department said it had not received any calls for service at any of its voting centers.
MSNBC anchor Lawrence ODonnell slammed voter apathy in solidly red and blue states resulting from the Electoral College, deriding the president-electing procedure as voter suppression.

In an analysis of vote shares in Pennsylvania counties by data whiz Steve Kornacki, ODonnell voiced his issues with a focus on a handful of swing states in a country of over 300 million.

I would like to issue an apology to all of those states we have not mentioned, ODonnell said. It is not our fault, it is the founding fathers. They decided on this thing called the Electoral College. Which interestingly, no other country in the world decided to copy.

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The Electoral College has a misfire rate of five out of the 59 presidential elections in American history, delivering the Oval Office to the popular vote loser twice this century. The system, which largely grants plurality winners in each state the bulk of its electors, keeps some voters home, ODonnell argued.

In effect on nights like this, you have a right to think that it feels like no one cares about your vote, the anchor said. If you are in California or if youre in New York, and when you think about how enormous a force that can be in voter suppression, there may be nothing quite like it.

ODonnell questioned the system which makes voting feel pointless for tens of millions.

There are seven million people in California who dont vote, they are registered, they dont vote today, he added, citing the tendency to stay home amongst voters whose voice wont move the needle.

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Trump lost the popular vote in 2016 and 2020, as results for 2024 are still trickling in, but if he were to win, a lack of motivation amongst non-swing-state voters would be a major factor.

Most of those, if they voted, would add millions to Kamala Harris. This Electoral College problem is one that bedevils us in the 21st Century as it never has before, ODonnell said.

In a recent interview with Salon, ODonnell spoke at length about the election  the results of which are still out of reach, as of late Monday night  and specifically called out how many journalists haven't landed on the right way to cover Trump.

"More than 90% of the news media was never around idiots like Trump," he said. "They didn't grow up in those kinds of streets, in those kinds of urban sectors where those guys are all over the place."
The exterior of a Planned Parenthood Reproductive Health Services Center on May 28, 2019 in St Louis (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images).

Missouris Planned Parenthood clinics filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to strike down the states current abortion restrictions, less than 24 hours after an amendment enshrining reproductive rights in the constitution was approved by voters.

The news was announced Wednesday afternoon by coalition members of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the organization behind Amendment 3.

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Leaders with both Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers said if the court grants their injunction, they plan to start providing abortions the day the amendment goes into effect on Dec. 5 at the health centers in Columbia, the Central West End in St. Louis and the Midtown neighborhood of Kansas City.

A series of targeted regulation of abortion providers laws enacted by the legislature, including a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between the initial appointment and a surgical abortion and mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions were parts of a web of impenetrable, onerous, and medically unnecessary restrictions targeted at abortion providers, that limited access for Missourians for years prior to the states abortion ban, the lawsuit reads.

The restrictions were challenging today do not actually help patients. They hurt them, Richard Muniz, interim President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, said during a press conference Wednesday. The ripple effects of these overreaching policies can be felt throughout the state. Missouri continues to have high STI rates and poor pregnancy outcomes, and providers do not want to train or practice in Missouri, creating even further scarcity and gaps in coverage for thousands of women and pregnant people throughout Missouri.

The constitutional amendment, which won with 51.7% of the nearly 3 million votes cast Tuesday, goes into effect in 30 days and prohibits the legislature from regulating abortion prior to the point of fetal viability  generally seen as the point at which a fetus can likely survive outside the womb without extraordinary measures.

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But both proponents of and those opposed to Amendment 3 have warned that abortion access would not be immediate, as a bevy of challenges to current law must first make their way through the courts.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Jackson County, challenges a number of current state laws, including the states current abortion ban, a trigger law enacted in June 2022 that only allows abortions exceptions in cases of medical emergencies.

Among the TRAP laws targeted by the new lawsuit include:

Requirements that abortion clinics be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.

A 72-hour waiting period between a patients initial visit with a doctor and their abortion procedure.

Mandates that abortion clinics be located within 30 miles of a hospital where they have admitting privileges.

The required submission of all tissue removed during an abortion be submitted to a pathologist.

Rules requiring abortion providers report all abortions and abortion complications to the state.

Requirements that the same physician who initially sees a patient must also be the physician who performs the abortion procedure.

Current law requiring only physicians can perform abortions, excluding physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses.

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The lawsuit also addresses access to medication abortion, asking that a judge lift the current restrictions that would make it difficult to prescribe, including a telemedicine ban that requires the physician who prescribes the medication to also be in the room when the patient takes the first dose of the medication.

It also seeks to end criminal penalties for abortion providers, who currently face loss of their license and up to 15 years in prison if they perform an abortion that doesnt fall under the current exception for medical emergencies.

The lawsuit does not challenge Missouris current law requiring parental or guardian consent for minors seeking abortions. Muniz did not specifically say whether this will be challenged in the future, but rather noted this is only the first lawsuit.

Court challenges can take months, if not years. In Ohio, where citizens voted to protect abortion rights one year ago, a county judge just struck down that states heartbeat law.

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Freda Levenson, legal director for the ACLU of Ohio, said while the payoff is worthwhile, the road can be long to reach widespread access.

They shouldnt engage in magical thinking or fiction that these restrictions will fall away on their own, she advised Missourians who voted in support of Amendment 3. This is going to take hard work.

Tori Schafer, director of policy and campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri, said while she hopes the legislature will respect the will of the people, those who supported Amendment 3 stand ready to hold them accountable.

Missouri lawmakers including state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley have said they intend to give Missourians the opportunity to vote on abortion again.

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When asked in September what GOP lawmakers might do if Amendment 3 passed, Coleman pointed to a 2018 citizen-led amendment that would have required legislative districts be drawn to ensure partisan fairness. This amendment, known as Clean Missouri, was repealed two years later through a legislature-proposed amendment.

On Wednesday morning, Mary Catherine Martin, an attorney with the Thomas More Society who previously argued against the amendment before the Missouri Supreme Court, promised to defend Missouri against Amendment 3.

Theyre not going to stand back and give up, Levenson said. Theyll fight around the edges to keep any restrictions in that they can.

Former President Donald Trumps victory means Missouri abortion-rights organizations may have more than just state anti-abortion forces working against them. It could soon also be the federal government.

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One example is federal enforcement of the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that bans mailing obscene material, including for the use of abortion.

Hawley, who was re-elected to a second term on Tuesday, was among a number of senators who signed a letter in 2023 asking the U.S. Attorney General to enforce the Comstock Act and make illegal the mailing of abortion medication, which has increasingly become popular and accessible across the United States over the last two years.

We are being thoughtful about what a change in the federal administration could mean, said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. I think more than anything, it will be the time for Missourians and individuals in other states who may have crossed political lines to hold accountable national leaders who have said they think this should be an issue decided by the states.

Kellie Copeland, executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio, which led that states successful abortion-rights ballot measure last year, noted that it also takes time to rebuild health care infrastructure that had been limited or eliminated with abortion restrictions.

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While abortion wasnt outlawed in Missouri until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion two years ago, Missourians have long lacked access to the procedure as TRAP laws whittled away at abortion clinics abilities to stay open.

For clinics near the Kansas and Illinois borders, providers began sending Missourians across state lines where laws were less restrictive.

A decade ago, more than 5,000 abortions were performed in Missouri, according to the health department. By 2020, that number dropped to 167 as a result of the TRAP laws.

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Between June 24, 2022 and July 31, 2024, 74 abortions were performed in Missouri under the states emergency exemption, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Despite facing additional hurdles to care, including the time and financial costs of travel, time off work and childcare, many Missourians have continued accessing abortion in the post-Roe era.

In 2023 alone, approximately 2,860 Missourians traveled to Kansas last year for abortions, and 8,710 traveled to Illinois, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group that closely tracks abortion data.

Abortion access in Missouri will likely have ripple effects across the Midwest and south, opening up another access point for those in states with bans like Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

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Copeland said Missouris first step toward legal action is nothing short of momentous.

That the Missouri team did it this year of all years in this political climate is astounding, she said. It shows what an incredible campaign they waged, but also how deeply people feel about abortion access and reproductive freedom regardless of the party they identify with.

This story will be updated.

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By Florence Loeve, Amy-Jo Crowley and Mathieu Rosemain

PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) - Worldline has appointed banking advisers to sell its Mobility and e-Transactional Services (MTS) business, five people familiar with the matter said, as the company looks to rebuild investor confidence with its shares near record lows.

The plan to offload MTS, known internally as "project Manhattan", was discussed during a summer board meeting and is now being pursued despite Worldline in September replacing its CEO and issuing its third profit warning within a year, two of the people said.

Worldline's management is working with Rothschild & Co on the sale of MTS, the first and third sources told Reuters.

The Paris-based company is expected to proceed with an auction of MTS as soon as this year, but the process is in the early stages and a sale is not guaranteed, said the people, speaking on condition of anonymity while discussing confidential information.

It was not immediately clear how much MTS could fetch.

Spokespeople for Worldline and Rothschild declined to comment.

Worldline's Mobility division provides digital payment services for public and private transportation including ticketing, tolling, and fare management. It contributed 48.2 million euros ($51.65 million) to the group's adjusted core profit in 2023, about 5.3% of Worldline's total profit, according to its results.

Separating MTS from Worldline should be relatively simple as it has a different set of customers and has been operating more or less on a standalone basis, two of the sources said.

Interim CEO Marc-Henri Desportes said last week during an earnings call that the group was launching a "portfolio optimisation process".

"This process is already underway, even if it's too early to name the assets here, and it will be essential for our transformation in 2025," he said.

Citi analysts said this week that Desportes had reiterated during a recent roadshow that he wanted to prune underperforming businesses that account for less than 10% of Worldline's revenues.

Worldline shares have tanked 92% from a high in July 2021 when investor enthusiasm for payments companies peaked, after repeated cuts to its financial targets. The company has been looking at cost-cutting measures including laying off 8% of its workforce and asset sales.

Activist investor Bluebell urged Worldline's board to sell MTS last year, calling it a "non-core unit".

Worldline turned to advisers at Morgan Stanley and Rothschild early this year in a bid to fend off a hostile takeover.
Today, we brace ourselves for what is to come when President-elect Donald Trump and anti-D.C. members of Congress take office. We will not mince words: a second Trump Administration and an anti-D.C. Congress are a grave threat to our rights and self-governance in the District. Trump and his allies have threatened to take over D.C. by calling in the National Guard or even by repealing our right to Home Rule. We will now be on the defensive, protecting the basic rights and freedoms that are rightfully ours.

The looming threats are real, but so is our power and resilience. At the ACLU, we are once again prepared to use all the lessons we learned during the first Trump Administration and all the tools we have at our disposal. We will continue ensuring that our nation lives up to the promise of the Constitution.

The rights and freedoms of D.C. residents were on the ballot in this historic election. Without D.C. Statehood, the federal government has legal authority over D.C. laws and our budget. This means that every states election results can directly impact our lives as District residents. Year after year, we have faced the prospect of federal lawmakers, never elected by D.C. residents, banning abortion in D.C., dictating how we spend our tax dollars, stopping us from addressing public safety, and so much more.

This election also crystallized the fact that we must fortify and accelerate our fight for D.C. Statehood so that D.C. can be part of a national firewall for freedom. We must continue protecting our current, if limited, self-governance by defending Home Rule. We must also advance D.C. Statehood to correct the historical wrong that has denied D.C. residents, the majority of whom are Black and brown, the right to govern ourselves and to have a say in the direction our country takes.

Making D.C. Statehood a reality, and defending our self-governance, requires each one of us to talk with our pro-democracy friends, families and allies around the country about why D.C. Statehood and Home Rule matter  and what everyone can do to help.

Together, we can meet this moment. We can defend our values. We can assert our power. And we can build a more just and free D.C.
Democratic State Rep. Heather Bauer defended her seat against former Rep. Kirkman Finlay, a Republican by 1,155 votes, quadrupling the number she over took him by in 2022, according to the South Carolina elections website.

Bauer beat Finlay with what many said was a relentless door-knocking effort. Just as she did when she was elected in 2022, when she spoke to voters about primarily one issue; abortion. Bauer defeated the incumbent Finlay then by 235 votes, a win not many saw coming.

This time around, she continued those efforts, but voters in her district cited liking her for her stance on education and involvement in community politics. Bauer received 53.11% to Finlays 46.81%, according to the SC elections website.

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Bauer and Finlay ran a heated campaign, with numerous attack ads about each other stances on key issues like abortion, immigration and their voting records.

Voters in the District 75 race told The State they liked Bauer because she was sincere and hard working, mentioning her stance on abortion and her values on education. Finlay backers said he was dependable and reliable, had strong pro-business values and was smart with money.

Bauer declared victory at her watch party around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, with about 80% of precincts reported.

Finlays campaign released a statement from him Wednesday morning.

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Congratulations to Rep. Bauer. The voters in our district have spoken, and their voices are clear. Politics today is often marked by division, but I hope we can all come together with the goal of making Columbia a better place to live, work and raise a family. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me, it read.

Bauer thanked her supporters, friends, volunteers and family in her speech. She said she loves the work she has done in the State House, and has stood for women and girls.

We have a lot of work to do, she said. I never thought Id be where I am. Tonight were going to celebrate and then tomorrow well get back to work. My final sentiment is, I think we said tonight, Kirkman Finlay, no means no. No.

At the end of her victory speech to supporters and friends, she said tomorrow well get back to knocking doors maybe.

South Carolina district 75 representative Heather Bauer speaks to supporters and claims victory in her reelection bid in Columbia, South Carolina on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

House District 69

Republican Rep. Chris Wooten is headed back to the State House after he defeated Libertarian Allen Broadus, 81% to 18% with 100 percent of the precincts in the Lexington County district reporting.

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Wooten has served in the House since 2018.

House District 76

Incumbent Democratic Rep. Leon Howard won his seat again in House District 76 against Workers Party candidate Gary Votour, who recieved about 8% of the vote.

Howard has been in the House since 1995.

House District 79

Democrat Hamilton Grant beat Republican nominee Rebecca Madsen, 75% to 24% in House District 79.

Grant will succeed former Democratic Rep. Ivory Thigpen, who lost his bid for state Senate District 22 in the primary runoff to Overture Walker.

House District 89

Republican state Rep. Micah Caskey will be returning to the State House after he won the race by nearly 20 percentage points against Democratic nominee Wayne Borders. District 89 includes parts of Lexington County.

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Caskey took 60% of votes and Borders had about 40% with all of the precincts counted.

Caskey, an attorney, has been serving in the state house since 2016.

House District 93

Democrat Jerry Govan beat Republican Krista Hassell and Workers Party candidate Harold Geddings with 51% of the vote to Hassells 46%.

The district includes parts of Orangeburg and Calhoun county.

The District 93 seat was formerly held by state Rep. Russell Ott, who was leading his bid for state Senate District 26 late Tuesday night.
Spanish authorities on Tuesday said 89 people are missing in the eastern Valencia region following the devastating flash floods that killed more than 200 people last week.

It is the first official figure of the missing to be released by authorities, after reports in Spanish media based on emergency calls suggested the toll could reach up to 2,500 people.

One week following the historic inundations, large parts of the region remain cut off and devastated despite clean-up efforts kicking into high gear.

The official death toll from the floods was slightly revised downwards on Tuesday, from 217 to 215, with the vast majority killed in the Valencia region.

Two women embrace in an area affected by the heavy floods in Benetusser. More than 200 people were killed in Tuesday's storms and floods in Spain's southern and eastern regions, most of them in the Valencia region. Alejandro Martinez Velez/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed 40 people around the eastern city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley on Wednesday, according to the country's health ministry, and at dusk more strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs.

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have exchanged fire for over a year in parallel with the Gaza war but fighting has escalated since late September, with Israeli troops intensifying bombing of Lebanon's south and east and making ground incursions into border villages.

Israeli strikes on Baalbek and the Bekaa Valley killed 40 people and wounded 53, the health ministry said. The Israeli military did not comment.

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Israel has repeatedly battered strongholds of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut.

The Israeli military ordered residents in the southern suburbs to evacuate several locations on Wednesday. Two waves of bombing followed, one late Wednesday and another early Thursday.

Lebanon's Al Jadeed TV reported there were at least four strikes on Thursday. There was no immediate report of casualties or details on what was hit.

Hezbollah secretary general Naim Qassem on Wednesday said he did not believe that political action would bring an end to hostilities.

He said there could be a road to indirect negotiations if Israel stopped its attacks.

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"When the enemy decides to stop the aggression, there is a path for negotiations that we have clearly defined - indirect negotiations through the Lebanese state and speaker (of parliament Nabih) Berri," Qassem said.

U.S. diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which included a 60-day ceasefire proposal, faltered last week ahead of the U.S. election on Tuesday in which former President Donald Trump recaptured the White House.

RESCUERS DIG FOR SURVIVORS

More than 3,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon over the last year, the vast majority in the past six weeks.

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Lebanese rescuers scoured a destroyed apartment building in the town of Barja, south of Beirut, for bodies or survivors after an Israeli strike on Tuesday evening killed 20 people there, Lebanon's health ministry said.

Moussa Zahran, who lived on one of the upper floors of the building, returned to sift through the ruins of his home. His burned feet were wrapped in gauze and his son and wife were in hospital after being wounded in the strike.

"These rocks that you see here weigh 100 kilos; they fell on a 13-kilo kid," he said, referring to his son and the apartment wall that collapsed on him during the strike.

It was not clear whether the strike targeted a member of Hezbollah. There was no evacuation warning ahead of the air raid.

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Hezbollah said on Wednesday it had fired missiles at an Israeli military base near Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli media reported a rocket had landed near the airport.

Later, the Israeli military said dozens of projectiles had crossed into Israel from Lebanon, some of which were intercepted.

Efforts to bring a diplomatic end to the conflict have stalled. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday appointed Israel Katz as defence minister, who vowed to defeat Hezbollah so people displaced from northern Israel could return home.

Berri - a Hezbollah ally and diplomatic interlocutor - met the U.S. and Saudi ambassadors to Lebanon on Wednesday to discuss political developments, his office said, without providing further details.

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Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, meanwhile, congratulated the U.S. president-elect.

Netanyahu hailed Trump's election, while senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Trump would be tested on his statements that he can stop the Gaza war in hours as president.

(Reporting by Aziz Taher and Hassan Hankir in Barja; Additional reporting by Maya Gebeily, Clauda Tanios, Jaidaa Taha and Enas Alashray; Writing by Maya Gebeily and Rod Nickel; Editing by William Maclean, Ros Russell, Daniel Wallis and Cynthia Osterman)
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL)  A Phenix City man is recovering in stable condition after being shot by a Lee County deputy on Monday night in an incident where deputies say they mistook a pellet gun for a real gun.

The Lee County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call around 9:10 PM on November 4 from a man in the 100 block of Lee Rd. 482, who allegedly said he intended to take his own life. The caller hung up without providing additional information, prompting deputies to respond to the scene to ensure his safety.

Upon arrival, deputies met a concerned neighbor who reported a man named Wesley had been seen walking around his home with a handgun. A short time later, deputies observed the individual outside, holding a gun to his head and threatening to end his life. In response, Lee Countys trained crisis negotiators were called to the scene.

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For more than 90 minutes, deputies and negotiators attempted to calm the situation and persuade the man to surrender. However, the standoff escalated when deputies said he aimed a gun at law enforcement officers. Deputies, fearing for their safety, fired on the individual, hitting him once in the shoulder.

The man was identified as 52-year-old Wesley Floyd Poole of Phenix City. He received immediate on-site medical assistance before being transported to Piedmont Hospital in Columbus, Georgia, for further treatment. He is currently listed in stable condition.

After the incident, investigators found the gun Poole had pointed at deputies was a CO2-powered pellet pistol closely resembling a real firearm.

As part of the Lee County Sheriffs Offices standard protocol, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was called in to investigate the shooting, ensuring an independent assessment of the incident.

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No deputies were injured in the encounter. As new information becomes available, we will provide more updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
A lot of Lefties are learning today that its messy to cry through a nose ring. Me, Im quids in. A Trump victory is a goldmine for writers who arent heartbroken: one producer told me they were struggling to find a pundit who didnt sound depressed.

Ian Dunt, a former host of the Remainiacs podcast, called it Americas darkest dawn; Paul Mason, a fascist process.

My favourite was Sadiq Khan, not a pundit but then not really a mayor either, who tweeted: An important reminder for Londoners: our city is  and always will be  for everyone. Thats the style: portentous and self-involving, as if the election of a president thousands of miles away has any effect on Barnes Pond. But the commentator I most enjoyed this election was Rory Stewart, a podcaster who once ran a province in Iraq (the fact that he shares his podcast with the man who helped destroy Iraq, Alastair Campbell, never fails to amaze me).

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Twas a masterclass. The bad prediction: Harris will win comfortably. The jargon: Ignore polls  theyre herding. The snub to lesser mortals: Journalists would like the US election to seem as close as possible  it suits their appetite for suspense. Then, on the night, the scholarly U-turn (its completely fascinating) dipped in unreality (she barely put a foot wrong). Finally, this gem at nine in the morning: For the record  I was completely wrong about Kamala Harris. It is heartbreaking that Trump is now the president.

Such a relief that he put that on the record. The only other way for us to find out would be to check the record.

Centrist-dad pundits are at their worst in American elections, tweeting as if they were a diplomat and going granular in a manner that emphasises their distance from events (the county to watch, Emily, is Miami-Dade). Of course, I see myself in this. Ive backed my fair share of lame duck candidates, from Mitt Romney to Liz Truss to the X Factors Olly Murs. But the difference with the pun-dads is they think their cause is so obviously moral that they see their victory as inevitable, whatever the data says.

They tend to start with Trump is evil; analysis flows from an assumption that good people must agree. The tone is super-serious, which is why The Donald particularly upsets them. Absurdity punctures grandeur. When Trump said theyre eating the cats, theyre eating the dogs, a New York Times columnist wrote that he had crossed a truly unacceptable line; the voters set it to hip-hop beats with animated pets.

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Theyll never write songs about Kamala. Witnessing her nomination in August, Campbell  who informed readers that conferences are called conventions in America, so deep is his local knowledge  described Trump as floundering and Harris as being, he hoped, unstoppable. Some journalists pretended she was gutsy, funny, ordinary and amazing  till the results came in and CNN reported she hadnt outperformed Biden in a single state (Holy smokes! said the stations Washington anchor, Jake Tapper).

Kamala declined to address her own supporters. I wondered, looking at the empty stage, if she had really existed at all. Our only proof is the columns that were written calling her historic.

The problem with such punditry is that it creates a wall of misunderstanding between Britain and America. Comedians, ex-MPs and former Countdown presenters are often peoples first take on whats happening Stateside, so their subjective interpretation is received as truth: big, bad, orange man wants to enslave women. How could he win?!

The reality, from day one, was that food prices had spiked, Americans were worried about the economy, and a slim majority thought Trump was best placed to fix it  a decision that was rational, almost banal. It takes a whopping pair of blinkers to miss it.

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But be of good cheer, my fellow pundits: Brexit proved that in this game we can always fail upwards. Anger at the EU referendum revived Campbells career, made James OBrien a household name and birthed a magazine, The New European. Lost causes generate fresh markets.

I think I was wrong because Im an optimist, explained Rory, and Im positive his career wont suffer. He remains the most eloquently, intelligently wrong man on the planet  and I can never get enough.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
(Bloomberg) -- Florida voters rejected a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana, dealing a blow to the cannabis industry and a giving a big win to the leading opponents: Governor Ron DeSantis and the billionaire financier of his anti-weed campaign, Ken Griffin.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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The measure, known as Amendment 3, got 55.9% support  or almost 6 million votes  with 44.1% opposed with 99% of the vote counted, according the Associated Press. But that failed to clear the 60% threshold for approval required by Florida law.

Legalizing recreational marijuana for Floridas 23 million residents  plus millions of tourists annually  would have been a huge win for the cannabis industry, especially Trulieve Cannabis Corp. The Quincy, Florida-based company contributed about $145 million to the campaign and forecast that as many as 2.7 million people would have moved into the legal weed market.

With Florida on board, about 60% of the US population would have had access to recreational weed, which advocates said would have made national legalization more likely. The cannabis industry invested hundreds of millions of dollars on expanding weed farms, processing plants and dispensary networks in Florida ahead of the vote, betting on soaring demand and profit from legalization.

The massive influx of cash wasnt enough to offset efforts by DeSantis to defeat the measure. The Republican governor went on a crusade against it, diverting millions in state funds to the effort. He and his wife, Casey, held news conferences with law enforcement officials where they decried the smell of marijuana and what they said was the drugs potential to increase crime.

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The governors campaign went beyond weed, said Nick Iarossi, a Tallahassee lobbyist and longtime DeSantis fundraiser and supporter. Fighting legal weed was the centerpiece of DeSantis push to bolster his political mandate in Florida after Donald Trump crushed his run for president early this year.

A lot of people were saying he was in the sunset of his career, but this shows thats not the case, Iarossi said in an interview.

The governor found an ally in Griffin, the finance titan and transplant from Chicago. Griffin donated $12 million to the anti-pot cause and was the only large individual donor. All told, DeSantis and anti-weed advocates drummed up $26 million to fight the measure.

The fight over recreational marijuana created some odd bedfellows. Donald Trump, a Florida resident, said he would be voting yes and his ally Roger Stone advocated for the measure. John Morgan, a celebrity personal injury lawyer and longtime Democratic donor, created an alter-ego to promote marijuana in Florida, branding himself as Pot Daddy.

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(Updates with latest tally, investments by weed industry, details of governors campaign starting in second paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Fewer health care workers are getting the most recent COVID-19 booster.

Findings from a new survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show 15.3 percent of the roughly 8 million health care workers in hospitals have gotten the most recent COVID-19 booster for the 2023-24 respiratory virus season.

Coverage was lowest  at 12.7 percent  among licensed independent practitioners.

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Vaccination coverage was even lower among nursing home health workers. The survey found that just 10.5 percent of the countrys 1.8 million nursing home personnel received the most recent COVID-19 booster during the 2023-24 respiratory illness season.

Health care workers in both spaces had higher vaccination coverage during last years respiratory virus season, according to the CDC.

During the 2022-23 respiratory virus season, 17.8 percent and 22.8 percent of health care workers in hospitals and nursing homes had received a COVID-19 booster, respectively.

The decline in vaccination rates comes after the Biden administration ended its mandated COVID-19 vaccination requirement in May 2023.

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On top of this, COVID-19 vaccines were also commercialized in the fall of that year, potentially increasing costs for facilities and health care personnel, according to the agency.

These two events might have affected vaccination campaigns and on-site access to COVID-19 vaccines in nursing homes, the CDC wrote in an analysis of the survey data.

But a recent survey of health care workers found that while many personnel believe that COVID-19 is a serious health threat, few health care workers have confidence in the effectiveness, safety, and benefit of the COVID-19 vaccination.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older should get the COVID-19 vaccine, which protects children and adults from severe disease, hospitalization and death.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Categories Description Fees Check to Select

Best Use of TV Fintech Services Campaign This award honors innovative television advertising campaigns by fintech companies that effectively communicate their value propositions and engage target audiences. Successful campaigns should demonstrate creativity, clarity, and measurable impact on brand recognition and customer acquisition.  12000 

Best Use of TV for Product Launch in Fintech This category recognizes standout television campaigns that successfully introduce new fintech products to the market. Winning entries should demonstrate effective messaging, audience engagement, and measurable results in product adoption.  12000 

Best Use of TV Campaign for Fintech Literacy This award recognizes television campaigns aimed at educating audiences about fintech concepts and services. Successful entries should combine engaging storytelling with educational content to enhance financial literacy.  12000 

Best Use of Print Ad in Fintech This category honors creative and impactful print advertisements that enhance brand visibility for fintech services. Winning entries should demonstrate effective design, messaging, and audience engagement.  12000 

Best Use of OOH/DOOH in Fintech Campaign This award recognizes outstanding out-of-home (OOH) and digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising campaigns by fintech companies. Successful entries should demonstrate creative execution and effectiveness in reaching and engaging target audiences.  12000 

Best Use of Radio Commercial in Fintech This category honors radio advertisements that creatively communicate fintech messages and engage listeners. Successful entries should demonstrate effective storytelling and clarity in conveying service benefits.  12000 

Best Use of Jingle in Fintech This award recognizes memorable jingles that enhance brand recognition and resonate with consumers in the fintech industry. Successful entries should demonstrate creativity and effective integration with the brand message.  12000 

Best Use of AI/ML in Fintech This category recognizes innovative applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) that enhance fintech services and customer experiences. Successful entries should demonstrate measurable improvements in efficiency and user satisfaction.  12000 

Best Use of Customer Loyalty Program in Fintech This award honors effective customer loyalty programs that enhance retention and engagement within the fintech sector. Successful entries should demonstrate clear benefits for users and measurable improvements in loyalty metrics.  12000 

Best Use of Social Impact Initiative in Fintech This category recognizes fintech initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and positive community impact. Successful entries should illustrate how the initiative fosters financial inclusion and supports underserved populations.  12000 

Best Use of Data Analytics Initiative in Fintech This award recognizes effective use of data analytics to drive decision-making and improve business outcomes in fintech. Successful entries should demonstrate measurable improvements in efficiency, customer insights, and service delivery.  12000 

Best Use of Cybersecurity Measures in Fintech This category honors exemplary cybersecurity strategies that protect consumer data and enhance trust in fintech services. Successful entries should demonstrate effective measures and their impact on user security.  12000 

Best Use of Performance Marketing Campaign in Fintech This award recognizes campaigns that effectively drive measurable results through targeted performance marketing strategies in the fintech space. Successful entries should demonstrate clear objectives, strategies, and outcomes.  12000 

Best Use of Analytics, AI and Big Data in Fintech This category recognizes the integration of analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data to enhance operational efficiency and customer insights in fintech. Successful entries should demonstrate measurable improvements in service delivery and decision-making.  12000 

Best Use of Effective Experiential Marketing in Fintech This award recognizes innovative experiential marketing campaigns that create memorable interactions with customers in the fintech sector. Successful entries should demonstrate engagement strategies that effectively connect consumers with the brand.  12000 

Best Use of Native Advertising in Fintech This category honors seamless and contextually relevant native ads that enhance consumer engagement in the fintech space. Successful entries should demonstrate how native advertising can effectively communicate brand messages while providing value to the audience.  12000 

Best Use of Influencer Marketing in Fintech This award recognizes effective use of influencer marketing strategies that engage target audiences and enhance brand credibility in the fintech space. Successful entries should demonstrate how partnerships with influencers drive awareness and engagement.  12000 

Best Use of Mobile Marketing Campaign in Fintech This category honors mobile marketing campaigns that effectively engage users and drive conversions in the fintech industry. Successful entries should demonstrate innovative strategies and measurable results in mobile user engagement.  12000 

Best Use of Holiday, Seasonal & Festival Marketing in Fintech This award recognizes innovative marketing campaigns that capitalize on holidays, seasons, or festivals to engage consumers in the fintech sector. Successful entries should demonstrate creativity and measurable results in audience engagement.  12000 

Best Use of Customer Engagement in Fintech This category honors innovative strategies that enhance customer engagement and interaction with fintech services. Successful entries should demonstrate measurable improvements in customer satisfaction and loyalty.  12000 

Best Use of B2C Marketing Campaign in Fintech This award recognizes effective business-to-consumer (B2C) marketing campaigns that drive customer acquisition and engagement in the fintech sector. Successful entries should demonstrate clear objectives, strategies, and measurable outcomes.  12000 

Best Use of B2B Marketing Campaign in Fintech This category honors successful business-to-business (B2B) marketing campaigns that effectively engage and convert other businesses in the fintech industry. Winning entries should demonstrate clear objectives, strategies, and measurable results.  12000 

Best Use of SEO Campaign in Fintech This award recognizes effective search engine optimization (SEO) campaigns that enhance online visibility and drive organic traffic to fintech services. Successful entries should demonstrate clear strategies and measurable improvements in search rankings and traffic.  12000 

Best Use of PR Campaign for Fintech This award honors innovative public relations campaigns that effectively enhance a fintech brand's reputation and engage stakeholders. Successful entries should demonstrate effective media relations and compelling storytelling.  12000 

Best Use of Social Media in Fintech This award recognizes innovative social media campaigns that effectively engage audiences and promote fintech services. Successful entries should demonstrate how social media strategies drive brand awareness, customer interaction, and measurable results.  12000 

Best Use of Content Marketing for Fintech This category recognizes outstanding content marketing strategies that effectively educate and engage consumers in fintech Services. Successful campaigns should demonstrate how content drives customer interactions and supports business objectives.  12000 

Best Use of SEM Campaign in Fintech This category honors outstanding search engine marketing (SEM) campaigns that effectively drive targeted traffic and conversions for fintech services. Successful entries should demonstrate strategic keyword targeting, ad performance, and measurable results.  12000 

Best Use of Marketing Campaign - Online Trading Platform in Fintech This category honors innovative marketing campaigns specifically designed for online trading platforms in the fintech space. The focus is on strategies that effectively attract and engage traders, showcasing the platform's unique features and benefits. Campaigns should demonstrate creativity, measurable impact, and a deep understanding of the target audience.  12000 

Best Use of Integrated Payments / Mobile Wallets Solutions in Fintech This category recognizes outstanding implementations of integrated payments or mobile wallet solutions in the fintech sector. It focuses on innovations that enhance user experience, security, and convenience in financial transactions. Successful entries will highlight how these solutions address customer needs and drive business growth.  12000 

Best Use of Email Marketing in Fintech This award celebrates effective email marketing campaigns that successfully engage customers and drive conversions in fintech services. Successful initiatives should demonstrate strategic segmentation, personalization, and measurable outcomes.  12000 

Best Use of Video Marketing for Fintech This category recognizes innovative video marketing campaigns that effectively engage consumers in fintech. Successful initiatives should demonstrate creativity, storytelling, and measurable engagement outcomes.  12000 

Best Use of Customer Insights in Fintech This award honours organizations that effectively utilize customer insights to inform product development, marketing strategies, and customer experiences in financial serv. Successful initiatives should demonstrate a commitment to understanding customer needs and preferences.  12000 

Best Use of Experiential Marketing in Fintech This category recognizes outstanding experiential marketing campaigns that create memorable and impactful customer interactions. Successful initiatives should engage customers in unique experiences that reinforce brand connections.  12000 

Best Use of Integrated Payments / Mobile Wallets Solutions This award recognizes effective marketing initiatives that promote integrated payments or mobile wallet solutions within the financial services industry. Successful campaigns should demonstrate how these solutions enhance customer convenience, drive adoption, and improve overall user experience.  12000 

Best Use of Programmatic Advertising Campaign in Fintech This award recognizes innovative programmatic advertising strategies that effectively reach target audiences in the banking sector. It celebrates campaigns that leverage real-time data and automated technology to optimize ad placements, enhance customer engagement, and drive measurable results.  12000 

Best CRM Program in Fintech Honors innovative CRM initiatives in the fintech sector that enhance customer engagement and satisfaction. Nominees will be evaluated on their strategies, personalized experiences, data-driven insights, and impact on customer loyalty.  12000 

Investment Aggregator of the Year Honors a platform that excels in simplifying investment access, offering diverse options, financial planning tools, and real-time insights to empower informed financial decisions.  12000 

Mutual Funds Aggregator of the Year Honors a platform that excels in providing seamless access to a broad range of mutual funds, empowering investors with user-friendly tools and insights for informed investment choices.  12000 

Insurance Aggregator of the Year Awarded to the top platform simplifying insurance discovery and comparison, demonstrating innovation, growth, and exceptional customer focus.  12000 

Innovative Fintech Product of the Year Honors a pioneering fintech solution that transforms financial services through exceptional innovation, usability, and impact.  12000 

Best User Interface & Experience (UI / UX) Award in Fintech Honors platforms or applications that excel in design and user experience, offering intuitive navigation, visual appeal, and a seamless user journey that enhances engagement and satisfaction. (add this category and form in all the 4 category)  12000 

Best Financial Education Program in Fintech This recognizes initiatives that effectively equip customers with essential financial knowledge and skills, empowering them to make informed decisions and improve their financial well-being.  12000 

Best Integrated PR Campaign in Fintech This recognizes a cohesive and impactful public relations strategy that seamlessly combines multiple channelssuch as traditional media, digital platforms, influencer collaborations, and eventsto deliver a unified message, achieve measurable outcomes, and enhance brand reputation.  12000 
To the editor: Halloween brought news of a scary new alien invasion  the discovery of golden mussels in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, likely introduced in a ship's ballast water. That needn't have happened.

If the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had done its job as the Clean Water Act required and implemented effective regulations to control ballast water discharges, the mussel would never would have reached U.S. waters. In 2022, 34 members of Congress and 180 environmental, fishing and public health organizations and Native American tribes begged the EPA to establish effective ballast water rules, but the agency never responded.

Now, water supply systems and freshwater ecosystems throughout California  and potentially throughout much of North America  are at risk. This invasion was both predictable and predicted, and fully preventable.

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There will be further, potentially more harmful, invasions if EPA doesn't finally act as the Clean Water Act directed.

Andrew Cohen, Richmond, Calif.

The writer is director of the Center for Research on Aquatic Bioinvasions.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LOWVILLE, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 41-year-old Copenhagen man is facing charges stemming an Amish buggy crash that killed a teen in July on State Route 12 in Lowville.

New York State Police arrested Jared Spaulding on Aggravated DWI and Vehicular Manslaughter. The Lewis County Court issued a sealed indictment warrant subsequent to Grand Jury proceedings.

One person killed in car-Amish buggy crash in Lewis County

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After hitting the buggy, Spaulding continued driving and left the scene, according to the NYSP.

Here are the following charges that Spaulding is facing:

(3) counts of Aggravated DWI

(3) counts of Vehicular Manslaughter 1st degree (class C Felony)

(1) count of Vehicular Manslaughter 2nd degree (class D Felony)

(3) counts of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 1st degree (Class E Felony)

Operator Leave the Scene of Accident- Injury Resulting in Death (Class D Felony)

(2) counts of Assault 3rd degree (Class A Misdemeanor)

(4) counts of Reckless Endangerment 2nd degree (Class A Misdemeanor)

According to state police, the initial investigation alleged that a 2020 black Ford Escape was traveling north on State Route 12 in the town of Lowville when it struck the rear portion of an Amish buggy traveling in the same direction. Spaulding allegedly left the scene of the accident and continued north.

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As a result of the collision, all five occupants of the Amish buggy were ejected. A 17-year-old Amish male was found deceased at the scene.

A 21-year-old male, 20-year-old female, 18-year-old female, and 16-year-old male were also injured. Their names are being withheld pending notification of family.

Two of the male occupants were transported to Lewis County Hospital with serious non-life-threatening injuries. The two females sustained minor injuries. Spaulding was later located at his residence.

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Former President Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris to become the next U.S. president, NBC News projected, but he didnt do so with the help of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender voters.

LGBT voters shifted even more solidly into the Democratic camp this year, according to the NBC News Exit Poll. Harris led President-elect Trump 86% to 12% among LGBT voters, the poll found. Thats a 15-point change from 2020, when Trump won 27% of the LGBT vote against Biden.

Harris performance among LGBT voters was stronger than that of any Democratic candidate in the last five presidential elections.

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Although Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance predicted that he and Trump would win the normal gay guy vote, the GOP presidential ticket captured fewer than 1 in 5 LGBT male voters, though that figure could also include bisexual and transgender men. Trumps support among LGBT female voters was even more tepid, at 8%. White LGBT people went solidly for Harris over Trump by 82% to 16%, though Harris margin was even bigger among LGBT voters of color at 91% to 5%.

Most LGBT voters said theyd be either excited (39%) or optimistic (43%) if Harris were elected president. By contrast, 62% of LGBT respondents said theyd be scared if Trump won.

According to the exit poll, 8% of American voters identified as LGBT in 2024. Thats the highest share on record. The percentage of the electorate identifying as LGBT has doubled since Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, when it was 4%.

As in previous elections, LGBT voters stood out as one of the most left-leaning voter blocs in the electorate. Among LGBT voters, Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans, 56% to 5%, and liberals surpass conservatives, 61% to 5%. LGBT voters are staunchly pro-choice: 59% say abortion should be legal in all cases, a much higher level of support for abortion rights than among non-LGBTs, at 31%.

Related stories:

<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/donald-trump-jd-vance-transgender-2024-election-rcna178390">Trump and Vance make anti-transgender attacks central to their campaigns closing argument</a>

<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/transgender-voters-2024-election-kamala-harris-donald-trump-rcna177307">Trans voters share their concerns ahead of an election in which they've been a central talking point</a>

<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/gay-republicans-rally-for-trump-no-victims-no-rainbow-flags-rcna176940">No 'victim mentality' or rainbow flags: Gay Republicans rally for Trump</a>

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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This is a developing story.

While we wait for the final results of the Presidential election, there are still plenty of downballot victories to celebrate, including historic LGBTQ+ firsts. Especially considering that many impactful policy decisions are often made on the state and local levels, these wins arent just important to celebrate for the sake of representation alone  theyre important because they represent LGBTQ+ people who have the possibility to create real change with grassroots efforts.

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But in times like these, even just the symbolic value of an out LGBTQ+ elected official can make a difference, especially in red states. After all, if anti-LGBTQ+ legislation can and does affect peoples mental health even when its not passed, it also stands to reason that the very presence of LGBTQ+ lawmakers can serve as a possibility model and a source of hope for their constituents, and for people around the country.

Below, read on for some of the historic wins we know about so far.

Keturah Herron  first out LGBTQ+ person of color elected to Kentucky State Senate

After becoming the first out LGBTQ+ member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, Keturah Herron was just elected as the first out LGBTQ+ person of color elected to the Kentucky State Senate. According to the Victory Fund, theyre a former policy strategist for the ACLU of Kentucky, where they worked to help pass Breonnas Law, which banned no-knock warrants in Louisville, in a mere 17 days. The following year, she helped pass a statewide ban on no-knock warrants in the General Assembly, per her website. Herron also helped to pass legislation pertaining to school safety for children, expunging criminal records for non-violent offenders, and restoring voting rights.

In a statement via a press release by LPAC, a PAC focusing on LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary candidates, Herron said that she is very humbled to continue to work for all Kentuckians as I move to the senate.

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We know this work is very hard and we are at a pivotal time in our nation, she said. I will continue to speak the truths for our people, build coalitions, and find others to run for office as well. I will do it with courage, boldness, and confidence even when the days are dark."

Rashaun Kemp  first out gay Black man elected to Georgia State legislature

Rashaun Kemp is the first out gay Black man to be elected to the Georgia State Legislature. Per Victory Fund, hes currently the senior director at the National Charter Collaborative, which works to support charter schools led by people of color. He has a lengthy history in education, which includes being a high school teacher and principal, as well as leading a state education department. Hes also married to Ken Kemp, a middle school counselor, and the two are parents to a two-year-old and a 20-year-old.

Sarah McBride  first out trans member of the United States Congress

2024 Democratic National Convention TW Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Sarah McBride has been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, making her the first-ever out trans member of United States Congress.

The Delaware State Senator has been breaking glass ceilings the entirety of her political career, and even prior to that. She came out as a trans woman while student body president at American University, becoming the first out trans person to do so. In 2016, McBride became the first trans American to address a major party convention, when she made a speech at the Democratic National Convention. And in 2020, she was elected to the Delaware state senate, making her the highest-ranking trans elected official in the U.S. at the time.

Gabby Salinas  First out LGBTQ+ woman and first Latinx person elected to Tennessee state legislature

Gabby Salinas is the first out LGBTQ+ woman and the first Latinx person to be elected to the Tennessee state legislature, according to LPAC.

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Salinas won the Democratic primary for Tennessee House District 96 in August, according to Memphis daily newspaper The Commercial Appeal. Since no Republican or independent candidates qualified for the ballot, this meant that she clinched the victory back then, beating out four other primary opponents.

According to her campaign website, Salinas priority issues are expanding Medicaid, increasing public school funding, increasing the minimum wage, and firearm safety. Prior to entering politics, Salinas earned a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Kentucky, according to her Linkedin, and has been a researcher at St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital as well as at her alma mater. She is also a three-time cancer survivor, having been brought to Memphis from Bolivia as a child for treatment.

Molly Cook  First out LGBTQ+ member of the Texas senate

Molly Cook is the first out LGBTQ+ member of the Texas senate, according to the Victory Fund.

Cook, who is bisexual, won reelection to her position as the Senator for District 15, near Houston. She was initially elected in a special election in May, after former Senator John Whitmire resigned from his position to become the mayor of Houston in January. Cook was also the first person other than Whitmire to hold the seat since 1983, per the Texas Tribune. While the May election determined that Cook would serve the remainder of Whitmires term, her victory in the general election means that she is officially senator for the next four years.

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According to Cooks website, she was a community organizer and nurse prior to assuming office. Some of the key issues on her campaign website include LGBTQ+ rights, abortion rights, firearm safety, environmental justice, and many more.

When she won the May election, Cook said in a statement on X that she was joyfully indebted to everyone who brought home the win. We are not missing a beat or taking anything for granted, she said. I am grateful to live my life in service to the health & safety of my neighbors.

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At an election watch party at the video dance bar Splash Modesto, Trump and Harris supporters came together to see results come in.

Guests were treated to hamburgers and hot dogs as live election updates were projected on a large screen. Some attendees noted that Splash is one of the few bars in Modesto that leans nonconservative.

I love the fact that theres a mix of people here, said CalPride CEO John Aguirre.

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He said the turnout reflects the diversity within the local community, noting that members of the LGBTQ community hold a wide range of political views.

Aguirre said he feels anxious about the election results, especially for the transgender community, stressing the importance of healthcare and reproductive rights at stake this election.

LGBTQ community gathered at Splash Modesto for an election night watch party in Modesto, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

For Modesto resident Chad Hearon, it was his first time at the bar, and he attended with friends after casting his vote earlier that day.

I think its a good place for community, Hearon said.

He said his biggest concerns this election are immigration rights and human rights.

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Steven Cullen from the LGBTQ+ Collaborative said hes feeling optimistic about the election. He emphasized that election viewing parties like this are essential to encourage everyone to vote.

Ill just move to Austria if Donald Trump wins, Cullen said.

Steven Cullen watches election results as the LGBTQ community gathered at Splash Modesto for an election watch party in Modesto, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

He said whoever becomes president is a game changer for the world. Hes most concerned about healthcare and womens issues.

The event, hosted by CalPride Stanislaus, aimed to create an inclusive space for all attendees, regardless of political affiliation, to watch the election results and celebrate community.

California Pride, a prominent LGBTQ organization, serves communities across Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Mariposa and Amador counties. Through resources like CalPride Stanislaus, CalPride Sierras, and CalPride Valle Central, the organization provides a range of services, including peer support, health screenings, workforce development and advocacy.
Donald Trump has been re-elected President of the United States, winning a close race against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris with 277 electoral votes. The 2024 election was pivotal for many reasons, from reproductive rights and abortion access on the ballot to LGBTQ+ rights and climate change. According to Cosmopolitan's The Youth Vote survey, 23 percent of Gen Z voters care most about the economy while 10 percent list health care as a priority. Thirteen percent of surveyors care most about reproductive rights, with more than 19 percent of women listing it as their largest concern.



As nationwide election results continue to roll in, we're breaking down how LGBTQ+ rightsincluding trans rights and gender-affirming carefared in the 2024 election, and what those results means for the communities involved.

What do the 2024 election results mean for LGBTQ+ rights? What were the results where they were on the ballot?

Although the NBC News Exit Poll found that Harris led Trump 86 percent to 12 percent among LGBTQ+ voters, the election's overall outcome resulted in Trump's second term as president. How does that affect the community's already existing rights?

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Voters approved an amendment in New York's state constitution that will continue to protect transgender and abortion rights in the Equal Rights Amendment (aka Proposition 1). Per the new language added to the already-existing amendment, people cannot be denied civil rights because of their national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, or reproductive healthcare and autonomy. (Before the update, the constitution only forbade discrimination based on race, creed, or religion.)

Same-sex marriagewhich was legalized at the federal level in 2015was also on the ballot in some states during the 2024 election. Voters in California approved Proposition 3, which amends the state constitution to recognize a fundamental right to marry, regardless of sex or race. Similarly, voters in Colorado approved Amendment J, which removed language defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Anna Moneymaker - Getty Images

Does Trump's election mean Project 2025 will pass?

Even with these victories, queer folks remain heavily concerned their rights are at stake under the Trump Administration, especially given Project 2025. (While Trump has denied direct involvement with the $22 million effort and 900-page playbook, it was organized by the Heritage Foundationincluding six of Trump's former cabinet members, four people he nominated as ambassadors, and his first deputy chief of staff.) The transition document largely targets the LGBTQ+ community, which its organizers believe exists in opposition to the traditional American family and their Christian values.

Not only does Project 2025 prioritize families comprised of a married mother, father, and their children, but it would also remove federal policies that support equality and single parents (not just queer folks).

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Per GLAAD, Project 2025 aims to:

Eliminate LGBTQ+ rights;

Eradicate federal funding for DEI programs;

Purge the government of apolitical civil servants;

Eliminate the checks and balances built into three branches of government in favor of expanded control by the executive branch;

End reproductive freedom and replace the Department of Health and Human Services with the Department of Life;

Replace the Department of Homeland Security with a 100,000-worker-strong immigration department, the militarization of the border, and an end to refugee programs;

Fundamentally alter American diplomacy in favor of anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ agendas and abandoning international organizations and traditional diplomatic and security alliances.



Even though Trump's former cabinet members were all heavily involved in the project, the President has attempted to distance himself from the initiative as controversy around it grows. As of November 2024, it's unclear whether Trump's cabinet will move ahead with it.

What about trans folks and gender-affirming care on the 2024 ballot?

During his campaign trail, Trump said he plans on asking Congress to ban Medicare and Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care, as well as cut off federal funding to hospitals and clinics that continue to provide it. Under current Medicare and Medicaid regulations, patients' rights are protected since hospitals can't "discriminate against LGBTQ+ people or their families in visitation and in recognizing a patients designated decision-maker."

Daniel Knighton - Getty Images

Then there's the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which Trump already attempted to repeal in October 2018. His Health and Human Services Department implemented a rule that changed how Section 1557 of the ACA is interpreted, leaving trans people out of the sex-based nondiscrimination protections as a result. President Joe Biden later rolled back the rule, which put protections back in place during his administration.

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Rather than repealing the ACA or replacing it altogether, Trump's VP select JD Vance told NOTUS that Americans are certainly going to see efforts to reform the system. This could potentially allow healthcare providers to turn away trans folks, who are currently protected under the Health Care Rights Law as part of the ACA.

According to the Advocates for Trans Equality, it's illegal for most healthcare providers and insurance companies to discriminate against gender, race, national origin, age, and disability and to exclude transition-related care. Under the ACA, health providers are prohibited from turning someone away or refusing to treat them according to their gender identity.

Were any out LGBTQ+ folks elected during the 2024 election?

Yes! Several politicians who are advocating for LGBTQ+ rightsand are part of the community themselveshave made history by being elected during the 2024 election, including:

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Sarah McBride, United States Congress

Julie Johnson, United States Congress

Emily Randall, United States Congress

Molly Cook, Texas State Senate

Keturah Herron, Kentucky State Senate

Rashaun Kemp, Georgia State legislature

Gabby Salinas, Tennessee State legislature

Aime Wichtendahl, Iowa State legislature

Malcolm Kenyatta, Pennsylvania statewide official

Kent Nishimura - Getty Images

For more information and resources on managing election-related stress, please visitmentalhealthishealth.us.

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No one knows whats next for America and the world following the victory of Donald Trump. But there is one thing we can say for certain: the meltdown of the Leftists is going to be epic.

It is going to be like nothing we have seen before. If you thought it was scary  or funny, perhaps  when beanie-wearing libs wailed in the streets after Trumps first victory in 2016, you aint seen nothing yet.

Already, the chattering classes bafflement at Trumps win is giving way to spittle-flecked rage.

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First there was the bewilderment, as captured in the frantic chin-scratching of every centrist dads favourite British podcasters, Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell, who have been trying to break America. Having predicted that Kamala Harris would win comfortably, Stewart and his fellow Mystic Megs in the pod empire are now struggling to process the return of Trump.

Theyre not the only ones. There was a funereal tone to much of the TV coverage, as the medias Kamala lovers tried, and failed, to make sense of this latest round of Trump-mania.

I envision many a Harris/Walz pin-wearer stumbling around New York and LA in a daze today, as they wonder how the oiks of the Rust Belt could do this to them.

As for the celebrities who endorsed Kamala and warbled their hits at her rallies  theyll be baffled that there are so many Americans who care more for the economy than they do for Lady Gagas breathy paeans to tenacious Kamala.

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Soon, the sadness will morph into seething. We can glimpse it already in the irate tweeting on social media, with the Lefts fuming about the climate-denying racist lunatics who voted Trump.

The thinkpieces will be next. It will be a tsunami of turbo-smugness as the aloof scribes of the commentariat pin Trumps victory on white mens rage or the masses misogynist dread of a female president.

Make no mistake: someone will get the flak. And it wont be Kamala.

Instead of seriously assessing their own failure to win over voters, the Dems will point the finger at low information voters or sexist black men or those female voters who plumped for Trump and in the process betrayed their sister Kamala.

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Thats what happened in 2016 when Hillary Clinton lost to Trump. People forget just how unwilling Hillary and her media acolytes were to accept the outcome of that election.

Hillary called Trump an illegitimate president. His win was not on the level, she said. She implied that it was Russian meddling that spirited The Donald to the White House the first time.

You can run the best campaign and you can have the election stolen from you, she said in 2020.

This was before Trump lost the 2020 election and started crying about it being stolen. Yes, Hillary got there first. The Left commentariat condemned Trump as a crazy, oafish authoritarian for gabbing about a stolen election, overlooking that Hillary essentially did the very same.

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Jimmy Carter said of the 2016 election that Trump lost and was only put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf.

How long until we see such swirling conspiracism following Trumps latest win? How long before sleep-deprived talking heads on liberal news shows start bleating that it was the Russians again and Trump is a fake president?

In 2016, bitter Dems blamed women and minorities, too. Who can forget when Madeleine Albright said there was a special place in hell for women who failed to vote for Hillary?

Following her defeat, the media wrung its hands over the women who rejected Hillary.

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There was such an intense blame game that even the BBC  no friend of Trump  compiled a long list of who Hillary Clinton blames for her defeat. It included the media, the FBI, Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders. Everyone but herself.

Lev Golinkin, writing at NBC, described the Hillary cliques depiction of Trump as an illegitimate president as a Big Lie. These liberal leaders are meant to place democracy above all else, he said, but they grievously failed.

Will Kamala Harris and the rest of the anti-Trump set likewise fail to respect democracy? Will they refuse to give their losers consent, without complaint, and accept Trump as the rightful president?

We are about to find out how much the Left really respects democracy. Whether they accept that millions of working-class Americans voted for Trump not because they are dumb or racist or Russian stooges but because they preferred him to Harris.

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Consent, losers  democracy depends on it.

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It's too soon to know the results of many downballot races, but with a number of states reporting results, it appears that the Libertarian Party (L.P.) has broken the relatively successful streak it has enjoyed in recent presidential contests.

L.P. presidential nominee Chase Oliver is on pace to underperform compared to the party's most recent presidential tickets, though it's not clear whether that is a reflection of his candidacy, the party apparatus, the state of electoral politics in 2024, or all of the above.

For example, with more than 95 percent reporting, The New York Times reports that Oliver captured about 30,000 votes in Florida, totaling around 0.3 percent of the total vote, trailing Green Party candidate Jill Stein by 10,000 votes and 0.1 percent. In 2020, by contrast, L.P. candidate Jo Jorgensen received more than 70,000 votes and 0.6 percent in Florida, dwarfing Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins' 0.1 percent total.

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In New Jersey, with 85 percent reporting, Oliver trails both Stein and independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who suspended his campaign in August; in 2020, Jorgensen received more than 31,000 votes there, or 0.7 percent, more than doubling Hawkins' 14,000. Oliver also trails Kennedy in states such as Michigan and Wisconsin.

This was the first presidential election since the L.P.'s takeover by the right-wing Mises Caucus. Oliver was not the caucus' first choice, but he captured the nomination nonetheless after an uninspiring convention speech by Michael Rectenwald, the caucus' preferred candidate. Mises Caucus founder Michael Heise explicitly endorsed Trump for president, and the Mises-affiliated party chair expressed her preference for Trump over Harris.

While the party achieved ballot access in all 50 states in recent years, that was not the case this time: Oliver was not on the ballot in Illinois, New York, Tennessee, or Washington, D.C.

The party also ran fewer candidates overall this year, with some states running no Libertarian candidates for federal office. In September, the Iowa Supreme Court booted three Libertarian candidates from the ballot after Republicans in those districts sued over the state party's selection process. Other state L.P. chapters, such as Arizona's and California's, ran no candidates for Congress in 2024.

The post Libertarian Party Underperforms in Presidential Election appeared first on Reason.com.
Dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner has accused Chancellor Olaf Scholz of deliberately causing the break-up of Germany's centre-left coalition government.

"His carefully prepared statement this evening proves that Olaf Scholz was no longer trying to reach an agreement that was viable for everyone, but rather a calculated break-up of this coalition," said Lindner, the leader of the pro-business Free Democrats.

Scholz was leading Germany into a phase of uncertainty, he added.

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Lindner accused his coalition partners, Scholz's Social Democrats and the Greens, of not even accepting his proposals for improving Germany's economic situation as a basis for discussion.

He said Scholz had long failed to recognize the need for Germany to embark on a new economic revival. "He has long trivialized the economic concerns of citizens," Lindner said.

"His counter-proposals are weak, unambitious and do nothing to overcome our country's fundamental weakness in growth so that we can maintain our prosperity, our social security and our environmental responsibility."

Lindner said Scholz had ultimately demanded that he suspend the debt limit enshrined in the German constitution.

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"I could not agree to this as it would have violated my oath of office. That is why the chancellor cancelled the cooperation with me and the FDP at this evening's coalition committee meeting," he said.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Donald Trumps campaign lackeys, took aim at someone who has turned out to be one of the only people in the country interested in holding the former president accountable.

To Jack Smith and your team: It is time to look forward to a new chapter in your legal careers as these politically motivated charges against President Trump hit a wall, Graham wrote in a post on X early Wednesday.

The Supreme Court substantially rejected what you were trying to do, and after tonight, its clear the American people are tired of lawfare. Bring these cases to an end, the South Carolina Republican wrote. The American people deserve a refund.

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While Smiths election interference case is expected to continue in the short term, President-elect Trump has previously vowed to have Smith canned on his first day in office, and even threatened to deport him. That kind of fascistic rhetoric didnt seem to scare off any voters Tuesday, so now well just wait to see if he was kidding.

Whoever Trump appoints as attorney general, upon entering office, will sink that case as well as Trumps classified documents case, which Smith has appealed after Judge Aileen Cannon tossed it out in July. Trump might even appoint Cannon as attorney general (she previously appeared on a short list for the spot), giving the Trump-appointed judge the chance to obliterate that case yet again.

In another post on X, Graham toasted ousting the Democrats, who he claimed wanted to pack the Supreme Courtsomething that Trump is very likely to attempt during his next four years in office.
AUTHORS NOTE: This story will be updated frequently on Tuesday, November 5, with the latest election results.

10:33 p.m.  The results for Clay Countys Petrolia ISD school bond and the Midway ISD ad velorem tax rate are projected to pass.

Robert Castilleja is the projected winner for Baylor County Sheriff.

Wichita County has reported its final vote count with Whitney Flack and Robert Brooks projected for City Councilor Districts 1 and 2. Sam Pak is the projected winner of the Wichita Councilor at Large race.

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See results for all races at Your Local Election HQ.

9:38 p.m.  Wichita County has reported its unofficial results for the 2024 general election. Heres the latest:

All five amendments to the Wichita Falls City Charter are projected to pass. City Councilors for Districts 1 and 2 have projected the winners as Robert Brooks and Whitney Flack, respectively.

The unofficial results for City Councilor at Large positions Austin Cobb with a 1-point lead over Sam Pak.

See results for all races at Your Local Election HQ.

8:56 p.m.  Montague County has reported results from all 10 of its voting centers.

See results for all races at Your Local Election HQ.

8:04 p.m.  Results are rolling in around Texoma. Heres the latest:

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Archer and Wilbarger County precincts have reported all their unofficial results. In Archer County, Jordan Berend is the projected winner of the Archer County Attorney race, and Hollidays proposition to allow the sale of malt beverages is poised to pass.

Wichita County has reported its early voting and absentee results, with leads taking shape. The unofficial results for all the City of Wichita Falls Charter Amendments are poised to pass with large margins.

The race for Wichita Falls City Councilor At-Large sees a slim lead for Austin Cobb (40%) over Sam Pak (38%), with Larry Nelson sitting at 22%.

See results for all races at Your Local Election HQ.

5:08 p.m.  Natalie McCain brings you live coverage from Mercy Church in Wichita Falls as voters decide on City Charter Propositions 1 and 2 that will allow the Firefighters Association greater negotiating power.

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Dylan Jimenez reports from Life Church to break down the Wichita Falls City Councilor At-Large and Councilor District 1 and 2 races.

On November 5, 2024, Texomans headed to the polls to cast their ballots for the 2024 General Election and decide on several key issues, including the next President of the United States.

YOUR LOCAL ELECTION HQ: Texomas official voting guide for the 2024 General Election

Among the local and regional races, Texoma voters will decide on representation in the Texas legislature with Senate District 10 and House District 69 races.

In Wichita County, voters will choose between many issues and representatives, such as County Commissioner, Wichita Falls City Council, and city charter amendments.

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As Your Local Election Headquarters, the team at KFDX, KJTL, and Texomas Homepage want to ensure that Texoma voters have the latest election results. Refer to this story on Election Day for the latest results, including soundbites from candidates and updates on voter turnout.

Follow Texomas Homepage and our KFDX and KJTL anchors and reporters on social media for the latest election news, live coverage from polling locations and accurate final results.

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Voters cast their ballots at the Flathead County Fairgrounds on Election Day. (Photo by Micah Drew, Daily Montanan)

As results started rolling in after polls closed at 8 p.m. in Montana on Election Day, voters appeared to be embracing many Republicans on the ballot, although not all were in the lead shortly before midnight.

The Daily Montanan team will continue to have live updates on the 2024 election here as results come in.

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MORE: Live election results | Election 2024 coverage from the Daily Montanan | Election coverage from States Newsroom

Key Events

4 weeks ago

Montana goes red, red and red

4 weeks ago

Zinke addresses supporters just before midnight: Were feeling good

4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

Tranel in the lead as Missoula County votes start rolling in

4 weeks ago

Every vote matters

4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

In Montana state auditors race, Brown leading Repke in Montana auditor race

4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

Republicans leading PSC races, but most counties only partially reporting

4 weeks ago

Sheehy, Knudsen, Jacobsen leading races in early results

4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

Donald Trump wins Montana, AP projects

4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

Missoula polling places busy, wait to register estimated at three hours

4 weeks ago

Polls are now closed in Montana

4 weeks ago

Lewis and Clark County registration line 3 hours long

4 weeks ago

Polls are open for 30 more minutes in Montana

4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

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4 weeks ago

Lowell Elementary, neighborhood polling place, draws voters on Election Day

4 weeks ago

Busy as hell at elections office in Lewis and Clark County

4 weeks ago

Long lines at polls in Missoula on Tuesday morning

4 weeks ago

More than half of Montana voters cast ballots ahead of Election Day

4 weeks ago

Montana goes red, red and red

It was a good night to be a Republican in Montana  and in the U.S.

The Associated Press called Republican Tim Sheehy, in the U.S. Senate race, and Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke, in the U.S. House race in western Montana, both winners.

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Sheehy ousted incumbent and Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, who was the only statewide elected Democrat in Montana and had been seeking his fourth term.

Republicans were trouncing opponents in all other statewide races.

On the national stage, Republican and former President Donald Trump was declared a winner and will have a second term.

4 weeks ago

Zinke addresses supporters just before midnight: Were feeling good

U.S. Rep Ryan Zinke raises his fist in celebration during his election night party in Whitefish. (Photo by Micah Drew, Daily Montanan)

U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke addressed a few dozen supporters at his election night party at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish just before midnight. He spoke confidently about winning the yet-uncalled race for Montanas 1st Congressional District.

Were feeling good. Were outperforming where we should, Zinke said.

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Im pretty sure that were going to win.

As of 12:10 a.m., the Secretary of States office reported tallying 196,127 ballots, roughly 24% of registered voters in the state. No results have been posted from Flathead, Gallatin, Yellowstone, Cascade or Lewis and Clark counties.

In the congressional race, Zinke trails Democrat Monica Tranel 50% to 48%, a difference of just 3,000 votes. The tally includes late-night results from heavily Democratic Missoula County.

We, as Montanans, were going to decide the Senate, and were going to decide the House, Zinke said before wishing supporters goodnight. And I cant think of a better people to decide the course of the country.

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Last updated: 12:27 am

4 weeks ago

Shortly before midnight, Gallatin County has not reported

Its Sheehys turf, and its Testers color. Most recent story here, with Sheehy leading.

Last updated: 11:51 pm

4 weeks ago

CI-126 springs back to life

Though early voting results showed that both Constitutional initiatives 126 and 127 were trailing, CI-126 has jolted back to life after a large number of ballots were counted.

Both measures, sponsored and supported by the same group, would change how voting happens in Montana.

CI-126 would allow the top four vote-getters regardless of party in the primary election to move onto the general election. Its opponents have labeled it a jungle primary.

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Meanwhile, CI-127 would require winning candidates to receive a majority (50%) of the vote, or the winner would be decided by a method selected by the Legislature. That could be several models, including a snap run-off, similar to the type used in Georgia.

While CI-127 fell behind and has so far stayed behind in results, CI-126 is split nearly evenly at 50% with 84,448 voting in favor of it, and 85,036 voting against it.

4 weeks ago

Tranel in the lead as Missoula County votes start rolling in

Democrat Monica Tranel had taken the lead over Republican Ryan Zinke in the western Congressional district after Missoula County started reporting. Story here.

4 weeks ago

Every vote matters

As poll numbers continued to trickle in, the race for a new chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court was tight.

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How tight?

Only 62 votes separated former federal magistrate Jeremiah Lynch from his challenger, Broadwater County Attorney Cory Swanson.

Thats out of more than 158,000 votes counted. Now, its dangerous trusting a journalist to do math, but that is 50.009% to 49.980%

4 weeks ago

Initiative to protect abortion holds strong after more ballots roll in

Voters were still saying yes to CI-128, a measure to protect abortion, with 54% of the vote, shortly after 11 p.m. Original story here, with same percent of voters supporting and opposing.

Last updated: 11:11 pm

4 weeks ago

Sheehy holds early lead over Tester in US Senate race

In one of the most closely watched races in the country, Republican Tim Sheehy has an early lead of 16 percentage points over Democratic three-term incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester with about 15% of votes in Montana counted as of 11 p.m.

Montana Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy addresses the crowd at a rally in Bozeman alongside Gov. Greg Gianforte on Aug. 9, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

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Most of Montanas larger and more Democratic counties had yet to report results as of 11 p.m. because there were long lines of voters waiting to register when polls closed at 8 p.m.

But Sheehy leads Tester by about 20,000 votes with about 125,000 votes reported so far by the Secretary of States Office.

Both candidates spoke at their respective rallies earlier in the evening, but neither declared victory nor defeat.

Sheehys lead, should it hold up overnight, would mirror a trend nationally of Republicans taking Senate seats in tight races. Earlier in the evening, Republican Jim Justice won the open West Virginia seat, while Bernie Moreno defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio.

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Click here to read more.

Last updated: 11:09 pm

4 weeks ago

Even without the results of the Sheehy-Tester race, the U.S. Senate will be Republican led

On a night in which Democrats had to be flawless and then some to keep control of the United States Senate, the Republicans upset that plan and regained control of the nations upper chamber of Congress.

While several other close races, namely Montanas race between three-term incumbent Jon Tester and Republican challenger Tim Sheehy, were still being tallied, the Associated Press had already declared that Republicans had picked up enough seats to assure that theyll be in the majority regardless of who wins the presidency.

For more on that, please click here.

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In Texas, Republican Ted Cruz was able to fend off a formidable and well-heeled challenger in Colin Allred. To read more about that, click here.

In Ohio, incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, was upset by Republican Bernie Moreno. To read more about that, click here.

4 weeks ago

Knudsen, Jacobsen hold wide leads early

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen speaks at a rally featuring former President Donald Trump in Bozeman on Aug. 9, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, both Republicans, hold wide leads over their respective challengers as of 10:50 p.m. Tuesday in their efforts to win re-election.

Knudsen leads Democrat Ben Alke, a Bozeman-based attorney, 66% to 34% with 101,000 votes reported in the race by the Montana Secretary of States Office.

Jacobsen was carrying 68% of the vote in her race as of 10:50 p.m., far outpacing Democrat Jesse James Mullen (30%) and Libertarian John Lamb (3%).

About 13% of ballots had been reported as of 10:50 p.m. Many of Montanas largest counties still had dozens or hundreds of people lined up to vote when polls closed at 8 p.m., and those counties cannot report results until everyone there has voted, officials said earlier Tuesday.

Click here to read more on the Attorney Generals race and click here for more on the Secretary of States race.

4 weeks ago

Close races in Montana Supreme Court matchups

The two nonpartisan races for open seats on the Montana Supreme Court remain too close to call, based on initial election results posted by the Montana Secretary of States office, which show roughly 85,000 ballots have been processed statewide.

For Montana Supreme Court Seat 3, Katherine Bidegaray is deadlocked with Dan Wilson, with just 40 votes separating them, according to initial results.

In the race to replace outgoing Montana Chief Justice Mike McGrath, Cory Swanson holds a more commanding 13,000-vote lead lead over Jerry Lynch

Last updated: 10:29 pm

4 weeks ago

In Montana state auditors race, Brown leading Repke in Montana auditor race

With 10% of ballots in Montana counted, Republican James Brown appeared to be leading his Democratic challenger John Repke by a 2-to-1 margin on Tuesday night in the race for Montana state auditor. Story here.

4 weeks ago

Montana Election Observation Initiative releases statement

The Montana Election Observation Initiative (MTEOI) released the following statement Tuesday night:

MTEOI, a nonpartisan effort to increase transparency and trust in Montanas elections, has mobilized citizen volunteers to observe the 2024 general election in several counties across the state.

Guided by a commitment to neutrality and non-interference, MTEOI observers focus strictly on the conduct, not the outcome, of the election.

On Election Day, the MTEOI deployed 118 observers who visited 76 unique voting locations in 16 of Montanas 56 counties. Representing about 75% of Montanas active voter population, observers were deployed to: Big Horn, Broadwater, Carbon, Cascade, Custer, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Hill, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Ravalli,

Roosevelt, Rosebud, and Yellowstone counties. MTEOI observers volunteer to observe in their own communities, adhere to a code of conduct that emphasizes impartiality and professional standards, and complete rigorous training to ensure their understanding of the relevant laws and procedures.

Before Election Day, MTEOI observers monitored public accuracy tests of voting equipment and assessed absentee ballot processing in several counties. Following the close of polls on Election Day, MTEOI will continue its assessment through vote tabulation and, in the coming weeks, the handling of provisional ballots, post-election audits, and the county canvass when the results will be certified.

The MTEOI team will develop evidence-based reports and may offer recommendations for reform to improve the administration of future elections. The reports will detail the missions findings and observations for each stage of the election process and offer recommendations for election officials to implement for future election cycles.

About the Montana Election Observation Initiative Under the guidance of a cross-partisan advisory committee chaired by former legislators Jeff Mangan and Geraldine Custer, and sponsored by The Carter Center in partnership

with the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana, the Montana Election Observation Initiative (MTEOI) aims to provide Montanans with timely, comprehensive information about the conduct of the 2024 general election. The effort, led by and for Montanans, will assess whether the states electoral laws and procedures

are consistently and accurately followed.

4 weeks ago

Republicans leading PSC races, but most counties only partially reporting

Republicans were leading in all three races of the Montana Public Service Commission just before 10 p.m.

Brad Molnar and Jeff Welborn, with the GOP, were ahead in Districts No. 2 and 3, respectively.

In District No. 4, Republican Jennifer Fielder was leading independent Elena Evans, although with Missoula County still out. Story here.

4 weeks ago

Sheehy, Knudsen, Jacobsen leading races in early results

The Secretary of States Office is only reporting about 81,000 votes so far, about 10% of all registered voters, but Republicans are leading early in the U.S. Senate race, Attorney Generals Office race, and the race for the Secretary of State seat.

There are still hundreds of thousands of votes to be counted and reported, and several large counties still have voters in line. But Republican Tim Sheehy currently leads Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester 57% to 41% and by about 13,000 votes.

In the Attorney General Offices race, incumbent Republican Austin Knudsen leads Democrat Ben Alke 64% to 36%. In the Secretary of States race, incumbent Republican Christi Jacobsen currently leads with 66% of the vote share, compared to 32% for Democrat Jesse James Mullen and 2% for Libertarian John Lamb.

Last updated: 9:46 pm

4 weeks ago

Constitutional initiatives to change elections too close to call, but not popular

Two ballot initiatives that would change how Montana voting works remained too close to call after the first results from Tuesdays elections were released, but CI-126 was a little more popular than CI-127, although both were on the losing end of initial results. Story here.

4 weeks ago

Hedalen takes early lead over OBrien

Early statewide voting results show that Republican Susie Hedalen, the Superintendent of Public Schools Townsend, is headed to become the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Montana. She holds an early 20-point lead over Democrat Shannon OBrien, with just more than 21,000, or 3% of the vote counted. Story here.

(Credit: Susie Hedalen/ Shannon OBrien)

4 weeks ago

Preliminary results show lead for CI-128 supporters

Very early results from the Secretary of States Office show that yes votes currently lead no votes for CI-128, the amendment that seeks to enshrine abortion in Montanas constitution, 58% to 42%, with about 22,000 votes tallied.

The results are preliminary and will certainly change, as many of the larger Montana counties still have voters in line waiting to cast their ballot. Those counties will not release any results until all voters have cast a ballot.

The initial 3,500 votes tallied out to a 52% to 48% lead for CI-128 supporters, but that has ballooned to 58% to 42% after about 19,000 more votes were reported.

Click here to read more.

Last updated: 8:48 pm

4 weeks ago

Montana looks to replace Rosendale with Downing

(Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Montana Auditor Troy Downing will likely be exchanging his office in Helena for one in Washington, D.C., as very early results appeared to track with the states deep-red bent in the central and eastern Congressional district.

With just more than 11,000 votes in, Downing had a 71% to 29% lead over Democratic challenger John Driscoll. Downing will likely beat a field of two Democrats (including a write-in) and one independent for the eastern Congressional seat in Montana. Story here.

4 weeks ago

Gov. Greg Gianforte wins re-election in Montana

Polls in Montana closed at 8 p.m. and the Associated Press immediately called the Montana governors race for Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Gianforte.

BREAKING: Republican Greg Gianforte wins reelection for governor in Montana. #APRaceCall at 10:00 p.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E  AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024

Serving as Montanas governor is the greatest honor of my life. Kristen (Lt. Gov. Juras) and I are deeply grateful to serve Montanans for another four years to continue delivering on our promises to create more good-paying Montana jobs, open greater opportunities for more Montanans to achieve the American dream, and protect our Montana way of life. With what weve been able to achieve together, Montana can and should be a model for our sometimes fractured nation, Gianforte said in a statement. Tonights victory isnt about me. Its about all of us. And well continue the work together to bring the American Dream into greater reach for all Montanans.

This is Gianfortes third gubernatorial election night, and second victory. He first ran for the states executive office in 2016 against then-incumbent Democrat Gov. Steve Bullock, losing by roughly 19,000 votes. He ran again in 2020, after serving two terms in the U.S. House representing Montanas at-large district, and won the governorship with 54% of the vote.

Last updated: 8:47 pm

4 weeks ago

Donald Trump wins Montana, AP projects

The Associated Press called the presidential race in Montana for Republican Former President Donald Trump right as polls closed at 8 p.m.

The Secretary of States Office has yet to report any vote tallies yet, but the AP has methods to project the vote, as it said in a story published alongside the race call.

The result is not unexpected, as Trump has led Democrat Kamala Harris in polling throughout the past several months, and he won Montana with 56.9% of the vote in 2020 to Joe Bidens 40.5%.

4 weeks ago

The Daily Montanan Election results feed is live

Want to know the results of the election, including the statewide races?

The Daily Montanans live results feed is active and can be found on the homepage, or by clicking here.

4 weeks ago

Missoula polling places busy, wait to register estimated at three hours

At the Missoula County Elections Center, a nonprofit was handing out hand warmers, hot cocoa and snacks to encourage people to wait in line.

Roughly an hour and a half before polls closed, the estimated wait time to register was three hours.

(Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

Tim Jacobs, chief of Community Emergency Response Team, said hes worked elections since 2018 and has not seen it this busy in Missoula.

I never in my wildest dreams would have expected this, Jacobs said.

He said he voted in Lolo in the morning and had to wait, also unusual in Lolo.

(Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

(Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

At the Missoula Public Library, a polling place Tuesday, election judge Carol Miller said a constant flow of voters have come through the polling place. Even if people have problems, she said they are willing to take the time to fix them.

A takeaway from the day: People were really committed to voting.

(Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

Voter Tawnie Sabin, with Ellie Fortunati, 15, said people need to vote in order to enjoy the privileges of this country.

Its always an important election, Sabin said.

(Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

Last updated: 8:02 pm

4 weeks ago

Polls are now closed in Montana

Polls in Montana have closed, but there remain voters in line in several counties in Montana who can still cast their ballot if they were in line at 8 p.m. You can view our live election results here from Decision Desk HQ.

Keep checking back here to see who won in Montana.

Last updated: 8:04 pm

4 weeks ago

Lewis and Clark County registration line 3 hours long

People in line to vote in person or register to vote at 6:30 p.m. on Election Day at the Lewis and Clark County Elections Office. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

People in line and election workers told the Daily Montanan that the wait at the Lewis and Clark County Elections Office for people who still need to register to vote was about three hours long as of 6:30 p.m. One man who was about 30 people from the front of the line said he had gotten off work at 3:30 p.m., gotten to the elections office around 4, and was still waiting to register to vote.

Some elections monitors were holding the place of prospective voters so they could use the bathroom. Several voter groups brought pizza, which was eaten quickly, and other snacks and water for voters to eat and drink while they wait in line.

Elections officials at the office were reminding people in line that if they are in line when polls close at 8 p.m., they will be able to register and vote.

Last updated: 7:33 pm

4 weeks ago

Polls are open for 30 more minutes in Montana

Polls in Montana close in 30 minutes at 8:00 p.m. As long as you are in line by 8:00 p.m., you have the right to vote  stay in line.

Voters should bring a valid form of ID to their polling location. Examples include a drivers license, U.S. passport, school district or postsecondary education photo ID, MT Concealed Carry Permit, or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government document that shows your name and current address. See a full list here.

Last updated: 7:31 pm

4 weeks ago

Absentee voter turnout reaches 83% in Montana

As of just after 5 p.m., nearly 83% of Montanas 551,072 absentee voters had returned their ballots. In five counties, more than 90% of absentee voters had returned their ballots, according to data from the Secretary of States office.

The 455,893 absentee ballots cast so far marks about 57.2% of the 796,957 registered voters in Montana. The absentee ballots do not include ballots cast in person on Tuesday.

In 2020, turnout was 81.3% in. Montana  the highest turnout in at least 30 years, according to the Secretary of State.

Last updated: 6:00 pm

4 weeks ago

U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke makes appearance in Kalispell

In Kalispell, voters in 27 precincts visited the Flathead County Fairgrounds to cast their ballots. Outside, supporters of U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke, who is running for re-election to represent Montanas 1st Congressional District, waved signs, blasted music and stayed warm under heat lamps.

For a time, Zinke himself was out on the sidewalk shaking hands and waving at the cars lined up to enter the fairgrounds. Zinke will be spending election night in Whitefish.

Last updated: 5:45 pm

4 weeks ago

Long wait for results in Gallatin County expected

In Yellowstone County, polling places were filled on Tuesday morning. Election officials there said they hadnt seen such a turnout from voters since at least the 2008 election.

Cascade County officials had to open up extra room to house long lines of voters waiting to register, the Montana Free Press reported. Voters in Gallatin County stood in line through a morning dose of snow, social media posts show. Nora Shelly of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported that some of those voters in Gallatin County had been standing in line for four hours in the snow. Officials there said they dont anticipate having the first results in until at least 11 p.m.

For more on polling places across Montana, click here.

Last updated: 5:31 pm

4 weeks ago

Lowell Elementary, neighborhood polling place, draws voters on Election Day

(Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

Shelby Jessop walked down the sidewalk outside Lowell Elementary School in Missoula on Election Day in November 2024 sporting an I Voted sticker on her coat. Jessop, whose little girl followed, said abortion is a top issue for her, and she stands with Sheehy.

I think that we should all be a part of what decisions are made in our country, Jessop said. I wish more people would vote, honestly.

Last updated: 5:32 pm

4 weeks ago

Busy as hell at elections office in Lewis and Clark County

In Lewis and Clark County, more than 100 people were in line to vote or update their registration around 11 a.m., while people simultaneously came in to drop their absentee ballots off.

Lewis and Clark County voters lined up to change their registration or vote on the morning of Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

A county election official told the Daily Montanan it had been busy as hell all morning and likely would be throughout the rest of the day.

Montana Secretary of States Office Elections Director Austin James was at the county elections office to check in and said things were similarly busy in many counties across Montana.

James said hed gotten to work at 4 a.m. Tuesday and that a team was working at the office to ensure there were no cyberattacks or other malicious activity occurring within election offices, but he reported no issues so far. He said the office would not release a countys results until everyone in line had voted to ensure none of their votes were influenced by early results.

Election workers at four polling sites the Daily Montanan visited around Helena in the late morning and early afternoon continued to see a steady stream of voters coming through. Several said they had lines to start the morning at 7 a.m., that the turnout was much higher than in the primary, and that they had been busy throughout the morning.

Montanans stand in line to register to vote at the Lewis and Clark County Elections Office on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Last updated: 5:04 pm

4 weeks ago

Long lines at polls in Missoula on Tuesday morning

Most Montanans who are registered to vote had already voted by the time Election Day rolled around in November 2024. In Missoula, the line to register curled around the block on Election Day. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

In Missoula, Shelby Richards stood in line with pup Rose, a service animal in training to help with her severe post traumatic stress disorder.

Richards, who has a 6-year-old daughter, said she believes the economy has been in decline.

Its time for some things to change and make it livable for families, Richards said.

She said she wants to see former President Donald Trump and fellow Republican Tim Sheehy, running to oust Democrat incumbent Jon Tester in the U.S. Senate, take office.

Outside the Elections Center in Missoula, Community Emergency Response Team workers directed voters driving through the parking lot.

CERTs Dawn Couch said people had been kind and patient with each other, and a few were honking and yelling the names of their candidates.

She said the elections staff had been amazing.

Its been really, really well run, Couch said.

In the parking lot, Logan Kostka looked for a pen to sign his name and turn in his ballot. Kostka said womens reproductive rights were one factor in the 2024 election, but not the only one.

As an LGBTQ+ member, a lot of the stuff coming from Project 2025 is literally against my belief system and my being as a human, said Kostka, 20.

At least one neighborhood polling place at an elementary school in Missoula didnt have lines out the door.

Shelby Jessop walked down the sidewalk sporting an I Voted sticker on her coat. Jessop, whose little girl followed, said abortion is a top issue for her, and she stands with Sheehy.

I think that we should all be a part of what decisions are made in our country, Jessop said. I wish more people would vote, honestly.

Last updated: 5:02 pm

4 weeks ago

More than half of Montana voters cast ballots ahead of Election Day

A Lewis and Clark County voter drops their ballot office at the county elections office on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

To start the day in Montana, more than 54% of registered voters had already cast their ballot. Data from the Secretary of States Office showed 431,636 Montana voters had returned their absentee ballots out of 792,440 voters.

During the last presidential election in 2020, 612,075 Montana voters cast ballots, resulting in a turnout rate of 81.33%, the highest in Montana in at least 30 years, according to the Secretary of States Office. Click here to read more.

Last updated: 4:57 pm
Republican John McQueeney leads Democrat Carlos Walker in the race for a Texas House seat that represents southwest Fort Worth and Tarrant County.

McQueeney had 58.6% of early votes to Walkers 41.4%, according to results posted at about 12:15 a.m. Wednesday. The Associated Press called the race for McQueeney.

McQueeney celebrated his early lead at a party with his predecessor, Texas Rep. Craig Goldman, who opted not to run for re-election and instead to run for U.S. Rep. Kay Grangers seat in Congress. The two Fort Worth-area candidates gathered with Republicans from across the Fort Worth at The Crescent Hotel.

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McQueeney, 44, was introduced by state Sen. Kelly Hancock, who called him the winner for the House seat.

He outlined a long list of priorities for his first day in Austin, including securing the border between the U.S. and Mexico, supporting families and growing the Texas economy.

McQueeney said he was a supporter of school choice, a legislative priority of Gov. Greg Abbotts that would allow Texans to use taxpayer dollars to pay for their children to go to private schools. The controversial legislation failed in the Texas House last year after 21 Republicans sided with Democrats to oppose it.

Were going to make sure that that bill makes sense, that it works, so that we get that thing across the finish line properly, so that weve got were giving families and parents the choice that they need, McQueeney said.

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McQueeney has also said he supports expanding access to health care.

Weve got to make sure that theres accessible health care for everybody, he said.

He said it was too soon for him to say whether he supported expanding Texass Medicaid program, which provides health insurance to poor Texas children, for those with disabilities and during pregnancies and for one year after childbirth. Texas is one of 10 states that has not broadened its Medicaid program to include adults with low incomes.

Walker did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Star-Telegram. Walker is the director of the Fort Worth school districts Family Action Center.

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In addition to parts of Fort Worth, House District 97 also includes Benbrook, White Settlement and most of Crowley.

McQueeney owns a trucking company and several fast food franchises, he said. He defeated Republican Cheryl Bean in competitive runoff earlier this year. McQueeney nabbed the nomination despite Beans support from Republican leaders including Attorney General Ken Paxton and Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare.

McQueeney will be an anomaly in Tarrant Countys delegation in Austin as a fresh face. Most of the state House and Senate seats are likely to be won by incumbent officials seeking re-election. In four of the races for Tarrant Countys Texas House seats, incumbents face no opponents.

For six of the races, incumbent candidates are ahead of their challengers in early vote totals. Among these incumbents is Texas Rep. David Cook, a Mansfield Republican, who previously announced that he planned to run for House Speaker if re-elected. The Texas House wont elect a speaker until January.
Democrat Josh Stein will be the next governor of North Carolina. The Associated Press called the race for Stein ahead of Steins victory speech and the concession speech of Republican nominee Mark Robinson.

Steins victory speech praised the state and North Carolinians, saying that we are home to the best people. As we celebrate tonight, our hearts are with the folks of Western North Carolina who are still struggling. Hurricane Helene swept in devastation, destruction and darkness, but the goodness of North Carolinians shone through. Neighbors helping neighbors, people dropping everything to lend a hand. And by the way, none of those folks cared whether the person they were helping was a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent.

They just showed up because thats who we are as North Carolinians, and we will show up for the people of Western North Carolina to help them rebuild safer and stronger than ever before, he said.

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Stein talked about what he also described on the campaign trail as the promise of North Carolina. That where you come from should never limit how far you can go. That our kids and grandkids should enjoy a better and brighter future than weve had. That every North Carolinian should have a fair shot at success starting a small business or getting a good paying job everywhere in this state, including small town North Carolina.

He also talked about investing in people and their future to build a safer, stronger North Carolina, where the economy continues to grow and works for everyone; where our public schools are excellent and our teachers are well paid; where our neighborhoods are safe and women can make their own decisions about their own bodies.

Stein said the state has big challenges ahead but dreams to realize include cutting taxes and paying teachers what they deserve.

President Joe Biden called Stein to congratulate him around 9 p.m., according to a White House pool report.

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Robinson gave his concession speech a few blocks away ahead of Steins speech, acknowledging his defeat at a supporters rally in downtown Raleigh.

Robinson, who is lieutenant governor said, It was not to be, it appears.

At the beginning of the year, when he leaves office, Im going to spend some time with my grandchildren, Robinson said.

At Steins election night party, NC Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton  the youngest person to hold the position  thanked the candidates, donors and organizers, especially young supporters.

We took nothing for granted this year as a party and we made this possible because you all believed in a better South, in a new South for North Carolina, Clayton said.

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North Carolina voters were choosing their first new governor in eight years, as Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is leaving office after two consecutive terms, as the state constitution requires.

Cooper introduced Stein, after following Clayton and a performance by the Shaw University marching band at the Marriott City Center.

Cooper thanked his wife, Kristin Cooper, and said, Im so grateful for her love and her partnership and service to the people of our state. Weve had a great run. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We also hold next to our hearts the people of Western North Carolina, were going to work hard to make sure they recover.

Cooper and Stein spoke before the presidential election was called.

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We know everybodys watching closely the rest of the results, because we know our country must make the right choice, and we have important elections across the state, but we need to take a moment right now. ... We have done something important here with this victory in the governors race, Cooper said.

Cooper said the state chose progress, experience, reproductive freedom for women and support for public schools by electing Stein, whom he called an amazing public servant and attorney general. And now its time for his new job.

A contrast in candidates

The candidates were very different, and each could have made history: Stein will be the states first Jewish governor, and Robinson would have been the states first Black governor. Stein has led Robinson in polls and fundraising for months.

Stein is in his second term as attorney general after serving previously in the state Senate, and before that working for now Gov. Roy Cooper, when Cooper was attorney general. A Stein administration could be similar to Coopers, as they are longtime friends and Stein considers Cooper a mentor.

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Stein grew up mostly in Chapel Hill and has spent his career as an attorney, just like his father. He told The News & Observer in a recent interview that he knew I wanted to do something about trying to make things fairer for more people.

Stein refused to debate Robinson, saying that he didnt want to give him a platform.

Robinsons first and only term as lieutenant governor has also been his first time in elected office. He rose to fame on social media and because of a viral pro-gun rights speech made at a Greensboro City Council meeting, where hes from. He spoke at the Republican National Convention this past summer and talked about his rise to office after growing up in poverty and an abusive household, which he also talked about in his We Are the Majority! memoir. He has spent most of his career working in furniture factories. Robinson has also faced a series of financial problems, including bankruptcies, before taking office.

Robinson has also been known for a series of insulting comments about a variety of people, from school shooting survivors to teachers to LGBTQ+ people. In 2023, he said hes never been antisemitic despite a history of antisemitic comments, most of which were made online. As lieutenant governor, he joined legislative Republicans in crafting legislation that ban ideas like Critical Race Theory from public schools.

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A major campaign issue has been abortion, with Robinsons comments ranging from saying in an advertisement hell stand by the Republican-written law that bans abortion after 12 weeks with exceptions, to saying hed want a total ban. Stein has used Robinsons own words in attack ads, including a video of Robinson saying women should keep your skirt down.

In the most recent campaign finance reporting period this fall, Stein has outraised Robinson by 11 times.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson makes a concession speech during an election watch party at the City Club in Raleigh after loosing the North Carolina gubernatorial race to Democratic nominee Attorney General Josh Stein on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

September campaign shifts

And that was all before the September surprise report from CNN KFile that tied Robinson to a series of extreme posts on a pornographic website, which Robinson denies he wrote. The alleged posts made a decade ago included sexuality explicit comments about watching transgender porn, peeping in a womens locker room as a teenager, racist comments about Martin Luther King Jr., and calling himself a Black NAZI.

In the days following the report, nearly all of Robinsons campaign staff resigned, as well as half his lieutenant governor office staff, including his chief of staff. A source familiar with the campaign departures said the resignations came when Robinson turned down legal and information technology offers to help clear his name. Weeks later, Robinson filed a defamation lawsuit against CNN. In the final weeks of the campaign, Robinsons most famous supporter, former President Donald Trump, distanced himself from Robinson and Robinson did not attend any of the many subsequent Trump and running mate JD Vance rallies in North Carolina.

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Other Republicans stood by their endorsements of Robinson, including Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore.

Robinson focused on nearly daily campaign stops across the state to take his case directly to voters, as well as helping with a local sheriffs office Helene disaster response, while criticizing the federal and statewide response. As a member of the Council of State, Robinson skipped one vote on Helene response but has voted for the others.

Stein campaigned with Vice President Kamala Harris, taking the stage in Raleigh last week to talk about his vision of hope over hate, referencing both Robinson and Trump.

Democratic nominee for North Carolina governor in 2024, Attorney General Josh Stein, speaks to the crowd at a Kamala Harris campaign rally at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, N.C., on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.

Despite Trump distancing himself from Robinson, Robinson continued to run as a Make America Great Again candidate, saying at appearances that he wants to be elected for policy, not personality.

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Both candidates were out on the campaign trail on Election Day, greeting voters at the polls. Both will also hold campaign watch parties Tuesday night in downtown Raleigh. The third party candidates are Libertarian Mike Ross, Vinny Smith of the Constitution Party and Michael Wayne Turner of the Green Party.

Stein led Robinson in several polls by double digits since late September.

Robinson, Stein watch parties

Jim and Judy Newman, who volunteered for the Stein and incumbent Secretary of State Elaine Marshall campaigns, were among hundreds who attended the N.C. Democratic Party event after polls closed on Tuesday.

Were here for the excitement, Judy Newman said. They have supported the Stein campaign since they first heard about it, Jim Newman said.

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I really view it as a positive thing, voting for Josh Stein and Elaine Marshall  shes great, Jim Newman said. Were lucky to have her for 28 years.

Around 6 p.m., 90 minutes before polls, closed, Robinson campaign strategist Matt Hurley fielded questions from media gathered in downtown Raleigh at the campaigns watch party at Raleigh City Club.

The lieutenant governor is a very reasonable guy. Hes prepared to accept tonights results no matter what direction they go in, Hurley said.

Robinson addressed his supporters for around seven minutes, saying, I will not shed tears tonight. Remember, victory is pleasing God.

People of faith know its going to go the right way. We read the back of the book. We know how this all comes to an end. Those who would promote evil, promote wrongdoing, and call it right, they do not win. They may prosper for a season. But in the end, we win. So Im standing here now, and Im not sad one lick.

Debbie Earp, retired executive assistant from Raleigh, told The News & Observer that Robinsons watch party was her first watch party ever.

He may sound a little rough around the edges sometimes, a little rough when he speaks, but just to let you know, thats passion. Thats not being authoritative. Thats passion. He believes in what hes doing. And I believe that God is behind him. And thats why Im here, Earp said.

Robinson supporters emphasized the importance of supporting him, no matter the results of tonight.

I think its an amazing narrative. Whatever you think of politics, you have to respect his story. It shows in America, irrespective of your education level, your caste, you can achieve anything, Amar Pat Singh, an attorney from Smithfield, told The N&O.

Orlando Guzman, retired military service member from Apex, said he volunteered for Robinson, and I want to be here for him. There are many times where people, they like to support someone but other actions dont match what theyre saying. I say that I want to support the guy, Mr. Robinson, and I did, and here tonight, I think that if he wins or not, to me, doesnt matter. What matters is that Im here for him.

Governor-elect Josh Stein speaks to the crowd during a North Carolina Democratic Party election night event at the Marriott City Center in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

In Steins speech, he said people must reject the politics of division, fear and hate that keep us from finding common ground. We will go further when we go together, not as Democrats, not as Republicans, not as independents, but as North Carolinians.

Stein also said that if he didnt earn someones vote in this election, I hope to earn your trust by working hard for you as your governor. I hope to listen and work across party lines to do whats right for North Carolina, because no person or party has a monopoly on good ideas.
A $48 million bond to build three indoor practice fields in the Birdville school district was losing after unofficial early voting results. The votes to approve the bond were 46.75% to 53.25% who opposed.

The buildings at Richland, Birdville and Haltom high schools would cost approximately $16 million per campus.

A Birdville spokesperson said in an email that the school district wouldnt issue a statement on the bond election until Wednesday.

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The bond package is a scaled back version of the $59 million proposal that was voted down two years ago, according to the school district.

The facilitys design allows for multiple groups to use the space simultaneously, which is especially beneficial during inclement weather or when outdoor areas are unavailable. This ensures consistent practice schedules and enhances performance and readiness for all programs, school board president Kris Drees said in an email to the Star-Telegram.

Districts with indoor practice fields

Many north Texas districts have the indoor practice fields, including Aledo, Arlington, Argyle, Carroll, Denton, Grapevine-Colleyville, H-E-B and White Settlement. Dallas and Fort Worth do not have indoor fields.

Property tax rate impact

The property tax rate will not increase because the maintenance and operations portion (which provides funds for day to day expenses) has dropped by 25.31 cents since 2019, from $1.04 to 78.69 cents, said Katie Bowman, associate superintendent of finance and operations. Birdvilles debt service portion of the tax rate also went down slightly.
Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, Andy Levine, and Daniel Bordona are leading in the Fresno Unified School board races, according to voter ballots tallied as of 1 a.m. Wednesday.

This year, voters will decide three seats on the seven-member board: Area 2 (Roosevelt High region), Area 5 (Fresno High region) and Area 6 (Hoover High region). All three areas incumbents are running for reelection, and each faces one or more challengers.

Jonasson Rosas, 40, deputy general manager for external affairs at Westlands Water District who is seeking her third term to represent the Roosevelt region, leads 19-year-old Fresno State student Joseph Aquino with 67.93% of the vote. Aquino is a Hoover High graduate and former Fresno Unified student trustee who is running for public office for the first time.

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Im honored that the community entrusts me with something as important as the education of their kids, and I appreciate their support in my reelection, Jonathan Rosas said on Tuesday night. I know that there are many things that we need to work on in the years ahead, I look forward to continuing to represent them.

In Fresno High area race, incumbent Levine, who filled succeed trustee Carol Mills in 2022 after winning a special election, held a comfortable lead over his two two challengers  James Martinez, 38, president of the Fresno County Board of Education, and Emma Villa, an educator and advocate for special-needs children.

The updated results show Levine leading the race with 44.49% of the vote ahead of James Martinez (28.23% of the vote) and Emma Villa (26.94%). Martinez is not seeking reelection to his seat on the county education board after his term ends in December. Villa has not held any public office.

Levine told The Fresno Bee on Tuesday night that its too early to celebrate, but he was glad to see the early results.

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Glad to have an early lead, feeling good about that, but it was still very preliminary, so definitely keeping an eye waiting for the next update and well see where were at from there, Levine said. But Im happy to be in this spot to begin with.

Fresno Unified School board incumbent Andy Levine, center, gathers with supporters at Moto Delicatessen and Bodega Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2024 in Fresno.

The Hoover region features a close race between Bordona, a retired teacher and administrator, and incumbent Claudia Cazares, who is running for her third term on the school board. Bordona led Cezares, 50.63% to 49.07%, in the latest ballot returns.

Fresno Unified is the third-largest school district in the state with more than 68,000 students in 106 schools. It has a yearly budget of over $2.1 billion, making it the biggest fiscal driver from Bakersfield to Sacramento, according to former Superintendent Bob Nelson.

The Fresno Unified school board candidates collectively raised more than $250,000 for their races, according to Fresno County Clerk.

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Jonasson Rosas raised $10,936, Bordona raised $93,863 and Cazares raised $10,873. Much of the spending happened in the Area 5 race  Levine reported raising $54,106 while Martinez raised $120,362.

Aquino and Villa filed statements promising they would raise and spend less than $2,000.
Updated at 5:20 p.m. Nov. 6.

(All ballots have been counted, according to the state elections website.)

Here you can find the latest results of the 2024 Idaho general election, which began pouring in after the statewide poll closure at 9 p.m. Mountain time.

Ada County and Canyon County voters cast their ballots for their preferred candidates in numerous races Tuesday, including for U.S. Congress, legislative seats and county commissioners. Two statewide issues also were on the ballot: Proposition 1, which would implement an open primary and ranked choice voting, and a constitutional amendment on noncitizen voting.

Only contested races are listed. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk *.
The broadcast streaming in this article has ended for the night. Follow brproud.com for your election news needs.

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  Across Louisiana, voters cast ballots for the U.S. president and House seats on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

In East Baton Rouge, residents voted on the mayor-president and several Metro Council seats.

Polls closed at 8 p.m., and BRProud is bringing you the latest results for this and other local races and propositions, including mayoral, council and chief of police races across the BRProud coverage area.

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Any runoff elections will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7. Early voting for that election will be from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 22-30, excluding Sunday, Nov. 24, Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29. Residents who want to vote early can use the GeauxVote mobile app to find their early voting locations, review their sample ballot and check out the Election Day voting site.

Election 2024: See Louisiana results for presidential, state and local races

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.
Republican state Rep. Tricia Cotham fended off her Democratic challenger in her first reelection bid since her controversial party change. But she could face a recount.

Cotham, who gave Republicans a veto-proof supermajority in the state legislature and helped them pass new restrictions on abortion, faced Democrat Nicole Sidman. They ran in a redrawn North Carolina House District 105, which includes parts of Matthews, Mint Hill and south Charlotte.

With all 18 precincts reporting, Cotham beat Sidman by a margin of 50.26% to 49.74%.

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Cothams flip angered many in the Democratic Party, whove poured money and institutional support into Sidmans campaign. The first-time candidate raised and spent more than $1 million from July 1 through mid-October, according to her campaign finance report.

Sidman arrived about 8:30 p.m. to applause and cheers at her watch party at Legion Brewing in South Park. Around 100 attendees have gathered to watch the outcome of the race Tuesday night. Sidman told The Charlotte Observer shes feeling optimistic going into tonight, but its still a waiting game. She spent all day canvassing and making calls to voters, after spending this past weekend doing the same.

By 10:45 p.m., her campaign ended its party with one precinct outstanding and indicated theyd likely call for a recount.

Yall all know Im not a bs-er, and my non-bs answer is we dont know, said Anna Fiore, Sidmans campaign manager. Were waiting on one precinct, and we will almost certainly be in the margin for a recount. If we are, we will almost certainly be calling for a recount.

Nicole Sidman, center, chats with supporters at the election watch party at Legion Brewing South Park in CharlotteTuesday night, Nov. 5, 2024

Cotham has kept a lower profile during the campaign, repeatedly not responding to requests for comments throughout the election cycle from the Observer and other media outlets. She did not respond to questions about her campaigns election night plans.

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Experts said before Election Day that women and unaffiliated voters would be key in determining the result.

Its one of a slate of competitive North Carolina General Assembly races that were on the ballot Tuesday in the Charlotte region.

Here are the latest results in other Charlotte-area state House and Senate races. All results are unofficial until certified by election officials.

NC House District 98

With all 11 precincts reporting, Democrat Beth Gardner Helfrich beat Republican Melinda Bales by a margin of 52.13% to 47.87%.

Helfrich, a first-time candidate, squared off with Bales, the Republican former mayor of Huntersville, for the open seat in North Carolina House District 98, which covers parts of northern Mecklenburg County including Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson.

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Helfrich said previously the biggest issues shes heard about from constituents during the campaign are traffic, health care, costs, schools and reproductive rights. Bales listed her top priorities as workforce and economic development, education and infrastructure.

The district is historically close: outgoing Republican Rep. John Bradford won by just over 2,000 votes in 2020 and less than 1,000 votes in 2022.

Helfrich out-fundraised and outspent Bales in the final months of the campaign. The Democrat raised $1.1 million from July 1 through mid-October and spent $1.05 million to Bales $522,957.13 in fundraising and $574,608.18 in spending in the same period.

NC Senate District 42

A pair of political newcomers faced off in North Carolina Senate District 42, which includes parts of Mint Hill, Matthews and south Charlotte. With all 44 precincts reporting, Woodson Bradley led Stacie McGinn by a margin of 50.01% to 49.99%. It was only a 27-vote difference.

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Bradleys campaign said in a statement they anticipate a recount and will cooperate with the Mecklenburg County and state boards of elections.

McGinn, the Republican nominee, and Bradley, the Democrat, both raised and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the final quarter of the campaign.

McGinn previously served as general counsel for the Republican Party of Mecklenburg County and focused her platform on crime, the economy and education. Bradley, a Realtor, said previously rising cost of living is the biggest issue facing her constituents.

The race made headlines in October when McGinn accused Bradley of scamming consumers as part of an illegal pyramid scheme shut down by the Federal Trade Commission more than 10 years ago. Bradley was involved with Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing, the Observer reported previously, but her campaign said McGinns accusations were false because she was not a party in the case by the FTC against FHTM and was just a contractor.

NC Senate District 37

With all 35 precincts reporting, incumbent state Sen. Vickie Sawyer beat Kate Compton Barr by a margin of 65% to 35%.

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Sawyer, a Republican, was seeking a fourth term representing North Carolina Senate District 37, which includes Iredell County and northern Mecklenburg County.

Her Democratic challenger, Barr, drew national attention with her campaign message that she cant win in the district due to gerrymandering.

NC House District 104

With all 27 precincts reporting, state Rep. Brandon Lofton beat Krista Bokhari by a margin of 55.89% to 44.11%.

The incumbent Democrat Lofton is running in North Carolina House District 104, which includes the Quail Hollow, Beverly Woods, Ole Providence, Woodbridge, Myers Park, Cotswold and Oakhurst neighborhoods.

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Bokhari has never run for elected office before but is the wife of Charlotte City Council member Tariq Bokhari. Lofton is seeking a fourth term in Raleigh.

NC House District 73

With all 20 precincts reporting, Republican challenger Jonathan Almond beat incumbent Democratic state Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams by a margin of 53.35% to 46.65%.

North Carolina House District 73 includes Concord and parts of northeastern Cabarrus County.

Staton-Williams, a nurse by trade, was first elected to the legislature in 2022. Her first race was one of the closest in the state that election cycle. Her district has since been redrawn and now typically votes 53% Republican and 44.6% Democratic, according to Daves Redistricting.

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Almond works for a restaurant group. His campaign priorities include limiting government, the Second Amendment, lowering taxes and border security, according to his website.

Charlotte Observer reporter Nora ONeill contributed past reporting to this story.
In the most recent voting results, released early Wednesday, for Area 3 race of the Merced Union High School District Board of Trustees, Sam S. Spangler led incumbent Julio Valadez with 1,678 votes or 50.56% of the 3,319 votes counted. Valadez who led early as votes came in, now has 1,632 votes or 49.17%.

Valadez was elected in 2020 when remote learning was instituted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed criticism about teachers being asked to provide in-person education at the time.

Spangler is a Merced County Sheriffs Department deputy and former Union High trustee. He represented Area 3 for nearly six years and resigned in 2014 to focus on family and career.

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Neither candidate responded to the Merced Sun-Stars request for interviews regarding their campaign.

In the most recent voting results for the Area 4 race: incumbent Amalee Jayasinghe led Kanwaldeep Bains with 2,674 votes or 55.07% of the 4,856 votes counted. Bains had 2,119 votes or 43.64%.

Jayasinghe, 50, a manager of a manufacturing facility, was appointed to fill a vacant seat in 2021 and ran unopposed in 2022. Bains, 45, a Public Health Division Manger, previously served seven years on the Livingston Union School District Board.

Jayasinghe said she believes education is transformative and it does so much to change lives.

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I do believe that its a partnership between the teachers, schools and the board, she said. We partner together to get the best outcome for our students but I really would like to see how better we can get parental involvement as well in students education.

Bains said her experience in public health and community engagement allows her to understand the importance of addressing the diverse needs of students and to help them succeed both academically and personally.

As a trustee, I aim to advocate for quality education, equity, and support services that will empower students and prepare them for the future, Bains said. Im passionate about fostering an inclusive and safe learning environment, where students can thrive and feel supported.

In the Area 5 race: incumbent Kurt E. Kollmann led Gameelah Mohamed with 2,035 of the votes or 69.03% of the 2,948 votes counted. Mohamed had 885 votes or 30.02%.

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Kollmann, 64, is a retired principal who has represented Area 5 since 2023. He promotes the districts technical education program for preparing students in careers that dont require a four-year college education.

Thats my goal, to make sure we have a really balanced program for Merced Union High School District, Kollmann said.

Mohamed, 42, is a community advocate who is focused on addressing the multicultural needs of the district. She aims to move forward with cultural competency training among school staff.

I would love to hear what [board members] have worked on, and work with them from there to try to improve or enhance whatevers already in place, Mohamed said. You cant do it alone. You definitely always have to have the backing of the community.
Whatcom County voters appear to be returning incumbent legislators to Olympia as Americans went to the polls across the country on Tuesday and Washingtons mail-in ballots were due.

When the first ballot count was released after 8 p.m. Tuesday, Democrats were leading in the five races for the 40th and 42nd legislative districts that represent Bellingham and Whatcom County.

Local voters are casting ballots for delegates to the Charter Review Commission, members of the state Legislature and all statewide offices including the governor and the Washington Supreme Court.

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There also are four statewide initiatives seeking to overturn laws enacted by the Legislature.

Also on the ballot were federal offices, including U.S. president and vice-president, seats in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

Democrats were celebrating their local successes during a party Tuesday night at the Hotel Leo. But there was caution and concern for the outcome of races for the presidency, House and Senate.

State Rep. Alicia Rule, D-Blaine, was holding a 10-point lead in her bid for a third term  a solid margin in a district that only recently trended Republican.

The members of the 42nd are clearly supportive of a candidate who is willing to listen to our district. That makes me really happy and Im ready to go back to work, Rule told The Bellingham Herald in an interview.

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Rules state House partner, Rep. Joe Timmons, D-Bellingham, was holding a 6-point lead in his re-election race.

I feel like the work Ive done in my first term was really great as far as trying to reduce the cost of living for folks and improve our education systems. I look forward to continuing that work. I also look forward to tackling more housing issues specifically to try to increase more homeownership for first time homebuyers and decrease the cost of living for folks who are renting, Timmons told The Herald.

All voting is done by mail in Washington, and ballots were due by 8 p.m. Tuesday, meaning that they had to be place in official ballot drop boxes by then, or have a postmark before that time.

There are 167,634 active registered voters in Whatcom County, according to the Auditors Office website.

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As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, a total of 105,814 ballots had been returned and 100,983 had been accepted.

A second tally of ballots was scheduled for about 5 p.m. Wednesday.

U.S. House, 2nd District

U.S. Rep Rick Larsen, D-Everett, was leading Cody Hart, a MAGA Republican from Sedro-Wooley, by 63% to 37%.

There are many more ballots to be counted in Washington state, and I am confident that our election officials are fair and nonpartisan and that the final ballot count will be accurate, Larsen said in a statement.

Regardless of what the final results of this election are, I know there is more work to be done  to protect reproductive freedom, to combat the opioid epidemic, and to keep the jobs engine going, he said.

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Washingtons 2nd Congressional District covers all of Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties, along with part of western Snohomish County.

Larsen has represented the district since he was elected in 2000.

40th District State Senate

State Sen. Liz Lovelett, D-Anacortes, was leading Charles Carrell, a Republican from Glenhaven, by 72% to 28%.

Lovelett, who was appointed to fill a vacant seat in 2019, is running for her second four-year term.

Washington states 40th Legislative District covers the southwest part of Whatcom County, including the south part of Bellingham, western Skagit County, and San Juan County.

40th District State House, Position 1

Debra Lekanoff, D-Bow, was elected to a two-year House term in 2018 and has been re-elected twice. Lekanoff, an Alaska Native, spent 20 years working for the Swinomish Tribe before she joined the Legislature. She was unopposed in this election.

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Washington states 40th Legislative District covers the southwest part of Whatcom County, including the south part of Bellingham, western Skagit County, and San Juan County.

40th District State House, Position 2

Alex Ramel, D-Bellingham, is climate policy adviser with Stand.Earth. He was appointed in January 2020 to fill a vacant seat. He won in November 2020 and again in November 2022.

Ramel was unopposed in this election.

Washington states 40th Legislative District covers the southwest part of Whatcom County, including the south part of Bellingham, western Skagit County, and San Juan County.

42nd District State House, Position 1

State Rep. Alicia Rule, D-Blaine, was leading her Republican challenger Raymond Pelletti, a real estate agent from Blaine, by a vote of 55% to 45%.

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Rule, a social worker and a therapist in private practice, was elected to a two-year state House term in 2020 and re-elected in 2022.

Washington states 42nd Legislative District covers the northern part of Whatcom County, including the northern part of Bellingham. The state Senate position is not on this years ballot.

42nd District State House, Position 2

State Rep. Joe Timmons, D-Bellingham, was leading Kamal Bhachu, a Rebublican from Blaine, by a vote of 53% to 47%.

Timmons is seeking re-election to a two-year state House seat after his first term in office.

Washington states 42nd Legislative District covers the northern part of Whatcom County, including the northern part of Bellingham. The state Senate position is not on this years ballot.
Challenger Mike Amabile continued to lead Refugio LLamas and incumbent Paul Llanez who was seeking reelection as mayor of Los Banos.

Amabile is currently in the lead with 2,420 or 43.71% of the 5,537 votes counted. Llamas trails with 1,901 or 34.33% of the vote. Llanez has 1,179 or 21.29% as of the latest election results released just before 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Llanez, 45, a former law enforcement officer and shareholder in Knowledge Saves Lives Inc. is seeking a second term as the citys mayor. Llanez said he feels there is a lot more work that needs to be done in the city including work to the citys infrastructure after decades of neglect. Llanez, who was elected the position in 2022, plans to improve the citys education and economic outlook by creating partnerships educational institutions such as Merced College and the University of California, Merced.

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Theres so many opportunities for us to create partnerships, again we want a not just better community but better the future of our community, said Llanez. So I think we have a lot of partnerships we can create and move forward on but theres only so much you can do in a two year span.

Amabile, 70, a former mayor said he believes the city needs a fresh start and that it is currently lacking accountability and transparency with the current city council.

Whats going on is theres not a lot of communication with the public and there are decisions being made at the city level and people just dont understand why theyre being made, said Amabile. Theres not a clear understanding by the people or communication by the council. So I really think Los Banos needs a fresh start.

Llamas, 58, a former city council member whos term ended in 2021, said the things he is most concerned with are what he sees a lack of economic development, run away home building and the current quality of the citys water.

We dont have economic development, we dont have manufacturing we dont have anything else but housing, Llamas said. That leads to a boom to bust cycle which is not good for the city in the long run, according to Llamas.
Will Tarrant County swing for a Democratic presidential candidate for only the second time in six decades?

It doesnt look that way, with 291 of 350 vote centers reporting unofficial election results in the presidential election between former President Donald Trump, a Republican, and Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat.

Trump has the edge in Tarrant County with 51.9% of votes to Harris 46.7%, according to unofficial results from the election department

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Statewide, Trump won Texas. He led Harris 56.7% to 42% with 93% of the states votes in, according to the Associated Press.

By a little after 8 p.m. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had already declared Trump victorious in the Lone Star State.

Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his overwhelming victory in Texas, Abbott said in a written statement. Texans know who will slash inflation, secure our southern border, unleash American energy, and crack down on violent crimeand thats Donald Trump. Texans rejected Kamala Harris radical leftist agenda and voted to restore freedom, prosperity, and opportunity for all Americans.

The presidential election has been anything but ordinary as Trump, the first former president convicted of felony crimes and the subject of other criminal cases, seeks a second four-year term against Harris, who became the nominee through a Democratic delegate vote after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.

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Polls and election experts predicted that Texas would go in Trumps favor ahead of Election Day, but Tarrant County has flipped in the past, despite its reputation as a rare Republican urban county.

Trump won Texas in 2020 but lost Tarrant County by less than a percentage point against President Joe Biden. It was the first time a Democratic presidential candidate won the county since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. With the close margins of the 2020 election, a winner in Tarrant County wasnt clear on election night, and votes continued to be tallied in the days after the election.

Former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, an El Paso Democrat, also won Tarrant County in 2018 in the U.S. Senate race against Sen. Ted Cruz, the Republican incumbent who is on the ballot again this election cycle, this time against Rep. Colin Allred, a Dallas Democrat.

In 2016, Trump beat Democratic nominee and former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Tarrant County by 8.6 points.

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Harris and Trump were in Texas ahead of Election Day, holding dueling events on Friday, Oct. 25. Harris held a rally in Houston focused on abortion access where she was joined by celebrities like musicians Beyonce and Kelly Rowland. Trump visited Austin to go on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. He also held an event billed as remarks to the press where he discussed border security.

Abortion and immigration policies have been top campaign issues in the presidential election, with Texas often serving as a focal point given the states strict abortion laws and its proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The winner of the election may not be known Tuesday night. Presidential candidates are elected through the electoral college, with electors in each state meeting Dec. 17 to cast their votes for president. (Typically they vote for the candidate that won the states popular vote.) Congress certifies the electoral votes on Jan. 6.
Whatcom County saw thousands of people register to vote in the days leading up to and on Election Day 2024.

Just about a week ago, Whatcom County had about 165,000 registered voters. By the afternoon of Nov. 5, 2024, Whatcom County had about 167,000 registered voters, according to Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn.

That number was only expected to increase as hundreds of people stood in long lines all day at the County Courthouse on Tuesday waiting to register to vote.

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People are coming in and registering to vote, which is wonderful, Henthorn said in an interview with The Bellingham Herald.

Hundreds of people stood in line to register to vote at the Whatcom County Courthouse on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

One hundred-fifty individuals registered to vote Saturday. Another 607 registered to vote on Monday, and 771 additional people had registered to vote by Tuesday afternoon, Henthorn told The Herald.

We are very excited that we have so many citizens of Whatcom County and Washington State that are here, excited about registering to vote and casting their ballot, Henthorn said.

By Tuesday afternoon, 122,000 ballots had already been accepted in Whatcom County.

A volunteer helps people cast their ballots at a drive-up ballot drop box on November 5, 2024, in Bellingham, Wash.

Whatcom County has been voting by mail since 2005. Voters get their ballots mailed to them 20 days ahead of Election Day.

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Washington State is fine-tuned in the process (of voting by mail.) It gives (voters) time to go ahead and research the initiatives and candidates so that they are making a wise choice when casting their vote, Henthorn said.

Registered voters may return their ballot in an official ballot drop box by 8 p.m. Tuesday or return it by mail postmarked by Nov. 5.

Ballot processing in Whatcom County is done in the basement of the County Courthouse and is live-streamed 24/7 via multiple webcams.
Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a concession speech at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Wednesday afternoon after she called President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory against her in the 2024 race for the presidency.

"The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for," Harris said. "But hear me when I say, the light of America's promise will always burn bright."

A victory in Wisconsin early Wednesday gave Trump 277 Electoral College votes, pushing him past the 270 needed to secure the White House. The Associated Press called the race for Trump Wednesday morning, making him the 47th president of the United States.

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Hours later, the Associated Press called Michigan for Trump as well. The wins in Wisconsin and Michigan followed key Trump victories in Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina  all critical swing states that acted as decisive territories in the presidential race. Trump, as of now, is also leading in the popular vote with 51% of returns.

Trump will become the second president to lose a reelection campaign but return to the White House four years later. The only other president to win a nonconsecutive term was Grover Cleveland in 1892.

We're covering the election live all week. Sign up for Breaking News alerts to get the latest updates.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have been neck-and-neck in the US Election.

Tens of millions of Americans cast their votes in the US election on Tuesday, including Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

While Harris opted to vote by mail earlier this week, Trump visited his local polling station in Palm Beach, Florida, this afternoon, accompanied by Melania Trump.

Speaking to reporters, Trump dismissed fears of political unrest, saying my supporters are not violent. He added that he would be the "first one" to admit defeat if he loses a "fair" election, which he said it had been "so far".

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While it had been a largely quiet election day, authorities in Washington DC said they had arrested a man at the US Capitol Visitor Center smelling like fuel and armed with potential incendiary devices.

The FBI said fake bomb threats had been made to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to have originated from Russian email domains. Threats were made to at least two polling locations in Fulton County, Georgia, which were briefly evacuated on Tuesday morning. None of the threats were credible, the FBI said.

The final votes of the evening will be cast shortly before 6am UK time, when polls close in the two remaining US states, Alaska and Hawaii.

The first exit poll of the night  indicating voting intention and how certain demographics cast their ballot  will be issued around 10pm.

Yahoo UK's live coverage of the US Election has ended for now and will re-start on Wednesday morning as the results roll in. Catch up with the key moments below, or you can switch over to live, overnight coverage from our US colleagues here.

Live coverage is over 65 updates Wed, November 6, 2024 at 6:08 AM GMT Harriet Sinclair AP race call: Donald Trump wins Georgia Trump has won Georgia and its 16 electoral votes, according to the Associated Press, a state he narrowly lost to Joe Biden in 2020. Trump campaigned heavily in the Peach State and emerged with a win despite his on-and-off criticism of Brian Kemp, Georgias popular Republican governor.

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 10:15 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson Inside Trump's home town on election day Dogs in MAGA tops and crochet puppets of Donald Trump have been spotted in the Republican candidate's home town on election day. The scenes unravelled in Palm Beach, Florida. at the Mandel Center which sits just three miles away from Trump's Mar-a-Lago complex. Trump visited the very area just hours earlier to cast his vote for the US election. Read the full story on The Telegraph .

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 10:00 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson Harris calls voters at phone bank Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris holds up a phone as she phone banks (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Kamala Harris has been spotted joining volunteers at the phone banks at the DNC's Washington headquarters. In a surprise visit to thank staff for their contributions, she said their efforts "truly makes the best of what we are". Calling one voter, she asked: Have you voted already? The person responded that they had, to which Harris said, You did? Thank you. According to the Harris campaign, she has plans to do more radio call-ins this evening.

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 9:45 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson Who is Robert Francis Kennedy JR? RFK Jr has been a vocal supporter of Trump (AP/Alex Brandon) One of the more vocal and supporters of Trump has been Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. The US politician and nephew of former US president John F Kennedy is the chairman and founder of Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine advocacy group that is a leading proponent of Covid-19 vaccine misinformation. Speaking to NBC about Kennedy on Sunday, Trump said he was "a very talented guy and has strong views". Kennedy has been known to claim that vaccines cause autism, a theory that has been routinely debunked. Kennedy has also recently hit the headlines for campaigning to ban flouride in the water supply, claiming that it was an industrial waste linked to cancer. Flouride, a compound naturally found in water, is said to be instrumental in fighting tooth decay. One of the few places that has removed flouride from its water  Calgary, in Canada  intends to reverse its decision in 2025 after it found the removal of flouride resulted in worsening tooth decay among young children after its removal. Advertisement Advertisement

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 9:30 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson Who is Jill Stein, and what could she mean for the Harris vote? Jill Stein, the 2024 Green Party presidential candidate, during an event with Workers Strike Back and the "Abandon Harris" campaign (DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images) In such a tight election race, every vote counts - which is why the presence of Green Party candidate Jill Stein is causing the Democrats some concern. While the US election has long been considered a two-horse race, frustration over the Republican and Democrat positions on the Israel-Hamas war as well as environmental issues has led many to speculate whether it will bolster the Green Partys position. Both Team Trump and the Harris campaign have said that a vote for Stein is a vote for Trump. In a race with a razor thin majority, both camps are recognising that every vote counts  and those that vote Green are significantly more likely to vote Democrat. Stein, a Harvard graduate and practising doctor, previously ran for the Greens in the 2012 and 2016 elections. Some voters said they felt compelled to back Stein because they are haunted by the violence raging on in the Middle East. "Every time I watch the news or get on social media, I see my people being decimated, I see my home country being destroyed," a 32-year-old Lebanese-American, disillusioned by the Biden-Harris administration's unwavering support for Israel, told AFP. Overall, Stein was polling at about 1 percent nationally in October.

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 9:15 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson Hollywood actors cast their votes Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts and Eva Longoria are among the celebrities sharing that they have voted for Kamala Harris as the US goes to the polls. Posting on Instagram on Tuesday, Pretty Woman star Roberts shared an image of herself wearing a Potus (President of the United States) t-shirt with a female sign, and a sticker saying: I voted. She wrote: There is a time to hope, there is a time to pray and there is time to vote. Today is the day. Read the full story from PA .

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 9:00 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson Key times to look out for tonight US and UK voters will tune in to watch election night unfold (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Considering pulling an all-nighter to keep up with the election? Here's what to expect as the evening progresses. The first batch of exit poll data will be released at 10pm. Unlike in the UK, this exit poll wont try to determine the result of the election. Instead, it will map out peoples voting priorities, as well as how certain demographics voted. By midnight, the east coast polls will have closed, including in the first swing state of the night, Georgia. Others, like Ohio, will shortly follow. By 1am, the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania will have also closed to voters, with more exit poll data also coming to light. By 6am, Alaska and Hawaii, the last remaining states, will close their polls. And the election result? Thats all to play for. While many elections are called within a 24 to 36-hour period, some counts  due to the size of the country and its voting system  take days. Lets hope its shorter than the gruelling 36-day recount battle in 2000, which saw the Supreme Court weighing in to determine who was the presidential victor out of George W Bush and Al Gore.

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 8:45 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson What would a Kamala Harris victory mean for the UK? President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Kamala Harris will claim an historic victory as the first woman to get the keys to the White House if she wins the US presidential election. While Harris has enjoyed various small leads over her Republican rival Donald Trump since taking over the campaign from incumbent president Joe Biden, the margins are closing and the race remains anyone's to win. The results of this Novembers presidential election could not only spell significant changes for the US in the four years ahead, but also closer to home. Read the full story here . Advertisement Advertisement

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 8:30 PM GMT Natalie Marchant Swing states in focus: North Carolina North Carolina, home to the Great Smoky Mountains, has been a swing state since 2008. (Getty) Since 2008, North Carolina has begun to break away from its Southern neighbours to become a swing state. In 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democrat to claim victory here since Jimmy Carter in 1976  albeit by just 14,000 votes over John McCain. It flipped back to the Republicans with Mitt Romney in 2012 and then Donald Trump in each of the last two elections, but remains in the toss-up column this year  with one extra electoral college vote up for grabs. Number of electoral votes: 16

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 8:14 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson Fake bomb threats and an arrest It's been a mostly quiet election day so far, despite a man arrested being arrested at the Capitol, and some false bomb threats. Police arrested a man who turned up to the building's visitor centre smelling like fuel and armed with potential incendiary devices. Our officers just arrested a man who was stopped during our screening process at the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The man smelled like fuel, had a torch & a flare gun.



The CVC is closed for tours for the day, while we investigate. We will provide more information when we can. pic.twitter.com/J5geNud1h2  The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) November 5, 2024 "The CVC [Capitol Visitor Centre] is closed for tours for the day while we investigate," US Capitol police wrote on X. Some fake bomb threats to polling stations were also identified by the FBI. The threats, made in several states, appear to originate from Russian email domains, Reuters reported. "None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," the FBI said in a statement. At least two polling locations in Fulton County, Georgia, were also briefly evacuated on Tuesday morning. State secretary Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, confirmed that at least one bomb threat made against the polling station was from a person of Russian origin. Raffensberger said that he thought the calls were made because the Russian authorities "don't want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election".

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 8:00 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson NASA astronauts encourage voters from space NASA astronauts have taken to Instagram to encourage voters to cast their ballot. Astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams and Don Pettit voted early for the presidential election from the International Space Station, according to the Harris County Clerk of Courts Office in Texas, CNN reported. "It doesnt matter if you are sitting, standing, or floating  what matters is that you vote!" NASA astronaut Nick Hague wrote. But how does someone vote in space? It turns out that ballots cast in space get beamed to Earth in the same way that most data is transmitted between the space station and mission control.

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 7:45 PM GMT Natalie Marchant World awaits US presidential election result People around the world are waiting for the results of the US presidential election to come in. Peruvian shamans equipped with coca leaves, beverages, swords, smoking ceramic pots and incense carry out a ritual using pictures of US candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on a beach in Lima. (AFP via Getty Images) Art teacher Prithviraj Kambli paints posters of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump outside his school in Mumbai, India, as voters head to the polls in the US presidential election. (AP) US and Ukrainian flags placed in honour of fallen servicemen flutter in the wind in front of statue in central square, in Kyiv, Ukraine, as US voters head to the polls. (AP) People walk past a newsstand with newspapers headlining on the US election in Paris, France. (AP) Advertisement Advertisement

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 7:30 PM GMT Natalie Marchant Swing states in focus: Pennsylvania An early morning view of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on election day. (AFP via Getty Images) With Ohio expected to back Donald Trump again, Pennsylvania has become the key swing state in the so-called Rust Belt. The fifth most populous state in the nation voted Democratic in six straight elections before 2016, but went for Donald Trump by 0.7% in 2016  a key element in his upset victory over Hillary Clinton. Joe Biden beat Trump by 1.2% in 2020 and another close battle is expected for its 19 electoral votes this time. Number of electoral votes: 19

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 7:20 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson What would a Donald Trump victory mean for the UK? Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally at Gastonia Municipal Airport (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) With US election polls still too close to call, many are already considering the potential consequences on the rest of the world if former president Donald Trump is re-elected. The results of 5 Novembers presidential election could not only spell significant changes for the US in the four years ahead, but also further afield  including in the UK. Read the full story here .

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 7:10 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson British voters trust Kamala Harris more - poll Kamala Harris is trusted more by British voters (Photo: Rebecca DROKE / AFP) British voters trust Kamala Harris more than Donald Trump to carry out a range of everyday tasks, according to a new poll. The Savanta survey gives the vice president a clear lead over her Republican rival as Americans decide who should be their new president. According to the poll, just one in seven UK adults (15%) would trust Trump to babysit small children, compared to 59% who would trust Harris. Read the full story from the Huffington Post .

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 6:55 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson Where can I watch the election results? It's a race of razor-thin margins, and it could be days before we know the results. However, those who want to follow along in the UK as the US election results begin to trickle in have plenty of options  with coverage starting from 7pm tonight. Whether you want to check out the coverage on BBC, ITV or Sky News, we've got you covered. Read the full story from Oxford Mail . Advertisement Advertisement

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 6:45 PM GMT Natalie Marchant Swing states in focus: Nevada Nevada and Las Vegas have seen a growing population in recent years. (Getty) The home of Las Vegas was a solid bet for the Republicans between 1968 and 1988, but a rapidly growing population  it has tripled since 1980  has pushed the Silver State back into the toss-up territory. Hillary Clinton edged out Donald Trump by 48% to 46% in 2016 and Joe Biden beat Trump 50% to 48% in 2020. Clintons win was only the second time since 1912 Nevada had not voted for the winner of the election  they also voted for Republican Gerald Ford in 1976. Number of electoral votes: 6

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 6:30 PM GMT Natalie Marchant Pooches for president? Dogs at polling stations  the US edition Dogs at polling stations has been a big thing over the last few UK elections... so here's some of the pooches turning out at the polling station for the presidential election in the US. Labradoodle Penny waits for its owner, Katy O'Carroll, outside a polling station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images) A dog wearing a Stars and Stripes flag tie was present when the residents of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, cast their ballots at midnight  the first votes in the US election. (AFP via Getty Images) A dog called Daisy joined her owner at a polling booth in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Getty Images) A dog looks on as people vote at a polling station in New York City. (AFP via Getty Images)

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 6:20 PM GMT Jasmine Andersson US expats living in the UK share their anxiety and anticipation Americans in the UK anxious and excited ahead of US election results (PA) US expats living in the UK have shared their anxiety and anticipation as polls open in the US for the 2024 presidential election. The run-off between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is one of the closest races in US history, and on Tuesday millions of Americans headed to their local polling station to cast their votes. Read the full story from PA .

Tue, November 5, 2024 at 6:10 PM GMT Natalie Marchant Swing states in focus: Michigan Detroit is the capital the Great Lake State of Michigan. (Alamy) Michigan has emerged as one of the new battleground states which will decide this election. It was solidly Republican between 1972 and 1988, then solidly Democratic between 1992 and 2012. But in 2016, Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton here by just 0.2% of the vote, before losing to Joe Biden by 2.8% four years later. The Great Lake State has lost one electoral college vote since the last election as its population has declined. Number of electoral votes: 15 Show more updates

Follow all the latest election news and analysis from Yahoo UK's media partners in our US Election hub page.

US Election: Polls closing time
An argument between two men who live on boats in a Coconut Grove marina ended up with one of them shot multiple times Monday night, Miami police said.

The violence happened shortly before 5 p.m. at the Dinner Key Marina located at 3400 Pan American Drive over one of the mens belongings ending up on the other mans vessel, according to a Miami police arrest report.

The victim, who was not named in the report, packed the belongings onto his dinghy and drove them over to the other mans boat, police say. Once at the vessel, he threw the belongings onto the deck of the boat.

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Thats when police say the boats owner, Joseph Randall Woodward, 43, came out from the cabin holding a black rifle.

He opened fire, shooting the other man in the abdomen and grazing his right forearm and left side of the head, according to the police report.

The victim ducked down into his dinghy and left the scene. But police say Woodward dropped his rifle, hopped into his dinghy and gave chase.

He caught up with the other mans dinghy and grabbed his shirt. The other man was able to find a flashlight on his dinghy and hit Woodward in the face with it, police said, causing him to lose his grip on the victims arm.

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The victim made it to shore and called police. He was taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. His condition as of Tuesday night was not immediately available.

Officers interviewed Woodwards girlfriend, who said she was sleeping inside the boat when the incident happened, according to the report.

Woodward was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital to be treated for the laceration on his head from the flashlight and then released into police custody.

After being read his rights, he told police that he was inside his boat eating cereal while his girlfriend slept when he heard a commotion outside, according to the report. He said when he went outside, he saw the other man throwing things on his boat and dinghy, the report states.

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Woodward told police that as he stood on his boat, the other man threw a flashlight at him, hitting him in the face. He told police he did chase after the other man on his dinghy and he noticed the man was bleeding from his upper torso and arm.

However, police say he denied shooting the man.

Woodward was booked into Turner Guilford Correctional Center on one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a count of displaying a firearm while committing a felony. As of Tuesday night, he was waiting for a judge to set bond.

Information on his legal representation was not immediately available.
"All Americans are bound, whether we like the outcome or not, to accept the results of our elections," Cheney said, calling it our "special responsibility" to ensure that those in power defend the Constitution

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty; Brandon Bell/Getty Liz Cheney, left, and Donald Trump, right

Liz Cheney is calling on Americans to help be the guardrails of democracy after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Just hours after Trumps victory, the 58-year-old former congresswoman posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Americans now have a special responsibility to defend the Constitution and preserve the rule of law after Trump reached the 270 electoral votes needed to claim victory in the election.

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The daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney then urged U.S. citizens to do everything possible in the next four years to ensure that our institutions hold while Trumps new administration holds office.

"Our nations democratic system functioned last night and we have a new President-elect. All Americans are bound, whether we like the outcome or not, to accept the results of our elections," Cheney posted on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

She ended by writing, Citizens across this country, our courts, members of the press and those serving in our federal, state and local governments must now be the guardrails of democracy.

Samuel Corum/Getty Former congresswoman Liz Cheney said Americans "have a special responsibility to defend the Constitution and preserve the rule of law after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

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Cheney has long been an outspoken critic of Trump, breaking from the Republican Party in 2020 to urge the former president to respect the electoral process before leading the House investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

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She was also one of few Republicans who called for Trump to be prosecuted for his involvement in the riot and posed the question, Are we a country where no one is above the law?

Cheney even served on a congressional committee that investigated the attack, which she said may have been the most important thing I ever do. She told the New York Times, "I don't look at it through a political lens. I look at it through the angle of: People need to understand how dangerous he is and how unfit for office he is."



Jae C. Hong/AP Photo Liz Cheney at her concession speech following Wyomings Republican primary for the 2022 congressional election.

Related: Liz Cheney Says Moms Friend Was So Devoted to Donald Trump She Threw Away a Six-Decade Friendship

Cheney faced much backlash from her party for her critiques of Trump. In 2021, Republicans in Wyoming voted to no longer recognize Cheney as a member of their party in a rebuke of her stance on Trump.

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In 2022, Cheney lost her seat in Congress after losing to Trump-backed attorney Harriet Hageman in the Republican primary. At the time, she said a clear path to her reelection "would've required that I go along with President Trump's lie about the 2020 election, adding, "That was a path I could not and would not take.

Trump has also been openly critical of Cheney. Speaking in Arizona less than a week before the 2024 presidential election, Trump called the former congresswoman a very dumb individual before suggesting she face a firing squad.

In response, Cheney posted on X, This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death. We cannot entrust our country and our freedom to a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant.


The panel of judges employed different reasoning, but all concluded the Second Amendment challenge was unlikely to succeed
Liz Cheney has called on courts of law, the news media, government bureaucrats and other citizens to be the guardrails of democracy after Kamala Harris  whom she served as a conservative campaign surrogate  lost Tuesdays US presidential election to their common opponent, Donald Trump.

In a social media post on Wednesday, the former high-profile Republican Wyoming congresswoman  and daughter of George W Bushs vice-president Dick Cheney  also urged Harriss supporters to accept her defeat whether we like the outcome or not.

All Americans are bound  to accept the results of our elections, Cheney wrote of Trumps having clinched a second presidency. We now have a special responsibility  to do everything we can to support and defend our constitution, preserve the rule of law and ensure that our institutions hold over these coming four years.

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Citizens across this country, our courts, members of the press and those serving in our federal, state and local governments must now be the guardrails of democracy.

Those in charge of Harriss campaign made Cheney its most prominent Republican surrogate as the Democratic vice-president sought to become the first woman elected to the Oval Office. The hope was that Cheney would draw Republican voters away from the partys nominee, Trump, especially in the battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Harris ultimately lost all three states along with other key battlegrounds, costing her not only the electoral college but also the popular vote, making her the first Democratic presidential candidate in two decades to lose the latter.

With his return to power despite a conviction only months earlier on charges of criminally falsifying business records, Trump positioned himself to try to deliver on repeated promises of retribution against Cheney.

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She ran afoul of Trump by vociferously speaking out against his lies that electoral fraudsters handed the 2020 presidential race to Joe Biden. And she was also a member of the House congressional committee that investigated Trump supporters deadly US Capitol attack in early 2021  meant to keep him in office  and concluded that the president-elect had a role in enabling it.

Trump aimed some of his most violent rhetoric at Cheney in the waning stages of his contest against Harris. During an interview with conservative broadcaster Tucker Carlson on 31 October, Trump said Cheney should be made to face rifles shooting at her. He hurled the remark even after openly complaining that he believed criticism of his campaign had fueled what according to authorities were failed attempts to assassinate him in July and September.

Cheney replied that Trump was a cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant.

She left Congress in January 2023 after losing a re-election bid against a Trump-supported challenger, Harriet Hageman. Hageman subsequently triumphed in a general election to succeed Cheney in Wyomings lone House seat, and she easily won a second term on Tuesday.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, at a Dec. 17, 2021, news conference in Ocala. (Screenshot/Florida Channel)

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday endorsed his own controversial State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo for a top health care position in the next Trump administration.

DeSantis went on social media, where he called on his followers to repost a picture of Ladapo if they want to see him serve as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services once President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.

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The agencys website shows that HHS is meant to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans by providing effective health and human services and fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.

DeSantis promotion of Ladapo comes days after it was reported that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic who endorsed Trump for president after mounting his own independent bid for president, had been touting Ladapo. ABC News reported that sources indicated that those working on a Trump transition were taking the recommendation seriously.

DeSantis hired Ladapo, who had been on the medical school faculty of the University of California at Los Angeles, to take over Floridas Department of Health in September 2021. The DOH secretary doubles as state surgeon general and Ladapo also fills a position at the University of Florida.

Lightning rod

During his time in the DeSantis administration, Ladapo has proven a lightning rod, for example by expressing deep skepticism of Covid-19 vaccines and the efficacy of face masks to limit exposure to viruses.

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He made national headlines in 2021 when he refused to don a mask during a meeting with state Sen. Tina Polsky, who was being treated for cancer and requested that he wear one. At the time, Ladapo was up for Senate confirmation.

Tina Polsky. Credit: Florida Senate

Then-Senate President Wilton Simpson responded by issuing a memo saying the behavior was unprofessional and would not be tolerated in the Florida Senate.

It shouldnt take a cancer diagnosis for people to respect each others level of comfort with social interactions during a pandemic, he wrote in the memo.

Ladapo pressed the Florida Board of Medicine to change its rules to prevent physicians from providing minors access to gender-affirming care and to limit access to the care for adults.

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More recently, it was Ladapos agency that sent warning letters to television stations airing ads urging passage of Amendment 4, the initiative that would have guaranteed access to abortion. The agency general counsel, who signed the warning letters, resigned in protest and said in a federal court filing they actually had been written by attorneys working directly for the governor. The amendment failed Tuesday after it failed to secure a 60% yes vote.

Measles

Earlier this year, Ladapo advised parents that it was up to them to decide whether to keep their children at home amid a measles outbreak in Broward County  counter to usual practice and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of urging parents to keep unvaccinated children at home.

Dr. Scott Rivkees, state surgeon general for Florida before Ladapo and now at Brown University, criticized Ladapos advice on measles and told The Washington Post this week that he should not be considered for such an important position.

To consider someone with Dr. Ladapos stated attitudes towards commonly held medical and public health practices for a leadership role in HHS, which is an agency that protects and promotes our well-being, should make us all worry, Rivkees told the Post.
SAMUEL CORUM/Getty Images

This story was written by Teen Vogue's 2024 Student Correspondents, a team of college students and recent graduates covering the election cycle from key battleground states.

At Lehigh Universitys Banana Factory, an arts and education center near the Bethlehem, PA campus, countless students anxiously waited to cast their ballots on Tuesday. Some students sat in folding chairs; others periodically glanced at the time on their phones.

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Aliya Ali, a Lehigh junior, had voted that morning and was volunteering at the polling place, handing out water bottles and snacks. Ali told Teen Vogue of the urgency of her vote, I feel like a lot of people have lost sight of basic human decency. I feel like today we voted for democracy.

Emmanuella Agyemang

Emmanuella Agyemang

A number of Lehigh University students, as well as Bethlehem residents, stood in line for over six hours, marking some of the highest turnouts South Bethlehems ever recorded  as well as some of the longest wait times weve seen reported across the U.S., as voters waited in line for their ballots to be cast on Election Day. The county commissioner told the New York Times that he expects that the vote totals to be at least double that of previous presidential elections. Despite the long lines, a request to extend the hours of the polling location due to the wait time, filed by an attorney with the DNC, was denied, according to the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

Election Day 2024: How Young Voters Plan to Spend Election Day

From organizing activities on campus to volunteering to help others get to the polls.

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The voting machines at Lehigh were overwhelmed in part by the massive turnout, and one of the four machines allocated to the location breaking down temporarily, according to the New York Times. Students at other Pennsylvania schools were also seeing high turnout; the Washington Post reported that at Philadelphias Villanova University, students waited up to three hours to vote. In states like Georgia, voting location hours were extended in some counties after bomb threats caused temporary polling place closures.

Caden DellaPenta, a Lehigh sophomore, left his house at 6:45 a.m. and didnt end up voting until 9 a.m. DellaPenta continued to stay and work the polls after he cast his ballot. He, too, believes that voting is essential to upholding democracy.

I think that Donald Trump is a very clear corruption of democracy. I think that he is a plague on America, he said. I do not think we need someone who is promulgating the American population with harmful transphobic racist rhetoric.

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At last, this years U.S. election cycle is over. While all projections for the presidential race currently point toward Donald Trumps victory over Kamala Harris, Americans of all creeds remain utterly divided on a vision for the path ahead.

But, if youre looking for good news, theres still plenty of that to be found from the 2024 Election Day results. Besides stunning triumphs for reproductive rights on the ballot, the following six politicians also made history by becoming notable firsts in their respective offices.

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From the first openly trans person being elected to Congress to the first time that two Black women will be serving in the Senate at the same time, we break down every Election Day win thats worth celebrating.

Delaware Elects the First Openly Trans Person to Congress

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Sarah McBride has made history as the first openly trans person to be elected to Congress. Capturing nearly 58 percent of the vote, she defeated Republican John Whalen III for Delawares only seat in the House of Representatives.

McBride, who served as the state senator for Delawares First State Senate District, ran on a progressive platform that zeroed in on health care access, reproductive justice, and workers rights.

Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress, McBride wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday night. Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all our families, that ensures that housing and health care are available to everyone and that this is a democracy that is big enough for all of us.

Two Black Women Will Simultaneously Serve on the U.S. Senate for the First Time Ever

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After winning their respective elections, Marylands Angela Alsobrooks and Delawares Lisa Blunt Rochester will be representing their states in the U.S. Senatemarking the first time that two Black women will have ever simultaneously served in the congressional chamber.

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Prior to their victories, only 12 Black people had ever been elected to the Senate, and only three had been Black women.

Per the Associated Press, Alsobrooks defeated Republican Larry Hogan with 52 percent of the vote, while Blunt Rochester won over Republican Eric Hansen with 56 percent of the vote. (Blunt Rochester previously made electoral history when, eight years ago, she became the first Black person and woman to represent Delaware in the House of Representatives.)

The duo previously expressed their admiration for one another, dubbing themselves as sister senators after winning their primaries earlier this year.

Hopefully, I am going to have a built-in ally [in the Senate], and were going to be able to do some really big and bold work, Blunt Rochester previously told Elle. Then we can partner with [other Black women] like Representatives Lauren Underwood and Robin Kelly in the House. That representation in all of these places is important, because one branch cant do it alone. The history-making part is good, but the impact is what were all going for, to make a difference in peoples lives. The ability to go to the Senate and be one of 100but also as two of only five [Black women senators] in the history of this countrywould be incredible.

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Alsobrooks added, Neither of us would be in this moment without Shirley Chisholm or Barbara Jordan or Cheri Beasley, who ran for Senate in North Carolina and got very close. So many people created the opportunities for us to be in the space that we are in, named and unnamed. Coretta Scott King said that freedom is never really won; we have to fight it and win it in every generation. There are a lot of people who made sacrifices to ensure that this kind of progress could continue to happen. Its going to be our responsibility to ensure that we make the kind of impact that allows people from similar backgrounds to have the same opportunity.

New Jersey Votes for the First Korean-American Senator

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Democrat Andy Kim triumphed in his race for New Jerseys U.S. Senate seat. With 53 percent of the vote, Kim is set to become the first-ever Korean-American to take office as a senator.

As a son of immigrants, a public school kid, I never couldve imagined Id get to serve as a US Senator, Kim wrote on X. Im deeply humbled and grateful to NJ and for everyone who got us here. I promise Ill serve with honor and integrity as a public servant for all.

Formerly having served as a House representative for New Jerseys third congressional district, Kim will fill in the Senate seat left by Democrat Bob Menendez, who resigned this past August after being convicted of federal bribery charges.

Tulsa, Oklahoma Elects Their First Black Mayor

Democrat Monroe Nichols will be Tulsa, Oklahomas first-ever Black mayor, clinching victory over opponent Karen Keith with a 15,000 vote difference, according to KJRH-TV.

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Nichols delivered his acceptance speech in front of photos of Black Wall Street, one of the most prosperous Black communities in Oklahoma that was ultimately devastated by the 1921 Tulsa race massacre.

Were not going to be a city that marks time, Nichols said in his speech, per KJRH-TV. We may not always agree on a pathway to greatness, but we will always be united in our commitment to get there, and I will be an honest leader.

Kentucky's Supreme Court Will Have a Black Woman on the Bench for the First Time

Pamela Goodwine became the first Black woman to be elected to Kentuckys Supreme Court when she won her race on Tuesday. Goodwine is no stranger to making history; she previously became the first Black woman to serve as a district and, later, circuit judge in Lexington, and she also was the first Black woman on the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

Being elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court tonight gives me the honor of being the first woman and only the fifth person in history to serve at every level [of the judiciary], Goodwine said in her acceptance speech on Tuesday night, per the Kentucky Lantern. Our campaign stood firmly on experience, honesty and a commitment to impartiality and the rule of law to protect and serve every citizen.

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Former Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hochman will take over the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, the largest prosecutorial district in the country, after defeating progressive prosecutor George Gascon in a contentious election.

Hochman defeated Gascon by winning 61.3 percent of the vote to the sitting District Attorney's 38.7 percent. Hochman was supported by many of Gascon's own prosecutors and his predecessor, Jackie Lacey, who said her endorsement came because she felt "a lot less safe than I did four years ago." Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, whose mother-in-law, prominent philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was brutally murdered in a home invasion in December 2021, also backed Hochman.

"The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is enough of D.A. Gascon's pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to a safer future," Hochman said early Wednesday. "As D.A., I look forward to representing all of the people, whether they voted for me or not since their safety will be my responsibility."

The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is enough of D.A. Gascons pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to a safer future. As D.A., I look forward to representing all of the people, whether they voted for me or not, since their safety will be  Nathan Hochman (@NathanHochmanDA) November 6, 2024

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office is the largest prosecutorial area in the city and is responsible for pursuing criminal charges for felony and misdemeanor crimes in 78 cities included in the county's sprawl.

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Both men shared extensive careers in law enforcement. Gascon was elected as the L.A. County District Attorney in 2020 after stints in high-profile law enforcement jobs in San Francisco, including D.A. and Police Chief, and stints as the top cop at two departments in Arizona. He started his career as a Los Angeles police officer for 22 years, rising to the rank of deputy chief. Hochman is a former federal prosecutor, a one-time Assistant U.S. Attorney General, and President of the L.A. Ethics Commission.

Gascon had harsh words not only for his own defeat but also for the outcome of the presidential race that will send 78-year-old Donald Trump back to the White House as the 47th President. "The rightward shift across America last night is heartbreaking," he said in a statement. "Democrats have a long road ahead, but the work is more vital than ever, and our commitment will not waver."

"Nevertheless, I have called Mr. Hochman and wish him the best as Los Angeles County's next District Attorney," he continued. "I'm deeply proud of what we've accomplished over the past four years and grateful to the communities who have been and will always be the heart of criminal justice reform."

Last week, Gascon asked Governor Gavin Newsom to grant clemency to Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are currently incarcerated at RJ Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego. The Menendez brothers have served nearly 35 years in prison for the 1989 killings of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in Beverly Hills, an act they both insist came after years of abuse.

Lyle (left) and Erik Menendez during their 1996 murder trial By Mike Nelson/AFP via Getty Image

In late October, Gascon announced he would recommend "immediate parole" for the brothers. "I came to a place where I believe that under the law, resentencing is appropriate, and I am going to recommend that," Gascon said. "I believe they have paid their debt to society."
Family, friends and colleagues are mourning the unexpected death of KCAL-TV News anchor Chauncy Glover at age 39.

Glover, a three-time Emmy award winner, joined KCAL-TV a year ago and co-anchored the television stations late-evening newscasts.

The circumstances surrounding his passing were not released.

He was more than a son and brotherhe was a beacon of light in our lives and a true hero to his community, his family said in a statement. Chauncys compassion and dedication to helping others, especially through the Chauncy Glover Project, changed countless lives and inspired so many young men to pursue their dreams. His talent, warmth, and vision left an imprint on everyone who knew him, and the world is dimmer without him.

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Glover was born and raised in Athens, Alabama.

Before joining KCAL, his television career included on-air roles at KTRK-TV in Houston, WDIV-TV in Detroit, WJAX-TV in Jacksonville, and WTVM-TV in Columbus, Georgia.

Chauncy was more than just an extraordinary journalist and community leader; he was like family, said Jordyn Dean, a friend and Glovers publicist. Chauncy had a rare, genuine kindness that showed up in everything he did. He helped people without asking for anything in return, simply because he wanted the best for everyone around him.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A Baton Rouge district court judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block the new ethics administrator from being hired. (Wesley Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

A state lawmaker is asking the attorney general to investigate the Board of Ethics for violations of government transparency laws. He alleges the ethics board is using an illegitimate and secretive process to hire a new state ethics administrator, the boards most important employee.

It appears that the Board is choosing to participate in political games instead of holding itself to a higher standard, Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to Ethics Board Chair La Koshia Roberts and copied to Attorney General Liz Murrill.

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Beaullieu hopes the inquiry could halt the current administrator hiring process. Republican legislative leaders had asked the ethics board last month to hold off on picking a new administrator until January, when most of the board will be stacked with new appointees from Gov. Jeff Landry and the Legislature.



The current ethics board membership, mostly picked by former Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, is moving quickly through the hiring process, however. It plans to have a new administrator in place by the end of December, Roberts told a reporter at the boards Oct. 25 meeting.

The board is scheduled to interview four potential candidates in private for the job Thursday including: David Bordelon, Matthew McConnell, Charles Reeves and Scott Whitford. At least two of the candidates, Bordelon and Reeves, already work for the ethics board as staff attorneys.

This dispute over hiring is just the latest in a string of escalating disagreements between the current ethics board, the governor and his Republican allies in the Legislature.



The ethics board has reprimanded and fined Landry multiple times over the years for running afoul of campaign finance requirements and ethics laws. Shortly after becoming governor in January, he pushed through a law to seize more control over the boards operations in 2025.

Legislators have also criticized the ethics board for being abusive and aggressive in their investigations of potential law violations. The board has been cracking down on the activities of political action committees run by legislators, which appears to be irritating them.

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Beaullieu, a Landry ally, is the chairman of the Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee that oversees the ethics board. In his letter to Roberts, he chastised ethics board members for moving too quickly to pick a new administrator and holding too much of their discussion about the new hire in private meetings on Sept. 5 and Oct. 25.



My question in the meeting of who is watching the watchers seems to be most appropriate in this chain of events, Beaullieu wrote in his letter.

Beaullieu wants the attorney general to look into whether the board violated the states open meetings laws, which are supposed to guarantee transparency in government. State officials are required to conduct certain types of business during public meetings but can also have certain conversations about personnel matters in private.



Roberts could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The current ethics administrator, Kathleen Allen, said the board would discuss Beaullieus letter later this week.

The Board of Ethics has not met to consider Rep. Beaullieus letter so I do not have any comment from the Board, Allen said in an email Wednesday. However, the letter has been added to the Boards supplemental general agenda for consideration at its meeting Friday.

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Beaullieu seems particularly irked that the period to apply for the ethics administrator position was open for just 10 days  from Oct. 15-25  and not widely advertised.

Such a short timeframe for advertising an important role limits the opportunity for a diverse applicant pool, he wrote. It appears the board met the minimum timeline requirements to advertise the position, but with no greater effort.



In this case, Beaullieu alleges too much of the ethics boards conversations about the retirement of Allen, its current administrator, and the hiring of her replacement has taken place behind closed doors.



Specifically, Beaullieu alleges the board did not take the required public vote at its Sept. 5 meeting to enter into a private session to discuss its applicant search. He also said details of what would be discussed at that meeting werent properly advertised beforehand or recorded. Many of the decisions made in that private session  including when the ethics administrator job would be advertised  should also have been debated in public, he said.



Beaullieus letter also accused the board of acting inappropriately at its Oct. 25 meeting, when it did not specify whether it would discuss a written request from Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, to delay hiring of a new administrator until January. If Henrys request was discussed in the boards private session, the board has violated the states open meetings law because the matter should have been discussed at a public meeting, Beaullieu alleges.



In an interview Wednesday, Beaullieu said he had not discussed his request for an investigation with Henry or the attorney general before sending the letter.
Louisiana Illuminator illustration

Louisianas lone Democratic incumbent in the U.S. House of Representatives will keep his seat after securing an outright win against four challengers on Election Day.

Rep. Troy Carter bested Democrat Devin Davis and Republicans Devin Graham, Christy Lynch and Shondrell Perrilloux to avoid a runoff in the 2nd Congressional District. The Associated Press declared him the winner with unofficial vote totals showing him with 54% support as of late Tuesday night, with ballots still being counted in his home base of New Orleans.

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It appears Carter will shed the title of Louisianas lone Democrat in Congress. With results in his race still unofficial, state Sen. Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge edged a field of five candidates to win the newly redrawn 6th District. State lawmakers revised the boundaries of that House seat to account for an increase in Louisianas Black population, meaning Fields would join Carter in the Congressional Black Caucus.

Carter has represented the 2nd District, which stretches between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, spanning portions of the River Parishes, since 2021. He has held seats on the House Homeland Security and Transportation committees.






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Louisiana is just putting its toe in the water of offshore-based wind energy development, but any revenue such projects generate for the state will go toward coastal projects after voters approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday locking in the dedication.

Final but unofficial results from the Louisiana Secretary of State showed 73% of voters supported the ballot measure that would devote dollars to undertakings such as barrier island restoration and wetlands rebuilding.

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There was no organized campaign messaging for or against the constitutional amendment, forcing voters to do their own homework. The most recent polling of Louisiana residents regarding their interest in alternative energy sources was in a June survey from LSU.

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Of more than 1,000 people polled via telephone and online, 59% supported expansion of wind energy in Louisiana. The rate was 72% in support of solar energy expansion and 79% for more oil and gas drilling in coastal areas.

When asked whether Louisiana should prioritize alternative energy growth over further fossil fuel exploration, respondents were almost evenly split.

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Sites for wind turbine farms on Louisianas Outer Continental Shelf are only in their nascent stages, but proponents say they are a viable alternative, along with solar energy, to help reach clean energy goals. The city of New Orleans, for example, has a net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050. Some shareholders in investor-owned utilities have also pushed the corporations to move toward greener power sources.

In Louisiana, a state with a long legacy in fossil fuels, the appetite has been surprisingly healthy for fostering an offshore wind energy industry. Thats largely because the same infrastructure and expertise responsible for oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico can also be applied to the massive turbines needed to convert coastal winds to electricity.

The Block Island Wind Farm, the first U.S. commercial wind energy development, tapped engineers and fabricators from Louisiana to build its five turbines off the coast of Rhode Island.

Louisiana lawmakers with those companies in their districts have been most active in getting legislation approved to encourage offshore wind investment. Two years ago, they received unanimous support to expand the footprint of wind farms to five times the size needed for coastal oil and gas drilling. Legislators also rejected a proposal to exclude offshore wind development from the states lucrative Industrial Tax Exemption Program.

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The biggest obstacle to offshore wind growth in Louisiana is the lack of transmission infrastructure. Without lines to connect turbines to an onshore power distribution grid, the coastal projects are literally dead in the water.

The hangup has been whether wind farm developers or utilities that want to expand their alternative energy portfolios will provide the resources needed to link the power supply with end users.

Arguments in favor of the wind energy revenue amendment positioned it as a complementary piece of the states strategy to combat coastal land loss  a factor blamed, in part, on unchecked oil and gas exploration.






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Elon Musk and Robert F Kennedy Jnr are set to be handed key administration roles, amid expectations that Donald Trump will pack his new cabinet with loyalists.

Mr Musk, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla, was singled out for special praise by Trump during his victory speech on Wednesday morning.

We have a new star  a star is born, he said. Elon, he is an amazing guy.

Trump previously pledged to install Mr Musk, who has called for the federal budget to be slashed by $2 trillion, as the head of a new government efficiency commission.

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Robert F Kennedy Jnr (RFK) initially stood as a third-party presidential candidate but dropped out in August and endorsed Trump.

There were rumours at the time of a deal with the Trump campaign over a job in any future administration in return for RFKs support. Now, the Covid vaccine sceptic has been promised a big role in healthcare.

RFK Jnr speaking at a rally in New York - Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

In his victory speech, Trump said, RFK Jnr came in and hes going to help make America healthy again. Hes a great guy and he really wants to do some things and were gonna let him go do it.

In October, Trump said he would let the environmental lawyer go wild on health, food and drug regulation.

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Mr Kennedy believes drug companies, government regulators and health agencies are making Americans less healthy and has suggested that some vaccines should be taken off the market.

Medical professionals say his views are not grounded in scientific truth and that his policies could result in the chaos of lower vaccination rates and rises in preventable disease.

Mr Musk and Mr Kennedy are among a slew of close Trump allies in line for major jobs in the new government. But it is Mr Musks involvement that has given rise to the most intrigue.

Mr Musk said he is excited to be serving America if the opportunity arises - Bloomberg/Justin Merriman

The billionaire, who also owns social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, campaigned vociferously for Trump in recent weeks and reportedly spent more than $130 million on helping him and fellow Republicans win their elections.

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Federal employees will now be anxiously awaiting his next move after Trump publicly touted Mr Musk for a government waste-slashing role in his administration.

Mr Musk wrote on X in September: I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises. He added that he had spoken to Trump about the role. No pay, no title, no recognition is needed.

More recently, he called on the president to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, part of a repeated theme on the size of the state.

Mr Musk at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in October - Jim Watson/AFP

The proposal was met with alarm from trade unions, who said that it amounts to nothing more than a plan to oust non-partisan civil servants and replace them with Trump cronies.

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Mr Musk could also be open to accusations of a conflict of interest given that SpaceX benefits from government contracts.

He has long accused US government agencies of holding back his SpaceX and Tesla ventures, delaying his ambition of reaching Mars.

Despite speculation, Trump is notoriously superstitious and declined to discuss preparations for a transition in depth ahead of the election.

But his team has vetted a huge number of potential candidates  largely MAGA supporters  for top administration roles.

Here are all the other names which have repeatedly cropped up.

White House chief of staff

Brooke Rollins (left), Kevin McCarthy and Susie Wiles CREDIT: AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images and REUTERS/Brian Snyder

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Brooke Rollins, a former Trump administration adviser and a key figure at the America First Policy institute, a think tank regarded as Trumps White House-in-waiting.

Ms Rollins, an experienced operative who helped pass Trumps first criminal justice bill, is widely seen as a leading contender to be his next White House chief of staff.

She ran the Domestic Policy Council in the Trump White House.

Former GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthys relationships on Capitol Hill have put him in the running as a potential chief of staff for Trump.

Mr McCarthy and Trump have had a rocky relationship, but the pair have stayed in regular contact since the former Speaker was ousted from his leadership post by GOP hardliners.

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Few can match his insider knowledge of the workings of Capitol Hill, a key asset for Trumps legislative agenda.

Trumps respected campaign manager Susie Wiles has also been touted as a potential chief of staff.

She has White House experience and is a skilled operator. Most important of all: she has experience at handling Trump.

But sources close to Ms Wiles suggest she is not interested in taking on the role.

Secretary of State

Robert O'Brien (top left), Marco Rubio, Ric Grenell, Bill Hagerty and Robert F Kennedy JrCREDIT: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images, REUTERS/Andrew Kelly, AP Photo/Paul Sancya, AP Photo/Chris Szagola, Jim Vondruska/Bloomberg

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Trumps former ambassador to Germany won plaudits in the Trump administration for taking a tough line on European allies defence spending commitments.

He was later appointed Trumps acting director of national intelligence.

He remains a close confidante of the Mar-a-Lago set and is seen as one of the most influential foreign policy advisers in Trumps orbit.

Crucially, he is said to have the backing of Melania Trump.

A GOP senator for Tennessee and a former ambassador to Japan, Bill Hagerty is a prominent foreign policy expert who is a favourite of the America-First movement.

From his perch on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has garnered a profile as a China hawk  red meat for the MAGA base.

Robert OBrien has remained in Trumps fold since serving as a national security adviser for him.

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But his support for Nato and Ukraine could see him excluded from holding a major foreign policy portfolio.

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Florida senator Marco Rubio has repeatedly been tipped to be a potential secretary of state in a second Trump term.

Since challenging him in 2016, he has been a prominent supporter of the Republican president and is one of the partys most experienced foreign policy thinkers.

As vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, he received regular intelligence briefings.

However, his support for Ukraine and Nato have not made him universally popular in Trump world.

Defence Secretary

Mike Pompeo and Tom Cotton CREDIT: WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock and REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson

Mike Pompeo, the only person to have served as head of the CIA and Secretary of State, makes much of being the longest survivor in Trumps first cabinet.

He shares his America-first foreign policy outlook, and could return as Secretary of State or head up the Pentagon.

Arkansas senator Tom Cotton is one of Trumps most prominent defenders in the US Senate.

He was touted as a potential Defence Secretary in Trumps first term, and is an attractive prospect to lead the Pentagon given his experience as an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran.

Attorney General

Mike Lee and Ken Paxton CREDIT: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP and Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Whoever heads up the Justice Department will be critical to Trumps second term agenda.

Utah senator Mike Lee is considered a top contender to be the next US attorney general, as an experienced lawyer with experience clerking for a Supreme Court Justice and a top Trump ally.

Trump is on the record saying that Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas, could be considered for the national post.

Hes very, very talented, he said earlier this year, although he noted we have a lot of people that want that one and will be very good at it.

Treasury Secretary

Robert Lighthizer, Larry Kudlow, John Paulson and Howard Lutnick CREDIT: REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger, Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg, John Lamparski/Getty Images and AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Robert Lighthizer served as Trumps top trade official in his first administration and is likely to play a key role in pursuing Trumps tariff policies in his second, either in the Treasury or in a White House role.

Prominent economist and former Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow remains a close ally of the Republican.

He has held a prominent role in the America First Policy Institute, a Washington-based group which was formed in part to prepare for a second administration.

John Paulson, a billionaire financier close to Trump, has been privately floated as a potential Treasury Secretary by the Republican candidate.

Billionaire businessman Howard Lutnick is overseeing the Trump transition along with Linda McMahon, chair of the America First Policy Institute and a former Small Business Administration chief.

The CEO of investment firm Cantor is close friends with Trump, and even appeared on The Apprentice.

Trump may seek to reward his generous contributions to the Trump campaign with a senior cabinet position.

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(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps return to the White House is predicted to seed the ground for more big-ticket mergers and acquisitions.

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Trump swept to victory in Tuesdays US presidential election after defeating Kamala Harris across key battleground states. The win boosted the so-called Trump Trade, sending the S&P and the US dollar higher. Bankers and lawyers say Trumps pro-business focus will be a boon for M&A, giving further fuel to the nascent recovery in dealmaking.

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Theres pretty big pent-up demand for M&A and many companies have been dusting off their dream deals, Evercore Inc. Chairman Emeritus Ralph Schlosstein said in a Bloomberg Television interview on Wednesday. Dealmaking is set to be even stronger next year, according to Schlosstein.

The prospect for cuts to corporate taxes and capital gains that hes promised will further accelerate what was already a recovering M&A cycle, said Raul Gutierrez, head of M&A at Truist Securities Inc. You should be able to see larger transactions move forward. Some of these had been put on hold given the current antitrust stance and I think youll see a greater willingness to test agencies out once the administration takes over.

President Joe Bidens administration has been cracking down on deals viewed as having the potential to concentrate corporate power and limit consumer choice. Lina Khan, chair of the US Federal Trade Commission, and Jonathan Kanter, assistant attorney general for the Justice Departments antitrust division, have been testing out new approaches that have made it hard to predict how deals will be received.

Large transactions that have fallen under the lens of regulators include Kroger Co.s near-$25 billion acquisition of fellow grocer Albertsons Cos., which was announced in 2022, as well as Capital One Financial Corp.s planned $35 billion purchase of credit-card company Discover Financial Services and Synopsys Inc.s roughly $34 billion agreed takeover of software developer Ansys Inc.

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Shares in Albertsons, Ansys and Discover all rose on Wednesday, outstripping the S&P 500s gains. Discover, in particular, saw its stock rise as much as 24% in New York.

Regulatory Creep

Dealmakers expect new appointees at federal agencies under Trump to bring a friendlier approach to M&A.

Theres been a notable shift over the last four years on antitrust so I do think youll see pretty meaningful rollback from a number of those policies, said Eric Rutkoske, head of M&A at Guggenheim Securities LLC. I think in this interim period  before theres a change in the composition of the DOJ and FTC  there will be less willingness to challenge deals.

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There will probably be more deal activity in sectors like industrial, consumer retail and energy, according to Ann Beth Stebbins, a partner on the M&A team at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP. There has been regulatory creep with the antitrust agencies expanding their reach, Stebbins said. I think that will be pulled back, which will lead to more predictability and will allow deals to close more quickly.

The prospect of increased certainty around deals is not only good news for the bankers and lawyers that advise on them, but also merger arbitrage traders who bet on whether or not theyll get across the line. The trading strategy has been hampered in recent years, partly because of the more muscular regulatory regime under Biden. The FTCs recent win in a case to freeze Tapestry Inc.s $8.5 billion acquisition of fashion peer Capri Holdings Ltd. saw some high-profile arbs take a hit.

Its a good development which will hopefully reverse some of the Biden overreach implemented by Lina Khan, said Roy Behren, co-chief investment officer at Westchester Capital Management. We expect to see a significant uptick in activity, both because of the removal of the uncertainty overhang as well as a more realistic and welcoming regulatory regime.

Dealmaking has been in recovery mode in 2024 after two down years, as strong stock markets and the end of rate hiking combine to give companies the confidence, and financial firepower, to pursue transactions. But global M&A values dipped slightly in October, data compiled by Bloomberg show. It was just the second time theyd been down between September and October in a US election year since 2000. The other was in 2008, when Lehman Brothers was collapsing.

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Theres an expectation that M&A can resume its upward trajectory quickly in the wake of the decisive election result.

Getting the uncertainty out of the way was important to help unstick some of that, so wed expect to see more M&A deals getting in the queue and  importantly  closing, said Sonya Erickson, global chair of Cooley LLPs business department. With the uncertainty removed, and some of the other economic factors that were already in play, it does set us up for a healthy M&A market heading into 2025.

A Trump win is not without potential downsides for M&A practitioners. The Republicans agenda of economic nationalism has raised concerns in some quarters about a negative impact on foreign investment in the US  something that could impact cross-border deals. Trump has already said he will block the $14 billion-plus takeover of United States Steel Corp. by Nippon Steel Corp.

Washingtons relationship with Beijing, which was testy during Trumps first term as president, is also being closely watched. Bloomberg News reported last month that Qualcomm Inc. was waiting for the result of the election before deciding whether to pursue a potentially blockbuster deal for Intel Corp. People familiar with the matter said at the time that the chipmaker wanted more clarity on relationship between America and China, a key market for both itself and Intel.

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In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Qualcomms CEO Cristiano Amon congratulated Trump on his victory and said he looked forward to working with the new administration to promote innovation and competition in America.

M&A thrives on stability and a lack of volatility, said Damien Zoubek, co-head of US corporate and M&A at Freshfields. But there was unpredictability under the Trump administration the first time around and what could stay the same is that its unpredictable.

(Updates with Eric Rutkoske quote under Regulatory Creep subhead.)

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MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  Madison County voters elected Mac McCutcheon as Madison County Commission Chairman Tuesday.

The chairman is responsible for leading the commission, and in Madison County, that means addressing the needs of a growing population.

McCutcheon was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to the Madison County Commission in 2023. He spent 15 years in the Alabama Legislature. Moving forward, McCutcheon said the commission is involved in several projects prioritizing expanding road and water infrastructure in newly developed parts of the country.

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His Democrat challenger, Guy Sotomayor, is new to politics. He highlighted his background in the Air Force which he said would help him communicate with the many people in Madison County who work in the defense sector. Sotomayor said he would like to address traffic and housing issues and bolster education programs in local schools.

The Libertarian on the ballot, Alan Barksdale, is a longtime Madison County resident with a background in software development. Barksdale said he intended to limit commission spending with a focus on funding infrastructure and simplify regulations for small businesses.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
A local manufacturing plant had to stop production after a machinery fire Wednesday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Around 9:15 a.m. Tipp City firefighters were called to DAP Products Manufacturing Plant for reports of a fire in an industrial air compressor unit, according to a media release.

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Firefighters found fire in the insulation and piping on the air compressor.

DAP personnel were evacuated.

Fire crews said the plant had attempted to correct an electrical issue before the fire.

According to a media release, the fire was most likely caused by a loose electric panel connection. The fire did not spread beyond the machine.

The plant had to shut down production due to the compressor having to be turned off.

It is unclear how long the plant will be shut down.

No one was hurt in the fire.

We will continue to follow this story.

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The leaders of France and Germany have called on the European Union to build a more united, stronger and more sovereign continent in the face of Donald Trumps historic election victory in the United States.

EU leaders fear that Trumps return to the White House could jeopardise American support for Ukraine and even lead to Washington pulling out of Nato, stripping Europe of the security umbrella it has enjoyed since the end of the Second World War.

On Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, held crisis talks after it became clear that Trump would return to the White House.

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I have just spoken with the chancellor, Mr Macron said. We will work towards a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe in this new context  by cooperating with the United States of America and defending our interests and our values.

Mr Scholz stressed that he was ready to work with Trump, as did Mr Macon, who fell out with the Republican candidate during his first term.

Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz have suggested that the EU should be less reliant on US military power - Shutterstock

For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens, Mr Scholz said.

Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary general, congratulated Trump on his victory, amid fears he would carry out threats to pull out of the Alliance unless European nations ramped up their defence spending.

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His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong, Mr Rutte said in comments designed to flatter the often unpredictable President-elect.

European leaders, including Mr Rutte, will meet in Hungarys capital, Budapest, on Thursday and Friday for summit talks that will now be dominated by the fallout from Trumps astonishing election victory.

Sir Keir Starmer will also attend Thursdays European Political Community Summit of EU and non-EU leaders before the blocs heads of state and government hold separate talks over dinner and on Friday.

The Prime Minister said: I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

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Mr Macron has long warned the bloc can no longer rely on the US for its security and must go further down the path of EU integration so it can act independently of Washington on the world stage.

In 2019 the French president said Nato was experiencing brain death and could no longer rely on Washington, which Trump described as a nasty and very dangerous statement for him to make.

Mr Macrons calls for strategic autonomy have been heard by the European Commission, which wants to boost Europes arms manufacturing base and plans to roll out joint procurement of weapons over the next five years.

Mr Macron said Europe needed a real army of its own - Anadolu/Getty

Brussels has also worked to deepen ties with Nato to quell fears by Baltic member states that a common EU defence policy could undermine the military Alliance by creating a competitor.

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Earlier this week, Luc Frieden, the prime minister of Luxembourg, said the EU should discuss creating a European army in the face of a possible Trump victory, Russian aggression and the war in Ukraine.

Such plans would face many obstacles and take many years but Mr Frieden suggested a step-by-step approach with a coalition of willing counties pooling their forces.

Before the election, Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister and a Trump critic, said Europe had to take responsibility for its own security.

Some claim that the future of Europe depends on the American elections, while it depends first and foremost on us. On condition Europe finally grows up and believes in its own strength. Whatever the outcome, the era of geopolitical outsourcing is over, he said.

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After the vote, he congratulated Trump on social media and said: I look forward to our cooperation.

Diplomatic sources previously suggested a Trump victory would heavily influence EU budget negotiations next year, as contingency planning for the loss of billions from Washington.

According to the Kiel Institute, the US has provided aid worth a total of 84.73 billion (71.21 billion) to Ukraine since it was invaded in February 2022, including 56.8 billion in military provisions.

Europe, including non-EU countries, has provided 118.2 billion, but that has been mostly financial rather than military aid to Ukraine, which is a candidate country to join the bloc.

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The EU defence industry cannot currently replace vital US weapon supplies to Ukraine but the commission will hope to ramp it up in a similar way to how it boosted vaccine production during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary general, wants European countries to increase their defence spending - Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

Brussels sources speculated a deal could be done with Trump where the EU buys US weapons, which would then either be sent to Kyiv or replace stocks of older European arms, which would be delivered to the Ukrainians.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, told Trump his country needed the weapons supplies.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer, he said.

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Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since the invasion. She and other EU leaders have vowed to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

But there are fears that EU unity could splinter if Trump tries to force Ukraine to cede territory to Russia in an unjust peace deal with Hungary and Slovakia already calling for an end to the war and EU sanctions on the Kremlin.

The former German defence minister warmly congratulated Trump and said the EU and US were more than just allies.

However, her statement also carried a coded warning to the President-elect not to carry out his threat of hitting EU imports with a 10 per cent tariff. Brussels has prepared a list of iconic US products for retaliatory tariffs, which could trigger a trade war.

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Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens. Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship, Mrs von der Leyen said in a warning that a trade war would also hurt the US economy.

Trump, who has branded the EU a mini-China, believes the bloc is ripping off Americans by running trade surpluses with the US, and using the money to fund social policies rather than on defence.

Olaf Scholz has been criticised for underspending on Germanys military capabilities - Meteor

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His antipathy towards the EU was made clear in his first term, when he praised the UKs vote for Brexit.

The US is Germanys major trading partner and the country fears that Mr Trumps promise to impose tariffs could end the era of globalisation that has driven German wealth over decades.

Popular weekly newspaper Die Zeit led its website on Wednesday with the one-word expletive: F---.

Der Spiegel, the countrys major political magazine, led its website with the headline The Trump shock, while conservative daily Die Welt claimed that a new era in time has begun.

Not all European leaders were dismayed by Trumps comeback.

Diplomats and analysts believe that Giorgia Meloni is well placed to act as a mediator between Mr Trump and the EU.

The Right-wing Italian prime minister is close to Trump-supporting tycoon Elon Musk and has made cracking down on illegal immigration a central aspect of her political brand, much like the president-elect.

Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further, she said.

Viktor Orban, he Hungarian prime minister, has close ties to Trump and US conservatives, although his criticism of EU sanctions on Russia has made him unpopular in Brussels.

Mr Orban, Putins closest ally in the EU, has predicted Trump will end the Ukraine war soon after returning to power and is expected to hail the victory at the Budapest summits he is hosting.

The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his enormous win. A much-needed victory for the World, he said.

Hungarys prime minister Viktor Orban was delighted with Trumps victory in the US - Vladimir Voronin/AP

Geert Wilders, another Eurosceptic hard-Right politician, who won last years general election in the Netherlands, said: Congratulations President Trump [...] never stop, always keep fighting and win elections!

Worryingly for Mr Zelensky, Russian officials welcomed Mr Trumps victory and hinted they could be open to negotiations over the war in Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, said: Trump has one useful quality for us: as a businessman to the core, he mortally dislikes spending money on various hangers-on and stupid hanger-on allies, on bad charity projects and on voracious international organisations.

EU leaders are expected to welcome Mr Trumps victory and call for continued transatlantic cooperation in their summit conclusions on Friday, a senior official said.

Matthew Savill, military sciences director at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said both Ukraine and its allies can expect uncertainty after Trumps victory.

Trumps desire for a deal, likely a quick one, does not bode well for sustained US support, Mr Savill said, especially given the rate at which Russian troops have advanced in recent weeks.

The UK Ministry of Defence estimated that Russian troops had advanced about six miles in the Donetsk region in the past week.

Trump will have to contend with Congress, but there is significant scepticism about Ukraine amongst many Republicans, and a general US focus towards China, Mr Savill said.

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French President Emmanuel Macron had a telephone conversation with Donald Trump after his victory in the US presidential election.

Source: European Pravda with reference to French newspaper Le Figaro

Details: During the 25-minute conversation, the Elysee Palace said that Macron and Trump expressed "a desire to work to restore peace and stability" in the face of "major international crises that are ongoing".

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The French president also "underlined the importance of Europe's role and told Trump that he is ready to continue this conversation and work together" on everyday issues, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, after the Republican's inauguration.

Macron was among the first in the European Union to congratulate Trump on winning the US presidential election on 5 November.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his victory and recalled a "great meeting with President Trump" in September when they "discussed in detail" the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States.

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The morning after Election Day, theres still some uncertainty about partisan control on Capitol Hill, though as NBC News reported, theres no doubt as to which party will control the upper chamber.

Senate Republicans ousted Democrats in red states to secure the majority, flipping seats in West Virginia, Montana and Ohio, states that have swung heavily to the GOP. And they held their ground in friendly states like Texas and Florida, assuring them at least 51 seats when the new Congress is sworn in next January.

As I type, the incoming Republican majority in the chamber will have at least 52 seats. That total might yet grow: Senate races in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona have not yet been called. Though Democrats are likely to prevail in some of these contests, no one in either party would be surprised at this point to see the GOP end up with more than 52 seats when the new Congress begins in January.

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What difference does it make how big of a majority it is? If there are 51 Senate Republicans, members such as Alaskas Lisa Murkowski and Maines Susan Collins can, at least theoretically, curtail some of their partys most radical instincts. If there are, say, 54 Senate Republicans, the partys far-right will be able to do whatever it wants.

As a legislative matter, control of the House is obviously of profound importance: A Democratic majority, which is not impossible, would not only be able to thwart key elements of Trumps agenda, it would also be in a position to at least try to hold the president-elect accountable for expected abuses.

A Republican majority in the lower chamber, meanwhile, would give the GOP control over all of the levers of federal power.

Yes  to answer the question some readers are probably asking  the filibuster rule is likely to endure, which in turn would give the Democratic Senate minority some options for blocking legislation backed by the incoming Trump White House.

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But (and you had to know a but was coming) much of what Republicans want wont be subject to a filibuster. If GOP officials control Capitol Hill, for example, theyll approve tax breaks for billionaires through the budget reconciliation process, which requires simple majorities in both chambers. The party might very well try to gut the Affordable Care Act in the same way.

Just as notably, the filibuster rule no longer applies to the confirmation process, which means that no matter what happens with House control, Republicans can spend at least two years stacking the courts with young, far-right reactionaries  while awaiting some Supreme Court retirements.

As for Trump administration nominees, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a former Trump critic whos become a rather pitiful Trump sycophant, appeared on CNN after the race was called and was asked whether a GOP-led Senate would be comfortable confirming conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a powerful federal role.

Well, I think the Senate is going to give great deference to a president that just won a stunning, what I think is an electoral college landslide, when all is said and done, and a mandate, Rubio replied. Hes being given a mandate to govern. And I think presidents given a mandate to govern deserve from the Senate the opportunity to surround themselves with people that are going to help them execute their policies.

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Putting aside the obvious fact that Rubio and his Republican colleagues had a very different perspective when Barack Obama won by a far larger margin, the Floridian was effectively saying that a GOP-led Senate probably would confirm fringe radicals to positions of authority, serving as a rubber stamp for Trumps choices.

In July, The Bulwark talked to a congressional lobbyist who said something thats lingered in my mind for months. There is a huge difference between 54 and 51 GOP senators, the lobbyist said. At 54, Ric Grenell is getting confirmed as secretary of state.

Watch this space.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Shortly after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told The New York Times that Donald Trump went too far.

Trump and I, weve had a hell of a journey, the senator said after the riot. I hate it to end this way. Oh my God, I hate it. ... All I can say, is count me out, enough is enough. A day later, the longtime Republican lawmaker went on to say, When it comes to accountability, [Trump] needs to understand that his actions were the problem not the solution.

This came to mind when Graham appeared on NBC News Meet the Press a couple of weeks ago and was asked about Trump describing the day of the insurrectionist assault as a day of love. He replied that most of the people who responded to Trumps call came out of love of the country.

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He apparently didnt feel the need to repeat the count me out, enough is enough comments hed made nearly four years earlier.

Graham has an enormous amount of company. After the riot, Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota not only spoke openly about Trumps possible criminal liability, he specifically pointed to the federal statute related to Rebellion or insurrection as the law that prosecutors could use against his partys then-president. Rounds added at the time that it would stop [Trump] for running for election to a public office again.

Rounds nevertheless supported Trumps re-election campaign.

Then-House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy condemned Trump after Jan. 6, telling his members, Ive had it with this guy. Nearly four years later, McCarthy not only endorsed the president-elect, he also started angling for a White House job.

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Its easy to forget what conditions were like in the immediate aftermath of the violence. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska wanted the then-president to resign before Inauguration Day 2021, declaring, He needs to get out. Then-Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania made similar comments, saying Trumps behavior does disqualify him from serving.

Around the same time, Axios reported, With 13 days left in President Trumps term, confidants and Republican officials are considering drastic steps to stop him.

The question at the time wasnt whether his political career was over. It seemed obvious at the time that it was. The idea that hed win a second term 46 months later was so manifestly preposterous that it had no role in the public conversation.

The question, rather, was whether his presidency would survive its final two weeks. With 25th Amendment chatter circulating in the nations capital, the answer was not a foregone conclusion.

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It was around this same time when some Republicans  on Capitol Hill and off  suggested there was no real need to punish Trump for his post-defeat wrongdoing because his career couldn't possibly recover.

It wasnt just GOP members of Congress who agreed that Jan. 6 was an automatic disqualifier for Trump. David Sacks, a prominent party donor, said after the riot, I think hes disqualified himself from being a candidate at a national level. ... I think, if you want to see this mob as a gun, I think he loaded the gun. He pointed it in a certain direction.

Sacks nevertheless supported Trumps 2024 candidacy.

Billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya added in 2021, He is a complete piece-of-s--- f---ing scumbag.

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In 2024, Palihapitiya hosted a fundraiser for Trumps campaign.

In the aftermath of the riot, even Chris LaCivita amplified online content blaming Trumps lies for the violence. And whos Chris LaCivita? Hes the Republican who managed Trumps 2024 candidacy.

Jan. 6 was the stain that would not wash off. It was the career-killer. It was the point from which there was no coming back.

Or so we thought.

Whats of particular interest was that Trumps allies reversed course without a fight. Its not as if Trump had somber and thoughtful conversations with key party leaders, expressing contrition and regret, accepting responsibility, and asking for their grudging forgiveness.

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There was only surrender. A weak, leaderless, directionless party simply decided to stop caring about the crisis they briefly took seriously, submitting to the accused felon because he said so.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A couple of weeks ago, Hillary Clinton offered a rather pointed response to a question about what Kamala Harris had to do to prevent a replay of the 2016 race. HuffPost noted:

Well, first of all, I dont think she has Jim Comey in the wings waiting to kneecap her, so thats good, and Im very grateful for that, joked the former secretary of state in an interview with CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Thursday.

The on-air comments, which caused a bit of a stir in political circles, touched on a point that Ive pondered for the last eight years.

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After Donald Trumps victory in 2016, I comforted myself with an argument that certainly seemed true: The Republicans success, I contended, was a fluke. A devastating and consequential fluke, to be sure, but a fluke nevertheless.

He was poised to lose in 2016  by some measures, handily  until a confluence of weird events, including Clintons pneumonia and then-FBI Director James Comeys decision to reopen a criminal investigation into the Democratic nominee in late October. Even then, Trump managed to win with roughly 46% of the vote  a smaller percentage of the electorate than several recent losing candidates, including Mitt Romney in 2012 and John Kerry in 2004.

Yes, Trump won in 2016, but he won with national support comparable to Michael Dukakis showing in 1988. To see him as some kind of electoral juggernaut seemed preposterous.

In the years that followed, the political world confronted episodic evidence that the Republicans success was, for all intents and purposes, accidental.

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In 2017, Democrats had a great year, winning gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey.

In 2018, Democrats took back the U.S. House majority.

In 2019, Democrats won gubernatorial elections in Kentucky and Louisiana, which arent exactly reliable blue states.

In 2020, Joe Biden defeated Trump.

In 2021, Democrats had mixed results, but they defied a historical trend and won in New Jersey again.

In 2022, Democrats defied a historical trend again and expanded their majority in the U.S. Senate.

In 2023, Democrats held onto Kentuckys gubernatorial office again.

Year after year, race after race, Trump-backed candidates kept losing. All of this made it easier for Americans to tell the world, See? Were correcting the mistake. The accident of history is being gradually undone. Were putting things right.

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But as the dust settles on the 2024 race, the bigger picture now appears quite different. Trumps 2016 victory no longer looks like a fluke, it now looks like the point at which our politics was infected, before that infection metastasized.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
As Donald Trumps presidency began its second year, the American Political Science Associations Presidents and Executive Politics section ranked each of the nations chief executives from best to worst. The scholars agreed at the time that the then-Republican incumbent was on track to be the worst of all time.

They were onto something.

As Trump prepared to exit the White House in January 2021, NYU historian Tim Naftali explained in a piece for The Atlantic that Trump was unique in his horribleness: [A]s a result of his subversion of national security, his reckless endangerment of every American in the pandemic, and his failed insurrection on January 6, one thing seems abundantly clear: Trump is the worst president in the 232-year history of the United States.

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As we discussed soon after, the assessment seemed rather obvious. What made Trump such an extraordinary failure was the scope and scale of his ignominy. He was corrupt. And ignorant. And overly eager to abuse his powers. And mendacious. And indifferent in the face of crises. And overtly hostile toward the rule of law. And eager to pit Americans against each other. And a genuine threat to the integrity of the republic.

Americans have had presidents who checked some of these boxes, but only Trump checked all of them. As Rachel noted on the show on the last day of the Republicans first term, our worst presidents in history lists need to be recalibrated to account for the new undisputed king of that category.

Earlier this year, scholars participating in the Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey agreed: Trump wasnt just bad, he was quite literally the worst.

Im often reminded of the Time magazine cover that was published the week of President Joe Bidens inauguration. It helped capture the chaos and shambolic destruction that Trump left for his successor to clean up.

Trumps impact can be felt on this weeks cover too. Here, a scene created by Tim OBrien of newly-elected President Joe Bidens first day in the White House https://t.co/78ZoOeN0BR pic.twitter.com/BhDf7xB6JX  TIME (@TIME) January 22, 2021

Biden did exactly that. And as Biden prepared to exit the White House, tens of millions of Americans thought itd be sensible to give his predecessor a second bite at the apple, returning power to the failed president whod created the messes in the first place.

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Time will tell whether the GOP president-elect fares any better in a second term, but its easy to predict that the worst president in American history will be even worse going forward.

Part of this assumption is rooted in the Republican Partys success in politicizing the federal courts, coupled with GOP lawmakers eagerness to serve as pitiful rubber stamps for whatever the Trump White House wants.

Theres also the fact that the president-elect and members of his inner circle learned valuable tactical lessons from their first go-around, and they're prepared to apply those lessons going forward.

But Im also stuck on something John Mitnick, who was general counsel of the Department of Homeland Security under Trump, wrote over the weekend. The conservative Republican and Heritage Foundation veteran, who pleaded with voters not to return his former boss to power, explained that the United States did not go completely off the rails during Trumps first term because there were just enough senior officials who served as guardrails.

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If Trump is re-elected, Mitnick added, senior administration positions will be filled entirely by blindly ambitious or unqualified radicals and grifters who pass a test of personal loyalty to Trump. There will be no adults in the room who stand up for the Constitution and our cherished American democratic institutions.

Periodically in recent years, people close to Trump shed light on important behind-the-scenes details. In mid-April 2017, for example, Politico had a report on the internal turmoil in the White House. It was the responsibility of Trumps advisers, one said, to talk him out of doing crazy things.

Four months later, Axios had a related piece, citing a half-dozen dismayed senior administration officials, exasperated by the then-presidents dangerous instincts. You have no idea how much crazy stuff we kill, one said.

In 2018, outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan talked about his private efforts to prevent Trump from making enormous mistakes. I can look myself in the mirror at the end of the day and say I avoided that tragedy, I avoided that tragedy, I avoided that tragedy, the Wisconsin Republican said on his way out the door.

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Its not just that sensible voices will be absent in the second Trump White House, its that those who might have something of merit to say will be identified, hunted, silenced and removed to protect the monolith of MAGA groupthink.

I suppose some observers might think Trumps first term represented rock bottom. My advice for those thinking along those lines: Just wait.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The Colorado Judicial Institute is a 45-year-old nonprofit originally founded to focus on the state's relatively new system of appointing and retaining judges, which voters enacted to replace partisan judicial elections.
Congratulations for Donald Trump poured in early on Wednesday from leaders around the world, even before the Republican's victory in the US presidential elections had been confirmed.

"Congratulations to [Donald Trump] on his impressive election victory!" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the platform X.

"I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs," he added. "This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together," Zelensky wrote.

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The mood was ebullient out of Moscow, which has led a full-scale war against Ukraine for more than two and a half years, with no end in sight.

"Hallelujah," wrote Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, on her Telegram channel, noting that the election winner was the one who loved his own country.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who now sits on the Russian Security Council, said Trump has an important quality for Russia: "As a businessman to the core, he cannot stand spending money on various minions and lackeys  on idiotic allies, on stupid charity projects and on gluttonous international organizations."

He said it was a sad day for the "scum" in Kiev, in a post on Telegram.

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Newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, whose alliance has a key role in the war on Ukraine, congratulated Trump on X, writing: "His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong," Rutte added.

The conservative broadcaster Fox News had already declared Republican candidate Trump the overall winner against Democrat Kamala Harris, but other media networks and US news agency AP had not done so.

Trump declared himself the winner in a speech to supporters in Florida.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz added his congratulations.

"For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens," the chancellor wrote on X.

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Earlier, Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone about the election outcome. A German government spokesman said the two European leaders had agreed to coordinate closely with each other.

"We will work in this new context for a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe. In cooperation with the US and defending our interests and values," Macron wrote on X after the conversation.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she looked forward to working with the presumptive 47th president of the United States on "a strong trans-Atlantic agenda" that delivers for their people.

Von der Leyen said the European Union and the United States "are more than just allies," bound by a "shared history, commitment to freedom and democracy, and common goals of security and opportunity for all."

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"Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship," she added.

Outgoing European Council President Charles Michel, meanwhile, said the EU looked forward to cooperating constructively with the US, while "defending the rules-based multilateral system."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK-US special relationship would "continue to prosper" following Donald Trump's "historic election victory," the PA news agency reported.

Congratulations also came from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said the strategic connections between their two countries would now become even stronger.

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"Good luck with your work, president!" the far-right prime minister added.

"Congratulations, Mr President ... You made it happen!" Poland's conservative nationalist president, Andrzej Duda, posted on X.

Dutch right-wing populist politician Geert Wilders, a declared Trump supporter who won the election in the Netherlands almost a year ago, joined in the chorus.

"Congratulations America! Never stop, always keep fighting and win elections!" Wilders wrote on X before the official result was announced.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "history's greatest comeback."

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"Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his "friend" Donald Trump had won the presidential election after a "great struggle."

China, meanwhile, was more cautious in its response. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the election was a domestic affair that Beijing would handle as usual once the results are officially announced.
WEST PALM BEACH, FloridaPresident-elect Donald Trump addressed jubilant supporters early Wednesday morning after networks projected the Republican nominee would defeat Vice President Kamala Harris, capping an hours-long election night celebration here that finished with a larger than expected victory after a grueling two-year quest for the White House.

We have a great feeling of love in this very large room, Trump said to a hall packed with a few thousand admirers (at least) inside the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Were going to make you very proud of your vote.

America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate, the former and future president added, crediting his victory and the GOP takeover of the Senate to the MAGA movement.

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Throughout Tuesday evening, Trump supporters giddy with anticipation had milled about the vast convention hall that doubled as the soon-to-be president-elects election night party headquarters. They cheered intermittently as Fox News, broadcasting on large flat screens, flashed the Republican nominees emerging lead over Harris in the seven crucial battleground states.

Everything seems to be heading in the right direction, The Dispatch overheard an excited partygoer telling a female acquaintance. I dont want to jinx us.

Trump spent election night with VIP guests across town at Mar-a-Lago, his winter residence and private social club across town in Palm Beach, where he monitored voting returns that began flowing in beginning at 6 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, over at the convention center, the atmosphere was festive. Even before the first polls, attendees were sipping cocktails, lining up to take pictures in front of a large Make America Great Again banner, and socializing with friends. Some supporters staked out space in front of the dais where Trump would eventually speak.

And no matter where you turned, there were red MAGA hats. Men in suits wore them, women in heels and cocktail dresses wore them, old people wore them, and young people wore them. Some were emblazoned with Make America Great Again, others with MAGA.

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As midnight approached and Trumps return march to the White House began to look inevitable, the energy in the convention hall kicked it up a notch. Hed won North Carolina, a major contested battleground; ditto Georgia. His accumulating vote totals in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and WisconsinHarris seeming only remaining path to 270 Electoral College votespainted a bleak picture for the vice president. The Democratic nominees position was additionally problematic in Arizona and Nevada, further buoying a crowd that would soon be rewarded with a battleground sweep.

Trump was additionally pressing Harris in Virginia, considered a blue state for at least the past dozen years, although the vice president eventually won it. Still, there was a sense of cautious optimism among some Republican operatives who have experienced close electionsand mindful of how the contest unfolded four years ago, when Trump appeared to hold the advantage, only to see it slip away as more votes were tallied.

Weve been watching the early returns, we know that the thought that the day-of voting was being cannibalized is not true, Hogan Gidley, former Trump White House spokesman, told The Dispatch. So now we have a lot of low propensity voters who really havent participated since 2018, now all of a sudden engaging.

When you couple that with what we were able to accomplish on Election Day, which looks really good for us, Gidley added, its the recipe for a good night.

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Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebertamong Donald Trump s most ardent and extreme backersraised eyebrows when she declared that we must rally behind President Trump to secure his third term after she won another term in Congress on Tuesday night.

The Constitution limits presidents to serving two terms.

Although Boeberts comment on Facebook seemed to express hope that Trump would somehow remain in office beyond 2028, its also possible she actually intended to falsely suggest that Trump had won a third term last night.

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The president-elect and his most loyal followers baselessly maintain that the 2020 electionwhich Trump lost to Joe Bidenwas rigged against him, alleging widespread fraud.

Critics of Trump call him a fascist and worry that he will consolidate the executive branchs power.

The former explanation for Boeberts remark, though, is not without basis.

Trump has repeatedly spoken, ostensibly in jest, about the prospect of remaining in office beyond the limit outlined by the Constitution.

You know, FDR 16 yearsalmost 16 yearshe was four terms, he said at the annual NRA meeting in May. I dont know, are we going to be considered three-term? Or two-term?

He made a similar suggestion four years earlier, as he campaigned for re-election against Biden.

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We are going to win four more years, Trump said at a rally then. And then after that, well go for another four years because they spied on my campaign. We should get a redo of four years.

Even in 2019, while still on office, Trump tweeted a video showing an edited TIME of him as president in perpetuity.

Boebert didnt immediately respond to request for comment from the Daily Beast.

Many of Trumps critics have labeled him a fascist and raised concerns that he will use the presidential power to expand the authority of the executive branch and seize an even tighter grip on the country. Trump has been outspoken about his desire to prosecute his political opponents, and has suggested that he will deploy the military against U.S. citizens.

Donald Trump has just been elected President for a THIRD time. pic.twitter.com/q4jW35LR5R  Marjorie Taylor Greene  (@mtgreenee) November 6, 2024

Boebert wasnt the only MAGA congresswoman to make a dubious election night claim about Trumps victoryalthough the meaning of Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes X post was more clear-cut.

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Taylor Greenewho has a lengthy history of pushing fringe, debunked conspiracy theories like QAnon and Pizzagatecongratulated Trump on his victory and wrote , Donald Trump has just been elected President for a THIRD time.
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, right, speaks with East Greenwich voter David Caldwell while campaigning for reelection to his 2nd Congressional District seat outside the George Hanaford School on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

U.S. Rep Seth Magaziner secured a second term to represent the 2nd Congressional District in Tuesdays general election, even though he couldnt vote for himself.

WPRI-TV 12 projected Magaziner, 41, to be the winner at around 9:45 p.m.

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Unofficial preliminary results from the Rhode Island Board of Elections had Magaziner with 56% of the vote compared to 43.7% for Republican opponent Steve Corvi with 98% of polling places reporting at around 10 p.m. Magaziner led Corvi by over 28,000 votes.

I am honored by the trust and confidence the voters of Rhode Islands 2nd Congressional District have placed in me to serve them for a second term in the United States House of Representatives, Magaziner said in a statement just after 10 p.m.

As I return to Washington, I remain committed to fighting for the priorities that matter most to Rhode Islanders; protecting Social Security and Medicare, cutting costs for working people, protecting the Affordable Care Act, enacting common-sense gun safety legislation, and defending womens right to choose.

Helpful to Magaziners win: A much bigger pile of money to spend. According to quarterly federal campaign finance reports filed on Oct. 15, 2024, Magaziner had a little over $1 million to spend as of Sept. 30, 2024, while Corvis campaign account held a modest $2,499.

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Corvi called Magaziner to congratulate him on his victory before 10:15 p.m., said Max Provencher, Corvis campaign manager.

I hope he will put people above party and work to serve the best interests of all Rhode Islanders, Corvi, a first-time candidate, said in a statement.

We always knew this was going to be an uphill battle. While tonights outcome isnt what we all hoped for, Im incredibly proud of what we built and the conversations we sparked.

Corvi said he ran for Congress because I believe something needs to change in our state and thanked his supporters, donors, and volunteers.

The candidates did not debate  a departure from Magaziners first contest for the post in 2022, when he bested two rivals, including a formidable Republican challenger in the form of Allan Fung, a former Cranston mayor. William Gilbert, an independent candidate, scraped together just under 3% of the vote. But the contest between Magaziner and Fung, who debated on WPRI-12, was more intense. The victorious Magaziner obtained over 101,000 votes to Fungs 94,000  a slender 3.7% lead.

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Magaziners winning margin widened this time, but he received some last-minute heat from media reports that he does not reside in the district he represents. WPRI reported in October that Magaziner had begun the process of moving into a home in Cranston, but hadnt finalized the move or construction process and was still living in the 1st Congressional District on Providences East Side, which is represented by Rep. Gabe Amo.

The possible controversy didnt appear to rob much momentum from Magaziner, who lives about a mile from his districts boundary.

I cant say Im that concerned about this one, wrote one Reddit user. Especially given the size of our state. The U.S. House seats are effectively statewide positions.

Federal law basically agrees, and considers it sufficient that members of Congress reside in the state they represent. Living within their specific districts is not mandated.

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Magaziner won a district that is half unaffiliated voters, 33% Democrats and 16% Republicans, according to data from the Rhode Island Secretary of States office. The district comprises a large portion of the states urban core, and includes major cities like Cranston, Warwick and parts of Providence. The district has also voted Democrat most of the time. Jim Langevin, a Democrat and the first quadriplegic to serve in Congress, was Magaziners predecessor and held the seat for 22 years. In 2022, Langevin decided not seek reelection.

In the Republican-led House, all 435 seats are in play this election. Narrow races will decide about 40 seats, and could sway the majority by the time the 119th Congress convenes on Jan. 3, 2025. There are 22 races considered tossups, including in Iowa, Alaska, New Mexico, and Maine. Insights from the Cook Political Report suggest Democrats can reliably claim 13 of these seats from Republicans, while the GOP might take eight from Democrats. That leaves a lot of power  and the chance to shift the majority  concentrated in the 22 tossup races.

The districts comparatively small Republican presence and Magaziners towering funds made it a tough race for Corvi, 56, who had never run for office before.

The Bristol-bred Magaziner previously served as Rhode Islands general treasurer from 2015 to 2023. Prior to that, he worked as a Teach for America teacher in Louisiana before returning to Rhode Island for a job at a venture capital firm.

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Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) on Wednesday survived his toughest challenge to date, Decision Desk HQ projects, fending off a formidable GOP opponent to secure his fourth term on Capitol Hill.

Golden has been a perennial target of Republicans in Maines 2nd District, which ranks among the most rural in the country. He was one of just five Democratic incumbents seeking reelection in a district carried by President-elect Trump in 2020, and GOP operatives thought they had a ringer this year in Austin Theriault, a 30-year-old state representative and former NASCAR driver. Both sides spent millions of dollars on the race.

But Golden, 42, has built his own brand as an independent voice in his six years in the lower chamber. A former Marine who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, hes been unafraid to vote against his party on high-profile issues like energy policy, student loan forgiveness and police reform. Hes also a co-chair of the Blue Dog Democrats, a once formidable group of moderate lawmakers who are trying to revive that influence by advocating for centrist policies and bipartisan policymaking.

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That track record helped Golden win in 2020, when Trump carried the district by 6.1 points, and its insulated him since then from GOP attacks trying to link him to President Biden and the liberals in the Democratic caucus. This year proved no different.

Goldens victory is sure to frustrate GOP leaders, who saw the district as one of their best chances to pad their slim House majority. Its also an indication that, at least in some parts of the polarized country, voters are still willing to split the ballot.

The closeness of the race made it among the most expensive in the country, as outside groups poured more than $25 million into the district, according to OpenSecrets.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden declared victory on Nov. 6, 2024 ahead of an official call from The Associated Press, in his closely-watched race against Republican state Rep. Austin Theriault. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/ Maine Morning Star)

In a key U.S. House race still declared too close to call, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden gave a victory speech Wednesday, though his opponent said he is not yet ready to throw in the towel.

Any viable path to a win for my opponent has closed, so Im here to declare victory, the congressman said, addressing media in his hometown of Lewiston. No Democrat has withstood stronger headwinds from the top of the ticket, the pundits or the organized opposition. This race was hard fought and hard won.

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Republican challenger, state Rep. Austin Theriault, said several times Wednesday that the race is not yet over.

According to The Associated Press, just before 4 p.m., Golden led Theriault 50.4% to 49.3%, with 91% of votes counted. Thats a difference of about 3,700 votes.

This race remains too close to call. Were well within the margin that would trigger a state-funded, automatic recount and every vote should be counted, read a statement from Theriaults campaign.

A recount of the votes can be requested anytime before 5 p.m. on Nov. 13, per state law.

Balance of power in U.S. House still unknown

As of Wednesday afternoon, it remained unclear if Republicans would maintain control of the U.S. House, with several close, outstanding races, including Maines 2nd District. The GOP gained a majority in the U.S. Senate after flipping several key seats in Ohio, West Virginia and Montana.

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Reiterating a pledge he made during his campaign, Golden said Wednesday he was prepared to work with another Trump administration during his fourth term representing Maines 2nd Congressional District.

Im going to work with whoevers in the White House whenever I can, as best I can, for the people of Maine and for the country, Golden said.

And when I think that theyre doing something thats not in the best interest of my constituents, the state, or the country, Im going to stand up to them. I dont care who is in the White House.

Hours earlier, Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump was declared winner of the national election. Golden refused to endorse a candidate in the presidential election and repeatedly declined to say if he was voting for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

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Asked about the national landscape, Golden told reporters Wednesday that while he prefers to be in the majority, control of the U.S. House may not be determined for a few more days, if not a week.

Outlining his priorities, Golden specifically said he wants to preserve tax cuts for middle class families from the 2017 tax package that are set to expire.

Its really important that we extend those tax cuts for middle class families without making the deficit even worse than it already is, and find a way to pay for it, he said.

After The Bangor Daily News and Decision Desk HQ both called the race in the Democrats favor Wednesday afternoon, Maine Democratic Party Chair Bev Uhlenhake congratulated Golden on the win, calling him a proven fighter and champion for Mainers.

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He has delivered for Maine people and communitiesfrom lowering healthcare costs for Maine seniors to investing in our working families and defending our fundamental freedoms, Uhlenhake said of Golden. Mainers want a true leader representing them in Washington, and have re-elected him to a fourth term so he can continue to fight for the people of Maines second congressional district.

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U.S. Rep. Jared Golden declared victory on Wednesday, ahead of an official call from The Associated Press, in his closely-watched race against Republican state Rep. Austin Theriault. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/ Maine Morning Star)

In a key U.S. House race still declared too close to call, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden gave a victory speech Wednesday, though his opponent said he is not yet ready to throw in the towel.

Any viable path to a win for my opponent has closed, so Im here to declare victory, the congressman said, addressing media in his hometown of Lewiston. No Democrat has withstood stronger headwinds from the top of the ticket, the pundits or the organized opposition. This race was hard fought and hard won.

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Republican challenger, state Rep. Austin Theriault, said several times Wednesday that the race is not yet over.

According to The Associated Press, just before 4 p.m., Golden led Theriault 50.4% to 49.3%, with 91% of votes counted. Thats a difference of about 3,700 votes.

This race remains too close to call. Were well within the margin that would trigger a state-funded, automatic recount and every vote should be counted, read a statement from Theriaults campaign.

A recount of the votes can be requested anytime before 5 p.m. on Nov. 13, per state law.

Balance of power in U.S. House still unknown

As of Wednesday afternoon, it remained unclear if Republicans would maintain control of the U.S. House, with several close, outstanding races, including Maines 2nd District. The GOP gained a majority in the U.S. Senate after flipping several key seats in Ohio, West Virginia and Montana.

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Reiterating a pledge he made during his campaign, Golden said Wednesday he was prepared to work with another Trump administration during his fourth term representing Maines 2nd Congressional District.

Im going to work with whoevers in the White House whenever I can, as best I can, for the people of Maine and for the country, Golden said.

And when I think that theyre doing something thats not in the best interest of my constituents, the state, or the country, Im going to stand up to them. I dont care who is in the White House.

Hours earlier, Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump was declared winner of the national election. Golden refused to endorse a candidate in the presidential election and repeatedly declined to say if he was voting for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

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Asked about the national landscape, Golden told reporters Wednesday that while he prefers to be in the majority, control of the U.S. House may not be determined for a few more days, if not a week.

Outlining his priorities, Golden specifically said he wants to preserve tax cuts for middle class families from the 2017 tax package that are set to expire.

Its really important that we extend those tax cuts for middle class families without making the deficit even worse than it already is, and find a way to pay for it, he said.

After The Bangor Daily News and Decision Desk HQ both called the race in the Democrats favor Wednesday afternoon, Maine Democratic Party Chair Bev Uhlenhake congratulated Golden on the win, calling him a proven fighter and champion for Mainers.

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He has delivered for Maine people and communitiesfrom lowering healthcare costs for Maine seniors to investing in our working families and defending our fundamental freedoms, Uhlenhake said of Golden. Mainers want a true leader representing them in Washington, and have re-elected him to a fourth term so he can continue to fight for the people of Maines second congressional district.

Maine Morning Star is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maine Morning Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lauren McCauley for questions: info@mainemorningstar.com. Follow Maine Morning Star on Facebook and X.

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PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Mainers were smitten by the state's original flag during the 2020 bicentennial. But the retro flag's popularity wasn't enough to convince voters to make it the state's official flag.

Residents voted Tuesday to retain the existing flag  blue with the state seal  instead of adopting a flag that tracks closely with the states original flag  a simple pine tree and blue North Star.

Various designs based on the flag used from 1901 to 1909 gained popularity during the states bicentennial in 2020, appearing on hats, sweatshirts and soon license plates, making it an unofficial flag of sorts.

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That played a role in lawmakers approval of a bill to let Mainers vote on replacing the current flag. The states official seal on the current flag features a lumberjack, a sailor and the states motto, Dirigo, Latin for I lead.

Last year, Minnesota adopted a new flag after critics decried the states 1858 flag that featured a Native American riding off into the sunset while a white settler plows his field with his rifle leaning on a nearby stump.

There was no such controversy in Maine. The only criticism of Maines current flag was that it's boring, since official state seals on blue backgrounds are featured in more than a dozen other states flags.

Sagadahoc County sheriff's race

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Also in Maine, Sagadahoc County residents have voted to retain their current sheriff over a challenger who was accused of failing to take actions to disarm an Army reservist responsible for killing 18 people in the states deadliest mass shooting.

Sheriff Joel Merry won reelection Tuesday for a fifth term with over Patrol Sgt. Aaron Skolfield.

Both law enforcement officers faced tough questions about the departments interactions with Army reservist Robert Card, and both said they didnt want their careers to be defined by events before the shooting last year. Skolfield said in a social media post Wednesday that it is difficult to unseat an incumbent.
A Question 1 campaign sign in Portland. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Mainers voted on Tuesday to place limits on donations to political action committees that independently spend money to try to support or defeat candidates  teeing up a path to get the U.S. Supreme Court to reassess some campaign finance regulations.

The citizen referendum, which received 74% of voter support with 62% of votes counted as of 2:20 a.m. Wednesday, asked, Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?

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The ultimate goal of those behind the question, however, is to get the high court to rule that PACs should be regulated.

Signature gathering for the referendum first started around the November election last year, as the latest effort from legal scholar Lawrence Lessig to address a core flaw he and other scholars believe a lower court overlooked when establishing super PACs 14 years ago.

Since Buckley v. Valeo in 1976, the Supreme Court has allowed contributions to be regulated when there is a risk of quid pro quo corruption, essentially a favor for a favor. In the case of elections, if there is a risk someone could be making a donation to a candidate in exchange for a favor, only then can Congress regulate that contribution. In 2010, the Supreme Court extended this reasoning to corporations and unions in Citizens United v. Federal Election Campaign Act.

Three months later, in SpeechNow.org v. FEC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld that contributions to groups making independent expenditures cant corrupt or create the appearance of corruption. That decision essentially created the super PAC, which can receive unlimited contributions but cant contribute directly to candidates. Other lower federal and state courts followed suit, and the ruling was never reviewed by the Supreme Court.

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Lessig previously told Maine Morning Star he thinks there is no chance the Supreme Court will change Citizens United but that the question the Maine referendum raises is not answered in Citizens United  whether contributions to a committee that makes independent expenditures can be limited.

Harvard Law professor emeritus Larry Tribe and Chicago Law professor emeritus Al Alschuler, a Maine resident who submitted the application for the petition, argue that large contributions to PACs inevitably create a risk of quid pro quo corruption, given that donors and candidates have the opportunity to collaborate even if a PAC is independent.

Therefore, Tribe and Alschuler argue, contributions to PACs can be regulated by Congress.

Now that Mainers have voted to approve the referendum, the expectation is that its legality will be challenged almost immediately, presenting an eventual path to the Supreme Court. As for how the Supreme Court will rule, nothing is guaranteed, but Lessig believes the justices will agree with Tribe and Alschulers reasoning.

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While the effort in Maine stems from Lessig, Mainers took the lead in the ballot campaign. The ballot question committee in Maine, Citizens to End super PACs, was chaired by Cara McCormick, co-founder of The Committee for Ranked Choice Voting.

But some local reform advocates have expressed skepticism and concern about the referendum.

Representatives of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections worry it is a long shot at best and, at worst, could open up an opportunity for the Supreme Court to instead loosen campaign finance restrictions. The Maine Education Association and local attorneys also opposed the plan not because they disagree with the alleged flaw but because of the means being used to address it  passing a potentially unconstitutional referendum.

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A constitutional amendment to protect the right to abortion and repeal a ban on public funding for abortions appears to be headed to approval, taking a commanding lead according to unofficial results.
Many election races in Arizona remained too close to call after Election Day.

Election results in Arizona are unofficial until local and state officials have tallied all ballots and certified the results, but media organizations call races when it becomes mathematically unlikely for the trailing candidate to catch up. Official election results aren't certified until close to the end of the month, though media organizations and campaigns often project the results sooner.

Full, unofficial election results are anticipated to take days. The more last-minute early ballots that were turned in at polling places and other locations, the longer it will take to count votes and determine tight races. Officials in populous Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, currently estimate it will take 10 to 13 days to complete the tally.

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State law gives county election officials about two weeks to wrap up the counting of ballots. Races may be called sooner, depending on margins and the number of early ballots that remain uncounted.

These are the major races in Arizona that weren't called by early Wednesday:

U.S. presidential election

Arizona's 11 Electoral College votes are up for grabs as voters decide between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. The margin between the candidates was among the narrowest for swing states, even as Trump defeated Harris nationally early Wednesday.

Throughout the election season, Trump and Harris aggressively campaigned in Arizona, with both candidates visiting the state multiple times. The ultimate decision by Arizona won't affect the national outcome, but the tight margin reflects the influence of independent voters in the Grand Canyon State.

U.S. Senate election

U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., took an early lead over his Republican opponent, former television news anchor Kari Lake, though a winner was not declared by early Wednesday.

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At a Democratic Party gathering on Election Day evening, Gallego stopped short of claiming victory but said he expected to become Arizona's first Latino senator.

One week ago Lake appeared to gain ground on Gallego, who held an advantage in the polls since the outset of the race. Either Lake or Gallego will replace Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., who announced in March she would not seek a second term.

Arizona's 1st Congressional District

U.S. Rep David Schweikert, R-Ariz, had a narrow lead against Amish Shah, a former state lawmaker, in Arizonas 1st Congressional District.

Schweikert, who has represented parts of Maricopa County, including Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Cave Creek on Capitol Hill since 2011, was widely seen as one of the most vulnerable sitting members of Congress. Schweikert won his seat in 2022 by a single percentage point.

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Shah, an emergency room physician and former state lawmaker, beat out a crowded field of Democrats for that party's nomination. His campaign emphasized abortion rights, immigration concerns and public education.

Arizona's 2nd Congressional District

Incumbent Rep. Eli Crane held a strong lead over his Democratic challenger for Congressional District 2, according to early returns from Election Day.

Crane, R-Ariz., was leading his Democratic rival, former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, though a winner was not yet declared.

Several prominent political analysis firms predicted Crane would win, but that the race was closer than they expected.

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Crane, a self-described "outsider" and former military sniper, has supported former President Donald Trump. Nez's campaign marks the first time a Native American candidate from Arizona advanced past the primary in a congressional race.

Arizona's 4th Congressional District

Incumbent Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., has a substantial lead over Republican candidate Kelly Cooper but has yet to be declared the winner. Stanton ran unopposed for the Democratic Party nomination, while Cooper beat out three other candidates in the Republican primary.

Stanton has represented Arizona's 4th district, which includes major cities in Maricopa County including Tempe and large parts of Mesa and Chandler, since 2019. He also served as the mayor of Phoenix from 2012 to 2018.

Cooper attacked Stanton in a televised debate last month, saying he had little to show for his six years in office.

Arizona's 6th Congressional District

In a rematch from 2022, incumbent Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., faced Democratic former state legislator Kirsten Engel, an environmental lawyer whom he defeated by less than two percentage points two years ago. Ciscomani trailed Engel by a narrow margin as of early Wednesday.

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Ciscomani is a free-market Republican and served as an aide to former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, also a Republican. The race is rated a toss-up. Arizonas congressional delegation has a six to three Republican advantage, so flipping both seats could flip the delegation to Democrats.

While Engel had a healthy lead in the Tucson-area district, the race was not yet called. The district stretches across Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Graham, and Greenlee Counties.

Arizona's 8th Congressional District

Republican candidate Abraham Hamadeh led Democratic candidate Gregory Whitten by a significant margin, but the race was not yet called. Whitten and Hamadeh were running to fill the seat held by Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko, who announced her retirement from Congress in October 2023.

Hamadeh, a former Army Reserve captain and intelligence officer who worked as a Maricopa County prosecutor, beat out six opponents to win the Republican primary. He has vowed to stand with Trump to take on the "radical left."

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Whitten was unchallenged in the Democratic primary. A third-generation Arizonian, he previously served as a biosecurity expert at the Pentagon.

Maricopa County sheriff

The race for Maricopa County sheriff tipped toward Republican candidate Jerry Sheridan in early returns. Sheridan faced Democrat Tyler Kamp, who previously worked as a shift commander for the Phoenix Police Department.

For the first time in decades, a sitting sheriff was not in the race after former Sheriff Paul Penzone, a Democrat, resigned in January.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is one of the largest sheriff's offices in the nation, with upward of 3,000 employees, including deputies, jail guards and civilians.

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Several voters told The Arizona Republic during the primary they were supporting Sheridan because they believed he would bring back tactics from controversial former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who branded himself as "America's toughest sheriff." Sheridan was Arpaio's chief deputy; Arpaio was defeated by Penzone in 2016 and in 2020 Penzone beat Sheridan.

Mesa mayor

Mesa mayoral candidate Mark Freeman held a slim lead over Scott Smith early Wednesday.

With no major differences between the two establishment candidates, the race comes down to the nuances of their backgrounds, vision for the city and ideology. The race has remained largely civil and without controversy.

Throughout the campaign, Smith, a former mayor, criticized the city for not being business-friendly enough. Freeman defended his eight years on the City Council in response.

Scottsdale mayor

Incumbent Mayor David Ortega trailed former City Council member Lisa Borowsky by a healthy margin early Wednesday, setting the stage for what could be one of the bigger electoral upsets in a Valley city.

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Ortega, an architect who first took office in 2020, was seeking his second term as Scottsdale mayor. He was the top vote-getter during the three-way primary election in July when former City Council Member Linda Milhaven was knocked out of the running.

The two candidates were critical of each others leadership in a heated race that involved mutual barb-throwing.

Ortega beat Borowsky in the 2020 mayoral contest, so conventional wisdom had him sailing to victory this year. But Borowskys strong showing in the early vote tallies has put serious doubt on that expectation.

Proposition 133

Republicans in the Legislature put Proposition 133 on the ballot to compete with Proposition 140, the "Make Elections Fair Act," which did not pass but would have ended partisan primary elections. Proposition 133 would enshrine taxpayer-paid partisan primaries in the Arizona Constitution, giving them an extra layer of protection from any alternative ideas. It was losing as of Wednesday afternoon.

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This story will update as election results are reported.

Hannah Dreyfus is an investigative reporter for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at hannah.dreyfus@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X @Hannah_Dreyfus or Threads @hannahdreyfus.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Several high-profile Arizona races haven't been called. See the list
Russias shadow war against the West continues to intensify rapidly. On Monday, Poland exposed the Kremlins plans to export camouflaged explosives to Britain and the EU. Once these parcels landed on European soil, they would transit by air to the US and Canada, triggering a mass casualty event mid-flight.

Russia has furiously denied Polands allegations, but the scheme outlined by Polish officials may already have taken root. On 22 July, a device mysteriously exploded at a DHL warehouse in Minworth near Birmingham. This incident followed a similar detonation at a DHL depot in Leipzig, Germany. Both incidents are being investigated as Russia sponsored arson attacks.

Why is Russia allegedly using arson attacks as a tool of hybrid warfare? The story begins with the breakdown in Russia-West relations that followed Putins 2014 annexation of Crimea and invasion of Donbas. In October 2014, an explosion at a warehouse in the Czech Republic destroyed 50 tonnes of ammunition and killed two bystanders. In December, a second explosion occurred in the same facility and detonated 50 tons of ammunition. GRU agents were eventually implicated in these attacks.

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The story then moves forward to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when more than 600 Russian diplomats were expelled from European embassies. Many of them were intelligence officers using diplomatic cover.

These expulsions restricted Russias ability to carry out traditional espionage and forced it to rely more heavily on criminal networks and lone-wolf assets. In June, Germanys BfV domestic intelligence agency unmasked this tactic. To partially compensate for the loss of its undercover spies, Russia paid two German nationals 400,000 euros apiece to commit acts of high treason.

Ukraines acquisition of F-16 fighter jets, use of Nato-class weaponry against Russian targets and incursion into western Russias Kursk region added kerosene to the flames.

As empty threats of nuclear Armageddon and strikes on Nato weapons supply routes to Ukraine lose their potency, Russia is using terrorism as a tool of deterrence. One of its first acts was hiring a 20-year-old Leicestershire man Dylan Earl to carry out an arson attack against a Ukrainian-owned warehouse in east London in March. It was only a similar attack on an Ikea store in Vilnius, Lithuania in May and Polish prime minister Donald Tusks subsequent warnings of foreign instigation that caused Europe to take notice.

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While the demolition of Russian spy networks through periodic arrests and public warnings of Russias malign activities are positive steps, so much more needs to be done. In April 2021, former MI6 chief John Sawers estimated that only 10 per cent of Russias espionage operations in Britain had been uncovered. Belgian and Latvian officials have issued similar warnings in recent months.

Accused Russian spies still operate in European embassies. One example is Russian charge daffaires in Brussels Kirill Logvinov, who engages with European officials in plain sight. Due to its reliance on Russian nuclear energy, Hungary has streamlined the arrival of Russian nationals into its territory. This exposes the entire Schengen zone to espionage and sabotage.

The West needs to call out Russias hybrid warfare for what it is: state-sponsored terrorism. Unity and urgency must define the Wests response to this threat. Yet still we bury our heads in the sand. What will wake us up?

Dr Samuel Ramani is an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute

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RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  The man accused of kidnapping a Rankin County teenager has been extradited back to Mississippi.

Investigators with the Rankin County Sheriffs Office said Kaleb James Cannady, 34, is being held in the Rankin County Detention Center.

Federal trial for former interim Hinds County sheriff underway

Cannady is accused of kidnapping John Michael Jones, 16, last month. Investigators said Jones had been lured online to meet with someone down the road from a home.

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Authorities identified the suspect as Cannady, and a Be On the Look Out (B.O.L.O.) was issued for his vehicle. Investigators said the vehicle was located just after 7:15 p.m. on Monday, October 28 in Arkansas.

Cannady was arrested for active warrants through the Rankin County Court. Deputies said Jones was found safe and was taken into the custody of Arkansas State Police.

In Rankin County, Cannady faces charges of enticement and kidnapping. The investigation is ongoing.

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Ulise DeLao is accused of striking Brittany Torres, 27, with a vehicle on May 27, according to police

Randall County Jail;GoFundMe Ulise DeLao, left, and Brittany Torres Ulise DeLao, left, and Brittany Torres

A Texas man who is currently out on bond after being charged with manslaughter in connection with the car-related death of the mother of his child will be allowed to keep his parental rights, according to court records and multiple news outlets.

Ulise DeLao is accused of striking Brittany Torres, 27, while Torres was standing outside of the vehicle on May 27 in Canyon, Texas, according to a statement from the Canyon Police Department. Police said Torres was pronounced dead at the scene.

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KVII-TV and Law & Crime report custody of the couples child was given to DeLao after a motion filed by the victim's mother Jacqueline Sanchez was not granted. A Randall County court case summary reviewed by PEOPLE shows the motion by Sanchez was quashed on Nov. 4.

While DeLao was initially charged with intoxication manslaughter, per the police statement, KVII-TV reports that he was later indicted on a manslaughter charge. Online jail records show he was released on bond in early October.

According to reporting by KVII-TV, DeLao allegedly confessed to authorities that he ran over Torres.

Police did not share the relationship between DeLao and Torres in the statement but a GoFundMe campaign created by her loved ones identifies the victim and says DeLao was her boyfriend.

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Brittany was a vibrant 27-year-old woman, full of life, dreams, and kindness, the fundraiser read. Her sudden and unexpected death has left a void that can never be filled.

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She was remembered as a loving daughter, sister, mother, and friend, according to the fundraiser.

Its unclear if DeLao has entered a plea to the manslaughter charge. PEOPLE reached out to an attorney listed for him in court records but did not hear back in time for publication.


MADISON, Ala. (WHNT)  The Madison Police Department arrested a man they said robbed a Walmart.

MPD said 29-year-old Christopher Cody Vickers was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery-gun.

Jackson County man charged with murder for shooting neighbor

The police department said officers responded to the Walmart on Madison Boulevard for a shoplifting call on November 1. Officers were told by staff that the suspect had shown a store employee that he was carrying a gun.

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The Madison County Sheriffs Office told News 19 that Vickers also had a warrant for second-degree retail theft from the Madison Police Department.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A Shreveport police officer was injured while trying to arrest a man accused of causing a disturbance in a local business in Shreve City.

An off-duty SPD officer was working an extra-duty assignment in the 1100 block of Shreveport-Barksdale Highway when personnel from a local business requested the officer help them with a customer who was reportedly angry and causing a disturbance.

SPD arrests second woman in alleged Ugg boot heist

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The officer attempted to de-escalate the situation with the suspect, identified as Raymond Johnson, 41, but he refused to leave the property, according to police. Johnson reportedly struck the officer in the face, and the two engaged in a struggle. Both men fell through a glass window, causing injuries to the officers upper body.

Johnson was arrested and now faces one count of criminal property damage, once count of entering and remaining after being forbidden, one count of resisting and officer with force or violence, and one count of threatening a public official.

The officer is expected to recover.

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A 43-year-old Athens man was arrested after police said he was trafficking marijuana.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Oct. 31, the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force and Barrow County deputies received information about a possible drug distribution in Clarke County.

After an investigation, the drug task force and the Athens-Clarke County police searched Cedric Maurice Burtons apartment. The apartment is part of a complex on Westpark Drive.

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During the search, authorities said they found 31 pounds of vacuum-sealed marijuana, $16,000 in cash, drug packaging materials and a pistol.

Burton is charged with trafficking marijuana and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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Editors Note: The name of the suspect in this story has been corrected.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A suspect in a 1992 cold case murder pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday.

Victoria Jobson disappeared in October of 1992 and was found dead two months later on Rutter Street in Rochester. She was 31 years old.

Police said evidence at the scene indicated Jobson was fatally stabbed somewhere else, then moved to Rutten Street, where a person walking by found her body in a vacant lot.

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Arthur Jason Jr., 59, has been charged with second degree murder in the case.

Arthur Jason Jr. (via LCSO)

Prosecutors said they believe Jason killed Jobson sometime between October 1 and December 7, 1992. They said a second suspect was also recently arrested in Canada, but their name and charges will not be released until the indictment is unsealed in Monroe County.

Jason was arrested November 4 after a traffic stop on I-390 in Avon. The Livingston County Sheriffs Office said deputies found crack cocaine in his vehicle.

Jason pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday. He is scheduled to return to court Tuesday, November 12, which would have been Jobsons 63rd birthday.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man wanted for aggravated burglary, aggravated stalking, a violation of a no-contact order and domestic assault is the latest suspect to appear on the list of Most Wanted fugitives from the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Each Wednesday the department publishes a list of the Most Wanted fugitives on its Criminal Warrants Divisions Facebook page. According to detectives, those featured on the list are often considered to be some of the most violent offenders in the city.

Some of the people on the list have reportedly been on the run for months, while others are a bit fresher faces. However, the list has aided police in several arrests.

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Since the list was first published in 2022, 146 people featured on the list have been apprehended, including two in the last week wanted for child endangerment and animal cruelty crimes. According to MNPD, 60 individuals who have appeared on the list have been arrested this year.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

One person who made their first appearance on the list last week surrendered on Election Day, and another was apprehended out of county earlier in October, according to MNPD.

Below is a list of the suspects who made the police departments Most Wanted list for the week of Nov. 6, 2024.

1. Dadiri Muhina

Dadiri Muhina (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Dadiri Muhina is making his ninth appearance on the list this week. According to MNPD, Muhina is still considered the Top Most Wanted fugitive.

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According to police, Muhina is wanted after being indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple felony counts. His charges include first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit first-degree murder, attempted murder and tampering with evidence.

Suspect charged after woman shot to death at Antioch apartment

Court records show the charges stem from a September 2021 shooting that killed 16-year-old Janiya Birdsong and injured another 17-year-old. Family members told News 2 multiple young men were involved in an argument with the two teens before shots rang out.

Birdsong died at the scene in her grandmothers Paragon Mills driveway. She was a junior at Hillsboro High School and hoped to become a hairstylist, according to family.

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While initially the only link to a suspect was a light-colored sedan seen leaving, six peopleincluding Muhinahave since been identified.

As their investigation progressed, detectives said they found text messages between the suspects regarding their plans to destroy the car used in the alleged homicide. Muhina and the other suspects are also accused of conspiring to hire someone to kill a witness.

At least one other suspect in the shooting was taken into custody. However, Muhina has remained at large. Anyone with information on Muhinas whereabouts is asked to contact the MNPD at 615-862-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

2. Adrian L. Cameron

Adrian Cameron (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Adrian Cameron, 19, has been on the run since April, according to the MNPD. Hes been at the top of the Most Wanted list for several months as police continue to search for him in connection to the death of 32-year-old rapper Chris King.

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King was shot and killed just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, April 20. Investigators said King was hanging out with friends in an alleyway between Hayes and Church streets when they were approached by three other men.

While the interaction began cordial, according to Kings friends, the three eventually tried to rob them. Thats when gunfire rang out, injuring King and his 29-year-old friend.

Both were brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but King did not survive.

Cameron, who was out on bond for the 2021 murder of 50-year-old Josh Evans at the time, was identified as a suspect in the shooting days later.

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Wanted felon from MS arrested with loaded gun, drugs in Antioch

Officials believe Cameron cut his ankle monitor shortly after the shooting. Cameron had just turned 17 years old when police said he turned himself in for Evans murder. Evans was found shot and wrapped in trash bags in the Cumberland River in Sept. 2021.

Cameron was arrested again for gun charges in Rutherford County less than four months after turning himself in for the 2021 murder. Hes now charged with criminal homicide in connection with Kings death, as well as failure to appear.

However, efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful. Police said his last location is unknown.

3. Lagarrion L. Blacksmith

Lagarrion Blacksmith (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Lagarrion Blacksmith, 35, has been toward the top of the departments Most Wanted list for nearly a year as police continue their search for him.

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He was initially added to the list Nov. 29, 2023, after investigators were able to connect him to a deadly shooting that took place outside a Dickerson Pike bar last year.

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Officers found 35-year-old Chancellor Eddins lying on the ground just outside of Trvth Lounge on Feb. 18, 2023. He had been shot and later died at the scene. Another man who had also been hit by the gunfire was able to give officers an account of what happened.

According to police, the injured man told them he and Eddins had gotten into an argument with the suspect inside of the bar. Then, shots were fired as they left the location. At the time, the identity of the alleged shooter was unclear.

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Months later, investigators announced Blacksmith had been identified as a suspect. On Nov. 22, 2023, officials said arrest warrants had been issued against Blacksmith for criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and felon in possession of a handgun.

However, efforts to locate him have also reportedly been unsuccessful. His last location is unknown.

4. Raceme L. Crutcher

Raceme Crutcher (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

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Police have been looking for Raceme Crutcher, 22, since July 2023, when he was named as one of two suspects in a deadly Fourth of July shooting.

Officials said the shooting happened at the Fallbrook Apartments on Dellway Villa Road. Etabo Malanda, 16, was reportedly standing on the porch of an apartment when two armed individuals came from around the corner and confronted him.

Pilot progam uses AI to monitor recycling in Davidson County

Malanda allegedly tried to pull out a pistol that was inside his hoodie, but he was shot. Police said he died shortly after he was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

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According to investigators, four guns were recovered from the apartment, including one that was reported stolen. Crutcher and 17-year-old Jaylin Brown were reportedly connected to the crime through witness accounts.

Investigators also obtained surveillance footage and additional information from community members that they said pointed to Crutcher and Brown as suspects in the case. Officials believe the motive may have been an ongoing dispute between the suspects and Malanda.

Brown was taken into custody on Aug. 31, 2023, after police said they caught him driving a stolen car. However, Crutcher is still on the run. He was added to the Most Wanted list on Nov. 15, 2023. His last location is unknown.

5. Shakia N. Davidson

Shakia N. Davidson (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Shakia Davidson, 23, made her first appearance on the list last week. She is wanted for criminal homicide and failure to appear, according to the MNPD.

MNPD: Man wanted in connection to October shooting near Buena Vista

Davidson is wanted in connection to a deadly September shooting that took place in the Napier area of Nashville.

According to MNPD, officers found Dorothy Stephenson, 32, in the passenger seat of a Chevrolet Tahoe with a gunshot wound shortly after 2 a.m. on Sept. 8. Stephenson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities later announced Davidson was wanted for her role in the shooting. They said she and Stephenson were acquaintances and were involved in an argument on Green Street.

Davidson was last seen in Mt. Juliet, according to MNPD.

6. Fredy Sanchez-Argueta

Fredy Sanchez-Argueta (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Fredy Sanchez-Argueta is in his fourth week on the Most Wanted list. According to police, Sanchez-Argueta is wanted on outstanding warrants for 12 sex crimes charges.

Charges against him include seven counts of sexual battery by an authority figure, two counts of statutory rape, two counts of rape, and one count of aggravated sexual battery involving a child under 13.

Nashville transit referendum vote passes

His last known location was in South Nashville.

7. Jamal S. Alhakari

Jamal S. Alhakari (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Jamal Alhakari, 41, is wanted by the MNPD after having been indicted by a grand jury on multiple sexual abuse charges involving a victim who was unable to give consent.

The charges against him include aggravated kidnapping, sexual battery and sexual battery involving a person with a mental defect or that was incapacitated, according to the police department.

Alhakari was added to Nashvilles Most Wanted list on Sept. 11. Officials said his last location is unknown.

8. Jacobi Vaughn-Moore

Jacobi Vaungh-Moore (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

According to police, Jacobi Vaughn-Moore, 32, is wanted on a grand jury indictment for aiding and abetting aggravated rape.

2 dead following murder-suicide at Putnam County birthday party

Vaughn-Moore is the first new addition to the Most Wanted list this week.

Police do not know where he was last seen.

9. Richard L. Jarrett

Richard L. Jarrett (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Richard Jarrett, 20, is wanted for multiple domestic charges, according to the police department. This is his third week on the list.

Jarretts charges include burglary, stalking, harassment through repetitive calls, domestic assault with fear of bodily injury, and a probation violation.

Both the stalking and harassment charges are Class A misdemeanors in the state of Tennessee. The burglary charge is a felony.

Police said Jarretts last known location was Antioch.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

10. Marquise A. Willis

Marquise A. Willis (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Marquise Willis, 29, is the second new addition to the list this week. According to MNPD, Willis is wanted for two counts of aggravated burglary as well as aggravated stalking, three violations of a no-contact order of protection and domestic assault  fear of bodily injury.

He is the second person on the list this week with a stalking offense, per MNPD.

His last location is unknown to police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
A ballot measure seeking to prohibit the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx is losing, according to early results. Early numbers show 54% of the votes counted are against the ban to the 45% voting in favor.
PARK CITY, Utah (ABC4)  A man suspected of stealing a $104K Russian Sable fur coat from a shop in Park City has been arrested in New York and is facing charges in Utah.

Zivomir Mitic was charged Monday with second-degree felony retail theft, according to charging documents.

On Feb. 27, a man and woman entered Sitka Fur Gallery in Park City at 4:30 p.m. and went to the end of the store. Documents say the woman stayed on the lookout while the man took the tag off a fur coat and hid it under his jacket.

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In February, the Park City Police Department sought the publics help in finding them and offered a $5,000 reward.

Documents state that detectives were able to track down Mitics devices, finding that Mitic has a history of repeated short-term travel between the U.S. and Serbia. Mitic is reportedly a suspect in similar thefts at several locations in the United States, including in North New Castle, New York.

On Nov. 1, detectives confirmed that Mitic had been arrested in New York and is being held on a separate warrant.

Police did not provide information about the woman with Mitic at the time of the alleged theft.

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Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  Greensboro police arrested a suspect this week after a fatal shooting in September, according to a news release from the Greensboro Police Department.

Around 2 a.m. on Sept. 13, GPD officers, Greensboro fire officials and Guilford County EMS responded to a shooting at Sheetz.

While en route, officers stopped a car near Market Street and realized the victim, Jamon Terell Eubanks, 21, who was a passenger in the car, had been shot.

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Eubanks died at the scene.

On Tuesday, the GPDs Violent Criminal Apprehension Team apprehended 25-year-old Tyrese McCrea on an arrest warrant for first-degree murder in connection to the death of Eubanks.

McCrea was taken to the Guilford County Jail and is being held without bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  A man in his 30s is expected to survive being shot Tuesday afternoon in Hartford, according to police.

He was shot at about 2:30 p.m. on Ward Place. He was alert and conscious when he was taken to a hospital.

Further details, including a description of a possible suspect, were not immediately made publicly available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  The Ottawa County Prosecutor has issued charges against a man after a pedestrian was killed and another was seriously hurt when they were hit by a boat that was being towed near Holland in July.

The prosecutors office has authorized charges against a 44-year-old Holland man. The charges include one count of moving violation causing death, one count of driving while license was suspended causing death, one count of failing to stop and identify causing death, a moving violation causing serious injury, one count of driving while license was suspended causing serious injury and one count of failing to stop and identify causing serious injury.

An arraignment time and date is pending. The man has been held in the Ottawa County Jail since Sept. 18.

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Deputies: Boat trailer breaks free, kills pedestrian

The crash happened on July 21 around 2 p.m. on Quincy Street near 140th Avenue.

The Ottawa County Sheriffs Office said that a pontoon boat broke free from the westbound truck that was towing it. The boat and its trailer hit two pedestrians on a bike path, trapping them.

One of the pedestrians, a 62-year-old from Holland, was killed. The other pedestrian, a 38-year-old from Holland, was airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries.

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A 33-year-old man was rescued and taken to a hospital after falling down a 40-foot cliff in Idaho this week, according to a news release.

Idaho County Dispatch received a call Tuesday morning at around 5:30 that a man from Washington state had fallen the night before in an area above Shepp Ranch, southeast of Grangeville. The caller said the man needed medical attention.

Because of weather conditions, helicopters werent able to immediately fly, the release said. And there were challenges once one of the helicopters got into the air.

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They attempted to locate him, but were unable as the patient was moved from the coordinates given, the release said. Idaho County Dispatch was able to communicate with parties on the scene, and they advised he was stable and could make it through the night.

The party gave their final coordinates, and on Wednesday morning, a helicopter flew the man to Grangeville Airport and then to a medical center in Lewiston. There was no further word on his condition.
A man has learned his punishment after pleading guilty to charges connected to a deadly head-on crash back in June.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Leodegario Cruz Ortiz, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated homicide back in October, according to court records.

As previously reported by News Center 7, deputies responded on June 8 to a head-on crash on U.S. 127 south of Harris Road in Milford Road.

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A Toyota Camry was traveling southbound when it went left of center and hit another car head-on. Christopher VanZant, 40, of Fountain City, Indiana, drove the other vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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It was determined that Ortiz drove over 80 mph and alcohol is believed to be a factor.

A judge sentenced him to 11-16.5 years in prison, Cincinnati TV station WKRC reported.

Ortiz had been living in Hamilton illegally and did not have a valid U.S. Drivers license with him, WXIX TV said.

VanZant was a well-known DJ in the Richmond and Cincinnati areas, his obituary said.

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BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  The man who was charged in the death of a 63-year-old man earlier this year has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Blount County Criminal Court records state that Benjamin Michael Absher pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on November 4. He was sentenced to serve 30 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction, and that time will be served at 100%.

Arrest made in Maryville decades-old cold case

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Absher was arrested on May 8 in connection to a shooting at a home on Samples Road that happened that morning. He was initially charged with attempted criminal homicide, but that charge was upgraded to criminal homicide after the victim, Sammy Garland Jr., died on May 18.

Knoxville City Council Amendment 2 narrowly fails

According to Justia Law, criminal homicide in Tennessee is defined as the unlawful killing of another person, which may include first degree murder, second degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide or vehicular homicide.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Leavittsburg man pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection to a police chase in August.

Phoenix Albertini pleaded guilty to an amended indictment on a charge of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony.

Albertini waived a presentence investigation; however, Judge Ronald Rice wanted one before he sentenced him. He will be sentenced at a later date.

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Albertini was arrested after he ran from a traffic stop in Newton Falls for having an obstructed license plate. The chase lasted for several miles at speeds of 50 to 90 miles per hour before he was finally stopped by spike strips set up by troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

After he stopped, police say Albertini tried to run away, but he finally gave up and was arrested.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
A man posed as a deployed soldier and scammed people out of millions in a romance fraud scheme, federal prosecutors said.

Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, 40, of Nigeria, defrauded victims out of more than $3.3 million, according to a Nov. 5 news release by the Western District of Washington U.S. Attorneys Office.

Nwadialo was indicted in December on 14 counts of wire fraud, prosecutors said, and he was later arrested upon his arrival in the U.S. from Nigeria.

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His attorney information was not immediately available on Nov. 6.

While using aliases on different dating sites like Match, Zoosk and Christian Cafe, Nwadialo catfished people and usually told them he was deployed overseas while in the military, federal prosecutors said.

Throughout the scam, he curated different reasons as to why he needed the money, prosecutors said.

In 2020, he told one victim he needed $150,000 to pay a fine after he told the victim his location, prosecutors said.

Over time, the victim was tricked into giving him at least $2.4 million, prosecutors said.

Another victim was told to send $330,000 so Nwadialo could have help moving money in connection with his fathers death, prosecutors said.

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Nwadialo also told a woman he was investing money for her, and he used a check from another victim to fake proceeds from her investments, prosecutors said.

The woman eventually sent Nwadialo at least $270,000, prosecutors said.

Another victim sent him at least $310,000 when Nwadialo claimed he needed the money to pay for his sons tuition and his dads funeral, prosecutors said.

Nwadialo was arrested at an airport after arriving in Texas from Nigeria, prosecutors said.

He will be transported to the Western District of Washington for his arraignment, prosecutors said.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to twenty years in prison, prosecutors said.

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Group created fake dating profiles and stole millions from widows in scam, feds say

Hopeful buyers lost $6M in fake open house scheme, feds say. CA man going to prison

Woman posed as decorated Marine with cancer and stole benefits, donations, feds say
Three Colorado Supreme Court justices easily won their retention elections on Tuesday, brushing off a recent controversial decision to disqualify the Republican presidential candidate and disapproval of how the court handled a contracting scandal.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY)  64-year-old Vernon Brooks was sentenced to more than two life sentences for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old relative who was under his care, a release states.

Previous Coverage: Chesapeake man convicted of 18 felonies for sexually abusing 11YO relative

Brooks received 18 convictions for two counts of object sexual penetration of a child under the age of 13, seven counts of aggravated sexual battery of a child under the age of 13, and nine counts of indecent liberties by a custodian.

Courtesy: City of Chesapeake Inmate Lookup

Judge Marjorie A. Taylor Arrington, who presided over the trial, sentenced the defendant to two life sentences, plus 185 years and suspended 178 of those years, resulting in an active sentence of 2 life sentences plus seven years in the Virginia Department of Corrections.

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This case stems from a series of assaults over the course of several months in 2018. During that time period the defendant lived with the victim, who was 11 years old, and was in a supervisory or caretaking role. At trial, she described how on numerous occasions he called her into his bedroom and sexually assaulted.

If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A man in need of medical attention was rescued from an oil tanker off the coast of San Diegos North County Tuesday afternoon, according to the United States Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard San Diego Sector medevacd a 39-year-old man who was experiencing symptoms of a stroke just after noon on Tuesday off the Polaris Voyager oil tanker that was in the Pacific Ocean about 28 miles west of Oceanside.

Vehicle, trolley crash results in 17 injured

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An Air Station San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew was able to hoist the man into the medevac helicopter and took him to the hospital. He arrived at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla in San Diego around 2:30 p.m. and is reported to be in stable condition.

The identity of the man has not been released by officials.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man who pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge of voluntary manslaughter for a January shooting death in Boardman was sentenced to 8 to 10 and a half years in prison in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Jerome Tubbs, 24, of Youngstown, received the sentence from Judge Maureen Sweeney for the first-degree felony conviction.

The sentence was recommended by the attorneys in the case in exchange for Tubbs plea and upheld by Judge Sweeney.

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Included in the sentence is a three-year sentence for a firearm specification.

Tubbs was originally charged with murder for the Jan. 6 shooting death of Michael Kosarich, 30. Kosarich was found in his car in a Market Street parking lot unresponsive from a gunshot wound. He later died at St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Tubbs was arrested in February after police appealed to the public for help several times.

Defense attorney Aaron Meikle said he was ready to take the case to trial because he said Tubbs had a good self-defense claim. Kosarich was shot after the two had a confrontation during a road rage incident. Meikle said Tubbs was punched by Kosarich and Kosarich drove off.

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Tubbs followed Kosarich to the parking lot and when Kosarich got out of his car, Tubbs thought he had a gun and shot him, Meikle said.

He made one wrong decision and it compounded very quickly, Meikle said.

Angela Newman, Kosarichs sister, said her brother did not deserve to die.

This is obviously the worst pain I have ever felt in my life, she said. My family is missing an essential piece of our puzzle. My world is broken.

Newman said Tubbs did not have to follow her brother and could have made other choices.

It was senseless, all of it, Newman said. He [Tubbs] had so many other options. I will never be able to comprehend what the defendant did.

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Tubbs apologized, saying, that night, I was in fear of my own life.

Tubbs will get credit for 243 days he has spent in the county jail awaiting the outcome of his case.

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ST. LOUIS  A man was sentenced in court on Tuesday after he admitted to fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend two years ago.

According to the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, Brandon D. Terrell-Warren, 27, pleaded guilty to killing his girlfriend, Diamond Kennell, 21, near Itaska Street and Oregon Avenue in the citys Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Authorities said Terrell-Warren confronted Kennell while she sat in a parked car with another man. Terrell-Warren punched the man in the vehicle, which led to a fight between Terrell-Warren and Kennell.

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Woman found dead in submerged SUV after flash floods in Lemay

Reportedly, Kennell pulled out a pistol, and Terrell-Warren took it from her and fatally shot her.

Kennells mother spoke in court on Tuesday and told Terrell-Warren that her daughter loved him and what he did was wrong. Terrell-Warren declined to comment.

Terrell-Warren was originally charged with first-degree murder and four other counts. Instead, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Prosecutors dismissed three other charges as part of the plea deal.

Terrell-William was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

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AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  An Austintown man was sentenced to probation in connection to discharging a firearm in the township.

MarTez Sharper, 22, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of discharging a firearm and a reduced charge, from a felony to a misdemeanor, of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. The charges are in connection to an incident last month when police said he fired his gun from a car.

Sharper was sentenced to fines and court costs and will have to serve 12 months probation. He also has to forfeit his gun to Austintown police. A 180-day jail sentence was suspended.

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An officer on patrol in October reported hearing gunshots in the area of Patricia Avenue and pulled over a car in which Sharper was traveling as a passenger. Sharper told police that he acted stupidly and fired shots out of the rear drivers side window on Lancaster Drive near the park, according to a police report.

Police said the gun barrel was still warm in the car from the shots that were fired.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 41-year-old Leavenworth, Kansas man has been sentenced following a shooting incident outside a bar earlier this year.

Cortney L. Roberson was sentenced to two years and one month in prison Wednesday after he was found guilty in August of two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of criminal threat and one count each of criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal damage to property.

Donald Trump has sweeping plans: What hes proposed

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Court documents said the victims of the shooting were leaving a downtown Leavenworth bar on March 8 when Roberson approached the front of their vehicle with a handgun. The victim quickly drove away when a gunshot was heard.

Shortly after the incident, Roberson made a threatening call to the victim, court documents said. As the victims left the area, they called 911 and drove to the Leavenworth Criminal Justice Center for help. As the victims were being interviewed by police, Roberson sent threatening texts to one of the other victims.

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Roberson was arrested a few days after the incident and charged on March 13.

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AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A former security guard at Hollywood Gaming entered a plea and was sentenced in a local threat case.

Read next: Election results from Your Local Election Headquarters

Mark Simini, 51, of Niles, pleaded guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor charge of aggravated menacing during a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

According to an Austintown court employee, Simini was sentenced to two years of probation and has to pay a $100 fine. The jail time in the case was suspended.

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Simini was also ordered to stay away from Hollywood Gaming, which he had been accused of threatening last month.

According to a police report, those at the racino notified township police Oct. 2 of the threats after they received two letters in the mail.

Reports said the person writing the first letter demanded that the charity donate money to an animal charity, reinstate Simini, give a complimentary trip to Las Vegas to two people whose names are redacted from a police report, and pay Simini $9 million or a bomb would explode in the racino.

Reports said personnel at the casino told police that Simini had been fired in August 2023 from Hollywood Gaming and he had been coming back to see if he could be rehired.

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Joe Gorman contributed to this report.

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A man is in critical condition after he was shot while standing on a front porch in Tacoma on Wednesday.

Officers were dispatched after someone shot the man at about 2:30 a.m. in the 4000 block of Puget Sound Avenue. The man was taken to a hospital with a life-threatening gunshot wound to the chest, Tacoma Police Department spokesman detective William Muse told The News Tribune in an email.

There are no suspects in custody at this point in time, Muse said.

The relationship between the man and alleged shooter is unknown. It is also not known what preceded the shooting, he said.

Detectives are investigating.
A man is dead after a shooting in Shoreline early Wednesday.

At 4:15 a.m., Shoreline Police were dispatched to a report of a shooting at 19806 Aurora Avenue North, according to King County Sheriffs Office (KCSO) spokesperson Brandyn Hull.

Deputies arrived to find a man dead in the parking lot of Saint Margarets Place apartments.

At this point, one victim, thats certainly where our thoughts lie right now, were unaware of any other injuries, said Captain Tim Meyer with KCSO. We want to be responsive to community concerns. We appreciate that an event like what happened here this morning. It can really shake that sense of safety and were sensitive to that.

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No one has been arrested in connection with the shooting.

The KCSO Major Crimes Unit is working to identify a suspect.

According to the City of Shoreline, the complex is affordable housing for single adults who are at risk of becoming homeless or are transitioning out of homelessness.

The building opened to tenants in November 2023.

Shoreline contracts with KCSO for its police services.




CHICAGO (WGN)  A man is dead after a shooting and crash that unfolded near an elementary school on the citys West Side on Wednesday afternoon.

Chicago police said just before 1 p.m., the victim was located unresponsive in a vehicle, in the 600 block of North Lawndale Avenue, near Laura S. Ward Elementary School, after it crashed into another car in the area.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

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According to police, the victim, a 41-year-old man, had also suffered several gunshot wounds to his body.

The man was taken to the hospital in grave condition where he was later pronounced dead.

Authorities have not yet identified the victim killed and no other injuries were reported.

Currently, it is unclear if the victim sustained the gunshot wounds near the school or what led to the shooting.

An investigation is now underway and authorities said no arrests have been made.

Following the incident, the nearby school was placed on a soft lockdown.

Parents of students at the school also received a letter from the principal detailing the incident and the actions that school officials took.

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The safety of your children is always our top priority, and we are writing to inform you of an incident affecting our school today. This afternoon, there were reports of shots fired outdoors in the area near our school building. We immediately went on soft lockdown and contacted the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and CPS Office of Safety and Security. CPD then responded to our school and lifted our lockdown once they confirmed it was safe to do so. All students and staff are safe. Out of an abundance of caution, we will receive extra support from CPD during our arrival and dismissal this week. Please know that we are taking this situation extremely seriously. If your child voices any concerns or fears to you about this incident, please reach out to us and we will be able to provide them additional support. Thank you for your partnership in creating a safe learning environment for our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. Principal Finley-Jones

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Anyone with information on the deadly shooting is asked to contact the CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Denver voters are split on two sales tax measures that would raise $100 million for housing and earmark $70 million to help fund the city's safety net health care system.
ST. LOUIS  A Park Hills, Missouri, man appeared in federal court on Tuesday to be sentenced for smuggling a fatal dose of drugs into the St. Francois County Jail.

Prosecutors with the Eastern District of Missouris U.S. Attorneys Office said Timothy L. Noll, 35, arrived at the jail on July 27, 2021. He arranged to have methamphetamine and fentanyl delivered to him in the jail so he could sell them to other incarcerated individuals.

Noll contacted an intermediary and instructed that person to get the drugs from Garry W. Triplett and hide them in a Bible.

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On Aug. 1, the intermediary arranged for the Bible to be delivered to Noll at the jail. But the following day, Noll learned he was being transferred to a state prison and couldnt bring the Bible with him.

Noll asked jail staff to give the Bible to his cellmate.

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That cellmate, who was not identified, died two days later of mixed drug intoxication. Prosecutors said the victim had 19 ng/ml of fentanyl in his bloodstream. As little as 3 ng/ml can be fatal.

Noll pleaded guilty on May 22 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distribution of controlled substances resulting in death.

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A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Noll to 22 years in federal prison.

Triplett pleaded guilty on May 28 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distributing of controlled substances. Hell be sentenced in December.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
SAN SABA COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44)  While en route to a San Saba area hospital, a man takes control of an ambulance and crashes it.

The San Saba County Sheriffs Office received a call at approximately 11:45 p.m. Monday regarding a domestic disturbance at the Cabo RV Park, located at 301 County Road 102. Due to reports that the individual was allegedly armed with a bat, the on-duty deputy was dispatched along with a San Saba Police Department officer.

When they arrived, they found a man causing a disturbance on the property. A K9 officer on a leash was deployed as a precautionary measure.

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The Sheriffs Office says the suspect was later found. He ignored multiple commands from officers and started to run from the scene. Officers were able to de-escalate the situation and bring the individual to compliance.

EMS was requested to evaluate the suspect due to apparent health concerns. Transport to a local hospital was needed for further assessment. The man was placed in an ambulance with Hamilton EMS personnel for transport.

Suspect sought in Cameron restaurant burglary

The Sheriffs Office says the man became aggressive during transport and attacked EMS personnel, forcing them to evacuate the ambulance. The man then gained control of the ambulance and crashed the vehicle shortly thereafter. The man was placed into custody and transported to a hospital for evaluation.

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The man was medically cleared and released to the San Saba County Sheriffs Office. He was booked in on Tuesday and remains in custody.

This investigation in ongoing. No further information is available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
Hes voting for president because he doesnt want to upset his queen.

CNN on Tuesday night interviewed a single-issue Kamala Harris voter in North Carolina. His one issue? Not upsetting his girlfriend.

On CNNs Ballot Cam, voter Bryan Flores waved to the camera and explained why he just voted for the vice president over Donald Trump.

So, I wasnt going to vote at all, until my girlfriend was blowing up my phone, telling me to go vote, Flores explained. And if I didnt, she was going to break up with me. So now Im here.

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You can watch Flores appearance on CNN, below:

watching election night coverage purely for the exit interviews pic.twitter.com/XJs1rQifdK  Jordan Chamberlain (@jordylancaster) November 6, 2024

Flores vote is an important one for Harris and her running mate Tim Walz. The Democratic presidential nominee hasnt won the state since 2008, when Barack Obama edged past Republican nominee John McCain. This year, North Carolina accounts for 16 electoral college votes.

At 8:30 p.m. ET on Election Night, Harris had the slight advantage in North Carolina. The vice president won 49.8% of votes by that time, compared to Trumps 48.9%, according to NBCs live tracker. But its important to note most votes are still to be counted; only 14% of all votes in the state had been counted by 8:30 p.m. ET.

Polls close Tuesday night across America.

The post Man Tells CNN He Voted for Kamala Harris So His Girlfriend Wouldnt Break Up With Him | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
An IT manager who had the support of both social conservatives and progressive Democrats has won a seat on the Dearborn Public Schools board, which oversees the third largest school district in Michigan and Henry Ford College. Another newcomer, attorney and pro-Palestinian activist Amer Zahr, also won a seat, according to Wayne County election results.

Jamal Aljahmi was elected with 22.8% of the vote among 10 candidates, according to Wayne County results. Zahr came in second, garnering 13.62%. Board members serve six-year terms and serve concurrently as both Dearborn board members and Henry Ford College board members. Incumbent Jim Thorpe failed in his reelection bid.

People vote inside the McDonald Elementary Schools polling place during Election Day in Dearborn on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

The school board election came after two years of contentious debates in the district over LGBTQ+ books and curriculum, which conservatives in Dearborn had opposed, leading to protests that shut down a board meeting in 2022.

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Some of the 10 candidates ran against the LGBTQ+ books as part their platform. Aljahmi did not appear to mention the issue specifically in his campaign materials, but said on his website: "Recent years have seen an increase in politicization within school board elections, with debates often focusing on peripheral issues rather than addressing the core responsibilities: ensuring public funds are spent effectively, maintaining safe schools, and delivering a high-quality education to all students."

Aljahmi did not return messages seeking comment about his victory and his position on the books. On his website, he said the Dearborn school district is declining in quality, falling behind in graduation rates and test scores.

"The Dearborn ... School District is currently ranked #387 out of 866 districts in Michigan, a notable decline from its position among the top 190 in 2015," his website reads.

In addition to getting the backing of some activists who opposed LGBTQ+ books, Aljahmi was endorsed by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, state Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, and current board member Adel Mozip.

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"I wholeheartedly endorse Jamal Aljahmi for his unwavering dedication to education and his proven track record of public service to our Dearborn community," Mozip told the Free Press. "His vision and leadership will undoubtedly drive positive change for our students, teachers, staff, and parents.

Jackson Wagner, who spoke at board and city council meetings about being gay and in support of LGBTQ+ rights but was once booed at a board meeting by opponents of LGBTQ+ books, came in last place among the 10 candidates.

Zahr has said he's supportive of LGBTQ+ rights.

Democrat wins board seat in Northville

Roland Hwang, an attorney who teaches history at the University of Michigan, will become the only Democrat on the board of Northville Township. He was one of four who won seats among five candidates.

Roland Hwang was elected to be on the board of Northville Township. He's pictured here in 2008.

"I think the door knocking, and listening to people at the polls helped at the grass roots level," Hwang told the Free Press Tuesday. "It is old fashioned, but it still works."

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Hwang was previously an assistant attorney general for the state and a staff attorney and engineer for Ford. Hwang is also a longtime Asian American activist who played a key role in fighting for justice in the killing of Vincent Chin in 1982.

All of the other board candidates who won in Northville are Republicans.

Democrats win in Canton

Democrats fended off Republican challengers in Canton Township, an increasingly diverse suburb that used to be dominated politically by the GOP.

Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak, a Democrat, defeated challenger Pat Williams, a Republican, garnering 57% of the vote, reported Hometown Life. Williams was once supervisor before Graham-Hudak.

Current Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak and former Supervisor Pat Williams will compete for votes in the Nov. 5 election.

Incumbent Trustees Kate Borninski, Sommer Foster and Tania Ganguly retained their seats while Ammara Ansari won a seat, becoming the first Muslim to serve on the board.

Wayne County leaders easily reelected

With almost 93% of the precincts counted, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy was easily reelected with 81% of the vote in Michigan's largest county.

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Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington won with 69% of the vote. Wayne County Clerk Cathy M. Garrett won with 83% and Wayne County Register of Deeds Bernard J. Youngblood won with 71%.

Since 1941, a member of the Youngblood family has been the Wayne County Register of Deeds. Youngblood, 74, of Grosse Pointe Farms, was first elected in 2000 and has won his seventh 4-year term. His great-grandfather was elected Wayne County treasurer in 1882 and his cousin, Forest Youngblood, served as register for 30 years before retiring in 2000.

Hometown Life reporter Laura Colvin contributed to this report.

Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo

(This story was updated to correct an inaccuracy.)

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jamal Aljahmi wins seat on Dearborn Public Schools board
MANHATTAN (KSNT)  Police in Manhattan have arrested a local man for murder after a woman died from a stabbing on Tuesday.

The Riley County Police Department is reporting that Hunter Logan Smith, 24, of Manhattan was arrested around 11:50 a.m. on Nov. 5 for murder in the first degree; intentional and premeditated in the 3000 block of Arbor Drive. He was arrested on probable cause and taken to the Riley County Jail.

The RCPD said Smiths arrest was made in connection to a stabbing incident that occurred just after 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 5 in the 3000 block of Arbor Drive. Police were called to the scene for a reported stabbing and found a 24-year-old woman from Mountain Home, Arkansas, identified later as Tabatha Deer, who had sustained multiple stab wounds.

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Emergency workers took her to a local hospital before she was airlifted to a hospital in Topeka. Deer later died of her injuries.

How to become a bounty hunter in Kansas

If you have any information to share with law enforcement in connection to a recent crime, you can call the RCPD at 785-537-2112 or click here. You can also contact Crime Stoppers and leave an anonymous tip at 1-800-222-8477 or click here.

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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An Ohio sheriff is facing backlash over how he celebrated winning reelection.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Bruce Zuchowski, sheriff of Portage County in northeast Ohio, defeated Jon Barber in a narrow race.

For those who supported me... THANK YOU!! Zuchowski wrote on Facebook. He then used a crude meme to send a message to his haters.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The Portage County sheriff race garnered national attention this year after the incumbent sheriff made controversial comments about Vice President Kamala Harris supporters, according to our news partners at WOIO.

The Portage County Board of Elections fielded dozens of voter intimidation complaints after the social media post.

In October, the U.S. Justice Department announced it would monitor Portage Countys Election Day voting after the complaints.

WOIO reached out to the sheriffs office on several of these issues, but Zuchowski has not responded to requests to address the issues.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Democrats came out of Tuesday's elections with substantial gains in the Wisconsin Legislature under new district boundaries, setting them up for a run for a majority in two years.

Democrats had high hopes that the maps would enable them to seize control of the state Assembly for the first time in 13 years. That didn't happen, but their wins still stood out given that Republican President-elect Donald Trump carried Wisconsin.

Thanks to fair maps and a smart strategy, the GOP's stranglehold on Wisconsin's legislature is coming to an end, Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said in a statement. The DLCC is the arm of the Democratic Party tasked with building majorities in state legislatures.

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Republicans took control of the Senate and Assembly in 2011. Democrats used recall elections to win a Senate majority for six months in 2021, but otherwise the GOP has controlled both houses since then thanks largely to gerrymandered district maps that spread out Democratic voters.

Liberal justices who took control of the state Supreme Court last year tossed out the maps, clearing the way for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to enact new boundaries. Democrats made no secret on the campaign trail this summer that they thought the new boundaries would translate to control of the state Assembly and help them flip enough Senate seats that they'd have a shot at a majority in that chamber in 2026.

The plan mostly worked. Democrats failed to take control of the Assembly, but unofficial results Wednesday showed they had flipped 10 Republican seats, narrowing the GOP's edge from 64-35 last session to 52-44 with four races still undecided.

Eight of the seats the Democrats converted were open thanks to retirements and the new maps. They also defeated two Republican incumbents  Tom Michalski, who represented Milwaukee's western suburbs, and Loren Oldenberg, who represented a section of a far western Wisconsin south of La Crosse.

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Flipping a legislative body isnt easy, but we have fundamentally shifted the status quo in the legislature and set the stage for more progress in the future, Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Greta Neubauer said in a statement Wednesday. "Our work continues.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos attributed the Democrats' gains to Evers' maps. He said Democrats used out-of-state money to dramatically outspend Republican candidates. He also accused Democrats during a news conference of lying and distorting GOP candidates' records.

I think most Assembly Republicans who watched it will never forget the despicable tactics used in an attempt to claw power, Vos said. They were clearly wrong and again now we get to set the agenda for the rest of the state with our colleagues in the state Senate.

On the Senate side, Democrats had managed to flip three Republican seats as of midday Wednesday.

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Counselor Sarah Keyeski ousted GOP incumbent Joan Ballweg in south-central Wisconsin. Green Bay Water Commission Vice President Jamie Wall defeated Republican Jim Rafter in a battle for an open seat in northeastern Wisconsin. Republican Eric Wimberger had held the seat since 2021 but the new maps drew Wimberger into a different district. He won that seat on Tuesday night. Appleton Common Council member Kristin Alfheim defeated Republican physician Anthony Phillips to win an open seat in the Fox Valley that the GOP had held since 2013.

Republican Sen. Duey Stroebel conceded defeat to Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin on Wednesday morning in a battle for an open seat representing Milwaukee's northern suburbs. The Associated Press had not called the race as of Wednesday afternoon.

Republicans have held that seat since 1993. Stroebel had represented an adjoining district but the new maps pushed him into the open district.

All that narrowed the Republican advantage in the Senate from 22-11 to 18-14 with the Stroebel-Sinykin race still undecided.

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The Democratic gains erased the GOP's supermajority in the chamber, ensuring that Republicans won't have enough votes to override any Evers vetoes when the next legislative session begins in January. They also put Democrats within striking distance of a majority in two years.

Senate Democratic Minority Leader Diane Hesselbein did not immediately respond to an interview request.

Like Vos, Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu attributed the Democrats' gains to the new maps and huge spending. LeMahieu also accused Democrats of distorting Republicans' records on birth control and in-vitro fertilization.

It's disappointing, he said. The good thing is Trump won Wisconsin. Republicans still have a winning message. I still think a majority of voters favor Republicans. We'll roll up our sleeves and continue to fight for what's important for Wisconsin.

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He said the GOP is already planning for the 2026 elections.

2026 is a long way away, but we'll have some good incumbents running who will have two more years to get to know their constituents, LeMahieu said. We'll see. First we have to start a new session and make sure we govern responsibly.

Republican Donald Trump won Wisconsin in Tuesday's elections but state Democrats still made substantial gains in the state Senate and Assembly to set up a push for majority control in 2026.

New legislative district boundaries didn't pay off quite as well as Wisconsin Democrats had hoped in Tuesday's elections, but they did help the party set up a push for the majorities in 2026.

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Republicans have controlled the state Senate and Assembly for most of the last 13 years thanks largely to gerrymandered district lines that concentrated GOP supporters while spreading out Democratic constituents.

The GOP has used those majorities to reshape
Marijuana plants at a 605 Cannabis medical marijuana grow operation. (Courtesy photo)

A ballot measure to legalize adult recreational marijuana use in South Dakota was losing in unofficial results.

The tally was 56% against Initiated Measure 29 and 44% in favor at 4 p.m. Central time Wednesday, with 95% of statewide precincts fully reported.

The measure would not have legalized marijuana sales. That would have required later legislative action.

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Initiated Measure 29 would have provided the groundwork by legalizing for adults 21 and older the possession, use and free distribution of up to 2 ounces of marijuana.

South Dakota voters previously rejected recreational marijuana in 2022.

In 2020, voters passed a constitutional amendment legalizing both recreational and medical marijuana, but it was overturned in court for violating the state constitutions single-subject rule for ballot measures. A separate medical marijuana initiative that passed in 2020 laid the groundwork for the states current program.

Thirty-eight states allowed medical marijuana prior to Tuesday, and 24 and the District of Columbia allowed recreational pot. The federal government is considering a change that would reclassify cannabis as a less harmful drug under federal law.

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A representative of the campaign against Initiated Measure 29 celebrated the measures defeat Wednesday morning.

We are thrilled and grateful for eyes being opened to the overwhelming harms of marijuana that try to sneak in as benign, said Rhonda Milstead of the Protecting South Dakota Kids committee. With South Dakota, North Dakota and Florida all defeating their measures as well as Oklahoma two years ago, perhaps other states will have the courage to push back and bring health and safety back to their communities.

At a polling place Tuesday, Kenya Mejia, of Sioux Falls, said she voted against marijuana legalization. She was born and raised in California, she said, and believes legalization in her home state has led to more crime and drug abuse.

I go back every year, and things just keep getting worse, she said.

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Patty Kuehn, also of Sioux Falls, said she voted in favor of legalization because it makes more sense to regulate the drug than leave it to the black market.

I believe there should be legal choices that are safe, Kuehn said.

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In addition to four states that put marijuana on the ballot in 2024, Massachusetts sought to legalize certain types of psychedelics

Olena Ruban/Getty Photo illustration of a gavel and a cannabis leaf Photo illustration of a gavel and a cannabis leaf

Election Day isn't only about choosing the next president or casting votes for local officials. Ballot measures are an important part of regional politics, and this year the topic of marijuana was raised in several states.

In Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota, voters were asked to weigh in on the legalization of recreational marijuana, while Nebraska put medical marijuana on the ballot. Massachusetts, where weed is already legal, looked to legalize psychedelics.

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Related: Where Is Abortion Legal After the Election? Here Are the States That Passed New Measures

With the results tallied, marijuana restrictions will now be relaxed in just one more U.S. state, bringing the total number of states that have legalized the drug in some form to 39.

Here's a closer look at how the votes shook out.

Related: 2024 Election Day Recap: Inside the White House, Senate, House and State Races

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty General image of a cannabis shop sign General image of a cannabis shop sign

North Dakota

On Election Day, North Dakotans were presented with Measure 5, which planned to create a new chapter of the North Dakota Century Code.

According to the ballot language, a "yes" vote "would allow for the production, processing, and sale of cannabis and the possession and use of various forms of cannabis by individuals who are 21 years of age and older; direct a state entity to regulate and register adult use cannabis production businesses, dispensaries, and their agents; provide protections for individuals who are 21 years of age or older who use cannabis; provide penalties for violations of the chapter; preserve certain employer rights regarding use of cannabis products by employees; supersede local ordinances that otherwise would prohibit the purchase, sale, use, delivery, or growing of cannabis by or to individuals 21 years of age or older; and provide that fees must be appropriated for administration of this chapter."

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North Dakota residents elected to keep recreational marijuana illegal.

South Dakota

South Dakotans also got a say in whether or not weed should be legalized in the state  and ultimately they said no.

Across the state, voters were able to decide on Initiated Measure 29, which aimed to legalize the recreational use, possession and distribution of marijuana. The legislation would have also allowed those over the age of 21 to have up to two ounces of marijuana; "possess, grow, ingest, and distribute marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia"; and possess six marijuana plants, with "no more than 12 plants per household."

The measure called for weed to remain illegal for those under 21 years old and for driving under the influence of marijuana to remain illegal.

Florida

Citizens of Florida, where medicinal marijuana is legal, got a chance to vote on Amendment 3.

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The proposed change to the state's constitution was designed to allow those over the age of 21 to buy and possess the drug for personal, non-medical reasons. It also sought to permit adults in the state to possess up to three ounces of marijuana and five ounces of marijuana concentrate.

Under the new amendment, existing medicinal dispensaries could sell the drug to recreational users and give licensed state entities the ability to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute related products, per CBS.

Though a majority of Floridians voted to legalize recreational marijuana, the amendment did not reach the 60% threshold required to pass.

Nebraska

While Nebraska didn't get an option to vote on the legalization of recreational marijuana in the latest election, voters did have a say over whether they wanted medical marijuana legalized  and in a departure from other states this year, Nebraskans supported relaxed restrictions.

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In the state, voters got to decide on Initiative Measure 437 and 438  the first of which asked Nebraskans to vote "for" or "against" the legalization of the use, possession and acquisition of up to five ounces of cannabis for medical reasons. As for 438, residents could vote "for" or "against" the legalization of the possessing, manufacturing, distribution, delivery and dispensary of medical marijuana in the state.

Voters overwhelmingly decided to support both measures, though there are still legal challenges over whether they were eligible to go on the ballot in the first place.

Massachusetts

Voters over in Massachusetts got to decide on recreational drug usage, but marijuana (when used both recreationally and medicinally) is already legalized.

Still, those in the state sounded off on the legalization of psychedelics via Question 4  which proposed making it legal for "persons aged 21 and older to grow, possess, and use certain natural psychedelic substances in certain circumstances." It also aimed to allow the purchase, taxation and regulation of certain psychedelic substances, as well as the creation of a Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission and Natural Psychedelic Substances Advisory Board.

Ultimately, Massachusetts citizens voted to not approve the proposed law.
A Marine Corps recruiter is in custody after allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old who he met at a recruiting event, according to authorities.

Sgt. Jorge A. Lara-Pedroza was arrested by the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety in California on Oct. 29, and booked into the Santa Clara Jail, according to a Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety press release.

Lara-Pedroza, whos assigned to Marine Corps Recruiting Station San Francisco, met the alleged victim about a week before the assault, police said.

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On October 28, the victim met with the suspect at the recruiting center to learn more about the Marine Corps. During the meeting, the suspect sexually assaulted the victim, the department said in a statement.

Marine Corps Recruiting Station San Francisco officials said Lara-Pedroza has been relieved of his duties and that the Corps is cooperating with law enforcement.

Lara-Pedroza was booked for oral copulation, penetration with a foreign object, and arranging to meet with a minor with the intent to engage in sexual conduct, according to the release.

Originally from Virginia, he enlisted in 2016, and is an aircraft avionics technician.

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Officials confirmed Wednesday that Lara-Pedroza remained in custody, and he had an arraignment on Tuesday, but online court records do not indicate how he pleaded.

The incident remains under investigation and anyone with further information is asked to call 408-730-7110.
Marjorie Taylor Greene has thanked her wonderful supporters after winning re-election to the House of Congress for the third time running.

The firebrand right-wing congresswoman, who represents Georgias 14th congressional district, posted a video celebrating her win from Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, vowing to bring Georgia home for the former president.

In the short video, posted around an hour before her victory was officially declared by the Associated Press, Greene said: Im so excited that my race had been called, and I just want to thank all the wonderful people in Georgias 14th district for your support and hard work I couldnt do it without you.

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Despite her frequent outspokenness and penchant for conspiracy theories, Greene has proved consistently popular with voters in Georgias 14th congressional district. Her fellow Republicans Austin Scott and Buddy Carter also won re-election in Georgias 8th and 1st Congressional Districts, respectively.

In her video, Greene added: Tonight Im at Mar-a-Lago supporting president Trump, and as we move on through the evening we are looking for victory. I am honored for your support and I hope we bring Georgia home for President Trump and we can move forward to make America great again.

Marjorie Taylor Greene posts video from Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Despite her frequent outspokenness and penchant for conspiracy theories, Greene has proved consistently popular with voters in Georgias 14th congressional district (Screen grab)

Greene has long marketed herself as a cheerleader for Trump, recently taking personal offense over remarks by businessman Mark Cuban, who said that the former president never hangs out with strong, intelligent women.

In an attempt to literally prove the billionaire entrepreneur wrong, Greene posted a video of herself performing pull-ups from her home garage.

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After completing a set of five, Greene launched a personal attack on Cuban, claiming that he suffered from low testosterone and compared him, looks-wise, to MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.

Heres his issue, hes actually intimidated by strong, intelligent women, like me, she said. I graduated from UGA with a business degree, I run a very successful construction company in Georgia, and now Im going on my third term in Congress.

However Greene has fallen out with other high-profile fans of Trump, including fellow congresswoman-elect Lauren Boebert, and far-right activist Laura Loomer.

The congresswoman has also infamously clashed with Democratic congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. During a heated House committee meeting in May, the Texas representative called Greene a bleach blonde bad-built butch body.

Further showdowns may lie ahead, after Crockett also retained her seat in the House on Tuesday night.
Investor Mark Cuban congratulated former President Trump early Wednesday morning, stating he won fair and square just moments after Decision Desk HQ projected the former president as the winner of the general election early Wednesday morning.

Congrats @realDonaldTrump You won fair and square. Congrats to @elonmusk as well. #Godspeed, Cuban wrote on the social platform X.

Decision Desk HQ projected Trump as the election winner shortly before 1:30 a.m. ET after declaring Trump the projected winner of Pennsylvania and Alaska, which got him to exactly 270 electoral votes.

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Cuban emerged as one of Vice President Harriss most visible supporters in the final stretch of the campaign. From hitting the trail with Harris to appearing on cable news networks, Cuban served as a surrogate for the business community.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, Tesla and SpaceX, endorsed the former president shortly after the first attempted assassination on his life in July. The move marked a major rightward shift for Musk, who previously tried to stay out of the political landscape.

Trump has not confirmed whether Musk would be a part of his second administration, though he floated the tech magnates name to head up a panel focused on cutting government costs.

Cuban last month suggested the race became the Harris campaign vs. Elon, not Trump, in an apparent reference to the influence some believe Musk could have in a second Trump term.

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Cuban told The Hill last month he chose to increase his political activity given the closeness of polls ahead of the race.

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Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn won reelection to a second term in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, defeating Democratic challenger Gloria Johnson, a state representative who had hoped to capitalize on a rising national profile kickstarted by legislative expulsion hearings last year.

We have looked at this not as Team Marsha, but as Team Tennessee because what we decided to do with this campaign was to invest in the next generation of leaders, Blackburn said in her victory speech. We want to make certain that Tennessee remains a conservative state.

The Associated Press called the race at 7:02 p.m., minutes after polls closed in Tennessee.

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Blackburn supporters, including Gov. Bill Lee, gathered at the Hilton Cool Springs Tuesday to celebrate her win and watch incoming results from the presidential race. As Blackburn's victory was called, the room full of patriotic pins and Make America Great Again hats cheered.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn speaks during her watch party at the Hilton Hotel in Cool Springs, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

All of us know that we are one of the most conservative states in the country, and one of the reasons is because of Marsha Blackburn, Lee said, introducing Blackburn for her victory speech at around 7:40 p.m. She pushed back against what was popular, even in the Republican Party at the time, but she pushed back to make sure that conservative principles held firm in this state.

Blackburn thanked the over 700 volunteers who she said knocked on about 636,000 doors ahead of Election Day. Many of those volunteers went through Blackburn-funded campaign school to allow them to help track election results live on Tuesday night.

She said Johnson called to concede the race ahead of her speech.

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I appreciate that she did that. I will say this, my opponent six years ago never conceded the race, Blackburn said of former Gov. Phil Bredesen, who she defeated in 2018. So I thank Gloria for the call, and I do look forward to working with her on behalf of all Tennesseans.

Blackburn, the first female senator from Tennessee who has served since 2018, and her victory helps national Republicans in their efforts to shore up control of the U.S. Senate as tight races play out elsewhere in the nation.

Tennessee has not elected a Democrat to a statewide office since 2006.

Before results had come in for Knox County, Johnson acknowledged she would not defeat Blackburn. Johnson said she expected Democrats would send a message to Republican incumbents across the state that they can no longer assume an easy victory.

Gloria Johnson at the democratic watch party at the Mill & Mine in Knoxville on Election Day in Knox County on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

We are not gonna win this thing, we already know, Johnson told the USA TODAY Network-Tennessee. Were gonna wait to see all the numbers. I want to see the numbers.

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In a concession speech later in the evening, Johnson said she was happy with the campaign she ran, which included visits to all 95 counties and 67,000 donations, more than 70% of which came from within Tennessee.Her customary call to Blackburn came with a request for more collaboration in the future, she said. I called Marsha Blackburn and congratulated her for her win, and I asked her if we could please have some conversations and talk about ways that we can stop the hate in this state and that we change our conversations so we are not demonizing people who don't look or love or worship like us, Johnson said.

Throughout her campaign, Blackburn, 72, largely ignored her opponent, opting instead to criticize the Biden-Harris administration and focus on issues animating Republican voters not just in Tennessee but across the nation: border security, transgender issues, and support for former President Donald Trump.

Blackburn's TV ads criticized lax immigration policies, took swings at the Chinese Communist Party, and touted her role in the state legislature working to block a state income tax.

In addition to backing from traditionally conservative voters in Tennessee, Blackburn said she saw support from independents, especially independent women, this cycle, emphasizing her support for federal grants toward school hardening measures like ballistic film, bulletproof glass, and security cameras.

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Women who are independent minded, and I think most women are independent minded, have really appreciated that," Blackburn said.

In her first term in the Senate, Blackburn has played a role on the Senate Judiciary Committee, been a firm supporter of Trump but has also worked across party lines on issues such as social media safety.

Blackburn said the people of Tennessee have given her a clear to-do list. Items include strengthening the economy, getting rid of inflation, removing tax on Social Security, securing the U.S.-Mexico border and restoring the countrys place in the world.

Returning to Washington, D.C., Blackburn said she will focus on her signature legislation to protect minors on social media, the Kids Online Safety Act, as well as legislation to make 2017 Trump-era tax cuts permanent. Legislation in support of Israel and supporting veterans health care are also priorities.

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We've got a busy year planned, Blackburn said.

Asked whether she would consider a position in former President Donald Trumps administration should he win, Blackburn said she has no intention to do so.

I have thanked them for any consideration that came my way and let them know that I like working for the people of Tennessee, she said.

Johnson's loss signals a blow to Tennessee Democrats who gained new energy after attempted expulsions of three state representatives  including Johnson  last year.

Johnson, 62, rocketed to national fame after interrupting Tennessee House proceedings with a protest for gun control measures from the chamber podium days after the Covenant School shooting. Johnson, along with Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, became known as the Tennessee Three after the Republican House majority attempted to expel them for violating decorum rules. Johnson survived expulsion by a single vote.

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Following international media attention, and a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris to Nashville, and a visit to the White House, Johnson crisscrossed the state seeking to funnel newfound political energy sparked by the expulsions into significant voter turnout for Democrats. Her campaign stops in 95 counties brought Democrats together to air grievances about Tennessees Republican supermajority legislature, and frustrations about the states Republican senate delegation.

Johnson sought to paint Blackburn as out of touch with Tennessee voters and beholden to special interests, while pledging to make health care more affordable, restore abortion access, pass gun safety laws, and increase public school funding.

But while Johnson netted an impressive $7.2 million fundraising haul, it was no match for Blackburns $17.1 million war chest and deep rooted Republican base across the state. Blackburn won nearly every county in Tennessee.

Still, Johnson's political career is far from over. She simultaneously ran for reeelction to her state House seat in Knoxville. She ran unopposed.

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Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com or on X at @Vivian_E_Jones.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: US Senate race in Tennessee: Blackburn defeats Johnson
MARSHALL, Texas (KETK)  A pedestrian is injured and a driver is behind bars after a Tuesday night crash in Marshall, authorities said.

POLICE: Sex offender arrested after mother finds 13-year-old in his car

According to the Marshall Police Department, officers were called around 7:50 p.m. to the intersection of West Burleson and North Bishop Street where a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle.

Mugshot of Jonathan Olvera, courtesy of the Harrison County Jail.

The department said officers found a male victim who reported that a dark-colored vehicle had hit them and then fled. Officials said the victim was taken to a local hospital to treat their broken leg.

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Marshall PD said an investigation identified 30-year-old Jonathan Olvera, of Marshall, as the driver. Police said Olvera cooperated with investigators and was charged with accident involving serious bodily injury.

Man dies in deputy-involved shooting after threating to kill coworkers

Olvera was booked into the Harrison County Jail and also has an outstanding warrant for tampering with physical evidence out of Marion County.

This investigation is ongoing, and no additional details are available at this time, Marshall PD said.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich has been re-elected for his third six-year term in the United States Senate. Sen. Heinrich has held his seat now for 11 years which is something he claimed gives him an advantage as far as getting things done for New Mexicans and bringing resources back to the state.

KRQE News 13s Election Results

Senator Heinrich ended the night with 55% of the vote and a more than 80,000 vote lead. During his victory speech he thanked the people who helped his campaign and the people who voted. Heinrich says hes focused on bringing more manufacturing jobs to the state, working on energy projects and centering efforts on drivers of the local economy; particularly the national labs and military bases. During his time in office, hes primarily sponsored bills focused on public lands and natural resources.

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This is the third time that Sen. Heinrich has been elected to his position. He defeated Republican candidate Mick Rich and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in 2018. He was elected to the position in 2012.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
BALTIMORE  Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks defeated Republican former two-term Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday in the states costliest U.S. Senate race ever. She will be Marylands first Black senator.

Alsobrooks historic victory came in an election that produced significant turnover in the states Washington delegation of eight U.S. House members and two senators. Alsobrooks and two House candidates, April McClain Delaney of Montgomery County in the 6th Congressional District and Sarah Elfreth of Anne Arundel County in the 3rd Congressional District, all sought spots in a delegation that is currently all male.

The last time two women were part of Marylands U.S. House delegation simultaneously was 1993-95, when Republicans Helen Bentley and Connie Morella overlapped before Bentley left to run for governor.

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The victory of Alsobrooks, whose candidacy was boosted by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, means Democrats will continue to hold a seat left open because of the pending retirement of Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin.

The race was closely watched by both national parties because Democrats held just a 51-49 majority over Republicans and were challenged to successfully defend enough seats to maintain control.

Alsobrooks election came in a year that saw an unusually high number of vacancies  four  in the states delegation.

The seats sought by McClain Delaney and Elfreth were open because of the retirement of Rep. John Sarbanes in the 3rd Congressional District and the decision by 6th District Rep. David Trone to seek the Senate seat. He lost to Alsobrooks in the May primary.

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The retirement of C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Baltimore County in the 2nd Congressional District left another opening that was contested between Baltimore County Rep. Johnny Olszewski, a Democrat, and Republican commentator Kim Klacik.

McClain Delaney  a Biden administration official and the wife of former Rep. John Delaney  faced Republican Neil Parrott, a former state delegate from Washington County making his third straight bid for the seat. Parrott was trying to become the first candidate in 54 years from one of the three westernmost counties to win the seat.

Elfreth, a Democratic state senator, was matched against Republican Robert Steinberger.

Beginning with the primary election, Alsobrooks race was deluged with campaign money from the candidates and super PACs, which can spend unlimited amounts. From July through September alone, Hogan and Alsobrooks combined to directly spend nearly $20 million, with their allies spending millions more to benefit their campaigns.

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Hogan was elected twice as governor in a state in which Democrats have a greater than 2-1 voter registration advantage. His task was harder in a presidential election year in which the presence on the ballot of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump  a polarizing figure who lost his 2020 reelection bid  brought more Democrats to the polls.

Alsobrooks, who was raised in Prince Georges County, attended the University of Maryland School of Law and became a Prince Georges County assistant states attorney in 1997. She was elected in 2010 to the first of two terms as the countys states attorney and has since won two terms as county executive.

She emphasized abortion rights during the campaign, criticizing Hogans 2022 veto of legislation allowing nurse practitioners, midwives and other non-physician medical professionals to perform abortions in Maryland. Hogan said he favored restoring the precedent set by the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.

During the candidates only debate last month, Hogan referenced Alsobrooks recent admission that she inadvertently claimed property tax credits she did not qualify for on a home she was renting out in Washington, D.C., that had belonged to her grandmother.

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Alsobrooks campaign pitched her election as critical to Democrats efforts to try to maintain a Senate majority.

Jeffrey Johnson-Bey, 50, who voted at Gunpowder Elementary School with his 21-year-old son, considered the races national implications.

Though pleased with the job Hogan did as governor, Johnson-Bey said he voted for Alsobrooks to help give Harris  his presidential choice  a Democratic-led Senate to deal with instead of giving Trump a Republican-led Senate.

Alsobrooks is the third Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate, following Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois and Kamala Harris of California, the current vice president and Democratic presidential nominee. Harris is a mentor and friend of Alsobrooks. In neighboring Delaware, Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester defeated Republican Eric Hansen on Tuesday to become that states first Black female senator.

Laphonza Butler of California was appointed to fill a Senate vacancy in 2023 but did not seek election.

_____
Marylanders voted to enshrine reproductive freedom into the state constitution Tuesday. Photo by Danielle J. Brown.

Maryland voters appeared to overwhelmingly affirm their support for reproductive rights Tuesday, with early returns showing almost 74% of Marylanders voted to enshrine the right to an abortion and other reproductive freedoms into the Maryland Constitution.

Maryland voters have rightly chosen to protect their health and their futures. The strong protection of reproductive rights that has existed for decades in Maryland law is now ironclad, enshrined in the state constitution, said Erin Bradley, chair of Freedom in Reproduction-Maryland (FIRM), in a written statement. Voters have guaranteed reproductive certainty amid uncertain times.

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With 61% of the votes counted just hours after the polls closed, Question 1 held an insurmountable lead of 1.4 million votes for to just over 500,000 against.

Question 1 will amend the state constitution to protect an individuals fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including but not limited to the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue or end the individuals pregnancy. The amendment also states that the State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden or abridge the right unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

Those protections were already the law in Maryland  also approved by voters in a 1992 referendum  but abortion rights groups pushed for it to be enshrined in the constitution after federal protections were gutted in 2022. Thats when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its Roe v. Wade decision, which had recognized a federal right to an abortion for almost 5o years.

The Supreme Court said in its Dobbs decision that Roe had been wrongly decided, and it said the question of abortion regulation was one for state or federal lawmakers.

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That triggered abortion bans in some states, while others moved to bolster abortion rights. Maryland is one of 10 states that had abortion questions on Tuesdays ballot.

The ballot measures success was largely anticipated in Maryland, long a bastion of abortion rights. The 1992 referendum passed by a 2-1 margin, and an October poll from the Institute of Politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, indicated that 69% of Marylanders planned to vote for Question 1.

Adding the amendment to the state constitution was designed to protect abortion rights from federal interference. But advocates were still concerned that wins by abortion opponents at the federal level  whether for president or Congress  could complicate the impact of Marylands constitutional amendment.

Susan Heltemes, 72, president of the District 18 Democratic club in Montgomery County, said that she was young when Roe v. Wade was decided. At a Democratic election night watch party Tuesday night in College Park, Heltemes said she breathed a sigh of relief to see Question 1 approved.

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I am of an age where I was a very young women when we had Roe versus Wade, Heltemes. It always seemed like that it was there. And now my nieces and my great nieces are struggling for what I took for granted, and it just isnt right.

Wearing a Yes on 1 button, she said that voting for the ballot measure was the right thing to do.

We cant go backwards anymore, Heltemes said.

It could be days or weeks before a winner of the presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris. But in the meantime, advocates say, the right to an abortion in Maryland will be protected.

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That said, Heltemes understands that there could be some challenges depending on the results of the presidential election.

If Trump were to win, I know that tomorrow therell be new issues to face, she said.

Ahead of Election Day, Bradley, with FIRM, said that the constitutional amendment will provide the highest protection a state can provide for abortion rights.

If we get an anti-sexual reproductive health president, as former President Trump was during his time as president  the constitutional amendment provides the highest protection in the state of Maryland for Marylanders, Bradley said Monday. So, unless or until there is a federal attempt to outright ban abortion nationwide at the federal level, the Maryland constitutional amendment protects abortion and reproductive rights at the highest level we can give in our state.

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Trumps stance on abortion has shifted over the years. While he has boasted about appointing three of the six Supreme Court judges who voted to overturn Roe, he has since stated that the question of abortion regulation should be left to states, and that he would not sign federal legislation that restricts abortion nationwide.

Meanwhile, Harris says she supports restoring abortion protections that were granted under Roe v. Wade.

That said, about 1 in 4 Marylanders had voted against the measure in early returns. Many anti-abortion activists say that the constitutional amendment is unnecessary, as Maryland law already permits abortions, among other criticisms of the ballot question.

Jeffrey Trimbath, president of the Maryland Family Institute, said that opponents are looking into legal avenues to challenge the constitutional amendment. He said theyre looking into how the constitutional amendment interacts with state law allowing physicians to refuse to perform certain medical procedures that conflict with their religious views, such as abortions, among other potential legal challenges.

When you raise it to the supreme law of the land, which this amendment does, then you put it on a whole new legal plane, Trimbath said. Whether thats individual doctors or faith-based hospitals throughout the state  will that now mean those conscious protections will now be challenged? If thats the case, then youre looking at a possible conflict between the First Amendment and this 48th amendment to the Maryland constitution.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Democrat Angela Alsobrooks took home the victory Tuesday night after beating Republican Larry Hogan in the race for the Maryland U.S. Senate. She is now the first Black woman to hold the seat.

According to the Associated Press, Alsobrooks won 52.2% of the votes, with Hogan bringing in 45%.

I was very happy for us as a race of people and to see a Black woman be a senator, the first in Maryland, said George Eccles, a Prince Georges County voter.

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On Wednesday morning, many were feeling the excitement in Prince Georges County.

Awesome, we needed her there. We definitely needed her there, said Milton Newsome regarding Alsobrooks win.

Vice President Kamala Harris to deliver remarks at Howard University following loss to Donald Trump

Some voters who did not vote for Alsobrooks told DC News Now off-camera that they like the fact that shes made history.

Alsobrooks addressed those who did not vote for her on Tuesday night, saying, Those Marylanders whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I want you to know that I hear your voice, and I will be your senator too.



Voters say theyre hoping shell bring change to the federal level.

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Im just looking forward to all the changes for jobs in the area, economics and also the crime, said Joan, who opted not to give her last name.

Alsobrooks says shes ready to head to Capitol Hill and make a difference.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
After a decisive vote in favor of Massachusetts ballot question 2 on Tuesday, high schoolers will no longer need to pass statewide standardized tests in order to graduate, a change that will go into immediate effect for the class of 2025.

The measure, which does not eliminate the administration of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam, but rather its role as a graduation requirement, passed with 59% of voters in support and 41% opposed, with 96% of votes reported as of Wednesday afternoon. The yes vote was particularly strong in western Massachusetts, while towns and cities in the greater Boston area were more likely to vote against it, according to reporting from The Boston Globe. In Weston, one of the states wealthiest communities, 2 in 3 voters cast ballots in opposition, according to the Globe.

Students still must meet the states course requirements of gym and American history and civics, along with locally determined measures, set by the some 300 school districts.

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Too Hard or Too Easy: The Big, Statewide Fight Over MA. Graduation Requirement

When asked about next steps at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Maura Healey, who was a vocal opponent of the measure, said The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be out with guidance shortly on that  But the voters spoke on that question. And I dont know what will come as of just yet.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey discussed ballot question 2 at a post-election press conference Wednesday afternoon. (National Governors Association)

In response to a question about her willingness to entertain bills that would overturn the measure, Healey said, Ill review anything that comes to my desk, but Im not going to engage in hypotheticals.

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Those who wanted to keep the requirement and see the ballot measure defeated  including Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and the National Parents Union  argued that the MCAS is a high-quality assessment that is necessary to hold schools accountable, communicate progress with students and their parents, and establish consistent academic expectations statewide.

Those in favor of the ballot measure  backed by the statewide teachers union  argued that the testing requirement narrowed curriculum, forcing teachers to teach to the test. Each year, more than 700 students  including many English language learners and students with disabilities  are unable to graduate because they didnt pass the MCAS or because they didnt meet local district requirements.

Historically, approximately 70,000 10th graders sat for at least one of the three MCAS exams each year. Based on state policies, students had to earn a passing score on all three exams to earn a diploma. Those who didnt could try again at least four times and some students were able to participate in an appeal process or an alternative pathway. Ultimately, the vast majority of students  about 99%  met the requirements.

With this election victory, voters have welcomed a new era in our public schools, said Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy in a statement following the announcement that voters approved Question 2. This is the beginning of more holistic and thorough assessments of student work.

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Ballot Propositions: Voters in 2 States Reject Private School Choice Measures

Leading the charge on the ballot measure, the union poured $7.7 million into its campaign as of Oct. 1 and opponents spent $1.2 million, according to reporting from the Boston Globe.

John Schneider, the chair of Protect Our Kids Future, a coalition opposed to the ballot measure, said in a statement that, Eliminating the graduation requirement without a replacement is reckless. The passage of Question 2 opens the door to greater inequity; our coalition intends to ensure that door does not stay open.

This point was echoed by the president of the National Parents Union, Keri Rodrigues, in an interview with The 74 Wednesday afternoon.

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I think its a strong signal about what weve been warning about: that were going to watch the inequities in Massachusetts kind of just go wider and wider and wider as more affluent districts largely maintain high standards and others lower theirs.

Rodrigues said she and other advocates will immediately begin calling for legislation that implements new statewide graduation requirements based on MassCore, a state-recommended program of study, which includes the successful completion of four credits of English, math and a lab-based science, along with a number of other requirements.

James Peyser, former state education secretary, is similarly concerned about the new lack of regulation. We had [a graduation standard], he told The 74. I think it was working well, and Im disappointed that the ballot question passed because it replaces something  something thats working  with nothing. But we need to fill that void as quickly as possible.
FULL RESULTS: Rhode Island & Massachusetts Races  | National & Balance of Power 

BOSTON (AP)  Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren won a third term in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

Warren fended off a challenge from Republican John Deaton, an attorney who moved to the state from Rhode Island earlier this year. Deaton tried to portray the former Harvard Law School professor as out of touch with ordinary Bay State residents.

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Warren cast herself as a champion for an embattled middle class and a critic of regulations benefitting the wealthy. She has remained popular in the state despite coming in third in Massachusetts in her 2020 bid for president.

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Warren first burst onto the national scene during the 2008 financial crisis with calls for tougher consumer safeguards, resulting in the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

She has gone on to become one of her partys most prominent liberal voices.

I first ran for the Senate because I saw how the system is rigged for the rich and the powerful and against everyone else and I won because Massachusetts voters know it too, Warren said in a recent campaign ad.

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In 2012, Warren defeated Republican Scott Brown, who was elected after the death of longtime Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy to serve out the last two years of his term. Six years later, she easily defeated Republican challenger Geoff Diehl.

During the campaign, Deaton likened himself to former popular moderate Republican Massachusetts governors like Bill Weld and Charlie Baker, and said he did not support Donald Trumps bid for a second term as president.

Although the candidates have taken similar stands on some issues, theyve tried to sharply distinguish themselves from each other.

Both expressed sympathy for migrants entering the country but faulted each other for not doing enough to confront the countrys border crisis during a debate on WBZ-TV. Both said they support abortion rights.

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Warrens popularity failed to translate when she ran for the White House in 2020. After a relatively strong start, Warrens presidential hopes faded in part under withering criticism from Trump who taunted her over her claims of Native American heritage.

She ultimately finished third in Massachusetts, behind Joe Biden and Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.

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MANSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH)  Two Massachusetts residents were arrested on Wednesday in Mansfield for alleged car break ins, according to police.

State police investigating armed car theft in Oxford

A trooper conducted a traffic stop on a dark-colored Volkswagen SUV with Massachusetts license plates after being called to the area of Warren Circle in Mansfield for reported car burglaries.

The trooper made contact with 34-year-old Joseph T. Walker and 24-year-old Jada Disire Williams of Worcester, Massachusetts and allegedly saw a large pickaxe in the back seat of the car, along with several jackets and two purses. Another trooper was canvassing the area when he found a Honda Accord with a smashed window that had appeared to be rummaged through, state police said.

The investigating trooper also recognized Walker and Williams from a previous larceny investigation in Tolland last week. They were both arrested and charged with possession of burglar tools, criminal mischief on the 2nd degree, larceny in the 4th degree and identity theft in the 3rd degree.

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A Massachusetts tax preparer has been convicted by a federal jury on charges that he prepared false tax returns in the names of taxpayers.

Yves Isidor, 68, of Somerville, was convicted Monday of five counts of filing false tax returns, Acting U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said in a statement. Isidor was acquitted on one count. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William Young scheduled sentencing for Feb. 6, 2025.

When someone hires an individual to complete your tax returns, they have a right to expect honesty, professionalism and integrity. Most importantly, you expect them to provide accurate information to the IRS, Levy said Tuesday.

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Yves Isidor lied to his clients, who had no idea that he had improperly filed tax returns on their behalf until they were contacted by investigators and alerted to the false information in their returns, Levy said. Tax fraud is not a victimless crime. We all suffer when people like Yves Isidor lie and cheat the tax system.

Prosecutors said the evidence at trial established that from at least 2012 through 2020, Isidor ran a tax preparation business under the name Tax and Realty Pro to file more than 1,200 tax returns in the names of clients, charging between $100 to $500 per return.

Isidor added false information to six tax returns to claim deductions for fictitious medical and dental expenses, gifts to charities and unreimbursed employee business expenses, prosecutors said. The false returns resulted in taxpayers receiving tax refunds to which they were not entitled or paying lower taxes than they owed.

Six taxpayers testified at trial that Isidor had never discussed the false items with them, and they were not aware he had inserted them into their returns. An undercover agent also testified that he was present and observed the defendant create a false tax return in the agents undercover name.

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The guilty verdict of Yves Isidor demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigations commitment to the prosecution of tax return preparers who are looking to exploit the American taxpayers, Harry Chavis Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office, said in a statement.

Isidor held a position of trust in his local community as a tax return preparer and he used that trust to take advantage of his clients by preparing fraudulent tax returns, often without his clients knowledge, resulting in the underpayment of legitimate tax obligations that all Americans are required to pay, Chavis said. The jurys verdict in this case sends a clear message that tax fraud is not a victimless crime. These countless acts lead to the reduction of tax revenue that local communities rely on to fund schools and maintain essential civil services.

The charges of aiding and assisting in the filing of false federal tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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BOSTON (AP)  Massachusetts voters approved dropping comprehensive tests as a requirement for getting a high school diploma but rejected a measure to legalize some psychedelics.

The issues were among five measures put to voters on Tuesdays ballot. Voters also said no to increasing the minimum hourly wage for workers who collect tips. But they approved giving union rights to drivers for ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft and OKd auditing the Legislature.

Question 1 Approved: Allowing an audit of the state Legislature

Voters gave the state auditor the power to audit the Legislature.

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The ballot measure had been spearheaded by state Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who formerly served in both the state House and Senate. She said passage is a victory for those who want more open state government.

The people of Massachusetts want the equity, transparency and accountability that a legislative audit would bring, she said.

Critics had said the question would violate the separation of powers outlined in the Massachusetts Constitution.

Democratic Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano released a statement saying they will consider how to best respect the Question 1 election results in a manner that aligns with the fundamental principles of the Massachusetts Constitution, including separation of powers.

Question 2 Approved: Dropping a requirement to pass tests for a high school diploma

Until now, Massachusetts students were required to pass comprehensive tests to receive a high school diploma. The approved ballot issue doesnt get rid of the tests, but stipulates that passing them will no longer be required for graduation.

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The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests are given in mathematics, science and technology, and English.

Instead of passing the tests, students will be required to finish coursework certified by the local school district and achieve state academic standards in the subjects.

Teachers unions have been among the strongest critics of using the tests as a graduation requirement, saying that teaching to the test limits their ability to give students a fuller education.

Supporters of the tests argued that without the requirement, school districts will adopt lower standards so students can graduate. They said its unfair to grant diplomas to students who arent ready.

Question 3 Approved: Allowing Uber, Lyft drivers to unionize

Voters approved giving the right to unionize to drivers for ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft.

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Under federal law, the drivers are considered independent contractors who dont have the right to unionize. The ballot measure approved by voters allows drivers to unionize in Massachusetts. Drivers wouldnt be required to participate. On the corporate side, companies will be allowed to join forces through associations that would represent their joint interests in negotiations.

As part of the measure, the state will have the right to approve negotiated contracts. The proposal also creates a hearing process when a company or union is charged with an unfair work practice.

Unions pushed for the change despite a settlement announced in June by the state attorney generals office guaranteeing Uber and Lyft drivers earn a minimum pay standard of $32.50 per hour.

Opponents said the measure will raise prices for riders without directly benefitting drivers and create what they call a new radical labor category inconsistent with federal labor law. Critics also say drivers already enjoy benefits, including higher hourly pay and paid sick and family medical leave.

Question 4 Defeated: Legalizing psychedelics

The rejected ballot issue would have allowed residents 21 and older to grow and use plant-based psychedelics in certain circumstances. Two other states have legalized some mind-altering drugs that are considered illegal by the federal government.

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The psychedelics in question included psilocybin and psilocyn, both found in so-called magic mushrooms, and mescaline, dimethyltryptamine and ibogaine from plants.

Critics of the proposal warned it could lead to a black market. They also argued the centers selling the drugs would not be prevented from giving psychedelics to people considered high risk, like those with schizophrenia, bipolar illness or who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Question 5 Defeated: Raising the minimum wage for tipped workers

Voters defeated a proposal to gradually increase how much employers must pay workers who collect tips, like servers in restaurants.

The states wage for tipped workers is now $6.75 an hour, while the minimum hourly wage for most other workers is $15. Now, if a worker doesnt earn enough in tips to bring them up to $15 an hour, the employer must make up the difference.

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Under the proposal, employers would have been required to pay tipped workers $9.60 an hour beginning Jan. 1, and match the states full minimum wage at the start of 2029.

Supporters argued tips should be a reward for good service, not a subsidy for low wages. Critics said the proposal would have reduced overall wages for servers, increased costs for restaurants and patrons and could have forced some neighborhood eateries to close.

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(Bloomberg) -- Massachusetts voters backed the elimination of the states standardized test as a high school graduation requirement, despite warnings from business leaders and Governor Maura Healey that the move would undermine its top-tier education system.

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Students in Massachusetts are currently required to pass an exam in math, English and science  known as the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, or MCAS  in order to receive a diploma. They will still need to sit for the test under federal guidelines, but the vote means that passing the exit exam will no longer be a prerequisite for graduation.

The ballot question, one of five in Massachusetts this election, had emerged as one of the more divisive contests in a solidly Democratic state for which the vote in the presidential contest and this years one statewide election was never much in doubt.

Public figures and elected officials lined up on both sides of the standardized testing issue. Actor Matt Damon, a Massachusetts native, and US Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat who sailed to reelection over Republican challenger John Deaton this week, were among those who backed a push by the powerful Massachusetts Teachers Association union to eliminate the exit exam.

Healey was joined in her opposition to the ballot measure by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and high-profile donors, including Michael Bloomberg and New Balance Chairman Jim Davis. Bloomberg, the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP, donated $2.5 million to the campaign against the ballot measure.

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The teachers union also spent heavily on its push to remove the testing requirement, which it says is an overly simplistic barometer for academic success that disadvantages students with disabilities and those for whom English is a second language.

Its a statement about skepticism about giving this much power to high-stakes tests, Max Page, the head of the teachers union, said in an interview after the results were announced. Filling in little bubbles on a test  why is that the thing that should decide who gets a diploma and where we should focus our energies?

Competitive Advantage

Healey and Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler had argued that the test is a proven tool for assessing student performance and helps to hold the states education system to a high standard. Massachusetts schools are consistently ranked among the best in the nation, a key selling point for the state at a time when high housing costs and unreliable public transportation infrastructure are pushing some younger residents to move elsewhere.

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Weve long maintained that our workforce and our talent is our competitive advantage, and that includes our own children who matriculate through our school systems, James Rooney, the head of the Boston chamber, said in an interview. If our rankings in the education space begin to dip, thats certainly something that companies will look at.

Even with voter backing, the final wording on the overturn of the testing requirement and the timeline for implementation may be subject to changes. Massachusetts state law gives the legislature the power to tweak or repeal ballot measures, and the leaders of the states House of Representatives and Senate had indicated ahead of the vote that they would be willing to consider action to forestall the removal of the high school exit exam should the proposal pass.

While Massachusetts encourages high schools to follow a recommended curriculum, the only other official statewide criteria for graduation are instruction in American history and civics and four years of physical education.

Eliminating the MCAS exam without a replacement or state-mandated curriculum will result in a wild west of graduation requirements across the state, Edward Lambert Jr., executive director for the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, said in an interview before the vote.

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Most other states require certain coursework for high school diplomas. Still, high school exit exams are increasingly rare: Massachusetts is one of only eight states that mandate one as a graduation requirement, according to data compiled by FairTest. New York has also been reconsidering its Regents exam with the states Education Department this week proposing to phase out the testing requirement.

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Massachusetts voters have decisively rejected a measure to abolish the tipped wage, declining to require that restaurants and related employers replace the current pay schemewhich allows them to compensate employees with a lower base wage supplemented with gratuitieswith the state-mandated hourly minimum.

Had the measure passed, the law would have gradually upped hourly pay for tipped employees until it ultimately reached $15 an hour, Massachusetts' current minimum wage, in January 2029. The state's tipped wage is $6.75 an houralthough employees often make considerably more than minimum wage with gratuities. If an employee's tips fall short of boosting them to the minimum wage, employers are already required to make up the difference.

The vote comes amid an ongoing tug-of-war across the U.S. over how muscular a role the government should play in regulating compensation for tipped workersa debate that has subverted typical partisan lines. Spearheaded by the One Fair Wage Plus Tips MA Committee, the campaign hoped to have Massachusetts join eight statesAlaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Michigan, along with Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Illinoisthat have eliminated, or are in the process of eliminating, the tipped wage.

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But despite being primarily a left-leaning rallying cry, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Lieutenant Gov. Kim Driscoll, both Democrats, joined a long list of liberals and progressives to come out against the policy, citing their past work as waitresses who experienced how lucrative tipped employment can be.

Healey took it a step further. "I think it's important to vote no on this because I think you run the risk of closing restaurants and putting these workers out of work, actually, because the restaurant owners I speak [to] are not going to be able to afford this and they're going to end up laying off people," she said on Boston Public Radio. "In some instances, some have told me they're just going to shut down."

Areas that have tried this experiment can corroborate some of those concerns. Washington, D.C., for example, saw full-service restaurants hemorrhage 1,800 jobs between May 2023 and August 2024, shortly after the city nixed its tipped wage. The price of eating out there has also increased, particularly with the addition of hefty service fees, much to the chagrin of many customers.

Not unlike Massachusetts, D.C. heard loud opposition to the policyparticularly from voices in the restaurant industry. "I grew up in the Washington area, and I'm worried about my livelihood," wrote Ryan Aston, a bartender who identified as a progressive, in The Washington Post. "Restaurant profit margins are already often razor-thin, and to be forced to pay the largest (and already highest-earning) portion of a staff four times more than before creates a real accounting problem.Next, once menu prices have soared and staff has been cut, tips will dwindle."

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In other words, many service workers themselves have objected to the change, citing the superior income working for tips can provide. Voters have sometimes decided they know better. In Massachusetts, thankfully, that wasn't the case.

The post Massachusetts Voters Protect the Right To Work for Tips appeared first on Reason.com.
Massachusetts voters have rejected a ballot initiative that would have eliminated penalties for noncommercial production, possession, and sharing of five naturally occurring psychedelics. With 87 percent of ballots counted on Tuesday night, 57 percent of voters opposed Question 4, which would have allowed adults 21 or older to use psilocybin, psilocyn (another psychoactive component of "magic mushrooms"), dimethyltryptamine (DMT, the active ingredient in ayahuasca), ibogaine (a psychedelic derived from the root bark of the iboga tree), and mescaline (the active ingredient in peyote). The initiative also would have authorized state-licensed "psychedelic therapy centers."

Question 4 resembled a groundbreaking initiative that Colorado voters approved in 2022, covering the same substances and conduct. Both went further than a 2020 Oregon initiative that authorized state-licensed "psilocybin service centers" but did not apply to other psychedelics or permit independent use (although an initiative approved the same year, which was subsequently overturned by the state legislature, decriminalized low-level possession of psychedelics and other drugs).

The Massachusetts initiative would have allowed "individuals 21 years of age or older" to "grow, possess, and use a personal amount of psychedelic substances." It also would have let them assist others in those activities and transfer personal-use amounts to other adults "without remuneration."

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The possession limits were 18 grams for mescaline, 30 grams for ibogaine, and one gram for DMT, psilocybin, or psilocyn. Possessing more would have been a civil offense punishable by a $100 fine for amounts up to twice the limits, but it would still have been a criminal offense beyond that cutoff. Under current Massachusetts law, possession of psychedelics is punishable by up to a year in jail for the first offense and up to two years for the second offense.

On-site consumption of the covered drugs at therapy centers would have been regulated by a newly created Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission. The initiative would have imposed a 15 percent tax on those transactions and allowed local governments to impose additional taxes of up to 2 percent. Local governments also would have been authorized to regulate the centers without banning them.

Polls conducted in September and early October suggested that voters who had made up their minds about Question 4 were about evenly divided. But a substantial share of voters14 percent in both surveyswere undecided. A third poll, conducted in late October, put support at 50 percent, with 44 percent opposed and 6 percent undecided.

In that last poll, 59 percent of Democrats favored Measure 4, compared to 49 percent of independents and 36 percent of Republicans. Colorado's 2022 psychedelic initiative won by more than seven points, which was impressive given the state's political demographics: Registered Democrats have just a small edge over registered Republicans. But in Massachusetts, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 3 to 1, Question 4 was rejected by a double-digit margin.

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Like the campaigns for the Oregon and Colorado initiatives, the Question 4 campaign, which was spearheaded by a group called Massachusetts for Mental Health Options, emphasized the psychotherapeutic potential of psychedelics. "Plant-based therapeutics are the most effective treatment I have seen for veterans struggling with mental health challenges after service," said Emily Oneschuk, a Navy veteran who served as the group's grassroots outreach director, in a press release. The campaign said the initiative would allow "regulated access to promising natural psychedelic medicines for treatment-resistant PTSD, anxiety, and depression." It emphasized that "psychedelics will be available in approved therapeutic settings under the supervision of trained and licensed facilitators, NOT sold in stores to take home."

Opponents, led by the Coalition for Safe Communities, portrayed Question 4 as a reckless experiment. Although the organization was not "advocating against the medicinal properties" of psychedelics, spokesperson Chris Keohan told The Boston Herald, the initiative "goes way too far way too quickly and doesn't address any of the real concerns that public safety advocates have as well as mental health professionals."

Massachusetts General Hospital surgeon Anahita Dua warned that "Question 4 would decriminalize psychedelics, open for-profit centers, [and] allow for growth in a 12-foot by 12-foot area in homes," adding that "a black market is inevitable with this amount of home growth." Dua anticipated an increase in drugged driving, accidental consumption by "children and pets," and harm caused by ibogaine's "life-threatening cardiotoxicity." She complained that therapy centers "aren't required to be run by medical professionals, cannot provide critical care during adverse reactions, and aren't prohibited from giving psychedelics to high-risk patients like those with schizophrenia, bipolar illness, and pregnant or breastfeeding women."

It looks like such warnings gave pause to voters, which suggests the limits of the message that psychedelics can help people overcome longstanding psychological problems when more conventional approaches have failed. Just as the medical use of marijuana opened the door to broader legalization, that strategy could undermine the premises of the war on drugs and pave the way to wider pharmacological freedom. But not in Massachusetts, at least not yet.

The post Massachusetts Voters Reject Decriminalization of 5 Natural Psychedelics appeared first on Reason.com.
Fourth Congressional District Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, said Wednesday hes open to taking a new role in the incoming Donald Trump administration, potentially leading the Department of Agriculture.

President Trumps resounding victory secured a mandate for big ideas like reversing chronic disease, conserving our land and empowering American farmers, Massie said in a statement first released to The Herald-Leader. His campaign unified many neglected constituencies, from the Amish who just want to be left alone to grow healthy food, to parents who want more access to nutritious food for their families.

I stand ready and willing to help the President with any part of his bold agenda to focus on the health and well being of Americans, but I have received no commitments or offers from President Trumps team, and any discussion of the transition are premature, Massie continued.

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The speculation over Massie began with Joel Salatin, an iconoclast author and speaker in the farming community who calls himself The Lunatic Farmer.

The potential development spread quickly on X, the social media website owned by Trump ally Elon Musk.

In a blog post, Salatin wrote that hes been contacted by the Trump transition team for an advisor role in the United States Department of Agriculture and that Massie will be the secretary.

Ive been contacted by the Trump transition team to hold some sort of position within the USDA and have accepted one of the six Advisor to the Secretary spots. My favorite congressman, Thomas Massie from Kentucky, has agreed to go in as Secretary of Agriculture, Salatin wrote Wednesday.

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On Thursday, Salatin sang a more similar tune to Massie, adding that discussions and negotiations were, indeed, happening.

Right now, theres no story. There are just discussions and negotiations going on, and Ive been asked to remain quiet about anything until there are green lights. Theres no confirmation and everythings fluid, Salatin told the Herald-Leader.

Massie, who has become friendly with Robert Kennedy Jr. during the campaign, has had an topsy-turvy relationship with President-elect Trump, only endorsing him late in the 2024 campaign.

But Kennedys closesness with Massie have revived the relationship in recent weeks, leading to the possibility that the northern Kentucky congressman could enter the new administration next year.

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One factor to keep in mind is the balance of the U.S. House of Representatives. With around 50 races not yet called as of Wednesday evening, neither Republicans nor Democrats have a claim to the majority. If either sides majority is slim enough, Massies departure from the 435-member chamber could have serious implications on the balance of power there.

If Massie were to leave, his replacement would be decided by special election, according to state statute. Who the nominees are for each party would be decided by local county parties in the district.

The Fourth Congressional District spans all of the Northern Kentucky region as well as a portion of Eastern Kentucky and a few counties in the Greater Louisville Area. Republican candidates have won it handily for the last 20 years.
Election Day is when many Americans cast their vote for U.S. president but it's not always the day they find out who won.

Media outlets have begun projecting which state electoral college votes will go to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or to Republican nominee Donald Trump. However, a projected winner could take several days as previous elections have shown.

A candidate needs at least 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency. If the results of even one key state aren't clear, the election call can take more time.

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"It took several days to count every ballot in 2020, and its very likely we wont know the outcome tonight, either," former President Barack Obama wrote on X on Tuesday.

As the suspense for the winner continues, here is a look into how long uncertainty lasted in previous presidential races.

It took several days to count every ballot in 2020, and its very likely we wont know the outcome tonight either. So please keep a few things in mind as you make your voice heard today:



 Thousands of election workers around the country are working hard today. Respect them.  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 5, 2024

How long did the 2020 election last?

President Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 race against former President Donald Trump on Saturday, Nov. 7  four days after Election Day that year.

Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are reflected in the plexiglass during a 2020 presidential campaign debate at Belmont University in Nashville on Oct. 22, 2020.

How long did the 2016 election last?

In the 2016 race, Trump was projected to win in the early hours of Wednesday, Nov. 9, the morning after Election Day.

How long did the 2012 election last?

In 2012, former President Barack Obama was projected to win reelection over Sen. Mitt Romney before midnight on Election Day, Nov. 6.

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Embedded content: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/05/election-2024-live-updates-results/75686839007/

How long did the 2008 election last?

In 2008, Obama also was elected into his first term on Nov. 4, 2008 against Sen. John McCain, in a quick victory announced around 11 p.m. EST after polls closed.

How long did the 2004 election last?

In the 2004 race, President George W. Bush won his second term after then-Sen. John Kerry conceded on a phone call on Wednesday, Nov. 3, shortly after 11 a.m. the day after the voting.

How long did the 2000 election last?

In the longest delay in history, it took 35 days after the election to declare President George W. Bush the winner on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2000.

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Allegations of miscounts, court debates and logistical voting issues, including a faulty ballot design, were to blame for the delay.

Contributing: Kinsley Crowley, Joshua Bote and Rachel Barber

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How long did the 2020 election last? See duration of previous races
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Wednesday stood firm on keeping the filibuster in place under a Senate GOP majority, even though the party will control a 52- or 53-seat Senate majority along with the White House and possibly the House next year.

President-elect Trump has talked about jettisoning the filibuster before and could pressure Senate Republicans to do so. He and McConnell do not have the best relationship, and the Kentucky senator is relinquishing his role as GOP Senate leader next year.

Nonetheless, McConnell voiced confidence that the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to overcome procedural objections in the Senate, will remain in place.

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I think one of the most gratifying results of the Senate becoming Republican, the filibuster will stand, there wont be any new states admitted to give a partisan advantage to the other side, and well quit beating up the Supreme Court every time we dont like a decision they make, McConnell told reporters at a press conference.

I think this shifting to a Republican Senate majority helps control the guardrails, keep people who want to change the rules in order to achieve something they think is worthwhile not successful, he added.

I think the filibuster is very secure, he added.

Senate Republicans will control at least 52 seats next year and could expand their majority to 53 or 54 seats depending on what happens to the races in Pennsylvania and Nevada, where Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Jacky Rosen (R-Nev.) are currently trailing their GOP challengers in the whip count.

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Trump pressured Republicans to jettison the filibuster in 2018, when Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress and he was in the middle of his first term as president.

He told a group of GOP lawmakers that they should get rid of the 60-vote threshold for passing controversial legislation through the upper chamber before Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) could do so to push a Democratic presidents agenda through Congress.

Schumer tried to pass a carve-out of the Senates filibuster rule in January 2022 to pass voting rights legislation, but he fell short of the simple majority vote to change the Senates rules after Sens. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who were Democrats at the time, voted with Republicans to quash the effort.

Schumer told reporters at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that if Democrats kept control of the White House and Senate and won back the House in the 2024 election, one of their first priorities would be to amend the filibuster rule to pass voting rights and campaign finance legislation.

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One of the first things we want to do is what we did first last time but I think well have more success and thats democracy, dealing with voting rights, dealing with Citizens United, dealing with reapportionment, Schumer told reporters in August, adding campaign finance reform and extreme gerrymandering of congressional districts to his top priorities.

He said that Democrats would have the votes to implement filibuster reform if they managed to hold on to their majority.

There were probably 35 Democrats who were willing to change the rules on that issue. We got it up to 48. Of course, Sinema and Manchin voted no.  Well, theyre both gone, he noted.

Instead, Democrats lost at least three Senate seats in Tuesdays election. Republicans easily picked up Manchins seat after he decided not to run for reelection and defeated 3rd-term Sens. Jon Tester (D) and Sherrod Brown (D) in Montana and Ohio, respectively.

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The Gazette's portfolio of publications  including The Gazette in Colorado Springs, The Denver Gazette and Colorado Politics  will be bringing you the latest on local, state and national politics throughout Election Day. Check back for updates.
(Bloomberg) -- Senator Mitch McConnell set up potential clashes with Donald Trump and his isolationist allies over Ukraine and other foreign policy matters even as he congratulated the president-elect on reclaiming the White House.

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The outgoing Republican leader, a defense hawk who has been one of the Senates most fervent supporters of Ukraine, said hell focus on defense and foreign policy as his party takes the Senate majority in January. He signaled his support for a defense buildup and called the current security environment the most dangerous time since right before World War II.

McConnell cited North Korea, China, Russia and Iran in his warnings but avoided addressing Trumps stance on Ukraine. The incoming president has been critical of spending on the war and has promised to quickly negotiate an end to it.

Republicans have secured at least 52 seats in the Senate, with the potential to pick up a few more. The larger margin allows Trump to confirm controversial national security nominees even if they arouse slight opposition in his own party.

McConnell, however, remains a formidable force in the Senate despite his plan to give up his leadership post. He is particularly influential among more traditionally hawkish members of the party, and he could serve as a roadblock to Trumps isolationist tendencies.

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US adversaries have one thing in common: that they hate us and they want to diminish our role in the world, McConnell said. It may seem old fashioned to some, but Im still a Reagan Republican who thinks that Americas role in the world is absolutely indispensable.

Still, McConnell was optimistic in his outlook as Republicans prepare to take control of at least two of the levers of power in Washington following Tuesdays victories.

It was a helluva good day, he said.

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Kristen McDonald Rivet won election to Michigan's 8th Congressional District, securing a seat for Democrats that was opened up by retiring Congressman Dan Kildee.

With an estimated 99% of BALLOTS counted, McDonald Rivet received 51.3% of the vote, while Republican Paul Junge has 44.6% of the vote, according to unofficial results compiled by the Associated Press, which called the race early Wednesday morning.

Michigan's 8th Congressional District includes the area in and around Bay City, Flint, Midland and Saginaw. The seat was considered a tossup, even though the congressional district covering much of the region has been represented by Democrats for decades.

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That was considered likely to have been the case again this year before U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, announced last year he wouldn't run for a seventh two-year term. While the region has been trending more Republican in recent elections, Kildee had enormous name recognition; before he won the seat in 2012, his uncle, the late Dale Kildee, who died in 2021, had represented the area for 36 years.

The race pitted Junge, a Republican from Grand Blanc, who had lost to Kildee two years ago and lost in another district to U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, in 2020, against McDonald Rivet, a first term Democratic state senator from Bay City who earlier worked for the state education department, Michigan Head Start and nonprofit organizations.

During the campaign, Junge  a former assistant prosecutor, TV anchor and official with the Department of Homeland Security during former President Donald Trump's term, who largely self-funded his campaign through an inheritance from his father  relied on attack ads against his opponents, first in the GOP primary and then McDonald Rivet. He worked to characterize her as soft on crime and illegal immigration and present himself as a trusted ally of Trump's, who endorsed him.

McDonald Rivet, meanwhile, who had Kildee's endorsement, depicted herself as a pragmatist, willing to work with Republicans to cut taxes on working families and take steps to lower consumer prices and combat illegal immigration. She also argued that Junge is not to be trusted in his claims that he, like many other Republicans who had earlier established themselves as strict opponents of abortion rights, wouldn't vote in favor of restrictions on the practice now that Michigan voters have enshrined abortion protections into the state constitution.

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Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: McDonald Rivet wins Michigan's 8th Congressional District race
State Sen. John McGuire, shown here campaigning with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in Louisa County in May, won his first election in Virginia's 5th Congressional District earlier this month. (Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

State Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland, on Tuesday prevailed in his bid to become the next congressman to represent Virginias 5th Congressional District after defeating Democrat Gloria Witt in a contentious race marked by internal Republican turmoil.

Despite the infighting that erupted after McGuire unseated incumbent Rep. Bob Good, R-Farmville, in the June 18 primary election, McGuire managed to unite enough of the partys base to win Tuesdays general election with 56-43.5% of the votes, according to unofficial numbers by the Virginia Department of elections. The Associated Press called the race at 10:58 p.m.

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McGuire, a former U.S. Navy SEAL who announced his bid for the Republican nomination in the 5th District just one week after winning his seat in the 10th state Senate District  a move that angered many of his fellow Republicans in the district  overcame months of tension between his supporters and loyalists of Good, who had held the seat since 2021.

A staunch conservative with deep backing from religious and hardline right-wing groups, Good lost the GOP nomination to McGuire in a heated primary that was one of the most expensive and most watched nomination contests nationwide this year.

The loss led to a fractured Republican base, with some of Goods supporters initially refusing to back McGuire and vowing to write in the incumbent, who became nationally known for his role in ousting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and as the chairman of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus.

However, McGuires strong conservative platform on issues like gun rights, economic growth and national security  and his endorsement by former President Donald Trump, who disavowed Good after the congressman openly backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential bid  resonated with voters in the 5th District, Virginias largest.

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But McGuires victory over Witt was by a much smaller margin than Goods 56-42% win against Democrat Josh Throneburg two years ago  a fact that the ousted incumbent will likely seize on if he decides to seek the Republican nomination again in 2026.

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Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D). File photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Even with this years elections dominated by presidential politics and national storylines, Maryland voters made significant changes to their local governments Tuesday  though they werent as extensive as they could have been.

In Montgomery County, voters overwhelmingly embraced a two-term limit for their county executive  meaning the incumbent, Marc Elrich (D), will be out of a job in two years.

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Voters in Harford County also imposed term limits on their county council members for the first time.

But voters in Charles County and Wicomico County opted to maintain the status quo in their local governments, despite high-profile, emotional debates to change them.

And voters in Baltimore City and Baltimore County decided Tuesday that size matters: City voters rejected an effort to reduce the size of their council, while their neighbors in the county decided to expand membership on the county council.

Montgomery County

Just eight years ago, voters in Marylands largest jurisdiction adopted three-term limits for the county executive and the county council with a surprisingly robust 69% of the vote. That question was put on the ballot by political provocateur Robin Ficker, a frequent Republican candidate for public office.

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This year, Reardon Sullivan, Elrichs GOP challenger in 2022, succeeded in putting a question on the countywide ballot limiting the county executive to just two terms. The vote this time was almost as resounding as it was in 2016: With 153 of 257 Election Day precincts reporting as of late Tuesday night, the question was heading to passage with 67% of voters approving it (the vote totals include early voting and mail-in tallies).

While the Montgomery County Democratic Party and some unions opposed the term-limit measure  and some business groups that routinely align against Elrich embraced it  the issue did not attract the attention it was expected to, and some of Elrichs allies only mobilized against it late.

In an interview Tuesday night, Elrich said he was not totally surprised by the result, and blamed term-limit advocates and developers for mischaracterizing the current county law.

They didnt tell people the executive already has term limits, he said.

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An avowed Democratic Socialist and one-of-a-kind veteran officeholder, Elrich spent three terms on the county council before being elected executive in 2018 and served 19 years on the Takoma Park City Council before that. The vote immediately makes him a lame duck. A long line of ambitious Montgomery County politicians, primarily from the county council, will inevitably contemplate running to replace him in 2026, and the cycle could also be ripe for a political outsider to prosper.

Elrichs two immediate predecessors as county executive, Isiah Leggett (D) and Doug Duncan (D), each served three terms.

Because the term limits law adopted in 2016 only limit county officeholders to three consecutive terms, Elrich would be eligible for a political comeback in 2026, if he chooses to run for a council seat again, as is the current rumor in Rockville. He would be 77 then.

Harford County

Harford County voters also overwhelmingly embraced term limits for the first time for their county council. County executives there have had two-term limits for decades, but the same edict did not apply to the six council members.

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Question A, which passed 91% to 9%, prohibits a council member from consecutively serving more than three four-year terms and prohibits a council president from consecutively serving more than three four-year terms in that job. Five of the six council members are elected by district, while the council president is elected countywide.

The current members of the council will not be immediately impacted by this vote, the way Elrich will be in Montgomery County.

Charles County

The largest county in Southern Maryland will be keeping its form of government after voters rejected an amendment to adopt a charter government by a 44% to 56% vote. Instead of electing a county executive and five county council members chosen by district beginning in 2026, as they would have under a charter form of government, the current system will remain intact, with its four county commissioners elected by district and a commission president elected countywide.

Proponents of the switch have argued that having a county executive puts a face on the Charles County government, someone who can take the lead advocating for the countys needs in Annapolis and negotiating economic development deals. They also argued that a charter government would be more accountable to citizens.

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But this is now the second time in a decade that Charles County voters have opposed a change in government; the opposition was led by the police and firefighter unions and the local teachers union.

Charles County continues to go through tremendous economic and demographic changes. Once mostly white and rural, the fast-growing county is becoming increasingly suburban  and is now the most prosperous majority-Black jurisdiction in the U.S. But the change will not be yielding a change in county government  at least for now.

Wicomico County

Across the Bay, Wicomico County voters went in the opposite direction, rejecting a ballot measure that would have eliminated the county executives position and the county council and returned the government to an all-commissioner format.

The 45% to 55% result represents a temporary respite for County Executive Julie Giordano (R), who has been in a power struggle with certain veteran council members since the minute she took office in December 2022. These council leaders succeeded in putting the question on the ballot, but they could not get it over the top with the electorate.

Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano (R). File photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Wicomico residents voted in favor of creating a charter government 20 years ago, but ever since the first executive was elected in 2006 there have been territorial feuds between the administration and the council  even when they belonged to the same political party.

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Giordano, a former teacher who was a political neophyte associated with conservative groups when she was elected executive, is not out of the political woods yet. She could face a tough primary from a fellow Republican in 2026, at the same time the county, particularly in Salisbury, is gradually becoming increasingly Democratic. This is a storyline to watch for the foreseeable future.

Baltimore City

Voters in the states biggest city appeared headed to rejecting an attempt to reduce the size of the city council from 14 seats to eight. The vote late Tuesday, with 107 of 295 Election Day precincts reporting, was failing 38% to 62%.

The measure made it to the ballot thanks to an aggressive campaign by David Smith, the conservative chair of the Sinclair television network who recently bought The Baltimore Sun. In 2022, Smith was behind a successful effort to establish a two-term limit for elected officials in the city.

Supporters of the amendment said the council should shrink as the citys population shrinks. The current council size was set in 2002, when voters approved a measure to reduce the council from 18 members and establish 14 single-member districts.

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Each of the 14 council members represented about 45,893 residents at that time; today, that number has dropped to about 40,000. If the proposal had passed, each member on an eight-person council would have represented more than 70,000 people.

Supporters of the amendment also argued that it would save the city money and increase efficiency. However, the citys Charter Review Commission argued that fewer members of the city council would simply mean a higher workload for a reconfigured office and would not yield savings.

The commission also expressed concern that a smaller council would diminish Black electoral power in a majority Black city and that a smaller council could be more easily swayed by powerful special interests.

Baltimore County

With all but one of 243 Election Day precincts reporting early Wednesday, 60% of Baltimore County voters had OKd a plan to increase the number of elected Baltimore County Council members from seven to nine. The new, expanded council map would be put into effect for the 2026 election.

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In approving the amendment, the council also proposed new council districts, which would include a second majority-Black district and a conservative-leaning district.

The council currently has a 4-3 Democratic majority.

But even without this vote, the county government is headed for significant changes. County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D), who was elected Tuesday to represent the 2nd District in Congress, will leave his post sometime between now and early January, halfway through his second term. The council will choose his replacement.

It is looking increasingly likely  though by no means certain  that the person the council selects to replace Olszewski will simply serve on an interim basis to finish the final two years of his term. But three council members are interested in running for executive in 2026  Julian Jones (D), Izzy Patoka (D) and Pat Young (D)  while another council member, Wade Kach (R), plans to retire in 2026.

So plan for a lot of turnover on the council in 2026  and now there will be two more seats for ambitious politicians to shoot for.
Donald Trump completed an extraordinary political resurrection early Wednesday morning when he sealed the win in the 2024 Presidential election.

Elected the 47th president of the United States, Trump becomes the first convicted criminal to win the White House. At 78, he is also the oldest person ever elected to the office and the second to win nonconsecutive terms after Grover Cleveland. Heres how the media is covering the win.

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Don Deal, the New York Posts digital headline read early this morning. The Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid endorsed Trump back in October, describing the former real estate investor as the clear choice for a better future. The newspapers morning print edition features a smiling Trump with the headline Hes Don It Again! along with the tagline Trump Pulls Of Comeback For The Ages With Election Win.

America wants Trump  no ifs or buts, the Financial Times titled an early reaction piece while Vanity Fair, using a striking digital front cover posted on X in the early hours, collated a damning resume of Trumps criminal and legal woes. 34 felony counts, 1 conviction, 2 cases pending, 2 impeachments, 6 bankruptcies, 4 more years is scrawled onto the side of the cover alongside a mean-mugging image of Trump with the tagline: The 47th American President.

Donald Trump has won the 2024 election.



Four years after launching an unprecedented attack on democracy and leaving the White House in disgrace, the convicted felon will return to Washington, DC, as the 47th president of the United States.



: https://t.co/rznxBpYKMZ pic.twitter.com/bBo5xS3BPU  VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) November 6, 2024

Sending out an alert to its subscribers, The Guardian newspaper, according to its UK political editor Pippa Crerar, headlined its election victory story: Donald Trump defeats Kamala Harris to become first convicted criminal to be elected US president.

Headline writers not messing about pic.twitter.com/AmkOgtbb50  Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) November 6, 2024

Trump Storms Back, the New York Times titled a piece on Trumps win, writing that the President-elect is set to usher in a new era of uncertainty fueled by his campaign, which played on fears of immigrants and economic worries.

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His victory signaled the advent of isolationism, sweeping tariffs, and score-settling, the paper wrote.

In a swift reaction piece in The New Yorker titled Donald Trumps Revenge, Susan Glasser highlighted what she described as the extreme and radical agenda Trump has hinted he plans to chase during his second term.

The former President will return to the White House older, less inhibited, and far more dangerous than ever before, Glasser wrote.

The Spectator magazine welcomed Trumps win with a story by political writer Brendan ONeill titled Donald Trump and the Revenge of the Deplorables. The magazine suggests Trumps re-election is a rejection of traditional Washington elitism.

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So now we know what happens when you sneer at voters as garbage. When you view them as deplorables. When you treat them as the dim stooges of demagoguery, the playthings of powerful men, ONeill wrote.

Donald Trump has had a contentious relationship with traditional media outlets from the start of his political operation in 2016. With todays win, the friction between the former Apprentice presenter and journalists he doesnt agree with is unlikely to soften.

In a speech claiming victory on Wednesday morning, Trump described some parts of the U.S. media as the enemy camp.

The full quote from Trump was in reference to what he described as JD Vances effective appearances on network new television.

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I told JD to go into the enemy camp. He just goes: OK. Which one? CNN? MSNBC? Hes like the only guy who looks forward to going on, and then just absolutely obliterates them, Trump said.

Kamala Harris did not speak to the media early Wednesday morning. Multiple outlets are reporting that she will address her supporters later in the day.

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Supporters of medical cannabis joined together in support of two related ballot measures for the 2024 general election at a public hearing for Initiative Measures 437 and 438 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. Among those in the photo are Dominic Gillen, far left, and Shelley Gillen, left front row, who is kneeling by their son, Will Gillen. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  A majority of Nebraskans voted Tuesday to embrace legalizing and regulating medical cannabis, though the final say will likely be up to the courts, not the ballot box.

Both Initiative Measures 437 and 438, to legalize and regulate medical cannabis, had a wide margin of support statewide. The measures came from the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign. This was the campaigns third attempt to reach the ballot.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana celebrate turn-in day for 114,000 signatures the group gathered across two petitions to legalize and regulate medical marijuana. July 3, 2024. (Courtesy of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign)

Whether medical cannabis becomes legal in the state post-election, however, depends on the outcome of legal challenges currently playing out in Lancaster County District Court.

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District Judge Susan Strong is weighing legal arguments following a four-day trial about the validity of tens of thousands of already validated signatures on each measures petition for ballot access. Her decision isnt expected for at least two weeks.

Strong rejected an attempt to prevent counting or making public Tuesdays election results.

AP called the race in favor of Initiative 437 on Tuesday night just before midnight. As of that time, the legalization ballot measure led with 71.2% of the vote. Initiative 438, the regulatory ballot measure, followed closely, at 67.5%.

Initiative Measure 437, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act, would set an allowable amount of medical cannabis at 5 ounces; exempt patients and caregivers from penalty for using or assisting someone else in using the cannabis; and require a written recommendation from a health care practitioner before prescription.

Crista Eggers, right, the statewide campaign manager for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, takes a selfie of her ballot after voting in favor of legalizing and regulating medical cannabis with her 10-year-old son, Colton, who has epilepsy and severe seizures. Nov. 5, 2024. (Courtesy of Crista Eggers)

Initiative Measure 438, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act, would define cannabis; legalize possessing, manufacturing, distributing, delivering and dispensing cannabis for medical purposes; and create the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee the new law.

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Crista Eggers, the campaign manager for the ballot measures, told the Nebraska Examiner on Tuesday that after more than a decade of fighting, and three ballot attempts, it solidifies for us that we have always been fighting for the right reason.

We have been fighting for the patients in this state, and tonights win is not because of a few people or one campaign, she said. Tonights win is for the Nebraska patients.

Legal challenges

The legal challenges were brought by John Kuehn, a former state senator and former State Board of Health member who opposes medical marijuana, and Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who launched his own challenges as part of Kuehns lawsuit, even though his office had already certified the ballot measures for the ballot

Attorney General Mike Hilgers office is defending Evnen in the case. Hilgers has opposed legalizing medical cannabis and delta-8, which contains THC, the compound in the cannabis plant most commonly associated with getting a person high. Hilgers served with Kuehn in the Legislature, as did one of Kuehns attorneys, former State Sen. Andrew La Grone.

Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong presides over the first day of hearings in a case related to medical cannabis ballot petitions. Sept. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The lawsuit could end in one of a few ways. Strong could:

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Side with Kuehn and Evnen outright, voiding the election results.

Side with Kuehn and Evnen but allow the ballot sponsors to try to cure the invalidity of enough signatures in a second phase of the trial, after the election.

Side with the ballot sponsors outright, ending the lower court trial, which would leave the election results intact.

Strong and attorneys involved in the case have acknowledged that no matter who prevails, the decision is likely to be appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Eggers, whose 10-year-old son, Colton, has epilepsy and severe seizures, said there is still work ahead. The campaign remains confident it will prevail in its court fight, Eggers said, and hopes that someday soon, patients and loved ones will find hope and strength from a new treatment option.

The day that that happens, thats when we know that we did our jobs, Eggers said. Its not over, a lot ahead of us, but I think tonight speaks that Nebraskans have had their voices heard once and for all on this issue.

Third try for ballot measure

Multiple legislative efforts, including some led by one of the ballot sponsors, State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, had previously stalled, moving the fight to the ballot box.

Crista Eggers, statewide campaign manager for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign, center, answers reporters questions at the conclusion of the 2024 ballot petition signature campaign. Eggers is joined by her husband, Easton, and sons Carsten, 11, and Colton, 9, from left. July 3, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

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The campaign started in 2019 for the 2020 ballot with a constitutional amendment that the Nebraska Supreme Court ultimately ruled was too broad, in violation of the Nebraska Constitution.

For the 2022 ballot, sponsors returned with separate petitions to legalize and regulate the drug, but they fell short of gathering enough signatures, in part after a major donors death.

The 2024 attempt is the furthest Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana has gotten.

The U.S. Department of Justice has formally moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, which could aid future federal approval.

Thirty-eight states have legalized medical marijuana, while 24 of them, plus Washington, D.C., have also legalized recreational use. The other states, including Nebraska, allow limited access to cannabis products with little to no THC, according to the Pew Research Center.

Nebraskas constitutional officers will meet Dec. 2 to certify Tuesdays election results. Legal challenges can continue after that date.

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RABBIT HASH, Ky. (FOX 56)  Theres a new top dog in town.

On Nov. 5, Boone the Bluetick Coonhound claimed victory in the mayoral race against 10 dogs and one robot.

RELATED | Mayors race is a real dogfight in Rabbit Hash

Have a drink at noon and vote for Boone, was the new mayors campaign slogan.

The mayoral qualifications are simple. According to the races headquarters, The Rabbit Hash General Store, candidates may be biped, tri-ped or quadruped and must be able to chase a rabbit from their home to the Rabbit Hash town center within one hours time.

FOX 56 previously reported that the community first chose a dog to be honorary mayor in 1998 when no human wanted the title. The first canine mayor was a mutt named Goofy, who died in office in 2001 at the age of 16, and the role stayed vacant until 2004. Now, it happens every four years, in conjunction with the U.S. presidential election.

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But in this election, candidates arent afraid of stuffing the ballot. Votes are placed by donating a dollar to the Rabbit Hash Historical Society.

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Incumbent Wilbur, the French bulldog, had to buy a lot of votes to become the top dog in the last election, raising more than $13,000.

But Wilburs family told FOX 56 that hes an advocate for term limits and his time in city government had come to a close. In the heat of the campaign, Dave Landwehr, Boones owner, said that Wildbur endorsed Boone to take the reigns.

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According to Boones campaign Facebook page, this pup is still young, but with a strong mind and heart and a drive to make a difference.

Rabbit Hash General Store Election Officials report that Boone brought in a total of $14,162, raising over $26,000 total across the board. Just behind Boone in the polls were Pablo, a yellow lab, and Ruby, the service dog chihuahua.

The robot, BEN AI, even made the front runners by raising $4,201, despite the uproar its presence brought to the small community.

We do not want evil, artificial intelligence to be in our town, Ben Schneider told FOX 56.

RELATED | Rabbit Hash mayoral race turns heads with out-of-the-ordinary candidate

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However, Boones victory was accepted graciously and celebrated throughout the community.

Im very happy to see he pulled off this win! Rabbit Hash pawlitics sparked my love for photography and helping preserve historic places. They are so important, and once they are gone, they are gone, Rob Stone, a photographer and friend of the campaign, wrote. Boones campaign managers not only raised money for the campaign but donated much-needed time and materials to help preserve Rabbit Hash for years to come.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

Stone told FOX 56 that his pup, Lady Stone, was named the ambassador of Rabbit Hash until she passed in 2021. He was able to use his expertise to help Boone secure the election.

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Boone would like to thank all the dogs that ran to help raise money, Mayor Boones team told FOX 56.

Boone will serve a four-year term as mayor, and although the election has come to an end the Rabbit Has Historical Society is still accepting donations.

Donations can be made to the Rabbit Hash Historical Society on Venmo and PayPal.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
The Edinburgh Zoo has just introduced its newest addition, a pygmy hippo calf named Haggis, and she's already capturing hearts as Scotlands latest animal sensation.

Haggis debut comes as a rival to Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo from Thailands Khao Kheow Open Zoo who went viral earlier this year with her personality and charm.

With the zoo's official announcement, Haggis is already on her way to becoming a new favorite.

Haggis: Scotlands pygmy hippo star

Edinburgh Zoo proudly introduced the new arrival on their social media account on X (formerly known as Twitter) on November 4, delighting fans with the announcement: Moo Deng? Who deng? Introducing  Haggis. Otto and Gloria have welcomed an ADORABLE pygmy hippo calf! She is doing well, but well be keeping the hippo house closed for the time being so that our expert keepers can keep a close eye on mum and baby at this sensitive time.

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Born on October 30, Haggis has been receiving careful attention from the zoos expert keepers to ensure her early days are as safe and smooth as possible.

For the time being, the hippo house will remain closed to give Haggis and her mother, Gloria, a peaceful environment.

Jonny Appleyard, hoofstock team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, shared his excitement over the new addition, saying, Haggis is doing really well so far, and it is amazing to see her personality beginning to shine already. The first 30 days are critical for her development, so the pygmy hippo house will be closed for now to allow us to keep a close eye on mum and baby at this sensitive time.

Raising awareness for a rare species

While Moo Deng has captured international attention, Appleyard highlights the importance of raising awareness about pygmy hippos as a species. Found in the forests and swamps of West Africa, pygmy hippos face ongoing threats in the wild, primarily due to habitat loss.

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With only around 2,500 estimated to be left, each birth in a conservation setting like the Edinburgh Zoo is a significant step for the species future.

Appleyard expressed the zoos hope that Haggis presence will inspire visitors to connect with this rare species:

While Thailands Moo Deng has become a viral global icon, it is important to remember that pygmy hippos are incredibly rare. It is great to have our own little ambassador right here in Edinburgh to connect with our visitors and help raise awareness of the challenges the species face in the wild.

Edinburgh Zoo has also created a unique opportunity for visitors to support their conservation efforts through special programs that allow people to meet Haggis. Funds raised from these visits will go directly towards animal care and conservation projects, contributing to the ongoing support of this endangered species.

A friendly hippo rivalry sparks on social media

With Haggis now in the spotlight, Edinburgh Zoo's social media team playfully addressed the inevitable comparisons between Haggis and Thailands famous Moo Deng.

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Later in the day, the zoos X account posted a lighthearted apology, humorously acknowledging the friendly rivalry they sparked between the two beloved pygmy hippos.

Sorry guys this is our official notes app apology. We were wrong to pit Haggis and Moo Deng against each other. There is space in this world for two beautiful pygmy hippo divas and we should celebrate them all. Sorry to Moo Deng. Lets work it out on the remix," they said.

The post concluded with a nod to Moo Dengs quirky name, which means bouncy pork in Thai and refers to a type of meatball. This playful exchange highlights the growing affection for pygmy hippos around the world as fans cheer on these lovable animals from afar.

With Haggis as the latest ambassador, Edinburgh Zoo is hopeful that shell draw attention to the pygmy hippos unique charm and the pressing need to protect these rare animals in the wild.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JHmm6YG53I
David Nicholas Dempsey had a history of political violence when he stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and began beating police officers with flagpoles.

Daniel Ball also had priors when he allegedly threw a bomb into a tunnel packed with Capitol police officers fending off a mob trying to stop Congress from certifying Joe Bidens 2020 victory over Donald Trump.

Then theres Jonathan Pollock, accused of throwing a police officer down a flight of stairs, and Edward Kelley, who allegedly plotted to murder the FBI agent who was investigating his role in the attack.

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Theyre just some of the violent would-be insurrectionists that Trump, the law and order candidate, is prepared to pardon when he takes office again in January.

More than 1,200 people have been arrested and more than 180 convicted of various crimes in connection with the Jan. 6 riot.

Another 900 pleaded guilty for their roles in the attack, which left a police officer and four rioters dead. Four other police officers died by suicide in the months that followed.

Instead of condemning the violence, Trumpwho claims to love police officershas repeatedly called the rioters hostages and patriots, and said he would absolutely pardon themeven if theyve been convicted of violent crimes.

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If theyre innocent, I would pardon them, he told the National Association of Black Journalists in July.

They were convicted, Rachel Scott of ABC News replied.

They were convicted by a very tough system, Trump protested.

To prove hes a man of his word, Trump even opened a campaign rally in Houston with a recording of a performance by the J6 Prison Choir.

Judges have handed down lengthy jail sentences for the leader of the Proud Boys, the neo-fascist militant group that organized the failed insurrection, and his deputies.

Henry Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years for spearheading the violence, which the judge held was an act of terrorism. His lieutenantsEthan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzolaall received between 10 and 18 years in prison for helping plan and executive the attack.

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Dempsey, who was one of most violent rioters, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for stomping on officers heads, attacking them with pepper spray and swinging poles at them, NPR reported.

For officers guarding the tunnel, the bomb that Ball is accused of setting off was the most terrifying part of the whole ordeal, NBC News reported. The Florida native is still awaiting trial, along with Pollock, but Trump could preemptively pardon the defendants if he wanted to. Kelleys trial is on-going.

When he was just a lowly presidential candidate, Trump donated to the rioters legal defense fund. Now that hes headed back to the White House, getting these patriots and their anger issues back on the streets will be one of his first presidential acts, he says.

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Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) President and CEO Dusti Gurule speaks during the kickoff celebration for the Right to Abortion ballot initiative on Jan. 22.
Her husband has won a historic return to the most famous address in the world, defeating Kamala Harris in a close-run race for the presidency.

Melania was all smiles as she joined Donald Trump on stage for his victory speech in Palm Beach, Florida, on election night.

However, while there has been no official announcement yet, questions remain about exactly where she will spend her time during Trumps second term as the couple prepares for his return to office.

Melania Trump celebrates her husbands win on election night (REUTERS)

Ordinarily, the president and first lady would move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in January after the inauguration and live there full-time.

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But in the run-up to election day, reports claimed that Melania may not be quite as enthused as her husband about moving back to her former address.

Sources close to now president-elect Trumps wife told People earlier this month that she intends to spend time in a private apartment in Washington DC as well as her homes in Florida and New York.

She will have her private living apartment there, and she has her home in New York, and her home at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, a source told the outlet. She will spend time in all of these places.

Melania will opt to spend more time in New York above everywhere else while her son, Barron, 18, is enrolled at New York University, the report claims.

The then first lady speaking during a State Dinner in the Rose Garden at the White House in 2019 (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Barrons safety and well-being will always remain at the top of her priority list, but that doesnt mean she would shirk her duties as first lady should that opportunity come again, a source added.

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Much like her husband, Melanias time in the White House was not always a happy experience. During Trumps first term, she was criticised for her attire, her landscaping choices in the White House grounds and called herself the most bullied person in the world. She generally kept a low profile during the administration and was said to be deeply unhappy.

The former first lady rarely made appearances during her husbands second presidential campaign either and her most high-profile moment was to promote her own, self-titled and poorly reviewed memoir.

Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron plant a tree watched by Melania and Macron's wife Brigitte on the grounds of the White House in 2018 (AFP via Getty Images)

Others though, believe reports of her alleged unhappiness are overplayed.

Mary Jordan, author of The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump, told ABC News on Wednesday: I think theres a mistaken notion that she really hated being the first lady. She really did like a lot of it. She loved meeting foreign leaders, its just that she wants to do what she wants to do.

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She has told people look, Im not the one elected, so if she wants to go down to Mar-a-Lago and hang out by herself for two weeks, do that.

But she is going to be in the White House, she loves a lot of the pomp and circumstance.

Melania will want to spend more time in New York to support her son, it is claimed (REUTERS)

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And in her own words, Melania suggested she would be going back to DC if Trump won a second term.

When asked on Fox & Friends during the campaign about whether shes anxious to return to the White House, Melania said: Im not anxious because this time is different. I have much more experience, much more knowledge.

I was in the White House before, so when you go in, you know exactly what to expect.
In a historic win for the Kansas City area, Democrat Melesa Johnson was elected Tuesday as the next Jackson County prosecutor.

Johnson is the first Black woman to take on the role.

She ran against Republican Tracey Chappell. Longtime Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker did not seek reelection.

Johnson earned 57% of the vote, and Chappell got 43%, according to unofficial results from the Kansas City Election Board and Jackson County Election Board with all precincts reporting.

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At Johnsons watch party in downtown Kansas City, she called her win a historic occasion.

I promise to lead with integrity, transparency and dedication, Johnson said.

She also thanked Baker for her years of public service.

The challenges have been great, but your grit has been greater, and I am so grateful for your service, and know that I have some life big shoes to fill, Johnson said.

Mayor Quinton Lucas said he was excited for us to work on everything we need to with public safety in Kansas City.

As the next prosecutor, Johnson will have to confront pressing problems in the Kansas City area, including a record-breaking number of homicides in 2023, public outcries about property crime and an at-times tense relationship with Kansas City Police Department.

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During her campaign, Johnson emphasized that deep-seated problems cannot be addressed solely through arrests. However, she said she would expand some areas of prosecution, including non-violent drug distribution cases. As prosecutor, Johnson said, she would also establish a new property crimes division and re-vamp the conviction integrity unit, which reviews past cases where someone may have been wrongfully convicted.

Johnson was raised on Kansas Citys East Side and is Mayor Quinton Lucas director of public safety.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Now that Election Day has come to an end, Republicans will take control of the Senate for the first time in four years when the 119th Congress begins its session in January.

While we dont yet know the fate of the House, lawmakers from both chambers are expected to be sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025.

Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over the Senate as members are sworn in. While the speaker of the House will preside over the swearing in of new members of the House.

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On Jan. 6, 2025, the new Congress will count the electoral votes and confirm the results of the 2024 presidential election.

What is on the agenda for this lame-duck session?

The 118th Congress is expected to return to what is known as a lame-duck session on Nov. 12. A lame-duck session happens in November when Congress is in session before the start of a new Congress.

One of the most pressing issues for lawmakers is government funding for the 2025 fiscal year. Lawmakers passed short-term funding in September that runs through Dec. 20, 2024.

However, there is no guarantee that lawmakers will pass a full spending bill this year and could instead pass another short-term continuing resolution.

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Another priority is passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation is passed annually and authorizes funding for the U.S. military and other defense priorities.

There have also been calls on Congress to pass additional disaster aid when they return in November following devastation from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Project 2025 is a conservative agenda created by the Heritage Foundation as a policy proposal for the next Republican president.

Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

And what do you know? We will have another Republican leader in the office in 2025. Last night, former president Donald Trump, was re-elected and will return to the White House as America's 47th president after defeating VP Kamala Harris. Junior Ohio Senator, J.D. Vance, will serve as his vice president.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Although the twice-impeached convicted felon has denied any connection to Project 2025, it's hard to ignore that some of his beliefs align perfectly with the text. Project 2025 contributors include several advisers who previously worked for Trump  including Paul Dans, who was chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management while Trump was president, Russell Vought, a former Trump administrative official, and more.

Here are some of the Trump/J.D. Vance policies taken straight from their campaign, verbatim:  "Seal the border and stop the migrant invasion."  "Carry out the largest deportation operation in American history."  "Cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children."  "Keep men out of women's sports."  "Make america the dominant energy producer in the world, by far!"  "Prevent world war three."  "Strengthen and modernize our military, making it, without question, the strongest and most powerful in the world."  "Cancel the electric vehicle mandate and cut costly and burdensome regulations."  "Deport pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again."  "End inflation, and make america affordable again," and much more. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

The 900-page detailed blueprint, also known as a Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, explored a wish list of changes they'd like to see American leaders enforce.

Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images

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The document is rooted with these four ideals in mind:

1. Restore the family as the centerpiece of American life and protect our children.

One thing mentioned under this promise: "Deleting the terms sexual orientation and gender identity ("SOGI), diversity, equity, and inclusion  4 Foreword (DEI), gender, gender equality, gender equity, gender awareness, gender-sensitive, abortion, reproductive health, reproductive rights, and any other term used to deprive Americans of their First Amendment rights out of every federal rule, agency regulation, contract, grant, regulation, and piece of legislation that exists."

2. Dismantle the administrative state and return self-governance to the American people.

One thing mentioned under this promise: "The next conservative President must end the Lefts social experimentation with the military, restore warfighting as its sole mission, and set defeating the threat of the Chinese Communist Party as its highest priority."

3. Defend our nations sovereignty, borders, and bounty against global threats.

One thing mentioned under this promise: "The next conservative President should go beyond merely defending Americas energy interests but go on offense, asserting them around the world. Americas vast reserves of oil and natural gas are not an environmental problem; they are the lifeblood of economic growth. American dominance of the global energy market would be a good thing: for the world, and, more importantly, for 'we the people.'

4. Secure our God-given individual rights to live freely  what our Constitution calls the Blessings of Liberty.

One thing mentioned under this promise: "This book, this agenda, the entire Project 2025 is a plan to unite the conservative movement and the American people against elite rule and woke culture warriors."

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The plan also promises to "dismantle the Department of Education, remove access to abortion drugs nationwide, deploy the US military as law enforcement, remove protections for LGBTQ+ families, make birth control harder to obtain, disallow the FBI from combatting the spread of misinformation, decentering climate change initiatives from the Department of Agriculture, cutting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and more."

Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images

Project 2025 has received a lot of backlash online and just last month HipHollywood spoke to various Black men in the community to gauge their opinions on the agenda.

The men read excerpts from the document and expressed their raw reactions  and then UCLA Professor of Education Dr. Tyrone Howard broke down the proposals.

Here are some of their responses:

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1.Found on page 319: "Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated."

Project 2025 / HipHollywood / youtu.be

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"There's no clarity here as to what this really means. Are we eliminating resources; are we eliminating things and who is this being eliminated for? There's already a shortage of resources that young Black kids get. What are we going to do if we don't provide the same education resources for everyone."

2.Found on page 342 and beyond: "By its very design, critical race theory has an 'applied' dimension, as its founders state in their essays that define the theory. Those who subscribe to the theory believe that racism (in this case, treating individuals differently based on race) is appropriatenecessary, evenmaking the theory more than merely an analytical tool to describe race in public and private life."

"Black history is [not just] Black history, it's the actual history...it's the history. You can't go back in history and not find Black people."

3.Found on page 554: "The next conservative Administration should therefore do everything possible to obtain finality for the 44 prisoners currently on federal death row. It should also pursue the death penalty for applicable crimesparticularly heinous crimes involving violence and sexual abuse of childrenuntil Congress says otherwise through legislation."

Project 2025 / HipHollywood / youtu.be

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"This is the same group that believes the lives of would-be children are considered. Then, to become like judicial hitmen, it's crazy because you can't use the same god for both of them. What it does really is let Black men know that we're not really respected and we're not looked at as human. It's still like an extermination."

4.Found on page 455: "Because liberal states have now become sanctuaries for abortion tourism, HHS should use every available tool, including the cutting of funds, to ensure that every state reports exactly how many abortions take place within its borders, at what gestational age of the child, for what reason, the mothers state of residence, and by what method. It should also ensure that statistics are separated by category: spontaneous miscarriage; treatments that incidentally result in the death of a child (such as chemotherapy); stillbirths; and induced abortion. In addition, CDC should require monitoring and reporting for complications due to abortion and every instance of children being born alive after an abortion."

"I feel like they (women) should have their choice of how they want to treat their bodies and do what they want with their bodies. It shouldn't be up to no government to do that. They've been through a great deal of [suffering]. This is just another thing to add on to that [suffering]. This is not something I want to vote for at all. I wouldn't vote for it."

"This is an important issue that we should all be concerned about because women's rights are being taken away. This takes us to illegal and backroom abortions where women put their lives at risk in ways that we haven't seen in centuries in this country."

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5.Found on page 337/338: "The Secretary should phase out all existing IDR plans by making new loans (including consolidation loans) ineligible and should implement a new IDR plan. The new plan should have an income exemption equal to the poverty line and require payments of 10 percent of income above the exemption. If new legislation is possible, there should be no loan forgiveness, but if not, existing law would require forgiving any remaining balance after 25 years."

"It's pretty scary...if there's no forgiveness  some people are not in the position to do that and I don't think a lot of people can recover from the debt that college is putting on people. You're putting kids in a position where it's almost impossible for them to win."

To learn more, you can check out the full HipHollywood's Project 2025 video below:
Sen. Mark Messmer, R-Jasper, speaks on the Senate floor on March 5, 2024. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

A former state legislator now has a new home in Congress  Republican state Sen. Mark Messmer easily claimed victory over Democrat Erik Hurt and Libertarian K. Richard Fitzlaff on Tuesday in the race to represent the 8th Congressional District.

The Associated Press called the race shortly after 7 p.m. with Messmer leading at roughly 74%.

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The deep-red district covers southwestern Indiana. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshons retirement left the seat open.

Messmer, of Jasper, served in the state Senate from 2014 until September. He was the state Senates majority leader from 2018 to 2022, when Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray replaced him. The reason for the leadership change was unclear.

But Messmer was one of two Republican senators who were not present for a final vote on the states near-total abortion ban in 2022. Before that, he voted down an earlier version of the bill, saying lawmakers discourse showed the impossibility of threading the needle on abortion-related matters.

The small business owner and engineer previously served in the Indiana House of Representatives, starting in 2008.

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It was reported by Mexico's government that Coast Guard personnel in recent days seized more than 7,900 pounds of cocaine roughly 133 miles southeast of Acapulco in southwest Mexico along the Pacific Ocean. Photo courtesy of Mexican Navy

Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The Navy of Mexico announced nine arrests as it seized nearly 8,000 pounds of cocaine in the waters off Acapulco.

The Mexican government said its Coast Guard personnel had seized more than 7,900 pounds of cocaine roughly 133 nautical miles southeast of Acapulco in the state of Guerrero in southwest Mexico along the Pacific Ocean.

Nine unidentified individuals were arrested. But six of the alleged suspects were foreign nationals, officials said.

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Officials said the nine-member crew was spotted via aerial and maritime surveillance by a Mexican naval aircraft in a "Go Fast" boat with two outboard motors.

The 20-50 foot long boats are v-shaped hull vessels typically used by drug traffickers to smuggle illicit cargo, according to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On board were 102 black, brick-shaped packages and the interior reportedly contained white powder "with characteristics similar to cocaine," Mexico's Navy said, adding that afterward the alleged offenders and cargo were then taken to land more than 100 miles away where they were met by authorities.

Mexico's government made it a point to say that the six foreign citizens were taken into custody "in strict compliance with human rights" and their "physical integrity" was "respected," it claimed.

Navy officials added it "works to inhibit criminal activity" by means of maritime, aerial and land surveillance operations "in order to guarantee and maintain the rule of law at sea."
(Bloomberg) -- President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled her vision for Mexicos energy sector, promising to increase funding for power generation and transmission projects and streamline rules for private investors.

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The plan, outlined Wednesday during Sheinbaums daily press conference, includes $23.4 billion in spending on energy infrastructure projects through 2030, allocating $12.3 billion to electricity generation and $11.1 billion to transmission and distribution networks.

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Mexico will also reduce bureaucracy and costs for private companies seeking to invest in Mexicos energy sector, Energy Minister Luz Elena Gonzalez said during the press conference.

Sheinbaums plan keeps in place a rule established by her predecessor allowing private companies to own up to 46% of Mexicos renewable energy generation capacity. That leaves room to build up to 9.6 gigawatts of capacity through 2030, requiring an estimated $9 billion in private investment, Gonzalez said.

The proposals come as Sheinbaum seeks to jump-start Mexicos transition to renewables and bolster an electricity sector beset by blackouts and failing infrastructure. Shes also tasked with rescuing the state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, from flagging production and a nearly $100 billion debt burden.

We need to recover the planning capacity and strength of our public companies, Sheinbaum said. State utility Comision Federal de Electricidad is a very solid, efficient company and we are going to make it even more so.

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Mexico will continue to hone the rules for private investors through the passage of secondary laws, Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum previously announced goals to convert Mexicos grid to 45% renewable energy by the end of her term in 2030, a target some analysts derided as a pipe dream. During her campaign, Sheinbaum promised to spend about $13.6 billion on building new power plants, fortifying transmission networks and keeping oil production close to current levels.

Last month, Mexicos legislature passed a law reclassifying state energy companies as public entities, giving the government more control over them and no longer requiring them to turn a profit. That has raised questions among investors over exactly how private companies will be able to partner with Pemex and CFE.

Theres an ongoing view among global investors that Mexico has become an attractive and interesting destination for international investment, even if some of the public-private partnership proposals may be met with caution, said Robert da Silva Ashley, a partner at law firm DLA Piper.

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Exactly how these partnerships will work from a deal-structuring perspective, and how they track with investors expected rates of return will be key in how investment in Mexico develops over the next 18 to 24 months, he said.

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Elizabeth Swenson, 20, was looking over a sample ballot as she came up on three hours in line at the Corbett Center Student Union on the New Mexico State University campus in Las Cruces. (Photo by Leah Romero / Source New Mexico)

LAS CRUCES  Nearly 220,000 New Mexico voters had already cast their ballot in-person Tuesday, a significant jump in the number of people who voted on Election Day four years ago.

According to the latest figures from the New Mexico Secretary of States Office, 219,178 New Mexicans voted before 5 p.m. Tuesday. Polls were open for two more hours after that update, but that was already 35% higher than the 142,887 people who voted on Election Day in 2020.

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Final numbers of voters are expected to be released later Tuesday. Polls closed at 7 p.m.

High turnout coincided with long lines in some places, including on the campus of New Mexico State University.

Also, a glut of voters seeking to register and vote today caused at least brief delays in the Secretary of States approval system, according to a spokesperson and voters who were forced to wait to get their registrations approved.

In 2020, a total of 928,172 voters turned out here, which was about 69% of registered voters in the state at the time.

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As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, a total of 889,454 voters had cast ballots in a variety of ways, which is about 64.6% of all registered voters.

About 70 people sat on chairs and couches as they waited in line to register to vote Tuesday evening at Corbett Center Student Union at NMSU. Some people at the front of the line said theyd been waiting for over three hours. A separate line of already registered voters moved much quicker.

Elizabeth Swenson, 20, was one of those who faced a long wait time. She told Source New Mexico that she initially tried to register, only to learn from a poll worker that she had to get proof she lived in a dorm from the campus housing department.

Swenson said she would have tried to register earlier if she knew the wait was going to be so long. But even the delays didnt curb her enthusiasm  it was her first time to cast a vote.

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Theres a lot more on here than I thought, Swenson said as she scanned the sample ballot.

Kathe Kanim, presiding judge at the Corbett Center polling place, said the high volume of same-day registrants caused the long wait. She said it was taking up to an hour for applications to process before those who registered could vote.

Around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, some county clerks across the state, including those in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Dona Ana and Santa Fe counties, began reporting to the state delays in the approvals for same-day registrations, according to Alex Curtas, a spokesperson for the Secretary of States Office.

Curtas said the office quickly added more servers to process the registration requests, and he said the issue was resolved by around 9 a.m.

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Curtas could not say immediately how many voters might have been affected by the delay.

We did some things on the back end to ensure that that wouldnt happen again, basically deployed some more servers to make sure there wasnt any backlog happening, he said. And we think that that pretty much solved the problem.

Curtas attributed the delay to a robust demand for same-day voter registration today.

During local elections in 2023, about 4,900 voters used same-day voter registration, which the Legislature approved in 2019. That was about 2% of all the voters who cast ballots that election.

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Compare that to today, when there were more than 45,000 same-day voters as of 5 p.m.

Curtas stressed that voters can always file provisional ballots if they encounter an issue like a delay in same day voter registration processing. Those votes will be counted, even if there was a technical issue at the polling place, he said, as long as the voter is otherwise qualified to cast a ballot.

Robin Baldwin, 33, encountered the delay Tuesday morning in Las Cruces. She moved here in the last few weeks from Asheville, North Carolina. She said she was already planning to move, but the devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene was a sign to move sooner.

Baldwin, who is a case manager at a law firm, said the registration process was easy, and she didnt mind the wait.

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Caroline Zamora, deputy county clerk for Dona Ana County, told Source New Mexico that same-day registration tends to be slower on Election Day, anyway, because polling places statewide are using the same system to communicate with the Secretary of States Office.

It was at least a 30-minute delay, she said.

Otherwise, there were no issues in the county today, she said.

Its been a boring day, she said, which I am happy about.
Initial unofficial results indicate that voters in El Paso County are in favor of new investments for Academy School District 20 and Harrison School District 2 while Woodland Park voters are opting to keep a current funding mechanism for their school district in place.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  For the first time in a presidential election, New Mexico voters were allowed to register to vote and cast a ballot through election day. However, in a handful of counties, voters looking to do just that were met with big delays Tuesday morning.

The same day voter registration process is supposed to take roughly 15 minutes, but some voters had to wait over an hour during their registration. I was a bit frustrated because, once again, I waited two hours to register, said one local voter, Isabella Romero.

According to the Secretary of States Office, delays hit the registration system at around 8 a.m. in Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, and Bernalillo counties. The slowness this morning was really a result of a lot of people utilizing the system, said Alex Curtas, with the New Mexico Secretary of States Office. Clerks in Rio Arriba and Sandoval counties said they each registered hundreds of voters this morning.

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New Mexicos 2024 Election Results

We just rebooted it, they added more resources, and it looks like we are smooth sailing again, said Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark. According to the Secretary of States Office, the system was running smoothly again at around 9:30 a.m. We, kind of, deployed some more of our IT resources to help the counties and help the system. And we, you know, created more capacity in the system to remedy that slowness, said Curtas.

This is new technology, and this is actually such an important feature in New Mexico, you know. Other states do not have same day registration, which means voters are locked out of voting, said Clark.

More than 9,000 New Mexico voters cast their ballots through same day registration on Tuesday, which comes out to about one-quarter of the total number of the states ballots cast on the day of this election.

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MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexicos Supreme Court dismissed a proposal Tuesday to reduce the scope of a contentious judicial overhaul making all judges stand for election.

The failed effort would have required only Supreme Court justices to compete in elections instead of all of the countrys judges as mandated in a constitutional change approved in September.

Seven out of 11 justices voted for limiting the scope, but a special majority of eight was required.

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In a statement, the court emphasized that the ruling was not about the validity of the judicial overhaul, it only rejected the challenges from opposition political parties.

The decision came a week after eight justices tendered their resignations saying they will leave the court rather than compete in judicial elections scheduled for next June.

The courts three other justices indicated they will compete in the elections.

Last week, Mexicos Congress and a majority of state legislatures approved another constitutional change that protects constitutional amendments from legal challenges, but the Supreme Court said it didnt apply in this case since the challenges were made before that change passed.

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Before Tuesday's ruling, thousands of people protested outside the court.

The judicial overhaul raised concerns inside Mexico and abroad about weakening the separation of powers and the rule of law. Critics say making all judges stand for election will politicize the judiciary.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has said the initiative pushed by her predecessor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who frequently clashed with the court, will rid the courts of corruption.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
(Bloomberg) -- Mexicos Supreme Court dismissed a ruling intended to limit the scope of a judicial overhaul passed by Congress, easing concerns of a standoff with President Claudia Sheinbaum that risked setting off a constitutional crisis.

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The decision to reject the case was approved unanimously after the top court failed to reach the majority needed to pass the ruling.

The proposal from Justice Juan Luis Gonzalez Alcantara sought to uphold the legality of popular elections for Supreme Court members, one of the key aims of the judicial overhaul. But the ruling also sought to declare unconstitutional the speedy election of the countrys federal judges, many of whom are set to face a vote next year.

Written in response to several challenges to the overhaul, the ruling would have limited the scope of the reform approved by lawmakers in September. The court needed eight votes to approve the ruling, but only seven of the eleven Supreme Court justices considered the challenges supporting Gonzalez Alcantaras proposal to be valid.

The justices who voted against approving the proposal argued that discussing reforms or additions to the Constitution is not within the scope of the top court.

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Justice Yasmin Esquivel said that approving Gonzalez Alcantaras proposal would only increase the confrontation between the judicial and legislative branches. It would inevitably lead us to the rupture of the balance that must exist between judicial moderation and respect for the division of powers. History will judge us, let us not measure forces, let us be responsible.

Gonzalez Alcantaras proposal was intended to negotiate, to find a middle ground, but in the face of the governments refusal, the Supreme Court made a rational calculation and preferred to make a decision that shuts the possibility of a constitutional crisis, said Juan Carlos Villarreal, a political science professor at the Autonomous University of Mexico State.

Sheinbaum has accused Gonzalez Alcantara and his colleagues of trying to rewrite laws passed by Congress, thereby violating the will of the Mexican people, which gave her party strong majorities in both chambers. She also said she had a plan ready in case the proposal was passed.

Today the court defeated itself, due to an incorrect, biased action, and today the country is saved, the process continues, and the judges will be elected, said Senate President Gerardo Fernandez Norona after the decision.

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The overhaul was championed by Sheinbaums predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and passed during his last month in office. Its critics  including the US government and foreign investors  argue that electing judges will put Mexican democracy at risk by damaging judicial independence and limiting checks and balances. Lopez Obrador, and now Sheinbaum, have argued the reform seeks to curb corruption in the judiciary and guarantee the rule of law.

Gonzalez Alcantaras ruling backed many of the arguments against the overhaul. By setting a first batch of judicial elections for mid-2025  before the terms of many current judges end  Congress violated the independence of the judiciary and the constitutional separation of powers, he wrote.

Federal judges, Gonzalez Alcantara argued, should remain in their posts for their full terms and can only be removed through disciplinary or criminal procedures that are clearly established in advance. The new system for nominating judicial candidates guarantees neither their independence, nor the reasoned and authentic votes of the citizens, he added.

The courts decision not to continue with the challenge and the consolidation of the ruling partys large majorities may lead Mexico to a centralist model, in which power is concentrated with the president, Villarreal said.

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That model would represent a change from a democracy of consensus to a democracy of majorities, in which conflict inevitably increases, he said.

(Updates with analyst comments in seventh paragraph and final paragraph.)

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Miami Beach voters approved seven ballot questions to revise the city charter Tuesday, including an expansion of a Citizens Bill of Rights, more stringent requirements for the sale or lease of public land, and a change in the citys runoff election date.

But those results will likely be overshadowed by a referendum on a 1% food-and-beverage tax for homeless services, for which results wont count because of an 11th-hour decision last week by the Miami Beach City Commission.

A group of voters sued the city seeking to keep the referendum intact, but a judge sided with the city. Notices were then placed inside each voting booth in Miami Beach, informing voters that any votes on the ballot question wouldnt count.

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The results of votes cast on the question, which still appeared on the ballot, were not included on the Miami-Dade Elections Departments results page Tuesday night.

Each of the ballot questions regarding charter revisions required a simple majority to pass. All seven items passed by a wide margin based on preliminary results.

Here is a summary of the seven measures that voters approved.

REFERENDUM 1: This measure expands the rights of residents under the citys Citizens Bill of Rights. It allows those who feel the Bill of Rights has been violated to seek enforcement through the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust rather than filing a lawsuit, which is currently the only option. It also expands rights to public records and restrict unreasonable postponements of pending matters before the city.

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REFERENDUM 2: This item removes a mandatory requirement for courts to consider removing elected officials or city employees from their positions for violating the Citizens Bill of Rights, saying a judge should first take into account whether the person has committed repeated violations. It also clarifies that removals from office should be subject to any collective bargaining agreement that applies to the official in question.

REFERENDUM 3: This referendum requires majority voter approval for the citys sale or lease of public property for 10 years or more and for the vacating of public rights of way. It also requires competitive bidding for such sales or leases and a six-sevenths vote of the City Commission to approve management or concession agreements of 10 years or more.

REFERENDUM 4: This measure increases the amount of time between the general election and runoff election in Miami Beach. Currently, runoff dates are two weeks after the November election. Runoffs will now take place about five weeks after the general election, on the second Tuesday of December.

REFERENDUM 5: This item has two prongs related to public hearings. The first requires two public hearings instead of one for most city ordinances, except in emergency situations. The second allows the city to publish notices of proposed ordinances on a publicly accessible website rather than in a newspaper.

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REFERENDUM 6: This question requires an election to fill vacancies on the City Commission if commissioners dont appoint someone within 30 days of the vacancy. It requires a supermajority vote for such appointments.

REFERENDUM 7: This is a housekeeping measure, according to city officials, that makes several tweaks to charter language. One change will specify that candidates for office need to have lived in Miami Beach for at least one year immediately prior to qualifying.

READ MORE: Miami Beach officials rescind ballot question on homeless tax. Votes on it wont count
A trio of Cuban American Republicans representing Miami-Dade and Florida Keys districts in Congress was reelected Tuesday, consolidating the GOPs grip on local races.

Voters sent incumbent U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, Mario Diaz-Balart and Carlos Gimenez to Washington for another term in the House. They represent heavily Hispanic districts that have elected Republicans since 2020  much longer in Diaz-Balarts District 26 stronghold  as part of a rightward shift among Hispanics and voters across Florida.

Its a dramatic win from top to bottom, a triumphant Diaz-Balart told the Miami Herald. Its humbling and encouraging. Florida has rejected the far left policies.

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The three candidates faced less-known, less-funded candidates, as the Democratic Party generally abstained from spending resources in Florida, no longer considered a swing state, and local races not seen as competitive.

In an effort to unseat Salazar, a former Hispanic television anchor, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeted the race in District 27, an area that is 74% Hispanic that stretches from Downtown Miami and Little Havana to Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Kendall and Cutler Bay, which the party believed was mildly competitive.

Still, she significantly outraised her opponent and, along with her two Miami colleagues, had over 90% chance of winning ahead of Tuesday night, according to a prediction model built by The Hill. Diaz-Balart, whose district includes heavily Cuban American Republican areas like Hialeah, was 99% likely to win, the model predicted.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart speaks during a roundtable discussion between elected officials and Cuban activists about political prisoners at Assault Brigade 2506 Museum on Monday, July 10, 2023 in Hialeah Gardens

Shortly after closing the polls at 7:00 p.m., AP called the races for the three GOP candidates.

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Salazar defeated Lucia Baez-Geller, a Democrat whos a member of Miami-Dades school board and an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights.

Diaz-Balart, whose district also includes Overtown, Wynwood and Doral in Miami-Dade and Everglades City, Immokalee and some other areas in Collier County, cruised to his 12th term in office, beating Democrat Wynwood lawyer Joey Atkins.

Gimenez, a former Miami-Dade mayor currently representing District 28, which includes West Kendall, Homestead, Florida City and the Keys, also beat his opponent Phil Ehr, a U.S. Navy veteran.

2024 IS THE YEAR OF THE REPUBLICAN LATINO, said Gimenez on X after the Republican Party won decisive races in Miami-Dade.

Fear of socialism, a winning theme in Miami

Salazar ran a campaign focusing on the economy and the spectrum of socialism, two main themes for the GOP during this cycle, which have found a good reception among many Cuban American Republicans.

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We are not talking about two people; we are deciding between two ideologies: progress, freedom, democracy, or oppression, socialism and big government, she said in a video she published Tuesday on social media.

At her victory party at Sergios restaurant on Coral Way, Salazar said she would work to improve the economy and fix immigration problems.

We have to vote with President Trump. Lets hope he gets to the White House, she said.

Baez-Geller, who had campaigned for better education, access to reproductive rights and expanding environmental protections, said she was proud of the campaign she and her team ran.

U.S. Congressional District 27 Democratic candidate, educator and community leader Lucia Baez-Geller (center) , her hucband David and Voter Engagement Director Kristellys Estanga check the election results during election night party on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at Casa Cubana in South Miami. Andrew Uloza / for Miami Herald

Thank you to my family, my team, and my supporters for believing in me and our fight to deliver for the middle class, protect our freedoms, and make sure there is a Miami-Dade for years to come, she said in a message published on X. While we might not have won this race, the fight is far from over  Miami-Dade, I am still committed to you and to fighting for future generations.

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The Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried praised Baez-Geller for a hard-fought, grassroots campaign.

Over the past four years, Lucia has served on the frontlines of [Gov. Ron DeSantis] made-up culture wars, fighting to protect students from extremism, she said. We are grateful for her service, which fundamentally changed the trajectory of the Miami-Dade County School Board. The Florida Democratic Party will continue to hold Maria Elvira Salazar accountable and return to contest CD-27 in 2026.

None of the races were closed. With 98% of the vote counted, Salazar had a 20 percentage points lead over her rival, while Diaz-Balart and Gimenez had won by even wider margins.

To the sounds of applause at the iconic Little Havana Versailles restaurant, Gimenez and his team declared early victory for GOP candidates in Miami Dade County after 7 p.m.

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All are doing really, really well; most of us are over 10 points, he says to applause before 7:30 pm as the room applauded. Joining him was Supervisor of Elections candidate Alina Garcia.

All is well for our candidates, he said before the final results.

At the election watch party at Versailles, Diaz-Balart said the resounding victories were a sign of voters dramatic rejection of what he described as the Democratic Partys far-left policies.

The American people have rejected the lies, the American people have rejected the falsehoods, the policies... and open borders, he said, adding he expected Republican victories in Miami-Dade County and a Trump presidency.

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Cuban American Republicans have comfortably dominated Miami-Dades political stage in recent years. In the last decade, Democrats have been able to flip districts 27 and 28 at times, but since 2020, Republicans have gained those seats back and kept them.

Gimenez and Salazar were first elected in 2020, while Diaz-Balart has been in office since 2003, facing little to no opposition in several reelection campaigns.

Salazar, the chair of the Western Hemisphere Affairs subcommittee; Diaz-Balart, who presides a subcommittee deciding on the State Department budget, and Gimenez, the transportation and maritime security subcommittee chairman, have become a fixture in local community events denouncing the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. They usually publish videos on social media that react to news in Latin America, another way in which they seek to connect with Hispanic voters in Miami-Dade.

They ranked high on party loyalty, according to voteview.com, a tracker of congressional voting records. They received A+ ratings from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an organization tracking voting on bills supporting restrictions on abortions. However, they are rated as more moderate conservatives in terms of ideology by voteview.com and the Heritage Foundation.

Congressman Carlos Gimenez, who appears to have won his race, speaks in support of Republican candidate for Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz before her victory speech on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at EB Hotel in Miami.

Salazar and Gimenez, who represent more diverse communities that have voted for Democrats in the past, have advocated for issues that resonate locally, such as immigration reform or environment protection measures in the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay. Diaz-Balart has also secured funds for Everglades restoration and Miami-Dade county resilience projects.

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On the campaign trail, Salazar sparked criticism for claiming she helped to secure funds through Biden administration initiatives, which she actually had voted against.

The three members of Congress have been vocal supporters of former president Donald Trump, who endorsed them for this election. Diaz-Balart and Gimenez voted to support Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Pennsylvania and Arizona. Salazar was recovering from COVID-19 at the time and did not vote.

Salazar, the more moderate of the three, was among the few Republicans who voted to create a commission to investigate the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, and to raise the federal age to buy assault-style rifles from 18 to 21.

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Miami Herald reporter Jacqueline Charles contributed.
Miami Republican incumbent Vicki Lopez fended off a Democratic challenger to keep her Florida House seat that covers Key Biscayne, Dodge Island and coastal Miami neighborhoods like Coconut Grove.

Lopez, 66, earned herself the title Condo Queen when she came into office in 2022 following the tragic Surfside collapse and enacted a series of condominium reforms.

But she came under fire during this election cycle after the investigative news outlet, The Tributary, reported that she used her position in office to help her son professionally, causing the Miami Herald editorial board to switch its endorsement to Lopezs Democratic challenger, Jacqueline Jackie Gross-Kellogg, 56.

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Lopez was leading with nearly 54% of the vote for House District 113 with almost half of the Miami-Dade precincts reported on Tuesday.

Lopez could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening. She was one of eight Republicans in the House targeted by Democrats on Tuesday in an effort to break the conservative supermajority in that chamber. Just after 8 p.m., the only Florida Republican incumbent losing was Windermere state Rep. Carolina Amesty, who was federally indicted for forgery in August.

Other seats Democrats targeted in the House included House District 106, which stretches from Aventura to Miami Beach. Republican incumbent Fabian Basabe, who was sued by two former staffers for sexual harassment, was beating former Democratic state Rep. Joe Saunders by more than four points by the time of publication.
[Source]

Republican Rep. Michelle Steel leads Democrat Derek Tran 52.5% (117,378 votes) to 47.5% (106,015 votes) in the race for California's 45th congressional district, early results reported on Wednesday show.

Their face-off, reportedly the nations most expensive House race, has seen $46.1 million in campaign and outside spending, with $34.2 million from independent groups. District 45, which includes Orange County's Little Saigon, has featured high-profile endorsements from former presidents.

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Steel, a two-term incumbent and one of the first Korean American women in Congress, expressed her gratitude to her volunteers and her hope to continue lowering taxes. Meanwhile, Tran, an Army veteran and son of Vietnamese refugees, maintains confidence as ballots are still being counted, stressing the importance of fair and transparent election procedures.

The race was marred by heated accusations, including allegations of communism and misuse of COVID funds, with both sides trading blows until Election Day. The result could take days or even weeks.

Trending on NextShark: Michelle Steel leads Derek Tran in tight Orange County House race

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Whichever way the elections in Michigan swung, the intelligence community would have gained a new ally. Retired CIA analyst and incumbent Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat, was running for a promotion to the Senate, facing off against retired FBI agent and former Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican. In the end, the former CIA officer prevailed. Slotkin has won her race, according to the Associated Press, becoming the first CIA veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Michigan's elections were not just about Michigan. They were about the place of the American national security state in the world. In the presidential race, local Muslim and Arab-American communities became an unexpected swing demographic when they peeled off in protest of the Biden administration's support for wars in the Middle East. And the Senate race between two hawkish intelligence veterans attracted a lot of out-of-state donations, many of them linked to the Washington, D.C., beltway.

Slotkin received two-thirds of her campaign donations from outside of Michigan, one of the largest out-of-state money influxes to a House incumbent, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign finance. Meanwhile, Rogers received around half of his donations from out of state. Both candidates drew a lot of support from Washington and the surrounding areas. Slotkin was especially popular in the ZIP code around Langley, Virginia, home of the CIA headquarters.

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Along with his FBI service, Rogers is a former member of Congress who chaired the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 to 2015 and sponsored the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), a surveillance bill hated by civil libertarians. Slotkin is a former CIA analyst who has put her intelligence experience front and center in her campaigns. In a particularly spooky moment in 2018, Slotkin was being followed to her car and questioned by a rival campaign operative. Smirking, Slotkin asked the operative how "Sloan and Leroy" were. "How do you know my dogs' names?" the operative gasped, as Slotkin slammed her car door.

Interestingly, both candidates had positioned themselves as doves in the past, calling for restraints on the president's war powers. But this year, as Democrats and Republicans have been in a competition to out-hawk each other, Rogers and Slotkin became enthusiastic supporters of U.S. proxy wars around the world. Perhaps it's not a coincidence that two intelligence veterans would be more eager for indirect meddling than direct military conflict.

Rogers previously argued Congress should have voted on the war against the Islamic State. "It's wrong that Congress has not authorized military force when we know the president is doing it and Congress is funding them doing it. I think it's wrong. I think it's, candidly, one of the weakest points of our national security strategy," he said in 2016, shortly after leaving office. "It's a vote that has to happen if you're going to ask these young men and women to risk their lives for the United States."

A few years later, Slotkin sponsored a resolution to stop the president from going to war with Iran. "Congress has long abdicated its responsibility, as laid out in the Constitution, to make the hard decisions we owe our troops when it comes to authorizing war," she said on the House floor. But Slotkin also hedged her words carefully, emphasizing that Iran is a threat and claiming that her resolution was just meant to stop a "longer term war."

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For all their qualms about direct American involvement, at least without a congressional vote, both have enthusiastically supported U.S. military aid to Ukraine and Israel. On the campaign trail this year, Slotkin said that "we have a responsibility to defend democracies and arm the Ukrainians," and Rogers called for the same kind of "lend-lease program" for Ukraine.

Rogers has positioned himself as somewhat more hawkish on the Middle East. He claimed that the Biden administration was "wrong" to cut U.S. support for the Saudi war in Yemen and has been tying Israel's hands at war. And as has been the Republican fashion this year, Rogers argued that escalating against Iran is actually the only way to avoid becoming "more involved in the Middle East."

Although she has voted for massive U.S. military aid packages to Israeland has received more donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee over her career than Rogers did, according to The New York TimesSlotkin has also called for a ceasefire and said that she is "willing to have a conversation about putting conditions on offensive aid, not defensive."

Distancing herself a little from the Israeli military campaigns in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon may have allowed Slotkin to avoid the fate of Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost in Michigan. Slotkin slightly outperformed Harris in Dearborn, a heavily Arab and Muslim suburb that swung heavily for former President Donald Trump.

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On the campaign trail, Slotkin claimed her experience "as someone who's served three tours in Iraq, who watched the American military fail" there gave her "deep concerns" about the Israeli military campaigns in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon.

But Slotkin also used that experience to play up how "hawkish" she is about a different Middle Eastern country. And while hammering home that point at a televised debate last month, she made an interesting Freudian slip. "There's one of us who has sat in a war zone and taken Iranian mortars, Iranian rockets, one of us who's gone on dangerous convoys, dodging Iranian [improvised explosive devices]," Slotkin said. "I take back seat to no one on how hawkish we're going to be on Iraq."

The post In Michigan, the CIA Beat the FBI appeared first on Reason.com.
A Michigan lawyer filed a proposed class-action lawsuit Tuesday against billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, alleging that Musk's political action committee, America PAC, fraudulently induced him and tens of thousands of other Michigan residents to sign an online petition for a chance to win $1 million.

Kent County attorney Robert Alvarez alleged in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Grand Rapids that when Musk announced the chance to win daily prizes of $1 million, he said winners would be chosen "randomly" from registered voters in battleground state such as Michigan who signed an online petition supporting the First and Second amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Elon Musk, CEO,Tesla Motors speaks during the Automotive News World Congress event at the Renaissance Center in Detroit on Tuesday.

Musk and the PAC have not yet filed an answer to the lawsuit and could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. Musk is CEO of automaker Tesla and owner of the social media platform X.

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Musk and the PAC have both supported former President Donald Trump, who won re-election Tuesday.

Alvarez said he learned Nov. 4 that Musk and his PAC's attorneys told a Philadelphia judge that the winners were not selected randomly, but were predetermined, according to the lawsuit.

The plan to award $1 million prizes to a selection of people who signed the America PAC petition ended up in court in Pennsylvania after the Philadelphia district attorney argued it was an illegal lottery that violated state law. In defending against that case, attorneys for the Musk PAC argued that winners were not selected by chance but "based on their suitability" to serve as spokespersons for the PAC and would earn the $1 million as payment for their work, CNN reported Nov. 4.

"Musk and his PAC never had any intention of awarding the $1 million randomly and had determined to pre-select only those individuals who they deemed worthy of being selected to ensure that any 'winner' was aligned with their political views and values," the suit alleges.

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Alvarez said he and many others who signed the petition and provided a phone number and other personal information to do so, were supporters of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, not Trump. Though he doesn't allege that Musk or the PAC would have been aware of those leanings, Alvarez alleges the winners were selected based on known pro-Trump leanings.

"Thus, Alvarez and others like him never had a chance at being 'randomly' selected to win the $1 million."

According to the lawsuit, there were three Michigan winners of the $1 million prize, but all were Trump supporters, based on social media posts.

A similar lawsuit was filed in federal court by an Arizona resident, Reuters reported.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan lawyer sues Elon Musk, alleging $1M giveaway was fraudulent
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  As voters took to the polls on Election Day, DJs across the state helped turn poll locations into a party.

Nonpartisan organization DJ at the Polls worked to bring DJs to more than 8,500 polling sites across the country, according to its website. The goal is to encourage people to vote and to entertain them while doing so, especially in densely populated urban areas, according to its website.

The DJs also serve to to remind everyone  whether they cast a ballot or not  that having a democracy is something to celebrate, the website says.

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Its Election Day: Michigan goes to polls in tight presidential race

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democrat running for the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, in a social media post said a poll location she stopped at in Detroit had a DJ.

Even after amazing early voting turnout, the polls in Detroit are fired up this morning, the social media post said. My first stop had a DJ from DJs at the Polls  they have over 600 DJs stationed at Michigan polling locations to engage and hype up voters.

At one Detroit poll location, DJ Asset Jacqueline Kapilango kicked off the morning with Happy by Pharrell Williams, the Detroit Free Press reports.

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Were trying to bring excitement to voters, to get them up to vote, Kapilango told the Detroit Free Press.

Multiple DJs also worked to hype voters up in Grand Rapids, according to social media posts.

What do voters think of the new I Voted stickers?

Around 3.3 million ballots were cast in Michigan ahead of Tuesday, either through absentee voting or early-in person voting, according to the Michigan Secretary of States Office. Tuesday morning, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said the state is on track to break turnout records.

News 8 will livestream election coverage at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on WOODTV.com, followed by on-air coverage on WXSP at 10 p.m. and WOOD TV8 at 11 p.m. Election results will be available online as they come in after polls close at 8 p.m.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
A charter ban on recreational marijuana establishments in Colorado Springs was likely to take precedence over a competing ballot question that would have approved retail cannabis sales in city limits, unofficial returns show Tuesday night.
Republicans claimed victory in the fight to control the Michigan House of Representatives and House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, conceded Democrats' loss Wednesday morning.

Republicans need 56 seats to secure a majority in the state House chamber. As of 1:39 p.m. Wednesday, unofficial results compiled by The Associated Press, which the Free Press uses to call races, called Republicans winning 55 out of the chamber's 110 seats, including a major flip in the 109th House District from Democratic to GOP control, with former meteorologist Karl Bohnak beating state Rep. Jenn Hill, D-Marquette. The win was a major pick-up for Republicans, who have failed to carry the Marquette-based state House district for years.

Unofficial county-level results from two additional state House races show Republicans carrying enough seats to win a majority. GOP challengers defeated two other incumbent Democratic state representatives, unofficial results show, with former Michigan Youth Vice Chair Rylee Linting beating state Rep. Jaime Churches of Wyandotte and Calhoun County Commissioner Steve Frisbie unseating Jim Haadsma of Battle Creek.

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"With a Republican majority, Michigan will have a stronger voice fighting for the values of hardworking families and addressing the issues that matter most  safe schools and neighborhoods, an affordable economy, and a government that provides value for dollars," said Minority Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, in an emailed statement early Wednesday morning.

On the Democratic side, Tate said Democrats worked hard to keep their majority but ultimately fell short. "The results of the election represent an opportunity to regroup and rebuild over the coming term. House Democrats will put in the work to regain our majority and deliver a brighter future for the millions of residents who make Michigan their home," Tate said in an emailed statement Wednesday morning.

A Republican victory means Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won't finish out her term in office with her party enjoying full control of the state Legislature.

2024 Election: Donald Trump wins the election in stunning political comeback

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In 2022, Whitmer won reelection and Democrats flipped the state House and Senate from GOP control for the first time in 40 years. With that governing trifecta, Democrats acted without GOP support to move a flurry of legislation, including a repeal of Michigan's right-to-work law and abortion restrictions, gun safety measures and a statewide clean energy target.

In the race to win a House majority, Republicans campaigned against corporate subsidies approved by Democrats to lure new electric vehicle-related jobs to the state. They've also railed against Democratic opposition to making a temporary income tax cut permanent. They've blasted the most recent school budget that included no per-pupil funding increase and new energy laws that give state regulators the power to supersede local zoning laws to install green energy projects.

Michigan Democrats hold a two-seat majority in the state Senate, which was not on the ballot this year. But state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, who won her congressional race will leave her competitive seat up for grabs to be filled during a special election.

House lawmakers could caucus as soon as Thursday to decide the next House Speaker and Minority Leader, along with other leadership posts.

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Tate will not run to be the House Democrats' Minority Leader, according to his spokesperson Amber McCann. At least two state House Democrats are interested in the job. State Rep. Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, said he's running to be the Democratic leader. State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, is also asking her colleagues to choose her. "The road back to the majority is going to be a long one, but it is one I have every confidence we can overcome," she wrote in a letter announcing her run.

This story was updated to add new information.

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.

Looking for more on Michigans elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Republicans claim state House victory
U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) speaks at a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris in Grand Rapids on July 29, 2024. | Lucy Valeski

As preliminary results roll in, winners have been declared in each of Michigans congressional races, including two open U.S. House seats that were labeled as some of the most competitive races in the nation.

Across the board, Michigans sitting U.S. Representatives each secured another term, while Republicans gained a seat in Michigans 7th Congressional District while failing to flip another in the 8th Congressional District.

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With 13 U.S. House seats in the state, here is a breakdown of Michigans top races.

Scholten retains control in Michigans 3rd Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) defended her seat from her Republican challenger, East Grand Rapids attorney Paul Hudson.

While West Michigan has historically been a stronghold for Republicans, Scholten took the seat for Democrats in 2022, defeating President-elect Donald Trumps favored candidate, John Gibbs.

In doing so, Scholten became the first woman to hold a House seat in the district, which encompasses the Grand Rapids metro area and parts of the Lake Michigan coastline as well as parts of Muskegon and Ottawa.

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I set out to build a new political home in West Michigan, and with this decisive victory, weve proven that what we made is built to last. It truly is a new day in West Michigan. It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress, and Im ready to get back to work, Scholten said in a statement.

In a post to social media at 12:35 a.m. Wednesday, Hudson said hed called Scholten to congratulate her on the win.



It was a disappointing result but, as they say, the next best thing to playing and winning is playing and losing. I am proud of the campaign we ran and it was the honor of a lifetime to be part of this great American process, Hudson said.

Scholten is a former immigration attorney, who centered her campaign on abortion rights, lowering prescription drug costs, investing in clean energy and supporting Michigan schools.

Barrett flips Michigans 7th Congressional District red

With U.S. now Sen.-elect Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) opting against a reelection bid to pursue Michigans open Senate seat, Michigans 7th Congressional District was put up for grabs as Democrats sought to reclaim control of the U.S. House and Republicans fight to retain their majority

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In a 220-212 member split, with three vacant seats, Michigans 7th Congressional District was once again teed up as one of the deciding districts for which party will lead the U.S. House.

Tom Barrett, candidate for Michigans 7th Congressional District speaks at a rally at Alro Steel in Potterville, Michigan ahead of a speech from former president Donald Trump on Aug. 29. 2024 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Former state Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) ultimately prevailed over former State Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing), flipping control of the district from Democrats to Republicans.

Hertel conceded the race in the early hours Wednesday morning, wishing Barrett well and thanking his staff, family and volunteers.



I got into this race because I believe that we can make meaningful progress by seeking compromise, that our freedoms are worth fighting for, that we can bring down costs by cutting taxes for working families and reducing drug prices, that we can bring manufacturing jobs back home, and that we can strengthen our democracy. Spending the past year and a half on the campaign trail meeting the good people of this district has been one of the great honors of my life. To everyone who shared our vision and supported this campaign, I thank you deeply for your support. Know that I will continue to work with you towards that better future we all seek, Hertel said.



The Associated Press would later call the race for Barrett at 4:06 a.m. As of 3:15 p.m. Barrett led Hertel 50.3% to 46.5% with 99% of votes counted.

Barrett celebrated the victory in a statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday afternoon, sharing photos from his election watch party the night prior, and thanking his family members and campaign volunteers.



This opportunity to represent you in our nations Capitol is something I will never take for granted. The hard work of putting our country on the right track begins now, and Im excited and humbled to go do it, Barrett said.

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Barrett centered his campaign on four pillars of security pledging action on economic security, neighborhood security, national security and border security if elected.

McDonald Rivet holds the line for Dems in Michigans 8th Congressional District

In 2023, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) announced he wouldnt seek reelection, leaving yet another hotly contested seat up for grabs.

While the 8th Congressional District was viewed as another target for Republicans to expand their majority in the U.S. House, Michigan State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) was able to defend the seat for Democrats in her race against former prosecutor Paul Junge, who faced Kildee in the 2022 election.

Michigan state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) participates in a roundtable with small business owners in Flint, Mich., on Sept. 20, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

With 99% of votes counted Wednesday afternoon, McDonald Rivet leads Junge by nearly 7% of the vote, according to the Associated Press.

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I am honored by the trust of our neighbors to represent mid-Michigan in the U.S. House. We won this race with a broad and energized coalition, and I am grateful to the tens of thousands of people who voted, volunteered, and donated. We showed that even amidst negativity and attack ads, we can come together as a community with a positive vision for our region, McDonald Rivet said in a statement celebrating her victory.

Junge congratulated McDonald Rivet in a statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday morning.



While unfortunately we came up short at the polls, I was proud of the campaign we ran, highlighting the concerns of working families I heard so often, Junge said. Those concerns included high costs of living, border security and a need for common sense solutions in Washington.

McDonald Rivet is currently serving her first time in the Michigan Senate, and has previously served in a variety of roles in both public service and in running nonprofits, including chief of staff for the Michigan Department of Education, as well as executive director of the Michigan Head Start Association, vice president of Michigan Future Inc. and president and CEO of Greater Midland Inc.

In her campaign, McDonald Rivet focused on support for the middle class, by bringing high-wage jobs into Michigan, reinstating the expanded child tax credit authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act, and bringing down costs on housing and prescription drugs.

James emerges victorious after rematch in Michigans 10th District

U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.) has secured a second term in the U.S. House after once again facing Democratic former Judge Carl Marlinga in the last of Michigans congressional races called by the Associated Press.

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Reporting for my second tour of duty! Michigan never quits. And neither will I. Thank you. God bless, James said in a post to X early Wednesday morning.



Marlinga conceded the race Wednesday morning, though the Associated Press wouldnt call the race for James until 12:21 p.m. on Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.) offers remarks in support of former President Donald Trump at a campaign event with Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance in Auburn Hills on Oct. 2, 2024. | Kyle Davidson

While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, I am incredibly grateful for the support and dedication of the people who stood by me throughout this campaign, Marlinga said in his concession statement.

This race was about more than just a seat in Congress  it was about standing up for our shared values, Marlinga said. Those values included defending reproductive rights and protecting Social Security and Medicare.

While the race was decided by a slim margin of 1,600 votes in 2022, James held a more than 6% lead over Marlinga as of Wednesday afternoon, with the Associated Press reporting 98% of votes counted.

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Endorsed by Trump in both 2022 and 2024, James is Michigans first Black Republican Congressman. His campaign shared a number of Trumps talking points, centering on border security and criticizing the state of the economy under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

James has also introduced legislation to connect people to telehealth mental health services, investigate human trafficking that happens in-part outside of U.S. borders and examine the security of the Soo Locks, used to allow ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes.

Here are the results of the other Congressional Races across the state:

1st Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) was victorious in his race against Democrat Callie Barr.

2nd Congressional District

U.S. Rep John Moolenaar (R-Midland) defeated Democrat Michael Lynch, and will retain his House seat for a sixth term.

4th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) defeated Democrat Jessica Swartz, and will serve his eighth term in the U.S. House.

5th Congressional District

U.S. Rep Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) will retain his seat in the house, emerging victorious over Democratic challenger Libbi Urban.

6th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) will serve her sixth term in the U.S. House after defeating her challenger, Republican Heather Smiley.

9th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R- Bruce Twp.) will serve a third term in the house following her victory over Democrat Clinton St. Mosley.

11th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Waterford Twp.) was victorious after facing off against Republican Nick Somberg. This will be Stevens fourth term in the U.S. House.

12th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) will serve her fourth term in the U.S. House, defeating Republican challenger James Hooper.

13th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) has won a second term, defeating GOP opponent Martell Bivings in their rematch for the 13th District.
Susan J. Demas

As Michigan enters the final hours of balloting, officials say things are proceeding without major disruption, despite earlier bomb hoaxes that were called in to several Michigan precincts and have been confirmed by the FBI as being linked to Russia.

No voting in Michigan was disrupted as a result of these non-credible threats, and we want to make sure that every citizen in Michigan understands that they will be safe at the polls. And weve had a really successful and safe day so far. So if theres people that are waiting to cast their ballot, they should go ahead and do so, said Michigan Department of State spokesperson Angela Benander.

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As to a post by former President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account, in which he said there was heavy law enforcement in Philadelphia and Detroit, Benander said they had no information as to what he was referring to and would not be addressing it.

As of 6 p.m., 3,406,009 ballots have been received, meaning 46.6% of Michigans active registered voters have cast a ballot as either an absentee ballot or through early voting, which ended Sunday.

Numbers on total votes, including in-person ballots cast today, wont be available until after 9 p.m.

Over 2,191,560 absentee ballots have been returned statewide so far, with 93% of absentee ballots that were requested having been returned. 85,223 of those were returned to either a clerks office or a drop box today, and can be returned until 8 p.m. local time.

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As for same day registration, officials say there were 16,573 people who took advantage of same day registration and did so today.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will hold a live press briefing at 9 p.m. after polls close.

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Michigan's top election official touted a successful 2024 election and said tabulation is mostly complete, earlier than it was four years ago.

There are, however, about 6,000 outstanding military and overseas ballots that will be added to the unofficial results if they are postmarked by Election Day and received by Nov. 12, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Wednesday during a news conference in Detroit. Although there were no significant and widespread counting issues, there was a holdup in uploading data onto Wayne County's website late into Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning. The Bureau of Elections is working with the county to understand what happened, she said.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson provided an update on Election Day in Detroit on Nov. 6, 2024.

"Certainly, for close races that exist, the biggest and most significant ... outstanding chunk of votes is coming from those overseas ballots and I'll mention it's not a guarantee that all 6,000 will return by Tuesday," Benson said.

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With 98% of estimated votes counted, Donald Trump won Michigan, according to the unofficial tally from the Associated Press. Trump received 50% of votes, compared with 48% for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Benson said it was too early for her to predict what it means that Trump is heading back to the White House.

"There's going to be a lot of conversations in the days ahead about next steps and what comes next," Benson said. "But I see Michigan voters at this point, they're very engaged and enthusiastic, perhaps have different opinions about the type of leadership they want to see but we see women continuing to win elections here in the states. We also see the issue of economics ... being top of mind."

In 2020, President Joe Biden won Michigan with 51% of the votes. Trump received 48% of the votes in the battleground state four years ago.

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More than 5.5 million Michiganders voted. Currently, turnout on Election Day 2024 was about the same as it was four years ago as the department waits for other ballots, including overseas tallies, Benson said.

"This is our third straight election cycle where voters turned out in record numbers, and that's what we're seeing as a victory," Benson said.

Benson said 2.2 million voted from home, casting absentee ballots; 1.2 million voted early in person, and more than 2 million voted in person on Election Day. Nearly 22,000 people registered on Election Day, with many in East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Detroit, she said.

This year, Michiganders were allowed to vote early for the general election. Benson said her department expected half of the 1.2 million who showed up to vote during the early voting period.

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"It was just a convenient option that people all around the state embraced. And that, to me, for us as election administrators, is really the biggest success story of this election," she said.

Benson also said her department is aware of noncredible bomb threats that targeted polling locations in Washtenaw, Wayne, Genesee and Saginaw counties, which the FBI tied to Russia.

A couple hiccups in Macomb County

Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini said Wednesday morning there was a holdup with absentee ballot votes in Shelby Township. Just before 11 a.m. Wednesday, the county's website did update with 100% of precincts reporting.

According to the Secretary of State's website, Shelby Township had 20,137 absentee ballots returned. The township was not on the state's list of communities to preprocess absentee ballots.

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"This is an example of why should you pre-tabulate, run through your problems," Forlini said. "When you're a community like Shelby Township, it makes sense, even if it's one day before."

The township also is where Clerk Stanley Grot is among a group of Michigan Republicans criminally charged for allegedly participating in an effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Grot was among those charged last year by the state's attorney general for allegedly signing a phony certificate pledging the state's Electoral College votes to Trump.

Last year, the director of Michigan's Bureau of Elections notified Grot that he could no longer administer elections, including registering voters and issuing ballots. He also directed the township's deputy clerk to perform election duties until further notice or until Grot is acquitted or has the charges against him dismissed. The case is still open, according to online district court records.

Grot easily won reelection as clerk Tuesday as he had no Democratic opponent in the township, which leans Republican. All of the GOP incumbents seeking reelection in the township  supervisor, clerk and treasurer, as well as the four trustees  won, per unofficial results on the county clerk's website.

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Forlini said there also was an issue with a memory stick with data from early voting in New Baltimore and those ballots, about 2,400, had to be rerun.

Forlini gave a "hats off" to Warren Clerk Sonja Buffa for getting results to the county in a timely fashion.

Buffa did not preprocess Warren's absentee ballots, of which there were 25,439, per the Secretary of State's website. He said Buffa, herself, brought in sticks with data, most of them about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. He said she made three trips "and we appreciate that."

"People are waiting on these results," Forlini said. "People want to know what's going on. It's about everyone who is waiting on information."

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There was concern from Warren city officials and others about Buffa's decision not to preprocess the absentee ballots and about how quickly city election results would get to the county on election night, possibly holding up local, state and national results.

Forlini said he personally picked up sticks from Chesterfield Township as part of a program provided by his office and the sheriff in which a sheriff's deputy and county clerk's employee will go to municipalities and pick up sticks with data  in a secure process  and get them to the county's election department in Mount Clemens.

Forlini said it's difficult to be compared to other counties that can modem in election results. He said his staff uploaded results as soon as clerks countywide were done with them and got them to the county, the third most populous in Michigan.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Some Michigan military, overseas ballots may still need to be counted
A new voting record has been set in Michigan: With 98% of votes counted, more than 5.6 million people voted in the 2024 presidential election according to unofficial results from the Associated Press  the most ballots cast in the state's history.

"We're now in the third of three back-to-back high turnout elections in our state," Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson reported at a press briefing at Ford Field in Detroit after the polls closed Tuesday. "The early voting process  has undoubtedly made voting more convenient in our state, and I think that's why we're also seeing a lot of new voters show up this year."

According to the Michigan Department of State, more than 5.5 million (5,579,317) Michiganders cast their ballots in the 2020 presidential election  70.5 % of the voting-age population. Voter turnout peaked in 1960 at 72.7%. The latest census estimate for Michiganders 18 years and older is 7.9 million residents. With 98% of ballots counted, turnout as a percentage of the voting-age population is currently about 70.7%.

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Sweeping changes, since 2018, to Michigan's election law have increased voter registration and turnout. The changes include same-day voter registration, no-reason absentee voting and automatic voter registration when qualified citizens obtain a driver's license or personal identification card from the Secretary of State's Office unless they decline. Electronic voter registration, authorized by the Michigan Legislature, became effective in 2019. And in-person early voting before statewide and federal elections was approved by Michigan voters in 2022.

According to state officials, 2.2 million absentee ballots and 1.2 million early votes were cast in this year's general election  over 3.4 million votes. The number of Michiganders who had registered to vote on Election Day as of 6 p.m. Tuesday was up to 16,573. In 2020, there were more than 28,000 same-day voter registrations on Election Day that year.

"Michiganders actually did vote early in person in this election," Benson said, discussing efforts to educate voters, "it really changes the culture of voting in our state and will change the culture of voting in our state for years to come."

(This story will update as more data becomes available.)

Contact Kristi Tanner: ktanner@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @MIdatalove.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan voters set new state record for ballots cast
Michigan voters have cast their ballots. With Election Day over, the process of transforming unofficial election results into certified outcomes begins.

Here's a look at the next phase of the elections process:

County boards of canvassers certify election results

In Michigan's 83 counties, bipartisan boards of county canvassers, each made up of two Democrats and two Republicans, will review election materials, including poll books and vote totals, and meet to certify the results. At the conclusion of the canvass, they review the countywide vote totals and sign a certificate reporting the results. They have 14 days after the election to get the job done, making the deadline Nov. 19 this year.

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But if unofficial results show a margin of victory less than 25,000 votes in the presidential election statewide, county boards of canvassers must expedite that schedule. The Michigan Secretary of State can direct county canvassing boards to certify the presidential election results by the seventh day after the election or sometime before the 14th day after the election.

If a county board fails to make its deadline, the Board of State Canvassers will take over and complete the county canvass. The county will bear the cost for completing the canvass.

Michigan's Board of State Canvassers certifies statewide results

After the results of all 83 Michigan counties have been certified, the Board of State Canvassers, made up of two Democrats and two Republicans, will meet to certify the statewide results and the results of any races that cross county lines (for instance, a congressional or state legislative district that spans multiple counties).

The state board has 20 days until after the election to certify the results, which makes this year's deadline Nov. 25. That date can be sooner, again at the secretary of state's discretion, if the presidential election had a margin of victory less than 25,000 votes.

Presidential electors convene

The board of state canvassers' certification  pending any recount requests  marks the end of the road for most election results. But not the presidential race. After the state board certifies Michigan's statewide presidential results, the governor must issue a certificate with the names of the state's presidential electors at least six days before the electors convene. The governor must transmit the certificate to each elector and the archivist of the United States. During party conventions, Michigan's political parties choose their candidates for electors of president and vice president. These candidates have usually been involved as party activists for years.

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More: Find all 2024 Michigan election results here

More: What is the Electoral College, how many electors does Michigan have?

Michigan's presidential electors must convene at 2 p.m. in the Michigan Senate chamber on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December after the election. This year, that's Dec. 17. On that day, they will formally cast their votes for president and vice president.

Congress certifies presidential election

On Jan. 6, Congress will meet to tally the Electoral College votes. The vice president serves as the presiding officer of that joint session. Each state is called in alphabetical order and lawmakers can raise objections to a state's slate of electors, which require the support of one-fifth of the members in each chamber to be considered. For a state's slate of electors not to count, both chambers of Congress would have to sustain an objection.

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This final step in determining the winner of the presidential election received little attention until 2021, when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol to stop Congress from certifying the results. It was a violent day that broke a long tradition of the peaceful transition of presidential power in the U.S.

Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.

Looking for more on Michigans elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2024 election results: Michigan's election certification, explained
Lebanons Civil Defense service says they have pulled 30 bodies from the rubble of an apartment building that Israel struck the night before. Search efforts were ongoing Wednesday, and it was unclear how many survivors or bodies were still trapped under the rubble.

The airstrike Tuesday night came without warning. There was no statement from the Israeli military on the strike, and it was not immediately clear what the intended target was.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a surprise announcement that sparked protests across the country. Gallants replacement is Foreign Minister Israel Katz, a longtime Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister.

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While Netanyahu has called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Gallant said military force created the necessary conditions for at least a temporary diplomatic deal that could bring home hostages held by the militant group.

The Israel-Hamas war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting 250 others. Israel's military response in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say. They do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of those killed were women and children.

Since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in 2023, at least 3,000 people have been killed and some 13,500 wounded in Lebanon, the Health Ministry reported. A report by Lebanons crisis response unit said 361,300 Syrians and over 177,800 Lebanese crossed into Syria between Sept. 23 and Nov. 1.

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Heres the latest:

Airstrikes hit Beiruts southern suburbs, including one on site adjacent to airport

BEIRUT Several large airstrikes hit Beiruts southern suburbs early Thursday, including one on a site adjacent to Lebanons only international airport.

The Israeli military had earlier issued an evacuation notice for the site saying that there were Hezbollah facilities there without giving more details.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Beiruts airport has not been directly targeted in the war between Israel and Hezbollah, and national air carrier Middle East Airlines has continued to operate commercial flights.

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Israeli military says it allowed 231 patients and their caregivers to evacuate Gaza

JERUSALEM - The Israeli military says it has allowed 231 patients and their caregivers to evacuate the Gaza Strip for medical treatment abroad.

COGAT, the military body in charge of civilian affairs in Gaza, said Wednesday that they left through the Kerem Shalom Crossing with Israel.

It says 78 patients and 132 caregivers traveled to the United Arab Emirates, and six patients and 15 caregivers went to Romania.

The operation was coordinated with the World Health Organization, the European Union and the UAE, which forged diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020.

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Israel has controlled all of Gazas border crossings since it invaded the southern city of Rafah, on the Egyptian border, in May.

The Israel-Hamas war, now in its second year, has gutted Gazas health system, with less than half of its hospitals even partially functioning.

Hezbollah rocket attack kills foreign worker in Israel

JERUSALEM  Israeli medics say a foreign worker was killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack. The Magen David Adom rescue service said the workers body was found near the northern city of Acre after a rocket barrage from Lebanon on Wednesday. It did not give a nationality.

Hezbollah has stepped up its rocket fire into Israel since war broke out in September after nearly a year of lower-level conflict linked to the fighting in Gaza. Israel has been carrying out waves of airstrikes and invaded Lebanon in early October.

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Rocket attacks last week killed seven people, including four Thai farm workers.

Israeli airstrike lands close to Roman ruins at Baalbek

BEIRUT  An Israeli airstrike landed dangerously close to Baalbeks UNESCO-listed Roman ruins, a revered heritage site with some of the largest and best-preserved Roman temples outside of Rome, a Lebanese local official said.

This is the closest raid on Baalbek Temple since the beginning of the aggression, as a missile fell inside the castles parking lot, the governor of Baalbek-Hermel province, Bachir Khodr, said in a post on X. The temple has not yet been inspected to determine if there is any damage inside it.

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Footage captured by a resident in Baalbek showed thick smoke rising from the impact site, with panic gripping the scene as she repeatedly says, (it hit) right at the temple.

Since early last week, the Israeli army has been bombarding various areas in Baalbek-Hermel, killing dozens, after having issued several evacuation warnings for the entire city of Baalbek and its surroundings. The maps attached with the evacuation warning included the Roman ruins.

Concerns have been mounting that further strikes may impact the ancient temples, which have survived nearly two millennia. On Wednesday, 38 people were killed while 54 others were wounded across various areas in northeastern Lebanon amid intensified airstrikes throughout the day, Khodr said in a separate post on X, adding that operations to save more victims from under the rubble are still ongoing.

Lebanons Health Ministry said that 37 people were killed and 105 wounded in Lebanon on Tuesday, raising the total toll over the past year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to 3,050 killed and 13,658 wounded.

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UN completes vaccinating overwhelming majority of children in Gaza against polio

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  United Nations agencies say they have completed the administration of a second dose of polio vaccine to the overwhelming majority of children in the Gaza Strip.

In all, 556,774 children under the age of 10 received the second dose, the World Health Organization and the U.N. childrens agency said in a statement Wednesday. That amounts to 94% of the total population that age in the territory, a remarkable achievement given the extremely difficult circumstances, they said.

But they also said coverage only reached 88% in northern Gaza, where Israel has been waging a major operation over the past month. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 children in Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya were inaccessible, the agencies said.

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The first dose was administered across all parts of Gaza in September. The U.N. said both sides largely observed humanitarian pauses to allow the vaccinations to proceed.

At least two doses and a minimum of 90% vaccination coverage are needed to prevent the spread of the disease in a given community, according to the agencies.

The campaign was launched after the first polio case was reported in Gaza in 25 years  a 10-month-old boy, now paralyzed in the leg.

UNRWA head urges action to stop Israel from banning its operations in Gaza and the West Bank

UNITED NATIONS  The head of the U.N. agency that is a lifeline for Palestinian refugees is urging the worlds nations to take action to prevent Israel from implementing a ban on its operations in Gaza and the West Bank, warning it will have disastrous consequences for millions of people caught in the ongoing war.

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Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, who heads the agency known as UNRWA, told the 193-member General Assembly Wednesday that the ban will collapse the U.N. humanitarian response in Gaza, end education for 650,000 boys and girls in the enclave, and severely harm the lives and future of Palestinians.

Philemon Yang, president of the General Assembly which established UNRWA in 1949, said Israels legislation, which takes effect in 90 days, constitutes an intolerable affront to the authority of this assembly, an affront to international law and, most importantly, an affront to the human dignity of innocent Palestinian civilians.

He warned that dismantling UNRWA will also undermine the pursuit of a lasting solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict and constitute an attack on the foundations of a two-state solution.

Yang said the assembly extended UNRWAs mandate in December 2022 by an overwhelming majority until June 30, 2026, and urgently called on Israel to comply with its international legal obligations, the U.N. Charter and U.N. resolutions.

Israels U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon reiterated Israeli accusations that UNRWA is riddled with supporters of Hamas which masterminded the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in southern Israel and fosters terrorism and claimed it is not the backbone of humanitarian operations in Gaza and must be eliminated.

Sitting next to released Israeli hostage Mia Schem in the assembly chamber, Danon strongly criticized the General Assembly and all other U.N. bodies for failing to condemn Hamas or to hold a single session dedicated to the hostages.

Israeli strikes kill at least 15 people in northern Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip - Palestinian medical officials say Israeli strikes have killed at least 15 people in the Gaza Strip.

A strike hit a house in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, killing at least six people from the same family, according to the Gaza Health Ministrys emergency service. The dead include a mother and her three children, as well as the childrens grandmother and uncle, according to a list provided by the service.

In the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya, also in northern Gaza, al-Awda Hospital said it received the bodies of five men killed in an Israeli strike.

Another strike in central Gaza killed four people and wounded 17 others, according to the al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseriat refugee camp. It said rescuers were still searching through the rubble.

The military says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. It rarely comments on individual strikes, which often kill women and children.

Israel has been waging a major offensive over the past month in northern Gaza, the most heavily destroyed and isolated part of the territory, where it says Hamas has regrouped.

Hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands driven from their homes.

Attack in the West Bank leaves 2 lightly wounded

JERUSALEM  Israeli authorities say two people were lightly wounded in a car-ramming and stabbing attack in the West Bank on Wednesday.

The military said the attacker was killed.

Palestinians have carried out scores of stabbing, shooting and car-ramming attacks against Israelis in recent years, and tensions have spiked across the region since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza ignited the war there.

Israel has carried out near-daily military raids in the West Bank that have killed hundreds of Palestinians. Most appear to have been militants killed in gunbattle, but the dead also include people killed during violent protests as well as civilian bystanders.

Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza in the 1967 Mideast war, and the Palestinians want both territories to be part of their future state.

Hezbollah leader says group is not concerned with results of US election

BEIRUT  Hezbollahs leader Naim Kassem said in a speech aired Wednesday the Lebanese militant group is not basing its expectations on the results of the American elections.

We will make the enemy seek to demand an end to the aggression, Kassem said, speaking from an undisclosed location in a pre-recorded televised address. Our military capabilities are available for a long time, and we do not rely on the results of the American elections.

His speech marked the 40-day mourning period since former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated in Beirut.

Whether Harris wins or Trump wins, they have no value to us, Kassem said.

He said that Hezbollah is open for cease-fire negotiations only once the enemy stops its aggression.

The only thing that will stop the war is the battlefield, he said.

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein visited Israel nearly a week ago, raising hopes for an imminent cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel. However, he immediately returned to the U.S. without traveling to Lebanon, which many saw as a sign of a setback.

As Kassem spoke, the Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for three buildings in Burj al-Barajneh, a district in Beiruts southern suburbs with a strong Hezbollah presence. Since the hostilities escalation, the suburb has faced repeated Israeli strikes, which have leveled hundreds of buildings.

Hezbollah rockets target Israel, reaching as far as Tel Aviv and central city of Raanana

JERUSALEM  Sirens blared across northern and central Israel on Wednesday, including in the populous metropolitan area of Tel Aviv, as Hezbollah launched 10 rockets towards Israel.

Israels Magen David Adom rescue services said there were no reports of injuries.

A large portion of a rocket slammed into a parked car in the central Israeli city of Raanana. Rockets also struck an open area near Israels main airport, Israeli media reported, though the airport said flights were operating as normally.

Israels Magen David Adom rescue services said there were no injuries. Israeli police said they arrested 40 people during protests on Tuesday night when the demonstrators blocked Israels main highway in Tel Aviv.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah continues to send dozens of rockets and drones towards Israel. The projectiles have killed 72 people in Israel so far, including 30 soldiers, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office.

30 bodies are pulled from the rubble of a Lebanon apartment building struck by Israel

BEIRUT  Lebanons Civil Defense service said Wednesday they have pulled 30 bodies and remains out of the rubble of an apartment building in the town of Barja that Israel struck the night before. Search efforts were ongoing.

The airstrike Tuesday hit an area that had not been regularly targeted by Israeli military operations. It came without warning. There was no statement from the Israeli military on the strike, and it was not immediately clear what the intended target was.

Civil defense official Mostafa Danaj said it was unclear how many survivors or bodies were still trapped under the rubble.

We hope that there isnt anyone else, but the neighbors have said that there are still people (missing), he said.

Israeli forces and the Hezbollah militant group have been clashing for more than a year, since Hezbollah started firing rockets across the border on Oct. 8, 2023  a day after the deadly Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel sparked the war in Gaza. The war on the Lebanese front has substantially escalated since mid-September, with Israel launching a massive aerial bombardment of much of Lebanon and a ground invasion.

More than 3,000 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the vast majority of them since Sept. 23. Israel has said it targets Hezbollah militants and weapons caches, but hundreds of civilians have also been killed.

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For more Middle East news: https://apnews.com/hub/middle-east
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  A middle school student from Tyrone Middle School shot herself on a school bus, St. Petersburg Police Department said.

According to officers, a middle school student suffered a gunshot on the bus at 18th Avenue North and 49th Street North on Tuesday morning.

There was a pop on the school bus and someone started yelling. Someone was shot. 4 so the school bus driver drove about a block saw police officer and flagged them down, said Yolanda Fernandez with St. Petersburg Police.

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The girl was in possession of the gun, and no other students were involved or hurt, the St. Petersburg Police Department stated. However, there were 20 other students on the bus at the time.

We dont know if it was accidental or what the circumstances were, said Fernandez.

The student was transported to All Childrens Hospital and is in stable condition.

St. Petersburg Police Department said the 13-year-old girl brought the gun on the bus. They are working to find out how she got the gun.

Theres so many things that went wrong in this scenario here, you know, a young girl like that shouldnt have been able to get a gun, shouldnt be able to carry a gun onto a school bus and certainly theres a concern for the safety of the other children, said Fernandez.

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Dozens of parents were picking up their children from the school after the incident.

My son is a bus rider so so my first thought was oh my god what if it was his bus? And then the school called back saying it wasnt his bus but still, said Parent Theresa Tomlinson.

Tomlinson said the district owes parents answers.

How does a thats 13 years old even get a gun in their possession and on a school bus? What are they going to do about it? Where does is it stop? And what procedures are going to be taken for my students safety, Tomlinson said.

A spokesperson with Pinellas Schools emailed News Channel 8 a statement regarding the incident:

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The well-being and academic success of every student remain the focus of Pinellas County Schools and Tyrone Middle School. The districts Student Services counselors, social workers, and school-based team members were on-site at the school today to assist students and staff. They will continue to be on-site to provide support as long as needed. The safety of students and staff is the highest priority. We encourage anyone with a safety concern to contact our school or report it through the Say Something anonymous reporting app. 

This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
MIDDLETOWN  Rhode Island's most experienced police chief is retiring.

Middletown Police Chief Anthony M. Pesare's last day as chief will be Dec. 11, the town announced Wednesday in a press release.

Deputy Police Chief Jason Ryan will assume the chief's job on an interim basis.

Pesare is the second Rhode Island police chief to announce his retirement in the last week. Narragansett Police Chief Sean Corrigan is retiring Thursday.

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Pesare, 71, has actually served two stints as police chief. He initially served from 2004 to 2018 and returned to the department's top post in February 2023 after his replacement, William Kewer, informed the town that he would not renew his contract.

Middletown Police Chief Anthony Pesare is retiring in December after 40 years in law enforcement.

The police force of about 41 sworn officers serves the town of 16,588 residents on Aquidneck Island.

In between his tenures as chief, Pesare, a licensed attorney, served as assistant solicitor for prosecution for the town. He was a member of the Rhode Island State Police before joining the Middletown force. He is an adjunct professor at Salve Regina and Roger Williams universities. Pesare also writes books and has acted in Rhode Island theater.

Since returning to Middletown, Pesare "has worked hard to connect the department even more with the community," town public affairs officer Matt Sheley said in the press release. Efforts included "an aggressive campaign to reduce speeding" and outreach efforts such as "Coffee with The Chief" at the Middletown Senior Center and Middletown Public Library.

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Town Council President Paul M. Rodrigues said, "Chief Pesare is one of those people who is just a natural leader. Everyone gravitates towards him. When the Chief says something, he means it."

New brass: There's been massive turnover among RI police chiefs. What it means for your town.

"Like many others in Middletown, I wish the Chief well and hope he stays active in the community because he's certainly respected and admired here," Rodrigues said.

Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown said, "Tony is not only a great Chief but an even better friend. He's done everything in law enforcement and has been a model for our community. I know I'm not alone when I say I will miss him and everything he's done for Middletown."

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Under Pesare's leadership, the department achieved advanced national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), according to Sheley. The accreditation process provides an independent third-party review of the department to ensure it follows the latest policies and procedures in law enforcement, he said.

The department also secured federal grants to upgrade the police station's HVAC system, install a "state-of-the-art dispatch center" and add two school resource officers, Sheley said. The department also trained officers and developed a system for responding to mental health crisis calls.

Pesare wasn't "strictly an in the office type of chief," Sheley wrote. "It wasn't uncommon to hear stories about Pesare making a traffic stop or searching for a suspect when the situation demanded."

Pesare, who lives in Middletown with his wife, Mary, doesn't seem ready to kick back completely in retirement.

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"You never know what surprises life has in store," he said in the announcement. "Im eager to discover what the next chapter holds for me, but regardless of what comes, Ill keep pressing on. Thats just the way I am."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Middletown Police Chief Anthony Pesare to retire in December
Sen. Mike Braun and his self-proclaimed Christian nationalist running mate easily defeated former state schools chief Jennifer McCormick in the Indiana governors race Tuesday.

McCormick, a Democrat and career educator who pledged to focus on school funding and academic freedom, lost by a wide margin  40.9% to 54.6%  with 92% of precincts reporting.

Braun, 70, will succeed Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who was unable to run again because of term limits.

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A former school board member who cited faith, family and community as his central concerns, Braun said Tuesday that serving in government is far easier than running a business, as he had for decades: He was founder and CEO of Meyer Distributing, an auto parts and equipment company he built in his hometown of Jasper.

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In government, you just have to be smart enough to not spend more than you take in, he told supporters.

Braun served as a state representative from 2014 to 2017. He resigned in November 2017 to concentrate on his run for U.S. Senate.

His multi-point plan for education focused on expanding the states popular school voucher program, which grew to encompass more than 70,000 students in 2023-24  a 31% increase from the year before.

Related

Indiana Governors Race: School Choice and Parents Rights vs. Academic Freedom

Braun is also a staunch supporter of parents rights and has, in the past, targeted transgender students. He said parents should be informed if their child seeks to use a different name or pronouns and that transgender girls  whom he calls biological males  should not compete in girls sports.

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His new lieutenant governor, pastor Micah Beckwith, co-hosts a podcast called Jesus, Sex and Politics. He raised ire when he said in 2021 that God had sent rioters to the U.S. Capitol. Beckwith wasnt Brauns first choice: Indianas GOP delegates chose him in a stunning vote at the partys convention in June, rejecting Brauns pick, first-term state Rep. Julie McGuire.

Despite the shakeup, the pair trounced McCormick and running mate Terry Goodin, a former school superintendent and state representative.

Among his many pledges, Braun has vowed to create an Indiana Office of School Safety to streamline several departments and implement age-appropriate cyber safety training for students.

He also said the state should limit cellphone use in schools and favors curtailing some speech in classrooms.

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We need to protect our children by making sure divisive theories like [critical race theory] or discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity have no place in our public schools, his campaign website said.

Braun also wants to increase the base salaries for Indianas public school teachers and financially reward educators whose students perform well.

Indiana has not elected a Democratic governor since 2000. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump won the state handily over Democrat Kamala Harris 58.9% to 39.4%.
The proposal to change how primary and general elections are conducted in Colorado has failed, based on the latest tally on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the measure seeking to prohibit the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx is also losing, according to the latest results.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) easily won reelection in Louisianas 4th Congressional District, Decision Desk HQ projects, securing a fifth term in Congress even as his future in GOP leadership remains uncertain.

Johnson beat Republican Joshua Morott, who ran to the right of the Speaker. Morott, for example, advocated for abolishing the Education Department and repealing ObamaCare, and he said he was against all foreign aid to prioritize domestic affairs.

The reelection win is Johnsons first victory since becoming Speaker of the House. The Louisiana Republican won the gavel after last years historic ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), catapulting him from the vice chair of the House GOP conference to the top lawmaker in the chamber in a stunning fashion.

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Last month marked one year since Johnson ascended to the leading role.

Tuesdays win, however, comes as questions continue to swirl about his future in House GOP leadership. Johnson has said he wants to continue serving as Speaker if Republicans keep control of the lower chamber, but he has not signaled what his plans might be if the GOP is relegated to the minority.

He could have a tough time keeping hold of the gavel even if Republicans remain in the majority, depending on their margin in the chamber. Some lawmakers have signaled that they will not support Johnson for the top job in the future, threatening his chances of remaining in the role.

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(NewsNation)  NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for New Yorks District 17 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of Rep. Mike Lawler. See results of U.S. House and U.S. Senate races from around the country here.

In one of four races for New York U.S. House seats considered a toss-up, Republican Rep. Mike Lawler was challenged by Democrat Mondaire Jones.

Lawlers victory was one of four seats GOP candidates were able to flip in New York in 2022. Two years later, Republicans are hoping to maintain their slim majority of the U.S. House.

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The New York district covers all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester counties.

Redistricting has turned the region into a swing district as Putnam County and the southern part of Dutchess County lean more conservative.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

The race became contentious at times with both Lawler and Jones accusing one another of distorting their opponents stance on issues of abortion and the support of law enforcement agencies, CBS News reported.

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Lawler characterized Jones as a radical extremist while Jones countered by claiming that Lawler votes like an extreme MAGA Republican.

Jones claimed that if Lawler was elected, residents will see a dangerous Project 2025 agenda.

Heading into Tuesdays election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with a narrow majority of 220 seats while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
CAMERON, Texas (FOX 44)  Multiple agencies responded to the Cameron Associates Apartments in reference to a shooting on Tuesday afternoon.

The Milam County Sheriffs Office responded around 1:15 p.m. to assist Cameron Police in reference to a report of shots fired at 9th Street and Polk Avenue. Preliminary information from police brought officers to the apartments, which are located across from the Brookshire Brothers grocery store in Cameron. It was believed a suspect or suspects fled the scene and barricaded themselves.

Deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers all responded to the scene to secure it while police sought a search warrant for the apartment in question. Upon setting up a perimeter, deputies attempted to contact the suspect.

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The Sheriffs Office says it was discovered that the suspect or suspects may still be in a vehicle and headed out of town. No suspects were found inside the apartment.

SEE ALSO: Cameron ISD schools placed on soft lockdown

During the unfolding of this incident, a Code Red alert was sent out by the Emergency Management Coordinators Office indicating an active shooter was on the loose. This alert did not originate from the Sheriffs Office, and was put out without its input or knowledge.

If you have any further information regarding this incident, you can contact the Cameron Police Department at 254-697-6574.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
Democrat Christina Bohannan is having a rematch against U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks for Iowa's 1st Congressional District seat in the Nov. 5, 2024 election. (Photos by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Results were pending early Wednesday in the contest between U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan, a race that some election forecasters said could be pivotal to the control of the U.S. House moving forward.

As of 1:10 a.m. Wednesday, unofficial AP results showed Miller-Meeks and Bohannan neck and neck, with the incumbent Republican only 413 votes ahead as 97% of votes are counted.

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The race for Iowas 1st Congressional District, representing southeast Iowa and areas including Iowa City and Davenport, was expected to be a contentious race leading up to the Nov. 5 election.

Miller-Meeks defeated Bohannan in the 2022 election with 53.4% of the vote. However, the incumbent Republicans first election to the U.S. House was much closer  Miller-Meeks won election to the then-2nd Congressional District against Democrat Rita Hart by a margin of six votes. Previously, the seat was held for more than a decade by U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, a Democrat.

Miller-Meeks declared victory in the early hours Wednesday, though the AP had not yet called the race. The Republicans campaign said in a news release that with a margin of over 400 votes, the Miller-Meeks team is confident in a positive result when all votes are counted.

Speaking at a watch party in Riverside, Miller-Meeks celebrated her greater margin of victory in the 2024 general election.

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Ive said for the past two years that instead of a six pack we are going to win by a case, and we have! she told the crowd.

In Iowa City, Bohannan said at her own Election Night event that although the elections outcome was not yet known, she was proud of how competitive the race became in the final months of the 2024 election season, saying we made it a real toss up race.

Democrat Christina Bohannan speaks at her election night party in Iowa City. (Photo by Alice Cruse for Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Whatever the outcome of this race is, we did something that nobody thought we can do, Bohannan said. And I want you all to remember that in the future, because you have the power to do amazing things, and I want to see you do it.

Though Miller-Meeks had won in the past two election cycles, both candidates said on the campaign trail that they considered the area a swing district.

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In recent months, both candidates have seen an increase in outside interests and investments as the race was rated one of the few toss-ups in the country that could decide control of the U.S. House in the upcoming cycle. Bohannan outraised Miller-Meeks in multiple Federal Election Commission reporting periods leading up to the election, with the report for the quarter ending Oct. 16 showing the Democrat raised a total of more than $5.8 million during the 2024 campaign season, while the incumbent raised nearly $4.7 million. OpenSecrets data shows that outside groups like super PACs have spent more than $14.3 million in the race.

One of the major issues that Bohannan emphasized on the election trail was Miller-Meeks position on abortion access  a larger topic in Iowa elections this year following the implementation of Iowas ban on the procedure when fetal cardiac can be detected, with some exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the parent.

Bohannan has accused Miller-Meeks of supporting a national abortion ban with no exceptions through her cosponsorship of the Life at Conception Act. Miller-Meeks has denied wanting to implement a federal ban without exceptions.

On other issues, Miller-Meeks claimed that Bohannan and other Democrats were trying to emulate Republicans on subjects like gun rights, U.S. border security and support of law enforcement, while supporting opposing measures in office.

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Before Miller-Meeks was elected to Congress, she served in the U.S. Army for 24 years as a nurse and doctor, later being appointed by then-Gov. Terry Branstad to serve as the director of the Iowa Department of Public Health until 2014. In 2018, she was elected to the Iowa Senate, but made three unsuccessful bids to oust Loebsack as representative in 2008, 2010 and 2014.

Prior to her 2022 and 2024 runs, Bohannan served a term in the Iowa House, representing the 85th District covering part of Johnson County. She has worked as a law professor at the University of Iowa since 2000, focusing on copyright and intellectual property law, and had worked for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as an environmental engineer earlier in her career.

Alice Cruse and Jackson Miles contributed to this report.

This story is developing and will be updated.
The Minnesota House chamber. Photo courtesy of Minnesota House Public Information Services.

Republicans flipped three key swing districts in the Minnesota House, making the party breakdown an even 67-67 between Republicans and Democrats, according to preliminary election results. If the results stand, this would mean an end to the two-year Democratic-Farmer-Labor trifecta control of state government.

At least two House Districts, 54A in Shakopee and 14B in St. Cloud, had margins that were decided by a few dozen votes or less  meaning there will likely be a publicly funded recount.

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House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, did not concede control of the chamber as of early Wednesday morning, urging Minnesotans wait until all votes are counted. Hortman in a statement said, its important to be patient while we wait for results to be finalized.

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, on social media said Republicans broke up the DFLs trifecta, but they could still gain a few more seats pending a recount.

The Minnesota House was last tied in 1979, with 67 DFL members and 67 Independent-Republicans, as todays Republicans were then called. House members began the 1979 session with amicable negotiations, but it ended in bitter fighting  resulting in a one-day special session, according to House Public Information Services.

Minnesotans can again expect gridlock if Tuesdays election results remain unchanged, as Democrats still control the Minnesota Senate and the governors office.

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Since 2023, Republicans have attacked the DFLs progressive agenda, decrying increases in spending and taxes, as well as new mandates on business. The 2023 session is widely regarded as the most consequential in half a century. Among the list of grievances and programs Republicans opposed the most: The states new paid leave program; the $452 million (before interest) renovation of the State Office Building, which is where House members offices are; and a 38% increase in the states biennium budget.

With an end to the DFLs trifecta, Demuth said the House GOP caucus priority will be to restore balance to the Legislature.

Over the last two years, there was not open debate, but really the minority party at the time had our voices shut down, Demuth said. We want to make sure that every voice is represented at the Capitol, and with (a split Legislature), we know that it is going to take compromise and working together and thats what were ready to do.

The House will have to work with Senate Democrats and Gov. Tim Walz to craft a two-year budget before a June 30 deadline, after which a government shutdown looms. In 2023, DFL lawmakers passed a $72 billion budget  the largest budget in state history, which included some one-time spending.

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The states budget agency has said that projections show the states revenues will not keep up with spending, resulting in a potential structural imbalance of $1.5 billion by 2027, but lawmakers could use potential surplus money to offset the imbalance.

Demuths caucus includes some hard right members who will likely seek to roll back Democratic programs  and use the threat of a government shutdown as leverage.

Republicans and Democrats will have to work together to accomplish anything, which may prove difficult after Democrats consistently steamrolled Republicans for two years.

In the sole Senate seat on the ballot Tuesday, DFL candidate Ann Johnson Stewart won her race over Republican Kathleen Fowke, continuing the DFLs one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate. Johnson Stewart, a civil engineer, previously served as a senator from 2020 to 2022.
House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, and House Republicans at a Capitol press conference on Nov. 6, 2024. House Republicans flipped three seats, ending the DFL's trifecta over state government. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers acknowledged Wednesday that they will now have to put grudges aside and work together under a tied 67-67 Minnesota House.

Unofficial election results show that the party breakdown is split between Democrats and Republicans in the Minnesota House, effectively ending the two-year Democratic-Farmer-Labor trifecta control of state government. Republicans flipped three key swing districts on Tuesday.

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DFL incumbents in two House Districts won their races by razor-thin margins, according to preliminary election data last updated on Wednesday afternoon. Rep. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud, won by 28 votes, and Rep. Brad Tabke, DFL-Shakopee, won by 13 votes. These results will likely be recounted, though they are expected to remain the same.

Democrats still control the Minnesota Senate and the governors office. Divided government in recent years has often led to acrimony and stalemate; in 2017, then-Gov. Mark Dayton and the GOP-controlled Legislature wound up in litigation when he vetoed their operating budget.

Its become nearly impossible. We dont have a good record in the 21st century with divided government, said Lori Sturdevant, a Minnesota political historian and former member of the Star Tribune editorial board. In 2022, for instance, the DFL-controlled House and the GOP-controlled Senate couldnt agree on a big public works bill thats long been a regular feature of even-yeared legislative sessions.

House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, during a Capitol press conference Wednesday said that her caucus is ready to work together with Democrats, even though they were hoping to clinch the majority.

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This is a perfect opportunity  for us to work together with our (Democratic) colleagues and bring civility back where theres been a lack of that, as we have seen, Demuth said. We want to work together to serve Minnesotans in the best way. Weve had good working relationships over time in certain areas. This will expand that.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, echoed Demuths remarks, noting the caucuses will work together to craft a two-year budget agreement before a June 30 deadline, after which a government shutdown looms.

Minnesotans certainly sent us a tied Minnesota House. What they are asking us to do is work together and be productive, and we are fully prepared to do that, Hortman said.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and House Majority Leader Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, spoke about the election results on Nov. 6, 2024, at a Capitol press conference. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer.

In the coming days, Democrats and Republicans will have to hash out a power-sharing agreement to decide which party will control the House speakership and what party will chair committees. Demuth and Hortman said they havent made any decisions yet.

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The Minnesota House was last tied in 1979, with 67 DFL members and 67 Independent-Republicans, as todays Republicans were then called. House members began the 1979 session with amicable negotiations, but it ended in bitter fighting  resulting in a one-day special session, according to House Public Information Services.

Hortman said geographic realignment was the main reason the DFL lost the majority and three House seats, noting that rural areas of the state are becoming more red and suburbs more blue.

She said that trend has always accelerated when Donald Trump has been on the ballot.

When you try to flip a seat from Republican to Democrat in a year thats trending Republican, thats a tall order, Hortman said.
As election results trickled in throughout Tuesday night, exit polls painted a grim picture of Vice President Kamala Harris' electoral chances in key swing states.

CNN exit polls found that the approval ratings of Joe Biden's administration were well below the national average in Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin. Anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper called Biden's numbers "brutal" as they waited for results from the states his vice president needed to win to stay in the race.

Six in ten in Wisconsin say that they dont approve of the president, Bash said. Theres no other way to look at it. That is, no question, a big headwind for Kamala Harris."

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Host Audie Cornish agreed, noting that the Trump campaign has "done an effective job in tying her" to Biden's record.

"You were in the room. You were always there," Cornish said, characterizing the Trump message. "You could have made a difference, and you didn't."

Bash and Tapper weren't alone on their network in pointing out the hill that Harris had to climb. Pointing to a 3-to-1 disapproval of the job Biden has done in office, Chris Wallace said a Harris win would be "a miracle."

I got to say, I think that with the present conditions in the country  I mean, in conventional terms, it would be a miracle that Kamala Harris could win with that kind of headwind, he said. If she is able to overcome those numbers and still win this election, then she has done a remarkable job of somehow separating herself."

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In another segment, Wallace also criticized Harris for not doing more to separate herself from the Biden administration. He brought up the vice president's visit to "The View," in which she balked at offering any differences between herself and Biden.

"She said, 'Nothing comes immediately to mind,' which might not have been the best answer," he said.
A rumor circulating online on Nov. 6, 2024  the day following former U.S. President Donald Trump's reelection victory  said that Vice President Kamala Harris only won states not requiring identification in order to vote.

For example, one user posted (archived), "Kamala only won in states where voter ID is not required. Do you understand anon?" As of this writing, the post received around 1.5 million views.

However, according to election projection data reported by The Associated Press (AP) as of Nov. 6, it was false to say that AP and others projected Harris as having only won in states not requiring ID to vote.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

Ballotpedia  the website dubbing itself as "the encyclopedia of American politics"  published that, out of all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, 15 states and the District of Columbia generally did not require ID to vote. At the same time, some of those states did require some first-time voters to present identification. Still, Ballotpedia designated those states and the District of Columbia as "no ID required," seeing as they did not require ID of most voters.

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Of those 15 states and the District of Columbia, as of Nov. 6, AP projected Harris to win California, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. AP also projected Harris led in Maine. Further, the news organization projected Trump won Pennsylvania  a battleground state only requiring first-time voters to present a photo or non-photo ID.

As for the remaining 35 states, Ballotpedia noted 25 required photo ID to vote while 10 others required non-photo ID. In states generally requiring photo ID to vote, AP projected Harris won New Hampshire and Rhode Island. In states generally requiring non-photo ID, AP projected Harris won Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware and Virginia.

In other words, AP projected Harris won most of the states generally not requiring ID to vote but also projected her as victorious in some other states that required voters to present ID. The statements made in the aforementioned X post was misleading and not true.

In our research, we noted some states established varying policies regarding their photo or non-photo ID requirements. For example, Ballotpedia published, "In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID." Readers can learn more details for each state and the District of Columbia on the Ballotpedia website.

Sources:

"Election Live Updates: Harris to Deliver Concession Speech." The Associated Press, Nov. 2024, https://apnews.com/live/trump-harris-election-updates-11-5-2024.

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"First Time Voters | Voting & Election Information." Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote/voter-support/new-voters.html.

"Voter Identification Laws by State." Ballotpedia, https://ballotpedia.org/Voter_identification_laws_by_state.
Colorado Springs voters are set to approve a 10-year extension for the sales tax that has helped the city funds road improvements.
RAYMOND, Miss. (WJTV)  Officials with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service said frustration is mounting for deer hunters across the state whose cool-season food plots died or never got planted due to drought conditions.

This is the second year in a row that its been too dry, said Bill Hamrick, a wildlife associate with the MSU Extension Service. While the rain has been scarce, some hunters and hunting clubs were able to time a mid-September food plot planting ahead of near certain rain events. In some cases, they got good seed germination but have had little to no rain since. Their plots have either died or are currently dying. Other food plots showed promise early until the armyworms showed up and destroyed them.

Although its November, Hamrick said hunters still have time to replant.

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Erick Larson, MSU Extension small grains specialist, recommends cereal grains, including oats, triticale, wheat and cereal rye, for hunters who want to produce vegetation that attracts deer during the hunting season.

New Chronic Wasting Disease positive detected in North Mississippi

Clover species are slower to produce growth in the fall, so late emergence will likely delay production until late winter and springtime, said Larson. Although they may not provide much benefit this fall, clovers will provide deer with additional nutrition in spring and mutually improve growth of grasses by supplying nitrogen and enhancing soil organic matter.

Officials said cereal grains are a good choice because of their ability to germinate and grow in cooler soil temperatures as well as their hardiness against intermittent frosts.

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Hamrick said grazing pressure could be an issue for these late planted plots if excessive dry conditions persist.

Hunters who plan to broadcast seed should re-till plots with heavier soil types. In sandy soils, tilling may not be necessary, but using a cultipacker is recommended for all soil types to help firm up the seed bed. Hunters should ensure cereal grains are covered to protect them from turkeys, doves and crows.

If planting with a seed drill, re-tilling, using a cultipacker and covering the seed are not necessary.

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A man in Jackson, Mississippi died Monday after hot asphalt poured on him as he was repairing a dump truck.

The 41-year-old man was working on a hydraulic line underneath the truck in Mississippi's capital when the tailgate opened and asphalt fell on him, the Jackson Police Department said in a post on Facebook Monday.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade told reporters at the site of the accident that authorities were notified of the incident around 10:30 a.m. Monday.

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They arrived on scene to find the victim, a private contractor, "buried under hot asphalt."

"It appeared to be some type of malfunction with his dump truck," Wade said. "The vehicle that he was here to pick up asphalt with as he tried to fix the vehicle of mitigation issue with, the vehicle actually unloaded all this hot asphalt onto him."

Wade said several individuals on scene tried to help the victim as "he tried to fight to make it through those injuries, but it was just too enormous for him to survive."

'Horrific situation'

Describing the incident as a "horrific situation," Wade offered his "prayers (and) condolences," adding that his heart "goes out to his family."

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"I talked to some of his family here on scene. They said he was a good man, a hardworking man, just trying to make a living," Wade said. "They were hurt. They were traumatized."

Wade said the police department had conducted a death investigation, "but it appears to be an accidental death at this particular time," adding the department is still looking into the details to determine what exactly went wrong.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mississippi man 'buried under hot asphalt' while repairing dump truck
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WJTV)  A Mississippi State University (MSU) interdisciplinary research team received a $1.2 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to promote AI competency among high school students in the state.

According to university officials, the three-year grant project will offer innovative, hands-on machine learning experiences to high school computer science teachers and students. It will focus on underrepresented populations in STEM and rural areas across the state.

Most Mississippi universities see enrollment increase in Fall 2024

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The project, which includes 15 teachers and 60 students, is funded by the NSF Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers program. MSUs research team and undergraduate mentors will engage participants by preparing image data, training image models using machine learning and creating systems that can perform intelligent vision tasks.

Each yearlong cohort of students and teachers can attend a summer camp at MSU and create a smart device each semester, culminating in a showcase the following summer.

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In the races for U.S. Senate and U.S. House seats in Mississippi, both Republican incumbents, Roger Wicker and Mike Ezell respectively, won re-election, unofficial election show.

In the U.S. senate race, with 98% of precincts reporting, Wicker had 668,802 votes, or 63.0%, to 393,330 votes, or 37.0%, for Democratic challenger Ty Pinkins.

The Associated Press declared Wicker the winner shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

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Gayle and I are humbled and grateful for the strong support weve received from our fellow Mississippians, said Sen. Wicker. It is a blessing to serve in the U.S. Senate, and I look forward to returning to Washington and relentlessly working on the behalf of the great state of Mississippi.

Prior to serving on the U.S. Senate, Wicker won seven bids to serve in the U.S. House, beginning in 1994. In 2007, then Gov. Haley Barbour appointed him to fill Trent Lotts unexpired term in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker speaks before a crowd of military members at the 41st annual Salute to the Military breakfast at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. This was the first time the event was hosted since the pandemic began.

Pinkins, a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in Iraq, ran in 2023 for secretary of state, bringing in a little over 40% of the vote against Republican incumbent Michael Watson, who won with 59.5% of the votes.

In his bid to unseat Wicker, Pinkins campaigned for criminal justice and education reform, investing in sustainable energy and economic development and access to affordable healthcare and housing.

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Since first coming to Washington, Wicker has become a ranking Armed Services Committee member and consistently backed efforts to expand military shipbuilding. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Wicker.

During the campaign, Wicker praised the Supreme Court for overturning its 1973 ruling that legalized abortion access nationwide, while Pinkins has consistently criticized the high courts 2022 decision.

Ezell dominates in House race

Republican incumbent Mike Ezell won the congressional race for the U.S. House seat and is now headed into his second term in office, the AP declared just before 9 p.m. Tuesday.

With 97% of precincts reporting by Wednesday morning, Ezell had 189,103 votes, or 74.6%, to 64,334 votes, or 25.4%, for Democrat Craig Elliiot Raybon.

U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell reacts after winning reelection during an election watch party at Grand Magnolia in Pascagoula on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Voters first elected Ezell to the congressional seat in 2022, when he defeated incumbent Republican Steven Palazzo.

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Ezell also backed the protection of U.S. borders and Second Amendment gun rights and supported the anti-abortion movement, increased military spending, and continued support for first responders..

Prior to serving in the Senate, Ezell previously served as Jackson County sheriff and spent 40 years in law enforcement. According to Ballotpedia, Raybon has worked as a nonprofit direct and professional truck driver.
ELECTION RESULTS: President | Missouri | Illinois | Amendment 2 | Amendment 3

MORE RESULTS: St. Louis City | St. Louis County | St. Charles County

Missouri heads to the polls on November 5, 2024, with races ranging from president to local initiatives on the ballot. The presidential contest features Vice President Kamala Harris (D), former President Donald Trump (R), and third-party candidates competing for the states 10 electoral votes. In key state races, Senator Josh Hawley (R) faces Democrat Lucas Kunce, while Mike Kehoe (R) and Crystal Quade (D) vie for governor.

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Voters will decide on two notable constitutional amendments: one addressing abortion rights and another banning noncitizen voting and ranked-choice voting. Missouris abortion measure makes it one of ten states putting reproductive rights questions to voters in November 2024. Other races include U.S. House seats, state offices like Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, and state legislative positions.

Local measures vary across the state, with St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County residents seeing different items on their ballots.

Missouri, traditionally Democratic-leaning in urban areas and Republican in rural regions, has supported Republican presidential candidates in the last six elections. In 2020, Trump won the state with 57% to Bidens 41%. Based on 2020 patterns, when about 28% of voters cast early ballots, first results typically appear around 7:19 PM CT.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Missouri voters overturned the states abortion ban on Tuesday, enshrining a right to reproductive freedom into the state constitution in a historic election that served as a rebuke of Republican lawmakers who spent decades restricting abortion access.

The passage of an amendment to the Missouri Constitution called Amendment 3 once again legalizes abortion in Missouri two years after state officials swiftly imposed a ban moments after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal right to end a pregnancy in June 2022.

An expansive coalition of abortion rights supporters, civil rights activists, medical professionals and others spent the next two years working meticulously to overturn the prohibition, including gathering more than 380,000 signatures to place the amendment on the ballot. Those efforts culminated in Tuesdays landmark vote, with Missourians rendering a stinging verdict against the states anti-abortion policy.

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Missouri becomes the first state in the nation where voters have ended an abortion ban since the fall of Roe v. Wade  a remarkable achievement in a deeply Republican state where Democrats havent won a statewide election in six years. The vote marked a stunning defeat for abortion opponents, who steadily chipped away at access ahead of the ban.

The state may eventually become a new, critical abortion access point, joining Kansas to the west and Illinois to the east in offering women a place to legally end their pregnancies as abortion remains fully or mostly illegal across much of the South. And abortion rights are now protected on both sides of the Kansas City metro.

Still, abortion providers caution that rebuilding Missouris clinic infrastructure could take months or longer. Abortion opponents will also seek to limit the scope of the decision and possibly reverse it at some point in the future.

The Associated Press called the election in favor of Amendment 3 at 10:25 p.m. Yes votes were leading no votes 53.8% to 46.2%, with about 76% of the vote counted.

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Missouri politicians have spent years passing unnecessary and unfair laws that are affecting Missourians every single day. They have controlled our choices and stolen our autonomy for too long, Selina Sandoval, associate medical director at Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, told supporters of the measure in Kansas City in the lead up to the vote.

But the passing of Amendment 3 is a critical step toward reclaiming control over our personal medical decisions.

Amendment 3 supporters gathered at twin watch parties in Kansas City and St. Louis on Tuesday night. In Kansas City, hundreds of supporters watched returns roll in at the Uptown Theater, cheering as speakers praised the campaign to overturn the ban.

Amendment 3 recognizes a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which the measure defines as the right to make decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The measure prohibits the General Assembly from banning abortion until fetal viability, defined in the measure as the point in pregnancy when theres a significant chance the fetus can survive outside the womb without extraordinary medical measures.

Opponents say the definition opens the door to abortions later in pregnancy, while supporters said such decisions should be left to doctors and patients. Later in pregnancy abortions are rare, with abortions at or after 21 weeks accounting for 1% of abortions in the United States.

I am here to tell you right now, abortion has nothing to do with reproductive freedom, U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, a Republican, said at a prayer service on Saturday in Pleasant Hill.

I dont know how smart you have to be to understand that, but it is the antithesis, the complete opposite, of reproduction. Its stopping reproduction.

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The amendment allows but does not require, lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability; Republicans in the General Assembly will almost certainly pass a ban on abortions late in pregnancy when its annual legislative session begins in January.

Any post-viability ban would be required to allow at least three exceptions  for the life, physical and mental health of the woman.

Dismantling web of abortion restrictions

The vote left abortion opponents crestfallen. For years, they held the upper hand in Missouri, working with a Republican-controlled General Assembly to whittle away access. By the time the ban took effect in 2022, a sole clinic, located in St. Louis, offered surgical abortions.

A patchwork of regulations effectively caused the number of abortions in Missouri to drop from 6,163 in 2010 to 150 in 2021 before the ban was enacted.

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Missouri is gonna stay a pro-life state, Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican and a staunch abortion opponent, predicted earlier this year. Were gonna work very hard to keep it that way.

Republicans, the Catholic Church and other socially conservative churches, along with longtime anti-abortion groups such as Missouri Right to Life, fought the amendment. While proponents enjoyed a large financial advantage and raised more than $30 million, opponents had allies in government.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey attempted multiple times to use and defend inflammatory language in official descriptions that were ultimately struck down by Missouri courts. They sought to cast the proposal as allowing dangerous abortions and tried to use magic math to suggest the amendment would significantly cost taxpayers.

Still, opponents nearly succeeded in keeping Amendment 3 off the ballot. They secured a court order from Cole County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Limbaugh, who found it didnt comply with a requirement that ballot measures outline what state laws they would repeal. The Missouri Supreme Court overruled Limbaugh on a 4-3 vote hours before the deadline to finalize the ballot.

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Amendment 3s passage marks a turning point in Missouri history. The state has spent roughly three-quarters of its 203-year history as an anti-abortion state. Before the Roe decision in 1973, Missouri had outlawed abortion since at least 1825.

It really did become like a web of restrictions, said Emily Wales, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. It was years of working to comply with the latest nonsensical, medically unnecessary restriction, and then a new thing would be passed, and youd be trying to comply with that.

Lawsuits ahead

Tuesdays vote almost certainly heralds the start of a protracted struggle to shape the outer limits of Amendment 3s reach.

A host of abortion laws remain on the books in Missouri. Some of those laws, such as the abortion ban, are obviously unconstitutional under the amendment. But others exist in a gray zone that will likely require courts to sort through what passes muster under the new standard.

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Amendment 3 states that the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justified by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

While basic health and safety rules for clinics are likely constitutional, for instance, a mandatory 72-hour waiting period for abortions and required ultrasounds may be unconstitutional impediments on the right to reproductive freedom.

Lawsuits challenging these statutes are virtually guaranteed.

I think youre going to see more legal battles, and then the legislature will have to, you know, decide how they want to respond, said Jean Evans, a former executive director of the Missouri Republican Party.

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Abortion opponents may also try to overturn Amendment 3 outright.

A statewide vote approved the measure and another could repeal it. The General Assembly has the power to refer constitutional changes to voters and could place a new amendment on a future election. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and other Republicans have referenced this possibility, saying the state can vote multiple times on abortion.

Missouri Republicans have had recent success convincing voters to reverse themselves. Voters in 2018 approved Clean Missouri, a governmental reform package that overhauled redistricting in the state. Two years later, voters approved another measure repealing the redistricting reforms.

Folks who are pro-life are always  are always going to be fighting to keep Missouri a pro-life state, and it doesnt matter what happens or what the margin is, Evans said. I think there are going to be people who are always going to fight like crazy to keep Missouri a pro-life state.

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Ongoing legal fights over regulations and a push by GOP lawmakers to reverse Amendment 3 could create an atmosphere of uncertainty that could slow down abortion providers as they work to open.

Wales said earlier this fall that there will be frustration every day that abortion access isnt restored. But supporters of abortion rights had to start somewhere, she said.

Missourians lives are at risk, Wales said, but we will be telling that to the courts who have to make these decisions, and we will do everything we can to restore access as quickly as possible.

The Stars Daniel Desrochers contributed reporting
Missouri voters overturned the states abortion ban on Tuesday, enshrining a right to reproductive freedom into the state constitution in a historic election that served as a rebuke of Republican lawmakers who spent decades restricting abortion access.

The passage of an amendment to the Missouri Constitution called Amendment 3 once again legalizes abortion in Missouri two years after state officials swiftly imposed a ban moments after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal right to end a pregnancy in June 2022.

An expansive coalition of abortion rights supporters, civil rights activists, medical professionals and others spent the next two years working meticulously to overturn the prohibition, including gathering more than 380,000 signatures to place the amendment on the ballot. Those efforts culminated in Tuesdays landmark vote, with Missourians rendering a stinging verdict against the states anti-abortion policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Missouri becomes the first state in the nation where voters have ended an abortion ban since the fall of Roe v. Wade  a remarkable achievement in a deeply Republican state where Democrats havent won a statewide election in six years. The vote marked a stunning defeat for abortion opponents, who steadily chipped away at access ahead of the ban.

Anti-abortion politicians in our state raced to make Missouri the first state in the country to enact a total ban after the Dobbs decision, Emily Wales, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, told supporters at a watch party in Kansas City. Now they get to watch as we take back our rights and become the first state to end a total abortion ban after Dobbs.

The state may eventually become a new, critical abortion access point, joining Kansas to the west and Illinois to the east in offering women a place to legally end their pregnancies as abortion remains fully or mostly illegal across much of the South. And abortion rights are now protected on both sides of the Kansas City metro.

Still, abortion providers caution that rebuilding Missouris clinic infrastructure could take months or longer. Abortion opponents will also seek to limit the scope of the decision and possibly reverse it at some point in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Associated Press called the election in favor of Amendment 3 at 10:25 p.m. Yes votes were leading no votes 53.8% to 46.2%, with about 76% of the vote counted.

Missouri politicians have spent years passing unnecessary and unfair laws that are affecting Missourians every single day. They have controlled our choices and stolen our autonomy for too long, Selina Sandoval, associate medical director at Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, told supporters of the measure in Kansas City in the lead up to the vote.

But the passing of Amendment 3 is a critical step toward reclaiming control over our personal medical decisions.

Amendment 3 supporters gathered at twin watch parties in Kansas City and St. Louis on Tuesday night. In Kansas City, hundreds of supporters watched returns roll in at the Uptown Theater, cheering as speakers praised the campaign to overturn the ban.

Supporters and organizers of Amendment 3 and Proposition A celebrate the results of the election at a watch party at Uptown Theater in Kansas City on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Amendment 3 recognizes a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which the measure defines as the right to make decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The measure prohibits the General Assembly from banning abortion until fetal viability, defined in the measure as the point in pregnancy when theres a significant chance the fetus can survive outside the womb without extraordinary medical measures.

Opponents say the definition opens the door to abortions later in pregnancy, while supporters said such decisions should be left to doctors and patients. Later in pregnancy abortions are rare, with abortions at or after 21 weeks accounting for 1% of abortions in the United States.

I am here to tell you right now, abortion has nothing to do with reproductive freedom, U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, a Republican, said at a prayer service on Saturday in Pleasant Hill.

I dont know how smart you have to be to understand that, but it is the antithesis, the complete opposite, of reproduction. Its stopping reproduction.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The amendment allows but does not require, lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability; Republicans in the General Assembly will almost certainly pass a ban on abortions late in pregnancy when its annual legislative session begins in January.

Any post-viability ban would be required to allow at least three exceptions  for the life, physical and mental health of the woman.

Dismantling web of abortion restrictions

The vote left abortion opponents crestfallen. For years, they held the upper hand in Missouri, working with a Republican-controlled General Assembly to whittle away access. By the time the ban took effect in 2022, a sole clinic, located in St. Louis, offered surgical abortions.

A patchwork of regulations effectively caused the number of abortions in Missouri to drop from 6,163 in 2010 to 150 in 2021 before the ban was enacted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Missouri is gonna stay a pro-life state, Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican and a staunch abortion opponent, predicted earlier this year. Were gonna work very hard to keep it that way.

Republicans, the Catholic Church and other socially conservative churches, along with longtime anti-abortion groups such as Missouri Right to Life, fought the amendment. While proponents enjoyed a large financial advantage and raised more than $30 million, opponents had allies in government.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey attempted multiple times to use and defend inflammatory language in official descriptions that were ultimately struck down by Missouri courts. They sought to cast the proposal as allowing dangerous abortions and tried to use magic math to suggest the amendment would significantly cost taxpayers.

Supporters and organizers of Amendment 3 and Proposition A celebrate the results of the election at a watch party at Uptown Theater in Kansas City on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Still, opponents nearly succeeded in keeping Amendment 3 off the ballot. They secured a court order from Cole County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Limbaugh, who found it didnt comply with a requirement that ballot measures outline what state laws they would repeal. The Missouri Supreme Court overruled Limbaugh on a 4-3 vote hours before the deadline to finalize the ballot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Amendment 3s passage marks a turning point in Missouri history. The state has spent roughly three-quarters of its 203-year history as an anti-abortion state. Before the Roe decision in 1973, Missouri had outlawed abortion since at least 1825.

It really did become like a web of restrictions, Wales said. It was years of working to comply with the latest nonsensical, medically unnecessary restriction, and then a new thing would be passed, and youd be trying to comply with that.

Lawsuits ahead

Tuesdays vote almost certainly heralds the start of a protracted struggle to shape the outer limits of Amendment 3s reach.

A host of abortion laws remain on the books in Missouri. Some of those laws, such as the abortion ban, are obviously unconstitutional under the amendment. But others exist in a gray zone that will likely require courts to sort through what passes muster under the new standard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Amendment 3 states that the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justified by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

While basic health and safety rules for clinics are likely constitutional, for instance, a mandatory 72-hour waiting period for abortions and required ultrasounds may be unconstitutional impediments on the right to reproductive freedom.

Lawsuits challenging these statutes are virtually guaranteed.

Supporters and organizers of Proposition A celebrate the results of the election at a watch party at Uptown Theater in Kansas City on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

I think youre going to see more legal battles, and then the legislature will have to, you know, decide how they want to respond, said Jean Evans, a former executive director of the Missouri Republican Party.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Abortion opponents may also try to overturn Amendment 3 outright.

A statewide vote approved the measure and another could repeal it. The General Assembly has the power to refer constitutional changes to voters and could place a new amendment on a future election ballot. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and other Republicans have referenced this possibility, saying the state can vote multiple times on abortion.

Missouri Republicans have had recent success convincing voters to reverse themselves. Voters in 2018 approved Clean Missouri, a governmental reform package that overhauled redistricting in the state. Two years later, voters approved another measure repealing the redistricting reforms.

Folks who are pro-life are always  are always going to be fighting to keep Missouri a pro-life state, and it doesnt matter what happens or what the margin is, Evans said. I think there are going to be people who are always going to fight like crazy to keep Missouri a pro-life state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Ongoing legal fights over regulations and a push by GOP lawmakers to reverse Amendment 3 could create an atmosphere of uncertainty that could slow down abortion providers as they work to open.

Wales said earlier this fall that there will be frustration every day that abortion access isnt restored. But supporters of abortion rights had to start somewhere, she said.

Missourians lives are at risk, Wales said, but we will be telling that to the courts who have to make these decisions, and we will do everything we can to restore access as quickly as possible.

The Stars Daniel Desrochers contributed reporting
Missouri voters overturned the states abortion ban on Tuesday, enshrining a right to reproductive freedom into the state constitution in a historic election that served as a rebuke of Republican lawmakers who spent decades restricting abortion access.

The passage of an amendment to the Missouri Constitution called Amendment 3 once again legalizes abortion in Missouri two years after state officials swiftly imposed a ban moments after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal right to end a pregnancy in June 2022.

An expansive coalition of abortion rights supporters, civil rights activists, medical professionals and others spent the next two years working meticulously to overturn the prohibition, including gathering more than 380,000 signatures to place the amendment on the ballot. Those efforts culminated in Tuesdays landmark vote, with Missourians rendering a stinging verdict against the states anti-abortion policy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Missouri becomes the first state in the nation where voters have ended an abortion ban since the fall of Roe v. Wade  a remarkable achievement in a deeply Republican state where Democrats havent won a statewide election in six years. The vote marked a stunning defeat for abortion opponents, who steadily chipped away at access ahead of the ban.

Anti-abortion politicians in our state raced to make Missouri the first state in the country to enact a total ban after the Dobbs decision, Emily Wales, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, told supporters at a watch party in Kansas City. Now they get to watch as we take back our rights and become the first state to end a total abortion ban after Dobbs.

The state may eventually become a new, critical abortion access point, joining Kansas to the west and Illinois to the east in offering women a place to legally end their pregnancies as abortion remains fully or mostly illegal across much of the South. And abortion rights are now protected on both sides of the Kansas City metro.

Still, abortion providers caution that rebuilding Missouris clinic infrastructure could take months or longer. Abortion opponents will also seek to limit the scope of the decision and possibly reverse it at some point in the future.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

The Associated Press called the election in favor of Amendment 3 at 10:25 p.m. Yes votes were leading no votes 53.8% to 46.2%, with about 76% of the vote counted.

Missouri politicians have spent years passing unnecessary and unfair laws that are affecting Missourians every single day. They have controlled our choices and stolen our autonomy for too long, Selina Sandoval, associate medical director at Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, told supporters of the measure in Kansas City in the lead up to the vote.

But the passing of Amendment 3 is a critical step toward reclaiming control over our personal medical decisions.

Amendment 3 supporters gathered at twin watch parties in Kansas City and St. Louis on Tuesday night. In Kansas City, hundreds of supporters watched returns roll in at the Uptown Theater, cheering as speakers praised the campaign to overturn the ban.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Amendment 3 recognizes a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which the measure defines as the right to make decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions.

The measure prohibits the General Assembly from banning abortion until fetal viability, defined in the measure as the point in pregnancy when theres a significant chance the fetus can survive outside the womb without extraordinary medical measures.

Opponents say the definition opens the door to abortions later in pregnancy, while supporters said such decisions should be left to doctors and patients. Later in pregnancy abortions are rare, with abortions at or after 21 weeks accounting for 1% of abortions in the United States.

I am here to tell you right now, abortion has nothing to do with reproductive freedom, U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, a Republican, said at a prayer service on Saturday in Pleasant Hill.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont know how smart you have to be to understand that, but it is the antithesis, the complete opposite, of reproduction. Its stopping reproduction.

The amendment allows but does not require, lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability; Republicans in the General Assembly will almost certainly pass a ban on abortions late in pregnancy when its annual legislative session begins in January.

Any post-viability ban would be required to allow at least three exceptions  for the life, physical and mental health of the woman.

Dismantling web of abortion restrictions

The vote left abortion opponents crestfallen. For years, they held the upper hand in Missouri, working with a Republican-controlled General Assembly to whittle away access. By the time the ban took effect in 2022, a sole clinic, located in St. Louis, offered surgical abortions.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A patchwork of regulations effectively caused the number of abortions in Missouri to drop from 6,163 in 2010 to 150 in 2021 before the ban was enacted.

Missouri is gonna stay a pro-life state, Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican and a staunch abortion opponent, predicted earlier this year. Were gonna work very hard to keep it that way.

Republicans, the Catholic Church and other socially conservative churches, along with longtime anti-abortion groups such as Missouri Right to Life, fought the amendment. While proponents enjoyed a large financial advantage and raised more than $30 million, opponents had allies in government.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey attempted multiple times to use and defend inflammatory language in official descriptions that were ultimately struck down by Missouri courts. They sought to cast the proposal as allowing dangerous abortions and tried to use magic math to suggest the amendment would significantly cost taxpayers.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, opponents nearly succeeded in keeping Amendment 3 off the ballot. They secured a court order from Cole County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Limbaugh, who found it didnt comply with a requirement that ballot measures outline what state laws they would repeal. The Missouri Supreme Court overruled Limbaugh on a 4-3 vote hours before the deadline to finalize the ballot.

Amendment 3s passage marks a turning point in Missouri history. The state has spent roughly three-quarters of its 203-year history as an anti-abortion state. Before the Roe decision in 1973, Missouri had outlawed abortion since at least 1825.

It really did become like a web of restrictions, Wales said. It was years of working to comply with the latest nonsensical, medically unnecessary restriction, and then a new thing would be passed, and youd be trying to comply with that.

Lawsuits ahead

Tuesdays vote almost certainly heralds the start of a protracted struggle to shape the outer limits of Amendment 3s reach.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

A host of abortion laws remain on the books in Missouri. Some of those laws, such as the abortion ban, are obviously unconstitutional under the amendment. But others exist in a gray zone that will likely require courts to sort through what passes muster under the new standard.

Amendment 3 states that the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justified by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

While basic health and safety rules for clinics are likely constitutional, for instance, a mandatory 72-hour waiting period for abortions and required ultrasounds may be unconstitutional impediments on the right to reproductive freedom.

Lawsuits challenging these statutes are virtually guaranteed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

I think youre going to see more legal battles, and then the legislature will have to, you know, decide how they want to respond, said Jean Evans, a former executive director of the Missouri Republican Party.

Abortion opponents may also try to overturn Amendment 3 outright.

A statewide vote approved the measure and another could repeal it. The General Assembly has the power to refer constitutional changes to voters and could place a new amendment on a future election. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and other Republicans have referenced this possibility, saying the state can vote multiple times on abortion.

Missouri Republicans have had recent success convincing voters to reverse themselves. Voters in 2018 approved Clean Missouri, a governmental reform package that overhauled redistricting in the state. Two years later, voters approved another measure repealing the redistricting reforms.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Folks who are pro-life are always  are always going to be fighting to keep Missouri a pro-life state, and it doesnt matter what happens or what the margin is, Evans said. I think there are going to be people who are always going to fight like crazy to keep Missouri a pro-life state.

Ongoing legal fights over regulations and a push by GOP lawmakers to reverse Amendment 3 could create an atmosphere of uncertainty that could slow down abortion providers as they work to open.

Wales said earlier this fall that there will be frustration every day that abortion access isnt restored. But supporters of abortion rights had to start somewhere, she said.

Missourians lives are at risk, Wales said, but we will be telling that to the courts who have to make these decisions, and we will do everything we can to restore access as quickly as possible.

The Stars Daniel Desrochers contributed reporting
Kamala Harris lost in the state of Missouri on Tuesday, keeping with the expected results from polls prior to Election Day. But three progressive ballot initiatives won in the state: legalizing abortion, increasing the minimum wage, and defeating a wage raise for law enforcement.

In addition to Donald Trumps easy 18-point victory, Republican Senator Josh Hawley cruised to reelection, defeating Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce by nearly 15 percentage points.

Abortion was enshrined in the Missouri Constitution by a three-point margin, while a minimum wage increase of $1.25 per hour each year until 2026, reaching $15 per hour, passed by a whopping 15 percentage points, according to the latest results.

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Missouri voters even rejected a raise for law enforcement officers by more than 20 percentage points. So why did voters in the Show-Me State reject Democrats but support their policies? The answer seems to be an indication of what went wrong for Democrats during this election. While Harris and Kunce support abortion rights, voters did not connect them to their defense on the state level.

The same goes for the minimum wage: Harris came out publicly in support of a $15 minimum wage two weeks ago. But was that too late to reach voters in Missouri or the country at large? And the point can be raised as to how much the Harris campaign publicized her support for the increase. Plus, she only came out in favor of $15 per hour after Trumps stunt of pretending to work at a McDonalds.

Harris campaigned heavily on abortion rights as well, but it wasnt enough to persuade the same Missouri voters who voted to protect themsomething that will undoubtedly have Harris and her campaign agonizing over. What could they have said or done differently to stress Trump and Republicans threats over abortion? It goes to show that legal abortion is more popular than the Democratic Party, as Melissa Gira Grant wrote for The New Republic last month.

Voters in Missouri, and perhaps the country, in effect drew a distinction between the policies they support and the candidates who backed them. Democrats didnt reach the voters who supported their policies, and theres also the possibility that voters simply didnt know what candidates like Kunce and Harris stood for. If thats the case, the party needs to look at the ineffectiveness of their messaging, and how spectacularly it failed.


Missouri overturned a total abortion ban Tuesday, with the majority of the state voting to enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution.

Roughly 53.2 percent of the state voted in favor of Amendment 3, achieving the simple majority necessary to protect reproductive freedom in Missouri, including an individuals decision to have an abortion up to the point of viability.

Fetal viability typically occurs during the second trimester, between 23 and 24 weeks of pregnancy, but the ballot measure has a different definition for the developmental stage. Instead, it describes fetal viability as the point in pregnancy when, in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional there is a significant likelihood of the fetuss sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures.

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The measure, called the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative, solidifies that the government has no role in a persons fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions. It undoes the Show-Me States total abortion ban, which took effect one hour after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted unless the Government demonstrates that such action is justified by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means, the ballot measure read in part. Any denial, interference, delay, or restriction of the right to reproductive freedom shall be presumed invalid.

Governmental interest was specified as compelling only if it had the limited effect of improving or maintaining the health of a person seeking care and was consistent with widely accepted evidence-based medicine and does not infringe on that persons autonomous decision-making.

Missouri is one of 10 states that have placed abortion on the ballot this yearthe most to appear in a single year in U.S. history.
The race for Colorado state Senate District 12, between Republican Stan VanderWerf and Democrat Marc Snyder, was still too close to call late Tuesday night, with Republicans hopes of staving off a Democrat supermajority in the state Senate riding on fewer than two thousand votes.

We dont really know yet, and we might not know until tomorrow, said VanderWerf on Tuesday evening, shortly before the Republicans' watch party at Boot Barn Hall wrapped festivities early, due to bad weather.

At that point, according to early unofficial election results, VanderWerf's Democrat opponent had received 50.13% of the vote.

Senate District 12, which encompasses areas west of town along with Manitou Springs and Fountain, is currently represented by outgoing Republican Sen. Bob Gardner. The district leans 2% Republican and is considered competitive.

The race between the two popular politicians  Snyder, a former mayor of Manitou Springs, and VanderWerf, a term-limited, outgoing El Paso County Commissioner  was expected to be a close race, and a critical one for state Republicans with the Senate split 23-12 and Democrats only one seat away from a supermajority.

Citing immigration as a top concern among his constituents, VanderWerf has said that, if elected to the state Senate, he would work to overturn House Bill 19-1124, a bill that prohibits local law enforcement from detaining suspects for violating federal immigration law.

Snyder said he believes there is likely a balance between Denvers approach to providing services to illegal immigrants and El Paso Countys leaders asking faith-based organizations to limit aid.

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We cant lose our compassion and our empathy, Snyder has said.

To help address the high cost of living, VanderWerf has said he would work to diversify energy production and encourage the state to pursue geothermal and small nuclear energy sources. He also said he would also work to address the high cost of housing by encouraging construction, and push for the "portability" of a property tax exemption for senior residents, which could help free up housing stock.

Snyder said if elected to the Senate he would work on a sustainable, predictable budget, and that he would like to see a big picture re-think of how the state spends its money.

As of 10:30 p.m. on election night, 50.13% of ballots cast and counted so far went to Snyder, with VanderWerf earning 47.15% of the vote, and 2.73% going to Libertarian candidate, John Michael Angle.

Under Colorado law, a recount is required when he winner's margin of victory is equal to or less than 0.5%.

Senate District 10

In the three-candidate race for state Senate District 10, unofficial early election results Tuesday night showed Republican Larry Liston ahead, with just shy of 57% of the vote, Democrat Ryan Howard Lucas with 40.55%, and Libertarian candidate John Hjersman with just under 3% of the vote.

Liston has said he wants the chance to convince his colleagues in the legislature, and the residents of Senate District 10, that nuclear energy is the "safe, reliable and clean" solution to the energy needs of a growing population.

With the ever-increasing need for energy here in Colorado, by industry and our growth, we will need to strongly consider nuclear energy, Liston said.

Liston has said he also wants to work with area law enforcement to address crime, and a recent spate of smash-and-grab robberies at local businesses.
Defendants in Missouri will not be subject to additional court fees, after voters Tuesday rejected a ballot measure.

Amendment 6 overwhelmingly failed, with no votes leading by 61% shortly after 11:10 p.m., with 91% of precincts reporting, according to the Missouri Secretary of State.

The ballot measure proposed a $3 fee for sheriff pension funds and a $4 fee for prosecuting attorney pension funds.

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The amendment was rewritten after the Missouri Court of Appeals in September found the original language misleading. It did not include the central feature of the amendment, which is the levying of fees, the court said.

The ballots revised phrasing asked: Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel?

Proponents said the fees were necessary to fund the pension systems. Opponents said court fees disproportionately impact people with lower incomes and can create debtors prisons.
Maggie Olivia, a senior policy manager with Abortion Action Missouri, embraces abortion-rights supporters after the race is called in favor of Amendment 3 on Tuesday in St. Louis (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).

ST. LOUIS  When Missouri on Tuesday became the first state to overturn a near-total abortion ban by the vote of the people, Desiree White cried happy tears.

Twenty-five years earlier, she and her husband chose to terminate a pregnancy they very much wanted after they received a diagnosis of a fatal fetal abnormality.

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White, a retired professor of clinical psychology at Washington University who is now 66, was among a few hundred people who embraced, cried and cheered as the results were announced just before 10:30 p.m. at an Amendment 3 watch party in downtown St. Louis.

With all precincts reporting, Amendment 3 won 52% to 48%.

Desiree White, 66, a retired professor of clinical psychology at Washington University, embraces another volunteer with Missourians for Constitutional Freedom on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, after Missourians voted to overturn the states near-total abortion ban (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).

We did not accept this nightmare thrust upon us, Tori Schafer, deputy director for policy and campaigns of the ACLU of Missouri, told the crowd.

The PAC behind Amendment 3, called Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, raised more than $31 million this election, funding TV ads and other messaging across the state. Abortion opponents raised just a fraction of that amount, but had the support of many of Missouris top elected officials in spreading the word to vote no on Amendment 3.

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Our work to protect the safety of women and the dignity of life continues, Stephanie Bell, with Missouri Stands with Women, said in a statement Tuesday, adding: We will continue to fight and ultimately be victorious against the forces who see no value in life.

When the amendment goes into effect in 30 days, abortion will become legal up until the point of fetal viability  generally seen as the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb on its own, or around 24 weeks, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The amendment also protects access to other reproductive health care, like birth control.

Missourians have long lived with limited  or non-existent  abortion access.

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This is in part because of the states long history electing anti-abortion lawmakers who over the last several years crafted some of the more restrictive laws in the country, known as TRAP laws, or targeted regulation of abortion providers.

The legislature in 2019 also passed a trigger law, meant to go into effect if Roe v. Wade fell. When the constitutional right to an abortion was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022, Missouri was the first state to make virtually all abortions illegal.

While the amendment will go into effect in early December, abortion almost certainly wont immediately become readily accessible across the state.

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Leaders with Missourians for Constitutional Freedom have said many of the states existing TRAP laws, which made access nearly impossible prior to the abortion ban, will first need to be challenged in court. They said they plan to bring forward those challenges soon.

And they expect a hard-fought path to regaining abortion access.

Anti-abortion, anti-democracy politicians are going to try to stomp us out, Mallory Schwarz, executive director with Abortion Action Missouri, told the crowd after the results were announced. Theyre going to try and fight us in court, theyre going to file new attacks in Jefferson City.

State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican from Arnold and a leading anti-abortion lawmaker, wrote on social media following Tuesdays vote that she would do everything in my power to ensure Missourians have another chance to vote on abortion.

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In response to Colemans post, Schafer said the ACLU of Missouri expects Missouris abortion-rights senators to filibuster til the cows and the chickens come home.

Last session, Missouri Senate Democrats used the filibuster to kill an attempt by Republican lawmakers to increase the threshold required to pass a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that wouldve made it much more difficult to pass the abortion-rights amendment.

In Missouri, constitutional amendments require a simple majority to pass. In Florida on Tuesday, an abortion-rights amendment received a majority of votes but failed to meet the required 60% approval to pass.

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom formally kicked off a citizen-led initiative petition process to get abortion on the ballot in January.

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The coalition, whose leaders include the ACLU of Missouri, Abortion Action Missouri and the states Planned Parenthood affiliates, emphasized the states strict abortion laws in the months leading up to the election.

Tori Schafer, an attorney with the ACLU of Missouri, speaks to a few hundred people gathered Tuesday in St. Louis for an Amendment 3 watch party as the crowd waits on election results (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).

A decade ago, more than 5,000 abortions were performed in Missouri, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. By 2020, that number dropped to 167 due to a series of targeted regulation of abortion providers laws enacted by the legislature, including a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between the initial appointment and a surgical abortion and mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions.

Between June 24, 2022 and July 31, 2024, 74 abortions were performed in Missouri under the states emergency exemption, according to health department data.

The abortion-rights campaign saw overwhelming support across the state early on, turning in more than 380,000 signatures to the Missouri Secretary of States Office in May.

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Those opposed to the amendment launched a mostly grassroots effort to fight the amendment with the help of anti-abortion lawmakers, churches and activists. Their messaging leaned heavily into claims that the amendment would legalize gender-affirming surgeries for minors, something legal experts have disputed.

Several different PACs created to encourage Missourians to vote no cumulatively raised a few million dollars to fight the amendment, including through radio ad buys, billboards and fliers, mostly relying on word-of-mouth to raise concerns with the amendment.

Susan Prinster, 72, a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in OFallon, gathered with a few dozen other parishioners to pray the rosary on Tuesday afternoon, hours before polls closed across the state.

Im very scared, Prinster said following the recitation of the rosary late Tuesday afternoon in St. Charles County as part of a larger effort across the Archdiocese of St. Louis to pray for the defeat of Amendment 3. I dont know where this thing came from.

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Prinster remembers the moment 52 years ago when she learned Roe v. Wade, a U.S. Supreme Court decision that protected the constitutional right to an abortion, was decided. She was holding her first child, still an infant, in her arms at her home in Missouri.

It was awful, she said, recalling how she looked down at her child as they swayed in a rocking chair.

Ramona Moyer is among a few dozen parishioners who gathered on Tuesday at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in St. Charles County to pray that an amendment to legalize abortion be voted down (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).

Sylvia Kiphart, a retired preschool teacher who now serves as coordinator for Assumptions Pro-Life program, said if Amendment 3 passes she hopes a new ballot measure is quickly introduced attempting to overturn it.

Weve got to stop them, she said. Weve got to. We cant keep killing babies.

This story was updated with details from the Amendment 3 victory party and to reflect final results.

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Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to attendees during a campaign rally at the Mosack Group warehouse on September 25 in Mint Hill, North Carolina (Brandon Bell/Getty Images).

Former President Donald Trump won Missouris 10 electoral votes for the third straight election on Tuesday, easily defeating Vice President Kamala Harris.

With all precincts reporting, final, unofficial results show Trump defeated Harris 58% to 40%.

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In 2020, Trump won Missouri by 16 percentage points over Joe Biden. Four years earlier, he won by nearly 20 percentage points over Hillary Clinton.

Missouris status as a bellwether state ended in 2008, when voters narrowly rejected Democrat Barack Obama in favor of Republican John McCain. Democrats managed to win nearly every statewide office in 2012, but at the same time Republican Mitt Romney carried Missouri by nearly 10 percentage points and Republicans built a super majority in the state legislature.

Since then, the state has continued to steadily trend toward the Republicans, with every statewide office in GOP hands.

This article has been updated to reflect final, unofficial results.
On Tuesday, Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected Amendment 6, which would have changed the state constitution to allow court fees to pay for law enforcement salaries and retirement benefits. The proposed language read: "In order to ensure that all Missourians have access to the courts of justice as guaranteed by this Constitution, the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for sheriffs, former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys, former prosecuting attorneys, circuit attorneys, and former circuit attorneys."

In effect, the amendment would have reinstated a $3 court fee to fund the Missouri Sheriffs' Retirement System. In 2021, the Missouri Supreme Court struck down this fee in Fowler v. Missouri Sheriffs' Retirement System, finding it unconstitutional under Article I, Section 14, of the Missouri Constitution. This provision ensures open access to justice for all and guarantees the administration of justice without "sale, denial or delay." The Missouri Supreme Court's 1986 decision in Harrison v. Monroe County previously established that Article I, Section 14, provides protections to ensure that Missourians can access the courts without paying unreasonable charges.

Rather than identify an alternative way to fund the Sheriffs' Retirement System, Missouri lawmakers sought an easy solution by referring Amendment 6 to the November ballot. By defining the administration of justice to include the levying of court fees and costs to fund salaries and benefits for law enforcement officials, Amendment 6 would have nullified the Court's decision in Fowler.

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The failure of Amendment 6 is a win for liberty. The amendment would have restored a set of perverse incentives that tie pension contributions to the volume of arrests, prosecutions, and other aspects of the criminal justice system. There is a growing body of evidence that law enforcement practices can be influenced by budgetary concerns unrelated to public safety. For example, local governments may respond to tax revenue losses by ramping up traffic citations. Diverting law enforcement resources toward revenue-generating activities may also have consequences for public safety. Local governments that rely more heavily on citation revenues, on average, solve violent and property crimes at lower rates.

Missouri is no stranger to the perverse incentives created by government reliance on court fines and fees for revenue. The U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) civil rights investigation into the Ferguson Police Department following the 2015 shooting of Michael Brown found that the city's law enforcement practices were shaped by a focus on revenue rather than public safety needs. The focus on revenue "compromised the institutional character of Ferguson's police department, contributing to a pattern of unconstitutional policing, and has also shaped its municipal court, leading to procedures that raise due process concerns and inflict unnecessary harm on members of the Ferguson community." In the wake of the DOJ's investigation, Missouri passed legislation capping court fines and fees at 20 percent of local government revenues.

Law enforcement and courts are core government functions that should be funded through legislative appropriations, not fees. Court fines and fees revenue is unstable, and much of the revenue goes uncollected. While proponents of Amendment 6 are rightly concerned about the solvency of the Sheriffs' Retirement System, relying on such a revenue source to cover pension liabilities violates some basic principles of public finance. Governments are legally obligated to fund retirement benefits they've promised to public workers, and pension liabilities are always locked in. Fine and fee revenues may hit a plateau while pension liabilitiesand the employer contributions needed to fund them each yearkeep rising. Long-term pension solvency demands funding discipline and proper methods.

Too often, courts are viewed as piggy banks that can be raided to cover government excesses. Now that the voters have resoundingly rejected such practices, lawmakers and local governments will need to follow kitchen-table economics, reprioritize their funding, and alter spending plans. Republican Gov. Mike Parson's administration has proposed a two-year, $5 million total appropriation to temporarily cover pension contributions, allowing more time to develop a workable funding solution.

The post Missouri Voters Reject Court Fee Hike for Police Pensions appeared first on Reason.com.
A sign is placed in front of a courtroom at the Jackson County Courthouse (Chase Castor/The Beacon).

Missouri voters rejected an amendment allowing for court fees to fund sheriff and prosecutor retirement benefits.

Amendment 6 failed by a margin roughly 61%-39% in final, unofficial tallies from the Missouri Secretary of States office.

The issue was placed before voters by the legislature, which sought to reverse the impact of a 2021 Missouri Supreme Court ruling that found the fees unconstitutional.

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The Sheriffs Retirement Fund predicts that it will be depleted in about nine years, said Melissa Lorts, executive director of Missouri Sheriffs Retirement System.

The amendment proposed changing the Missouri Constitution to allow the legislature to fund benefits for the states 114 elected county sheriffs or their surviving spouses by collecting a $3 fee per case where a guilty verdict or plea is reached.

Retirement benefits for prosecutors were also to be included, through a $4 fee.

The legislature first put the fees in place in 1983.

But a challenge originating from two Kansas City traffic tickets forced the collections to stop.

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Two men pleaded guilty to speeding tickets in 2017, paying $223.50 in fines and fees to Kansas Citys municipal court.

Later, they were plaintiffs in a class action suit challenging use of the fees for the sheriffs pensions. The men said they hadnt known about the extra fees when they paid the court and argued that the fees amounted to unjust enrichment in violation of the states constitution.

The states highest court ruled by citing a 1986 ruling barring court fees that benefit executive officials that are not reasonably related to the expense of the expense of the administration of justice.

The case stopped collection of the fees and cost the sheriffs retirement system about $9 million, Lorts said.

This article first appeared on Beacon: Missouri and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. It has been updated to reflect final results
Missouri abortion rights advocates scored a historic victory on Tuesday after voters enshrined the right to an abortion in the state constitution, effectively overturning the states near-total ban.

But what happens next?

As supporters celebrate, the timeline of restoring abortion access in Missouri will likely be decided in the courtroom.

Missouri, led by staunch anti-abortion politicians, had for decades imposed restrictions on abortion providers that ultimately led to the near-total ban in 2022. Abortion rights supporters will likely move quickly to strike those regulations  and the abortion ban  down in court.

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At the same time, Republican lawmakers have already signaled plans to file legislation that would put a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot to weaken, or completely strike down, the right to an abortion.

While the process of restoring access in the state remains murky, what is clear is that Tuesdays victory for abortion rights marks a new chapter in the fight over reproductive rights in both the state Capitol and in the courtroom.

I do think Missourians will be frustrated, but at the end of the day, there has been an incredible amount of momentum and interest and support to restore abortion access, and you have to start somewhere, Emily Wales, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said before Tuesdays vote. We will do everything we can to restore access as quickly as possible.

Abortion access will not return to Missouri overnight, according to constitutional experts, lawmakers and abortion rights supporters and opponents. But the amendment offers a path for supporters to strike down the abortion ban and restrictions, allowing doctors and providers to eventually offer the procedure again.

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The amendment, called Amendment 3, enshrines the right to reproductive freedom, including abortion, in the Missouri Constitution, severely preventing the state from restricting abortion before fetal viability. However, under the amendment, lawmakers can ban post-viability abortions.

Amendment 3 will officially take effect 30 days after Tuesdays vote. That deadline is almost certain to jump-start a series of legal battles over how far-reaching the amendment can protect the right to an abortion.

A key focus for abortion rights advocates will be the cluster of TRAP laws or targeted regulation of abortion providers, that lawmakers have enacted over the years.

The regulations, which include a 72-hour waiting period before women can obtain an abortion, effectively caused the number of abortions in Missouri to drop from 6,163 in 2010 to 150 in 2021 before the ban was enacted.

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Court decisions regarding restrictions on medication abortion, the most commonly used form of abortion, will also be a major factor in how soon Missouri would allow telehealth abortion access.

The court battles over Missouris TRAP laws will likely center on a key passage in the amendment that states the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justified by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California-Davis, said the language in the amendment gives abortion rights advocates real firepower to strike down the restrictions. But the state Supreme Court will have the final say over whether the restrictions are removed, she said.

While abortion rights providers remain optimistic that the courts will move quickly to restore access, others were more cautious in the lead-up to Tuesdays vote. Pamela Merritt, a longtime abortion rights activist originally from Missouri, predicted that it could be years before clinics reopen in the state.

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Merritt predicted that certain restrictions would be struck down, but not enough for clinics to open up on either side of the state, in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Thats not going to be permanent, she said. But thatll probably be the pattern for five to 10 years.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas was more optimistic about access being restored, saying before Tuesdays vote that Amendment 3 would make an incredible difference and signaled that restrictions on abortion would be struck down in court.

This is a constitutional amendment. I do believe judges swore an oath to uphold the Missouri Constitution, he said. I believe that if the voters support Amendment 3, then we will seek reproductive health care and access to birth control, abortions with reasonable restrictions, back in the law of the state of Missouri.

Republican response

Before Tuesdays vote, publicly available polling consistently showed broad support for abortion access in Missouri. In the days and weeks leading up to Election Day, Republican lawmakers began previewing their response to the measure if it passed.

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The platform of the Republican Party continues to be pro-life, said Jean Evans, a former executive director of the Missouri Republican Party. I think youre going to continue to see people fight for, you know, pro-life issues, and they may address that in different ways.

The amendment allows lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability and the GOP-controlled legislature would almost certainly pass a ban on abortions late in pregnancy. Any post-viability ban would be required to allow at least three exceptions  for the life, physical and mental health of the woman.

Several Republican lawmakers, along with anti-abortion lobbyist Sam Lee, have also said they expect lawmakers to propose restrictions to abortion access if Amendment 3 passed. One of those options is to put a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot to repeal or weaken abortion access.

Were really going to have to look at a game plan in order to mitigate some of the effects if Amendment 3 does pass, said Sen. Denny Hoskins, a Warrensburg Republican running for secretary of state.

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Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Lees Summit Republican, framed the amendment as unfettered access to abortion, a common argument among Republicans opposed to the amendment.

Once (voters) understand what theyve actually done, if it passes, I think therell be an appetite to make some changes in that to make it more reflective of where people are, he said. I think Republicans went too far when we didnt allow for exceptions for rape and incest. And I think the pro-choice people have gone too far.

While Republicans were poised to maintain control in Missouri, Democratic lawmakers have suggested that they would fight to restore access if Amendment 3 passed.

Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, pointed to the fact that Democrats mounted a record-breaking filibuster last session in response to legislation that would have weakened direct democracy in the state.

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There will be lawsuits to stop the implementation of Amendment 3 and legislation to attack it at every measure, Washington predicted.

So therell be a fight, and Democrats are ready to fight, she said. We fought this last year for 50.5 hours and were ready to go as long as we need to to protect the rights of all Missourians.
WASHINGTON  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Wednesday that the Senates supermajority threshold for passing legislation will be safe with Republicans controlling the chamber  even if President-elect Donald Trump pushes to kill the filibuster.

One of the most gratifying results of the Senate becoming Republican: The filibuster will stand, McConnell said during a news conference at the Capitol.

McConnell opposed a Democratic effort to change the Senates filibuster rules in 2022 for the sake of voting rights legislation. He also resisted Trumps repeated demands, during his first term in the White House, for Senate Republicans to ditch the filibuster.

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The filibuster is the Senates custom of requiring most legislation to meet a 60-vote threshold before it can clear the 100-member chamber. Its been a major obstacle for decades, most famously used to block civil rights legislation in the 1960s. The Senate can change its rules with a simple majority vote, however, and Democrats eliminated the 60-vote requirement for most judicial nominees in 2013, prompting Republicans to ditch the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees in 2017.

McConnell is stepping down as leader, but his comments Wednesday signaled Senate Republicans will likely defend the filibuster even if Trump again pushes for reform when he takes office next year. Alluding to past Democratic proposals, McConnell also said Senate Republicans wouldnt push for Supreme Court ethics rules or for making Washington, D.C., a state.

I think the filibuster is very secure, McConnell said.

Notably, Republicans can already approve judicial nominees and tax reform legislation with simple majority votes in the Senate, so no rules change would be needed for two of their top priorities for the next Congress. Its not clear if Trump plans to ask lawmakers for the billions experts say will be needed for the mass deportation program Trump proposed during the campaign.

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McConnell refused to discuss his past disagreements with Trump, whom he said was practically and morally responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress, but he did allude to his desire for the U.S. to support allies like Ukraine  support thats drawn skepticism from Trump and other like-minded Republicans.

I think this is the most dangerous time since right before World War II, he said. Our adversaries, the North Koreans, Chinese, Russians, Iran and Irans proxies are all talking to each other. They have one thing in common, and they want to diminish our role and world. It may seem old fashioned to some, but Im still a Reagan Republican who thinks that Americas role in the world is absolutely indispensable.

Trump and his allies have criticized U.S. support for Ukraine, and Trump has even praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, going so far as to call his invasion of Ukraine a genius and savvy move. McConnell suggested higher defense spending, however, was worth the investment.

Its a lot cheaper to prevent war than it is to have one. And so thats the focus Im going to have for the next couple of years, he said.

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McConnell refused to say whether he would support putting controversial Trump campaign surrogates like Elon Musk or Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into Cabinet positions.

Yeah, Im not getting into that, McConnell said.
A mock ballot distributed by Portsmouth Democrats stirred controversy after getting shared online by U.S. Senate candidate Patricia Morgan on Nov. 5, 2024. Portsmouth Democratic Party Chairman Leonard Katzman said it was just campaign literature and that the ballot is quarter the size of an official one. (Photo courtesy of Leonard Katzman)

Rhode Island Republican Rep. Patricia Morgans unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate on Tuesday claimed Democratic volunteers and candidates in Portsmouth allegedly distributed altered sample ballots, but the complaints dont appear to have enough merit for state officials to look into.

Morgan, a West Warwick Republican, shared an image on X of a ballot showing Democratic names pre-selected with all other slots blank.

Voter Fraud Alert in Portsmouth, Rhode Island My campaign has received disturbing reports of official ballots being used to mislead voters in Portsmouth. Current State Representative Michelle McGaw and the wife of former RI Senator Seveney have been stationed outside polling pic.twitter.com/RR6n5WUbzX  Patricia Morgan (@repmorgan) November 5, 2024

Several Portsmouth voters have already reported confusion and frustration over this deceitful tactic, and we are taking immediate action, said Morgan, adding she planned to file a complaint with the Rhode Island Secretary of States Office.

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No written complaint was filed with the office, said spokesperson Faith Chybowski. Nor does the Rhode Island Board of Elections plan to take any action, said spokesperson Chris Hunter.

Portsmouth Democratic Party Chairman Leonard Katzman said the ballots were pieces of campaign literature meant to guide voters against splitting their ticket.

These voter guides are regularly used by all sides; in fact, a local Portsmouth Republican candidate distributed a similar piece, he said in a statement. There is no way that these could be mistaken for actual ballots.

The papers are roughly one-quarter the size of a standard ballot  which includes the names of candidates and ballot measures.

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Nonetheless, a Republican candidate running for Senate deceitfully said that this exercise of campaign free speech was voter fraud. Katzman said. Shame on her for sowing distrust in the minds of the voters.

The material in question is not an official ballot, Hunter said in a text message. Therefore, there is no ballot tampering or issue requiring further action from the Board of Elections.

Anthony DEllena, Morgans campaign manager, rejected the states assessment.

This was not standard campaign material  this was a calculated attempt to undermine our elections, DEllena said in a statement. Our campaign stands firm against this shameless attempt to confuse and manipulate voters.

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The Associated Press called the U.S. Senate race for the Democratic incumbent, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, when polls closed at 8 p.m. As of midnight, Whitehouse had beat Morgan by nearly 20 percentage points, according to preliminary, unofficial results.

This story was updated to note Anthony DEllena was Patricia Morgans campaign manager.

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Monroe Nichols has defeated Karen Keith in the race to become the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma's second-largest city, according to unofficial results.

The win makes Nichols the first Black mayor of Tulsa, which is a significant step in light of the city's legacy of violence toward Black residents.

Nichols, a state legislator, received 55.54% of votes cast with Karen Keith, a county commissioner and former local news anchor, receiving 44.46%, according to unofficial results that show 95% of precincts reporting.

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Nichols' lead comes after an unusually tight race in August when fewer than 500 votes separated Nichols and Keith. Neither candidate collected the required 50% of the vote for an outright victory, with Nichols drawing 33.1% of the vote, while Keith received 32.6%.

Monroe Nichols, shown here during a speech in 2023, represented areas of Tulsa in the Oklahoma House before campaigning to become the city's next mayor.

In 2016, Nichols became the first African American lawmaker elected to represent House District 72 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He serves as the chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus.

Nichols' campaign for mayor of Tulsa focused on solutions for homelessness, investing in education, expanding Tulsa's economy and public safety.

The win reflects a new chapter in Tulsa's history for its Black residents. In 1921, Tulsa was the site of one of the most severe incidents of racial violence in U.S. history. The massacre left between 30 and 300 people dead, mostly Black residents, and destroyed Tulsas prosperous Black neighborhood of Greenwood , known at the time as Black Wall Street. More than 1,400 homes and businesses were burned, and nearly 10,000 people were left homeless. show less

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Keith has served as Tulsa County Commissioner for District 2 since 2008. She also spent 26 years in broadcasting with 21 years at KJRH as an anchor, reporter and executive producer.

Keith's mayoral campaign focused on reducing homelessness, addressing public safety concerns, enhancing education outcomes and improving Tulsa's infrastructure.

Tulsa mayoral candidate Karen Keith speaks during an Election Night watch party in August.

Stay informed: Sign up for The Oklahoman's Daily Briefing newsletter

As the winner of the mayoral race, Nichols will succeed current Mayor G.T. Bynum, first elected in 2016. Bynum is stepping down to become vice president of community and government affairs for the St. Francis Health System in Tulsa.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Election results: Tulsa elects first Black mayor Monroe Nichols
Lines stretch up from the Expo Pavilion at the Metra in Billings to the main arena on Nov. 5, 2024 as voters line up to vote in Montana's largest city (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

Polling places across Montana were busy Tuesday morning.

Montana voters stood in some long lines from Yellowstone County to Missoula County to register to vote, and they cruised through parking lots to drop off their ballots.

Shelby Richards and pup Rose stand in line on Election Day 2024 in Missoula. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

In Missoula, Shelby Richards stood in line with pup Rose, a service animal in training to help with her severe post traumatic stress disorder.

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Richards, who has a 6-year-old daughter, said she believes the economy has been in decline.

Its time for some things to change and make it livable for families, Richards said.

She said she wants to see former President Donald Trump and fellow Republican Tim Sheehy, running to oust Democrat incumbent Jon Tester in the U.S. Senate, take office.

Tester and Sheehy have been in an expensive and heated battle being watched nationally with control of the Senate in the balance.

That race and the presidential outcome arent likely to be known on Tuesday night, according to previous races Tester has run in Montana and elections experts watching national polling.

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Outside the Elections Center in Missoula, Community Emergency Response Team workers directed voters driving through the parking lot.

Logan Kostka, 20, wants to protect womens reproductive rights and opposes Project 2025. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

CERTs Dawn Couch said people had been kind and patient with each other, and a few were honking and yelling the names of their candidates.

She said the elections staff had been amazing.

Its been really, really well run, Couch said.

In the parking lot, Logan Kostka looked for a pen to sign his name and turn in his ballot. Kostka said womens reproductive rights were one factor in the 2024 election, but not the only one.

As an LGBTQ+ member, a lot of the stuff coming from Project 2025 is literally against my belief system and my being as a human, said Kostka, 20.

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Project 2025 is a conservative playbook devised by the Heritage Foundation, other conservative groups, and more than 200 former staffers of Trump. It contains controversial policy ideas such as doing away with the federal Department of Education.

Greg Weller, also with CERT, said traffic Tuesday morning had come in waves. As he waited to direct voters, one rolled up with an open window.

I have one to drop off, the voter said.

At least one neighborhood polling place at an elementary school in Missoula didnt have lines out the door.

Shelby Jessop walked down the sidewalk sporting an I Voted sticker on her coat. Jessop, whose little girl followed, said abortion is a top issue for her, and she stands with Sheehy.

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I think that we should all be a part of what decisions are made in our country, Jessop said. I wish more people would vote, honestly.

Montanans stand in line to register to vote at the Lewis and Clark County Elections Office on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

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In Lewis and Clark County, more than 100 people were in line to vote or update their registration around 11 a.m., while people simultaneously came in to drop their absentee ballots off.

Montana Secretary of States Office Elections Director Austin James and office spokesperson Richie Melby speak with election workers at the Lewis and Clark County Elections Office on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

A county election official told the Daily Montanan it had been busy as hell all morning and likely would be throughout the rest of the day.

Montana Secretary of States Office Elections Director Austin James was at the county elections office to check in and said things were similarly busy in many counties across Montana.

James said hed gotten to work at 4 a.m. Tuesday and that a team was working at the office to ensure there were no cyberattacks or other malicious activity occurring within election offices, but he reported no issues so far. He said the office would not release a countys results until everyone in line had voted to ensure none of their votes were influenced by early results.

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Election workers at four polling sites the Daily Montanan visited around Helena in the late morning and early afternoon continued to see a steady stream of voters coming through. Several said they had lines to start the morning at 7 a.m., that the turnout was much higher than in the primary, and that they had been busy throughout the morning.

In Yellowstone County, polling places were filled on Tuesday morning. Election officials there said they hadnt seen such a turnout from voters since at least the 2008 election.

Voters wait to register to vote at the MetraPark Expo Center in Billings, Montana on Nov. 5, 2024 (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

Cascade County officials had to open up extra room to house long lines of voters waiting to register, the Montana Free Press reported. Voters in Gallatin County stood in line through a morning dose of snow, social media posts show. Nora Shelly of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported that some of those voters in Gallatin County had been standing in line for four hours in the snow. Officials there said they dont anticipate having the first results in until at least 11 p.m.

Voters cast their ballots at the Flathead County Fairgrounds on Election Day. (Photo by Micah Drew, Daily Montanan)

By 1:30 p.m., nearly 81% of Montanas 549,080 absentee voters had returned their ballots  meaning turnout was about 55.6% of voters at the time.

Supporters of U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke wave at passing cars outside the Flathead County Fairgrounds on Election Day. (Photo by Micah Drew, Daily Montanan)

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In Kalispell, voters in 27 precincts visited the Flathead County Fairgrounds to cast their ballots. Outside, supporters of U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke, who is running for re-election to represent Montanas 1st Congressional District, waved signs, blasted music and stayed warm under heat lamps.

For a time, Zinke himself was out on the sidewalk waving at the cars lined up to enter the fairgrounds. Zinke will be spending election night in Whitefish.
The 4th Judicial District in Colorado Springs has ruled the May 18 police shooting that killed 40-year-old Michael Hurst was justified, and that the officer that shot him will not face prosecution.

The shooting began as a 911 call at 10:30 p.m., when a caller reported that her son, Hurst, a paraplegic, was "acting erratically," likely using methamphetamines and had a gun. The caller said she knocked him out of his wheelchair to get the gun away from him, but he regained possession shortly after.

During the call, police reported hearing gunfire, but the reporting party confirmed with dispatch she was safe outside after crawling through a bedroom window.

Police officers were dispatched to the home and began making announcements to Hurst, but they received no response. At this time, due to the sound of a gunshot, officers were unsure if he was still alive.

Law enforcement deployed a drone to look inside the house, but once in the air, Hurst fired several shots at it, causing it to lose connection and crash.

Over the next 40 minutes, officers continued to make announcements, calling Hurst to exit the home unarmed and to drop his weapon. Officer Nicholas Cassalia was able to confirm Hurst was in the front of the house.

Moments after Cassalia confirmed Hurst's location, Hurst came onto the front porch armed with a rifle and was met with repeated commands from police to drop the weapon.

According to previous Gazette reporting when the body-camera footage of the incident was released, one officer on the scene could be heard saying to Hurst, "put the gun down buddy."

"Nope, not putting it down," Hurst is heard saying in response. "Y'all are going to die."

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According to the DA's press release sent Tuesday, seven officers were reportedly on the scene, but only Cassalia had a visual on Hurst. The other officers continued to give verbal commands.

Initially, Hurst's weapon was pointed to the sky when he first came outside, but his grip changed to hold the weapon diagonally across his body as he took cover behind a wall. In an interview later on in the investigation, Cassalia said this was a "pre-attack indicator."

Hurst continued to threaten officers from behind the wall, according to the press release Tuesday. Cassalia claims to have seen him move slightly behind the wall and back several times during the threats.

Cassalia "in fear for his safety, the safety of fellow officers on scene and the community at large" fired his weapon four times, killing Hurst. An autopsy report confirmed Hurst received shots to his left chest, left arm and forearm and both index fingers.

In the investigation into the police shooting, the 4th Judicial District ruled that Cassalia had "reasonable belief that lesser degrees of force would be inadequate to neutralize the threat." Less-lethal options were not "practical alternatives" due to the distance between Hurst and officers.

A toxicology test was also performed on Hurst, which revealed he had alcohol, methamphetamines and marijuana in his system.

Colorado Revised Statute 16-2.5-301, states all officer-involved shootings that result in injury or death must be reviewed by a multi-agency team.

After conducting several interviews with officers, the 4th Judicial District determined the use of deadly force by Cassalia was justified and he will not face criminal charges.
Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr has won her reelection campaign, and will be allowed to return to the House of Representatives floor nearly two years after being sanctioned by Republicans.

Zephyr, a Democrat who is an out transgender woman, defeated Republican Barbara Starmer in her majority-Democrat district, which encompasses the college town of Missoula.

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"It is an honor to have been re-elected to the Montana House of Representatives," Zephyr said on social media after her win. "And I promise to do as I have always done: fight for my constituents, stand up against those who seek to break democracy, and be a bulwark against the rising tide of American fascism."

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Republicans voted to bar Zephyr from speaking on the floor of the state legislature in 2023 after she said that conservatives' ban on gender-affirming care for youth would result in blood on [their] hands. GOP lawmakers demanded an apology, which Zephyr told The Advocate at the time that she would refuse to give because none was warranted.

Zephyr's supporters held a protest in the gallery in the days following her sanction, during which they drowned out legislators with chants of Let her speak." The demonstration resulted in the arrests of several people.

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Zephyr shortly after sued the state and legislative leaders to regain entry, stating that the censure was a violation of her right to free speech. A district court judge later dismissed the lawsuit, upholding her ban from the House floor, anteroom, and gallery for the remainder of the session. Now, Zephyr will enter a new session, and be allowed to return with all legislative privileges reinstated.

Zephyr previously told The Advocate that Republicans silenced her because she challenged them, noting: You have to demand silence. And when you dont get it, youll attack democracy.

If the legislature had a different path, I would be doing what Im trying to do now, which is find rooms that I can be good in, do good in them, she said.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Mooresville teen was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal last month for her volunteer work with a STEM library program that generated international reach.

Nachammai Annamalai, while a senior at South Iredell High School in the 2023-24 school year, completed 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness and a five-day, four-night exploration trip.

In 2023, she worked with the Mooresville Public Librarys Teen Librarian to offer a series of virtual and in-house STEM programs that would feature experts in STEM fields. The series, Pathways to STEM, offered participants opportunities to learn about STEM workforce development and the ability to network with professionals in the field.

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Lake Norman band director gathers musicians, holds benefit concert for Helene relief

On Oct. 23, Congressman Patrick McHenry awarded Annamalai the highest honor for youth civilians. Only 724 youth nationwide were awarded the gold medal in 2024, according to the Congressional Award website. Annamalai is one of just 21 recipients in North Carolina this year.

From beginning to end, she showed maturity and professionalism far beyond her years in the development and implementation of the series, said Megan Mosher, Teen Librarian at Mooresville Public Library. She took on additional responsibilities to make sure it was extremely successful  from recruiting efforts to coordinating schedules and serving as the moderator at each event.

The series reached more than 120 participants in more than 14 different countries. In addition to the Congressional honor, the programs success led to Annamalai being awarded the Aspirations in Computing National Award from the National Center for Women in Informatics and Technology.

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Annamalai also participated in the Mooresville Youth Council during the school year. She assisted with events including A Classic Christmas and initiatives such as the Crafting Hope with Zippy winter collection drive.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Update (9:09 PM ET): More threats were reported at polling places in Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Original story: More polling places in the metro Atlanta area had to be evacuated late on Tuesday evening after another round of bomb threats.

DeKalb County Police Department searched five polling places in the towns of Decatur, Lithonia and Chamblee in the final hour of voting in the state.

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Raffensperger said the affected polling places in DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett Counties would stay open late to account for the lost time. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond stressed the integrity of elections in the area in a statement.

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"Every asset we have will be deployed to ensure that every citizen that wants to vote will be given that opportunity and every vote cast will be counted," Thurmond said.

It was the second time that bomb threats had disrupted voting in the Atlanta area on Election Day. At a press conference discussing those earlier threats, Raffensperger said that at least one of the threats was Russian in origin.

Theyre up to mischief, it seems, Raffensperger said. They dont want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election.

The FBI's Atlanta office seemed to support Raffensperger's findings, saying that many of the bomb threats "appeared to originate from Russian email domains" and that "none of the threats have been determined to be credible."

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The bomb threats came on the same day that a federal judge tossed a lawsuit from the Republican National Committee that hoped to "segregate" absentee ballots returned in person over the weekend in several metro Atlanta counties.
A more conservative House will head to Austin in January for the start of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session.

The political party split is only slightly different than it was when lawmakers last met in 2023. House Republicans picked up two seats previously held by Democrats in the Nov. 5 election.

But the Republicans who were elected are more conservative as a whole and more supportive of Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts school choice priority, said Rice Political Science Professor Mark Jones. Abbott has pushed for education savings accounts, a voucher like plan that would let parents use public dollars for their childs private education.

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At a news conference in Tyler on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Abbott said he has 79 House votes for the policy when counting true, hardcore school choice proponents  more than enough supportive members for it to pass.

There are 150 members of the Texas House. A bill generally needs at least 76 votes to pass.

All families in Texas deserve school choice, and thats going to happen because of the the elections that happened last night, Abbott said, speaking outside Kingdom Life Academy, a private Christian school.

A shift to the right

The general election follows a primary cycle during which several Republican incumbents lost to primary challengers from the right.

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Abbott sought to oust fellow Republicans who didnt support education savings accounts. Additionally, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, targeted a number of Republican incumbents in the primary over their vote to send articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.

GOP incumbents lost three Fort Worth area seats that went into runoffs. Former Glen Rose Mayor Helen Kerwin defeated Rep. DeWayne Burns in House District 58; software engineer Andy Hooper ousted Rep. Lynn Stucky in House District 64; and stay-at-home dad David Lowe won against Rep. Stephanie Klick in House District 91. All were elected on Tuesday.

So thankful for Texans across #HD64 who stood up tonight for our state and our country, Hopper said in a Nov. 5 social media post. I am looking forward to working hard to represent these patriots in Austin.

Republicans flipped two seats held by Democrats in South Texas.

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A Uvalde-area seat, House District 80, was won by former Uvlade Mayor Don McLaughlin, after Democratic Incumbent Rep. Tracy King didnt seek reelection. A Corpus Christi-area seat, House District 30, went for Republican Denise Villalobos, after Democratic Incumbent Rep. Abel Herrero didnt run for another term. Both beat Democratic opponents in the Nov. 5 election.

I think the House Republican Caucus as a whole has become more conservative, GOP Caucus chair Tom Oliverson, a Cypress Republican, said in an interview. I dont think anybody, casual observer would debate that.

He noted that House Republicans out preformed expectations strongly in South Texas.

Ive heard people talk about this today at the national level, that the Democrat Party really needs to rethink their whole strategy in terms of identity politics and some of these social issues, Oliverson said. Thats clearly not resonating in South Texas, and theyre losing people hand over the fist.

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He also praised Abbott as a reliable and consistent ally and defender of Texas House Republican members in the general election.

Republicans in the Senate, which picked up one new Republican member in its 30 member body, have previously supported versions of education savings accounts.

Beyond the state House, at the top of the ticket Former President Donald Trump won Texas by about 14 points and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz won Texas by about 9 points.

House Democratic Caucus Chair Trey Martinez Fischer, in a written statement said that Democrats have lost seats before and know how to weather tough nights like Tuesday. He pointed out that both seats Democrats lost were open.

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Not a single incumbent house democratic lost their race despite being targeted by the Governor, he said. This speaks volumes about the resilience and strength of our caucus and of the communities that stand behind us. Weve built something powerful here, something that will not only endure but grow.

Martinez Fischer, a San Antonio Democrat, added that Democrats arent quitters despite the results not going as Democrats hoped.

Our vision for a fair, just, and compassionate Texas remains as strong as ever, and so does our determination to achieve it, he said.

Gov. Abbotts push for school choice

That rightward shift among Republicans bodes well for Abbotts school choice plan.

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There is little doubt that school choice legislation will pass in 2025, Jones said. The only question is how robust it will be.

There were multiple iterations of the proposal. The Texas House last took up an Education Savings Accounts proposal in November 2023 during the last of several special sessions. House lawmakers, including five representing Tarrant County, voted 84-63 to remove the voucher-like program from a wide-ranging education bill.

Among other measures related to public school funding, teacher pay, school accountability and special education, the bill included $10,500 in tax dollars each year that students could use for private school tuition or other expenses.

Jones predicted that the 2025 legislation could offer fewer constraints on who is eligible and offer fewer sweeteners for school districts that lose students than offered in 2023 in an earlier version of the bill.

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Proponents say Abbotts plan will empower parents to have choices for their childs education, while opponents say the proposal would harm public schools.

We will continue our fight against spending tax dollars on private school vouchers, Texas State Teachers Association spokesperson Clay Robison said in an emailed statement. Our under-funded public schools need more funding. That is where most of our students will continue to be educated.

Abbott had previously declared that the Legislature has enough votes to pass school choice following the primary cycle.

During the Nov. 6 news conference, Abbott said that wealthy families in Texas already have school choice, and the option should be extended to all students.

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In addition to his education savings account proposal, Abbott vowed to fully fund Texas public schools, provide teacher pay raises and teacher incentive pay and enhance career and job skill training programs.

They make it sound like you cant have both school choice and robust public schools, Abbott said. Thats completely false.

The race for Texas House speaker

Also on the docket for state lawmakers is the race for House speaker.

Speaker Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican is facing opposition from within his party over his leadership of the chamber, particularly his continuation of the long-held practice of appointing Democrats as committee chairs.

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A coalition of about four dozen members have coalesced around Rep. David Cook, a Mansfield Republican whose district falls within Tarrant County. That includes Oliverson who was running for the leadership role but has since endorsed Cook.

Phelan and Cook did not immediately return requests for comment.

Members of the House GOP Caucus meet on Dec. 7 to vote on an endorsed speaker candidate.

Lawmakers return to Austin Jan. 14.
Oregon has approved the use of this species, Psilocybe cubensis, in its psilocybin program. (Getty Images)

Voters in more than a dozen Oregon cities, including in the Portland area, voted to ban the regulated sales and use of psilocybin mushrooms.

Anti-psilocybin measures were on the ballots in 16 cities and unincorporated Clackamas County, and are passing in coastal communities to urban Portland and central and southern Oregon by 55% to 70% of the vote.

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Bans against psilocybin businesses are passing in Brookings, Rogue River, Sutherlin, Redmond, Lebanon, Jefferson, Sheridan, Amity, Hubbard, Mount Angel, Estacada, Oregon City, Lake Oswego, Seaside and Warrenton. Redmonds measure would enact a two-year moratorium on psilocybin businesses.

There was one notable outlier. The measure to ban psilocybin could fail in Nehalem, a small community in Tillamook County, according to initial returns. But it is failing by only three votes. The unofficial results on Wednesday were close: 80 voters oppose the ban and 77 voters support.

Comment was not immediately available from psilocybin opponents. Supporters of the drug expressed disappointment with the results Wednesday.

I think its really unfortunate that local communities, often rural communities continue to prevent access to psilocybin services, especially given that weve seen over 7,000 people go through the Oregon program, and theres been so many stories of healing and benefit for those who have done it, said Sam Chapman, a longtime psilocybin advocate who is policy and development director for the Microdosing Collective, a nonprofit supporting use of the drug in small doses.

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Chapman played a big role in getting Oregonians to approve licensed psilocybin treatment centers, facilitators and manufacturers with the passage of Measure 109 four years ago by 56% of the vote. The measure required the Oregon Health Authority to start a program to allow providers to administer psilocybin mushrooms and fungi products to people 21 or older.

To date, the health authority has licensed about 1,000 staff, including 350 facilitators who work directly with clinics while theyre on the hallucinogen. The agency has also licensed 30 psilocybin centers  from the Portland area to Eugene to Ashland and beyond  along with a dozen manufacturers and one lab.

Chapman said these centers give the state another tool in the toolbox to treat mental illness, especially depression, anxiety and PTSD, especially for veterans.

Were actually seeing the proof of concept for the people who are going through Oregons service centers now, Chapman said. I think the mental health crisis in rural communities is especially unique in that these rural communities are struggling not just for mental health but economically as well.

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The economy of the psilocybin industry has been soft, caused mainly by the cost of a single session, which can range from hundreds to several thousand dollars, with many customers flocking to Oregon from out of state.

Chapman said rejection of psilocybin is linked to a lack of education about the drug and how the industry works in Oregon. Consumers cannot buy the drug in stores, as they can for marijuana, and treatments are regulated.

They dont understand psilocybin. They dont understand the research and they dont understand the Oregon program. And so in addition to the lack of that understanding, they make some assumptions. The biggest assumption is that this is just the same thing as cannabis. They assume this is for retail sales, which is not true, Chapman said.

Healing Advocacy Fund, a nonprofit in Oregon and Colorado, will continue to push for the programs to grow, with state-regulated access to psychedelic healing. Heidi Pendergast, the groups Oregon director, said the rollout in Oregon has been safe, with only four people needing emergency services out of thousands served.

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So while there may be some concerns, we havent seen that play out right now whatsoever in the program, Pendergast said.

Oregon was the first state to decriminalize psilocybin in licensed settings and Colorado has followed suit. Massachusetts voters rejected a proposal to legalize the mushrooms and allow people to grow small quantities at their homes, National Public Radio reported.

UPDATED at 1:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 with reaction.

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Voter turnout was heavy on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, at Northview Church in south Fargo. The secretary of state says more North Dakotans voted early for the general election than on Election Day. (Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor)

More than half the votes by North Dakota voters were cast before Election Day, according to the Secretary of States Office.

A news release from the office said 62.5% of eligible North Dakotans voted in the 2024 election in unofficial results.

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Of the 371,510 ballots cast, 182,012  49%  came on Election Day. There were 98,684 ballots by early vote, and 90,814 absentee ballots, totaling 51%.

More election news

For more statewide coverage, visit our North Dakota Election 2024 page.

Yesterdays unofficial election results show a difference in voting patterns from previous elections. Its clear early voting was a popular choice for voters who had that option, Secretary of State Michael Howe said in a statement early Wednesday. Whether voting by absentee, early voting, or on Election Day, North Dakota voters had several options to participate in the process. Many thanks go out to the poll workers and county auditors who made this election possible across the state.

Election results will remain unofficial until county canvassing boards meet Nov. 18, and results are certified by the State Canvassing Board on Nov. 20.

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North Dakota fell short of the state record for voter participation. The record was set during the 1984 presidential election at 69%.

North Dakotas turnout was just below its average for a presidential year, which Howe had said was 63%.

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ATLANTA  More than two dozen polling sites across Georgia, largely focused in the metro Atlanta area, were targeted with fake Election Day bomb threats that the FBI has said likely originated in Russia.

Most of the threats appear to have occurred at precincts in the Democratic-leaning Dekalb, Fulton and Gwinnett Counties. The threats delayed at least some voters from casting ballots, as police performed precautionary bomb sweeps.

Fulton County Police Chief W. Wade Yates said that 32 precincts in the county were targeted with bomb threats on Tuesday. Only five were deemed credible and resulted in evacuations. The hours at those five locations were extended by an emergency court order to ensure voters were able to cast ballots.

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More: Lawsuits, bomb threats and a Capitol arrest: Live coverage of Election Day snags

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger attends a press conference ahead of the U.S. presidential election, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. October 30, 2024. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino

In neighboring Dekalb County, police are investigating at least seven bomb threats, including five received by polling places. The locations include a church, a senior center, a community center and three libraries. County officials performed bomb sweeps and allowed voters to reenter after they were completed.

At least one precinct in Gwinnett County, an suburban area northeast of Atlanta, was also impacted by a bomb threat.

All three counties  Fulton, Dekalb and Gwinnett, are considered to lean Democratic. Dekalb and Fulton have been Democratic strongholds for decades, and Gwinnett has trended blue since the 2016 presidential election.

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Earlier on Tuesday Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger suggested that the threats were of Russian origin and said the federal government was helping identify the threats.

The FBI said that the threats appear to be coming from Russian email domains. None of the threats were credible.

Contributing: Aysha Bagchi and Bart Jansen, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: More than two dozen Georgia polling sites targeted with bomb threats
Republican Kelly Ayotte won the gubernatorial election in New Hampshire on Tuesday, beating Democratic challenger Joyce Craig.

With Ayottes victory, there will soon be 13 women holding their states top office, a new record. It means they will make up over a quarter of all governors in the U.S., according to the Center for American Women and Politics. The previous record was set in 2023 with 12 women. Ayotte is the third woman to serve as governor in New Hampshire.

This was a hard-fought election with strong opinions on both sides. I want you to know that I will be the governor for all the people of New Hampshire, Ayotte said in a victory speech Tuesday night. I could not be more optimistic about the future of our state. I love this state, and I love the people of this state, and I know that our best days are ahead of us in New Hampshire.

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Part of the governors race hinged on how the two candidates, both women, would treat abortion access in the state. Currently, abortion is legal in New Hampshire up to 24 weeks after the last menstrual period. Past that point, it is also protected if the pregnant persons life is at risk, or if there is a fatal fetal diagnosis.

During her run for Senate in 2010, Ayotte called for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Once in office, she supported legislation to create a national ban that would have lowered the cut-off for abortions to 20 weeks, with some exceptions. In her bid for the governorship, she softened her stance on the topic, saying that she would not allow anything more restrictive than the standing state law. Our current law really is the consensus of people in New Hampshire, she said. That law is what I support and I would veto any further restrictions, Ayotte said.

While Ayotte becomes the 50th woman to serve as a governor, the number of women occupying the highest state executive office is still far below gender parity. Women still hold fewer than a third of all political seats at every level of office. We have made great strides, yes, but there are many steps left on the path to parity, the Center for American Women and Politics said in a statement.

In the meantime, we continue to celebrate the progress that has carried us to this moment. Women are serving as mayors, as state legislators, as governors, as representatives, as senators, as the highest leaders in legislative chambers both state and national, and, of course, as the vice president of the United States. They have held every political office in America. Except one.

The post More women than ever will serve as U.S. governors appeared first on The 19th.

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CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  A Monongalia County man who was convicted of possessing more than 500 pieces of child pornography is facing additional charges after officials say he did not report for his prison sentence.

James Davis

James Mansfield Davis, 67 of Morgantown, was sentenced to 82 months in federal prison in September after 67 videos and 460 images of child pornography involving young boys were seized during an investigation.

Davis was scheduled to report for his prison sentence on Oct. 4, but according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of West Virginia, he did not report to the facility. He was arrested in Williamsburg, Virginia on Oct. 15 and has been charged with failing to surrender for a federal sentence, the release said.

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Man allegedly struck victim in head with dog bowl, set recliner on fire in Preston County

In addition to the more than six years for the child pornography charge, Davis now faces up to an additional year for the failing to surrender charge.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Colorado maintained its customary blue tint in Tuesday's election, voting for the Democrats in statewide races and leaving the dominant party with majorities in the General Assembly and the state's congressional delegation.

As usual, the electorate assigned Colorado's electoral votes to the Democratic presidential ticket by a convincing margin, confirming the state's solid blue status.

Down the ballot, Democratic-leaning districts endorsed Democrats and Republican-leaning districts tapped GOP candidates, even in hotly contested races, suggesting that voters' partisan identities outweigh even the most vigorous attempts to sway votes across the aisle.

Asked to decide on a cavalcade of ballot measures, however, voters made less predictable picks, approving progressive and conservative measures alike, while simultaneously rejecting proposals from both sides.

As the dust settles, here are some overnight takeaways on an election nearly everyone warned could have been the most consequential vote in memory.

The more things change ...

Even as Donald Trump won a second non-consecutive term, Colorado voters woke up Wednesday in the same state they knew the night before  with Democrats in control of every statewide elected office, both chambers of the legislature and seven of the state's 10 members of Congress, including both senators and five of eight House members.

The state's voters passed on the chance to shake things up, choosing to maintain the status quo across the board.

Across Colorado, every congressional incumbent who sought reelection won another term, with nearly the same outcome among state lawmakers, with a single legislator  state Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley  trailing her challenger, Republican Ryan Gonzalez, by a few dozen votes in unofficial results.

The only statewide races on the ballot this year went the way they've gone for the better part of the last decade. Democratic White House nominees Kamala Harris and Tim Walz carried the state by 11.5 points, just 2 points less than Joe Biden's high-water margin over Trump in Colorado four years ago.

Democrat Elliott Hood defeated Republican Eric Rinard by 4 points in the other contest on every ballot, for the at-large seat on the University of Colorado Board of Regents, maintaining the Democrats' winning streak in statewide races, in place since 2018.

Lauren Boebert's district switch paid off

One of the congressional incumbents who won a return ticket to Washington took an unprecedented, roundabout route. In the end, however, Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert's decision to ditch the Western Slope for redder pastures on the other side of the Continental Divide proved to be the right one.

Faced with a rematch against the Democrat who came within 546 votes of beating her two years ago  and in the wake of a long-running scandal surrounding her antics in a Denver auditorium  Boebert feared that her near-loss in the 3rd Congressional District spelled trouble this year. So, she tried something no Colorado member of Congress had every done and moved into the 4th Congressional District after Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck said he wouldn't seek another term.

The only Colorado Republican with a national profile, Boebert shrugged off criticism that she was carpetbagging and managed to navigate a crowded primary full of local Republicans who wanted to be Buck's successor.

On Election Day, Boebert proved the naysayers and skeptics wrong, winning a third term by about 10 points over Democrat Trisha Calvarese, though it was closer than the average 24-point margins Buck enjoyed in his two most recent wins.

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Overwhelming money didn't make the difference

After winning her own primary, Calvarese swamped Boebert's fundraising this summer and fall, but even out-spending the Republican by 10-1 on a series of brutal attack ads didn't swing the outcome for the Democrat.

The same turned out to be true in Boebert's old district, where Adam Frisch, the Democrat who blasted fundraising records in his bid for a rematch, bulldozed Republican Jeff Hurd on the air and on the ground but still fell short on election night.

Like Boebert in the 4th CD, Hurd underperformed the 3rd CD's historic Republican margins, but a win is a win, and by Wednesday morning he led Frisch by about 3 points  half the margin Boebert racked up in her first run in the district in 2020.

Kent Thiry, the wealthy backer of Proposition 131, learned the same lesson when the statewide ballot measure went down in flames, even though its supporters burned millions of dollars in an attempt to rebuild Colorado's election system from the ground up.

With hardly any funding in opposition, Thiry's proposal to establish a type of jungle primary and a ranked-choice general election lost by 10 points.

It helps to have a functioning state party

The state Republican Party's internal turmoil left most of the GOP's nominees to fend for themselves, as two warring factions spent months battling it out in court and in competing meetings over control of the party apparatus.

By the time ballots went out in early October, state GOP Chairman Dave Williams had won in court and kept his grip on the party. Still, after spending heavily to defend his position  and diverting attention from things like assembling a statewide get-out-the-vote campaign  there wasn't much gas in the tank to help push the party's candidates across the finish line.

One relic of the tug-of-war showed up in voters' mailboxes in the two most competitive congressional races  Hurd's bid in the 3rd CD and state Rep. Gabe Evans' attempt to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the swingy 8th Congressional District. After endorsing Williams' foes in the intraparty fight, national Republicans routed money through the Arizona GOP to pay for a series of mailers into Hurd's and Evans' districts in order to get more favorable postal rates.

The L factor fizzled

Heading into the election year, Williams worked out a deal with the state's Libertarian Party to help boost GOP candidates in tight races. Under the agreement, unveiled to much fanfare, the Libertarians would step aside if the Republican candidate signed a pledge to adhere to certain principles, ostensibly to avoid acting as spoilers by drawing conservative votes.

Only a few Republican candidates took the bait, however, and in nearly every case, it didn't make a difference.

Hurd, who appears to have won his competitive congressional race, declined to sign, leaving Libertarian James Wiley on the 3rd CD ballot, but Wiley's 2.5% of the vote didn't cost Hurd the election.

In the 8th CD, Libertarian Eric Joss dropped out and endorsed Evans after the Republican signed a modified version of the pledge, but that move didn't prevent Caraveo from winning a second term.
The panel on Morning Joe reacted with shock and despair at Donald Trumps history-making election win Wednesday morning.

Coming on the air just moments after Trumps second presidential term was confirmed, MSNBCs Joe Scarborough said: This is the biggest red wave Ive seen since Ronald Reagans 49-state victory in 1984. He added that Trump won in dominating fashion and said America was waking up to a Democratic Party that has been just wiped out this morning.

Co-host Jonathan Lemire was similarly awed by the result, saying Republicans had steamrolled the presidential race, additionally taking control of the Senate and potentially on their way to taking the House of Representatives too.

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He was impeached twice, Lemire said of Trump. He botched the handling of the pandemic. He faced four criminal cases. He inspired January 6th. And he won anyway. And now he will return to office with few guardrails internally, encouragement from Moscow and other foreign adversaries, and a Supreme Court that has said that his power is largely unchecked.

Arguably the most lugubrious analysis came from Claire McCaskill, the former Democratic senator from Missouri.

First I think we have to acknowledge that Donald Trump knows our country better than we do, McCaskill said. I think he figured out that anger and frankly fear were way more powerful than appealing to peoples better angels. That anger and fear were going to work in this election, whether youre afraid of immigrants or afraid of people who are trans, he figured that out. And I think we all thought everyones better angels would prevail. Turns out the better angels went on vacation when Donald Trump came down the escalator and they havent returned.

She also gave credit to Trumps campaign managers, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita.

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The majority of America believes he was persecuted, not prosecuted, McCaskill said. And theres no question that our grip on, Hey, weve got to make sure those same rules apply to everyone, weve got to make sure the rule of law applies to every American no matter who you are or how powerful you are Turns out thats not true. America believedthe majority of Americans believedthat he was a victim in those prosecutions, not a perpetrator.

His voters believe that he is a victim, co-host Willie Geist said of Trumps legal troubles. And they believe that he carries their grievance with him and now back to the White House. Whether its generals coming out calling him a fascist, whether its a long line of elites, celebrities coming out for Kamala Harris, a largely adversarial news media against Donald Trumphe withstood it all. And they didnt like that. They didnt like that it was him against the world.

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Morro Bays hotly contested Measure A-24 was poised to pass on Tuesday night, according to the final ballot count report of the evening.

If passed, the ballot measure would freeze the land use on the retired Morro Bay Power Plant property in an attempt to block the battery plant proposed for the site.

The effort may not impact the battery plant, however, as the corporation leading the project paused its application with the city last week.

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Instead, the company plans to apply to the California Energy Commission and Coastal Commission for approval.

Neither state agency is required to follow the citys land use rules to approve development permits for the battery plant.

According to the final Election Night ballot count report, 59.2% of voters cast their ballot in support of the measure, while 40.8% were opposed.

The grassroots committee Citizens for Estero Bay Preservation petitioned for the measure to be on the ballot. Group member Barry Branin said he felt confident that the measure would pass.

We think that this is probably a good signal to send to the state and the Coastal Commission that the people of Morro Bay think its an inappropriate place to put a large battery system, Branin said.

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He said the committee was pleased by the early lead the ballot measure took on Tuesday night.

Im in the middle of a lot of happy people, he said.

Meanwhile, all of the candidates for city office were running unopposed, meaning they were guaranteed their spots. Those included Mayor Carla Wixom, who won 99.6% of the votes counted by 12:20 a.m., and businessman Jeff Eckles and sales associate Bill Luffee, who were running for two open seats on the Morro Bay City Council.

According to the fourth ballot count report, Eckles had 57.9% of the vote while Luffee took 41.9%.

The fourth ballot drop included 3,892 mail-in ballots received up to the weekend before Election Day and 273 ballots cast in person.

This story will be updated as more ballot counts are released. Check back to see the latest numbers.
Democratic nominee for Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green (Photo: Greg Childress)

Republican Michele Morrow declared she would keep fighting for change in public schools after accepting defeat in the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction contest.

The Associated Press projected Democrat Mo Green as the victor early Wednesday morning. Green won the race with 51.09 percent of the vote compared to 48.91 percent for Morrow, according to the State Board of Elections. All precincts are reporting.

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The superintendent of public instruction heads one of the states largest agencies with a multibillion-dollar budget and provides support to all of North Carolinas public schools. The position is currently held by Catherine Truitt, who lost in the Republican primary to Morrow.

Our new superintendent made it very clear throughout his campaign that he has no intention of changing anything. His mantra was celebrate the current system as it is, Morrow wrote in a statement.

Michele Morrow, Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction, speaks at a campaign event on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024 in Elon, North Carolina. After losing the race, she vowed to fight harder than ever before to protect our children and save our schools. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

I will fight harder than ever before to protect our children and save our schools from a system that is failing them, she continued. This was never about winning a political office. This was always about the children. And so it will remain.

Morrow did not clarify how she intended to keep fighting.

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Green thanked voters for electing him to the office, saying he was humbled and honored.

Its now upon us to put forth and implement our bold vision, direction, and plan for NC public schools. Our children and the future of our state depend on it, he wrote in a statement.

This is a moment where what was presented to voters was, I think, a pretty stark choice, Green said during a virtual press conference.

Truitt congratulated Green on social media, pledging to work with him on a smooth transition between the two.

Green previously served as the superintendent of Guilford County Public Schools, the third largest district in the state with more than 70,000 students.

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He has voiced his opposition to the opportunity scholarships program, which uses public tax dollars to provide vouchers for families to attend private schools. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a bill to dramatically expand the program earlier this year, although the state legislature can still override it before the end of the year.

Greens campaign also reminded voters of his opponents past actions. The down-ballot race has gained national attention and scrutiny due to Morrows previous comments.

She attended the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol when insurrectionists attempted to overthrow Congress as it certified the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Investigative reporters at CNNs KFILE found no evidence that Morrow entered the Capitol building that day or that she engaged in violence, and she was not charged with any crimes.

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Morrow also expressed support in 2020 for the televised execution of Cooper, former President Barack Obama, then-President-elect Joe Biden, and other prominent Democrats.

Greens campaign also sought to link his opponent with the GOP tickets other controversial candidates, namely Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican gubernatorial nominee who recently gained national attention for offensive and lewd comments he made on social media prior to entering politics.
This week, abortion was on the ballot in 10 states, but even in places where it wasn't, Democrats were hoping the fight for reproductive rights could give them an edge. The hope was to galvanize non-partisan voters to not only vote in favor of abortion access but also vote for the Democrats down the ticket. But once Donald Trump snagged the presidential spot again, with Republicans also taking the Senate majority, it became clear that while abortion access was prioritized in some red states, like Missouri and Montana, that didnt render a blue victory.

Still, pro-abortion advocates arent necessarily calling Tuesday night an entire loss for reproductive rights in America. For example, Amendment 3 passed in Missouri, which will enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution, overturning the states current abortion ban. Missouri has one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country where abortion is mostly entirely prohibited but only allowed "in cases of medical emergency.

Missouri has been labeled a red state, but tonights results clearly demonstrate that abortion is not a partisan issue  its a personal health care issue that Missourians from every political background agree should be left to women, their families and their doctors, Kelly Hall, executive director of the Fairness Project, which backed Missouris Yes on 3 campaign, said in a media statement.

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Rachel Sweet, campaign manager of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the organization behind the Yes on 3 campaign, said Democrats, Republicans and independents resoundingly declared that they dont want politicians involved in their private medical decisions.

At the same time, Missouri voters picked Trump overall  who has bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade  instead of Kamala Harris, to be president. While the abortion ballot measure, Amendment 4, in Florida didnt pass, a similar story unfolded. If passed, Amendment 4 would have amended the Florida state constitution to prohibit government interference with the right to abortion before viability. Floridas post-Dobbs abortion law makes it a felony to perform or actively participate in an abortion six weeks after gestation. Technically, the ban has exceptions for rape, incest and human trafficking up to 15 weeks, and to save a womans life or prevent substantial and irreversible impairment. Fifty-eight percent of Florida voters wanted it to pass, but the measure required a 60 percent majority to pass  the highest threshold of all abortion amendments on the ballots. Notably, Trump grabbed 56 percent of the vote in Florida.

Floridians stand with abortion rights, but Governor DeSantis anti-democratic campaign against Amendment 4 has prevented the voices of his own constituents from being heard and enforced minority rule, Hall said. In the face of the state governments unrelenting interference with the ballot measure process, an extraordinary number of Florida voters stood up against a cruel and dangerous abortion ban  and we are incredibly proud to have supported the advocates on the ground who made that possible.

Lauren Brenzel, campaign manager of Yes on 4 Florida, said the news confirmed what advocates observed on the ground during the campaign.

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Floridas deadly abortion ban is out of line with the values of our state, Brenzel said. Florida voters sent that message loud and clear today, and despite the fact that only a minority of voters voted to retain the abortion ban, our extremist government will exploit the situation to deny its own constituents the right to decide on our bodily autonomy.

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Other abortion measures failed to pass, including South Dakotas Constitutional Amendment G. While it was seen as a more restrictive proposal than others  as it would have only enshrined rights in the state constitution for an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy  the measure did not get a majority of the vote. In Nebraska, Initiative 434 passed, banning abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy with limited exceptions. Its dueling initiative, which would have expanded abortion access, did not pass.

In Arizona, voters passed Proposition 139 amending the state constitution to provide a fundamental right to abortion. The measure is seen as a victory and will allow abortion after fetal viability to be accessible in cases to protect the life, physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. It also would prevent the state from penalizing anyone who assists another person in exercising their right to abortion. Earlier this year, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 law that banned nearly all abortions in the state. After a protracted back-and-forth between courts, abortion remains accessible up to 15 weeks of pregnancy in the state.

Maryland, Montana, Colorado and Nevada all voted in favor of enshrining the right to abortion in their respective state constitutions. New York also passed a measure that will protect against unequal treatment based on reproductive health care and autonomy.

Abortion access isn't just a winning issue with voters; it's a fundamental right that impacts every aspect of their lives, Mini Timmaraju, Reproductive Freedom for All president and CEO, said in a statement. This is a huge victory that reaffirms that voters across the political spectrum in red, blue and purple states will mobilize to protect their freedoms.

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Karla Gonzales Garcia, Gender, Sexuality and Identity Director with Amnesty International USA, called Arizonas successful proposition a win for human rights" in a media statement.

Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, many states across the U.S. are facing a human rights crisis when it comes to abortion access that has created stigma, fear and lack of vital health care for far too many people, Gonzales Garcia said. But, with this vote, the people of Arizona have fought back and protected their human right to abortion.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Small business owner Eddie Mitchell edged out incumbent District 1 councilman Mark Matta in a 62% to 38% vote Tuesday night.

Mitchell, owner of Ed and Toms Bar-B-Que in south Odessa, said he wanted to run to help make an impact in the downtown area, a part of town he said has been neglected and overlooked for far too long.

District 1, City of Odessa, is not getting anything out of the City Council. We need to try and improve some things, especially downtown. I wanna be a guy that people seewe havent seen our guy (Matta) in four years. I wanna be the guy that people can call on and suggest things and maybe get things rolling here in Odessa. We are way behind. And Ive been in my neighborhood 25 years, I havent seen the City of Odessa do anything to the south side of Odessa, Mitchell said, at his campaign kick-off event earlier in August.

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This isnt the first time Mitchell has faced off against Matta; in 2020, he ran against Matta, Michael Shelton, and Tiki Davis. Shelton and Matta later headed to a runoff that Matta won.

But Mitchell said hes ready to face Matta once again, and thinks that this time, the community will support his efforts, because they are ready for a change. In fact, Mitchell said Odessas current leaders should have addressed failing water pipes and valves and road issues long ago. He said that the current regime failed to address the issues that led to widespread water outages over the last few years and only began doing so once election season began to loom ahead of them.

They were elected four years ago, but what have they done, he asked.

Aside from addressing the failing infrastructure, Mitchell said hed like to see the City Council do more to support local business owners, and said he will well represent small businesses and the interests of those looking to start a business if he wins the election.

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This week's listings and recommendations for repertory movies were put together before the election.

So, whether you're feeling celebratory or need an escape from the political landscape, there are movies on the big screen worth a few hours of your time this week. That includes a small selection of films from the Twin Cities German Film Festival and the Romanian Film Festival, some of which offer free admission.

Here are the repertory movies hitting Twin Cities area theaters this week.

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981)

Monday, Nov. 11 at Emagine Willow Creek

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It's Misery meets a slasher movie in this early 80s thriller meets horror. Largely unheralded, it effectively builds tension and turns a corner at one point toward the gruesome, even if there are plot points that feel torn from the B-movie playbook. The deeply homophobic cop, for instance, seems driven by nothing but a desire to take down a child despite, well, everything happening around him. Nonetheless, it's tense and Susan Tyrrell turns in a fantastically horrific performance. 9900 Shelard Parkway, Plymouth ($6)

The Jerk (1979)

Thursday, Nov. 7 at The Parkway Theater

The Parkway is celebrating Steve Martin all month. There's nothing particularly fall- or Thanksgiving-themed going on here. It's just always a good time to celebrate the legendary comedian. The series kicks off with The Jerk this week and will later play Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. 4814 Chicago AveMinneapolis ($9/$12)

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Thursday, Nov. 7 at the Heights Theater

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There are a lot of movies that make for entertaining and engaging post-election viewing, even if they're not particularly uplifting. There's not a whole lot of that around the Twin Cities this week, but Dr. Strangelove fits the bill. The careening Stanley Kubrick film follows an utterly unhinged general set on bombing the Soviet Union despite the warnings of pretty much everyone else in the world. It feels like an appropriate film to revisit at this moment. 3951 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights ($15)

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Pulp Fiction (1994)

Sunday, Nov. 10 at Emagine Willow Creek, Emagine Eagan, Emagine Lakeville, and Emagine White Bear

Quentin Tarantino's career-making film turns 30 this year. Following Reservoir Dogs, the director staked his claim as a distinctive voice in American independent film and ushered in a heightened level of notoriety for new indie directors. Pulp Fiction remains one of his most loved and still sits among his best work. It'll pair nicely with a Big Kahuna Burger. Locations and prices vary

John Wick (2014)

Wednesday, Nov. 6 at St. Michael Cinema, Emagine Willow Creek, Emagine Eagan, Emagine Lakeville, Emagine White Bear, Oakdale Cinema, Parkwood Cinema, Rosemount Cinema, and Southbridge Crossing Cinema

Another anniversary. The first John Wick film turns 10 this year and multiple theaters are hosting an anniversary screening of the Keanu Reeves vehicle that has spawned an entire universe of solid films and a forgettable TV series. Celebrate the original this week and maybe track down one of the new John Wick pinball machines afterward to accompany an in-depth discussion about how they should have never killed his dog. Locations and prices vary

Related: A month of Steve Martin movies is coming to the Parkway Theater

More movies screening this week:

Related: Must-see Twin Cities concerts this week: Billie Eilish, Knocked Loose, Happy Apple
(Bloomberg) -- Mozambiques Maputo port, a key chrome export hub, has stopped receiving cargo due to ongoing election unrest in the southeast African nation.

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Riots broke out at Mozambiques main border crossing with neighboring South Africa on Tuesday, prompting authorities to close it. The move has left hundreds of trucks carrying cargo including coal, which usually cross the border en route to Maputo daily, stranded.

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The Maputo Port Development Co., in coordination with customs and other relevant Mozambican border authorities, has taken the decision to stop reception of cargo at the Port of Maputo, the company that operates it said in a note to customers Wednesday.

Tensions have rocketed in Mozambique after its Oct. 9 elections that extended the ruling partys 49-year rule, and which the opposition rejected as rigged. South African authorities closed the land border at Lebombo after protesters torched vehicles on the Mozambican side, and government officials from that country fled across seeking refuge.

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Gulfport attorney David P. Sullivan appears to have defeated incumbent Dawn H. Beam in a nonpartisan race for the Mississippi Supreme Court, although the race had not been called by early Wednesday morning.

With 93% of the vote counted, Sullivan leads with 184,872 votes, or 54.8%, to 152,586 votes, or 45.2%, for Beam.

Sullivan has practiced law for 30 years in South Mississippi and is with the Sullivan Law Firm in Gulfport. He has served since 2019 as municipal judge for the city of DIberville. He previously served as a city prosecutor for Gulfport and is a public defender for Harrison, Stone and Hancock County circuit courts.

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Sullivans father, the late Michael D. Sullivan, also served on the Supreme Court and inspired his son in his legal career, David Sullivan has said.

Beam, who is from Sumrall, was appointed in 2016 to the nine-member court by Former Gov. Phil Bryant.

Both Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges serve eight-year terms.

Court of Appeals runoff all but certain

Vote totals were close for three South Mississippi candidates vying for the Court of Appeals, District 5, Position 2.

The top two candidates appear to be headed for a runoff Nov. 26.

With 92% of votes counted, attorney Amy Lassitter St. Pe of Pascagoula led with 74,517 votes, or 35.1%, followed by Chancery Court Judge Jennifer T. Schloegel of Gulfport with 69,154 votes, or 32.6%. Assistant District Attorney Ian Baker of Gulfport trailed with 68,660 votes, or 32.3%.

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South Mississippis ballot featured a competitive race for the state Court of Appeals because incumbent Joel Smith, a former district attorney, chose not to seek re-election.

St. Pe graduated from Mississippi College law school and has practiced law for 22 years. She founded her own law firm in Pascagoula, specializing in governmental law. She has served for 15 years as a city attorney for Moss Point and is also a municipal judge for the city of Gautier.

Schloegel has served since 2011 as a Chancery Court judge for Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties. She graduated from University of Mississippi law school and also attended Emory University law school in Atlanta.

Baker graduated from Mississippi College law school and has stressed his 18 years of courtroom experience, serving for the past 11 years as a prosecutor in the district attorneys office for Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department and a Hazmat crew responded to a chlorine leak in the basement of the Satellite Hotel, a residential and commercial building at 411 Lakewood Circle, according to a post on X Wednesday morning.

Crews were evaluating the building as of 10:14 a.m., officials said. Initial reports indicated the leak started during routine maintenance.

According to Gazette news partner KOAA, four people were treated for injuries on the scene due to chlorine inhalation. A department spokesperson said the building's first floor was evacuated, while the floors above sheltered in place.
Voters line up in the lobby of Anchorage's City Hall on Monday, with most waiting 90 minutes to two hours that morning to cast their ballots at the early voting site there. Early voting in Alaska was much more popular this year than in past election years, state statistics show. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaskans this year made a dramatic shift from past years in their voting practices, choosing in large numbers to cast their ballots before Election Day rather than on Tuesday.

Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, smiles after she exits the voting booth on Monday with her completed ballot. Peltola voted at Anchorage City Hall, one of the designated early voting polling sites in Alaskas biggest city. She waited nearly two hours to cast her ballot. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

As of Sunday, 61,912 Alaskans had voted early, according to the Alaska Division of Elections statistics that did not include totals from Monday, the last day of early voting. That compares to 38,242 early voters in the 2016 general election and 19,937 early voters in the 2012 general election, according to the divisions statistics. This years early vote tally has surpassed even that of 2020, when voters opted for alternative ways to cast their ballots because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the divisions statistics.

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This years heavy early voting trend resulted in long lines and long delays, with queues that sometimes snaked around buildings, causing people to endure some blustery weather as they waited. In some cases, the waits extended for hours.

Among those spending a lot of time in line was U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, who waited nearly two hours to cast her ballot on Monday at Anchorage City Hall. The lobby was packed when she was there, and there were other problems, including a clogged toilet in the womens restroom.

Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance smiles after greeting Rep. Mary Peltola on Nov. 4, 2024, at the early voting polling station at City Hall. Carrying several coffee drinks and hot chocolates is Peltola aide Anton McParland. Peltola spent nearly two hours in line at the site before casting her vote; LaFrance said she had not voted at the time but had been periodically coming down from her office to check the line in the lobby. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Because electioneering is prohibited at polling sites, she wound up with a welcomed break from politics talk, she said. As she moved through the line, she sipped a hot chocolate, one in a batch of hot drinks bought for the candidate and campaign staff members by aide Anton McParland.

She did not want any coffee right then, she said. My nerves dont need any caffeine boost right now, she said.

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Nick Begich, her Republican opponent, also voted early on Monday. He faced a shorter wait  about 40 minutes  but noted that he arrived at 7:50 a.m., 10 minutes before the polling site at the Eagle River Town Center opened. There was already a line that early in the morning, he said.

There are good reasons to vote early, Begich said.

Nick Begich, the Republican candidate for Alaskas sole U.S. House seat, sits at the counter on Tuesday at Jackies Place in Anchorages Spenard neighborhood. He and some campaign aides had their Election Day lunch at the diner. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

If youre 90% sure youll vote on Election Day, you can be 100% sure if you vote early, he said after eating an Election Day lunch at Jackies Place, a diner in West Anchorages Spenard neighborhood. Waiting until Election Day to vote creates a risk of unexpected obstacles like bad weather or health problems, he said. There might be life-event things that come up, he said.

Like Peltola, he said the high degree of early voting may have come as a surprise. I dont think anyone expected to see the level of early voting that we did see in this election, he said.

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Though there were numerous sites around the state set up for early voting, it might be a good idea to have more such sites in future elections, Begich said.

There was at least one beneficiary of the early voting rush: City Grind, the coffee shop in the lobby of City Hall.

Kim Lemish, owner of City Grind, stands on Monday behind the counter of her coffee shop on the first floor of Anchorage City Hall. On a plastic partition is an I Voted sticker she got after casting her ballot at the early voting site elsewhere on the buildings first floor. Lemish said she did especially brisk business during the two weeks that early voting was conducted in the building. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

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Owner Kim Lemish said the cafe brought in $200 or more in extra revenue each day during the two-week period of early voting at City Hall. Lots of lattes, breves, muffins, cookies, breakfast sandwiches, she said. Her normal closing time is 3 p.m., but she stayed open a little past then if there were lines, she said,

Affixed to a plastic panel at her counter is one of the Tlingit art I Voted stickers, which she got on Oct. 21, the first day of early voting. That day, she walked across the lobby to fill out her ballot, she said.

On that Monday, it was so busy, she said. But her husband, who works upstairs in City Hall, alerted her about a break in the queue, she said. He said, OK, go vote now, because theres no line.

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WHITE HALL, W.Va. (WBOY)  One person was taken to the hospital Wednesday afternoon after multiple vehicles collided on Interstate 79 South near White Hall.

According to officials with the Marion County 911 Center, at around 2:22 p.m., crews were alerted to a vehicle accident with injuries reported near the 130 mile marker of I-79 South, just south of White Hall.

Woman arrested after alleged kitchen knife stabbing in Star City

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Crews on the scene found three passenger cars collided and the entire southbound road needed to be shut down. As of 3:15 p.m., crews did not have an estimate as to when the road would reopen.

Crews with the Valley Volunteer Fire Department are on scene and are being assisted by the Marion County Rescue Squad, White Hall Police Department, the West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Division of Highways.

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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  The North Charleston Police Department has brought a murder suspect charged in the shooting of a sanitation worker back to South Carolina, three months after being arrested in New York by U.S. Marshals.

Spokesperson for the North Charleston Police Department, Harve Jacobs, says detectives brought Tyrell Smith back to South Carolina Tuesday night.

U.S. Marshals arrested 24-year-old Tyrell Lamont Smith in New York on Aug. 1.

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He was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in the killing of 26-year-old DaTawn Gatling.

Officials say Smith fought extradition after being arrested in New York.

The shooting occurred on Bayfield Drive on July 18. Officers responded to the scene around 10:49 a.m. that morning and discovered Gatline suffering from a gunshot wound in a garbage truck.

After being shot, Gatling attempted to leave the scene and lost control of the garbage truck, crashing into a tree on Dorchester Road.

Detectives believe Gatling was shot while picking up recyclables on Bayfield Drive. He later died after being taken to a local hospital.

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On Tuesday, Elon Musk and America PAC  a Super PAC the billionaire founded to support Donald Trumps 2024 presidential run  were hit with a second lawsuit over allegedly deceptive advertising practices related to its daily $1 million lottery.

From Oct. 19 through Election Day, America PAC awarded $1 million per day to one eligible registered voter in a swing state who had signed the groups petition in support of the First and Second Amendment. Musk and the Super PAC claim to have collected over a million signatures. The Department of Justice warned Musk that this and other cash incentives offered to voters by the organization might be illegal, but it was Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner who first sued the billionaire and America PAC last week, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, accusing them of operating an illegal lottery under state law. Krasner also charged that, despite Musk and America PAC saying winners were chosen randomly, it seemed likely that the prizes were awarded only to Trump supporters.

In a Philadelphia court on Monday, a Musk lawyer admitted that America PAC did not select winners randomly, arguing that this meant the giveaway was not a lottery. Judge Angelo Foglietta ultimately ruled that the promotion did not have to cease in Pennsylvania  something of a moot decision, as America PAC had already announced the last two winners would be from Michigan and Arizona.

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Now, however, Jacqueline McAferty, a resident of Maricopa County, Arizona, has brought a new class action against Musk and his political organization. McAfertys complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (Musk resides in the district, and America PAC is registered there) contends that the stated terms of the $1 million giveaway violates Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act  again because the winners were not picked randomly.

Had Plaintiff been aware that she had no chance of receiving $1,000,000, she would not have signed or supported the America PAC petition and would not have provided her [personal, private information] to Defendants, the filing reads. Her signature/support, as well as her [personal, private information] were given as valuable consideration for a chance to receive the $1,000,00. Those who signed the petition to be eligible for the drawing had to enter their full name, phone number, email address, and physical address.

The suit also notes that the Super PACs petition places no limitations on America PACs use of or sale of the personal data it collects, nor does it provide any additional information about the planned

use of data. It alleges fraud and breach of contract for the groups failure to disclose that it awarded its seven-figure cash prizes according to internal criteria. As Musks lawyer put it in the Philadelphia hearing, the Super PAC considered voters suitability as a spokesperson, as well as their personal stories.

Legal woes stemming from Musks unprecedented financial incentives for voters during an election are just part of potentially much larger problems at America PAC. If Trump loses, many of his allies are prepared to blame the group for botching the Republican ground game in swing states. It would represent a humiliating defeat for Musk, who has placed an enormous bet on the former president in his first bid to play political kingmaker.

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Indeed, whether America PAC can survive to another election cycle  as Musk hopes it will  may depend on the outcome of this one. In the meantime, it seems plenty of petition signers looking for a chance at a life-changing jackpot could come out of the woodwork to demand a payday.

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(Bloomberg) -- Elon Musk vowed Tuesday to keep his political action committee going beyond the presidential election, a sign the worlds richest person is building a political machine that goes beyond his support of Republican nominee Donald Trump.

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America PAC is going to keep going after this election, Musk said on an X Spaces Tuesday. Musk said the group is preparing for the midterms and any intermediate elections at the district attorney and sort of judicial levels.

Musk hosted the 90-minute election conversation as he was flying on his private jet from Texas to Florida to watch the election night returns with Trump. The billionaire then posted a steady torrent of pro-Trump memes throughout the night to his 200 million followers on the social network he owns, including a video set to a remixed version of the Final Countdown that featured clips of Musk and Trump campaigning spliced with animated superheroes, fire, guns, rockets and horses. Atop the video was the phrase: Dark MAGA assemble.

Musk has been Trumps most powerful surrogate this election cycle, spending more than $130 million for Trump and other Republican races. The Tesla Inc. and SpaceX chief executive officer used his PAC to gather voter lists of at least 1 million people who signed a petition to support the constitution, giving away cash prizes to drive participation.

As the last voters headed to the polls on Tuesday, Musk pitched himself as a counter balance to financier George Soros, who has contributed funds to several campaigns, including district attorney races.

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This time, the Republican ground game is better than the Democrat ground game, said Musk, who has focused his efforts on Pennsylvania, the swing state with the most electoral votes up for grabs. Musk said that efforts were being made to make sure that members of Pennsylvanias Amish community had transportation to polling stations.

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Elon Musk, who shelled out over $100 million and turned his social media platform X into an online megaphone to get out the vote for Donald Trump, has emerged as one of the presidential elections biggest winners.

The worlds richest man was the only Fortune 100 CEO to pick a side, endorsing Trump moments after the July assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.

In the final weeks of the campaign, Musk pulled out all the stops, hosting town halls in the battleground state of Pennsylvania and awarding swing-state voters $1 million checks.

Rubbing shoulders with other wealthy donors at Mar-a-Lago as Trump rode a red wave to success, Musk tweeted a photo of a SpaceX rocket launching: The future is gonna be fantastic.

Will Musks election wager pay off?

Trump made clear in his victory speech that Musk will have an ally in the White House. A star is born, Trump said of the tech billionaire.

That star power could hand Musk significant sway over government policy and the federal agencies that oversee his constellation of six companies from Tesla to SpaceX, which have been awarded $15.4 billion in federal government contracts over the past decade, according to Open Secrets.

Its common for presidents to tap business leaders for prominent roles in their administrations. But Musks reach could be unprecedented, said Dan Schnur, who teaches strategic political communications at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Berkeley.

If Donald Trump were Willy Wonka, Elon Musk just won all five golden tickets, Schnur said. Trump not only respects him, not only does he revere him, but Trump feels like he owes him. Add that up and its hard to imagine Musk writing a wish list that Trump wont rubber stamp."

Elon Musk joins Donald Trump on stage Oct. 5 in Butler, Pennsylvania as Trump speaks at a campaign rally.

Musk may have big role in Trump White House

Trump has pledged to give Musk an official role in his administration cutting government spending, which he has referred to as the Secretary of Cost Cutting. Musk has joked he will run a Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE, referring to the cryptocurrency he champions.

Musk tweeted he was excited to work with Trump on a commission to slash government spending. He has boasted he could slash $2 trillion from the federal budget but has not provided any specifics on how.

What's more, Musk could have a say in picking the heads of the regulatory agencies that oversee his companies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, said Erik Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.
Kamala Harris conceded defeat in the 2024 presidential election on Wednesday in a speech that encouraged her supporters to not give in to despair.

Speaking at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington, D.C., Harris asked that Democrats "never give up" and "keep fighting" while stressing that the Biden administration would engage in a "peaceful transfer of power."

We must accept the results of this election, she said. "A fundamental principle of American democracy is when we lose an election, we accept the results."

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While she did not mention President-Elect Donald Trump by name in this portion of the speech, Harris' remarks were a clear reference to the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021, and Trump's alleged role in plots to disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden's election.

Kamala Harris: "We must accept the results of this election. Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power." pic.twitter.com/sctRqnHVsE  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 6, 2024

"In our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or to a party but to the Constitution of the United States, she said. "I am here to say while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign."

Harris compelled her supporters to keep up the fight for reproductive justice and gun control, among other issues. She said that her supporters have a lot of work ahead of them, as Trump will likely enter into a second term with control of all three branches of government, but she stressed that "hard work is good work."

"Hard work can be joyful work, and the fight for our country is always worth it," she said. "This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves."
FULL RESULTS: Rhode Island & Massachusetts Races  | National & Balance of Power 

CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WPRI)  Incumbent Democrat Jeffrey Mutter has won the race for Cumberland mayor, according to preliminary results.

Mutter defeated independent challenger Brad Dean.

LIVE BLOG: Election Day 2024 updates

Mutter, a Democrat, was up for reelection, seeking a second and final four-year term. Mutters campaign focused on the work his administration has been doing on several ongoing projects, including the revitalization of Diamond Hill Park, the restoration of the Amaral building and school renovations.

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Dean, a small business owner, decided to get into the race because he wanted to fix the current situation in town, specifically when it comes to housing. He also sought to help small businesses and improve the Parks and Recreation department.

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TIPP CITY, Ohio (WDTN)  Several units responded to a fire at a commercial plant on Wednesday morning.

Tipp City Fire & EMS was dispatched around 9:30 a.m. to the DAP plant on North Third Street. Reports claimed a fire with flames and smoke showing was coming from the dryer of an industrial air compressor unit.

School bus crashes into building in Union City

Upon arrival, active fire was discovered in the insulation and piping on the air compressor. Smoke was filling the mechanical area of the plant.

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Thanks to a quick response by firefighters, the fire did not spread beyond the machine and the fire was under control within 10 minutes.

During the fire response, plant personnel were evacuated and check for injuries. No injuries were reported.

Officials believe the fire was most likely caused by a loose electrical panel connection. Plant personnel had been attempted to correct an electrical issue prior to the fire being discovered.

Damages are estimated at $7,500 to the compressor and electric equipment. The plant had to shut down production temporarily due to the compressor being shut down.

Tipp City was assisted on scene by mutual aid from West Milton, Vandalia, Huber Heights and Bethel and Elizabeth townships. Crews were on scene for approximately an hour and a half.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
The North Idaho senator who told a Native American candidate to go back to where you came from won reelection in a back-and-forth race.

Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola, made the comments at a small-town candidate forum earlier this year, according to multiple people in attendance. The Idaho Republican Party stood by him, and Foreman defended himself on social media.

With all ballots counted, Foreman had 53.3% of the vote, and his Democratic challenger, Julia Parker, had 46.7%. The race separated by nearly 2,000 votes, with Foreman collecting 14,847 and Parker 12,986. Foreman had a big showing in Nez Perce County, home to Lewiston, while Parker grabbed the lions share of votes in Latah County, home to Moscow and the University of Idaho.

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The district also includes Lewis County, where Foreman had a substantial edge.

A request for comment from Foreman was not immediately returned.

Im happy with the race we ran, Parker told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Well see how the count turns out.

At the debate in question, the candidates were asked whether they thought discrimination existed in Idaho. Trish Carter-Goodheart, a member of the Nez Perce tribe, said racism and discrimination were real problems, according to previous Statesman reporting.

After that, Foreman yelled that he was sick and tired of this liberal bulls, and then said she should go back to where she came from before leaving the forum, according to Carter-Goodheart and others who were there.

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The event was not recorded.

Foreman later said on Facebook that he had been race-baited.

Foreman first ran for office in 2016, defeating the incumbent by just over 300 votes, according to the Idaho Secretary of States Office. He lost the general election in 2018 and 2020, but resumed office again after winning a tight 2022 election with 50.1% of the vote.

Some of Foremans most prominent bills have been on abortion. He once yelled at a group of University of Idaho students trying to visit his legislative office that abortion is murder.

In 2017, he told the Lewiston Tribune that he planned to sponsor a bill classifying abortion as first-degree murder for the mother and the doctor.

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In the 2024 session, the 71-year-old Air Force veteran introduced a personal bill to remove exceptions for rape and incest in Idahos abortion laws, according to previous Statesman reporting.

So far this election cycle, Foreman has received over $23,000 in contributions. Parker has raised more than $90,000.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace on Tuesday cemented her hold on her seat in a state that doesnt mind sending people back to Congress for decades.

Mace defeated Democratic businessman and former International African American Museum CEO Michael Moore to win a third term.

There had been questions over whether Maces attention-seeking personality and brashness and willingness to buck her partys establishment could be a liability. But her coastal 1st District continues to embrace her.

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After tonight, anyone who dare takes a shot at me  you better not miss, Mace said Tuesday night at her victory party. And for those who aim to divide us, you are outnumbered.

Mace flipped the seat back to Republicans in 2020 after a stunning upset of incumbent Democrat Joe Cunningham. She fought off a GOP challenger endorsed by former President Donald Trump in 2022 and breezed to a surprisingly easy win  this time with Trumps backing  in the 2024 Republican primary without a runoff.

Her fellow Republicans in the South Carolina General Assembly also did her a favor by redrawing the district and sending traditional Democratic precincts in and around downtown Charleston to the states only majority-minority district. Under the old map in 2020, Mace won less than 51% of the vote. With the new maps in 2022 she received more than 56%.

Moore and Maces Republican opponents in the 2024 primary said she is more concerned with national attention and pet causes like legalizing marijuana than helping out people in her district. She joined seven hard-right members of the U.S. House to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

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Mace said its her way of fighting for the voters in her eclectic district, which includes centuries-old neighborhoods near Charleston and massive developments of retirees around Beaufort who have moved to South Carolina.

The simplest explanation is almost always the correct one. I am on your side," Mace said Tuesday night.

Mace is now on her way to becoming a fixture in South Carolinas U.S. House delegation like Democrat Jim Clyburn, who was elected to a 17th term, or Republican Joe Wilson, who won a 12th term.

Wilson defeated Democrat David Robinson II in the 2nd District, which includes suburban areas around Columbia and to the west and south toward Aiken.

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Wilson is on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is the most senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. He also is remembered as the congressman who shouted You lie! at Barack Obama during the president's joint address to Congress about health care in 2009.

Clyburn has represented the state's 6th District since it was drawn in 1992 to have a majority of minority voters. This year, he defeated Republican challenger and attorney Duke Buckner in the sprawling district that is bounded by areas around Charleston, Beaufort and Columbia.

Clyburn is a key member of the U.S. House's Democratic leadership and his endorsement of President Joe Biden just before the 2020 South Carolina presidential primary sparked his longtime friend's path to victory.

Republican U.S. Rep. William Timmons won a fourth term in the 4th District that includes Greenville and Spartanburg.

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Perhaps no challenger worked harder than his opponent, Democrat Kathryn Harvey. She raised a surprising amount of money and traveled all over the district while Timmons spent most of his time outside the state campaigning for Republicans in races he thinks are more competitive as he tries to make sure the U.S. House stays in GOP control.

For the second election in a row, Timmons had to win a tough Republican primary where his opponent tried to paint him as liberal.

But the 4th District, which has sent a Republican to Washington in every election since 1992, remains solidly conservative.

South Carolina will have at least one new face in the U.S. House. Nurse practitioner and Air National Guard officer Sheri Biggs won an open seat Tuesday to become only the second Republican woman to head to Congress from South Carolina, following Mace.

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Biggs takes over from Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, who decided not to run for an eighth term in the 3rd District, which is the most Republican in the solidly conservative state. The district in the northwest corner of the state contains several small population centers.

U.S. Rep. Russel Fry won a second term in the 7th District that stretches from Myrtle Beach to Florence in the northeast part of the state. Fry knocked off an incumbent Republican in 2022 who voted to impeach Trump.

And in the 5th District, Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman will get a fourth full term in the district runs from Rock Hill in the Charlotte, North Carolina, suburbs south and east to Sumter.
Nashvillians will see more buses and sidewalks after a referendum establishing a dedicated funding source for transit passed by a landslide on Tuesday. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Davidson County voters on Tuesday approved a plan to fund bus system, sidewalk and traffic signal improvements with a half-cent sales tax hike.

Voters approved the plan 65.5% to 34.5%, according to unofficial results released by the Davidson County Election Commission.

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Tuesdays vote means Nashville is no longer one of just four of the nations 50 largest metro areas that do not have dedicated funding for transit.

The transit plan will raise Davidson County sales tax from 9.25% to 9.75%, on par with sales taxes in surrounding counties. The $3.1 billion in revenue (in todays dollars) will fund the construction of 86 miles of sidewalk, 600 upgraded smart traffic signals, an improved 24/7/365 bus system with a dozen community transit centers, and 17 park and ride facilities.

Recurring annual costs for operation and maintenance are estimated at $111 million in todays dollars. A third-party audit estimated the plans total cost, including financing and reserve funds, will clock in at $6.93 billion over 15 years. Revenue bond proceeds, state grants, a potential $1.4 billion in federal contributions and fare revenue would make up the remainder not covered by the sales tax bump. The tax surcharge will end once the debt issued for the plan is paid off and Nashvilles council affirms the tax is no longer needed.

Shaping and campaigning for the transit plan was a major focus of first-term Mayor Freddie OConnells first year in office.

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This was Metro Nashvilles second attempt at a transit referendum. A light rail-centric transit plan that featured a controversial underground tunnel downtown failed 64% to 36% in 2018.

OConnell and his team assembled the plan quickly, relying on multiple previous city studies and plans to shape its contours in time to make the most of the Nov. 5 elections higher turnout.

The plan set aside light rail, instead focusing on what the OConnell administration determined to be a more cost-effective option: beefing up Nashvilles WeGo public bus system. OConnells plan also heavily stressed benefits to those who would not frequently ride WeGo buses, emphasizing the plans sidewalk and traffic signal improvements.

The Nashville Moves Action Fund, a nonprofit entity that poured more than $2 million toward promoting the referendum, came under scrutiny in the week before the election for its lack of donor transparency. Nashville Moves Action Fund maintained that, as a 501(c)4 organization it is not required to disclose its donors, but the state Registry of Election Finance said the group is acting as a political action committee and must therefore file as one.

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The referendums opposition campaign was comparatively anemic. The Committee to Stop an Unfair Tax was largely funded by a $50,000 contribution from former car dealership mogul Lee Beaman.

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Nashville voters approved on Tuesday a $3.1 billion transportation plan that will fund improvements to the city's bus system, sidewalks, traffic signals and more.

The Choose How You Move transportation improvement plan has been a hallmark of the administration of Mayor Freddie O'Connell, and it was overwhelmingly approved at the polls.

Now for the next generation, we will all enjoy the things we deserve: sidewalks, signals, service and safety, O'Connell said in a speech Tuesday, referencing the plans four primary improvement areas.

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The approval means Davidson Countys sales tax will increase by half a cent, which will go directly to funding the transit plan. The increase will go into effect Feb. 1 and put Davidson County in line with surrounding countries like Williamson, Wilson, Rutherford, Dickson and Maury, which all have a combined 9.75% sales tax.

Here's everything to know about the transit improvements coming Nashville's way.

What are the transit improvements in the plan?

The transportation improvement plan contains four categories: Service, signals, sidewalks and safety. Expanded WeGo bus service (including added routes, more neighborhood transit centers and 24/7 service) is the most costly portion of the plan.

Improvements include:

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86 miles of new or upgraded sidewalks

592 smart signals that can improve traffic flow

285 upgraded bus stops

12 strategically located transit centers

54 miles of high-capacity transit corridors, including bus rapid transit routes

80% increase in total WeGo bus service hours, along with 24-hour service and decreased wait times

How will the transit plan apply to my neighborhood?

The Choose How You Move campaign published an interactive map of Davidson County that shows the transportation improvements, sorted by neighborhood.

Traffic signal upgrades are largely concentrated along high-use roads from the edge of the county into downtown, while new WeGo routes offer additional connections between neighborhoods. Transit centers are proposed in West Nashville, SoBro, Madison, Donelson, Antioch, Bellevue, on Nolensville and Dickerson pikes, and near Tennessee State and Vanderbilt universities.

Access the interactive map at transit.nashville.gov.

The transit plan's proposed timeline

Immediate improvements would include:

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WeGo bus service enhancements

Lighting and safety improvements

Early improvements to sidewalks, safety measures and traffic signals

A microtransit pilot program through WeGo Link, which partners with rideshare providers to offer subsidized fare to certain bus stops for riders in less-dense areas of the county

Within two years:

"Substantial" bus service improvements to hours and frequency

Sidewalk and upgraded signal installation continues

The first "Complete Street" project (which will include updates for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and transit users) will be completed

Within five years:

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More than 150 signals will be upgraded along with the Traffic Management Center

All-access corridors begin high-frequency bus service on West End, Charlotte Pike and between Elizabeth Duff Transit Center and South Broadway (through James Robertson Parkway, Rosa L. Parks Boulevard and Lafayette Street)

Within 10 years:

60 miles of sidewalks will be built

All-access corridors will begin high-frequency bus service on Murfreesboro Pike, Gallatin Pike and Clarksville Pike

Downtown, all-access corridors will provide high-frequency service on James Robertson Parkway linking the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center to the East Bank, and the East Bank to South Broadway via the Gateway Bridge

Within 15 years:

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Nearly 600 traffic signals will be upgraded

78 miles of the Vision Zero high-injury network will have safety improvements

86 miles of new sidewalk will be complete

High capacity transit will be available on Dickerson Pike and Nolensville Pike, rounding out service on Nashville's 10 busiest roadways

Pedestrians rush through traffic to catch a bus on Dickerson Pike in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.

What will the transit plan mean for Nashville?

To illustrate what the transit improvement plan could mean for the city, The Tennessean examined how the plan would change Dickerson Pike.

To better understand how the WeGo bus system currently operates, The Tennessean also sent a reporter along the city's busiest route for a week.

What is the effect on sales taxes in Nashville?

The transit referendum included a half-cent sales tax bump for Davidson County, increasing the combined state and local sales tax from 9.25% to 9.75%. Nashvillians pay 6.25% in combined state and local sales tax on most groceries (except prepared foods). The half-cent increase brings that to 6.75%.

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The tax increase takes effect Feb. 1.

The tax increase will cover around 40% of the plan's total cost, with the remainder expected to be funded through fares, bonds, and state and federal programs.

Williamson, Wilson, Rutherford, Dickson, Maury, Robertson and Hickman counties all have a combined 9.75% sales tax.

How will the sales tax increase impact my wallet?

According to an analysis using MIT's cost of living calculator, one adult can expect to pay $4 more per month in tax on groceries and other household goods. A family of four can expect to pay $10 more per month.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville transit plan approved: What to know about tax, improvements
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa members Richard Marcellais, left, and Jayme Davis, will represent District 9. The third member of the delegation is expcted to be Collette Brown of the Spirit Lake Nation.

North Dakota Democrats lost legislative seats in Fargo and Grand Forks but gained two seats in District 9, which will have an all Native American representation.

Republicans would maintain a supermajority in both houses of the Legislature  42-5 in the Senate and 83-11 in the House, according to unofficial results.

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Republican Jared Hendrix was able to take a House seat from the Democrats in Fargos District 10.

Democrats gained the District 9 Senate seat, with Richard Marcellais defeating Judy Estenson.

Both the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Spirit Lake Nation reservations are in District 9, which will be represented by three tribal members.

Marcellais and Rep. Jayme Davis are Turtle Mountain members. Collette Brown, who appeared to win the House seat, is a Spirit Lake member. But Browns margin over Republican David Doc Brien, a Turtle Mountain member, may be close enough that Brien could ask for a recount. That will depend on official results.

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We made history, Marcellais said of the all-Native delegation.

He said one piece of legislation he wants to introduce in the 2025 session deals with missing and murdered Indigenous people.

He has personal connections to the issue, including the death of a great niece, Jayden Marcellais, in Minot in 2020.

Nicole Donaghy, executive director of North Dakota Native Vote, a group that advocates for Native people to engage in democracy, called the results transformative for tribal communities.

For the first time ever, two of our tribes have been able to elect candidates of their choice, Donaghy said in a statement. Candidates who are trusted leaders in their communities that know the issues and will work to ensure tribal sovereignty is considered in the legislative process.

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A federal judge redrew the district boundaries this year after the two Native American tribes successfully sued the state over the way district lines were drawn by the Legislature in 2021.

Estenson had represented District 15 but the change in district boundaries had her matched against Marcellais, who served 16 years in the North Dakota Senate before being defeated in 2022 by Kent Weston.

Weston is now in District 15, where he and two Republican House candidates faced no Democratic-NPL competition.

North Dakota District 10 House candidate Jared Hendrix, a Republican, participates in a candidate forum Oct. 2, 2024, in Fargo, organized by the League of Women Voters. (Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor)

Hendrix worked against some incumbent Republican legislators in favor of more conservative Republican candidates, alienating the moderate faction of the party. He also was a driving force behind creating term limits in the North Dakota Legislature.

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District 10s other House candidate, Rep. Steve Swiontek, did not campaign with Hendrix.

Swiontek was the top vote-getter in the House race, ahead of Hendrix.

They both finished ahead of incumbent Democrat Hamida Dakane, who had endorsed Swiontek.

In an interview, Swiontek noted that it was a district that voted for Democrats Kamala Harris for president and Katrina Christiansen for U.S. Senate while voting to replace Dakane with Hendrix.

He complimented Dakane as a very good colleague and an effective legislator.

He said he respects the wishes of the voters who will want the delegation to work together to meet the needs of District 10.

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Democratic Sen. Ryan Braunberger held on to his seat by a slim margin over Republican George Roughead.

In other legislative races:

District 42: Republicans maintained control of all three seats. Republican Doug Osowski was the top vote-getter for House, while Rep. Emily OBrien secured the second seat. OBrien has had her residency questioned by one of her constituents, the Grand Forks Herald reported. Rep. Claire Cory, who pleaded guilty to reckless driving this year, was elected to the Senate seat.

District 18: Republican Sen. Scott Meyer, who apologized for threatening messages he sent to the Democratic opponent, Kyle Thorson, won by 8 percentage points in unofficial results in the Grand Forks district.

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There may be a possible demand recount in the House race, depending on official results. Republican Nels Christianson led Democrat Mary Adams by less than 1 percentage point in unofficial results. Republican Steve Vetter was the top vote-getter.

Democrats had held one House seat in the district but Rep. Corey Mock chose not to run for reelection.

District 46: Rep. Jim Kasper, who like Hendrix, had been targeted by moderate Republicans for his right-wing views, was reelected. He was the top vote-getter among House candidates in the district.

The 2025 legislative session begins Jan. 7.

This story was updated to clarify the races with potential recounts and to add additional comments.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has congratulated Donald Trump as he looks poised to win the US presidential election.

"I just congratulated (Donal Trump) on his election as President of the United States," Rutte posted on the social media platform X.

"His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong."

"I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO."

The conservative US broadcaster Fox News had declared Republican candidate Trump the overall winner against Democrat Kamala Harris, but other media networks and US news agency AP have not done so at this point.
Donald Trump won the presidential election Wednesday, clearing the way for his return to the White House.

His past rhetoric has raised concerns over the future of US security assistance to Ukraine and support for NATO.

But in a new op-ed, the NATO chief said the military alliance can't afford to stop supporting Kyiv.

Former president Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election on Wednesday has amplified long-standing concerns about the future of American support for Ukraine as the grinding war against Russia continues.

Against this backdrop, the head of NATO is warning that the military alliance can't afford to stop providing Kyiv with the security assistance it needs to fight the Russians. The Ukrainian defenders are facing a precarious moment in the war as Moscow's troops gain momentum in the east and the arrival of North Korean troops signals, as NATO leadership said, that "darker" times may lie ahead.

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"Since the start of Russia's full-fledged invasion, NATO allies have provided more than 99 percent of all military support to Ukraine," Mark Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister who became NATO's secretary general in October, wrote in an op-ed published by POLITICO on Wednesday.

"And we're on track to deliver on the financial pledge of 40 billion in military aid to Ukraine this year," Rutte said, adding that "what we need now is the political commitment to stay the course for the long haul."

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony with then-Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in July 2019 in Washington. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

"So far, our support has kept Ukraine in the fight. But we need to do much more in order to shift the conflict's trajectory. We need to raise the cost for Putin and his enabling authoritarian friends," he said, referring to the leaders of China, Iran, and North Korea, which have been accused of supporting and fueling Moscow's war efforts.

Rutte's op-ed focused on the recent deployment of North Korean soldiers to Russia to fight against Ukraine. It did not mention Trump, nor did it single out the US over its military support.

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But the article comes at an influential moment. Trump has long been critical of NATO and some member states over their defense spending. He has also repeatedly expressed concerns about the large amount of security assistance the US has sent to Ukraine.

The Biden administration has given Ukraine over $60 billion in military aid since Russia launched its full-scale war in February 2022. NATO countries have also provided Kyiv with tens of billions of dollars in security assistance during this time.

A Ukrainian serviceman aims a D-30 artillery cannon at Russian positions in the Donetsk region in September. AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka

NATO countries have sent Ukraine fighter jets, drones, tanks, armored vehicles, missiles, rockets, artillery shells, bombs, guns, bullets, and more lethal aid in what leaders have described as an investment to defend European security.

"Backing Ukraine costs a fraction of our annual military budgets," Rutte said. "That's a small price to pay for peace. The question is, can we afford not to?"

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with Trump in September, was among the first world leaders to send a congratulatory note on Trump's election win.

"Ukraine, as one of Europe's strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies," he wrote on social media, saying he hoped to work with Trump to strengthen bilateral ties with the US.

Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York in September. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

In Ukraine and in countries across Europe, there has been concern throughout the election season that a Trump win could threaten support for Ukraine, especially after an earlier Republican logjam in Congress in which Trump was involved hindered Ukrainian defensive operations for months.

At a consequential NATO summit in Washington over the summer, NATO unveiled plans to assume more control over Western efforts to arm and train Ukraine's military. The move was seen as an effort to protect long-term support for the country from political uncertainty in the US, Kyiv's biggest provider of weapons.

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Laurynas Kasciunas, Lithuania's defense minister, said at the time that there is no "safe and secure" Europe without US support, adding that NATO "should be prepared to work" with whoever wins the White House.

Months later, as news broke on Wednesday of Trump's victory, NATO allies seemed to adhere to this approach, with several leaders offering congratulatory messages and expressing their desires to continue close defense cooperation with the US.

In a social media post earlier in the day, Rutte said he congratulated Trump on winning the election. "His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength" through NATO, he wrote.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(The Hill)  NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that he congratulated former President Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election, adding that the candidates leadership will be key to keeping the alliance strong.

I just congratulated @realDonaldTrump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong, Rutte wrote in a post on the social platform X early Wednesday morning. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through #NATO.

The praise comes as Trump has drawn scrutiny for threatening to pull out of the alliance, upend American support for the war in Ukraine and criticized NATO allies for not spending adequately on defense.

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Trump and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, have significantly different approaches on how to handle Ukraine and NATO, as Harris has pledged strong support of Kyiv, while Trump has touted an isolationist approach.

Zelensky congratulates Trump, noting commitment to peace through strength approach

While on the campaign trail and on social media, the former president vowed to end the nearly three-year war between Russia and Ukraine if he was elected back to the White House. His apparent friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has also raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.

Trump has been openly critical of Ukraine and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky one of the greatest salesmen for securing billions of dollars in security aid from Washington.

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He should never have let that war start, Trump said, apparently referring to Zelensky, during an interview with the PBD Podcast adding, That wars a loser.

Harris, meanwhile, has backed Ukraine since Russias invasion in February 2022, saying my support for the people of Ukraine is unwavering before a September meeting with Zelensky. She also said in an interview last month with CBSs 60 Minutes that she would not meet Putin to negotiate an end to the war without Ukraine.

I have been proud to stand with Ukraine. I will continue to stand with Ukraine. And I will work to ensure Ukraine prevails in this war, she had said.

Trump met earlier this year with the Ukrainian leader as well. Zelensky also offered congratulations to Trump for his election win early Wednesday.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, commenting on the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops in Russias Kursk Oblast, has stressed the need to take further steps to shift the trajectory of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Source: a column by Rutte for Politico, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Rutte noted that the presence of North Korean forces on European soil should prompt everyone to consider whether we are "on the verge of something far darker than the devastation thats already been visited upon the people of Ukraine".

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He warned that the deepening military and economic ties between Russia and North Korea not only threaten Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security but also pose a threat to global security.

Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, NATO member states have provided Ukraine with over 99% of all military support and are on track to fulfil their financial commitment of 40 billion in military aid this year, he said.

Quote: "What we need now is the political commitment to stay the course for the long haul. So far, our support has kept Ukraine in the fight. But we need to do much more in order to shift the conflicts trajectory. We need to raise the cost for Putin and his enabling authoritarian friends."

The NATO Secretary General added that it is also essential to further invest in relationships with Indo-Pacific partners.

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"Backing Ukraine costs a fraction of our annual military budgets. Thats a small price to pay for peace. The question is, can we afford not to?" he asked rhetorically.

Background:

On 5 November, foreign ministers from the G7 countries and three key allied nations expressed serious concern about the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia and said they were working on a coordinated response.

Meanwhile, British intelligence has indicated that North Korean troops involved in combat against Ukraine may face compatibility issues with Russian forces and equipment.

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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO chief Mark Rutte congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday for being elected president of the United States, and emphasised that members were increasing their military spending, a response to a persistent Trump criticism of the Western alliance.

"I just congratulated Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO," Rutte said in a post on social media platform X.

In the past, Trump has been critical of NATO, accusing European members of spending too little on defence. During his election campaign he repeatedly said the U.S. would help protect NATO members from a future attack by Russia only if European members spent more.

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In a longer statement, Rutte said that "two-thirds of Allies now spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence, and defence spending and production are on an onward trajectory across the Alliance".

He added that "through NATO, the U.S. has 31 friends", while pointing out the challenges the military alliance is facing, referring among others to "the increasing alignment of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran".

"Working together through NATO helps to deter aggression, protect our collective security, and support our economies", he said.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer, Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Alison Williams and Peter Graff)
Polling sites in nine Navajo Nation communities will remain open until 9 p.m. after a series of glitches earlier in the day raised concerns that residents were not able to vote.

A judge ordered the polls would remain open an additional two hours in the communities of Lukachukai, Rock Point, Lupton, Fort Defiance, St. Michaels, Wheatfields, Dennehotso, Cottonwood and Chinle. The county met late Tuesday with Navajo officials and representatives of the Democratic and Republican parties.

After polling site glitches on the Navajo Nation, particularly in Apache County, the Navajo Department of Justice filed a complaint with the Superior Court to extend voting hours by two hours, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said late Tuesday.

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After nearly an hourlong hearing involving the Navajo Nation, Apache County, the Arizona Democratic Party and the Arizona Republican Party, a judge said polling sites in the nine communities would remain open until 9 p.m.

"The court will order those court locations remain open for an additional two hours, but only those polling locations because those were the polling locations that the court received evidence specifically supported by documentation about the issues" said Apache County Superior Court Judge Michael Latham.

Latham said the only information presented to the court were allegations from the Navajo Nation. He added that if similar issues had occurred in other parts of the county, the court would address them in the same manner.He said the court would not grant the remedies as specifically requested by the Navajo Nation, but approve the extension for the specific polling locations, granting an additional two hours for the nine polling places to remain open.

"I understand based on my meeting with the board of supervisors that Apache County opposes this request," said Emily Craiger an attorney with The Burgess Law Group representing Apache County, who was in executive session with the Board of Supervisors before the hearing. "It's the position of Apache County that all voters were given the ability to vote today."

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She said there were issues with the ballot-on-demand printers, but the problem was identified and quickly resolved. The fix was implemented by 9 a.m. and worked across Apache County. Additionally, backup paper ballots were available at all locations, and extra paper ballots were deployed. Accessible voting devices were also provided to ensure people could vote."We acknowledge there were longer lines than usual in Apache County but that all voters had the ability to vote today and continue to have that ability now," Craiger said. "The fix was deployed early in the day so that voters could continue voting for several hours."

Earlier, Nygren remained hopeful that the extension would be approved during a hearing, he expressed concern that even that additional time may not be enough to bring voters back to the polls. There are approximately 43,227 Navajo Nation members who are registered to vote in Apache County.To have a technology glitch and have it happen on Election Day ... its hard enough to get people to the polls, Nygren said. People borrow money, catch a ride, theyre on bumpy washboard roads going to 10 miles to vote, it takes an hour to vote, then when youre told ballots arent working, you got to wait. You get frustrated and leave. Its really tough.

Nygren has been traveling across the Navajo Nation to engage with voters and, as an Apache County voter himself, expressed disappointment. Like other Navajo leaders, he suggested it is no coincidence this issue is occurring in the region with the highest Navajo population, especially since the Navajo vote is seen as powerful enough to help turn the state from red to blue in 2020.

"We know in the last election the Navajo vote pulled President Biden through," Nygren said. "To have Apache County be affected like this is not good."

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With polls set to close at 7 p.m., the Navajo Nation has requested an extension until 9 p.m. In the complaint, the Navajo Nation said Apache County Recorder Larry Noble and Elections Director Rita Vaughn failed to ensure ballots were available throughout the entire voting period, hindering Navajo voters ability to cast their votes. The problem was linked to late poll openings, malfunctioning machines and extensive wait times, with some voters waiting over three hours.

The complaint also said ballot printers and accessible voting machines have not worked at various times and locations across the Navajo Nation in Apache County, "causing hardship for Navajo voters trying to exercise their fundamental right to vote."

He added that only one polling site in Apache County continues to have issues with printers and check-in machines.The Navajo communities where polling places were not operable once polls were set to open were Rock Point, Cottonwood, St. Michaels and Dennehostso. Of the 403,927 enrolled Navajo citizens, a majority reside in Arizona, with 145,334 living in Arizona.

"In addition, during the day, voters faced long lines at numerous polling locations, polling locations ran out of ballots, ballot printers were not working, and accessible voting devices were not working," stated the complaint. "These were widespread problems and not limited to one or two polling locations."

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Apache County uses a precinct-based voting system, requiring voters to cast their ballots at assigned polling locations for them to be valid. Without immediate court intervention, "defendants risk causing irreparable harm to the plaintiff and potentially hundreds of registered voters," the complaint said.

"It's anecdotal testimony about what was happening in the field," said Lance Broberg, Arizona Republican Party, in opposition to the extension. "Several different declarations... the first one was at 10:30 a.m., next was 9:40 a.m., then 10:30 a.m., then 9 a.m. ... so what are you seeing is all the complaints and all of the issues that were raised, really took place and are evidence by declarations from individuals who arrived first thing in the morning. As the county explained, there were issues when the polls first started to open, but those issues were resolved."

Several polling sites in Apache County were not effectively open at the legally required time of 6 a.m., as poll workers were unable to issue ballots, the complaint said. Those were Lukachukai, Lupton, Rock Point, Cottonwood, St. Michaels, Wheatfields, and Dennehotso. Voters were initially unable to vote.

"At Chinle, voters were leaving because they ran out of printed ballots and the lines were too long for the accessible voting devices," stated the complaint. "Some locations such as Fort Defiance, Chinle, Dennehotso, Luckachukai, and St. Michaels had long lines up to 3.5 hours. Some voters were sent to other voting locations, despite Apache County being a precinct-based county."

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The Navajo Nation's counsel contacted Apache county officials about the polling locations that failed to open on time. The county denied that any polling locations were nonoperational, acknowledged issues, but claimed most were resolved by 11:30 a.m.

"Even if we open the polls back up, people won't be able to make it back in to vote," Nygren said. "It's not like people live down the street to go vote. The best way to communicate on Navajo is through radio, but even if radio announcements went out, by the time they hear the announcements, it could be too late. It's unfortunate."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Voting hours extended in Navajo Nation after glitches
The U.S. Navy has now released its first official images of one of its F/A-18F Super Hornets with a very heavy air-to-air missile loadout that includes four of its new AIM-174Bs. We now know for sure that the jet from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9), the Vampires, with its distinctive gloss-black retro-scheme, was taking part in a new iteration of the Gray Flag test and evaluation exercise. The War Zone posited this was likely the case when the first images of the AIM-174B-armed aircraft first emerged back in September.

The pictures from Gray Flag 2024 also show the F/A-18F flying together with a Navy F-35C Joint Strike Fighter, also assigned to VX-9, as well as a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle. Marine Corps and Army personnel, as well as representatives from unspecified allies and partners, also took part in the exercise. Naval Test Wing Pacific and VX-9 hosted the event from their main base at Point Mugu in California.

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F and F-35, both assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9, fly over the Point Mugu Sea Range in Southern California with a U.S. Air Force F-15 during Gray Flag 2024 on Sept. 24, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kory Hughs)

(U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kory Hughs)

(U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kory Hughs)

In addition to the AIM-174s, the VX-9 F/A-18Fs Gray Flag loadout included a trio of medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAMs and a pair of short-range AIM-9X Sidewinders. The aircraft also had an infrared search and track system (IRST) in a modified drop tank on its centerline, as well as an ATFLIR targeting pod on its left cheek station. This very heavy air-to-air loadout would be an unlikely one, at least in most situations, for shipboard operations due to restrictions on the jets weight when returning to the ship, but could possibly prove very useful for land-based missions.

The first image of the F/A-18F Super Hornet with four AIM-174 missiles emerged in September. (point_mugu_skies)

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Gray Flag 2024 was an opportunity to bring together a diverse group of participants from different branches of the military, academic partners, science and technology leaders, and allied partners, Navy Capt. David Halpern, head of Naval Test Wing Pacific, said in a statement. The broad scope of participants allowed us to test and evaluate our systems and how they interact with one another in an operationally relevant environment.

The inclusion of the AIM-174 in Gray Flag 2024 is notable, but not at all surprising. These exercises regularly feature new and improved munitions and other capabilities, including ones still in development or of an experimental nature.

The AIM-174B first truly broke cover in July at the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, at which point the Navy also disclosed that it was in at least limited operational service. The War Zone had already been closely tracking signs pointing to the existence of the weapon, an air-launched version of the highly capable surface-launched multi-purpose SM-6 missile.

The War Zone has previously explored in detail how the AIM-174B is set to be central in the Navys future air combat planning, especially around potential high-end conflict with China in the Pacific. The missile offers important new ways to leverage emerging kill webs and challenge ever-evolving enemy ones, as you can read more about here and check out our video feature on it below.

With this in mind, it is interesting to note that Gray Flag 2024 was the most expansive interoperability event to date, with the data captured informing requirements, tactics, techniques, and procedures for future kill chains, according to Naval Test Wing Pacifics Capt. Halpern.

The AIM-174 looks set to continue being an extremely important feature in future exercises and operational deployments.

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F and F-35, both assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9, fly over the Point Mugu Sea Range in Southern California with a U.S. Air Force F-15 during Gray Flag 2024 on Sept. 24, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kory Hughs) Lt.Cmdr. Kory Hughs

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
(Getty images photo illustration)

North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. (Photo: NC Department of Agriculture)

North Carolinas incumbent Republican Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler has been reelected to his sixth four-year term, defeating Democratic challenger, Sarah Taber.

The Associated Press projected Troxler as the victor early Wednesday morning. With all precincts reporting, Troxler had 52.72% of the vote to Tabers 44.85%, according to the State Board of Elections. Libertarian Sean Haugh had 2.42%

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===

New state auditor Dave Boliek. (File photo)

Republican Dave Boliek has defeated Democratic incumbent Jessica Holmes in the race for state Auditor.

The Associated Press called the race at 11:30 Wednesday morning. With all precincts reporting, Boliek had 49.46% of the vote to Holmes 47.52%, for gap of just over 106,000 votes, according to the State Board of Elections. Libertarian Bob Drach had 3% of the vote.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.

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Sec. of State Elaine Marshall (File photo)

North Carolinas incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Elaine Marshall defeated Republican challenger, Chad Brown and was reelected to her eighth four-year term.

The Associated Press called the race at 11:30 Wednesday morning. With all precincts reporting, Marshall had 50.94% of the vote to Browns 49.06%, for a gap of 104,000 votes, according to the State Board of Elections.
Incumbent Don Davis, a Democrat, has defeated Republican Laurie Buckhout in the race for the 1st Congressional District.

As of Wednesday morning, Davis led by a 5,826-vote margin, 184,993 votes to 179,167. The Associated Press has not called the race and results remain unofficial, but Buckhout conceded the race in a phone call with Davis.

There was also a third party candidate, Libertarian Tom Bailey, who received 9,851 votes. That was more than the margin by which Davis was leading.

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The 1st Congressional District is the only one of North Carolinas 14 that is competitive, and the race was widely seen as one of a handful that would decide which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.

A Republican hasnt represented the North Carolinas 1st Congressional District since 1883, but the Cook Political Report classified it as a toss-up leading into Tuesdays election. New voting maps the Republican-controlled General Assembly enacted in 2023 made the district more favorable for the GOP candidate.

Davis appeared at his election night party at the Greene County Community Center shortly before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday to declare victory.

To the die hard, to the faithful who are still sticking it out with me, we did it, Davis said, speaking to about 20 people who remained at the election night event.

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Davis quickly moved onto a list of priorities, vowing that constituents in the district could bring concerns to his district offices and find someone who would listen.

Were going to fight to make sure that every child across Eastern North Carolina, that theyre able to reach their hopes and their dreams. I refuse to give up on the ability of our young people. Thats my love, thats my passion  our young people, to be able to live the American dream right here in Eastern North Carolina. No one should be left behind because of their ZIP code or their crossroad, Davis said.

The new district map added Camden, Currituck and Lenoir counties to the district, as well as the western part of Wayne County and a sliver of Granville County. It removed Franklin County and the northwestern part of Pitt County.

In the 2020 presidential election, the current districts voters narrowly voted for Democrat Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump, with 193,573 votes for the Democrat and 188,662 votes for the Republican, a difference of less than 1.3% of ballots cast in the race..

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The district was slightly more Democratic under court-ordered maps used in the 2022 congressional elections, with 206,010 going for the Democratic candidate and 179,140 for the Republican, a difference of almost 7% of the ballots cast.

Davis, a Snow Hill native, is a U.S. Air Force veteran and served six terms in the North Carolina Senate. Earlier this year, a report from Georgetown University and the nonprofit Lugar Center found that in 2023 Davis was the fifth-most bipartisan member of the House and the most bipartisan member of the North Carolina delegation.

Davis first won election to the seat in 2022, beating Sandy Smith by about 12,000 votes in a district that has since been redrawn.

During his first term, Davis focused on rebuilding the rural economy by upgrading infrastructure like high-speed broadband and increasing access to health care in Eastern NC. Since 2014, the 1st Congressional District has seen three rural hospitals close, resulting in the loss of 88 in-patient beds, according to the Sheps Center at UNC Chapel Hill.

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Davis also campaigned on a call for Congress to codify the federal rights to abortion access that had been established by the Roe v. Wade decision, which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in 2022s Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision.

In his remarks Wednesday morning, Davis said he would focus on unifying people across the district, no matter their party affiliation. He said he would work to deliver benefits to veterans, to protect jobs at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and to pass a Farm Act.

Davis also signaled a willingness to work with Republicans in a House where control was still up in the air as of Wednesday but appeared likely to be narrow. Immigration reform and the Farm Act were two issues Davis pointed to Wednesday morning, but he said there could be others.

If we have a Trump Administration, I would look for ways that we might agree on some things that we could forward for the greater good of the American people, Davis said, adding that hed worked to address rare diseases during his time in the General Assembly, something he said Trump had also worked on in his first administration.

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Buckhout, who lives in Edenton, defeated Smith in the Republican primary.

A combat veteran, Buckhout was seeking office for the first time. Her campaign message focused largely on returning to Trump-era immigration policies with the intention of reducing the number of undocumented immigrants and finding ways to reduce inflation.

In a statement conceding the race, Buckhout wrote, While Don and I have different visions, it is obvious to everyone he cares about this district. We have to get our economy back on track and we have to secure our border. Congressman Davis said the same during this campaign and I hope he will work with the Trump Administration to help make this happen.

Results are unofficial until the end of the 10-day canvass period. All of North Carolinas county-level Boards of Elections will meet at 11 a.m. Nov. 15 to certify their results.

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Most other races across Central and Eastern North Carolina are seen as noncompetitive due to the way the General Assembly has drawn Congressional districts:

2nd District

Incumbent Deborah Ross, a Wake County Democrat, has defeated Republican challenger Alan Swain, a retired U.S. Army colonel and former chairman of the Wake County Republican Party, to win a third term in Congress. Michael Dublin, a Green Party candidate, was also on the ballot.

The Associated Press called the race for Ross at 9:03 p.m.

Ross thanked supporters in a statement and vowed to work with both Democratic and Republian members of Congress to help Wake County.

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In the coming hours and days, we will learn the final results of contests that will shape the future direction of our state and our nation. No matter who wins or loses, I know that we can never give up on the vision of America that we fought for in this election  a country where every vote counts and every voice matters  where every American has the opportunity to not just get by, but get ahead, Ross wrote.

Deborah Ross, candidate for U.S. House District 2 in NC

Ross defeated Swain in 2020 to win election to Congress for the first time.

The district covers about two-thirds of Wake County, running as far west as Cary, as far east as Wendell and pulling in both northeast and northwest Raleigh. In the 2020 presidential race, the district cast more than 274,000 votes for then-candidate Joe Biden, a Democrat, compared to about 129,000 votes for Donald Trump, the Republican candidate.

3rd District

U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, a Greenville Republican, did not have a major party challenger and will be returning to Congress. Gheorghe Cormos, a Libertarian candidate, was also on the ballot.

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The Associated Press called the race for Murphy at 8:50 p.m.

US Rep. Greg Murphy

Murphy has represented Eastern North Carolina in Congress since September 2019, after he won a mid-term special election to replace the late Walter Jones Jr. Prior to that, Murphy served in the N.C. House of Representatives for two full terms and part of a third.

A urologist, Murphy is the only practicing physician in Congress.

The coastal district spans from Dare County in the north to Onslow County in the south before running inland as far west as the area around Clinton in Sampson County.. In 2020, voters in the district cast 211,687 votes for Trump and 148,210 votes for Biden.

4th District

U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee, a Democrat, won reelection in the left-leaning district. Foushee was running against Republican Eric Blankenburg, a technology consultant and U.S. Air Force veteran. Guy Meilleur, a Libertarian candidate, was also on the ballot.

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The Associated Press called the race for Foushee at 8:23 p.m.

In a statement to supporters Tuesday evening, Foushee wrote, Ive made a commitment to build a better future for our children, and a better life for our communities. Thank you for believing in me, supporting my campaign, and voting to uplift the common good.

Rep. Valerie Foushee, candidate for U.S. House District 4.

Foushee, a Chapel Hill native, is finishing her first term in Congress .Prior to that, Foushee served in North Carolinas State Senate for parts of five terms.

The 4th Congressional District includes Durham and Orange counties, as well as the southwestern corner of Wake County around Apex and part of northern Chatham County including Pittsboro. In 2020, the districts voters cast more than 303,000 votes for Biden and less than 110,000 for Trump.

5th District

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Banner Elk Republican, won election to Congress for the 11th time. Chuck Hubbard, a Wilkes County native and former newspaper reporter, was the Democratic candidate in the race.

The Associated Press called the race for Foxx at 9:26 p.m.

Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., speaks during the House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing on the rise in antisemitism on college campuses..

Foxx, who is widely seen as a staunch conservative, chairs the House Subcommittee on Higher Education. Last year, Foxx was the subject of news articles after she scolded a reporter for asking about then-House Speaker nominee Mike Johnsons role in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, telling the reporter to shut up.

Prior to serving in Washington, Foxx spent a decade in the N.C. State Senate. She also has earned a doctorate in education and has worked as a community college president.

The 5th Congressional District includes the High Country, with counties like Ash, Caldwell and Watauga. It also runs across the states northwestern border from Ashe to Rockingham, including places like Stokes and Surry counties before dipping into the northwestern corner of Guilford County, including Greensboro.

In 2020, voters in the 5th District cast 225,151 votes for Trump and 166,293 votes for Biden.

7th District

U.S. Rep. David Rouzer. a Wilmington Republican, won reelection to the congressional seat hes held since 2015. The Democratic candidate in the race is Marlando Pridgen, a Whiteville native and grassroots organizer.

The Associated Press called the race for Rouzer at 10:22 p.m.

U.S. Rep. David Rouzer is seeking reelection to Congress in the 2024 general election. Rouzer, a Republican, is facing Marlando Pridgen.

Rouzer, who previously served in the N.C. State Senate, is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment.

The 7th Congressional District runs along the coast from Pender to Brunswick counties before turning west along the South Carolina state line to the eastern edge of Robeson County. In its northwestern corner, the district includes Hope Mills and Fayettevilles downtown. In 2020, the 7th Districts voters favored Trump to Biden by a margin of 227,650 votes for Trump to 181,291 votes for Biden.

9th District

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, a Southern Pines Republican, won reelection to represent North Carolinas Sandhills district for a seventh term in Congress. Hudson was facing Democrat Nigel Bristow, a retired New York City Police Department detective who now works as Anson Countys chief of probation and parole.

Shelane Etchison, an independent, was also on the ballot.

The Associated Press called the race at 12:38 a.m.

Congressman Richard Hudson acknowledges the crowd as he introduced by former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, during a rally on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at the Rocky Mount Event Center in Rocky Mount, N.C.

Hudson is a member of House Republican leadership and is chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, a key fundraising and campaign apparatus for House Republicans.

Hudsons priorities include supporting soldiers and veterans, as well as protecting the Second Amendment right to carry firearms.

The 9th District runs along North Carolinas southern border from the eastern edges of Mecklenburg County in the west to downtown Lumberton in the east. It also includes Montgomery and Stanly counties, as well as much of Cabarrus.

The district tilts Republican, with voters casting 209,263 votes for Trump in 2020 compared to 157,686 for Biden.

13th District

Brad Knott, a Republican, won election to represent the 13th Congressional District, an exurban Triangle seat that was redrawn to make it significantly easier for Republicans to win there.

Knott, who previously worked as an assistant U.S. attorney, is facing Democrat Frank Pierce, the owner of a landscaping company.

The Associated Press called the race for Knott at 10:09 p.m.

Now that the election is behind us, we can focus on addressing serious problems facing our country with smart conservative solutions. Whether the open border, runaway spending, intrusive regulations from Washington, etc.  we need Conservatives to stand strong and fight for real solutions in Congress. I look forward to being just that, Knott said in a statement.

Brad Knott

The seat is currently held by Wiley Nickel, a first-term Democrat who announced he would not seek reelection after the new maps were drawn.

Knott came in second in the original GOP primary, trailing Kelly Daughtry. But after Knott received Trumps endorsement in the May runoff election, Daughtry suspended her campaign and he overwhelmingly defeated her to take the nomination.

The newly drawn 13th District wraps around the Triangle like a backwards c. It runs along the states northern border from Caldwell county in the west to include much of Granville County in the east before dipping down to Franklin County and Wakes northern edges, around Falls Lake and Rolesville.

The districts northern and southern pieces are connected by a sliver of Wake County that includes Five County Stadium, the former home of the Carolina Mudcats. Then, it loops around to pull in Johnston, Harnett and Lee counties, as well as the southeastern corner of Wake County.

The 13th District strongly supported Trump in 2020, with 225,176 ballots cast for the GOP nominee compared to 158,136 votes for Biden.

Election results: Congressional races in Charlotte and beyond
Heres the good news: Voters in North Carolina werent pleased with what the most extreme candidates on their ballots were selling.

And yet the same voters who handed Mark Robinson and Dan Bishop and Michele Morrow losses in key races still cast their vote for the man who is responsible for it all: Donald Trump.

In the governors race, Robinson lost to Attorney General Josh Stein by a whopping 15 percentage points, according to unofficial results. In the race for attorney general, Bishop lost by more than 3 percentage points. And Democrat Mo Green defeated Morrow by a comfortable margin in the race for superintendent of public instruction.

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All on a night where Trump carried North Carolina by a sizable margin, a much more comfortable win in the state than his narrow 2020 victory.

That means that there are hundreds of thousands of voters who rejected Robinson, Bishop or Morrow  or all three  but still voted for Trump in the end.

Its not particularly surprising that voters would shun the most extreme group of candidates for statewide office in North Carolinas history. The kind of visceral hate they espouse has never resonated well with the voters of our purple state, and there was really never a reason to think it suddenly would now.

But theres a reason that extremists keep appearing on the ballot in North Carolina and across the country. Its because Trump still dominates the Republican Party, and its voters are apparently still willing to let him, no matter how much they dislike the fanatical acolytes that have spawned under his influence.

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To be very clear: there would be no Mark Robinson, Dan Bishop or Michele Morrow on our ballot if it werent for Donald Trump. The fact that they are there at all is a testament to Trumps hold on the Republican Party and the rightward shift it has taken since he rose to power.

All three of them are fierce Trump allies whose support for him has not wavered, even in his worst moments. They embraced his lies about a stolen election, stood by him through felony convictions and blatantly racist, misogynistic and xenophobic rhetoric.

That, it seems, was a dealbreaker for North Carolina voters, although each candidate did have their own baggage weighing them down as well. But how is it not a dealbreaker to be the source of it all in the first place?

Of course, Trump has always been a unique kind of candidate. Theres a reason hes earned the nickname Teflon Don  no matter how low he stoops, the backlash never seems to stick, in spite of how disqualifying his actions should be. Yet that same backlash seems to stick to his most offensive acolytes, including Robinson here in North Carolina and potentially Kari Lake in Arizona. Theres also always the chance that, for at least some voters, this was as much about rejecting the current White House as it was about embracing Trump.

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But the Trump-Stein-Jackson voter remains a perplexing phenomenon, one that Republicans will have to answer to eventually. And as long as voters continue to support Trump, the scions of extremism they seem to reject will continue to fester. Because with Trump winning another election, its hard to see the Republican Party finally reckoning with the monster he has created. With Trump atop the GOP, he will continue to create extremism in his wake, and Republicans will blame the candidates themselves for their losses while bypassing the internal reflection that is most sorely needed..

We have not seen the last of candidates like Mark Robinson and Michele Morrow. There will be others like them. How long will it take for the Republican Party  and its voters  to realize Trump is the problem?

Im grateful that voters blocked a bunch of terrible candidates from taking office. Im just not sure why they dont realize that Trump is the most terrible one of all.
Though many of the native predators that once roamed Great Britain were hunted to extinction, like the lynx, the brown bear, and most famously the wolf, there remains a vanishingly small population of wildcats living in the Scottish Highlands that a dedicated group of conservationists are trying desperately to preserve.

The Scottish wildcat, a population of European wildcat found only in Scotland, is a critically endangered animal. But for one local conservation group, the Scottish Wildcat Haven, they are not done yet. In fact, the group has not only spotted a family of these creatures living in the wild, but also recently revealed that theyve produced a second generation.

According to some estimates, there are only a few dozen full-blooded Scottish Wildcats remaining in the wild. But according to the website of the Scottish Wildcat Haven, theyve counted over a hundred, and they are determined to help this subspecies survive.

Related: Endangered Asian Wildcat Explores New Habitat at Memphis Zoo with Wide-Eyed Wonder

Scottish Wildcats Vs. Domestic Cats

Some researchers say the Scottish wildcat has interbred with domestic housecats so much that the species is functionally extinct, and its true that DNA of remaining Scottish wildcats shows that they are a hybrid of the original wildcat species alongside the traits of the domestic cat. In fact, many conservation efforts for this vanishing breed focus on trapping and neutering feral cat populations around the wildcats remaining habitat, to help limit any future hybridization and preserve the species's distinctive traits.

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Their size is very similar (though wildcats may be slightly larger), and they have the same tabby coloring of many house cats, but they also possess several unique traits that can help differentiate the species from a regular cat.

Wildcats are slightly more robust in appearance, especially as compared to the slender profile of feral domesticated cats. The stripes on their body are likely to be unbroken, like a tigers. Most notably, a wildcat has a thick tail with a round, blunt tip. Unlike most tabby cats, the tail will not have a dorsal line of black down the top of it, but instead will feature ringed stripes and a notable black tip.

Behaviorally, wildcats areof course, wild. Though many feral, domestic cats are unfriendly toward people, wildcats are notable for being aggressive and shy of people from birth.

A Wildcat Family

In this video, a family of adorable wildcat kittens frolic in the woods. At first glance, they look like any tabby kitten, but if you look closely, you will begin to see the difference.

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Last year we captured an entire family of wildcats on camera, write the conservationists on their Facebooks page. It was the first time ever, that a male wildcat had been observed with kittens. Five wildcats in one video.

Wildcats are usually solitary creatures so it is uncertain if this is normal behavior for the species or a learned behavior (or a result of interbreeding with feral housecoats, who do form colonies). Nevertheless, Superdad (due to his caretaking skills) and family keep growing. This year, one of his daughters, the wildcat the Haven calls Willow had kittens of her own.

Rhey are doing fantastically well. She is a first time mum but she is an excellent hunter and her kittens are thriving. They are little, beautiful bundles of energy and are loving exploring their forest home. So, we now have three generations of wildcats at this site alone.

For the conservationists, its just a sign that their program of protection and education is working. They are fighting to keep the zone from being developed by wind farmers and other interests as well as trying to trap and neuter feral cats in order to keep the species from vanishing via hybridization.

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This all just keeps reinforcing our point that the Scottish wildcat is not functionally extinct and numbers can bounce back quickly if given protection and freedom from disturbance. In this site alone which is in the East of Aberdeenshire, we know of eleven different individuals. We have a dozen cameras spread across this site so we are building up a detailed knowledge of wildcat family life and social structure.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.

Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
On the night Breonna Taylor died, Detective Brett Hankison stood outside her apartment and blindly fired 10 rounds through a bedroom window and a sliding glass door, both of which were covered by blinds and curtains. Based on that reckless conduct, a federal jury in Louisville, Kentucky, last week convicted Hankison of willfully violating Taylor's Fourth Amendment rights under color of law.

Hankison did not kill Taylor, and his baffling behavior was just one of many things that went wrong before, during, and after the deadly March 2020 raid, including a misleading and legally deficient search warrant affidavit that tied the 26-year-old EMT to drug dealing based on little more than guilt by association. But Hankison's case vividly illustrates the difficulty of holding police officers criminally liable for abusing their powers.

Hankison was fired three months after the raid. Acting Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the detective had "displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life" by "blindly and wantonly" firing his gun without "verifying any person as an immediate threat" or considering "any innocent persons present."

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An indictment approved by a Kentucky grand jury in September 2020 likewise charged Hankison with three felonies for "wantonly" discharging his weapon "under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life." The charges were based on bullets that penetrated an apartment adjoining Taylor's, endangering her neighbors.

In March 2022, a state jury, after deliberating for three hours, acquitted Hankison of those charges, suggesting how much slack jurors tend to give police officers who say they used deadly force in response to a perceived threat. Five months later, Hankison was indicted on two federal charges, alleging that he violated Taylor's rights as well as her neighbors'.

Last year, a federal judge declared a mistrial on those charges because the jury failed to reach a verdict. During his second federal trial, Hankison again testified that he was trying to help two fellow officers, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, inside Taylor's apartment, thinking they were under sustained fire.

Hankison was wrong about that. When police broke into the apartment around 12:45 a.m., Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who later said he had no idea the intruders were cops, grabbed a handgun and fired a single round, striking Mattingly in the leg.

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In response, Mattingly and Cosgrove fired a total of 22 rounds down a dark hallway, where Taylor, who was unarmed, was standing near Walker. Hankison testified that he mistook his colleagues' gunfire for rounds from an AR-15 rifle that was "making its way down the hallway and executing everybody."

Even so, Hankison's response is hard to fathom. "He did exactly what he was supposed to do," defense attorney Don Malarcik told the jurors during his closing argument. "He was acting to save lives."

Not so, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Songer. Hankison "violated one of the most fundamental rules of deadly force," Songer told the jury. "If they cannot see the person they're shooting at, they cannot pull the trigger."

According to Yvette Gentry, Louisville's former interim police chief, Cosgrovewho fired 16 rounds into the apartment, including the one that killed Taylordid something similar. Gentry canned Cosgrove in December 2020, saying he had fired "in three distinctly different directions," which indicated he "did not identify a target."

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An investigation by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron nevertheless concluded that both Cosgrove and Mattingly had fired in self-defense, meaning criminal charges were not justified. So far Hankison, who was found guilty of the charge involving Taylor but acquitted of the charge involving her neighbors, is the only officer directly involved in the raid to be convicted of a crime.

Federal charges are still pending against former Detective Joshua Jaynes, who wrote the search warrant affidavit, and former Sgt. Kyle Meany, who approved it. But it is not hard to see why Attorney General Merrick Garland suggests that "justice for the loss of Ms. Taylor is a task that exceeds human capacity."

 Copyright 2024 by Creators Syndicate Inc.

The post Nearly Five Years After Breonna Taylor's Death, Justice Remains Elusive appeared first on Reason.com.
Nebraska Republican Sen. Deb Fischer can rest easy, as she is projected to defeat independent Dan Osborn and hang on to her U.S. Senate seat.

Fischers victory is a relief to Republicans hoping to take control of the Senate from Democrats. The political neophyte Osborn had mounted a spirited challenge, forcing the GOP to redirect millions of dollars into a deep-red state that former President Donald Trump had carried by 19 points in 2020.

Republicans need to pick up two Senate seats for a clean majority that wouldnt rely on a vice president to act as a tie-breaker. An Osborn upset could have scrambled those plans.

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Fischer, who owns a Nebraska ranching business with her husband, has been in the Senate since 2013 and returns for a third term.

Osborns internal polls during the campaign showed him to be leading Fischer, and the senator acknowledged her challenger seemed to be within striking distance. The race appeared close enough that Republicans dumped about $10 million in advertising into it.

Thats an investment they were hoping to avoid. Fischer defeated her Democratic challenger by nearly 20 points in 2018, and no Democrat has won a Senate election in Nebraska since 2006.

Trump ended up cutting an advertisement for Fischer in which he called Osborn a radical-left person.

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Osborn, a mechanic and union leader, had attacked Fischer as an out-of-touch Washington politician whos beholden to wealthy donors. Fischer, in turn, tried to portray Osborn as a Democrat in disguise rather than the true independent he held himself out to be.

Democrats hoped Osborn could get a lift from high progressive turnout in the battleground of Nebraskas 2nd District, which includes Omaha, where a single electoral vote was at play in the presidential election. There were no Democrats on the ballot for Fischers seat, making it easier for Osborn to consolidate any voters opposed to Fischer.

Despite the buzz surrounding his campaign, an Osborn victory still seemed unlikely heading into November.

Nobody thought he was going anywhere, and nobody believed any polling that had him within the margin of error, Paul Landow, a political science professor at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, told HuffPost ahead of the election. Neither did I, and I still am skeptical, but theres no question about the fact that hes got a lot of peoples attention.

See full results from the Nebraska Senate election here.

Related...
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer won reelection Tuesday to a third term in the U.S. Senate, besting challenger Dan Osborn, a former labor union boss and military veteran who gained traction during the race by rejecting both major parties to run as an independent.

Fischer won her previous elections by wide margins in the conservative state. But she faced her toughest challenge yet in Osborn, a working-class industrial mechanic and veteran of the U.S. Navy and Nebraska Army National Guard who outraised Fischer by more than $1 million.

Political action committees and interest groups also poured almost $29 million into the race, according to FEC filings. Nearly $20 million of the money benefitted Osborn.

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In her victory speech, Fischer took issue with money that she said out-of-state Democrats spent trying to buy a Nebraska Senate seat.

They wasted their money, she said. As it turned out, no matter how much the media and the Democrats wanted it to happen, Nebraskans still vote for candidates who share their values.

The close race was unfamiliar territory for Fischer in a state where Republicans hold every statewide office. Fischer not only had to deflect criticism from her challenger, but from her own party, too. The state GOP, whose leadership was taken over by those loyal to former President Donald Trump, endorsed primary challengers to all five of the Republicans who represent Nebraska in Congress, including Fischer.

Much of Osborns appeal came from his blue-collar background. He gained a name for himself in 2021 by successfully leading a strike at the Kelloggs cereal plant in Omaha as part of a national strike at four plants to gain higher wages and other benefits for roughly 1,400 workers following a year in which the company saw soaring revenue.

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In his political ads, Osborn painted Fischer as part of an elitist group of wealthy self-dealers who focus on the needs of corporate interests and lobbyists.

Fischer countered with a barrage of televised ads in the last weeks of the race labeling Osborn a liberal who would caucus with Democrats. She also warned that an Osborn win could cost Republicans control of the Senate.

She shored up support among the Republican base by leaning into her support for Trump, despite having called for him to leave the 2016 race after audio emerged of Trump bragging about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women who were not his wife as he waited to make a cameo appearance on a soap opera in 2005. Despite their past issues, Trump endorsed Fischer for reelection, which she touted in her campaign ads.
Voters in Nebraska have approved the medical use of cannabis, a policy that has been adopted by 38 other states (24 of which also allow recreational use). With three-quarters of ballots counted on Tuesday night, 71 percent of voters favored Initiative 437, which allows patients with a "written recommendation" from a "health care practitioner" to "use, possess, and acquire up to five ounces of marijuana to alleviate or treat a medical condition or its symptoms." Initiative 438, a complementary measure that authorizes state-licensed medical marijuana suppliers, was supported by 67 percent of voters.

Despite those endorsements, medical marijuana could still be blocked in court. Although Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen approved both initiatives for the ballot, a lawsuit by John Kuehn, a former Republican state senator, argues that signature collectors did not comply with state law. Last week, a state judge ruled that the medical marijuana votes should be counted despite that pending case. Depending on how the legal challenge turns out, the initiatives may or may not be implemented.

Initiative 437 does not specify which medical conditions can be treated with cannabis. But it says a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner must state that, in his professional judgment, "the potential benefits of cannabis outweigh the potential harms for the alleviation of a patient's medical condition, its symptoms, or side effects of the condition's treatment." Initiative 438 would create a commission to regulate the production and distribution of medical marijuana.

The post Nebraska Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Medical Marijuana appeared first on Reason.com.
Jenni Benson, then-president of the Nebraska State Education Association and sponsor of the Support Our Schools ballot referendum, leads supporters in transporting more than 86,000 signatures to the Nebraska Secretary of State. July 17, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Voters on Tuesday resoundingly rejected Nebraskas new school voucher or scholarship program, steering public dollars spent to public schools.

Supporters of using state tax dollars to offset the costs of a private K-12 education have argued that families unhappy with their public schools need more options.

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But rural and urban supporters of public schools, the Nebraska State Education Association and private foundations supporting public schools won the day.

Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, said he was proud to see right- and left-leaning counties agree that vouchers were the wrong choice.

It confirms what we knew, the majority of Nebraskans dont want public dollars going to private schools, Royers said. What really stood out to me is the consistency.

Royers hopes state senators move on

Royers said he is hopeful that state senators will follow the will of the voters and move onto other more pressing issues in education that teachers and parents can work on together.

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Support Our Schools argued that diverting even small amounts of public money toward private K-12 schools with a scholarship program or vouchers risked long-term support for public education.

They pointed to the experiences in other states with voucher programs, including neighboring Iowa, which has seen the national rankings of its public schools slide since that program began.

They argued that school choice programs typically end up largely benefiting the people already making the choice to send their children to private schools.

And they said such programs risked creating greater concentrations of poverty in some schools by draining them of students who often act as stabilizing force

Lawmakers plan to keep working for choice

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn holds a cup containing about 10 Legos compared to an overflowing jug of Legos to her left. She said the Legos are supposed to illustrate the difference between $10 million for nonpublic schools and $5 billion for total public school spending in Nebraska. Oct. 28, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha and other lawmakers backing opportunity scholarships have already said they plan to keep working for school choice regardless of the outcome of Tuesdays election.

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Linehan, in a statement, said the teachers union and Support Our Schools spent two years and $7 million distorting the truth in their endless pursuit to keep opportunity away from kids.

I am confident Nebraskans and the leaders in this state will continue fighting to keep kids first, Linehan said.

The first version of Nebraskas school choice law, passed in 2023, provided a tax credit for those donating to a scholarship fund for private K-12 education. After passage, those opposing the law launched a petition drive to put the issue before voters.

2023 law replaced in 2024

Linehan sidestepped that referendum by replacing the law in the 2024 legislative session.

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She and other lawmakers transformed the program into a $10 million annual state appropriation for private school vouchers, to be run through the office of State Treasurer Tom Briese, a Linehan ally.

The Support Our Schools campaign, with support from public school proponents, including Omaha Public Schools supporter Susie Buffett, collected the necessary signatures a second time to challenge the law on the ballot.

Royers, new president of the NSEA, and Jenni Benson of Support Our Schools, the previous NSEA leader, have said Linehan should not have tried to avoid letting voters weigh in on an unpopular program.

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Families of some children attending private schools through the precursor program, Opportunity Scholarships, or through the latest version have said they cant afford private school tuition without such financial help.

State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, a Democrat who supports school choice, has said parents cannot afford to wait for public school systems to improve. They need help for their kids now, he said.

Jeremy Ekeler, executive director of Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska, said his group and supporters of the program have focused on helping families who couldnt wait for school districts and systems to change.

While tonight we did not see the results that we hoped for, those thousands of Nebraska families who finally have access to the right educational fit for their children thanks to LB 1402 will make their voices heard for years to come, he said.

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It remains to be seen whether other lawmakers will offer a similar proposal in 2025. Linehan and Wayne are both term-limited and wont return to the Legislature next year.

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A slim majority of Nebraska voters supported an anti-abortion amendment on Tuesday, beating out the states competing abortion rights measure.

Initiative 434 will enshrine the states current 12-week abortion ban into the state constitution. The amendment will only allow abortions after the first trimester if the pregnancy is a result of sexual assault or incest, or if there is a medical emergency, the measure states.

The anti-abortion initiative passed with a 55% majority, or by about 95,000 votes, according to the Associated Press.

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The pro-abortion-rights measure, also known as Initiative 439, sought to codify abortion access until fetal viability, or around 24 weeks, into the state constitution. Initiative 439 lost by about 24,000 votes, with 51% of Nebraskans voting against expanding abortion access, according to the AP.

Its the first time competing abortion measures have been on a state ballot since the Supreme Court rescinded Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The result is a huge win for anti-abortion advocates in the state. The pro-abortion rights measure faced many Republican attacks, including a legal challenge from a Christian law firm that went all the way to the state Supreme Court. The court handed down the decision that allowed the amendment to stay on the ballot just hours before the deadline to finalize initiatives.

Anti-abortion advocates in the state intentionally crafted Initiative 434 to sound similar to the pro-abortion rights Initiative 439, in what reproductive rights groups say was an effort to confuse voters.

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The anti-abortion campaign had gone so far as to trick voters into signing a petition that qualified Initiative 434 for the ballot, Ashlei Spivey, the campaign leader for the pro-abortion rights initiative and a candidate for the state legislature, said on a press call last month.

Backers of the anti-abortion measure would go around asking voters whether theyre pro-choice or pro-life, Spivey said. Whatever they said, [the canvassers would reply,] Oh, this is the ballot for you, and they would sign, she said.

At least 300 Nebraskans requested the state remove their signatures from the anti-abortion ballot petition.

The measure is expected to go into effect later this month, although not much will change given the amendment simply codifies current law.

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Nebraskans on all sides stand with abortion rights  but knowing they couldnt win on the issue outright, extremist anti-abortion forces pushed through a competing ballot measure designed to manipulate voters, said Kelly Hall, executive director of the Fairness Project, a national ballot measure organization that supported Nebraskas pro-choice abortion initiative.

Even in the face of the oppositions unrelenting interference with the ballot measure process, an extraordinary number of Nebraska voters stood up against their states dangerous abortion ban  and we are incredibly proud to have supported the advocates on the ground who made that possible.

Related...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, a long-rumored move that was announced on Election Day in the U.S. Netanyahu and Gallant had repeatedly clashed over the conduct of the war in Gaza and Lebanon.

Protests erupted in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in response to the decision, with critics accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing his own political survival over Israel's best interests, while families of those held hostage in Gaza expressed deep concern over the impact Gallant's firing could have on efforts to secure the release of their loved ones.

Gallant will be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who thanked Netanyahu in a social media post for trusting him with the role. Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu opponent, will become foreign minister and cement support for the fragile ruling coalition keeping the embattled Israeli leader in power.

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In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and the minister of defense, Netanyahu said. Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the minister of defense.

Netanyahu added that there were significant gaps between what the Cabinet had decided and what he termed the campaign.

He added that most members of the government and the Cabinet shared a crisis of trust with Gallant.

Gallant, in response Tuesday, said, The security of the State of Israel always was, and will always remain, my lifes mission.

Yoav Gallant, left, and Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a later address, he said Netanyahu had informed him of the decision earlier that evening.

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He said he was fired over discord on three key issues, including his support for Israel making "painful compromises" in order to ensure the release of hostages who remain held in Gaza, as well as his calls for a commission of inquiry to investigate Israel's failures on Oct. 7, 2023, and his support for legislation that would remove exemptions allowing ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to avoid military conscription.

Signs of strains in the Gallant-Netanyahu relationship appeared over the last months. Gallant was scheduled to meet with his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in Washington in early October  a trip Gallant initiated  but it was postponed at Netanyahus request.

Gallant, who has spent decades in the military, has been critical of Netanyahus approach to the conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah.

His firing drew immediate criticism from opposition leader Benny Gantz, who said it was politics at the expense of national security.

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Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the decision as an "act of madness" and accused Netanyahu of "selling Israel's security and the IDF fighters for a disgraceful political survival."

In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed its "deep concern" about the decision and about how it would affect "the fate of 101 hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for nearly 400 days."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on X: "The last thing the State of Israel needs right now is an upheaval and a rupture in the middle of the war."

Netanyahu's decision was welcomed by his ultranationalist national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who congratulated him on the move.

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"With Gallant ... it is not possible to achieve absolute victory," Ben-Gvir wrote on X.

In a nationally televised statement in May, Gallant challenged Netanyahu over his refusal to discuss a cease-fire and hostage deal. He said that would force Israel to have to rule over the Palestinian enclave again.

We must make tough decisions for the future of our country, favoring national priorities above all other possible considerations, even with the possibility of personal or political costs, Gallant said over the summer.

In the United States, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said Gallant has been an important partner on Israel's defense.

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As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israels next Minister of Defense, the spokesperson said.

A U.S. official called Gallant's firing a surprise.

The surprising decision to fire Defense Minister Gallant is concerning, especially in the middle of two wars and as Israel prepares to defend against a potential attack from Iran," the official said. "We have real questions about the reasons for Gallants firing and about what is driving the decision.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Gallant had been a "trusted partner as Israels Minister of Defense."

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"Americas commitment to Israels security remains ironclad and the U.S. Department of Defense will continue to work closely with Israels next Minister of Defense," he said.

Mustafa Barghouti, head of the Palestinian National Initiative political party, said Gallant's firing was "evidence of a deep internal rift in the Israeli system as a result of the failure of the Israeli aggression to achieve its goals."

In the days after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, which Israeli officials say killed more than 1,200 people, Gallant announced a "complete siege" of Gaza.

"No electricity, no food, no water, no gas  it's all closed," Gallant said at the time, adding that his military was fighting against "human animals" in Gaza, where local officials say more than 43,000 people have been killed.

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Netanyahu fired Gallant in March 2023, after he publicly disagreed with the government and pushed to stop a controversial plan to overhaul the judicial system. The move prompted mass protests and led Netanyahu to reverse the decision.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(Bloomberg) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus shock firing of his defense chief on Tuesday night removed a key cabinet critic, but it also deepened anger among opponents over his handling of the countrys multi-front conflict.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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In Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu had a defense minister who challenged many of his plans for the war against Hamas in Gaza and threatened the stability of his fragile coalition. Netanyahu is betting he can conduct military policy with fewer obstacles by picking Israel Katz, formerly the foreign minister, to replace Gallant. It might even be enough to hold his government, the most right-wing Israels ever had, together until the next planned election in 2026.

The upshot is that Israel could continue pursuing total victory against Hamas and defying pressure from the White House, Europeans and Arab states to accept a deal for a cease-fire and release of the roughly 100 hostages held by the Iran-backed militant group.

Netanyahu got a boost hours later when it became clear Donald Trump had defeated Kamala Harris in the US presidential election. The premier was quick to praise the former president, congratulating him on historys greatest comeback. Some of Netanyahus ministers openly backed Trump, believing he would be less critical than President Joe Biden about the deaths of Palestinian civilians and give firmer support for Israels operations in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as against Iran.

The prime minister also phoned Trump, one of the first world leaders to do so.

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The conversation was warm and cordial, according to a statement from Netanyahus office on Wednesday. The two agreed to work together for Israels security. The two also discussed the Iranian threat.

Announcing his move against Gallant, Netanyahu said the trust between them had broken down. In late August, Gallant was the only cabinet member to vote against maintaining a military presence in Gazas so-called Philadelphi corridor. Netanyahus insistence that troops remain in the strip of land running along the Gaza-Egypt border was a key reason truce talks with Hamas stalled.

Gallant, who spoke regularly with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and helped Israel and the US weather tensions between Netanyahu and Biden, cited three reasons for being fired. One of them, he said, was to do with the conduct of the war in Gaza.

The defense minister long said the best way to get the hostages released was to accept a phased cease-fire, even it it meant withdrawing from parts of Gaza.

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It requires painful concessions, which Israel can carry and the IDF can bear, Gallant said on Tuesday, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

Hardliners in the cabinet, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, disagreed with Gallant and were happy with Netanyahus decision to oust him.

Another reason was growing divisions over a recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned Orthodox Jews exemption from military conscription. Gallant said the ruling had to be implemented, while Netanyahu and his Orthodox political allies wanted to bypass it.

In recent days, Netanyahu failed to introduce a policy allowing Orthodox men, known as Haredim, to avoid economic sanctions if they refused to serve. Haredi parties, critical members of the coalition, have threatened to topple the government if that doesnt happen.

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Gallant, as well as many secular politicians and even the central bank governor, say Israel needs to draft more Haredim to lessen the burden on other communities and the economy as the military grows to cope with increased external threats.

The third point of contention between Gallant and Netanyahu was over the formers call for a commission of inquiry to uncover the truth and learn lessons about Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza, triggering the war. It was the worst day in Israels history in terms of the number of Israelis killed.

Netanyahu says a state inquiry would be a distraction while the conflict continues. His critics say hes simply trying to avoid a report that would showcase his failings in the run up to Oct. 7 and on the day itself.

For all that Gallants departure may stabilize Netanyahus coalition, it weakens him in other ways. Opponents  including a business forum that includes chief executives of some of Israels biggest companies  cried foul and said he was prioritizing his political survival over the nations security and the hostages. Protesters took to the streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, though they couldnt persuade Netanyahu to change his mind.

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Lawlessness, read a headline Wednesday in Yediot Aharonot, Israels largest newspaper. This is how democracy dies, wrote the papers main columnist, Nahum Barnea.

(Updates with more details.)

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron have congratulated Donald Trump as he looked poised to return to the White House as the 47th president of the United States.

The conservative broadcaster Fox News had already declared Republican candidate Trump the overall winner against Democrat Kamala Harris, but other media networks and US news agency AP have not done so. Trump declared himself the winner in a speech in Florida.

"Congratulations on historys greatest comeback!' Netanyahu posted on the platform X on Wednesday morning.

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"Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America."

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that he was "ready to work together as we did for four years."

This would happen "with your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity," he wrote.

Trump was very close to the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the election outright as Netanyahu and Macron posted their messages.
A ballot for Alaska's 2022 general election. Alaska in 2020 adopted a voting system similar to the one now proposed in Nevada. (Photo: James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)

Nevada voters rejected a proposed move to an open primary and ranked choice voting election system, a reversal from two years ago when they supported it.

As of late Tuesday, unofficial election results showed 57% in support and 43% opposed. The Associated Press called the race for no.

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In 2022, when Nevada voters first weighed in on Question 3, they approved it with 53% support and 47% opposed.

Both the Democratic and Republican state parties strongly opposed Question 3. Republicans characterized it as a California idea, while Democrats labeled it confusing for voters.

Question 3 would have moved Nevada to an open primary/ranked choice voting system. All candidates, regardless of political party, would have appeared on the primary ballot. Voters would select one candidate during the primary, and the top five finishers advance to the general election. Then, in the general election, voters would rank the candidates in order of preference.
Vote counting in Nevada has been thrown into chaos because young people cannot sign their own names, a state official has said.

Absentee ballots in the state require a voters signature to match with signatures already on file in state or federal databases.

Roughly 13,000 mail-in ballots have been rejected across Nevada because the signatures on their ballot did not match the signatures in the system, secretary of state Francisco Aguilar said on Tuesday.

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The signatures of younger voters did not always match what was on their drivers licences, he added.

Its mostly the fact that young people dont have signatures these days, he explained. And when they did register to vote through the automatic voter registration process, they signed a digital pad  and that became their licence signature.

State officials were frantically reaching out to young voters to rectify the issue, US media reported.

We need to ensure that every voters voice is heard, Mr Aguilar said outside a Las Vegas voting site.

He said his office was sending guidance to counties across the state to ensure the signature verification process was being applied equally across the state.

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According to reports, the number of rejected ballots in Nevada is much higher than in previous years.

Mr Aguilar expressed fears that the sheer number of ballots requiring fixing could mean the state would be late in declaring which presidential candidate was victorious.

When you start to look at the data and you start to realise how high it is, it makes you nervous, because, again, these races are so close, the margins are so slim, that I dont want to look at the numbers tonight and know that we have to wait for ballots to be cured.

Votes in Nevada have until Nov 12 to correct a mismatched signature.

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Mr Aguilars office has faced criticism for not anticipating the problem.

Patricia Fisher, a professional documents examiner from Northern California, told US news site Mother Jones that Nevada officials should have compared more than two signatures.

You never compare just two signatures to determine a mismatch, Ms Fisher explained, adding that the signatures need to be from similar types of documents and that you do not compare a recent with one collected years earlier.

Six signatures is about the minimum for a solid comparison, she said.

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(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Question 7, which would require Nevadans to present photo identification before voting in person saw a decisive victory. As of late Tuesday, 72% were in favor and 28% were opposed. The proposal would also require voters list additional personal information on their mail ballots.

The Associated Press called the race for yes.

Nevada voters will need to approve Question 7 again in the 2026 General Election before the photo ID requirement goes into effect.

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Question 7 proposes establishing in the state constitution a requirement that Nevadans must present government-issued photo identification before voting in-person. Question 7 would also require that voters using a mail ballot list the last four digits of their Nevada drivers license number, the last four digits of their Social Security number, or a number provided to them by their county clerk when they registered to vote.

Over the past several years, Nevada lawmakers have expanded voter access by establishing automatic voter registration and universal mail ballots. Establishing a photo ID requirement and additional personal information to be listed on mail ballots would be a reversal of that trend.

Supporters describe the proposal as a common sense election reform that may help restore peoples faith in the democratic process. Those opposed see it as a solution in search of a problem and say it could disenfranchise people who dont have an acceptable form of ID.

This victory is a powerful message from Nevadans who believe that secure elections and transparent voter identification strengthen our democracy, said Repair the Vote PAC Chairman Dave Gibbs in a statement.

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Voter ID ballot measures across the country have historically passed with comfortable margins, and the issue polls extremely well. However, pushback is not unheard of. In 2022, Arizonans rejected a ballot measure that would have required voters to include their date of birth and voter identification number when voting by mail.

Editors Note: This article has been updated with a statement from Repair the Vote.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY)  Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), announced on Wednesday that she will be retiring by the end of the year.

According to a release from Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), Kari Wilkinson will serve as the companys president starting on Jan. 1, 2025, taking over after Boykins 37 years with the company.

NNS, HIIs largest division, helps to oversee over 26,000 shipbuilders who all work to design, build and maintain complex ships, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines.

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I have asked Jennifer to stay on in an advisory capacity through March to support a seamless transition to Kari, HII CEO and President Chris Kastner said. You will not find a more loyal advocate than Jennifer for her shipbuilders and the Hampton Roads community. Karis leadership has steered Ingalls Shipbuilding into its next phase of growth, having secured serial production contracts for both the destroyer and amphibious ship programs. She is a tremendous leader and now brings her great energy and expertise to Newport News.

Wilkinson will become the 21st president of NNS. Previously, she worked as HIIs Ingalls Shipbuilding division president since 2021, overseeing the U.S. Navys amphibious assault and surface combatant ship programs.

Leading shipbuilders in the critical work we do for the nation has been and will continue to be the greatest honor of my life, Wilkinson said. I join the Newport News team with deep respect for its nuclear culture, commitment to safety, and an exceptional legacy further strengthened by Jennifer and the NNS team. I am fully committed to advancing our mission in support of our sailors, their families, and for all of us who depend on them for freedom and security.

Boykin posted to Facebook Wednesday morning about her retirement. Her statement can be read in part below:

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It is impossible to sum up a 37-year career in a short letter. But I can say this: If in my youth, someone told me I would one day lead the greatest shipyard and the finest shipbuilders to build the most amazing ships in the world, I never would have believed it! Without a doubt, I will miss the most extraordinary people who make Newport News Shipbuilding such a special place to work. Thank you for believing in the dignity of hard work, craftsmanship, and the purpose of our mission. Jennifer Boykin

During Boykins career, she helped to lead the transformation from digital design to digital construction first on Enterprise (CVN 80) and Columbia-class submarine program, guided the companys achievement of the first two-ship aircraft carrier procurement in over 30 years for CVN 80 and Doris Miller (CVN 81 and was known throughout the region for community engagement and commitment to diversity.

For more information, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Gavin Newsom cannot lead the resistance to Donald Trumps second presidency from Marin County, California. Newsom should resist his attention-seeking tendencies because appointing himself as the leader of liberal resistance to Trump would not be good for him or our state.

The current Governor of California is a rare Democrat whose political prospects improved after Trumps thrashing of Kamala Harris in a presidential election result that defied mainstream predictions. Newsom and California could well wind up opposing Trump on a variety of issues.

But there is a difference between a governor defending his state and one seeking attention-grabbing conflict for self-serving political purposes.

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Democrats right now are akin to Americas big blue void. Led by an octogenarian president who never should have run for a second term, it was left to Harris to quickly muster a candidacy in which she clearly did not connect with sufficient voters throughout the country.

Opinion

The pundit class may seek out Newsom to fill that void. As he proved this election cycle, he is an articulate defender of his party and state. While a staunch supporter of both Biden and Harris, this election was not about Newsom.

Freed from surrogacy

Newsom is no longer a surrogate. He is one of the nations leading Democrats by fate and default. In this historic loss, Harris is no longer the undisputed leader of Democratic Party politics in California. Its now Newsom.

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However, the reasons a majority of voters in the nation embraced Donald Trump are also the same reasons that Newsom is not the right face, or voice, of an anti-Trump movement.

Americans are fed up with soaring prices that coincided with the Biden presidency. Border state residents in particular are tired of waves of uncontrolled immigration.

Newsom isnt an effective counter-punch to the prevailing American sentiment for so many reasons. As much as we Californians admire ourselves and our state, the feeling isnt universally mutual. California is the epicenter of unaffordability in housing, electricity, or gasoline. And while some red states like Florida and Texas have turned the corner on homelessness (theyre building proportionately more housing than we are), Californias unhoused problem ranks among the highest in the nation.

Donald Trump would probably love for Gavin Newsom to be his top heckler from the left.

Conflict is coming

Newsom will not have to seek conflict in order to find it. California is in a uniquely vulnerable position on so many issues in the coming years. The state will rely on the next administration, for example, for money to finish the Merced-to-Bakersfield initial segment of the long-troubled high-speed rail line. Huge unresolved water issues loom in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Colorado River. Threats of mass deportation of immigrants could harm the Golden State more than all others.

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Newsom doesnt have to be some political wallflower and stutter his way through the last two years of his governorship. But he would serve his state and future if he toned his performative style of governing down.

California needs a singularly focused governor to address many serious problems, not one who appears angling for the next job. Newsoms legacy as governor hangs in the balance in his final years. State finances are shaky. So is his relationship with legislative leadership in his own party. And while Newsom has done more to combat homelessness than any other governor, our urban centers like Sacramento are still suffering and bearing a disproportionate burden of this crisis.

California will never lose its voice in this nations political discourse. Its a matter of how to use that voice. Newsoms best counter to Trump is to hunker down and make progress on our challenges. Real governing doesnt happen on camera.
NEWTON, Kan. (KSNW)  The City of Newton has released more details about what police were investigating for several hours Tuesday near 12th and Kansas.

Tuesday morning, a suspect fled from a North Newton police officer during a traffic stop. Newton police officers assisted in the chase and eventually found the alleged suspect in a garage in the 500 block of East 11th Street.

The police officers say they also found about 60 suspicious items consistent with homemade explosives.

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Spirit AeroSystems says layoffs, furloughs may be needed

The Wichita Bomb Squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrived and examined the items. They believed them to be illegal explosive material.

The City of Newton says officials rendered the explosives safe early in the investigation, but police cordoned off the area out of an abundance of caution.

The items were taken to a safe location and blown up around 5:30 Tuesday evening. That was about 30 minutes after the city warned residents they might hear a loud boom.

A resident of the house is in custody, and police are looking for a person of interest.

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Police say the person who ran from the traffic stop is not believed to be connected to the garage or the residents. Instead, he was arrested on misdemeanor warrants.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
As Texans cast their votes in the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, many wonder how soon theyll know who won.

Texas polls close at 7 p.m. Central Time, but results from other critical states may take longer due to varying ballot processing and counting methods.

In some battleground states, early and mail-in ballots are processed in advance, enabling a quicker release of initial results. However, other states wait until Election Day to begin counting these ballots, which could delay final tallies. Additionally, any close races may need extended time to ensure accurate counts.

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Given these complexities, a clear winner in key battlegrounds may not be declared on election night. Texans should be prepared for a wait of several days for final outcomes in these critical races.

When election results should be expected in battleground states

Seven states are pivotal in this election, each with unique factors affecting when results may be finalized:

Georgia : Known for counting quickly, Georgia is already leaning Republican with 6% of counties reporting.

North Carolina : Facing both new voting rules and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, North Carolina may experience delays.

Pennsylvania : A critical state where 90% of past winners go on to the presidency, Pennsylvania often takes beyond election night to finalize resultsonly 54% of votes were counted by midnight in 2020.

Michigan : Historically slower, Michigan had 51% of votes counted by midnight in the last election.

Wisconsin : Generally finishes most of its counting on Election Day, making it one of the quicker states.

Arizona : With a large portion of ballots cast by mail, Arizona typically takes several days to complete counting.

Nevada: Allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received up to four days later, often extending the timeline for final results.

These factors mean that while some results may emerge quickly, others could take days, especially in closely contested states.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: When will we know election results? When to expect swing state results
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Floridas Amendment 3 failed, but still got majority support.

Advocates for recreational marijuana legalization hope they can turn that support into legislation.

Florida voters reject recreational marijuana amendment

I think that it is further evidence that Floridians are ready for meaningful cannabis reform and there is so much here that we all really do agree on, said Kim Rivers, president & CEO of Trulieve, Floridas largest medical marijuana operator and backer of the Smart & Safe Florida campaign.

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Amendment 3, pushed by Smart & Safe Florida, failed to hit the 60% threshold that would have legalized the sale of marijuana for recreational use.

It did, however, get the support of a majority of voters at nearly 56%.

I think that theres a lot of folks in the legislature that I think are responsive to the will of the people and I think the will of the people have spoken, said Rivers. I think when we think about creating a really robust, safe and regulated market where folks and adults are able to consume in the privacy of their own homes without, of course, public smoking, I think theres an appetite for that.

Rivers said legislative action is preferable to a constitutional amendment and plans to work with bipartisan lawmakers.

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The Vote No on 3 campaign labeled the amendment as corporate greed, due to in part to the amendment allowing for pot sales specifically from medical marijuana dispensaries.

Rivers said she has no regrets about involvement of marijuana companies in the multi-million dollar campaign.

This isnt about a single organization. This really has always been about the will of the people, said Rivers. For our company, I think for the folks that participated in this campaign we always say  you leave it all on the field.

Political analyst Tara Newsom from St. Petersburg College said there was a force impacting the recreational marijuana campaign that was not a factor when medical marijuana was legalized in 2016.

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We had a sitting governor that actually directed state funds against a citizen initiative and a citizen initiative is one in which citizens want something to go on the ballot. That isnt sitting well with people the day after the election, said Newsom.

Newsom said Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis getting involved in discouraging voters from approving Amendment 3 was a head scratcher for some.

But, she said, legislation could be possible due to some Republican leaders breaking ranks on recreational marijuana.

It might be an open opportunity for recreational marijuana advocates to find bipartisan pathways to make this become a reality. If that doesnt happen, I think its a sure fire prediction that youll see this come back through a citizens initiative, said Newsom.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
London Underground drivers have called off plans to carry out strikes on the Tube network just days before they were supposed to start.

Train drivers union Aslef announced on Tuesday (5 November) that they were suspending strike action due to take place on 7 and 12 November across the London Underground after new negotiations and an improved offer from transport bosses.

The announcement comes just days after the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) declared it would no longer be going ahead with their strikes that were planned to start on 1 November.

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After a period of strike-free travel on the London Underground, Aslef and the RMT both announced strikes last month over a pay dispute and subsequent inadequate pay offers during negotiations.

The last strike to affect the entire Tube network was in March 2023 over pensions and working conditions, grinding London transport to a halt as traffic jams spread across the city and buses, trams, the Overground, DLR and the Elizabeth line became increasingly busier.

It appears that similar travel chaos has been avoided this time, as both unions have walked back on plans to strike that would have severely disrupted journeys on various days during November on the Tube, as well as having a knock-on effect on National Rail trains, buses, trams and roads in the city.

Heres everything we know about the called-off strikes and what this means for TfL passengers.

Will November action still take place?

Transport for London (TfL) has advised that the strikes planned on the Tube on Thursday 7 and Tuesday 12 November have been suspended.

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London Underground services will now run as normal on those days.

Why were strikes planned?

Both train unions said their members were striking due to a dispute over pay, as well as other issues such as long hours and other workers reliefs such as paid meals.

RMT said it was prompted to take strike action after rejecting a pay deal, which it deemed as wholly inadequate that leaves a large number of staff excluded from collective bargaining, which is negotiations between employees and employers.

After repeatedly urging London Underground to offer a new deal to cover collective bargaining, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said they have been left with no choice but to take strike action but did remain open to further negotiations.

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As for Aslef, whose members voted by over 98 per cent in favour of strike action, it was seeking a new pay agreement with London Underground.

The union said the previous offer of a 3.8 per cent pay rise and a variable lump sum would mean Tube drivers would be underpaid compared to other TfL drivers while working longer hours.

Aslefs district organiser, Finn Brennan, said it had been forced into taking action because London Underground management would apparently not sit down properly and negotiate with them.

Why were they called off?

In a statement on Friday afternoon (1 November), RMT announced: Following intense negotiations with London Underground management and a significantly improved offer, we have suspended the strikes scheduled to start this evening.

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London Underground have sensibly abandoned their proposed changes to pay structures which now means all our members will receive the same value in any pay award.

Further discussions will take place next week regarding the pay offer but progress has been made which would not have been possible without the fortitude and industrial strength of our 10,000 members on London Underground.

After RMT called off the strikes, TfL still warned of severe disruption on 7 and 12 November due to ongoing plans by Aslef. However, by Tuesday 5 November, Aself also announced its strike action due to take place on those dates would be suspended.

Finn Brennan, ASLEF District Organiser, said: Following on fresh talks and an improved offer, ASLEF has agreed to suspend planned industrial action on London Underground.

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Details of the offer will be discussed with our reps at a meeting on Thursday.

We are pleased that this progress has been made and strike action averted at this time.

Claire Mann, TfLs chief operating officer, said she is pleased to see the industrial action suspended and that Londoners will not have to experience disrupted travel.

We believe that we have made an offer to our trade unions that is fair, affordable, good for our colleagues and good for London  and we urge our trade unions to continue working with us, she added.
The National Hurricane Center is tracking two systems in the Atlantic basin: Hurricane Rafael and a disturbance approaching the Leeward Islands.

Hurricane Rafael has intensified to a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph as it nears Cuba, posing significant threats of damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, and heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding and mudslides.

The hurricane is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane in western Cuba later today and move into the Gulf of Mexico, still as a hurricane. Two days ago, Tropical Storm Patty dissipated away from land.

Projected path for Hurricane Rafael 4 a.m. Nov. 6, 2024.

Track path: Hurricane Rafael

AccuWeather currently suggests that Rafael is most likely to make landfall along the central Louisiana coast.

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However, the National Hurricane Center cautions that steering currents could push the storm anywhere from the Florida Panhandle to the Texas coast when it makes landfall late this weekend or early next week. Gulf Coast residents are advised to stay updated and prepare for potential impacts.

Regardless of Rafaels exact path, a portion of Texas could still see some of the effects of the storm.

See spaghetti models for Hurricane Rafael

Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

Hurricane tracker

The National Hurricane Center is also tracking a tropical disturbance in the southwestern Atlantic, where a trough of low pressure is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms several hundred miles east-northeast of the Leeward Islands.

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As this system moves generally westward over the next few days, an area of low pressure could develop near the northern Leeward Islands tonight or by Thursday. Gradual development may occur toward the end of the week and into the weekend as it approaches the Southeast Bahamas, moving near or north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Formation chance through 48 hours: Low, 20 percent

Formation chance through seven days: Low, 30 percent

Texas weather watches and warnings

Stay informed: Get weather alerts via text

Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city

How many storms have been recorded in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season?

Early-season forecasts had warned of an especially active season, predicting 17 to 24 named storms, with eight to 13 potentially becoming hurricanes.

So far, the 2024 season has produced 16 named storms, 10 of which developed into hurricanes, including four major hurricanes at Category 3 or greater. Tropical Storm Alberto and Hurricane Beryl are the only storms that impacted Texas.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Where is Hurricane Rafael going? Track path, see spaghetti models map
State Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, on Tuesday became the first Black candidate elected as Tulsa mayor. (Photo provided)

OKLAHOMA CITY  In a district demolished a century ago in the Tulsa Race Massacre and rebuilt from the rubble, state Rep. Monroe Nichols declared victory as the first Black Tulsan elected as the citys mayor.

Black residents say Nichols election adds a new, inspiring page to the history books of a city known for its dark past. In 1921, hundreds of African-American Tulsans lost their lives, homes and businesses when a white mob attacked the affluent neighborhood of Greenwood.

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The Greenwood Cultural Center was alight with music and cheering Tuesday night on Tulsas Black Wall Street, as Nichols won the mayoral seat 56% to 44% over Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith. Nichols scored a decisive win despite raising about $1 million less than his opponent, campaign finance records show.

Tonight on the grounds of greatness, we proclaim that Tulsa is a city on the move, Nichols said in his election night remarks.

A fellow Democratic lawmaker, Sen. Kevin Matthews, said Wednesday that Nichols victory one of the most historic and significant things that Ive seen in my lifetime in Tulsa, where only 15% of the population is Black.

State Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, top left, said the election of Tulsas first Black mayor is a historic and significant moment for the city. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

Matthews is a Tulsa native who represents the citys historically Black north side, including the Greenwood area, in the state Senate. He said he counts Nichols and Keith as friends and described both as quality mayoral candidates.

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The election of Nichols, he said, will be particularly inspiring to young, African Americans in the city and shows that Tulsa voters were ready to do something that theyve never done before.

This election is a sign that Tulsas ready to be more progressive and less divisive, and I think that Monroe will be a unifying mayor, Matthews said.

While conceding the race, Keith acknowledged her opponents victory is historic for our city.

Im very excited for the possibilities, she said in her concession speech. I think its great recognition for some of our citizens who never really felt like theyve been represented.

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Nichols, 41, will succeed Mayor G.T. Bynum, who chose not to seek reelection after eight years in office. The mayoral seat, though nonpartisan, has been held by Republicans since 2009.

Tulsans guaranteed that a life-long Democrat would become their next mayor by advancing Nichols and Keith to Tuesdays runoff election. Nichols and Keith were the top-two leaders in an Aug. 27 general election, with known conservative Brent Van Norman finishing as a close third.

Rep. Monroe Nichols celebrated his election victory in the race for Tulsa mayor at the Greenwood Cultural Center, pictured April 9, in Tulsa. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

Both leading candidates ran on similar platforms of reducing homelessness and crime while improving student academic outcomes and relationships with tribal nations.

Nichols, though, proposed bold goals of eliminating homelessness in Tulsa by 2030, adding 6,000 affordable housing units by 2028, reducing blighted properties by 60% and making Tulsa the safest big city in America.

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To all of you here tonight, many of you went out on a limb pretty early on for a candidate who didnt have a legacy name, didnt have early backing of all the typical power brokers, but we didnt give into the pressures of maintaining the status quo, Nichols told the crowd at his election night celebration. We instead shared a bold, clear and detailed vision of what Tulsa could be.

Matthews said he believes Nichols youth and work ethic inspired young voters and attracted broad support.

I worked with him in the Legislature where he never stopped working, Matthews said. In these elections, theyre usually won by the person who works the hardest.

Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, attends a special session of the state House at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Oct. 3, 2023. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, credited the strong coalition of supporters and campaigners Nichols developed. His endorsements include former Democratic Governors Brad Henry and David Walters, former Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor and Tiffany Crutcher, a community leader and social justice advocate.

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Nichols honed his ability to connect across the political aisle and understand opposing viewpoints in the state Legislature, Goodwin said. With a Republican supermajority, thats a Democrats only hope of getting legislation passed, she said.

Goodwin noted that Nichols will have a totally different vantage point at city hall, where hell be able to shape and create policy as mayor.

I think hes the man that has met the moment, Goodwin said. Monroe has met the moment and has support needed to get across the finish line.

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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP)  Nigerias army chief who led soldiers through a critical period in the fight against Islamic extremists in the West African nation's hard-hit northeast has died, President Bola Tinubu said Wednesday.

Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who served as army chief since June 2023, died Tuesday night in Nigerias economic hub of Lagos after a period of illness, Tinubu said in a statement issued by his office without elaborating further. Lagbaja was 56.

The late army chief had not been seen in public in nearly two months, fueling rumors that he had died, which the Nigerian army first denied more than two weeks ago. He has already been replaced by Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, whom Tinubu appointed in an acting capacity a week ago.

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His death comes at a crucial time as Nigeria continues fighting one of Africas longest wars on militancy in its northeastern region, where Boko Haram extremists launched an insurgency nearly 15 years ago.

Lagbaja is the second Nigerian army chief to die in office in less than four years. Ibrahim Attahiru served as army chief for only four months before he died in a military air crash in 2021.

The countrys military, long underfunded and outgunned, has been fighting to slow the expansion of the extremists in the region and beyond.

While the frequency of violent attacks has decreased over the years, analysts say extremists have sought to recruit more fighters and consolidate their strongholds in the Lake Chad basin.

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With the army often deployed across the country, Nigeria's security crises also persisted on various fronts during Lagbaja's tenure, including rampant killings and kidnappings for ransom by dozens of armed groups in the northern region.

At least 11,600 people, including security forces, were killed during his time as army chief, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit.

Lagbaja had promised to entrench discipline and professionalism in the Nigerian army as one of his key priorities, seeking to rebrand an institution often accused of mistreating civilians and extrajudicial killings in conflict zones.

Nigeria's Defense Chief Gen. Christopher Musa described his death as a tremendous loss to the military and Nigeria. He commended Lagbaja's sterling performance, courage and steadfast commitment to safeguarding Nigerias sovereignty.
NJ Transit customer advocate Franck Beaumin held off on stating possible changes at the agency, saying he is still gathering information. (Fran Baltzer for New Jersey Monitor/NJ Transit)

NJ Transits new customer advocate, Franck Beaumin, promised a comprehensive review of the agencys services but stopped short of detailing possible agency reforms while speaking to reporters Wednesday.

Beaumin, who came on as customer advocate in early October, said his early work will focus on learning about NJ Transit and the commuters who use the agencys services.

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The goal here is to identify opportunities for improvement at the end, but in order to get there, I will look at the customer expectations and sentiments towards each stage of the journey, he said.

That would include conversations with commuters and agency operation officials, including identifying hurdles across stages of a commute and engaging with communities that use NJ Transit services, he said.

He plans to gather information through direct conversations, a planned website that would send feedback directly to him, surveys, and undercover use of NJ Transit services, Beaumin said.

He also plans to restart listening forums NJ Transit held prior to the pandemic, adding the initial stage of information gathering would likely last between three and four months.

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Beaumin provided few details about what changes he might seek at NJ Transit, warning it is still too early to issue recommendations, but said the agencys communication with riders during service disruptions is an area where riders clearly want improvement.

Obviously, the core of my job is about advocacy, but I couldnt jump into advocacy without a method, without knowing a network, and thats why before even drawing my vision of the role, Im trying to follow a roadmap for my first three to four months in New Jersey, he said.

He added he plans to launch social media accounts to collect rider feedback and encourage commuters to approach him with comments on public transit, which Beaumin said he rides daily.

Beaumin, a French man who consulted on a $500 million rapid bus transit project in Bangladesh before moving to Paris to handle customer service at transit operator Keolis, previously served as passenger communications manager for Bostons transit agency.

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His appointment followed surging delays and cancellations amid severe heat this summer.

He is the second to hold this position, which was vacant for roughly four years before NJ Transits board appointed Beaumin to the post.

Stewart Mader, his sole predecessor, left the agency in October 2020 after criticism that he had acted more like a spokesperson for the agency than an advocate for its customers.

Beaumin said he would operate with a greater degree of independence, something he hopes will restore riders trust in his office.

I will share my suggestions and recommendations to the board directly, he said. I do not report to anybody at the operational level here at New Jersey Transit, and this independence will help me a lot.

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CLOVIS, N.M. (KRQE)  New Mexico is expanding PFAS blood testing for residents near Cannon Air Force Base after an overwhelming interest. In August, the state announced free tests would be available for residents who lived or worked in certain parts of the base where the local water supply may have been contaminated.

7,000 gallons of PFAS-contaminated water sparks investigation at Cannon Air Force Base

Five hundred residents signed up as part of September and October testing. Now, 250 additional tests are being offered, with just over half of them already filled.

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The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) will also hold a meeting next week at the Clovis Community College town hall. More information on NMEDs PFAS initiatives, including blood testing, water testing, and the upcoming public meeting is available on their website.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA)  Prosecutors announced on Wednesday they will not pursue involuntary manslaughter charges against camp counselors in connection with the death of a 12-year-old boy who died at a wilderness camp in western North Carolina.

In February 2024, Clark Joseph Harman, of New York, arrived at Trails Carolina, a wilderness camp for troubled teens. Less than 24 hours later, he was found dead in his sleeping bag.

His death was later ruled by a medical examiner as homicide by asphyxiation.

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Andrew Murray, the district attorney for Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties, said while the details of Harmans case are tragic, they did not warrant criminal charges against camp staff.

It is uncontroverted from the Medical Examiners report that Clark Harmon suffocated while being required to occupy a personal sleeping bivy his first night at the camp. The investigation revealed that Clark Harmans death was the result of suffocation which, while tragic, did not involve criminal intent or recklessness sufficient to warrant criminal charges for involuntary manslaughter under the law, said Murray in a press release.

Murray said his office reviewed autopsy reports, witness statements, camp logs, physical evidence and interviews with four camp counselors who were in the cabin with Harman the night he died before reaching the decision not to press charges.

Protocols at Trails Carolina required camp counselors to put new campers in a personal sleeping bivy outfitted with a sleeping bag on their first night of camp. The bivy is zipped closed and has an alarm on it to alert staff if the camper tries to open it.

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Five camp counselors were in the cabin with Harman the night he died. Four told investigators they heard him thrashing about and uttering incoherently in his sleeping bag, none of them reported hearing any calls for help or complaints he could not breathe.

None of the minors disclosed hearing words of distress. It is apparent from the investigation that although the counselors understood Clark Harman was agitated and distraught with being required to sleep in the bivy, they never perceived him as suffering any type of medical distress until they attempted to awaken him in the early morning hours, Murray said.

In the months since Harmans death, Trails Carolina has been closed by state officials, and multiple lawsuits have been brought against the camp. In September, the property the camp resided on was put up for sale.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Prosecutors will not file criminal charges over the death of the 12-year-old boy who suffocated at a western North Carolina wilderness therapy camp.

Clark Joseph Harman died at Trails Carolina on Feb. 3 while sleeping in a one-person nylon tent called a bivy, according to an autopsy report. Hed arrived at the camp for troubled adolescents from his home in New York the previous day.

The autopsy report didnt state that anyone at the Lake Toxaway camp intentionally tried to harm the boy. But it said his breathing may have been restricted by the bivy, and that he was placed into this compromised sleeping area by other(s) and did not have the ability to reasonably remove himself from the situation.

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In a statement issued Wednesday morning, Transylvania County District Attorney Andrew Murray said: The investigation revealed that Clark Harmans death was the result of suffocation, which, while tragic, did not involve criminal intent or recklessness sufficient to warrant criminal charges for involuntary manslaughter under the law.

Camp counselors heard Harman thrashing about and uttering incoherent gibberish in his sleeping bag at times, but no campers or camp counselors reported hearing words of distress from him the night he died, Murray said.

It is apparent from the investigation that although the counselors understood Clark Harman was agitated and distraught with being required to sleep in the bivy, they never perceived him as suffering any type of medical distress until they attempted to awaken him in the early morning hours, the DA stated.

The law requires prosecutors to meet a high threshold when considering charges of involuntary manslaughter, Murray said.

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While we are deeply saddened by this tragedy, we must follow the law and make decisions based on the evidence and our legal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, Murray stated.

Aerial view of Trails Carolina camp.

Trails Carolina: Death was accidental

In mid February, the state Department of Health and Human Services removed all children from the camp after concluding that was needed to ensure their health and safety.

DHHS later revoked Trail Carolinas license, citing several serious deficiencies.

Trails Carolina has said that the boys death appeared to be accidental.

The autopsy didnt find any dangerous drugs in the boys system and found no evidence of trauma.

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But the outer, waterproof opening of his bivy was fully secured, the autopsy states. Camp employees had placed an audible alarm on the door to prevent his escape. Its a precaution that former employees said was used to prevent campers from running away.

A mesh flap on the bivy, which was normally used to secure the opening, was torn, the autopsy report states, and a weather-resistant door was instead used to secure the opening.

It should be noted that a common warning on commercially available bivy products indicates that the outer, weather resistant opening should not be fully secured as it may lead to condensation and breathing restriction, the autopsy report states.

Staff members had fully secured the bivy so that the boy could not get out without sounding an alarm, the autopsy said.

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One camp staff member told state investigators: I didnt check as thoroughly as I should have, according to the DHHS report. My actions that night was to perform night checks... that was my responsibility, which I failed on... I do feel like the bivy had a lot to do with it.

Camp property now up for sale

The camp, based about 140 miles west of Charlotte, was founded in 2008, largely on the belief that a wilderness setting enhances the benefits of therapy, according to its website. It took children, ages 10 to 17, on wilderness expeditions, and provided mental health therapy.

The 78-pound boy had a history of anxiety, ADHD and migraines, according to the autopsy report. At his familys request, he was transported to the camp from his home in New York on Feb. 2 due to ongoing behavioral issues, the report said.

The owner of the 32-acre property where Trails Carolina operated in Lake Toxaway has listed that property for sale for $3.2 million. John Nichols, who owns a real estate company that listed the property, said the propertys owner had been leasing it to Trails Carolina.
A scarecrow greets voters at the Community Ag Building on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, in Simpson County. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony)

No counties or cities in Kentucky opted out of allowing medical marijuana businesses to operate in their borders after dozens had the chance to do so Tuesday.

The legislature legalized medical marijuana in 2023 and licensing is underway for a 2025 program launch, but 106 jurisdictions (53 counties and 53 cities) let local voters decide if they wanted marijuana businesses nearby.

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Of those 106 ballot measures, no counties or cities opted to bar medical marijuana businesses from operating in their borders, according to data compiled by Louisville Public Media.

Eligible Kentuckians  those with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cancer or other approved medical conditions will be eligible to receive a medical marijuana card starting Jan. 1 next year.

For a list of counties and cities that posed the question on their ballots, visit this page.

Kentucky has already awarded its first 26 medical cannabis licenses, which went to 16 cultivators and 10 processors.

Lottery drawings for dispensary licenses are scheduled for Nov. 25 and Dec. 16.

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There have been no surprises so far in the early states to be called by US broadcasters, with Vice President Kamala Harris picking up traditionally Democratic states and Donald Trump winning Republican ones.

As the first polls closed in eastern and central states, US networks CNN, NBC and CBS projected victories for former president Trump in West Virginia, Indiana and Kentucky while Harris was seen as winning Vermont.

In further projections, Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas and Alabama went to Trump, while Harris won Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington, DC.

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The broadcasters had Trump leading Harris by 105 electoral votes to 27, with both candidates searching for a path to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

Voting is still under way in five of the seven key swing states, but the pivotal states of Georgia and North Carolina are counting votes and could provide indications of how the night will unfold.

In the race to control the Senate, a seat in West Virginia - formally held by retiring Joe Manchin, who won in 2018 as a Democrat - was flipped by Republican Jim Justice.

Shortly before the first polling stations closed in the US presidential election, Trump sowed doubts about the results in the key state of Pennsylvania.

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"A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law Enforcement coming!!!" he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

It was unclear what incident in Pennsylvania's largest city Trump was referring to and he did not provide any evidence for the claim.

Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein said later that there was "absolutely no truth to this allegation."

"It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure," he wrote on X.

It was widely expected that Trump would try to cast doubt on the fairness of the vote in the event of a defeat like in 2020.

Pennsylvania's final result will likely not be available for some time as under the state's rules, election workers cannot start processing the thousands of early votes until early on Election Day.
Despite Milwaukees south side having the highest concentration of Latino voters in the city, no Spanish-speaking poll workers were available at South Division High School polling site until around 1 p.m. on Election Day.

Imelda Montes, 56, walked into South Division High School late Tuesday morning to help her elderly parents cast their ballots. Montes, who was visiting from Mexico and does not speak English, struggled to help her parents register to vote because no poll workers could speak Spanish, she said.

Ruby De Leon, the in-house attorney with Voces de La Frontera Action, was at the polling location as an election observer when she witnessed Montes and her parents struggling to speak to poll workers.

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Poll workers provided Montes with Spanish-language material, which the City of Milwaukee is required to have by federal law, but there was no one to help with the questions she had.

Other voters  and at one point, somebody on the phone with Montes  helped translate and navigate her through the process.

It was a battle, but we did it, Montes said in Spanish.

Voces de La Frontera stationed election observers at several polling locations in Latino neighborhoods on Election Day to look out for language accessibility issues and possible voter intimidation.

There were several election observers present who wanted to step up and help Montes, but election observers are not allowed to approach voters.

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"I would say most people that walked in today spoke Spanish, De Leon said. "A lot of them are bilingual, but those elderly individuals are the ones who we are most worried about not getting the help that they need."

De Leon reported the issue to other members of the group's election protection program and someone was eventually able to reach the City of Milwaukee Election Commission, which sent a bilingual poll worker around 1 p.m. By then, the family was done voting, she said.

"If we wouldn't have called, I don't think anyone would have showed up," De Leon said.

Language barriers did not seem to be an issue in most other polling locations Tuesday.

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Montes father, Alfonso Montes, 88, said he has voted at South Division before and never had an issue until Tuesday.

It was just today that they had no one here to help me, he said. But eventually someone came.

The South Division High School polling site on Tuesday evening.

Despite fears, voting in Latino neighborhoods mostly smooth

Immigration has been a contentious topic during the election season, causing some advocates to express concern about voter intimidation in Latino neighborhoods.

Jarrett English, political director with Voces de La Frontera, said the organization was prepared for these kinds of situations.

We have a pretty involved process for voter protection," said English. We have observers that are at polling locations across the state, specifically locations where theres going to be Latine folks and people who speak Spanish.

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Recruiting more bilingual poll workers, especially those that speak Spanish and Hmong, has been a goal for the City of Milwaukee.

Paola Rodriguez and Michael Orlowski, volunteers with Forward Together Wisconsin, said they called the election hotline around 11 a.m. Tuesday after a voter told them there werent enough Spanish translators at the Allen-Field Elementary School polling place.

Rodriguez said the hotline was able to remind her of laws regarding translators. For example, voters can bring a family member with them who can help translate.

Rafael Garcia, the chief inspector there, said the polling place has three translators and no other issues occurred since.

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At South Division, chief election inspector Freddie Franklin, who has worked at the location for 10 years, said he was surprised by the voter turnout on Tuesday, especially the number of first-time voters that showed up to vote.

As of Tuesday evening, he said the location had three Spanish-speaking election workers and at one point had up to five.

At Morgandale School, poll worker Omar Baberena was helping translate for Spanish-speaking voters.

He said he felt encouraged to see so many non-English speakers voting. When the polling station opened in the morning, Barberena said he saw around 60 people already in line.

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"There have been a lot of Spanish speakers, Baberena said. Ive used Spanish more today than I have as a poll worker in previous elections."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Some Milwaukee polling sites did not have enough Spanish translators
There have been no surprises so far in the early states to be called by US broadcasters, with Vice President Kamala Harris picking up traditionally Democratic states and Donald Trump winning Republican ones.

As polls started closing in western states, US networks CNN, NBC and CBS projected victories for former president Trump in states including Ohio, Texas and South Carolina, while Harris was seen as winning states including California, New York and Illinois.

The broadcasters had Trump leading Harris by 214 electoral votes to 153, with both candidates searching for a path to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

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The races in all seven key swing states were still too close to call, but Trump was leading in Georgia and North Carolina.

In the race to control the Senate, a seat in West Virginia - formally held by retiring Joe Manchin, who won in 2018 as a Democrat - was flipped by Republican Jim Justice as was the case in Ohio, where three-time Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown was projected to lose his seat to Republican businessman Bernie Moreno.

Shortly before the first polling stations closed in the US presidential election, Trump sowed doubts about the results in the key state of Pennsylvania.

"A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law Enforcement coming!!!" he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

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It was unclear what incident in Pennsylvania's largest city Trump was referring to and he did not provide any evidence for the claim.

Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein said later that there was "absolutely no truth to this allegation."

"It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure," he wrote on X.

It was widely expected that Trump would try to cast doubt on the fairness of the vote in the event of a defeat, like he did in 2020.

Pennsylvania's final result will likely not be available for some time.
PHILADELPHIA  Standing beside a table on the edge of campus adorned with "Hotties for Harris" signs, University of Pennsylvania student Olivia West explained that she was worried about her freedom. As a teenager, West saw Supreme Court justices appointed by former President Donald Trump take away a right that had existed for decades before she was born. In this, the first presidential election in which she can participate, West said she's doing her part, in arguably the most important swing state, to ensure no more of her liberties are lost.

"I feel like now I can use my voice to protect my rights, and every single vote counts, especially in Pennsylvania," the 21-year-old Connecticut native told Salon.

Working with a group called Project 26 Pennsylvania, so named for the constitutional amendment that set the national voting age at 18, West spent her Tuesday afternoon passing out stickers and encouraging students walking by to cast a ballot, too  preferably for Vice President Kamala Harris. Her friends are engaged this year, West said, and likewise eager to shut the door on the Trump era.

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"I think people are anxiously excited right now," she said. "There's a lot of worry and concern," she added, but also intense interest. "A lot of my friends were not old enough to vote in the last election, so it's exciting that they finally get to use their voice."

Democrats hope to attract a lot of voters similar to West: women angered by the 2022 Dobbs decision and Trump's role in overturning Roe v. Wade, who aren't convinced Republicans will stop there. Abortion bans in more than 20 states have been followed by horrific stories of people dying after hospitals, wary of their legal liability, refused to provide medical care to women suffering miscarriages and other complications from pregnancy.

At a polling station in North Philly, an outside DJ played upbeat EDM as a steady stream of residents flowed into an elementary school's gymnasium Tuesday morning to cast their ballots. In order to submit a straight Democratic ticket, per the flyer handed out by a party activist outside, voters now have to manually select each candidate, for each office.

Before 2019, voting straight ticket was easy and generally seen as benefiting Democrats, who have more registered voters in Pennsylvania, outnumbering Republicans by some 285,000 people. But Pennsylvania's Republican-led legislature banned the practice as part of a compromise bill that also legalized "no excuse" mail-in ballots. The next year, many of the same Republicans who voted for that reform turned around and baselessly decried it as enabling fraud; this, after it became clear that Democrats, more cautious about COVID-19, were far more likely than Republicans to cast their ballot via the U.S. Postal Service.

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This year, Republicans have largely abandoned their mail-in fraud rhetoric and encouraged their supporters to vote early, seeking to cut in Democrats' margins and bank votes ahead of Nov. 5. At the same time, some Pennsylvania Democrats are wary of mail-in ballots post-2020, fearing they could be disenfranchised by post-election litigation.

That is reflected in the 2024 numbers: As of Tuesday morning, nearly 1.9 million Pennsylvanians had voted by mail out of more than 2.1 million people who had requested a ballot, about a third of them Republicans, according to the Pennsylvania secretary of state  a drop from the 2.6 million who voted by mail four years ago, when less than a quarter of such votes came from Republicans and President Joe Biden carried the commonwealth by just more than 80,000 votes.

As of 7 p.m. ET, with an hour to go before polls closed, city officials had yet to provide turnout figures. Anecdotally, however, in-person turnout appeared on track to exceed 2020, poll workers and local Democrats said. That would be a good sign for Harris, who hopes women's anger at Trump, the Dobbs decision and democratic backsliding will help propel her to be the first woman elected as president.

Most early votes were cast by women, according to an analysis by The Philadelphia Inquirer, suggesting a 13% gender cap in turnout. That would also be encouraging to Democrats, who have made a concerted effort to appeal to Republican women; an NBC News poll released on the eve of the election showed Harris with a 16% advantage among women voters, who typically turn out at a higher rate than men (who favored Trump by 18% in the same survey).

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The reduced mail-in voting could also mean a quicker call: In 2020, it took Philadelphia more than four days to count all the ballots it received, time that Trump and his allies used to spread disinformation. In large part, that delay was due to Republicans in the state legislature, who refused to allow election officials to count mail-in ballots before 7 a.m. local time on Election Day.

Republicans lost control of the Pennsylvania state house in 2022, but they still control the state senate, where the party has refused to pass legislation allowing the early count of mail-in ballots. That means Trump could still exploit a day-of Republican advantage in turnout  if there is one  to once again claim a premature victory and potentially suggest there is something nefarious about the count continuing.

To suppress Democratic turnout, Trump allies appeared to send some Philadelphia voters an antisemitic text message, reviewed by Salon, that was intended to appear as if it were sent by the Harris campaign. The vice president, per the text, allegedly "supports Israel 100%" and would be joined in the White House by "her husband and top advisor, Doug Emhoff . . . Who would be the 1st Jewish presidential spouse ever!"

Identical language was used in a YouTube ad from the Future Coalition PAC, funded in part by the billionaire Elon Musk, who has been leading the former president's get-out-the-vote efforts and contributed tens of millions of dollars to his election campaign. A separate text, sent from the same number Tuesday afternoon, contradicted the original message, warning that a "vote for Harris is a vote to continue Biden's failed Israel First agenda."

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That was the same tactic, with clumsy implementation, that the super PAC employed earlier in the election cycle. According to 404 Media, the pro-Trump group, seeking to exploit tensions over the war in Gaza and sow discord among the Democratic coalition, sent pro-Israel texts to areas with lots of Muslim voters while seeking to convince Jewish voters that Harris actually "stands with Palestine."

By Election Day, it appeared, the group gave up on tailoring its messages and decided to send some voters both versions.

That wasn't the only apparent effort at discouraging turnout that voters faced in the City of Brotherly Love. On Tuesday afternoon, Philadelphia authorities said they also received reports of voter intimidation, including calls about people blocking entrances to polling stations, CBS News reported. There had also been reports of partisan poll watchers using hidden cameras to film election workers; one Republican-affiliated poll watcher was also caught filming outside a polling station, in violation of state law.

But the biggest threat to a free and fair election may not have been on the ground Tuesday. Posting from his residence in Florida, Trump claimed on his website Tuesday afternoon, just hours before polls closed, that there was a "lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia," adding: "Law Enforcement coming!!!"

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An hour later, Trump, possibly seeking to discourage voters wary of the police, continued lying on Truth Social: "Philadelphia and Detroit! Heavy Law Enforcement is there!!!"

As in 2020, the Republican candidate provided no evidence of wrongdoing. Local officials said he was simply making it up.

"The only talk about massive cheating has come from one of the candidates, Donald J. Trump," Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement to Salon. "There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation. We have invited complaints and allegations of improprieties all day. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath."

That response was echoed by Philadelphia's city commissioners, who oversee local elections.

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"We have evidence and proof to show that everything's on the up and up right now," City Commissioner Omar Sabir told reporters outside a new secure ballot-counting facility in Northeast Philadelphia. Trump's allegation is "nothing new," he said. "This playbook has been played since 2020."

Seth Bluestein, Philadelphia's lone Republican commissioner, echoed that assessment.

"There is absolutely no truth to the allegation," he said, noting he has reached out to the Republican National Committee to request support for their candidate's claims.

Prior to the election, Bluestein told Salon that he hoped the addition of new ballot-counting machines would speed up the time it takes Philadelphia to count votes and possibly stop claims of fraud from spreading. On Tuesday night, Salon witnessed those machines whirring through more than 175,000 mail-in ballots, though officials had not yet said when the count might end: At a press conference just after 9:15 p.m., they said they expected a total of around 200,000 mail-in ballots to be received overall, down from 375,000 in 2020.

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As of 9:45 p.m. local time, election workers had processed nearly 170,000 mail-in ballots, according to the commissioners' office. Anecdotally, the commissioners told reporters, turnout appears to be up compared to previous presidential elections, though they said actual figures would not be available until just before midnight.

In 2020, a multi-day delay provided ample time for Trump and his allies to spread false claims and threaten officials whom they accused of rigging the vote. At the old ballot-counting site, in Center City, some Trump supporters showed up with guns; the new facility is far less accessible, surrounded by metal fencing and, on Tuesday, a good deal of police.

But what worries some experts isn't the speed at which ballots are counted but that Trump demonstrably does not need any evidence to convince his followers  which number in the millions  that he is, again, a victim of fraud. Doubt alone could be enough for his allies to claim the election is fraudulent and ultimately seek to put forward an alternate slate of electors in Pennsylvania. That these electors would lack legal standing  Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, is the only person who can legally certify the commonwealth's electors  may not be an obstacle in an increasingly politicized judiciary.

"What keeps me up at night is the worry that there are all sorts of legal questions that we don't know the answers to, that are undecided and that a court would be either unable or unwilling to step in last minute to resolve, Claire Finkelstein, founder of the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law at the University of Pennsylvania, said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.

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Finkelstein pointed to hoax bomb threats at polling stations in several battleground states that resulted in several brief closures, potentially disenfranchising would-be voters (the FBI and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, attributed the threats to Russia). As Shapiro noted at a press conference Tuesday night, "high turnout" in the commonwealth was greeted, in the final hour of in-person voting, with "multiple bomb threats." None of the threats were deemed credible, and Philadelphia officials said voters there were not affected.

In a tight race, however, litigation over the threats and measures taken to address them, such as extended polling hours, could conceivably end up in the federal court system. That is a cause for concern, Finkelstein said.

Many Democrats fear that unresolved questions could land before a Supreme Court that has already shown deference to Trump, granting him immunity and effectively delaying his 2020 election interference trial until after Nov. 5. Earlier this month, the justices let stand a Pennsylvania court decision that allowed voters with botched mail-in ballots to cast provisional ballots in person, which Finkelstein said was reassuring. But will they likewise refuse to intervene if legal challenges persist well after Election Day? In 2000, a less conservative court, in a 5-4 decision, halted a recount in Florida, handing George W. Bush the presidency.

"Bush v. Gore set a precedent for the Supreme Court to get involved. It's not clear that they ever should have, or that they should have stopped that recount," Finkelstein said. "And there is grave concern around the Supreme Court getting involved in what could end up being a highly, highly contested election."

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It's not that it's likely, per se, but it is no doubt a possibility.

"Donald Trump has already told us that he will contest the election if he loses  and they're already preparing to do that," she added. "So yeah, I think it's a very substantial concern that the court will play politics with this. I hope they won't."
This story was updated on Nov. 6, 2024, to add new information.

Tuesday's Indiana District 62 race was close, but in the end, it looks as if Republican incumbent Dave Hall came out ahead of Democratic challenger Thomas Horrocks of Bloomington.

Hall, a first-term representative who lives on a corn and soybean farm in northwestern Jackson County, beat political newcomer Horrocks by a slim margin, according to not-final vote totals. The district covers the southern part of Monroe County, all of Brown County and Jackson County.

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With a third of the votes totaled before 9 p.m., Horrocks was in the lead with 63%. An hour later, he was down to 54% of votes and by 10:30 Tuesday night, Hall had taken the lead with 51% to Horrocks' 49%.

Horrocks got 34% of the vote total in Brown County. At 11 p.m., with half of the votes tallied in Jackson County, Horrocks had just 14% there. With 85% of votes in Monroe County counted, Horrocks had 56%.

Candidate for state representative Thomas Horrocks speaks during the Democratic Party celebration at Cascades Inn on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

Hall narrowly won the District 62 seat in 2022 in a close race against Democrat Penny Githens of Bloomington, an outgoing Monroe County commissioner. A recount that included the 27 Monroe County precincts included in District 62, as well as ballots cast in Brown and Jackson counties, determined Hall won by 74 votes.

In District 46, incumbent Republican Bob Heaton beat Monroe County Democrat Kurtis Cummings by a 2-1 margin. The district includes Ellettsville, northeast Monroe County, Owen County, half of Clay County, and portions of Vigo County.

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In District 60, which includes Washington and Benton townships in Monroe County and most of Morgan and Johnson counties, incumbent Republican Peggy Mayfield won another term by getting about three-fourths of the vote.

With nearly half of the votes tallied around 8:45 p.m., Democratic challenger Michelle Higgs of Monroe County was ahead with 75% of the vote. An Oct. 30 article in The Nation recognized Higgs as one of 12 rural candidates working to keep Democracy alive in the heartland.

But by 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, most of the votes were in and the tide had turned: Mayfield had the upper hand with 76% of votes cast in her favor.

In Bloomington's Indiana House District 61, incumbent Democrat Matt Pierce was unopposed and retained his office.

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Indiana Senate District 40 State Sen. Shelli Yoder, incumbent Democrat from Bloomington, was unopposed and kept her seat.

In Indiana U.S. House District 9, incumbent Republican Erin Houchin beat Democratic challenger Timothy Peck. Libertarian Russell Brooksbank got about 2% of the vote.

Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Incumbents for state office retain seats Hall beats Horrocks
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  South Dakota officials are reacting Donald Trumps election win.

In a post on X, Gov. Kristi Noem said the Dakotas are happy to celebrate the 47th President of United States,.

Minnehaha County still reporting election results

Sen. John Thune congratulated Trump on his social media. Thune said the American people have chosen to turn the page on the Biden-Harris administrations failed policies of high prices and open borders,.

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Newly re-elected Rep. Dusty Johnson gave his praise in a news release.

Im excited for an opportunity to secure the border, grow our economy, and improve the lives of South Dakotans. Its time to leave behind the burdensome policies of the Biden Administration, he said.

This is a developing story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Voters at the Wilmar Neighborhood Center on Madison's East side cast their ballots. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

A ballot measure in Wisconsin asking to change one word in the state constitution to prevent non-U.S. citizens from voting in any local, state or federal elections has passed. The effort was the Republican Legislatures fifth attempt to amend the state constitution this year.

The Associated Press called the outcome at 9:42 p.m. Tuesday. With about 72% of the ballots counted by 11 p.m., yes was leading with 70% of the vote to 30% in opposition.

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Republicans pointed to a handful of municipalities across the country that have allowed non-citizens to vote in municipal elections like school board races and said the amendment would prevent any Wisconsin communities from doing the same.

Addressing this issue now will ensure votes are not diluted in the future, Sen. Julian Bradley (R-Franklin) told Votebeat. Its best for the government to address this concern before it becomes a problem.

Democrats and voting rights advocates said that non-citizen voting isnt a real problem and that Republicans have shown no proof it is but continue to complain about it as part of their general anti-immigration push in this election. Plus, they said, making changes like this by trying to amend the constitution makes an end run around the normal legislative process and Gov. Tony Evers potential veto, while making the state vulnerable to future efforts to make it harder for legal voters to cast a ballot.

First and foremost, we have a system that works, and I think this is a solution in search for problems, T.R. Edwards, staff attorney at the voting rights focused Law Forward, said. Secondarily, it shifts the burden to the voter.  But then third, I think its yet another vestige of our gerrymandered Legislature and an escape to actually go through the legislative process to do things that have an actual debate about what works for our state.

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Currently the state Constitution says that every United States citizen age 18 or older can vote. The amendment changes the word every to only.

Shall section 1 of article III of the constitution, which deals with suffrage, be amended to provide that only a United States citizen age 18 or older who resides in an election district may vote in an election for national, state, or local office or at a statewide or local referendum? the referendum asked voters.

Recently, Republicans have moved across the country to warn about large-scale non-citizen voting in ways that would swing elections. Yet studies of the voting system across dozens of communities involving millions of votes have found just a handful of cases of non-citizens casting ballots.

Earlier this year, Congress was unable to pass a federal budget over disagreements about a bill that would require citizens to prove their citizenship to register to vote.

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Norfolk Southern sparked renewed concerns about flaws being missed during railcar inspections when it told employees this week they should spend no more than a minute looking at each car. But the railroad said the rule simply reflects the current industry standard, and there are no plans for disciplining employees for missing that one-minute target.

Rail unions have been raising the alarm for several years now about inspections being rushed across the industry in the wake of the railroads eliminating one-third of all the jobs as they adopted the current lean operating model that has become the standard.

The Federal Railroad Administration's Chief Safety Officer Karl Alexy said the agency was already tracking inspection times closely across the industry before the new announcement from Norfolk Southern, and the agency will be watching how the railroad implements it.

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If they really are going to be held to that, I'm very concerned about defects not being found, I think that is pretty quick, Alexy said.

Railroad safety concerns became widespread last year after a Norfolk Southern train derailed, spilled hazardous chemicals and caught fire in East Palestine, Ohio, in February.

The railroad  and the entire industry  promised reforms after that disastrous wreck. But Alexy said there hasn't been much significant improvement in railroads' overall safety record in recent years.

The concerns about rushed railcar inspections are part of rail labors broader concerns about whether the lean Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) model railroads are using is more dangerous.

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Alexy said that one of the key challenges for the industry right now is that so many experienced workers were lost because of all the job cuts in recent years  both because of the new operating model and the sharp downturn in business during the pandemic  that the railroads are relying on a large number of newer employees who are still learning all the risks of the job.

There are implications from PSR where they they cut too deep their personnel. And Covid happened and they lost more people, and then they had a hard time bringing them back, Alexy said. So I think that there have been some long-term negative impacts of PSR and of course Covid as well.

Norfolk Southern executives said last year that the railroad would back away from rushing inspections because of safety concerns. But the new directive about minute-long inspections issued not long after Mark George was promoted to be the railroad's new CEO this fall appears to reverse that stance.

Norfolk Southern is not alone in pushing for inspections to be done quickly to keep trains moving.

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The Federal Railroad Administration found earlier this year that at all the major freight railroads, carmen spent an average of 1 minute and 38 seconds looking over each car while a federal inspector was watching. But documents showed that when an inspector isnt there, inspections were being done in about 44 seconds per car.

The Transportation Communications Union that represents the carmen tasked with inspecting railcars maintains it simply isn't possible to check the more than 90 points per side they are supposed to check on each railcar within such a short period of time, so clearly things are being missed.

The union's National Legislative Director David Arouca said carmen on Norfolk Southern went absolutely ballistic when they saw the new one-minute rule after they have been raising concerns about the perils of rushed inspections for years.

You cant place your eyeballs on 90 points of inspection in 30 seconds (per side) and do that repeatedly for 50-100 cars in a row and not miss things, Arouca said.

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That is especially true when carmen are inspecting cars that might have been in use for decades while rolling past them on an ATV, which is common. "The idea that this is a comprehensive inspection according to the federal regulations is a joke," he said.

The Federal Railroad Administration found during its checks that between 13% and 15% of all the cars still had defects after they were inspected by the railroads. But most of the problems federal inspectors found then weren't the kind of thing that would cause a derailment. The most common issues the railroads missed were things like bent hand rails workers use when climbing on cars.

Alexy said it seems like whatever is missed is not resulting in a huge impact to safety across the country.

And Alexy said even if carmen had significantly more time to inspect cars, it is difficult to find the kind of flaws that cause derailments like failing bearings sealed inside an axle or cracked wheels. The East Palestine derailment was caused by a bad bearing that overheated but wasn't caught in time by trackside detectors that are designed to spot temperature increases like that.

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Norfolk Southern said this new standard will help them gauge whether they have enough carmen in every location to handle the required inspections because if it is taking longer than one minute they might need more people or the railroad may need to follow up with the shipper that owns the railcar to ensure needed maintenance is being done.

By no means are employees expected to ignore or disregard safety issues. If a problem is spotted, employees are required to address it, either by correcting the issue on site or by pulling the car for further maintenance, Norfolk Southern spokeswoman Heather Garcia said.

Alexy said if that is truly how this rule is used, it might not be a problem. But he said that if the new one-minute standard is taken to an extreme, it could be a step backwards in safety at Norfolk Southern, which has been stressing safety ever since the East Palestine derailment.

The test will be how the rule is implemented by railroad managers in the field across the eastern United States where Norfolk Southern's trains operate.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Democratic U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson was elected North Carolinas next attorney general on Tuesday, defeating Republican congressman Dan Bishop in an expensive campaign focused on who was best able to represent the state in court and keep communities safe.

Jackson, an Afghan war veteran and National Guard attorney who has gained a large following on social media, will succeed two-term Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, who successfully ran for governor on Tuesday.

Jackson said his experience as a prosecutor  he worked as an assistant district attorney in Gaston County  and his commitment to perform his duties in a nonpartisan matter made him most qualified to become the states top law enforcement official. Jackson said he would work to counter the fentanyl overdose epidemic and combat scammers now using artificial intelligence techniques to fool consumers.

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Bishop, a Republican who joined Congress in 2019 and is a strong supporter of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump, accused Jackson of being soft on crime and antagonistic to police at a time when violent crime rates have risen over the past decade. Jackson had said Bishop, who conceded the race in a Tuesday night speech, was too extreme for the post.

Jackson and Bishop served together in the state legislature, where Bishop was known in part for shepherding a 2016 law that banned cities from enacting new anti-discrimination ordinances and required transgender people to use public restrooms that corresponded with the sex on their birth certificate.

Jackson was elected to Congress in 2022 but didnt seek reelection because redistricting by the General Assembly placed him in a heavily GOP district.

Despite party nominees performing well in statewide races for decades, a Republican hasnt been elected to the post of attorney general in North Carolina since 1896. Bishop and Jackson's committees, along with interest groups, spent well over $33 million on television and online advertising during the general election campaign, according to data from AdImpact, which monitors campaign spending.

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In addition to governor and attorney general, elections were held Tuesday for the eight other statewide executive branch positions that compose the Council of State.

Four Council of State members ran to remain at their posts, including Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, a Republican on the job since 2005. He defeated Democrat Sarah Taber, a farmer and farm consultant.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, a Republican, won a third term, defeating Democrat Natasha Marcus, a state senator. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and State Auditor Jessica Holmes, both Democrats, remained in close races with Republican opponents.

Marshall, who was first elected to the job in 1996, was competing against Chad Brown, chairman of the Gaston County commissioners.

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Holmes was appointed auditor last year by Gov. Roy Cooper after Auditor Beth Wood announced her resignation in the wake of charges against her related to her government-owned vehicle. Holmes was seeking a four-year term against Republican Dave Boliek, the former chairman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hills trustee board.

Also up for election Tuesday were state superintendent of public instruction, state treasurer and labor commissioner.

Current Superintendent Catherine Truitt lost her Republican primary to Michele Morrow, while GOP Treasurer Dale Folwell ran unsuccessfully for his partys nominee for governor. Republican Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson decided not to seek reelection.

For superintendent, former Guilford County Schools Superintendent Mo Green, a Democrat, defeated Morrow, who attended the Jan. 6, 2021, rally in Washington before the attack on the U.S. Capitol and has called public schools liberal indoctrination centers.

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In the race to succeed Dobson, Republican Luke Farley, an attorney, defeated Democrat Braxton Winston, a former Charlotte city council member. And succeeding Folwell will be Republican Brad Briner, a former investment manager, who defeated Democrat Wesley Harris, a state legislator and economic consultant.

With current Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson running for governor against Stein, Tuesdays race to succeed Robinson remained close between Democratic state Sen. Rachel Hunt and Republican Hal Weatherman, a top aide to then-Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. Hunt is the daughter of former Gov. Jim Hunt, who also was lieutenant governor in the 1970s.

For a seat on the state Supreme Court, Associate Justice Allison Riggs, a Democrat appointed to the court last year by Cooper, was running in a close race for an eight-year term against Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin, a Republican. Five of the seven current justices are registered Republicans.

North Carolina voters on Tuesday also overwhelmingly approved a proposed constitutional amendment that supporters contended clarifies that only U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age and meeting other qualifications shall be entitled to vote in elections.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP)  As the final results of the General Election roll in across North Carolina and the country, the states future governor, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, has found plenty to celebrate along with the Democratic party.

Last year, Republicans gained a supermajority in the North Carolina House of Representatives after Rep. Tricia Cotham (R-District 105) switched parties mid-term, abandoning the Democratic Party in favor of the Republicans.

Cotham was narrowly reelected to her seat, but, in order to hold onto that supermajority, the Republicans needed to maintain 72 seats in the house. However, District 98 went to Democrat Beth Helfrich, a former teacher, and District 24 went to Dante Pittman, taking those seats from the GOP.

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Incumbent Rep. Don Davis (R-District 1) won with a narrow lead against Laurie Buckhout, who conceded on Wednesday, writing While Don and I have different visions, it is obvious to everyone he cares about this district.

District 1 was largely considered one of the most competitive in the state, even after Republicans redrew maps in a way critics said favored them.

While not all races have been called and several are within the margin of a recount, at the moment it appears that the spread in the house now sits at 71-49. A supermajority is considered to be 72-48 and would give the party in control enough votes to override vetoes from the governors office.

Governor-Elect Josh Stein celebrated what these wins meant for the balance of power in North Carolina, saying:

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Yesterday, North Carolinians sent a clear message that they believe we will go further when we go together, not as Democrats, Republicans or Independents, but as North Carolinians. The issues facing our state  rebuilding western North Carolina, creating good jobs, strengthening public schools, ensuring safe neighborhoods, and protecting personal freedoms  are not partisan issues; they are North Carolina issues. To build a brighter future for everyone in our state, we must come together across our differences and get to work. Im ready to go.

While North Carolina went to President-Elect Donald Trump in the presidential race, Democrats won prominent state races with Stein taking the governors mansion, Rachel Hunt winning lieutenant governor, Jeff Jackson winning attorney general and Mo Green winning state superintendent.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
North Carolina has principally voted Republican since 1968, after the partys southern strategy to appeal to white conservative voters.

Follow the latest 2024 election results as they are announced.

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As had been widely expected, North Carolinians approved an amendment to the state constitution that requires all eligible voters to be U.S. citizens.

The Associated Press projected that the amendment will pass not long after polls closed in North Carolina. As of 9:00 pm, yes votes had 76.9% of the vote to 23.1% for noes with approximately 30% of precincts reporting, according to preliminary results from the State Board of Elections.

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The amendment was the product of House Bill 1074, a bill passed by the General Assembly in June to change the definition of eligible voters from every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized who is 18 to only U.S. citizens meeting age and eligibility requirements.

Proponents said the change was needed to prevent future reinterpretations of the current constitution that could open the door to state and local voting by noncitizens. Opponents said the old language was unequivocal, and that the amendment will only serve to raise anti-immigrant fervor and deter legal voters from participating in elections.

North Carolina was one of eight states voting on whether to enshrine explicit language forbidding noncitizens from voting in 2024  alongside neighboring South Carolina, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin  though all eight state constitutions are already understood to forbid it. The General Assembly will now need to pass implementing legislation that will determine what, if anything, changes about the actual voter registration process.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein's veto could become more effective than outgoing Gov. Roy Cooper's stamp has been recently, should the margin in a legislative district election hold for their party.

Results show Democrats winning 48 of the 120 state House seats in Tuesday's elections and leading a Republican incumbent in another race that remains close. Provisional ballots and some absentee ballots are still being counted. But if the advantage holds, Democrats would reach 49 seats  one higher than needed to end the Republicans' current veto-proof majority in the chamber when the next two-year session begins in January.

Since early 2023, Republicans have held exactly the three-fifths majorities needed in the House and the Senate to override Cooper's vetoes, helping them advance their conservative agenda largely at will on issues such as abortion, K-12 education and elections. Even with the outcome not fully settled, Democrats early Wednesday celebrated House results that they said are poised to help uphold vetoes of Stein, who decisively defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson on Tuesday.

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For too long, the supermajority has operated without checks, pursuing extreme agendas that left too many North Carolinians behind, said House Minority Leader Robert Reives of Chatham County.

GOP Rep. Destin Hall of Caldwell County  the choice of House Republicans to succeed House Speaker Tim Moore, who was elected to Congress on Tuesday  downplayed the potential net seat loss and said the dynamics wouldn't be much different compared to now. Republicans at times have been able to persuade Democrats to join them on overrides.

Im confident that were going to have a working supermajority for all intents and purposes, Hall said at a news conference with Republican Senate leader Phil Berger on Wednesday. Im confident that well be able to pass the legislation that youve seen us pass in the same vein in the past.

Hall also said it was possible the supermajority would hold. In the potential deciding race, first-term GOP Rep. Frank Sossamon of Granville County on Wednesday trailed Democrat Bryan Cohn by fewer than 200 votes among 43,000 cast in a three-person race, according to unofficial results. The Associated Press has not called this race.

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In the Senate, Republicans retained their supermajority Tuesday by winning the necessary 30 seats in the 50-seat chamber. Unofficial results show elections for two other Senate seats  in Wake and Mecklenburg counties  remain extremely close, with margins of fewer than 40 votes for each.

Since last year, Republicans have used veto overrides to enact more than two dozen bills, including measures limiting most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy; prohibiting gender-affirming medical treatments for youth; and limiting LGBTQ+ instruction in early grades. They've adjusted election laws and also took away any governors ability to make appointments to boards and commissions.

Later this month, Republican leaders plan to consider an override of a vetoed measure that eliminates a large waitlist for private school vouchers and directs sheriffs to assist federal immigration agents seeking jail inmates.

Cooper, who leaves office at years end, said Wednesday on X that breaking the GOP supermajority in the state House will leverage good bills and help stop bad ones. Stein's campaign and Cooper raised or transferred millions of campaign dollars to help legislative candidates win.

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Stein, a former state senator, said during his campaign that he would veto any bill that contains additional abortion restrictions. He said Wednesday that issues such as Hurricane Helene recovery, public safety and public schools are not partisan.

"We must come together across our differences and get to work, he said.

Berger said Wednesday that he expects the GOP's relationship with Stein to be similar to the one it had with Cooper, who found agreement with Republicans on things such as economic development.

"There likely will be other things where theres common ground," but "theres no question that from a philosophical standpoint, hes in a completely different place than legislative Republicans, Berger said.

Nearly all of the vetoes since 2023 happened after Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County flipped to the Republican party, giving the GOP the necessary 72 seats to override Cooper's vetoes. Cotham, who was targeted electorally by Democrats, was leading her challenger Wednesday in a close race that the AP also has not called yet.
Donald Trump walks on stage at a rally on May 26, 2016, in Bismarck during the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference. North Dakota voters continue to favor Trump for president, in part due to his energy policies. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

North Dakota continued to be a predictably red state as voters overwhelmingly chose Republican Donald Trump to serve as president for a second term.

The former president secured 67% of the North Dakota vote in unofficial results.

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Democrat Kamala Harris had 30% and Libertarian Chase Oliver had nearly 2%.

North Dakota has three electoral votes.

More election news

For more statewide coverage, visit our North Dakota Election 2024 page.

North Dakotans have not chosen a Democrat for president since 1964. Many in the energy-rich state have voiced support for Trumps policies that call for decreased regulation of industry.

U.S. Sen John Hoeven led a crowd of Republican Party supporters in a chant Tuesday night as early election results came in.

Whos our next president? Hoeven asked. Trump, the crowd chanted back in unison.

Whos going to knock down inflation and get America back on track, whos gonna back our blue and make our cities safe, whos gonna support our military and endless wars? Hoeven asked. Trump, the crowd replied.

In 2020, 65% of North Dakota voters chose Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, with 32% choosing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

This story was updated with the latest results.


A home in north Fargo displays signs in favor of ending property taxes in North Dakota. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota voters defeated a measure Tuesday night that would have overhauled the states tax system by banning property taxes based on assessed value.

Roughly 63% of ballots were cast against the proposal in complete but unofficial results.

Supporters characterized the voter-initiated measure as a way to give North Dakotans the meaningful property tax reform homeowners have long asked, but lawmakers have failed to deliver on.

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To replace revenues lost by eliminating the tax, the proposal would have required the state to reimburse local governments every year by an amount no less than the property taxes those entities levy for the 2024 tax year.

More election news

For more statewide coverage, visit our North Dakota Election 2024 page.

Opponents of Measure 4 have said that the proposal would have caused funding disruptions to both local government and state services.

Chad Oban  chair of Keep It Local, a group that organized against the measure  said he was grateful the measure did not pass.

Now, its really important that the Legislature and political (subdivisions) figure out a path forward on property taxes, so were not back here in a couple years, Oban said.

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Oban said he supports finding alternative means of providing property tax relief, but that he doesnt have a specific stance on any others at this time. Since Keep It Local was formed to oppose Measure 4, it likely wont remain an active voice on property tax policy, he said.

Supporters of the measure said the proposal was the states best option for property tax reform.

Rick Becker, chair of the measures sponsoring committee, said he attributes the loss to fear of the unknown.

My main hope now is that the Legislature will finally once and for all take up true reform and true property tax relief, he said.

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A cost estimate approved by lawmakers that appeared on the ballot pinned the fiscal impact of Measure 4 at $3.15 billion for the 2025-2027 biennium. That figure was based on numbers from the Office of State Tax Commissioner.

Proponents of the measure called that estimate inflated and said the cost would actually be about $2.32 billion per two-year budget cycle.

This story was updated with the latest results and comment from the Keep It Local coalition and the measures sponsoring committee.
A voter fills out a ballot at the Hillside Aquatic Complex in Bismarck on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota voters narrowly approved a measure Tuesday that will further limit the amount of the Legacy Fund available for legislators to spend.

About 52% of voters supported Measure 3 in complete but unofficial results.

This measure would reduce how much of the Legacy Fund principal that legislators can spend from 15% to 5% during the states two-year budget cycle. It was placed on the ballot by the Legislature.

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The change would give the state more investment options for the 10% that had previously been available in case lawmakers decided to spend it. The Legislature has never spent any of the Legacy Fund principal.

The states Legacy Fund, which collects some of North Dakotas oil tax revenue, was valued at nearly $11 billion in June. North Dakotans approved a constitutional amendment establishing the Legacy Fund in 2010.

A poll of 500 North Dakota voters commissioned by the North Dakota News Cooperative this fall found that 47% were undecided about Measure 3  the highest percentage of undecided voters on any measure.

The next legislative session begins in January.

This story was updated with the latest results.
Staff count packets of signed petitions in the Secretary of State's Office on Feb. 9, 2024, in Bismarck. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota voters have rejected a statewide measure that would have made it harder for future measures to get on the ballot and pass.

Voters downed Measure 2 by 56% to 44% in complete but unofficial results.

Measure 2 was placed on the ballot by a vote of the state Legislature.

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Carol Sawicki of the North Dakota League of Women Voters was among those who submitted testimony to the Legislature opposing the changes. She wrote that the single-subject rule was vague, residency requirements too onerous and the two-vote requirement was redundant and costly.

The primary sponsor in the Legislature was state Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, who said she wanted to help ensure that citizen-initiated measures came from the grassroots.

The main changes would have been:

One subject: Future ballot measures would be limited to a single subject.

Two votes: Ballot measures would need to be approved by voters twice  first during a statewide primary and again in the general election. Previously, a measure could be approved in either the primary or general election.

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More signatures: Future petitions for constitutional ballot measures would need signatures from 5% of the North Dakota population to make the ballot, up from 4%.Residency requirements: Sponsors of the measure and petition circulators would need to be eligible to vote in North Dakota. In the past, some petition circulators were out-of-state residents hired to gather signatures. Those who sign petitions need to provide complete residential addresses and not just a postal address.

This story was updated with the latest results.
Troops from North Korea have joined Russia in its war against Ukraine, and they clashed with Ukrainian forces for the first time in Russias Kursk region.

According to The New York Times, the purpose of the engagement was likely to feel out weaknesses in the Ukrainian lines.

Since an incursion that began last summer, Ukrainian troops have held around 250 square miles of the Kursk region where the fighting took place.

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This small-scale fighting between Ukrainian and North Korean troops signaled the start of Pyongyangs direct involvement in the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II, Ukraine Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said, according to The Associated Press.

The North Korean troops were fighting together with Russias 810 Naval Infantry Brigade, per The New York Times.

Since the North Korean troops are mixed with Russian soldiers and are not clearly identified on their uniforms, Umerov said it is hard to know whether there were North Korean casualties, per the AP.

In a nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seemingly confirmed the addition of North Korean troops to the war.

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The first battles with North Korean soldiers mark a new chapter of global instability, Zelensky said, according to The New York Times. Together with the world, we must do everything to ensure that this Russian step toward expanding the war  this true escalation  becomes a loss.

Intelligence assessments from the U.S., Ukraine and South Korea report that as many as 12,000 combat troops from North Korea are being sent to the war, per The New York Times.

Members of the Korean Vietnam War Veterans Association stage a rally against a recent deployment of North Korean troops to Russia, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. | Ahn Young-joon

Most of the North Korean troops have yet to see combat, but Ukrainian and Western officials see this as a major escalation of the war which started nearly two years ago.

The soldiers from North Korea first arrived by boat last month in Vladivostok and from there embarked west on the 4,000 mile journey to the Kursk region, per The New York Times.

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The North Korean troops have been split into two units, one of assault troops and the other is made up of support troops to defend territory recaptured from Ukraine.

According to the AP, North Korea could deploy more troops from its army of 1.3 million soldiers to Russia.

This is not the first assistance North Korea has provided to Russia, since summer 2023 they have provided Russia with 16,000 shipping containers filled with artillery shells, missiles and rockets, per the Times.

In June, Vladmir Putin of Russia and Kim Jong Un of North Korea met and restored a treaty of mutual defense and military cooperation from the Cold War, according to The New York Times.
The North Miami mayoral race will head to a runoff after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday nights election.

Current mayor Alix Desulme secured his spot in the runoff with 37% of the vote. Hector Medina and former Florida State Rep. Daphne Campbell were neck and neck for the second spot. At 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Campbell had a razor-thin lead over Medina, but Medina managed to squeeze by and secure a runoff bid. As of Wednesday, Medina led Campbell by about 32 votes according to the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections website. Challenger Naomi Blemur received 18% of the vote.

The runoff is scheduled for Dec. 3.

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Tuesdays race was the first mayoral election the city has had since 2021. The race is also primed to be historic with Medina potentially becoming the first Latino mayor in the city, which is predominately Black with a large Haitian population and growing Latino population (32%).

Along with the mayoral runoff, two council districts will have runoff elections. The outcome of the the runoff races in Districts 1 and 4 could result in an all-Haitian city council.

RELATED: North Miami mayoral election could decide citys future. Heres whats at stake for residents

Desulme was appointed mayor in 2022, after then-mayor Philippe Bien-Aime resigned to run for the Miami-Dade County District 2 commission race in 2022. Medina has run for mayor and city council in North Miami multiple times, having first run for mayor in 2017.

North Miami mayoral candidate Hector Medina speaks during an election forum hosted by The Greater North Miami Chamber of Commerce at the Scott Galvin Community Center at 1600 NE 126th Street in North Miami, Florida, Monday, October 21, 2024

Whoever wins the election will have the task of finding funds to fix the citys aging water tower, flooding in the city streets and concerns about development. Desulmes election bid comes after criticism he and other city council members faced after moving elections from May 2022 to November 2024 to align with federal elections. Medina sued the city over the move.

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Tuesdays elections also came as residents have a growing distrust for the sitting council after it voted 3-1 to fire former city manager Rasha Cameau. At the time, outgoing commissioner Scott Galvin was the sole dissenting vote. Desulme was not present for the vote, but did not approve of Cameaus firing.

Voters will also have to decide on the District 4 council seat in a runoff between Pierre Franz Charles and Daniel Calixte, who received 44% and 16% of the votes, respectively. Charles was appointed to the seat which was left open after Desulme became mayor.

Former North Miami mayor Kevin Burns will head to a runoff against Vanessa Pierre for the District 1 council seat. Burns and Pierre received 43% and 31% of the vote, respectively. The person who wins will replace outgoing longtime councilman Scott Galvin. If Burns wins, he will be the only non-Haitian councilmember on the city council.
UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 11/6/2024 10:44 a.m.

(COLORADO SPRINGS)  According to CSPD, no injuries were reported in the Palmer Park and Murray crash. The intersection was blocked and the school bus was not involved in the crash but was likely stopped and trapped by the vehicles involved and was a witness.

ORIGINAL STORY: Crash involving school bus at Palmer Park and Murray Tuesday

TUESDAY 11/5/2024 5:56 p.m.

A crash that appeared to involve multiple vehicles, including a school bus and a pickup truck caused traffic delays and closures at Palmer Park and Murray Boulevards on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Courtesy: FOX21 News viewer Tracy Brasby Courtesy: FOX 21 News Digital Producer Dara Korn Courtesy: FOX 21 News Digital Producer Dara Korn Courtesy: FOX 21 News Digital Producer Dara Korn Courtesy: FOX 21 News Digital Producer Dara Korn

FOX21 News arrived at the scene just after 5 p.m., and our crew reported that a school bus traveling northbound on Murray and other vehicles, including a truck, appeared to be involved in the crash.

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Northbound Murray was closed for several hours as police investigated. Drivers were detoured at Moffat Circle and motorists were told to avoid the area.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Paper ballots, divided by type, are ready for poll workers on shelves in Searcy County on Oct. 30, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Independence County voters Tuesday night approved an ordinance that will require elections be conducted with hand-marked, hand-counted paper ballots.

According to complete but unofficial results, 8,309 county residents voted for the ordinance and 5,184 voted against it.

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Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative (AVII) CEO Conrad Reynolds has long supported a shift from using electronic voting machines to only using paper ballots, and said Tuesdays results showed voters have spoken loud and clear on the matter. Reynolds called on state leaders to heed the will of the people in a press release.

I implore Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to listen to the people of Arkansas and act to remove voting machines from our state, he said. The people have expressed their preference for secure, transparent elections, and its time we honor that by transitioning fully to paper ballots.

The Hand Marked, Hand Counted Paper Ballot Ordinance of 2024 requires elections be counted by hand-marked, hand-counted paper ballots, except for people with disabilities who may continue using a voting machine.

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Lawyer Clint Lancaster, who also represents AVII, filed a lawsuit on behalf of plaintiffs in nine Arkansas counties after county clerks did not certify the proposed measure for the 2024 ballot. Judges dismissed the cases in Conway, Johnson, Perry, Saline, Sharp and Van Buren counties. No ruling has been made in the White County lawsuit.

Meanwhile, cases in Cleburne and Independence counties were appealed to the Arkansas Supreme Court. The initiative appeared on the ballot in Independence County after the states high court on Oct. 17 affirmed a circuit court order directing the county clerk to certify the measure as sufficient.

Bryan Norris, a plaintiff in the Independence County case and lead petitioner for the ballot initiative, told the Advocate Wednesday that while it was a contentious issue, ordinance supporters are willing to work with people who opposed the measure as they transition to the new system.

We love you all, were all neighbors, were brothers, were sisters and most importantly were all patriotic Americans who care deeply about our community and country, Norris said. And this was just about creating a more transparent process and building a better future for us all.

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To the other eight counties with petitions that were denied the chance to have their voices heard, Norris said hes willing to help them qualify for the ballot next time. Norris goal is to ensure any county that wants paper ballot elections to have them, he said.

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The Cleburne County Quorum Court approved a resolution to switch to paper ballots in January 2023 but later reversed the decision.

Searcy County is the only one of Arkansas 75 counties that currently hand-counts ballots. A State Board of Election Commissioners audit into Searcy Countys handling of the 2024 primary elections found inaccuracies in its hand-counting processes.

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Supporters of switching from electronic voting machines to hand-marked, hand-counted paper ballots often cite concerns about election integrity. Studies have shown that ballot scanning machines are more accurate than hand counts, including a 2018 study co-authored by the director of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab and a separate study from the early 2000s.

As the debate over electronic voting machines and hand-marked paper ballots has gained traction in recent years, State Board of Election Commission officials, as well as Saline and Garland county officials, have defended the security and integrity of using voting machines to conduct elections.

State lawmakers have also weighed in, including Sen. Ken Hammer, R-Benton, who sponsored Act 350 of 2023, which requires counties that switch to paper ballots to pay the associated costs themselves.

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Dont you think thats pretty sad that the state is going to punish us for deciding to go a way that they dont want us to go, Norris said. Theyll pay for the machines, but how dare we decide to do a different processI think thats inappropriate and I think thats egregious of Mr. Hammer to be doing that.

Norris argued that using paper ballots would be cheaper than electronic voting machines, which have additional costs like software updates and maintenance. Meanwhile, Independence County Judge Kevin Jeffery, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday, said changing to paper ballots would be very costly in a social media post last month.

The reason for this is the process is labor intensive and every voter in our county would require ballots in every polling station for every election, Jeffery wrote. In other words, even if a voter doesnt vote, the ballot has to be in place and ready for the voter. Counting ballots by hand would also be labor intensive and require many man hours to complete.

A message left with Independence County Election Commission Chair Lea Barber about estimated costs for switching to paper ballots was not immediately returned Wednesday afternoon.

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Jonesboro, Arkansas, voters on Tuesday turned down an attempt to restore library funding lost in a referendum two years ago. This photo shows young-adult appropriate books on a library shelf in Alabama. (Alabama Reflector Photo by Stew Milne)

Jonesboro voters on Tuesday chose not to restore a 1-mill increase to the Craighead County-Jonesboro Public Library that would have replaced income lost two years ago when residents cut the librarys millage from 2 mills to 1 mill.

In nearby Lawrence County, meanwhile, voters chose to let their library hold on to its 2-mill funding tax.

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Tuesdays defeat in Jonesboro means the library will likely lose about $2 million for next year, director Vanessa Adams said.

Complete, but unofficial results from Craighead County officials:

For the 1-mill restoration  9,527

Against the restoration  14,358

We werent really surprised by the outcome, Adams said Tuesday evening. We didnt do much to promote the [restoration], but we didnt initiate it in the first place.

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The Jonesboro library lost half of its tax funding during the 2022 general election following local protest over a gay pride book display in the library in June 2022. The display, a yearly feature at the Jonesboro library, was moved from a remote area near the childrens library to a more noticeable, well-traveled spot near the center of the main library due to construction remodeling.

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There were actually two contests on the 2022 ballot. County residents voted on their millage rate while those living in Jonesboro cast ballots in a separate election.

Then, Craighead County voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of cutting the millage collection in half. The nearly 18,000 Jonesboro voters who cast ballots in their election approved the cut by only 48 votes  9,017 votes to 8,969 votes.

Earlier, protests also surfaced when the library featured a transgender author who spoke with youngsters about writing and her novels. Library officials asked police to provide protection for the event after receiving threats made to the library and its workers if the author did speak.

Later, proponents of the millage decrease claimed when offering the millage cut on the ballot that the library had a surplus of more than $6 million and did not need the full 2 mills to operate each year. The 2 mills the library had been collecting earned about $40 a year for a home assessed at $100,000.

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Voters increased the millage rate to 2 mills in 1994 to help build three library branches.

Adams said she had to cut 15 employees  most part-time workers  and reduce hours of both the main library and its branches following the defeat in 2022. The library has branches in Brookland, Caraway, Lake City, Harrisburg, Marked Tree, Monette and Weiner.

The library also reduced purchasing of both nonfiction and fiction books and did not repair a failing heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

We cant operate the way it is, Adams said of the cutback.

Had the millage been restored Tuesday, library officials planned to resurface the Jonesboro librarys parking lot, hire a full-time maintenance worker, do landscaping around the main building, expand its outreach programs and hire additional staff members.

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Adams said the library will use its reserves to continue operating.

Well have to tap into our reserves to keep all our services going as they are now, she said.

The library has $5 million in reserves that it can use.

She said she was encouraged by the number of voters who favored restoring the tax.

We had a lot of support, but we didnt win, she said.

Library officials will develop a five-year plan soon, basing their proposals on the additional loss of yearly revenues.

Adams said she will not attempt to place another restoration issue on the ballot for the 2026 general election.

We want to see how we do with what we have before we put it on the ballot again, she said.

Lawrence County library

The Lawrence County Library in Walnut Ridge maintained its funding Tuesday night as voters turned down a proposal to cut its millage collection in half.

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The county appropriates 2 mills for the library. Had the measure to cut the revenue been approved, the library would have lost about $250,000 in yearly tax collections.

Complete, but unofficial results:

For the 1-mill decrease 1,858

Against the decrease 3,732

Although similar to a vote to decrease the Craighead County-Jonesboro Librarys millage two years ago, the catalyst for the cut was different for Walnut Ridge voters.

We didnt have the issues Jonesboro did, said Lawrence County Library Director Ashley Burris, referring to the move to reduce funding in Jonesboro after patrons protested a gay pride book display there in 2022.

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Instead, Burris said, proponents of the millage reduction in Lawrence County said they wanted to use the taxes for other projects. Some wanted to re-allocate the funding to the countys road department to repair streets.

A Lawrence County election official said the money could not be re-appropriated and voters would have to favor a tax issue in a separate election to give additional funds to the road department.

Libraries have to be adaptable for what their people want, Burris said. I think this vote gives us a feeling of validating the work weve done.

She said library workers were nervous about the election after seeing how voters cut the Craighead County-Jonesboro Public Librarys funding and of seeing election results from Jonesboro Tuesday that maintained that cut.

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Its sad to see what happened to Jonesboro, she said. They were such a well respected library across the state and then this happens.

I think a lot of people around the state watched our election, she added. We may have helped head off a major move to cut libraries all over.

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Joe Raedle via Getty Images

Eight years after his shocking win in 2016, and four years after his defeat in 2020, Donald Trump will once again become the next president of the United States. He will regain this seat of immense power with fresh grievances, threats of being a dictator on day one and calls for retribution against his enemies  ushering America into something both familiar and strange.

This projected win comes after many losses  including the rollback of womens reproductive rights with the striking down of Roe v. Wade and the realization now that two prominent, experienced female presidential candidates  former Sen. Hillary Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris  have failed to crack the highest, hardest glass ceiling in the land.

The first Trump presidency  marred by incompetence and scandals  was a mess, but it could have been much worse if not for the career Republicans in his midst, constantly working to hide his flaws and rein him in. But this time around, there will be no John Kellys or Mike Pences to be the more rational actors when dealing with an irrational man. There will be no one to say Thats against the Constitution that Trump does not adhere to and has been dismissive of in the past. There will be no respect for the rule of law  only the rule of one. It is the greatest challenge to our Democratic experiment since the Civil War.

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This is not a drill.

But now is not the time to cower or capitulate. I can promise you that HuffPost is doing neither. (And you can do your part and join us in this fight. Click here to support HuffPost.) Weve been sounding the alarm on Trump since day one. Reporting extensively on his authoritarian leanings, his dangerous foreign policy, his racist and fascist rhetoric, and how he stoked a bloody insurrection on our nations Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. This campaign season, reporters including HuffPosts Liz Skalka have been on the ground in nearly every swing state while others, such as S.V. Date, have followed every move at the White House, documenting this unprecedented year in presidential politics.

Click here to support our journalism.

This is the hard part where we will all be tested. Do we believe in the tenets this country was founded on or not? Do we believe in the expansion of equal rights under the law or not? Do we truly accept and even celebrate those of different viewpoints, having a peaceful discourse that is both respectful and educational, instead of one that is petty and vitriolic?

Both my parents were born under Jim Crow, sometimes seeing the worst of humanity  in person and on TV  from their hometowns of Gainesville, Texas, and Newport, Arkansas. My mother didnt have a credit card until she married my father, and her first loan for a car had to be co-signed by my grandfather.

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When I expressed to my father my fears of where our country was heading  fears many people born after the civil rights and womens rights movements like me share  he dismissed them. Not because he didnt think the worst could happen and not because he doesnt take Trumps threats seriously, but because as someone who has lived through so much in his 82 years, there was something achingly familiar about this all. He came into this world in an apartheid state. If he spends the remainder of his life witnessing the great undoing of all the progress he and others like him fought for, he will not be moved or surprised. He has already seen the worst of America and its ugliness. People who spat on schoolchildren who just wanted a fair education. People who promoted separate but equal only to humiliate and marginalize an entire group of people. People who colluded with others to murder four little girls at a church in Birmingham. A face that joined other similar faces to burn down the prosperous Greenwood district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the Black neighborhoods of Rosewood, Florida, and East St. Louis, Illinois.

What was Jan. 6 but a continuation of an American tradition of silencing others through violence?

They want us to cower. They want us to capitulate. They want us to turn on each other and live in fear. But even if this election shows that the original sins and wounds of this country have never been properly dealt with or healed, even if it shows there are people who would rather destroy this country than share in its vision  we cannot stop. We cannot afford to give up or give in to anything. Now is the time to find a strength within us, a strength given to us by those who came before us to fight back. This is not new. We have faced these kinds of people before. We have witnessed these kinds of horrors before. And we have beat them.

And we will beat them again.

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Not because I know we have it within us to fight, but because you cant put the formerly oppressed back in their place anymore than you can cram the toothpaste back in the tube. What was accomplished in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s might be relitigated and knocked down by a conservative-leaning, Trump-supporting, activist Supreme Court, but you cant take away the last six decades of progress and people striving for that more perfect union. You cant erase our memories. You cant legislate us to the back of the bus and expect us to sit there. We can either learn how to live together as a people, respect each other and the rule of law, or you can fight us. All of us.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wesley Lowery titled his first book, based on his experience in covering the Ferguson, Missouri, protests in 2014 after the death of Mike Brown, They Cant Kill Us All. What to some might sound hyperbolic has been the reality for countless Americans and immigrants in this country for decades. Lowery wrote: A seat at the table, the new generation of Black activists reasons, isnt worth much if your fellow diners still refuse to pass you a plate.

The reelection of Trump proves that despite the presidencies of Barack Obama, despite the legalization of same-sex marriage, despite every gain that has been made in our society, those who yearn for a fantastical yesteryear that never existed are a fearsome foe. They dont care that LGBTQ+ people, Black people, Indigenous people, women, Muslims, Jews, Latinos, Asians, Middle Easterners, immigrants, and many, many more have no intention of returning to a day when they were treated as less than human. That theyre not going to give up their seat at the table, let alone allow you to no longer pass them a plate. Power concedes nothing without a demand, and we are demanding that our humanity continue to be not just respected but celebrated.

You want my rights? Come take them from me.

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The time to treat these toxic daydreamers as if theyre simply misinformed is over. We know what were up against, and its Americas torturous, racist, sexist, nativist, Confederate past. Weve fought these ghosts before. But if the past is prologue, the Confederacy only lasted four years and three weeks. And the civil rights and womens rights movements shaped the world we live in today. The long moral arc of the universe still bends toward justice, just as Dr. King said. If we have to relegislate all this and fight these fights all over again, we will. Because there is no alternative. There is no other option.

So lace up your shoes and get ready to dig in.

At HuffPost, our newsroom is ready. Are you?
Donald Trump has already won the presidency, and on Wednesday afternoon, he also won Michigan, adding 16 electoral college votes to his already impressive electoral college tally.

Trump now has a total of 292 electoral college votes, and nearly 72 million popular votesdefeating Harris by nearly five million votes.



Trumps victory is only the second for Republicans since 1992 in the Great Lakes State, with the former president also winning Michigans 16 electoral votes in 2016 by just over 10,000 votes. This time, Trump won by over 80,000 votes, or 1.4 percent, according to the Associated Press. In 2020, President Biden won Michigan by more than 150,000 votes.



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Over the past year, there were concerns that Democrats would lose the state, with its large Arab American and Muslim populations, due to the Biden administrations support of Israels brutal war in Gaza over the past year. Those concerns appear to have been vindicated, and show that Democrats should not have dismissed Arab American and Muslim voters, especially at the Democratic National Convention in August.



Trump has now knocked down the so-called Blue Wall Great Lake states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvaniaas he did when he cruised to victory in 2016.
With Republican candidate Donald Trump set to become the next U.S. president, Ukrainian politicians have reacted carefully  congratulating the former-turned-future president and emphasizing the need for diplomacy and cooperation, while also expressing uncertainty about what his victory means for Ukraine.

Most politicians indicated no surprise at the outcome, which was predicted to be a coin toss ahead of the Nov. 5 election, but said Ukraine must now work to shape how the relationship with Washington unfolds.

Trump brings new risks and opportunities for Ukraine. It now depends on the skill of the Ukrainian government to minimize the former and maximize the latter, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines former foreign minister, told the Kyiv Independent. He described his reaction to the news as calm.

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As the results rolled in overnight, it became clear that Ukraines top Western ally will be led next year by someone who has derided providing aid to Ukraine and has blamed U.S. and Ukrainian leadership for the war in Ukraine, rather than Russias invading forces.

His election could become one of the most significant events of the war, especially if it spells an end to the high level of support provided by the U.S.

Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, takes the stage during a campaign rally at the Santander Arena on Nov. 4, 2024 in Reading, Pennsylvania. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

At the same time, many of Trumps statements on Ukraine have largely involved rhetoric and are thin on concrete plans, leaving Ukrainians unsure how his term will affect future relations.

Everyone is asking how (the election result) will influence Ukraine, Yaroslav Zhelezniak, first deputy chairman of the Finance, Tax and Customs Policy Committee and a member of the Holos party in Ukraines parliament, told the Kyiv Independent.

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And from my point of view, the only answer is that it will be another approach from another administration, and we dont know what it means, better or worse, Zhelezniak said.

Read also: Im going to stop the wars  Trump says, as he claims victory

A strained history

Trumps comments along the campaign trail have sparked worry from supporters of Ukraine  especially his repeated promise to end Ukraines war within 24 hours.

He has not publicly shared a plan to achieve this, though the Financial Times reported last month that the plan could involve pressuring Ukraine to cede territory or give up on its NATO ambitions.

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Trump brings new risks and opportunities for Ukraine. It now depends on the skill of the Ukrainian government to minimize the former and maximize the latter, former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

In recent months, the prospect of a Trump presidency has pushed politicians in Kyiv to try and forge warmer relationships with him and members of his orbit. With Trumps victory all-but-declared, President Volodymyr Zelensky was one of the first leaders to publicly congratulate Trump.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs, Zelensky wrote on X. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.

The relationship between the two has been strained since Trumps first term. A phone call in 2019 led to Trumps first impeachment proceeding, after Trump allegedly pressured Zelensky to investigate political rivals by withholding military aid.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speak during a meeting in New York on September 25, 2019, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

In the years since, Trump has repeatedly criticized Ukraines president, while Zelenskys responses have remained more measured.

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Other top politicians, including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Presidents Office Head Andriy Yermak, and Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, joined Zelensky in congratulating Trump on his victory.

Challenge, opportunity, and unpredictability

Several Ukrainian politicians noted Trumps lack of clear direction toward Ukraine and told the Kyiv Independent that they have not given up hope that time and diplomacy will improve Trumps stance.

For Ukraine, Trumps victory means both a challenge and an opportunity, said Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of Zelenskys Servant of the People party and chair of the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. I hope his presidency will be more about an opportunity than about a challenge. I dont believe that Trump is going to throw Ukraine under the bus because it wouldnt be in the interests of the U.S.

At the same time dealing with Trump will require from us lots of diplomatic and political skills, Merezhko added.

A woman holds US and Ukrainian flags before attending a demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine. Chicago, United States, on Oct. 16, 2022. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) #editorialusvote

Mykola Kniazhytskyi, a lawmaker from the European Solidarity party currently in opposition, said he believed Trump harbored illusions about dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He compared Trumps ideas about Putin to those Zelensky held before his own rise to power, when Zelensky said in 2019 that he would look Putin in the eye and discuss a ceasefire.

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Obviously, a lot of (Trumps) statements during the election campaign  and not only his, but also the Vice President-elect (JD Vance), and the people who support him  could not be perceived positively in Ukraine. In my opinion, they were quite naive, Kniazhytskyi said. The question, he said, is how Trumps behavior could change after the reality of his encounters with Putin.

I do not rule out the possibility that the U.S. aid to Ukraine will not be reduced, which is very important for us, Kniazhytskyi added.

Some members of parliament had hoped for a Harris win and were disappointed, according to Volodymyr Aryev, a lawmaker from the same European Solidarity party. But Ukrainian diplomats must do their best to ensure Trumps next actions are pro-Ukrainian, he said.

We can forget about (Trump's) foreign policy announcements made before the election, said Aryev. "Trump is a political egoist and he's unpredictable. The only predictable thing is that he will be doing things that are beneficial to him.

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"Dealing with Trump will require from us lots of diplomatic and political skills, lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko said.

Kyiv School of Economics President Timofy Mylovanov, who worked as an advisor to the Presidents Office, said that the more idealistic format of Ukraine's relations with the U.S. under President Joe Biden would be replaced by a more pragmatic one under Trump.

"I'm more optimistic than others," he said, referring to the U.S. election results. Trumps victory is not the end of the world."

We need to shape reality for ourselves

But even as Ukrainian politicians offered reasons for optimism, many stated they believe a Trump presidency will require significant effort domestically. Some cited a need for less reliance on the countrys ally, while others noted that maintaining a healthy relationship with the new administration will take work.

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The American people made their choice. Time will tell what this will mean for us. But it will definitely not be like before, Serhiy Prytula, a volunteer, politician, and media personality, wrote on X. Regardless of which administration will be in the White House, we must help the military, relying primarily on our own strength.

Graves of Ukrainian soldiers during the memorial day at the Lychakiv military cemetery on Nov. 1, 2023, in Lviv . (Stanislav Ivanov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

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According to Kuleba, Trumps victory  and the uncertainty of future aid  will incentivize the cash-strapped Ukraine to better manage available resources for its war.

Kniazhytskyi expressed a similar sentiment, saying Trumps presidency means we need to be more effective in governing the state  internally, in managing the army, diplomacy, and external communications.

Since Trump will respond to American desires, he said, Ukrainians must make sure that the American people know the truth about what is happening in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a lawmaker from the Holos party, said there is no panic among politicians or diplomats. It's about work processes.

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Yurchyshyn said that Ukraine needs to provide the U.S. with a convincing victory plan and show why it benefits America to continue supporting Ukraine. But for this, we need to grow up and stop expecting the U.S. to help us by default.

The Kyiv Independent journalists Kateryna Denisova, Natalia Yermak, Chris York, Martin Fornusek, and Oleg Sukhov contributed reporting.

Read also: What we know about Trumps plans for ending Russias war against Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The voters have cast their ballots, and after those ballots have been counted, and a winner has been projected by news organizations, thats not the conclusion of the election. The actual outcome of the 2024 presidential election will be determined by the Electoral College.

The Conversation U.S. has had several articles explaining the history and effects of the United States curious method of choosing a president, not with one national election but with 51 smaller elections, in each state and Washington, D.C. Here are the highlights of that coverage.

1. A safeguard for democracy

The Electoral College was the result of a compromise devised among 11 men at the Constitutional Convention in the hot Philadelphia summer of 1787. It was meant as a protective measure against rule by an uninformed mob, as Purdue University social studies education professor Phillip J. VanFossen explains. He describes how electors came to cast the decisive votes for president, writing:

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(The) founders were reassured that with this compromise system, neither public ignorance nor outside influence would affect the choice of a nations leader. They believed that the electors would ensure that only a qualified person became president. And they thought the Electoral College would serve as a check on a public who might be easily misled, especially by foreign governments.

Read more: Who invented the Electoral College?

These 11 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 agreed on a compromise that created the Electoral College. The Conversation, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-ND

2. Creating new danger

By contrast, though, Barry C. Burden, a political science scholar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that rather than protecting American democracy, the Electoral College system created a new risk:

Someone who wants to infiltrate the election system would have difficulty causing problems in a national popular vote because it is decided by thousands of disconnected local jurisdictions. In contrast, the Electoral College makes it convenient to sow mischief by only meddling in a few states widely seen as decisive.

Read more: An unseen problem with the Electoral College  it tells bad guys where to target their efforts

3. Protecting the popular vote?

A news item published Aug. 19, 1868, in South Carolina provides insight about the contemporaneous understanding of Section 2 of the 14th Amendment. The Anderson Intelligencer via newspapers.com

There may be limits to that meddling, though. The Constitution allows state legislatures to choose the electors  which Donald Trump and his supporters tried to exploit in 2020 by asking Republican state legislators to appoint fake electors to confuse matters.

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However, as Eric Eisner, a history Ph.D. student at Johns Hopkins University, and David B. Froomkin, a law professor at the University of Houston Law Center, explain, that would have run afoul not only of those states laws but also of another provision of the Constitution: The 14th Amendment says that if a state disenfranchises any of its voters, that state loses a proportional amount of its seats in the House of Representatives.

So, Eisner and Froomkin explain:

(I)f a state legislature were to directly choose electors, that would disenfranchise all of the states voters. The right to vote, after all, is the right to have ones vote counted, not the right to have ones preferred candidate win. If all of a states voters have their right to vote taken away, Section 2 requires that the states House representation immediately and automatically be reduced to zero.

That, in turn, means the state would only have two electors  and would no longer be a factor in the election.

Read more: How the 14th Amendment prevents state legislatures from subverting popular presidential elections

4. Why does the US still have an Electoral College?

Other nations took a lead from the U.S. creation of the Electoral College, creating their own versions. But they didnt last, as Westminster College political scientist Joshua Holzer explained:

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None have been satisfied with the results. And except for the U.S., all have found other ways to choose their leaders.

Many people in the U.S. also have problems with the Electoral College, and Holzer identifies one effort underway to replace it without amending the Constitution. But even that wouldnt ensure that the person who becomes president would be supported by at least half of the people who cast ballots.

Read more: No country still uses an electoral college  except the US
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, family and supporters took the stage at the GOP Election Night watch party in Des Moines Nov. 5, 2024 after he was declared by the AP as the winner of the 3rd Congressional District race. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn has won reelection in Iowas 3rd Congressional District, staving off Democratic opponent Lanon Baccams bid with 52% of vote Tuesday, the Associated Press has projected.

Baccam earned roughly 48% of votes cast in unofficial results with 99% of the vote counted. The AP called the race at 11:18 p.m. Tuesday.

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In his victory speech at the Hilton Downtown Des Moines, Nunn said his win showed that Iowans supported his approach to bringing Iowa common sense solutions to Washington D.C. He also celebrated his supporters, family and the voters who helped him earn a second term  and secure a crucial seat in the U.S. House in 2025.

We didnt do this alone  every Iowan who took the time to have their voice heard, who fought this election up and down the ballot, Iowa has had this huge response and is going to change the trajectory of this country, Nunn said.

Iowas 3rd Congressional District, encompassing much of the Des Moines metropolitan area and southwest Iowa including cities like Ottumwa and Red Oak, has been an election to watch for many interested in control of the U.S. House heading into the 2024 election. The 3rd District  as well as Iowas 1st District  were both labeled as tossups by forecaster Cook Political Report ahead of the election  a designation given to just 22 races nationwide that were most likely to have an impact on which party gains a majority in the chamber.

Though the 1st District also received significant attention, Democrats invested heavily in Baccams campaign and attacks against Nunn, the one-term incumbent, seeing the 3rd District as an area to pick up a Democratic seat in Iowa. Nunn defeated former U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne in the 2022 midterms, making the states federal delegation entirely Republican.

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Iowas federal delegation stayed all red in the 2024 general election, with all incumbent U.S. representatives winning their reelection bids in the state.

Baccam released a statement conceding the race Wednesday, thanking his family, campaign staff and volunteers for their work during the 2024 election cycle.

While this is not the outcome we wanted, the fight for a better Iowa must continue, Baccam said. We still know its not okay for politicians to tell women what to do with their bodies, we know theres still work to do to lower costs, and we have to make sure Iowans can retire with dignity by protecting Social Security and Medicare. Thank you to everyone who stood with me in this race.

Democrat Lanon Baccam, a candidate for Iowas 3rd Congressional District, and his daughter, Freya, went to vote on Election Day at Plymouth United Church of Christ in Des Moines Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Both Baccam and Nunn showed up to voting locations with family members on Election Day. Baccam, who waited in line alongside his daughter Freya to cast his ballot early Tuesday, said while results were not yet in, he felt his campaign was in a strong position for the election.

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At this point its out of our hands, Baccam said. Its up to the voters. But we believe the folks that are supporting our campaign are going to be there.

Though Nunn voted early in the 2024 election, the congressman and his children joined his wife, Kelly, to vote on Election Day. Nunn said that he was preparing to spend the day encouraging and assisting people to go to the polls  and reminding people that their vote will be crucial in the competitive election.

This is an election thats between two very different ideas: one of economic growth, one of success proven here in Iowa, one of securing our country, or one that I think does the opposite of that, Nunn said. I think weve had a really strong record of representing Iowa, wed be honored to get to serve again in Congress.

Nunns election in 2022 came during a year of big wins for Iowa Republicans, who also gained control of all but one statewide elected office and a majority in the Iowa House and supermajority in the state Senate. However, Nunn emphasized on the campaign trail for 2024 that he still believed the 3rd District was a swing district where he faced tough election odds.

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With that understanding, Nunn focused much of his campaign trail talks on his moderate bona fides, speaking about being ranked one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and emphasizing his work across the aisle as a representative. At the same time, he also promised his commitment to GOP policies on issues like U.S. border security and national security.

His opponent highlighted another part of his track record on the campaign trail  abortion policy. Baccam and supporters ran an aggressive ad campaign attacking Nunn for raising his hand during a 2022 GOP 3rd District primary debate that he would support a full abortion ban with no exceptions, as well as pointing to his support as a state legislator for a version of Iowas recently implemented six-week abortion ban.

Nunn and GOP supporters pushed back with their own advertising campaign depicting Baccam as dishonest about his stances and history, pointing to him deleting tweets supporting President Joe Biden and criticizing former President Donald Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential candidate.

Fundraising  and spending  were high in the 3rd District race this election cycle. Nunn raised nearly $5.2 million and spent $4.5 million during the election cycle, according to Federal Election Commission quarterly reports for the period ending in Oct. 16. Baccam raised nearly $4.8 million and spent $4.5 million. Nearly $16 million was poured into the race from outside groups like super PACs, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets.

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Ren Culliney, 25, voted to support Baccam on Election Day. While they were nervous about Democrats chances in Iowa, Culliney said the many pro-choice, anti-Nunn signs around the Des Moines metro and visible, audible support they heard for Baccam and other Democrats kept them hopeful while awaiting results.

The Des Moines resident said they felt particularly optimistic about more women voters being motivated to turn out for Baccam, as well as for Vice President Kamala Harris, because of the issue of abortion.

I feel like the (Iowa) ban going through had a lot of people really  even the ones that dont support like, all abortions  say, even thats too restrictive, you know, that is too much of a step of infringing on peoples bodies.

Democrats watch Rep. Zach Nunns victory speech at the Iowa Democratic Partys election night event in Des Moines. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowans at the Iowa Democratic Party election night watch party were optimistic for their candidates, many of them felt that if not a win in the presidential race, they could win locally with Baccam.

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Grace Arganbright, a public school teacher from Urbandale who attended the event said she hoped a Democratic win could show that Iowa could once again be a swing state.

The majority of attendees cleared out after the AP called the presidential race for Iowa in favor of former President Donald Trump.

By the time the race was called by AP in favor of Nunn, a mostly empty room watched the incumbents acceptance speech. Baccam did not speak at the event.

Baccam worked for Bidens 2020 Iowa campaign, in addition to recently serving as deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture under former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. The Democrat said his interest in working in government, as well as joining the military after 9/11, came from his experience growing up in a Tai Dam refugee community in Mount Pleasant.

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Nunn and Baccam share a military service as a common point in their backgrounds. Nunn is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve who was deployed to the Middle East three times, while Baccam is Iowa National Guard veteran who deployed to Afghanistan. Both say their experience in the military played a large role in pursuing public office.

Nunn gave a salute to Baccam in his victory speech, saying that his opponent served the U.S. honorably. He said that while the race is over, he was prepared for the work in Congress on the horizon.

Its about recognizing that we have a mission ahead of us, and our mission is to serve this district the best we can, Nunn said.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)Two Oklahoma Heart Hospital-South nurses are hoping someone can help can help them reunite victims of Sundays tornado in Oklahoma City with some sentimental pictures they found scattered among debris near their hospital.

The tornado cleanup near SE 89th and Sooner Road will take some time.

Debris from homes leveled by an EF3 tornado Sunday scattered far beyond the neighborhood.

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Neighbors recount moments they barely survived late-night EF-3 tornado

After the tornado came through, it littered the Oklahoma Heart Hospital-Souths windows and parking lots with debris.

The hospital is located less than a mile from the neighborhood by the tornado.

I turned on the news and I saw that it was around Sooner, Haley Pirkle said. And then I was like, oh, goodness, that probably hit right near work.

Pirkle is an ER nurse at Oklahoma Heart Hospital-South.

She and fellow ER Nurse Brittney Morgan returned to work a few hours after the tornado came through.

We were actually came on the shift [Sunday] about 6 a.m. and walked around to kind of look at the damage, Pirkle said.

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The two noticed something in the grass as they walked near the hospitals ER entrance: two pictures of people they didnt know.

We happened to come across these two photos, Pirkle said. I believe this looks like a wedding photo to me.

Photos found outside Oklahoma hospital following tornado

These are like, you know, sentimental ones, Morgan said. We have a baby here who looks like theyre one month old.

Photos found outside Oklahoma hospital following tornado

It didnt take long to put two and two together.

These probably belong to one of the houses that did take a hit behind us, Pirkle said.

So they reached out to News 4, to help spread the word.

We want to get this back to the mom or this might be the only thing that they have left, Morgan said.

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Harrah neighborhood hit by EF-3 tornado

It looks like something that somebody would definitely want to have back, Pirkle said. Im a big photo person, so I know this is probably important to somebody.

As News 4 was getting ready to leave the hospital after talking to the nurses, News 4s crew found another picture in the grass.

The picture is of a boy, appearing to sit a picnic table while making a silly face at the camera.

Photos found outside Oklahoma hospital following tornado

If you know who that picture belongs to, please call news 4.

As for the pictures the nurses found, they say Oklahoma Heart Hospital-South will hold on to them.

Oklahoma has record-breaking tornado season in 2024, NWS data shows

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If you know who they belong to, please call the hospital.

Pirkle and Morgan say they hope can get the pictures back to their rightful owner, to help the community the serve during its darkest hour.

We definitely see a lot of patients around here, Pirkle said. And you know, they mean a lot to us.

We are looking out for them, Morgan said. We care about them and their community, and we just want them to have these back.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
New Yorkers approved most of Mayor Adams City Charter amendment proposals in Tuesdays election after he advanced them amid an ongoing power struggle with the City Council, which sharply opposed the measures.

While the mayor has said the proposals  some of which impose new requirements on how the City Council drafts laws  will enhance the citys legislative processes, Council members have argued they would add unnecessary red tape to their work. Adams critics also argue the ballot proposals were part of an effort by him to stifle efforts by the Council to expand its input on mayoral appointments.

Four of the measures advanced onto the 2024 election ballot by the mayor  questions two, three, four and five  passed by wide margins, according to city Board of Elections tallies. The final measure, question six, appeared likely to be rejected by a more narrow margin, the tallies show.

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In a statement early Wednesday, Adams celebrated the passage of his first four ballot proposals without mentioning that the last one was expected to fail.

Tonights overwhelming success at the polls is just the latest example of how our administration is working every single day to make this a safer, more affordable city for all New Yorkers, his statement said.

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who along with her Democratic colleagues been vehemently opposed to the charter revisions, said there is serious work needed to protect our local democracy from a mayor willing to disregard norms in the pursuit of power that removes checks and balances.

One of the most controversial measures, question three, requires the City Council to draw up official analyses estimating the financial impact of bills before voting on them. The question would also allow the mayors budget office to draft its own legislative financial assessments that would have to be considered before votes.

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The fourth question has been perhaps the most contentious. That one would require the City Council to give at least 30 days notice before voting on any bills relating to the operations of the NYPD, the FDNY and the Department of Correction. It would also mandate that the mayors office be allowed to hold its own public hearing on any such bill before it can be voted on.

The fourth proposal emerged after the Council overrode vetoes the mayor issued earlier this year to try to unsuccessfully prevent two public safety-related Council bills from becoming law  one banning solitary confinement in city jails and another subjecting NYPD officers to more transparency requirements.

Council members have said they see the fourth proposal as an attempt by the mayor to punish them for the veto overrides, while he argues the citys law enforcement apparatus should be given more say over legislation impacting their operations.

Two of the remaining three ballot proposals relate to expanding the Department of Sanitations authority to clean public spaces and requiring more rigorous annual reporting on the state of city-owned buildings  measures that were both also adopted in Tuesdays election.

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The final measure, the sixth question that appeared likely to be rejected by voters, would create a new city government position focused on advocating for minority-and women-owned businesses.

Council members have questioned whether the mayor pushed forward the referendum questions because a provision in municipal law made it so that their inclusion blocked the Council from getting a separate Charter revision proposal onto the ballot that wouldve, if approved, curtailed his ability to unilaterally make certain commissioner-level appointments.

The mayor has denied his Charter revision effort was motivated by the fact that it stood to kill the Councils proposal. In an op-ed published by the Daily News, he argued the measures will ensure our city can continue to improve and thrive.

The ballot proposals were drafted by a commission made up of 13 members appointed by the mayor, several of whom are longtime political allies. The panel took two months before it presented the five proposals in time for them to make it onto this years ballot, an unusually quick turnaround.

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Speaker Adams, joined by dozens of her Democratic Council colleagues, City Comptroller Brad Lander, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and others, urged New Yorkers to vote no on all five proposals ahead of Tuesdays election.

New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman, who was among a large group of advocates who opposed the mayors ballot questions, slammed their passage.

The mayor rushed through ballot proposals that obscured their true purpose  to weaken checks and balances in New York City and make it harder to hold government and law enforcement accountable, Lieberman said.
LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11)  New York State Police held a press conference on Wednesday regarding the investigation into a trooper who was suspended without pay after he was shot on Southern State Parkway on Long Island.

Trooper Thomas Mascia, 27, is being investigated over inconsistencies in his story, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.

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Based our investigation so far, we have reason to believe that the incident did not occur the way it was reported, said Troop L Commander Major Stephen J. Udice during Wednesdays news conference.

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Officials say theyre conducting both a criminal and internal investigation into Mascia. They called off the search for any potential vehicle or persons of interest regarding the shooting.

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A member of the state police can be found to be in violation of our rules and regulations, even in the absence of a crime. Thomas Mascia was found to be violation of our rules and regulations, said Major Udice.

Previously Mascia reported that he was patrolling the Southern State Parkway on Oct. 30 when he saw what he believed to be a stranded motorist, according to State Police. Mascia says he was shot in his right leg when he got out of his patrol vehicle and approached a black sedan parked on the left side of the roadway.

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As part of the criminal investigation, State Police executed a search warrant at Mascias residence on Monday. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and a cache of guns were discovered in the troopers family home in West Hempstead.

Mascia was recently released from a local hospital on Friday.

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) glided to victory Tuesday in New Yorks deep-blue 14th District, Decision Desk HQ projects, beating back a nominal challenge from Republican Tina Forte, a small business owner, to earn a fourth term on Capitol Hill.

Ocasio-Cortez has been a national figure  and a liberal icon  since first arriving in Washington in 2019, and she only built on that reputation in the current Congress. Joining other members of the liberal squad, shes made waves by fighting for more liberal policies on everything from the southern border to the Israel-Palestine conflict, even when its meant confronting President Biden and other Democratic allies head on.

Yet there were also signs that Ocasio-Cortez, who ranks among the partys top fundraisers, is shifting away from at least some of the rebellious positions that defined her earliest years on Capitol Hill.

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This cycle marked the first time she paid dues to the Democrats campaign arm. And with her own reelection assured, Ocasio-Cortez spent the late campaign season stumping in battleground states on behalf of Vice President Harris, even as one of her closest squad allies, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), refused to endorse the Democratic nominee over the Biden administrations handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Forte, on the campaign trail, had leaned heavily into the argument that Ocasio-Cortez and her fellow Democrats are socialists. But in the heavily Democratic 14th District, which encompasses parts of Queens and the Bronx, the message didnt resonate. And the fundraising contest wasnt even close.

Ocasio-Cortez hauled in more than $13 million over the cycle, according to Open Secrets, versus just $1.7 million for Forte.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

The Associated Press (AP) called the race around 5:34 a.m. (ET) on Nov. 6 after a win in the battleground state of Wisconsin took the Republican nominee over the 270 Electoral College votes.

AP Race Call: Donald Trump is elected the 47th president of the U.S.



His win over Vice President Kamala Harris caps a historically tumultuous campaign that included two assassination attempts against him. https://t.co/vNyURdNHtn pic.twitter.com/QftQSSsDx9  The Associated Press (@AP) November 6, 2024

Along with Wisconsin, the AP called the key battleground states of Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania for the former president. Arizona, Michigan and Nevada had not been called at the time of this publication.

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Speaking before the race was called, Trump told his supporters at his election headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, "We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible. It is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political, hey! Look what happened! Is this crazy? But it's a political victory that our country has never seen before."

Former President Trump: "We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible. It is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political -- Hey! Look what happened! Is this crazy?!?" pic.twitter.com/M3AZkFe3vh  CSPAN (@cspan) November 6, 2024

.

Congratulations filtered in from across the globe throughout the morning, from U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to Prime Minister of India Narenda Modi.

Earlier in the morning, Trump supporter and tech billionaire Elon Musk posted on X, the social media platform that he owns: "The people of America gave @realDonaldTrump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight."

The people of America gave @realDonaldTrump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

Snopes is fact-checking rumors about the election. For example, we addressed why tens of thousands of absentee ballots in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were being recounted and a claim that Harris faked a phone call with a voter on Election Day.

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Other rumors include:

Sources:

AP News. (2024). Live election updates: Donald Trump wins US presidency. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/live/trump-harris-election-updates-11-5-2024?tab=00000192-ed4d-dcda-ab92-fdcd20760000 [Accessed 6 Nov. 2024].

Collinson, S. (2024). Trump will win second term, CNN projects, in historic comeback after losing four years ago. [online] CNN. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/06/politics/trump-wins-election/index.html [Accessed 6 Nov. 2024].

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CSPAN (2024). x.com. [online] X (formerly Twitter). Available at: https://x.com/cspan/status/1854065386922119560 [Accessed 6 Nov. 2024].

MILLER, Z., PRICE, M.L. and WEISSERT, W. (2024). Trump or Harris? Election Day arrives with a stark choice. [online] AP News. Available at: https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2.

Modi, N. (2024). Blocked. [online] X.com. Available at: https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1854075308472926675 [Accessed 6 Nov. 2024].

Musk, E. (2024). x.com. [online] X (formerly Twitter). Available at: https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1854047333958254597 [Accessed 6 Nov. 2024].

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Netanyahu, B. (2024). [online] X (formerly Twitter). Available at: https://x.com/netanyahu/status/1854070348926328965 [Accessed 6 Nov. 2024].

PRESS, T.A. (2024). AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins Wisconsin. [online] AP News. Available at: https://apnews.com/article/race-call-trump-wins-wisconsin-president-1d2209e42fe44e61adb9e17deb416b47 [Accessed 6 Nov. 2024].

Regalbuto, G., Balara, V., Blanton, D., Chasmar, J., Steinhauser, P., Wehner, G., Stimson, B., Bonavita, J., Betz, B., Casiano, L., Margolis, A., Price, S., Chi-Sing, H., Staff, F.N., Baehr, J., Pritchett, E., Mion, L., McDonald, S., Hagstrom, A. and Pandolfo, C. (2024). Donald Trump elected as the next President of the United States. [online] Fox News. Available at: https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/2024-presidential-election-results-news [Accessed 6 Nov. 2024].

Starmer, S.K. (2024). x.com. [online] X (formerly Twitter). Available at: https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1854076601811570883 [Accessed 6 Nov. 2024].

US election 2024 live updates: Election day voting begins in US with Trump and Harris neck and neck in polls. (n.d.). BBC News. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/czxrnw5qrprt.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Federal election officials said this year, the election is running relatively smoothly for the 160 million Americans expected to vote.

Whatever issues that have come up across the spectrum, election officials have plans in place and have prepared for that, said U.S. Election Assistance Commission Chairman Benjamin Hovland.

Local election officials have reported some hiccups. A county in Pennsylvania reported software malfunctions, but expected every vote would count. Cities in Missouri reported flooding and power outages. Hovland said these types of issues happen every election cycle and he doesnt expect theyll change the result.

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By and large, everything weve seen so far this morning will likely not have any significant impact, Hovland said.

Across the country, election workers have also dealt with threats of violence. At the U.S. Capitol, police arrested a man they say had a torch and a flare gun.

The FBI also reported bomb threats in several states. Investigators said the threats are not credible. The FBI said they likely came from Russia.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned foreign adversaries are trying harder to influence our elections this year. Federal officials said those include Russia and Iran.

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It is a greater scope and scale of foreign influence operations we have seen in 2024 than in prior cycles, said Cait Conley from CISA.

Former President Donald Trump, who claimed the election in 2020 was rigged, said, so far this year, he thinks the election has been fair.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
The 19th is committed to covering the unfinished business of voting rights. Read more about how were approaching that in this pivotal election.

Election officials across the country administered a relatively smooth 2024 general election on Tuesday, despite reports of bomb threats, technical issues and a polarizing online ecosystem that at times challenged the integrity of counting ballots.

The predominately women-led workforce went into Election Day having readied for potential disruptions and a disinformation campaign that had swelled in the final weeks of the presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris. But by early Wednesday, their processes for receiving and counting ballots  and a large enough vote margin in key battleground states  enabled major news outlets to project the former presidents win over the vice president shortly after midnight, days faster than in 2020.

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The culmination of voting yesterday has demonstrated that once again our election professionals have administered a safe and secure election in the face of adversity, said Tammy Patrick, chief executive officer for programs at the Election Center, an organization that works with election officials, in a statement. From flooding and hurricanes to foreign disruption campaigns, our election officials did all in their power with the resources on hand to make certain voters had opportunities to vote over the course of the election cycle. As the ongoing post-election work continues in the ensuing days and weeks, they will ensure that the final official results are accurate.

While election officials in some states dealt with issues involving voting equipment, non-credible bomb threats were reported at polling sites in several battleground states with large populations of voters of color, including Black residents in the metro Atlanta area and Indigenous people in Arizona. Some locations were briefly closed and kept open later. Some threats appeared to originate from Russian email domains, according to the FBI.

Election officials said they worked to ensure voters who reported to impacted sites were not disenfranchised, but it is difficult to measure the full impact of the closures.

Zach Manifold, election supervisor in Gwinnett County, Georgia, where a handful of polling sites were impacted, said during a call with the press that he spoke with a woman on Election Day who worried about whether she or her husband would be able to return to one of the polling sites later. He reminded her that she would have more options to vote at different sites later in the evening because of Georgia law.

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I did not hear much of people kind of in that situation, that they didnt think theyd get back or they wouldnt have time that day, he said.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the lead federal government agency for election infrastructure security, released a statement on Wednesday applauding the work of state and local election officials and poll workers.

As we have said repeatedly, our election infrastructure has never been more secure and the election community never better prepared to deliver safe, secure, free, and fair elections for the American people, she said. This is what we saw yesterday in the peaceful and secure exercise of democracy. Importantly, we have no evidence of any malicious activity that had a material impact on the security or integrity of our election infrastructure.

Carolina Lopez, executive director for Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions, an organization that works with election officials, spent Election Day at a CISA command post and said during a call with press that she observed federal authorities responding to the incoming reports of bomb threats. She said it is clear that tabletop exercises in recent years had paid off.

Election workers tabulate results of early voting and absentee ballots in Gwinnett County, Georgia, on November 5, 2024. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu/Getty Images)

I saw professionals through and through, across this country, sort of understanding  Lets figure out whats happening. Lets figure out who we need to talk to  legal, law enforcement, local election officials  how do we communicate with the community so that they understand, we are here for them, and minimizing disruptions, she said during a media briefing. I think that theres something to be said about the preparation that went into making that a non-story today.

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Trump, who cast doubt on the voting process during his 2016 win and 2020 defeat, did not commit to fully accepting the results of this years election. In the final weeks of campaigning, he claimed without evidence that there would be widespread voter fraud, including in the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Michigan. But on election night, as the vote returns showed he was poised to win, Trump appeared to stop spreading that narrative.

In the lead up to November, both Harris and Trump had prepared legal teams for a potentially lengthy post-Election Day period if the race had been close and questions emerged about legally cast ballots during the certification process

But Harris, who sought as a vice president and candidate to prioritize access to the ballot, reportedly called Trump on Wednesday morning to concede  a move that sets in motion the peaceful transfer of power.

Jay Young, senior director of voting and democracy at Common Cause, a voting rights advocacy organization, said during a post-election media briefing that the nation needs to turn down the rhetoric on widespread voter fraud  of which there is no proof.

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There cannot be this continued attack on this institution, and to do anything to support a notion that, Well, if our guy wins, the election was administered fairly. But if our guy doesnt win, there was a problem, there was a fraud. We have to change that, he said.

Young said he considered it a significant victory that early voting, either in-person or by mail, was popular this year. At least 80 million people cast a ballot ahead of Election Day. He also noted that some states updated vote-counting rules that allowed election officials to pre-process mail-in ballots. That sped up the vote-counting in some areas.

Those reforms also make it easier for those election workers to process and count our votes in a timely way, and were going to see that play out, hopefully, over the coming days and weeks, he said.

In his first remarks to the nation on Wednesday morning, Trump claimed that he won the popular vote and that Republicans had won the U.S. House. But that is not clear yet  ballot counting to determine control of the House is expected to take at least several days if not weeks.

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On Wednesday, election officials returned to work to process and count more ballots that will determine local, state and federal races around the country.

The post Officials ran a smooth election, silencing the false narrative around voter fraud appeared first on The 19th.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Officials confirm Ukraine has fired on North Korean troops for the first time since thousands of them joined Russia in its war.

Ukrainian officials said the North Korean soldiers are wearing Russian uniforms and training on drones, but U.S. officials are still investigating the developments.

Were looking into those, said Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

Ryder did confirm more North Korean troops are stationed at the Russia-Ukraine border.

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Placing these additional, you know, ten to 11 to 12,000 forces in Kursk is definitely something from a combat capability standpoint that could be significant, he said.

Ryder reiterated what it would mean if North Korean troops fought Ukrainians.

They would become legitimate military targets, he said.

Thats the unified message coming out of Washington, including from the U.S. State Department.

We continue to be greatly concerned about the partnership between North Korea and Russia, said State Spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Last week, top Russian and North Korean diplomats met in Moscow, some with President Vladimir Putin. North Korea also test fired a long-range missile designed to reach the U.S., but officials said it didnt have that capability.

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Meanwhile, the U.S. and South Korea conducted their first-ever joint live-fire exercise using drones.

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An Ohio ballot measure to reform the states redistricting process with a constitutional amendment failed, meaning the power to draw congressional and state legislative districts will remain in the hands of politicians. The vote marked a disappointing loss for anti-gerrymandering reformers in a key state.

The ballot measure, known as Issue 1, proposed a state constitutional amendment to replace Ohios current map-drawing body, the Republican-dominated Ohio Redistricting Commission, with one to be called the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission. The new body would be made up of 15 members: Five Democrats, five Republicans and five independent citizens.

The push to change Ohios redistricting process gained steam in recent years after the current map-drawing body repeatedly drew district lines that violated the Ohio Constitution by disproportionately favoring Republicans, and the commission repeatedly ignored Ohio Supreme Court orders to draw fairer maps.

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The standoff between the states Supreme Court and the Republican-dominated commission resulted in a constitutional crisis in 2022, when the court had no mechanism to enforce the constitution and multiple elections took place with districts that disproportionately benefited Republicans. The 2022 elections brought in a more conservative Supreme Court that ruled in favor of the commissions maps. State Republicans had successfully run out the clock.

The current body is made up of four members appointed by majority and minority leaders in the state legislature. Three more slots are occupied by the governor, state auditor and secretary of state, currently all Republicans.

Crucially, the proposed citizens commission amendment called for a screening panel of retired judges and an extensive vetting process, interviews and a random drawing to slowly narrow down and ultimately select members of the new commission. They would be required to have the skill necessary to draw districts and be free of any relationship or substantive communication with the political process. As a result, current and former politicians, party officials and lobbyists would have been banned.

Republicans opposed the ballot measure, which stated that in order to create fair redistricting plans, the statewide proportion of districts in each redistricting plan that favors each political party shall correspond closely to the statewide partisan preferences of the voters of Ohio. This principle of proportionality is already laid outin the Ohio Constitution thanks to previous ballot measures.

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But Republicans on the current commission used absurd reasoning to circumvent it, saying, for example, that because Republican candidates had won 13 times in the last 16 statewide elections, the statewide proportion of voters favoring statewide Republican candidates was therefore as high as 81%  rather than 54%, the average Republican vote total in those elections.

Gov. Mike DeWine (R), a member of the current commission, announced his opposition to the ballot measure in July, saying its proportionality mandate obliterates all other good government objectives.

And Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a commission member who also opposed the ballot measure, leads the Ohio Ballot Board, which is charged with creating ballot measure summaries that appear on voters ballots. The summary for Issue 1 stated that it required the new commission to gerrymander the boundaries of state legislative and congressional districts to favor the two largest political parties in the state of Ohio. Bolts magazine, a digital political publication, noted that when a Republican state senator, Theresa Gavarone, first proposed describing the anti-gerrymandering ballot measure with the term required to gerrymander during a meeting of the Ballot Board, audible gasps echoed through the meeting hall.

Supporters of the ballot measure sued over that summary, saying it was misleading, but the Republican-controlled Ohio Supreme Court mostly kept the Ballot Boards summary. One Democratic dissenter on the court called it perhaps the most stunningly stilted ballot language that Ohio voters will have ever seen.

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The language was in fact misleading: The Statehouse News Bureau spoke to one voter who supported redistricting reform but voted no on the measure after reading her ballot. It leads you to believe its causing more gerrymandering, the voter, Kelly Vogt, said. Bolts magazine spoke to another voter, Songgu Kwon, who mistakenly voted no. The language seemed really specific that if you vote yes, youre for gerrymandering, Kwon said

The former chief justice of the states Supreme Court, Republican Maureen OConnor, was a driving force behind the redistricting reform movement, even cutting an ad in support of the reform in which she highlighted her role on the court in voting in favor of striking down unconstitutional Republican maps  and accused politicians of having lied about the ballot measure.

Thats the whole problem with gerrymandering .... Whos being represented? And how did they secure that representation? OConnor told HuffPost last year. The real question, she added, is not how the voters secure that representation, but how the politicians secure the voters.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The winner of the presidential race wont be decided by the number of votes cast, but by a group of 538 that make up the Electoral College.

Under the Electoral College, all 50 states and the District of Columbia are allocated a certain number of electoral votes equal to their number of representatives. Since representatives are based on the population of a state, the means larger states, like California and Texas, have the highest number of electoral votes at 54 and 40.

With an estimated population of 11,785,935, Ohio is home to 17 electoral votes. So, if a candidate wins the popular vote in Ohio, they typically receive all of Ohios electoral college votes, even if the race is close.

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To win the presidential election, a candidate must receive a majority of the possible 538 votes, or at least 270 votes. After voters cast their ballots on Election Day, states have until Dec. 10 to complete any disputes or finish recounts over the results.

On Dec. 17, electors meet to cast their ballots for president, based on their states popular vote. The copies of the ballots are then sent to the president of the U.S. Senate, the sitting vice president, to officially be counted. On Jan. 6, Congress meets to count the electoral votes and certify victory for the candidate who has received at least 270.

If no presidential candidate gets 270 votes, then Congress will elect the president and vice president. Each states House representatives would come together to cast one vote in favor of a candidate. In this scenario, a candidate must earn at least 26 votes to win the presidency.

The Senate elects the vice president in that scenario. Each senator casts one vote for a vice presidential candidate, and whoever received 51 votes will be elected.

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The rules for the Electoral College are outlined in the 12th Amendment of the Constitution, designed to be part of the checks and balances system through the American political system. However, a recent Pew Research Center report found 63% of American say that they would prefer it if the winner of the presidential election were decided by the popular vote.

Electors are selected by each political part, but the guidelines vary by state. Rules that apply to all state is that no senator, representative or person who holds an office of trust or profit in the U.S. can be an elector.

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Left, a Vote Yes sign in favor of the constitutional amendment that would remove politicians from the redistricting process in favor of a citizen commission. Right, a No sign against the proposal. (Photo and graphic by WEWS)

Reactions to the defeat of Ohio Issue 1 redistricting reform showed strong feelings on both sides, with supporters expressing frustration with confusion over the ballot language, and those opposed praising voters for rejecting the Citizens Not Politicians proposal.

With 100% of precincts reporting, the Ohio Secretary of States Office reports an unofficial result of 54.78% of voters against Issue 1, and 46.22% in favor of the measure. The office counts 220,046 outstanding absentee & provisional ballots, not enough to cover the more than 400,000-vote margin in the race.

Opposition praises outcome

Those in opposition to Issue 1 praised the decision of a majority of Ohio voters on Tuesday night.

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Before the race had even been called by The Associated Press, anti-abortion organization Ohio Right to Life was already celebrating the defeat, calling Issue 1 a potential power grab by liberal elites.

By joining Ohio Right to Life and defeating Issue 1, the voters of Ohio have shut the door on special interests polluting our state constitution, the group said in a statement.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, led by its president and CEO, former Ohio Republican congressman Steve Stivers, said it was pleased to see Ohio voters recognize the consequences that Issue 1 could have caused, had it passed.

We agree that the current redistricting system is flawed; however, this constitutional amendment would have only created larger problems, like raising the cost of doing business in our state and making us less economically competitive, Stivers said in a statement.

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Stivers said the chamber looked forward to working with state legislators and elected officials going forward to find the right solution for all.

Supporters react

Representatives from Citizens Not Politicians, the group who led the charge for Issue 1, and Democrats expressed frustration at the confusion they say led some Ohioans to vote against the measure, despite their desire to end gerrymandering.

Everybody that voted in this election, I venture to say, thought they were voting to end gerrymandering, its as simple as that, said former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen OConnor, after a Tuesday night watch party in downtown Columbus.

While OConnor said she was encouraged by the support to end gerrymandering from those who voted against the measure, she said those voters were duped by the summary ballot language passed by the Ohio Ballot Board, led by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

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It was just the manipulation (of the ballot language), thats what defeated it, OConnor said.

Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, also blamed the language that was adopted by the Ballot Board and upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court after anti-gerrymandering advocates sued over it.

The Secretary of State and the Ballot Board purposely lied to the people of Ohio about what Issue 1 was to protect their own power, Miller told the Capital Journal. All I can say is that the league fights for every voter and we will continue to fight gerrymandering and the kind of corruption that developed the ballot language that misled Ohioans.

House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, accused LaRose of using lies and dirty tricks this entire election year to mislead voters in a historic abuse of power.

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Russo was a member of the Ohio Redistricting Commission over the years that the commission adopted six statehouse maps and two congressional maps. The sixth statehouse map was the only one that wasnt rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court as unconstitutionally favoring the GOP, against voting trends in the state. That map was also the only one to receive unanimous, bipartisan approval.

It was Russo and Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonios affirmative votes that the Republicans, and ultimately the state supreme court, used as reason to uphold the most recent statehouse map, citing that bipartisan support.

Russo said she supported the maps merely as a strategy to take the map-making process out of the hands of the elected officials making up the ORC, setting her sights on the proposed constitutional amendment that was being formulated at the time.

The failure to pass Issue 1 means extremists at the Statehouse will continue to prioritize issues that only benefit themselves and special interest groups, not the hard-working men and women of Ohio, she said in a Tuesday statement.

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Its likely the Ohio Redistricting Commission would have the support of the Ohio Supreme Court going forward, now that conservative justices hold a 6-1 majority. The swing vote on the previous maps that were rejected was OConnor, before she left the bench due to age limits.

Current Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy and the conservative justices on the court have supported the ORC in dissents against the map rejections, and Kennedy led the court when they upheld the sixth statehouse map amid a court challenge.

Whats next

Gov. Mike DeWine already has a plan in mind, one that he plans to work with the legislature to implement in the next General Assembly, according to a spokesperson for the governors office.

He introduced the plan, modeled after the redistricting method used in Iowa, at a July press conference where he also stated his opposition to Issue 1. In Iowa, map-drawing is entrusted to an entity similar to Ohios Legislative Service Commission, the nonpartisan group that drafts analyses of bills introduced in the General Assembly.

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The LSCs maps would need to be approved by the legislature and the governor, according to the Iowa plan.

Spokesperson Dan Tierney said the governor felt he had a moral obligation to give Ohioans another possibility if he was going to oppose the proposal on the table.

He does not disagree with folks that think we deserve a better system or that the system didnt work very well in 2021, Tierney said.

Now that Issue 1 has been defeated, DeWine plans to move forward with discussions to get the legislature onboard with a new plan, and is optimistic about support for the General Assembly-developed initiative.

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When you do it legislatively, you have the opportunity to have hearings, you have the opportunity for public input, for the public to come and testify, and you have the opportunity to amend the proposal, Tierney said.

So, if there are certain things about the Iowa plan that legislators and/or the public dont like, that can be voiced before the measure heads to the ballot, according to Tierney.

While exact plans have not yet been formulated by voting rights advocates to further the fight against gerrymandering they say created the extremist policies and supermajority in the Ohio General Assembly, advocates definitely arent giving up.

Under no circumstances is this over, Miller said. Having fair representation is a right that every Ohioan has; my organization started this a half-a-century ago, and we will not stop until Ohioans have fair districts.

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Legislative Democrats also pledged to continue the fight, despite the setback, as Assistant Senate Democratic Whip Catherine Ingram, D-Cincinnati, called it.

While we may be disappointed by this outcome, our work is not over, she said in a joint statement with fellow Senate Democrats. We will continue to fight for the fairness and equality that every Ohioan deserves, and we will not stop pushing for a more just and inclusive future for our state.

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Ohio voters rejected a redistricting proposal that would have removed politicians from the process.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

>> November 5, 2024 General Election Results

This means we keep the current setup, where elected politicians in Ohio make up the states redistricting commission which draws the map.

Opponents argued the amendment would require districts to be gerrymandered  or manipulated to favor one party.

It also means our current maps are locked in until 2030.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Ohio is in the initial stages of long-term population decline, with a report issued by the Department of Development predicting the state will lose 675,000 people by 2050.

The state is projected to experience a gradual, sustained decrease in residents due to an aging population, declining fertility rates and slow migration patterns, according to the department.

The agency projects Ohios population will decline by about 5.7%, or 675,000 people, from 2020 to 2050. During the same time period, the United States population is expected to increase by 12%. However, the national growth rate has slowed over the past two decades, according to the University of Virginia.

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The Greater Ohio Policy Center is a nonprofit organization that aims to improve and grow Ohios communities. Executive director Alison Goebel said Ohios population is not decreasing evenly across the state  counties such as Crawford and Sandusky are expected to see loss, while central Ohio is anticipated to continue seeing robust growth, and southwest Ohio moderate growth.

Those growing areas have been and will continue to mask the magnitude of population contraction that other regions of the state are expected to experience, Goebel said.

(Photo courtesy/Ohio Department of Development)

Ohios population decline began in fall 2020, due to a sharp increase in the states mortality rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the state saw its highest number of deaths in history at 143,600, and that number increased again to about 147,500 in 2021.

However, the Department of Development stated the pandemic simply accelerated the timeline and increased the scale of expected loss due to an aging population. The report said the declining fertility rate in Ohio and across the country can be contributed to women delaying childbirth and having fewer children overall.

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Population loss could impact the state in numerous ways, including lower city and state tax collections, reducing government services and city maintenance.

A shrinking base of taxpayers means that it will be harder to pay for the same level of services and investments that we expect our local governments and local school districts to provide, Goebel said. The new roads and utility lines we build today will still require maintenance in 25 years from now, but there may be fewer taxpayers to cover those costs.

The 2010s marked the first decade since the 1950s that Ohio saw more people moving into the state than out, when the state gained approximately 60,000 new residents through domestic and international migration. Although Ohio is seeing a higher amount of migration than in past decades, Goebel said it still falls behind other states.

Those states with growing populations are experiencing robust domestic and international migration and larger family sizes among first generation Americans, Goebel said. International and domestic migrants also tend to be working-age or younger, meaning there is more opportunity to have families in the future.

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While the Buckeye state is currently the seventh-most populous state, the report predicts Georgia and North Carolina will surpass Ohio by about 2030. Ohio is expected to remain the ninth-most populous state for numerous years beyond 2050.

Ohios future population projections are not destiny, Goebel said. We can bend the population curve upward, but it will require hard work at the local level and a supportive state policy environment that provides the tools and policies that local leaders need.

State and city leaders can help to combat population loss by investing in beautiful and walkable downtowns and affordable housing, as well as supporting entrepreneurs and new businesses, Goebel said.

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Ohio set a record for early in-person voting, the secretary of state announced Tuesday.

Our data team has been busy running the early voting numbers still coming in from the counties, and Im thrilled to confirm today that Ohio set a new statewide record for in-person early voting, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose wrote in a post on social platform X.

He added that 68 of the states 88 counties surpassed the early in-person numbers that the state hit in 2020.

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Approximately 1.54 million people voted early in person this year in Ohio. Overall, approximately 2.57 million ballots were cast early, as of midday Tuesday, including the approximately 1.03 million absentee ballots returned by mail. Approximately 120,000 absentee ballots were still outstanding and can be counted if they arrive at their respective county boards of election within four days of the election.

Because the pandemic compelled many people to request absentee ballots, LaRose said he does not expect mail-in absentee ballots to surpass the 2020 record. He said, however, he is optimistic about voter confidence in casting ballots early.

The record for mail-in voting will always be tough to beat due to the pandemic in 2020, but Ohio voters are showing increasing confidence in casting a ballot early, he said. Turnout today is brisk, so well see what the final numbers show overall. Stay tuned.

More than 82 million voters took advantage of early voting before Election Day kicked off. The number is slightly more than half the total turnout in the presidential election in 2020, The Associated Press reported.

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As of Monday evening, the University of Florida Election Labs tracker showed that there have been more than 44 million in-person early votes cast and more than 37 million ballots returned. More than 67 million mail ballots had been requested, the data showed.

North Carolina and Georgia also set records for early voting numbers.

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Incumbent Sherrod Brown, 71, consistently polled ahead of Republican Bernie Moreno throughout the race until the final hour

Republican Bernie Moreno has unseated Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio, The Associated Press projects, putting Republicans on the edge of taking control of the U.S. Senate.



Nearing Election Day, Brown, 71, consistently polled ahead of his Republican opponent. However, Moreno, 57, emerged as a serious challenger in the weeks before Nov. 5, narrowly surpassing Brown in FiveThirtyEight's final polling average on the last day of the campaign.



Browns Senate seat was one of the Democrats most at risk this election. Since Donald Trump consistently polled ahead of Kamala Harris, Brown had to depend on ticket-splitters for a chance at victory.



The race turned into the most expensive Senate election this cycle. The two campaigns spent more than a combined $441 million, according to the ad tracking firm AdImpact. Trump-backed Moreno led in funding with $233 million over Browns $208 million. The race may become one of the most expensive non-presidential elections in history.



Anna Moneymaker/Getty; Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Ohio's Democratic Senate Candidate Sherrod Brown and Republican Candidate Bernie Moreno. Ohio's Democratic Senate Candidate Sherrod Brown and Republican Candidate Bernie Moreno.



The Ohio Debate Commission invited both candidates to face off in a debate, but neither campaign agreed.



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Brown has a career-long history in politics. This was his fourth bid for the U.S. Senate. He was elected to his first term in 2006. In 2018, he beat his Republican opponent, U.S. Representative Jim Renacci, by 6.8 points. Before his time in the Senate, he served six terms as a U.S. Representative for Ohios 13th District, winning his first term in 1992.

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Senator Sherrod Brown during a hearing in Washington, DC, on March 7. Senator Sherrod Brown during a hearing in Washington, DC, on March 7.

Related: 2024 Election Live Updates: Trump Has Electoral Vote Lead Over Harris as First Swing State Called

Patrick T. Fallon / AFP Bernie Moreno speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 16. Bernie Moreno speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 16.

This was businessman Morenos second venture into politics.

In 2022, he entered Ohios Republican Senate primary but ended up losing to J.D. Vance, who was selected as Trumps running mate. Moreno is most known for building a chain of luxury car dealerships in the Cleveland area. In 2016, he moved into the blockchain industry, co-founding ChampTitles in 2018.

At five years old, Moreno moved with his family from Colombia to the United States, becoming a citizen at 18  an experience he highlighted when talking about immigration policy.
(Bloomberg) -- Commodities broadly declined on prospects that a stronger dollar and potential trade disputes under a Donald Trump presidency will weaken the appeal of raw materials in global markets.

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West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell as much as 3.1% in New York before paring losses, while global benchmark Brent crude slid as much as 2.9% in London. Soybeans retreated the most in almost a month in Chicago, while copper led industrial metals lower with a 5% slump. Gold dropped below $2,700 an ounce.

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With Trump clinching a return to the White House, a gauge of the dollar posted its biggest gain against major currencies since 2020, making raw materials priced in the greenback more costly for many buyers. The likelihood of trade disputes with China is particularly concerning for agricultural markets.

Overnight trading saw widespread losses across the commodities sector, said Ole Hansen, head of commodities strategy at Saxo Bank. Markets believe a Trump presidency is expected to bring about the promised tariffs on imported goods, particularly targeting China, potentially triggering a new wave of trade tensions and economic disruptions.

So-called soft commodities including coffee, cocoa, cotton and sugar also retreated.

The election results rippled across a host of equities tied to commodity markets as well.

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US steel stocks rose Wednesday morning on the anticipation that Trump will favor one of his top priorities during the first administration: tariffs on imports of the commodity from across the globe. Container shipping equities plunged on the specter of potential tariffs curbing seaborne trade. Shares of renewable-energy companies dropped on the prospect that Trump will boost fossil fuels and undo the green agenda of his predecessor.

Crude Swings

Crude has already suffered a series of major price swings throughout October, and a Trump win may mean that curbs on Russian exports are eased, while there may also be tighter sanctions on Iranian flows, RBC Capital Markets analysts wrote previously.

US foreign policy is shaping up to be a potential factor for oil markets in the near term over Iran, said Vivek Dhar, an analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

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For metals, both a stronger dollar and the possibility of a deeper US-China trade war would create headwinds for prices, said Marcus Garvey, head of commodities strategy at Macquarie. Still, investors will also be mindful that Beijing could respond with stimulus measures to invigorate domestic demand.

Gold fell on the dollars strength, though a number of analysts believe a Trump victory may be bullish for bullion in the longer run, fueled by US inflationary pressures and currency weakness in China.

I think anyone whos super high conviction on how it all nets out is much smarter than I am, Macquaries Garvey said, referring to Trumps possible foreign policy plans. Or maybe being a bit naive.

To get Bloombergs Energy Daily newsletter into your inbox, click here.

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--With assistance from Yongchang Chin, Jack Ryan, Mia Gindis, Ilena Peng, Joe Deaux and Yvonne Yue Li.

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Ashley Rowland, 39, was arrested and charged with child abandonment, say police

moore police department/x Moore, Okla., Police Department Moore, Okla., Police Department

An Oklahoma woman has been arrested after allegedly giving her young daughter to a man from whom she was buying drugs two years ago, authorities said.

Ashley Rowland, 39, of Moore, was arrested last week and charged with child abandonment in connection with the 2022 disappearance of her daughter, who was 2 at the time, police said, CBS affiliate KOTV, ABC affiliate KOCO and the Kansas City Star report.

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In April 2023, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services was asked to take custody of the child, but couldnt find her, according to an affidavit obtained by KOCO, KOTV and the Kansas City Star.

DHS workers tracked down Rowland who allegedly told them her daughter was with her father in Georgia, according to the affidavit.

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But when interviewed by police, Rowland allegedly told them something different: that she gave her daughter to a man named Carlos when she was buying methamphetamine from him, the affidavit said.

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Rowland told police Carlos could be the girls father, but she wasnt sure, according to the affidavit.

She said she was using drugs when she gave her daughter away and has no idea where she is, the affidavit alleges.

Police are searching for the girl, who would be 5 years old now.

In a statement, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services said, Situations like those described in this affidavit are heartbreaking and unimaginable.

Like the rest of the community, Oklahoma Human Services reels in concern for this childs safety.

While we are unable to discuss cases due to state and federal confidentiality statutes, the agency is grateful to our law enforcement partners for their continued work to find her and as they seek justice in her disappearance. We remain committed to supporting their efforts, however needed.

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The Moore Police Department and the Oklahoma DHS did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Oklahoma stayed bright red after Tuesday's historic election saw voters turn out in force, many motivated by anticipation or fear. Though early voting set records, final unofficial election returns showed turnout was only slightly higher than in 2020. Both years, more than 1.56 million Oklahomans cast ballots.

For a moment Tuesday, it looked as if Oklahoma County, the state's most populous county, might turn blue. And though the vote was close, final unofficial results show Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump captured 143,522 votes to the 138,665 brought in by Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris  a difference of about 2% percentage points.

Statewide, Trump defeated Harris, capturing 1,035,216 votes to Harris' 499,039, according to results posted by the State Election Board.

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Oklahoma Election Results: Catch up on all statewide and local election results

In the race for an open seat on the Corporation Commission, election results show Republican Brian Bingman captured more than 63 percent of the vote. Bingman defeated Libertarian Chad Williams and Democrat Harold Spradling.

Voters appear to oust just one of three Supreme Court justices targeted by dark-money groups

Oklahomans also decided the fate of three state Supreme Court justices: James Edmondson, Noma Gurich and Yvonne Kauger. While the trio faced an onslaught of political ads urging voters to push them off the bench, final results showed opponents were only successful in removing longtime justice Kauger.

Kauger, the second woman to ever serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court, lost her seat by about 7,000 votes, with 719,870 people voting against keeping her.

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Justices Noma Gurich and James Edmondson retained their seats for another six years. Edmondson earned 736,682 yes votes to 707,430 no votes. Gurich captured 724,296 yes votes to 716,742 no votes.

Gurich said the loss of Kauger as a justice was a huge blow to the state's high court. "Justice Kauger has been a leader in the court for a long time," Gurich said. "I'm disappointed the governor and others injected pure politics into a non-partisan, independent branch of state government."

Neither Kauger nor Edmondson could be reached for comment.

Gov. Kevin Stitt spent a good portion of his four-minute speech at the state Republican election results watch party talking about the attempts to oust the three justices.

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Stitt and his dark-money political action committee, 46 Action, have campaigned against them, saying the are too liberal for Oklahoma. Stitt will have the opportunity to appoint Kauger's replacement and potentially shape the court into a body more to his liking.

We cant have liberal activists on our state Supreme Court, Stitt said during his speech.

The governor also predicted Trump would win all 77 Oklahoma counties.

The country needs to take some advice from the common sense from the great state of Oklahoma, Stitt said. We cannot allow four more years of a Biden-Harris administration.

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Live Election Day updates: Trump, Harris win states; How late can you vote in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma House, Senate Democrats keep incumbent seats

Democrats said they were proud of the hard work done during the election. No incumbent Democrat lost a state Senate or House race. Tuesday night, state party chairman Alicia Andrews thanked volunteers and others for nearly turning Oklahoma County blue.

Democrats had also hoped to flip the U.S. House of Representatives seat representing Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, but were unsuccessful. Incumbent Republican Stephanie Bice defeated Democratic challenger Madison Horn by a comfortable margin.

Oklahoma sees increased voter turnout in 2024 election

Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, with poll workers reporting steady streams of voters throughout the Oklahoma City metro.

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When all the ballots were counted, about 4,000 more Oklahomans cast ballots this year compared to 2020, final unofficial results show.

It's unclear if the slight boost will be enough to turn the tide on Oklahoma's historically low voter turnout compared to other states. A study by the University of Florida's Election Sciences Lab shows that the state's voter turnout rate is among the lowest in the nation.

Former state Rep. Joe Dorman, who now leads the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy based in Oklahoma City, said he was encouraged by early signs that a large number of voters were going to the polls.

"It shows people are taking the election seriously," Dorman said.

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More: See all Oklahoma election results

While voting is typically heavier during a presidential election, this year many Oklahomans faced wait times of more than two hours to vote, particularly during early in-person voting.

The state's early voting effort saw a total of 393,982 residents cast their ballots during the four-day early voting period that ended Saturday or by mail. Nationwide, more than 83 million people voted early in the general election.

The issues that have become the focus of the presidential race also brought out large numbers of female voters and voters of color in Oklahoma, many of whom said they waited in line because of issues like abortion, civil rights and immigration policy.

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The election also gave thousands of women the opportunity to vote for a candidate who could become the country's first female president.

I came out because voting is important, said 21-year-old Bailey Melton, who cast her ballot last week. There is a lot at stake right now, and we wanted to make sure our voices were heard.

The Rev. Ray Douglas, who leads the Great Mount Olive Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, said he was excited by the large number of voters of color who registered to vote and cast ballots.

"I think in this election cycle, we will be represented," he said.

This was a developing story. Staff writers Murray Evans and Jordan Gerard contributed.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma election results: Voters split on Supreme Court justices
More Oklahomans registered to vote and cast a ballot for president this year than did four years ago.

But despite those gains, a smaller share of those voters actually showed up to the polls.

Oklahoma voter turnout shrinks in 2024

According to unofficial election results, Oklahomans cast 1,564,573 ballots for president this year. That's nearly 4,000 more votes than were cast in the previous presidential election.

Registration also grew by 183,098 since 2020, reaching almost 2.5 million Oklahomans who were eligible to vote.

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More: Donald Trump wins the election in stunning political comeback

A deeper look at the numbers, however, shows that overall participation in a presidential election fell for the first time in 12 years. In 2024, about 64% of registered voters in Oklahoma cast ballots for president, down from 69%. This suggests that even though more people signed up to vote this year, that enthusiasm didn't translate to more participation on Election Day.

It's the lowest turnout since 2012 when Barack Obama won a second term in office. That year, only about 63% of voters went to the polls.

Oklahoma counties varied in election voting turnout.

A recent analysis from WalletHub comparing the 50 states based on 10 key indicators of political engagement showed Oklahoma ranks 47th, making it one of the least politically engaged states.

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States behind Oklahoma in political engagement are West Virginia, Alabama and Arkansas, according to WalletHub. The five most politically engaged states are Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington.

Turnout dips in Oklahoma County

Oklahoma County saw a significant drop in voter turnout this election cycle.

Out of 471,129 registered voters, 288,710 cast a ballot for president. That's a turnout percentage of 61.28%. During the 2020 election, nearly 67% of Oklahoma County voters turned out.

This makes 2024 the lowest turnout on record since the year 2000, when just 53.14% turned out to see George W. Bush victorious in his first election.

Rural counties showed up to vote

An analysis of voter turnout data across the state showed a wide variation in voter participation.

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Only 11 out of Oklahoma's 77 counties saw voter turnout surpass 70%, and all are rural counties. For example, nearly 74% of registered voters in northwestern Oklahoma's Harper County voted for president this year.

Comanche County, one of Oklahoma's most populous and home to the U.S. Army post at Fort Sill, saw dismal turnout with barely half of eligible voters casting a ballot.

Oklahoma County, the state's largest in terms of population, ranked 70th this year among Oklahoma's counties in voter turnout. Tulsa ranked 51st.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Election results: Oklahoma voter turnout in fell in 2024
Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, wears a pin as he speaks at an Oct. 9 press conference supporting a state question that attempts to strengthen the states ban on non-citizens from voting in Oklahoma elections. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahomans passed a constitutional amendment to define eligible voters as only citizens of the United States.

The measure passed in Tuesdays election with 81% support in a state where it already was a felony offense for non-citizens to vote. Previously, the state Constitution labeled eligible voters as all citizens of the United States.

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The Oklahoma Legislature put the amendment, proposed in State Question 834, on the General Election ballot with two party-line votes in the final hour of its 2024 session.

Only legislative Democrats opposed putting SQ 834 on the ballot. They said the measure is unnecessary because state law already requires American citizenship to vote.

The amendment would prevent any municipalities from permitting non-citizen voting.

No cities or towns in Oklahoma do so, but a small number in other states have chosen to allow all of their residents, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, to participate in municipal or school board elections. Even in these select cities, non-citizens cannot vote in state or federal races.

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A national group, Americans for Citizen Voting, lobbied to place the amendment on the ballot in Oklahoma and in seven other states this year. Twelve states already had similar laws in place.

State Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, said he hoped to prevent non-citizen voting anywhere in Oklahoma when he helped pass SQ 834 in the Senate.

Our concern is if municipalities decide, Well, for whatever reason, we want non-citizens to be able to vote, that will no longer be legal, and itll be codified in our Constitution, Jett said. Therefore, no one can color outside the lines.

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Gov. Kevin Stitt will get another appointment to the nine-member Oklahoma Supreme Court after voters declined to retain one justice. (Photo by Carmen Forman/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  For the first time in history, Oklahoma voters on Tuesday removed one Oklahoma Supreme Court justice from the bench at the end of her term.

In a nonpartisan election, Oklahoma voters narrowly decided to retain James Edmondson and Noma Gurich but not Yvonne Kauger for another six year term.

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Kauger lost by just over 7,000 votes.

Gurich won retention by about 7,500 vote margin while Edmondson won by about 29,200.

The three were targets of unusual campaigns aimed at convincing voters to remove them from the bench by critics who disagreed with some of their rulings and by those who were concerned that they were over 70 years old.

Opponents of their retention argued that the three, who were appointed by Democratic governors, had deemed unconstitutional a number of legislative measures that lawmakers and the governor supported.

Supporters of retention argued that the justices served in nonpartisan positions and were following the law when striking down unconstitutional legislation.

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They were concerned that dark money groups were attempting to politicize the states court system, which is supposed to serve as a check on the legislative and executive branches.

Ahead of the election, Gov. Kevin Stitt had urged residents on social media to vote against retention. He said he was voting no.

He said the justices overturned business-friendly legislation, hindering meaningful reform.

Stitt will get to appoint Kaugers replacement. He currently has three appointments on the nine-member panel.

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Voters cast their ballots on Tuesday at a polling location in Edmond. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Voters on Tuesday disapproved a state question that would allow the creation of public infrastructure districts to pay for things like sidewalks, water lines, sewers and roadways.

State Question 833 was a constitutional amendment proposed by lawmakers.

It failed by a vote of 62% to 38%.

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It would have allowed property owners within a city or town to create a public infrastructure district and sell bonds to pay for the improvements.

It required 100% approval of surface property owners within the proposed district to create it. A city or town would then have to approve it.

The bonds sold would not have counted against the city bonding capacity nor would the city guarantee payment.

Special assessments applied to those property owners would be used to pay off the bonds which are capped at 10 mills.

A mill is equal to one-tenth of a cent.

For a $300,000 home, that comes to about $300 a year.

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Supporters said the measure would not have impacted schools or CareerTech districts.

But critics disagreed.

Critics said it would hurt public schools and counties because those homeowners would be looking for ways to cut their taxes and would oppose bond issues from other places.

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As Oklahomans cast their ballots in a historic election Tuesday, the presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris was at the top of voters minds.

A number of state and local races were also on the ballot. But many voters tied their choices to their concerns about nationwide issues  such as abortion, immigration, health care and the economy  and the presidential candidate who they believed was best suited to fix them.

John Fitzgerald said he's a registered Democrat but voted for former president Trump. He cast his ballot at a polling place on the south side of Shawnee, saying he viewed his decision as a choice between "lesser of two evils."

John Fitzgerald, 70, is registered Democrat but voted for Donald Trump on Tuesday. Fitzgerald, a lifelong Shawnee resident, said he believed Trump's business background was better suited for the presidency, but he said he felt he was voting for the "lesser of two evils."

"I figure he's the one that's going to get us back straightened up," Fitzgerald, 70, said. "We've already seen him in action for four years, even though he was being hammered by the other parties. He's a businessman. We've tried everything else, let's go with a businessman."

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Anthony Calhoun was among the hundreds of voters to cast a ballot at Millwood Field House in north Oklahoma City. He said he believed voting was a chance for the people to put the right representatives into office. For him, that meant Harris, the current vice president.

When I think about the issues, I think of all the lies that Ive heard from Trump through the years you cant deal with that as a president," Calhoun said. "When I talk about the issues, those things about womens rights. Yeah women have rights. We are not supposed to be men telling women what to do with their stuff.

Live updates: Who is winning 2024 US presidential election so far today? Results, maps

While national concerns drove people to the polls, state and Oklahoma County election officials said Tuesday afternoon it was too soon to tell just how many voters had turned out. Oklahoma usually trails nearly every other state when it comes to voter participation.

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Poll workers who spoke with The Oklahoman said sites seemed busier than during past presidential elections and that the chilly weather didn't seem to be keeping voters away. More than 292,000 people cast ballots during the four days of in-person early voting, a number that far surpassed the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

Voters at Precincts 429 and 431 fill out their ballots Tuesday at Millwood Field House.

Election officials prepared for months and years to make sure the day went smoothly and to prepare for the possibility of Election Day violence and unrest. In October, the FBI arrested a 27-year-old Afghan national living in Oklahoma City after he had allegedly planning to carry out an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack surrounding the elections. The alleged plotter's brother-in-law, a teenager living in Moore, was also arrested but has not been publicly identified.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Oklahoma City police had dealt with no issues or disturbances, a department spokesperson said. "We're aware of the day and where our polling places are, but so far, (I) haven't heard a thing," Master Sgt. Dillon Quirk said.

'I really didn't vote for Trump; I voted against his opponents'

For many Oklahoma voters, the stakes of the election felt personal.

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Stanley Lee, 65, wore a long, clear plastic garbage bag draped around his neck as he walked into the Oak Crest Church in south Oklahoma City to vote. Wearing the garbage bag was a joke, Lee said, a sarcastic reference to President Joe Biden's recent comment about "garbage" Trump supporters.

Lee, a retired real estate property manager and former restaurant waiter, said he voted for Trump in 2016 but didn't vote for him in 2020. Lee said he didn't vote for Trump that year because  living in the Republican-majority state of Oklahoma  he didn't think it mattered if he voted for him or not.

More: Oklahoma's November general election is today. What to know about state, local races.

This year, though, Lee came back to the polls to support Trump.

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"I really had to vote for Trump this time because I really despise the way he has been treated," Lee said. "His enemies, the people who hate him  I hate them, so I really didn't vote for Trump; I voted against his opponents."

Trump supporters in Oklahoma want to see economic improvements

Jose Jacobo  a 69-year-old who immigrated to Oklahoma from Ciudad Victoria, the capital city of Tamaulipas, Mexico at the age of 26  said illegal immigration and the economy were two of the most important issues to him when voting for the president this year.

Jose Jacobo, an immigrant from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, outside Bethel United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Jacobo said he voted for Donald Trump, with the most important issues to him this election cycle being illegal immigration and the economy.

Jacobo cast his ballot for Trump at Bethel United Methodist Church in Bethel Acres, because he said he believes the former president follows through on his promises, even if he doesn't always say the "right words."

When President Joe Biden took office, Jacobo said he "undid everything Trump had done."

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Jon Matthews, 25, of Oklahoma City, agreed with Jacobo's stance, saying when it came to everything from immigration to the price of eggs, he thought Trump would make a better candidate.

"I dont want another four years like the ones we just had," he said.

Harris voters in Oklahoma feel they have 'no choice'

Despite being a red state, many Harris supporters also turned out to the polls. Many said when it came to choosing between the two presidential candidates, they felt there was no choice.

Gregory Grant, 46, outside the Faith Community Church of God in Shawnee, Oklahoma on Nov. 5, 2024. Grant cast his ballot for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

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Gregory Grant, a 46-year-old Democrat living in Shawnee, said he, like many voters on both sides, is "nervous about what the future holds."

"We know for sure who Donald Trump is," Grant said. "Kamala Harris ... I can see the way her governing style may be a little bit more up in the air, but we know who the other guy is, and so that makes it easy to to make a choice."

Londa Thomas, 83, outside the Faith Community Church of God in Shawnee, Oklahoma on Nov. 5, 2024. Thomas cast her ballot for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Londa Thomas, 83, also of Shawnee, said the decision was easy for her, as well.

"It's no choice, as far as I'm concerned, I can't vote for a felon," Thomas said, referring to Trump's convictions for falsifying business records.

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Jess Hall, 41, a Democrat in Oklahoma City, said that he hoped the party's voters would turn out in force in Oklahoma County.

"I think I'm confident Trump will win Oklahoma, but I'm very hopeful we can at least turn Oklahoma County purple," she said. "I think Kamala's going to win nationally, though."

Harris, however, faces an uphill climb to claim any wins in Oklahoma. Every Republican presidential candidate has won Oklahoma by a 2-to-1 margin since 2004, and a Democratic nominee has not won a county since 2000.

While not driving factors to vote, Oklahomans care about state, local races

The election also offered Oklahomans the opportunity to decide whether to retain or oust three state Supreme Court and other appellate court justices, approve or reject two state questions and fill a handful of other federal and state offices.

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The judicial retention race became especially heated, with dark money groups campaigning for and against keeping Supreme Court justices James Edmondson, Noma Gurich and Yvonne Kauger.

Family members Duffie Holt, 62, and Leo Holt, 64, cast their ballots at a church near the Belle Isle area, across from Oklahoma City Fire Department Station 17. The Holts said they would be voting to retain judges, especially those brought in under a democratic governor.

Thomas, who voted a straight Democratic Party ticket, also voted to retain the judges on the ballot.

"I am concerned that they've made it political," Thomas said. "I do think people ought to research the judges."

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Matthews said the state and local nominations were also important to him.

"I think it starts locally, and if you really want to make a change, you have to vote local," he said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why Oklahomans are voting for Trump, Harris on Election Day
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) sailed to victory on Tuesday in Minnesotas 5th District, Decision Desk HQ projects, easily staving off a challenge from Republican Dalia Al-Aqidi, a former journalist, to earn a fourth term on Capitol Hill.

The result was never in doubt in the liberal district that includes Minneapolis, a Democratic stronghold where President Biden beat former President Trump by a whopping 63 points in 2020.

Omar, a member of the liberal Squad, is among the most well-known  and controversial  liberal lawmakers in the Capitol, where she frequently tangles with colleagues in both parties over the thorny topic of Israel-Palestine relations.

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Omar is a Somali refugee, and one of just three Muslims in Congress, and her harsh criticisms of Israels human rights record have led to accusations of antisemitism. Republicans, as one of their first acts after taking control of the House this Congress, removed her from the Foreign Affairs Committee.

That debate has only intensified since last years Hamas attacks on Israel, and Al-Aqidi  a pro-Israel Muslim who was born in Iraq  made it a central part of her campaign, accusing Omar of dividing residents of the diverse 5th District and fomenting hate against American Jews.

Minneapolis has also been ground zero for the highly charged debate over police reform following the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. In the wake of the tragedy, Omar emerged as a loud voice in the liberal push to overhaul local police departments  including, in some cases, cutting their budgets and shifting the funds to other community programs.

Al-Aqidi seized on those positions. She accused Omar  a frequent target of conservative death threats  of hypocrisy for calling to defund the police while using campaign funds for personal security.

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In the end, all of those arguments fell flat with voters in the deep-blue district, where Omar also enjoyed a huge cash advantage. Over the cycle, she outraised Al-Aqidi by a factor of four, $7.9 million to $1.9 million, according to OpenSecrets.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Steven with Elliot Bujan, a poll volunteer

La Crosse, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  Today is Election Day in America, Despite the historic numbers of early voters in this Presidential Election, millions of citizens will be turning out to the polls to fulfill their civic duty.

I have voted in almost every election I have been eligible for since I turned 18. That means Primaries, Midterms and Recall Elections dating back to 1998. I have been shocked at the turnout so far. Admittedly, my research is wholly anecdotal and not at all scientific, however, I live in a town south of La Crosse with a population of just over 1,000. It took me 40 minutes to get through the line at my polling place and I was in line at 7:10 this morning. I was number 66. 4 hours later my wife was #588. We visited the Hmong Cultural Center on Ward Avenue to talk with voters and, while steadily moving, the line never stopped.

Steven with a voter named Terry

All of this is to say that, again with the record number of early voters and the steady stream of voters hitting the polls early, there will undoubtedly be a record number of voters in this years Election. Congratulations, America. This historic moment in our history is being met with the proper and enthusiastic response that it deserves.

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Every person I spoke to today noted that it was important to them to fulfill this duty. And that is exactly what it is. Our government is set up in such a way that it asks for the participation of its citizens. We are not forced into public service. We are forced into office. We are, however, asked to show up, cast our vote, and let our voices be heard.

To everyone who showed up today or mailed in their ballot beforehand congratulations and thank you. You have, either for the first time or once again, fulfilled your civic duty and can rest your head knowing that you were a good citizen today. Tomorrow, or the coming days, will give a clue as to what direction our country will move in next. For now, rest easy knowing that you have done all that you could do.

For full coverage of the 2024 Presidential Election, visit the WI Proud Election Center

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud.
The risk of getting dementia may go up as you get older if you don't get enough slow-wave sleep. Over-60s are 27 percent more likely to develop dementia if they lose just 1 percent of this deep sleep each year, a 2023 study found.

Slow-wave sleep is the third stage of a human 90-minute sleep cycle, lasting about 2040 minutes. It's the most restful stage, where brain waves and heart rate slow and blood pressure drops.

Deep sleep strengthens our muscles, bones, and immune system, and prepares our brains to absorb more information. Recently, research discovered that individuals with Alzheimer's-related changes in their brain did better on memory tests when they got more slow-wave sleep.

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"Slow-wave sleep, or deep sleep, supports the aging brain in many ways, and we know that sleep augments the clearance of metabolic waste from the brain, including facilitating the clearance of proteins that aggregate in Alzheimer's disease," said neuroscientist Matthew Pase from Monash University in Australia.

"However, to date we have been unsure of the role of slow-wave sleep in the development of dementia. Our findings suggest that slow-wave sleep loss may be a modifiable dementia risk factor."

Pase and colleagues from Australia, Canada, and the US examined 346 Framingham Heart Study participants who had completed two overnight sleep studies between 1995 and 1998 and between 2001 and 2003, with an average of five years between testing periods.

This community-based cohort, who had no record of dementia at the time of the 2001-2003 study, and were over 60 years old in 2020, gave researchers a chance to look into the link between two factors over time by comparing the datasets from the two in-depth polysomnography sleep studies, and then monitoring for dementia among participants up until 2018.

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"We used these to examine how slow-wave sleep changed with aging and whether changes in slow-wave sleep percentage were associated with the risk of later-life dementia up to 17 years later," said Pase.

Brain waves can be fast (top) or slow (bottom) depending on our state of consciousness . (selvanegra/Getty Images)

In the 17 years of follow-up, 52 dementia cases were recorded among the participants. Participants' slow-wave sleep levels recorded in the sleep studies were also examined for a link to dementia cases.

Overall, their rate of slow-wave sleep was found to decrease from age 60 onward, with this loss peaking between the ages of 75 and 80 and then leveling off after that.

By comparing participants' first and second sleep studies, researchers discovered a link between each percentage point decrease in slow-wave sleep per year and a 27 percent increased risk of developing dementia.

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That risk increased to 32 percent when they zeroed in on Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia.

The Framingham Heart Study measures multiple health data points over time, including hippocampal volume loss (an early sign of Alzheimer's) and common factors contributing to cardiovascular disease.

Low levels of slow-wave sleep were linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, taking medications that can impact sleep, and having the APOE 4 gene, which is linked to Alzheimer's.

"We found that a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, but not brain volume, was associated with accelerated declines in slow wave sleep," Pase said.

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Although these are clear associations, the authors note this type of study doesn't prove that slow-wave sleep loss causes dementia, and it's possible dementia-related brain processes cause sleep loss. For these factors to be fully understood, more research is required.

We certainly can prioritize getting enough sleep in the meantime  it's important for more than strengthening our memory. There's even steps you can take to boost your chances of getting more of this crucial slow-wave sleep.

The study has been published in JAMA Neurology.

An earlier version of this article was published in November 2023.

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PEWAUKEE - A vehicle crashed into a pole, creating a kind of roadblock as a string of temporary traffic signals fell to the ground across Capitol Drive at Pewaukee Road, shutting down east-west traffic for hours along the busy roadway Tuesday.

That remained the case for much of the day as emergency crews began work following the 10 a.m. accident at the intersection where the two highways, 164 and 190, meet in the commercial district on the village's eastern edge.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Traffic Management Center initially listed the closure duration as "over two hours," but Capitol Drive was still closed to traffic after five hours. At 2:30 p.m., crews operating a crane could be seen slowly raising the traffic lights from ground level.

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The Waukesha County Sheriff's Office later estimated that east-west traffic would not resume until after 5 p.m. The driver sustained only minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. What caused the crash wasn't immediately known.

Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Crash at Capitol Drive and 164 in Pewaukee disrupts traffic for hours
Americas newly elected president may be a demagogue and a populist, but what he is above all is a revolutionary.

In hoping to make America great again, Donald Trump promises to introduce a fundamental, comprehensive and rapid transformation of American political, economic, social and cultural institutions. Such a massive change is what we mean by the term revolution.

In that sense, Trump is comparable to, and in the same category as, such revolutionaries as Maximilien Robespierre, Vladimir Lenin, Adolf Hitler and Mao Zedong. This comparison isnt intended to imply that their revolutionary programs are identical. Its only to say that their programs aspire to fundamental, comprehensive and rapid change.

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Like all revolutionaries, President Trump will quickly come to face what the German American political scientist Otto Kirchheimer called confining conditions.

According to Kirchheimer, confining conditions are the particular social and intellectual conditions present at the births of [revolutionary] regimes. These are the conditions that have to be overcome if the new regime is to continue. They include social structure; the nature of the new regime; and the nature of the methods available to it, as well as those it adopts to overcome the confining conditions.

When revolutionary regimes encounter confining conditions, they can either engage in revolutionary breakthroughs and thereby survive, or fail to do so and peter out or collapse.

The problem for revolutionaries is that they always come to power within an extant social structure that is, at the least, conservative and self-satisfied, or, at the most, inimical or indifferent to their aims. Simply put, institutions are always barriers to radical change simply by virtue of establishing set patterns of generally accepted behavior.

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The revolutionary regime is always divided between radicals and moderates who agree on the ultimate goal  such misty objectives as making America great again  but disagree on the means to achieve it. In the run-up to the seizure of power, they all agree on who the enemy is and that it must be destroyed. Differences, conflicts and infighting inevitably emerge after power is seized and questions of concrete policy come to the fore.

At that point, the means available to a regime  and, no less important, the degree to which it is willing to employ them ruthlessly  become salient. One can pressure opponents politically and economically, which means tolerating their existence for a long time and possibly adopting a reformist platform. Or one can employ violence, whether targeted or mass, to impose change on recalcitrant social, political and economic actors.

The Bolshevik regime in Russia is the classic example of confining conditions and revolutionary breakthroughs. Their immediate challenge was coming to power as a proletarian party in a sea of peasantry. Their second challenge was that Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky and Nikolai Bukharin were at loggerheads until Stalin finally triumphed and seized control.

Their third challenge came with Stalin realizing that his regime could survive only if it embarked on a revolutionary breakthrough via collectivization, industrialization and totalitarianism. Millions were killed, and the Soviet regime almost collapsed when Hitler attacked Russia in 1941, only to find that millions of soldiers and civilians were willing to surrender.

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Similar dynamics, with similarly disastrous consequences for millions of people, were in evidence in revolutionary France, Nazi Germany and Communist China.

Similar dilemmas will face Trump the revolutionary.

Americans may talk a lot about change, but theyre basically conservative and want to be left alone. The American social structure is highly institutionalized and thus resistant to revolutionary change. This represents a formidable confining condition.

So, too, are the inevitable tensions that will come to the fore in Trumps camp as attention turns to policy and the means for implementing it. Republican majorities in Congress and the Supreme Court will quickly experience fissures as life intervenes and revolutionary simplicity proves inadequate to deal with empirical complexity.

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The two areas in which Trump will face unexpected complexity almost immediately relate to immigration and the Russia-Ukraine war. Deporting 10 million immigrants will prove well-nigh impossible, even if it involves the use of the U.S. military. And expecting to resolve a deep-rooted conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours  especially as Vladimir Putin has made it perfectly clear that he will settle for nothing less than total victory  is at best naive, at worst silly.

Robespierre, Lenin, Hitler and Mao all employed mass violence, because they understood that ultimately that was the only way of breaking through their confining conditions and pursuing revolution. Trump will abjure mass violence, partly because he doesnt have the nerve to kill or jail millions, mostly because even the vast majority of his supporters would be outraged. This means that Trumps revolutionary aspirations will fail.

But all will not be lost for Trump if, when confronted with unbreakable confining conditions, he decides to retreat from revolution and adopt a more moderate form of governance. His base might howl, but he would survive.

Unfortunately, by that point, the failure of Trumps revolutionary domestic and foreign policies will have caused enormous damage to millions of people  foremost Americans and Ukrainians  and will take time, and a new government, to undo.

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Alexander J. Motyl is a professor of political science at Rutgers University-Newark. A specialist on Ukraine, Russia and the USSR, and on nationalism, revolutions, empires and theory, he is the author of 10 books of nonfiction, as well as Imperial Ends: The Decay, Collapse, and Revival of Empires and Why Empires Reemerge: Imperial Collapse and Imperial Revival in Comparative Perspective.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
High-impact tutoring has the strongest evidence base of any approach for improving student learning, and contributes to increased engagement and attendance. As far as proven education solutions go, its a pretty darn good one, and has rightfully been a bipartisan priority since the pandemic.

But federal pandemic relief money that helped fuel the expansion of such programs dried up in September, and recent research has sparked debates about the high-impact tutorings effectiveness when implemented at scale. This includes an evaluation of Metro Nashville Public Schools tutoring program that reported small gains for students and a meta-analysis of large high-impact tutoring programs that showed challenges in maintaining evidence-based practices.

Still, our experience in implementing and evaluating high-impact tutoring programs shows that if states and school districts get creative with funding and focus on implementing key evidence-based practices, they can achieve the positive outcomes for students that research shows are possible.

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High-Impact Tutoring: Inside the Efforts to Combat COVID Learning Loss

This summer, our organizations hosted a learning sprint to help 10 geographically and demographically diverse school districts build and sustain these kinds of programs. It was inspiring to see their commitment to overcoming barriers and seeking innovative solutions. Heres what some school districts are doing this year:

Being creative with funding and committing their own resources. Recent estimates suggest it would cost $15 billion annually to provide intensive tutoring for 20% of students. Cutting-edge technologies, like AI-assisted tutoring, may eventually help reduce costs, but securing sustainable funding for high-impact tutoring is challenging. To fill budget holes, school districts are investing their own taxpayer dollars and exploring other federal funding streams, including grant money for specific student populations, such as children from low-income families or with special needs; Americorps; and the federal work-study program.

For example, Lincoln Parish Schools in Louisiana combined local money with Title I and IDEA  Individuals With Disabilities Education Act  funding to pilot high-impact tutoring in its schools in 2021. A state grant and federal pandemic relief funds helped continue the program. For the 2024-25 school year, its using a per-pupil allocation from the state, as well as Title I and IDEA funds.

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Learning Loss Win-Win: High-Impact Tutoring in DC Boosts Attendance, Study Finds

Ector County Independent School District in Texas made significant cuts to its 2024-25 budget to close a $24 million deficit but decided to maintain funding for high-impact tutoring, based on ts positive results. During the 2022-23 school year, half of the students who had scored below grade level on the previous state assessment and received at least 20 hours of tutoring scored at grade level or higher after one year. This year, the district is using $2 million in Title I funds to pay for this service in elementary and middle schools, and state compensatory education funds for its high school programs.

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington, D.C., is paying for high-impact tutoring with a $5 million local investment, philanthropic dollars and by partnering with local colleges and universities for tutors funded through the federal work-study program.

A number of states are helping with funding, including by building high-impact tutoring into broader initiatives. Oregon is using its state-funded early literacy initiative to require district grantees to use the approach to improve reading skills. Tennessee is including it in its funding formula. Districts have also found ways to incorporate it into existing school programs. For example, Baltimore City Public Schools has included it as one of the interventions for students in need of extra support.

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Investing in evidence-based programs to maximize funding. States and school districts can increase the impact of their funding by directing it toward evidence-based practices. Our organizations have developed a template showing school districts how to prioritize evidence in grants and contracts. After participating in our sprint, Florida created a new high-impact tutoring initiative and required providers to meet certain criteria in order to qualify for state funding. The Louisiana legislature required that programs funded through a $30 million state investment follow evidence-based practices and gather data on student outcomes, broken out by demographics. Another sprint team is exploring a contracting approach that focuses on the performance of its tutoring provider  paying for outcomes rather than services.

Making informed implementation decisions. Evidence-based high-impact tutoring that incorporates key features, such as one-on-one or small-group sessions held at least three times a week during school hours, can increase learning across all grade levels. But districts sometimes deviate from these principles due to local needs and resources. For example, many districts struggle to fit high-impact tutoring into the school day, opting instead to hold sessions outside regular hours, which can reduce attendance and effectiveness. Implementation choices must remain research-based to ensure strong outcomes.

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How Districts Can Keep High-Impact Tutoring Going After ESSER Money Expires

Focusing on continuous improvement. Less than half of the teams participating in our summer program entered with a strong understanding of best practices for evaluating programs. Planning for data collection from the start is essential for assessing and improving program effectiveness. While this can be intimidating, it is a vital part of any new learning approach. For example, based on the findings from its recent evaluation, Metro Nashville Public Schools improved elements of its high-impact tutoring program, including improving communications with tutors.

The funding and implementation challenges of the current moment must not become an excuse for sidelining high-impact tutoring. We encourage students to persevere in the face of challenges and to learn from feedback. The education community must do the same regarding high-impact tutoring. It will take time and hard work to get this right at scale, but with high-impact tutoring, schools can give students the support they need to thrive.
Daily Beast contributor Keli Goff faced significant blowback for correctly predicting that Kamala Harris could never be president as soon as Joe Biden stepped aside. Revisiting her widely-read piece the day after Trumps re-election to the White House, the Daily Beast spoke with Goff to learn more about how she tapped into somethingthat few of her journalistic colleagues noticedso early on.

The Daily Beast: First things first: were you surprised at all by last nights results?

Keli Goff: Yes and no. There was no version of this election where Kamala would win, but I thought it would be closer and so I thought it would take longer to get the results. But it wasnt close. It was decisive.

Why do you think you saw this coming in a way so many in the media did not?

Honestly, I think the main thing is that I dont spend much time on social media. My social circle is not comprised primarily of other journalists. Most of the journalists who have been proven so wrong about this election live in a bubble where they primarily talk to other journalists whose cable shows they want to get booked on and so they dont get to hear what real people actually think. Many of the real-life African Americans I know are not fans of super liberal policies, for example, and the Democratic Party of today is much further to the left of the party of Bill Clinton.

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Secondly, a lot of Black votersagain, those outside of the media bubbledidnt feel the connection to Kamala Harris that they felt to the Obama family, particularly Michelle. I explained some of this in my previous column, but I would say Kamala faced challenges the Obamas did not.

What were some of those challenges?

Barack and Michelle were the kind of trailblazers who made even African Americans who werent Democrats proud. It wasnt just their Ivy league pedigrees; they were so incredibly eloquent, intelligent, authentic and known for being kind. Every Black parent could point to them and tell their kids, I want you to be like them when you grow up. That kind of inspiration motivates voters and Kamala didnt engender the same vibes.

Any final thoughts?

I think the mainstream media lost this election just as badly as Kamala did. If so many pundits and mainstream outlets had not tried to cover for her, including by not seriously addressing allegations of abuse leveled against her husband, voters would not have tuned out some of the legitimate coverage of Trumps shortcomings. And I think a lot of voters, including Black men, recoiled at being told how to vote.

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Read Goffs original piece below.

I strongly believe a womana Black womancan become president of the United States. I just dont believe Kamala Harris can. So, while it pains me to say it, I hope she will consider following Joe Bidens lead by putting the country first and stepping aside.

My family, some of whom agree with me on this, worried writing this column would disappoint other Black women who disagree. Those same Black women, however, will be hurt worse by the election of Donald Trump again. Despite her general favorability ratings being lower than Donald Trumps and four preceding vice presidents, I was still open to being convinced that Kamala Harris has a viable path to the presidency.

In addition to data showing she underperforms compared to Biden among women and non-Black minorities, recent polling of Black voters provided a much-needed reality check. A recent poll of Black voters in swing states found that Harris polls a couple of points better than Bidenboth landing in the 70s, behind former President Barack Obama, whose favorables stand at 90 percent and whose unfavorables are at 10 percent. The vice presidents unfavorables among Black voters stand at 22 percent.

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To some that may sound insignificant, but when considering how close our last few elections have been, its not. Consider this: In 2008 Obama won 95 percent of Black male voters and 96 percent of Black women. His next election he won 96 percent of Black women and 87 percent of Black men. Hillary Clintons support among Black men slipped to 82 percent and her support among Black women to 94 percent. She lost. Black voters comprise approximately 25 percent of the Democratic voting bloc.

That means if a Democratic candidate doesnt knock it out of the park with Black voters, things turn pretty desperate pretty fast. For Kamala Harris, they already are. Like Hillary Clinton, Kamala is a known quantity, with sky-high name recognition. She also happens to be a Black woman. Why arent her numbers higher? The truth is Ive been asking versions of this question for a while.

My alarm bells first started ringing when during her disastrous run for the presidency in 2019, a number of older Black women, from varied backgrounds, told me they didnt like Kamala Harris. Some of their reasons struck me as underwhelming. She was described as arrogant. (OK, but plenty of men are too.)

Some said she had relied on her looks to get ahead, a theory bolstered by President Obama referencing her good looks at a fundraiser. (OK, but if Gavin Newsom were short, and bald would he be governor?) I also heard plenty of, theres just something about her. After todays announcement, right-wing broadcaster Matt Walsh attacked Kamala in horrifying terms.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on July 4.

When it comes to politicians and popularity, the unsaid is often more important than what is said. Something about her, is a favorite phrase reserved for women people simply dont like. It covers a lot of ground, including the possibility that a person simply reminds you of the girl from high school who made you feel small, even if she didnt mean to.

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On Sunday, the New York Times spoke to Black voters with doubts about Harris path to victory. Even in 2024, America is not ready for a Black, female president, Don Johnson, a 65-year-old truck driver from Milwaukee, said, adding that he would support her. I think shes a pretty good politician but overall it boils down to race and gender. And America is going to hold that against her.

Realizing their importance, Harris supporters are already focused on galvanizing Black female voters, with a planning and rousing morale-building call Sunday night, Win With Black Women, attended by an estimated 34,000 women.

Personally speaking, Ive noticed that the women who seem to like Kamala most are women like me: I have a graduate degree, I am child-free by choice, and I admire bossy women, probably because every now and then I get called one myself. I dont consider any of these qualities bad things, but a lot of Americans do, including, apparently some women. If that werent the case, Hillary Clinton would have become president.

If Kamala Harris comes across as the cocky homecoming queen, then Hillary was the know-it-all valedictorian who made others feel dumb. She first famously drew the ire of stay-at-home moms for defending her choice not to stay home baking cookies. Frankly, that made me like her more, but women like me are not the majority and Hillary Clinton didnt win the presidency and we were left Donald Trump, Part 1.

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If Kamala Harris is the nominee I believe we will get to see Donald Trump, the sequel. Nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong and for my friends who will hate this column to eventually tease me about how wrong I was. If I am right, however, and Kamala and her supporters, driven by their own desire to see history made, help elect Donald Trump, then Kamalas legacy will end up just as damaged as another feminist shero who didnt know when to exit stage left gracefully.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her fans allowed the cult of RBG to blind them from what was in the best interests of those she claimed to care about. By refusing to relinquish her power in a timely fashion she ultimately gave her power to conservatives. Now RBGs fans seemed poised to do it all over again.

Im already tired of this three-ring-circus of an election. Im tired of living in perpetual terror about the future of our country, and Im tired of arguing about the same politicians we have for the last decade, including Biden, Trump and yes, Kamala Harris. Im also tired of trying to defend a woman that some people may not like because of racism, sexism and others simply because there is just something about her. The reasons people dont want to vote for someone dont have to make sense, but if those reasons are ingrained the only choice is to either accept losing their votes, or give them alternatives.

Val Demings.

With that in mind, its time to turn the page. Republicans did that brilliantly by choosing J.D. Vance, not simply because hes young but because hes not weighed down by the baggage all of these other old-school candidates (including Trump) seem to be carrying. In addition to male candidates like war veteran Jason Kander of Missouri, former Ohio congressman Tim Ryan, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, there are other Black and Asian women who represent the very best of our countrys diverse leaders.

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Val Demings may have lost her Florida Senate race, but her law and order record, and credibility on crime would make her a viable contender. California senator Laphonza Butlers deep roots among organized labor would also make her a great addition to any ticket. Michelle Kwans journey from trailblazing Olympian to ambassador and Sen. Tammy Duckworths record as a veteran and role model for those with disabilities also make them candidates worthy of serious consideration.

There also those who I consider fantasy draft picks, like Ursula Burns, the first Black female Fortune 500 CEO and Mellody Hobson, who in addition to her own extraordinary business record, is telegenic, and has strong Hollywood ties that would make fundraising a cakewalk.

The bottom line is, I wish I had the luxury of convincing other Americans to like the people and politicians I do, but I dont. So if asking someone I admire to step aside will help save democracy, Im willing to do it.

I just hope Kamala Harris loves America as much as I do.

Keli Goff, a Daily Beast columnist and contributor to KCRWs Left, Right & Center, was nominated for two Emmy Awards for the documentary Reversing Roe.
Donald Trump is many things, but a gentleman he is not.

Thats a problem for anyone hoping the 47th president of the United States governs like an actual president and not as a monarch, because a shocking number of legal norms are just that: norms. Not laws, but customs. Gentlemens agreements.

Theres no law that says a president cant pardon himself. Theres no act of Congress requiring the Office of White House Counsel to act in good faith. Theres no statute instructing the Department of Justice to be staffed with independent career professionals.

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That means that while most presidents make a good-faith effort to uphold the system and follow legal norms, theres not much stopping a president who decides to go scorched earth.

Trumps closest advisers have seized on that fact and hatched a plan to stack the Office of Legal Counsel and the Office of Management and Budget with yes-men and women who will come up with flimsy legal cover for Trumps most extreme ideas.

Project 2025, which was drafted by some of the incoming presidents closest advisers, also calls for putting the Department of Justice under the presidents direct control.

That would leave Trump free to make good on his promises to round up his political enemies, unleash the military on American citizens, pardon himself for his many criminal charges and deport millions of people with no due process.

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We know its coming, and instead of watching the rule of law crumble around us, Congress needs to get off its a-- and impose some real, binding checks on presidential power.

Democrats still have control of the White House and the Senate for about two more months. Republicans have a majority in the House of Representatives, but its a slim one. There are just nine more House Republicans than Democrats, and 16 Republicans are retiring from public office at the end of this congressional term.

Politically, the retiring Republicans have nothing to lose. Financially, some of them are probably looking forward to cushy consulting jobs on the other side. But cushy consulting jobs are easy enough to come by, and one final vote for America as we know it isnt likely to hurt anyones private-sector career prospects.

California Rep. Adam Schiff has already introduced legislation that would stop the president from interfering in his own criminal investigations and limit the attorney generals ability to quash investigations on the presidents behalf.

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Its a good start, and Congress should act on itand then some.

Republican pundits are fond of telling us that Trump talks like a dictator, but he wouldnt act one. Lawmakers should spend the next two months fighting like hell to make sure we dont have to wait around and find out.
Although, as we write, some votes are still being counted, and several outcomes await, we share perspectives and observations that are important to democracy and us.

Will the election outcome threaten our republic?

Cowley and Pignanelli: Be of good cheer. The Republic will live. The institutions of our fathers are not to expire in shame. The sovereignty of the people shall be rescued from this peril and re-established.  Samuel Tilden, after conceding the contentious 1876 presidential election.

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Your columnists are from different generations and political backgrounds, but we agree on one thing  that our nation and republic will survive regardless of any presidential election outcome.

The presidential election was predicted to be very close, but former President Donald Trump has been named the decisive victor. As your authors have opined recently, presidential polls keep significantly missing the mark. The reasons why require a closer examination.

There are many outstanding votes still to be counted, and theres a possibility that activists on either side may file lawsuits or push for recounts in key areas. Both parties have historically disputed election outcomes to varying degrees (i.e. hanging chads, fraudulent ballots, etc.). These challenges may prolong the final results in some races, but rest assured, no matter the outcome or inevitable protests, there will ultimately be a peaceful transfer of power.

Election practices should be carefully and regularly scrutinized. Ballot tabulation methods should be transparent and consistent. Poll watchers should be granted unfettered observation access to all ballot processing activities. Ballot drop boxes should be secure. Results should be audited frequently, and voter rolls should be public records. These principles are not intended to undermine our election process. In fact, they do the opposite. Transparency will increase faith in election security and weed out any infrequent, nefarious attempts otherwise.

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This election season has been traumatic, strange and vitriolic. But such challenges are not unprecedented. For almost 250 years, Americans have endured much from internal and external forces. Yet, we survived and thrived. To doubt our stamina is to question the fundamental makeup of Americans. We play, fight, and campaign hard. After every scuffle, our loyalty to democratic principles and the Constitution remains steadfast. This is who we are.

With similar sentiments, Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan reflected on a recent observation by Yuval Levin that in the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote that every presidential election is a kind of national crisis that drives people crazy, but that the madness dissipates when the election ends.

After the results are tabulated and certified, half of the nation will cry foul. The other half must allow them to vent  in peaceful activities. Then, we all move on  to arguing about whatever policies are proposed by the winners.

Because all results were not finalized on Tuesday night, is that a sign of election fraud?

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Cowley and Pignanelli: Mail-in tabulations simply take longer to process than in-person. Several battleground states dont allow election officials to do any ballot preprocessing before Election Day, even if theyve been receiving ballots for weeks. It might take several days to tabulate the final popular vote.

Akin to the Super Bowl, there is tremendous build-up and anticipation for a presidential election. Both teams are filled with enthusiasm, dreaming of the possibilities should their team prevail. Prolonged election results are like holding your breath during quadruple overtime. No matter which team wins, about half the nation will be disappointed. The only consolation is strategizing about the upcoming draft (of players or politicians) while planning for the next season (or election). Politicians, parties and pundits like us will inevitably be eyeing the next election as early as Nov. 6, while normal Americans will refocus their attention on how soon is too soon to put up holiday decorations.

What Utah races were we watching on election night?

Cowley and Pignanelli: Utah has less than a dozen truly swing legislative seats. Several county positions were also too close to call by the end of the night. With mail-in ballots and protracted tabulations, we have seen candidates in these races losing by a handful of votes on Election Night but winning soundly in the final canvass. This swing is often due to what batch the clerks release first, mail-in or in-person ballots cast on Election Day. We anticipate a few of these tight-margin races will need several days or even a week before a winner can be determined.

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Gov. Spencer Cox endured one of the most divisive and turbulent races in Utah this cycle but prevailed with a decisive victory. Political observers were watching to see what percentage third-party, write-in and independent candidates would rack up. It was not enough to swing the outcome in the governors race. Still, their vote tallies may indicate a future statewide voter shift towards a new brand of Democrat, Republican or independent office seekers.

The election process is boisterous, frustrating and wonderful because the Constitution promotes nearly 250 million eligible voters to voice and act on their opinions through a ballot. America will remain the beacon of the democratic process. We encourage readers to watch and enjoy the certification process unfold in the coming weeks.

Republican Renae Cowley is a political consultant, lobbyist, social media influencer and professional rodeo athlete. Email: capitolcowgirl@gmail.com. Frank Pignanelli is a Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser who served as a Democrat in the Utah State Legislature. Email: frankp@xmission.com.
A star is born  Elon! Donald Trump shouted early Wednesday morning, giving thanks to Elon Musk for helping him win the presidential election.

When youre a star, they let you do it, as Trump once said, speaking of mauling women.

Now Trump and Musk, self-styled stars, are a match made in some kind of Book-of-Revelation living nightmare. With Trumps victory, the duo seem to have put themselves safely out of the reach of the law.

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Over the last months, as Musk, the richest man in the world, has poured millions into Trumps campaign by way of his America PAC, Trump has promised to bring Musk into government.

Read more: Trump elected 47th president. Harris plans to address the nation this afternoon

In September, Trump said he would create a government efficiency commission for Musk to lead. This task force would carry out a complete audit of the finances and performance of the entire federal government, with a view to smashing it to smithereens  that is, making it more efficient.

Id put [Musk] in the Cabinet, absolutely, but I dont know how he could do that with all the things hes got going, Trump also said. But he could sort of, as the expression goes, consult with the country and give you some very good ideas.

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Very good ideas that, lets guess, wont exactly hurt Musks bottom line, which is currently set at more than $285 billion. (In the hours since Trump's victory, Musk gained $20 billion.)

For a person who controls this much private wealth to have a starring role in the U.S. government is to open the door to conflicts of interest so immense that, if Trump didnt already pose such an urgent threat to the survival of the republic, it would be all wed talk about.

For any other businessman, a chance to serve his country might seem like a good idea. But Musk has held vast governmental power for a long time  and for years has exerted unholy influence over Washington.

Read more: With new Trump presidency, California is in for the fight of our lives

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To see just a fragment of what Musk might do during a second Trump term, look to the current state of play. NASA and the Pentagon now depend on Musk so profoundly that they could barely survive without SpaceX, which controls U.S. space launches and internet satellites. In 2023 alone, Musks companies signed $3 billion in contracts with 17 federal agencies, including the departments of State, Energy and Agriculture.

Musk also holds a top secret security clearance , which gives him access to information that could gravely damage national security if disclosed.

And yet Musk has reportedly been conspiring  no other word for it, in my estimation  with the leaders of powers extremely hostile to the United States.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk has had secret conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2022. The conversations reportedly included Putins request for a favor for Chinese leader Xi Jinping: Musk should avoid turning on his Starlink internet service for Taiwan.

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Taiwan, of course, is a United States ally, albeit an unofficial one. China and Russia are officially not. For anyone at any level of government to scheme with adversaries would almost certainly be actionable. NASA administrator Bill Nelson has called for an investigation.

But because this particular schemer is Elon Musk, its been hands off. Musk is an expansively free man, telling cable TV viewers about taking ketamine and turning Twitter-now-X, which still has around 300 million daily users, into his very own Pravda  a dark MAGA propaganda site so influential that Rolling Stone dubbed Musk and X the biggest purveyors of online disinformation.

Read more: Quiet dismay, open glee: U.S. adversaries, allies around world react to historic Trump win

In the early hours of election day, Musk shared a video on X that glorified Jan. 6 and flashed QAnon references. IBM, Disney and Coca-Cola used to advertise on Twitter; on X, you're more likely to see entries from the far-right, pro-Trump Epoch Times, a media organization affiliated with the Falun Gong religious movement.

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More than 20 recent federal investigations or reviews have targeted Musks companies. Some are fueled by concerns about the safety of Tesla cars and environmental damage caused by SpaceX rockets. Tesla has also faced a raft of lawsuits charging racial discrimination and harassment at its plants, union interference and wage theft.

In October, the Washington Post published evidence that Musk, after coming to Palo Alto on a student visa in 1995, overstayed his visa and worked illegally in the U.S. for years. For Musk, who these days echoes Trumps spitting nativist rage about undocumented immigrants, the exposure of this secret could have meant deportation  and even loss of U.S. citizenship.

Today, with Trumps victory, any saber-rattling by federal agencies or immigration watchdogs seems almost laughable. Deportation? Loss of citizenship? Investigations, even?

Sure, for other immigrants whove overstayed a visa. Sure, for Trumps political enemies.

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But absolutely not for Musk, mega-American, the brightest star in Trumps ominous firmament.

Virginia Heffernan is a contributing editor at Wired magazine. Her newsletter can be found at virginiaheffernan.substack.com.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
For all those Americans waking up kicking and screaming at the prospect of four more years of Donald Trump, all is not lost.

The world will (almost certainly) keep turning after the 2024 presidential election and The Simpsons will (definitely) still be on the air.

Theres no point running for the hills as the people who already live there more than likely voted for Trump and the nations homeless have already headed West to discover you need to be almost as wealthy as Elon Musk to afford a house in the Democratic Republic of California.

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So, you might like to take heart in these five reasons why a second Trump White House might not be so bad, after all.

1. We Survived the First One

Remember how you felt in 2016? Did I really just witness the guy who fake fired people on The Apprentice beat Hillary Clinton to become the most powerful person on the planet? Should we sell our house now and move to Guam? But you didnt sell your house, and, in fact, it probably went up in value.

Obama would claim he left the economy in good order but then Biden would have to admit the same in 2020, wouldnt he? We even lived through a pandemic and given that most people probably ignored Trumps more crackpot cures, the States didnt fare much better or worse than countries with actual statesmen running them.

Yes, his idea of foreign policy focused more on weird friendships with Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, but no buttons were pushed. We were still there in 2021.

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We may have still been embarrassed that the country of JFK and Barack Obama chose Donald J. Trump as president. But we also voted in Richard Nixon so go figure. And the Cubs won the World Series in 2016 for the first time since 1908. Didnt see that one coming either.

Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States in 2017.

2. At Least There Wont be a Civil War

Admit it, you were considering binning those tickets for the Christmas concert downtown youd been looking forward to for months. There was so much fighting talk from the Trump campaign in the weeks before the election that companies which fit bars over windows must have been cleaning up.

Now our inner cities can go back to gentrifying the poor out of existence. The police can step down security at the Capitol for January. The Democrats arent going to stage an insurrection. There wont be a run on Viking helmets. The people wearing them will already be inside.

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C on January 6, 2021.

3. He May Even Stop a War or Two

Trump is actually good at stopping wars or, at least, not starting them. Hes interested in Making America Great Again, not anywhere else. I saved a big war. I saved a couple of them, he said during his first term, referring to Iran and another conflict nobody seems quite sure about.

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No doubt he will call his buddy Vladimir Putin and suggest setting aside his squabble with Ukraine, hopefully without making Kyiv a suburb of Belgorod. He promised during the campaign he could do it in 24 hours. His policy is peace through strength, although few have much more ideas of what that is about. At least he remembers which one is which between Putin and Zelensky, unlike a certain other president. Zelensky certainly knows who Trump is; he congratulated him via X, saying he is hopeful he will practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer.

Trumps a strong supporter of Israel but is impatient with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in dealing with Hamas. The leaders from both sides will be nervously awaiting his next thoughts on the conflict, with the Palestinians more so.

Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

4. He May Go Where No President Has Gone Before (Lately)

Donald Trump shares a fascination about space travel with Elon Musk and is likely to continue the trend back towards exploration he began in his first term with the establishment of the U.S. Space Force and rebuilding the U.S. Space Command and the National Space Council.

He may well relaunch the NASA program sending astronauts to the moon, framing it as a space race against China rather than Russia. He will take all the credit, naturally, but that may be a small price to pay for making space travel cool again.

Donald Trump acknowledges SpaceX founder Elon Musk.

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5. Its the Economy, Stupid

James Carville famously used the term to help get Bill Clinton elected and Trump has oft used the sentiment, if not the phrase, to explain why it is necessary for all Americans to put him back as the captain of the countrys industries.

He will point to the soaring share prices and the strengthened dollar on news of his victory as evidence that he is already turning around an economy he says was struggling through a cost-of-living crisis under Biden.

Trump will look to accelerate growth, boost real incomes and jobs. Any stimulus from tax cuts and putting up barriers to trade could boost profits on Wall Street and Trump will argue the trickle-down will boost businesses across the board, although that remains to be seen. Trumps a good businessman, or so he keeps telling us.

So, there you go. Its a fresh start. A new beginning. And if it doesnt work out, Ive heard a lot of nice things about Puerto Rico in the last week.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
While there have been no credible claims of fraud contributing to Donald Trumps victory on Tuesday, and the vote does not appear to have even been close, the election was marred by foreign interference, a commonplace occurrence in every U.S. election since 2016.

There was a steady stream of disinformation and multiple attempts by Russia to meddle in the electoral process this year. In the lead-up to the election, the Federal Bureau of Investigation singled out Russia as the most active foreign threat, noting that Moscow was conducting influence operations with the goal of undermining confidence among Americans in the integrity of our elections.

Read more: Opinion: Post-election violence is likely. Here's how to contain it

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On election day, bomb threats were conveyed to polling sites in battleground states Georgia, Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin, with the FBI stating that the hoax threats emanated from Russian email domains. Two polling sites in Georgia had to be temporarily evacuated, and it remains unclear whether this deterred any voters. In early September, an indictment against two RT (formerly Russia Today, a Kremlin propaganda outlet) employees detailed a scheme to funnel $10 million to finance prominent right-wing commentators in the United States, part of a pro-Trump media platform registered in Tennessee.

The Russians also ran an effective doppelganger network of websites that mimicked legitimate American news outlets like the Washington Post but published fake news to undermine confidence in elections and increase polarization.

Russia was not the only foreign actor involved, as both China and Iran sought to conduct hack and leak operations during and after the elections.

Read more: Opinion: Are you sensing impending doom? Want to go in on a fallout shelter?

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Trumps predilection for praising Russian dictator Vladimir Putin makes it unlikely that he will raise this issue during their future conversations or meetings. In the past, Trump has sided with Putin over the U.S. intelligence community and constantly refers to the Russia hoax to downplay past Russian interference in U.S. elections.

With such a passive approach from the federal government, Russian interference in the U.S. political system and American culture is an inevitability. Many are concerned about these and other potential sources of domestic instability, including a surge in far-right violence that could be encouraged by foreign actors or by Trump himself.

Its certainly true that we would have been in a perilous situation if Vice President Kamala Harris had won by a small margin and Trump had called the results rigged: A few days ago, that looked like the most direct line to political violence in the elections aftermath.

And to be sure, there are counterterrorism analysts who are concerned about a violent reaction by the far left to another Trump presidency. Some on the far left view a second Trump term as an existential crisis and likely will be motivated to take to the streets to protest. Trump has threatened to deploy the U.S. military to quell demonstrators, and if he follows through, that could result in a serious escalation of left-wing violence. Other issues  including access to abortion, climate change and the war in Gaza  also could mobilize some on the left to see their causes as justifying violent resistance.

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But another byproduct of four more years of Trump could very well be a rash of incidents such as the country experienced during his first term, when racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists, including neo-Nazis and white supremacists, launched attacks at: the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., where a woman was killed after being run over with a car; a Pittsburgh synagogue, where violence killed 11 people and injured six more; and a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, where a gunman killed 23 people and injured nearly another two dozen.

The attackers in both the Pittsburgh and El Paso incidents were motivated in part by the  Great Replacement theory , a white supremacist trope claiming that the ongoing replacement of the white, Christian population in the United States is the deliberate strategy of a nefarious cabal. In December 2023, Trump said that undocumented immigrants were poisoning the blood of our country. As Anne Applebaum has pointed out , Trump has frequently used dehumanizing language such as vermin, a style and approach that is reminiscent of Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini.

Speaking in mid-October in Arizona, Trump said , When I win on Nov. 5, the migrant invasion ends and the restoration of our country begins. Theres no reason not to take Trump at his word. Just how he intends to end the invasion has never been clear. Some Americans, as occurred in Pittsburgh and El Paso, may seek to take matters into their own hands. It is not unrealistic to see a spike in far-right attacks on immigrants, with the perpetrators claiming that they are doing what the president asked, taking back the country from what he called the enemies within. He could even pardon them from federal charges, as he has said he would pardon the terrorists who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

As demonstrated by the terrorist attack by a far-right extremist against African Americans at a Buffalo, N.Y., supermarket in May 2022 or the shooting of three African Americans at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Fla., in August 2023, racially motivated violence is not unique to the Trump administration. However, what violent extremists perceive as a tacit nod of approval  based on Trumps own violent rhetoric  could lead to a surge in domestic terrorism in a country that remains anxious, angry and well-armed.

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Colin P. Clarke is the director of research at the Soufan Group, an intelligence and security consulting firm in New York City.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
President Joe Biden is not too old to know what he has done.

No matter how dimmed he may be by age, he has to know that he should have just stepped down after one good term.

The Democrats then could have then selected somebody the usual way, with primaries.

Maybe Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvanias governor, would have been a candidate.

Maybe it would have been Gretchen Whitmer, Michigans governor. The result could have actually been the first woman president.

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Whoever it was, he or she would have been the partys choice.

And the duly chosen candidate would have been in a better position than Vice President Kamala Harris was to call Donald Trump a threat to democracy.

Biden's refusal to give way in time for a contest handed Trump a sword a shield, a man who defied democracy in 2020 able to point at his opponent being selected without a vote.

The candidate also would have been obliged to defend whatever Biden had and had not done, particularly in terms of the southern border.

One thing Trump was right about was that Harris had become the Democratic candidate without a single vote.

Too much else of what Trump said was dangerously false.

But he is going to the White House nonetheless.

He will again be our commander-in-chief, and he now regains the mantle having spoken of using the military to secure the southern border, quell domestic protests, and fight crime in our cities.

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Among the troops he will command are three young soldiers who were manning an information table outside the U.S. Army Force Recruiting Station in Times Square last week.

They had American flags on the right shoulder of their fatigues and name tags on the chest. Ahmed said she is from Ethiopia. Yilmaz is from Turkey. Stupuris is from Lithuania.

Three young soldiers, seen in New York Citys Times SquareAhmed from Ethiopia, Stupuris from Lithuania, and Yilmaz from Turkeywill have a new commander-in-chief.

Whats wonderful for me about the United States is, all the nations, all the cultures, like you can find every single culture, every single race in here and people are united here, Stupuris said. That I just love about it. Thats whats beautiful to me about the United States.

He said he is 20 and enlisted on March 11, 2024. He had graduated high school and had done some college, then decided he went to join the military.

There should be no comforting Biden in Harris defeat: His actions brought us here.

Im gonna admit it, I didnt join to serve the United States first, he said. But after I got my uniform, after training, after I met people who say thank you for your service, now its turning into I want to actually serve this country because how amazing it is.

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He stood bright eyed at the recruiting station where America famously celebrated its victory in World War II. He said hopes to become a Green Beret and seemed exactly the kind of person we want to defend us.

But thanks to Biden, we will now have a commander-in-chief who talks about sending troops against what he calls the enemy within. And Biden is 81.

That does not absolve him.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
The male faces of Americas first 44 presidents flashed across the big screen one after the other in black and white, before the sound of breaking glass filled the arena, revealing Hillary Clintons smiling face in full technicolor.

The message to the Democratic National Convention in 2016 was clear. As the first female presidential candidate of a major U.S. political party, Clinton was destined to break the glass ceiling that had stood firm since George Washington took his oath on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in 1789.

Eight years after Clinton lost to Donald Trump, Kamala Harris didnt even mention that she would be the first woman president in her acceptance speech at the party convention.

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They tried it in two very different ways. One leaning into identity politics and the other leaning away.

And still, the highest, toughest glass ceiling remains unbroken.

The reason is that while the campaigns for both Harris and Clinton were looking forward to a new dawn in the White House when common sense prevails and gender is irrelevant, Trump and, latterly, JD Vance, were looking to the past.

Lets not be fooled. Women may have voted against Harris because of her policies on the economy, immigration, or even abortion. Few would have abandoned her because of her sex.

But men would. And Trump knew that. Why else would he have spent so much time and money courting young males? He didnt gripe when Joe Rogan insisted he go to Austin, Texas, to record his podcast interview in person.

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Harris didnt have the time or perhaps the inclination. She wasnt thinking about gender or she didnt think about it enough.

Trump painted a dark vision of Americas future while waxing nostalgic about the past. Theres a reason he said he would protect women whether the women like it or not. Theres a reason Vance made such a play of childless cat ladies.

I will protect women at a level never seen before, Trump told supporters in North Carolina in September.

In an interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, Trump said foreign leaders would treat Harris like a play toy.

They look at her and they say we cant believe we got so lucky. Theyre gonna walk all over her, he continued before looking into the camera and adding: I dont want to say as to why, but a lot of people understand it.

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He called Harris weak and dumb as a rock. Even if he didnt say it was because she was a woman, he would have been aware that the sexist strain of his support would understand with a nod and a wink.

The GOP campaign was conjuring up images of the 1950s, when men went to work and the little lady stayed at home with the kids. This is the America of Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Best, when being woke was just something everyone did before breakfast.

The retro theme was fostered by Fox News, with hosts like Jesse Watters saying he would consider it tantamount to an affair if his wife voted for Harris.

All the time, Harris was sidestepping identity politics. She saw a brighter future for the country, irrespective of whether you were male or female.

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The experience that I am having is one in which it is clear that regardless of someones gender, [voters] want to know that their president has a plan to lower costs, that their president has a plan to secure America in the context of our position around the world, she told NBC News two weeks ago.

Well, Im clearly a woman, she added. The point that most people really care about is can you do the job and do you have a plan to actually focus on them.

That much is certainly true of most women, dyed-in-the-wool Democrats, and, indeed, Republicans.

But the 2024 presidential election outcome suggests that many men still have a lot of growing up to do. Perhaps the only way that glass ceiling is finally going to crack is with a strong Republican woman winning the hearts of other women and fighting men on their own terms. Going on the offensive, with every meaning of the word.

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Historically around the world, conservative women break the head of government glass ceiling because at first voters are only willing to elect a woman who will uphold traditional gender roles. Think Margaret Thatcher in the U.K. and Giorgia Meloni in Italy.

And then ironically, that conditions people to see women as leaders, which paves the way for liberal women to get elected. Either way, it could be a long road to the future that both Harris and Clinton promised.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonights 6 p.m. ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.

State of play:

TODAY is the election  we made it! I think about my mom on Election Day  she always took me to vote as a reminder of the privilege we have living in the greatest country on Earth and how fragile that fundamental right is.



Me and my mom

The plan: After yoga and lunch, Ill see you starting at 6 p.m. ET with Chris Cuomo, Elizabeth Vargas, and Connell McShane at the wall.

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Axios is out this morning with a GREAT recap of everything weve been through together  cheers to my buddy Mike Allen for setting the pace in political coverage for 2024. I have learned so much from him as a reporter and a person, thank you! Click here for their cheat sheet to closing times and counties to watch.



Thank YOU! Your trust, loyalty and viewership this election year means I get to do what I love  whoever wins its going to be a wild next four years  we will be here for you.

Sign your friends up for War Notes by clicking here  its free.

I gave you my prediction for tonight in yesterdays War Notes. It wont be close  click here to read.

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Feel free to respond with how I did.

Reality check: Before I got up this morning, friends texted with breathless reports of cheating and craziness  there is cheating in sports, marriages, business and every other part of life. Will it change the election? No.

Watch tonight: Chris Stirewalt joins us from D.C. with his analysis mixed with hillbilly humor  we will need both!

He likes to remind people that Election Day is your turn  the bloviating, politicizing, punditry, hackery and polling is all over. Now the American people tell us how they really feel.

Ground truth: If one candidate wins all the swing states by 2%, which could easily happen, it will be considered a blowout and a landslide.

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In reality  America will wake up tomorrow equally divided. We are a 50/50 nation split on traditional vs. progressive values. Neither a President Trump or President Harris will change that  or even try to  they will likely make it worse.

God willing: A meaningful win across multiple swing states for one candidate would be the best outcome for the country  hopefully delivering a result beyond the lawyering of curing ballots and other such tricks of machine politics:

Both sides have heavily lawyered up, says Mark Halperin on his 2Way platform. Democrats in particular have to try to deal with their shortfall in the early vote in Pennsylvania by curing a lot of these ballots that have flaws in them  dated wrong, or no date or whatever it is. And so whats fair? If you know that lots of voters who are disproportionately Democratic voters have failed to follow the rules, is it fair to say those votes shouldnt count?  There is no good answer to that question, but literally, the presidency could be decided on that.

America Will Prevail

Bill OReilly last night promised us that whoever wins, America will prevail.

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Fact check: True  we have after so many awful presidents.

Its also true that America as a country, people and idea faces challenges like a few times before  1860, 1938, 1968, 1976, 2008 come to mind.

Change: Whoever sits behind the resolute desk on the afternoon of Jan. 20 faces not only a divided country but a country facing multiple crises at home and abroad.

So much will change under either Trump or Harris: Border policy Crime policy Economic priorities The future of DEI and intersectional politics Parents rights in schools  including whether boys can play in girls sports Culture of Washington  California progressive warriors vs. the Palm Beach mafia Foreign policy as a wartime president tries to stop multiple foreign wars The Supreme Court The list goes on and on  just think how much has changed since President Bidens oath of office in the midst of COVID-19.



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Agreement: The majority of Americans hated their choice between Biden and Trump  and didnt like the Harris vs. Trump choice much more.

Reckoning : Perhaps the best thing that could come out of this election  other than its ending  is a meaningful change in the losing party.

For Democrats: An honest assessment over why they have hemorrhaged white working-class voters What will they do when they have to be for something rather than against Donald Trump? Is America really this woke? Are we OK with pro-terrorist groups on college campuses? Can, should and will America look like a neo-Marxist, socialist, green utopia? Will America cede being the leader of the free world? Is misinformation worth giving up the First Amendment for?

For Republicans: An honest assessment of why suburban Republicans now vote for Harris  there is a battle for what the party of Reagan used to represent Mark Short, Chief of Staff to then-VP Pence said it best: This election we abandoned our position on life, abandoned our position on marriage, abandoned our position in support of free markets and free trade, abandoned our national security positions, and now were the biggest defenders of government run healthcare. If were unsuccessful on Tuesday, its time for a serious reckoning within our party. Is America really a populist angry nation? Are Republicans OK with fiscal irresponsibility? Will we abandon the principles that brought about 80 years of world peace and economic growth? How did one man force Republicans to abandon their core principles and sense of honor and decency? How should we deal with a generation of young Americans taught to view themselves as victims?



Again, the lists for both parties could go on and on as could the list of challenges facing America  whats most troubling is how deeply unserious both sides are.

At every turn, dealing with big issues requires bucking the far left and far right  that requires leadership.

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Maybe after this election the losing party can spend some time finding and supporting real leaders rather than those who just divide us.

On election eve morning, our friend Lauren Wright came out with a must-read in the Wall Street Journal, Harris is Bad for Democracy Too.

One last thought: The world is turning into a pretty dangerous place with Ukraine, Iran, North Korea, China and Russia

Lets hope those who say America is at a crossroads like 1860 are wrong, but lets also hope America isnt at a crossroads like 1938.

Tune into On Balance with Leland Vittert weeknights at 7/6C on NewsNation. Find your channel here.

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The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Kemi Badenoch, the 44-year-old member of Parliament for North West Essex, is the new leader of Britains Conservative Party, and must now provide a center-right opposition to the Labour government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. She won 56.5 percent of the partys diminished membership to beat fellow former cabinet minister Robert Jenrick to the crown.

Badenoch had been regarded as one of the favorites to succeed former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but with such a small party membership (just 130,000), it was difficult to make accurate predictions. But she has been a rising star since 2017, and she placed an impressive fourth in the last leadership contest in 2022. Now she is no longer a rising star  she is risen.

Her most obvious characteristics at first glance are those that she regards as relatively unimportant. Although she is now the fourth woman to lead the Tories, and the second leader from an ethnic minority background, she is the first Black person to be elected to the top of a major political party in Britain. (The Labour Party has only ever been led by white men.)

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Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke was born in Wimbledon in south-west London, but her parents, both of Yoruba ancestry, lived in Nigeria. Her late father Femi was a doctor and her mother Feyi a professor of physiology.

Kemi spent her childhood mostly in Lagos, Nigerias largest city, though she also traveled extensively in the U.S. where her mother frequently gave lectures. When she was 16, she moved to the United Kingdom as the security situation in Nigeria deteriorated after the military coup of 1993. Living with a family friend, she read computer systems engineering at the University of Sussex and then trained part-time as a lawyer, before working for the private bank Coutts & Co.

Political instincts soon asserted themselves. Having joined the Conservative Party at age 25, she stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in 2010 and for the London Assembly in 2012. Three years later, she inherited a vacancy on the capitals representative body, but was quickly adopted as Conservative candidate for the safe Essex constituency of Saffron Walden and joined the House of Commons at the general election of June 2017.

In 2012, Kemi Adegoke married an Anglo-Irish Deutsche Bank financier, Hamish Badenoch, also active in Conservative politics. Once she was an MP, her rise was swift: a junior minister from 2019 to 2022, she was promoted to the cabinet as International Trade secretary by Liz Truss and retained by Sunak, then took over the expanded Department for Business and Trade in 2023.

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Badenoch has always presented herself as a no-nonsense, right-of-center conservative with a powerful belief in free markets and personal responsibility. Forthright and articulate, she has often been described as argumentative; while she is undoubtedly blunt and eager to debate, there is a hint of gender and racial bias.

Trevor Phillips, a former chair of the London Assembly and of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, who comes from a West Indian family, told the Spectators TV channel, The most important thing to understand about Kemi is that shes Nigerian. That, he explained, meant that she was combative and expected others to be equally combative in return.

You might think that someone inheriting the leadership of a party in the wake of its worst defeat in its 190-year history, facing an interventionist, big-state Labour government with a huge parliamentary majority, might benefit from being combative. Certainly Badenoch faces a daunting task, to rebuild the Conservative Partys reputation and construct a coherent and popular ideological platform to have any hope of returning to power without a decade or more in opposition (as it did in 1997-2010).

Badenoch is a refreshingly unapologetic conservative with economic beliefs that would have warmed the hearts of Margaret Thatcher or Ronald Reagan. She has proclaimed her belief in the free market as the fairest way of helping people prosper, but she has also been unsparing in her analysis of where her own party has compromised the free market.

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The free market has been undermined by a willingness to embrace protectionism for special interests, she said. Its been undermined by retreating in the face of the Ben and Jerrys tendency  those who say a businesss main priority is social justice, not productivity and profit  and its been undermined by the actions of crony capitalists.

Badenoch is unusually interested in ideas. She frequently cites the influence of the venerable Stanford economist Thomas Sowell, and especially his powerful 2000 conservative analysis, Basic Economics. She has visible contempt for woke ideology and champions limited government  doing less, but better.

Many commentators have written Badenoch off as merely the first stage in any Tory revival. Yet there is a tremor, even if only a minor one, a tingle of excitement on the right as a result of her election. She will encounter media storms, because she is frank and does not care if she offends sensibilities or challenges orthodoxy. For some on the left, she is irreconcilable, almost abhorrent, but no politician can win the backing of the whole electorate.

At the same time, voters see Badenoch as honest and committed to her beliefs. There are hints of the historic rise to the Conservative leadership of Thatcher in 1975, and her rejection of the post-World War Two economic and social consensus.

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Expect Badenoch to lead a party that is unapologetic about its fundamental principles: free markets, individual liberty, personal responsibility, lower taxation and a smaller state. Only the future will show whether the British electorate wants that vision, but there will be no doubt about what Badenoch offers.

Eliot Wilson is a freelance writer on politics and international affairs and the co-founder of Pivot Point Group. He was senior official in the U.K. House of Commons from 2005 to 2016, including serving as a clerk of the Defence Committee and secretary of the U.K. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Good morning, and welcome to hell, or as its known in modern-day America, the day after Election Day.

We still dont know who won, largely because tens of millions of voters still think Donald Trump is the kind of person who should be president, despite an internet worth of evidence that says otherwise.

As most of us went to bed Tuesday night, the election remained too close to call, hinging on a handful of swing states.

No Election Day results, but definitely no Harris landslide

Taylor Whartenby, age 15, holds a sign at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris before Election Day in Philadelphia on Nov. 4, 2024.

Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris spent most of the night repeatedly saying, What? Are you serious? as it became clear she wasnt going to run away with a victory.

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And I assume Trump supporters spent most of the night saying of the convicted felon who stumbled through the end of his campaign babbling nonsense, YEAH! OF COURSE HE'S WINNING! HE IS INFALLIBLE!

Election 2024 analysis: Trump's massive Florida win should be sign of results to come

And so here we are. Waking up to a world in which Trump has a solid chance of again becoming president

One thing we know from Election Day is that America is messed up

I can say nothing to soothe the nerves of those who find him repellant. But I can say this, which will help absolutely no one: Regardless of who wins at this point, America has lost.

Maybe the better way of phrasing that is, America IS lost.

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I know Trump has a passionate base that wouldnt care if he burned an American flag while wearing devil horns, but its clear a whole lot of other folks voted for him as well. For a former one-term president who is synonymous with chaos. For a man convicted of fraud, an adjudicated rapist, a man charged with a multitude of federal crimes, including attempting to overturn the 2020 election.

Former US President Donald Trump in a police booking mugshot released by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Atlanta, Georgia on August 24, 2023

In no logical society would he stand a chance. But he most certainly does in America.

If he wins, it will be a victory for bullying and ineptitude.

Opinion: Donald Trump will harm people I care about

Even if Harris wins, America has already lost

And if Harris winds up winning? Thatll be good, because it saves us from Trump. But the tightness of the race will make it easier for him to cry foul.

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And the sheer volume of people who voted for him shows us, again, how sharply divided the nation is, with a massive swath wholly unconcerned with fundamental societal concepts like facts and honesty.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

So we buckle up and let the counting resume Wednesdayday. Harris supporters, pray or say your incantations or do whatever you do to guide the forces of good in the right direction.

Trump supporters sit there and feel smug, I suppose. Whatever.

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But while we wait for an end result, the result from Election Day is already crystal clear: America doesnt know who it is, and theres no sign of that changing anytime soon.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk

You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: Will Trump win? His showing with voters proves America lost
Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego is poised to become the first Hispanic from Arizona to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Not bad for a kid who grew up poor, working as janitor and at a meat-packing plant to help his single mom.

You can say hes a fighter, having graduated from Harvard University, served in Marine combat and in Congress.

As a kid, I slept on the floor of our living room so my sisters can have beds, Gallego said on Tuesday night. He looked confident, adding that hed soon be heading to the floor of the U.S. Senate.

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The race hasnt been called, but he was leading Republican opponent Kari Lake by more than 61,000 votes in early results.

If that victory holds, itd be monumental. Defeating Lake, Donald Trumps protege and an election denier, is no small feat.

It does appear that voters have had enough of Lake, who has yet to accept that she lost her 2022 gubernatorial bid against Gov. Katie Hobbs.

At least Arizonans, who also appear to be favoring Donald Trump for president in early voting results, came to their senses and saw Gallego as the best choice.

Elvia Diaz is editorial page editor for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, (formerly Twitter), @elviadiaz1.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Opinion: Kari Lake couldn't win voters. But Gallego could make history
Moscows blatant interference in the general elections in Georgia and Moldova demonstrates its determination to regain control over other former Soviet republics, despite its inability to install a pro-Russian regime in Ukraine.

In restoring its empire, the Kremlin also relies on extensive violations of Western economic sanctions to pull the South Caucasus and Central Asia states back into its orbit.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Western response was relatively swift. Sanctions were imposed, diplomatic ties were severed, and travel restrictions were enacted to weaken the Russian economy and diminish Kremlin influence across Eurasia. Paradoxically, however, Russias current grip on much of the post-Soviet region appears to be tightening, raising pressing questions about the efficacy of Western policy.

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Elections in Moldova and Georgia underscore the trend. In Moldovas October 2024 referendum on EU membership, the yes camp barely scraped by with a victory and narrowly won the presidential elections. Georgias general election on Oct. 28 ended with the Moscow-friendly ruling Georgian Dream party claiming victory despite evidence of massive election-rigging.

Both countries have a political stratum that is increasingly dependent on Moscow for finances and influence operations. While fearful of defying Russia in the wake of its attack on Ukraine, they also profit significantly from the impact of evading Western sanctions on Russia.

Over 1 million middle-class Russians fleeing Vladimir Putins military mobilization and political repression were denied visas and entry permits to Europe and settled instead in the former Soviet republics. Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were flooded with Russians possessing the resources and skills needed by their new host countries. At the same time, loopholes in the sanctions regime have transformed the Caucasus and central Asian states into sanctions-evasion hubs.

Bogus export-import schemes have boosted foreign trade figures, especially for imports of dual-use and other restricted goods. Local banks have witnessed soaring profits as intermediaries for Russian foreign trade. They have opened accounts for Russian nationals who were denied access to major international payment systems.

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Several governments in Central Asia and the South Caucasus have claimed neutrality and refused to condemn Moscows aggression unequivocally. Political leaders also benefit from closer economic integration with Russia and growing dependency in various sectors, from defense to energy and agriculture. Kyrgyzstan is a stark case in point. Its exports to Russia increased almost threefold, from $384 million in 2021 to over $1,046 million in 2022. Imports from the EU skyrocketed almost ten times, with a marked rise in dual-use goods that can be used by Russias military-industrial complex.

Kyrgyz banks saw their non-interest income jump 359 percent in 2022, which has kept growing ever since. In January 2024 alone, Kyrgyzstan, a small landlocked country, imported almost 1 million euros of maritime equipment from the EU. In the first half of 2024, Russian foreign direct investment in Kyrgyzstan increased by 24 percent, making Moscow one of the largest investors in the countrys economy. Russians are building gold mines, wind farms and even a nuclear power plant.

Not surprisingly, Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov has stated that we are not afraid of any sanctions. Life goes on even with them. This was evident in August 2024 when the U.S. announced a new set of sanctions against Russias financial sector and threatened secondary sanctions against Moscows international partners. The Kyrgyz government astutely circumnavigated the threat by creating an open joint stock company called Trading Company of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Hence, when the Kyrgyz Central Bank appeared to comply with U.S. stipulations by imposing a ban on bank transactions for foreign trade contracts without the actual delivery of goods  a loophole for most sanction-busting schemes that allowed goods to be resold to Russia  the regulation did not apply to authorized state companies. And the only designated company was the Trading Company of the Kyrgyz Republic.

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Such a scheme is a de facto nationalization of the sanctions-busting business worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Private companies that profited from sanctions evasion continue their operations through the national trading company. However, instead of paying a small bank commission, they will be paying the designated open joint stock company operator, which in turn uses the largest state-owned banks, such as Eldyk and Ayil, or newly created smaller banks for the transactions.

Sanctions evasion schemes pose a challenge for Western governments seeking to sever Russias economic lifeline for its military aggression even while maintaining trade ties with the Central Asian and South Caucasus economies. More pressure must be exerted on regional governments to reduce dependence on Russia or potentially face sectoral sanctions that cut off a range of technologies for business. Ultimately, by tightening sanctions against Russia and penalizing sanctions evasion by third parties, the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control will also help undercut Russias revanchist policies to dominate its neighbors.

Janusz Bugajski is a Senior Fellow at the Jamestown Foundation in Washington, D.C. and author of two new books: Pivotal Poland: Europes Rising Power and Failed State: A Guide to Russias Rupture.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "Hopeline" to the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

When I first heard of Jonathan Brostoffs passing, the shock hit me like a wave. I sat in my car, unable to stop crying tears not only for the immense personal loss but for the profound loss to society and, most of all, for his beloved family.

Brostoff took his own life, a heartbreaking reminder of the unseen battles so many face. Despite his advocacy for mental health, his laughter, and his constant support of others, he bore a pain that he must have felt was insurmountable. To think of the depth of his suffering is overwhelming, and it reminds us of the importance of being present for one another in ways we may not even realize are needed.

I met Brostoff in college. I immediately knew he was special.

I first met Jonathan in college and at Chabad, and I knew immediately he was someone rare. He had the remarkable ability to connect with anyone, no matter where they fell on the political or religious spectrum. I came from a more religiously conservative background, while he was more progressive. But that never created a divide between us; instead, it enriched our friendship, allowing for an exchange of ideas that broadened both our worlds. Jonathan believed that understanding others  even when they disagreed  was essential to building a stronger, more compassionate community.

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Whenever we spoke, hed ask me what lesson I had taken from the weekly Torah reading. He would then discuss and critique it, often bringing in his own insights or challenges as a way to engage me on a deeper level, eager to learn and exchange perspectives.

James Causey: A 14-year-old left him for dead. What the system tried to do was almost as bad.

Brostoffs life reflected this deeply held belief. A dedicated public servant, he began his career in Milwaukee, representing the 19th District in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2015 to 2022. In November 2022, he was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council, representing the 3rd District. But beyond titles and elections, Jonathans commitment was always to the people. He carried his passion for public service wherever he went, grounding his work in empathy, integrity, and a vision for unity.

In our last conversation, Jonathan shared with me a vision close to his heart: he dreamed of creating unity within the Jewish community, bridging the gaps that had grown between Democrats and Republicans, the religious and secular. He was deeply saddened by the division he saw and wanted to build an organization that would bring people together, fostering respect and dialogue despite differences. This was Jonathan  a man who looked beyond labels and saw the shared humanity in everyone.

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His work wasnt limited to his roles in government either. He was deeply involved in community service, volunteering at places like Pathfinders, a youth shelter, and at Maryland Avenue Montessori School. These commitments spoke to his unwavering desire to lift others up and to make Milwaukee a more supportive, inclusive place for everyone.

Tributes show the profound impact he had on so many lives

His dedication to causes was so deep that he once refused to cut his hair for over a year until a sign language bill was passed, a symbol of his commitment to advocating for others in tangible, meaningful ways.

Ive been scrolling through the hundreds of comments on his Facebook page  from public officials to everyday people he touched personally and deeply. Each message reflects the profound impact he had on so many lives.

Opinion: Marinette shipyard critical to strengthen U.S. Navy against Chinese threat

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Jonathans passing leaves an unfillable void in our lives, in our community, and especially in his family. He was more than a leader; he was a devoted husband and father. He was deeply proud of his family, often speaking about them with love and admiration.

There are countless memories Ill hold dear, but some stand out. I remember how, after the October 7 massacre committed by Hamas, he texted me to say he found himself uncontrollably crying randomly. It was Jonathans way of expressing his empathy and sorrow, his sense of shared pain and injustice. And then there was the time he texted me buckbuck, a word so random I couldnt even find it in Urban Dictionary. When I told him that, he laughed and said, Its a Jonathan original! I would do anything to have those moments back.

I will miss Jonathans kindness, his laughter, his vision, and his unstoppable belief in the power of unity. His memory will live on in the countless lives he touched, the bridges he built, and his legacy of empathy. Jonathan taught us that love and respect transcend all boundaries, and its in honoring this spirit that we can keep his dream alive. My heart is with his family, whose strength and resilience in this painful time inspire us all. May his memory be a blessing, and may his vision of unity and compassion live on.

Eli Federman has written at USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Reuters, and others. X: @elifederman

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Opinion: Milwaukee Alderman Jonathan Brostoff touched many lives
I didnt sleep much after President-elect Donald Trump won Pennsylvania, catching maybe two hours of rest during Wednesdays predawn hours. Awake and restless, I opted to take a walk down my block, the sun weirdly warm and bright for November. I glanced down as I passed by a bit of graffiti  Trump/Vance 2024  that had been spray painted in a bike lane a few weeks back.

At the time, Id only noticed how much the vandalism felt like an intrusion into my progressive New York City neighborhood. It wasnt until Wednesday morning that I looked up to see that it had been placed directly in front of a synagogue. What Id taken as a bit of spite, or a political prank, suddenly felt far crueler. It called to mind the shooter who attacked a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 based on the far-right great replacement conspiracy thats been embraced in the MAGA camp. Its almost too apt a metaphor given how clearly millions of Americans had delivered the message that Trumps brand of cruelty is exactly what they were craving.

Ill admit that Trumps win isnt an outcome I had braced for. Id spent the better part of the last two years focused on how he might once again deny an Election Day loss. Yes, the polls showed a razor-thin contest between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. But she had outperformed him on most metrics by which campaigns are usually measured. There was a chance that he might win the national popular vote, but if the blue wall of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania held, then she had the clearest path to 270 electoral votes.

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Additionally, Trump gave every indication that a victory would be the only outcome hed accept as being free from cheating. His failed efforts to stay in power in 2020 lingered over everything, prompting worries that he would lean on Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to refuse to certify any loss. Even while polling places were open Tuesday, Trump was busy pushing false claims about fraud.

The blue wall obviously did not hold in an election that was much different from the previous two with Trumps name on the ballot. Trump didnt need foreign help to secure a win. Nor did he need an arcane loophole in the rules or the threat of a violent mob bearing down on lawmakers to try to avoid or deny a loss. The advantages he held were almost all tied to him having the opportunity to run at all and were baked in long before Election Day.

Trump didnt need to file frivolous lawsuits before federal courts. The Supreme Court wasnt given a chance to throw the election his way in a redux of 2000s Bush v. Gore. The false bomb threats to polling places that have been ascribed to Russian actors dont appear to have had any measurable effect. Theres been no reporting that indicates that the promised hordes of MAGA-trained poll watchers blocked any Democratic voters from casting their ballots.

He just won.

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Tuesdays victory wasnt a re-do of 2016s narrow victory in the Electoral College as he lost the popular vote. Trump was poised Wednesday afternoon to potentially sweep all the battleground states and become the first Republican in 20 years to win a majority of the countrys votes. This is the kind of sweeping triumph that Trump falsely claimed had been stolen from him in 2016 and 2020. This time its not false.

The one thing that might soften that blow is how much Trump had to lie to do it. He had to lie about where he stands on abortion. He had to lie about migrants posing a threat to American communities. He had to lie about the many criminal charges against him. He had to lie about how great the economy will be under a disastrous tariff policy. He had to lie about trans kids and crime rates, and his claim in his convention speech that he was offering a hand of loyalty and friendship to every American was an obvious falsehood.

Lying is a well-established part of Trumps brand by now. Whats remarkable is the willingness of the American people to accept his lies and how much theyve wanted to hear him tell them for the better part of a decade.

Worse still, though, are the things he didnt lie about. Trump sold voters on a plan to deport millions of people from the country. He made no secret of his desire to seek out revenge on his political enemies, turning the Department of Justice into his own enforcement team. His candor regarding those plans is much more frightening, even if many of his supporters have convinced themselves that those are the things hes actually lying about.

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Trump told America the truth about how mean and brutal and small he and his vision are, and many counties across the country still shifted to the right to support him. There is likewise no need for whoever painted Trump/Vance 2024 in front of the synagogue in my neighborhood to pretend they didnt deliberately choose that location. The American people know exactly who Trump is, and the American people still picked him.

The depressing truth is he came by this win honestly  or as honestly as it gets with him.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
We saw it coming. Americas fascination with celebrity and wealth kept Donald Trump in the public eye even after he lost his bid for reelection. He stood at a lectern on the Ellipse with the White House as a backdrop and urged the crowd of his supporters to march to the Capitol, telling them he would join them, which turned out to be a lie.

The Secret Service refused to transport him to the Capitol, so he sat instead in the room adjoining the Oval Office watching television of the Jan. 6 insurrection, telling an aide who informed him that Vice President Mike Pence was under attack, So what.

In the almost four years since that day, Trump nurtured his grievances, convincing his supporters that he had been cheated out of a second term and that the Biden-Harris administration had weaponized the Justice Department to falsely accuse him of whatever wrongdoing the courts found him guilty of.

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His third nomination as the Republican standard bearer was about his own motivation to stay out of jail more than it was about the fate of the country.

His 2024 presidential election victory means a wholesale rearrangement of U.S. alliances with the prospect of Trump kowtowing to Putin, who he calls a genius, and breaking bread with Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Koreas hermit kingdom, who Trump exchanged admiring letters with.

Donald Trump attends the 2024 Senior Club Championship award ceremony at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. March 24, 2024.

Forget Ukraine. Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, say that preserving the sovereignty of Ukraine is not in the U.S. national security interest. Putin can do whatever the hell he wants to do, Trump has said.

Forget climate change. Trump vows to drill baby drill even though America has is drilling a record amount. Thats one thing about authoritarianism and/or fascism, both of which Trump admires, it offers easy solutions to complex problems. They broke it and Ill fix it, Trump says of whatever problem arises. He made enough people true believers to vote him back into power.

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And now, his perceived opponents, his perceived enemiesfor they are one and the samewill all pay. All the marginalized groups he has fostered hatred towards will have their lives even more brutalized. Womenwell, he will protect them whether they like it or not, as he has vowed. After removing access to abortion care, what next?

Trump is back in powernastier, more ruthless, and better organized with more dedicated, focused lieutenants, than before. America has voted for a lunatic, boundary-breaking authoritarian. Decent Americans, and the rest of the world, can only watch on in unnerved horror.
Ronnie Gilliam, 82, voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and again in 2012. On Tuesday, he cast his vote for Kamala Harris, hoping she will become the first woman elected president of the United States, who is also of Black and South Asian descent.

Voting was simple for me. She is intelligent, qualified, and dedicated to helping the poor and middle class, said Gilliam after casting his vote at Samuel Clemens Elementary School on Milwaukee's northwest side.

Gilliam, who is Black, said his vote was for himself and people coming up today.

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Our young people need role models, and Kamala Harris is someone they can look up to, he said.

Kristin Brey: Whining about 'rigging' won't work for Trump. False election claims fall flat.

When Gilliam first voted for Obama in 2008, Timothy Austin was only 3. Austin, 19, who voted for the first time on Tuesday, said he chose Harris after researching the issues that mattered to him.

Timothy Austin

"For me, it was an easy decision. I appreciate her desire to support the working and middle class if elected. She aims to cut taxes for more than 100 million people, and as someone from the working class, that's something I can relate to," said Austin, who is Black.

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Despite being six decades apart in age, both Gilliam and Austin voted for Harris, believing a return to a Trump administration is unacceptable. Their choice could have an outsized impact. As a swing state, Wisconsin has the potential to determine the next president, possibly by the narrowest of margins.

Black men courted by campaigns for their support

Both presidential campaigns have aggressively targeted Black men for their votes.

In several speeches across the country, Obama told Black men that it is unacceptable for them to abstain from this election because they might be hesitant to vote for Harris due to her gender.

Part of it makes me think that, well, you just arent feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and youre coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that," Obama said during a speech in Pittsburgh

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Orlando Owens, a Black Republican, said many African American men support Trump despite him being a convicted felon. Owens encouraged young Black and Hispanic residents in Milwaukee to vote for Donald Trump through his grassroots organization, "Project Move the Needle."

After speaking with Black men in Milwaukee, he found that many are dissatisfied with Democratic leadership and feel they were better off during Trump's presidency compared to the current leadership under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Milwaukee has unfortunately been ranked last 50th out of 50 in African American well-being, according to Marc Levine, an emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Levines report, The 2024 Index of African American Well-Being, reveals alarming conditions for Black residents in the city. Milwaukee ranks 48th or worse on 20 out of 44 indicators and is last or next to last on 14 indicators.

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The city has the lowest median household income for Black residents and the highest Black poverty rate in the nation, along with the smallest percentage of African Americans holding a college degree. It also shows the most significant racial disparities in income, poverty, and employment among prime working-age males in the 50 largest metro areas.

Ronnie Gilliam

Gilliam said he wasnt impressed by Trump's term and he has more confidence that Harris can improve conditions for African Americans in Wisconsin and throughout the U.S.

Weve seen what hes all about, and I wont go into all of those details, but Ill say it like this, I dont believe Trump genuinely cares about Black people, Gilliam said.

He anticipates a high voter turnout in the Black community because people understand the election's significance.

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"Our freedom is in jeopardy, and it's important for people to recognize this," he said.

Austin, who works as a dishwasher, said he felt like his vote made a difference.

I think many people my age understand that voting is important, but we dont believe that one vote will matter, he said.

Both candidates have been in Wisconsin weekly since the Democratic National Convention, underscoring the states importance in determining the next president.

I feel like my vote made a difference, but we will see, Austin said.

Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@jrn.com; follow him on X @jecausey.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Opinion: For 2 Black male voters in Wisconsin, Trump wasn't the answer
After enduring months of campaign visits, countless TV ads and a mountain of political mailers, Wisconsin voters had their say Tuesday.

The results will be closely watched because Wisconsin is one of eight swing states that could determine who is the next president. Adding to the interest is a U.S. Senate race that could shift control of the upper chamber to Republicans if GOP challenger Eric Hovde defeats incumbent Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat seeking her third term.

Now it's time to wait and watch the results roll in. We won't know the outcome until early Wednesday due to a delay in the city of Milwaukee's processing of absentee ballots. Meanwhile, vote in our poll and share your thoughts on the 2024 campaign.

Election anxiety may end up being the phrase of the year

We started the year expecting the presidential race to be between an incumbent octogenarian and a 78-year-old challenger. Joe Biden bombed in a debate against Donald Trump in June, insisted he would stay in the race despite calls to step down, then dropped out of the race in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump survived an assassination attempt just days before he accepted the Republican nomination in Milwaukee. That was just July and August alone.

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The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris featured an exchange over a false claim Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating pets. It only went downhill from there. Wisconsin had a front seat with the presidential nominees and their running mates making more than 40 stops in Wisconsin since mid-July.

Along the way, a new phrase was added to the language lexicon: "Election anxiety." Can anyone blame us?

Jim Fitzhenry is the Ideas Lab Editor/Director of Community Engagement for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach him at jfitzhen@gannett.com or 920-993-7154.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Opinion: Share your feelings: Are you suffering from election anxiety?
Voter turnout was on track to be historic as Americans made their way to the polls Tuesday. Amid the flurry of voter activity ran an undercurrent of anxiety, as many Americans feared not just the outcomes but also the potential for violent outbreaks among citizens, regardless of the winner.

Already, we had seen the reports of mail-in voting boxes set ablaze, stoking a sense that, whatever the outcome of this election, Americas deep divisions could crack completely following Election Day.

Although we should not downplay such concerns, we should also check our post-election anxiety  fed by social media and hyper-partisan politics  against reality. This is not a hopeless or inevitable situation. All citizens have the power to avoid violence by ensuring our fears do not become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Its up to us to recognize the distorted and biased narratives infiltrating our news feeds, and to remain steadfast in our commitment to treating our fellow Americans with respect, regardless of their political beliefs.

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When it comes to the likelihood of political violence, our emotional fears overplay the reality. While some studies making news headlines predict that Americans support for violence is nearly as high as 30-40 percent, experts who have been studying trends in Americas polarization say this is greatly overstated. Sean Westwood, director of the Polarization Research Lab says support for violence in America is actually very low  around 3 percent. When it comes to the percentage of Americans who themselves are willing to partake in political violence, the numbers are even lower.

Our tendency to exaggerate fears of political violence can cause us to fall into a reinforcing cycle of fear and anger, which may actually increase the likelihood of violent incidents. It also sends a signal to extremist actors that support for violence is broader than it actually is, making extremist players more likely to act. By recognizing that a majority of Americans want to avoid violence, we can put any violent scenarios led by a small group into context (remember  even hundreds of people make up a miniscule portion of our countrys population) and manage our political anxiety.

When violence does occur, we can curb the ripple effect of hate by withholding from blaming the actions of the few on an entire political party. The reality is that political violence happens across both major parties.

Further, stereotyping an entire group of people based on the actions of a small group provokes the outrage and us vs. them thinking that drives Americans further apart. Instead, we should focus on condemning the acts of violence and responsible individuals themselves, without extrapolating to an entire party. And we need to have the courage to do this even when violent acts are carried out by people within our own political parties.

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While violence is one cause for concern, the greater threat in the days and weeks to come is likely our exposure to distorted and biased narratives proliferated by social media. We must remember that algorithms tend to feed us a distorted view of a small, but vocal group of extremist thinkers who are focused on sowing division, not solving problems.

Having come up through the social media industry, I know well how these formulas prioritize sensationalism over substance and value, and how they divide us into echo chambers that shield us from alternative viewpoints. To counteract this, we need to conduct our own balanced research, maintain a healthy level of skepticism about everything we read, and commit to thinking critically and independently.

Most importantly, we must be able to turn the mirror on ourselves and how we behave and respond. Even when we vehemently disagree, we must remind ourselves that people are more than their political beliefs. We must show up with curiosity to explore diverse viewpoints we may not agree with, compassion for those who are different from us, and the courage to solve problems alongside our neighbors.

Despite our political differences, an overwhelming majority of Americans are tired of our divisive political rhetoric and ready to solve problems together. If we collectively recognize the realities that live hidden behind the toxic media fire and actions of a few extremists, we have the power to chart a more constructive path forward.

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Tom Fishman is the CEO of Builders, a nonpartisan nonprofit equipping citizens to overcome toxic polarization and solve our toughest problems. He formerly served as a former senior vice president of MTV Digital, as product strategist at Facebook, and as general manager of Eko.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  South Dakota voters left little doubt on Tuesday about whether they want gender references removed from parts of the South Dakota Constitution and whether they want work required for some recipients of Medicaid healthcare services.

With 612 of 691 precincts reporting throughout the state, voters were rejecting the gender-reference changes in Amendment E, with 212,203 marking their ballots no, while 149,663 chose yes.

But they seemed to have a different opinion about Amendment F. It would require work or education for most of the adults who became eligible for Medicaid after voters two years ago expanded the income eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty level.

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A majority of South Dakota voters on Tuesday seemed to favor adding the work requirement, with 202,809 voting yes and 157,517 voting no.

The Legislature had put both measures on the statewide ballot.

Republican Governor Kristi Noem, the states first female chief executive, had called at the start of her 2023 State of the State address for removing many of the gender references in the South Dakota Constitution. She noted that the constitution used he in many places, including the role of governor, and Republican Sen. Erin Tobin led the charge..

The result didnt turn out the way that the governor and the senator had hoped.

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I would say that I am disappointed that voters did not see this as an opportunity to celebrate women, Tobin told KELOLAND News on Tuesday night. It appears we will again have the most women in the Legislature that we have had in history.

I, personally, respect and appreciate all of the women that step away from their lives as mothers and grandmothers to serve the public, Tobin continued. It will truly be a disappointment to the young women who were at the Capitol on the day we signed this bill, but these girls will be tough just by growing up in South Dakota and that I am sure of.

Governor Noem could go one-for-two, however, if the Medicaid work requirement ultimately passes. Her administrations secretary of social services, Matt Althoff, testified in favor of it, and Republican lawmakers pushed it through.

A coalition of groups tried to block it and then formed the Vote No on Amendment F committee. They raised $469,500 and used the money for advertising that said being required to report would be too complicated. Tuesdays result however suggested that might have been the wrong message.

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Its common sense  if you want to qualify for Medicaid Expansion, you should work, Noem stated in a message posted early Wednesday morning on social-media site X. Im proud of South Dakotans for making that decision tonight.

Republican Rep. Tony Venhuizen was one of the prime sponsors seeking the work requirement. He remained cautious with his comments Tuesday night because, with no votes tallied yet from South Dakotas second-largest population center of Pennington County, and roughly just 10,000 counted so far in Minnehaha County, the states most-populated area, there remained a possibility that F could ultimately lose.

The results look promising, especially when all of the other measures seem to be failing, Venhuizen told KELOLAND News Tuesday night. South Dakotans believe in the value of work, and Im gratified that so many supported this idea, even when we had no money to spend in support.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban congratulated Donald Trump on victory in the U.S. presidential election in a post on X on Nov. 6.

"The biggest comeback in U.S. political history! Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!" Orban posted.

Official results of the Nov. 5 vote are yet to be announced, but Trump stands on the brink of victory with only a few electoral votes left to achieve the coveted 270.

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Hungarys prime minister has been a vocal supporter of Trump since 2016, saying earlier that he would celebrate Trump's victory with bottles of champagne.

"We will open several bottles of champagne if Trump is back," Orban told reporters during a recent visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Under Orban's leadership, Hungary has repeatedly blocked aid to Kyiv, pushed for negotiations with Moscow, and spouted Kremlin talking points.

Orban claimed "Europe cannot remain pro-war" if Trump wins the U.S. presidency, supposedly referring to EU's defense assistance to Ukraine, which Orban repeatedly criticized.

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Other world leaders have joined in to congratulate Trump.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky appreciated Trump's supposed "commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach," voicing hopes for "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

"I just congratulated Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.

"Congratulations, President Trump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity," wrote French President Emmanuel Macron.

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U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "looking forward to working with (Trump) in the years ahead."

"As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy, and enterprise."

Read also: BREAKING: Trump wins US 2024 presidential election, foreign leaders congratulate

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Results are shown on a big screen at the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem where Marion County Democrats held their election night watch party on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

A bad election for Democrats nationally had few reverberations in Oregon, where Democratic candidates are expected to keep or expand legislative majorities, swept statewide offices and lead in three competitive congressional races.

Results wont be final until the election is certified Dec. 2, and some races  including Oregons competitive 5th Congressional District  may take days to call. Election officials in Oregons 36 counties are still processing returned ballots, verifying signatures on ballot envelopes and waiting for some ballots that were postmarked Nov. 5 to be delivered.

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Republicans were victorious nationwide, with Donald Trump winning a second term four years after losing the presidency. Theres only one other president, Democrat Grover Cleveland, who rebounded like that, winning in 1884, losing in 1888 and regaining the White House in 1892.

Republicans also gained control of the U.S. Senate, winning Democratic seats in West Virginia, Montana and Ohio to reach 52 of 100 Senate spots. Democrats are expected to keep at least 44 seats, with races in Arizona, Maine, Nevada and Pennsylvania too close to call. Oregons two Democratic U.S. senators  Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley  were not up for reelection.

The U.S. House remains too close to call, thanks to races including Oregons 4th, 5th and 6th congressional districts. Democratic incumbents Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas in Oregons 4th and 6th are leading, but the Associated Press has yet to call their races. Salinas, leading by 8 points, declared victory Tuesday night in the 6th District against Republican Mike Erickson. Hoyle has a 9-point lead over Republican Monique DeSpain in the 4th District and said Wednesday she was glad the campaign was over so she could focus on legislative work.

Democratic state Rep. Janelle Bynum has a slimmer 2-point lead over Republican incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer in the 5th District. Additional results are expected Thursday at 5 p.m.

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Oregons Democratic leaders, including Gov. Tina Kotek, signaled the state will stand ready to oppose Trump administration policies that run counter to values the majority of Oregonians support, as it did during his first term.

Oregonians have shown they will continue to lead with compassion, courage, and conviction  protecting a place where everyone can be themselves, feel welcome and have equal opportunity to a healthy, prosperous life, Kotek said Wednesday. We will continue to march forward and stand together as a shield against any attempt to undermine our fundamental freedoms. Our laws, our policies, and our actions will remain a deterrent to any attacks on our values and our democracy.

Democrats do well in Oregon races

Democrats are projected to win three Oregon statewide races, as they have in most elections for decades.

In the race for secretary of state, Democratic state Treasurer Tobias Read trounced Republican Dennis Linthicum, who was barred from running for reelection to the state Senate because of his participation in a six-week walkout protesting bills on abortion, gender-affirming care and guns. Linthicum, one of Oregons most prominent spreaders of election misinformation, sued to end the states mail elections before running to oversee elections. He had almost 43% of the vote to 54% for Read, while 3% of voters opted for Pacific Green Party candidate Nathalie Paravicini.

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In the race to replace Read as treasurer, Democratic state Sen. Elizabeth Steiner prevailed over concerns that a third-party candidate would pull votes and that voters have an innate mistrust of women handling money. Steiner, who spent the past six years as one of the Legislatures chief budget writers, is set to be Oregons first female treasurer after winning 49% of the vote.

And while Republicans fielded their strongest candidate for the attorney generals race in years in former prosecutor Will Lathrop, former House Speaker Dan Rayfield is expected to win with about 54% of the vote to Lathrops 46%. The Corvallis Democrat will take over for Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who built a national reputation for challenging the Trump administration during Trumps first term.

Democrats win supermajority in state Senate

Bend City Councilor Anthony Broadman will flip the Bend-based 27th Senate District, now held by former Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp. Broadman has captured close to 60% of the votes tallied so far, with more results expected from Deschutes County.

His win means Democrats will hold 18 of 30 seats in the Senate in 2025  thats enough to pass new taxes or increase existing ones without Republican support, but not enough to negate the threat of a Republican walkout. Oregons high two-thirds quorum requirements mean 20 senators need to be present to conduct business.

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In other tightly contested races, incumbent Sens. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, and Chris Gorsek, D-Troutdale, are handily fending off challenges. Gorsek had about 55% of the vote to 45% for Republican Raymond Love, while Anderson was beating Democratic Florence City Councilor Jo Beaudreau with 54% of the vote to 46%.

Senate Majority Leader Kathleen Taylor welcomed the results in a statement Wednesday morning, saying With upheaval and unreliable leadership returning to Washington D.C., now, more than ever, the Oregon state Legislature must stand up to protect Oregonians rights and freedoms. With the responsibility of holding a supermajority in our chamber, Senate Democrats will do everything in our power to make sure common sense wins out over chaos in our state, and Im confident that we have elected the right leaders to make that happen.

Balance of power in state House isnt certain

The House is likely to stay at or near its current makeup of 35 Democrats and 25 Republicans, though some races remained too close to call. Republican incumbents in the Columbia River Gorge, north coast and rural Marion County widened their leads over Democratic challengers in results updated Wednesday evening.

In the 52nd District in the Columbia River Gorge, House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich led Democratic challenger Nick Walden Poublon by 631 votes and almost 2 percentage points. Helfrich trailed in early results but picked up steam as more ballots were counted.

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In the coastal 32nd District, incumbent Republican Cyrus Javadi has almost 52% of the vote to nearly 48% for Democrat Andy Davis. A few hundred votes separate incumbent Republican Tracy Cramer and Democratic challenger Lesly Munoz in the Woodburn-based 22nd District, which had the lowest turnout in the state in 2022.

Only one Democratic incumbent, Rep. Hoa Nguyen, is in a close race. She leads Republican John Masterman by about 4 points in the 48th House District.

Democrats would need to pick up one more seat in the House to reach the three-fifths supermajority required to create or increase taxes.

Voters on track to reject three ballot measures, approve two

Voters signaled they want to give lawmakers the authority to impeach statewide officials and make it easier for cannabis industry employees to unionize, but theyre not on board with ranked choice voting, an independent commission setting elected official salaries or a new tax on businesses that promised checks for all Oregonians.

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The last, Measure 118, failed most dramatically, with nearly 80% of voters across the state rejecting it. Opposition led by the lobby group Oregon Business & Industry raised millions to defeat the measure and rallied a diverse group of opponents including unions, businesses and legislators from across the political spectrum.

Nearly 60% of voters opposed Measure 117, which would have instituted ranked choice voting for statewide and federal races. Cities and counties can choose to enact the voting system on their own  Benton County has used it for years and Portland is running its first ranked choice election this year.

Measure 116, which would have created an independent commission to set salaries for elected officials, is failing by about 7 percentage points. Measure 115, to allow the Legislature to impeach statewide officials, is passing with about 63% of the vote, and Measure 119, to ease cannabis union formation, is passing by 11 points.

UPDATED at 5:10 p.m. with Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 evening results

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A supporter listens to speeches at the Oregon Democratic Party's election night event at the Portland Hilton on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Rian Dundon/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Oregon had few surprises in the general election results that changed the political landscape very little.

Tracking closely with similar kinds of results in Washington state, the light blue Beaver state stuck with its usual voting patterns, careful to rarely edge over into landslides. In most cases, Portland remained deep blue and most of the eastern counties stayed deep red.

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Taken as a whole, Oregon remained generally blue, even as much of the country was awash in red-tinged results.

The state Legislature will not be significantly changed by this election, even if a number of new faces will be taking their places in it.

But some degree of change, you could point to the decisive election of Democrat Anthony Broadman to a Senate seat representing Deschutes County. That, together with a clear win in the same region by Democrat Emerson Levy, can be fairly marked as an extension of Democratic strength there. But thats really an extension of an ongoing trend.

Partisan status aside, Portland could almost have served in this election as a poster child for change, given its impending change of the form of government and many new people on the ballot. But City Hall is unlikely to feel a lot different when the results are finalized.

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The race for mayor of Portland vaulted little-known businessman Keith Wilson into a smashing win over three council members, a result few people would have anticipated months ago. Yet even that was not completely a shock.

The two contenders widely thought during most of the campaign to be front runners for mayor, Rene Gonzalez and Carmen Rubio, both were city council members with extensive support from many of the people and groups known as key influencers in Portland.

But neither of them seemed to develop any strong excitement, and voters seemed in the mood for a change at City Hall, maybe to go along with their new form of municipal government. In an endorsement editorial, Willamette Week suggested Rubio and Gonzalez have left many voters throwing up their hands and asking, isnt there another choice? There is. Its Keith Wilson.

A lot of Portland voters seem to have had the same idea.

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But Wilson, who campaigned expressing strong interest in several high-profile issues such as homelessness, doesnt immediately seem to be suggesting radical change at City Hall. And under the revised form of city government, he would have less clout to exercise it than his predecessors did.

The premier congressional race and one of the hottest in the nation, in the Clackamas-Deschutes-based 5th House District, turned out as close as advertised. The results as of Tuesday night mirrored almost exactly the districts thin Democratic lean, probably giving Democrat Janelle Bynum the edge over Republican incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

That margin is close enough that late-counted votes still could reverse it. But the results in two other moderately Democratic districts with serious contests, the 4th District in southwest Oregon and the 6th in the southern Willamette Valley, also ran true to form, showing results not a lot different from the way the parties performed two years ago.

Results in the states three highly partisan congressional districts, the Democratic 1st and 3rd Congressional districts and the Republican 2nd, went according to the usual patterns.

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With the possible exception of the 5th District, the U.S. House members from Oregon seem to be settling into place, and may be hard to dislodge in the next few elections.

For the most part, Oregonians went along with the stands of major organizations and political leaders when they decided on ballot issues. They approved the impeachment process (Measure 115) and rejected the widely-criticized corporate income tax proposal (Measure 118).

But they strongly rejected the legislative proposal  which generated bipartisan criticism  for ranked choice voting (Measure 117), and by a wide margin. Only three counties (Multnomah, Benton and Hood River) appear to have supported it.

At the same time, Democrats in Oregon were not running away with overwhelming support.

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The three statewide offices up for election this year were, unusually, were all open seats with no incumbent running for reelection. That might have opened the door to major changes, but the three Democratic nominees for those offices  Tobias Read for secretary of state, Elizabeth Steiner for treasurer and Dan Rayfield for attorney general  all were winning, and did not present themselves as clear change agents.

Though they ran against candidates with more modest campaigns, they did not win by huge margins. On Tuesday night, Steiner was ahead of Republican Brian Boqist by about 49% to 44%, an unspectacular margin considering the relative scope of the campaigns, and organized support, the two had.

This election didnt really move the state of Oregon into a new direction. On a state level, its results have the feel of a holding action.

In that, it may have stood out strikingly from the red wave in the nation at large.

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Oregonians can recall state officials but they rarely succeed. Former Gov. Kate Brown survived several attempts when she was in office. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Early election returns show Oregon voters support a measure that would give legislators the authority to impeach a statewide official, something thats allowed in all other states except Oregon.

Initial results released by the Secretary of States Office show nearly 64% of voters in favor of Measure 115 compared with 36% opposed.

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If the measure passes, as the initial results indicate, it will amend the state constitution to allow the Oregon state House to impeach the governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer or commissioner of labor and industries. Congress has the ability to impeach a sitting president, as it did twice with President Donald Trump when he was in office. And legislatures in the other 49 states also can impeach a statewide official. Passage of the measure means Oregon would no longer be an outlier.

Measure 115 specifies lawmakers could impeach a statewide official for corruption, neglect of duty or a felony or high crime by a two-thirds vote. That, in turn, would trigger a trial in the state Senate presided over by the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. A two-thirds vote by the Senate to convict could result in that official being removed from office but would not amount to a criminal conviction.

The measure was referred to voters by state lawmakers, who previously failed to garner enough agreement to get a similar proposal on the ballot. They said Measure 115 was not prompted by any specific incident or elected official, though it moved forward after former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan resigned in May 2023. Her resignation followed revelations that she worked a $10,000-per-month side job for a marijuana company that had helped shape an audit her office conducted of the state agency that regulates the cannabis industry. In the case of Fagan and former Gov. John Kitzhaber, who resigned in 2015 over an influence peddling scandal involving his fiancee, lawmakers were powerless to do anything but call for their resignations.

Oregonians can get recall petitions on the ballot with enough signatures from registered voters. An attempt last year to recall retiring Democratic state Rep. Paul Holvey of Eugene was overwhelmingly trounced by voters, and at least six attempts by Republicans to gather enough signatures to recall Democratic Gov. Kate Brown when she was in office also failed.

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The Taxpayer Association of Oregon, which favors lower taxes, submitted the only argument in favor of the measure in the state-issued voters pamphlet. It said the recall process is not sufficient and that Measure 115 is needed to give lawmakers the power to oust a corrupt official and check abuses of power by the executive branch.

Oregonians deserve a way to hold corrupt elected officials accountable, the group said.

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Paul J. Batura is a local writer and founder of the 4:8 Media Network. He can be reached via email Paul@PaulBatura.com or on X @PaulBatura.
The ballots of more than 65% of registered voters in Oregon had been returned as of 7 p.m. on Election Day, according to the secretary of states unofficial ballot returns report.

More than 2 million Oregon ballots out of 3 million mailed in October to registered voters had been received by Tuesday evening.

In the 2016 general election, 80.33% of registered voters returned ballots, and 78.5% of registered voters returned ballots in the 2020 general election.

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The mostly rural and conservative-leaning counties of Wallowa, Grant, Gilliam, Wheeler, and Sherman had the highest percentage of ballots returned so far at 80%, 79.5%, 75.4%, 84.3% and 79%, respectively.

Marion County reported 59% of ballots returned as of Tuesday evening, while Polk County reported 64%.

The lowest ballot return percentages as of Tuesday night were from Malheur County with 57.3% and Umatilla County with 58.8%.

Ballots that were postmarked by 8 p.m. Tuesday and received by Nov. 12 will be counted and added to the tally.

Election results in Oregon will be certified on Dec. 2.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on X @DianneLugo

.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon voter turnout: How many ballots have been returned?
Voters in Osceola County decided Tuesday to hold onto their incumbent county commissioners and sheriff. But in the countys two largest cities, residents picked new mayors.

Ballots were cast for two county commissioners, three Kissimmee City Commission seats (including mayor), two St. Cloud City Council seats (including mayor) and one school board member.

Across the county turnout was high at 73% with most votes cast in person, according to unofficial results posted by the supervisor of elections.

Property tax for land conservation

By an overwhelming majority, voters decided to keep paying a special property tax for land conservation. The referendum passed with over 83% of the vote.

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Property owners have been paying 0.25 mills for 20 years  an extra 25 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value to fund the program. Over two decades the program has conserved 3,300 acres of land.

The controversial program drew criticism from those who said they lost trust in the countys conservation efforts after it allowed a toll road to slice through a piece of once-protected Split Oak Forest. But supporters said the program helps manage growth and control congestion.

Osceola County Commission

Voters in the Poinciana-centered District 3 reelected incumbent Democrat Brandon Arrington over newcomers Republican FiorDAliza Frias and Libertarian Eric Montgomery. Arrington won with over 61% of the vote.

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I am so excited to once again receive the support of our community, Arrington said by text message. I look forward to continue working with my fellow commissioners to make Osceola first to whats next.

District 1 voters reelected incumbent Democrat Peggy Choudhry over political newcomer Republican Disvany Martinez. Choudhry won with over 56% of the vote.

Election results: Florida general election

Kissimmee

The heated race for mayor ended with voters electing entrepreneur Jackie Espinosa over former state Rep. John Cortes. Espinosas platform, based on her longtime community involvement, helped secure her just over 60% of the vote.

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Noel Ortiz won Seat 1 on the commission with nearly 54% of the vote. Ortiz, a mortgage broker, beat Lisandra Roman, a restaurant owner, on a platform of attracting larger businesses.

Voters reelected incumbent Carlos Alvarez to Seat 3 over political newcomer Nichole Wagoner de Arguello. Alvarez, who won nearly 60% of the vote, stressed his experience and the idea to bring a water taxi to Kissimmee Lakefront Park.

Im jumping for joy, Alvarez said about his victory. I want to work more on transportation issues now  but I think with the new commissioners that we brought in tonight we will make Kissimmee better.

St. Cloud

For mayor, voters decided Chris Robertson, director of the Museum of Military History in Kissimmee, is best suited to handle the citys struggles with infrastructure and population growth. Robertson beat business owner Tony Busby with nearly 53% of the vote.

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This is a win for the citizens  and now four out of the five council members grew up here so were going to do amazing things, Robertson said. Were never going to decrease the population, were only growing, but Im going to make sure residents love living in St. Cloud again.

Jennifer Paul was elected to Seat 2 on the City Commission with just over 51% of the vote. Paul beat entrepreneur Mandy Shafer. She ran on a platform of community activism and will be the citys first Black council member.

School Board

Paula Bronson, a kindergarten teacher from St. Cloud, defeated incumbent Scott Ramsey in a race for District 5. Bronson earned 59.33% of the vote to Ramseys 40.67%.

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Both are registered Republicans, according to voter records, and both were recommended by the Republican Party of Florida, according to the partys Osceola voting guide.

Bronson said in an August interview with the Orlando Sentinel she wants to advocate for teachers and improve young students fine motor skills, which she said have suffered since the pandemic.

Were not holding pencils and crayons, and we dont know how to use glue sticks and we dont know how to write our name  Im not saying thats across the board, she said. Im not saying its every kid, but what Im saying is I see a real need.

Show Caption1 of 11

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Orange County Commission District 3 incumbent Mayra Uribe, middle, gets a hug from her daughter, Faith Sutton at her election party at the Delaney Tavern in Orlando on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

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Bronson didnt respond to requests for an additional interview with the Sentinel and didnt participate in an interview with the Sentinels Editorial Board. Her campaign website lists her experience as a teacher but does not provide her platform.

Ramsey was appointed to serve the last four months of a previous members term after she stepped down to run for the Florida House of Representatives.

Sheriff

Democrat Marcos Lopez won reelection with more than 57% of the vote against Republican businessman Donnie Martinez.

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This is the first time a sheriff has been reelected since Bob Hansell, who was voted into office three times before retiring in 2017. Lopez, the countys first Hispanic sheriff, cleared a crowded primary in August made up of former employees and previous opponents.

Hes faced a number of controversies during his first term, including a federal investigation into the handling of a shooting by deputies that killed a 20-year-old in a Target parking lot.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says Canadian preparations for the next U.S. president have been in the works for months as American voters decide who will replace Joe Biden in the White House.

"We've been preparing for this for months through our diplomatic network across the U.S., but also around the world," Joly told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday.

"This government is going to be able to address issues that are important to Canadians notwithstanding who the American people will decide."

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Today is the final day for voters to cast ballots in a tight presidential race between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump.

WATCH | 'An important day:' Canadian ministers weigh in on U.S. election:

Joly's comments come after one of Trump's former ambassadors to Canada said Canada should prepare for what could be a more antagonistic bilateral relationship with the U.S. if her old boss wins.

"Canada, they need to buckle up, The whole world needs to buckle up because President Trump will continue his policies from 2016. We are going to make America great again and we will be bringing it back to where it was under the Trump presidency," Kelly Craft told Radio-Canada in an interview on Sunday.

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At the NATO summit earlier this year, Trudeau vowed to meet the defence pact's spending targets, which Canada has long ignored. Trudeau said Canada will spend two per cent of its GDP on the military by 2032.

Craft said that's not soon enough and she expects Trump will demand more defence spending on a shorter timeline.

When asked Tuesday about the possibility of speeding up military spending, Joly was non-commital, saying that Canada will "abide by our obligation towards our NATO allies."

Trade is likely to become a major issue should Trump return to the Oval Office. He is promising a minimum 10 per cent tariff on all imports into the U.S.  which would be a disruptive development for Canadian businesses and the workers they employ, given that an estimated $3.6 billion in goods cross the border every day.

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Joly insisted that Ottawa has worked to create important ties with officials at the local and state levels who can help advocate for continued open trade between the two countries.

"We have now a relationship that goes deep at different levels of the American society," she said.

Trudeau asked about potential unrest

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed Joly's statements on his way into question period on Tuesday, saying that he's prepared to work with whoever wins.

Sources say that, behind the scenes, Trudeau has had conversations with advisers about potential outcomes and has been briefed by Canadian security officials on the potential for violent unrest in the U.S. prompted by a delayed result.

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If the results are as close as the polls suggest and mail-in ballots become a deciding factor, there will be no clear winner on Tuesday night  a repeat of the experience during the 2020 election, when Biden wasn't declared the winner until days after election day.

Trump seized on the delay and declared victory before many states had finalized their results.

The 2020 delay sparked protests and weeks of unrest that culminated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Trudeau dodged a question about whether he's concerned about the potential for violence.

"My job as Canadian prime minister has always been to work with whomever the Americans elect to be their president  and that's exactly what I'm going to continue to do," he told reporters Tuesday.

WATCH | Trudeau is asked if he worries about potential violence in U.S. following election:

The FBI said Tuesday that it has heard reports of a number of bomb threats at polling stations across the U.S., but none have been deemed credible.

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"The FBI is aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains. None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far," the agency said in a statement.

The FBI did not identify the states in question, but Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said earlier Tuesday that the state's election process had snuffed out some bomb threats that he said came from Russia.

Officials in Fulton County, Georgia said they received "multiple calls" and the threats forced a brief closure of two polling places.

Officials continue to warn of what they say is an unprecedented level of foreign influence and disinformation that they expect will persist beyond election day.
Election day is here and so too is the anxiety that has parked itself in the middle of the room.

Some people are trying their best to meet the moment  with mixed results  while others have simply chosen not to let the race for president and control of Congress dominate their lives.

Read more: 2024 U.S. elections results

For most of the voters we spoke to, it's easier said than done.

Brothers David and Mark Aurigemma tried to drown out the election day noise with a walk through Los Angeles State Historic Park on Tuesday morning.

David Aurigemma wears a Kamala Harris T-shirt while taking a walk at Los Angeles State Historic Park. (Jireh Deng / Los Angeles Times)

They planned to go for a hike and visit art galleries around downtown L.A. but admitted they were stressed about the election.

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"We're just sort of out walking around and trying to have a pleasant day and not think about it too much," Mark said. "I think we'll be glued to our TVs tonight to find out how the rest of our lives are gonna go."

If you can't stop the doomscrolling and worrying, you're not alone. More than 7 in 10 adults (77%) report that the future of the U.S. is a significant source of stress in their lives, according to a recent report from the American Psychological Assn.

Nearly 70% of study respondents said they were stressed about this year's election, a small uptick from 2020 when 68% of respondents reported being stressed but significantly more than in 2016, when it was 52%.

Read more: Trump elected as the United States 47th president following wins in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

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Anxiety can be loud, dominating our every waking moment  but only if we allow it, said Richard Cytowic, professor of neurology at George Washington University.

"The anxiety has nothing to do with the election and external factors," Cytowic said. "It has everything to do with the individual."

Artist Hennessy Christophel works on a mural titled "Invisible Neighbors" at the Griffith Park Visitor Center as voters cast their ballots Tuesday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The news cycle delivers a steady drip of election information every hour, and it can be exhausting given that the U.S. campaign season has virtually encompassed the last two years, but Cytowic believes that all of this is manageable.

"Most people look at it like, 'How can I manage this cacophony coming at me?' Whereas I'm saying forget the cacophony," he said. "My perspective is from the brain. What is it doing to us and how can I say no to this intrusion?"

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One approach is to ignore the election altogether, like commercial truck driver Eddie Castaneda.

Castaneda, 36, was on a run around Los Angeles State Historic Park on Tuesday morning and said he had no plans on voting.

I believe my vote dont matter.  Im not really big into politics, Castaneda said. Whoever wins, Im going to sit back and watch it play out."

Read more: Forget election night answers: Why it could take a while to get final results

Like a duck's back, everything seems to roll off Castaneda. Despite seeing the news about AI automation and driverless vehicles such as Waymo, Castaneda isnt worried about his job being eliminated. He drives a bobtail truck moving furniture across Southern California.

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I dont think [my job] is going to go away, he said. Transportation is the one thing that keeps the world running.  Were on the safe side.

On the other side of that coin would be Kimberly Flores, 31, and her sister Luz Flores, 23, who were were waiting in line to order cupcakes at the Grove.

Burbank police officers were on hand at the voting center at McCambridge Recreation Center in Burbank on election day. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The pair aren't eligible to vote and don't feel safe under either potential administration, so they've elected to be generally nihilistic about the whole thing, while acknowledging it could affect their future.

Deportations are still happening, no matter what party, said Luz, who has legal status under the Dream Act.

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The Flores sisters, it seems, are intent on staying calm under pressure. Such self-regulation is a sign of emotional intelligence, according to Cytowic, and a way of responding to stress rather than letting it control your behavior.

Read more: Election stressing you out? Here are 5 psychologist-approved tips to make you feel better

For Kelly Greaney and Stacey Matthew, who live near the Grove, their conduit to calm on Tuesday was catching an afternoon rom-com. Later they planned to try their best to make this as normal a day as possible  baking brownies, playing with their kids, cooking with family.

I'm just trying to pass the time of anxiety, because in my mind, we have a full day of waiting and night of waiting for votes to be counted, said Greaney, who was wearing an I Voted" sticker.

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The pair, who work in Hollywood, were headed into an early showing of the film "Anora" while their kids were at kindergarten. They became friends through their children  and said it had been stressful trying to explain elections to them.

Also, Matthew said, Im really afraid of civil unrest.

Read more: From Georgia to Nevada, battleground state voters hopes clash with fears about chaos

Greaney, meanwhile, had been trying her best not to get stuck on watching the news. I haven't turned on the news today. I didn't turn on the news last night, she said. I did go on social media, but I've averted a doomscroll.

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"One thing we know from psychology is that people really hate uncertainty and also hate a lack of control," associate psychology professor Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton told UC Berkeley News. "Elections have both. You only have one vote. So there is a lot of anxiety."

Not so much for Tom Rhodes, though.

Im feeling pretty zen, Rhodes, 57, said of election day.

The full-time touring comedian had planned six months in advance to be home just so he could vote in person.

Rhodes was passing through the Grove on his way home with his I Voted sticker on his chest. For me [Kamala Harris] has always been ahead, he said.

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The comedian said he's a news junkie, and although he has tried to avoid obsessing over the news, he said he knew by nightfall hed be looking for his news fix as the election results came in.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
As of 6 November, 11,500 people, including 51 children, remain in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "Currently, 18,000 people remain in Pokrovsk hromada, including 99 children. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.] In the city of Pokrovsk itself, there are 11,500 people and 51 children. The city is open for entry and exit, and evacuation is ongoing. The citys closure has been discussed  that applies to the direction from Selydove  the areas and roads designated by the military."

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Details: Filashkin said some shops in the city are open, as are branches of Ukrposhta, the Ukrainian national postal service.

However, there are problems with the supply of water, gas and electricity, as Russian forces strike Pokrovsk daily with ballistic missiles and FPV drones. Local authorities are urging residents to evacuate to safer locations.

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Workers in three states are now entitled to paid sick leave for the first time.

In Alaska, most workers are now entitled to at least 40 hours of paid sick leave a year. Larger employers in the state can allow 56 or more hours of paid sick leave a year with those days carrying over to the next year, according to the ballot measure language.

The initiative passed with 56.5 percent of the vote in Alaska, according to Decision Desk HQ results.

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In Missouri, employers are now required to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours an employee works, according to the measure. There is an exception for very small businesses. Under the measure, businesses with fewer than 15 employees need to provide workers with at least seven paid sick days.

The new sick paid leave requirement is set to go into effect in May 2025, according to the ballot measure language.

The measure  called Proposition A  passed with 57.6 percent of the vote, according to Decision Desk HQ results.

Nebraskans voted to pass Measure 436, giving eligible workers in the state the right to earn paid sick time for personal or family health needs, according to a pamphlet on the ballot initiative.

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Under the measure, workers in businesses with fewer than 20 employees can accrue and use up to 40 hours of paid sick time a year while those working for employers with more than 20 employees can accrue and use up to 56 hours of paid sick time annually.

The ballot initiative passed with more than 74 percent of the vote, according to Decision Desk HQ election results.

There is no federal law that entitles workers to paid time off, and fewer than 20 states now have enacted paid sick time laws.

Prior to these ballot initiatives passing, 15 states and Washington, D.C., had paid sick leave laws on the books, according to the Center for American Progress.

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Most private-sector workers do have access to paid sick leave.

Before the ballot initiatives passed, just 22 percent of workers in the U.S. were not entitled to a single paid sick day, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Mubasher Bukhari

LAHORE (Reuters) -Pakistan's province of Punjab set up a "smog war room" to tackle severe pollution, officials said, as poor air quality turned its capital of Lahore into the world's most polluted city and forced the closure of some educational institutions.

Live rankings by Swiss group IQAir gave Lahore a pollution index score of 1165, followed by the Indian capital of New Delhi, with 299.

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"The war room committee will review weather and air quality forecasts ... daily and monitor the performance and actions of field officers," said Sajid Bashir, a spokesperson for the province's environment department.

Officials told Reuters it brings together staff from eight departments, with a single person charged with overseeing tasks from controlling burning of farm waste to managing traffic.

Twice daily sessions will analyse data and forecasts to brief stakeholders on efforts to fight pollution, and issue daily advisories, they added.

Authorities in Punjab ordered educational institutions in several areas to close until Nov. 17 and shift to online teaching instead to protect children and curb pollution. Earlier only primary schools in Lahore had been shut for a week.

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But Wednesday's index score for Lahore fell short of last week's unprecedented reading of 1900 in some areas, an excess of more than 120 times over recommended levels, prompting bans on some building activity and orders to work from home.

At the time, Punjab's senior minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, blamed the toxic air on pollution drifting across the border with India just 25 km (16 miles) away. Northern areas of the neighbouring nation are also battling severe pollution.

The Punjab government would ask Pakistan's foreign office to take up the matter with India's foreign ministry, she told the Indian Express newspaper in an interview published on Wednesday.

South Asia is shrouded in intense pollution every winter as cold air traps emissions, dust, and smoke from farm fires, while pollution could cut more than five years from people's life expectancy in the region, a study found last year.

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On Tuesday the environment minister of New Delhi, rated the world's most polluted capital for four successive years by IQAir, said officials were looking to artificial rain to fight the problem this year.

(Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.

Abbas wished Trump success and "expressed his aspiration to work with President Trump for peace and security in the region, stressing the commitment of the Palestinian people to the pursuit of freedom, self-determination and statehood, in accordance with international law," the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Wednesday.

"We will remain steadfast in our commitment to peace, and we are confident that the United States will support, under your leadership, the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people," Abbas said.

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Meanwhile, the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas stated that its stance towards the upcoming US administration under Trump would depend on its "positions and practical behaviour towards the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights."

Israel has been waging war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip for more than a year since the terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023. Trump assured Israel of his full support during his campaign.
Supreme Court Justice-elect Pamela Goodwine addresses supporters on election night at her watch party in Lexington, Nov. 5, 2024.(Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

LEXINGTON  Judge Pamela Goodwine is no stranger to firsts  she was the first Black woman in Lexington to be district judge and, later, the first to be circuit judge.

She became the first Black woman to serve on the Kentucky Court of Appeals after being elected in 2018.

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Now, shes made history again.

Goodwine won her election Tuesday to the Kentucky Supreme Court, where she will again be the first elected Black woman, by defeating Lexington attorney Erin Izzo.

The race was called around 8:40 p.m. At her watch party at the Elwood Hotel in Lexington, a crowd of about 40 exploded in applause at the news.

Being elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court tonight gives me the honor of being the first woman and only the fifth person in history to serve at every level (of the judiciary), Goodwine said in a short speech just before 9 p.m. Our campaign stood firmly on experience, honesty and a commitment to impartiality and the rule of law to protect and serve every citizen.

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Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement posted to his personal X account that Goodwine is a fair and impartial judge with decades of experience on the bench and Kentuckians will be better off with her serving on the court.

Supporters listen to Judge Pamela Goodwines victory speech during her election night watch party in Lexington, Nov. 5, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

While justice races are nonpartisan, both Goodwine and Izzo received partisan support. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear backed Goodwine, saying she would be a really great Supreme Court justice.

Goodwines donors also included former Democratic Govs. Steve Beshear and Paul Patton, as well as Democratic state lawmakers, the Lantern previously reported.

Izzo received GOP support, including an endorsement from the Clark County Republican Party and donations from local Republican groups in Fayette and Madison counties.

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Goodwine will fill the 5th District seat now held by Chief Justice Laurance VanMeter, who did not seek reelection. Her win also means women will hold the majority of Kentuckys Supreme Court seats for the first time.

In a concession statement, Izzo said, We knew it was an uphill battle as a first-time candidate with limited resources going against a well-known judge with huge money being spent on her behalf.

Still, it was a race worth making and we thank everyone who stood with us, Izzo said. We congratulate Judge Goodwine on her victory, and I look forward to speaking with her.

A life of challenges

Goodwine has overcome challenge after challenge to achieve career successes, according to archived newspaper reporting from the last 30 years.

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In foster care as an infant and later adopted by her foster parents, the Youngstown, Ohio, native and high school valedictorian gave up a college scholarship to support her adoptive father who was dying of lung cancer, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported in 2023.

About six months after her father was diagnosed, he died. After his death, according to the Herald-Leader, his brother killed her mother.

Goodwine, a young adult, had then lost both parents in tragic circumstances. And, she had to deal with the judicial system because of her mothers murder, she told The Winchester Sun in 2018.

At 24, she was diagnosed with Crohns disease, an incurable bowel inflammation condition that can be painful and disruptive to life.

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After diagnosis, according to 1995 Herald-Leader reporting, she spent two months hospitalized and had to re-learn how to eat and walk.

Diane Minnifield speaks with Judge Pamela Goodwine during her election night watch party in Lexington. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

She began working in the courts as a legal secretary and court stenographer. She earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Kentucky and in 1994 entered private practice with the firm Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs until her appointment to the district court bench in 1999.

During this falls campaign for Supreme Court justice, she lost her granddaughter and great-granddaughter in what her campaign described as a tragic car accident in October.

An incredibly powerful statement

Former Gov. Paul Patton appointed Goodwine to serve as an interim district judge in August 1999. Goodwine won her circuit judge seat in 2003  an easy win, according to a Herald-Leader article from the time.

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And, she would have been happy to retire in that role, she said in 2003, but had my eyes set on the stars.

She could imagine someday running for a seat on the Court of Appeals or State Supreme Court.

Now, a little more than two decades later, shes done both.

She will become the only Black member of the current Kentucky Supreme court and only the second elected Black justice in the states history. The first was Justice William E. McAnulty Jr. of Louisville, who died in 2007. In 1997, Cynthia Elaine Elliott was appointed by former Gov. Patton as a special justice, making her the first Black woman appointed to her role, according to the University of Kentucky.

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Ernesto Scorsone, a former Democratic Kentucky state representative, senator and judge, told the Lantern that Goodwine has always been extremely focused.

He described her as a woman of boundless energy with an incredible work ethic and one of the hardest working people I know.

Goodwine weathers criticism by staying focused on what she believes is right, Scorsone said.

Campaign signs at Judge Pamela Goodwines election night watch party in Lexington, Nov. 5, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

He also called her win an an incredibly powerful statement.

Having her on the Supreme Court is a fantastic statement to everybody about the ability to break through in our society, he said, especially when people can see someone who represents them reach such goals.

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Im a gay man and  as a member of my community, when I see people in positions of power and influence, I mean thats (an) incredibly positive thing for us, to see that it can be done, said Scorsone.

A win for Kentucky

In her victory speech, Goodwine called her win a win for Kentucky.

Along with honesty and integrity, our judicial system is built upon the values of fairness, impartiality and justice for all, she said. As I serve as a justice, and for justice for all, I promise to uphold the rule of law with integrity, to protect the rights of all, and to serve with the honor and honesty that this role deserves and that you deserve.

Julie Lynn Steele, Goodwines campaign manager, has now led Goodwine to two campaign victories. They bonded over shared life experiences  both cared for a sick parent, both have battled life-threatening illnesses.

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She is the real deal, Steele said, calling Goodwine an honest and fair judge who treats people with utmost compassion. Shes also a Jazzercise instructor, whom some have nicknamed the Jazzercise Judge.

Scorsone praised Goodwine for her work ethic throughout her career and said her representation on the court matters.

These positions on the Supreme Court  you dont get them by chance, Scorsone said. You really have to work hard.

The fact that women have been so successful  that, to me, is very empowering for all the young girls in the state when theyre thinking about careers, he said. All of a sudden, being on the Supreme Court is a viable option.

Goodwine is married to Lee Padgett, Jr. They have five children.

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U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas with supporters in Manchester on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Will Steinfeld | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Voters in New Hampshires 1st Congressional District have sent both Democrats and Republicans to Congress over the years  and been willing to boot out incumbents along the way. But, so far, not Chris Pappas.

The incumbent Democrat, first elected in 2018, won a fourth term Tuesday in what has historically been a purple district made up of an eastern chunk of the state. The latest victory means Pappas has won the seat more consecutive times than any candidate in the past four decades.

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We built a powerful coalition of Democrats, independents and, yes, Republicans, too, who are all tired of division and cynicism and a partisanship in our politics, said Pappas, 44, of Manchester. And they want leaders who are going to put New Hampshire first, and thats what I intend to do when Im back on the job.

Shortly after 9 p.m., Pappas took the stage at a conference center in Manchester, telling supporters that Republican challenger Russell Prescott, a former executive councilor and state senator, had called him to concede.

With 80 percent of the vote in, the Associated Press called the race for Pappas at 11:42 p.m. Pappas, of Manchester, had secured 54 percent of the vote to Prescotts 46 percent when the race was called.

Pappas had sharply criticized Prescott, an engineer who resides in Kingston, on abortion and his LGBTQ rights record; Prescott, meanwhile, called on Pappas to take down negative ads that he said misrepresented him. The two had, for a time, been colleagues on the Executive Council. Prescott had emphasized his plans to work toward a balanced federal budget if elected.

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In his victory speech, Pappas thanked Prescott for running and asked his supporters to give his opponent a round of applause. Prescott seemed to have no hard feelings, saying in an interview on WMUR after conceding the race that when we did disagree, we  didnt disagree in a way that we offended each other, and made sure that we talked about the issues. Im so glad that we had that relationship to begin with.

In his reelection campaign, Pappas focused on his efforts to work across the aisle, while also arguing that congressional Republicans were taking dysfunction and extremism to the next level. He said he would focus on tax cuts for working families, expanding the child tax credit, addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and lowering the costs of housing, child care, energy, and health care. While his opponent supported turning the issue of abortion back to the states, Pappas said he wanted to restore the federal abortion rights protections provided under Roe v. Wade until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned it in 2022.

I think of a woman in Londonderry who had to have an emergency abortion because of a miscarriage, and wants her two daughters to have the same access to care that she has, Pappas said in his victory speech. Weve got to ensure that women have equal rights in this country, that they can determine their own faith, and I will work with everything Ive got to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land. The room  full of those watching results for the presidency, governorship, and Pappas race  broke into raucous applause.

A graduate of Manchester public schools and Harvard University, Pappas co-owns a family restaurant. Before coming to Congress, he served as a state representative, the Hillsborough County treasurer, and an executive councilor. In Congress, he has served on committees related to small businesses, veterans affairs, and transportation and infrastructure. Pappas, the states first openly gay member of Congress, co-chairs the Congressional Equality Caucus focused on LGBTQ rights.

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Pappas has held his seat by a comfortable margin over the years, even in a traditionally competitive district. In the past 28 years, Republicans and Democrats have won the seat roughly an even number of times; since 2010, Democrats have taken the seat in six of eight elections. A Republican hasnt won the seat since 2014.

Still, 1st District voters have been willing to hand the spot to either party  and theyve kicked out incumbents only to take them back again later on. In 2010, they cast off Democrat Carol Shea-Porter in favor of Republican Frank Guinta. Then, in 2012, they fired him for Shea-Porter. 2014 was back to Guinta  but not for long. Shea-Porter took the seat back in 2016, after which she did not seek reelection. Thus began Pappas winning streak. (Like Pappas, Shea-Porter won four terms this century. Unlike him, her terms were not consecutive.)

How long a representative ought to stay in Congress was a point of disagreement between Pappas and his opponent. I think six years is plenty of time to be able to get your work done, Prescott said at a forum. He pledged to support a limit of three terms for U.S. representatives and two terms for senators.

Pappas didnt take that pledge. For now, the 1st District seat is his  until he chooses to step away or voters make that choice for him.

Theres much work ahead, Pappas said, looking out on a crowd of supporters, with his family standing behind him, and theres no challenge that cant be solved if Americans are willing to work together.
A federal judge on Tuesday struck down a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee that sought to "segregate" certain ballots from Georgia's Democratic strongholds.

The RNC filed suit on Saturday against seven Democratic-leaning counties that opened their election offices over the weekend to accept absentee ballots in person, alleging that the practice violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

State law allows offices to accept absentee ballots up until Election Day and Georgia's Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger noted on X that the practice was perfectly legal. In his ruling on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Stan Baker agreed, saying that Republicans' claims were a "parade of horribles" that were "factually and legally incorrect."

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Baker tore into the RNC in a brutal oral ruling, saying that their case contained no supporting facts and cherry-picked counties based on their past voting records.

Baker said the lawsuit, filed by pro-Donald Trump attorney Alex Kaufman, was an attempt to tip the scales of this election by discriminating against [counties] less likely to vote for their candidate. Kaufman sat in on Trump's infamous calls to Raffensperger, in which the former president encouraged the secretary of state to "find 11,780 votes."

Baker did not reprimand Kaufman and the RNC's other attorneys on Tuesday when he ruled from the bench, but he did stop just short of accusing them of lying. The judge brought up the attorneys' "duty of candor," which is their obligation to tell the truth to the court.

Its dangerous when a non-lawyer makes claims that are factually or legally incorrect about the right to vote, he said, per Lawfare. But a lawyer, its even more dangerousThats why we have serious repercussions for those who violate the duty of candor.
HARLEM, N.Y. (PIX11)  The Manhattan parents accused of killing their 4-year-old son allegedly starved all their children for years while treating themselves to fresh food daily, prosecutors said.

Nytavia Ragsdale, 26, and Laron Modlin, 25, were indicted Wednesday for murder, manslaughter, assault, and criminally negligent homicide in connection to the death of JahMeik Modlin last month, authorities said. The boy weighed 19 pounds when he died.

Today his parents are indicted for allegedly killing him through extreme physical neglect and persistent abuse with depraved indifference for his life, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

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1-month-old Staten Island boy starved to death: sources

The parents allegedly filled their fridge with fresh food but turned it to the wall so their four kids couldnt open it, according to court records. Any cabinet containing food had a zip tie on the handle.

JahMeiks siblings, ages 5, 6, and 7, are still hospitalized for malnutrition and slowly recovering their lost motor skills, including being able to hold utensils, according to court records.

JahMeik and his siblings were not in school and had not seen a doctor in over two years. The defendants kept any family or friends from visiting in person, limiting communication to phone or video chats, continuing to isolate the children, and hiding each of their deteriorating conditions, prosecutors said.

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Police responded to a 911 call of an unconscious child in a home on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Harlem around 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 13, according to authorities. The boy died of neglect and malnutrition the next morning.

JakMeik and his siblings had dirt under their nails and feces stuck in their hair when they arrived at the hospital, officials said. Prosecutors said one room in the three-bedroom apartment was covered in filth and debris, including feces on the walls.

The death of JahMeik Modlin, an innocent four-year-old child, is a tragedy that has scarred this city. That he died a slow and painful death, starving alongside his older siblings, somehow isolated in the heart of Harlem, is a stain on our collective conscience, Bragg said.

Ragsdale pled not guilty during her arraignment on Wednesday and is being held without bail, according to court records.

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Modlin will be arraigned on Nov. 13.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her work here.

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Burglars with a nose for fine wine have stolen 60,000 (50,000) in bottles from the cellar of a Paris restaurant in the latest theft to rock the French capital.

More than 750 bottles of wine were stolen this month in the dead of the night from the discreet, unnamed Paris eatery, which serves traditional French cuisine alongside a fine wine list, according to local media reports.

The restaurants cellar, located in the heart of the capital, contained various vintages and grand crus, some of which are on sale for 2,000 a bottle.

An increase in thefts

Jerome Baudouin, editor-in-chief of La Revue du vin de France, said that this year had been a bad vintage for fine wine thefts.

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For the last five or six years, there has been an increase in thefts, he told Le Parisien. The price of wine, particularly Burgundy, has risen considerably. And that attracts criminals.

Citing the example of a bottle of Bourgogne Premier Cru, Mr Baudouin said that while 10 years ago it was worth 50, it can now cost as much as 400, making it appealing for thieves to load 20 or 30 cases in the boot of the carand off [they] go.

80 bottles stolen

The Parisian world of wine was shocked in January when thieves targeted the Michelin-starred Tour dArgent, which overlooks the Seine and has the largest collection of any restaurant in the country.

In a surgical strike, burglars stole 80 bottles of its finest vintages, including Romanee-Conti, the legendary Burgundy that can fetch tens of thousands of euros.

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The total value of the theft, reportedly committed without a break-in and only recorded during an inventory, surpassed 1.5 million.

A parallel market

In 2019, more than 150 bottles worth an estimated 400,000 were stolen from the cellar of the Michelin-starred restaurant Maison Rostang, in the 17th arrondissement of Paris.

In that case, burglars took advantage of work being carried out on the restaurant, located near the Champs-Elysees, to break in discreetly after digging a hole in a wall of around 50cm in diameter.

The culprits are often specialist thieves who sell on a parallel market, according to experts, while some thefts are believed to be inside jobs.

Cannot be sold

Most often, thefts involve wines with a high speculative value that are numbered. A stolen Romanee Conti or Petrus cannot be sold on the legal market, said Aude Legrand, vice-president of a professional wine merchants union.

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In the case of grand crus, you could compare it to the art market. Its all very well to have a stolen Picasso, but you still have to know who to sell it to, she told Le Parisien, adding that wine merchants are very careful about where bottles come from.

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OKOBOJI, Iowa (KCAU)  Parks Marina is now accepting donations for their annual Boatload of Toys fundraiser.

Parks Marina, along with Upper Des Moines Opportunity (UDMO), will be accepting donations until December 14.

Community members are asked to donate new and unwrapped toys to the Marina so that they can be distributed to families in need by UMDO.

Those who make a donation will receive discounts on items ranging from Parks Marina water accessories, Barefoot apparel, and things sold at Palm at the Park.

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Molina Healthcare to distribute food, provide free health screenings at Sunnybrook Hope Center

Donations can be dropped off at Parks Marina in Okoboji or Sioux Falls, Okoboji Boat Works, or Plam at the Park.

According to Parks Marina, the Boatload of Toys fundraiser has collected more than $60,000 in donated toys since 2008.

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TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  Three blocks of Market Street in Taylorville are under a boil order due to water main repairs.

The Christian County Health Department issued the order around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Marli Brune, Taylorvilles Water Superintendent, said homes on Market Street between Shumway and Cheney Streets re affected by the order, but restaurants are not.

Meridian High teachers rallying ahead of next bargaining session with school district

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The boil order will be in effect until bacterial samples can be taken to ensure public safety. People are urged to boil all water used for drinking and cooking purposes for five minutes before using it.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
South Dakota Supreme Court Justice Scott Myren listens to oral arguments on Feb. 14, 2024, in Pierre. (David Bordewyk/South Dakota NewsMedia Association)

South Dakota Supreme Court Justice Scott Myren appeared to be in position to retain his job, according to unofficial election results early Wednesday morning.

With 70% of the states precincts fully reported as of 1:45 a.m., Myren had 80% support.

The high courts justices face a nonpolitical retention election three years after their appointment by the governor, and then every eight years after that. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem appointed Myren in 2021.

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Myren grew up on his family farm in rural Campbell County and graduated from Mobridge High School. He earned a bachelors degree from the University of South Dakota and a law degree from Rutgers University.

He practiced law in Denver before returning to South Dakota to work as a staff attorney for the South Dakota Supreme Court. He served as an administrative law judge for the Office of Administrative Hearings and as a magistrate judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

In 2003, he was appointed as a circuit judge for the 5th Judicial Circuit by Gov. Mike Rounds. He was reelected to that position by the voters in 2006 and 2014.

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Rick Weiland, Dakotans for Health chairman, speaks to the media during an election night watch party on Nov. 5, 2024, in Sioux Falls. Dakotans for Health sponsored a grocery tax repeal measure. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

A proposal to remove South Dakotas state sales taxes on groceries was losing in unofficial election results.

The tally was 71% against Initiated Measure 28 and 29% in favor at 3 a.m. Central time Wednesday, with 76% of statewide precincts fully reported.

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The measure would apply to anything sold for human consumption. Supporters, who want tax relief for people with low incomes, said the measures wording limits its impact to state sales taxes on groceries. Opponents alleged the measure is poorly worded and could impact a broader range of goods and services.

Those competing views led the Legislative Research Council to estimate that state revenue losses could range from $134 million to $646 million annually, depending on which interpretation of the measures language prevailed.

Opponents of the measure also alleged it could imperil $51 million worth of annual city sales taxes on human consumption items, citing a state law that says cities can only tax what the state taxes. Supporters said that law would be overridden by language in the measure allowing cities to continue taxing groceries.

At a polling place Tuesday, Nick Mammenga, a 22-year-old Sioux Falls Democrat, said removing the sales tax from human consumption goods seemed like the right choice. He described the tax as regressive.

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I dont want taxes to keep going up for food and low-income families having to spend more, he said.

Some voters who opposed the measure feared removing one tax would lead to higher taxes in other categories.

The state still has to get its income somehow, said Parker Stewart, 38, a Sioux Falls Republican. I dont want to see property taxes go up or an income tax.

Donna Mitchell, 63, is an independent from Sioux Falls. She worried her property taxes would rise in compensation for lower sales taxes.

I voted a hard no on that one, she said. For sure.

Jeremiah Swenson, a 45-year-old Sioux Falls independent, said he voted against IM 28 because the loss of revenue could create problems for the state.

I see the value, he said, but I think the loss would outweigh the benefit.

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Three German parties have failed to advance talks on forming a regional coalition government in the eastern state of Saxony, one of the parties involved announced on Wednesday.

The exploratory talks were being held between the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which recently broke away from the far-left party Die Linke.

The BSW announced that the talks had collapsed as the parties could not agree on the peace formula regarding the war in Ukraine, migration policy or financial policy.

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After a third meeting on the subject of the war in Ukraine, the BSW accused the potential coalition partners of not wanting to agree on a commitment to peace.

The chairwoman of the BSW in Saxony, Sabine Zimmermann, said: "Russia's terrible war of aggression in Ukraine, which is in violation of international law, is worrying so many people here in Saxony that a new state government must address these concerns and fears. Those who do not do so are closing their eyes and ears."

The CDU has ruled out coalitions with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Die Linke. This means the only option left for the CDU state premier Michael Kretschmer is to form a minority government.

The CDU emerged as the strongest party in Saxony in the regional election in September, winning 31.9% of the vote, followed by the AfD with 30.6%.

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According to the German Constitution, a new state premier must be elected within four months of the new regional parliament being formed. Parties therefore have until February 2025 to elect a premier. If they fail to do so, parliament must be dissolved and new elections called.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  After more than 30 years as a fire chief and firefighter, Mike Wills was loving the second act of his career: working at Austins airport overseeing safety on the tarmac, his daughter Jillian Wills said.

Every day, when he would come in on the radios, hed be like, Its a great day in aviation. Its a beautiful sunrise, Jillian recounted.

So, given her dads current position after a lifetime of work in dangerous jobs, the news Jillian received on Halloween day 2023 came as a shock. A fuel truck struck her dad at work on the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport tarmac. Despite lifesaving efforts by paramedics, he died on the pavement within an hour, according to incident reports and court records.

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Jillian, who lives in California, later learned her dads death that morning was the second fatal incident that year in that area of the airport, which is more accurately called the apron. Its a unique zone between the terminals and runway where planes, trucks, jet bridges and people all mix. Six months earlier, an American Airlines employee died after a roofless tug vehicle he was driving collided with a jet bridge.

graphic showing the apron of the Austin airport

A KXAN investigation of those incidents and airport safety  including a review of internal Aviation Department emails, airport safety violation data, court records and more  sheds light on understaffing at the airport and the challenges workers face in enforcing the rules.

Employee dies after being hit by fuel truck at Austin airport

A point of friction for the airside operations division  the team that oversees safety on the apron  has been balancing rule enforcement with the airports desire to maintain collaborative relationships with airlines that pay to use the facility and contractors that help keep the entire enterprise running, according to employee interviews and records obtained by KXAN.

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An airport spokesperson said issuing penalties against those partners could cause contractors to be fired, thus leading to vacancies that could exacerbate low staffing.

The two deaths prompted multiple city employees to send tips to KXAN with concerns about airport safety, particularly on the apron. KXAN interviewed one former airport employee with knowledge of the airside operations team, who spoke with KXAN on a condition of anonymity. KXAN verified the employees employment credentials.

From the former employees perspective, the airport has taken too light a hand in rule enforcement, preferring instead to keep airlines satisfied. That stance has created a lack of safety culture and dangerous conditions, evidenced by two fatalities in one year, the employee said.

Scale of enforcement

Little to no time is spent during the day on  on safety, and its not because people dont care about it. Its because people just dont have time, with the responsibilities that that group is given, the airport employee told KXAN, referencing the airside operations group. Its clear that the airlines operation and their schedule comes before your enforcement of safety or anyones enforcement of safety.

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Aviation spokesperson Sam Haynes pushed back on that assertion. The Aviation Department takes safety seriously, she said, and it has taken several steps in recent months and years to fill vacancies, improve safety and plan for the implementation of a safety management system, or SMS, which is an overarching framework for safety recently required by the Federal Aviation Administration to be put in place in the coming years.

emergency vehicles on the airport grounds

Striking a balance in anything is challenging, but let me be clear that safety above anything else is the Department of Aviations number one priority, Haynes told KXAN. Not just safety for the customer and passengers, but safety for all employees that operate here out on the ramp.

Haynes said the two deaths were anomalies. The ramp she referred to is another name for the apron area of the tarmac.

We have made changes to safety and have met a lot of milestones in improving safety here at the airport, Haynes said. I want to be clear that these safety changes were work that was occurring prior to these tragic deaths and are not a result of the two isolated and highly, highly irregular incidents.

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As part of KXANs investigation into those deaths, we requested internal emails sent between Aviation Department employees. Some of those emails show disagreement within the airside operations team about how they should wield enforcement tools like notices of violation, which are like tickets, against contractors.

Hands off approach

The internal emails were exchanged between airside operations members in March 2024.

In one email, an airside operations manager acknowledges there has been guidance from his superiors to not be too heavy-handed with issuing violations.

The manager wrote that he thought it was unfortunate that most specialists take a hands-off approach of enforcing rules on the apron area.

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In response, an airside operations specialist  which is the same position Wills once held  said previous events like speeding and inattentive driving were a proven safety risk.

Its my opinion that the failure to provide resources (including adequate personnel and equipment) to address these clearly identified and quantifiable safety risks is a responsibility that falls squarely on airport management, the specialist wrote.

The specialist said issuing notices of violation, or NOVs in airport jargon, was a primary way to keep order on the apron. However, the overall culture in the group has been to not issue (NOVs).

KXAN obtained NOV data from the airport showing Aviation Department officials issued approximately 90 notices of violation against workers for airlines and contractors from April 2020 through April 2024. Those notices include six against Menzies Aviation, the company that operated the fuel truck that hit Wills last year, according to city records. Many other major companies and airlines received a similar number of penalties in that timeframe, according to Austins data.

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Austin airport officials issued nearly 100 notices of violation against airlines and contractors between April 2020 and April 2024, according to a KXAN analysis of Aviation Department data. This chart shows the number of violations issued each month. In some months, no NOVs were issued, the data shows. Verbal warnings, which an airport spokesperson said the department also uses to correct behavior, are not depicted in this chart. Source: Austin Aviation Department (KXAN Interactive/David Barer)

Explanations of the violations show a variety of safety issues on the apron: drivers speeding and using cell phones, reckless driving under a jet bridge and inoperable equipment left out for weeks.

Haynes said the city is using alternative methods, not just NOVs, to police safety. NOVs are not always the airports go to method to push for behavior changes, she said, and team members use verbal warnings as a less severe enforcement tactic.

What were trying to do is really take an active collaborative approach in developing a safety culture with our airline partners, Haynes said.

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KXAN has also requested verbal warning data, and that request remains pending.

Its not effective to go out and yield a heavy fist on the air side and issue NOVs to every driver that is doing something incorrectly, Haynes told KXAN.

A specialist could revoke a persons ramp license, which would bar them from driving on the apron. But NOVs and pulling licenses can cause contractors to lose their jobs, which, in turn, can lead to an empty post, Haynes said.

We dont want to set up our partners to have to fill more vacant positions because theyve lost employees due to NOV issuance, Haynes said.

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The safety concerns werent only contained in the notices of violation. In September 2022, a commercial pilot at AUS filed a safety concern in the federal Aviation Safety Reporting System, or ASRA, the largest confidential safety reporting system for pilots and frontline airline personnel in the country.

In that 2022 ASRA report, the pilot complained about a lack of direction on Austins apron for airplanes.

(Apron) edges are lined with equipment and are a possible hazard for getting blown when aircraft must engine park there, the pilot reported, meaning equipment could be pushed around by the airflow behind a planes engine.

It is not clear which companys equipment was causing the issue noted by the pilot. Data from that time shows notices of violations against a variety of companies, from ground handlers to various airlines and others.

Gross negligence

In December 2023, Jillian and other family members sued Menzies in Travis County District Court. The lawsuit and first-responder records provide the sequence of events that led to Wills death.

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Lawsuit alleges new details in fatal Austin airport truck incident

The Menzies driver was parked in an unauthorized area while waiting to refuel a plane, the suit states. Wills drove up in his city pickup, parked next to the fuel tanker, approached the driver-side window and instructed the driver to move. While Wills was still between the fuel truck and his own pickup, the fuel truck driver pulled forward and turned, fatally pinning Wills between the two vehicles, according to the suit, police records and video obtained by KXAN.

fuel truck

The Menzies driver acted with gross negligence and reckless disregard for the safety of others, the lawsuit states.

In a brief statement to KXAN, a Menzies spokesperson said the company could not provide further comment because of the ongoing legal case.

Menzies Aviation operates in more than 65 countries around the world and safety is our No. 1 priority every day and in every location we operate, the spokesperson added.

In its answer to the Wills family lawsuit, Menzies issued a general denial of the allegation against it. The case should be dismissed, the company said, and the damages sought by the plaintiffs were speculative, vague, and/or uncertain and are therefore not compensable.

The Menzies answer also puts the blame for Wills death back on him.

The injuries and/or damages of which Plaintiffs complain were proximately caused or contributed to, in whole or in part, by negligence, carelessness, or recklessness attributable to (Wills), including but not limited to failure to exercise ordinary care on his own behalf, Menzies states in its answer.

Jillian Wills attorney, Brad Beckworth with the firm Nix Patterson, rebutted that.

One, thats what defendants always say. Two, theres no evidence of it, Beckworth said. Mr. Wills was doing his job, and anyone out there who knows what actually happened will tell you he did exactly what he was supposed to do.

In the wrongful death lawsuit, the Wills family is seeking damages amounting to more than $1 million, according to court records. The case remains pending.

The family of Michael Ingraham has also filed a lawsuit following his death in April 2023. Ingraham, an American Airlines ground worker, struck a jet bridge while driving a roofless vehicle and died soon after, according to the lawsuit.

Family member suing American Airlines for $1M after airline employee death

Two of Ingrahams family members sued American Airlines and Menzies, alleging the equipment Ingraham was driving was not properly maintained and caused his death. Menzies was in charge of ensuring the ground vehicle was operating correctly, the lawsuit claims.

emergency vehicles near a plane

As KXAN was reporting this project, the Austin Auditors Office released an Aviation Department risk assessment report in October that also noted safety concerns and persistent understaffing issues.

The Auditors Office said the risk assessment was not made in response to a complaint. The office explained it prepares its audit plan by collecting risks it finds while monitoring media reports, peer city audits and its own observations.

Last year there were multiple issues at the airport that were covered by the media and the year prior we issued an investigation related to the airport, Deputy City Auditor Jason Hadavi told KXAN. The combination of these issues resulted in us placing the topic on our audit plan.

Rapid growth has been a significant obstacle for the airport, auditors said in the report.

The airport opened in 1999 with a capacity for 11 million travelers per year. Since then, the airport has significantly outgrown that capacity, according to the auditors report. By FAA standards, the facility recently transitioned from a medium to large airport  which is the biggest commercial airport classification based on volume and activities. In 2023, AUS had over 22 million travelers.

AUS Data Hub: Passenger totals, busiest months and new flights in 2024

The auditors report listed safety at a high level of risk.

In 2023, multiple safety incidents, including two worker fatalities and a near miss between two planes, sparked concern from local and federal government officials over staffing and safety at the Airport, the report states.

Apron incident data difficult to track

It is not clear exactly how Austins airport compares to other large airports, in terms of injuries and deaths on the apron. Federal agencies that responded to KXAN said they do not specifically track incidents in that area.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it would only be involved in investigating an incident on the apron if there was an intent for flight, a planes engines are running, or if the actions of the flight crew are involved. None of those criteria were met in Ingrahams or Wills deaths. The FAA said questions about apron incidents should be directed to airports and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which are primarily responsible for airfield worker safety.

When KXAN reached out to OSHA with questions about Mike Wills death, an OSHA spokesperson said the agency has no jurisdiction over city employees like Wills. OSHA closed its investigation into Wills death on April 19, 2024, and did not issue a citation.

Last year, The Wall Street Journal reported an increase in airport ground worker injuries following the pandemic. In the Journals own analysis of OSHA data, it found the rate of injuries that caused a lost day of work per 100 airport workers had increased 17% in 2022 compared to three years earlier. However, that analysis included aviation jobs like check-in agents and cabin crews that work outside the apron.

The Journals report identified understaffing as a persistent problem for airports. Austin auditors also identified that issue at AUS. The Aviation Departments spokesperson acknowledged job vacancy concerns but said the department has a plan to address it.

Significant challenges

Aviation has had significant challenges with their staffing levels over the past few years, as have peer airports, according to the auditors risk assessment. Staff reported issues with a lengthy hiring process and non-competitive compensation. Many key employees are nearing or past retirement eligibility, and there appears to be a lack of clear succession planning.

Without enough personnel, current workers must shoulder more duties and work overtime to fill the gaps, the report states.

Due to these challenges, Aviation has become increasingly reliant on third-party contractors to deliver airport services, the auditors said they learned.

The former airport employee who spoke with KXAN said safety falls by the wayside when employees are overloaded.

That group (airside operations) is just so overwhelmed, so underpaid, so understaffed  lack of resources, the worker said. Theres just nowhere near enough support to that group.

The airports airside operations group has a 30% vacancy rate in full-time, permanent workers  higher than the 17% overall rate for the Aviation Department, according to Haynes. Still, the department is currently meeting its airside operations minimum staffing requirements, with at least two people on during the day and one at night.

She said the Aviation Department is working to raise the pay for airside operations postings. Fiscal year 2024 budget records show increased pay for several positions and a few new positions  including some managerial ones.

Haynes said the department is looking to hire an officer over emergency management, and it recently hired a division manager to oversee the rollout and strategic vision of the safety management system, or SMS.

The FAA approved the Aviation Departments SMS plan in April. Now, said Haynes, they have about 36 months to put it in place.

The airport employee who spoke with KXAN agreed that implementing the SMS will be the next big step.

The solution is more people  people who can address the safety issues in the way that theyre supposed to, in ways that are non-punitive, you know, so that things can be learned from. Those are the concepts of safety management systems, said the employee who spoke with KXAN anonymously.

A safer way forward?

Safety Management Systems really came into fashion in the 80s and 90s, said Bob Joyce, director of aviation safety for the College of Aviation Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Universitys Daytona Beach campus.

By 2015, Joyce said, air carrier operators were required to implement them. Now, the requirement has spread to large airports, including AUS, according to FAA records.

Joyce described SMS as a top-down organizational approach for policy, risk management, safety assurance and promotion. A key aspect is the appointment of an accountable executive and one or more safety managers to ensure that all their safety processes are being conducted and, of course, the follow-up and ongoing education and training, he said.

The airport employee who spoke with KXAN said they were skeptical the Aviation Department would dedicate enough staff and resources to make the program effective.

If properly staffed, the airport employee said, the SMS would be the best approach to minimizing dangerous conditions and deadly risks  like the ones that caused the fatal incidents in 2023.

Haynes, meanwhile, said the airport is working to hire and retain enough people for the SMS.

Were working towards it, and weve made a lot of milestones in progress just within the last few months, Haynes said.

While her lawsuit is focused on the contractor involved in her dads death, Jillian Wills said she hopes any safety changes at the airport spark enough accountability to keep workers like the ones on her dads team safe.

Nobody should ever go to work and have to be worried about not coming home, she said.

Investigative Photojournalist Richie Bowes, Graphic Artist Wendy Gonzalez, Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle, Investigative Photojournalist Chris Nelson and Digital Director Kate Winkle contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
WASHINGTON  Republicans had a very good night in Tuesdays elections. Donald Trump won reelection to the White House. The GOP won back the Senate majority. And while the final outcome is still pending, Republicans appear on track to win control of the House, too.

The most lasting impact of this GOP sweep will arguably be felt on the courts. For at least two of the next four years, Trump can appoint dozens of far-right conservatives to lifetime federal judgeships all over the country, knowing that Senate Republicans will rubber-stamp virtually all of his picks. Thats exactly what they did in his first term.

From 2016 to 2020, Trump put so many unqualified and ideologically extreme people into lifetime federal judgeships that it was hard to keep up.

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There was Leonard Steven Grasz, now a lifetime judge on a U.S. appeals court, who earned a rare and embarrassing not qualified rating from the American Bar Association but was confirmed anyway. Former colleagues described Grasz as gratuitously rude, per the ABA review, and expressed an unusual fear of consequences for saying something bad about him because of his deep connection to powerful politicians.

There was also Jonathan Kobes, now a lifetime judge on a U.S. appeals court, who also earned a not qualified ABA rating, as he was unable to provide sufficient writing samples of the caliber required of a circuit judge. He also failed to demonstrate an especially high degree of legal scholarship and excellent analytical and writing experience, per the ABA review.

And how can we forget Matthew Kacsmaryk, who is now the go-to federal judge in Texas for conservative groups trying to ban the abortion pill. Kacsmaryk previously called being transgender a delusion and said it was a grave mistake to include protections for LGBTQ+ people in the Violence Against Women Act.

Virtually every Senate Republican voted to confirm all of these judges, and so many more of the same ilk.

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Democrats cant do much to stop Trump from doing this again. The Senates rules only require 51 votes to advance and confirm federal judges. Republicans will have more senators than that. It used to take 60 votes to advance judicial nominees  a higher vote threshold aimed at forcing bipartisanship  but years of bitter partisan fights over confirming judges have left todays Senate without that requirement for any judges.

The only thing Democrats can really do is make a lot of noise or add delays to the process. They can, for example, request to delay votes on judicial nominees by a week when they appear on the agenda for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for the first time. Both parties have done this for years when theyve been in the minority, and the majority party regularly honors such requests.

Democrats could also drag out the time spent talking about particular judicial nominees when they come to the Senate floor for a vote. Senate rules allow for up to two hours of floor debate on a district court nomination and up to 30 hours of debate on an appeals court or Supreme Court nomination. Democrats could opt to blab through all of that time instead of giving consent to waive some of it to move forward.

President Donald Trump smiles as he stands with Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whom Trump put on the nation's top court despite Kavanaugh facing credible allegations of sexually assaulting Christine Blasey Ford. via Associated Press

There are hundreds of lower court judges  that is, federal judges on U.S. district courts and U.S. appeals courts  around the country. They all have lifetime appointments.

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Most people, if theyre paying attention to courts at all, are focused on the Supreme Court. But it is the nations 13 appeals courts, one step below the Supreme Court, that overwhelmingly settle federal laws on major issues like abortion, same-sex marriage and immigration.

For some perspective: Federal appeals courts have the final say in roughly 50,000 cases a year. The Supreme Court resolves about 100.

This is why Trump, in his first term, was focused on filling dozens of vacancies on appeals courts. Thanks in large part to then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Trump confirmed more appeals court judges in a single term than any past president. By the time hed left office in 2020, nearly 1 in every 3 appeals court judges was a Trump pick.

Come January 2025, the newly installed Republican president can begin trying to fill even more appeals court seats. But he wont have as many vacancies to fill this time.

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There will likely be fewer than five vacancies, said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia and an expert on federal judicial nominations.

Tobias said Democrats will likely use the lame duck session, which begins next week, to confirm four of President Joe Bidens pending appeals court picks. Biden and Senate Democrats will almost certainly use the remaining weeks of the year to push through whatever eleventh-hour priorities they can before handing full control to Republicans in January.

That will leave only a few openings for Trump in January 2025, he said of appeals court vacancies.

Looking at the spread of appeals court judges nationwide, 34 are currently eligible to assume senior status, meaning they can semi-retire. Eighteen of those 34 were appointed by former President George W. Bush, and seven were appointed by a Democratic president.

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Oftentimes, judges thinking of retiring will wait to do so until there is a president in the White House of the same party or ideology as the president who appointed them.

Thats why many of these 34 appeals court judges eligible for retirement may be unlikely to assume senior status when Trump is president, said Tobias.

Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito may decide to retire during Donald Trump's second term because they're old and they know he'll replace them with equally conservative people. AP

As for the Supreme Court, there arent currently any vacancies. But, just as on the lower courts, conservative justices may decide to retire on Trumps watch because they know hell replace them with younger justices just as conservative as they are.

Justice Clarence Thomas, 76, and Justice Samuel Alito, 74, are the two most likely to step down based on their ideological alignment with Trump. Older Democrat-appointed justices like Sonia Sotomayor, who is 70, are likely to remain on the court for several more years to prevent Trump from making the court even more conservative than it already is.

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Of the Supreme Courts nine justices, six are ultra-conservative  and three of those six were appointed by Trump in his first term: Brett Kavanagh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. Their votes were essential to the courts decisions to toss out decades-old precedents like Roe v. Wade, which provided a constitutional right to an abortion, and the so-called Chevron doctrine, which gave federal agencies broad discretion to interpret ambiguous laws.

Tobias suggested people shouldnt panic about the prospect of Trump using his second term to turn the Supreme Court into a full panel of nine conservative justices. Hes not convinced anyone on the court is about to retire.

One big question is whether either Justice Alito or Thomas will resign. That seems unlikely, he said. Both are quite independent and neither is that old.

In recent decades, the average retirement age for a Supreme Court justice has been over 80.

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Beyond that, he speculated, Democrats are likely to win the Senate majority back in 2026.

So even if Trump wanted to replace Alito or Thomas with a younger conservative pick, the Justices would have to resign rather soon, Tobias said.

Its too early to know what will be guiding Trumps decisions on judicial picks this time. He has to assemble his White House team before any of that happens.

Mike Davis, who leads the conservative legal group Article III Project, is calling on older and moderate judges to step aside and make way for a new generation of judges picked by Trump.

Its a good time to let a younger, more bold, more fearless conservative judge take your place, Davis said Wednesday to Bloomberg Law.

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And, in a Wednesday press conference, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) emphasized Democrats are still the ones filling court vacancies in the final weeks of the year.

One advantage of being the majority leader is you get to decide what to bring up, he said of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) being in charge. And I think if thats what the majority leader wants to do, thats what well do.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Democrat Monica Wallace was upset in her bid for fifth term in the State Assembly, losing in New Yorks 143rd District to first-time candidate Patrick Chludzinski.

Chludzinski held 52%-48% edge with all polling sites reporting and celebrated his victory in a speech just before midnight. The district includes Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Depew, Sloan, and a piece of Buffalo.

Chludzinski, a Sloan native and Cheektowaga resident, was endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties. He boasted his public safety record as a detective lieutenant in the Cheektowaga Police Departments Youth and Family Offense Unit, a position hes held since 2022. He is also a decorated veteran of the United States Army and has served in the Army National Guard.

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The issue of asylum seekers has often played out locally in Cheektowaga, and could have been on voters minds at the polls in that district.

Ive seen the issues firsthand that are affecting our town, Chludzinski told WIVB News 4 Tuesday night. I understand the concerns of the residents and certain changes in New York State laws that have affected our crime and public safety aspect.

In June of this year, Chludzinski called on New York City Mayor Eric Adams and state leaders to reimburse the Maryvale Schools District for its acceptance of nearly 80 migrant children at the beginning of the school year, according to a release on his campaign website.

Wallace was first elected in 2016. She has focused her platform on public education and working families. She has previously obtained funds for various local school districts youth recreation and educational programs, according to her campaign website.

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In a statement, Wallace wished Chludzinski the best of luck. She also thanked the community and her staff members.

Representing the residents of the 143rd Assembly District has been the honor of my lifetime, she said in the statement. Im incredibly proud of the accomplishments weve had  from creating the first Boys & Girls Club in Cheektowaga to increasing the minimum wage to delivering historic investments for schools, parks, and infrastructure. The investments Ive helped secure will benefit our community for generations to come.

Watch News 4s interview with Chludzinski from Wednesday in the video player below.

Courtesy: New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment

Burke survives in 142nd

Incumbent Patrick Burke appeared to hold off a stiff challenge from first-time candidate Marc Priore, prevailing in a tight race to represent South Buffalo, Lackawanna, West Seneca and Orchard Park.

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With all votes reported, Burke was ahead 50.62%-49.24% with a lead of less than 800 votes.

Priores ads during the campaign hammered Burke over accusations made against him by his former staffers. Burke told the Buffalo News that the Assembly Ethics Committee held an investigation and determined the accusations were unfounded.

Burke, a Buffalo native, will carry out his fourth term in Albany since his first election in 2018. Before his time in the Assembly, he served as an Erie County legislator from 2014 to 2018 where he took part in enacting the county-wide ban of selling products with microbeads.

He also wrote the PENCE, Prevention of Emotional Neglect and Child Endangerment, bill to end conversion therapy for minors, his biography said, which was introduced in 2016 and passed in 2018. Most recently, Burke and the Family Justice Center announced a $500,000 expansion of the centers Forensic Medical Unit.

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Priore, a South Buffalo native and West Seneca resident, is currently an administrative lieutenant with the Erie County Sheriffs Office, having originally joined in 1998.

Prior to his role as lieutenant, Priore served as a New York State Peace Officer and cell block attendant with the Buffalo Police Department.

Other Assembly notes

Michael Norris left the Assembly to become a justice, but his influence will still be felt in the Lockport-centered 144th District. Paul Bologna , Norris chief of staff, won the seat, defeating Michelle Roman 61.7%-38.3%. One of the plans on his platform is to create a childcare plan to reduce costs for daycare providers and provide permanent and expanded childcare tax credits. He said his top priority is the safety of residents and their families when it comes to his plans for the criminal justice system, which include increasing penalties for repeat offenders and rejecting what he calls soft-on-crime policies.

In Amherst, Karen McMahon won a fourth term representing the 146th district, defeating Deborah Kilbourn by a roughly 60%-40% margin with 96% of votes reported. She focused her platform on providing access to affordable health care, environmental protection and community safety, among other topics.

Former Congressman Joe Sempolinski won an Assembly seat in the 148th District, representing Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. He fills the seat held by Joseph Giglio.

As Andy Goodell retires from a long career representing Chautauqua County, his seat in the 150th will be filled by Andrew Molitor (R), who defeated Mike Bobseine (D) with 63% of the vote.

All WNY Assembly races

139th: Stephen Hawley (R, incumbent) won, unopposed

140th: Bill Conrad (D, incumbent) won, unopposed

141st: Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D, incumbent) won unopposed

142nd: Patrick Burke (D, incumbent) defeated Marc Priore (R)

143rd: Patrick Chludzinski (R) defeated Monica Wallace (D, incumbent)

144th: Paul Bologna (R) defeated Michelle Roman (D)

145th: Angelo Morinello (R, incumbent) defeated Jeffrey Elder (D)

146th: Karen McMahon (D, incumbent) defeated Deborah Kilbourn (R)

147th: David DiPietro (R, incumbent) defeated Darci Cramer (D)

148th: Joseph Sempolinski (R) defeated Daniel Brown (D)

149th: Jonathan Rivera (D, incumbent) won, unopposed

150th: Andrew Molitor (R) defeated Mike Bobseine (D)

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To view WIVB News 4s rundown of the biggest races across Western New York, click here.

Latest Local News

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
The most advanced version of the Patriot missile defeated a tactical ballistic missile threat target while fully integrated with a new radar in development with the U.S. Army in a test over the weekend, marking a significant step toward the services transition to a modernized missile defense capability.

The test conducted at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, used both the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) and the Cost Reduction Interceptor (CRI).

The interceptors were shot in a ripple configuration and successfully engaged and intercepted the TBM target, Lockheed Martin, the maker of the Patriot family of missiles, said in a statement.

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The test integrating the Raytheon-developed Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radar and PAC-3 missiles was built upon previous efforts to demonstrate PAC-3 integration with the Armys Integrated Battle Command Systems (IBCS) and LTAMDS, according to Lockheed.

The Northrop Grumman-made IBCS is a fielded system that links any sensor to any shooter on the battlefield and is seen as the brain of the Armys future air and missile defense architecture. LTAMDS is intended to replace the legacy Patriot radar with a capability that provides 360-degree protection.

The Army also had nascent plans to one day replace the PAC-3 MSE interceptor with a next-generation missile, but has since decided not to pursue development at this time, Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, program executive officer for Army missiles and space, told Defense News in an interview last month.

The LTAMDS radars success in recent tests has prompted Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to consider deploying the new radar early to operational units for further evaluation and testing.

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The test is part of a larger Integrated Fires Test Campaign that has been running since mid-September and will continue through December, Lozano said.

The Armys LTAMDS radar, which began testing using just its front array, is now also demonstrating the functionality of its two rear arrays that provide the 360-degree level of protection, he said.

This year, the service is also bringing in the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) system, which can defeat a range of threats, including drones, cruise missiles, rockets, artillery and mortars from fixed and semi-fixed sites.

The Army wrapped up a development test for IFPC with three successful missile flight tests in late summer defeating two maneuvering unmanned aircraft systems, a Group 3 UAS  which can weigh up to roughly 1,300 pounds  and a maneuvering cruise missile.

The Army will incorporate a new version of its Sentinel radar (Version 4) next year and add additional elements the following year, all of which are expected to be part of the Pentagons missile defense of Guam architecture currently in development, Lozano said.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  State Representative Patty Kim was elected to the State Senate, replacing retiring lawmaker John DiSanto (R) to represent the City of Harrisburg as well as communities such as Middletown and Hershey.

DiFrancesco conceded shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning.

After a hard-fought race, the people of Dauphin County have decided to elect Patty Kim as

their next State Senator, DiFrancesco said. I called Representative Kim this evening to

congratulate her on her victory.

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Kim was born to first-generation Korean immigrants who moved to California in the 1960s.

She graduated from Boston College in 1995 before moving to Harrisburg and started working at a local television station. In 2005, Kim stepped into the political arena when she ran for a seat on the Harrisburg City Council.

In 2012 was elected to serve in the 103rd State House seat representing parts of Dauphin and Cumberland counties.

Kims key priorities include fighting for a living wage for workers, affordable housing for all, funding public schools, and protecting reproductive rights.

In response to her win, Senator-elect Patty Kim said the following:

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Todays election results are not just a victory for me and my campaign  this victory is for the people of the 15th Senatorial District who made their voice heard loud and clear. Together, we are going to finish the work we began together on the campaign trail.I look forward to rolling up my sleeves on day one and getting to work expanding the freedoms and opportunities of my friends and neighbors. From raising the minimum wage to ensuring every family has access to excellent schools, jobs, and healthcare, our movement has only just begun.

My journey from local government to the State House and now to the Senate has humbled me at every turn. Its a deep honor to represent my communities and advocate for our shared values. As I embark on my first term as a State Senator, I intend to show up for everyone who calls the 15th home, regardless of who they voted for.

Im incredibly grateful and honored to have been elected to this seat. Now, we get to work.

abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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Texas highest criminal court will remain entirely in Republican control after all three conservative candidates endorsed by Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated their Democratic challengers by wide margins.

David Schenck, Gina Parker and Lee Finley each unseated Republican incumbents during the primary, displacing almost a century of experience on and before the bench. Paxton had vowed to unseat judges who ruled his office could not unilaterally prosecute allegations of voter fraud.

Only Schenck has prior judicial experience, having served eight years on the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas. Parker is a Waco attorney who owns a dental equipment company, and Finley is a Collin County criminal attorney and U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

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Recently, the court has been in the spotlight around the execution of Robert Roberson, an East Texas man given the death sentence after being convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in 2002. Roberson has long insisted hes innocent. While the Court of Criminal Appeals has repeatedly sided with the state and ruled that Roberson should die, a series of legal maneuvers from Texas House members convinced hes been denied due process have delayed his execution.

The court most recently ruled 5-4 to execute Roberson, but three of the five judges who voted against him were unseated in the primary. With new faces on the bench, Robersons attorneys could ask for a fresh look at his case, although the new judges allegiance to Paxton may temper expectations for a different outcome.

In recent weeks, with Robersons fate in limbo, Paxton has taken a more aggressive stance, releasing troves of evidence from the original trial intending to prove Robersons guilt. In a press release, he said the House members had grossly interfered with the justice system and created a Constitutional crisis on behalf of a man who beat his two-year-old daughter to death.

Paxton political retribution

The path to putting these new faces on the bench begins way before this most recent election cycle. In 2018, after the Jefferson County district attorney declined to prosecute the sheriff over alleged campaign finance violations, Paxtons office stepped in and obtained an indictment from a neighboring county.

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This set in motion a legal back and forth over whether Paxtons office had the authority to prosecute election cases without being asked by the local district attorney. That question ultimately landed in front of the Court of Criminal Appeals in 2021, which ruled 8-1 that this would be an intrusion by the executive branch into the judicial branch and violate the separation of powers clause of the Texas Constitution.

The Attorney General can prosecute with the permission of the local prosecutor but cannot initiate prosecution unilaterally, the court ruled.

Paxton warned that this ruling would open the door to rampant unpunished voter fraud in Democratic counties, and vowed to work to unseat the eight judges who ruled against him. Speaking to the right-wing True Texas Project in February, Paxton called the ruling the most insidious evil plot and as bad a thing as Ive ever seen.

The nine judges serve staggered six-year terms, with three seats up each year. This year, Chief Judge Sharon Keller and judges Barbarba Hervey and Michelle Slaughter were up for reelection. While Slaughter was in her first term, Hervey had been on the court since 2001 and Keller since 1994. Shed been chief judge since 2000.

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Paxton allies started a political action committee, Texans for Responsible Judges, to recruit and support the primary challengers. Parker and Finley have made their allegiance to Paxton clear, both questioning the courts ruling on the voter fraud issue. Schenk, who insists he was not recruited by Paxton, focused his campaign on judicial ethics and speeding up the courts.

After the primary routing by Paxtons candidates, Hervey lamented to The Texas Tribune that Darth Vader is not supposed to win the war in those movies.

Former Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Elsa Alcala said even though these judges have the taint of Paxtons politicking, its hard to know how any judge will rule once they take the bench and cases are before them.

It is certainly possible for them to take their judicial oath seriously and to impartially make decisions regardless of the political forces that got them there, Alcala said.

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Alcala, who became an outspoken death penalty critic during her time on the bench, said she is also optimistic that this election could change things for the Roberson case and others sentenced to death. She believes the court has been too quick to side with the state on capital murder cases and unwilling to meaningfully reconsider cases under a 2013 junk science law, which some House members and Robersons attorneys have tried to use to overturn Robersons death sentence.

Alcala points to Keller, the longtime presiding judge, as a sticking point to reconsidering the role of the death penalty in Texas.

I just think in general, the court didn't change with the times, Alcala said. She was the leader of the court, and so to me, she was where many of the problems [began] and ended.

Alcala said she may be overly optimistic about what these fresh faces will mean for such an entrenched issue in Texas.

But change is all we can hope for, she said.
MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)  A man was arrested in Marshall after a reported hit-and-run crash that injured a pedestrian.

Marshall PD said 30-year-old Jonathan Olvera was identified as the driver who hit a pedestrian on Tuesday evening around 7:50 p.m. at the intersection of W. Burleson and N. Bishop. Responding officers found a male victim who reported being hit by a dark-colored vehicle, which fled the scene afterward.

Police said they located Olvera, who cooperated and was ultimately arrested. The investigation is ongoing, but Olvera is charged with an accident involving serious bodily injury. He also had an outstanding warrant out of Marion County for tampering with physical evidence. The pedestrian sustained a broken leg and was brought to a local hospital for treatment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will return to Congress next year for a landmark 20th term, Decision Desk HQ projects.

The San Francisco liberal easily won reelection on Tuesday in Californias deep-blue 11th District, dismissing a nominal challenge by Republican Bruce Lou, a former Jeopardy! champion, who likened Democrats to communists.

Pelosi was already a historic figure heading into the current Congress. She was the first woman to ascend to the House Speakership in the nations history, and she orchestrated massive legislative wins  including the Affordable Care Act under former President Obama, and a mammoth climate bill under President Biden  that will reverberate for years to come.

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This year, despite stepping out of a formal leadership role at the start of the 118th Congress, she added another chapter in her chronicle by playing a major role in convincing Biden not to seek reelection after his disastrous debate against former President Trump over the summer.

The episode has strained relations between the two powerhouse Democrats, but it highlighted Pelosis pragmatic approach to raw power politics  and her killer instincts for winning. With Biden at the top of the ticket, Democrats were on track to be routed on Election Day. With Harriss ascension, they got a boost up and down the ballot.

Pelosi is 84 years old, leading to perennial questions about when shell retire from Congress and rampant speculation that shes preparing one of her daughters to replace her  a dynamic she denies.

Fueling the questions about her future, Pelosi is also managing the aftermath of the attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi, by a conservative conspiracy theorist who broke into the familys San Francisco home in 2022 and bashed his head with a hammer. The attacker was sentenced last week to life in prison without parole.

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Pelosi, in the current term, has been a frequent if informal adviser to her successor, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who christened her with the honorary title of Speaker Emerita two years ago.

She is also among the fiercest Trump critics, particularly after the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and at least part of her impetus for remaining in Congress was to fight to ensure that the former president doesnt win a second term. Pelosis prodigious fundraising helped in that effort.

In challenging Pelosi, Lou, whos in his late 20s, had argued that San Francisco was ready for a younger generation to take over. San Francisco voters had a resounding reply: Not yet.

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The all-important swing state Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes have been won by Donald Trump, a massive victory that has him on the precipice of winning the presidency, according to the Associated Press and CNN.

Both candidates poured extensive resources into the state and spent more time there than any other swing state. In total, Kamala Harris held 16 campaign rallies there, including her final one, while Trump hosted 15 of his own.

The calling of the race wasnt without drama. While other toss-up states on the east coast like Georgia and North Carolina quickly reported the vast majority of its ballots, Pennsylvanias results came at a slower pace. It was a far cry from four years ago, however, when Joe Biden eventually eked out a win in the state four days after Election Day.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania often found itself at the center of the 2024 election. Trump was nearly killed when a gunman opened fire at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, nicking his ear. He left the incident relatively unharmed, though images of a bloodied Trump raising his fist while surrounded by Secret Service agents will go down as one of the most iconic images of the campaign.

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Even after the near-death experience, Trump turned around to hold one of his most prominent rallies there two months later, joining up with deep-pocketed backer Elon Musk.

Harris, meanwhile, announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate in Philadelphia on Aug. 7. She also held the finally rally of her campaign in the city of brotherly love on Monday evening.

Fox News and other right-wing networks, like Newsmax, have already called the election for Donald Trump. As of 2 a.m. EST, however, the other major networks and newspapers had stopped short of following suit as Harris could technically still win if she is able to pull off comeback wins in Arizona and Nevada.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
Snow totals in the Colorado Springs area and southern Colorado over the past 24 hours, through noon Wednesday. Totals range in the Colorado Springs metro area from 7 inches to 12 inches in several areas, according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo.

Colorado Springs - 12

Monument - 9.5

Air Force Academy - 8

Black Forest - 11

Falcon - 7.5

Fountain - 4

Manitou Springs - 6

Sign Up for Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

Woodland Park - 8

Peyton - 1

Rye - 8

Beulah - 13

Wetmore - 5.5

Texas Creek - 10

Limon - 7.3

Wednesday's forecast calls for a high temperature near 30, according to the Weather Service. There's an 80% chance of precipitation, with new snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

The wintry conditions forced school cancellations and road closures Wednesday throughout much of the Pikes Peak region.
UPDATE as of 9:37 p.m. :

PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ)  The Blair County Board of Elections provided an update surrounding a bomb threat that affected the office.

The threat, which came in at 6:50 p.m., required the Sheriffs office K-9 unit to sweep and clear the building. Once the building was clear, canvassing was resumed. Due to the timing of the threat, officials said they had to move precinct poll workers to the Blair County Convention Center.

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Officials noted that Commissioner Laura Burke and Solicitor Chris Furman remained at the Elections Office to maintain custody of the mail in ballots.

UPDATE as of 8:35 p.m. :

PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ)  Clearfield County officials reported a non-credible bomb threat at a polling location, resulting in an oral motion for emergency special relief.

The Clearfield County Administrative Building, where votes were being counted, received the threat. Polling hours have been extended to 9 p.m. President Judge Ammerman granted the motion, with a written petition to be filed Wednesday morning.

The building was cleared for an hour while state and local police investigated the threat and swept the building, according to county officials. After the sweep was completed, police deemed the treat non-credible and allowed employees to return to the building.

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Officials noted they continued accepting mail-in ballots until 9 p.m. as well.

The Elections Office and ballots were under constant supervision while the building was swept, County Administrator John Franek Jr. said.

Weve also been made aware that in the course of the last hour, multiple bomb threats have been called in to polling and municipal sites across Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said during a press conference held Tuesday night. My team and I have been in direct communications with Pennsylvania State Police Colonel Christopher Paris who is coordinating with local and federal law enforcement, as well as PEMA. State and local law enforcement  along with the FBI  are investigating these threats and thus far, there is no credible threat to the public.

PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ)  Multiple polling locations across Central Pennsylvania have reported receiving bomb threats.

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Cameron County officials announced that they received an email that detailed a bomb threat on the courthouse. Police have evacuated the building and set up a perimeter. The public is asked to avoid the area until officials are able to clear the area.

A polling location in Blair County also reported moving ballots to the convention center after the precinct received a bomb scare. Investigators are currently on scene, with officers assisting in the moving of ballots.

WTAJ has also received reports of threats in Centre County, however, details about the alleged threats are unavailable at this time.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates and download the WTAJ app to receive breaking news notifications.

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Stick with WTAJ on-air and online as we continue to update this story when we know more.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
Republican David McCormick and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey are vying for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat (Capital-Star composite from official/campaign photos)

The race between Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and GOP opponent Dave McCormick remained too close to call on Wednesday morning.

Casey, who is seeking a fourth term in the Senate faced the well-heeled McCormick, who had Donald Trumps endorsement. McCormick contributed more than $4 million of his own money to his campaign.

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There are more votes that need to be counted in areas like Philadelphia and its important that every legal ballot will be counted, Casey campaign spokesperson Maddy McDaniel said in a statement Wednesday. When that happens we are confident the Senator will be re-elected.

McCormick aligned with Trump early on in the campaign, frequently appearing with the GOP candidate for president at rallies in Pennsylvania, including one in Butler in July where Trump was shot in an assassination attempt.

He addressed a crowd of supporters at his election watch party in Pittsburgh around 12:50 a.m. Wednesday.

We will look forward to a new agenda, a new America, and well look back on this day, today, and well say, that was the day we turned the corner, McCormick said. That was the day we had new leadership in Pennsylvania. That was the day we got our country back on track.

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When all is said and done Pennsylvanias U.S. Senate race is expected to be one of the most expensive of the 2024 cycle. It was certainly one of the most hotly contested.

Casey, whose family has deep roots in the commonwealth, and who shares a Scranton connection with President Joe Biden, was first elected to the Senate in a landslide victory in 2006, and is the longest serving Democratic U.S. senator in Pennsylvania history.

The 2024 contest appears to be Caseys closest race to date, with an early double-digit lead all but erased within the last month of the campaign. The once safely Democratic seat was rated a toss-up by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report in October, a shift from the previous ranking of lean Democrat.

McCormick, who served in President George W. Bushs administration, criticized Casey for his close relationship with Biden and his record of voting with the presidents agenda most of the time. He repeatedly tried to portray Casey as weak, while Casey painted McCormick as untrustworthy and working on behalf of billionaires and corporations.

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This was not McCormicks first run for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania; in 2022, he lost the GOP primary to Mehmet Oz by less than 1,000 votes. Oz went on to lose to Democrat John Fetterman in the general election.

Born in Pennsylvania and raised in Bloomsburg, McCormick worked as a CEO at a Connecticut-based hedge fund prior to his 2022 run.

This led to questions about whether the Senate hopeful was living in Pennsylvania or Connecticut, something Casey himself seized on in debates.

Neither candidate faced a serious challenger in the primary election, so the two have had their sights set on each other for most of the year. Both candidates have been running TV ads in Pennsylvania since March.

Correspondent Abigail Hakas contributed

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As Election Day is coming to an end Tuesday, here is a look at some of the searches having to do with the election that have been trending on Google.

There are also a large number of election-related topics that are trending on X, as well as users on X sharing search trends that they have noticed.

Top Google searches in the last 24 hours

Here are the top five search topics on Google in the last 24 hours, according to Google Trends:

2024 US election results. Robert Kennedy. How many electoral votes does California have. Pennsylvania election results. election results 2020.

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There are also a few questions that have been trending.

What is an electoral vote started trending seven hours ago and has had more than 200,000 searches, per Google Trends.

Another trending question is what are the swing states 2024? which began trending 13 hours ago and also has over 200,000 searches.

According to Google Trends, the only search topic in the top 25 that does not have to do with Election Day is Real Madrid vs. Milan.

Users on X notice search trends on Election Day

Some people on X have also posted after noticing spikes in search numbers for certain questions and topics.

One user noticed a spike on Google Trends in searches for who is running for president?

Americans doing some last minute research by Googling "who is running for president" on Election Day pic.twitter.com/umtrBwED8W  Hunter (@StatisticUrban) November 5, 2024

According to Google Trends, this is a search topic that has been common in all 50 states in the U.S.

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Another user also noticed an increase in searches for google trends.

@calvinthrall said Americans are also increasing their Google searches for Google trends in order to make tweets about what other Americans are googling.

Americans are also increasing their Google searches for Google trends in order to make tweets about what other Americans are googling. https://t.co/IkZxD5bh8B pic.twitter.com/VuZWnRYYXP  Calvin Thrall (@calvinthrall) November 5, 2024

There were also posts on X pointing out an increase in searches for the question Did Joe Biden drop out.

the average offline person lives a life so full of bliss that most of us cant even fathom pic.twitter.com/PMuGPcOIIz  sophie (@netcapgirl) November 5, 2024

There were multiple replies and posts on X saying that these claims of did Joe Biden drop out trending are false, but according to Google Trends there has been an increase in searches of this questions.

It is anticipated that searches of did Joe Biden drop out will continue to increase.

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Utah is the state with the most searches for this question.

What is trending on X today?

Here are the top 10 topics trending on X:

Florida Texas #Election2024 Georgia Ohio North Carolina Pennsylvania Melania Vermont Kornacki

Other trending topics underneath the News section on X are, Watching CNN, Harris/Walz and Electoral College.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A 16-year-old boy was ordered on Monday to be held in custody pending trial, on allegations he shot and killed a person a year ago.

Skylar Jordan, 16, was charged last week with one count of first-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 25, 2023, shooting death of James Irby. Given his age, Jordan will be held in the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

His age and the first-degree murder charge made the case an automatic transfer from the juvenile division of Peoria County Circuit Court to the adult division. Normally, 16-year-olds are prosecuted as juveniles and the records are sealed to the public, but homicide cases can be an exception.

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The move to adult court means Jordan, if convicted, now faces a possible prison sentence of up to 40 years. Normally, first-degree murder carries a 60-year maximum, but rulings by the Illinois Supreme Court in the past have capped what a juvenile can face. However, if a judge finds hes beyond rehabilitation, he could receive up to 60 years if hes convicted.

Peoria police were called to the 1800 block of South Stanley Street shortly after 10:15 p.m. Sept. 25, 2023, on a report of a shooting. There they found a 20-year-old man  Irby  who had been shot. He was taken to an area hospital, where he later died.

The deadly shooting was the citys 21st homicide of 2023 and part of a rash string of violence that has been attributed to a group known as the Snakes. Several members of that group  four adults and six juveniles  have been hit with racketeering allegations that could result in decades behind bars.

Im taken aback says judge of the alleged violence done by the Snakes street gang

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The juveniles cases are sealed, but prosecutors have said they have asked a judge to move the case to adult court. Unlike Jordans murder case, those cases would have a hearing, which is akin to a minitrial.

It was not immediately clear when those hearings would take place.

Jordans murder case is set for mid-December, though thats not likely to occur with the proximity to the holidays and the likely voluminous amount of police reports that his attorney would have to review before that.

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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating after a 47-year-old woman was hit and killed in University City Wednesday morning.

It happened just after 5:30 a.m. near the intersection of University City Boulevard and North Tryon Street.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers got to the scene where Korean Latavia Jones was found unresponsive.

ALSO READ: Boone police search for driver in deadly hit-and-run

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Police and witnesses said Jones dropped something in the road, and when she stopped to pick it up, a 2017 Hyundai Elantra fatally hit her.

Channel 9s Eli Brand spoke with a co-worker of Jones who said she was there when the tragedy occurred.

She was more than a boss to me. She was my friend, Quintoria Dean said. She was really funny. She really had a heart of gold, even though she was misunderstood a lot because shes just a Leo.

Dean said she and Jones both worked near the scene at a local sports bar called First and Goal. She said the Jones left behind two children.

This is definitely not how I expected to start my day. I was expecting to come to work and see my friend and party and hang out with my friend. I cant do that anymore. I just feel bad for her babies. Because she would be up right now taking her son to school, Dean expressed.

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Dean said life will never be the same for her and will continue to spread the same love for her friend as she always did.

It doesnt appear that speed or impairment played a part in the collision.

It is unclear if the driver in this case will face charges.

This is a developing story; check wsoctv.com for updates.












WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  A person was injured after jumping from the second floor of a home in West Hartford during a fire early Wednesday morning, and two others were taken to the hospital, according to fire officials.

Dispatchers received a report of a fire inside a multi-family home on North Quaker Lane around 12:20 a.m. While emergency crews were heading to the area, dispatchers said they received multiple other 911 calls about smoke inside the home and a fire in the basement. West Hartford Fire Chief Greg Priest said everyone was able to get out of the house.

Crews found smoke coming from multiple parts of the home, and additional crews were brought in to help with the fire.

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Man arrested outside of East Lyme polling location

Fire officials said crews entered the home and found a fire in the basement. It was extinguished within 20 minutes.

Priest said one person had jumped from the homes second floor due to the smoke. That person was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

The fire chief said three other residents also reported minor, non-life-threatening injuries. In total, three people were taken to the hospital with what is believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.

One pet was removed from the home but was not injured. Priest said nine people reportedly live in the house, including one who was not home at the time of the fire. The Red Cross is helping the residents.

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The West Hartford Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause and origin of the fire. Due to the smoke and water damage, the home is expected to be deemed uninhabitable.

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Your candidate lost. You woke up this morning, tired and unhappy and stricken with a vague sense of doom that comes from being associated with a losing team. Its the same sort of feeling that you may have after your team lost the Super Bowl or World Series  a combination of grief and depression. But this is more than a game. So many people are also angry, and some are a little, or a lot, scared, which is not an unreasonable emotion given that weve been told for months, by fear-mongers within both parties (and paid fear-mongers from outside the U.S.), that our very democracy hung on what happened Election Day.

We are voting to save ourselves from this precipice of danger where we now stand, Oprah Winfrey said Monday in Philadelphia.

The charged atmosphere leading up to the 2024 presidential election led many of us to personally identify with a candidate, and perhaps a political party, more than necessary, maybe even more than is healthy. And some Americans are paying a price for that investment today with unpleasant emotions and even feelings of rage toward our fellow Americans. Many others are grappling with despair.

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Theres a way forward: solve for peace.

I encountered that phrase while listening to financial advice from The Ramsey Show earlier this week. The hosts were talking to a man who wasnt sure how much cash to put down toward a house he was buying. It was a first-world problem to be sure, particularly in light of the latest reports on the housing market that showed the median age of homebuyers to be ticking upward, and some people suggesting that the solution to young Americans housing problem could be adult dormitories. Thats not exactly the future Ive been imagining for my kids.

But thats where we are, and part of the reason so many Americans woke up miserable today. They believed that many of the problems hanging around their life like angry thunderclouds were going to be instantly vaporized by the election. And now some are seething at the voters who took this hope away, with some suggesting that Trump voters were motivated by misogyny and racism (even though as of this writing, were talking about more than 71 million Americans).

The unhappiness and anger is a problem, not just for the people feeling this way this morning, but for all of us. Democracy may not have been on the brink, but some relationships are today, and it would be wise for Trump supporters to celebrate his victory with caution and empathy. This is a fraught moment.

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On The Ramsey Show, John Delony was telling a caller to put as much money down on a house as he wanted to, regardless of other advice about the down payment that hed been given. Doing so, Delony suggested, would give him greater security in the future to have a smaller mortgage and would enable the family to stay in the house if things took a turn for the worse. Solve for peace, he told the caller three times.

May we all do that today.

As individuals, we cant control the election results, even if we put up signs and drove people to the polls. That in itself is infuriating to many people, including certain cable news hosts who, as recently as yesterday, saw no problem with saying on the air that they cant wrap their minds around how half the country could be so dumb. Like elections, words have consequences, and that derision contributed to the elections outcome.

But still, for every person excited about Trump returning to the White House and carrying the Republican banner, there is a neighbor or a family member genuinely afraid about where America goes from here.

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We all have control over how we respond to the election. Solve for peace.

Utah GOP supporters watch as President-elect Donald J. Trump delivers his victory speech on TV as they gather in Draper for an election party on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Dont vent  its counterproductive. Congratulate your friends and family members who supported the other candidate. Turn off and tune out vitriol. Dont spread it around.

On X Tuesday night, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham tried to convey this, writing, To my Democratic friends: Take a deep breath. The sun will rise. The world will turn and despite what Oprah says, we will have another election. The comments were laced with expletives, suggesting that some Democrats have some work to do before getting to a place of peace. But anything else is counterproductive.

Solving for peace will mean different things to different people. For some, it will mean closing the door on 2024 and looking ahead to 2028. On Wednesday morning, some Democrats were already mulling who would be the face of resistance in the coming four years. For others, solving for peace might mean turning attention away from politics altogether, and finding other endeavors and goals that energize us and have the potential to bring us joy. Jordan Peterson says that all positive emotion derives from making progress toward a worthy goal. If your candidate lost, todays a day to set new goals.

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Years ago, U.S. post offices used to display the photos of the current president. That hasnt been allowed in 40 years because its seen as a political message, which is kind of terrible, and sends a different message altogether  one that says what too many people have been saying in recent years: The person that a majority of people in my country elected is NOT MY PRESIDENT.

Well, actually, that person is. And acknowledging that is the first step in solving for peace. Liz Cheney did so on X this morning, posting : Our nations democratic system functioned last night and we have a new President-elect. All Americans are bound, whether we like the outcome or not, to accept the results of our elections

Our nations democratic system functioned last night and we have a new President-elect. All Americans are bound, whether we like the outcome or not, to accept the results of our elections. We now have a special responsibility, as citizens of the greatest nation on earth, to do  Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) November 6, 2024

Democrats have spent the past four years criticizing not just Trump, but also his supporters for their refusal to acknowledge a loss. With Trump seemingly having achieved a victory with a margin too large to credibly challenge, Harris supporters are presented with an opportunity. They can choose to respond to loss in a different way than Trumps team did in 2020, stop the catastrophizing, and refrain from demonizing Trump and his supporters as they chart a new path.

Trump supporters, too, have a choice in how to respond to victory: in ways that further inflame divisions, or in ways that could promote healing  maybe not today, or next week, but eventually. Choose carefully. Solve for peace.
Pessimism was growing for Kamala Harriss pathway to the White House based on early voting totals across the US on Tuesday night.

Trump took quick leads in the Sun Belt states of North Carolina and Georgia, the former of which was eventually called for the Republican.

Meanwhile, The New York Times election needle projects theres an 92 percent of a Trump victory based on current data, with the Republican forecast to win 302 out 270 necessary Electoral College votes. The Times also currently forecasts Trump winning the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

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Across 1,300 counties with complete 95 percent or more of their votes counted, Trump impoved on his margins in at least 92 percent of them over 2020, according to a Politico analysis, though most of these counties arent in battlegrounds.

The early election indications had major Trump backers like Elon Musk celebrating.

Game, set and match, he wrote on X on Tuesday evening.

Game, set and match  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

Harris will likely need to sweep the Blue Wall states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania to win.

At the moment, Trump is leading Harris in Michigan 51.7 percent to 46.6 percent, with 41.1 percent of expected votes factored in. In Wisconsin, meanwhile, Trump leads Harris 51 to 47.6, with 73 percent of votes in.

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The Harris campaign hasnt lost faith however.

The Harris campaign says it still sees encouraging signs in states like Michigan and Georgia as Trump leads in the Sun Belt (Getty)

It is eyeing what is says are positive factors like enthusiasm in Michigan university towns and above-average support in suburban Indiana and Georgia, in some cases outpacing Bidens 2020 results in the latter state.

The campaign also tells The Independent that Trumps wide support in rural Georgia isnt exceeding what Harris already expected to face.

While we continue to see data trickle in from the Sun Belt states, we have known all along that our clearest path to 270 electoral votes lies through the Blue Wall states, Harris campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon wrote in an email to staff obtained by The Independent. And we feel good about what were seeing.

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The email said Harris was overperforming in turnout expectations in must-win Philadelphia, to the point it might top 2020 levels, and was expecting strong turnout in Detroit, where election results wont be reported out until later tonight.

The Democratic campaign is also still awaiting results from parts of hotly contested Wisconsin, as well as West Coast battleground states Nevada and Arizona.

Elsewhere, despite warnings from famed Democratic strategist James Carville about the strength of some Trump performances in suburban areas such as Loudon County, Virginia, observers have called that state for Harris.

Carville said he was more optimistic about potential votes for Harris in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

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Talking about a 50,000-100,000 increase in Democratic votes in Philadelphia, he added, so that should absolve something. That should absolve a lot; and some of the stuff I see out of Georgia is, obviously, more encouraging than Florida. Anything is more encouraging than that.

In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a closely watched swing district, Trump led Harris 49.44 percent to 49.27 percent, with 60.5 percent of precincts reporting, according to unofficial tallies from the local board of elections.

Overall, Trump leads Harris 51.4 percent to 47.6 in the state, according to the Associated Press, with 82 percent of votes counted.

As votes began arriving in the Keystone State this morning, Trump baselessly claimed he was hearing chatter about massive cheating in Pennsylvania, though Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said this had no factual basis whatsoever.
THITU ISLAND, South China Sea (AP)  Philippine forces practised retaking an island in the South China Sea Wednesday in the first such combat exercise in the disputed waters as Chinese navy ships kept watch from a distance, the Philippine military chief said.

Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who witnessed the drills from a navy frigate, said the exercise underscored the readiness of Filipino forces to defend the country's sovereignty at all costs.

"We are warning our neighbors or whoever or any external forces that we are capable of defending our islands, Brawner told a small group of journalists invited to the exercises, including The Associated Press.

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There were no immediate comments from Chinese officials, but they have opposed past war drills in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety.

The long-seething territorial disputes that also involve other claimants are a delicate fault line in the U.S.-China rivalry in Asia and likely will remain a major foreign policy concern for the next American president.

China has rapidly expanded its military and become increasingly assertive in pursuing territorial claims in the South China Sea. The tensions have led to more frequent confrontations, primarily with the Philippines and Vietnam, though the Chinese coast guard has had recent territorial tiffs with Indonesia and Malaysia.

In the drills, a Philippine navy frigate approached Loaita Island, which the Philippines calls Kota Island, while four speedboats with marines and navy sailors landed on its beach. A Philippine air force aircraft later dropped food and other supplies to the forces that retook the island.

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Brawner said Chinese navy ships observing from a distance added realism to the exercise."

The U.S. has been regarded as a crucial counterweight to China and has supported the Philippines as it faces Chinese aggression.

Washington's backing for unhindered access to the South China Sea, a key global trade and security route, would likely remain a priority for whoever wins the presidential election, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said.

The outgoing Biden administration has moved to strengthen an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in any future confrontation over Taiwan. Americas moves dovetail with Philippine efforts to shore up its territorial defense following its increasingly hostile territorial spats with China that started last year.

___

Gomez reported from Manila. Associated Press video journalist Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg) -- The Philippines has approved the purchase of 40 fast patrol craft worth 25.8 billion pesos ($441 million), seeking to bolster maritime security as tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea linger.

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The National Economic and Development Authority Board, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., greenlit the purchase, which will be funded by assistance from the French government, the economic planning agency said in a statement Tuesday.

The project aligns with the governments objective of enhancing maritime security by upgrading the capabilities of institutions such as the Philippine Coast Guard, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

The Philippine Coast Guard has sustained damage to its vessels in the past months due to tense clashes with China in disputed waters. The Marcos administration has stepped up efforts to assert the nations claims in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety.

The typhoon-prone nation also approved extensions and cost increases for two flood-control projects, which will get supplemental loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the NEDA said.

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The NEDA Board also approved the 27-billion peso Philippine International Exhibition Center project, which aims to boost tourism through meetings and conventions.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A man suspected of shooting at a Democratic Party office in Tempe three times over nearly three weeks and posting bags of white powder labeled as "poison" near political signs pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday morning in Maricopa County Superior Court.

It was Jeffrey Michael Kellys first court hearing since being twice-indicted by a grand jury on numerous felony charges that included the following:

One count of terrorism, a Class 2 felony.

Four counts of unlawful use of an infectious biological substance or radiological agent, a Class 2 felony.

Three counts of discharge of a firearm at a structure, a Class 3 felony.

Three counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm, a Class 6 Felony.

One count of criminal damage, a Class 5 felony.

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Kelly has been held in jail since Oct. 23 where he is being held on two $500,000 cash-only bonds meaning he would have to post $1 million cash to bond out. Kellys attorney has said he plans to seek a lower bond for his client.

Kelly's next court date was set for Dec. 18.

Feds seized large arsenal from Kellys home

Federal agents seized roughly 120 firearms including "machine guns" and a grenade launcher out of Kelly's home on the morning of Oct. 23 along with roughly 250,000 rounds of ammunition, according to court documents.

A Republic reporter overheard mention of handguns being found in a master bathroom safe and the words machine gun and "silencers.

Jeffrey Michael Kelly during his arraignment, November 6, 2024, in Maricopa County Superior Court, Phoenix, Arizona.

A prosecutor said during Kelly's initial appearance that officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also recovered numerous silencers and scopes for various levels of distance including long-range and body armor. The prosecutor added that some of the guns in Kelly's home were loaded.

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The weapons were placed in a moving van and hauled away.

Kellys attorney, Jason Squires, has described his client as a sportsman who participates in various firearm competitions.

Yes, for some people 120 firearms sounds creepy," Squires said during a previous court hearing. "To people who compete and engage in the sportsman's realm, this is not that inappropriate."

Police search shows makeshift sign workshop

That search also revealed a makeshift sign workshop in the back patio of Kellys home, according to an additional court document filed. Authorities found a table with what was described in the document as sign making materials such as glue guns, cans of spray paint, glitter and a random assortment of compact discs.

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Some of the sign factory remained in Kelly's backyard during the search of his home. An Arizona Republic reporter saw what appeared to be a homemade sign with the words: Legalize murder and Yes on 139.

Proposition 139, on the November ballot, would enshrine abortion rights in the Arizona Constitution.

The colors, font and typography were a crude approximation of the signs posted by the campaign advocating for the propositions passage. An official Yes on 139 sign was seen in Kellys backyard near the homemade one.

In Kellys bedroom, authorities found notebooks that had slogans that would appear on signs Kelly would later make, along with notes about where they would be located, the court filing said. Notations next to some slogans said razor or powder, according to the document. Prosecutors cited Kelly's posting of the signs as an escalation of political violence and said investigators believed he was "preparing to commit an act of mass casualty."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix man suspected of shooting up Dem office pleads not guilty
Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

Photos from watch parties across the US showed mixed reactions.

Harris watch parties turned somber, while Trump watch parties became jubilant.

Former President Donald Trump is headed back to the White House for a second, non-consecutive term after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

Trump flipped several key battleground states won by President Joe Biden in 2020 to secure his victory, breaching the "blue wall" and winning the popular vote.

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Throughout election night, the mood shifted dramatically at watch parties hosted by Democratic and Republican groups. Photos show the mixed reactions displayed by Americans across the country.

Harris supporters watching from Virginia appeared enthusiastic about early election night results in Pennsylvania.

An election night watch party in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

At the election night party in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the crowd appeared jubilant as early Pennsylvania results favored Harris.

At a watch party for Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, the mood began to shift.

An election night watch party in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Trump ended up winning Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes. It was a crucial battleground state that was part of Harris' "blue wall" path to 270.

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Casey's race to retain his Senate seat was still too close to call as of Wednesday afternoon.

Trump supporters in New York City's Times Square celebrated early favorable results for their candidate.

Trump supporters in New York City. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

Billboards in Times Square broadcast the election results as they came in.

A few blocks away, pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested both candidates.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators on election night in New York City. Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images

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The protesters held Palestinian flags and signs calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Attendees at an Arizona Democrats watch party in Phoenix covered their eyes as results came in.

An Arizona Democrats watch party in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin/AP

The winner of Arizona's 11 electoral votes had not yet been called as of Wednesday afternoon.

A Trump supporter wearing a "Women for Trump" hat celebrated while watching Fox News' election night broadcast in Long Beach, California.

An election night watch party in Long Beach, California. Mark J. Terrill/AP

Fox News called the election for Trump hours before other outlets.

Elsewhere in California, Harris supporters appeared despondent at a watch party in San Francisco.

A viewer at a watch party in San Francisco. Noah Berger/AP

A man put his face in his hands while watching election results come in.

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The Harris campaign's election night event in Washington, DC, took a somber turn as the night progressed.

Harris supporters awaited election results at Howard University in Washington, DC. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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The Harris campaign held its election night event at Howard University, Harris' alma mater.

Some attendees began to cry as Harris' path to 270 narrowed.

Harris supporters at Howard University on election night. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

At 1 a.m., the Harris campaign's cochair announced that Harris wouldn't address supporters at the event.

As Trump inched closer to 270, his supporters reacted enthusiastically at a Republican watch party in Wisconsin.

A Republican watch party in Pewaukee, Wisconsin ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Trump supporters gathered at a hotel in Pewaukee to watch the results.

Excitement grew at the Trump campaign's election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida.

Trump supporters outside the Palm Beach Convention Center. Evan Vucci/AP

Trump supporters embraced as he won the battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia.

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At a Democratic watch party in Las Vegas, Harris supporters held each other as the vice president lagged behind Trump in key swing states.

The Nevada Democratic Party's election results watch party. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

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One guest at the watch party, which was hosted by the Nevada Democratic Party, put her arm around another as Pennsylvania was called for Trump.

Fox News projected Trump as the election winner shortly before 2 a.m. on Wednesday, and other outlets followed suit hours later.

A GOP election night party in Newport Beach, California. MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images/MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes clinched Trump's victory. Trump supporters gathered at an Irish pub in Newport Beach, California, appeared ecstatic.

Trump's election night event in West Palm Beach turned into a victory party.

Trump supporters celebrated in West Palm Beach, Florida. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Supporters wore red hats and campaign gear as they celebrated Trump's win.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Kent Bombard became Pine City's first openly gay mayor to be elected, securing a "landslide victory" with 49.4% of the local vote during Tuesday's election.

Bombard was appointed in July following Mayor Carl Pederson's resignation. On Tuesday, he defeated his closest challenger by more than 26%.

"Thank you for believing in me as the mayor of our great city! I am eager to unite our efforts and strive towards our shared goals," he wrote to Facebook as the results came in.

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He is now the third openly gay mayor in the states history, following Richard Carlbom, who served as mayor of St. Joseph from 2005 to 2007, and Aaron Wittnebel, elected mayor of Lake Park in 2012.

Kent Bombard on Facebook

"It doesn't matter if you're gay or straight. Leading a city is leading a city. Being part of the community is being a part of a community, and it takes all kinds to make the world go around," Bombard told FOX 9 when he was first appointed.

Before becoming Pine City's mayor, Bombard worked in IT. He now plans to focus on expanding housing and job opportunities in Pine City.

The city is located about an hour north of the Twin Cities and has a population of approximately 3,900. Pine City also hosts East Central Minnesota Pride, the first rural pride event in the U.S., founded in 2005.
EVANGELINE, La. (KLFY)  Pine Prairie will have a new police chief.

According to the Louisiana Secretary of State website, candidates Gilbert J. Bordelon and Shane Guillory will go to runoffs, Dec. 7.

Incumbent Police Chief L.C. Deshotel has served the villages police department for 30 years, EvangelineToday.com reported. Running against four other candidates, Deshotel only collected 11% (49) votes in his favor, making him second to last.

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Deshotel was arrested Monday by the Evangeline Parish Sheriffs Office on accusations of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and obstructing public passages. That is not his first DWI arrest. He was also arrested and charged with DWI in early 2023.

Per the Louisiana Secretary of State, here are the results of the police chief race:

Gilbert J. Bordelon  122 votes

L.C. Deshotel  49 votes

Joey A. Fontenot  35 votes

Shane Guillory  155 votes

Joshua Uhlman  68 votes

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
Platte County voters on Tuesday approved a quarter-cent sales tax that will raise millions of dollars to support childrens mental health services.

Approval of the measure will create the Childrens Services Fund of Platte County. The ballot question asked voters for a tax increase to put money toward services that fill gaps in available screening and mental health services for kids and teens in the Northland.

The question received 56% of votes in favor of the tax, and 44% opposed.

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The tax is expected to generate nearly $5 million each year. The average county resident would pay about $20 annually for the new fund, according to the Platte County for Kids Coalition which supported the tax.

Voter approval comes after several months of back and forth between residents and the Platte County Commission, which unanimously opposed the question.

The countys three commissioners, all Republican, refused to put the proposed tax on the ballot in the spring. Commissioners said they did not want to expand the governments footprint. That prompted supporters of the tax to collect signatures to get the measure before voters anyway.

Supporters of the sales tax needed at least 8% of the countys eligible voters to put the question on the ballot, or about 4,500 valid signatures.

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The campaign was championed by several nonprofits including Beacon Mental Health and Synergy Services.

Platte County will join Clay and Jackson counties in providing services for youth through similar funds.
Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election over VP Kamala Harris, and the result has garnered strong reactions from voters, celebrities, and more. Plies, who has been one of the most vocal supporters of Harris during her campaign, has shared his thoughts following her loss.

If I could hug each and every one of yall who needed a hug, and let you put your head on my shoulder and let you get off what you needed to get off, God knows I would, he said in a video shared on Instagram. I wish I had something big enough so that I could invite whoever wanted to come.. just to check on each other and make sure each other was good and everybody was holding up okay.

Last month, Plies stood behind his support for Harris by releasing a track dedicated to her titled Mrs. 47.

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The Bust It Baby artist continued by providing some advice about dealing with a loss and encouraging people to stand firm in their beliefs. Just because the person that you felt shouldve won didnt make it across the finish line, dont for a second allow yourself to question your beliefs and what it is that you stand for. Just because the results didnt go how you forseen them to go, doesnt mean that you wrong, he added.

He then focused his attention on the victorious convicted felon, and said he is a representation of the United States. One thing this election did teach me, something that [Trump] knew character no longer matters. All the dark- and the things hes said, he knew people wanted that, he said. This whole notion of America, this is not who we are, no, this is exactly who we are.

The Florida hitmaker concluded by attempting to lift peoples spirits and provide optimism about the future. Again, Im a firm believer in God dont make mistakes. And I know at some point in time, He will reveal why this went the way that it did. I want to continue to tell yall to still stand for the things that you believe in, no different than I believe in.

According to the New York Times, Trump won his seat in the White House just after 5:30 a.m. ET after taking Wisconsin. The outlet reported that he won more than the necessary 270 electoral college votes and also earned the popular vote.

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Since then, the news has brought forth reactions from figures like Cardi B, Kerry Washington, and more. Check out a full list of reactions here.

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Detectives investigating sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand have asked prosecutors to consider bringing charges against the former comedian.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed it had received a number of allegations of sexual offenses in London and elsewhere in the U.K. following a joint investigation into Brand by Channel 4s Dispatches, The Times and The Sunday Times in September 2023. The program aired extensive allegations including ones of rape and sexual assault against Brand.

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The Briton has denied all claims made against him, which date between 2006 and 2013 when the 49-year-old was at the height of his fame working on Big Brothers Big Mouth, Kings of Comedy and Big Brothers Celebrity Hijack. A Banijay U.K.-commissioned investigation later found informal complaints concerning Brand were made over 20 years ago on set.

On Wednesday, the Met Police confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that a file of evidence has been passed to the U.K.s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for their consideration.

As part of the investigation, a man in his 40s has been interviewed by officers under caution on three separate occasions, their statement said. These interviews related to a number of non-recent sexual offenses alleged to have taken place inside and outside of London.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation, said: Our investigation continues and a file has now been passed to the CPS. We have a team of dedicated officers providing specialist support to the women who have come forward. We are committed to investigating sexual offenses, no matter how long ago they are alleged to have taken place.

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One of the women told Dispatches that Brand entered a relationship with her when he was 31 and she was 16. Their relationship lasted three months, she had said, and Brand had been emotionally abusive and controlling. Another claimed that Brand raped her in 2012 in his L.A. home, according to the Sunday Times.

Following the Dispatches investigation, the BBC swiftly removed programming featuring Brand from its streaming services iPlayer and BBC Sounds, saying it assessed that it now falls below public expectations. Channel 4 did the same, while YouTube barred him from making money on videos posted to the site.

Brand has attended three police interviews, two in late 2023 and one in January 2024. He was recently baptized and now devotes much of his platform to his new-found Christian faith.

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Springboro police are asking for help identifying a person who stole a package from a persons porch.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

In video from the homeowners security camera, a man is seen stealing a package from the persons porch on Oct. 29 around 11:55 p.m. according to a Facebook post from the Springboro Police Department.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The package was stolen from the porch of a home on Roundtree Court.

If you have any information that could help identify the suspect, contact Detective Terry Dunkel at 937-748-0611.

Can you identify this person? On 10/29/24 at 11:55 PM this person took a package from the porch of a residence on Roundtree Court that did not belong to them. If you can provide any information to help identify the suspect please contact Detective Terry Dunkel at (937) 748-0611. Thank you Posted by Springboro Ohio Police Department on Tuesday, November 5, 2024

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KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD)  Police have named the man who was killed Monday night in a shooting in Kalamazoo.

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety identified the victim as Paris Anton Powe, 34, of Kalamazoo.

KDPS: 1 killed, 1 injured in Egleston neighborhood shooting

The shooting happened around 10:25 p.m. Monday in the area of Egleston Avenue and Reed Court. Police say Powe was found inside a vehicle, and he was pronounced dead on scene.

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The Department extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Powe during this difficult time, KDPS wrote Wednesday in a release.

A second person was hurt in the shooting, according to police: A 40-year-old man had a gunshot wound that was not considered life-threatening.

Investigators previously said they believed the victims were with an unidentified male suspect at another location earlier in the evening and then went to the Egleston neighborhood, where the suspect shot the driver and then at the other victim.

No suspect description has been released, and its unknown whether any arrests have been made. On Wednesday, police said they were actively pursuing leads. If you know anything, youre asked to call the KDPS Criminal Investigations Division at 269.337.8139 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  United States Capitol Police have identified the 28-year-old Michigan man who was arrested at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Tuesday around noon.

Police arrested Austin M. Olson of Westland for carrying a torch, flare gun, and documents police describe as a manifesto that mentioned the war in the Middle East, The Hill reports.

According to the Capitol Police, Olson drove to the Capitol and submitted to a routine security screening of himself and his backpack. They say he smelled of gasoline, and they found a torch and flare gun inside of his jacket.

United States Capitol Police have identified the 28-year-old Michigan man who was arrested at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Tuesday around noon.

Capitol Police say that he had a lighter, a torch lighter, and two bottles which they believed contained some type of accelerant inside of his bag. Police also say one of the bottles was leaking and smelled of gasoline.

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Police also believe that Olson intended to deliver his documents to Congress, but have not concluded what his intentions were at this time.

After police searched his bag, he was arrested. The U.S. Capitol Police investigators said they tracked Olsons prior movements and located his sedan at 9th Street and Maryland Avenue, NE. The car was cleared by the U.S. Capitol Police K9 Unit and the Hazardous Incident Response Division.

Investigators learned that Olson traveled to the Washington, D.C. area from Michigan on Monday, November 4.

If our officers did not stop this man, yesterday would have been a very different story than this one, said U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger. All of our employees continue to work, together, around the clock during this heightened security environment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
WEATHERSFIELD, Ohio (WKBN)  Weathersfield Township Police Department is investigating after a man was shot on Sunday.

Police were called to the 1300 block of Heaton Boulevard around 3:30 a.m. Sunday in reference to reports of gunfire. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a man who had been shot in the arm. Officers provided the man with first aid until he was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Reports state there were around 15-20 people inside and outside the home, who police spoke with to gather information on the incident.

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Niles and Weathersfield police worked together in the investigation, recovering seven total shell casings from the driveway, yard and street in front of the home. Reports state three .223 casings and four .45 casings were found.

A car in the driveway was damaged by gunfire, with officers noting it appears a round went through the front windshield, out the rear windshield, and then into the front of the home.

A bullet also made its way inside the home, shot through the bathroom wall, reports state.

Witnesses provided police with two potential suspects, who were not named in reports.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
A man was killed in a Tuesday night shooting in Bostons Dorchester neighborhood.

Officers responding to the area of 15 Michigan Avenue just after 8 p.m. for a report of a man shot found the victim deceased at the scene, according to police.

The name of the victim is not being released at this time.

No arrests have been made.

The incident remains under investigation by Boston Police Homicide Detectives.

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No further information was immediately available.

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ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI)  Police are searching for a man who was caught on camera robbing an Attleboro liquor store Monday afternoon.

Officers were called to ACE Liquors on Washington Street around 2:30 p.m. to investigate reports of an unarmed robbery.

The suspect, described by police as a white man in his mid-20s, crouched down behind the checkout counter while the clerk was distracted and moving inventory. Police said he then got into the cash drawer and took an undisclosed amount of money.

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The clerk noticed the man behind the counter after he took the money, according to police, and tried to stop him. The two struggled briefly before police said the suspect ran out of the store toward the intersection of Washington and May streets.

(Courtesy: Attleboro Police Department)

(Courtesy: Attleboro Police Department)

The clerk was treated for minor injuries which resulted from the struggle with the suspect, according to the police.

The suspect did not threaten the clerk with a weapon, police said, and there is no immediate threat to the public.

Police said the suspect is known to frequent nearby liquor stores. He was last seen wearing gray cargo-style sweatpants with black stripes down the legs, a black hooded sweatshirt with a Reebok logo and a black beanie-style stocking cap.

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Anyone who can identify the suspect is asked to contact the Attleboro Police Departments Detective Division by calling (508) 222-1212.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A man has been charged with murder and assault in the case of a shooting in Grand Rapids that left a 55-year-old grandmother dead and two others injured.

Keontae Moore, 33, was charged with open murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder and felony weapons charges, according to the Grand Rapids Police Department. He was booked into the Kent County Correctional Facility.

Police ID grandmother shot, killed in Grand Rapids

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The shooting happened on Oct. 24 at an apartment complex on Pastiche Drive SE near Eastern Avenue during an argument in the parking lot. Tracey Broyles, 55, was shot and killed and GRPD ruled her death as a homicide.

Two men in their 30s, who police confirmed were Broyles sons, were also shot and taken to the hospital. As of Oct. 28, GRPD said the men were recovering.

At the time, GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom said the people involved likely knew each other.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  During the 17-day fair at The Big E, members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit were tasked to support safety on September 23rd.

Springfield Day was held on Monday, September 23rd with a parade in honor of the city of firsts with local marching bands and even their very own Colleen Court. City leaders, including Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, were there to represent the city.

City of Springfield announced plans to address panhandling

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During that night, at around 10:13 p.m. two Springfield men were arrested after a fight in front of the Brooks Building near Gate 5 inside The Big E. As two officers grabbed a suspect and took him to the ground, a group of people surrounded the police acting hostile toward the officers.

West Springfield Police Sgt. LaFrance told 22News that a man in the crowd jumped on the back of an officer who was attempting to make an arrest. Davian Lopez and London Jefferson were arrested and both charged with assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

In a post by the Springfield Police on Wednesday, Superintendent Lawrence Akers recognized members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit for their professionalism while providing support at The Big E Fair. A letter was sent to Superintendent Akers from West Springfield Police Chief Jay Gearing that read in part, Captain (Brian) Keenan and his Firearms Investigation Unit were a valuable asset in ensuring the success of this years fair. Their professionalism and skills should be applauded.

The Big E broke an attendance record that day with 86,673 visitors.

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Those who assisted during Springfield Day include the following:

Captain Brian Keenan

Sergeant Jaime Bruno

Officer Felix Aguirre

Officer Jose Robles

Officer Sinely Vegerano

Officer Alley Bonemary

Officer Jason Bacis

Officer Mark Provost

Officer Duane Lewis

Officer Jess McKnight

Officer Victor Allder

Officer Seth Barker

Officer John Barlow

I appreciate the letter from Chief Gearing reinforcing that our Firearms Investigation Unit under the direction of Captain Brian Keenan conduct themselves in a manner that shines a positive light on our department across city lines. This Unit was asked to assist at the Big E on Springfield Day and provided the resources necessary to ensure a safe time was had by all fairgoers. This Unit handles many unique tasks in our city and in other municipalities and they always do so with the utmost professionalism, said Superintendent Akers.

Deputy Chief Lawrence Akers was sworn in as the next Springfield Police Superintendent in April after Cheryl Clapprood retired.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Spanish police said Wednesday that they had seized 13 tons of cocaine -- the country's largest-ever haul of the drug -- and made one arrest.

Police and customs agents intercepted the cocaine in the southern port of Algeciras on October 14 from a container ship that had arrived from Ecuador's largest city Guayaquil, a drug-trafficking hub.

The ship carried crates of bananas that concealed identically designed boxes containing the cocaine, and intelligence from Ecuadoran police tipped off the Spanish authorities, national police said in a news release.

Spanish police display the 13 tons of cocaine, which was seized at the Algeciras port, hidden in banana shipments after it was transported in a container from Ecuador, at the port in Algeciras, Spain, November 6, 2024. / Credit: Jon Nazca / REUTERS

A woman believed to be a partner of the importing company was arrested in the central Spanish city of Toledo and two other suspects are on the run, police said.

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Spain is a main entry point for drugs into Europe because of its close ties with former colonies in Latin America and its proximity to Morocco, a top cannabis producer.

Massive hauls of drugs have been hidden in banana shipments throughout Europe before. In February, British authorities said they had found more than 12,500 pounds of cocaine hidden in a shipment of bananas, shattering the record for the biggest single seizure of hard drugs in the country. Last August, customs agents in the Netherlands seized 17,600 pounds of cocaine found hidden inside crates of bananas in Rotterdam's port. Three months before that, a police dog sniffed out 3 tons of cocaine stashed in a case of bananas in the Italian port of Gioia Tauro.

Breaking down key demographic groups in 2024 presidential election

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TEXARKANA, Texas (KETK)  A 30-year-old registered sex offender is behind bars after evading arrest when a Texarkana mother found her teenager in his car early Monday morning, authorities said.

Man dies in deputy-involved shooting after threating to kill coworkers

According to the Texarkana Police Department, a Texarkana mother called police when she found her 13-year-old daughter in a car parked in front of a house with Tyjae Clark, 30 of New Boston, instead of asleep in bed.

Mugshot of Tyjae Clark, courtesy of the Bowie County Jail.

The police department said Clark kicked the girl out of the car and sped off when the mother confronted them. The mother was able to provide authorities with a car description and license plate number.

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Texarkana PD said the Wake Village Police Department found the car and stopped it a short time later. It was then that Clark got out of the car and ran away from police. After a perimeter was set up in the area an officer spotted him and placed him under arrest, the police department said.

Clark was taken to the Bowie County Jail where he was originally only charged with evading detention until a search of Clarks phone revealed several inappropriate messages between him and the girl, officials said.

1 injured, 1 arrested in overnight Longview shooting

According to police, the girl clearly told Clark, who has a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender, that she was only 13-years-old.

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The police department said based on the information and evidence, arrest warrants for aggravated sexual assault of a child and online solicitation of a minor were served to Clark.

Clark is being held at the Bowie County Jail on a total $410,000 bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
OCEANSIDE, N.Y. (PIX11)  A poll worker was accused of threatening a voter at a Long Island polling site on Tuesday, which was Election Day, according to the Nassau County Police Department.

It happened at Oaks Elementary School in Oceanside around 3 p.m. The poll worker, identified as 54-year-old Mark W. Sebesta, was accused of making the threat during an argument with a 25-year-old man, police said.

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Sebesta was also accused of saying he was a law enforcement agent as police officers tried to diffuse the situation, according to authorities. Hes then accused of struggling with the officers as they tried to take him into custody.

Voting was not disrupted during the arrest, police said. Sebesta was charged with menacing, harassment, obstructing governmental administration and criminal impersonation.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
PERMIAN BASIN (KMID/KPEJ)  Polls have closed across the Basin and parts of the nation with residents voting for many vital races including the presidency, house races, and senatorial seats, as well as various local races. This is especially true across the Basin, as many residents voted for City Council seats, the Odessa mayoral position, and various bonds in the area. Below you will find a list of the major races across the Basin and the candidates who are seeking election in the various November races.

In Odessa, incumbent mayor Javier Joven is facing challenger Cal Hendrick, while challenger Craig Stoker is facing off against incumbent Denise Swanner for the At Large city council seat. In District One, Eddie Mitchell is challenging incumbent Mark Matta. In District Two, Nayely Urias is facing incumbent Steven Thompson.

Ector County: Whats on your ballot?

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The Ector County Hospital District Board of Directors is also asking voters to increase the Districts tax cap from 15 cents to 75 cents to expand the Fire and EMS services in the area.

Odessa College is also proposing a $335 million bond for college facilities and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds. You can learn more here.

Additionally, the Ector County Utilities District has three board seats up for election. You can learn more about those candidates here.

In Midland, John Burkholder, Eric Davidson, Robin Poole, and Rance C. Norton are all competing for the At Large city council seat. In District One Brian Stubbs is facing off against Heather Bredimus.

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There is also a proposition to return land to the Midland Soup Kitchen Ministry after it was given to the City of Midland because there was no use for the land at the time. You can learn more here.

Be sure to check back with ABC Big 2 News and here on our website for the results of all the races throughout the Basin and across the country.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
For the last four years, Donald Trump has denied losing the 2020 election, and experts fear how he'll react if he loses tonight.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Some believe he may challenge election results in the case of a Kamala Harris win based on his recent rally speeches. In September, he suggested any loss on his part would be due to "cheating," saying, If I lose  Ill tell you what, its possible. Because they cheat. Thats the only way were gonna lose, because they cheat."

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

So, it may not surprise you that today, at 4:39 p.m. ET  hours before polls closed  Trump posted on Truth Social, claiming there's "massive CHEATING in Philadelphia."

As a reminder, polls don't close until 8 p.m. ET in Pennsylvania. Truth Social: Donald Trump / Via truthsocial.com

He also wrote, "Law Enforcement coming!!!" Which seems to suggest that local police are aware of this "cheating" and taking action. However, a spokesman in the Philadelphia Police Department told Fortune that they are not aware of anything at this time.

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Meanwhile, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner told the outlet, There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation. We have invited complaints and allegations of improprieties all day. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath.

Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein, who is a Republican, also said there is "absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure."

There is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure. pic.twitter.com/wMiPnAgO17  Seth Bluestein (@SethBluestein) November 5, 2024

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Truth Social: Donald Trump / truthsocial.com / Via Twitter: @SethBluestein

Pennsylvania is an important swing state  one of seven expected to decide this election.

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As this post was being written, Trump seemed to double down on his cheating claims and added Michigan to the list  another notable swing state.

Truth Social: Donald Trump / Via truthsocial.com

We'll keep you updated as the election develops.
Polls closed Tuesday evening in Chicagos first school board elections, where 10 local races have high stakes for Mayor Brandon Johnson and the powerful Chicago Teachers Union.

Though they began as sleepy provincial contests, the races quickly became a referendum on Johnson and the progressive labor group. The new mayor, whose 2023 campaign was bankrolled by the CTU, has struggled to retain control of the fourth-largest public school district and drawn criticism for plans to take out a high-interest $300 million loan.

The historic local races follow an embarrassing stretch for Johnson in which he unsuccessfully attempted to oust Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez and cycled through two board presidents. As a result of the chaos, a significant number of progressive members of the City Council broke ranks with the mayor, including via a letter signed by 41 aldermen condemning his recent moves to shake up the education board.

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The tensions sparked a campaign spending spree by the CTU and opposite-minded political action committees, with more $8 million spent across the 10 races.

CTU spent at least $1.7 million in direct contributions to candidates as of Monday, largely in-kind contributions of field staff, polling, advertising or voter outreach. In all but two races, the CTU-backed candidate had raised the largest sum. Spending caps were also lifted on nine of the races.

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools Political Action Committee had devoted nearly $2.3 million to either supporting or opposing school board candidates during that same time period. A second pro-school-choice PAC, the Urban Center, had devoted another $770,000.

But even in a local school board race, a grassroots movement emerged. In some districts, some candidates touted themselves as independents who cant be bought by the deep-pocketed interest groups  both CTU and charter-aligned  funneling money into the race.

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Regardless of the final outcome in the school board race, Johnson still will remain in control of the board after the election, with the power to appoint 11 of its 21 unpaid seats. The historic hybrid board will be seated in January.

Heres a quick look at the 10 races:

District 1

On the citys far Northwest side, Michelle Pierre, who is backed by the charter schools network, led CTU candidate Jennifer Custer 50.2% to 49.7% with 10% of the vote tallied. Both have extensive education experience and have voiced support for keeping Martinez in his leadership position.

District 2

With 43% of precincts reporting, CTU-endorsed candidate Ebony DeBerry led businessman Bruce Leon 40% to 23%. Candidates Kate Doyle and Margaret Cullerton Hooper had 21% and 16% respectively.

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District 2 candidates garnered the most campaign cash, $1.2 million, as of Monday, buoyed by $550,000 that 50th ward Democratic committeeman Bruce Leon loaned his campaign.

District 3

With the Northwest side district reporting 1% of the precincts, the CTU-backed Jason Dones trailed Carlos Rivas, who is backed by the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. Rivas led 54% to 45%.

District 4

On the citys Northside Lakefront, Ellen Rosenfeld led former CTU member Karen Zaccor in perhaps the boards closest-watched race 43% to 24% with nearly 4% of precincts counted.

The six-way race also includes Kimberly Brown, Thomas Day, Carmen Gioiosa and Andrew Davis.

District 5

Austins Aaron Jitu Brown, who is endorsed by the CTU, appeared to be fending off write-in challenges from Jousef M. Shkoukani and Kernetha Jones.

District 6

In a district incorporating the near North Side, near South Side and the Loop, CPS parent Jessica Biggs led the CTU-endorsed candidate Anusha Thotakura 46% to 33% with 5% of precincts reporting.

District 7

CTU-candidate Yesenia Lopez led Eva Villalobos and Raquel Don with 7% of precincts reporting. Lopez, a community organizer and executive assistant in Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias office, outraised her nearest District 7 opponent by more than $800,000.

District 8

With 7% of precincts reporting, INCS-basked Angel Gutierrez led former CTU member Felix Ponce 65% to 35%.

District 9

On the citys Southwest-side, Independent Therese Boyle led CTU-backed Lanetta Thomas 42% to 25% with 5% of precincts reporting.

District 10

With nearly 5% of the South Side precincts reporting, award-winning rapper Che Rhymefest Smith led Robert Jones, Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church pastor who is backed by the CTU.

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Smith netted 36% of the vote in early returns, followed by Karin Norington-Reaves with 30% and Jones with 24%.

For supporters of an elected Chicago school board, this November was decades in the making. Though Johnson retains control by one seat, these 10 races represent an important first step for advocates who argue giving voters a direct say in CPS leadership is better for democracy.

Mayor Richard M. Daley got the state to give him control of the Chicago school board in 1995, and Chicagos mayors have kept it since, much to the CTUs chagrin as it butted heads with mayor after mayor. However, Springfield lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker dealt Johnsons predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, a stunning defeat in 2021 by backing a bill that gradually takes power away from City Hall.

The process began Tuesday with the election of 10 new members to join the 11 mayoral appointees. By 2027, the entire 21-member board will be picked by voters.

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However, few expected that hard-fought victory for the teachers union would be followed by some of the most tumultuous months in recent CPS memory. The unusual turn of events has left the pro-CTU Johnson fighting to flex his waning executive authority over the school board, blowing up several local school board races into larger referendums on him and the teachers union.

Johnson faced criticism on the campaign trail for being too beholden to the powerful labor organization, despite his vows to be an independent leader. His union ties  he was a paid organizer for the CTU  prompted several pro-charter and independent candidates to join the race, offering themselves as the anti-Johnson voices on the ballot. The CTU, meanwhile, hit back at opponents with, in some cases, misleading literature attempting to link them to Donald Trump.

The tension boiled over this summer when Johnson butted heads with Martinez, a Lightfoot holdover, over the issue of a disputed $175 million pension payment for non-teacher staffers at CPS and a $300 million high-interest loan. The pension payment historically had been paid by the city until Lightfoot shifted the burden to the school district. The loan was pitched by Johnsons team as a means to pay for the $175 million obligation plus the start of the next CTU contract.

Martinez refused, and Johnsons handpicked school board sided with him in its July budget vote. That spending plan left open-ended the fate of the pension payment as well as how to afford the upcoming teachers and principals raises. Johnson then asked for Martinezs resignation, according to the CEO, and was rebuffed. After that, the school board resigned en masse, signaling further reluctance to the mayors agenda but also clearing the way for him to replace them with new allies.

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Only the Chicago Board of Education has the power to fire a CEO. Last week, Johnsons second school board president, the Rev. Mitchell L. Johnson, resigned after coming under fire for a string of antisemitic, sexist and conspiratorial social media posts. Martinez remains the CEO, for now.

Still, the latest political headwinds surrounding the CTU and larger progressive movement come after an impressive decade of organizing to move Chicago government to the left and, for the first time in four decades, take control of the 5th floor of City Hall.

The teachers union underwent a radical transformation a decade ago when it organized against former Mayor Rahm Emanuels 2013 mass school closures that disproportionately hit Black neighborhoods. Under then-CTU President Karen Lewis, a bold message of racial equity caught fire and solidified the labor organizations reputation as the vanguard of Chicagos political left.

The union and the rest of the progressive labor movement have since successfully pushed a broad slate of candidates in 2019 and 2023 that helped create a more independent City Council, frustrating traditional Democrats who are often criticized by CTU allies for going to get along. That culminated in 2023s highly polarized mayoral runoff between two starkly divergent visions on education  Johnson, who cut his teeth in politics as a CTU organizer, and Paul Vallas, the moderate pro-school-choice candidate and former CPS CEO  with the union coming out on top.

One and a half years later, it remains to be seen where the powerful labor groups political might lands with voters now.
After a historic US election cycle that saw the incumbent president step down from his partys ticket and two assassination attempts against the Republican presidential nominee, voters are (finally) casting their ballots.

Tens of millions of Americans will have already voted by the time that polls close on 5 November, but tens of millions more will cast ballots in person on election day. In 2020, more than 150 million Americans voted in the presidential race, as turnout hit its highest level since 1992.

This year, election experts expect voter turnout to be similarly robust, with Americans eager to make their voices heard in what will probably be a very close contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Voters will also have the opportunity to weigh in on thousands of other elections happening at the federal, state and local levels.

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As voters head to the polls, heres a guide on how to navigate an election night that is guaranteed to be eventful:

6pm ET: polls start to close

Related: US election results 2024 live: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris vie to be president

The first polls will close in eastern Kentucky and much of Indiana at 6pm ET. Democrats expectations are low in the two Republican-leaning states: Trump is virtually guaranteed to win both, and Republicans are expected to easily hold most of the two states House seats as well.

Latest: Trump wins red states Kentucky and Indiana

7pm ET: polls fully close in six states, including Georgia

Americans will get their first clues about the outcome of the presidential race at 7pm ET, when polls close in the battleground state of Georgia. Joe Biden won Georgia by just 0.2 points in 2020, after Trump carried the state by 5 points four years earlier. This year, Trump appears to have a slight advantage over Harris in the Peach state, but a strong night for Democrats could put Georgia in their win column again.

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As Georgia starts to count its ballots, polls will also close in Virginia, where both parties hope to flip a House seat. Republicans are looking to expand their narrow majority in the House, and the results in Virginias second and seventh congressional districts could give an early indication of the partys success.

Florida will also start counting ballots at 7pm ET, when polls close in much of the state, but voting will continue for another hour in counties that observe Central time.

Latest: Trump wins Florida

Latest: Trump wins Georgia

7.30pm ET: polls close in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia

North Carolina represents one of the largest tests for Harris, who has run neck and neck with Trump in the states polling. Trump won North Carolina by 1 point in 2020 and 3 points in 2016, and a loss in this battleground state could doom the former president. Democrats also expect a victory in the North Carolina gubernatorial race, given the recent revelations about Republican Mark Robinsons disturbing internet activity.

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Meanwhile, the results in Ohio and West Virginia could decide control of the Senate. Republicans are expected to pick up a seat in West Virginia, where the independent senator Joe Manchin decided against seeking re-election; and the Democratic incumbent, Sherrod Brown, is facing a tough race in Ohio. If Republicans win both races, that would erase Democrats current 51-49 advantage in the Senate.

Latest: Trump wins West Virginia

Latest: Trump wins Ohio

Latest: Trump wins North Carolina

8pm ET: polls fully close in 16 states, including Pennsylvania

This will represent a pivotal moment in the presidential race. Whoever wins Pennsylvanias 19 electoral votes is much more likely to win the White House, a fact that both nominees acknowledged as they held numerous campaign events in the state.

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If we win Pennsylvania, we win the whole thing, Trump said at a rally in September. Its very simple.

Pennsylvania will also host some of the nations most competitive congressional races. If it is a good night for Republicans, they could flip the seat of the incumbent Democratic senator Bob Casey, who is facing off against the former hedge fund CEO Dave McCormick.

But if Democrats have an especially strong night, they may set their sights on Florida, where the final polls close at 8pm ET. In addition to Harriss long-shot hopes of flipping a state that Trump won twice, the Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is looking to unseat the Republican senator Rick Scott, who has maintained a polling advantage in the race. An upset win for Mucarsel-Powell could allow Democrats to maintain their Senate majority.

Most polls will close in Michigan at 8pm ET as well, but voting in a handful of counties that observe Central time will keep polls open for another hour.

Latest: Trump wins Pennsylvania

8.30pm ET: polls close in Arkansas

There wont be much suspense in Arkansas, as Trump is expected to easily win the solidly Republican state. Arkansas does have the distinction of being the only state where polls will close at 8.30pm ET, but most Americans attention will be on the results trickling in from battleground states by this point in the night.

Latest: Trump wins Arkansas

9pm ET: polls fully close in 15 states, including Michigan and Wisconsin

This will be the do-or-die moment for Harris. In 2016, Trumps ability to eke out narrow victories in the blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin sent him to the White House, but Biden won all three battlegrounds four years later.

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Harriss most likely path to 270 electoral votes runs through Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin this year, so Trump could secure a second term if he can pick off even one of those states.

Michigan and Wisconsin will also play a potentially decisive role in the battle for Congress. Democrats currently hold two Senate seats in the states that are up for grabs this year, and Republican victories in either race could give them a majority. Michigans seventh congressional district, which became an open seat after Elissa Slotkin chose to run for the Senate rather than seek re-election, has been described as the most competitive open seat in the country.

In New York, where polls also close at 9pm ET, Democrats have the opportunity to flip several House seats that Republicans won in 2022. If they are successful, it could give Democrats a House majority.

10pm ET: polls fully close in Nevada, Montana and Utah

Harris hopes to keep Nevada in her column, as Democratic presidential candidates have won the state in every race since 2008. Trump previously led Nevada polls, but Harris has closed that gap in the final weeks of the race.

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Another two Senate races will come to a close at this point in the night as well. In Nevada, the Democratic incumbent, Jacky Rosen, is favored to hold her seat, but her fellow Democratic senator Jon Testers prospects appear grim in Montana.

If Republicans have not already clinched a Senate majority by the time Montanas polls close, this may be the moment when they officially capture control of the upper chamber.

Latest: Trump wins Montana, Utah

11pm ET: polls fully close in four states, including California

While Harris is virtually guaranteed a victory in her home state of California, the states House races carry important implications for control of Congress. Five House Republicans face toss-up races in California, according to the Cook Political Report, so the state represents Democrats biggest opportunity to regain a majority in the chamber.

Latest: Harris wins California

Related: Where do Harris and Trump stand on the key election issues?

12am ET: polls close in Hawaii and most of Alaska

By the time polls close in Hawaii and most of Alaska, Americans should have a much better sense of who will be moving into the White House come January. But if 2020 is any indication, the nation may have to wait a bit longer to hear a final call on who won the presidential race.

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In 2020, the AP did not declare Biden as the winner of the presidential election until 7 November at 11.26am ET  four days after the first polls closed. And in 2016, it took until 2.29am ET the morning after election day to declare Trump as the winner.

Given how close the race for the White House is expected to be, Americans might have to settle in for a long night  or even week  to learn who their next president is.

Latest: Harris wins Hawaii

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage

 This article was amended on 5 November 2024. An earlier version said that more than 200 million Americans voted in the 2020 election; that should have said more than 150 million Americans.
Republican Craig Goldman has won the race for to succeed Kay Granger to represent Texas 12th Congressional District.

Granger made history in 1997 when she became the first Republican woman to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Goldman thanked Granger at his election night party saying her service to the greater Fort Worth community is unparalleled.

Ross Perot Jr. said it best. Kay Granger is a living legend, he said.

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The district contain parts of Tarrant and Parker counties, stretching from west Fort Worth to just east of Mineral Wells. The district also contains parts of far north Fort Worth, Saginaw, and Benbrook.

While the district no longer includes Panther Island, it does include downtown Fort Worth and the West 7th District, which will benefit from flood protection provided by the 1.5 mile bypass channel connecting two sections of the Trinity River.

The island and the federal flood control project were key parts of Grangers tenure, and whoever replaces her will be responsible for ensuring the projects completion. A recent update from the Tarrant Regional Water District estimated the project still needs $26.8 million in federal and state matching funding.

Goldman will have considerably less influence in Washington than the outgoing Granger, who until March 2024 served as the chair of the House Appropriations Committee.

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However, his decade of experience as a state representative in Austin, along with relationships among Texas congressional delegation, will help to make sure the district doesnt get left behind, he said.

Goldman noted his relationship with Grangers staff, which will help him transition from Austin to Washington D.C.

As a state representative, Goldman has represented parts of the district, including Benbrook, White Settlement and Crowley, since 2012.

Goldmans top three federal policy priorities are increasing border security, strengthening the American economy, and supporting the continued development of the F-35 fighter jet  made by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth  as a way to promote strong national defense.

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One of Goldmans proudest achievements in the legislature was the passage of Molly Janes Law helping law enforcement identify patterns of sexual assaults and identify potential offenders.

The law was named for Molly Jane Matheson, who was raped and strangled in her TCU-area home in April 2017. Goldman acknowledged Molly Janes mother, Tracy, in the election night audience and credited her advocacy in Austin for getting the law passed.

Goldman promised to put forward a federal law after being sworn in to Congress.

Hunt acknowledged his loss in a statement posted to social media around 9:20 p.m. on election night. He called the loss a missed opportunity and blamed Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa for not investing in Tarrant County.

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The consistent absence of support from the broader party apparatus has limited our progress in Texas politics and contributed to underperformance when real change was within reach, he said, while at the same time praising Democratic Party organizations in Tarrant and Parker County.

All other North Texas congressional incumbents kept their seats, with Fort Worth Democrat Marc Veasey and Republicans Beth Van Duyne of Irving and Jake Ellzey of Waxahachie easily winning reelection.

In the other open seat, Trump-backed Republican Brandon Gill of Flower Mound easily won Texas 26th congressional district taking over for the outgoing incumbent Republican Michael Burgess of Lewisville.
North Carolina and Georgia have both been projected to break in favor of Donald Trumpdashing the hopes of Democrats who were hoping to take an early lead in the southern swing states.

Early on Wednesday morning, both NBC and CNN projected Trump would win Georgiaflipping a state that President Joe Biden won in a narrow contest in 2020.

Trump won North Carolina in both 2016 and 2020, but Kamala Harris team hoped she could flip it with an unpopular, scandal-scarred GOP gubernatorial candidate also on the ballot.

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The state is the first among seven toss-upsthe others being Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin to be called this election.

The Tar Heel state now extends its red streak for another four years, with the last Democrat to carry the state in a presidential race coming in 2008 when Barack Obama bested John McCain.

Trump carried North Carolina in 2020 and defeated Joe Biden by about 74,000 votes .

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves at supporters during a campaign rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, last weekend.

Trump and and Harris both campaigned hard and often in North Carolina, with Harris trekking to the state for campaign rallies six times. Trump, meanwhile, racked up 11 stops in the state, according to Axios data.

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The Associated Press, NBC, and CNN all called the race for North Carolina between 11 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. EST.

Its a massive win for Republicans at the national level. But at the state level the North Carolina GOP saw its candidate for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, lose handedly to the states Democratic attorney general, Josh Stein.

Robinsons campaign was beset by scandal after a CNN investigation revealed an alleged history of lewd and racist comments on a porn forum, where he allegedly referred to himself as a Black Nazi.

Find the Daily Beasts coverage of the 2024 election here. Subscribe to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Overcast.
With control of North Carolinas largest school system on the ballot Tuesday, Wake County voters favored incumbents for the five school board seats up for grabs.

In unofficial results, all five incumbents won reelection to the Wake County Board of Education, with 100% of the votes counted.

Though officially non-partisan, candidates endorsed by the Democratic party will hold a 7-2 majority on the Wake County school board. That majority has been in place for more than a decade and was reaffirmed in 2022 when Democratic candidates won seven of nine seats.

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Democratic incumbents Toshiba Rice in District 4, Lynn Edmonds in District 5, Sam Hershey in District 6 and Lindsay Mahaffey in District 8 all comfortably won their races.

Incumbent Republican Wing Ng of District 3 holds a narrow lead of slightly more than one percentage point over challenger Jordyne Blaise.

The school board has had a Democratic majority since 2011. Republicans briefly held a majority for two years, a period of protests when the NAACP opposed efforts to end the districts busing strategy for diversity.

If all four Republican-backed candidates won Tuesday, they would have joined incumbent board member Cheryl Caulfield of District 1 in forming a new conservative majority.

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The Wake County Republican Party endorsed Ng in District 3, Ted Hills in District 5, Josh Points in District 6 and Elizabeth McDuffie in District 8.

The Wake County Democratic Party endorsed Blaise in District 3 and incumbents Rice, Edmonds, Hershey and Mahaffey.

The winners of Tuesdays election will also likely pick a replacement for board vice chair Monika Johnson-Hostler. She had a big lead in her race for a seat in the General Assembly on Tuesday and would have to resign from the school board if she wins.

Strong incumbent showing

In the 2022 election, when all nine seats were on the ballot, Wake Countys school board added five new members in a dramatic shift. This year voters favored the status quo, returning five incumbents.

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In District 4, Rice looks likely to win her first election to the Wake school board. She was appointed to her seat earlier this year when former Wake school board member Tara Waters accepted a position on the county board of commissioners.

District 5 school board member Edmonds, who won her seat in 2022, looks to win reelection comfortably with 68.8% of the vote.

The top vote-getter looks to be District 6 representative Hershey, who appears likely to win reelection with more than 69% of the vote.

District 8 member Mahaffey first won election in 2016 and looks to retain her seat with 59% of the vote.

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By far the closest race is in District 3, where incumbent Ng held a narrow one-point lead over challenger Jordyne Blaise.

Period of controversy

The board sets policies for a school district with 160,000 students, the 15th largest in the nation. Wake has an annual operating budget of $2.2 billion.

The election comes after conservative groups have shown up regularly at board meetings to accuse the district of allowing students to read inappropriate books and promoting a LGBTQ+ agenda.

Progressive groups have responded by showing up at board meetings to defend the district and its teachers.
Voters went to the polls in South Florida on Tuesday in an election with high turnout and higher implications.

In Broward County, voters cast ballots for sheriff, and mayors and commissioners in many cities. There were also two countywide referendums.

Here are the results

CLICK HERE FOR STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL RESULTS CLICK HERE FOR MIAMI-DADE RESULTS

BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF

BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONER

4TH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL

CIRCUIT JUDGE

BROWARD COUNTY COURT JUDGE

BROWARD COUNTY REFERENDUMS

COOPER CITY

FORT LAUDERDALE

HALLANDALE BEACH

HOLLYWOOD

PEMBROKE PINES

PLANTATION

SOUTHWEST RANCHES

SUNRISE

WESTON

WILTON MANORS
Frank R. Conwell P.S. No. 3 was one of Jersey City's polling stations on Nov. 5, 2024. (Dan O'Connor for New Jersey Monitor)

There is just one hour until polls close in New Jersey and results start to pour in in what could be a nail-biter of a presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

For Summit voter Pamela Livingston, the future of Social Security weighed heavily on her choice for president.

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Trump is going to cut Social Security benefits, and Im turning 60 in a couple of months, said Livingston, 59, while standing outside of Lawton C. Johnson Middle School in this Union County suburb. Im a nurse, and Im counting on those benefits. Otherwise, my socioeconomic status is going to go down during my retirement.

Another Summit voter, Dwight Dixon, 67, swung the other way, voting for Donald Trump and the Republican slate. One issue in particular mattered most to him during this election cycle.

The economy has been a mess, and its only going to get worse under Kamala. I was supposed to be retired three years ago, said Dixon, who is self-employed. I followed her campaign for the past couple of months, and I still dont know what she stands for. She isnt specific about anything.

There have been reports of long lines of voters at polling places across the state. At a polling place in Metropolis Towers in Jersey City, elections worker Awilda Roman Estrella said turnout in the morning was the heaviest shes ever seen.

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This is big. Itll keep us up until 8 oclock, she said.

A Jersey City voter named Amanda, who declined to give her last name, said she voted for Harris.

I think that comparing between the two main candidates she is the obvious choice. Not just for her wanting to restore womens rights, her importance on environmental protection, but in terms of the economy as well. Shes just the right choice, she said.

New Providence voter Daniel Hilbrandt, 70, a retired auto mechanic, griped that Democrats only want to talk about abortion.

Donald Trump wants to make America great again, which means lowering taxes and making things affordable again, said Hilbrandt. My rent went up $700 in the last four years.

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In East Amwell, Arslan Hussain, 49, declined to discuss who he supports, but expressed unhappiness with his choices.

Candidly, its a shame, in a country of our size, we only have these two to pick from, Hussain said. Ill just leave it at that.

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PORTLAND, Conn. (WTNH)  A plan that would have closed two schools in Portland has failed, according to a message from the school districts superintendent.

The discussions surrounding this issue brought forward passionate voices from all perspectives, Superintendent Charles Britton said in a written statement. However, there is a strong, shared consensus on two key points: first, that we all want whats best for Portlands children; and second, that we all recognize the need for essential improvements in our school facilities. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of many, we now have a clear understanding of these needs and a range of well-developed options to explore.

Connecticut election results

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If passed, the $68 million project would have included renovating and expanding Valley View Elementary School into a prekindergarten through fifth grade site, moved sixth grade to Portland Middle School and closed Gildersleeve Elementary School and Brownstone Immediate School.

Britton wrote that he will focus on current grade configurations while working on budgets and schedules.

Our priority will be an open, collaborative dialogue that centers on Portlands vision for its schools and students, he said. These discussions will recognize our facility needs as an immediate concern that calls for both thoughtfulness and action.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
Donald Trump declared victory in the presidential election early Wednesday morning, basking in the cheers of his supporters in South Florida as he closed in on the 270 electoral votes needed to formally clinch the White House.

Speaking to a tightly packed crowd at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, the former president, who was ousted from the White House four years ago, called his performance a political victory that our country has never seen before.

Were going to fix our borders, were going to fix everything about our country, Trump said. We made history for a reason tonight and the reason is just that. We overcame obstacles that no thought possible.

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Flanked by his family, his running mate JD Vance and top campaign advisers, Trump promised to unite a deeply divided nation and usher in a Golden Age of America. Vance, speaking briefly between Trumps remarks, said that Americans had just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.

While votes were still being counted in a handful of key battleground states, Trump went into Wednesday morning with several very real and very likely paths to the presidency, all but guaranteeing him a victory over his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump leaves after speaking during his election night party flanked by family and friends at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

His remarks capped off a raucous and jubilant night for his supporters, campaign staffers and allies, who began gathering in the sprawling convention center in West Palm Beach early Tuesday evening to anxiously await the outcome of one of the most tumultuous presidential elections in modern history.

Harris did not deliver remarks at her election night party at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Instead, her campaign co-chairman Cedric Richmond took the stage early Wednesday to tell supporters that they would hear from the vice president later on, saying that there were still votes left to count.

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Even before Trump emerged as the likely winner of the presidential race, his supporters at the election night party appeared confident in his chances of winning.

Outside the ballroom, campaign workers passed out red Make America Great Again hats to people walking by, while guests took turns posing for photos in front of an imposing black and red campaign background speckled with American flags.

Republican candidate for vice president JD Vance speaks alongside Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump during an election night party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Inside, massive television screens blared CNN and Fox News election night coverage as vote counts from across the country poured in. As different states were called for Trump the room broke out into cheers.

When Trump was declared the winner in Florida, his adopted home state, the crowd roared in delight. The former president carried the Sunshine State by more than 1.3 million votes, or about 13 percentage points, the largest margin of any candidate in 36 years.

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Florida is a red state, said Jaime Florez, the Hispanic communications director for the Republican National Committee and Trumps campaign. Its not the battleground that it used to be. It is a conservative state, and I dont think theres any question about that left.

Pausing to turn his attention to the TV as CNN called Iowa for Trump, Florez smiled before adding that he was confident the former president was on track for a much larger victory than predicted.

READ MORE: Signs point to a tight presidential race between Harris, Trump as polls begin to close

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during his election night party flanked by family and friends at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Sitting at a table with his eyes fixed on one of the several TV screens lining the room, Dan Backer, a 47-year-old attorney and conservative activist from Pompano Beach, said earlier in the evening that he was cautiously optimistic about Trumps chances of reclaiming the White House.

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I dont want to get ahead of myself. I think its going to come down to Pennsylvania, most likely, but well see, he said. Republicans are up in early voting and mail voting and a lot of us still tend to vote today, so thats a good sign.

Trump ultimately captured Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes on Tuesday, putting him just one state away from formally winning the presidency. That win appeared imminent on Wednesday morning as vote counts in several states showed Trump in the lead.

Gayle Trotter, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney and political analyst, said that she didnt have any doubt that Trump would come out on top. She argued that public polls, which have shown Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris deadlocked for weeks, had likely failed to capture Trumps true popularity and predicted a stronger-than-expected showing for the former president on Tuesday night.

Im confident, Im very excited, I think Trump is going to over-perform all the polls as hes done in the past, Trotter said. I think they under-represent the support that he has.

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READ MORE: Russians target Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin with fake bomb threats, FBI says

Lisa Matassa, from Nashville, Tennessee, reacts as she watches election results live during Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trumps election night party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

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That support proved resilient in Tuesdays election as the former president racked up victories in key swing states, like Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania and exit polls showed him making gains among traditionally Democratic-leaning constituencies, including Latino men and some college-educated voters.

Trump, a famously adversarial politician who has frequently been accused of stoking divisions, appeared eager to embrace that broader coalition in his speech early Wednesday.

This will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country, Trump said. Its time to put the divisions of the last four years behind us. Its time to unite.
(Bloomberg) -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and billionaire Ken Griffin won a decisive election-day victory in their crusade against legalizing recreational marijuana, sending cannabis industry shares plummeting.

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A ballot measure to legalize marijuana, known as Amendment 3, failed to get the 60% support from voters needed to pass under Florida law. (It got 55.9% support  or almost 6 million votes.)

DeSantis made blocking legalization the centerpiece of an election-year political strategy. Griffin largely funded the governors crusade, adding the fight to various political causes hes taken on since moving his Citadel financial empire to Miami from Chicago in 2022.

Floridians of all backgrounds chose cleaner streets, safer neighborhoods and healthier communities, Griffin said in an emailed statement. We united together to protect our quality of life.

The defeat sent Big Weed stocks into a spiral. The MJ PurePlay 100 Index, which tracks the sector, slumped 17%  the most since February 2021. And Canadian shares of Trulieve Cannabis Corp., which put $145 million into the campaign for the Florida amendment, fell as much as 47% Wednesday  a record drop.

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At least two analysts tracked by Bloomberg downgraded their ratings on Trulieve following the verdict.

Legalizing recreational marijuana for Floridas 23 million residents  plus millions of tourists annually  would have been a huge win for the cannabis industry. Quincy, Florida-based Trulieve had forecast that as many as 2.7 million people would have moved into the legal weed market had Amendment 3 passed.

With Florida on board, about 60% of the US population would have had access to recreational weed, which advocates said would have made national legalization more likely. The cannabis industry invested hundreds of millions of dollars on expanding weed farms, processing plants and dispensary networks in Florida ahead of the vote, betting on soaring demand and profit from legalization.

The massive influx of cash wasnt enough to offset efforts by DeSantis to defeat the measure. The Republican governor went on a crusade against it, diverting millions in state funds to the effort. He and his wife, Casey, held news conferences with law enforcement officials where they decried the smell of marijuana and what they said was the drugs potential to increase crime.

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The governors campaign went beyond weed, said Nick Iarossi, a Tallahassee lobbyist and longtime DeSantis fundraiser and supporter. Fighting legal weed was the centerpiece of DeSantis push to bolster his political mandate in Florida after Donald Trump crushed his run for president early this year.

A lot of people were saying he was in the sunset of his career, but this shows thats not the case, Iarossi said in an interview.

The governor found an ally in Griffin, who donated $12 million to the anti-pot cause and was the only large individual donor. All told, DeSantis and anti-weed advocates drummed up $26 million to fight the measure.

The fight over recreational marijuana created some odd bedfellows. Donald Trump, a Florida resident, said he would be voting yes and his ally Roger Stone advocated for the measure. John Morgan, a celebrity personal injury lawyer and longtime Democratic donor, created an alter-ego to promote marijuana in Florida, branding himself as Pot Daddy.

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--With assistance from Katrina Compoli.

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(Reuters) -Shares of pot companies slid on Wednesday after a ballot measure to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Florida failed to get the required majority to pass, even as the firms invested millions in a campaign to tap the lucrative market.

Toronto-listed shares of Canopy Growth and Trulieve Cannabis tumbled 20.4% and 44.2%, respectively.

Tilray Brands' shares declined more than 11%, while the U.S.-listed shares of SNDL and Cronos Group fell 13.8% and 7.2%, respectively.

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ETF AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis plunged 24.1%.

Florida was touted as a very attractive market. An estimate from cannabis analytics company Headset had indicated $4.9 billion to $6.1 billion in adult-use sales during the first year of implementation.

The passage of Amendment 3 would have legalized the sale of marijuana for recreational use to adults 21 years of age and older from medical marijuana treatment centers and other state-licensed entities.

The initiative received more than 55% of the votes in favor but fell short of the 60% majority needed to pass.

Twenty-four U.S. states have so far legalized the recreational use of cannabis, though it continues to be illegal at the federal level.

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In 2016, Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana in the state.

Major pot firms had made substantial contributions to Smart & Safe Florida, the group advocating for the passage of Amendment 3.

The focus now shifts to efforts to reclassify marijuana use as a less serious federal offence. President-elect Donald Trump has also publicly supported marijuana reforms and legislations in the months leading up to the election.

ATB Capital Markets analyst Frederico Gomes said if marijuana use is reclassified as a less serious federal crime, it could more than offset any effects of the failure to pass the amendment.

(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Sourasis Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Abinaya Vijayaraghavan and Sriraj Kalluvila)
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP)  California was lashed by powerful winds Wednesday that fed a fast-moving wildfire, which destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands of residents to flee as forecasters warned of the potential for extreme and life-threatening blazes.

Northwest of Los Angeles, the Mountain Fire exploded in size and prompted evacuation orders for more than 10,000 people as it threatened 3,500 structures in suburban communities, ranches and agricultural areas around Camarillo, according to a statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom. The area east of the Pacific coast city of Ventura will receive federal assistance after a request from Newsom was granted, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Wednesday.

The blaze was burning in a region that has seen some of Californias most destructive fires over the years. A thick plume of smoke rose hundreds of feet into the sky Wednesday, blanketing whole neighborhoods and limiting visibility for firefighters and evacuees. The fire grew from less than half of a square mile to 16 square miles (62 square kilometers) in little more than five hours.

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Ventura County Fire Captain Trevor Johnson described crews racing with their engines to homes threatened by the flames to save lives.

This is as intense as it gets. The hair on the back of the firefighters neck Im sure was standing up, he said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

At one spot, flames licked the burning remains of a home. Its roof was reduced to only a few charred shingles.

Two people suffered apparent smoke inhalation and were taken to hospitals, fire officials said. No firefighters reported significant injuries.

The erratic winds and limited visibility grounded fixed-wing aircraft, and gusts topped 61 mph (98 kph), said weather service meteorologist Bryan Lewis. Water-dropping helicopters were still flying.

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First responders pleaded with residents to evacuate. Deputies made contact with 14,000 people to urge them to leave as embers spread up to 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) away and sparked new flames.

This fire is moving dangerously fast, Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said.

Aerial footage from local television networks showed dozens of homes in flames across several neighborhoods as embers were whipped from home to home. Other footage captured horses trotting alongside evacuating vehicles.

Jade Katz, who said she is disabled and does not drive, waited for a friend to pick her up near her Camarillo Heights home with a suitcase full of medication and Bella, her Great Dane service dog. But the friend couldnt reach her, so first responders sent a squad car to escort her out Wednesday afternoon as a helicopter dropped water on the house across from her home.

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On the way out of the neighborhood, there were five or eight houses that had already burnt to the ground, said Katz, 35, who was sitting in a car with housemate Shannon Kelly, 28. They plan to spend the night with a friend in Los Angeles.

Officials said they were using all resources, including water-dropping helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft dropping fire retardant, but it was still burning out of control Wednesday afternoon. Andrew Dowd, a Ventura County fire spokesperson, said he did not have details of how many structures had been damaged.

Gus Garcia, who owns a ranch south of the fire, said he's waiting to see whether conditions will change to decide if he should evacuate his horses and cattle. Around 12:30 p.m., his animals were still safe and he was trying to stay out of the way as others got their livestock out.

His ranch is surrounded by others with horses and alpaca, and Garcia said his neighbors in the canyon did not seem panicked.

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"The horse community, they prepare for this because its always a possibility up here, he said.

Meanwhile to the south, Los Angeles County Fire Department crews scrambled to contain a wildfire near Malibus Broad Beach as authorities briefly shut down the Pacific Coast Highway as flames burned near multimillion-dollar properties. Residents were urged to shelter in place while aircraft dropped water on the 50-acre (20-hectare) Broad Fire. It was 15% contained around 12:30 p.m. with forward progress stopped. Fire officials said two structures burned.

The National Weather Service office for the Los Angeles area amended its red flag warning for increased fire danger with a rare particularly dangerous situation label, and officials in several counties urged residents to be on watch for fast-spreading blazes, power outages and downed trees amid the latest round of notorious Santa Ana winds.

With predicted gusts between 50 mph (80 kph) and 100 mph (160 kph) and humidity levels as low as 8%, parts of Southern California could experience conditions ripe for extreme and life-threatening fire behavior into Thursday, the weather service said.

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Forecasters also issued red flag warnings until Thursday from California's central coast through the San Francisco Bay Area and into counties to the north, where strong winds were also expected.

Utilities in California began powering down equipment during high winds and extreme fire danger after a series of massive and deadly wildfires in recent years were sparked by electrical lines and other infrastructure. On Wednesday, more than 65,000 customers in Southern California were without power preventatively, and upwards of 20,000 in Northern California.

Wednesday's fires were burning in the same areas of other recent destructive fires, including the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which killed three people and destroyed 1,600 homes near Los Angeles, and the the 2017 Thomas Fire, which destroyed more than a thousand homes and other structures in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Southern California Edison has paid tens of millions of dollars to settle claims after its equipment was blamed for both blazes.

___

Dazio and Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Ryan Pearson in Los Angeles, Amy Taxin in Orange County, California, Olga Rodriguez and Janie Har in San Francisco contributed to this report.
Polling locations opened for Election Day at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, but the Erie County voter registration office was preparing for the day earlier than that.

Workers were busy before the sun came up and even in the early hours they were in high spirits for the monumental day.

The voter registration office has been abuzz with pre-canvassing workers and watchers since 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

Its a process where the office oversees all absentee and mail-in ballots that they have received prior to 7 a.m. Tuesday.

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The Associated Press role in calling races and polling voters

They have been opening the ballots, laying them flat and scanning them.

Weve been pre-canvassing since 2020, said Tonia Fernandez, Erie Countys director of elections. Were not allowed to get started until 7 a.m., but weve got all the wheels in motion and its going really well.

No one other than the workers are allowed in or out of the area however the process can be seen through the windows within the courthouse.

Pre-canvassing also speeds up the time it takes to get what everyone has been waiting for  the results.

They will start to report and tally beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Fernandez told us the office has already received more ballots than the last primary election.

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The last time I checked we were at around 33,000, Fernandez told us. Were not going stop until were done counting every ballot that was received.

We are at 82% return rate for the mail ballots so thats outstanding. We had a real comeback to make and were making it, said Karen Chillcott, Erie County clerk.

The office had a busy weekend with extended hours to make sure all voter complications with mail-in ballots were alleviated.

Making your vote count in Erie County  Heres what to know for Election Day

We had maybe 1,000 to 1,100 people come in and get replacement ballots for their mail ballots, Chillcott added.

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For those who have still not received their mail-in ballot, you can go to the polls and vote provisionally.

If you come to the polling location prepared, it should be a quick and easy event, Fernandez said.

The office expects to have results for Erie County either late Tuesday or early Wednesday morning.

Again, the polls are open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

If your voting location has a line, you can still vote no matter how long it takes as long as you are in the line by 8 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Posters for Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights, the group behind CI-128 in 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Abortion protections will be enshrined in Montanas Constitution and largely cannot be infringed upon by state lawmakers, Montanans overwhelmingly decided, passing Constitutional Initiative 128 by a 14-point margin of 57% to 43% as of Wednesday morning.

The Associated Press called the race in favor of proponents shortly after 4 a.m. on Wednesday morning. As of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, yes votes outweighed no votes by about 77,000.

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Today Montanans voted overwhelmingly to defend reproductive freedom and enshrine in the state constitution the right to make and carry out their own personal decisions about pregnancy and abortion, Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights President Christopher Coburn said in a statement. It is a consequential day for Montana and the people of our great state. A steadfast coalition of organizations, stakeholders, volunteers, and voters definitively protected abortion rights in our state constitution. Ultimately, voters from across the political spectrum came together to protect access to abortion care, reproductive freedom, and personal privacy.

The initiatives passage means Montanas government will not be able to step in and try to prevent people from having abortions before a fetus is viable, widely regarded as about 24 weeks gestation, according to Montana medical professionals. The measure goes into effect July 1, 2025.

The amendment would also prohibit the government from placing any burdens or restrictions on health care professionals who perform an abortion at any time when it is necessary to protect the life or health of the mother. And it would keep the government from penalizing any providers or patients who help with or obtain an abortion.

State Rep. Kelly Kortum, D-Bozeman, said on social media that proponents of the measure had declared victory late Tuesday night.

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Abortion in Montana has remained legal because of the Montana Supreme Courts 1999 decision in Armstrong vs. State of Montana. In that case, the court found the state constitutions right to privacy included the right to an abortion.

Under the Gianforte administration and Republican-held Legislature in recent years, lawmakers have passed, and Gianforte has signed, several bills seeking to restrict abortion access in Montana. Nearly all of them have been overturned in court because of protections under the Armstrong decision.

Montana voters in 2022 rejected the legislatively referred born alive ballot issue, with 53% of Montanans opposed and 47% in favor. The measure would have established large fines and prison terms for violating the law had it passed and would have stated that infants born alive at any stage of development were legal persons.

This is a huge win for Montana, but now we must continue the hard work of educating citizens about the importance of reproductive healthcare and the ongoing threats to our reproductive freedom at all levels, said Martha Fuller, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana.
Once President-elect Donald Trump enters the White House next year, he will have the power to summarily dismiss the the remaining legal cases arrayed against him  and has said he would use that power.

With control of the Justice Department, Trump can fire special counsel Jack Smith, who is managing two federal cases against Trump: one regarding the then-president's role in subverting the 2020 election, and another regarding his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office and then obstructing the government's attempts to retrieve them. Doing so would effectively end the cases against him. Because the documents case is currently being appealed after first being dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon, Trump can also order the Justice Department to simply abandon the appeal.

Trump has made no secret of his intentions. "It's so easy. I would fire [Smith] within two seconds. He'll be one of the first things addressed," he told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, adding that he also planned to sue the special counsel. It's unclear on what grounds Trump plans to sue, though he has characterized the federal cases as a corrupt and politically motivated "witch-hunt."

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Firing Smith might not even be necessary to earn his get-out-of-jail-free card: He could just ask his attorney general to drop the case. And according to longstanding department policy and the Office of Legal Counsel, a sitting president cannot face indictment of criminal prosecution as it "would impermissibly undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions."

Trump could also consider pardoning himself; the only explicit guidance against that is a Watergate-era Justice Department memo. Without any existing precedent, he would be well within his rights to litigate that before the Supreme Court.

Shutting down the pending state-level cases against him will be a less straightforward task. Trump cannot directly fire Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who convicted the president-elect on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Nor can he fire Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is prosecuting Trump on charges of election racketeering, including an attempt to pressure Georgia officials into "finding" him votes during the 2020 election.

But his lawyers are signaling that his victory will preclude any federal or state-level sentencing against him, at least until he presumably leaves office again in January 2029.

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If your client does win the election in 2024, could he even be tried in 2025? Georgia Judge Scott McAfee asked at a hearing last December.

The answer to that is, I believe, that under the Supremacy Clause and his duties as president of the United States, this trial would not take place at all until after he left his term of office, replied Trump attorney Steve Sadow.

Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw Trump's hush-money case, delayed the sentencing until Nov. 26 to avoid any entanglements with the election campaign. If Merchan proceeds and sentences Trump to up to four years in prison, the president-elect will almost certainly escape that sentence until at least January 2029. Even a lighter sentence, like community service or home confinement, will be challenged by his lawyers, who could argue that logistical challenges and constitutional duties should shield any president from having to serve such a sentence. It's also possible that the sentencing does not move forward at all.

There's already a drumbeat of Republicans calling for the removal of all cases, citing Trump's sweeping election victory as a popular rejection of prosecuting him. "The American people have rendered their verdict on President Trump and decisively chosen him to lead the country for the next four years. They chose him to lead us with full knowledge of the claims against him by prosecutors around the country," Bill Barr, Trump's former attorney general, said in a statement. "I think Attorney General [Merrick] Garland and the State prosecutors should respect the people's decision and dismiss the cases against President Trump now."

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With certain GOP backing, Trump will reclaim a presidency recently empowered by the Supreme Court's decision to grant him immunity for official acts, in effect giving him a blank check to justify any illegal conduct under the guise of carrying out his duties. Ironic isnt it?" snapped Justice Sonia Sotomayor, reading aloud her dissent at the time of the decision. "The man in charge of enforcing laws can now just break them."

Trump, critics say, has given clear signals that he will.
Pro-Russian political newcomer Alexandr Stoianoglo on Nov. 6 conceded following the Moldovan presidential runoff vote.

Pro-EU President Maia Sandu won on Nov. 3 by a margin of about 55.3% to 44.7%, despite what she called an "unprecedented" election interference backed by Moscow.

The Russian-friendly Party of Socialists, who supported Sandu's opponent Stoianoglo, announced that they do not view Sandu as legitimately elected and will not recognize her as president. Moscow also refused to recognize Sandus victory.

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Two day after the runoff, Stoinoglo said that the results of the presidential election "showed that we lost, although here in Moldova we won."

"This is not a final defeat, it is only a lost battle," he added.

Stoianoglo, Moldova's former prosecutor general from the Russian-friendly Gagauzia, presented himself as a fresh candidate who could unify the opposition. Sandu and some observers said that his candidacy was merely Moscow's ploy to put forward a more acceptable candidate than ex-President Igor Dodon.

Moldovan authorities, independent observers, and officials from the EU and the U.S. pointed to a malign influence campaign involving criminal networks and political groups tied to Russia. Moldovan lawmakers claimed that Moscow spent millions of dollars backing Stoianoglo.

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Sandu has long insisted that the real opponent to her government and Moldova's European path is the Kremlin, which has been waging a hybrid war designed to push Chisinau back into Moscow's orbit in what Sandu described "a fraud of unprecedented proportions."

Read also: Sandus rival claims support for Ukraine, Moldovan president calls him Moscows man

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
While former president Donald Trump won by a greater margin statewide, the presidential race in the Cincinnati region looked very similar to four years earlier.

Vice President Kamala Harris vs. Trump mirrored Joe Biden vs. Trump in 2020 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County and the surrounding counties. Here's how southwestern Ohio voted in the presidential race.

One difference is that turnout lagged by a few percentage points across the Greater Cincinnati region.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, and the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump

Hamilton County

Turnout in Hamilton County was a little lower than four years earlier, 67% compared to 72% in 2020. The results were the same. Both Harris in 2024 and Biden in 2020 won the county won the county with 57% of the vote. Harris also won Cincinnati with 77% of the vote, the same as Biden four years earlier. Trump received 42% of the vote in Hamilton County this year, compared to 41% in 2020.

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Due to higher turnout, Biden received about 20,000 more votes than Harris did in the county.

Butler County

Trump easily won this Republican stronghold just north of Cincinnati, as he did in 2020. The fact that his running mate's hometown of Middletown is in Butler County didn't give him much more of a boost, though he didn't need it here. Trump won the county this year with 62% of the vote, one percentage point more than he did in 2020.

Warren County

Another Republican-dominated county north of Cincinnati, Trump won Warren County with 64% of the vote, the same as he did in 2020.

Clermont County

Trump won Clermont County with 67% of the vote, the same as he did in 2020. Clermont County is just east of Cincinnati.

What about Northern Kentucky?

Trump has maintained his support in Northern Kentucky with voters in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties going red again, like they did in 2016 and 2020.

Boone County

In Boone County, Trump received 68% of the vote on Election Day, according to the Secretary of State website. In 2016, he raked in the same amount and in 2020 he got 67%.

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Harris got 31% of the vote and Robert Kennedy got around 1%. Harris did as well as Biden in 2020 and better than former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016, who got 26% of the vote.

Kenton County

In Kenton County, all but one precinct had reported results by about 9 p.m. Trump had 61% of the vote to Harris' 37%.

That's a larger percentage than Trump got in 2020 and 2016 with 59% and 60% of the vote respectively.

Biden received 39% of the vote in 2020 over Clinton's 34% in 2016. Libertarians got 4% of the vote in 2016 and almost 2% in 2020.

Campbell County

Roughly 59% of voters cast a ballot for Trump in Campbell County. That's about the same as in 2020, when he garnered 58% of the vote and in 2016 when he also got 59%.

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In 2016, Clinton got 35% of the vote and Johnson about 4%. Biden did better in 2020 with 40%, and Jorgensen got almost 2%.

Harris got 39% of the vote in the historically red county this year and Kennedy got 1%.

Bellwether state?

Kentucky can sometimes be considered a bellwether state; its odd-year gubernatorial race can indicate how voters are feeling about national politics.

The theory goes that whichever party wins the gubernatorial race will also win the presidency. That's been true for all the races through the 2000s, aside from the 2000 presidential election of George W. Bush.

Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear won reelection last year, including in two of Northern Kentucky's three counties.

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While gubernatorial election results haven't mattered much when it comes to local presidential election results, it's interesting to see how politics have changed year-over-year in Northern Kentucky.

Here's how much of the vote Beshear got in Northern Kentucky in the past two elections:

Boone County: 44% in 2023 and 42% in 2019.

Kenton County: 53% in 2023 and 50% in 2019.

Campbell County: 54% in 2023 and 52% in 2019.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How the Cincinnati region voted in the presidential race
Former President Donald Trump is the projected winner of Kentuckys eight electoral votes, according to the Associated Press.

The race was called shortly after 7 p.m. Eastern, when polls closed in the western half of the commonwealth.

According to preliminary and unofficial results, with 10% of votes counted, Trump led Vice President Kamala Harris 71%-28%.

Indiana was also called for Trump at the same time.

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Polling heading into Election Day showed Trump, 78, and Harris, 60, in a dead heat in key swing states.

The stage was set for a 2020 rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden this November, but the race was dramatically remade in July when Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Harris.

Trump, a Republican, carried Kentucky by 30 points in 2016 over Hillary Clinton. In 2020, he beat Biden by 26 points in the commonwealth, though the former vice president would go on to win the necessary Electoral College votes to secure the presidency.

The last time Kentucky voted for a Democratic presidential candidate was Bill Clinton in 1996.

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Trump has falsely claimed that he was the rightful winner of the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud.

On Jan. 6, 2021, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the presidential election. Since then, more than 1,200 people have been criminally charged for the attack. Trump faces federal felony charges on allegations he was part of a conspiracy to overturn the legitimate election results.

Hes also charged in Georgia state courts for alleged election interference.

Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts in a New York hush money trial in May, making him the first former U.S. President to be a convicted felon.

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A fourth criminal case pertaining to classified documents in federal court in Florida was dismissed by a judge in July; the prosecutor is appealing the judges ruling.

When Trump won the presidency in 2016, he became the first U.S. president with no prior government or military service.

Inaugurated at the age of 70, Trump was the second-oldest president at the time he was sworn in. First on that list is Biden, inaugurated at age 78.

Before running for office, Trump was best known as a real estate developer and reality television star on The Apprentice.

Trump is married to Melania Trump, and has five adult children. He resides in Florida.
Voters wait in line at the Apache County Polling location in Chinle, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation on Nov. 5, 2024. Photo by Shondiin Silversmith | Arizona Mirror

With temperatures dropping in the final hour that polls are open, voters at some Apache County polling locations are still facing long wait times to cast their ballot  and Navajo Nation leaders convinced a judge to keep the polls open until 9 p.m.

The voting site in Chinle on the Navajo Nation has had a long line throughout the day, as issues with ballot machines, printing ballots and confusion among voters.

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One voter waited for two hours to cast their vote and said it was a mess inside. Another voter was stuck in line holding a misprinted ballot that she said needed to be voided so she could vote in person. A few more voters bundled in sweaters said they had already been in line for about an hour, but they were going to stick it out to make sure they casted their ballot.

As the sun went down, the line in front of the Chinle polling site was still leading into the gravel parking lot, with voters waiting for their turn to vote as temperatures sank into the 40s.

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Arizona Native Vote Protection Project volunteers Sadie Red Eagle and Shandiin Herrera arrived at the Chinle polling location at 6 a.m, and it didnt open on time.

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Red Eagle said there were voters already on site waiting in the pitch black for the polling location to open, which it did at about 6:15 a.m.

But the issues did not stop there. Red Eagle said the Chinle location was one of several Apache County polling sites that did not have enough ballots printed, and a lot of their machines have not been able to provide enough ballots as voters came in to vote in person.

Locations have been reporting that some of their machines are broken, she said, adding that two machines have been broken at the Chinle location. The other sites included Many farms, Wheatfield, Cottonwood, and Round Rock.

Red Eagle said this has resulted in many of the surrounding locations to send their voters to Chinle where they have encountered issues where out of precinct voters are trying to cast their ballots.

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Poll workers are incorrectly telling them that they cant vote here, although they are required by law to provide accessible voter devices, she said.

Issues with the on-demand ballot printers, which plagued multiple Apache County voting sites on Navajo land, prompted Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren to file an emergency lawsuit seeking to extend voting in the county for two additional hours.

Navajo people represent a powerful voting base and weve demonstrated in the past that we can change the outcome of state and federal elections, Nygren said in a press release. Todays issues in Apache County are troubling, but our Navajo voters should not be discouraged. The leaders of Apache County have reached out to me and we are working to ensure that our Navajo voters are being accommodated due to the technical failures.

Nygren said the technology errors have disproportionately affected Navajo voters, and a failure to extend voting times risks disenfranchising them.

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If Navajo Nation members are unable to vote, the collective power and voice of the Navajo Nation is reduced, he said. If some of its members are unable to vote, the Navajo Nations overall ability to advocate effectively for critical resources for the Navajo Nation and the Navajo people is jeopardized.

Nygrens office said affected voters should call the Native Vote Hotline  1-888-777-3831  if they were experiencing problems. It isnt immediately clear how many voters were affected; the county has 44 precincts and around 54,000 registered voters.

Shortly before the scheduled 7 p.m. closing time, Apache County Superior Court Judge Michael Latham issued an order allowing nine polling sites on the Navajo Nation to remain open until 9 p.m. The affected locations are in: Chinle, Cottonwood, Dennehotso, Fort Defiance, Lukachukai, Lupton, Rock Point, St. Michaels and Wheatfields.

***UPDATED: This story and headline have been updated to reflect the court order allowing polling sites to remain open longer.

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Donald Trump just took the U.S. presidency, and the blueprint for his second term is about as bleak as you might expect.

In case you somehow missed it, Project 2025 is a 900-page federal policy agenda drafted by the Heritage Foundation , a conservative D.C. think tank headed up by far-right lobbyist and alleged dog murderer Kevin Roberts.

While Trump himself has never publicly endorsed the initiative, widely described as a Republican wish list for his second term, at least 18 of its 40 authors and editors were part of his first administration, with almost 150 of its 260-plus contributors previously working either under him at the White House or as part of his campaign and transition teams.

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Vice President-elect JD Vance also has historic ties to the Heritage Foundation, having written the introduction not only to a 2017 collection of right-wing essays published by the organization but also a forthcoming book written by Roberts.

So, what does the document actually tell us about what a second Trump government might look like?

A supreme leader

The federal bureaucracyor  Deep State , as its known in MAGA worldhas long been the target of various disinformation narratives pushed by far-right pundits and influencers, who believe U.S. civil servants systematically conspired to frustrate Trumps previous legislative agenda and return to office.

Project 2025 proposes putting an end to that imaginary threat by realigning the entirety of the federal bureaucracy under Trumps direct control, replacing thousands of government employees with political appointees.

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Its worth noting that would include the Department of Justice , which is presently prosecuting Trump on a raft of criminal charges over alleged offenses ranging from the concealment of classified documents to his role in the Capitol riot .

Axing reproductive rights

Throughout its 900 pages, Project 2025 mentions abortion roughly 200 timeshardly surprising, given the issue has been one of the Heritage Foundations biggest bugbears since the organizations founding in 1973.

The agenda doesnt go so far as to propose an outright ban on abortion at the federal level, something Trump himself has said he would not sign into law while leaving the door open for further restrictions to be brought at the state level.

It nevertheless calls for bolstered data collection on terminated pregnancies, and for mifepristone, a widely used abortion pill, to be withdrawn from the market. It also advocates for the revival of an obscure 19th-century law, known as the Comstock Act, to ban any abortion medications or medical equipment and materials from being sent through the countrys Postal Service.

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That is all in line with the documents broader push for the federal Department of Health and Human Services to maintain a biblically based, social science-reinforced definition of marriage and family, as part of a wider effort to combat the perceived threat of woke extremism from within the federal bureaucracy.

Mass deportations

Project 2025 advocates for finishing the U.S.-Mexico border wallthe same one expected to cost upward of $22 billion and which previously prompted a government shutdown and state of national emergency, as well as seeing Trumps former adviser Steve Bannon indicted on mail fraud and money-laundering charges.

Against a further backdrop of the Republican campaigns promises for the largest deportation program in American history, further proposals include eliminating the Department of Homeland Security and transferring its personnel and resources to other agencies to create a more unified and militant border policing force.

Visa categories for some of the most vulnerable migrants, including victims of transnational crime and human trafficking, would also be eradicated, with a hike in application fees and a premium fast track option for migrants with financial means.

Ending the war on oil and gas

All the money invested by the Biden administration in combating the acceleration in global warming goes out the window.

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The Heritage Foundation envisages slashes across the board to federal spending on investment and research into renewable energy sources, replacing carbon-reduction targets with increased energy production and security goals.

Experts have warned that such initiatives threaten to introduce 2.7 billion extra tons of extra carbon, roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of India , into the atmosphere by 2030, effectively torpedoing U.S. climate pledges under the Paris Agreement and spelling an end to more than a million clean energy jobs.

No more porn

Yes, the Heritage Foundation also has banning PornHub in its sights, claiming pornography is as addictive as any illicit drug and as psychologically destructive as any crime, and that the purveyors of explicit content are exclusively child predators and misogynistic exploiters of women.

Whether thats an item thatll make its way onto the Republican legislative agenda remains to be seen, given the incoming president has faced repeated scrutiny over his relationship with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein , been accused of sexual harassment by no fewer than 26 women, and been convicted of paying hush money to a porn star to keep details of their alleged affair out of the limelight ahead of the 2016 election.

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In the end, Kamala Harris never took the stage at her election night watch party on the Howard University campus in Washington DC. As Americans appeared poised to return Donald Trump to power, it was her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, who appeared instead.

He tried to strike a note of optimism  there were still votes to be counted. But the scene had echoes of Hillary Clintons loss in 2016, when her campaign chair, not the candidate, came out to address her election night supporters  women and girls awaiting a result that many hoped would finally shatter the hardest, highest glass ceiling. Eight years later, they are still waiting.

Richmond told a dispersing crowd that they would not be hearing from the vice-president on election night after all. But he pledged she would return to the campus to address supporters  and the nation  on Wednesday.

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We still have votes to count, he said. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken.

The evening had begun with promise. Doreen Hogans, 50, arrived at Harriss election night watch party at Howard University on Tuesday evening filled with cautious optimism. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled a string of pearls that had belonged to her late mother. She imagined how her mother might have felt knowing that the nations first female and first Black female vice-president was on the cusp of history.

She would have been so proud, Hogans said, her eyes glistening, letting herself imagine Harris, and her signature pearls, ascend to the presidency. She took a deep breath, pocketed the necklace and merged into the crowd of Democrats assembled on the Yard.

Harriss supporters were expectant. The music pulsed. If youre ready to make Black history, talk to me, the DJ called out. On the lawn, young people wearing Harris-Walz camouflage snapback caps, women in pantsuits and children waving small American flags cheered and clapped.

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Members of Harriss AKA sorority, wearing pink and green, danced in front of the stage set for Harris to speak.

Michele Fuller, who overlapped with Harris as a student at Howard in the 1980s, rushed into the event with a friend. It feels unbelievable, she said.

Shes just done so great, said Fuller, who had helped canvas for the vice-president in all-important Pennsylvania. Shes more than qualified. Im just so excited.

In the 108 days since Harriss sudden ascent to the top of the Democratic ticket, she has carried the fears of tens of millions of Americans deeply afraid of a second Trump presidency. The stakes were exceedingly high, she acknowledged, agreeing at one point that her opponent met the definition of a fascist, but she promised a future unbound by the fear and anxiety of the Trump era. It doesnt have to be this way, Harris said, in her closing argument from grassy Ellipse near the White House, a backdrop meant to underline both the threat of a Trump second term and the potential of a future Harris administration.

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Her audaciously joyful campaign unleashed a wave of pent-up excitement among Democratic-leaning voters, especially women. She had raised a billion dollars. She has centered abortion rights, framing it as a matter of bodily autonomy. She attracted high-energy crowds and endorsements from the planets biggest stars. And yet, for its entirety, the race remained excruciatingly, nail-bitingly close.

As Trump pulled to an expected early lead on Tuesday evening, jitters set in. But this was a crowd predisposed to worry.

In the shadow of Clintons 2016 loss  an upset that stunned the scores of women who had assembled at her glass-ceilinged election night party in New York and covered the grave of Susan B Anthony in I Voted stickers  few Democrats allowed themselves to feel anything more than nauseously optimistic about Harriss prospects.

Rhonda Greene, 55, of Virginia, recalled waking up on the Wednesday morning after the 2016 election confident the US had elected a female president. Then I looked at the TV and I was in a state of shock  for at least a week, she said. I cant even imagine. I wont even allow my mind to go there.

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After all, so much has changed since then. Trumps presidency sparked an extraordinary backlash and women marched en masse across the country. Democratic-leaning women ran for office in record numbers  and many of them won. And then the supreme court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022, igniting women of all ideological persuasions. Fury over the loss of federal abortion rights again helped power Democrats fend off a red wave in 2022, and saw conservative states act to protect access. Harriss candidacy, while unexpected, seemed like the natural progression.

To see a woman become president, Im like, I can do anything after that, said Chelsea Chambers, a sophomore at Howard, arriving at the Yard, where the Frederick Douglas Memorial Hall was illuminated and the stage set for the vice-president to speak.

But perhaps a lesson from 2016: there were no flashy displays of confidence at Harriss election night party. No glass ceiling  it was outdoors at her alma mater, the place where she won her first election, freshman class representative of the Liberal Arts Student Council. Many Howard students and alumni were in attendance to support Harris, who would be the first president to have graduated from an HBCU  historically Black colleges and universities.

As the evening wore on, and Trump pulled further ahead in the electoral college count, her apprehensive supporters found solace in a handful of bright spots. Angela Alsobrooks was elected to be the first Black female senator to represent Maryland. Cheers rang out when Harris won her home state of California, hardly a surprise, but a boost that brought her tally to 145 against Trumps 211.

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Attenders refreshed their phones, staring at a probability needle that increasingly pointed irrevocably toward Trump victory. The loss of North Carolina  the first of the seven battleground states to be called for Trump  brought almost no audible reaction from the crowd. There was no raucous booing, just nervous sighs and scattered groans.

As the mood darkened at the event, the sound on the TVs were eventually switched off and music began to play, 2Pacs California Love came on. The vibes were no longer good. Attenders began to filter out. Some debated whether to stay in hopes of hearing from the vice-president herself. But when it became clear she would not speak, there was a rush toward the exit.

The blue wall states had not been called yet and that was always what the Harris campaign saw as its clearest path to victory. With those contests outstanding, Janay Smith, an alumna of Howard who flew in from Atlanta with the hope of witnessing history on the campus of her alma mater, said she had not yet given up hope.

But, she conceded, I am a bit let down by my nation that is even this close.

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Both Harris and Trump had framed the election as an existential battle for the countrys future and its very democracy. And given the choice between electing the first female president or returning to power the twice-impeached former president, whose attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat led to an insurrection at the US Capitol and who would become the first convicted felon commander-in-chief, Americans chose him, again.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage
Sioux Falls residents vote in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

A proposal to replace male-specific references in the South Dakota Constitution with neutral words and phrases was losing in unofficial election results Wednesday.

The tally was 57% against Amendment E and 43% in favor at 4 p.m. Central time Wednesday, with about 95% of statewide precincts fully reported.

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The amendment would replace male pronouns in the constitution, such as he, him and his, with neutral words and phrases such as the governor, the lieutenant governor, the officer, the elector, the accused, and so on. The male-specific references have been in the constitution since statehood 135 years ago.

Amendments to the constitution require voter approval. Legislators voted last year to put the amendment on this years ballot. Supporters said it was time to update language in the constitution to acknowledge the presence and contributions of women in state government. Opponents said the existing language is historical and does not preclude women from holding office.

Similar legislation last year changed male pronouns to neutral words and phrases in the states codified laws, which are not part of the constitution and dont require voter approval to amend. Lawmakers approved that legislation by wide margins, and Republican Kristi Noem  the states first female governor  signed it into law.

At the polls Tuesday in Sioux Falls, Jessica Aguilar said she supported the amendment.

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To me, its a no brainer. We have females serving in our government. Changing the language should be fairly noncontroversial, she said.

Jay Schmidt said he voted against Amendment E because he doesnt see the need for it, since women already serve in elected offices.

Other voters viewed the amendment as an extension of the culture wars, including Lois Steensma, who said she voted against it.

All of these gender things are starting to bother me, she said. Im getting burned out on the gender issue.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Voters in California passed Prop 35, a measure that would make permanent a tax on health insurance plans to fund Medi-Cal, according to a projection from the Associated Press.

The measure is currently passing with more than two-thirds of the vote.

Currently, funding for Medi-Cal comes through a tax on some health plans. Plans are taxed based on how many people are provided health care from one of those plans, including Medi-Cal. The state uses the money to reimburse Medi-Cal providers and fund other health programs. The money from the tax reduced costs from the states General Fund.

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Prop 35 made the funding permanent and directs the state legislature on how to use the tax revenues. In the short term, Prop 35 would increase state costs, not change the existing tax on health plans and increase funding for Medi-Cal, according to the California Legislative Analysts Office.

Proponents of the measure argued the measure would provide funding for Californias state health program Medi-Cal without raising taxes on individuals and make it permanent.

Supporters included various health care, health provider groups, including Planned Parenthood, the California Hospital Association and the California Academy of Family Physicians.

Various California newspaper editorial boards did not endorse the measure including the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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California voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 35, the measure that cements an existing tax on health plans to help fund the Medi-Cal program, as election results continued to be tallied Wednesday.

California has imposed a tax on managed care organizations  health insurance providers that provide or arrange services for a monthly payment  off and on over time. The state can reap more federal money as a result of charging the tax, which is based on how many people the health plans serve.

Read more: Election results for California's statewide propositions

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The ballot initiative aims to make the "MCO tax" permanent and designates how the money should be used. State leaders had renewed the tax last year and pledged to increase the reimbursement rates paid to healthcare providers under the Medi-Cal program, but Gov. Gavin Newsom changed plans for the funding amid a budget deficit, ultimately approving less money for rate increases than had been previously planned.

In the short term, Proposition 35 will require the money to be allocated in generally the same way that California had been planning before Newsom sought to rework those budgetary plans.

The ballot initiative was backed by a coalition of major healthcare groups, including the California Hospital Assn., the California Medical Assn. and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, which gathered signatures for a petition to qualify the initiative for the ballot. Groups backing Proposition 35 said that the health system needs consistent funding to ensure that Medi-Cal patients don't face a shortage of providers.

Read more: Trump elected as the United States 47th president following wins in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

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But opponents including the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network and the Children's Partnership challenged how Proposition 35 calls to allocate funding from the MCO tax, saying there had been little voice from Medi-Cal enrollees in those decisions, and warned the measure could restrict future flexibility when budgets are tight. Earlier this year, Newsom was pushing the coalition backing the measure to take it off the ballot.

Passing Proposition 35 also unravels some of the existing plans for the MCO tax under the state budget, critics warned, including funding to ensure continuous coverage under Medi-Cal for young children. Proposition 35 proponents have countered that lawmakers could still choose to fund such programs.

Read more: Your guide to Proposition 35: Taxing managed care organizations

Backers of the ballot measure, including the ambulance company Global Medical Response, spent more than $55 million in support of Proposition 35. No opposing committees reported any spending to the state.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Proposition 36, one of this years most high-profile and divisive ballot measures in California, has been approved by voters with overwhelming support.

The law will enact harsher penalties for repeat theft and drug crimes, which were eased a decade ago through the passage of Proposition 47.

When it was passed in 2014, Prop 47 changed the way thefts and other petty crimes were prosecuted. Previously, any thefts totaling more than $450 were considered felonies; Prop 47s passage raised that threshold to $950.

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The law also reclassified some drug charges from felonies to misdemeanors.

Law enforcement officials, prosecutors and conservative leaders have latched onto the 2014 law, tabbing it as the primary culprit for smash-and-grab burglaries and shoplifting crimes that have increased in regularity and profile since the coronavirus pandemic.

Prop 36 will roll back key parts of the previous law, restoring many of the pre-2014 sentencing thresholds and reclassifying crimes that are currently misdemeanors back into felonies.

It also includes a provision that could force someone with multiple previous drug-related arrests into treatment.

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Early polling showed strong support for the initiative, despite condemnation from criminal justice reform advocates and progressive activists. The Los Angeles Times editorial board and Gov. Gavin Newsom were among the critics who urged a No vote, with the Times calling the dissolution of Prop 47 disastrous.

Among the concerns raised by opponents, the mandatory sentencing for certain non-violent crimes which not only were unpopular and rejected a decade ago, but will also force local municipalities to spend more to incarcerate and try offenders that they hadnt needed to previously.

It also comes with no new funding source for the mandatory treatment of drug offenders, who can still be sent to prison if they fail to complete drug treatment, according to Cal Matters.

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The California Secretary of States Office projects it could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

Critics have warned these new expenses could result in cuts to existing programs that are actually meant to divert prison sentences.

Others, including the Times, believed Prop 36 wouldnt actually be a deterrent.

US Election Results: President, Senate, House & Governor Races

Another criticism of Prop 36 were the sources of much of its funding. Big box stores like Walmart were among the major financial backers of Prop 36some argued that the retailers were only concerned about their bottom lines and not true criminal sentencing reform.

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The passage of Prop 36 marks a significant setback for the slow progress made toward criminal justice reform that many Democrats and progressives have long advocated for.

In Los Angeles County, District Attorney George Gascon, a self-described reformist known for instituting some of the states most progressive policies, was expected to lose his re-election bid to challenger Nathan Hochman.

Both Prop 36s passage and Gascons assumed defeat suggest growing frustration with these policies and a perceived increase in crimes that affect the day-to-day quality of life for average Californians.

For the latest vote tallies in Californias other statewide races and ballot initiatives, click here.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  While the passing of Prop 1 made headlines for protecting abortion and transgender rights in New Yorks Constitution, voters also approved other proposals on the ballot.

New York City voters approved proposals No. 2 through 5 but struck down proposal No. 6 on Election Day.

Click here for election results

Prop 2 passed with a majority of 61 percent of the vote, while Props 3 through 5 got between 55 percent to 57 percent. Prop 6 failed to pass, with only 47 percent in favor of it.

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Heres a breakdown of what each proposal means for New York City.

Prop 1 approved: What it means for New Yorkers

Proposition 2

What it says:

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) would have increased authority to keep all city property clean, including parks and highway medians, and to hold street vendors accountable for following rules at those locations. It would also allow DSNY to regulate how New Yorkers put out their garbage for collection.

What it means:

According to NYC Votes, this proposal clarifies the authority and jurisdiction of the Department of Sanitation to keep the city clean, including holding street vendors accountable. Some groups criticized the proposition, saying it could lead to increased surveillance of street vendors.

Proposition 3

What it says:

The City Council provides cost estimates of proposed laws before voting on them. The proposal would give the Mayors Office of Management and Budget the opportunity to provide its own cost estimates for proposed laws and require the Council to publish its cost estimates before public hearings on proposed laws. This proposal would also require the Council to formally notify the mayors office before holding public hearings or votes on proposed laws. Lastly, this proposal would extend the deadline for certain budget reports in the first year of a new mayoral administration and permanently extend the deadline for the mayor to publish their annual city budget.

What it means:

Under this approved proposal, the mayor will now be tasked with assessing the cost of laws before they are passed, as explained by NYC Votes. Cost estimates from the City Council and mayor must be made available before proposed laws are considered at public hearings. The change will also give the mayor more time to prepare the citys annual budget before it is presented to the City Council.

Proposition 4

What it says:

The Council must give 30 days notice before voting on public safety laws that impact the Police Department, Department of Correction, or the Fire Department. During this time, the mayor and affected City agencies may also hold public hearings to hear additional public input.

What it means:

Much like the proposition states, the mayor and affected agencies could use a 30-day period to hold public hearings before voting on public safety laws. Groups in support of the measure say it will ensure public awareness and involvement in decisions that affect safety. However, those against the change say it could lead to excessive bureaucracy and hinder timely responses to public safety threats.

Proposition 5

What it says:

This proposal would amend the City Charter to require more detail in the annual assessment of city facilities, mandate that facility needs inform capital planning, and update capital planning deadlines.

What it means:

This passed proposal will expand the criteria used to assess the maintenance costs for city property and change the due date for capital planning reports as well as public hearings.

Proposition 6

What it says:

This proposal would amend the City Charter to establish the Chief Business Diversity Officer (CBDO), authorize the mayor to designate the office that issues film permits and combine archive boards.

What it means:

This proposal would have revised the Charter to create a new role to support Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, according to Vote NYC. However, critics of the proposal said it wouldnt improve the processes to issue permits and that the merging of boards could be handled administratively rather than through a Charter Revision Commission.

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Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  With American voters deciding to return Donald Trump to the White House, the task of blocking his autocratic impulses is now left to two groups that, to date, have shown little interest in doing so: congressional Republicans and the Supreme Court.

Trump has spoken about using the Justice Department and the military to go after political opponents and those he has deemed the enemy from within. Both would be abuses of power and possibly violate the law. Yet the job of blocking those and potentially other abuses by the former and soon-to-be president would fall to a Republican-controlled Senate, possibly a GOP House and a high court that may not be inclined to step in.

Every Republican is going to be even more subservient to him, said Joe Walsh, a former GOP representative who spent the final weeks of the 2024 campaign traveling the country on behalf of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris to warn of the dangers of a second Trump term.

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When Trump tried to extort Ukraine into essentially helping him cheat in his 2020 reelection bid and he was impeached by the Democratic House, only one Republican senator voted with Democrats to remove him from office.

A year later, after Trump tried to remain in power through a violent coup on Jan. 6, 2021  an event that endangered the life of every member of Congress present that day  only 10 GOP House members and seven Republican senators voted in favor of impeachment and conviction.

The U.S. Supreme Court, meanwhile, in a ruling this summer gave Trump presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions he takes as president, and provided a broad definition of official.

Walsh, now an independent, said that Trumps ability to win back a job he tried to hang on to by violating both laws and the Constitution sends a dangerous message to others in Walshs former party.

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Now I think youll see Republicans actively trying to help him subvert the Constitution, Walsh said. He just proved I can try to overthrow the government and still be reelected.

Olivia Troye, a former Trump White House national security aide, agreed that Americans can depend on neither Congress nor the courts to stop Trump. A further danger, she said, is that his second administration will be stocked with officials and aides who are loyal to Trump but not necessarily to the Constitution.

In his first term, Trump  who did not expect to win the 2016 presidential election and had not really thought about what his administration would look like  wound up appointing top advisers who were largely mainstream Republicans and institutionalists. The political appointees he put in the top levels of federal bureaucracies were likewise establishment Republicans, as he had no large pool of applicants who were primarily loyal to him

That balance shifted through his four years in office, as original appointees were fired or resigned and were replaced with people more willing to carry out his will. But Trump did not truly appreciate his power as the chief executive until after he had lost his reelection bid in November 2020, when he fired his defense secretary and attorney general for a perceived lack of loyalty as Trump pushed to overturn the election results.

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This time, Trump is almost certain to fill top national security and Justice Department positions with personal loyalty to him as a top criterion, both allies and critics said. As to the thousands of political appointment jobs in the agencies, The Heritage Foundations Project 2025 has been compiling and vetting lists of suitable, ideologically correct candidates for two years.

The guardrails are no longer going to be there, Troye said. Were assuming that, in a normal democracy type of world, that all of these other branches of government are going to hold the line against the executive branch. But we have to understand that in a Donald Trump presidency, that is not what were dealing with. He doesnt care about the rule of law. He doesnt abide by it.
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  Public Eye Soar art festival is returning to Gulf Coast State Colleges campus again this weekend. The projection art exhibit gives a platform to artists of all skill levels.

The Public Eye Soar Projection Art Festival has been a staple of the local art scene for 11 consecutive years. Even during Hurricane Michael and the pandemic, organizers found a way to put on the event.

We did it 30 days after the hurricane, the following year was the pandemic, and we were not allowed to have groups of people together. So, we did a drive-through event in which people stayed in their cars, and they got to see the art galleries on the side of the mall. Then we moved to Gulf Coast State College that took off and thats where we are now, Public Eye Soar Co-Founder Margaret Webster said.

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Polling station rules for Election Day

The two-day free arts celebration is coming back to Gulf Coast State College for the fourth year.

Its open Friday, November 8, and Saturday, November 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. The festival features projected art, animation, and interactive activities that offer a unique perspective on art.

All of the art is digital, and its projected on the sides of buildings. So oftentimes artists are creating art thats usually like, you know, this big and then suddenly were going to take their art and were going to make a building size. Its going to be two stories high. And for them its like its just a completely different way to see their art, Webster said.

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There will be 57 screens projecting art, sand art, live projects, an immersive lost city put on by Gulf Coasts anthropology class, and more. Gulf Coast State College officials are proud to provide a platform to all artists.

Northwest Florida Reception Center wins back-to-back K9 training competitions

What I love about this event some of the things being projected on the wall next to a professional artist. Right. And I cant think of any other event that going to have students from the dance company performing right next to a seasoned veteran musician all on the same stage. That kind of stuff doesnt really happen anywhere except in public eye soar, Gulf Coast State College Recruitment and Community Relations Executive Director Jason Hedden said.

This years event is moved to the south side of campus due to ongoing beautification projects. The temporary area is smaller, but officials say the scale of the artwork is just as big.

They hope to continue growing the event and bringing in new artists for years to come.

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If youre going to Public Eye Soar, park on the south side of campus and enter between the social sciences, and language & literature buildings, then look for the white tent.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed a Ukraine war veteran to govern one of Russias regions, marking the highest position awarded to a participant in the full-scale invasion so far.

This move aligns with the Kremlins efforts to build a "new elite" of patriotic workers and soldiers, reflecting the growing militarization of Russian society. Yevgeny Pervyshov, a former mayor of Krasnodar, a southern Russian city, was named interim governor of Tambov, located approximately 460 kilometers (about 286 miles) southeast of Moscow.

Pervyshov  who is also a State Duma deputy  volunteered to fight in Ukraine in November 2022 and was later selected for Putin's "Time of Heroes" program, which aims to elevate war veterans into influential civil service roles.

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Pervyshovs appointment highlights how the Kremlin is framing the war as an opportunity to replace traditional oligarchic elites with more patriotic figures, positioning soldiers and workers as the new face of power. This strategy is also seen as a tool to incentivize more men to enlist, with the promise of a potential path to political power and prestigious jobs in peacetime, according to the Washington Post.

The program has led to the appointment of several veterans into various government positions, including regional ministers and managers of defense contractors. While the program is framed as an opportunity for veterans to advance their careers, it appears to be a way to reward those who have ties to Russias military elite.

Many of the soldiers involved in the program come from specialized units, like BARS Kaskad, which allow elites to avoid front-line service while maintaining a connection to the military. According to British intelligence, BARS Kaskad members are typically kept away from active combat, ensuring their safety and potentially gaining favor with the Kremlin.

Read also: Russia grants citizenship to over 3,300 foreigners under Putins military decree

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Russian leader Vladimir Putin has unofficially congratulated Donald Trump on his presidential election victory, although this has not been publicly announced.

Source: European Pravda, citing Verstka, Russian media outlet

Details: A high-ranking Russian parliamentary source said that Russian authorities and elites, including Putin, congratulated Trump informally "through acquaintances".

Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on the matter, stating he did not know whether Putin would congratulate Trump, given that Trump leads a "hostile country".

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The source said that Trump has also received greetings from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Herman Gref, CEO of Sberbank, the largest Russian bank, and from the speakers of the parliamentary chambers as well.

This informal congratulatory gesture was confirmed by another source close to the Kremlin, who mentioned that the greetings were conveyed through Russias Foreign Ministry.

The source noted that key Russian officials "have relationships" with the new president, which "the Kremlin wants to maintain", as Moscow has certain "hopes" for Trump.

The Russian elite holds hope that, following Trumps victory in the US, relations between Washington and Moscow may improve and US support for Ukraine might diminish. They believe this could lead to a more favourable situation for Russian forces on the front line. However, it remains unclear what specific actions the Kremlin expects from Trump, Verstka summarises.

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Background:

CNN previously reported that Donald Trump, who values flattery and loyalty, closely monitors which world leaders attempt to reach out to him.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his victory, recalling their "great meeting" in September, where they discussed in detail the Ukraine-US strategic partnership.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to congratulate former President Trump on his election night victory, the Kremlin said Wednesday amid speculation the Republican president-elect will have closer relations with Moscow.

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said at a Wednesday briefing that he was not aware of any plans to congratulate Trump and made clear that relations with the U.S. were at a historic low.

It is practically impossible to make relations between the United States and Russia any worse as they are already at their lowest point in history, Peskov said, according to Russian state-run media outlet TASS.

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However, Peskov said the next administration has the chance to change its position on dialogue with Russia.

President Putin has repeatedly said that he is open to a constructive dialogue based on justice, equality, and mutual respect for each others concerns. And President Putin remains committed to this position and has reiterated it multiple times, Peskov added. But today, the U.S. administration holds a contrary position. Lets wait and see what happens in January,

Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine by the time he takes office Jan. 20, a move that may involve ceding territory to Russia, which has taken swaths of eastern Ukrainian territory in the nearly three-year-old war.

The U.S. under President Biden has supported Kyiv with advanced weapons to defend against the Russian invasion, but Trump has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the greatest salesman for his ability to win billions of dollars in aid from Washington and expressed doubt about supporting a war that has destroyed parts of Ukraine.

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Trump has also made remarks praising Putin, including calling him a genius after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trump also reportedly called the Russian president seven times since he left the White House in January 2021 and sent him COVID-19 test kits during his last year in office in 2020.

Zelensky, who met with Trump in September, congratulated the president-elect shortly after he secured enough Electoral College votes in the presidential election against Vice President Harris early Wednesday morning.

At the September meeting, Trump had said when he wins the election, he would resolve the war very quickly and touted his relations with Putin and Russia.

Zelensky, in his congratulatory message on social media, said he hopes Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.

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Kremlin officials and allies welcomed Donald Trump's 2024 election win.

Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, said it was bad news for Ukraine.

Some in Moscow are skeptical about whether Trump will make a major difference.

Kremlin officials and allies celebrated as Donald Trump closed in on victory in the 2024 election.

In a post on Telegram on Wednesday, Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who's now a senior security official, said Trump's win was bad news for Ukraine.

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"Trump has one useful quality for us: as a businessman to the core, he mortally dislikes spending money on various hangers-on and stupid hanger-on allies, on bad charity projects and on voracious international organizations," Medvedev said.

The US has given Ukraine $64.1 billion in military assistance since the 2022 Russian invasion. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly questioned the aid.

Medvedev said that Ukraine was most likely among the projects Trump wouldn't want to spend money on and that Ukraine's leaders would be trying to console themselves.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Donald Trump's win was bad news for Ukraine. Contributor/Getty Images

But he also questioned how much Trump would be able to change the dynamics of US policy toward Ukraine.

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"The question is how much Trump will be forced to give to the war. He's stubborn, but the system is stronger," Medvedev said.

Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, meanwhile said a Trump victory could help improve Russia's relationship with the US.

"Their convincing victory shows that ordinary Americans are tired of the unprecedented lies, incompetence, and malice of the Biden administration," the former Goldman Sachs banker said, according to Reuters.

"This opens up new opportunities for resetting relations between Russia and the United States," he added.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his "impressive election victory" and said he hoped the Republican would play a key role in ending the war.

Resetting relations

The Kremlin's official reaction to Trump's win was more muted than that of some Russian officials, with its spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, describing the election as an "internal US matter."

"We are unaware of any Putin plans to congratulate Trump on his win," Peskov said.

Despite the understated response from the Kremlin, there are indications that the Russian leadership has long favored a Trump victory in the election.

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US intelligence agencies during the election said Russia was behind disinformation campaigns apparently designed to discredit the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.

Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said Trump's win could reset relations with the US. RDIF

In July, Russian government sources told The Moscow Times that the Russian leadership was privately rooting for Trump in the election.

Trump has also been open about his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He continued to praise Putin, saying he was " smart " and " genius ," after he began his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. He has also said he'd be able to swiftly negotiate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

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Though he's offered few details on how, a peace plan suggested by his running mate, JD Vance, on a podcast in September indicates that it'd involve Ukraine ceding the territory Russia holds and pledging neutrality.

Ahead of Trump's victory, a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson sent a coded message of congratulations.

"They win who live by love for their country, and not by hatred for foreigners," Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram.

There's reason to be wary

The reaction to Trump's victory from the Russian state TV host and Kremlin propagandist Olga Skabeyeva was openly celebratory.

"Wow! Our congratulations! 47th president of the US", she posted on Telegram after Fox News called the election for Trump early Wednesday.

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During his term in office, however, Trump's praise for Putin wasn't always translated into action.

The Republican, for example, sold Ukraine anti-tank weapons that Democratic President Barack Obama had refused to provide in one of a series of moves that did little to reduce tensions between Moscow and Washington, DC.

Russia-US relations are now so poor that some insiders question whether Trump will change the dynamic.

"Of course they want Trump  that's clear  but the result of this election will not be a game changer for Russia," a former Kremlin official who still operates in government circles told The Washington Post.

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"The situation has become truly terrible," they added. "US-Russian relations are in deadlock. And everyone is a hostage of it  even Putin."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has said that he is not aware of Putins plans to congratulate Donald Trump on his projected victory in the US presidential election, adding that the US is an "unfriendly country" that is fighting against Russia.

Source: RIA Novosti (RIA News), a pro-Kremlin Russian news agency

Quote from Peskov: "We are analysing the words that are being said and we will make conclusions regarding claims about issues that are on our agenda when we hear them. That will have to wait, given that the current US president will be in office for almost a month and a half.

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I am unaware of [Putins] plans to congratulate Trump. Lets not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country which is directly and indirectly involved in the war against our country (Russia  ed.)."

Details: In a comment about Trumps claim that he can restore peace in Ukraine, Peskov said that his words may take on a different tone if and when Trump enters the Oval Office.

Background:

Several US election results models show that Republican Party nominee Donald Trump will win the presidential election.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election and stated his optimism that under Trump's leadership, the US will continue to provide strong bipartisan support for Ukraine.

Trump, who has already announced his election triumph, has stated that he intends to bring a stop to the world's wars.

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Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Queen Camilla recently returned from a royal tour of Australia and Samoa alongside her husband, King Charles. However, following the successful trip, the Queen has been replaced at several royal events due to health issues.

During the eventful tour, Camilla burst into tears when King Charles discussed his mortality. She also appeared barefoot after a day of busy engagements. After returning home, though, the Queen has been forced to pull out from her official royal engagements on the advice of her medical team.

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Buckingham Palace released a statement regarding Camilla's health, saying (via the BBC), "Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest."

The statement continued, "With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week, but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekends Remembrance events as normal."

King Charles wears a tan suit while smiling at wife Queen Camilla, who wears a light blue tunic with a striped pattern, while they pose on the beach in Apia, Samoa

According to the BBC, the Duchess of Gloucester will take Camilla's place at the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday, November 7.

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, was born in Denmark, and is married to Queen Elizabeth II's cousin, the Duke of Gloucester. As a busy member of the Royal Family, the Duchess is used to attending high-profile events on behalf of her relatives.

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The outlet also noted that the Queen hopefully has "a relatively minor bug... which could have been picked up during her long-haul travels." As well as traveling all the way to Australia and Samoa, it's also been reported that the Queen visited India to break up the long flight.

Queen Camilla crying in Samoa while wearing a floral dress

The Queen is reportedly hoping to return to her royal duties this weekend. Her busy schedule would include Saturday's Festival of Remembrance concert at the Royal Albert Hall, followed by the annual service held at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday.

Regarding Camilla's absence from some events, Buckingham Palace explained (via GB News), "She apologizes to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result."
Fargo residents vote at Northview Church in south Fargo on Nov. 5, 2024, where turnout was heavy for most of Election Day. (Dan Koeck/For the North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota voters rejected a measure to overhaul property taxes Tuesday, but property tax relief is expected to be a major focus of the upcoming legislative session.

Gov.-elect Kelly Armstrong, who was among those to oppose Measure 4, said he plans to make property tax reform a top priority. He will resign from North Dakotas sole U.S. House seat at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 14 and take office as governor on Dec. 15, succeeding Gov. Doug Burgum.

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Republican Julie Fedorchak will take Armstrongs seat in Congress in January, creating a vacancy on the North Dakota Public Service Commission that the governor will fill. She will be the first woman to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House.

Republican Kevin Cramer was reelected to the U.S. Senate, where his party will be in the majority.

More election news

For more statewide coverage, visit our North Dakota Election 2024 page and our live results page.

Heres what else you need to know about North Dakotas election results:

Measures: Voters defeated a measure to legalize recreational marijuana for the third time in six years.

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Voters also rejected a measure to reform the initiated measure process. Measures to change the Legislatures spending limit of the Legacy Fund principal and replace outdated language in the state constitution were approved.

Legislature: North Dakota Republicans will keep a supermajority in the state Legislature. Native Americans gained representation in the Legislature as a result of races that were on the ballot due to redistricting.

Statewide candidates: Republican statewide candidates easily won reelection. Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler, Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann and State Auditor Josh Gallion all defeated challengers. State Treasurer Thomas Beadle and Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread were reelected in uncontested races.

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President: North Dakota voters overwhelmingly chose Donald Trump for president.

Turnout: The state had strong early voter turnout, but overall turnout was about average for a presidential election year.

Recounts: Two legislative races might qualify for demand recounts, depending on official results. Other local races facing possible recounts can be found through the Secretary of States website.

Next steps: Election results will remain unofficial until county canvassing boards meet Nov. 18, and results are certified by the State Canvassing Board on Nov. 20.

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A thunderstruck world on Wednesday took in Donald Trumps victory in the U.S. presidential election with varying expressions of jubilation, dismay or bafflement as allies and adversaries recalibrated their vision of a vastly altered American landscape.

On Ukraines frosty battlefields, in bustling urban cafes in Europe and Asia, on Middle Eastern street corners, there were gasps and widened eyes as the news flashed on televisions and smartphone screens. But in some quarters, a certain sense of detachment stemmed from this faraway political earthquake.

World leaders swiftly weighed in, ranging from enthusiastic congratulations to more somber and circumspect assurances of continuity in the relationship with Trump, whose mercurial first presidency upended many longstanding diplomatic norms.

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Read more: 2024 election results: Trump wins second term, Harris concedes presidential race

Historys greatest comeback! Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on the platform X. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a message more typical of Washingtons closest Western allies, declared himself ready to work together as we did.

Hungarys nationalist-populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a longtime Trump ally, called his election a beautiful victory. Right-wing former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, another backer, described Trumps win as the "rebirth of a true warrior."

While most Americans either followed the tallies into the bleary-eyed early-morning hours or awoke to news of Vice President Kamala Harris' defeat, people in much of the world were in daytime work mode when the race was called.

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Read more: Trump is elected 47th president, soundly defeating Harris to retake White House

Attention swiftly turned to Ukraine, where a Trump presidency could have a dramatic effect on the country's ability to fight off the full-scale Russian invasion that began in February 2022.

In the bigger picture, the war isnt going anywhere, said Serhiy, a Ukrainian marine sergeant serving on the southern front lines. In keeping with Ukrainian military protocol, only his first name was shared.

In a Seoul cafe with sweeping river views, South Korean media production company owner Jeon Ji, 35, said she had never seen such a polarized political climate.

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I am beginning to wonder if the U.S. might actually break out in civil war, she said.

Some onlookers mourned the stinging defeat, once again, of a female Democratic presidential contender.

"For many, Trumps victory will remind them of nothing so much as his 2016 upset over Hillary Clinton," columnist Moira Donegan wrote in Britain's Guardian newspaper. The outcome, she said, prompted "a cold kind of anticipatory grief."

Read more: Will Trumps win clear way for PGA-LIV merger? Rory McIlroy says it could with Elon Musk's help

In the United States' southern neighbor Mexico, a forthcoming Trump presidency represents a potentially radical shift on key issues: migration, trade, and the fight against drug trafficking. At a news conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sought to allay jitters.

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Mexico always comes out ahead, Sheinbaum said. There is no reason for concern.

In Europe, where several dozen heads of state were set to gather Thursday at a summit in Budapest, Hungary, Trumps victory was seen as holding major consequences for security, the economy and climate change.

The former and incoming presidents promise to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, coupled with his friendly posture toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, cast a cloud over what has been an overarching common goal for nearly three years, assisting Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

Nonetheless, Mark Rutte, the secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, struck an optimistic note, saying Trumps leadership would again "be key to keeping our alliance strong. In the same vein, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said she looked forward to working again with Trump on a strong transatlantic agenda.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a far-right leader who shares Trumps aggressive posture against illegal immigration, vowed to work with Trump to strengthen their nations strategic bond.

Read more: How Trump overcame a shooting and an unexpected rival to win a historic second term

But Europes left was appalled. Raphael Glucksmann, a leading French socialist in the European Parliament, said Trumps return to the White House will threaten Europes alliance with the United States.

We will now find ourselves alone in Europe, he said. Alone in the face of war on our continent, alone in the face of Putin, alone in the face of the wave of far-right authoritarians sweeping through our nations and the world, alone in the face of the climate catastrophe. Alone.

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In an editorial, Le Monde, the leading French newspaper, lamented the return of a U.S. leader who reserves his harshest words for his allies but spares the autocrats, who are seen as partners rather than adversaries.

Read more: Trump's foreign strategy still rests heavily on courting autocrats

Joey Chao, a 32-year-old English teacher in Taipei, checked his phone throughout the day Wednesday for the latest election updates before Trump's victory was sealed.

"There's a little bit of shock," he said. "People couldn't imagine Trump winning again."

With his criminal convictions and defense of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, the former president loomed large as a divisive political figure in Taiwan, Chao said. By contrast, few of his friends knew much about Harris at all.

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"We feel that if Trump wins, there is more unpredictability in terms of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship," he said. "But on the other hand, we are not worried about him giving up his tough stance on China."

Read more: Trump victory puts California clean air initiatives in jeopardy

In the Middle East, where the Biden administration has struggled for the last year or more to contain spiraling hostilities, news of Trumps victory left many shocked.

Israel is fighting multifront battles against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which launched a shock attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip more than a year ago that killed about 1,200 people, and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which began attacking Israel shortly thereafter.

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Both Hamas and Hezbollah are proxies of Iran, which has also traded missile fire with Israel, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. In Tehran, a 25-year-old theater studies graduate named Hoda, who did not want her full name used for safety reasons, said she could not envision a positive result from Trump's presidency.

Nothing seems like it will be in our favor, she said.

The catastrophic war in Gaza, which has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, was seen as one factor that hurt Harris among young voters and Arab Americans in crucial swing states.

For some, the result raised fears of even greater suffering to come. Nader Abdelqader, 43, an architect in the Gazan city of Khan Yunis, said he expected Trump to offer unconditional support to the Israeli government.

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In Lebanon, where health officials say Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,000 people over the last year, most of them in the last two months, there was an air of fatalism over the outcome.

Sanaa, a 26-year-old who was taking her dog for a walk along Beirut's waterfront promenade and did not want to give her name for privacy reasons, said she expected little to change under a new U.S. administration, regardless of which candidate triumphed.

"It's the same either way," she said. "Both Trump and Harris don't care about us."

King reported from Washington; Ayres from Kyiv, Ukraine; Kim from Seoul; special correspondent Finnegan from Paris; Bulos from Beirut; Yang from Taipei and Linthicum from Mexico City. Special correspondent Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Host of Problems

A state-funded radio show in Poland was struggling to retain listeners. So it undertook a shrewd piece of business: fire all the show's presenters, as The New York Times reports, and replace them with experimental AI hosts.

The station, Off Radio Krakow, made the bold gamble in a bid to appeal to younger listeners with a trio of AI-generated "Gen Z" hosts. It sort of worked, in the short term. The mix of outrage, rubbernecking, and genuine curiosity saw the station's "close to zero" listener count initially jump to 8,000.

But was it worth the ensuing backlash that has turned into a nationwide controversy and launched a broader conversation about widespread job destruction that AI could cause? The station's editor  who's been accused of "sacrificing humans on the altar of technology," as the NYT puts it  sounds ambivalent.

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"I have been turned into a job-killing monster who wants to replace real people with avatars," Mariusz Marcin Pulit, the editor-in-chief of Radio Krakow told the NYT. He maintains that it was never his intention to replace human workers with AI  even though that's exactly what he did.

Nobel Intentions

The controversy was catalyzed when Radio Krakow said it would air a "unique interview" with Polish Nobel laureate Wislawa Szymborska, which it initially framed as a real conversation.

Since the venerated poet died in 2012, you might think that having her on the show would be impossible. But no: her appearance was AI-generated  as was the host interviewing her.

"I was very angry that real, deep talks and real interviews with real people were replaced with something totally fake," Lukasz Zaleski, one of the fired radio station hosts, told the NYT.

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The forged personalities created for the AI presenters also became a flashpoint of controversy.

One, named Alex Szulc, was touted as a nonbinary progressive "full of social commitment," according to the NYT. But references to their gender were scrubbed following backlash from LGBTQ activists; this apparently wasn't the kind of representation they were hoping for.

Face for Radio

Indeed, it's impressive how much Radio Krakow has managed to piss almost everybody off, including proponents of the technology.

"Although I am a fan of AI development, I believe that certain boundaries are being crossed more and more," tweeted Poland's minister of digitalization Krzysztof Gawkowski. "The widespread use of AI must be done for people, not against them!"

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Elsewhere in government, Pulit, the station's editor, has become the villain of the week for the many right wing members of the National Radio and Television Council, who have accused him of "eliminating the human factor," per the NYT.

With all the hate bearing down on him, Pulit has since nixed the AI-hosted radio show  but he couldn't resist framing himself and his pro-AI cohort as martyrs in this debacle.

"We are pioneers, and the fate of pioneers can be difficult," Pulit said in his announcement to staff about the AI show's cancellation.

More on AI: OpenAI Accidentally Leaked Its Upcoming o1 Model to Anyone With a Certain Web Address
ORLANDO, Fla.  The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Rafael grew into a major Category 3 storm Wednesday ahead of landfall in Cuba as it headed toward the Gulf of Mexico, while the Florida Keys remained under a tropical storm warning.

As of 4 p.m. Rafael, which first gained hurricane status at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, remained a major hurricane with 115 mph sustained winds. It was located about 45 miles south-southwest of Havana, Cuba and 70 miles north of the Isle of Youth moving northwest at 13 mph.

Hurricane-force winds extend out 30 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extend out 115 miles from its center.

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A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Floridas Lower and Middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge and the Dry Tortugas as well as the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara and Cienfuegos.

Rafael was expected to make landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday evening and move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday night.

Little change in strength is expected before Rafael makes landfall in western Cuba, forecasters said. Some weakening is forecast while Rafael crosses western Cuba, but the storm is forecast to remain a hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

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Effects began hitting southwest Florida on Wednesday with the National Weather Service in Miami forecasting 1-3 inches of rain, especially in the middle and lower Keys.

There is a limited tornado threat, with the primary area of concern being over interior and southwest portions of the region, NWS forecasters said.

Deep moisture buildup from ahead of the storm will push into Central Florida by Wednesday evening.

Marine hazards remain the primary concern for the Gulf Coast.

Storm surge is projected to range from 1-3 feet in the Dry Tortugas and 1-2 feet in the lower Florida Keys.

Immediate concerns for the Caribbean included rainfall totals could reach more than 12 inches over Cuba through midweek with the threat of flash flooding and mudslides.

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Once it makes it into the Gulf of Mexico, its final destination along the Gulf Coast remains uncertain. The five-day forecast track has a wide range of potential that includes Louisiana and Texas, but it also could turn back south toward Mexico.

It is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the northern Gulf Coast. Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast, forecasters said.

Its intensity, though, should drop from hurricane strength before landfall with drier air and stronger vertical wind shear present in the central Gulf of Mexico.

The NHC also continued to track a trough of low pressure that is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms to the east-northeast of the Caribbeans Leeward Islands.

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This system is expected to move generally westward during the next few days, and an area of low pressure could form near the northern Leeward Islands tonight or Thursday, forecasters said. Afterward, some gradual development of this system is possible toward the end of the week and into the early part of the weekend while it moves near or to the north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and approaches the Southeast Bahamas.

The NHC gave it a 20% chance to develop in the next two days and 30% in the next seven days.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has produced 17 named storms, with 11 of the systems having grown into hurricanes, three of which have struck Floridas Gulf Coast.

Five of the 11 hurricanes have grown into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or stronger.

The official hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.

____
ORLANDO, Fla.  The National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Rafael will grow into a major Category 3 storm Wednesday before it strikes Cuba and moves into the Gulf of Mexico, while the Florida Keys remain under a tropical storm warning.

As of 10 a.m. Rafael, which formed at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, had grown into a strong Category 2 hurricane with 110 mph sustained winds, just 5 mph shy of major hurricane status. It was located about 60 miles east-southeast of the Isle of Youth and 130 miles south-southsat of Havan, Cuba moving northwest at 14 mph.

Hurricane-force winds extend out 15 miles and tropica-storm-force winds extend out 115 miles from its center.

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A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Floridas Lower and Middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge and the Dry Tortugas as well as the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, and Ciego de Avila.

On the forecast track, Rafael is expected move near or just east of the Isle of Youth during the next few hours, and make landfallin western Cuba later today. Rafael is forecast to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight, forecasters said. Additional strengthening is expected, and Rafael is forecast to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall in Cuba later today. Rafael is forecast to weaken over Cuba but is expected to emerge into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane.

The NHCs intensity forecast has it hitting 115 mph sustained winds and 140 mph gusts as it makes landfall in Cuba. In the Gulf of Mexico, its forecast to move away from land and lose intensity.

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Its wind field and northeastern quadrant rain could make an impact on Southwest Florida beginning Wednesday, but the National Weather Service in Miami gives only a 30-40% chance of tropical-storm-force winds along coastal Collier County, and 1-3 inches of rain as a worst-case scenario, totals that could be seen in the middle and lower Keys especially.

There is a limited tornado threat, with the primary area of concern being over interior and southwest portions of the region, NWS forecasters said.

Marine hazards remain the primary concern for the Gulf Coast.

Storm surge is projected to range from 1-3 feet in the Dry Tortugas and 1-2 feet in the lower Florida Keys.

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Immediate concerns for the Caribbean include rainfall totals could reach more than 12 inches over Cuba through midweek with the threat of flash flooding and mudslides.

Once it makes it into the Gulf of Mexico, its final destination along the Gulf Coast remains uncertain, with the five-day forecast track still with a wide range of potential that includes Louisiana and Texas, but also could turn back south toward Mexico.

It is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the northern Gulf Coast. Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast, forecasters said.

Its intensity, though, should drop from hurricane strength before landfall with drier air and stronger vertical wind shear present in the central Gulf of Mexico.

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The NHC also continued to track a trough of low pressure that is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms to the east-northeast of the Caribbeans Leeward Islands.

This system is expected to move generally westward during the next few days, and an area of low pressure could form near the northern Leeward Islands tonight or Thursday, forecasters said. Afterward, some gradual development of this system is possible toward the end of the week and into the early part of the weekend while it moves near or to the north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and approaches the Southeast Bahamas.

The NHC gives it a 20% chance to develop in the next two days and 30% in the next seven days.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has now produced 17 named storms, with 11 of the systems having grown into hurricanes, three of which have struck Floridas Gulf Coast.

The official hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.

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Rafael made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday afternoon in western Cuba before weakening, the National Hurricane Center said.

In a 2 a.m. ET Thursday update, the center said Rafael was about 115 miles west-northwest of Havana as it moves away from western Cuba and heads to the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

It had maximum sustained wind speeds of 105 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane, and was moving northwest at 13 mph.

Rafael is expected to approach the U.S. later in the week.

Rafael strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane Wednesday and then to Category 3 before it made landfall in the in the Cuban province of Artemisa, just east of Playa Majana. It weakened back to Category 2 after it made landfall.

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As the storm lashed the island, its national electric grid collapsed, leaving its 10 million residents in the dark, again, after previous collapses last month.

There could be some relief for the island. The life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds and flash flooding in western parts of Cuba should end Wednesday night.

A man rides a bicycle after Hurricane Rafael made landfall in Pueblo Candelaria, Cuba, on Wednesday.

The storm is expected to slow and turn to the west Thursday, continuing on that path through Saturday as it traverses the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Its strength is not expected to change much as it moves over the Gulf on Friday, with some weakening possible Wednesday night and Thursday.

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In Cuba, Mariel reported sustained winds of 80 mph and a peak gust of 115 mph as the eye passed nearby. And a NOAA station at Sand Key, in Florida, reported a 66 mph gust, the hurricane center said.

A hurricane warning was in effect for the Cuban provinces Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana and Mayabeque. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, and the Dry Tortugas.

An additional 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected across western Cuba on Wednesday night, bringing total storm accumulation to 12 inches, which "may lead to areas of flash flooding and mudslides, especially along the higher terrain," the hurricane center said.

Then heavy rain will spread north into Florida and adjacent areas of the Southeast U.S. by mid- to late week, with 1 to 3 inches of rain expected for the lower and middle Florida Keys.

Tropical storm conditions are expected in the lower and middle Florida Keys beginning Wednesday night.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Ranked choice voting, the controversial balloting method in which voters select candidates in the order of their preference, was rejected resoundingly in four states while a repeal effort was tied after Tuesdays elections.

Advocates of the system, used statewide now only in Alaska and Maine, had hoped wins in Western states would give the issue momentum for further expansion.

Instead, ranked choice voting lost in Colorado, Oregon, Nevada and Idaho. While some tallies may change as additional votes arrive, the best it did was in Nevada, where it had passed once before but needed to pass again to take effect. There, it got 46% of the vote.

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It did the worst in Idaho, the most heavily Republican of the states where it was on the ballot, garnering only 30%.

The loss in Colorado particularly stung proponents, who had vastly outspent the opposition there.

Reforms of this magnitude take time and effort, said Kent Thiry, the co-chair and a big financial backer of the pro-ranked choice campaign.

Time and public sentiment are on the side of our reforms, as support was highest among voters under the age of 50, because they have the biggest stake in the future.

A similar note was struck by Meredith Sumpter, CEO of FairVote, a pro-ranked choice group.

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Changing the status quo is never easy. Entrenched interests  including several state parties and an increasingly well-organized national opposition  pushed back hard on this years statewide ballot measures, she said.

In Alaska, a move to repeal the ranked choice system was virtually tied with support for it in early results. Alaska voters had approved ranked choice in 2020, but Republicans led an effort to repeal it, blaming it for the victory of Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat, to the states sole House seat in 2022.

Language prohibiting the use of ranked choice voting was also included in a Missouri constitutional amendment that passed successfully Tuesday.

In ranked choice voting, voters rank candidates in the order in which they would like to see them win, starting with their first choice and working their way down, instead of only choosing one candidate to vote for.

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The ranked choice ballot measures would have also fully or partially opened up party primaries in several of the places they were considered. In Colorado and Idaho, the top four vote-getters in a conventional primary, of any party, would have advanced to a ranked choice vote in the general election. In Nevada, five candidates would have advanced.

However, the idea did win support in one high-profile place: Washington, D.C.

Voters in the nations capital, where the registration is overwhelmingly Democratic, gave it more than 72% of the vote in unofficial results.

In D.C., the measure would allow independents, about one-sixth of the registered voters, to vote in taxpayer-funded party primaries, something thats currently banned.

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The proposed changes in Washington and the states drew the ire of local parties, who say they will be disruptive. The D.C. Democratic Party said the change would cause our Partys values and goals to be diluted.

But ranked choice advocates say the current system of selecting just one candidate per race often leaves voters with no good choice, thanks to gerrymandering and polarization. They say it will deal with the spoiler role played by third-party candidates, who can split the vote and allow a candidate to be elected with only a plurality, not a majority, of votes.

FairVote identified 70 such plurality-only winners in statewide primaries for U.S. House, Senate and state offices earlier this year.

Deb Otis, research and policy director FairVote, likened the process to ordering at a restaurant in an interview with HuffPost in October.

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I have a list of my favorite foods, and if the item I want is sold out, I will order my second choice. I wont go home hungry. I know what my second choice is, she said.

Some critics of ranked choice voting object to the way it has been pushed. In Oregon, state lawmakers put it on the ballot, but in the other states and D.C., it was added after paid signature-gathering efforts.

In Colorado, Thiry gave more than $1.4 million to the campaign and is co-chair of the board of Unite America, a group that advocates for open primaries, ranked choice general elections and ending gerrymandering and has backed FairVote.

According to Colorado Public Radio, Thiry and a group of other wealthy donors such as Kathryn Murdoch, daughter-in-law of conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and Ken Griffin, founder the Citadel hedge fund, have spent tens of millions of dollars on ranked choice efforts in several states.

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When Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) announced his opposition to the ranked choice measure, he said the campaign in his state showed the dangers that it could lead to in the form of an increased role for big money in politics.

Coloradans have had no opportunity to debate meaningfully this transformation of our elections or the chance to think through the unintended consequences of these far-reaching changes. Instead, we have been battered by a one-sided barrage of millions of dollars of TV advertisements to persuade us to abandon our current, world-class election system for an untested experiment, Bennet said in a statement.

FairVote pointed to the number of signatures the ranked choice voting measure gathered in Colorado and the fact that elected officials from both parties supported it as evidence the idea has broad public support.
Raquel Regalado won a second term on the Miami-Dade County Commission on Tuesday, finishing well ahead of challenger Cindy Lerner, a former Pinecrest mayor.

The contest was a rematch from the 2020 election for what was then an open seat representing District 7, an area that includes southern Miami and nearby municipalities of Key Biscayne, Pinecrest and South Miami.

Thank you to everyone who stood by us, believed in our vision, and worked tirelessly to make this possible, Regalado said in a statement she posted on social media shortly before 9:30 p.m. Im deeply honored and grateful for the trust youve placed in me.

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Regalado, a Republican in a nonpartisan race, pitched herself as a hard-working legislator for Miami-Dade with a focus on reducing septic-tank pollution, preserving environmentally sensitive lands and championing tax breaks for low-income senior homeowners. The mother of two adult children on the autism spectrum, Regaldo also highlighted her work promoting opportunities for neurodivergent adults.

READ MORE: In her Miami-Dade rematch with Regalado, Lerner faces a new challenge: incumbent money

Lerner, a Democratic former member of the Florida House, tried to cast Regalado as a foe of the environment and an ally of the developers who helped fund her nearly $3 million reelection warchest.

A main attack topic for Lerner was Regalados 2022 swing vote to expand the Urban Development Boundary for the first time in nine years, a decision environmental groups opposed. Regalado, 50, portrayed Lerner, 72, as too strident to build coalitions on the commission, citing the former mayors sometimes contentious interactions with Pinecrest residents.

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As an incumbent, Regalado outraised Lerner by more than $2 million and secured endorsements from the mayors of Key Biscayne and South Miami.

Regalados father, former Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, also won his election Tuesday night for Miami-Dade property appraiser, replacing fellow Republican Pedro Garcia, who is retiring.

Though seven commissioners faced an election this year, only Regalado landed on the fall ballot. Four incumbents in their first terms  Rene Garcia, Oliver Gilbert, Eileen Higgins and Kionne McGhee  won reelection automatically in June with no challengers to run against them. Another, Keon Hardemon, was reelected in August by crossing the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff with the second-place finisher.

A six incumbent, Roberto Gonzalez, also won his August election to a full first term. Gonzalez was appointed to an vacant seat on the commission in 2022.

In the Aug. 20 election, Regalado finished with 49% of the vote in the three-person contest, with Lerner taking 42% and third-place finisher Richard Praschnik taking 9%. Praschnik endorsed Lerner for the runoff election.
The Gavel outside the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio, September 20, 2023, at 65 S. Front Street, Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.)

All three Republican Ohio Supreme Court candidates swept their races Tuesday night, giving them a 6-1 majority on the states highest court and striking fear into abortion rights advocates while giving hope to anti-abortion advocates.

Republican Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan defeated incumbent Democratic Justice Michael P. Donnelly.

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Incumbent Republican Justice Joseph Deters, who decided not to run for his current seat, defeated incumbent Democratic Justice Melody Stewart.

Republican Judge Dan Hawkins defeated Democratic Judge Lisa Forbes for Deters open seat. Shanahan, Deters and Hawkins each received 55% of the vote, according to the Associated Press unofficial results. Results will remain unofficial until they are certified by local boards of elections and the Ohio Secretary of State.

Republicans have controlled the Ohio Supreme Court since 1986 and their current 4-3 majority will become a 6-1 majority starting next year.

These three conservative pro-life judges earned Ohios pro-life vote, Ohio Right to Life said in a statement. Now, more than ever, Ohio needs principled and conservative judges on the Supreme Court.  We are thrilled to know that the value of life is in the hearts of these individuals and that they will stand for life.

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Last year, 57% of Ohioans voters enshrined reproductive rights in the Ohio Constitution, but it did not automatically wipe away the anti-abortion laws on the books. There are two ways to get rid of those laws  the legislature repealing them or the court ruling they are unconstitutional under the amendment.

We are deeply concerned that the majority of the Supreme Court of Ohio will now be held by justices that have been endorsed by extreme anti-abortion organizations, Abortion Forward Executive Director Kellie Copeland said in a statement. (The Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment) is the law of the land, and it must be enforced, regardless of the personal views of justices sitting on the court.

Its up to the Ohio Supreme Court to figure out what exactly the amendment language means.

As we think about this court going forward, they are going to be more likely to scrutinize the language and look for loopholes than the candidates that lost, said Catherine Turcer, executive director of Common Cause Ohio.

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This was Ohios second supreme court election since Republican state lawmakers added party labels to the Ohio Supreme Court races in 2021.

The Republicans in the legislature that added party labels to the ballot got exactly what they were hoping for, said Douglas Keith, a senior counsel at The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law. Voters dont have a ton of information about these races, and as a result, when party labels are there, they lean on party labels to determine who they should vote for.

Ohio is one of seven states that elects state supreme court justices based on partisan elections. Nonpartisan elections are used in 14 states for state supreme court races.

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The partisan labels became the way that Ohioans got to know the Supreme Court candidates, Turcer said.

Even though all six candidates were invited, only the Democratic candidates showed up to a forum held in partnership by the City Club of Cleveland and the Ohio Debate Commission at the end of October.

Despite being the longest-tenured prosecutor in Hamilton County, Deters lost that county in Tuesdays election. His challenger Stewart received 53.5% of the vote in Hamilton County, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State.

Ohioans have voiced their support for judges who will uphold the law and respect our Constitution, Deters said in a statement to the Ohio Capital Journal. Im grateful for their trust in me to continue serving on the Ohio Supreme Court.  As I have throughout my career in public service, I will continue to adhere to the oath I swore to enforce the laws of our state and to make Ohio a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Deters to a vacant seat on the court in January 2023, despite having no previous experience as a judge. By not running for his own seat, Deters won a full six-year term.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, who endorsed the winning candidates, celebrated the election results.

As our state continues to grow, our business community needs a legal climate that is both predictable and consistent, Steve Stivers, President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement to the Ohio Capital Journal. We endorsed these three judges because they will serve with fairness and impartiality to ensure that Ohio businesses and residents can thrive.

Turcer cautions people against getting overly worried about a Republican dominated supreme court, yet.

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We should focus on their judicial ethics and just pay attention to whats happening, because at the end of the day, Democrat or Republican, you can be a really good judge or good justice, she said. Its how they make decisions and how they operate ethically or unethically that matters.

Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X.

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Vice President Kamala Harris formally conceded in a speech Wednesday afternoon at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she urged her followers to continue fighting for democracy. Former President Donald Trump will be serving a second term after he was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election early Wednesday by the Associated Press.

The following transcript was prepared and provided to TIME by Rev, using AI-powered software, and it was reviewed and edited for accuracy by TIME staff.

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Good afternoon. Good afternoon. GoodGood afternoon everyone. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, good afternoon. Thank you all.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. So let me say (crowd screams love you), and I love you back and I love you back. So let me say my heart is full today. My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country, and full of resolve. The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for. But hear me when I say, hear me when I say, the light of America's promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting. To my beloved Doug and our family, I love you so very much. To President Biden and Dr. Biden, thank you for your faith and support. To Governor Walz and the Walz family, I know your service to our nation will continue. And to my extraordinary team, to the volunteers who gave so much of themselves, to the poll workers and the local election officials I thank you. I thank you all.

Look, I am so proud of the race we ran. And the way we ran it. Over the 107 days of this campaign, we have been intentional about building community and building coalitions, bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united by love of country with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for America's future. And we did it with the knowledge that we all have so much more in common than what separates us. Now, I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it, but we must accept the results of this election. Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.

A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny. And anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it. At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States, and loyalty to our conscience and to our God. My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaignthe fight: the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness, and the dignity of all people. A fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up.

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I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions, and aspirations. Where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body and not have their government telling them what to do. We will never give up the fight to protect our schools and our streets from gun violence. And America we will never give up the fight for our democracy, for the rule of law, for equal justice, and for the sacred idea that every one of us, no matter who we are or where we start out, has certain fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld.



And we will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square. And we will also wage it in quieter ways: in how we live our lives by treating one another with kindness and respect, by looking in the face of a stranger and seeing a neighbor, by always using our strength to lift people up, to fight for the dignity that all people deserve. The fight for our freedom will take hard work. But, like I always say, we like hard work. Hard work is good work. Hard work can be joyful work. And the fight for our country is always worth it. It is always worth it. To the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel sad and disappointed. But please know it's going to be okay.

On the campaign, I would often say when we fight, we win. But here's the thing, here's the thing, sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn't mean we won't win. That doesn't mean we won't win. The important thing is don't ever give up. Don't ever give up. Don't ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power. You have power. And don't you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before.

You have the capacity to do extraordinary good in the world. And so to everyone who is watching, do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves. This is a time to organize, to mobilize, and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice and the future that we all know we can build together. Look, many of you know I started out as a prosecutor and throughout my career I saw people at some of the worst times in their lives. People who had suffered great harm and great pain, and yet found within themselves the strength and the courage and the resolve to take the stand, to take a stand, to fight for justice, to fight for themselves, to fight for others. So let their courage be our inspiration. Let their determination be our charge. And I'll close with this. There's an adage a historian once called a law of history, true of every society across the ages. The adage is, only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case. But here's the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars.

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The light, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service.

And may that work guide us even in the face of setbacks toward the extraordinary promise of the United States of America. I thank you all. Make God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America. I thank you all.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
GREENSBORO  Jose Castellanos 10-year-old daughter Ashley had recently learned how to prepare her fathers favorite meal at the griddle in the familys food truck.

She would say, Dont worry, Papi, Ill take care of the customers ... youre hungry, Ill fix you something to eat, Castellanos, 40, said through tears Monday afternoon as he received mourners at his Dumont Circle home.

She knew how to use the credit card machine and she made tacos birria with everything on them, the way I liked it, he said of the goat and beef stew steeped in garlic chile adobo she tucked into corn tortillas.

On Thursday night, Castellanos took Ashleys hand and led his daughter across West Gate City Boulevard, close to the intersection of OBrien Street, near the lot where he parks his No. 4 Brothers Mix Grill food truck.

A Hyundai Elantra that Castellanos never saw came from the east on West Gate City and struck the pair, killing Ashley and leaving her father with serious injuries.

A third person who witnessed the collision entered the roadway in an attempt to warn traffic, but was struck by a Nissan Altima that was also traveling east on the boulevard, Greensboro police said in a news release. Castellanos said he does not know who tried to come to his aid.

The drivers of the Elantra and Altima, whom police have not named, were not injured and remained on the scene to speak with authorities Thursday night, police said.

So far, no charges have been levied against either driver.

Home from the hospital since Sunday, Castellanos explained that his emotional pain far eclipses the physical  he suffered broken ribs, a fractured left arm and damaged left shoulder. Knocked unconscious in the crash, Castellanos said he does not remember exactly why he and his daughter attempted to cross the road that night.

I feel like the inside of me where my heart is, is a hole, my heart is gone, he said, his face still swollen and bruised. Nearby on Monday, Ashleys mother, Carolina, and her 17-year-old brother, talked with visiting family members on the front lawn as two younger brothers played.

I would have preferred to pass away instead of Ashley, Castellanos said.

When I woke up at the hospital and they told me she was gone, it felt like cold water was poured all over me. ... like I was dreaming, said Castellanos, who moved to Greensboro from his native Ilabasco, El Salvador, 20 years ago at the urging of an uncle here.

Ashley would often beg her dad to take her along to hang out at the food truck after school and on weekends, he said.

But with winter coming, it was getting colder, and Id say, Please stay home, but she would beg me to take her, he said, explaining he was extra careful about his childrens safety around busy Gate City Boulevard and never let his youngsters cross alone.

A fourth-grader at Hope Academy in Greensboro, an enterprising Ashley also made friendship bracelets to sell from the food truck, her dad said.

Jason Cruz, 11, considered Ashley a friend, he said from his own familys food truck, La Santaneca Pupusas y Tacos, parked in Conns Home Store parking lot at 3508 W Gate City Blvd. near OBrien Street where his family is collecting donations for Ashleys family.

Across the highway, daisies, chrysanthemums, a plush bunny and a Senora de Guadalupe candle make up a small memorial at the corner of the two streets. Tiny wooden crosses that bear Ashleys name in black marker, lean against street signs.

She was very nice and we always played, said Jason, 11, holding the decorated box adorned with Ashleys school photo made to hold donations for the family.

Grief is nearly unbearable for Castellanos, who on Sunday had to return to the hospital via ambulance for pain treatment.

He asked to go home rather than stay in-patient because, I wanted to get home and come to her room to feel a little better.

Grimacing with pain Monday, the dad clutched a handful of notes his daughter wrote to him on paper scraps, each left for him in his food truck over the past year. One reads: I love you so much, Papi. Love, Ashley.

His faith in God has brought some peace, Castellanos said. The priest was here last night, and he told me that God had taken her away to be an angel. Maybe to open a door from heaven?

The Greensboro Police Departments Crash Reconstruction Unit responded and continues investigating the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000 or download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.com to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.
LAGUNA BEACH, CA The polls have closed in California. Voters not only weighed in on the hotly contested presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump. Californians also cast votes in plenty of state races, and Orange County had its own local contests.

Depending on where you live, your ballot may have been chock full of local races. Here are real-time results for everything being voted on in Orange County  national, state and local.

Real-Time Orange County Election Results:

Customize your viewing Results in the window below, then select to view the race of your choice.



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The Registrar of Voters and Patch will update the results throughout the night as votes are tallied, and the page will be refreshed for the latest updates.

As of 8:05 p.m. Tuesday, the OC Registrar of Voters found that of 1,861,45o registered voters in Orange County, 38.6 percent cast their vote in this year's 2024 General Election.

While 718,019 ballots were counted as of 8:05 p.m. Tuesday, zero percent of precincts reported results.

Can't see the widget below? Click here for all November 5, 2024 Presidential Election Orange County election results.

Laguna Beach City Council Candidates:

Judie Mancuso, Challenger. Judie Mancuso is a businesswoman and nonprofit CEO who has called Laguna Beach home for 30 years. If elected, she promised to manage the impacts of tourism, climate change, development and aging infrastructure. Mancuso said in her candidate statement that her experience in business, nonprofit, and political leadership  including passing 25 state bills  has prepared her to take to the dais. To learn more about Judie Mancuso, visit her website.

Hallie Jones, Challenger. Hallie Jones is a nonprofit executive and city commissioner who has lived in Laguna Beach for three generations. She has served as the executive director at the Laguna Canyon Foundation and now serves as the executive vice president at the Crystal Cove Conservancy. Her priorities include supporting emergency services, expanding climate action and monitoring development. To learn more about Hallie Jones, visit her website.

George Weiss, Incumbent. George Weiss was first elected in 2020 and, since then, has spearheaded efforts to increase transparency in the city. According to Weiss's candidate statement, he helped ensure that the city provide a 12-day advance of city council agendas to residents. He said if re-elected, he hopes to address issues such as tourism congestion, affordable housing for artists, transparency and more. To learn more about George Weiss, visit his website.

Bob Whalen, Incumbent. Bob Whalen has served on the Laguna Beach City Council for four years, leading the city as mayor through the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. According to his candidate bio, Weiss spearheaded the transfer of South Laguna beaches to city control, voted to improve 911 and emergency responses in the city and much more. If re-election, Whalen said he will continue undergrounding efforts, wildfire safety programs and affordable housing solutions. To learn more about Bob Whalen, visit his website.



Real-Time Election Results 2024: Laguna Beach City Council originally appeared on the Laguna Beach Patch
KANSAS CITY, Kan.  Voter turnout in Kansas is expected to be record-breaking. On Election Day, voting locations that FOX4 stopped by on Tuesday seemed to be running smoothly and without long wait times.

Election workers say thats likely because of the high early voter turnout.

Voters head to polls with roughly 82M early ballots already cast

Voting on the day of was super fast. Ive probably been here a total of 10 minutes from entry, said Johnson County voter Abby Banden. Everybody working here is doing a great job and is super friendly, and they just want to get things done.

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On Friday, Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said that he expected Kansans to exceed the 2016 General Election turnout.

In Johnson County, more than 200,000 people participated in early voting.

Thats an increase compared to the 2016 and 2020 general elections.

Wyandotte County also saw an increase in early voting turnout compared to 2020.

FOX4 talked with Kansas voters about their motivation to get out and cast a ballot on election day.

Its just important, and its historical, and everybody needs to do their part, said Wyandotte County voter Mookie Gordon. Youve got to vote if you want your voice to be heard.

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My daughters definitely, and even my son. But I have two daughters, and with the abortion laws that have been changing constantly, I want to make sure that my daughter has a safe place for her choice in her body, said Johnson County voter Megan Stout.

For first-time voter Desire Kasi, spending his first voting experience on Election Day was important.

Missouri reality TV farmer pleads guilty to multi-million dollar fraud scheme

Kasi said the experience went smoothly.

I didnt know how, but I asked the questions, and then they showed me how to do it. Then I filled out everything, which was easy, Kasi explained. Its my right to vote for my president and my senator.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP)  Record-high air pollution in Pakistans Punjab province prompted authorities to close additional schools and keep government employees at home Wednesday, as doctors reported an increase in people seeking treatment for smog-related ailments.

Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior minister in the Punjab province, urged residents to voluntarily wear face masks and avoid unnecessary travel, and said that "otherwise, the government will be forced into a complete lockdown.

Lahore, the provincial capital of 14 million people and Pakistan's cultural hub, remained the worlds most polluted city on Wednesday with Air Quality Index readings of over 1,100. Anything over 300 is considered hazardous to health.

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Authorities earlier in the week shut down schools in Lahore. On Wednesday they closed schools in 18 surrounding districts. Aurangzeb said 50% of government employees in Lahore were told to work from home until next week.

The pollution has been sending patients to hospitals and private clinics complaining of coughs or burning eyes.

Tens of thousands of patients suffering from respiratory diseases were treated at hospitals and clinics in a week, said Salman Kazmi, vice president of the Pakistan Medical Association.

Kazmi said that you can see people coughing whereever you go in Lahore, but that people are still not wearing face masks to protect themselves from the pollution.

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Authorities in the city already have banned barbecuing food without filters, as well as the use of motorized rickshaws  and wedding halls must close by 10 p.m.

The government said it was also looking into methods to induce artificial rainfall to combat the pollution.
U.S. Rep Ryan Zinke raises his fist in celebration during his election night party in Whitefish. (Photo by Micah Drew, Daily Montanan)

In lockstep with a majority of the nation, Montana voters moved the Treasure State another step to the right of the political spectrum, with Republican candidates sweeping races up and down the ballot. GOP candidates won every federal and statewide race, as well as all three seats on the Public Service Commission.

The people of Montana have spoken loud and clear  the Treasure State is now bright red! In a stunning show of support, the GOP emerged victorious in all major races, said Montana Republican Party Chairman Don K Kaltschmidt in a statement. We couldnt be prouder of our dedicated Republican candidates who worked tirelessly during this election cycle. At every levellocal, state, and federalour Republican elected officials will continue to fight for Montanans and defend our way of life. Together, we will make America great again!

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County-level analysis of voter trends showed that most of the nations counties shifted to the right compared to 2020. In Montana, all but seven of the states counties followed that trend  and the seven counties that inched to the left still voted for President-elect Donald Trump by more than 50 points.

For Republicans, the biggest win of the night was Tim Sheehy's victory over Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. The addition of Sheehy to the states congressional delegation marks the first time in more than a century that Montana will not send a Democrat to Washington D.C. Montana last had two Republican senators serving at the same time in 1911.

"Obviously Montana has been trending red for a long time," said University of Montana political science professor Rob Saldin. "We could see that starting in the legislature a long time ago, and that's sort of the the tip of the spear, the leading indicator. It's people like Tester, who have been around for a long time and have their own brand district from the party, that can buck the trend, but eventually it just gets to be too much."

Saldin noted that Tester significantly outperformed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who earned less than 40% of the vote, but "when you're starting from a 20-point deficit, that's just too big of a hill."

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"That's just too big of a margin to think you can have down-ballot Democrats hang on," he added. "For a long time you could squint and think that Montana is a purple state, but a lot of the underlying dynamics were always pushing in this direction. Its just finally materialized here."

Montana Democrats gained some ground in the Legislature, mostly due to redistricting, but remain in the minority.

"Running for public office requires a tremendous amount of energy, time, and resources. The Montana Democratic Party is truly grateful to all our candidates who decided to step up and fight for families and working Montanans," said Sheila Hogan, Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party in a statement. "Democratic legislative candidates have gained the most seats in 30 years. Property taxes, affordable housing, and protecting public education and access to healthcare are all on the line next session and Democrats are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work."

Montana voters set other records on Tuesday night. Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, who handily won her re-election bid with 62% of the vote, said at her election night party that the state had set a record for voter registration. Data on the Secretary of States website on Wednesday showed 802,174 registered voters as of Wednesday morning.

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In the last general election four years ago, Montana set a record with 696,262 registered voters.

While election officials continue to tally votes in Montanas largest counties, voter turnout hovers around 70%, with around 560,000 votes counted so far. Thats the second highest number of ballots cast in a Montana election, second only to 2020, when 98% of Montanans voted by mail and turnout exceeded 81%.

This story has been updated with a statement from the Montana Democratic Party
A recount seems assured in the race for South Carolina state senate seat District 17, where just .06% of the vote separates the two candidates.

And a winner may not be known for more than a week.

Of 55,850 ballots counted so far, Republican challenger Everett Stubbs has 49.98%, while Democratic incumbent Mike Fanning has 49.92%, S.C. Election Commission totals show. The difference stands at just 32 votes  Stubbs has 27,914, and Fanning has 27,884.

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State law requires a recount if the difference is 1% or less after election results are certified by county election boards on Friday when provisional ballots will be counted, state and local elections officials said.

The District 17 race looks like it will qualify for a mandatory recount on Nov. 14, said John Michael Catalano, spokesman for the State Election Commission. That recount is required unless the candidate who is behind after certification Friday waives a recount, Catalano said.

District 17 covers much of the southern half of York County into Rock Hill and York, plus all of Chester and Fairfield counties and part of Lancaster County. Provisional ballots will be counted Friday by the four county election boards before a recount is triggered, elections officials said.

Stubbs told The Herald Wednesday he is confident  yet welcomes the counting of provisional ballots and a recount to make sure every vote is counted. He called the difference a razor-thin margin.

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As much as I want to be a winner, I want our system to work, Stubbs said. I trust our system.

Stubbs is a lawyer making his first run for office.

Fanning, executive director of the Olde English Consortium, won the seat in 2016 and 2020. State senators serve four-year terms.

On his Facebook campaign page, Fanning wrote, Due to the margin of the race as it currently stands, we believe there will be a recount.

Efforts to reach Fanning Wednesday by phone and email were unsuccessful.

The process toward recount

More than 1,200 provisional ballots have to be counted Friday by the four county election boards before a recount is triggered, county elections officials told The Herald Wednesday. Each South Carolina county has an election board appointed by the governor.

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A provisional ballot is issued to a voter if there were questions at the ballot box such as someone not having proper identification, or not voting in the precinct to match a registered voters address, officials said.

York County has 579 provisional ballots to be counted, elections office spokesperson Alison Mallard told The Herald Wednesday.

Lancaster has 617 provisional ballots, said Mary Ann Hudson, elections director.

Chester has three provisional ballots and Fairfield has 22, elections directors in those counties said Wednesday.

It is unclear how many of those 1,200-plus provisional ballots from the four counties include the District 17 race. That wont be known until Friday when the provisional ballots are counted, elections officials said.
Signatures were solicited outside the Fargodome on June 7, 2024, for a petition to put legalized marijuana to a statewide vote. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

Recreational marijuana advocates experienced a statewide bummer Tuesday as an adult-use cannabis measure was defeated for the third time in six years.

Voters rejected Measure 5 53% to 47% in complete but unofficial results.

In an interview with the North Dakota Monitor, Steve Bakken, former Bismarck mayor and chair of the measures sponsoring committee, said hes worried about the next recreational cannabis measure that comes up for a vote because itll most likely come from out of state.

Steve Bakken, chair of the recreational marijuana ballot initiative sponsoring committee, smiles at a campaign party for Measure 5 on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, in Bismarck. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Its not going to be as conservative as the fabric of North Dakota is and I dont wanna see that, Bakken said.

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Multiple law enforcement and health care organizations came out against Measure 5 ahead of Election Day.

Pat Finken, chair of the Brighter Future Alliance, a group opposing Measure 5, said he hopes the recreational marijuana issue has been put to rest in North Dakota.

Once again, the voters of North Dakota have wisely rejected an attempt to legalize recreational marijuana, Finken said late Tuesday. They understand that todays marijuana is not safe and legalization will only add to the addiction and mental health crisis already punishing North Dakota families.

Neighboring Montana and Minnesota have legalized adult-use recreational marijuana. South Dakota voters on Tuesday were also weighing a ballot measure about legalizing recreational marijuana for adults.

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A previous attempt to legalize recreational cannabis in North Dakota failed in 2018 with 59% of voters opposed and again in 2022 with 55% opposed.

North Dakota voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2016.

This story has been updated with the latest results.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  If youve ever taken a trip to New York City, you know that a trademark of the Big Apple is its pizza.

Its not the easiest place to get to from our area, but thanks to one restaurant in Miamisburg, a little piece of the Empire State is here in the Miami Valley.

The restaurant is dubbed as New York style, east coast inspired pizza.

New Jersey native Christian Clothier says hes always had a passion for food.

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Id find a new place and Id be like, man, this is amazing, says founder of Red Bird Pizza, Christian Clothier. And then, you know, three, six months later, its like a new hot spot, you know? So I figured I was like, all right, maybe, you know, maybe I know a good pizza is, and maybe I should try and see if I can make something.

One day, while he was making pizzas at his house, he invited his neighbors over to try some.

Spoiler alert: they loved it.

Share your good news with 2!

I went him that day. And he can verify this. And I said, this is the best thing Ive ever had. Why doesnt the world have access to this?, says Ife Olare, co-founder of Red Bird Pizza.

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On that fateful day three years ago, Red Bird Pizza was born.

With Red Bird Pizza, Clothier can bring New York style slices to Miamisburg and neighboring residents, as well as honor his loved ones. With the restaurant established, hes added his two grandmothers and a late friends name onto the menu.

Its kind of honoring the people that made me who I am, he says. And also the desire that I had for this kind of pizza living here.

In only its first month, and while operating during limited hours of operation, Red Bird Pizza already has customers humming.

Whether youre coming in for a slice or a whole pie, Clothier hopes you walk away with a smile.

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At the end of the day I want people to feel loved. When they come in and when they leave, says Clothier.

He says the official opening date will be in early December. They are open on a limited basis until then.

You can find them on Facebook for more hours and information.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
With recent election polling showing a dead heat  or slim victory for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris within the statistical margin of error  seven swing states are all but certain to decide the race.

As pollsters scramble to make sense of these results, amid questions about reliability given bad calls over support for Trump in 2016 and 2020, analysts are taking an even more granular approach in interpreting battleground state voters, focusing on a handful of counties in these hotly contested regions.

They are often referred to as bellwether counties. This in effect means counties that could tip the scale in determining a swing states outcome.

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Here are the counties that analysts  ranging from seasoned election-watchers to Wall Street financiers  are focused on.

Maricopa county, Arizona

In 2020, Joe Biden beat Trump in Arizona by a mere 10,000 votes. Bidens victory was bolstered by voters in Maricopa county, which encompasses the Phoenix metro area.

Four years ago, Maricopa comprised more than 60% of Arizona ballots. Biden won Maricopa by 45,000 votes  with 50.3% of voters casting their ballots for him  underscoring just how important this county is. The Associated Press explained the importance of this: In states where voters are so overwhelmingly concentrated in a single county, even a narrow win can produce big shifts in the statewide numbers.

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Also worth pointing out: Maricopa has large proportion of demographics both campaigns have courted aggressively, such as centrist suburban Republicans, Latino voters, and senior citizens, per US News & World Report.

Miami-Dade county, Florida

The Sunshine state has taken a sharp right turn in recent election cycles. Trump boasts almost a double-digit advantage over Harris. Florida, once a purplish swing state, is bright red.

Analysts are keeping an eye on Miami-Dade county, which includes Miami and many surrounding communities. Long a Democratic stronghold, with Hillary Clinton winning the county by a 30-point margin in 2016, it has since moved right.

Biden beat Trump by seven points in 2020. But, the states most populous county is expected to post results relatively early after polls close at 7pm, Reuters notes.

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Some analysts believe Miami-Dade could foreshadow Harriss overall results. If she underperforms, especially among Latinos, this could bode poorly for her overall, the news outlet said.

Latest: Trump wins Miami-Dade

Metro Atlanta counties in Georgia

The Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area is considered by virtually every analyst as integral to deciding this swing state. Some have focused on Forsyth county, located 40 miles from Atlanta, as the decisive county, while others have insisted that a collection of suburban and exurban counties will determine the race.

In addition to Forsyth, analysts have pointed to Cobb, Gwinnett, and DeKalb counties as potentially decisive. Of course, Fulton county, which encompasses Atlanta, is seen as key.

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On a recent episode of Pod Save America, NBCs election expert Steve Kornacki noted that nine counties, which he referred to as the blue blob, comprised more than 40% of Georgias vote. This region is just getting bluer and bluer every election.

Kornacki said this race could indicate whether its expanding.

Theres one county in that area, its been moving dramatically towards Democrats but just missed  Fayette county  the last time around, he said. If the Democrats are flipping that this time around and expanding that blob, I think thats a sign, because thats talking about enthusiasm in the suburbs.

Saginaw county, Michigan

Located in the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan, Saginaw county is considered the pre-eminent swing county in the most decisive swing state. There are multiple reasons for this, among them Saginaws voting record.

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Barack Obama landed Saginaw in 2008 and 2012. In 2016, Trump bested Hillary Clinton by just over 1,000 votes. The margin thinned still more in 2020, when Biden won by a mere 303 ballots.

Bidens 2020 win in Saginaw, however, was complicated by Trumps votes actually increasing in that county. His loss was also attributed to Democrats who didnt vote in 2016 but decided in 2020 to boot Trump out.

Harris could need the same voter turnout in Saginaw to win. The outcome of this county could well reflect national trends, as voters concerns there echo that of those in other crucial contests.

Latest: Trump wins Saginaw

Clark county, Nevada

Biden beat Trump by just three points in Nevadas 2020 presidential race. Clark county, which is home to Las Vegas, has approximately 50% of Nevadas population.

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If Trump wants to win Nevada, he would have to sap Democratic votes in Clark county, Reuters explains. Observers are also paying attention to Washoe county; this is Nevadas second-largest population center, containing the city of Reno.

Similar to Las Vegas, Trump would have to chip away at Democratic margins in the Reno area as well. As a testament to the tension surrounding Washoe, observers from both sides of the aisle have been closely monitoring the count following recent controversies over voting there.

The Republican county commissioners recently voted against certifying results in this years primary, prompting legal action, before they reversed course. The elections office, meanwhile, has been answering an onslaught of questions and public information requests, in an effort to allay the publics concerns about the election.

While Democrats have won every presidential vote in Nevada since 2008, economic stressors  such as increased prices and decreased affordable housing  have spurred questions about working-class voters leanings.

Mecklenburg county, North Carolina

Republicans have won every presidential election in North Carolina since Obamas run in 2008. Reuters notes that tight polling has turned North Carolina into a swing state this year.

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Mecklenberg county, which includes Charlotte, is strongly Democratic. Analysts are also eyeing adjacent Cabarrus county: Trump beat Biden there in 2020, but his lead slimmed by 10 points compared to 2016, Reuters noted.

Wake county, which contains the highly educated city of Raleigh, is similarly drawing attention. This higher-than-average income county once skewed Republican but has favored Democratic presidential candidates since 2008 by generally increasing margins, US News & World Report notes.

Erie county, Pennsylvania

Erie county, which contains the city of Erie, has been described as a bellwether area in a bellwether state. Per US News, No county in Pennsylvania  and possibly in the country  is as consistently swingy as Erie county.

Indeed, Trump won the working-class county in 2016, followed by a slim Biden win there in 2020. Some analysts are also paying attention to Lackawanna county.

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Scranton, Pennsylvania  Bidens birthplace  is in this county. Unlike Erie county, Lackawanna has become more Republican of late. If Trump performs well in Lackawanna, it could spell broader success for him across this pivotal state.

Latest: Trump wins Erie county

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage

 This article was amended on 5 November 2024 to correct the spelling of Erie in the map.
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., faces nonpartisan candidate Dan Osborn in Nebraska's Senate race this fall. (Candidate photos courtesy of their campaigns. Capitol photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

OMAHA  Nebraska U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer survived an unexpectedly close race Tuesday with registered nonpartisan Dan Osborn, leaning on her GOP base to secure a third term.

The Associated Press called the race for Fischer late Tuesday. She led by nearly 5 percentage points at midnight, with more rural votes coming in. Some early voting ballots returned on Election Day and provisional ballots still need to be counted, but those are unlikely to change the result.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., speaks to supporters at a campaign rally in Bellevue on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Fischer had voiced confidence during the campaign that Nebraskans would reward her willingness to prioritize their needs, including agriculture and infrastructure, and would worry less about sound bites or national news.

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On Tuesday, she said Nebraskans still vote for candidates who share their values.

Her defenders had worried that her preference for doing work behind-the-scenes to craft and pass legislation, rather than spending more time promoting herself and her work, cost her with some Nebraskans who follow politics only at election time.

Nearly $30 million, thats the amount of money out-of-state Democrats spent trying to buy a Nebraska Senate seat, Fischer said. It did not happen.  They wasted their money.

For several months during the campaign, Fischer would not acknowledge her opponent, rejecting polls that indicated a close race as being flawed and touting her own internal polling showing a big lead.

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By late Tuesday, the race appeared headed toward the narrowest margin for any Nebraska GOP Senate candidate since 2000, when Republican Attorney General Don Stenberg lost to former Gov. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., 51%-49%.

Osborn, an Omaha union leader known for his work helping to lead the Omaha Kelloggs strike in 2021, put a scare into Fischers campaign.

He did so largely by painting himself as Nebraskas version of Pennsylvanias U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a gruff, working-class guy interested in focusing Congress on kitchen-table issues.

Osborn avoided giving specific answers about his views on many policy questions until late into the campaign, saying he preferred to hear more from Nebraskans about what they want.

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He hammered Fischer for increasing her personal wealth while in office and described her in ads and on the stump as a typical politician beholden to the whims of her largest donors.

The Osborn crowd went from upbeat, swaying along with a live country musician, to somber as more numbers came in around 10:30 pm., showing Fischer pulling ahead for the first time all night.

At 11:50 p.m., Osborn appeared for the first time during the night to speak to a room of supporters who stuck around after Fischer had given her victory speech. Osborn said his campaign changed American politics.

Whats clear tonight is that across Nebraska and across the country people are angry, he said. People are being failed by the status quo. I tell you what, we sure challenged the status quo, didnt we?

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Osborn said his team had shown that a working-class movement was possible nationwide, regular people who are willing to take a stand against corruption and demand a seat at the table for working people.

We knew it was going to be close, he said. Holy crap, what a ride.

Fischer served two terms in the Nebraska Legislature before being elected to the Senate in 2012. She served on the Valentine school board before that. Her family owns a ranch near Valentine. She and her husband have moved to Lincoln.

U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn meets with prospective voters at a Big Red Keno in west Lincoln on Oct. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

She and her surrogates said Osborn was partly to blame for Kelloggs announcing the Omaha plant was slated for closure. The unions current leaders rejected the idea that Osborn was to blame.

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Fischer labeled him a Democrat in sheeps clothing. She and her supporters spent millions on ads seeking to tie Osborn to liberal leaders including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont.

State and local election records, however, showed Osborn registered as a nonpartisan since at least 2004.

Osborn has said he personally aligned more with Democrats before 2016, but like many in organized labor, he has welcomed the Republican Party becoming more open to union members.

The race brought millions in outside money and interest to a state where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats roughly 2 to 1 and a quarter of registrants align with neither party.

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One hint of Fischers vulnerability: Ending Spending, an outside group tied to Marlene and Joe Ricketts, which helped Fischer win office in 2012, jumped into the 2024 race after polling indicated potential trouble.

Another sign: The National Republican Senatorial Committee also stepped in to boost her campaign. That group typically spends money on tough races in battleground states and open seats.

One of Fischers biggest challenges was shoring up the Republican base at a time when some of them in state and county GOPs spent months divided over supporting the federal delegation.

Local political observers said Fischer smartly emphasized her GOP roots and improved her chances of winning by persuading former President Donald Trump to cut an ad on her behalf.

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Fischer, like U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., had frustrated Trump by voting for a bipartisan infrastructure bill under President Joe Biden. She had also criticized some of his comments in 2016. But Trump ultimately endorsed her.

Polling showed Osborn securing a larger slice of the rural 3rd District electorate than most Democrats have in statewide races. He also polled well in Omaha and Lincoln.

Some Democrats said Osborn hurt himself by initially seeking and later declining the endorsement of the Nebraska Democratic Party and some third parties. Osborn and his supporters also worked to keep other names off the ballot, from third parties.

It was part of what Fischer and Osborn both described as a political science experiment of a campaign. Osborn ran neither left nor right and would not say which party hed caucus with if he won.

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For Fischer, the win comes at a time of war in the Middle East and Europe, when she says the nation needs her experience as a senior member on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Responding to Osborn criticism that she broke her promise to serve only two terms Fischer said she did so after coming to realize the importance of seniority after serving in the Senate. Osborn pledged to serve only two terms.

On Tuesday, Fischer thanked Nebraskans for a third term.

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While Donald Trump comfortably cruised to victory over Kamala Harris, , voters in a handful of red states cast their ballots for policies favored by centrists and progressives  such as minimum wage protections.

Meanwhile voters in some deep-blue states favored measures that are conventionally associated with conservatism, such as tough-on-crime initiatives.

These outcomes to some extent also undermine the notions of monolithic red states and blue states. Voters in 2024 repeatedly cited economic woes and abortion as among their top issues, and approved of certain progressive or conservative policies even when they didnt like candidates associated with them.

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Missouri is among the most striking examples. Trump won this midwestern states 10 electoral votes after receiving 1,739,020 ballots, compared with Harriss 1,190,806  a landslide 58.5%.

Related: Male and female US voters: share which issues have shaped your vote the most

But Missouri also also green lit a union-backed ballot initiative to increase the states minimum wage to $15 an hour by January 2026. This initiative also provides paid sick leave to workers of large employers.

And voters overturned the states near-total abortion ban, establishing a constitutional right to abortion until fetal viability.

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Alaska, which awarded its three electoral votes to Trump, approved a ballot measure to raise the state minimum wage to an hourly $15 by 2027.

Voters in Arizona, which at press time is poised to hand its 11 electoral votes to Trump, OKd a ballot measure to create a fundamental right to abortion. The measure prohibits the state from restricting or banning it before 24 weeks.

Results were equally striking in Montana, which saw Trump best Harris 59.1% to 37.9% at press time. Almost the same amount  57.1% voting yes and 42.9% no, according to NBC News  elected to amend the state constitution to clearly include a right to make and carry out decisions about ones own pregnancy. This includes abortion access until fetal viability, which is generally around 24 weeks.

In several heavily Democratic states, voters indicated that they werent all-in for progressivism. In California, residents voted in favor of Proposition 36.

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This ballot initiative enacts harsher punishments for retail theft, drug offenses and property crimes. The proposition revamps portions of a watershed 2014 law that downgraded several non-violent felony charges to misdemeanor charges.

That earlier initiative was meant to reduce the number of incarcerated people in Californias prisons and shift money to drug treatment and resources for crime victims. Supporters saw it as a major win for criminal justice reform, but others said it led to increased property and drug crimes, as well as homelessness.

Proposition 36 enjoyed support from numerous law enforcement and business organizations, as well as conservatives and some Democratic mayors, such as San Franciscos London Breed. It aimed at tackling homelessness and fentanyl abuse, with longer prison sentences for dealers and court-mandated drug treatment.

Massachusetts voters have struck down a proposal to increase tipped employees wages. The measure would have incrementally increased tipped workers wages until reaching the state minimum wage in 2029, while still allowing tipping, NBC News said.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage
Louisiana Illuminator illustration

Almost three decades after redistricting forced him out of the U.S. House of Representatives, Cleo Fields will return to Washington, D.C. He claimed an outright win Tuesday in the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District that favored a Black Democrat.

Fields, who currently represents a Baton Rouge district in the Louisiana Senate, parlayed his strong name recognition and prior political experience to win over Republican Elbert Guillory and Democrats Quentin Anthony Anderson, Wilken Jones Jr. and Peter Williams.

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With 100% of the vote counted, Fields polled 51% support to avoid a runoff next month.

Although the race failed to draw much national attention, the addition of another Democrat could play into the fight for party control in the House, where Louisiana lost a Republican seat.

Ive been called a lot of things in this election, but tonight they can call me congressman, Fields told supporters at his Baton Rouge election night gathering.

An attorney who earned his bachelors and law degrees from Southern University, Fields previously held the 4th Congressional District seat from 1993 to 1997. His exit was forced a year earlier when his district was redrawn into a northwest Louisiana-based seat that favored a Republican candidate.

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His time in Congress fell among three separate stints in the state Senate, his first starting in 1988. In between, Fields ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1995 and the state Public Service Commission in 2004.

A path to return to Congress was laid out for Fields in January when the GOP-dominated Louisiana Legislature ended a two-year court battle by approving a congressional map with a second majority-Black district among its six seats in the U.S. House. The update, required every 10 years to account for census changes, showed Black residents accounted for a third of Louisiana residents.

State lawmakers had initially attempted to keep five Republican representatives, but a federal judge rejected that map. Soon after he took office in January, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry directed the Legislature to approve a second Black district.

Having to sacrifice a fellow GOP member, the governor targeted Congressman Garret Graves of Baton Rouge, the second-longest serving member of the Louisiana delegation behind House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Graves had endorsed his longtime friend, Stephen Waguespack, in the 2023 governors race that Landry won outright in the primary.

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However, the 6th District seat isnt necessarily secure for Fields long term.

A group of white voters in the new district has challenged its boundaries, arguing it was illegally gerrymandered based on race. A three-judge review panel ruled in their favor, but the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately allowed Louisiana to use the latest congressional map for this years election while the case plays out. Justices are expected to consider the case early next year.

With incumbent U.S. Rep. Troy Carter of New Orleans winning his 2nd District race, Fields will give Louisiana two Democrats in the House for the first time since 2011 when Charlie Melancon represented the 3rd District.

 Piper Hutchinson contributed to this report.
The Associated Press called Utahs 2nd District for Rep. Celeste Maloy in the early hours of Wednesday morning. This will be Maloys first full term in office after she won a special election in 2023.

Maloy was ahead of her Democratic opponent, Nathaniel Woodward, by more than 25 percentage points with 63% of the votes counted. As of early Wednesday, vote totals showed Maloy with 59.8% of the vote, and Woodward with 32.9%.

I want to thank the voters of UT-02 for the honor of representing you in Congress for a full term, Maloy said Tuesday. I want to thank my family, friends and my campaign team for their hard work. I also want to thank my opponents Nathaniel Woodward, Cassie Easley and Tyler Murset for running and I hope we can find issues to work together on.

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We have serious work to do, and Im optimistic that we will pull together as Americans and roll up our sleeves. I am full of love for this country and hope for our future.

Maloy has represented Utahs 2nd District since entering office one year ago after a special election victory to replace her previous boss, Rep. Chris Stewart. Originally from Hiko, Nevada, Maloy spent her career as a soil conservationist in Beaver and as a public lands attorney in Washington County before moving to Washington, D.C. She now represents an area that includes Washington and Beaver counties, as well as south Davis County, west Salt Lake City and most of western Utah.

Amid campaigning for five different elections in the span of less than 18 months, Maloy has utilized her experience in land management and as Stewarts former legal counsel to introduce multiple pieces of legislation, including bills to transfer federal lands to Utah, improve programs for women-owned businesses, streamline the federal permitting process and investigate pharmacy drug pricing.

In a televised debate hosted by the Utah Debate Commission, Woodward, an attorney from Price, argued he was more in touch with rural interests on energy, housing and health care. Woodward broke from Democratic messaging with his emphasis on maintaining coal production and opening up public lands to a massive new home ownership program.

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In a prepared statement, Woodward expressed gratitude for the trust thousands of voters had placed in him.

I wish the outcome would have been different but Im far from done and I will continue to advocate for our communities in every way I can, Woodward said. The Congresswomen is competent, qualified, compassionate, and an effective advocate for the people and though I have sincere and justifiable disagreements with her on a number of very important topics, she is a person I trust to do the right thing when it matters most.

Whats next for Maloy?

During her short 12 months in the U.S. House of Representatives, Maloy has had to navigate difficult votes related to approving military aid to Ukraine, continuing government funding and reauthorizing government surveillance authorities. These issues were used as an explanation by Sen. Mike Lee for his decision to break with longtime personal precedent, and Utah political norms, by endorsing Maloys GOP primary opponent, Colby Jenkins, shortly before the state party convention.

Lee campaigned heavily for Jenkins, securing endorsements and funding for him. However, after narrowly advancing from convention, Maloy received endorsements from top House leadership and former President Donald Trump and went on to win the Republican primary by the narrowest of margins. Following two lawsuits filed by Jenkins and a recount resulting in a lead of just 176 votes, Maloy was declared the GOP nominee.

In her special general election last year, Maloy beat Democratic candidate state Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Salt Lake City, by more than 20 percentage points.
Louisiana Illuminator illustration

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, will stay in Louisianas 3rd Congressional District seat after handily defeating three challengers on Election Day.

Higgins was on the way to a landslide victory with 72% of the vote over Democrats Priscilla Gonzales and Sadi Summerlin and Republican Zan John in the race. The Associated Press declared him the winner with votes still being counted.

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Higgins has consistently hitched his star to former President Donald Trump, going so far as refusing to acknowledge Joe Biden won the 2020 election.

A former law enforcement officer, Higgins faces a possible censure vote in the U.S. House for doubling down on false rumors Trump and GOP vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance spread that legal Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, have killed and eaten pets. The citys mayor and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, both Republicans, have refuted the claims and asked Trump and Vance to renounce the rhetoric.

Higgins current assignments include the House Homeland Security Committee, on which he chairs the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement. He also sits on the Armed Services and the Oversight & Accountability committees.

The 3rd District covers portions of Acadiana and Louisianas coastal parishes from the Texas state line to Terrebonne.
(NewsNation)  With 51.1% of the vote, NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for Ohios District 13 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of Rep. Emilia Sykes. See results of U.S. House and U.S. Senate races from around the country here.

The toss-up race between Democratic U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes and Republican challenger Kevin Coughlin was considered one of the most competitive races in both Ohio and the U.S., according to The Cook Political Report.

The race took on national significance given Coughlins opportunity to flip a seat for the Republicans, who are attempting to hold onto a slim majority in the U.S. House.

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The 13th district covers three counties in northeast Ohio and includes Akron and Canton.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

Sykes served for eight years in the Ohio state legislature before being elected to Congress in 2022. Her family has been ingrained in politics for years, both of her parents worked as state lawmakers. Her father, Vernon Sykes, is currently a state senator.

Coughlin has also made a political name for himself in the state, having spent the past 15 years working in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the state Senate.

Coughlin, who left state politics for life as a business executive running a company that advises companies and not-for-profit organizations, said that he is seeking office after becoming frustrated with crime and immigration issues along the U.S. southern border, according to Spectrum News.

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In seeking re-election, Sykes focused her attention on issues surrounding the economy, including affordable housing and making sure Ohio residents had access to affordable health care. She also made public safety a priority.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

Coughlin has pegged Sykes for being more liberal than she lets on, according to Signal Akron. Coughlin has also attacked Sykes for not living in District 13 as she is married to a county commissioner in Columbus. However, Sykes is registered to vote in the District, where her campaign is headquartered, the report said.

Heading into Tuesdays election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with a narrow majority of 220 seats while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Congressman Vern Buchanan cruised to another victory Tuesday night to win his 10th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Incumbent Republican Buchanan defeated Democrat Jan Schneider for Floridas 16th Congressional District with 202,345 votes, or 58.5% of the vote, while his opponent won 143,466 votes, or around 41.5% of the vote with 81 out of 177 precincts in Manatee and Hillsborough County reporting.

The Associated Press called the race for Buchanan at 7:20 p.m.

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Schneider had previously led six unsuccessful campaigns against Buchanan in the race to represent Floridas 16th Congressional District, which includes all of Manatee and parts of Hillsborough.

Buchanan, who was first elected to Congress in 2006 and is a Republican co-chair of Floridas congressional delegation, campaigned on a platform of experience and accomplishment, pointing to a list of 33 bills passed under four different Presidents in one campaign ad.

The Congressmans website said some of his top priorities include cracking down on illegal immigration, protecting veterans benefits, protecting Medicare and social security, supporting law enforcement and rejecting woke liberal policies.

Buchanan lives in Longboat Key with his wife, Sandy, whom hes been married to for over 40 years. He has two grown sons and nine grandchildren.

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Buchanan defeated challenger Eddie Speir In August during the Republican primary.

Schneider, an attorney and graduate of Yale Law School, ran on a campaign of womens reproductive rights, environmental stewardship, campaign finance reform and more.

Buchanan raised $1,695,817 in his re-election campaign, while Schneider raised around $28,936.
Who will replace Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader?

(NewsNation)  Republicans on Tuesday captured the Senate, Decision Desk HQ projects, ending their four-year stretch in the minority.

The GOPs leadership within the Senate will shift as longtime Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell announced earlier this year that he will step down as minority leader.

A trio of candidates have emerged as a possible successor to McConnell, headed by South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the Senate Republican whip as well as Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso.

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Donald Trump projected to win presidential election for second time

The Republican senators running to succeed McConnell as Senate GOP leader have already pledged to work closely with Trump to get his agenda through Congress.

John Thune

WASHINGTON, DC  SEPTEMBER 10: Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. During the news conference Senate republicans spoke on a range of topics including the upcoming Presidential Debate and funding for the government. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

John Thune is serving as the senior United States senator from South Dakota, a seat he has held since 2005. Thune is in his fourth Senate term and is the Senate minority whip, a post he has held since 2021.

Even before McConnell announced he would end the longest leadership tenure in Senate history, Thune, 63, had approached the contest with the same quiet intensity. Thune defines himself by the partys traditional values and has at times defied Trumps wishes.

John Cornyn

WASHINGTON, DC  JUNE 20: Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) speaks to reporters outside of the Senate Chambers during a vote at the U.S. Capitol on June 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. Senators returned to Washington after the Juneteenth holiday to participate in votes before their two week recess. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

John Cornyn is serving as the senior United States senator from Texas, a seat he has held since 2002. He also served on the Texas Supreme Court from 1991 to 1997 and as the attorney general of Texas from 1999 to 2002.

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Cornyn spent time last month with Donald Trump in Texas and earlier this month attended a rally with Trump in Reno, Nevada. He also held hard-dollar fundraising events this month with candidates across the country, including former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan, combat veteran Brown in Nevada, and Rep. Jim Banks in Indiana.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

John Barrasso

WASHINGTON, DC  SEPTEMBER 10: Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. During the news conference Senate republicans spoke on a range of topics including the upcoming Presidential Debate and funding for the government. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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John Barrasso of Wyoming won a third full term on Tuesday. Barrasso has risen to the third-ranking GOP position in the U.S. Senate and is the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Hes an orthopedic surgeon and former state lawmaker from Casper. He was appointed to the Senate in 2007.

NewsNations Jeff Arnold and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
(NewsNation)  Republicans on Tuesday captured the Senate, Decision Desk HQ projected on NewsNation, ending their four-year stretch in the minority.

The GOPs leadership within the Senate will shift as longtime Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell announced earlier this year that he will step down as minority leader.

A trio of candidates have emerged as possible successors to McConnell, headed by South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the Senate Republican whip as well as Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso.

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Donald Trump projected to win presidential election for second time

The Republican senators running to succeed McConnell as Senate GOP leader have already pledged to work closely with Trump to get his agenda through Congress.

John Thune

WASHINGTON, DC  SEPTEMBER 10: Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. During the news conference Senate republicans spoke on a range of topics including the upcoming Presidential Debate and funding for the government. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

John Thune is serving as the senior United States senator from South Dakota, a seat he has held since 2005. Thune is in his fourth Senate term and is the Senate minority whip, a post he has held since 2021.

Even before McConnell announced he would end the longest leadership tenure in Senate history, Thune, 63, had approached the contest with the same quiet intensity. Thune defines himself by the partys traditional values and has at times defied Trumps wishes.

John Cornyn

WASHINGTON, DC  JUNE 20: Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) speaks to reporters outside of the Senate Chambers during a vote at the U.S. Capitol on June 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. Senators returned to Washington after the Juneteenth holiday to participate in votes before their two week recess. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

John Cornyn is serving as the senior United States senator from Texas, a seat he has held since 2002. He also served on the Texas Supreme Court from 1991 to 1997 and as the attorney general of Texas from 1999 to 2002.

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Cornyn spent time last month with Donald Trump in Texas and earlier this month attended a rally with Trump in Reno, Nevada. He also held hard-dollar fundraising events this month with candidates across the country, including former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan, combat veteran Brown in Nevada, and Rep. Jim Banks in Indiana.

John Barrasso

WASHINGTON, DC  SEPTEMBER 10: Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. During the news conference Senate republicans spoke on a range of topics including the upcoming Presidential Debate and funding for the government. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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John Barrasso of Wyoming won a third full term on Tuesday. Barrasso has risen to the third-ranking GOP position in the U.S. Senate and is the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Hes an orthopedic surgeon and former state lawmaker from Casper. He was appointed to the Senate in 2007.

NewsNations Jeff Arnold and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is planning to deliver a concession speech after being defeated in her bid for President of the United States, according to Reuters. She will deliver her remarks at her alma mater Howard University in Washington, D.C. after calling Donald Trump who will be the next president after winning more than the required 270 electoral votes in Tuesdays election.

Read: Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Heres what hes proposed

Republicans reclaimed control of the Senate, picking up seats in West Virginia and Ohio. Top House races are focused in New York and California, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years.

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Associated Press contributed to this report

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CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  Discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraudthose are all things to keep an eye out for as voting for the Nov. 5 General Election continues in West Virginia.

What isnt OK to do at the polls?

Under federal election law, the following actions are prohibited:

Threatening violence against election officials or staff

Intimidating or bribing voters

Buying and selling votes

Impersonating voters

Altering vote tallies

Stuffing ballot boxes

Marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input

Interfering with or intimidating voters in any way that may discourage them from voting for the candidate of their choice

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This does not include cases where a voter who has a disability or who cant read or write English is being assisted by a person of their choice.

West Virginia General Election Results 2024

The West Virginia Secretary of States Office said that the following should also be reported:

Obstruction of voters entering or leaving the polls

Electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place

Candidates loitering inside a polling place

Who do I report that to?

Election violations can be reported by texting WV to 45995 or calling 1-877-FRAUD-WV. The complaints can be filed confidentially.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local field office can be reached at 412-432-4000.

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Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. at 800-253-3931 or online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey defeated Democrat Elad Gross on Tuesday, winning a four-year term with an abrasive approach thats led the Republican official to insert himself into politically explosive fights in support of former President Donald Trump and the businessman Elon Musk.

Bailey will now have the opportunity to further reshape the state attorney generals office, after Republican Gov. Mike Parson appointed him to the position to fill a vacancy in early 2023. His general election victory, which had been anticipated, came after a bruising GOP primary contest that pitted him against one of Trumps lawyers.

Bailey was leading Gross, 58% to 39%, with about 82% of the vote counted, according to the Associated Press.

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With your continued support, we will bring transformative conservative leadership to the Show-Me State, Bailey said in a statement earlier this year. We will defend our values, uphold the rule of law, and protect our freedoms.

Bailey has distinguished himself over his two years in office with a torrent of lawsuits, legal threats and acerbic social media posting that has gone further than his past Republican predecessors. He has championed a host of political causes dear to national Republicans and Trump supporters  while coming under withering criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, who say hes incompetently managed the attorney generals office.

Bailey maintains the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. Months ago, he said publicly that efforts were once again underway to try to steal the 2024 election from the former president through silencing our voices on social media and in the mainstream media and by packing the polling places with criminal illegal aliens that shouldnt be here in the first place.

Under his leadership, the Missouri Attorney Generals Office sued Media Matters, a left-leaning media watchdog. The lawsuit came after Media Matters posted exposes about X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter thats owned by Musk.

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He also filed a legal challenge against New York in an attempt to block the state from sentencing Trump before the November election. A New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records earlier this year. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the request.

Gross, a St. Louis area civil rights attorney, campaigned on promises of returning normality to the office. He vowed a focus on rooting out corruption and prosecuting scammers. With his dog, Liberty Belle, often at his side at events, he also promised to shut down abusive puppy mills.

The election for Missouri Attorney General isnt Democrat versus Republican. Its good government versus corruption, Gross said in the lead up to the vote.

On Tuesday night, Gross posted online: I love you Missouri, and I always will.

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Gross faced an uphill climb in a Republican-leaning state in a presidential election year with Trump on the ballot. Instead, much of the drama in the contest played out during the primary, when Bailey faced a challenge from Will Scharf, a former federal prosecutor and a member of Trumps legal team.

Over the course of a bitter campaign, Bailey and Scharf went head to head in a contest to demonstrate their support for Trump. Bailey easily defeated Scharf, 63% to 37%.

Bailey, who was previously Parsons top lawyer in the governors office, proposed few new initiatives or ideas in his campaign  instead deploying the attorney generals office to launch lawsuits.

Bailey sued Washington University over its transgender center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital. Last year, he attempted to use a consumer protection law to restrict gender-affirming care for both adults and kids. A judge temporarily blocked the restrictions, but Bailey withdrew the rule before a final ruling in the case.

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Bailey filed numerous lawsuits against the Biden administration and was especially aggressive in opposing efforts by President Joe Biden to forgive student loan debt. The U.S. Supreme Court last year blocked a major debt cancellation plan, citing harm to Missouri.

The attorney general, who took office in January 2023 after Eric Schmitt resigned after winning election to the U.S. Senate, also sought to block the release of wrongfully convicted prisoners. And he attempted to reverse the conviction of Eric DeValkenaere, a former Kansas City police detective who shot and killed a Black man in 2019 and was convicted of manslaughter.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), left, lost to his Republican opponent, Bernie Moreno. Mariam Zuhaib/AP; Jeff Dean, AP

Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown is projected to lose to Republican entrepreneur Bernie Moreno in Ohio, a huge blow to Senate Democrats hoping to keep control of the upper chamber.

The results were a stunning rebuke of Brown, whos been in office for more than 40 years, including 17 years in the Senate. He had previously weathered Ohios red shift under Donald Trump with his 2018 reelection, but the presidential headwinds were too much this year for Brown, the last remaining Ohio Democrat in statewide elected office.

Moreno, a former luxury car dealer, has not previously held elected office. He was Trumps pick for the seat in a state from which Tumps running mate Sen. JD Vance also hails.

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Moreno and his national allies worked to paint Brown as a career politician closely aligned with the Biden-Harris administration, running ads that showed Brown praising Vice President Kamala Harris and downplaying border security.

Brown likely made it this far in Ohio thanks to the economic populist brand hes cultivated thats not dissimilar to Trumps own brand of populism, which Brown has labeled phony. As a congressman and senator, Brown was known for bucking the Democratic Party on foreign trade deals and being a close ally of organized labor unions.

He faced one of the toughest races of his career this year, forcing him to distance himself from the Democratic Party and broaden his coalition to include moderate Republicans. Brown made a final appeal to Republicans in a Fox News op-ed describing how he worked across the aisle to combat fentanyl trafficking and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law. A union backing Brown even ran a commercial connecting him to Vance.

Brown acknowledged the challenging nature of his race to reporters earlier this year.

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I wouldnt win Montana, he wouldnt win Ohio, Ill leave it at that, Brown told reporters in September, describing a Democrat in a similarly challenging race, Montana Sen. Jon Tester. Hes a good candidate. Hes been a very good senator. So I dont know the politics there, and I dont see all the polls, just different states.

Ohio had one of the nations most expensive U.S. Senate races, with both sides and their allies spending over $127 million.

See full results from the Ohio Senate election here.
The Republican Bernie Moreno won the Ohio Senate race on Tuesday, beating the Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown in a victory that helped give the GOP control of the upper chamber.

The Associated Press called the race for Moreno at 11.27 pm ET, when, with over 90% of the estimated vote counted, Moreno was leading Brown by nearly five points.

Brown had represented Ohio in the Senate for almost two decades. He described his loss as a disappointment, but it is not a failure during a concession speech in Columbus.

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It will never be wrong to fight for organized labor, it will never be wrong to fight for the freedom of women to make their healthcare decisions, it surely will never be wrong to fight for civil rights and human rights, he said.

Moreno, a former luxury car dealer, came to the US from Colombia at age four and claimed he learned English through Ronald Reagans addresses. He had the support of Donald Trump, and sought to persuade voters that Brown was too liberal to represent the state.

We talked about wanting a red wave. I think what we have tonight is a red, white and blue wave, he said in an acceptance speech in Cleveland. Were tired of being treated like second-class citizens in our own country. Were tired of leaders that think were garbage and were tired of being treated like garbage.

The contest in Ohio was the most expensive Senate race this year and among the most expensive ever. According to the Associated Press, Ohio saw half a billion dollars in campaign ad spending this election cycle while Pennsylvania saw $340m and Montana, which was also seen as key to determining control of the Senate, had $280m.

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The race brought attention to Ohios shifting demographics. When Brown was elected US senator in 2006, Ohio seemed like a prime state for Democrats, with expansive urban centers and manufacturing that would favor labor-aligned candidates. Barack Obama won the state in 2008 and 2012 when Democrats were strongly represented in statewide elected office.

But the state has since become more conservative.

As the manufacturing industry languished, the state has seen its population stagnate, becoming older and whiter. Brown was the lone Democrat to hold statewide elected office. Republicans have a supermajority in the states senate and house of representatives.

The states offices of the governor, secretary of state and attorney general, and state supreme court, are all held by Republicans. Trumps vice-presidential pick, JD Vance, is Ohios second US senator. And on Tuesday, the state overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump.

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Moreno did not strike a significantly deep chord with Ohio voters, but he enjoyed Trumps popularity in the state.

His campaign was not without controversy.

In September, Moreno was revealed to have falsely claimed to have an MBA from the University of Michigan, also signing legal documents claiming the degree; Morenos team blamed a staffer who made a mistake.

Browns campaign sought to tout his pro-worker bona fides and distance himself from Bidens White House and Kamala Harris, even though the president shepherded billions in infrastructure spending to rural regions of Ohio.

Brown also tried to address concerns about immigration. Some campaign ads showed Brown onboard a speedboat, donning a bullet-proof vest, to cast himself as a tough-on-immigration candidate.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage
Brad Briner, member of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, will become State Treasurer. (File photo)

Republican Brad Briner has been elected North Carolinas next state Treasurer, defeating his Democratic challenger State Rep. Wesley Harris.

The Associated Press projected Briner early Wednesday morning. As of 1:20 a.m., Briner lead Harris 52.46% to 47.54% according to the state Board of Elections.

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The race pitted the only PhD economist in the legislature (Harris), against an investment manager and current member of the UNC Board of Trustees (Briner).

Both men campaigned on how they would improve upon the underperformance of the North Carolina Retirement System. They agree that too much of the state pension fund is sitting in cash.

The office also oversees the State Health Plan, serving more than 750,000 current and retired public employees. Current state Treasurer Dale Folwell has served in the position for two terms. Folwell unsuccessfully ran in the Republican gubernatorial primary, losing back in March to Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Editors note: This story was last updated at 10:05 a.m. Thursday.

The Associated Press has declared former President Donald Trump the winner of Idaho in the 2024 presidential election.

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The Associated Press declared the winner of this race at 9 p.m. after polls closed statewide. As of 10:05 a.m. Thursday, Trump had 67% of the vote in Idaho, compared with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris who received 30% of the vote, according to latest data on the Idaho Secretary of States website.

This means all four of Idahos electoral votes went toward Trump. The candidate who receives the majority of the countrys 538 electoral votes  or at least 270 of the votes  wins the presidential election.

This does not come as a surprise. In 2016, Trump received 59% of Idahos votes, and in 2020 he received 64% of the vote, according to data from the Idaho Secretary of States Office.

And in March, Trump won Idahos Republican caucus with 85% of the vote, beating Nikki Haley by more than 28,000 votes, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported.

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Latest data from the Idaho secretary of state shows that all 44 counties have fully reported their votes, with 605,040 Idahoans voting for Trump, and 274,821 for Harris. Idaho had nine candidates on the presidential ballot, including five independent candidates.

Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador poses for a photo with attendees next to a cardboard Donald Trump cutout at the Idaho Republican Partys general election watch party on Nov. 5, 2024, in Meridian. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Idaho Democrats reflect on 2024 election, clinging to hope

At the Idaho Democratic Party election night watch party, which took place at the Grove Hotel in Boise, party chairwoman Lauren Necochea remarked on the partys successes, noting there was a Democratic candidate running in every legislative district, and the party had raised $1.7 million. Its efforts, she said, added up to more than 144,000 door knock attempts and 132,000 phone calls.

Necochea said the party would remain focused on restoring reproductive rights, fighting against school voucher legislation, protecting the Idaho Launch program, and preventing attempts to repeal Medicaid expansion.

We have to be so proud of the work that you put in, and remember that its always worth fighting a good fight, and we wouldnt be in the trenches with anyone else than all of you, she said.

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Terri Pickens, a Democratic candidate for Idaho governor in 2026, thanked the candidates and campaign workers.

Terri Pickens, a 2026 Democratic candidate for Idaho governor, speaks to attendees during the Idaho Democratic Partys general election watch party Nov. 5, 2024, in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

No matter what happens tomorrow morning, were going to wake up and were still going to fight like hell to make sure that we are creating an environment and a country for our children, for our families, and for everyone  Pickens said. Just remember, we fought like hell, were going to continue fighting like hell, and this is our country and we are not going back.

Other remarks at the Democratic watch party came from Boise Mayor Lauren McLean; Idaho Democratic Party Executive Director Jared DeLoof; Idaho Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise; Kaylee Peterson, a candidate for Idahos 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives; and Betty Richardson, co-leader of the group Women for Harris-Walz.

The outcome of the 2024 presidential election may not be determined on Election Day, and may take additional time to be finalized. In 2020, the high number of voters using absentee or mail-in ballots led to millions of backlogged ballots nationwide, causing delays in reporting results in several swing states, according to the Pew Research Center.

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The GOP rode a red wave in Miami-Dade County created by a massive turnout for former president Donald Trump that underscored victories up and down the ballot for Republican candidates.

In Floridas most populous county, voters handed Trump a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, and with it, a string of wins for local offices such as sheriff, elections supervisor and property appraiser.

For property appraiser, voters chose former Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado. With Trumps endorsement, Rosanna Rosie Cordero-Stutz won a widely watched race for sheriff, the first election for sheriff since the 1960s. Republican state Rep. Alina Garcia won the race for supervisor of elections. Business owner Dariel Fernandez won his race for tax collector.

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Even in competitive Florida House races, incumbent Republicans Fabian Basabe and Vicki Lopez kept their seats Tuesday night.

Today, our community has spoken. They have voted for their families, their livelihoods, and a future that promises to thrive under conservative leadership, said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, a prominent local GOP politician who was endorsed by Trump when he won his seat on the County Commission. This is more than a victory  its a realignment that demonstrates that Miami-Dade voters agree with the principles of the Republican Party: lower taxes, less government and more freedom!

Christian Ulvert, a leading Democratic campaign manager in Miami-Dade, saw his four Democratic clients lose their countywide races in partisan elections where the margins were close to what Trump posted in Miami-Dade. While both parties mostly matched their 2020 turnout levels, steady increases in GOP voter registration in Miami-Dade and declines for Democrats had Republicans up by about 3 percentage points in ballots cast on Election Day. The Republican margins showed independent voters broke heavily for Republicans, a point Ulvert emphasized in his remarks to a dejected crowd at an election night event in Coral Gables.

We have work to do in Miami-Dade County, he said. Voters sent a message.

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After, Ulvert pointed to Trumps commanding win of Florida as evidence of a broader issue with the Democratic Party in the Sunshine State. Its not just a Miami-Dade problem. Its a statewide problem, he said.

Republicans dominated local congressional races in districts representing Miami-Dade and the Keys, with U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar, Mario Diaz-Balart and Carlos Gimenez cruising to reelection.

Republican Maria Elvira Salazar reacts to winning the U.S. House of Representatives District 27 race during an election night watch party at Sergios on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Miami.

Florida is rejecting the far-left policies, said Diaz-Balart, who was celebrating at popular Cuban eatery Versailles with fellow GOP candidates.

Miami-Dade County was always a Democrat stronghold, he told the Miami Herald. The reality is the Democratic Party has gone so dramatically far left that its a pretty dramatic rejection, I think, of those policies.

A Cuban flag flies outside Versailles in Little Havana after Donald Trump won Florida on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Even after candidates left Versailles, a traditional gathering place for the Cuban exile community that has increasingly swung toward the right, a huge Cuban flag waved while car horns blared when Trump was projected to win Florida. The words socialism and communism were repeatedly heard as the crowd celebrated their deaths to the sound of salsa music.

The only Democrats who won partisan seats, U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson and state Rep. Kevin Chambliss, were in heavily blue districts.
Olathe Republican Charlotte Esau has defeated Democratic incumbent Dennis Miller in Senate District 14, flipping the script in the rematch of their 2022 contest.

Esau, who previously represented District 14 from 2019 to 2023, led Miller 52% to 48% with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial election results from the Kansas Secretary of States Office.

Miller, an Air Force Veteran who defeated Esau by 221 votes two years ago, served on the House veterans and military committee, as well as the local government, taxation and welfare reform committees.

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Neither candidate immediately responded to requests for comment late Tuesday evening.

Esau, who co-owns a consulting firm, ran on a platform of tax relief, prioritizing public safety and supporting public education and expanded job training opportunities, according to her campaign website.

Esau also pushed back on attack ads targeting her stance on reproductive rights, saying she never advocated for a total ban on abortion.

Birth control. IVF. Healthcare freedom. The list of lies about what I supposedly want to ban grows with each attack, Esau wrote on her website. Here are the facts: I do not support bans on birth control and IVF. I am a staunch supporter of healthcare freedom on these and other issues.

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Her husband, Keith Esau, previously held the District 14 seat from 2013 to 2019.

Esaus victory was one of a handful of Republican triumphs across Johnson County on Tuesday that helped the GOP preserve and expand veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature.

Republicans also appeared poised to pick up a House seat in Olathes District 15, where Democratic incumbent Allison Hougland trailed Republican Lauren Bohi by 131 votes with all precincts reporting. That outcome could still be influenced by late-arriving mail ballots and provisional ballots.

Bohi, an administrative assistant at pediatric behavioral health clinic KidsTLC, did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening.

Hougland, a realtor, told The Star earlier in the evening that she expected the race to be close. She won the seat in 2022 after defeating Republican Matt Bingesser by 78 votes.
Jerrod Sessler, left, is running for a seat that U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, right, has held since 2015. (Photos courtesy of campaigns)

Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse, who represents central Washington, held a narrow lead Tuesday over fellow Republican Jerrod Sessler, who put a spotlight on the incumbents vote to impeach Donald Trump nearly four years ago.

Newhouse, one of a handful of GOP House members to back impeachment in 2021, led Sessler 50.3% to 48% in the first night of ballot counting. He is seeking a sixth term.

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Results will be updated as more votes are tallied.

The Republican-versus-Republican fight is in a district stretching from the Canadian border to the Oregon state line. It includes the agriculture-heavy Yakima Valley, the Yakama Indian Reservation, and the Tri-Cities, which are a regional hub.

Newhouse, 69, of Sunnyside, was elected to Congress in 2014 and re-elected four times. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise campaigned with him in the final days of the campaign.

Before entering Congress, Newhouse served in the Washington House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009. Then, for four years, he was director of the state Department of Agriculture under then-governor Christine Gregoire, a Democrat. Newhouses family operates an 850-acre farm.

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Sessler, 55, of Prosser, a Navy veteran and businessman, garnered Trumps endorsement early on. Sessler founded a company called HomeTask, a website that connects customers to local handymen and other home service providers. He also raced in a regional NASCAR series in the early 2000s.

Newhouse drew the ire of fellow Republicans ever since joining nine GOP colleagues in voting to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Sessler was among the Trump supporters who attended that days rally outside the White House and ensuing march. He told The Spokesman-Review he never entered the Capitol that day and he argues, like Trump, that the people who pleaded guilty or were convicted of crimes related to the riot should be freed and pardoned.

In 2022, Newhouse was the only Republican voting for impeachment to overcome a Trump-backed challenger in a primary. He fended off a raft of Republican opponents, including Sessler and Loren Culp, who was Trumps choice that year. Newhouse went on to easily beat a Democrat in that years general election.

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Trumps support for Sessler seemed to pay dividends when he won the 4th District primary. In the August contest, 75% of votes cast went to three Republicans  Sessler (33%), Newhouse (23.4%) and Tiffany Smiley (19.3%) who, late in the race, also received Trumps backing.

In the general election, Sessler calculated that Newhouse would need votes of Democratic and independent voters to return to Congress.

With this in mind, Sessler talked up the write-in campaign of Cherissa Boyd, a Democrat. He also put out a mailer containing her photo and a message to make a plan to vote Republican alongside an image of a ballot with a box filled in for Boyd.

During his time in Congress, Newhouse has opposed calls to remove hydropower dams on the Snake River. Hes served on a select committee focused on national security concerns related to China. And hes worked on immigration reforms related to agricultural labor.

Newhouse reported $2.3 million in contributions with $426,000 in cash on hand as of mid-October. Sessler hauled in $617,000 with about $135,000 unspent, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.
Missouri Sen. Denny Hoskins won the race for Missouri secretary of state on Tuesday after building a campaign that focused on his conservative voting record in the General Assembly.

Hoskins, from Warrensburg, was first elected to the state Senate in 2016 after previously serving in the House. Hoskins was one of the founding members of the Senates Missouri Freedom Caucus, a hard-right group of senators who frequently sparred with GOP leadership.

The victory by Hoskins affirms the Republican Partys tight grip on Missouri politics. He defeated Democratic Rep. Barbara Phifer from Kirkwood, who campaigned on the idea that the secretary of state should be a nonpartisan position and serve everybody in the state

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The Associated Press had not called the race as of 11:40 p.m, but unofficial results showed him leading with 56.1% of the vote. Phifer had 41.2% of the vote, according to the AP.

Hoskins declared victory in a statement Tuesday evening, saying he looked forward to to fighting hard for this state.

The right to vote is fundamental, and I will work hard to ensure voters know that their ballots are safe and that our elections are secure, Hoskins said. We absolutely must end election fraud, and my top priority will be to create an Office of Election Crimes and Security to enable my office to investigate fraud and ensure those responsible are held accountable.

Hoskins victory could have major consequences for how future elections are operated in Missouri. During his campaign, Hoskins pushed the idea of hand-counting ballots, a change that alarmed election experts who predicted it would completely overhaul how elections are run and cause voters to endure even longer waits.

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However, any changes to elections would likely have to come from lawmakers in the General Assembly.

He also built his campaign on his legislative experience and a push for election integrity, which includes in-person voting on paper ballots.

Hoskins has also faced criticism after being sued for sharing social media posts that wrongfully accused a Kansas man of being a shooter in the February mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade.

On the Democratic side, Phifer promoted the idea of impartial and accurate language on ballot measures, which became a source of controversy this year after current Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft was sued for crafting incendiary language on an abortion rights proposal.

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If you value free and fair elections, support for small businesses, and protection for books, libraries, and their staff, Im the candidate for you, Phifer wrote on social media last month.

Hoskins victory comes after he weathered one of the most crowded Republican primaries earlier this year. Eight Republicans had filed to run for the office and he squeaked out a win despite receiving only 24.3% of the Republican vote.

The position of secretary of state has historically been ministerial, serving as the states chief election official. Its also in charge of certifying measures for statewide ballots and storing state documents.

Before Missouri instituted term limits, Democrat James Kirkpatrick held the office for 20 years, from 1965 to 1985.

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But amid a growing Republican focus on elections, false claims about rampant voter fraud have raised the profile of the position across the country. Several Republicans, including Hoskins, have vowed to make sweeping changes to elections.

In addition to his promise of hand-counted ballots, Hoskins and other Republicans have focused on baseless fears about non-citizen voting.
Sharks Over-Under (Spit Shot) (Photo courtesy of Ken Sutherland, winner of Best of MantaFest 2024)

(November 6, 2024  Yap Visitors Bureau, Yap, FSM): The 17th annual MantaFest, hosted by the Manta Ray Bay Resort & Yap Divers, has once again captivated underwater photographers, divers, and ocean enthusiasts from around the world. The event saw several returning participants, a testament to MantaFests enduring appeal as one of the Pacifics premier dive photography events.

An exciting new feature was also introduced this year at MantaFest: blackwater diving. Attendees embarked on several deep ocean night dives, exploring the waters of the Yap Trench which reaches depths of over 9,000 meters in the Pacific Ocean. Here they discovered a surreal underwater world, where alien-like creatures and vibrant marine life appeared to float straight out of a dream. Due to its popularity blackwater diving will now be offered weekly and upon request by Manta Ray Bay Resort. Particularly during the non-tradewind season from June to mid-November, which offers thrill-seekers an exciting opportunity to dive into the mysterious depths of Yap year-round.

This years event again featured a dive photography competition with attractive prizes offered in various categories. The grand prize was awarded to Ken Sutherland, whose Sharks Over-Under entry was declared Best of MantaFest 2024, winning him a live-aboard scuba trip sponsored by Odyssey Adventures Truk Lagoon. A full list of the 2024 winners and their winning photos entries can be found on the Manta Ray Bay Resorts website.

Next years event will be held from August 23 through September 7, 2025. You can find out more information on this event and on diving in Yap by visiting Manta Ray Bay Resorts website, or meeting with them in person at booth #3018 during the DEMA Dive Show from November 19-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada.
Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Little Rock, is greeted with applause as he joins a Republican election watch party in Little Rock on Nov. 5, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Republican incumbents in seven contested Arkansas Senate races won their respective elections Tuesday, keeping the partys majority intact.

The makeup of the 35-member Senate includes 29 Republicans and 6 Democrats, unchanged from its previous ratio.

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According to unofficial results from the secretary of states website, the seven contested races were as follows:



District 1:

Sen. Ben Gilmore, R-Crossett  22,898 votes (77.38%)

Asher Williams, L-Pine Bluff  6,694 votes (22.62%)

District 4:

Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana  23,686 votes (80.75%)

Lonny Mack Goodwin, L-Saratoga  5,647 votes (19.25%)



District 17:

Sen. Mark Johnson, R-Little Rock  21,909 (58.26%)

Maureen Skinner, D-Conway  15,697 (41.74%)

District 20:

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro  16,901 (60.9%)

Erika Askeland, D-Jonesboro, 10,851 (39.1%)

District 22:

Sen. John Payton, R-Wilburn  27,103 (82.27%)

Sandy Maier, D-Horseshoe Bend  5,841 (17.73%)

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District 25:

Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville  24,168 votes (74.21%)

Michelle Justice, D-Russellville  8,397 votes (25.79%)



District 34:

Sen. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville  28,119 (63.88%)

Kaylee Wedgeworth, D-Centerton  15,897 (36.12%)

Elected candidates will serve for the next four years.

Nine Republican incumbents ran unopposed in the general election and will also return to the Capitol for another four years. Those lawmakers include Steve Crowell, Terry Rice, Matt McKee, Jonathan Dismang, Dave Wallace, Scott Flippo, Gary Stubblefield, Jim Petty and Bart Hester.

Only one incumbent Democrat was up for reelection, Stephanie Flowers of Pine Bluff. She ran unopposed.

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Former Rep. Jamie Scott, D-North Little Rock, ran unopposed for the District 12 seat.

Position details

State senators represent about 86,000 residents in their respective districts.

They generally serve four-year staggered terms and earn an annual salary of $44,356 while working alongside the governor to create laws and establish a state budget.

Lawmakers earn a per diem of either $59 or $155 a day, based on how far they reside from the Capitol. They also receive 65.5 cents per mile they travel.

Senators hold seats on various committees, which handle topic-specific matters including agriculture, education, public health and ethics. They can join task forces and serve on joint committees with members from the Arkansas House of Representatives.

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The Senate is led by a president pro tempore, a Latin term meaning for the time being. Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, was elected by his fellow senators to hold the position in 2023. Hester ran unopposed in the general election.

The Legislature will convene at noon on Jan. 13, 2025 for the start of the 95th General Assembly.

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Democrat Eugene Vindman won Virginias most competitive congressional race Wednesday, defeating his opponent in a blow to the GOPs hopes of flipping the open House seat.

In Virginias 7th District, Vindman defeated Republican Derrick Anderson by a close margin after conservatives targeted the House seat. Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the districts three-term incumbent, decided to run for governor in 2025  presenting an opening in the battleground district.

With the support of our grassroots army, we accomplished something together that many didnt think was possible, Vindman said in a statement. Its a testament to the power of the American experience, that an immigrant who escaped a Soviet Regime and came to this great nation with less than $800 in our pockets, would now stand here as a Congressman-elect of the United States House of Representatives.

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Anderson did not concede defeat, and his campaign issued a statement saying there are still thousands of uncounted ballots. We want to make sure everyones voice is heard in this extremely close race, the statement said.

The election between Vindman and Anderson quickly became one of the most competitive in the country, with Republicans hoping to make gains in districts in which they dont face an incumbent.

Vindman, despite being a political newcomer, developed a national profile after blowing the whistle alongside his brother during then-President Donald Trumps first impeachment. Vindman and his twin brother, Alex, were career military officers who raised their concerns about Trumps 2019 call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump sought an investigation of President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.

Vindman, a former Army officer, focused his campaign on abortion rights and the threat of MAGA extremism on democracy. Anderson, a fellow veteran and former Green Beret, pitched himself as the more affable candidate, and centered his campaign on the economy.

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Republicans had steadily represented the district for nearly 50 years until Spanberger defeated former Republican Rep. David Brat in 2018.

Elsewhere in Virginia, voters reelected Republican U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans in Virginia's 2nd District, defeating Democratic challenger Missy Cotter Smasal in a victory for Republicans aiming to keep the congressional seat in their battle to control the House.

Democrats had backed Smasal in hopes of reclaiming Kiggans seat after Republicans flipped it in the 2022 midterm election.

Kiggans said in a statement Wednesday that she was honored that voters have once again chosen commonsense conservatism to represent them in Washington.

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My priorities are unchanged: securing a strong economy, securing our southern border, ensuring our communities and families are kept safe, and providing peace through strength on the world stage, Kiggans said.

In a statement conceding the race to Kiggans, Cotter Smasal praised her own campaign for focusing on essential freedoms and protecting our Democracy. She said her supporters "will continue to make their voices heard.

Kiggans, a 53-year-old former Navy helicopter pilot, sought a second term while facing a challenge from Cotter Smasal, 46, who also served as a Navy surface warfare officer.

Differences between Kiggans and Cotter Smasal mostly traced the national fault lines between the two major political parties. In a fiery October debate, the two repeatedly painted each other as ineffectual and supportive of partisan policies that would hurt the coastal district. While Cotter Smasal centered her campaign on abortion access and defending American democracy, Kiggans focused on issues such as the economy and border security.

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The 2nd has traditionally been a swing district, oscillating in recent years between Republicans and Democrats who served in the Navy. For instance, former Navy SEAL Scott Taylor was a Republican who represented the district for one term before being defeated in 2018 by Democrat Elaine Luria, a former Navy commander. Luria served for two terms before she lost to Kiggans in 2022.

All U.S. House seats were up for election on Tuesday, including eight other districts in Virginia. Democratic Reps. Don Beyer, Gerry Connolly, Jennifer McClellan and Bobby Scott won their seats. Republican Reps. Ben Cline, Morgan Griffith and Rob Wittman also won reelection. State Sen. John McGuire also won Virginias 5th District after narrowly defeating incumbent Rep. Bob Good by less than a percentage point in a bitter primary, which led to a recount in August.

Democrat Suhas Subramanyam defeated Republican Mike Clancy in Virginias 10th Congressional District. Democrats sought to maintain the House seat representing a swath of northern Virginia exurbs after incumbent Rep. Jennifer Wexton said she would not run for reelection because she was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy.

___

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Barakat reported from Falls Church, Virginia, and Finley from Virginia Beach.

___

Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Jim Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee chairman, will be heading back to Washington for another two years.

The Associated Press called the race for Jordan around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday with around 52% of votes counted. Jordan's district includes Union County, the western half of Delaware County, and extends from Lima to Ashland.

As of 9:22 p.m. ET, the longtime Republican incumbent had 67% of the votes with about 80% of the votes in. Democratic challenger Tamie Wilson had around 32% of the votes.

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Jordan, who has been in this office since 2007, helped start the right-wing House Freedom Caucus. He represents Ohio's 4th District and ran unopposed in the primary.

Republicans have a strong edge in the district north of Columbus. Wilson, a repeat challenger, got just 31% of votes in November 2022.

Ohio Election Results 2024: Live updates, maps for every state race

Contributing: Anna Lynn Winfrey, Columbus Dispatch

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio House election: Republican Jim Jordan wins his reelection bid
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is set to become the state's next U.S. senator, defeating Democrat Glenn Elliott in Tuesday's general election.

Since 2010, Independent Joe Manchin has held the seat. A former Democrat, Manchin frequently defied his party leadership while remaining at odds with former President Donald Trump. However, Manchin announced in November 2023 that he would not seek a third term.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice delivers remarks during the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum. The second day of the RNC focused on crime and border policies.

Justice's win is a crucial moment for the Republican Party as it aims to regain control of the Senate. West Virginia has shifted sharply to the right over the past two decades, making it a must-win for Republican strategists.

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West Virginia Election Results 2024: Live updates, maps for every state race

Justice capitalizes on his home state legacy

Jim Justice, a businessman who founded Bluestone Farms in 1977, has built the operation into the leading grain producer on the East Coast. With a net worth exceeding $500 million, he ranks among West Virginia's wealthiest residents.

In 2015, Justice launched his campaign for governor. Initially registered as a Republican, he ran as a Democrat and defeated Republican nominee Bill Cole. However, just seven months after taking office, Justice switched back to the Republican Party, announcing his decision at a rally with then-President Donald Trump in West Virginia.

During his tenure, Justice has highlighted several achievements, including a state budget surplus and the Roads to Prosperity program, aimed at improving infrastructure. His administration has also prioritized tax cuts and Second Amendment rights.

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Glenn Elliott, an attorney and former mayor of Wheeling, West Virginia, served as a legislative assistant to the late West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd. Elliott's campaign focused on key issues such as healthcare, restoring women's reproductive rights, and enhancing childcare and workforce development.

More: Election 2024 live updates: Trump, Harris hitting campaign trails hard; new polls

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice to replace Joe Manchin in the U.S. Senate
Republican John McGuire is projected to win the House seat to replace Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), according to Decision Desk HQ.

McGuire, a state senator, defeated the former head of the House Freedom Caucus earlier this year during the GOP primary for Virginias 5th Congressional District, which is situated in the middle of the state and just west of Richmond.

He went head-to-head with Democrat Gloria Tinsley Witt, who worked for more than three decades at the nuclear energy company Framatome, defeating her in the general election on Tuesday night.

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McGuire was backed by former President Trump during the GOP primary after Good drew the ire of the former president. Good first backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) during the GOP presidential primary before later backing Trump after DeSantis dropped out.

Good has also been a thorn in GOP leaderships side as a conservative rabble-rouser, including being among a handful of GOP members who helped oust former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his Speakership.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NC Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson seen here on an elevator Certificate of Operation placard. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

North Carolina Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson didnt waste much time stepping down from his post Wednesday after fellow Republican Luke Farley secured a win in his race against Democrat Braxton Winston to replace him.

Dobson did not seek reelection to the seat he won in 2020 following the retirement of long-serving commissioner Cherie Berry, a Republican who served in the office for 20 years and was known as the elevator lady because her picture was plastered on certificates hanging in every elevator in the state.

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Heres Dobsons resignation statement:

I am grateful for the last 14 years I have been able to serve in elected office and the opportunity to be your Commissioner of Labor. After 21 years of public service, I look forward to pursuing new opportunities in the private sector. I want to thank the employees at the N.C. Department of Labor for all of their hard work and service to the State of North Carolina. It has been a tremendous honor to work with them over the last four years ensuring the safety and health of all North Carolinians.

Farley, a Raleigh attorney whose law practice focuses on construction law, won the race with 52.85% of the vote to Winstons 47.15%, according to the State Board of Elections final but unofficial results. Winston is a former Charlotte city council member who works as a union stagehand and grip in the Queen City.

The labor commissioner is a constitutional officer elected statewide. The commissioner serves a four-year term that runs concurrently with governor and other members of the Council of State. The commissioner is head of the Department of Labor and is charged by statute to promote the health, safety and general well-being of the states more than four million workers. The laws and program administered by the department affects every worker in the state.
By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) -Republican Kelly Ayotte won the New Hampshire governor's race on Tuesday, Edison Research projected, defeating Democrat Joyce Craig in one of the nation's only closely fought gubernatorial contests.

Ayotte, a former U.S. senator, had accused Craig, the former mayor of the state's largest city, Manchester, of failing to address crime and homelessness during her tenure.

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Craig had sought to make abortion a central issue, attacking Ayotte for backing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to eliminate a nationwide right and suggesting she might pursue statewide limits as governor.

Ayotte has said she would block any changes to New Hampshire's current law, which was passed by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2021 and banned abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

She will succeed outgoing Republican Governor Chris Sununu, who decided not to seek a fifth two-year term.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Donna Bryson and Daniel Wallis)
Republican former Sen. Kelly Ayotte will win the New Hampshire governors race, CNN projects, completing a political comeback eight years after she lost her Senate seat.

Ayotte defeated Democratic former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig in the race to replace outgoing GOP Gov. Chris Sununu.

The race was a test of whether local interests or the national political atmosphere would play the most important role in influencing Granite State voters. Republicans sought to localize the race, hammering Craig on Manchesters drug and homelessness problems during her time as mayor. Democrats attempted to nationalize it, tying Ayotte to former President Donald Trump and attacking her on abortion rights.

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The tactics made sense: New Hampshire has a long history of ticket-splitting but has trended increasingly more Democratic in national contests. Hillary Clinton won there by just half a point in 2016, but President Joe Biden won by 7 points in 2020.

Its the second time Ayotte shared the GOP ticket with Trump. She was ousted from her Senate seat in 2016 by Maggie Hassan after a single term.

Ayotte withdrew her endorsement of the former president in 2016 in the wake of the Access Hollywood tapes release but supported Trump this year.

After that 2016 loss, she helped shepherd Trump Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch through the confirmation process in 2017. She also served on a number of corporations boards of directors after her Senate term ended.

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Craig was mayor of Manchester from 2018 through the beginning of this year, when she opted not to seek reelection after three two-year terms.

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Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) is projected to win the New Hampshire gubernatorial race, keeping the office in Republican hands, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Ayotte was generally seen as the front-runner throughout the general election campaign to replace popular retiring Gov. Chris Sununu (R). In a recent University of New Hampshire survey, she led Democratic opponent Joyce Craig by 4 points.

A former attorney general for New Hampshire, Ayotte left that role to run for Senate in 2009 and ended up serving one term. In 2016, she lost reelection to Democrat Maggie Hassan by less than a percentage point.

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Ayotte drew scrutiny over the past year for her support of former President Trump. In 2016, she initially endorsed the former president, only to revoke her support after the release of the Access Hollywood tape, in which he was recorded making lewd comments about groping women.

This cycle, however, she threw her backing behind Trump whole-heartedly, opening her up to criticism from Craig. New Hampshire voters backed President Biden over Trump in 2020 by 8 points.

But the state, despite its Democratic leanings on the presidential level, has also been governed for nearly a decade by Sununu, a popular GOP figure who also has shifted his position in favor of Trump. Sununu endorsed Ayotte and campaigned with her in the state.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Democrat Braxton Winston and Republican Luke Farley engage in debate at Johnston County Community College in October. (Photo: Greg Childress)

Republican Luke Farley has been elected North Carolinas next Commissioner of Labor, defeating his Democratic challenger Braxton Winston II.

The Associated Press projected Farley as the victor early Wednesday morning. As of 1:25 a.m., Farley had 52.76% of the vote to Winstons 47.24% with almost all precincts reporting, according to the State Board of Elections.

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The race featured two newcomers to state politics Winston, a union stagehand and grip who served six years on the Charlotte City Council and Farley, an arch-conservative Raleigh attorney who entered the race without previous political experience.

Current Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson announced in late 2022 that he wouldnt seek reelection after serving one term.

On the campaign trail, Winston, promised to bring change to the Department of Labor, which he and other critics say has been a sleepy and understaffed agency.

Winston said the previous two Republican commissioners  Dobson and Cherie Berry, known as the Elevator Lady because her photo was plastered on certificates hanging in every elevator in the state during her 20 years in office  have intentionally eroded safety protections for state workers.

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Winston pledged to adequately staff the department with safety compliance officers to conduct inspections. He contends a quarter of such jobs are unfilled.

Meanwhile, Luke Farley promised to follow in the footsteps of Dobson and Berry. He said the two provided commonsense leadership that promoted job growth.

In her final term, Berry was roundly criticized for her COVID-19 response, including a ruling that the virus isnt a workplace hazard, so no rules were needed to protect workers. Berry was also the subject of several media investigations during her tenure. She was accused of not protecting the health and safety of workers. Farley featured her image and endorsement prominently on his website.

Farley, whose practice focuses on construction law, cast himself as a commonsense conservative who will approach the job of labor commissioner without a political agenda. He said businesses and workers should both be treated as customers by the Labor Department.

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The labor commissioner is a constitutional officer elected statewide. The commissioner serves a four-year term that runs concurrently with governor and other members of the Council of State. The commissioner is head of the Department of Labor and is charged by statute to promote the health, safety and general well-being of the states more than four million workers. The laws and program administered by the department affects every worker in the state.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
Mike Kehoe, the Republican candidate for Missouri governor, thanks supporters as he steps onstage for his victory speech the night of the primary election in August (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

Missouris next governor will be Mike Kehoe, a Republican who cruised to victory Tuesday night over Democrat Crystal Quade.

Final, unofficial results show Kehoe defeated Quade 59% to 39%.

Our victory tonight, its a win for our cops, our firefighters, our farmers, and our job creators, Kehoe told supporters Tuesday night. Its a win for students who deserve good schools and a brighter future. Its a win for families who want safe streets and lower taxes. So, to all Missourians, this is your victory. Enjoy tonight because tomorrow morning, we get to work together for an even safer, stronger, and more prosperous Missouri.

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Kehoe has served six years as lieutenant governor after being appointed to the job by Gov. Mike Parson in 2018.

Kehoes biggest hurdle to becoming governor came during a contentious primary in August, when he beat out two fellow Republicans who boasted being more conservative on issues.

Leading up to the primary, Kehoe trailed Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft in most polls until the summer, when the $16 million campaign war chest he amassed enabled him to fill the airwaves, overwhelming opponents and surviving a late onslaught of outside spending.

He won the primary with just under 40% of the vote.

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Kehoes message was that he was a more interested in governing than politics.

Missourians are a little bit sick of hate politics, Kehoe said in a July interview with The Independent.

However, Quade, who has served as Democratic leader in the Missouri House, cautioned voters not to view Kehoe as less extreme than his primary rivals.

While folks may say that one (Republican candidate) is more moderate than the other, the reality is Lt. Gov. Kehoe would sign the same pieces of legislation that the extremists in Jefferson City would send him regardless, Quade told reporters, following the annual governors ham breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in August.

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Kehoe is the youngest of six children raised by a single mother in St. Louis. His mom worked three jobs to support the family, he said, and when he was old enough he got a job washing cars at a local auto dealership.

When he had enough money, he bought a struggling company that built ambulances, doubling it in size over the next five years to what is now one of the largest ambulance manufacturers in the world.

At the age of 30, he bought a Ford dealership in Jefferson City, putting down roots in the community and building the business over the next two decades. He sold the dealership in 2011.

He was elected to the state Senate in 2012 and was the chambers majority leader when Parson appointed him lieutenant governor in 2018. Kehoe won a full term as lieutenant governor in 2020.

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As governor, Kehoe has vowed to eliminate the state income tax and develop a crime plan that can be rolled out when the legislature reconvenes in January.

This article has been updated to reflect final, unofficial results.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey gives an acceptance speech in Martinsburg, W.Va., after being called the winner for the gubernatorial race on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Submitted photo)

Republican Patrick Morrisey, the states attorney general, easily won West Virginias gubernatorial race, defeating his Democrat opponent Steve Williams.

The Associated Press made the call minutes after polls closed at 7:30 p.m. At 10:04 p.m., Morrisey secured around 62% of the votes with 73% of the votes counted.

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He celebrated his win from Martinsburg, basking in making history as the states first governor from nearby Jefferson County.

I am so proud to represent the Eastern Panhandle and every single one of our 55 counties, he said. I look forward to serving every single West Virginian  You deserve respect and dignity, and a path for a better life. I want to help you find that by fighting to protect your freedoms and eliminating all the barriers where you have government standing in your way.

While Morrisey narrowly secured the Republican nomination for governor in May, he was the front runner for the November election in the red state.

Morriseys fundraising solidly outpassed Williams, who has served as mayor of Huntington since 2013. Morrisey raised more than $6 million, with hefty donations from fossil fuel company leaders and a political action committee for American Electric Power in the final stretch ahead of Election Day. Campaign filings showed Williams had raised $235,036 by the end of September.

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Morrisey said Williams called him to concede. I want to thank him for his 12 years of service as mayor and all of his contributions to the state. I really appreciated the civil campaign, Morrisey said.

Williams spoke from a watch party in Huntington. We arent done. Were just beginning. Let us dream impossible dreams. In our future, West Virginia leads the way, he told a crowd following election results.

While campaigning, Morrisey, who has been attorney general since 2013, touted his legacy of fighting what he called federal overreach on environmental issues. Earlier this year, he asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the states ban on transgender student athletes.

His speech on Tuesday night reiterated that he would continue a focus on removing barriers to the energy industry in hopes of creating jobs.

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West Virginia has always been an energy power house, and that will not change  and I know what Ive done to protect those jobs, Morrisey said. We can be a state thats not only known for its energy  but for its freedom-loving approach to regulations.

As governor, he plans to focus auditing state agencies in hopes of saving tax-payer money.

Well have a blitz against waste, bureaucracy and over regulation in a way youve never see before, he said. For too long, excessive rules and unnecessary government intervention, theyve stifled growth, theyve taken away our freedoms, and made it harder for businesses to succeed. I am committed to changing that.

While Morrisey has faced criticism for his past lobbying work for pharmaceutical companies, he sued the federal Drug Enforcement Administration on the grounds that the agency wasnt doing enough to stop the flow of opioids into the state.

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He has said he plans to use his time as governor to implement additional tax breaks, remove the state income tax and to continue expanding the states already-broad school choice laws.

Morrisey will take the place of Gov. Jim Justice, who won the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va.

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Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) on Tuesday won reelection to Virginias 2nd Congressional District, Decision Desk HQ projects, defeating a challenge from Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal.

Kiggans, a former Navy helicopter pilot and a nurse practitioner, had flipped the Virginia Beach district to Republican control in the 2022 midterms.

By winning the district, Republicans may be growing more confident about their prospects of keeping control of the House. Operatives in both parties were looking at the race as a barometer for other House districts that are expected to be called much later, and a Democratic win in that seat would have signaled trouble for Republicans nationwide.

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Cotter Smasal, also a Navy veteran and a former small business owner, was not the only other candidate on the ballot.

Shadowy outside groups and a Democratic-aligned PAC sought to boost independent candidate Robert E. Reid  who had raised no money and had no campaign website  by siphoning votes away from Kiggans. Mailers sent to voters called Kiggans a RINO while highlighting Reids conservative positions.

Reid was one of several candidates across the country who was recruited by Patriots Run Project, The Associated Press reported in September. The group was reportedly connected to Democratic firms.

Kiggans criticized the unethical and shady tactics in a September press conference, accusing Democrats of lying and cheating in an attempt to trick voters.

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Since joining Congress, Kiggans has focused on military and veteran issues.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rick Scott will return to the U.S. Senate for a second six-year term after defeating Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in Florida.

In his fourth statewide general election campaign, Scott was able to win by a more comfortable margin than his previous bids, in which he won narrow victories for governor twice and for his Senate seat.

"THANK YOU, FLORIDA! Im honored to serve as your Senator for another 6 years! Tomorrow, we begin the fight to Make Washington WORK Again!" Scott posted on X Tuesday night.

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Mucarsel-Powell, a former U.S. House member from Miami, attacked Scott on a range of issues, including his refusal to accept climate change, ties to former President Donald Trump, high property insurance rates and his support for Floridas six-week abortion ban.

But it was no match for the Republican Partys advantage in the former swing state.

Tuesday's win further cements Floridas status as a reliably Republican state, at least in statewide elections. In Scotts previous campaigns, polls showed him trailing in the months before Election Day, and he put millions of dollars of his own money on ad blitzes that helped push him over the top.

Scott can now turn his attention to another heated race. Hes running to lead the Senate GOP caucus now that U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest serving Senate leader in history, is stepping down. U.S. Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota are vying with Scott for the leadership position.

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Depending on results in the rest of the nation, Republicans, who are currently the minority in the Senate by two seats, could retake control of the chamber.

Scott previously challenged McConnell for the GOP leadership spot after the 2022 elections but lost the vote 37-10.

Florida Election Results 2024: Live updates, maps for every state race

Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Republican Rick Scott wins second US Senate term
Incumbent Republicans won in all four Ada County races after facing off with challengers from the Democratic and Constitution parties who had never held elected office.

With all ballots counted as of Wednesday morning, incumbents in every local race won by at least 37,000 votes  the largest margin, at least for commissioners races, since at least 2016.

Democratic challengers for county commissioner and prosecutor had made the case that they brought real-world experience to the table and could better represent a wide range of Ada County residents.

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Incumbents, meanwhile, argued they had the connections and political know-how to govern smoothly and save taxpayers money if re-elected. Some viewed their victories as a message of approval of the work theyd already done.

I dont think it has to do with anything that Ive promised. I think it has to do with everything that Ive already done, incumbent Republican Sheriff Matt Clifford told the Idaho Statesman at an election watch party. Clifford won easily against Constitution Party challenger Doug Traubel, with 76.3% to Traubels 23.7%.

I also think that it is a testament to the agency, because Matt Clifford didnt land here and change the scope of the agency, or the environment of the agency  This is an agency that has been coming through history with a lot of public support, doing the right thing  and all Ive done is continue that, Clifford said.

Traubel ran against Clifford for the second time in two years in a race where the Democratic candidate dropped out.

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Ada County Commissioner for District 1, Ryan Davidson, beat challenger Jonathan Lashley. Davidson took 57.5% of the votes cast, Lashley 42.5%. The commissioner for District 3, Tom Dayley, topped newcomer Devin Gutierrez, 58.6% to 41.4%.

And Prosecutor Jan Bennetts defeated challenger Johnathan Baldauf, 60.3% to 39.7%.

Candidates for Ada County commissioner, prosecutor and sheriff in the Nov. 5 election. Clockwise from top left: Ryan Davidson (R), Jonathan Lashley (D), Tom Dayley (R), Devin Gutierrez (D), Doug Traubel (Constitution), Matt Clifford (R), Johnathan Baldauf (D) and Jan Bennetts (R).

Eight candidates vied for the four county positions on the ballot. The county prosecutor, sheriff and commissioners are elected countywide, though commissioners must live in the district they aim to represent.

No Democrat has won an Ada County seat since 2018. Democrats held two of the three commission seats as recently as four years ago, but in November 2020, Republican Davidson defeated incumbent Democrat Diana Lachiondo. In 2022, Democrat Kendra Kenyon did not run again, and Republican Tom Dayley won her seat. Longtime Democratic Coroner Dotti Owens lost to Republican Rich Riffle in 2022.

County commissioners race: Insiders vs. newcomers

In Districts 1 and 3, Republican incumbents faced Democratic newcomers without political experience.

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Republican incumbents promised orderly and responsible governance. They focused on the countys budget: the desire to cut spending and outsource or streamline government functions where possible.

Democratic candidates argued that the county needed more proactive, forward-thinking leadership to get ahead of the countys growth. They made the case that their real-world experience had prepared them to represent a wide range of residents, and that they understood the concerns of marginalized groups.

For commissioner in District 1, Davidson, 47, in office since 2021, faced Lashley, 38, an education administrator, for a two-year term. District 1 represents mostly Boise, roughly north of Interstate 84 and east of Idaho 55.

Davidson said his time in the role getting to know all of the countys departments and staff set him apart  as did his extensive grassroots political experience as a former Ada County Republican Party chairman.

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Lashley, meanwhile, said his experience being raised by and among the working poor would inform his approach to governing, including his interest in increasing everyones access to public goods.

Lashley, a program manager at the Idaho State Board of Education who teaches part-time and remotely at the College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls, also cited his work in public education as an asset.

As of Monday, Lashleys campaign had raised about $13,000. Davidson had raised about $55,000.

Meanwhile, in District 3, Dayley, 80, in office since 2022, faced Gutierrez, 38, who works in behavioral intervention, for a four-year term. District 3 reaches from the Canyon County line east to the Elmore County line and encompasses southern parts of Meridian and Boise.

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As results came in Tuesday, Dayley celebrated his lead.

My goal  is to empower people, not government, thats my motto, he told the Statesman at an election watch party. I understand what the people want. Thats what the expression of the election is. Thats what Ive been successfully doing.

Dayley positioned himself as the ultimate government insider, who has navigated working in government at the federal, regional, state and county levels.

Gutierrez, like Lashley, has worked in education and shared on his campaign site that he was raised by a single mother who worked two jobs to support the family. In his Voter Guide submission, he wrote that he has perspective as someone who has faced struggles.

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As of Monday, Dayleys campaign had raised over $60,000. Gutierrez had raised about $5,000.

Davidson and Dayley were paid $140,000 per year as of October.

Prosecutors race: Seeking greater transparency

Bennetts, 57, in office since 2014, faced Baldauf, 39, a defense attorney, for a four-year term. As of October, Bennetts was paid about $210,000 annually.

Bennetts and Baldauf appeared to agree on the need for the prosecutors office to increase transparency. In her Voter Guide submission, Bennetts said she aimed to share more information about the offices role and case outcomes, despite ethical restrictions on what prosecutors can share publicly.

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Baldauf said the office needed to rebuild the publics trust. When charges are not being brought, victims should have some understanding as to why, he wrote.

Bennetts expressed pride in her offices work, including fostering strong partnerships with law enforcement and other stakeholders, and providing the highest quality of civil legal services to Ada County, she wrote in her Voter Guide submission.

As of Monday, Bennetts campaign had raised $77,000. Baldauf had raised about $30,000.

Sheriffs race: A rematch of 2022 primary

Clifford, 47, faced Traubel, 59, a private investigator and former police officer in California, for a four-year term. As of October, Clifford was paid about $180,000 annually.

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They were rehashing the 2022 Republican primary election, when Clifford took over 65% of the vote in a match against Traubel.

Traubel has been questioned by government officials about comments hes made, including that Islam is the culture of death, and social media posts hes written about the number of Black men who rape white women, the Statesman previously reported.

On Traubels campaign site, he offered his own account of his competition against Clifford. He positioned himself as a challenger to the GOP establishment and Marxist media that insulated Clifford and led to Traubels defeat.

No Democrat was in the race. Democratic candidate Victor McCraw withdrew Sept. 6, saying hed accepted a job in Hawaii, the Statesman previously reported.

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As of Monday, Cliffords campaign had raised over $100,000. Traubel raised about $30,000.

View live results at idahostatesman.com.

Whos got your vote for Ada County offices? See the candidates and what they say

In most of Idahos races, theres one thing voters dont have: a choice among candidates

Boise-area voter turnout varied widely by district. How did your neighborhood stack up?
Two Democrats will serve in the West Virginia Senate after Tuesdays election results. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

The Republican super hold in the West Virginia Senate grew on Tuesday with the loss of a Democrat seat in the 5th district, which includes Cabell and Wayne counties. Two Democratic senators will serve in the upper chamber after Tuesday night.

Del. Ric Griffith, D-Wayne

Democrat Ric Griffith, who is currently in the House of Delegates, lost the election to Republican challenger Scott Fuller, according to Associated Press results. Fuller will replace Sen. Bob Plymale, D-Wayne, who didnt seek reelection.

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The Senate had just three Democrats and 31 Republicans ahead of Election Day.

Del. Joey Garcia, D-Marion

Joey Garcia, a Democrat House of Delegates member, won his election to the Senate, defeating opponent Republican Rebecca Polis. He replaces Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, who is retiring.

I feel honored that the people of Marion and Monongalia County have trusted me to represent them at the West Virginia Capitol, Garcia said. I am excited to work across the aisle for policies that help all people stay, rebuild and succeed in West Virginia. Good ideas know no party.

Hell join Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, whose seat was not up this election cycle.

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Seven Senate races with Republican candidates were uncontested.

Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey easily won the governors race, and the House will remain in hefty Republican control.

In the House, where all seats were up for election, 43 races  mostly Republicans  were uncontested.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Tennessee's Republican legislative supermajority will remain unchanged after Democrats failed to flip seats in a handful of competitive races, but the minority party didn't give up any ground, either.

Republicans will continue to hold 75 out of the 99 seats inside the House chamber, the same amount the GOP held before Tuesday. Over in the Senate, Republicans will have 27 members while Democrats will continue to have just six.

We were able to hold all 75 seats, which was a great thing under a lot of money spent by the other side, House Speaker Cameron Sexton said Wednesday. And were looking forward to coming back with our supermajority intact at 75 and continuing to do what weve been doing to move Tennessee ahead.

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Some Democratic officials expressed relief that their numbers didnt diminish as Republicans enjoyed big wins nationally, with former President Donald Trump winning a second term and the GOP winning control of the U.S. Senate. In Tennessee, Trump and Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn both ran up their margins to almost 30 percentage points, outpacing their previous statewide elections.

Blackburn defeated state Rep. Gloria Johnson. She was one of three Democratic lawmakers who centered the national spotlight on Tennessee after Republicans targeted them last year in an expulsion push. They were protesting on the House floor for gun control changes after a deadly elementary school shooting in Nashville.

In her concession speech Tuesday, Johnson promised to supporters: We're going to flip some state House seats.

Though they gained no ground, Democrats in key races outperformed a rough election, said Rep. John Ray Clemmons, the House Democratic Caucus chairman.

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"It may not look like progress," Clemmons said. But in this environment, and given the national political headwinds that we were facing at the top of the ticket, holding the line was truly remarkable.

Democrats had invested heavily in Allie Phillips' bid to flip a Republican-controlled House seat north of Nashville. Phillips shot to national fame when she shared on social media that she was unable to get an abortion in Tennessee for a non-viable pregnancy under the state's abortion ban and had to travel to Washington, D.C., to get the health care she needed.

Despite national media coverage of Phillips, Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart won reelection by nearly 10 percentage points.

In Nashville, Democrat Shaundelle Brooks won an open House seat, defeating Republican Chad Bobo. Republicans targeted the Democratic-held district in Tennessee's liberal-leaning capital city, but Brooks had a nearly eight-point lead over Bobo as of Wednesday.

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Brooks' son, Akilah DaSilva, was among four people killed and two wounded in a mass shooting at a Nashville Waffle House in 2018. The tragedy kickstarted Brooks' gun control advocacy in a state with lax firearms laws.

But around Memphis, Democrats were unable to chip away at Republican control. GOP Rep. John Gillespie was reelected by four percentage points over Democrat Jess Huseth.

With the GOP ranks unharmed, Republican Gov. Bill Lee and legislative leaders wasted no time restarting their push for a universal school voucher program. On Wednesday, Lee and other key lawmakers unveiled a voucher proposal that would allow families to use public funds for private school tuition.

Lee had pitched a sweeping voucher proposal earlier this year, but abandoned it due to Republican infighting over how it would be implemented.

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It's unclear if he'll have more consensus in 2025. Lee took the extra step during the August primary election of endorsing Republican school choice proponents, and none of those candidates lost on Tuesday.

In neighboring Kentucky on Tuesday, voters soundly rejected a voucher-style ballot measure intended to allow state lawmakers to allocate public tax dollars to support students attending private or charter schools.

Separately, Tennessee voters approved several ballot initiatives ranging from gun control to transit improvements.

In Memphis, voters approved a non-binding ballot measure that sought to require permits to carry a handgun, ban the possession of AR-15 style rifles and implement a so-called red flag ordinance, which allows law enforcement officials to remove firearms from those found to be an imminent danger to themselves or others.

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City officials and other supporters acknowledged that it wouldn't be enacted without support from Tennessee GOP lawmakers, who have rebuffed almost all its provisions.

In Nashville, voters passed a $3.1 billion transportation proposal that supporters say will improve the city's bus system, sidewalks and traffic signals. Under the plan, Davidson County  which encompasses Nashville  will increase its sales tax by half a cent to fund the transit improvements.

What Nashvillians can look forward to is sidewalks that connect to one another, traffic lights that are smart enough to keep the maximum amount of traffic moving, a transportation system that makes sense and is convenient when you need it, and roads with safety improvements for the first time in decades," Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said in a statement.
Tim Sheehy, the wealthy businessman whose campaign was plagued by controversies, is projected to defeat incumbent Jon Tester to represent Montana in the U.S. Senate.

A shift toward conservative ideology in the state benefitted Sheehy, 38, despite allegations that he lied about obtaining a bullet wound injury in Afghanistan and injuring himself during a trip to Glacier National Park.

The battle over Montanas Senate seat became one of the most-watched in the nation.

Sheehy, pictured with his wife, won in Montana (AP)

Tester, a conservative Democrat, was running behind his Republican opponent for months. And D.C. Democrats didnt fly in to help out, either: Tester, 68, and his campaign made clear throughout that they were largely running against their partys brand, not alongside it.

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Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, hoped that by winning the seat in deep-red Montana he would doom any Democratic notions of holding on to the Senate.

Ultimately, he bet correctly.

Abortion rights were Testers lifeline as he sought to hang on, hammering the issue nonstop for months.

But Testers bet that even in deeply conservative areas, GOP restrictions on the practice will be too unpalatable for voters to handle did not pay off.

Incumbent Democratic Senate candidate Jon Tester lost his re-election bid, in part thanks to shifting conservative ideology (AP)

Sheehy was recruited by his Republican colleagues to run against Tester in part due to his experience as a combat veteran  which they hoped would appeal to traditional conservatives in Montana. But a convoluted story about his experience in Afghanistan became an issue for Sheehys campaign.

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This past spring, The Washington Post reported that Sheehy was hospitalized in 2015 after his firearm discharged at Glacier National Park  a crime  and he allegedly accidentally shot himself in the arm.

But Sheehy told conservative podcast host Megyn Kelly that did not occur and he actually injured himself while hiking. He claimed he sought medical attention related to a previous injury he received while serving in Afghanistan as a Navy SEAL.

Sheehy alleges he was shot in the arm in Afghanistan during a friendly fire incident but never reported it because he did not want to ignite an investigation into a small injury. A spokesperson for Sheehy repeated this when asked for comment by The Post.

The Glacier National Park park ranger who responded to the incident reiterated that Sheehy did in fact injure himself during the 2015 incident.

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It is unclear what exactly happened that day but ultimately the confusing story did not deter conservative voters from supporting Sheehy.

On Wednesday morning, Sheehy thanked Montana voters for their support

We The People made our voices heard, we completed our mission, and now we will secure our childrens future and save America together!! Sheehy wrote on X.
Republican Tim Sheehy will defeat three-term Montana Sen. Jon Tester, CNN projects, adding to Republicans newly won Senate majority.

Montana has long been a deep-red state in presidential elections  and every other statewide office is currently held by a Republican. But Tester, a seven-fingered dirt farmer who had cut a moderate profile on Capitol Hill, previously had defied political gravity with his wins in 2006, 2012 and 2018.

Still, his seat  alongside Democratic-held seats in two other red states, Ohio and West Virginia  was a prime Republican target this year. Republicans Bernie Moreno and Jim Justice won those races, respectively.

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This year marked the first time Tester had to share the ballot with Trump, who won the state by 16 percentage points in 2020 and nearly 20 points in 2016  a reality that meant the Democratic incumbent needed to out-run the top of his partys ticket by double digits to be competitive.

Democrats cast Sheehy, a retired Navy SEAL, as an out-of-state millionaire with questionable ranching credentials and commitment to public land  the same playbook used against Republican Matt Rosendale in 2018.

Sheehy moved to Montana in 2014 after leaving the military, but Republicans believed carpetbagging attacks would have limited appeal in a state that is home to more transplants after the coronavirus pandemic.

In the closing weeks of the race, Democrats stepped up their attacks over Sheehys conflicting story from nearly a decade ago over how a bullet became lodged in his arm. Outside groups ran ads featuring the park ranger whom Sheehy told that his gun had accidentally discharged in Glacier National Park and another spot featuring a retired Navy SEAL who served with Sheehy and insisted the candidate didnt receive the bullet wound in Afghanistan, saying, Theres no honor in lying about your service.

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Republicans, for their part, attempted to tie Tester  who did not attend the Democratic National Convention or endorse in the presidential race  to President Joe Bidens administration and Democratic congressional leadership.

One big question mark hovering over the race was a ballot measure that would enshrine the right to an abortion in Montanas constitution. Such ballot measures have prevailed even in deep-red states since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and become a political boon for Democrats.

Montana Republicans have pushed and enacted a series of abortion restrictions in recent years but have seen those largely struck down as unconstitutional by state courts.

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Despite facing a mountain of controversy on the campaign trail, Tim Sheehy managed to pull off what Republicans have been hoping to for more than a decade: oust incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester.

Sheehys victory likely cements Montana, once a purple state, as blood red. Tester was the only statewide-elected Democrat left in the Treasure State and his seat was among a handful that Republicans saw as key to wresting control of the Senate from Democrats.

Tester, a moderate and the only working farmer in the Senate, will exit his seat after 18 years.

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Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and millionaire businessman, is a newcomer to politics, having never run for elected office. Republicans like Montana Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who chairs the powerful National Republican Senatorial Committee, courted Sheehy to run against Tester, no doubt because of his business and military acumen and his ability to self-finance a campaign.

Sheehy received an early endorsement from former President Donald Trump and ran a MAGA-style campaign, promising to restore common sense to Washington and sticking closely to Republican talking points on border security, energy and abortion. He repeatedly attacked Tester as a rubber stamp for the Biden administrations border and economic policies.

Montanans want common sense back. They want a secure border, safe streets, cheap gas, cops are good, criminals are bad, boys are boys, girls are girls, he told Fox Business a few days before Tuesdays election. Its a very clear referendum on the fact that Montanans want an administration thatll put America first, and they need a Senate to approve that agenda. Were going to give it to them.

Montana Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy shakes hands with Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump at a rally at Montana State University on Aug. 9 in Bozeman, Montana. Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images

Along the way, Sheehy became embroiled in scandal  from his own conflicting accounts about how he received a gunshot wound and the purported success of his aerial firefighting business to fierce backlash over previous comments, including calling for federal lands to be turned over to states and peddling a racist trope about Native Americans and alcohol.

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Amid mounting negative media attention, Sheehy increasingly resorted to attacking the press while shielding himself from any hard-hitting interviews.

Sally Mauk, a longtime former journalist and current host of a weekly political analysis show on Montana Public Radio, recently called Sheehy the least accessible politician shes seen in her four decades covering Montana politics.

In the end, voters in Montana  a state where many longtime residents have grown frustrated with a steady influx of wealthy, out-of-state transplants  elected Sheehy, a multi-millionaire Minnesota native, to replace Tester, a three-term incumbent and fourth-generation Montana farmer.

The race was the most expensive in Montanas history, with a whopping $243 million spent as of last month.

See full results from the Montana Senate election here.

Related...
MADISON - Scott Fitzgerald will continue to serve as the representative of Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District after his win Tuesday.

Fitzgerald, 60, of Juneau, defended his seat against Democrat Ben Steinhoff, a paramedic from Lake Mills.

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald socializes before Vice President Mike Pence's school choice roundtable discussion Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at the Waukesha STEM Academy, 130 Walton Ave. in Waukesha, Wis.

Fitzgerald currently serves on the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on the Judiciary. He was elected to the seat in 2020, winning the seat after longtime Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner retired.

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During his campaign, Fitzgerald focused on cracking down on illegal immigration, pushing back against "radical liberals" and supporting law enforcement.

The 5th Congressional District includes all of Waukesha, Washington and Jefferson Counties, in addition to parts of Dodge, Walworth and Milwaukee Counties.

Before he was elected to Congress, Fitzgerald was a member of the state Senate for nearly 30 years and was selected to lead the Republican caucus seven times. He has served as the majority leader, the minority leader, co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance and chairman of the Senate Corrections Committee.

During his time serving as the representative for the 5th District, Fitzgerald pushed for a vote to impeach President Joe Biden, and suggested that Congress should not play a role in certifying elections. He also cast doubts upon the results of the 2020 presidential election, following the defeat of former President Donald Trump, and objected to the election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania.

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Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X at @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Scott Fitzgerald reelected in Wisconsin's 5th District
The South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia, S.C. is seen after sunset. (Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  The Republican Party flipped as many as four seats in the state Senate on Tuesday, while holding seats in the state House they picked up two years ago.

The Republicans went into the election just one seat away from a supermajority in the Senate. The GOP has controlled the Senate since 2000, but in a chamber where rules allow a single senator to block legislation, Republicans were looking for greater ability to control the agenda.

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Two of Republicans four wins are headed to automatic recounts, with the GOP challengers winning by less than 1 percentage point.

Today, Palmetto State residents voted to send four new Republican senators to Columbia, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said shortly after midnight. I look forward to working alongside these new senators to champion conservative victories that make South Carolina an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Massey was among senators with no opposition on the ballot. Only six incumbent Democrats had GOP opposition, and it appears four of them are gone.

With former President Donald Trump winning the state by nearly 20 percentage points as of Tuesday evening  as votes were still being counted  Drew McKissick, state party chairman, predicted it would be another red wave for the GOP in South Carolina.

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Two years ago, Republicans ousted five Black Democrats and flipped three open seats in the state House. Several of those were stunners, and Democrats were looking to get back seats theyd held for decades, plus hold their numbers in the Senate.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Christale Spain repeated that goal Tuesday night at the state Democratic Party election night watch party.

On the Senate side, we just cant lose anything, Spain said before the vote-counting started showing the opposite. We really cant afford to lose another Senate seat.

Instead, Democrats got a shellacking in the upper chamber, in the number of incumbents ousted, though all four margins were at least fairly close.

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Sen. Gerald Malloy of Hartsville, a 22-year veteran of the Senate, lost by less than 300 votes to Republican JD Chaplin, according to unofficial results from state election officials. The margin of less than 1 percentage point means an automatic recount.

The other incumbent heading to a recount is Sen. Mike Fanning, D-Great Falls, who lost his bid for a third term by just a few dozen votes to Republican Everett Stubbs of Rock Hill.

Sen. Kevin Johnson, of Manning, lost to Jeff Zell, of Sumter, by less than 700 votes, which is more than what would trigger a recount.

Freshman Democrat Vernon Stephens lost his Senate seat by the biggest margin of the four, at just 2.5 percentage points, or roughly 1,200 votes. He lost a challenge by Tom Fernandez, an attorney running as a hard-right Republican. On Facebook, Fernandez said his platform is to offend as many woke liberals as possible, and he received the endorsement of House Freedom Caucus Chairman Jordan Pace of Goose Creek.

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A win by Fernandez marks a huge shift for the seat held for 50 years by a Black Democrat. Beyond the vastly different stances of Stephens and Fernandez, both Stephens and his predecessor, 46-year Sen. John Matthews, are from Bowman in rural Orangeburg County. Fernandez lives in fast-growing Summerville.

Democrats held on to at least one of the two historically blue seats left open by senators who didnt seek re-election.

State Rep. Russell Ott, a Calhoun County Democrat whos been in the state House since 2013, has won the seat held for 48 years by Sen. Nikki Setzler, the longest-serving senator in state history.

Not yet clear is who will win the seat held since 2012 by Sen. Thomas McElveen of Sumter and, for 32 years before that, by Democrat Phil Leventis of Sumter.

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The election guarantees that, for the first time ever, the senator from District 35 will hail from neighboring Kershaw County instead. Both Democrat Jeffrey Graham, former mayor of Camden, and Republican Mike Jones live in Camden. Graham was leading on Tuesday evening.

All 170 Statehouse seats were on the ballot, although more than half of them were won automatically Tuesday with no competition in the general election. In South Carolina, where the Legislature draws its own voting lines, contests are often decided in the primaries.

The 2022 election gave Republicans in the House, in GOP control since 1994, their largest majority ever  an 88-to-36 supermajority advantage.

Three freshmen in the House  Reps. Daniel Gibson of Greenwood, Fawn Pedalino of Turbeville and Bill Hager of Hampton  held seats they flipped from incumbent Democrats two years ago, even in districts that still favored Democrats.

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Whether Democrats will hold on to the only House seat they flipped in 2022 remains unclear. The rematch between freshman Rep. Heather Bauer and Republican Kirkman Finlay, whos trying to regain the Richland County seat he held for 10 years, remained too close to call.

Freshman state Rep. Matt Leber won a seat in the Senate after ousting state GOP Sen. Sandy Senn in the June primary. Leber faced Democrat Rita Adkins in a district made safer for Republicans by the post-census redrawing of lines.

A former legislator looking to return to the state House, Democrat Jerry Govan of Orangeburg, won his seat. He replaced Ott, whose decision to run for Senate left the seat open.

Govan didnt seek re-election to the House in 2022 after redistricting resulted in his home being drawn out of the district hed represented for 30 years. His home was suddenly in the district represented by Ott and, before him, his father Harry Ott for 15 years.

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Rather than run against Russell Ott in a primary in 2022, Govan made an unsuccessful bid for state superintendent.

Former Rep. Marvin Pendarvis won re-election despite resigning from the House in September.

Although he no longer held the seat, Pendarvis never withdrew his candidacy. With no Republican or third-party opposition, he won his seat without opposition. What happens now is unclear.

Pendarvis resigned five months after a former client, Adrian Lewis, sued him, claiming Pendarvis settled his lawsuit without his knowledge, forged his signature for the $10,000 settlement, and then tried to buy him off to prevent the allegations from becoming public. State law enforcement is investigating, but no charges have been filed.
The 2024 legislative candidates who appeared on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot. (Photos courtesy of the candidates/campaigns. Nebraska Capitol photo by Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  With half the seats in the Nebraska Legislature up for election on Tuesdays ballot, the tenor and political tilt of the officially nonpartisan body was in store for a potential power shakeup.

But based on unofficial results as of 2:20 a.m. Wednesday, Republicans appeared to maintain a 33-vote supermajority they first achieved in the spring, when State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a Democratic labor leader, switched his party registration to Republican. Thirty-three votes are needed to break filibusters and advance often contentious legislation.

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The Legislature is officially nonpartisan, though the 49-member body sometimes splits on party registration, or rural-urban divides.

In total, with some remaining votes to be counted, Democrats and Republicans appeared to maintain the same partisan structure they currently have  33 Republicans, 15 Democrats and one progressive nonpartisan.

Fifteen legislative seats were open, with no incumbent running.

Overall, of the 25 seats up for election, 11 pitted a Republican against a Democrat, eight featured two Republicans, two had Republicans facing nonpartisan candidates, one race was between two Democrats and one was between a Democrat and a nonpartisan. Two Democrats ran unopposed.

Republicans, Democrats could flip districts

Two incumbents trailed their opponents based on votes counted at the end of Tuesday night: State Sens. Jen Day, a Democrat in Sarpy County, and Ray Aguilar, a Republican in Grand Island.

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Bob Andersen, a Republican U.S. Air Force veteran and defense contractor, led Day 51.7% to 48.3%.

Another Sarpy County race, in the Bellevue-centered District 3, Victor Rountree, a Democrat, held a narrow lead over Felix Ungerman, a Republican  50.9% to 49.1%.

Former State Sen. Dan Quick, a Democrat ousted by Aguilar four years ago, led Aguilar 50.6% to 49.4%. Aguilar previously served in the Legislature from 1999 to 2009.

Quick, a retired welder and mechanic and a former labor leader, had been the Legislatures sole Democratic representative west of Fremont four years ago.

Two Republicans competed in District 15, currently represented by Democratic State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, who is term-limited. By nights end, Dave Woody Wordekemper, a longtime firefighter and paramedic, led Roxie Kracl, president of Credit Bureau Services, 52.8% to 47.2%.

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In South Omaha, Margo Juarez, a Democrat, led Gilbert Ayala, a Republican, for the District 5 seat held by term-limited McDonnell in in South Omaha.

Record campaign finance

Spending in nearly every Nebraska legislative race in this election cycle has surpassed six figures, climbing above 2022 records.

Altogether, legislative candidates had raised $9.2 million and spent $7.4 million as of the Oct. 21 campaign finance reporting deadline.

The Quick-Aguilar race had already topped $600,000 in spending by Oct. 21. Juarez and Ayala had spent the least of all 2024 legislative candidates at about $47,000, based on most recent filings.

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In 2022, the most expensive legislative race was about $577,000. The position pays $12,000 annually, plus daily expenses.

Two Lincoln races  both involving Republican senators appointed by Gov. Jim Pillen who are seeking election for the first time  sat at just under $550,000 spent.

Both appointees, State Sens. Beau Ballard and Carolyn Bosn, led challengers Seth Derner, a Democrat, and Nicki Behmer Popp, one of three nonpartisan candidates who ran for the Legislature this fall.

The other two nonpartisan candidates this fall were in Douglas County:

For District 39 in the Elkhorn area, Allison Heimes trailed Tony Sorrentino, a Republican, for the seat vacated by term-limited State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, a Republican.

For District 13 in the northeast part of the county, Nick Batter narrowly trailed Ashlei Spivey, a Democrat, for the seat vacated by term-limited State Sen. Justin Wayne, a Democrat.

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State Sens. Terrell McKinney of North Omahas District 11 and Eliot Bostar of Lincolns District 29 ran unopposed.

Veteran legislator Ernie Chambers  who advanced in the District 11 race but later dropped out  became an official write-in candidate for the seat. While its unclear how many went to Chambers, there were 302 write-in votes in the race by the end-of-day Tuesday.

See below for unofficial Election Day results on the 25 legislative races. Or, view the visualization online here.

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Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

The Republican party has won control of the U.S. Senate, according to projected election results on Nov. 5.

The win costs Democrats their one-seat majority in the Senate.

In recent months, polling momentum has shifted towards Republicans, seen as the favorites to take the Senate in November. Republicans lost control of the chamber in the 2022 midterm elections when Democrats won 50 seats, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote as President of the Senate.

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Republican Bernie Moreno managed to oust Democrat Sherrod Brown in Ohio, while Jim Justice picked up a Senate seat in West Virginia. The final results are still being determined.

It is not immediately clear who will replace outgoing leader Mitch McConnel as the new Senate Majority Leader.

McConnell of Kentucky, who is the longest-serving Senate caucus leader in history, said on Feb. 28 that he will step down in November.

Over the past two years, McConnell has been vocal in urging for military aid to Ukraine while criticizing President Joe Biden's perceived delays in providing support. He previously emphasized the economic benefits of aiding Ukraine, highlighting how such funding also supports American defense manufacturers and creates jobs across multiple states.

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Potential successors to McConnell, such as Senators John Thune, John Cornyn, and John Barrasso, may bring differing perspectives on ongoing support for Ukraine, potentially impacting future decisions on aiding the embattled country.

U.S. Senators have by and large been supportive of providing Ukraine with additional military aid  in large contrast with the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives who played a larger role in attempting to block a $61 billion Ukraine aid package from passing earlier in 2024.

The bill was ultimately approved in the Senate with 79 votes in favor and 18 against in the U.S. Senate, with tighter margins in the House.

The contest over the U.S. House of Representatives is still ongoing, as is the presidential race. Former U.S. President Donald Trump was declared the presumptive winner in the swing state of North Carolina, but votes are still being tallied in key states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, and Wisconsin.

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Read also: Ukraine struggles to contain Russian advance in Donetsk Oblast as US elections loom

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Donald Trump has won the election, and Republicans are now comfortable openly admitting that Project 2025 was the plan all along.

The draconian policy package prepared by the Heritage Foundation in preparation for a second Trump administration was so extremist that in the final months of the campaign, the former president took great pains to publicly distance himself from the project. Its contents, which include a broad expansion of executive powers, a de facto national abortion ban, increased restrictions on contraception, brutal policies against undocumented migrants, and the elimination of several federal agencies (including the Department of Education), didnt sit well with prospective voters.

Trump feigned ignorance of the plan, despite his close ties to those involved in crafting it, while Democrats did all they could to warn about the conservative blueprint for a second Trump term.

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Sure enough, less than 24 hours after the election was called for Trump, his allies, advisers, and prominent supporters were celebrating the now-open road to Project 2025s implementation.

On Wednesday, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon  who just weeks ago completed a four-month prison sentence on a contempt of Congress conviction  lauded Christian Nationalist Matt Walsh, a commentator at The Daily Wire, on his War Room broadcast.

Walsh had written on X, formerly Twitter: Now that the election is over I think we can finally say that yeah actually Project 2025 is the agenda. Lol

Matt Walsh, I think, is a very smart and funny guy, Bannon said. Put that everywhere, he added, with instructions to his staff to promote the post on his social media.

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Right-wing podcast Benny Johnson also gloated about the project. It is my honor to inform you all that Project 2025 was real the whole time, he wrote.

In a separate post, Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French wrote, So can we admit now that we are going to implement Project 2025?

Regardless of whether Trump explicitly endorses Project 2025 as a guide for his second administration, the overlap in its proposals, staff, and goals means the two are inextricably linked. Republicans just dont have to pretend anymore.

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Republicans are projected to clinch control of the Senate after flipping at least two key states and successfully protecting their incumbents.

Republican Gov. Jim Justice took the seat vacated by Sen. Joe Manchin, the West Virginia independent who caucuses with Democrats. And businessman Bernie Moreno, the Ohio GOP Senate nominee, unseated three-term Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, and Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz two lawmakers in red-leaning states who were Democrats' best pickoff opportunities, are also projected to win reelection, while Nebraska GOP Sen. Deb Fischer was projected to beat an independent challenger.

With Democrats currently holding a 51-49 majority in the Senate, these wins will now at least deliver a 51-seat majority for Republicans, barring any upsets. Republicans also have a prime opportunity to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in deep-red Montana, though the results of that race have not yet been projected by ABC News.

PHOTO: Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno speaks during a watch party on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Westlake, Ohio. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

MORE: Abortion rights amendment projected to be defeated in Florida

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Maintaining control of the Senate was always going to be a daunting task for Democrats, who entered the 2024 election cycle with a brutal map.

Democrats were defending seats in Montana and Ohio, two red states, as well as a slate of purple states, including Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The GOP-held seats in Florida and Texas were their best flip opportunities, though Democratic nominees there faced headwinds due to the lean of the states and former President Donald Trump's strength there.

It remains to be seen precisely how big Republicans' margin will be -- none of the purple state races have yet been called. But Republicans were feeling bullish heading into the early morning hours Wednesday.

"Look, today starts a new wave. You know, we talked about wanting a red wave. I think what we have tonight is a red, white and blue wave in this country," Moreno proclaimed in his victory speech.

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While widely expected in Washington, Republicans' success marks a vindication of the GOP's strategy heading into the 2024 election cycle.

Still smarting from a disappointing 2022 midterm cycle that saw Democrats defy the odds and expand their Senate majority by one seat, Republicans this time around were heavily involved in several Senate primaries, trying to elevate candidates they viewed as the most electable (they did not, notably, play in Ohio).

On the other hand, the results are a severe disappointment for Democrats, who had appeared optimistic in the race's home stretch.

Texas was online, they had insisted, and Florida remained attainable, if a reach. And independent Dan Osborn in Nebraska was giving Fischer a run for her money.

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MORE: Election history: 2 Black women projected to serve in the Senate at the same time

Cruz and Scott ultimately coasted, and while Osborn did end up running a competitive race, he couldn't withstand the national headwinds in a state where Trump romped.

The wins mark a return to power for a GOP that was locked out of Senate control for four years.

Republicans lost the majority in early 2021 as a result of two painful Georgia Senate runoffs, losses that Republicans in Washington largely blamed Trump for after his repeated claims of election fraud in the state that caused distrust of the election system among Republicans in the state. And though the party was projected to perform well in the 2022 midterms, they instead lost a seat in Pennsylvania, taking Democrats' majority from 50-50 to 51-49.

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Republicans will seize the chamber at a time when longtime GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is stepping down from his role leading the conference (he'll still serve in the Senate). Republicans will take a vote next week to name a replacement, with the fight largely centered around South Dakota Sen. John Thune and Texas Sen. John Cornyn. Scott is also running, though he is viewed as a longshot.

Should Trump win another term in the Oval Office, a Republican Senate will be key to approving judicial and administration nominees, though the 60-vote filibuster remains a potential obstacle in passing legislation, possibly forcing cooperation with Democrats on must-pass bills like on government funding and elevating the voices of Republican moderates like Sens. Susan Collins, Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, Alaska.

"Tonight Republicans retook the Senate Majority and held every single incumbent, which is great news for the American people. A Republican majority will work to secure the border, bring down prices, and help confirm President Trumps nominees. We still have a number of competitive races we are watching across the country that remain to be called," said Sen. Steve Daines, Mont., the chair of Senate Republicans' campaign arm.

Democrats are likely to swiftly go on offense heading into the 2026 midterms, targeting seats in Maine and North Carolina, though they'll also have to play defense in Georgia and Michigan.

Republicans clinch Senate control with key flips originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Republicans regained control of the U.S. Senate on Election Night to end a four-year stretch in the minority.

Its a big bounce-back for the GOP after it lost a pair of runoff elections in Georgia to forfeit the Republican majority in 2020 and flopped again in 2022, relegating them to spend the final two years of Joe Bidens term frustratingly in the minority with 49 senators.

The flip was brought by a pair of big Election Day wins. The first came in Ohio, which elected Bernie Moreno, a Republican, to replace Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The second saw Jim Justice, a Republican governor, win in his native West Virginia to take the seat left by the retiring Sen. Joe Manchin III (I-WV).

Jim Justice, the governor of West Virginia, has been elected to the U.S. Senate.

This election was always going to be an uphill battle for the Democrats to keep their slim majority. Democrats entered the night having to defend 23 seats while Republicans only had to worry about 11all in states that voted for Trump in both 2016 and 2020.

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Some Senate races out west werent called by midnight on election night. However, Republicans have already clinched their majority regardless of whether Democrat Ruben Gallego can best Kari Lake in Arizona or if Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) can hold off a push by the Republican Navy Seal veteran Tim Sheehy.

Other Senate races that garnered attention Tuesday included challenges in Texas and Florida for the seats of Ted Cruz and Rick Scott, both of which went comfortably to the Republicans. The closest challenge of a Republican in races called on election night came in Nebraska ,where Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) held off a challenge from the independent Dan Osborn.

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The News

Republicans took back the Senate majority on Tuesday evening, capitalizing on a red-state-heavy map that allowed them to compete regardless of who won the presidency. And the implications are huge.

The party now will control lifetime judicial appointments for the next administration, including Supreme Court confirmations and have unilateral sway over the next presidents Cabinet. If former President Donald Trump can secure victory, the GOP will be in position to reshape the federal judiciary and easily confirm his top nominees.

Voters are trusting Senate Republicans with an extraordinary opportunity, said Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, who will likely become the GOP whip next year.

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After Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., held her seat against a surprising insurgent candidate, Democrats ran out of paths to hold the Senate even as several critical races remain too close to call. Republican leaders quickly began touting their wins and hoping for more pickups, both in Democrats Blue Wall states and out West.

Its a cathartic moment for Republicans, who lost the Senate in Georgia runoffs nearly two months after Election Day 2020, then lost a seat in a midterm election in 2022. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., piloted their campaign arm by working with Donald Trump but also aggressively intervening in party primaries.

Politics is about addition, not subtraction, and so were working with the broad spectrum of the Republican Party. But it started with working with President Trump. His support and endorsement of a candidate is the most powerful single endorsement, Daines said of Trump, who endorsed Daines preferred candidates in Ohio and Montana earlier this year.

Democrats held out hope that they would improbably extend their majority into a six-year run despite having to defend two red seats and several purple states. Instead, after challengers to two sitting GOP senators fell flat, Republicans picked up the seat they needed in Ohio to give them the majority.

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The loss by Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown was enough to ensure Republicans an outright majority in the chamber. Republicans could pad their advantage even further as the night goes on, with races outstanding in several battleground states as well as Montana.

Chuck Schumer, if youre watching, thanks for the help in the primary. But youre fired, buddy, Moreno said in a victory speech. This is a new dawn of Republican leadership.

Democrats started the night controlling 51 Senate seats, then immediately lost one in West Virginia and saw their top two pick-up opportunities fade away in Florida and Texas.

But the drama isnt over: Senate Republicans will plunge into another election. They will immediately turn to a contested leadership race next week among hopefuls to succeed Mitch McConnell as their leader, and theyll also choose their next conference chairman.
The Republicans have taken back control of the Senate, ending their four-year stretch as the minority party, according to projections.

By midnight on Tuesday, Bernie Moreno had ousted Sherrod Brown in Ohio, while Jim Justice won the West Virginia seat held by the retiring independent Joe Manchin, AP projected.

At the same time, Ted Cruz and Deb Fischer saw off close challenges in Texas and Nebraska.

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The question now is how large the GOP majority will be, with races continuing into the night.

Democrats had faced an uphill battle to keep their one-person majority in the Senate, having to defend 23 seats. Republicans only had to fight to retain 11 seats.

Jim Justice has won the West Virginia seat - Jeenah Moon/REUTERS

Republicans in the Senate will now serve as allies to Donald Trump in his second term.

Chuck Schumer will be replaced as the Senate majority leader, having taken the position in 2020 when the Republicans lost two run-off elections in Georgia.

It is unclear who that new Republican leader will be, with Mitch McConnell, the long-term GOP leader in the Senate, announcing his retirement after 17 years in the position.

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His likely successors include senators John Cornyn, John Thune, or Rick Scott, an ally of Trump who was re-elected on Tuesday.

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Republicans have taken control of the U.S. Senate, according to the Associated Press.



Republicans held 51 seats Tuesday night and Democrats held 42. There are still seven seats to be called.

The House majority has not yet been determined.

Ahead of the election, several GOP contenders found themselves struggling in states where the top of the ticket, Donald Trump, saw considerable enthusiasm.

Republican senators found themselves met by aggressive opponents. In Nebraska, Senator Deb Fischer found a tough contender in independent candidate Dan Osborn. Meanwhile, Texas Democratic candidate Colin Allred appeared to gain traction ahead of the election in his race against Republican Senator Ted Cruz.

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Fischer and Cruz ultimately kept their seats.

And Republican challengers seemed to falter against Democratic incumbents. In Arizona, Kari Lake previously trailed Democratic Representative Rueben Gallego by multiple points, even as Kamala Harris and Trump found themselves tied. Ohios Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown held a lead against Bernie Moreno. And in Montana, Republican challenger Tim Sheehy held only a slim four-point lead over Senator John Tester, even though Trump led Harris by 17 points in the Treasure State.

Brown lost his seat. Gallego and Testers races have not yet been called.
Republicans won control of the Senate in Tuesdays elections, gaining seats in West Virginia and Ohio.

Other tight races remained too close to call in both the House and the Senate, as Democrats were hoping to win a House majority as voters across the nation cast ballots.

In West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice won a U.S. Senate seat, according to an Associated Press projection. The seat is held now by Democrat Joe Manchin, who is retiring.

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In Ohio, Republican Bernie Mareno topped incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Democrats control 51 of the Senates 100 seats in the current Congress. If Democrats lose no other seats, Republicans would have a 51-49 majority next year.

The GOP majority could grow. Remaining tossup races involved seats now held by Democrats. Analysts see Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin as potential Republican pickups. Also in play is Michigan, where Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat, is retiring. Republicans could lose a seat in Nebraska, where Sen. Deb Fischer was in a tough race against independent Dan Osborn.

In California, polls say Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Glendale, is expected to coast to a win over Republican Steve Garvey for the states U.S. Senate seat. Sen. Laphonza Butler, a Democrat, was appointed to the seat last year to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

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California could play a bigger role in determining who wins the House, as five races are deemed too close to call. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win control for the first time since 2019 and make New Yorks Hakeem Jeffries the first Black Speaker.

Most independent analysts see the race for control as unpredictable. Close battles in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan and elsewhere will provide early clues about how voters may be leaning.

Inside Elections, a nonpartisan group which analyzes House races, sees eight seats now held by Democrats and seven in Republican hands as tossups.

A total of 218 seats are needed for a majority.

California races

These are the districts in the state to watch:

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 13th. Freshman Rep. John Duarte, R-Modesto, is in a rematch with former Assemblyman Democrat Adam Gray., D-Merced. Duarte beat Gray by 564 votes in 2022, one of the nations closest races. The district includes Merced County and parts of Madera, Stanislaus, Fresno and San Joaquin counties, and has more registered Democrats than Republicans.

 22nd. Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, is again in a duel with former Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield. Valadao narrowly beat Salas two years ago. President Joe Biden would have won this district by 13 points in 2020, and the district has far more registered Democrats than Republicans. The district includes parts of Tulare and Kern Counties and most of Kings County.

 -27th. Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, keeps surviving in this district. In 2020, he won a special election and was the first Republican in the state in years to win in a district that had been represented by a Democrat. Garcia faces George Whitesides, the former NASA chief of staff during the Obama administration.

 41st. Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, is regarded as one of the countrys most vulnerable Republicans. Hes a powerful figure in House Republican circles as chairman of the subcommittee that writes defense spending bills, but that also makes him a target in a congressional district. Calvert faces former federal prosecutor Will Rollins.

 47th. Rep. Katie Porter, a Democrat, left this Orange County seat to run for the Senate, where she was defeated by Adam Schiff in the March primary. Porter first won in 2018, defeating a Republican incumbent in a seat the GOP had held since it was created in the 1950s. Vying for the seat this year are Republican Scott Baugh, an attorney, and State Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine.
The Ohio Senate seat has flipped, with US networks calling the race for Republican challenger Bernie Moreno over Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown.

The race was seen as close but needed for the Democrats to keep the Senate. With 89% of the votes in, CNN reported that Moreno had 50.6% of the vote compared to 46.3% for Brown, who has held the seat since 2007.

"Today starts a new wave," Moreno told supporters in comments broadcast by C-Span. "We talked about wanting a red wave. I think what we have tonight is a red, white and blue wave in this country ... this is a new dawn of American leadership."

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Moreno then addressed Chuck Schumer, the current Senate majority leader.

"Chuck Schumer, if you are watching, thanks for the help in the primary but you are fired buddy," Moreno said.

The Ohio loss comes after a Senate seat in West Virginia was also flipped, as expected, to Republican Jim Justice, from retiring Joe Manchin, who was elected as a Democrat in 2018.

Senate watchers are still eyeing the Montana race, where Democratic incumbent Jon Tester, a Montana native, has been consistently lower in the polls than his Republican rival, Minnesota-born Tim Sheehy. Tester's campaign was largely based on his Montana roots and portrayed Sheehy as a wealthy out-of-stater who is making Montana less affordable.

The state, however, is a traditional Republican stronghold. It has not yet been called in the presidential race but most observers believe it will go for Trump, which would flip the upper house.
This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy. Texas Republicans flipped two seats in the state House.

In a disappointing night for Texas Democrats and a success for Gov. Greg Abbott, Republicans flipped two seats in the state House on Tuesday, shifting the majority-GOP lower chamber further to the right and forging a path forward for a school voucher program next year.

GOP candidates picked up two seats currently occupied by retiring Democrats in districts including Corpus Christi and Uvalde. Republicans successfully defended all their spots in the state Capitol, including with victories in San Antonio and Dallas suburbs.

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The party rode on the coattails of President-elect Donald Trump to snag the additional victories, as several large counties that voted for Democratic President Joe Biden in 2020 went to the GOP nominee, including in purple Williamson County north of Austin. Majority-Latino and border regions in particular significantly increased margins of victory for the president-elect in Texas.

Taking a victory lap on social media Tuesday night, Abbott attributed Republicans' success in Texas to their positions on immigration, transgender issues and "school choice," a program also known as vouchers that would make public money available for private education.

"Looks like Texans dont like open borders and boys in girls sports after all," Abbott wrote in a social media post around 10 p.m. Tuesday. "Thanks Texans, for KEEPING Texas, Texas!"

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The third-term governor also boasted that he now has "more than enough votes" to get a school voucher bill passed in the next legislative session.

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Democrats and a coalition of 21 mostly rural Republicans defeated the measure in the 2023 session, but Abbott campaigned heavily and used a massive campaign war chest  including $10 million from Pennsylvania billionaire Jeff Yass  to oust GOP voucher opponents in the primaries and oppose Democrats in the general election.

Democratic state Rep. Vikki Goodwin learned she won reelection in her western Travis County district early Tuesday night, but she lamented that the statewide results showed that we're not going to have it our way in the Legislature.

She said Democrats fell short on their messaging on womens reproductive rights and the detriments of Abbotts school voucher proposal. Democrats had a less straightforward argument to make, she said: Republicans in public will say they support public schools, and voters may have taken that at face value.

'Choice,' that sounds good, but they had to really understand that (the vouchers proposal) was going to underfund our public schools, she said. The next session will be a big challenge. We will push as hard as we can (against school vouchers).  We will certainly not bow down on that.

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Thatll be the same strategy for womens reproductive rights, she said. Getting the stories out of the women who were harmed by being unable to access health care when they were most vulnerable. Im not sure that message reached everyone.

Here's a roundup of competitive races and their complete but still unofficial results:

Austin area

House District 52: Round Rock Republican Caroline Harris Davila comfortably wins reelection

State Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock, will return to the Capitol for a second term after securing a comfortable, 12-point victory over challenger Jennie Birkholz.

Harris Davila worked as a legislative aide in the Senate for several years, while Birkholz is a health care consultant and president of Access Education Round Rock ISD.

A campaign ad shows state Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock, who won reelection Tuesday.

San Antonio area

In close and wildly expensive races, Republicans maintained control of two San Antonio seats that Democrats had sought to flip in the Texas House.

House District 118: Rep. John Lujan secures reelection, defeating Democrat Kristian Carranza

In a 52-48 victory, Republican state Rep. John Lujan, a former sheriff's deputy and firefighter, won a third term representing House District 118. Lujan defeated Kristian Carranza, a Democratic legislative staffer who made abortion rights and public school funding central to her campaign.

Kristian Carranza

House District 121: Marc LaHood, favored by Abbott and Tim Dunn, defeats Laurel Jordan Swift

Criminal defense attorney Marc LaHood secured a 6-point margin of victory against Laurel Jordan Swift, a moderate Democrat, for House District 121.

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LaHood won the GOP nomination after Abbott helped him oust incumbent Rep. Steve Allison, R-San Antonio, in the primary. Allison, who earned Abbott's wrath for opposing school vouchers, crossed party lines to endorse Swift.

LaHood also took more than $75,000 in donations from the Texans for a United Conservative Majority, a political action committee funded by West Texas oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Ferris Wilks. Dunn and Wilks are associated with the Christian nationalist movement.

Dallas area

House District 108: Rep. Morgan Meyer wins in blowout

State Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-University Park, won in a landslide, despite the state Democratic party targeting his Dallas County seat for a potential flip. The moderate Republican secured 58% of the vote, while his opponent, progressive Democrat Elizabeth Ginsberg, won 42%. In 2022, she lost by a smaller margin: 12 points.

Meyer, an attorney who is chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, will return to the Capitol for a seventh term. He was also a manager in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment, which landed him in a primary challenge earlier this year. Paxton and then-presidential candidate Donald Trump endorsed Meyer's primary opponent.

State Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-University Park, left, won reelection with 58% of the vote.

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House District 112: Republican State Rep. Angie Chen Button defeats Averie Bishop

In Dallas County, state Rep. Angie Chen Button, R-Richardson, won reelection 54% to 46% against Democratic challenger Averie Bishop. Chen Button, who will begin a ninth term in January, won by 2 points less than her margin of victory in 2022, potentially reflecting demographic shifts in the rapidly growing suburbs. The Republican is a certified public accountant, while Bishop is a recent law school graduate and former Miss Texas.

House District 70: Democratic State Rep. Mihaela Plesa beats out Abbott-backed challenger

State Rep. Mihaela Plesa survived a challenge from Republican Steve Kinard in a 52-48 race, becoming one of the only Democrats with an Abbott-backed opponent to live to tell the tale this election cycle.

Abbott saw Plesa's race as an opportunity to further nail down the votes he needs to pass a school voucher bill, which was turned down last year by Democratic and some rural Republican lawmakers out of concern such proposal would drain much-needed education funding from public schools.

South Texas

The board lights up as State Representatives vote on the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton in the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol on Saturday, May 27, 2023. The House voted in favor of impeaching Paxton 121-23 with two present, not voting and three absent.

House District 34: Denise Villalobos defeats Solomon Ortiz Jr., flips seat for GOP

In Nueces County, oil and gas engineer and project manager Denise Villalobos, a Republican, won 55% of the unofficial vote to flip the seat held by retiring state Rep. Abel Herrero, a conservative Democrat from Corpus Christi. With backing from Abbott, she defeated former Democratic state Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr., a criminal defense attorney.

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The loss was among the most stinging for Democrats: In 2022, Herrero won reelection by 15 points. This time, a Republican won by 10 points.

House District 37: Rep. Janie Lopez wins with backing from Abbott

In another 55-45 race, state Rep. Janie Lopez, R-San Benito, fended off a challenge from Democrat Jonathan Gracia by a much larger margin than the one by which she defeated her opponent in 2022. She won by a 10-point margin Tuesday compared with a 3.6-point margin of victory in 2022. Lopez is a former school counselor and San Benito school board member who voted to impeach Paxton.

House District 80: Former Uvalde mayor Don McLaughlin flips seat held by retiring Democrat

In another landslide race for Republicans, former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin flipped a seat formerly held by conservative Democratic Rep. Tracy King in state House District 80. He led Democratic opponent Cecilia Castellano by 20 points in a 60-40 race that was expected to favor Republicans.

Former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, shown at a 2022 discussion about the Robb Elementary School shooting, won a Texas House seat Tuesday.

Statesman staff writer Emiliano Gomez contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas election results 2024: GOP flips 2 House seats, grows majority
Danny Perez. (Florida House of Representatives)

Miami Republicans and House Speaker-designate Daniel Perez released a statement late Tuesday night announcing the GOP maintained its super majority in the Florida House of Representatives.

Tonight, Floridians have returned a historic Republican supermajority to the Florida House of Representatives. Our members, our candidates, and our team at House Campaigns pulled together to bring our conservative message to the voters, Perez, chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee, said in a statement.

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We talked about the issues people cared about, and I know our members will fight every day to deliver results for Floridians. On behalf of all the Republican Members of the Florida House, I congratulate all our candidates. Its an exciting night, but its going to be an even more exceptional two years.

The Florida Democratic Party announced its Take Back Florida Distinction Initiative, listing 21 seats the party targeted this election in its hope to gain a stronger voice in the Legislature and Congress. The party had hoped to flip five state House seats but failed. It also failed to flip SD 3 from red to blue and defeat Sen. Corey Simon, a Republican who won the seat in 2022.
Montana Public Service Commission (via PSC Twitter account).

Incumbent Republican Jennifer Fielder again had jumped ahead of independent Elena Evans in District No. 4 in the Montana Public Service Commission, and two other Republicans had maintained their leads.

The PSC is made up of five commissioners elected by district, and three districts were on the ballot this year.

The PSC has been made up of all Republicans.

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As results rolled in after the polls closed, Fielder and Evans jockeyed for the lead, but Republicans in Districts No. 2 and 3 maintained their leads.

In District No. 2, Republican Brad Molnar, a Laurel state senator and former member of the Public Service Commission, was leading opponent and Democrat Susan Bilo of Gallatin County with 60% of the vote to Bilos 39%.

Before 8 a.m. Wednesday, Molnar had 58,626 votes to Bilos 38,309.

In District No. 3, Republican Jeff Welborn, a small business owner and legislator from Dillon, was trouncing electrician and Democrat Leonard Williams of Butte. Welborn had 62% of the vote to Williams 37%.

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Welborn had 66,966 votes to Williams 40,128.

In District No. 4, Fielder had 54% to newcomer and independent Evans45%

Evans, an environmental health manager, has outraised Fielder with donations from across the country. At press time, Fielder, also a former state legislator, had 58,693 votes, and Evans had 48,901.

The Public Service Commission regulates monopoly utilities such as NorthWestern Energy and Montana-Dakota Utilities.

The PSC has come under fire in recent years, including for approving significant rate hikes. A 2023 settlement raised rates 28% for residential customers of NorthWestern.

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Detractors also argue it has been slow to encourage more affordable and sustainable energy sources.

In a statement from Evans on Wednesday, she said:

First, I want to thank all those who voted and not just those who voted for me. In this country, every single vote matters, regardless of who wins or loses.

For me, this campaign has always been about placing regular people above political parties. Last spring, I decided to run as an Independent because I believe extreme partisanship and political polarization are existential threats to democratic process.

Right now, Independent candidates face many barriers that people running for the major parties do not. For example, we have to collect thousands of signatures from qualified voters to get on the ballot. Back in April, we set out to collect 3,000 signatures, and I was amazed at how friends, neighbors and total strangers came out of the woodwork to chip in. Their hard work was a reminder to me that Montanans , even if they typically support one party over another, like to do their own thinking and prefer a nonpartisan candidate.

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Ultimately, 158 volunteers from Stevensville to Libby helped gather and submit over 6,000 signatures to give voters an Independent choice on the ballot, and over the next seven months we raised over $100,000 in small donations to fight for affordability, transparency, and forward-thinking energy.
Donald Trump has won the presidency, and Republicans have taken control of the Senate in the culmination of an intense  and expensive battle  for dominance in Congress.

The GOP picked up four seats this cycle, flipping the chamber and netting a decisive 53 seat majority. A Republican majority under a Republican president will grant Trump a blank check to approve nominations and appointments until the 2026 midterm elections.

Thirty-four of the Senates 100 seats were on the ballot in 2024. Seven of them were open seats with no candidate running for reelection. Democrats have narrowly controlled the chamber for the past four years, but Republicans flipped enough seats.

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Incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) was defeated by Republican challenger Bernie Moreno in a single digit margin that cost Democrats a critical seat in their already slim majority. Republicans gained a second seat in West Virginia, where Jim Justice won the Senate seat vacated by former Independent Senator Joe Manchin. Montanas Democratic incumbent Jon Tester was defeated by Republican challenger Tim Sheehy.

On Friday, after a close contest that dragged on for days after Election Night, Pennsylvanias three-term incumbent Senator Bob Casey  a Democrat  lost to Republican David McCormick in a narrow upset.

Democrat Colin Alred failed to unseat Republican Senator Ted Cruz in a close race in Texas, and Independent challenger Dan Osborne floundered against two-term Republican incumbent Sen. Deb Fischer in Nebraska. All in all, a bad showing.

2024s battle for the Senate was one of the most expensive in American history, coming in at a total price tag of over $2.5 billion. Most of the spending was concentrated on highly competitive races in Ohio, Montana, and Pennsylvania.

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The contest between Brown and Moreno brought in a whopping $526 million in spending overall, with $310 million spent in 2024 alone.

In the 2022 midterms, Democrats managed to narrowly expand their majority in the Senate to 51-49. Over the last two years, Vice President Kamala Harris has served as a tie-breaking vote in a divided upper chamber. With the House under Republican control since 2022, the split 118th Congress was largely ineffective as a legislative body.

Frankly, the most notable events for the Senate in the last two years had little to do with lawmaking. In September of last year, Sen. Dainne Feinstein (D-Ca.) died in office at the age of 90, after serving more than three decades in the Senate. Her death, and reports of the efforts her staff took to obscure her declining health, revived criticism of aging politicians refusal to leave office despite an inability to cope with the rigors of the job.

In February, after multiple incidents where he seemingly disconnected from the present while speaking to reports, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (RF-Ky.)  currently 82 years old  announced he would be stepping down from his position in the caucus leadership.

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But among the more dramatic exits from the Senate this electoral cycle is that of Bob Menendez, who resigned from his position as a Democratic Senator for New Jersey after being found guilty of corruption charges in July. The former senator and his wife accepted cash payments, luxury vehicles, and even solid bars of gold from foreign agents in exchange for Menendezs influence in Congress. His now vacant seat is expected to be won by Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.).

With the GOP-controlled House also up for grabs this election cycle, Republicans could potentially walk away from the 2024 election with the fist unified Congress since 2017, when the party held control of both chambers during the first two years in office.

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U.S. Capitol | Susan J. Demas

WASHINGTON  Republicans flipped control of the U.S. Senate after picking up seats in Ohio and West Virginia according to projections by The Associated Press, though there were too many uncalled House races early Wednesday to predict which party will hold that chamber when the new Congress begins in January.

Montanas Senate seat, currently held by Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, also appeared to be slipping toward Republicans, likely increasing their majority in the upper chamber for the next two years.

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Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsins highly competitive Senate races had yet to be called, potentially bolstering a GOP majority even further.

Senate Republican Whip John Thune of South Dakota, who is vying to become the chambers next GOP leader against Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Florida Sen. Rick Scott, released a written statement applauding voters decision.

Tonight, with Republicans reclaiming majority control of the U.S. Senate, we can begin to turn the page on this expensive and reckless chapter of American history, Thune wrote. As we wait for additional results, I am optimistic that President Trump will be successful, our majority will grow stronger, and we can continue our work together to create a safer and more secure country for every American.

Cornyn said in his own written statement that he was confident our new conservative majority can restore our institution to the essential role it serves in our constitutional republic.

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We will restore the important role of Senate committees and reestablish the regular appropriations process, Cornyn wrote. We will improve communication, increase transparency, and tap into the wealth of talent in the conference to include everyones expertise and opinions. And we will return power back to the members; there will be no more backroom deals or forced votes on bills without adequate time for review, debate, and amendment.

Newly elected Republican senators, AP projections said, include Bernie Moreno in Ohio, who flipped that states seat; U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, who won his first Senate campaign in deeply red Indiana; John Curtis, who secured victory in Utah; and West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, who flipped the seat currently held by Joe Manchin III as predicted.

New Democratic senators include Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, New Jersey U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, Delaware U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and California U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, all of whom defeated GOP challengers in solidly blue states.

How it could play out

There were two possible scenarios for the 119th Congress, slated to begin on Jan. 3, 2025, following the APs call for Senate control.

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Democrats flip the House and Republicans regain the Senate, maintaining a divided Congress with the opposite party in control of each chamber.

Republicans keep their majority in the House and regain control of the Senate for unified GOP control.

Each option brings with it significant implications for the next presidents legislative agenda, their ability to quickly set up a Cabinet via Senate confirmations and whether theyd be able to move judicial nominations through the upper chamber, including possible Supreme Court nominees.

A divided Congress would require the next president to negotiate bipartisan deals on must-pass legislation and make concessions with the opposing party to move any major policy changes through Congress.

Unified control of Congress for Republicans could mean more movement on legislation, though whether those bills become law will rest on who occupies the Oval Office.

Senate confirmations ahead

The Associated Press, the news organization that States Newsroom looks to for race calls based on decades of experience, had announced 27 Senate races as of 12:30 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday.

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Republican senators in Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming easily won reelection in those GOP strongholds.

Democratic senators from Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington were all reelected, as was independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who typically votes with Democrats.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., congratulated Alsobrooks on her win and making history as the first Black woman Maryland elected to the Senate.

Angela is no stranger to breaking barriers  and in the Senate Angela will bring the same drive and values shes practiced throughout her life to ensure all Marylanders freedoms are protected and every family in her state can thrive, Peters said in the written statement.

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New Jerseys Kim will become the Senates first Korean-American lawmaker in the countrys history.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines congratulated the reelected and incoming senators, including Justice, who flipped the West Virginia seat red.

Jim served the people of West Virginia well as their governor, lowering taxes and creating opportunity in all parts of the state, Daines said in a written statement. I know he will continue to do the same in the Senate, and we are looking forward to having Big Jim and Baby Dog in D.C.

Senate control is slightly more important for the next president than having their party in charge of the House, since the upper chamber is tasked with vetting and confirming Cabinet secretaries, several key executive branch appointments, judicial nominees and Supreme Court justices.

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Unlike the House, where lawmakers face reelection or retirement every two years, senators are elected to six-year terms, meaning about one-third of the chamber is on the ballot during a given election year.

This year, 34 Senate seats were up for reelection, 23 of which were held by Democrats, while 11 are Republican controlled.

House toss-up race calls

The AP had called 321 of the 435 House races as of 12 a.m. Eastern Wednesday, but many of the toss-up races were still too close to determine the winner.

Republican and Democratic incumbents were overwhelmingly holding onto their districts, while several new members were elected to open seats. Some of those lawmakers-elect were on track to make history.

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Sarah McBride, for example, was poised to become the countrys first openly transgender person elected to Congress, according to the AP.

McBride secured her Democratic bid in Delawares 1st Congressional District against GOP challenger John Whalen.

The Human Rights Campaign celebrated McBrides victory.

The LGBTQ+ advocacy groups president Kelley Robinson called McBride a devoted public servant, a bulldog for her constituents, and someone who represents the interests of everyone she serves, in a written statement.

This historic victory reflects not only increasing acceptance of transgender people in our society, ushered in by the courage of visible leaders like Sarah, but also her dogged work in demonstrating that she is an effective lawmaker who will deliver real results, Robinson added.

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Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., won his reelection, potentially setting him up to remain his partys leader should the GOP keep its majority. Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who would become speaker if his party regained the House, had also safely won reelection in his New York district.

The nonpartisan Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics wrote in analysis released Monday on the fight for congressional control that the battle for the House has been a Toss-up for essentially the whole cycle and that its experts generally expected the presidential and House winner was likelier than not to be the same.

A total of 218 seats are needed to control the House, though that is the bare minimum in a chamber where members regularly miss votes, take extended leaves of absence for illness or injury and sometimes resign mid-session.

Republican leaders struggled to pass partisan bills during the last two years with a razor-thin majority, currently split at 220-212, and Democratic leadership would likely do so as well should they become the majority.

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At-risk House lawmakers had yet to experience any major upsets, but eyes were on several swing districts, including Arizonas 1st and 6th Congressional Districts and Pennsylvanias 10th Congressional District.

Other races to watch include Iowas 1st Congressional District, a seat targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to flip, which was labeled lean Democratic, by Sabatos on Monday.

It was the same for Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, a rematch that could lean Democrat.
(Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  Republicans flipped control of the U.S. Senate after picking up seats in Ohio and West Virginia according to projections by The Associated Press, though there were too many uncalled House races early Wednesday to predict which party will hold that chamber when the new Congress begins in January.

Montanas Senate seat, currently held by Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, also appeared to be slipping toward Republicans, likely increasing their majority in the upper chamber for the next two years.

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Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsins highly competitive Senate races had yet to be called, potentially bolstering a GOP majority even further.

Senate Republican Whip John Thune of South Dakota, who is vying to become the chambers next GOP leader against Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Florida Sen. Rick Scott, released a written statement applauding voters decision.

Tonight, with Republicans reclaiming majority control of the U.S. Senate, we can begin to turn the page on this expensive and reckless chapter of American history, Thune wrote. As we wait for additional results, I am optimistic that President Trump will be successful, our majority will grow stronger, and we can continue our work together to create a safer and more secure country for every American.

Cornyn said in his own written statement that he was confident our new conservative majority can restore our institution to the essential role it serves in our constitutional republic.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We will restore the important role of Senate committees and reestablish the regular appropriations process, Cornyn wrote. We will improve communication, increase transparency, and tap into the wealth of talent in the conference to include everyones expertise and opinions. And we will return power back to the members; there will be no more backroom deals or forced votes on bills without adequate time for review, debate, and amendment.

Newly elected Republican senators, AP projections said, include Bernie Moreno in Ohio, who flipped that states seat; U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, who won his first Senate campaign in deeply red Indiana; John Curtis, who secured victory in Utah; and West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, who flipped the seat currently held by Joe Manchin III as predicted.

New Democratic senators include Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, New Jersey U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, Delaware U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and California U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, all of whom defeated GOP challengers in solidly blue states.

How it could play out

There were two possible scenarios for the 119th Congress, slated to begin on Jan. 3, 2025, following the APs call for Senate control.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Democrats flip the House and Republicans regain the Senate, maintaining a divided Congress with the opposite party in control of each chamber.

Republicans keep their majority in the House and regain control of the Senate for unified GOP control.

Each option brings with it significant implications for the next presidents legislative agenda, their ability to quickly set up a Cabinet via Senate confirmations and whether theyd be able to move judicial nominations through the upper chamber, including possible Supreme Court nominees.

A divided Congress would require the next president to negotiate bipartisan deals on must-pass legislation and make concessions with the opposing party to move any major policy changes through Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Unified control of Congress for Republicans could mean more movement on legislation, though whether those bills become law will rest on who occupies the Oval Office.

Senate confirmations ahead

The Associated Press, the news organization that States Newsroom looks to for race calls based on decades of experience, had announced 27 Senate races as of 12:30 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday.

Republican senators in Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming easily won reelection in those GOP strongholds.

Democratic senators from Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington were all reelected, as was independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who typically votes with Democrats.

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Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., congratulated Alsobrooks on her win and making history as the first Black woman Maryland elected to the Senate.

Angela is no stranger to breaking barriers  and in the Senate Angela will bring the same drive and values shes practiced throughout her life to ensure all Marylanders freedoms are protected and every family in her state can thrive, Peters said in the written statement.

New Jerseys Kim will become the Senates first Korean-American lawmaker in the countrys history.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines congratulated the reelected and incoming senators, including Justice, who flipped the West Virginia seat red.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Jim served the people of West Virginia well as their governor, lowering taxes and creating opportunity in all parts of the state, Daines said in a written statement. I know he will continue to do the same in the Senate, and we are looking forward to having Big Jim and Baby Dog in D.C.

Senate control is slightly more important for the next president than having their party in charge of the House, since the upper chamber is tasked with vetting and confirming Cabinet secretaries, several key executive branch appointments, judicial nominees and Supreme Court justices.

Unlike the House, where lawmakers face reelection or retirement every two years, senators are elected to six-year terms, meaning about one-third of the chamber is on the ballot during a given election year.

This year, 34 Senate seats were up for reelection, 23 of which were held by Democrats, while 11 are Republican controlled.

House toss-up race calls

The AP had called 331 of the 435 House races as of 12:30 a.m. Eastern Wednesday, but many of the toss-up races were still too close to determine the winner.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican and Democratic incumbents were overwhelmingly holding onto their districts, while several new members were elected to open seats. Some of those lawmakers-elect were on track to make history.

Sarah McBride, for example, was poised to become the countrys first openly transgender person elected to Congress, according to the AP.

McBride secured her Democratic bid in Delawares 1st Congressional District against GOP challenger John Whalen.

The Human Rights Campaign celebrated McBrides victory.

The LGBTQ+ advocacy groups president Kelley Robinson called McBride a devoted public servant, a bulldog for her constituents, and someone who represents the interests of everyone she serves, in a written statement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

This historic victory reflects not only increasing acceptance of transgender people in our society, ushered in by the courage of visible leaders like Sarah, but also her dogged work in demonstrating that she is an effective lawmaker who will deliver real results, Robinson added.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., won his reelection, potentially setting him up to remain his partys leader should the GOP keep its majority. Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who would become speaker if his party regained the House, had also safely won reelection in his New York district.

The nonpartisan Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics wrote in analysis released Monday on the fight for congressional control that the battle for the House has been a Toss-up for essentially the whole cycle and that its experts generally expected the presidential and House winner was likelier than not to be the same.

A total of 218 seats are needed to control the House, though that is the bare minimum in a chamber where members regularly miss votes, take extended leaves of absence for illness or injury and sometimes resign mid-session.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Republican leaders struggled to pass partisan bills during the last two years with a razor-thin majority, currently split at 220-212, and Democratic leadership would likely do so as well should they become the majority.

At-risk House lawmakers had yet to experience any major upsets, but eyes were on several swing districts, including Arizonas 1st and 6th Congressional Districts and Pennsylvanias 10th Congressional District.

Other races to watch include Iowas 1st Congressional District, a seat targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to flip, which was labeled lean Democratic, by Sabatos on Monday.

It was the same for Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, a rematch that could lean Democrat.
Republicans took back control of the U.S. Senate late Tuesday as they flipped at least two Democratic-held seats, while control of House of Representatives remained up in the air early Wednesday.

The GOP won a previously Democratic seat in West Virginia and Republican candidate Bernie Moreno knocked off Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio, giving Donald Trumps party an edge.

Republican Tim Sheehy was leading by 20% in early returns from Montana as he looked to knock off Democratic Sen. Jon Tester.

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A GOP win means Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will lose his position as majority leader. Republican leader Sen. Mitch McConnell has said he will not run for the majority leader post again, setting up a potential battle for the post between other GOP senators.

All Republican Senate incumbents looked to be on track to win reelection including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.).

In New York, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand romped to re-election. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) easily beat Republican Curt Bashaw to win the seat previously held by disgraced ex-Sen. Robert Menendez.

Despite the loss in the Senate, Democrats late Tuesday were still hoping to retake control of the House of Representatives from Republicans, in part by winning back several seats in the New York metro area that the GOP won in the 2022 midterms.

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Control of the House was unlikely to be known until late-arriving mail-in ballots can be tallied in western states, particularly California.

Democrats needed to flip at least four Republican-held seats to win the House, a victory that would almost certainly catapult Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries into the national spotlight as speaker of the House.

New York State and the New York City metro area emerged as a key battleground with Democrats hoping to topple as many as three Republican incumbents in suburban and upstate New York districts, all of whom won their seats in the 2022 midterm elections.

Democrat John Mannion won a Syracuse-area district and Laura Gillen declared victory over Rep. Anthony DEsposito, in a Long Island district that voted for President Biden by 12%.

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GOP Rep. Marc Molinaro, whose sprawling upstate district is a perennial bellwether, was narrowly trailing Democratic challenger Josh Riley.

Republicans were set to hold the Westchester County district held by Rep. Mike Lawler, who has crafted a national profile as a moderate Republican. He turned back a challenge from ex-Rep. Mondaire Jones, who held the seat before switching to another district in 2022.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. was leading in his effort to hold onto the leafy New Jersey suburban district he won two years ago and Rep. Nick LaLota turned back a challenge from Democratic former CNN anchor John Avlon in Long Islands Suffolk County.

Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) won by a healthy margin after he won his Hudson Valley seat in a squeaker last time.

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While the House was considered a toss up, polls had long suggested Republicans were on track to win control of the Senate because the closest races were in states that former President Donald Trump won.

Democrats and independents aligned with them held 51 seats going into the election.
Rep. Chuck Grassie, a Rochester Democrat, stands at his polling station on Nov. 5, 2024. Grassie was defeated by his Republican opponent, Sam Farrington. (Ethan DeWitt | New Hampshire Bulletin)

In the most evenly divided House district in the state Tuesday  Rochester Ward 4  every ballot counted. But two voters nearly struck a deal.

The pair, an older woman voting Democratic and a younger man voting Republican, met in line and realized their votes would cancel each other out. We almost just said nix it and went and had a beer, the woman, who identified herself as Lucie, said.

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In the end, both voted. And voters in the district, which saw a tie vote in 2022, chose to send a Republican candidate to the state House, handily ousting Democratic incumbent Chuck Grassie.

That pattern played out again and again Tuesday, as a string of vulnerable state House Democrats lost their seat to Republican challengers. And now, New Hampshire Republicans appear to have staved off attempts by Democrats to take back control of the chamber, and have expanded their slim lead in the House.

The party is expected to win 222 of the Houses 400 seats, according to a social media post by the New Hampshire House Clerk on X Wednesday afternoon.

Those numbers couldnt be immediately confirmed; the Associated Press had called just over 100 of the legislative seats as of early Wednesday afternoon.

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But if true, the final numbers would be a significant increase in control for Republicans, and would give them more comfortable margins to pass major pieces of legislation next year. Republicans started out the last two-year term with the slimmest majority in modern New Hampshire history  201 Republican seats to 199 Democratic seats  and were barely able to keep that lead amid a series of resignations and special elections that session.

Heading into Tuesdays election, Democrats were defending 18 seats that were won in 2022 by less than 2 percent of the vote; Republicans were defending 19. That created the potential for either party to make gains, and put control of the House at the whim of minuscule changes in the direction of the presidential election.

But early returns suggest Republicans have been more successful in flipping those districts.

The Associated Press confirmed that Matt Coker had won his reelection to his seat in Meredith, giving Republicans an automatic additional seat after Coker left the Democratic Party and became a Republican last session.

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And while the AP had not issued calls as of Wednesday early afternoon, voting returns suggested Republicans had flipped Democratic seats in Allenstown, Berlin, Boscawen, Brookline, Goffstown, Hollis, Laconia, Littleton, and Pembroke, with more potential wins pending further reported results.

In Laconia, Democrat Charlie St. Clair, a well-known figure who helps organize the Laconia Bike Week, appeared to hold on to his seat. But Republicans claimed victory over another seat in that district previously held by Democrat David Huot.

In Goffstown, voters turned a district that had been represented by three Republicans and one Democrat into an all-Republican district.

They did the same in Littleton, voting to put Republicans in all three seats rather than just two.

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As a result, the New Hampshire House began taking a more traditional shape, where one party has a decisive hold over the chamber. Its a contrast after two years of unusually thin margins that forced certain compromises and made every Republican bill an uncertain affair.

Both candidates for Rochester Ward 4 stood near the entrance of the McClelland Elementary School; Grassie, 72 and the founder of the Rochester Childcare Center, and his Republican opponent Sam Farrington, a University of New Hampshire student and farmer. Both candidates defined the central issue of the race differently.

Education, said Grassie in an interview. Rochester has an education system thats struggled. When I talk to voters I say, you know there are two places where you can get your money: One is from the state, and the other is from local taxpayers. And Im not here to take more money out of local taxpayers. Im here to try to get more money from the state.

Farrington identified broader economic problems. Families are being burned with high prices, housing, health care, the list goes on.

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He said at the State House he would push to reduce the size of New Hampshires government and reduce the tax burden. The government, like families, needs to tighten its own belt, he said.

But even in divided Rochester Ward 4, many voters Tuesday said they hadnt paid special attention to the House races. Some said they were unaware of the rare, tied election in 2022 and the special election redo effort that put Grassie in control.

Instead, voters said their choices for the state Legislature largely reflected their top-of-ticket presidential and gubernatorial choices.

Lucie, who declined to give her last name, said she was driven to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris for president by concerns over health care and the continuation of funding for Medicaid to help her son, who has a disability. She felt a Donald Trump presidency raised the risk of cuts to programs. Her choice of Harris translated to Joyce Craig and down the ballot to Democrats.

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Ive seen it fluctuate, she said of Medicaid funding.  And when it changes administrations, Im starting to see things change.

Doug Nadeau, the Trump voter Lucie befriended in line, was driven  like many Republican voters  by concerns over the economy and personal finances. Nadeau, who works in the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, has seen his salary rise over the years. But he said the cost of food and goods had risen with it, reducing his increased benefits.

Money went a long way back then, back when Trump was in office, he said. He added that he had not paid close attention to the governors race or the legislative votes, but that he voted Republican down the ballot to match his choices with his economic concerns.

The low awareness of down-ballot state House and Senate races is well known to New Hampshire politicians; data shows that some voters leave the bottom races on their ballots blank after voting for president and governor.

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Standing amid a forest of signs outside the McClelland Elementary School, a polling place, Rochester state Sen. James Gray said he and other lawmakers have instructions they give to voters to make sure they dont miss any races: Turn the ballot over, start at the bottom, and vote up.

One voter, Donald Smith, stood as a rare exception. An independent, Smith voted for Trump, and largely stuck with Republicans down the ballot, including Kelly Ayotte, the Republican who won the race for governor Tuesday. But when it came to his choice of state House representatives, Smith wavered.

He voted for Farrington, against Grassie. But he also voted to send some Democrats to the State House in the citys floterial district, such as John Larochelle.

Smith doesnt consider party when deciding, he said; he considers people.

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Its time for some new blood, he said  We need to make some changes. And youre not going to make those changes if you just keep voting the same people and the same policies and plans over and over again.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  According to unofficial preliminary results, the Associated Press has projected Republican U.S. House incumbents will be returning to their jobs next year.

Meanwhile, in U.S. House Dist. 3, Mike Kennedy is projected by AP to serve his first term in office.

Official results from the elections canvassing will not be available until Monday, Nov. 25.

U.S. House Dist 1

Rep. Blake Moore will be re-elected to his position in Congress, according to preliminary numbers. This will be Moores second term, as he was elected in 2021. Preliminary numbers show Moore received over 72,000 more votes than Democratic candidate Bill Campbell.

U.S. HOUSE DIST. 2

Preliminary results show Rep. Celeste Maloy will be re-elected to serve her first full term in office. Maloy was elected in 2023 after Rep. Chris Stewart resigned to care for his wife.

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She had a narrow victory in the 2024 Republican Primaries with her opponent Colby Jenkins calling for a recount. It was determined she won the primaries with less than 200 votes on her opponent.

U.S. HOUSE DIST. 3

Republican candidate Mike Kennedy is the projected winner of Utahs third congressional district. Kennedy will be taking Rep. John Curtis seat as Curtis chose to run for Senate this election.

U.S. HOUSE DIST. 4

Rep. Burgess Owens is projected to be re-elected to represent Utahs fourth congressional district. This will be Owens second term in Congress.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Just like the 12 other elections this century, it was a good night for Republicans in South Carolina.

The GOP continues to gain seats almost 25 years after taking control of nearly the entire state government. On Tuesday, they did not lose a single incumbent and likely added four Senate seats to have a 34-12 advantage in the chamber. Democrats had a 14-seat lead back in 1992.

It's the first time Republicans will have a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate, which assures they can end filibusters with ease. In the House, Republicans held firm with 87 seats in a 124-member chamber with two vacancies. The combination means Republicans can put constitutional amendment on ballots without a single Democratic vote.

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The Associated Press has not declared a winner in two of the seats Republicans said they flipped because they have margins under the 1% of the vote that triggers a mandatory recount, including one race with a 32-vote margin in unofficial totals and provisional ballots left to argue over and count. But with modern voting machines, recounts almost never change a result in South Carolina.

South Carolina sent us 34 Republican senators. We owe it to them to use them, Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said Wednesday.

Exactly what that means will have to wait until he gathers the 34 members for a caucus meeting later this month, Massey said. More loosening of gun laws is a long-desired conservative goal, and for some another is a total ban on abortion instead of the state's current law making abortions illegal after cardiac activity is detected about six weeks into a pregnancy.

Life is a personal issue. Like many things, I'm going to have to find out where my new members are, Massey said.

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And there are a lot of them. In an institution where senators often stay for decades, there will be 13 new members in 2025. Nine of them are Republicans.

South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick compared his 2024 election plans to a buffet at the Golden Corral. There were so many seats both locally and in the General Assembly that he hoped to flip that he couldn't do it all.

You can't win everything, McKissick said Wednesday. But I hate losing more than I hate watching the Lifetime Channel.

The story Tuesday night wasn't much different than on recent election nights. Republicans in South Carolina swamped Democrats with a huge wave in 1994, taking over the House, and and again in 2000 taking over the Senate.

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And the waves just keep coming, claiming more of the state's political beach even as Democrats chose South Carolina for their first presidential primary this year.

Redistricting helped. Republicans won at least 57% of the vote in every Senate district they controlled at the start of election night.

Over the past eight elections, Republicans have not lost seats in the Senate, and they now control more than 75% of the chamber in a state where Donald Trump has never topped 59% in a presidential race.

Continuing a trend of rural areas getting quite Republican quite fast, all four seats the Democrats lost were outside cities. Four Democratic senators  three Black and one white  were swamped in their rural precincts and a few rapidly growing suburban areas, and the dwindling minority population wasn't enough to keep up.

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The GOP flipped four sheriff's and three coroner's offices from Democrat to Republican. McKissick said success on that end of the ballot digs the hole even deeper for Democrats because rural voters are more likely to vote for the local official they like by hitting the straight ticket button for all Republicans.

On Tuesday, nearly 800,000 of the 2.4 million votes cast were Republican straight ticket. The GOP has 21% more straight ticket voters than Democrats. Republicans had only topped Democrats among those voters starting in 2016.

Straight ticket support and the more people that don't have a reason to split a ballot is a big, unsung bit of the secret sauce we've had around here, McKissick said.

Democrats on Tuesday protected a House seat in Columbia and near Charleston and kept a Columbia area Senate seat. They flipped one House seat that was neutralized by losing an incumbent in another district.

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South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain said the party spent money, mailed literature and made phone calls but that Trump's broad support, combined with longterm advantages for Republicans like districts gerrymandered to their liking, were too much to overcome, especially in the state Senate races.

It makes it difficult for us to recruit serious candidates  those folks who we know would be great elected officials  because nobody wants to lose, Spain said Wednesday. The message is: We're not giving up.

As for McKissick, he plans to enjoy all the Republican gains in South Carolina and nationally for a few days before turning his attention to 2026. The governor's seat will be open. Lindsey Graham's U.S. Senate seat is up. And more possibilities on the political buffet beckon.

As much as he would like to try, it won't always be this way for McKissick and Republicans.

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In 1932, 98% of South Carolina voters  almost all white in a state where nearly half the residents were Black but systematically blocked from casting ballots  chose Democrat Franklin Roosevelt for president at the start of the Great Depression. It was his biggest single-state win in his landslide.

The only thing that is permanent in politics is the next election. You can either do well or you can do bad, McKissick said. You need to focus on the fundamentals of having a good message that is relevant to people, organization to connect with them and get the vote out and raising the money to pay for them.
The US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Oct. 14, 2024. Credit - Stefani ReynoldsBloomberg/Getty Images

For live updates on the 2024 presidential election, read TIME's coverage here.

After a hard-fought election cycle that brought hundreds of millions of dollars in outside spending into the mix, Republicans are expected to flip control of the Senate to their advantage when the 119th Congress gavels in next year, after The Associated Press called the Ohio Senate race for Republican Bernie Moreno. It was a costly, frustrating, and tougher-than-it-should-have-been victory in an environment that should have been an easy lift for Republicans.

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Democrats arrived on Election Day with a 51-49 advantage in the Upper Chamber. But Democrats wrote-off West Virginia as a lost cause after Sen. Joe Manchin announced he would not seek another term. That meant Democrats needed to run a perfect table and hold all three highly at-risk incumbents in Montana, Ohio, and Nevada. Early Wednesday, it became apparent that Democrats had failed in Ohio.

Despite former President Donald Trumps strong positioning and Republicans clear advantages, Senators Jon Tester of Montana, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Jackie Rosen of Nevada all were stronger-than-expected incumbents. Democrats invested heavily in those races; combined, those three races raked in close to a quarter-billion dollars in spending to boost their nominees and ding their Republican rivals.

The spending still failed to keep Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York atop a chamber that is expected to be crucial to Harris agenda. Senate Republicans have not officially selected their next leader to follow Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is expected to step down as the longest-serving Leader. And its not clear how the newly elected Republicans can sync with the party as newcomers in an environment that rewards longevity and loyalty.

Democrats started the cycle on the defense on a map that favored them not in the least. National Democrats went to work early to bulk up their endangered incumbents in the face of violent headwinds. With shrewd positioning that kept Joe Biden at arms length and careful messaging that hewed to home-state priorities, parochial pork projects, and amplifying Republicans problematic records, Democrats failed to run the straight-flush they needed on Election Day.

Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
Republicans have recaptured the US Senate, achieving what was billed in advance as the most attainable goal for the party in this years elections.

The GOP regained control after it became clear that the Democrats had lost their one-seat majority in Congresss 100-member upper chamber.

Republicans gained three Senate seats, as Trump-backed businessperson Bernie Moreno defeated three-term Democratic senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio, and Trump loyalist Jim Justice won the seat once held by Joe Manchin in West Virginia. Early on Wednesday morning, Republican Tim Sheehy won a closely-watched Montana Senate seat, defeating three-term incumbent Jon Tester.

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Republican incumbents also fought off Democratic challengers in Texas, where Ted Cruz defeated Colin Allred, and in Florida, where Rick Scott won out over Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

In Nebraska, union organizer Dan Osborn launched a surprisingly successful independent campaign to oust the Republican incumbent, Deb Fisher. But Fisher ultimately held on to her seat.

The number of victories in the Senate was absolutely incredible, Trump said in an address to his supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Shortly after 6:30am ET, several competitive Senate races still had not been called, giving Republicans a chance to grow the margin of their majority by a few more seats.

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In Nevada, Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen had a narrow lead over Republican challenger Sam Brown in early returns, but much of the vote remains to be counted, and a full tally could take days, the Associated Press reported.

The results so far puts the Republican party in pole position in the confirmation process for senior officials appointed by the new incoming administration, and for potential new justices to the US supreme court if and when vacancies open up.

Related: US election results and 2024 live: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris vie to be president

At least two veteran conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, are expected to retire in the next few years, while speculation has surrounded the health and intentions of a third, Sonia Sotomayor, one of the courts three liberal justices.

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The transfer of Senate control back to the Republicans will also lend greater piquancy to the race to succeed Mitch McConnell, the GOP leader in the chamber, who had announced that he would retire after the election.

Leading contenders to replace him are John Thune of South Dakota, Texas senator John Cornyn and Rick Scott of Florida, with the winner primed to assume the powerful position of Senate majority leader.

Cornyn launched his bid for the leadership just moments after Republicans won their Senate majority, according to the Associated Press, with a statement touting his experience working with Republican members, and serving as the GOP vote-counter during the first Trump administration.

As Ive said, this election is not about us but rather what is best for the conference and the nation, the Texas Republican said. I look forward to working with President Trump and our new conservative majority to make America great again by making the Senate work again.

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Thune, who was initially seen as the clear successor to McConnell before the internal race became more competitive, also made a statement.



Tonight, with Republicans reclaiming majority control of the US Senate, we can begin to turn the page on this expensive and reckless chapter of American history, the South Dakota senator said in a statement.

The leadership election is due to take place at the end of November by secret ballot.

The Republicans win had been widely anticipated. The Democrats faced an unfavourable electoral map, with several incumbents either retiring or up for re-election in Republican stronghold states  meaning loss of Senate control was highly likely even in the event of Kamala Harris being elected president.

The retirement of the West Virginia senator Joe Manchin, a formerly centrist Democrat who had lately become an independent, was the clearest signal that the Republicans were on a winning path. As expected, the seat he vacated was won by the states Republican governor, Jim Justice, who triumphed over his Democratic opponent, Glenn Elliott, the mayor of Wheeling.

Read more of the Guardians 2024 US election coverage
Senate Republicans enjoyed a strong night in the battle for the majority, winning control of the upper chamber and ending the night with chances of running up the score.

Republicans early Wednesday could be assured of having 52 seats. Their big victories came in Ohio, where Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno (R) defeated Sen. Sherrod Brown (D), in West Virginia, where Gov. Jim Justice (R) will replace Sen. Joe Manchin (I), and in Montana, where businessman and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy (R) topped third-term Sen. Jon Tester (D).

The party held serve in their own seats. Sens. Ted Cruz (R) and Rick Scott (R) both won handily in Texas and Florida, respectively, despite Senate Democrats making a sizable investment in the final six weeks.

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Sen. Deb Fischer (R) also defeated independent Dan Osborn in Nebraska to nab a third term in office after a last-minute scare in the Cornhusker State.

Whether the GOP majority grows further depends on a series of other races.

Heres a look at the key results, including contests in which no winner has been called.

Ohio

This was the race that did the trick for the GOP to end its four-year hiatus in the minority.

Moreno defeated Brown, who had survived previous challenges as Ohio turned from a purple state to a red state, as former President Trump easily defeated Vice President Harris in the state by a double-digit margin.

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The result was not a surprise, but was notable in a race where Brown enjoyed a polling lead for much of the fall.

Moreno was able to almost replicate Sen. JD Vances (R-Ohio) performance from two years ago, when he won his Senate race after trailing in polls most of the year. Moreno, like Vance, took the lead in the final days of the campaign.

Moreno led Brown by more than 200,000 votes after 95 percent of the vote was counted, putting him on trajectory to win the state handily. He is projected to win with a 4-point lead, 50 percent to 46 percent.

Former President Trump was projected to win the state by 11 points, 55 percent to 44 percent, over Harris  matching the National Republican Senatorial Committees expectation he would win the Buckeye State by double digits.

Montana

This was late call, with Montanas polls closing at 10 p.m. on Tuesday. Given the margins in Ohio and elsewhere on the map, the road to a win for Tester was a difficult one.

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Political prognosticators had given Sheehy the advantage heading into Tuesday.

Sheehy had led Tester in the polls for weeks in a state that former President Trump won in 2016 and 2020 and was expected to win again this year by double digits.

Tester appeared to regain some momentum late in the race after raising questions about Sheehys claim that he was shot during a firefight in Afghanistan and Democratic spending groups stuck by the incumbents side throughout the race.

But Sheehy ended up winning the race easily with 53 percent of the vote compared to Testers 45 percent of the vote after 87 percent of ballots were counted.

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Trump is projected to win Montana with 59 percent of the vote, which would give him a 21-point victory over Harris in the Treasure State.

Trumps margin of victory over President Biden in Montana was 16 points in 2020.

Pennsylvania

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) is going to need a comeback victory if he is going to overtake Republican David McCormick and win a fourth term in office.

Its been a bleak night for Democrats in the Keystone State as they trail in not only the presidential race, but also in races for state attorney general, auditor general and treasurer.

But Casey is the partys best chance to win. He is trailing McCormick by around 50,000 votes with 95 percent of the vote counted.

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Thats going to come down to the very wire. His slight overperformance might make all the difference, said one senior Pennsylvania Democrat told The Hill early Wednesday

The remaining outstanding votes are largely on Democratic terrain: Philadelphia and the citys collar counties.

Wisconsin

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) is projected to narrowly defeat Republican Eric Hovde, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Baldwin trailed Hovde by about 60,000 votes as of early Wednesday morning, but made up ground and the race was called around 10 a.m.

The main source of those votes is Democrat-heavy Milwaukee, and they are likely to land around 3 a.m. EST, but whether they are enough to carry Baldwin across the finish line is in question.

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Theres a real Tammy wins, Kamala loses scenario here, one Wisconsin Democratic operative said, noting that Baldwin has outrun Harris in some rural counties to give her a boost.

Michigan

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) has pulled in front of former Rep. Mike Rogers (R) with a small lead in the Michigan Senate race.

She held a slim 12,000-vote advantage over Rogers Wednesday morning out of more than 5.3 million ballots cast. Shes leading Rogers 48.6 percent to 48.3 percent with 95 percent of the vote counted.

There are major differences in the state compared to Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Chief among them is that a much larger portion of the outstanding vote remains in the Wolverine State, including in Wayne County, a Democratic stronghold that includes Detroit.

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Trump is running about 90,000 votes ahead of Harris in Michigan, with more than 2.75 million votes.

As of Wednesday morning, Trump had won about 104,000 more votes than Rogers while Slotkin had won about as many votes as Harris.

Nevada

The Nevada Senate race is essentially tied with 86 percent of the vote counted as Republican Sam Brown is leading freshman Sen. Jacky Rosen (D) by fewer than 1,000 votes, with 84 percent of the vote already counted.

The Hills Decision Desk HQ declared Trump the winner in Nevada early Wednesday morning. He led by nearly 60,000 votes.

Longtime political commentator Jon Ralston, the CEO of The Nevada Independent, noted a big drop-off in support for Brown in Clark County  the states most populous  compared to Trump.

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Rosen is leading Brown by more than 40,000 votes in Clark County.

Updated at 10:35 a.m. EST

Alexander Bolton contributed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Republicans had a huge election night, capturing the White House and Senate and possibly keeping the House, but several of their state ballot measures on education issues came up short.

From school choice to partisan school board elections, the wins in the higher offices did not translate to the policies President-elect Trump and other conservatives support, with some states overwhelmingly voting against the measures.

Here is how some of the education issues panned out at the polls.

School choice

The conservative-backed school choice movement has seen multiple successes in statehouses, but voters in Kentucky, Nebraska and Colorado all rejected policies allowing taxpayer money to go toward existing or creating private schools.

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In Kentucky, voters rejected a measure to amend the states constitution that would have paved the way for lawmakers to bring up school choice policies.

Nebraska voters overturned a state law that was passed in April allowing a $10 million fund to be created for students going to private schools, with 57 percent of voters overturning the fund as of early this morning.

Colorado fared no better for school choice advocates, as Amendment 80, which aimed to enshrine the right to school choice in the state constitution, failed.

Opponents of school choice had previously told The Hill they hoped failure at the ballot box would slow down the movement more broadly.

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I think it will  if all three fail, and even if two of the three fail, I think it will affect their strategy a little bit, because that would signal theyre almost at a max in terms of their capacity to bring about new states, Joshua Cowen, professor of education policy at Michigan State University and senior fellow at Education Law Center, said last week.

Partisan school board elections

Florida, which went overwhelmingly for Trump, voted to reject a GOP-backed change to allow for partisan school board elections. Only four states require the listing of political parties for school board elections, with the vast majority of such elections nationwide being nonpartisan.

Amendment 1 did get a majority of the vote, coming in around 55 percent, but a supermajority of 60 percent was needed to pass it.

By rejecting Amendment 1, voters sent a clear message to politicians who want to infuse politics into our classrooms  students should always be our number one focus, said Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association.

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Republicans who back partisan school board elections argue having party affiliation helps voters in elections where they otherwise have to try to learn the policy positions of numerous candidates.

I think it would help vote voters if they knew the party affiliation, because most voters simply cannot be informed from president to Senate to Congress to governor to their local legislators to county commissioners down to the school board. Its just too much, said Rod Thomson, communications chair for the Republican Party of Sarasota County, according to local outlet WLRN.

State testing

Massachusetts saw a decisive victory for a unique issue regarding standardized testing in the state: Question 2 overturned the states requirement for high school students to pass a standardized test in order to graduate.

More than 58 percent of the vote went to end the test, which had been around for more than 30 years.

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In passing Question 2, Massachusetts voters have proclaimed that they are ready to let teachers teach, and students learn, without the onerous effects of a high-stakes standardized test undermining the mission of public education: to prepare all students for future success as citizens, workers and creative, happy adults, Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy said in a joint statement.

Those against the measure had said it is important to keep a high standard for all students graduating Massachusetts schools.

The passage of Question 2 opens the door to greater inequity; our coalition intends to ensure that door does not stay open. Those responsible for our states public education system need to have an honest conversation about whether moving forward with this proposal is the right decision for Massachusetts, said John Schneider, chair of Protect Our Kids Future.

School funding

Multiple states had measures on the ballot that would increase funding to public schools.

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Arkansas, Rhode Island, New Mexico and Utah all passed various ways to get more money to their education systems.

In Utah, the annual distribution for school funding was raised from 4 percent to 5 percent. In Rhode Island, voters agreed to give $160 million to higher education for improvements to their facilities.

The measures won by a good margin in each state, with 90 percent approving more school funding in Arkansas and 65 percent in New Mexico.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Republicans seized control of the Senate on Tuesday, NBC News projects, toppling the one-seat majority that Democrats had desperately hoped to defend.

Democrats were always going to be on the back foot in this contest, holding 51 seats and defending 23 of them. It was a foregone conclusion that Republican Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia would win the seat held by retiring Sen. Joe Manchin, an independent who still caucused with the Democrats. That meant that Democrats' most plausible path forward was to hold every seat and hope that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz would become the tie breaking vote as vice president.

Follow MSNBCs live blog for the latest updates and expert analysis on the 2024 election.

A late surge to knock off at least one incumbent Republican in Texas or Florida ultimately proved unable to stop Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., from becoming the minority leader next year. Instead, things became clear once Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, lost his race against Republican Bernie Moreno that things weren't going to go their way. Even a win from Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., wouldn't have been enough to keep Republicans from securing a majority.

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Though we now know Republicans will be in the majority, their leader remains unknown. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced last year that he would step down as GOP leader at the end of this Congress, after 18 years in the role. That announcement kick-started a race to replace him as the new majority leader that will play out in the coming weeks, with Texas Sen. John Cornyn and South Dakota Sen. John Thune seen as the front-runners.

What the GOP's Senate takeover means for the next administration is a bit more of a question mark. Senate Republicans would surely block any Democratic agenda, including potentially stonewalling nominations. But while the upper chamber was more skeptical of former President Donald Trump during his first term than their House counterparts, the number of newer senators who lean more toward MAGA cant be ignored.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
(Rosen image from campaign ad; Brown photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Nevada Democratic U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen and Republican challenger Sam Brown were literally tied after initial election results were released Tuesday night, and by that time the race in Nevada was already irrelevant to control of the Senate, which Republicans had wrested from Democrats earlier in the evening.

With an estimated 74% of votes counted, Rosen led Brown by a mere 180 votes out of more than 960,000, and the two both had 47.8% of the vote.

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We are not letting up now. We are going to win this race, Rosen told supporters during a watch party at Aria Resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

We know there are still ballots outstanding that havent been counted or even received yet because they are in the mail or the drop boxes, Rosen said. There are also thousands of mail ballots that need to be cured starting tomorrow.

We will win when all the votes are counted, Rosen added.

Brown, a West Point graduate and Army captain who was badly burned by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan, had been shown trailing Rosen by as much as 10 points in some polling leading up to the election, though in the the last days of the campaign he expressed confidence the the gap was narrowing.

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Tonight you delivered, Brown told supporters at an election watch party at Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas Tuesday night.

Were going to keep working over the next couple of days. Check and see if your ballot was counted. There are thousands of ballots that were legally cast that need to be cured over the next few days.

Lets continue our work so I can go to the United States Senate to represent you, Brown said.

Rosen, who raised $46.5 million through the third quarter, pummeled Brown in television ads over his inconsistent record on reproductive freedom. Before moving to Nevada in 2018, Brown managed the Texas congressional campaign of a candidate who opposed abortion without exceptions for rape, incest, and health of the mother. As a legislative candidate in that state, Brown said hed support a ban on abortion with no exceptions after 20 weeks.

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Brown raised $20 million through the third quarter. He also received a last-minute boost of $6 million in late October from the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, NBC reported.

Rosen, billing herself as the most bipartisan member of Congress, led Brown in polling throughout the race. The former president of a synagogue in Henderson, Rosen served one term in the House of Representatives before her election to the Senate in 2018.

The race is Browns second for the U.S. Senate. In 2022, he lost the Republican primary to former Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who was defeated by the incumbent, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.

Brown, who was endorsed by former Pres. Donald Trump, declined to register support for Trumps plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and voiced support for a more simple path to citizenship. His campaign focused on the economy, cutting the federal budget, and easing prices for Nevadans.

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The Nevada race was one of a handful of competitive contests nationwide expected to determine which party would control the Senate. But the Senate map strongly favored Republicans thrroughout the cycle, with Democratic incumbents defending seats in several Trump states, including a seat in West Virginia which was being relinquished by Democrat Joe Manchin and was won Tuesday by Republican Gov. Jim Justice. The Democratic loss of that seat was a foregone conclusion.

Also Tuesday, Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown was defeated by Republican Bernie Moreno, securing Republicans at the least a tie in the Senate while they awaited the results in Montana, where incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester was trailing Republican challenger Tim Sheehy. Democratic incumbents were also facing stiff challenges in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

When Nebraska incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischler was declared the winner over independent candidate Dan Osborne, that sealed Republican control of the Senate.

This story was updated to include remarks from Rosen and Brown.
Far-right Republicans triumphed in Tarrant County on Tuesday, strengthening their grip on local government that included reelecting a sheriff with ties to election denial movements, and maintaining GOP control over a crucial electoral battleground.

Republican Sheriff Bill Waybourn held on to his seat, and former state Rep. Matt Krause, a conservative Republican, won his race for commissioners court, ensuring a GOP majority on the county governing board. Democrat Roderick Miles also earned a spot on the court representing a predictably blue precinct.

Former President Donald Trump also won Tarrant County  a reversal of 2020, when he lost there. Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz trailed his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas, by less than a percentage point in the county early Wednesday.

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Tarrant County is the nations most populous Republican-led county. After President Joe Biden narrowly won there in 2020, voters elected in 2022 a hardline conservative, Tim OHare, to county judge  the highest elected office. Tuesdays election is likely to increase the culture war agenda that OHare has pursued in office, and accelerate local governments ongoing move away from the bipartisanship on which it once prided itself.

Krause is a leader in Texas conservative Christian legal movement. He has advocated for requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, and as a lawmaker investigated Texas school districts over books that taught on racism or sexuality. His election puts two prominent far-right figures on the five-seat county commissioners court, including OHare.

Waybourn has close ties to the Constitutional Sheriff movement, a far-right law enforcement organization that believes elected sheriffs have almost unchecked authority to defy state and federal laws that they deem unconstitutional. He spoke at a Stop the Steal rally in 2020, and was recently named Sheriff of the Year by the Claremont Institute, a think tank whose leaders have advocated for Christian nationalism and were central to Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Waybourn survived a challenge from Democrat Patrick Moses, a law enforcement officer-turned-reverend whose campaign focused heavily on the more than 65 people who died in the county jail under Waybourn. Moses accused Waybourn of focusing more on national politics than his local duties.

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Waybourn and Krause won their races despite concerns from some area Republicans about the direction of county government. Earlier this year, Glen Whitley, a Republican who led the county from 2007 to 2022, told The Texas Tribune that OHare has governed with an us vs. them mentality  a stark contrast from the moderate, business-friendly approach that helped the GOP hold control over the fast-diversifying county for decades.

Under OHare, the commissioners court has changed election rules, scaled back diversity and harassment training requirements for local government agencies, and cut ties with youth programs because the groups administering them taught about racial inequality. At the same time, OHare has repeatedly targeted private citizens who were critical of him. Ahead of the election, the county judge unsuccessfully tried to curb early voting access by closing polling locations on some college campuses.

Krause replaces outgoing Commissioner Gary Fickes after comfortably defeating Democratic challenger Laura Leeman in Precinct 3, which covers the northeastern part of the county and includes cities such as Southlake and Keller. A member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, Krause served in the Texas House for five terms. During that time he asked school superintendents to confirm whether any books on a list of 850 titles were in their libraries and classrooms that make students feel discomfort, setting off a statewide GOP purge of certain books, often touching on LGBTQ+ themes, in public schools and libraries.

Tarrant County is an epicenter of conservative Christian movements that argue Americas founding was God-ordained, and that Christians must have dominion over all parts of society. Krauses election is the latest victory for that movement, and for local churches who have defied federal prohibitions on political activity in order to elect their allies to state and local government.

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Krause is an attorney with the First Liberty Institute, which has been instrumental in lawsuits that have infused more Christianity into public life and eroded church-state separations. Last year, as Texas lawmakers considered a bill to require the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, he testified that Texas could become a national model for passing laws thatd spark a restoration of faith in America. The bill did not pass, but lawmakers are expected to pursue it again during the 2025 legislative session.

Precinct 1, which covers the county's southwest, went to Miles, who outgoing commissioner Roy Charles Brooks endorsed. The region is where most of the county's Democratic votes typically reside as Miles won his race against Republican Michael Barber.

In a tighter race, Waybourn won reelection despite an 8-year tenure marked by controversy.

Waybourn has faced calls to resign from a Democratic commissioner and local community members because of deaths in the county jail. Waybourn requested the U.S. Department of Justice to review the conditions at the jail in May. The results of it showed that although several practices at the jail met or exceed national standards, officials could improve the conditions of those with significant needs, including as those at risk for suicide.

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The Local Accountability PAC, a national progressive group focused on sheriff races, launched a six-figure campaign to help Moses unseat Waybourn. Moses received the endorsements of local North Texas newspapers and state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, while Gov. Greg Abbott and local law enforcement associations have endorsed Waybourn. Along with OHare and District Attorney Phil Sorrells, Waybourn is a member of the countys election integrity unit, created last year to focus on potential voter fraud, which has not filed a single case.

Tarrant County Republicans also won other local races, such as the countys tax assessor-collector and local judicial races.
Michigan Capitol | Susan J. Demas

Michigan Republicans have regained control of the Michigan House, ending Democrats complete control in Lansing that was achieved in 2022.

Going into Tuesdays election, Democrats enjoyed a slim 56-54 advantage in the House. But Republicans were able to flip four Democratic districts. In January, the GOP will have a 58-52 majority and be a check on Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmers power.

Michigan State House Republican Leader Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) speaks at a media roundtable before the governors State of the State on Jan. 24, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Our hard-fought victory reaffirms that the people of Michigan want leaders who put them first, uphold the rule of law, and advocate for accountability at every level of government, said House Minority Leader Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.). With a Republican majority, Michigan will have a stronger voice fighting for the values of hardworking families and addressing the issues that matter most  safe schools and neighborhoods, an affordable economy, and a government that provides value for dollars.

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Michigan House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) Chair state Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland), echoed Halls statement.

Tonights victory shows that Michiganders trust Republicans to lead our state toward a brighter future. They want a government that listens, that acts with integrity and that is accountable to the people. We are ready to deliver on those promises and restore balance to Michigans government, said Schuette.

One of the districts Republicans won to secure their majority is the 27th District, which is held by Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte). Churches lost to Republican challenger Rylee Linting, 58% to 42% in unofficial returns. Linting is the former youth chair of the Michigan Republican Party, who currently serves as a field representative for Turning Point Action, the right-wing organization run by Charlie Kirk.

The 44th District is currently held by Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek), who was decisively defeated 60% to 40% by Republican Steve Frisbie, a longtime paramedic who has served as a Calhoun County commissioner for the past 13 years.

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In the 58th District, state Rep. Democrat Nate Shannon (D-Sterling Heights) lost to GOP challenger Ron Robinson, 54% to 46%. Robinson is a Utica City Council member, realtor and Marine veteran of the Gulf War.

And finally, the 109th House District was lost by Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette). Former television meteorologist Karl Bohnak earned 51% to her 49%.

Incumbents winning reelection in key races are:

Rep. Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown Twp.) of the 28th District

Rep. Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Twp.) of the 31st District

Rep. Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph) in the 38th District

Rep. Kathy Schmaltz (R-Jackson) in the 46th District

Rep. Donni Steele (R-Orion Twp.) in the 54th District

Rep. Thomas Kuhn (R-Troy) of the 57th District

Rep. Denise Mentzer (D-Mount Clemens) in the 61st District

Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Twp.) in the 76th District

Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) in the 83rd District

Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) in the 103rd District

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Meanwhile, Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit), who will be giving up the gavel in January, released a statement Wednesday morning once the outcome was clear.

House Democrats left everything on the field over the past months to maintain the majority. Our incumbents and candidates put their blood, sweat and tears into their campaigns and I am proud of the work they did to earn votes, said Tate.Come January, we will look for every opportunity to work with our Republican colleagues in a bipartisan manner to put the people of Michigan first. We will fulfill our duty as the voice of reason and do our best to make our mark on legislation that moves through the state legislature.

In their two years in the majority, combined with a 20-18 lead in the Senate, Democrats got a lengthy list of progressive legislation passed including ending Right to Work, implementing gun safety measures, expanding state civil rights protections to include gender identity, and eliminating the states 1931 ban on abortion.

On that last point, Right to Life of Michigan President Amber Roseboom said the results of Tuesdays election speak for themselves.

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The Democrats strategy this year was to weaponize the abortion issue in hopes of big wins at the polls. That strategy failed. Michigan voters, and voters across the country, issued a resounding repudiation of the radical abortion-obsessed agenda of the left, said Roseboom. Voters came out in historic numbers to elect candidates who demonstrated the courage and commitment to stand for commonsense protections for Michiganders, safeguards like parental consent and limits on taxpayer funding for elective abortion.

With Republicans back in control of the House, it is unlikely any further progressive priorities will get through the chamber, whether they pass through the state Senate or not.

The Senate is not up for reelection until 2026 and remains controlled by Democrats. However, Democrats are about to lose one member in a swing seat, state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), who won her race in the 8th Congressional District. That special election can be expected to be a bruising, high-spending fight.

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Another factor this year were several House districts that were redrawn on the order of a federal court late last year, after it found more than a dozen metro Detroit House and Senate districts were unconstitutional in how they were drawn.

In all, seven House districts had to be redrawn first in order to be ready for this Novembers election, while six districts in the Senate map were redrawn last as none of those seats will be up for election until 2026.

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Donald Trump has won the 2024 US election, securing a second presidential term many thought impossible just a few months ago.

Taking to the stage for a victory speech before the announcement, Mr Trump pledged his second presidency would be a golden age for America.

Reaction in the UK has been mixed. The government has broadly welcomed the news, with Keir Starmer congratulating the president-elect in the hours before his victory was officially announced.

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I look forward to working with you in the years ahead, he said, adding: I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

Prime minister Keir Starmer and US president-elect Donald Trump (Reuters/Getty)

Other political reaction has been more critical, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey calling the result a dark, dark day for people around the globe.

Millions of Americans  especially women and minorities  will be incredibly fearful about what comes next. We stand with them.

Sir Keirs more enthusiastic embracement of the president-elects victory may be seen as a necessary political move by some. The prime minister has expressed a desire to maintain the UKs strong relationship with the US during his time in power, saying earlier in the year he would work with either candidate.

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However, the Labour leader has not always been so diplomatic towards the 45th  and now 47th  US president.

Heres what the prime minister has said about Mr Trump over the years:

Absolutely repugnant

Sir Keir has not always considered his words as carefully as he does now when it comes to the president-elect. He first spoke about Mr Trump in January 2016, debating in Commons a petition which called for the US politician to be banned from the UK.

Addressing the House less than a year before Mr Trumps first presidential victory, Sir Keir said: We are united in condemning the comments of Donald Trump on issues such as Mexican immigrants, Muslims and women.

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He went on to call comments made by Mr Trump absolutely repugnant, adding that for me, his views edge towards treating a whole community as a suspect community.

Sir Keir Starmer has hailed the special relationship between the UK and the US (Russell Cheyne/PA) (PA Wire)

Of course I would not want to have Donald Trump round for dinner to express his views, he added, but said that he did not think the threshold had been met for him to be banned from the country.

The then-shadow home secretary said: I would invite him to [my constituency] at the end of a long listto meet my constituents, because mine is an incredibly diverse and multicultural community.

In the end, we should be guided by our own values, not his. Our own values include a deep belief in freedom of speech and in multi-faith and diverse societies in which everyone feels secure and respected.

Dishonesty and division

The years following Trumps election in 2016 saw Sir Keir continue to take digs at the president, both in Jeremy Corbyns shadow cabinet and as leader of the opposition.

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In June 2018, he tweeted: Humanity and dignity. Two words not understood by President Trump, referring to footage of children detained in cages at US immigration centres.

The following year, he said: An endorsement from Donald Trump tells you everything you need to know about what is wrong with Boris Johnsons politics.

Humanity and dignity. Two words not understood by President Trump. A truly great country treats all people with humanity and dignity. https://t.co/GvmpgpkJIy  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 19, 2018

Sir Keir went on to take issue with Conservative plans to sell off the NHS to Donald Trumps America, the president-elects farce peace plan for Israel and Palestine, and Dominic Cummings action during lockdown, which he called the tactics of Donald Trump.

Commenting on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris victory in the 2020 US election, Sir Keir said: their victory is one for hope and unity over dishonesty and division.

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It is a chance to reassert Americas place as a force for good on the world stage, the Labour leader added.

The closest of allies

The prime minister did not appear to pay much mind to Trump during the four years of Joe Bidens presidency. However, towards the end of the Democrats term, he began to adopt a much more diplomatic approach.

Speaking in May after Mr Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts, Sir Keir acknowledged that it was an unprecedented situation. Theres no doubt about that.

Ultimately, whether hes elected president will be a matter for the American people and, obviously, if were privileged to come in to serve, we would work with whoever they choose as their president.

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But, he added: we would work with whoever [the American people] choose as their president.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy (PA) (PA Wire)

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A few months later, and fresh from his election victory, the prime minister met Mr Trump in New York for a two-hour dinner. He was accompanied by foreign secretary David Lammy, who himself has previously called the president-elect a neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.

Sir Keir also later deflected allegations from the Trump campaign that Labour had undertaken unlawful electoral interference by providing support to Ms Harris campaign, saying that he and Mr Trump still had a good relationship.

Now, the prime minister has delivered an unqualified congratulatory message to Mr Trump, calling his victory historic and reaffirming his desire to remain the closest of allies.
BARJA, Lebanon (AP)  Lebanese rescuers pulled 30 bodies out of the rubble after a late-night Israeli strike on an apartment building in the town of Barja, Lebanons Civil Defense service said Wednesday as the Mideast wars press on with no signs of abating.

It remained unclear if there were any survivors or bodies still trapped under the debris following the Tuesday night airstrike, which came without warning. There was no statement from the Israeli military and the strike's intended target also was unknown.

Barja, a town just north of the port city of Sidon in central Lebanon, has not been regularly targeted so far in the conflict.

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Something pulled me hard, and then the explosion happened, said Moussa Zahran, who was at home with his wife and son when the building was hit. He said he couldn't see but started digging through the rubble until he found his wife and son  alive but injured  and pulled them out. Both are still in the hospital, he said.

Another building resident, Muhyiddin Al-Qalaaji, said he was at work when the strike happened and heard the news from his wife who called him frantically.

"There are many dead and injured, he said as he carried out what he could salvage of the family's belongings on Wednesday morning.

Civil defense official Mostafa Danaj said some of the neighbors have reported there are still people missing.

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Israeli forces and the Hezbollah militant group have been clashing for more than a year, since Hezbollah started firing rockets across the border soon after the Palestinian Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack from Gaza into southern Israel sparked the ongoing war there.

The war on the Lebanese front has substantially escalated since mid-September, with Israel launching a massive aerial bombardment and ground invasion.

Several large airstrikes hit Beiruts southern suburbs early Thursday, including one on a site adjacent to Lebanons only international airport. The Israeli military had earlier issued an evacuation notice for the site saying that there were Hezbollah facilities there without giving more details. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

On Wednesday, a rocket attack killed a foreign worker near the northern Israeli city of Acre, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service. The workers nationality was not immediately known.

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Sirens blared across northern and central Israel earlier in the day, including in the populous metropolitan area of Tel Aviv, as Hezbollah launched 10 rockets. A large portion of a rocket slammed into a parked car in the central Israeli city of Raanana. Rockets also struck an open area near Israels main airport, Israeli media reported, though the airport said flights were operating as normally.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a surprise announcement that sparked protests across the country. Gallants replacement is Foreign Minister Israel Katz, a longtime Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister.

Israeli police said they arrested 40 people during protests on Tuesday night when the demonstrators blocked Israels main highway in Tel Aviv. Thousands of people gathered outside Israel's parliament on Wednesday night to protest against Gallant's firing.

Netanyahu were repeatedly at odds over the war in Gaza but the prime minister had avoided letting go of his rival before the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday, in which former President Donald Trump made a comeback victory.

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Gallant had pushed back on some of Netanyahu's demands during indirect negotiations with Hamas over a cease-fire and hostage release, and was seen as more open to reaching at least a temporary truce.

The Hamas attack that triggered the war killed some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and Palestinian militants abducted 250 others that day. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, around a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Israels offensive has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say. They do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of those killed were women and children.

Since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in 2023, at least 3,000 people have been killed and some 13,500 have been wounded in Lebanon, about a quarter of them women and children, the Health Ministry reported.

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Hezbollah aerial attacks have killed 73 people in Israel so far, including 30 soldiers, according to local authorities.

___

Associated Press writers Abby Sewell in Beirut and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.
While politicians continue to cast immigrants as a threat to local communities with rhetoric so hateful its shut down schools, RAND researchers note a positive development following the arrival of young newcomers: They boost other students academic performance.

A Delaware-based study found that a substantive increase in young immigrants leads to sizable academic gains for students who were already in English learner programs or who had graduated from them.

And at a time when immigrant students are portrayed as a drain on U.S. schools, researchers also found that those who had never been enrolled in English learner programs were not significantly impacted. Their performance improved, but by a negligible amount.

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Researchers analyzed student-level administrative data from Delaware covering 125,500 fourth through eighth graders enrolled in public schools between the 201516 and 201819 school years. They note the timeliness of the study, which was published last month in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association.

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President-elect Donald Trump, who won decisively in his re-election bid against Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday, regularly lambasted immigrants in dehumanizing, racist terms throughout his campaign and promised mass deportation of the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal immigration status.

University of Rochester professor David Figlio (University of Rochester)

What are the effects of immigrants on communities? asked David Figlio, professor of economics and education at the University of Rochester, in a recent interview with The 74. Especially those that are new immigrant destinations that have not historically had large numbers of foreign-born residents? This paper directly addresses one of the most important potential mechanisms through which immigrant students might affect incumbent students  the consequences of increased linguistic diversity in the classroom.

Delawares share of immigrants increased by 65% between 2000 and 2010  and by 53% between 2010 and 2019, according to the study. Likewise, the number of English learner students in Delaware public schools increased seven-fold over the past two decades.

Researchers say the share of English learners in the public school system soared from 2% in 2000 to 11% in 2019: The increase accounted for about half of the overall enrollment growth in Delaware public schools in that timeframe.

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Umut Ozek, a senior economist at RAND, said a sudden increase in newcomer students can test schools: their needs might call for added social and academic support.

But, he said, these findings should assuage concerns by state and federal policy makers that large upticks of newcomer students are overwhelming school districts and degrading classroom achievement, saying such conversations must be rooted in fact.

We dont want these debates to take place in vacuums, he said.

Conservative forces have long considered an attack on Plyler v. Doe, the 1982 Supreme Court decision that prohibits schools from turning away students based upon their immigration status.

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Politicians in several states are already targeting these students. Oklahoma schools Superintendent Ryan Walters demanded  in an Oct. 29 letter addressed to Vice President Harris  a nearly $475 million reimbursement for what he claims is the cost of educating illegal immigrant children.

Related

Critics Say Ryan Walters Courted Right-Wing Fame as Oklahoma Ed Dept. Fell Apart

Under your supervision, the costs in education due to illegal immigration have risen astronomically, he wrote. Your failed oversight and efforts are a direct cause of the current crises Oklahoma and other states now face. Oklahoma taxpayers, schools, teachers, and parents should not bear the burden of your failings.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said two years ago that Plyler should be revisited: A Tennessee politician introduced legislation that would bar undocumented students from public school. A state representative in Utah made similar remarks earlier this year.

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RAND researchers are not entirely sure why current and former English learners benefit from the arrival of newcomer students but cite three possible explanations: First, they say, immigrant students often trigger increased funding for schools, money that could be particularly helpful to existing English learners.

For example, if the English learner population reaches a particular threshold, schools might hire additional staff to support these students. Second, a marked uptick of newcomers in the classroom might prompt teachers to use more effective strategies to serve this population, a change they might not have made if their numbers remained small.

Finally, researchers say, English learners in receiving schools tend to be more academically motivated and can also help their peers feel less isolated.

Related

Hundreds of High Schools Wrongfully Refused Entry to Older, Immigrant Student

This is just one of a handful of studies these researchers have conducted in this area.

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Another, centered on Florida and published in April 2023, found that the presence of immigrant students has a positive effect on the academic achievement of U.S.-born students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

An earlier study in 2018 focused on the impact of Haitian newcomers on existing students in Florida: Researchers found no evidence of negative effects on incumbent students school outcomes after the young immigrants arrived.
Residents voted in a number of races for Kane County offices in the general election on Tuesday.

The Kane County Board chair position appears to have been won by Democratic incumbent Corinne Pierog, who ran against Republican challenger Lance Bell in the Tuesday election.

Unofficial results on Tuesday night showed that 50.27% voted for Pierog while 45.94% voted for Bell, with all precincts reporting.

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Pierog has led the Kane County Board as its chair since she was first elected in 2020. Before that, she worked at public schools, colleges, a film company and a chamber of commerce before moving back to Illinois and starting a business to help organizations develop their boards, she said in an interview with The Beacon-News before the election.

Bell is the CEO of ServingIntel and a leader of the nonprofit Christian Leadership Ministries. He told The Beacon-News in an interview before the election that he is a lifelong entrepreneur and has previously founded a number of other businesses.

Democratic challenger Monica Silva was leading Republican incumbent Rob Russell in the race for Kane County coroner, according to the election numbers Tuesday night.

Unofficial results showed that 48.70% voted for Silva while 46.98% voted for Russell, with all precincts reporting.

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Russell has been the Kane County coroner for the past 12 years. In an interview before the election, he told The Beacon-News that he views the position as having a law enforcement role, one he is experienced in because of his time as a deputy sheriff at DuPage County and his time as Kane County coroner.

Silva is a chiropractor in Aurora who has been a Kane County Board member since 2010. She believes the coroner role is more about public health than it is about law enforcement and told The Beacon-News in an interview before the election that she is qualified for the position because of her 20 years seeing patients and 20 years being the administrator of her own practice.

The Kane County states attorney position appears to have been won by Democratic incumbent Jamie Mosser, who ran against Republican challenger Andrew Sosnowski.

Unofficial results showed that 51.03% voted for Mosser while 44.76% voted for Sosnowski, with all precincts reporting.

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Mosser has been the Kane County states attorney since she was elected in 2020. She previously worked for the Kane County States Attorneys Office, where she ran the Domestic Violence Unit before going into private practice, she said in an interview with The Beacon-News before the election.

Sosnowski also previously worked for the Kane County States Attorneys Office, where he led the Family Justice Division and helped to develop the countys Child Advocacy Center, he told The Beacon-News in an interview before the election. He also previously worked as the general counsel for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and he now runs a private practice, he said.

In the race for circuit clerk in Kane County, incumbent Democrat Theresa Barreiro received 51.16% of the vote, according to unofficial results with all precincts reporting on Tuesday night, with Republican Anthony Catella getting 44.67%.

For Kane County auditor, according to unofficial results Tuesday with all precincts reporting, incumbent Democrat Penny Wegman got 50.82% of the vote, to 44.87% for Republican Gretchen Butler.

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In the contest for Kane County recorder, incumbent Republican Sandy Wegman received 49.15% of the vote, with Democrat Marisela Villegas getting 46.31%, according to unofficial results Tuesday with all precincts reporting.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com
Connecticut voters on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment that would allow universal absentee voting, according to unofficial results.

The approval of the ballot measure, which the ACLU called a resounding victory, will allow lawmakers to introduce legislation to bring no-excuse mail-in voting to the state, joining the majority of U.S. states, which allow residents to vote by mail regardless of whether they claim an approved excuse such being out of town or having an illness.

The current system doesnt work for everyone from an access point of view, said Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford. If you work long hours, multiple jobs, or if you care for someone with a disability, that may prevent you from getting to the polls and deprive you from your right to vote.

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Twenty-eight other states, plus the District of Columbia, already allow no-excuse mail-in voting, and eight more states have all-mail elections, in which every eligible voter is automatically mailed a ballot.

Noema Charles checks off Kathrine Amero's name off the voter list at Stanton Elementary School.

As results on Tuesday night began to show that the measure was likely to pass  with the Associated Press reporting about 56% in favor at 11:45 p.m. with 28% of the vote counted  Blumenthal said the referendum would allow us to not only increase voting access across our state but also design a system thats more efficient and secure and serves the people of Connecticut better than the current one does.

Connecticut has been sorely behind our fellow Americans in its availability of safe, convenient and accessible options for voters to participate in their democracy, said ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC chairman David McGuire. Our people are our power, and when people vote, the people win.

But making the change hasnt been easy. The right to vote absentee is only allowed under certain circumstances, according to the Connecticut Constitution, meaning that voters had to approve the measure so that lawmakers can make the change official.

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More: Election 2024 Recap: What to know as the results come in; what brought people out to vote

On Tuesday, the Connecticut Republican Party made a last minute push to defeat the measure, posting on X, lets send a message to the politicians in Hartford. Leave our Constitution alone.

After early results suggested the measure would pass, Connecticut Republican Committee Chair Ben Proto said the move was unfortunate and unnecessary.

Im leery about continuing to amend our constitution to do things that are the flavor-of-the-month kind of thing, Proto said. The constitution should really be a sacred document that sets forth our principals of why our government exists, and to continue to run these amendments time and time again to continue to gain political and electoral advantages seems to me to be contrary to what the constitution is all about.

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Members of the Republican party have expressed growing distrust in the electoral process. In a recent Connecticut Mirror poll, about 79% of Democrats who responded said they supported the measure, and 81% of Republicans opposed the expansion of absentee voting.

That distrust was fomented by the ongoing absentee ballot abuse scandal in Bridgeport, in which Wanda Geter-Pataky, the vice chairwoman of the citys Democratic Party, was charged, along with three others, with allegedly helping voters to fill out absentee ballots during the citys 2019 mayoral race and illegally taking possession of those ballots before the election.

The referendum comes after a similar ballot measure in 2014, which failed. Blumenthal said that, in that case, overly complicated and confusing phrasing was to blame.

Former Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, who was behind that 2014 attempt, said the issue looked different 10 years ago. For one, it was coupled with a referendum to allow early voting, an issue that was subsequently considered by voters on its own terms, and took place for the first time this year.

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More: Norwich Free Academy holds mock election for president: Here are the takeaways

Its time hadnt come. It wasnt a huge issue as it is now, Merrill said.

The change in the mentality around absentee voting is partially a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Merrill said, when the state allowed all eligible voters to mail in their ballots, due to concerns about contagion. About a third of the electorate used absentee voting, and they loved it.

Nearly 80% of Connecticuts eligible voters participated in the election, the most in the states history.

People overwhelmingly reported it to be a positive experience, Blumenthal said. We waited a little longer for the results than we normally do. But things went smoothly.

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Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas said on Tuesday that she hoped that voters would weigh in on the ballot measure.

Part of the issue with ballot questions, sometimes, theyre not well advertised. Voters arent quite sure what the issue is, Thomas said. I know, in 2014, a lot of people left that question blank. So for me, a successful result is that everyone actually answers."

Laura Tillman is a reporter for The Connecticut Mirror (https://ctmirror.org). Copyright 2024  The Connecticut Mirror.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Conn. 2024 election results: No-excuse absentee voting OKed by voters
HARTLAND TWP.  Three candidates were elected to the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

There were six candidates in total for three seats: Tyffany Baird, Jeff Campbell, Cindy Shaw, Angela Yarber, Jeff Scott and Julie Tucker. Scott and Tucker were running for a partial term ending Dec. 31, 2026. The rest were running for two six-year terms.

The winners were Campbell (27.83%), Shaw (25.6%) and Scott (50.22%), according to unofficial results. Campbell and Shaw led Yarber and Baird by over 400 votes, but Tucker only trailed Scott by 67.

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Each candidate was asked by The Daily what their focus would be if elected. The answers from the winners, in part, were:

Three candidates were elected to the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Campbell: I will aim to avoid conflict and alleviate issues to get momentum moving in a positive direction for the benefit of students, staff and community. When elected leaders cannot communicate professionally and make sound, positive decisions in a timely manner, the community suffers. This results in a lack of a common drive, values and goals within our district, calls and visits to our facilities with complaints and concerns, and negative interactions and rifts between community members.

Shaw: Campbell, Shaw and Tucker are focused on students first. As a current board member and a community member, I have supported students, staff and administrators. We must meet students where they are and ensure that our staff has the resources to meet students needs. We must hire and retain quality teachers and staff. Preparing our students for success after high school is a top priority.

Scott: Hartland has the best teachers, educators, building administrators and students anywhere in Michigan. This is an undeniable strength that has made Hartland a destination district. However, the district also faces steep enrollment declines, which will result in fiscal deficit in coming years if not managed properly. I seek to ensure that Hartland returns to an academic focus and that woke agendas and ideologies are stopped in their tracks.

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The candidates also offered statements to The Daily on Wednesday.

Im very happy with the turnout and Im excited to be elected," Campbell said.

"I am grateful to the Hartland community for their show of support in yesterday's election," Shaw said. "I also want to thank everyone who supported my campaign. I am both humbled and thrilled to continue as a board of education trustee for another six years. I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead, including new board members that I hope will bring positive energy directed at keeping our district on the incredible upward trend that we have experienced. We are going to Keep Hartland Great!"

I am grateful to the parents and voters of Hartland Consolidated Schools who have put their faith in me to fight for Hartland students as a (trustee)," Scott said. "I look forward to working with parents, taxpayers, faculty, staff and fellow board members to continue to develop Hartland Consolidated Schools as a premier district in the state of Michigan with a focus on educational excellence.

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Shaw is currently board secretary. She was appointed to the board in 2022. Chris Costa and Michelle Blondeel did not seek re-election. Their terms expire Dec. 31.

Baird, Scott and Yarber teamed up in their campaigns. They, along with Director of Community Outreach for Hartland Voters Trisha Fessler, called for the resignations of the four board members who voted in favor of extending the district's monitoring agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, which stems from an investigation that began in 2021.

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Board President Meghan Glabach, Vice President Kristin Coleman, Treasurer Costa and Shaw supported the extension. Hartland Voters is described as a grassroots citizen organization in a news release. Yard signs for Baird, Scott and Yarber focused on parents' rights.

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Campbell, Shaw and Tucker also teamed up in their campaigns. Yard signs for the trio focused on educators.

 Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Campbell, Shaw and Scott elected to Hartland School Board
Election workers John Jorgensen and Irene Morris inspect ballots on May 16, 2022 at the Marion County Clerk's Office in Salem. Measure 117 asks voters if they'd like ranked choice voting for federal and statewide elections. (Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Oregon voters have rejected a proposal to adopt ranked choice voting statewide while the states largest city conducted its first ranked choice election.

According to the Secretary of States Office, nearly 60% of voters opposed Measure 117, compared with 40% in favor. The Associated Press called the race before 10 p.m.

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In ranked choice voting, anyone who gets more than 50% of the votes wins. If no one gets a majority, the person with the least votes is eliminated, and their first-choice votes then go to the second-choice person on that ballot. That continues until there is a winner.

Republicans opposed Measure 117, saying its confusing and would make voting too complicated for Oregonians. County clerks also opposed the measure, saying it was poorly written and that the system needs to be thoroughly vetted.

Any ensuing confusion or issues will likely lead to your election officials sitting through legislative hearings trying to amend how this is currently written, the clerks said in the Voters Pamphlet.

Opponents didnt raise much money to defeat it  only about $2,500  while supporters raised more than $4 million to pass the measure.

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Mike Alfoni, campaign manager of the Yes on Measure 117 campaign, said changing the status quo isnt easy.

We knew we had an uphill battle and are proud of how close we came  with voters in Multnomah and Benton counties supporting Measure 117  counties that are already using ranked choice voting for their local elections, Alfoni said. Were confident that theres a bright future for continued election reform in Oregon.

Lawmakers referred Measure 117 to the ballot to give voters the option of adopting ranked choice voting for primary and general election races for president, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer and labor commissioner. The measure also would authorize  but not mandate  local governments to adopt ranked choice voting for their races.

Lawmakers excluded their races after local election officials expressed concern about lengthy ballots. That exception is likely something that raised suspicions among voters, analysts said.

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They also noted that the last time voters opted to change the voting system was in 1998, with the approval of vote by mail. That came after more than a decade of testing at the local level.

Oregons one experiment with ranked choice voting  in Benton County  went into effect in 2020. Ranked choice voting is also used in a few U.S. cities and in the states of Alaska and Maine. Portland used ranked choice voting in this election to form its new city government and Multnomah County will begin using it in 2026.

The ballot referral comes at a time of mounting disillusionment with the political system. In a recent Portland-based Values and Beliefs Center survey, 75% of respondents said the most politically popular candidate, not the most qualified, wins, and 58% said that the current electoral system produces outcomes that reflect the values and beliefs of a small group of political Oregonians, not the values and beliefs of typical Oregonians from around the state.

Ranked choice voting tends to eliminate the more extreme candidates, especially in primaries, while supporting candidates with the widest support across the electorate. Supporters also say it increases voter participation.

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Benton County will continue to use ranked choice voting while the same winner-take-all system would apply to other elections as it does now.

Oregon joined four other states  Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri and Nevada  in asking voters about ranked choice voting in this years election.

Updated at 10 p.m. with the race call.

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Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III won reelection Tuesday by defeating repeat challenger Wayland Cubit with 58.13% of the vote, according to unofficial results, despite a $600,000 third-party campaign against Johnson by a political action committee.

Cubit, 55, director of security for Oklahoma City Public Schools, challenged Johnson, 35, mainly for something for which the sheriff was only partially responsible: the troubled Oklahoma County jail.

Blue Horizon PAC spent hundreds of thousands of dollars just in the past month for mailers and TV ads complaining that Johnson "lost focus on fighting crime and wasted millions."

Tommie Johnson III is pictured in Edmond Tuesday, Oct., 8, 2024.

Johnson, a Republican, previously defeated Cubit in 2020, taking office in January 2021  the same time that the newly created county jail trust took over oversight of the Oklahoma County Detention Center.

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Johnson does share responsibility as a member of the trust, formally the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, the County Budget Board, and the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council.

Johnson could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Cubit, despite his second loss to the sheriff, said he remained committed to addressing issues impacting the community and dedicated to public service.

I want to thank every supporter, volunteer, and voter who believed in our vision for a safer, more accountable, and more compassionate Oklahoma County, Cubit said. While this may not have been the outcome we hoped for, I remain committed to working for the betterment of our community, especially on issues like the opioid crisis, jail reform, and building trust between law enforcement and the public.

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Johnson's supporters included most of the metro area's law enforcement establishment: former OKC Police Chief Wade Gourley, former Oklahoma County sheriffs John Whetsel and P.D. Taylor (who Johnson defeated in the 2020 Republican primary), jail trust Chairman Joe Allbaugh, as well as Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 144 and Edmond FOP Lodge No. 136.

The sheriff's main critic was Sue Ann Arnall, a former member of the jail trust and a present member of the Oklahoma Criminal Justice Advisory Council. Arnall is an attorney and president of the Arnall Family Foundation, which works for criminal justice reform, for youth welfare and justice, and against homelessness.

She complained that Johnson approved a $17.5-million remodel of the sheriff's office, using $10 million of the $260 million jail bond issue  for a new jail  in 2022. The money was more than enough to pay for her preferred project, a $1.5-million remodel of the old jail's unsafe booking area.

Arnall has donated to Blue Horizon PAC in the past but did not respond to The Oklahoman's request for comment.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Results: Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III reelected
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Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for Votebeat Michigans free newsletter here.

This Election Day, people around the country will be looking closely at the tight contest in Michigan to see whos showing up to vote, how the vote counting proceeds, and what the results will show.

That includes bad actors, who will be seeking to profit in some way  maybe politically  by spreading inaccurate information as if its fact.

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It can be easy to fall prey to mis- and disinformation, so were sharing information that can help debunk claims about Michigan before they can even be made.

Heres what you need to know about Michigans elections to make sure you dont get caught up in lies:

How do we know Michigan voters arent casting multiple ballots?

There are a lot of checks in place to ensure that each voter casts only one ballot.

Michigan uses something called the Qualified Voter File, which notes which voters have requested absentee ballots, who returned them, who voted early and so on. Its the record of whos allowed to vote, who has voted, and who hasnt.

When someone who has already voted  either early in person or with an absentee ballot  checks in at their polling place to try to vote again, the QVF will inform poll workers that the person has already cast their ballot and cannot get a new one.

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Double voting is extremely rare, but there are four voters who allegedly cast two ballots in the August primary election  one by mail and one in person. The double votes were quickly detected and they are now facing felony charges that could put them in prison for years if theyre found guilty.

Can poll challengers cause chaos at counting centers again?

Poll challengers in Michigan have a lot of power. Theyre separate from poll workers or watchers, and they can challenge a voters eligibility or how officials are doing their jobs. They gained notoriety in 2020 when some challengers were denied entry at Detroits vote counting center (because there were already enough of them inside to reach the limit), and people gathered outside began to demand that the count be stopped.

Theyre an important part of ensuring the transparency of Michigans elections, though. Any registered Michigan voter can be a challenger, but they must be credentialed by specific approved organizations. Clerks try to split challengers evenly between parties when possible.

Specific training is not required, but those offering credentials are encouraged to make sure challengers understand the rules so that they can make informed challenges without disrupting or delaying election-related activities, the 2024 guide says.

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There are new rules in place to prevent such disruptions from happening again, with the end goal of getting counting done faster and more efficiently. Challengers have to make specific challenges, and they cannot make repeated failed challenges or blanket challenges without risking being removed from the facility.

Challengers cannot talk to or otherwise interact with voters  in fact, they can talk only to a dedicated challenger liaison. They cant make audio or video recordings. And clerks have the right to limit the number of challengers.

Can homeless people vote in Michigan?

Yes! And its why you might see a lot of people whose voting records show them registered to a park, a street corner, or a church.

Homeless voters need to establish residency in some way, but like any Michigan voter, they can sign an affidavit in lieu of showing a photo ID.

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A letters from a shelter or a group that works with the voter are acceptable, as long as it has their name and confirms that they live in Michigan.

Like any other voter in Michigan, voters without permanent addresses can register and vote on Election Day.

Is there a problem with Dominion voting machines in Michigan?

Only some of the machines have an issue, and its a problem with ease of use  not their security.

The glitch is occurring nationwide with Dominions voter assist terminals, which are the accessible machines designed to help voters who have disabilities. These are not tabulators; they are touchscreen ballot-marking devices that allow blind voters or others to use various assistive technologies to cast their ballots.

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All polling places are legally required to have VATs, although not all of them use Dominion machines. Dominion VATs are used in 65 of Michigans 83 counties.

According to Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the VATs nationwide have a programming error where if a voter uses the straight ticket voting option and then wants to vote across parties in some individual races (which is permitted in Michigan), they get an error.

It can be fixed by simply selecting candidates one by one down the ballot.

VATs are a critical for disabled voters, but each one is used by only a few voters each election, Michigan clerks say. The problem is annoying for those voters, but it will not affect most others.

Why does it take so long for Michigan results to come in?

Its entirely normal to not know the results of the election immediately after polls close. Clerks say accurately counting thousands of ballots  millions across the state!  takes time. And in a very tight race, its hard to project a winner based on statistical patterns.

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The state has done a lot in recent years to try to speed up the process, but its not perfect. Clerks have the option to process absentee ballots  take them out of the envelope, verify the signatures, and put them into the tabulator, but NOT count them  before Election Day, which many clerks, particularly in large cities, have opted to do.

Well likely have results from those ballots soon after polls close on Tuesday. But ballots that arrive on Election Day can take a while longer. There are also some potential bottlenecks in getting vote totals from precincts to clerks. Counties that use Hart machines, like Oakland County, can use modems  connected to secure cellular networks, not the internet  to transmit results quickly. In other places, results must be shared through a closed computer network (again, not on the internet) and then verified with data from portable data storage devices that are driven in from the precincts. That can take a long time.

Its possible that Macomb County in particular could have slow results this year. Warren, its largest city and the third most populous in the state, has chosen to not pre-process ballots.

Does Michigan have more voters than people eligible to vote?

No. The claim has been debunked extensively by the state as well as independent experts.

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Michigan has 7.2 million active voters and 7.9 million residents over the age of 18. (We have a high registration rate in part because anyone who gets a drivers license is automatically registered to vote.)

In total, Michigan has 8.4 million registered voters on the rolls, but that number is misleading. About 1.2 million of those are records of inactive voters that cannot be cleared because of federal rules about cleaning voting rolls. They are labeled inactive because they havent voted in the past two federal elections or responded to election mail.

When people move and dont cancel their registration in Michigan, they can appear on that list as an inactive voter for years. Others on that list may be dead, although theres no evidence that dead voters are somehow voting.

Active voters and registered voters are not the same thing.
California voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to reverse course on progressive criminal justice reform, cracking down on theft crimes and the use of the deadly drug fentanyl.

Proposition 36 reforms a law approved a decade ago that reduced some felonies to misdemeanors and was seen as a milestone in California's attempt to end the harsh tough-on-crime policies of the past.

Read more: Election results for California's statewide propositions

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Support for Proposition 36 comes amid rising concerns about crime, homelessness and drug use in the state, an issue seized upon by Republicans and some big-city Democratic mayors during the 2024 election.

"For more than a decade, California voters have urged state leaders to reduce excessive incarceration and wasteful spending on prisons and expand investments into programs proven to prevent crime in the first place and stop crime cycles through rehabilitation," said Anthony York, a spokesperson for the No on 36 campaign. "The broad coalition of organizations that opposed Prop. 36 will continue to advocate for smart and effective criminal justice reform and new safety solutions that work for all communities."

Read more: California voters approve anti-crime ballot measure Prop. 36

Californians also voted on Tuesday to approve Proposition 3, shedding the last vestiges of Proposition 8, the 2008 voter-approved measure that banned same-sex marriage and was later declared unconstitutional.

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The measure repeals the outdated clause and enshrines marriage as a fundamental right for all  a precaution that supporters including Gov. Gavin Newsom said was necessary in case of potential Supreme Court rulings by a conservative majority of justices appointed by former President Trump.

Read more: 2024 election results: Trump wins second term, Harris concedes presidential race

Proposition 32, a statewide ballot initiative to increase California's current $16 minimum wage by $2 for all employees by 2026, appeared to be in a closer race but headed toward failure.

The measure received support from labor unions and anti-poverty advocates but was opposed by influential business interests.

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Proposition 36 was by far the highest-profile measure, with millions raised on both sides and so politically tricky that Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, a former California attorney general, refused to say whether she supported it.

Read more: Trump elected as the United States 47th president following wins in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

Opinion polls leading up to Tuesday's election showed strong voter support for Proposition 36 despite warnings from Newsom and the California Legislature's Democratic leadership, who urged voters to take a cautious approach to the ballot measure, saying it would take away state savings that are allocated to anti-recidivism programs and dramatically increase prison populations.

Read more: 2024 California elections results

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The support for Proposition 36 alarmed criminal justice advocates, who argued that Proposition 47 helped reduce incarceration and promoted reform, while critics claim it contributed to rising crime rates in the state.

Proponents of the measure said Tuesdays results reflect Californians strong desire for safer communities.

California voters also weighed in on propositions that would affect the state's climate change response, rent and more. This story will be updated as vote tallies become available.

Proposition 2

Voters approved this bond measure, which will authorize the state to borrow $10 billion to modernize K-12 schools and community colleges. The funding is to be used to repair outdated school buildings and to upgrade libraries, heating and cooling systems and broadband internet.

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The money from the last successful school bond, passed by voters in 2016, has been spent, and school districts report aging buildings, hazardous mold and leaky roofs.

Read more: Prop. 2, statewide bond measure to upgrade California schools, approved by voters

Proposition 4

California voters approved this bond measure, which will authorize the state to borrow $10 billion to help fund the response to climate-related disasters such as drought, flooding and extreme heat. It will also help to ensure clean drinking water and protect forests from fires. It is the largest investment in combating climate change in California history.

California taxpayers will pay the bond back with interest, with the cost estimated at $400 million a year for the next 40 years, or $16 billion, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office in Sacramento.

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Read more: California voters approve Proposition 4, the bond measure for water and environmental projects

Proposition 5

This measure would make it easier for local governments to approve bonds and tax measures that fund affordable housing and some public infrastructure. Proposition 5 lowers the required vote threshold to approve those measures from a two-thirds supermajority to 55%.

The new threshold would apply to local measures impacting low-income housing, road and transit expansions, parks and wildfire resilience.

Early poll results showed that a majority of voters opposed this measure.

Proposition 6

This measure would ban involuntary servitude and end mandatory work requirements for state prisoners. The proposed constitutional amendment is part of a reparations package for descendants of African Americans enslaved in the U.S.

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California is one of eight states that still allows involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment. Proposition 6 would end work mandates for state prisoners, instead creating voluntary work programs.

Early poll results showed that a majority of voters opposed this measure.

Read more: Proposition 6, which would end mandatory prison labor, trails

Proposition 33

California voters rejected this measure, which would have emboldened cities and counties to enact rent control. Proposition 33 would have repealed a 1995 law called the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which generally prohibits local governments from limiting rental rates as issued by landlords.

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The measure would have given local jurisdictions more power to regulate rent and allowedthem to mandate price caps.

Read more: Proposition 33, the rent control statewide ballot measure, is rejected by California voters

Proposition 34

This measure would require that healthcare providers spend most of the revenue they get from federal prescription drug discount programs on direct patient care.

It applies only to a very specific subset of doctors who have spent more than $100 million over a decade on anything other than direct patient care.

Early poll results showed this measure had a modest lead.

Proposition 35

California voters approved a measure to provide permanent funding for Medi-Cal, Californias version of Medicaid.

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Read more: Prop. 35, which taxes managed care organizations, passed by California voters

Right now, a tax on managed health insurance plans that funds the program is set to expire in 2026. The state can reap more federal money as a result of charging the tax.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
From John Wick to Terminator to the Rocky franchise, sequels have a habit of being focused on revenge. And the trailers for the second term of Donald Trump are certainly suggesting a turn in the same direction, with Trump having volubly and regularly given notice of the fact that he intends to imprison, impoverish and immolate those who have crossed or offended him in his first term, or during the four-year Biden interregnum.

Accordingly, The Daily Beast is proud to present the A-Z of Trumpian grievances, and there are so head-spinningly many individuals on Trumps naughty list, we didnt even have to cheat on X.

A is for Adam Schiff: Trump has intensified his hostile rhetoric toward Adam Schiff, who led the first impeachment trial against Trump and has been a frequent target of his criticism. The Democratic congressman from California was labeled, in a Fox News interview, as an enemy from within and Trump suggested that Schiff and others of his ilk might need to be handled by the National Guard or the military.

Joe Biden, left, and Hunter Biden.

B is for The Biden Crime Family Hunter Biden is already facing a sentencing hearing on tax charges on December 16, but that may be the least of his worries. Trump has railed frequently about the corrupt Biden crime family and might relish the opportunity to stick Hunter with additional charges. Joe is likely safe, ironically enough thanks in part to the Supreme Courts finding that Presidents are immune to prosecution. I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family, Trump said last year.

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C is for Michael Cohen Trumps hapless fixer and former attorney - who denounced his onetime boss but ultimately very much failed to bring him down - might want to keep an eye over his shoulder for the next four years. In a Truth Social post from last year, Trump stated: Cohen should be prosecuted for lying and all of the tumult and cost he put the D.A.s Office through.

D is for Deep State: This mysterious, string-pulling force is in, well, deep, trouble now Trump is back in power. On March 25, 2023, at a Waco, Texas Rally, Trump declared, Either the deep state destroys America, or we destroy the deep state, framing it as a direct threat to the nation. In a March 2023, campaign video he unveiled a 10-point plan to dismantle the deep state, which included establishing a truth and reconciliation commission to expose and eliminate alleged deep state operatives. Fire every single midlevel bureaucrat, every civil servant in the administrative state, replace them with our people, JD Vance, Trumps VP elect, proposed on a podcast in 2021.

E is for England: Trump filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) against the UKs ruling Labor Party, alleging blatant foreign interference after Labour Party members were encouraged to volunteer in support of Kamala Harris campaign. Trump pal Nigel Farage called the volunteer program, a very major political mistake.

Jack Smith

F is for the FBI: Trump has called for the prosecution of former FBI and DOJ officials who carried out the Russia investigation, U.S. intelligence officials, special counsel Jack Smith, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, New York Attorney General Letitia James and many others.

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G is for Gavin Newsom Its hard to think of a relationship more characterized by mutual loathing that between California Governor Newsom and Trump. Trump hates him so much he has even given him a name, Newscum.

Prince Harry and Meghan

H is for Harry and Meghan: Bad vibes in Montecito this week, one imagines, and none more so than in Sussex towers. Trump has called Meghan nasty and threatened to re-open enquiries into confessed drug-user Harrys immigration status. Trump didnt like the way they treated the beautiful late Queen Elizabeth.

I is for Illegal immigrants: As Jon Stewart memorably put it, Trump is threatening to deport somewhere between 2 and eleventy billion people as one of his first acts in power. At a rally in Reno, Nevada, Trump said he planned to launch the largest deportation operation in American history if elected. Stand by.

J is for Journalists Journalists who decline to identify the sources of leaked information should face imprisonment, Trump said. If the reporter doesnt want to tell you, its bye-bye, the reporter goes to jail, Trump said in 2022. He appeared to suggest that the unfortunate reporter could also face sexual assault while in custody.

Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris attends a campaign rally at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Nov. 1, 2024.

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K is for Kamala Harris: As recently as September 29 this year, Trump stated that Harris should be impeached and prosecuted for her actions, particularly criticizing her handling of immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Maybe now he will decide she has suffered enough.

L is for Liz Cheney Liz Cheney is one of Trumps most potent intra-party critics. In remarks made to Tucker Carlson, Trump said, Cheney is a deranged person. The reason she doesnt like me is that she wanted to stay in IraqI dont blame [Dick Cheney] for sticking with his daughter, but his daughter is a very dumb individual, very dumb. She is a radical war hawk. Lets put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK? Lets see how she feels about it. You know, when the guns are trained on her face. Trump was accused by some critics of threatening her with a firing squad, and, although thats not quite the case, his comments dont exactly scream unity. Oh, also he has suggested she should be subject to a televised military tribunal.

M is for Mark Milley Trump famously suggested that Gen. Mark Milley, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in his administration, could face execution for calling officials in China after the Jan. 6 riot/tea party/coup attempt. This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH! Trump wrote on Truth Social. Milley told journalist Bob Woodward that Trump is the most dangerous person to this country.

N is for Nancy Pelosi Trump suggested Pelosi could have gone to jail for tearing up a copy of his state of the union address in 2020 and relations have not improved since then. Trump also suggested that Pelosi should be prosecuted in connection with her husbands stock transactions, alleging insider trading. Those jails are getting mighty full.

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O is for Old Media After being fact-checked over his claim that immigrants in Springfield were eating the pets of the people who live there in his September debate with Harris, Trump threatened the Federal Communications Commission revoke ABCs broadcasting license. He called for CBS flagship 60 Minutes to be immediately taken off the air over allegations of deceptive editing and said NBC would be thoroughly scrutinized for their knowingly dishonest and corrupt coverage if he is elected. Fox news is golden, though.

P is for Palestinian activists: Pro-Hamas radicals are among those who Trump says he will deport. Even if they are American citizens, bafflingly. Jail time for people who burn the American flag is also on the agenda.

Q is for LGBTQ: Trump has explicitly taken actions and made statements that have been widely interpreted as attacks on transgender rights. During his presidency, he implemented policies that rolled back protections for transgender individuals. His key adviser and sponsor, Elon Musk, has accused the woke mind virus of encouraging his child to transition.

R is for radical left lunatics This handy catch-all was deployed just two weeks before the election escalated attacks on Americans he calls the enemy from within. He told Fox that radical left lunatics should be very easily handled by  if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military.

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S is for Supreme Court critics: These people should be put in jail the way they talk about our judges and our justices, trying to get them to sway their vote, sway their decision, Trump said at a rally in September as he ruminated on possible fates for people who disagree with SCOTUS .

Taylor Swift

T is for Taylor Swift: Its her, yes, she is the problem, its her. The pop star probably wont be playing for the White House any time soon, having endorsed Kamala.

U is for the United Nations: Trump has made it clear he is not a fan of the global talking shop. He will get to it right after he sorts out the World Health Organization and NATO.

V is for Venezuela Trump has made several critical remarks about Venezuela, particularly targeting its government and leadership. In August 2024, he claimed that Venezuela is emptying out their prisons and jails and sending criminals to the United States

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W is for Wind Energy Trump has an animus towards wind power, claiming the turbines are noisy, unsightly, unreliable and, touchingly, harmful to birds.

X is for Xi Jinping China is expected to be the target of Trump tariff increases. Trump recently proposed imposing a modest 60% tariff on all Chinese goods, aiming to pressure the country on trade issues. He stated, We will impose a 60% tariff on all goods coming from China until they stop their unfair trade practices.

Y is for Sally Yates: The former acting attorney general, who declined to defend Trumps travel ban order in 2017 has returned to private practice. She endorsed Biden in 2020 but has remained silent on social media since July this year, when she hailed Bidens selfless patriotism in standing down.

Z is for Mark Zuckerberg: Trump loves Elon almost as much as he hates Zuck. Mostly the animus derives from Facebook kicking Trump off the platform after Jan 6, 2021.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
Superintendent of Public School candidates Chris Reykdal (left) and David Olson (right). (Photos courtesy of the campaigns)

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal led challenger David Olson on Tuesday in a battle for leadership of the state agency that oversees K-12 education in Washington.

Reykdal, who is seeking a third term, received 53.5% of the vote to Olsons 45.9%. Vote counting will continue in the days ahead.

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While the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is officially non-partisan, Reykdal is a former Democratic state lawmaker with deep connections to the party and Olson was endorsed by the Republican Party.

Reykdal was first elected in 2016 and reelected in 2020. He has spent his time in office calling for more state funding for schools, particularly for special education and staff. In September, he requested nearly $3 billion in additional funding for public schools in the next two-year state budget.

The race for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has received more attention than usual this year, as the state grapples with pandemic-related learning loss, a surge in chronic absenteeism, a drop in public school enrollment and a youth mental health crisis.

Olson sought to tie Reykdal to these issues, pointing to criticism that the incumbent has minimized the impact of COVID on the states students.

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At the same time, national culture wars over race and LGBTQ+ issues have made their way into Washingtons schools, notably with a parents bill of rights lawmakers approved this year thats now being challenged in court.

The parental rights movement saw an ally in Olson, who supported giving districts more leeway to shape their own policies and allowing parents to have more say in their kids education.

Reykdal, who says he believes in local control within the law, is an ardent supporter of LBGTQ+ rights and most recently requested funding from the Legislature to bolster the offices civil rights division.

Reykdal, as of Nov. 1, had outraised Olson by nearly $190,000 during the campaign.

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction channels funding to schools, implements state education laws and sets curriculum standards. Like all state agencies, the office can request legislation, but cannot pass laws.
Chris Reykdal will likely serve a third term as the superintendent of public instruction in Washington, according to published ballot results from the Associated Press.

Challenger David Olson is more currently than seven points behind with 61% of the votes counted. Reykdal has received 53.5% of the vote while Olson sits at 45.9%.

Reykdal has been the states superintendent of public instruction since 2017. The position oversees all public education from kindergarten through 12th grade, handles funding, and sets curriculum standards.

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During his time in the position, he has increased access to free meals for thousands of students, established a path for students to earn elective credits toward their diploma with paid work experience, and helped educators navigate educational hurdles through a pandemic.

Reykdal released the following statement Wednesday regarding the race:

Our election victory is truly a testament to the parents, educators, students, volunteers, labor partners, social justice organizations, environmental advocates, community leaders, and education champions that makeup Team Reykdal.

Washington voters have made it very clear that public education is to be protected and uplifted in Washington state. Voters rejected school privatization, education budget cuts, and anti-diversity rhetoric. Our students and educators are doing amazing things in our public schools, and these results tell us that tearing them and their hard work down is not a winning campaign strategy.

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There is more work to be done to truly achieve educational equity: universal free school meals, comprehensive mental health supports, more dual language and acceleration programs, greater dual credit access, career and technical education (CTE) pathway expansion, and more.

We have a large body of work in front of us to ensure, first and foremost, that our public schools are fully and amply funded. I am thankful to Washington voters for trusting my team and me at OSPI to lead the charge on full funding with our lawmakers, and I thank all of our endorsers, supporters, donors, and volunteers for their help with our victory. I want to give a special shoutout to our precinct committee officers across the state, who are unsung heroes in our political process. They deserve huge credit for wins up and down the ballot for progressive leaders and education champions - thank you!

Lastly, I want to thank David Olson for stepping into this race and for serving on a local school board. School board work is sometimes thankless work. David elevated critical issues that he and I will continue to advocate for with a common voice - specifically ample education funding.
As Donald Trump prepares to retake his seat at the Resolute Desk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has positioned himself to wield sweeping influence over US health care from day one of a new Trump administration.

The Kennedy scion claimed that he and the president elect will remove fluoride from drinking water on Jan. 20. and provide information on vaccines, in a Wednesday interview with NPR.

Kennedy, a former environmental attorneywho holds no degrees in public health, science, or medicineis considered one of nations loudest anti-vaccine voices (a movement he denies being affiliated with). According to him, he and Trump will make America healthy again.

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He knows it better than anybody, Trump said about the man he once called the dumbest member of the Kennedy dynasty on Nov. 1, adding that he has some views I happen to agree with strongly and I have for a long time.

Drug companies and federal health agencies, Kennedy has long alleged, are making Americans less healthy.

In an August interview with the Daily Beast, he pointed to wanting to change emphasis at the NIH from drug development and infectious disease toward ending the chronic disease epidemic, including what he called the autism epidemic, as priority action items.

Although he rejects the label of anti-vax, critics point to Kennedys involvement as the founder of Childrens Health Defense, the most well-funded anti-vaccine organization in nation, and his vocal opposition to mandatory inoculation at a time when previously eradicated viruses are on the rise in the country as further evidence of him being anti-vaccine.

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For years, he has also touted various controversial theories related to to the COVID-19 vaccine and other inoculations, having repeatedly claimed that vaccines are linked to autism, a long debunked idea. He has also suggested that some vaccines be taken off the marketa stance not ruled out by Trump.

Theres nothing that I would do in office, for people who are happy with their vaccines, that would take that away from them, Kennedy told the Beast, I dont think any medical intervention should be mandated.

The potential impact of Kennedys vaccine rhetoric is not lost on experts, many of whom have warned about potential catastrophic effects.

He misinforms to the point that children suffer or die, and also stands back and doesnt take any responsibility for it, Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia told CNBC.

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Kennedys sister Kerry Kennedy, also voiced anxiety over her brothers vaccine rhetoric. Im concerned about childhood vaccines and in assuring that the United States both domestically and internationally continues to make all those vaccines available to people and to our Children and to our world, she said on CNN Wednesday.

As for other potential Trump era public health and health care overhauls, the president elect reportedly tasked Kennedy with tackling womens health, nutrition and healthy eating and pesticides.

Kennedy also supports removing fluoride from drinking water on the misrepresented argument that fluoride is associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders and thyroid disease.

On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease. President  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) November 2, 2024

The CDC and the American Dental Association both say fluoridated water does not pose any of these risks at the level currently recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. Water fluoridation has improved oral health for millions of Americans.

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Kennedys anti-fluoride agenda, however, sounds OK to me, according to Trump.

How exactly Kennedy will execute his reported plans, remains unclear. In a leaked audio recording, he alleged that Trump promised him control of the public health agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Agriculture.

While Trump transition co-chair Howard Lutnick denied plans to appoint Kennedy as the secretary of Health and Human Services, the president elect himself confirmed Kennedy would have a very big role in health care.

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Anti-vaccine activist and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whos been promised a prominent health care role by President-elect Donald Trump in his administration, sought to allay concerns Wednesday that he would seek to halt vaccinations.

Were not going to take vaccines away from anybody, he told NPR in an interview this morning after Trumps overnight victory. He repeated the message a few hours later in an interview with MSNBC.

Instead, Kennedy said he wants to improve the science of vaccine safety, which he said has huge deficits in it, so Americans can have all the right information to choose whether to get vaccinated.

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I'm going to make sure scientific safety studies and efficacy are out there, and people can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them, he told MSNBC.

Kennedy has made false claims about the safety and efficacy of vaccines, alleging they have caused an increase in autism, but he told MSNBC hes never been anti-vaccine.

Why it matters: The former presidential candidate, who dropped out this summer and endorsed Trump, revealed more of what Trump has promised him.

President Trump has given me three instructions: He wants the corruption and the conflicts out of the regulatory agencies; he wants to return the agencies to the gold standard, empirically-based, evidence-based agents in medicine that they were once famous for; and he wants to end the chronic disease epidemic with measurable impacts on a diminishment of chronic disease within two years, Kennedy told NPR.

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That could mean firing federal workers, such as those at the Food and Drug Administrations nutrition division, that are inept, that are not doing their job, he told MSNBC.

Theyre not protecting our kids. Why do we have Froot Loops in this country that have 18 or 19 ingredients, and you go to Canada, and it's got two or three? Kennedy asked, referencing the cereal made by Michigan-based WK Kellogg Co.

He also said the Trump administration would recommend against fluoride in drinking water. Many water systems in the U.S. have added the chemical to drinking water for decades to fight cavities, but Kennedy claims its almost certainly causing neurological development issues and loss of IQ in children.

He pointed to a recent ruling by an Obama-appointed judge in California, who concluded that a "preponderance of the evidence" showed that fluoridation at 0.7 milligrams per liter, the level considered optimal in the U.S., poses unreasonable risk of reducing childrens IQ.

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In that lawsuit, EPA experts argued that while fluoride can be hazardous at certain concentrations, the relationship between dosage and health risk at lower exposure is unclear.

However, the judge recommended the EPA regulate fluoride in drinking water.

I think fluoride is on the way out because of that court decision. I think the faster that it goes out, the better, Kennedy told MSNBC.

He also said fluoride is included in toothpaste and thus not needed in drinking water to prevent cavities and pointed out that Austria and Germany dont add the chemical to water and have either the same or lower cavity issues as the U.S.

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Whats next? Kennedy told NPR that he and Trump have not decided whether Trump would name him to a Senate-confirmed position but that is a possibility.

He has previously said that Trump promised him control of some federal agencies, including the Health and Human Services and Agriculture departments.

Emmy Martin contributed to this report.
A site rendering for the new Tomaquag Museum to be built on the 18 acres in Kingston of land owned by the University of Rhode Island. A $2 million portion of the arts and cultural bond approved by voters will go toward the museum project set to break ground next year. (www.tomaquagmuseum.org/)

Rhode Islanders approved a slate of four bond initiatives, totaling about $343 million, at the polls Tuesday, according to unofficial preliminary results from the state Board of Elections.

Voters were more than willing to pony up funds for an assortment of statewide projects involving housing, the green economy, higher education and the arts industry.

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Support for state-level bonds is a well-worn motif in Rhode Island, and the last time a ballot measure faced defeat was in 2006, when a $4 million bond for upgrades to Fort Adams State Park floundered. But local enthusiasm can be choosier, like in the 2023 special election, when North Kingstown and Smithfield voters rejected a pair of bonds related to capital improvement for schools.

In each bond issue, a yes vote meant approval of the spending. Three bonds passed overwhelmingly with more than 60% of the vote, while two devoted to higher education and the arts still cracked the 50% mark but had destractors.

Here are the details on each bond measure at midnight after mail ballots were counted, with 98% of polling places reporting:

Rhode Island Colleges Whipple Hall is slated for renovations to update computer labs, IT infrastructure, classrooms and other improvements. (Janine L. Weisman/Rhode island Current)

RIC and URI see big bucks for capital improvement under Question 2

Voters greenlit a $160.5 million investment in state-of-the-art facilities at both the University of Rhode Island (URI) and Rhode Island College (RIC) with 59.6% in favor and 40.4% opposed.

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But the cutting edge does not come cheap: The higher education package is the priciest bond of the bunch, and its estimated interest of $97 million exceeds the entire cost of other bond questions. The total cost with interest is nearly $258 million.

URIs share of $87.5 million will fund a biomedical sciences building, hoping to further enhance the universitys already-strong research activity. The university is especially interested in prioritizing the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers, ALS and other central nervous system illnesses or age-related conditions.

Over at RIC, Whipple Hall will see a $73 million renovation as its remade into a new home for the Institute of Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College. Since opening last year, the institute has attracted about 400 students across various computer science disciplines. With the bond funding, the institute will see major tech and facility upgrades to its computer labs and data centers, as well as new spaces for hands-on cyber threat simulations.

While RIC and URI often battle quietly for higher enrollment, with RICs subsidized Hope scholarship poaching some students from URI, the schools presidents teamed up to gather support for Question 2. Marc Parlange at URI and RICs Jack Warner co-wrote an editorial for the Boston Globe, arguing The Higher Education Bond doesnt just open new doors for opportunities at URI and RIC, it will position our state as a leader in key sectors of the global and regional economy. Biomedical sciences and cybersecurity represent good-paying jobs, economic prosperity, and better health outcomes for our state.

Homes in Newport. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Question 3 hopes to relieve exhausted housing market with more supply (eventually)

Not one Rhode Island community remains affordable for a median household income of $107,452, according to an analysis of 2023 home sales and census data recently published by HousingWorks RI. The lack of housing stock, especially newer homes, is matched by a population outgrowing Rhode Islands selection of largely older homes.

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The dearth of affordable housing may have influenced the 65.5% of voters giving the go-ahead to a $120 million housing bond, the biggest in the states history. Opposed were 34.5%. The funds will be spread across six initiatives, headlined by $80 million for affordable housing projects, including up to $10 million reserved for public housing construction. Construction to stimulate homeownership will claim $20 million, and another $10 million will be directed toward community efforts for purchasing and redeveloping properties.

The bond also designates $5 million to repurpose existing homes into more affordable options, $4 million for physical infrastructure to assist development efforts, and $1 million for planning at the municipal level via strategies like rezoning.

Melina Lodge, executive director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island and Homes RI, extolled the bonds passage in a statement Tuesday night.

Safe, stable, and affordable housing is fundamental to the health and physical, social, and economic well-being of individuals, families, municipalities, and our state as a whole, Lodge wrote. Todays vote brings us one step closer to ensuring that all Rhode Islanders have a place to call home that they can afford.

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The total cost of the bond with its $72 million interest will be around $193 million. Projects funded by this bond will launch around 2026, and could extend through to 2030, with a minimum useful life of 30 years anticipated for completed units.

The Burrillville Land Trust purchased this 65-acre parcel in Pascoag, now known as the Ernie and Norma OLeary Conservation Area. in May 2023 for $250,000. More than half of the purchase price originated from the DEM Open Space Grant Program, funded by voter-approved green economy bonds. (Paul A. Roselli)

Its easy being green, Question 4 affirms

Over 270,000 voters approved a $53 million bond meant to jolt the states green economy while almost 138,000 voted no. The 67.2% who said yes means nine environmental projects spanning both land and sea will soon take off. With roughly $32 million of interest factored in, the projects total cost is expected to be around $85 million. About 32.8% of voters were opposed.

The diverse to-do  from cleaning up brownfields, or toxic former industrial sites, to repairinging Newports popular Cliff Walk  is meant to promote a clean, green Rhode Island, according to the Say Yes on 4 website. But the heftiest piece in the collection, comprising nearly a third of the entire funding, is the Port of Davisvilles $15 million share, which advocates have framed as a win for offshore wind infrastructure.

The people of Rhode Island have spoken, and they are ready to invest in our ports and our clean energy future, said Rhode Island Ports Coalition President Gavin Black told Rhode Island Current in an email Tuesday night. Funding from the Green Bond will prepare Quonsets Port of Davisville  and Rhode Island  to serve as a key offshore wind hub for years to come, serving the rapidly growing offshore wind industry in the North Atlantic. This investment will also create new, high-paying jobs and help the state to meet its climate goals.

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The money would be used to upgrade berthing space, access roads and cargo areas. But the ports outsized piece did raise some critical eyebrows, with some critics calling the bond a means of cloaking business interests in eco-friendly attire. Voter support for Davisville isnt new; this is the third time in a decade that Rhode Islands only public port has secured voter-approved financing. In 2016, 63% approved $50 million for Davisville as part of a $70 million bond. In 2021, another $20 million was OKd by 59% of voters.

Beyond Davisville, the bond will fund:

$10 million for municipal projects enhancing coastal and floodplain resilience, overseen by the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.

$5 million to clean up brownfield sites, turning abandoned, polluted land back into usable spaces.

$5 million for revitalizing parks, playgrounds and fields, to improve local recreation.

$5 million for preserving working farm lands that will ultimately support agricultural jobs and food production.

$5 million for managing forest and wildlife habitats, focusing on wildfire mitigation, biodiversity, and invasive species control.

$3 million to shore up pedestrian access along Newports Cliff Walk.

$3 million to protect farmlands, watersheds, and open spaces, leveraging matching funds from federal, local and nonprofit sources.

$2 million earmarked for coastal flood prevention and habitat resilience along vulnerable stretches of coastline.

Trinity Repertory Company in Providence. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

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Modest arts and culture bond sees success with Question 5

Arts advocates may have faced defeat during the 2024 legislative session when they failed to rouse enough support for an $18 million funding package that would have benefited numerous organizations statewide. But voters threw the arts sector a lifeline, just like they did in 2014 and 2021, and OKd a $10 million investment in a trio of organizations representative of the states culture industry.

About 56.1% of voters were in favor of a $10 million investment in a trio of organizations representative of the states culture industry plus matching capital grants aimed at preserving, renovating and improving cultural and performance centers statewide. These capital grants cant be used for operating expenses. About 43.9% of voters were opposed.

With interest included, the bonds total cost is about $16 million.

Recent precedents for voter support of artsy ballot initiatives can be found in 2014 and 2021, when 60% of voters backed $30 million and $7 million, respectively. This years bond is less intricate than others listed on the ballot, and has four beneficiaries, some of them identical to those who benefitted from bonds past:

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$2 million to the Tomaquag Museum to help it transition to a sprawling 18-acre campus in Kingston near URI, supporting it in its role as the states only Indigenous museum.

$2 million to Trinity Repertory Company for a significant renovation at the Lederer Theater Center, including seating, stage changes, and new office space.

$2 million to the Newport Contemporary Ballet for developing a new Center for Arts, Dance & Education on Newports Broadway, expanding class offerings and studio space.

$4 million to the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) for 1:1 matching grants aimed at preserving, renovating and improving cultural and performance centers statewide. These capital grants cant be used for operating expenses.

The Tomaquag Museums Executive Director Loren M. Spears said in an interview Monday that the bond funding will help the museum mature into its new space, estimated to cost about $18 million overall and a drastic upgrade from the museums present-day, very hidden location in rural Exeter.

Sometimes people even get confused and think its a driveway, Spears said about the museums current entrance.

Set to break ground next year, the redesigned Tomaquag will feature a cafe with Indigenous cuisine, outdoor exhibits, a steel longhouse designed in collaboration with Native artists and Providences The Steel Yard, and a more accessible research archive and reading room. An 1840s canoe will decorate one of the museums entryway galleries, welcoming visitors to the new space. Bus route access, a first for the museum, will make the new location more readily accessible, Spears said.

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We had someone that just took an Uber to Tomaquag last week, Spears said. Im sure that wasnt inexpensive, and it certainly wasnt super convenient. So thats a challenge that we have now. Theres no way to get to the current Tomaquag Museum without a car.

Ahead of Election Day, Spears said, Im always optimistic. Thats my personality. But I dont count chickens until theyre hatched.

Kate Liberman, executive director at Trinity Rep, said Monday afternoon she was also feeling rosy about the bonds prospects. Were feeling very positive right now, she said. This is a small bond from a small group of arts and culture organizations. So we have no advanced polling information. But what weve been hearing within the community is very positive.

Friends of Adrian Hall, a group attempting to stop the proposed Trinity expansion as they argue it would affect an adjacent skate park, also signaled their support of Question 5.

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Our groups position on Question 5 is that the Tomaquag Museum is the states most important cultural institution, so were going to be voting yes, said William Cornwall of the Friends in an interview Monday afternoon. We dont think that they [Tomaquag Museum] should be punished for the hypocrisy of another institution that they didnt choose to share a ballot question with.

Liberman called the idea that the park would be changed by Trinitys proposed 12,000-square-foot expansion unfortunate misinformation that the skate park would either be going away or be shrinking or losing access.

But in fact, the intent of the city and Trinity Rep is to actually expand the park and offer better access and better lighting to it, both day and night, with a pedestrian walkway and nighttime lights, Liberman said.

Theyre still trying to impose a plan that takes up about over 2,000 square feet that would have otherwise been public space, Cornwall said.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  A federal court sentenced a Richland man to 40 years in federal prison without parole on Tuesday, November 5 for transporting a minor he sexually assaulted for seven years across state lines.

On Jan. 18, 2024, 41-year-old Robert Norman Kennedy pleaded guilty to transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He will be under lifetime supervised release and will be forced to register as a sex offender once he is released from prison.

Two Wright County poll workers drown during flash flooding from Beaver Creek

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According to a press release from the United States Attorney of the Western District of Missouri, investigators spoke with the victim, who said starting at age 10, Kennedy forced her to have sex with him and sexually abused her. As law enforcement began to investigate Kennedy for sexual abuse, he forced the victim out of Missouri to travel across several different states, where he continued to sexually abuse her.

The victim said they ended up at Kennedys brothers residence in Georgia, where they lived in a van parked in the driveway and a tent in the backyard.

In December 2022, law enforcement arrested Kennedy on unrelated charges while he and the victim were living in a motel.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)  Seven schools in the Richmond County School System (RCSS) were recognized by the Georgia Department of Education for advancements made in reading.

According to a statement from RCSS, the schools were named Literacy Leaders for exceptional achievement or growth in the percentage of students reading at or above grade level. 

The RCSS Literacy Leaders for 2023-2024 are:

A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School

Blythe Elementary School

C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School

Freedom Park K-8 School

Jenkins-White Elementary School

John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School

Richmond County Technical Career Magnet School (RCTCM)

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The Literacy Leaders program acknowledges schools that meet or exceed benchmarks in literacy education, serving as models of excellence throughout the state, said Dr. Malinda Cobb, Associate Superintendent of Academic Services. These schools have demonstrated exceptional progress in key literacy milestones, with notable achievements in third-grade reading and consistent growth across multiple grade levels. We are proud of our students for their hard work, and grateful to our educators and media specialists for instilling a love of reading in them.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
Incumbent Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott was reelected Tuesday, defeating former Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in an election that ended up not being as close as the latest polls had been suggesting.

Scott won with 55% of the vote, surpassing the 42% obtained by Mucarsel-Powell, according to data available at 8:15 p.m. on the Florida Division of Elections website.

Celebrating his victory in Bonita Springs, Scott praised the coalition that helped him win his reelection while announcing that he plans to compete for the leadership of the Republican Party in the Senate.

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Together we get to celebrate a greater victory tonight but our work is not done. Next week we have another election, Senate Republican leader, he said in a room filled with cheering supporters. Two years ago, I challenged Mitch McConnell because I know there has to be a change. We have a great Republican Party all across this country and we need a Republican Party in D.C. to start solving the problems of this country.

United States Senator Rick Scott celebrates his win with family and supporters during an election night party at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, Florida on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Appearing in front of her own supporters in Miami, Mucarsel-Powell admitted her bid to reach the Senate was not successful, but warned the state has not seen the last of her. If you think that this Latina right here is giving up on Florida, then I dont think you have been paying attention, she said.

The elections end result was not as close as predicted by the latest polls, which had been suggesting that the difference between the candidates had shortened to about four percentage points, or about half the nine-point lead Scott had in early June.

The race, which Democrats believed could help them keep their razor thin majority in the U.S. Senate, had focused for the most part on the thorny issues of abortion, the economy, climate change and on whether the Democratic candidate was a closet socialist, as Republicans charged.

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While Scott attempted to run a clean campaign in the beginning, talking about values and his concern about the states welfare, the race also turned negative during the last months, with both camps inundating the airways with negative TV and radio ads disparaging the other candidate.

Miami, Florida, November 5, 2024 - Debbie Mucarsel-Powell on stage with her family, speaking to supporters during an election night party at JW Marriott Miami: 1109 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131

With the impact on the state of the current hurricane season, Mucarsel-Powell often accused Scott of siding with the insurance companies when he served as governor and at times accused him of financially benefiting from Medicare fraud.

In one ad repeatedly shown on television, Scott was depicted as a boa constrictor. Floridas biggest snake is not in the Everglades. He is in the Senate, the ad declares. He stole money from seniors in the biggest Medicare fraud ever.

Mucarsell-Powell, meanwhile, was often portrayed as a full-fledged socialist who wants to give illegal immigrants a tax break while seeking to increase taxes for working families. You pay your taxes; she wants to give your money to people here illegally, one of the ads claims. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a silly socialist, wrong for the Senate.





From the beginning, Mucarsel-Powells faced long odds of unseating an incumbent senator.

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Scott won his Senate seat in 2018, after defeating then incumbent Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson, who held the post since 2001. But despite Nelsons long tenure in the Senate, Florida had been leaning towards the Republican Party in recent years, leading analysts to predict that Scott had the upper hand in the race.

United States Senator Rick Scott steps on stage with his wife Ann as they celebrate his win with family and supporters during an election night party at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, Florida on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Also, Mucarsel-Powells resume looked relatively thin compared to Scotts, who served eight years as Floridas governor before taking his Senate seat. The Democratic candidate had only served one term in Congress before losing her reelection bid in 2020.

The Ecuador-born politicians lack of experience was repeatedly hammered in Scott ads. Yet, Mucarsel-Powell seemed hopeful of her chances.

In an interview she gave in August, Mucarsel-Powell fended off claims that her candidacy was a far-fetched dream.

It is absolutely not a dream. This is something that is possible, she told Spanish news service EFE..

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Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, and U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee in St. Pete Beach on May 27, 2024. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

In the race for U.S. Senate, Republican incumbent Rick Scott has won his most decisive victory since entering state politics 14 years ago, defeating Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell by 13 points, 56%-43%.

Florida Democrats had thought that Scott might be more vulnerable this election cycle than in any of his previous runs for public office in Florida. Thats because he had never run in a presidential election year, which historically brings out more Democratic voters.

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in Tampa on Oct. 25, 2024 (photo by Mitch Perry)

However, unlike in his narrow one-point victories for governor in 2010 and 2014 and for Senate in 2018, he had the benefit of running for the first time when Republicans led Democrats in party registration in the state  by more than 1 million.

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Mucarsel-Powell, a former one-term member of Congress (2019-2021) representing parts of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, became the Democratic Party establishment choice early on in the primary race, but not every member of the coalition supported her. The Florida AFL-CIO backed Stanley Campbell, her top opponent in the primary, which she ultimately won easily in August.

Rick Scott and his wife Ann Scott at an early voting site in South Tampa on Oct. 24, 2024 (Photo by Mitch Perry/ Florida Phoenix)

Scott never granted Mucarsel-Powell the opportunity to engage him in a statewide televised debate, becoming the first incumbent Florida U.S. senator not to do since Connie Mack in 1994.

Scott hammered Mucarsel-Powell throughout the campaign as being a socialist.

Mucarsel-Powell went after Scott on a number of fronts, such as reproductive rights and property insurance, which she said Scott failed to handle properly when he served as governor.

Florida Democrats were hoping that she would get financial help from outside aligned groups, such as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, but with the exception of one ad, the DSCC was more preoccupied with other races, such as Jon Testers fight for re-election in Montana and Colin Allreds attempt to upset Ted Cruz in Texas.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Riddhi Patel, the protester who in September was ordered to stand trial on multiple felony counts filed in connection with a remark she made at a Bakersfield City Council meeting, appeared in court Wednesday for a brief hearing at which her second arraignment was postponed.

Patels attorney, Deputy Public Defender Jacob Evans, told the court he needed time to review transcripts from the preliminary hearing and compare them with information contained in the charging documents. Prosecutor Ken Russell did not object, and a new arraignment date was set for Dec. 10.

Tal Eslick describes the Central Valleys changing voting demographics

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Also discussed during was Patels GPS monitoring  a condition she agreed to when she was released on $500,000 bail.

Evans noted the probation department asked she be removed from GPS monitoring since she has complied for months with all requirements. The District Attorneys Office objected, however, and a judge previously ruled in favor of prosecutors.

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Judge David Wolf  not the judge who previously heard the matter  said he wasnt going to take it up. Patel will continue to remain on GPS monitoring.

Patel was arrested at an April 10 city council meeting. She was criticizing security measures during public comment  claiming the measures were retaliation against protesters who demanded the council pass a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza  when she told the council, Well see you at your house, well murder you. Shes charged with multiple threat-related counts.

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West Virginia State Treasurer Riley Moore, seen speaking to the state Senate Judiciary on March 3, 2023, has won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Riley Moore easily secured his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to unofficial election results. He will represent the mostly northern half of the state in the 2nd Congressional District.

Moore, who serves as state treasurer, defeated Democrat challenger, Steve Wendelin, a Wardensville resident and U.S. Navy veteran with 70.8% of the vote to Wendelins 29.3%, according to Associated Press results at 11:42 p.m.

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Hell replace Alex Mooney, who didnt seek re-election to the U.S. House. Mooney sought the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., but lost his primary to current Gov. Jim Justice.

Moore has been state treasurer since 2021 and is a former state delegate. A father of two, Moore is the nephew of incumbent U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and grandson of former West Virginia Gov. Arch Moore.

Throughout his campaign, Moore focused on his conservative values and taking on left special interests, including supporting the coal and gas industry. He has been an advocate for school choice and, as treasurer, has overseen the states education savings account program, The Hope Scholarship.

He was endorsed by Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump.

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More than a year after an Ithaca man was kidnapped and later tortured and murdered in Tioga County, New York, the suspected ringleader of a group of people accused of the crime has been convicted on all charges.

Following a trial in Tioga County Court, the jury found Joseph M. Howell, of Newfield, guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and three counts of witness intimidation in connection with the May 2023 kidnapping and death of Thomas P. Rath.

Rath was forcibly abducted May 20, 2023 from his encampment in the natural area known as "The Jungle" behind Lowe's in the City of Ithaca, according to New York State Police.

Kidnapping and murder victim, Thomas Rath of Ithaca.

After an investigation and massive search involving multiple law enforcement agencies, Rath's remains were found Aug. 3, 2023 buried in a shallow grave on state lands off Ekroos Road in the town of Candor, Tioga County.

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By the end of that month, 10 people had been arrested in connection with Rath's kidnapping and murder, and ultimately 13 people, including Howell, were charged.

Other suspects include David C. Maycumber, 41 of Newfield, who was charged with first- and second-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and intimidating a witness.

Angelo Baez, of Ithaca, was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, and Jonathan Glennon was also charged with second-degree murder.

Elections Did Prop 1 pass in NY? Here are the results.

The remaining suspects were all charged with first-degree kidnapping  including Colleen E. Dillon, of Newfield; Zayne G. Burlingame, of Ithaca; Mark F. Beatty, of Ithaca; Robert W. Hines, of Candor; Neraida A. Sobrado-Torres, of Ithaca; Jack J. Benjamin Jr., of Ithaca; Brelynn B. Vorrasi, of Lodi; Kysha S. Radcliff, of Lansing; and Justin M. Knapp, of Ithaca.

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Criminal cases against the remaining suspects are still pending.

Howell was also recently convicted on unrelated felony charges in Chemung County.

Following a week-long trial, a jury in late August found Howell guilty of two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree robbery, and one count of second-degree kidnapping.

The charges stemmed from an incident Feb. 26, 2023 on Hulbert Hollow Road in the Town of Van Etten.

In the Rath case, Howell faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without chance of parole on the first-degree murder charge alone.

Tioga County Judge Andrew Schumacher scheduled sentencing for Jan. 13, 2025.

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Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Conviction in Ithaca man's 2023 kidnapping, death involving 13 people
(NewsNation)  With 51% of the vote, NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for Pennsylvania District 8 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of Rob Bresnahan. See results of U.S. House and U.S. Senate races from around the country here.

The 8th Congressional District race was among the most competitive and highly watched not only among Pennsylvanias House races but nationally.

Six-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright was up against Republican Rob Bresnahan, a first-time candidate and developer who runs a family construction company.

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Pennsylvania is home to one of the Biden 16  the 16 House districts nationally that President Joe Biden won in 2020 but are represented by Republicans.

The state is also home to one of the eight districts that former President Donald Trump won but are represented by Democrats.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

The race in the 8th District became one of the most expensive congressional contests in the state.

Cartwright outraised Bresnahan by more than 2-to-1 through June 30, with outside groups pouring more than $11 million into it, according to disclosures to the Federal Election Commission.

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Cartwright is a lawyer by training and quickly rose to House Democratic leadership.

He was one of five Democrats nationally running for reelection in a district won by Trump in 2020 and has been a perennial Republican target that has consistently fended off challengers, if by slim margins.

Bresnahan didnt belong to a union but said he served as chairman of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 163 apprenticeship program and trustee of its health and wellness program which he channeled to appeal to unions.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

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Unions are a critical bloc in Pennsylvania, where union members make up 14.1% of the state, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Bresnahan had contributed $2,000 to Cartwrights 2022 campaign and said he gave it to Cartwright because the congressman backed a since-abandoned natural gas plant near Nanticoke.

Heading into Tuesdays election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with a narrow majority of 220 seats while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks ahead of Donald Trump at a campaign rally Nov. 1 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI via Getty Images

Onetime presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now vying for a spot in President-elect Donald Trumps Cabinet, said Wednesday the nutrition departments of the Food and Drug Administration have to go because the departments are not doing their job, not protecting our kids.

RFK Jr tells MSNBC that he intends to clear out entire departments of the FDA pic.twitter.com/MKdt5MT0tB  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 6, 2024

Why do we have Froot Loops in this country that have 18 or 19 ingredients and you go to Canada and its got two or three, the former presidential candidate said in an interview on MSNBC, one day after Trump was elected the 47th president.

Kelloggs website lists more than 20 ingredients in its Canadian product. The main difference between the two seems to be the kind of dyes used in the colorful fruit-flavored cereal. In March, Kellogg investor Jason Karp, founder of holding company HumanCo, sent a letter to Kellogg alleging that Froot Loops in America had harmful artificial dyes, while Froot Loops in Canada didnt. He called for the company to change its U.S. recipe.

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Kennedy said that as long as it takes congressional approval to eliminate government agencies, he wouldnt push to eliminate them. He said he believes he can take the corruption out of them instead.

Once theyre not corrupt, once Americans are getting good signs and theyre allowed to make their own choices, theyre going to get a lot healthier, he said.

The FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump has said that he would offer Kennedy a role in his administration, and on The Joe Rogan Podcast, Trump said that he told Kennedy he could focus on health, you can do whatever you want.

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Experts have warned against Kennedys harmful anti-vaccine rhetoric. Kennedy has no medical training.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  State Rep. Robert Kauffman has defeated Democrat Noah Kreischer to represent Pennsylvanias 89th District.

A graduate of Greencastle-Antrim High School and the American University School of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., Kauffman served as vice chairman of the Greene Township Board of Supervisors.

He was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to represent the 89th Legislative District in 2004 and previously served as chairman of the House Labor and Industry Committee.

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In his community, he is a member of the Greene Township Lions Club, the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County Farm Bureau, the Franklin County Historical SocietyKittochtinny, the Franklin County Republican Committee, and the National Rifle Association.

He is also an active member of Bethel Assembly of God Church in Chambersburg.

abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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Tune in to abc27 News for more results, stories, and analysis on the biggest races in Pennsylvania.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Voters, including Democratic Senate nominee Angela Alsobrooks and her daughter, Alex, cast their ballots Tuesday at Wise High School in Prince George's County. Photo by William J. Ford.

Maryland election officials reported smooth operations at polling places around the state Tuesday, despite robust turnout and long lines at a handful of polls caused by convenience voters who turned up at the wrong precinct.

State Election Administrator Jared DeMarinis said good weather and a lack of snags made him optimistic that the state might see record turnout by the time voting was over.

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DeMarinis said he believes the state will surpass 3 million total voters  a record set in the 2020 election  and he was optimistic that the turnout will surpass 80% of the states 4.2 million registered voters. The only other time that happened in Maryland was in 1992, when turnout hit 81%.

So, 82 (percent) is the magic number to go for, DeMarinis said. I want to go for 100 (percent). Thats always my goal  100.

Even though Maryland was not a battleground state, voters had plenty to get them out to the polls for this election.

Those ranged from the divisive presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris, to a high-stakes race for Senate, congressional races, a raft of local ballot issues and a statewide proposal to add reproduction rights to the state constitution. Question 1, the abortion question, is one of the issues that brought Jenny Matthews, 52, and her daughter, first-time voter Dakota, 19, to the polling place at Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School to vote.

Maryland Election Administrator Jared DeMarinis speaks to reporters outside a polling place at Davidsonville Elementary School. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

Im definitely for abortion  we need it for womens health care, Jenny said. Her daughter agreed.

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I feel like no one should be telling women what to do with their bodies, Dakota said.

They both both voted for Harris, saying they believe some people were less willing to vote for her because she is not only a woman, but a woman of color.

Ive had conversations where people say, Yeah, Trumps not it, but the other leaders of the world will respect him rather than respect a female president. What does that have to do with anything? Jenny asked. What makes you guys think that she cant do a good job because shes a woman?

Dakota said she was a bit nervous, voting for the first time, with the whole presidential campaign, either Trump or Kamala, and with the city council and all that. She said the local questions drove her to do a lot of research on it because I didnt know too much about it.

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Of course, I learned U.S. history in high school, but when it comes to politics of the city, I didnt know a lot. So I was nervous because, like, I didnt want to mess up the whole city. Because every vote matters, she said. People say it doesnt, but every vote definitely matters.

Noah Watts, 29, said he did not feel comfortable voting on some of the local issues on the ballot, since he only moved to Baltimore two year ago.

In terms of elected officials, I weighed in, said Watts, adding that he voted for Harris and Democratic Senate nominee Angela Alsobrooks. I left a fair portion of mine blank. I voted for the issues I knew about, but for anything that was ambiguous, I decided to stay hands off because I didnt want to accidentally end up voting for the wrong person.

Watts said the voting process itself was simple. The hardest part was getting there: He wound up biking 15 minutes across the city and back to get to his assigned precinct.

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I was directed, probably by my own ignorance, to the wrong place, Watts said, who said he looked up where to go online and headed to Enoch Pratt Library, where the poll worker redirected him to the Montessori School.

Besides being extra sweaty, it was the easiest thing Ive done in the last few days, Watts said of voting.

Despite a wait of up to 30 minutes, voters at a polling place inside the Crofton branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library said the voting process wasnt too bad.

Voters in line to vote at the Crofton Branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library. Voters reported few problems and said voting ran smoothly once inside. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

It was pretty smooth. They have a couple people and a couple of stations in there and they were trying to get it moving quickly, said Jaden Olley, 23.

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Olley, voting in just his second presidential election, is a registered Democrat who described himself as an independent voter. He said he did originally plan to vote this year because, Biden was going to run again and I think, to his credit, Trump was right Biden was deteriorating in front of us and I wasnt going to vote for that.

He said he was not sold on Harris as an alternative, but wound up voting for her as well as Alsobrooks  0ut of concern over potential Republican control of the Senate  and in support of Question 1..

Im not the biggest Harris supporter by any means, said Olley, who is Black. It was just one of those things where she kind of reminded me of my mom.

Yvonne Jewell, 82, is a registered Republican who also describes herself as an independent voter, but who was voting straight party line, like Olley. She planned to vote against Question 1 and for GOP Senate nominee Larry Hogan and Trump. The economy, crime and border security were top of mind for the Crofton resident.

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Kamala Harris, the only thing she ever talked about as her policy is abortion and abortion doesnt put food on the table for families, for their kids. It doesnt put a roof over your head. I like gas (powered) cars and I just dont believe what she says she stands for.

Jewell said Harris was too closely associated with the policies of President Joseph Biden (D). That was enough for her to vote for Trump, as she did in 2020 and 2016.

2016 was a good year, she said. Im single. I live on Social Security. And to be honest, I dont appreciate the lies and Ive never heard Trump say hes going to do away with Medicare.

She said she voted for Hogan because when he was governor he left Maryland with a (surplus). And then we put in  I hate to say it  the Democrat, and now were in a hole.

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Hogan, who served two terms as governor, from 2o15 to 2023, cast his ballot early Tuesday morning at Davidsonville Elementary. An outspoken critic of Trump, Hogan has written in other names for president in the past two elections, but when it came to choosing between Trumps and Harris on Tuesday, Hogan opted to leave his ballot blank, aides said.

Alsobrooks, meanwhile, voted Tuesday morning alongside her daughter, Alex Alsobrooks-Laney, 19, a first-time voter, at a polling precinct at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro. The two were followed by television cameras and photographers as they walked into the cafeteria to vote.

Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) with her daughter, Alex, talks with reporters after they voted Nov. 5 at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School. Photo by William J. Ford.

Alsobrooks, the current Prince Georges County executive, walked out to cheers and hugs from friends and supporters before speaking briefly with reporters. Alsobrooks-Laney, standing beside her mother, said the topic of reproductive rights is discussed at Spelman College, a historically Black womens institution in Atlanta she attends.

We actually have Planned Parenthood society at our school  so thats something that we all have to deal with, she said to reporters. Just a pleasure and a privilege that I can vote for my mother and someone who cares about reproductive rights, especially as well as Kamala Harris.

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Before Alsobrooks and her daughter left, several voters took selfies with the county executive. They included Ralph Moten II, a retired maintenance workers who praised Alsobrooks and the vice president.

They are what we would like our politicians to be, Moten said. The good lord always brings a savior to the top, and thats what we get with the Democratic ticket this year.

Earlier in the morning, about a dozen Prince Georges County voters lined up to vote at the Lake Arbor Community Center gymnasium.

Jartu Contea walked outside and conducted a live video to encourage people who havent cast their ballots to do it Tuesday.

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Im excited because I voted. Its a privilege. I also voted because I dont want Trump because of all the stuff that he has done. I dont think its even fair for him to be standing as a president, said Contea, a certified medication technician and certified nursing assistant.

Conteas vote for Alsobrooks was personal.

When my auntie and uncle died in Saudia Arabia, Angela Alsobrooks was there. She talked to me. I appreciated that, Contea said.

Election Day voters are still the majority in Maryland, but they are becoming fewer and fewer. DeMarinis said that nearly 40% of the 4.2 million registered voters in the state had already voted by mail or during the eight days of in-person early voting that ended last week. Just under 1 million people went to early voting centers and nearly 880,000 mail-in ballots were sent out for the general election, with more than 614,000 of those returned before Election Day.

Voters had until 8 p.m. Tuesday to deposit their mail-in ballots in a drop box by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Nov. 5 and received by 10 a.m. Nov. 15 to be counted.

The first results released when the polls close Tuesday will be tallies from early voting and mail-in ballots canvassed so far.

Campaign signs, but no lines, greeted voters who showed up Tuesday at Vincent Farm Elementary School in White Marsh. Photo by Elijah Pittman.

DeMarinis  while cautioning that I dont want to jinx myself on that front  said at several points during the day that voting was going smoothly. That was echoed, for the most part, by organizations keeping an eye on the polls statewide, who reported few problems.

Nikki Tyree, executive director of the Maryland League of Women Voters, said exceptionally long lines have been common. Additionally some voters in College Park and Burtonsville have been subject to longer waits because they are voting provisional (ballots) because they dont know where their polling place is.

Tyree said she has some concern about how those issues will impact the afterwork surge of voters and the counting of votes.

DeMarinis, in a late afternoon call with reporters, acknowledged the lines at College Park and Burtonsville, which he attributed to the convenience voteris what we kind of call them.

They just go to the first polling place, he said. Because youre not at the right polling place you will be voting a provisional ballot and it will increase the length of time and the lines in those facilities.

DeMarinis encouraged voters to be considerate of your other fellow voters, take the time to visit the website and find your correct polling place  please do so to help mitigate the lines that can develop later on.

Unlike other states, he said there were no reports of threats or harassment at polling places around Maryland.

Civility  its great that its returned to Maryland and we can be the hallmark for the country on that, DeMarinis said.
People in Tel Aviv fled to shelters after warning sirens wailed in the city centre and several explosions were heard on Wednesday.

The Israeli military said around 10 missiles were fired by the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah at the Israeli coastal metropolis, with some intercepted by the missile defence system. No injuries were initially reported.

Rocket parts hit the ground near Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, according to the Israeli TV channel Channel 13. And a large piece of a rocket hit a parked vehicle near Tel Aviv, shattering the windscreen before it lodged itself in the car.

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Meanwhile in Lebanon, an Israeli spy balloon was spotted in the country's east, according to local reports, in the first such sighting since the war started between Israel and Hezbollah.

The balloon flew over villages in the Bekaa Valley, state news agency NNA reported. An Israeli drone was also seen in the sky, it said.

The Israeli military did not comment on the reports.

In May, Hezbollah said it had shot down an Israeli spy balloon in the south of the country. At the time, the militia said it had also destroyed the launch device and injured Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli military uses drones and surveillance towers in the border area and also occasionally spy balloons. In January, the military also flew a Zeppelin called Sky Dew in the border area, which could detect airborne threats such as missiles, aided by a radar system. Hezbollah said it also hit the Zeppelin, which was flying over Israel, with a drone.
(This story was updated to add new information.)

Rockford Legal Director Nicholas Meyer defeated Judge Erik Karl Jacobs Tuesday night in their race for 17th Judicial Circuit Court judge.

Meyer received 35,079 votes or 55.6%, to Jacobs' 27,994, or 44.4%, according to unofficial results from Rockford, Winnebago County and Boone County.

Meyer was previously an assistant public defender and had been in private practice with Meyer & Horning, P.C., of Rockford, a firm that was founded by his father, when in 2017 he was tapped by Mayor Tom McNamara to serve as Rockford legal director.

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More: Early results: Sorensen pulling ahead of McGraw in Illinois' 17th District battle

A Rockford native, Meyer lives in the city with his wife, Marissa, and their three children. He has a law degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago and bachelors and masters degrees in history from Western Illinois University.

Jacobs is a Rockford resident who has more than three decades of legal experience. Jacobs was a partner at Cicero, France & Alexander in Rockford when he was appointed in August 2023 to serve as 17th Circuit Court judge in Winnebago and Boone counties after Joe McGraw retired.

Jacobs earned a bachelors degree in business at the University of Iowa and a law degree with honors from Northern Illinois University. Jacobs served as hearing officer for Winnebago County for over two decades and was general counsel for the Rockford Area Apartment Association.

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Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford lawyer Nick Meyer has lead over Erik Karl Jacobs
Rockville voters decided to elect Mark Husnik to the mayors office.

The decision comes after the citys current mayor, Duane Willenbring, decided not to seek reelection.

Husnik received nearly 52% of the vote while his two challengers Brian Stanger and Bill Becker received about 30.5% and 17.5%, respectively.

The central Minnesota city of roughly 2,426 people also had six city council candidates to choose from. Of the six, only two were elected to fill those seats.

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Voters chose Jayson Molitor and Ashley Massmann to fulfill those duties. The other candidates running were Thomas Eich, Aaron Brown, Gerald Leo Tippelt and Charles Walz, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Trump wins 2024 election: Donald Trump wins the election in stunning political comeback

Tippelt lost his reelection bid. Of the six candidates, he came in third. Current city council member Brian Stanger didn't seek reelection.

The small community in Stearns County had a large voter turnout with 1,456 votes cast in its mayoral election, which amounts to more than 86% of the electorate. At 7 a.m. on Election Day, there were 1,682 total registered voters.

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Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Husnik wins Rockville's 2024 mayoral election in central Minnesota
Information about voting locations is displayed in downtown Franklin, the Simpson County seat, on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. Turnout and votes for Trump were up in Simpson County this year. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony)

Former President Donald Trump not only won all but Kentuckys two largest counties Tuesday as in his previous two runs, he also expanded his margins of victory in the states rural areas.

Republican elected officials in Kentucky largely credited the Republican presidential candidates message on the economy and border control for his resounding victory in Kentucky and other states that have given him a projected Electoral College victory.

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Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, told reporters Tuesday morning that people are worried about the economy including the cost of groceries and gas.

People speak at the polls with their pocketbook, Stivers said, arguing Trumps message resonated in blue as well as red states.

Republican Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman in a statement said, Kentucky will once again have an ally and a fighter in the White House and that the strong leaders elected to the state legislature and Congress now have the opportunity to secure our border, stop the flow of deadly poison into our communities and take on violent crime.

For Trump critics in Kentucky, Vice President Kamala Harris loss was a disappointment.

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Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in a post on X said Harris loss was difficult for many of us who want to turn the page on the anger politics that are threatening to tear our nation apart.

For many, the coming days will be hard, but I know we will get through it, together, Beshear wrote in his social media post. There isnt a red America or a blue America, and we all need to work together to protect this country that we love.

State Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, who has been critical of Trump and did not run for reelection this year, said in a post on X: On the bright side, Donald Trump cant run ever again.

Trump slightly increases support with similar or improved rural turnout

Trumps victory in Kentucky was expected because of his past landslide wins in the state. On Tuesday night, history did repeat itself: Trump again won all 120 Kentucky counties except for the states largest two, Jefferson and Fayette, home to the Democratic bastions of Lexington and Louisville.

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Trump won Kentucky by 30.7 percentage points according to unofficial results, a larger margin than his two previous victories.

This time around, Trump also slightly increased his share of votes in counties he had won by massive, double-digit margins in past elections, according to unofficial results. Generally, voter turnout on Tuesday in those rural counties was improved or similar compared to past Trump victories.

The deepened support for Trump in Kentucky reflected a broader political movement taking place in other states across the country toward Republicans, including states considered to be Democratic strongholds, where Trump won more support from voters than expected.

Stephen Voss, associate professor of political science at the University of Kentucky, told the Lantern what initially struck him about the election results was what appeared to be a lack of engagement among voters in more urban areas of Kentucky compared to rural areas.

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Unofficial results show a dropoff in voter turnout in both Jefferson and Fayette counties in 2024.

We really did see a sort of demobilization in the more affluent, the more urban counties relative to those rural and small town areas, places that the last couple of elections have been kind of disengaged and not turning out at particularly high rates, Voss said.

In Jefferson County 61.4% of registered voters turned out in the 2020 election. Only 56.6% turned out in 2024. The Kentucky Democratic Party unsuccessfully tried to extend voting hours in Jefferson County after technical difficulties created long lines and delays when polling locations first opened in the county.

In Fayette County 61.5% of voters turned out in 2020. Only 56.9% did in 2024, though the webpage compiling unofficial results notes only partial results are available for Fayette County.

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Its not just increased support for Trump, its also that Trump areas showed higher turnout, Voss said.

Unofficial results show statewide voter turnout in the 2024 general election was 58.83%. The statewide turnout in 2016 and 2020 was 59.1% and 60.3%, respectively.

Kentucky politicos react to Trumps comeback

Bailey Canamore of Clinton, who was 11 at the time, carried a Trump banner during the 2023 Fancy Farm Picnic as GOP political consultant and pundit Scott Jennings spoke live on CNN, Aug. 5, 2023. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony)

Former Republican President Donald Trump has won a second term in the White House after Tuesdays election. Kentucky Republicans were quick to celebrate the news while Democrats issued statements Wednesday afternoon.

Heres a roundup of some of the comments:

Republicans

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul: Congratulations to President Elect Donald Trump. I look forward to working with all those elected for limited, constitutional government.

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U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie: They tried to impeach him, silence him, convict him, and shoot him. Trump survived all of it, so they overturned their own election in a soft coup on President Biden. And he beat them anyway. We beat them. We must not squander this moment in history. The fight has just begun.

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr: To my Democratic colleagues in the House: Will you practice what you preach and certify this landslide election for Donald J. Trump on January 6th?

Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams: Andy Beshear had a bad night. The Republican legislators he targeted won, and he will not be in the next presidents cabinet.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman: The people of Kentucky and our country have delivered a clear mandate. Im proud to congratulate President Trump and Vice President-Elect Vance for earning the trust of voters of every background in every corner of our country.

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Kentucky will once again have an ally and a fighter in the White House. Starting on Day One, we will repair the severe damage of the last four years as we build a stronger and safer future for our Commonwealth. Along with the strong leaders that Kentucky reelected to Congress and our General Assembly, we now have the opportunity to secure our border, stop the flow of deadly poison into our communities and take on violent crime.

Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball: Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election to serve as the next President of the United States! I pray for God to give him wisdom and guidance as he leads our country over the next four years.

State Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill: On the bright side, Donald Trump cant run ever again.

Republican Party of Kentucky: Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump, on what will be remembered as one of the greatest political comebacks in American history! The American people have spoken loud and cleartheyre ready to Make America Great Again!

Democrats

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear: Vice President Kamala Harris put together a good campaign in a short amount of time, focused on positive solutions for peoples lives. She generated energy and enthusiasm, and it is disappointing to see this effort come up short. I know this is difficult for so many of us who want to turn the page on the anger politics that are threatening to tear our nation apart. I crossed the country to support her campaign, and Im going to continue to stand up for what is right. Im going to keep working to bring good jobs for our people and help them build good lives with access to quality, affordable healthcare and good public education. For many, the coming days will be hard, but I know we will get through it, together. There isnt a red America or a blue America, and we all need to work together to protect this country that we love.

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Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge: Last night, we sent a clear message: public dollars belong in public schools. Voters across our Commonwealth rejected Kentucky Republicans dangerous voucher scheme and ensured that every single child in our state can receive a quality public education  despite the out-of-state, billionaire-funded super PACs doing the GOPs bidding.

We held the line in the General Assembly in the midst of a national red wave and elected common-sense Democratic leaders like Adam Moore, Erika Hancock and Matt Lehman, who will govern by the Kentucky values that Governor Beshear embraces and address the kitchen table issues that matter most. To our candidates who came up short last night, we remain a better Commonwealth because you lifted your hands in service.

While the presidential election outcome is disappointing and not what many Americans hoped for, Kentucky Democrats are proud of Vice President Kamala Harris and the unifying campaign that she ran  one that chose vision over division.

This partys work remains unfinished  theres still so much more to be done in building a better Kentucky. Kentucky Democrats will continue that fight.

This story was updated with the margin of victory for Trump in the 2024 general election according to unofficial results.

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Russell Simmons has claimed that he is simply enjoying retirement in Indonesia, but one of his accusers is calling bullsh*t. In legal documents obtained by Rolling Stone, a Jane Doe is calling out the mogul for allegedly fleeing the country amid allegations against him.

Does documents are asking the judge to refuse Simmons assertion that he shouldnt be able to be sued in New York City because he is now stateless after retiring to the Asian country. Legal authorities from Indonesia previously granted the Def Jam businessman a retirement visa.

Defendant is running from the courts jurisdiction to avoid taking accountability for his actions, the new filing states. Jane Does documents plead with the court that they should have serious doubt that Simmons has no more business in the United States and look into the veracity of his story.

Entrepreneur, author, activist and philanthropist Russell Simmons, speaks onstage during 2016 Milken Institute Global Conference at The Beverly Hilton on May 03, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.

Jane Doe first sued Simmons in February, claiming that the man raped her in the 90s in his New York apartment. A limited deposition for the case went down in September, with Doe claiming that Simmons partook in the hearing remotely.

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During this hearing, Simmons is said to have told the court that he still has and nurtures business ties to New York Citya claim that contradicts his statement that he is now stateless. She also stated that he admitted that he is currently paying for a lease on a Manhattan apartment while retaining an office for his Russell Simmons TV business.

Jane Does new filing claimed she conducted her own investigation into Simmons TV business and found that he still has an ownership stake in the property. Doe states that her findings yielded proof that he maintains involvement with a media company named Gushcloud.

Any purported retirement visa requires recertification every few years that one is, in fact, retired. Building an empire and being retired are mutually exclusive, the legal document stated.

NEW YORK, NY  MARCH 07: Russell Simmons attends the Endometriosis Foundation of Americas 6th annual Blossom Ball hosted by Padma Lakshmi and Tamer Seckin, MD at 583 Park Avenue on March 7, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Blossom Ball)

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Georgias secretary of state alleged Tuesday that Russia was behind dozens of hoax bomb threats that were called into voting precincts in the greater Atlanta area on Election Day.

While the threats were determined to be a farce, they did force officials to briefly suspend operations at voting precincts in majority-Black communities, including Atlanta itself, that historically favor Democrats.

Theyre up to mischief, it seems, and they dont want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election, said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Anything that can get us to fight amongst ourselvesthey can count that as a victory.

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Raffensperger, a Republican who famously clashed with Donald Trump in the aftermath of the 2020 election over election fraud, said impacted voting sites had their hours extended. The issue is particularly noteworthy because Georgia, which Joe Biden won by 12,670 votes four years ago, is again expected to be one of the tightest races of the 2024 election.

Two of the impacted sites were in Union City, which has a population that is nearly 90 percent Black. Officials in Fulton County, home to Atlanta, announced that it received 32 bomb votes in its county alone.

Voters wait in line at a voting site in Atlanta.

Another two precincts in neighboring Gwinnett County, which has an equally diverse population, were evacuated for about an hour while bomb threats were investigated, local officials said. In DeKalb County, a deep-blue area east of Atlanta, officials said they received bomb threats at seven voting locations within an hour.

Evette Reyes, a poll watcher in Georgia, told CNN that three voters were mid-vote when a threat was called in to one voting site and that approximately 25 others were in line.

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The FBI acknowledged that Russia was behind a slew of bomb threats that reports suggested also impacted voting sites in Pennsylvania. It released a statement on the matter but did not divulge many details on the reasoning behind the threats or how Russia was determined to be the culprit.

Election integrity and protecting our community is our highest priority, and the FBI is working closely with state and local law enforcement partners to respond to election threats and protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote, the FBIs statement said.

A third swing state, Arizona, also reported receiving a hoax bomb threat. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said several polling locations in Navajo County, which is home to many Native Americans, were also threatened.

We also have reason to believe, although I wont get into specifics, that this comes from one of our foreign enemies, namely Russia, said Fontes.

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WASHINGTON  Bomb threats wreaked havoc at dozens of polling sites across at least five pivotal swing states on Tuesday.

Voting precincts in Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Arizona were targeted with emailed threats, which the FBI said likely originated in Russia.

None of the threats and the have been deemed credible, but did delay at least some voters from casting ballots. The threats appear to mostly have targeted Democratic-leaning areas.

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More than 30 precincts in Georgia, consolidated in the Atlanta metro area, received threats on Tuesday. The precincts were in Dekalb, Fulton and Gwinnett Counties  all of which have voted Democratic in the last few presidential elections. Dekalb and Fulton Counties have been Democratic strongholds for decades, and Gwinnett has trended blue since the 2016 presidential election.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 21: A 'Wait Here To Vote' sign is seen in a polling location as cvoters check in to cast ballots on May 21, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Among the races on the ballot in Fulton County are Scott McAfee, the Fulton County Superior Court Judge overseeing former president Donald Trump's election interference criminal trial, and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is prosecuting the case. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

Threats in Michigan were targeted at polling sites in four counties that President Joe Biden won in the 2020 presidential election, including Washtenaw County, Wayne County, Genesee County and Saginaw County.

In Wisconsin, precincts in the state capital of Madison, Dane County, were targeted. Biden won that area by more than 50 points in 2020, 75.7% to 22.9%.

In Pennsylvania, where both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have hung much of their White House hopes, key counties including Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia were also impacted by threats. Biden won all three areas in 2020 and Harris views them as critical this year.

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More: FBI debunks online video that falsely claims 'high terror threat' at polling stations

At least one Republican-leaning area also saw bomb threats on Tuesday. Four locations in Navajo County, Ariz. received false bomb threats. Trump won the county in the northeastern part of the state by roughly 8 points in the last presidential election.

Did the threats delay voting?

The threats halted voting at many of the impacted precincts and, in some cases, led to extended voting hours.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner told reporters that there were multiple threats, but only one polling location was closed.

All the locations were cleared...only one was briefly closed that was for about 23 minutes, he said. Let me say it again, phony bomb threats. No bombs, no one hurt. No boom, none of that happened.

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Two polling locations in Chester County, Pa., were kept open until 10 p.m. Tuesday after a bomb threat was called into the Chester County Government Services on election night, officials confirmed. The building houses the countys voter services center but is not where ballots are counted on election night.

Officials in nearby Montgomery County, Pa. said theyve received no bomb threats, but law enforcement are on standby in case. York County, Pa., also received a threat, but local officials said that location was not shut down and voting continued uninterrupted.

In Georgia, at least 10 of the affected precincts stayed open later as well, each for about 20-40 minutes, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Ann Jacobs, head of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said bomb threats at two Madison area polling sites did not disrupt voting.

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Voting rights groups in Georgia have so far not raised alarm that the threats significantly impacted voter turnout. But some Democratic leaders have

Concerns of Russian interference

The FBI said the threats appeared to originate from Russian email domains. Describing election integrity as among it's "highest priorities," the bureau said in a statement that it was working closely with state and local law enforcement to respond to the threats and protect Americans rights to exercise their vote.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, also blamed Russian for the bomb hoaxes.

They're up to mischief, it seems. They don't want us to have a smooth, fair and accurate election, and if they can get us to fight among ourselves, they can count that as a victory," Raffensperger said.

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State and local officials across the affected areas are working with the federal government to investigate the bomb hoaxes.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, responded to Russias apparent role in the threats, saying "Vladimir Putin is being a prick.

Contributing: Aysha Bagchi and Bart Jansen, USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russia blamed for bomb threats at polling sites across 5 swing states
After being elected as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump promised to end wars in his victory speech Tuesday night, leaving Europe apprehensive about the conflict in Ukraine and the future of NATO.

Trump promised to return to an America First foreign policy, vowing to stop using the countrys resources to fight wars abroad. Throughout his campaign, the president-elect repeatedly claimed he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine in a day, though he has failed to provide any specifics. In his previous term, Trump paired isolationist rhetoric with escalated U.S. interventions from Somalia to Yemen.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump, sharing his hopes for collaborative action to end the war.

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Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine, Zelensky wrote on X.

Trump is likely to urge Moscow and Kyiv to agree to a ceasefire upon taking office, while also slashing aid for Ukraine's defense. The U.S. has provided Ukraine with $175 billion in aid since the country was invaded by Russia in early 2022. But many fear Trump's ceasefire talks will be on Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putins terms, which include rejecting any future attempts by Ukraine to join NATO.

Last month, Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, told NBC News that to end the war in Ukraine, were going to have to engage in some sort of negotiation between Ukraine, between Russia, between our NATO allies in Europe."

Vance has been a vocal critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine, calling for the latter to surrender territory to Russia, a stance that Zelensky said was too radical, The New Yorker reported in September.

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Many Russian officials were quick to celebrate Trumps victory, eager for the possibility of a negotiation that favors their interests. Several Russian officials were openly gleeful about Harris loss, prematurely celebrating the end of Americas aid to Ukraine.

"Kamala Harris was right when she quoted Psalm 30:5: 'Weeping may remain in the night, but joy comes in the morning, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram. Hallelujah, I would add for myself.

The Russian parliaments head of foreign affairs, Leonid Slutsky, told The Washington Post that Trumps victory will be a huge blow for Ukraine.

Judging by the pre-election rhetoric  the Republican team is not going to send more and more American taxpayer money into the furnace of the proxy war against Russia, he said.

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Putin himself had yet to congratulate Trump as of Wednesday afternoon. There has been a wealth of speculation in recent months about Trumps relationship with the Russian leader, as details of secret communication between the two men have emerged since Trump left the White House in 2021.

For much of the rest of Europe, a second Trump term brings apprehension and uncertainty. During his first presidency, Trump threatened to leave NATO. This time around, hes repeatedly warned that the U.S. will abandon European allies who dont invest more in defense. Hes previously criticized many of NATOs European members for failing to commit more of heir GDP to their defense budgets.

While a Trump presidency likely means Europe can rely on the United States much less for its defense, it could also force EU governments to build stronger alliances, Politico reported.

A post from French prime minister Emmanuel Macron hinted as much. After congratulating Trump, Macron wrote that he had spoken with his German counterpart about the fate of their two countries going forward.

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I have just spoken with the Chancellor @OlafScholz. We will work towards a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe in this new context. By cooperating with the United States of America and defending our interests and our values, Macron wrote on X.

Scholz' echoed Macron's words. "The European Union must stand close together and act in a united manner," he told reporters on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.
The News

As the news of Donald Trumps return to the White House sinks in across the world, Russia has, so far, largely expressed muted caution. Even so, a handful of lawmakers and officials have tentatively raised the possibility of a thawing in Washingtons relationship with Moscow, and in turn, an end to the Ukraine war on Russias terms.

We have repeatedly said that the US is able to contribute to the end of this conflict. This cannot be done overnight, but... the US is capable of changing the trajectory of its foreign policy. Will this happen, and if so, how... we will see after January, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said Wednesday after Trump was declared the victor in the election. Peskov caveated, however, that the US remains an unfriendly country.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was more celebratory: Kamala Harris was right when she quoted Psalm 30:5: Weeping may remain in the night, but joy comes in the morning, she wrote on Telegram. Hallelujah, I would add for myself.

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Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also weighed in, saying that Trumps victory is useful for us, before stressing that an anti-Russia consensus persists in Washington. As a businessman to the core, he hates spending money on idiotic allies, stupid charity projects and voracious international organizations.

SIGNALS

Experts warn Trump deal-making in Ukraine may not be favorable enough for Russia

Sources: Izvestia, TASS

Trump has repeatedly vowed to bring a swift end to Russias war in Ukraine, raising fears in Kyiv that he would do so only on terms favorable to Moscow  yet Russian experts have sounded a note of caution. We are not talking about victory, but about freezing [the conflict]. For Russia, this is a negative scenario, one Russian expert in the US said, adding that Washington could yet ramp up the pressure on Moscow. The former head of the OSCE observer mission in Russia was more blunt: We shouldnt expect a miracle here, he told Russian outlet TASS. Many Republicans have a position opposite to Trump They need to adapt to Trumps policies, but there will probably be some resistance among Republicans.

Russians wait to see what Trumps stance on Middle East might reveal about Ukraine

Sources: Meduza, X

Russia is watching to see how Trump will act in the Middle East as a bellwether for his potential actions in Ukraine, a source described as close to the Kremlin told independent Russian-language outlet Meduza: If the Middle East takes precedence for the West, Ukraine will fall into greater dependence on Europe. In a scenario where Trump prioritizes the conflict in the Middle East, the source continued, the next move is ours: we could propose peace terms or successfully carry out a counteroffensive. While some experts believe Trump would seek to drive a wedge between Moscow and its ally, Tehran, Russia is entrenched in a relationship of mutual reliance with Iran, making a split unlikely, a leading Russia-Iran expert wrote on X.
Kyiv knows of 124 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) who were executed by Russian forces on the battlefield throughout the full-scale war, a senior representative of the Prosecutor General's Office said on Nov. 6.

Reports of murders, torture, and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war are received regularly by Ukrainian authorities and have spiked in recent months. Most cases were recorded in embattled Donetsk Oblast.

Speaking on national television, Denys Lysenko, the head of the department focused on war-related crimes, said that 49 criminal investigations were underway regarding the execution of Ukrainian POWs.

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The most recent cases include the killing of six captured Ukrainian soldiers near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, prosecutors reported on Nov. 5.

"We are now analyzing all these cases, looking for patterns... We are considering all these cases comprehensively and the involvement of a particular armed unit is, of course, analyzed in each case," Lysenko said.

According to him, prosecutors are building cases against representatives of the Russian military leadership who may be involved in organizing such executions or in failing to take measures to prevent them.

Former Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin called the killing of Ukrainian servicemen in captivity a "deliberate policy" of Russia.

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Some 80% of the cases of executions of Ukrainian POWs were recorded in 2024, but the trend began to appear in November 2023, when "there were changes in the attitude of Russian military personnel towards our prisoners of war for the worse," said Yurii Belousov, a senior representative of the Prosecutor General's Office.

Read also: Finishing off the defenseless: How the Russians execute Ukrainian soldiers

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The News

US election officials said Russia is behind non-credible bomb threats that led to evacuations and a temporary halt to voting in some swing states on Tuesday.

In Georgia, several large Democratic-leaning counties around Atlanta temporarily closed polling places after receiving threats; voting resumed after authorities evacuated and cleared the locations, and many of the precincts will stay open late because of the delays.

Officials in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Michigan also said they received hoax bomb threats.

Know More

Georgia is not going to be intimidated. Russia just decided they picked on the wrong Georgia, the states top election official Brad Raffensperger said. They need to pick on the other one in the Black Sea because were not going to be intimidated, but were just excited about where we are right now.

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More than 5.2 million voters are expected to cast ballots in Georgia, surpassing the states 2020 turnout.

Raffensperger said the threatening emails were sent to county officials that included Cyrillic text, tipping them off that they could be from Russia.

The FBI confirmed the emails appear to originate from Russian email domains. None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far.

Experts have warned for months that American adversaries  namely Russia, China, and Iran  would try to interfere with the presidential election, even after Nov. 5. Their tactics have become more sophisticated and difficult to track in the last eight years, The New York Times reported.
MOSCOW (AP)  The upper house of Russian parliament on Wednesday ratified a treaty with North Korea envisioning mutual military assistance, a move that comes as the U.S. has confirmed the deployment of 10,000 North Korean troops to Russia.

The comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, which Russian President Vladimir Putin signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on a visit to Pyongyang in June, obliges Russia and North Korea to immediately provide military assistance using all means if either is attacked. It marked the strongest link between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.

The pact's endorsement by the upper house, the Federation Council, follows its ratification by the lower house, the State Duma, on Oct. 24.

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On Monday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers were in Russias Kursk region and were preparing to join Moscows fight against Ukraine in the coming days. If they engage in combat, it would be North Koreas first participation in a large-scale conflict since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Moscow and Pyongyang have responded vaguely to South Korean and Western claims of the North Korean troop deployment to Russia, emphasizing that their military cooperation conforms with international law, without directly admitting the presence of the Norths forces in Russia.

On Monday, Putin met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, who was on an official visit to Russia since late last week. During her talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Choe reiterated Pyongyangs support for the just fight of Russias military and people to defend their countrys sovereign rights and security interests in Ukraine.

Russia and North Korea have previously rejected assertions by the U.S. and its allies that Pyongyang has given Moscow ballistic missiles and millions of artillery shells for use in Ukraine.

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South Korean and Western officials voiced concerns about Russias possible transfer of technology to North Korea to enhance its nuclear and missile programs in exchange for its troops.

On Tuesday, North Korea fired a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles into the sea in a demonstration of its military capability hours before the U.S. presidential election.
Russia has rejected accusations from Washington regarding interference in the US presidential election.

"As for the allegations of attempted influence or interference, we categorically reject them," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. He was responding to allegations that there was a Russian link to bomb threats in some US polling stations.

Peskov also said, referring to the victory of Donald Trump, that whether the United States is in favour of ending the war in Ukraine would only become clear after the inauguration in January.

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"The United States is in a position to help resolve the conflict," Peskov said, adding that this "certainly cannot happen overnight."

Trump had promised during the election campaign to end the war, which has lasted more than two and a half years, in a very short time.

According to Peskov, "the US is the state that fuels this conflict, constantly pouring oil on it and being directly involved, and they are in a position to change the direction of their foreign policy" - whether and how this happens, "we will see after January."

Peskov also said that it was still unclear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would congratulate the victor, as Russia has classified the US as an unfriendly state. In 2016, Putin congratulated Trump on his victory.
Russian forces have suffered 7,905 soldiers killed, 12,220 injured, and 717 captured during almost three months of the Kursk incursion, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Nov. 6.

Over the same period, Moscow's military also lost 1,101 pieces of equipment, including 54 tanks, 276 armored vehicles, 107 artillery pieces and mortars, and five anti-aircraft weapons, according to the commander.

Ukraine launched its cross-border incursion in early August to prevent Russian cross-border strikes and draw Russian forces away from the embattled Donbas region, where Moscow keeps steadily advancing.

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According to Syrskyi, Russia has already concentrated 45,000 troops in Kursk Oblast to counter the ongoing Ukrainian incursion.

Moscow has also deployed thousands of North Korean troops in the embattled region, with some reportedly already clashing with Ukraine in small-scale engagements.

The Kursk incursion was also intended to preempt a Russian plan to invade Sumy Oblast to create a "buffer zone" in northern Ukraine, Syrskyi said, citing intelligence reports from May.

Russia has been mounting pressure against the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast while also advancing in Ukraine's east at a pace unseen in 2024, steadily pushing back Ukrainian defenders.

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Read also: Ukraine struggles to contain Russian advance in Donetsk Oblast as US elections loom

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It is not possible to end the Russia-Ukraine war overnight, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said at a press conference on Nov. 6 in reference to statements by Donald Trump.

Trump, who was recently reelected U.S. president, claimed during his campaign that if he returns to the White House, he will end Russias war in Ukraine within "24 hours." He hinted at his message again while delivering his victory speech, telling his cheering supporters, "Im going to stop the wars.

"We have repeatedly said that the United States can help end the conflict in Ukraine. This, of course, cannot be done overnight," Peskov said. He added that he is not aware of any plans by Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate President-elect Trump.

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Trump's plan to end the war within "24 hours" and get the U.S. "out" of Ukraine would likely benefit Russia by ceding Ukrainian territory and creating autonomous regions in the east, according to reporting in October.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky also previously voiced skepticism about Trump's ability to end the war within 24 hours, at least "without giving our land to Putin."

If Trump does slash U.S. aid to Ukraine, the American economy would take a hit, as the U.S. defense industry has received over $50 billion in investment due to America's support of Ukraine, with billions sent to states that helped Trump secure the White House again like Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida.

Zelensky congratulated Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election, voicing hope for "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

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Read also: Im going to stop the wars  Trump says, as he claims victory

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The so-called director of the occupied Askaniia-Nova Ukrainian nature reserve has been charged with violating the laws and customs of war. Law enforcement officials allege that he transferred rare animals worth over UAH 22 million (US$536,585) to Russia. This marks the first case of suspicion of committing a war crime against a nature reserve.

Source: the Prosecutor Generals Office; Kherson Oblast Prosecutors Office

The Askaniia-Nova biosphere reserve, Europes largest steppe reserve, is part of UNESCOs international network of biosphere reserves and is also protected from plunder under the Hague Convention.

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Law enforcement officers say that the territory of the reserve has been under temporary Russian occupation since 24 February 2022. In March 2023, the occupying authorities of Kherson Oblast established de facto control over Askaniia-Nova.

The Prosecutor Generals Office notes that at that time, Russia registered the reserve as a legal entity and appointed a so-called director.

During the pre-trial investigation, it was established that the new "leader" of Askaniia-Nova conspired with representatives of the Rostov reserve and the Living Nature of the Steppe association (both in Russia  ed.).

Subsequently, the so-called director transferred rare and endangered species from the Ukrainian reserve to Russian territory.

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Read also: Russians plan to abduct another group of animals from occupied Ukrainian reserve Askaniia-Nova

In particular, two individuals of the following species each were stolen:

Chapmans zebras;

American bison

David's deer;

Przewalski's horse, a species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine

Law enforcement estimates show that the "director" of the reserve caused damage exceeding UAH 22 million (US$536,585).

The man has been served with a notice of suspicion for violating the laws and customs of war, committed in conspiracy with a group of individuals  under Article 28.2, Article 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

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Read also: Russia creates illusion of tourism in occupied Askaniia-Nova reserve by conducting staged tours

Quote: "The illegal transfer of animals by the so-called director of the reserve constitutes a war crime of plundering and a violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians, as well as Articles 28 and 56 of the Fourth Hague Convention on the laws and customs of war on land," the Prosecutor General's Office added.

The so-called director faces up to 12 years in prison for plundering the reserve. Law enforcement is also identifying other participants in the crime.

Read also: "They kill animals and brag about it": animal rights activists post new photo-evidence of Russia's ecocide in Ukraine

Background:

Earlier, Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, stated that Russia has been destroying the Askaniia-Nova biosphere reserve, with animals being moved to Crimea and the territory of the aggressor country.

At the same time, the reserves director, Viktor Shapoval, noted that it is too early to speak of the complete destruction of Askaniia-Nova.

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Russian attacks against Ukraine killed nine civilians and wounded 37, including a child, over the past day, regional authorities reported on Nov. 6.

Russia launched 63 Shaheds and other drones overnight, as well as two Kh-59 and Kh-31P guided missiles. Ukrainian air defenses shot 38 drones over nine regions while 22 were "lost" during the attacks, the Air Force said.

Two women, aged 56 and 72, were injured in the city of Kharkiv as a result of a drone strike, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

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According to the governor, three men aged 40, 47, and 60 years were injured following a Russian strike on a warehouse in the village of Kapytolivka. In Hlushkivka, a man and a woman aged 48 years were killed in Russian attacks.

Five people were injured in Kherson Oblast following Russian strikes on infrastructure facilities, administrative buildings, and residential areas, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on his Telegram channel.

Seven people were killed and 25 wounded as a result of a Russian missile attack on Zaporizhzhia, regional authorities reported.

The Russian military attacked the town of Ochakiv, wounding a 13-year-old girl and a 39-year-old woman, Mykolaiv Oblast regional Governor Vitalii Kim reported on his Telegram channel.

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Read also: Kursk incursion thwarted Russias plans for buffer zone in Sumy Oblast, Syrskyi says

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A cruise missile has exploded on the outskirts of the city of Chernihiv, leaving two people injured.

Source: Dmytro Bryzhynskyi, Head of Chernihiv City Military Administration; Oleksandr Lomako, acting Mayor of Chernihiv

Details: Bryzhynskyi noted that a Russian cruise missile had exploded on the outskirts of the city.

"As of now, two people are known to have been injured. One person is in a serious condition, and the other is in a moderate condition," he added.

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Lomako clarified that the explosions heard by city residents did not occur within its territory. He also stated that no destruction or damage had been recorded directly in Chernihiv.

Background: At 17:36, Ukraine's Air Force reported detecting a missile flying southwest in the northern part of Chernihiv Oblast. Three minutes later, the missile changed its course towards Chernihiv, and another three minutes later, a second missile was detected heading for the city of Nizhyn.

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Editor's note: The article was updated with comments from Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the Russian parliament's upper chamber, and ultra-nationalist Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin.

Several Russian officials on Nov. 6 voiced their first reactions to Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election, with some presenting it as a blow to Ukraine.

"Trump has one quality that is useful to us: as a businessman to the core, he hates spending money on freeloaders, on idiotic allies, charity projects, and greedy international organizations," former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

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Trump claimed victory in a presidential vote on Nov. 5, defeating his Democratic challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris. The election is expected to have a profound impact on Washington's support for Kyiv, as there are fears Trump might withdraw support.

Medvedev, currently serving as deputy chairman of Russia's National Security and Defense Council, nevertheless said that a "bipartisan anti-Russian consensus" remains strong in the U.S. Congress.

"The question: is how much will they force Trump to give for the war," he wrote.

The Republican Party has secured a majority in the Senate in a parallel vote, while the election results in the House are still being counted.

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Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson of Russia's Foreign Ministry, said on her Telegram channel that "those who live by love for their country, and not by hatred for others, win."

Publishing a video of Harris quoting a Biblical passage, "Weeping may tarry for a night, but joy comes in the morning," Zakharova added: "Hallelujah, I'll add on my own."

Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the Russian parliament's upper chamber, said that Russia is ready for cooperation and dialogue with the new U.S. leadership but does not expect significant changes in Washington's policy.

"I think there shouldn't be too high expectations. It doesn't seem that U.S. policy will change dramatically," Matviyenko commented, according to the Interfax news agency.

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Ultra-nationalist Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin said that he is "really happy" about Trump's victory, claiming that "we have won."

Dugin, a fervent supporter of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has long been an advocate of Russian imperialism and a leading figure of Russia's turn toward hardline nationalism and authoritarian rule.

"That is decisive. The world will be never ever like before. Globalists have lost their final combat. The future is finally open," he wrote on social media.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he is not aware of any plans by Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump, as the U.S. is an unfriendly country "involved in a war against Russia."

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A number of world leaders have congratulated Trump on his reelection, including Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and many others.

Putin claimed indifference to the result of the vote and once even said he would prefer Harris as a president in an apparent wry remark, while U.S. intelligence has accused Russia of election interference to boost Trump.

Trump has repeatedly boasted about his supposedly close relationship with Putin, prompting fears he might seek a deal with Moscow at the cost of painful concessions on Ukraine's part.

His plan to end the war within "24 hours" and get the U.S. "out" of Ukraine would benefit Russia by ceding Ukrainian territory and creating autonomous regions in the east, according to reporting in October.

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"Trump's view is he wants to do everything he can to help Putin because for whatever reason he likes these strong men, he's fascinated by him in particular," Evelyn Farkas, the executive director of the McCain Institute, said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Im going to stop the wars  Trump says, as he claims victory

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Even as the Kremlin has so far refused to congratulate Donald Trump on winning the US presidential race, at least one influential Russian finance leader appeared more optimistic about his victorys potential benefits.

In a statement to Semafor columnist Hadley Gamble, Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of Russian sovereign wealth fund Direct Investment Fund praised Trump and said his victory opens up new opportunities for resetting relations between Russia and the United States.

A Kremlin spokesperson said Vladimir Putin does not plan to congratulate Trump, since the US is an unfriendly country, and that the next US president would be judged on concrete steps and concrete words.

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Trump has repeatedly promised to end the war in Ukraine, which Kyiv fears could mean brokering a deal in which it must cede territory to Russia. Moscow was made a pariah in the West since the 2022 invasion, and its still too soon to say how that calculation could change under a second Trump presidency.

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Its unclear how Trumps administration could change Russias economic and political relationship with the US, but Trump did mention Russia in the context of oil during his victory speech on Wednesday: We have more liquid gold  oil and gas  than any country in the world. More than Saudi Arabia, more than Russia. Oil prices fell on the news of Trumps win, along with other commodities.

Many Gulf leaders preferred Trump, Semafors Gamble noted, but the Republicans fossil fuel-reliant energy dominance policy proposal presents a challenge to those countries that are still economically reliant on fossil fuels, even as they seek to diversify from the industry.
Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has reached a "stalemate" and "needs to be brought to a conclusion," Marco Rubio, Republican senator from Florida, said on air on Nov. 6 after President-elect Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election.

According to Rubio, as a businessman, Trump will not reveal his negotiating tactic to end Moscow's war.

"You don't want to be a fan of (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to want the war to end," the senator added.

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On the campaign trail, Trump has repeatedly said he could end Russia's war within 24 hours if elected president, without elaborating on how he plans to achieve it.

The Financial Times (FT) reported on Oct. 28 that Trump may aim to effectively freeze the war and reject Ukraine's NATO membership in the foreseeable future, at least "until Putin leaves the stage."

Rubio, who is reportedly on the list of candidates for the position of state secretary under Trump, described Ukrainians as "incredibly brave and strong" but there's "the reality of the war," he said.

"That doesn't mean we celebrate what Vladimir Putin did or are excited about it, but I think there has to be some common sense here. We are funding a stalemate that's costing lives... and Ukraine is going to take 100 years to rebuild with everything they're facing," Rubio said.

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Trump has previously criticized U.S. aid for Ukraine, mocking President Volodymyr Zelensky as the "greatest salesman on earth."

Earlier in the day, Zelensky congratulated Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election, voicing hopes for "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

Read also: What we know about Trumps plans for ending Russias war against Ukraine

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On the night of 5-6 November, Russia launched 63 Shahed attack drones and other unidentified drones in Ukraine and targeted Odesa Oblast with an Kh-59 air-to-surface missile and an Kh-31P anti-radar missile. Ukrainian forces managed to down 38 Russian drones, 20 disappeared from radar and 2 are still in the air.

Source: Ukraines Air Force on Telegram

Quote: "As of 07:30, 38 enemy UAVs have been confirmed destroyed in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

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Twenty enemy drones disappeared from radar in various Ukrainian oblasts, with two still in Ukrainian airspace. Combat efforts are ongoing!"

Details: The missiles were reportedly launched from the Black Sea, while drones were launched from Russias Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Orel, as well as from Cape Chauda in temporarily occupied Crimea.

Anti-aircraft missile forces, aircraft, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Ukraines defence forces were involved in repelling the attack.

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The Russian forces occupied about 490 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in October, the highest figure for 2024 and for the Russian counter-offensive that has been going on since October 2023.

Source: Ukrainian analytical project DeepState Map

Details: At the same time, analysts emphasise that there is no need to measure everything by area, because it is people who are fighting and they are the guarantee of the army's sustainability and its potential for resistance.

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The indicator is the capabilities of the military industry, the level of training of the conscripts, the degree of mechanisation, the availability of long-range strike capabilities, and most importantly, the rational use of human potential. The latter, sadly, is becoming a weak point for Ukraine, the Deep State notes.

In turn, the Russians are correcting their mistakes: while "cannon fodder" units used to be a classic of their army, nowadays their regiments and brigades are increasingly spending additional weeks and months training their personnel, the project analysts say. The presence of a large number of manpower allows the Russians to conduct regular rotations every one or two months. However, for Ukraine's military leadership, performing a rotation in a brigade, which has been on the battlefield since 24 February 2022, may become a problem, Deep State adds.

To sum up, the analysts point out that the area of occupied territories is certainly important, but it is definitely not the only criterion for assessing the effectiveness of the army. In October 2022, the Russians attacked Novomykhailivka with 4 full companies, but now it is something they can barely afford.

Background:

On 1 November 2024, Estonian intelligence announced that Russian troops had managed to occupy about 150 square kilometres in Donetsk Oblast over the week before that.

Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that the Russian army seized more territory that week than at any other time in 2024 during the same period.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has recently increased the number of regiments, brigades and divisions and the number of its personnel by almost 100,000. The length of the line of contact has also increased to 1,300 kilometres. Dmytro Lykhovii, spokesperson for the General Staff, explains that the Russian troops have a significant advantage on the line of contact, sometimes up to 5 times.

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Individuals using Russian email domains called fake bomb threats into polling stations throughout battleground states on Tuesday, federal and state law enforcement said, in an apparent attempt to disrupt or delay the vote in Democratic areas.

A law enforcement official told McClatchy that the states involved in the Russian effort are Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, and Wisconsin. But while the threats came from Russian email domains, it is not yet clear if the individuals behind them were Russian nationals, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said Tuesday night, noting that the threats did not affect the ability of voters to cast their votes.

Officials with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, alongside other intelligence and law enforcement officials, have assessed that Moscow prefers the Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump, win the election against his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.

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In a statement earlier on Tuesday afternoon, the FBI said it was aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains. None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far.

Election integrity is among the FBIs highest priorities, the agency said. We will continue to work closely with our state and local law enforcement partners to respond to any threats to our elections and to protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote.
(NewsNation)  With 50.7% of the vote, NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for Pennsylvania District 7 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of Ryan Mackenzie. See results of U.S. House and U.S. Senate races from around the country here.

The 7th Congressional District race was among the most competitive and highly watched, not only among Pennsylvanias House races but nationally.

Lehigh Valleys shifting demographics on both rural and suburban voters had been viewed as a bellwether for state and national elections.

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Three-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Susan Wild was up against Republican state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the 7th District.

Pennsylvania is home to one of the Biden 16  the 16 House districts nationally that President Joe Biden won in 2020 but are represented by Republicans.

The state is also home to one of the eight districts that former President Donald Trump won but are represented by Democrats.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

Wild, who was first elected to Congress in 2018, won by 2 points over her Republican challenger in her most recent race. Her 2022 contest was the closest congressional race of the 2022 cycle in Pennsylvania.

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The National Republican Congressional Campaign had targeted Wild in a list of seats to flip in 2024 and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee placed Wild on its Frontline program, intended to protect vulnerable incumbents, reported the Penn Capital Star.

Wild was the first House incumbent endorsement by former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, who broke party lines and campaigned alongside Vice President Kamala Harris.

Wilds campaign message largely aligned with the Democratic platform on reproductive rights and voting rights and she told voters shes needed in Washington, D.C. to stand up against any and all forms of fear and hate.

Republicans have attacked Wild as weak on border security which has contributed to the number of unaccompanied migrant children in Lehigh Valley.

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Her opponent, Mackenzie, has been a state legislator since 2012 and before that was the director of policy at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

While he stayed in line with conservatives on education to health care he did break from the party being the only Republican candidate during the primary to express support for protecting fertility treatments.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

The race in the 7th District became one of the most expensive congressional contests in the state.

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Wild outraised Mackenzie almost 7-to-1 through June 30 and outside groups spent more than $10 million on it, according to the disclosures.

Heading into Tuesdays election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with a narrow majority of 220 seats while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  On Nov. 5. San Angelo Independent School District voters passed the proposed 2024 Proposition A by approximately 58%.

SAISD Proposition A election results

We are so thankful and appreciative of our San Angelo ISD community, said SAISD Superintendent Dr. Chris Moran.

According to SAISD, Proposition A is a $6 million package made to address teacher and staff pay and employ armed officers at every campus.

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The additional funding for all our teachers and staff allows us to recruit and retain high-quality

instructors, as well as provide the necessary armed officers at every campus to protect our staff and students, said Moran.

In October, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved an adjusted 2024-2025 Compensation Plan which was contingent on the passage of Proposition A. A few key components of this plan include increasing the minimum starting teacher pay to $50,000 and a $2,500 pay increase for each employee in the teacher job family.

According to SAISD, Texas House Bill 3 requires an armed officer on every campus. School districts say cost and recruitment are the two biggest hurdles stopping them from complying with the new law.

Last year, the state required all districts to have security officers at every campus but only provided funding to cover about 20% of this cost. Prop A provides additional funding for safety and security officers, said SAISD.

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Rep. Sam Graves easily won reelection to Missouris 6th Congressional District, continuing a two-decade long string of representing the Kansas City northlands and much of the northern part of the state.

The Associated Press called the race for Graves, a Tarkio Republican, at 8:46 p.m. Graves was winning 69.3% of the vote, compared with 30.6% for Democrat Pam May, 1.7% for Libertarian Andy Maidment and 0.9% for Green Party candidate Mike Diel, according to the AP.

I greatly appreciate the trust the voters have placed in me once again, Graves said in a statement. The next two years will be consequential and I will continue working to ensure our families can afford to live and our border is secure. Its the honor of a lifetime to represent North Missouri and I look forward to continuing as our voice in Congress.

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Graves, 60, is the longest serving member in Missouris congressional delegation, having first been elected in 2000. He serves as the chairman of the House Transportation Committee  a powerful role that gives him authority over how federal money is spent on infrastructure improvements throughout the country.

As an amateur pilot, the role has also allowed Graves to help the general aviation industry through his work on legislation overseeing the Federal Aviation Administration.

While Graves has spent more than 23 years in Congress, he would have to serve another 18 years to overtake the states longest serving Congressman  former Rep. Clarence Cannon, from Elsbury. Cannon, who was a prominent chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, now has an office building named after him in Washington.
DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  Sam Richardson defeated opponent Charles Frederick in Tuesdays race for Dorchester County sheriff.

Voters cast their ballots and decided to give the chief deputy a promotion. It comes as longtime sheriff L.C. Knight plans on retiring.

A watch party was held at Summerville Country Club where sheriff-elect Richardson took the stage to a roar from supporters.

Richardson spoke earlier on the say about how he worked his way up from a patrol deputy to eventually becoming chief deputy under Sheriff Knight, who trained him to become his replacement.

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He told the crowd he wanted to be the number one sheriffs office in South Carolina.

Listen, you cant strive to be number two or number three. You want to strive to be number one. So, you put things in place to be number one. You want to be the best you can be, he said.

Richardson said he is looking forward to working with the deputies to make sure they have the equipment and training needed to stay safe, while also working with citizens to implement community programs.

The sheriff-elect will be sworn in during the first week of January.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  It was up to the voters to choose who will represent San Diego County in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next two years.

On Election Day, San Diegans cast their ballots for the next representative of each of the countys five congressional districts  District 48, District 49, District 50, District 51, and District 52.

Each race is critical to determine the balance of power in Congress for the next few years, although one contest in particular, District 49, has been a notable target for Republicans.

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MORE: Your Local Election Headquarters 2024

The seat, which is currently held by Democratic Rep. Mike Levin, emerged as one of the more competitive congressional races in California, with millions being funneled into the race by both sides as they hope to grab the majority in the lower congressional chamber.

The polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday and results will be released in batches until a winner is called. Election officials say the results released immediately after the polls closed largely account for ballots cast prior to Monday, Nov. 4 through early voting opportunities.

San Diego and California Key Race Results 2024

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Election results will continue to roll in over the coming days and weeks as the Registrar of Voters counts ballots cast on Election Day. The county then has until Dec. 5 to certify the results.

District 48

In District 48, which is comprised of central and eastern San Diego County, Democrat Stephen Houlahan challenged Republican incumbent Darrell Issa for his seat.

Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voters Thursday shows Issa (R) in the lead with 60% of the vote over Houlahan (D) with about 40% of the vote.

Darrell Issa (left) and Stephen Houlahan (right). (Courtesy Photos)

District 49

Matt Gunderson, Republican and business owner, is going up against Democratic incumbent Mike Levin in District 49, which covers San Diegos North County and southern Orange County.

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Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voters Thursday shows Levin (D) in the lead with about 55% of the vote over Gunderson (R) with 44% of the vote.

Mike Levin (left) and Matt Gunderson (right). (Courtesy photos)

District 50

Retired Navy technician Peter Bono, a Republican, and incumbent Scott Peters, a Democrat, are facing off for the District 50 seat, which includes Coronado, San Marcos, Escondido and coastal San Diego.

Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voters Thursday shows Peters (D) in the lead with nearly 63% of the vote and Bono (R) with about 37% of the vote.

Scott Peters (left) and Peter Bono (left). (Courtesy photos)

District 51

Sara Jacobs, a Democrat, is running for re-election to Congress in District 51 against the current Republican mayor of El Cajon, Bill Wells.

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Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voters Thursday shows Jacobs (D) in the lead with 59% of the vote and Wells (R) with about 41% of the vote so far.

Sara Jacobs (left) and Bill Wells (right). (Courtesy photos)

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District 52

Juan Vargas, a Democrat, is seeking re-election to Congress in District 52, which covers San Diegos South Bay, and is facing off against Republican business owner, Justin Lee.

Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voters Thursday shows Vargas (D) in the lead in this race with 64% of the vote followed by Lee (R) with nearly 36% of the vote.

Juan Vargas (left) and Justin Lee (right). (Courtesy photos)

View a map of each congressional district and results below.

For more on each of these candidates and their backgrounds, visit FOX 5/KUSIs Meet the Candidates guide covering congressional contests. And to see how other federal races are playing out, check out FOX 5/KUSIs National Balance of Power hub.

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FOX 5/KUSI is following the results of the Nov. 5 election. Check back for real-time updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Three of the five districts on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors are up for grabs this year, each with a sitting incumbent hoping to stay in office.

Among these is the race for the District 3 seat, which is considered the most competitive due to a possible shift in the balance of power from the Democratic majority. Incumbent Terra Lawson-Remer, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Kevin Faulconer in this race.

MORE: Your Local Election Headquarters 2024

District 1

The race for the District 1 seat on the county Board of Supervisors pits Democratic incumbent Nora Vargas against Republican challenger Alejandro Galicia.

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Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voters Thursday evening put Vargas in the lead with nearly 62% of the vote.

District 2

Republican incumbent Joel Anderson faces off against Democratic challenger Gina Jacobs for the boards District 2 seat.

Anderson pulled into a solid lead over Jacobs in unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voters Thursday evening, carrying 61% of the vote.

District 3

Stakes are high in the competitive race for the District 3 seat, which puts former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer against incumbent Terra Lawson-Remer. Faulconer, a Republican, has had a significant funding advantage over Lawson-Remer, with campaigns in support of him raising hundreds of thousands of dollars more than his Democratic opponent.

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Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voters Thursday evening had Lawson-Remer with the advantage, garnering 56% of the vote.

These initial returns, which are not official results, largely account for ballots cast prior to Monday, Nov. 4 through early voting opportunities.

San Diego and California Key Race Results 2024

Additional unofficial results will continue to roll in over the coming days and weeks as the Registrar of Voters counts ballots cast on Election Day. The county then has until Dec. 5 to certify the results.

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FOX 5/KUSI is following the results of the Nov. 5 election. Check back for real-time updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Outside the city of San Diego, a number of mayoral races remain up in the air as of Tuesday night.

The incumbents in the cities of Oceanside, Lemon Grove and Encinitas are in a dead-heat in their re-election bids based on early returns from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.

Up in North County, incumbent Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez is nearly evenly splitting the vote with her challenger, City Councilmember Ryan Keim, as of 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

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Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz is also trailing his challenger, Councilmember Bruce Ehlers, in early returns as of 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Current Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez is also behind in early returns, with City Councilmember Alysson Snow holding nearly a 10-point lead in early unofficial results as of 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The only incumbent mayor outside the city of San Diego with a strong lead is John Minto in the city of Santee, who is holding 79% of the vote as of 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

These initial returns, which are not official results, largely account for ballots cast prior to Monday, Nov. 4 through early voting opportunities.

San Diego and California Key Race Results 2024

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Additional unofficial results will continue to roll in over the coming days and weeks as the Registrar of Voters counts ballots cast on Election Day. The county then has until Dec. 5 to certify the results.

FOX 5/KUSI is following the results of the Nov. 5 election. Check back for real-time updates.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
San Diego resident Ryan Coffey was on a cross-country flight in January 2023 when he offered alcohol to a 14-year-old sitting next to him, according to court records.

He didnt know the girl, who was 17 years his junior, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

That didnt prevent Coffey, however, from sexually molesting her on the five-hour-plus American Airlines evening flight from Charlotte, N.C., to San Diego.

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Now a federal judge has sentenced Coffey to prison for his actions.

Read more: FBI affidavit details bloody attack aboard cross-country flight out of San Francisco

The now 33-year-old was sentenced Monday to two years in prison and 10 years of supervised release afterward and saddled with just under $11,000 in fines and restitution. Coffey had pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and abusive sexual contact in August .

A call to his attorney was not immediately answered.

Coffey admitted in court that he supplied the girl with rum and touched her inner thigh and breasts, according to the Department of Justice.

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A fellow passenger said that she heard the minor tell Coffey that she was afraid of flying, according to a sentencing memo. That's when he took out a bottle of alcohol from his bag and gave it to her to relax, according to the witness statement in the memo.

Read more: Pilot in Catalina crash that killed 5 took off after dark: Like flying into a 'black hole'

"Then he patted her on the leg and gave her his hand to hold," the memo noted. "He even held her by the waist while watching a movie during the flight."

The victim alleged that Coffey also forced his fingers inside her vagina and forced her to perform oral sex.

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The sentencing memo noted that she was traveling on the flight with a brother. He, however, was seated an undisclosed number of rows ahead of her; the 14-year-old was seated between two strangers.

Ryan Coffeys conduct was abhorrent, acting FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge TJ Holland said in a statement in August. The FBI, along with our dedicated law enforcement partners, remain committed to using all tools available to follow the evidence and bring those who commit crimes against children to justice.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Among the many races San Diegans had their say in this election cycle were a number of races for the California State Assembly.

San Diego County has six State Assembly districts up for grabs, including one that also includes the southern tip of Orange County. The representative in the countys seventh assembly district, Chris Ward, ran for re-election this election cycle unopposed.

Two of the six head-to-head races, the contests in Districts 75 and 76, have been among the key races to watch at the state level.

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MORE: Your Local Election Headquarters 2024

Two Republicans, Carl DeMaio and Andrews Hayes, are going up against each other for the open and safe Republican District 75 seat. Meanwhile, Democrats are looking to hold onto Assemblymember Brian Maienscheins District 76 seat when he reaches term limits this year.

The polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday and results will be released in batches until a winner is called. Election officials say the results released immediately after the polls closed largely account for ballots cast prior to Monday, Nov. 4 through early voting opportunities.

San Diego and California Key Race Results 2024

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Election results will continue to roll in over the coming days and weeks as the Registrar of Voters counts ballots cast on Election Day. The county then has until Dec. 5 to certify the results.

District 74

State Assemblymember Laurie Davies, a Republican, is looking to hold on to the District 74 seat against Democratic challenger, San Clemente City Councilmember Chris Duncan.

District 74 spans parts of southern Orange County and northern San Diego County, including areas like San Clemente, Dana Point, Oceanside, Vista and Fallbrook.

Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voters Thursday evening put Davies with a lead over Duncan with nearly 53% of the vote.

Laurie Davies (left) and Chris Duncan (right). (Courtesy photos)

District 75

Conservative radio talk show host Carl DeMaio and Lakeside Union School District President Andrew Hayes are vying for the open seventy-fifth assembly seat in the state legislature.

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The safe Republican district encompasses the entirety of eastern San Diego County, stretching from Fallbrook in the north to Campo and Jacumba Hot Springs in the south.

Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voter Thursday evening has DeMaio with a comfortable lead over his opponent with 59% of the vote.

CA State Assembly District 75 candidates. (Courtesy photos)

District 76

Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane and Democrat Darshana Patel are facing off to succeed termed-out Assemblymember Brian Maienschein in District 76. The battleground could give Republicans another seat in Sacramento to close a bit of the gap on the current Democratic supermajority.

The district accounts for North Countys inland suburbs, including Escondido, San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe, Fairbanks Ranch, Rancho Bernardo and Carmel Valley.

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Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voter Thursday evening has Patel with the advantage, taking about 52% of the vote.

Kristie Bruce-Lane (left) and Darshana Patel (right). (Courtesy photos)

District 77

Democratic Assemblymember Tasha Boerner is looking to hold on to her post representing District 77 in Sacramento against Republican challenger James Browne.

District 77 spans much of coastal North County, stretching from Carlsbad and Encinitas in the North down to Coronado and the tip of Imperial Beach.

Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voter Thursday evening has Boerner with a wide lead, taking 59% of the vote.

Tasha Boerner (left) and James Browne (right). (Courtesy photos)

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District 79

Two Democrats, Colin Parent and LaShae Sharp-Collins, are vying to succeed Assemblymember Akilah Weber in the District 79 seat as she seeks higher office in the State Senate.

The predominantly Democratic district encompasses southeastern San Diego and its neighboring suburbs, including Bonita, Chula Vista, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and National City.

Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voter Thursday evening has Sharp-Collins with a slight advantage, earning nearly 53% of the vote.

LaShae Sharp-Collins (left) and Colin Parent (right). (Courtesy photos)

District 80

Democratic Assemblymember David Alvarez is seeking re-election to the District 80 seat, facing off against Republican Michael Williams.

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The heavily Democratic district spans inland southern San Diego, including parts of National City and Chula Vista, Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Otay Mesa, Imperial Beach and Sherman Heights.

Unofficial results released by the Registrar of Voter Thursday evening has Alvarez with a comfortable lead at 59% of the vote.

David Alvarez (left) and Michael Williams (right). (Courtesy photos)

View a map of each State Assembly district and results below.

For more on each of these candidates and their backgrounds, visit FOX 5/KUSIs Meet the Candidates guide covering State Assembly contests.

FOX 5/KUSI is following the results of the Nov. 5 election. Check back for real-time updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The Santa Ana winds raging in Southern California are hitting hurricane speeds in some areas, prompting weather officials to describe the fire conditions as EXTREME.

In fact, the National Weather Service described the winds and low humidity, which are expected to stick around until Friday, as a Particularly Dangerous Situation.

The NWS reports wind gusts have already hit 85 mph on the Magic Mountain Truck Trail, 74 mph on the Palo Sola Truck Trail and 73 mph in Browns Canyon.

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Los Angeles gathering to celebrate life and legacy of Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela

Those high winds, combined with humidity that could drop as low as 8%, create a fire danger that exceeds even the red flag warnings many Californians are accustomed to seeing.

We have dry conditions, we have windy conditions, said KTLA meteorologist Henry DiCarlo. Not a big warm up with this Santa Ana event, but you only need two of the three to get fire concerns, and theyre certainly elevated.

The fire danger has also resulted in the closure of Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Mulholland Drive and Pacific Coast Highway.

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Click here to view the forecast for your community.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride won the First States only House seat, becoming the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.

McBride, a Democrat, took 57.6% of the vote with 63% of the vote accounted for, besting Republican John Whalen III.

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McBrides goals in her congressional campaign were affordable health care, upping the minimum wage and protection of reproductive rights. During her tenure in Delawares Senate, an office shes served in since being elected in the Nov. 2020 election, she was known for breaking through the partisan gridlock to pass legislations, strengths she hopes to bring with her to Washington D.C.

After winning her office to the Delaware State Senate, she became the first openly transgender state senator in the United States. During her time in Delawares Senate, McBride assisted in passing universal paid family and medical leave.

Prior to her state senate election, McBride propelled the passage of legislation in Delaware banning gender identity discrimination in employment, housing, insurance, and public accommodations. She became the first openly transgender person to address a major party convention in U.S. history when she went before the Democratic National Convention in July 2016. President Joe Biden wrote the forward to McBrides 2018 memoir Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality.

McBride also served on the steering committee of Trans United for Hillary, an effort to educate and mobilize transgender people and their allies in support of Hillary Clinton.

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McBride is a graduate of American University. In April 2012, McBride came out as trans in the colleges student newspaper at the end of her term as student body president.

AP reported the news.

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Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride has made history by becoming the first transgender person elected to Congress.



McBride was elected by more than 15 percent by Delaware voters in the states only congressional district, according to the Associated Press, which called the race on Tuesday evening. In her race, she beat out Republican John Whalen, a retired police officer.



Though McBride has tried to lead with her policy rather than her identity as a transgender woman, her Republican opponent made an effort to publicly endorse the Heritage Foundations radical agenda Project 2025, which classifies transgender ideology as equivalent to pornography.



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There are a lot of people right now in this country who dont see themselves reflected in government, and they deserve to see that, says McBride about her gender identity. But on a day-to-day basis, its not what Im talking about or thinking about. Its not what voters are talking to me about.



At the age of 34, McBride has already made waves in her political career. In 2016, at age 25, she became the first openly transgender person to address a major U.S. political convention when she spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. And in 2020, she was elected to represent Delawares 1st Senate district, becoming the first openly transgender state senator.



During her time in office, McBride helped to pass universal paid family and medical leave. Most recently, she introduced successful legislation to generate more than $100 million in new Medicaid funding for Delaware. Her efforts are in part to honor her late husband, who died of cancer in 2014. In Congress she hopes to shift our health care system from a sickness system to an actual health and wellness system, she told The 19th.



But in Congress, shell be met with Republicans who have banked their political careers on opposing the bogeyman of transgender health care. According to the Trans Legislation Tracker, a staggering 662 anti-trans bills have been introduced across the country this year, 80 of those on the federal level. That makes this the fifth year in a row that a record-breaking number of bills targeting transgender people have made it to politicians desks.



With McBride in the House of Representatives, both transgender people and Delawareans will have another voice advocating for them. Im running to make historic progress for Delawareans, said McBride. Im not running to make history.


McBride tells PEOPLE that getting elected to the House as an out transgender woman proves "this nation is big enough to love all of us"

Sarah McBride has made history.

The Democratic politician, a Delaware state senator since January 2021, will become the first transgender member of Congress after defeating her Republican opponent, John Whalen III, in Delaware's at-large House district.

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The results are a testament to Delawareans who have demonstrated that they are judging candidates based on their ideas and not their identities, McBride, 34, tells PEOPLE about her historic win.

COURTESY Sarah McBride CAMPAIGN Sarah McBride campaigning

I know how much it would have meant for me as a kid to see something like this happen, but I didn't run to make history with an election, I ran to help make historic progress in Congress for all Delawareans on all of the issues that matter," she adds.

Reflecting on her initial interest in politics, McBride describes it as forged in a crisis of hope.

It was a crisis of hope rooted in the fact that I felt alone, that the heart of this country was not big enough to love someone like me, rooted in the perception that my government didn't see and respect me, that society wasn't built for someone like me to succeed, the politician says.



"In that crisis of hope," she continues, "I went searching for solutions.

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Describing herself as a pretty significant nerd, McBride spent her free time growing up reading every single book that I could conceivably get my hands on about politics.

McBride for Delaware, Inc. Sarah McBride, the first trans member of Congress. Sarah McBride, the first trans member of Congress.

I found a little glimmer of hope because I saw that the through line of our history is the story of advocates, activists and a handful of courageous elected officials working together to right the wrongs of our past, to address injustice, to bring people from the shadows and the margins of society into the circle of opportunity, she says. And I found hope in that story, and I got involved.

As McBrides career progressed, she began to realize that her dream of becoming a prominent figure in politics as a transgender woman was not only possible but achievable.

I came out to my parents in 2011 thinking there was just not going to be a place for me in politics, in government, the congresswoman-elect recalls.

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Related: History-Making Transgender Lawmaker Says Parents Were 'Incredibly Loving' but 'Scared' When She Came Out

McBride for Delaware, Inc. Sarah McBride, the first trans member of Congress. Sarah McBride, the first trans member of Congress.

Slowly but surely, as I came out to my parents and my family and my close friends, I started to gain a level of confidence that, maybe as understandable as the fears were, they weren't unfounded.

Working in the state Senate, and soon in Congress, means collaborating with individuals who have voted against LGBTQ+ rights  an experience McBride acknowledges is hurtful. But she's prepared to face these challenges head-on.

My job is to deliver, and that means working with people who disagree with some fundamental things that I hold dear, but that's the only way democracy works, McBride tells PEOPLE.

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Related: Delaware State Senator Seeks to Become First Transgender Person in Congress

She adds, It's not always easy, and I certainly wish that they voted differently. I certainly wish that they saw the dignity in LGBTQ people in our lives, but I have to do the job and the job is to roll up my sleeves, dive into the details and bring people together.

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While McBride has accomplished much of this work independently, she credits others for their advice and support along the way, particularly her late husband, Andrew Cray, an LGBTQ+ rights activist who died from oral cancer in 2014, just four days after their wedding.

For me, the way Andy lived was such a profound example of the notion that kindness is never the wrong answer, McBride says. My work in the legislature has been a love letter to Andy in so many ways. I carry him with me every single day, both in those lessons that I've learned from him, but also in the values and policies that I fight for as a legislator.

Another significant influence in McBrides life was her longtime friend and former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, President Joe Bidens late son, who died from cancer in 2015.

Not only did Beau love and support me when I came out, but he also, alongside Jack Markell, put his own political muscle and capital on the line to help pass the non-discrimination bill that I worked on in 2013. And in so many ways, President Biden has continued Beaus legacy.

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Related: Joe Biden Held a Private Mass Service for Late Son Beau Biden on 5-Year Anniversary of His Death

Now that she has made history, McBride hopes to inspire LGBTQ+ individuals to recognize their worth and believes that, with determination, she wont be the last transgender person in this position.

We do have a place in our democracy and the heart of this nation is big enough to love all of us as long as we continue to work for it, as long as we continue to step up and as long as we continue to fight for it, she tells PEOPLE. The only way I can guarantee that I'm not the last is for me to quite simply be the best member of Congress that I can be.
WILMINGTON  Sarah McBride won Delawares at-large U.S. House seat on Tuesday, Decision Desk HQ projects. She campaigned on expanding Delawareans access to health care  an effort on which she has focused her career in the states 1st Senate district. In January, McBride will be sworn in as the first out transgender member of Congress.

McBrides ascension marks yet another milestone for the millennial state legislator. As the countrys first out transgender state senator, the first transgender person to speak at the Democratic National Convention and the first out trans woman to intern at the White House, McBride has repeatedly broken barriers in politics and proven that voters are ready to elect transgender candidates into elected office.

Although McBride didnt run for Congress to make history, the significance of her campaign for transgender Americans during a time of intense political backlash has propelled a national following behind her. That includes Daisy Hollman and Jimmy Fitzpatrick, two Californians who knocked on hundreds of doors for McBride across Delaware the week before Election Day.

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Her campaign reflects on the campaigns of all other trans people coming after her, said Fitzpatrick, a trans man. To Hollman, a trans woman, McBrides campaign is a reminder that trans people can overcome the harmful legislation and vitriolic political rhetoric that has increased over the past four years. The couple stood outside the episcopal church where McBride cast her vote on Tuesday, with a crowd of other supporters.

This election for Delawares seat in the House of Representatives had no incumbent for the first time in years, as U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester stepped down to run for Delawares open Senate seat. McBride was projected to be the winner early on; she had robust fundraising and amassed key endorsements from state political leaders, including Blunt Rochester. Democrats have held Delawares at-large House seat for over a decade.

Sarah McBride is the first transgender person elected to the U.S. Congress. (Pamela Smith/AP Photo)

On the campaign trail, McBride called for increased federal investments to support nurses, primary care physicians and independent health care clinics in Delaware. She touted her accomplishments as a state senator, including the passage of a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program and a recently signed law that is expected to generate more than $100 million in new Medicaid funding for Delaware.

She faced a Republican opponent who endorsed transphobic policies. John Whalen III, a retired police officer, staked his campaign on cutting federal spending and restricting immigration. He also publicly endorsed Project 2025, the conservative Heritage Foundations blueprint for a second Trump administration. The plan equates the act of being transgender  or transgender ideology  to pornography.

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Throughout her campaign, McBride appealed to Delawareans on local policy issues and also urged them to reject Project 2025, joining other Democrats in local and state races who have used the plan to attack their Republican opponents. On October 24, at a small town hall of supporters and voters in Dover, McBride turned the conversation to Project 2025 after outlining her pledges to improve Delawareans health care.

I think many of us are here right now because we understand what is at stake in this coming election. We understand whats at risk. How many of you have heard of Project 2025? Raise your hands, she said. Two days after our primary, our Republican opponent stood up in our now one and only debate and explicitly endorsed Project 2025, calling it a plan to restore our Republic. So the stakes are high, not just nationally.

McBride used the moment to call on voters to reject MAGA extremists on the ballot across Delaware.

At the federal level, instead of protecting Social Security and Medicare, they will gut them. Instead of improving our public schools and expanding access to child care, they will defund them. Instead of protecting access to abortion care, they will ban it. And instead of uniting this country, they will continue to seek to divide us, she said.

The post Sarah McBride makes history as first transgender member of Congress appeared first on The 19th.

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LGBTQ champion Sarah McBride has made history as the first transgender woman elected to the U.S Congress as a representative from Delaware.

She first made history in 2016 when she addressed the Democratic National Convention as the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, making her the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party convention in the United States. For years, she has been actively working to advance equality in the state of Delaware. In 2020, McBride landed in the history books when she became the first transgender woman elected to Delawares state senate representing the 1st senate district.

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Posting on her social media, McBride said, Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress. Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all our families, that ensures that housing and health care are available to everyone and that this is a democracy that is big enough for all of us.

McBride led a push for paid family and medical leave. She also made affordable health care and reproductive rights among her top priorities.

According to her website, McBride passed the landmark Healthy Delaware Families Act, providing paid family and medical leave to workers throughout the First State and marking the largest expansion of Delawares social safety net in decades.

Its been a big night for firsts among diverse candidates.

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Also in Delaware, Democratic Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester became the first Black woman to represent the state in the Senate. She defeated Republican Eric Hansen and independent candidate Mike Katz. Blunt Rochester will fill the seat left vacant by fellow Democrat Tom Carper.

Blunt Rochester has served four terms as a representative for Delaware in the house, sponsoring 90 bills and seven resolutions. The workforce and jobs have been key to her policies.

Andy Kim, a Democratic U.S. House Representative from New Jersey, also made history by winning a seat in the U.S. Senate.

At 42, Kim is one of the youngest members to enter the Senate and the first Korean American elected to the chamber. He succeeds former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, who resigned in August following his conviction in July for conspiracy to act as a foreign agent and other corruption charges. Menendez, the first sitting member of Congress to be convicted of this offense, is set to be sentenced in January 2025.

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In Maryland, Angela Alsobrooks won a Senate seat becoming the states first Black senator. She defeated Republican Larry Hogan. On her site, Alsobrooks vowed to be a voice for families like the ones she grew up with and who shes worked for throughout her life. Alsobrooks posted, Thank you, Maryland! on her social media after her win.

Clayton Davis contributed to this report.

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Sarah McBride has been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, making her the first out transgender member of Congress in the countrys history.

As expected, the 32-year-old lawmaker claimed a commanding win in the race for Delawares at-large Congressional District. McBride, currently in her second term as a state senator, led her Republican opponent, retired police officer John Whalen III, taking 57.6% of the vote when NBC projected her the winner on Tuesday. The outcome was all but assured in a heavily blue state where Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly two to one, according to data from Pew Research. Outgoing incumbent Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) won the seat by more than 15 points in each of the past three election cycles.

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McBride took to X on Tuesday night to thank those who voted for her. Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all our families, that ensures that housing and health care are available to everyone and that this is a democracy that is big enough for all of us," she wrote.

Many major news outlets had already declared the race all but won in September following Delawares Democratic primary, which is often viewed by pundits as more competitive than the November general election. That was not the case this time around, as McBride trounced the second-place primary finisher, long-shot candidate Earl Cooper, by more than 62 points. En route to her win, McBride had earned a vast array of high-profile endorsements, including from progressive and LGBTQ-aligned organizations like Emilys List, Everytown for Gun Safety, National Education Association, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and the Sierra Club.

This isnt the first time McBride has rewritten the record books, claiming a number of historic firsts throughout her storied career. While student body president at American University in 2012, she came out as a trans woman in the final week of her term, making her the first out trans person to hold the position. Her 2016 speech to the Democratic National Convention made McBride, then the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, the first trans American to ever address a major party convention. In 2020, she became the first trans candidate ever elected to a state senate in the U.S., making her, at the time, the highest-ranking trans official in the countrys history. As a member of Congress, McBride will still claim the title of Americas most powerful trans elected leader.

In shattering the glass ceiling once more, McBride will join several other historic LGBTQ+ trailblazers in the U.S. House when the 115th Congress meets in February. Other out lawmakers include Reps. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), and Mark Takano (D-Calif.), all of whom were historic firsts in their respective states.

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While McBrides election to the House helps increase LGBTQ+ representation at the highest levels of government, the community still has a long way to go before reaching an equitable level. A 2022 survey from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, a political action group focused on electing out pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ+ candidates, found that openly queer and trans officials hold just 0.2% of all elected positions across the 50 states  a figure that is notably lower than Gallup estimates showing that 7.6% of the American public identifies as LGBTQ+. Currently, there are just 1,021 LGBTQ+ electeds serving nationwide. In order to achieve parity in politics, more than 35,000 queer candidates would need to be elected to office.

Sarah McBride Could Become the First Out Trans Woman in Congress

McBrides silence on Gaza and friendship with Biden could make her candidacy a tough sell for progressives.

In a September interview with Semafor, McBride recognized the importance of furthering equal LGBTQ+ representation but said her primary aim is to  dive into the details, bring people together, [and] deliver real progress.

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To do right by the LGBTQ community, I need to simply be the best member of Congress that I can be, and show that when you elect trans people or LGBTQ people or people of any underrepresented background, they can do the job as well as anyone else, she said at the time. Thats the only way I can actually fulfill that responsibility.

In her U.S. House race, the issues that McBride ran on included criminal justice reform, climate sustainability, common-sense solutions to gun violence, reproductive justice, and strengthening unions. McBride has also presented herself as a staunch supporter of Israel and has been criticized for not addressing the country's devastating assault on Gaza over the past year, aside from posts on social media about Israels right to self-defense.

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The Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building, which houses the Alabama Supreme Court, seen in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, on January 24, 2023. Associate Justice Sarah Stewart, a Republican, won election as chief justice on Tuesday. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Sarah Stewart will be the states next chief justice, winning election easily Tuesday night.

As of 10 p.m., Stewart, the Republican nominee, had almost 920,000 votes (68%). Montgomery Circuit Court Judge Greg Griffin, the Democratic nominee, had almost 436,000 votes (32%), according to the unofficial count on the Alabama Secretary of States website.

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Stewart, first elected to the Alabama Supreme Court in 2018, pledged to bring a conservative approach to dispensing justice impartially, ensuring Alabamas body of jurisprudence evolves in strict accordance with conservative principles.

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Alabama Supreme Court justices prior to State of the State address by Gov. Kay Ivey, Tuesday, March 7, 2023 in Montgomery, Ala. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)

Stewart declined to say specifically what those were. In February, Stewart joined the state courts majority in ruling that frozen embryos were children under an 1872 law and that the parents of embryos accidentally destroyed in a Mobile clinic in 2020 could sue for damages.

The ruling led several in-vitro fertilization programs around the state to suspend operations and touched off debate nationwide. The Alabama Legislature quickly passed a law in March protecting clinics from criminal and civil liability in IVF services.

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The justice also wrote that she wanted to update judicial resource allocation and use metrics to ensure objective and transparent manpower and weighted caseload studies.

Stewart also proposed coordinating with different courts to address their needs and use funds to modernize the court system. Stewart also said she would work on strengthening relationships with our business community to address the high costs and slow pace of litigation, focusing on businesss particularized needs through initiatives like business courts, user-centered case management, and online dispute resolution for account collections cases.

Griffin did not have a campaign website and could not be reached for interviews.

Stewart will succeed Chief Justice Tom Parker, a Republican, who could not run for re-election after passing the state retirement age for judges. Parker is on track to become the first Alabama chief justice to complete a full six-year term in office since Sonny Hornsby in 1995.

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Credit: NanoAvionics

A tiny puncture discovered in the solar panel of a small satellite orbiting Earth highlights the seriousness of the orbital clutter problem.

Lithuania-based satellite manufacturer NanoAvionics discovered the 0.24-inch-wide (6-millimeter) hole in footage captured by an on-board camera of its MP42 satellite, which has been orbiting the planet since April 2022. The satellite captured the image on Oct 24, and NanoAvionics released it on X on Wednesday, Oct 30.

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The company said in a statement it wasn't clear whether the puncture was caused by a tiny piece of space debris or a micrometeoroid. The firm is also unsure when the accident occurred as the onboard camera hadn't taken a photo of the affected solar panel in 18 months prior to the discovery. Moreover, the hole is so small it caused no measurable drop in the solar panel's electricity output.

"Whether this impact was from a micrometeoroid or a piece of space debris, the collision highlights the need for responsible space operations in orbit and makes us reflect on satellite resilience against these types of events," NanoAvionics said in the statement.

NanoAvionics spacecraft are tiny. The largest satellite in the company's portfolio is the 130-kg MP42 struck in the recent collision. Larger orbiting structures, such as the International Space Station, are at a greater risk of collisions.

That's because a myriad of such small space debris fragments orbit Earth. The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates that 130 million space debris objects 0.4 to 0.4 inches in size (1 mm to 1 cm) hurtle around the planet. In 2016, one such fragment punched a 16-inch (40 cm) hole into the solar panel of ESA's Earth-observing satellite Sentinel 1A. The collision affected the spacecraft's power generation, but the mission recovered from the incident.

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And in August 2023, a 246lb (112-kilogram) payload adapter left behind by Europe's Vega rocket got struck by a similar piece of junk. The collision splintered off several fragments from the adapter, which had been the intended target of Europe's first active space debris removal mission , ClearSpace-1. Safety concerns subsequently prompted ESA to choose another debris object to remove.

Most such strikes, however, remain undetected.

a cube-shaped spacecraft seen above a brown and blue planet below

Larger pieces of space debris, though less numerous, can completely destroy a satellite. According to ESA, over 1,100,000 fragments 0.4 to 4 inches (1 to 10 cm) in size zip around Earth. In addition to that, 40,500 space debris objects larger than 4 inches (10 cm) inhabit space around Earth. Around 36,800 of these objects can be tracked, which means satellite operators can avoid them in case of a close approach.

NanoAvionics, which has launched nearly 50 satellites in the last decade, said the company has performed only "a handful of collision avoidance maneuvers" during that time.

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"Most recently, in 2024, our mission operators executed a sequence of three firings using the satellite's electric propulsion system, which lowered our customer's collision probability with another object by several orders of magnitude," NanoAvionics said in the statement.

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Space sustainability experts are concerned over the rising amounts of space debris in Earth's orbit. One unfortunate smash-up between two large defunct objects could create thousands of out-of-control space debris fragments, which could remain in orbit for decades, threatening other spacecraft.

The worst in-orbit collision in the history of spaceflight took place in 2009 when an active satellite of the U.S. telecommunications constellation Iridium collided with a defunct Russian military satellite known as Kosmos 2251. The incident produced thousands of space debris fragments, many of which are still on orbit to this day.
(iStock / Getty Images Plus)

COLUMBIA  The state Medicaid agencys chief of staff is set to become the new director, Gov. Henry McMaster announced Wednesday.

Eunice Medina. (Provided/SC Governors Office)

Eunice Medina will take over after former director Robby Kerr retired Nov. 1. The state Senate must officially confirm her appointment.

The 43-year-old has spent three years managing staff and programs for the agency. Previously, she worked as a bureau chief for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, where she oversaw the states Medicaid care plans, according to her resume.

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With her expertise in Medicaid and proven leadership at the executive level of the agency, she will help lead a seamless transition, McMaster said in a statement. I am grateful for her willingness to serve in this critical role.

State legislators helped advise McMaster on his decision, including Senate President Thomas Alexander, according to a Wednesday news release. Medina will helm the agency that provides health insurance for more than 1 million poor and disabled South Carolinians.

With more than 1,300 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is one of the states largest agencies. Its budget accounts for 15% of the states total $14.5 billion spending plan for state tax dollars, not including federal aid.

She has a heart of service, of putting those citizens that need service first, while at the same time being a protector of taxpayer dollars here in South Carolina, the Walhalla Republican said in a statement.

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Kerr has twice served as director for the agency, once from 2003 to 2007 during Gov. Mark Sanfords tenure and again from 2020 until this year.

The agency has developed a culture of commitment and purpose while cultivating a leadership team that I believe is unparalleled in South Carolina, Kerr said in a statement. There is no one more prepared than Eunice Medina to lead that team. Her extraordinary knowledge, her dedication to service, and her values will serve South Carolina well.
The S.C. Senate chamber is seen in session in Columbia, S.C. on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  South Carolina Republicans took a victory lap Wednesday celebrating wins that stretched from the White House to the Statehouse.

President-elect Donald Trump won South Carolina by 18 points over Vice President Kamala Harris on his path to a second term, according to unofficial state vote tallies. The Associated Press declared him the 47th president at 5:35 a.m. Wednesday, after Wisconsins 10 electoral votes put him over the top of the necessary 270 votes in the Electoral College.

South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick touts GOP wins in the Palmetto State Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, following the 2024 General Election (Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

Yesterday, Republicans all across our state added an exclamation point to what we already knew, and that is that South Carolina is Trump country, state Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick told reporters at GOP state headquarters.

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Up and down the ballot in South Carolina, we aggressively worked not only to defend our incumbents, but also to expand the playing field  to use what we knew would be a wave of support for President Trump to pick up as many other seats at every level as we could all around the state, he said. The results speak for themselves.

Republicans flipped one seat in the state House to maintain their beyond-supermajority advantage  two years after flipping eight seats  with Republican Harriet Holman defeating 20-year incumbent Rep. Joe Jefferson from rural Berkeley County.

The Pineville Democrat was the fourth Black Democrat ousted of the night, losing to Holman, who will be South Carolinas first Black female Republican legislator.

Republicans ousted four Democrats in the upper chamber: Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, a 22-year incumbent; Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Manning, a 12-year incumbent; Sen. Mike Fanning, D-Great Falls, who was seeking a third term; and freshman Sen. Vernon Stephens, D-Bowman.

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That gives Senate Republicans a supermajority for the first time since Reconstruction, McKissick said.

It was the biggest Republican wave in this state since Ronald Reagan, he said, referring to the so-called Reagan revolution of 1980 that followed South Carolinas first ever GOP presidential primary.

Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, talks during a South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in Columbia, S.C. on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. (Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Two of Republicans four flips  the Malloy and Fanning races  are headed to automatic recounts, since the GOP challengers won by less than 1 percentage point.

Malloy lost by less than 290 votes out of almost 50,000 cast. Fanning received just 32 votes less than his opponent out of nearly 56,000 cast, according to unofficial results from the state Election Commission, which will complete the recounts by Nov. 14 ahead of certifying the final tallies.

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If those slim leads hold, just 12 Democrats will remain in the 46-member chamber. Eight of those Democrats had no Republican opposition on Tuesdays ballot.

McKissick credited the partys focus on encouraging straight-ticket voting.

More than half of all voters cast a one-party ballot for the general election. Of those, 60% were Republicans, according to state election data.

However, the just-over-half total who voted straight ticket represented the lowest overall percentage doing so since 2016. The high was in 2020, when 64% of voters cast a one-party ticket, according to election commission data.

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But McKissick pointed in particular to rural areas of the Pee Dee, where Republican JD Chaplin beat out Malloy, who first won the seat in 2002.

In Darlington County, Republicans also took the sheriffs department and the Fourth Circuit solicitors office. The changeover in that county started further down the ballot, when the county clerk of court and coroner recently switched parties to join the GOP, McKissick said.

He did, however, acknowledge some aid from the Legislatures decennial redrawing of voting lines following the 2020 census.

I dont want to discount redistricting in some cases, but my point is the more people dont have a reason to split a ballot is a bit of a secret sauce that weve had here in the last four cycles in South Carolina, he said.

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The party did have a few of what McKissick called missed opportunities.

You cant win everything, he said. You only have so many resources and so much time.

Freshman Rep. Heather Bauer of Columbia represented a bright spot for Democrats for the second consecutive election. In November 2022, she was the lone flip for Democrats.

Sen. Mike Fanning, D-Great Falls, questions S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis as Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sumter, watches on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 during a Senate Finance subcommittee meeting. (Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

On Tuesday, she kept her seat in a tough rematch against Republican Kirkman Finlay, who was fighting to get back the seat he held for a decade.

Bauer defeated Finlay with 53% of the vote in the Richland County district that covers Forest Acres, Lake Katherine, and neighborhoods just outside Fort Jacksons gates.

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Over these last two years, I have pursued my duties without fear or favor because I believe no public servant is owed a second term, so we should act with urgency to get things done. Im honored to continue to serve and grateful for the continued confidence of my neighbors in District 75, Bauer said in a Wednesday morning statement.

Democrats also technically picked up a seat with Rep. Jermaine Johnsons unopposed win in a newly drawn district for Richland County that was part of a 2022 settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union.

But that wasnt a net benefit to Democrats due to Jeffersons ousting.

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Christale Spain, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, blamed the losses on Trumps coattails.

We worked hard, we spent money, but we came up short, she told reporters Wednesday afternoon. Trump ended up having pretty strong tailwinds.

Spain said the party would have needed a couple million dollars to flip back seats in the House and hold in the Senate, and did not have enough money to invest in the congressional races where Democrats failed to come anywhere close to defeating Republican incumbents.

This was a pretty heavy shot but its not fatal, she said. Were still here; were still fighting.

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She considers it a win that Republicans failed to pick up open seats vacated by Sen. Thomas McElveen of Sumter, who didnt seek a fourth term, and the dramatically redrawn district of retiring Sen. Nikki Setzler of West Columbia.

Democrat Jeffrey Graham, the former mayor of Camden, beat out Republican Mike Jones for the seat held by McElveen since 2012 with 52% of the vote.

State Rep. Russell Ott, a Calhoun County Democrat whos been in the state House since 2013, won the seat held for 48 years by Setzler, the longest-serving senator in state history.

Despite these losses, McKissick pointed to vote gains in other Democratic strongholds.

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For example, 25-year incumbent Rep. Lonnie Hosey, D-Barnwell, narrowly held on to his seat representing all of rural Barnwell and Allendale counties and part of Orangeburg County. He beat out Republican Ben Kinlaw by less than 600 votes in a district that hasnt gone Republican since at least Reconstruction.

For more than 53 years, the seat was held by one person: Former House Speaker Sol Blatt, who was the nations longest-serving legislator when he died in 1986.

Lets just keep in mind where we were going yesterday, McKissick said. We were going into deep Democrat territory.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) walks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Delegates, politicians, and the Republican faithful are in Milwaukee for the annual convention, concluding with former President Donald Trump accepting his party's presidential nomination. The RNC takes place from July 15-18. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA  U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace has handily won a third term representing the coastal 1st District in what had been considered South Carolinas only potential congressional flip.

The election sends two South Carolina women to Congress for the first time ever, after Republican Sheri Biggs trounced her opponent in the ruby red 3rd District seat  as expected.

People cheer as Republican winners are announced at the official state GOP watch party at Tin Roof in Columbia, S.C., on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (John A. Carlos/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

As of 9:19 p.m., when The Associated Press called the race, Mace was leading by 58 % over the 42% of her Democratic challenger, businessman Michael B. Moore, according to unofficial results from state election officials.

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Moore was the first CEO of the International African American Museum and great-great grandson of Robert Smalls, a Civil War hero, Reconstruction-era state legislator and five-term congressman.

Thank you, South Carolina! What a year. What an election. And what an honor it is to stand here serving you, Mace told her supporters. The radical left believes strong, intelligent women cant possibly be independent-minded conservatives, that our husbands tell us how to vote, and any woman who doesnt agree with them must be weak or misguided. But they dont know what its like to work twice as hard for half the credit.

I am going back to Washington to stand with South Carolina in my heart, she continued. Were going to secure our border, take back what it means to be a woman, and fight for our country.

All six of South Carolinas incumbent representatives won their re-election, including U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, who won a 17th term at 84 years old. Biggs, a nurse practitioner, won the Upstate seat left open by the retirement of U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan.

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The 1st Congressional District centers on Charleston and runs along the states southern coast. It is South Carolinas most competitive district, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which had it favoring Republicans by 7 percentage points following the post-census redrawing of district lines that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld earlier this year.

Mace won without ever debating Moore. She rarely even acknowledged him, indicating the districts return to being safe for Republicans.

In June, Mace warded off a primary challenge from Catherine Templeton, a former director of two state agencies, and longshot candidate Bill Young. While Mace had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, Templeton tried to run to Maces right on guns and immigration.

Templeton found a backer in former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, who Mace helped oust a year ago. McCarthys political action committee gave Templeton $10,000 in April, and other organizations affiliated with the former speaker spent large amounts of money on Templetons challenge.

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Despite McCarthys efforts, Mace easily defeated Templeton by 27 percentage points.

Mace narrowly flipped the seat from Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham in 2020, who flipped it two years earlier, also narrowly, after decades of Republican control. Maces re-elections have been easier, thanks to the new voting lines approved in January 2022.

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina and NAACP sued over the new lines, which they argued were racially discriminatory. A federal three-judge panel agreed. But in late May, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the panels conclusions, saying the lower court clearly erred in finding the lines were racially gerrymandered.

3rd Congressional District

Biggs won South Carolinas most lopsided seat, considered a deep shade of red, which Duncan held for 14 years.

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As of 8:17 p.m. when the AP called the race, Biggs had 69% over Democrat Bryon Bests 28%, according to unofficial results from the state election commission.

Best manages Greenwoods Sherwin-Williams paint store.

Duncans announcement in January that he would not seek another term kicked off a crowded seven-way Republican primary.

Biggs won a runoff in June by about 2 percentage points over Mark Burns, a pastor who gained national attention for his support of Trump.

Burns and Biggs emerged from a primary that included Kevin Bishop, the recently retired communication director for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and state Rep. Stewart Jones, a founding member of the hard-right Freedom Caucus.

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The district covers 11 counties along South Carolinas northern border with Georgia, from Edgefield to Oconee. It favors Republicans by 21 points according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

4th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. William Timmons won a fourth term with a blowout against Democrat Kathryn Harvey, who had hoped to at least show the district was getting a lighter shade of red.

But as of 9:41 p.m., when the AP called the race, Timmons was leading with 64% of the vote.

It was the first general election since Timmons alleged affair and his now-ex-wifes divorce filing became a very public scandal. Yet it was a walloping, despite Timmons spending a lot of time outside the state rather than campaigning in the district.

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In June, Timmons scraped out a primary victory over state House Rep. Adam Morgan, the exiting chairman of the chambers uber-conservative Freedom Caucus, by just 3 percentage points. Thats despite having the public backing of former President Donald Trump and Gov. Henry McMaster.

That race was costly for Timmons, who spent nearly $2.2 million this cycle, much of it in the primary. Harvey ended the second- and third-quarter filing periods with more cash on hand than Timmons, and outraised him in the third quarter too.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all the folks across Greenville and Spartanburg Counties who supported this grassroots movement, Harvey wrote on X. Im proud to have given Upstate voters a choice on the ballot  and Ill never stop fighting for our kids and working families in the district.

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson declares victory Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at the Tin Roof in Columbia, S.C. (John A. Carlos/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

SCs lone Democrat

Clyburn, South Carolinas only Democrat in Congress, won the 6th District seat for a 17th term. He faced challenges from Republican Duke Buckner, United Citizens candidate Gregg Marcel Dixon, Alliance Party candidate Joseph Oddo, and Libertarian Michael Simpson.

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Clyburn, who previously served as House majority whip, was winning with 56% compared to 41% for Buckner when the AP called it at 10:01 p.m.

That was a tighter race than expected for South Carolinas longest-serving congressman in a district thats been safely drawn for a Democrat since Clyburn first won office in 1992. It spans 14 counties, extending from Columbia to the Charleston peninsula, and from the states southern border with Georgia east to the Pee Dee.

Clyburn was expected to attend the state Democratic Partys election night watch party at a Columbia brewery. After the polls closed at 7 p.m., the 50 or so Democrats enthusiastically clapped every time a state was called for Vice President Kamala Harris.

South Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Christale Spain stands, eyes glued to the TV screen as results begin to come in on Election Night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at a state Democratic watch party in Columbia. (Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Christale Spain took to the podium at 8:20 p.m. before a cheering audience.

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Who is excited to see our local candidates bring a real change to South Carolina? Whos thrilled to send Congressman Clyburn back to the U.S. Congress? And who is inspired and excited to see the daughter of immigrants and a single mom become the first female president of the United States? Spain asked.

But not long after, state Democratic leadership left for the night, the party-goers dwindled, and many of those early hopes fell as results began showing big wins for Republicans up and down the ballot in South Carolina.

Clyburn, who had been scheduled to speak, never arrived. The party was over before he was declared the winner.

Other incumbents

U.S. Rep. Russell Fry won a second term representing the 7th Congressional District over his Democratic opponent Mal Hyman. Fry was winning his seat by 64% when the AP called the race at 8:52 p.m.

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The 7th Congressional District, added after the 2010 census, is anchored by fast-growing Horry County and includes the entire Grand Strand. It extends through the Pee Dee and along the border with North Carolina through Chesterfield County.

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman won his fourth full term to the 5th Congressional District over Democrat Evangeline Hundley. Norman was winning with 62% over Hundleys 38% when that race was called at 8:55 p.m.

The 5th Congressional District is anchored in Normans home county of York south of Charlotte. It stretches from a chunk of Spartanburg County along the states border with North Carolina southeast to Sumter County.

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson won a 12th full term in Congress representing the 2nd Congressional District over Democratic challenger David Robinson II.

Wilson was winning with 65% over Robinsons 35% when that race was called at 8:59 p.m.

The 2nd Congressional District stretches from the Georgia border, including all of Aiken and Barnwell counties, to northern Richland County. It includes all of Wilsons home county of Lexington and a western chunk of Orangeburg County.

SC Daily Gazette reporter Jessica Holdman contributed to this report.
Republican Derek Schmidt, the former Kansas Attorney General, was elected to Congress on Tuesday night, defeating former Democratic Rep. Nancy Boyda to reinvigorate his political career.

Just two years ago, Schmidt was making a concession speech after narrowly losing the gubernatorial election to Gov. Laura Kelly. But, following a late entry into the race for Kansas 2nd Congressional District after the surprise retirement of Rep. Jake LaTurner, Schmidt was named the winner.

Schmidts win was called by the Associated Press at 10:13 p.m. He was winning 55% of the vote, compared to 40% for Boyda and 5% for Libertarian John Haur, with 902 of 1,085 precincts reporting, according to the Kansas Secretary of States Office.

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Schmidt, 56, campaigned as a conservative fighter who was willing to take on the Democratic Party in Washington. He cited some of the lawsuits he filed as Kansas Attorney General  where he served for 12 years  to argue he would be tough on immigration.

He also ran ads touting his endorsement from former President Donald Trump, who said Schmidt was strong on the border and strong on crime, putting him closely in line with a district that heavily favored Trump in the presidential election.

As Attorney General, Schmidt participated in lawsuits challenging policies implemented by President Joe Bidens administration  including lawsuits aimed at forcing the Biden administration to adopt stricter policies at the southern border and a lawsuit aimed at blocking Bidens effort to forgive billions in student loan debt.

Schmidts victory affirms Republican control of a district that was once considered within reach by the Democratic Party. Boyda, the last Democrat to have won the seat, struggled to gain traction as a moderate who was willing to buck her national party.

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Boyda said she was running a campaign to help rebuild trust and find common ground in Washington, a challenging message amid a bitter fight in the presidential election, where by the end the candidates were accusing each other of fascism.

While Boyda won the district 18 years ago using an unconventional campaign, she struggled to raise enough money to spread her message this time. Schmidt spent at least $963,495 on his campaign, more than seven times the at least $125,821 spent by Boyda.

She also did not receive any help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of House Democratic leadership.

Her decision not to really go all in on fundraising is also a factor for national Democrats not to put money in the race, said Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University.

How Schmidt won

Schmidt, meanwhile, racked up endorsements and donations from top Republican leaders, like House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan.

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The general election may have been the easier race for Schmidt, given the Republican advantage in the district. He won a competitive primary against two Republicans who claimed Schmidt was not conservative enough to represent the district.

Beatty said Schmidts loss in the gubernatorial race  particularly the more conservative stances he took as he tried to rack up Republican support throughout the state  made him a familiar face with voters and allowed him to tap into a deep base of donors.

Its not the only reason, but in some sense, he was able to draft behind his governors race where he gained incredible name recognition, Beatty said. And he also conducted a campaign that was fairly conservative.

Schmidt will now join a highly polarized House, as Republicans and Democrats have struggled to come together to pass legislation that was once considered non-controversial  like bills appropriating money for the military and the Farm Bill.

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Its unclear how Schmidt, who campaigned as a staunch conservative, will legislate in Washington. Before retiring, LaTurner was criticized by the Kansas Republican Party for being the only conservative from Kansas to vote for a large spending bill.

LaTurner was the only Republican House member from Kansas who secured earmarks for local projects in the bill.

Alexandra Middlewood, a political science professor at Wichita State University, said she expects Schmidt to govern in a manner similar to establishment conservatives, like LaTurner and Sen. Jerry Moran, who also voted for the spending bill.

Not necessarily moderate, but kind of keeps his head down, tries not to make waves within his party and within the media in general, Middlewood said. Really tries to focus on specific issues where he can actually accomplish things and get legislation passed in Congress.
The Republican candidate has retained the longtime Democratic seat in Illinois House District 114 in Tuesdays rematch between Kevin Schmidt, R-Millstadt, and LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, according to unofficial election results.

District 114 is in St. Clair County and includes East St. Louis, Cahokia Heights, Millstadt, Freeburg, New Athens, Mascoutah, Lebanon and OFallon.

Schmidt, a chiropractor from Millstadt, unseated Greenwood, the previous incumbent, in the November 2022 election with a lead of just over 2,000 votes.

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Tuesdays results were similarly close, with Schmidt ahead by 1,845 votes.

Before Schmidt, Black Democrats from East St. Louis had held the seat for 47 consecutive years.

Schmidt said in an interview with the Belleville News-Democrat Wednesday morning he believes that he won before because voters wanted a change and that he won again because they liked what he did for them the last two years.

Greenwood had not conceded the 2024 race as of Wednesday morning, according to Schmidt. He said she also did not concede in 2022.

Greenwoods campaign declined to comment on the results Tuesday night. Greenwood did not immediately respond to an email and call to her campaign office on Wednesday.

District 114 looks different today

Greenwood held the District 114 seat for six years, defeating Republican challengers in the 2016, 2018 and 2020 elections each time by more than 6,000 votes.

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In an interview on St. Louis Fox News Radio affiliate 97.1 FM Talk last week, Schmidt said even people in his own party were not confident he could flip the seat from blue to red.

Lots of people on both sides of the aisle didnt think I could do it, Schmidt said.

But the district looks different than it did in 2020, with fewer voters in largely Democratic areas and the addition of voters in voting precincts that lean Republican.

The predominantly Black and Democratic city of East St. Louis where Greenwood dominates elections has been losing population, including a nearly 32% decline from 2010 to 2020. And when lawmakers changed the House districts map during redistricting based on 2020 census results, they added conservative white voters to District 114.

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Twenty-three out of 34 of the new precincts added to District 114 in 2022 after redistricting voted for Republican Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. They are primarily located in Prairie Du Long Township, Sugar Loaf Township, New Athens, Millstadt, Fayetteville and parts of OFallon.

Though Greenwood voiced support for the redrawn map before the 2022 election, the NAACP and other groups filed a federal lawsuit to fight it. They argued it put the Black Democratic incumbents seat in District 114 in jeopardy, but the court ultimately upheld the map.

Bob Sprague, chairman of the St. Clair County Democratic Central Committee, could not immediately be reached for comment about Tuesdays results.

East St. Louis city manager Robert Betts points out a vote count for a politician while working as a statistician at LaToya Greenwoods campaign watch party on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.

A supporter scrolls through their phone for coverage at LaToya Greenwoods campaign watch party on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.

Deb Detmers, a member of the Republican Poll Watchers, waits inside of East St. Louis City Hall at 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2024, for results from East St. Louis voters. We just want to make sure everything is fair, Detmers said.

Schmidt has said he thinks voters in District 114 support him not because hes a Republican but because he represents their interests.

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Ill continue to work hard in Springfield and give the people what they need, Schmidt said Wednesday. Im definitely gonna work on funding for infrastructure as far as the sewage/drainage problem  yesterday we all saw how bad it was in Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis  and fight tax increases.

The region was hit with two days of heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday with a total of nearly 8 inches, according to the National Weather Service St. Louis office. Several streets flooded, with water blocking driveways and getting into homes in both Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis on Tuesday morning.

Streets flooded in Cahokia Heights on Nov. 5, 2024.

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Cahokia Heights city workers pump water off of flooded streets on Nov. 5, 2024.

Cahokia Heights has been working to overhaul failing sewage and stormwater infrastructure that for years have caused sewers to overflow during heavy rain, leaving residents with property damage and concerns about their health.

During his first term, Schmidt urged Gov. J.B. Pritzker to release money he promised to send Cahokia Heights right away for sewer repairs after the BND reported it was delayed by several months. Pritzker had said a $9.9 million state grant would be delivered today during an Aug. 3, 2022, news conference, but the money had still not reached the community at the beginning of 2023. It was eventually released to Cahokia Heights on March 13, 2023.

Schmidt said constituents across the 114th District have told him the cost of living, including high taxes, is their top concern. He pointed to his voting against tax increases in Illinois as another accomplishment from his term.
By Aigerim Turgunbaeva and Fayazuddin Ghiasi

On January 2, 2024, Mullah Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs in the Taliban administration, announced that construction of the Wakhan Corridor, a strategic route connecting Afghanistan to China, remains underway. Baradar highlighted that the new road through Wakhan in Badakhshan Province is expected to establish a direct trade link between Afghanistan and China, thereby greatly enhancing bilateral trade opportunities. Taliban officials have underscored the geopolitical significance of the corridor, as it is positioned at a pivotal intersection of regional interests, potentially influencing broader dynamics in Central and South Asia.

BACKGROUND: Mawlawi Ayub Khalid, the Taliban-appointed governor of Afghanistans Badakhshan province, reported to Al Jazeera that, following five months of continuous work, they have constructed a road physically connecting Afghanistan and China. This milestone is anticipated to catalyze economic development across the region. The section of the road under construction spans 49 kilometers, with nearly 40 percent of the work completed to date. In the coming years, this road is projected to extend into Chinas Xinjiang region, further solidifying the direct trade link between the two nations. The Wakhan Corridor, an ancient segment of the Silk Road connecting Afghanistan and China, first appeared on maps in 1895 as a buffer zone strategically positioned between the Russian Empire and British India, emphasizing its enduring geopolitical significance. Although the Sino-Afghan border was formally delineated in 1963, no border checkpoints were established, despite the two countries sharing a direct border. External factors, including the prolonged presence of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan and concerns over the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) affecting China's security, had historically hindered the development of closer ties between Beijing and Kabul. China's strategic engagement with the Taliban underscores its long-term interests in Afghanistans remote Badakhshan province, specifically the Wakhan Corridor. This engagement reflects Chinas cautious preparation for a regional realignment that began well before the U.S. withdrawal, as China employed diplomacy and development initiatives to strengthen ties with Afghanistan. Since 2012, Chinas military and strategic involvement in the Wakhan region has gradually expanded, leveraging its location at the nexus of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan. In 2017, China pledged over US$ 90 million to support infrastructure projects in northeastern Afghanistan, including fiber optic connections and a segment of road through Wakhan. However, the presence of U.S. forces, delays in funding, and various political obstacles impeded progress on these initiatives. Despite previous setbacks, Chinas vision for regional integration has remained steadfast. In 2021, the Talibans Ministry of Public Works announced plans for a road linking Afghanistan's Ishkashim district to Chinas Xinjiang province through the Wakhan Corridor, part of a broader regional development strategy. Since the Taliban assumed control, Chinas investments in Afghanistan have significantly increased, with substantial funding directed toward regional infrastructure projects. The long-anticipated construction of this critical corridorexpected to serve as a major trade and transit route between Afghanistan and Chinahas now officially commenced, signaling a renewed commitment to connectivity and economic collaboration between the two nations.

IMPLICATIONS: The Wakhan Corridor is emerging as a pivotal element in Afghanistans geopolitical landscape, with China and Pakistan actively involved in its development. Former Afghan Information Minister Mohammad Karim Khuram has highlighted that Pakistan had previously sought to utilize the corridor to establish strategic connections with Central Asia and China; however, these efforts were met with resistance under President Karzais administration. In early 2022, the situation evolved when the Pakistani military, in coordination with Chinese forces, crossed into the Afghan side of the corridor to adjust border demarcations originally established under the 1895 Russo-British agreements. This move provoked widespread backlash on Afghan social media, prompting the Taliban to deploy forces to reassert the historic boundary. Recently, the Taliban, with significant Chinese support, has committed to advancing the infrastructure within the Wakhan Corridor, underscoring Chinas clear interest in integrating Afghanistan into its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). High-level visits by Taliban officials and the Chinese ambassador to the corridor in August 2024 further emphasize the projects strategic importance. Local communities believe that the corridor could play a crucial role in fostering economic stability, facilitating streamlined exports between Afghanistan and China, and promoting the development of surrounding areas. The Wakhan Corridor project illustrates Chinas strategic intent to dominate Afghanistans economy, positioning itself as a key trade partner while outmaneuvering competitors such as Uzbekistan, Iran, the UAE, and India. By establishing a direct trade route, China seeks to circumvent more expensive, indirect pathways through Pakistan or Uzbekistan, thereby consolidating its economic influence in Afghanistan. Additionally, the project aligns with Pakistans broader goal of enhancing its trade connections with Central Asia, sidelining Indias influence in the region. From a security perspective, the Wakhan Corridor provides China with a buffer zone to secure its sensitive Xinjiang region. Concerns regarding groups like ETIM and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) have driven China to create a security belt along the corridor, supported by two dedicated security units and coordinated patrols with the Taliban to reinforce local stability. Chinas growing investment in Afghan infrastructure projects, including those in resource-rich areas such as the Amu Darya oil fields, further underscores its strategy of embedding economic initiatives that enhance regional security while serving its broader geopolitical interests. Although China and the Taliban have forged a cooperative relationship, a level of mutual distrust endures, adding complexity to their interactions. The Wakhan Corridor project thus functions as both a diplomatic bridge and a strategic instrument for China, enabling it to manage regional threats while embedding itself economically and geopolitically in Afghanistans future. The Wakhan Corridor holds substantial strategic potential, positioning itself as a critical link that could connect China to Iran and onward across Central and South Asia through Afghanistan. This vision aligns with Irans aspirations for regional connectivity but faces opposition from India, whose border tensions with Pakistan in the Azad Kashmir region complicate cooperation on such initiatives. Functioning as a contemporary extension of the ancient Silk Road, the corridor is poised to have far-reaching economic and security ramifications, likely reshaping the regional balance of power. Its development could redefine trade routes, potentially offering more efficient access between East and West, while also bolstering China's influence across a corridor that traverses key geopolitical frontiers. As both a trade artery and a security buffer, the Wakhan Corridor embodies the intersection of historic ambitions and modern strategic interests, with the capacity to influence the economic and political landscape of Central and South Asia for years to come.

CONCLUSIONS: Chinas present approach to Afghanistan reveals a meticulously crafted strategy that emerged following the U.S.-led withdrawal in 2021. With the exit of Western forces, Chinese policymakers identified a strategic window to establish direct engagement with the Taliban. This shift allowed China to reinvigorate major projects, including the Amu Darya oil fields, as well as gold mining operations in Takhar and Badakhshan, while reconsidering the long-stalled Mes Aynak copper mine project, originally awarded to China in 2010. However, Chinas deepening involvement in the Wakhan Corridor signals a focus that extends beyond economic objectives, highlighting a pronounced interest in regional security and geopolitical stability. The Wakhan Corridor not only represents an opportunity to secure valuable resources but also functions as a strategic zone for monitoring and mitigating regional threats. Through this multifaceted engagement, China is navigating a balance between bolstering Afghanistans infrastructure and securing its own influence, underscoring the corridor's importance within a broader vision of Central and South Asian stability and security. Chinas presence in the Wakhan Corridor serves as a calculated measure to counter threats from extremist groups, particularly ETIM, which poses potential risks to the stability of its border regions, especially Xinjiang. This approach aligns seamlessly with Chinas broader strategy to reinforce stability across Central Asiaa region where China has made substantial investments and is consolidating its role as the dominant economic force. For the U.S., Chinas expanding footprint along the Wakhan Corridor is a growing point of concern, as it threatens to reduce U.S. influence within Eurasia, particularly in areas related to counterterrorism and regional diplomatic leverage. Washington remains closely attuned to Chinas evolving role in Afghanistan, apprehensive that deepening Beijing-Kabul relations could disrupt U.S. strategic interests in the region. This shifting dynamic underscores the broader geopolitical contest over influence in Central and South Asia, where Chinas calculated moves may challenge the United States' longstanding objectives in both regional security and diplomatic outreach. The unique geography of the Wakhan Corridor offers China a strategic opportunity to establish an efficient trade and energy route into Central Asia, potentially shortening pipeline distances and bolstering its energy security. If successfully developed, this initiative would solidify Chinas position as both a dominant economic and military power in the region. The corridor serves as a critical junction where Chinas economic ambitions converge with its security priorities, creating a dual-purpose pathway that addresses both its energy needs and regional stability concerns. As a result, the Wakhan Corridor could serve as the foundation for a robust Chinese presence that is likely to influence the regional order for the foreseeable future, shaping economic relations and security dynamics across Central and South Asia.

AUTHORS BIOS:

Aigerim Turgunbaeva is an independent journalist focusing on Central Asia. Aigerim writes about press freedom, human rights, and politics in the former Soviet space, and delves into Chinas interests in the region for publications like The Diplomat, The Guardian, Reuters, Eurasianet. She is a 2024 CAMCA Fellow.

Dr. Fayazuddin Ghiasi is a Rumsfeld Fellow and senior Research Fellow on Afghanistan and Central Asia at the Centre for Afghanistan and Regional Studies. Ghiasi writes about regional geo-economics and geo-strategy, connectivity and politics in various national and international news outlets and journals.
Gov. Josh Shapiro (at podium) speaks during a media briefing as Secretary of the Commonwealth looks on in Harrisburg, Nov. 5, 2024. (Commonwealth Media Services photo)

With most polls across Pennsylvania now closed, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt sought to reassure voters that all votes would be counted securely.

Every legal, eligible vote will be counted and counted accurately, and the will of the people here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be respected, Shapiro said at a press conference in Harrisburg about 30 minutes after most polls closed.

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For most of the day, the election appeared to go without any major issues that would have prevented large numbers of people from voting. However, towards the end of the voting period, bomb threats were called into multiple polling places and municipal buildings where votes would be counted.

While an exact number of in-person voters is not yet known, Shapiro said on-the-ground reports from officials indicate turnout has been high, even for a presidential election. Some polling places are still serving lines of voters who arrived close to the 8 p.m. cutoff.

If you were in line to vote by 8 p.m., I ask you to please stay in line. Youre eligible to vote, Shapiro said.

In Cambria County, polls will remain open until 10 p.m. after issues with their voting machines led to earlier delays. Individual polling places elsewhere may also remain open if they experienced earlier administrative issues.

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Every legal, eligible vote will be counted and counted accurately, and the will of the people here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be respected, Shapiro said.

He said that state and local law enforcement, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigations, are investigating multiple bomb threats to polling places and municipal buildings across the state. The extent is not yet clear, but the targets included government buildings in Clearfield and Chester counties. So far none of the threats has been deemed credible.

This follows earlier bomb threats in the southern swing state Georgia, which federal investigators have attributed to Russia.

Counting of mail-in ballots began at 7 a.m.. More than 2 million were received across the state. Since the passage of a 2022 law, Act 88, mail ballots will be counted around the clock until theyre all counted. But it may take days to have a final result.

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Please be patient, Schmidt urged observers. This work takes time. Accuracy and integrity are the priority.

Shapiro also urged voters and observers to monitor official sources and be wary of mis- and disinformation.

Official results will be updated as ballots are counted, and will be reported at the Department of States official site, electionreturns.pa.gov
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt addresses the press on Wednesday Nov. 6, 2024. (Commonwealth Media Services)

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt made his final election night appearance around 1 a.m. on Wednesday as ballot counting continued.

Given the late hour, this will be my final public update for the night, Schmidt said. Ill resume providing updates as needed for the night.

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Schmidt took questions from journalists largely focused on instances that threatened to interrupt polling throughout election day, including bomb threats sent to polling places and government buildings where ballots were being counted.

The bomb threats, Schmidt said, were deemed not credible.

Members of the public were never endangered, although [the threats were] obviously intended to disrupt the process of voting, Schmidt said. Though at some locations where ballots were being counted, officials had to make decisions with law enforcement regarding whether or not to evacuate

Regarding a local Judge of Elections in Fayette County who threatened to disrupt the chain of custody of cast ballots and perform an unauthorized hand count, Schmidt said he believed that no such action ever transpired. The ballots were ultimately surrendered to county officials whose duty it was to count them.

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Schmidt was also asked to respond to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trumps claims on social media early Tuesday evening that there was massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Local officials had already soundly rejected the claim.

I would let the facts speak for themselves, Schmidt said. When people make accusations, I would expect them to follow up with facts to support those accusations.

In 2020, Schmidt, a Republican, found himself in Trumps crosshairs after the former president made other baseless accusations of cheating in Philadelphia during that years presidential election.

Schmidt was serving as a Philadelphia commissioner at the time. He was mentioned by Trump multiple times on social media in connection to alleged and unproved accusations of election fraud. This led to threats against Schmidt and his family, who had to relocate and were assigned police protection.

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On Tuesday evening, when discussing bomb threats made at polling places and municipal buildings during the late hours of the election, Schmidt appeared to invoke that time.

Ive had experience with threats of violence and theyre not always credible, Schmidt said. You always have to take them seriously, but threats are intended to intimidate and coerce, and our election officials and our voters are not going to be intimidated.

Schmidt said he will make further public updates about the election on Wednesday as needed.
U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) speaks at an event in Grand Rapids, Michigan ahead of Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz talking about teachers and their power to elect Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election on September 4, 2024 | Photo Anna Liz Nichols

U.S. Rep Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) has won reelection in Michigans 3rd Congressional District, maintaining Democrats foothold in historically Republican West Michigan.

The Associated Press declared Scholten the winner at 3:02 a.m. over Republican challenger Paul Hudson to represent Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas in Congress. Scholten had 53.5% and Hudson, an attorney, took 43.8% with 94% of unofficial returns in.

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I set out to build a new political home in West Michigan, and with this decisive victory, weve proven that what we made is built to last. It truly is a new day in West Michigan. It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress, and Im ready to get back to work, she said in a statement.

Scholten now heads into her second term after flipping the district blue in 2022 by defeating former President Donald Trumps pick for the seat, Republican John Gibbs. Gibbs had knocked off incumbent U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids) in the GOP primary.

East Grand Rapids attorney and U.S. House candidate Paul Hudson held a rally alongside Senate candidate and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) Grand Rapids on Oct. 16, 2024. | Kyle Davidson

Her victory marked the first time Grand Rapids has ever been represented by a woman in the U.S. House, as well as the first time a Democrat has represented the city in more than 40 years.

Scholten is a former social worker and immigration attorney who has called for improving education in the state and protecting reproductive health care after the fall of Roe v. Wade.

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Kent County, the core of the congressional district, has flipped several times in presidential elections in recent years. Scholten told the Michigan Advance on the campaign trail that people in the 3rd District vote on kitchen-table issues like housing affordability and clean water access.

The county is one to watch in the race for the White House, as Michigan is one of the most pivotal states. Michigan voted for former former President Donald Trump in 2016, but flipped in 2020 for President Joe Biden.

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(Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Olaf Scholz has tried hard in recent days to convince German voters his fractious ruling coalition is still functional. His meeting with the three-party alliances top officials on Wednesday evening could determine whether the government can see out its four-year term.

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Social Democrat Scholz has been in office with the Greens and Free Democrats since late 2021. While they can point to achievements including steering Europes biggest economy through the latter stages of the Covid-19 pandemic and the energy crisis triggered by Russias war on Ukraine, they have lately appeared a spent force riven by infighting.

The prospect of Donald Trumps return to the White House adds a major new headwind for the coalition in Berlin.

The two main issues of contention that have pushed Scholzs alliance close to collapse are how to plug a shortfall of about 8 billion ($8.7 billion) in the 2025 federal budget and what additional measures are needed to lift the economy out of a prolonged slump.

Scholz and his two most senior partners  Greens Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the businessfriendly Free Democrats  agree that swift action is required. But they have starkly contrasting recipes for tackling challenges like high energy costs, crumbling infrastructure and onerous bureaucracy.

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And their room for maneuver is limited by Lindners insistence on adhering to Germanys strict borrowing rules.

Adding to the sense of chaos, theyve held rival meetings with industry groups and labor officials and published conflicting policy papers, prompting calls from opposition lawmakers for the next election scheduled for September 2025 to be held early.

Theyre also split on how to address the deepening woes of the countrys manufacturers, especially carmakers like Volkswagen AG which have been forced to rethink the transition to electric vehicles and consider unprecedented plant closures.

Auto-parts manufacturer Schaeffler AG said Tuesday it will cut about 4,700 jobs in Europe and close two sites as a deepening slump at German carmakers ripples through their supply chains.

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True to form, the chancellor is resolutely upbeat  at least in public.

Its about having a feeling of commitment to the nation, not about ideology, Scholz, whos been holding intensive talks with Habeck and Lindner in the run-up to Wednesdays meeting, told reporters Tuesday in Berlin.

The question is not whether it can be done at all, he added. That is possible. Everyone has to work on that now.

Scholz is due to host the coalition talks at the chancellery in Berlin starting at around 6 p.m. and theyre expected to drag into Thursday morning.

The outcome of the US presidential election could be another decisive factor for the future of the government.

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Trump declared victory from his campaign headquarters in Florida shortly before 9 a.m. Berlin time after clinching key battleground states although the final results are still to be declared.

Follow our results page here and stay updated via our live blog.

A Trump victory is a nightmare for Germanys political establishment, which fears a second term for the Republican candidate would unleash a bruising trade war and call into question the future of the NATO military alliance and backing for Ukraines defense against Russias invasion.

At the same time, concern about geopolitical instability could force coalition officials to find common ground, according to two senior officials, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential deliberations.

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Habeck, who is also the vice chancellor, on Monday appealed to the alliance to show a sense of responsibility given the ongoing war in Ukraine and uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the US vote.

This is the worst time to let a government collapse and there is absolutely no room for irresponsibility, Habeck in an interview with public broadcaster ARD.

Putins troops are advancing in Ukraine, and we are about to face an American election that could send shockwaves around the world.

Opinion polls show that Germans are more or less evenly split on whether the next federal election should be brought forward.

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They also suggest that the main opposition conservative alliance would win comfortably, with more than 30% of the vote and as much as 36% in one survey. Thats more than the combined level of support for all three parties in the ruling coalition.

Scholzs SPD is trailing in third place on about 16%, behind the far-right Alternative for Germany on around 17%.

The Greens have about 10% and Lindners FDP roughly 4%, below the 5% threshold for getting into the lower house of parliament.

(Updates with latest for US election in third, 15th paragraphs)

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(Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a snap election after divisions over how to revive the lackluster economy triggered the breakup of his fractious three-party ruling coalition.

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The crisis came to a head with Scholzs shock dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner late Wednesday, saying that the chairman of the pro-business FDP party had refused a proposal to suspend rules limiting new government borrowing. Scholz called for a confidence vote in January, with a goal of pulling forward next years federal election to March from September.

The turmoil comes on the heels of the reelection of Donald Trump in the US, which has raised the prospect of a new transatlantic trade war and has forced a reassessment of Europes defense relationship with Washington. Germany is also struggling with a stagnating economy that has seen a lengthy retreat in its manufacturing sector.

Scholzs highly unusual move, which comes after weeks of public bickering, represents a major risk for the 66-year-old Social Democrat. The last time his party moved to bring an election forward, in 2005, it led to Angela Merkels victory and her 16-year grip on the chancellery.

Too often, the necessary compromises were drowned out by publicly staged disputes and loud ideological demands, Scholz said in unusually pointed remarks, adding that Lindner is focused on the short-term survival of his own party. Such egotism is completely incomprehensible.

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The euro declined slightly after the announcement, but the reaction paled in comparison to earlier losses on the back of Trumps victory. Germanys DAX Index futures edged 0.3% higher on Thursday morning, in line with Euro Stoxx 50 futures.

The collapse of the German government coalition could not come at a worse time for Europe, said Rajeev De Mello, chief investment officer at Gama Asset Management. Europe needs to be able to negotiate with Donald Trump with one strong voice, which will be lacking at the start of the new US Administration.

The conservative CDU/CSU alliance under Friedrich Merz is currently leading in opinion polls with more than 30% of the vote and would be in prime position to win an early ballot, restoring it to power after it lost to Scholzs SPD three years ago.

Merz is due to make a statement to reporters after a meeting of the CDU/CSU caucus early Thursday morning in Berlin.

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After Lindners firing, the FDP pulled its three other ministers from the government  Transport Minister Volker Wissing, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann and Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger. Scholz is expected to announce as early as Thursday who will replace them until the election.

Scholz, who is due to meet European Union counterparts at an informal summit in Budapest on Friday, argued that Germany needs more financial wiggle room to deal with the difficulties it confronts.

The situation is serious. Theres a war in Europe, increasing tensions in the Middle East, the economy is stagnating, Scholz said. Companies need support now.

Germanys economy has failed to mount a sustained rebound from the pandemic and war in Ukraine, with some economists predicting 2024 output to shrink for a second year in a row.

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The main weakness is its important manufacturing sector, which is weighed down by soft foreign demand, high borrowing costs and a host of structural issues at home.

Olaf Scholz has long since ceased to be interested in an agreement that is acceptable to all, but rather in a calculated breakup of this coalition, Lindner said in a statement. In doing so, he is leading Germany into a phase of uncertainty.

German chancellors dont have the power to call an early election, which lies with the federal president, but they can try to trigger one by deliberately losing a confidence vote in the lower house of parliament.

Once Scholz fails to garner a majority in the Jan. 15 ballot, he can ask President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a former Social Democrat vice chancellor, to step in and dissolve parliament. The election would then have to be held within 60 days.

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Scholzs move is highly unusual in German politics since World War II. The national election was brought forward only twice in West Germany, in 1972 and 1983, and only once since reunification in 1990.

Former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, also a Social Democrat, triggered the early election in 2005 before losing to Merkel, who went on to run the country until Scholz took over.

Scholz and his ministers have presented a dysfunctional image in recent weeks, holding rival meetings with industry groups and labor officials and publishing conflicting policy papers resembling campaign manifestos.

A particular bone of contention was Lindners insistence on Germany sticking rigidly to rules limiting new borrowing. That irritated Scholzs SPD and the Greens, who favor expanding debt to fund initiatives like tackling climate change and strengthening the military  and helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia.

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As the EU seeks to forge a united response to the return of Trump and Chinas increasing assertiveness, Scholz has often been singled out as the major obstacle, opposing efforts to leverage the blocs financial muscle with joint borrowing and increased spending on defense.

Some European officials had been resigned to the fact that the bloc wouldnt be able to move ahead until after the German election in a years time, and Scholzs decision potentially brings that forward by six months.

The FDP is currently polling as low as 3%, down from 11.5% in the 2021 national vote. That puts it in danger of missing the 5% threshold for getting into parliament.

Although the gap is likely to narrow, the latest opinion polls suggest that backing for Merzs CDU/CSU is more than twice as high as support for Scholzs party. The SPD is at about 16% in third place, behind the far-right Alternative for Germany in second with around 17%.

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The Greens are at about 11% in fourth, while a new far-left party  the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht  is fifth with roughly 8%.

We will now quickly pave the way for new elections, so in the spring Germany will have to make a new decision on the next government constellation, Greens Economy Minister Robert Habeck, who is also the vice chancellor, told reporters. Until then, we are in office and we are firmly determined to fully fulfill the duties of the office.

--With assistance from Alexander Weber, George Lei, Angela Cullen, Karin Matussek, Carolynn Look, Christoph Rauwald and Isolde MacDonogh.

(Updates with German DAX futures in sixth paragraph)

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Finance Minister Christian Lindner broke his confidence "too many times," after he dismissed his coalition partner and tabled a vote of confidence in parliament for January 15.

Lindner leads the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), a junior partner in Scholz's centre-left coalition government, and has been clashing with the chancellor's Social Democrats and the Greens on economic policy for months.

After announcing the dismissal on Wednesday evening, Scholz said Lindner had been too preoccupied with his own support base and the short-term survival of his own party.

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The country's companies need support, the chancellor said, noting Germany's ailing economy and high energy prices.

Scholz also brought up the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, noting that "anyone who refuses to compromise or offer a solution in such a situation is acting irresponsibly. As chancellor, I cannot tolerate that."

Scholz accused Lindner of drowning out compromises during the joint government period with publicly staged disputes and of blocking laws for the wrong reasons. "Too often he has engaged in small-minded party political tactics. He broke my confidence too many times," the chancellor said.

Scholz said there was no basis of trust for further cooperation. "Serious government work is not possible under these circumstances."
UNION CITY, Ind. (WDTN)  Authorities are investigating after a school bus crashed into a building in Randolph County, Indiana.

The Union City Police Department was called Wednesday morning to the area of Jackson and West Hickory streets in Union City, Indiana. Officers reportedly found a bus from the Randolph County Eastern School Corporation into a building.

Union City, Indiana Police Department

Nearby drivers have been asked to avoid the area while officials investigate.

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Four people were hurt after a school bus crashed into a home with a family inside it in Randolph County on Wednesday.

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The crash occurred in the 1300 block of W. Hickory Street around 8:13 a.m. in Union City, Indiana, according to Union City Police Department Chief Mark Ater.

Andy Seiber and his family were asleep when they heard something that was like a big explosion.

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>> PHOTOS: School bus crashes into building in Randolph County

I was scared to death, Seiber said.

A Randolph Eastern School Corporation carrying 20 students slammed into the side of their home.

You felt the bed shake, you know, and its a horrible sound, he described.

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Three students, as well as the bus driver, were transported from the scene to an area hospital with injuries. As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, firefighters had to pry the driver out as part of the bus was crushed against the building.

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Multiple students were taken to a local hospital by their parents to be evaluated.

The crash caused structural damage to the home and a building collapse team was called to the scene. Seiber said hes unsure if his family will even be able to sleep in their own beds tonight.

Probably have to go spend some time with my other daughter, he said. Could have been worse, so I guess were still lucky.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Photo contributed by Jim Comer

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Pennsylvania State Senate Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R) has won re-election to represent parts of Lancaster and Berks counties.

Incumbent State Senator Scott Martin is running for what would be his third consecutive term serving Pennsylvanias 13th State Senate District, which includes parts of Lancaster and Berks counties.

Martin is a life-long resident of Lancaster County and was first elected to represent the 13th State Senate District back in November 2016; he was then re-elected to office in 2020.

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Currently, Sen. Martin serves as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and previously served as Chair of the Senate Education Committee and Senate Local Government Committee.

Prior to running for public office, Martin graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School and later received a degree in Sociology & Criminal Justice at Millersville University. While at Millersville, Martin became a three-time 1st Team PSAC Defensive Tackle and two-time All American.

Martin is now married with four children.

abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Over 99% of the votes are in and New York state leaders Sean Ryan and April Baskin are set to be elected to state senate.

Ryan is poised to be reelected to represent the 61st district comprised of Grand Island, Amherst, Tonawanda, Kenmore and part of Buffalo. Ryan was first elected to the state senate in 2020 and served the New York State Assembly for nine years prior.

He defeated Republican Christine Czarnik with 61.6% of the vote.

Courtesy: New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment

Ryan grew up in Lackawanna and graduated from SUNY College at Fredonia. His priorities include the economy, working families, housing and equality for all, according to his website.

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During his time in office, he has sponsored numerous bills to support New York schools, renters, and the working-class. Ryan championed clean air, water and environmental protection as an assemblyman, as well as protecting taxpayer dollars.

Erie County Legislature Chair April Baskin will represent the 63rd district, encompassing parts of Buffalo, Cheektowaga and Lackawanna. She succeeds now-Congressman Tim Kennedy. She was born and raised in Buffalo and attended Buffalo State University before running for the Erie County Legislature in 2017. She has served as Legislature Chair since 2019.

Courtesy: New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment

Baskin cites housing, the economy, health services, public safety and public art as her top concerns.

She has secured over $4 million for affordable housing, as well as pharmacies and primary care offices in Buffalo. Other accomplishments of hers include a conversion therapy ban, body cameras for Erie County sheriffs and the percent for public art law which, allocates 1 percent of building construction project costs in Erie County for public art at the site.

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Baskin beat out Republican John Moretti Jr. with 65.92%

Patrick Gallivan, Robert Ortt and George Borrello also all won spots on the state senate. They ran unopposed in the 60th, the 62nd and the 57th districts, respectively.

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Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
The only country to start with the letter "O" is Oman, an ancient place with diverse landscapes and a rich history. Its population of roughly 4.7 million people is sparsely spread across a land area of 120,000 square miles (310,800 square kilometers) of rugged mountains and an otherworldly coastline.

" " Even if there were other countries starting with the letter "O," we doubt they'd be as photogenic as Oman. Tuul & Bruno Morandi / Getty Images

Oman was once a maritime power in the Arabian Sea and has maintained independence longer than any other nation-state in the Arab world. Empires of the past have risen and fallen, but this group of traders, farmers and fishermen has resisted much change to their way of life.

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Oman's official language is Arabic, but Portuguese and English are also common due to colonial influences in the region.

Aside from its many fine exports  including fish, dates and spices  much of the country's revenue comes from tourism, thanks to its pristine beaches, excellent cuisine and rich culture of hospitality.
Second Gentleman of the United States Doug Emhoff leaves the Whistle Stop Diner in Oakland County, Michigan on Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Yes she can, was the message on second gentleman Doug Emhoffs shirt as he ducked into a lunch at the Whistle Stop Diner in Oakland County on Election Day, hyping up his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris.

In 2020, Harris also was in Michigan on Election Day, making a stop in Detroit. President Joe Biden ended up winning the state.

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Emhoff joined Harris on Monday in Pennsylvania where thousands gathered outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the Democratic presidential nominee, who was joined by several celebrity guests such as Lady Gaga, Oprah and Ricky Martin.

You could just see the joy. You can see the emotion and that connection that in just in these 15 weeks that Kamala Harris, my wife, has just gotten that message out there and you just feel it, Emhoff told reporters after his meal with supporters in Oakland County.

Michigan, like Pennsylvania, is a crucial battleground state for both Harris and former President Donald Trump. Both Michigan and Pennsylvania flipped in 2016 for Trump after voting Democratic in every presidential election since 1992.

Suburban Oakland County has been trending more Democratic in recent years after being a GOP stronghold. If Harris can keep up momentum, the states second most populous county could prove critical to helping put her over the top in the whole state.

Second Gentleman of the United States Doug Emhoff at the Whistle Stop Diner in Oakland County, Michigan on Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Trump made an early Election Day morning play for another battleground county within battleground Michigan: Kent County on the west side of the state.

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Like Harris, his final campaign rally in Grand Rapids was well attended. Thousands of supporters kept their energy high as the former president spoke two hours later than he was expected to, ending his remarks past 2 a.m., just hours before polls opened.

Emhoff was all smiles, taking selfies with fellow diners and laughing with Democratic leaders like U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) in the restaurant.

I think were gonna win this election, Emhoff told reporters, noting the positivity he saw in the diner which matches the mood along the campaign trail. Were gonna win here in Michigan and in the next day or so Im gonna be able to look at her and say, Honey, youre the president of the United States.

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One of the men who robbed Brooklyn Bling Bishop Lamor Whitehead during a live-streamed sermon got more than five years behind bars Tuesday  and his sentencing judge dismissed the idea that the crooked clergyman was lying about the value of the stolen jewelry.

Juwan Anderson, 26, was sentenced in Brooklyn Federal Court for his role in the caught-on-video 2022 heist, which involved driving his two armed accomplices to the bishops Canarsie church and plucking the bling off of him as he lay prone on the ground.

Brooklyn Federal Court Judge William Kuntz brought up the mass shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina, where a white supremacist murdered nine members of a Black Church congregation in 2015

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When a criminal invaded the Mother Emanuel Church, President Obama stated a church is more than a space, Kuntz said before he handed down the 63-month sentence.. Every church, every synagogue, every mosque  every place of worship in the United States of America provides Americans with a constitutionally protected place of safety and worship.

Kuntz in August sentenced another member of the heist crew, Say-Quan Pollack, to 7 years, rejecting an argument that he get leniency because Whitehead is also a crook.

The fallen pastor was sentenced to nine years in June, after a Manhattan jury found him guilty of a string of frauds, including stealing a parishioners life savings.

The third robber, Shamar Leggette, was shot dead in a gunfight with police and U.S. Marshals at a New Jersey motel in January.

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Anderson must also pay more than $402,000 in restitution, despite his defense lawyers arguments that Whitehead couldnt be trusted to accurately state how much his jewelry was worth, and that one of items, a $100,000 Cartier watch, was appraised months after the robbery based off a photograph.

You gonna have a fence come in and sway what the jewels were worth? Kuntz asked Ben Yaster of the Federal Defenders, who responded with a No, your honor.

Kuntz repeatedly interrupted Yaster as he tried to argue that a photo taken after the robbery wasnt sufficient to gauge the value of the watch.

I understand the Bling Bishop is a criminal. I get that, Kuntz said. But criminals sometimes have very expensive stuff and very valuable stuff.

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When Yaster said, My idea of reality is that people have their jewelry appraised when theyre in possession of it, the judge shot back and asked if Yaster had prior experience dealing with jewelry-related cases, then said, I didnt think so.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Schuman said that prosecutors were using a conservative estimate of how much the jewelry was worth, and they werent relying soley on Whiteheads say-so.

Yaster also pointed out that Anderson had no prior criminal record, and has spent nearly two years adhering to the rules of his house arrest.

Before the judge handed down his sentence, Anderson said he understood the severity of the crime. I just want everybody to know that what I did was not a part of my character, he said. Im actually a church-going person. Im not a monster.

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Whitehead, who Mayor Adams took under his wing as a mentor, is known for sporting expensive clothes and flashy jewelry and espousing the prosperity gospel  preaching that faith will bring money and success, and that seeds of cash donation to his church will grow into wealth for his parishioners.

He was delivering his live-streamed sermon inside the Leaders of Tomorrow International church in Canarsie, Brooklyn, on July 24, 2022, when three masked bandits stormed in. They forced the bishop to the ground and took jewelry from him and his wife  who was holding their young daughter on her lap.

Though police had described their haul as $1 million worth of jewelry, so far the victims have only documented some of the stolen items to be worth more than $400,000.

Whiteheads fortunes turned after May 2022, when he unsuccessfully tried to broker an accused subway shooters surrender, interfering with police and defense lawyers attempts to bring the suspect in peacefully.

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The robbery happened two months after that, and Whitehead started accumulating legal trouble, culminating with his conviction in Manhattan Federal Court in a multiple fraud scheme, including lying about his ties to Adams to extort and try to defraud a Bronx body shop owner.

Anderson was ordered to start his sentence on Jan. 6.
A U.S. Border Patrol agent asks immigrants to sit in a queue while they await transport from the U.S.-Mexico border on Dec. 6, 2023, in Lukeville, Arizona. A surge of migrants illegally passing through openings cut by smugglers in the border wall has overwhelmed U.S. immigration authorities, causing them to shut down the international port of entry in Lukeville, so that officers can help process the new arrivals. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Arizona will once again be at odds with the federal government over immigration enforcement, after voters supported a GOP bid to give the state the power to jail and deport migrants.

With about half of all ballots tallied, 61% of voters had backed Proposition 314, and the Associated Press predicted that the proposition would pass.

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Dubbed the Secure the Border Act, by Republican lawmakers, Prop. 314 combines multiple GOP wish list items that either stagnated in the legislature or were vetoed by Gov. Katie Hobbs.

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It is set to make it a state crime for migrants to cross Arizonas southern border, with first time convictions punishable by up to six months in jail. Local police officers will be allowed to arrest migrants who they believe have violated that law and state judges will be authorized to issue deportation orders. The proposal will also punish Arizonans who submit false documentation to apply for jobs or public benefits with a class 6 felony.

And it creates an entirely new class of felony, with harsh prison sentences, to criminalize people convicted of selling fentanyl that later ends in someone elses death.





In the hopes of capitalizing on an election year focus on immigration, Republican lawmakers sold the initiative as a way to address record numbers of migrants at the Arizona-Mexico border  despite the fact that immigration has since plummeted and ignoring the states fraught history with usurping federal authority.

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In 2010, GOP lawmakers in Arizona passed SB1070, the states infamous show me your papers law which gave police officers the go-ahead to detain drivers on suspicion of their legal status. Two years later, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down three of the laws four provisions, ruling that enforcing immigration laws is under the sole purview of the federal government.

And the state crime provision in the new initiative mirrors a Texas law that is currently tied up in litigation. A caveat in the Arizona version states that it wont go into effect until the Texas law does, or unless the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its 2012 ruling against the Grand Canyon State.

The ballot measure drew criticism and inspired protests from Latino and immigrant advocacy organizations, business leaders and some law enforcement officials, including ones that oversee communities on the Arizona-Mexico border. Opponents said the proposal will only further burden law enforcement agencies and lead to an increase in racial profiling.

Even with the voters approval, its likely that the Secure the Border Act will face lawsuits after the election. Progressive organizations were quick to launch legal challenges against the proposal before it was placed on the ballot over its compliance with Arizonas single subject requirement, which mandates that initiatives encompass just one topic. A judge ultimately sided with attorneys for GOP legislative leadership, who said that all of its provisions address the harms caused by the southern border.

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But attorneys for the Latino advocacy organization, Living United for Change, that helped spearhead the lawsuit, have said that the proposal may also violate the states constitutional requirement that initiatives that are likely to increase state spending must identify an independent funding source. Several law enforcement officers warned during committee hearings while the initiative was being considered that it would cut into public safety budgets. While GOP lawmakers acknowledged money would need to be spent, they said that would be up to a future legislative body to figure out.

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***UPDATE: This story has been updated to show that the Associated Press has called the race in favor of Prop. 314
By Vladimir Soldatkin

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russia will keep sending nuclear warning signals to its enemies in the West until they get the message, an influential foreign policy hawk said on Wednesday.

Security expert Sergei Karaganov has consistently urged President Vladimir Putin to lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons, and in the past has even advocated a pre-emptive strike on a NATO country.

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Putin has said that Russia does not need to resort to nuclear weapons in order to achieve victory in the Ukraine war. But in September he said Moscow was extending the list of scenarios under which it would consider using such weapons.

Karaganov told Reuters he hoped that strikes against Western countries would not happen. But he said the changes announced by Putin to Russia's nuclear doctrine were part of an effort to "sober up our Western partners, especially the Europeans".

"That's exactly it...There will be steps up the ladder of nuclear escalation, of which several have been made, (and) there will be more. Until finally the Europeans run away," he said.

Since the start of the Ukraine war, Putin has made a series of statements interpreted by the West as nuclear threats. In September, he signalled that Moscow would consider responding with nuclear weapons if the U.S. and its allies allowed Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with long-range Western missiles.

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He has also staged a series of nuclear exercises, changed Russia's position on major arms treaties and announced the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in its ally Belarus, which borders three NATO countries.

Russia says it is the West that is raising the risk of a nuclear confrontation by arming Ukraine. It accuses the U.S. and its allies of using Ukraine as an instrument in a proxy war aimed at inflicting a "strategic defeat" on Russia.

Karaganov argues that Russia needs to restore the West's fear of nuclear weapons in order to deter its enemies.

"They have stopped being afraid of war. And especially the Europeans. They are climbing into a third world war right before our eyes," he said.

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"They must be stopped, including by going up the ladder of nuclear escalation and informing them in various ways - both military-technical and by changing the (Russian nuclear) doctrine - that they will be the first to die in this war."

He was speaking on the fringes of an annual conference, the Valdai forum, where Putin will speak on Thursday and is likely to respond to questions from Russian and Western experts about nuclear policy, the Ukraine war and the future of Russia-U.S. relations under a new Donald Trump presidency.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Writing by Mark Trevelyan, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
COLUMBUS, OH  APRIL 23: Supporters listen to former President Donald J. Trump at the Save America Rally, April 23, 2022, at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, Delaware, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes)

Leading to Election Day, there wasnt much doubt about where Ohio would land in the presidential race, but Tuesdays results still had plenty of surprises. The once and future president, Donald Trump, wasnt hampered by the January 6 riot, 34 felony convictions, or his own increasingly vitriolic rhetoric  including the demonization of Haitian migrants living in Springfield. Instead of matching his 8-point margin of victory in 2016 and 2020, he exceeded it.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown out-performed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris by almost 3 points, but still fell well short of his Republican challenger Bernie Moreno. As the Cleveland-area businessman noted in his victory speech, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance is vacating his own U.S. senate seat, making Moreno the states senior senator and kicking off a mad dash for Gov. Mike DeWines appointment to the open seat.

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And despite polls indicating vast opposition to gerrymandering in principle, Ohio voters nevertheless rejected the anti-gerrymandering amendment, Issue 1.

Sorting through the results, several political scientists say the 2024 election firmly cements Republicans ascendancy in Ohio, and while Democrats can find some bright spots in the results, they face an uncertain future.

That reluctance has gone away

Ohio State political scientist Paul Beck put most of his attention into the U.S. Senate race and the Issue 1 contest.

Moreno did not do as well, nearly as well, as Trump did in Ohio, but he still had a margin of support from Trump voters that was going to carry him through, and indeed it did, Beck said. Sherrod Brown has won in the past, but hes won in the past against weaker opposition than Moreno proved to be.

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Still, he argued the biggest advantage Moreno brought to the table was Trumps endorsement and the broader shift in Ohios partisan sentiments.

Ive been reluctant to call Ohio a red state, he said, even though there was a Republican advantage in Ohio. I think that reluctance has gone away.

In a chicken or the egg style conundrum, Beck still questions whether voters allegiance is about the party or the candidate. Hes leaning toward the candidate, noting Trump runs ahead of other Republicans. But as for what happens in 2026? Well see, Beck said, arguing theres a decent chance the incoming Trump administration over-reaches and is met with a Democratic rebound in the midterms.

Now, whether thats enough in Ohio to elect some Democrats statewide? he wondered aloud without an answer. Therell be a lot of statewide races in 2026 and a real donnybrook for the nomination on the Republican side for governor. Itll be interesting to see how all of that pans out.

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As for Issue 1s defeat, Beck pointed first and foremost to the ballot language drafted by the amendments opponents. Ill call it dishonesty, he said arguing many voters were confused about what a yes vote would mean. At the same time Beck argued the yes campaign deserved some of the blame as well, for framing a yes vote in negative terms  to ban gerrymandering  rather than portraying it as a vote for compromise or nonpartisanship.

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An anchor instead of coattails

University of Akron political scientist David Cohen was surprised at Trump expanding his margin of victory. He had expected a Trump victory, but if anything Cohen expected the margin to decline modestly. He described Trumps win as the final nail in the coffin for Ohios swing state status, and argued it had big implications down the ballot.

That 11-point margin made it virtually impossible for Sherrod Brown to be able to win, he said, because that a huge hurdle to get over in terms of getting people to split their tickets.

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His margins down in Cuyahoga County, he noted comparing 2024s unofficial results with Browns last election in 2018.

I mean, you cannot expect, as a statewide Democratic candidate, to win if youre vote percentage is dropping in places like Cuyahoga, Cohen explained. Thats where he has to run up the score.

He chalked up that relative lack of enthusiasm to the presidential candidate at the top of the Democratic ticket. Regardless of the reasons why Harris candidacy didnt mobilize voters the way Joe Biden did in 2020, sagging turnout in a Democratic stronghold is difficult to overcome.

So instead of there being coattails, Cohen described, that presidential candidate is then an anchor.

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At the same time, Cohen said, its notable that Democrats appear to have held on to the competitive U.S. House seats currently occupied by Reps. Greg Landsman, Marcy Kaptur and Emilia Sykes.

Looking forward, I see a lot of red, Cohen said. But even if Democrats face a difficult and uncertain future, he noted midterms are often a rude awakening for the sitting presidents party. With several statewide offices up for election  including the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance  Cohens biggest question is whether Brown decides to make a comeback.

Is he going to challenge that person in the special election in 2026? Is he going to run for governor? Whats he going to do? Cohen wondered aloud. And then once Sherrod makes a decision, then itll be musical chairs on the Democratic side.

The Ohio Capital Journal reached out to Browns campaign, but did not get an immediate response.

A gut punch

Brianna Mack, an assistant professor of politics and government at Ohio Wesleyan University compared the 2024 U.S. Senate race to the 2022 contest.

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While those numbers were coming in, I couldnt help but feel like this was a replay of 2022, she said. In that race, former Congressman Tim Ryan ran a labor and working class-focused campaign self-consciously modeled on Browns politics, but Ryan was unable to win labor strongholds like Trumbull and Mahoning counties that Brown won in 2018.

Now, in 2024, Brown himself was unable to recreate those victories.

That is a gut punch, right? Mack said.

One challenge she pointed to was the ground on which the campaigns fought. Without a general election debate, she said, campaign ads set the narrative.

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You know, Im happy that I can finally go back to watching YouTube and not have to suffer through three and four Sherrod Brown and Moreno ads back-to-back, she said, But ultimately these ads ended up defining what the race was about for both of these candidates.

She argued Democrats now have some soul searching to do.

I think its time to probably let the old guard go, she said, because while moderate Democrats are still attractive, all of the moderate leaders that people love are old as the hill.

While the progressive stuff is what we whipper snappers want, she continued, the rest of the party doesnt want that, and the Republican Party has created a convincing narrative that argues those types of progressive stances will ruin folks bottom line.

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As for Vances open Senate seat, shes interested in seeing who gets the nod, and curious where Democrats will turn come 2026. After Ohioans served Brown his retirement papers, as she framed it, Mack isnt so sure the partys best option is running it back.

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North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has won the governors seat in the Tar Heel State, securing more than 105,000 votes Tuesday night.

As polls had predicted, Stein swept the state, clinching a 15-point lead over his Republican opponent, North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, according to a polling average by The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.

Stein ran a relatively quiet campaign against Robinson, sticking to core policy points that he believed would win over North Carolinians: economic equity, investments in the states school system, health care, abortion, and community safety.

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But the waning days of the race focused less on policy and more on a sudden mass turn in opinion on Robinson, with voters framing the race as a choice between someone with decency and a frightening, horrifying candidate.

Despite spending the better part of the last year spewing disturbing and outlandish rhetoric disparaging women and minority groups, Robinson was swept by an October surprise when CNN published a sprawling investigation about his pre-politics proclivities.

CNN connected Robinson to a flurry of comments on online pornographic forums via a litany of common biographical details and a shared email address. The comments revealed Robinson as a man who had, at least once, desired to own slaves, peeped in womens locker rooms, and enjoyed transgender porn.

Robinson subsequently rejected legal aid and several offers to help him track down the original source of the comments, leading to a mass exodus by members of his top staff in the final stretch of the race.

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Weeks later, at a sparsely attended news conference, Robinson and his attorney Jesse Binnall announced their intention to sue the left-wing news outlet for defamation, seeking $50 million in damages for reputational harm over what he described as a high-tech lynching. Two weeks ago, Robinson tweaked that number, quietly amending the lawsuit to instead seek just over $25,000 in damages.

Even Donald Trumps campaign had seemingly pulled their support from Robinson, reportedly telling the Hitler-quoting, gay-bashing, conspiracy-flouting antisemite September that he was no longer welcome to attend rallies for either candidate on the Republican presidential ticket, according to an anonymous source that spoke with the Carolina Journal. Local Republican strategists had also reportedly called on Robinson to exit the gubernatorial race in order to save Trumps chances in the battleground state.

But, as Stein argued, Robinson was unfit to be governor before that story even broke.

The exceedingly controversial politico has had near countless headline-grabbing scandals based on his disturbing online history, which included posts in which he minimized the horrors of the Holocaust, claimed a satanic marxist had made the movie Black Panther to pull shekels out of Black audiences, likened women getting abortions to murderers (despite admitting that his wife had an abortion), and derided gay people as filth and maggots. Robinson has also expressed archaic views about womens role in society, telling a Charlotte-area church in 2022 that Christians are called to be led by men.

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Robinson had also suggested that schools wouldnt be getting shot up if Christian teachings were forced into the classroom, and told a congregation at Asbury Baptist Church that public schools had taken a nosedive since mandatory prayer had been excised from curriculums.

But Robinson rejected the mounting pressure to exit the race, even as his campaign seemed like a surefire loss for Republicans in battleground state.
A Selma farmer and a Clovis fruit packing house manager have each pleaded guilty for defrauding a crop insurance company of more than $650,000 in payments.

Jatinderjeet Jyoti Sihota, 37, and Ralph Hackett, 69, face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for their crimes. Additionally, Hackett must pay criminal restitution of $650,000 and a separate civil settlement of $605,000 for his role in directing lower-level employees at the packing house to participate in the fraud scheme and hide his misconduct from other principals in the company.

Federal investigators said the scheme went on from 2012 through 2016. During that time, Sihota and Hackett worked together to underreport the amount of fruit Sihotas company delivered and sold through the packing house. Sihota, whose family farms table grapes and other crops in Fresno and Tulare counties, made it appear as though the farm had suffered significant crop losses when that was not true.

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The scheme netted them more than $650,000 in crop insurance payments that they were not entitled to receive.

The case was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and Risk Management Agency Special Investigations staff. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.

The USDA OIG is committed to combating crop insurance fraud through criminal investigations and civil enforcement. Fraudulent activity within the crop insurance program undermines its intent and misdirects taxpayer dollars from where they were intended. We thank the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of California for pursuing justice until these conspirators were held accountable said USDA OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Dionida.

Sihota is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3 and Hackett is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27.
The News

Welcome to Semafors Election Night Bellwethers. Our reporter David Weigel is tracking 20 counties that could provide clues throughout the night as to where the overall race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is trending. Were also including updates and analysis from our congressional reporters, senior editors, and reporters in the field on key race calls and trends around the country.

LIVE UPDATES

12:10 AM

The Democrats Blue Wall is at risk in the Senate, not just in the White House race.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Sens. Bob Casey and Tammy Baldwin are all running ahead of Kamala Harris in their respective states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. But theyre also all currently trailing, and the prospects of a Republican majority as big as 55 seats are very real.

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Even after Republicans ousted Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown to get their likely 51st seat, the races in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are still very high-stakes. The results will make the difference between threadbare Republican control of Senate control and potentially the biggest GOP majority in 25 years (Republicans had 55 seats in 1999 and 2005).

12:01 AM

In Wisconsins Waukesha County, Democrats were hoping for a dramatic suburban shift that could offset other losses. With 92% of ballots counted, they got only a small shift in their direction, trimming Trumps 21-point lead from four years ago to a 19-point lead. Trump offset that win with incremental gains in Dane County.

11:25 PM

Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Susan Wild was hoping that her challenging reelection bid might get a boost from trash talk. It hasnt worked out for her so far.

After comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage at Trumps closing Madison Square Garden rally, Democrats ramped up their outreach to Latinos in the state. About 77,000 Puerto Ricans live in Wilds 7th District, according to a 2023 census report.

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Theyve been hustling like crazy to get people there, bussing Puerto Ricans in from NYC and other places, one Democratic operative familiar with the plan told Semafor last week.

That effort may not have made the difference it needed to in Wilds campaign against Republican Ryan Mackenzie in this swing district; she is currently trailing him by 2 points with 87% of the vote accounted for. Wild had grown her polling margin in the race since July, with the most recent poll indicating a 6% lead in early October. Mackenzie, for his part, has gone on the attack against Wild on border security.

The implications of the 7th District race extend beyond Wilds future. The Eastern Pennsylvania district, encompassing Allentown, Bethlehem, and the Lehigh Valley, is one of the most competitive in a hotly contested presidential battleground state.

And both parties see pickup opportunities in other swing Pennsylvania districts. Republican Rep. Scott Perry is trailing in the 10th District, and Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright is leading in the 8th District. Both were rated as toss-ups. Perry is facing Democrat Janelle Stelson, who led the incumbent in recent polls and has won the backing of a group of former House Republicans looking to oust the former Freedom Caucus chair.

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Republicans have poured millions into Cartwrights district. Still, polling shows that the six-term member is well-positioned to retain his seat even without Biden at the top ticket to tout his Scranton roots (the outgoing presidents birthplace is a linchpin of the 8th District).

11:01 PM

If past is prologue, the race wont be called in Marylands 6th District for a while. Back in 2022, Republican Neil Parrott conceded to Democratic Rep. David Trone three days after election night.

But its looking good for Parrott this time around; he leads Democratic rival April McClain Delaney by 4 points with 73% of the vote counted.

The seat came open after Trone passed up another term to mount an unsuccessful Senate bid. Parrotts new opponent is the wife of the districts previous congressman, John Delaney.

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According to Parrotts polling, he has commanded about 17% of Democratic voters in the district  and if that performance holds true, Delaney will need to pull away her own share of GOP voters.Marylands 6th is one of the most competitive races in the state, despite drawing a Lean Democrat rating from Cook Political Report. Thats in part because redistricting stripped a portion of Democratic-heavy Montgomery County from the district.

Delaney was also expected to benefit from Angela Alsobrooks now-victorious Senate run. But Democrats are also banking on Harris position at the top of the ticket to drive out voters. Overall, Marylanders gave Harris a 9% boost on job favorability since February in a state where Democrats outnumber their Republican counterparts 2 to 1.

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10:37 PM

Pennsylvanias Butler County, the site of a failed assassination attempt on Trump, saw only an incremental shift toward him  a bit of a departure from what hes getting in red parts of the state. With most of the vote counted, he increased his margin by 1,608 votes, as Harris improved on Bidens vote total while he improved by more. Not much of a change in a place that became so emotionally resonant for Republicans, but enough.

10:45 PM

Beyond the must-win states, its important to look at whether any races outside the main battlefield are getting close. Republicans were excited about recruiting Nella Domenici, the daughter of longtime New Mexico senator Pete Domenici, to challenge Democratic incumbent Sen. Martin Heinrich. And some Democrats at times have thought Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley could be vulnerable in a seat they once held.

Well, those hopes didnt pan out  and Heinrich and Hawley are winning pretty comfortably as both races are called for them. Neither are surprises, but they do take off the board a couple of states that could have made things interesting.



10:37 PM

Democrats probably werent expecting to have to wait until after 10:30 p.m. to know that Tim Kaine won a third term, but here we are. The GOP didnt really contest the race, seeing far better opportunities elsewhere, but Kaine ran far enough ahead of Kamala Harris to prevail against Hung Cao.

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Democratic senators are trying to outrun Harris across the map  but Virginia is bluer than the purple states where Kaines colleagues are fighting for their political lives. And Kaines win looks to be far narrower than his 16-point victory in 2018.

Virginias apparent shift to the right will offer some warning signs for Democrats like Abigail Spanberger, whos gearing up for a 2025 gubernatorial run, and Sen. Mark Warner, whos up for reelection in Virginia in 2026.

Next years gubernatorial race will be among the first referendums on the incoming president; Democrats are still smarting about their 2021 loss to Glenn Youngkin and will be looking to take back control in Richmond next year.

10:18 PM

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In Indiana, the Hamilton County bellwether barely moved  1 point toward Democrats from 2020. In bellwether Vigo County, Trump grew his margin from 15 points to 21 points. Thats the ongoing story of Election Night, with rural voters of all races moving toward the GOP and suburban voters edging narrowly toward Democrats, not enough to build a winning Harris coalition.

10:15 PM

North Carolina Rep. Don Davis is leading Republican Laurie Buckhout by 5 points with nearly 80% of votes tallied, giving hope to Democrats who are trying to take back the House.

Davis has broken with his party on several big issues in the House: He voted to condemn the Biden administration over the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, supported a bill requiring voters to show proof of citizenship and most recently, backed a resolution condemning Harris failure to secure the US-Mexico border.

His Eastern North Carolina district was one of several redrawn by a Republican-led state legislature in 2023. Davis seat was redrawn to include redder areas that Trump won in 2020 but was still rated a toss-up, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Democrats have held the seat for three decades.

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The campaign arms of both parties have spent more than $23 million combined on the race.

Democrats had one big concern: turnout. A week before the election, 36,000 fewer Black voters had cast ballots in person compared to the same time in 2020. Democrats launched a massive get-out-the-vote campaign two weeks before the election, narrowing the Black voter gap by some 40,000 votes.

On the opposite end of the state, concerns over whether Hurricane Helene would impact the states 25 FEMA-designated disaster counties abated after election officials announced more than a third of the state had already voted. Along with Black voters, Democrats were looking to turn out storm-impacted voters in stronghold Asheville and peel off some votes from rural counties in the swing state.

10:00 PM

The ongoing story of the night is Trump running better in rural and exurban counties with voters of all races. That was true in the Nash County bellwether, a test of whether Trump had room to improve with non-white voters outside big cities who moved right in 2016 and 2020. He did: Trump won the county by 2 points, netting 1000 votes, after losing it by just 120 votes four years ago.

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9:50 PM

Pennsylvanias Lackawanna County, one our bellwethers, has largely finished its count, with a slight shift right from 2020  a 3-point win for Harris, down from Bidens 8-point win over Trump. Hes running around 2000 votes ahead of his total that year, and Harris is running 3000 votes behind Biden. Sen. Bob Casey, who like Biden was born in the county (and still lives in Scranton), did match the 2020 Biden margin.



9:46 PM

Democrats had to spend millions to fend off former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, but it worked. The race call for Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks shows just how steep a mountain Hogan had to climb in one of the nations bluest states. Hogan is steadily outpacing Trump as returns keep coming in, but not to the outlandish degree he would have needed in order to claim a Senate seat.

Republicans were never banking on Maryland as a win, though, and Democrats never really freaked out about the race after Alsobrooks won the primary earlier this year. But the state was still a crucial piece of the Senate map.

There would be no path to a Democratic majority without Maryland, and the GOPs focus there  as well as a pro-Hogan super PAC  made Democrats take seriously a state they otherwise would have coasted to victory in.



9:30 PM

Democrats needed to hold on to Virginias 7th District to have a fighting chance at reclaiming the House, and so far its looking good for them. Their nominee, Yevgeny Eugene Vindman, is ahead of Republican rival Derrick Anderson by roughly 3 points, with 77% of the vote in.



President Joe Biden won the district in 2020 by 6.7%; a year later, GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin bested a Democrat to win the district by 3%. The battleground district stretches from central to northern Virginia, where Anderson is trying to flip a seat now held by Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger. Shes running for governor rather than seeking another term.



Eugene Vindman came into the race with name recognition as the whistleblower in then-President Donald Trumps first impeachment, where his brother Alexander was a key witness.



The two Army veterans had been close in polling for most of the race as controversies hit both of them. Anderson went viral after posing with his friends wife and three daughters, drawing criticism for trying to pass them off as his own family. Vindman drew a stolen valor accusation from the opposing party for mischaracterizing his military rank after retirement.



And along the states eastern border, Rep. Jennifer Kiggans, R-Va. is holding on to a razor-thin lead over challenger Missy Cotter Smasal. The district has flipped parties twice in the past six years, the last time from Republican to Democrat in 2022, when Elaine Luria lost to Kiggans after redistricting turned the district slightly more red.

9:23 PM

Sherrod Brown is running ahead of Harris in Ohio, but not by enough for Democrats to feel comfortable about hanging onto a seat that could lose them the Senate majority before midnight. Brown needs to run well ahead of Harris to have a chance of winning here, and at the moment he is outpacing her  but not by enough.

Thats in part because Trump is currently leading the state by more than Democrats wanted, which is good news for Republican nominee Bernie Moreno. Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan told us that Harris needs to get within 5 or 6 points of Trump to give Brown a great chance in the state. Brown wouldnt put a number on it the last time we talked to him, but Trump has won Ohio by 8 points the last two cycles.

And at the moment hes right around that number.

With Democrats pick-up chances looking dead in Florida and tough in Texas, Browns loss would effectively hand control of the chamber to the Republicans.

9:08 PM

Most of Roanoke County, in southwest Virginia, has been counted; we marked this as a rural Trump bellwether, in part because both he and JD Vance held rallies there. Trump won it by 22 points in 2020, and is up by 27 points now. He is not on track to win Virginia overall, but this is a good example of the over-performance hes seeing outside suburbs and cities, which Democrats need to out-match in those areas.

9:04 PM

Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur is currently leading Republican opponent Derek Merrin by 8 points in Ohios 9th District. Its a pretty good sign for her party, which needs her to hang on to boost its chances at taking back the House.

Two years ago, Kaptur beat Republican JR Majewski by more than 13 points, but Merrin is a less polarizing candidate  so the longest-serving woman in Congress can expect to see her race run a little closer this time around.

In another critical Ohio race, the 13th District, polling showed Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes and her Republican opponent Kevin Coughlin in a close race just a week ago. With about 40% of the vote in, Sykes is leading Coughlin, shoring up her chances to return to the House.

But if the race remains this tight for the rest of the night, it could be a sign that House control itself will also stay too close to call for a while.

8:50 PM

Colin Allred is staying alive in Texas Senate race. And thats a vindication  of sorts for Democrats fall decision to pour resources into a longshot battle against incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz. Now there are two questions: Can Allred improve on Beto ORourkes performance against Cruz in 2018  and could Cruz actually lose?

We wont have definitive answers for a little while longer on the second question. But on the first one, the early numbers show Cruz running a bit behind Trump and leading Allred by close to his 2018 margin of less than 3 points.

This race is critical for a couple reasons: If Jon Tester or Sherrod Brown dont win in Montana or Ohio, Texas is probably the best way for Democrats to make up for the lost Senate seat. Republicans are just one pickup away from taking back an outright majority regardless of the presidential result, but an Allred win in Texas would deliver Democrats a shocking pathway to Senate control.

All that said, its a tough state for them and the numbers show it even as Allred outperforms Kamala Harris significantly.

8:34 PM

In the North Carolina counties that have mostly finished their count  all rural  Donald Trump is at or slightly ahead of his 2020 margins. In Union County, the conservative bellwether were watching outside Charlotte, Trump got 61% of the vote in 2020 and is at 63% with about three-quarters of the vote counted. Were now at the part of the night where states that saw heavy advertising from both candidates are coming in, and there is no significant suburban swing toward Harris.

8:19 PM

Its a romp for Republicans in Florida  their best presidential performance since the 1980s, continued gains with Latino voters, and success in keeping both progressive ballot measures under 60%. (They need to crack that number to pass). All of those are victories for Ron DeSantis, who spent political capital and some state resources on stopping Amendments 3 and 4, preventing the legalization of marijuana and stopping abortion rights from being added to the state constitution. They currently look unlikely to pass.

8:10 PM

The trend in Loudoun County, Virginia is encouraging for Republicans. With 95% of ballots counting, Harris is winning the county by 17 points, down from Bidens 25-point win there in 2020. Trump has already won more votes there than he did against Biden; Harris is running around 15,000 votes behind. Its a reverse of what early vote patterns showed outside Indianapolis, and weaker than the Harris performance in the rest of northern Virginia.



8:08 PM

Rick Scott is used to waiting for his election wins, but he wont have to do that this time around. The GOP senator won his second term against former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, and the race was called well within the dinner hour  at least on the panhandle.

Scott is slightly lagging behind Donald Trump, but Democrats are a long way from their onetime dreams about taking Florida Senate seats. And Florida was one of their only pick-up opportunities in a map thats stacked against them.

Theyll now have to wait until Texas results start rolling in to see if their other opportunity has any chance of hitting  although to be fair, Democrats spent a lot more national money on beating Ted Cruz in Texas than they did on Scott in Florida. Another note: Scotts win means he will compete in next weeks leadership race to succeed Mitch McConnell, an aide confirmed.

7:47 PM

Donald Trump and Senate nominee Jim Banks are both romping in Indiana, and the governors race has already been called for Mike Braun, whom Banks will be replacing in Congress. But the numbers here really matter  so were looking closely at Brauns underperformance relative to Trump and Banks.

And were paying close attention to the northern Indianapolis suburbs of Hamilton County, where Banks is overperforming both Trump and Braun against their Democratic rivals. Banks is beating Democratic opponent Valerie McCray narrowly (as he leads the race overall by roughly 30 points). That means Banks is significantly running ahead of the rest of the ticket in a county where the suburban demographics are reflective of other critical Midwest races.

For context, Republican Todd Young won the last Senate race here by about 21 points. Itll be interesting to see whether Banks can beat that.

7:23 PM

Trump is running a bit ahead of his 2020 numbers in every New Hampshire town thats fully reported  first Dixville Notch (and its 6 voters), now the more reliably Republican towns of Belmont and Epsom. Hes leading in Epsom by 24 points, after winning it by 18 in 2020, and by 23 points in Milton, another town he won by 18 in 2020. Theres no Democratic win map that takes a New Hampshire loss into account  neither party really competed here  but this is in line with some final polling that found Harris running 2-4 points behind Bidens easy 7-point 2020 win.

7:09 PM

The first significant movement toward either candidate tonight is taking place in Boone County, which like our first Bellwether Hamilton County is outside of Indianapolis. In 2020, Donald Trump won Boone County with 58% of the vote; with 91% of votes counted, hes carrying it with 54% of the vote. Democrats are looking for any sign of suburban movement in their direction, once one of these counties wraps up.

6:00 pm

Polls are closed in Indiana (you can read our guide as to what to expect each hour), home to Hamilton County, our first bellwether for potentially Harris-friendly suburban voters, and Vigo County, where Republicans have historically done well in the Terre Haute area.
The next vice president of the United States will be a senator from Ohio.

Former president Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance defeated Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in the presidential election called Wednesday morning by the Associated Press. Trump and Vance will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, just two years after Vance took the oath of office for his first Senate term.

Now, Ohio has a Senate seat to fill (again).

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More: JD Vance, a Cincinnati resident and Middletown native, to be next vice president

What happens when there's a vacancy in the U.S. Senate?

Gov. Mike DeWine will pick another Republican to replace Vance until a special election is held in November 2026. DeWine's appointee must run in that election if they want to keep the seat.

Democrats will put up a challenger for the general election, and there could be a GOP primary if other Republicans are interested.

The winner in 2026 would serve out the rest of Vance's term, which ends in 2028. That person could then run for reelection in 2028.

Who could replace JD Vance in the Senate?

DeWine is keeping his cards close to his chest, but electability is an important factor for him. The Senate remains closely divided after Tuesday's election, and 2026 could be a tough year for Republicans since they'll control the White House.

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"If Donald Trump is elected, then we will start our process to look at people and talk to people," DeWine told reporters last week. "Some people have already contacted me. I've already met with some people at their request."

Potential names began floating around months ago. Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said he would "strongly consider" being senator, though he's also eyeing a bid for governor in 2026. Another prospect is Jane Timken, who served as chair of the Ohio Republican Party and ran for Senate in 2022.

DeWine could also go with his previous pick: State Sen. Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, who lost to Bernie Moreno in this year's GOP primary despite the governor's endorsement. Secretary of State Frank LaRose ran against Moreno and Dolan and told Signal Cleveland he'd be interested in the appointment.

Vance, for his part, declined to speculate about who could fill his Senate seat when he voted Tuesday: "I'm way too superstitious to think about those things."

Reporters Jessie Balmert and Victoria Moorwood contributed.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How JD Vance's Ohio Senate seat will be filled after Trump win
Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana has lost re-election to businessman Tim Sheehy, NBC News projects.

The rare Democrat representing a red state, Tester served three terms after establishing a reputation as a moderate Democrat with long ties to Montana. But his folksy persona, which includes a flat-top haircut and three missing fingers from a childhood meat-grinder accident, was not enough to overcome the strong partisan headwinds of a divisive presidential election that landed Donald Trump back in the White House, as split-ticket voting has become less common in American politics.

Sheehy, a Minnesota native who moved to Montana to start an aerial firefighting company, was endorsed by Trump in the Republican primary, which led his main opponent, Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale, to drop out shortly afterward.

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Trump also campaigned for Sheehy in August, a rare stop in a state with four electors that has gone for the Republican presidential nominee since 1996. The campaign stop seems to have worked, however, with polls showing Sheehy pulling ahead around that time, despite questions about his claim that he was shot in Afghanistan.

Sheehy also seems to have benefited from Montanas shifting political environment, which has become increasingly nationalized and has put moderates from both parties on the back foot. Testers advantage as a Montana native and former state legislative leader werent enough to cut through the national partisanship.

Tester was one of a handful of senators whose states reliably vote for the presidential nominee of the other party, along with retiring Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a former Democrat who is now registered as an independent, and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. The loss means Democrats will have an even harder time winning control of the Senate in future elections.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
U.S. Sen. Angus King declared victory Wednesday at Flight Deck Brewing in his hometown of Brunswick, Maine. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/ Maine Morning Star)

Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King declared victory in a crowded race Wednesday, delivering a third term for the former Maine governor.

Speaking at Flight Deck Brewing in his hometown of Brunswick, King declared, I won this election.

So, Im feeling very positive about this. Ive already heard that this morning from a number of my colleagues, including some Republican colleagues, who are looking forward to working together to try and move forward with a positive agenda for the country, he said.

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King made the speech before The Associated Press called the race in his favor Thursday morning.

King won with 51.9% with 94% of votes counted. Republican Demi Kouzounas, the former head of the Maine GOP, received 34.3%, Democrat David Costello gained 10.6% while independent Jason Cherry trailed with 2.5% of the vote.

Had King received less than 50% of the vote, it would have advanced to a ranked-choice run-off.

Costello said Wednesday he sent King a note congratulating him on his victory.

I certainly think he will continue to represent Maine in a very thoughtful manner, Costello told Maine Morning Star.

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Though Costello came in third, he said he was satisfied with the outcome because he exceeded expectations from early polling, especially given the fact that he spent less than $30,000 dollars on a race  which drew millions of dollars in political donations  against a well-established candidate like King.

The other two challengers did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

King retains his U.S. Senate seat despite Republicans gaining a majority in the chamber after flipping several key seats in Ohio, West Virginia and Montana.

During his address Wednesday, King said he wasnt ready to discuss control of Congress, as the balance of the U.S. House of Representatives remains up in the air.

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I know that the Republican candidates who were running and were elected yesterday were hearing the same things I was hearing: housing, cost of living, border, all of those issues are issues that were going to be addressing in the new Congress, he said.

I believe now, more than ever, its going to be important to be able to work together.

He added that people may be upset or supportive of President-elect Donald Trumps election, but the reality is, now we go forward. People have made their decisions.

Though King is an independent, he mostly votes in line with the Democratic Party. When King launched his reelection campaign in May, he said one reason he was running again was because he believed were losing the middle in the Senate.

This story was updated after The Associated Press called the race for U.S. Sen. Angus King.

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Republican Sen. Ron Johnson raised concerns about the 31,000 absentee ballots the City of Milwaukee said it began recounting Tuesday afternoon after election officials were made aware that doors covering on-off switches on some of the machines used to tally those votes had not been properly closed.

The city's top election official said earlier in the evening that the machines had not been tampered with and that the decision to recount the ballots was made out of an abundance of caution" and in consultation with Democrats and Republicans.

Johnson labeled the vote-counting process in the states heavily Democratic city grossly disorganized during a visit to the downtown operation with Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming.

Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Paulina Gutierrez speaks with media at the city's central count operation, where the results of absentee ballots are being counted on Nov. 5, 2024.

Johnson during the tour questioned Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Paulina Gutierrez.

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Schimming said they wanted to trust the process but said he thought it was "fair" to ask questions when an issue involving this many ballots comes up.

City officials said they would rerun about 31,000 absentee ballots out an abundance of caution, and one top state election official said both political parties agree that nothing was wrong with the tabulation so far.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, in a visit after the Republicans had left, dismissed the senator's questions about whether the city was unprepared for the high-profile election.

And he said he did not think this error would become fodder for those looking to undercut the results of the more than 100,000 absentee ballots that had been returned to the city Election Commission.

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"This was an issue that was caught, an issue that was addressed, and an issue that we've taken seriously," the mayor said. "We've worked to fix the issue and make sure that all the ballots were counted and counted correctly."

In the 2020 election, then-President Donald Trump and other Republicans zeroed in on Milwaukee's absentee ballots as he made unfounded claims of election fraud in his bid to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden in Wisconsin.

Trump's 2020 loss in the state was confirmed by recounts he paid for, court rulings, a nonpartisan state audit and a study by a prominent conservative group.

The senator, however, said hed like officials to preserve video of the process and the count of the 30,000 ballots in question from both before and after they were rerun.

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The Oshkosh Republican said the party wanted to know the results of the first tabulation of the ballots so they could compare them to the rerun.

Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, right, talks with Milwaukee Election Commissioner Douglas Haag, left, and Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming at the Central Count location inside the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

If we dont have that, I get very suspicious," he told reporters shortly after 8 p.m. local time.

We need to know what those counts are, not just the number of ballots, but how many votes for Kamala Harris, how many votes for Donald Trump, the Republican senator said.

Schimming, who joined Johnson at central count, told the Journal Sentinel he wanted to talk to elections observers and then well decide how to go.

Were not here because theres no problem, Schimming said. Stuff was open on the back of the tabulators. They had one job.

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Its not like its illegitimate to ask questions about tabs open on tabulators in a state where we dont have voting machines, Schimming said.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com. Lawrence Andrea can be reached at landrea@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Sen. Ron Johnson questions Milwaukee's recount of 30k absentee ballots
Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown spoke to supporters after conceding the Ohio Senate race to Republican Bernie Moreno, saying the result was "a disappointment but not a failure."
Trump-backed Republican businessman Bernie Moreno has denied Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, a fourth term, NBC News projects. Morenos flipping of a U.S. Senate seat deals a likely fatal blow to Democrats bid to remain in control of the chamber.

Moreno is a car dealer and blockchain technology entrepreneur with no experience in elected office. Five years ago, according to emails obtained by NBC News, Moreno bashed former President Donald Trump "as a lunatic and a maniac in correspondence with a national Republican fundraising consultant who was seeking donations. His public comments also implied he was not a Trump fan. But he re-fashioned himself into a MAGA acolyte, and he heavily advertised Trumps endorsement in his Republican primary campaign. He also declined to say whether he believes the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.

Moreno has defeated a Democrat once known as the quintessential Rust Belt whisperer, and his election arguably completes Ohios transformation from a bellwether state to a Republican stronghold. Brown has held his seat since 2006, and his incumbency was a huge deal for Democrats, since Trump ushered in a new Republican streak in the state, winning it in both 2016 and 2020 by about 8 points.

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Moreno survived Browns attempts to take him down with ads hammering home his controversial positions on abortion. Moreno said in a town hall in September that older women who care about abortion are a little crazy. And he has called for national legislation restricting abortion.

Moreno is primed to be a team player in the Senate, with textbook MAGA positions on everything from immigration to wokeness to restoring election integrity. His win is a huge loss for the Democrats, as and could play a potentially decisive role in the legislative possibilities of the next government.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Sen. Ted Cruz has won re-election to the Senate, NBC News projects, defeating his Democratic opponent Colin Allred in a hotly contested election and crushing Democrats hope of winning a statewide race in Texas for the first time since 1994.

Cruzs win was far from certain. Allred mounted a fierce challenge against the senator, casting himself as a moderate in an effort to win over Republicans and independents turned off by Cruzs MAGA leanings. He also hammered Cruz over his infamous vacation to Cancun in 2021 during a deadly winter storm, as well as his vote earlier this year against a bipartisan border security bill at Donald Trumps behest.

Allreds campaign had gained considerable momentum. Polls consistently showed a razor-thin margin between the two candidates in last months of the campaign, with Cruz ahead by only a few points. In early October, the Cook Political Report switched the race from likely Republican to lean Republican. Cruz was also outraised by Allred all year, and national Democrats poured millions into a TV ad push on Allreds behalf.

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Cruz, on the other hand, tried to rebrand himself as a bipartisan legislator, in spite of his record. He argued that his Democratic opponent was a radical and sought to link Allred to Biden and Harris border policies.

Despite Cruzs victory, that Allred was able to make the contest so close should be a cause for concern for Republicans. Cruz similarly survived his 2018 race against Beto ORourke by a mere 2.6 percentage points. Although Texas is far from a swing state, Democrats are hoping to chip away at the GOPs stranglehold one election at a time and eventually turn the Lone Star State into a reliably purple battleground.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a key voice for Democrats on veterans and military spending issues, lost his re-election bid on Tuesday to Republican challenger Tim Sheehy, an outcome that gave GOP leaders the majority in the Senate.

The Associated Press called the race in favor of Sheehy early Wednesday morning, with the Republican leading by nearly 8% in the vote.

Sheehy is a former Navy SEAL who also graduated from Army Ranger School as part of a special operations exchange program between the services. He courted controversy during his campaign for claiming to have been shot while serving in Afghanistan, despite no military records backing up the claim.

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His victory will add another veteran to the list of prominent Republicans with military service in the Senate, including Arkansas Tom Cotton and Floridas Rick Scott.

How veterans are faring in the 2024 election

Testers defeat represents a significant political setback for the Democratic Party, not just because of the loss of control of the Senate but also because of Testers leadership on a host of national security and veterans issues.

He has served in the Senate since 2007 and been chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee since 2017. Tester was a leading voice on the PACT Act  legislation which provided disability benefits and expanded health care to millions of veterans with military toxic exposure injuries  ahead of its passage in 2022.

Tester has served as the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committees defense panel for the last three years, helping guide annual funding decisions for the Department of Defense.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand has won reelection for the U.S. Senate in New York, defeating Republican challenger Mike Sapraicone.

The 15-year senator campaigned on securing abortion rights and term limits for Supreme Court justices, among other key issues.

Click here for election results

An Albany native, Gillibrand assumed office in 2009. The New York senator supports a 20-year term limit for senators. If legislation passes, this will be her final term.

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Gillibrand also supports codifying Roe v. Wade by adding the long-proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

In New York, voters were asked to decide on an Equal Rights Amendment to the state Constitution, which would explicitly disallow discrimination based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or gender.

House balance of power: Live updates with 2024 election results

Gillibrand has addressed the immigration crisis and its impact on New York, saying there is a need to reform policy on asylum-seekers. She suggested people should apply from their country of origin or first safe country to avoid a backlog in the state as applications sit pending for years.

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The New York senator also explored a presidential run in 2019 but withdrew from the Democratic primary, eventually endorsing then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
ILLINOIS (WTVO)  The citizens of seven additional Illinois counties have voted to consider splitting from Chicago and Cook County and forming a new state.

All seven counties that had a ballot question, asking voters if they wanted to explore secession, voted in favor of the proposal, according to NBC 5 Chicago.

The ballot question reads, Shall the board of (the county) correspond with the boards of other counties of Illinois, outside of Cook County, about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state and to seek admission to the Union as such, subject to the approval of the people?

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Illinois voters who support the referendums argue that Chicago and Cook County voters hold an oversized sway in policies enacted by the state legislature, and do not align with the priorities of rural voters.

Voters in Iroquois County, Calhoun County, Clinton County, Green County, Jersey County, Madison County, and Perry County passed the measure Tuesday night, joining at least 21 other counties that voted in favor of secession discussions in the 2020 and 2022 elections.

Madison County is the first suburban county to join the movement and the largest so far, with a population of 265,000.

An organization called New Illinois has been pursuing the formation of a new state, separate from the current State of Illinois, Urban Cook County and Chicago, for several years.

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All power in Illinois government is concentrated in Cook County and Chicago. This leaves the rest of the States residents with no real representation, the organization has said.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul shot down the idea, saying, It is my opinion that non-home-rule counties do not have the authority to secede from the state of Illinois and join another state. Accordingly, any referendum on the issue of county secession would have no binding legal effect.

Additionally, Raoul said, The admissions clause [of the U.S. Constitution] grants Congress the power to admit new states and prevents a subdivision of an existing state from breaking away without the states consent.

The idea that someplace in Illinois wants to kick out another place in Illinois should not be on the ballot, shouldnt be something thats part of the lexicon and discussion of politicians. Were one state, supporting each other, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in May.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Voters wait in a lengthy line the morning of Election Day on Tuesday at a polling location at St. Lukes Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Tuesdays election swept in several new House and Senate members vying for open seats, but also proved to be a good night for incumbents.

Not a single incumbent state House or Senate lawmaker lost Tuesday.

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Incumbent Republican Warren Hamilton of McCurtain easily defeated Democrat challenger Jerry L. Donathan of McAlester in the race for Senate District 7 by a vote of 77% to 23%.

In the race for Senate District 15, Republican Lisa Standridge bested Democrat Elizabeth Foreman by a vote of 62% to 38%. Both are from Norman.

Standrige is the spouse of Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, who is leaving due to term limits.

The seat for Senate District 21 became open when Tom Dugger, D-Stillwater, decided not to seek another term.

Republican Dr. Randy Grellner of Cushing defeated Democrat Robin Fuxa of Stillwater by a vote of 65% to 35%.

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Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, fended off Democrat Melissa Bryce of Tulsa in the race for Senate District 39. The vote was 56% to 44%.

The seat for Senate District 43 became open when Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, lost her reelection bid in the primary.

Republican Kendal Sacchieri of Blanchard defeated Democrat Sam Graefe of Purcell by a vote of 80.5% to 19.5%.

Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, could not run again for Senate District 46 due to term limits.

Democrat Mark Mann of Oklahoma City beat Republican Charles Barton of Del City and David Pilchman, an independent from Oklahoma City. Mann garnered 60.42% of the vote.

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Republican Kelly E. Hines defeated Democrat Erin Brewer in the race for Senate District 47, which became open when Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, termed out. Both are from Edmond. The vote was 53% to 47%.

In the race for House District 4, Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, easily defeated Democratic challenger Christopher Wier, also of Tahlequah. The vote was 68% to 32%.

Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, chose not to seek reelection to House District 12.

Republican Mark Chapman of Broken Arrow beat Democrat Crystal LaGrone of Coweta by a vote of 79% to 21%.

Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, easily defeated Democratic challenger Rosie Lynch, also of Okmulgee, in the race for House

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District 16. The vote was 71% to 29%.

I am just thankful the citizens of House District 16 reelected me for a ninth year, Fetgatter said. I am excited to get to work and work with new leadership.

In the race for House District 26, Rep. Dell Kerbs defeated Democrat Kerri Keck, also of Shawnee, by a vote of 62% to 38%.

Kerbs said he commends anybody who puts their name on the ballot to run for office.

It takes a lot of courage and hard work, Kerbs said.

He said he appreciated the voters of House District 26 for sending him back to the Capitol.

Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, beat Republican challenger Andrew Muchmore, also of Stillwater, in the race for House District 34. The vote was 59% to 41%.

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In the race for House District 37, Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, beat independent Carter Rogers of Fairfax by a vote of 79% to 21%.

It has been an honor and privilege for me to serve this district and listen to the concerns, issues and problems here in rural Oklahoma, Luttrell said.

He said he will work to see that students have a path to success and stay in Oklahoma. He also wants to work on finding common sense solutions to problems.

I am honored and humbled by the support, Luttrell said.

Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Yukon, defeated Democrat Mike Bockus of Edmond in the race for House District 41. The vote was 68% to 32%.

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In the race for House District 43, Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, beat independent Cassie Kinet, also of Yukon, by a vote of 70% to 30%.

Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, bested Republican Alexander W. Torvi of Norman in the race for House District 46. The vote was 54% to 46%.

Polling showed the race was going to be tight, Rosecrants said.

Rosecrants thanked his opponent, who he said ran a good race.

What this shows, though, is that my constituents dont like extremism, Rosecrants said. They dont like (State Superintendent) Ryan Walters.

Rosecrants said he ran on being accessible and working across the aisle.

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Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, held on to House District 70. She beat GOP challenger Bradley Banks, also from Tulsa, by a vote of 56% to 44%.

Republican David B. Hooten of Nichols Hills was unsuccessful in his attempt to unseat House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, in the race for House District 85. The vote was 61% to 39%.

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Chicago voters largely rejected Mayor Brandon Johnsons education agenda as only four of 10 candidates endorsed by the powerful teachers union were on track to hold seats on the citys new hybrid Board of Education as of Wednesday afternoon.

Seven contests have been called by The Associated Press, with tallies among three close races expected to conclude by the weekend.

Though the races began as sleepy provincial contests, they quickly became a referendum on Johnson and his closely allied Chicago Teachers Union. The new mayor, whose 2023 campaign was bankrolled by the CTU, has struggled to retain control of the nations fourth-largest public school district and drawn criticism for plans to take out a high-interest $300 million loan.

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The historic local races follow an embarrassing stretch for Johnson in which he unsuccessfully attempted to oust Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez and cycled through two board presidents.

As a result of the chaos, a significant number of progressive members of the City Council broke ranks with the mayor and the Chicago Teachers Union, including via a letter rebuffing the mayor that netted 41 aldermanic signatures.

People are tired. You look at the last month, the comedy of errors, said Angel Gutierrez, who trounced CTU-backed candidate Felix Ponce in District 8 on the Southwest Side. Hes among three candidates backed by school choice proponents to declare victory.

For Gutierrez, the election was a clear referendum on the mayors alignment with CTU. A real leader takes a step back and is introspective, he said. At this particular moment in time, the people have spoken.

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The campaign sparked a spending spree by the CTU and opposite-minded political action committees, with more $8 million spent across the 10 races. The union scored decisive wins on the Far North Side, in District 2, and on the Southwest Side in District 7, which includes the Lower West Side, Little Village and Chinatown. CTU-backed candidate Aaron Jitu Brown was uncontested in District 5.

CTU spent at least $1.7 million in direct contributions to candidates as of Monday, largely in-kind contributions for field staffing, polling, advertising or voter outreach. In all but two races, the CTU-backed candidate had raised the largest sum. Spending caps were also lifted on nine of the races.

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools Political Action Committee had devoted nearly $2.3 million to either supporting or opposing school board candidates during that same time period. A second pro-school-choice PAC, the Urban Center, had devoted another $770,000.

But even in a local school board race, a grassroots movement emerged. In several districts, some candidates touted themselves as independents who cant be bought by the deep-pocketed interest groups  both CTU and charter-aligned  funneling money into the race.

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Without the backing of either heavyweight group, Jessica Biggs claimed a decisive win in District 6, as two other independent candidates held strong leads among the races yet to be called in Districts 1, 9 and 10.

Despite CTUs dismal showing, Johnson will still remain in control of the board after the election, with the power to appoint 11 of its 21 unpaid seats. The new board will be seated in January.

At the CTU headquarters on election night, a program featuring union officials, candidates and other left-leaning organizers touched upon the labor groups firebrand anti-establishment messaging.

Though early returns hinted at mixed results for the union, the CTU and its allies remained focused on dismantling a system where the deck is stacked against us  even after the citys progressive labor coalition has lost much of its underdog status after winning the mayors seat.

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Union President Stacy Davis Gates did not comment on losses in her remarks beyond acknowledging: Its perspective, yall. Billionaires spent a lot of money to get three out of 21.

You all created an expansion of democracy in an entire society that is toying with the idea of fascism, Davis Gates said in casting the historic election as a win for Chicagoans and voting rights no matter what. I dont care how powerful they try to make us in disunity. The little engine that could expanded democracy at a time when fascism is on the rise.

Heres a quick look at how the 10 races played out.

District 1

On the citys Far Northwest Side, CTU candidate Jennifer Custer led Michelle Pierre, who is backed by the charter schools network, 51% to 49%.

District 2

CTU-endorsed candidate Ebony DeBerry triumphed over businessman Bruce Leon 42% to 21%. Candidates Kate Doyle and Margaret Cullerton Hooper had 21% and 16%, respectively.

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District 2 candidates garnered the most campaign cash, $1.2 million, as of Monday, buoyed by $550,000 that 50th Ward Democratic committeeman Bruce Leon loaned his campaign.

Meanwhile, DeBerry was one of the few CTU-backed candidates ready to declare victory during Tuesdays watch party.

DeBerry nodded to the other candidates behind her on the CTU stage, some of whom were on track to lose.

This really is a winning team, and know that none of them will disappear from this fight, she said. The values that we share  the love we have for our children and everybody elses children does not go away.

District 3

On the Northwest Side, Carlos Rivas, who was backed by the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, beat CTU-backed Jason Dones 56% to 44%.

District 4

On the citys North Side lakefront, Ellen Rosenfeld won against former CTU member Karen Zaccor in perhaps the boards closest-watched race 42% to 29%.

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In a high-profile, high-spending race, Rosenfeld, the wife of Democratic Committeeman Paul Rosenfeld, celebrated with supporters Tuesday night.

Weve faced challenges that seemed insurmountable, including hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on negative ads aimed at tearing us down, said Rosenfeld, who herself reported $205,000 in expenditures. But tonight, we have shown that our voices are stronger than any attack.

The six-way race also included Kimberly Brown, Thomas Day, Carmen Gioiosa and Andrew Davis, who received the remaining 29% of votes among them.

District 5

Austins Aaron Jitu Brown, who was endorsed by the CTU, held off write-in challenges from Jousef M. Shkoukani and Kernetha Jones.

District 6

In a district covering the Near North Side, Near South Side and the Loop, CPS parent and former principal Jessica Biggs triumphed over CTU-endorsed candidate Anusha Thotakura 45% to 32%. Andre Smith, the candidate backed by school choice proponents, received 23% of the vote.

District 7

CTU-candidate Yesenia Lopez beat Eva Villalobos and Raquel Don. Lopez, a community organizer and executive assistant in Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias office, outraised her nearest District 7 opponent by more than $800,000.

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Lopez had 56% of the counted vote, while INCS-backed Eva Villalobos had 34% and Raquel Don had 10%.

District 8

INCS-backed Angel Gutierrez beat CTU member Felix Ponce 64% to 36%.

District 9

On the citys South Side, independent Therese Boyle held an advantage over CTU-backed Lanetta Thomas 38% to 27%. The remaining votes were split among Cook County attorney Lamont Williams and Miquel Lewis, a former head of a charter school network whose campaign received substantial special interest support.

Boyle partly chalked up her lead to a perfect storm of voters disapproval of the public turmoil at CPS, as well as the mayors proposed property tax hike and cozy relationship with the teachers union.

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All of that brought the idea of a school board to the forefront for the general voters, said Boyle, a CTU member and retired school psychologist who did not seek the unions endorsement.

I come from a union family  but I dont like their particular direction, she said of the CTU. Presuming that a majority of the boards 21 members will still be allied with the union given the mayors 11 appointments, Boyle said she expects policies favorable to the CTU will come to pass despite the string of upsets. But it says something, she said. I think people are upset.

District 10

In one of the citys tightest races, award-winning rapper Che Rhymefest Smith led Karin Norington-Reaves 32% to 29%. Robert Jones, the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church pastor who is backed by the CTU, had 23% of the vote with the remaining 16% of ballots cast for former principal Adam Parrott-Sheffer.

For supporters of an elected Chicago school board, this November was decades in the making. Though Johnson retains control by one seat, these ten races represent an important first step for advocates who argue giving voters a direct say in CPS leadership is better for democracy.

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Mayor Richard M. Daley got the state to give him control of the Chicago school board in 1995, and Chicagos mayors have kept it since, much to the CTUs chagrin as it butted heads with mayor after mayor. However, Springfield lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker dealt Johnsons predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, a stunning defeat in 2021 by backing a bill that gradually takes power away from City Hall.

The process began Tuesday with the election of 10 new members to join the 11 mayoral appointees. By 2027, the entire 21-member board will be picked by voters.

However, few expected that hard-fought victory for the teachers union would be followed by some of the most tumultuous months in recent CPS memory. The unusual turn of events has left the pro-CTU Johnson fighting to flex his waning executive authority over the school board, blowing up several local school board races into larger referendums on him and the teachers union.

Johnson faced frequent criticism on the campaign trail for being too beholden to the powerful labor organization, despite his vows to be an independent leader. His union ties  he was a paid organizer for the CTU  prompted several pro-charter and independent candidates to join the race, offering themselves as the anti-Johnson voices on the ballot.

The tension boiled over this summer when Johnson butted heads with Martinez, a Lightfoot holdover, over the issue of a disputed $175 million pension payment for non-teacher staffers at CPS and a $300 million high-interest loan. The pension payment historically had been paid by the city until Lightfoot shifted the burden to the school district. The loan was pitched by Johnsons team as a means to pay for the $175 million obligation plus the start of the next CTU contract.

Martinez refused, and Johnsons handpicked school board sided with him in its July budget vote. That spending plan left open-ended the fate of the pension payment as well as how to afford the upcoming teachers and principals raises. Johnson then asked for Martinezs resignation, according to the CEO, and was rebuffed. After that, the school board resigned en masse, signaling further reluctance to the mayors agenda but also clearing the way for him to replace them with new allies.

Only the Chicago Board of Education has the power to fire a CEO. Last week, Johnsons second school board president, the Rev. Mitchell L. Johnson, resigned after coming under fire for a string of antisemitic, sexist and conspiratorial social media posts. Martinez remains the CEO, for now.

Still, the latest political headwinds surrounding the CTU and larger progressive movement come after an impressive decade of organizing to move Chicago government to the left and, for the first time in four decades, take control of the fifth floor of City Hall.

The teachers union underwent a radical transformation a decade ago when it organized against former Mayor Rahm Emanuels 2013 mass school closures that disproportionately hit Black neighborhoods. Under then-CTU President Karen Lewis, a bold message of racial equity caught fire and solidified the labor organizations reputation as the vanguard of Chicagos political left.

The union and the rest of the progressive labor movement have since successfully pushed a broad slate of candidates in 2019 and 2023 that helped create a more independent City Council, frustrating traditional Democrats who are often criticized by CTU allies for going to get along. That culminated in 2023s highly polarized mayoral runoff between two starkly divergent visions on education  Johnson, who cut his teeth in politics as a CTU organizer, and Paul Vallas, the moderate pro-school-choice candidate and former CPS CEO  with the union coming out on top.

One and a half years later, it remains to be seen where the powerful labor groups political might lands with voters now.

CTUs lone unopposed District 5 candidate, Aaron Jitu Brown, capped off the unions speeches Tuesday night by firing a warning message at the real special interests of the pro-charter lobby: Get the hell away from our students.

Theres an old proverb that says, Until lions have their own historians, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter, Brown said. So I want to talk to you as a lion about our story.
HOUSTON, Mo.  A shelter for Texas County residents affected by flooding has opened at the FEMA storm shelter on First Street.

According to a release from the American Red Cross, the shelter is open to all without requirement for identification or proof of residency.

Widespread flooding makes many Texas County roads impassable

Individuals and families affected by this weeks flooding are asked to bring the following items to the shelter at 191 First St. in Houston:

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Clothing

Bedding

Toiletries

Essential medication

Items for children, including blankets, stuffed animals and the like.

Individuals wishing to assist the Red Cross in responding to community disasters can make financial donations by calling 1-800 RED CROSS or donating online at www.redcross.org.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Polk County, Florida Sheriff Grady Judd holds a bobblehead of his likeness given to him by his staff. - Credit: Polk County Sheriff's Office/AP

In his Morning Briefing series on TikTok, Polk County, Florida Sheriff Grady Judd posts daily videos about criminals who have been apprehended by his office. The clips are just a taste of the popular Sheriffs personality. Hes irreverent, often characterizing the arrest of prisoners with aphorisms: Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, or He said he wanted to go to heaven. We made the arrangements for him, about a suspect who died in a gunfight. Video captions are often more succinct: Dont do meth, K? While his office prides itself on being extremely tough on lawbreakers, he has a special vitriol for child predators. We will go to the ends of the earth to arrest you if you victimize children, the five-term Sheriff once said at a press briefing.

This content strategy has made Judd a bonafide star on TikTok, where videos are posted daily to his 700,000 followers. But after a now-viral report from the Center for Investigative Journalism (CIR) and PBS Newshour found that detectives in Judds office accused a 12-year-old girl of lying about her sexual assault claims  claims she was forced to collect her own evidence until they were proved true  citizens off- and online are demanding answers. So far, theyve been met with silence.

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Taylor Cadle, now 21, was only eight years old when she was adopted from foster care by her great uncle, Henry Cadle, and his wife. But what was meant to be a dream home quickly turned frightening, as Henry began sexually assaulting her. In 2016, Cadle told an adult at her church, who called the police. Melissa Turnage, the detective from the Polk County Sheriffs office, arrived. And she didnt believe her.(The Polk County Sheriffs Office did not respond to Rolling Stones multiple requests for comment.)

According to the (CIR) and PBS Newshour, which includes audio from Cadles 2016 interview, Turnage accused her of making up the story. If youre mad because you got your phone taken away, lets say that now and be done with it, she can be heard saying the clip. Cadle was charged with filing a false report and, with encouragement from the adults around her, pleaded guilty. She completed a year of community service and was required to write a letter of apology to both her great-uncle and the police. And she returned to Henrys home.

Rachel de Leon is the reporter behind the story and featured in Netflixs 2023 documentary Victim/Suspect, which explores cases in the U.S. where women who report sexual assault are criminalized instead by police who believe they were lying. I had been looking into adults who were being charged with making false reports of sexual assault, de Leon tells Rolling Stone. I wasnt even aware that it was happening to kids.

Cadle continued to live in the home for another year. In 2017, she was assaulted again by Henry. This time she had a plan. She took covert photos and videos using her cell phone, taking extra care to note things the detectives couldnt find evidence for last time, like the time, location of the vehicle, and even a box of condoms Henry had bought. But even when she had concrete proof on her cellphone of her experience, she still considered not calling the police again.

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Even with the amount of evidence, I still had so much of a hard time trusting that they would believe me. Im looking at these pictures, and Im still trying to talk myself out of calling the cops that night, she tells Rolling Stone. I figured I had the evidence, and if there was a chance for them to believe me, that it was now or never for me to make that phone call. Henry initially denied the allegations, but was arrested and pleaded no contest. In 2017, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison and is registered as a sexual predator, according to the Lakeland Ledger. Cadles original charge was dismissed, but her experience still left her feeling nervous. Throughout that whole process, I didnt trust anything that they were saying, she says. It felt like something was around the corner to get me at any minute.

Now a mother of two, Cadle decided to reveal her story, and face, with de Leons help. I feel as though being public with my name and having my face shown was a way of me gaining control back over my life, because I was no longer being forced to stay silent and sit back and watch things unfold, she says. It was a way for me to own my story. Since her segment first ran on PBS NewsHour and posted on TikTok, the video has gotten over 2 million views on the app alone, with thousands of comments sharing their support for Cadle and praise over her bravery.

So far, however, Judd has not acknowledged the story. In the past seven days, he has posted on TikTok about Halloween, voting in the presidential election, and even a story of a woman charged with a felony for allegedly trying to steal a chihuahua named Felony. The lack of a response is making Cadle furious.

I was silenced. And if it wasnt for my evidence, I would still be sitting here silent today, she says. Even though theres millions of views and thousands of comments, youre still pretending like nothing ever happened. The fact that [Turnage] is still able to walk around and hold a badge and say that she still works for the Polk County Sheriffs Office completely blows my mind. I think its absolutely unacceptable.

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It has been over eight years since the Polk County Sheriffs Office dismissed Cadles case, acknowledging that she was telling the truth about her assault. But shes never heard a single word of apology. Representatives for the Polk County Sheriffs Office declined an interview and did not answer requests to comment on de Leons reporting. They also did not respond to multiple requests from Rolling Stone regarding Cadles case, Turnages initial treatment of Cadle, or any questions about discipline. For de Leon, whose reporting consistently challenges police departments handling of sexual assault, she hopes that the next step in Cadles story is some kind of feedback directly from the Polk County Sheriffs Office. I hope for transparency. I hope for answers, de Leon says. I want to know if anything in their protocols or processes has changed so that this cant happen to a child again.

Her assault, Cadle says, has forever changed her perspective. She doesnt trust easily. Now a mother after giving birth at 16, she still doesnt trust anyone with her children. Its been frustrating, especially with the outsized response to de Leons story, that Judd refuses to acknowledge the departments mistake. But Cadle says its been too long for a half-hearted apology. She wants to be seen. And she wants them to do better.

I hope that if there is another victim out there, I just want them to know that youre not alone, she says. I am fighting very hard for some type of change, for some type of acknowledgment, not only for myself, but for any other victim who has been through it, so no one has to encounter such a thing in the future.

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Update 2 p.m.: Crews contain Valley Fire

Firefighters contained the Valley Fire west of Anderson late Wednesday morning, according to fire tracking app Watch Duty.

The fire burned approximately 15 acres in the area of Lassen Avenue and Monte Vista Road.

Also, all evacuation orders have been lifted.

Update 10:05 a.m.: Crews report good progress on Valley Fire

Firefighters have told dispatchers that they have a hose line around the Valley Fire.

The fire is holding at just under 10 acres.

Update 9:50 a.m.: Evacuation orders issued for Valley Fire

The Shasta County Sheriff's Office has ordered residents on Mandela Lane to evacuate due to the fire. Collection point for those evacuated is the Happy Valley Market at 6644 Happy Valley Road, according the sheriff's office.

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The fire is burning in a drainage area and still about 10 acres.

"We havent stopped forward progress yet, but we have air attacks in and lots of resources," California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Jas Shaw said.

Update 9:30 a.m.: Valley Fire grows as aircraft is launched to battle blaze

Officials have launched aircraft to fight the Valley Fire that is burning west of Anderson.

The fire has grown to just under 10 acres and still moving at a moderate rate. The fire is burning in grass and oak, according to dispatch reports.

Original story

Crews are responding to a vegetation fire west of Anderson.

The fire was reported around 9 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Lassen Avenue and Monte Vista Road.

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According to the fire tracking app Watch Duty, the Valley Fire has burned 2 acres with a moderate rate of spread.

Wind was blowing north at 16 mph, according to WindFinder, an online wind map and wind forecast tool.

Firefighters are asking for extra crews to battle the blaze. Crews are accessing the fire from Lassen Avenue, according to dispatch reports.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Crews contain Valley Fire west of Anderson in Shasta County
SHERWOOD, Ark.  An international grocery chain opening stores across Arkansas will soon have a Sherwood location.

Officials with the city said Aldi would be coming. The Wednesday announcement came after the citys planning commission released its agenda for the Nov. 12 meeting, showing a final plat for Aldi.

ALDI opens first location in Little Rock

The announcement said Aldi officials were only interested in one area and parcel of land at the corner of Maryland Avenue and Highway 107 that met their requirements, including being close to a major retailer. Officials said Mayor Mary Jo Heye-Townsell spoke to the property owner in February, followed by months to finalize an agreement between all parties.

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City officials pointed out that the location is in Sherwoods Ward 1, south of Maryland Avenue and outside Old Gray Township. They added they are working with another grocery retailer for a Ward 4 location in Old Gray Township, but that retailers decision is pending the outcome of the citys wet vote for Old Gray Township, which would allow alcohol sales.

The chains first Arkansas store opened in Conway in January. Since then, it has added two new stores in central Arkansas, in Cabot and Little Rock, with other locations opening throughout the state.

Well-known ALDI grocery store chain announces new store for Conway

Aldi was founded in 1946 by German brothers Theo and Karl Albrecht, who took over their mothers store in Essen. The chain operates over 10,000 stores in 20 countries. In the U.S., Aldi has close to 2,000 store locations in 36 states, 1,000 of which opened in the past decade.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  With 100% of precincts reporting, State Rep. Sheryl Delozier is on track to defeat Democrat Sara Agerton to represent Pennsylvanias 88th District.

Delozier is currently serving her sixth term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

She graduated from West Chester East High School and the University of Delaware with a bachelors degree in political science with an emphasis in domestic government and a masters degree in management in business administration from Penn State University.

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Rep. Delozier serves on the Appropriations, Consumer Affairs, Judiciary, and Rules committees. She is also a member of the House Ethics Committee.

Before her election to the State House in 2008, Rep. Delozier worked in the Auditor Generals office, on Gov. Tom Ridges transition team, and continued as senior staff for the eight years of the Ridge and Schweiker administrations.

She is also a member of the Mechanicsburg and West Shore Chamber of Commerce, the Mechanicsburg Rotary, the Civic Club of Harrisburg, and the New Cumberland Womans Club. She is an honorary member of the New Birth of Freedom Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and is a member of Messiah University Presidents Leadership Council.

Delozier was also appointed to serve on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) board of directors, the nonprofit student aid organization, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

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abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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CRYSTAL SPRINGS, Miss. (WJTV)  A Mississippi restaurant will host a visit from Americas Best Restaurants (ABR) in late November.

Americas Best Restaurants will bring its ABR Roadshow to Shivers Creek Fish House on November 22. Officials said popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owner Dustin Malley about the restaurants special place in the Crystal Springs community.

Toy drive to help Rankin County inmates give Christmas gifts to their kids

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The restaurants menu features seafood and chicken dishes, poboys, salads, and homemade desserts in addition to its top draw of catfish.

Shivers Creek Fish House has won Best Catfish the last three years by Mississippi Magazine, and this year was a runner-up for Best Outdoor Dining. They are also a recognized spot on the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish 100% American Catfish Trail and the Mississippi Seafood Trail.

There are additional locations of Shivers Creek Fish House in Florence and Pinola.

Americas Best Restaurants will be filming on location in Crystal Springs on Friday November 22 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT. The restaurants finished episode premiere date will be announced on their Facebook page and will be featured on Americas Best Restaurants website.

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KYIVIf Donald Trump was quick to claim victory in the early hours of Wednesdaywell before nervous networks dared to call the electionthen Volodymyr Zelensky was equally quick to congratulate him.

Even as Trump was wrapping up his victory party in Florida, the Ukrainian president sent a message looking forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership and praising his commitment to the peace through strength approach.

It was a carefully planned statement from the Ukrainian leader, who knows as well as anyone the threat a second Trump administration could pose to the future of a sovereign Ukraine if Trump acts on his threat to cut off military aid and the funding Kyiv relies on to fight off an illegal Russian invasion.

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On the streets of the Ukrainian capital, faced with nightly drone and missile attacks from inside Russia itself, there was no such caution. News of Trumps victory prompted not joy but panicdespite his promise that he could bring peace to Ukraine within 24 hours once hes back in power.

Trumps victory is terrible news, said Anzhela Zalevadna. Our life is going to be even more ruined.

Indeed, its hard to imagine a more ruined life than that of Zalevada, who escaped with her 9-year-old son Ruslan to Kyiv from the southern city of Mariupol as it came under siege at the start of the war in February 2022. Ruslan, who had just been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, had to witness a massacre as the Russians razed his hometown.

Once in Kyiv, Zalevada did her best to rebuild her life and got a job as a librarian at Ukraines biggest childrens hospital, Okhmatdyt. Then, on July 9 this year, the war caught up to them again as a Russian missile slammed into the building as part of a coordinated strike on hospitals across the country.

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Both Ruslan and I were in the library, all of a sudden it was dark, full of dust, we were climbing from under the rubble and Ruslan screamed: Mom, war, war again! she recalled on Wednesday.

Although Trump was the first American president to sanction the transfer of lethal weaponry to Ukrainea move Barack Obama resistedhe famously clashed with Zelensky in a 2019 phone call when he pressed the newly elected Ukrainian president to mount an investigation into Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

After losing to Biden in the 2020 election, Trump attacked the president for the billions sent to Ukraine in military aid and funding and persuaded his acolytes in Congress to block all funding to Kyiv for more than nine months, allowing Russian forces to gain the upper hand in a counter-offensive along front lines in southern and eastern Ukraine.

Every time Zelensky comes to this country, he walks away with $60 billion dollars. Hes the greatest salesman ever, Trump said in June at this years first presidential debate with then-Democratic nominee Biden. The money were spending on this war, it should have never happened. I will have that war between Putin and Zelensky settled, as president-elect, before I take office on January 20th. Ill have that war settled.

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Since the Russian invasion, Ukraine is thought to have suffered around 200,000 military casualties, almost half of them fatal. On Wednesday, in the freezing cold wind, 24-year-old Mykola was smoking by Kyivs Wall of Remembrance, looking for the pictures of two close friends killed in Eastern Ukraine.

The last thing that Trump and his voters are worried about is our lives, casualties, our brothers freezing in trenches on the front, he told The Daily Beast. Yes, we are worried about Ukraines future; we are on our own now.

As many Ukrainians, art gallerist Nataloia Zabolotna, said that she had been counting hours since the news of Trumps victory. We live in a situation of uncertainty, while Russian bombs continue to fall on our cities every single day, she told the Daily Beast. A lot of lives might be destroyed before Trumps inauguration and how many will die after he comes to power?

And if U.S. support is cut? she added. We count human lives, childrens lives. Trump should realize that, he promised the entire world that he would stop this war; he has to fulfill his promise, if it was not an empty one.

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A U.N. human rights report last month put the number of civilian deaths in Ukraine at around 12,000, although local experts say the real death toll is far higher.

Meanwhile, popular disillusionment with the war is growing, and Ukrainians are asking themselves what they can do to persuade a new Trump administration to continue to help them.

We should not be lame, begging and asking Washington for aid. We should have a strong, clear, well-articulated strategy, Yuriy Butusov, one of Ukraines leading independent analysts told the Daily Beast. So far we only have shown the Victory Plan, which has only one word plan but no real steps for ending the war.

Two decades ago Butusov founded Censor.Net, an online publication read by millions of Ukrainians. In January we are going to see Trumps concrete deeds, the new administrations agenda for Ukraine, and if its going to mean cuts to aid that would mean its time for us to mobilize and formulate our clear strategy, which we still dont have.

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Meanwhile, Zalevada, who fled Mariupol with her young son, takes only night jobs. I make a bed for Ruslan on the floor in the hallway, because Russia bombs us every night. And I know that Trump will help the other side, not Ukraine, so our lives will be even more horrible. Even more ruined.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
With a rise in advanced cyber threats and the impending era of quantum computing, there is a critical need for enterprise-scale encryption and a proactive transition to quantum-resilient technologies. QuintessenceLabs, renowned for its quantum-safe encryption, today announced it has deployed its Trusted Security Foundation (TSF) key and policy manager appliance in Equinixs International Business Exchange (IBX) data center in Canberra to help organisations strengthen their defences against the cryptographic threats posed by quantum computing.

Quantum computers are expected to be able to break todays encryption in minutes, and nation-state actors are already harvesting encrypted sensitive data with the intention to decrypt it later when the technology is available. In Australia, to address this threat, the Australian Signals Directorate is actively encouraging organisations to make plans to transition to the use of Post-Quantum Cryptographic (PQC) algorithms within their own environments. Additionally, recent announcements by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States, which include the first standards for post-quantum cryptography, underscore the urgency of this transition and the need to start building cryptographic agility now.

Enterprises across many industries face significant challenges implementing robust encryption due to the complexity of managing encryption keys across diverse environments. With the continued proliferation of 5G, IoT, and sensorised environments, the number of encryption keys needed will soon rise into the millions.

Vikram Sharma, QuintessenceLabs Founder and CEO: The advent of quantum computing presents risks to critical elements of todays public key infrastructure. To mitigate these, QuintessenceLabs is pioneering technologies that support both current encryption standards and emerging post-quantum cryptography. A clear benefit of hosting our technology with Equinix is its high-quality infrastructure, connectivity and global footprint, which supports our expansion efforts. The easy process of installing our TSF product inside Equinix data centres opens up exciting commercial opportunities in key strategic markets around the world."

Aside from Canberra, QuintessenceLabs will expand to other Equinix IBX locations in the United States and Asia-Pacific, where public and private sector organisations can access and deploy high-quality, scalable encryption solutions within their private environment, or via an upcoming as-a-service model, adding the flexibility and control to meet diverse customer needs.

Guy Danskine, Managing Director, Equinix Australia: "Equinix is committed to facilitating strong cybersecurity solutions for our customers and partners, so its important to be working closely with quantum innovators like QuintessenceLabs, and preparing customers for a post-quantum environment. By choosing Equinix as its digital infrastructure partner, together we can offer customers a seamless deployment method from on prem to hybrid IT environments and a clear pathway to quantum resilience with a trusted and recognised leader, a powerful and compelling solution for our mutual customers."

Highlights/Key Facts
Ronald B. Johnson will spend the next 30 years behind bars for fatally shooting a Milwaukee man in December 2023 and slamming into an ambulance that carried another person who survived the attack.

Johnson, 68, of Milwaukee, pleaded guilty last month to first-degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, in the Dec. 14, 2023 shooting death of Jeffrey Wayne Lock.

Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey A. Wagner handed down the prison sentence against him on Tuesday. He also ordered Johnson to serve 15 years of extended supervision when his prison term ends.

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More: Chicago man, 18, found guilty of killing man in Milwaukee Taco Bell parking lot during botched car theft

Here's what police and prosecutors say happened

A criminal complaint accused Johnson of shooting two people and injuring a third person during fight at 56th and Burleigh Streets. Lock was killed in the incident.

Milwaukee police officers were sent to the home just before 1 a.m. by a caller who reported a shooting. Lock, 60, was found by officers dead in one room of the house.

A 57-year-old was discovered shot in the leg, but police determined the person had other gunshot wounds. A 30-year-old was also taken to a hospital with non-gunshot injuries.

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Witnesses identified the gunman as a man who went by the street name "Smooth," but he was gone before police showed up. The witnesses were able to later identify Smooth as Johnson, the document said.

Several blocks away, near 60th and Burleigh, police said the man wanted in the shooting crashed his car into an ambulance that was transporting the 30-year-old victim.

Ronald Johnson had a criminal record and faced other charges

Prosecutors agreed to drop several other charges against Johnson -- including first-degree reckless injury and first-degree recklessly endangering safety, both involving the use of a dangerous weapon -- in exchange for his guilty plea.

More: Milwaukee man found guilty of killing activist Rosalind "Rozz" Rogers

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However, those charges were read into the court record as part of sentencing.

Johnson has a criminal record; he was convicted in May 1978 for robbery and operating a motor vehicle with the owner's consent. He also a firearms offense from Illinois that was prosecuted in federal court.

What is next for Ronald Johnson?

Johnson was given 327 days of pre-trial credit, which can be applied to his prison term.

He has 20 days to appeal the sentence.

More: Milwaukee prosecutor: No deal for Maxwell Anderson, homicide case on pace for Dec. 9 trial date

How many homicides have been reported in Milwaukee the last two years?

As of Monday, Milwaukee has recorded 116 homicides this year, according to police. Milwaukee had 149 homicides at this point in 2023, the year 172 people were killed, and 185 homicides at the same point a year earlier.

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A total of 215 homicides were reported in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A gunman who killed a Milwaukee man, then rammed an ambulance carrying another man is going to prison.
(WIVT/WBGH)  Lea Webbs opponent, Mike Sigler is a Tompkins County Legislator who works for Park Outdoor advertising and used to be a TV news journalist.

Sigler was at the GOP watch party at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Downtown Binghamton yesterday watching as the votes came in.

Later in the night, Sigler got up on the podium to officially concede the race, and also took the time to thank everyone who helped him along the way.

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He congratulated Webb on her victory and encouraged her constituents to call her office often and give feedback

I dont want to live in a state where we just manage the decline of New York State. And I really feel thats where we are. We are just managing the decline. Were waiting for more people to leave the state. And we just cant live like that. We need to live in a dynamic state in a dynamic economy. And the only way we do that is we get people elected that believe in that principal, said Sigler.

Sigler went on to say starting today, the hunt for a new Republican candidate for governor begins.

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Donald Trump has reclaimed the presidency, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in an election that sharply divided the nation after four years of Democratic control of the White House.

Trumps victory marked a remarkable return from political exile  a result that was once dismissed as a remote possibility after the Republican standard-bearer lost the presidency in 2020 and attempted to subvert that election, prompting a mob of his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol.

Four years later, Trump improved upon his 2020 performance, reaching beyond his traditional base of support and winning over Latino men and some college-educated voters who previously backed President Joe Biden.

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This will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country, Trump told supporters gathered on Election Night in West Palm Beach. Its time to put the divisions of the last four years behind us. Its time to unite.

Polls showed a statistically tied race entering Election Day. But Trump secured the White House with definitive victories in Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with other battleground states yet to be called  Michigan, Nevada and Arizona  all trending in his favor. Early Wednesday morning, Wisconsin tipped the balance in Trumps favor, pushing his tally of electoral votes to 277  more than the 270 needed to win the presidency.

Exit polls showed that economic discontent was a major factor in voter support for Trump. Two-thirds of voters said the economy was in bad shape. And the percentage of voters who said their financial situation was worse now than it was four years ago was higher than that of 2008, during the Great Recession.

One of the central tenets of Harris campaign against Trump was that he would pose a fundamental threat to American democracy. That messaging resonated with many, but a divided electorate also listed immigration, crime and reproductive rights as top concerns.

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Gayle Trotter, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney and political analyst, argued that public polls had likely failed to capture Trumps true popularity and missed the stronger-than-expected showing for the former president.

Im confident, Im very excited, I think Trump is going to over-perform all the polls as hes done in the past, Trotter said. I think they under-represent the support that he has.

Harris had planned to address supporters from Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday but instead sent a top campaign aide out to do so in her place.

We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, Cedric Richmond, Harris campaign co-chair, told the dwindling crowd on The Yard.

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Richmond said Harris would return to Howard on Wednesday not only to address her supporters but to address the nation.

Trump, 78, is now the oldest person ever elected president. He will also be the second to serve two non-consecutive terms in the White House, after Grover Clevelands return to the Oval Office in 1892.

The extent of Trumps power will depend in part on whether his Republican Party wins control of both houses of Congress. Republicans took back a majority of the Senate, but control of the House has not been determined.

Yet, regardless of the outcome on Capitol Hill, Trump will return to an office endowed with new protections after the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that a presidents actions are largely immune from criminal prosecution.

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Trump is the only felon to win the presidency. He still faces a sentencing hearing in the coming weeks in a New York court after being found guilty by a jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a potential scandal ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Trump also faces two federal criminal indictments over his handling of highly classified documents in Florida and his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, being led by a special prosecutor, Jack Smith. Trump said on the campaign trail that he would shut down those cases within two seconds upon taking office.

Trump campaigned on plans to seek retribution against his political enemies, an unprecedented vow to explicitly weaponize the Justice Department. In the final days of the race, Trump also deemed his Democratic opponents enemies from within, saying they pose a greater threat to the country than its most powerful foreign adversaries.

On the campaign trail, Trump made promises to organize mass deportations of undocumented immigrants across the United States, to deregulate the fossil fuel industry, to appoint vaccine skeptics to oversee federal health agencies, to devalue the U.S. dollar and to raise tariffs substantially on foreign goods.

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His victory comes after a historically turbulent presidential campaign that saw two assassination attempts on his life, and a switch in his general election opponent halfway through the race. Biden, who defeated Trump in the last election, bowed out of the race in July over widespread concerns about his age, giving Harris just over 100 days to mount a campaign.

Miami Herald staff writer Max Greenwood reported from Palm Beach.
The future of the regions skilled workforce is largely dependent on promoting opportunities and training the next generation of skilled workers.

One place that is happening is at Crawford Tech in Meadville, where students get a helping hand from a nationally recognized local company.

Channenelock  its a brand recognized around the world and headquartered in Meadville.

They have been producing quality hand tools since 1886.

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Now, vocational students at Crawford Tech are being given Channellock tools to use and to keep.

Any student that requires a tool that we supply or make, we donate it to them. So the freshman class or inbound students in the different programs  whether its automotive, metal fab, machine shops, and all those different STEM classes they have  we donate the tools that we can for them to save the cost of buying all those tools themselves, said Ryan Dearment, Channellocks vice president.

This is not only an incredible opportunity for students but a financial relief for many parents.

We have so many parents call in and say, Hey, I cant afford this or that, anymore. I say, Hey dont worry about it. Channellock is donating all that stuff, you dont need it anymore,' said Brad Custead, Crawford Tech welding instructor

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Theres pride in ownership of quality professional Channellock tools. These students are in the welding program.

The Channellock tools help us a lot in doing all our jobs out there in the welding shop, said Morgan Shoop, Crawford Tech welding student.

The people at Channellock come and they get to talk to us, they come and represent themselves here, said Zach Zubik, Cawford Tech welding student. We greatly appreciate what Channellock does for our school.

Channellock donates these tools to the students here at Crawford Tech not only to build brand loyalty but also to promote the future of a skilled workforce in northwest Pennsylvania.

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For every 10 plumbers retiring out of the trade today, only one plumber is entering, so we have a huge gap in our country in professional labor in our country, whether its plumbers, contractor electricians or automotive technicians, said Dearment. The trade school trade-up was an economical way for Channellock to promote the good things schools are doing for the communities.

This school year, Channellock has provided students with over 1,800 hand tools  tools to help build the next generation of skilled workers and the communities where they live and work.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors has officially shifted gears on the Bob Jones Trail expansion project and is moving forward with a new design  but this is not the countys preferred scenario.

The change came after an eminent domain procedure to seize a slice of Ray Bunnells property failed when Supervisor Debbie Arnold voted against the move and Supervisor John Peschong recused himself on multiple occasions because he accepted campaign donations from Bunnell.

Now, some community members think Peschong intentionally accepted the donations to avoid voting on the trail.

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The North County supervisors are holding out their votes to uphold an ideology at the expense of the safety of county residents outside of their districts, Friends of the Bob Jones Trail president Helene Finger told The Tribune.

Peschongs most recent recusal was on Oct. 29 during the boards vote for a new trail design.

Originally, he was legally required to recuse himself from voting on the trail. But now, more than a year after Bunnells most recent donation, Peschong is recusing by choice.

The original trail design would have clipped property owned by Bunnell, requiring the county to purchase an easement for about an acre of his land, but Bunnell refused to sell.

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I dont want any hint of impropriety, Peschong said. So Ive just removed myself from the discussion.

The Tribune looked into Peschongs recusals as a part of its Reality Check series.

The Octagon Barn in San Luis Obispo is envisioned as a future trailhead for the Bob Jones Trail.

State law permits Peschong to vote on Bob Jones Trail

Senate Bill 1439 prohibits local elected officials like county supervisors from accepting donations larger than $250 from any party involved in a license, permit or entitlement proceeding.

This law went into effect in January 2023. In 2025, the regulated donation limit will increase to $500.

If an official accidentally accepts a donation, they can return the funds within 30 days and still vote on the project. If the official fails to return the donation, they cannot vote on the matter for one year, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

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Peschong announced his 2024 re-election campaign in May 2023.

Including a donation from his construction company, Bunnell has contributed $2,750 to Peschongs re-election campaigns as of Thursday, according to county campaign finance disclosures.

Peschong first accepted a $500 donation from Bunnell in 2020, according to campaign finance reports.

Peschongs most recent re-election campaign accepted three donations from Bunnell. The property owner donated $1,000 on May 4, 2023, $250 on Aug. 3, 2023, and $500 on Sept. 27, 2023, according to campaign finance reports.

Additionally, Bunnell Construction gave a $500 donation to Peschongs campaign on June 29, 2023.

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Peschong said he didnt know about the donations until 30 days had passed.

Leading up to the November 2024 election, committees fundraising for candidates had to meet four deadlines to report campaign donations lower than $1,000, first on Jan. 25, then on Jan. 31, once more on Feb. 22 and finally on July 31, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

Because the reporting period was months after Bunnell made his contributions, Peschong said he didnt see the donations in time to return them.

I was collecting a lot of donations at the time, and I actually didnt see, he said, noting that his campaign treasurer was based in Sacramento. If I caught it, I wouldve returned it.

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In fact, Peschong said he didnt learn about the donations until the Tribune pointed them out.

I went back and looked at the reports, and then I recused myself, he said.

The Tribune originally reported on the donations on Sept. 30, 2023  only three days after the final $500 donation Peschong received from Bunnell on Sept. 27, 2023. Though this was within the 30-day time limit, he did not return the donation.

This is because he still did not know about the September donation until months later, Peschong said.

As required by law, Peschongs treasurer produced one finance report in July covering donations from January to June 2023, and another in January of 2024 covering July to December 2023.

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As a result, Peschong learned of Bunnells May and June 2023 donations in his July 2023 finance report, and did not learn about the August and September 2023 donations until January 2024.

Even though he learned about the June 29, 2023, donation from Bunnell just days later in the July 2023 report, 30 days had already passed since Bunnells donation that May  so Peschong thought that returning the June donation wouldve been pointless, he said.

San Luis Obispo County is trying to complete the Bob Jones Trail that would link San Luis Obispo to Avila Beach by filling in the missing segment between the Octagon Barn and Ontario Road. The route features views of orchards off South Higuera Street.

Peschong first abstained from a vote on the Bob Jones Trail at a meeting on Aug. 22, 2023, after he had learned about Bunnells donations.

At that meeting, the board voted to hire a consulting group to produce design plans for the Bob Jones Trail. The action did not affect Bunnells property, but Peschong abstained from the vote because other board members briefly discussed eminent domain after the presentation.

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Peschong then recused himself from a board vote on the Bob Jones Trail for the first time at a meeting on Nov. 7, 2023.

When a board member recuses themselves from a vote, they remove themselves from a conversation entirely. In this case, Peschong cited a conflict of interest and left the room. When he abstained from the August vote, however, he remained present during the conversation, but did not participate in the vote.

According to court documents, the county was considering using eminent domain to obtain the easement on Bunnells land as early as June 2021.

Peschong said he assumed the board pursuing eminent domain was always a possibility, but did not plan to support a vote to use it on Bunnells land.

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In 2023, after his first recusal, Peschong said that he wouldnt support using eminent domain even if he could vote. He only supports using the eminent domain process for issues of public safety, he told The Tribune again this week.

When asked about his opinion on the project now, which many consider a matter of public safety, he said he had no comment on anything relating to the project.

Im just out of it, Peschong said.

The project failed an eminent domain vote in August, with Peschong recusing himself from the decision and Arnold voting against it.

Peschong was eligible to vote on the project again on Oct. 28, but he still recused himself from the next days vote on the trail.

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San Luis Obispo County allows you to recuse yourself on issues if theres even a hint of conflict, and so thats what Im going to continue to do, he said. I just think its probably best that I just recuse myself on all those votes so it doesnt come across as, you know, I have a conflict of interest.

County code and rules of procedure for the board do not prohibit county supervisors from recusing themselves from voting on a matter based on a perceived conflict of interest, county counsel Rita Neal wrote in an email to The Tribune.

Peschong will continue to recuse himself from any future votes on the item, he said.

When asked if he is intentionally taking the donations so that he doesnt have to vote on issues pertaining to the trail, Peschong said that he doesnt have any response to that.

Im following the law, and now that weve gone beyond the one year, Ive decided, because of the possible appearance of a conflict, Im removing myself from the whole question, Peschong said.

People ride bikes and walk on the Bob Jones Trail near Ontario Road on Oct. 29, 2024. San Luis Obispo County is trying to complete the path that would link San Luis Obispo to Avila Beach.

Why is Bunnell donating to Peschongs campaigns?

Bunnell owns land along the proposed pathway of the Bob Jones Trail in District 3 but has donated nearly $3,000 to Peschong, who represents District 1.

This begs the question: Why did the land owner contribute so much money to a candidate he is not even a constituent of?

Peschong said he doesnt know why Bunnell donated to his campaigns, nor was he aware of the donations until after the 30-day reversal period.

The supervisor said he last spoke with Bunnell about eight years ago, well before the landowners first donation to Peschong.

I went over anyway and talked to him, and he just said, I dont want to do this, Peschong said. Its probably one of the shortest meetings Ive ever had.

Edwin Rambuski, Bunnells longtime lawyer, told The Tribune his Republican clients donations reflected his politics and were nothing nefarious.

Mr. Bunnell, like all voters registered in SLO County, has the right to make campaign contributions to candidates of their choosing, Rambuski said.

Peschong, with a background in the Reagan administration and a former head of the SLO County Republican Party, said that he is obviously the most political person on the Board of Supervisors.

Bunnell also donated $500 to Supervisor Debbie Arnold, the only other Republican supervisor on board, during her 2020 campaign for re-election, according to county campaign finance disclosures. Arnold did not run for re-election in 2024.

Leading up to the November 2022 election, Bunnell donated $2,000 to Bruce Jones, the Republican who challenged incumbent Supervisor Bruce Gibson.

You will discover that Mr. Bunnell has exercised his political voice, which is his right, and made very modest donations to various local campaigns, Rambuski said.
In the race for president, San Luis Obispo County residents significantly favored Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump in early results, even while the Republican candidate led the race nationally.

As of 12:20 a.m., the SLO County Clerk-Recorders Office reported that 55.7% of SLO County voters backed Harris compared to Trumps 42%.

We are not a red county, and the results of the election show that, SLO County Democratic Party leader Tom Fulks told The Tribune on Election Night.

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These results represent 75,199 mail-in ballots returned before Saturday and 7,349 votes cast Tuesday at the polls representing 45.2% of registered voters in the county. As of 12:20 a.m., 100% of precincts were reporting.

The margin was slightly larger than what Joe Biden garnered in the 2020 presidential election, when local voters backed him over Trump 55.2% to 42.2%.

A Kamala-Walz banner hangs at the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Partys Labor Day BBQ.

Nationally, however, former President Donald Trump secured enough votes to win the presidency as of early Wednesday morning, numerous media outlets reported.

With about 200 people at its peak, attendees of the local Democrats Election Night party at Bennys Pizza Palace and Social Club in San Luis Obispo remained in high spirits for their local candidates, clinking glasses and cheering for their speeches, even as Trump led nationally in the presidential race.

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Before 10 p.m. on Election Night, Fulks remained positive about the national race.

Were in the exact same position we were in four years ago, Fulks said. Were going to wake up tomorrow, and its going to look a lot different than it does right now.

Later in the night, Trump claimed victory in a speech to his supporters in Florida.

SLO County Republican Party leader Randall Jordan told The Tribune that the president-elects local supporters were just elated to see Trump back in office.

About 125 people attended the Republican Partys Election Night celebration, Jordan said.

It was amazing. Every time that a state would be committed to Trump and he would get the Electoral College totals, a big whoop and a holler would erupt, Jordan said. It felt a lot like 2016.

Mayor Erica A. Stewart, Councilmember Jan Marx and Cal Poly professor Mike Boswell attended an Election Night party hosted by the SLO Dems at Bennys Pizza Palace and Social Club on Nov. 5, 2024.

Statewide, Harris was leading Trump 57.3% to 40.1% with all precincts reporting as of 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday.

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As of Oct. 21, roughly 83% of eligible people were registered to vote in SLO County, over 180,000 voters.

The pool was comprised of 38.4% Democrats, 34.9% Republicans and 18.3% listing no party preference, according to the California Secretary of State.

The current count includes mail-in ballots received up to the weekend before Election Day and votes cast at the polls on Tuesday.
Special counsel Jack Smith is evaluating how to wind down the two federal cases against President-elect Trump following his Election Day victory, a move that would align with Justice Department policy barring the prosecution of sitting presidents.

Trump is facing charges for his actions leading up to Jan. 6 and for retaining classified documents in his Florida estate.

A Trump-led Justice Department was widely expected to move to withdraw the charges against Trump, but Smiths team is discussing pulling back in the cases ahead of the inauguration.

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Smiths spokesperson declined to comment.

But the move comes as his team would undoubtedly be weighing a memo from DOJs Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) that advises against the criminal prosecution of a sitting president.

The Department concluded that the indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would impermissibly undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions, the OLC, which helps craft the departments policies, determined in a 1973 memo.

Trumps legal team is giving Smith breathing room in the hopes he will end the cases without the president-elect forcing his hand, according to a source familiar with the discussions.

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The American people have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again. It is now abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system, so we can, as President Trump said in his historic speech last night, unify our country and work together for the betterment of our nation, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Smith is prosecuting Trump in Washington, D.C., for conspiring to subvert the 2020 election results and in Florida for mishandling classified documents and obstructing the governments efforts to retrieve them, spurring Espionage Act charges.

Trump pleaded not guilty and mounted a successful legal strategy to delay both until well after the election. The federal election case remains in battles over the extent Trump is immune from prosecution as a former president, while Smith for months has been appealing a federal judges dismissal of the documents case.

Trump has made clear he planned to fire Smith within two seconds of taking office, he said last month.

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Hell be one of the first things addressed, Trump said at the time.

Ella Lee and The Associated Press contributed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The snack bar maker Kind uses tens of millions of pounds of water-thirsty almonds every year  which may just be enough to prevent you from being hangry at 2 p.m. And the company is looking to make its almond farming process as sustainable as possible with innovative tech like heat-mapping the soil through AI and natural water efficiency methods.

Kind aims to source 100% of its almonds from farms that use regenerative agriculture by 2030, and it created the Kind Almond Acres Initiative (KAAI) to test out the best sustainable farming practices to get there.

This October, after two years running the KAAI, the Kind team has additional funding from the Department of Agriculture to ensure over 30% of its almond supply chain uses regenerative practices by next year.

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But first, let's back up for a second. What does regenerative agriculture even mean?

"It's a way to grow the foods we love, like almonds, that helps replenish the soil  that helps grow the food," explained Lindsay Philpott, who runs sustainability communications at Kind. And while regenerative farming isn't a new concept, using it at the massive scale Kind is looking to reach is pretty novel. So, Kind is using its almond initiative as a "learning ranch" to figure out which regenerative practices will work best for its almonds before it then applies those insights in its snack bar production process.

The Cool Down chatted with Philpott, as well as Caitlin Birkholz, who focuses on sustainability agriculture for Mars (Kind's parent company), to get the full scoop on what they've learned about regenerative almond farming so far  and what's next for the project.

The 411 on the KAAI

"We started this program because Kind and Mars together are a top global buyer of almonds," Philpott told us. "We took it as our responsibility to learn how to grow one of our top ingredients more sustainably."

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Kind launched the three-year regenerative agriculture pilot project with one of the largest almond suppliers in the U.S., Ofi, in 2022 on 500 acres in central California. In 2024, the KAAI expanded to a second location in southern California, doubling its "learning" acreage, to test those regenerative agriculture practices in a region with half as much water available.

"We really wanted to create this project in a way that informs how we're engaging our suppliers to work towards our larger goal of 100% of our almonds being sourced from farms leveraging regenerative agriculture  by 2030," Philpott said. " This farm is helping inform how we scale to the rest of our supply chain."

Kind will measure success on a "mass balance basis," she said, which is a way to source ingredients at scale rather than one by one.

The program focuses on five different regenerative farming practices, including:



Cover crops: These build healthy soil structure, increase soil carbon levels, and create pollinator habitats.



Compost and biochar: This decreases the need for excess fertilizer and improves soil water retention.



Subsurface irrigation: Drip systems are buried underground to ensure more of the water applied is used directly by each tree.

The almond learnings so far

"We're really excited because we've already seen improvements in soil health," Birkholz said, adding that it typically takes around three to five years to see improvements in soil health. "We've also seen some water-use efficiency benefits, but it's a little bit too early to tell."

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"The other big learning that we found is around some of the technology," she continued. "Some of the technology is really succeeding, and some of it is really flopping. And those are great learnings, especially when you're trying to lead an industry."

Birkholz explained that's because it's "really risky for growers to adopt things like this."

"Technology is not cheap, so taking on a little bit of that 'learning messiness' upfront and seeing why things work or don't work is incredibly valuable, even if you learn that they don't work," she said.

New partnership on the block

In addition to the two existing program sites in California  or "learning ranches," as Birkholz put it  the KAAI has also just launched a new partnership with Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment, which will unlock an additional $300,000 in regenerative agriculture funding for the program via the Department of Agriculture.

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"With the grant, we'll be able to reach just over 30% of our supply chain practicing regenerative practices for the 2025 crop year, which is fantastic," Birkholz said.

"It's our biggest first move after our pilot, and we're really excited to partner with the Wolfe's Neck Center because they also are able to provide growers with technical assistance," she continued. "Bringing together these resources to help growers learn how to do these practices if they've never done them before is super, super valuable."

Dealing with water scarcity

California grows 80% of the world's almond supply  almonds are a thirsty crop  and it's no secret that water is often in short supply in the state. So, collecting insights on water efficiency is critical for the program, especially for the KAAI farm in southern CA.

"In California, every drop counts," Birkholz noted. "The California almond industry is incredibly advanced when it comes to precision irrigation technology. I am constantly blown away by all the work that the almond growers are already doing around water."

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But given how many almonds California grows, "we could be doing the best we possibly can today, but we have to figure out a way to do better, and that's why we're looking at those practices." One of the side benefits of improving soil health is that it enables the ground to retain more water.

"We're also working with the California Water Action Collaborative," Philpott mentioned, "which is a collaborative of both nonprofit partners and corporate partners in the state of California, to work toward water security in California  so that we're not the only ones learning, but we're also able to share that with the wider industry, because we're all using the water."

AI for good

Artificial intelligence has taken a lot of knocks recently for its extensive energy usage  but sometimes that power-hungry nature can be justified as a force for good. Take LandScan, for example, an AI platform that Kind has been using as part of the pilot program to get a much clearer picture of soil data.

Here's how it works: "When we're using LandScan on our orchards  they're basically going and taking these huge probes down into the soil and getting crazy amounts of data and metrics and just tons and tons and tons of data about that soil  so much that it would take one person years to analyze all of that data  and we're taking hundreds of samples across multiple fields," Birkholz explained.

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"Then the LandScan tool is able to analyze it  to produce opportunities and heat maps, where we can basically look for efficiencies." Ultimately, she said, "When we're thinking about sustainable agriculture, what we're really [asking is] 'how do we feed people with less inputs?' and that is a really, really tricky problem."

AI tech can now reduce the amount of fertilizer needed per tree, for example, by identifying with a heat map where there's good soil and where there's bad soil  and only fertilizing the areas that need it.

"If I'm able to use AI to figure out ways to improve the efficiency, I can actually reduce that amount of fertilizer, and that is good for the planet [and] good for people's pocketbooks," Birkholz told us.

Bee in good health

While Kind's regenerative almond farming program is still in the "learning" phase, the company has found other ways to bring its sustainability actions straight to its almond-based snack bars.

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Enter: the bees.

Bees are critical for pollinating almond trees, but factors like increasing pesticide use and changing seasonal patterns due to a warming planet are putting bees in danger.

To combat this, Kind's Thins bars are sourced from bee-friendly almond farmland, and the company's goal is to source 100% of its almonds, for all its snacks, from bee-friendly farmland by 2025 (Philpott said the company is 70% of the way there).

"We're really excited to be able to tie our sustainability practices to our products more specifically," Philpott said, "and we were able to do that through third-party verified audits just to make sure that we know 100% of the almonds in those bars are being sourced from bee-friendly farmland."

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  Another abnormal start to the day. Rain stays away for most of your Wednesday until the evening and overnight approaches, then rain will become more widespread. Highs will be in the upper 70s and low 80s.

More moisture will also correspond to partly sunny skies and mostly cloudy tonight. Low temperatures will be 20 degrees above average in the upper 60s.

Thursday will be soggy with on-and-off widespread rain. The Pee Dee is likely to see more persistent rain. Rainfall estimates 0.75-1.5 inches. This is much-needed rain after one of the driest October on record and drought conditions in place for the entire area. Highs will only be in the mid-70s due to clouds and rain.

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Rain is expected to end tomorrow evening in time for the Coastal Carolina game against Appalachian State at 8 p.m. Temperatures around 70 degrees at kickoff.

Friday will be warmer and drier with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid and upper-70s again. This will be the case through the weekend as well.

We continue to watch the tropics. Hurricane Rafael is stronger and more organized. Hurricane warnings for the Cayman Islands and west/central Cuba, tropical storm warnings for the Florida Keys.

Rafael is moving northwest at 14 mph and winds are sustained at 110 mph. Peak intensity is expected to be 115 mph later today making it a Cat 3 and the 5th major hurricane of the 2024 season. Landfall expected in western Cuba this evening as a Cat 3. Once in the Gulf of Mexico, it will move west/northwest with a landfall in the United States still possible, but there is still disagreement between GFS and European models.

The European (white) takes this directly west and into Mexico, whereas the GFS in black moves it into central Louisiana.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
A soldier who was seriously injured under unknown conditions this summer during the Pentagon's temporary Gaza pier mission has died, the Army confirmed.

Sgt. Quandarius Davon Stanley, 23, passed away Oct. 31, according to an online obituary. The Army confirmed to Military.com that Stanley was the soldier injured during the humanitarian aid mission, adding that he had been "receiving treatment in [a] long-term care medical center."

The circumstances of Stanley's injury as well as its severity have been shrouded in secrecy ever since military officials confirmed foreign reports that three service members were injured on the pier mission in late May. This trend continued through his death, which was not publicly announced by the Army.

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Read Next: Live Election Updates: What Experts Say Veterans and Their Families Should Know on Election Day

"Sgt. Quandarius Stanley was an instrumental and well-respected, first-line leader in the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary (TBX), especially during the mission to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza," the unit's commander, Col. John Gray, said in an emailed statement to Military.com.

"We will continue to provide support to his family during this difficult time," Gray said, adding that the "entire unit mourns alongside his family."

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CNN was the first outlet to report Stanley's death.

The humanitarian mission utilized the Army's Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, system to build a small pier connected to the Gaza shore to get food and aid into the war-torn region between May and August.

President Joe Biden announced the plan in his State of the Union address this spring, and the mission became a high-profile effort to try to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people amid continued Israeli operations in the area.

However, the mission quickly became mired in political controversy, with critics arguing the effort was either just a publicity stunt or not nearly sufficient to deal with the need in the region. Embarrassing breakdowns, halts in operations, and a spotlight on the underfunded Army watercraft community didn't help.

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Reports that Stanley had been injured first broke in Israeli news outlets and, after reporters asked about them at a briefing, the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, confirmed that "one individual is undergoing care at an Israeli local hospital who was injured out on a ship at sea."

Stanley's name was not released at the time. Cooper, when pressed for more details by reporters, just added that the soldier had been taken to a local hospital and promised that he would be "happy to follow up" on request for more details.

However, USNI news, citing two defense officials, reported that Stanley had actually been critically injured while working on a staging platform two miles off the coast of Gaza, where trucks filled with aid packages were being driven from cargo ships onto landing craft.

According to information provided by the Army, Stanley joined the service in July 2020 as a motor transport operator and had earned the Driver and Mechanic Badge.

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To this day, neither U.S. Central Command nor the Army has said how Stanley was injured.

In another briefing, held less than two months later in July, Cooper said that Stanley -- still unidentified -- had been transferred to a hospital in San Antonio but that "he's no longer in critical condition."

"But any more details -- I think -- talking about that would be inappropriate," Cooper said.

However, court records found in Bexar County, where San Antonio is located, suggest Stanley's medical condition was far more complicated than Cooper let on.

On Aug. 13, less than a month after Cooper told reporters that the Army sergeant was no longer in critical condition, someone filed a court case to establish a guardianship on behalf of "Quandarius Davon Stanley, an incapacitated person."

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A guardianship request suggests that someone close to Stanley had concerns over his ability to make medical decisions for himself. However, according to court records, the guardianship was never granted. The case was dismissed following his death.

The Army said Stanley was retired from the service on Oct. 25. He died less than a week later.

Military.com reached out to Stanley's mother for more details but did not hear back in time for publication. Stanley's obituary offers no indication of how he died.

Military.com also asked the Army why it didn't publicly announce Stanley's death or his retirement, given that he was the single major casualty in an incredibly high-profile mission ordered by the president during a State of the Union address, but did not hear back in time for publication.

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According to the service, Stanley's awards included the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, as well as a variety of service awards.

Meanwhile, both the JLOTS system and the entire Gaza mission are under investigation.

Related: Army's Pier System Now Faces Second Watchdog Review After Troubled Gaza Mission
COMPANY NEWS: Logicalis Australia has announced it has become a Palo Alto Networks NextWave. Logicalis Australia joins a select group of channel partners who have met the Platinum Innovator performance, capabilities, and business requirements of the Palo Alto Networks NexWave Partner Program.

Logicalis Australia embarked on a rigorous journey in early 2024 to elevate its partnership level with Palo Alto Networks within an ambitious six-month time frame to enhance its service offerings and demonstrate its commitment to deploying sophisticated security technologies. Logicalis Australia successfully implemented multiple complex security projects and next-generation security solutions, such as secure access service edge (SASE) into its capabilities to achieve Platinum Innovator status.

Logicalis Australia has enhanced its security service capabilities through certifications in firewall hardware and software, as well as Prisma Cloud. Logicalis Australia has also attained SASE certifications, reflecting its expertise in integrated network and security management.

Achieving Platinum Innovator status lets Logicalis Australia leverage advanced tools and technologies from Palo Alto Networks, enhancing its ability to design and implement comprehensive security solutions. This designation recognises Logicalis's ability to offer enhanced pricing flexibility and superior service delivery, ultimately benefiting its customers with more effective cybersecurity protections. Additionally, the certification process underscores Logicalis Australia's focus on aligning with global best practices and delivering cutting-edge technology solutions to its clients.

Johnathan Griffin, chief technology officer (CTO), Logicalis Australia, said, Achieving Platinum Innovator status is a testament to Logicalis Australia's commitment to providing superior security solutions that meet the evolving needs of its customers. This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of the Logicalis team, marking a significant step forward in its strategic relationship with Palo Alto Networks.

This specialisation further enhances Logicalis Australia's ability to offer competitive pricing and comprehensive security solutions to its customers, demonstrating expertise in cutting-edge technologies while solidifying the businesss position as a leader in the cybersecurity sector. Achieving this level of partnership with Palo Alto Networks lets Logicalis Australia deliver more robust and comprehensive security solutions so that customers benefit from the highest standards of protection in the industry. Its an essential step in Logicalis Australias evolution from a renowned specialist in network security into a platform player reflecting the needs of the market.

Michael Khoury, vice president of ecosystem partners, Palo Alto Networks, said, NextWave partners play a critical role throughout the customer lifecycle, from the initial qualifying stage to ultimately ensuring successful deployment and adoption of our technology. As a NextWave Platinum Innovator, Logicalis Australia is a cybersecurity advisor our customers can trust.

Janet Docherty, director, channel and alliances, Australia & New Zealand, Palo Alto Networks, said, Our customers face increasingly complex and evolving threats, requiring trusted partners with deep expertise to help them stay ahead. Logicalis Australias achievement of Platinum Innovator status underscores their capability to deliver the advanced security solutions needed to navigate todays sophisticated cyber landscape. By integrating Palo Alto Networks cutting-edge technologies, such as SASE and Prisma Cloud, Logicalis is empowering its customers with the most effective tools to protect their operations and accelerate their digital transformation securely. We are proud to work alongside Logicalis Australia as they continue to raise the bar in delivering exceptional security outcomes.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The Sonora Police Department and the Sutton County Sheriffs Office are searching for a man after he led law enforcement in a vehicle pursuit, crashed and fled the scene.

According to an alert sent out by the City of Sonora at 5:45 p.m. on Nov. 5, SPD Chief Donald Fernandez initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Concho Avenue and Poplar Street. The suspect, identified as 59-year-old Otis Layne Babb, fled from Fernandez, causing a high-speed chase to ensue.

TGSO seeks help locating Halloween pursuit suspect

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The City stated that Babb crashed his vehicle at the 397 westbound exit and I-10 Service Road before bailing out and fleeing the scene on foot.

The SPD is searching for Babb, who has not been located as of the time of publication, according to a Sutton County Sheriffs Office representative.

The City described Babb as a white male with a red beard. He was last observed wearing a red long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans and a black cap.

The City asks anyone who sees Babb or witnesses suspicious activity to contact the Sutton County Sheriffs Office at (325)-387-2288. It advises against attempting to approach Babb.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Rep. Eric Sorensen (D) won enough votes to defeat a challenge from former Judge Joe McGraw (R) to hold on to Illinois 17th Congressional District seat.

Sorensen declared victory late Tuesday, saying, For two decades as your local meteorologist, it was my job to keep you safe and prepared for what was ahead, and thats what Im doing in Congress. Over the past two years, Ive set out to make sure our community has a trusted neighbor serving them in Congress. And over this campaign, weve traveled to every corner of Illinois 17th District, meeting with neighbors and showing our work to make our community safer, healthier, and more affordable.

Sorensen was born and raised in Rockford and is a former meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities, and was first elected in 2022. He is also the first openly gay man to be elected to Congress in Illinois to Rep. Cheri Bustos former seat.

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When Bustos announced she was not seeking re-election, Sorensen declared his candidacy and won the November 8th 2022 general election.

He is currently on the Committee on Agriculture and Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

McGraw is a retired Illinois 17th Judicial Circuit Court judge. He spent nearly 20 years as Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division and was elected Chairman of the Illinois Conference of Chief Judges. Both of his parents are Veterans.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
A South Boston man has been indicted by a grand jury in Boston in connection with a scheme that defrauded a 75-year-old elderly man from Berkshire County of approximately $500,000, the U.S. Attorney said.

Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel, 21, was indicted Tuesday on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said in a statement. Patel was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Oct. 7. He was subsequently released by the court on conditions including GPS monitoring and orders that he remain in Massachusetts.

According to the charging documents, beginning in or about February and continuing until on or about Oct. 7, Patel and others participated in a scheme to defraud victims.

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Prosecutors allege that Patels co-conspirator called the victim and posed as an official from the U.S. Treasury Department named Sam Wilson.

Wilson allegedly told the victim that U.S. Treasury documents showed him as being involved in a money laundering scheme and instructed the victim to take out cash from his bank accounts to send to the Treasury Department for safekeeping, prosecutors said.

Wilson allegedly directed the victim to place the cash in a taped box with the victims name and address written on it and then sent couriers to the victims home to collect the boxes of cash, prosecutors said.

Before each collection, Wilson allegedly made the victim describe the clothes he would be wearing and gave the victim with a PIN passcode for the couriers to recite upon pickup.

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On or about Oct. 7, Patel allegedly drove from South Boston to North Adams to get cash from the victim, and spoke with a person he believed to be the victim and gave the prearranged passcode, before taking the box of cash and driving away, prosecutors said. Patel was immediately apprehended.

An investigation remains ongoing.

Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime  including elder fraud scams, cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams, and business email compromise fraud scams  should send an email to USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov.

To report elder fraud, visit the FBIs IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833FRAUD11 (8333728311) Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

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A few months after a vague new rule allowed the state to remove books with descriptions of sexual conduct from its public schools regardless of grade level, the South Carolina Board of Education has banned its first seven.

The board decided unanimously Tuesday  without being required to read them  that the books Elana K. Arnolds Damsel, Colleen Hoovers Ugly Love, Sally Rooneys Normal People and four popular fantasy novels by Sarah J. Maas are too dangerous for teenagers that the state licenses to drive.

No one had lodged a new complaint about any of these books. Rather, the chair of the Board of Educations Instructional Materials Review Committee had asked state officials for a list of books that could be challenged or considered controversial.

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Three of 11 works the committee reviewed wont be banned. They are classics: George Orwells 1984, Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird and William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet.

Among the books the committee considered, only ones fate was postponed to a later date: Crank by Ellen Hopkins is a 2004 YA novel based on her daughter about a teenager addicted to crystal meth. It is required reading in some high schools and the 38th most banned book of the 2010s.

The staff of the Department of Education had recommended the board ban Crank from K-12 school libraries and classrooms, but the boards panel chose to delay a final recommendation on it, after the committee chair, family doctor Christian Hanley, said he had received an email before the meeting from someone saying that the book had helped their family deal with drug use.

Turns out that Crank is actually something parents should encourage their children to read.

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Foes may say the book glorifies and glamorizes drug use and sex. In fact, it does the opposite.

One oft-cited passage of the narrators stream of consciousness reads, Off came my shorts. Down went his zipper. I realized I was in serious trouble. Ill scream. Go ahead. No one can hear but skunks and coyotes. Still, as I opened my mouth, his hand slapped down on it. Those sublime muscles hardened. Just relax. Youll love it. My brand-new Victorias Secrets shredded, and I felt the worst of Brendan pause, savoring my terror. They all love it.

Hopkins responded to those banning her book in 2022, writing, Theres nothing pornographic about it. Pornography is meant to titillate, and if that scene turns you on, youve got a problem. Its painful. You want the character to be okay, to make it through, to please stop using. The vast majority of readers never want to find themselves there.

In her own essay last year, Washington, D.C., childrens librarian Aryssa Damron called Crank a lesson in why you should never do drugs that young people need to read. She wrote that Hopkins identified the books message as choices you make as young adults will affect you for the rest of your life. She also noted poignantly that many of the first teenagers who took that message from Crank have kids of their own now.

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The book is barely more suggestive than this:

How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!

This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.

I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;

And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.

I am my beloveds, and his desire is toward me.

Thats Song of Solomon 7:6-10 from the King James Version of the Bible, and its about as sexually depictive as Crank.

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The bottom line is books like Crank are neither pornography nor material that should be kept from high schoolers who could benefit from it. The state puts teens at risk by taking away a space where they could safely learn about the perils of drugs and priorities like consent.

High schoolers need help and often dont know how to ask for it. Books, then, can be boons. Also, every parent knows its hard to get teens to read anything other than TikTok, and everyone should realize that a book rightly kept from elementary schoolers may be OK for teenagers who can drive or even vote. We should be encouraging older teens to read the books so many of their peers have read. And we should be leery of K-12 book bans and arbitrarily deciding classics are OK on one side but new YA books are not on the other.

Id like my high schooler to have the choice to read a book or not, and talk to me about it. If parents disagree or dont think their kids are ready for a particular book, they could ask a school librarian to keep it from them. They could also talk to their kids about it, too.

Send me 250-word letters to the editor here, 650-word guest essays here and email here. Say hi on X anytime.
Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Voters in South Dakota and North Dakota rejected a ballot measure meant to legalize recreational marijuana.

As election results continued to come in on Wednesday morning, CNN, NBC News and South Dakota news station KELOLand News reported that South Dakota's Measure 29 and North Dakota's Initiated Measure 5 failed.

Measure 29 is a ballot measure to legalize the possession, growing and distribution of marijuana for recreational purposes.

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"No" votes held a 56% edge as of 12:30 p.m. EST, according to South Dakota's official election results site. Of the 393,387 votes counted, 270,331 opposed the measure.

Voters passed an amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in 2020, but it was challenged by Republican Gov. Kristi Noem. The governor won her case in the state supreme court, overriding the decision by voters.

North Dakota's ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana use failed, making it the third time an attempt to legalize marijuana has failed in the state in the last six years.

The North Dakota Secretary of State's website reported that 52.55% of voters said "No" to the initiative. All 385 precincts have fully reported and 190,189 of 361,936 votes opposed the measure.

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A ballot measure on recreational marijuana use also failed in Florida. Amendment Three would have allowed adults 21 and older to possess up to 3 ounces, or about 8.5 grams, of marijuana for recreational use.

Voters in Nebraska approved the legalization of medical marijuana, passing two initiatives on the subject.

Initiative 437 removes and prohibits penalties for possessing up to 5 ounces of cannabis for medical purposes. The initiative received 70.74% of votes in favor, tallying 614,236 votes out of 868,315, according to the state's official election results.

Initiative 438 will establish the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate medical marijuana in the state. That measure passed with 66.95% support, or 578,375 of 863,948 votes.
A Sioux Falls resident votes in the 2024 general election on Nov. 5, 2024, at St. Lambert's Catholic Church. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

A ballot measure authorizing South Dakota state officials to consider work requirements for Medicaid expansion recipients was winning in unofficial results.

The tally was 56% in favor of Amendment F and 44% opposed as of 9:45 a.m. Central time Wednesday, with about 90% of statewide votes counted.

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Medicaid is a federal-state health insurance program for people with low incomes. In the past, Medicaid was not available to able-bodied adults younger than 65, unless they were below the poverty line and had young children.

In 2022, South Dakota voters expanded Medicaid eligibility to adults with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level. The expansion is part of the state constitution and can only be altered by voters. It includes a ban on greater or additional burdens or restrictions, such as a work requirement.

Earlier this year, legislators decided to put Amendment F on the ballot. The amendment will allow lawmakers to consider a work requirement if the federal government permits it. The Democratic Biden administration does not allow it, but a future Republican administration might.

Rep. Tony Venhuizen, R-Sioux Falls, supported the amendment. He issued a statement Wednesday morning thanking South Dakotans.

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We believe in the value of work, and that our social programs should be a hand up in tough times, not a way of life, Venhuizen said. Our SD values can prevail over big out-of-state money.

Also Wednesday morning, the Vote No on Amendment F coalition, including several health-related organizations, predicted the measure may place harmful government red tape around access to health care for thousands of South Dakotans.

Ensuring our neighbors get health care is the right thing to do and this result may inhibit that process, said retired Yankton physician Mary Milroy, Vote No on Amendment F chair, in a statement. Health care access for hardworking South Dakotans is good for them and their families, good for the employers who need them more than ever, and good for the economic progress of this state.

She added that the measure could allow lawmakers and bureaucrats to write new rules governing Medicaid eligibility, and the measure provides no specifics on what those rules will be nor how they will be enforced.

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At the polls Tuesday, Parker Stewart, a 38-year-old Sioux Falls resident, said he voted yes on the amendment. He counts himself as a supporter of Medicaid and Medicaid expansion, but sees a work requirement as a protective measure against abuse of the system.

We have family members who are dependent on that program for medical reasons, Stewart said. But at the same time, there are those who take advantage of it.

Jessica Aguilar, a 43-year-old from Sioux Falls, said she voted against the measure.

Medicaid expansion was passed by South Dakotans last election, she said. Let it stand as it was passed.

EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated since its original publication with the addition of a statement from Rep. Tony Venhuizen.

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U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, delivers his reelection victory speech while flanked by sons Owen, left, and Max on Nov. 5, 2024, in Sioux Falls. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakota voters reelected Republican U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson to a fourth term Tuesday.

The Associated Press called the race at 10:06 p.m. Central. Rep. Johnson was leading with 76% of the votes, with about 27% of statewide precincts reporting. The other candidate in the race, Democratic nominee Sheryl Johnson, had 24%.

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Rep. Johnson, a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, is known for his focus on policy and his aversion to the antics of the more extreme voices in the U.S. House.

Lets never forget, this country was not built on anger and fear, Rep. Johnson said Tuesday night during his victory speech in Sioux Falls. This country was built on courage, optimism, imagination and freedom, and that is the most potent recipe in the history of statecraft.

Rep. Johnson has generally voted in line with Republicans but has broken with some members of his party on occasion, including when he voted to certify the results of the 2020 election and when he voted against President Donald Trumps attempt to declare a national emergency for the construction of a border wall.

Johnsons campaign said he has cast more than 80 other votes for border security. He also campaigned this year on his efforts to counter the influence of China, including his membership in the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

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His Democratic opponent, Sheryl Johnson, alleged that the congressmans real focus is on the governors race in 2026, when the position will be open due to term limits. She was far outspent in the race and faced an uphill climb against the popular Republican incumbent in a state with more Republicans than Democrats.

Sheryl Johnson spoke at about 10 p.m. Central at a Democratic watch party in Sioux Falls. She did not concede at that time but said the odds are long.

If Dusty does actually pull this off, Ill be the first to congratulate him  tomorrow, she said.

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The South Korean 4B movement has seen a spike in interest amid the results from the 2024 US presidential election.

On Wednesday (November 6) morning, Republican candidate Donald Trump claimed victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Throughout his 2024 reelection campaign, the former president has celebrated the Supreme Courts 2022 decision to overturn Roe v Wade, a ruling that ended a nationwide right to abortion. It was also reproductive rights that propelled many women to the polls on Election Day as Missouri became the first state to undo a restrictive abortion ban.

However, after Trump declared victory over Democratic nominee Harris, some Americans couldnt help but say they felt reaffirmed in their belief that most of the United States would rather anyone else as president than a woman. Perhaps thats why interest in South Koreas 4B movement  a movement against patriarchy  has spiked in the US just hours after Trumps win.

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American women, looks like its time to get influenced by Koreas 4B movement, one woman wrote on X/Twitter.

American women, its time to learn from the Koreans and adopt the 4B movement, another user echoed, while a third person said: The women in South Korea are doing it. Its time we join them. Men will NOT be rewarded, nor have access to our bodies.

The 4B movement, which reportedly originated in 2019, stands for four Korean words beginning with bi or no in English: bihon means no heterosexual marriage; bichulsan, no childbirth; biyeonae, no dating; and bisekseu, no heterosexual sexual relationships. Supporters of the women-led movement refuse to date, marry, have sex or have children with men  effectively boycotting a system they feel perpetuates gender inequity.

Members of the 4B movement view marriage as an existential threat to women, and their concerns are well-founded. Much like in the US, South Korean women are also subjected to a gender pay gap. While American women typically earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, South Korean women earn 31 percent less than men  the highest gender pay gap in democratic countries. A 2018 report revealed that in the past nine years, at least 824 women had been killed and 602 more put at risk of death due to intimate partner violence (IPV). A 2021 study further found that one in three Korean women have experienced domestic violence, with intimate partners responsible for 46 percent of these cases.

Republican nominee Donald Trump declared victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

In response, women within the 4B movement have chosen to disengage from traditional relationships altogether, asserting that practicing bihon is the only path to autonomy. Practicing bihon means youre eliminating the risks that come from heterosexual marriage or dating, Busan native Yeowon explained to The Cut.

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Its unclear how widespread the 4B movement is given its largely anonymous and offline nature, and its origins are just as nebulous. However, scholars credit its rise with the growing education gap between men and women in South Korea. Similar to the gender education gap in the US, in which women make up 59.5 percent of all college students, Korean women surpassed men in college enrollment rates as of 2013. Today, nearly three-fourths of Korean women pursue higher education, compared with less than two-thirds of men.

This shift fueled growing tension between men and women, with disgruntled groups of men coining the term kimchinyeo, or kimchee women, to stereotype college-educated women as selfish, vain, and exploitative of their partners, feminist scholar Euisol Jeong explained in her research on troll feminism.

These cultural attitudes echo trends in the US, where men are grappling with shifting gender roles. Feeling the pressure of fewer blue-collar jobs and diminishing educational advantages, many men are drawn to vote for conservative candidates like Trump, who promise a return to traditional values that, for some, prioritize mens interests at the expense of womens autonomy.

Masculinity is in flux, anthropologist Treena Orchard recently told The Independent in an interview about the gender political gap. Men are feeling constrained, and its like they might feel like they have fewer options in terms of how to do manhood, how to think about their place in the world, and they feel devalued.

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For many women in South Korea, the 4B movement isnt merely symbolic  its a social stance aimed at reclaiming control over their lives, bodies, and futures in response to a system they feel is becoming increasingly hostile.

In the wake of the election  which has seen womens rights, such as reproductive autonomy, under threat  bringing the 4B movement to the US could be a radical response. However, the surge of American interest in the 4B movement underscores a shared frustration over what many see as a rollback of womens rights and freedoms, especially as conservative values gain ground among male voters.

With the movement gaining momentum online, one question looms: Will American women rally around it, or perhaps create their own version, as a form of protest against Trumps second presidential term in the White House?
The leadership of South Korea is considering the possibility of sending a group of observers to Ukraine due to the transfer of soldiers from the DPRK to Russia.

Source: Reuters, citing an unnamed representative of Yoon Suk-yeol, President of South Korea

Details: According to an unnamed representative of the president, the consent of the National Assembly is not required to send observers if this is done for a specific purpose and for a limited time.

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The representative also told reporters that the military from the DPRK "had not yet fully engaged in combat against Ukrainian forces."

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COMPANY NEWS: Trustwave, a global leader in cybersecurity and managed security services, has achieved Microsoft FastTrack Ready partner status for Microsoft 365 and has been named a Microsoft Verified Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) solution provider for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

This recognition emphasises Trustwaves commitment to enhancing cybersecurity outcomes for businesses across Australia and the broader APAC region, supporting seamless integration and optimisation of Microsoft cloud solutions.

Jason Whyte, General Manager Asia Pacific, Trustwave, said, Achieving Microsoft FastTrack Ready partner status in the APAC region is a testament to Trustwaves relentless focus on delivering value to our clients. This partnership gives businesses in Australia and the surrounding APAC markets access to a bespoke onboarding experience, coupled with our industry-leading security offerings that help safeguard their operations.

Trustwaves inclusion in the Microsoft FastTrack program means it is now authorised to assist clients in maximising the potential of Microsoft 365, with a focus on security, productivity, and ease of use. As part of the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program, Trustwave can provide end-to-end onboarding and migration services, helping businesses navigate the transition to the cloud successfully while maintaining strong security postures.

In addition to being a FastTrack Ready partner, Trustwave is also recognised as a Microsoft Verified MXDR solution provider. Trustwave works with Microsoft 365 Defender and Microsoft Sentinel seamlessly, ensuring businesses receive comprehensive protection backed by Microsofts expertise. The verification recognises Trustwaves advanced capabilities in offering round-the-clock protection, including proactive threat hunting, investigation, and remediation.

Grant Hutchons, Solution Engineering Director for Asia Pacific, said, Trustwaves MXDR solution extends security beyond traditional detection systems, offering clients greater visibility and control across multiple threat vectors. This protection is critical for businesses across Australia and APAC, where cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Trustwave now has numerous clients we are already working with on MXDR, Accelerators, and optimising E5 licensing. Trustwave originally qualified globally for the Fast Track program in September 2023, and since then, we have scaled up significantly in APAC, rolling out our Microsoft Security catalogue of services.

Trustwave is a longstanding member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), a group of top-tier security providers dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity across the Microsoft ecosystem. Trustwaves integration with Microsoft Azure Sentinel and Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) means businesses can rely on real-time threat detection, analysis, and response services that meet the highest industry standards.

For more information on Trustwaves partnership with Microsoft and how it benefits businesses across APAC, visit: https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/company/alliance-ecosystem/technology-partners/microsoft/

About Trustwave

Trustwave is a globally recognised cybersecurity leader that reduces cyber risk and fortifies organisations against disruptive and damaging cyber threats.

Trustwaves comprehensive offensive and defensive cybersecurity portfolio detects what others cannot, responds with greater speed and effectiveness, optimises its clients cyber investment, and improves security resilience. Trusted by thousands of organisations worldwide, Trustwave leverages its world-class team of security consultants, threat hunters, and researchers, and its market-leading security operations platform to decrease the likelihood of attacks and minimise potential impact.

Trustwave is an analyst-recognised leader in managed detection and response (MDR), managed security services (MSS), cyber advisory, penetration testing, database security, and email security. The elite Trustwave SpiderLabs team provides industry-defining threat research, intelligence, and threat hunting, all of which are infused into Trustwave services and products to fortify cyber resilience in the age of inevitable cyber-attacks.

For more information about Trustwave, please visit: https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea on Wednesday announced a package of steps to curb a surge in deepfake porn, saying it will toughen punishment for offenders, expand the use of undercover officers and impose greater regulations on social media platforms.

Concerns about nonconsensual explicit video contents that were digitally manipulated deepened in South Korea after unconfirmed lists of schools with victims spread online in August. Terrified, many girls and women removed photos and videos from Instagram, Facebook and other social media accounts, while others held rallies calling for stronger steps against deepfake porn.

President Yoon Suk Yeol quickly confirmed the rapid spread of explicit deepfake contents and ordered officials to root out these digital sexual crimes. Police are now on a seven-month special crackdown that is to continue until March 2025.

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A task force said in a statement that the government has been working with lawmakers on revising laws to increase punishment for perpetrators involved in deepfake porn-related crimes.

It cited a recently amended law that for the first time makes acts of watching or possessing deepfake porn illegal and punishable with up to three years in prison. The maximum punishment for those who produce or distribute deepfake porn contents was increased from five to seven years in prison.

Police have so far detained 506 suspects this year, 411 of them aged between 10 and 19.

The task force said it'll push for undercover online investigations, even in cases when victims are adults. The law currently authorizes such methods only when victims are minors. The government also plans another revision that would allow authorities to confiscate profits made through deepfake porn businesses.

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The task force said it will push to impose a fine on social media platforms more aggressively when they fail to prevent the spread of deepfake and other illegal contents. It said South Korea will plan to increase monitors on social media platforms to 26, from the current 12.

The task force will also expand mandatory educational programs on digital sex crimes at schools, and produce related public awareness videos with celebrities popular with teens and young people in their 20s.

Most suspected perpetrators in deepfake porn cases in South Korea are teenage boys. Observers say the boys target female friends, relatives and acquaintances  also mostly minors  as a prank, out of curiosity or misogyny.

The deepfake porn issue in South Korea has raised serious questions about school programs but also threatened to worsen an already troubled divide between men and women.

The prevalence of deepfake porn in the country has been attributed to a mix of factors, experts say, including heavy use of smartphones, an absence of comprehensive sex and human rights education in schools, inadequate social media regulations for minors, and also misogyny and social norms that sexually objectify women.
A 30-year-old Glendale man who reportedly had his girlfriend and 7-year-old child exit a vehicle while he fired on a car believed to be carrying rival gang members earlier this year has been arrested and charged with attempted murder, officials announced Tuesday.

The Sept. 10 incident unfolded when officers with the Burbank Police Department responded to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center just before 5 p.m. on reports of a male gunshot victim being dropped off at the hospital.

Medical staff confirmed that the man sustained a single gunshot wound and was transferred to a trauma center for treatment.

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After speaking with the victim, who was later released from the hospital, detectives learned the shooting happened near Victory Boulevard and Allen Avenue in Glendale.

The investigation revealed the suspect was driving in the area when he observed another vehicle occupied by three individuals whom he believed were from a rival gang, a Burbank PD news release stated.

Thats when authorities say the suspect, later identified as Ramon Alberto Carrillo, had his girlfriend and child get out of the car while he proceeded to fire multiple rounds at the vehicle, striking one of the occupants, before fleeing the scene.

Kidnapping victim in Southern California rescued with help of Find My iPhone app

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Detectives located Carrillo, who was reportedly out on bail for an unrelated felony firearm drug possession case out of Los Angeles, in a Chatsworth community on Oct. 30 and arrested him without incident.

After filing the case with the L.A. County DAs office, the 30-year-old was charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle.

Carrillo remains in custody without bail, officials added.

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Spain is to distribute 10.6 billion ($11.5 billion) in aid to those affected by the devastating flash floods that killed more than 200 people and wreaked havoc in the country's east last week, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday.

The aid package, which will include direct payments to households and businesses, was "only a first step," Sanchez said.

One week following the historic floods, large parts of the more than 60 affected municipalities in the eastern Valencia region remain devastated and roads blocked, despite clean-up efforts kicking into high gear.

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Rubbish, broken furniture and piled-up cars could be seen everywhere on images broadcast by public broadcaster RTVE and other media outlets.

The official death toll from the floods was slightly revised downwards on Tuesday, from 217 to 215, with the vast majority killed in the Valencia region.

However, authorities warn that the figure is expected to rise further, with at least 89 people missing in the eastern province of Valencia.

It is the first official figure of the missing to be released by authorities, after reports in Spanish media based on emergency calls suggested the toll could reach up to 2,500 people.

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The search for the missing is focussed on underground car parks and other flooded underground facilities such as tunnels and passages.

Authorities fear that some victims may have been washed into river estuaries or the Mediterranean, broadcaster RTVE reported. A naval amphibious ship has been deployed to support the search and rescue efforts.

"The smell is still very bad here," said an RTVE reporter in Paiporta, not far from the provincial capital Valencia. Paiporta, home to some 27,000, has been among the hardest hit with around 70 killed.

Residents there and in other almost completely destroyed villages said more help was needed. A man interviewed by RTVE said there were rats on the street, while others wept and railed.

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Paiporta Mayor Maribel Albalat pleaded for "more heavy machinery," saying it was "very difficult to cope with the chaos."

As the search for more victims continued, concerns arose whether the 10.6 billion in aid promised by the central government would be enough to deal with the aftermath of the floods.

The Valencia regional government had demanded aid worth more than 30 billion on Monday, an amount that roughly corresponds to the region's entire annual budget.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, speaks during a press conference, following the Council of Ministers, at La Moncloa Palace. The Council of Ministers on 05 Novemebr approved a package of economic, labor and fiscal aid, along with the declaration of an area seriously affected by a Civil Protection emergency for those places in the Valencian Community, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia, Catalonia and Aragon that have been hardest hit by the DANA. A. Perez Meca/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
By Jon Nazca

ALGECIRAS, Spain (Reuters) - Spanish police have made a record cocaine seizure after finding 13 metric tons of the drug hidden in a shipment of bananas in a container from Ecuador in the southern port of Algeciras.

The amount, discovered on Oct. 14. breaks the previous record in Spain when 9.4 tons of cocaine were found in 2023, also in Algeciras, the fourth biggest container port in Europe.

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"It is obvious that these 13 tons of cocaine were not only bound for the Spanish market. The Spanish market cannot handle so many drugs all at once. This drug was intended to be distributed throughout Europe," Antonio Jesus Martinez, head of the Central Narcotics Brigade of the National Police told reporters.

The Spanish police were on alert after a tip off from their counterparts in Ecuador, the world's largest banana exporter, that a suspicious cargo was on its way.

Martinez said the police arrested a woman, a partner in the company that was receiving the shipment, though two managers of the import company are on the run.

(Writing by Emma Pinedo, editing by Inti Landauro and Barbara Lewis)
U.S. Congressional Rep. Victoria Spartz, CD-5, testifies on various health care bills at the Indiana Statehouse on Feb. 15, 2023. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz, the first Ukrainian-born member of Congress, easily won reelection to a seat she almost gave up.

The Associated Press called the race when she had a 55.8% lead in Indianas 5th Congressional District north of Indianapolis.

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Spartz initially said she wouldnt run again but changed her mind days before the filing deadline. She faced off against Democrat Deborah Pickett, a resident of Carmel who served in the U.S. Army Reserve. She focused on fighting for personal rights and liberties, and received 39% of the vote.

Also running were Libertarian Lauri Shillings and Independent Robby Slaughter.
Special counsel Jack Smith is in active talks with senior leadership at the Justice Department evaluating ways he can end his prosecutions of President-elect Donald Trump, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

The decision is based on longstanding Department of Justice policy that a sitting president cannot face criminal prosecution while in office, sources said.

It is unclear as of today how Smith's prosecutors will approach dismissing both the federal election subversion case in Washington, D.C., and their ongoing appeal of Judge Aileen Cannon's dismissal of the classified documents case.

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MORE: Trump says he'll fire Jack Smith 'within 2 seconds' if he's elected

Trump has vowed to fire Smith "within two seconds."

"We got immunity at the Supreme Court. It's so easy. I would fire him within two seconds. He'll be one of the first things addressed," Trump said on a call into the "Hugh Hewitt Show" on Oct. 24.

But due to Justice Department policy of not prosecuting a president, a firing is unneeded.

Smith was appointed to his position by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to investigate Trump and his allies' efforts to overturn the 2020 election as well as Trump's alleged unlawful possession of highly classified documents he took from his time in the White House.

PHOTO: Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, in Washington. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

On June 8, 2023, Smith indicted Trump on charges he unlawfully retained classified documents and obstructed the government's efforts to retrieve them. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges in a federal court in Florida.

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On Aug. 1, 2023, Trump was indicted on four felony counts related to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump also pleaded not guilty in federal court to those charges.

Both cases were thrown into disarray by the Supreme Court's decision earlier this summer giving presidents partial immunity against prosecution.

The Jan. 6 case was sent back to a lower court, while Cannon, a Trump nominee, dismissed the classified documents case, ruling Smith's appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional because he was not appointed by the president or confirmed by Congress.

In Georgia, meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Fulton County district attorney's office declined to comment to ABC News when asked about plans to move forward with Trump's criminal case related to his effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election in that state.

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The case has been stalled since June while an appeals court considers the former president's challenge to Judge Scott McAfee's decision not to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis for what McAfee called a "significant appearance of impropriety" stemming from a romantic relationship between Willis and a prosecutor on her staff. A Georgia appeals court scheduled oral arguments about whether Willis can continue her case on Dec. 6.

In New York, the Manhattan district attorney's office declined to comment Wednesday on Trump's pending sentencing in his criminal hush money case.

Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 26 for falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

MORE: What Trump said he would do on Day 1 if reelected

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In addition, a decision is pending before a state appeals court regarding whether Trump must pay all or part of a nearly $500 million judgment in the civil fraud case brought by the New York Attorney General Letitia James.

"No matter what the next administration throws at us, we're ready. We're ready to respond to their attacks," James said Wednesday. "We will continue to stand tall in the face of injustice, revenge, or retribution."

Trump also owes former Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll about $90 million after juries in two civil cases found that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s then defamed her.

"Mr. Trump's election to the presidency does nothing to change either the fact, as determined by two separate juries, that he sexually assaulted and defamed Ms. Carroll, or the applicable legal principles under which he was held liable for that conduct," Carroll's attorney Roberta Kaplan said in a statement provided to ABC News.

ABC News' Ivan Pereira and Olivia Rubin contributed to this report.

Special counsel Jack Smith expected to wind down Trump prosecutions: Sources originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Erika Booth defeated incumbent Rep. Tom Keen. (Photo from Booth's website)

Erika Booth took a second run at Tom Keen expecting a different outcome, and she got it. Now an incumbent, Keen beat Booth in a special election in January to represent HD 35, which spans parts of Orange and Osceola counties.

With a presidential race and highly-publicized abortion and marijuana amendments driving turnout, Booth received 52.4% of votes with more than 95% of precincts reporting. Keen had won the special election 51.3%-48.7%.

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Booth, a Republican, resigned from the Osceola County School Board to run for this position. She lives in St. Cloud and received an endorsement from Gov. Ron DeSantis in the August primary, where she received 63% of the vote.

She has taught more than 20 years in the Osceola County School District.

Booth made limited media appearances in her run and did not respond to requests from the Phoenix to hear her stances on issues.

She did tell WKMG in Orlando her stance on improving the insurance market in Florida.

First we must bring insurance company CEOs to Tallahassee and have them testify under oath as to why there has not yet been rate relief, Booth told WKMG. Second we must form a statewide investigative unit to find corruption, fraud, and profiteering and charge individuals involved.

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Booths campaign Facebook account advocated for rural lands, the environment, and transportation and property insurance solutions.

Im extremely proud of everything weve accomplished and deeply honored to have represented this community in the Florida State House, Keen said in a social media post conceding defeat.
Jeffrey Schmitz won St. Augusta's mayoral race by a landslide, beating out incumbent Michael Zenzen.

Schmitz took home 60.5% of the vote while Zenzen received 38.5%. Roughly 1% of the vote went to write-in candidates.

The mayor-elect has lived in the city for roughly 45 years and owns Lux Trucks Mobile Services Inc. and Semi Properties LLC, according to a Facebook post.

Sales tax comes to Stearns County Election results: Stearns County, St. Cloud approve all 3 ballot questions

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Schmitz told voters he wants increased communication with residents. His campaign said people in town commonly say, "I just wish we could have been told" when talking about local issues.

St. Augusta's incoming mayor also wants to see development near Highway 15 while also preserving the city's existing farming community.

Brent Genereux and Mark Skaalerud will be on the St. Augusta City Council after the race went uncontested.

This Stearns County town has a population of about 3,700.

Zenzen leaving the mayor's office has St. Augusta joining a long list of central Minnesota cities to have a new mayor come January. These cities include St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Joseph, Sauk Rapids and Rockville.

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Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Augusta mayor election: voters pick Jeffrey Schmitz
Canary says the acquisition aligns with its strategy to bolster its presence in Queensland and further enhance its service offerings, providing clients with expanded capabilities and a stronger regional focus.

For over 25 years, Canary Technology Solutions has safeguarded and revolutionised businesses through technology and foresight. Known for its people-first approach, Canary focuses on using technology as an enabler to drive business success. Over the past decade, Canary has continuously evolved, expanding across Australia, acquiring three businesses, and growing alongside its customers, Canary stated.

The acquisition of Wyntec reflects Canarys commitment to expanding its Managed IT Services and solidifying its position as a key player in the Australian market.

This acquisition is a strategic move to increase our presence in Queensland and further enhance our Managed IT Services capabilities, said Steve Parsonage, CEO of Canary Technology Solutions. By bringing together our expertise and resources, were taking a significant step towards our vision of delivering smarter, more responsive IT solutions for businesses across Australia. As part of our commitment to both organic and inorganic growth strategies, this partnership allows us to grow strategically while staying true to our mission of using technology as a catalyst for business transformation. We are excited to welcome Wyntec into the Canary Technology Solutions family.

Canary notes that Wyntec has built a strong reputation in the Queensland market for its holistic approach to Managed IT Services, focusing on the intersection of people, process, and technology, and the acquisition not only brings complementary skills to Canary but also aligns deeply with both companies commitment to understanding and supporting their clients unique business needs.

Joining forces with Canary Technology Solutions is a natural fit for Wyntec, said Tom Freer, CEO of Wyntec. We share a deep commitment to putting people and processes at the heart of our technology solutions, and our alignment on future vision makes this partnership a perfect match. Together, we will continue to deliver exceptional value to our clients, driving innovation and supporting businesses as they navigate an ever-evolving tech landscape.

Canary said the acquisition allows both companies to leverage their strengths, enhancing service delivery and expanding market reach, and Wyntecs local expertise in Brisbane, combined with Canarys nationwide capabilities, will provide businesses with a seamless and comprehensive IT support experience, from cloud solutions to cybersecurity and managed services.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  Severe flash floods devastated the St. Louis area Monday night into Tuesday morning, prompting an emergency news conference from St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and local officials at the Emergency Operations Center.

Were not looking at a 2015 (or) 2017 scenario; that was sort of the worst weve seen in current times, St. Louis County Director of Emergency Management Michele Ryan said. What we are looking at something, current numbers, about half that size. I would expect the flood gates of Valley Park will close.

According to Ryan, the department set up a shelter at the Mid-County YMCA for those affected by the flooding. A Bellefontaine Neighbors polling place lost power but the power has been restored. The director stated while flooding levels havent reached historic highs, major roads and parks will remain affected. There was an area command post established in Brentwood where a majority of the flooding occurred.

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So, we had a lot of operations in that area. It started about 3:30 for the first call for rescue and continued on til about 7 in the morning. Our boat operators were taking the boats and our swift water technicians (and) going into the businesses. Searching every business in that area, searching any car, answering any call for a stranded vehicle, Chief Jim Silvernail, mutual aid coordinator for Regency-Missouri, said.

Hotel nightmare: Woman says intruder used master key to assault her while sleeping

St. Louis County police warned drivers to avoid flooded roads to prevent more tragedies, and the director of public works added that her team is monitoring and closing additional roads as waters continue to rise.

Currently, around the Meramec River, the roads and areas there are currently the most affected and probably will be for the days to come, St. Louis County Director of Transportation & Public Works Stephanie Leon Streeter said.

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St. Louis County Executive Sam Page wants residents to call 211 for post-emergency support, helping track incidents and connect people with resources.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R) has won a second term, defeating Democrat Erin McClelland with more than 3.2 million votes.

On Wednesday morning McClelland released a statement saying she called Garrity and congratulated her.

I want to thank my friends and family for all their love and support, the members of the @PADems who worked so hard for our ticket, and my small but mighty army of volunteers who supported and encouraged me every day of this campaign, said McClelland. I cannot thank you all enough and am incredibly grateful to have shared this experience with so many wonderful people throughout the state.

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Garrity said she was deeply honored that Pennsylvanians trusted her to serve a second term.

As we look to the future, I am excited to continue working for you. Together we will build on our successes and tackle the challenges ahead, said Garrity.

Garrity also disclosed that her father passed away on Monday at the age of 82 after battling cancer.

During her first four years as Treasurer, Garrity prioritized unclaimed property in the Treasury. According to her campaign, the Treasury returned nearly $274 million to more than 174,000 Pennsylvanians in the fiscal year ending June 2023.

Garrity also banned TikTok on Treasury devices, saying TikTok presents a clear danger due to its collection of personal data and its close connection to the communist Chinese government.

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Garrity has promised to eliminate waste and fight for a tax-deductible 401k-style retirement savings program.

Garrity narrowly won her first term as Treasurer in 2020, defeating Joseph Torsella by 52,546 votes in an election where Democrat Josh Shapiro won the Attorney General race by more than 300,000 votes and Joe Biden won Pennsylvanias presidential election by less than 100,000 votes.

A native of Athens, Bradford County, Garrity served in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Colonel and is the former Vice President of Global Tungsten and Powders Corp. in Bradford County. She has a degree in Finance & Economics from Bloomsburg University.

abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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If his first term in the White House is any indication, President-elect Donald Trump is likely to keep the Middle East high on his agenda.

During his first four years, Trump made history by selecting Saudi Arabia for his first foreign trip, attempted to broker a deal of the century between Israelis and Palestinians, strengthened the Jewish states regional integration, and significantly intensified pressure on Iran.

But the Middle East has changed significantly since he left office in 2021, and all regional actors are keenly watching how the new president will navigate these shifts.

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Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X on Wednesday.

Gulf Arab states also welcomed the president-elects victory. Saudi Arabias King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Trump, and the United Arab Emirates said: the UAE and US are united by our enduring partnership based on shared ambitions for progress.

Iran downplayed the significance of the election, saying there is no significant difference in who becomes president in the US, state media reported. Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokesperson for the government, was cited by Iranian media as saying that the general policies of the US and Iran are unchanged after Wednesdays ballot.

Heres how Trumps election could affect key players in the Middle East:

Israel and the Palestinians

Ending the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and integrating Israel in the Middle East are likely to be at the top of the president-elects Middle East agenda, analysts said.

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Netanyahu will face a much tougher president than he is used to in the sense that I dont think that Trump would tolerate the wars in the manner that they are happening, said Mustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, adding that for Palestinians, it wont make a major difference because both administrations were totally biased toward Israel.

Trump doesnt want those wars on his desk as a burning issue come January 20, when he is inaugurated, Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli diplomat, told CNN.

He will say: wrap it up; I dont need this, Pinkas said, adding that Trump will likely ask the Israeli prime minister to announce victory and then strike a deal through mediators.

Throughout his campaign, Trump has not specified how he would approach the Israel-Hamas war if reelected, or how his policies would differ from predecessor Joe Bidens. In April, Trump did say that Israel needs to finish what they started and get it over with fast, noting that it was losing the PR war because of the images coming out of Gaza.

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Trump, Pinkas said, couldnt care less about the Palestinian issue. During his first term, he didnt throw his weight behind the US longstanding support for an independent Palestinian state, saying he would like the solution that both parties like.

There is fear, said Barghouti, that Trump may allow Israel to annex parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which would spell the end of the two-state solution.

Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida on Wednesday. - Evan Vucci/AP

During his first term, Trump took several steps in Israels favor. In 2017, he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, upending decades of US policy and international consensus. He also recognized Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria during the 1967 war.

But while Trump has often claimed to be most pro-Israel president in modern history, and even touted his close and personal relationship with Netanyahu, ties between the two leaders havent always been friendly.

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In 2021, when both were out of office, Trump accused Netanyahu of betrayal when the Israeli leader congratulated Biden on winning the presidency in 2020.

Shortly after Hamas October 7 attack on Israel last year, Trump criticized Netanyahu and Israeli intelligence services for being unprepared, claiming the attack would not have occurred if he was president.

Boaz Bismuth, a member of Israels parliament, the Knesset, from Netanyahus Likud party, told CNN that Trumps election came at the right time as it would provide an opportunity to expand the Abraham Accords as the wars in Gaza and Lebanon are coming to an end.

The accords, a set of agreements facilitated by Trumps first administration that saw Israel normalize relations with four Arab nations, put prospects of an independent Palestinian state on the back burner, he said.

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When the war will be over, youll need a real restart in the Middle East, and Trump will be the best person to bring about a new Middle East, Bismuth added.

Nadav Shtrauchler, a political strategist who has worked closely with Netanyahu, said Trumps election sends a message to Israels enemies in Iran.

The Israeli prime minister is also likely emboldened domestically, a day after he fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after months of clashes over domestic politics and Israels war efforts.

Hell calculate his next moves maybe different from he would if Harris was elected, Shtrauchler said, adding that Trumps unpredictability could mean that there will be more pressure on Israel to end the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, potentially to refocus efforts at confronting Iran.

Iran

The next four years could be the Islamic Republics biggest test since its founding in 1979, with Tehran under Trumps scrutiny that would most likely lead to a return of the maximum pressure campaign he imposed during his last presidency, which increased Irans isolation and crippled its economy, experts say.

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Trump, who prides himself as a master dealmaker, failed to contain Tehrans influence in the Middle East despite withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear agreement to curtail Irans nuclear program, reimposing sanctions on it, and even ordering the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the military commander who oversaw ties with Irans proxies in the region.

Since Trump left office in 2020, Iran has ramped up enrichment of uranium, increased its oil exports, stepped up support for regional militant groups, and has set a precedent by striking Israel in a direct attack twice.

But as Israel continues to degrade Tehrans regional capabilities by striking its proxies, Iran finds itself losing its deterring powers as it faces economic turmoil and widespread internal discontent.

The Islamic Republic appears as fragile as the threats against it are formidable, said Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project and senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, adding that 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has limited bandwidth to be dealing with all the crises happening at the same time.

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As the Middle East teeters on the brink of a wider war, with Iran threatening to respond to an Israeli attack on its territory this month, there are concerns that Trumps election may empower Netanyahu to strike Irans nuclear facilities, something the Biden administration warned against.

A woman crosses a road in front of an anti-Israel and US billboard depicting an Israeli soldier receiving military supplies from the United States with a Farsi headline reading "the American Rabid Dog" in central Tehran on Wednesday. - Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images

There is one scenario that Trump will tell Netanyahu to finish the job before he formally takes over, that means we might see a sharp escalation in tensions in November and December  Israel trying to push its advantage to weaken Iran and its Axis of Resistance (of militant groups) before Trump comes to office then Trump comes in and takes credit on being a peacemaker, Vaez said.

That could change if the Biden administration decides to pull the plug on Israels ability to escalate tensions in its final months in office, he said. The US has already laid the ground for that by sending a letter to Israel last month warning of repercussions if Israel does not improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

An important factor in Irans relationship with the next US president will be how Trump responds to recent US intelligence reports suggesting that Tehran attempted to assassinate him  allegations Iran dismissed as unsubstantiated and malicious.

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But there must be a clear distinction between Trump and the Trump administration, said Vaez.

Trump might be attracted by the allure of outwitting the Iranians at the negotiation table because that for him would be the ultimate test of his mastery in the art of the deal, he said, adding that during his first term, he was attracted to the prospect of dealmaking with Iran.

Iran never won a war, but never lost a negotiation! Trump wrote in a tweet in 2020.

Vaez noted that a revival of Trumps maximum pressure approach might be paired with a policy of maximum support for Iranian people  a potential regime changing policy. This, he argued, would make it unlikely for the two countries to return to the negotiating table.

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I dont think anyone in (Trumps) national security team would share the objective of reaching a mutually beneficial deal with the Iranian regime, he added.

Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states

Anticipating his possible comeback, Gulf Arab states continued to engage with Trump after he left office. Analysts say that could prove fruitful for them.

Relations between Saudi Arabia and the US under Trumps first term flourished. He made history by choosing Riyadh for his first foreign visit as president in 2017 and stood by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the crisis surrounding the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of Saudi agents in 2018, when the Saudi heir faced global isolation.

Gulf states place a lot of premium on the ability to work with a likeminded leader and conduct relations through interpersonal contact It reflects the way they do business with other countries as well, said Hasan Alhasan, senior fellow for Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Bahrain.

During his first term, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were engaged in wars in Yemen, and both countries ties with Iran were at their worst in decades.

But Gulf states have significantly modified their foreign policies since, opting to limit their military interventions and reach out to former foes like Iran, while diversifying alliances in an increasingly multipolar world amid skepticism over the US role in the Middle East.

Trump shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in March 2018. - Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

With Iran, there is a chance that Trump reverts to a maximum pressure stance and given the improved relations with Iran (Gulf states) could be subjected to greater pressure from the US to abide by the maximum pressure, Alhasan said.

One challenge that emerging middle-powers like Saudi Arabia and the UAE could face under Trump will be managing their closer relationship with China. Over the past years, the oil-producing states have expanded trade and technology ties with China despite competition between Washington and Beijing.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE were invited to join the BRICS group of developing nations, and Saudi Arabia was granted dialogue partner status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)  a China-led Asian security and economic bloc.

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have used Chinese technology for key infrastructure, and despite pledges to limit Beijings influence on their emerging artificial intelligence sectors, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have increasingly relied on Chinese expertise.

Its a question of whether the Trump administration will exert greater pressure on Gulf states to decouple from China in certain areas, not to mention the tariff and trade wars that are likely to be exacerbated under a Trump administration which could have an impact on (Gulf) exports as well, Alhasan said.

Trump also hopes to expand Israels integration in the Middle East but may face a challenge in Saudi Arabias refusal to normalize relations with the Jewish state until it sees a pathway for Palestinian statehood, which Israel has refused.

Qatar, one of the first nations to congratulate Trump, has become indispensable to US efforts in reaching a ceasefire in Gaza due to its relations with Hamas. Those relations may however prove to be a liability under Trump, according to Alhasan.

Theyre probably quite worried about what a Trump 2.0 might be, he said.

CNNs Dana Karni, Irene Nasser and Eyad Kourdi contributed to this report.

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Donald Trump was a clear victor in Stark County.

The former  and future  president defeated Vice President Kamala Harris by a count of 109,461 votes to 69,732, or 60% to 38%, according to full, unofficial results from the Stark County Board of Elections.

First-time voter Khloe Bowen of Canton was all smiles after casting a vote for Trump. She was excited to join family members in supporting Trump at the polling location at Westbrook Park United Methodist Church.

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"I like his policies (on the economy and illegal immigration)," said Bowen, 19, adding that she's a big fan of Trump's pick for vice president.

"I like JD Vance and his position on gun control and being pro-life," she added.

Jackson Township couple give 'thumbs-up' to Harris on Tuesday

Emmanuel Akosa and his wife, Maria, agreed that supporting Kamala Harris for president was the right thing to do for America's future. The couple voted at Church of the Lakes in Jackson Township.

"We need a united country," Emmanuel, who immigrated to the U.S. 23 years ago, said before the results were known. "I just can't support Trump and (the divisiveness) he stands for."

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Akosa's wife, Maria, also voted for Harris. She said prosperity for the couple's four children was a main reason for voting in favor of the vice president.

"We want a better life for our children and family," said Maria, a pro-women's rights voter who came to the country from Columbia 22 years ago.

Trump garners votes from Jackson Township residents

Will Logan, of Jackson Township, discusses his support for former President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Jackson Township resident Will Logan tapped Trump as his pick for president.

"He's going to stabilize our country and fix the illegal immigration problem, which is worse now because of all the crime," said Logan.

"The economy is terrible, and (Trump) will fix that, too," he added.

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Another Jackson resident voting for the former president was Ryan Lenzer, who suggested that national security was at stake on Election Day.

Ryan Lenzer

"If he doesn't win, all the people who came in over the (Mexican) border might bring civil war," said Lenzer, adding that Tuesday marked his third time voting for Trump, calling him a true, "American guy."

Individual rights were on the ballot, Jackson voter says

Bobby Lolli, left, and Susan Angelo, both of Jackson Township, discuss their support for Kamala Harris on Tuesday in the 2024 general election. Both made their votes at Church of the Lakes in Jackson Township.

Jackson Township resident Amelia Angelo said a deep loathing for Trump and being pro women's health were the main factors for her vote for Harris.

"Our freedoms are on the ballot and women's health," said Angelo, noting her decision to support Harris was an easy call.

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Tatiana McCoy, of Canton, said she wanted to see the first woman in the White House and touted Harris' jobs initiative.

Tatiana McCoy

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"I think she will get us back to work with better jobs," said McCoy. "She's right for us right now."

Valerie Ross, 41, of Canton, said she voted for Trump, mainly because of her beliefs on the issue of abortion. She voted at the J. Babe Stearn Community Center in Canton.

"I just primarily vote for the Republican Party just because I'm Catholic," she said. "Yes, I do believe that women have a right to choose, but I also believe babies have a right to choose, so that's just a big thing for me."

At the First Christian Church in Massillon, Serenity Wood, 22, of Perry Township, said that after a lot of research, she decided to vote for Trump.

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"I feel like if Kamala wanted to make America a better place, then she would've already done it," she said.

"Personally, I think ... he was the better choice," she said.

Maria Akosa, of Jackson Township, right, and her husband, Emmanuel, vote Tuesday at Church of the Lakes in Jackson Township.

While voters reported leaning one way or the other, David Armstead, 70, of Massillon, shook out somewhere in the middle.

He did not disclose any of the candidates he chose, but he said he voted for some Democrats and some Republicans.

"I did a little voting for a little of everybody," he said. "I think we need a lot of change. The country is kind of in a bad way right now."

Canton Repository staff writer Janson McNair contributed to this report.

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Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County voters support Donald Trump
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  Duck Donuts is honoring those who served this Veterans Day with free coffee.

On Monday, Nov. 11 all veterans and active military members can get a a free medium hot coffee or cold brew at any location. No purchase is necessary but a valid ID or Veteran ID card is required.

In Central Pennsylvania, youll find a Duck Donuts in State College (125 S Fraser Street).

Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters.

Duck Donuts opened its first locations in 2007 and specializes in made-to-order donuts, according to their website.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
(Photo by Getty Images)

The state of Iowa has blocked a former mental health counselors efforts to return to the profession after serving a lengthy prison sentence on a child pornography charge.

The former counselor, David Ekman of Marshall County, had hoped to regain his license after his release from federal prison.

In February 2023, the Iowa Board of Behavioral Science charged Ekman with being convicted of an offense that directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the profession.

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The underlying circumstances that gave rise to the charge have never been made public by the board. However, court records indicate that in February 2021, police investigated an allegation that Ekman sexually abused a 17-year-old girl whom he knew through a family relationship.

The victim alleged Ekman first initiated sex with her in the fall of 2020. She asserted that she and Ekman engaged in sexual acts on multiple occasions at his home and his office. She also provided police with detailed descriptions of Ekmans genitals, and described an overnight trip to Minnesota during which Ekman allegedly gave her alcohol and had sex with her.

The alleged conduct occurred at a time when Ekman was working at the government-funded Substance Abuse Treatment Center of Central Iowa in Marshalltown. Court records indicate that in 2016, Ekman taught introduction to psychology at Des Moines Area Community College.

According to police, they searched Ekmans phone and discovered a screenshot of a video depicting a sex act between Ekman and the girl. State records show the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services concluded Ekman was guilty of child abuse and his name was placed on the states central abuse registry.

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In addition, Ekman was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.

Ekman eventually pleaded guilty to the charge of transportation of child pornography, and the two remaining charges were dismissed. In June 2022, he was sentenced to 240 months in prison and fined $5,768.

Eight months later, the Board of Behavioral Science filed its disciplinary charges against Ekman.

At a recent board hearing on the disciplinary charges against him, Ekman testified from prison through a videoconference call and argued  using extremely crass and demeaning language, the board said  that he was the target of the victims sexual advances. Ekman, the board later stated, squarely placed the blame on the victim.

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In his testimony before the board, Ekman acknowledged his license to practice is currently inactive, and that he had a history of abusing alcohol and pain medication. He said his goal was to return to the field of substance abuse counseling once he is released from prison.

In deciding to permanently revoke Ekmans license, the board stated that his actions were reprehensible. (He) not only knew the victim was a child, but that she was particularly vulnerable because of her mental health diagnoses, past history of abuse, and intellectual capacity. His personal relationship with the victim and her family placed (him) in a position of power over her.

The board added it had no doubt that Ekman used his specialized training and knowledge as a licensed mental health counselor to select his victim and use her vulnerabilities to exploit and abuse her.
Schools in western North Carolina struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene could get relief from the consequences of high-stakes state tests this semester.

The State Board of Education voted Thursday to request a federal accountability waiver for school districts and charter schools that have lost significant amounts of school time due to the historic flooding from Helene.

The state wants to exempt Helene-affected schools from the academic consequences when scores likely drop during fall semester state end-of-course exams.

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Students will take their EOCs, Deputy State Superintendent Michael Maher told the state board on Wednesday. The reason for that is we want to have a good sense of where students are academically. They can then use that data in a more formative way without the consequences attached to it.

The EOC exams in Math 1, Math 3, English II and biology are typically given in high schools in January. But some middle school students take the Math 1 test.

The state board is required to get public comment on the waiver even as it has gone ahead to make the request.

The EOC exams and state end-of-grade exams given in elementary and middle schools are required by federal law to assess the academic progress of students as well as public schools. Due to the pandemic. North Carolina and other states received a federal testing waiver in the 2019-20 school year to not give the exams.

Lost instructional time for NC students affected by Helene

On Sept. 27, Helene dumped massive amounts of rain in western North Carolina, which has caused extensive damage to the region. Some students have missed more than a month of classes.

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Based on what happened during the pandemic, Maher said state education officials realize that academic performance will likely suffer from the lost instructional time from Helene.

We did not want to see schools negatively impacted for something that they really had no way to address, Maher said.

Testing waivers are normally only given to individual schools after events such as a school shooting right before the testing window, according to Maher.

Instead, the state will seek an accountability waiver. Maher said theyve already talked with the U.S Department of Education and are optimistic it will be approved.

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Waiving these requirements will allow schools to focus on returning students to instruction without the high stakes of performing well on end-of-course summative assessments used for accountability determinations, State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said in a Nov. 5 letter to U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

The waivers will allow students to receive the support needed to reengage in instruction, increasing the opportunity to recoup learning. Students would take the assessments, but the uses of the assessments would be waived to ensure invalid data is not included in the accountability analyses.

Eligible school districts and charter schools in the hard-hit areas would be able to join the waiver if its granted.

The waiver doesnt cover state end-of-grade exams because theyre given in the spring.

Helene relief for schools in Western NC

Other relief is coming for western North Carolina schools.

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The General Assembly has approved two Helene relief bills, totaling $897 million. Some of the money is going to public schools, including $50 million for repairs and renovations, $16 million to replace lost pay for school cafeteria workers and $5 million for mental health support for students and school staff.

State lawmakers are returning to Raleigh this month and could approve additional aid.

Lawmakers are allowing hard-hit schools to not have to make up as many as 40 days of missed classes. Schools are normally required to have 1,025 hours of instruction or 185 days of classes each school year.

Affected schools are also being temporarily exempted from the school calendar law so they can hold classes as late as June 30.

The state board will also vote Thursday on Helene waivers for third-grade students in the Read To Achieve program and high school students who need career and technical education credits.
Tuesday's election saw significant laws and regulations passed on the state level through various ballot measures.

PHOTO: Election workers review ballots at the Denver Elections Division in Denver on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. (Chet Strange/AP)

Here are some of the major initiatives from this year's election.

Immigration, voting rights

It is already against the law for those in the country illegally to register to vote and cast a ballot in federal and state elections.

However, some states proposed ballot measures that would make it illegal for undocumented immigrants to vote on the state or local level.

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MORE: Abortion, voting rights, other key issues on the ballot in states this election

Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wisconsin voters all passed measures enacting such a ban.

PHOTO: People vote at a polling station at Addison Town Hall in Allenton, Wisconsin, on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)

Arizona voters passed a measure that changed immigration laws to give local officers the power to arrest migrants in the country illegally and for state judges to deport them.

Ranked choice voting

Voters in the District of Columbia approved a ballot measure that would change local elections to a ranked choice voting method, in which voters rank candidates on the ballot and the candidate with the most No. 1 rankings wins.

PHOTO: Votes are tabulated on Election Day at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, Nov. 5, 2024. (Allison Dinner/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

Voters in Nevada, South Dakota, Missouri and Oregon rejected changing to ranked choice. While Colorado was still counting votes, over 1.2 million voters -- 54% of the total as Wednesday afternoon -- voted no on an ranked choice ballot measure for their elections.

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MORE: Florida's pro-abortion ballot initiative projected to fail in first since Roe was overturned

Idaho voters rejected a ballot measure that would have overturned a 2023 state law that banned ranked choice voting for general elections.

Other initiatives

Voters in Nevada also passed a measure that mandated a voter ID requirement at elections.

PHOTO: A person enters into a temporary voting site located in a tent due to damages caused by Hurricane Helene, on Election Day during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Nov. 5, 2024. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters)

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South Dakota, North Dakota and Florida voters rejected measures that would have legalized recreational marijuana for adults.

States decide on key changes on immigration, election laws other topics in ballot measures originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Based in Melbourne, Dale will be responsible for managing customer accounts and working with regional partners in the two states to accelerate new business development and continue the relationships with the existing Genetec installed base.

Simons joins Genetec with 14 years of experience in the IT and physical security industries. He was previously Business Development Manager at GSA Systems where he was responsible for business expansion and identifying market opportunities.

Prior, he was an Account Manager at Hills Industries and Business Development Manager at Central Security Distribution. He began his security industry career as an Account Manager at Q Security Systems.

Dale Simons is a well-respected, experienced and trusted leader in the Australian physical security industry, said Will Glasson, National Sales Manager, Genetec. Were looking forward to tapping into his skills to further support our strategy in working with partners throughout Victoria and Tasmania. Dale has a proven record of providing customers with solutions which unify access control, video management, intrusion monitoring, automation, and many other advanced security capabilities. He has also worked with the Genetec platform during his tenures at Hills Industries and GSA Systems.

Dale Simons said, Genetec has a fantastic reputation as a customer-centric organisation. The company has consistently set the benchmark for physical security innovation that solves complex challenges. Im looking forward to building on its foundation of success in Victoria and Tasmania to further work with customers in their adoption of physical security technology and delivering value-based outcomes.

Recently, Genetec announced that Genetec Security Center SaaS will be hosted in Australia on the Microsoft Azure platform following strong demand for sovereign data hosting capability, robust cybersecurity, and flexible cloud options which affirmed the need to offer its security solution hosted on an Australian data centre. In addition, last month the company announced it had been recognised as the world leader in video management software (VMS) by two leading industry analysts, Omdia and Novaira Insights.
Polls have begun to close on the East Coast as Election Day enters its final hours. The road to 270 electoral college votes has begun for both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Seven swing states could prove decisive for the 2024 presidential election, one of the tightest in decades. Both candidates have barnstormed the states in the closing days of the campaign, making their final pitches to voters.

Polls across these states in recent days showed tight races in all seven swing states: Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona.

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Netting a total of 93 electoral college votes between them, winning the close races in these states forms the pathway for Trump and Harris towards the White House.

Here is what you need to know about what states Trump and Harris need to win.

The Grand Canyon State nets a total of 11 electoral college votes. In 2020, President Joe Biden carried the state by 0.3%. In 2016, former President Donald Trump carried the state by 3.5%.

See latest Arizona elections results here.

A new addition to the swing state list, Georgia is one of the larger prizes in terms of electoral college votes with 16. In 2020, Biden took a shock win in the state by 0.2% percentage points.

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In 2016, Trump won the Peach State by 5.1%.

See latest Georgia elections results here.

Out in the Midwest in Michigan, 15 electoral votes are up for grabs, part of the Democratic Blue Wall, it is considered to be a vital state for Harris.

In 2020, Biden carried the state by 2.8% while Trump won the state in 2016 by only 0.2%.

See latest Michigan elections results here.

The westernmost swing state, Nevada nets six electoral college votes. In 2016, Hillary Clinton beat Trump by 2.4%, in 2020 Biden won the state by the same margin.

See latest Nevada elections results here.

Back on the East Coast, North Carolina's 16 electoral votes are another large prize out of the swing states on the list. The last time the state elected a Democrat was in 2008 when it voted for Barack Obama.

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In 2016, Trump beat Clinton by 3.7%. Four years later, Biden tightened the gap with the former president, but not enough, losing by 1.4%.

See latest North Carolina elections results here.

The Keystone State, Pennsylvania is considered by many the bellwether swing state. Netting the largest amount of electoral votes: 19. Both Harris and Trump focused a lot of their efforts on the state in the closing days of the campaign.

In 2016, Trump beat Clinton by 0.7%, four years later in 2020 Biden flipped the state, beating Trump by 1.2%.

See latest Pennsylvania elections results here.

Last but not least is Wisconsin, netting a neat 10 electoral votes it also forms part of the Democratic Blue Wall.

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In 2016, Trump won the state by 0.8%, but four years later Biden flipped the state to the Democrats column winning it by 1.3%.

See latest Wisconsin elections results here.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What states do Trump and Harris need to win the election? What to know
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, who won the race to be the state's next governor Tuesday, looks out at supporters during his victory speech in Raleigh on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

Josh Stein will be North Carolinas next governor.

The attorney general defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson on Tuesday night in the race to be the next chief executive of the Tar Heel State. The win marks the end of a race that has been defined by Robinsons controversies and scandals, and sends Stein to the governors mansion to succeed his fellow Democrat, Gov. Roy Cooper.

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The Associated Press projected Stein as the victor just under an hour-and-a-half after polls closed in North Carolina. As of 11:15 p.m., Stein had 55.2% of the vote to Robinsons 39.9% with about 80% of precincts reporting, according to results from the State Board of Elections.

At a Democratic Party celebration in Raleigh, Stein told a cheering audience: We chose hope over hate. Decency over division. Thats who we are as North Carolinians, and I am so glad that you have elected me to be your governor.

And he called for the state to come together amid bitter divisions that have come to play such a large role in state politics.

We must reject the politics of division, fear and hate that keep us from finding common ground, he said. We will go further when we go together  not as Democrats, not as Republicans, not as independents. But as North Carolinians.

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Stein also pledged to redouble efforts in western North Carolina to recover from Hurricane Helene.

We will show up for the people of Western North Carolina to help them rebuild safer and stronger than ever before, he said.

Republican Mark Robinson concedes the governors race to Democrat Josh Stein. Im not sad one lick. But I am disappointed, Robinson told supporters. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

Meanwhile, at a small and muted downtown Raleigh gathering just a few miles away, Robinson professed not be personally disappointed at his defeat.

Im not sad one lick, the lieutenant governor said. Im disappointed for you. I wanted this so bad for you. I wanted this for the people of North Carolina, not for me.

He also quoted a concession speech of former President Richard Nixon, saying because only if youve been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.

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He declined to indicate whether he would seek office again, saying only, After the beginning of the year, Im going to spend some time with my grandchildren. Well assess and well move forward from there.

A long-anticipated result

Stein  a lawyer who served in the state Senate before winning his race for AG in 2016  rode to victory with a safe, steady campaign that homed in on core state issues, while capitalizing on his opponents political weaknesses in a torrent of TV ads.

Polling indicated for months that he held a commanding lead, as Robinson tried to fend off frequent controversy while bleeding support.

Attorney General Josh Stein hugs his wife Anna at a Raleigh victory celebration (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

His victory means a Democrat will retain veto power over the Republican-led North Carolina legislature. Cooper, who launched Steins career in the public sector by appointing him to a role in the AGs office, has used the veto pen to serve as a check on the GOP lawmakers  though hes been frequently overridden by supermajorities.

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We have done something important here with this victory in the governors race, Cooper told supporters Tuesday night. Every election gives us choices. And theres never been a wider gulf than between the choices in this race.

Whether Stein will face those same Republican supermajorities in his coming term will depend on the outcomes of several key state House and Senate seats.

Stein emerged as the Democratic nominee with almost 70% of the vote in the primary, defeating former state Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan. Robinson defeated state Treasurer Dale Folwell and attorney Bill Graham, earning almost 65% of the vote.

The matchup earned immediate national attention, as a top race in a presidential battleground and one of just two competitive governors races in the U.S.

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Democrats mobilized to prevent Robinson from taking the reins in North Carolina, while Republicans saw a chance to flip the governors mansion and secure a legislative trifecta. Spending in the race between the two campaigns eclipsed $96 million  the vast majority of which came from the Stein campaign  not including spending from PACs and outside groups.

Robinson struggled throughout the campaign to break through a deluge of negative headlines and past comments. His opponent and critics seized on his previous assertions that abortion wasnt warranted under any circumstances, and resulted from women who werent responsible enough to keep your skirt down. And his declaration from a church pulpit that some folks need killing was shown on repeat on television.

Investigations into a daycare formerly owned by him and his wife, as well as his wifes nonprofit, attracted additional scrutiny.

In the final weeks of the race, Robinson saw a total collapse in party support  spurred by a CNN investigation that tied him to a series of explicit racist, sexist and homophobic comments made on a pornography website.

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Robinson denied the comments were his and stayed in the race, forging on without the support of state and national Republican campaign groups. The Republican Governors Association halted ad spending and former President Donald Trump stopped inviting him to rallies, where Robinson had previously spoken and even taken the stage alongside the former president.

Election night results are unofficial, and vote totals will likely change over the next 10 days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.

NC Newslines Brandon Kingdollar contributed reporting.
ATLANTA  Across the country, state attorneys general, campaign lawyers, and election-related groups have been gearing up for what could be a flood of lawsuits over the election results.

Even before the election, courts in battleground states have seen a series of lawsuits over state voter registration lists, last-minute election rule changes, the requirements for counting mail-in ballots, and whether local counties have to certify results. The founder of one frequent litigator that has challenged registration lists, United Sovereign Americans, told USA TODAY in October it was already planning to sue after results are announced.

In an October internal memo obtained by USA TODAY, lawyers for the Harris campaign and the Democratic National Committee said they have been gearing up for post-election court battles ever since former President Donald Trump tried to overturn President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.

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"We have been planning for four years to win not only at the ballot box but also in court, and to ensure another free and fair election," wrote Dana Remus and Monica Guardiola, lawyers with senior roles in the Harris campaign and Democratic National Committee, respectively.

Supporters of US President Donald Trump gather outside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. - Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification.

Claire Zunk, communications director for the Republican National Committee's election integrity initiative, described the Republican election litigation operation as an "unprecedented" commitment to safeguarding legal votes.

"With over 230,000 volunteers to Protect the Vote, this is the most robust election integrity operation the party has ever seen," Zunk said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Attorneys general describe country on edge

Several lawyers who spoke to USA TODAY about 2024 legal preparations pointed to Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 results as an important factor. Those efforts culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters.

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"We needed to be ready because there are people who, no matter what the election outcome is, they're going to claim (victory)," said Keith Ellison, Minnesota's Democratic attorney general.

Ellison said his office has been preparing for various contingencies, such as a local county refusing to certify results. Local certification is part of the process for confirming and formalizing state election results.

Since 2020, dozens of local county officials across the country have delayed certification or refused to certify. However, none of those efforts has actually overturned a result so far. In October, a Georgia judge ruled that county officials in his state must certify results by their deadline, which falls on Nov. 12 this year.

A majority of the election board for Reno, Nevada's Washoe County voted against certification in two local elections in July, although some reversed course and the election was certified about a week later.

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Nevada Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford told USA TODAY certification is just one of the issues his office is making sure it's ready to litigate after Election Day. The state has already seen litigation from Republican-affiliated groups over voter registration lists and the deadline for the state to receive mail-in ballots.

"No one contemplated, I don't believe, what happened in 2020," Ford said. "We're a lot more prepared this time."

Then-candidate for Nevada attorney general Aaron D. Ford spoke during a get-out-the-vote rally featuring former U.S. President Barack Obama at the Cox Pavilion as he campaigned for Nevada Democratic candidates on October 22, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ford was elected later that year.

Asked by USA TODAY at a Tuesday press conference about his preparation for potential post-Election Day lawsuits, Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said his office is "battle tested" and has a process in place.

Voting rights groups readying

Longstanding voting rights groups have also been gearing up for what could be a new litigation landscape after Election Day.

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Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said the committee represented the NAACP in 15 cases between the 2020 Election Day and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. He sees lawsuits in Georgia on county certification and whether thousands of poll workers would suddenly have to hand-count ballots in this year's election as "dress rehearsals" for what could be coming in court after Tuesday.

"We cannot afford to let this be a Republican versus Democrat or a candidate versus candidate thing," Hewitt said.

Stephanie Owens, senior advisor for voting rights for the NAACP, said the national organization has taken some legal action ahead of the election, including intervening in a lawsuit over the hand-count rule. The Georgia Supreme Court decided not to weigh in on the issue ahead of Tuesday after a trial court concluded the rule was unlawful.

"There are several actions that we have taken and continue to take with our partners, mostly preemptive, to ensure that we don't have to have as many of these fights on Election Day and beyond," Owens said.

'F*** around and find out': Nevada AG's warning on election violence

Nevada Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford said his office isn't just preparing for potential lawsuits  it's also readying to tackle any political violence in the wake of the election.

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Governors in several states, including Nevada Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, activated the National Guard to be ready to support local law enforcement on Election Day. Local offices have prepared to protect election workers with panic buttons and bulletproof glass.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner issued a stark warning Monday to anyone considering getting violent during the election.

"I also wanna be clear, anybody who thinks it's time to play militia, F around and find out," Krasner said.

Ford echoed that message on Tuesday.

"I'm going to say what has been said in Philadelphia, excuse my French, but let them f*** around and find out," Ford told USA TODAY. "We will, in fact, prosecute those who violate the law when it comes to voter intimidation."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First come results, then come lawsuits. How AGs, lawyers have prepared
Steve Bannon told us he was feeling empowered after his release from prison last week. Its quite obvious he means it.

Hours after Donald Trumps victory, the former Trump campaign official and self-described political prisoner went on an angry rant, during which he revealed what very well may be the first targets in Trumps second term.

You stole the 2020 election. This entire phony thing is getting swept out, Bannon said. Bidens getting swept out. Kamala Harris is getting swept out. MSNBC is getting swept out. The Justice Department is getting swept out. The FBI is getting swept out. You people suck, OK?! And now youre going to pay the price for trying to destroy this country.

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Bannon went on to say that Democrats and their institutions dont deserve any respect, you dont deserve any empathy, and you dont deserve any pity. You deserve what we call rough Roman justice, and were prepared to give it to you.

These chilling threats come from a man who was just released from a Connecticut federal correctional institution Tuesday after serving four months for contempt of Congress. In 2021, Bannon refused to comply with the House January 6 committees probe into the insurrection, failing to produce requested documents and to comply with a subpoena. He was convicted in 2022.

Bannon still faces criminal charges in New York state court, where he allegedly scammed donors who pledged money toward constructing the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The trial is set for December. The 70-year-old has pleaded not guilty.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  State Rep. Steven Mentzer has defeated Democrat Robert Rudy to represent Pennsylvanias 97th District.

Rep. Mentzer, a life-long resident of Lancaster County, was first elected to serve as State Representative for the 97th district back in November of 2012.

Prior to holding a public office, Mentzer served as the treasurer of Manheim Township. Additionally, Mentzer has been involved in a variety of humanitarian efforts, locally and globally since 2006.

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Mentzer served as the president of the Central American Relief Efforts, which is a non profit organization that mobilizes U.S. volunteers and humanitarian aid to impoverished areas of Central America.

In 2023-24, during his time serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Mentzer was appointed to serve as the Republican Chairman of the Aging and Older Adult Services Committee.

Mentzer attended Elizabethtown College where he majored in business administration. He is now married with two children and resides in Manheim Township.

abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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Justin Heap and Tim Stringham. Photos by Michael Chow/Cheryl Evans | Arizona Republic/pool photos

Democratic newcomer Tim Stringham congratulated Republican state Rep. Justin Heap on Wednesday for what Stringham called Heaps likely win in the race for Maricopa County recorder.

Stringham acknowledged in a post on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, that there were still plenty of votes to count and that the outcome isnt fixed, but added that he detest(s) procrastination.

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With almost 65% of votes counted as of around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, Heap was up by more than 3 percentage points, bringing in 51.8% of votes to Stringhams 48.2%.

Heap declared victory on Wednesday, saying he was both honored and humbled.

I am grateful for the trust that the voters have placed in me, Heap wrote in a statement on X. I intend to fulfill my promise of being a Recorder for every voter because protecting the integrity of our elections is an issue that impacts us all. It is undeniably true that past elections, under both parties and spanning more than a decade, have denigrated our countys reputation and made us the laughing stock of the nation.

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Heap went on to promise to work with the state legislature to develop an agenda that he said will make elections more efficient and honest, and to deliver election results more quickly.

During his time in the Arizona House of Representatives, Heap backed several proposed laws based on unproven election fraud conspiracy theories, like bills that would have banned electronic tabulation of ballots and forced hand counts, and that would have eliminated the option to vote early for most Arizonans.

The race for Maricopa County Recorder centered around election integrity in a county that for years has been a hotbed for election conspiracy theories, including the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.

In the July 30 Republican primary election, Heap defeated outgoing Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, who faced hate and ridicule from many members of his own party for his repeated assurances that the countys elections were free, fair and transparent.

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Heap has consistently refused to admit whether he believes the 2020 and 2022 elections were stolen from top Republican candidates, as several of his allies in the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus have done. Heap credited the Freedom Caucuss leader, Republican Sen. Jake Hoffman for providing support and encouragement throughout his campaign, and for Hoffmans work as the chief architect of my campaign strategy.

Hoffman is one of Arizonas 18 fake electors indicted in April for a scheme that aimed to install Donald Trump as the president after he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.

In his victory statement, Heap mentioned his plan to work with the Arizona Legislature to make changes to the states election procedures for good reason: Many of the changes hes proposed, including to provide complete results on election night, are not within the control of the Maricopa County Recorder.

Last month, KJZZ reported that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, whose members have faced the same sort of ire aimed at Richer for their defense of the countys elections, voted to take some election responsibilities away from the Recorders Office.

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The board voted unanimously on Oct. 23 to approve an agreement with Richer that changes the division of election duties between the board and the Recorders Office. The shift happens Dec. 10, less than a month before Heap is set to take office.

The supervisors did not publicly discuss or make any comments about the agreement during the meeting, and their spokesman, Fields Moseley, told the Arizona Mirror that the changes in the recorders election duties were being made to create efficiencies, particularly in the IT department.

Moseley refused to answer questions from the Mirror about the timing of the decision to alter the duties of the Maricopa County Recorder, less than two months before someone who has called for hand-counting of ballots could take office. Moseley also declined to comment on what spurred the decision to revisit the division of election duties, or to say how long the supervisors had been considering the shift.

The agreement between the board and outgoing Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer also moves responsibility for the recorders information technology services  for both elections and document recording  from the Recorders Office to the Board of Supervisors.

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The $5 million budget for the recorders IT services will also be moved to the board.

Per the agreement, the new recorder will continue to be responsible for maintenance of voter registration rolls, receipt of early ballot requests, early ballot affidavit signature verification and curing, and adherence to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

The Board of Supervisors discussed plans to make the change during a portion of their Oct. 21 meeting that was closed to the public. Closed sessions of otherwise public meetings are permitted by Arizona law only in specific circumstances, in this case for dissemination of legal advice.

Several lawyers from the Maricopa County Attorneys Office, and Scott Jarrett, the director of the countys Elections Department, were all involved in the conversation, according to the meeting agenda.

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Stringham, who said he only ran to keep Heap out of the Recorders Office, acknowledged Wednesday that his opponent was the likely victor.

I did indeed call @azjustinheap to congratulate him on a long campaign completed for both of us and wish him luck on his likely win in the County Recorder race, Stringham wrote in the post on X. Regardless, there are a lot of ballots to be counted and cured, so everyone should relax, take a breath, and then go help cure ballots.

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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Incumbent state lawmakers once again had a great night in Rhode Island on Tuesday, even as Donald Trump posted the best performance by a Republican presidential candidate in the state in decades, according to preliminary results.

Going into Election Day, Democrats were expected to retain their supermajorities as most of the seats they hold were uncontested. Only 16 of the 38 Senate seats were contested, while in the House it was 27 out of 75.

In the House, Districts 15, 21, 26, 39, 42, 43 and 53 were seen as seats where either Republicans saw an opportunity to flip in their column or had no incumbent.

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If all the current results hold, Republicans will have a net gain of one House seat, making the chambers composition 65 Democrats, 10 Republicans and one independent (state Rep. Jon Brien of Woonsocket).

District 15 was an open race after state Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, R-Cranston, didnt run for reelection to make an unsuccessful run for mayor. The race featured Republican Chris Paplauskas  a term-limited Cranston city councilman  and Maria Bucci, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2020. Paplauskas has a narrow lead as of early Wednesday morning.

District 21 also was an open seat after state Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson, D-Warwick, didnt seek another term this year. Two candidates ran to succeed Vella-Wilkinson: Warwick City Councilman James McElroy, a Democrat, and Marie Hopkins, a Republican. Hopkins holds a slight lead. If her lead holds, that will be a Republican flip.

In District 39, the result wasnt as close. State Rep. Megan Cotter, D-Exeter, faced former state Rep. Justin Price, a Republican who defeated Cotter in 2020 but lost a rematch in 2022. Cotter was well ahead as of early Wednesday.

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Republicans also scored a decisive win in District 42, located in Johnston and Cranston. Republican Richard Fascia had a big lead over Democrat Kelsey Coletta as of early Wednesday, after she beat state Rep. Edward Cardillo Jr. for the Democratic nomination in Septembers primary. Most of the seat is in Johnston, a town that former President Donald Trump won for a third time Tuesday.

In District 26, a three-way race saw Democrat Earl Read III come out victorious against Republican Jeffrey Fisher and Vincent Marzullo, an independent. The race was an open seat after state Rep. Patricia Morgan opted out of running again to unsuccessfully challenge U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse this year.

District 43  also in Johnston  has had a close result in 2022 and was a rematch between state Rep. Deborah Felella, a Democrat, and Nicola Grasso, a Republican. Felella had a bigger margin of victory this time around.

Over in District 53, Republican Paul Santucci had a strong lead over former Democratic state Rep. Bernard Hawkins as of Wednesday morning. Hawkins was eyeing a comeback after losing in 2022 to current state Rep. Brian Rea, who didnt seek reelection.

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In the Senate, Republicans look like they may lose a seat, shrinking their five-member caucus to four.

District 29 in Warwick saw state Sen. Anthony DeLuca II narrowly losing to Democrat Peter Appollonio Jr. DeLuca told 12 News he will talk to his team about whether he plans to seek a recount.

Other closely-watched races in the Senate were Districts 25 and 26.

In Johnstons District 25, Democrat Andrew Dimitri had a decisive win over Republican Karin Gorman. The seat was open after the death of state Sen. Frank Lombardo III.

District 26 saw Democrat Todd Patalano  who is a Cranston police major  defeat Republican Jenn Caputi.

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Some of the margins for these results could change depending on how many more mail ballots need to be counted. Depending on the final margins of victory, recounts may be requested by candidates.

Candidates have until Nov. 12 to ask for a recount.

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NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH)  At the Connecticut College campus, one group of students is doing some campaigning themselves to try to encourage their peers to head to the polls.

Camels Vote, a bipartisan civic group, is not only urging students to vote, but members are also getting rides for students and even some staff who want to head to the polls.

This morning, we had over 10 students go, and we have a number of students who have expressed interest for later in the day, Pat Lynch, who works at the Holleran Center for Community Action at Connecticut College, said.

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Connecticut races to watch on Election Day

For many on the New London campus, this is their first time voting in a presidential election or in any election.

Just to feel [that] I have a place in this election is exciting for sure, first-time voter Erin Lawrence said.

[Its] really really exciting, first-time voter Eliza Macaluso said. Its a scary time but by voting I feel really hopeful.

The Connecticut College vans are usually used to bring students to their work study or community service jobs, but on Tuesday, theyre taking them to the polls.

Seeing it for the first time can be a little bit scary or confusing but I luckily prepared myself to know what the ballot is gonna look like, first-time voter Ava Mormile said.

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While many students voted via absentee ballot from their hometown, quite a few also registered and voted in New London. Some registered on the same day at City Hall.

To be honest, I wasnt really excited, first-time voter Cherubin Augustin-Lawson said. I was kind of dragged out of my bed from my roommate but its a new experience for me. I wouldnt say Im excited, but Im happy that I got a chance to vote today.

Live updates: 2024 US presidential election

Jamal Bakar, who voted by absentee ballot, is the roommate who dragged Augustin-Lawson to the polls.

I was like Dude, you have to vote,' Bakar said. Like this is one chance. We have another friend who doesnt have that privilege because hes going to turn 18 tomorrow.

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Id say I was more nervous than excited, first-time voter Maddie Caulfield said. Now that Ive already done it, Im more excited.

The first-time voters look forward to many more elections to come.

I know people say one vote doesnt matter but to me it does really matter, Bakar said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that more than 20% of the nations population relies on water sources that contain a detectable amount of PFAS  and Michigan is a hot spot.

Kalamazoos former Cork Street Landfill declared PFAS contamination site

The results of the USGS study were recently published in the academic journal Science. Using more than 1,200 groundwater samples, the researchers put together a predictive model to estimate the spread of PFAS contamination, factoring in things like well depth.

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If you have shallow groundwater, and youre near an urban area, and there are (nearby) industries that use PFAS, then youre (very likely to have a contaminated source), USGS researcher Bruce Lindsey told Bridge Michigan.

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The model estimated that anywhere from 71 million to 95 million Americans get their drinking water from a contaminated source. In Michigan, the number is between 2.3 million and 3.2 million  approximately 30% of the total population.

Of those residents, up to 1.8 million get their water from municipal systems, which are monitored regularly and generally treated to remove PFAS. However, up to 1.4 million people draw their water from unguarded private wells.

Probability map of PFAS contamination in groundwater. (Courtesy U.S. Geological Survey)

Andrea Tokranov is a research hydrologist for the USGS and co-author of the study. She says its no secret that the U.S. has widespread PFAS contamination, but a predictive model could help environmental officials focus on the hardest hit areas.

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This new predictive model can help prioritize areas for future sampling to help ensure people arent unknowingly drinking contaminated water, Tokranov said in a statement. This is especially important for private well users, who may not have information on water quality in their region and may not have the same access to testing and treatment that public suppliers do.

Study: PFAS building up in 3 of 5 Great Lakes

Florida and California were found to have the most contaminated groundwater sources for municipal systems, while Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio have the most contaminated private wells.

A map shows large swathes of Michigan with almost near certainty of widespread PFAS contamination, including the Detroit metro area, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and large stretches of the Lake Michigan shoreline, from Montague down through New Buffalo.

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PFAS  or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances  are a large group of compounds first developed in the 1940s and incorporated into all sorts of products for waterproofing and heat resistance. Decades later, research showed that PFAS compounds take a long time to break down organically and can build up in the human body, causing serious health problems, including cancer. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, there are more than 15,000 known PFAS compounds.

The Environmental Working Group says there are now more than 5,000 confirmed PFAS-contaminated sites across the United States, including at least one in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and two American territories. As of last month, 329 have been identified in Michigan.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
100 years ago,

Nov. 6, 1924

MATTOON  Corn husking began in the local territory on Monday. For the most part the work is being done by the regular labor supply on each farm, but transient huskers are beginning to arrive. A small number of them has been put to work. The wage price is not quoted. None of the new corn will arrive at the local elevators for a month yet, dealers said today. The reason is there is no need for such a rush. Some of the corn is well dried out, but that condition could not be depended upon generally, and a failure to grade up to contract, number four, would mean a loss in the market price which the producer would have to bear if he marketed early.

50 years ago, 1974

MATTOON  The doors on the new K-Mart store will swing open at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. The new 73,120 square foot discount department store is located in the Cross County Mall. Announcing the opening, company officials said, "Our concept is to stock only first quality goods and price everything to move in large quantities. Present plans for the opening provide for what we feel will be remarkable savings to our customers." The K-Mart store is located in the site formerly occupied by Arlans. The building has been extensively remodeled and expanded to accommodate the new K-Mart Store...CHARLESTON  EIU Housing Dean Donald Kluge has been reprimanded for violating university travel regulations while on a business trip last summer. In a statement issued by the university information office, Kluge was cited as violating the regulations while on a trip to a housing convention in Pennsylvania. Kluge's actions during the trip were investigated after the matter was brought to the attention of EIU President Gilbert C. Fite, the statement said. Fite directed Kluge to repay the university for any unauthorized travel associated with the trip. In addition, Fite has issued Kluge a "strongly worded reprimand," the release said. Kluge said he does not plan to resign over the incident. The probe into Kluge's trip apparently began after two student government leaders saw Kluge's name on a voucher for the use of a university car, while the housing dean was supposed to be on vacation.

25 years ago, 1999

TRILLA  One man suffered burns on his hands and arms during a kitchen grease fire at the Judith Rohr residence in Trilla about 12:30 p.m. Friday. Jason Bell, 22, of Trilla was treated by ambulance personnel at the scene of the fire but refused ambulance transport to the hospital. He told ambulance workers he would use private transportation to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Officials at the scene said Bell had some second and third degree burns on hands and arms. Rohr's son, Jim Rohr, said Bell was in the kitchen frying chicken when the grease in the pan caught fire. Bell tried to pick up the pan and move it from the stove when she was burned. Jim Rohr was able to put out the fire with an extinguisher before fire-fighters arrived. The Lincoln Fire Protection District and Neoga Fire Department responded to the scene. The kitchen received minimal fire damage but heavy smoke damage from the fire...SULLIVAN  A Mount Zion teenager recently found out it's not smart to take souvenirs home from the Moultrie County Jail. Joshua D. Sloan, 17, was convicted of theft at a jury trial on Wednesday in Moultrie County Court. Sloan was released from Moultrie County Jail on Sept. 2 after serving a sentence for a prior charge of drug paraphernalia possession. Moultrie County State's Attorney Tim Willis said when Sloan stopped at a gas station about a block north of the courthouse, some Sullivan residents noticed an orange piece of clothing fall out of Sloan's pants. "They realized it was some sort of jumpsuit, and they thought maybe he had walked away from the jail," said Willis. The citizens alerted police officers, who confronted Sloan and asked him what he was doing with the shirt, which had the words "Moultrie County Jail" printed on it, according to Willis. "(Sloan's) defense was that he didn't know he had it," said Willis. "My opinion is he thought it would look cool to go to his friends and have something to say he's been in jail."
Linda Elmo was waiting outside Padre Serra Parish in Camarillo for Ventura County emergency personnel to bring a wheelchair for her to get into the evacuation center amid the ferocious Mountain fire.

The 75-year-old had watched as the winds picked up that morning and was listening to the news, but she didnt receive notice about a wildfire evacuation until a firefighter knocked on the door and told her and her husband to go, go, go!

It happened so fast, Elmo said. The blaze "was in this canyon by the house in the backyard.

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The Mountain fire exploded into Moorpark and Camarillo on Wednesday fueled by dangerously high wind and dry conditions. The fire swept into hillside neighborhoods, forcing residents to flee and burning numerous homes. There were reports of some people trapped.

The high winds mean retardant-dropping airplanes were initially unable to aid in the firefighting effort, the department said. The fire had hopped the 118 Freeway and was marching into Camarillo Heights. As a result, the California Highway Patrol closed the freeway between Oxnard and Camarillo.

Read more: Multiple homes burned as Ventura County fire explodes to 14,000 acres, trapping residents

The fire started amid a Santa Ana wind event that was generating 70- to 80-mph wind gusts in some parts of Los Angeles County on Wednesday, triggering power outages, traffic concerns and warnings of fire risk.

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There were dramatic moments through the morning and afternoon.

Ventura County sheriff's deputies rushed older Moorpark residents in wheelchairs down steep driveways and out of homes, amid orange haze and wind gusts, Key News Network video showed.

Deputies lifted those who could not walk into police cars and rushed them away from encroaching flames just coming into view.

Elmo said she had left half of the medication that she needed at home.

I don't have the charges for my oxygen, she added. Elmo uses an Inogen portable oxygen machine. I'll deal with it, she said.

Read more: Mountain fire: Latest evacuations, road closures, shelters, school closures

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She had a friend trying to pick up more medicine at the pharmacy for her but said she hoped the Red Cross might also have some of the medication she needed.

Emilia Lois said the day had been "kind of a blur." Her home sits on Ridgecrest Lane, close to the fire's origin.

The 45-year-old mother of two evacuated around 9:30 a.m. Her husband was away on business. She said she watched as wildfire smoke billowed down her street.

After getting an alert on her phone, Lois rushed to pack some belongings and pick up her children, 11 and 14 years old, from school  which, not long after, was canceled.

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They know what's happening, and they're pretty upset," she said, "but I keep trying to remind them that we're alive, we're here, we are safe."

Karen Cihigoyenetche, 81, and her husband Raymond, 92, were warned about the fire from their cable man, who begged them to leave the house. "Our cable man is actually the rescuer here," she said.

Cihigoyenetche didn't get a notification on her phone, she said: "I'm not literate in the phone business."

She jumped into action, trying to call all her senior neighbors. She grabbed her emergency bag packed with cash, extra clothes and medicine.

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The traffic was really bad, and a lot of emergency vehicles trying to get through the traffic, unbelievable, Cihigoyenetche said. The three-mile drive from her home to the parish, which would normally take about 15 minutes, took them an hour. But she didnt know where to go when she left.

She drove one direction before realizing she was heading into the wind  and the fire. We were stopped and found somebody that told us we have to come [to the parish], she said. It was an unbelievable mess."

As the sun sank behind the thick smoke just beyond the parish, the Red Cross told evacuees they should expect to stay the night.

CaroleAnn Higa thought there might be cots, or she could push two chairs together.

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Higa and a roommate had escaped their home to the roar of helicopters overhead. She stuffed some clothes and her respirator into her purse and her roommate loaded her oxygen tank into the car. Higa, 77, has asthma and COPD.

When she exited the house, she said the smoke was so thick she could barely see across the street.

"You can't breathe," she said. "It hits your chest and you're gasping for air." At the parish, emergency personnel ushered her to a medical team.

"If the nurse hadn't helped me, I wouldn't have made it," she said.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Marlin Stutzman talks to supporters in Fort Wayne. (Nathan Gotsch/Fort Wayne Politics)

Republican and former U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman will be heading back to Washington, D.C. after winning a campaign for the 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday night.

Stutzman, who previously held the same seat between 2010 and 2017, survived a contentious primary in May. The Associated Press called the race with him leading with 64.3% of the vote.

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Democrat Kiley Adolph and Libertarian Jarrad Lancaster has 32.8% and 2.9% of the vote, respectively, as of 7:45 p.m.

The reliably red district includes Indianas second-largest city, Fort Wayne, and covers the greater northeastern Indiana area.
Suhas Subramanyam (Courtesy Photo)

State Sen. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun, has defeated Republican nominee Mike Clancy in Virginias 10th Congressional District race, according to The Associated Press.

Subramanyam, a former tech policy adviser to former President Barack Obama, had said if elected, he will advocate for federal funding for Virginia infrastructure projects, which the districts current representative, Democrat Jennifer Wexton, also pursued. Subramanyam has also vowed to help keep the federal government open to avoid shutdowns that impact federal government employees.

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Wexton, who endorsed Subramanyam, is retiring at the end of the year after being diagnosed with a severe neurological disorder.

I am honored and humbled that the people of Virginias 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress, said Subramanyam in a statement. This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honor to continue serving this district in Washington.

Over the past three congressional elections, Democrats have maintained control of the district, even after it was redrawn to include the counties of Loudoun, Fauquier and Rappahannock, the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, and parts of Prince William and Fairfax counties.

During the campaign, Clancy faced criticism for his alleged ties to Project 2025, a conservative playbook for running the country that proposed eliminating the jobs of federal government workers and contractors. Although Clancy admitted to previously donating to the Heritage Foundation, which authored Project 2025, he denied that he supported the plan, and ran on issues with the economy, parental rights, and public safety.

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An easy way to ruin your day is to get a parking ticket.

Luckily, Texas operates a nice and clear system equipped with visible street signs and easy options to pay for parking if needed. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when zipping around the city.

Familiarize yourself with the parking regulations around Fort Worth to avoid getting a ticket. Here is all the information you should know.

 More trending stories from our newsroom:

 Can Texas churches endorse candidates or post political signs?

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 How the Cowboys' kicker ended up on a jury in the middle of the season

 N TX teacher caught on video spending night at school with student, police say

How to know where it is safe to park in Texas

In Texas, the local government code allows for the city to:

Limit parking spaces to certain vehicles or no vehicles at all.

Put a time limit on how long a vehicle can be parked in an area or spot.

Prohibit parking in certain areas.

There will be clear signs that say No Parking or Towing Enforced. Some signs may even just indicate certain hours where parking is permitted, such as 2-Hour Parking.

Example of a no parking sign that you may see in Fort Worth.

If there are no visible signs, painted curbs, or indication of no parking, then it is legal to park your car in that spot.

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If a county restricts or prohibits parking in a place, it shall erect an appropriately worded sign at the place to inform a driver of a vehicle of the restriction or prohibition. The county is not required to erect a sign to indicate that parking is prohibited on a lawn or other area that does not appear to be a place intended for use as a parking area, according to Texas local government code.

What do those street signs around Fort Worth mean?

Parking indicators in Texas will be decorated with red or black writing, most likely on a white sign. The occasional green sign may pop up as well. They must be located in a visible area next to the parking space. Red curbs can also indicate no parking zones.

The black lettering with a large red cross through it indicates no parking.

Wording on the signs will indicate the regulations for parking. Examples include,

No parking any time

No parking 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

No parking except on Sundays and holidays

No standing any time

One hour parking

No parking loading zone

No parking bus stop

Reserved parking for persons with disabilities

No parking on pavement, on bridge, on r.o.w.

No parking except on the shoulder, within 10 feet of pavement

No parking, no parking with an arrow

No parking symbol

No stopping on pavement, except on the shoulder

Diagonal parking

Parallel parking

2 HR Parking

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Parking meters also have their own regulations. In Fort Worth, meters are lined along the central business district, the medical district, University Street near TCU, and the Cultural District.

The cartoon imagery represents a tow zone. Do not park in these zones to avoid a ticket.

If a meter has a red bag over it, parking in that space is prohibited. Vehicles that park there, regardless, will be subject to a citation or tow.

Sometimes you may have to pay to park in Fort Worth

Meters in the business, medical, and University areas operate daily. However, they charge you from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Saturdays and Sundays, as well as between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., are free.

Meters in the Cultural District are located along Will Rogers West and operate daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. All Fort Worth meters are free on city-observed holidays:

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New Years Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Memorial Day

Juneteenth Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Friday

Christmas Day

To pay for parking, you will need either some spare change or to download the FW Park app. This app allows you to pay and also increase meter time from your phone. Parking prices go as follows:

Red/one-hour meters: $2 an hour

Orange/two hour meters: $2 an hour

Blue/four-hour meters: $1 an hour

Green/10-hour meters: $0.50 an hour

On West 7th Street, drivers can park for two hours free once daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; otherwise, parking is $3 an hour between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. every day.

What are the penalties for illegal parking?

If a citizen does not follow the parking rules, then they can be faced with a Class C misdemeanor. This means a fine of up to $500 but no chance of jail time.
Hundreds of Democrats gathered Nov. 5, 2024, at the Overland Park Convention Center to watch election results. (Chloe Anderson for Kansas Reflector)

LAWRENCE  Kansas voters chose Republican Donald Trump over his Democratic rival for a third straight election cycle and appeared to defy a projection that the race would be much closer than past elections.

The Associated Press called the race for Trump at 9:40 p.m. after he surged ahead of Democrat Kamala Harris, who had led in early results for nearly two hours after polls closed. By late Tuesday, Trump was up by 14.4 percentage points with 85% of the vote counted.

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The Kansas vote attracted more national attention than usual after a Fort Hays State University survey showed the margin between Trump and Harris had narrowed to just 5 percentage points a week before Election Day.

There was little question as to whether Kansas would go for Trump. The reliably red state hasnt favored a Democrat for president since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

But Trump enjoyed a 20.6-point victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 and a 14.6-point victory over Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. A much narrower margin of victory this year would have signaled a significant shift in the states political base.

About 1.2% of Kansans cast their ballot for independent Robert Kennedy Jr., and about 0.6% voted for Libertarian Chase Oliver, based on results late Tuesday.

Brett Zollinger, director of the Docking Institute, talks to reporters about the Kansas Speaks survey during an Oct. 29, 2024, interview at the Kansas Reflector office. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Fort Hays State Universitys annual Kansas Speaks survey attracted national attention in an election cycle where national polling frequently showed Trump and Harris in a virtual tossup in battleground states. And the survey has a track record of accuracy, having predicted Trump would win by 14.4 points in 2016.

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Brett Zollinger, director of the Docking Institute at Fort Hays State University and an architect of the survey, said the presidential election was a very minor focus for the survey.

We are far more focused on policies, issues that are going to be relevant to Kansans, likely to come up in the legislative session, that sort of thing, Zollinger said. But every four years, we get this unique opportunity to see what our survey methodology bears out in terms of some actual voter decisions in the state in the presidential election.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Susan Elaine Bayus, daughter of the late Joseph and Loisann Bayus, passed away on Thursday, October 31, 2024.

She was born on September 19, 1961 in Youngstown, Ohio, where she lived the majority of her life.

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She was married to the late Thomas Rouzzo for nine years. Together, they had two children (Tom and Maria) who were the loves of Sues life.

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She was a 1979 graduate of Boardman High School and earned undergraduate degrees from Youngstown State University. She excelled as a student and always graduated with high honors at the top of her classes.

She was employed in various hospital and clinical laboratory settings for 35+ years as a medical technologist generalist, specialist and most recently as a research laboratory general supervisor. She has long tenures as a medical technologist at St. Elizabeth Health Center, as well as, Youngstown Osteopathic Hospital.

Susan had a smile that could light up any room and enjoyed listening to rock music, going to concerts, and fellowship with her family and many friends. Her infectious laugh and quick wit were hallmarks of her personality.

Susan was raised in and attended St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church (Youngstown) in her youth and also attended New Beginning Church (Youngstown).

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She is survived by her son, Thomas Rouzzo (Lindsay) of Massillon; daughter, Maria Rouzzo of Cleveland; grandson, Jack (Thomas); sisters, JoAnn (Marty) Stock of Youngstown and Mariann (Dan) Brown of Atlanta; her dear Aunt Janet Bayus and Uncle Jim and Aunt Patty Mika; many loving cousins and her beloved cat, Chloe.

Vichnaya Pamyat

(Slovonic for Eternal Memory)

The Bayus family has entrusted their loved one to the care of the Wasko Funeral Home in Campbell where calling hours will take place on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a service of remembrance at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Celebrate Recovery (celebraterecovery.com).

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To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Susan Elaine Bayus, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Thursday, November 7 at the following approximate times: 5:17 a.m. on WKBN, 8:39 a.m. on FOX, 5:21 p.m. on WYTV and 6:35 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. (WWLP)  A suspect was indicted in connection with allegedly defrauding an elderly man from Berkshire County for approximately $500,000.

According to the Department of Justice, in or around June, a 75-year-old man in North Adams received a pop-up message on his computer claiming that it was frozen and a phone number to call for assistance. The victim called the number, which he thought was Microsoft, and spoke with someone who called himself Sam Wilson.

Suspect arrested after leading police chase, crash in Pittsfield

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Wilson claimed to be a federal agent from the U.S. Treasury Department and said several houses had been purchased in the United States and Russia in the victims name. In order to protect the victims money, Wilson allegedly told him that he should withdraw cash from his bank and send it to the Treasury Department, where it would be kept in a lock box until the victim was cleared of the scheme.

The victim was also allegedly told by Wilson that the bank would not let him withdraw all of his money at once, and instead make smaller withdrawal amounts and send it to Wilson at the Treasury in installments.

The Department of Justice said that the victim provided approximately $500,000 in cash on about five occasions over three months to a person he believed to be associated with Sam Wilson. Each time, the victim was instructed to put the cash in a taped box with his own name and address on it. The courier picked up the box outside the victims house and drove away.

An investigation was conducted when the victims sister reported the scheme to law enforcement. On Monday, an undercover officer posing as the victim waited outside to provide a box to the courier. Once the box was placed inside the vehicle, the suspect drove away. He was immediately taken into custody.

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The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel of South Boston. He was arrested while driving a rental car and using while on a call using WhatsApp. Patel allegedly told police that he had been collecting packages for weeks at the direction of another individual in exchange for payment. He would then allegedly deliver packages to a prearranged location before receiving his payment.

On Tuesday, Patel was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and released on conditions including GPS monitoring and orders that he remain in Massachusetts. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

If you or someone you know is a victim of cybercrime, including elder fraud schemes, cryptocurrency schemes, romance schemes, investment schemes, and business email compromise fraud schemes, contact USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 21-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man faces charges in connection to a June deadly shooting.

Jackson County prosecutors this week charged Myloe Doan with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action.

Jason Kelce says hes not proud after slamming phone in viral video

According to court documents, officers with the Kansas City Police Department responded on Sunday, June 2, just after 1:45 p.m. on a shooting in the area of E. 9th Street and Van Brunt Boulevard.

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When officers arrived on scene they found a man, unresponsive, along the sidewalk with apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene and identified as 29-year-old William C. Wright.

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No bond has been set at this time for Doan.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Sweden will provide Ukraine with a new aid package valued at nine million euros ($9.8 million), which includes two vessels designed to enhance maritime security.

Sweden's Minister of Civil Defense, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, made the announcement during a joint briefing with Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko on Nov. 5.

Bohlin explained that the package will see two ships transferred to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Additionally, Sweden will supply 40,000 protective masks and respirators to support the State Emergency Service personnel.

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"We are observing the situation and recognize that Ukraine is fighting for the entire civilized world. And we will continue to support you fully, because the security of the whole of Europe depends on you," Bohlin said.

He also emphasized Sweden's intention to deepen cooperation between Ukrainian and Swedish ministries. "We share your vision of the security situation, which certainly has an impact on Sweden. In addition, we want to learn from your experience in order to strengthen our security capabilities as well," Bohlin added.

On Oct. 28, Sweden announced a military aid package of 729 million Swedish krona (around $68 million) for Ukraine. The announcement came during the fourth Ukraine-Northern Europe Summit in Iceland, where President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the prime ministers of Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland.

Of the total, $46.5 million will support Ukraine's Armed Forces, while $21.6 million will aid the development of Ukraine's defense industry.

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Read also: Sweden, Finland will not prohibit Ukraine from striking Russia with its weapons amid Putins threats to NATO

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(Bloomberg) -- Before the trading day starts we bring you a digest of the key news and events that are likely to move markets. Today we look at:

Most Read from Bloomberg

Swiggy IPO interest

AI bug bites L&T

Bonds lure inflows

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Good morning, this is Chiranjivi Chakraborty, an equities reporter in Mumbai. The verdict of the US presidential election looms large over Wednesdays session. Nifty futures are hinting at a slight dip, despite Asian markets mostly trading higher and US shares rallied overnight. However, concerns over slowing earnings and persistent withdrawals by foreign investors may cap any gains in India. Meanwhile, Swiggys IPO opens to the public, with some nerves over retail interest.

Swiggys IPO may face lukewarm retail interest

Swiggy is a household name in urban India, but that may not be enough to get retail investors excited about the food platform giants $1.3 billion share sale when it opens today. Indications from the grey market point to a muted listing-day gain. Combined with its rich valuation, this could make retail investors wary  similar to how they reacted to Hyundai Motor Indias recent debut. Still, foreign investors are likely to be big buyers, given their optimism about Indias long-term consumption growth, even if Swiggys shares dont come cheap.

L&T joins AI boom with E2E stake

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Engineering giant Larsen & Toubros move to invest $167 million in E2E Networks, a cloud computing firm partnered with Nvidia, shows how Indian conglomerates are getting more serious about AI. Just last month, Nvidia teamed up with Reliance Industries to build AI infrastructure in the country. The craze around AI is clear from the share price jumps in companies such as Black Box and Techno Electric, both of which have more than doubled over the past year. But investors in India would do well be cautious  their global counterparts are becoming wary of overpaying for AI stocks.

Bonds keep their cool before coin-toss US election

Indian government bonds have been a picture of calm in the six months leading up to the close US presidential race, with benchmark 10-year yields moving within a narrow 40-basis-points range. Thats a contrast to US Treasury yields, which have swung by as much as 100 basis over the same period. Foreign investors have certainly noticed this stability. While Indian equities saw record outflows in October, rupee bonds have enjoyed six straight months of net inflows.

Analysts actions:

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Adani Energy Rated New Buy at Sunidhi Securities & Finance Ltd

Indian Railway Finance Cut to Sell at Investec; PT 50 rupees

Three great reads from Bloomberg today:

Voters Sue Musk for Fraud Over $1 Million Election Sweepstakes

Nvidia Rides AI Wave to Pass Apple as Worlds Largest Company

Star Hedge Funds Surge in China Threatened by US Indictment

And, finally..

The US elections may not yet have thrown a clear winner, but for traders, what really matters is how Indian stocks perform in the aftermath of this pivotal event. Indian stocks have enjoyed a seasonal tailwind in the year following the election in the worlds largest economy, based on trends from the previous four cycles. While the recent slowdown in earnings growth has tempered some of enthusiasm for India, long-term investors still see plenty of reasons to stay optimistic.

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--With assistance from Ashutosh Joshi and Ronojoy Mazumdar.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
While several expats are admiring the intricate animal patterns on an ancient Chinese bronze object, others are carefully listening to a tour guide explain the skill and wisdom behind the craftsmanship.

It was part of the "Exploring China "Henan Tour event in Zhengzhou, Luoyang and Anyang in Central China's Henan province from Sunday to Tuesday.

Participants of the "Exploring China" Henan Tour admire a bronze ware at Henan Museum in Zhengzhou city. XU LIN/CHINA DAILY

More than 40 foreign experts in classical studies from 13 countries visited Henan's heritage sites, Longmen Grottoes and the Yinxu Museum, immersing themselves in the rich Chinese culture and civilization.

Two other groups joined the tours in Shandong province, visiting places like the Temple of Confucius, and in Sichuan province, traveling to key archaeological sites like Sanxingdui and Jinsha.

These experts are participants in the World Conference of Classics, being held in Beijing from Wednesday to Friday.

"I'm excited to visit China for the first time, and I plan to travel to China again with my family, to see more of its deep culture and history," says Michael Trapp, emeritus professor of Greek literature and thought at King's College London.

Before setting out, he sought advice from his Chinese doctoral student in London and his brother, a Chinese language translator who often travels to China for work. Both suggested that given his passion for history, archaeology and art, he would find his visit to Henan particularly captivating, which he does.

At the museums, he finds that the use of modern technology has made historical sites more accessible to a modern audience, striking a delicate balance between preserving ancient materials and showing their history vividly via replicas and digital reconstructions. "This endeavor requires considerable effort and creativity," he says.

He believes that it's wonderful to see the massive size of the Erlitou Site in Luoyang and the artifacts excavated from it at the nearby museum. It shows the archaeological process of their discovery.

Thomas Michael from the United States, professor at School of Philosophy, Beijing Normal University, who does research into Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, agrees.

"I've read about all these places, but it's the first time to see various artifacts about the origins and downfall of the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) and the beginning of the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC)," he says. "It's amazing to see the ancient centers of Chinese civilization. These are important periods for Confucianism.  The Confucian tradition goes all the way back to Zhougong (the Duke of Zhou) from the Western Zhou Dynasty."

The duke was believed to have been a prolific author with humanistic ideas and written Rites of Zhou, a fundamental ancient Chinese classic on organizational theory.

Mary Evelyn Tucker, a senior lecturer and research scholar at Yale University, says: "It's exciting to have this cultural tour to Henan and see that China is recovering its own traditional past.  China's modernization has developed very rapidly over the past 40 years since my first visit to the country in 1985."

Her research fields include Confucianism and ecology. China is moving toward ecological civilization, she says, which has greatly changed its ecology, society and spirituality.

She says that Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism have the cultural values for an awakening of environmental consciousness, for example, the concept of "heaven and man are united as one" in Chinese philosophy.

Costas Synolakis, the Chair of Earth Sciences in the Academy of Athens, points out that "it's great to see the different periods of Chinese history and how its art evolves".

His research focuses on how people in ancient Greece and Rome understood and dealt with extreme disasters. He's surprised to find that the ancient Chinese tried to control floods about 4,000 years ago when he visited Henan's museums. "It's around the 4th and 5th centuries BC that people in the Mediterranean started to understand that floods and earthquakes are natural phenomena.  It's motivating for me to learn much more about Chinese culture, especially the recorded floods in its history."

According to him, many people associate China's history with its dynasties, but are not familiar with the country's ancient capitals in Henan and how the Chinese shifted these ancient capitals in history. That's why the trip has impressed him greatly.
Election Day is underway and Tennesseans and Americans across the country are making their voices heard at the polls.

With just a few hours left until the polls close, many are anxiously awaiting the results of the historic presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, who spent the final leg of the campaigning period wooing voters in pivotal swing states.

As reported by USA TODAY, Trump held rallies in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Harris concluded her campaign in Pennsylvania after holding rallies in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

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What is the importance behind swing states? Here is what to know about them and what role they play in presidential elections.

America decides: 2024 Tennessee General Election Results

What is a swing state? What makes them so important?

Swing states, also commonly referred to as "battleground states," are states that can be potentially won by either the Democratic or Republican presidential candidate, unlike "red states" or "blue states" which consistently vote Democrat or Republican.

Because of the unpredictability of swing states, they are crucial in determining the outcome of presidential elections. Since states can "swing" for either candidate, candidates will focus on winning over said states throughout the campaign period.

How many swing states did each candidate secure during the 2020 election?

During the 2020 election, President Joe Biden won six swing states  Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan, Georgia, and Arizona  securing 79 electoral votes. Former President Trump won two, Florida and North Carolina, securing only 44.

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Biden was declared the winner with 306 electoral votes, compared to Trump's 232. A candidate needs to secure 270 electoral votes in order to win the presidency.

Is Tennessee a swing state?

No, Tennessee is not a swing state. Since 2000, the Volunteer State has routinely voted Republican, making it a red state. The last time Tennessee voted blue was during the 1996 election.

Stay in the know: Download our app for breaking election news and alerts

What states are considered swing states in 2024?

The seven swing states for 2024 are:

Arizona

Georgia

Michigan

Nevada

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

Wisconsin

When will we know election results?

Obtaining the results of the election is expected to be a slower process. Laws and regulations vary by state so it is likely the results of the election won't be known until days later.

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In Tennessee, voters will probably know who wins the state a bit earlier than a swing state like Arizona. But overall, it could be days before we know who is the winner of the 2024 presidential election.

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More: When will we know who is elected president? Don't be surprised if it takes a while

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What is a swing state? Why they are critical on Election Day
Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner won Texass 18th Congressional District by a nearly a 40 percentage point margin, Decision Desk HQ has projected. The Democrat will replace the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), who died after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this summer.

Jackson Lees children endorsed Turner to fill the seat in her absence.

We have no doubt Mayor Turner will carry on our mothers legacy of service because weve witnessed it almost our entire lives, Jackson Lees family wrote in a statement. Our mother had no greater partner than Mayor Turner and he honors her with his willingness to dutifully and humbly serve as a sturdy bridge to the next generation of leadership for the historic 18th Congressional District of Texas.

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The Lone Star State also held a special election Tuesday to determine who would represent the districts constituents until Turner takes office in January.

Erica Lee Carter, Jackson Lees daughter was elected to fill the vacancy over the next two months.

I am humbled by the trust the voters of Texas 18th Congressional District have placed in me to represent them in Congress, Lee Carter wrote in a statement posted on the social platform X. I am deeply honored to follow in the footsteps of my mother, Sheila Jackson Lee, whose dedication to our community has shaped the path I now walk.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Utah Democrats, gathered at a pair of election night parties in Salt Lake City Tuesday, tried to sound confident about a victory for Vice President Kamala Harris.

I was the first one here, said ShaRon Williams, a retiree and former county party chair who drove in from Morgan to watch returns on a big screen TV hanging on an exposed brick wall at the Woodbine Food Hall in the up and coming Granary District of Salt Lake City. She said she had no doubt Harris would defeat former President Donald Trump.

Dressed in a red jacket with a red, white and blue Vote button, Williams said early in the evening that she just really felt Harris is going to come through. She said its about time a women held the nations highest office.

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Hours later, however, several winning Utah Democratic candidates addressed the increasing anxiety over the presidential race even as they celebrated their own victories.

Were frightened about what the future holds. We dont know whats going to happen at the national level, Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost of Salt Lake City, told another crowd of Democrats gathered at Hotel Monaco for a separate election night party once state results were finally released after 10 p.m. Lets just keep fighting for good in the world.

Another Democratic state lawmaker, Sen. Karen Kwan of West Valley City, told the Democrats everyone knew the presidential race would be close. We need to keep our heads level and take care of one another because thats what Democrats do in Utah, she said. We fight like hell and we take care of one another.

Utah Democratic Party leaders, who hosted the event at Woodbine, watched as other early arrivals there posed with a life-sized cutout of Harris in front of a table loaded with Harris-Walz merchandise for sale. A Harris win, they said, would boost their goal of seeing Utah, one of the most Republican states in the country, become competitive for Democrats in the coming years.

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Were working toward the long game in the Utah Democratic Party, Vice Chair Oscar Mata of Ogden said. He predicted it could take until 2034 or even 2044 for Utah to be considered a swing state in presidential elections, while the party chair, Diane Lewis, was more optimistic, suggesting that could be accomplished in as little as four years.

Its just the excitement weve seen since (President Joe) Biden stepped down and she stepped up, said Lewis, who was wearing a long string of pearls with her Harris T-shirt to honor the presidential candidates necklace of choice. She called the level of enthusiasm the party has seen for Harris as over the top.

Utah hasnt gone blue in a presidential election since then-President Lyndon Johnson was on the ballot in 1964. That happened again Tuesday, when Utah was called for Trump shortly after the polls closed at 8 p.m. despite long lines of voters delaying the release of results by state elections officials.

Trump had just over 58% of the Utah vote in 2020, compared to almost 38% for the winner of that years election, President Joe Biden, a Democrat. But when Trump won Utah in 2016, he ended up with just 45.5% of the Beehive State vote, his lowest margin of victory in any state that year.

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Trump was trailed in Utah in 2016 by the Democrat in the race, Hillary Clinton, with 27.5% of the vote, and independent candidate Evan McMullin, with 21.5%. McMullin, who targeted Utah in his presidential bid, went on to challenge GOP Sen. Mike Lee in 2022 as an independent with the backing of the Utah Democratic Party.

Some Democrats point to McMullins campaigns as a sign that the states Republican supermajority can be fractured, at least eventually. There hasnt been a Democrat elected to statewide office in Utah since the late Jan Graham served as the states first and only female attorney general from 1992 to 2001. (The states female lieutenant governors since were elected as part of ticket.)

Anna Beyer, from Salt Lake City, watches election results as they come in at the Utah Democratic Partys Utah for Harris-Walz Election Night Party at Woodbine Food Hall in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

Democrats attends an election night watch party at Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Pins adorn Martin Houcks jacket during the Utah Democratic Partys Utah for Harris-Walz Election Night Party at Woodbine Food Hall in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

People look at national election results on their phones at the Utah Democratic Partys Utah for Harris-Walz Election Night Party at Woodbine Food Hall in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

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Angela Hill, from Park City, takes a photo with a cardboard cutout of Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris during the Utah Democratic Partys Utah for Harris-Walz Election Night Party at Woodbine Food Hall in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

U.S. Senate candidate Caroline Gleich speaks at the Utah Democratic Partys Utah for Harris-Walz Election Night Party at Woodbine Food Hall in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

People watch election results come in at the Utah Democratic Partys Utah for Harris-Walz Election Night Party at Woodbine Food Hall in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

A vote hair clip in the hair of Emma Fetzer, the president of Young Democrats of Utah, during the Utah Democratic Partys Utah for Harris-Walz Election Night Party at Woodbine Food Hall in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

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There was some talk before Election Day that the ongoing friction between write-in gubernatorial candidate Phil Lyman and the Republican who defeated him in the primary, Gov. Spencer Cox, created an opening for the Democratic candidate for governor, Rep. Brian King, but that didnt happen.

And Democrats deal with friction, too. On election night, the state party and the political consulting firm hired by many Democrats on the ballot held separate events in Salt Lake City rather than try to bring candidates and their supporters together on what Democrats nationwide hoped would be an historic evening.

Neither the party nor the consulting firm, Elevate Strategies, would discuss on the record whether the decision indicated division. Lewis pointed out in a statement that the event hosted by the state party at the food hall is the official Utah for Harris-Walz watch party to celebrate the work all Democrats have done across our state and country.

Ben Hayes, senior partner at Elevate Strategies, said in a statement that the firms party at the Hotel Monaco was an effort to create a space where our candidates, their friends, and families could come together. The party, in an upstairs meeting area with a muted big screen TV and loud music, was jammed for several hours, but the crowd started to thin out before Utah results were in.

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As a progressive consulting firm, were proud to work with a range of clients and organizations  including Democratic candidates, independent and third-party candidates, nonprofits, and advocacy groups  so having our own event gives us the chance to celebrate with everyone, Hayes said. Its really just about enjoying the night and sharing it with our community.

University of Utah political science professor Matthew Burbank said in a pre-Election Day interview that the states Democrats could see some benefits from a Harris victory. Having a Democrat in the White House, Burbank said, would help the party with fundraising and candidate recruiting, something that hasnt always been easy in Utah.

But the professor said any benefits would be short-lived, because he expects that a President Harris would be seen by Utah Republicans as a wild-eyed liberal, providing GOP candidates with political ammunition to portray their Democratic challengers in the same light.

The favorite thing of Utah Republicans is to run against the federal government and that just makes it so much easier, Burbank said, adding, Harris will fit into that narrative perfectly for Utah Republicans. If she wins the presidency, every bad thing that happens will be because of her administration. Whether thats true or not, right, doesnt really matter.

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Burbank said Democrats in Utah wouldnt reap the same political advantage from another Trump term.

Plus, he said, the Republicans retaking the White House in such a close and divisive election would clearly be a setback for Utah Democrats, hurting them not just in terms of sort of their partisan plans, but on an emotional level, making it even tough this year to shift their focus to future elections.

Lewis agreed losing the White House to the Republicans would make it harder to achieve her partys goals. She said having a woman in the White House would be a big boost to recruiting more female candidates to run as Democrats for office in Utah up and down the ballot.

Asked what Democrats would do if Trump returns to the Oval Office, Lewis said simply, Recover. I think wed need to grieve a bit and see what happened. Mata, who said he believed Harris common sense solutions like offering financial assistance to first-time homebuyers would help attract Utahns to the party, said the efforts to build support wouldnt end if Trump wins.

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We as Democrats, we cant cry. Weve got to organize, he said, noting the party had made contact 1.4 million times with Utah voters through calls and knocking on doors this election, compared to about 400,000 in past years, work that should continue even if Trump wins.

Should that happen, he said, a lot of folks will need to take some time. Well give them over the holidays.
Taiwans President William Lai Ching-te congratulated former President Trump on his victory in the presidential election, offering his support for the next leader of Taipeis main ally against an increasingly aggressive China.

Sincere congratulations to President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your victory, Lai posted on the social platform X. Im confident that the longstanding #Taiwan-#US partnership, built on shared values & interests, will continue to serve as a cornerstone for regional stability & lead to greater prosperity for us all.

Trump secured enough votes in the Electoral College early Wednesday morning to win the election against Vice President Harris, according to projections from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.

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Taiwan had expressed some concerns about the U.S. election, with officials telling The Hill last week that it was vital for the next president to keep support for Taipei strong, and they have stressed there is bipartisan support for the self-governing island nation.

Trump has made several incendiary comments about Taiwan, saying it should have to pay the U.S. to defend the nation against China and that Taipei stole the United Statess ability to make semiconductors. He has also called Chinese President Xi Jinping brilliant.

China claims Taiwan as its own and is gearing up for a possible attack later this decade. Xi has pledged to reunify with Taiwan, by force if necessary, and China has been more aggressive under his rule, particularly in the past few years.

After Lais inauguration in May, China has launched large-scale drills several times, often in response to what it views as separatist remarks from the president.

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The U.S. commits to arming and supporting Taiwan but has unofficial relations with the country, which has just 12 formal diplomatic ties across the world.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin's streak lives on.

On a night when Republicans swept races around the country, Baldwin bucked the red tide by eking out a narrow win over GOP challenger Eric Hovde to secure a third term in the U.S. Senate.

It is clear that the voters have spoken and our campaign has won, Baldwin said in a statement. The people of Wisconsin have chosen someone who always puts Wisconsin first, someone who shows up, listens, and works with everyone to get the job done."

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With 99% of the votes counted, Baldwin led Hovde by 49.4% to 48.5%  a margin of 28,958 votes  in a race that drew attention and big bucks from around the country. The Associated Press called the race for Baldwin on Wednesday afternoon.

Baldwin officials said the numbers were not final but that she has taken the lead and the margin is too large for Hovde to make up. The Democratic incumbent trailed her Republican challenger throughout the evening until Milwaukee released its absentee ballot results shortly before 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Hovde had yet to concede as of midday Wednesday.

About 2:15 a.m. Wednesday, Hovde sent his supporters home but not before he placed blame for the close contest on America First candidate Thomas Leager, who was recruited to run by a small group of Democrats posing as conservatives. Leager  a far-right, gun-rights advocate  received more than 28,717 votes by Wednesday afternoon. That number is 241 votes short of Baldwin's margin of victory.

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"It's unfortunate if the Democrats wouldn't have put a plant, this probably would have been called some time ago," Hovde said. "But you know what? It is what it is."

In a post on X around 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, Hovde said he and his campaign were "watching the final precinct results come in" and would continue to monitor returns and "make sure that every vote is counted."

In Wisconsin, a candidate can demand a recount if the official tally shows the candidate losing by 1 percentage point or less. If a candidate were behind by less than a quarter of a point, the state would pay for the recount. If the candidate is behind by a quarter of a point to 1 point, the campaign would have to pay a few million dollars to cover the cost of the recount.

Baldwin outperformed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who was losing to former President Donald Trump by nearly 29,000 votes.

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The bruising victory means Baldwin still has not lost a race in her 38 years in politics, as she has risen steadily from Dane County supervisor to federal lawmaker.

In her statement, Baldwin said Wisconsin voters had rejected the wealthy individuals and special interests who "want to come to our state, spread hate and division and buy their way into power."

"I am proud to head back to the Senate as we embrace our state motto, Forward, and keep fighting for the workers, farmers and families that make our state great," Baldwin said. "From the bottom of my heart, it is an honor to serve the people of Wisconsin.

Baldwin will serve in the minority in the U.S. Senate after the Republicans flipped control of the upper house on Tuesday night.

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Hovde, 60, was making his second bid for the U.S. Senate. He lost in a four-way Republican primary in 2012, finishing second to former Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Some Republicans were already suggesting that Hovde should consider running for another office.

"He's automatically the GOP frontrunner for governor if he wants to run," said one prominent Republican, pointing ahead to 2026.

The race, which did not feature a competitive primary, began as a subdued affair. But that changed in the two past months, with Baldwin accusing Hovde of unfairly attacking her personal life and Hovde claiming Baldwin was spreading lies about him in her ads. The two had fiery exchanges in their only debate last month.

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In the summer, the Madison incumbent was ahead by 7.8 points over the GOP challenger in the Real Clear Politics average of all poll numbers. But that lead had dwindled to just 1 point in the most recent Marquette Law School Poll last week.

Analysts have pointed to a number of factors that helped Hovde cut into Baldwin's once sizeable lead. Among other things, voters from both parties have lined up behind their party's candidate as Election Day neared. In the past, Baldwin has been able to pick up a large chunk of Republican support. Hovde also took every chance he could to appear on TV and radio, especially on conservative stations, up through Tuesday.

Both candidates spent big bucks during the race

Baldwin raised a record $52.3 million during her six-year Senate term  a 40% jump from what she raised and spent in 2018. By comparison, Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, spent $43.3 million in his 2022 re-election bid.

Currently ranked the 76th wealthiest senator, Baldwin put no money into her race. She has a maximum net worth of just more than $1 million, according to her annual financial filings.

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By contrast, Hovde, a banking and real estate mogul, largely underwrote the cost of his campaign. Of the $29.5 million that he raised for the contest, at least $20 million came from his own pocket.

According to his financial disclosure form, Hovde has assets worth between $195.4 million and $564.5 million, much of it in Madison and Milwaukee real estate holdings, corporate securities and stock in Sunwest Bank, the Utah-based financial institution for which he is chairman and CEO.

On top of all that, outside groups spent more than $100 million blasting the two candidates.

Deluge of attack ads drove down Baldwin and Hovde's favorability ratings

Many of those TV ads have attacked Baldwin and her partner Maria Brisbane, a New York private wealth adviser. Hovde presented the relationship as a potential conflict of interest, with one ad proclaiming "Baldwin is in bed with Wall Street."

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Baldwin and other Democrats said the TV spots were a crass attempt to highlight the fact that she is a lesbian. Baldwin is the countrys first openly gay senator.

Also, Hovde and Republican groups cut several commercials going after Baldwin on transgender issues, something Republicans have done across the country and in the presidential race.

Baldwin and Democrats, meanwhile, persistently cast Hovde as out-of-touch with Wisconsinites over his ties to California, where he owns a $7 million-dollar home in Laguna Beach. They also used many of Hovdes past statements against him, including remarks that overweight people should pay more for health care, that nursing home residents shouldn't vote and that he understands Black culture because his foundation has done work in Africa.

Several of Baldwins ads ended with the question, What is wrong with this guy?"

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The ads had an impact, with both candidates being underwater in their favorability ratings, according to the latest Marquette poll.

The poll found Baldwin is viewed favorably by 45% and unfavorably by 50%, with 5% expressing no opinion. Hovde is viewed favorably by 36%, and unfavorably by 48%. About 15% of voters had no opinion of him.

Mary Spicuzza and Madeline Heim contributed to this article.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.

This story has been updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tammy Baldwin defeats Eric Hovde in Senate race
Some women are referred from health clinics and gynecologist offices. Others reach out directly, desperate for help.

The circumstances are the same: panicked women whove discovered theyre pregnant but are too far along to legally get an abortion in Florida, said Bree Wallace, director of case management with the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund.

Theyre crying and saying they dont have money to go out of state and dont have money to raise a child, Wallace said.

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The group has awarded $710,000 to roughly 150 women to pay for clinic appointments, travel and accommodation costs in destinations like Maryland and Washington D.C., since Floridas six-week abortion ban went into effect. Thats more than triple the number of women it helped in the first four months of this year, the nonprofit said in a statement marking the six-month anniversary of Floridas new law.

By the end of the year, the group expects it will have awarded record amounts in assistance for pregnant women to bypass Floridas six-week restriction.

The failure of a proposed constitutional amendment enshrining the right to an abortion in Florida in the general election means there will be no let up in the demands for help. Amendment 4 was supported by 57% of voters but fell short of the 60% threshold to pass.

No one should have to travel thousands of miles from their home for care that could be received in their own city but is inaccessible solely because of politicians choices, Wallace said.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature approved the six-week abortion limit in 2023 after passing a 15-week limit in 2022. Although delayed by a legal challenge, the six-week ban went into effect May 1, resulting in a significant drop in the number of terminations, state data shows.

As of Oct. 7, just over 50,000 abortions were recorded this year by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, a monthly average of roughly 5,500. More than 84,000 terminations were recorded in 2023, an average of 7,000 per month.

Floridas new abortion policy meant a major shift in how the abortion fund operates following several years when it typically assisted women from other southern states travel to Florida to get the procedure.

Some of the Florida women assisted by the group this year had never left their home state before and needed guidance on how to navigate an airport, book a hotel room and rideshare to and from the airport, Wallace said.

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Assistance has also been awarded to women who wanted abortions after tests showed fetal abnormalities or other health issues related to pregnancy.

Infant mortality attributed to congenital anomalies in Florida reached its highest rate in at least six years in October 2023, a little more than one year after the states 15-week abortion ban took effect, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Severe congenital anomalies typically include developmental issues with the heart, kidneys and spine.

Amendment 4 inspired fervent support from supporters on both sides making it one of the best funded ballot measures in Florida in the past two decades. The campaign to expand abortion access raked in more than $118 million, which included the money raised to gather roughly 900,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

Opposition groups raised $11.9 million, although a portion of that included money to oppose another referendum legalizing recreational marijuana. That amendment also failed on Election Day. Critics such as the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg described Amendment 4 as an extreme measure that would erase pro-life protections, permit late-term abortions and eliminate laws requiring parental consent.

We urge all Floridians of goodwill to stand against the legalization of late-term abortion and oppose the abortion amendment. In doing so, we will not only protect the weakest, most innocent, and defenseless of human life among us but also countless women throughout the state from the harms of abortion, said the bishops of Florida in a joint statement, before the general election.
Tacoma voters on Tuesday were rejecting a levy-lid lift aimed at benefiting the citys Fire Department.

After Tuesdays first tally of votes, nearly 54% of local voters had rebuffed the proposal. More votes will be counted as the week progresses.

Backers of the measure said that it would have allowed the Tacoma Fire Department to pursue some long overdue improvements. Critics werent happy about the prospect of another tax hike.

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Tacoma Fire spokesperson Chelsea Shepherd described the departments response to the initial vote tally.

Were definitely a little disappointed with the preliminary results right now, she said Tuesday night, but were just going to hang on and see what happens over the next few days.

Proposition 1 on the Nov. 5 ballot would have spiked Tacomas regular property tax levy by $0.65 per $1,000 of assessed value, generating some $30 million annually, The News Tribune previously reported. The average homeowner in Tacoma  with a house worth $450,000  would have paid an additional $25 per month.

Earlier this year, then-Fire Chief Tory Green told city leaders that 85% of the departments facilities are in poor or critical shape. As those conditions have declined, call volume has risen significantly over the past decade.

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The Tacoma Fire Department recently took to social media to urge voters to pass the levy. Lt. Scott Warner explained how the proposal would aid the department in a video posted to X (Twitter) on Oct. 25.

Were talking about TFDs call volume has increased 36% since 2010; however, our first-responding units number has stayed the same, he said. With this levy increase, were going to be able to add two additional response units by the year 2026.

In this week's segment of The Fire Levy Report, we learn how the levy funding would impact TFD's response to call volume.

Thanks to Lt. Scott Warner for taking the time to explain! Visit our website for more levy info. pic.twitter.com/FNZ0Lgl5Q2  Tacoma Fire (@TacomaFire) October 25, 2024

An explanatory statement in the local voters pamphlet stated that Proposition 1 would have helped replace life-saving assets. It would have boosted firefighter safety and response times thanks to the addition of new first responders, plus bolstered support for current responders and staff, the statement said.

The revenue would could have funded new equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus used for breathing in smoke-filled environments. It also could have helped cover the cost of a new fire station in South Tacoma.

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Members of Proposition 1s for committee echoed that statistic in the local voters pamphlet. They pointed out that while calls for help have increased, funding for the departments vehicles, facilities and equipment has not kept pace.

The against committee noted in part that the measure would allow for an annual tax bump of up to 6% for 2026-2030. Detractors said those costs could trickle down to renters if landlords then opt to raise rents. They also cited the passage of last years Emergency Medical Service levy and titled the subheading of one of their arguments, Past Poor Management Not Our Fault.
A veterans charity that saves the NHS 2m a year has criticised Labours National Insurance rise.

Jeremy Hibbard, chief executive of Veterans Outdoors, said the tax raid threatens our existence and might force them to cut the vital mental health care they offer to 200 veterans.

In her first Budget, Rachel Reeves announced that employers would have to pay National Insurance at 15pc, up from 13.8pc. The threshold at which employers have to pay has been cut from 9,100 to 5,000.

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The Chancellor was under pressure to exempt charities and hospices from the devastating raid, in the same way the exemption was offered to the NHS and public sector. But Labour has refused to bow to pressure.

It sparked backlash from the charity and hospice industries, as the National Council for Voluntary Organisations estimated that it would cost the sector 1.4bn a year.

Veterans Outdoors receives three referrals from GPs a week. Mr Hibbard has condemned the move as unfair as his organisation alleviates pressure on the NHS, yet the hike will take thousands of pounds away from crucial veteran support.

He told The Telegraph: We save the NHS in the South West as much as 2m a year. We provide effective levels of long-term care that the NHS, with its complex systems and much higher overheads, just cant.

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Veterans Outdoors makes limited funding go a long way. Anything that increases our costs not only threatens the care that we offer but has the potential to leave our beneficiaries in the much more expensive NHS and Social Care systems.

Mr Hibbards charity, established in 2013, provides long-term support to military veterans, such as resilience training and outdoor activities, including group walks on the moors. He said: It sounds simple, but for these veterans, it is a lifeline.

Veterans Outdoors provides vital, long-term support to military veterans, receiving three GP referrals a week - Veterans Outdoors

While the NHS can generally offer six to eight sessions of counselling for veterans, Mr Hibbard said longer-term support was needed.

Despite its referrals coming from GP surgeries, Veterans Outdoors does not receive funding for the patients it looks after.

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Mr Hibbard added: Theres already an injustice in the system and now the Chancellor increases National Insurance.

Veterans Outdoors is based in the south west of England, the area with the highest proportion of veterans  5.6pc  according to the Office for National Statistics.

Though he expects his organisation will just about weather the storm, he cautions the NI raid is directly taking money away from the services they offer.

It comes after a warning from Hospice UK that crucial hospital beds will be taken up by terminally ill people if hospices are squeezed by the National Insurance hike. According to a review in September by the trade body, a third have less than six months in cash reserves left.

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Sarah West, of Hospice UK, said: Its disheartening that the recently announced National Insurance increase does not exempt hospices, which support the NHS but are not part of it. Hospices play a vital role in reducing A&E attendance and enabling earlier discharge from hospitals, easing pressure on the NHS.

Providers delivering essential care, such as hospices, deserve the same consideration as NHS bodies.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Summertown man was taken into custody following an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force.

According to the TBI, agents received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which revealed that child sexual abuse material had been shared from an online account.

Battling the backlog: Resolution before Metro Council to outsource rape kits to private vendors

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Authorities reported that the investigation led law enforcement to obtain a search warrant for a residence in Summertown. At the home, officials said they found a cell phone that contained child sex abuse material.

Amid further investigation, the cell phones owner was identified as Stephen Thomas Dyer, according to the TBI.

The Lawrence County Sheriffs Office, with assistance from special agents with TBIs Criminal Investigation Division, arrested Dyer on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Dyer was charged with one count of child exploitation, authorities said. He is being held in the Lawrence County Jail without bond.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
A man whos a teacher at a Columbia-area school was arrested for assaulting two students this year, according to the Lexington County Sheriffs Department.

Jermaine Cornelius Singletary, 51, was charged with two counts of third-degree assault & battery, the sheriffs department said Wednesday in a news release.

The sheriffs department said Singletary teaches at Irmo Middle School. The Lexington-Richland 5 school is on Wesctott Road near the intersection with St. Andrews Road, in the area of Columbia between Harbison Boulevard and Lake Murray Boulevard.

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While Singletary is listed on the roster of teachers on the schools website, a link to his bio leads to an error page.

School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties received notification that a district employee has been arrested, L-R 5 officials told The State when asked about Singletary. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement in their investigation, and the employee is on administrative leave.

The assaults involved two students in incidents that were separated by several months this year, according to the sheriffs department release.

Singletary struck a student in March after he thought the student touched his head, the sheriffs department said. The teacher hit another student in October after the student retrieved portion of an assignment Singletary threw in a trash can, according to the release.

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Information on the students conditions, and if they needed any medical treatment, was not available.

Singletary did not report either incident to school administrators, the sheriffs department said.

When we became aware of these two incidents, we opened our investigation and determined Singletary allegedly assaulted two students on two separate occasions, Sheriff Jay Koon said in the release.

Singletary turned himself in Wednesday morning and was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center, the sheriffs department said. No bond has been set and Singletary remains locked up, jail records show.

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Following a bond hearing, the Columbia resident is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 19, Lexington County judicial records show.

If convicted on the misdemeanor assault & battery charges, Singletary faces a maximum punishment of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine for each count, according to South Carolina law.

There was no word what a conviction would mean to Singletarys status with L-R 5, and if he would lose his teaching certification.
Teacher Josh Dennis has voted since he first became eligible in 1992, always at the polling station because he loves what he calls the OG I Voted sticker.

He did his civic duty this year at a community center surrounded by the Marina Vista public housing project in Upper Land Park. Asked outside the polls whether he believed in the U.S. election process, the 50-year-old Dennis replied: Yes, for sure, without a doubt.

Something about the certainty of Dennis approbation indicated hed considered the topic in many of the government, economics and social science classes he teaches.

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Turnout was light early Tuesday as Dennis and other Sacramento residents turned in their ballots at the Marina Vista Community Center and the South Sacramento Christian Center, two areas of the city where families often struggle to meet their basic needs.

Five of seven voters outside the venue declared they had chosen Kamala Harris to become the next president of the United States. One voter declined to share her choice and the seventh said he decided to cast his first-ever vote in a U.S. election to support Donald Trumps return to the highest office in the land.

The 38-year-old Trump supporter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, develops new business relationships for his employer. He said he believes the former president will make changes that will improve his personal financial position.

Theres only one way where our dollars gonna be worth more, so thats the reason, he said. Thats why I was like, You know what? Im voting. Thirty-eight years, the first time ever voting.

Presidential candidates inspire first-time voters

Both candidates drew their share of first-time voters: Retail sales associate Nancy Cam, 37, said she cast her first-ever vote for a presidential candidate because she desperately wanted Harris to win.

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Trump, she said, talks a lot of mess about African Americans and Latino Americans, and she wants this kind of racial and ethnic divisiveness to end.

Performance artist LaRasha Smith also cast her vote for Harris, saying she saw herself in the candidate, Smith had four of her children in tow, on her way to drop them off at preschool and elementary school. She said she hopes local and state ballot measures will bring a greater number of enrichment opportunities for her children.

Smith will be glued to her television tonight along with much of the nation, waiting to see which states turn red indicating electoral votes have gone to the Republican presidential candidate or blue for the Democratic candidate, she said.

This electoral college framework makes it hard to trust the election process, Smith said. She expressed a wish to see the nations president be elected by popular vote, just as ballot initiatives, senators, representatives and other elected officials are decided.

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AT&T retiree David Hill, a 69-year-old Republican, said elections and voting are the best opportunity citizens have to communicate what they want to elected officials. If Hills candidate wins, the first woman will sit behind the historic Resolute desk in the Oval Office.

I havent voted for Trump ever, Hill said. When he came into the picture, I totally went against the Republican Party, because the man is out for himself. He doesnt care at all about the people of the United States of America. He only cares about his power and the money he can grift off of us.

Hill praised U.S. Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, and Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., for their leadership during the Jan. 6 hearings in the U.S. Congress.

Election offered chance to send message

A father of four and a Navy veteran, Hill said came out to make his voice heard on the many ballot initiatives before California and Sacramento voters.

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He said that he wants to see more affordable housing in California but that he didnt think the rent control ballot initiative, Proposition 33, was the way to get there. One of his sons recently moved back in with him because his landlord gave him a 30-day notice to vacate, then raised the rent on the place where he had been staying by about 50%.

In truth, though, Hill said, he and his wife have thoroughly enjoyed the young couple staying with them, but they understand that this wasnt the route their son would have chosen. Part of the problem, Hill said, is that people cannot afford to live on the wages being paid in this country.

They cannot afford to live here because their wages are so low, he said. The profits that these big businesses make outweigh anything else. Why cant you afford to pay your people a little better?

Brian Crilly, a 45-year-old architect, said he voted for Harris and for ballot initiatives he hoped would deliver broader equity in California and Sacramento. He has been unhappy with the demonization of people on both sides of the political aisle, he said, and he believes Harris has shown the character traits needed to mend rifts at home and abroad.

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The worlds like a spider web, he said. You pull on one piece, it doesnt fail, but if you pull on multiple pieces, it begins to fail. If you pull one piece, certain pieces next to it move, right? They weaken.

Dennis said he wasnt all that excited by some of the policies that Harris supported, but he voted for her for much the same reason that Hill voted against Trump. The civics teacher said he has an enthusiasm for democracy that he tries to instill in his students.

I tell the students to participate in everything as much they can, Dennis said. Not everyones 18 yet, obviously, but I just try to pique their interest in this governmental experiment that we have going on, and just telling them not to take it for granted, because it can all disappear at any moment in time.

Retiree Judisene Franklin Uboma, both a missionary and a mother at Progressive Church of God in Christ, said she would be visiting her late husband Christophers grave and putting an I Voted sticker there to commemorate how she cast her vote. But she wouldnt reveal which presidential candidate she supported.

I believe in voting, Uboma said. Thats my right  and the only way to make a change. Im a Christian. Im saved. I let the Lord guide my heart. I voted, and its in Gods hands.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Tecumseh Products Company, a refrigeration and air conditioning products manufacturer, will upgrade its facility in Lee County. The project is a corporate investment of more than $3.4 million and will support 135 jobs.

Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Tecumseh produces a variety of products for use in residential and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning applications. The company is a global manufacturer of hermetic compressors, condensing units and associated systems.

For 90 years, Tecumseh has been a leader in the refrigeration and air conditioning markets. As Tecumseh focuses on our next 90 years, our Verona facility is a critical element in our future success. These improvements to the site enable us to modernize our facility to improve our competitiveness in the marketplace and our standing as a preferred employer in the Greater Tupelo area, said North America Managing Director Greg Dwyer.

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Mississippi State receives $1.2 million to promote AI competency among high school students

The investment project includes repairs and upgrades to the roof and lighting in the companys Verona facility, along with additional improvements to employee common spaces and offices. The company also will make modifications to its production layout to improve its competitiveness in the North America market.

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is providing assistance for building improvements. Lee County also is assisting with the project.

Lee County is proud to support this project, and we look forward to Tecumsehs continued growth and contributions to our local economy, said Lee County Board of Supervisors President Wesley Webb

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Improvements to the Verona facility are expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2025.

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TEXAS (KMID/KPEJ)  Texas Senator Ted Cruz officially won re-election Tuesday evening, beating out Democratic Representative Colin Allred, after a close race between the candidates.

The victory for Cruz comes after Allred looked to be the first person in 30 years to win a statewide election in the nations second-most populous state, in addition to becoming Texas first Black senator.

Senator Cruz makes stop in Midland as Election Day nears

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After narrowly winning re-election in 2018 against Beto ORourke, Cruz leaned into conservative pledges for tougher border measures, limited government, and attacks on policies that support transgender people.

According to a report from the AP, both candidates have raised more than $160 million combined, marking the most expensive race for the Texas Senatorial race in history. Houston media reported Cruz raised at least $86 million and Allred raised $80 million, making them the highest-funded and second-highest funded candidates nationwide.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz scored a convincing victory over Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred on Tuesday night in one of the most watched and most expensive Senate races in the nation.

Cruz, an often polarizing figure on the national political scene, ran behind Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in Texas, according to incomplete and unofficial returns, while Allred managed to siphon off at least some support in his hard-charging campaign that began more than a year and a half ago.

Incomplete and unofficial returns at 9:15 p.m. put the margin at 53% to 45% in Cruz's favor.

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"Tonight, the people of Texas have spoken as clear as a bell across our great state," Cruz told a cheering victory party in his home base of Houston. "Texas will remain Texas."

That was a repetition of Cruz's campaign slogan, but his message sought to expand his base as he highlighted his support from some Democrats, most notably District Attorney Kim Ogg of Harris County, who endorsed the Republican after losing her primary in March.

Later, at his own headquarters in Dallas, Allred told his supporters "to put your shoulders back and your head up" for participating in the election.

"It took courage for each and every one of you, and everyone who got involved in this campaign, even though we haven't won here in Texas in some time, to believe in this election (and) to put everything you had into it," Allred said.

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Just as it was when Cruz sliced off a narrow victory against former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, six years ago, Cruz's success this cycle was rooted in rural Texas from the Panhandle to the High Plains where he ran up the score. Allred performed strong in the urban and suburban centers, raking in seven out of 10 votes in Travis County and taking his home base of Dallas County nearly 2-1, results show.

Sen. Ted Cruz is introduced by former President Donald Trump at a rally at Million Air, a private airplane terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Friday October 25, 2024.

El Paso was running about 60-40 in the Democrat's favor. Bexar County was favoring Allred with about 57% of the vote.

Cruz managed to keep Tarrant County, anchored by Ft. Worth, in the GOP column by a scant 2 percentage points with about 70% of the votes tabulated. Nueces County, anchored by Corpus Christi, showed Cruz ahead by about 6 points with just over half of the votes tallied Tuesday night.

But as the returns continued to roll in, it became clear that the incumbent's performance would far outpace the nail-biter he survived by a thin 2.6 percentage points six years ago. At nearly 11 p.m. Tuesday, Cruz's lead edged close to 10 percentage points over Allred with nearly 80% of the voting centers reporting.

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Cruz, 53, will begin his third term as Texas' junior U.S. senator, but perhaps the state's best known because of the national exposure he received as a candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. However, he might find himself in the shadow of colleague Sen. John Cornyn, who has spent the 2024 campaign courting the votes he will need to try to secure the Senate's Republican leadership post in January.

Cruz's matchup with Allred emerged as the nation's most expensive Senate race of the 2024 cycle. Both candidates each raised and spent more than $75 million, according to the most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission, and both continued to aggressively seek contributions right up until the eve of Election Day.

And as he did in 2018, Cruz got a late-campaign boost from Donald Trump, who appeared with the senator Oct. 30 at an event in Austin before the former president joined podcaster Joe Rogan for a three-hour conversation. That same day, Allred was part of a large rally headlined by Vice President Kamala Harris in Houston that also featured a two-song set by Texas country music legend Willie Nelson and speeches by pop superstar Beyonce Knowles-Carter and actress Jessica Alba.

Allred's biggest challenge in trying to become the first Texas Democrat to win statewide since 1994 was to attempt to harness the enthusiasm that Harris injected into the party after President Joe Biden quit the race, but without alienating moderate Republican and independent voters who might have become disillusioned with Cruz after his 12 years in Washington.

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Cruz, a nationally known figure who finished second to Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, leaned into deep-seated concerns over the sharp spike in unlawful immigration during the Biden presidency and sought to paint Allred as soft on border security.

For Allred, the central issue of his campaign was the loss of abortion rights when the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the 49-year-old landmark Roe v. Wade decision which established a federal right to terminate a pregnancy. No campaign appearances, and few TV and digital ads, failed to mention that Cruz cast himself as an anti-abortion hardliner dating back to the earliest days of his poltical career. For his part, Cruz steered clear as much as he could from discussing abortion policy even though he hailed the demise of Roe in the days after the high court's ruling.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ted Cruz wins Texas' US Senate seat over Colin Allred
The groom-to-be claimed that the jeweler failed to ensure that the items were insured when they were shipped back to their business

franckreporter/E+/Getty Images A stock image of an engagement ring

A Tennessee couple is suing a jeweler who they claim failed to compensate them for an engagement ring lost to theft

In a viral TikTok video, bride-to-be Chelsea King shared that she went to a local jeweler to combine her familys fourth-generation heirloom engagement ring and her fiance's tanzanite crystal, worth $10K, into an engagement ring  but the ring was stolen in transit from a gem cutter back to the business

Despite our efforts, the situation has escalated publicly and legally, the jeweler told PEOPLE in a statement, adding, While we respect our clients right to express dissatisfaction, we maintain that we followed proper procedures"



A Tennessee couple is suing a jeweler who they claim failed to compensate them for an engagement ring lost to theft.

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Bride-to-be Chelsea King shared in a viral TikTok video that she and her fiance, identified by WSMV as Dawson Blankship, had planned to combine her familys fourth-generation heirloom engagement ring and his tanzanite crystal, worth $10K, into an engagement ring  but came up empty-handed.

She said that she and her Blankship had sent the ring to Nashville-based King Jewelers to prepare it for their engagement, and they paid $1,100 for the service. However, they told KTVZ-TV that they were unaware that the jewelers then sent the ring to a third-party gem cutter in Florida. On its way back to the jeweler in Tennessee, it was allegedly stolen.

They had it in their case when FedEx lost the package, King noted on TikTok.

Related: Porch Thief Steals $2,000 Wedding Dress from California Home and 'Ruins Wedding Plans': Police

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Blankship claimed, per KTVZ-TV and the complaint  which was reviewed by PEOPLE  that King Jewelers did not insure the items when they were in the gem cutter's care and being transported back to the jeweler afterward, despite the business allegedly informing them that they insure all items, for up to $100,000. He also alleged that King Jewelers refused to compensate them for the loss, though the owner of the company did offer a replacement ring, per the outlet.

King said that she, Blankship and the jewelers have not been able to resolve the issue since it happened, and they have since filed a lawsuit asking for $75,000 in damages against King Jewelers for the incident, KTVZ-TV reported and PEOPLE confirmed via the complaint.

We never heard anything from them, she alleged in a separate TikTok video. They never offered to compensate us. They never reached out to our lawyers to compensate us.

King Jewlers told PEOPLE in a statement that they had offered several options to rectify the situation with the couple, including creating a custom engagement ring using a superior-grade gemstone at no charge or compensating the client at fair market value.

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Related: Police Officer Saves Texas Couple's Wedding, Locates Stolen Rings Day Before Ceremony

Despite our efforts, the situation has escalated publicly and legally, the company continued in their statement. While we respect our clients right to express dissatisfaction, we maintain that we followed proper procedures.

King Jewelers added, We are now facing a legal matter that we believe constitutes defamation and extortion, and we are prepared to counter-sue to address the exaggerations and false information being spread online." Furthermore, they noted, This case was already dismissed by the Better Business Bureau as we offered to assist the client in any way possible, yet we are not willing to be taken advantage of.

In the complaint, the groom and bride stated that King Jewelers coordinated an outrageous campaign of slander and were falsely accusing them of extortion and other crimes.

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King shared on TikTok that she and Blankship did eventually get engaged, but the couple still intends to move forward with legal proceedings against the company.

I do feel like in the midst of the chaos, we got a happy ending  we got engaged, we got a beautiful engagement ring, we got to celebrate with our friends, King said. We dont want people to go down this route and feel stuck and hopeless.


U.S. Rep. Mark Green addresses supporters at the Montgomery County Republican Party Election Night party. Green won his fourth term in Congress Tuesday. (Photo: Anita Wadhwani)

Two Republican congressmen in the Nashville area held their seats in Tuesdays election, easily outpacing their Democratic challengers.

First-term U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles won reelection in Congressional District 5 with 62% of the vote, beating Democratic newcomer Maryam Abolfazli, with 38%. Democrats hung their hopes on Abolfazli after the first-term Ogles found himself embroiled in questions about his campaign finances and a federal investigation.

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In Congressional District 7, former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry lost to U.S. Rep. Mark Green without narrowing the gap faced by Democrats in the Clarksville-based district.

Blue Nashville fails to turn tide in District 5

Historically, Nashville-based District 5 was held by Democrats until a 2022 redistricting plan allowed Ogles to defeat a clutch of moderate Republicans in the primary and Nashville Democratic Sen. Heidi Campbell in the general election.

The district includes the southern part of Davidson County and portions of Williamson and Wilson counties, plus all of Marshall, Lewis and Maury counties.

Abolfazli, an activist who founded the advocacy organization Rise & Shine Tennessee, campaigned on the premise that Ogles has done little for the district since his election, running an ad in the last week of the campaign saying Ogles has failed to leverage federal funds to aid with infrastructure in the growing area.

Republican 5th District U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Just after Ogles defeated Nashville Councilmember Courtney Johnston in the August primary, he confirmed the FBI had confiscated his phone as part of an investigation into his campaign finances.

Green sails to victory despite early campaign upheaval

Barry, who served as Nashville mayor from 2015 until her resignation in 2018 amid scandal, entered the District 7 race as an underdog and failed to make the race as close as Democrats hoped. She conceded the race at 9 p.m. Tuesday with results for seven of 14 counties in, giving Green 62% to her 38%. The outcome was nearly identical to the 2022 results, when Green defeated Nashville organizer Odessa Kelly.

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Green, a state senator before being elected to Congress in 2018, announced in February he would not seek reelection, only to change his mind two weeks later following pressure from former President Donald Trump.

The boundaries of District 7 changed after 2022 redistricting, drawing in North Nashville and making the historically Republican district friendlier to Democrats. In 2022, Democratic nominee Odessa Kelly earned 38.5% to Greens 60%; Barrys team hoped the former mayors name recognition would allow her to outperform Kelly.

Green is thought to be interested in serving in a Trump administration, should Trump again win the presidency.

At an election night gathering of the Montgomery County Republican Party, Green thanked his supporters before taking aim at the current state of politics, which he characterized as egregious and quite honestly vile.

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This political discourse in our country is a concern, Green told the crowd who gathered to watch returns in an event space at a Harley Davidson in Clarksville.

Megan Barry speaks to supporters at her Nashville home after conceding the the Congressional District 7 race to U.S. Rep. Mark Green. (Photo: John Partipilo)

People even say things that are blatantly false, he said, pointing to criticism from Barry over his stock trades and, more broadly, being called a MAGA extremist.

I have never ever done as well in the stock market as she says I have done, Green said.

This political discourse thats going on has quite frankly pissed me off, he said.

After remarks to supporters, Green spoke briefly with reporters, pledging Republicans would act swiftly on immigration policy.

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The Republicans are going to win the Senate; hopefully we win the White House. We get all three of them, well have border security, Green said. In talking to the president and the folks that are around him  if he does win  therell be immediate implementation of policies.

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U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, with family and state Sen. Jack Johnson, far right, and his wife, Williamson County Judge Deanna Johnson, celebrate her reelection on Tuesday night. (Photo: John Partipilo)

(This story has been updated with additional details.)

Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn defeated Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson, securing a second term from Tennessee voters.

The Associated Press called the race at 7:02 p.m. Tuesday, two minutes after polls closed, when early voting results showed Blackburn leading Johnson by a significant margin.

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Blackburn celebrated her victory in Williamson County, where she launched her political career in 1998. Williamson County has become the center of the states Republican party. Gov. Bill Lee and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson both spoke briefly before Blackburn took the stage at the Cool Springs Hilton.

Lee praised Blackburn for her conservative values and not following the Washington status quo.

We will continue to continue to work with the governor, and local elected officials, to make sure this is the best place to live, work and to rear your family, Blackburn said.

Blackburns speech touched on a wide range of issues, including securing the southern border, more tax cuts and the need to pass the Kids Online Safety Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation she sponsored with U.S. Senator Richard Blummenthal, a Connecticut Democrat.

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Blackburn ran a low-key race, declining to participate in debates or forums with Johnson, which has become routine for incumbents. Her campaign ran ads touting her strong stances against China and immigration.

Blackburns political career began in the Tennessee state House, where she rose to prominence by leading the opposition to a measure by then-Republican Gov. Don Sundquist to enact a state income tax in 2000, a move she also highlighted in ads this election cycle.

Blackburn served in the U.S. House from 2003 until she defeated Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, in the 2018 U.S. Senate race after Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Corker declined to run for reelection. Bredesen was the last Democrat to win a statewide race, but Blackburn handily beat him 55% to 44%.

Johnson, a Knoxville Democrat, entered the race in September 2023 after gaining national recognition when she narrowly avoided being expelled from the legislature after GOP lawmakers ousted two other Democrats  the trio became known as the Tennessee Three  for leading a protest from the House floor earlier that year.

State Rep. Gloria Johnson talks to supporters at her Knoxville election watch party. (Photo: Angela Dennis)

Blackburn held a considerable cash advantage over Johnson, raising more than $17 million since her 2018 election, according to an Oct. 16 filing with the Federal Election Commission. Johnson raised $7.2 million but could never effectively break through in a state that hasnt elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988.

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Despite the loss, Johnson was able to run and won reelection to her state House seat in the next years general assembly.

Blackburn also briefly struck a bipartisan tone in her victory speech, thanking Johnson for calling her to concede the race, saying in 2018 Phil Bredesen never did.

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Motorists on the 5 Freeway had such a terrible drive Wednesday morning, according to KTLA traffic reporter Ginger Chan, after multiple crashes involving semi-trucks brought traffic to a virtual standstill.

The first crash was reported shortly before 5 a.m. on the southbound span of the 5 at Roxford Street in Sylmar and involved a big rig and another vehicle that flipped over the center divider and ended up on the northbound side, according to KTLA 5s Rich Prickett in Sky5.

Prickett described the scene as pretty dramatic as first responders arrived at the scene and commuters slowly maneuvered around the crash site; the vehicle that hopped the center divider was seen pinned between the divider and the trailer of the semi-truck.

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It is believed that up to seven cars were involved in the crash, Prickett said, adding that a small fluid spill was also seen leaking from the big rig.

Santa Anas bring hurricane-force gusts, EXTREME fire danger

A SigAlert was issued for the area indicating that the backup on the southbound side of the 5 extended past the 14 Freeway, which itself was backed up to the Sand Canyon exit immediately after the crash.

As of 8:15 a.m., the delays on the 14 South extended all the back to Soledad Canyon Road.

The conditions of the motorists involved in the collision are not known.

To add to the early morning complications along the 5 Freeway, a car fire was reported on the northbound side not far from the first crash, which created another delay  albeit a minor one  for drivers heading out of the San Fernando Valley.

The first crash was reported shortly before 5 a.m. on the southbound span of the 5 at Roxford Street in Sylmar and involved a big rig and another vehicle that flipped over the center divider and ended up on the northbound side, according to KTLA 5s Rich Prickett in Sky5. November 6, 2024. The first crash was reported shortly before 5 a.m. on the southbound span of the 5 at Roxford Street in Sylmar and involved a big rig and another vehicle that flipped over the center divider and ended up on the northbound side, according to KTLA 5s Rich Prickett in Sky5. November 6, 2024. The first crash was reported shortly before 5 a.m. on the southbound span of the 5 at Roxford Street in Sylmar and involved a big rig and another vehicle that flipped over the center divider and ended up on the northbound side, according to KTLA 5s Rich Prickett in Sky5. November 6, 2024.

A second crash involving a big rig occurred about two hours later at 6:45 a.m. near the 5 Freeways interchange with the 118 Freeway in the city of San Fernando.

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Video from Sky5 showed a semi-truck with a mangled front end, with the other vehicle that appeared to be involved in the collision seen not far away on the shoulder of the freeway. The extent of the damage to that vehicle was not immediately clear.

According to Prickett, the driver of the big rig had to be extricated from the truck by first responders and was rushed to a hospital, reportedly in critical condition.

Massive blaze leaves homes in San Bernardino Co. Mountains in ruins

Authorities blocked off every lane on the southbound side except for the carpool lane, causing traffic to be backed up for miles.

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Anyone going through the Newhall Pass and making their way through the northern portion of the San Fernando Valley is really going to have a tough time getting around these crashes, Prickett said at 7:15 a.m. The southbound side of the 5 is really affected as you make your way towards the 118 Freeway.

A second crash involving a big rig occurred about two hours later at 6:45 a.m. near the 5 Freeways interchange with the 118 Freeway in the city of San Fernando. Nov. 6, 2024. (Sky5) A second crash involving a big rig occurred about two hours later at 6:45 a.m. near the 5 Freeways interchange with the 118 Freeway in the city of San Fernando. Nov. 6, 2024. (Sky5) The scene of a crash that occurred at Roxford Street hours prior to the one that occurred near the 118 interchange had yet to be cleared by 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (Sky5)

The scene of the crash that occurred at Roxford Street hours prior had yet to be cleared by that time.

Los Angeles gathering to celebrate life and legacy of Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela

A SigAlert was issued for the affected stretch of the freeway that is expected to last until at least 9:15 a.m.

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It wasnt just the 5 Freeway that was backed up in the Valley on Wednesday morning; two separate crashes on the 210 Freeway  including one involving an overturned semi-truck filled with oranges  also occurred early Wednesday, causing lanes to be shut down.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The value of Bitcoin surged to a record-high as investor sentiments kicked in following signs of Republican candidate Donald Trumps victory in the U.S. Presidential elections race.

With every sign pointing to Trumps return to the White House, the worlds biggest cryptocurrency surged 7 percent to over $75,000 dollars in the late hours. At the time of writing this report, Bitcoin is selling at $72,897 in the market.

The fervor associated with the Republican candidates win has also led to the stocks of Elon Musks company  Tesla  gaining in the market.

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Meanwhile, Tesla shares were trading at $251.44 on November 5 at market closing time. This is a minor 3.5 percent jump from the opening value; however, the price of its stocks went up to $259 in the after hours.

It is important to note that in recent months, Musk has emerged as one of the biggest supporters of Trumps candidature. Depending on Trump's win, the Tesla CEO will likely have a major role in forming and implementing key policies in the upcoming administration.

The Asian markets also responded positively as the former president marches closer towards reelection. The results are going to have a global impact on the world economy.

Trump announces victory

Meanwhile, Trump declared victory in a speech to his supporters in West Palm Beach.

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Trump thanked the American people for ensuring his re-election to the country's top post and promised to usher in a golden age for the United States.

I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president, and every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and your future, he said in his speech.

Every single day, I will be fighting for you and with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America, Trump added.

Moreover, Musk too has expressed his jubilation at Trumps victory through a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter).

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The people of America gave @realDonaldTrump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight, one of Musks posts read.

Congratulations pour in

According to the information provided by the Associated Press, as of the time of writing this report, Trump has won 267 electoral votes while his rival and the Democrat Party candidate Kamala Harris is trailing with 224.

In total the former president has won 30 states, while Harris has managed to bag only 20.

Trump now needs just three more electoral college votes to reach 270, while Harris needs to win 46 of those.

The biggest turning point of Trumps victory was his ability to bring voters from the swing states in his favor  including Pennsylvania. He is also leading in other swing states.

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To become the 47th president of the US, the former president just needs to emerge victorious in one more state.

With victory in sight, congratulations have started pouring in from across the globe.

NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte has congratulated Trump on his victory in the presidential election race.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also congratulated the Republican candidate on his historic election victory. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also wished Trump on the win, and expressed the hope that UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

Earlier yesterday, an unlikely predictor emerged: Moo Deng, the internet-famous pygmy hippo. The pygmy hippo predicted that Trump would emerge as the winner in the presidential elections.
Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. After defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump will serve a second term in the White House as the 47th President of the United States.

Texans reacted to the news of the victory, declared hours after Trump won the Lone Star State. The conclusion of the tense election prompted a range of emotions.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott

President Donald J. Trump.



The 45th & 47th Presidents of the United States of America.



God Bless America.  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 6, 2024

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick

  



Two weeks ago, I predicted on Laura Ingraham that President Trump would win by a huge victory of 297-312 electoral votes.



I spoke with the President this morning and said he would have a huge victory. I had no idea he would repeat that on https://t.co/7g0ho4TlQx pic.twitter.com/LeHoyiLLe3  Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) November 6, 2024

US Rep. Jasmine Crockett

Shirley Chisholms wisdom still rings true to this day.



I am proud of VP @KamalaHarris who was -younger (yall were upset about age )

-smarter (he never wanted to debate her again)

-kinder (he spews hate towards everyone)

-looking out US (hes looking out for HIM)



But as pic.twitter.com/XVWPNxZSLX  Jasmine Crockett (@JasmineForUS) November 6, 2024

Dallas mayor Eric L. Johnson

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on a decisive victory to return to the White House as our 47th President of the United States!  Looking forward to working with him to make Dallas and our nation safer, stronger, and more prosperous.  Mayor Eric L. Johnson (@Johnson4Dallas) November 6, 2024

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Mark Cuban

Texans react to Trump victory

Proud to be a former liberal who helped elect Donald J Trump for the 47th President of the United States of America



  Mary Tiles Texas  (@MaryTilesTexas) November 6, 2024

Month 7 living in Texas : today we voted for TRUMP 2024 despite being black  pic.twitter.com/0A17NWmuDP  locdinwithzaza (@locdinwithzaza_) November 6, 2024

To all the Republican parents who voted for Trump, I hope and pray your daughters never suffer under what your GOP is actively doing to them in Texas and other states. But unfortunately, it'll probably happen to them and when you turn to get help, you may not find it.  Big O (@infinite_big_o) November 6, 2024

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I have a family, Dan, and that is why I voted for Kamala Harris. Donald Trump does not embody family values, not by a long shot.  Avery Beckett (@TexasAvery) November 6, 2024

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Trump wins 2024 US presidential election 'fair and square': Reactions
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz of Texas won reelection Tuesday night as the GOP showed growing strength along the U.S.-Mexico border and continued chipping away at a region that has been a longtime stronghold for Democrats.

De La Cruz centered her campaign on border security to again win over the predominately Latino and working-class district that stretches from San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley. She was on pace to win by an even larger margin than she did in 2022 in what was a rematch with Democratic challenger Michelle Vallejo.

It was one of three closely watched House races on the Texas-Mexico border. Democratic Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar, who was on the ballot for the first time since being indicted earlier this year, were narrowly reelected.

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Republicans have invested heavily into South Texas since several counties made significant shifts toward former President Donald Trump in 2020. Those gains continued this year, including Trump flipping Cameron County, one of the largest counties on the Texas border.

Tonight we are witnessing incredible results, especially with Hispanics across the state of Texas, and we are seeing tonight generational change in South Texas, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz told supporters after his victory over U.S. Rep. Colin Allred.

Our Hispanic communities arent just leaving the Democratic Party, they are coming home to conservative values they never left," Cruz said.

Trump was also in reach of potentially flipping Hidalgo County, which President Joe Biden had won by 17 percentage points, along with former Democratic strongholds Starr and Webb counties.

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Congressman wins under indictment

Cuellar defeated political newcomer Jay Furman in an early test of the congressmans political resilience following a May indictment on bribery charges.

Cuellar has deep roots in South Texas, serving the 28th Congressional District for nearly two decades. Republicans spent millions of dollars trying to unseat him in 2022  the most competitive race of Cuellars career  but still lost by double-digits.

This time around, Cuellars biggest hurdle was maintaining support in the face of criminal charges. He and his wife were indicted for accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes for accepting money from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico. Cuellar has said he and his wife are innocent. In 2022, Cuellar had defeated his opponent by 13 percentage points, a much wider victory than his single-digit victory this time over Furman.

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De La Cruz wins rematch

De La Cruz was the first Republican to win a congressional race in South Texas. The 15th Congressional District was one of two new seats awarded to Texas following the 2020 census, driven by the states booming Hispanic population, and was drawn by Republican mapmakers to give them an edge.

Vallejo's campaign leaned into protecting Social Security and Medicare, which are popular programs among her primarily Latino and working-class base. De La Cruz has touted her support of tougher border security policies, including those backed by Trump.

Gonzalez narrowly reelected to Rio Grande Valley seat

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Democratic U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez has held onto his district in a win over former U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores.

Its a letdown for Republicans who made the race a top target this year. Flores had outraised Gonzales in her attempt to return to Congress after briefly serving an abbreviated term in 2022 following a special election under a map that was more favorable to Republicans.

Gonzalezs win in the 34th District is likely to reassure Democrats of their support with mostly Latino and working class voters in the Rio Grande Valley. Republicans have stepped up efforts in recent elections to make gains in the region after long writing off their prospects along Texas southern border.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had campaigned for Flores, who was the first Mexican-born woman elected to Congress.

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Shifts in South Texas

Counties along the Texas-Mexico border made significant swings in 2020 toward Trump. The rightward shift represents a changing political landscape along the U.S.-Mexico border where border security has become a key issue for voters.

President Biden won Hidalgo County, a reliably blue district, by less than half the margin that Hillary Clinton did in 2016. In rural Zapata County, Trump flipped the county altogether after Clinton won it by 33 percentage points four years prior.

The gains have led to Republicans to invest millions of dollars into what were once considered deep blue districts.
Republicans were poised to expand their majority in the Texas House on Tuesday evening, and appeared on track to flip two seats in historically Democratic districts as South Texas continued its dramatic shift to the right.

If those results hold, the GOP will control 88 of 150 seats in the lower chamber when the Legislature reconvenes in January. That margin will give Gov. Greg Abbott more than enough votes to finally pass a school voucher bill, he said late Tuesday.

Republican Don McLaughlin, the former mayor of Uvalde, was beating Democrat Cecilia Castellano in House District 80, according to incomplete results late Tuesday. The seat was open following the retirement of Democrat Tracy King.

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In Corpus Christis District 34, Republican Denise Villalobos was on path to defeat Democrat Solomon Ortiz Jr. in a race to succeed retiring Democrat Abel Herrero.

Republicans had their eyes on a third seat, with Democratic state Rep. Eddie Morales Jr. of Eagle Pass trailing Republican Robert Garza for much of the night. But Morales pulled ahead late when the votes were tallied in his hometown Maverick County, giving him another term representing his sprawling border district.

In the Senate, Republican Adam Hinojosa claimed victory against Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-Palm Valley, in the only battleground of the upper chamber.

Abbott lauded his partys likely gains in the Legislature on Tuesday.

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Texans sent a clear message: they want safer streets, a secure border, a strong economy, and the economy to choose the best school for their children, Abbott said in a statement. And thats exactly what these Republican candidates will deliver.

Abbott is particularly keen to pass education savings accounts, which are taxpayer-supported bank accounts parents can use to subsidize their childrens private school tuition. Creating those accounts was one of Abbotts top legislative priorities that was thwarted by a coalition of rural Republicans and Democrats last year. But Abbott was able to oust many of those Republicans in this years primaries by supporting their challengers.

Abbott scheduled a Wednesday news conference at the Kingdom Life Academy, a Christian private school in Tyler, where he is expected to discuss his voucher plans for the upcoming legislative session.

Once members know the makeup of the House, their focus will shift to the 2025 legislative session  and the speakers race. Texas House Republican Caucus bylaws call on the Republican caucus to meet in December to endorse a candidate for speaker.

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Republican state Rep. David Cook is running against sitting House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, to lead the lower chamber. Cook claims to have support from a majority of the incoming Republican caucus, although a speaker candidate must achieve three-fifths support within the caucus to earn its official backing.

Cook, a former mayor of Mansfield, defeated Democrat Ebony M. Turner in District 96 on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.

Also on Tuesday, Republicans were holding on to two seats Democrats had hoped to flip. Two were in Bexar County. Marc LaHood, who ousted incumbent Republican Steve Allison in the spring Republican primary, was leading Democrat Laurel Jordan Swift in District 121. John Lujan was narrowly beating Democratic challenger Kristian Carranza in District 118.

Democrats were falling short where they hoped to defeat incumbent Republicans in suburban seats elsewhere. In Dallas County, it appeared Republican Angie Chen Button would survive her faceoff with Averie Bishop in District 112. Also in Dallas County, incumbent Morgan Meyer was winning over Democrat Elizabeth Ginsberg in District 108.

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In Harris County, Republican incumbent Lacey Hull was easily beating back a challenge from Democrat Stephanie Morales in District 138. Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock, cruised to a second term in District 52 over Democrat Jennie Berkholz, according to The AP.

Tuesday did not appear to be a complete disappointment for Democrats. The party was holding on to the District 115 seat, vacated by Julie Johnson who was elected to the U.S. House. Democrat Cassandra Hernandez was leading over Republican John Jun in the open contest.

Democrat Mihaela Plesa, who eked out a win in her District 70 race in 2022, was again narrowly leading in the race for the Dallas County seat against Republican Steve Kinard, who was one of 48 Republican nominees Cook says are supporting him in the race for speaker.

In McLennan County, Republican Pat Curry won both the general election and the special election to succeed retired Republican state Rep. Doc Anderson and will be sworn in later this month, according to The AP. That will make him the senior member within a freshman class that is shaping up to be at least 26 Republicans strong, the largest class of Republican freshmen since 2013.

The Texas Tribune answering reader questions about 2024 elections. To share your question or feedback with us, you can fill out this form.
In the end, it wasnt close at all.

On election night, Texans handed sweeping victories to the Republican Party that controls the state, and in particular its ascendant MAGA faction.

As Vice President Harris performed far worse across the state than President Biden did in 2020, Democratic hopes quickly fizzled.

In addition to a decisive loss for Democratic Senate challenger Rep. Colin Allred, the party failed to flip the last major urban county outside its control and lost ground in its key strongholds, from Harris County to the Rio Grande Valley.

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Republicans on Tuesday night declared total victory.

President Donald Trumps victory ensures that Americas future will be brighter and more prosperous than ever, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) wrote in a statement.

The Trump-Vance Administration will cement Americas energy dominance, crack down on crime, secure our borders, and restore American strength, prosperity, and success once again.

These were not upsets, as such: While the margin of Allred and Harriss loss outpaced the close polling earlier in the race, neither was favored to win the Republican stronghold.

But it was down the ballot where state Democrats received their biggest rejection: losing a series of races in the Texas suburbs and the Rio Grande Valley that the party had hoped would provide some bulwark against the rise of a MAGA faction that seeks to use institutional reforms to relegate them to permanent minority status.

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Here are 5 things to know.

Harris, Allred did far worse than predecessors

Despite perennial Democratic hopes that a blue Texas is just around the corner, President-elect Trump beat Harris by a staggering 14 points  more than twice the 6-point margin by which he beat President Biden in the state in 2020, and about 2 points more than the margin by which Trump won in 2016.

For Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the margin was closer, though still decisive: a victory of 8 points. That was far larger than the closest polls  or the senators increasingly plaintive late-campaign messages  had suggested.

That means that nearly three-quarters of a million Trump-supporting Texans split their tickets and voted for Allred  in addition to the million who voted for Libertarian Sen. Ted Brown, who ran under the slogan The Better Ted and called for an Ellis Island-style immigration system that welcomes people.

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The gap between Cruz and Trump suggests that Allreds campaign did peel off some conservative Texans, and that Cruz was a drag on the Republican ticket  but not nearly to the extent that Democrats would have needed to win.

MAGA is on track to take full control of the state Legislature

One of the biggest Texas political stories of the past year was the attempt by Abbott, state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), the states powerful  and internally divided  trio of statewide leaders, to purge conservative Republicans who had voted with Democrats to kill school vouchers.

Divisions between the MAGA faction in state government and the state Senate, and a highly conservative but more business-centric faction in the House, flared into open conflict with the failed 2023 impeachment of Paxton.

In the pivotal vote, a far-right pressure campaign threatened state senators with primary challenges if they voted to impeach Paxton.

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In the primaries that followed, the three state leaders began a complex and somewhat uncoordinated campaign to purge Republicans in the relatively independent state House who had defied them on Paxton and vouchers.

The insurgent primary candidates largely swept the field of these incumbents, leaving behind a heavily divided party  and one that, to state Democrats, seemed rife with pickup opportunities as MAGA allies bumped off moderate Republicans in purple districts.

One of the few survivors  after the most expensive primary fight in state history  was state House Speaker Dade Phelan (R), who fought Abbott on vouchers and led the impeachment of Paxton. In the legislative session that begins in January, he will face a well-funded challenge from state Rep. David Cook (R) and would likely need Democratic support to fight him off.

When that session begins, a small but important power bloc will be the Republican signatories of the Contract with Texas, which accuses Speakers like Phelan of [colluding] with Democrats to advance progressive policies and stop Republican priorities.

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To avoid this, the contract signatories call for an end to the state Legislatures unusual collegiality, which currently splits up committee chair positions evenly by party  rather than leave Democrats out  and makes sure that no Democratic bills reach the floor before all GOP bills have been considered.

Of the letters 24 signatories, 15 are new Abbott-, Patrick- or Paxton-backed members who won their races last night, and who will join the Legislature in January, right on time for what are likely to be bruising fights over the Speakership, school vouchers and the role of Democrats in state government.

Their new strategic position will be enabled in large measure by Democratic failures.

Democrats failed to pick up  and lost ground  in key cities and suburbs

Democrats went into this election hoping to complete their takeover of the states five big urban counties  and expand into the purpling suburbs around them.

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This largely failed. Harris underperformed Biden in Harris County, where Democratic incumbents barely won in what the Houston Chronicle called shockingly close races in what had been seen as a Democratic stronghold, and significantly underperformed Biden in the suburban county of Fort Bend.

In general, Trump beat Harris by 100,000 votes in these counties, and of the 10 biggest Texas suburban and exurban counties, only three  Fort Bend, along with Williamson and Hays outside Austin  went for Allred.

Harris also lost Tarrant County, the states third-largest urban county and one that Biden narrowly won but the ascendant far right sees as its center of power.

In that county, Democrat Patrick Moses, who challenged MAGA-aligned Bill Waybourn (R) for the key strategic position of sheriff  a bellwether position in the other urban counties  lost by 8 points.

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And conservative and former state Rep. Matt Krause (R), a proponent of putting the Ten Commandments in public schools, flipped a commissioners court seat, giving the right a majority in the nations most populous Republican county.

Those victories, which come in a county under the aegis of avowed culture warrior and county Judge Tim OHare, will likely push Tarrant County further right, The Texas Tribune reported.

Meanwhile, Democrats failed to flip key state legislative seats in the center and suburbs of Dallas, as well as the suburbs of Austin, that would have allowed them to complete their takeover of those urban counties and the contested hinterlands that surround them.

Democrats lost races in Denton, Williamson and Dallas counties  though, in a rare bright spot for the state party, they did successfully hold state Rep. Mihaela Plesas seat in Collin County, home of Paxton, the attorney general.

Rio Grande Valley now in play

Flagging support for Democrats among Latino men  not to mention a massive influx of cash into border communities by Gov. Greg Abbott (R)  meant Harris failed to take key blue counties in South Texas, which also voted down Texas House Democrats.

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In general, Trump beat Harris by a narrow 9,000 votes along the border. The vice president lost every single border county except for Presidio, whose most populous city is the art colony of Marfa, and Democratic El Paso, though she held a few sparsely populated South Texas counties such as Dimmit and Jim Hogg, which are just in from the Rio Grande.

That included losses in Webb County, home of Laredo, a longtime party bastion in the Rio Grande Valley, in what Texas Observer Editor Gus Bova called an example of a Democratic nightmare in South Texas. Webb County is the home court of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D), who won despite being currently under federal indictment.

Allred did better in the region, suggesting that some of his messaging on the border connected with voters. The Dallas congressman and local native won Webb as well as populous Hidalgo and Cameron counties, home of the border-straddling metropolis of McAllen-Reynosa and Brownsville-Matamoros  but by far less than past Democrats.

These losses were most substantive and, for Democrats, disappointing when it came to control of state government.

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Democrat Solomon P. Ortiz Jr. appears to have lost his Nueces County seat, and Cecilia Castellano  the target of raids by Paxton  lost to Don McLaughlin, whose campaign cited a new wave of support for Republican values in traditionally Democrat territories.



The Democrats also failed to reclaim Rep. John Lujans (R) seat in South Texas.

On the state Senate side, Republican Adam Hinojosa flipped the bodys only competitive seat by edging out state Sen. Morgan LaMantia (D) on South Padre Island. Hinojosa, like McLaughlin, was endorsed by conservative South Texas Democrats.

The election results in our District are nothing short of historic. Our campaign has changed the balance of power in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, Hinojosa said.

In general, Trump beat Harris by a narrow 9,000 votes along the border.

Paxton supporters take the states highest criminal court

In 2022, Paxton received a decisive rebuff from the states Court of Criminal Appeals, whose conservative justices ruled his office could not unilaterally prosecute election fraud  but would have to work with local prosecutors.

At the time, Paxton declared he was the target of lawfare, called on his supporters to call the court en masse and swore revenge on the justices who had ruled against him. In the primary elections earlier this year, he backed far-right opponents to three sitting justices  all of whom won.

One of these, Barbara Hervey, told the Tribune after her primary loss that Darth Vader is not supposed to win the war in those movies.

All of the Paxton-endorsed candidates won their races on Tuesday, removing a power base that has served as an occasional block on the attorney general.

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Republican state Rep. Angie Chen Button, 70, won a ninth term in the Texas Legislature, defeating Democratic challenger Averie Bishop, 28, in the competitive race for House District 112.

Button secured 54% of the vote to Bishops 46%, with a margin of nearly 7,000 votes. This victory holds one of the last two Dallas County seats under Republican control, a target Democrats hoped to flip this election cycle.

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Button, who first won her seat in 2008, has become a key ally of Gov. Greg Abbott and Speaker Dade Phelan, supporting the governors school voucher proposal, though it failed in the House.

In contrast, Bishop, a former Miss Texas, campaigned on increasing public school funding and protecting reproductive rights.

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Button's strong ties with constituents and legislative experience proved decisive, allowing her to maintain her position as the only Asian American woman in the Texas Legislature

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More Texans registered to vote in the 2024 November elections than ever before, but turnout lagged behind the most recent presidential race, especially in the states most populous urban counties that Democrats hoped to dominate by centering issues such as abortion and the state of democracy.

A record 18.6 million Texans were registered to vote in the election, according to state data. About 11.3 million people, or 61% of registered voters, cast ballots in the general election, according to preliminary, unofficial data.

While the raw number of Texans who voted this year rivals 2020s total, it marks a nearly 6 percentage-point drop in turnout compared to four years ago.

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This years turnout drops were most dramatic in Texas big blue counties including Harris, Bexar and Dallas, where Democrats on the ballot  including Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. House Rep. Colin Allred  expected to win comfortably. Harris underperformed in those counties, surpassing Trump in Harris County by a modest 5 points, a steep drop from 2020, when President Joe Biden outperformed Trump by 13 points. Allred fared slightly better, but not well enough to stave off the higher Republican turnout in fast-growing red counties including Montgomery and Collin.

Early voting participation also declined this year. About 9 million Texans voted in person early or returned their absentee ballots by Nov. 1, compared to 9.7 million voters doing so in 2020.

Only a fraction of the states 254 counties saw an uptick in voting participation. Among them were Wichita, Victoria and Erath, all reliably Republican.

Political scientists said 2020 may have been an anomaly, since the COVID-19 pandemic energized voters, and some Texas counties temporarily reduced barriers to voting that year. Texas offered three weeks of early voting in 2020, compared to two weeks in 2024, and some counties also allowed drive-thru voting.

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In 2016 and in 2012, about 59% of registered voters turned out, a number more in line with this years rate.

We should be cautious about making direct comparisons to 2020 because that election was so unusual, said Joshua Blank, director of research for the Texas Politics Project. Its easy to look at this and say we have lower turnout, but given that the state has been known as a bastion of low turnout, another way to look at this is as a continuation of higher than traditional turnout.

Blank added that an uptick in registered voters does not automatically translate into increased turnout. Some people register to vote when they renew their drivers license and dont necessarily have intentions of casting a ballot. Others decide not to vote because of the states complex voter laws.

Voter laws in Texas are among the most restrictive in the country. The states voter ID requirements are stricter than other states that only require a signature to vote. And Texas only allows mail-in votes for a small subset of voters, unlike other states that allow universal mail-in ballots.

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Confusion over a GOP-backed voting law that requires voters to include a state identification number on their mail-in ballot application could have also prevented some Texans from casting a ballot, experts said.

The states increase in registered voters comes amid an explosive population boom in the suburban areas surrounding Houston, Dallas and Austin. Democrats had hoped that growth in those areas would propel their candidates to victory and help flip the state blue.

But Democrats face an uphill battle when it comes to motivating voters to turn out, said University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus.

We have a one-party state, and theres a perception that for the party not in power, their votes dont count, Rottinghaus said. A lot of people take that to heart and dont vote as a result.

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In Collin County, one of the fastest growing pockets of the state north of Dallas, the Republican Party engaged voters by placing themselves at the center of non-political events, including a car show and a beer pong competition, said Republican Party Chair Shelby Williams. That effort helped establish the partys presence and translated into relatively high turnout numbers. About 68.5% of registered voters cast a ballot in Collin County, down from 75.7% turnout in 2020, but well above the overall 2024 turnout rate.

We have to engage the countless Republicans who dont yet know they are Republican, Williams said. It is important to break outside our own political echo chamber and get out in the community with swing voters and promote the Republican brand.

Texas has one of the youngest populations in the country, with a median age of 35. Young voters typically align with Democrats, but Trump managed to perform equally well as Harris among Texas voters between the ages of 18 and 29, according to exit polling from Edison Research.

The Texas Tribune answering reader questions about 2024 elections. To share your question or feedback with us, you can fill out this form.
By Georgina McCartney

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Texas on Tuesday reelected conservative incumbent Christi Craddick as chairman of the state's oil regulator, marking her third term in the position and a win for the industry that has seen production surge during her tenure.

Texas, home to the Permian Basin, is the largest oil producer in the United States, pumping some 5.8 million barrels per day (bpd), according to the latest government figures. The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC), which Craddick will chair for another six years, regulates the industry, overseeing everything from well permitting to pipeline safety.

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Craddick, a Republican, defeated Democrat Katherine Culbert, Green Party member Eddie Espinoza, Libertarian Hawk Dunlap and Independent Richard McKibbin.

Craddick first took office in 2012, around the beginning of the U.S. shale revolution, which propelled the country to become the world's top oil producer.

Since then, Texas oil production has ballooned from an average 1.98 million bpd to hitting a record at 5.8 million bpd in August this year, according to the Energy Information Administration.

In her third term, Craddick will face mounting pressure from landowners, environmentalists and other industry groups on the issue of orphan wells, which have been drilled and abandoned by operators.

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There were 8,376 orphan wells as of Oct. 31 across Texas, according to the RRC, though the actual number could be far higher.

"I would like the Commission to streamline orphan well plugging and abandonment, and adoption processes," said Reed Goodman, independent operator and owner of JayBird Resources, which has operations adjacent to the Eagle Ford shale play in South Texas.

The Railroad Commission has also come under fire recently after so-called zombie wells caused a series of well blowouts. Zombie wells are abandoned production sites that spring back to life and pollute the surrounding air, soil and groundwater.

Environmental groups also want RRC put a stop to routine flaring at oil wells, increase permitting fees to force oil companies to pay for the cleanup of orphan wells instead of the taxpayer, and to stop the storage of oil in areas that could contaminate groundwater.

(Reporting by Georgina McCartney in Houston; Editing by Liz Hampton and Matthew Lewis)
(Bloomberg) -- Thailand will explore offering fresh incentives to attract global companies looking to minimize the hit from the US-China trade war thats likely to intensify in the wake of Donald Trumps presidential election win, according to the countrys commerce minister.

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The Southeast Asian country expects to see a rush of new investments in the coming years from China, the US and other countries which see Thailand as a neutral and friendly player in global geopolitics, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan told Bloomberg News on Wednesday.

Trumps win will be beneficial for Thailand, because Republicans are pro-business and the US-China trade war will continue and result in more investments from both countries into Thailand, Pichai said in a phone interview. Everybody wants to invest in Thailand and use us as a manufacturing hub for exports to other countries.

Trump has threatened to ramp up the trade contest with China by slapping steep tariffs on imports, moves that could upend global trade. Southeast Asian countries were among the biggest beneficiaries of the US-China trade war during Trumps first term in office as companies relocated businesses from China to the region to circumvent punitive tariffs and trade curbs.

A longtime manufacturing powerhouse for automobiles and electronics, Thailand has in recent months ramped up efforts to attract investment from global companies to bolster growth from an average of less than 2% under a decade of military-backed rule. Pichai last month said chip-designing firm Nvidia Corp. will unveil investment plans in December, joining Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corp. as the nation becomes a hot spot for building AI data centers and electronics components manufacturing.

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US companies such as Seagate Technology Holdings and Western Digital Corp. are looking to ramp up investment in Thai operations, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. is keen to relocate some production to the country, Pichai said.

As the oldest US ally in Asia, Thailand has also been known to take a neutral stance in the escalating geopolitical tension. Pichai said this positioning will give the country more edge, especially after the US presidential election.

The US, China, India, Russia see us as a friend. We dont have to choose anyone, and that makes us attractive for investments because were seen as safe, said Pichai, who was in China earlier this week to court investors. Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, all think were a friend. Our benefits from this position will help Thailands economy grow.

Xi Is Better Prepared for Trump Even as 60% Tariffs Risk Chaos

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A number of foreign companies and business groups have urged the Ministry of Commerce to explore more incentives to facilitate investments, Pichai said. Hes scheduled to host a delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council later this month.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is in China on an official visit, congratulated Trump on his win and said her government was looking forward to advancing the long-standing alliance between Thailand and the US for the benefit of the two countries.

Thailand has seen a surge in new investment proposals, including from domestic companies, and commitments may reach as high as 1 trillion baht (29 billion) this year, according to Pichai.

The nations Board of Investment has reported a 42% jump in the value of investment proposals in the first nine months of this year to 723 billion baht, the highest level since 2015. A majority of the new investments are in electronics and data centers, and proposed by mostly by US and Chinese companies, according to the board.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
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Thailand has launched a landmark initiative to end statelessness by granting citizenship to 483,000 long-term residents and members of ethnic minorities.

Announced by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after a cabinet meeting on Oct. 29, the policy addresses decades of unresolved citizenship issues affecting individuals born in the country or who have lived there since early waves of migration dating back to 1984.

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The new framework, which replaces a 2021 resolution, simplifies eligibility checks and streamlines approvals at local rather than central levels. Government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsab says it could reduce processing time from 44 years to a more efficient, technology-driven procedure. However, foreigners involved in shady businesses are exempted from obtaining citizenship.

Commissioner Filippo Grandi of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) congratulated Thailand for its initiative, noting that it will be the single largest reduction of statelessness by any country.

Trending on NextShark: Thailand takes historic step to end statelessness

The first batch of verified applicants will initially receive permanent residency, with full nationality and political rights available after five years.

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The Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks at the Detroit Economic Club on October 10, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano | Getty Images)

For a third consecutive general election, West Virginians voted strongly in support of former President Donald Trumps bid for president, giving him the states four electoral votes, according to unofficial election results. The Associated Press called the race for Trump in West Virginia as soon as polls closed at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

As of 11:46 p.m. on Tuesday, with 92% of votes counted, Trump had secured 70.1% of votes cast in West Virginia compared to Vice President Kamala Harris 28% of votes.

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The support for Trump across the Mountain State is not new; residents overwhelmingly supported him in both the 2016 and 2020 general elections, with about 69% of voters in both years coming out for him. Thats compared to the 26% of voters who went for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and the nearly 30% of voters who supported President Joe Biden in 2020.

Though the former president did not make a stop in West Virginia for the 2024 general election, his presence has been known. Gov. Jim Justice  who did little to no campaigning for his own Republican Senate race in West Virginia  hit the campaign trail for Trump at rallies in several swing states, urging voters to support him. And in West Virginia, Trumps endorsement, image and stances have been used by Republican candidates for office at nearly all levels to garner votes by referring to themselves as Trump Republicans.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  State Rep. Thomas Jones has defeated Democrat Lynn McCleary to represent Pennsylvanias 97th District.

Incumbent Rep. Thomas Tom Jones is running for re-election to continue serving the 98th Legislative District of Pennsylvania, which covers parts of Lancaster and Lebanon counties.

Prior to being sworn in back in December 2022, Jones was known in the community for owning and operating a landscaping business for over two decades.

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Jones had also served as the Chairman of the East Donegal Township Board of Supervisors, the Police Commissioner for the Susquehanna Regional Police Department, and as a director of the Maytown/East Donegal Township Fire Department.

During the 2023-24 legislative session, Jones was assigned to serve on four House committees including Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Housing & Community Development, Local Government, and Tourism & Economic & Recreational Development.

Some of Jones main priorities include upholding the sanctity of life, protecting 2nd amendment rights, improving Pennsylvanias election process, giving parents stronger influences in their childrens education in public schools, and fighting to keep government spending in check.

Currently, Jones is an elder at the Community Bible Church in Marietta. He is married with four children and resides in Maytown.

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abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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The firing of defence minister Yoav Gallant by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked outrage in Israel, with protesters pouring into the streets of Tel Aviv on Tuesday night.

Thousands of people took to the streets to demonstrate against Netanyahu's shock move against his domestic political rival.

They blocked the Ayalon Highway, a major traffic artery in Tel Aviv, with burning tyres. Using Netanyahu's nickname, they chanted "Bibi is a traitor," "Bibi in prison" and "criminal government."

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Netanyahu had dismissed Gallant in March 2023 after he publicly called for a halt to the controversial plans for a judicial overhaul, warning that national security could be seriously damaged.

His dismissal was followed by violent protests and a general strike.

Netanyahu suspended the plans at the time, and Gallant's dismissal was reversed.

Demonstrators in Tel Aviv voiced concern that Netanyahu could fire other key members of the country's national security establishment, including the head of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi, or the head of the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet, Ronen Bar.

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Netanyahu's office, however, denied media speculation of further firings.

Other protesters contended that Netanyahu wanted to use Gallant's dismissal to distract from a scandal surrounding secret information that had been leaked to the press by employees close to his office.

The TV station Channel 12 reported on Tuesday evening that the police had recently raided Netanyahu's office. It was not clear whether this search was related to the potential misconduct surrounding the disclosure of secret war intelligence or to another investigation related to Netanyahu.
For the second night in a row, several thousand people demonstrated in Jerusalem late Wednesday against the sacking of Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had dismissed Gallant on Tuesday, saying he had lost trust in him.

The demonstrators took to the streets on Wednesday, calling on Netanyahu to reverse the dismissal, Israeli media reported.

Protesters also called for a compromise with the militant Palestinian Hamas in the Gaza Strip to free the approximately 100 Israeli hostages still held there, and for the abandonment of planned exemptions from compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox men.

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In addition, demonstrators urged that a commission of inquiry be set up to investigate the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023 in Israel, which left 1,200 dead and 250 initially abducted.

Israel's army and intelligence services were completely taken by surprise by the attack.

Gallant had also backed these demands, which was one of the reasons he had fallen out of favour with Netanyahu.
Thousands gathered in the centre of Serbia's second-largest city of Novi Sad on Tuesday, fuelled by outrage over last week's collapse of a concrete awning at the rail station that killed 14 people.

Some protesters threw flares, red paint and wastewater on the City Hall building, with most of those gathered not participating. Police responded by firing tear gas canisters, embroiling in a tacit tit-for-tat, but it is unclear whether any arrests were made by Tuesday night.

The protesters surrounded the building in central Novi Sad, with a group of young men breaking windows and throwing stones and other objects despite calls by organisers to remain calm. Special police troops were deployed inside the building.

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A smaller group of the angrier protesters wearing masks tried to get inside the building and hand over their demands that those responsible for the canopy collapse face justice.

'People are angry'

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic addressed the public on Tuesday night, saying the police are "showing restraint," but also issued a warning saying "horrific, violent protests are under way."

"People of Serbia please do not think violence is allowed," he said on X. "All those taking part in the incidents will be punished."

Protest organisers said they wanted to enter the regional capital of Vojvodina's city hall and submit their demands.

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Miran Pogacar, an opposition activist, said, "one glass window can be mended but we cannot bring back 14 lives. People are angry. Serbia won't stand for this."

Bojan Pajtic, an opposition politician, said he believed violence and incidents were stoked deliberately by provocateurs.

Thousands first marched through the city streets demanding that top officials step down because of the fatal outer roof collapse last Friday, including Vucic and Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, a former mayor of Novi Sad.

The protesters first gathered outside the railway station, where they held a moment of silence for the victims as organisers read their names. The crowd responded by chanting "arrest the gang" and "thieves".

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The protest started peacefully, but some demonstrators later hurled plastic bottles and bricks at the headquarters of Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party and sprayed red paint on posters of the Serbian president and the prime minister, together with a message that they had blood on their hands.

Earlier this week, the Serbian president said he was mulling a proposal to the country's parliament that would see his future decided through a referendum, with a view to organising a snap presidential election early next year.

Doubts over renovation work remain

Critics of Serbia's populist government have attributed the disaster to rampant corruption in the Balkan country, a lack of transparency, and sloppy work during the renovation of the station building, which was part of a wider railway deal with Chinese state companies.

The accident last Friday happened without warning. Surveillance camera footage showed the massive canopy on the outer wall of the station building crashing down on the people sitting below on benches or going in and out.

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Officials have promised full accountability and faced with pressure, Serbia's Construction Minister Goran Vesic submitted his resignation on Tuesday.

Prosecutors have said that more than 40 people already have been questioned as part of a probe into what happened, including Vesic. Many in Serbia, however, doubt that justice will be served with the populists in firm control of the judicial system and the police.

Opposition parties behind Tuesday's protest said they are also demanding the resignation of Vucevic and that documentation be made public listing all the companies and individuals involved.

The victims included several children, including a 6-year-old. Those injured in the roof collapse remained in serious condition on Tuesday, with domestic media reporting that one of the victims had both of her legs amputated.

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The train station has been renovated twice in recent years. Officials have insisted that the canopy had not been part of the renovation work, suggesting this was the reason why it collapsed but giving no explanation for why it was not included.

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However, construction and engineering experts have come forward, stating that the awning was likely renovated.

"It's not true that no work was done on the awning, because it was covered with glass post-factum," geologist and engineer Zoran ajic, who worked as the supervisor of the railway station reconstruction works until 2023, told the domestic press.

The Novi Sad railway station was originally built in 1964. The renovated station was inaugurated over two years ago by Vucic and his populist ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as a major stopover for a planned fast train line between Belgrade and Budapest.
Three races in the Charlotte area are close enough that they fall within recount territory, Kristin Mavromatis, public information manager for the countys Board of Elections said Wednesday.

Recounts in North Carolina are not automatic.

Candidates can request a recount in a non-statewide election if the difference in total votes is not more than 1%.

In the race for N.C. state Senate District 42, Democrat Woodson Bradley is ahead of Republican Stacie McGinn by just 27 votes, according to unofficial results.

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A recount in the race for N.C. state Senate District 37 would also be allowable, said Mavromatis. Republican Vickie Sawyer is ahead of Democrat Kate Compton Barr by just 116 votes or 0.56%. But the district mostly covers Republican-leaning Iredell County, where Sawyer won big. So, a recount in Mecklenburg County is unlikely to change the final result.

And Republican Tricia Cotham is currently ahead of Democrat Nicole Sidman in the race for N.C. House of Representatives District 105 by 275 votes, or 0.52%.

The statewide race for an associate justice seat on the state Supreme Court between Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs and Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin is also close enough for a statewide recount.

A candidate for statewide office can request a recount if the leading candidate is ahead by not more than 0.5% of the votes cast, or 10,000 votes  whichever is less.

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Griffin is ahead of Riggs by 10,130 votes, or 0.18% of the votes, unofficial results show.

There are no local races in Gaston County, Union County, or Catawba County close enough for recounts, according to each countys Board of Elections.

Cabarrus County and Lincoln Countys Boards of Elections directors could not be reached on Wednesday.

Outstanding ballots

With voting over, county election boards will begin canvassing and auditing the results.

During canvassing, election officials count votes and authenticate the results. They count absentee ballots and research provisional ballots to determine if they should be counted, the N.C. state Board of Elections website says.

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Mavromatis said there are about 5,000 outstanding provisional ballots in Mecklenburg County, and just over 4,000 absentee ballots.

The board will meet Thursday, she said, to start counting the outstanding absentee ballots. Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots, which are used by people living overseas and in the military, will be counted on Nov. 14, Mavromatis said.

A team has already started working through the provisional ballots, she said.

Gaston County Board of Elections Director Adam Ragan said 1,340 outstanding provisional ballots were completed during early voting and on Election Day. The county also received a little over 200 mail-in ballots on Tuesday.

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Philip Hinson, deputy director of the Union County Board of Elections, said the county is still counting the number of provisional ballots and absentee ballots and doesnt know the number yet.

In Iredell County, Susie Jordan, the Board of Elections director, said there are 816 outstanding provisional ballots. The county is still counting absentee ballots and doesnt know the total yet.

And Catawba County has 574 provisional ballots, said Amanda Duncan, director of the Board of Elections. She said she didnt know the number of absentee ballots yet.

Western NC voters cast ballots in donation center after Helene tossed Ashe County
BRASHER FALLS, N.Y. (WWTI)  Three people are facing charges stemming from a Sunday night traffic stop in Brasher Falls.

According to New York State Police, they pulled over a red 2009 Chevrolet traveling on State Highway 11C after observing it violate vehicle and traffic laws just before 9:10 p.m.

Former judge charged with allegedly threatening St. Lawrence Co. polling site

During the stop, state police interviewed the occupants. This included the driver, who was identified as 49-year-old Michael Woods, of North Lawrence, front seat passenger 38-year-old Kristy Woods of Brasher Falls, and two backseat passengers in 45-year-old Darrin Collins of Winthrop and 27-year-old Emily Moniere of Potsdam.

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State police identified Collins and Moniere after they provided incorrect names and date of births. Authorities revealed that both Collins and Moniere have a complete stay away order of protection in place, so they were in violation.

Kristy Wood, Moniere and Collins all also had active bench warrants according to state police.

The trio were taken into custody and a subsequent search found numerous amounts of narcotic drugs and paraphernalia located in the vehicle.

Here are the following charges for the three people from the stop:

Darrin Collins was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7 th , criminal contempt 2 nd , bail jumping 3 rd , and false personation. He was arraigned in the town of Massena Court, for his active bench warrant, where he was remanded to St. Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $4,000 bash bail.

Kristy Woods was charged with criminal possession of controlled substance 7th (2 counts) and criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2 nd . She was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Brasher Falls Court for a later date in November. She was arraigned in the town of Massena Court, for an active bench warrant, where she was released on her own recognizance.

Emily Moniere was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7 th (2 counts, criminal possession of a controlled substance 3 rd , criminal possession of narcotic drug 4 th , bail jumping, and false personation. She was arraigned in the town of Norfolk Court, where she was remanded to St. Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.

Michael Woods received traffic tickets

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U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz greets a crowd of supporters at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

New faces emerged in at least a third of Indianas congressional races after voters in all nine Hoosier districts decided their representatives for the U.S. House.

Eight of Indianas nine races were called by late Tuesday.

Ballots statewide collectively featured 28 candidates for the U.S. House. Two GOP incumbents retired and another left to pursue a higher office.

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Heres how the candidates fared.

1st Congressional District

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan seemed likely to hold onto his congressional seat, but the Associated Press hadnt called the race five hours after polls closed. At 11 p.m., Mrvan was leading with about 54% of the vote.

The Democrat has served the northwest Indiana district since 2020. He faced Republican Randy Niemeyer and Libertarian Dakotah Miskus.

Niemeyer ran a vocal campaign and had more than 44% of the vote by late Tuesday. Miskus was at just shy of 2%.

Prior to his tenure in Congress, Mrvan was a North Township Trustee for 15 years and is the son of longtime state lawmaker Frank Ed Mrvan. The younger Mrvan lives in Lake County with his wife and two daughters.

2nd Congressional District

Republican U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym sailed to reelection on Election Night, winning out over Democrat Lori Camp and Libertarian William Henry.

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The Associated Press called the race around 9:20 p.m., with Yakym leading 67.4% to Camps 29.6%. Henry had received 3%. Votes were still being counted.

Yakym was first appointed to the 2nd Congressional District following the death of former U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski in a car crash in 2022.

The South Bend native will represent his hometown, along with other portions of north-central Indiana, in the 2nd Congressional District. Republicans have held the safe Republican seat for years.

3rd Congressional District

Republican and former U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman will be heading back to Washington, D.C. after winning a campaign for the 3rd Congressional District.

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Stutzman, who previously held the same seat between 2010 and 2017, survived a contentious primary in May. The Associated Press called the race with him leading with 64.3% of the vote.

Democrat Kiley Adolph and Libertarian Jarrad Lancaster has 32.8% and 2.9% of the vote, respectively, as of 7:45 p.m.

The reliably red district includes Indianas second-largest city, Fort Wayne, and covers the greater northeastern Indiana area.

4th Congressional District

Sitting U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, a Republican, will keep his congressional seat after claiming victory over his competitors, Democrat Derrick Holder and Libertarian Ashley Groff.

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The Associated Press called the race shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday for the incumbent, who was leading with more than 66% of the vote. Holder, a former marine, earned 30%, and Groff, of Hendricks County, received almost 4%.

Baird has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 4th Congressional District  which covers a large portion of the western part of the state  since 2019. Prior to that the Army veteran was in the Indiana House for eight years. He has largely focused on military issues while in Congress and called himself pro-life, pro-Israel, and (a) supporter of the Second Amendment during his latest campaign.

The 4th District seat has been a Republican stronghold since 1995.

5th Congressional District

Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz, the first Ukrainian-born member of Congress, easily won reelection to a seat she almost gave up.

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The Associated Press called the race when she had a 55.8% lead in Indianas 5th Congressional District north of Indianapolis.

Spartz initially said she wouldnt run again but changed her mind days before the filing deadline. She faced off against Democrat Deborah Pickett, a resident of Carmel who served in the U.S. Army Reserve. She focused on fighting for personal rights and liberties, and received 39% of the vote.

Also running were Libertarian Lauri Shillings and Independent Robby Slaughter.

6th Congressional District

Republican Jefferson Shreve will take over the 6th Congressional District after defeating Democrat Cynthia Cinde Wirth and Libertarian James Sceniak.

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The Associated Press called the race with him leading almost 66% compared to roughly 30% for Columbus school teacher Wirth and 4% for behavioral therapist Sceniak.

This traditionally Republican seat represents central and eastern Indiana, including a strip of southern Indianapolis. Its open for the first time in about six years after incumbent Greg Pence chose not to seek reelection.

Shreve sold off his self-storage company for nearly $600 million in 2022. Since then, hes plugged some of his personal wealth into politics: more than $13 million into a failed bid for Indianapolis mayor, and $6 million  thus far  into his congressional campaign. He emerged victorious from a crowded GOP primary field.

7th Congressional District

Democrat U.S. Rep. Andre Carson breezily earned himself a return ticket to the U.S. Capitol, defeating Republican John Schmitz and Libertarian Rusty Johnson.

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The Associated Press called the race around 9 p.m. with him leading 69.1% to Schmitz 28.3%. Johnson had earned 2.6%. Votes were still being counted.

Carson has represented the 7th Congressional District since 2008, when he won a special election to replace his grandmother, the late U.S. Rep Julia Carson.

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Prior to his time in Congress, Carson held a handful of state government positions and briefly served on the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council. He is the second Muslim to be elected to Congress.

The deep-blue district is the most densely populated in Indiana, covering roughly two-thirds of Marion County.

8th Congressional District

A former state legislator now has a new home in Congress  Republican state Sen. Mark Messmer easily claimed victory over Democrat Erik Hurt and Libertarian K. Richard Fitzlaff on Tuesday in the race to represent the 8th Congressional District.

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The Associated Press called the race shortly after 7 p.m. with Messmer leading at roughly 74%.

The deep-red district covers southwestern Indiana. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshons retirement left the seat open.

Messmer, of Jasper, served in the state Senate from 2014 until September. He was the state Senates majority leader from 2018 to 2022, when Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray replaced him. The reason for the leadership change was unclear.

But Messmer was one of two Republican senators who were not present for a final vote on the states near-total abortion ban in 2022. Before that, he voted down an earlier version of the bill, saying lawmakers discourse showed the impossibility of threading the needle on abortion-related matters.

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The small business owner and engineer previously served in the Indiana House of Representatives, starting in 2008.

9th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin won her first reelection bid Tuesday, besting Democrat Timothy Peck and Libertarian Russell Brooksbank to represent Indianas 9th Congressional District.

The Associated Press called the race at 10:17 p.m. with Houchin leading at 64.7%.

The traditionally red district covers much of the states borders with Kentucky and Ohio.

Houchin took office in 2023, succeeding former U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth. She previously served eight years in the Indiana Senate, representing Salem. Along with her service in the State Senate, Erin was a Hoosier small business owner operating a public relations company focused on helping law enforcement communicate the good work they do.

In the U.S. House, she serves on the Financial Services, Rules, and Education and Workforce committees.

An emergency doctor and founder of several health tech companies, Peck has a background as a teacher and physician with the Harvard Medical School.

A concrete truck driver and Army Reserve veteran, Brooksbank is the party chair for the Clark County Libertarian Party and serves on the Clarksville Town Council.

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Reps. Donald Norcross, Jeff Van Drew, and Chris Smith were easily reelected, the Associated Press projects. (Photo by New Jersey Monitor)

A trio of South Jersey congressmen representing safe congressional districts won reelection Tuesday, the Associated Press projects.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-04), the longest-serving member of Congress in New Jerseys history, was elected to a 23rd term, prevailing over a challenge from business owner Matthew Jenkins for the second consecutive cycle in this solidly Republican district.

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Smiths victory extends his record. The congressman has sat in the House since 1981, surviving five rounds of redistricting. The most recent map forced him to move from Hamilton to Manchester after the Mercer County town was redrawn into the 3rd District.

Voters in the 1st District reelected Rep. Donald Norcross (D) over Republican Teddy Liddell, an attorney and former U.S. Army captain, in the safely Democratic district.

Norcrosss term in the 119th Congress will be his seventh, but it will be only his sixth full term. He was first elected to the House in a 2014 special election to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Democratic Rep. Rob Andrews. His first term was only months long.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-02) is projected to win a fourth term, defeating Joe Salerno, a businessman mounting his first campaign, in the increasingly Republican district.

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The victory is Van Drews third as a Republican. He was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 2018 after serving 16 years as a right-of-center Democrat in the state Legislature before defecting to the Republican Party as Democrats moved to impeach then-President Donald Trump in 2019.

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Several restaurants have closed recently, but in the case of three, the closings should be only temporary, according to owners.

One is Taqueria La Chona at 3415 E. Harry, whose Facebook page earlier this week features a post that read: Sorry for the inconvenience, will be closed until further notice. The post offered no further details.

Contacted this week, owner Alma Cerrillo  who opened the restaurant with husband Serjio Valadez in early 2020  said that the restaurant closed over the weekend so that owners could make modifications to the facilities. She said that when the restaurant returns next week, it will open earlier and will add breakfast to its menu.

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The closing was particularly concerning to its fans in light of the fact that Taqueria La Chonas sister restaurant, Fonda La Chona at 1210 W. Pawnee, closed for good in late October after less than two years in business. That restaurant also posted a sign on the door saying it was closed for a remodel.

Bocatto Eatery and Pasta is only temporarily closed, its owner says.

Also closed temporarily: Bocatto: Eatery and Pasta at 321 N. Mead in Old Town Square. Owner Arnulfo Garcia said that the restaurant has been closed since Tuesday for maintenance issues but that it should reopen in a couple of days.

Last month, Garcia shared news that he and his wife, Nathaly Martinez, were planning to open a new restaurant called Old Town Burrito in the former Lotus Leaf space at 251 N. Washington. He also said that the couple was planning to sell their portion of the 2-year-old Bocatto to their business partner, Jimmy Bolanos.

Thats still their plan, Garcia said, but it hasnt happened yet. Hes put together a new menu for Boccato, taking off a few dishes and adding others, and it will debut when Bocatto reopens.

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He also said that Old Town Burrito, which will serve burritos, tacos, nachos, enchiladas and quesadillas, could be ready to open as soon as next weekend.

Eddies Cafe opened in May at 8643 W. Central but closed over the weekend.

The owners of a third local restaurant that recently closed also say they want to reopen. When they do, though, it will be at a different address, and theyre not sure how long it will be until theyre ready to try their concept again.

Ashlea and Andy Pfannenstiel, who opened Eddies Cafe at 8643 W. Central in May, closed their shop over the weekend. On Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon, theyll be putting on a closeout sale at the cafe that will include equipment, restaurant supplies, decor, appliances and more.

Andy Pfannenstiel said this week that although business started off strong, revenue dropped off precipitously starting around August. The cafe had to cut its hours, which caused it to lose employees. Soon, the Pfannenstiels were running the shop themselves and missing out on family time, he said.

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The Pfannenstiels, who have a son with a rare medical condition called Creatine Transporter Deficiency, opened the cafe as a place where people with special needs could find jobs. Owning such a business had been a dream since theyd visited a similar place in Florida a couple of years ago.

The cafe, though, didnt bring in the business the Pfannenstiels were expecting. Andy Pfannenstiel says the location  which is a strip center tucked back from the corner of Central and Tyler  didnt help, he said, adding that the economy also played a role.

It was fun while it lasted, he said. Were trying to just close for now until we find another location.

Wichita chicken restaurant that opened a little more than a year has permanently closed

New Wichita dessert shop offering ice cream, cheesecake, cannoli, is now open

After discovery of former managers past, truck stop restaurant changes direction again
Olympia area residents will have a new state Senator, but with a familiar face, if the results of early tallies hold.

Here are how the three positions in the 22nd Legislative District that represents the heart of Thurston County stood as of Tuesday night.

Position 1 Rep.

Incumbent Beth Doglio, a Democrat, was leading Steve Owens, who didnt state a party preference, in the race for Position 1.

Doglio had 71.4% of the vote against Owens, who had 28% as of Tuesday night. Doglio had 34,838 votes compared to Owens 13,674 votes.

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Doglio said she was in Seattle on Tuesday night for the Initiative 2117 campaign after stopping by a party in Olympia with candidates. She said shes thankful for folks in the 22nd legislative district for allowing her the privilege to represent them again in the legislature.

She said her lead over Owens felt good and shes excited to get back to work for voters.

This has been a hard campaign season, and Im just really, really looking forward to getting back to supporting the folks in the 22nd district, she said. Its my priority to make sure that people have a thriving life.

Doglio said a lot of her campaign focused on the four initiatives on this years ballot and ensuring folks voted No on all four. By Tuesday night she said it looked like three were going down, and it was too close to call on Initiative 2066. She said the fact that the three are failing is recognition that the work of the legislature is really solid around long term care, taxes, education and more.

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Thats where I put a lot of my energy. This electoral cycle is really defending the good work of the legislature for the last decade. Thats what those initiatives represent and where were winning, she said.

Doglio is currently the chair of the House Environment & Energy Committee and recently worked at Climate Solutions. She is also the board chair of Quixote Community, which is a housing organization, and shes on the boards of the South Sound YMCA and the PARC Foundation.

According to Public Disclosure Commission data, Doglios campaign has raised $135,758 and spent $94,287. Her top campaign contributors were small contributions totaling more than $3,000, followed by the Washington State Auto Dealers PAC, the Suquamish Indian Tribe, and the Nisqually Indian Tribe, all with donations of $1,200.

Owens is a software engineer for Disney with experience as a Republican precinct committee officer. In 2014, Owens ran as a Republican for the 22nd District state representative position 1 against incumbent Democrat Chris Reykdal. In this election, he is not running under any party affiliation and describes himself as anti-party instead of independent.

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According to Public Disclosure Commission data, Owens campaign has raised and spent zero dollars.

Position 2 Rep.

Democrat Lisa Parshley, an Olympia City Council member, was leading fellow Democrat Locke, a legislative assistant, with 64.3% of the vote, or 29,052 votes. Locke had 32.8% of the vote, or 14,820 votes, on Tuesday night.

Parshley said she was celebrating with other local candidates at the Thurston County Democratic Womens and Democratic Party campaign in Olympia.

She said she was overwhelmed by the confidence voters have shown in her so far, but shes nervous when it comes to the national election results.

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Im worried that if we dont have Kamala as president, what are we going to have to do to protect Washington, and also feeling simultaneously privileged to be part of a group that might be able to do something in the legislature, Parshley said.

Parshley said if Donald Trump wins the Presidential election, theres a certain amount of determination shell have to not allow him to hurt Washington.

Theres going to be some tough things ahead of us if Trump wins, and I cant wait to work with other legislators to make sure Washington is protected as things get crazy, she said. But if Kamala wins at the end of the day, Im ready to and willing to work with the legislators again to take advantage of all things she wants to bid. Its going to be potentially exciting times.

According to Public Disclosure Commission data, Parshleys campaign has raised $82,656 and spent $77,085. Her top campaign contributors were the Justice for All PAC with a total contribution of $2,400 and the WA Federation of State Employees with a contribution of $1,200.

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According to Public Disclosure Commission data, Lockes campaign has raised $21,562 and spent $11,049. His top campaign contributors were himself, with a donation of $2,161, and the Democratic Socialists of America Olympia Chapter with a donation of $1,200.

District 22 Senator

Jessica Bateman led Bob Iyall with 71.5% of the vote, or 33,374 votes, to replace retiring Sam Hunt. Iyall had 26.4% of the vote, or 12,315 votes.

More than 1,000 votes counted by Tuesday were cast for a write-in candidate.

Bateman said she was celebrating Tuesday night with other local candidates at the Thurston County Democratic Womens and Democratic Party campaign in Olympia.

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She said she was overwhelmed with gratitude at the preliminary results, and shes excited to get back to work.

We ran a really positive campaign that was focused on the issues and what I can do to serve the people of the 22nd legislative district, and Im just ready to get to work to provide more housing and protect reproductive rights and increase access to behavioral health and much more, she said.

Bateman commented on the fact this may be the first time in history the 22nd district has had an all-woman delegation. She said shes excited to have a stellar team of female elected officials representing the district.

Its been a long time since weve had an all-female delegation, Im not sure that we actually have, she said. So really looking forward to working together with Rep-elect Parshley and Representative Doglio in the House.

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Bateman said shes praying for positive results at the national level, and she wants to let people know that theres strong leadership in the 22nd legislative district and Washington who are doing the work for citizens.

Bateman has served as the 22nd Districts representative for the past four years. She told The Olympian that during that time, she has served on the Housing Committee and the Capital Budget Committee, and she has been Vice Chair of the Health Care Committee all four years.

She also has a day job as a strategic adviser for Washington Community Health Centers, which are nonprofit health care organizations that, as a network, provide care to a large percentage of Medicaid patients.

Before serving in the legislature, Bateman served as an Olympia City Council member for five years, two of those as Deputy Mayor. Prior to that, she was on the Planning Commission and the board of GRuB, the local nonprofit focused on food security and community.

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According to Public Disclosure Commission data, Batemans campaign has raised $180,874 and spent $83,813. Her top campaign contributors were IUPAT District Council 5, WA Hospitality Association and the Nisqually Indian Tribe, all with $1,200 donations.

Iyall is a Commissioner at the Port of Olympia, elected in 2021. He is an elder and member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, and CEO of the Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation, which manages the tribes for-profit businesses.

According to Public Disclosure Commission data, Iyalls campaign has raised $63,393 and spent $57,241. His top campaign contributors were himself with contributions totaling more than $13,000, followed by a number of tribes including the Nisqually Indian Tribe and The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation with $1,200 donations.
From left: Republican Secretary of State John Thurston, Democrat John Pagan and Libertarian Michael Pakko are running for Arkansas treasurer in a November 2024 special election. (Courtesy photos)

Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston will serve the remaining two years of the current state treasurers term.

Thurston faced Democrat John Pagan and Libertarian Michael Pakko in a race for the position left open by former Treasurer Mark Lowerys death last year.

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According to the Secretary of States office, the results were as follows:

Thurston  747,372 votes (65.42%)

Pagan  345,614 votes (30.25%)

Pakko  49,415 votes (4.33%)

In 2022, Lowery was elected treasurer and Thurston was elected to his second term as secretary of state. Lowery died in July 2023 after suffering two strokes. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed former state finance secretary Larry Walther as interim treasurer.

Thurstons election means Sanders will appoint a new secretary of state to complete his term. Thurston will be eligible to run for treasurer again in 2026.

He said Tuesday that the possibility of leaving his current office was the hardest thing about running for treasurer.

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Before his first term as secretary of state, Thurston served two terms as commissioner of state lands.

I guess the proudest element [of my campaign] was my track record as a constitutional officer, he said. I think thats what Arkansans look at. Im not new to the scene, they know me. They know the job that I do.

The treasurer serves as the state banker and oversees the states investment portfolio of more than $11 billion.

Thurston said his goal as treasurer is to make sure that the money is secure, obviously focusing on liquidity because its important, and communication with the Legislature and the governor to make sure money is liquid and available when they are planning a project  like a prison.

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Sanders announced last week that the state purchased 815 acres for a new prison in Franklin County.

Additionally, Thurston said he wants to start visiting cities, counties and agencies in his first 90 days in office to see if theres anything we can do to make the service better.

Pagan said Tuesday that he was proud to be part of the Democratic Party of Arkansas statewide effort to increase its footprint in the state. He also said campaigning statewide reminded him how beautiful the state is [and] how diverse.

I met a lot of very nice folks, including some people Im sure didnt vote for me, some Republicans who had a nice sense of humor about it, Pagan said. I almost never sensed the hostility and the anger that you hear so much about.

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Pagan is a law professor and former state senator. Pakko is an economist who said he was running against the two-party system.

A central part of Pagans campaign was his criticism of Thurstons handling of a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have created a limited right to abortion. As Secretary of State, Thurston is responsible for counting signatures for citizen-led ballot measures and certifying qualified initiatives for the ballot.

Thurston disqualified a portion of the 102,000 signatures, leaving the rest below the required minimum, and in August the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld his decision not to put it on the ballot. Pagan said Thurston was playing politics with his job and might do the same if elected to a new office.

Reporter Mary Hennigan contributed to this article.

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Winners in Idahos 35 legislative districts will earn seats at the Idaho Capitol next year, where they will control the purse strings on billions of dollars and have the authority to write laws.

In Idaho, Republicans clinched supermajority control of both chambers, the House and Senate in Tuesdays election. Theyve had a supermajority for decades. Outcomes in purple districts in Boise, the Wood River Valley and East Idaho determined how much, if any, dissenting power the Democrats can muster. Preliminary results indicated Democrats will have even less power than the handful of seats theyve retained until now.

In Idahos purple districts, some of the few places in the state where Democrats have a shot at power, Republicans made further inroads, fending off Democratic challengers or even picking up previously Democratic seats. Results from these close races will almost surely buoy the far-right influence in the Legislature, where minorities of Republicans have sometimes allied with Democrats to defeat far-right policymaking.

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Ada County finished counting ballots overnight, with a split of the three races in hotly contested District 15. Rep. Steve Berch, a Democrat, edged challenger Annette Tipton by 227 votes, according to totals posted on the state and county elections websites. But the other two races were won by Republicans  challenger Codi Galloway knocked Sen. Rick Just out of his seat by nearly 1,000 votes and Rep. Dori Healey retained the House B seat by nearly 2,000.

IRepublicans won 91 of the Legislatures 105 seats, reducing Democrats share to 13%.

At the Republican Partys election night event, dozens of Make America Great Again hats were perched on the heads of attendees, who closely watched the presidential returns come in on the right-wing network Newsmax.

Were here to save the state and keep it bright, bright red, Idaho Republican Party Chair Dorothy Moon told an exuberant crowd.

Vicki Lindgren, Eagle, and Megan Kiska, Boise, right, cheer as results are posted while attending the Republican election night party at The Courtyard by Marriott in Meridian.

Down the ballot from the contest between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, Republicans and Democrats competed for seats in the Statehouse. Each of the 35 districts gets one senator and two representatives; all members serve two-year terms.

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Republicans already control close to 83% of both chambers. And in many races, Republicans run uncontested. Though Democrats had a candidate running in at least one race in each district this year, many individual races were still uncontested: 18 out of 105 races, according to previous Statesman reporting.

Republican supporters react to NewsMax calling the election for Donald Trump at the Republican election night party at The Courtyard by Marriott in Meridian.

Some of the most closely watched races were in West Boise, District 15. Democrats controlled the Senate seat and one of the House seats, but won those races in 2022 by only a few hundred votes. The Senate race between Just, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican challenger Galloway was the most expensive race of the general election.

With all of Ada Countys votes counted, Galloway won with 51.8%. In the House, Berch, a Democratic incumbent, topped Tipton with 50.5% In the other House race, Democrat Shari Baber lost to incumbent Republican Healey, who had 53.6%.

My goal on election day, other than winning, is to just have no regrets, Berch told the Statesman. And so Ive done everything that I could do.

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In District 26 in the Wood River Valley area, tight contests were also expected. The same went for District 29, in Pocatello.

In the Wood River Valley, Rep. Ned Burns, D-Bellevue, lost his seat to Republican challenger Mike Pohanka, who won 51.2% of the vote to Burns 48.8%. In Pocatello, House Majority Caucus Chair Dustin Manwaring defeated Democratic opponent Mary Shea, 55.2% to 44.8%.

In the Senate, Sen. Ron Taylor, D-Hailey, defeated Republican challenger Laurie Lickley, 45.6% to 43.9%, with independent candidate Kala Tate taking 10.6%.

In Pocatello, the Republican also won the other House race. Challenger Tanya Burgoyne, with 52.6% of votes, beat incumbent Rep. Nate Roberts.

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Moon, the GOP chair, told the Statesman that Pocatello has long been a tough area for Republicans.

Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea gives a pep talk as the action begins at the Democratic election night party at The Grove Hotel in Boise.

In North Idaho, observers closely watched the races in District 6. Incumbent Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow, beat his Democratic challenger Kathy Dawes, 58.1% to 41.9%. In the other House race, Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston, cruised by her Democratic challenger Trish Carter-Goodheart with 64.8% of the vote.

In the Senate, Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, faced Democratic challenger Julia Parker. Foreman came under fire after he yelled go back to where you came from at Carter-Goodheart, who is Native American, at a debate forum, according to attendees. Foreman won with 53.3%.

Reporter Nick Rosenberger contributed.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL)  Timothy Hill has won re-election in Tennessee House District 3, according to the Associated Press.

After running unopposed in the August primary, the incumbent Republican faced Democrat Lori Love in the general election.

Your Local Election HQ: Election Results

Hill previously held the District 3 seat for ten years but did not seek re-election during his unsuccessful congressional bid in 2020. He returned to the seat last year following the resignation of state Rep. Scotty Campbell.

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District 3 includes Johnson County and part of Carter, Hawkins, and Sullivan counties.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett warned voters in the state of a scam text that has been sent to some voters today.

In a statement, his office called the message a "bogus text message," claiming the recipient's presidential ballot has been canceled.

This text message is nothing more than a scam, and our office has reported it to the authorities for further investigation," Hargett said in the statement.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett poses for a portrait outside of the early voting location at Second Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

The message sent to voters was as follows:

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"Your 2024 presidential election ballot has been officially removed from consideration."

Voters should know that their votes have not been removed from consideration.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Tennessee Secretary of State warns about ballot text message scam
MADISON - Tom Tiffany will keep his seat as the U.S. representative of the 7th District.

Tiffany, 66, was reelected Tuesday, defeating Democratic challenger Kyle Kilbourn.

Kilbourn, a resident of the Northwoods, has worked as a web designer at a medical device manufacturer and most recently worked as a design strategist for Target.

Tom Tiffany

Tiffany, who lives in Minocqua, has campaigned as a hawk on border security and stricter immigration laws. On his website, he calls for curtailing federal spending, support for gun rights and opposing taxpayer money for abortions.

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Tiffany was elected to Congress in May 2020, taking over the seat formerly held by Sean Duffy after he stepped down to spend more time with his family. He was reelected in 2022.

Before serving in Washington, D.C., Tiffany was a state senator for seven years. In Congress, his time has been marked by comments expressing his concern over the results of the 2020 presidential campaign. He and U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Arizona and Pennsylvania and said they would have done so for Wisconsin if its outcome had been subject of a vote.

He has also gained attention for his dedication to delisting grey wolves as endangered federally, claiming the animals have recovered well enough to have annual hunting seasons.

Most recently, Tiffany introduced a bill to make Wisconsin's Apostle Islands a national park, a proposal that has caused local residents to push back, citing a lack of local infrastructure and employees to handle what would likely be a huge influx of visitors.

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Tiffany is a member of the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary.

Wisconsin's 7th District covers a large area of north-central and northwestern Wisconsin, including Superior, Hudson, Wausau and Eagle River.

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X at @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tom Tiffany wins in 7th Congressional District in Wisconsin election
OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  Oklahoma County voters re-elected Tommie Johnson III for Oklahoma County Sheriff. Both Johnson and Cubit went head to head for Oklahoma County Sheriff in 2020, with Tommie Johnson being elected into office then.

Get to know both candidates

Photo Credit: Tommie Johnson III for Sheriff Facebook page

Tommie Johnson III:

Johnson is an Oklahoma City native who began his law enforcement career at the University of Oklahoma Police Department. He joined the Norman Police Department in 2015 and was later promoted to Master Police Officer while receiving the Norman Police Departments Centennial Award and lifesaving award.

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Johnson was elected into the Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office in 2020 after facing off against his current opponent, Wayland Cubit. During his time as Oklahoma County Sheriff, Johnson has created positions in the Patrol Division which has focused on mental health. He received his Masters Degree in Counseling and continuously works and takes care of with those dealing with mental health problems.

Johnson believes he accomplished everything he wanted to during his first year in office. Some of those accomplishments include body worn cameras for Oklahoma County patrol deputies and warrant officers, replaced outdated body armor, aging fleet patrol vehicles, and has reshaped OCSO administration by reducing captains and commanders in order to put more deputies on the streets and has added more call center employees for better emergency response times.

Wayland Cubit:

Photo Credit: Wayland Cubit for Sheriff Facebook page

Cubit is an Oklahoma native who began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer for several years before becoming an undercover police officer. During his time under this position he conducted undercover street crime and narcotic investigations. He was later assigned to the Criminal Intelligence Unit where he worked as a gang intervention, prevention specialist.

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In 2010, Cubit launched the OKCPD F.A.C.T (Family Awareness and Community Teamwork) Unit, which specializes as a youth outreach program that focuses on mentorship, building character and empowering at-risk youth in order to reduce juvenile involvement in the criminal justice system.

Both candidates went head to head for Oklahoma County Sheriff in 2020, Johnson was elected in after holding 53% of the vote and defeated Cubit by more than 16,000 votes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Tony Wied rode former President Donald Trump's endorsement straight into Congress.

Wied, a former gas station and convenience store chain owner, defeated Democratic OB-GYN Kristin Lyerly Tuesday night to win the state's 8th Congressional District race to replace retired GOP U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher. He led Lyerly by just over 20 points  about 45,000 votes  with about 60% of the vote tabulated in the solid red district.

The Associated Press and CNN called the race for Wied shortly before 11 p.m. local time. A Lyerly campaign aide told the Journal Sentinel that Lyerly conceded and congratulated Wied on his victory.

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"I want to thank the voters in Northeast Wisconsin for giving me this opportunity," Wied said in a statement declaring victory. "Only in America can you go from complete political outsider to representing Wisconsin families in Congress."

Tony Wied addresses supporters after winning the Wisconsin 8th Congressional District seat during a Republican election watch party on Nov. 5, 2024, at The Legacy Hotel in Green Bay, Wis.

Wied will enter Congress this month after coming out on top in both the special and regularly scheduled general elections. Gallagher's abrupt departure from Congress in April triggered a special election, which appeared on the same ballots as the regularly scheduled primary and general elections. He will serve out the remainder of Gallagher's term before beginning his own two-year term on Jan. 3, 2025.

A spokesman for Wied said the Republican would arrive on Capitol Hill on Nov. 12.

Wied, a 48-year-old political newcomer, leaned almost entirely on his endorsement from Trump during a three-way Republican primary against two men who had long represented northeastern Wisconsin in the state Legislature. The primary result underscored Trumps influence in the district and almost guaranteed Wied's victory on Tuesday.

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The district is solidly red; Trump won it by about 18 points and 16 points in 2016 and 2020, respectively.

But Wied's victory also means the northeastern seat will be represented by someone who stands in stark contrast to Gallagher, who was one of Congress' top foreign policy experts and largely seen as among the more moderate Republicans in the current Congress.

Gallagher at times found himself at odds with the former president. Notably, he was critical of Trump during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. And his vote against impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in February drew the ire of Trumps base  including the threat of a primary challenge.

Wied, meanwhile, has pledged to give Trump an ally hell need in Congress." He has declined to say whether President Joe Biden was rightfully elected in 2020 and said he opposes any aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. (Gallagher was the only Wisconsin Republican to support aid to Ukraine as part of a sweeping foreign aid package in April.)

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Wied sold the Green Bay-based Dino Stop gas and convenience store chain in 2022. He had been largely uninvolved in local politics before he was recruited to run for the seat by the Trump-aligned GOP consultant Alex Bruesewitz, who had teased a run of his own following Gallaghers Mayorkas vote.

Lyerly, a De Pere Democrat, leaned heavily on her health care background as she focused her campaign on abortion access  a key issue for Democrats since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark abortion rights case Roe v. Wade in 2022. She had said the country is suffering from the lack of ability to make our own personal health care decisions.

Lyerly had also cast Wied as a MAGA "extremist" throughout the campaign.

Democrats in Wisconsin had largely run, and won, on abortion since 2022, but the 8th District's strong Republican nature makes it a reach for Democrats.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tony Wied wins 8th Congressional District race in Wisconsin election
Tonya Chestnut, the District 5 representative on the Alabama State Board of Education, won re-election Tuesday night, defeating Republican David Perry. (Courtesy Tonya Chestnut)

Tonya Chestnut Tuesday won re-election to the Alabama State Board of Education, defeating Republican nominee David Perry.

As of Wednesday morning, Chestnut, a retired educator and Democrat who has served on the board since 2021, had 141,374 votes (54.97%) in unofficial returns, according to the Alabama Secretary of States website. Republican challenger David Perry had 115,417 votes (44.87%).

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There were 414 write-ins, or 0.16%.

The Associated Press called the race on Wednesday morning.

In a text message Tuesday, Chestnut thanked voters in the district for choosing Chestnut again.

I count it an honor to continue to serve and represent District 5, the message said.

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Perry wrote in a text Tuesday evening that he had no immediate comment and would respond when his camp gets the final numbers.

District 5 includes much of the Black Belt and most of Montgomery County.

Chestnut said saw school safety as a priority. She also highlighted her work seeking funding to help struggling readers beyond third grade. The Alabama State Department of Education has included funding for that program in its fiscal year 2025 Education Trust Fund request.

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Chestnut also said that she has been looking into weighted student funding formulas in other states, which has been a topic of discussion for legislative leaders.

In March, Allen Long, District 7, and Kelly Mooney, District 3, won Republican primaries in races without Democratic candidates.

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Updated at 10:28 a.m. with The Associated Press calling the race for Chestnut.
Over recent weeks, Keir Starmer became accustomed to the kid gloves treatment from outgoing Tory leader Rishi Sunak at PMQs.

Last weeks encounter between the pair was little more than a mutual admiration session, though afterwards Sunak did at least find sufficient fire in his belly to give Rachel Reeves a tough time over the Budget.

After todays first tussle with Kemi Badenoch, the Prime Minister will know that the interlude of softly-spoken politeness is well and truly over. Boos will once more be said to geese, horses will be frightened afresh and the parliamentary hen house will cluck with alarm.

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Badenochs debut was memorably combative and full of jibes about Starmers alleged inability to ad-lib and the penchant of his top team for student politics.

Resplendent in the most Tory blue imaginable, Mrs Badenoch did not try to be too clever by half, but instead had spotted an open goal and promptly scored it. She put on the parliamentary record Foreign Secretary David Lammys outrageously insulting past assessments of Donald Trump and challenged Starmer to issue an apology for them.

There then followed a crack about Labour having sent its north London activists over to campaign for Kamala Harris and a request for the PM to ask the Speaker to invite the victorious Trump to address parliament on his next visit to the UK. This was basic stuff done well  see a bruise and just keep punching it.

Fortunately for Starmer, he did not fall into the trap of congratulating Badenoch on her own recent election victory on tokenistic grounds  first black woman etc  as he had done in a media statement over the weekend. Shed have had his guts for garters had he done that.

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While Badenoch introduced herself with aplomb, she did not quite win the exchanges by a knockout blow because Starmer actually managed to make a joke all of his own and it wasnt terrible. He noted that if she was going to accuse him of sticking to pre-scripted lines, it would have been better for her not to have read that allegation out from her own script. By Starmer standards that was an absolute zinger, even causing him to laugh spontaneously at his own wit.

But the overall change in the terms of trade was apparent and are not to his advantage. This Government averages much more than one terrible mistake per week and thus Badenoch is never going to be short of material with which to berate it in the Commons.

She will get more brutal yet, and one day fairly soon he will emerge dazed and confused from their exchanges. The Tories are back in business.

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Pamela Goodwine speaks to supporters at her election night watch party in Lexington, Nov. 5, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

LEXINGTON  After her historic win Tuesday night, which saw her become the first Black woman elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court, Pamela Goodwine fielded cheers, hugs and photos from a crowd of supporters.

As her watch party wound down at the Elwood Hotel in Lexington, Gov. Andy Beshears senior advisor, Rocky Adkins, was among those to congratulate her on the win.

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Goodwine spoke with the Kentucky Lantern in Lexington at the end of the evening about her long career of history-making firsts and her hopes for the future. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Kentucky Lantern: First, why do you think voters chose you?

Justice-elect Pamela Goodwine: I think the voters in Kentucky want a justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court with experience and independence. I bring 25 years of judicial experience to this position. Now, having served at every level of the judiciary, I think its vitally important to bring that kind of experience and to know how to serve as a judge on day one. I think thats what the voters of Kentucky understand to be an important criterion for a justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court.

KL: Whats been the proudest moment of your career so far, if you can pick one?

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PG: I dont know that I can single out one particular first other than to say that I remember telling my daddy when I was about 17 that I was going to be the first to make a difference somewhere. I didnt know at that time that it would be Lexington, Kentucky. But when I came here in 1979, 45 years ago, with my steno machine as a certified court reporter, I said Im starting out as a court reporter, but one day, Im going to be a justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court.

KL: In 2003, when you won the circuit judge seat, you were quoted saying you had your eyes set on the stars, and one of the stars was the Kentucky Supreme Court. Now that youre here, do you have your eyes set on any other stars?

PG: I honestly cannot say that I have my eyes set on another star, other than to be the best justice I can be, to serve as a justice and for justice for all. However, I also have a saying, and Im known for saying, never stop dreaming. So once I begin my new role and settle into that new role, new dreams may form.

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And knowing that Im helping to shape the lives of younger women students who are coming along is tremendously fulfilling, and knowing I am that trailblazer for them is tremendously fulfilling. But I dont have a retirement date in mind.

Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, congratulates Justice-elect Pamela Goodwine at her watch party in Lexington, Nov. 5, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

Whether that goal will be to become chief justice at some point, whether its to pursue a career federally, at some point, I can assure the 5th Appellate District that I will serve out my term.

I had the dream of becoming a Kentucky Supreme Court Justice for so long, I never looked beyond that point. But, like I said, I also have the philosophy to never stop dreaming, so Im sure the dream will continue. I just dont know what that is quite yet.

KL: Youve overcome a lot of challenges  living with Crohns, losing both parents at a young age. What do you think the role of resilience is and will continue to be in your career?

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PG: It will continue to play a very significant role. As a young teenager, when I first entered the workforce, my father told me something, he said, there is never an excuse for not going to work.

I remember that little nugget of knowledge, there is no excuse for not going to work. You might not feel well, but youre gonna go to work unless youre contagious or on your deathbed. And my staff over the years, (has said) do you ever take vacation? Do you ever get sick? Do you ever not come to work? And I said, No, no. When I commit to a position, Im committed to that position.

I believe in giving whatever I do my all, whether its a position, whether its a campaign, whatever it is, Im going to give it my all, 110%, and I think thats shown throughout my 25-year history on the court, and Im going to take that dedication and that resilience to the next level.

KL: Youve made history a lot, both in gender and race. How important is representation?

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PG: Representation is very important  and its important because seeing is believing. These two young interns in my office, they see that Ive achieved the goals that Ive set for myself. They see that they can come to me, that they can talk to me, they can express themselves to me, and they too can set their goals and their dreams, knowing that they can attain them.

More importantly than that, I always believed that it was a lot easier for someone of color to stand before me and face sentencing, when that sentence came from me, and when I talked to them about why they were there, why I was doing what I was doing, and understanding that that wasnt the end of the road, that I wasnt throwing away the key, but I was simply imposing a punishment with the idea and belief that that did not define them, that they had a future.

And for those who would look at me and say, well, what do you know? I welcome those comments. What do you know? And I would take a moment and say, heres what I know. And I would share (about) growing up in the inner city, growing up in lower middle-class.

Understand that this wasnt given to me, it wasnt handed down from a generation. This was something that I dreamed of and that I worked for.

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KL: To finish off with a fun question, Im told you teach Jazzercise and are known as the Jazzercise Judge. Will that continue to be a way you support your mental health as a justice?

PG: Jazzercise really was my outlet. The first year I Jazzercised, no one knew I was a judge. I was just Pam. So it was somewhere I could go and just be me. I will continue to jazzercise. I may not continue to teach  12 years ago, when I decided to teach, I thought I would only do it for 10 years. Its been 12, and it may be time to hang up the microphone, although I havent decided that quite yet.

But I will, whether I teach or not, continue to go because it is a fantastic exercise regimen, and it is an excellent way to relieve stress. And were a family in classes; were all family, and you dance like nobodys watching. Its phenomenal.

Carla Mac laughs while talking with other supporters at Justice-elect Pamela Goodwines watch party in Lexington, Nov. 5, 2024. Goodwine is in the foreground. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

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Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza was reelected in a landslide Tuesday, securing nearly 70% of the vote in his race against Republican Daniel Betts.

A bastion of the "progressive prosecutor" movement, Garza was first elected in 2020 on promises he would rely less on incarceration to punish and rehabilitate accused criminals  and prosecute Austin police officers for on-duty misconduct. After a resounding primary victory in March, he was all but certain to secure a second, four-year term.

Garza thanked county residents for their vote of confidence" in an interview Tuesday evening with the American-Statesman.

Jose Garza

It means that our work continues, he said. That work will include expanding the countys sexual assault response team, as well as continuing to grow a unit that investigates wrongful convictions, he said.

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When Garza took office, the unit only had one staff member, but Garza said he has worked to build a team over the past four years. "Were just getting our sea legs," he said.

Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion, right, congratulates Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza on Tuesday during the Travis County Democratic Party Election Night Watch Party at the Driskill Hotel.

Betts conceded shortly before midnight in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"Well, it was a hard fought race," he wrote, "and I hope that we have brought more visibility to the decisions made in the District Attorney's office and how they affect our lives."

Garza pursued a variety of reforms during his first term, including the creation of a diversion program to keep young people out of jail. But he is perhaps best known for following through on his promise to prosecute officers accused of wrongdoing.

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Over the past four years, he has brought an unprecedented number of indictments against police officers. Some of those cases have ended in acquittals, but early last month Garza's office secured what is believed to be the first-ever conviction of a police officer in Travis County for use of deadly force while on-duty.

During the campaign, Betts accused Garza of playing politics at the expense of public safety. A stable of state Republican officials, along with a secretive political action committee funded largely by the billionaire Elon Musk, have lodged similar complaints.

The Wall Street Journal reported in September that a secret Musk-funded PAC, called "Saving Austin," had paid for TV ads and mailers that accused Garza of "filling Austin's streets with pedophiles and killers."

Earlier in the year, a Travis County resident sued Garza for alleged violations of the state's "rogue prosecutor" law  a bill the Republican-dominated Legislature passed in 2023 to rein in liberal prosecutors like Garza. The lawsuit, which sought Garza's removal over his refusal to prosecute certain crimes, is still pending, but a court-appointed investigator recommended its dismissal "with prejudice" after he failed to discover any violations.

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The judge presiding over the case has scheduled a hearing in the case next month.

Statesman staff writer Emiliano Gomez contributed to this report.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Travis County DA Jose Garza wins reelection in landslide
Richland police have confirmed that a child sickened by candy that contained THC found in cannabis got the candy outside of his home.

His parents believe he got the candy trick-or-treating on Halloween and began eating it Monday night.

Wednesday morning police posted the street where the 8-year-old collected candy in the Meadow Springs neighborhood of south Richland.

He picked up candy on Mark Avenue, Muriel Court and Patricia Court. He also got candy on the southern part of Meadows Drive East before the bend in the street and the southern most part of Michael Avenue.

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Tuesday morning the Tri-City Herald asked the Richland Police Department for information on the case, and it responded by posting on social media late in the afternoon that an investigation was ongoing and that police were looking for the source of the candy.

Parents took the child to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland on Monday night after he showed signs of being intoxicated about 6 p.m. after eating the candy, according to Richland police. The child was pale and thirsty, according to police.

Parents found the candy wrapper, a colorful bag labeled Medicated Nerds Gummy Clusters. It said the contents contained 600 milligrams of THC.

We urge parents to remain vigilant and check all candy for unusual or suspicious items, the Richland police social media post said.
Channel 9 meteorologists are monitoring Rafael as it continues to strengthen in the Caribbean.

7:45 p.m. Update:

Rafael has become the 11th hurricane of the 2024 season with hurricane conditions moving through the Cayman islands and toward western Cuba through Wednesday.

The track for the storm continues to move it into the southern Gulf of Mexico, but away from Florida.

Rafael reaches hurricane strength in the Gulf of Mexico

Original Story:

Tropical Storm Rafael formed south of Jamaica on Monday afternoon.

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As of Tuesday morning, Rafaels maximum sustained winds are around 60 mph, and it is moving northwest at 13 mph.

The system is battering Jamaica Tuesday morning and will move into the Cayman Islands by Tuesday afternoon.

Read: American Red Cross: Help people affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene

Rafael could strengthen into a hurricane as it moves over western Cuba on Wednesday.

The storm is forecast to stay to the west of Florida as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday.

Though Rafael is projected to stay away from Florida, it will still draw extra moisture into our area on Thursday.

Read: Election Day forecast: Warm and breezy with lower rain chances in Central Florida

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Rafael is forecast to move into the central Gulf of Mexico, but its final track remains uncertain.

Some data suggests the storm will lift to the north and into Louisiana, while other tracks show it could continue to drift further to the west.

Due to cooler waters in the central Gulf of Mexico, Rafael is likely to weaken and not intensify into a major hurricane.

Watch: After Milton: Severe Weather Center 9 Special

Follow our Severe Weather team on X for live updates:




(Bloomberg) -- Canadas deputy prime minister highlighted her countrys tougher approach to Chinese exports, seeking to gain favor with Donald Trump and his key advisers ahead of his return to power in Washington.

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Chrystia Freeland said the Canadian government shares the same concerns as Trumps team with Chinas intentional policy of overcapacity, which is why Canada recently matched US tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum and electric vehicles.

Freeland said she has kept in touch with Robert Lighthizer, who was the US trade representative in the first Trump administration and is likely to play a major economic policy role in the next one. Lighthizer and Freeland spoke a few times on Tuesday and discussed China earlier this year, she said, adding that its an area where Ambassador Lighthizer and I are very strongly in agreement.

Her comments, made during a news conference in Ottawa, show how Canada will try to shield itself from Trumps promise to impose a sweeping set of global tariffs once he takes office. The Republican president-elect has pledged a minimum 10% tariff on everything the US imports, and has not promised any exemptions for Canada. Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will try to make the case that theyre aligned with a number of key US goals, including its strategy for competing with China.

Freeland also tried to reassure Canadians that the government is fully prepared for a review of the US-Mexico-Canada trade pact scheduled for 2026, and said Canadian officials have been very conscientious, very systematic about maintaining relationships with Trumps team.

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She flattered Trumps negotiating skills, noting that the current version of the trade agreement, created in 2018, is Donald Trumps deal.

He signed it, he and his team negotiated it, Freeland said. He is proud of it, and I think hes right to be proud of it.

Freelands news conference was part of a broader effort on Wednesday by Trudeau and his officials to calm fears that Trump will wreak havoc on trade  and thus on Canadas export-driven economy.

Trudeau said he looks forward to working with President Trump once again to strengthen North American economic opportunities for middle class.

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Weve been preparing for this, Trudeau said. Were looking forward to doing this work, and were going to make sure that this extraordinary friendship and alliance between Canada and the United States continues to be a real benefit to Canadians.

Freeland said Trump understands that Canada-US trade is good for American workers.

Our partnership in no way undercuts American workers, and I know that that is at the heart of the concerns of President Trump and his team, because that is at the heart of our new NAFTA deal that we concluded with them, Freeland said.

Meanwhile, Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party is far ahead in the polls and appears poised to win the next election, congratulated Trump in a social media post. He said the US is Canadas best friend and biggest trading partner, and I will work with the president to benefit both countries.

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Poilievre warned that Trumps plans to cut taxes, and the fact that Canada has a carbon tax, create a risk that hundreds of thousands more jobs will start relocating south of the border.

(Updates to include comments from Freelands news conference.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Amid the looming risk that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may pull the plug on Washington's support for Ukraine, Kyiv has begun to flirt with the option of nuclear deterrence.

The prospect of such a scenario was raised weeks earlier when President Volodymyr Zelensky in October said he had told Trump during a September meeting in New York City that Ukraine would either join NATO or develop nuclear weapons.

Zelensky claimed that Trump had heard him and said that "it was a fair argument."

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He later walked back that statement, saying that Ukraine was not pursuing nuclear weapons.

However, Zelensky's statement prompted speculation on whether a Ukrainian nuclear weapons program is realistic from technological and political standpoints.

Experts say that Ukraine is capable of producing at least a primitive nuclear weapon within years, although it would require considerable investment.

President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (R) meet in New York during the visit to the United States in New York City, U.S. on Sept. 27, 2024. (Uliana Boichuk/Novyny LIVE/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

"I guess everyone's gonna get nukes. That should work out well," John Sipher, a retired member of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's Senior Intelligence Service, quipped in a Nov. 6 post on X, commenting on Trump's victory in the Nov. 5 presidential election.

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Sipher, now a fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, was referring to concerns that Trump's return to power could steer the U.S. on an isolationist path, leaving Western allies, including NATO members and Ukraine, pondering the need to defend themselves without U.S. backing.

Ukraine inherited the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal upon the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, though the warheads had been produced in the Russian part of the now-dissolved state. Kyiv surrendered them under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S., U.K., and Russia.

Politically, Kyiv would face tremendous difficulties if it decided to produce nuclear weapons as a deterrent. It could trigger major backlashes from Western allies that Ukraine's Armed Forces heavily rely upon for conventional weaponry to fight against Russia's full-scale invasion, now in its third year.

"A nuclear weapon program would jeopardize the relationship with (Ukraine's) Western partners," Sascha Bruchmann, a military analyst at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, told the Kyiv Independent.

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"I cannot see any U.S. government that would support Ukrainian nuclear ambitions. Thus, Ukraine would gamble a lot of political and military support. The political, economic, and military costs are prohibitive."

In a closed-door meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent, top Ukrainian officials said that the political implications of such a step would be too costly.

Read also: Im going to stop the wars  Trump says, as he claims victory

Ukraine's potential reasons for seeking nuclear deterrence

The Budapest Memorandum has come under fire in recent years because Russia openly violated it by invading Ukraine, and the U.S. and U.K. failed to guarantee Ukraine's security. However, they have provided massive amounts of weaponry to Kyiv, most after Russia's full-scale invasion kicked off in early 2022.

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Calls for Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons are a direct consequence of Russia's war and nuclear threats, analysts say.

"It has become obvious that earlier nuclear weapons were used as a tool of deterrence, but now it's an offensive tool," Claus Mathiesen, a lecturer at Denmark's Defense Academy and a former military attache in Ukraine, told the Kyiv Independent.

(L-R) U.S. President Bill Clinton, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, and Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk shaking hands after signing the historic Trilateral Agreement in Moscow, Russia on Jan. 14, 1994. (Diana Walker/Getty Images)

"Russia has taken about 100,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory and is threatening to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine if these territories are taken away from them. One possibility (for Ukraine) is counter-deterrence  acquiring nuclear arms on their own."

Jenny Mathers, a lecturer in international politics at the U.K.'s Aberystwyth University, said that Zelensky "expressed very well the reason why so many states have sought to acquire nuclear weapons."

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"They are seen as the ultimate guarantor of security against a direct attack by more powerful states despite the fact that nuclear weapons are of little or no use on the battlefield and do not prevent the states that possess them from suffering military defeats at the hands of non-nuclear armed opponents," she told the Kyiv Independent.

Jyri Lavikainen, a nuclear deterrence expert at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, also believes that Ukraine is "on solid ground when it argues that it needs nuclear deterrence to ensure its lasting security."

"Russia's decision to attack Ukraine and resort to nuclear coercion starting from the first day of the invasion has revealed the dangers of being left outside the nuclear umbrella," he told the Kyiv Independent.

"Nuclear deterrence is needed to counter nuclear coercion. However, the best chance for Ukraine to gain the benefits of nuclear deterrence is to be admitted to NATO as soon as possible."

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Read also: Ukraine not developing nuclear weapons, Foreign Ministry says

Ukraine's Soviet nuclear arsenal and inherited capabilities

Although Ukraine does not currently possess nuclear weapons, it is no novice in the nuclear industry.

In the Soviet period, the Pivdenmash factory in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro produced ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Although currently Ukraine does not produce nuclear-capable missiles, it would be easy for Kyiv to make them, a nuclear weapons expert told the Kyiv Independent. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to be seen as endorsing such a program.

The Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant in the city of Kamianske in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast processed uranium ore for the Soviet nuclear program, preparing yellowcake, an intermediate step in the processing of uranium ore.

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There is also a uranium deposit in Zhovti Vody in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Moreover, Ukraine has four nuclear power plants in the Zaporizhzhia, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, and Mykolayiv oblasts. The Zaporizhzhia plant is currently under Russian occupation.

Read also: Trump wins US 2024 presidential election  what this means for Ukraine

Can Ukraine produce a nuclear bomb?

Experts say that, from a technological perspective, Ukraine is capable of making a nuclear bomb.

Robert Kelley, an engineer with over 35 years of experience in the U.S. Department of Energy's nuclear weapons complex, said that it would be possible for Ukraine to create a primitive uranium fission bomb within five years.

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"It's a fairly simple thing to do in the 21st century," he told the Kyiv Independent.

It would be much more difficult for Ukraine to build a plutonium fission bomb, and it would be harder to hide, Kelley argued. It would take five to 10 years to build a plutonium reactor, he added.

President Volodymyr Zelensky takes part in the Ukraine Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base. (Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Images)

In contrast with a fission bomb, a "hydrogen bomb would be incredibly complicated," Kelley said. "No way in the world would (Ukraine) be able to create it," he added.

Kelley also said that Ukraine might be able to create a crude nuclear device without assistance from other countries. For a more complex nuclear weapon, it would have to buy technology abroad, he added.

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A Russian nuclear expert and a Ukrainian nuclear expert both confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine is capable of producing a nuclear bomb, adding that it would likely take years. The Russian expert was speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, and the Ukrainian expert was not authorized to talk to the press about the issue.

"Ukraine would certainly have the knowhow and resources to become a nuclear weapons state if it made the political decision to do so," Lavikainen said. "The technology required is not out of reach for many countries, and certainly not for Ukraine since it housed crucial elements of the Soviet nuclear weapons complex when it was still part of the USSR.

"Ukraine could develop both nuclear warheads and carrier vehicles since it possesses the necessary military industry, uranium deposits, and nuclear energy sector," Lavikainen continued.

Nikolai Sokov, a senior fellow at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, was more cautious, saying that creating a nuclear bomb "is not impossible" for Ukraine. But, it "will take years, a lot of money, and most likely external support, at least on the equipment side."

"Ukraine does not have the industrial capacity to manufacture and maintain a nuclear arsenal; it does not have fissile materials, enrichment capacity, plutonium production, most of the elements that go into a nuclear weapon capability," he added.

Liviu Horovitz, a nuclear deterrence specialist at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, also said that Ukraine faces challenges if it decides to create a nuclear bomb.

"Ukraine surely has the scientific prerequisites for a nuclear weapons program," but "acquiring the necessary fissile materials is neither cheap nor fast nor very easy to do in secret," he added.

Horovitz said that such a nuclear weapons program could cost billions of dollars.

The nuclear weapons expert who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the most primitive nuclear bomb program focused on uranium centrifuges could cost around $100 million. A plutonium bomb program would cost around $1 billion, he added.

Russian airstrikes as a threat to Ukrainian nuclear facilities

Another challenge is that Russia, which has a vast arsenal of both conventional missiles and ones with nuclear warheads, could strike any Ukrainian facilities that develop nuclear weapons.

"It is difficult to envision that (Ukraine) could carry out the program successfully as long as the war continues," Lavikainen said.

"Russia would highly likely prioritize strikes on the relevant facilities as soon as it could identify them. Its campaign to disrupt the nuclear program would highly likely also include sabotage and assassinations," he added.

Horovitz, citing Iran's efforts over the past three decades, said that "it is rather risky to acquire nuclear weapons when your adversary has both conventional and nuclear options to preempt such proliferation."

Iran has been trying to develop nuclear weapons since the 1950s but has not yet produced an atomic bomb.

Five Iranian nuclear scientists were killed between 2010 and 2020, and explosions occurred at Iranian nuclear facilities in 2020. Iran blamed the killings and explosions on Israel, which has neither denied nor confirmed its involvement.

In 1981, Israel also destroyed an unfinished nuclear reactor built by dictator Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Read also: Chornobyl nuclear disaster

Building nuclear bombs could alienate allies

The main obstacle, however, is the political implications of a Ukrainian nuclear program.

Ukraine is a signatory of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and its withdrawal from the treaty would cause a backlash from both the U.S. and Ukraine's European allies, analysts say.

Lavikainen said, "The nuclear non-proliferation treaty is a cornerstone of the nuclear policy of the U.S. and every other partner of Ukraine."

"Ukraine's partners would, therefore, likely pressure it to stop the program once it was discovered" and would "have great leverage in doing so because Ukraine's defensive efforts are dependent on foreign military aid," he added.

Lynn Rusten, vice president of the U.S.-based Nuclear Threat Initiative's Global Nuclear Policy Program, shares this assessment.

"If Ukraine were to pursue nuclear weapons, the result would be a net loss for Ukrainian security," she said.

"The United States, the West and the majority of the international community would oppose Ukraine  or any other non-nuclear weapon state  seeking nuclear weapons and would respond by isolating Ukraine diplomatically and economically."

Analysts also say that Western partners are likely to interpret a Ukrainian nuclear program as a major escalation of the war.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in Kyiv on Oct. 3, 2024. (Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram)

"Ukraine's supporters in the West would be dismayed, seeing the step as leading to further instability and increasing the risk of escalating the war to even greater levels of destruction, whether within Ukraine or also including NATO member states," Mathers said.

"It would, in all likelihood, create (or exacerbate) tensions between Kyiv and its allies. Unless Ukraine were able to acquire nuclear weapons instantly and present the world (and Russia) with a fait accompli, then the process of developing nuclear weapons is likely to make Ukraine even less secure in the short term."

However, it is unclear how strong the Western partners' reaction would be and whether they would halt military aid and impose sanctions on Kyiv.

Mathiesen said that he doubted that Western allies would stop military aid to Ukraine if it started developing nuclear weapons because it would go against public opinion.

"So much has been invested in supporting Ukraine that I think it would be very difficult for them to stop assistance," he added.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Republican Rick Scott has held on to his Florida US Senate seat in a battle that had commanded national attention.

But why was a Republican incumbents battle for re-election, in a reddening state where Donald Trump makes his home, so important?

Because of the stakes.

The battle for Scotts Senate seat had the power to write the narrative of election night. A potentially vulnerable Republican senator in a red-trending purple state, Scott sought his second term in the upper chamber at a time when incumbents are traditionally at their weakest. His opponent, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, was a one-term former Democratic congresswoman.

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While most polls and analytics showed Scott ahead by a few percentage points in the weeks before the election, Mucarsel-Powell remained in striking range  and the significance of her victory wouldve been hard to overstate. Republicans will be breathing a sigh of relief with this result.

Scotts greatest strength was also his greatest weakness: his unabashed ties to MAGA. Having run and lost a challenge against Mitch McConnell as the GOPs leader in the Senate, Scott is widely viewed as one of Trumps loyalists in the chamber  something that tied him to the national presidential race in peoples minds.

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell ran an uphill battle in Florida (AP)

Conversely, Scott was able to count on backup from Trump himself and the MAGA war chest. Little surprise, however, that Ron DeSantis didnt show up to support him  in the wild world of Florida politics, the two are known to be rivals and less than friendly.

Also in Florida, Anna Paulina Luna  an outspoken supporter of Trump  was able to hang on to her seat, while Trump himself took the state, a result that had been widely expected.

The final days of Floridas Senate race played out over the backdrop of Hurricane Milton cleanup. The storm battered the central portion of the Sunshine State, causing major flooding around the Tampa Bay area as well as other damage from fallen trees and debris. Having made landfall as a category 3 storm, it is not thought to have killed as many as Helene weeks earlier but is still thought to have claimed more than a dozen lives. Millions more remained without power for days.
Donald Trumps campaign took a shot Tuesday at Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, after the former president declared victory in that state.

Selzers Iowa Poll in the Des Moines Register found last week that Kamala Harris had leapfrogged Trump in Iowa and was leading him 47 to 44 percenta shocking result in a state that had previously gone for Trump twice. The Iowa Poll had correctly predicted Trumps victory in the state in 2020 and 2016.

After Iowa was called for Trump Tuesday night, his campaign released a statement gloating about the winand calling out the gold-standard pollster by name.

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Starting on Day 1 President Trump and Vice President JD Vance will help to ease costs, secure the border, and protect Social Security for retirees like Ann Selzer, the statement said.

Trump won Iowa with 56.5 percent to Harriss 41.9 percent, with 65 percent of votes reported.
Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 6, after months of repeatedly claiming he could end Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in a day.

To do that, he will have to do what he claims he does best  negotiate a deal.

Ambassador Kurt Volker is one person with a wealth of experience in issues Trump is likely to face regarding Russias war against Ukraine.

Volker served as the U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations in 2017-2019, during Trumps previous tenure. In this role, he held negotiations between Kyiv and senior members of Russian President Vladimir Putins administration as an intermediary while coordinating with European allies on efforts to end Russias initial invasion of the eastern Donbas region in 2014, following its occupation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula earlier that year.

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Before this, Volker served as U.S. ambassador to the NATO military alliance in 2008-2009.

The Kyiv Independent spoke to Volker via video call a few hours after the election result was called to ask how he sees outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden's last months in office, Trump's return to the presidency, and what it could mean for Ukraine.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Kyiv Independent: In terms of Ukraine, there's been a lot already said about what Trump might do once he's in office, but we still have more than two months of the Biden administration. Do you think we can expect anything surprising from Biden before he leaves office?

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Kurt Volker: There has been some discussion that I've heard within the administration about the idea of making a gesture in the direction of Ukraine's NATO membership, or also about approving the use of long-range weapons (to strike deep inside Russia), something that the Biden administration has denied until now.

On NATO membership, we have to be very, very careful. You don't want to put that out prematurely. You don't want it to be uncoordinated with allies. We had an opportunity to do this leading up to the Washington summit this summer, and we didn't do it. So to bring it up in the last moments of the Biden administration now does not seem to be the wisest choice. It needs to be better coordinated.

On the use of weapons, however, I think the Biden administration would be very well advised simply to just drop its objections. Just let Ukraine use the weapons we've given them. And this can be done quietly, it doesn't have to be a big announcement. It can be done on a case-by-case basis, if the Biden administration insists.

But there's no justification for allowing Russia to attack Ukraine from anywhere, and to tell Ukraine that they must not strike back.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hands with US President Joe Biden during an event with world leaders launching a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 25, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

The Kyiv Independent: Once Trump does take office, how far up his agenda do you think Ukraine will actually be?

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Kurt Volker: I think he's going to make a phone call to Putin as quickly as possible and tell Putin that he needs to stop the war, that the fighting has to stop, and that there has to be peace. And that will start a discussion about how that actually happens. And what I expect to happen is that Putin will have demands.

Putin will say 'I need this, I need this, I need this.' And I think Trump will say 'no, you stop the war.' But I do think it happens quite quickly, I don't think Trump wants to see this war continue once he's actually in office.

The Kyiv Independent: Trump obviously prides himself on being a bit of a dealmaker. How tricky an opponent do you think Putin will be in terms of actually arriving at a deal?

Kurt Volker: I think (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is the most cunning and wily opponent you could possibly have because he has no issues with lying, deceit, cheating, attacking, killing  everything you can imagine. Putin's interest is not a deal. Putin's interest is to take, he wants to take all of Ukraine.

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And therefore, if you want to stop the war, if you want peace, as Trump says that he does, then what you need to do is convince Putin that it's going to hurt him, that it's going to cost him too much if he pursues the war. And that's going to require showing much more strength.

And Trump has talked about this. He talks about Biden as being a very weak president.

And the implication is that Trump sees himself as a strong president. And he's going to need to show some strength to Putin in order to get Putin to decide that it's time to end the war.

Read also: Ukrainian soldiers react to Trumps presidential victory: Some say this could be a disaster, others complain Biden was impotent

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The Kyiv Independent: Can you elaborate on some possible scenarios for how Trump can show that strength?

Kurt Volker: I think the first thing Trump will do is increase U.S. oil and gas production, to try to flood global markets with as much cheap energy as possible. That'll be good for the U.S. economy, it'll be good for the global economy. It'll also be bad for Putin's budget, and so I think that's one thing that he is almost guaranteed to do.

A second thing I think he will do is reshape the Middle East in the sense that he will take a very tough, direct approach to Iran, try to realign with Saudi Arabia and bring Saudi Arabia and Israel back into a common purpose. It's going to take time, it's going to be very difficult, but that will make a difference, and it will show a different way of dealing with the world to both Putin and (Chinese President Xi Jinping), compared to what we've seen until now.

And then, when it comes to Ukraine itself, I think he's going to seek support for a lend-lease program, letting Ukraine borrow money in order to buy American weapons. It's something that was on the books for two years and never used during the Biden administration.

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I don't think Trump wants to spend American taxpayers' money on Ukraine, but to allow Ukraine to borrow what it needs to defend itself. I think he would be inclined to do it. And if you make it big enough, if you make it, say, $500 billion, a huge number, that should be enough to tell Putin he can't outspend this, he can't win this, and that could also point the way towards a settlement.

The Kyiv Independent: If Trump proved anything during his last term in office, it was that he was quite unpredictable. Are there any curveball scenarios that you can envisage happening?

Kurt Volker: I suppose that's what Putin is thinking about. Can Putin create a curveball scenario? Can he throw something on the table completely unexpected that gets us off track? Maybe Putin will actually come forward with a proposal that is far more reasonable than anything that Putin has proposed until now. Can that distract us? I think that would be the curveball scenario.

The Kyiv Independent: There's a slightly somber mood in Kyiv this morning. Do you think that it's justified, or should Ukrainians be more optimistic?

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Ambassador Kurt Volker: Well, I wouldn't say that people should be optimistic or somber. I'd say that people should stay determined. Ukraine is in the fight of its life. It has to win.

It wasn't ideal under the Biden administration, and would not have been under (Kamala) Harris. We saw the U.S. being slow, reactive, not willing to give Ukraine the weapons needed, not willing to give them the authorization to use those weapons  an excessively cautious approach, one that worried too much about escalation, and not really one designed to help Ukraine win.

What I think we have with Trump now is the opportunity to compete, the opportunity to see whether we can get a stronger Western position in support of Ukraine that might actually be decisive.

But it's not guaranteed. With Harris, we knew where we were going. With Trump, I think we don't know, but we can compete for it.

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Read also: What we know about Trumps plans for ending Russias war against Ukraine

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As expected, former Republican President Donald Trump led Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in York, Chester and Lancaster counties Tuesday after some early voting and precinct numbers were released. Election Day polls closed at 7 p.m.

The Associated Press called South Carolina a Trump victory at 8:01 p.m. Statewide in South Carolina, Trump led Harris 59% to 40% at 11 p.m. with 85% of counties reporting, elections numbers from the S.C. Election Commission showed.

As of 11:30 p.m., area vote totals showed:

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 York County showed Trump had 59% of the votes with early votes and 99% of election day precincts reporting, according to totals posted online by the S.C. Election Commission. Harris had 40% of the votes. York County has around 196,000 registered voters. About 100,000 of them  around 54%  chose early voting.

 In Lancaster County Trump had 62% votes to Harriss 37% after all precincts reported Tuesday night. Lancaster showed 54% of the countys 70,000 registered voters opted for early ballots.

 Trump received 58% Tuesday night in Chester County, while Harris got 41% early votes, with all 100% precincts reporting. In Chester 46% of its 20,000 registered voters participated early.

During the 2020 election, state officials extended absentee voting because of the coronavirus pandemic. Then in 2022, legislators made early voting permanent in South Carolina.

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Final election day voting results were not yet available Tuesday after polls closed.

Trump won SC handily in 2016, 2020

Winthrop University political science professors Scott Huffmon and Adolphus Belk said before Tuesdays election South Carolina is considered a safe Republican state.

The experts said that York, Chester and Lancaster counties have leaned more Republican in recent elections.

Trump won the presidency in 2016 when he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the national election and in South Carolina. He lost a re-election bid to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, but still carried South Carolina.

In 2020 Trump had 55% of South Carolinas vote to 44% for Biden. In 2016 Trump had 55 % to Clintons 41%.

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Trump won in York, Chester and Lancaster counties in 2016 and 2020.

In York County in 2020, Trump beat Biden handily with 57% of the votes to Bidens 41%. In 2016 Trumps margin of victory was even higher, with 58% of the vote to Clintons 36%.

He also took Chester County in 2020 with 55%, and 51 % in 2016. In Lancaster County Trump received 61% of the vote in 2016 and 2020.

Neither candidate visited the Rock Hill region for campaign events in the months leading up to Tuesdays election, despite campaigning often in the Charlotte area in North Carolina through Saturday. Harris spoke in Charlotte Saturday while Trump held a rally in Gastonia, N.C.

Trump last campaigned in South Carolina in Rock Hill in February, the day before South Carolinas Republican primary. He handily won the states primary on his way to the nomination.
Donald Trump claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 6, shortly before crossing the threshold of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win.

"I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president," Trump said in an address to a cheering crowd in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"I will not rest until I have delivered a strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve," the Republican nominee said, promising a "golden age of America."

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His return to the White House could spell uncertain times for Ukraine, as there are fears he might withdraw support for the besieged country and cut a deal with the Kremlin.

Trump made no mention of Russia's war against Ukraine in his speech but said that the U.S. saw "no wars" during his first presidential term.

Read also: BREAKING: Trump wins US 2024 presidential election, foreign leaders congratulate

"We had no wars, for four years, we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS," Trump proclaimed.

"They said he will start a war. Im not going to start a war, Im going to stop the wars."

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"I think weve just witnessed the greatest political comeback in American history," Trump's running mate J.D. Vance said to the crowd of Republican voters.

In his only debate with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic Party nominee, on Sept. 10, Trump refused to say he wanted a Ukrainian victory.

"I think it's the U.S.'s best interest to get this war finished and just get it done, negotiate a deal," Trump said.

Trump's plan to end the war within "24 hours" and get the U.S. "out" of Ukraine, would benefit Russia by ceding Ukrainian territory and creating autonomous regions in the east, according to reporting in October.

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"Trump's view is he wants to do everything he can to help Putin because for whatever reason he likes these strong men, he's fascinated by him in particular," Evelyn Farkas, the executive director of the McCain Institute, said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent.

"So, it will take all the will and the fighting of people under him to maintain the existing policy of support for Ukraine and an opposition to Russia's autocratic agenda."

If Trump does slash U.S. aid to Ukraine, the American economy will take a hit. The U.S. defense industrial base has received over $50 billion in investment due to America's support of Ukraine, with billions sent to states that helped Trump secure the White House again like Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida.

"Trump and Vance have made getting assistance to Ukraine difficult," Representative Gregory Meeks, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement to the Kyiv Independent.

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"We have no indication their approach will change, but a Democratic-controlled Congress can work across the aisle to push for that support."

President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump on his expected victory in the U.S. presidential election, voicing hopes for "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

Read also: Zelensky congratulates Trump on US election victory

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Former President Donald Trump speaks in front of a crowd at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Republican Donald Trump again won Alaska in the presidential election, the Associated Press announced on Wednesday.

Trump had a 15.2-percentage-point lead over Democrat Kamala Harris, with roughly 70% of the states votes counted.

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Alaska was one of two states, along with Maine, that held a ranked choice election for president. However, the ranked choices of voters for trailing candidates would only be considered if no candidate received more than 50% of the first-preference votes. Trump was on track to exceed that level.

Alaska has voted for the Republican in every election since it became a state, except for Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Along with Trump and Harris, Alaska voters had the choice of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who remained on the ballot in the state; Libertarian Chase Oliver; American Solidarity Party nominee Peter Sonski; Jill Stein, whos running as a Green Party nationally but outside of a party ticket in Alaska; Constitution Party nominee Randall Terry; and Aurora Party nominee Cornel West. All of these alternative campaigns secured spots on the ballot by gathering at least 3,614 petition signatures.

The nations largest state has a small population, and its three Electoral College votes have been seen as safely Republican.

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In the 1970s and 1980s, the Republican candidates won each election in Alaska by a margin of more than 20 percentage points.

But since George W. Bush won the state by more than 30 points in 2000, Democratic candidates have narrowed the gap as state politics has moved in a more purple direction. The 42.77% share of the vote that President Joe Biden received in 2020 was 10.06% less than Trumps, but the highest by a Democrat since Johnson.

Trump had a stronger campaign infrastructure in the state than Harris, with Republican former U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka serving as campaign chair. Harris did not build out a significant campaign in the state, instead relying on the state Democratic Party.

Alaska generally does not receive visits from presidential candidates during campaign seasons, and this year was no exception. But Trump recently held a tele-rally supporting congressional candidate Nick Begich III. And Trump visited the state for a rally in 2022, offering support to Sarah Palin and other Republican candidates during that years elections.

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Alaska is among the states whose economy depends the most on federal spending, and federal regulations have a significant impact on the states resource extraction industries and the environment. The states congressional delegation has been highly critical of environmental protections issued by the administration of President Joe Biden, although they praised the administrations decision to advance the Willow oil project on the North Slope.

The presidential election has been a subject of controversy in the election for the states sole member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola declined to endorse either major candidate, expressing doubt whether taking a public position would benefit the state. Republican challenger Nick Begich supported Trump, who endorsed him after Trumps first pick, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, dropped out after finishing behind Begich in the primary.

More votes cast by Election Day will arrive and be counted in the coming 15 days, with the vast majority counted within 10 days. The Alaska Division of Elections will tabulate the ranked choice voting, if needed, on Nov. 20.

Editors note: Due to an error by an editor, an earlier version of this article was briefly published with incorrect information about the projected outcome.

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(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump has repeatedly told associates in Britain he thinks the countrys new Prime Minister Keir Starmer is very left-wing, underscoring how traditionally close relations between the US and UK are likely to be strained by the Republican president-elects victory on Tuesday.

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The remarks casting shade on Starmers politics came in private conversations over recent months, people familiar with the matter said, when the UK leader  who led his Labour Party to power in July  was contending with far-right riots and a lingering online spat with billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk. Trump also echoed some of Musks vitriolic criticism of Starmer, they said.

What the British media still likes to call the special relationship  a term coined by Winston Churchill during World War Two  has survived and even thrived in the past when the US and UK had leaders with contrasting political heritage. Former Labour premier Tony Blair, for example, was among the staunchest supporters of Republican George W. Bushs military response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

But when it comes to Trump and Starmer, as well as key members of their administrations, the signs point to a relationship likely to be measured by degree of animosity. For the British premier, who promised in the election campaign that a Labour-led UK would help progressives in the fight against populism, the repercussions could be severe both abroad and at home.

To be sure, the official line from Starmers government and Labour is that the UK is determined to work with Trump. The prime minister offered his hearty congratulations to the president-elect on a call late Wednesday, according to a readout from Downing Street that mentioned the situation in the Middle East, but notably not Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy  who criticized Trump in the past  began developing the relationship before the UK election, especially with Trumps running mate JD Vance. Starmer then called Trump after he was shot in July, and both had what UK officials described at the time as a constructive dinner at the billionaires apartment two weeks ago in New York, after which Trump said theyre friends, according to people familiar with the matter.

Yet their politics are diametrically opposed. Starmer leads a center-left party which just raised taxation levels to a record to invest in public services, favors policies to tackle climate change and repeatedly describes the UKs military support for Ukraine as ironclad. Trump, meanwhile, considers his closest political allies in the UK as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and former Tory premier Boris Johnson  two of Starmers most prominent opponents.

Their differences, though, go beyond the ideological. Last month, Trumps campaign team filed a legal complaint against Starmers Labour Party over alleged election interference, after party activists traveled to the US to campaign for Kamala Harris. Though that is something of a political tradition, and the UK Conservatives regard US Republicans as their sister party in the same way that Labour identifies with the Democrats, it is still awkward.

Its not a great place to be starting from, said Jojo Penn, who met the then president several times while serving as deputy chief of staff to ex-premier Theresa May. But these are not insurmountable obstacles. It would have been a miracle to get through a Trump candidacy and presidency without some controversy like that. The key thing is not to be blown off course and focus on what the UKs interests are.

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In the House of Commons, new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch took the first available opportunity to poke at the perceived disappointment on the benches opposite. She referenced past criticism of Trump during his previous term by Lammy and other senior Labour politicians.

Im very sure that President Trump will soon be calling to thank him for sending all of those North London Labour activists to campaign for his opponent, Badenoch said during Prime Ministers Questions.

To be sure, Trump has also told British officials he respects the large majority won by Starmer, and the pair agreed to work together during their dinner meeting, according to people familiar with the matter.

In British circles, theres hope the US trade surplus with the UK could spare it from the worst of Trumps protectionist instincts. Being outside of the European Union, too, is seen as helpful in terms of the White House perspective  though that will run up against Starmers instincts to get closer to the bloc.

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I have to be nice, right? Trump told reporters before meeting Starmer. But I actually think hes very nice, I think. He ran a great race. He did very well. Its very early, but hes popular and Ill be seeing him.

Yet the risk is that those are mere caveats in a wider negative picture. Starmer faces a challenge to maintain a good relationship with a president who enjoys being unpredictable, while being able to challenge him over disagreements. The influence of Musk, who used his X social media platform to attack Starmer over his crackdown on far-right rioters over the summer, will worry the government.

Post-Brexit Britain may not be Trumps immediate target, but with Frances Emmanuel Macron and Germanys Olaf Scholz weakened by their own domestic woes, Starmer risks becoming the whipping boy of Europe if he tries to stand up for the liberal world order. Italys Giorgia Meloni and Hungarys Viktor Orban seen as most likely to become Trumps allies in Europe.

Here in the UK and around the rest of Western Europe, people have got to be a little bit cautious and careful, former UK ambassador to the US Nigel Sheinwald told Bloombergs In the City podcast. An element of distance is correct, working out our own interests. And the big, fundamental issue for the UK, I think is accelerating our reset with Europe.

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Starmer also faces a domestic problem. Trumps victory will elevate Reform UK leader Farages voice, particularly in the media, while many Labour politicians want to see the premier stand up to the president-elects incendiary rhetoric. The image of a British prime minister sticking it to a US president has been talked about in British politics since Hugh Grants character in the 2003 movie Love Actually, but perhaps never more so than during Trumps first term.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a Labour politician who like Lammy has criticized Trump in the past, chose not to congratulate him, instead saying the US result meant that asserting our progressive values is more important than ever.

UK officials say Trumps unpredictability is their main concern, and theyre particularly looking at his choices for secretary of state, national security adviser and head of the CIA for signs of the direction he takes with Russian President Vladimir Putin  including over Ukraine.

In Parliament, though, Starmer appeared determined to sound positive about his prospects with Trump. It is absolutely crucial that we have a strong relationship, that strong special relationship forged in difficult circumstances between the US and the UK, he said.

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--With assistance from Francine Lacqua.

(Updates with Starmers call to Trump in fifth paragraph.)

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As the nation prepares for a second Donald Trump presidency, some history-minded people may seek understanding in the idea that it wasnt until Richard Nixons second presidential term that the serious consequences arrived.

But as a scholar of American politics, I dont think thats the right parallel.

Trump has already faced most of the situations that brought down Nixon  a congressional investigation and federal prosecutors inquiries.

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Trump has survived by  consciously or not  following the example of another American president who created a political party in his own image and used it to rule almost unchecked: Andrew Jackson, whose portrait Trump hung in the Oval Office during his first term.

Unlike Nixon, Trump outlasted investigations

Richard Nixon was reelected by an Electoral College landslide in 1972 in the midst of the Watergate scandal, in which people affiliated with Nixons reelection campaign broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and then sought to cover up their actions. Although Nixon started off his second term with sky-high approval, his demise soon followed.

A Senate special committee investigating the Watergate break-in was established just 18 days after his inauguration in January 1973. By the summer of 1974, evidence of Nixons involvement in the Watergate crimes had become overwhelming. In an Aug. 7, 1974, visit to the White House, Republican congressional leaders asked the president to step down. He announced his decision to resign the following day, Aug. 8, 1974.

Trump, however, has already weathered numerous legal battles, investigations and controversies. From the Jan. 6 committee to special prosecutor Jack Smiths probes and the Mar-a-Lago documents case, Trumps political career has been marked by repeated confrontations with legal and political institutions  including two impeachments by the House, though both were rejected by the Senate.

The House Jan. 6 committee announced four recommended charges against Donald Trump, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

After the Republican Partys loss in 2020 and an underwhelming performance in the 2022 midterms, many within the GOP urged Trump to step aside to allow for a new generation of leaders. But Trump held firm.

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Investigations stalled or were delayed, giving him breathing room through to the 2024 election. Now, with his his return to the White House, Trump will almost certainly end the federal investigations, and theres little sign that state cases will press forward soon.

In recent years, historical revisionism  popularized by Tucker Carlson  has taken place within segments of the Republican Party. Under this view, Nixon wasnt ousted for his involvement in Watergate but rather was the victim of a system aligned against him. But where Nixon stepped aside, Trump has fought back.

Like Jackson, Trump reshaped his party

In many ways, though, Trump more closely resembles Jackson than the scandal-plagued Nixon.

Following his narrow defeat in the controversial 1824 election, Jackson, much like Trump would two centuries later, claimed the election had been stolen.

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Jackson seized on his supporters frustrations, reorganizing the Democratic-Republican Party, which ultimately rebranded itself as the Democratic Party, in his own image. His followers championed his cause, creating state and local Democratic parties and building a powerful grassroots movement.

As a result, the Democratic Party democratized its nomination process, moving from elite-driven congressional caucuses that chose candidates behind closed doors to well-attended party conventions. This shift allowed voters to participate directly in the candidate selection process.

The new Jacksonian Democratic Party not only aligned with his views but also introduced a wave of increased political participation. Through what became known as the spoils system, Jackson rewarded loyalists by appointing them to government positions, ensuring that his allies held key roles in federal and state institutions. This approach allowed Jackson to implement his agenda more effectively, while also mobilizing his supporters at all levels of government, integrating them into the workings of American politics in unprecedented numbers.

When he won election in 1828, Jacksons efforts created a political landscape that gave him broad power, including actions that bypassed institutional checks.

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For instance, Jacksons forced removal and relocation of Native American communities from their ancestral lands  the Trail of Tears  illustrated the dangers inherent when a president holds extensive unilateral power.

Jackson disregarded judicial decisions and public outcry, acting with executive authority that appeared unconstrained. An 1832 Supreme Court ruling  Worcester v. Georgia  established tribal sovereignty, yet Jackson refused to enforce the ruling and the displacement of the Cherokee people continued.

His restructured party and control over appointments allowed him to act with what seemed near-total impunity. Jackson demonstrated his power by vetoing the renewal of the charter for the Second Bank of the United States, then unilaterally directing the removal of federal deposits despite congressional support for the bank.

Likewise, Trump has reshaped the Republican Party. His influence has been evident in Republican primary contests, where candidates aligned with Trumps vision succeeded, and opponents  the so-called Never Trumpers and RINOs  found themselves pushed to the margins.

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This transformation has not been confined to rhetoric but is visible in the composition of state legislatures and in Congress, solidifying a pro-Trump ideology that extends to party policies and priorities. This shift gives Trump a firm foundation from which he can pursue his agenda.

Furthermore, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court has, in effect, become a guardian of the political revolution Trump has spearheaded, granting the executive substantial powers and legal protection.

What to look for next

But there are limits to what Trump can achieve, even with his strengthened position.

Unlike in Jacksons era, todays federal bureaucracy is a vast, entrenched institution, with checks in place that may challenge or obstruct executive overreach. Some of Trumps promises  particularly around immigration policy, social welfare reform and trade  are likely to encounter resistance, not only from Democratic opposition but also from civil servants and legal processes embedded within federal agencies.

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However, Trump has said he wants to substantially remake that federal bureaucracy, replacing experienced career public servants with political appointees aligned with Trump himself.

Donald Trumps return to office likely signals an end to at least some of the yearslong investigations into his past actions and ensures his hold over the Republican Party remains intact. With a loyal base of voters and supportive institutions, Trump is positioned to further reshape the American political system.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Spencer Goidel, Auburn University

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Spencer Goidel contributed $1 to Doug Burgum and $14 to Nikki Haley during the 2023 presidential primary cycle.
By John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump, who moved the U.S. Supreme Court dramatically rightward in his first term, may get a chance to rejuvenate its 6-3 conservative majority by replacing some or all of its three most senior conservatives with younger jurists - and perhaps even expand it if a liberal justice leaves.

Justices Clarence Thomas, 76, and Samuel Alito, 74, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts, who turns 70 a week after Trump is due to be inaugurated on Jan. 20, all were appointed by Republican presidents to their lifetime posts on the court. All three could decide to retire with the Republican Trump succeeding Democratic President Joe Biden and with Republicans taking control of the Senate, according to legal experts.

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"I think it likely that one or both of Justices Thomas and Alito step down in the next presidential term, and perhaps the chief justice, too," Cornell Law School professor Gautam Hans said. "There are multiple federal judges that were confirmed under President Trump that I would anticipate being on a short list to replace them."

And Trump would be able to expand the court's conservative majority to 7-2 if one of the three liberal justices steps down during his presidency. The oldest of the three, Sonia Sotomayor, is 70 and has type 1 diabetes.

Under the U.S. Constitution, a president nominates members of the federal judiciary who must then be confirmed by the Senate. Senate rules require only a simple majority for confirming a justice.

Trump defeated Democratic U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday's U.S. election while Republicans seized control of the Senate from the Democrats.

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He came into the presidency in 2017 with the court at a 4-4 ideological deadlock following the 2016 death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. Trump was able to appoint three conservative justices - Neil Gorsuch in 2017, Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 and Amy Coney Barrett in 2020 - and forge the current 6-3 ideological breakdown.

Since Barrett replaced the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the court has moved American law to the right, with rulings rolling back abortion rights, widening gun rights, rejecting race-conscious collegiate admissions policies and constraining the power of federal regulatory agencies.

LIBERALS ON THE SIDELINES

During his presidency, Biden appointed a single justice - Ketanji Brown Jackson in 2022 - but her addition did not change the court's ideological composition because her predecessor Stephen Breyer was a fellow liberal.

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In recent years, the court's three liberal justices have often been relegated to a dissenting minority in major rulings. With its current ideological breakdown, the liberals need to be joined by at least two conservative colleagues to be in the majority in any ruling.

University of Illinois Chicago law professor Steve Schwinn said retirement decisions by Thomas, Alito and Roberts likely would be driven by whether they see their judicial legacies as complete or believe that more remains to be done.

"Thomas has already solidified his legacy, and I imagine he'd be happy with a replacement continuing it," Schwinn said. "I'm less sure about Alito, and less sure still about Roberts. They may feel like they still have work to do, and that Trump's presidency will embolden them to do it."

Harvard Law School professor Mark Tushnet said the retirement of any of those three likely would prompt Trump to appoint a younger judge with a conservative track record who is committed to a judicial philosophy called originalism under which the Constitution and statutes are interpreted as written in accordance with their original meaning.

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"In the short run, that's likely to have relatively little effect, with one conservative originalist replacing another," Tushnet said. "But, of course, the new appointee or appointees will be there for a long time, consolidating a conservative majority that will be in place when or if a Democrat becomes president and advances a liberal policy agenda."

At the time of their confirmation, Gorsuch was 49, Kavanaugh 53 and Barrett 48, meaning they could serve for decades.

Senator Chuck Grassley may be poised to return as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which vets judicial nominations, when Republicans take control of the chamber.

A spokesperson for Grassley said on Wednesday that the senator "looks forward to working with President Trump to confirm highly qualified, constitutionally sound judges to the federal judiciary."

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Trump and Senate Republicans not only have the opportunity to confirm new Supreme Court justices but also continue their efforts to reshape the rest of the federal judiciary with conservative appointees. Trump won confirmation of 234 judicial nominees in his first four years in office, the second most appointments by any president in a single term.

SOTOMAYOR'S DECISION

Sotomayor has faced calls from some on the political left to retire since 2022, when Democrats won control of the Senate that they are set to relinquish in January. Sotomayor has given no indication that she is considering it.

"There's no realistic possibility that Justice Sotomayor will retire immediately and have a replacement confirmed before Jan. 20," Tushnet said. "I suppose that some hard-line progressive advocacy groups might propose that, but she won't do it, and the Democratic majority in the Senate wouldn't go along, anyway."

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Some on the left had urged Ginsburg to retire during Democrat Barack Obama's 2009-2017 presidency to ensure that a Republican president did not get a chance to replace the liberal icon with a conservative, which ultimately happened when she died in 2020 at age 87.

"I think there will be calls for Justice Sotomayor to step down to allow for a quick confirmation of a successor while President Biden is still in office, but I would be surprised if those succeeded," Hans said.

"The Democrats have not had great success in facilitating strategic retirements of justices they confirmed, with Justice Ginsburg as the most prominent example. If Justice Sotomayor were inclined to have stepped down strategically I would have expected her to do so long before now," Hans added.

(Reporting by John Kruzel; Additional reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will Dunham)
Just two years after winning his first run for political office, Ohio Sen. JD Vance is set to become vice president  ushering a new generation into power and offering a potential glimpse at the Republican Partys future after President-elect Donald Trumps second term ends.

Vance, 40, was the first millennial on a major partys presidential ticket and will become the third-youngest vice president in American history.

He is also a former Trump critic whose political evolution, culminating in him becoming the president-elects running mate, showcases how Trump has taken over the GOP and reshaped it in his own image.

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Raised by his grandparents in southeastern Ohio as his mother battled drug addiction, Vance joined the Marine Corps after high school, and later went on to attend Ohio State University and Yale Law School  where he met his wife, Usha Vance  and become a venture capitalist.

His 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, shot Vance to stardom in a nation seeking to understand the Rust Belt appeal of Trump, who first won the presidency that same year. At the time, as he emerged as a political commentator, Vance was a strident Trump critic.

In private messages, Vance wondered ahead of Trumps first election whether he was Americas Hitler and in 2017 said the then-president was a moral disaster. In public, he agreed Trump was a total fraud who didnt care about regular people and called him reprehensible.

He changed his tune later, fully embracing Trump by 2020. After courting Trump in person at Mar-a-Lago and through Fox News appearances, he earned the former presidents endorsement in the late stages of a competitive Republican primary in Ohios Senate race in 2022. Vance, in his first run for office, went on to win that race.

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In a display of loyalty, Vance was one of several potential running mates and Republican lawmakers to stand by Trumps side at a New York courthouse during his criminal hush money trial earlier this year.

Brenna Bird, Iowa's attorney general, speaks onstage as a screen shows JD Vance being congratulated by Bernie Moreno after Vance had been formally nominated as Donald Trump's vice president at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. - Will Lanzoni/CNN

Hes also made clear that his view of the constitutional limits on a vice presidents role in certifying election results differs from that of former Vice President Mike Pence, who drew the ire of Trump in January 2021, when he opted not to interfere in the process of approving electoral votes for Joe Biden.

In Congress, Vance has been a vocal opponent of foreign aid, opposing legislation to send more aid from the US to Ukraine amid Russias war.

He has embraced conservative culture wars, sponsoring legislation targeting gender-affirming care for transgender minors and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. But he has also taken populist positions, supporting tariffs, opposing corporate mergers and working with Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

How Trump picked Vance

Trump sought to maintain drama in his search for a running mate, delaying his selection until after the assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania, and on the first day of the Republican National Convention.

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The two had met at Trumps Mar-a-Lago club the same day Trump was shot in the ear. Then, two days later, Trump called Vance to offer him a spot on the ticket. He announced his pick 20 minutes later on Truth Social.

Ahead of Trumps selection, the Ohio senators supporters, including Trumps son Donald Trump Jr. and conservative media figure Tucker Carlson, had argued that Vance had the strongest relationship with Trump of a group of finalists that also included Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and that he would be the most loyal selection, multiple sources familiar with the discussions said.

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They made the case that Vance can appeal to working-class voters viewed as essential to winning the key battleground states in November, given his upbringing in a poor Rust Belt town in Ohio. They also pointed to his wife, Usha Vance  the child of Indian immigrants  as being someone who could appeal to minority voters, the sources said.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, on the convention floor, described Trumps selection of Vance as a great day for Ohio.

He is consistent with Trumps appeal to working men and women, DeWine said, adding that he thought it was wise for Trump to pick someone younger. Also, someone who shares his desire to expand the base of the Republican Party.

Controversy on the campaign trail

Vances selection led opponents to mine years of podcasts and other interviews that he had participated in. And one of them  a 2021 podcast in which he told Fox News that the Democratic Party was led by childless cat ladies, including Vice President Kamala Harris  immediately ignited controversy when it was resurfaced.

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Democrats pointed to Vances comments as evidence of a GOP hostile to women, in a campaign that saw a sizable gender gap, due in part to Trumps appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices who would go on to overturn Roe v. Wades national abortion rights protections in 2022.

Vance spent weeks explaining that the remarks were not intended to lambast people who do not have children  particularly those who want to but are unable  but rather as a criticism of the Democratic Party as anti-family.

Weeks later, he repeated false social media claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio  and defended his decision to do so despite the lack of evidence to support those claims, arguing that he was attempting to draw attention to the issue of immigration.

If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then thats what Im going to do, Vance told CNNs Dana Bash in September.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
(This story was updated to add new information.)

With the presidential race still unfolding, former President Donald Trump declared victory early Wednesday morning.

Trump came on stage at his campaign headquarters accompanied by his family and his running mate JD Vance with his family as well.

An announcer referred to Trump as president-elect and Vance as vice president elect.

Trump thanked the crowd, which quickly broke into a USA chant, and called them friends.

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This was the greatest political movement of all time, he said.

Trump took three of the seven swing states on Tuesday  Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina  and is holding strong leads in the others as counting nears an end.

But, the Electoral College count is still unofficial and neither he nor Vice President Kamala Harris had yet locked up the 270 electoral votes required to claim the presidency.

So, heres what Trumps declaration really means.

Is Trump president now?

With both the popular vote and the Electoral College tally trending his direction, former President Donald Trump has declared the race for the White House over, claiming victory early just after 2 a.m. Wednesday, shortly after the race in Pennsylvania was called in his favor.

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Trumps projected wins in several states and current leads in some swing states puts him in a strong position, but it doesnt mean hes actually the winner or that hes the president again yet. (He wouldnt be president until Inauguration Day in January.)

And Vice President Kamala Harris hasnt conceded the race, either. She chose not to address supporters late Tuesday night.

Ultimately, election officials, not candidates, determine the official outcome, based on final certified counts from each state. Right now, the remaining swing states are still counting ballots, with races in some of these states expected to go down to the wire.

When a candidate declares victory, its a statement of confidence in the projected results, but the race isnt over until one candidate collects 270 electoral votes.

Can Trump declare victory?

Technically, candidates can say theyve won at any point. But these declarations arent official and dont reflect the final results. In 2020, Trump declared victory over Joe Biden several hours after polls closed and called for counting to stop.

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However, Biden was declared the winner only after key states completed their counts, as these are based on the full vote count and not on a candidates early claim.

Ultimately, the final outcome depends on vote counts and official state certifications, not on what a candidate says on election nightor in the days after.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Trump declares victory, but what does that mean for the race?
Donald Trump has thanked the American people for the honour of "being elected the 45th and 47th president," as he is projected to be close to victory in a historic US presidential election.

The conservative broadcaster Fox News had already declared Republican candidate Trump the overall winner against Democrat Kamala Harris, but other media networks and US news agency AP have not done so.

Trump told supporters in Florida in the early hours of Wednesday morning that "this will be the golden age of America."

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"This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again."

"We're going to help our country heal," he said.

He predicted that he could win 315 Electoral College votes - far above the 270 needed to win the presidency - and also said that he had "won the popular vote."

"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate."

He also made a reference to one of his main campaign talking points, namely migration: "We're going to fix our borders."

Referring to the attempts on his life during the campaign, Trump said: "God spared my life for a reason and that reason was to save our country and restore it to greatness. We are going to fulfil that mission."

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The campaign of Democrat candidate Harris said earlier that the vice president would not address supporters on election night, as the path to the White House quickly narrowed for her.

It was a good night for the Republicans as they also won control of the US Senate from the Democrats.
Republican President-elect Donald Trump's decisive victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in Indiana was not a surprise on Election Day; the race was called for the former president right as all Indiana polls were closed.

Not only did he delivery a victory, getting 58.9% of the vote to Harris' 39.4%, he also performed better in Indiana than he did in the previous two election cycles, according to the unofficial results.

Trump's vote share this year was 19.5 percentage points higher than Harris'. In 2020, Trump defeated President Joe Biden here by 16 points. And in 2016, Trump defeated Hillary Clinton here by 19 points.

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In both of those elections, Trump won between 56.5% and 57% of the vote. This year, he performed two points better than that.

Trump dominated Indiana in 2024 by winning 88 of Indiana's 92 counties, with Harris winning just Marion, Monroe, Lake and St. Joseph counties.

In 2020 he won one fewer county here: Tippecanoe County, which comprises Lafayette and West Lafayette. Tippecanoe County flipped back to Trump this year, albeit narrowly. Trump got 49.2% of the vote there to Harris' 48.9%. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who dropped out of the race, and Libertarian Chase Oliver each got about 1% in that county.

Though some Indiana Democrats hoped to chip into Trump's vote share in suburban Hamilton County, that didn't happen in a substantial way. Trump performed similarly in suburban Indianapolis this year to his 2020 showing, though Harris did just over a half-point better there than Biden.

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This year, Trump won Hamilton County by 52.1% to Harris' 46%, with RFK Jr. and Oliver each getting about 1%.

Where did Trump do better than in 2020?

Along with Tippecanoe County flipping for Trump, most of the state saw shifts to the right that contributed to Trump's continued dominance here.

Lake County, which includes Gary, was nearly 10 points more Republican than in 2020, according to an analysis by the New York Times. Biden won Lake County by more than 33,000 votes in 2020. Harris won Lake County by just 11,775 votes this election.

LaPorte County also swung right by more than 7 points, according to that analysis. Several other counties, from Newton to Jasper to Pulaski Counties in the northwest part of the state each shifted to Republicans by about 5 points.

Where did Harris do better than in 2020?

There was no real good news for Indiana Democrats in Tuesday's election results. Bu t a few areas shifted a little bit more Democratic over 2020.

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Besides the slight shift in Hamilton County, other Indianapolis suburbs where Harris performed marginally better than Biden in 2020 were Hancock County, where she did 3.8 points better than in 2020 and Boone County, which favored Harris by 2.4 points more than Biden, according to New York Times data.

Steuben County in the Northeast part of the state was more than 3 points more Democratic than 2020, Benton County on the far west side of the state was 1.6 points more Democratic and Harrison County near the Indiana-Kentucky border was seven points more Democratic.

Reactions to Trump's performance

Indiana's Republican U.S. Sen. Todd Young congratulated Trump and his running mate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance "on their decisive victory."

"The incoming Trump administration and new Republican Senate majority will work together to reverse the open border policies of the last four years and address the economic challenges facing families in Indiana and across the country," Young wrote in an X post.

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More: 'Kamala, you're fired.' Hoosiers react to President Donald Trump's win

Indianapolis City-County Councilor Nick Roberts, a Democrat, said the result of the election was "genuinely devastating" but praised Harris, saying she "ran an incredible campaign" in a tight window. He also pointed out that Harris carried the majority of precincts in suburban Carmel, signaling future potential for Democrats in the Indianapolis suburbs.

The same also applies to Carmels neighboring suburbs of Fishers and Zionsville, both historically very red and also affluent, that Kamala carried each by decent margins. https://t.co/BKFnR6cMWl  Indianapolis Councilor Nick Roberts (@nickroberts317) November 6, 2024

Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Trump dominated Indiana. Where did he perform better, worse than 2020?
When push came to shove, a campaign that prominently featured racism, misogyny and unabashed disregard for the truth was not enough to disqualify Donald Trump in the eyes of American voters, who returned him to the White House for another four years in yesterdays U.S. presidential election. The implications for the U.S. and the world are as alarming as they are fatiguing.

This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.

Perhaps the greatest selling point for Vice President Kamala Harris candidacy was that, had she won, we would have been able to put Trump, as a figure and the avatar of a political movement, behind us. That would not have undone the damage he has already done to American democracy, nor would it have re-bottled the dangerous daemons he has helped uncork over his eight-year political career. But it would have allowed us to lower our guard just a bit, to turn our focus away from a defensive vigilance and toward a more proactive engagement with the challenges of the day, both in the U.S. and around the world.

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Instead, we are now confronted with the daunting prospect of having to navigate not only the chaos and provocation Trump creates and thrives on, but also the consequences of both.

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

For the U.S., that means the real risk of seeing the darker urges Trump and his surrogates channeled during the campaign unleashed with the full power of the U.S. government behind them. It is not necessary to assume Trump will successfully follow through on the most extreme of his promises, such as mass roundups and deportations of immigrants and the legal persecution of his political opponents, to fear the period ahead. The efforts alone will be exceedinglyand at times in all likelihood violentlydivisive. Moreover, Trumps ineffectual track record during his first term should be of no consolation, given the greater preparation that has gone into planning for and staffing his next administration.

For the world, too, the implications are dire. But they go beyond the mere policy challenges that another Trump presidency will present, with regard to tariffs, alliances and U.S. global leadership. They extend to the United States dependability as a responsible stakeholder, a term originally coined to characterize the role Washington once hoped China would assume in global affairs. A country with such disproportionate economic and military power as the U.S. is only as safe for the world at large as it is responsible with that power. And the U.S. electorate has now demonstrated its taste for Trumps irresponsible and unserious brand of politics in three successive elections, two of which he has won.

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Worse still, the global environment in which Trump will now operate offers fewer checks and balances in the way of multilateral norms than it did when he took office the first time in 2017. This is in part the legacy of Trumps first term, in which he undermined international organizations, like the United Nations and World Trade Organization, while withdrawing from numerous multilateral treaties and agreements, including the Paris Climate Agreement and the Iran nuclear deal, thereby casting doubt on the legitimacy of the United States international commitments.

In resisting the forces represented by Trump, it will be essential to maintain a focus on developments in other parts of the world, to create the global solidarities that have long sustained national movements of resistance to authoritarianism.

But events since then have further unraveled the fabric of the international order, which though always imperfect had offered at least a normative constraint on great power behavior. Russias all-out invasion of Ukraine and Israels unbridled assault on Gazaabetted by the administration of U.S. President Joe Bidenhave now made a mockery of those norms, however, with little to no consequences for either. Trumps stated admiration for authoritarian leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will now further embolden them and others like them. More alarming still, his seeming envy of them adds a chilling quality to his threats to invade Mexico to tackle the drug-trafficking cartels responsible for saturating the U.S. with fentanyl and other opioids.

As for pressing global challenges like climate change and the debt crisis facing the worlds poorest countries, they will fall by the wayside, even as geopolitical tensionsparticularly between the U.S. and Chinaare likely to rise, with implications for local conflicts around the world that are increasingly becoming regionalized. That will only exacerbate the factors driving the mass migration that Trumpbut also the European Unionpromises to respond to with increasing cruelty.

Make no mistake, the tour of the horizon is gloomy, not least because Trumps victory signals that, in the decadelong back-and-forth tussle in the worlds liberal democracies between establishment parties and populist identitarian reactionary movements, the latter are once again in the ascendant. But that simply lends even greater gravity and urgency to the task ahead for those who reject the darker forceswhether conscious and rational or unconscious and nonrationalfueling those movements.

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And in resisting those forces, it will be essential to maintain a focus on developments in other parts of the world, to create the kinds of links and global solidarities that have long sustained national movements of social justice and resistance to authoritarianism. Across Africa, Asia and the Americas, civil society has continued to model effective methods of popular mobilization under far more repressive conditions than those that will be faced by the opposition to Trump in the United States.

For us at WPR, that will be both a source of support during what promises to be a difficult and tiring time, but also a guiding framework for our work moving forward. At a time when historical forces seem to be echoing the dynamics that led to such great human cruelty and tragedy in the 20th century, its easy to see Trumps victory as yet another dimming of the torch that, since 1945, has lit the path along which the global order has advanced. That torch is not yet extinguished and may never be. But keeping its embers alive now will ensure that well always be able to relight it in the event it does go out.

Judah Grunstein is the editor-in-chief of World Politics Review. You can follow him on Twitter at @Judah_Grunstein and on BlueSky at @judah-grunstein.bksy.social.

The post Trumps Election Win Reopens a Dark Chapter for the U.S. and the World appeared first on World Politics Review.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, 11:10 P.M.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  The Associated Press has declared Tony Wied the winner and will represent Wisconsins 8th Congressional District.

Trump-endorsed Republican Tony Wied declares victory in Wisconsins 8th Congressional District race

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, 10:36 P.M.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  Republican Tony Wied, who is running to represent Wisconsins 8th Congressional District, has declared his victory over Dr. Kristin Lyerly.

The Trump-endorsed candidate and former owner of the Dino Stop gas stations claims he defeated Democrat Dr. Kristin Lyerly. Lyerly has not given a concession speech, and the final tally of votes is still being calculated.

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The Associated Press has not formally called the race, though Wied has a massive lead in the polls.

Click here for more news, weather, and sports

Im overwhelmed by the support shown to our campaign from the people of Wisconsins 8th Congressional District. I want to thank the voters in Northeast Wisconsin for giving me this opportunity. Only in America can you go from complete political outsider to representing Wisconsin families in Congress.

Should Wied win, hell follow in the footsteps of former representative Mike Gallagher, a Republican who held the seat for over seven years before stepping down.

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He would be sworn in on January 3, 2025.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
President-elect Trump is projected to beat Vice President Harris in battleground Michigan, according to Decision Desk HQ, extending his Electoral College lead after clinching the presidency early Wednesday morning.

Its a major swing-state win for Trump in blue wall territory, moving Michigans 15 electoral votes into the GOP column. Heading into Election Day, Decision Desk HQ polling averages showed Harris with a razor-thin Michigan lead of less than a percentage point.

Trump narrowly won Michigan by a fraction of a point in 2016, and President Biden flipped it back with a 2.8-point margin in 2020, the slimmest edge for a Democrat in the state since 1960.

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Michigan is among a handful of critical battlegrounds that are set to determine who wins the White House. Along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, its part of the blue wall of Midwestern states that flipped to Trump in 2016 and back to Democrats in 2020. Trumps Michigan win now cuts into an important potential path to victory for Harris in this years tight national race.

Both campaigns have been crisscrossing the state with campaign stops in the homestretch. At one event in Detroit just a few weeks ahead of the election, Trump controversially called the city a mess and warned that our whole country will end up being like Detroit if Harris wins the White House.

Back in 2020, Trump and his allies claimed without evidence that there was widespread voter fraud in Detroit, which went overwhelmingly to Biden.

Down the ballot, Michigan is also the site of key congressional races that could help decide which party wins control of the House and Senate.

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Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) is up against former Rep. Mike Rogers (R) for retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenows (D) seat in the Senate, one of just three upper chamber races rated toss ups by the Cook Political Report.

The Great Lakes State also boasts two House race toss-ups, according to Cooks ratings. Slotkins run for the Senate leaves her seat in the 7th Congressional District up for grabs, and Rep. Dan Kildees (D-Mich.) retirement opened up his 8th Congressional District slot.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Most of the nations big TV-news anchors used the same phrase throughout Election Night: Were not there yet. As things turned out, they were.

TV networks came to the 2024 Election ready for a rehash of the one they covered in 2020. Executives had 24-hour coverage sessions mapped out for the battle between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, and expected, based on polls, to have political panels at the ready through the weekend. The belief was that, like last time, swing states including Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona would need days to tabulate the results. Before midnight, however, the crystal ball became more clear. On NBC, around 11 p.m., Lester Holt chided his colleagues for starting to speak as if the whole thing had been decided. This is beginning to sound like a post-mortem, he cautioned.

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Soon, it would be. After 1 a.m,, Fox News Channels Bret Baier told viewers it looked as if Harris had no path to 270 electoral votes, and then, at 1:23, the conservative outlet Newsmax had called the race for Trump, with Nexstars NewsNation. Fox News Channel, which had earlier called Pennsylvania for Trump, soon made things official for its larger audience.

Anchors, panelists and correspondents spent most of the evening trying to convince viewers there was more drama to unfold. Phrases like were not there yet and theres more to come became oft-repeated mantras across all the outlets. CNNs John King spent much of his time using the networks signature Magic Wall to show how many more Democratic votes might still be left to help Harris overcome what looked to be deficits in Georgia or Pennsylvania.

After time passed, he began demonstrating to viewers that there werent enough to be had.

Sitting in the center of a massive soundstage in Culver City, Calif., as 1 a.m. neared on the east coast for an evening-long Election Night special streamed by Amazon Prime Video, Brian Williams called to Erin McPike, who was handling an interactive map: Erin, you got anything?

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There were good reasons to hope for an extended cycle. A presidential election is what typically brings the biggest and broadest audiences to news. That can be a boon at a time when advertisers have grown wary of sponsoring opinion hosts and newscasts that deliver tough headlines about climate change and polarized electorates. If audiences like what they see, they may stick around for more. At a time when the economics of the TV-news business are under scrutiny, with veteran anchors departing and big salaries under the microscope, days of coverage might have won new audiences.

But it was not to be. Sure, coverage is likely to continue for the next day. Plans have been in place at NBC News and ABC News for hours of coverage that will take viewers from morning programs like Today and Good Morning America through the evening.

Some were clear well before midnight where things were headed. North Carolina and Georgia will go to Donald Trump tonight, said Sean Hannity on Fox News. And I am as confident in that prediction as any I have ever made. On CNN, Chris Wallace seized upon exit-poll data just after 5 p.m., showing voters were dissatisfied with major kitchen-table issues such as the economy. Harris, he said, would need a miracle to win in the face of such sentiment.

At 11 p.m., with Harris proving unable to emerge with leads in crucial states, the smoke was clearing. This looks a lot more like 2016 to me than it does 2020, said Chuck Todd on NBC News. He would be followed around midnight by  for Democrats, at least  a more sobering sight. Jen Psaski, the former Biden White House Press Secretary turned MSNBC host, sat on the panel on NBC News and said: Im a believer that you gotta wait until you know  but, yes, if youre on the campaign right now, youre feeling pretty down.

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From the Dispatch Politics on The Dispatch

Happy Wednesday! We didnt get much sleep last night, so please excuse any typos, errors, and rhetorical flights of fancy.

American voters have spoken and have delivered Republicans sweeping victories across the country from the presidential race and beyond. The Tuesday election, which saw former President Donald Trump handily defeat Vice President Kamala Harris, also ushered in a new Republican majority in the United States Senate and will likely enable the GOP to maintain control of the House of Representatives.

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Trump, the president-elect, addressed jubilant supporters early Wednesday morning in West Palm Beach, Florida, after networks projected the Republican nominee would defeat Harris, capping an hours-long election night celebration that finished with a larger than expected victory after a grueling two-year quest for the White House.

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We have a great feeling of love in this very large room, Trump said to a hall packed with a few thousand (at least) admirers inside the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Were going to make you very proud of your vote.

America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate, the former and future president added, crediting his victory and the GOP takeover of the Senate to the MAGA movement.

The Republican ticket carried the Sun Belt battlegrounds of Georgia and North Carolina, then broke through the Blue Wall by taking Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It was enough to secure Trump the majority of electoral votes, even as the remaining swing states of Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada remain too close to callthough the margins suggest he could carry all three. Doing so would give Trump 312 electoral votes and the largest Electoral College win for a Republican since 1988.

In the race for control of the Senate, meanwhile, Republicans are on track to pick up nearly all of the winnable seats, meaning the only question left about the GOP majority is how large it will be. As of publication time, Republicans had secured 52 seats. Beyond flipping the West Virginia seat held by retiring independent (and former Democrat) Joe Manchin, Republican Senate candidates defeated Democratic incumbents in Ohio and Montana, and could still do so in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nevada, where the races are too close to call. The House majority remains up in the air with several outstanding races, primarily in California. But the GOP is well situated to keep a narrow edge there as well, looking stronger than expected in districts, like Nebraskas 2nd, that had Republicans nervous in the final weeks.

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New York and California were always the road to the majority, and theres still a giant question mark over California. So I just hope that what I saw there on the ground translates to the ballot, House Speaker Mike Johnson told Axios.

The flip side to the red wave is the utter defeat for Harris and the Democratic Party. As the vice presidents watch party at Howard University in Washington, D.C., got underway Tuesday evening, the atmosphere seemed a world apart from the broader political discourse. The crowd outside of Frederick Douglas Hall at Harris alma mater danced to such songs as Alright by Kendrick Lamar. Attendees cheered when CNN called states for Harris and booed when the network added states to Trumps column.

As more tallies came in, the worse it looked for the Democrats chances to retain the White House. In the VIP section near the stage, elected officials and other special guests looked increasingly downcast, and soon the pessimism seemed to spread to the general admission section.

And very early Wednesday morning it was not Harris but her campaigns co-chair, Cedric Richmond, who finally addressed the crowd to say that the vice president would wait to see all the results and would speak to the nation later on Wednesday. (Indeed, Harris is now scheduled to speak at 6 pm ET.) It was perhaps the grimmest outcome on a dismal night for the Democratic party when, a few hours later, the networks began to call Harris must-win states for Trump and eventually declare the former president the victor.

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If there was a bright spot for the Democratic Party, it was in North Carolina, where the scandal-plagued Republican nominee for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, lost by nearly 15 points to the Democrat, Attorney General Josh Stein. Stein will succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to extend the partys control of that states chief executive to 12 straight years.

But at the top of the ticket, it wasnt particularly close in the Tar Heel State, with Trump appearing to win by a larger margin there than he did in 2020 or 2016. And in that example was the story of the election: Trump and the GOP have come back, stronger than ever.

Notable and Quotable

Dark MAGA Assemble!

Elon Musk, posting on X just before the polls began to close in several states, November 5, 2024.

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In the early hours of Wednesday morning, former President Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump will be the first sitting president with a felony conviction. In May, Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in New York. He has also been accused of trying to steal the 2020 election in two indictments, one in Georgia and one in federal court. His other federal indictment over his handling of classified documents was dismissed by a Trump-appointed judge, which prosecutors appealed.

Trump has been trying to fight these cases, but now that he is headed back to the White House, he may not face any consequences until after his term in the White House.

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But can he pardon himself? Here is what to know:

Election 2024 live updates: Harris to speak; Trump policy foes not 'giving up'

More: Donald Trump's victory means his criminal cases will likely be dropped or postponed

Can Trump pardon himself?

A president issuing a self-pardon would be unprecedented, so its legality is unclear.

If he did try it, it would not wipe out all of his legal problems.

Presidential pardons only apply to federal cases, not state cases. The Constitution states the president "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." That text limits the pardoning power by excluding state criminal offenses and civil claims, according to the Constitution Annotated.

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When Trump was in the White House, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani made comments that the president "probably" could pardon himself, but Trump has said in a previous interview that "the last thing Id ever do is give myself a pardon," NBC News reported.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.

What is happening with Trump's legal cases?

The cases are likely to be delayed or possibly dropped, legal experts previously told USA TODAY.

Trump has said he would fire Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who is prosecuting the two federal cases against Trump.

The state cases are likely to be postponed until Trump's next presidency is over.

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Contributing: Bart Jansen, Aysha Bagchi, Josh Meyer, David Jackson

Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com, and follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can Donald Trump pardon himself? What he has said about it
Former President Donald Trump visits his campaign headquarters on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Evan Vucci/Associated Press

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, is having just the kind of election night that Democrats feared.

Trump has officially won in three of the seven battleground states  North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania  and is on the verge of narrow but decisive victories over Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, in the two remaining blue wall states of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Trump was up by more than 4 points in Wisconsin with 87% of the vote counted, up by 6 points in Michigan with two-thirds of the vote in, and up by more than 3 points in Nevada with 68% of votes in. Harris and Trump were neck-and-neck in Arizona with just over half of votes counted.

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But as of 2 a.m. Eastern time, Trump victory looks very likely.

Whats more, if he wins, he can count on Republican control of the Senate to confirm his nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal bench.

Maintaining Democratic control of the upper chamber was always going to be an uphill climb, but Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Browns pre-election polling gave Democrats hope he could hold on despite Trumps popularity. Brown would end up going down by a roughly four-point margin. Republicans only needed to defeat Brown and win an open seat in West Virginia to deprive Democrats of their 51-seat majority. Independent Dan Osborns failure to pull off an upset against Republican Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska made Republican control of the Senate official.

Republicans Senate majority could still grow. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana is not favored to win his bid for a fourth term. Democratic Sens. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin both trailed their challengers with more than 80% of votes counted.

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A Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives remains a real possibility, however. The party needs a net gain of five seats, which is still within reach.

New York state Sen. John Mannion, who unseated Rep. Brandon Williams in New Yorks 22nd Congressional District, became the first Democrat of the night to flip a House seat. Democrat Shomari Figures won in Alabamas new court-ordered 2nd Congressional District, setting the stage for the state to have two Black members of Congress for the first time in its history. And Democrat Cleo Fields won in Louisianas new court-ordered 6th Congressional District.

Republican Reps. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Anthony DEsposito also appear to be on the brink of losing their reelection bids. At the same time, several vulnerable incumbent House Democrats, like Pennsylvania Rep. Matt Cartwright, appear likely to lose.
Ohioans made their voices heard on Election Day, casting votes to secure Republican wins in the White House, U.S. Senate, Ohio Supreme Court and more.

Here's a look at what happened last night in Ohio elections and why.

Ohio election results: Who won local, statewide, presidential elections?

Donald Trump defeats VP Kamala Harris in Ohio, the biggest win for president in 40 years

Ohio voters picked former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris in a double-digit victory  a result that underscored Ohios shift from a presidential bellwether to a solid Republican state.

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Trump easily won Ohio in 2016 and 2020, so his victory in 2024 is not surprising. But the margin was impressive.

Trump's 11-point lead was the largest for a presidential candidate in Ohio in 40 years.

Ohio Sen. JD Vance now VP-elect. How did he get there and what's next?

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a Cincinnati resident and a Middletown native, has come to be known as one of the top next-generation leaders of the populist conservative movement President-elect Donald Trump sparked.

Now he will officially be Trump's heir apparent as vice president of the United States.

What to know about his journey from Middletown to the White House.

Now that JD Vance will be VP, what happens to his Ohio Senate seat?

Trump and Vance will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, just two years after Vance took the oath of office for his first Senate term.

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Now, Ohio has a Senate seat to fill (again).

Heres what happens next.

Heres why Ohio Issue 1, a proposal to end gerrymandering, failed

Ohio voters resoundingly rejected Issue 1, a proposal to replace elected officials with a citizen commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

Republicans overcame a massive fundraising deficit to convince Ohioans that Issue 1 was too confusing and too flawed to pass. The measure failed as Republicans swept statewide races in Ohio, including victories for former President Donald Trump and Senate challenger Bernie Moreno.

But Issue 1 backers say Ohio voters were duped by GOP-crafted ballot language and deceptive campaigning against their measure.

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Read more here.

Republican Bernie Moreno unseats Sherrod Brown in key Ohio Senate race. How did he do it?

Bernie Moreno celebrates his victory over Sherrod Brown.

Sen. Sherrod Brown repeated the same refrain as he navigated the toughest campaign of his political career: "It's always been Ohio."

On Tuesday, it was Ohio that helped Republicans win control of the U.S. Senate by ousting Brown from office and electing Republican businessman Bernie Moreno

Here are four takeaways from Morenos win over Brown.

For first time since 1984, a local Cincinnati Democrat won reelection to the House

U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman hugs supporters after declaring victory in the 1st Congressional District at Queen City Exchange in Downtown Cincinnati.

Southwest Ohio's 1st Congressional District will remain in Democratic hands after U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman won reelection.

Landsman defeated Republican Orlando Sonza 54% to 46%. In doing so, he's done something a Democrat in the Cincinnati region hasn't done for decades: return to Congress for a second term.

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Here's what to know.

Springfield, Ohio was flung into the spotlight during the election because of immigration. How did they vote?

Two months ago, Springfield, Ohio, was in the national political spotlight after now President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance spread baseless rumors that Haitian immigrants in the community were eating pets and wildlife.

Local officials were quick to refute the rumors and show their support for the city's small immigrant community.

Here's how Clark County residents, including the city of Springfield, voted in Tuesday's election.

The Ohio Supreme Court now has a 6-1 Republican majority. What will that mean for abortion rights?

Republicans expanded their control of Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday by sweeping three races, giving the GOP six of seven seats beginning in January.

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The GOP wins come as justices will decide cases involving the abortion rights amendment that voters approved last year. Ohio Right to Life endorsed the three Republicans for Supreme Court.

Heres what to know.

Joe Deters won race for Ohio Supreme Court seat, but lost the vote in Hamilton County

Republican Joe Deters speaks after he won a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court.

Republican Joe Deters won the statewide election Tuesday to remain on Ohio's Supreme Court, but he didn't fare so well on his old home turf of Hamilton County.

Deters, the former county prosecutor and powerful GOP politician, lost Hamilton County to Democrat Melody Stewart, 53.5% to 46.5%. He won the statewide race 55% to 45%.

The difference isn't shocking. Here's why.

Why Melissa Powers lost prosecutor race: Democratic shift, issues, 'out of touch'

Hamilton County Prosecutor-elect Connie Pillich speaks to members of the media during a Democratic watch party.

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For the first time in 92 years, Hamilton County will have a Democrat as prosecutor. Connie Pillich on Tuesday won the job that had been the heart of the local Republican Party for a century.

Pillich's defeat of Republican Melissa Powers is the final piece of the puzzle for local Democrats, who over the past decade have watched a once-reliably red county turn blue. Democrats now hold 10 of the 11 nonjudicial county offices, including all three seats on the board of county commissioners.

Read the full report.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Trump wins, Issue 1 fails. What happened in Ohio elections
After months of spewing racist remarks about Kamala Harris and ginning up his base about invasions at the border and the promise to harm millions of immigrants, Donald Trump will once again be the president of the United States.

Despite his naked racism and misogyny and attacks on his political opponents, the American people have chosen to send him back to the White House.

Candidates use the last days of their campaign to make their final case before the American people. They say the thing you want voters to remember as theyre casting their votes on Election Day. The last thing Trump wanted millions of Americans to hear from him and his campaign? A cacophony of bigotry.

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Trump chose to host a rally in New York City that was reminiscent of a Nazi rally held there 85 years ago. He was set to speak in front of thousands of his fans in his hometown  but first, more than two dozen surrogates would get on stage to make the case for him.

Comedian and podcaster Tony Hinchcliffe compared Puerto Rico to a pile of garbage, said Black people carve watermelons on Halloween and made crude comments about the sexual habits of Latinos.

David Rem, who the campaign said is a childhood friend of Trump, called Democrats degenerates. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said Harris was a Samoan, Malaysian low-IQ person. (Harris father is Jamaican, and her mother is Indian.) The only comment the GOP attempted to do damage control on was the joke about Puerto Rico.

Having such explicit racism on stage during a rally for a presidential campaign speaks volumes about the Republican Party and America at large.

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White conservative ideology, and by extension, Trump, has long been threatened by the sense that full racial equality was just on the horizon. It is not an accident that Trump began his political career after America elected its first Black president.

During their own presidential campaigns, famous Alabama segregationist George Wallace promoted keeping the races separate and George H.W. Bush deployed an ad implying his opponent Michael Dukakis would let violent Black criminals out of prison. Ronald Reagan touted his love of states rights at a speech in Mississippi near the site of where civil rights workers had been brutally murdered 16 years earlier. Critics viewed it as a wink to racist white Southern voters.

Still, no other major-party presidential candidate has embraced explicit racism the way Trump has.

Trump entered the political foray during the Obama administration by leading the charge in the false claims that the president was secretly born in Kenya and thus ineligible to be president. A few years later, in a now infamous scene, he would come down the escalator at Trump Tower to announce that he was running for president himself and referred to Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists.

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His major policy promise was to build a wall along the southern border. As president, Trump instituted a ban on people from several majority-Muslim countries entering the country, told three members of Congress who are women of color to go back to where they came from, and tried to send in the military to squash racial justice protesters.

His reelection campaign in 2020 was marked by more of the same. During his speech accepting the GOPs nomination, Trump said Democrats wanted to release criminals into suburban neighborhoods and declared on X that when the looting starts, the shooting starts, referring to Black Lives Matter protesters.

Much of that seems tame compared to the 2024 campaign.

As he addressed a sea of smiling white faces waving signs that said Mass Deportations Now! at the Republican National Convention, Trump officially became the partys presidential candidate for a third time. It was a prelude to what was to come.

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Fresh off an assassination attempt, Trump delivered the longest speech in national convention history. His campaign was reportedly giddy as President Joe Bidens poll numbers kept sinking and Democrats were losing faith in the presidents chances of winning reelection.

But then Biden dropped out, and the Democrats quickly coalesced around Harris as the replacement. Now, the racist candidate had to run against a Black and South Asian woman.

And as the campaign stretched on, Trump managed to not only outdo t segregationists and states rights defenders, he managed to outdo himself.

Perhaps his most dangerous rhetoric started after a woman posted on social media about a friend of a friend whose cat went missing  and said she suspected that it had been abducted and eaten by Haitians living in town.

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Trump, who has never heard a racist Facebook rumor that he didnt love, turned it into a campaign message by repeating the lie on the debate stage. Already flustered by Harris  who had merely said his political rallies werent that great  Trump began ranting and raving and sputtering, Theyre eating the dogs, theyre eating the cats.

It didnt matter how many times it was disproven, how many Republican officials in Springfield, Ohio, begged the campaign to stop, or how many bomb threats in the state kept kids out of school, Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) went all in.

A new refrain began. Trump and his sycophants werent using the old refrains about immigrants like they were taking American jobs or were lazy and living high off the government hog. Now, they were harming your pets, spreading disease and stealing housing that should be going to white U.S. citizens.

The rumor had remarkable staying power. All of a sudden, it wasnt just Springfield that was overrun with Haitian immigrants  towns all across the U.S. had to brace for hordes of Haitian refugees, who would be piling up on buses destined to take over lily-white enclaves.

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Trump also dabbled in eugenics, falsely claiming that immigrants are genetically predisposed to murder. Weve got some bad genes in this country, he said during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. His plan for immigration is mass deportations that would tear families apart and ensnare U.S. citizens, putting immigrants in camps and executing migrants who commit violent crimes.

Only days after it was clear the Democrats were going to rally around Harris as Bidens replacement, Trump went to Detroit to take questions from reporters at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention.

I didnt know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black, he said as the crowd in the room gasped. So, I dont know, is she Indian, or is she Black?

Instead of being embarrassed by seeming to be confused by mixed-race individuals, the Trump campaign doubled down. Trump held rallies where he displayed articles calling Harris the first South Asian woman to be elected to the Senate as if that proves she isnt really Black. (Harris was not the first Black woman elected to the Senate.)

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It wasnt long before Trumps comments inspired his surrogates to go even further and attack Harris for codeswitching. Fox News Peter Doocy and Jesse Watters questioned why she had a different accent at different times, implying that she was pretending to be Black.

Trump went on to crisscross swing states, warning of an invasion of people from countries no one ever heard of. He repeated right-wing fever swamp rumors about apartment complexes in Colorado that were being taken over by Venezuelan immigrants.

Trump claimed entire cities were being held hostage by immigrants with military supreme weapons. His campaign posted racist memes on social media implying that voting for Harris would mean hordes of Black people would move into your neighborhood. He said that any Jewish person who wasnt voting for him needed to have their head examined. Trump repeatedly said that he should win the Black vote  because, after all, the immigrants coming over the border were taking Black jobs.

And as we prepare for Trump to take up residence in the White House once again, we see that those arguments still work.

See full results from the presidential election here.
Several election result models in the US have predicted the victory of Republican candidate Donald Trump in the presidential elections.

Source: European Pravda

Details: In particular, the Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) forecast predicts that Trump will win in Pennsylvania and Alaska, which will secure him the minimum 270 electoral votes needed for victory. It is reported that several states where Trump is guaranteed to receive electoral votes remain uncounted.

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The New York Times considers Trump's victory "very likely". According to the forecast, he could receive up to 306 electoral votes of the required 270.

It was reported that for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to win, she needs to gain an advantage in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, but Trump is clearly leading in these states.

The Fox News forecast also predicts Trumps victory, and that it will be confirmed if he wins in Wisconsin.

Background: It has been confirmed that Trump is winning in the swing state of North Carolina, is close to victory in Georgia and leads in Iowa, where polls had suggested the potential for a surprising result.

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"If there is an advantage to electing a preening, petty, thin-skinned, whiny, vindictive, vacuous, mendacious, boorish bully" to the White House, I wrote in November 2016, "it may be that he prompts a reconsideration of the absurd hopes and cultish veneration that surround the presidency." I suggested that "a ridiculous president will encourage Americans to take the presidency less seriously."

That did not quite work out as I hoped. Although Trump was predictably ridiculous as president, the comedy turned to tragedy by the end of his term, when rioters outraged by his stolen-election fantasy stormed the U.S. Capitol, interrupting the congressional ratification of Joe Biden's victory. To this day, Trump insists, against all evidence, that he actually won reelection in 2020. The voters who returned him to office this week either agree with him or think it does not really matter whether the president is dishonest or deluded enough to stick with that preposterous story four years later.

In addition to his claim that systematic election fraud deprived him of his rightful victory in 2020, Trump has accumulated many other grievances in the last eight years. The question now is whether and how he will use the powers of the presidency to act on his grudges. Trump has pitched various ideas that should worry libertarians, including broad, heavy tariffs and mass deportation of unauthorized U.S. residents. But his authoritarian impulses, exemplified by his repeatedly expressed desire to punish his political opponents once he is back in power, should trouble everyone who values civil liberties and the rule of law.

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Trump is still angry at the Democratic operatives who supposedly helped install an illegitimate president. "If we win, and when we win, we're gonna prosecute people that cheat on this election," he said in September. "And if we can, we'll go back to the last one too." Given all the wild fraud allegations that Trump embraced in 2020, who knows what that means?

Trump is angry at Biden, whom he blames not only for stealing an election but also for instigating two federal indictments against him. Trump has repeatedly vowed to investigate Biden for alleged corruption. "I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president [in] the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family," Trump promised at a June 2023 rally. "I will appoint a real special prosecutor to investigate the Biden bribery and crime ring," he reiterated at another rally later that month.

After Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee, Trump was angry about the sudden switch, and he began imagining criminal penalties for her. Harris "should be impeached and prosecuted" for her complicity in the Biden administration's border policies, Trump said at a rally in September.

Trump is angry at Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In his 2024 book Save America, Trump complained that Zuckerberg "steered [Facebook] against me" during the 2020 election. He added a warning: "We are watching him closely, and if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison."

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Trump is angry at everyone who supported his second impeachment, which was amply justified by his reckless conduct before and during the Capitol riot. He is especially angry at the House select committee that investigated the riot and issued a scathing report recommending criminal charges against him. In March 2023, Trump said the committee's members "should be prosecuted for their lies and, quite frankly, TREASON!" A year later, Trump declared that former Rep. Liz Cheney (RWyo.), who served as the committee's vice chair after joining nine other Republicans in supporting his impeachment, "should go to jail along with the rest of the Unselect Committee!"

Trump is angry at Special Counsel Jack Smith, who obtained two federal indictments against him: one alleging that he illegally tried to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election, the other charging him with improperly retaining classified records after leaving the White House. Trump has said Smith, whom he accuses of "illegally leaking to the press," "should be prosecuted for MISCONDUCT."

Trump is more justifiably angry about his 34 felony convictions in New York, which were based on a vague, convoluted, and legally iffy theory aimed at punishing him for paying off a porn star to keep her from talking about a sexual encounter with him. He thinks Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, like Smith, should be prosecuted for leaks.

Trump is angry about New York Attorney General Letitia James' civil fraud case against him, which resulted in a staggering (and puzzling) $364 million disgorgement order issued by judge Arthur Engoron. At a rally in January, Trump said James and Engoron "should be arrested and punished accordingly."

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Trump is angry at news organizations for covering these and other controversies in ways that made him look bad. They are "enemies of the people," he says, and their sins against him are so egregious that they should have to pay him damages, relinquish their broadcast licenses, or suffer other, ill-defined penalties for "fake" news coverage, "election interference," and "illegal political activity." Trump also has said that protesters who burn the U.S. flag and Supreme Court critics who try to influence its decisions should go to jail.

Is Trump serious about any of this? "If you're president again," conservative talk show host Glenn Beck asked him in August 2023, "will you lock people up?" Trump's response: "The answer is you have no choice, because they're doing it to us."

Last June on Fox News, Sean Hannity practically begged Trump to give a different answer. "People are claiming you want retribution," Hannity said. "People are claiming you want what has happened to you done to Democrats. Would you do that ever?"

Trump responded by complaining that "what's happened to me has never happened in this country before," adding that "it has to stop." Hannity took that as a disavowal of retribution, and Trump seemed to confirm that interpretation by saying his critics were wrong to think "you will use the system of justice to go after your political enemies," as Hannity put it. Then Trump spoiled the assurance by adding, "I would have every right to go after them." Although "I know you want me to say something so nice," he said, "I don't want to look naive."

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As Trump sees it, he has been a victim of "hoaxes" and "witch hunts" throughout his relatively short political career, all orchestrated by a Democratic cabal dedicated to his destruction. The conspirators, whom he variously describes as "communists," "Marxists," "fascists," "radical left lunatics," "sick people," and "vermin," constitute "the enemy from within," a category that Trump defines broadly enough to include political opponents such as Rep. Adam Schiff (DCalif.) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.).

Will Trump's angry, vengeful rhetoric amount to anything? There are several reasons to think it might.

During his first term, Trump was restrained by calmer, more experienced officials who pushed back against hotheaded proposals such as yanking broadcast licenses from news outlets that offended him and shooting protesters or migrants in the legs. But Trump did not like being told what he could not do. According to John Kelly, Trump's second chief of staff, his former boss did not even comprehend the idea that his subordinates had a higher duty than obedience to his will.

This time around, Trump is apt to rely on advisers who are less inclined to question his instincts. To give you a sense of what that could mean, Boris Epshteyn, a lawyer who played a key role in Trump's attempts to reverse the 2020 election results, is reportedly a contender for White House counsel. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who resisted Trump's pressure to intervene in the January 2021 tally of electoral votes, has rebuked his former boss for asking him to subvert the Constitution. By contrast, Pence's replacement, Sen. J.D. Vance (ROhio), says he would have been happy to do Trump's bidding.

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Trump also may be emboldened by the July 2024 Supreme Court ruling that embraced a broad version of presidential immunity from criminal liability for "official acts." The Court explicitly said that shield encompasses communications between the president and the Justice Department, one of the chief ways that Trump could make life unpleasant for his critics.

In his second term, Trump won't have to worry about jeopardizing his reelection by openly targeting his political opponents. But if he is nevertheless concerned about the potential political consequences, there are subtler ways he can punish his enemies, such as using his wide discretion to impose tariffs and selectively relieve favored businesses of their burdens.

Maybe Trump will give up his grudges and let bygones be bygones in the interest of bipartisan comity. But that would require self-restraint, charity, and considered judgmentqualities he has rarely demonstrated.

The post Trump Has Many Grudges. Now He Has a Chance To Act on Them. appeared first on Reason.com.
Election officials in battleground states say that voter turnout is surging in what is projected to be one of the closest presidential elections in a generation. Despite the massive voter turnout, swing state officials say, there is no evidence of any significant fraud or cheating.

"The only talk about massive cheating has come from one of the candidates, Donald J. Trump," Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said Tuesday. Reports from the City of Brotherly Love suggest record-setting turnout. For his part, Donald Trump has targeted the area in a Truth Social meltdown Tuesday.

A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law Enforcement coming!!! Trump wrote on his social media site.

Phillys Republican City Commissioner  https://t.co/LzqziZ7lSK  Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) November 5, 2024

"There is no factual basis whatsoever within law enforcement to support this wild allegation. We have invited complaints and allegations of improprieties all day. If Donald J. Trump has any facts to support his wild allegations, we want them now. Right now. We are not holding our breath," Krasner pushed back against the former president.

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While the Election Day crush has eased in some states like Michigan, where early voting has broken records, in other places, lines of voters were seen snaking out of polling places before they were even open. According to Michigan's voter dashboard, 1,214,449 people cast an early in-person ballot since Oct. 26, while 2,106,337 returned an absentee ballot by mail. "The citizens of Michigan voted overwhelmingly to give themselves the right to vote in person early for at least nine days before any statewide election," said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, after happily announcing that Michiganders are voting in "record numbers." ABC 7 local news reported that an early voting center in Romulus, Michigan ran out of "I Voted" stickers.

While Georgia also broke early voting numbers, poll workers are reporting that election day turnout is strong, with some lines starting immediately when polls opened at 7 a.m.

"We opened up with about 100 or so. It took a good hour and a half or so to slow down," Wes Daniel, the precinct manager at Chicopee Baptist Church near Gainesville, told WDUN. "We're at 316 at noon, so we are outdistancing anything this particular precinct has ever seen."

Lines of a hundred or more people formed before polls opened in Pennsylvania as well, according to videos in social media depicting what appears to be massive election day turnout. Unlike Michigan and Georgia, however, slightly fewer people (two million) voted early than in 2020.

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That year, election officials encouraged people to vote early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the effect was not uniform  Republicans and Donald Trump's campaign falsely claimed that early mail-in voting was a Democratic scheme to commit mass voter fraud and urged their supporters to vote in-person. While a raging disease is no longer a barrier to voting on election day and Republicans continue to spread stories of fraud, the latter have largely abandoned their rhetoric connecting it to any particular voting method and are even exhorting supporters to vote early. As a result, some states like Nevada have seen an uptick in registered Republicans mailing in their ballots.

Veteran Nevada political reporter Jon Ralston posted on election day morning that just under 1.1 million Nevadans voted early, with registered Republicans outnumbering Democrats by 41,800 votes, or 3.9 percent. Vice President Kamala Harris would need to break strongly with independents, he said, predicting that the Democratic nominee would do just enough to win the state by 0.3 points. As of 10am Pacific Time, he posted that 57,000 people have voted in the Silver State on election day.

The early vote is more encouraging for Democrats in Pennsylvania, where registered Democrats hold a two-to-one advantage in returned mail-in ballots despite GOP ballot requests increasing by 100,000 since 2020. Election experts have cautioned against reading too much into early voting party registration, as it is not necessarily predictive of voters choosing a candidate from another party or how independents might split. In general, however, it can be a good indicator of enthusiasm surrounding a candidate by their own base, particularly at the top of the ticket.

Another good sign for Harris and Democrats is that women are outnumbering men in early voting in an election where polls indicate a widening of the gender gap, where women have typically been voting for Democratic candidates by a 10-15 point margin in recent cycles. According to the Georgia secretary of state's election data hub, 53.3% of early voting ballots were submitted by women, versus 46.5 by men. In North Carolina, where Trump is hoping to maintain a string of narrow GOP victories since 2012, women outnumber men in early voting 51.7 percent to 41.2 percent.

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In the run-up to the election and on election day itself, state and federal officials have been fighting off attempts by foreign hackers, GOP activists and others to sow doubt and confusion in the election process. So far, those attempts do not appear to have had a substantial effect on people's motivation to vote.
With his election victory, Donald Trump will have the power to get rid of half his criminal caseload when he returns to the White House  specifically, the two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith for alleged 2020 election subversion and alleged illegal hoarding of classified documents and obstruction. The president-elect pleaded not guilty in all four of his criminal cases, but his guilt wont likely be adjudicated either way in those two.

NBC News reported on Wednesday that Justice Department officials have been evaluating how to wind down the two federal criminal cases before Trump takes office, to comply with longstanding department policy that a sitting president cant be prosecuted.

Presidents cant pardon or dismiss state cases, though we dont expect Trump to face New York or Georgia state proceedings while in office. When the judge presiding over the Georgia case asked Trumps lawyer last year about trying the case if Trump becomes president again, the lawyer said he thought that, under the Constitutions supremacy clause and Trumps duties as president, a trial couldnt take place until after he left office.

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In his New York hush money case, Trump is set for sentencing on Nov. 26  that is, if Judge Juan Merchan on Nov. 12 rejects Trumps motion to overturn his guilty verdicts based on the Supreme Courts immunity ruling. Even then, Trump signaled hed immediately appeal an adverse immunity ruling, so dont assume that sentencing  for falsifying business records, stemming from the 2016 election-related Stormy Daniels hush money coverup  proceeds as scheduled. At any rate, incarceration isnt mandatory in that case and a sitting president wont be incarcerated.

In Georgia, that multi-defendant case is already tied up on a pretrial appeal in the defense attempt to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Whatever happens next in that case, where Trump is also charged with 2020 election interference, dont expect him to appear in a state criminal courtroom as president, even if hed only be able to delay  rather than dismiss  the case.

Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in Donald Trumps legal cases.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The News

A second term for Donald Trump  which promises an enhanced role for Tesla CEO Elon Musk  marks uncertainty for the future of the electric vehicle industry.

In the US, climate change skeptic Trump has repeatedly criticized the EV industry, suggesting the cars are unreliable, threatening to roll back subsidies for EV-buyers, and suggesting he would cut state emissions regulations.

However, Chinese EV-makers appeared cautiously optimistic about the prospect of Trumps return to the White House, hoping that Musk, who has deep ties to Beijing, can be an advocate for their industry  despite Tesla being a main competitor.

SIGNALS

Trump is a win for Tesla but likely a blow for the larger industry

Sources: Deepwater Asset Management, Business Insider

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Teslas shares surged more than 12% Wednesday following Trumps victory as investors appeared to celebrate the incoming presidents alliance with Musk. Elon made a big bet and was right, one analyst wrote, adding that the billionaires vocal backing of the Republican candidate reassures investors that his next big bet has a greater potential to succeed. But his win could be an overall negative for the electric vehicle industry if Trump, who has claimed EVs are being forced on consumers, makes good on promises to withdraw tax incentives and rebates for manufacturers, another analyst told Business Insider. However, such actions would likely leave Tesla unscathed given its sheer size and market position, he added.

Chinese EV-makers are cautiously optimistic about a second Trump term

Sources: Caijing, South China Morning Post

Chinese electric vehicle executives are hoping Musk can convince Trump to embrace the industry, business magazine Caijing reported, despite the former presidents repeated bashing of EVs. While Tesla remains a significant competitor for Chinese EV-makers, Trumps pragmatic approach has seen him express interest in allowing Chinese firms to build factories in the US to increase domestic manufacturing and job creation, Caijing wrote. But Trump won the election largely by tapping into protectionist and nationalist sentiments among blue-collar workers  particularly in the rust belt  Caijing argued, meaning that inviting Chinese EV-makers to invest in the US could prove too risky.

Beijing likely to leverage Musk-Trump channel, especially on Taiwan

Source: Bloomberg

Musk is extremely pro-China, China analyst Derek Scissors told Bloomberg, often flattering Beijing in order to get special treatment over other foreign investors, such as securing access to senior Chinese leaders and winning the green light for Tesla to build its Shanghai gigafactory. Beijing will absolutely use its relationship with the billionaire to try to influence the Trump administration, he said. Of particular concern is the future of Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a renegade province of China: Musk has previously said China should have sovereignty over the self-governing island, and Trump has expressed skepticism over US defense commitments to Taiwan. Neither man gives a hoot about national security or [defines] it the same way the current administration does, a Trivium China analyst said.
An anti-abortion, Trump-endorsed Republican propelled by Mitch McConnell and cryptocurrency PAC dollars has won the Ohio Senate electionflipping a key seat for Republicans.



Republican Bernie Moreno beat incumbent Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown 50.5 percent to 46.1 percent according to the Associated Press, which called the race on Tuesday evening, with 91 percent of votes counted.



This is a much-needed win for Republicans, who now hold a nine-seat majority in the Senate, with 11 votes still remaining to be called.

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Thanks to dark money, the only Democratic senator in the state was finally unseated after first being elected in 2007. The race had garnered more ad spending than any other Senate race in history with nearly $500 million spent between the two candidates.



On the Republican side, Defend American Jobs, a super PAC tied to the cryptocurrency industry spent over $40 million to support Bernie Moreno. While the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spent over $160 million for Moreno, more than any other Republican Senate candidate this year.



Their investment made up for the fact that Moreno continued to flaunt his extremist MAGA views on the campaign trail, rallying against wokeness and bashing reproductive rights.



You know the left has a lot of single-issue voters, Moreno said back in September. Sadly, by the way, theres a lot of suburban women, a lot of suburban women that are like, Listen, abortions it! If I cant have an abortion in this country whenever I want, I will vote for anybody else!

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Its a little crazy, by the way, but, especially for women that are past 50. Im thinking to myself, I dont think thats an issue for you, Moreno continued.



Moreno also made headlines for allegedly lying about his business dealings and for appearing on a gay hookup app, despite his anti-LGBTQ+ record.



The Colombian immigrant Moreno later went on to copy Trumps playbook and spread racist rumors about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.. In September, Moreno wrote that thousands of illegal Haitians were sucking up social services and even reportedly killing and eating pets.



We need to deport illegals, not invite them to wreak havoc on our communities, he added.



The MAGA Republican won out as Trump won the state, as he did in 2016 and 2020.
There was a moment in the September presidential debate in which Donald Trump spoke with surprising prescience. The moderators asked Vice President Kamala Harris about the Biden administrations immigration approach, prodding how she would have acted differently if she were president. Harris dodged the question, pledging to be a president who actually puts you first. In Trumps response, he spoke about his supporters. They want to bring our country back, he said. They want to make America great again. Its a very simple phrase. Make America great again.

Two months later, Trumps analysis of the American electorate proved more correct than Harris: a slim majority of U.S. voters are dissatisfied with the direction of the country, and they trust Trump to fix it.

Early Wednesday morning the race was called for Trump, and he was poised to secure a landslide victory. After he won Georgia and North Carolina, Harris last chance was capturing the blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. By the time Harris campaign announced  just before 1 a.m. ET Wednesday morning  she would not address the thousands of supporters gathered at her election night party at Howard University in Washington, D.C., it seemed all three states were slipping out of reach. Trump was on his way to winning all seven battleground states and delivering a clean sweep.

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America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate, Trump said early Wednesday morning, declaring victory in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The writing on the wall was there, though Harris was convinced it didnt apply to her. For months, voters have expressed a dismal outlook on the direction of the country, particularly in regards to the economy. The latest Deseret News/HarrisX poll of the national electorate suggested that nearly two-thirds  63%  believed the country was on the wrong track, while just 26% said it was on the right track. (That figure fell squarely within other similar polls.)

Harris, who positioned herself as a forward-looking, next-generation leader, attempted to convince voters that hers would be different from the Biden administration. In the closing weeks of the campaign, she pledged that her number-one task would be to lower costs. She unveiled an economic plan that she said would lift middle-class families and target disadvantaged groups.

But when a disgruntled electorate asked just how her administration would differ from her predecessors, Harris failed to give a coherent answer. On The View in early October, she said not a thing comes to mind when asked to name something she would do differently than Biden. A week later, on Fox News, she said her administration would not be a continuation of Bidens, but gave no further detail. It became such a recurring theme that she eventually massaged an acknowledgement of the tension into her stump speeches, but offered little more clarity. My presidency will be different (than Bidens) because the challenges we face are different, she would say.

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The American electorate, it seemed, wanted something different, too. This was a movement like nobodys ever seen before, and frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time, Trump declared early Wednesday morning. Theres never been anything like this in this country, and now its going to reach a new level of importance, because were going to help our country heal.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris looks at a monitor of the event from backstage, just before taking the stage for her final campaign rally, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Philadelphia. | Jacquelyn Martin

Few in Harris orbit could have forecasted this. The outcome was expected to take days, or even weeks, to ascertain. While Harris was never expected to declare victory at her Election Night watch party in Washington, she certainly wasnt expected to concede. In the end, she didnt do either, opting to never make an appearance. Instead, moments after 1 a.m. ET, her campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond came onstage to announce they would continue overnight to fight to count every vote, and suggested Harris would make public remarks Wednesday. A demoralized crowd at Howard University, or what was left of it, offered a half-enthused cheer.

For two hours prior, a steady stream of attendees had been filing out. Around 11 p.m. ET, the ones leaving said they had work the next morning or they would watch the returns from home. Im anxious  not necessarily nervous, Paul Sadler told me. Theres still time. Others were still optimistic; Mark Gilbert, a big Harris donor and the former U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, texted me that it was still a margin of error race. Soon after, when North Carolina  the first of the swing states to fall  went to Trump, he told me there was still a way. Best path is blue wall, he texted.

By 1:22 a.m. ET, as Harris crowd emptied and projections suggested a Trump sweep of the battlegrounds, I asked Gilbert if he still saw a path. Only a narrow one, he responded. Blue wall numbers need to improve quickly. Forty minutes later, CNN called Pennsylvania  the do-or-die battleground  for Trump.

How we got here

That this election would end in an electoral landslide, after polls predicted razor-thin margins, seems appropriate: the race has been one of change, upheaval and unscripted chaos. Five months ago, the country appeared to be barreling toward a rematch between Trump and Joe Biden  a convicted felon versus an octogenarian president with low approval ratings. A month later, it was an entirely new race.

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The June 27 debate was the catalyst. Bidens rambling and incoherent performance set off a two-week period of hysteria among Democrats, who questioned whether Biden was, in fact, capable of defeating Trump. Bidens central campaign message was that his opponent was a threat to democracy; if the stakes were so high, Democrats wondered aloud, could they risk keeping Biden on the ticket? Within a week, polls of Democratic voters nationally showed they wanted a new candidate.

Behind the scenes, Bidens close allies tried to nudge him out of the race. Nancy Pelosi warned he would buckle Democrats chances to stop Trump; Chuck Schumer said he would kill their hopes at keeping control of the Senate. But the conversations took a backseat when Trump barely escaped disaster in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. A gunman fired several rounds toward the lectern, narrowly missing Trump and killing one rally attendee, Corey Comperatore. Others were injured.

That was a Saturday; on Monday, when the Republican National Convention commenced in Milwaukee, what was already expected to be a coronation ceremony became liturgical. Underneath the policy talk  on tariffs, on immigration, on abortion  there was a theological discussion: Why did God save Trump? There was little question about whether God saved Trump  it seems it was Gods (will) that Trump was spared, the Lutheran pastor who offered the benediction at the conventions opening session Monday told me  but, instead, the why. God is certainly not finished with President Trump, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

The answer became the campaigns rallying call. On the conventions final night, when Trump formally accepted the partys nomination, there was a feeling that the elections outcome was foregone, that Trump was already the foreordained victor. Balloons fell and attendees cried. See you at the inauguration, some said as they hugged.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump points to the crowd at an election night watch party, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. | Julia Demaree Nikhinson

That election, perhaps, was over. But less than 72 hours later, an entirely new race began. In a letter unceremoniously pasted to social media, Biden announced his decision to bow out of the race, allowing his vice president, Harris, to take his place. It was a jolting decision, though not altogether unsurprising: even as Trumps near-assassination and jubilant convention sucked the air out of the news cycle for a week, Bidens closest allies ramped up pressure on him to pass the torch. Publicly, Biden remained defiant; privately, he inched toward the decision that the race was not his to run.

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In near unison, the Democratic establishment filed in line behind Harris. Within days, she had secured support from enough Democratic delegates to be the presumptive nominee, and a virtual vote before the mid-August convention cemented that position. Suddenly, it was Harris campaign that appeared to be touched by the divine: in a matter of weeks, Harris favorability rating  a net negative since 2021  saw a complete reversal; she made up Bidens deficits in the polls, thanks to an apparent, newfound enthusiasm from Black and Hispanic voters; and her message of hope and joy took over the election. When Biden was atop the ticket, the campaign was dogged by concerns about stamina and capacity. Suddenly, it was sprinting on newfound vibes.

The Democratic National Convention was a weeklong celebration. The September debate, the first in-person meeting ever between Harris and Trump, was widely viewed as a success for the vice president. Trump, unable to restrain himself, seemed to be self-detonating: he questioned Harris race, he scapegoated immigrants, he considered overhauling his top campaign staff. Meanwhile, Harris pitched herself as the unity candidate, contrasting with Trumps chaos. She talked about bridge-building and peacemaking; she promised to appoint a Republican to her cabinet and hit the campaign trail with Liz Cheney.

But there was one thing she couldnt dog: the widespread dissatisfaction with the state of the country, and the fault that lay at Harris feet. For the better part of the past year, voters said the economy was the most important issue for them; the same voters said they were overwhelmingly pessimistic about the state of the economy during the Biden-Harris administration. Even as Harris attempted to pivot her closing message to an indictment of Trump, the former president refined his, asking voters if they were better off now than they were four years ago. Never mind the state of the U.S. economy in November 2020, in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic; never mind that the country has seen a post-pandemic soft landing. Polls showed high resentment and high dissatisfaction. Voters laid the blame at Harris feet. The VP struggled to separate herself from economic dissatisfaction because, as vice president, shes closely tied to the administrations policies, Scott Howell, who hosted Harris in Utah in 2020, said.

On Tuesday night, before any significant votes started to roll in from Arizona and Nevada, the two Western swing states, the race already seemed out of reach for Harris. Any chance of the West playing a crucial role in deciding the next president seemed to fade. I think that we just witnessed, Sen. JD Vance, the next vice president, said early Wednesday morning, the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.
The world will have just over two months to prepare for Donald Trumps return to the White House, and whatever new foreign policy comes with it. His first presidential termdefined by trade wars, isolationism, and a deep skepticism towards the E.U. and NATOmay seem to offer a preview of what might come in the second. But those close to the President-elect say that the only thing the world should count on is his trademark volatility.

Predictability is a terrible thing, Richard Grenell, Trumps former intelligence director who is tipped for an important role in the coming administration, recently told the Financial Times. Of course the other side [Americas enemies] wants predictability. Trump is not predictable and we Americans like it.

Still, experts detect indications of what the next Trump presidency might portend for Gaza, Ukraine, Europe, and beyond.

In the Middle East, A New Uncertainty

Of all the foreign policy issues that have featured in this U.S. election cycle, perhaps the most urgent is Israels ongoing wars against Iran-backed militant groups in Gaza and Lebanon, where more than 43,000 Palestinians and 3,000 Lebanese people have been killed under Israeli bombardment. Trump told TIME in April that had he remained in office in 2020, the wars would have never happened. Throughout the 2024 campaign, he pledged to bring an end to the violence and restore peace to the region, albeit without offering any specifics. He has simultaneously suggested that Israel should be allowed to finish the job in Gaza while also reportedly urging Netanyahus government to wrap up the war by the time he returns to the White House.

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What that signalsa push for a ceasefire, or the tacit endorsement of Israel to go even further forward with its offensivesis open to interpretation, but observers are guided by Trumps markedly deferential support for Israel in his first term. In relocating the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognizing the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights as part of Israel, he took steps no previous President, Republican or Democrat, had even approached.



What likely matters most to Trump is that the wars are out of the news, says Matt Duss, the executive vice president of the Center for International Policy and a former chief foreign policy advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders, because anything that detracts from the spotlight being on Trump is what he doesnt like.

Ultimately, as we saw in his first term, hes just going to outsource a lot of this to his advisors, people like [David] Friedman and [Jared] Kushner, and we all know what their views are, Duss adds, referring to Trumps former ambassador to Israel and his son-in-law and former adviser, both of whom have amplified calls for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the annexation of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Palestinians evacuate a body from a site hit by an Israeli bombardment on Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on July 13, 2024. Jehad AlshrafiAP

Within Israel, expectations for Trumpwho was widely favored among Israelisare mixed. On the extreme-right, there is the notion that with Trump, Israel will have a free hand in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank, and even Iran had better watch out, says Nimrod Novik, a fellow at the Israel Policy Forum and a former senior advisor to ex-Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres. On the center-left, there is the expectation that unlike [President Joe] Biden, Trump will not let Netanyahu push him around, which might present Netanyahu with the first serious dilemma of choosing between standing up to his messianic coalition partners or to an unpredictable Trump.

When it comes to Iran, Trump may be less willing to constrain Israel. His first term was defined by a maximum-pressure campaign on the Islamic Republic. Trump not only pulled out of the agreement that had sidelined their nuclear program, and imposed new sanctions; he also ordered the assassination of a hugely popular figure in Iran, General Qasem Soleimani. Iran has vowed, and apparently plotted, to avenge that death by assassinating Trump. But the wealthy Sunni kingdoms of the Gulf, which also regard Iran as a danger, may not be spoiling for a fight.



Trump and his national security team may struggle to find the same level of support in the region that they had four years ago, writes Jonathan Panikoff, the director of the Atlantic Councils Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative and a former deputy national intelligence officer for the Near East at the U.S. National Intelligence Council. He notes that most wealthy Gulf state allies that may have previously cheered such efforts are nowwith the cycle of direct attacks between Israel and Iran threatening to escalate into a regional conflagrationseeking to calm tensions with Tehran.

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The signature foreign policy achievement of Trumps first term may have been the Abraham Accords, a set of treaties normalizing relations between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors. The war in Gaza imperils efforts to expand them  most notably to Saudi Arabia, which was thought to be on the brink of reaching a normalization deal with Israel before the Hamas Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200 people in the country. The Saudis have since affirmed that no such deal would be reached without a viable path to a Palestinian state.

At the start of his first term, Trump regarded that as an opportunity to demonstrate his negotiating skills, calling it the ultimate deal. But he appears to have cooled on the idea of a Palestinian state, which is opposed by advisers such as Friedman. There was a time when I thought two states could work, Trump told TIME in April. Now I think two states is going to be very, very tough.

In Ukraine, the Putin Question

Just as Trump pledged to resolve the wars in the Middle East, he has also stated that he would bring about an end to the more than two years of fighting between Russia and Ukrainea feat that he says could be achieved in as little as a day. Both he and his Vice President-elect, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, have expressed antipathy towards further U.S. military aid to Ukraine and suggested that Kyiv could be pressured into a truce with Moscow, perhaps at the cost of some of Ukraine's territory.

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While Ukraine has harbored fears about what a second Trump term would mean, its government has also voiced some optimism about changes that a Trump administration might bringspecifically, a shift away from the relatively cautious approach of the Biden administration, which often rebuffed Kyivs requests for more air defense and long-range missiles out of fear of escalating the conflict. Among the optimistic is former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who in a congratulatory post attributed Trumps victory to his record of taking strong and decisive action, adding: I have no doubt that is what he is now going to do at home and abroad, whether in the Middle East or in Ukraine. Trumps choices for senior administration positions may offer clarity.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a congratulatory X post on Wednesday. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer.

Read More: Ukraines Plan to Survive Trump



Trump has long touted his very good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he has reportedly spoken with as many as seven times since leaving the White House. But the Kremlin greeted his victory coolly, noting that the U.S. remains an unfriendly country that is both directly and indirectly involved in the war against our state.

For NATO, More Pressure to Spend

Among the biggest foreign policy bugbears of the first Trump term was NATO and whether its members were contributing their fair share to the military alliance. During the campaign, Trump made it clear thateven though Russias invasion of Ukraine had revived the alliancehe hasnt let the issue go, saying that, despite the stated obligations of the treaty, he would not commit to defending countries who werent meeting the commitment to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense. While Vance recently reaffirmed that a Trump administration would honor our NATO commitments, he stressed that NATO is not just a welfare client. It should be a real alliance.

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Just 23, or roughly two-thirds, of the alliances members are expected to meet the 2% threshold this year. But in a statement congratulating Trump, new NATO chief Mark Rutte said that defense spending is on an onward trajectory across the Alliance, perhaps signaling that targets could yet be set even higher in future, likely to 2.5% or even 3%. Some members, among them frontline states Poland, Latvia, and Estonia, are already exceeding them.

In any event, Trumps return to the White House did nothing to suppress the debate among European leaders over the continents strategic autonomy and the extent of its reliance on an increasingly unreliable Washington. Some claim that the future of Europe depends on the American elections, while it depends first and foremost on us, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in the lead-up to the U.S. vote. Whatever the outcome, the era of geopolitical outsourcing is over.

For China, Tariffs, and Possibly a Trade War

Trump campaigned on a vow to impose tariffs as high as 60% on all Chinese imports, in what is expected to ignite a trade war with Beijing and likely prompt retaliation against U.S. businesses. (He has also floated a universal tariff of 10% to 20% on all imports.) While proponents of this plan argue that it will encourage American manufacturing, some analysts warn because tariffs will be passed on to consumers, it could cost U.S. households as much as $2,600 a year.

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Observers dont necessarily expect the president-elect to seek to confront China on other fraught issues, such as the U.S.s continued support for Taiwan. In line with his traditionally transactional approach to politics, Trump has previously registered skepticism about the benefits of supporting Taiwan, suggesting that the self-governed island ought to pay the U.S. for protection.

Write to Yasmeen Serhan at yasmeen.serhan@time.com.
(NEXSTAR)  Decision Desk HQ on The Hill projects Donald Trump as the winner in battleground Wisconsins presidential election, furthering the former presidents Electoral College lead with another 10 votes.

The call came less than an hour after Decision Desk HQ called Pennsylvania for Trump, securing him the 270 Electoral College votes necessary to win the White House.

In the weeks leading up to Election Day, both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris made frequent stops in Wisconsin, including several appearances in and around Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay. Polling ahead of Election Day frequently showed Trump and Harris were deadlocked in the Badger State.

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Wisconsin, a blue wall state, narrowly went for Trump in 2016. Four years later, Biden won back the state in 2020 with a margin of about 20,000 votes. Michigan and Pennsylvania followed the same trend.

The Badger State was one of seven considered up for grabs during this election, joining Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Both candidates had various paths to the White House that depended on these states.

Prior to Trumps win in 2016, a Republican presidential candidate had not carried Wisconsin since President Ronald Reagan (he won the state both times).

The U.S. Senate race on Wisconsins ballot may also have contributed to turnout. Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin was seeking a third term against Republican Eric Hovde.

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In the state Legislature, Democrats hoped that new district maps would help them chip away at the lopsided majorities Republicans have enjoyed in both chambers for more than a decade. Almost half of Wisconsins 33 state Senate seats and all 99 state Assembly seats were up for election this year. In the state Assembly, Democrats have their most competitive campaign cycle in years, thanks in large part to the newly redrawn districts and the retirements they helped bring about.

Wisconsin voters were also asked to consider a statewide ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to specifically ban noncitizens from voting in state elections. Noncitizens are already barred from participating in federal elections nationwide, and no state permits them to vote in state elections. However, some municipalities in a handful of states allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. The issue has prompted efforts by Republicans in Congress and several other states to ban the practice entirely.

Recounts are not automatic in Wisconsin, but candidates may request and pay for one if the vote margin is less than a percentage point. The Associated Press may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Always a Donald Trump stronghold, the News Channel 11 viewing area gave Trump 79.0% of votes compared directly to Kamala Harris, bouncing back to the support from the 2016 election after a slight dip in 2020.

The shift from 2020, when Trump narrowly lost the electoral college, was small but mirrors the incremental movement it took to flip the overall national election. Trumps head-to-head percentages against the Democratic opponent regionwide were 79.03% in 2016, 77.64% in 2020 and 78.98% this year.

Trump wins the White House in political comeback

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Across seven Northeast Tennessee counties and eight in Southwest Virginia, Trump garnered 276,849 votes to Harriss 73,693. When he lost the electoral college in 2020, his regionwide percentage of 77.64% came from 266,449 votes to Joe Bidens 76,738.

The 2020 campaign saw his Northeast Tennessee total backing drop compared to his successful 2016 campaign. He got 78.73% head-to-head against Hillary Clinton to 76.55% against Biden. This year, his Northeast Tennessee percentage was 78.06%.

His support in Southwest Virginia, at 80.8%, was even higher than what he got in either of his two previous campaigns. Trump got 79.6% against Clinton and 79.7% against Biden.

Lee County, Va. hits highest level of support at 86.1%

No county in the region has given Trump less than 68.5% its vote, which is the total he received in Washington County, Tenn. against Joe Biden in 2020. That, in fact, was the only time he polled under 70%, with Washington Countians giving him 70.006% of the 2024 vote.

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Far more often, Trump has polled in the 78% to 85% range in the majority of the regions counties. His 2024 percentages reached all time highs in 10 area counties, with the other five having plumped for him in slightly higher percentages in 2016.

Those high vote percentages are, in order from highest to lowest:

Lee County, Va. (86.1%, 2024)

Scott County, Va. (85.5%, 2024)

Buchanan, Va. (85.4%, 2024)

Johnson, Tenn. (84.9%, 2024)

Hawkins, Tenn. (84.7%, 2024)

Russell, Va. (83.9%, 2024)

Greene, Tenn. (83.2%, 2024)

Carter, Tenn. (83.0%, 2020 )

Wise, Va. (82.3%, 2024)

Unicoi, Tenn. (81.8%, 2020 )

Dickenson, Va. (81.1%, 2024)

Smyth, Va. (80.5%, 2024)

Sullivan, Tenn. (78.9%, 2020 )

Washington, Va. (77.7%, 2020 )

Washington, Tenn. (72.5%, 2020)

Even though the majority of counties set percentage records in 2024, the regions two most populous counties, Sullivan and Washington, Tenn., and the fourth and sixth-most populous, Carter, Tenn. and Washington County, Va., all went for Trump in slightly larger numbers in 2016.

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Republican candidate Donald Trump, who has declared he has won the US presidential elections, has said he will "stop wars" around the world.

Source: Sky News, with reference to Trumps speech

Quote from Trump: "They said he will start a war. Im not going to start a war, Im going to stop the wars."

Details: He said "we had no wars" during his previous presidential term.

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"We had no wars, for four years we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS. We defeated ISIS in record time, but we had no wars," Trump said.

He mentioned an attempt on his life that took place in Pennsylvania in July and said that "God spared my life for a reason."

Background:

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has on several occasions promised his voters to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of being elected to a second term.

In a Fox News interview, Trump explained how he would achieve this: "I would tell Zelenskyy: No more. You got to make a deal. I would tell Putin: If you dont make a deal, were going to give them a lot. Were going to give them more than they ever got, if we have to."

In April 2024, The Washington Post reported, citing sources, that Trump has privately said he could end Russias war in Ukraine by pressuring Ukraine to give up some territory, including Crimea and Donbas. Trumps campaign adviser Jason Miller said this information was fake.

Trumps former adviser Fiona Hill said that while he was president of the United States, he made it clear that he believed Ukraine should be part of Russia.

Trump has also stated that if he wins the election, he will strive to help Ukraine, but will also require the same efforts from Europe.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned that Donald Trump could become a "loser president" and weaken US influence in the world if he forces Ukraine to a truce with Russia.

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Donald Trump said he had won an unprecedented mandate to reshape America in a landslide election victory that marked an extraordinary political comeback.

The former president, 78, will return to the White House next year on a platform of mass deportations, sweeping tax cuts and a plan to bring world peace.

He may enter office with sweeping powers to reinstate his America First agenda, and was on course on Wednesday to win control of Congress after sweeping battleground states with ease.

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The result brings to a close the most dramatic and bitterly fought presidential election campaign in decades, with courtroom drama, an assassination attempt and the decision of a sitting president to quit the race three months before polling day.

Trump kisses wife Melania after victory - Alex Brandon

Trump hailed his campaign as the greatest political movement of all time as he abruptly ended Kamala Harriss presidential run, one of the shortest in history.

He said voters had given him an unprecedented and powerful mandate after a campaign in which Democrats painted him as a demagogue bent on destroying democracy.

His aides said on Wednesday that Trump would launch the largest mass deportation operation of undocumented immigrants on the first day of taking office in the new year.

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Jason Miller, Trumps senior adviser, said the president-elects first order of business after he takes office would be executive actions to get back to drilling and reinstate Trump-era border policies.

US stock markets hit record highs in anticipation of sweeping tax cuts while a bonfire of red tape could be ordered by Elon Musk if he is handed an expected cabinet post.

Donald Trump hailed a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again - Brian Snyder/Reuters

Ms Harris, who was tipped by pollsters to win the election in the final days of her campaign, did not address the shellshocked, tearful Democrats at her election night event.

The vice-president instead called Trump privately to concede the race on Wednesday, informing him that she would participate in a peaceful transfer of power.

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Trumps domination of the electoral map saw the country swing towards him in almost all areas and among the most surprising groups, putting him on course to win more than 300 Electoral College delegates.

His victory became clear shortly after 1am in Washington on Wednesday, bucking the narrative of polling that had suggested Ms Harris was on course for a late surge. Few pollsters had predicted a Trump win of the scale that emerged.

Trump first picked up North Carolina, the only swing state he won in 2020, followed by Georgia and Pennsylvania  the battlegrounds that held the keys to the White House in this race.

Trump was joined on stage by his family and running mate JD Vance - Jim Watson/AFP

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US networks began to call the election for Trump at 1.50am, prompting cheers from hundreds of his supporters gathered in Palm Beach. Trump spoke shortly after, thanking his allies and family for their support.

The results redraw the political map and suggest Trump will become the first Republican to secure a majority of the popular vote in two decades.

His popularity was boosted by significant gains of 13 points among Latinos and a rightward shift among younger voters.

In the Senate, Republican gains in Ohio and West Virginia have flipped control from the Democrats, making a clean sweep of both the legislature and executive for Trump now the most likely outcome of this election. The House is projected to retain its Republican majority but the final vote tallies in downballot races will not be clear for some days.

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One Latino shop owner in Pennsylvania told The Telegraph on Wednesday that he had abandoned the Democrats because of the economy.

I voted for [Trump] because my business is too slow and sales are low, he said.

A united Congress under Trumps MAGA banner will make it far easier for him to pass a raft of domestic reforms planned by his transition team, including hundreds of executive orders that could be signed immediately after he takes office.

His first plans include the deportation of up to one million illegal migrants and a swift end to the war in Ukraine through negotiation between Kyiv and Moscow, plus swingeing cuts to federal spending and bureaucracy.

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The anticipation of tax cuts and deregulation under a second Trump administration jolted the global economy, prompting a dollar rally through the night and record valuations of Wall Street indices on Wednesday morning.

Sir Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister who dined with Trump in September, released a statement celebrating his historic victory, adding: We stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

On Wednesday night, he spoke with the president-elect by phone to pass on his congratulations.

His spokeswoman waved away suggestions that Sir Keir should now sack David Lammy, his Foreign Secretary, who once called Trump a neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath.

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Other Labour figures, including the London mayor Sadiq Khan, said Trumps win was a sign that progress is not inevitable.

Kamala Harris at the DNC headquarters on Tuesday night - Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, was the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump, followed by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, who had a very good exchange with him.

Volodymyr Zelensky, who has avoided criticising Trump in recent weeks, welcomed his impressive victory and said he would oversee the transition to peace, but that Kyiv required continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine.

Trump has suggested he would cut US aid to Ukraine and end the conflict before his inauguration on Jan 20 by prodding Mr Zelensky into territorial negotiations with Russia. Vladimir Putin reportedly spoke privately with Trump after the result was announced.

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Mr Musk, the tech billionaire who has become one of Trumps most trusted lieutenants, is expected to take responsibility for shrinking the state under his second administration.

Robert F Kennedy Jr, who abandoned his own third-party presidential bid to back Trump, is expected to take control of federal health agencies and has said he will recommend removing fluoride from drinking water.

The result prompted soul-searching and a furious blame game among Democrats, some of whom said Mr Biden was responsible for Ms Harriss defeat.

Jen OMalley Dillon, the vice-presidents top adviser, argued in a letter to staff that the whole country moved to the Right and her campaign faced unprecedented headwinds and obstacles that were largely out of our control.

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Ms Harriss allies briefed US media outlets that she could have beaten Trump if Mr Biden had stood down from the race earlier, giving her more than three months to run a presidential campaign.

But others blamed her decision to appoint Tim Walz, a relatively unknown figure, as running mate over the popular Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro.

Mr Biden has 75 days left in office, and will reportedly use them to accelerate aid to Ukraine. Tens of billions of federal funding for Kyivs war effort is still at his disposal.

The federal government is also planning to wind down the two active cases against Trump, for alleged election subversion and mishandling of classified documents, to avoid a conflict between the DOJ and White House.

It is unclear how Trumps election will affect two state cases against him, which include a pending election interference indictment in Georgia and a hush money conviction in New York, for which he is due to be sentenced later this month.

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Donald Trump appeared relaxed as he watched the initial presidential election results roll in on Tuesday night, fraternizing with billionaire fanboy Elon Musk and UFC figurehead Dana White at his Palm Beach residence, Mar-a-Lago.

Footage posted to social media along with various reports indicate the former president worked the crowd as the numbers began to gain in his favor, with The New York Times needling towards a Trump win as the evening worked its way to midnight.

Among the guests, according to Politico, were Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Caitlin Jenner, Eduardo Bolsonaro, Nigel Farage, Dana White and Reps. Byron Donalds and Marjorie Taylor Greene. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters in Louisiana that he is expected to fly to Mar-a-Lago later in the evening and be down there with President Trump. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was also on his way to Mar-a-Lago, he confirmed.

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Trump was also accompanied by friends and family, along with donors. Family included children Eric, Lara, Tiffany, and Barron Trump.

BREAKING: ELON MUSK IS AT MAR-A-LAGO WITH RIGHTFUL PRESIDENT TRUMP!



It's such an honor to be in the presence of these MAJOR WINNERS!



Pray for a Trump victory! pic.twitter.com/b44iVDtkLL  Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) November 6, 2024

Republican vice presidential pick JD Vance is at a watch party along with Vivek Ramaswamy and Howard Lutnick, according to CNN.

Tucker Carlson is broadcasting a live show from the one of the clubs rooms, interviewing a slew of Trump allies and surrogates, including Elon Musk, whose son, X, also made a brief appearance.

We want a strong brave person, and he is that, Musk told Carlson.

Maybe some of the most important election analysis of the night:@elonmusk and his son join Tucker live from Mar-a-Lago. Watch: pic.twitter.com/2R7F9In1PE  Tucker Carlson Network (@TCNetwork) November 6, 2024

Trump was keeping a close eye on the election, wanting constant updates from his campaign team and keeping a keen eye on Georgia returns, according to CNN. The Latino vote was also on the radar.

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The 78-year-old spoke to supporters who were also watching the election results roll in from Mar-a-Lago.

Wearing his signature red tie and dark suit, Trump spoke to people gathered in one of the rooms at the beachside club while standing underneath a glittering chandelier and giant television screen, CNNs Kaitlan Collins and Kristen Holmes reported.

Trump milled across Mar-a-Lago and dropped into a number of dinners as the numbers continued to tip in Trumps favor, according to The Guardians Hugo Lowell.

Mar a Lago is collection of patriots & entrepreneurs who want the best for America. Legends in the room whove been inspired by Trump. pic.twitter.com/5pm3LUowZP  Grant Cardone (@GrantCardone) November 6, 2024

New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, meanwhile, posted from Mar-a-Lago, describing the atmosphere as upbeat as Eric Trump discussed with guests positive results in Atlanta with Black males.

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There are a lot of movers and shakers and everybody involved with the Trump campaign, Devine said. The party will kick late into the evening.

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Donald Trump won a second term as president Wednesday after wins in key battleground states, NBC News projects, leaving Democrats wondering what went wrong.

The historic victory avenged Trumps loss in the 2020 election, which he and many of his supporters baselessly continued to insist was stolen from him.

I think we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, Trumps running mate, said early Wednesday at the campaigns victory party in West Palm Beach, Florida.

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Trump and Vance spoke before most news outlets had declared him the winner, but the night was, at that point, clearly going in his direction. Trump thanked his supporters for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.

Follow live coverage here

Democrats were stunned as battleground state after battleground state went to Republicans. A veteran Democratic strategist said of the pall over the party: Have you ever been to a funeral? That would be a Mardi Gras compared to this.

The loss leaves the Democratic Party without a clear leader moving forward and searching for answers about how Trump could have become the first Republican to win the popular vote in 20 years.

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How is it possible that we could lose to this guy? Its just malpractice, a Democratic fundraiser said.

Vice President Kamala Harris chose not to address supporters in Washington, D.C., on election night after Trump won Georgia and North Carolina, the first two battlegrounds to fall in the race for the White House.

Cedric Richmond, a co-chair of Harris campaign, told the crowd at Howard University that she would not speak publicly until later Wednesday.

We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called, Richmond said shortly before 1 a.m. ET. You will hear from her tomorrow.

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On Wednesday, Harris called Trump to concede and congratulate him, a senior aide told NBC News.

The decision to stay quiet accompanied a drastic shift in mood for her campaign aides, her supporters and Democratic officials as vote totals in battleground states suggested an increasingly narrow path to victory.

At Harris headquarters on the campus of Howard, thousands stared at screens in near-silence, appearing stone-faced. No one waved the American flags that were handed out earlier in the evening. The vibe went from joyful and celebratory to worried and anxious.

A few dozen people in the crowd, clearly done with watching the returns, started chanting: Music! Music! Soon after, a giant screen playing cable news was muted, and the DJ began playing rap music. Some Harris staffers paced around with blank looks on their faces.

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In an ominous development for Democrats, the share of voters identifying with their party hit the lowest mark this century. According to the NBC News Exit Poll, 32% of voters identified as a Democratic, down from 37% four years ago. The exit poll also found the highest level of voters identifying as independent or Something else this century (34%). The share of voters identifying as a Republican has moved less, standing at 34% this year.

The two candidates supporters split over the main issues facing the country on Election Day, differences that, in part, reflected where they put their focus. NBC News exit polling also showed significant demographic shifts in the two parties coalitions.

Among the most pronounced changes: Latino men favored Trump by a 10-point margin, 54% to 44%, after they backed the 2020 Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, by a 23-point spread 59% to 36%.

In a smaller shift  but a sizable one in its own right  Harris held a 25-point edge among Latino women, down 14 points from Bidens 39-point spread over Trump in 2020.

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At the same time, Trump experienced attrition among suburban white women, carrying 51% of them this year, compared with 56% four years ago, according to the exit polls. Harris also got a boost from older voters, taking the 65-plus set 50% to 49%. That reversed Trumps 5-point 2020 win among senior citizens. Moreover, older voters made up 28% of the electorate, more than the 22% they constituted in 2020.

Most Harris voters rated democracy as their top issue, while most Trump voters said the economy mattered most to them. In all, 35% of voters placed democracy at the top of their lists, while 31% said the economy and 14% said abortion.

Fifty-six percent of Harris voters put democracy first, while 21% named abortion as their highest priority and 13% picked the economy. Fifty-one percent of Trump voters saw the economy as the biggest issue, 20% named immigration, and 12% said democracy.

Harris promised that she would restore abortion rights that were left vulnerable to restrictions by the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision. Trump said that abortion decisions belong in the hands of states, where they now reside, but that he favors bans that exempt cases of rape, incest and danger to the life of the woman.

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Overall, 51% of voters said in 2020 that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. But now, 66% say that. At the same time, the percentage of voters who believe abortion should be illegal in all cases dropped from 17% in 2020 to 6% this year.

Both candidates and their campaigns expressed confidence in the closing days that they were on track to win.

The momentum is on our side, Harris said Monday night at her final rally, in Philadelphia.

I think were going to have a very big victory today, Trump said as he cast his ballot in West Palm Beach on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite candidates sense of success, 72% of voters said in NBC News exit polls that they are either angry about or dissatisfied with the state of the country, with only 26% reporting that they are satisfied with or enthusiastic about it.

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There were signs of demographic shifts in the electorate in the early exit polls. Trumps popularity waned among white voters, while it ticked up among Black and Latino voters. In 2020, 57% of white voters viewed Trump favorably, as did 38% of Latino voters and 10% of Black voters. This year, only 49% of white voters said they saw Trump favorably, while his numbers among Latino and Black voters rose to 42% and 14%, respectively.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Visitors pose for photos at the launching ceremony of Jetour Auto's first off-road SUV model T2 in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Jetour Auto, a Chinese auto brand, unveiled its first off-road SUV model, namely T2, on Monday evening.



Under the theme of "Travel Together," the launching ceremony held by Jetour at the Saladin Citadel, one of the most famous landmarks in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, attracted more than 600 guests from Egypt and China, including auto dealers, auto experts, internet influencers, and media representatives.

"T2 is our first off-road model launched in Egypt ... After its debut in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), Saudi Arabia, and other countries in the Middle East in the first quarter of 2024, it rapidly became the best-selling boxy SUV in the region," said Yuan Anguo, vice president of Jetour International Marketing Company.

According to the Chinese auto brand established in 2018, Jetour's cumulative sales have now exceeded 1.22 million worldwide.

In the first three quarters of 2024, a total of 4.312 million complete vehicles were exported from China to markets worldwide, a year-on-year increase of 27.3 percent, showed the latest data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Donald Trump became the oldest elected U.S. leader to occupy the White House and only the second President to win nonconsecutive terms with a stunning victory over Kamala Harris, whose political rise was started in California.



Trump, 78, called his early Wednesday morning win the "greatest political comeback in American history," which will make him the only sitting President with a felony conviction. The last President to be elected to non-consecutive terms was Grover Cleveland. Ohio Senator JD Vance, 40, once a fierce Trump opponent before joining his ticket, became the youngest Vice President in U.S. history.



We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, said Trump, who survived an assassination attempt 116 days before the elections that rallied his supporters. Trump sustained a wound to his upper right ear when Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle from the rooftop of a nearby building at an outdoor rally. Crooks fired eight shots, resulting in the death of a Pennsylvania firefighter and critical injuries to two others. Crooks was shot and killed by the US Secret Services Counter Sniper Team.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File

Every single day, I will be fighting for you, and with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America, he said.

Harris did not address her supporters gathered at Howard University, her alma mater, as Trump delivered his speech. However, NBC reports that the vice president will deliver a speech on Wednesday at 1 pm PST.

Kamala Harris is expected to deliver a concession speech Wednesday afternoon.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass have not yet reacted to the loss. Harris did win in California with all 54 electoral votes.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  Donald Trump appears headed back to the White House, which would make him the first president to win nonconsecutive terms since Grover Cleveland in 1892.

Trump supporters gathered in a cavernous hall at the Palm Beach County Convention Center to watch election returns roll in Tuesday night erupted with glee as Fox News called the election for the former president. Many crowded around the large TV monitors with cellphone cameras to capture the moment on the screen. Others hugged each other and exchanged high fives.

Trump and his wife, Melania, his family and his running mate, JD Vance and his wife, Usha, took the stage just before 2:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday to the sounds of Lee Greenwoods God Bless the USA.

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This is a movement like nobodys ever seen before, he told the cheering crowd, which broke into chants of USA. We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible.

Trump said he would heal the nation. It needs help and needs help very badly, he said. Trump, who survived two apparent assassination attempts, said many people told him that God spared his life for a reason, and that reason was to save our country.

This will truly be the golden age of America, he said. This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.

Vance told the crowd they had witnessed the greatest political comeback in the nations history.

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Republican voters were walking on air as they filed out of the hall congratulating each other, video chatting and posing for selfies.

This is amazing. This is a great night. We need our country back and I think Trumps the man who can do it for us. I know hes the man who can do it, said North Palm Beach resident Bonny Dyer as a couple of her friends embraced her.

Dyer said the country will be safer and the economy and health care will be better under Trump.

Watching election returns

During the long evening that spilled into early morning the next day, classic rock blared from the speakers. Dozens congregated in front of a stage adorned with American flags. Others in free MAGA hats gathered around tables and sipped out of plastic cups from the cash bars. Dozens of news cameras jockeyed for space on a riser in the center of the room. Big screens were tuned to Fox News and CNN.

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The crowd cheered as some early results flashed on multiple big screens showing Trump winning several states he was expected to win. They booed when Kamala Harris won a state. They cheered louder and chanted USA when Georgia was called for Trump. And the crowd roared when Trump won Pennsylvania, perhaps the most key battleground state.

And when the news programs went to break, Better Off With Trump took over the screens. As the night wore on, the Village Peoples Y.M.C.A. pumped some energy into the crowd, many of whom were on their feet for hours due to a scarcity of chairs, which seemed more prized than the MAGA hats.

Polls show a tight race between the former Republican president and Democratic vice president nationally and in the seven battleground states that will decide the election.

It was unclear when Trump would travel the couple of miles from Mar-a-Lago to the convention to address the crowd, though if he were to make an appearance, it would be late in the evening. Trump reportedly hosted several dinners with close friends, donors and club members, including Elon Musk, at his Palm Beach resort. Utah Sen. Mike Lee was among those at Mar-A-Lago.

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Trump and his wife, Melania, voted earlier Tuesday at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center in Palm Beach.

Supporters watch returns at a campaign election night watch party for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. | Evan Vucci

I feel very confident, he told reporters after he cast his ballot. It looks like Republicans have shown up in force, so well see how it turns out.

Early in the evening, Rudy Giuliani walked across the convention hall floor surrounded by several reporters asking him questions about election fraud and the Philadelphia district attorney whom he called a Democratic hack. The former New York City mayor and longtime Trump ally, Giuliani was found liable for defamation for falsely accusing two Georgia elections workers of ballot fraud in 2020.

They took my profession away because I advocated for my client, he said.

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And if Harris wins, I dont know what will happen to America, Giuliani said before reaching the exit. It worries me greatly.

Supporters of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump react to news that Trump won the state of Georgia during a watch party in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. | Nathan Howard

What Trump supporters are saying

Charles Hibbs, of White River, South Dakota, has attended 49 Trump rallies around the country since 2020, including more than two dozen as a volunteer. He wore a red MAGA hat that a Trump aide told him the former president wanted him to have after a campaign event. He also has a signed photo of himself standing behind Trump at a rally that the campaign mailed to him. Trump wrote, l love you above his signature.

What brings me out is a man that stands for the values and principles of what our Founding Fathers stood by, Judeo-Christian principle values. He believes in our Constitution. He believes in our Declaration of Independence. He believes in working for the people, not for the politicians. He believes in peace by strength, he said.

Hibbs, 69, said he doesnt think but knows Tuesday is going to be a great night because there was no scandemic, which is how he refers to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it was concocted to derail Trumps 2020 reelection campaign.

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Im expecting to see a lot of joy, a lot of support, positive, no matter what happens, he said. Youre not going to see anger. Youre going to have frustration if its cheating.

Earlier in the day, Ellie Hendricks, a 19-year-old student at Palm Beach Atlantic University, perused Trump merch near the convention center looking to buy a red Trump-Vance hat to go with her new T-shirt depicting the former president urging supporters to fight after the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania.

This is my first election. Im really excited, she said.

Hendricks said she voted for Trump because she wants to be able to buy a house in the next four years and she likes how he handled everything when he was president.

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I think he handled COVID very well. If anyone else was president, I dont think it would be the same, said Hendricks, who was a high school sophomore at the time.

Hendricks and her friends hope to get into the convention center but if not will wait for election returns outside. She said she hopes nothing bad happens, noting there might be protesters.

I hope everyone has a peaceful time, she said.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a Black Americans for Trump roundtable at 180 Church in Detroit, Mich., on June 15, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

As he did in 2016, former President Donald Trump has again won the state of Michigan and its 15 electoral votes, beating out Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

At 12:54 p.m. Wednesday, the Associated Press called the race for Trump in Michigan. With 99% of unofficial returns in, the former president had 49.8% of the vote and Harris took in 48.3%.

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The Associated Press already called the presidency for Trump before it rendered a call in the Great Lakes State. Trump has, so far, amassed 292 electoral votes to Harris 224.

Were going to fix everything about our country and we made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that. We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, Trump said early Wednesday morning at his campaign victory party in West Palm Beach, Fla.

With the win in Michigan, Trump won all three states in the so-called Blue Wall that is Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, just as he did eight years ago when the former president barely edged out Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by less than 11,000 votes out of 4.8 million cast, or just .23%.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a rally in East Lansing, Mich., on Nov. 3, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

This time, however, Trump expanded his vote totals, winning Michigan by about 81,000 votes out of approximately 5.3 million votes cast.

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In 2020, President Joe Biden turned the tables on Trump, winning here by an approximately 154,000 vote margin, although Trump never accepted the result and spent the last four years continuing to lie about it.

Clinton was widely criticized in 2016 for failing to campaign hard enough in Michigan and Wisconsin, two states in the Blue Wall.

While Harris avoided that by making numerous visits to Michigan, Trump also spent a lot of time in the Great Lakes State. Trump showed strength in rural areas and cut into Harris margin in many suburban areas and cities in order to triumph in Michigan this election.

One closely watched factor was the disenchantment of the states large Muslim and Arab communities with the Biden administrations policy in regard to Israels war against Hamas in Gaza. Michigan has the highest share of Arab Americans and one of the highest Muslim populations in the nation.

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The Abandon Harris movement helped lead the charge. Originally known as Abandon Biden, the organization has actively worked to make sure a Democrat did not win and endorsed Green Party nominee Jill Stein.

However, Stein only won .8%, or about 45,000 votes, which was not a decisive margin in the election this time around.

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OTTAWA (Reuters)  Donald Trumps return to the White House next year could bring economic pain and difficult decisions for Canadas Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, once branded a far left lunatic by the Republican.

The potential consequences include trade disputes that push Canada into recession since 75% of its exports go to the U.S., as well as thousands of people pouring north across the U.S. border, analysts and economists said.

Trump return likely to slow, not stop, US clean-energy boom

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Trumps victory adds to Trudeaus woes at a time polls show he would likely lose to his Conservative opponent in an election that must be held within a year. Canadas slowing economy and a rapid surge in the cost of living over the past few years are top campaign issues, which come against the backdrop of diplomatic disputes with China and India that have hampered efforts to diversify trade.

Canada, the worlds No. 4 crude oil producer, is especially vulnerable to Trumps plan for a 10% tariff on all imports and his vow to boost U.S. energy production.

Laura Dawson of the Future Borders Coalition, which seeks to smooth bilateral trade and travel, said the real challenge will be gradually declining investor confidence in Americas northern neighbor.

For Canada, four years of a Trump presidency could be very long indeed, she said.

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Trump called Trudeau a far left lunatic in 2022 for requiring truck drivers crossing the border to be vaccinated against COVID. In June 2018, Trump walked out of a G7 summit in Quebec and blasted the Canadian leader for being very dishonest and weak.

Trudeau, who has been in power since 2015, congratulated Trump on Wednesday and said the friendship between the two nations was the envy of the world.

I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations, Trudeau said on X.

Asked about Trumps win on Wednesday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland sought to reassure Canadians.

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A lot of Canadians were anxious throughout the night and I want to say  that Canada will be absolutely fine, she said. We have a strong relationship with the United States, we have a strong relationship with President Trump and his team.

In January, however, Trudeau told reporters another Trump presidency would be a step back that made life tough for Canada.

Desjardins Economics analysts forecast Trumps policies would result in real Canadian gross domestic product falling by 1.7% by end-2028 compared to what would have happened under a Democratic president.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said Trumps planned 10% tariff would cut Canadas real income by 0.9% annually and labor productivity by nearly 1%. If other countries retaliate, setting off a trade war, real income would drop by 1.5% annually, with labor productivity falling by nearly 1.6% each year, the chamber said.

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Trump first took office in 2017 vowing to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, the trilateral trade deal with Mexico and Canada, complaining that trading partners were taking advantage of the U.S.

After 18 months of sometimes rancorous talks, which at one point saw the United States and Canada imposing sanctions on each others products, the pact was reborn as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) deal.

Trump said on Oct. 11 he would use an existing USMCA clause to start renegotiating the treaty in 2026.

Im going to have a lot of fun, he said.

RECESSION INDUCING

David Doyle, Macquaries head of economics for the Americas, said Trumps promised policies had the potential to be a significant economic shock for Canada.

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Its possible that it is a recession-inducing event because its on such an enormous scale that we really havent seen for almost 100 years, he said.

Canada staved off the worst during the USMCA talks by proactively sending officials and politicians to dozens of U.S. states to highlight the benefits of free trade.

Kirsten Hillman, the long-serving Canadian ambassador in Washington, said Canada has a very good ability to push back on the 10% tariff proposal and had already been talking to Trumps camp about it.

Weve been spending a lot of time talking to the Trump team, his advisers, saying  this just isnt the right move, she told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in mid-October.

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Liberal officials are careful not to say anything derogatory in public about the Republican leader.

But in January, Trudeau told a meeting of senior Liberals that a second Trump administration would be of a magnitude more challenging for Canada than the first, according to a source who was present in the room.

Policy clashes seem inevitable, both domestically and internationally, especially if Trump follows through on his plan to deport millions of people living in the U.S. illegally.

I predict youre going to have a huge flood north of many of those folks trying their chances here, said Jason Kenney, former immigration minister in the Conservative government that ruled from 2006 to 2015.

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We could have a true crisis in terms of homelessness and pressure on our social system just months away, he told a podcast organized by the National Post before the election.

The United States and Europe could well retreat into hostile competing blocs, stranding Canada in the middle, said Kim Richard Nossal, professor of politics at Queens University in Kingston and author of a book on Canadas likely isolation if Trumps movement were to regain power.

The implications for Canada are, in my view, dramatic, he said, predicting Trump would insist Ottawa spend far more on defense.

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As election hangovers go, Keir Starmers will be only slightly less painful than that of Kamala Harris.

With not a great deal going right for the Labour Government on the domestic front, the last thing the prime minister needs is a new American president who bears a grudge. But thats what hes got.

In the heady days after Joe Biden finally and belatedly called it a day and handed the torch of the Democratic Party to his vice-president, when polling suggested Kamala was about to sweep all before her, the Labour Party went a bit giddy with excitement and publicly announced it was lending the Democrats a hand.

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Who cared if The Orange One resented the participation in the presidential election of 100 Labour activists and staffers? He was a dead-cert loser, and the party would enjoy the gratitude of President Harris for the next four years.

Well, oops, as they say.

Starmer might now reflect that as well as having to offer a craven apology to the once and future President Trump for his partys ill-advised bout of amateurish virtue signalling, he has a more pressing problem to hand in the shape of his foreign secretary.

In his constant and never-failing desire to please whichever audience hes speaking to, David Lammy once described Trump as a Neo-Nazi sociopath. Which is the sort of thing you might call someone if you (a) are a precocious sixth-former in the school debating society, or (b) do not expect ever to be in the same room with the target of your criticisms.

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Now, as Britains Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Lammy is our chief representative abroad, including to the United States. Not only has he needlessly thrown a stupid insult at the victor of the 2024 presidential election, but in doing so he has basically accused the American electorate of electing someone unfit for the most important elected office in the world.

The arguments that might be made in defence of Lammys opinion are neither here nor there: our foreign secretary needs to maintain the best possible relations with our most important ally. David Lammy has talked himself out of that job.

We cannot allow any foreign power to decide who serves in the UK cabinet and in what position. However, sacking or demoting Lammy at the earliest opportunity would demonstrate to the incoming administration that Starmer is serious about repairing the damage Lammy, by his infantile language, has caused to the special relationship.

This Government may not be all that keen on post-EU Global Britain, but given that the last time Trump was in the White House, he was far keener than either his predecessor or his successor to give us a transatlantic trade deal, Lammys sacrifice would be a small price to pay for smoothing the way to such a breakthrough.

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Beyond the immediate implications for the Government and its foreign secretary, Harriss humiliating defeat at the hands of a man who, in more serious times, really should never have been able to come within shouting distance of the White House, ought to signal a major rethink of progressive Left-wing politics across the democratic west. But will it?

The lessons were all there to be learned in 2016, when an arrogant, entitled Democratic Party crowned Hillary Clinton as their surefire winner in that years election. After all, who could fail to lose against someone as unappealing as Trump? And yet somehow, Clintons disdain for working class Americans without college degrees and her obsession with the rights of trans people to use womens bathrooms in Oklahoma didnt strike a chord with the electorate. It was a real mystery.

Eight years later, Joe Biden could have chosen to accept the inevitability of his advancing years and allowed his party to choose a new candidate last year, allowing the victor to be subjected to the usual rigours and scrutiny of the primary process.

Instead he made it impossible for the party and the country to choose anyone other than Harris, a woman who, when she stood against Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2020, resigned from the race without winning a single delegate to her partys national convention.

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It wasnt just the method of her becoming the candidate that rankled with voters; it was her policy platform. Across America  and indeed, across much of the Western world  the curse of woke is wreaking terrible damage to politics and to society.

Gender ideology and critical race theory have their roots in the US, but like any virus, they quickly made their way across the Atlantic. Few viral clips on social media did Harris more harm than the one in which she introduces herself to an audience  from behind a mask, obviously  as Kamala Harris, she/her.

Its not the self-congratulatory smugness that irked; it was the assumption that the cult of the pronoun is now not only obligatory but normal. Does she really not know how much ordinary Americans object to such nonsense? Does she not realise that many voters lump such language in with taking the knee and demands by Black Lives Matter protesters to defund the police? Its all toxic  the language, the smugness and the policies that the White House advocated in the last four years to push the agenda.

Labour too must learn the lessons of a second Trump victory before they go too far down the same road. Because if British voters decided to follow the lead of their American cousins, our own politicians would have every reason to be nervous the next time the ballot boxes are opened.

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With the reelection of Donald Trump, Ukraine may soon have to adjust to a dramatic reduction in US support that could have a decisive impact on the war with Russia.

Throughout his campaign, the Republican president-elect and his running mate, JD Vance, have cast strong doubts on continued US commitment to Kyiv as the war drags on more than two and half years after Russian forces invaded. Moreover, Trump has made comments that suggest the US could pressure Ukraine into an uneasy truce with Russia.

Trumps victory comes at a precarious moment in the conflict for Kyiv. Russia has steadily been making gains in the eastern Donbas region, which Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to capture in full.

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Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a statement on Telegram on Saturday that the situation on the front line remains difficult and that certain areas require constant renewal of resources of Ukrainian units.

Meanwhile, Russia is understood to be bolstering its manpower with North Korean forces. As many as 10,000 North Korean troops are in Russias Kursk region and are expected to enter combat against Ukraine in the coming days, US officials have warned.

Under the Biden administration, the US has provided tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, in the form of both weapons and budget assistance. The administration plans to continue to surge as much support as possible to Kyiv before Trump takes office.

Ukrainian soldiers wait to board a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier to depart for the front, in an undisclosed area in the eastern Donetsk region, on August 5, 2024. - Roman Pilipey/AFP/Getty Images

Trump has repeatedly praised Putin  and repeatedly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he has a complicated history. Trumps efforts to leverage US military aid to Ukraine to force Zelensky to investigate the former presidents political rivals were the key focus of Trumps first impeachment in 2019.

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Zelensky congratulated Trump on Wednesday and said he appreciates Trumps commitment to peace through strength.

We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States, Zelensky wrote in a social media post. We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that the Ukraine-Russia war would not have started if he had been president. He has also vowed to end the war, sometimes even claiming he would stop the years-long conflict before taking office. In July, he said he could settle the conflict in one day.

In his September presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump refused to say he was committed to Ukraine defeating Russia. Later that month, he suggested that Ukraine should have given up a little bit to Moscow, saying at a campaign event that any deal, even the worst deal, would have been better than what we have right now.

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If they made a bad deal, it would have been much better. They would have given up a little a bit and everybody would be living, Trump said.

Just days after those comments, when Trump met with Zelensky in New York City, he stressed that he would work to get a good deal for both sides.

We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin. And I think if we win, were going to get it resolved very quickly, Trump said.

I think long before I, before January 20, before I would take the presidency  its January 20  but long before that, I think that we can work out something thats good for both sides. Its time, he added.

Former President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky sit down for a meeting in New York on September 27, 2024. - Alex Kent/Getty Images

Zelensky has drawn up a victory plan, and has said Ukraine is not opposed to negotiations, but they must be from a position of strength. At a press conference in late October, the Ukrainian president said that Trump talks a lot, but I didnt hear him say he would reduce support for Ukraine.

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Zelensky said Wednesday that in their September meeting, he and Trump discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Still, in an interview with South Koreas KBS, Zelensky acknowledged that the next US president may strengthen or weaken support for Ukraine.

If that support weakens, Russia will seize more territory, it would prevent us from winning this war. That is the reality. Our stance isnt about territorial compromises but exploring potential diplomatic paths that rely on the US maintaining its commitment. A genuine desire from the United States to end this war swiftly is crucial, he said.

Ahead of the election, the US and its allies sought ways to Trump-proof that support. Earlier this year, NATO announced it would establish a mission to coordinate the provision of military equipment and training for Ukraine  an effort that has been largely led by the US. The Biden administration put forward $20 billion of the G7s $50 billion loan package to Ukraine, which is also funded by frozen Russian assets.

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When Roe fell, Republicans quickly realized that rolling back abortion rights is inherently unpopular. But now Trump is in power and those guardrails are gone. Illustration: Benjamin Currie; Photos: Getty

Donald Trumps projected triumph in the presidential race this week likely spells doom for whats left of abortion rights in the United States.

In the first presidential election since the fall of Roe v. Wade, Americans views shifted farther right. The GOP won control of the Senate and Trump is currently on course to be the first Republican to win the popular vote in two decades. Despite the 7 out of 10 states that voted to protect abortion care, voters still supported a candidate who will likely decimate womens reproductive health care.

Trump shied away from his anti-abortion record on the campaign trail: softening his rhetoric around reproductive rights, waffling on a national abortion ban and peddling his lie that everyone wanted Roe repealed. When Roe fell, Republicans quickly realized that rolling back abortion rights is inherently unpopular; the seven wins from pro-choice ballot measures this election season is proof of Americans thoughts on abortion access. But now Trump is in power and those guardrails are gone.

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The man who ran the most misogynistic presidential campaign in history in 2016, and a brazenly racist campaign this time around, holds the keys to womens bodily autonomy, and he will use them to rewind the clock on hard-earned reproductive rights.

We know what Trump will do next on abortion because of Project 2025  an extreme policy agenda that lays out next steps for a Trump second term. The plan conjures images of The Handmaids Tale by dismantling sex education, monitoring some pregnancies, threatening access to birth control and banning abortion nationwide. Trump continues to align himself with some of the most extreme anti-abortion advocates in the country, and now that hes back in power he will very likely bring them with him.

As president, Trump will be able to enforce the Comstock Act, a 150-year-old law that criminalizes sending obscene materials in the mail, including anything intended for producing abortion. The Comstock Act will effectively create a backdoor abortion ban overnight by criminalizing sending abortion pills in the mail  an access point that has been critical since the repeal of federal abortion protections. Trump wont need Congress to sign off, and it will impact people in every state, even states that have abortion protections.

Trumps allies have made it clear time and time again that they plan to use the Comstock Act to circumvent any government oversight that could stop them from banning abortion nationwide. We dont need a federal ban when we have Comstock on the books, Jonathan Mitchell, the architect of Texas bounty hunter abortion ban, told The New York Times earlier this year. Mitchell signaled that anti-abortion groups have intentionally remained quiet about the Comstock Act because its such a powerful weapon for Republicans.

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Trump claimed he wont enforce the Comstock Act, after months of pressing questions. But his own running mate, Sen. JD Vance wrote a letter in 2023 urging the Department of Justice to use Comstock to criminalize the reckless distribution of abortion drugs by mail.

Under Project 2025, Trump allies plan to rename the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the Department For Life where a task force would oversee all anti-abortion efforts throughout the federal government. Though Trump has distanced himself from the far-right policy agenda, the plan mentions him over 300 times and was authored by long-time Trump advisers who were part of his 2017 administration or his campaign team.

Trumps administration will also appoint some of the most anti-abortion extremists to power. He was able to appoint three Supreme Court justices during his first administration  the reason Roe was overturned  and now he may get another chance to add to that list.

He will appoint a new head of the Food and Drug Administration, who could revoke the agencys approval of mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in medication abortions. The Biden administration safeguarded and defended access to mifepristone in front of the Supreme Court this summer. But a Trump-appointed FDA commissioner would likely do the opposite and take mifepristone out of circulation. Mifepristone, with another abortion drug called misoprostol, are used in more than 60% of abortions nationwide. By taking mifepristone off shelves, Trump could effectively implement an abortion ban in both red and blue states.

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He will also appoint a new attorney general  someone who could choose to wield the power of the Justice Department against abortion seekers. Trump floated Texas attorney general Ken Paxton as a name on his shortlist this summer. Paxton is an infamous abortion opponent who last year petitioned the Texas Supreme Court to block a woman from getting a medically necessary abortion. He also recently sued to access medical records of Texas women seeking out-of-state abortions. This is who could be the next U.S. attorney general.

Mitchell, the attorney behind Texas six-week abortion ban, has been floated as a candidate for solicitor general for Trumps administration, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. The solicitor general answers to the attorney general, but still holds a massive amount of power, including deciding what cases the government will appeal to the Supreme Court. Mitchell is an infamous abortion opponent who has weaponized circumventing traditional legal avenues in pursuit of restricting reproductive rights. He also represented Trump in the before the Supreme Court.

Another hint at how the Trump may seek to ban abortion was quietly tucked into a line about the Constitutions 14th Amendment included in the Republican Party platform released during his campaign. The amendment was originally created to protect formerly enslaved Black people by ratifying that no state can deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law. Trumps party platform signaled that the GOP hopes to extend those rights to embryos and fetuses which, when taken to its logical conclusion, is a call for a total abortion ban nationwide.

Beyond abortion, anyone with the capacity for pregnancy would be vulnerable if the federal government established fetal personhood; it would endanger vital reproductive health care including miscarriage management, birth control and in vitro fertilization, as well as increasing the likelihood of pregnancy criminalization across the board.

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American women arent the only ones who will suffer from a Trump administration. Women and pregnant people around the world will, too. Trump will undoubtedly reinstate the global gag rule, a policy that bars the federal government from offering U.S. aid to any international health organization that also provides information on abortion care. The rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, was created under President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and, since then, every Democratic president has revoked it and every Republican president has put it back into place.

So it wasnt a surprise when Trump reinstated the gag rule in 2017 during his first term, but his impact far out-paced past Republican administration because he expanded the global gag rule multiple times. Until 2017, the gag rule was only applied to the portion of U.S. funds that went to family planning services, but when Trump got into office, he expanded the rule to include restrictions on all global health funding  not just dollars for reproductive health care. This means that the gag rule dictated what foreign NGOs can do with their own money, too, not just with U.S. federal aid.

The 2017 Trump administration again broadened the policy in 2019 to cut aid for groups that donated to other organizations that mention abortion. Essentially, this move hindered NGOs from receiving money for essential services like access to clean water, sanitation services and HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis programs if those organizations also offered abortion services or information about abortion.

Trump also aligned the United States with some of the most socially conservative countries around the world when he created and signed on to the Geneva Consensus Declaration  a radical coalition that declared there was no international right to abortion and undermined same-sex couples by reaffirming traditional family roles. The coalition broke from the U.N. consensus and included several countries that the U.N. has accused of human rights violations.

Trump was voted out of the White House in 2020 while trying to expand the global gag rule for a third time. Its extremely likely that once Trump is sworn in, he will continue where he left off.
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps election win opens the door for vaccine denier Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to play a significant role in the administration and drastically change the nations public health practices.

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The former presidential candidate emerged as one of the leading voices in the anti-vaccine movement during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he challenged the safety of preventive shots. Hes also an opponent of drinking water fluoridation, a measure that has improved oral health for millions of Americans.

RFK Jr. is probably the best financed and most influential anti-vaxxer, anti-science conspiracy theorist in the world, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University. And now hes likely to join at a high level in the White House  that should send shivers down the spine of anyone who thinks that health, safety and the environment are important.

Kennedy has said that Trump offered him control of the public health agencies, citing potential leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture.

Hes going to help make America healthy again, Trump said of Kennedy in his victory speech on Wednesday. Trump said Kennedy should stay away from oil and gas, but other than that, go have a good time, Bobby.

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Trump has encouraged Kennedy, the son of the late US attorney general and senator who was assassinated during his 1968 presidential campaign, to work on more specific issues.

I said, Bobby, you work on womens health, you work on health, you work on what we eat, Trump said at a rally in Macon, Georgia, on Nov. 3. You work on pesticides. You work on everything.

Experts and officials have previously raised concerns about Kennedy, saying his statements about vaccines and other pandemic-related issues are misleading and dangerous to public health. In July 2023, the Biden administration denounced comments by Kennedy that falsely claimed Jewish and Chinese people were most immune to Covid-19.

Jason Schwartz, an associate professor at the Yale School of Public Health, said the US is in for a very significant change in terms of the federal governments approach to public health and the priorities and actions of our government health agencies.

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Kennedy and Trump have been linked by their skepticism of public-health practices and scorn for experts and officials. During the pandemic, the former president promoted unproven Covid-19 therapies including hydroxychloroquine, the antiparasitic ivermectin, and plasma from previously infected people. In one press conference, Trump suggested using bleach to treat infections.

Even as Trump insisted in October 2020 that Americans were ready to move past the pandemic, his own health advisers continued warning that the toughest months were still to come.

Kennedy has criticized how Anthony Fauci, the USs top infectious disease expert during the pandemic, handled the crisis. In his book, The Real Anthony Fauci, he accuses the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of helping orchestrate a historic coup detat against Western democracy.

Kennedy recently wrote on the social media platform X that Trump would move to remove fluoride from public water immediately after taking office. Jan. 20. Trump then told NBC News that he hadnt yet spoken to Kennedy about fluoride, but it sounds OK to me.

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(Updates with professor comments in third and ninth paragraphs.)

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PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  There was no mistaking during the past two years that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has the hunger to get back to Washington, D.C.

So heres a morning-after question.

Now that Donald Trump is the nations president-elect a second time, it appears likely, even inevitable, that she will be offered some post in the new Republican administration.

State Wide Results | State Senate Results | State House Results | National Results Map

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The 53-year-old Noem not only campaigned on his behalf in states throughout the country this year. She was prominently mentioned as a possible running mate. A scene from the Independence Day fireworks display at Mount Rushmore that Noem hosted for then-President Trump in 2020 was part of his closing pitch to voters this year. She was at the Trump victory party in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday night.

Its too early to know whether the offer Noem seems destined to receive will be sufficiently enticing for her to walk away from her final two years as governor.

Minnehaha County still reporting results on Wednesday

But she knows first-hand what some of the good, as well as some of the not-so-good, can be in the nations capital. Noem served eight years as South Dakotas only representative in the 435-member U.S. House prior to taking the oath as governor in 2019.

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If she does step down to accept a federal appointment, there would be some significant effects in South Dakota politics.

Our states lieutenant governor, Larry Rhoden, would ascend to governor. It would mean a running start should he choose to run for the Republican nomination in 2026.

A Rhoden governorship could also cause second thoughts about running for governor by two other Republicans, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, who appear to be vigorously eyeing the job.

A Rhoden governorship could also help diffuse another difficult situation. He would be a fresh face as dozens of newly elected state lawmakers take their first oaths as legislators.

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Many of the freshmen-elect won seats because they openly opposed SB201, the carbon-pipelines legislation that Noem signed into law last March, and that voters in turn decisively rejected on Tuesday. Rhoden would be a chance for a different set of relationships.

The 65-year-old Rhoden also has the benefit of having served a total of 16 years in the Legislature, including two terms as House Republican leader, and six more years in his current role as Senate president. Noem sometimes tells the story about how as majority leader he helped guide her when she was a new member of the state House nearly two decades ago.

Then theres the U.S. Senate. John Thune, who will soon know whether he succeeds Mitch McConnell as its next Republican leader. Meanwhile, South Dakotas second U.S. senator, former governor Mike Rounds, hasnt publicly indicated whether hell seek election to a third term in 2026.

Having Noem in the new Trump administration, rather than looming as a potential opponent in a U.S. Senate primary, could shape what Rounds does. Republicans old enough to remember then-Governor Bill Janklow taking on then-U.S. Sen. Jim Abdnor dont want another repeat of that 1986 primary.

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Rounds just celebrated birthday number 70. An announcement of his next move will have to come at some time in the next 12 months.

And should he declare that he isnt running again and with Noem already part of a second Trump administration, South Dakota would suddenly face another round of big political decisions.

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The News

World leaders wasted no time in congratulating Donald Trump on his presidential election victory, sidestepping  at least for the time being  major ideological gulfs in favor of grand pronouncements.

But those same countries are simultaneously bracing themselves for how a second Trump administration could lead to further trade wars and threaten their interests.

SIGNALS

Ukraine can no longer rely on the US for its defense

Sources: The Kyiv Independent, The New Yorker, CNN, Politico, The New York Times

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys relationship with Trump has long been fraught, The Kyiv Independent noted, and Zelenskyy has sharply rebuked incoming Vice President JD Vances calls for Ukraine to give up territory as part of a negotiated settlement with Russia. Its unclear whether Trump will cut military aid to Ukraine  some of his more moderate supporters, like former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, argue Trump cares too much about his legacy to abandon Kyiv  but whats clear is that Europe can no longer rely on the US to come to its defense, Politico wrote. We should not hope for a miracle from across the Atlantic, a Ukrainian lieutenant told The New York Times.





Trump will likely double down on Israeli-Arab normalization without the need for a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Sources: The Guardian, Foreign Policy, Al Arabiya, The Atlantic

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is widely regarded to have wanted Trump in the White House: Trumps prior disregard for international law or UN Security Council resolutions means his victory removes a substantial barrier to the annexation of Gaza and settlement expansion in the West Bank, The Guardians senior international correspondent wrote. The Gulf states also see Trump as a boon for their regional ambitions, having enjoyed unprecedented US support via arms deals and a more hardline stance on Iran during his first term, a Middle East expert noted in Foreign Policy. Trump will likely double down on attempts to normalize relations between Israel and various Arab states, another expert told Al Arabiya  without the need for progress on a two-state solution, The Atlantic reported.

Trumps tariffs threaten global growth prospects

Sources: Reuters, Peterson Institute for International Economics

Trumps plan to slap a 10% tariff on all foreign imports, and a 60% tariff on imports from China, will likely have the biggest impact on the global economy by cutting into growth, Reuters reported. However, places that are less dependent on trade with the US like Russia and Turkey would likely be less affected, and may even attract higher capital inflows as investors seek out countries with less exposure to the US, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Donald Trumps mandate to lead the American public through the next four years is unequivocal but the implications for the rest of the world are much less clear.

For while the new-old president has done more to question the fundamentals of US foreign policy than any president in living memory, he has been surprisingly ambiguous about how he would replace it.

Among Americas foes, Russian officials and commentators have celebrated, Iran is believed to have been so worried that it plotted to kill him, and China remained tight-lipped.

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Allies were split between an almost ecstatic leadership and public in Israel, to a nervous Nato, and Ukraine losing no time in launching a charm offensive.

So what does Donald Trumps victory mean for civilians in Gaza, soldiers in east Ukraine, and all the rest of us who didnt get a vote?

Ukraine

In his debate with Kamala Harris, Mr Trump notoriously refused to say he wanted Ukraine to win its war with Russia.

But he has also claimed that he will get it resolved very quickly.

Speaking alongside Volodymyr Zelensky in New York in September, he repeated that promise: If we have a win, long before Jan 20th, before I would take the presidency, long before that, I think we could work out something that is good for both sides.

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Ukrainian soldiers watching the election results on a mobile phone screen in a cafe in Sloviansk on Wednesday morning were unsure exactly what that would mean.

For Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines, these are questions of life and death - Libkos/Getty Images Europe

I think our future wont depend only on Trump, said Olekseii, a soldier. There are other parties supporting Ukraine and those who stand against Ukraine. But I hope for their common sense and they will continue to help.

But sources in Kyiv on Wednesday told The Telegraph they thought Trump might appoint an envoy to broker between Ukraine and Russia before the end of this month, and talks could be under way by December.

Mr Trump has been vague on how he would achieve any deal to end the war.

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JD Vance, his running mate, has suggested that Ukraine should give up both occupied territory and military ambitions to join Nato in exchange for establishing a ceasefire.

That will be difficult for Ukraine to accept, and it is not obvious Russia would be interested in settling for the current lines when it seems to be taking more and more land.

Fears of cutting aid

The worst fear in Kyiv is that Vladimir Putin demands more land than he currently holds, that Ukraine refuses, and Trump allows Russia to press ahead with its offensive.

Even if the current line of contact were frozen, the question of who would police a ceasefire would have to be addressed. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) inspectors failed to effectively enforce peace after the first and second Minsk agreements in 2014 and 2015.

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Ukraine and its European allies are unlikely to resist Trumps pressure for talks, because Trump would probably threaten to cut all aid if they did.

Instead, Volodymyr Fesenko, a Kyiv-based political analyst, said they would seek to make sure the talks, and whatever settlement comes from them, were as much in Ukraines favour as possible.

For example, Kyiv may accept that the path to Nato is blocked but ask for separate American security guarantees, akin to its deals with Israel and South Korea.

The worst-case scenario

The charm offensive is already under way. Volodymyr Zelensky began laying the groundwork for such a scenario with Augusts incursion into Kursk, and a meeting with Trump in New York in September. He followed up with a warm message of congratulations on Wednesday morning.

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Wednesdays result was far from the worst outcome, said Mr Fesenko.

The worst-case scenario for us was a political crisis in the US: If the election had been closer, Trump had refused to recognise the result, and there was an internal conflict in America it would have been exploited by Russia, China, and everyone else. Aid for Ukraine would definitely have dried up.

Zelensky follows up charm offensive with warm message of congratulations to Trump on Wednesday morning - AFP

The second-worst option, Mr Fesenko said, would have been Kamala Harris winning the White House but the Republicans controlling Congress, resulting in legislative deadlock.

House Republicans blocked Joe Bidens Ukraine aid for four months last winter, directly contributing to the Russian capture of Avdiivka and the advances it has made ever since.

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For soldiers on the frontlines these are questions of life and death. But theres not much to do but joke about them.

So, Trump promised to end the war in a day, Pavlo Kazarin, a columnist and soldier wrote on Facebook. Our unit has ambitious plans for the weekend.

The Middle East

At first blush, Trump has a straightforward attitude towards the Middle East crisis.

At an event dedicated to combating anti-Semitisim during the election, he vowed to ban refugees from terror-infested areas like the Gaza Strip and said: If I dont win, I believe Israel will be eliminated.

Amit Segal, a commentator on Israels Channel 12, said: In Israel in general, and in Netanyahus office in particular, Trumps victory is met with great relief.

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The confrontation with the Democratic administration, which escalated to threats of a weapons embargo, is now replaced by two leaders who were both targets of Iranian assassination attempts this year, he added.

This doesnt mean that Trump will attack Iran, but it does mean that he and Israel understand exactly where the octopus head is and what needs to be done about its arms.

Donald Trump has vowed to ban refugees from terror-infested areas like the Gaza Strip - Francisco Seco/AP

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US security services briefed Trump on a foiled suspected Iranian assassination plan in September. An Israeli man was arrested the same month on suspicion of working with Iran on a plan to kill Benjamin Netanyahu.

But Trump has also criticised how long the war in Gaza is taking. In April he urged Israel: Youve got to get it over with, and you have to get back to normalcy.

He thanked Arab-American and Muslim voters who supported him because they believed he would bring peace to the region.

On Wednesday, Hamas urged Trump to learn from Bidens mistakes in trying to broker a ceasefire.

Politically devastating

Ordinary Gazans displaced by the Israeli military campaign were divided between the hope that any change must be a good thing, and the sense that Trump would simply lift even the tiny restraints Mr Biden had placed on the Israeli campaign.

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Despite the destruction, death and displacement that we have witnessed, what is coming will be more difficult, it will be politically devastating, a man called Abu Osama told Reuters.

The truth is that Trumps Middle East policy may not yet be fully formed.

Its no secret that the regime in Tehran would have preferred Ms Harris to win. Trumps last stint in office saw him rip up the nuclear deal, kill Qassem Soleimani, a Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) chief, and pursue a maximum pressure policy that threw Irans economy into chaos.

Mr Netanyahu, who on election day fired Yoav Gallant, Israels former defence minister, for advocating a deal to free the hostages and end the war in Gaza among other issues, will feel as though he has the backing to continue the multi-front Middle Eastern war until total victory, whatever that means.

Trump wants Iran to succeed

But Trump has also spoken about ending wars, not starting them.

We can expect a continuation of the maximum pressure strategy with the goal of changing Tehrans malign behaviour, said Holly Dagres, an Iran watcher at the Atlantic Council.

But Trump also said that he wasnt interested in regime change and wanted Iran to succeed and not have a nuclear weapon  meaning there is room for a deal of some sort.

Trump is also receptive to other regional elites, particularly Saudi Arabias Mohammed bin Salman, who understands his transactional approach to dealmaking. He also wants the violence to end and to find a viable path to a Palestinian state.

Gulf states, chiefly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, likely believe there is more to be gained under the second Trump presidency, such as US security guarantees, arms deals, and a tougher stance on Iran, said Dr Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow for Middle Eastern security at the Royal United Services Institute.

It is difficult to see how a Trump administration will pivot to improve the situation for Palestinians.

Trump in recent weeks indicated that he was prepared to give Israel freer rein, provided that the war ended by the time he entered office. What happens between now and January will be watched closely, and nervously, by those in the Middle East, said Dr Ozcelik.

Trump has thanked Arab-American and Muslim voters who supported him - Wakil Kohsar/AFP

Trumps previous term saw the US embassy in Israel moved to Jerusalem in an effort by Mr Netanyahu to gain the American greenlight for the annexation of parts of the West Bank. That plan did not come to fruition, but Right-wing settler groups have expressed hope it could be revived.

This is not the Middle East Donald Trump knew when he left office in 2020, however.

In the post-Oct 7 world, his Abraham Accords on Arab-Israeli normalisation are more or less dead, and there is no path back to them without addressing peace and the question of a Palestinian state.

Mr Biden tried to set up a deal along these lines, but failed.

China

Donald Trump appears to have two opinions about China.

The first is that it is a massive commercial competitor that threatens American prosperity and must be challenged, even if it means triggering a major trade war.

The second is that Xi Jinping, the president of China, is a great bloke.

He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist. I mean, hes a brilliant guy, whether you like it or not, Trump said about president Xi in an interview with Joe Rogan last year.

That was not an aberration.

Trump has promised to expand anti-Chinese tariffs by up to 60 per cent - Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

I had a very strong relationship with him I got along with him great, he told the Wall Street Journal in September. That means China would not attack Taiwan because Xi respects me and he knows Im [expletive] crazy.

But Trump was definitely not Beijings preferred candidate. Last time he was president, Trump ignited a trade war, blamed China for Covid-19 and launched a controversial FBI-led crackdown on Chinese economic espionage.

In this years campaign he promised to wildly expand anti-Chinese tariffs  up to 60 per cent  and revoke its most-favoured-nation trading status, a designation that means America must grant it the most favourable trade conditions as it has with other countries.

The investment bank UBS has predicted that could halve Chinas annual economic growth. Trump has just received a clear mandate to do just that.

China remaining consistent

Chinese officials are playing it cool for now.

Our policy towards the US is consistent, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, told a regular press conference in Beijing when asked how Trump returning to the Oval Office would affect US-China relations.

That may reflect a sense in Beijing that America will be an adversary, whoever is in charge.

Mr Biden, after all, maintained and, in some cases, tightened Trumps China tariffs, built up Pacific alliances to contain Chinas territorial ambitions and explicitly pledged to go to war to defend Taiwan if it is attacked.

Trump has accused Taiwan of stealing Americas chip industry and implied it should pay for protection, repeating themes he has raised in previous interviews.

Last week Chinese officials seized on Trumps claim that Taiwan is stealing Americas chip industry to argue the breakaway island would soon realise America first means allies second.

Nato

At a rally in February, Trump recounted a conversation with an unnamed Nato leader who asked whether America would defend his country from a Russian attack.

I said: You didnt pay? Youre a delinquent?, the Republican recalled. No I would not protect you, in fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You gotta pay.

It is an incredibly alarming remark. Trump cannot simply quit Nato. A recent law makes that impossible without overwhelming endorsement in Congress.

But he doesnt have to quit the alliance to undermine it. Simply by questioning the need to defend allies who have not paid their way could be enough to undermine the perception among adversaries, particularly Russia, that Natos collective defence clause is serious.

Emmanuel Macron said Europe must respond to US-China competition or face a mortal moment - Murat Cetinmuhurda/Getty Images Contributor

European and British officials have, at least officially, been preparing for a Trump victory.

Dame Karen Pierce, Britains ambassador in Washington, has been diligent in building ties and trust with Trumps camp.

Sir Kier Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, have both congratulated Trump on his victory and vowed to find common ground  although the Republicans have been openly angered by reports of Labour activists campaigning for the Democrats.

Looking bleak

In April, Emmanuel Macron said in a speech at the Sorbonne that Europe must respond to US-China competition and the war in Ukraine, or face a mortal moment.

On Wednesday morning he rang Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, to signal European unity in response to Trumps victory.

But the truth is, Britain and Europe have not spent enough money to take up the slack if Trump leaves them to look to their own security.

The European Council for Foreign Relations warned in a paper last week that Trumps policy and personnel choices could destabilise the western Balkans, possibly leading to another war between Serbia and Kosovo.

And thats without taking into account the burden of taking over the American contribution to Ukraine.

His domestic economic policies will require huge funds to be diverted from somewhere  almost certainly American defence. We are likely to see major calls for defence spending and investment across NATO  but this will take years to build up and be hugely expensive at a time of economic stagnation, said Dr Russell Foster, senior lecturer in British and international politics at Kings College London.

The future of Western defence is now looking very bleak.

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It was Cardiff 2014 and Nato leaders gathered to pledge a 2 per cent GDP spend on their defence budgets. The days before, not surprisingly the Treasury were resisting the US initiative. It took a direct intervention from the White House to No 10 to get them over the line.

In the end the Treasury buckled but not before they used a few cheats to artificially pump up the numbers. Into the Defence budget they tipped VAT receipts, GCHQ funding and MI6 pensions. A complete con in my book that fooled no one  but somehow the UK got to a place that convinced the wider public who knew no better.

But for those that bristle at Donald Trumps demands for greater defence spending they should reflect on the fact that the 2 per cent defence target was a President Obama initiative. In fact, the one thing that both Trump and Obama agreed on was this. It isnt unreasonable after 10 years for the US to lose patience with us all in Europe. Sure, Trump expresses it in a different way than his predecessors, but he means the same thing.

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The difference between 2014 and now is the world is much more dangerous and the risks of conflict spreading much greater. In Europe we are all running out of excuses. The second time round Trump wont be so patient. If the UK truly wants to lead and truly wants to stand up to Putin, then we better put our money where our mouth is.

This year, according to Nato, the US is on course to spend $755 billion dollars on defence and the rest of us (the 31 others) will spend just $430 billion. Putin will be rubbing his hands at the prospect of a potential schism in NATO. But it doesnt have to be that way.

We have two months to prepare for the Donald and two months to show the Kremlin that we will see our support through for Ukraine. The European powers have the money and the capabilities to do it if we really want to. It will just mean sacrifices elsewhere.

The best thing that Keir Starmer could do is greet the new President on Inauguration Day on January 20 with the words, The UK, as your closest ally, has committed to 3 per cent of GDP and will be leading the charge in Europe.

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We dont need a European Army or an EU defence force but what we, and many other NATO members need to do is stop the charade of paper armies  under equipped, immobile and depleted of ammunition. Then we need to step up to the plate and lean into Ukraine.

Take the lead? Novel, I know. But I noticed that Britain really did bring people with them when we tried. We should sit down with Poland, the Nordics, Turkey and France and once and for all take responsibility for our security.

In 2022 I made 41 international visits, before and after the invasion. I stood in the snow with the president of then neutral Finland and discussed what we could do. I crafted security guarantees for Sweden and Finland. I sent troops to support Poland on the border with Belarus and worked very closely with our Dutch and Danish friends. I even stood in wind swept airfields with US generals who werent able to set foot in Ukraine discussing tactics.

It is all possible. The US and their Military respect that leadership. They want that leadership. And most in Europe also want to stand and fight against the very real threat to all we stand for. But there is no time to waste. The Ministry of Defence doesnt need another Defence review. It doesnt need vague promises of limp increases, absent Ministers and Treasury tricks.

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If Starmer wants President Elect Trump to take him seriously then he should divert some of that 22 billion he found for the already heavily funded and unproductive NHS and use it to ensure Putin does fail and wider Nato starts to shoulder the costs.

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(NewsNation)  Congrats @realDonaldTrump. You won fair and square, said billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban early Wednesday, adding on X: Congrats to @elonmusk as well. Cuban is among many high-profile opponents and supporters of President-elect Donald Trump to comment on Trumps extraordinary victory.

Here are more reactions from around the U.S. and the world:

Elon Musk

The people of America gave @realDonaldTrump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight, Musk wrote on X, which he owns. America is a nation of builders. Soon, you will be free to build, he added.

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Trump to be second US president to serve non-consecutive terms

Jeff Bezos

Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory, wrote Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.

Bezos attracted intense criticism when he directed the Post to not make an endorsement in the presidential race. Some Post journalists resigned, and tens of thousands of readers canceled their subscriptions.

George W. Bush

I congratulate President Trump on his election as 47th President of the United States of America, as well as Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and their families, said former President George W. Bush, who also thanked President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their service to our country.

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The strong turnout in this election is a sign of the health of our republic and the strength of our democratic institutions, Bush added in a statement released by The Bush Center.

Trump win ignites crypto frenzy that sends bitcoin to a record high

Benjamin Netanyahu

Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on his X account.

Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America, he added.

Mitch McConnell

Im going to do everything I can to help the new administration be successful, said outgoing Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. As for why he believes Trump won:

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I think it was a referendum on the current administration. People were just not happy with this administration, and the Democratic nominee obviously was a part of it, McConnell told reporters on Capitol Hill.

Border Patrol Union

On behalf of the men and women of the National Border Patrol Council, we congratulate President-elect @realDonaldTrump and Vice President-elect @JDVance on their historic (but not surprising) win! We look forward to securing the border together and making this country safe again!

Nikki Haley

The American people have spoken. Congratulations to President Trump on a strong win, said former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. Now, its time for the American people to come together, pray for our country, and start the process of a peaceful transition, the one-time candidate for the GOP presidential nomination wrote on X.

Keir Starmer

Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory, wrote British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on X. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise, he added.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect the venue where Donald Trump delivered his speech early Wednesday morning. The speech took place at the Palm Beach Convention Center, not at Mar-a-Lago.

Former President Donald Trump delivered remarks after a watch party at the former president's resort, Mar-a-Lago.

Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, were at Mar-a-Lago but held a larger watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Palm Beach, Florida, where he delivered his speech early Wednesday morning.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump takes the stage to address supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Trump sounded as surprised as anybody in declaring victory, citing the many obstacles he faced during his campaign.

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"Look what happened  is this crazy?" Trump told a screaming crowd at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Trump catapulted closer to a stunning return to the White House early Wednesday as he took North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania, three critical swing states.

"This will truly be a golden age for America. This is a magnificent victory that will also help us to make America great again," Trump said to the crowd early Wednesday morning.

Kamala speech tonight?

Kamala Harris will not address supporters gathered at Howard University in Washington for her election night party and plans to speak later instead Wednesday morning.

USA Today contributed to this report.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist while accompanied by his wife Melania at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Trump speech last night: Former president speaks after Mar-a-Lago
Donald Trumps victory speech after winning the presidential election early Wednesday morning was darkly triumphant.

The president-elect thanked his supporters, including billionaire and worlds richest man Elon Musk.

Oh, let me tell you, we have a new star. A star is born. Elon. No, he is. Now hes an amazing guy. We were sitting together tonight. You know, he spent two weeks in Philadelphia and different parts of Pennsylvania campaigning, Trump said, before going off on a tangent about Musks beautiful, shiny white rocket.

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Trump has said that he wants to put Musk in charge of government efficiency. Musk has claimed, with no evidence, that $2 trillion in waste could easily be cut from the federal budget, an act that would undoubtedly cause severe consequences for the American people.

Hes, hes turned out to be a good choice. I took a little heat at the beginning, but he was I knew I knew the brain was a good one, about as good as it gets, Trump said.

Trump also credited fantastic people like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with helping him win. Kennedys role in the administration will be worrying, as Trump plans to give a major public health role to the anti-vaccine activist.

[Kennedy] came out. And hes going to help make America healthy again. And now hes a great guy and he really means it. He wants to do some things, and were gonna let him go to it. I just said, But Bobby, leave the oil to me. We have more liquid gold, oil, and gas. We have more liquid gold than any country in the world. More than Saudi Arabia. We have more than Russia. Bobby, stay away from the liquid gold. Other than that, go have a good time, Bobby, Trump said, perhaps in reference to Kennedys environmental activist past against fossil fuels.

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Trump proudly looked back at his first term as a roadmap to his second.

This is the most important job in the world. Just as I did in my first term, we had a great first term, a great, great first term. I will govern by a simple motto: Promises made, promises kept. Were going to keep our promises. Nothing will stop me from keeping my word to you, the people. We will make America safe, strong, prosperous, powerful, and free again, Trump said.

Those promises include mass deportations, taking revenge for every slight against him, including for the many legal charges against him; implementing parts of Project 2025 (despite his denials); imposing extreme tariffs likely to cripple the economy; and many other disastrous acts. The next four years will be difficult for many Americans, depending on how many checks on the presidents power there will be this time, if any.


TEL AVIV, Israel  Donald Trump will return to the U.S. presidency at a time of unprecedented conflict and uncertainty in the Middle East. He has vowed to fix it.

But Trumps history of strong support for Israel coupled with his insistence during the campaign that the war in Gaza should end quickly, the isolationist forces in the Republican party and his penchant for unpredictability raise a mountain of questions over how his second presidency will affect the region at this pivotal moment.

US sending bombers, more warships to Middle East

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Barring the achievement of elusive cease-fires before the inauguration, Trump will ascend to the highest office in the country as a brutal war in Gaza still rages and Israel presses its offensive against the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group. A conflagration between Iran and Israel shows no signs of abating  nor do Israels conflicts with Iranian proxies in Iraq and Yemen  and Irans nuclear program remains a top concern for Israel.

Trump says he wants peace, but how?

Throughout his campaign, Trump has vowed to bring peace to the region.

Get it over with and lets get back to peace and stop killing people, Trump said of the conflict in Gaza in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in April.

Israel launched the war in response to Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, when militants killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250, with dozens still in Gaza. Israels offensive has killed more than 43,000 people, according to Gaza health officials, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, though they say more than half of the dead are women and children.

Palestinians evacuate a body from a site hit by an Israeli bombardment on Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, in July. Trump has repeatedly urged to Israel finish the job and destroy Hamas  but hasnt said how. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi, File)

The war has ignited a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, driven Israel into increasing international isolation, with two world courts examining charges of war crimes, and has sparked a wave of protests on American campuses that have fueled debate over the U.S. role as Israels key military and diplomatic supporter.

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International mediators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have tried unsuccessfully to bring about a lasting cease-fire.

Yet Trump has repeatedly urged to Israel finish the job and destroy Hamas  but hasnt said how.

Does finish the job mean you have a free hand to act in dealing with the remnants of Hamas? Or does finish the job mean the war has to come to an end now? asked David Makovsky, director of the program on Arab-Israel Relations at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Thats part of the enigmas here.

Netanyahu is pinning his hopes on a pro-Israel Trump administration

Uncertainty also shrouds how Trump will engage with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During his first term, Trump offered broad support for the Israeli leaders hard-line policies, including unilaterally withdrawing from a deal meant to rein in Irans nuclear program that Netanyahu long opposed.

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Trump also recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital, bolstering its claim over the disputed city, and Israels annexation of the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. He presented a peace plan with the Palestinians widely seen as favoring Israel. Settlement-building in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, seen as an obstacle to Palestinian statehood, surged under his presidency.

Trump also helped secure agreements between Israel and four Arab countries to normalize ties that were not contingent on progress toward Palestinian statehood  a major victory for Netanyahu. The Israeli leader hopes to replicate those successes with a deal with Saudi Arabia.

The leaders had a falling out after Netanyahu congratulated President Joe Biden following the 2020 elections  a move Trump viewed as a slight from his loyal ally, though Netanyahu visited Trump in Florida this year.

Under Biden, the U.S. has been critical at times and slowed some weapons deliveries in response to Israels conduct in Gaza. Netanyahu is likely hoping that Trumps return will loosen any restraints on Israel to pursue its war goals. The American leader could also work to challenge a potential international war crimes arrest warrant for Netanyahu. And a smoother relationship with Washington could help improve the Israeli leaders own popular support.

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He has the most pro-Israel record of any president, said Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington. The hope is here that therell be more of the same.

Neither Netanyahu nor Trump has a clear vision for postwar Gaza

Netanyahu leads a far-right government whose key members have vowed to topple his rule if the war in Gaza ends with anything short of Hamas destruction. They support resettling Gaza and are enthusiastic about a Trump presidency  and their influence will only grow now that Netanyahu has fired his defense minister over his more pragmatic approach to the conflict.

Their grip on the government and over Netanyahus political future helps explain why Netanyahu has not spelled out a clear vision for a postwar Gaza.

Armed Israeli Air Force planes depart from an unknown location to attack Iran on Oct. 26. (Israeli Army via AP)

The Biden administration has favored having the war-ravaged territory governed by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank. Netanyahu has rejected that idea and insists on the right for the Israeli military to operate there.

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Trump has not outlined a clear vision, although he has said developers could make Gaza better than Monaco because it has the best location in the Middle East, the best water, the best everything.

Diana Buttu, a former adviser to Palestinian leaders, said a lack of a firm U.S. vision for Gaza, coupled with a politically powerful Israeli far right, made the future for people in Gaza and for Palestinians in general grim.

I dont see this as a president who is going to care about Palestinians, she said.

Will Trump help defend Israel against Iran or choose America First?

In Lebanon, Israel is battling the Iranian-backed Hezbollah with both a ground invasion and strikes on Hezbollah targets. The militant group has fired thousands of rockets and drones at Israeli communities, killing dozens and displacing 60,000. Israels offensive, meanwhile, has displaced over 1 million people in Lebanon and killed more than 3,000.

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U.S. mediation efforts there too have been fruitless. Trump, who has a Lebanese-American son-in-law, recently posted on the social platform X that as president he would stop the suffering and destruction in Lebanon.

But a key question is how much Trump will be swayed by his America First instincts.

The U.S. has played a central role in diplomatic efforts throughout the war, and an even more robust role in helping Israel defend itself against Iran and its allies.

The U.S. has sent military assets to the region, helped Israel thwart two missile attacks by Iran and even has U.S. soldiers in Israel to operate a sophisticated air defense system. But any effective Israeli attack on Irans nuclear facilities, a target it avoided in its strike last month, will likely need greater U.S. military involvement.

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Accusations that Iran has hacked campaign associates and concerns about the potential for Tehran to carry out violence against Trump or members of his administration could deepen his antipathy toward the country.

While Trump has indicated he will focus on domestic affairs, the Mideast could be an outlier.

He enjoys a wide base of support from evangelical Christians, who are staunchly pro-Israel, and his son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner was a prominent voice in support of the country in his first administration.

As Trump is likely to navigate between those forces mostly based on his intuition, said Udi Sommer, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations at Tel Aviv University, uncertainty will likely define his approach.
For the overwhelming majority of Black voters, a political nightmare is becoming a reality: Donald Trump secured enough Electoral College votes to win the 2024 presidential election, according to the Associated Press.

With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.

In the weeks leading up to Election Day, many Black voters were at least hopeful, buoyed by polls showing that Vice President Kamala Harris enjoyed a consistent lead nationally and a narrow advantage in most battleground states.

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Harris supporters such as former U.S. Capitol police officer Harry Dunn said that the country couldnt afford another Trump presidency. Dunn was on duty when Trump acolytes laid siege to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in an attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election that Joe Biden won.

People have been on the phones all day, making sure theyre getting out there to vote, Dunn told Capital B on Election Day. And making sure that we get her elected, so that we can turn the page on this and get back to some sense of normalcy going forward.

But when the race was called for Trump early Wednesday morning, it was clear that normalcy might not return anytime soon.

A second Trump administration would likely be friendly to the notorious Heritage Foundation manifesto known as Project 2025, a combination that could be disastrous for Black communities.

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In the weeks leading up to Election Day, Trump had been spewing racism and misinformation to his followers, causing D.C. metro-area residents such as Dunn to second-guess leaving the safety of their homes when the polls closed after dusk. Dunn worries about the cruelty that Trump has unleashed. Its a reality that has pulled into focus the stakes of the contest.

On Wednesday afternoon, Harris addressed a crowd at her alma mater, Howard University, to officially concede the race. To chants of Kamala and Beyonces Freedom playing in the background, the Vice President told her supporters that the outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for. But hear me when I say: The light of Americas promise will always burn bright.

Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars, she added.

Harris confirmed that the Biden administration would afford the Trump transition team something that his administration did not extend to them in 2020: a peaceful transition. Anyone who seeks the publics trust must honor it, she said. We must accept the results of this election.

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While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign, she added, noting her campaigns fight for freedom, opportunity, fairness, and dignity of all people.

The following day, President Joe Biden delivered a six-minute speech, his first appearance on camera since Trumps victory. The president said he spoke with Trump and ensured a peaceful and orderly transition, because thats what the people deserve.

Biden also set out to assure the American people that the U.S. election system is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent. And it can be trusted, win or lose.

Setbacks are unavoidable, he said about his political partys defeat, but giving up is unforgivable.

Read More: The FBI Thwarted a Racist Terror Plot in Nashville

Project 2025 seeks to dismantle the civil rights agenda of the past half a century, Omar Wasow, an assistant professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley, told Capital B.

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A Trump White House shaped by it, he continued, could create a political future where its not out of the question that Black communities and other vulnerable groups rely on something like a Green Book to help them navigate a hostile country.

And to be clear, were already seeing versions of this, Wasow said. If you have a transgender kid, youre thinking about where you can live. If youre pregnant, you might be thinking about where you have to travel to get an abortion without getting prosecuted.

Propelled not by Black voters but by his overwhelmingly-white base, Trump had become even more unhinged, increasingly leaning into vile threats. Over just the past several weeks, hes said that Harris is dumb as a rock and that former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who endorsed Harris, is a deranged person who ought to have guns trained on her face.

Read More: What Trumps Second Term Could Look Like for Black Americans

I just think that [this race] is important, not only for the kids future, but for womens also. I think that its important for the womens rights that were fighting for, Shiney Pittman, a New Orleans native, told Capital B on Election Day, referring to the anger that many women feel as Republican leaders turn back the clock on reproductive rights. I always vote, no matter whats going on around me  no matter if I live in a Republican state.

It all came down to the Blue Wall states

Awaiting the results on early Wednesday, Black Americans across the country were white-knuckling: There was a laser focus on the Blue Wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin  and specifically on the urban centers of Detroit, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee.

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But Harris didnt seem to enjoy the margins in these critical cities that President Joe Biden had in 2020.

That anxiety only compounded what had been a nerve-racking Election Day. Bomb scares briefly interrupted voting at two polling places in Union City, a majority-Black area located right outside of Atlanta.

While the FBI and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said that these were just hoaxes, possibly perpetrated by Russian operatives, Black voters were still worried about the simmering threat of political violence.

I think that its impossible to have witnessed the climate leading up to this election and not have concerns about the direction of this country, Janai Nelson, the president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, told Capital B, noting that the Jan. 6 insurrection continues to loom large in many peoples minds.

Read More: Black Polling Precincts in Atlanta Receive Bomb Threats

Sekou Franklin, a political scientist at Middle Tennessee State University, echoed some of these thoughts.

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He said that he feared that Trump, by repeatedly lying that Democrats had rigged the vote, was whipping into a frenzy white nationalist groups such as the Proud Boys.

Theres been some signaling that hes done to these groups, which he also did in 2020, Franklin told Capital B. Now, whether or not thats going to break through and force political violence depends upon a lot of the factors, he added. Historically, political violence has been a mainstay of American politics, he said.

On Election Day, Trump spread lies on social media that there was voter fraud in majority-Black Philadelphia. Additionally, throughout this election cycle, conservative leaders sought to use disinformation as a means to suppress Black voter turnout.

This fraud narrative fueled the stop the steal and stop the count rhetoric in 2020 and ultimately led to the assault on the Capitol.

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Even so, Harris, Democrats, and civil rights organizers worked tirelessly during the campaign to keep voters informed about the state of the election.

There were so many groups countering disinformation, especially Black women groups such as Win With Black Women and Higher Heights, Sharon Austin, a political scientist at the University of Florida, told Capital B. Those groups mounted social media campaigns to help disseminate correct information.

Austin added that these efforts will be just as valuable in the days and weeks ahead, as Trump likely spins a tale.

We know that thats what he is  who he is, Austin said.

Staff writers Adam Mahoney and Aallyah Wright contributed to this report.

This story has been updated.

The post A Trump Win, Against the Will of Black Voters appeared first on Capital B News.
The News

Hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Donald Trump for winning the US presidential election, he faced domestic political turmoil and protests in Tel Aviv over his dismissal of defense minister Yoav Gallant.

Netanyahu said in a video that he had lost trust in Gallant and that there were significant gaps in his leadership over the war in Gaza. Gallant was largely seen as a moderate voice in Netanyahus right-wing government and had called for a refocus of the wars objectives, which Netanyahu had described as bizarre. Gallant will be replaced by the current foreign minister Israel Katz.

SIGNALS

Gallant dismissal consolidates power for Netanyahu

Source: The Times of Israel

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While Netanyahus decision to fire Gallant  condemned by Israeli opposition leaders as an act of madness  will help him consolidate political power, it will be divisive and devastating for Israel, the editor-in-chief of The Times of Israel, David Horovitz wrote. Netanyahu removed Gallant to accommodate the far-right members of his coalition who bitterly disagreed with the former defense minister over ultra-Orthodox conscription and a hostage deal with Hamas. Gallants replacement, Israel Katz, is expected to toe Netanyahus line on these issues. With the move, Netanyahu has put his political survival above the most fundamental interests of the state, Horovitz argued.

Netanyahu welcomes an unpredictable Trump presidency

Sources: The New York Times, The Guardian

Israeli leaders were among the worlds first to congratulate Donald Trump on winning the US election, and Netanyahus right-wing government welcomed his victory as if it had just won the election itself, The New York Times wrote. Trumps win is also a dramatic win for Netanyahu, and could reshape the map of the Middle East, The Guardians world affairs editor wrote, because it removes a substantial barrier to Israels full control and potential annexation of at least part of Gaza and the West Bank. Some in Israels far-right annexationist wing hailed Trumps victory as a historical momentfor the settlement movement. But one Israeli expert told the Times that even though Netanyahu prefers Trumps unpredictability over Kamala Harris, Trump can easily turn on us in seconds.
US Republican candidate Donald Trump has told a local radio station in Pennsylvania that if he wins the key state he will win "the whole deal."

"If we win Pennsylvania, we win the whole deal," Trump told the Rich Zeoli Show on Philadelphia's Talk Radio 1210 WPHT.

"We're going to make this country greater than ever before, but you have to stay in line," Trump continued.

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"And don't let them slow ball you. You have an absolute legal right and get that vote in because if we win Pennsylvania, if we win the good old Commonwealth, we're going to win the whole thing. We win everything," Trump said.

Pennsylvania is seen by both Trump and his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, as must-win as they both seek to capture the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

Victory in the north-eastern state would give either of them 19 electoral votes - the most of any of the seven so-called swing states that are likely to determine who goes to the White House.

Polls in Pennsylvania closed at 8 pm (0100 GMT) but voters in line at that time will still be allowed to cast their ballots.
(Bloomberg) -- Shares of long-moribund preferred stock issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac surged on Wednesday amid speculation that Donald Trump will free the housing finance agencies from their crisis-era conservatorship.

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A $6 billion perpetual issue by Freddie Mac sold back in 2007 jumped as much as 70%, its highest in more than three years. Fannie Maes $7 billion series issued around the same time soared almost 68% from its pre-election close.

Trumps return to the White House is reviving the prospect of preferred stockholders getting some money back after the US took control of the agencies during the 2008 financial crisis to keep the housing market from collapsing. Restoring them to the private sector could mean the end of curbs on payments to investors, which were imposed by the US after it bailed out the government-backed agencies. Holders have complained the US unfairly diverted profits to itself even after Fannie and Freddie had returned to health.

The re-election of former President Donald Trump revives the effort to get Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac out of government conservatorship, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Ben Elliott wrote in a note. However, a long process lies ahead and release remains at best a 2026-27 prospect, he wrote.

Fannie Maes other preferred stock series rise between 45% and 66% on Wednesday, with Freddie Mac shares up between 20% and 62%, based on data compiled by Bloomberg.

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The bailouts of the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation were among the most controversial events of the global financial crisis. They stopped paying dividends on their preferred shares in September 2008, effectively turning those holdings into dead weight for investors because the shares pay no dividends, and they never have to be repaid since they are perpetual.

Freeing them from conservancy was an idea pushed during Trumps first administration by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria, their chief regulator at the time. The effort flagged amid concern about disrupting the housing market.

US Aid

Fannie and Freddie dont make mortgages, but they underpin the bulk of the US housing market. They buy home loans from lenders, wrap them into securities and guarantee repayment of principal and interest to investors. The federal government took control of the companies during the 2008 crisis and ultimately bailed them out with around $187.5 billion as defaults mounted.

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Last year, a federal jury awarded $612 million to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac investors, including common and preferred holders, ruling that the FHFA acted arbitrarily or unreasonably to collect hundreds of billions of dollars in profits from the mortgage firms.

Some of the biggest hedge funds whose leaders are among Trumps supporters have been among those advocating for Fannie and Freddie to be released from government ownership, the Wall Street Journal reported in September.

Moodys Ratings maintained its Ca rating  10 steps below investment-grade  on Fannie Maes junior preferreds earlier this year to reflect the lack of dividends and recovery rate expectations between 35% and 65%.

(Updates with moves in other shares in fifth paragraph, jury ruling in ninth.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Former President Donald Trump has been elected to another term, securing at least 270 electoral votes needed the win the presidency. His tally could increase as more ballots are cast.

So when will he be sworn in? Will Vice President Kamala Harris concede? Here are answers to many of the election-related questions you may have.

Donald Trump wins. What happens next?

With Election Day over, the process of transforming unofficial election results into certified outcomes begins.

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In Michigan, the state's 83 bipartisan county boards of canvassers must certify election results in the 14 days after the election takes place. After that, Michigan's Board of State Canvassers will meet to certify the statewide results. The state board has 20 days until after the election to certify the results, which makes this year's deadline Nov. 25.

Next, the Michigan's presidential electors must convene at 2 p.m. in the Michigan Senate chamber on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December after the election. This year, that's Dec. 17. On that day, they will formally cast their votes for president and vice president.

On Jan. 6, Congress will meet to tally the Electoral College votes. Here's more on how the process works.

Former President Donald Trump is interviewed by U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 at Macomb Community College in Warren.

When does Donald Trump take office?

The next inauguration ceremony planned by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies includes the swearing-in, the inaugural address and a review of the troops.The inauguration will be held on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S Capitol building in Washington D.C.

Has Kamala Harris conceded?

Harris canceled a planned speech at an election night party at Howard University. Reuters reported that she will concede in a speech Wednesday evening.

Can Donald Trump run again in 2028?

With a Trump win in this election, he is prohibited from running again, says the 22nd Amendment.

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This constitutional amendment establishes term limits and prohibits one person from serving more than two terms as president.

Though some supporters have voiced interest in the idea of Trump serving an additional term beyond the two-term limit, any efforts to repeal or modify the 22nd Amendment would require an extensive constitutional amendment process. Such an amendment would need approval from two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures, making it a formidable political and legislative challenge.

Clara Hendrickson contributed.

Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump wins 2024 election: Can he run again in 2028?
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Former president Donald Trump has won the White House and Republicans have taken control of the Senate.

Decision Desk HQ projects former president Donald Trump will pick up the 270 electoral votes needed to win the race.

Trump thanked supporters as he declared victory in West Palm Beach, Florida early Wednesday.

I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president, said Trump.

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Trumps running mate Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio.) joined him on stage.

I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America, said Vance.

The Trump-Vance ticket won the battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia.

While at Vice President Kamala Harriss watch party, Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond told her supporters at Howard University in Washington, D.C., the vice president would come back Wednesday to speak.

We will continue overnight to fight to make sure every vote is counted, said Richmond.

When it comes to power in Congress Republicans have taken control of the Senate.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says hes optimistic Republicans will keep control in the House.

When we win this thing and I think we will, and not to put the cart of the horse, but were going to be prepared to lead, said Johnson.

Trump is currently ahead in the popular vote by about five million votes right now.

Hes on track to be the first Republican in two decades to win both the Electoral College and popular vote.

The last Republican to do that was former president George W. Bush.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Former President Trump has won the state of Alaska and its three Electoral College votes in the 2024 presidential election, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ.

Alaska has gone to the Republican presidential candidate in each election since 1964.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is the projected winner in the battleground state of Georgia.

The state's 16 electoral votes lend Trump a significant advantage in the race against Democratic challenger Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump's latest win narrows Harris's path to the 270 electoral votes required to secure the White House, requiring her to prevail in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

In U.S. presidential elections, a candidate does not have to win a majority of the popular vote, but a majority of electoral votes, which are allocated per state based on population.

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The election is expected to come down to pivotal races in a handful of states, including Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona. Trump was recently declared the projected winner in the swing state of North Carolina.

Trump and Harris campaigned aggressively in Georgia, both making appearances in the state in the days leading up to the election. The state has become increasingly competitive in recent years, transforming from a Republican stronghold to a hotly contested battleground.

Georgia voted Republican in the majority of presidential races from 1972 through 2016. In 2020, U.S. President Joe Biden defeated Trump by just 0.2%, the narrowest victory margin in the election.

Voting in Georgia on Nov. 5 was impacted by bomb threats at polling stations. U.S. intelligence officials are investigating an email account with a Russian internet domain as the possible source of non-credible threats in Georgia, CNN reported.

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Some polling centers in heavily Democratic districts in the state were evacuated due to bomb threats. Voting hours were extended at these sites to account for the disruption.

U.S. intelligence agencies have sounded the alarm on Russian election interference for months, with officials warning that disruption attempts might escalate on election day.

The election result will have a profound impact on the Russia-Ukraine war. While Harris has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight for independence, many fear that Trump would cut a deal with Moscow, possibly at the cost of painful concessions for Ukraine.

Read also: Russia stepping up election interference as US citizens head to polls, intelligence agencies warn

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wins the battleground state of Georgia, US broadcasters NBC, CBS and CNN project.

Trump won the south-eastern state, and the 16 electoral votes that come with it, in 2016, but Joe Biden flipped it in 2020.

The win for Trump means that the path to the White House has narrowed further for his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, after the battleground state of North Carolina was also called for the Republican candidate.
Donald Trump is the projected winner in the battleground U.S. state of Pennsylvania, worth 19 Electoral College votes.

This puts Trump only four electoral votes from the 270 needed to secure the victory.

Pennsylvania, a pivotal swing state with a large Ukrainian population, has played a key role in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The candidates have campaigned aggressively in the state, with both Trump and Harris holding dueling rallies there the night before election day.

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Harris reportedly spent the entire day in Pennsylvania on the eve of the election, knocking on doors and leading five rallies throughout the state.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine became a defining issue on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania. Harris supporters ran ads in the state highlighting her commitment to Kyiv in hopes of winning votes from the traditionally conservative Eastern European community.

During the Sept. 10 presidential debate, held in Pennsylvania, Harris appealed directly to the state's Polish-American community while accusing Trump of currying favor with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Why don't you tell the 800,000 Polish Americans right here in Pennsylvania how quickly you would give up for the sake of favor and what you think is a friendship with what is known to be a dictator who would eat you for lunch," she said.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky even visited Pennsylvania ahead of the November election, touring the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant  located in U.S. President Joe Biden's hometown  to thank workers for producing critically-needed 155 mm shells for Ukraine.

Zelensky's visit drew ire from U.S. Republicans, who claimed the trip constituted "election interference."

The Trump campaign had also planned a joint appearance in Pennsylvania with a foreign leader. Trump was expected to appear with Polish President Andrzej Duda at a monument at a Polish-American Roman Catholic shrine near Philadelphia, but the event was reportedly canceled.

Presidential elections in the U.S. are not determined by popular vote, but by a majority of votes in the Electoral College. Each state delivers a set number of votes based on population, and the candidate who wins the majority in that state typically receives that state's total electoral votes.

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Historically a tossup state, Pennsylvania's electoral votes went to Democrats in the six presidential elections leading up to 2016. The state flipped for Trump in 2016, but Biden won by 1.2% in 2020.

Read also: Ukraines diaspora loudly backs Harris, quietly behind Trump in swing state Pennsylvania

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Donald Trump won Dearborn and made significant gains in Hamtramck compared to 2020 amid anger in Arab American and Muslim communities about deaths in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen. The two cities, which have the highest percentage of Arab Americans among all cities in the United States, were courted by Trump and his campaign as the former president visited both places in recent weeks.

In Dearborn, where 55% of the residents are of Middle Eastern descent, Trump won with 42.48% of the vote over Vice President Kamala Harris, who received 36.26%, according to results, with 100% of precincts counted, provided to the Free Press from City Clerk George Darany. Jill Stein received 18.37% of the vote. Voter turnout in Dearborn was smaller compared to 2020.

Trump also won in Dearborn Heights, where 39% of the residents are of Middle Eastern descent, defeating Harris 44% to 38.3%, with Stein at 15.1%.

Voters cast ballots on Nov. 5, 2024, at Salina Intermediate School in Dearborn, Michigan.

In the November 2020 election, Biden received 68.8% in Dearborn while Trump received 29.9%. Muslim voters interviewed Tuesday at polling sites said they were disappointed with the Biden administration's support for Israel's attacks and also preferred Trump's views on economics.

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"We have to fix our problems here in America," Nagi Almudhegi, of Dearborn, said outside Salina Intermediate School. "If you're a parent, you want to take care of your family. You want to take care of your children first, before you go and take care of your neighbors and somebody overseas or abroad. It's just logical common sense. ... The leaders of the United States have to take care of the citizens of the United States. Why are we worried about every single problem in the world when we have so many systemic issues here in the U.S.?"

In Dearborn, where Lebanese Americans make up the largest group among its Arab population, there has been outrage in recent weeks over Israel's attacks in Lebanon that have led to deaths and displacement affecting many families in Dearborn. Mosques were packed in recent weeks in Dearborn with memorials for the dead.

More: Trump, Harris vie for Arab American, Muslim votes in Michigan as Yemenis gain spotlight

In November 2020, Biden crushed Trump with 88% of the vote in the two precincts in the south end of Dearborn, the area Almudhegi was speaking from Tuesday. Trump only got 10.6% there in 2020, but was expected to win that area in yesterday's election, according to precinct results of election day voting. The anger towards the Democrats was already seen in the February presidential primary, when Biden received only 4% of the vote in the south end while 'Uncommitted' got 91% of the vote.

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Trump visited a halal cafe in Dearborn on Friday, meeting with Arab Americans and vowing to bring peace of the Middle East. The former president visited Hamtramck on Oct. 18 to rally with Arab Americans after Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib had endorsed him.

In Hamtramck, Trump also had a substantial increase in support, but Harris won the working-class city that has the highest percentage of immigrants among cities in Michigan. In November 2020, Biden won Hamtramck, winning with 85.4% of the vote over Trump, who only got 13.4%.

Voters cast ballots at Hamtramck High School in Hamtramck, Michigan, on November 5, 2024.

With 100% of the vote counted, Harris got 46.2% in Tuesday's election in Hamtramck, a significant decrease from Biden's 85% four years ago, while Trump got 42.7% and Jill Stein was at 8.96%, according to results provided to the Free Press by City Clerk Rana Faraj.

Mohammed Alam has been a loyal Democrat for decades and active in the party, but said he voted for Trump because the "Biden Harris administration failed to take any prompt action" to stop Israel's attacks against Palestinians. Alam, an immigrant from Bangladesh who spoke Tuesday at Hamtramck High School, said he was also disappointed with Biden's policies in Bangladesh, where its political leader, Sheikh Hasina, was forced out in August.

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Asm "Kamal" Rahman, of Hamtramck, is a Democrat but voted for Trump because of tax and economic issues, saying he will help manufacturing and workers in Hamtramck. He's also upset over deaths in Gaza.

"The Muslim community is united in principle against the Biden Harris administration, especially for the genocide," he said.

More: Trump meets Arab Americans in Dearborn, vows to bring peace in Middle East

Ghalib had strongly urged his followers to support Trump, writing in a statement Tuesday: "Whoever loves, supports, and trusts our leadership, vote Trump. Please go out and vote, its an opportunity for our community to advance to the top. Dont lose this opportunity. If you trust my leadership, please vote for Trump."

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But three members of the Hamtramck city council, including Councilman Mohammed Hassan, came out in support of Harris, holding a car rally and gathering in support of Harris on Oct. 26, the same day Trump held a rally in Novi in which he brought out Muslim leaders on stage with him. The overthrow this summer of Prime Minister Hasina in Bangladesh, who was often criticized by Biden officials, also may have played a role in helping Harris eke out a victory in Hamtramck. Hassan, an immigrant from Bangladesh, and some other Bangladeshi American voters had opposed Hasina. The Biden administration strongly supported the new government in Bangladesh led by Muhammad Yunus that opposed Hasina. Another city councilman of Bangladeshi descent, Abu Musa, supported Hasina and endorsed Trump.

The three mayors with the highest percentage of Arab Americans  Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck  did not endorse Harris. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud did not endorse any candidate, Ghalib backed Trump and Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi endorsed Trump, appearing on stage with him in Novi. Ghalib and Bazzi spoke at Trump's last campaign rally Monday night in Grand Rapids.

In Dearborn, there was frustration with the Democrats before the war in Gaza, as protesters demonstrated against some LGBTQ+ books in public schools they saw too explicit, resulting in Democrats losing support in heavily-Muslim precincts in Dearborn in November 2022.

While Trump won Dearborn, Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator, lost to U.S. Rep Elissa Slotkin, the Democratic nominee. Slotkin received 41% of the vote, Rogers, 39% and Douglas Marsh of the Green Party got 15%.

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Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump wins Dearborn, makes gains in Hamtramck amid anger over Gaza
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Republican Donald Trump has defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris to win the 2024 presidential election.

Former President Trump will return for a second term in the White House, four years after losing his initial reelection bid to Joe Biden in 2020.

Click here for election results

Voters chose between two conflicting visions of the United States offered by Trump and Harris. Both candidates said their approach would do more to lift up workers and the middle class.

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Trump wants to undertake a mass deportation of undocumented migrants who are living in the U.S., extend and expand his 2017 tax cuts, greatly increase tariffs, and offer more support for fossil fuels and less support for renewable energy. Trump has pledged to end Russias war with Ukraine while suggesting Ukraine must make territorial concessions.

Harris supported middle-class tax cuts, tax increases on the wealthy and corporations, a restoration of abortion rights, a government that aggressively addresses climate change, and a commitment to uphold democratic values and the rule of law.

Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee after the president dropped out of the race in July.

House balance of power: Live updates with 2024 election results

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Trump will be inaugurated as president on Jan. 20, 2025.

Trumps vice presidential running mate, JD Vance, is a 40-year-old U.S. senator from Ohio.

Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Former President Donald Trump has won Georgia, NBC News projects, notching a victory in a key battleground state that his campaign focused on as a must-win after he narrowly lost it in 2020.

Its a major win for Republicans who had sought to restore the states longtime status as a Republican stronghold following Joe Bidens victory there in 2020  as well as runoff wins by Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the months afterward.

And it marks a turnaround since Trumps efforts to overturn his loss in Georgia four years ago  when he urged Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find the 11,782 votes necessary for him to win the state  became the foundation of a criminal racketeering indictment filed against him in Fulton County last year. That case is still ongoing.

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Trumps Georgia win over Vice President Kamala Harris doesnt clinch a path back to the White House, but it does put him in position for a return if he can flip several other swing states Biden won four years ago. Biden was the first Democrat to win the state since Bill Clinton in 1992. Trump carried it in 2016.

Trumps campaign sought to beat back Democratic gains in metro Atlanta while also maximizing turnout in smaller, rural areas. It was buoyed by an energized and loyal base of Republican county chairs and elected officials, who put on a steady drumbeat of campaign events long before Trump ramped up his activity in the state.

Trump visited Georgia six times this year, holding rallies in Rome, Savannah and Atlanta.

The campaign also worked to peel Black supporters, particularly men, away from the Democratic Party. Trump attended a Black Business Leaders Roundtable in August intended to boost his appeal among the group.

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While the NBC News Exit Poll didn't show Trump making significant gains among Black voters, the results early Wednesday found him making moderate inroads among Hispanic voters in the state  a much smaller share of the electorate but one that appears to have shifted toward Trump across many key states.

Trump also enjoyed the support of popular Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who began appearing with him toward the end of the election cycle after having distancing himself from Trump amid his criticisms of the state election process. Kemp endorsed Trump in a Fox News interview in August.

Trump had backed a primary challenger against Kemp in 2022, part of a revenge tour against Republicans who didnt aid his efforts to overturn the election, but Kemp won renomination and re-election.

Its part of Trumps tortured history with the state. Some Republicans also blame his falsehoods about the results of the 2020 election for creating a Republican turnout dip in subsequent elections, including the 2020 runoffs that flipped the Senate to Democrats and the 2022 midterm Senate race in which Warnock won a full term over Trump-backed Herschel Walker.

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Unlike four years ago, when exit polls showed Biden winning independents by 53% to 44% in Georgia, Trump appears to be winning independent voters this time, according to the latest data early Wednesday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Former President Donald Trump has won Georgia in the 2024 presidential election and taken its 16 electoral votes, according to CNN and MSNBC.



The state was highly coveted by both Trump and Kamala Harris, and Trumps win gives the former president a total of 246 electoral votes, closer to the 270 total needed to win the White House. Kamala Harris has 189 votes.

Trump is leading 50.8 percent to Harriss 48.5 percent according to the APs count thus far, possibly thanks a pro-Trump takeover of the state elections board. Trump also had bad blood with the states Republican Governor Brian Kemp over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state, but still got Kemps endorsement in the end.



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Trumps victory returns the state to a Republican presidential candidate, as was the case when he won the Peach State in 2016. In 2020, Joe Biden pulled off a rare victory when he won the state by 11,779 votes, or a 0.2 percent margin. Republicans had won the state in every other presidential election since 1984, with the exception of 1992, when southern Democrat Bill Clinton was on the ballot.

Trump will be glad to have won Georgia, especially after his fake elector scheme failed in 2020. The former president and convicted felon has already pulled off victories in the battleground state of North Carolina. Results in the remaining battleground states have yet to be announced.


Voters lined up on Election Day at the Scott County Public Library precinct in Georgetown, on Nov. 5, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

Former President Donald Trump has again won Kentuckys eight electoral votes.

The Associated Press called Kentucky for the Republican presidential nominee shortly after polls closed Tuesday in the states Central Time Zone.

Trump was leading Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris by approximately 31 percentage points with nearly all of Kentuckys 120 counties reporting, according to unofficial results from the State Board of Elections, .

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Unofficial results show turnout in the election at 58.83% of Kentuckys approximately 3.5 million registered voters, shy of the turnout of 60.3% in the 2020 general election.

Trumps win in the Bluegrass State was expected, given the former presidents victories of more than 25 percentage points in Kentucky in 2020 and 2016. In his two earlier races, Trump won all but the two largest of Kentuckys 120 counties, Jefferson and Fayette, home to Louisville and Lexington. Unofficial results show he again won all counties except for Jefferson and Fayette.

The Republican Party of Kentucky wrote in a post on X: Kentucky voters have spoken and sent a clear message: Kentucky is Trump country!

Republicans also easily held onto five of Kentuckys six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats fielded no candidates against Republican U.S. Reps. Thomas Massie and Hal Rogers. Democratic U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, representing Kentuckys lone Democratic-leaning congressional district in Louisville, won a second term.

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The Associated Press has called victories in Kentuckys congressional races for:

Republican Rep. James Comer over Democrat Erin Marshall in the 1st Congressional District.

Republican Rep. Brett Guthrie over Democrat Hank Linderman in the 2nd Congressional District.

McGarvey over Republican Mike Craven in the 3rd Congressional district.

Republican Rep. Andy Barr over Democrat Randy Cravens in the 6th Congressional District.

This story will be updated.
Donald Trump has won North Carolina, securing 50.8 percent of the vote over Vice President Kamala Harris.

Its the third time in a row that the Tar Heel State has sided with the MAGA leader since he entered national politics in 2016. That year, Trump convinced North Carolinians to turn out en masse for him, winning by a margin of nearly four percent, with more than 177,000 votes over Hillary Clinton. But that level of support crumbled after Trump spent four years in office, after which he won the swing state by just 1.3 percent over President Joe Biden.

The outcome in North Carolina brings Trump to 230 electoral votes. He needs just 40 votes more to return to the White House.
Former President Trump has won the presidency, securing a second term nearly four years after he left Washington under a cloud of ignominy and with an uncertain political future, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

DDHQ made the call after declaring Trump the projected winner of Pennsylvania and Alaska, bringing him to exactly 270 electoral votes.

Trump defeated Vice President Harris in an election that saw a number of unexpected developments: a criminal trial involving Trump during the campaign, two assassination attempts against the former president and a change atop the Democratic ticket after President Biden dropped out of the race.

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He becomes the first president in more than 120 years and the second ever to lose the White House and then come back to win it again, after President Cleveland in 1892.

Trump secured the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House following a roughly 100-day sprint of a campaign between him and Harris, with polling in seven key battleground states showing very little separation between the two candidates right up until Election Day.

The former president ultimately won a convincing victory, flipping Georgia back into his column, holding North Carolina and shattering the blue wall. He was projected to narrowly win the popular vote, something he failed to do in 2016 and that Republicans have only done once since 1992.

The former president and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), capitalized on voter discontent with higher costs, a surge in migration at the southern border and instability abroad during the Biden administration to pitch voters on a return to his policies.

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Exit polls showed Trump making huge gains with Latino voters, bolstering his margins in rural areas and running nearly even with Harris among young men, a demographic Trumps campaign aggressively courted.

Trump has pledged to carry out the largest deportation operation in the nations history, to extend the tax cuts he signed into law in 2017, to impose universal tariffs on foreign imports, to roll back protections for transgender youth, to shut down the Education Department and to curb environmental regulations. He has also signaled he will seek to stock his administration with loyalists.

Trump overcame what was expected to be a huge deficit with female voters. Harris leaned in to the issue of abortion rights after three of Trumps picks for the Supreme Court joined its other conservatives in overturning the Roe v. Wade decision in 2022. This was the first presidential election to take place since the end of Roe.

The election of Trump could present him and the GOP a chance to strengthen the conservative grip on the high court, as Republicans also regained the majority in the Senate.

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Trump narrowly won the White House in 2016 but lost his reelection bid in 2020. He spent the weeks after that election pushing unproven claims of widespread fraud, culminating in a violent attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters tried to stop the certification of Bidens victory.

He was indicted on federal charges in Washington, D.C., in 2023 over his efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. But Trump has signaled he will swiftly move to fire special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing that prosecution, kneecapping a major legal case against him.

Trumps rhetoric and conduct during his first term has drawn scrutiny from several former Cabinet officials and top aides, including some who compared him to an authoritarian. He was indicted in four separate jurisdictions in 2023 and was convicted in New York City on 34 felony counts in May. He was impeached twice during his first term and left office with a favorability rating below 40 percent. And he left Washington in 2021 without attending his successors inauguration.

A number of politicians and pundits all but declared him politically dead, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) lashing out at Trump in a February 2021 speech from the Senate floor. McConnell did not vote to convict Trump in his impeachment trial over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, however.

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If Trump had been convicted in that impeachment, it could have ended his political career and prevented him from running for the White House again. Instead, he now stands to further shift the GOP in his image, while McConnells tenure as Senate leader will end in January.

In a sign of how wrong some were in predicting Trumps political demise, he coasted to the GOP nomination thanks to a loyal base of supporters, and he appeared to be on a glide path to the presidency in July, when he survived an assassination attempt, rallied the full force of the party behind him at the GOP national convention and led Biden in the polls.

But the incumbent dropped out later that month and was replaced by Harris, who galvanized Democratic voters and raised record sums of money. Trump struggled initially to respond to the change in opponent, and his rocky performance at a September debate further frustrated Republicans as the race tightened.

Trump gained in the polls in the closing weeks of the campaign, however, showing strength among Black and Latino voters. Both are key voting blocs that helped propel him to victory.

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His campaign relied on a previously untested strategy of partnering with outside groups to reach voters in battleground states, a method that managed to overcome the stronger infrastructure of the Harris campaign.

At 78, Trump is the oldest person in the countrys history to be elected president, slightly older than Biden was in 2020. He has declined to release detailed medical records despite previously saying he would have no problem doing so.

Trump will become just the second president in the nations history to serve two nonconsecutive terms, but will be term limited by the 22nd Amendment, meaning he cannot seek reelection in 2028.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Native Vote 2024. WASHINGTON  Donald Trump has been projected by The Associated Press to win enough Electoral College votes to win a second term and become the 47th president of the United States. With his win, he made history by being the first candidate convicted on criminal charges to be elected president of the United States. He defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the second woman to be defeated for the nation's highest elective office. Trump beat former secretary Hillary Clinton in 2016.

The AP's projection came shortly after 5:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday when Wisonsin's 10 electoral votes put Trump over the top.

As Election Night continued into the wee hours of Wednesday, the crowd gathered at Harris' event at Howard University began to dwindle as results showed Harris' pathway became elusive. Then around 1 a.m., Harris's campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond addressed the crowd and said: 'We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue, overnight, to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken. So you wont hear from the vice-president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow."

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Down the east coast in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trumps supporters, clad in "Make America Great Again" gear, danced and cheered to a playlist of his political rally songs, including the Village Peoples "YMCA."

"Frankly, this is, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time... and now it's going to reach a new level of importance," Trump declared shortly before 2 a.m. "Look at what happenedthis is crazy! But its a political victory unlike anything our country has ever seen."

The 2024 presidential election was Trump's third run for the presidency. This year's victory was the first time he won the popular vote. Shortly after 8 a.m. on Wednesday Trump led with 71,202,731 votes (51.0%) to Harris' 66,257,069 votes (47.5%) with votes being tallied in some states.

Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to an adult-film star alleging an affair with the former president. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26 in a New York courtroom even as the presidential transition will be underway.

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Trump will be sworn in on January 20, 2025.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has won the state of Kansas Tuesday in the 2024 General Election.

The Associated Press (AP) is reporting that Trump has beaten Democratic candidate Vice-President Kamala Harris in the Sunflower State. Kansas gives Trump six votes in the Electoral College.

The Associated Press is reporting 84% of the total votes for Kansas counted at 10:45 p.m. on Nov. 5. Current totals include:

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Donald Trump 645,355  56%

Kamala Harris 486,553  42.2%



For a full list of election results from area races, click here.

Possibility of married couple serving in the Kansas Legislature ends

For more Kansas election news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, campaigns on Nov. 2, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina, while the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, speaks to a crowd in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Nov. 4, 2024. (Getty photos, of Harris by Justin Sullivan and of Trump by Chip Somodevilla)

WASHINGTON  The Associated Press projected that former President Donald Trump has won North Carolina, the first of seven key swing states to be called, as results in the 2024 race between the former president and Vice President Kamala Harris continued to pour in.

The East Coast state was ravaged by Hurricane Helene just two months before Election Day, and Trump campaigned on false statements that the federal government did not send disaster aid to the region.

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The former president racked up 230 Electoral College votes overall nationally compared to Harris 192 just after 11:30 p.m. Eastern, according to The Associated Press projections. A total of 270 votes are needed to win.

Projections had not yet been made for other battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

With the call in North Carolina, and preliminary results in Georgia that seemed to favor Trump, Harris path to the White House appeared to require a sweep of the Northern battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In a memo sent to campaign staff just before 11 p.m. Eastern and obtained by States Newsroom, Harris campaign manager Jen OMalley Dillon said the campaign had always focused on that route to victory.

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While we continue to see data trickle in from the Sun Belt states, we have known all along that our clearest path to 270 electoral votes lies through the Blue Wall states, she wrote. And we feel good about what were seeing.

Earlier projections

The AP had already projected Trump wins in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. The former president also gained a portion of electoral votes in Nebraska, one of two states that is not winner-take-all.

Harris gained California, Oregon, Washington and one of Maines electoral votes as of 11 p.m. Eastern, according to the AP and Decision Desk HQ projections, after already having picked up Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont earlier in the evening.

All results are unofficial until local election officials across the country verify and certify the outcome in the coming days and weeks.

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The process of counting ballots and determining a winner could take several more days.

Election night drew to a close an extraordinary campaign season defined by Trumps divisive rhetoric, his numerous criminal cases and two attempts on his life. The race took an unprecedented turn when President Joe Biden, following a disastrous debate performance, dropped his reelection bid with just over 100 days until the election, jolting the Trump camp to pivot to Harris.

A very exciting time

As projections began rolling in, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform reminders about poll closure times. The former president was spending election night at his Palm Beach, Florida, residence.

Harris was spending election night at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington, D.C., where her supporters gathered.

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Lalika Gerald, a Howard graduate from 2005, remembers studying T.V. production in the library that is now overlooking an election night rally for potentially the first Black woman to lead the country.

Its a very exciting time just to be here and to know that a Bison like myself is about to be our president, she said, referring to the universitys mascot.

The 41-year-old from Prince Georges County, Maryland, said she has felt a roller coaster of emotions throughout the day.

As excited and as hopeful as I am, you know you never know what might happen, she said. Its a moment for us to be really seen.

In the states

States Newsroom journalists fanned out across the country Tuesday, talking to voters outside churches, community centers, schools and courthouses, where the presidential race not only weighed on their minds, but congressional contests and ballot initiatives as well.

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Voter Stephanie Capps in Raleigh, North Carolina, said she brought her 9-year-old daughter to the polls to show her democracy in action.

Because a little over 100 years ago, women couldnt vote, Capps told NC Newsline. And so, we talked about how its really important for her to learn to vote.

The presidential campaigns continued to hit swing states, speak to the press and issue statements reminding voters of their rights.

Harris stayed in Washington, D.C, where she called in to several radio shows in battleground states. According to her campaign, she was a guest on Power 99 in Philadelphia with Cappuchino and KDKA NewsRadio in Pittsburgh with Larry Richert, the Big Tigger Morning Show in Atlanta, Georgia and Foxy 107.2 with Karen Clark in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Im proud to have a lot of support out of Pittsburgh, its a historic city, Harris told Richert, who asked about her 10 campaign visits to the western Pennsylvania city.

Harris running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz stopped in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Tuesday where he spoke to supporters and volunteers.

Walz told reporters after the event I think the choice couldnt be starker.

Trump, from his Mar-a-Lago estate, posted a video message to voters on his platform Truth Social reminding them to remain in line if they arrive before polls close.

Republicans, were doing very well. Stay on line, dont get off line, and vote. Make sure you get through and vote. Were gonna have a big victory tonight, Trump said.

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Trumps running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, spoke to reporters after voting in Cincinnati.

Look, I feel good. You never know until you know, but I feel good about this race, he said.

Biden, who was the presumed Democratic nominee until he dropped his reelection bid and endorsed Harris just over 100 days ago, did not make any public appearances Tuesday.

Ariana Figueroa contributed to this report.
Signage is pictured at an election night event hosted by the Utah Republican Party in Draper, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

This ongoing report of Utah election results was updated at 10:40 p.m.

Former President Donald Trump has won Utah, as expected, in his bid to return to the White House.

Preliminary results that dropped about 10:15 p.m. showed Trump with 54% of the vote over Vice President Kamala Harris 43%. Meanwhile, The Associated Press quickly called the race for Trump moments after polls closed, despite no results being released.

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While Trump has now carried the Beehive State in each of his three presidential runs, reliably conservative Utah has shown some hesitation about the brash businessmans rude and crude attitude, awarding him just 46% support in 2016 as a chunk of Utahns instead gave their vote to independent candidate Evan McMullin.

McMullin, however, ultimately came in third with 22% of the vote behind Democrat Hillary Clinton, who claimed 28%.

Trump won Utah by a larger margin in 2020, securing 58% of votes to Joe Bidens 38%, even as Biden went on to win the presidency.

The question of how much mild-mannered Utah is willing to embrace Trumps MAGA-style politics has been repeatedly asked over the past eight years. It was on display again in this years primary election as Republican voters chose Gov. Spencer Cox, seeking reelection, and U.S. Rep. John Curtis as he pursued outgoing U.S. Sen. Mitt Romneys seat over their Trump-styled opponents.

Meanwhile, Cox, who had not voted for a major presidential candidate since Romneys White House run in 2012, publicly offered his support to Trump after he survived an assassination attempt in July. That included sending a letter to Trump in which Cox quoted religious scripture, praised Trumps policies and said the country has suffered over the last four years due to a lack of leadership.
Donald Trump is projected to win the swing state of Wisconsin, putting him safely across the benchmark needed for victory with 277 electoral votes.

Trump has claimed victory over Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris earlier on Nov. 6, promising a "golden age of America" and a "stop (to) the wars." World leaders, including Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, have congratulated Trump's reelection.

In U.S. presidential elections, a candidate does not have to win a majority of the popular vote but at least 270 electoral votes, which are allocated per state based on population. The candidate who comes first in a given state typically receives all the electoral votes in that state.

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While Democrats have won Wisconsin in the majority of recent presidential elections, the state went for Trump in the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton. In 2020, U.S. President Joe Biden won Wisconsin in a close race.

The U.S. election comes at a pivotal time for Ukraine, as Russia continues its grinding advance in the east while intensifying aerial strikes against densely populated cities.

Harris supporters ran ads in Wisconsin highlighting the vice president's commitment to Ukraine in a bid for the states Eastern European votes. The Polish community in Wisconsin represents about 8% of the population.

Harris has promised to continue the Biden administration's support for Ukraine's defense, while Trump has boasted about ending the war immediately and refused to say he wants a Ukrainian victory.

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Trump has also spoken warmly of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who have formed a military alliance and whose troops are reportedly fighting side-by-side in Ukraine.

Read also: Im going to stop the wars  Trump says, as he claims victory

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Donald Trump has become the 47th president of the United States defeating Kamala Harris and securing a historic second term in the White House.

Trump, publically endorsed by the likes of Elon Musk and Robert JF Kennedy, is only the second president in history to serve as president in two non-consecutive terms.

The path to power however has not been straightforward for the former US president, who has survived two attempted assassination attempts.

The Independent takes a closer look at how Donald Trump won the 2024 US presidential election.
According to Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, Vice President Kamala Harris should refuse to accept or certify the election results, demand an alternate slate of electors and incite a violent insurrection on the Capitol. Thats the logic Trump used after the 2020 presidential election and what thousands of his supporters did after President Joe Biden defeated Trump by a 7-million vote margin. Thats how Trump and Vance spoke about the 2024 election, refusing to say theyd accept the results if they lost, before being declared the winner early Wednesday morning.

Those who love this country want Harris to do what every modern era administration did before Trump spit on the Constitution four years ago  concede, congratulate, certify. Then Harris and her supporters should fight Trump and Vance  and fight hard, relentlessly  but through democratic means. Those who voted for Harris and against Trump should fight the incoming administrations policies and administrative and executive decisions and try to defeat the Republican Party at the ballot box in 2026 and 2028.

Im one of those people.

Issac Bailey

As much as I dont want Trump to be president again, I want Harris to participate in the peaceful transfer of power to him. I dont want her to follow in Trumps footsteps.

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In 2020, Trump didnt even take part in the traditional photo-op at the White House to welcome Biden the way Democratic and Republican presidents routinely did for decades, a small gesture that sends a message to the world that our democracy remains healthy and strong.

I dont say this to sound magnanimous. Im not. Im convinced our country made a colossal mistake sending a man like Trump back to the White House. I dont want him to implement his proposed economic policies, which will likely hurt the middle class and those at the bottom rung of the income ladder. I dont want him to give even more tax cuts heavily slanted towards the rich.

I dont want to have to hear and see him again act like a fool on the national and international stage. Or turn the military on Americans exercising their constitutional right to protest. Or spread more baseless, racist conspiracy theories about Black legal immigrants, this time from behind the seal of the presidency. Or go through with threats against journalists and media outlets who dare stand up to him. Or be a dictator on day one. Or put Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of U.S. health policy. Kennedy wants to remove fluoride from our drinking water and undermine vaccines, two of the most important developments in U.S. history, and a decision that can put the lives of an untold number of Americans at risk.

I dont want Trump to successfully make it harder to hold police officers who brutalize people to be held to account and bring back the unconstitutional, racist stop-and-frisk things Trump has vowed to do.

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I dont want him to rip immigrant families apart during a mass deportation that might rival the inhumanity of the Trail of Tears and maybe permanently weaken our economy and country.

I dont want him to further erode the abortion rights of women. Hes said contradictory things about reproductive access, but it is clear his white Evangelical base wants him to do more, even though a growing number of pregnant women have died or been harmed since the uprooting of Roe v. Wade, which was made possible by Supreme Court justices Trump appointed during his first term.

I want to make no bones about it.

I am disappointed that tens of millions of voters decided to put him back in power. I wanted the chaotic-hate-filled Trump era to come an inglorious end. Still, I wont do what Trump supporters did and attack the Capitol Building to get my way.

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I will oppose and confront Trump and Vance as many times as necessary to preserve a democracy that not enough Americans understand is more fragile than guaranteed.

Issac Bailey is a McClatchy Opinion writer in North and South Carolina.
As I write this, the election looks like it is going Trumps way in Wisconsin and  most crucially  Pennsylvania. Many votes are left to be counted, but even watching MSDNC, the reality is starting to sink in that the path to a Kamala Harris electoral victory is increasingly narrow.

Regardless of how the next few days of counting go, it is clear that Trump and Trumpism will remain the most powerful force in politics. In many ways, Donald Trump had already won before the first vote was cast on Tuesday. His style of politics has reshaped the culture of politics and government while raising the stakes of political conflict for decades to come.

Here are seven ways Trumpism will remain in command of American politics whether he is in the White House or not.

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Republican leadership: Theres almost none left that isnt tainted by Trumps lies and extremism untethered to any coherent conservative ideology. Call it the Ted Cruzification of the GOP. Nearly everyone who could once tell the truth about Donald Trumps awfulness has bent the knee and defended indefensible acts such as attempting to overthrow the results of a presidential election or somehow twisted reality to pretend they didnt happen or didnt matter. Even Nikki Haley writes in The Wall Street Journal in support of Trump, betting that will remain the safe position in the party regardless of the election results.

Death of compromise: For the 50 years before Trump, Republicans battled the growth of the federal government, but never managed actually to shrink it. Success looked like keeping government growth to a slower pace than the private economy. Today, even Republicans who have tried to remain independent of Trump, men and women like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have adopted a style of politics that reflects a blow-things-up mentality of political warfare. Half a loaf is no longer on the table.

Democratic extremism: Liberals were pushed to the left by the death of George Floyd and the shock of the COVID-19 plague, but in an even more powerful way, the rise of Trump has made Democratic moderates look too weak to deal with the populist demagogue. Whats left is a party turning to one of its most extreme members without the democratic niceties of a primary and little sign that moderates will hold much sway in the party. Californias progressivism on steroids is the source and the model of the Democratic Party vision. After an election loss, some Democrats might blame their partys left flank, but it is just as likely that Democrats will seek more extreme ideological purity.

The great sort: The hyperpartisanship of the decadelong Trump era has taken the trend of Americans to move to places populated by people who think like them and moved it into high gear, The New York Times reports in an eye-opening data analysis. As we rub shoulders less and less with people who disagree, research shows that groups of like-minded people become more extreme. Theres little hope to turn back the clock to a more moderate and accommodating style of politics found when friends and family regularly crossed the party line.

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Killing competence: If 2024 Trump Republicans have a model of governance, it is to strip out the nonpartisan civil service from government replacing the foot soldiers of the bureaucracy with partisan loyalists. If they ever succeed, theres little reason to think competence will take priority over subservience to Trumps agenda. Once that model is in place, it is unlikely that Democrats will miss the chance to put their own toadies in place when they win elections. Even now, the people who run our government put the purity of intentions over the success of policy. Look at the multibillion-dollar programs to build electric car chargers and install high speed internet that have so far failed to do much of that at all.

Fading federalism: Once the genius of America was to let Texas get as red as it wanted, but allow Austin to remain weird. We could have a union-loving blue Illinois right next to a bright red right-to-work Indiana. Federal and state laws were passed with broad local flexibility that allowed the government closest to the people to reflect their values. Missouris conservative Branson and Californias loopy San Francisco could both have their say. Indeed, one-size-fits-all policies like Roe v. Wades judicial fiat were the destructive exception to the more diversity-friendly rule. Now Republicans and Democrats alike are running on federal preemption of local rule on everything from education and abortion to union rules and corporate regulation.

Crumbling middle: There used to be broadly trusted institutions that mediated the extremes of our politics and moderated the battles between political parties. Under Trump, distrust in institutions from the judiciary and the military to religion and the legacy media have crumbled even faster than in their decades of previous decline. Trump has turned the belief that only one side can be trusted into a shared belief of the left and the right in American politics.

Even if we wake up on Wednesday and somehow Harris pulls a victory out of the red map of defeat, she and her administration will reflect our countrys orange cast just as the rest of us will. She might rule from Washington, but her reign will be in Trumps America.

As seems more likely tonight, if Trump takes office in January, the changes to the America that I love are only going to grow deeper and darker over the next four years.
By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - While campaigning to regain the U.S. presidency, Donald Trump said that he would be able to end Russia's war in Ukraine in 24 hours, warned that Israel would be "eradicated" if he lost the election and vowed sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports.

Now that Trump has claimed victory, many at home and abroad are asking an urgent question: will he make good on his long list of foreign policy threats, promises and pronouncements?

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The Republican has offered few foreign policy specifics, but supporters say the force of his personality and his peace through strength approach will help bend foreign leaders to his will and calm what Republicans describe as a "world on fire".

They blame the global crises on weakness shown by President Joe Biden, though his fellow Democrats reject that accusation.

Americas friends and foes alike remain wary as they await Trumps return to office in January, wondering whether his second term will be filled with the kind of turbulence and unpredictability that characterized his first four years.

Trumps 2017-2021 presidency was often defined on the world stage by his "America First" protectionist trade policy and isolationist rhetoric, including threats to withdraw from NATO.

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At the same time, he sought to parlay his self-styled image as a deal-making businessman by holding summits with North Korea, which ultimately failed to halt its nuclear weapons program, and brokering normalization talks between Israel and several Arab neighbors, which achieved a measure of success.

"Donald Trump remains erratic and inconsistent when it comes to foreign policy," analysts for the European Council on Foreign Relations wrote in a blog post during the U.S. campaign.

"Europeans are still licking their wounds from Trumps first term: they have not forgotten the former presidents tariffs, his deep antagonism towards the European Union and Germany," they said.

Trump and his loyalists dismiss such criticism, insisting that other countries have long taken advantage of the U.S. and that he would put a stop to it.

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ENDING THE UKRAINE WAR

How Trump responds to Russias war in Ukraine could set the tone for his agenda and signal how he will deal with NATO and key U.S. allies, after Biden worked to rebuild key relationships that frayed under his predecessor.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy congratulated Trump on social network X, describing Trump's peace-through-strength approach as a "principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer".

Trump insisted last year that Russian President Vladimir Putin never would have invaded Ukraine in 2022 if he had been in the White House, adding that even now I could solve that in 24 hours. But he has not said how he would do so.

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He has been critical of Biden's support for Ukraine and said that under his presidency the U.S. would fundamentally rethink NATO's purpose. He told Reuters last year that Ukraine may have to cede territory to reach a peace agreement, something the Ukrainians reject and Biden has never suggested.

NATO, which backs Ukraine, is also under threat.

Trump, who has railed for years against NATO members that failed to meet agreed military spending targets, warned during the campaign that he would not only refuse to defend nations "delinquent" on funding but would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to them.

"NATO would face the most serious existential threat since its founding," said Brett Bruen, a former foreign policy adviser in the Obama administration.

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A FREER HAND FOR ISRAEL?

Trump will also confront a volatile Middle East that threatens to descend into a broader regional conflict. Israel is fighting wars in Gaza and Lebanon while facing off against arch-foe Iran, even as Yemens Houthis fire on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

He has expressed support for Israels fight to destroy Hamas in the Palestinian enclave but has said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a Trump ally widely believed to have favored his return to power, must finish the job quickly.

Trump is expected to continue arming Israel, whose existence he said would have been endangered if Harris had been elected - a claim dismissed by the Biden administration given its staunch support for Israel.

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His policy toward Israel likely will have no strings attached for humanitarian concerns, in contrast to pressure that Biden applied in a limited way. Trump may give Netanyahu a freer hand with Iran.

But Trump could face a new crisis if Iran, which has stepped up nuclear activities since he abandoned a nuclear deal with Tehran in 2018, rushes to develop a nuclear weapon.

When Trump was last in the White House, he presided over the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. But those diplomatic deals did nothing to advance Palestinian statehood in the West Bank and Gaza.

Still, Trump is likely to push for historic normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, an effort initiated during his first term and which Biden has also pursued.

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MIXED MESSAGES ON CHINA

Trump made a tough stance toward China central to his campaign, suggesting he would ramp up tariffs on Chinese goods as part of a broader effort that could also hit products from the EU. Many economists say such moves would lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers and sow global financial instability.

He has threatened to go further than his first term when he implemented a sometimes chaotic approach to China that plunged the world's two biggest economies into a trade war.

But just as before, Trump has presented a mixed message, describing Chinese President Xi Jinping as brilliant" for ruling with an iron fist.

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Trump has also insisted that Taiwan should pay the U.S. for defense. But he has said China would never dare to invade democratically governed Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, if he were president.

Another unknown is how Trump will craft his national security team, though many critics believe he will avoid bringing in mainstream Republicans who sometimes acted as "guardrails" in his first term.

Many former top aides, including ex-national security adviser John Bolton and his first chief of staff John Kelly, broke with him before the election, calling him unfit for office.

Trump has been quiet about whom he might appoint but sources with knowledge of the matter say Robert O'Brien, his final national security adviser, is likely to play a significant role.

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Trump is expected to install loyalists in key positions in the Pentagon, State Department and CIA whose primary allegiance would be to him, current and former aides and diplomats told Reuters.

The result, they say, would enable Trump to make sweeping changes to policy as well as to federal institutions that implement - and sometimes constrain - presidential actions abroad.

(Editing by Don Durfee, Deepa Babington and Alex Richardson)
By Andrew Goudsward, Luc Cohen, Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election victory on Wednesday will essentially end the criminal cases brought against him, at least for the four years he occupies the White House.

The first former U.S. president to face criminal charges, Trump for much of this year faced four simultaneous prosecutions, over allegations ranging from his attempt to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign to his attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

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U.S. Justice Department officials on Wednesday were assessing how to wind down Special Counsel Jack Smith's two criminal cases against the Republican president-elect, due to a long-standing policy that forbids prosecuting a sitting president, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

A New York jury in May found him guilty of falsifying business records tied to the Daniels payment, making him the first former U.S. president convicted of a felony.

Trump told an interviewer on Oct. 24 that he would fire Smith -- who led the federal prosecutions over his attempts to overturn his election defeat and retention of classified documents after leaving office -- "within two seconds" of being sworn in.

Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges and cast the prosecutions as politically motivated.

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"The American people have heard these Democrat prosecutors' cases against President Trump and they're still going to elect him anyway," said Mike Davis, the founder of the Article III Project, a conservative legal advocacy group.

Trump will not have the same control over the New York hush money case or Georgia's prosecution of him for trying to overturn his 2020 loss in that state. But his unique role as president makes it unlikely he will face legal consequences in either case during his term in office.

"He was properly charged with crimes within the system we have," said Kristy Parker, a special counsel at Protect Democracy, an advocacy organization dedicated to countering what it calls authoritarian threats to the U.S. Parker said if Trump does shut down the cases, "that won't mean it was the right thing."

One more court date is scheduled before he is due to be sworn in on Jan. 20, though legal experts said that was unlikely to go forward.

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NEW YORK HUSH MONEY CASE

In New York, Trumps lawyers are expected to ask Justice Juan Merchan to delay his sentencing currently scheduled for Nov. 26 - at which he could face up to four years in prison. Sentencing a president-elect ahead of Inauguration Day would be unprecedented in U.S. history, and legal experts expect the hearing to be delayed.

Merchan has already twice postponed Trump's sentencing, which was initially scheduled for July 11, in part due to a July U.S. Supreme Court ruling finding that presidents have broad immunity from prosecution over their official acts. Trump argues the case should be dismissed based on the ruling, which prosecutors dispute.

Trump has vowed to appeal his conviction once he is sentenced. Separately, his lawyers have asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to move the case to federal court. Such a move, if successful, could create new legal obstacles for the case.

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FEDERAL PROSECUTIONS

Trump faces four charges in federal court in Washington accusing him of spreading false claims of election fraud to try to block the collection and certification of votes following the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Smith had also charged Trump with unlawfully holding onto classified documents after his first term ended in 2021 and obstructing efforts by the U.S. government to retrieve the records.

Florida-based U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, dismissed all charges in July after finding that Smith was improperly appointed to the role and did not have the authority to bring the case.

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The Justice Department filed an appeal in the case.

James Trusty, who previously represented Trump in both matters, said he was not as optimistic that the Justice Department would dismiss the cases on its own.

My instinct is they would rather sit in status quo or largely status quo, rather than affirmatively pull the plug," he said.

"Politically, I think they would rather have the new Trump administrations fingerprints on the demise of the cases.

GEORGIA RACKETEERING CASE

Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, last year used state racketeering laws -- developed to fight organized crime -- to charge Trump in an alleged conspiracy to reverse his defeat in the battleground state in the 2020 election.

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Trump will not be able to end the prosecution, but his lawyer has already said in court he will seek to pause any activity related to Trump based on an argument that a president should not face the burden of a criminal prosecution while in office.

Trump and eight of his 14 co-defendants in the case are asking a Georgia appeals court to disqualify the lead prosecutor, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, over alleged misconduct stemming from a romantic relationship she had with a former deputy. Oral arguments are scheduled for Dec. 5.

If that effort fails, the case will be able to proceed against the other co-defendants, who include Trumps former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. But legal experts expect that the case against Trump will not progress while he remains in the White House.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward, Luc Cohen and Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis and Alistair Bell)
LONDON  He's promised there will be no wars during his presidency. The one between Russia and Ukraine? He will end that "in a day." And he will, he says, bring peace to the Middle East, too.

Nevertheless, the immediate reaction to former President Donald Trump's election victory Wednesday was that Iran's currency hit an all-time low against the dollar. There was no rush to praise him by American adversaries such as Russia or North Korea. In Gaza, Hamas said it still intends to take the fight to Israel.

Yet news of Trump's impending return to the White House did see leaders and allies unleash a wave of warm wishes and congratulations  and what appeared to be a little polite nudging  in the direction of a future U.S. president who in his first term was regarded by many as a turbulent and unpredictable figure on the world stage.

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Many of these good wishes arrived even before most media outlets called his win.

How Trump won the White House (again): How Trump won the White House (again): These key issues propelled election win

How Kamala Harris lost: How Kamala Harris lost the election: The fatal flaws in a doomed election bid

On the campaign trail, Trump claimed El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele wasn't doing such a "wonderful job" on preventing immigration to the U.S. and was sending his country's "murderers" over the border. Bukele early Wednesday nevertheless appeared to be the first world leader to welcome a new Trump presidency.

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"May God bless and guide you," Bukele said in what seemed to be a veiled reference to their spat.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was nearly assassinated in May, said Trump's victory was a "defeat of liberal and progressive ideas." The election was, he added, a confirmation to "never trust the media and polls."

There was also praise for Trump from Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban who mirrored some of Trump's own signature phrasing in a Facebook post by talking about his "beautiful victory."

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said Trumps victory was a win for "patriotism, border control, tax cuts, Christian roots, freedom of speech (and a) commitment to world peace." British lawmaker and Brexit provocateur Nigel Farage said in a text message Trump's win was a "great result for the world. He is a genuine friend of the U.K."

What does Trump's victory mean for Ukraine?

Beyond off-the-cuff remarks, Trump hasn't fully articulated his foreign policy.

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He hasn't, for example, specified how he could settle the war between Ukraine and Russia.

But Ukraine has been watching the vote closely to see what the outcome could mean for American support for its attempt to beat back Russia's invasion. The president-elect and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, have both cast doubt on their commitment to give Kyiv more arms and financing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released a flattering statement Wednesday that appeared to acknowledge some of the unease now being felt in his country.

"I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs," Zelensky said. "This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer."

In Russia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said ending conflict in Ukraine overnight was "impossible."

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"Im sure many European leaders will tell themselves in the coming weeks that they can win Trump over, sweet talk him, pump up his inflated ego, etc etc.," wrote Phillips P. O'Brien, a professor of strategic security studies at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, in his Ukraine-focused newsletter on Wednesday.

"Maybe they can  but also maybe they cant. And this is the rub."

Trump beats Harris. Now what for the world?

When Trump last occupied the White House from 2017 to 2021, serving and former international officials and foreign affairs experts from Berlin to Sydney routinely accused him of slashing and burning his way through global agreements and commitments on climate change, trade, overseas troop deployments, public health, nuclear weapons and more.

Trump roiled U.S. foreign partners with his inflammatory language and disregard for diplomatic protocol. This included repeated threats to withdraw the U.S. from NATO, widely considered the bedrock of transatlantic security for 75 years.

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"There will definitely be anxiety in many European capitals this morning as they wake up to the news Trump is back," said Michael Martins, the founder of London-based Overton Advisory, a political consultancy. "Although some will think four years is a short time that they can wait out, the reality is that Trump's foreign and trade policies are much more well defined now and his team are experienced enough to execute it quickly."

'Dismay and disbelief': What US allies said about the chance of another Trump presidency

Backing from Trump may be something Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is counting on as he weathers intensifying domestic and international pressure to end a war in Gaza that has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, without leading to the return of all of Israel's hostages. As Americans were voting Tuesday, Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, triggering protests across Israel.

More than a year of frustrated American diplomatic pressure aimed at getting Netanyahu to curb Israel's destruction and high death toll in Gaza and allow in more humanitarian has failed. Netanyahu has long touted his close relationship with Trump and Israel's leader appears to believe that his win is good for Israel.

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"Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America," Netanyahu said Wednesday.

"This is a huge victory!"

'Maximum pressure': World reacts to Trump win

In his first term, Trump used what his administration called a "maximum pressure" policy to try to force Iran, mostly though economic sanctions, to abandon its nuclear program. He also pulled the U.S. out of a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers that independent nuclear monitors said was largely working.

The Biden administration has not re-entered that agreement and U.S.-Iran relations have spiraled as Tehran and militant groups it backs such as Hamas and Hezbollah have became further entangled in fighting U.S. ally Israel after Hamas invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year, killing 1,200 people and taking hostages back to Gaza.

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A spokesperson for Iran's diplomatic mission to the United Nations in New York declined to comment on Trump's election win and what it could mean. The two countries that narrowly avoided a war in Trump's first term after Trump ordered the assassination of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general in an air strike on Baghdad airport.

Elsewhere, there are signs Trump could seek to threaten adversaries and allies alike, for different reasons.

In fact, he already has.

A large congratulating former president Donald Trump is lit on the side of a building in Jerusalem on November 6, 2024. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Donald Trump on his victory, calling it "history's greatest comeback."

Andrew Law, the founder The Mexico Brief, a news and analysis platform, described Trump's election as a "sobering and uncertain moment for Mexico." He said Mexicos most crucial relationship is with the U.S. and that recently elected President Claudia Sheinbaum will probably intensify efforts to halt migrants heading to the U.S. from their shared border, not least because Trump has vowed to impose tariffs on Mexico if she doesn't.

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Law said Mexico just about "weathered" Trump's first term. His second one may be just as challenging for the U.S.'s southern neighbor. Trump has said Sheinbaum will be the first world leader he calls when taking office.

In Europe, Peter Beyer, a conservative German lawmaker who is a member of that country's parliamentary foreign relations committee, said he expected a fresh Trump administration  Trump will be sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025  to "deliver" on an agenda that will push for more NATO-member defense spending and "heavy" trade protectionism.

Trump has floated the idea of imposing tariffs of 10% or 20% on all goods imported into the U.S. and even higher tariffs of 60% or more on Chinese-made products.

"Trump 2.0," said Beyer, will be "quicker and dirtier" on trade and NATO.

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In China, Henry Huiyao Wang, a former senior adviser to China's government and the founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based think tank, appeared to agree with that assessment.

"If he selects a hawkish team to dominate U.S. policy, his administration likely will not only force Chinese enterprises to reduce exports to the U.S. but may also reduce non-governmental contacts between the two countries, such as educational and academic exchanges, thus impacting public perceptions on both sides."

Wang said he expected to Trump to adopt "pragmatic attitude" toward Taiwan, the self-governing island territory that Beijing views as part of China, and has vowed to reunite with the mainland  and that the U.S. had pledged to defend.

'America strong at home and abroad'

Daniel DePetris, a foreign affairs fellow at Defense Priorities, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, said it's "very hard to predict the policies of a man who values unpredictability."

"The general assumption is Trump 2.0 will be far less restrained this time around," said DePetris.

"Foreign governments, allies and adversaries alike, will certainly be planning for the worst. But the worst was anticipated when Trump first won in 2016 and his term, despite the rhetoric and sloppy policy process, was actually more rooted in the status-quo than one might expect," he said.

In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his ruling center-left Labour Party are not natural Trump allies.

But Starmer said he looked forward to working with Trump. "As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise."

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was more direct.

Rosy outlook: What Boris Johnson thinks about a Trump election win

"Huge congratulations to Donald Trump on his amazing victory. I have no doubt he will now set about making America strong at home and abroad," he said.

A few hours after those statements were released British police arrested two men  environmental activists  who sprayed orange paint on a section of the U.S. embassy building in London, an apparent protest at Trump's victory.

Breaking down the election results: Sign up for USA TODAY's On Politics newsletter for updates and exclusive analysis.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After Trump win, world readies for what a second term means
By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Donald Trump's return to the White House next year could bring economic pain and difficult decisions for Canada's Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, once branded a "far left lunatic" by the Republican.

The potential consequences include trade disputes that push Canada into recession since 75% of its exports go to the U.S., as well as thousands of people pouring north across the U.S. border, analysts and economists said.

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Trump's victory adds to Trudeau's woes at a time polls show he would likely lose to his Conservative opponent in an election that must be held within a year. Canada's slowing economy and a rapid surge in the cost of living over the past few years are top campaign issues, which come against the backdrop of diplomatic disputes with China and India that have hampered efforts to diversify trade.

Canada, the world's No. 4 crude oil producer, is especially vulnerable to Trump's plan for a 10% tariff on all imports and his vow to boost U.S. energy production.

Laura Dawson of the Future Borders Coalition, which seeks to smooth bilateral trade and travel, said the real challenge will be gradually declining investor confidence in America's northern neighbor.

"For Canada, four years of a Trump presidency could be very long indeed," she said.

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Trump called Trudeau "a far left lunatic" in 2022 for requiring truck drivers crossing the border to be vaccinated against COVID. In June 2018, Trump walked out of a G7 summit in Quebec and blasted the Canadian leader for being "very dishonest and weak."

Trudeau, who has been in power since 2015, congratulated Trump on Wednesday and said the friendship between the two nations was the envy of the world.

"I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations," Trudeau said on X.

Asked about Trump's win on Wednesday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland sought to reassure Canadians.

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"A lot of Canadians were anxious throughout the night and I want to say ... that Canada will be absolutely fine," she said. "We have a strong relationship with the United States, we have a strong relationship with President Trump and his team."

In January, however, Trudeau told reporters another Trump presidency would be "a step back" that made life tough for Canada.

Desjardins Economics analysts forecast Trump's policies would result in real Canadian gross domestic product falling by 1.7% by end-2028 compared to what would have happened under a Democratic president.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said Trump's planned 10% tariff would cut Canada's real income by 0.9% annually and labor productivity by nearly 1%. If other countries retaliate, setting off a trade war, real income would drop by 1.5% annually, with labor productivity falling by nearly 1.6% each year, the chamber said.

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Trump first took office in 2017 vowing to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, the trilateral trade deal with Mexico and Canada, complaining that trading partners were taking advantage of the U.S.

After 18 months of sometimes rancorous talks, which at one point saw the United States and Canada imposing sanctions on each other's products, the pact was reborn as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) deal.

Trump said on Oct. 11 he would use an existing USMCA clause to start renegotiating the treaty in 2026.

"I'm going to have a lot of fun," he said.

RECESSION INDUCING

David Doyle, Macquarie's head of economics for the Americas, said Trump's promised policies had the potential to be a significant economic shock for Canada.

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"It's possible that it is a recession-inducing event because it's on such an enormous scale that we really haven't seen for almost 100 years," he said.

Canada staved off the worst during the USMCA talks by proactively sending officials and politicians to dozens of U.S. states to highlight the benefits of free trade.

Kirsten Hillman, the long-serving Canadian ambassador in Washington, said Canada has "a very good ability to push back" on the 10% tariff proposal and had already been talking to Trump's camp about it.

"We've been spending a lot of time talking to the Trump team, his advisers, saying ... this just isn't the right move," she told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in mid-October.

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Liberal officials are careful not to say anything derogatory in public about the Republican leader.

But in January, Trudeau told a meeting of senior Liberals that a second Trump administration would be of "a magnitude more challenging" for Canada than the first, according to a source who was present in the room.

Policy clashes seem inevitable, both domestically and internationally, especially if Trump follows through on his plan to deport millions of people living in the U.S. illegally.

"I predict you're going to have a huge flood north of many of those folks trying their chances here," said Jason Kenney, former immigration minister in the Conservative government that ruled from 2006 to 2015.

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"We could have a true crisis in terms of homelessness and pressure on our social system just months away," he told a podcast organized by the National Post before the election.

The United States and Europe could well retreat into hostile competing blocs, stranding Canada in the middle, said Kim Richard Nossal, professor of politics at Queen's University in Kingston and author of a book on Canada's likely isolation if Trump's movement were to regain power.

"The implications for Canada are, in my view, dramatic," he said, predicting Trump would insist Ottawa spend far more on defense.

(Additional reporting by Promit Mukherjee; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Deepa Babington)
With Trump's victory and upcoming GOP control of the Senate, the Supreme Court looms large.

Trump appointed a third of the current Supreme Court in just one term.

"If I'm Clarence Thomas, I'm thinking now is a good time to retire," one expert told Business Insider.

During Donald Trump's first term as president, he appointed three justices to the Supreme Court, giving it a 6-3 conservative supermajority.

His Supreme Court appointees  Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett  later voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, which for nearly 50 years had afforded women a constitutional right to an abortion.

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With Trump having won a second term in office, he now has the potential to further shape the court in ways that no other president has done in modern times.

Trump's second term gives Thomas and Alito a chance to retire

Republicans won a majority in the US Senate alongside Trump's victory, which means that they'll be working in tandem should a vacancy arise on the court in Trump's second term.

Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, 76, and Samuel Alito, 74, are two of the most stalwart conservatives on the Supreme Court. And while there's always a chance that a justice can step down from their post, both Thomas and Alito have been institutions on the court for years.

Thomas was nominated to the court by Republican President George H.W. Bush and has served on the body since 1991. Meanwhile, Alito was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush and took his seat on the court in 2006.

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There's no indication that either man is retiring from the bench. But Republicans will be in the driver's seat to make an appointment should either man step down over the next four years.

Peter Loge, an associate professor and the director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, told Business Insider that Thomas is a figure who might step down.

"If I'm Clarence Thomas, I'm thinking now is a good time to retire," he said. "He's been on the court for a long time. His legacy is frankly mixed at this point between his wife's involvement with the insurrection in 2020 and his ongoing ethics scandal."

(Thomas has faced a wave of criticism after ProPublica in April 2023 published a report that detailed how he had taken luxury vacations funded by the billionaire mega donor Harlan Crow  and had not disclosed the trips.)

Or the court's makeup could stay the same

While Trump will surely want to make another Supreme Court appointment, his ambitions may not necessarily align with the feelings of the justices themselves.

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas has served on the US Supreme Court since 1991. Getty Images

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, told BI that it's far from a given that any particular judge  even one with a like-minded political ideology  will step down because of Trump's election.

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"I think they're independent-minded and they're not just going to resign because of Trump," he said. "They like what they're doing."

Tobias also noted that the extent of the GOP's Senate majority  which is still up in the air  could make a big difference in what kind of jurist could actually win confirmation.

"Best-case scenario it may be 55-45 but more like 52-48 or something like that," he said of the eventual Republican Senate makeup. "So they're not going to be able to do everything they want, and there are people like Lindsey Graham and [Susan] Collins and [Lisa] Murkowski who may not go along on someone that's too crazy."

Sweeping reforms won't occur

Many top Democrats have long eyed changes to the Supreme Court, whether it be expansion or some sort of ethics reform.

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Biden this year laid out a plan to institute a binding code of conduct for the court and create 18-year term limits for justices. He also wanted to see lawmakers pass a constitutional amendment that would limit presidential immunity.

But with Trump soon to be back in the White House and a Republican-led Senate on the way, those plans are on ice indefinitely.

The GOP sees the current composition of the court as the fruit of decades of work to ensure a conservative tilt. Leaders like Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky over the years have criticized Democratic attempts to reform the court/

McConnell played a leading role in blocking the 2016 nomination of Merrick Garland  now the US Attorney General  to the Supreme Court. At the time, the Kentuckian was the Senate's majority leader, and a fierce opponent of then-Democratic President Barack Obama.

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During a Wednesday press conference in Washington, McConnell reveled in Republicans flipping the Senate.

"One of the most gratifying results of the Senate becoming Republican: the filibuster will stand, there won't be any new states admitted that will benefit the other side," he said. "And we'll quit beating up the Supreme Court."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Donald Trumps remarkable political comeback, culminating in his election to a second term as President, is poised to reshape the trajectory of his numerous legal challenges, many of which have dogged him for years. With the power of the White House, Trump stands to effectively shield himself from the legal accountability he has long sought to avoidat least for the duration of his presidency.

He now becomes the first convicted felon to ascend to the presidency, and his sentencing in that New York case is set for later this month, setting up another unprecedented challenge for the judge. Trump has long framed the criminal and civil cases against him as politically motivated attacks orchestrated by his adversaries, particularly Democrats, and has used the legal scrutiny as a rallying cry to bolster his base. But with his electoral victory, he now possesses enormous leverage to sideline or completely derail those cases.

Heres what Trumps election win means for his legal cases.

Federal cases

At the heart of Trumps most pressing legal troubles are two major federal cases: one involving the alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and the other surrounding his alleged mishandling of classified documents. These cases, brought by special counsel Jack Smith, have been some of the most consequential against a former President in U.S. history.

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However, Trumps path to avoiding these charges now seems clearer than ever. The Justice Department is part of the Executive Branch under the President, though it traditionally operates with a degree of independence from the Oval Office. Trump has already signaled that hell fire Smith from his post right away if he hasnt already vacated it. The new attorney general appointed by Trump would have the power to end both investigations and dismiss the charges against him. Its a move that would deliver a fatal blow to the case accusing Trump of attempting to subvert the 2020 election, which includes a complex web of charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

In the federal case brought against Trump in Washington, D.C., for his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election, Trumps legal team has already succeeded in pushing the trials timeline past the election. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan had initially set a fast-moving schedule for the case, but Trumps attorneys have sought repeated delays. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this summer that presidents have broad criminal immunity for certain official acts while in office, the case is in a precarious position. It remains unclear whether Chutkan, who has made it clear she is determined to move forward with the case, will have the legal means to proceed with a trial once Trump takes office again. If the case is postponed or derailed, it would be a major victory for Trump, allowing him to avoid any legal reckoning during his second term.

As for the classified documents case, a previous ruling by Trump-appointed judge Aileen Cannonwho dismissed part of the case on the grounds of legal overreach by the Justice Departmentsuggests that further legal maneuvers by Trumps team could once again stall or dismiss the charges.

Its an unresolved legal question whether a President could pardon himself.

State cases

Beyond federal charges, Trump faces an array of state-level legal battles, including charges in Georgia for attempting to overturn the 2020 election and a felony conviction in New York for his role in a hush-money payment to former adult film star Stormy Daniels.

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In Georgia, District Attorney Fani Williss case has already been delayed for months due to an unexpected legal twist: the revelation that she had a romantic relationship with a key prosecutor on the case. Though courts initially allowed the case to proceed, Trumps legal team has seized on the argument that a sitting President cannot be prosecuted for state-level crimes. Legal experts believe Trump will use the weight of his office to argue that, under the doctrine of presidential immunity, he cannot be held accountable by a state prosecutor while in office.

The ongoing legal battles in New York, where Trump was convicted earlier this year of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments, are similarly on hold. Trumps lawyers have already delayed his sentencing multiple times, and they are likely to seek a further postponement or challenge the verdict, citing his status as President-elect. The sentencing, currently scheduled for Nov. 26, presents a critical juncture for Trumps legal future. Should New York Supreme Court judge Juan Merchan, who presided over Trumps Manhattan trial, proceed with sentencing, he will face the daunting task of determining how to handle the legal consequences of a criminal conviction for a sitting or soon-to-be sitting President.

Trumps defense is likely to argue that any court action, including a prison sentence, should be delayed until after his presidency, citing constitutional duties and the complexities of executive responsibilities. Even if Merchan opts for non-prison penalties, such as home confinement or community service, Trumps legal team is expected to argue that such sanctions would be impractical or unconstitutional while he is serving in office. Ultimately, Merchan's decision could set a significant precedentboth for Trumps legal accountability and the broader question of how the legal system deals with a president entangled in criminal charges.

Civil cases

While the criminal cases may be delayed or dismissed outright, Trump still faces significant civil litigation, particularly in relation to the defamation and sexual abuse cases brought by E. Jean Carroll and other plaintiffs. In New York, Trump was ordered to pay $83 million in damages for defamation, and he has also been found liable for inflating the value of his business assets, resulting in a $450 million penalty.

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Trump is also facing lawsuits from U.S. Capitol Police officers and members of Congress for his role in stoking the attacks on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Several police officers were injured by the mob and are suing Trump for damages.

While Trump may have a degree of immunity from criminal prosecution, that same protection does not exist for civil lawsuits. Civil plaintiffs have successfully pursued damages from sitting Presidents in the past. In fact, during his first term, Trump was forced to pay a $2 million penalty as part of a settlement over the misuse of funds from the Trump Foundationa rare case where a President faced private financial penalties while in office.

The question now is whether these civil cases, too, will be delayed by his return to the White House.

The legal questions will continue

What Trump has managed to do is craft a multifaceted legal strategy that exploits the intersections of law and politics. He has used his criminal and civil cases to fuel his political narrative, portraying himself as a victim of a partisan justice system. At every stage, he has delayed, appealed, and deflected in ways that no ordinary defendant could, turning his legal battles into campaign fodder.

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Trump has benefited from a confluence of favorable decisions, from sympathetic judges to an increasingly conservative Supreme Court majority, including three Justices that he appointed. The high courts recent ruling that Presidents enjoy broad immunity from criminal prosecution has given Trump an additional layer of protection against the legal system.

But even with Trumps huge legal shield, some questions remain. Will state prosecutions, particularly in Georgia, find a way to push forward after he leaves office? Will civil plaintiffs be able to force him to pay damages after his term ends? While Trump has managed to delay accountability in the short term, his legal future beyond his presidency remains uncertain.

For now, Trumps election victory provides him with an escape from the most pressing legal threats. The political system has once again proven to be both his greatest asset and his greatest protection, suggesting that, at least for the next four years, Trump will operate with relative impunityshielded by the office he once held and now returns to with an even greater mandate.

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
A clip shared on social media showed U.S. President Joe Biden at a Nov. 2, 2024, campaign event in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he casually mentioned "macho" guys he'd "like to smack in the a**." This comment sparked debate due to its perceived target.

Biden's remarks could reflect past interactions growing up in Scranton neighborhoods like The Plot and Green Ridge, but media interpretations varied. His preceding remarks about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Republican policies hint he may have aimed the comment at his political foes.

Outlets such as The New York Times, CNN and Reuters suggested Biden's comment likely referenced his childhood; meanwhile, HuffPost and ABC News suggested the comment was aimed at Trump and Republicans, as part of Biden's broader critique of his opposition during his speech.

On the final weekend before the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a video clip circulated widely on social media, capturing a candid moment from Democratic President Joe Biden's "Get Out the Vote" event at the Carpenters & Joiners of America Local Union 445 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Filmed on Nov. 2, Biden's remarks during his speech drew attention as he discussed working-class values and his long-standing opposition to Republican policies.

In the clip, Biden used casual, colloquial language to discuss individuals he described as "macho" guys, and noted they were "the kind of guys you'd like to smack in the a**." An account on X posted the brief clip, receiving 1 million views, as of this writing:

NEW: President Joe Biden says Republicans like Donald Trump are the type of guys you'd "like to smack in the a$$."



Is this an endorsement for Trump?



"But I'm serious, these are the kind of guys you'd like to smack in the a$$."



The comment comes as the Harris campaign is pic.twitter.com/4p1XENYKJH  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 2, 2024

In context, Biden  whose term ends in January 2025  could have been reflecting on past experiences in his hometown Scranton, rather than addressing Republicans or presidential candidate Donald Trump specifically, although he was discussing Trump and the GOP's policies up to that point in the speech.

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Biden's talk in Scranton featured an aside on his childhood growing up in the local neighborhoods. The remark in question came after he discussed Republicans' support for outsourcing jobs and tax cuts, describing a certain "macho guy" attitude he associated with the past.

According to the official White House Briefing Room transcript, Biden continued, "I'm serious. Think about it," then shifted to mentioning his late son, Beau Biden. Here is a longer transcript of that portion of his speech (emphasis our own):

I'll give you an example. An example is Micron [Technology] up in Syracuse, where they're building one of those fabs. In fa-  and they're building, they're investing  Micron  investing $100 billion to build them. It's a kind of investment that won't just lift up labor. It's gonna lift up everybody. It's going to grow the economy. They [the Republican Party] want to get rid of it. They wanted to get rid of it. They wanted to get rid of that. Look, why? Cheaper labor overseas, man, cheaper labor. There's one more thing Trump and his Republican friends want to do: They want another giant tax cut for the wealthy. Now, I know some of you guys are tempted to think it's macho guy  I  I'll tell you what, man, when I was in Scranton, I used to  we used to have a little trouble going down the Plot once in a while, from Green Ridge. But I'm serious, these are the kind of guys you'd like to smack in the a**. By the way, I'm serious. Think about it. My son gave his life for this country. He was attorney general of the state of Delaware. He volunteered to go to Iraq for a year. Came back with Stage 4 glioblastoma.

Media responses to Biden's comment during the Nov. 2 campaign event offered mixed interpretations of his purported target.

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Some outlets, such as The New York Times, Reuters and CNN, appeared to downplay Biden's comment about "macho" guys being the "kind of guys" he'd like to "smack in the a**," suggesting they could be a reference to his younger years growing up in Scranton, rather than reflect his frustration with Republican figures and their supporters, as he spent much of the speech prior to that comment criticizing Trump and GOP policies.

However, Biden's overarching critique of Republican economic and social policies earlier in the speech led some outlets to conclude that he was likely directing his comment toward modern political figures rather than Scranton locals from his youth.

Sources including the New York Post and ABC News suggested that Biden's phrasing was indeed a low-grade attack on Trump and his Republican supporters. HuffPost also leaned toward an interpretation that Biden's comment was aimed at Republicans, as the outlet observed the speech's overall critical tone toward the GOP and its policies.

Both interpretations considered Biden's frequent tangents into nostalgic territory whenever he goes off script.

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This split in media interpretations once again called attention to the president's off-the-cuff speaking style, where personal memories meld with current critiques, often resulting in confusing narratives that can be interpreted in multiple ways.

For instance, in late-October 2024, Biden stirred controversy by seeming to describe Trump supporters as "garbage" during a video call with Voto Latino, a Democratic-leaning civic engagement organization that aims to increase the political participation of Latinos. This remark came in response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's roast of Puerto Rico as "a floating island of garbage" during the Oct. 27 Trump rally in New York City.

Sources:

- YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeZKRoJqkDA. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

---. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iW_qiB83gs. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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"Biden Says He'd Like To 'Smack' Trump And His Supporters 'In The Ass' For This 1 Reason." HuffPost, 3 Nov. 2024, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-smack-trump-and-supporters_n_6727b636e4b0cfb9cc69cd9f.

@CollinRugg. "NEW: President Joe Biden Says Republicans like Donald Trump Are the Type of Guys You'd 'like to Smack in the A$$.'" X, 2 Nov. 2024, https://x.com/collinrugg/status/1852803166120648854?s=46.

House, The White. "Remarks by President Biden at a Carpenters Local 445 GOTV Event | Scranton, PA." The White House, 3 Nov. 2024, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/11/02/remarks-by-president-biden-at-a-carpenters-local-445-gotv-event-scranton-pa/.

Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/skynews/reel/DB6Ji1LNbdk/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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Liptak, Kevin. "Biden Returns to His Hometown after a Limited Campaign Role | CNN Politics." CNN, 2 Nov. 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/02/politics/biden-scranton-pennsylvania-campaign-event/index.html.

Mason, Jeff, and Jeff Mason. "Biden Makes Final Campaign Stop for Harris in Scranton, His Childhood Hometown." Reuters, 2 Nov. 2024. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-makes-final-campaign-stop-harris-scranton-his-childhood-hometown-2024-11-02/.

News, A. B. C. "Biden Suggests He'd like to Smack 'macho Guys' during Final Campaign Stop." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/biden-suggests-hed-smack-macho-guys-final-campaign-115431567. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

---. "Biden Suggests He'd like to Smack 'macho Guys' during Final Campaign Stop." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/biden-suggests-hed-smack-macho-guys-final-campaign-115431567. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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Othot, Seamus. "Biden Calls Trump Supporters 'The Kind of Guys You'd Like to Smack in the Ass' after Backlash from Garbage Comments." The Maine Wire, 4 Nov. 2024, https://www.themainewire.com/2024/11/biden-calls-trump-supporters-the-kind-of-guys-youd-like-to-smack-in-the-ass-after-backlash-from-garbage-comments/.

"President Biden Campaigns for Harris in Scranton." Scranton Times-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2024, https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/2024/11/02/president-biden-campaigns-for-harris-in-scranton/.

"President Biden Visits Scranton Ahead of Election." Wnep.Com, 2 Nov. 2024, https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/president-biden-visits-scranton-ahead-of-election-joe-lackawanna-county-kamala-harris-carpenters-union/523-42b3a806-af91-40dc-b580-46c2c17ee902.

Sedacca, Matthew. Biden Says Trump Is Someone "you'd like to Smack in the a--" at Pa. Campaign Event. 2 Nov. 2024, https://nypost.com/2024/11/02/us-news/biden-says-trump-is-someone-youd-like-to-smack-in-the-a-at-pa-campaign-event/.

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"The Plot, Scranton PA - Neighborhood Guide | Trulia." Trulia Real Estate Search, https://www.trulia.com/n/pa/scranton/the-plot/171430/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

The Plot Section of Scranton (Real Estate, Insurance, Homes) - Northeastern Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania (PA) -Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pocono Area - City-Data Forum. https://www.city-data.com/forum/northeastern-pennsylvania/490291-plot-section-scranton.html. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

"'This Other Guy Doesn't Care about Us,' Biden Says of Trump in Scranton Union Hall Speech." WVIA Public Media, 2 Nov. 2024, https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2024-11-02/this-other-guy-doesnt-care-about-us-biden-says-of-trump-in-scranton-union-hall-speech.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs. "Biden Returns to His Home Turf to Make Final Pitches for Harris." The New York Times, 2 Nov. 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/02/us/elections/biden-scranton-harris-campaign.html.
Richard Allen's defense team rested its case in a surprise move moments after hearings began Wednesday at the Carroll County Courthouse in Delphi.

Hours later, around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, prosecutors finished questioning their last rebuttal witness and court was adjourned for the day so both sides could prepare closing arguments. Starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, attorneys for the state and then for Allen will spend hours weaving together all of the evidence they've presented before jurors start deliberations to reach a verdict.

Allen, 52, is accused of killing two teens who went missing Feb. 13, 2017, and were found dead the next day. He was arrested in 2022 and faces two counts of murder and two counts of murder while kidnapping in the deaths of Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German.

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Journalists from the Indianapolis Star and the Lafayette Journal & Courier will cover the case as it moves through the judicial system.

 Nov. 5, 2024: Delphi murder trial jurors remain seated on Election Day.

This story will be updated throughout the day.

Prison video casts doubt on Richard Allen's recovery timeline

During his cross-examination of the State of Indiana's last rebuttal witness, defense attorney Bradley Rozzi played part of a video showing a motionless Allen strapped to a wheelchair for a medical examination.

The video, which Rozzi had previously hidden from the courtroom's public audience to protect Allen's dignity, was taken on June 20, 2023, a month after Dr. John Martin of the Westville Correctional Facility said Allen had seemingly exited psychosis. Martin said that during a meeting earlier that same day, Allen was communicative and spontaneously told Martin he wanted to apologize to the families of Abby and Libby.

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But even Martin was doubtful that Allen, as portrayed in the 10:52 a.m. video that he hadn't previously watched, had left a psychosis state.

Dressed in a white T-shirt and bright orange pants, a frail-looking Allen is strapped to a wheelchair as guards and doctors surround him in an examination room. While doctors take his blood pressure and scan him with a stethoscope, Allen gazes forward and hardly moves. Alarmingly, Allen had lost 50 pounds in prison, Martin testified.

In the courtroom, Allen couldn't bear to watch this past version of himself. He put his hands over his eyes and craned his head to look over his right shoulder, toward his family sitting in the first row of seats. His wife, his sister and his mother all kept their heads down to avoid watching the video as they quietly wept. Allen himself began to tremble and his eyes filled with tears. Allen's attorney Andrew Baldwin squeezed his client's bicep and later slung an arm over his chair.

"Does that video make you question your diagnosis that Mr. Allen was no longer in a state of psychosis on June 20, 2023?" Rozzi asked Martin.

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"Yes," Martin said.

Martin told prosecutor Stacey Diener, however, that the video didn't cause him to doubt his recollection of his conversation with Allen that day.

In a transcript of Martin's June 20 conversation with Allen, the doctor wrote that several self-inflicted contusions showed on Allen's face. He wrote that Allen "claims to be suicidal," but that "in general he is much improved and does not appear to be psychotic."

During the session, Allen chose to wear only a T-shirt and boxers despite having a prison uniform. Allen's eye contact was poor and his voice soft, but he "was coherent and spoke without loose associations or flight of ideas," Martin wrote. "He was oriented to person, place, time of day and situation." He had been getting enough sleep and eating most of his meals.

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But Allen still talked little. He did, however, say he was concerned for his wife and "wanted to apologize to the families of his victims," according to Martin.

Martin maintained that Allen had entered prison with baseline conditions of depression and anxiety. By May 2023, he believed Allen had recovered from the onset of psychosis in April with the aid of antipsychotic medication and returned to his baseline level of depression. He gave Allen three monthly doses in April, May and June to ensure he did not relapse.

"I kept observing him," Martin said, "and for seven weeks there was no evidence of psychosis."

In response to a jury question, Martin said it's possible to slip in and out of psychosis within the same day. Jurors also asked Martin whether the video led him to believe Allen might have been faking his condition, as suggested in earlier testimony by Dr. Monica Wala, the therapist Allen met with in prison.

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"No," Martin said, "I don't think so."

Prosecution calls witnesses to rebut defense's case

Prosecutors sought to poke holes into the defense's position that Allen was suffering through long periods of psychosis when he confessed to killing Abby and Libby.

Their rebuttal focused on two witnesses whose testimonies are meant to undercut the dire conditions of incarceration that defense attorneys portrayed to jurors and to establish that Allen's psychosis was not consistent.

Brian Harshman, the Indiana State Police master trooper who listened to hundreds of Allen's calls from prison, testified that Allen has been in a one-man cell for much of the last two years since he was arrested. At Westville Correctional Facility, he was allowed recreation and had the ability to communicate with neighbors from his cell. The conditions of his incarceration were similar at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, where he was transferred after about a year at Westville.

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At Cass County Jail, where he is being detained during his trial, he has a small dayroom and a table.

Dr. John Martin, a psychiatrist at Westville, was also called to establish that although Allen showed signs of psychosis, the symptoms eventually abated after he was given antipsychotic medication. Allen also was confessing to the crimes during some periods of apparent sanity.

Martin testified that he first saw evidence of psychosis on April 13, 2023, when Allen was found lying naked in his cell with feces smeared on his body. Allen was later injected with antipsychotic drugs.

By April 25, 2023, Martin said he saw improvements in Allen's mental state. By May 2, 2023, there were no signs of psychosis, Martin testified. Psychotic symptoms were apparent again on May 8 and 9, 2023, but disappeared shortly after. When he met with Allen on May 23, 2023 and again a week later, he saw no signs of psychosis, Martin testified.

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On June 20, 2023, Martin said he decided to stop giving Allen antipsychotic medication after meeting with him again and finding no evidence of psychosis.

"That day, he said to me," Martin testified, "'I'd like to apologize to the families of Abby and Libby.'"

Defense rests in Delphi case

Seven minutes after proceedings began Wednesday morning, Richard Allen's defense rested its case.

The surprising turn of events comes less than a week after the defense started calling its witnesses, somewhat kneecapped by Special Judge Frances Gull's refusal to allow them to present their alternative theory that the girls were killed by Odinists in a sacrificial ritual.

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The proceedings will now phase into jury instructions when the panel of 12 people picked from Allen County will determine a verdict.

At 9:15 a.m., the jury was excused as the state and defense discussed instructions for the group. A point of contention included whether Allen would testify, as well as his "prior inconsistent statements." Gull said her instructions to the jury included that Allen would not testify.

After a half hour of deliberating outside the courtroom, prosecutors returned and said they had no issue with the instructions.

Brad Rozzi, one of Allen's attorneys, requested until the end of the day to come up with a proposal for how the jury should judge Allen's "incriminating statements." Gull gave them until the end of the business day.

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Closing arguments will be between two to two and a half hours.

New courtroom rules put in place ahead of closing arguments

At the start of Wednesday's hearing a new set of rules were announced.

People will no longer be allowed to line up for courtroom seats before 7 a.m. The case has drawn international attention from media and true crime fanatics, including YouTube and podcast personalities. Many either lined up or had people hold the line for them as early as midnight in hopes of securing a seat.

The media was moved to the back of the courtroom after being accused of talking during proceedings. The courtroom was warned that talkers would be removed.

Richard Allens family is now seated where media was located in the front row of the courtroom, prompting Becky Patty, Libby Germans grandmother, to say thats bullsh--.

Libbys family remain seated in the second row.

The number of seats available for the public also dropped from 24 to 18.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Delphi murders updates as Richard Allen's trial continues Nov. 6, 2024
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump as the Republican candidate looked poised to return to the White House.

His "friend" Donald Trump won the presidential election after a "great struggle," Erdogan wrote on social media platform X.

With Trump's election, a "new era" begins, wrote Erdogan.

The Turkish leader said he hopes Trump will "strengthen relations" between Turkey and the US as well as "end regional and global crises and wars."

The conservative broadcaster Fox News had already declared Republican candidate Trump the overall winner against Democrat Kamala Harris, but other media networks and US news agency AP have not done so. Trump declared himself the winner in a speech in Florida.
Poll workers across the Modesto area were kept busy Tuesday by veterans of voting and a flood of first-timers.

At the Modesto Airport, worker Matthew Mason noted that traffic was steady all day. We have had a lot of first-time voters, many people dropping off ballots and voting in-person, he said.

Fellow poll worker Barry Courtney agreed and added, People have been excited to vote today, especially those for the first time. They have been taking selfies and photos of the experience.

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One first-time voter is Cecil Johnson, 20. I found the process easy to understand and appreciated the explanations on the ballot so I could learn more about things and how to best vote. I just think it is important to vote, to share my opinion, he said.

Downtown at the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorders office, motorists were bumper to bumper to place their ballots in the drop box, while a stream of voters lined up to cast their votes in person.

Jennifer Williams exits the Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters office after voting in Modesto, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Donna Linder said, It has been a crazy day, steady and busy all day. She noted that while she could not yet gauge the turnout, enthusiasm and traffic have been high and she thinks the final numbers may reflect that. Linder said she has heard the same from the many poll centers around the county.

She also offered this assurance about ballots. We are very thorough and will be counting ballots over the coming days and weeks, so dont be discouraged if you do not see your ballot update right away. We have to verify all signatures and so the process will take some time.

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Mitzy Collantes, a second-time voter, said certain propositions are important to her. I went to school in Ceres, and had a very good education and I want to ensure that future generations have the same opportunity, the 21-year-old said. I dont mind paying some taxes that will help fund important things like education and the environment.

Collantes had some advice for people on the fence about voting, Sometimes voting is uncomfortable and can divide people, but I think it is very important.

People vote at the Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters office in Modesto, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

At the Salida Library, April Machado reported being a regular voter, but I felt this election was significantly important because we are at a crucial crossroad where our daily lives are significantly impacted from one party to the other.

I found Prop. 36 interesting. Increased sentences for repeat drug and theft offenders. Increased sentences for fentanyl. Most importantly to me was that they can now charge a felony for smash-and-grab offenders under $950.

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Salida Library voting station lead Danica Gantney has been working at county polling stations since 2020.

The library has a drop box outside, but the majority of people have come inside to vote, Gantney said.

The library had so many voters turn out that she needed to add more tables because there were so many people standing up with no space to fill out their ballots. Weve been nonstop since 7 a.m.

Though the in-person voting center has been open 11 days, Gantney said, todays been our biggest turnout.

Clerk Danica Gantney, left, helps Kateryna Gonsalves, sitting, with the touch writer digital voting machine as Gonsalves daughter Tatiana Chavez observes at the Stanislaus County vote center at the Salida Library in Salida, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Kristin Jabs-Ellenburg always votes, but especially this time because the future of our country and the rights of so many people are at stake.

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Asked if there are any local or state races that were of particular interest, Jabs-Ellenburg said, Not really. I feel like were voting for the same things over and over again but in a different language.

Also at the Salida site was voter Ashlyn Slinkard, who said, I have voted every election since I turned 18. I think its very important to vote for what you believe in. This election especially. This could be life or death for America as we know it, the land of the free. Will we continue down a path where our paychecks are gone before they even hit our account, or will we be able to afford life outside of basic necessities like groceries and gasoline?

Democrats have taken the House 12 years of the last 16 and the only break we have seen are the four years Trump took office.

Roman Scanlon, director of CalPride Stanislaus, told The Bee, I think a lot of our peers and staff are experiencing heightened anxiety because of the elections. When certain people are on ballots, it makes a little bit nerve-racking, especially our trans groups are really worried about the outcome, just because of what effects it will have on them. So were being very, very mindful of everybodys feelings.

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And at the Petersen Event Center in downtown Modesto, voter John Mogda said he was impressed by poll workers performance. Everyone knew what they were doing, they seemed to be on the right page about everything.

Stanislaus County vote center at the Salida Library in Salida, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

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Some of the nations biggest TV anchors saw the plans they had for Election Night change almost as soon as the first exit polls came in.

Early preparations for election coverage had called for hours and hours spent on sifting through what was supposed to be a neck-and-neck race. Instead former President Donald Trump quickly emerged as president-elect Donald Trump, while Vice President Kamala Harris supposed foundations among Blue Wall states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania crumbled throughout the evening.

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The biggest audience tuned in to Fox News Channel, according to early Nielsen estimates that may change later in the day, followed by ABC News, and then MSNBC. From the late afternoon to the wee hours of the morning, the anchors had to keep level heads, and wait for the actual figures to come in before they could tell the full story.

Still, they could see a narrative building, thanks to the use of historical voter totals, county by county across the U.S., that showed how Harris wins were slipping below the marks President Joe Biden had notched in 2020. Balancing the emerging narrative with the hard, cold numbers fell to the anchors and correspondents below, and many more of their colleagues.

Bret Baier, Martha MacCallum and Sean Hannity

Baier and MacCallum are old hands when it comes to Election Night, but were often out in front of key state calls thanks to Fox News Channels voter-data apparatus. When the duo called Pennsylvania for Trump at around 1:20 a.m. ET, they also told viewers that Harris chances for the Oval Office had vanished. Meanwhile, opinion host Sean Hannity raised eyebrows on his own by telling viewers earlier in the evening that he knew Trump would win Georgia and North Carolina  ahead of Fox News own decision desk. Turns out he was correct.

Chris Christie

The former New Jersey governor brings unique experience to his analyst role at ABC News, which won more viewers on Election Night than any other broadcast network. His time as a state executive and as a Republican primary candidate for president have lent him key insight that helped him tell viewers what to expect during a Trump presidency. At one point during ABCs coverage, Christie suggested that Trump barely had two years to put his new agenda into place, because chances are candidates would start emerging for the 2028 campaign.

NewsNation

The upstart Nexstar cable-news outlet raised eyebrows on Election Night by citing data from Decision Desk HQ and becoming the first mainstream TV-news outlet to call the race for Trump. Doing the honors? Chris Cuomo, who has quickly become one of the faces of the network.

Steve Kornacki and Joy Reid

MSNBC mainstay Kornacki had a full workout over the course of the progressive news networks election coverage, and kept making sure to explain to viewers what was happening and why  even though they probably didnt want to hear it. He also got to star in his own show  a Kornacki-cam made available both on the Peacock streaming service and MSNBCs YouTube channel. Meanwhile, late in the proceedings, Reid told her colleagues why Harris had lost: Black voters came through for Kamala Harris.  White women voters did not.

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Lester Holt

Holt, who has been with NBCUniversal for nearly a quarter-century, has accumulated enough gravitas over his tenure to provide viewers of NBC Nightly News a few words of commentary during some of his final segments on the evening newscast. During Election Night, he counseled some of his colleagues not to call the race for Trump before all the necessary votes were collected. At around 11 p.m., Holt chided others on set for starting to speak as if the whole thing had been decided. This is beginning to sound like a post-mortem, he cautioned.

Jake Tapper, John King and Abby Phillip

This CNN trio offered up stoic coverage over many hours, with Tapper working from the start of CNNs coverage at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday through very early Wednesday morning. King, who has been working CNNs signature Magic Wall for at least a decade, has trained himself to manipulate the screen with either of his hands, and is perhaps the best at conjuring up quick data to explain to the audience how the candidates are truly faring. Phillip, reporting from Harris headquarters at Howard University, kept audiences informed even as the candidates chances grew thinner and thinner.

Norah ODonnell

ODonnell led tough and sober coverage of the election on CBS News, presiding over an assemblage that included Gayle King, Ed OKeefe, Major Garrett and Anthony Salvanto. She is soon expected to leave her perch at CBS Evening News, but viewers can probably expect to see her again during moments of major national import, such as an election.

Brian Williams

The NBC News veteran returned to hosting duties for the first time since leaving his MSNBC program in late 2021, popping up on Amazons Prime Video with a wide array of familiar faces in tow, including Abby Huntsman, Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Candy Crowley, among others. The program relied heavily on talk, not graphics and key race calls, but suggested the streaming giant has new ambitions when it comes to live events.

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Former Montana Rep. Frank Garner speaks about why he's supporting Constitutional Initiatives 126 and 127 at a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Helena on Oct. 7, 2024 (Photo by Darrelll Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan)

Voters in Montana who could change the states constitution  and the way the Treasure State votes  decided not to as results inched closer to being tallied across the snow-dusted state.

The two changes were proposed in tandem and would have altered how voters choose candidates. While one of the initiatives, Constitutional Initiative 126 appeared close at times on Election Day to passing, but by Wednesday morning both it and its companion initiative, Constitutional Initiative 127 appeared destined for defeat.

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The Associated Press called both races late Wednesday morning with about 92% of votes counted. CI-126 failed to pass by a margin of about 20,000 votes, 48% to 52%. while votes against CI-127 garnered 61% of the vote, to 38% in favor of the measure.

CI-126 would change Montanas primaries and have a ripple effect on the general election.

It would allow for the top four candidates in most races to advance to the general election, regardless of party. Though the system has been referred to as an open primary, its more accurately called a jungle primary. Currently in Montana, the primaries are open to all voters, but Montana residents must choose which party ballot to vote.

Supporters of CI-126 said that it would allow Montanans to select the best candidate, regardless of parties. Opponents said it just adds confusion and uncertainty to the process.

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CI-126 had been rejected by voters with 278,195 voting against it, while 258,470 supported it.

Today is a disappointing day as we see politicians and special interests once again succeed at stopping Montanans from gaining more power in our elections, said Frank Garner, a board member for the group behind the measure, Montanans for Election reform. We fought hard against the entrenched politicians and special interests who didnt want to give voters more voice and better choices on the ballot because the current system benefits them, not voters. We still believe open primaries are a powerful tool to hold politicians accountable and put the power over our elections back in the hands of voters, but they arent the only path forward. We will continue to stand up for freedom and choice in our elections.

CI-127, which is supported by the same backers as CI-126, had 61% of voters opposing it and just 39% in favor at press time. It would require that the top candidate in any race be elected with a majority (50% or more) rather than a plurality. If no candidate receives at least 50% of the vote, then the Legislature would determine how the winner is selected.

Currently, the Montana Legislature has outlawed ranked choice voting, so it would either have to change or repeal the law, or consider another means of selecting a candidate, including a snap run off, which would require another statewide election.

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CI-127 never appeared to be ahead in the polls.

Even though the initiatives were supported by the same group, both do not need to pass to function in law.

For example, if CI-126 passes, it would simply mean that the top four vote-getters, regardless of political party, would advance to the general election. Likewise, if only CI-127 passes, then it would require that the winner of an election receive at least 50%, regardless of how many people are on the ballot.

Constitutional Initiative 126 and 127 were two of three initiatives that could change the Montana Constitution. The other, Constitutional Initiative 128, would enshrine the right to an abortion in the constitution even though the procedure has been legal for years, based on Supreme Court precedent.
Two Bowling Green police officers were shot and injured Wednesday, and the man who shot them was killed, according to the Bowling Green Police Department.

The shooting happened at the LifeSkills facility on Woodway Drive in Bowling Green, said Ronnie Ward, spokesperson for Bowling Green police.

The officers were treated at a hospital and have been released.

Kentucky State Police said the incident began when Bowling Green police received a report of a man experiencing a mental health crisis at the facility. The man was combative with officers and attempted to disarm one of the officers and was able to gain control of a weapon.

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The man fired at least one shot toward the officers, according to KSP. One officer returned fire and shot the man. He was declared dead at the scene by the Warren County Coroners Office.

KSP is continuing to investigate the shooting.

LifeSkills is a private, nonprofit corporation that provides mental health, addition and disability services. About 30% of the corporations funds comes from the Kentucky Department for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addiction Services.

There are multiple LifeSkills facilities in Bowling Green, but the one on Woodway Drive is the LifeSkills Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit. In a statement, LifeSkills said the ACSU will not be available for the remainder of the day but all other LifeSkills services are operating as usual.

LifeSkills said its cooperating with KSPs investigation.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
Clockwise from top left: Democrat Pete Appollonio Jr. had a 25-vote lead over Republican Sen. Anthony DeLuca, top right, in the Senate District 29 race as of Wednesday at noon. Republican Chris Paplauskas, bottom right, has a 49 vote lead over Democrat Maria Bucci, bottom left, in the open seat race in Cranston for House District 15. (Contributed photos)

Recounts are on the horizon in two state legislative races, with razor thin margins in contests in Warwick and Cranston, respectively, based on preliminary and unofficial results Wednesday.

Final results will not weaken Democrats ironclad grip in the Rhode Island State House. The total number of Republican lawmakers is likely to remain the same: 14. Based on preliminary results as of noon Wednesday. House Republicans would pick up one seat  bringing its number to 10 out of 75 state representatives, but the Senate would lose one of its five Republican seats, leaving four Republicans in the 38-member chamber.

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The math is based on two races still in play, with recount requests submitted to the Rhode Island Board of Elections Thursday, according to Christopher Hunter, an agency spokesperson.

One is Warwicks Senate District 29, where Democratic challenger Peter Appollonio Jr. held a 67-vote lead over Republican Sen. Anthony DeLuca as of 11 p.m. Wednesday night. DeLuca, a freshman senator and former East Greenwich firefighter, confirmed in an interview earlier Wednesday that he planned to request a recount. At the time, DeLuca trailed Appollonio by 25 votes, a margin which widened after ballots submitted to drop boxes on Election Day were added to the count.

I knew it was going to be close, but I didnt know how close it was going to be, DeLuca said. Well see what happens.

DeLuca won the open seat in 2022, flipping the district long held by outgoing Democratic Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey in 2022 with relative ease. His 2022 opponent was Democrat Jennifer Rourke.

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Rourke again sought the party nomination this year, but lost in the September primary to Appollonio, a former West Warwick police officer. Appollonio drew support from a deep bench of state and federal Democrats in the general election contest against DeLuca.

Appollonio declined to comment when reached by phone just after midnight Wednesday morning, wanting to wait for all ballots to be counted. He did not respond to multiple follow-up inquiries for comment.

Meanwhile, Democrat Maria Bucci has asked for a recount in the House District 15 seat race, where Cranston City Councilor Chris Paplauskas leads by 31 votes. The open seat was formerly held by Republican Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, who instead sought the Cranston mayoral seat this year.

Paplauskas, who works for a sign manufacturing company, said in an interview Wednesday morning that he was feeling confident, despite the still unfinalized results.

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I like where I am at, Paplauskas said, chalking up his potential victory to his 10-year record as a city councilor. Ive worked hard for the city for 10 years, and I think that carried over.

Bucci, who unsuccessfully challenged Cranston Republican Mayor Ken Hopkins in 2020, did not return multiple calls for comment.

Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, greets constituent Chris Callaci while canvassing on Election Day morning outside Exeter Chapel. Cotter defeated Republican Justin Price with a definitive 659-vote lead as of midday Wednesday. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

By contrast, the House District 39 rematch between Exeter Democrat Megan Cotter and Justin Price was hardly the squeaker anticipated. Cotter defeated Price with a definitive 691-vote lead as of Wednesday night. The freshman representative ousted Price from the seat representing Richmond, Exeter and Hopkinton by just 32 votes, confirmed by a recount, in 2022.

Price called Cotter to concede Thursday morning, she said.

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In races with 20,000 or fewer votes cast  the case for the state legislative contests in question  candidates can ask for a manual re-feeding of ballots when the losing candidate trails by 2% or 200 votes, whichever is less, according to state law.

Candidates have until 4 p.m. Nov. 12 to physically deliver to the state elections board a signed and notarized letter requesting a recount.

Updated to include recount requests received by the Rhode Island Board of Elections as well as updated vote totals in legislative races as of 11 p.m. Wednesday.

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Recently I had the deep privilege of working with my friend, classmate and colleague, Rabbi Arik Ascherman and his organization, Torat Tzedek (Torah of Justice), helping Palestinian farmers Mohammed and Fayek with their olive harvest in the West Bank village of El-Khader.

The lovely grove where we met them has been in their families for generations but the Jewish settlements of Neve Daniel and Elazar  part of the Gush Etzion bloc around Efrat  are encroaching on these Palestinian farmers land. Unfortunately, recent months have seen the development of an unofficial and unauthorized law that says Palestinians cannot be within 200 meters of any Jewish settlement.

That means that the settlers expansions are denying Palestinians access to the justly-owned lands that are also their livelihood. This law is backed by armed settler security forces and, sometimes, the Israeli army as well, even though it is totally illegitimate and at odds with Supreme Court rulings.

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So with all of this in mind, Torat Tzedek brings groups to work with these farmers, to make it harder to kick them off their own property. Thats what I was a part of in the West Bank.

Rabbi Ascherman picked me up and drove me to the site, along with another volunteer, who has significant experience doing this work. On the ride, Arik shared his thoughts on the state of the nation. He noted that for decades he described himself as the last optimist but in todays Israel, controlled by the most right-wing government in its history and stuck in two seemingly endless and deadly wars, he says he no longer remains optimistic.

And yet. . . he persists, working tirelessly for justice for Palestine and Israel. Why? Because he stubbornly refuses to let go of his ideals, despite everything. He has been scorned and beaten by thuggish settlers and struggles to run a courageous human rights organization on a shoestring budget and staff  yet he holds fast to his moral vision. He is, in short, a hero, and it was an incredible honor to spend the day with him and his volunteers.

I worked with Mohammed, picking olives by hand. He is 78 years old  and stronger than most men half his age. He and Fayek were also incredibly gracious. They set us up with buckets and bags, groundcloth blankets and an old ladder, which is what remains for them after rogue settlers broke into and vandalized their tool shed.

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Chaim kashim they repeated several times in Hebrew  life is hard. Yet they too persist, with dignity and kindness. They offered grapes from their vineyard, water from their well and worked alongside of us on the site, which is beautiful and, save for the politics, tranquil. We shared stories, talked about our families, laughed together.

. . . Until we were interrupted by the IDF soldiers who showed up to enforce the bogus 200-meter rule and kick us all off the land. Thankfully, Arik and Mohammed handled the situation masterfully. In the presence of these armed soldiers, they were calm and peaceful and kind. And then Mohammed mentioned a friend who, it turns out, one of the soldiers also knew  and this shifted the conversation.

To their credit, the soldiers changed their tone, which became friendly and familial, and they gave us permission to stay and work until 3 p.m. Arik noted that of course it doesnt always  or even usually  go this way. The occupation is not kind. But on occasion, the human beings tasked with enforcing it can be, and I was glad to witness this. It doesnt remotely begin to make up for the cruelty, oppression and violence, but it is a spark of light amid the darkness.

An hour or so later, Mohammed and Fayek served us a delicious Middle Eastern lunch, which we ate under the olive trees: pita, hummus, eggplant, fish and Turkish coffee. We said blessings before we ate, in Hebrew and Arabic, thanking the Holy One/Allah for the shared repast.

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After we finished eating, Rabbi Arik  who is a person of deep faith and Jewish learning  offered a kind of prayer/dvar Torah. He noted that in this weeks Torah portion, Noach, we read that when the flood ends, Noah sends out a dove that ultimately returns with an olive branch, indicating that the waters have receded and peace has returned to the earth. Thus the classic symbol of the dove with the olive branch in its mouth  a harbinger of a better world. Eating beneath these trees, picking these olives together, we could all feel the power of that vision.

When Arik finished his dvar, Mohammed asked if he would also be willing to offer a blessing for the land and the harvest. He obliged, beautifully, with a prayer for peace, understanding, and bounty, in Hebrew and Arabic. To which we all offered a heartfelt Amen!

We went back to work and picked olives for another few hours, then cleaned up, hugged and shook hands and went on our way.

Its not world peace, or the end of the occupation. It wont stop Hamas terror or convince Bibi Netanyahu and Itamar Ben Gvir to act like decent human beings. The war rages on, the missiles and drones continue to fly, the death toll, which includes so many thousands of Palestinian civilians, so many children, continues to rise.

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The vast majority of us have no real power to stop the massive suffering and loss  and those who actually possess that power dont seem to give a damn about anything except themselves.

But you have to start somewhere. I got a glimpse of how we might begin.

If you have read this and empathize with my words, please consider making a donation to Rabbi Aschermans organization, Torat Tzedek.

Dan Fink is the rabbi emeritus at Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel.
An incumbent and two new trustees secured seats on the seven-person Round Rock school board Tuesday night, according to complete but unofficial results.

Incumbent Estevan (Chuy) Zarate secured his Place 1 seat with 55.3%, or 42,717 of the 77,246 votes cast, against challenger Joshua Escalante.

Former Round Rock art teacher Melissa Ross clinched the Place 2 race against April Guerra, the mother of a dyslexic student who works in the financial sector.

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Ross got 62.1%, 46,833 of the 75,464 votes.

In the Place 7 race, Mingyuan Michael Wei, a father and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality toxicologist, won 59.3%, or 45,779 of the 77,173 votes, beating out Jim Steele, a longtime Williamson County resident who is a father and grandfather.

Ross and Wei will replace outgoing trustees Mary Bone and Danielle Weston, respectively, who had each been on the school board since 2020.

During their time on the board, Bone and Weston often have had contentious relationships with the other members over issues such as mask mandates and the hiring of Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez in June 2021.

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In April 2022, a Williamson County judge dismissed a lawsuit that Bone and Weston had filed against the other board members concerning proposed censure resolutions over them disrupting a meeting. A second censure resolution failed in August 2022. The motion was proposed after both trustees broke quorum during a June 16, 2022, meeting on the budget.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Two new trustees, one incumbent elected to Round Rock school board
WRIGHT COUNTY, Mo.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) says a married couple from Manes who were poll workers have died from flash flooding from Beaver Creek overnight Tuesday.

Around 4:30 a.m., MSHP, Missouri Department of Conservation and other first responders commenced rescue operations after reports of three vehicles that were swept away in flood waters from Beaver Creek on State Highway H east of Manes.

Widespread flooding makes many Texas County roads impassable

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MSHP says the couple from Manes, a 70-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman, tried to swim to dry land after their vehicle was swept away but they were found deceased at about 8:45 a.m. All other individuals whose vehicles were swept away were able to swim to shore.

The Wright County Clerks Office confirmed that the two deceased people were on their way to work the polls in Wright County before they drowned. The Wright County they were quickly located by a Wright County drone used by Sheriff Byerley.

The Wright County Clerks Office have also released the following statement:

The Wright County Clerks Office is saddened by the loss of life that occurred early this morning of two poll workers. Mrs. Pederson, the Wright County Clerk, is not releasing their names out of respect and privacy to the family, as reported by the Wright County Sheriff. This loss of life occurred as a result of swift, high water from the storms that came through the area the night before. This is a tragic loss for Wright County. They were dedicated citizens who valued fair and honest elections. They will be missed. Ms. Pederson states, This is a terrible loss for Wright County. This couple were wonderful people who donated their time to serve their community. We will miss them dearly and the service they provided to my office.'

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Tours at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., were shut down Election Day after a man tried to enter the visitors' center with a torch, a flare gun and "smelling like fuel," according to Capitol Police, who took him into custody.

The man, who was identified as a 28-year-old Michigan resident, according to police, was stopped just after 12:30 p.m. EST before being told to put his backpack and coat through security.

"He stood there for a few seconds and then put his stuff on the conveyor belt. As soon as his coat and backpack went through the screening area, U.S. Capitol Police officers saw something that appeared to be a firearm, as well as two bottles," USCP Chief Thomas Manger told reporters.

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"As they were standing there, one of the officers noticed a faint odor of gasoline. When they pulled the backpack off the conveyor belt they noticed a much stronger odor of gasoline," Manger added. "At that point the suspect was detained. He was placed under arrest. We found a flare gun and a torch lighter in his jacket. There were also other articles in his backpack. He is now in custody. Again, a very active investigation."

USCP investigators located and towed the man's vehicle, which was parked near the Capitol at the intersection of 9th Street and Maryland Avenue NE, in Washington, D.C.

At this point, there is no information on any motive or plan. The man, who was not identified and was carrying a stack of papers, told officers he had paperwork he needed to deliver to Congress.

Both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate were not in session Tuesday. The House was scheduled to hold a pro forma session at 5 p.m. EST.

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"There's no indication right now that it had anything to do with the election," Manger said, adding that police confiscated the papers and are still combing through them to determine the man's intentions.

U.S. Capitol Police posted a notice on X about the arrest and closure Tuesday afternoon.

"Our officers just arrested a man who was stopped during our screening process at the Capitol Visitor Center. The man smelled like fuel, had a torch and a flare gun," the announcement said.

"The CVC is closed for tours for the day, while we investigate. We will provide more information when we can."

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The Capitol Visitor Center, which is the starting point for Capitol tours with about three million visitors annually, is open most days of the year.

Election Day security has been installed throughout Washington, D.C., including riot fencing around the U.S. Capitol building, the White House and the Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue, where Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris lives.

The same "climb-proof" fencing was installed around the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida, where Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump will host his election watch party Tuesday night.
Louisiana Illuminator illustration

Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnsons resounding Election Day win in Louisianas 4th Congressional District race was all but guaranteed back in July when Democrats failed to enter a candidate in the race.

Johnsons only opponent was Joshua Morott, a substitute teacher without any prior political experience or reported campaign contributions. As expected, the speaker easily cruised to victory.

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Results as of 8:30 Central Tuesday night showed Johnson receiving more than eight out of every 10 votes cast, with the Associated Press declaring him the winner.

The lack of election drama back home allowed Johnson to hit the congressional campaign trail on behalf of Republicans in other states. The speaker also stumped with former President Donald Trump in his attempt to return to the White House.

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The 2024 election cycle was also the first for Johnson as one of the GOPs chief fundraisers. From July through September, he hauled in more than $19 million for his own campaign and $8 million more for other Republican incumbents and candidates, according to federal election records.

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Johnson keeps the 4th District seat hes held since 2017, though with slightly altered boundaries. Its base remains in northwest Louisiana but with some previous portions carved out to create a new 6th District that gives a Black candidate a better chance of winning. The changes are required to account for the states demographic changes in the decennial U.S. Census.

Beyond his speakers duties, Johnson is on the House Judiciary Committee and chairs its Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government.
Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol Building on December 14, 2021 in Washington, DC. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, an east and south metro Democrat, won a commanding victory over Joe Teirab Tuesday, winning a fourth term with ease after a series of narrow victories since 2018.

Minnesotas congressional delegation will likely remain unchanged for the next two years, with two Democratic senators, four Democrats and four Republicans in the U.S. House.

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DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar comfortably won another six-year term.

These Minnesota incumbents in the U.S. House also won: Democratic Reps. Angie Craig of the east metro 2nd District and Ilhan Omar of the Minneapolis 5th. Republican incumbents also won: Reps. Brad Finstad in the 1st District, which sweeps the entirety of the southern border from east to west; Tom Emmer of the central Minnesota 6th District; Pete Stauber of the 8th, in northeast Minnesota; and Michelle Fishbach in the rural western 7th.

As of publication, results had not been released in the heavily Democratic 4th District comprising St. Paul and some suburbs. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum is expected to win.

Democrat Kelly Morrison won the only open seat, Minnesotas 3rd Congressional District, the safely blue seat in the west metro suburbs vacated by former U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, who left office after a failed bid for the presidency.

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Craig won the states most competitive district, showing that her appeal to moderates on issues like border security and law enforcement continue to garner support in the purple district south of the Twin Cities.

Craig faced first-time candidate Teirab, a former local and federal prosecutor and the son of a Sudanese immigrant who Republicans had hoped would break through. He suffered from lack of name recognition and the money to buy it. Craig launched withering attacks  twice judged dishonest by media fact checkers  against Teirab for his prosecutorial decisions and anti-abortion stance.

Democrats had to hold Craigs seat in their quest to retake the U.S. House majority they narrowly lost in 2022.

Klobuchar won a fourth term in the Senate by defeating Republican candidate Royce White, a former professional athlete whose campaign was plagued by a series of scandals: spending campaign money at strip clubs; failing to pay more than $100,000 in child support; endorsing the flat earth conspiracy theory; White also employed a combative online presence, where he frequently calls critics cucks and said the bad guys won WWII.

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The Minnesota GOPs endorsement of White over Joe Fraser  a more traditional Republican candidate  revealed apparent flaws with the Republicans nomination process, and the deep divisions within the party.

Republicans have not won a statewide election since former Gov. Tim Pawlenty won reelection in 2006.

Emmer, the House majority whip, is likely to remain in Republican leadership.

Emmer, who briefly made a play for House speaker in the fall of 2023, has become a prodigious fundraiser, raising enough to cover his campaign against a nominal opponent in his ruby red district, but also securing influence among his GOP colleagues, to whom he sent millions of dollars in the effort to retain control of the House.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar secured an 11th term representing his South Texas congressional district early Wednesday despite a federal indictment accusing him of a litany of corruption allegations.

Cuellar defeated Republican Jay Furman, a political newcomer, according to The Associated Press.

Cuellar is one of Texas longest serving Democrats in Congress, and has served the 28th Congressional District since 2005. He and his family are synonymous with political power in Laredo, whose airport has a terminal that bears his name. One of the most conservative members of the Democratic caucus, he often breaks from his party and sides with Republicans. He is known for close friendships with Republicans and is the last pro-life Democrat in Congress.

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Cuellar faces a criminal trial after the Justice Department indicted him on a series of charges alleging bribery, money laundering and working on behalf of the Azerbaijani government and a Mexican bank. The charges spanned years of Cuellars service in government. The specter of that upcoming trial cast a pall over his reelection campaign.

Cuellar denied any wrongdoing and expressed confidence immediately after the indictment went public that he would still be reelected.

These allegations have been difficult on my family. But, with your prayers, we will overcome, Cuellar said in a statement at the time. Let me be clear, Im running for re-election and will win this November.

Republicans were not planning on putting up a serious fight in the Laredo-based district. After a crushing, 13-point defeat in 2022 with millions of dollars invested, Republicans decided to focus their attention elsewhere. Their primary offensive opportunity in Texas this cycle was in the 34th Congressional District against Democratic U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez.

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Furman secured the Republican nomination in a May runoff election. Shortly after, the National Republican Congressional Committee announced it was once again making the district a target. Furman has no formal political experience. He previously served in the Navy in Sub-Saharan Africa and launched his campaign as a grassroots, far-right effort.

But there was no repeat of the investment of 2022 when they recruited, trained and spent heavily on their candidate, Cassy Garcia.

This year, the NRCC and the Congressional Leadership Fund never announced major ad buys in Laredo, the districts population center, despite spending over $8 million in 2022. Furman failed to raise a competitive sum of money, relying heavily on personal loans. Furman raised a mere $323,000 this cycle as of mid-October, including over $181,000 in debts. Cuellar had raised over $2.3 million with no loans.

Cuellars pending criminal trial was pushed in June until after the election, sparing him from a highly visible legal drama. He also did not face the same backlash from his peers as other indicted lawmakers such as U.S. Rep. George Santos of New York or Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. House Democratic leaders maintained their endorsements of him.

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Still, the legal fees pulled on his campaign funds, and he was barred from traveling beyond South and West Texas except to go to Washington for congressional work.

Cuellar fended off a competitive primary challenge by immigration attorney Jessica Cisneros in 2020 and 2022. In 2022, Cisneros lost by less than a percentage point. Cuellar was particularly vulnerable that year after the FBI searched his house in a highly public raid. The raid was later revealed to be in connection with this years indictment.

His 2022 Republican challenge from Garcia was part of a larger Republican foray into the traditional Democratic stronghold of South Texas. Republicans spent millions in the neighboring 15th and 34th districts, securing a victory in the McAllen-based 15th district with U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz.

Republicans were not as well funded as Democrats this year, compelling them to be choosier in their investments. The NRCC dedicated the lionshare of its resources in the 34th district, where former U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores challenged Gonzalez.

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Furman entered the race before Cuellars indictment and his political inexperience and hard-right platform made him an unconventional pick for Republicans. Furman said shortly after launching his campaign that he picked the 28th district to provide a national platform to promote President Trump because he is going to be the one and singular person who can save us from this moment.

Furman had secured the endorsements of several former Trump administration officials and far-right members of Congress, including U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Chip Roy of Austin and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.

The Texas Tribune answering reader questions about 2024 elections. To share your question or feedback with us, you can fill out this form.
U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, secured another term in Congress on Tuesday, clinching a victory over former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry in the race to represent Tennessee's 7th Congressional District.

Early, unofficial vote totals show Green tracking at nearly 60% of the vote by 8:45 p.m. Tuesday night when the Associated Press called the race for him, nearly identical to his 2022 margins in a match-up with Democrat Odessa Kelly.

Green ran a relatively subdued campaign beset by personal drama in the late stages of the general election, but the three-term congressman handily won over Barry in the Republican-friendly district.

Rep. Mark Green, Tennessee District 7, speaks to supporters after his race was called at the watch party at Appleton Harley-Davidson in Clarksville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Barry called Green Tuesday night as he spoke at a Montgomery County GOP event in Clarksville, where the congressman thanked supporters and campaign managers for their work.

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I have to thank the voters of this district who put their faith in me again. It is humbling to know that you have this confidence in me," Green said, calling political office an "emotionally challenging job."

Barry conceded the race just after 8:30 p.m., telling about 75 supporters who had gathered at her Nashville home that she's confident the district can swing back to Democratic control in future cycles.

"Not that long ago, Democrats were winning this district, and I believe we can win again," she said. "The pendulum will swing back, but not without a lot of hard work."

Green's reelection was expected, but Democrats hoped to make some inroads in the district to build momentum for the next election cycle.

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Some thought Republicans, in their eagerness to break up Davidson County's blue stronghold and grab an extra congressional seat, may have spread votes too thin in Middle Tennessee. But Green won a status quo victory, a disappointing result for Democrats who hoped to chip into some of the Republican stronghold in the district.

Barry, running for office for the first time since she resigned from office as Nashville mayor, was seeking a heavy Democratic turnout in Davidson and Montgomery counties to counter the more rural areas of the 7th Congressional District. The district spans part of Davidson County, including North Nashville, and stretches from Montgomery County down to the Alabama border.

But the votes the Democrat needed didn't materialize. Proportionally, Montgomery County was among the lowest county turnouts in the state, and Barry's edge in Davidson wasn't enough itself to cut into Green's margins. Barry nabbed nearly two-thirds of Davidson's votes, but the total Democratic turnout fell well below what the Barry campaign was banking on for a competitive edge.

A late-stage divorce filing and affair allegations leveled at Green by his wife and daughter appeared to have little impact on the race. Meanwhile, Green on Tuesday shaprly criticized Barry for a series of critical ads regarding his investment activity, in addition to outside criticism about his reticence to publicly release his U.S. Army discharge paperwork.

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In his acceptance speech, Green praised the bravery of certain politicians in the face of "lies."

Take my opponent for example, he said, to the crowds boos. Completely blatant false statements about me. I have never done as well in the stock market as she asserts. And what they are saying about my DD214? Honestly an insult to every single veteran thats ever served.

Green has now been reelected to a seat he told constituents he didn't want earlier this year. In February, Green announced he would not seek reelection, one of a string of high-profile Republican committee chairs who were bowing out of Congress amid frustrations with Republican infighting. Green himself said he believed Congress is nearly irrevocably broken and suggested he needed to be home to take a fight to Washington, rather than fight "within Washington."

There were whispers Green wanted to be home to launch a 2026 gubernatorial bid, an ambition Green has not directly commented on but did not deny when asked last month if he had plans to run.

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But he reversed course within days after former President Donald Trump, among others, encouraged him to run for reelection. Internally, there were fears Barry, a formidable campaign fundraiser with strong ties in Middle Tennessee, could outpace a GOP newcomer to the race.

Green told The Tennessean last month he has committed to serving "one more term."

Green in recent days has traveled the country to stump for the former president. Echoing his dedication to the Republican presidential candidate, Green finished his energetic speech with Trumps infamous fist pump.

Ill tell you, this political discourse thats been going on has quite frankly pissed me off, he said, raising his fist in the air. Just like President Trump said, Im back for another one and were going to fight, fight, fight.

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Green's agenda for next session will prioritize cybersecurity and workforce issues, an issue he said he's been able to find bipartisan support for in the face of a rapidly developing technological landscape. Green points to his work on the PIVOTT Act, which would create a ROTC-like scholarship program for cybersecurity degrees at community and technical colleges.

It's also likely Green will continue serving as an immigration hawk on the Homeland Security Committee, which he likely would continue leading if Republicans retain control of the House. He was tapped as the chair in 2023, in part to appease the far-right Freedom Caucus with a friendly pick.

Green has positioned himself as a Trump surrogate in recent days, even traveling to Pennsylvania on Monday to stump for the former president, and the Tennessee congressman could serve as a powerful immigration ally if Trump is reelected.

In the final weeks of the campaigns, Trump ratcheted up anti-immigration rhetoric, including calling for mass deportations under an 18th-century sedition law that he says he would deploy local law enforcement and the National Guard to enforce. Green said he couldnt comment on that until he studied it further. The congressman does support some deportations, and said the country should prioritize immigrants with criminal histories.

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Green, a 59-year-old doctor and former U.S. Army major, was first elected to office in the Tennessee General Assembly, where his rise as a tea party-aligned Republican drew Trump's eye in his administration. Trump tapped Green in 2017 to serve as Secretary of the Army, but he withdrew his candidacy amid a backlash against comments he'd previously made against LGBTQ+ groups and Muslim religious practicies. He's long held the comments were misconstrued.

On the campaign trail, Green largely kept his head down, speaking to GOP-friendly groups and the occassional civics club meeting in the district. In September, he quietly filed for divorce, but within days some of his family members blasted him amid affair allegations. The incident appeared to affect the campaign very little, though. Barry, who publicly admitted to the extramarital affair that led to her mayoral downfall, didn't touch the situation, and Green last month sidestepped comments from his daughter maligning his character.

"My daughter's to the right of me. If I've moderated a little bit on one issue or two, that's probably what she's talking about," Green said. "In terms of the divorce, it's very personal and very private, and I'm not going to comment on that."

Green waited until early voting began to drop his first campaign ad, while Barry went on the attack early and often, dinging Green for issues like reproductive health care and an "extremism" the former mayor said constituents are tired of on both sides. Green, meanwhile, labeled Barry as "too liberal" for Tennessee's 7th.

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Though Barry posted serious fundraising numbers, raising more than $1.1 million, Green consistently topped her efforts, burnishing his campaign war chest with nearly $2 million by the final stretch of the campaign.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: U.S. Rep. Mark Green beats former Nashville mayor Megan Barry in 7th District
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, speaks at a meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus in September. Sewell won her eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesdsay. (William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, won her eighth term in Congress Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Robin Litaker.

The Associated Press called the race for Sewell at about 9:30 p.m. Sewell had 77,248 votes (67.8%) in unofficial returns. Litaker, a retired educator, had 36,666 votes (32.2%).

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At 9:48 p.m., 43% of votes were counted, according to the Associated Press.

A message was left with a spokesperson for Sewell Tuesday evening.

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Sewell, first elected to the U.S. House in 2010, has been Alabamas single Democratic representative in that chamber throughout her tenure. She will be joined next year by Shomari Figures, a Democrat from Mobile, who won election to the House from the newly-drawn 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday.

The 7th Congressional District, including Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties and most of the Black Belt, was redrawn into a majority-minority district in 1992. The district was slightly redrawn last year as a court ordered the creation of a second congressional district where Black voters had a chance to elect their preferred leaders.

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Sewells website highlights infrastructure and health care among her issues. She won praise from local leaders in the Black Belt in 2022 for helping secure money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to address sewage issues in Lowndes County, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

The congresswoman has also prioritized voting rights. She has sponsored the John Lewis Voting Rights Enhancement Act, which would restore provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. In May, Sewell spoke against a Republican-sponsored bill aimed to prevent people who dont have citizenship status from voting  which is already illegal  because it could burden eligible voters.

In the weeks leading up to the election, Sewell posted on social media about the impact of the Infrastructure Law, including removal of lead service lines in Selma.

Sewell also recently praised an executive order banning glock switches after a mass shooting in Birmingham.

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Updated at 12:52 a.m. with results of Alabama 2nd Congressional District race.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth (D-Mass.) Warren defeated Republican challenger John Deaton in Tuesday's election. (CommonWealth Beacon)

Massachusetts voters on Tuesday handed U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren a third six-year term, choosing the Cambridge Democrat over her GOP challenger, John Deaton.

The Associated Press, which pulls in results from cities and towns across the state, called the race in Warrens favor shortly after the polls closed at 8 p.m. Early returns had Warren, 75, leading Deaton 76 percent to 24 percent, with two percent of the vote in.

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During the campaign, Warren, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020 and won third place in her home state primary, returned to a strategy that has served her well in previous Senate runs. She attempted to nationalize the race by arguing a vote for Deaton was a vote for Republican control of the US Senate.

For his part, Deaton, a 57-year-old cryptocurrency lawyer who moved to central Massachusetts from Rhode Island to run against Warren, called the former Harvard Law School professor a far left politician who had stayed too long in Washington.

Deaton spent much of the campaign seeking distance between himself and top Republicans like Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. He highlighted his support for abortion rights and portrayed himself as a moderate Republican in the mold of Charlie Baker, the former governor who won his second term in 2018.

Cryptocurrency executives backed Deatons bid, while Warren received donations from academia and the tech sector, according to campaign finance records.

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The two candidates have clashed over crypto, with Warren arguing for stricter regulations in order to stem money laundering, and Deaton accusing her of being a lobbyist for the banking industry, which has been cautious of crypto.

Even as she faced Deaton, Warren left the state to serve as a campaign surrogate for Democrats elsewhere in the country, including Vice President Kamala Harris. Warren traveled to battlegrounds like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and donated more than $1.5 million to Democratic coffers.

This article first appeared on CommonWealth Beacon and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  This election season, Hawaii got to vote for one of the two U.S. Senators. Voters reelected incumbent Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono, who joined Wake Up 2Day post-election.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Senator Hirono said there were a lot of surprises when the victory went to former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Presidential Election.

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But at the same time I intend to go forward with the values that we hold dear in Hawaii and that those are values of decency and care for others. There are a lot of things that we need to do and I intend to do it by colleagues in the House and Senate. As well as locally, by the way. There are a lot of issues that are going to be dealt with by state legislature and our council, so I would say that going forward I would like to be working much for closely to get things done for our people of Hawaii, said Senator Hirono.

Hawaii County has a new mayor

We asked Senator Hirono what her plans are to navigate through this time and find unity moving forward.

We know what our values are, those are the values protecting our constitution. And going forward protecting our seniors, our kids. The other thing about Project 2025 that concerns me is that any kind of an effort to eliminate the United States Department of Education. That is really important in terms of support for schools in Hawaii. So those are the kinds of very specific problematic changes Trump could pursue that I will be watching, said the U.S. Senator.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
The News

The UK will expand its tobacco regulation, giving it some of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the world. The last British governments proposal of increasing the legal age for buying cigarettes by one year annually  a de facto ban for anyone born after 2009  was dropped, but the new administration has revived and strengthened it: The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will also make smoking in school playgrounds, and outside schools and hospitals, illegal.

The countrys health minister said the plan is to create a smoke-free generation. The idea of an ever-increasing minimum age for tobacco was first proposed in New Zealand, but has since been dropped there.
LONDON (AP)  British health officials say they have identified four cases of the new, more infectious version of mpox that first emerged in Congo, marking the first time the variant has caused a cluster of illness outside of Africa. Scientists said the risk to the public remains low.

Authorities announced the first case of the new form of mpox in the U.K. last week, saying the case was being treated at a London hospital after recently traveling to countries in Africa with ongoing outbreaks.

This week, the U.K. Health Security Agency said it had now identified three further cases who lived in the same household as the first patient. They too are now being treated at a hospital in London.

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Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household, said Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor of the U.K. Health Security Agency.

The new variant of mpox was first detected earlier this year in eastern Congo. Scientists believe it causes milder symptoms that are harder to notice, which makes it easier to spread because people may not know they are infected. Its spread in Congo and elsewhere in Africa prompted the World Health Organization to declare a global emergency in August.

Britain recorded more than 3,000 cases of another type of mpox during a 2022 outbreak that hit more than 100 countries.

The new variant of mpox has also caused outbreaks in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Single cases in travelers have also been reported in Sweden, India, Germany and Thailand.

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To date, there have been about 43,000 suspect cases of mpox in Africa, including more than 1,000 deaths, mostly in Congo.

On Wednesday, WHO said it had allocated 899,900 vaccine doses to nine African countries struggling with mpox epidemics.

__

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Soldiers in a Ukrainian artillery battery on the front lines of the countrys east were only vaguely aware of American election results pointing to Donald Trumps victory Wednesday  but firm in their hopes for the next president of the United States.

Their entrenched artillery battery fires on Russian forces daily  and takes fire nearly as often. Just the other day, one of their overhead nets snared a Russian drone.

I hope that the quantity of weapons, the number of guns for our victory will increase, the units 39-year-old commander, who goes by the name Mozart, said in the hours before Trumps win was confirmed. We dont care who is the president, as long as they dont cut us off from help because we need it.

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Though Trumps election throws into doubt American support for Ukraine  and ultimately whether Kyiv can beat back Russias invasion  the soldiers who use their Starlink connection to the internet sparingly learned of the results from Associated Press journalists.

Mozart  who other soldiers Wednesday did not give his name in keeping with Ukrainian military protocol and has given musical monikers to the battlefield positions  is among many Ukrainians who hope that Trump will hold the line on American support for their country. Russian forces have recently made gains in the east, although the commander described the front-line situation as static.

It was under Trump that the United States first sent weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, in 2017. Those Javelin anti-tank missiles were crucial to Ukraines ability to fend off the full-scale invasion in 2022. But Trump overall is wary of U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.

Trump, who has touted his good relationship with President Vladimir Putin and called the Russian leader pretty smart for invading Ukraine, has repeatedly criticized American backing of Ukraine. He characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the greatest salesman on Earth for winning U.S. aid.

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Zelenskyy was among the first world leaders to publicly congratulate Trump and said the two discussed how to end Russian aggression against Ukraine when they met in September.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together, he wrote on in a message on the social platform X.

Trump has said repeatedly he would have a peace deal done between Ukraine and Russia within a day if elected, although he has not said how. During his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, he twice refused to directly answer a question about whether he wanted Ukraine to win  raising concerns that Kyiv would be forced to accept unfavorable terms in any negotiations he oversaw.

In Kyiv, which comes under attack from Russian drones near daily, 18-year-old Viktoriia Zubrytska was pragmatic about her expectations for the next American president. She thinks Ukraine will be forced to give up territory in exchange for peace under a Trump presidency. But she said she preferred that to what she called the false hope that the Biden administration offered.

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We will live in a world of facts where we will be certain on what awaits us, said the law student. Certainty and objective truth is much better than lies and life in illusions.

According to VoteCast, 74% of voters who supported Harris favored continuing aid to Ukraine, while only 36% of Trumps voters did. AP VoteCast is a survey of the American electorate conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.

On the front lines in Ukraines eastern Kharkiv region, Andriy, who goes by Rodych or Relative, was resigned to the fact that he has no power to influence the American vote.

We will come up with something whatever happens, he said.

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We are a shield between Europe and Russia, he added. Other countries do not understand what is happening here, they see it on TV, and for them, it is far away.

Americas NATO allies were also closely watching the election. France and Germany arranged a last-minute, top-level defense meeting Wednesday in Paris to discuss the results, and Ukraine is likely to be central to the meeting. The two leading powers in the European Union provide significant support to Ukraine to defend it against Russias war.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, citing a more aggressive Russia, also invoked Trumps motto of peace through strength.

Rutte praised Trump for his work during his first term to persuade countries in the alliance to ramp up defense spending.

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In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had no information on whether Putin plans to congratulate Trump but emphasized that Moscow views the U.S. as an unfriendly country.

Peskov reaffirmed the Kremlins claim that the U.S. support for Ukraine amounted to its involvement in the conflict, telling reporters: Lets not forget that we are talking about, the unfriendly country that is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.

Still, he noted Trumps promise to end the war swiftly once elected.

The U.S. can help end the conflict, Peskov said, adding that it certainly cant be done overnight.

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___

Konovalov reported from the Kharkiv region. Associated Press journalists Lorne Cook in Brussels; Hanna Arhirova, Illia Novikov, and Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine; Danica Kirka in London; and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Ukraine for the first time struck a target in Russias Dagestan region on Wednesday, according to local and Ukrainian officials, eyewitnesses, and Russian and Ukrainian media. The military port at Kaspiysk on the Caspian Sea was attacked by Ukrainian drones about 670 miles from the front lines.

It is home to the Russian Navys Caspian Flotilla and coastal troops, including marine forces, according to the independent Russian Astra media outlet. The flotilla has conducted missile strikes on Ukraine, and the 177th Marine Regiment has participated in combat operations in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, the publication noted.

Ukrainian drones attempted to attack the main base of Russias Caspian Flotilla in Dagestaneyewitness reports and footage from the scene confirm



According to open sources, this base houses coastal troops, including marine forces. The flotilla has conducted missile strikes on pic.twitter.com/N36PvBzLrm  ASTRA (@ASTRA_PRESS) November 6, 2024

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While both sides agree the port was attacked, the results are in dispute. Ukrainian sources say at least one Russian vessel was damaged while Russians claim all the drones were shot down before any ships were hit, but resulting shrapnel injured a teenager.

For the first time during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a drone struck ships of the Caspian flotilla of the Russian Navy, Alexander Kovalenko, the head of Countering Disinformation under Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, stated on Telegram. Later, the media reported that in Kaspiysk, as a result of the strike, the combat ships of Project 11661 class ships Tatarstan and Dagestan were damaged.

The head of the Dagestan regional government had a different take.

This morning, air defense forces destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle over the Caspian Sea, Sergei Melikov said on Telegram.

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Video emerging from the scene indicates that neither point of view is fully accurate.

One video shows a drone, which appears to be a Ukrainian-made Aeroprakt A-22 ultralight aircraft converted into a one-way attack drone, flying through the continuous crackle of air defenses, eventually exploding on impact among the vessels. Kovalenko claims the video shows the drone striking near the mooring zone of a small missile boat of Project 21631 and a missile boat of Project 12418, the only representative of which in the Caspian flotilla is Stupinets.

However, it is hard to determine from the quality of the video if any ships were directly hit or suffered any damage.

As far as I can see in the video, the decommissioned Tarantula class Stupinets corvette was not hit by a Ukrainian drone, a retired Russian Navy officer who uses @Capt_Navy Twitter handle told The War Zone. In any case, the ship has already been withdrawn from the flotilla, decommissioned in 2023.

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BREAKING:



Ukraine launches a suicide drone swarm attack against the Dagestan region, Russia



Ukrainian drones are striking the main base of the Russian Navys Caspian Flotilla, safeguarding weapons shipments from Iran.



Its 1000+ km from the frontlines pic.twitter.com/BIhZBilVxw  Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) November 6, 2024

Other videos, shot from different angles and further away, show the drone crashing in a ball of flames but with no apparent secondary explosions indicating a strike on munitions or fuel supplies.

Guys, dont get discouraged. Take a look at how the Russians shot everything down as usual and nothing happened. I know you love these kinds of videos.



Drone strikes on the Caspian Flotilla in Dagestan have damaged the missile ships Tatarstan and Dagestan,- Ukrainian pic.twitter.com/wch7rrN2Mj  Maria Drutska  (@maria_drutska) November 6, 2024

The following video shows Russians running from the explosion.

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I have just seen another video from #Kaspiysk, where #Ukraine's drones hit the port and possibly two of #Russia's warships, catching many by surprise!



Apparently they will now be turning off the streetlights during the night in #Dagestan, as a result of this attack! pic.twitter.com/58YQAJD3mD  Tim White (@TWMCLtd) November 6, 2024

Low-resolution satellite imagery collected after the attack does not appear to show much, if any damage to the port or ships, according to an open-source investigator who uses the @MT_Anderson Twitter handle. The satellite image, he added, also shows most of the vessels had been dispersed from the port at the time the image was taken.

 Caspian Sea Flotilla 

Sentinel 2  of the port of Kaspiysk on 6 November 2024 (07:57 UTC)



You can see the dispersal of the flotilla in the waters around Kaspiysk



Not seeing any obvious ship damage at the naval piers but will need higher resolution for any confirmation pic.twitter.com/ArOpOp29jH  MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) November 6, 2024

In addition to the port being hit, the nearby Makhachkala airport temporarily suspended operations due to the drone attack, Astra reported.

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 Ukrainian UAVs attacked Kaspiysk in Dagestan at the morning.



 According to Mash, there is an airport 15 km from the site, which has been reinforced with protection against drone attacks. pic.twitter.com/KK8h1wQ3Xk  MAKS 24   (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) November 6, 2024

Regardless of the outcome, the attack is significant in several ways.

As we have noted in the past, Iran has used the Caspian Sea and its ports to ship missiles and other weapons to Russia in large measure because that route has been considered safe from Ukrainian attacks. In addition, this marks a new targeting of the Russian Navy. In June, they began launching Kalibr long-range cruise missiles from the Sea of Azov instead of the Black Sea. Thats because it became more dangerous for them launching from the western Black Sea after repeated attacks by Ukrainian missiles and aerial and sea drones.

Kaspiysk is more than a thousand kilometers away from the probable launch site and the drone, which is an adapted light aircraft, covered this distance without any problems, and in daylight! Kovalenko noted. Hundreds of kilometers through Russian echeloned air defense, not a small-sized, compact object, but a light aircraft!

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Yes, he added, this is the first strike on the Russians in the Caspian Sea during the entire period of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which clearly hints  sailors, you will not have peace in either the Black Sea or the Caspian!

Russias military port of Kaspiysk on the Caspian Sea is nearly 700 miles from the front lines and less than 420 miles from Iran. (Google Earth image)

The inability of Russian air defenses to spot drones before flying over the port was not lost on one influential Russian Telegram channel.

There were reports that the enemy did not achieve its targets with its morning attack, the Two Majors Telegram channel said. However, we cannot bring ourselves to call the air defense system at the naval base effective. The enemy crashed his drone into the port not because his drone was new, super-maneuverable or armored. No, its just that bureaucracy and the speed of decision-making do not allow even proactive officers (especially in the Navy) to change anything on their own.

This is just the latest in Ukraines long-range drone strikes on Russian targets. Given the importance of the Caspian Sea to Moscows war effort, there will likely be more.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has reported a surge in cases where Ukrainian soldiers attempting to surrender have been killed by Russian troops.

Source: Denys Lysenko, Head of the Department for Combating Crimes Committed in the Context of Armed Conflict at the Prosecutor General's Office, told the Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, as reported by the Prosecutor General's Office

Quote from the Prosecutor General's Office: "Law enforcement officers are currently investigating 49 criminal cases related to the killing of 124 POWs on the battlefield."

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Details: Lysenko noted that the spike in these killings began at the end of 2023 and reached unprecedented levels this year, with most incidents recorded in Donetsk Oblast.

He explained that on 5 November, two more incidents of Ukrainian POWs being killed while attempting to surrender were reported in Donetsk Oblast. The first occurred on 23 October in the eastern part of Selydove, where three POWs were killed, and the second on 1 November near the village of Vyshneve, close to Selydove, where three more POWs were executed by Russian forces.

Quote: "We are now analysing all these incidents, identifying patterns and recurring practices. We are already building cases against senior representatives of the Russian Armed Forces, who, in our view, may be implicated in organising these crimes or in failing to act to stop them and hold the perpetrators accountable."

Details: Lysenko stated that the Office is examining all these cases comprehensively, analysing the involvement of specific military units on an individual basis. However, he emphasised that this approach does not absolve their commanders of responsibility.

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Editors Note: This is issue 153 (special issue) of Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission.

Ukrzaliznytsias corporate governance failures

In this special issue, Oleksandr Lysenko and Andriy Boytsun highlight several events illustrating failures in the corporate governance of Ukrzaliznytsia. These relate to the core mechanisms intended to deter political meddling in state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

This issue aims to draw the governments attention to these setbacks so as to prevent negative consequences for this strategically important company. Moreover, the Ukrzaliznytsia case demonstrates that the new law on corporate governance of SOEs, adopted early this year, has had little or no practical effect to date.

The Cabinet has not started the selection of Ukrzaliznytsias new supervisory board, despite requirements of the new law on corporate governance of SOEs

The incumbent supervisory board of Ukrzaliznytsia was appointed by the Cabinets decision on Dec. 29, 2021 (see our Issue 60). According to that decision, Anatoliy Amelin, Alexander Doll, Jakub Karnowski, and Gebhard Hafer became independent members, while Serhiy Leshchenko, Serhiy Moskalenko and David Lomjaria were appointed as state representatives on the board.

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According to the law effective at the time of their appointment, as well the companys charter, the maximum term of office of supervisory board members is three years. Thus, the tenure of the above supervisory board should expire as soon as Dec. 28, 2024.

Since the formation of the supervisory board in 2021, only the recent appointment of Oleksandr Kamyshin as a supervisory board member of Ukrzaliznytsia (state representative) has been known publicly. According to media reports, Kamyshin replaced Serhiy Moskalenko in this position (see our Issue 151).

At the same time, the mandatory disclosures that joint-stock companies must make according to the capital markets law and disclosure regulations of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC), are not available on Ukrzaliznytsias website. In particular, the information on the appointment and dismissal of company officers, such as the management and supervisory board, is missing.

Read also: Ukraines gas production highest since full-scale invasions start

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In practical terms, this means that based on the companys disclosures, it is currently impossible to know who its key executives are, if the company has a supervisory board, or who the members are. Ukrzaliznytsia only reported Pertsovskyis appointment and changes to the executive board in the News subsection on its website, without explaining the reasons for these decisions. [See more on disclosure requirements below.]

According to the new requirements of the SOE Law (which were introduced by Law No. 3587, effective March 8  see our Issue 122), the selection of supervisory board candidates for an SOE must begin no later than three months before the respective supervisory board members term of office ends (unless a decision has been made to extend his/her term of office), or no later than 10 days from the day of his/her early termination of powers.

This means that the Cabinet, as Ukrzaliznytsias ownership entity, should have made a decision  by Sept. 29  to either extend the powers of the current supervisory board members or announce a selection of board members.

Additionally, the Cabinets Resolution No. 643, dated May 31, 2022, abolished the competitive selection procedure for supervisory board members for almost all SOEs, including Ukrzaliznytsia. However, currently, this resolution likely contradicts the new SOE Law, which mandates that the selection of supervisory board members should adhere to the principles of collective suitability, board diversity, equality of requirements, professionalism, openness, and transparency.

The Cabinet dismissed and appointed Ukrzaliznytsias new CEO and executive board member against the new SOE Law

On Oct. 18, the Cabinet of Ministers terminated the powers of Ukrzaliznytsias entire executive board, including CEO Yevhen Liashchenko and executive board members Volodymyr Krot, Orest Logunov, Anton Mishyn, and Oleksandr Pertsovskyi.

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By the same ordinance, the Cabinet appointed Pertsovskyi the new CEO for the next three years and reappointed Liashchenko as an executive board member until March 31, 2025. At the same time, Volodymyr Krot, Orest Logunov, and Anton Mishyn were all dismissed from that board.

According to the Law on the Cabinet of Ministers that was effective until March 8, the Cabinet had the authority to decide on appointing the CEO and executives of SOEs under its ownership.

Additionally, Ukrzaliznytsias charter states that the Cabinet, acting as the companys general meeting, appoints and dismisses the CEO and executive board members based on the supervisory boards proposal, meaning the Cabinet cannot make these decisions without such a proposal. However, this provision of the charter likely did not limit the Cabinets power to make these decisions without a proposal from the supervisory board granted by law.

However, according to the new legal requirements introduced by Law No. 3587, including those amending the Law on the Cabinet of Ministers and the SOE Law, effective since march 8, the power to appoint or dismiss CEOs and executive board members of all SOEs is exclusively vested in the supervisory board.

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Additionally, we are not aware of any provisions in the SOE Law, Law on the Martial Law, or other laws that would allow the Cabinet to directly appoint or dismiss the CEO and executive board members of Ukrzaliznytsia during martial law in Ukraine.

According to Law No. 3587, the only legal option available during martial law in Ukraine that allows the Cabinet to make such decisions in place of the supervisory board is when the supervisory board is absent or lacks a quorum. However, there is no information indicating that this is the case for Ukrzaliznytsia.

Read also: Ukraines 2025 budget clears first reading, allocates $53 billion for defense

Therefore, the Cabinet likely had no legal grounds for the termination and appointment decisions regarding Ukrzaliznytsias executive board.

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If the appointment of the new CEO and executive board members is deemed illegal, decisions approved by Ukrzaliznytsias CEO or executive board might also be declared invalid.

Oleksandr Pertsovskyi has been Ukrzaliznytsia's executive board member and head of passenger business since October 2020. Prior to that, in 2016-2020, he was the COO/First Deputy CEO of Ukrposhta.

From 2010 to 2016, Pertsovskyi worked for Deutsche Post DHL Group, the worlds largest logistics company. During his six years of work, he rose from consultant to associate partner and head of business development in the Asia-Pacific region, headquartered in Singapore.

As we wrote earlier, Yevhen Liashchenko, who has served as the Ukrzaliznytsias CEO since March 2023, submitted his resignation letter in early October. There were no public comments from Liashchenko on his resignation; however, several reputable media outlets suggested several possible reasons. See Issue 151 for more detail.

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Since an independent supervisory board was established at Ukrzaliznytsia in 2018, the company has experienced six CEO changes. For much of this six-year period, the company was managed by acting CEOs. Since its establishment in late 2020, the SOE Weekly has covered the four most recent CEO changes at Ukrzaliznytsia. See our Issues 19, 39, and 80 for more detail.

Poor transparency and no disclosure at Ukrzaliznytsia, despite the law

As we said above, the capital markets law and NSSMCs disclosure regulations mandate certain disclosures for joint-stock companies (JSCs). Even stronger disclosure requirements are set for state-owned JSCs, such as Ukrzaliznytsia. According to the law, they must disclose, including on their websites, three types of information:

(1) Regular information. This information includes annual and interim reports, that contain comprehensive information about the companys performance in the preceding year or quarter, covering both financial and non-financial performance information, as well as financial statements.

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However, according to the law, during martial law, JSCs (including state-owned JSCs) are legally exempt from the obligation to disclose regular information for 20212024.

(2) Ongoing information. This category requires immediate disclosure of any material changes in the companys activities, particularly information regarding:

the appointment and dismissal of company officers, including executive and supervisory board members,

related party and material transactions,

dividend payments,

approval of the remuneration report,

company insolvency,

the existence of business ties with an aggressor state,

and other information.

The law offers no exemptions for the disclosure of ongoing information during martial law.

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All regular and ongoing information must remain available on the website for 10 years after disclosure. Additionally, disclosure regulations require that companies websites have a section titled Information for shareholders and stakeholders," accessible from the main page of their website, for the purpose of disclosure.

Although Ukrzaliznytsias website does have such a section, it contains no disclosures of regular or ongoing information.

(3) Other information. This includes disclosure on the companys website of the charter, ownership structure, supervisory board regulations, executive body regulations, and other internal documents, as well as minutes of general shareholder meetings and reports from the supervisory and executive boards.

All such information must also remain available on the website for 10 years in the respective section, and it is not subject to any exemptions during martial law.

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On Ukrzaliznytsias website, the section titled Information for shareholders and stakeholders has a subsection titled Other information. However, it only contains a list of regulations pertaining to Ukrzaliznytsias separate units and representative offices.

Therefore, the NSSMC, as the responsible regulator, may impose penalties on Ukrzaliznytsia for violating the disclosure rules.

(4) Responsibilities of the supervisory board regarding Ukrzaliznytsias corporate governance

According to the Law on Joint-Stock Companies, Ukrzaliznytsias supervisory board is responsible for ensuring timely disclosure of the companys information. Under the SOE Law, the supervisory board is also responsible for the appointment and dismissal of the companys executive board.

Despite these established responsibilities, there appears to be a lack of transparency and communication from Ukrzaliznytsias supervisory board concerning recent events, including management replacements and the companys disclosure practices.

This silence raises concerns about the boards compliance with its fiduciary duties. Indeed, the law stipulates that the supervisory board should act in the best interests of the company and its shareholders. Supervisory board members who breach their responsibilities are personally liable for any losses incurred by the company as a result of their actions or inactions.

Furthermore, according to the SOE Law, if the court rules that a supervisory board member broke his/her fiduciary duties, this serves as a ground for the early termination of his/her powers.

Ukrainian SOE Weekly is an independent weekly digest based on a compilation of the most important news related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and state-owned banks in Ukraine.

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the editorial team of the Ukrainian SOE Weekly.

The SOE Weekly is produced and financed by Andriy Boytsun. Communications support is provided and financed by CFC Big Ideas. The SOE Weekly is not financed or influenced by any external party.

Editorial team: Andriy Boytsun, Oleksiy Pavlysh, Dmytro Yablonovskyi, and Oleksandr Lysenko.

Read also: National Bank of Ukraine leaves interest rates unchanged at 13%

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Key developments on Nov. 6:

Ukraine hits Russian naval base in Dagestan for first time, source says

'Im going to stop the wars'  Trump says, as he claims victory

Kursk incursion thwarted Russia's plans for 'buffer zone' in Sumy Oblast, Syrskyi says

Russia has executed at least 124 Ukrainian POWs on battlefield, Prosecutor General's Office says

Ukraine's military intelligence was behind a drone attack against the city of Kaspiysk in Russia's Dagestan Republic, targeting a Russian naval base, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent on Nov. 6.

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At least two vessels  missile ships Tatarstan and Dagestan  were damaged in the attack, and possibly also several small Project 21631 ships, sources said.

Dagestan authorities reported intercepting a drone attack over Kaspiysk, a port city at the Caspian Sea around 1,000 kilometers from the front line (600 miles), on the morning of Nov. 6.

Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the counter-disinformation center at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, also said on Telegram that a Russian naval base was hit in the attack.

"Russian Navy ships are stationed in Kaspiysk," he said. The base is home to Russia's Caspian Flotilla, as well as Russian Marines and Coastal Troops.

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Sources said that the targeted fleet was involved in strikes against Ukraine, and the 177th Marine Regiment stationed there was deployed in combat in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

While Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted a single drone in the skies, a video shared on social media appears to show another drone hitting its target, resulting in a large explosion.

The incident took place roughly 15 kilometers from a local airport, the Mash news channel claimed, identifying the drone as a Ukrainian A-22 Flying Fox drone.

The nearby Makhachkala airport has suspended operations for an indefinite period due to the incident, local authorities said.

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The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

Read also: With Trump back in White House, can Ukraine opt for nuclear deterrence?

"Im going to stop the wars"  Trump says, as he claims victory

Donald Trump claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 6, shortly before crossing the threshold of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win.

"I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president," Trump said in an address to a cheering crowd in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"I will not rest until I have delivered a strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve," the Republican nominee said, promising a "golden age of America."

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His return to the White House could spell uncertain times for Ukraine, as there are fears he might withdraw support for the besieged country and cut a deal with the Kremlin.

Trump made no mention of Russia's war against Ukraine in his speech but said that the U.S. saw "no wars" during his first presidential term.

"We had no wars, for four years, we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS," Trump proclaimed.

"They said he will start a war. Im not going to start a war, Im going to stop the wars."

"I think weve just witnessed the greatest political comeback in American history," Trump's running mate J.D. Vance said to the crowd of Republican voters.

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In his only debate with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic Party nominee, on Sept. 10, Trump refused to say he wanted a Ukrainian victory.

"I think it's the U.S.'s best interest to get this war finished and just get it done, negotiate a deal," Trump said.

Trump's plan to end the war within "24 hours" and get the U.S. "out" of Ukraine, would benefit Russia by ceding Ukrainian territory and creating autonomous regions in the east, according to reporting in October.

"Trump's view is he wants to do everything he can to help Putin because for whatever reason he likes these strong men, he's fascinated by him in particular," Evelyn Farkas, the executive director of the McCain Institute, said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent.

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"So, it will take all the will and the fighting of people under him to maintain the existing policy of support for Ukraine and an opposition to Russia's autocratic agenda."

If Trump does slash U.S. aid to Ukraine, the American economy will take a hit. The U.S. defense industrial base has received over $50 billion in investment due to America's support of Ukraine, with billions sent to states that helped Trump secure the White House again like Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida.

Read also: What we know about Trumps plans for ending Russias war against Ukraine

Kursk incursion thwarted Russia's plans for 'buffer zone' in Sumy Oblast, Syrskyi says

Russian forces have suffered 7,905 soldiers killed, 12,220 injured, and 717 captured during almost three months of the Kursk incursion, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Nov. 6.

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Over the same period, Moscow's military also lost 1,101 pieces of equipment, including 54 tanks, 276 armored vehicles, 107 artillery pieces and mortars, and five anti-aircraft weapons, according to the commander.

Ukraine launched its cross-border incursion in early August to prevent Russian cross-border strikes and draw Russian forces away from the embattled Donbas region, where Moscow keeps steadily advancing.

According to Syrskyi, Russia has already concentrated 45,000 troops in Kursk Oblast to counter the ongoing Ukrainian incursion.

Moscow has also deployed thousands of North Korean troops in the embattled region, with some reportedly already clashing with Ukraine in small-scale engagements.

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The Kursk incursion was also intended to preempt a Russian plan to invade Sumy Oblast to create a "buffer zone" in northern Ukraine, Syrskyi said, citing intelligence reports from May.

Russia has been mounting pressure against the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast while also advancing in Ukraine's east at a pace unseen in 2024, steadily pushing back Ukrainian defenders.

Read also: Ukraine struggles to contain Russian advance in Donetsk Oblast as US elections loom

Russia has executed at least 124 Ukrainian POWs on battlefield, Prosecutor General's Office says

Kyiv knows of 124 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) who were executed by Russian forces on the battlefield throughout the full-scale war, a senior representative of the Prosecutor General's Office said on Nov. 6.

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Reports of murders, torture, and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war are received regularly by Ukrainian authorities and have spiked in recent months. Most cases were recorded in embattled Donetsk Oblast.

Speaking on national television, Denys Lysenko, the head of the department focused on war-related crimes, said that 49 criminal investigations were underway regarding the execution of Ukrainian POWs.

The most recent cases include the killing of six captured Ukrainian soldiers near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, prosecutors reported on Nov. 5.

"We are now analyzing all these cases, looking for patterns... We are considering all these cases comprehensively and the involvement of a particular armed unit is, of course, analyzed in each case," Lysenko said.

According to Lysenko, prosecutors are building cases against representatives of the Russian military leadership who may be involved in organizing such executions or in failing to take measures to prevent them.

Read also: Finishing off the defenseless: How the Russians execute Ukrainian soldiers

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Summing up the results of the Ukrainian operation in Russias Kursk Oblast, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has said that the Russian forces have lost more than 20,000 soldiers killed and wounded on this front.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Quote from Syrskyi: "For almost three months of the operation, as of 5 November 2024, the enemy's losses on the Kursk front in personnel amount to 20,842 people, of which 7,905 have been killed, 12,220 wounded, and 717 captured."

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Details: Syrskyi said that 1,101 units of Russian weapons and military equipment had been destroyed. Among them are 54 tanks, 276 armoured combat vehicles, 107 guns and mortars, 5 MLRS and 659 vehicles.

He also noted that Russia had deployed 45,000 troops in Kursk Oblast and is trying to increase their number. "Russia's own troops are not enough on this front, so they are trying to bring in troops from North Korea," he said.

Syrskyi also reiterated that the Russians wanted to seize more territory in Ukraines north in Sumy Oblast. However, the Ukrainian defence forces took a preventive step and have continued to inflict losses on the Russian occupation forces on their territory.

"About 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been decorated with state awards for their heroism and successful actions during the Kursk operation," Syrskyi concluded.

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Background: The Ukrainian operation in Russias Kursk Oblast began on 6 August. On 10 August, on the fifth day of the operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine had pushed the war onto the aggressor's soil.

Read also: Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi's raid: how the Ukrainian offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast is progressing and what to expect next

Watch also: "You always feel sorry for civilians, whether theyre Russians or not" | A UP. Report

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Soldiers in a Ukrainian artillery battery on the front lines in the countrys east were only vaguely aware Wednesday of American election results pointing to Donald Trumps victory. But they were firm in their hopes for the next president of the United States.

Their entrenched artillery battery fires on Russian forces daily  and takes fire nearly as often. Just the other day, one of their overhead nets snared a Russian drone.

I hope that the quantity of weapons, the quantity of guns for our victory will increase, the unit's 39-year-old commander, who goes by the name Mozart, said in the hours before Trumps win was confirmed. We don't care who the president is, as long as they don't cut us off from help, because we need it.

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The soldiers, who use their Starlink connection to the internet sparingly, learned of the U.S. election results from Associated Press journalists.

Trump's election throws into doubt American support for Ukraine  and ultimately whether Kyiv can beat back Russia's invasion. But Mozart  who like other soldiers Wednesday did not give his name in keeping with Ukrainian military protocol  is among many Ukrainians who hope that Trump will hold the line on American support for their country. Russian forces have recently made gains in the east, although the commander described the front-line situation as static.

Yurii Fedorenko, commander of a Ukrainian drone unit also in the Kharkiv region, wears an American flag patch on his uniform. He is keenly aware of how critical American support has been for Ukraine.

Suppose I were told that there was some country across the ocean that I didnt even know where it was, and that I had to pay money from my taxes to this country so that it could exist," said Fedorenko, whose call-sign is Achilles  the same name as his battalion. I dont know how I would react. Therefore, I really thank the Americans and I really believe that they have a good education system, because the vast majority of people understand why the United States helps third countries, and in particular now Ukraine.

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It was under Trump that the United States first sent weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, in 2017. Those Javelin anti-tank missiles were crucial to Ukraine's ability to fend off the full-scale invasion in 2022. But Trump overall is wary of U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.

Trump, who has touted his good relationship with President Vladimir Putin and called the Russian leader pretty smart for invading Ukraine, has repeatedly criticized American backing of Ukraine. He characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the greatest salesman on Earth for winning U.S. aid.

Zelenskyy was among the first world leaders to publicly congratulate Trump, and said the two discussed how to end Russian aggression against Ukraine when they met in September.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together, he wrote on the social platform X.

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Zelenskyy later wrote that he had spoken to Trump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory  his tremendous campaign made this result possible. I praised his family and team for their great work. We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation.

Trump has said repeatedly he would have a peace deal done between Ukraine and Russia within a day if elected, although he has not said how. During his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, he twice refused to directly answer a question about whether he wanted Ukraine to win  raising concerns that Kyiv would be forced to accept unfavorable terms in any negotiations he oversaw.

In Kyiv, which comes under attack from Russian drones near daily, 18-year-old Viktoriia Zubrytska was pragmatic about her expectations for the next American president. She thinks Ukraine will be forced to give up territory in exchange for peace under a Trump presidency. But she said she preferred that to what she called the false hope that the Biden administration offered.

We will live in a world of facts where we will be certain what awaits us, said the law student. Certainty and objective truth is much better than lies and life in illusions.

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According to VoteCast, 74% of voters who supported Harris favored continuing aid to Ukraine, while only 36% of Trumps voters did. AP VoteCast is a survey of the American electorate conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.

On the front lines in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region, Andriy, who goes by Rodych or Relative, said Ukraine would "come up with something" no matter what happened in the U.S. vote.

We are a shield between Europe and Russia, he added. Other countries do not understand what is happening here, they see it on TV and for them it is far away.

America's NATO allies were closely watching the election. France and Germany arranged a last-minute, top-level defense meeting Wednesday in Paris to discuss the results, and Ukraine is likely to be central to the meeting. The two leading powers in the European Union provide significant support to Ukraine to defend it against Russias war.

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NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, citing a more aggressive Russia, also invoked Trump's motto of peace through strength.

Rutte praised Trump for his work during his first term to persuade countries in the alliance to ramp up defense spending.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had no information on whether Putin plans to congratulate Trump, but he emphasized that Moscow views the U.S. as an unfriendly country. Peskov reaffirmed the Kremlins claim that U.S. support for Ukraine amounted to involvement in the conflict, telling reporters: Lets not forget that we are talking about the unfriendly country that is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.

Still, he noted Trump's promise to end the war swiftly once elected.

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The U.S. can help end the conflict, Peskov said, adding that it certainly cant be done overnight."

In a rare agreement with the Kremlin, Fiona Hill, a former intelligence expert in the George W. Bush, Obama and Trump administrations, said it was increasingly clear that Europe had to step up its capacities.

If Trump is saying, Im going to sit down and resolve this in 24 hours, its highly unlikely thats going to be the case, Hill said in a podcast with the European Council on Foreign Relations a few days ahead of the election. You can say the United States is going to stop supplying weapons, and you can hold everything out for leverage, but its not for the United States to do at this particular point. Because there are already other Europeans in the game in terms of assistance to the Ukraine.

___

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Konovalov reported from the Kharkiv region. Associated Press journalists Lorne Cook in Brussels; Hanna Arhirova, Illia Novikov and Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine; Danica Kirka in London; Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Prosecutor General's Office have collected evidence against a Russian war criminal who was involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children during the occupation of Mykolaiv Oblast.

Source: SSU; Prosecutor General's Office

Details: The suspect, Dzhabrail "Gabriel" Yusupov, is the commander of a unit of the 205th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces.

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The case materials show that in July 2022, 20 Russian soldiers under Yusupovs command broke into the premises of the then seized Novopetrivka residential institution and abducted 15 pupils: eleven boys and four girls aged 8 to 17.

Twelve of them were orphans and children deprived of parental care; two were in the institution due to difficult life circumstances; and one girl had been adopted by US citizens who had been unable to take her away due to the start of the full-scale invasion, the prosecutor's office noted.

The children, together with the director of the institution and her husband, were initially taken to temporarily occupied Crimea and then, convoyed by Russian forces, sent to Anapa in Russias Krasnodar Krai.

The detainees were held there for almost a month in a local boarding house. Every day they were exposed to Russian propaganda and Russian nationalism was foisted upon them. The children were forbidden to speak their native language or use Ukrainian symbols and forced to sing the Russian national anthem every morning.

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In November 2022, with help from a charity, the deportees were taken from Russia to Georgia to be returned home.

Based on the evidence collected, SSU investigators have served Yusupov in absentia with a notice of suspicion with respect to a violation of the laws and customs of war committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy.

Comprehensive measures are currently being taken to find Yusupov and punish him for his crimes against Ukrainians.

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By Anastasiia Malenko

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine appealed to Donald Trump's image as a tough leader on Wednesday in the hope of persuading the returning U.S. president not to abandon its cause in pursuit of peace with Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was among the first world leaders to congratulate Trump, who has criticised the scale of U.S. military and financial support for Kyiv and vowed to end the war with Russia quickly, without saying how.

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In a message released shortly after Trump claimed victory, Zelenskiy said he looked forward to an "era of a strong United States of America under President Trump's decisive leadership".

"I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs," Zelenskiy wrote. "This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together."

The Ukrainian president later said, in a post on X, that he had called Trump to congratulate him and pledged to work together with him.

"We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation," Zelenskiy wrote. "Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace."

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Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris raises questions over future U.S. support, which has been key to Ukraine's survival against a much larger and better equipped enemy.

Another tough winter looms as Russian forces have been advancing at the fastest rate since Ukraine first repulsed their invasion at the outskirts of Kyiv in early 2022. Ukraine, for its part, has launched its first major incursion into Russian territory.

Any fresh attempt to end the war is likely to involve peace talks of some kind, which have not been held since the early months of the war.

Moscow's forces occupy around a fifth of Ukraine. Russia says the war cannot end until its claimed annexations are recognised. Kyiv demands all of its territory back, a position that has largely been supported by Western allies under the outgoing U.S. administration of Joe Biden.

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PEACE WITH 'CERTAIN CONCESSIONS'

Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said Trump would likely push for swift talks to end the war, which could involve "certain concessions" to Russia. But he said he expected Washington would be unlikely to capitulate to Moscow's demands.

"I don't think that Trump would agree to peace only on Russia's terms, as this would look like a defeat for the U.S., and his advisers understand this," he said.

Ukraine's international sovereign bonds rallied nearly 2 cents in early European trading on Wednesday, with investors saying the market was anticipating a quicker end to the war now that Trump had won.

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As Ukraine's top military backer, the U.S. has sent tens of billions of dollars in arms, and led international efforts to isolate Moscow diplomatically and through financial sanctions.

But Ukraine has also expressed frustration at delays in approving missiles, tanks, planes and other weapons by the Biden administration, whose fear of escalation led to a piecemeal approach that critics say gave Moscow time to recover from early failures.

Most recently, Ukraine has called on the West to lift restrictions on using missiles to attack deep into Russia, which Kyiv says is necessary to disrupt long-range Russian attacks.

Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a lawmaker from the opposition Holos party, said on Telegram that the transition until Trump takes office in January could be "a window of opportunity" for Biden to take "bold steps".

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Lawmaker Oleksandra Ustinova, who heads the parliamentary commission on arms and munitions, said Trump's picks for the top diplomatic, security and defence jobs would be key in determining the Trump administration's impact on the war.

"These are the people who will decide the fate of Ukraine," Ustinova told Reuters. "Right now, it is highly likely that Mike Pompeo will be the defence secretary, and he is a great friend of Ukraine."

"Of course, everyone is worried when any change happens. On the other hand, we understand that this was an expected outcome and we have always worked with both parties," she added.

Residents of Kyiv, which comes under regular drone and missile attack from Russian forces and faces a winter of power shortages, were eager to hear how Trump would stop the war.

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"I guess we are all waiting for just the only thing  just to stop the war, and as Trump promised to stop the war in just one day, we are all waiting for it," said Oleksii Iarokha, 41.

"It could be today, tomorrow, we can wait till Friday. You are the president, please do it, Mr Trump."

Others pondered how Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom the Republican has avoided sharply criticising, might affect new U.S. policy on Ukraine.

"On the one hand, one might think that he would somehow influence" Putin, said Iryna Dvirna, 21. "On the other hand, they say that they have very close ties, and perhaps Trump will not put so much pressure on Putin to change anything."

(Reporting by Yurii Kovalenko, Anastasiia Malenko and Max Hunder; Writing by Tom Balmforth and Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Mike Collett-White, Peter Graff, Ron Popeski and Lincoln Feast.)
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- North Korean troops have entered combat with Ukrainian forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, calling the engagement a "new page of instability in the world."

"I want to thank everyone in the world who reacted to the deployment of North Korean soldiers in Russia," Zelensky said in a video address on Tuesday.

"The first battles with North Korean soldiers open a new page of instability in the world," he said. "Together with the world, we must do everything to make this Russian step to expand the war -- to really escalate it -- to make this step a failure."

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Earlier on Tuesday, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov told South Korean public broadcaster KBS that the North Korean troops had already engaged in small-scale skirmishes on the frontline area of Kursk.

The soldiers are wearing Russian uniforms and being passed off as a Mongolian ethnic group from Siberia, Umerov said, making it difficult to identify any casualties or prisoners yet.

The minister said that Kyiv expects five units of roughly 3,000 North Korean soldiers to be deployed over the next few weeks along a front line stretching more than 900 miles, for a total of 15,000 troops.

"They've provided them a training period of a month, which is now being shortened to several weeks or to one week so that they could get engagement on the battlefield," Umerov said.

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On Monday, Zelensky said that 11,000 North Korean troops were already in the Kursk region of southwest Russia, while U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller placed the estimate at 10,000.

The top diplomats of the United States, South Korea and several other countries expressed "grave concerns" over the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia in a joint statement on Tuesday.

"The DPRK's direct support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, besides showing Russia's desperate efforts to compensate its losses, would mark a dangerous expansion of the conflict," the statement read, using the official acronym for North Korea.

It was also signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and the high representative of the European Union.

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"We are also deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology from Russia to the DPRK," the statement added.

On Tuesday, North Korea launched a salvo of short-range missiles into the East Sea, days after it test-fired a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.
Ukrainian-American Victoria Spartz will return to Congress representing Indiana's 5th congressional district, the Associated Press reported on Nov. 6.

Endorsed by gun-owner associations and pro-life organizations, Spartz won her district by 57% with a 20 percent point lead to the second nominee.

Despite being born in Ukraine, she did not vote for the Senate foreign aid bill that contained more than $60 billion in assistance for Ukraine in April 2024.

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Spartz was born in a small city in Chernihiv Oblast, and moved to the U.S. in 2000. She became the first Ukrainian-born member of Congress in 2021 and has been known for her staunch support of former President Donald Trump.

Spartz has initially supported aid for Ukraine and spoken about the war in deeply personal terms, but also attracted controversy for her attacks against President Volodymyr Zelensky and head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak.

Congressional, Senate and Presidential elections are held on the same day in the U.S. on Nov. 5.

Former President Donald Trump is edging toward a victory, with Republicans also gaining a majority in the Senate.

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The election result will have a profound impact on the Russia-Ukraine war. While Harris has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight for independence, many fear that Trump would cut a deal with Moscow, possibly at the cost of painful concessions for Ukraine.

Read also: Politico: Ukraine-born Congresswoman Spartz under preliminary inquiry due to allegations of abuse of staff

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainian drones have struck the naval base of the Russian Navy's Caspian Flotilla.

Source: A source within the intelligence services who spoke to Ukrainska Pravda; video footage from social media

Details: Ukrainska Pravdas source said that an innovative special operation by Defence Intelligence of Ukraine had successfully targeted the Russian flotilla in the Caspian Sea for the first time. The distance from Ukraine's state border to the target site is approximately 1,500 kilometres.

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The drone attack took place on the morning of 6 November. At least two facilities in the city of Kaspiysk, located in the Republic of Dagestan in Russia, were hit as a result of the UAV strikes.

The targets reportedly included the missile ships Tatarstan and Dagestan, and Project 21631 small missile ships may have also been damaged.

Media reports show that the affected site is home to coastal forces, including marine units. It is noted that the targeted flotilla had launched missile strikes on Ukraine, and the 177th Marine Regiment had participated in battles in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

The Ukrainska Pravda source also stated that the operation had also resulted in the suspension of operations at Makhachkala airport.

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Soldiers of Ukraines 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade in Russias Kursk Oblast have captured a Russian soldier from the 155th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet who says he witnessed the execution of soldiers from Ukraines defence forces.

Source: the 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade on Telegram

Details: As yet, it is unclear whether the detained Russian, who has been named as Yuri Pitkevich, took part in the executions.

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The Russian marine is reported to have fairly lengthy combat experience. In October 2022, while serving a sentence in a Russian prison, he agreed to sign a contract with the Wagner Group. As a member of the Wagner units, he initially took part in the assault on the settlements of Soledar and Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast. In June 2023, he took part in the Wagner coup  the "march" on Moscow organised by Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.

In June 2024, Pitkevich signed a new contract and joined the 155th Marine Brigade of the Russian Federation. In August, when the brigade was redeployed to Kursk Oblast, he took direct part in combat actions as an assistant grenade launcher.

At the end of September, he witnessed the killing of two Ukrainian prisoners of war near the village of Glushkovo. According to Pitkevich, the order for their execution and subsequent beheading was given by the unit commander.

Pitkevich has revealed the identity of the commander in question and has also named the soldiers who were directly involved in this war crime.

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The post Ukrainian Metal Drummer Mykola Amorth Sostin Dies in Battle appeared first on Consequence.

Ukrainian metal drummer Mykola Sostin (also known as Amorth) has died fighting for his country in its ongoing war with Russia. The 39-year-old musicians passing was announced by Oleksii Kovalev, guitarist of the band Zavod, via a post on Instagram.

One of the best drummers of Ukraine, an ambassador of joy on Earth, a part of the history of Ukrainian black metal, and the band SOOM  Kolya Amorth  has fallen in battle, wrote Kovalev.

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Amorth first made his name in the acclaimed black metal band Drudkh, appearing on three of their albums from 2004 to 2006. He also played in the doom metal outfit Soom, as well as the bands Astrofaes, Underdark, and Nokturnal Mortum, among others.

He had been a member of the black metal/punk band Zavod () up until joining the Ukrainian army earlier this year. According to Encyclopaedia Metallum, Amorth joined the army in August 2024 and served in the 25th separate airborne brigade of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Our condolences go out to Mykola Sostins family, friends, and bandmates during this difficult time. Hear his playing in the YouTube clips below.

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Ukrainian Metal Drummer Mykola Amorth Sostin Dies in Battle

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As Donald Trump triumphs in the U.S. presidential election, Ukrainians brace themselves for what it means for their nation.

Throughout the campaign, Trump has repeatedly said he would end Russia's war against Ukraine "in 24 hours." He said that he would push Ukraine and Russia to negotiate a peace deal. He has also refused to say he wanted Ukraine to win.

Trump's victory also comes at an especially precarious moment in the war, when Russian troops advance swiftly in Donetsk Oblast.

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Read also: What we know about Trumps plans for ending Russias war against Ukraine

The Kyiv Independent went to the streets of Kyiv to ask Ukrainians what they expect from Trump's return to the White House.

Oleksandr Bondarenko, 50, bank employee

"This is the choice of the American people. We're a foreign country, so we don't have the right to say whether it's right or wrong. How it will impact Ukraine  well, time will tell. Let's be honest  this is high-level politics, and, unfortunately, we aren't a major player in this world.

I think Trump will take steps, as he promised to bring it (the full-scale invasion) to an end. He'll try to achieve a quick resolution. And, as far as I know, Trump has this tendency to compare himself to (Joe) Biden, to look at what Biden has done. In any case, he'll want to make his mark in U.S. history by showing, 'I did more.'

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He promised to act, and he will. Most likely, there will be (peace) negotiations. I think, in any case, it will be better for Ukraine. He'll have some positive steps, in any case.

He is the president of a great country. Whatever his opponents say, or other opposition, this is a great country with great people. And this is their choice. He'll likely be a significant president. With all due respect, their elections are more democratic than we have here.

He likes his own country, America, more. He's focused on his country. That's the main thing. Essentially, it's normal behavior for any president. He should first consider his country's interests, then external ones."

Iryna Zavorotnia, 56, has been waiting for her son's release from Russian captivity for about 30 months. Zavorotnia hopes that after the U.S. presidential election, Ukraine will receive more support from the West to win the war against Russia, as she told The Kyiv Independent on Nov. 6, 2024, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (The Kyiv Independent)

Iryna Zavorotnia, 56, mother of a soldier in Russian captivity

"My child has been in captivity for 30 months. It's all very painful. Of course, we hope and want more support from the West so that people aren't indifferent to our common war.

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Naturally, the elections in the U.S. are important to me. I truly want more support from international organizations, so we can achieve victory. I've read some of his (Trump's) campaign promises and I am not entirely satisfied with them.

The only thing I can say is that he says the war will end  but how? In what way will it end? I can't say. Right now, my priority is my son and his release from captivity, along with his fellow soldiers.

I wish at least the International Committee of the Red Cross could access our POWs and that some third-party influence could push this organization. But nothing is being done anywhere, everyone is indifferent.

I desperately want us to win Trump says he'll ensure the war ends. Maybe it will happen.

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But we must preserve the country's integrity. Soldiers are not sacrificing their lives and defending our country for nothing."

Sofia Moroz, 17, said in an interview with The Kyiv Independent on Nov. 6, 2024, in Kyiv, Ukraine, that she does not think Donald Trump will support Ukraine in a war with Russia, adding that he has "too many friendly ties" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (The Kyiv Independent)

Sofia Moroz, 17, biology student

"I saw a very interesting chart showing that the level of people's education in the States aligns with their choice of president. The less educated people are in a certain state, the more they vote for Trump. So, I'm not sure what to think about this because, based on the information space, it seemed like many people would vote for Kamala (Harris).

This morning, I was rather unpleasantly surprised. Trump, as a person, won't support Ukraine, and he has too many friendly ties with Putin. So, it immediately became clear that he wouldn't help us in the war.

I don't know if it's right to say this, but his relations with the Russian president are better than with the Ukrainian one.

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(Ending the war in Ukraine) would be hard to make this a reality because the war isn't only fought on military grounds and in the information space. In the information space, you can't stop it in just one day because it's everywhere  in social networks, in various groups  and it's impossible to bring everyone up to speed at once.

I suppose we'll wait and see how it plays out in the coming days, as these days are crucial in shaping people's opinions, and the noise will be high, so we'll see. Most of my friends aren't happy with this turn of events."

Read also: With Trump back in White House, can Ukraine opt for nuclear deterrence?

Tamara Shevchenko, 67, mother of a soldier

"If he (Trump) is going to help Ukraine in this war, I fully support that. But he speaks so vaguely that it's hard to understand. One moment he seems like he wants to help, then he's against it  I just cant make sense of it. I'm all for the entire world supporting us so we can end this war as quickly as possible and stop losing our men out there.

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(If Trump would force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to end the war, it would be) horrible. That must not happen.

They've already taken Voronezh, Kursk, and even Kuban  these were once our lands. They took them in 1917. Now they're encroaching on our lands again. This can't be allowed. Crimea is ours. It needs to be liberated.

Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol  all our lands. They need to be part of Ukraine."

Dmytro Lapko, 17, engineering student

"It happens. We don't know what the outcome would have been if Kamala (Harris) had won; who would have helped us more. Everything is uncertain. We don't get much help anyway. The main thing is that they don't start interfering.

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Maybe something will come to Trump's mind, and he will start helping (Ukraine) more. Who knows? Maybe we'll be lucky, maybe not.

I suspect that he likes different things at different periods of his life. I am sure that at some point, he may like Russia more. It's hard to say what's going on in his head.

It used to be difficult to say what our future would be. Now, I don't think it will change dramatically. There is a small chance that we will get more aid. But it is so small that I don't think our prospects will change much."

Dmytro, 17, college student

"My attitude is neutral. I believe that Ukraine will be able to survive no matter who wins. I think Trump's victory may even be good for us, although it is hard to say. In my opinion, it will be a lottery. It can get much better, or it can get much worse.

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It is difficult to answer (what is Trump's attitude towards Ukraine). We need to analyze the worst-case scenario  either you freeze the war and leave the territories (to Russia), or you simply won't be given weapons. For us, this is the most difficult option. But I hope that there will still be support from the U.S., and it will be even bigger.

Will Trump be able to settle (the war) as quickly as he wants? I'm sure he won't."

Oksana (R), 21, described Donald Trump as "an unpredictable person" but hopes that U.S. aid to Ukraine will not decrease, she said in an interview with The Kyiv Independent on Nov. 6, 2024, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (The Kyiv Independent)

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Oksana, 21, lawyer

"Can I swear here? We are f*cked like the Poles in 1939.

I would really like to believe that Donald Trump is an unpredictable person, and we will not know what his deepest intentions are regarding Ukraine until the very last moment. And that we have a chance, and that arms supplies at least won't decrease, or may even increase. But unfortunately, we should prepare for the worst-case scenario  the freezing of the conflict and its recurrence in a number of years.

You have to go on living as long as you can, as long as you can do it in Kyiv. And then we will see.

I'd like to think that our Western partners will realize that we can't rely on America anymore and will increase their military aid.

I think our diplomats will have to work harder to explain that there is no way to 'resolve' this war. The only possible way out is a Ukrainian victory. The question is, what will be the price?"

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations says replacing its Palestinian relief agency UNRWA in Gaza and the West Bank is not the world body's responsibility, signaling it was Israel's problem, according to a letter excerpt seen by Reuters.

The U.N. formally responded in a letter to Israel's decision to cut ties with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, a move that UNRWA has said leaves its operations in Gaza and the West Bank at risk of collapse.

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Under a new law, Israel told the U.N. on Sunday it was ending a 1967 cooperation agreement with UNRWA that covered its protection, movement and diplomatic immunity. The law will also ban UNRWA's operations in Israel from late January.

"I would note, as a general point, that it is not our responsibility to replace UNRWA, nor do we have the capacity to do so," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' chef de cabinet, Courtenay Rattray, wrote to a senior Israeli foreign affairs official late on Tuesday.

The mention of responsibility is a veiled reference to Israel's obligations as an occupying power.

The U.N. views Gaza and the West Bank as Israeli-occupied territory. International humanitarian law requires an occupying power to agree to relief programs for people in need and to facilitate them "by all the means at its disposal" and ensure food, medical care, hygiene and public-health standards.

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Israel's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Rattray's letter.

"If UNRWA is no longer able to operate it would be the responsibility of the Israeli authorities to replace its services that it delivers to civilians, in education, in health, and all sorts of other areas," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric later clarified to reporters.

Top U.N. officials and the Security Council describe UNRWA as the backbone of the aid response in Gaza, where Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas have been at war for the past year, leaving the enclave in ruins and on the brink of famine.

"UNRWA may be defined by a single word  failure," Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told a meeting of the General Assembly on UNRWA on Wednesday. "This idea that UNRWA could not be supplemented is absurd."

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'DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long called for UNRWA to be dismantled, accusing it of anti-Israeli incitement. Israel also says UNRWA staff took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza.

The U.N. has said nine UNRWA staff may have been involved and had been fired. Later, a Hamas commander in Lebanon - killed in September by Israel - was found to have had an UNRWA job.

UNRWA was established in 1949 following the war surrounding the founding of Israel. It provides aid, health and education to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and neighboring Arab countries - Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

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The United Nations has repeatedly said there is no alternative to UNRWA.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday that implementing the Israeli law would have "disastrous consequences," adding: "Millions of Palestine refugees fear that the public services on which their lives depend will soon disappear."

"They fear that their children will be deprived of education; that illnesses will go untreated; and that social support will stop," Lazzarini said. "The entire population of Gaza fears that their only remaining lifeline will be cut."

In a letter to Netanyahu last week after Israel's parliament approved the new law on UNRWA, Guterres raised several legal issues with the decision.

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Rattray reinforced that message, calling on Israel "to act consistently" with its obligations under the founding U.N. Charter and international law, stressing in his letter: "National legislation cannot alter those obligations."

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem - areas the Palestinians want for a state - in a 1967 war. It withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but, along with neighboring Egypt, controls the enclave's borders.

Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour told the General Assembly: "The agency is indispensable and irreplaceable."

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Don Durfee, Sharon Singleton and Rod Nickel)
At approximately 1:46 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Fox News anchor Bret Baier officially confirmed what, by then, pretty much everyone still watching the network at that hour knew was eventually going to happen. The Fox News decision desk can now officially project that Donald Trump will become the 47th President of the United States, Baier said. (The Associated Press and most major networks have not yet called the race.)

The former presidents comeback will be complete with a win in Wisconsin, a state that he narrowly lost four years ago, intoned co-anchor Martha MacCallum, noting that Trump was the second president in U.S. history to win non-consecutive terms in office. Voters expressed deep frustration with the Biden administration, and former President Trumpand the future President Trumpoverperformed in urban areas, particularly with men, proving that the strategy that they doubled and tripled down on, over the course of the last few months, absolutely succeeded and brought him back to the White House.

Although it took Fox News until almost 2 a.m. to make its official call, by midnight or so, most of the people on the network had already basically realized that Trump was going to win, even if they couldnt necessarily say so explicitly. At the various election parties and Trump events from which the networks correspondents were periodically reporting, the mood was one of jubilation. Trumps supporters on the scene in states such as Georgia, Nevada, and Tennessee were chanting, and whooping, and making the same inferences as the rest of us: In two and a half months, Donald Trump would likely be returning to the White House.

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In Foxs New York studios, the mood was a bit more sedate. From midnight onward, most of the networks anchors and panelists were still trying to be professional, while also just waiting for the opportunity to safely gloat. While everyone on set for Fox seemed to sense the intense likelihood of a Trump victory, the then-unresolved electoral votes of the so-called blue wall put them in a position where they were spending hours mostly just pointing out Trumps widening margins and leaving it up to viewers to connect the dots.

Bill Hemmer, the networks designated map guy, called up counties in swing states and walked through scenarios that could deliver Trump the presidency sooner rather than later. Baier questioned whether a narrow, unlikely Harris victory would even count as a mandate. You call it the bro strategy, or whatever, it seems to have paid some dividends up there, said Fox decision team member Daron Shaw right before 1 a.m., referring to Trumps efforts to turn out the male vote in the upper Midwest states: I mean, its still, were still waitingbut, you know, its looking pretty good for him.

Karl Rove doodled on his stupid whiteboard and talked about what viewers could glean from the numbers they already had. Were pretty good at saying 89 percent of the vote in, or 95 percent of the vote is in, andthat turns out to be accurate. Its very rareI cant imagine one instance where weve said, where weve looked at a number and seen 90 percent of the vote in, or 85 percent of the vote in, and that turned out to be grossly off, Rove said right around 12:30 a.m.

Rove, of course, was famously called out on-air by then-Fox anchor Megyn Kelly on election night 2012 for being grossly off with his read on the outcome of that years election. But he wasnt wrong on Tuesday night, and as the fact of Trumps victory finally sunk in, the networks anchors and panelists were finally free to do what theyd wanted to do for hours. For Democrats, they were discussing the possibility of running the table in battleground states, Baier said. David Plouffe, with the Democratic campaign, the Harris campaign, suggested that just yesterday. Now, it is possible that Donald Trump runs the table with these states, and builds on a big landslide electoral win. God help us all.
A mass vaccination campaign against polio in the Gaza Strip has been completed in just over two months, Israel and the UN Children's Fund Unicef said on Wednesday.

A total of around 1.1 million doses of vaccine have been administered in the embattled coastal strip, according to COGAT, the Israeli military authority for Palestinian affairs.

Unicef said that 556,774 children had received two doses of vaccine each.

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The first round of vaccinations began on September 1 and the necessary second dose was administered from mid-October.

COGAT said that the vaccination rate of more than 90% of children necessary for effective protection against the spread of the virus had been achieved.

However, Unicef pointed out that this was an average figure. In the northern Gaza Strip, where the vaccination campaign was affected by heavy fighting between the Israeli army and Palestinian extremist group Hamas, the vaccination rate was only around 88%.

An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 children remain unvaccinated in inaccessible areas such as Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, leaving them vulnerable to the polio virus, Unicef said, adding that this also increases the risk of further spread of the polio virus in the Gaza Strip and neighbouring countries.

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The vaccinations, launched after the first case of polio in 25 years had been detected in Gaza, were carried out by local health authorities, Unicef and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

COGAT said that the agency and the Israeli army had provided logistical support. Israel and the UN organizers agreed to short, locally limited humanitarian ceasefires to facilitate vaccinations across the Gaza Strip.
Latino men in the nations biggest swing state said they turned to Donald Trump because he is a businessman, and the US is a business.

Trumps crushing defeat of Kamala Harris was partly fuelled by a surge in support from Hispanic men, with the Republicans winning the majority of their vote for the first time.

In a remarkable feat, Trump secured 45 per cent of the Latino vote, a 13-point bounce compared to his 2020 result, and an 18 per cent increase among male Latino voters.

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When The Telegraph spoke to voters in Allentown, a Latino-majority city in the heart of Lehigh County in Pennsylvania, which according to exit polls saw a 2.6 per cent up tick in Hispanic voters for Trump, they said their main motivation was the economy.

I voted for Trump because of the economy, I have always voted Democrat, but I voted for him because my business is too slow and sales are low, a smiling Sandy Usted, 39, said from behind his shop counter.

While Mr Usted, who is originally from the Dominican Republic, supported both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, this election he voted Republican over fears he would have to close his womens clothing shop.

Sandy Usted, an owner of a womens clothes shop, voted Republican in fear of losing his business

Allentown was once heralded as a place where the American dream could become reality, but the collapse of the former industrial heartland later inspired Billy Joels eponymous song lamenting the decline of the steel industry.

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With a Latino population of more than 50 per cent, the region also became ground zero in the battle for Hispanic votes, with both candidates hosting rallies and events in a bid to drum up support among this powerful swathe of the electorate.

A few doors down on 7th street, a Hispanic hub in the heart of Allentown, barber Fabian Gonzales, 43, echoed the same sentiment.

Speaking as he skimmed his clients hair with clippers, prompting small flecks of black hair to fall around his feet, he said Trump won his vote because he is an entrepreneur, rather than a politician,

Hes a businessman and the United States is a business. He had us better [off] than how everybody else had us, he said.

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Mr Gonzales added that he was also impressed by Trumps character, regardless of his 34 federal convictions.

Hes a strong man, you know like he says hes gonna do something and he does it ... He doesnt beat around the bush like everybody else, he said.

Paul Hurtarte, who immigrated to the US from Mexico as a teenager, said while Trump can be very unprofessional ... hes a good moneymaker.

I am very happy ... Ive got a spring in my step, said the retired salesman, 61, said.

My benefits and the status of the United States were a lot better once Trump came into the presidency. Hes not the best talker there is ... there are certain things that he says that back everybody up ... But overall, I know hes a great economist. Hes a good money maker, and thats why this time, I voted for him also.

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Mr Hurtarte added that he was really surprised by the number of his friends who said they were voting for Trump in this election, but said they were all motivated by the economy, for the better of the kids in the future.

Paul Hurtarte, retired salesman, said he had a spring in his step following the election results

Matt Tuerk, Allentowns Democratic mayor, said he thinks Latinos who voted for Trump may have just responded to a dream about the future that may not be able to materialise.

Mr Tuerk, who has Cuban heritage, said Hispanic voters are not a monolith.

He added: We have differences but were fundamentally Americans and were also fundamentally kitchen table politics voters so the big issues for us are primarily the economy, things like housing, things like public safety.

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Clutching his Starbucks coffee while sitting on his bicycle, he said he was disappointed by the result, but insisted as the mayor he has to get back to work.

Matt Tuerk, the mayor of Allentown, fears that Latinos who voted for Trump may not see the future they had dreamed of

It is not yet known how Trumps second administration will impact places like Allentown, but his supporters in the city are elated by his success.

The leap in support among Latinos on election night also saw Trump flip the most Hispanic county in the US for the first time in more than a century.

Trump won Starr County, Texas, where more than 97 per cent of residents are Hispanic, by 16 per cent, marking the first time since 1892 that a Republican presidential candidate took a majority.

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The groundswell of support among Hispanics also helped propel Trump to victory in Pennsylvania, the swing state which boasts the largest number of electoral college votes.

Across the Keystone State, which was seen as the crucial get for either candidates path to the White House, Trump increased his support among Hispanics by 14 points.

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HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT)  The University of Evansville has secured a nearly $400,000 grant from the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, to address sexual assault, domestic and dating violence and stalking on campus.

Officials state this is to create Project Safespace, a project to benefit all UE students, with a special focus on supporting LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities and international students.

Officials say Project Safespace will bring together campus and community partners, including the Evansville Police Department, Albion Fellows Bacon Center and Local LGBTQ+ service provider Matthew 25.

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We want to create a culture where students feel empowered to speak up and foster an environment that promotes safety for everyone, said Keith Gehlhausen, Executive Director of Human Resources & Institutional Equity. Project Safespace will help us continue to build a campus community where everyone feels safe and supported.

University officials plan to implement the project over the coming years, guided by a new Project Director and input from students who will help shape ongoing efforts.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Unofficial results show on Nov. 5 the Fayetteville mayoral race will head to a runoff, voters approve Sunday alcohol sales in Fayetteville and Goshens annexation fails to pass.

Fayetteville incumbent Mayor Lioneld Jordan and Experience Fayetteville CEO Molly Rawn will head to a runoff. The unofficial results show Jordan with 47% of the vote and Rawn with 37%.

Monique Jones and Todd Hertzberg race ends in runoff

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The vote for Fayettevilles Sunday alcohol sales passed with 82%.

Goshens annexation vote failed with 73% voting against it.

The full election results can be found below.

UNOFFICIAL-RESULTS-2Download

More election coverage can be found here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
North Korean troops have been involved in combat operations in Russia's Kursk Oblast for the first time.

Source: Reuters, citing two US officials, as reported by European Pravda

Details: One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, mentioned that North Korean troops had been first involved in the fighting on 4 November. The source did not mention whether there were any North Korean casualties or provide further details about the combat.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Tuesday that the first combat between Ukrainian forces and North Korean troops "opens a new page in instability in the world" after Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov reported a "small engagement".

Background:

Earlier this week, the Pentagon estimated that at least 10,000 North Korean troops had been deployed to Kursk Oblast, with Pyongyang having sent a total of 11,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia.

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) and three key allies expressed serious concern on Tuesday over the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia and announced that they were coordinating a joint response to the situation.

Meanwhile, UK intelligence indicated that North Korean troops involved in combat operations against Ukraine would face challenges in terms of interoperability with Russian forces and the use of equipment.

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TAIPEI (Reuters) -The United States will continue its friendly approach towards Taiwan after the presidential election and Taiwan will work to prevent China "making trouble" during the transition, a senior Taiwanese security official said on Wednesday.

Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the U.S. presidency and neck and neck in the polls with Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris, has made comments on the campaign trail that Taiwan should pay to be protected and also accused the island of stealing American semiconductor business.

Democratically-governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has faced a sustained military pressure campaign from Beijing over the past five years, including four major rounds of war games in the past two years.

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Speaking to reporters in parliament, Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen noted the election's outcome was still unknown.

"On relations across the Taiwan Strait we believe that the United States will continue its current approach of constraining China and being friendly to Taiwan," he said.

Taiwan will continue communication with the current administration focusing on key issues for cooperation "in the next phase" and work with international partners to exchange information on China's intentions and military movements during the transition, Tsai added.

"This is as to prevent the Chinese communists from taking advantage of the transition of the U.S. government and to prevent them from making trouble during the transition," he said.

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China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Also speaking to media at parliament, Taiwan Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei said the government was paying great attention to the election and making preparations no matter who won.

However, Taiwan-U.S. economic ties are deep and won't be easy to change and the impact on the economy will be small irrespective of who the next president is, he added.

Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.

The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Jeanny Kao; Editing by Michael Perry)
Chinese premier meets Malaysian PM in Shanghai

Xinhua) 08:27, November 06, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is in China to attend the seventh China International Import Expo, in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

SHANGHAI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met on Tuesday with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is in Shanghai to attend the 7th China International Import Expo.

Li said that China-Malaysia relations have entered a new stage of historical development and are moving steadily toward the goal of building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

He said that China is ready to work with Malaysia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, uphold mutual respect and mutual trust, treat each other as equals and cooperate for win-win results, working together to achieve common development and prosperity of the two countries.

Li said China is willing to continue with firmly supporting each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, strengthening the docking of development strategies and the exchange of experience in governance, improving the layout of cooperation in various fields, and boosting the modernization process of the two countries with high-level strategic cooperation.

He called on the two sides to steadily advance flagship projects such as the East Coast Rail Link and the Malaysia-China "Two Countries, Twin Parks," tap into the cooperation potential in emerging areas, and constantly expand new space for cooperation.

China will continue to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning with Malaysia, strengthen cooperation on education and visa facilitation, and encourage the two peoples, especially the youth, to visit each other more often to enhance mutual understanding and friendship, he said.

Li said China will strongly support Malaysia in assuming the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, and is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Malaysia within China-ASEAN and other multilateral frameworks to jointly advance regional economic integration, safeguard ASEAN centrality and safeguard the peaceful development of Asia.

Anwar noted that China is Malaysia's good friend and good partner. Malaysia is willing to deepen Belt and Road cooperation with China, promote cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, digital economy and education, and enhance people-to-people exchanges, he added.

Malaysia supports China in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, said Anwar.

He noted that as the rotating presidency of ASEAN next year, Malaysia will take this opportunity to enhance coordination with China on international and regional issues.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is in China to attend the seventh China International Import Expo, in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
A visitor tastes Chinese tea at the China pavilion of the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2023 in London, Britain, Nov. 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024 opened on Tuesday, with the China pavilion drawing attention for its abundant tourism resources and cultural appeal.

The pavilion is set to feature a range of destination promotions, business networking sessions, and showcases of intangible cultural heritage. Attendees can also enjoy interactive experiences, including Chinese "baijiu" liquor tastings, Tai Chi workshops, and samples of Chinese cuisine.

This year's Chinese delegation consists of representatives from nine provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Xinjiang and Shaanxi, alongside dozens of airlines and tourism companies.

After browsing brochures and speaking with representatives at the China pavilion, Gary King, head of trade sales at London-based Wendy Wu Tours, told Xinhua that his top two destinations for future trips to China are Zhangjiajie in the central Hunan Province and Guilin in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, both renowned for their "spectacular scenery."

The Old House Area (Laowuchang) of the Wulingyuan scenic area in Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan province. [Photo by Zhang Junmian/China.org.cn]

King said he traveled to China for the first time last year and was "absolutely captivated," highlighting the local cuisine, welcoming people, extensive high-speed railway network, and the diversity between cities as the aspects he loved most about the country and his experience.

Since last year, China has been expanding its visa-free entry policies to boost the recovery of inbound tourism, making it increasingly easier and more appealing for foreign tourists to explore the country.

This year's China pavilion at WTM London, themed "high-quality tourism development in China," emphasized green and sustainable tourism, showcasing the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature.

"Tourism businesses and boards have a responsibility to help businesses become greener and more regenerative, while also helping consumers make sustainable choices," Patricia Yates, CEO of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, the UK's national tourism agency, told Xinhua.

She noted that international tourism not only generates economic value but also enriches people "personally and mentally" by providing opportunities to "speak with different people, understand different cultures, and learn about diverse lives and experiences." High-quality tourism, she added, encourages travelers to stay longer and explore more deeply in their destinations.

Foreign tourists pose for a photo in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, or Qiniandian, at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Over the decades, China has made remarkable strides in facilitating travel, enhancing various aspects like tourism infrastructure, cultural heritage site accessibility, mobile payment services, and transportation convenience -- including a rail network that spans the entire country.

At the event, Shi Zeyi, an official from China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said that China is dedicated to fostering practical, mutually beneficial partnerships with worldwide tourism professionals and contributing to the growth and prosperity of the global tourism industry.

Established in 1980, WTM London connects global travel buyers with leading destinations and brands annually, making it one of the world's most influential events in the travel and tourism industry.

The 44th edition of WTM London, themed "travel powers the world," opened on Tuesday and will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 40,000 attendees and nearly 4,000 exhibitors from around 180 countries and regions, with more than 70 conference sessions scheduled.
It may have felt like it would never happen, but the day is here. After months of anxiety-inducing uncertainty and a seemingly endless series of history-making events, the US presidential race is (finally) coming to a close.

Americans  along with so many people around the world  are gathering around their televisions and phone screens to learn who will be the next president of the United States: Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.

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Even though Harris and Trump have presented fundamentally different visions for the future of the US and its role on the global stage, the race has remained neck and neck since Joe Biden shocked the country by abandoning his re-election bid in July.

Related: US election results 2024 live: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris vie to be president

Results start rolling in on Tuesday night, giving the nation its first clues about which party will control not just the White House, but Congress as well. Here is an hour-by-hour guide on how to watch election night like an expert:

* * *

6pm ET (3pm PT, 11pm GMT, 10am AEDT): polls start to close

The first polls will close in eastern Kentucky and much of Indiana at 6pm ET. Democrats expectations are low in the two Republican-leaning states: Trump is virtually guaranteed to win both, and Republicans are expected to easily hold most of the two states House seats as well.

Latest: Trump wins red states Kentucky and Indiana

* * *

7pm ET (4pm PT, midnight GMT, 11am AEDT): polls fully close in six states, including Georgia

Americans will get their first clues about the outcome of the presidential race at 7pm ET, when polls close in the battleground state of Georgia. Biden won Georgia by just 0.2 points in 2020, after Trump carried the state by 5 points four years earlier. This year, Trump appears to have a slight advantage over Harris in the Peach state, according to the Guardians polling tracker, but a strong night for Democrats could put Georgia in their win column again.

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As Georgia starts to count its ballots, polls will also close in Virginia, where both parties hope to flip a House seat. Republicans are looking to expand their narrow majority in the House, and the results in Virginias second and seventh congressional districts could give an early indication of the partys success.

And the early results out of Florida  where most, but not all, polls close at 7pm  could offer revealing hints as well. Florida is particularly efficient at counting ballots, so its early results will be one of the first big tests of the night. In addition to Harriss long-shot hopes of flipping a state that Trump won twice, the Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is looking to unseat the Republican senator Rick Scott, who has maintained a polling advantage in the race. An upset win for Mucarsel-Powell in Florida could allow Democrats to maintain their Senate majority.

Latest: Trump wins Florida

Latest: Trump wins Georgia

* * *

7.30pm ET (4.30pm PT, 12.30am GMT, 11.30am AEDT): polls close in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia

Trump won North Carolina by one point in 2020 and three points in 2016, and a loss in this battleground state could doom the former president. Democrats also expect a victory in the North Carolina gubernatorial race, given the recent revelations about Republican Mark Robinsons disturbing internet activity.

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Meanwhile, the results in Ohio and West Virginia could decide control of the Senate. Republicans are expected to pick up a seat in West Virginia, where the independent senator Joe Manchin decided against seeking re-election; and the Democratic incumbent, Sherrod Brown, is facing a tough race in Ohio. If Republicans win both races, that would erase Democrats current 51-49 advantage in the Senate.

Latest: Trump wins West Virginia

Latest: Trump wins Ohio

Latest: Trump wins North Carolina

* * *

8pm ET (5pm PT, 1am GMT, 12pm AEDT): polls fully close in 16 states, including Pennsylvania

This will represent a pivotal moment in the presidential race. Whoever wins Pennsylvanias 19 electoral votes is much more likely to win the White House, a fact that both nominees acknowledged as they blitzed the battleground state in recent weeks.

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Pennsylvania will also host some of the nations most competitive congressional races. If it is a good night for Republicans, they could flip the seat of the incumbent Democratic senator Bob Casey, who is facing off against the former hedge fund CEO Dave McCormick.

But if Democrats have an especially strong night, they may set their sights on Florida, where the final polls close at 8pm ET. Most polls will close in Michigan at 8pm ET as well, but voting in a handful of counties that observe central time will keep polls open for another hour.

Latest: Trump wins Pennsylvania

* * *

8.30pm ET (5.30pm PT, 1.30am GMT, 12.30pm AEDT): polls close in Arkansas

There wont be much suspense in Arkansas, as Trump is expected to easily win the solidly Republican state. Arkansas does have the distinction of being the only state where polls will close at 8.30pm ET, but most Americans attention will be on the results trickling in from battleground states by this point in the night.

Latest: Trump wins Arkansas

* * *

9pm ET (6pm PT, 2am GMT, 1pm AEDT): polls fully close in 15 states, including Michigan and Wisconsin

This will be the do-or-die moment for Harris. In 2016, Trumps ability to eke out narrow victories in the blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin sent him to the White House, but Biden won all three battlegrounds four years later.

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Harriss most likely path to 270 electoral votes runs through Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin this year, so Trump could secure a second term if he can pick off even one of those states.

Michigan and Wisconsin will also play a potentially decisive role in the battle for Congress. Democrats currently hold two Senate seats in the states that are up for grabs this year, and Republican victories in either race could give them a majority. Michigans seventh congressional district, which became an open seat after Elissa Slotkin chose to run for the Senate rather than seek re-election, has been described as the most competitive open seat in the country.

In New York, where polls also close at 9pm ET, Democrats have the opportunity to flip several House seats that Republicans won in 2022. If they are successful, it could give Democrats a House majority. And after a much better than expected showing in the celebrated Selzer poll out of Iowa, Democrats hope to flip two House seats in the Hawkeye state, where polls will be closing as well.

* * *

10pm ET (7pm PT, 3am GMT, 2pm AEDT): polls fully close in Nevada, Montana and Utah

Harris hopes to keep Nevada in her column, as Democratic presidential candidates have won the state in every race since 2008. Trump previously led Nevada polls, but Harris has closed that gap in the final weeks of the race.

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Another two Senate races will come to a close at this point in the night as well. In Nevada, the Democratic incumbent, Jacky Rosen, is favored to hold her seat, but her fellow Democratic senator Jon Testers prospects appear grim in Montana.

If Republicans have not already clinched a Senate majority by the time Montanas polls close, this may be the moment when they officially capture control of the upper chamber.

Latest: Trump wins Montana, Utah

* * *

11pm ET (8pm PT, 4am GMT, 3pm AEDT): polls fully close in four states, including California

While Harris is virtually guaranteed a victory in her home state of California, the states House races carry important implications for control of Congress. Five House Republicans face toss-up races in California, according to the Cook Political Report, so the state represents Democrats biggest opportunity to regain a majority in the chamber.

Latest: Harris wins California

Related:Where do Harris and Trump stand on the key election issues?

* * *

12am ET (9pm PT, 5am GMT, 4pm AEDT): polls close in Hawaii and most of Alaska

By the time polls close in Hawaii and most of Alaska, Americans should have a much better sense of who will be moving into the White House come January. But if 2020 is any indication, the nation may have to wait a bit longer to hear a final call on who won the presidential race.

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In 2020, the AP did not declare Biden as the winner of the presidential election until 7 November at 11.26am ET  four days after the first polls closed. And in 2016, it took until 2.29am ET the morning after election day to declare Trump as the winner.

Given how close the race for the White House is expected to be, Americans might have to settle in for a long night  or even week  to learn who their next president is.

Latest: Harris wins Hawaii

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SARAJEVO (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday expanded sanctions against an individual and an entity who have helped Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodik and his son evade existing U.S. sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

Dodik, the pro-Russian president of Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic (RS) who has long advocated the region's secession from Bosnia, is already under U.S. and UK sanctions.

In October 2023, Washington imposed sanctions against his two adult children - son Igor Dodik and daughter Gorica Dodik - and their companies, saying they facilitated the Bosnian Serb leader's ongoing corruption.

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In June 2024, the U.S. imposed sanctions on two individuals and a network of companies generating wealth for Dodik and Igor Dodik, who has continued to control the firms officially run by individuals loyal to him.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department said that Vladimir Perisic, the general director of Prointer ITSS, a company that was sanctioned in June, has continued to execute business decisions based on guidance by Igor Dodik.

It also said that the sanctioned Kaldera company has been replaced by a new company, Elpring, which has been effectively controlled by Igor Dodik. It therefore added both Perisic and Elpring to the sanctions list.

The United States says Dodik has undermined the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian war in which 100,000 were killed. The pact divided the country into two autonomous regions, the Serb Republic and the Bosniak-Croat Federation, linked via a weak central government.

The new sanctions come on the day Donald Trump secured his second U.S. presidency, welcomed by Dodik.

(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
(Bloomberg) -- The US has forgiven $1.14 billion of debt owed by Somalia following a bilateral agreement between the two countries, according to the US ambassador in Mogadishu, Richard Riley.

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The debt relief is in addition to $1.2 billion of development, economic, security, and humanitarian assistance the US has provided to Somalia this fiscal year, Riley said in a statement on X.

The US continues to be a steadfast partner in support of the people of Somalia, Riley said.

In a separate statement on X, Somalias finance minister, Bihi Iman Egeh, said the accord follows the debt relief process agreed in March by the creditor group of wealthy nations known as the Paris Club.

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(Bloomberg) -- Democrats hopes for a powerful check on Donald Trump by controlling the US House are fading, with Republicans increasingly confident they will hold unified control in Washington ahead of next years big fights over tax cuts and spending.

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Democrats need a net gain of just four House seats to wrest the slim majority from Republicans, but GOP gains in races in Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina have offset losses in New York, putting the party ahead in its bid to retain control of the chamber.

House Speaker Mike Johnson took a victory lap on Wednesday, declaring Republicans poised to keep their control of the chamber. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, countered that his party could still eke out a narrow majority by flipping seats in California, Arizona and elsewhere.

The party that will hold the majority in the House of Representatives in January 2025 has yet to be determined, Jeffries said.

Most of the key battleground races remain too close to call  particularly in notoriously slow-counting California  so it could be days before its clear which party will claim the speakers gavel. To understand how close the struggle for the House is, most of the 22 toss-up races still have not been called by midday Wednesday. And counting was ongoing in other competitive districts.

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Democratic House control would force Republicans to negotiate on trillions of dollars worth of provisions in the 2017 tax law that expire at the end of next year. It also would provide a check on Trumps America First foreign policy agenda, providing perhaps some hope to Ukraine and other allies of continued support.

The House under Democratic control also impeached Trump twice during his first term in office. He was never convicted by the Senate.

Trump swept key battlegrounds of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, closing Vice President Kamala Harris pathway to the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the White House.

Republicans won control of the Senate with at least 52 seats, with several others still too close to call. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell called the election a helluva good day at a Wednesday press conference, even as he signaled he could be a speed bump to Trump and his isolationist allies.

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Flipped Republican seats include those held by freshmen Brandon Williams, who represents a district around Syracuse, and Marc Molinaro, whose district includes parts of the Catskills, the Hudson Valley and the Finger Lakes.

The two seats Democrats picked up in Louisiana and Alabama, thanks to redistricting, were more than offset by three expected Republican pickups in redrawn districts in North Carolina, creating a see-saw effect as returns continued to come in.

The battle for the House could ultimately come down to five hard-fought races in California, where absentee ballots can be counted for up to a week after the election provided theyre postmarked by Election Day.

--With assistance from Clarissa Batino.

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(Updates with statements in third and fourth paragraphs)

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The man who was hospitalized following a police shooting in Salt Lake City on Monday night has been identified as a known white supremacist gang member, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

USMS spokesperson Mark Thomson said U.S. Marshals were in the area of 2100 South and 900 East working to apprehend Daniel Lynn Meinhart. Meinhart was reportedly wanted on probation violations and had multiple felony warrants for his arrest.

Additionally, Meinhart has a long and violent felony history including possession of a dangerous weapon and attempted murder and is a known white supremacist gang member, Thomson said via a press release.

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Utah and 29 states reach $1.37B settlement with Kroger

Marshals reportedly attempted to conduct a traffic stop by blocking Meinharts vehicle shortly before the shooting. Meinhart allegedly attempted to evade law enforcement by going over a curb and driving on the sidewalk. Thomson said Meinhart struck a light pole, disabling his car and forcing him to come to a complete stop.

Marshals with the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Strike team reportedly attempted to get Meinhart to comply with orders and surrender. Thomson said that because of Meinharts actions, VFAST officers were forced to use deadly force.

Meinhart was reportedly shot multiple times by law enforcement, though his injuries are considered to be non-life-threatening. He was transported to a local area hospital for treatment. One officer was placed on paid administrative leave.

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Following the shooting, the Salt Lake City Police Department was called to investigate. That investigation is still active and ongoing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Republicans have secured a majority in the US Senate, US broadcaster Fox and news agency AP project, after flipping seats in Ohio and West Virginia.

The Ohio race was seen as close but essential for the Democrats to keep the Senate. With 89% of the votes in, CNN reported that Republican Bernie Moreno had 50.6% of the vote compared to 46.3% for Democrat Sherrod Brown, who has held the seat since 2007.

The West Virginia flip was expected as Joe Manchin, who was elected as a Democrat in 2018, retired and the state is dominated by Republican voters. Jim Justice will be the new senator.

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Republicans also kept hold of their seat in Nebraska, with incumbent Debra Fisher winning yet another term. She has been in office since 2013.

Senate watchers are still eyeing the Montana race, where Democratic incumbent Jon Tester, a Montana native, has been consistently lower in the polls than his Republican rival, Minnesota-born Tim Sheehy. Tester's campaign was largely based on his Montana roots and portrayed Sheehy as a wealthy out-of-stater who is making Montana less affordable.

The state, however, is a traditional Republican stronghold and most polls show Tester losing.

Mitch McConnell, the current minority leader and former majority leader, has said he will not seek a leadership position in the new Congress. The current majority leader is Democrat Chuck Schumer, who would likely move to minority leader if the Republicans took control.
Republicans have secured a majority in the US Senate, US broadcasters reported on Tuesday, after flipping seats in Ohio and West Virginia.

The Ohio race was seen as close but essential for the Democrats to keep the Senate. With 89% of the votes in, CNN reported that Republican Bernie Moreno had 50.6% of the vote compared to 46.3% for Democrat Sherrod Brown, who has held the seat since 2007.

The West Virginia flip was expected as Joe Manchin, who was elected as a Democrat in 2018, retired and the state is dominated by Republican voters. Jim Justice will be the new senator.

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Republicans also kept hold of their seat in Nebraska, with incumbent Debra Fisher winning yet another term. She has been in office since 2013.

Senate watchers are still eyeing the Montana race, where Democratic incumbent Jon Tester, a Montana native, has been consistently lower in the polls than his Republican rival, Minnesota-born Tim Sheehy. Tester's campaign was largely based on his Montana roots and portrayed Sheehy as a wealthy out-of-stater who is making Montana less affordable.

The state, however, is a traditional Republican stronghold and most polls show Tester losing but it is too early to tell. CNN reported with nearly 30% of the vote counted that Sheehy was leading with 50.5% to Tester's 47.9%.

In most of the other states the parties maintained their positions, either by electing an incumbent or replacing an outgoing senator with another party candidate.

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Still, some commentators are predicting that the Republicans could end up with as much as a 55-seat majority in the 100-member chamber, in which each state - regardless of size - send two senators to Washington. There are also tight races in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Mitch McConnell, the current minority leader and former majority leader, has said he will not seek a leadership position in the new Congress. The current majority leader is Democrat Chuck Schumer, who would likely move to minority leader if the Republicans took control.
Compounding the embarrassment, many polling experts predicted a narrow electoral college victory for Kamala Harris. Illustration: Bruno Hayward/The Guardian

US pollsters are under fire for the third presidential election running for failing to foresee Donald Trumps emphatic ballot box triumph that will propel him back to the White House.

Having seriously underestimated Trumps support in the 2016 and 2020 elections, polling agencies trumpeted a recalibrated methodology for 2024 that was meant to more realistically reflect his standing while restoring their own credibility.

Instead, pollsters are now being called on to explain a broad range of surveys that showed the two candidates essentially deadlocked both nationally and in battleground states in a race that was deemed too close to call.

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Compounding the embarrassment, many polling experts in the final days before election day predicted a narrow electoral college victory for Kamala Harris, who was foreseen by some as just about eking a win in a majority of the seven swing states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

Related: Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and other business leaders congratulate Trump

In fact, Trump has won five of the states at the time of publication and was leading in Nevada and Arizona, which had yet to be called.

Standing out was a poll published at the weekend by the Des Moines Register that purported to show Harris with a three-point lead over Trump in the Republican stronghold state of Iowa  supposedly fueled by widespread outrage among women voters over the restriction of abortion rights.

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The poll, carried out by J Ann Selzer  an Iowa pollster widely renowned among her peers for reliability  fed Democratic hopes of a groundswell of support among female voters that could potentially carry over to neighboring Michigan and Wisconsin.

Selzer vouched for its findings even while Trumps campaign dismissed it as a fake poll and a clear outlier.

Ive been the outlier queen so many times, Selzer, whose polling correctly foretold Barack Obamas triumph in the Iowa caucuses in 2008, told the New York Times. Im not jumpy.

Actual events proved the poll to be a dud. Iowa was called for Trump early, and with nearly all the votes counted on Wednesday, he led by an emphatic 55.9% to 42.7%.

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Rick Perlstein, an award-winning historian who has written several books chronicling the rise of American conservatism, lamented the role of polling in modern elections in a series of posts on X.

Iowa called for Trump. Polling is a very compromised enterprise. It would be great to see people start ignoring it, he wrote on Tuesday evening.

In a later post, he wrote: One of the trippy things about the polling enterprise is [the] fraught relationship they have with traditional journalism, complaining of their breathless coverage that does not understand polling methodology, but also soliciting that coverage for business purposes.

The criticism was joined by Allan Lichtman, a historian at American University who forecast a Harris victory based on a system of 13 keys he had used to correctly predict the outcome of 11 of the past 12 presidential elections.

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Unlike Nate Silver, who will try to squirm out of why he didnt see the election coming, I admit that I was wrong, Lichtman wrote, adding that he would assess his method and the election in a live broadcast on Thursday.

Silver, a pollster who founded FiveThirtyEight, made Harris a marginal favourite hours before polls opened, but had written two weeks earlier that his gut favored Trump.

The pollsters discomfiture was also highlighted by online betting companies, who claimed they had more accurately predicted the result than self-proclaimed professionals with decades of experience in the field.

Five companies  Betfair, Kalshi, Polymarket, PredictIt and Smarkets  gave Trump a better-than-even chance of winning on the eve of polling day, the New York Times reported. As polls closed on Tuesday, their odds in favour of his winning shot up.

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Polymarket boasted that it had proved the wisdom of markets over the polls, the media, and the pundits.

Polymarket consistently and accurately forecasted outcomes well ahead of all three, demonstrating the power of high volume, deeply liquid prediction markets, the company posted on X.

Tarek Mansour, the chief executive of Kalshi, put it more succinctly. Polls 0, Prediction Markets 1, he wrote.

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Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles won a second term in Congress on Tuesday, defeating a challenge from Democratic activist Mayram Abolfazli of Nashville.

The theme of this election has been about unity and not being held back by what has been, Ogles said during his victory speech at Stans in Columbia. Im just kidding, its about kicking butt and winning.

Ogles supporters gathered for a victory party Tuesday evening at the restaurant and gas station in Columbia surrounded by hotels and fast-food chains to watch election results and cheer for former President Donald Trump.

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A large Trump/Vance sign was posted outside Stans entrance and a cardboard cutout of Trump donning a golden Make America Great Again hat rested at the podium area where Ogles was set to speak. By the time Ogles took the stage, the room was packed with supporters and Republican lawmakers.

U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, gives his victory speech after defeating Metro Nashville Council member Courtney Johnston at Stan's Restaurant in Columbia, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Ogles was joined by his wife and three children in front of the cardboard cutout of Trump.

The fate of this country is hanging by a thread. You got a Democratic Party that doesnt like the fact youre conservative, Ogles said. To be determined, but I think we win, and we win big tonight. Now we continue to pray for President Donald Trump that we take the White House, that we take the Senate, and we hold the House of Representatives.

Abolfazli conceded the race shortly before 8:30 p.m. The Associated Press called the race at about 8:45 p.m.

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In her concession speech, Abolfazli said she believes the support she her campaign built is just the beginning. A sense of community, purpose and hope stood out to her on the campaign trail across six counties. She said she saw people engaged in the civic process for the first time along the way.

"This is not a loss for me," Abolfazli said to the packed room at Henrietta Red in Germantown.

While Republicans continue to hold a supermajority of power at the state and national level in Tennessee, Abolfazli said she has not lost hope for that to change. She said she was deeply inspired by the joy, dedication and positivity that her staff, family, friends and volunteers poured into the campaign.

"I'm constantly floored by what we created in this time where there are so many people scared of each other," she told The Tennessean after she conceded. "We made it OK for people to believe what they believe."

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"Just give it time. Keep working. Keep having fun while you're working," she said. "A bigger win is on the way."

Nashville nonprofit worker Anne Weber, who knocked doors for Abolfazli, said shes encouraged by turnout for Abolfazli and hopes her run will chip away at the Republican stronghold in Tennessee.

Its been good for my soul in this election season, Weber said. Maryam is really a uniter, especially during this campaign when theres been so much divisiveness.

Ogles' victory comes after he largely avoided traditional campaigning and amid a pending probe into his campaign.

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Days into the general election in early August, the FBI seized his cell phone, and Ogles said publicly that he believes the probe is connected with error-filled financial disclosures  which have plagued him since he first launched his bid for Congress in 2022. In his victory speech, Ogles gave a nod to the FBI probe.

They weaponized the Justice Department against those who are outspoken. Youve seen it against Donald Trump and others, Ogles said Tuesday evening. Ill never back down, hell never back down and Lord willing, hell be there with me all the way as we fight to save our republic.

The FBI probe didnt hurt Ogles with his base  who largely also saw the indictment of former President Donald Trump as political persecution. Ogles traveled to New York City during Trumps trial to join a news conference in support of Trump.

Ogles has tied his political fate to Trump since his 2022 congressional bid, touting his Trump endorsement proudly on campaign signs.

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The 5th Congressional District was once a Democratic stronghold encompassing all of Davidson County. But in 2021, Tennessees Republican majority in the state legislature split Nashville into three congressional districts  all favoring the GOP. In 2022 Ogles won by a 13-point margin, earning 55.8% of the vote to defeat state Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville.

Ogles won the Republican primary in August, defeating a well-funded challenge from Metro Council member Courtney Johnston and openly coordinating grassroots support from Americans for Prosperity Action, whose PAC spent heavily in mailers, doorhangers, postage, and digital ads to bring him over the finish line.

Ogles was previously state director of Americans for Prosperity, and his chief of staff previously worked on AFP grassroots initiatives. At his August victory party, Ogles thanked God, his family and Tori Venable, the state director of Americans for Prosperity, an influential Koch brothers-funded political group that backed his campaign.

Following a competitive primary, Ogles ran a campaign without purchasing any TV ads and without debating Abolfazli.

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A native Nasvhillian, Abolfazli sought to be a voice for voters who dont fit neatly into the box of a political party platform, arguing that Nashville voters have been neglected by everybody  by both sides.

Unlike her opponent, who once claimed to be an economist, Abolfazli studied at the London School of Economics and holds a masters degree from Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs. Shes also worked on economic development in closed societies including former Soviet states as well as Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq.

Abolfazli came into Nashvilles political spotlight when she facilitated a protest of thousands at the state Capitol calling for gun reform days after a deadly shooting at The Covenant School in March 2023. Standing on the Capitol steps, Abolfazli told the crowd how Republican lawmakers ignored high schoolers begging them to take action, and encouraged people to make their voices heard.

Later that year, she was a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging House Republicans rules banning signs in House galleries  after state troopers escorted her from a committee room while she held a sign expressing her view.

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Abolfazli criticized Ogles failure to listen to his constituents, and his character  referencing the FBI probe. She also attacked him for failing to bring home federal funding for his district, noting that while freshman members of Congress typically bring home $12 million for their district, Ogles' representation has not resulted in any new federal funding.

In his first term, Ogles has introduced legislation such as the Study Abroad Act to ship pro-terrorist student protesters to Gaza, the Let Trump Speak Act to ban judges from issuing gag orders for defendants, and the No Juicing Joe Act requiring reporting of the presidents pharmaceutical use.

None of Ogles original legislation has moved forward. Ogles has said it's important to file these bills, as they will start moving through Congress when former President Donald Trump is reelected. However, all legislation filed before the beginning of the new Congress will be considered dead and would need to be filed again.

Ogles was first elected to Congress in 2022, 20 years after first running for a U.S. House seat, beating four opponents in a crowded Republican primary with support from his former employer, Americans for Prosperity. Even before being sworn in, Ogles was one of 20 far-right Republicans who did not support former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during 11 rounds of voting, delaying start of Congressional business in 2023. He later supported McCarthy during ouster votes later that year.

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Ogles has spent significantly more than his Republican colleagues in the Tennessee delegation on office and travel expenses paid by taxpayers. Ogles has spent $335,000 on taxpayer-funded mailers to tout his records, and another $30,00 in travel and expense reimbursements since taking office.

Prior to his election to Congress, Ogles won his first election, becoming mayor of Maury County in 2018. As mayor, Ogles supported a sales tax increase, and later vetoed a property tax hike without offering an alternative revenue plan. County commissioners overrode his veto. His personal interest disclosures as mayor left off thousands of dollars of financial interests.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com or on X at @Vivian_E_Jones.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: US Rep. Andy Ogles defeats Maryam Abolfazli in Tennessee's 5th District
US Republicans have secured a majority in the Senate, US broadcasters reported on Wednesday, but the party still faces a battle to retain the House of Representatives despite Donald Trump's triumph in the presidential election.

Victory in both chambers of Congress would hand Trump the power to fundamentally reshape the country, but dozens of races in the 435-seat House remain too close to call after Tuesday's vote, with the Democratic Party narrowly behind.

The Republicans have overturned Democrats' control of the Senate after flipping competitive seats in Ohio and Montana, and a further victory in West Virginia, according to projections by broadcasters CNN, NBC and CBS.

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Following the results, Republicans have at least 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate, and they could record further victories with races in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Michigan going down to the wire.

Control of the Senate could allow the Republicans to further expand the conservative majority in the Supreme Court, with the potential to shape the country's future for decades.

Republicans dominate Senate races

With 34 seats in the Senate up for grabs in this year's election, the Democrats were already expecting an extremely difficult battle to maintain their control of the chamber before Donald Trump's resounding victory over Vice President Kamala Harris demonstrated the Republicans' strength across the country.

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Incumbent Democratic Senators Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester lost their races in the Republican-majority states of Ohio and Montana, while the Republicans also picked up a seat vacated by Joe Manchin - a former Democrat turned independent - in deep-red West Virginia.

Republicans also kept hold of their seat in Nebraska, with incumbent Deb Fisher winning another term despite an unusual challenge from independent Dan Osborn.

Elsewhere, Ted Cruz and Rick Scott - two Trump allies that Democrats were hoping to unseat in Texas and Florida - easily won re-election, as did left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders in Vermont.

A number of races in the key swing states that decided the election for Trump were still too close to call on Wednesday, with incumbent Democratic Senators Bob Casey and Jacky Rosen trailing in Pennsylvania and Nevada respectively, while Democrats were narrowly ahead in Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan.

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If Republicans can extend their majority to 55 seats, the Senate could prove out of reach for Democrats to retake in mid-term elections in 2026.

House of Representatives still up for grabs

Meanwhile, the result of the election to the 435-seat House of Representatives was still unclear on Wednesday with neither party yet achieving the 218-seat majority to control the lower chamber.

All 435 seats in the House were up for grabs, with Republicans holding a slim majority of 220 to 212 before Election Day.

Flipping the House could provide a glimmer of hope for Democrats reeling from a dramatic electoral campaign, but their path to victory was continuing to narrow, with CNN projecting a Republican lead of 204 seats to 182.

The CBS network had Democrats behind with 188 seats to 197, while NBC had Republicans up 203 to 178.
By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) - Voters in Missouri have approved a proposal to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour, while an identical measure in Alaska appears poised to pass and a bid to raise California's minimum wage to $18 seems headed towards failure, according to projections from Edison Research.

Meanwhile, ballot measures in Massachusetts and Arizona involving the lower minimum wage for workers who primarily rely on tips were overwhelmingly rejected.

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Here's a look at how those and other employment-related ballot measures fared across the country in Tuesday's election.

MINIMUM WAGE HIKES

Nearly 58% of Missourians voted in favor of the minimum wage increase, which will make Missouri the eighth U.S. state with a minimum wage of $15 or more. The proposal in Alaska appeared likely to pass, with a 56.5% approval rate as of Wednesday morning, though not all votes had been tallied. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour has not increased since 2009, and about 30 states have set their floor higher.

Both states' proposals also include paid sick leave programs, which have already been adopted in 18 states and Washington, D.C. Voters in Nebraska also approved a paid sick leave program by a margin of nearly three to one.

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A proposal to raise California's minimum wage to $18 per hour, which would be the highest in the country, appeared likely to fail on Wednesday morning. According to state results, 52% of voters had disapproved of the proposal with many precincts only partially reporting their tallies.

Alaska's minimum wage measure also includes a provision that would ban mandatory meetings to discourage unionizing, known as captive audience meetings. At least nine Democratic-led states including New York, California, and Minnesota have banned the meetings or prohibited employers from disciplining workers who do not attend. Captive audience meetings are legal under federal labor law and have been a fixture of employers' responses to union campaigns for decades.

TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE

A proposal known as Question 5 asking voters to eliminate Massachusetts' $6.75 per hour minimum wage for tipped workers failed by a nearly two-to-one margin, after a coalition of industry groups, workers and Democratic state officials urged voters to reject it.

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Question 5 would have gradually raised the tipped minimum wage until it matched the standard minimum - currently $15 per hour - in 2029. Supporters including advocacy group One Fair Wage have said that pay for tipped workers can be inconsistent and unpredictable and that relying on tips makes workers more vulnerable to harassment.

But opponents of the proposal said it would lower the pay of servers and other workers who rely on tips while forcing restaurants and other businesses to raise prices or close their doors.

In Arizona, meanwhile, voters resoundingly rejected a ballot measure that would have enshrined a lower tipped minimum wage in the state constitution, by a margin of nearly three to one.

The proposal, the first of its kind, would have allowed for tipped workers to be paid 25% less than the state's standard minimum wage, which will rise to $14.70 per hour on Jan. 1. Currently, Arizona wage law sets a tipped minimum wage of $12.35 per hour. The proposal would have initially lowered that to about $11 while tying it to future minimum wage increases.

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CANNABIS

Voters in Oregon made the state at least the seventh to require cannabis businesses to adopt "labor peace agreements" requiring them to remain neutral in union campaigns in order to receive or renew state licenses, by a 55%-45% vote, Edison projected. The legal cannabis industry is rapidly unionizing, and the passage of the proposal will likely make it easier for workers in Oregon to join unions.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Alexandra Hudson)
The United States tested an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with multiple targetable re-entry vehicles on the day when Donald Trump won the presidential election.



The test was conducted aboard the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS) at 11:01 pm Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.



The ICBM's re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site located within Republic of the Marshall Islands at the Kwajalein Atoll, according to the US Space Force.

Deterrent system

"This Minuteman III test launch exemplified the mission readiness, agility, and professionalism of the personnel at Vandenberg, Global Strike Command, and the US Navy," said Col. Dorian Hatcher, Space Launch Delta 30 deputy commander.



"Every test of this deterrent system at Vandenberg underscores the nations robust capabilities and highlights the indispensable support our Airmen and Guardians provide to ensure national security."



The test was conducted by a joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen and Navy aircrew.

LG-35A Sentinel will replace the Minuteman III ICBM

The Air Force claimed that the LG-35A Sentinel will replace the Minuteman III ICBM with an initial capability of 2029. However, until full capability is achieved in the mid-2030s, it's needed to ensure Minuteman III remains a viable deterrent.



This test is claimed to be a part of routine and periodic activities intended to demonstrate that the United States nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable and effective to deter 21st century threats and reassure its allies.

Such tests have occurred over 300 times before

Such tests have occurred over 300 times before, and this test is not the result of current world events, according to the US Air Force.

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Airmen from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron out of Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, were aboard the US Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft to demonstrate the reliability and effectiveness of the ALCS system.



"RTS is honored to be the nation's only long-range land impact site providing our strategic partners a safe environment and truth in testing for the continued development of the ICBM modernization efforts," said Army Lt. Col. Casel Rumfelt, RTS Range Director.



"This range and testing facilitate Americas technical advantage on the global stage. Our team brings decades of experience and a level of professionalism that makes the impossible seem easy in a no-fail environment. I couldnt be prouder of this incredible team."



Reagan Test Site sensors, including high-fidelity metric and signature radars, as well as optical sensors and telemetry, support the research, development, test, and evaluation of America's defense and space programs. For these tests, RTS team members collect radar, optical, and telemetry data in the terminal phase of flight to evaluate system performance, said the US Air Force.

The test was conducted on the day when Trump won the White House race after losing the poll four years ago. The elected 47th president of the United States defeated the Democrat nominee, Kamala Harris. Trump made the comeback as he secured 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency.


LEHI, Utah (ABC4)  The Alpine School District  the largest school district in Utah  is on its way to being dissolved into three separate school districts serving northern Utah County.

The decision comes after Utah County voters approved Proposition 11 and Proposition 14, both of which addressed splitting the school district. As of Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, approval for Proposition 11 leads with 57.8% of the vote. Proposition 14 also leads with 61.7% of the vote.

The passing of both propositions means the cities of Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, Cedar Fort, and Fairfield will create their own school district, tentatively known as the West School District. Lehi, American Fork, Highland, Alpine, Cedar Hills, and a portion of Draper will make up a second school district, currently known as the Central School District.

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Finally, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Vineyard, and Lindon will then make up their own school district.

With the passage of Prop 11, voters have made their preference resoundingly clear. They want a new school district that better represents them and provides a high-quality education for the children in our communities, said Lehi City Councilmember Heather Newall. I am inspired by the overwhelming support demonstrated by our voters to make this critical decision that will directly benefit our communities for many generations.

In a statement, the Alpine School District said it was grateful for the system of government that allows its community members a voice in public education.

We are waiting for the tabulation and certification of votes and we will respect the decision of our community members, the school district said. As we learn more about the results, we will keep our community and employees informed.

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Despite being projected to pass in the 2024 election, it will still be years until the school districts are ready.

Starting in 2025, Utah County will create new school boards and voters will elect candidates to fill those positions. Planning for the new districts and the search for new superintendents is expected to begin in 2026. Classes will officially start in the new districts in 2027.

Names for the two new districts will also be determined within that timeline.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Once the first Utah election results were released Tuesday night, it became clear that the Utah Legislature will largely stay the same, both in terms of party control, and in incumbents returning.

Top-of-the-ticket Republicans are all on track to win once final vote tallies are announced. Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson have 56.43% of the vote, with Brian King and Rebekah Cummings at 30.65% and write-in candidate Phil Lyman at 8.2%. Republican Derek Brown has 58.45% of the vote for the open attorney generals seat, Tina Cannon has 63.12% of the vote for state auditor and Marlo Oaks has 64.30% of the vote for state treasurer.

Rep. John Curtis easily won the open U.S. Senate seat, with 62.79% of the vote. State Rep. Mike Kennedy has 65.10% of the vote, easily winning the open congressional seat in District 3, while incumbents Blake Moore, Burgess Owens and Celeste Maloy easily won their reelections.

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The state Legislature, with about 80% of the seats in both the House and Senate in Republican hands, will easily hold on to a supermajority. As of election results Wednesday morning, only one state House seat is looking like it will flip from Republican to Democrat. That seat is House District 30, left vacant when Rep. Judy Weeks-Rohner chose to run for the Utah Senate. Currently, the Democratic candidate, Jake Fitisemanu is ahead of Republican Fred Cox 52.97% to 47.26%.

All incumbent legislators of both parties are currently on track to win reelection. The closest House race is in District 10 in Ogden, where current Democratic incumbent Rosemary Lesser has a 51.38% lead over challenger Jill Koford, who has 48.62%. State Sen. Todd Weiler is at 48.19%, but his next closest competitor of his three challengers, Democrat Aaron Wiley, is more than 16 percentage points behind. Of the 15 Utah Senate seats and 75 House seats up for election this year, 23 had only one candidate.

Utah is also poised to send four new Asian American-Pacific Islanders to the legislature next year: Democrats Hoang Nguyen in House District 23, Fitisemanu in House District 30, Verona Mauga in House District 31, as well as Republican Doug Fiefia in House District 48. They will join Sen. Karen Kwan.

At least one special election is already in the making. Rep. Mike Kennedy is now the Congressman-elect for Congressional District 3 and current Rep. Brady Brammer just won a special election to replace him (contingent upon Kennedys win). Now, House District 54 will hold a special election to replace Brammer. If Sen. Mike Lee is pulled into a Trump administration, then his Senate seat would also be filled via special election.

Election results will not become official for two weeks.
Voters wait in lines lining the halls of the Utah County Health and Justice Building on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Nathan Beitler for Utah News Dispatch)

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson on Tuesday said she did not want to place personal blame on Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson for election night problems that led to voters waiting hours at some polling locations Tuesday night.

I have no desire to pile onto Clerk Davidson, Henderson told Utah News Dispatch in an interview Wednesday, after a post-election scrum at the Governors Office in the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City.

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I want nothing more than for him to be the best clerk in Utah. Thats what I hope for. And my office is prepared to help him do that, if thats what he wants to do. He has a job to do. I think he got caught flat-footed, Henderson said. But people who make mistakes and then are able to look internally and take accountability for their actions  and make changes for the better, thats character. Thats just a good person. I hope that thats what Aaron does.

Henderson, however, also said a lack of planning that led to long lines and other issues in Utah County, in particular, did factor into why the states election night results were posted more than two hours after polls closed at 8 p.m.

Other counties did see long voter lines in some polling locations, but problems were more widespread and chaotic in Utah County, a Republican stronghold and Utahs second-most populated county.

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Leading up to the election, Davidson had discouraged voting by mail and instead encouraged voters to use ballot drop boxes or vote in person on Election Day. Henderson said more people showed up in person to vote than expected, including many provisional voters, or those not already registered to vote and needing to sign up for same-day voter registration.

Hendersons office had warned on Monday of the possibility that the states election night results could be delayed if there were long lines, because state election officials had decided not to post results until the last voter who got in line by the 8 p.m. cut off had the opportunity to vote.

Pressed on whether the state should have posted results sooner regardless of people still waiting in line, Henderson told reporters she wouldnt do anything different.

Its an unfortunate delay, but its an understandable one, she said. You want voters who are already in line to be able to cast their ballots without undue influence from results.

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She also said clerks are ultimately responsible for planning the administration of their countys elections.

Theyre responsible for deciding how many vote centers to stand up. Theyre responsible for deciding how much paper to stock. Theyre responsible for deciding how much ink to have on hand, Henderson said. These are decisions that the state, that my office does not make. These are independently-elected county clerks, and its their responsibility to make sure that the voters in their county, no matter how many voters want to show up and vote, have that opportunity to do so.

However, state officials are on standby to assist if need be, and Utah Countys issues caused so much concern that Henderson said state officials took action.

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Concerned about a possible shortage of ballot paper in Utah County, Henderson said her office even sent a state plane to Arizona on Tuesday to retrieve more after Utah County reported it had used up half of its ballots for people voting in person in the early hours of Election Day.

We were told he had 10,000 ballots that (he) could use to print for people who showed up, and he burned through about half of those by mid-morning, Henderson said, adding there werent extra ballots available throughout the state because other clerks had only stocked up for their own county elections needs. So we were quite alarmed by that.

So Henderson said her office sent a state plane to Phoenix to pick up more paper, because we had no idea if he would need it or not.

However, Utah County ended up not needing the extra paper, Henderson said, but we wouldnt have known that until it was far too late to mitigate that problem.

Let us know what you think...

Were planners, were problem solvers, and when we see that theres a problem, we throw all of our resources at mitigating it, Henderson said.

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When asked how much the state planes trip to Arizona cost the state, Henderson initially said she didnt have an answer, before Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who also attended Wednesday mornings press conference, said he estimated probably $4,000, something around there.

Asked whether Utah County will pay for at least some of the cost of that plane, Henderson said we will figure that out later.

Voters wait in lines spilling out of the Utah County Health and Justice Building after the polls closed on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters who were in line as of 8 p.m. were allowed to cast their ballots. (Photo by Nathan Beitler for Utah News Dispatch)

Davidson did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, but acknowledged to other media outlets that lack of planning and his encouragement of people to vote in person on Election Day likely contributed to Tuesday nights problems. He told The Salt Lake Tribune he didnt expect such massive in-person turnout, which led to ink and provisional envelope shortages at various locations throughout the county.

Im going to get crucified on this, he told the outlet. But we just followed the process. Thats why there are emergency ballots.

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Its not the first time Utah County, even under past leadership, has been troubled by election night problems. In 2018, long lines and, in some cases, three-hour waits led to election night delays and muddled results  leading then-Gov. Gary Herbert to call Utah County the epicenter of dysfunction.

Davidson, who first took office as Utah County clerk in 2023, has also faced controversy and scrutiny for other reasons.

Some lawmakers including Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, and Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner have accused Davidson of playing politics with election information by tracking and revealing whether certain politicians voted by mail or did or did not pay for a postage stamp. McKell and Powers Gardner called for him to recuse himself from the election, which he refused, arguing voting methods arent classified as private information.

Last month, Davidson also faced calls from state officials to improve his offices election processes after a state review of the June primary found high signature rejection rates and other discrepancies that could have potentially allowed some 19 voters to cast their ballots in person without ID verification.

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Davidson, in an interview with Utah News Dispatch in September, generally accepted most of the states recommendations to improve his offices election processes, saying hes already acted on most of them  but he took issue with the assertion that his offices signature verification was too strict.

Last month, Davidson also wrote a letter that echoed unsubstantiated claims questioning whether Cox legitimately qualified for the November ballot and suggesting that Henderson be criminally prosecuted. The letter led some supporters of Coxs unsuccessful Republican challenger Rep. Phil Lyman to call for Henderson to be executed, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Henderson dismissed Davidsons letter as nonsense and told Utah News Dispatch on Wednesday that all attacks directed at her and her office this election cycle were a campaign tactic.

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The accusations, the threats, the intimidation, the crying foul, the heads I win, tails you cheated mentality, is a tactic, Henderson said. And its thankfully not an effective one, at least yet, in Utah. And hopefully it stays that way.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The 2024 General Election wrapped up in Utah late Tuesday night with voters still in line up to two hours after polls closed.

After long lines led to voter result delays, Lt. Gov Deidre Henderson addressed the issue Wednesday morning speaking on election challenges and possible solutions.

Why the long lines?

According to estimates from the Associated Press, more than 1.5 million Utahns cast a ballot in the 2024 General Election. This appears to be on par with voter turnout from the 2020 presidential election which also saw just over 1.5 million votes.

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Henderson said the numbers are still coming in, but based on preliminary results, it does not appear that a greater percentage of Utahns voted in person than in past elections. However, she said there was a large number of provisional or same-day voters.

She said this is likely due to Utahs population increase over the last four years and first-time voters, such as students, who needed to register as well as vote at a polling location.

Theres a lot of reasons, and well be digging into that and seeing why we had so many in-person and lines, Henderson said.

Utah voters wait in long lines in Eagle Mountain, Utah County, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, for the 2024 General Election. (Credit: Justin S. Wright)

READ NEXT: Utah County voters appear to approve 3-way split of Alpine School District

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For Utah County in particular, where lines snaked through buildings in some polling locations, Henderson said there were challenges that could have been mitigated with greater preparation from the county clerk. While they will be addressing those issues, she emphasized that she didnt want this to reflect poorly on election workers.

I dont want the criticism or any of my comments to reflect poorly on the election workers in Utah County. A lot of really good people who spent many, many hours trying to make sure that people could vote, and they did a good job, she said.

Voter result delays

Utahns have the right to vote if they are in line at the 8 p.m. cut-off. Since authorities decided to hold the results until the last Utahn cast their ballot, there was an approximately two-hour delay in the voting results Tuesday night.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson addressed the delay saying they wouldnt do anything differently in terms of releasing results as results could influence the decisions of voters who awaited their turn at the polls.

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Its an unfortunate delay but an understandable one. You want voters who are already in line to be able to cast their ballots without undue influence from results, Henderson said.

Gov. Cox supported that statement saying had they released results earlier it could have been considered election interference or voter intimidation.

Utah voters wait in long lines in Salt Lake County on Tuesday, Nov. 5, for the 2024 General Election. (Credit: Spencer Mahon/KTVX)

While officials stood by the decision to hold results, Henderson said there are some aspects of the election that they hope to streamline in the future.

Preparing for future elections

Henderson said there for sure will be some changes that will be made after Tuesdays election.

She specifically mentioned improving the same-day registration process to make provisional ballots easier to cast. Henderson talked about how some systems continue because they have always been done that way, and said this is an opportunity to see if there is a better way to do it.

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We will be learning from the large amount of provisional ballots  same-day voter registrants  that came to vote yesterday, she said. We will be learning from that and streamlining that process in the future.

When was the last time the Republican Party won the popular vote?

Henderson explained that elected county clerks are responsible for voting preparations in their counties, from how many voting centers should be established to how much paper and ink to stock. She said its election officials job to plan the best they can and learn from any hiccups and mistakes.

Our clerks really do a good job of trying to plan the best that they can, and I have to commend them. I have to commend the voters for being willing to stand in line for a couple of hours to cast their ballot. I think that says something about Utahns, about Americans. We value the right to vote, she said.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Friends, family, Curtis team, tonight is not the end, its just the end of the beginning. Together were on a journey. Weve been across the state, top to bottom, through the highs and lows of the campaign, and here we are tonight, at the beginning-line of a crucial journey for our country.

It has been said that the day the journey begins is not the day the journey begins. This journey emotionally, physically and spiritually, started many years ago, and so many of you were there at the beginning. Thank you. A few of you were there at the beginning of the beginning, and more. Tonight, earlier, I had a chance to meet with the Curtis team and the Curtis family, as you can see, thats no small group, and thank them. They know how they feel about that, all of them, and each of them, Im a very, very blessed, man.

Let me repeat something that youve heard on the campaign from me, and I believe in my core: the founders saw our public service as something we did for a season. My season of service, the hallmark, will be service and stewardship. You elected me to legislate, to advocate and represent you. My agenda will be your agenda. My voice will lift your voice. My vote will reflect your values, and together, well make Washington more like Utah and America more like what our children and our grandchildren need it be.

My commitment has been to represent every Utahn. That is what I am committed to do. These are challenging times, and in challenging times, you dont need a show horse or show vote. In rural Utah, they like to say, in troubled times, the last thing you need is a cowboy thats all hat, no cattle. So, dont look for me throwing gas on the social media fire or giving click bait to the cable news, but rather, look for me riding my Ford up and down, back and forth across this state, doing the hard work of legislating and getting things done for Utah.

And if youre not sure where to find me, dont look by the cameras or the microphones. Ill be on the Senate floor with my colleagues from both parties. Ill be meeting with Utahns, visiting our veterans, learning, listening and studying how to solve our difficult problems. And dont bother telling me that we cant fix immigration or the budget. I believe we can. Because I believe in the greatness of this country. I believe the Constitution was an inspiring document, and I believe even on our worst day, everybody in the world wants to be us.

Working together, we will solve public lands here at home, well hold China accountable overseas, and well advocate for energy security around the world and energy dominance, and well put forward those values that make Utah extraordinary and great.

Let me close this end of the beginning with the principle, one that defined the important beginnings for the Curtis family, and a principle that will be first, last and always as I serve as your Senator. Long years ago, the Curtis family adopted as a coat of arms an artist picture of a bundle of sticks bound together with the motto, in unity, there is strength. Sticks left by themselves can easily be broken, but bound together, they provide the strength that cannot be broken. In unity, there is strength.

Walking the halls of Congress is a cherished gift. And if you listen carefully, you can hear the founders whisper, saying, in unity, there is strength. If you look closely you will behold the symbol of sticks bound together on ceilings, around portraits and on statues, signaling to all who have eyes to see, In Unity there is strength. Or as they say in the senate. In many there is one.

Unity is needed in our nation. You know that tonight, more than ever, and we should remember that oneness is not sameness, and compromise is not capitulation. I hope that youll see in my actions the dignity of working together and of unity.

As Utahs Senator, I will make this motto my mandate in every situation and setting. Its been said that unity cannot be a slogan. We must make it a national imperative and together a shared project for We the People.

Now I thank each of you. Im grateful for you, and I invite you on this next journey. Together, we will make Washington more like Utah and America more like what our kids need it to be.

Thank you. God Bless you.
Loud chants of U.S.A. and Trump erupted at the Utah Republican Partys election night watch party as they watched Fox News projecting former President Donald Trump would win the White House just before midnight.

The crowd, many of whom donned Make America Great Again hats and pins supporting the likely next Utah attorney general, Derek Brown, gathered in Draper on Tuesday night.

Brown and Rep. Burgess Owens held their election celebrations at the Utah GOPs party. Other Republican candidates for statewide and federal offices held separate events across the state. While attendees at the party celebrated the wins Republicans tallied across the state, the focal point of the party was Trumps win.

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In an interview, Brown said Trumps win will change a lot of what he does as Utah attorney general. Hes traveled the state sharing his message and think his win shows the message was resonating with them.

A core part of his message was pushing back against federal overreach  this, he said, changes with a Trump administration.

Right now the federal government and agencies exceed congressional authorities, Brown said. He thinks they shouldnt.

Eight years ago, when Trump became president, he made a concerted effort to roll back excessive regulations, Brown said. So I would anticipate that he would do the same thing and a lot of the work that we need to do to protect the state of Utah, we dont need to do through litigation.

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Instead of suing federal agencies, Brown said they will be able to work through more issues with them (but he still is looking at areas where litigation would make sense). He said he thinks there are areas where new caselaw may be necessary because of the Chevron doctrine being overruled. Brown said hes looking forward to tackling these areas as attorney general.

A Trump administration is a massive opportunity for Utah, said Republican Party chairman Rob Axson in an interview at the party, explaining he believes the state is at a critical junction. In the next decade or so, Utah will host an Olympics and continue to grow.

We have massive opportunities and also challenges that we have to tackle, Axson said. Having a partner in the White House will be invaluable in that process.

Axson said anyone who has been involved in the political process for more than one cycle has seen a candidate they wanted to win lose, and vice-versa.

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The key thing now is for Americans to put in the effort of seeing one another with decency and being collaborative on good principles, said Axson. He added the Republican Party and all its elected officials and candidates have the opportunity now to showcase that their ideas and principles are good for the American public.

And then let the people decide what they think.

You can look at the principles because its making a difference in your life, Axson said. Because if its just about convincing somebody that oh, you should be OK with this even though it wasnt who you voted for, thats not going to change somebodys mind.

It is Axsons hope people see how the policies of the Republican Party serve families, communities and the state well.

Utah Republican Party supporters cheer as it is announced that former President Donald J. Trump would win the presidency as they gather in Draper for an election party on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. The presidential race had not been called for Trump at the time. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Utah Republican Party supporters cheer as it is announced that former President Donald J. Trump would win the presidency as they gather in Draper for an election party on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. The race had not yet been called for Trump when the announcement was made. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Kat Brammer and Riley Clark watch vote results as they come in as Utah Republican Party supporters gather in Draper for an election party on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Kat Brammer and Riley Clark are all smiles as they watch vote results as they come in as Utah Republican supporters gather in Draper for an election party on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

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Alexis Morgan poses for a photo with her holding a sign with her and President-elect Donald J. Trump, as Utah GOP supporters gather in Draper for an election party on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Lyncy Liu and Tyler Boyles and others celebrate as Utah Republican Party supporters gather in Draper for an election party on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Suzy George waves a small Trump flag as she shoots a video with her phone at a Utah GOP party in Draper on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Robin Parker and her husband Patrick Parker watch TV broadcasts while at the Utah GOP party in Draper on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

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Utah GOP supporters gather in Draper for an election party on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Amber Elliott smiles as she and Gregor Pucher talk at a Utah GOP party in Draper on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, poses with Bryson Bawden while at a Utah GOP party in Draper on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Utah GOP supporters gather in Draper for an election party on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

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Senator Mike Lee R-Utah speaks from Florida to Utah GOP supporters gathered in Draper for an election party on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Eddy Turpin, dressed up as former President Donald J. Trump, holds a flag and waves outside the Draper Justice Center as Utah residents turn out to vote on Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The election cycle in Utah has brought some division within the Republican Party. When asked about what Axson will do to bring the party back together, he said political campaigns always come with division.

While its certainly at times uncomfortable, and it certainly at times is unnecessarily divisive, I dont think we should shy away from being OK with the debating of ideas, he said. Its OK to have differences of approach and differences of opinion.

Axson said he hopes the Utah Republican Party will focus on an aspirational, consistent principle of what has worked in the past, what works now and what will work in the future and try to rally people that cause.

Ultimately, Axson said, he thinks people should focus not on scoring political points, but instead, finding solutions and building off of principles.

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Im just extremely grateful for the opportunity countless Americans had today and over the last few weeks to cast their vote in countless races across this country and certainly in the most importance race in Congress and for the presidency, said Axson, adding Americans have the opportunity to come together and figure out how to solve complex issues now.

I, for one, firmly believe and am confident that Donald Trump is best positioned and was the better candidate with the better ideas positioned to deliver on that, said Axson. And now we get to see that happen.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Utah voters said yes to both constitutional amendments on the Nov. 5 ballot, according to preliminary results projected by the Associated Press.

Official results from the elections canvassing will not be available until Monday, Nov. 25.

Amendment B

Amendment B, which was passed, proposed a change to Article X, Section 5 of the Utah Constitution: Changing the limit of distributions to Utah schools from 4% to 5%.

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Amendment B was supported by the Utah State Board of Education ahead of the election, and taxpayers were told the increase in funding for schools would not cost extra money for taxpayers.

Amendment B will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Amendment C

Amendment C, which was passed, was proposed during the 2023 General Session and proposed Article XI of the Utah Constitution be amended to say the office of county sheriff is elected by voters.

Prior to Amendment C being voted on by Utahns, the role of county sheriff was already an elected office in Utah  Amendment C aimed to establish, in the constitution, the office and term of a county sheriff.

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Amendment C will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Background on Amendments A and D

While four amendments appeared on the 2024 ballots in the Beehive State, two were declared void after court rulings ahead of the election.

Amendment D was first approved in a special legislative session on Aug. 21. The amendment summary (as presented to voters) said it would strengthen and clarify the citizen initiative process. However, opponents of the proposed amendment said it would strip voters of their constitutional rights regarding citizen initiatives.

On Sept. 12, a Utah judge said the language of the proposed amendment presented to voters was counterfactual, and the court granted an injunction on the amendment, meaning votes on Amendment D would not be counted. On Sept. 25, the Utah Supreme Court upheld the decision to maintain the voided status of Amendment D.

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However, because the estimated costs of reprinting ballots would have been at least $3 million, the Lt. Governors Office asked the court to leave Amendment D on the ballot.

Amendment A was voided on Oct. 9, with the judge citing the Utah Supreme Courts reasoning for voiding Amendment D. The judge said certain prerequisites were not met for the amendment to be on the ballot, as the language of the amendment was not published in Utah newspapers ahead of time.

Amendment A proposed using funds that are typically reserved for public education for other purposes. The amendment also said it would eliminate the state sales tax on food.

Before the amendment was voided, Renee Pinkney, president of the Utah Education Association, said the language for Amendment A does not include all of the legislative actions that would take place, and called the amendments language confusing.

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While both Amendment A and Amendment D remained on the ballot, votes against either amendment were not counted.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Democratic strategist Van Jones said late Tuesday that people who dont have papers were terrified as votes were tabulated and the election moved toward former President Trump and away from Vice President Harris.

There are going to be people tomorrow who are going to be handing clothes at the dry cleaners to people who dont have papers. There are going to be people who are going to be cleaning your teeth tomorrow who dont have papers. And they are terrified tonight, Jones said.

Trump has made immigration and the border central to his campaign during this election cycle. Hes made sweeping calls for the National Guard and local police to conduct mass deportations, saying his second term would carry out the largest deportation operation in American history.

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Those pledges have been paired with a number of false claims about migrants, including the amplification of a conspiracy theory that accused Haitian migrants of abducting and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.

During the CNN interview, Jones also mentioned Black women and transgender people, in remarks highlighted by Mediaite.

They thought tomorrow morning they were going to walk out with their shoulders back a little bit, maybe be able to breathe for the first time, and feel like they belong someplace. They did everything that they knew how to do, and its going to be harder than it should be tomorrow for them to hold their heads up, and theyre not the only people who are hurting tonight, Jones said.

If youre a parent of a trans kid, your childs face was used as a springboard to power for somebody. That doesnt feel good, Jones added.

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A recent Black Women in America national poll, conducted by The Highland Project and Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies, showed that the majority of Black women voters, 71 percent, said this was the most important election of their lifetime.

Its people who woke up this morning with a dream and are going to bed with a nightmare, Jones concluded.

Trump won the presidency Tuesday, Decision Desk HQ has projected, making the call after declaring Trump projected victories in Pennsylvania and Alaska, which got him to exactly 270 electoral votes.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Gabe Vasquez won a second term on Tuesday in the highly contested battleground of New Mexicos 2nd District, preserving a Democratic seat that was among the top pickup opportunities for the Republicans this year.

Vasquez defeated GOP challenger Yvette Herrell in a rematch of their 2022 race, when Herrell was the incumbent. It marks the fourth straight cycle that Herrell has been on the ballot for the seat  and the third time shes lost it.

The sprawling 2nd District encompasses the entirety of New Mexicos border with Mexico, and immigration  while a hot topic all around the country  resonates even more strongly there. Issues of border security, migration policy and their intersection with domestic crime were all featured in the fierce debate leading up to Election Day  a focus Republicans said would give Herrell the edge.

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But Vasquez has vastly outraised Herrell in the fundraising fight. And Democrats had a potent issue of their own to highlight in the form of abortion, which has energized the partys liberal base  and female voters of all stripes  since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

A new congressional map, adopted in 2021, also extended the 2nd District into parts of the city of Albuquerque, in a shift thats helped the Democrats.

Still, Vasquez won by just 1,350 votes in 2022, and heading into the contest election forecasters ranked the race among the most competitive in the country.

Donors noticed, and outside groups alone dumped almost $19 million into the district  $9.8 million of it spent on behalf of Herrell, according to OpenSecrets.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CARACAS (Reuters) -Venezuela's government on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential contest, with President Nicolas Maduro later calling Trump's re-election "a new start" for bilateral relations.

Maduro and Trump have a historically tense relationship. During his first term, Trump put in place harsher sanctions on the South American country, especially on its key oil industry. Maduro broke off relations in 2019.

The Biden administration briefly rolled back the Trump-era restrictions on electoral promises from Maduro, but has since reinstated them, saying manipulation in Venezuela's July presidential contest has stripped Maduro's claims of victory of "any credibility" and that it is closely studying possible new sanctions.

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"It didn't go well for us in the first government of Donald Trump, this is a new start for us to bet on a win-win," Maduro said in comments on state television late on Wednesday afternoon.

(Reporting by Deisy Buitrago and Mayela ArmasWriting by Julia Symmes Cobb)
DOOR AND KEWAUNEE COUNTIES - Veterans Day is on the way (Monday, Nov. 11), and a special concert and other events take place in Door and Kewaunee counties over the next few days to recognize those who've served our country in the military. Here's a look at those events.

Concert pays tribute to veterans

The Peninsula Symphonic Band and its Swingin' Door Big Band play their annual Veterans Day concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay.

All are welcome when the Peninsula Symphonic Band and its associated Swingin' Door Big Band play their annual Veterans Day tribute concert Nov. 7 in Sturgeon Bay.

The symphonic band will play not just patriotic music but also a medley of tunes by American composer George Gershwin, the Mambo dance track from Bernsteins "West Side Story" and Alfred Reed's Rushmore, a composition meant to depict the grandeur of the national monument from which it draws its title.

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The big band will play four selections reminiscent of the USO days, including Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Dont Sit Under the Apple Tree sung by Company B, a female trio that performs covers of hits by the Andrews Sisters.

Prince of Peace is at 1756 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay. The concert is open to the public and admission is free, although donations are encouraged.

The Peninsula Symphonic Band and Swingin' Door Big Band are civic bands made up of community members of all ages. Their more than 70 members include adult musicians from throughout Door County as well as musicians representing Gibraltar, Sturgeon Bay, Sevastopol and Southern Door high schools. For more information, visit peninsulasymphonicband.org.

Students honor veterans with lunch, tribute in Sturgeon Bay 

Each year, Door County school districts partner with local veterans organizations such as American Legion posts, VFWs, the Door County Veterans Services office and others to host a Veterans Day ceremony with a free lunch, with the location rotating from district to district.

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This year, the event takes place at Sturgeon Bay High School, with the program starting at 10 a.m. in the high school auditorium, and the public is welcome to attend.

Following an invocation and benediction to open the ceremony will be a flag service, with the school receiving a new American flag. The school's choir and band members will perform patriotic music.

Veteran Larry Karnitz of Sturgeon Bay salutes during a past Veterans Day ceremony at Sevastopol School.

Local veteran Joe Knaapen will deliver the keynote address. Knaapen, who served as a communications specialist for the Army from 1965 to 1967 during the Vietnam War and whose father, son and daughter also served, plans to talk about the sense of service and volunteerism instilled in veterans as personified by Ed Minor, whose time with the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry during the Civil War led to a lifetime of political service after the war, including becoming the only Door County native ever elected to the U.S. Congress.

The program is scheduled to end at 11 a.m., at which time a rifle salute will be fired and taps will be played, commemorating the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the time, date and month when the armistice ending World War I was signed.

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Dale Wiegand of Sturgeon Bay, a Navy veteran who served on a submarine for four years and is chair of the Door County Veterans Service Commission, will be the emcee.

After the program, a lunch for veterans and their spouses or significant others will be held in the school cafeteria.

Sturgeon Bay High School is at 1230 Michigan St. Although the lunch is for veterans and their spouses, the public is invited to attend the ceremony.

... and in Algoma

In Kewaunee County, Algoma High School hosts its annual Veterans Day luncheon and tribute to veterans Monday, Nov. 11. All are welcome to join the event and honor those who served.

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The event starts with the free lunch in the school cafeteria at 12:30 p.m., which will be served by students from the Algoma elementary and high schools to show their appreciation for the veterans' service. Reservations are requested by Nov. 7 to ensure enough food and seating will be available.

The tribute program begins at 1:15 p.m. and includes a flag ceremony, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, inspirational speakers and musical performances by the Algoma Middle School choir and band to honor the dedication and sacrifices made by the veterans.

Algoma High School is at 1715 Division St. Veterans who attend are encouraged to park near door D for easier access to the cafeteria. For luncheon reservations or more information, call 920-487-7001, ext. 2302.

ADRC event recognizes veterans for their service, also with lunch

The Door County Veterans Services office holds its annual Veterans Day ceremony and luncheon at the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Door County, taking place this year at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12.

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Veterans Services director Beth Van Oss and Robert Walsh, who served for 15 years in the Coast Guard and now is a benefits assistant with the veterans office, will talk about Veterans Day. Veterans in attendance will be recognized for their service and can bring photos of themselves from their time in the service (as can their family members), which will be added to a display in the front entrance to the ADRC during November. A rifle salute will be held outside. Popular local musician Ben Larsen will perform.

Lunch for veterans will follow the ceremony, with Cornish hen on the menu. Those having lunch are asked to register in advance.

The ADRC is at 916 N. 14th Ave., Sturgeon Bay. For more information, call 920-746-2372.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Here's how Veterans Day is being recognized in Door County, Algoma
"Who would have guessedembracing fracking, the Cheneys & a yr long slaughter of children in Gaza wouldnt be a winning strategy?"

Adam McKay is furious about the state of the Democratic Party.

In the wake of Kamala Harris' defeat in the 2024 presidential election, the Anchorman filmmaker blasted her campaign's decision to publicly align with former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney. The Harris campaign touted the elder Cheney's endorsement as a signpost signifying the breadth of her coalition tent, and Harris made multiple campaign stops with his daughter.

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic Adam McKay

"Who would have guessed lying about Bidens cognitive health for 2 yrs, refusing to do an open convention for a new nominee, never mentioning public healthcare & embracing fracking, the Cheneys & a yr long slaughter of children in Gaza wouldnt be a winning strategy?" McKay, who dramatized the Cheneys' rise to power in his Oscar-nominated 2018 biopic Vice, wrote on social media.

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Related: Donald Trump defeats Kamala Harris in 2024 presidential election, celebrities react: 'We wake up and fight'

"Anyone with half a brain?" the filmmaker continued in another post. "But I thought liberals whole thing is being smart? Its not? They actually just blindly cheer the parade of rickety optics wrapped up in New York Times fonts that is the modern Dem Party? Well at least its time for the dusty hacks & careerists to spread their feathers wide post election and blame Russia and third party candidates. That should fix things."

McKay later wrote, "It is time to abandon the Dem Party. Im registering Green Party or Working Families. But am open to ideas." McKay joined the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America in 2019 and was a vocal supporter of Bernie Sanders during the 2016 and 2020 Democratic primaries. In a separate post, he said, "The real way Trump wins is if we dont abandon or take over the DNC. Its time for a real opposition party."

Annapurna Pictures Christian Bale as Dick Cheney in 'Vice'

Related: The View cohost wants kindness for 'good, decent people' who voted for Donald Trump, another 'profoundly disturbed' by election

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McKay has been one of Hollywood's few vocal critics of the United States' support of the Israeli government's actions in Gaza, and pointed to the Democrats' policies in the Middle East as a critical issue that lost Harris votes in Michigan. "Who could have possibly guessed openly supporting the mass murder of voters family members would hurt Dems like this?" he wrote as he reposted voting stats from Dearborn, Mich., a city with a massive Arab-American population.

Related: Jon Stewart already looked dour during The Daily Show's live election special  then a guest canceled on him

Since his feature debut Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy hit theaters in 2004, McKay has emerged as one of Hollywood's foremost cinematic satirists. His earlier, broader comedy work like The Other Guys, Talladega Nights, and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues lampooned the buffoonery of white male chauvinists while making wry jabs at policing, Wall Street, evangelicalism, and the 24-hour news cycle; his later dramedy projects like The Big Short, Vice, and Dont Look Up made more pointed critiques of American political and economic systems.

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Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump Wednesday afternoon to congratulate him on winning the 2024 U.S. election, a senior Harris aide told reporters.

Harris also emphasized the importance of unity and a peaceful transfer of power to the president-elect, the aide said.

Trump defeated Harris in Tuesday nights election, sweeping the "blue wall" states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The Associated Press called the race at 5:35 a.m. ET.

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Four years ago, Trump refused to accept his loss to President Joe Biden, inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump is just the second president to lose re-election and come back to win a second term.

In his victory speech, Trump praised his third political campaign.

"This was a movement like nobody's ever seen before, and frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time," Trump told a crowd of supporters. "There's never been anything like this in this country, and now it's going to reach a new level of importance because we're going to help our country heal."

Biden also called and congratulated Trump on his victory, according to the White House, expressing his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together."

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The 2024 presidential race was projected to be one of the closest in history. Harris team was expecting the results to be uncertain up to days after the polls closed, the aides told reporters. She spent most of Tuesday preparing a speech that would encourage Americans to hold on while waiting for results.

Harris, who has not appeared publicly since Tuesday, is scheduled to give a concession speech at 4 p.m. ET at her alma mater, Howard University.
Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the nation from Howard University, her alma mater, publicly conceding defeat in the presidential election to Donald Trump.

"The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for," she said. "But hear me when I say  the light of America's promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting."

She urged her supporters to accept the results of the election

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"We owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States," she said.

The Associated Press called the presidential race Wednesday morning around 5:30 a.m. ET after Trump won 276 electoral votes to Harriss 223, although Trump declared victory at 2:30 a.m. ET during a speech to supporters at an election party in Florida. Harris did not address supporters or the country on Tuesday night as the election results were coming in.

"While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign," she said Wednesday. "The fight  the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and for the dignity of all people."

In a message directed specifically at young voters, Harris said, "Sometimes the fight takes a while, that doesn't mean we won't win. This is not a time to throw up our hands, this is a time to roll up our sleeves."

Harris called President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him, and during the reportedly brief conversation they discussed the "importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans," a senior Harris aide told CNN. Trump's campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, said Trump "acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country.

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President Biden also congratulated Trump over the phone on Wednesday, and invited Trump to meet with him at the White House in the near future. Biden will address the nation on Thursday.

Harris launched her presidential campaign at the end of July after Biden withdrew from the race following Democratic calls for him to drop out due to his June debate performance. Harris locked up the Democratic nomination within two weeks but had about 100 days to sway voters compared to Trump, who announced his intention to run in November 2022 and clinched the Republican nomination in mid-March.

The Harris campaign focused on helping middle- and lower-class families, making housing more affordable, bringing down the cost of health care and protecting reproductive rights. But the campaign seemed to struggle with connecting to working-class voters, with the Teamsters union declining to endorse either candidate for the first time in almost 30 years.
Now that Donald Trump has won the White House for a second time, the path ahead seems clear for him to brush off key federal criminal indictments that have dogged him for years while potentially delaying other cases he faces in state court.

By securing the presidency, he can use the awesome powers of the executive to seemingly shield from scrutiny any illegal conduct that he would deem part of his official duties.

When the U.S. Supreme Court enshrined immunity for official acts of former presidents and at least presumptive immunity for acts on the outer perimeter of official duties, the majority did so amid the dissent of the three liberal justices.

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When reading her dissent aloud from the bench in July, Justice Sonia Sotomayor had bristled: Ironic isnt it? The man in charge of enforcing laws can now just break them. When writing her dissent, which was joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Kentanji Brown Jackson, she concluded that the court had henceforth created a law-free zone around the president, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the founding.

And now Trump is heading back to that law-free zone. Heres the state of his ongoing cases and how they will likely proceed:

The Jan. 6 Case

Special counsel Jack Smiths criminal prosecution of Trump for his alleged conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election on Jan. 6, 2021, is likely first on the chopping block, considering that Trump has both vowed to fire Smith in two seconds and threatened to throw him out of the country.

Trump faces four felony charges in the Washington, D.C., case: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and, for his alleged intimidation of voters, conspiracy against rights.

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Trump has vowed for over a year to see the federal insurrection case dismissed. He has argued that Smiths appointment is unconstitutional and that he has been vindictively prosecuted. Most important, he has argued that his conduct on and before the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was official and therefore protected by presidential immunity.

The Supreme Court found in July that former presidents cannot be charged for any official conduct but that anything that falls beyond the scope of official duties is fair game. This decision forced Smith to revise Trumps indictment before presiding U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan.

Chutkan signed an order on Oct. 28 that granted Trump until Nov. 21 to file a motion explaining why the case should be dropped on presidential immunity grounds, and Smiths team did not oppose that request. Before his victory, Chutkan was in position to weigh both arguments and decide which changes would stay or go based on the immunity ruling. As of October, deadlines in the case were still set for well into December. Trump was widely expected to appeal any ruling that did not wipe away the charges anyway, eventually putting the matter back before the Supreme Court, but now all of that looks to be essentially moot.

Under Justice Department policy established in the 1970s, sitting presidents cannot be indicted because it would interfere with their duties.

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The election interference case is expected to be dropped as soon as Trump is inaugurated. The only thing standing in the way of that outcome is an attempt by the judge to reject any dismissal effort by the Justice Department or, if Smith is fired, an attempt by Congress to see the special counsel restored.

The Classified Documents Case

Trump was accused of hoarding classified records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after he left the White House in 2021.

The 37-count case was dismissed less than two weeks after the Supreme Courts immunity ruling because U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon found that Attorney General Merrick Garland did not have authority to appoint Smith to prosecute Trump. The decision was controversial, and Smith appealed, citing decades of contrary legal precedent. Oral arguments for the appeal havent been scheduled yet.

Once Trump takes office, he needs only to turn to prosecutors at the Justice Department and encourage them to drop the case. Notably, ABC News reported shortly before Election Day that Trump had floated the idea of Cannon replacing Garland as attorney general.

State Cases

Trump was convicted in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records after a jury in New York determined he made illegal sought to conceal hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election.

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Trump is scheduled for sentencing in this matter on Nov. 26 before Judge Juan Merchan.

But because presidents dont have the authority to interfere with or stop state prosecutions, theres not much Trump can do to make the case disappear during his presidency. However, his sentencing will likely be delayed indefinitely  or at least until 2029, when his term in office would end.

Trump still faces eight felony charges in Fulton County, Georgia, for allegedly criminally conspiring to overturn the states election results and engaging in a racketeering conspiracy with a slew of his allies and advisers that state prosecutors say were hellbent on advancing bogus electoral slates for Trump  even after it was clear Democrat Joe Biden had won the presidential vote in Georgia.

The case was thrown off track this year after Trumps co-defendant Michael Roman alleged that Fulton County prosecutor Fani Willis had an improper romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the lawyer Willis tapped to lead the probe into the alleged conspiracy. Arguments on whether Willis should be disqualified do not get underway at the Georgia Court of Appeals until December, and a decision could take months.

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With Willis declared as winner in her reelection bid Tuesday night, the indictment is expected to stay on ice.

Pardon Power

No president in U.S. history has ever attempted to pardon himself for any crimes, federal or state. And although the Justice Department has guidance on presidential pardons, the guidance is exactly that  guidance. It is not a hard and fast law that presidents cannot pardon themselves. (However, presidents dont have the authority to interfere with or stop state prosecutions, so Trump cannot pardon himself from his criminal conviction in New York.)

Rather, there is only a Justice Department memo that was released in 1974 before Richard Nixon resigned the presidency amid the Watergate scandal. The memo states that under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, the President cannot pardon himself. If Trump wanted to litigate that before the Supreme Court, it would be his right.

The Constitution does not address whether presidents can self-pardon. But some legal analysts, including those with the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, have suggested it could be an impeachable offense for a president to do so.

Related...
Embattled former Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell won her job back in an election that offered a referendum on her suspension last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Democrat won with just over 57% of the vote versus nearly 43% garnered by State Attorney Andrew Bain, a former Orange County judge appointed by DeSantis to replace her.

I feel vindicated, Worrell told the Orlando Sentinel Tuesday evening as unofficial results were being finalized. Tonight the voters have vindicated me. Lets just hope the governor will respect the will of the voters this time.

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Worrells electoral win Tuesday night is an emphatic turn in the saga of her suspension from office, which had been the culmination of public spats with local law enforcement leaders for her offices handling of prosecutions and came as DeSantis mounted a run for president.

Her time in office was marked by a progressive prosecution style as violent crime dipped in Central Florida and nationwide since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend thats continued under Bain.

In August 2023, DeSantis issued an executive order for her removal accusing her of negligence and dereliction of duty, which she denied. Whether he intends to suspend her again is an unanswered question, though experts say he would need to find new justifications to do so rather than relying on the reasons laid out in last years executive order.

Her removal survived legal hurdles, culminating in an OK from a mostly DeSantis-appointed Florida Supreme Court. It was then up to the Florida Senate to review, but the Senate failed to consider the issue as Worrell focused on winning at the ballot box.

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As for whether shell be suspended again, Worrell is aware of the possibility but is focused on her return as chief prosecutor.

After the year Ive been through, theres very little I worry about, Worrell said. Things will happen and well handle it as they happen.

Bains campaign issued a statement conceding the race as the counts in Orange and Osceola wrapped up. He congratulated Worrell on her victory while thanking his supporters as he readies to finish out his term in office.

With an exceptional team of both seasoned prosecutors and passionate young attorneys, we will continue to work we have started, Bain said. Together, we will fight for justice, pursue fairness and ensure that every decision made from this office priorities the safety and well-being of the people.

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Orange County Commission District 3 incumbent Mayra Uribe, middle, gets a hug from her daughter, Faith Sutton at her election party at the Delaney Tavern in Orlando on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

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Running as a no-party-affiliated candidate, Bain was backed by the Florida Republicans, with the state party spending big on ads tying three murders by Pine Hills shooter Keith Moses to Worrell  over the objections of one of the victims families.

He also had the support of several police unions along with Orange County Sheriff John Mina, one of Worrells vocal critics.

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Worrell said she is looking forward to her return to office, where she said she will continue the priorities she first campaigned on in 2020.

We will continue opening doors for second chances, jailing violent offenders and rebuilding relationships between the community and law enforcement, Worrell said.

2024 election: Live updates, results from Florida

Bain campaigned on a more aggressive approach to prosecution while building on programs first put in place by Worrell, like the adult civil citation program.

Chief to Worrells case against Bain was his affiliation with DeSantis, further marked by accusations of a conspiracy by Republican leaders to elect  and later remove  a GOP primary challenger that would have split the conservative vote.

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Worrell was one of two state attorneys suspended by DeSantis, the other being Andrew Warren of Hillsborough County. Warren was suspended after pledging not to prosecute people accused of seeking or providing abortions or gender-affirming care, which would run afoul of state law.

Unlike Worrell, Warren lost his race to appointed State Attorney Suzy Lopez, who received nearly 53% of the vote in Hillsborough.

The governors office did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the election results.

The Ninth Circuit, which covers Orange and Osceola counties, has not seen a state attorney reelected to consecutive terms since longtime chief prosecutor Lawson Lamar. Lamar was first elected in 1988, often running unopposed until ultimately losing in 2012 to Jeff Ashton.
Democrat Eugene Vindman (left) and Republican Derrick Anderson are vying to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District in Congress. (Photos courtesy of candidates' campaigns)

Updated Nov. 6 at 11:20 a.m.

The voters of the 7th Congressional district proved just how tight the contest is, by keeping the race between Eugene Vindman and Derrick Anderson too close to call.

About 99% of votes had been counted, with Vindman and Anderson earning about 51% and 49% of the vote, respectively, but by 10 a.m. Wednesday, the Associated Press had still not confirmed a winner.

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In my 25 years of military service, and when we were jumping out of airplanes, it didnt matter to me the color creed, background, race, or party affiliation of the person next to me, said Vindman in a statement declaring victory, despite the uncertainty of the outcome. What mattered was getting the mission done. Thats the type of service I am going to take to Washington as the next Congressman from Virginias 7th Congressional District.

We knew this was going to be a tight race, folks, Anderson said in a video posted on his X account at 10:42 p.m., before later posting the race was too close to call.

Were going to keep looking, were going to keep watching, Anderson said. I just ask yall give us a little more time and were going to get through this thing.

The seat went up for grabs after incumbent Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, announced she would run for governor. In 2021, the year before voters in the 7th elected Spanberger, more of the district voted for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin than his Democratic opponent former Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

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Spanberger, in a statement Tuesday, congratulated Vindman on a well-earned victory, adding he will, bring the values, work ethic, and commitment to public service that the Seventh District deserves.

Though the men hold similar backgrounds through their military service, the race between Vindman and Anderson largely focused on their policy differences.

Vindman voiced strong support for protecting reproductive health rights, easing Virginians economic pain by continuing to lower medication costs, and strengthening the nations borders.

Anderson supported reducing taxes and immigration reform in his campaign, and said abortion rights are best left up to states. He mirrored several of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps policy stances.

We will update this story with the race outcome as soon as it is confirmed.
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY)  Attorney General Jason Miyares announced on Monday that a coalition of 30 state attorneys general has completed a $1.37 billion settlement agreement with Kroger.

Virginia will receive up to $29.4 million for opioid abatement with payments anticipated to begin early next year, per a release.

This settlement provides the commonwealth with vital funds that will go towards preventing, reducing, and treating addiction in our communities, said Attorney General Jason Miyares. I commend my Consumer Protection team for their diligent work in securing over $29 million for Virginia.

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Additionally, Kroger has agreed to injunctive relief that requires its pharmacies to monitor, report and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
State Treasurer Vivek Malek speaks in April at the Boone County Republican Lincoln Days dinner in Columbia (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).

Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek, a Republican, has become the first person of color ever elected to a statewide office in Missouri.

Final, unofficial results from the secretary of states office show Malek defeated Democrat Mark Osmak 58% to 38%.

This will be Maleks first full term as treasurer, after taking his post as an appointment of Republican Gov. Mike Parson in January 2023.

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Maleks campaign messaging focused on his support for a fortified U.S.-Mexico border, an issue with little to do with his work as treasurer, apart from his advocacy to divest state funds from foreign adversaries.

It does not make sense to strengthen our adversaries or enemy nations, he told The Independent earlier this year. Anything that we are investing not only strengthens them but also puts our investments at risk.

Prior to taking office, Malek worked as an immigration attorney, having immigrated to the United States himself from India in 2001. He opposes unauthorized immigration because of the additional burden on the healthcare and education systems.

Since taking office nearly two years ago, Malek has touted continued growth in the Treasurers Offices funds and program enrollment.

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One year into his term, he set the record for the amount returned in unclaimed property, with $51.8 million returned to people, up from $50.2 million the previous year.

Malek championed the MOScholars program, which funds private education and provides tax credits to donors. The program was months old when Malek was appointed and had $9 million in tax credits reserved for donors. Under Maleks leadership, fundraising increased to $16.6 million in 2023.

That year, student demand for scholarships depleted the available funds and brought an operational challenge balancing a donation cycle disjointed from the school year.

He said the office may have gotten too innovative in the pursuit of growth, pointing to criticism he received for advertising the states unclaimed property program on unregulated slot machines.

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I think that was not a very savvy political move on my part, he said in an interview about his campaign, adding he learned from his mistake.

According to Missouri Ethics Commission reports, Torch Electronics, which operates the machines, did not contribute to Maleks campaign. The company gave $330,000 to a cluster of political action committees that donated to Maleks opponent in the primary, Cody Smith.

Maleks goals will remain focused on growth of preexisting programs, he said, but he sees the opportunity for a pair of initiatives.

Malek would like to work with state lawmakers to create a personal finance course to be made mandatory for the states high school students. He would also like to create an investment program catered to small municipalities.

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We can pool the resources of these smaller counties and municipalities and help them invest in a better way, he said earlier this year. Which can help them put that money towards being able to get extra salary days, maybe change windows on whatever they need, so they will have some extra cash.

This article has been updated to reflect final, unofficial results.

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Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek, a Republican, won a full term on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Mark Osmack to become the first person of color to win a statewide general election in state history.

Malek, an immigrant from India who became a lawyer, ran a campaign focused on typical GOP themes. He promoted his work as treasurer by pulling out of investments in Chinese companies and his support for former President Donald Trump and a wall along the southern border.

Osmack posted on social media around 11 p.m. that he had called Malek to concede the race.

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As of 11:15 p.m., Malek had 55.9% of the vote to Osmacks 40.1%, with 3,205 of 3572 precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the Missouri Secretary of States Office.

I want to thank the people of Missouri for the opportunity to serve a full term as State Treasurer. It has been an honor to serve as a steward for taxpayers, and I will continue working hard to ensure state funds are invested properly, unclaimed property is returned to its rightful owners, and programs such as MOBUCK$, MOST 529, MOABLE and MO Scholars are available to serve more families across the state, Malek said in a statement.

The state treasurer serves as Missouris chief financial officer and is tasked with protecting state funds from fraud and abuse. The position manages the states revenue, oversees the disbursement of funds, and handles the states more than $6 billion investment portfolio.

Osmack, an Army veteran, ran on promises to be focused on the bottom line - not politics. Democrats last won an election for treasurer in 2012.

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In the final days of the race, Osmack announced a plan to use Missouri crops and products in school cafeterias. The initiative would have involved farmers and producers contracting with the state.

Osmack also criticized Maleks focus on national Republican issues, especially his interest in immigration politics. I dont know if the Missouri Treasurer has been to the Mexico that matters to Missouriansbut thats where Im at tonight, Osmack posted online last week as he visited, Mexico, Missouri.

Before entering politics Malek, who has worked as a lawyer in Missouri since 2006, focused mainly on legal immigration litigation and business immigration consulting. He immigrated to Cape Girardeau in 2001 from India, where he was born and raised.

Gov. Mike Parson appointed Malek as treasurer in early 2023 to replace Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican who became state auditor. Malek, who had kept a law office in the St. Louis area, was a relatively unknown name statewide when Parson named him to the job.

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Malek is the first person of color to hold statewide office in Missouri  and is now the first person of color to win office statewide. He has said that when he came to Missouri to attend Southeast Missouri State University, he had just $300 in his pocket and took a graduate assistant position to help pay his tuition.

Malek holds a bachelors degree and a law degree from Mahrishi Dayanand University in Rohtak, India. He also has a masters degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a masters of law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law.
PINE BLUFF, Ark.  Democrat Vivian Flowers, a state legislator serving in the Arkansas House of Representatives, has defeated Libertarian John Fenley for mayor of Pine Bluff.

As of Wednesday, Flowers received 9,857 votes to Fenleys 1,351 representing 100% of ballots.

Karen Baker wins race for Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice

The race was between two non-incumbents after Flowers defeated current Mayor Shirley Washington in the primary. Flowers had been a state representative for Pine Bluff for five years before she decided to run for mayor.

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Fenley, who the Pine Bluff Commercial called a gadfly in an editorial, felt the city needed to modernize its operations.

Crawford, Hill, Womack, Westerman win respective races for Arkansas representative

Both candidates did not favor the Go Forward Pine Bluff initiative, a sales tax for city improvements passed by voters in 2017.

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News of Donald Trumps victory in the U.S. presidential election rapidly reverberated around the world early Wednesday, with leaders of different stripes wasting no time in congratulating him.

Among the first to trumpet their support on social media were leaders of countries embroiled in conflict.

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I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Similarly, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also on X, said: Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!

In the U.K., Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a Labor leader who has been vehemently critical of Trump in the past, offered an immediate olive branch. Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise, Starmer said on X.

An important reminder today for Londoners: our city is  and will always be  for everyone. We will always be pro-women, pro-diversity, pro-climate and pro-human rights. These are some of the values that will continue to bind us together as Londoners, cautioned leftist London mayor Sadiq Khan, also on X.

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Added Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, on X: Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together just as we knew how to do during four years. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

Far right Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was beaming with enthusiasm: Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, Modi said in his X post.

In another post on X, Italys right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her most sincere congratulations to Trump, and said Italy and the United States had an unshakeable alliance. It is a strategic bond, which I am certain we will now strengthen even further, she said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on X: The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations.

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And European Union President Ursula Von Der Leyen, who has always fostered close ties with leaders across the political spectrum, also took to X to chime in on a similar note: I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with President Trump again to advance a strong transatlantic agenda.

She added, Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens. Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship.

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HOPEWELL  It took until the wee hours of Wednesday morning, but we finally know who will be in three City Council seats come January.

With all incumbents opting to sit the election out, council was poised for a major turnover, and that proved to be the case. The outcome also shifts the demographic of the body for the last six years to a 4-3 white majority in a city where the racial makeup is almost equally Black and white.

It also should force City Council to amend or reject an ordinance passed earlier this year stating that city employees could run for but not serve as councilors. Ward 4s winner, Ronnie Ellis, is a longtime officer in the Hopewell Fire Department.

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That ordinance, which has an effective date of Jan. 1, 2025, was the subject of an opinion from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares claiming that council did not have the authority in its charter to create such a rule.

Long time coming

Results of the races in wards 4, 5 and 6 did not start showing up on the state Department of Elections online database until around 11 p.m. Even then, there still were more than 2,000 early voting ballots citywide left to be counted  almost half of them in Ward 4.

At that particular time, the results from the actual Election Day balloting had challenger Halimah Shepherd-Crawford leading Ellis by a mere seven votes, even though Ellis already had claimed victory on his Facebook campaign page.

We are very excited to see the people of Hopewell agree with the things we would like to do here in our wonderful city, he wrote. Thank you to all that assisted with our campaign and voted for me. I will be talking to everyone again real soon!

In Ward 5  the most contentious of the three races  the late-night numbers online had Susan Daye leading Ed Houser by only 37 votes, with more than 600 early ballots left to be counted. Like Ellis, Daye also claimed victory in social media.

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Thank you for everyones support in getting me elected to city council!!!!!!! Daye posted on her Facebook campaign page. Now lets roll up our sleeves and get to work!!!

Finally, shortly after 1 a.m., the early vote counts started adding in. By dawn Wednesday, all had been tallied.

Ellis wound up taking Ward 4 over Shepherd-Crawford with almost 55% of the vote. In Ward 5, Dayes lead over Houser was extended, and she was declared the winner with 54% of the vote.

In Ward 6, former city registrar Yolanda Wyche Stokes was the only name on the ballot. She received 94% of the vote, with the remaining 6% going to write-in candidates.

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Ellis, Daye and Stokes will replace three councilors with a combined 40 years of incumbency among them. Vice Mayor Jasmine Gore, in Ward 4, served 12 years; Janice Denton served eight years in Ward 5; and Brenda Pelham served 20 years.

Click here to see complete results from Hopewell council races.

Other local races

In Colonial Heights, where four at-large City Council seats and three at-large School Board seats were on the ballot, Mayor Greg Kochuba was the only incumbent returned. He will be joined on the new council by Craig Skalak, Brad Slaybaugh and Tricia Palmer.

Current Vice Mayor Bobby Wade finished fifth, 260 votes behind Palmer. Len Hall and Daniel Lalonde rounded out the tally.

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Retired school superintendent Joe Cox won election to a School Board that used to be his boss. He was joined in victory by incumbent Angie Woody and newcomer Debbie Mayes Walwer.

Incumbent Keith Kapinskis finished fourth.

In the town of McKenney, in south Dinwiddie County, incumbent Mayor Meagan Haire Abbey won re-election over challenger Preston Ray Hancock. On Town Council, incumbents Becky Epps, Shirley Ruppert and Cheryl Epps; and challengers Beth Anderson and Sarah Woodland were all elected.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell chooses three new councilors in election
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  AP has called that Arkansas voters have accepted Arkansas Issue 1 on election day.

Tuesday at 9 p.m., with more than 7% of the votes counted, the secretary of state shows 117,584 votes for and 16,386 votes against the measure.

Issue 1 willmake changes to accessing lottery scholarship proceeds. It called for scholarship funds to be available to vocational or technical training students.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Josselli Barnica, Nevaeh Crain, Candi Miller, Amber Nicole Thurman. These are the names of women who died because they were denied care due to abortion bansand there are almost certainly more that may take years to be reported. In Tucson, Arizona, where one woman recently wrote about being denied an abortion despite life-threatening pregnancy complications, supporters of the states ballot measure to expand abortion rights carried posters memorializing Barnica, Crain, Miller, and Thurman at the All Souls Procession on Sunday. Their stories have resonated across the country, fueling anger and resolve to win back abortion rights via state ballot initiatives. On Tuesday, in Arizona, that initiative won. A ballot initiative in Missouri won as well, set to overturn a near-total ban. In Colorado, Maryland, Montana, New York, and Nevada, voters made abortion rights part of their state constitutions.

Abortion was on the ballot for direct voter input in 10 states overall. Only in three states did efforts to expand or preserve abortion access fail: Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota. But even as voters mostly chose to support abortion on the ballot, many also voted for a presidential candidate who has worked to restrict it: Donald Trump. As abortion rights advocates knew long before election night, proabortion rights ballot measures often succeed in Republican-dominated states like Kansas and Ohio precisely because they allow voters to consider the legality of abortion separately from their party affiliation or other political preferences. As predicted, and as feared by some, abortion rights proved more popular than Democrats.

What does it mean, then, for abortion rights to be expanded in some states, and further enshrined and protected in others, when Trump takes the White House? And just how protected will people in these states be if Trump does as many advisers and supporters have urged him, enacting a national abortion ban, with or without passing new legislation? State-based protections for abortion could be guaranteeing access to something thats not accessible, or a federal crime to access.

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To answer this question, its first important to understand that the problems we face on abortion rights are bigger than Trump. On the campaign trail, Harris and her surrogates repeatedly told voters that Trump was an anti-abortion candidate. They called state abortion bans Trump abortion bans. When women died in Texas due to being denied an abortion, that was seen widely as proof of the horrors that the Dobbs decision, rendered by a Supreme Court newly outfitted with three Trump appointees, had wrought. In truth, the near-total abortion ban in Texas was already in effect before the end of Roe. It may have seemed politically useful, but not every bad thing that has happened around abortion since Dobbs is due to Dobbs, or Trump. And despite this story, which was only partially true to begin with, voters seemed happy to vote for Trump anyway.

Even people in states where the right to an abortion will now be protected in the state constitution will have other dangers to contend with. Nevadas constitutional amendment, for example, would not change the outcome of one of the stories that garnered outrage ahead of the election: of a mother of three, struggling to get housing for her family, who was arrested and prosecuted in 2018 for an apparent stillbirth. Prosecutors used a law from 1911 that effectively criminalizes self-managed abortion after 24 weeks, and which remains on the books.

Georgia didnt even have a ban on self-managed abortion when police arrested a woman in 2015 from her hospital bed, after a late miscarriage. Convinced that she had self-managed an abortion, prosecutors charged her with malice murder, until a campaign pressured the prosecutors to drop the charge. They did, and pursued a drug charge against her instead. These cases point to an uncomfortable truth for people otherwise inclined to take comfort in Tuesdays pro-abortion victories: Ballot measures provide no protection from a system of policing that will use any tools at its disposal, especially if those tools allow them to go after people the police already disproportionately targetBlack women, Indigenous women, queer people, trans and gender-nonconforming people, poor people, and people who use drugs.

A larger and more systematic threat may come from the 1873 Comstock Act, still on the books, which anti-abortion advocates claim Trump can and should start enforcing starting on Inauguration Day. If he did, we would see federal prosecutions for those who mail the abortion pills misoprostol and mifepristone, which are critical for maintaining access in ban states. This is laid out in Project 2025; is supported by nearly 150 members of Congress; was given an airing at the Supreme Court this year and seemingly taken seriously by two justices. This is what they want Trump to do, or to direct the Department of Justice to do. It doesnt matter that Trump claimed to not support a national abortion ban on the campaign trail. His evasion will not protect anyone but himself. He doesnt need to sign a federal abortion ban; he could pressure the Food and Drug Administration to regulate mifepristone as a dangerous drug.

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No one should treat the success of abortion rights ballot initiatives this week as a reason to relax. Maybe some of the energy and momentum that went into turning out voters for these measures could be galvanized toward making those abortion rights matter under Trump. With or without him, we were already going to have to contend with the decimation of abortion access, through the demise of clinics (after a ban lifts, they dont just reopen), financial strains on abortion providers and funds, and the abandonment by donors after the drop-off of Roe rage-giving. Maybe some of the voters who turned out to support abortion rights ballot initiatives on Tuesday will have learned more about the reality of abortion through those campaigns. But many of them, based on Trumps success in states like Missouri and Montana, may sit this out.

Pundits already seem to be struggling to comprehend that some states may have won back abortion rights via the ballot support of women who also voted for Trump, and have no commitment to abortion rights as part of some larger feminist or progressive project. It will be so tempting, as it was in 2016, to imagine such women voters as having bafflingly voted against their own interest. But to imagine these women voters as confused or misledas was imagined about white women Trump voters in 2016 or 2020, when some rushed to find them an alibiis an act of self-soothing, of inventing solidarity when none is owed or offered. There are women who support abortion rights for themselves, but may support jailing pregnant women who use drugs. There are women who support abortion rights for their daughters, but not for other teenagers, or not for immigrants. There are women who want to be able to get an abortion if they ever need one, and thats where it ends. There are women who woke up today feeling great.
South and southwest suburban voters boosted fire protection, approved a park district and voted to allow backyard chickens, among other questions decided in a series of referendums on the ballot.

Lemont Fire District

Voters in the Lemont Fire Protection District appear to approve a plan to sell $46 million in bonds to relocate two of the districts four fire stations and renovate two of them, with hopes of reducing emergency response times.

With all precincts counted, the referendum had 61% support from voters in Will, DuPage and Cook counties, according to unofficial results.

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The referendum was a response to population growth, as well as a shifting population that drove up response times, said fire Chief Dan Tasso.

The district covers 26 square miles and responds to calls in Lemont, Lemont Township and portions of Darien, Palos Park and Woodridge.

Tasso said Wednesday the district will begin the process as soon as possible, but said it will be a long process.

We still need to issue the bonds and solicit bids for design and construction, he said. I assume that will take a few months to navigate.

University Park

University Park may get a park district. Unofficial totals, with all precincts reporting in Cook and Will counties, show 56% of voters supported a referendum asking if they wanted to create a park district with a levy not to exceed $800,000 in its first fiscal year. In 2022, the measure ended in a tie, causing the referendum to fail.

Worth Township

Worth Township residents apparently approved abolishing the township road district. With all precincts counted, unofficial results show 58% of voters supported the plan to move maintenance and control of those roads under the township boards jurisdiction.

Thornton

In Thornton, voters appear to have approved a referendum calling for a village ordinance allowing and regulating the keeping of backyard chickens.

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With both precincts in the village reporting, the referendum had support of 52.6% of voters, according to unofficial results.

Summit Hill District 61

Voters in Summit Hill Elementary District 161 overwhelming said they did not support the process the School Board used to close two schools, Arbury Hills Elementary School in Mokena and Frankfort Square Elementary School in Frankfort, without providing a tax break.

The nonbinding ballot question, put on the ballot by petition of residents, asked whether voters approved how the district closed the schools without providing a corresponding reduction in the property tax levy.

Nearly 87% of voters said they did not approve of the process.

Property taxes

Voters in Burnham, Calumet Park, Crestwood, Posen, Riverdale, Robbins, South Chicago Heights and Tinley Park asked voters whether their town should pass resolutions asking Illinois to increase state funding for schools, which would lead to lower property taxes and reduce the financial burden on homeowners and taxpayers.

The measure received 90% support or higher in all eight towns.
Hit with a steady stream of negative advertising and heavy spending by dark money groups, two out of three Oklahoma Supreme Court justices on the ballot appeared to narrowly avoid being ousted by voters.

With all precincts reporting, James Edmondson and Noma Gurich were retained by a razor-thin margin to serve another six years on the bench. If the vote totals hold, Yvonne Kauger will leave the bench after 40 years on the court.

As of 10:30 p.m., unofficial results showed Edmondson being retained with a little more than 51% of the vote. Gurich had 50.25%. Kauger's race was similarly close but in the other direction; about 50.26% of voters chose to replace her.

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The three were all appointed by Democratic governors. Kauger and Gurich are two of the three women who currently serve on the court.

Live election results: Get real-time Oklahoma 2024 election results for key OKC area and statewide races

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Normally a nonpartisan issue, this years judicial retention ballot became an expensive political fight.

Four dark money groups  two focused on defeating the justices and two working to defend them  spent more than $3.5 million in the contest. Gov. Kevin Stitt joined the attempt to oust the justices and possibly remake the state's highest civil court. Justices cannot actively campaign for retention, but each told The Oklahoman in the weeks leading up to the race that they were concerned by the politics being injected into the election.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Noma Gurich, shown here in February, faced a retention vote on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

Supreme Court Justice Noma Gurich, who served on the court for 11 years, said voters should decide whether or not to retain judges based on the judges qualifications and not politics. The facts are that a nonpartisan election has turned partisan, and thats in nobodys best interest, she said.

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The conservative Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and the Oklahoma State Chamber have, for years, complained that the Oklahoma Supreme Courts decisions are too liberal. Decisions tied to issues such as abortion, tort reform and state-tribal relations have all drawn criticism, with some saying the courts rulings arent reflective of Oklahoma.

Supporters of the justices, including the leaders of five of the states most powerful tribal nations, pushed back against claims the court was liberal and activist.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Election results for controversial Oklahoma Supreme Court seats
Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools won the ability to sell $180 million in bonds Thursday that officials plan to use for rebuilding its aging stock of school buildings.

Voters approved a ballot initiative to issue the debt at a rate of about two to one, or 68%. The result comes six months after a more expansive, $420 million plan was rejected at the ballot box during a single-issue special election in May.

A major difference between the two plans: the $180 million alternative was crafted in a way that will not increase property taxes, according to district officials.

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The bonds will finance rebuilds of Central and Argentine middle schools, two of the oldest in the state. Also included on the project list are a new building to combine Silver City and Noble Prentis elementary schools, and an addition for the Sumner Academy of Arts and Science that would eliminate the need for mobile trailer classrooms.

Property tax increases were at the center of the tension during the last go-round. In the community, which includes pockets of high poverty, home values have soared in recent years as Wyandotte County residents have demanded local authorities with the power over taxes do more to help relieve their financial burden.

Some of that pressure is driven by a diminishing level of state taxpayer support for public school capital projects. In 2016, for example, the state picked up roughly half the cost of a bond issue used to finance school buildings. In the plan voters approved Tuesday, the states share will be about 31%, according to KCKPS district officials.

The newer plan continued to face some community criticism and skepticism, however. Yard signs encouraging residents to vote down the initiative sprouted up around public schools and voting sites in recent weeks.

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Opponents questioned whether the added debt load would put the district in a worse position moving forward and criticized leaders for some of its lagging academic success statistics. District leaders have pushed back on those assertions, pointing to the projects as a way to provide safe, clean environments for students that would enhance their ability to receive a strong education.

District officials say the need for updated buildings is great, long overdue and would address educational inequities students face depending on where they live and attend class.

The student population at Central, for example, has ballooned to a point where up to three students share a locker. Many take courses in trailers outside the building, frequently battling harsh elements on their way to class. And the state of the century-old building has deteriorated to a point where the air conditioning and heat are unreliable.

During an interview with The Star last month, Superintendent Anna Stubblefield said the district tailored the less expensive option for voters to consider this year after the response of voters in May. She said the plan will not address all the needs of the district.

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Now the approach is to chip away at it, she said. In the long run, it costs you more, but you also have to respond to what the voters are saying.

Turnout on Tuesday well exceeded the low numbers seen during the single-issue special election in May, when less than 9% of registered voters participated. About 52% of registered Wyandotte County voters cast ballots Tuesday, according to unofficial election results.
Centerville voters have approved a levy that will benefit Centerville City Schools.

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The 3.9 mill tax levy, which was proposed for the third time, will cost just over $11 a month for anyone whose home is valued at $100,000.

Centerville School District said the district has already had to make $3.5 million in cuts which included 48 staff positions.

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>> November 5, 2024 General Election Results

The levy would generate $11.2 million per year for the districts ongoing operational expenses.

Taxpayers will see the new rate beginning in January 2025, and the district would start collecting revenue from those taxes the same year.

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MISSOURI  Missouri voters have approved Missouri Amendment 3, overturning the states abortion ban, the Associated Press projects.

After months of heated contests regarding Missouris Amendment 3 ballot measure, voters have spent the past two weeks hitting the polls to vote on whether to overturn or sustain the states current abortion ban. Now, the results are in.

As one of 10 states across the country to include an abortion-related measure on the ballot, since June 2022, Missouri is known as having one of the strictest bans on abortion access in the country.

What happens next?

With the states ban overturned, the amendment passed will give a person to have the fundamental right to make and carry out decisions relating to reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, as stated on the ballot.

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Any governmental interference will be considered invalid in the pursuit of obtaining an abortion up until fetal viability or the point in which a fetus can survive out of the womb except to protect the life of the mother.

Additionally, the ballot states the government may not discriminate in federal programs or funding against medical professionals providing reproductive healthcare or those obtaining abortion-related services.

Supporting campaigns for Amendment 3 had received over $30 million in contributions, while opposing campaigns of the amendment received just under $2 million in contributions, showcasing the monetary support already leveraged for the amendment to pass ahead of election day.

Will Missouris Amendment 3 legalize gender transitions for minors? Legal experts weigh in

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A major message shared throughout the oppositions campaign to reject Amendment 3 was in regard to linking the initiatives mentions of reproductive rights to gender-affirming care for minors and without parental consent.

FOX 2 spoke with legal experts on both sides of the argument, which came down to whether a judge will interpret the term reproductive rights as also referring to gender transition treatment for minors.

Kelley Gillespie, a professor of law and health ethics at Saint Louis University, said this tactic was used to sway people from supporting the amendment.

There a lot of things in healthcare that may have an impact on a reproductive organ, but not done for the purpose of reproductive decisions, Gillespie said. There is no credible argument to say it will legalize [gender-affirming care for minors.]

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Mary Catherine Martin, senior counsel attorney for the Thomas More Society, a Roman Catholic public-interest law firm, says the amendment uses broad language and will leave room for a judge to freely define what matters relate to reproductive healthcare.

What is reproductive healthcare now? Thats what everyone is arguing about right now. Martin said. All matters relating to and including but not limited to are both unique to Missouri and express to judges that this category is supposed to be unlimited.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
People attend a rally in Miami to advocate for passage of a Florida abortion-rights amendment. The measure won a majority but failed to reach the 60% required for passage. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Voters backed the right to an abortion in seven of the 10 states where the question was on the ballot Tuesday, providing a vivid illustration of the issues political potency more than two years after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.

The results in solid-blue Colorado, Maryland and New York were no surprise. But abortion-rights supporters also triumphed in Missouri and Montana  both states that former President Donald Trump won handily. And they won in Arizona and Nevada, heavily contested swing states.

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Voters defeated an abortion-rights measure in South Dakota, but the major reproductive rights groups did not back that proposal, viewing it as too weak. In Nebraska, voters approved a ban on abortion beyond the first three months of pregnancy, canceling out a conflicting measure that would have allowed abortion until fetal viability.

Meanwhile in Florida, an abortion-rights amendment garnered about 57% of the vote but fell short of the supermajority, 60%, needed for passage.

The thing to look at is the number, which is that 57% of Floridians voted in favor of restoring abortion rights, said Kelly Hall, executive director of the nonprofit Fairness Project, which supported the abortion-rights measures in Florida and four other states. In any other state, in any other context, that would count as a win.

She noted that supporters won a large majority despite strong opposition from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who directed state resources to fight the measure. Hall vowed that this conversation about abortion in Florida is far from over.

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The nations abortion-rights measures got much of the attention, but voters in 41 states considered a total of 146 ballot initiatives Tuesday, weighing in on marijuana, minimum wages, crime, universal basic income, school vouchers, rent control, redistricting, greenhouse gas emissions and a host of other issues.

In addition, 11 states had governors races and in 44 states, voters chose state lawmakers to serve in 87 of the nations 99 legislative chambers.

Heading into the election, there were 40 states where one party controlled the governors office and both chambers of the legislature, a so-called trifecta. That left 10 states with divided government  the fewest since 1952, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a national research nonprofit serving state lawmakers, which began tracking the number in 1938.

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Split control forces lawmakers to work across the aisle, whereas complete control by one party can empower its most extreme members, political scientists say.

Its too early to say what the final party breakdown will be among state legislative chambers. However, in the days leading up to the election, political observers estimated that Democrats had a chance of seizing control of one or both legislative chambers in Alaska, Arizona, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Republicans were close to flipping chambers in Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

In addition, Democrats were hoping to dismantle Republican supermajorities in Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina, which have allowed the GOP to override the vetoes of Democratic governors in those states. But Republicans preserved their veto-proof margins in Kansas and Kentucky, while the outcome is still unclear in North Carolina.

Until Tuesday night, abortion-rights measures had racked up a perfect record of success since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2022 that there was no federal constitutional right to an abortion. In the 2022 midterm election, voters in six states  including conservative Kansas, Kentucky and Montana  endorsed abortion rights when presented with abortion-related ballot questions.

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The measure Montana voters rejected in 2022 could have penalized health providers who didnt offer lifesaving care to all infants born prematurely or after an attempted abortion. The proposal voters approved Tuesday will enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution.

This year, the most contentious abortion fight was in Florida. GOP officials used a state website to discourage support for the amendment, and state police showed up at the homes of people who signed the ballot measure petition to confirm that they actually signed it.

DeSantis, who signed a ban last year on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, said state police were investigating possible fraud. Abortion-rights advocates blasted the visits as intimidation.

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Makenzie Wilfert, 19, described the election as nerve-wracking after casting the first vote of her life in Oakland, Florida, on Tuesday. Wilfert said abortion rights were a major issue for her.

Its a very big issue affecting many women, and its more than just, like, you get pregnant, and you want an abortion, she said. Its affecting women who do want a pregnancy but the babys unhealthy, and its affecting their health and leads to complications.

A Florida measure that would have legalized recreational marijuana also won a majority but fell short of the 60% standard needed for passage.

Voters in two other states also considered recreational marijuana measures. North Dakota was on track to reject recreational pot for the third time. South Dakota also seemed poised to defeat a legalization proposal. South Dakota voted in favor of legalization in 2020, but that amendment was struck down by the courts. A second attempt failed in 2022.

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In California, voters considered 10 ballot questions. Among other decisions, they approved a measure creating a constitutional right to same-sex marriage; brought back longer prison sentences for some drug and property crimes; and were headed toward giving the state permission to borrow billions to mitigate the threat of climate change.

Californias Proposition 33  a proposed repeal of the states restrictions on local rent control  attracted national attention. Caps on rent increases provide relief to tenants, but many economists say rent control policies exacerbate affordable housing shortages by pumping up rents for uncontrolled units, reducing landlords incentive to maintain units, and dampening the creation of new rental housing. Californians defeated the measure, disappointing affordable housing advocates who hoped other states might follow Californias lead.

Three states  Colorado, Kentucky and Nebraska  had school choice questions on the ballot. Voters were asked to decide whether public money should go to support private education. Supporters say the strategy gives parents more control over their kids education; critics say it takes money from traditional public schools. Voters in Kentucky and Nebraska voted against the proposals, and the same outcome appeared likely in Colorado.

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In Oregon, voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to increase the minimum tax on large businesses and send the proceeds to all residents. Interest in basic or universal income programs, under which the government gives money directly to people, has grown in recent years. But critics said the Oregon proposal was poorly designed and would deter other states from starting their own programs.

And in Washington state, voters preserved the states cap-and-trade program, which forces polluters to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions and invests the proceeds into clean energy and electrification projects.

This is nothing short of the most consequential climate vote in the nation this year, former state Sen. Reuven Carlyle, the Democrat who authored the program, told Stateline. Theres no question that other states will be deeply reticent to embrace any type of meaningful carbon-related policy if the initiative passes.

The repeal effort was funded by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who blamed the program for high gas prices and energy costs. Climate advocates say global economic factors play a much larger role in the price of gas, evidenced by the fact that Washington gas prices have now dropped below where they stood when the cap-and-trade program launched.

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Washingtons program is expected to link with carbon markets in California and Quebec. Backers of the program expect that expansion to stabilize prices and create an easier on-ramp for more states to join the coalition. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, visited Seattle last month to urge Washingtonians to preserve the program.

Leaders in New York, which is in the process of establishing its own cap-and-trade program, said they were watching the Washington vote closely.

Stateline staff writers Alex Brown and Nada Hassanein contributed to this report.

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People attend a rally in Miami to advocate for passage of a Florida abortion-rights amendment. The measure won a majority but failed to reach the 60% required for passage. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The results in solid-blue Colorado, Maryland and New York were no surprise. But abortion-rights supporters also triumphed in Missouri and Montana  both states that former President Donald Trump won handily. And they won in Arizona and Nevada, heavily contested swing states.

Voters defeated an abortion-rights measure in South Dakota, but the major reproductive rights groups did not back that proposal, viewing it as too weak. In Nebraska, voters approved a ban on abortion beyond the first three months of pregnancy, canceling out a conflicting measure that would have allowed abortion until fetal viability.

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Meanwhile in Florida, an abortion-rights amendment garnered about 57% of the vote but fell short of the supermajority, 60%, needed for passage.

The thing to look at is the number, which is that 57% of Floridians voted in favor of restoring abortion rights, said Kelly Hall, executive director of the nonprofit Fairness Project, which supported the abortion-rights measures in Florida and four other states. In any other state, in any other context, that would count as a win.

She noted that supporters won a large majority despite strong opposition from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who directed state resources to fight the measure. Hall vowed that this conversation about abortion in Florida is far from over.

The nations abortion-rights measures got much of the attention, but voters in 41 states considered a total of 146 ballot initiatives Tuesday, weighing in on marijuana, minimum wages, crime, universal basic income, school vouchers, rent control, redistricting, greenhouse gas emissions and a host of other issues.

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In addition, 11 states had governors races and in 44 states, voters chose state lawmakers to serve in 87 of the nations 99 legislative chambers.

Heading into the election, there were 40 states where one party controlled the governors office and both chambers of the legislature, a so-called trifecta. That left 10 states with divided government  the fewest since 1952, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a national research nonprofit serving state lawmakers, which began tracking the number in 1938.

Split control forces lawmakers to work across the aisle, whereas complete control by one party can empower its most extreme members, political scientists say.

Its too early to say what the final party breakdown will be among state legislative chambers. However, in the days leading up to the election, political observers estimated that Democrats had a chance of seizing control of one or both legislative chambers in Alaska, Arizona, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Republicans were close to flipping chambers in Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

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In addition, Democrats were hoping to dismantle Republican supermajorities in Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina, which have allowed the GOP to override the vetoes of Democratic governors in those states. But Republicans preserved their veto-proof margins in Kansas and Kentucky, while the outcome is still unclear in North Carolina.

Until Tuesday night, abortion-rights measures had racked up a perfect record of success since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2022 that there was no federal constitutional right to an abortion. In the 2022 midterm election, voters in six states  including conservative Kansas, Kentucky and Montana  endorsed abortion rights when presented with abortion-related ballot questions.

The measure Montana voters rejected in 2022 could have penalized health providers who didnt offer lifesaving care to all infants born prematurely or after an attempted abortion. The proposal voters approved Tuesday will enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution.

This year, the most contentious abortion fight was in Florida. GOP officials used a state website to discourage support for the amendment, and state police showed up at the homes of people who signed the ballot measure petition to confirm that they actually signed it.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

DeSantis, who signed a ban last year on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, said state police were investigating possible fraud. Abortion-rights advocates blasted the visits as intimidation.

Makenzie Wilfert, 19, described the election as nerve-wracking after casting the first vote of her life in Oakland, Florida, on Tuesday. Wilfert said abortion rights were a major issue for her.

Its a very big issue affecting many women, and its more than just, like, you get pregnant, and you want an abortion, she said. Its affecting women who do want a pregnancy but the babys unhealthy, and its affecting their health and leads to complications.

A Florida measure that would have legalized recreational marijuana also won a majority but fell short of the 60% standard needed for passage.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Voters in two other states also considered recreational marijuana measures. North Dakota was on track to reject recreational pot for the third time. South Dakota also seemed poised to defeat a legalization proposal. South Dakota voted in favor of legalization in 2020, but that amendment was struck down by the courts. A second attempt failed in 2022.

In California, voters considered 10 ballot questions. Among other decisions, they approved a measure creating a constitutional right to same-sex marriage; brought back longer prison sentences for some drug and property crimes; and were headed toward giving the state permission to borrow billions to mitigate the threat of climate change.

Californias Proposition 33  a proposed repeal of the states restrictions on local rent control  attracted national attention. Caps on rent increases provide relief to tenants, but many economists say rent control policies exacerbate affordable housing shortages by pumping up rents for uncontrolled units, reducing landlords incentive to maintain units, and dampening the creation of new rental housing. Californians defeated the measure, disappointing affordable housing advocates who hoped other states might follow Californias lead.

Three states  Colorado, Kentucky and Nebraska  had school choice questions on the ballot. Voters were asked to decide whether public money should go to support private education. Supporters say the strategy gives parents more control over their kids education; critics say it takes money from traditional public schools. Voters in Kentucky and Nebraska voted against the proposals, and the same outcome appeared likely in Colorado.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

In Oregon, voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to increase the minimum tax on large businesses and send the proceeds to all residents. Interest in basic or universal income programs, under which the government gives money directly to people, has grown in recent years. But critics said the Oregon proposal was poorly designed and would deter other states from starting their own programs.

And in Washington state, voters preserved the states cap-and-trade program, which forces polluters to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions and invests the proceeds into clean energy and electrification projects.

This is nothing short of the most consequential climate vote in the nation this year, former state Sen. Reuven Carlyle, the Democrat who authored the program, told Stateline. Theres no question that other states will be deeply reticent to embrace any type of meaningful carbon-related policy if the initiative passes.

The repeal effort was funded by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, who blamed the program for high gas prices and energy costs. Climate advocates say global economic factors play a much larger role in the price of gas, evidenced by the fact that Washington gas prices have now dropped below where they stood when the cap-and-trade program launched.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Washingtons program is expected to link with carbon markets in California and Quebec. Backers of the program expect that expansion to stabilize prices and create an easier on-ramp for more states to join the coalition. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, visited Seattle last month to urge Washingtonians to preserve the program.

Leaders in New York, which is in the process of establishing its own cap-and-trade program, said they were watching the Washington vote closely.

Stateline staff writers Alex Brown and Nada Hassanein contributed to this report.

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Stateline, like Oregon Capital Chronicle, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X.
Voters chose the Republican candidate in all three Florida House seats that represent Manatee County.

The county, which boasts nearly twice as many registered Republicans compared to Democrat voters, picked Michael Owen for District 70, Will Robinson for District 71 and William Bill Conerly for District 72.

The clean sweep was resounding.

Owen won 63,212 votes or 59% to defeat Democrat Luther Wilkins, according to preliminary results.

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Robinson, an incumbent in the state legislature, defeated Democratic challenger Adriaan DeVilliers with nearly 60% of the votes, according to preliminary results.

Conerly picked up nearly 65% of the vote to defeat Democrat Lesa Miller, according to preliminary results.

Owen and Conerlys victories fill seats previously held by Republicans who did not seek re-election. Rep. Mike Beltran, R-Riverview, previously held the seat Owen won. Owen has lived in Hillsborough County for 40 years. The district runs through parts of Hillsborough and Manatee County.

Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Bradenton, previously held the District 72 seat Conerly won Tuesday. Gregory resigned to become State College of Floridas seventh president.

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Meanwhile, Robinson kept his seat for a fourth term. He was first elected to the state legislature in 2018.

What do candidates plan in Tallahassee?

Owens website outlined the following as his platform: investing in roads and infrastructure; keeping taxes low and requiring a more strict approval process for development.

Robinsons conservative platform advocated for pro-life, supporting the Second Amendment, lowering taxes, property insurance reforms and prioritizing recovery from recent storms.

Im running to keep Florida moving forward, Robinson previously told the Herald. Weve had great success over the past several years in a lot of areas, but there are some areas we need to improve upon, mainly insurance and the cost of property taxes. So Im running not only to keep Florida moving in the right direction but also to work on those pocketbook issues many members of my district have talked to me about.

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Robinsons seat is District 71, which includes parts of Palmetto, Bradenton, the barrier islands and Sarasota.

Conerly, who owns an engineering firm, previously told the Herald that infrastructure improvements, a better water policy, and making houses affordable were the focus of his campaign.

Im not just talking about tax-credit financed affordable housing, but the missing middle housing for police officers, for nurses, for teachers, Conerly previously told the Herald. That kind of housing is in demand but the supply is short in Manatee, Sarasota County, in Southwest Florida, probably across the entire state and its going to be problematic.

District 72 covers eastern Manatee County into northeastern Sarasota County, from South Bradenton to Myakka City and Duette.
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Attempts to protect access to abortion rights failed in Florida and South Dakota on Tuesday, while similar efforts in Arizona, Colorado, New York, Maryland and Missouri succeeded.

The controversial medical practice is on the ballot in 10 states, as voters continue to contend with the fallout of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

Results in Montana and Nebraska were still pending as of early Wednesday. Nevada voted to pass the measure, but it needs to pass in consecutive elections before taking effect.

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Voters are being asked to alter or amend their constitutions to protect abortion rights in the absence of the federal protections previously provided by the landmark Supreme Court case.

Arizona

Arizona voters passed Proposition 139 to create a "fundamental right to abortion" under the state's constitution.

According to unofficial state results, nearly 63% voted "Yes" to the proposition, compared to 37.1% who voted "No." It needed a 50% "Yes" vote to pass.

The vote will alter the state's constitution to declare that Arizona will not be able to interfere with the fundamental right of abortion before fetal viability "unless it has a compelling reason and does so in the least restrictive way possible."

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The measure describes "fetal viability" as "the point in the pregnancy when, in the good-faith judgement of a treating health care professional, the fetus has a significant likelihood of survival outside of the uterus."

The measure will prevent the state from interfering with "the good faith judgment" of a doctor that an abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of a pregnant person for the length of the pregnancy, both before and after fetal viability.

It will also protect against state penalties for aiding or assisting a pregnant person in receiving an abortion.

Colorado

Colorado's Amendment 79 to add a section to Article II of the state's constitution recognizing abortion rights passed with a "Yes" vote of 61.44%, according to unofficial state results, passing the 55% threshold needed.

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Nearly 39% of voters ticked "No" on the ballot.

The measure will add "Section 32. Abortion" to the article, which states:

"The right to abortion is hereby recognized. Government shall not deny, impede, or discriminate against the exercise of that right, including prohibiting health insurance coverage for abortion."

Florida

In Florida, Amendment Four sought to "limit government interference with abortion" in wake of the state imposing a law that bans abortion after the gestational age of a fetus is determined to be more than six weeks.

The measure received a 57.02% approval, falling just shy of the required 60% to pass. It would have amended the state's constitution to say that "no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health as determined by the patient's healthcare provider."

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The amendment would not have altered the legislature's authority under the constitution to require that a parent or guardian be notified before a minor has an abortion.

Maryland

Question 1 in Maryland asked voters whether the state should amend the state's constitution to introduce a new section that guarantees a right to reproductive freedom, and voters overwhelming said "Yes."

According to unofficials state results, 73.9% approved the measure, well surpassing the 50% needed for the measures to pass.

The proposal states states that "reproductive freedom" includes but is not limited to "the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end the individual's pregnancy, and provides the state may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden, or abridge the right unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means."

Missouri

Missouri's Amendment Three narrowly passed with a 51.8% vote in favor of altering the state's Constitution to enshrine reproductive freedom in the state, according to unofficial state election results.

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The measure needed a simple majority to pass. Nearly 100% of precincts were reporting as of early Wednesday.

The language of the bill says the Constitution would be amended to include a clause that would bar the state government from infringing on a person's right to "make and carry out decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions."

It would, however, allow the state to restrict abortion access after fetal viability and in instances where "such action is justified by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means."

Montana

Montana's Ballot Issue 14 would amend the state's constitution to guarantee the right to an abortion up until fetal viability or to protect the life of the patient.

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The amendment states that the government would be prohibited from penalizing patients, healthcare providers or anyone who assists someone seeking or carrying out an abortion. Abortion is currently banned in Missouri except when to protect the life of the mother or to preserve a pregnant person's health.

Providing an abortion in violation of the state's law is a class B felony.

Ballot measures require a simple majority to pass.

Nebraska

Nebraska has two initiatives on the ballot related to abortion access.

Initiative 434 would amend the state constitution to ban abortions in the second and third trimesters unless the pregnancy is the result of sexual assault or incest.

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Initiative 435 would amend the state constitution to enshrine the right to an abortion until fetal viability or when needed to protect the life of the mother.

Abortion is currently banned after 12 weeks of pregnancy in Nebraska, with exceptions for rape, incest and when there is a threat to the patient's life.

Ballot initiatives need a simple majority to pass in Nebraska and at least 35% of votes cast must affirm the initiative.

Nevada

Voters in Nevada passed Question Six to amend the state's Constitution to create an individual's fundamental right to abortion.

Unofficial state results show nearly 63% voted "Yes" to the amendment, while 37% voted "No."

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The ballot measure required a simple majority to pass, but it must pass in consecutive elections before becoming law. It will need to pass again in 2026 to take effect.

According to the amendment, a fundamental right to abortion prevents interference from state and local governments when the procedure is performed by a medical professional before "fetal viability or when necessary to protect the health or life of the pregnant individual."

The measure will also direct the state to prohibit from penalizing or prosecuting any individual based on the outcome of their pregnancy.

New York

New Yorkers passed Proposal Number One, also known as the Equal Rights Amendment, to codify abortion rights into the state's Constitution through an amendment to protect pregnant people from discrimination.

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The proposal passed by 61.27%, surpassing the 50% threshold needed, according to unofficials election night results from the state.

With the measure passing, the Constitution will be amended to ensure no person will be denied equal protection of the laws of the state because of "pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive healthcare and autonomy."

South Dakota

South Dakota's Amendment G to establish the right to an abortion in the state Constitution and create a legal framework for regulating abortion failed Tuesday night.

According to unofficial state election results, 61% voted "No" to the measure.

If it had passed, the state would have been able to regulate abortion access only after the first trimester. Proponents of the measure said it effectively restores the rights once protected by the Roe vs. Wade decision.

The state enacted a near-total ban on abortion in 2022, making it a felony to perform an abortion with an exception for saving the life of the mother.
Nearly every state that placed abortion on the ballot this year successfully enshrined the procedure in their state constitutions.

A record-breaking 10 states placed abortion access in the hands of the popular vote on Tuesday, handing citizensnot elected representativesthe ability to decide whether or not their state should meddle in an individuals reproductive rights.

Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and New York all passed constitutional amendments codifying the right to abortion. Meanwhile, Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakotaa small handful of states with already draconian abortion restrictionsfailed to pass their respective measures to protect the medical procedure.

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The majority of the initiatives sought to protect abortion access up until the point of fetal viability, which typically occurs during the second trimester between 23 and 24 weeks of pregnancy.

More than 61 percent of Arizona voters chose to codify abortion access in the state constitution. The Arizona Abortion Access Act will also enshrine the right to an abortion to protect the life and health of pregnant people.

The amendment to the Arizona Constitution offers every Arizonan the fundamental right to an abortion, and makes illegal any policy or program that restricts or interferes with an eligible abortion, or penalizes any person or group for aiding or assisting in an abortion within state bounds. Its a seismic shift from the states current law, which restricts abortion access 15 weeks after a persons last menstrual period.

Maryland, Missouri, Montana, and Nevada also had similar efforts on the ballot. They voted in favor of protecting the procedure up until the point of fetal viability, some by double-digit margins. Maryland had the strongest turnout of the group, with 74 percent of the vote going toward protecting an individuals right to make their own reproductive decisions regarding abortion. Missouri passed its ballot measure by more than 51 percent, becoming the first state to overturn a total abortion ban.

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Meanwhile, Montana passed its measure by 57 percent, and Nevada by 63 percent.

Colorado, which already has no gestational limit on the right to an abortion, put an amendment to a vote that sought to formally recognize the right to an abortion. Approximately 61 percent of the state voted in favor of the initiative, simultaneously stripping a conflicting constitutional amendment that prohibited the use of state funds for abortion care.

New York, which protects abortion up until the point of fetal viability under current law, put a vote to anti-discrimination efforts around access to the procedure as well as to more general reproductive health care. Sixty-two percent of voting New Yorkers sided in favor of the amendment. Advocates described it as a sideways effort that could thwart future constitutional attacks on abortion access by the state legislature, but the initiative drew criticism from voters across the boardincluding those in favor of itwho claimed that the propositions vague language failed to convey its connection to reproductive rights.

South Dakota, where abortion is completely banned, sought to prevent the state from interfering with a persons right to choose before the second trimester. But just 40 percent of voting South Dakotans actually sided in favor of the constitutional amendment, flouting efforts that would have prohibited that state government from regulating a pregnant persons decision to access an abortion.

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The Mount Rushmore States ballot initiative would have protected abortion during the first trimester, or the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. It also baked in protections during emergency circumstances, including in the event that a third-trimester pregnancy poses a risk to the life of a pregnant person. The measure would have restricted the regulations capable of being imposed on second-trimester pregnancies, specifying that the government could only intervene in a way reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman.

Nebraska had two simultaneous abortion-related measures on their ballot, one for and one against. In the early hours of Wednesday, the Associated Press called the race in favor of the ban, reporting that state denizens voted in favor of an amendment prohibiting abortion after the first three months of pregnancyeffectively affirming state lawwhile shooting down a proposition that would have guaranteed the right to an abortion until viability.

The trio of states that failed to pass abortion initiatives on Tuesday hint at a small shift toward an increasingly conservative outlook across the nation. In the two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion efforts have won in every state where the issue has appeared on the ballot. But Floridas effort, in particular, faced dire odds: In order to be amended into the state constitution, it needed 60 percent of the vote in order to succeed.

More than six million Floridians voted in favor of Amendment 4approximately 57.1 percentwith more than 96 percent of the expected votes in, according to a projection by NBC News. But despite the overwhelming majority of the state supporting the measure, it fell short of that 60 percent threshold.

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The Amendment to Limit Government Interference With Abortion sought to protect an individuals right to an abortion up to the point of viability, which typically occurs between 23 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. The measure also would have safeguarded the right to an abortion in the event that the procedure is deemed medically necessary in order to preserve a pregnant persons health.

As it stands on the books, Floridas law restricts abortion access after just six weeks. That law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis during his campaign for president, went into effect in May. DeSantiss decision was viewed as a strategic move that could have proved popular with some voters in swing states such as Iowa, but that bid fell apart when DeSantis announced in January that he would be withdrawing from the raceleaving Floridians holding the bag.

Floridas law prohibits abortions well before a lot of people even realize theyre pregnant, and just one week before drugstore pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy hormones in their earliest, and least reliable, window. It has also forced some patients in need of the procedure to seek treatment outside the statesuch as in North Carolina, where abortion is banned after 12 weeksor even further afield.
Tonight on FOX 8 News, we will have extended coverage in an Election Day Special that will air from 7:30 p.m.  8 p.m. Then join us at 10 p.m. as more results roll in.

You can also track results: HERE

(WJW)  Election Day is here, and voters across Northeast Ohio are coming out in force to make their voices heard.

Reports of long lines and extended wait times have emerged from polling locations around the region, reflecting a substantial turnout and the high stakes of this election.

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Power outage hits two polling locations in NE Ohio

From Cleveland to Akron and beyond Northeast Ohio, polling stations are seeing a surge of voters eager to participate. The high turnout has led to some unavoidable delays, with some locations reporting long lines that stretch well beyond normal wait times.

At the Rocky River Civic Center, many voters are facing an hour-long wait to cast their ballots. Some have seen even longer lines in previous elections, while others say this is the longest theyve ever waited.

Cathy White, who has voted at this location before, recalls a two-and-a-half-hour wait during the last election. When asked how long todays wait was, she said, Im thinking about an hour.

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Mike Smith, another voter in Rocky River, noted that turnout seems higher than usual.

He was encouraged by the sight of so many people willing to wait stating, Oh heck yes. Thats what we want people to do.

How to get LIVE election results

Despite the extended waits, voters showed resilience and a positive attitude.

Colleen, another voter, praised the high turnout saying, Id say its a good thing. People are getting out there and casting their vote.

Many voters expressed a sense of pride and privilege for their ability to vote freely.

Mike Smith summed it up well saying, Its such a privilege to live in a country where you are free to vote and frankly state your views.

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Election Day 2024 in Northeast Ohio has proven that, despite the waits and challenges, local voters are committed to exercising their democratic rights and making their voices heard.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Election Day at the Landsdowne Elementary School precinct in Lexington, Nov. 5, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Arden Barnes)

Kentucky voters approved an amendment to the state Constitution that further prohibits people who are not U.S. citizens from voting in Kentucky elections on Tuesday.

Amendment 1 specifies, No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in this state. It will be added to the Constitution at the end of a paragraph that says every citizen of the United States may vote in their local precinct if they meet residency and other requirements.

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According to unofficial results, 64% of voters cast ballots in favor of it  the same margin of votes that defeated Amendment 2, which was also on the ballot and would have allowed the General Assembly to fund nonpublic schools.

The campaign for Amendment 1 had a much lower profile than Amendment 2, as no issue committees filed to raise dollars for or against the measure. The sponsor of the legislation for Amendment 1, Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, told the Kentucky Lantern in a previous interview the amendment is a proactive measure to protect election integrity.

After a Lexington rally before early voting began, Beshear told reporters Amendment 1 was a cynical attempt, I think, to just try to turn out or gin up more people.

Its already illegal to vote if youre not a citizen, Beshear said.
Republicans will win control of the Senate for the next two years, NBC News projects, though control of the House is still up for grabs.

Senate Republicans ousted Democrats in red states to secure the majority, flipping seats in West Virginia, Montana and Ohio, states that have swung heavily to the GOP. And they held their ground in friendly states like Texas and Florida, assuring them at least 51 seats when the new Congress is sworn in next January.

The GOP's success at converting a dream Senate map to victories where it counted most will give the party control of legislation and nominations under President-elect Donald Trump. NBC News has not yet projected a winner in the race for control of the House.

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Democrats had hoped their slate of incumbents and heavy outside spending by allied groups would help overcome headwinds in those red states. But ultimately the force of political gravity won out.

The GOP senators are expected to elect a new leader next week as longtime Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is stepping down from the role after a record 18 years. His current deputy, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and former deputy, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, are battling to take the job when the new Congress begins.

The Biden-Harris administration has forced the American people to endure four years of high prices, open borders, and chaos on the world stage," Thune, the GOP whip, said in a statement. "Tonight, with Republicans reclaiming majority control of the U.S. Senate, we can begin to turn the page on this expensive and reckless chapter of American history."

Cornyn said he looks forward to working with President Trump and our new conservative majority.

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We will restore the important role of Senate committees and reestablish the regular appropriations process, he said in a statement, referring to the normal process for funding the government. And we will return power back to the members; there will be no more backroom deals or forced votes on bills without adequate time for review, debate, and amendment.

Every nonincumbent president since 1992 has entered office with their party controlling both chambers of Congress. But with the House still up for grabs, theres no guarantee thatll happen this year for Trump.

Republicans were favored to win the Senate

Democrats entered Election Day with a 51-49 edge. As expected, Republicans will pick up an open seat in deep-red West Virginia, with NBC News projecting that Gov. Jim Justice has won the election to succeed retiring Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joe Manchin.

In the red state of Ohio, Republican candidate Bernie Moreno has defeated Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, NBC News projected.

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And the party flipped a Democratic-held seat in red Montana, where Democratic Sen. Jon Tester lost to GOP rival Tim Sheehy.

Democrats held on in two of five seats they're defending in purple states that are highly competitive on the presidential level, with Sen. Tammy Baldwin securing re-election in Wisconsin and Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., winning the race to replace retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., even as Trump won those states. The other three remain too close to call: Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania; an open seat in Arizona, where Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Krysten Sinema is retiring; and Sen. Jacky Rosen in Nevada.

But Democrats best hopes for capturing a Republican-held seat faded in Texas, where Sen. Ted Cruz won re-election to a third term, NBC News projected. In red-trending Florida, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., also won re-election, defeating former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, NBC News projected. Some Democrats had held out hope for a miracle in Florida but outside groups largely voided the race.

In deep-red Nebraska, the populist independent candidate Dan Osborn was running competitively against low-profile Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, but Fischer held on.

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McConnell was beaming in a press conference Wednesday. One of the most gratifying results of the Senate becoming Republican: the filibuster will stand, there wont be any new states admitted that will benefit the other side. And well quit beating up the Supreme Court," he said.

A close fight for the House

The race for the House is on a knife-edge, with redistricting accounting for some early seat changes but no clear trend about which way control of the chamber is headed.

Republicans came into Election Day holding a 220-212 majority, with three vacancies  two in safe blue seats, one in a safe red seat. Democrats will need to pick up just four seats in order to capture control of the House and, with it, the speakers gavel and chairmanships of all committees.

The battlefield is narrow. According to the Cook Political Report, there are 22 toss-up seats at the heart of the fight  10 held by Democrats and 12 held by Republicans. A few dozen more seats are being hotly contested but lean toward one party.

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Notably, the blue states of New York and California host 10 ultra-competitive House districts. Those two states are expected to be comfortably won by Harris at the presidential level, but Republicans are investing heavily in holding and flipping downballot seats there.

In New York, Republicans were defending four seats they flipped in 2022, which helped propel them to the House majority. Democratic challenger John Mannion on Tuesday knocked off GOP Rep. Brandon Williams in a Syracuse-based district, while Republican Rep. Mike Lawler held on against former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones. The other GOP freshmen fighting for re-election are Reps. Marc Molinaro and Anthony DEsposito. Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan beat back a challenge from Republican Alison Esposito in New York's Hudson Valley in a race that was rated lean Democrat.

In Pennsylvania, six-term Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright, a former member of leadership who represents President Joe Biden's hometown of Scranton, lost to Republican Rob Bresnahan. In a neighboring district, Democratic Rep. Susan Wild conceded to a GOP challenger she significantly outraised, state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie. NBC News has not yet called that race.

I lost this election, and my opponent won," Wild said in a statement. "I congratulate my opponent on winning this seat, and I am going to do everything to ensure a smooth transition, because the people of this district deserve nothing less."

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And in central and southern California, at least five GOP incumbents are facing tough re-election bids of their own.

Freshman Rep. John Duarte is facing Democrat Adam Gray in the 13th District; Rep. David Valadao has a rematch against Democrat Rudy Salas in the 22nd District; Rep. Mike Garcia is fending off a challenge from Democrat George Whitesides in the 27th District; longtime Rep. Ken Calvert is trying to hold off Democrat Will Rollins in the 41st District; and Rep. Michelle Steel is squaring off with Democrat Derek Tran in the 48th District.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and the man who wants to replace him, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have spent the past weeks crisscrossing those key House battlegrounds, as well as a slew of swing districts in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest.

When polls opened Tuesday morning, the chair of the House Democratic campaign arm sounded a note of optimism.

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We are in a very strong position, Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., told NBC News. We have great candidates. We are with the American people on policy, in our message. Weve had the resources to get out the vote and communicate with voters all across the country, and that has all put us in a very strong position today to take back the majority, take back the gavels and make Hakeem Jeffries our next speaker.

Still, she warned that the battle for the majority could be close and take a few days to count all the votes.

But in a speech to supporters in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, Johnson said he would fly late Tuesday to Mar-a-Lago to be with Trump  a sign that the speaker and Republicans feel they are having a good election night. Spokespeople for Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said those leaders were also on their way to see Trump.

"I think it is a night, when they tabulate all this, I am very hopeful that we're going to have not only a larger majority in the House to make my job easier," Johnson told the crowd in Shreveport, "but we retake the Senate and the White House as well. I think that's what's going to happen."

A full plate

The new Congress will have to work with Trump from the very start.

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The Fiscal Responsibility Act, the product of a deal between Biden and then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, extended the nation's debt limit until January 2025. The Treasury Department will be able to avert an immediate catastrophic debt default by using extraordinary measures to free up cash, but another bipartisan agreement will likely be needed.

The Senate will spend the first part of the New Year confirming the presidents judicial and Cabinet nominees, as well as hundreds of others nominated for other political roles.

If Republicans manage to win complete control of Congress, they will be in the same situation they were in 2016  with Trump back at the helm.

In that scenario, Republicans will have to determine how to use budget reconciliation, an arcane process that would allow them to fast-track legislation without Democratic support: Do they push forward first with another round of Trump tax cuts? Or do they try once again to repeal or overhaul Obamacare, as they failed to do in 2017?

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Johnson, whose political fate is tied to the outcome of the election, has recently said Republicans would go big and pursue a massive reform of the Affordable Care Act if his party wins.

The ACA is so deeply ingrained, we need massive reform to make this work, and we got a lot of ideas on how to do that, Johnson said at a campaign stop in Pennsylvania.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
RIVERSIDE, Ohio (WDTN)  Mad River Local Schools asked voters to approve funding for general permanent improvements, but the initiative failed to pass.

Voters against the levy had 200 votes over those voting in favor for the permanent improvement levy. Mad River has not asked for this type of levy in over 20 years.

Montgomery County, Ohio, general election  Nov. 5, 2024

More than 90% of Ohio school districts have a permanent improvement levy in place to sustain and update facilities without using resources intended for critical student instruction. Presently, were using funds meant for educational needs to cover maintenance costs, which directly impacts our students, said the district in a statement to 2 NEWS.

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The $2.9-mill property levy would have given the school district permanent funding to repair and maintain school buildings and equipment. Homeowners would have had to pay $102 annually for every $100,000 of their property value.

Whats next for Mad River? School officials tell 2 NEWS the fight isnt over  they plan to put another levy on the ballot in May next year.

We respect the communitys decision and remain committed to fiscal responsibility, the statement continued. To keep our buildings safe and operational, we will go back on the ballot in May and consider cuts to make up for the revenue shortfall.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Voters headed to the polls across the United States Tuesday following record-breaking early voting to elect a president, determine the balance of power in Congress and consider abortion ballot measures in 10 states. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Editors note: This article has been updated with results from additional states.

In the first presidential election since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed state governments to determine if, when and why a woman can end a pregnancy, former President Donald Trump, who touted during the campaign he was able to kill Roe v. Wade won back the White House.

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Simultaneously, seven out of 10 states voted to restore or expand abortion rights, according to early election results.

National anti-abortion groups celebrated his victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who campaigned heavily on restoring reproductive rights.

They also celebrated the defeat of abortion-rights amendments in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota, and foreshadowed a full assault on abortion access throughout the country.

Now the work begins to dismantle the pro-abortion policies of the Biden-Harris administration, said Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser in a statement. President Trumps first-term pro-life accomplishments are the baseline for his second term. In the long term, GOP pro-life resolve must be strengthened and centered on the unalienable right to life for unborn children that exists under the 14th Amendment.

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Despite their losses, abortion-rights advocates said the ballot question victories signal widespread American support for abortion protections even in red states.

Most significantly, Missourians voted to overturn a total abortion ban.

Voters also approved an abortion-rights amendment in Arizona, which will override the current 15-week ban. Voters agreed to expand reproductive-rights protections in Colorado, Maryland, Nevada, and New York.

This is an especially historic win for Missouri, said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the national legal advocacy group Center for Reproductive Rights.

In fact, the amendment goes even further, calling for a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, defined to include abortion and all matters relating to reproductive health care, she said. By saying yes to this powerful language, voters have demanded the return of the essential human rights and freedoms they lost after Roe was overturned.

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But abortion-rights advocates suffered a major loss in Florida, which barely failed to clear a 60% supermajority threshold, more than any of the other state abortion initiatives. With 57% voting in favor to overturn a strict abortion ban and enshrine protections, Florida was the first state to fail to secure abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned two years ago.

Abortion-rights organizers who spearheaded and funded Floridas Yes on 4 campaign said the result still shows majority approval for abortion rights among Floridians, and they vow to continue trying to restore abortion rights in the state that six months ago was an abortion-access haven for the Southeast region.

Were incredibly proud to have stood with doctors, patients, and advocates impacted by this ban, said Yes on 4 Florida campaign manager Lauren Brenzel in a statement. Their stories, along with the countless women who will continue to suffer under Floridas cruel and extreme abortion ban, remind us that our fight is far from over.

Attorney and anti-abortion activist Catherine Glenn Foster of South Carolina told States Newsroom she is celebrating the fact that Floridians blocked attempts to enshrine abortion in their state constitution.

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However, she acknowledged that state abortion bans have created real problems, including women dying of preventable pregnancy-related causes and being denied routine miscarriage care. She said states that ban abortion should increase social supports, something that largely hasnt happened since states started banning abortion, and should implement a robust training system around treating health emergencies.

We need to have a real reckoning, said Foster, the president and CEO of First Rights Global, who previously led the anti-abortion policy group Americans United for Life and worked for the Alliance Defending Freedom.

Weve created an environment where doctors are scared, she said. They dont know how to respond and how to treat, and thats a big problem. We have to address that before we pass anything else.

Abortion ballot initiative results

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, seven states  California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont  have approved reproductive-rights state constitutional amendments or rejected anti-abortion constitutional amendments.

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This year reproductive-rights coalitions put abortion on the ballot in 10 states.

Arkansas had collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but this summer the state Supreme Court ruled that Arkansans for Limited Government, the committee behind the initiative, did not submit the correct paperwork. The group opposing abortion, marijuana and education measures in the state was led by a top adviser to Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Advocate reported.

Arizona  Proposition 139, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 62%

NO: 38%

In this swing state, abortion is currently legal until 15 weeks gestation. Earlier this year, a few Republicans crossed party lines to repeal a Civil War-era near-total abortion ban the legislature had revived. This citizen-initiated amendment would also prevent any penalties for someone who helps a person get an abortion. And it would allow for exceptions later in pregnancy for the patients life or physical or mental health.

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Colorado  Initiative 79, to allow public insurance to cover abortions  APPROVED

YES: 62%

NO: 39%

The citizen-initiated amendment proposes to expand abortion access in a state that currently has no gestational limits but does have a 40-year-old public funding ban. The amendment also proposes to prevent government interference in pregnancy and allow public insurance to cover abortions.

Florida  Amendment 4, to enshrine abortion rights until viability  FAILED

YES: 57%

NO: 43%

This citizen-initiated amendment would have overturned a 6-week abortion ban that has impacted the Southeast. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis administration mounted fierce opposition against the abortion-rights campaign that involved a state-sponsored misinformation campaign. Florida was the only state in this election to require a 60% supermajority for ballot measures.

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Maryland  Question 1, to protect reproductive autonomy  APPROVED

YES: 74%

NO: 26%

This legislatively-referred amendment would enshrine an individuals right to make decisions to prevent, continue, or end a pregnancy. Maryland has become a major abortion-access haven for the country; it is legal here until fetal viability and after for reasons related to the health of the fetus or pregnant person.

Missouri  Amendment 3, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 52%

NO: 48%

This citizen-initiated amendment would overturn a near-total abortion ban that only has exceptions to prevent the death of the pregnant person. The bans ambiguous language led at least one Missouri hospital system to stop providing emergency contraception to patients, a move that forced the state attorney general to announce that Plan B and contraception remain legal.

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Montana  Constitutional Initiative 128, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 57%

NO: 43%

This citizen-initiated amendment would guarantee protections in a state where abortion is currently legal but where Republican lawmakers have attempted to pass restrictions since Roe fell in 2022.

Nebraska  Initiative 434, to ban abortion after the first trimester vs. Initiative 439, to enshrine the right to abortion until viability

Initiative 434  APPROVED

FOR: 55%

AGAINST: 45%

Initiative 439  FAILED

FOR: 49%

AGAINST: 51%

Nebraska was the only state to have two competing abortion-related initiatives on the ballot.

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Nevada  Question 6, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 63%

NO: 37%

In this swing state abortion is currently legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, but this citizen-initiated measure would enshrine abortion rights into law. The measure will need to be approved by voters again in 2026 to become law.

New York  Proposal 1, to bar discrimination based on pregnancy status  APPROVED

YES: 62%

NO: 38%

This legislatively-referred measure would guarantee abortion rights in a state where abortion is legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy  later if a provider determines the procedure is necessary to save a patients life or health, or if the fetus is nonviable.

South Dakota  Amendment G, to allow abortion through the end of the first trimester  FAILED

YES: 41%

NO: 59%

This citizen-initiated measure would have allowed regulation in the second trimester for maternal health reasons and allow lawmakers in the third trimester unless the procedure is necessary to save the life or health of a pregnant patient.

Races where abortion took center stage

Minnesota Congressional District 3

Democrat Dr. Kelly Morrison: 59%

Republican Tad Jude: 41%

Minnesota State Sen. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, won the Minnesota 3rd Congressional District race to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips in a seat that before 2018 had for decades gone to Republicans, AP reported. Morrison is a practicing OB-GYN who supports abortion rights. Currently, the only OB-GYNs in Congress oppose abortion. Her Republican opponent, Tad Jude, has called every abortion a tragedy and supported the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

A special election in Minnesota will determine who takes over Morrisons state Senate seat, whose term ends in 2026.

Wisconsin Congressional District 8

Republican Tony Wied: 57%

Democrat Dr. Kristin Lyerly: 43%

Of the close races in the swing state of Wisconsin, the 8th Congressional District was the least likely to flip from Republican control. But Dr. Kristin Lyerly launched a fierce campaign emphasizing a commitment to restoring reproductive health access to Americans, something she is uniquely positioned to advocate for as a longtime OB-GYN and abortion provider. Lyerly is also one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that successfully blocked an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law that was temporarily enforced as a state abortion ban. Her campaign attracted national campaign cash and support. Her opponent, Republican Tony Wied, a former gas station owner, largely ran on his Trump endorsement.

Tennessee House District 75

Republican Jeff Burkhart: 55 %

Democrat Allie Phillips: 45 %

Incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart defeated former day care operator and political newcomer Allie Phillips, who largely campaigned on reproductive rights. The 29-year-old drew national attention after speaking out about being denied a necessary abortion in Tennessee, where abortion is banned, when her desired pregnancy became nonviable and dangerous at 19 weeks. She ultimately traveled out of state to obtain the abortion. Phillips joined a legal challenge to the states strict abortion law. She pledged if elected to immediately push for a policy that would carve out exceptions for fetal anomalies to Tennessees abortion ban, which shes named Mileys Law after the baby she and her husband lost.
Voters headed to the polls across the United States Tuesday following record-breaking early voting to elect a president, determine the balance of power in Congress and consider abortion ballot measures in 10 states. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

EDITORS NOTE: This report was updated at 11:45 a.m. Central on Nov. 6 with the latest election results.

In the first presidential election since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion, former President Donald Trump, who touted during the campaign he was able to kill Roe v. Wade, won a second term in the White House. Simultaneously, seven out of 10 states voted to restore or expand abortion rights, according to early election results.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

National anti-abortion groups celebrated Trumps victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who campaigned heavily on restoring reproductive rights. They also celebrated the defeat of abortion-rights amendments in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota, and foreshadowed a full assault on reproductive freedom throughout the country.

Now the work begins to dismantle the pro-abortion policies of the Biden-Harris administration, said Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser in a statement. President Trumps first-term pro-life accomplishments are the baseline for his second term. In the long term, GOP pro-life resolve must be strengthened and centered on the unalienable right to life for unborn children that exists under the 14th Amendment.

Despite their losses, abortion-rights advocates said the ballot question victories signal widespread American support for abortion protections even in red states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Most significantly, Missourians voted to overturn a near-total abortion ban. Voters also approved an abortion-rights amendment in Arizona, which will override the current 15-week ban. Voters agreed to expand reproductive-rights protections in Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Nevada and New York.

This is an especially historic win for Missouri, said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the national legal advocacy group Center for Reproductive Rights. In fact, the amendment goes even further, calling for a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, defined to include abortion and all matters relating to reproductive health care. By saying yes to this powerful language, voters have demanded the return of the essential human rights and freedoms they lost after Roe was overturned.

But abortion-rights advocates suffered a major loss in Florida, which barely failed to clear a 60% supermajority threshold, more than any of the other state abortion initiatives. With 57% voting in favor to overturn a six-week abortion ban and enshrine protections, Florida was the first state to fail to secure abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned two years ago.

Abortion-rights organizers who spearheaded and funded Floridas Yes on 4 campaign said the result still shows majority approval for abortion rights among Floridians, and they vow to continue trying to restore abortion rights in the state that six months ago was an abortion-access haven for the Southeast region.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Were incredibly proud to have stood with doctors, patients, and advocates impacted by this ban, said Yes on 4 Florida campaign manager Lauren Brenzel in a statement. Their stories, along with the countless women who will continue to suffer under Floridas cruel and extreme abortion ban, remind us that our fight is far from over.

Attorney and anti-abortion activist Catherine Glenn Foster told States Newsroom she is celebrating the fact that Floridians blocked attempts to enshrine abortion in their state constitution. However, she acknowledged that state abortion bans have created real problems, including women dying of preventable pregnancy-related causes and being denied routine miscarriage care. She said states that ban abortion should increase social supports, something that largely hasnt happened since states started banning abortion, and should implement a robust training system around treating health emergencies.

We need to have a real reckoning, said Foster, the president and CEO of First Rights Global, who previously led the anti-abortion policy group Americans United for Life and worked for the Alliance Defending Freedom. Weve created an environment where doctors are scared. They dont know how to respond and how to treat, and thats a big problem. We have to address that before we pass anything else.

Abortion ballot initiative results

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, seven states  California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont  have approved reproductive-rights state constitutional amendments or rejected anti-abortion constitutional amendments. This year reproductive-rights coalitions put abortion on the ballot in 10 states. Arkansas had collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but this summer the state Supreme Court ruled that Arkansans for Limited Government, the committee behind the initiative, did not submit the correct paperwork. The group opposing abortion, marijuana and education measures in the state was led by a top adviser to Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Advocate reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Arizona  Proposition 139, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 62%

NO: 38%

In this swing state, abortion is currently legal until 15 weeks gestation. Earlier this year, a few Republicans crossed party lines to repeal a Civil War-era near-total abortion ban the legislature had revived. This citizen-initiated amendment would also prevent any penalties for someone who helps a person get an abortion. And it would allow for exceptions later in pregnancy for the patients life or physical or mental health.

Colorado  Initiative 79, to allow public insurance to cover abortions  APPROVED

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

YES: 62%

NO: 39%

The citizen-initiated amendment proposes to expand abortion access in a state that currently has no gestational limits but does have a 40-year-old public funding ban. The amendment also proposes to prevent government interference in pregnancy and allow public insurance to cover abortions.

Florida  Amendment 4, to enshrine abortion rights until viability  FAILED

YES: 57%

NO: 43%

This citizen-initiated amendment would have overturned a 6-week abortion ban that has impacted the Southeast. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis administration mounted fierce opposition against the abortion-rights campaign that involved a state-sponsored misinformation campaign. Florida was the only state in this election to require a 60% supermajority for ballot measures.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Maryland  Question 1, to protect reproductive autonomy  APPROVED

YES: 74%

NO: 26%

This legislatively-referred amendment would enshrine an individuals right to make decisions to prevent, continue, or end a pregnancy. Maryland has become a major abortion-access haven for the country; it is legal here until fetal viability and after for reasons related to the health of the fetus or pregnant person.

Missouri  Amendment 3, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 52%

NO: 48%

This citizen-initiated amendment would overturn a near-total abortion ban that only has exceptions to prevent the death of the pregnant person. The bans ambiguous language led at least one Missouri hospital system to stop providing emergency contraception to patients, a move that forced the state attorney general to announce that Plan B and contraception remain legal.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Montana  Constitutional Initiative 128, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 57%

NO: 43%

This citizen-initiated amendment would guarantee protections in a state where abortion is currently legal but where Republican lawmakers have attempted to pass restrictions since Roe fell in 2022.

Nebraska  Initiative 434, to ban abortion after the first trimester vs. Initiative 439, to enshrine the right to abortion until viability

Initiative 434  APPROVED

FOR: 55%

AGAINST: 45%

Initiative 439  FAILED

FOR: 49%

AGAINST: 51%

Nebraska was the only state to have two competing abortion-related initiatives on the ballot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Nevada  Question 6, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 63%

NO: 37%

In this swing state abortion is currently legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, but this citizen-initiated measure would enshrine abortion rights into law. The measure will need to be approved by voters again in 2026 to become law.

New York  Proposal 1, to bar discrimination based on pregnancy status  APPROVED

YES: 62%

NO: 38%

This legislatively-referred measure would guarantee abortion rights in a state where abortion is legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy  later if a provider determines the procedure is necessary to save a patients life or health, or if the fetus is nonviable.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

South Dakota  Amendment G, to allow abortion through the end of the first trimester  FAILED

YES: 41%

NO: 59%

This citizen-initiated measure would have allowed regulation in the second trimester for maternal health reasons and allow lawmakers in the third trimester unless the procedure is necessary to save the life or health of a pregnant patient.

Races where abortion took center stage

Minnesota Congressional District 3

Democrat Dr. Kelly Morrison: 59%

Republican Tad Jude: 41%

Minnesota State Sen. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, won the Minnesota 3rd Congressional District race to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips in a seat that before 2018 had for decades gone to Republicans, AP reported. Morrison is a practicing OB-GYN who supports abortion rights. Currently, the only OB-GYNs in Congress oppose abortion. Her Republican opponent, Tad Jude, has called every abortion a tragedy and supported the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

A special election in Minnesota will determine who takes over Morrisons state Senate seat, whose term ends in 2026.

Wisconsin Congressional District 8

Republican Tony Wied: 57%

Democrat Dr. Kristin Lyerly: 43%

Of the close races in the swing state of Wisconsin, the 8th Congressional District was the least likely to flip from Republican control. But Dr. Kristin Lyerly launched a fierce campaign emphasizing a commitment to restoring reproductive health access to Americans, something she is uniquely positioned to advocate for as a longtime OB-GYN and abortion provider. Lyerly is also one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that successfully blocked an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law that was temporarily enforced as a state abortion ban. Her campaign attracted national campaign cash and support. Her opponent, Republican Tony Wied, a former gas station owner, largely ran on his Trump endorsement.

Tennessee House District 75

Republican Jeff Burkhart: 55 %

Democrat Allie Phillips: 45 %

Incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart defeated former day care operator and political newcomer Allie Phillips, who largely campaigned on reproductive rights. The 29-year-old drew national attention after speaking out about being denied a necessary abortion in Tennessee, where abortion is banned, when her desired pregnancy became nonviable and dangerous at 19 weeks. She ultimately traveled out of state to obtain the abortion. Phillips joined a legal challenge to the states strict abortion law. She pledged if elected to immediately push for a policy that would carve out exceptions for fetal anomalies to Tennessees abortion ban, which shes named Mileys Law after the baby she and her husband lost.

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Voters headed to the polls across the United States Tuesday following record-breaking early voting to elect a president, determine the balance of power in Congress and consider abortion ballot measures in 10 states. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

In the first presidential election since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed state governments to determine if, when and why a woman can end a pregnancy, former President Donald Trump, who touted during the campaign he was able to kill Roe v. Wade appeared poised to be reelected early Wednesday. Simultaneously, at least five out of 10 states voted to restore or expand abortion rights, according to early election results.

National anti-abortion groups celebrated Trumps impending victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who campaigned heavily on restoring reproductive rights. They also celebrated the defeat of Floridas and South Dakotas abortion-rights amendments, and foreshadowed a full assault on reproductive freedom throughout the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Now the work begins to dismantle the pro-abortion policies of the Biden-Harris administration, said Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser in a statement. President Trumps first-term pro-life accomplishments are the baseline for his second term. In the long term, GOP pro-life resolve must be strengthened and centered on the unalienable right to life for unborn children that exists under the 14th Amendment.

Despite their losses, abortion-rights advocates said the ballot question victories signal widespread American support for abortion protections even in red states.

Most significantly, Missourians voted to overturn a total abortion ban. Voters also approved an abortion-rights amendment in Arizona, which will override the current 15-week ban. Voters agreed to expand reproductive-rights protections in Colorado, Maryland and New York. Ballot measure races in Montana and Nevada were too close to call as of early morning Wednesday.

This is an especially historic win for Missouri, said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the national legal advocacy group Center for Reproductive Rights. In fact, the amendment goes even further, calling for a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, defined to include abortion and all matters relating to reproductive health care. By saying yes to this powerful language, voters have demanded the return of the essential human rights and freedoms they lost after Roe was overturned.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

But abortion-rights advocates suffered a major loss in Florida, which barely failed to clear a 60% supermajority threshold, more than any of the other state abortion initiatives. With 58% voting in favor to overturn a strict abortion ban and enshrine protections, Florida is the first state to fail to secure abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned two years ago.

Abortion-rights organizers who spearheaded and funded Floridas Yes on 4 campaign said the result still shows majority approval for abortion rights among Floridians, and they vow to continue trying to restore abortion rights in the state that six months ago was an abortion-access haven for the Southeast region.

Were incredibly proud to have stood with doctors, patients, and advocates impacted by this ban, said Yes on 4 Florida campaign manager Lauren Brenzel in a statement. Their stories, along with the countless women who will continue to suffer under Floridas cruel and extreme abortion ban, remind us that our fight is far from over.

Attorney and anti-abortion activist Catherine Glenn Foster told States Newsroom she is celebrating the fact that Floridians blocked attempts to enshrine abortion in their state constitution. However, she acknowledged that state abortion bans have created real problems, including women dying of preventable pregnancy-related causes and being denied routine miscarriage care. She said states that ban abortion should increase social supports, something that largely hasnt happened since states started banning abortion, and should implement a robust training system around treating health emergencies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

We need to have a real reckoning, said Foster, who has previously worked for major anti-abortion groups like Americans United for Life and Alliance Defending Freedom. Weve created an environment where doctors are scared. They dont know how to respond and how to treat, and thats a big problem. We have to address that before we pass anything else.

Abortion ballot initiative results

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, seven states  California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont  have approved reproductive-rights state constitutional amendments or rejected anti-abortion constitutional amendments. This year reproductive-rights coalitions put abortion on the ballot in 10 states. Arkansas had collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but this summer the state Supreme Court ruled that Arkansans for Limited Government, the committee behind the initiative, did not submit the correct paperwork. The group opposing abortion, marijuana and education measures in the state was led by a top adviser to Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Advocate reported.

Arizona  Proposition 139, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 63%

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NO: 37%

In this swing state, abortion is currently legal until 15 weeks gestation. Earlier this year, a few Republicans crossed party lines to repeal a Civil War-era near-total abortion ban the legislature had revived. This citizen-initiated amendment would also prevent any penalties for someone who helps a person get an abortion. And it would allow for exceptions later in pregnancy for the patients life or physical or mental health.

Colorado  Initiative 79, to allow public insurance to cover abortions  APPROVED

YES: 62%

NO: 39%

The citizen-initiated amendment proposes to expand abortion access in a state that currently has no gestational limits but does have a 40-year-old public funding ban. The amendment also proposes to prevent government interference in pregnancy and allow public insurance to cover abortions.

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Florida  Amendment 4, to enshrine abortion rights until viability  FAILED

YES: 57%

NO: 43%

This citizen-initiated amendment would have overturned a 6-week abortion ban that has impacted the Southeast. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis administration mounted fierce opposition against the abortion-rights campaign that involved a state-sponsored misinformation campaign. Florida was the only state in this election to require a 60% supermajority for ballot measures.

Maryland  Question 1, to protect reproductive autonomy  APPROVED

YES: 74%

NO: 26%

This legislatively-referred amendment would enshrine an individuals right to make decisions to prevent, continue, or end a pregnancy. Maryland has become a major abortion-access haven for the country; it is legal here until fetal viability and after for reasons related to the health of the fetus or pregnant person.

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Missouri  Amendment 3, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 52%

NO: 48%

This citizen-initiated amendment would overturn a near-total abortion ban that only has exceptions to prevent the death of the pregnant person. The bans ambiguous language led at least one Missouri hospital system to stop providing emergency contraception to patients, a move that forced the state attorney general to announce that Plan B and contraception remain legal.

Montana  Constitutional Initiative 128, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  RESULTS NOT FINAL

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YES: 58%

NO: 42%

This citizen-initiated amendment would guarantee protections in a state where abortion is currently legal but where Republican lawmakers have attempted to pass restrictions since Roe fell in 2022. Preliminary results show supporters of the measure were leading opponents as of 11 p.m. local time.

Nebraska  Initiative 434, to ban abortion after the first trimester vs. Initiative 439, to enshrine the right to abortion until viability

Initiative 434  APPROVED

FOR: 55%

AGAINST: 45%

Initiative 439

FOR: 49%

AGAINST: 51%

Nebraska was the only state to have two competing abortion-related initiatives on the ballot.

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Nevada  Question 6, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  RESULTS NOT FINAL

YES: 63%

NO: 37%

In this swing state abortion is currently legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, but this citizen-initiated measure would enshrine abortion rights into law. The measure will need to be approved by voters again in 2026 to become law.

New York  Proposal 1, to bar discrimination based on pregnancy status  APPROVED

YES: 62%

NO: 39%

This legislatively-referred measure would guarantee abortion rights in a state where abortion is legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy  later if a provider determines the procedure is necessary to save a patients life or health, or if the fetus is nonviable.

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South Dakota  Amendment G, to allow abortion through the end of the first trimester  FAILED

YES: 39%

NO: 61%

This citizen-initiated measure would have allowed regulation in the second trimester for maternal health reasons and allow lawmakers in the third trimester unless the procedure is necessary to save the life or health of a pregnant patient.

Races where abortion took center stage

Minnesota Congressional District 3

Democrat Dr. Kelly Morrison: 59%

Republican Tad Jude: 41%

Minnesota State Sen. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, won the Minnesota 3rd Congressional District race to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips in a seat that before 2018 had for decades gone to Republicans, AP reported. Morrison is a practicing OB-GYN who supports abortion rights. Currently, the only OB-GYNs in Congress oppose abortion. Her Republican opponent, Tad Jude, has called every abortion a tragedy and supported the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

A special election in Minnesota will determine who takes over Morrisons state Senate seat, whose term ends in 2026.

Wisconsin Congressional District 8

Republican Tony Wied: 60%

Democrat Dr. Kristin Lyerly: 40%

Of the close races in the swing state of Wisconsin, the 8th Congressional District was the least likely to flip from Republican control. But Dr. Kristin Lyerly launched a fierce campaign emphasizing a commitment to restoring reproductive health access to Americans, something she is uniquely positioned to advocate for as a longtime OB-GYN and abortion provider. Lyerly is also one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that successfully blocked an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law that was temporarily enforced as a state abortion ban. Her campaign attracted national campaign cash and support. Her opponent, Republican Tony Wied, a former gas station owner, largely ran on his Trump endorsement.

Tennessee State House District 75

Republican Jeff Burkhart: 55 %

Democrat Allie Phillips: 45 %

Incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart defeated former day care operator and political newcomer Allie Phillips, who largely campaigned on reproductive rights. The 29-year-old drew national attention after speaking out about being denied a necessary abortion in Tennessee, where abortion is banned, when her desired pregnancy became nonviable and dangerous at 19 weeks. She ultimately traveled out of state to obtain the abortion. Phillips joined a legal challenge to the states strict abortion law. She pledged if elected to immediately push for a policy that would carve out exceptions for fetal anomalies to Tennessees abortion ban, which shes named Mileys Law after the baby she and her husband lost.
Voters headed to the polls across the United States Tuesday following record-breaking early voting to elect a president, determine the balance of power in Congress and consider abortion ballot measures in 10 states. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Editors note: This report has been updated with the latest election results.

In the first presidential election since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion, former President Donald Trump, who touted during the campaign he was able to kill Roe v. Wade, won a second term in the White House. Simultaneously, seven out of 10 states voted to restore or expand abortion rights, according to early election results.

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National anti-abortion groups celebrated Trumps victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who campaigned heavily on restoring reproductive rights. They also celebrated the defeat of abortion-rights amendments in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota, and foreshadowed a full assault on reproductive freedom throughout the country.

Now the work begins to dismantle the pro-abortion policies of the Biden-Harris administration, said Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser in a statement. President Trumps first-term pro-life accomplishments are the baseline for his second term. In the long term, GOP pro-life resolve must be strengthened and centered on the unalienable right to life for unborn children that exists under the 14th Amendment.

Despite their losses, abortion-rights advocates said the ballot question victories signal widespread American support for abortion protections even in red states.

Most significantly, Missourians voted to overturn a near-total abortion ban. Voters also approved an abortion-rights amendment in Arizona, which will override the current 15-week ban. Voters agreed to expand reproductive-rights protections in Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Nevada and New York.

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This is an especially historic win for Missouri, said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the national legal advocacy group Center for Reproductive Rights. In fact, the amendment goes even further, calling for a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, defined to include abortion and all matters relating to reproductive health care. By saying yes to this powerful language, voters have demanded the return of the essential human rights and freedoms they lost after Roe was overturned.

But abortion-rights advocates suffered a major loss in Florida, which barely failed to clear a 60% supermajority threshold, more than any of the other state abortion initiatives. With 57% voting in favor to overturn a six-week abortion ban and enshrine protections, Florida was the first state to fail to secure abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned two years ago.

Abortion-rights organizers who spearheaded and funded Floridas Yes on 4 campaign said the result still shows majority approval for abortion rights among Floridians, and they vow to continue trying to restore abortion rights in the state that six months ago was an abortion-access haven for the Southeast region.

Were incredibly proud to have stood with doctors, patients, and advocates impacted by this ban, said Yes on 4 Florida campaign manager Lauren Brenzel in a statement. Their stories, along with the countless women who will continue to suffer under Floridas cruel and extreme abortion ban, remind us that our fight is far from over.

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Attorney and anti-abortion activist Catherine Glenn Foster told States Newsroom she is celebrating the fact that Floridians blocked attempts to enshrine abortion in their state constitution. However, she acknowledged that state abortion bans have created real problems, including women dying of preventable pregnancy-related causes and being denied routine miscarriage care. She said states that ban abortion should increase social supports, something that largely hasnt happened since states started banning abortion, and should implement a robust training system around treating health emergencies.

We need to have a real reckoning, said Foster, the president and CEO of First Rights Global, who previously led the anti-abortion policy group Americans United for Life and worked for the Alliance Defending Freedom. Weve created an environment where doctors are scared. They dont know how to respond and how to treat, and thats a big problem. We have to address that before we pass anything else.

Abortion ballot initiative results

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, seven states  California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont  have approved reproductive-rights state constitutional amendments or rejected anti-abortion constitutional amendments. This year reproductive-rights coalitions put abortion on the ballot in 10 states. Arkansas had collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but this summer the state Supreme Court ruled that Arkansans for Limited Government, the committee behind the initiative, did not submit the correct paperwork. The group opposing abortion, marijuana and education measures in the state was led by a top adviser to Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Advocate reported.

Arizona  Proposition 139, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

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YES: 62%

NO: 38%

In this swing state, abortion is currently legal until 15 weeks gestation. Earlier this year, a few Republicans crossed party lines to repeal a Civil War-era near-total abortion ban the legislature had revived. This citizen-initiated amendment would also prevent any penalties for someone who helps a person get an abortion. And it would allow for exceptions later in pregnancy for the patients life or physical or mental health.

Colorado  Initiative 79, to allow public insurance to cover abortions  APPROVED

YES: 62%

NO: 39%

The citizen-initiated amendment proposes to expand abortion access in a state that currently has no gestational limits but does have a 40-year-old public funding ban. The amendment also proposes to prevent government interference in pregnancy and allow public insurance to cover abortions.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Florida  Amendment 4, to enshrine abortion rights until viability  FAILED

YES: 57%

NO: 43%

This citizen-initiated amendment would have overturned a 6-week abortion ban that has impacted the Southeast. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis administration mounted fierce opposition against the abortion-rights campaign that involved a state-sponsored misinformation campaign. Florida was the only state in this election to require a 60% supermajority for ballot measures.

Maryland  Question 1, to protect reproductive autonomy  APPROVED

YES: 74%

NO: 26%

This legislatively-referred amendment would enshrine an individuals right to make decisions to prevent, continue, or end a pregnancy. Maryland has become a major abortion-access haven for the country; it is legal here until fetal viability and after for reasons related to the health of the fetus or pregnant person.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Missouri  Amendment 3, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 52%

NO: 48%

This citizen-initiated amendment would overturn a near-total abortion ban that only has exceptions to prevent the death of the pregnant person. The bans ambiguous language led at least one Missouri hospital system to stop providing emergency contraception to patients, a move that forced the state attorney general to announce that Plan B and contraception remain legal.

Montana  Constitutional Initiative 128, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 57%

NO: 43%

This citizen-initiated amendment would guarantee protections in a state where abortion is currently legal but where Republican lawmakers have attempted to pass restrictions since Roe fell in 2022.

Nebraska  Initiative 434, to ban abortion after the first trimester vs. Initiative 439, to enshrine the right to abortion until viability

Initiative 434  APPROVED

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FOR: 55%

AGAINST: 45%

Initiative 439  FAILED

FOR: 49%

AGAINST: 51%

Nebraska was the only state to have two competing abortion-related initiatives on the ballot.

Nevada  Question 6, to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability  APPROVED

YES: 63%

NO: 37%

In this swing state abortion is currently legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, but this citizen-initiated measure would enshrine abortion rights into law. The measure will need to be approved by voters again in 2026 to become law.

New York  Proposal 1, to bar discrimination based on pregnancy status  APPROVED

YES: 62%

NO: 38%

This legislatively-referred measure would guarantee abortion rights in a state where abortion is legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy  later if a provider determines the procedure is necessary to save a patients life or health, or if the fetus is nonviable.

Advertisement Advertisement

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South Dakota  Amendment G, to allow abortion through the end of the first trimester  FAILED

YES: 41%

NO: 59%

This citizen-initiated measure would have allowed regulation in the second trimester for maternal health reasons and allow lawmakers in the third trimester unless the procedure is necessary to save the life or health of a pregnant patient.

Races where abortion took center stage

Minnesota Congressional District 3

Democrat Dr. Kelly Morrison: 59%

Republican Tad Jude: 41%

Minnesota State Sen. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, won the Minnesota 3rd Congressional District race to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips in a seat that before 2018 had for decades gone to Republicans, AP reported. Morrison is a practicing OB-GYN who supports abortion rights. Currently, the only OB-GYNs in Congress oppose abortion. Her Republican opponent, Tad Jude, has called every abortion a tragedy and supported the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

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A special election in Minnesota will determine who takes over Morrisons state Senate seat, whose term ends in 2026.

Wisconsin Congressional District 8

Republican Tony Wied: 57%

Democrat Dr. Kristin Lyerly: 43%

Of the close races in the swing state of Wisconsin, the 8th Congressional District was the least likely to flip from Republican control. But Dr. Kristin Lyerly launched a fierce campaign emphasizing a commitment to restoring reproductive health access to Americans, something she is uniquely positioned to advocate for as a longtime OB-GYN and abortion provider. Lyerly is also one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that successfully blocked an 1849 Wisconsin feticide law that was temporarily enforced as a state abortion ban. Her campaign attracted national campaign cash and support. Her opponent, Republican Tony Wied, a former gas station owner, largely ran on his Trump endorsement.

Tennessee House District 75

Republican Jeff Burkhart: 55 %

Democrat Allie Phillips: 45 %

Incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart defeated former day care operator and political newcomer Allie Phillips, who largely campaigned on reproductive rights. The 29-year-old drew national attention after speaking out about being denied a necessary abortion in Tennessee, where abortion is banned, when her desired pregnancy became nonviable and dangerous at 19 weeks. She ultimately traveled out of state to obtain the abortion. Phillips joined a legal challenge to the states strict abortion law. She pledged if elected to immediately push for a policy that would carve out exceptions for fetal anomalies to Tennessees abortion ban, which shes named Mileys Law after the baby she and her husband lost.

Editors note: This story was updated at 3:55 p.m. to clarify Catherine Glenn Fosters title.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  Mayors in Jackson County will soon be eligible for retirement benefits as Local Amendment 1 passes.

Jackson County Local Amendment One deals with mayors of the countys municipal governments and their retirement benefits. Alabama House Member Mike Kirkland sponsored the Amendment.

According to unofficial results, 69 percent of voters voted in favor of the amendment.

Kirkland said that mayors do not receive retirement benefits, so they are proposing that they be eligible for the same benefits as the state retirement program.

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Additionally, Kirkland said the bill intended to attract well-qualified candidates to run for office.

The state retirement policy requires at least ten years of service to qualify, so mayors would have to serve more than two terms to receive the benefits.

While no mayors currently fit the bill, Kirkland said this amendment is aimed at the future as Jackson County continues to grow.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was not on the Tuesday ballot, but on the same night that Donald Trump swept Florida and Miami-Dade to win the White House, DeSantis consolidated his power in the state with his own big wins.

The governor forcefully campaigned against two high-profile ballot amendments to protect abortion rights and legalize adult use of recreational marijuana. Both measures failed even though they received a majority of voters  just not enough to clear the 60% approval threshold.

The abortion-rights Amendment 4 still got 57.15% support, based on unofficial results, and performed well in Miami-Dade and several red counties. That should be a message to DeSantis and the Legislature that most voters see the states six-week ban as too extreme. We encourage the amendment sponsors to launch another campaign to get a similar measure on the ballot in future elections. Womens lives and health are at stake.

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But, at least for now, Floridas abortion ban remains in place  and that is a victory for DeSantis, who made the bet that a state that was once seen as purple was conservative enough to support his policies.

DeSantis took Florida from a state where he defeated a progressive Democrat by a razor-thin margin in 2018 to one Trump carried by a 13-point margin. In 2022, DeSantis became the first Republican to win Miami-Dade in decades during his reelection, a feat Trump repeated on Tuesday.

As Florida moves deeper into one-party rule by the GOP after Tuesday, the results will likely be hyper-partisanship in state government and lack of reaching across the aisle. DeSantis has proven that he can find ways to govern with few checks from the legislative branch. His use of taxpayer resources and dollars to campaign against Amendments 3 and 4 shows that he knows how to use the state as an arm of his political machinery  even though it may cross the line between governing and the weaponization of government.

Neither DeSantis nor the Republican Party have felt repercussions at the polls  on the contrary, they expanded their electoral power  so its clear that Florida voters, for the most part, like DeSantis political brand. His loss to Trump in the GOP presidential primary was embarrassing, but the young governors aspirations are far from over.

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As the Herald reported, Republicans are already saying that Tuesdays election results help set up DeSantis for another presidential run in 2028. Its impossible to tell what could happen in four years and whether DeSantis will still have a national standing  and donors to support him.

For now, it seems apparent that DeSantis will continue to reshape Florida as hes done in the past few years. As state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, told the Herald: He is still the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to politics in the state of Florida.

It was because of DeSantis that the Legislature passed several laws that helped establish him as a fighter against what he calls woke indoctrination in schools  such as the infamous parental rights bill critics call Dont say gay. He also pushed lawmakers to pass a 15-week, then a six-week, abortion ban; and he got them to fund flights of migrants from the southern border to blue East Coast states.

With his term ending in 2026, DeSantis will be even more focused on establishing his legacy over future legislative sessions  the next one begins in March, in the middle of the crucial first 100 days of Trump in the White House.

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More of the same is what Floridians overwhelmingly want. Those who oppose more conservative GOP policies have even fewer avenues to oppose Trumps and DeSantis influence in state and South Florida politics. In this election, as America turned to MAGA, Florida also turned more into DeSantis-land.

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Max Page, the head of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, lifts up a sign for his ballot question eliminating the MCAS test as a graduation requirement. (Photo by Gintautas Dumcius)

Massachusetts voters resoundingly approved a ballot question that will remove the requirement that high school students pass a 10th-grade standardized test in English, math, and science to graduate.

The vote pulls down a central pillar of the states 1993 education reform law, and makes Massachusetts one of only two states with no statewide requirements for high school graduation.

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By a 59% to 41% margin, voters endorsed the change following a high-profile campaign bankrolled by more than $16 million from the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the states largest teachers union, which has long opposed the test-based accountability system for public schools ushered in three decades ago by the reform law.

Proponents argued that the high-stakes graduation test causes undue stress and punishes those who dont perform well on standardized tests. They said the test doesnt fully capture students abilities, particularly English language learners and students with disabilities, the two student groups that struggle most to pass the exam. They also said it forced educators to teach to the test, narrowing the focus of school curriculum.

Opponents  including Gov. Maura Healey, Senate President Karen Spilka, and House Speaker Ron Mariano  said it was vital to maintain a common assessment for all students, regardless of their demographic background or the district where they attend school. They argued that the accountability system established under the 1993 education law helped Massachusetts rocket from just above average in national rankings of student performance to at or near the top in math and reading scores.

In a statement, MTA president Max Page and vice president Deb McCarthy, hailed the vote as a victory for teachers and students. In passing Question 2, Massachusetts voters have proclaimed that they are ready to let teachers teach, and students learn, without the onerous effects of a high-stakes standardized test undermining the mission of public education: to prepare all students for future success as citizens, workers and creative, happy adults, they said.

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The campaign against the ballot question, Protect Our Kids Future: Vote No on 2, decried the vote as a move backward and encouraged state leaders to consider intervening to block it. Eliminating the graduation requirement without a replacement is reckless, campaign chairman John Schneider said in a statement. The passage of Question 2 opens the door to greater inequity; our coalition intends to ensure that door does not stay open. Those responsible for our states public education system need to have an honest conversation about whether moving forward with this proposal is the right decision for Massachusetts.

The campaign against the ballot question, which relied on wealthy donors, was outspent more than 3-to-1. It brought in $5.4 million, nearly half of which came late last month from former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who donated $2.5 million.

State-established standardized tests, known as the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, or MCAS, were a key element of the 1993 Education Reform Act, which combined curriculum frameworks and rigorous standards with a huge infusion of new state spending on schools, much of it directed to low-income districts that struggled to fund classrooms adequately.

The law was often referred to as a grand bargain  bringing new standards and expectations for student achievement that business leaders said were critical to the states growing knowledge economy, while addressing the call by teachers unions and other advocates for more state aid to offset huge disparities in school funding at the local level.

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Teachers unions were never enthusiastic about the new standards and testing regime. The ballot campaign to strip away the graduation test requirement capped a decade of growing resistance from the Mass. Teachers Association to the use of standardized tests to judge schools and students.

The union has taken aim over the last decade at various elements of the states education reform law under a succession of leaders who have steered the union sharply to the left.

Two years ago, in a scathing and sarcasm-filled attack before members of the state education board, Page, the MTAs current president, darkly characterized the state testing system as the MCAS hunger games. He accused the board of being obsessed with a test invented some 20 years ago and repeatedly shown to do little more than prove the wealth of a student and the community where it is taken. Page also railed against what he called the boards focus on income and college and career readiness, which he said speaks to a system that is tied to the capitalist class..and its needs for profits.

A student who fails the MCAS in 10th grade, can take it four more times in 11th and 12th grade. There is also an appeals process through which students can be cleared to graduate by showing a portfolio of school work or if school officials determine they have met state learning standards through coursework. Of the roughly 65,000 high school seniors each year in the state, only about 1 percent, or about 700 students, fail to graduate because of MCAS after meeting all other district requirements. About 85 percent of those students are English learners or students with disabilities.

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Massachusetts is one of just nine states with a high school exit exam. That number has been steadily dropping, down from 13 states in 2019 and from more than half of all states in 2002, according to Education Week.

John Papay, an associate professor of education and economics at Brown University who has carried out extensive research on MCAS, said resistance to test-based accountability has been growing for more than two decades, dating to passage of the federal No Child Left Behind Law of 2001. But he said opposition to graduation tests has intensified since the pandemic, when states paused testing amid the disruption of school closures. Many of the places that were seeing now moving away from exit exams just did not come back after the pandemic, he said of states that have dropped the requirement since 2019.

Ads in support of Question 2 urged a yes vote to replace the high-stakes graduation test, but the ballot question does not actually put forward a replacement for it. MTA leaders say the replacement is the states curriculum frameworks and standards, which spell out the material to be covered in classes and the expectations for student mastery of those subjects.

But those standards have already been in place. Whats more, unlike many states, Massachusetts has no state-required high school course sequence that students follow, so removing the graduation test will mean there is no common statewide standard for receiving a diploma.

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Although Tuesdays vote removes use of the test as a graduation requirement, students will continue to take MCAS exams in grades 3 through 8 as well as in the 10th grade.

Education reform policies ranging from testing to charter schools once enjoyed fairly robust bipartisan support. But views on education issues have taken on an increasingly partisan bent, with Democrats turning away from various reform initiatives.

A University of New Hampshire poll released over the weekend showed a sharp partisan divide on the ballot question, with 65 percent of Democrats favoring the move to end the MCAS graduation requirement and 32 percent opposed. Among the Republicans the numbers were essentially reversed, with 25 percent favoring Question 2 and 66 percent opposed.

Both of the states US senators and four members of the nine-person US House delegation came out in favor of Question 2. But on Beacon Hill, a bipartisan succession of governors and Democratic legislative leaders, who are responsible for overseeing state education policy, have maintained strong support for the education reform law since its adoption more than three decades ago.

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Healey called the graduation test a crucial cornerstone of the effort to hold schools to a common standard. Eliminating the MCAS requirement means that we wont have the same standard for schools across the state, she said last month at a Roxbury youth services agency where she went to speak out against the ballot question. I dont believe that the standards should be different for students in our state depending on what ZIP code theyre living in and attending school in.

Whether the voter-approved change will be the last word on the issue is unclear. The Legislature has the power to alter laws enacted through ballot questions or repeal them altogether. Mariano and Spilka sent signals last month that they might look to craft a new statewide graduation requirement in place of the MCAS test.

Well have some discussions if it passes, and then well follow up, Spilka said. I am not in favor of getting rid of MCAS.

At the time, Page, the MTA president, blasted any talk of reworking the ballot question if it passes. He called Spilka and Mariano the lonely few opponents from Beacon Hill with a weird obsession with standardized testing.

This article first appeared on CommonWealth Beacon and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Measure 116 would create an independent commission to state the salaries of many elected officials. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Early election results show voters opposing Measure 116, which would create a commission to set any salaries for state officials.

According to the Secretary of States Office, 53% of voters are against Measure 116 compared with nearly 46% against.



Measure 116 would create an independent commission with the power to set salaries for the governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, labor bureau commissioner as well as district attorneys, state senators and state representatives. Many have some of the lowest salaries among their peers nationwide. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum earns less than any other attorney general; Gov. Tina Kotek only earns more than the governors of Maine, Colorado and Arizona; and Treasurer Tobias Read and Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade each make less than their counterparts everywhere but Wisconsin and Arizona.

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Two years ago, three Democratic female legislators  then-Reps. Karin Power, Rachel Prusak and Anna Williams  announced they would not seek subsequent terms because the pay, then about $33,000 a year, was too low.

In theory, being an Oregon state legislator is a part-time job, with lawmakers meeting for 35 days in even years and up to 160 days in odd years. But the job entails many hours otherwise, with lawmakers sitting on task forces, meeting with constituents and crafting legislation when Legislature is not in session.

Legislator pay has edged up in recent years, and starting in January, will be $43,434 annually. Lawmakers also earn a daily allowance, or per diem, of about $178 to cover food and lodging on days the Legislature is in session.

Supporters, including former Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, a Beaverton Democrat, said that creating a commission would professionalize the process, while former Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, a Bend Republican, said it should be up to Oregonians to set elected officials pay.

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Only one person filed a statement opposing Measure 116 in the Voters Pamphlet. Noah Robinson, the Republican nominee for the 2nd Senate district in southern Oregon and son of retiring Sen. Art Robinson, said in creating a commission, legislators and the governor would get more pay but not take responsibility for it.

If it passes, the commission would be able to set salaries and automatically appropriate the money needed to pay those wages from the state general fund without legislative approval. If it fails, the Legislature would continue to set salaries.

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Measure 119 would make it easier for workers in the cannabis industry to join unions. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Oregon voters appear to be passing Measure 119, which would make it easier for workers in the cannabis industry to organize.

In early results, nearly 58% of voters supported Measure 119 compared with 42% who voted against.

Measure 119, one of two citizen initiatives on the ballot, aims to pave the way for workers in the cannabis industry to join unions by requiring employers to pledge not to interfere with union activity when renewing their licenses or applying for a new one.

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The measure stems from a failed bill in the Legislature that sparked a recall campaign against a longtime Democratic state representative from Eugene, Paul Holvey. As chair of the business and labor committee, he helped kill a 2023 bill backed by Oregons largest private sector union to ease the rights of cannabis workers to organize because legislative counsel said that essentially it was illegal.

Holvey easily survived the recall attempt, but the union behind the bill, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, poured $2.4 million into getting the measure on the ballot.

Though Oregon law does not prevent cannabis workers from unionizing, workers say the measure is needed because their industry is in a gray zone: The federal government, which protects workers labor rights, has classified cannabis as a controlled substance. Opponents, however, say the measure would increase prices and costs in the industry.

Measure 119 would apply to any cannabis company that requires a license, including growers, retailers, processors and labs. In applying for or renewing a license, the employer would have to show the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, which regulates the industry, that they had signed a neutrality agreement with a union. These agreements are signed between a company and a union that represents or is trying to represent its workers. A labor peace agreement shows a company has promised to remain neutral when unions discuss bargaining rights with workers.

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A company that didnt sign a labor peace agreement could lose its license under Measure 119. If the agreement were terminated for any reason, the business would have to notify the commission within 10 business days and sign a new one with a union within 30 days of the termination. If the business didnt submit a new agreement, the commission could fine the business up to $4,950 and suspend or revoke its license.

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Nearly everywhere abortion was on the ballot, Americans voted to protect it.

Of the 10 states where abortion rights were on the ballot on Tuesday, seven voted to expand or enshrine abortion rights. The results are emblematic of what pro-choice advocates have been saying for decades: Abortion rights are widely popular.

In the biggest win of the night, deep-red Missouri decided to codify abortion protections into the state constitution. The measure will repeal the states near-total abortion ban and restore access until around 24 weeks of pregnancy  marking the first time since Roe v. Wade fell that voters have overturned an abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.

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Voters in Maryland and Colorado supported amendments to enshrine abortion access throughout pregnancy  a progressive win in states that have become safe havens for abortion care later in pregnancy. Notably, Colorados amendment also repeals a 1984 state law that barred the use of public funds for abortion care.

Arizona, Montana and Nevada all voted to pass amendments that codify abortion through fetal viability, or around 24 weeks of pregnancy, into the state constitution.

New Yorkers passed a historic amendment to expand the states equal rights amendment to include pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. The amendment also includes protections against discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

People at an election night watch party react after an abortion rights amendment in Missouri passed. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Three states  Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota  voted against abortion rights. A slim majority of Nebraska voters supported an anti-abortion amendment to codify the states current 12-week abortion ban, beating out the states competing abortion rights measure.

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Floridas outcome was particularly heartbreaking for pro-choice groups because a majority of Floridians (57%) supported the amendment, voting to restore abortion access until fetal viability. But because voters didnt meet the states 60% threshold for amending the state constitution, Amendment 4 did not pass.

The reality is because of Floridas constitution a minority  a minority  a minority of Florida voters have decided that Amendment 4 will not be adopted, Lauren Brenzel, director of the Yes On 4 campaign, said during her Tuesday night concession speech.

Republicans, Democrats and Independents do not support these extreme bans on abortion. They are tired of women dying because of abortion bans, she continued. ...A bipartisan group of voters today sent a clear message to the Florida legislature.

Despite 7 out of 10 states voting to protect abortion care, voters still supported a presidential candidate who will very likely decimate womens reproductive health care. Donald Trump may have shied away from his anti-abortion record on the campaign trail, but now that hes headed to the White House, those guardrails will likely fall by the wayside.

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Trump has waffled on a national abortion ban, but many of his allies laid out a blueprint for how to ban abortion nationwide in Project 2025.

A federal abortion ban would trump state rights, including the abortion rights measures that seven states passed last night, according to Mary Ziegler, an expert in reproductive health law at the University of California, Davis, School of Law. The Comstock Act, an archaic law that bans the mailing of abortion pills, would also likely supersede state rights if Trump enforces it as a national abortion ban.

Although the GOP won control of the Senate, control of the House  and with it, Trumps ability to pass a national abortion ban through Congress  is still up in the air.

Yet again, the people have spoken loudly and clearly: abortion is health care, and politicians do not deserve the right to make peoples medical decisions, Pro-Choice Caucus co-chairs Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said in Wednesday statement.

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In the months and years to come, there is no doubt we face a daunting path to securing reproductive freedom nationwide, the statement continues. We are clear-eyed about the threats ahead, from emboldened Republican extremists to a hostile White House and administration. We believe in a future of reproductive freedom for every American, and we will never stop fighting for you.

There will be litigation in every state that passed an abortion rights amendment on Tuesday night. Opponents of the measures will likely bring legal challenges against the successful initiatives and fight to keep other abortion regulations in place, like waiting periods and mandatory counseling.

Related...
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price speaks during a news conference in Oakland, California, last year. MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images via Getty Images

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price (D) appears to have been recalled from office in California. Local election officials said all precincts had reported, and the recall vote was ahead by nearly 30 points.

Price, who has been DA since 2023, originally ran for the office on a criminal justice reform platform, focusing on not charging minors as adults and holding possible rogue police officers accountable. Prices detractors criticized her for being soft on crime, holding demonstrations against her and ultimately leading an effort to remove her. The prosecutor responded by saying she was being targeted.

It is the first time Alameda County, which borders the San Francisco Bay and includes the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, has recalled its prosecutor. Local county supervisors will appoint an interim district attorney to serve as her replacement until 2026.

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Former Alameda County District Attorney Nancy OMalley, Prices predecessor, publicly backed Prices removal and worked for the recall vote to succeed.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) also backed Prices removal, saying she failed families who suffered from violent crimes. Price said previous district attorneys discriminated against Black, Jewish and gay jurors, and Swalwell, a former deputy district attorney in Alameda County, took offense to Prices comments. Swalwell announced his support for Prices removal in October.

Price reopened investigations into eight killings by police last year. In a press release announcing the move, she cited the uproar over the lethal beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man in Memphis, as her inspiration. In the same release, she also announced shed establish a public accountability unit tasked with investigating police officers and other public officials accused of misconduct.

Price joined demonstrations in Oakland last year following Nichols death.

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OMalley was appointed to office in September 2009, eight months after the death of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old Black man shot and killed by Bay Area Rapid Transit Police at a train station on New Years Day. BART officials and an Oakland City Council member condemned OMalley for not pursuing criminal charges against Anthony Pirone, an officer who was present at the time Grant was killed. Pirone was seen on video punching Grant in the face before he was shot by another officer, Johannes Mehserle.

OMalley announced in 2021 that she would not seek reelection, after a decade holding the office.
A campaign sign in Newport urges voters to vote no on Ballot Question 1, which asks if Rhode Island should hold a constitutional convention. (Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)

For the fourth straight decade, Rhode Island voters have rejected a ballot measure asking if the state should hold a constitutional convention.

As of 9:36 p.m., with 96% of the states polling places reporting, unofficial preliminary results from the states Board of Elections showed Rhode Islanders voted against Question 1 on the statewide ballot 62.8% to 37.2%. There were over 240,000 no votes and just over 142,000 yes votes.

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The last time the question was on the ballot in 2014, the vote was 55.1% opposed, while 44.9% supported holding a constitutional convention.

A coalition of 37 labor and civil liberties organizations  called Rhode Island Citizens for Responsible Government  formed over the summer to oppose the convention. Members of the coalition include the ACLU of Rhode Island, which argued that a constitutional convention opened up a path for special interest groups to try to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, abortion rights, and the rights of immigrants.

The ballot question, which is asked in years ending in 4, drew opposition from the Rhode Island Democratic Party and support from the state Republican Party. Republican party leaders saw a convention as a way to establish an Office of Inspector General, a policy initiative they have been unable to achieve through the General Assembly.

But now the spokesperson for Rhode Island Citizens for Responsible Government says the coalition is calling on the General Assembly to amend the Constitution and remove the requirement that puts this question to voters every 10 years.

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This process is a relic of the past, and in light of Rhode Islanders steady and continuing opposition every ten years to a Constitutional Convention, we believe its time to end this requirement, said Brad Dufault with Checkmate Consulting Group in a statement issued just before 9:30 p.m.

The every 10 years ballot question requirement was approved by voters after it was proposed at the 1973 constitutional convention. As part of the process, the General Assembly was tasked with creating a bi-partisan preparatory commission to assemble information on constitutional questions for the electors.

Voters last approved the ballot measure in 1984, holding a convention two years later  the most recent constitutional convention of any U.S. state. In 1986, Rhode Island voters in the general election considered 14 ballot questions and approved eight of them. Voters that year approved constitutional amendments that established the states Ethics Commission and clarified public access to the shoreline while rejecting a call to establish a constitutional right to life.

Registered Democrat Abigail Adams, 65, of Newport, said she voted no on Question 1 which asked if Rhode Island should hold a constitutional convention. I dont trust what might come out of that process. (Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)

Registered Democrat Abigail Adams, 65, voted to reject Question 1 on Tuesday morning at Thompson Middle School in Newport, not far from the Colony House on Washington Square where Rhode Island held its first constitutional convention in 1842. Adams, who works at the Edward King House Senior Center, said she only started to research the ballot question the day before the election before making up her mind.

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I dont trust what might come out of that process, Adams said.

Dr. Timothy Savage, shown outside the Temple Beth-El polling site in Providence, voted against Question 1. (Anisha Kumar/Rhode Island Current)

Dr. Timothy Savage, 39, a pediatrician who voted Tuesday morning at Temple Beth-El on the East Side of Providence, also voted no. He is a Democrat.

Its one of those things that it seemed like at face value might be good to revisit some of these fundamental questions, but as I read a little bit more about it, I read what the ACLU had advised on it, which was to vote against it, and learned a little bit about the last constitutional convention, Savage said. It sounded like that led to some more restrictive laws or changes being passed.

Independent voter Kelly Clasey of Johnston voted no on Question 1. I am afraid they will make changes to our reproductive rights, said Clasey, 53, an administrative assistant. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Independent voter Kelly Clasey of Johnston voted no on Question 1 at the IUOE Local 57 polling place on Center Avenue. I am afraid they will make changes to our reproductive rights, said Clasey, 53, an administrative assistant.

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Ryan Voorhees, an independent who voted at Temple Beth-El in Providence, said he voted for the convention because there are old laws on the books that could use updating  even if he admitted he didnt have the strongest support for the ballot measure.

It gives the voters a chance to change what needs to be changed, or what needs to be changed or what people want to change, I guess, he said.

Independent Providence resident Ryan Voorhees, shown outside Temple Beth-El, said he voted yes on Question 1, saying it may be time to update laws. (Anisha Kumar/Rhode Island Current)

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Jodie Laurie, a Democrat who voted at the Church of Saint Teresa in Pawtucket, said she voted against Question 1 because she was worried about reproductive rights possibly getting stripped away.

Youre not going to change my rights as a woman, Laurie said. We have a choice, its not 1950.

Fears of deep pocketed special interests

The coalitions arguments about dark money influencing the states founding documents were echoed by Democratic Party leaders in the final weeks heading into the election.

But the coalition was the only big-spender on the convention question heading into Nov. 5. Filings made with the Rhode Island Board of Elections show Rhode Island Citizens for Responsible Government spent over $134,000 toward digital and radio ads, along with mailers and campaign organization services.

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The only spending in favor of a convention cost a little over $5,000 and was spent by former Rhode Island Republican National Committeeman Steve Frias, who produced a video tying the convention to the ongoing closure of the westbound Washington Bridge in Providence.

A pre-election poll from the University of New Hampshires Survey Center showed a mostly split electorate  with 47% of likely voters saying they planned to reject the measure; 34% said they wanted a convention, and 18% were undecided.

Had voters approved the measure, it would have triggered a special election to select 75 convention delegates to represent each district in the House of Representatives  something the state estimated would cost $1.3 million.

The price tag for holding the convention ranged from $2.6 million and $4.6 million.

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With additional reporting from Anisha Kumar, Michael Salerno and Janine L. Weisman.

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Kelli Lee Procaccino, left, of East Greenwich, speaks with U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse while he was campaigning for reelection outside the George Hanaford School in East Greenwich on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse speaks with fellow Democrat and East Greenwich Town Councilor Renu Englehart while campaigning for reelection outside the George Hanaford School in East Greenwich on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

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Senate 25 Democrat candidate Andrew Dimitri campaigns outside (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Polling places in Johnston for the RI Current. The IUOE Local 57 polling place on Central Ave., in Johnston. At right is House 42 republican Richard Fascia speaking to voters. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse shakes hands with East Greenwich youngster, Luna Caldwell while campaigning for reelection outside the George Hanaford School in East Greenwich on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, left, shakes hands with East Greenwich resident Vikas Srivast while campaigning for reelection to his 2nd Congressional District seat outside the George Hanaford School on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

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U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner campaigns for reelection to his 2nd Congressional District seat outside the George Hanaford School on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, left, speaks with East Greenwich voter David Caldwell while campaigning for reelection to his 2nd Congressional District seat outside the George Hanaford School on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse shakes hands with voters while campaigning for reelection outside the George Hanaford School in East Greenwich on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Caitlin and Jack OShea of Exeter may be too young to cast a vote in the election, but they still proudly show their support for the Democratic presidency candidates. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

House 42 Democratic candidate Kelsey Coletta, right in blue sweatshirt, speaks with Joseph Biscelli and his son, Kevin, who just voted for the first time at IUOE Local 57 polling place on Central Avenue in Johnston on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Both father and son said they rejected Ballot Question 1. 'I dont really think that the Rhode Island Constitution should be messed with at this point,' said Joseph Biselli, a 54-year-old Democrat. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Voters fill out ballots at the polling site at George Hanaford School in East Greenwich on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Voters check in to vote at George Hanaford School in East Greenwich on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Voters check in to vote at George Hanaford School in East Greenwich on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Katie Tsimikas brought her teenaged son George Tsimikas with her to vote at George Hanaford School in East Greenwich on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Republican Justin Price is running to reclaim his seat representing Rhode Island House District 39. Price lost his reelection bid in 2022 by 32 votes. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Republican Justin Price is running to reclaim his seat representing Rhode Island House District 39. Price lost his reelection bid in 2022 by 32 votes. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Republican Justin Price is running to reclaim his seat representing Rhode Island House District 39. Price lost his reelection bid in 2022 by 32 votes. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Republican Justin Price is running to reclaim his seat representing Rhode Island House District 39. Price lost his reelection bid in 2022 by 32 votes. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Republican House District 39 candidate Justin Price shakes hands with Paul Sherman, a Richmond resident, outside Richmond Town Hall on Election Day. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Republican Justin Price, who is running to reclaim his seat in Rhode Island's House District 39, speaks with constituent Goldie Williams on Election Day. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, greets constituent Chris Callaci while canvassing on Election Day in her district. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, greets constituent Chris Callaci (far left) while canvassing on Election Day in her district. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, greets constituent Chris Callaci while canvassing on Election Day in her district. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Rep. Megan Cotter (right), an Exeter Democrat, stands with her daughter Emily outside Exeter Chapel after voting on Election Day. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Exeter Democratic Rep. Megan Cotter waves to passing cars in her district on Election Day. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Polling places in Johnston for the RI Current. The IUOE Local 57 polling place on Central Ave., in Johnston. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

A campaign sign supporting Republican former President Donald Trump and his running mate Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance is on display in the back of a pickup outside the IUOE Local 57 polling place on Central Avenue in Johnston on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

House 43 Democrat Rep. Deb Fellela, speaking with her and Andrew Dimitris supporters at the Sarah Dyer Barnes Elementary School polling place in Johnston. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Supporters are shown with House 43 Republican candidate Nick Grasso, standing with Rep. Patricia Morgan, running against incumbent U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehousee at the Ferri Middle School in Johnston. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Republican House 42 candidate Richard Fascia speaks with a voter outside the IUOE Local 57 polling place on Central Avenue in Johnston. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

House 42 Democratic candidate Kelsey Coletta, right, speaks with a voter outside the IUOE Local 57 polling place on Central Avenue in Johnston. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Independent voter Kelly Clasey of Johnston voted no on Question 1. 'I am afraid they will make changes to our reproductive rights,' said Casey, 53, an administrative assistant. (Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

A campaign sign in Newport urges voters to vote no on Ballot Question 1, which asks if Rhode Island should hold a constitutional convention. (Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)

Registered Democrat Abigail Adams, 65, of Newport, said she voted no on Question 1 which asked if Rhode Island should hold a constitutional convention. 'I don't trust what might come out of that process.' (Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current)

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Patricia Morgan waves outside the Wakefield Hills Elementary School in West Warwick where she voted at around 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Patricia Morgan listens to a WPRI TV 12 reporter's question outside the Wakefield Hills Elementary School in West Warwick on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse gives an interview outside Rogers High School in Newport after voting inside on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Sarah Winters/Rhode Island Current)
Floridas voters on Tuesday chose to keep a six-week ban on abortion in place, rejecting efforts to amend the states Constitution to allow access up until viability, which is about 24 weeks.

Abortion rights proved one of the more significant draws to the polls for Florida voters, but supporters fell short of the 60% margin needed to enshrine access in the state constitution.

The proposed, high-stakes amendment has been the target of millions of dollars in advertising as well as intense grassroots canvassing campaigns.

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More than 1 million Florida residents signed petitions to put Amendment 4 on the ballot in Florida. However, 60% of Florida voters needed to approve the amendment for it to pass, a threshold much higher than a simple majority. Only 57% of voters approved the amendment.

The majority of Floridians want abortion access, but the 60% was tough to get up to, said Josh Kaufman, the statewide organizer for the American Civil Liberties Union of Floridas Yes on 4 campaign. In the coming days, he said, Amendment 4 organizers will consider their next move.

2024 South Florida general election results

In Broward and Palm Beach counties, with most of the precincts reporting, the amendment got more than 65% of the vote.

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Some of the main opposition to Amendment 4 came from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration, who initially fought against putting the amendment on the ballot and then ramped up efforts to defeat it. The governor has held at least a half-dozen news conferences in the last two weeks alongside pro-life physicians to label Amendment 4 as too extreme and its wording as too vague.

Dr. Christina Pena, a Miami gynecological surgeon, participated in a governors news conference. On Tuesday night, Pena said she and her friends were gathering to learn whether Amendment 4 had been defeated, adding that she is proud of her colleagues who spoke out against the amendment to try to save lives.

Amendment 4 would have been devastating for women, and for doctors, Pena said. Cementing abortion into the Florida constitution while at the same time eliminating key health and safety standards would be both reckless and dangerous.

For months, including on election day, grassroots organizations have been working to educate Florida voters on the existing abortion ban and going door-to-door in neighborhoods to persuade voters to rebuff government involvement in their reproductive rights. Those efforts represent a diversity of ethnicities, races and religious affiliations.

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The amendments failure disappointed the coalition of reproductive rights groups, which have been working for more than a year to get it passed.

Floridians will continue to live under the extreme, near-total abortion ban that puts womens lives in danger, and doctors will continue to be pushed out of our state as they risk criminal prosecution for treating patients who seek their professional care, said Anna Hochkammer, executive director of the Florida Womens Freedom Coalition. Tonights results reflect that the wide majority of Floridians agree that politicians have no place in the deeply personal decisions between a patient and their doctor. We are unwavering, and our fight for justice and human dignity will not end until every Florida womans right to healthcare is restored.

On Tuesday, young voters, many of them first-timers or first-timers in person, said Amendment 4 had drawn them to the polls.

I dont think the government should interfere in what is right for you and your family, said Daniel Escobar, a 22-year-old from Plantation who exited the voting poll alongside his mother, Pilar, 63, who expressed the same sentiment. Pilar Escobar said as a Latina, limiting government interference in reproductive rights carried more weight for her than religion or culture.

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Grassroots efforts in Florida had targeted Hispanics. In the lead-up to the election, Mi Vecino, an organization focused on securing Hispanic support for Amendment 4, increased its efforts at direct voter contact in Osceola and Palm Beach counties, including door-knocking and phone calls. Initially their message had been aimed at limiting government interference in personal decisions. However, this week, as they focused on Democrats and Independent voters who hadnt yet cast a ballot, Mi Vecino reshaped its messaging to respond to the oppositions campaign.

We made it clear that either you live under the six-week ban for the indefinite future, or you save lives by extending care beyond six week, said Mi Vecino co-founder Devon Murphy-Anderson. This is the choice before us.

Lupe Rodriguez, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice said 65-70% of Latinas support abortion access. We are expecting a Latina majority in Florida will turn out to vote yes on 4, and thats based on the polling and on more anecdotal data from canvassing in Hialeah.

Florida is one of 10 states where abortion access was on the ballot Tuesday. While abortion rights previously have won in other states  both Democratic and Republican  that have had ballot measures since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Courts 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, Floridas amendment faced a unique hurdle with the 60% requirement.

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Abortions had been allowed in Florida up to 24 weeks of pregnancy until the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision. In July 2022, shortly after Dobbs, Florida lawmakers restricted abortion to 15 weeks and then banned it after six weeks on May 1.

As the election neared, both sides ramped up television advertising. However, the state Department of Health sent cease-and-desist letters to multiple broadcast stations running an ad supporting Amendment 4, saying it posed a public health nuisance and warning of criminal charges if the stations didnt stop airing the ad.

A federal judge blocked the states surgeon general from threatening the TV stations, stating its free speech and Florida produced its own campaign opposing the abortion rights ballot initiative, so demanding the removal of opposing ads amounted to censorship.

Even though a majority of Floridians support them, all we have seen the state do over the past months is use taxpayer resources to undermine these amendments simply because the governor opposes them, said Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the ACLU of Florida, responded to DeSantis remarks at the many news conferences he has been hosting around the state.

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Outside of the voting polls Tuesday, Miramar voter Genie Jean, 44, said the television commercials had no bearing on her decision on Amendment 4. I am pro-life and pro-American. We need more Americans. I think people should act responsibly and use precautions. And if they dont, they need to give the baby up for adoption.

Sun Sentintel reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.
Voters in two sparsely populated red states, North Dakota and South Dakota, have rejected ballot initiatives that would have legalized recreational marijuana. With nearly all ballots counted on Tuesday night, North Dakota's Initiated Measure 5 had received support from less than 48 percent of voters. South Dakota's Initiated Measure 29 was favored by about 42 percent of voters with three-quarters of ballots counted.

Registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats by more than 2 to 1 in South Dakota, where the GOP has controlled the governor's office and both chambers of the state legislature since 1995.

In 2020, South Dakota voters nevertheless approved two ballot measures that would have simultaneously legalized both medical and recreational marijuana. The medical initiative was favored by nearly 70 percent of voters, while the recreational initiative got 54 percent. After Kristi Noem, South Dakota's Republican governor, mounted a successful court challenge to the recreational initiative, reformers tried again in 2022, when 53 percent of voters said no.

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South Dakota voters got another chance to change their minds this year. Measure 29 would have allowed adults 21 or older to possess two ounces or less and grow up to six plants at home. It also would have allowed sharing among adults "without consideration." Like the 2022 initiative but unlike the 2020 version, this year's ballot measure does not authorize commercial production and distribution.

Measure 29's backers far outspent its opponents, but polls conducted prior to the election were not encouraging. A survey conducted last May put support for the initiative at 42 percent, with 52 percent opposed and the rest undecided. A poll conducted last month found that 45 percent of likely voters favored the initiative, with 50 percent opposed and 5 percent undecided.

The ratio of Republicans to Democrats is similarly lopsided in North Dakota, where the GOP has likewise maintained a trifecta since 1995. And as in South Dakota, voters are fine with medical marijuana, which they approved by a 28-point margin in 2016, but leery of recreational legalization, which they rejected in 2018 and 2022.

Measure 5 would have let adults 21 or older possess up to an ounce and grow up to three plants at home. It also would have authorized commercial production and distribution by state-licensed businesses.

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The marijuana legalization campaign had an even bigger financial advantage in North Dakota than in South Dakota: Ballotpedia had not identified any opposition spending as of September. A survey of likely voters conducted that month found that 45 percent favored recreational legalization, 40 percent were opposed, and 15 percent were undecided. Those undecided voters evidently broke the wrong way.

The post Voters Reject Marijuana Legalization in North Dakota and South Dakota appeared first on Reason.com.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Odessa residents rejected Odessa Colleges Vision 2030 bond proposal on Tuesday. OC said the proposal was designed to enhance education, foster industry partnerships, and bring the community closer together.

The $335 million proposal includes a new workforce center, community health and wellness center, business and innovation center, a new academic building, as well as a fine arts center and performance venue.

RELATED: Heres whats included in OCs Vision 2030 bond proposal

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Odessa College said plans include continuing with their commitment to creating a secure, efficient, and welcoming campus environment through various campus and infrastructure improvements. These improvements include:

Campus security and IT upgrades

Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing improvements Wilkerson Hall and Sedate Hall will undergo significant improvements, ensuring they meet modern standards and provide a better learning environment for students.

Campus Chiller Loop and Site Water/Sewer improvements

Electronics Technology Building Renovation This upgrade will support cutting-edge education and training for students in technical programs.

New Multi-Level Parking Garage and Campus-wide Parking Improvements A new parking garage on the north side of campus will aim to provide ample, convenient parking, improving accessibility and convenience.

Closure of Robertson Avenue and Surface Improvements OC is looking to make its campus safer and more pedestrian-friendly by closing the street to through traffic and implement surface improvements.

New Campus Center Freezer Storage Building Odessa College said a new freezer storage building would help to support dining services and campus operations.

Campus-wide Wayfinding and Branding New signage, maps, and branding elements will help students, staff, and visitors easily find their way around campus, while making the campus more navigable and cohesive, the college said.

Abatement and Demo of Deaderick Hall and Auditorium

You can learn more about the Vision 2030 Project Bond on the OC website here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
Juliann Talkington, a coordinator for the "No on H" ballot question committee, speaks to the Life Defense Fund election night watch party on Nov. 5, 2024, in Sioux Falls. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakota voters on Tuesday rejected an attempt to establish open primary elections in the state.

The Associated Press called the results at 11:16 p.m. Central. The tally at that time was 68% against Amendment H and 32% in favor, with 37% of statewide votes counted.

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Amendment H would have changed future primary elections for governor, state Legislature, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and elected county offices. The candidates in each race, regardless of party, would have appeared on a single ballot. In most races, the top two vote-getters would have advanced to the general election. In races with two open seats, such as state House contests, the top four vote-getters would have advanced.

South Dakotas current primary elections are split by political party. Republicans only allow their own party members to vote in their primaries, while Democrats allow their own party members and independents. The winners of each partys primary advance to the general election.

Supporters of Amendment H said the current system disenfranchises thousands of voters, because many races in Republican-leaning South Dakota are decided in Republican primaries that exclude Democratic and independent voters.

We are disappointed our proposal didnt do better, but we are proud of our effort and our team, said Open Primaries Chair Joe Kirby in an emailed statement. We gave South Dakota voters an opportunity to address some fundamental deficiencies in the states government.

Joe Kirby, head of South Dakota Open Primaries, signs a petition on April 19, 2023, in Sioux Falls that aimed to allow all voters to cast a vote in the states primary elections. Kirby is seated next to De Knudson of Sioux Falls, with Tom Dempster of Sioux Falls standing to her left. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Opponents of the amendment included the state Republican and Democratic parties. Some Republicans said its their right to choose their own political nominees, while some Democrats feared their candidates might rarely advance out of an open primary.

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Executive Director of the South Dakota Democratic Party Dan Ahlers said the measures failure is best for South Dakota voters.

Im personally not opposed to an open primary, Ahlers said. I just dont think this one was the best fit for South Dakota.

Juliann Talkington, a coordinator for No on H, celebrated the groups victory.

We dont like people coming in and trying to deceive us, Talkington told South Dakota Searchlight, referring to significant out-of-state spending in support of the amendment. Were not going to be bought.

At the polls Tuesday, Parker Stewart, a 38-year-old Sioux Falls Republican, opted against Amendment H. South Dakota is a conservative state, he said, and he doubts an open primary would have much of an effect on the political makeup of South Dakota leadership.

Whats to gain? Stewart said. We know what part of the country were in, and we know how things are going to go.

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(WSPA)  Voters in Anderson County rejected a one percent sales tax Tuesday.

The tax would have brought in around $366 million over seven years to pay for road improvements, highways, bridges, and drainage throughout the county.

A second question asked voters to approve a $15 million bond to fund those same road projects to be paid for by the tax revenue from question one.

Roads which were set to be improved by the tax were laid out in a road study in August.

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Justice Renatha Francis (left) and Meredith Sasso (right) via Florida Supreme Court.

Florida voters Tuesday night retained two justices of the state Supreme Court. Justice Renatha Francis drew slightly more than 63% support and Justice Meredith Sasso more than 62% on the simple question of whether they should continue to serve on the states highest court.

Both justices were appointed Gov. Ron DeSantis. Francis and Sasso both opposed efforts to allow proposed amendments to enshrine abortion rights in the Florida Constitution and to allow adult recreational use of marijuana. Both justices supported Floridas six-week abortion ban.

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Barring retirement, they will face another merit retention vote in 2030. They are paid $258,957 annually for their service.

Since 1976, under a merit-retention system, Florida has required Supreme Court justices to be placed on the ballot in the first general election following their appointment, and, if retained by a majority of the voters, every six years thereafter. The races are required by law to be nonpartisan.

Tuesdays results arent surprising, given voters have never voted to reject a sitting justice. A Florida Phoenix review of election results shows that Supreme Court Justice Jorge LaBarga, who continues to serve on the court, was retained in 2010 by 59% of the voters, the lowest vote for any justice and a smidge less than the 59.6% approval rate Justice Leander Shaw received in 1990.

Francis earned her law degree from the now-shuttered Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville in 2010. DeSantis initially moved to appoint her to the Florida Supreme Court in 2020, but the court refused to seat her  she was ineligible because she had not been a member of the Florida Bar for 10 years. DeSantis subsequently appointed her to the high court in 2022. Before her appointment, Francis served as a circuit judge in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.

Sasso received her law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2008. She joined former Gov. Rick Scotts administration in 2016 in the Office of General Counsel. She was later appointed by Scott to the 5th District Court of Appeal. DeSantis shifted her to the 6th District Court of Appeal on Jan. 1, 2023. Four months later, DeSantis appointed her to the Florida Supreme Court.
The two Florida Supreme Court justices who were against putting the abortion and marijuana amendments on the November ballot were retained by two-thirds of the states voters.

After statewide votes were tallied Tuesday, Floridians opted to keep justices Renatha Francis and Meredith Sasso on the seven-member court, the states highest. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Francis in August 2022 and Sasso in May 2023.

Francis received 5,960,465 yes votes to retain her and 3,478,027 no votes to reject her, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Sasso got 5,822,995 yes votes and 3,518,990 no votes. Both received more than 60 percent of voters support.

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In Florida, Supreme Court justices face a statewide retention vote in the first general election after they are appointed by the governor, providing the election is more than a year after their appointment. Its a system that has been in place since in the 1970s.

No justice has ever been voted out, which requires only a simple majority. Once retained, justices serve six years before facing another retention vote.

READ MORE: Abortion access is on the ballot in Florida. So are two justices who voted against it

Did not want Amendments 3 and 4 on ballot

Francis and Sasso were the only two of the seven justices who dissented in the courts opinion to allow Amendment 3, the constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana, on the November ballot.

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Francis and Sasso also dissented over allowing Amendment 4, the constitutional amendment legalizing abortion until viability and thus overriding the states six-week abortion ban, on the November ballot. Florida Supreme Court Justice Jamie Grosshans joined them in their dissent.

In both cases, however, a majority on the Florida Supreme Court approved the two constitutional amendments, paving their way to get on the ballot.

DeSantis had previously nominated Francis, a member of the conservative Federalist Society, for the state Supreme Court in 2020. But the Court ruled she didnt meet the bare minimum requirement: 10 years as a member of the Florida Bar.

Francis, 47, the first justice of Jamaican descent, was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2010 and graduated from the now-defunct Florida Coastal School of Law, a for-profit law school in Jacksonville that closed in 2021.

Sasso, 41, also a member of the Federalist Society, was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2008 and graduated from the University of Florida law school.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Craig Stoker, Director of Meals on Wheels Odessa and long-time volunteer, has won his bid for the Odessa City Council At-large seat, a position elected to represent all of Odessa and not just a single district.

Stoker edged out incumbent challenger Denise Swanner, who was elected to her first term in 2020, in a 56% to 44% vote, according to early results.

It was a hard campaign for Stoker, who faced at times nasty opposition by Swanner advocates and some area Political Action Committees that hoped to help Swanner keep her seat.

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In an interview to announce his candidacy, Stoker said he has an incredible vision for Odessa.

Its really just fun to think about what could be, Stoker said. Thats what I really wanted to talk about todaymy vision for Odessa. What we can have in the future.

For Stoker, there are big issues at hand that need to be addressed in order to keep moving Odessa forward in a positive way.

Weve got some pretty big issues with our water infrastructure, with our roads. I know there was some money run through council yesterday to start some of the repairs. $25 million was passed and thats an amazing first step. My understanding is there are close to half a billion dollars worth of repairs that are going to be made. So, weve got some big issues to tackle. We have to do that in ways that dont cause a huge burden on the taxpayer. You have to remember that not every Odessan can afford to have their taxes raised, Stoker said.

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Stoker, who has served with area non-profits for more than 10 years, said the key to tackling some of these issues is partnerships.

I was with the West Texas Food Bank and now Im at Meals on Wheels. Ive served on multiple non-profit boards. Ive been able to, very tongue-in-cheek, Ive been told Ive got the best Rolodex in town. So just being able to make a call and find somebody to help. Youve had so many issues that have come up. You look at theproblem right now with our trash trucks. Over half the trash trucks are broken. And how come we cant reach out to a neighboring community and say, hey, can we borrow one or two to help fix that? Building that kind of network, I think it is so important to have those partnerships.

Stoker referred to an on-going issue in Odessa after numerous trash truck broke down earlier this year; residents have been limited to once-a-week trash pickups for months as the City waits for new trucks to be delivered.

Stoker wants to tackle these issues and more responsibly.

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Keeping a very conservative eye on the budget. We only have so many dollars to spend. I have to do what I do (in his non-profit work) with very limited funds, and so, we have to spend them wisely. And I intend to bring that same mentality to city council. I know we cant just go out and write a check. We cant ask the taxpayers to just fund wild projects that we come up with. So, I intend to bring that value with me to be mindful thateverybody in town cant just take that, hey it only costs as much as a cup of coffee mindset. Because so many folks in our community cant afford Starbucks, so we cant ask them to foot the bill for a lot of these large infrastructure projects.

Some of those pricey projects include continued water projects, including the water treatment plant.

Weve got a significant number of investments that were going to have to make in order to completely fix the problems we have. My understanding is our sewage treatment plant is at the end of its life. And the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is knocking at our door saying, guys, youve got to replace this. Youre not going to have a choice in the matter.

For Stoker, its all about fiscally preparing for the future, completing projects as planned, and staying out of crisis mode.

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Many of the issues that have come up recently, the kind of crisis mode that we get in tothe very first thing you hear is, well, thats their (previous council members) fault. That happened because of them, and that happened because of this or that. And while on the nose, thats not necessarily true. Yeah, the maintenance has been pushed off because we havent had the money to do things. But what have you done about it? We talked earlier today about looking at the water infrastructure budget. There was a study done in 2019that identified 25 years worth of projects that we need to do and parsed them out, five years, 10 years, 15 years. And if you look at the projects that were laid out for those five years, they were budgeted, and when you look at the budget amount spent, this year there was $7 million in the budget. $1.1 million has been spent. So why? Why do you blame the past when youre not even spending the money in the budget? And Im sure theres an explanationbut the public perception is nothings being done. At the end of the day, it is your responsibility. Youre in charge of those things. So, should I end up in that seat, I would hope to be able to take responsibility and really bear the responsibility.

Stoker said he will make sure that budgeted money is spent and that projects are completed, all with one goal in mind, to keep moving Odessa toward a brighter future and ensure that its a place people want to live.

If you look at the economy of Odessa, the economy of the Permian Basin, and the future, the study suggests that were going to need 190,000 people added to our workforce by 2050. And in order to do that, youre going to have to have people move to Odessa. And in order to do that, youre going to have to attract them. And so, when somebody is in Houston, and theyre reassigned to the Permian Basin, and they start Googlingwhere do I want to move? And when they see the shenanigans and things that have gone on for the past several years, I dont know why they would choose to move (here). I think we have a PR issues. I think we really need to work on our image. We need to instill a better sense of pride in Odessa. We need to clean up our community, Stoker said.

Attracting future residents begins with attracting businesses, and Stoker said he wants to create an Odessa thats attractive to developers and those wanting to invest in the area. He said the current state of things has prevented many small business owners from wanting to come to Odessa, according to a recent survey.

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Small business does not want to establish here in Odessa because of impact fees and because of City retail (ordinances) that keeps businesses from growing here. You know, when you look at the difference in the way our community supports small businesses, Midland versus Odessa, I think its pretty obvious. When you drive into Midland, its chock full of small businesses. And yes, Odessa has a great small business community, but I dont believe we do our best job supporting them. You see it in the way that we have hindered food trucks. You had a tragic fire that destroyed at least two local small businesses this past weekend- what is the City going to do to help them? There has got to be something the City can do either through the Small Business Administration or something to help get those businesses back on their feet rather than just post their well wishes on Facebook.

Other items on Stokers radar include continuing with downtown revitalization efforts, addressing literacy, combating the drug and alcohol crisis, especially fentanyl, and fighting food insecurity Odessa-wide.

Youve seen big strides downtown. Weve had one of my personal projects in the revitalization. Lots of hurdles that have been thrown up. Weve kind of struggled to overcome. But I know that (with the right) leadership, we can kind of put those back on track. Youre going to have the ability to really start moving these plans forward. One of the issues I talked about today was literacy. The question aboutwhat role does the city play in that? To me, if you look at our type A sales tax funding through the Odessa Development Corporation, one of the tenants that it can fund is a librarywe have city funds available to that. That is one way that the city can address literacy. Other ways that the citys funds can help the non-profits. There are funds available that do flow to the city that help non-profits. Both in literacy and food insecurity. Again, weve talked about the drug and alcohol crisis that were facing. The fentanyl crisis, again, we had a very tragic loss a couple of weeks ago. So, we know that theres more investment needed. And I want to continue growing, Stoker said. Weve got real issues in this city, and I really hope we can focus on thoseand really come up with a great roadmap to get there.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
Greg Lane, executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, holds a petition for Initiative 2066, the ballot measure aimed at blocking local and state efforts to transition away from use of natural gas. Anthony Anton, president of the Washington Hospitality Association, and Ryann Blake, owner of Chimney Techniques in Aberdeen, joined a news conference May 15, 2024 in Olympia, Wash. to kick off signature gathering. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

Washington voters on Tuesday were rejecting the states aggressive moves to phase out the use of natural gas in homes and other buildings.

A ballot measure that aims to rein in those efforts was passing by a 51.2% to 48.8% margin in a statewide tally. Vote counting will continue in the days ahead.

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Initiative 2066 repeals provisions of a new state law meant to hasten Puget Sound Energys transition away from natural gas. It also bars cities and counties from prohibiting, penalizing or discouraging the use of gas for heating, appliances and other equipment in buildings.

The measure, which is 21 pages long, requires utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers and prevents approval of utility rate plans that end or restrict access to natural gas, or make it too costly. It also erases state building and energy code requirements designed to get more electric heat pumps  instead of gas furnaces  installed in newly built houses, apartments and commercial buildings.

The Building Industry Association of Washington is the driving force behind the measure. The Washington Hospitality Association, Washington Realtors, Associated General Contractors and Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties are among the other backers.

This coalition paid Lets Go Washington, a conservative political committee founded by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, to conduct a signature-gathering drive earlier this year to get the initiative onto the ballot. This is the same group that qualified the three other statewide measures that went before voters.

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In the campaign, supporters kept it simple, insisting that the state was on a path to outlawing natural gas. Passing the measure, they said, would ensure consumers could choose between natural gas or electrification.

Critics countered that the measure would force cities, counties and the state to retreat from efforts to promote cleaner and more efficient sources of energy. That would include incentives to developers for constructing new homes with more efficient building technology and rebates to ratepayers for making energy-efficient upgrades.

The measure also will lead to higher housing and energy costs, they argued, citing research that all-electric new homes are cheaper to build and operate than homes with gas appliances.

Opponents say if Initiative 2066 passes, they are prepared to sue.

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They contend it violates a provision in the state constitution that limits the content of citizen initiatives to a single subject. This measure, critics said, deals with at least two different subjects  a law concerning future planning by Puget Sound Energy and an array of changes to the state energy code adopted by the state Building Code Council.

Authors of the initiative disagree. They said the measure was carefully crafted with such a potential challenge in mind and every section addresses protecting the choice to access and use natural gas.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  East Texas party leaders shared their approval as well as disappointment to former president Donald Trump winning the race for the White House.

Trump wins his 2nd election

FOX51 Good Day saw both the Smith County Democratic Chair Hector Garza and Smith County Republican Chair David Stein Wednesday morning to discuss the election results.

I cant tell you how heavy hearted I came in this morning, Garza said. A lot of people are really down and depressed about it.

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Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris lost the race by more than 2 million votes.

This feels really, really good, Stein said. The red wave that everyone thought was going to happen in 2022 that didnt, it happened last night.

Ted Cruz projected to win Texas seat in US Senate

Garza said he still isnt sure why Harris did not perform as well as he thought she would.

Both sides campaigned really hard. They pushed their swing states. They did what they had to do, Garza said. The voters spoke.

According to Stein, American voters sent a message Tuesday night.

I think people are tired of the vitriol, Stein said. I think they are tired of the demonization.

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To hear Stein and Garzas full thoughts on the election, you can watch below.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Voters opted to keep Supreme Court Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King on the bench, even as they resoundingly rejected a GOP proposal to overhaul judicial appointments and retention. Photos by Gage Skidmore (modified) | Flickr and Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Arizonans overwhelmingly rejected the idea of giving state judges lifetime appointments, defeating a ballot initiative that would have protected judges from going before voters by a margin of nearly four to one.

With almost half of all ballots counted, 79% of Arizonans voted to kill Proposition 137.

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The constitutional amendment would have overhauled Arizonas judicial retention process, under which voters get a say in whether to keep state and appellate judges in office. Currently, all judges face retention after their first two years. After that, trial court judges undergo reelection every four years while appellate and state Supreme Court judges are up for retention every six years.

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Dubbed The Judicial Accountability Act of 2024 by the GOP legislators who sent it to voters, the measure would have rendered judicial terms indefinite instead and required retention bids only if judges violated a good behavior standard. That standard would have been reviewed by the states Judicial Performance Review Commission every four years, and some of the reasons a judge might be forced to face reelection would have included a felony conviction, conviction of a crime involving fraud or dishonesty or filing personal bankruptcy.

Lawmakers would have been allowed to appoint two new members to the Commission and also have been given the power to force investigations of judges based on allegations that the judge was demonstrating a pattern of malfeasance.

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The initiative drew criticism from progressive organizations after the Arizona Supreme Court voted to revive a near-total abortion ban from 1864, who accused lawmakers of trying to shield two state Supreme Court Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King  both of who voted in favor of reinstating the 1864 law and faced retention elections in November. While The Judicial Accountability Act was introduced before the high courts bombshell ruling, the GOP majority fast-tracked it for the November ballot afterwards.

Republican lawmakers said the proposal would be helpful for voters by cutting down on the number of judges necessary to research before casting a ballot. They also defended it as a way to keep politics out of judicial retention elections, amid a progressive campaign to unseat Bolick and King.

Sen. Shawnna Bolick, a Phoenix Republican and wife of the state Supreme Court Justice, faced controversy after she voted to support the measure that some said would benefit her husband. As written, the initiative was retroactive: If a majority of voters cast their ballots to remove Bolick and King, but Prop. 137 was approved, the duo would still remain on the bench.

In the end, that conflict didnt materialize. Voters elected to reject Prop. 137 and retain Bolick and King. With nearly half of all ballots cast, 57% of Arizonans chose to keep Bolick in office and 58% voted to retain King.

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(Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning was projected by The Associated Press to have captured enough votes in the Electoral College to win the presidency.

The first-ever convicted felon elected to the Oval Office, Trump by 8 a.m. Eastern had won four of the vital seven swing states in which he and the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, spent most of their time campaigning through 2024.

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North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin all voted for Trump, giving him 277 Electoral College votes compared to 224 for Harris.

Still without a victor declared were Michigan, Nevada and Arizona. But even without them, Trump  who will be the nations 47th president as well as having been its 45th  had more than enough of the 270 votes required to win the Electoral College.

Trump still faces charges of election subversion related to his actions in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Republicans also took control of the U.S. Senate, guaranteeing Trump a relatively smooth path in confirming his appointments to the courts and the Cabinet in the coming months.

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As of Wednesday morning, Republicans had nabbed 52 seats in the Senate and Democrats had 42, the AP said.

Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a longtime centrist Democrat viewed as his partys most vulnerable senator in 2024, was ousted by Republican Tim Sheehy in a high-profile race called by the AP on Wednesday morning.

Control of the U.S. House had not yet been called but Republicans were leading there on Wednesday morning, 198-180.

If they were to maintain control of the chamber, that would set up an extraordinary Republican trifecta in Washington that likely could expedite legislation including on taxes, the debt, reproductive rights and immigration.

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Harris is expected to address the nation on Wednesday, her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, told a crowd that had gathered Tuesday night for an election watch party at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington, D.C.

All results are unofficial until local election officials across the country verify and certify the outcome in the coming days and weeks.

Trumps long presidential campaign was punctuated by a busy legal schedule that included two federal cases, still ongoing, and cases in Georgia and New York. The former president was convicted in New York in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money paid to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26.

His long appeal of the governments 2020 election subversion charges against him eventually received a victory in the U.S. Supreme Court when the conservative majority ruled that former presidents enjoy criminal immunity for core constitutional duties, and presumed immunity for duties on the offices outer perimeter, but none for personal actions.

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After the election subversion case was returned to the lower court, U.S. special counsel Jack Smith presented new evidence to underscore that Trump schemed to overturn 2020 presidential results in a personal capacity, acting alongside his private lawyers. Trump has indicated numerous times that, if elected to another presidency, he would oust Smith.

Trumps refusal to concede the 2020 presidential contest to President Joe Biden eventually culminated in his supporters violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Speaking to his supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, earlier on Wednesday, alongside his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Trump thanked thousands of friends in this incredible movement like nobodys ever seen before.

Frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. Theres never been anything like this in this country, Trump said.

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Trump promised to heal the country and that his second presidency will truly be the golden age of America.

We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, Trump said.

Trump had spent most of his reelection campaigning against President Joe Biden, who bowed out of the race in the summer after a disastrous debate performance.

That required the Trump team to pivot to a new campaign with a candidate Trump had never gone up against  Harris.

Harris, who touted herself as the underdog, tried to position herself as a new generation of leadership and through her policy plans on housing, health care and the economy, offering a new chapter for Americans.

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She heavily ran on her support of reproductive rights and the threat to democracy that a second Trump presidency would bring, citing the immunity ruling from the Supreme Court.

In the end, Trumps core campaign issues of immigration and criticisms of the economy appeared to have swayed voters, and she fell short of claiming any of the swing state votes that offered her a path toward victory.

As it became clear late Tuesday that she was falling behind in support in key states that carried Biden to the White House in 2020, thousands of her supporters who gathered at Howard University for a watch party left in waves as her chances for victory continued to narrow.

Ashley Murray contributed to this report.
Voters in Ramsey and Washington counties overwhelming elected the three sitting judges who faced contested races.

In the 10th Judicial District, voters chose Washington County District Judge Helen Brosnahan over her challenger, self-employed civil and criminal attorney Nathan Hansen, with 55% of the vote.

Hansen sought and received the Minnesota GOP recommendation for the judicial district, which encompasses Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties. Hansen said he believed the designation was an advantage, adding that on average 65% of the districts voters are Republicans.

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Brosnahan, whos been an appointed judge just shy of three years, took the opposite approach to her first campaign in that regard. She said the judiciary should not be politicized, adding she hasnt sought and wouldnt accept a political partys backing.

In Ramsey County, Judge Timothy Carey, who was appointed to the bench in 2022, easily defeated challenger Paul Yang, an attorney in private practice, by collecting 62% of the vote.

Judge Timothy Mulrooney, who was appointed to the bench in 2016, cruised to a win over 2021 college graduate Winona Yang with 59% of the vote.

Running unopposed were Ramsey County judges DeAnne Hilgers, Jacob Kraus, Maria Mitchell, Laura Nelson, Stephen Smith, Adam C. Yang and P. Paul Yang.

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Fourteen 10th Judicial District judges ran unopposed: John Klossner, Dyanna Street, Todd Schoffelman, Kari Willis, John Bowen, Sean Gibbs, Jennifer Stanfield, Siv Mjanger, Kristi Stanislawski, Brianne Buccicone, Jason Steffen, Bridgid Dowdal, Heather Wynn and Kevin J. Mueller.

Judges in the Minnesota court system are elected to six-year terms.

EARLIER: Ramsey County has rare contested district court races on the ballot

Mulrooney touted his legal and judicial experience in his campaign against Yang, a 2021 graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law whose legal experience includes representing low-income individuals through the appellate public defenders office.

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Mulrooney has been an attorney for 30 years and a judicial officer for 16 years, the last eight as a judge. A former prosecutor for Minneapolis and Hennepin County, he joined the Henson Efron firm in 2000, then became a Family Court referee in Hennepin County.

As a judge appointed by former Gov. Mark Dayton, he has served in all eight of the courts divisions and presided over criminal, family, civil, juvenile, child protection and civil commitment cases. He is currently assigned to the Behavioral Health Unit, where he sits on treatment courts, Criminal Incompetency (Rule 20) and Civil Commitment courts.

I am proven, he told the Pioneer Press last month. I am experienced, respected and fair.

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Carey is a former probation officer and prosecutor specializing in civil commitment proceedings. Since December, he has presided over Veterans Treatment Court, Mental Health Court, Civil Commitment proceedings, and a newly developed court focused on those whose mental illness prevents them from entering a plea or participating in their defense at criminal trials.

My decades of service to the community, as a probation officer and an assistant county attorney, combined with my time on the bench, allowed me the time to familiarize myself with the resources available, along a broad continuum of options, to meet our diverse communitys needs, he told the Pioneer Press.

Paul Yang entered the race with a combined 15-plus years in legal and community work, from administrative to appellate level cases. He founded his law firm in 2016, after working as an associate for an established general practice law firm.

For complete results from county, city and school board races, go to twincities.com/news/politics/elections.
The Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks at a campaign rally on Nov. 4, 2024 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Vice President Kamala Harris Wednesday afternoon called Donald Trump to concede the 2024 presidential race, according to a senior Harris aide.

During the call, the Democratic presidential nominee discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans, the senior aide said.

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Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign communications director, said in a statement that during the call Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country.

Harris will deliver a concession speech at 4 p.m. Eastern to her supporters at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The college was also the site of her election watch party on Tuesday night, which quickly turned somber after her path to the White House narrowed when the southern battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia swung to Trump.

Harris, who was originally expected to attend her own election night party, never arrived on campus, disappointing supporters and Howard alums.

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Trump was declared the presidential winner early Wednesday, according to projections by The Associated Press. Harris is expected to deliver her speech on the Yard, a field within Howard University.

The presidential race isnt the only loss for Democrats. They lost control of the U.S. Senate and Republicans are favored to take the House, potentially giving the GOP a trifecta in Washington.

Gender divide

The election saw a deep gender divide, with exit poll surveys showing women tended to favor Harris over Trump.

Its the second time a woman has led as the presidential candidate for a major party and its the second time a woman has lost to Trump. He defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016.

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The election came two years after the constitutional right to an abortion was stripped away by the U.S. Supreme Court. The incoming 47th president cemented its conservative majority by hand-picking three justices.

Harris, whose bid only began in July after President Joe Biden suspended his reelection campaign, had a little over 100 days to pick a running mate, release policy plans to appeal to voters and hit the seven battleground states.

Additionally, there was deep dissatisfaction within her party for the current administrations handling of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Michigan, which has a high Arab American population and is a state that Biden won in 2020, voted for Trump, according to projections by The Associated Press.

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It was Harris second time running for the White House, after her first run quickly fizzled in 2019 before Biden picked her as his running mate.

With Biden out of the race following a disastrous June debate that rattled his partys belief he could win a rematch against Trump, the coronation of Harris as the party heir breathed new hope into Democrats along with a flood of cash. They raised more than $1 billion, according to the campaign.

Despite the funding and new enthusiasm among Democrats, the swing states of Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin ultimately went to Trump, giving him a clear path to the White House with 292 Electoral College votes out of 270 needed to win the White House, to her 224 votes, according to The Associated Press.
Wake County voters approved on Tuesday a $142 million bond to build, expand and renovate local libraries. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

Voters in Wake County approved $142 million in new funding to the regions libraries Tuesday, according to an unofficial tally by the North Carolina State Board of Elections that showed 56.4% of voters backing the bonds referendum.

According to the countys project page, officials aim to maximize the number of Wake County residents with access to a library within 10 minutes of home, as well as expand existing libraries to accommodate the countys population growth and upgrade outdated library infrastructure. To cover the expenses, the estimated property tax liability for Wake County residents will go up by $2.50 each year per $100,000 in value.

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The county estimates that $67.1 million will go to the construction of new libraries, $43.3 million will go to renovations, and $12.3 million will go to expansion of existing libraries. The funding will come into effect beginning in July 2025, the start of fiscal year 2026  covering an anticipated five years of library construction as part of Wake Countys 2024 strategic plan, which includes a pledge to uplift the regions educational facilities by 2029.

Planned construction includes the addition of a new library in Rolesville, the only municipality in the county without one, as well as a community library in the unincorporated area of Friendship and the replacement of the Athens Drive and Wendell community libraries. The Fuquay-Varina Community Library, which the county said sees the highest circulation of all its community libraries, will be expanded into a regional library. Smaller renovations are expected at libraries all across Wake County.

Rolesville Mayor Ronnie Currin praised voters for approving funding that would deliver the town its first library in a statement Wednesday, calling the facility a necessity for our residents. In the absence of their own library, the towns roughly 11,000 residents must travel to Wake Forest or Zebulon to access one.

Rolesville is a growing community with expanding needs, and we are very excited for this opportunity, Currin said. We look forward to turning this dream into a reality.

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The bond is Wake Countys first referendum for library funding since 2007, when voters approved $45 million for upgrades and expansion with 70% of voters in favor. The margin for this years ballot measure was much narrower, with the referendum succeeding by just under 13 percentage points this year as opposed to around 40 in 2007.

Were excited to embark on this journey with you, and well keep you updated throughout the planning process, the county wrote on its website. Thank you for helping us write the next chapter for Wake County Public Libraries.

Election night results are unofficial and vote totals will likely change over the coming days as local boards of election consider provisional, military, and overseas civilian ballots. The state Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Nov. 26 to certify the results.
(Bloomberg) -- Wall Street traders who threw caution to the wind by lavishing billions of dollars on a slew of ETF bets that would win big in the event of a Donald Trump presidential comeback are seeing their wagers pay off.

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Trumps US election victory lifted stocks and risk assets, in particular, Wednesday on bets the Republican will enact policies that are pro-business. Among those trades seen getting a boost from Trumps administration are exchange-traded funds tracking Bitcoin and industrial stocks.

Bitcoin, the worlds largest crypto based on market value, hit a record Tuesday night. Throughout October, investors piled $4.6 billion into the iShares Bitcoin Trust (ticker IBIT), the ETFs second-best month on record since launching at the beginning of 2024, while adding to other Bitcoin-tracking ETFs. The funds are all up roughly 6.5% Wednesday.

Since President Trumps election is seen as bullish for the cryptocurrency asset class, this should be something that feeds on itself, said Matt Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak. Whenever any asset pushes to a new all-time high on key new-news, it usually leads to a significant breakout.

A basket of industrials ETFs drew about $2 billion in October  the best month of inflows since March 2021, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Although theres been some outflows this month, traders who held onto their positions are reaping the benefits: the Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (ticker XLI), the biggest fund of the group, is up roughly 3.5%. Industrial stocks are seen benefiting from Trumps pro-domestic manufacturing policies.

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To be sure, a benign economy and steady earnings have buoyed risk assets but make no mistake: the imprint of the Trump Trade has been visible in the underbelly of ETF markets.

Shorter-term bets are also paying off. Before the polls closed on Tuesday, traders plowed nearly $800 million into a BlackRock Inc. fund tracking high-yield bonds  one of the biggest daily buys all year for the ETF. Wednesday morning a high-yield index rose to the highest level since January 2022.

There were, however, corners of the ETF market left untapped. Banks and consumer finance companies are likely to benefit from a lighter regulatory touch under a Trump presidency, but financials-focused ETFs saw relatively little inflows in October and net outflows the month prior.

Meanwhile, broad bets on the resiliency of the largest US stocks are paying off after Trumps win. Investors piled into the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (ticker SPY) for five consecutive days leading up to election day, the longest streak since September.

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Other ETFs tracking the S&P 500 Index from Vanguard Group Inc. and BlackRock also each saw over half of a billion dollars in net inflows on Tuesday. Those funds are each up roughly 2%.

--With assistance from Isabelle Lee.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  U.S. Marshals arrested a felon in Antioch Tuesday who was wanted out of Mississippi on multiple drug and weapons charges, officials said.

Kevon Tucker, 32, was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 5 after investigators saw him outside of a residence on Arbor Knoll Boulevard.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

When officers approached and announced their presence, Tucker ran away while carrying a loaded handgun and a red bag, according to reports.

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Tucker reportedly threw the gun into a bush and dropped the bag as he was running, which were both seized by law enforcement.

Court documents said the bag contained 70 grams of marijuana, 8.2 grams of cocaine and oxycodone pills. Officers also found $750 in cash on Tucker during a search.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

WCBI reported Tucker was charged after a raid of his home in Clay County, Mississippi, in September where officers uncovered seven and a half pounds of cocaine worth $250,000, a pound of pot, crack, fentanyl, four handguns and a rifle.

Metro police said Tucker is a convicted felon in Mississippi as of 2013. He is detained in Metro jail on a $167,000 bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Expect a warm and somewhat rainy Wednesday in Central Florida.

Meteorologist Brian Shields said temperatures should be in the upper 70s for the start of the work day.

The forecast today calls for a high of 85 in Orlando.

Warm Wednesday with spotty showers in Central Florida

Well see spotty showers with a 50% chance of rain for the Channel 9 viewing area.

READ: Ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz for sale nearly 2 decades after their theft

At our coast, Shields said seas will stay high with dangerous rip currents.

Warm Wednesday with spotty showers in Central Florida

As for the tropics, Hurricane Rafael could become a major hurricane before it rolls into western Cuba.

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Shields said as Rafael travels up into the Gulf of Mexico, the storm will move to the northwest and away from Florida.

Follow our Severe Weather team on X for live updates:




YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A warrant was issued this week for a man accused of a shooting at a South Avenue garage over an auto repair dispute.

Kurtis Townsend, 25, is wanted on a charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony.

The warrant was filed Monday in municipal court.

Townsend is accused of shooting an employee about 4:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at a garage at the corner of South and East Indianola avenues after an argument over a car repair.

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The victim was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center to be treated for his wounds while Townsend fled the scene before police got there.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Warren man entered a plea deal before his second jury trial was set to begin in a case involving stolen scooters.

Antonio Cleveland, 62, pleaded guilty to an amended indictment charging him with misdemeanor attempted criminal mischief, according to a news release from the Trumbull County Prosecutors Office.

Cleveland will undergo a background investigation before his sentencing.

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Cleveland had been found guilty of stealing six motorized scooters from a lot in the city of Warren during a trial in 2023, but he was granted a new trial by the 11th District Court of Appeals earlier this year.

Cleveland filed the appeal stating ineffective assistance of trial counsel, unauthenticated evidence was allowed in the trial, and hearsay evidence was improperly admitted.

The Court vacated the sentence and remanded the case back for another trial.

Clevelands plea deal offset that trial.

Brandy Johanntges and Nadine Grimley contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Washington is on track to send at least two new lawmakers to Congress next year.

Although some of the states congressional races are still up in the air, Washingtonians have a pretty clear picture of their next delegation, which will include mostly Democratic incumbents.

In the 5th Congressional District in eastern Washington and the 6th District in the northwestern corner of the state, candidates were vying to fill open seats after two long-standing representatives announced retirements earlier this year.

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As of Tuesday, Republican Michael Baumgartner had a clear lead  almost 60% of the vote  over Democrat Carmela Conroy, who carried 40% of the vote, in the 5th district.

Baumgartner is the Spokane County treasurer and a former state senator. He will take over Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who announced earlier this year she would not seek reelection after holding the position since 2005.

Conroy is a former diplomat. She conceded Tuesday night but said she plans to run again in 2026, according to The Spokesman-Review.

The new face in the 6th Congressional District will likely be state Sen. Emily Randall, a Democrat. In Tuesdays results, Randall received 57.3% of the vote while her Republican opponent state Sen. Drew MacEwen received 42.6%.

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Randall would take over for U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Democrat who announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection. Its the first new representative for the district since 2013.

Two of Washingtons most closely watched congressional races were still too close to call, as of Tuesday.

In their election rematch, Democratic incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez had 51.8% of the vote with Republican Joe Kent trailing with 47.8%. The close race in the 3rd Congressional District in southwest Washington is one of a handful across the country expected to decide control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.

In the 4th Congressional District in central Washington, Republican incumbent Dan Newhouse had a narrow lead over Trump-backed Jerrod Sessler, who is also a Republican. Newhouse had 48% of the vote while Sessler had 50.4%, as of Tuesday.

A host of reelections

It was a good night for Democratic incumbents representing Washington in Congress.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, left, talks at a state Democratic Party get-out-the-vote event on Nov. 3. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

Democratic U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell sailed to a fifth term with nearly 60% of the vote.

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Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Democrat, led her Republican challenger Jeb Brewer with 64.1% of the vote. Brewer, director at a construction contracting company, had 35.7% of the vote. DelBene will represent the 1st Congressional District in parts of King and Snohomish Counties north of Seattle. She first assumed office in 2001.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, a Democrat, was reelected in the 2nd Congressional District, which stretches from the San Juan Islands through Whatcom County and includes Lynwood and parts of Snohomish County.

Larsen received 64.4% of the vote, while his Republican challenger Cody Hart received 35.4%. Larsen has represented the district since 2001.

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal cruised to a fifth term with 84.8% of the vote. Her Republican challenger Dan Alexander had 14.9% of the vote. Jayapal has represented the 7th Congressional District in Seattle since 2016.

U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland speaks at a state Democratic Party get-out-the-vote event on Nov. 3. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

In the 10th District, which covers Olympia and parts of Pierce County, Democrat Marilyn Strickland was headed for another term. Strickland, who was first elected in 2020, had 58.4% of the vote as of Tuesday while her Republican challenger Don Hewett had 41.4%.

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In the 8th Congressional District, Democrat Kim Schrier was leading her Republican challenger Carmen Goers 54.2% to 45.6%, as of Tuesdays results. If her lead holds, Schrier, who was first elected in 2018, would continue to represent the district, which is just east of Seattle and sprawls across the Cascade mountains.

Rep. Adam Smith, who was first elected to represent the 9th Congressional District in 1996, also won another term on Tuesday. Smith, a Democrat, had 68.7% of the vote while his Democratic challenger Melissa Chaudhry had 28.8%. The district is in the Puget Sound region and includes Federal Way and parts of Seattle and Bellevue.
Benton and Franklin county court officials are scrambling this week after Washingtons court computer system was forced to shut down over the weekend.

Now clerks offices are telling people to bring cash or cashiers checks if they need to make a payment.

The state system serves as a backbone for every court system in the state, from municipal courts to the Supreme Court. It also stores court cases and lets attorneys to look up peoples criminal histories.

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So that greatly impacts our ability as a court to ... work smoothly, Benton-Franklin Superior Court Presiding Judge Jackie Stam said during a hastily-called meeting Tuesday. We can work. Its just how smooth its going to be.

Problems started Sunday when the Administrative Office of the Courts detected unauthorized activity in the system and shut it down.

It still remains unclear what the unauthorized activity was or whether it was the result of a cyber attack.

The state courts office has told the county courts that it will likely take until the end of this week to get the system fixed.

While the outage has created headaches for attorneys, judges, administrators and the public, most of the services people expect from the court system are still operating.

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The clerks offices are taking passport applications, accepting paperwork for cases and processing criminal cases, protection orders and mental health holds, Benton County Clerk Josie Delvin and Franklin County Clerk Mike Killian told the Herald.

Both counties still have access to their documents, even if now they need to search for them differently.

The clerks offices and courts also will continue to function on their normal schedule.

However, people looking to find out if their case is scheduled in a court for next week may struggle. The Benton County docket, which lists what cases are going to be heard, usually is processed the week before, so the schedule is public for this week but not next week.

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Court clerks are compiling those lists and, in Benton County, people will need to go into the Justice Center in Kennewick to see the list.

Parenting plans for divorce proceedings also will be delayed because they arent able to do the required background checks, Stam said.

Cleaning up after the shutdown will likely take a while, since they need to handle the backlog while new ones are added.
Voters in Washington have rejected ballot initiative 2117, upholding the state's cap-and-trade program under the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). About 62 percent of voters went against the measure, with 58 percent of the vote counted as of press time.

Passed in 2021, the CCA established Washington's cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Under this mechanism, the state government sets an emissions cap which businesses whose annual GHG emissions exceed 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent must meet. If they can't, companies must purchase additional allowance credits at a quarterly auction. The revenue generated at these auctions funds clean energy and environmental protection programs authorized by the CCA. Companies that meet the 25,000 metric ton emissions threshold but do not participate in the auction face fines of up to $50,000 per day.

In the program's first auction in February 2023, the price of a metric ton of CO2 equivalent was set at $48.50 and generated a revenue of almost $300 million. At the state's most recent auction, held in September 2024, one metric ton of CO2 equivalent was traded for $29.88, bringing in more than $237 million in revenue, $157 million of which will go to CCA programs. The CCA's total operating budget is nearly $3 billion, according to the program's dashboard.

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The CCA has drawn criticism from Washingtonians for many reasons, the most prominent being cost. Before the program took effect, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said the CCA would have a "minimal impact" and only add "pennies" in additional costs at the pump. After the CCA was implemented, Washington's gas prices became one of the highest in the nation, jumping by as much as 50 cents per gallon.

Opponents of Initiative 2117, including state representative Joe Fitzgibbon (DSeattle), believe that price gouging from oil companies is to blame for these high costs. However, analysis from Todd Myers, the vice president for research at the Washington Policy Center and supporter of the ballot measure, has found a direct link between the cost of CO2 at quarterly auctions and the price at the pump.

Despite its high cost, the emissions reduction impact of the program is unclear. "We don't have any data on statewide emissions since 2019, so we don't even have a baseline against which to compare. It is likely that the state's CO2 cap did reduce emissions in 2023 at very high cost, however. It is also likely that the state violated the cap because we had to flood the market with low-cost CO2 allowances due to the high cost," Myers tells Reason.

To Myers, the only clear thing is that "state projects funded by the CO2 tax are often extremely wasteful and focused on political agendas, expanding government and giving to special interests rather than helping the environment." He cites the rules for grant programs for community decarbonization, which do not prioritize reducing emissions but instead award money to groups that include union rules in their contracts and cater to disadvantaged communities.

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Indeed, many of the CCA's projects do little to meaningfully lower greenhouse gas emissions. The largest awarded CCA project is the $150 million Washington Families Clean Energy Credits Grant Program, which awards a one-time utility bill credit of $200 to low- and moderate-income families to assist them with "the clean energy transition." The King County Metro, the public transit authority that services Seattle, has received over $66 million "to support operational and capital expenses." It is the third-largest CCA awardee. Meanwhile, the "GHG Emissions Reduction" program includes more than $1.2 million for the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to study the feasibility of adding solar and micro-hydro projects at DFW sites across the state.

Despite the program's wasteful spending and high costs, Washingtonians have voted to keep the CCA intact by rejecting Initiative 2117. The resounding public support could inspire other states to adopt similar cap-and-trade measures. Still, without meaningful reforms to the oversight and efficiency of the program, Washington residents could be left to foot the bill for an ineffective and expensive carbon reduction scheme.

The post Washingtonians Uphold State's Climate Change Program appeared first on Reason.com.
Welcome back to Waste Watch with Dia Chakravarty.

The BBC World Service has reportedly secured an additional 27 million grant from the Treasury for the year ahead on top of its 104 million baseline funding.

Advocates of the BBC often remind us of the significance of its World Service around the globe. Articles have appeared in this paper warning against the institutional vandalism of axing the World Services Arabic, Persian or Chinese outputs. The former Director General of the Corporation Tony Hall has termed the World Service one of the UKs most important cultural exports.

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Lord Hall was not wrong in the slightest, nor was he exaggerating the cultural importance of the BBCs international arm. It is impossible to fathom the influence the World Service has on countries and peoples thousands of miles away from London. Growing up in South Asia in the 80s and the 90s, it was the BBCs World Service which served as a window into the world outside my own.

Competition has emerged over the years, but it remains one of the most trusted, well respected sources of information, news and analysis around the globe.

Why then am I not thrilled about my tax money bolstering this unique arsenal of British soft power, particularly at a time when we are told it has a crucial role to play in countering Russian and Chinese propaganda?

It is because on too many occasions over the years, the World Service itself has been found to be promoting propaganda which is decidedly against the BBCs obligations under its Charter to reflect the United Kingdom, its culture and values to the world.

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Back in 2021, an investigation into BBC Arabic Service found that homophobic slurs were being aired without criticism to the channels 42 million viewers worldwide. Comments from viewers read out on shows produced at the Broadcasting House in London would include condemning gay men as perverts and calling for two gay Mauritanian men who had already been arrested for holding a birthday party to be imprisoned for life.

When challenged by campaigners, a BBC spokesperson simply said this: [t]hese broadcasts did not meet our editorial standards and we apologise to our viewers. As far as we know, nobody was actually held accountable for this incident, nor was an apology offered in Arabic on the Arabic service.

The BBC World Service bosses apparently deemed it more important to appease a culture of homophobia than to reflect the culture and values of the United Kingdom, as stipulated in its charter, against which the Services funding is secured.

That same year, the Peter Tatchell Foundation reported that the BBCs Persian service has promoted the homophobic views of the Iranian regime. The LGBT community in Iran had expressed outrage about a BBC Persian website post that called LGBTs faggots and an abomination and compared them to opium addicts and people who commit incest.

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Just the previous year, a 31-year-old Iranian man was hanged publicly by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran is a country which continues to carry out the execution of homosexual people in the name of moral principles.

Again, in a blow to accountability, and angering campaigners, the BBC merely admitted the language used was inappropriate. While certain words were removed from the website following the outcry, Mr Tatchell claimed that was done in such a way that nobody reading the website apology would know what the BBC is referring to.

It will come as no surprise then, that the World Services former Chief who held the role until July this year, stands accused of appearing to defend Hezbollah, as she claims it is wrong to talk about the group controlling strongholds and denies areas are closed to outside observers.

This is despite evidence that Hezbollah had established several weapons manufacturing facilities and infrastructure in Beiruts Dahiya neighbourhood alone, as reported in this newspaper.

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This problem with the World Service isnt restricted to the bosses, but runs deep into the organisation. A particularly worrying allegation, given the element of dishonesty involved, emerged in the wake of Hamass terrorist attack on October 7 last year when a journalist working as a special correspondent for BBC Arabic appeared to write two variations of a story  one in English, the other in Arabic  that contained differing accounts of the Oct 7 massacre of 1,400 Israelis.

An interview with a Hamas leader was published in English and in Arabic.

The latter failed to include the evidence (which appeared in the English version) showing the true depravity of the attacks in which civilians were targeted, merely stating that a senior Hamas leader has insisted that his group did not kill civilians in Israel, stressing only conscripts were targeted.

The scale of the problem became evident when several other BBC Arabic journalists  all on the BBCs payroll paid for by British taxpayers  appeared to justify on social media the killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas.

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One BBC Arabic journalist tweeted, Israels prestige is crying in the corner, while others endorsed tweets likening the terrorist group Hamas to freedom fighters, as well as describing the October 7 atrocity as a morning of hope. Another joked about the abduction of an Israeli grandmother as Hamass inheritance. These are just a handful of examples.

As ever, the BBC has claimed they are investigating this matter. The spokesperson insisted, We take allegations of breaches of our editorial and social media guidelines with the utmost seriousness, and if and when we find breaches we will act, including taking disciplinary action.

But there appears to be no update on the findings of the investigation.

Until the BBC World Service is able to prove that it has well and truly cleaned up its house and can be trusted as a representative of the values of the country, it has absolutely no business taking a penny from its taxpayers.

Please share share examples of public spending in your personal and professional lives which you consider to be a waste of taxpayers money. You can email us your stories  either in writing or as voice notes  at wastewatch@telegraph.co.uk

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Brian Williams election special Election Night Live with Brian Williams is live, but given that this is Amazon Prime Videos first-ever election night special there may be some questions as to how to watch it. This will be a one-night special during which the longtime journalist will deliver election results, his analysis of presidential battle and more alongside special guests.

After 41 years in the businessfrom local news to network shows to cable newsthis feels like the next big thing. And the global marketplace of Amazon is a natural home for this first-of-its-kind venture, Brian Williams said in a statement shared by Amazon. Together we will follow the storyline on election night wherever it leads us.

The program will be produced by Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner with Jonathan Wald juggling as executive producer and showrunner.

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Per Amazon, the live special will be available in English to Amazon customers in most countries where Prime Video is available, regardless if a they have a Prime subscription.

Check out everything you need to know about how to watch below.

When does Brian Williams election special come out/air?

Brian Williams election special will air on Prime Video on Election Day 2024 (Tuesday, Nov. 5) at 5 p.m. EST/2 p.m. PST. You dont need a Prime Video to watch but you do need an Amazon account.

Do you need a Prime subscription to watch the special?

No, the election special is free to stream to all. But you do need to have an Amazon account, so sign up with your email.

What time does Brian Williams election special start?

Brian Williams election special started at 5 p.m. EST/2 p.m. PST on Prime Video.

Who are the special guests?

Guests on the special include Candy Crowley, James Carville, Abby Huntsman, Shepard Smith, Erin McPike, Dan Thompson, Lynn Vavreck and Adam Verdugo.

Watch the opening video

The post How to Watch Brian Williams Live Election Special on Amazon for Free appeared first on TheWrap.
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

Kamala Harris is set to make her concession speech in the 2024 presidential election on Wednesday afternoon.

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The Democratic presidential nominee, who officially lost the election to Donald Trump late Tuesday night, will take the stage at Howard University in Washington D.C at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

The speech, which will mark her first public appearance since her loss, will broadcast live across major networks such as ABC, CNN, NBC and FOX. However, those without cable can stream the speech live online through a variety of Live TV streamers such as Sling TV, DirecTV and Fubo TV, all of which currently offer free trials.

STREAM KAMALA HARRIS CONCESSION SPEECH Free Trial

Donald Trump was declared the winner of the presidential election on Wednesday morning, after claiming victory in Pennsylvania. He later won Wisconsin at 5:35 a.m. ET, clearing the 270 electoral votes needed for the presidency and officially becoming the president-elect.

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At Howard University in Washington, Harris supporters were gathered for what they hoped would be a victory party. Shortly before 1 a.m., Kamala Harris campaign sent her supporters home, informing them that Harris would not speak until Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, Trumps decisive presidential victory shocked Hollywood as actors, celebrities and media personalities took to social media late Tuesday and early Wednesday to share their feelings of hurt and dismay. Celebrities such as Billie Eilish, Christina Applegate and Jamie Lee Curtis shared their dismay over the election results, while others like 50 Cent and Mark Cuban congratulated Trump.

Stream Kamala Harriss concession speech below:

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DETROIT (AP)  Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin has won Michigans open U.S. Senate seat, giving Democrats a bittersweet victory in a swing state that also backed Republican President-elect Donald Trump in his successful bid to return to the White House.

Slotkin, a third-term representative, defeated former Republican congressman Mike Rogers. Democrats have held both Senate seats in Michigan for decades, but this year were left without retiring incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Inside woodtv.com: Election results

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Michigans was among a handful of Senate races struggled to defend Democrats, losing their Senate majority despite Slotkins narrow win.

But the race was incredibly close. Slotkin on Wednesday acknowledged that many voters may have cast a ballot for her while also backing Trump, who took the states electoral votes over Democrat Kamala Harris.

Slotkins win extends her partys dominance in Michigan, where Democrats havent lost a statewide race since Trump won the state by just over 10,000 votes in 2016. Democrats currently hold the governorship and control both chambers of the Legislature, though the entire state House is up for reelection this year.

Trump wins Michigans electoral votes, AP reports

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Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and third-term representative, launched her Senate campaign shortly after Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow announced her retirement in early 2023. With a largely uncontested primary, Slotkin built a significant fundraising advantage and poured it into advertising. Her high-profile supporters included former President Barack Obama and Stabenow, who helped her on the campaign trail.

On the Republican side, Rogers faced multiple challengers for the partys nomination, including former Reps. Justin Amash and Peter Meijer, the latter of whom withdrew before the Aug. 6 primary. Rogers served in the U.S. House from 2001 to 2015 and chaired the House Intelligence Committee.

Trump won Michigan in 2016 by just over 10,000 votes, marking the first time a Republican presidential candidate had secured the state in nearly three decades. This time, he expanded that margin to about 80,000 votes.

Slotkin and other Michigan Democrats focused much of their campaigns on reproductive rights, arguing that Republican opponents would back a national abortion ban, although Rogers said he wouldnt. How effectively the issue motivated voting in a state where reproductive rights were enshrined in the constitution by Michigan voters in 2022 remained to be seen on Election Day.

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Republicans win back Michigan House of Representatives

About 4 in 10 Michigan voters said the economy and jobs is the top issue facing the country, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 110,000 voters nationally, including about 3,700 voters in Michigan. About 2 in 10 Michigan voters said immigration is the most pressing issue, and roughly 1 in 10 named abortion.

Slotkin used her funding advantage to establish her narrative early, aiming to connect both with her base and disillusioned Republicans.

For the Republicans who feel like their party has left them over the last few years, you will always have an open door in my office, Slotkin said during their only debate.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Credit: X/@NOELreports

Ukrainian drones have struck a Russian naval base on the Caspian Sea for the first time.

Four drones were filmed attacking the port of Kaspiysk in Dagestan, nearly 1,000 miles from Ukraine, early on Wednesday morning.

Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed responsibility for the aerial assault, saying that its forces had hit three Russian warships in the port once considered out of reach of Ukrainian drones.

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The targets reportedly included the missile ships Tatarstan and Dagestan. Project 21631 small missile ships may have also been damaged, it said.

Footage of the attack shows a drone crashing into the port and exploding. As the drone approaches its target, machine guns start firing and, just before impact, uniformed Russian sailors are seen sprinting for cover.

Credit: X/@NOELreports

Baza, a Telegram channel with close links to Russias security services, which posted footage of the attack, said: Kaspiysk was preliminarily attacked by an A-22 Flying Fox drone.

The A-22 Flying Fox drone is a converted small light aircraft. They are considered slow but steady and have one of the longest ranges of Ukraines drone arsenal.

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Baza also reported that the airport at Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, was temporarily closed after the drone attack. Kaspiysk lies roughly 10 miles south of Makhachkala, a city of one million people.

A-22 Flying Fox drones, which are converted small light aircraft, were used in the Caspian Sea aerial assault - Steven May/Alamy

Russias defence ministry has not commented and damage to its warships could not be confirmed.

Ukrainian intelligence said the targeted fleet was involved in strikes against Ukraine, and the 177th Marine Regiment stationed at Kaspiysk had been involved in battles in the Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Analysts have said that the Caspian Sea, which is ringed by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan and is roughly the size of Suffolk, had become an impregnable Iran-Russia weapons transit route.

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Iran sends cargo ships packed with missiles and drones across the Caspian Sea to Russia, possibly partly through Kaspiysk.

Russian Tu-95 heavy bombers also consider the airspace above the Caspian Sea to be a safe haven. They use it to fire ballistic missiles at Ukrainian cities, before returning to their bases in Russia.

HI Sutton, a naval analyst, said that Russias Caspian Sea Fleet had been quite active firing missiles at Ukraine since the start of the war and he was not surprised that Ukrainian drones had attacked its base.

I think a lot of people have been waiting months for this, he said.

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Frustrated that its Nato allies have denied it permission to fire long-range missiles into Russia, Ukraine has expanded its drone attacks over the past six months.

It has hit energy and satellite infrastructure targets in the Arctic and Siberia but this is the first attack on a Russian naval fleet outside the Black Sea.

Last week, Ukrainian drones hit Russias special forces training centre in Chechnya, which neighbours Dagestan.

The drone attack came a few hours before Russias upper house of parliament rubber-stamped a mutual military assistance deal agreed between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator.

North Korean soldiers reportedly training in Russia earlier this week - Para Pax

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North Korea has sent an estimated 12,000 soldiers to Russias Kursk region and the Russian parliaments full approval now green lights their entry into the war.

But Kyiv and Washington officials say North Korean soldiers have already been ordered into battle against Ukrainian troops, with clashes reported on Tuesday.

Two officials told the New York Times that a significant number of North Korean troops had already been killed in a probing skirmish.

The North Korean soldiers are likely to be poor quality used by the Russian military to feed into its mass infantry strategy which is overwhelming Ukrainian defenders, but suffering casualties of up to 1,200 men a day.

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North Korea has become an important ally to the Kremlin since Russias invasion of Ukraine, supplying mainly artillery shells and missiles.

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WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI)  The Watertown Police Department is asking for the publics assistance in finding a missing 16-year-old boy.

For the second time in less than a month, city police are looking for Christopher Pierce. According to the Watertown PD, Pierce was reported as a runaway just before 6:45 a.m. Friday, November 1 on the 500 block of North Hycliff Drive.

Carthage PD: Man injured in Monday stabbing incident

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Pierce is 5-foot, 10-inches tall and 150 pounds. He normally carries a purple skateboard and is usually dressed in all black.

According to police, Pierce is also possibly traveling towards Florida in a stolen vehicle.

City police put out a similar request last month to find Pierce. He was also reported missing by New York State Police in September in Theresa.

If any has information or has seen Pierce, call the Watertown Police Department at 315-782-2233.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



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Now that Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election, the future feels, to say the very least, uncertainespecially when it comes to abortion. Its not yet clear what access to reproductive rights will look like under this new Trump administration, but abortion activists did celebrate several major victories on election night. Out of 10 states with abortion on the ballot, seven voted to protect or expand access to abortion care. These referendums and proposals were passed not just in blue states like New York and Maryland, but also in red states, like Arizona and Montana.

At a moment in time that can feel more like a war on women, as Billie Eilish wrote on Instagram, these victories mean everything. Below, what to know about the states that voted to protect abortion rights.

Arizona

The battleground state of Arizona chose to amend its state constitution to include protections for abortion care, establishing those protections as a fundamental right. The passage of Proposition 139, or the Arizona Abortion Access Act, makes clear that the government cannot restrict abortion before fetal viability (generally around 24 weeks). A fundamental right to abortion is part of the Arizona Constitution once and for all, Chris Love, a senior adviser to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, said in a statement to The Arizona Republic. Next time the nation wonders how much government interference in reproductive health care is acceptable, or what type of arbitrary abortion ban is popular, they can look at Arizona and know the answer is, None.

Colorado

On Election Day, Coloradans voted to enshrine abortion care to the state constitution. State law in Colorado already protects the right to an abortion, but this measure codifies existing protections and removes the current ban on public funding for abortionsmeaning that abortion could be covered under Medicaid or other state government health insurance programs. Coloradans turned out in droves to enshrine abortion rights in the states constitution, reaffirming their commitment to reproductive freedom, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. Cheers to Colorado voters for also removing the prohibition on public funding for abortion care, since rights dont mean much if you cant afford to exercise them. Thanks to this amendment, state employees and people on low incomes may soon receive coverage for essential, potentially life-saving care.

New York

An equal rights measure passed in New York, adding abortion rights into the states constitution. The amendment bans discrimination on the basis of pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health care and autonomy. The word abortion isnt used, but the ballot measure, called Proposition 1, is designed to protect abortion. Abortion is health care, health care is a human rightand that right is finally enshrined in the New York State constitution, Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote on X on Tuesday.

Missouri

Missourians voted to override a current ban on nearly all abortions through an amendment to the state constitution, guaranteeing a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which encompasses both abortion and contraceptives.

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In 2022, when the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, Missouri was the first state to ban abortion, even in instances of rape or incest, with the only exception being a medical emergency. Following Tuesdays decision to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, Nancy Northup, released a statement to ELLE: This is an especially historic win for Missouri, one of a growing number of red, blue, and purple statesand the first with a total abortion banto approve a constitutional amendment protecting abortion. In fact, the amendment goes even further, calling for a fundamental right to reproductive freedom, defined to include abortion and all matters relating to reproductive health care. By saying yes to this powerful language, voters have demanded the return of the essential human rights and freedoms they lost after Roe was overturned.

The measure, which legalizes abortion up to fetal viability (or around 24 weeks) is set to take effect in 30 days, though multiple news outlets are reporting that it will likely be challenged in court.

Montana

In 1999, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the constitutional right to privacy protects the right of a women to choose a pre-viability abortion. In order to prevent the court from potentially reversing that decision, Montanans approved an amendment on Tuesday enshrining the right to abortion in the state constitution. The newly passed amendment guarantees the right to make and carry out decisions about ones own pregnancy, including access to abortion care. The decision was a major victory for reproductive rights activists in the red state.

This is a historic moment for Montana. Our communities have made their voices heard loud and clear: We will stand up to protect our access to abortion and to secure our reproductive rights in the state constitution, Martha Fuller, CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana, said in a statement. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana could not be more proud to have reached this moment with a diverse coalition of partners, over five hundred volunteers, personal storytellers and their families, and supporters from every corner of the state. We have stood strong knowing that life saving abortion care is deeply private and for only us and our familiesnot the governmentto decide. This is a huge win but we know dangerous anti-abortion extremists will not give up their fight to attack our personal freedoms. We will always do everything we can to pave the way for the freedoms we all need and deserve. No matter what.

Maryland

Abortion will be protected in Marylands state constitution. Voters chose to enshrine the right to reproductive care on Tuesday, approving a constitutional amendment making it difficult for future policymakers to ban abortion without violating state law. This victory marks a powerful declaration for bodily autonomy and ensures that the essential freedoms to access abortion, contraception, and other reproductive health services are safeguarded in Maryland, the group Freedom in Reproduction Maryland wrote in a Facebook statement.

Nevada

Nevadans have taken a necessary first step on the long road to codifying abortion care. Voters approved an abortion ballot measure amending the state constitution to include the right to abortion until fetal viability. A 1990 state law does protect abortion care up until 24 weeks of pregnancy, but this new amendment ensures that law is almost impossible to overturn. Nevadans have spoken. We are officially one step closer to permanently protecting the right to abortion in the Nevada Constitution, Lindsey Harmon, president of Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, told The Nevada Current in a statement. With these results, voters across party lines rejected misinformation and fear-mongering to send an unequivocal message: decisions about abortion should be made by women, their families, and their medical providersnot politicians. The measure will need to pass again in 2026 to be fully approved.

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WEBSTER CITY, Iowa  A Webster City man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 10-month-old baby.

Gunner Jones

An investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Webster City Police Department has resulted in the arrest of Gunner Jones, 26. Officials say hes responsible for the death of a baby boy, identified in court documents as H. A.

A news release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety says on April 16, 2023, around 1:45 a.m. emergency personnel and WCPD officers responded to a residence in Webster City after receiving a 911 call about an unresponsive infant. The child was transported to Van Diest Medical Center first and then later to Blank Childrens Hospital in Des Moines, where he died later that morning.

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Iowa voters pass both constitutional amendments on the ballot

A criminal complaint filed in the case said medical officials at the hospital observed H. A. as having unusual bruising consistent with inflicted child abuse.

Results of the autopsy ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries to the babys head and listed the manner of death as homicide.

The complaint says the baby had no apparent medical issues when the mother went to sleep and Jones was the only other person awake and alone in the residence when the injuries were inflicted.

Jones is being held in the Hamilton County Jail on a bond of $5 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12th.

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A Webster man who allegedly broke into an animal shelter to retrieve his dogs is facing charges after police found meth in is vehicle, police say.

Police officers responded to the Webster Animal Shelter for the reported break-in around 3:50 p.m. on Monday. Officers found Taj Wood, 25, trying to leave in his vehicle with two dogs.

The Webster man was detained and became uncooperative with police, the Webster Police Department said.

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Police say the two dogs Wood was trying to retrieve had been taken from his custody after an animal neglect situation several weeks prior.

An animal control officer had attempted to make arrangements with Wood to transfer custody back to him after he provided proper documentation, which he failed to do, Webster police say.

Police say Wood was taken into custody after being confrontational with officers. While searching and removing his car from the scene, police say they found a bag that contained 126.7 grams of methamphetamine pills.

Wood is currently on an electronic GPS ankle monitoring device after being arrested by the Worcester Police Department on October 23rd for armed home invasion and armed assault in a dwelling.

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Police say Wood has been arrested for previous violent firearms offenses in 2022, including possession of a large-capacity firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling.

Ward was arranged in Dudley District Court on charges of trafficking Methamphetamine (100 grams or more), two counts of larceny from a building, two counts of animal cruelty, breaking and entering in the daytime for a felony (placing a person in fear) and trespassing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Its a new day, and partly cloudy skies paired with moderate winds are headed to the Sun City.

Starting the morning sunny, expect a high of 71-degrees by 2 p.m. with southwest winds ranging from 10 to 30 mph. Stronger eat slopes are predicted east around 3 p.m. with mostly cloudy skies moving in towards dinner time.

Although breezy conditions are expected, gusts can follow into the east with temperatures higher than weve seen the past few days. Temperatures will slightly drop in the upper 40s by tonight.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Hurricane Rafael is expected to make landfall in Cuba as a major hurricane later Wednesday, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds and flash flooding are forecast across portions of western Cuba.

A major hurricane is one with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph, making it a Category 3 or higher storm.

 Spaghetti models for Hurricane Rafael

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After that, there's some "wiggle room" on where Rafael will go next, with AccuWeather forecasters putting the highest probability of landfall along the central Louisiana coast.

All residents along the Gulf Coast should monitor the storm, though, since the "landfall potential zone extends from the Florida Panhandle to the Texas coast," AccuWeather said.

Even without a landfall in Florida, the state is still expected to feel some impacts from Rafael, starting as early as today.

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Tropical storm conditions are expected in the lower and middle Florida Keys today and tonight, along with 1 to 3 inches of rain.

A couple of tornadoes are possible through tonight over the Florida Keys and far southwestern Florida mainland, the Hurricane Center said.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge.

According to the National Weather Service, Okaloosa County faces a high risk of rip currents through late Sunday.

In a Wednesday morning Facebook post, Okaloosa County government noted that, since the forecast track has shifted south and west, there is no expectation of tropical storm-force winds for Okaloosa.

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However, "forecast tracks can change, so make sure you have multiple ways to stay informed," the post says.

Hurricane Rafael: What you need to know

Location : 130 miles south-southeast of Havana, Cuba

Maximum sustained winds: 110 mph

Movement : northwest at 14 mph

Pressure : 960 mb

Next advisory: 1 p.m.

Watches, warnings issued across Florida, Caribbean

Hurricane warning:

Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and the Isle of Youth

Tropical storm warning:

Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, and Ciego de Avila

Lower and Middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge

Dry Tortugas

How strong is Hurricane Rafael and where is it going?

At 10 a.m. EST, the center of Hurricane Rafael was located near latitude 21.4 North, longitude 81.9 West.

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Rafael is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph. A general northwestward motion is anticipated over the next day or so, followed by a gradual west-northwestward turn in the Gulf of Mexico.

On the forecast track, Rafael is expected move near or just east of the Isle of Youth during the next few hours, and make landfall in western Cuba later today. Rafael is forecast to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight.

 Tracker, satellite images of Hurricane Rafael

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 110 mph, with higher gusts.

Additional strengthening is expected, and Rafael is forecast to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall in Cuba later today.

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Rafael is forecast to weaken over Cuba but is expected to emerge into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.

Spaghetti models for Hurricane Rafael

Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

 Spaghetti models for Hurricane Rafael

Where will Hurricane Rafael make landfall?

"The highest probability of landfall is along the central Louisiana coast," according to AccuWeather.

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"However, since steering breezes may change a bit late this week and this weekend due to the approach of a non-tropical storm from the south-central U.S., there is a wide window as to where landfall will occur.

"That landfall potential zone extends from the Florida Panhandle to the Texas coast."

AccuWeather outlined a couple of scenarios on where Rafael could go:

A weaker Rafael could move farther west toward Mexico, reducing potential impacts to the U.S.

A stronger hurricane could track more to the east, bringing greater impacts, including storm surge, along the Florida Gulf Coast. This is the least likely scenario at this point.

Florida impacts from Hurricane Rafael

"The good news is that while the Rafael may well enter the Gulf as a hurricane mid-week, there is very little chance of the storm reaching land as a hurricane," said Dr. Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologist with WeatherTiger. Truchelut is a Florida meteorologist who works with the USA TODAY Network.

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For the Florida peninsula, Rafael will make its closest approach Wednesday and Thursday.

"If the storm strengthens more through Wednesday, it is likely to pass a bit closer to Florida, but in all scenarios should remain well southwest of the Keys," Truchelut said.

"The main impact of the storm on Florida will be an increase in rain chances between Wednesday and the weekend."

 Florida hurricane forecast: With Rafael rumblings, storm-stung state should only see rain

Potential impacts for Florida from the National Hurricane Center and Florida Division of Emergency Management:

Tropical storm conditions are expected in parts the lower and middle Florida Keys Wednesday and Wednesday night. Breezy wind gusts will continue throughout the state reaching 15-20 mph from Northeast Florida and throughout the Peninsula, with stronger wind gusts of 20-30 mph across Central and South Florida and 30-45 mph across the Florida Keys

Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected for the Lower and Middle Florida Keys. As tropical moisture continues to surge northward, an increase in shower and thunderstorm activity can be expected nearly statewide. Heavier rainfall ahead of Tropical Storm Rafael will begin to push onshore along the Panhandle and Big Bend Wednesday

The lower Florida Keys could see storm surge of 1 to 2 feet.

A few tornadoes are possible today over the Florida Keys and far southwestern Florida mainland.

Swells generated by Rafael are expected to spread across most of the Gulf of Mexico from east to west late this week into the early part of the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Hurricane Rafael

Rafael is forecast to become a major hurricane before it reaches western Cuba and the Isle of Youth. A hurricane warning is in effect for this region, where a life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and destructive waves are expected. Tropical-storm-force winds, especially in gusts, are expected in the Lower and Middle Florida Keys beginning later today and tonight. Rafael will bring areas of heavy rain to the Cayman Islands and western Cuba through Thursday. Flash flooding and mudslides are expected in areas of higher terrain in western Cuba. It is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the western Gulf Coast. Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast.

Current forecast: How strong could Hurricane Rafael get?

As of 10 a.m.: 110 mph

12 hours: 115 mph

24 hours: 105 mph

36 hours: 105 mph

48 hours: 100 mph

60 hours: 90 mph

72 hours: 80 mph

96 hours: 60 mph

120 hours: 40 mph

What impacts could Hurricane Rafael have and what areas could be affected?

Wind: Hurricane conditions are expected in western Cuba and the Isle of Youth today. Tropical storm conditions are possible farther east in central Cuba today.

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Tropical storm conditions are expected in parts of west-central Cuba and the lower and middle Florida Keys today and tonight.

Rainfall: Heavy rainfall will impact areas of the Western Caribbean through early Thursday, particularly across the Cayman Islands into western Cuba. Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are expected across portions of western Cuba, with isolated higher totals up to 12 inches anticipated across areas of higher terrain.

This will lead to areas of flash flooding and mudslides. Across the Cayman Islands additional rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is expected.

 Excessive rainfall forecast

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Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected for the Lower and Middle Florida Keys.

Storm surge: Storm surge could raise water levels as much as 9 to14 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds along the southern coast of Cuba in the Hurricane Warning area, including the Isle of Youth.

The combination of a storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide:

Dry Tortugas: 1-3 feet

Lower Florida Keys: 1-2 feet

Tornadoes: A couple of tornadoes are possible through tonight over the Florida Keys and far southwestern Florida mainland.

Surf: Swells generated by Rafael are expected to affect much of the western Caribbean during the next day or so and will also spread across most of the Gulf of Mexico from east to west late this week into the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Interactive map: What tropical storms, hurricanes have impacted your area in the past?

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What's next?

We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.

Jim Ross contributed to this report

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Hurricane Rafael: Spaghetti models, Okaloosa County, Florida impacts
The World Openness Report 2024 is pictured at the press conference on World Openness Report 2024 and International Symposium on World Opening-Up during the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

China has achieved remarkable results in its expansion of openness, according to the 2024 World Openness Report released on Tuesday at the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, held in conjunction with the China International Import Expo (CIIE).



According to the report, China's openness index surged from 0.6789 in 2008 to 0.7596 in 2023  an increase of 11.9%, and one of the most significant improvements globally. In 2023, China secured the 38th spot among 129 economies, moving up one place from the previous year.

The World Openness Report, the flagship publication of the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, was first launched in 2021 and has now seen its fourth release. The report tracks the openness index of 129 economies since 2008, highlighting global trends and laws of cross-border openness, summarizing best practices, and fostering global consensus for building an inclusive world economy.

The 2024 edition emphasizes building an open world economy, analyzing countries' capabilities for openness and the evolution of their policies. It covers hot topics including the impact of the Global South on global governance, the multilateral trading system, inclusive development of world trade, and global cooperation on digital and green development.

According to this year's report, the global openness index witnessed a 0.12% decline year on year to 0.7542 in 2023, down 0.38% from 2019 and a significant 5.43% drop since 2008. Although the social openness index rose by 1.7%, declines were noted in both economic (0.2%) and cultural (2.4%) indices.

Singapore retained its position as the world's most open economy in 2023, maintaining this status for nearly a decade. Ireland moved up two positions to second place, while China's Hong Kong SAR ranked third, followed by Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Malta, Belgium and Luxembourg.

For the first time, the World Openness Report team conducted a comprehensive survey involving nearly 800 experts, including officials from international organizations, business leaders and scholars, to assess perceptions of global openness.

The findings were less than optimistic: only 40.3% of respondents believed that the global economy had become "more open" since 2023, while 59.7% thought it had either remained the same, become "less open" or were uncertain.

The survey identified key factors contributing to the tightening of global openness, such as the expansion of geopolitical conflicts (22.5%), the overstretching of national security concepts (16.8%), anti-globalization trends (16.8%) and the rise of unilateral practices (16.8%).

Conversely, positive developments included advancements in digital technology (29.9%), accelerating green development (19.4%) and the rise of the Global South (19.3%).

Leading academics, economists and corporate executives discuss enhancing opening-up initiatives during the release of the 2024 World Openness Report and the International Symposium on Status Quo and Prospect of World Opening-Up, Nov. 5, 2024, Shanghai. [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn]



In the report's press release and during the International Symposium on Status Quo and Prospect of World Opening-Up, Cecilia Ugaz Estrada, deputy to the director general and the managing director of the directorate of strategic planning, programming at UNIDO, emphasized that digitalization and the energy transition are the two new driving forces of global economic growth.

"Promoting digitalization hinges on robust government policies that foster an enabling environment for businesses," she said, citing China's "Digital China" and "Made in China 2025" initiatives as examples of successful policy-led practices that have driven significant technological advancements in areas like AI, big data and smart manufacturing.

Qu Weixi, vice president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, reaffirmed China's commitment to its longstanding policy of opening-up, saying, "China has persistently leveraged openness to foster reform and development, achieving mutual benefits through integration with the world."

With over 1.4 billion people and more than 400 million middle-income earners, China is a "rich mine," Wang Bingnan, China's former vice minister of commence, said. "By fostering market connectivity, industrial integration, innovation promotion and regulatory alignment, we aim to make China's vast market a 'strong magnet' for global trade, investment and innovation activities."

He highlighted the CIIE as an example of this effort. "The CIIE has become a platform for high-level opening up and an international public good shared globally. Over the past six editions, it has achieved intended transaction volumes exceeding $420 billion, with nearly 2,500 new products, technologies and services making their debut," he added.
This story has been updated.

Election Supervisor Wendy Sartory Link glided past Jeff Buongiorno, a tech entrepreneur, in her bid for her second, full term as Palm Beach County's elections chief.

Unofficial results, without a full count of the mail-in ballots, show the incumbent had 57% of the vote to her challenger's 43%.

"I'm grateful, truly grateful, that we have the opportunity to serve four more years," Link said. "I have an absolutely amazing staff that it would have I've been heartbroken to leave them so having the opportunity to work together for four more years to figure out even more ways to try to better serve our voters is exciting to me."

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Link has overseen elections in 39 cities in Palm Beach County, plus state, congressional and national contests since Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her to the role in 2019. Her appointment was the result of DeSantis removing her predecessor, Susan Bucher, for incompetence. It is a countywide position so all voters will see the contest on their ballots.

 2024 Florida General Election Results

Link, 60, of North Palm Beach, already has a high-stakes election under her belt. She oversaw the 2020 presidential election during a once-in-a-century pandemic and the opening of a new $60 million headquarters on Cherry Road this year. The new facility includes a second-story room that looks out on the vote-counting operations below, so the operations can be viewed for all with a concern about voting transparency.

Link's challenger, Buongiorno, 58, of Gulf Stream, however, campaigned on the contention that the incumbent is not doing enough to address election security and nonresident voting.

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Link left her business law practice to become elections chief in a county that's legendary for its role in presidential politics stemming from the 2000 presidential election.

It is a partisan election. Link, who was a Republican when she was first appointed, is running as a Democrat and Buongiorno is running as a Republican. The winner will serve a four-year term.

The county's infamous butterfly ballot debacle, spurred results that suggested that voters in this Democratic stronghold were confused about who they were supporting when they cast their ballots. Ultimately, George W. Bush won Florida by 537 votes, taking the state's 25 electoral votes and the presidency.

In 2018, election results from Palm Beach County in razor-thing contests for U.S. Senate, governor, and commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as well as other offices, were delayed because of voting machine malfunctions. DeSantis, after taking office, removed the county elections chief from her post and assigned Link to the job.

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This story will be updated

Anne Geggis is the insurance reporter at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at ageggis@gannett.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Wendy Sartory Link wins 2nd term as Palm Beach County elections chief
In the end, Vice President Kamala Harris could not overcome a central contradiction: She was the turn the page candidate who served with Joe Biden, the oldest and one of the least popular presidents in history.

I don't think there necessarily was a path here for her. If you're the vice president of an administration people want to fire, you're way behind the eight ball to start, said David Axelrod, former President Obamas lead strategist.

Voters in the worlds Western democracies were bruised and angry after a life-changing pandemic, several years of price surges and a migration crisis. Many threw incumbent parties out, in some cases handing added power to previously fringe movements. Americans were no different. Three in four voters Tuesday prioritized the candidate who could bring needed change, according to exit polling.

Voters wait in line at a polling station in Orlando, Fla. (Anadolu / Getty Images)

The previous four years, my eyes didn't lie to me, said CT Tilghman, a 50-year-old arborist from Reading, Pa. We're seriously off track with where we're going and what we're doing.

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President-elect Donald Trump, though he had been in office before and committed a host of previously disqualifying crimes and deeds, represented the ultimate change. He never followed a script, scoffed at the rules and spoke directly to the economic and cultural anxieties of the country in between grievances about his own perceived mistreatment.

Read more: As with Trump's last term, California will lead the liberal resistance

Harris, one of the most cautious and disciplined politicians in her party, defined herself in her stump speech as someone who would be grounded in common sense and practical outcomes. But in her interviews, she often appeared uncomfortable and unwilling to go off message, famously saying in a friendly interview on The View that she could not think of anything she would have done differently than Biden.

Even many of her supporters found that uninspiring. They often cited two reasons for their vote: her stance on abortion rights and a fear of Trump. Few had a strong sense of what she stood for beyond that.

Sheron Campbell wears a Kamala Harris shirt while voting Tuesday in Oakland. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)

It's not the best choice, said Kevin Yanaga, a chef from West Philadelphia after voting for her on Tuesday. But, you know, I don't want to go to Trump, so that's the only reason.

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Democrats were banking on the idea that that would be enough. They had a theory of the case. Trump had never broken above about 47% of the electorate. They didnt need a transformative candidate, just someone who could persuade a broad anti-Trump coalition to show up to the polls.

Voters dont shift dramatically over a short period of time, Cornell Belcher, Obamas pollster, said recently.

This time, they did. Trump, as of Wednesday, appeared likely to win not only all of the swing states but also a majority of the popular vote, the first time for a Republican presidential candidate since 2004, when President George W. Bush defeated John F. Kerry, then a Massachusetts senator, in 2004.

The shift of voters without a college education toward Republicans, in motion for three or four decades, is no longer limited to white people. Trump's share of Latino voters grew to 45%, compared with 32% four years ago, according to exit polls, which showed the biggest increase among men.

A photograph of Donald Trump hangs in the living room window over the front porch a rural home in January in Denison, Iowa. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Many Democrats attribute part of Harris' loss to sexism. Trump was able to exploit it in two elections, casting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Harris this year as weak.

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Whether its Hillary Clinton or Kamala Harris, regardless of what you say or do, youre not going to appear as tough as a man who talks loudly, said Joan Hoff, a presidential historian at Montana State University.

Democrats will be debating what went wrong for the next four years. But it starts with Bidens decision to stay in the race after his party performed surprisingly well in the 2022 midterms. Many voters were noticing a decline as Biden, now 81, walked more stiffly and appeared to jumble his words. But Biden insisted he was the only one who could defeat Trump, who at 78 is now the oldest president ever elected. And few Democrats dared to challenge that self-assessment.

Trump, meanwhile, was solidifying support in the Republican Party and pounding the Biden administrations handling of the economy and immigration, casting himself as a victim while pledging revenge against prosecutors and politicians who tried to hold him accountable. Biden was unable to mount a counterattack as Trump steamed over the Republican opposition.

By the time Biden held his disastrous debate with Trump in June, there was little time to find an alternative besides Harris, despite her obvious ties to his administration.

President Biden listens as Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at an event in Largo, Md., in August. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press)

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Harris, whose approval rating in polls was low to that point, overperformed expectations when she was elevated to the top of the ticket in late July, inspiring young voters who made joyful memes tied to her sometimes awkward speaking style. She impressed party insiders by solidifying the nomination and holding raucous rallies that reenergized base voters.

But she had little time to introduce herself to the public or outline an ambitious policy agenda. She felt she needed to show loyalty to Biden, preventing her from making a clean break with his policies.

It should be such a simple proposition, but she didnt do it, said Sean Spicer, Trump's former press secretary.

Read more: Trump is elected 47th president, soundly defeating Harris to retake White House

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Advisors said the timeline forced tough decisions. In three months, she had to explain who she was and what she stood for and win back Democrats who had lost enthusiasm for Biden.

We have to understand the challenge she walked into," said Karen Finney, a close Harris ally who worked as a senior advisor to Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign. "The fact that she had to come back from that far back."

Trump was initially thrown off by the candidate switch but readjusted, returning to many of his 2016 themes that spoke more directly to the working class, said Faiz Shakir, a senior advisor to Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders. He was hardly subtle, making appearances at McDonald's that Democrats mocked as stunts. He made overtly sexist and racist appeals, continually attacking Harris as "low-IQ" and repeating lies about Haitian immigrants stealing pets so they could eat them.

Donald Trump supporters dress as a McDonald's workers while waiting to enter a Trump event in Glendale, Ariz., last month. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

But even as he veered into tangents and grievances, he continued to present himself as a threat to the establishment. Harris talked about her middle-class upbringing but had trouble conveying the pain being felt by the middle class, Shakir argued.

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He became the change agent and she became the creature of status quo, Shakir said. They were not competing on ideas. They were competing on the same idea that Joe Biden had, which is restore the soul of this nation.

In the campaign's final weeks, Harris went even harder in attacking Trump's fitness for office. Her advisors had been increasingly frustrated that Trump's rallies were no longer being televised and that polls showed his time in office was regarded better in 2024 than it was at the time. They emphasized warnings from many of his own closest advisors and top military brass that he was a would-be fascist who would be unencumbered if given another term.

Kamala Harris supporters follow the election results Tuesday night at the candidate's alma mater, Howard University in Washington. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press)

Internal focus groups showed the argument was working, according to one person close to the campaign. But it was not enough to overcome more basic anxiety over the cost of living. Two in three voters said the nations economy is either not good or poor, according to exit polls.

Axelrod said Harris ran about as good a campaign as she could under the circumstances. But he said the Democratic Party has lost touch with the daily realities of many working-class voters as its support clusters around urban areas. Trump, even in his 2020 loss, won 84% of the nation's counties.

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That should have been a warning sign that the Democratic Party has become big blue islands dotting a red map," he said. "The people who live in those places don't feel connected. They don't feel like they're being heard and, most of all, they don't feel respected.

Times staff writer James Rainey in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell is celebrating a major political victory and a milestone birthday. Bell, who turned 50 on Tuesday, was declared the winner of the race for Missouri District 1.

Bell bested Republican Andrew Jones and three other challengers on Election Day.

Bell will be sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 3, 2025, as part of the 119th Congress.

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Today, the people of the St. Louis region voted for a brighter future and greater opportunity. During my campaign, I promised to serve the First District with integrity, transparency, and accountability. I recommit myself to that promise tonight, and pledge to always remember who sent me to Congress to fight for them  the people of this region, Bell said.

I am humbled and honored to have the privilege of representing our region in Washington. We must build an economy that works for everyone, protect our rights and freedoms, and make sure that America remains on the forward journey towards building a more perfect union. Im ready to get to work.

Bell won a contentious primary in August, unseating incumbent Cori Bush in a race that drew national attention for the millions in donations made by a pro-Israel PAC to defeat the two-term congresswoman. Bush, a member of the progressive Squad in the House of Representatives, had been critical of Israels response in Gaza and the West Bank in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas.

Bell had originally planned on running for Senator Josh Hawleys U.S. Senate seat, which would have meant a primary showdown with Lucas Kunce. Instead, Bell opted to challenge Bush.

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ELECTION RESULTS: President | Missouri | Illinois | Amendment 2 | Amendment 3

Bell rose to prominence in the aftermath of the Ferguson protests in 2014. He was elected to the Ferguson City Council in 2015 and, in 2018, challenged Bob McCulloch for the role as chief prosecutor in St. Louis County. Bell stunned the political world by defeating the seven-term incumbent in the Democratic primary in what was seen as a referendum on McCullochs handling of the Michael Brown shooting and aftermath.

District 1 covers all of St. Louis City and several cities in north and central St. Louis County, including Maryland Heights, Florissant, Ferguson, Jennings, and University City.

Democrats have controlled Missouri District 1 for three-quarters of a century. In fact, only two Republicans have even held the seat since the turn of the 20th century: Frank C. Millspaugh and Samuel W. Arnold.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Election night is over, but races for West Sacramento mayor and City Council press on including a closely fought battle to determine who will represent the citys 1st District.

Incumbent mayor Martha Guerrero faces challenger and West Sacramento city council member Dawnte Early for the two-year term. Guerrero and Early were two-fifths of the team that made history in 2022 when West Sacramento voted in an all-women city council for the first time.

The first batch of results showed Guerrero leading with 59% of the vote. Challenger Early stood at 41% in early returns Tuesday night but fewer than 10,000 votes had been counted by 10 p.m. Tuesday.

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Guerrero slightly expanded her lead overnight, stretching her margin over the citys mayor pro tem to a 60-40 advantage, with another ballot count set for Friday afternoon.

Another tranche of votes will be released 4 p.m. Friday, say elections officials.

Two other members of that history-making council are vying for re-election.

West Sacramento City Council races

In one of the regions tighter races, incumbent Councilwoman Norma Alcala is in a dead heat with city parks Commissioner Emiliano Rojas for the seat in West Sacramentos 1st District. In early results after polls closed Tuesday night, Alcala held a slight edge with 51% to Rojas 49% share. But by Wednesday, Alcala held a scant 15-vote lead over Rojas, 1,060 to 1,045, with 2,105 votes cast.

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In the race to represent the citys 2nd District, incumbent Councilwoman Quirina Orozco, a criminal prosecutor in the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office, faces challenger and local labor leader Timothy Campbell. Campbell is president of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 18, the union that represents workers at the Port of West Sacramento.

The second round of results after polls closed Tuesday showed Orozco with 56% and Campbell at 44% with fewer than 1,500 votes counted. On Wednesday, Orozco maintained her lead by a 55%-45% advantage.

Washington Unified school board races

Two seats were up for grabs on the Washington Unified School Districts board of trustees, who oversee West Sacramento schools.

Jannette Hunt, a Washington Unified parent and finance specialist and Washington Unified parent and youth mentor Patrice Griffith are competing to represent the districts Area 3.

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Incumbent Washington Unified board trustee Cody Pizzotti did not file paperwork to run for another term.

Hunt had 54% and Griffith stood at 46% after polls closed Tuesday.

In the districts Area 4, incumbent Jackie Thu-Huong was ahead of Washington Unified paraprofessional Eleanor Sanchez 60% to 40%. Sanchez had picked up a couple percentage points in late counting, but Thu-Huong maintained a 58%-42% lead Wednesday.

Measure O

West Sacramento voters are also deciding whether to impose a one-cent sales tax to fund roadway repair, pay for police and fire protection and address homelessness. The money would also be used to maintain the citys parks, trails and pubic spaces. The tax would generate $20 million annually for general government use.

The tax measure led by 8 points after polls closed Tuesday, with 54% supporting the levy and 46% opposed. That lead held firm Wednesday with another batch of ballots to be released 4 p.m. Friday.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) is the projected winner of the states gubernatorial race, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.

Morrisey defeated Democratic nominee Steve Williams (D), the mayor of Huntington, W.Va., in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Jim Justice (R). Justice is running for retiring Sen. Joe Manchins (I) seat in the Senate.

The attorney general battled through a crowded GOP primary, including businessman Chris Miller and former state Rep. Moore Capito (R)  the son of West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R). Morrisey, 56, was endorsed by former President Trump shortly after winning the primary.

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LGBTQ issues emerged as a major focus during the primary race. A pro-Morrisey political action committee  Black Bear PAC  released an ad in April that accused Miller of protecting they/them, not us while sitting on the Marshall University board. Another ad hit Capito for protecting woke counselors, adding that the next governor has to keep the radical transgender agenda out of West Virginia.

Lawmakers in the state passed more than two dozen bills targeting the LGBTQ community in 2024  though only one bill passed both chambers, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Morriseys win comes just a few months after Manchin, who was floated as a potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate, announced he would stay out of the race. The West Virginia independent, who recently left the Democratic Party, endorsed Williams.

He was elected as West Virginias top prosecutor back in 2012. The attorney generals run for the governors mansion will leave the top legal office in the Mountain State up for grabs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LAURENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Batman is in town, with a strong message for students here in the Upstate.

West Virginia Batman, also known as John Buckland, with Heroes 4 Higher, will be visiting Laurens County District 55 throughout the rest of the week, teaching students and parents important life skills.

His four key tips: Never give up, always do the right thing, help others and never be a bully.

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Weve got to empower these kids to understand a different perspective, said Buckland. Just because weve gone through tough things in life doesnt mean your life has to be ruined. We can use that tragedy as a fuel to change the world around us and become somebody that the world wants to listen to, because thats what its going to take to change this.

Buckland removes his mask during the assembly, sharing his story.

I went through a lot of really tough things as a kid which then elevated me to making some tragic mistakes and bad decisions, Buckman explained. Through counseling and personal faith decisions, and all that good stuff I was able to overcome the tragic things in my life.

He said by sharing his story, he gives hope and empowerment to these students. It is something they need, according to Hickory Tavern School counselor, Mindy Carter.

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I feel like so many times our kids, especially in the middle school age, keep all those feelings inside instead of addressing the issues to get the help that they need, Carter said.

She said she thinks the creative presentation grabbed the students attention.

Principal Emily Starling said when the district heard about West Virginia Batman during the summer, they knew it would be a game changer.

I hope the students will take this back in the classroom and really think about and process the things that he shared with them today, Starling said.

Starling said she hoped West Virginia Batmans message resonates with the goals of students and faculty members.

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We have thousands of suicide attempts every day among our youth, Buckland said. Its unacceptable and were just not putting enough emphasis. While the adults of the country and of the world are so noisy arguing about everything else the kids are getting overlooked, theyre getting ignored. Meanwhile the pain is not stopping.

He said by sharing his message, he empowers youth to stand up for themselves and ask for help when they need it.

If you can change one, there might be another one of me in there, there might be there might be another Martin Luther King in there, we dont know, Buckland said. It only takes one to start something in motion, but I think we changed more than one in there.

Buckland encourages everyone across the Upstate to join them at the Heroes 4 Higher event that will be held this Saturday, November 9th. It will be held at Lucas Avenue Baptist Church at 10:00 a.m.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Rep. Carol Miller (R-W.Va.) speaks during a House Select Committee on Climate Crisis hearing on June 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Nathan Howard | Getty Images)

Carol Miller will continue serving the first district of West Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to unofficial election results released Tuesday evening.

The Associated Press called the race for Miller at 8:36 p.m.

As of 11:44 p.m., with 88% of votes counted in the state, Miller so far has received 66.5% of votes. Thats compared to the 7.4% won by independent candidate Wes Holden and the 26% of votes earned by Democrat Chris Bob Reed.

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In a statement from her campaign after her win was announced, Miller said her next term in office will focus on several issues that have become central to conservative ideals: securing the nations southern border, increasing domestic energy production, lowering taxes and health care reform.

I am honored to have won the election in West Virginias First District. Serving the southern half of West Virginia for the past six years has been an honor that I do not take lightly, and I will continue to enact policies that put West Virginians and Americans first, the statement read. Thank you to the voters for your confidence in sending me back to Washington D.C. God bless West Virginia, and God bless the United States of America.

The race was one of the few in the state to feature an independent candidate. A longtime staffer for former Gov. and Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a Democrat, Holden ran his campaign as a challenger of the two-party system. He received endorsements from numerous labor unions in the state as well as progressive policy groups.

Reed was largely inactive for the election, never launching a campaign website. According to the Federal Election Commission, there have been no financial statements filed by Reed for this election. He has not participated in election surveys or questionnaires put out by media organizations.

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Miller served more than a decade in the state House of Delegates as a Republican before being elected in 2018 to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she has served ever since.

She won her primary in May against Derrick Evans, a fellow Republican who resigned from his position in the state legislature just two months after being elected because of his participation in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In 2022, a grand jury indicted Evans on five counts related to the Jan. 6 insurrection, and he later pleaded guilty to a felony charge for civil disorder. He served almost three months in prison for the charge.

Miller is a staunch conservative and vocal Trump supporter. She was one of 147 Republicans in Congress, who voted in 2021 to overturn the election of President Joe Biden due to allegations of fraud. Those allegations have been proven false.
Tim Hamm had a lot to think about when Big Horse Creek flooded.

How many more branches need to be sawed off before the roads are cleared? Is this boulder big enough to fill the hole in the bridge?

How are people going to vote?

Remnants of Hurricane Helene doused North Carolinas rural Ashe County in rain, mud and debris on Sept. 27. It pulled the foundation out from under a century-old voting site  the site for the countys Hurricane Precinct. The little building had no heater, Hamm said, only a wood-burning fireplace that needed constant tending.

Ashe Countys Hurricane Precinct typically hosted voters in a creekside building that is still filled with sludge and sand from Tropical Storm Helene.

A month after the storm, sand still covered the uncannily-named precincts floorboards, and nearby residents still spent their days digging sludge out of their rooms and restaurants.

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A little over a month after the storm, it was Election Day.

Some in western North Carolina were voting in tents. Others were voting in a new place for the first time in their lives.

Two voters bubble their ballots next to diapers, cleaners and canned food inside Ashe Countys makeshift polling location for its Hurricane Precinct.

You find us OK? Hamm, the chief judge for the Hurricane Precinct, asked as Debbie Miller walked into the relocated site Tuesday. The new location had been combined with another precinct and a donation center.

Well, Miller said as she weaved through tables of clothes and cleaners, eventually.

The 66-year-old first went to the old schoolhouse where shed voted every other election.

It was destroyed.

A building near Ashe Countys normal polling site for its Hurricane Precinct sits mangled and filled with sand after Tropical Storm Helene.

So she called the courthouse, and they told her where to go, she said. Six miles away, on the other side of a one-way, cliff-side dirt road, shed be able to vote at White Oak Community Center, known locally as the Old White Oak School, a clerk told her.

Ashe Countys Hurricane Precinct was relocated from its century-old location to another community center on the other side of a one-way, dirt road.

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Linda Inchs great-grandson made sure she made it to her voting location, too.

You going to work, grandma? 3-year-old Levi asked as Inch packed her bag Tuesday morning.

Yes, she replied.

You going to vote? he followed up.

Can you believe he said that? Inch said to Hamm and two other poll workers sitting inside a makeshift voting site. They all knew each other. Hes not even four years old yet.

The White Oak Community Center, known locally as the Old White Oak School, hosted a storm-relief donation center as well as Ashe Countys Hurricane Precinct and Horse Creek Precinct on Election Day.

Ashe County, which hugs Virginias border, has a population of about 20,000. Lansing, the closest town to the Hurricane Precinct, has about 128 people.

In purple, swing-state North Carolina, both Ashe County and Lansing are solidly Republican. Through orange and yellow leaves  and brown and gray grass  bits of red, white and blue poked through. Trump, Take America Back signs and flags dotted the soggy ground after storm winds had blown campers, refrigerators and sheets into trees in September. One voter wore a Trump hat, shirt and pants as he dropped his ballot into the box.

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Inch remembered when young Levi saw former President Donald Trump on TV months ago  before Helene ripped strips of tin off her roof. He looked up, listened and, in the voice of a toddler, said: I like that man.

Well good, Inch replied, because grandmas going to vote for that man.

Inch said she felt most comfortable voting for Trump, who she described as an honest man who does what he says.

Linda Inch, 66, voted at a makeshift polling location in Ashe County. Her normal voting location in the countys Hurricane Precinct was washed out by a flooded Big Horse Creek when Hurricane Helene fell over Appalachia.

As Inch drove away in her blue Volkswagen Beetle, Hamm handed the precincts first curbside ballot to 72-year-old Randy Gurlacz.

The Miami-born man moved to Ashe County 20 years ago. His wife was scared of the hurricanes, he said.

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Now, here we are, he said. Were in the Hurricane Precinct, you know?

Gurlacz, who lost his left leg years ago while building bridges, cast his ballot from the passenger seat as his nephew, Tony Jaramillo, 27, and family friend, Shane Blevins, 28, bubbled in their ballots inside.

Randy Gurlacz, 72, voted curbside outside White Oak Community Center, known locally as the Old White Oak School. He lost his leg in a bridge building accident years ago, he said.

Jaramillo said he knew to go to the new location after checking the Board of Elections website. Other residents knew because of the beloved local radio station  their equivalent of a local TV station  580 WKSK The Farm. Some knew simply by word of mouth.

You just kinda hope it gets out there, said Lansing Mayor Mack Powers, 73, of the changed polling sites.

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By Tuesday afternoon, it seemed like it had.

Joyce Clark, 79, left, has lived in Ashe County for 62 years. She and her daughter, Sue Davis, 60, right, knew their voting location had changed because of the local radio station.

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We have a whole lot going on, he said, and despite the importance of the election, getting the mud out of your house, having somewhere to sleep and food to eat are at least equally important.

Hamm said the day had gone as expected, and they had a good turnout on top of the roughly 60% of voters who cast their ballots early.

Everything was the same, he said, except this time I didnt have to build a fire.

A decorated Christmas tree sits among storm-relief donations inside Old White Oak School, which hosted voters from two precincts on Election Day.

Dig or donate: What I found in the NC mountains after Helene wrecked Appalachia

In other areas of Western NC

More people voted in Buncombe County on Election Day this year than did in 2020, the county government reported in an update at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

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Were thrilled to see so many voters turning out today, Buncombe County Elections Director Corinne Duncan said in a statement. Our community has been through so much in recent weeks, but we are resilient and committed to the elections process, and there has been much to celebrate already today.

About three hours before polls closed, students at Appalachian State University in Boone were waiting in a four-hour line to vote, journalist Lee Tauss posted on social network X.

Buncombe County had to replace or transfer 17 of its 80 voting sites because of Helene.
AASHISH KIPHAYET/Getty Images

On June 24, 2022 the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, changing our national landscape and leaving many to wonder: Where is abortion illegal now? The answer is complicated.

In the weeks and months following the decision, trigger laws, which anti-abortion lawmakers had prepped for just that moment, went into effect in some states as soon as the court ruling came down, while other states had laws that took weeks to implement. As a result of the 2022 midterms, we saw three states enshrine abortion in their constitutions, and in the years since, many other states have been entangled in legal battles as they attempt to either restrict, or protect, abortion. To say the least, the Supreme Court decision that overturned 50 years of precedent has left many confused as to where their state's abortion law stands.

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Decades of research consistently show that abortion bans and restrictions dont reduce unintended pregnancy or demand for abortion, and they certainly do not help people improve their health. Rather, they impose significant hurdles to obtaining care, causing stress for people in need of abortion and leading some to experience forced pregnancy and all its troubling consequences," Herminia Palacio, MD, former Guttmacher Institute president and CEO, said in a statement emailed to Teen Vogue shortly after Roe was overturned.

Further complicating the legal landscape is medication abortion. In June 2024, nearly two years after it overturned Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court unanimously agreed that a group of anti-abortion doctors did not have legal standing to bring a lawsuit that called into question the FDAs approval of mifepristone, one of the drugs that make up whats known as the abortion pill. However, three states are reviving the suit. While a number of states place restrictions on the abortion pill, and state-level abortion bans generally extend to medication abortions as well, online providers (including some based in other countries) will still mail you the medication. Informational websites like Plan C can help you figure out how to access the abortion pill for a self-managed medication abortion  which research has found can be a safe and effective option.

As the legal landscape surrounding abortion access continues to shift, here's a guide to where abortion is illegal, where it's a protected right, and what that means.

Where Is Abortion Illegal

Currently, abortion is almost completely illegal in 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and South Carolina enforce bans after fetal cardiac activity can be detected, which is typically around six weeks. These so-called six week bans make abortion largely inaccessible, since many people dont know they are pregnant at that time. If you are fewer than six weeks pregnant, you can still get an abortion in these four states.

How to Get an Abortion Now That Roe v. Wade Has Been Overturned

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According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, all states with near-total abortion bans have exceptions to prevent the death of the pregnant person. Some states have exceptions for potential risk to the health of the pregnant person, in cases of rape or incest, and for lethal fetal anomaly. Still, confusion remains over interpretation of these various exceptions.

At least two women have died in Georgia alone as a result of abortion bans, according to a report from ProPublica.

Substantial restrictions are also in place in other states, which have bans starting at 12, 15, or 18, weeks gestation.

States with 12 week bans are Nebraska and North Carolina. Utah bans abortion after 18 weeks.

What States Could Change Their Laws

The near-complete and partial bans currently in effect are far from the only efforts by US states to severely restrict access to abortion in the years since Roe was overturned. Those efforts have repeatedly ended up in courts across the country, leading to some of the bans being blocked. While many of these blocks were ultimately lifted, allowing the bans to take effect, others remain in place. Thats the case in Montana and Wyoming, the New York Times reports, which both have blocked bans that could be revived. Montanas abortion landscape was subject to a ballot question in November, which voters passed to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution. Wyomings restrictions have been temporarily blocked, pending ongoing litigation

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As part of the November 2024 elections, voters in 10 states considered ballot measures that would expand or protect access to abortion, and seven of those states passed their amendments. Missouri voters overturned the state's abortion ban, enshrining reproductive care into the state's constitution. Teen Vogue compiled a list of all 10 ballot measures and their outcomes here.

Where Is Abortion Legal

According to CNN, as of October 2024, abortion is allowed in 29 states and the District of Columbia. These states are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In these states, laws protect abortion either up to viability or throughout pregnancy.

Eleven states  Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, Ohio, and Vermont  have amended their state constitutions to protect the right to abortion following the decision to overturn Roe. And in two states, Kentucky and Kansas, measures seeking to curtail the right to abortion failed.

How to Get an Abortion If You're Transgender

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Currently, nearly half of states across the US almost completely ban or restrict abortion access to earlier in a pregnancy than Roe allowed. In this context, states where the procedure is legal have experienced an influx of patients from states that have banned abortion. Access continues to vary widely based on where people live and what financial and social resources they have.

Yet, according to the Guttmacher Institutes Monthly Abortion Provision Study from March 2024, an estimated 1,037,000 abortions occurred in the formal health care system in 2023an 11% increase in abortions nationwide since 2020.

This increase may be the result of a number of factors, including wider access to medication abortion care through telehealth (which accounted for 63% of abortions in 2023, according to the Guttmacher Institute), increased abortion fund support, and shield laws in various states that protect healthcare providers from facing legal repercussions for providing abortion care for out-of-state patients.

This article was originally published on June 28, 2022 and is being updated regularly to track the most current information. The most recent update was on November 6, 2024.

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It was supposed to be everything short of a free ad  a panel of women not containing their excitement to welcome Kamala Harris, ready to introduce her to their committed daytime audience of exactly the type of women the vice presidents campaign always hoped were going to be critical to her base.

It was a moment that encapsulated one of the biggest challenges facing her campaign  which, in the end, proved insurmountable.

What, if anything, would you have done something differently than President Biden during the past four years? co-host of ABCs The View Sunny Hostin asked Harris, looking to give her a set for her to spike over the net.

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There is not a thing that comes to mind, she said.

Even Harris realized she had a problem, trying to adjust a moment later by saying she would put a Republican in her Cabinet.

Aides didnt wait until Harris was off the set to start trying to clean it up. A Democrat who had spoken with her told CNN at the time that she didnt want to name her differences with President Joe Biden  including a higher capital gains tax rate, a bigger child tax credit and a tougher border policy  because she thought it would look disloyal to the man who had picked her as his running mate and then stepped aside for her.

The thud fell in a campaign already struggling with a listless October, which had replaced the late summer exuberance and a September debate that nearly every political observer other than Donald Trump acknowledged she crushed. As aides new to the Harris orbit exerted control, she struggled with preparation. She grew hesitant, losing some of the confidence and swagger that had defined the early weeks of her reintroduction to the country. Aides who had successfully pushed her out of her comfort zone earlier in the year felt like they were running into the kind of walls she used to put up.

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CNN spoke with over a dozen senior Harris campaign aides both in the Wilmington, Delaware, campaign headquarters and on the ground in the states, as well as multiple volunteers and local elected officials, over the course of the final weeks of the race.

A country crying out for change got a candidate who, at a crucial moment as more voters were tuning in, decided to soft-pedal the change she knew she represented.

In the scope of a Democratic ticket that pulled off the biggest turnaround in approval ratings and the fastest consolidation around a new candidate in the history of modern presidential politics, this may have seemed like a minor moment. But it reflected deeper problems: some, like with the staff around her, that she might have been able to adjust; and one, with Biden, that she could never shake, with internal polls showing overwhelming majorities of voters thought the country was on the wrong track.

Vice President Kamala Harris makes her way to board Air Force Two before departing Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin on September 20. - Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

By the time Harris got a clearer, sharper contrast answer out on the Biden question, the situation had congealed in ways she never got past  both among voters wavering in the center who wanted to hear her rebuff the president on his handling of the economy and voters on the left who wanted to hear her more forcefully disavow Bidens support for Israel.

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But perhaps the bigger problem with Biden, top Democrats fumed in the aftermath of that fateful debate in June and then again as they watched the results turn red on Tuesday, is that he should have never been anywhere near the 2024 race. If he had stepped aside after the midterms, as some aides urged him to, the Democratic Party process could have played out in a primary campaign. Candidates kinks could have been worked out  or not. Almost certainly whoever emerged as the nominee would have gone into the final weeks without so many Americans complaining they didnt know enough, as they said about Harris. Biden could have taken on a role as steward and elder statesman, rather than a guy the Harris campaign never knew quite what do with.

Late surge of optimism crashes

If the election had been two weeks ago, senior aides to Harris were admitting in recent days, the vice president probably would have lost. But they went into Tuesday feeling like she had gotten herself to a likely squeaker victory. One-on-one conversations volunteers were having as they knocked on doors seemed to be clicking. For the first time in his nine years dominating American politics, Trumps character seemed to be breaking through as an actual weight on people who wanted to vote for him.

Leading Democrats smiled just thinking about what it would mean to beat Trump with the first female president  a woman of color, a child of two immigrants, a prosecutor, and a candidate who talked about joy and offered up her smile against the scowl that had become his most common expression. Her candidacy sparked in them the unfamiliar feeling of hope.

That sentiment evaporated by 11 p.m. on Tuesday. But for many anxious Democrats, this is just the beginning. Going into Election Day, many top Democratic operatives across the campaign and in the states told CNN different versions of the same thought: If this didnt work  with the massive campaign theyd put together, with millions of doors knocked by volunteers who flooded into battleground states, with GOP former Rep. Liz Cheney and former President Bill Clinton united under the same tent stumping hard for her, with celebrities from Bad Bunny and Arnold Schwarzenegger throwing their cultural weight behind her  what will?

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I cant imagine, I cant even get my mind around what it would be like if Donald Trump won, because he is telling us such dark and sinister things that hes going to do, and I believe him, Sen. Cory Booker told CNN after a campaign stop late Monday afternoon in Bucks County, Pennsylvania  one of the key swing districts in the crucial battleground state.

The New Jersey Democrat said he had already warned his own staff about not giving up.

We need to get up the next morning and forge forward, Booker said. I told them how much I dont like hearing people say, Oh, if so-and-so wins, Im going to go to Canada. Thats just not our history. Weve seen really bad outcomes out of bad historical events in our country, and were here because of the resiliency, the toughness, the strength of our country  and people even in the worst of times dug in and tried to do the best for our country.

Simmering internal fights and a revealing pick in Walz

Harris team would have gladly taken more time to introduce the vice president to the country, or to put together an operation, which, after the ticket switch in July, woke up every morning at campaign headquarters and in the states feeling behind on planning.

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But by the time the campaign pulled off its multi-state simultaneous rally across battleground states Monday evening  which ended with Lady Gaga singing her song The Edge of Glory and adding in, Im an American woman on the edge on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art  a nervous feeling of maybe having made a movement happen was spreading among Harris aides and top supporters.

Those aides were a hodgepodge. Biden hadnt just struggled as a candidate, but had failed to attract some top talent to his campaign because a generation of up-and-coming Democrats could never get excited about him. Harris tried to graft some of her own team onto them, even overlooking tensions between them from the early days of the Biden administration with campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon and keeping her in charge.

But some of those who had been in Wilmington for a year before Harris became the candidate bucked at their new bosses. Alumni of Barack Obama  most prominently his 2008, campaign manager David Plouffe, but also many others who moved into state operations  tried to flex a sometimes dated but often more incisive sense of how to win voters.

Along the way, multiple aides told CNN how much they were grinding on one another. But the mission to beat Trump and the short timeline to try to get there helped paper over a lot of the infighting that might have exploded in a longer campaign. It instead just raged behind the scenes as aides like Stephanie Cutter moved to exert dominance over defining how and what Harris said what she said.

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And those tensions manifested from almost the start of this short campaign, in the internal wrangling over who Harris should pick as her running mate. The case for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was strong, and not just because Harris brother-in-law Tony West was telling her they looked like the future of the Democratic Party together, and that the popular governor would make sure she won Pennsylvania. Right-wing media types werent the only ones who noticed how much Shapiro had made himself into an Obama clone, as much a Jewish guy from the Philadelphia suburbs could be: The Obama alumni suddenly rushing onto her campaign were pushing for Shapiro.

Harris liked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, though. She liked his line about Republicans being weird. She liked the way he came off as easy and unassuming. She liked the way theyd gotten along in their interview, including his very open stress that he would mess up in a debate with Trumps running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. And she liked the way Walz had been so deferential to however she would define the job for him.

Walz campaigns the day before election day, in West Ellis, Wisconsin, on November 4. - Vincent Alban/Reuters

In the end, Harris made a decision that simultaneously reflected her newfound confidence and her long-standing insecurity, solid with trusting her own instincts, fine with going against her family and against the Obama orbit, but also with no interest in having anyone who would possibly outshine her.

Then, as top aides kept Harris away from interviews and unscripted moments for weeks longer than many on the campaign thought made sense, Walz was necessarily kept in a box too, so that he didnt come off more accessible than she was.

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Tuesday morning, outside a canvas launch in northeast Philadelphia, Shapiro deflected a question about whether Pennsylvania  and the race  would have looked different had he been the choice.

I think she made a great pick in Tim Walz, he said.

Democrats try to make sense of gut punch

Biden, most Democrats were confident going into Tuesday, would have never even been in contention. The president watched the results come in from the White House, making a few calls to local winning candidates back in Delaware. Some who spoke with him as he made the decision to drop out in July briefly lingered on what might have been  maybe he could have won by keeping his numbers even in counties where he ended up outperforming Harris, or if hed lost anyway, at least it wouldnt have put the burden on a Black woman. He said nothing publicly.

Harris ran on positivity. She ran on inclusivity. She convinced a party full of insiders who had gone into the year ready to write her off for the 2028 Democratic nomination that they should go all in on her for 2024.

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At the beginning of the night Tuesday, when victory seemed just hours away, the people who came to what was supposed to be Harris celebration were dancing. A Howard University graduate seemed about to walk into history in the heart of her old HBCU campus. At one point, the camera found the student body president in the crowd and she blushed as she saw herself projected on the big screen. Anticipation mounted and cheers went out with every state called for Harris.

Seconds after North Carolina was called for Trump, the audio was switched off the big screens and music blasted through the speakers to try to salvage the energy. Most kept staring silently at the numbers, trying to make sense of what had happened.

Attendees react to election results at Howard University in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, November 5. - Austin Steele/CNN

In state capitals with Democratic governors, break-glass plans that they had started to believe they would never need are getting yanked off the shelves  to protect access to abortion medications, but also to work up other protections from what they believe will be not just a stringent, but vindictive, administration. Early thoughts about who will be running and how in 2028 are starting to circulate.

That was not on the minds of the people who started streaming out of the Howard campus early Wednesday before campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond had even finished telling them that there was still counting to be done.

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We try to do it right, we try to be good Christians, one woman said to the man walking with her. Weve got to take a page out of their book.

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It's Election Day! While voters may be familiar with former President Donald Trump, they may know a bit less about Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris, 60, was born in Oakland, California on Oct. 20, 1964. Though she is the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, she is a U.S. citizen.

In early 2021, Harris made history when she became the first woman, the first Black American and the first South Asian American to hold the office of the Vice President of the United States.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a rally at Shell Energy Stadium on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas.

Harris' nationality has come under scrutiny from Trump, most notably in a claim he made during an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists Annual Convention in late July.

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"I didn't know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black," the former president said, referring to Harris. "Is she Indian or is she Black? Because she was Indian all the way and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she went she became a Black person."

During the same convention, Trump also falsely claimed Harris had failed to pass the California bar exam. Harris has said that she did not pass the exam on her first attempt, but she later passed and was admitted to the California Bar the year after she finished law school.

People are also reading: Is VP Kamala Harris a law enforcement officer? Why she was called California's 'Top Cop'

On the campaign trail, Harris has worked to appeal to Black leaders and voters through conversations at barber shops and historically Black colleges and universities. She attended Howard University, an HBCU, and was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which mobilized behind her and could be spotted at rallies.

Kamala Harris' family tree

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Where was Kamala Harris born? See VP's ethnicity, nationality
In the 2024 presidential election, some states were expected to lean heavily toward one candidate or another.

While, based on historical trends, it was assumed that Kamala Harris could count on a win in New York, Donald Trump secured Tennessee. However, in several so-called swing states, the vote count  and, by extension, all of its Electoral College votes  is incredibly close. These states could lean either Democratic or Republican, and each outcome could have a crucial impact on the presidential race.

Here are the seven swing states whose results will be closely watched.

Electoral votes: 11

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When are results expected? Most polls in the state closed at 10 p.m. ET, but nine precincts received a two-hour extension as a result of malfunctioning equipment and a lack of printed ballots, according to the Associated Press.

Key races: Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake are going head to head in the U.S. Senate race, while an abortion measure is also on the ballot.

Electoral votes: 16

When are results expected? Polls closed at 7 p.m. ET, and 80% of the votes have been tallied so far.

Key races: The state has several downballot races in the House and Senate, with five candidates from Gen Z.

Electoral votes: 15

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When are results expected? More than half of Michigans counties had not reported votes two hours after polls closed, according to the Associated Press.

Key races: The state has a key downballot race between Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat, and former Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican.

Electoral votes: 6

When are results expected? While polls have closed, the state reportedly does not release updates until the last person in line has voted.

Key races: A key race in the Western state is between Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Democrat, and Sam Brown, a Republican.

Electoral votes: 16

When are results expected? Trump has been named the winner by the Associated Press.

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Key races: Democrat Josh Stein won the gubernatorial race in the state, replacing Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, whose term was limited.

Electoral votes: 19

When are results expected? Polls have closed in the state, with just under half of the votes still needing to be counted.

Key races: The state is eyeing a downballot race between Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican candidate Dave McCormick.

Electoral votes: 10

When are results expected? Polls have closed in the state, but more than half of the ballots still need to be counted.

Key races: A key downballot race in the state is between Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Republican candidate Eric Hovde.
In her first speech after her presidential election defeat, US Vice President Kamala Harris has promised to keep fighting, likely hinting at her continued involvement in politics.

Source: European Pravda, citing Harris' speech

Details: Speaking outside Howard University in Washington, DC, Harris acknowledged that the outcome of the US presidential election was "not what we wanted, not what we fought for".

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"We must accept the results of this election. Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power," she said.

The Democrat stressed the need for a peaceful handover of power  a principle which she said distinguishes democracy from autocracy. She also emphasised that US citizens should be loyal not to a particular party or politician, but to the Constitution.

"While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign. The fight, the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people. A fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation. The ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up," Harris pledged.

She urged supporters to keep up the fight not only in the voting booth, but also through their own actions.

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"Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesnt mean we wont win. Dont ever give up," Harris said.

Background: Earlier, it was reported that US President Joe Biden had congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the presidential election and invited him to the White House.

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U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, speaks at the Michigan Democratic Party's election night watch party in Detroit on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Updated at 7:20 a.m. 11/7/24

Democrats have extended their dominance over Republicans when it comes to Michigans U.S. Senate seats, as U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) just barely edged out former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) in Tuesdays election.

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The Associated Press called the race for the open seat just after 3 p.m. Wednesday, with Slotkin coming from behind as Democratic-leaning Kalamazoo and Wayne counties reported their returns, winning by an approximately 18,000 vote margin; 2,689,652 or 48.6% to Rogers 2,671,217 or 48.3%.

I pledged throughout this campaign that I wouldnt just turn up in election season and that commitment remains. I will continue to show up, to listen, to show up again when you call upon me. I will answer that call and I will act, so let me say as clearly as I can, whether you voted for me or not, you will always have an open door at my office because the truth is, there are no monopolies on good ideas, Slotkin told supporters Wednesday afternoon.

The seat had been seen as a must-win for Democrats as they faced an uphill battle to maintain their majority in the Senate.But with the GOP winning that majority Tuesday evening, that was less the case in terms of the national implication, even though both parties fought hard at the state level.

Its been almost a quarter-century since a Republican represented Michigan in the U.S. Senate, with now-former U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham last doing so in 2001. He lost to now-U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), Michigans first female U.S. senator who is retiring at the end of her term.

Michigan Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate Mike Rogers takes the stage ahead of former President Donald Trump at a campaign event in Detroit on Oct. 18, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Slotkin, who won Stabenows seat, acknowledged her predecessors service when she addressed supporters in Detroit early Wednesday morning.

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She is the definition of Pure Michigan. She has quite literally dedicated her life to serving the state at the local, state and federal level. Shes been in service for 50 straight years, said Slotkin. And as the first woman ever elected at the federal level for the state of Michigan, I owe her a huge debt of gratitude that I can never repay, and women of Michigan cannot repay. She put up with an enormous amount of crap. Enormous.

Rogers formally conceded the race Wednesday afternoon with a statement.

I am humbled and honored for the millions of Michiganders who embraced our campaign, shared their thoughts, their concerns, their ideas and put their faith and trust in me to serve our great state as their U.S. senator. Im also proud to have run on the ticket with our President-elect, Donald J. Trump, and I have no doubt that he is going to help move Michigan and America forward, stated Rogers. Michigan will always be home, and serving our state has been the honor of my life. While it wont be in the U.S. Senate right now, I will continue to serve Michigan now and into the future. Finally, I want to thank my partner in life and in this campaign, my wife Kristi, who has dedicated her life to service and was instrumental in helping us bring light to the issues that so many families are facing. She has been my rock and sacrificed to help bring needed change to Michigan. Thank You, Michigan.

Slotkins political ascent has been dizzying, as the former CIA analyst and high-ranking Defense Department official arrived in Congress just six years ago when she defeated now-former U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop (R-Rochester). She flipped a district that former President Donald Trump had won by 6 points in 2016.

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I believe in my bones that America is at its best when we have two healthy parties that push and pull and debate on issues of policy and substance and make our laws better, said Slotkin. Thats what our Founding Fathers intended, and its whatmakes our country great, but we all know thats not what weve had for the better part of the decade. We all know that were better as a state and as a country than our politics currently represent.

Slotkin said she was heartened by the fact that the nation had been through difficult periods in its history, but had always emerged with two things: engaged citizens and principled leaders.

Engaged citizens who step up, who do a little bit more than theyre used to doing, who care a couple more ounces than they did two weeks ago because theyre worried about their kids and their country and principled leaders, ready to receive the ball and do something about it, she said.

Rogers, a former Army officer and FBI agent, was considered by analysts to be the GOPs best hope to break the Democratic hold on Senate seats this year. After serving in the Michigan Senate from 1995 to 2001, he was elected to Congress in 2000 and served seven terms, during which he rose to national prominence as chair of the powerful House Intelligence Committee.

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Securing Trumps endorsement earlier this year may have been what Rogers needed to win the GOP primary, but it wasnt enough to get him across the finish line in Tuesdays general election.

After leaving Congress in 2015, Rogers became a cyber security adviser and businessman and later moved to Florida before the opportunity to run for Senate brought him back to Michigan, although his subsequent purchase of a home in White Lake created questions as the Advance reported in January about where he actually was living.

Those questions remained unanswered as the campaign wore on, and were still being asked with just a month to go before the election.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, speaks at the Michigan Democratic Partys election night watch party in Detroit on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Andrew Roth contributed to this story.

This story has been updated with a concession statement from Mike Rogers.

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By Patricia Zengerle and Mike Stone

(Reuters) - The White House plans to rush billions of dollars in security assistance to Ukraine before President Joe Biden leaves office in January, sources said on Wednesday, hoping to shore up the government in Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration.

"The administration plans to push forward ... to put Ukraine in the strongest position possible" a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity, before its term ends in January.

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Trump has been critical of Biden's assistance for Ukraine, fueling concern about the future of support for President Volodomyr Zelenskiy's government under a Republican-controlled White House, Senate and possibly the House of Representatives.

The House has been narrowly controlled by Republicans since January 2023, and it was not clear by Wednesday afternoon whether the party had won enough seats in Tuesday's elections to keep Democrats from winning a slim majority.

The Republican-controlled House last approved aid for Ukraine, including the authority for Biden to transfer billions of dollars in weapons from U.S. stocks, in April -- eight months after Biden first asked for additional aid, with the support of more Democrats than Republicans.

Of the weapons transfer authority passed in April, $4.3 billion remains, in addition to $2.8 billion worth of transfers lawmakers approved in previous spending measures and $2 billion in funding for the purchase of new weapons from industry.

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In total, that $9 billion in military assistance would be a significant boost to Ukraines stores.

Biden's plans for the transfers were first reported by Politico. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. will continue to send munitions and anti-tank weapons such as the Lockheed Martin and RTX Javelin to Ukraine in the coming months.

In order to help Ukraine retake its territory in its ground war with Russia, more ground vehicles will be needed, as well as 155mm artillery made by General Dynamics Corp. Ukraine should be receiving more GMLRS surface-to-surface rockets, which have been under heavy use by the HIMARS multiple rocket launch system.

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Analysts say it is by no means certain Washington would back any more Ukraine assistance once Republicans control the White House and at least half of Congress, especially as Ukraine experiences battlefield setbacks.

"That's going to be a problem when you go forward with additional funding for Ukraine, which at some point is going to be necessary," said Scott Anderson, a fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell declined to discuss aid for Ukraine at a press conference on Wednesday, saying he was there only to discuss election results.

As he ran for a second four-year term, Trump insisted Russian President Vladimir Putin would never have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had he been in office, adding that he "could solve that in 24 hours."

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Trump told Reuters last year that Kyiv might have to cede territory to reach a peace agreement, something Ukraine has rejected and Biden has never suggested.

The vice president-elect, U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, has been a vocal critic of Ukraine assistance, arguing that government funds would be better spent on domestic priorities.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Mike Stone; additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Leslie Adler, Don Durfee and Jonathan Oatis)
WASHINGTON (AP)  A strong across-the-board showing by Donald Trump helped propel the Republican former president to victory in Florida, once a preeminent swing state that has increasingly slipped out of Democrats grasp. Exhibit A: Trump was on track to win the longtime Democratic stronghold of Miami-Dade County when The Associated Press called the race at 8:01 p.m. ET.

Trump not only improved on his 2020 performance in Republican areas of the state. He made inroads with voters in Florida's battleground areas and was on pace to outperform Vice President Kamala Harris in areas considered to be moderately Democratic. Trump led Harris by 11 percentage points with about 80% of the expected vote report when the race was called.

But his lead in Miami-Dade County was perhaps the most surprising  and the most dispiriting for Democrats. It's been decades since a Republican presidential contender carried the county, which Joe Biden won by by roughly 7 percentage points four years ago.

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Over 81% of the vote had been counted in Florida when the AP called the race. Harris would have needed to get 73% of the outstanding vote left to be counted in order to overtake Trump's lead.

CANDIDATES: President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Claudia De la Cruz ( Socialism and Liberation) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Peter Sonski (American Solidarity) vs. Jill Stein (Green) vs. Randall Terry (Constitution).

WINNER: Trump

POLL CLOSING TIME: 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET. Florida covers two time zones.

ABOUT THE RACE: The last time Florida swung for a Democratic presidential candidate was over a decade ago, when Barack Obama beat Mitt Romney by less than a percentage point. Voters in the state havent looked back.

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Once a pivotal battleground, Florida's political DNA has been altered by organizational stumbles by Democrats along with demographic shifts. That culminated in Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis nearly 20-point landslide win in 2022, when he clinched the longtime Democratic stronghold of Miami-Dade County.

Its not just conservative seniors leaving the north to live out their golden years in the sunshine state who have rewired Floridas politics. Immigrants fleeing a despotic Venezuelan government have been welcomed by the Republican Party, just as Cuban exiles  reliable GOP voters  were more than a generation ago.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has struggled with candidate recruitment and money woes. Democrats also incorrectly assumed that younger generations of Cuban Americans would naturally gravitate toward the party  a prediction that hasnt panned out. Combine all that with the fact that that advertising in the sprawling state, with has nearly a dozen different media markets, is just so dang expensive, Democrats have effectively been cast into into the political wilderness  er, Everglades.

Consider this: Young voters who will cast their first ballot this year werent alive when the state was the epicenter of political drama during the 2000 presidential election, when disputes over hanging chads and miscounted ballots made their way to the Supreme Court, which sealed George W. Bushs 537-vote win over Democrat Al Gore.

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The state is a considerable prize in presidential races, offering the winner 30 electoral votes.

WHY AP CALLED THE RACE: The AP determined that Harris had no mathematical path to victory given Trump's massive lead and the amount of outstanding vote.

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Learn more about how and why the AP declares winners in U.S. elections at Explaining Election 2024, a series from The Associated Press aimed at helping make sense of the American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A massive lead gained from votes cast before Election Day helped deliver victory to North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat who handily defeated Republican Mark Robinson, the state's scandal-plagued lieutenant governor.

Two factors were largely responsible for Stein's win. First, most of the state's votes were cast before Election Day  roughly three-quarters  and Stein won those by more than 16 percentage points. And while Robinson held an early lead when it came to votes cast on Election Day, the vast majority of ballots left to be counted were in population-dense Democratic areas.

When The Associated Press called the race for Stein at 8:50 p.m., he was not only winning Democratic regions of the state, but also held a commanding lead in battleground areas while eating into Robinson's margins in Republican parts of the state.

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The outcome wasn't exactly a surprise. Robinson had been dogged by incendiary comments he had made in the past, including frequent posts he made to a pornography website's message board, which were unearthed during the campaign.

CANDIDATES: North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.

WINNER: Stein

POLL CLOSING TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET.

ABOUT THE RACE:

North Carolinas race for governor was a bumpy ride from the start after Republicans nominated Robinson, the states bombastic lieutenant governor, whose brief political career has been punctuated by antisemitic and sexist commentary  including Robinson telling women to keep your skirt down to avoid unwanted pregnancy and referring to Michelle Obama as a man.

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Over the summer, Robinson was already polling well behind Stein, the Democratic state attorney general. But Robinson's approval rating went into a tailspin after CNN published a story in September revealing Robinson had posted racist and explicit messages on a pornography web site message board more than a decade ago, calling himself as a black NAZI and stating that he enjoyed transgender pornography.

Many of his campaign staff members resigned and he was excluded from a Trump campaign event in Wilmington.

If Robinson had won, he would have been North Carolina's first Black governor.

WHY AP CALLED THE RACE: Stein was winning in ballots cast before Election Day, and much of the remaining vote left to be counted was population-dense areas that are predominantly Democratic. These included Wake County, which is home to Raleigh; Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte; and Guilford County, home to Greensboro. There were not enough votes left to be counted in Republican areas for Robinson to overtake Stein's lead.

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Learn more about how and why the AP declares winners in U.S. elections at Explaining Election 2024, a series from The Associated Press aimed at helping make sense of the American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republican voters in North Carolina cast ballots in greater numbers than four years ago, while Democratic turnout sagged. Together, those two factors carried Donald Trump to victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, marking the third time he has carried the swing state.

While Trump has consistently won North Carolina, his victory over Democrat Joe Biden in 2020 was much narrower  just over 1%. This year Trump held a 2.8 percentage point lead when The Associated Press called the race for him at 11:18 p.m. ET once it became clear that there weren't enough outstanding votes left in Democratic-leaning areas for Harris to overtake his lead.

To understand why Harris did not do as well as Biden in the state, consider Nash and New Hanover counties.

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Hillary Clinton lost Nash County, which is east of Raleigh, but Biden flipped it four years later. This year, Trump carried it by 2 percentage points when the race was called. Meanwhile, Harris was winning in New Hanover County, which is home to Wilmington, but she did not do as well as Biden did in 2020.

CANDIDATES: President: Harris (D) v. Trump (R) v. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) v. Jill Stein (Green) v. Randall Terry (Constitution) v. Cornel West (Justice For All).

WINNER: Trump

POLL CLOSING TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET.

ABOUT THE RACE:

North Carolina gave Trump his tightest swing state victory during the 2020 election, a contest in which he edged Biden by roughly a percentage point but still received less than 50% of the vote. Fast-forward four years, and the dynamics have become even more complicated.

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Democratic presidential candidates have carried North Carolina only twice since 1968  the most recent in 2008, when Barack Obama carried the state. But the state is one of the fastest-growing, with migration from elsewhere in the United States serving as the primary driver of population growth. Many are college-educated professionals  a demographic group that has increasingly favored the Democratic Party.

Layer on top of that the aftereffects of Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western parts of the state that are more conservative and still grappling with the devastation, and it offered Democrats perhaps the best chance they had in years to carry the state.

WHY AP CALLED THE RACE: Trump did better in North Carolina than four years ago  when he also won the race. Harris, meanwhile, failed to draw as much support as Biden. When the race was called, she would have needed to garner almost 60% of the remaining vote and there just weren't enough votes left in Democratic strongholds for her to reach that threshold.

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Learn more about how and why the AP declares winners in U.S. elections at Explaining Election 2024, a series from The Associated Press aimed at helping make sense of the American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republican David McCormick cut into Democratic Sen. Bob Casey's support in Philadelphia and its populous suburbs and built leads in the more GOP-leaning parts of the state, foreclosing the incumbent's pathway to victory when The Associated Press called the race Thursday.

McCormick was leading by more than 30,000 votes when AP called the race at 4:09 p.m., and though there were an estimated 91,000 votes still outstanding at that time, there were not enough in areas supporting Casey for him to make up the difference.

McCormick didn't win in the Democratic-leaning city of Philadelphia. But like Republicans across the map and President-elect Donald Trump, he sliced significantly the support that Democrats got. For instance: Casey was winning the city with about 78% of the vote, but that was down 8 percentage points from six years ago.

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McCormick was winning outright in every region of the state  from the Poconos and one-time coal towns to the central areas around Penn State University to Western Pennsylvania. He lost Philadelphia and its suburbs, but cut down the margins. In Bucks County, just north of Philadelphia, Casey was winning by less than 1 point; he carried the populous area by 6 points in 2018.

President Joe Biden narrowly won Pennsylvania in 2020 by a little more than 1 percentage point. Casey is doing worse than Biden by significant margins in almost every large county in the state, including 3 percentage points worse than Biden in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware and Chester counties. He's also underperforming Biden's 2020 performance in every region but the west, where Casey is doing about the same as Biden.

Casey led in early returns, but McCormick overtook him with about 80% of the estimated votes counted just before midnight Tuesday. Casey initially had a lead over McCormick when just about 40% of the estimated votes had been counted, propelled in part by mailed ballots that have historically favored Democrats.

McCormick was doing better in votes cast on Election Day, and as more of those ballots were counted Friday in Republican-leaning Cambria County and elsewhere, his lead grew to a margin of 0.54 percentage points by the early evening. Among the Election Day votes already counted in Cambria, McCormick is winning by a margin of 70%-27%.

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That lead is likely to shrink as provisional ballots are reviewed by election officials, who will determine whether they are valid and should be added to the count. The AP's updated estimate of ballots outstanding Friday was roughly 100,000, an increase from Thursday's estimate that resulted from additional reporting on the number of provisional ballots cast statewide. In recent general elections, close to a fifth of provisional ballots in Pennsylvania are not ultimately added to the count.

CANDIDATES: Casey (D) vs. McCormick (R) and three others

WINNER: McCormick

POLL CLOSING TIME: 8 p.m. ET Tuesday

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ABOUT THE RACE: Casey hails from a well-known political family in the state. The son of a popular two-term governor, he served in statewide elected office as auditor general and treasurer before being elected to the Senate in 2006. McCormick is a West Point grad, Army veteran and former investment firm CEO who lost the GOP primary to Mehmet Oz in 2022. Sharp exchanges have punctuated the contest.

McCormick accused Casey of being weak and a career politician. Casey called McCormick a wealthy, carpetbagging ex-hedge fund CEO. Pennsylvania Democrats have found success against GOP rivals in the recent Senate and governor's races.

John Fetterman beat Oz in 2022 by 5 points, and Gov. Josh Shapiro defeated Doug Mastriano handily that year as well, becoming the first governor to be elected to succeed a member of his party since 1966.

WHY AP CALLED THE RACE: McCormick was winning in regions across the state, except Philadelphia and its suburbs, though he cut Casey's margins there from six years ago. Not enough of the outstanding votes still to be counted came from areas that Casey was winning for him to close the gap.

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Even if he carried six out of 10 of the outstanding votes, he still wouldn't have won. Even if there were far more ballots left to count than the AP estimates are actually remaining, and Casey were to win them by a far larger margin than he is now, he still would not win.

___

Learn more about how and why the AP declares winners in U.S. elections at Explaining Election 2024, a series from The Associated Press aimed at helping make sense of the American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Idahos Proposition 1 failed badly, more than two-to-one, with nearly 70% of voters against it.

Even though I suspected it would fail, I didnt think it would fail that badly.

So why was it so resounding?

First, it fell along party lines. The Idaho Republican Party came out strongly against it, from GOP chairwoman Dorothy Moon to Gov. Brad Little and House Speaker Mike Moyle, and if you look at the number of votes for Donald Trump compared with the number of votes against Prop 1, it closely lines up.

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In fact, more people voted against Proposition 1 (609,521) than those who voted for Trump (596,765).

Second, reasonable people had legitimate concerns, particularly with ranked choice voting. Ranked choice voting would have asked voters to rank up to four candidates in each race theyre voting in, requiring them to do more research. Calculation of votes would have been much more complex than simply declaring a winner based on who received the most votes. Votes would have been distributed to second-choice and third-choice candidates.

Third, it would have been a dramatic change to our elections, and people have a tendency to be wary of big changes. Ranked choice voting has its flaws, but no system is perfect, and our current system has its own flaws. But the devil you know is better than the devil you dont.

Still, I think ranked choices benefits outweighed its flaws, and the current systems flaws are worse than the flaws of ranked choice voting. But thats a tough sell.

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Fourth, there was just a lot of misinformation out there about it. The dramatic change in our election system was confusing enough for people to get their heads around, but add on top of that the lies that it violates one person, one vote and that a computer algorithm decides the winner, and it was easy for voters to just say, no way.

Finally, it just wasnt its night. Idaho wasnt alone Tuesday in rejecting ranked choice voting and changes to the election system.

According to the Mountain States Policy Center, heres a rundown of the results of election reforms across the country:

Alaska: 51% of voters are supporting the repeal of its new RCV process (narrowly adopted in 2020).

Oregon: 60% of voters are rejecting Measure 117 to require RCV.

Colorado: 55% of voters are rejecting Prop 131 to require a Top 4 primary, similar to Idahos top four vote-getters advancing to the general election, and RCV.

Nevada: 54% of voters are rejecting Measure 3 to require a Top 5 and RCV.

Missouri: 68% of voters are approving a constitutional amendment to prohibit Ranked Choice Voting.

Washington, D.C.: The only place to support RCV during the 2024 election was the city of Washington, D.C., for local elections (72% support for I-83).

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Voters across the country also are rejecting proposals to replace partisan primaries with open primaries, according to Mountain States Policy Center:

Arizona: 58% are rejecting Prop 140 to require open primaries.

South Dakota: 66% are rejecting a constitutional amendment to require a Top 2 open primary.

Montana: 52% are rejecting a constitutional amendment to require a Top 4 open primary. In addition, 61% of Montana voters are rejecting a constitutional amendment to require 50% support to win an election (using possible RCV or runoff election).

Unfortunately, the problem remains in Idaho with the closed Republican primary, which leads to extremist candidates winning with a small minority of voters in the low-turnout primary and then cruising to victory in the general election, where they face little or no challenge in a political culture thats increasingly partisan.

As has been speculated, it likely would have been better to put just open primaries on the ballot without the ranked choice voting. Would it have passed without ranked choice voting? Perhaps, but well never know.

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If you think Idahos legislators are going to fix the closed primary system, dont hold your breath.

Will we see the group Idahoans for Open Primaries come back again with another ballot measure, but this time focused just on open primaries?

Time will tell.
Queen Camilla recently canceled all her scheduled royal engagements on account of a chest infection. This has shocked many people, who have since been anxious to learn more about the Queens health situation and the cancelations.

So, heres all you need to know about Queen Camillas health situation and her royal engagement cancelations.

Heres what happened to Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla is dealing with a chest infection. Buckingham Palace confirmed this via a statement that reads, Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest. It further states, With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week, but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekends Remembrance events as normal (via BBC).

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However, the Queen has issued apologies to those who would be affected by her absence. Due to her illness, she will not be present at the Field of Remembrance ceremony in Westminister Abbey this Thursday. Instead, she will be represented by the Duchess of Gloucester. The Queen will also not attend the Buckingham Palace reception hosted by King Charles III, which honors the accomplishments of Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Queen Camillas illness happened shortly after she and her husband King Charles III returned from a royal tour to Australia and Samoa. This tour marked King Charles IIIs first visit to Australia as a monarch.

This is not the first time the Queen has missed engagements on account of an illness. Back in 2023, she tested positive for COVID-19, which made her drop out of a scheduled visit to West Midlands.

Five years earlier in 2019, a chest infection forced the Queen to drop out of a gala dinner at the London Library and an event at Westminister Abbeys Field of Remembrance, the next day (via Daily Mail).

The post Why Did Queen Camilla Cancel Royal Engagements? Health Update appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
(WHTM)  Even though Election Day is almost over, Pennsylvania wont see official results for some time.

After 8 p.m. hits and the polls officially close in Pennsylvania, the counting of the in-person ballots will start, meaning it will be, as always, a long night for election workers.

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We will see a snapshot of how the Presidential election outcome will look in Pennsylvania, but that is not the official results.

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Until all mail-in and in-person ballots are counted, which is a process that may take days, we wont know officially who has taken the state. Also, pre-canvassing can not begin until 7 a.m. on Election Day, meaning that nearly two million mail ballots could not be opened and sorted until Election Day.

Something else to take into consideration is that each Pennsylvania county has its own election process. Meaning that Cameron County may not have the same resources or ballot machines as Philadelphia.

Counting millions of ballots takes time. For every single vote cast in this election, there will be a voter-verified paper ballot that election officials need to securely handle and count, explained Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt. Predicting exactly when Pennsylvania will have unofficial results that show a clear winner is just not possible. Pennsylvania has never had final results on election night, regardless of whether media outlets have announced winners on that night or at a later date.

For this election, if one of the presidential candidates can win Pennsylvania, then they have a good shot at winning the presidency.

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abc27 is Your Local Election Headquarters covering all the local races that can swing the balance of power in Harrisburg and Washington. Visit the abc27 Election Results page for all of the results including President, the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Pennsylvania Treasurer, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and your local State House and State Senate races.

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Tune in to abc27 News for more results, stories, and analysis on the biggest races in Pennsylvania.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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How did the pollsters get it so wrong?

If thats what you are thinking this morning, well, the polling gurus have news for you. They didnt screw it up at all. You just heard them wrong.

And they have the receipts to back it up: Nate Cohn in The New York Times, for example, summarized his most recent analysis by saying: The polls tend to err as a group in one direction or the other, so a fairly decisive win by either candidate is still possible.

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Then again, he did also say in the same piece: If the poll averages are exactly right down to the decimal (they will not be), Ms. Harris would barely need to outperform the polls to prevail.

Cynics will note the word if doing a lot of work there.

The other Nate, Nate Silver, eloquently made his defense by re-posting a piece written before the election citing 24 reasons Trump could win (although, less confidently, he pulled his own prediction model at 10:30 p.m.)

Sir John Curtice, a famed British political scientist, polling expert and senior research fellow at the National Centre for Social Research, chastised the Daily Beast when we asked him to put the Trump landslide in context, responding, via email: Its not a landslide (4 point lead in the popular vote).

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In a follow up phone call, Curtice said: It was an old fashioned election in which people voted against the incumbent government because they thought the incumbent government had messed up.

Every poll aggregator said Its 50/50, its close, and guess what, it was.

Curtice pointed out that Trumps leads in the swing states were all within the margin of error: In Georgia and North Carolina, Trump was +3 against a forecast of +1, he was forecast to tie in Pennsylvania but will likely end up +3, in Arizona he was forecast to be +2 and looks set for +5. Harris was forecast to win Michigan and Wisconsin with margins of +1, in fact Trump had won them by +2 and + 1 respectively. The numbers may be pushing the envelope but they are clearly within it.

Curtice added that no pollsters had said anything other than that Trump could indeed win all seven swing states.

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Asked to explain more generally if polling showed why Trump had won, Curtice said: Exit polls said 45 percent of people felt worse off now than they did under Trump. All this stuff about the gender divide, Black men swinging towards Trump, none of it matters beside the central fact; income. The Democrats have lost ground with the less well off. Its the economy, stupid.

Constantine Boussalis, Head of Department of Political Science at Trinity University in Dublin, told the Daily Beast: Essentially polling has a long history of massive failure over time, from Truman holding up the Dewey Defeats Truman, newspaper [the inaccurate early call was based on a poll] onwards.

Every pollster is trying to find, in any given poll, the closest match to the voting population and each has their own secret sauce to try and accomplish it, but ultimately, its a very difficult job.

With Trump now forecast to collect 312 electoral college seats, having crushed Harris in all the competitive states from Pennsylvania to Nevada, and even coming close to threatening the true blue stronghold of New Jersey, Democrats are unlikely to be moved to compassion for the pollsters who they could convincingly argue gave the clear impression the race would be down to the wire, with talk of coin flips and counting continuing for days, if not weeks.

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However Zachary Greene, an Associate Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University suggests that those who were shocked by the polls, may have only been hearing what they wanted to hear: There is a selection bias in what we look at. In fact the results are pretty close to getting what the polls were showing in many cases.

Robert Mattes, Professor of Government and Public Policy at the University of Strathclyde, and co-founder of the African polling tool Afro Barometer said: It is very hard to poll for the electoral college. But almost all polls do underestimate Trump. That suggests there is a systematic error somewhere in the pollingwhich is probably that Trump voters are harder to reach and accessand that is important because the effect is disproportionate under winner takes all rules.

Probably the most explicit and high-profile example of poll failure this cycle will be the Ann Selzer/Des Moines Register poll of Iowa, which found Harris leading 47/44 in Iowa. On the night, Trump pulverized Harris 56/42.

After the result came in, Selzer issued an almost-contrite statement saying she was thinking about how we got where we are, saying she would be reviewing data from multiple sources with hopes of learning why that happened. And, I welcome what that process might teach me.

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For anyone looking for that rarest of things, an apology from a pollster, this mealy mouthed excuse for the hardest word might just be the most fulsome its gonna get.

The Daily Beast Podcast episodes are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.
(The Hill)  Former President Trump cast his ballot in Florida on Election Day, despite his 34 felony convictions in New York.

While Florida has some of the strictest laws in the country against people convicted of felonies voting, Trumps hush money conviction did not disqualify him from the voting booth.

If a Florida resident is convicted of a felony in another state, they lose their voter eligibility only if such a conviction would make them ineligible to vote in the state where they were convicted.

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In Trumps case, a New York state law passed in 2021 only restricts people imprisoned on their felony conviction from casting ballots. Their right to vote is restored upon release from incarceration, even if they are still on parole or have some form of postrelease supervision.

Trump has yet to be sentenced in New York, with Judge Juan Merchan in September pushing back sentencing until after the election. Trump cannot appeal his conviction until the sentencing decision is handed down.

In the Sunshine State, only those convicted of murder or sexual abuse permanently lose their right to vote.

However, those who are found guilty of other crimes can only return to the polls once theyve paid any outstanding fines and completed their prison, probation or parole sentence without requesting clemency.

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No U.S. president other than Trump has ever been convicted of a felony at any point in their lifetime.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The Wichita City Council has approved paying Barkley Construction more than half a million dollars to install outdoor restrooms in two downtown parks.

But council members were split Tuesday on whether paying for the restrooms was a good idea.

The council eventually voted 4-3 to approve the bids and contracts on the agenda, which included spending $531,878 for the two public restrooms and a new hydration station  but not before a lengthy debate about the need for and the cost of the new restrooms, which will be purchased from a Portland-based company called Portland Loo.

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The two restrooms, the council was told, would be placed in Naftzger Park, 601 E. Douglas, which has no nearby public restroom, and in A. Price Woodard Park, which has out-of-service public restrooms that need to be replaced. The restroom in Naftzger Park will cost $258,609, and the one in A. Price Woodard Park, which will include a drinking fountain, will cost $273,269

The Portland Loo brand restrooms were chosen, City Manager Robert Layton told council members, because theyre easy to maintain. The structures are open at both the top and the bottom, which makes them easy to hose down and helps discourage nefarious behavior because occupants are partially visible.

Naftzger Park will get a new public restroom.

Mayor Lily Wu, who along with council members Dalton Glasscock and JV Johnston voted against approving the bids and contracts, said during a lengthy discussion that she thought the cost of the new restrooms was just too high. She pointed out that the council first started discussing the restrooms before she was a member.

Wu asked about the public restrooms across from the Old Town Farm & Art Market Plaza, which were installed at 130 N. Mosley in 2007, but was told by city staff members that, because of vandalism and theft, those restrooms were now kept locked except during big downtown events.

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She said before the vote that she would vote no on the entire Board of Bids and Contracts list because of her opposition to the restrooms.

My concern is that there are public bathrooms that have been vandalized, and safety has been an issue, she said. When I see an item that is $250,000 for one bathroom downtown when I see other community needs in the city of Wichita, I cannot vote yes on this.

Council member Maggie Ballard, though, said that she thought the restrooms were a much needed amenity for downtown Wichita. Shes been working on the project since she first joined the council, she said.

I think its incredibly important for us to encourage people to use Naftzger Park, and theres a place for animals to go to the bathroom and not for people, she said. Everybody has to go to the bathroom. It doesnt matter how old you are. And a lot of businesses are not open.

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Council member Mike Hoheisel said he also supported the restrooms, pointing out that the city spends about $50,000 a year cleaning up human waste left in public spaces. Without available restrooms, that problem will keep getting worse, he said.

He liked the Portland Loo brand, saying the units could be cleaned easily and seemed safer than other models.

This is just us catching up to where we need to be, to have accessible bathrooms, he said. ... I think this is a great item to push through, and I cant wait to see them start popping up.

Glasscock was among the most opposed to approving the new loos. He preferred, he said, to fix up and reopen the restrooms that were already in place in Old Town. If graffiti and vandalism were keeping those restrooms from being open, those issues should be addressed rather than spending city money on new restrooms.

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He questioned how well the Portland Loos worked in solving the problem of human waste in public spaces.

We do have publicly accessible restrooms, he said. I think theres a loose line of logic saying that because we install these restrooms, it will cut down on public defecation. I dont think theres a correlation.

Glasscock brought the restroom issue back up several hours later, when the council was about to vote on whether to approve American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for a Violence Interrupters Program aimed at reducing gun violence in the community.

He moved to amend council member Brandon Johnsons motion to approve the money for the program to stipulate that the council pay for the anti-violence program by using the already-approved money for the restrooms instead of ARPA dollars.

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His attempt to amend the motion was not successful, and the council went on to approve an amendment to extend the Violence Interrupters Program through September 2025 and increase money for the program from $1.3 million to $2.8 million.

I appreciate the creative thinking, said council member Becky Tuttle. I appreciate the fiscal responsibility. I do see the value of having the restrooms, not just for the homeless, but also for the visitors to our community.
Firefighters battled a brush 50-acre brush fire that ignited near homes on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu Wednesday morning.

The blaze had burned about 5 acres when it was first reported in the area of PCH and Malibu Canyon Road shortly after 9 a.m., Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Jonathan Torres said.

The fire quickly grew to 15 acres but stood at 40 acres and was threatening two homes, Torres said in an interview with KTLA as crews were battling the blaze.

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Sky5 was over the scene before 10 a.m. where the fire could be seen burning at least one home.

A home is seen burning in Malibu on Nov. 6, 2024. (KTLA) A brush fire erupts in Malibu on Nov. 6, 2024. (KTLA) An image taken from video showed smoke rising as a brush fire burns in Malibu on Nov. 6, 2024. (Citizen)

Crews were also fighting powerful Santa Ana winds blowing through the area Wednesday.

A high wind warning is in place for the area until 4 p.m. Thursday for northeast winds between 35 and 45 mph with gusts to 75 mph.

The winds were blowing out toward the ocean waters which Torres described as one of our saving graces.

The forward progress was finally stopped at 50 acres with no active brush fire currently, the City of Malibu posted on X at 11 a.m.

All lanes of PCH that were closed from Corral Canyon to Webb Way remained closed as of noon..

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In a statement posted to social media shortly after noon, Pepperdine University confirmed that they did not cancel classes and that all school operations will continue Wednesday, but officials did urge students, staff and others in the area to exercise caution.

Please prioritize your safety and the wellbeing of your families, friends and homes, the school said.

A possible cause of the fire and the extent of its damage were not immediately available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A Wilson Central High School graduate has been named as the next executive director of Tennessee Future Farmers of America (FFA) Foundation, effective Dec. 1.

Chelsea Carpenter will replace outgoing director Chelsea Rose, who announced her plans to transition out of the executive director's position earlier this year. Rose, the wife of U.S. Rep. John Rose, is stepping down to devote more time to her family, which includes two young children, she said.

Chelsea Carpenter

Carpenter is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University and has a degree in agriculture. She was a part of the Wilson Central High FFA chapter, which many consider one of the best in the state. Carpenter graduated from Wilson Central in 2015 and Tech in 2019, according to both schools. She was selected as the Tennessee FFA State President for the 2015-16 year.

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Carpenter's work experience includes stints at Farm Credit Mid-America, Tennessee FFA's top sponsor, and Purdue University, where she worked as program coordinator for Leadership Development in the John Martinson Honors College.

Carpenter and her husband Matt plan to relocate from Lafayette, Indiana.

Her deep-rooted connection to FFA, combined with her experience in agriculture and commitment to our mission, make her the perfect fit to step into this important leadership role," Foundation Board Chairman Phillip Baker said. "We are very optimistic that her vision will inspire our members and strengthen our Foundations impact across Tennessee.

Rose was hired as executive director in March of 2014 and she stepped away at the end of 2017 when her husband began his run for Congress. Rose was hired back in October 2021 when the position opened again.

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The foundation, created in 1983 and based at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, promotes and supports students and those involved in agriculture education and FFA, which can include scholarships, awards and recognition. Fundraisers include the Tennessee State Fair FFA Ham Breakfast at the Wilson County - Tennessee State Fair, which draws about 1,200 people with a standing room only attendance.

"FFA membership is at an all-time high and that's a very good thing for the future of Tennessee," Rose said. "With unemployment so low, the demand for capable employees is incredible. Tennessee employers are looking for people who will show up to work on Monday morning at 8 a.m., pass a drug test, and last longer than a week. FFA is providing that type of worker - young people who have their act together."

The number of Future Farmers of America students in Tennessee has skyrocketed in recent years with around 33,500 last school year at about 250 schools participating, according to data provided by Future Farmers of America Tennessee.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Carpenter to succeed Rose as Tennessee FFA Foundation director
Byrom vs. Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, a lawsuit tried in Maryland in July 2019, is this infamous case. It concerns the failure to perform a cesarean section and brain damage in a 25-week-old infant. It resulted in the largest malpractice verdict ever recorded in the United States, $229 million.

After the trial, a spokesperson for Johns Hopkins revealed that the discussion of some facts during the trial was limited by federal law. This is the reason for the plaintiffs verdict.

There are eleven words in medical records, Ms. Byron had recently arrived in the United States from Liberia. These 11 words play a pivotal role in medical decisions, yet they are never discussed during trial. The facts they underlay are: Ms. Byrom is from Liberia, conceives in Liberia, and lives there until 17 weeks of gestation. In Liberia, certain infectious diseases, known as the TORCH complex, are endemic and associated with fetal brain damage. Ms. Byrom is a teenager, has a sexually transmitted disease when first seen, and had no prenatal care until arriving in the U.S. These are known to Johns Hopkins and to lawyers and expert witnesses on both sides. These 11 words give credence to the probability that the alleged injury has another cause and that the outcome of brain damage is predetermined. These 11 words could have altered the verdict, but the jury never hears them.

Rule 403 of the Federal Rules of Evidence suppresses evidence that is prejudicial. Arguably, immigration status is prejudicial. In a fair trial, these 11 words are material evidence. Forbidding the use of 11 words under penalty of law suppresses evidence. Or does it?

On February 1, 2021, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals overturned the verdict. In its deliberations is an admonition of the plaintiffs medical expert. His vision of informed consent is that under circumstances involving a premature birth, the standard of care for informed consent must favor the fetus, regardless of prognosis. If the mother refuses a cesarean section because she believes it places her at risk and it would not alter the outcome for the fetus, doctors have a duty to coerce the mother into agreeing with a cesarean section giving the fetus the benefit of the doubt. This plaintiff expert knows and should know about these 11 words and makes no mention of them.

Whatever happens during the trial happens because of the rulings of a presiding judge. The Court of Special Appeals overturns this verdict, not because of the plaintiff expert, but because of the judge. The judge is responsible for suppressing these 11 words from being heard by the jury and allowing the plaintiff experts interpretation of informed consent to be heard. The appellate court determined that doctors at Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital do not depart from standards of care, and this experts testimony should have been excluded.

If not for the Court of Special Appeals, Maryland would still have the dubious distinction of the greatest miscarriage of justice in any malpractice case in history. The remedy still takes 19 months.

The medical profession has no authority over courtrooms, but there are professional ethics for medical experts that transcend courtrooms and hold experts accountable for unethical testimony. The theory that informed consent mandates that managing doctors must coerce a patient into agreeing with a cesarean section for the sake of the infant is the machination of this particular plaintiffs medical expert. This absurdity should have consequences.

How so? Medical expert witnesses are the evidence. This expert, acting as a hired gun rather than as an impartial consultant, knows and should know that there are predisposing causes of brain damage, and informed consent is not about patient coercion but about patient autonomy. His actions are intentional and unethical. He is deserving of professional sanction.

Even the least punitive penalty from a medical society would discourage lawyers from ever again retaining him as an expert and send a message to others about professional oversight of their behavior as medical experts. I filed a grievance with the medical society in Maryland regarding this doctor. They do nothing. By this, I mean they summarily dismiss it.

Howard Smith is an obstetrics-gynecology physician.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  With 92% of the votes in, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson has a healthy lead Tuesday night as she fights for her second full term in office.

Official results will not be available until election canvassing ends on Nov. 25.

Voters also decided the fate of four county council races, as well as assessor, recorder, surveyor, and treasurer, none of which are decisively finished as of Tuesday night.

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(* = incumbent. All candidates listed alphabetically)

MAYORAL RESULTS

Erin Rider (R)  44.55%

Jenny WIlson* (D)  55.45%

(as of 9:45 p.m., Nov. 7)

Wilsons experience includes service on the Salt Lake County Council, which she started in 2005. She also served as Rep. Bill Ortons chief of staff and as an aide to the Utah state legislature. She was the Democrats nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2018 but lost to Mitt Romney.

Rider was raised in suburban Salt Lake City and attended Brigham Young University, where she earned her undergrad degree. She then attended Georgetown to get MBA and JD degrees. While in Washington D.C., she worked with Senator Orrin Hatch as a law clerk with the Senate Finance Committee.

COUNCIL DIST. 2 RESULTS

Carlos Moreno (R)  54.23%

Katie Olsen (D)  45.77%

(as of 9:45 p.m. Nov. 7)

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In the second district of Salt Lake County, two fresh candidates were on the ballot as David Alvord chose not to run for reelection earlier this year.

Carlos Moreno, who is currently leading the vote as he fights for his first term as Salt Lake County Councilman, was endorsed officially by the Utah Republican Party and Independent American Party throughout his campaign.

Originally an immigrant and political asylee from Venezuela due to speaking out against the socialist regime, he earned U.S. citizenship in October 2022, his campaign website states. He will represent the communities of Copperton, Herriman, Kearns, Magna, South Jordan, West Jordan, and West Valley City.

Katie Olsen graduated with a masters in public administration from Brigham Young University. During her masters program, she interned with the city of South Jordan.

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She was hired full-time with South Jordan City after the completion of her Masters program and became an integral part of the states first-of-its-kind priority-based budgeting program. She will represent the communities of Copperton, Herriman, Kearns, Magna, South Jordan, West Jordan, and West Valley City.

COUNCIL DIST. 4 RESULTS

Nolan Kruse (Utah Forward)  3.60%

Roger Livingston (R)  33.26%

Ross Romero (D)  63.14%

(as of 9:45 p.m., Nov. 7)

District 4 is the second of two districts that did not have an incumbent running. Incumbent Ann Granato chose to endorse Ross Romero, the Democratic nominee in District 4, who is currently leading in the race.

He has served in the Utah State House and State Senate, according to his website. Romero served from 2005 to 2012 when he retired from the Senate.

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Romero earned his bachelors from the U in 1993 and later pursued a JD at the University of Michigan Law School, where he graduated in 96. He will represent the Canyon rim and East bench areas of Salt Lake City, along with parts of South Salt Lake, Millcreek, Murray, and Cottonwood Heights. He will also represent the city of Holladay and the areas of Millcreek Canyon and Emigration Canyon.

Livingston and Kruse are also looking for their first terms on the council.

COUNCIL DIST. 6 RESULTS

Zach Robinson (D)  47.42%

Dea Theodore* (R)  52.58%

(as of 9:45 p.m., Nov. 7)

District 6 incumbent Dea Theodore, has a razor-thin lead over challenge Democrat Zach Robinson.

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Ive stood against tax increases, supported our law enforcement, and worked to protect our cherished canyons, her campaign website states. According to the Salt Lake County Council page, Theodore also serves on the board of UFA and SYLVESA where she contributes her passion in representing the interests of her district.

Theodore earned a degree in Biology from the University of Utah and calls Sandy home.

Robinson currently sits on Sandys City Council. After a decade of dedicated service as a firefighter, paramedic, and 911 dispatcher, he was hired to be the University of Utah Health Operations Manager for virtual care.

COUNCIL AT-LARGE C RESULTS

Rachelle Morris (R)  49.05%

Natalie Pinkney (D)  50.95%

(as of 8:30 p.m., Nov. 6)

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The third at-large seat for the first time in a long time had two fresh faces with Jim Bradley deciding to retire from his county council seat. As of Tuesday night, Democrat Natalie Pinkney has a slight lead over her opponent, Rachelle Morris.

Pinkney has served in South Salt Lakes city council, according to her website. Her site states she has championed issues such as creating the Financial Empowerment Center, ensuring neighborhoods are safeguarded from big businesses, and protecting the hard-earned money of working families by voting against unnecessary tax increases.

If she wins, this will be Pinkneys first full term as a county council representative.

Morris says on her website she is a lifelong Republican and descendant of Utah pioneers.

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She worked in Private Wealth Management for Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan, she also was a co-founder and a partner of the Utah Venture fund.

She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in information systems.

ASSESSOR RESULTS

Joel Frost (D)  50.01%

Chris Stavros* (R)  49.99%

(as of 9:45 p.m., Nov. 7)

Joel Frost, a Democrat and the challenger to incumbent Chris Stavros, holds a lead for Salt Lake County assessor. If he wins, this will be his first term as assessor.

Frost, a lifelong Utah resident and Sandy local, states that with his 20 years of experience as a residential appraiser and real estate agent, he knows property valuation.

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Hes committed to reforming the assessment process to ensure fairness for all property owners, especially those in lower-income areas, his site says.

Stavros is trying for his second term as the County Assessor. Stavros is no stranger to working in the assessors office as he has been working there for the past three decades and has had several roles within the office.

RECORDER RESULTS

Rashelle Hobbs* (D)  51.73%

Richard Snelgrove (R)  48.27%

(as of 9:45 p.m., Nov. 7)

Incumbent Democrat Rashelle Hobbs is currently leading Salt Lake Countys Recorder race over challenged Republican Richard Snelgrove.

What sets me apart is not just my tenure or the recognition Ive received, but the tangible improvements witnessed during my leadership. Office culture has transformed positively, creating a more collaborative and efficient environment, her site states. She says wants to continue the positive trajectory shes had during her first term in office.

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Snelgrove, meanwhile, got endorsements from retiring council member and Democrat Ann Granato among others.

A vote for Richard Snelgrove for Salt Lake County Recorder is a vote for good government. We need him, Granato said on Facebook.

Snelgrove grew up in Sugar House. He attended Highland High School and is a graduate of the University of Utah.

SURVEYOR RESULTS

Bradley Park (R)  50.20%

Kent Setterberg (D)  49.80%

(as of 9:45 p.m., Nov. 7)

Bradley Park could be stepping up his role within the Salt Lake County Surveyors Office after he currently leads the Salt Lake County Surveyors election.

Since 2021, he has worked to learn everything it takes to run the entire County Surveyors office and where improvements could be made. Prior to coming to the Surveyors Office, he worked for Dominion Energy for 15 years where he worked his way up through the company to eventually manage and run their Survey Office, his site says.

His site also says he has 17 years of surveying experience and a Professional Surveyors License. In 2016 he graduated, with honors, from Salt Lake Community College with an AAS degree in Surveying and Geomatics.

Kent Setterberg is pushing his previous experience.

[His] thirty years of experience in the Salt Lake County Surveyors Office, [he] has the skills, knowledge, and vision to lead the Surveyors Office and to serve the public with integrity and efficiency, his site states.

Setterberg says because of the opportunities afforded to him, he has pursued a Geomatics degree in Land Surveying, which resulted in acquiring his Professional Land Surveyor license with the State of Utah.

TREASURER RESULTS

Phil Conder (R)  49.10%

Sheila Srivastava (D)  50.90%

(as of 9:45 p.m., Nov. 7)

If current trends hold, Salt Lake County may have elected its first woman Treasurer in Democrat Sheila Srivastava.

Growing up in rural Utah, I understood the value of hard-earned money from an early age, she said on her site.

She also said her mother worked three jobs to make ends meet.

My approach is nonpartisan and centered on process, not politics. I aim to be the professional that every resident, irrespective of political affiliation, can trust to safeguard the communitys assets, she said online.

Conder has served as Salt Lake Countys Chief Deputy Treasurer most recently. He states online he attended the University of Utah and graduated with a degree in mathematics and a minor in physics.

He was invited to serve in his current capacity back in 2012.

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The neck and neck battle for control of the House in the next Congress appears to be shifting in favor of Republicans as results roll in from the most competitive districts a day after voting ended.

While the contest for the gavel remains too close to call officially  and dozens of races have yet to be finalized  the momentum was clearly moving with the GOP on Wednesday as more ballots were counted and the battlefield shrunk.

Democrats, to be sure, are still holding out hope they can notch control of the lower chamber as a check on the second Trump administration. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the House remains very much in play Wednesday afternoon, pointing to a number of too-close-to-call races.

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The mounting GOP wins, however, are drawing a rosier picture for Republicans.

In Nebraska, four-term GOP Rep. Don Bacon survived his toughest challenge to date in a district that Democrats saw as a top pickup opportunity  and a must-win  in their effort to flip the lower chamber next year.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Rep. Susan Wild, a four-term veteran who was a top GOP target, conceded defeat to Republican state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.

Rep. Matt Cartwright, another Keystone State Democrat who has served for 12 years in the House, fell to his GOP challenger, local business owner Rob Bresnahan.

And in Pennsylvanias third toss-up race, Republican Rep. Scott Perry, a former chair of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, secured a win against Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson, a former Republican and local media celebrity, in a contest that had shifted toward Democrats in the final leg of the campaign.

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Adding to the ominous signs for Democrats, analysts at the Cook Political Report, a leading election handicapper, predicted Wednesday that the boost from President-elect Trumps runaway victory for a second term in the White House would be enough to propel Republicans into the House majority again next year.

Decision Desk HQs prediction model by Wednesday afternoon put Republicans with more than a 90 percent chance of winning control of the lower chamber.

The combination was enough that, despite the long list of House races still outstanding, top GOP leaders were already voicing confidence theyd keep their House majority for the next two years.

As more results come in it is clear that, as we have predicted all along, Republicans are poised to have unified government in the White House, Senate, and House, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement Wednesday.

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House Republicans have been successful in securing critical flips in swing states including Pennsylvania and Michigan, while our battle-tested incumbents have secured re-election from coast to coast. The latest data and trends indicate that when all the votes are tabulated, Republicans will have held our majority, even though we faced a map with 18 Biden-won seats, Johnson said.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) also said that victory was imminent.

Last night the American people spoke loud and clear and resoundingly rejected the disastrous far-left direction of the Biden-Harris Administration. As returns continue to come in, it appears that voters have handed Republicans unified control of Washington, with House Republicans expected to hold our majority, Scalise said in a Wednesday statement.

Despite the Republicans good night, the House contest was hardly a wave. Democrats secured a number of victories in hard-fought battleground districts that will prevent Republicans  if they do keep the gavel  of having the luxury of a big cushion to work with.

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Most notably, Democrats are projected to have picked off at least two incumbent Republicans in New York  Reps. Brandon Williams and Marc Molinaro  and they appeared on track to knock off a third in Rep. Anthony DEsposito.

Democrats also retained control of the open seat in north-central Virginia being vacated by retiring Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D)  a district Republicans had hoped to pick up. They kept the toss-up seat left open by retiring Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee in Michigan. And several of their most vulnerable incumbents put wins on the board, including Reps. Pat Ryan (D) in New York, Don Davis in North Carolina, and Gabe Vasquez in New Mexico.

And they successfully defended their seat in Maines 2nd Congressional District, with incumbent Rep. Jared Golden (D) beating back his challenger in an area Trump carried by 6.1 percentage points in 2020.

Democratic leaders insisted on Wednesday that theyre still in the fight, pointing to close races featuring GOP incumbents in Iowa, Arizona and Oregon. A number of toss-up races also remain uncalled in California.

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The party that will hold the majority in the House of Representatives in January 2025 has yet to be determined, Jeffries said in his statement. We must count every vote.

Still, as the House map comes into clearer view, some rank-and-file Democrats are beginning to come to terms with the emerging reality: that they will be relegated to the minority in a Washington dominated by Republican control.

The results last night were shocking, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) wrote on social platform X. So many of us woke up with a pit in our stomach, worried about our children, our country, and our future. There is so much at stake. The issues we fight for and the values that guide us are more important than ever.

But as several critical races remain uncalled, questions are still swirling about the final margin in the House. That detail that will significantly impact how a Republican majority would govern in the 119th Congress  or is unable to.

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The House GOPs razor-thin margin in the current Congress and fractious caucus led to the historic ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.); must-pass legislation being blocked or stalled; and numerous other instances of party leaders struggling to corral the rank-and-file members.

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There was no doubt who in Europe was happiest with the victory of Donald Trump in the US elections.

The leaders who share his populist message and anti-immigration stance gave the heartiest reception to the news from the United States, even before several major networks had called the result.

"Good luck with your work, president!" said far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

"Congratulations, Mr President ... You made it happen!" Poland's conservative nationalist president, Andrzej Duda, posted on X.

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Dutch right-wing populist politician Geert Wilders, a declared Trump supporter, joined in the chorus: "Congratulations America! Never stop, always keep fighting and win elections!" Wilders wrote on X.

One of the European leaders cited more often by Trump, Hungary's Viktor Orban, called Trump's election victory "radiant" in a Facebook post.

He will bring "hope for peace in the world," Orban said. Long a thorn in the side of the European Union, the nationalist Hungarian prime minister has a good relationship with Trump, and also with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Those further to the centre of the political spectrum, both in European capitals and in Brussels, gave a more measured reception to Trump's victory, stressing the value of trans-Atlantic ties and cooperation.

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Many of the leaders remember well the tensions that weighed on US-European relations during Trump's last term in office from 2017-21: warnings about low defence spending, tariffs and threats of trade wars, praise for authoritarian leaders such as Russia's Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen - who belongs to the German centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party - stressed in her message to Trump that the EU and the US had a "shared history, commitment to freedom and democracy."

Addressing Trump, centrist French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that he was "ready to work together as we did for four years." This would happen "with respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity," he wrote.

Britain's centre-left Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK-US special relationship would "continue to prosper" following Donald Trump's "historic election victory," the PA news agency reported.

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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock struck perhaps the most cautious tone in her congratulatory message, noting that US-German relations would have "unquestionable political differences" in the next four years.

Ukraine policy key concern for Europe

From the point of view of the Eastern and Central European NATO states, it is Ukraine and future US policy regarding the war that is of central concern.

During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed that he would be able to end Russia's war on Ukraine in 24 hours. There are therefore concerns in Brussels that he could force Ukraine into negotiations with Russia by halting military aid.

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In these negotiations, Putin could then be offered a halt to further NATO expansion to the east.

From the point of view of most European states, such a move would be an outrageous and highly dangerous breach of taboo.

However, newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had appeared relatively relaxed in recent weeks in view of a possible Trump election victory, and on Wednesday offered a positive view.

He congratulated Trump on X, writing: "His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong."

Economy and trade tensions loom

During his election campaign, Trump announced that he intended to introduce new tariffs on imports to the US of between 10-20%  and as much as 60% on products from China.

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He hopes this will strengthen the US as a production location and reduce the current trade deficit.

Trump is irked that European companies sell significantly more goods in the US than US companies do in Europe. For EU companies, the US was the most important export market for goods in 2023.

The president of Germany's BGA foreign trade association, Dirk Jandura, said he took a "critical view" of import tariffs on European and Chinese products.

"The world needs fewer, not more, trade restrictions ... An American president can and must never be just and exclusively 'America first,'" Jandura added.
A major winter storm will start moving into New Mexico Wednesday. The storm sticks around through Friday, bringing heavy snowfall and near-blizzard conditions to parts of the state.

Tuesday is the calm before our next storm here in New Mexico. After valley fog developed this morning, the sunny and warmer weather this afternoon, clouds are beginning to move in from the northwest. Overnight and into Wednesday morning, a strong cold front will begin pushing in from the northwest. Along and behind this front will be light rain and snow. Impacts from this rain and snow will be minimal through mid-Wednesday morning, but temperatures will be staying chilly behind the front as it moves east across the state.

Impacts from this winter storm will increase starting Wednesday afternoon as a backdoor cold front moves into northeast New Mexico. This will start a period of heavy snowfall in northeast New Mexico and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, including the I-25 corridor. As this front moves into Albuquerque Wednesday night, it could bring the Metro a quick burst of snowfall.

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Snowfall will pick up in intensity across northern, central, and eastern parts of New Mexico Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Serious to major impacts are expected in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, northeast New Mexico, and east-central New Mexico, including the East Mountains, beginning Thursday morning. For these areas, I would plan on getting home by Wednesday evening and be prepared to not leave until Saturday. Winds will be picking up in eastern New Mexico Wednesday night, which will cause near-blizzard conditions. I-40 from Tijeras to Santa Rosa and I-25 from Santa Fe to the Colorado state line may become life-threatening to travel on by Thursday morning. The biggest question Thursday is where the rain and snow line sets up. It could set up as far south as Roswell, bringing a wet snow to the Roswell area through Friday.

Snow and some rain will stick around Friday, mainly in central, northern, and eastern New Mexico. Heavy snow will continue to fall in northeast New Mexico. The rain and snow will finally wrap up by late Friday night. Once all is said and done, 10 to 15 snow drifts will be possible in parts of northeast New Mexico through Friday, with over 10 of snowfall. 12-24+ of snow will be possible in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Elsewhere, 4-12+ of snow will be possible above 7,500 with 1-6+ of snow below 7,500.

Drier weather returns Saturday all across New Mexico. It will be a chilly day, but we will start a warming trend. Temperatures will continue to warm with dry weather through early next week.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter storm warning for most of northern, western, and central New Mexico. This is expected to be a major storm with potentially historic amounts of snow for some areas.

KRQE Meteorologist Liz Fellinger said the largest impacts of snow will be in northeastern New Mexico where more than 35 are expected in some areas. Snow will begin Wednesday night and continue through Friday night. Current forecasts show Albuquerque seeing anywhere from a trace to 4 of snow.

Weather Information

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According to NWS, areas of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia, and Manzano Mountains could see feet of snow. Travel along the I-40 and I-25 corridors will most likely be impacted. Los Alamos, Raton, Angel Fire, Red River, and Las Vegas could all see over a foot of snow, according to NWS. Some parts of New Mexico could experience blizzard conditions with blowing snow, 35+ mph winds, and low visibility.

Driving tips as winter storm moves into New Mexico

For a full list of current winter storm warnings and advisories, click here.

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SOUTH BELOIT, Ill. (WTVO)  A Wisconsin man is wanted by Illinois police for a shooting that happened a month ago, in October.

According to the South Beloit Police Department, on October 9th around 4:36 p.m., officers were sent to investigate a shooting in the 300 block of Kedzie Avenue.

Chaz Chenoweth, 30, of Beloit, was identified as the suspect.

According to the criminal complaint, Chenoweth was a convicted felon who discharged a .38 caliber firearm at another person, although it is unknown if there were any injuries.

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On Wednesday, November 11th, police issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon.

Anyone with information on Chenoweths whereabouts is asked to contact South Beloit Police at 815-389-3491.

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PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. (WFRV)  A group of retail thieves who have been responsible for stealing from stores in multiple states was arrested in southern Wisconsin following a tip.

The Pleasant Prairie Police Department announced the arrests after a tip claimed that they were planning to target the Nike store at the Premium Outlet Mall. According to the release, the individuals were responsible for stealing from a Nike department store in Oshkosh.

Police: Wisconsin driver hurt after crashing while going 100+ miles per hour

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Officers arrived at the shopping mall and identified a vehicle that matched the description, arresting the group and recovering over $3,000 in stolen items.

An investigation revealed that the individuals arrested were connected to a Peruvian national group that has been responsible for retail thefts in numerous states, with over $54,000 in stolen merchandise.

The individuals were identified as Juan Yancunta-Quiroz, Jose Arteaga-Sanchez and Darwin Velasquez.

Wisconsin man faces 15+ charges after fleeing accident scene, high-speed police chase

All three have been arrested for receiving/possession of stolen property as a party to a crime, along with outstanding out-of-county warrants.

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No more details are available at this time.

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MADISON, Wis. (WFRV)  A woman who was allegedly involved in a southern Wisconsin hit-and-run crash that seriously injured an 18-year-old jogger was arrested in Verona following an investigation.

According to the Madison Police Department, 59-year-old Karla Bomkamp of Verona was arrested on Monday, November 4, nearly a week after her alleged involvement in a hit-and-run crash in Madison that hospitalized an 18-year-old man.

27-year-old man killed in wrong-way crash on I-41 in Outagamie County

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Officers say the initial crash happened around 8:30 p.m. on October 29 at the intersection of John Nolen Drive and North Shore Drive. The investigation revealed that the man was out for a jog and was in the crosswalk on John Nolen Drive, and had the walk signal, when he was hit.

The 18-year-old remains at the hospital in serious condition.

Bomkamp reportedly had a red light, and allegedly drove away from the scene, later abandoning her vehicle in traffic near Monona Terrace.

Wisconsin officials arrest 3 men connected to group responsible for nationwide retail thefts

After her arrest, Bomkamp was taken to the Dane County Jail and charged with Hit and Run  Involve Great Bodily Harm, a felony E. Officers also cited a passenger of the vehicle.

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No additional information was provided.

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Shortly before the first polling stations closed in the US presidential election, Republican candidate Donald Trump sowed doubts about the results in the key state of Pennsylvania.

"A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law Enforcement coming!!!" he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

It was unclear what incident in Pennsylvania's largest city Trump was referring to and he did not provide any evidence for the claim.

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Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein said later that there was "absolutely no truth to this allegation."

"It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure," he wrote on X.

Pennsylvania is seen by both Trump and his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, as must-win. Victory in the north-eastern state would give either of them 19 electoral votes - the most of any of the seven so-called swing states that are likely to determine who goes to the White House.

It was widely expected that Trump would try to cast doubt on the fairness of the vote in the event of a defeat like in 2020.

Philadelphia ballot counters count the early return ballots at the Philadelphia Election Warehouse, during the 2024 US Presidential election. Ricky Fitchett/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
If you had an assistant who helped you do your work faster, more efficiently, and more precisely, would you fear it?

With artificial intelligence (AI) at the forefront of virtually everything today, two of the most common questions I hear in my daily practice are, Do you use AI? and What does AI do for you? For some, these questions stem from a desire to access cutting-edge tools, while others express concerns about its rapid advancements.

The evolving capabilities of AI raise concerns across many fields. But as a breast cancer radiologist who has used AI since 2019, I can confidently say that AI is improving breast cancer detection and care every day.

Mammography technology has come a long way in recent decades, and with advancements like 3D imaging, mammograms remain a necessary and important tool in cancer detection. Yet, while some cancers are identifiable on mammograms despite dense tissue, others are not. As health care experts, we would be remiss in not utilizing a tool capable of closing gaps in diagnostic care. This tool is AI.

Detection. The gold standard of breast cancer prevention, mammograms are vital to a womans health, but like all imaging and screening processes throughout health care, nothing is foolproof. AI is a tremendous addition to mammography, helping radiologists identify breast cancer that might otherwise go undetected, especially in early stages or in people with dense breasts. For example, breast density can impact the timely detection of tumorsso much so that in September 2024, the federal government passed a law requiring U.S. mammogram providers to notify all patients of their density types. Normal fatty breast tissue tends to appear dark in a mammogram image, while normal dense fibro-glandular tissue appears white, making cancers harder to spot. Every woman has both types of tissue, but with varying proportions and patterns. AI helps serve as a second set of eyes and safety net for radiologists interpreting these images.

Improving image quality. AI is also becoming more helpful in creating clearer mammogram images. We are now using advanced algorithms to enhance the resolution and clarity of mammograms, as well as their interpretation. By reducing background shadows, for example, AI makes images easier to read. This means an increased ability to detect breast cancer at its earliest stages and added confidence in evaluating normal mammograms.

Predicting risk. Studies have shown that AI has the ability to augment and even surpass our current ability to predict a persons long-term risk of breast cancer based on information gathered from the pixels in a mammogram image. This can help identify people who might benefit from additional screening or testing while minimizing unnecessary testing for others.

Characterizing and assessing tumors. AI can help identify tumor subtypes and assess how breast cancer responds to chemotherapy. This work complements the expertise of radiologists and oncologists and can help specialists plan targeted therapy and follow-up care.

When a radiologist reviews a mammogram, AI acts as an assistant by highlighting suspicious areas, providing clarity and direction. For images without such findings, it reinforces confidence in a normal result. AI does not replace the duties performed by a radiologist. It enhances them.

As the impact of AI in health care continues to evolve, radiology is on track to become more efficient, precise, and comprehensive. From my vantage point, the future looks bright.

January Lopez is Medical Director of Breast Imaging, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Newport Beach, CA.

Hoag is a nonprofit, regional health care delivery network in Orange County, California, that treats more than 30,000 inpatients and 480,000 outpatients annually. Hoag consists of two acute-care hospitals  Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, which opened in 1952, and Hoag Hospital Irvine, which opened in 2010  in addition to nine health centers and 13 urgent care centers.
WNBA star Angel Reese has shared her candid reaction to Donald Trump winning the 2024 US election.

The Chicago Sky forward, 22, issued a statement on X/Twitter on Wednesday (November 6), hours after Trump was declared the 47th president of the United States, beating out Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

Im so disappointed in America Some of you just couldnt selfishly put your pride aside huh??!?!? Reese wrote. As a woman, Im heartbroken for us all

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She added: God is the best author and the best finisher. Im just going to pray on this & think positive.

Along with Reese, multiple celebrities have shared their heartbroken reactions to the results of the election. Trumps win comes after many famous faces publicly endorsed Kamala Harris, including Harrison Ford, Jennifer Aniston, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Jamie Lee Curtis didnt hesitate to contribute to the outcry about Trump becoming president again. Many fear their rights will be impeded and denied, she wrote. Many, minority groups and young people will be afraid. Gay and trans people will be more afraid. We know that many women will now find it difficult to get the reproductive healthcare that they need and deserve, she wrote on X, seemingly referring to how Trump has supported the overturn of Roe V Wade, which protected reproductive rights across the US.

As a woman, im heartbroken for us all  Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) November 6, 2024

The Halloween star urged people to wake up and fight for women and our children and their futures, adding: Fight against tyranny, one day at a time. One fight at a time. One protest at a time. Thats what it means to be an American. Thats what it has always meant and will always mean regardless of the outcome.

WNBA Angel Reese says shes heartbroken after Donald Trump wins 2024 US presidential election (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Christina Applegate told people to unfollow her if they supported Trump, which she said was a vote against female and disability rights.

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Dont want followers like this, she wrote on X. So yeah. Done. Also after today, I will be shutting down this fan account that I have had for so many years because this is sick.

My child is sobbing because her rights as a woman may be taken away, she added.

Trump surpassed the number of 270 Electoral College votes early on Wednesday after winning key battleground states and also claiming a majority of 51 percent of the popular vote. As of Wednesday afternoon, counting is still underway in Arizona and Nevada but those results will not alter the outcome.

The 45th and now 47th President of the United States took to the stage with his family and running mate JD Vance earlier to promise a golden age for America and hail the greatest political movement of all time.

As world leaders rushed to congratulate Trump, Harris elected not to appear at Howard University in Washington DC where a watch party had been planned in anticipation of victory. Harris is now set to deliver her concession speech at 4pm ET at Howard.
DUBLIN (AP)  A woman accusing Conor McGregor of sexually assaulting her in a Dublin hotel in 2018 testified in an Irish court on Tuesday at the start of a civil case seeking financial damages against the mixed martial arts star.

McGregor was at the High Court in Dublin for the beginning of a case that is expected to last around two weeks.

The alleged incident took place on Dec. 9, 2018 and the civil action was filed in 2021. McGregor and another man, James Lawrence, are the defendants.

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A spokesperson for McGregor has previously denied the allegations, saying the Irish police had investigated and declined to bring criminal charges.

In her testimony, the woman said she told McGregor she didnt feel comfortable after being left alone with him in a bedroom in the penthouse suite of a Dublin hotel, Britains PA news agency reported.

I tried to talk him around, that I didnt want to have sex and wasnt there for anything like that, the woman said about McGregor in the courtroom. He just wasnt taking no for an answer.

John Gordon, the lawyer for the woman, said she and McGregor were known to each other as they were in the same age group, from the same area, had mutual friends and had been in contact at various times through social media.

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Daniel Keane, who works as a gynecologist as well as a forensic examiner in sexual assault cases, also testified on the first day of the case. Keane said the woman was shaking and crying after being brought in by ambulance the day after the alleged assault to the hospital where he was working. He detailed bruising across the womans body and said the extent of it was quite unusual.

PA reported that lawyers for McGregor will argue that the act between him and the woman was consensual. It wasn't immediately clear when they will present their arguments.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Editor's note: This story was updated to include additional information.

A woman has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly causing a crash that killed a doctor in Dearborn over the summer.

The defendant, a 26-year-old Taylor woman, is accused of driving at an "extremely high rate of speed" and disregarding a red light before fatally crashing into 33-year-old Dr. Ghada Mustapha of Dearborn on the morning of July 19, according to a release from the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

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The crash occurred at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Nowlin Street, in front of a series of strip malls.

When police arrived at the scene, the Taylor woman's vehicle was overturned on the median of Michigan Avenue, and Mustaphas vehicle was facing northbound on eastbound Michigan Avenue.

A vehicle is shown highly damaged following a fatal crash Friday, July 19, 2024, at Michigan Avenue and Nowlin Street in Dearborn.

The victim, Mustapha, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The 26-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment, where she was initially listed in critical condition.

The defendant's lawyer, Mitchell Ribitwer, said his client has since been released from the hospital but is still recovering from serious injuries.

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Days after the crash, the Dearborn Police Department said the Taylor woman was driving over 100 mph when she failed to stop at an intersection's traffic light.

More: Driver in fatal Dearborn crash sped through traffic light at more than 100 mph, police say

As of Wednesday, the woman accused of causing the crash was charged with second-degree murder and could face a life sentence or any term of years in prison if convicted, according to the prosecutor's office. Arrangements are underway for the defendant to be processed and arraigned in the 19th District Court.

Charges were issued over three months after the crash due to casework that had to be completed, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Director of Communications Maria Miller told the Free Press.

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"This sometimes happens in fatal car crash cases," she said.

Mustapha was a wife and mother of three children. She worked as a family physician at the Corewell Health Taylor Hospital, a Corewell Health spokesperson previously confirmed. She graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 2017, according to WebMD.

It is always beyond tragic when the life of a promising young person is cut short over the horrific actions of another. By every account, Ghada Mustapha was a young, brilliant, and passionate doctor who was just beginning her medical career. She had hopes, dreams, and goals for herself and her family," said Prosecutor Kym Worthy in the release. "The alleged actions of this defendant took away her life - along with those hopes, dreams, and goals."

The Free Press is not naming the defendant until her arraignment, which Ribitwer said is set for Thursday at 1 p.m.

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More: Trump wins Dearborn amid anger over Gaza and Lebanon; Jill Stein receives 18% of vote

Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Woman charged in high-speed crash that killed Dearborn doctor in July
Police said it was reported that Melonie Ballenger "was last seen at her home" at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3

Wylie Police Department Melonie Ballenger Melonie Ballenger

Police are searching for a missing Texas woman who left home without her phone or vehicle.

At approximately 6:35 a.m. local time on Monday, Nov. 4, Melonie Ballenger was reported missing by her husband, according to the Wylie Police Department.

Upon arriving at their residence in the 100 block of Parkwood Drive, officers learned that Ballenger, 46, was last seen at home at 10 p.m on Sunday, Nov. 3.

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Police say that when she left, she did not take her vehicle or phone with her.

Officers along with the help of investigators, K9 search dogs and a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter searched the area for multiple hours but were unable to locate Melonie, police wrote.

Related: Family of Teen Who Disappeared a Month Ago Says She 'Got Into an Argument' with Her Sister, Then 'Walked Off'

In an update on Wednesday, Nov. 6, police said they are "still actively searching" for Ballenger  described as a woman with black hair and brown eyes who is 57 and 135 lbs.  and reiterated that it was reported she "was last seen at her home" at 10 p.m. on Sunday.

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It is unknown what she was wearing at the time.

"Detectives are continuing to ask residents to check their cameras and contact the Wylie Police Department with any relevant information," they wrote. "We would like to continue to thank our community for the outpouring of support and continue to request that no one conduct a search group on their own."

When contacted by PEOPLE, police said there were no new developments to share.

Related: Police Find Cell Phone of Chicago Woman Who Went Missing After Traveling to Bahamas for Yoga Retreat

In an interview posted by ABC affiliate WFAA on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Ballengers husband shared a message for his wife.

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If she sees this, I love her. I hope shes safe," he said. "Her daughters are missing her and we want her back. Please, please come home.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

An evening prayer vigil for Ballenger was scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5 at the Cross Church and Gateway Community Church, the Wylie News reported.



Anyone with information on Ballengers whereabouts is asked to contact police at 972-429-8014.
WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI)  The Rhode Island Parole Board unanimously denied the release of a woman convicted in the death of a Woonsocket toddler two decades ago.

Katherine Bunnell, 41, is serving a life sentence for the 2004 beating death of her 3-year-old nephew Thomas T.J. Wright. Bunnell was convicted by a jury back in 2008 of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Prosecutors said Bunnell and her live-in boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, became enraged with Wright after returning home to find out he had spilled his milk and yogurt in the living room.

Thomas T.J. Wright

Bunnell berated and brutally beat the toddler, according to prosecutors, throwing him down a flight of stairs, repeatedly slamming his head on the floor and pouring milk over his head.

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Delestre, 42, was also convicted of second-degree murder in a separate trial and sentenced to life in prison.

Wright and his two siblings had been living with Bunnell, their maternal aunt, and Delestre in foster care after their mother was imprisoned for marijuana possession.

The Alliance for Safe Communities urged the parole board to keep Bunnell behind bars prior to Wednesdays hearing, describing Wrights death as the most savage brutal beating imaginable.

T.J. cried throughout his abuse and the duration and time of his murder must have felt like an eternity to the toddler, Alliance for Safe Communities Executive Director Carolyn Medeiros wrote in a letter to the parole board. Life sentences are not readily given but reserved for the most heinous crimes with the deadliest consequences. T.J.s murder meets the requirements for a life sentence.

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Bunnell will be eligible for parole again in November 2026.

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An Iowa man was taken into custody and accused of killing his ex-girlfriends mother on Friday while she was helping her daughter move out of his home.

Hamza Smajlovic, 24, was charged with murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and attempted murder in the fatal shooting of Ruth Sue Ann Robison, 45, according to criminal complaints obtained by HuffPost. The shooting also critically injured Robisons 52-year-old husband, Tony Robison.

Smajlovic allegedly shot Robison and her husband in the head with a 9 mm pistol, according to the complaints. Authorities also said Smajlovic fired at another person inside the residence, whose name has not been made public.

Ruth Robison, 45, died Friday in a shooting in Des Moines, Iowa. Facebook

Deputies with the Polk County Sheriffs Office arrived at around 5:21 p.m. on Friday to the scene in Des Moines, where they discovered Robison and her husband with gunshot wounds, according to a news release cited by The Des Moines Register. Robison died at a hospital. As of Wednesday evening, it was not clear whether her husband was still in critical condition.

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The sheriffs office determined the shooting to be a domestic situation between Smajlovic and his 24-year-old ex-girlfriend, Robisons daughter, according to the Register. Robisons daughter had just broken up with Smajlovic and was in the process of moving her belongings out of the home with her parents when the shooting occurred, KCCI reported.

Court records reviewed by HuffPost show that the judge ordered Smajlovic to have no contact with his ex-girlfriend. He is due in court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 11.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Related...
For a moment, I actually let myself believe that America might allow a woman to be its next president.

That, of course, didnt happen. Instead, the next president of the United States will be a man who has been found liable for sexual abuse and then used his platform to smear and defame the women who accuse him of it. Our first female vice president will be replaced with a man who believes a womans worth is tied to whether or not she bears children.

I wish I lived in a country where men like that dont make it anywhere near public office. I wish I lived in a country that chooses a supremely qualified woman over a uniquely awful man. But this election was yet another reminder that I dont.

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In 2016, we mourned the fact that the most openly misogynistic candidate in modern history could actually win a presidential election. This is worse, because Donald Trump is worse now. Voters can no longer delude themselves into thinking a Trump presidency might not be as bad as we think. We know better now.

Trump managed to convince men  particularly younger ones  that he would be the president for them. He catered to the disaffected group of bros who are anxious about their economic and social status, increasingly frustrated by a world where they no longer enjoy absolute dominance. Theyre experiencing wage stagnation, lower education rates and an epidemic of loneliness, and theyre being told that women and minorities are to blame. Media figures like Logan Paul and Joe Rogan were Trumps surrogates, helping him reach a population that has historically been difficult to mobilize. And it worked: he prevailed despite a large gender gap, losing by double digits with most women but building a comfortable lead with men. If thats a blueprint for future Republican candidates, its a frightening one.

I dont believe that every Trump voter, or even most of them, hates women, or that their decision to vote directly against womens freedoms was even a conscious one. But it is at least true that every Trump voter decided that the continued threat to reproductive freedom could be overlooked or that Trumps own history of sexual assault wasnt disqualifying.

Much like 2016, this election will not make our country safer, better or more prosperous for women. This was a choice between a candidate who would protect womens lives and one who would put them in danger. We know that women have died as a result of actions taken in Trumps first term. Abortion bans are deadly, and overturning Roe v. Wade has made a pregnant persons survival dependent on the state they live in and the size of their bank account. Transgender women have suffered because Trump and his party have fought to limit their access to lifesaving gender-affirming care.

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A second Trump presidency is likely to be even more dangerous and extreme than the first, for women and for everyone else. Trump and his allies have made it clear theyd much rather control women than protect them, and there doesnt appear to be a whole lot thats going to stop them from trying to do so. The right to birth control and IVF now feels far less secure. A national abortion ban is not out of the question.

There will be a time for hope and optimism, and there will be a time to look ahead and plan for a better future. Believe me, I know that responsibility for this outcome does not lie solely with those who voted for Trump. Like Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris was an imperfect candidate, nominated by a party that must now use this loss as an opportunity for critical self-reflection. Democrats must come to terms with the fact that their current political strategy is an insufficient anecdote to Trumpism, and that they currently have no answer to Trumps ability to run up the numbers with young men.

I really wanted to believe that, after Tuesday, there would be little girls who would never know a world in which a woman couldnt be president. What we got instead is the likely extension of a troubling arc in which those little girls have fewer rights than their mothers did. The way Trump ran his campaign suggests he will only continue to demean women as president. And his victory suggests that theres a real appetite for it.
North Carolinas 2024 elections yielded significant outcomes, reflecting a mix of continuity and change across all levels of government.

Democrat Josh Stein secured the governorship, emphasizing themes of community resilience and future investment. Raleighs municipal elections saw Janet Cowell winning the mayoral race, alongside six incumbents and one new member joining the City Council, signaling ongoing focus on urban development challenges.

In judicial races, Republicans maintained a strong presence, with Jefferson Griffin leading in a close Supreme Court race and securing seats on the Court of Appeals.

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In state legislative contests, Democrats gained ground, potentially disrupting the GOPs supermajority in the House.

Local bond measures also saw mixed results, with Wake County voters approving library improvements. Voters rejected other infrastructure proposals in Cary and Zebulon.

You can also see live election results here.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

No. 1: Live updates on Raleigh City Council races: Who will lead city for next 2 years?

Raleigh voters are choosing 7 City Council members in Tuesdays election. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Virginia Bridges

No. 2: What we need to do: Durham voters back bonds for parks, streets and sidewalks

Streets, sidewalks and parks were on the ballot in the Bull City. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mary Helen Moore

No. 3: NC Supreme Court race could head to recount; GOP wins seats on Court of Appeals

Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs, a Democrat, is running to keep her seat against Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin, a judge on the Court of Appeals. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kyle Ingram

No. 4: Wake County libraries bond passes, but Cary and Zebulon voters reject bonds there

Unofficial election results show approval for the libraries bond referendum. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kristen Johnson

No. 5: Who will NC send to Congress, including in the key 1st District?

The 1st Congressional District in Eastern NC is seen as key to control of the US House of Representatives. Heres what happening. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Adam Wagner

No. 6: Citizens-only North Carolina constitution amendment passes, Associated Press says

North Carolina is among eight states with ballot measures this election specifying that only citizens can vote. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Dan Kane

No. 7: We won. Former State Treasurer Janet Cowell wins Raleighs race for mayor

The non-partisan race this year featured five candidates vying to lead North Carolinas capital city. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kristen Johnson, Virginia Bridges

No. 8: NC elects new state treasurer and labor commissioner, with key races too close to call

Voters will elect a host of new faces to represent them in North Carolinas executive branch this Election Day. Follow along with the results here. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Korie Dean Renee Umsted

No. 9: Democrat Mo Green defeats GOPs Michele Morrow in NC superintendents race

The race to be North Carolina state superintendent of public instruction attracted national attention. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by T. Keung Hui, Caitlyn Yaede (Correspondent)

No. 10: Democrats flip seats in NC legislature. It could cost Republicans their supermajority.

Follow along to see who is leading in battleground districts that could decide control of the North Carolina General Assembly. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Renee Umsted

No. 11: Trump defeats Harris in battleground state of North Carolina

The Harris and Trump campaigns both saw the path to the White House running through North Carolina. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Danielle Battaglia, Lexi Solomon, Briah Lumpkins

No. 12: Stein defeats Robinson in race for governor, talks about promise of North Carolina

The News & Observer has the latest election results for the North Carolina governors race. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, Brian Gordon, Renee Umsted

No. 13: Wake County voters favor incumbents in Tuesdays school board election

Get election results for the Wake County school board, where Republicans hoped to wrest control from Democrats of NCs largest district. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson, T. Keung Hui

No. 14: Democrat Jeff Jackson defeats GOPs Dan Bishop in NC attorney generals race

The attorney generals race is one of the most expensive and competitive races on the ballot in North Carolina this year. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Avi Bajpai, Ryan Oehrli, Renee Umsted

No. 15: These are the winners of Orange County commissioner, Carrboro Town Council races

Three Democratic commissioners were unopposed in their Orange County districts, while a fourth had a rare Republican challenger. | Published November 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tammy Grubb

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.
Dan West bested Charles Smith in the race to become Palmettos first new mayor in over a decade.

West received 3,436 votes, or 63% while Smith won about 1,986 votes, or around 36.5%. Scott Whitaker also defeated incumbent Sheldon Jones for one of the Palmetto City Commission seats up for grabs, while longtime incumbent Tamara Cornwell held off challenger Matt Kezar for the other.

With longtime Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant choosing not to seek re-election West will become Palmettos first new mayor since 2008.

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West, best known for his 17 years as manager of the Manatee County Fair, campaigned on serving with honor and integrity, fostering an open-door policy and continuing outreach within the community. He is a lifelong Palmetto resident and graduate of Palmetto High School and the University of Florida. West is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Florida Federation of Fairs, a role he said he would step down from if elected so he could serve as a full-time mayor.

Smith, a former city and county commissioner, campaigned on expanding Palmettos police force, improving housing conditions and encouraging smart growth.

Smith is the co-founder of Manatee Harvesting Co., a business he has run with his family for over 40 years. In 1990, he became the first African American elected to the Palmetto City Commission and was re-elected four times, also serving stints as vice mayor of Palmetto and as a Manatee County Commissioner. He most recently ran for Palmetto mayor in 2020, earning around 24% of the vote in a failed bid for the office.

Dan West wins Palmetto mayoral race

West has raised about $35,000 in his campaign to become Palmettos mayor, while Smith raised about $17,800.

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Tuesdays election also saw voters decide two Palmetto City Commission seats.

Whitaker received 3,213 votes, or 59.5% for the at-large seat 1, while Jones won 2,171 votes, or 40%. For the at-large seat 2, Cornwell received 2,703 votes, or nearly 51% compared to 2,619 votes, or 49% for Kezar.

Whitaker, a graduate of Palmetto High School, is a veteran who has been president of air conditioning and plumbing company Arctic Air since 2008. Whitaker challenged incumbent Jones by running on a campaign that promised to bring strong conservative leadership to Palmetto. He said if elected, he would work hand-in-hand with Manatee Countys law enforcement to make Palmetto stronger and safer.

As a lifelong Palmetto resident, I know this city has a special charm that surrounding communities dont have and I will work extremely hard to keep that alive. Ive built my business here, raised my family here, and now Im ready to serve Palmetto as your City Commissioner, Whitaker said in a post to social media.

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Jones, a fourth-generation Manatee County resident who served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant before working as a postal worker for 19 years, campaigned on issues like parking, housing and sewage.

Experience matters in these elections. Ive been very upfront and have integrity within this community and with voters every day and on every level. Im not bought and sold. I listen to their voice. Im a people person and thats what drives me day in and day out, to listen to the voters on what we need in this city. Weve got to have someone who can continue to do that and not special interest, Jones previously told the Bradenton Herald.

Cornwell, meanwhile, is a local educator and fifth-generation Manatee County resident. First elected in the 1990s, the veteran commissioner has held the at-large seat for 27 years.

Her challenger, Kezar, is a Florida native and veteran, graduating from West Point with a degree in engineering and management before pursuing a career in real estate development and finance following his military service. He previously ran for a Palmetto City Commission seat in 2020 on a campaign to attract businesses to increase the citys tax base, attracting new residents with the creation of jobs and affordable housing.

Whitaker raised $35,000 to challenge Jones, compared to his roughly $16,000 raised for re-election. Cornwell raised nearly $8,700 for her re-election campaign, while Kezar raised over $28,000 to challenge her.
The popular vote does not officially determine the winner of presidential elections, but it does offer a look at who individual voters prefer in the White House.

The Electoral College is the final determiner of who becomes the U.S. president with its 538 total votes, which are allotted to states based on the number of members they have in the House of Representatives plus their two senators. Electors cast their ballots for the candidate that won the popular vote in their state, and whichever candidate receives 270 votes wins.

The popular vote on the other hand is based on the number or percentage of votes cast for a candidate by voters in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The candidate that gets the most votes nationwide wins the popular vote.

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Here are recent elections' popular vote winners, and the outcome of those races.

A view of the White House the day before the U.S. presidential election in Washington, U.S., November 4, 2024.

Who won the popular vote in 2020?

President Joe Biden won the popular vote when he ran against Donald Trump in 2020.

Biden would go on to defeat Trump 306-232 in the Electoral College, and he had a 4-point margin in the popular vote, according to the Pew Research Center.

Biden's win came as voter turnout rose 7% over 2016, resulting in a total of 66% of U.S. adult citizens casting a ballot in the 2020 election, the Washington, D.C.-headquartered center said. Biden's popular vote differential was also better than fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton's 2016 two-point advantage, according to the fact tank.

Who won the popular vote in 2016?

Although Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 by nearly 2.9 million, Donald Trump won the Electoral College after receiving 304 votes compared to the former U.S. Secretary of State's 227 votes, ABC News reported.

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Clinton became the fifth presidential candidate in history to win the popular vote and lose the Electoral College. She joined a list comprised of Al Gore (defeated by George W. Bush in 2000), Grover Cleveland (defeated by Benjamin Harrison in 1888), Samuel J. Tilden (defeated by Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876) and Andrew Jackson (defeated by John Quincy Adams in 1824), according to Britannica.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks on Day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 19, 2024.

Who won the popular vote in 2008 and 2012?

Former president Barack Obama won the popular vote when he was elected in 2008 and 2012. He defeated the late U.S. Sen. John McCain in 2008 and current Republican U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney in 2012.

In 2008, Obama received 52.9% of the popular vote and 365 of the 538 electoral votes. In 2012, he accrued 51.1% of the popular vote and 332 electoral votes, according to the American Presidency Project.

Who won the popular vote in 2004?

George W. Bush lost the popular vote in 2000, but he won it when he ran for reelection in 2004.

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Bush defeated Democratic Sen. John Kerry after accruing 50.7% of the popular vote and 286 electoral votes, the American Presidency Project says.

Who won the popular vote in 2000?

Al Gore won the popular vote in 2000 after receiving 48.4%, but he lost the election to George W. Bush when he only gained 266 electoral votes, according to the American Presidency Project. Votes for minor party candidates prevented the two major parties from receiving a majority of the popular vote.

The presidency was officially decided by the Supreme Court on Dec. 12, 2000, in the Bush v. Gore decision. The Court reversed an order by the Florida Supreme Court for a selective manual recount of that states U.S. presidential election ballots, thus awarding its 25 Electoral College votes to Bush. This decision gave Bush a total of 271 electoral votes.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election popular vote results in 2020 and other recent presidential races
Eight female nurses at a United Kingdom hospital are suing their employer for not assuring their psychological and physical safety. The nurses work in specialized areas that require their changing uniforms once daily. There is a trans-female nurse, similarly specialized, who changes with them. He wanders about the locker room in briefs or nude, the women report, ogling them as they exchange clothing. It has also been related that he continues to use his male name (Ian), and to exhibit masculine behaviors. Nonetheless, Ian claims to be trans-gendered, and according to regulation, that statement is sufficient for him to use the womens locker room.

Two of the women are especially affected. One is Muslim, and his staring at her in her undergarments affronts her religious belief in modesty. She now changes in a small bathroom outside the locker room. Another nurse was sexually abused as a child, and Ians nude presence close to her causes flashbacks and crying, and she has retreated to a utility closet for her clothing changes.

Hospital administrators claim that they have not ignored the nurses predicament, but that they are incapable of aiding them as the regulation arises from the National Health Service (NHS), and that the hospital would be penalized if it barred Ians access to the locker room. It is not known if administrators prepared the parties for Ians entry or established any guidelines for his presence. Either action might have avoided the present conflict, and would have been within the regulation as written.

I found myself questioning whether Ian is trans-female or a male exploiting the regulations vagueness to indulge in underwear or voyeuristic fetish. The hospital cannot require Ian to establish his female bona fides, as despite his reportedly continuing masculine behaviors, there is no set of actions that define a trans-individual, and how he dresses and behaves within his domicile is unknown.

The situation is further complicated as the female nurses have threatened to resign. The U.K., like the U.S., has a staffing problem, especially among specialty nurses. The women will have little difficulty gaining employment at nearby hospitals, but their present facility will struggle to replace them. Consequently, the workload on the remaining unit staff will increase, and their morale will decrease, as will their trust in the administration. As has been demonstrated in other health care facilities, this will decrease staff retention and adherence to administrative dicta and eventually erode quality patient care and safety.

This raises an ethical conundrum that the NHS likely did not consider in establishing its equity rule for trans-gendered employees. The decree is not unique, but as written, it is sufficiently vague to potentially allow male abuse while negating female concerns. Whose rights take primacy; those of the female nurses, and secondarily those of other staff and potentially patients, or Ians? Is the principle of equity of greater value in this instance than the threats to the psychological and physical safety of the female nurses?

In an ideal world the hospital would create an environment salutary to both parties, but utopian circumstances rarely exist. Is Ians nude wandering and staring, if true, necessary to his changing uniform? Is it congruent with the behavior of the other personnel? If not, he should be counseled that his actions are generating discomfort and should be discontinued for a more harmonious environment. If Ian disagrees or does not comply, he should be offered the choice of changing behind a curtain or in a specified area from which he could only enter and exit the locker room. This would allow him use of the room, but also respect the concerns of the female employees.

If he refuses these options, the only remaining possibilities would be to create a changing space for trans-individuals, though this would violate the NHS dictum, or terminate Ian as uncooperative and unable to work with others. Losing a single nurse would create less disjunction in unit functioning than losing eight. To defend this action, keeping meticulous records of all meetings and correspondence would be essential.

Regardless of the option chosen, it would be disadvantageous. If Ian is terminated, he will immediately file an appeal with the NHS, and the appropriate labor board, civil rights, and LGBTQ+ organizations will champion his cause, and negative press will be generated. If the eight nurses are forced to resign, their union and/or professional organization will protest, Muslim and other religious rights groups will support them, as will organizations championing child sexual abuse victims, and again, the damaging press will be spawned, and resolution will be complicated and by politics and public pressure.

Nonetheless, if the needs of both parties cannot be totally met, and applying utilitarian ethics, Ians termination is most appropriate, as it would allow the maximal potential good for the greater number of people: employees and patients, as the hospital made good faith efforts to provide equitable solutions, but they were rejected. Nonetheless, this incident is only the tip of the iceberg, as an increasing number of cases of this nature will arise, and if equity is to be gained, the rights and concerns of all parties will need to be respected. Inevitably, this will require compromises that will be less than perfect for all involved.

M. Bennet Broner is a medical ethicist.
Early returns show that voters in Woodland are rejecting two local tax measures, including a bond that would fund repairs and improvements for school facilities and a one-cent city sales tax measure.

Measures P and U, which were both targeted by a heavily-funded opposition campaign, are the only tax measures in Yolo County on their way to rejection.

Woodland Joint Unified School Districts Measure P has received only 47% of votes in favor despite the school districts early polling showing more promising returns. The measure needs 55% approval to win. Measure U, a proposed sales tax for the City of Woodland, is also trailing with 45% of voters saying yes.

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The Yolo County Business PAC, which is sponsored by local business owner and former oil mogul Jeffrey Morgan, spent $51,493 and $72,620 on efforts to defeat Measures P and U respectively, according to campaign finance filings. The majority of the money funded mailers, some of which Measure P proponents called misleading for their oversimplification of bond financing. The Yes on Measure P campaign spent around $46,000.

Morgan owns JDM Organic Farm, a 147-acre farm growing olive and grape varietals, which also serves as an event venue. The farm has an assessed value of over $2 million, according to the Yolo County Assessor. He previously worked in the oil industry as the CEO of oil drilling company National EWP and as both president and owner of WDC Exploration and Wells.

The Yolo County Business PAC has not returned a request for comment.

What defeat means for Woodland Joint Unified

Former board member and Yes on Measure P committee member Jake Whitaker said that defeat of the bond would put the district in a very difficult position to manage its deteriorating facilities going forward. The districts facilities needs were calculated to total $600 million in 2022. Measure P would have authorized the district to borrow $160 million.

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Were going to have principals going around and making sure that ceiling tiles arent falling on kids. Some of our classrooms have garbage cans to collect rainwater, he said. That is the status quo and that will continue until we pass a bond. There is simply no alternative with the way that California school finance works.

The bond failing while Californias Prop 2 passes would also mean that Woodland Joint Unified could miss out on matching state funds that could compound the districts investment in its facilities.

Whitaker believes that the messaging put forward by the Yolo County Business PAC penetrated the electorate. He points to the relative success of other tax measures in the county and sentiments the Yes on Measure P campaigners picked up from constituents while canvassing.

There was this pervasive belief in the community that if the district managed its money better, they wouldnt need this measure, Whitaker said. But if you just take modernization and deferred maintenance costs into account, it totals to be more than the districts annual operating budget of $130 million.

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Whitaker hopes to see the disparity between yes and no votes narrow as more results come in, but it is unlikely that the measure passes. He said that he is proud of the campaigns work to reach voters in the final weeks of the election.

Once the final results come in, bond measure proponents plan to review their overall strategy so the district can pass a bond in a future election year. Whitaker doesnt expect Morgans PAC to go away, but he thinks that this experience will help them better combat the opposition when the time comes.

Other Yolo County Business PAC efforts

The PAC also campaigned against Measure U, a one-cent sales tax measure that would provide annual local funding for civil services like repairing roads, maintaining public spaces and improving emergency response times. It is the only city sales tax measure in Yolo County to be on its way to rejection.

Unlike Measure P, there was no funded effort in support of passing the sales tax.

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Similar tax measures like Measure Q in Davis, Measure O in West Sacramento and Measure S in Winters show promising returns for approval, with returns as high as 62%.

Not all of the Yolo County Business PACs efforts are proving successful, however. The PAC spent more than $31,000 in support of Fred Lopez for the Woodland City Council Area 4 race and another $6,000 in opposition of his opponent, David Moreno. Moreno is currently leading with 56% of the vote.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Viktor Orban were among the world leaders offering their early congratulations to Donald Trump in light of his presumed election win. Although the race had officially not been called when many leaders posted statements on social media, Trump was declared the winner early Wednesday morning.

Writing on X, Zelenskyy shared a lengthy tribute to Trump, noting that he had a great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs, Zelenskyy continued. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.

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He added, We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations. Ukraine, as one of Europes strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies.

Netanyahu quickly responded to the news of a Trump victory, sharing his joy on X. The Israeli leader wrote, on behalf of himself and his wife Sara, Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban was among the first to congratulate Trump. The biggest comeback in US political history! the right-wing leader wrote on X. Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!

French president Emmanuel Macron also chimed in early, sharing posts in both French and English. Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump, he wrote on X. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

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British prime minister Keir Starmer, whose left-wing Labour government recently took power in the U.K., shared a statement on X, writing, Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

He added, As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise. From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he looks forward working with Trump to advance peace through strength, per AP. We face a growing number of challenges globally, from a more aggressive Russia, to terrorism, to strategic competition with China, as well the increasing alignment of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, Rutte said. Working together through NATO helps to deter aggression, protect our collective security and support our economies.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shared a statement offering sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump. Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship, Meloni wrote. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she is looking forward to working with Trump on the true partnership between the EU and the U.S. Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens, she said in a statement. Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote, I congratulate @realDonaldTrump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens.

In Russia, the Kremlin responded with less enthusiasm. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters he was not aware of any plans by President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump. We have repeatedly said that the U.S. is able to contribute to the end of this conflict, Peskov said, via Reuters. This cannot be done overnight, but the U.S. is capable of changing the trajectory of its foreign policy. Will this happen, and if so, how we will see after (the U.S. presidents inauguration in) January.

This posted was updated on Nov. 6 at 5:42 a.m. EST to reflect Donald Trump being declared the winner of the election

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Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Messages of congratulations began pouring in from political leaders around the world early Wednesday after former President Donald Trump declared victory over Democratic rival Kamala Harris at his West Palm Beach, Florida, watch party at around 2.30 a.m. EST.

Trump's friend and supporter, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was one of the earliest to fire off his felicitation, saying Trump had pulled off "the biggest comeback in U.S. political history!"

"Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his enormous win. A much-needed victory for the World!" he wrote in a post on X.

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Those words were followed in short succession by messages from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also has a close relationship with the president-elect, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the leaders of France, Italy and Germany.

The embattled Israeli leader's message, personally addressed to "Donald and Melania," mined a similar vein to Orban's but elevated it still further, hailing Trump's feat as the biggest fightback ever.

"Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history's greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America," Netanyahu wrote. "This is a huge victory! In true friendship, yours, Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu."

From London, Starmer congratulated Trump on his "historic election victory," saying he was looking forward to working with a new Trump administration.

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"I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise," he said in a statement posted on social media.

"From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the U.K.-U.S. special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come."

Starmer's Labor administration, which came into office after a landslide victory in a July general election, did not get off to the best start in its relationship with the new U.S. president, with Trump's campaign filing a complaint in October of illegal foreign election interference with the Federal Election Commission alleging Labor was paying British activists to travel to the United States to campaign for Harris.

Congratulating Trump on social media, French President Emmanuel Macron said he was ready to work with Trump again as they did for four years during his first presidency while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz extended his compliments, vowing in a message posted on X to continue German-U.S efforts "promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic."

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent "sincere congratulations to the president-elect" of what she said was Italy's "sister nation," from herself and the Italian government.

"Italy and the United States are 'sister' nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further," Meloni wrote in a post on X. "Good work Mr. President."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Trump while emphasizing the strong transatlantic bond which she said was critical to keep working on for the benefit of the peoples of both the European Union and the United States.

"I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump. The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them,' she said in a post on X.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for whom Tuesday's result could prove highly consequential in his two-and-half-year military struggle to expel invading Russian forces from Ukrainian territory, extended warm wishes to Trump on his "impressive" win -- but reminded him of the importance of U.S. support for Ukraine.

"Congratulations to Donald Trump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine," he wrote on X.

"I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together."

Zelensky added that Ukraine looks forward to "an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump's decisive leadership" as he was "looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's strategic partnership with the United States."

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"We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations," he said.

Zelennsky also noted that Ukraine, "as one of Europe's strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies," in an apparent reference to his offer to station Ukrainian troops across Europe in deployments currently fulfilled by the U.S. military in exchange for fast-tracking Ukraine into NATO after the war ends.

The reaction from Moscow was muted, notable in its caution and radio silence from President Vladimir Putin.

The only comment was Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who the state-run TASS news agency quoted as saying the administration would adopt a wait-and-see stance "evaluating Donald Trump as U.S. president based on his initial statements on topics related to Russia and his first actions."

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"We will primarily make conclusions based on [Trump's] statements on issues that are on our agenda, when we receive them, and on his first concrete steps," he said.

Peskov stressed that from Russia's viewpoint, sitting President Joe Biden remained in the office of president and would continue to fulfill his executive role until the end of the year.

The reaction from Beijing, which Trump has threatened with a sharp hike in tariffs on its U.S. imports, was also muted with Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning saying only that the presidential election was the United States' "internal affair," that the Chinese government "respected the choice of the American people" and that it would not affect its policy on the United States.

"China's policy on the U.S. is consistent. We will continue to view and handle our bilateral relations under the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation," she said at the ministry's regular press briefing Wednesday.

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Mao refused to be drawn on how China was preparing for the possibility of higher tariffs -- which would push up the price of Chinese-made goods in the U.S. market -- saying the foreign affairs ministry dealt in facts, not hypotheticals.

She said China would respond to the result to when it was formally finalized in "the customary practice."
The worlds political leaders, including in Israel, Ukraine, the U.K., Canada, France and Italy, have began congratulating President-elect Donald Trump on his election win.

The Republican and former reality television star emerged victorious on Tuesday, beating Vice President Kamala Harris to the 270 electoral votes to return to the Oval Office. It marks a historic comeback and damning blow for the Democrats as their opponents clinched Wisconsin and earned Trump a second non-consecutive term.

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As the rest of the world woke up to the news Wednesday morning, world leaders started to offer up their messages of congratulations to Trump. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Elon Musks X: I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer.

Dear Donald and Melania Trump,



Congratulations on historys greatest comeback!



Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.



This is a huge victory!



In true friendship, pic.twitter.com/B54NSo2BMA  Benjamin Netanyahu    (@netanyahu) November 6, 2024

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Trump had performed historys greatest comeback. He also said on X: Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!

In the U.K., Prime Minister and Labour party leader Keir Starmer  who has, in past years, been vocally against Trump  sent the President-elect a message before the result was even officially called. Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory, Starmer wrote on X. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory.



I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. pic.twitter.com/QYHLd4k4EG  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 6, 2024

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, said he is ready to work with Trump. Ready to work together just as we knew how to do during four years, he said. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

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Italys right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her congratulations, saying Italy and the U.S. had an unshakeable alliance. She continued: It is a strategic bond, which I am certain we will now strengthen even further.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau described the friendship between Canada and the U.S. as the envy of the world while congratulating Trump: I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations.

Congratulations to Donald Trump on being elected President of the United States.



The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world. I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations. pic.twitter.com/yEnL6gxyzO  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 6, 2024

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Germanys Olaf Scholz wrote a similar message to his European counterparts. I congratulate @realDonaldTrump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens.

I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump.



The EU and the US are more than just allies.



We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens.



So let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 6, 2024

The European Union President Ursula Von Der Leyen warmly congratulated Trump. Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens, she said, adding: Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship.

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Key political figures across the globe have been extending congratulatory messages to President-elect Donald Trump since early Wednesday after he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris to win the 2024 election.

See below for how world leaders have reacted to the news that the America First-espousing former U.S. President is returning to the White House.

European Commission

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Trump in a post on X, saying: The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So lets work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who heads the military alliance that Trump has shown dubious commitment to, also congratulated Trump on his election. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through #NATO, he posted on X.

Afghanistan

In a statement posted on X, the Taliban-led foreign ministry of Afghanistan said it hopes that the incoming U.S. administration will adopt a pragmatic approach to ensure tangible advancement in bilateral relations, allowing both nations to open a new chapter of relations grounded in mutual engagement.

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The Trump administration signed a peace deal in 2020 with the Taliban to end the war in Afghanistan. After the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021, the group swooped into power, but its rule over the country has not been recognized by the U.S.

Argentina

President Javier Milei congratulated Trump on his formidable electoral victory, posting on X: Now, Make America Great Again. You know that You can count on Argentina to carry out your task.

Read More: How Trump Won

Armenia

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a long congratulatory letter to Trump. In it, Pashinyan wrote, I sincerely hope that there will be new opportunities for the relations between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America, especially in the case of the establishment of lasting and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus, the unblocking of regional economic and communication channels, regarding which the proposals of the Government of the Republic of Armenia are summerised in the Crossroads of Peace project.

Australia

Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted on X. Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future.

Austria

I congratulate @realDonaldTrump on his election success, Chancellor Karl Nehammer posted on X in German. The USA is an important strategic partner for Austria. We look forward to further expanding and strengthening our transatlantic relations together in order to successfully meet global challenges.

Brazil

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva offered his congratulations to Trump in a post on X in Portuguese, saying: Democracy is the voice of the people and must always be respected. The world needs dialogue and joint work to achieve greater peace, development and prosperity. I wish the new government luck and success.

Cambodia

Prime Minister Hun Manet offered his heartfelt congratulations to Trump in a public letter. Your return comes at a most crucial time not only for the American people but also for the world at large, he wrote. Under your wise leadership, I am confident that the indispensable U.S. role in promoting stability, security and prosperity will be further strengthened.

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President of the Senate Hun Sen, Hun Manets father and longtime ruler of Cambodia, shared his own congratulatory letter. I am highly confident that your presidential leadership will not only guide the United States towards a more prosperous future but also further contribute to global peace, stability and prosperity, he wrote. He added that he looks forward to strengthening U.S.-Cambodia bilateral ties, highlighting the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year, and concluded: Please accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration and my best wishes for your good health and great success in all your endeavors as well as for the good health and happiness of your family and the American people.

Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Trump in a post on X alongside a photo of the two walking and talking in the Oval Office during Trumps first term. Trudeau called the friendship between the U.S. and Canada the the envy of the world and vowed to work together with Trump to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations.

China

President Xi Jinping congratulated Trump, according to state media, which reported: Xi urged the two countries to find the right way to get along in the new era, so as to benefit both countries and the wider world.

History teaches that China and the United States gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation, said Xi, noting that a stable, sound and sustainable China-U.S. relationship serves the two countries' shared interests and meets the aspiration of the international community.

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He expressed the hope that the two sides will uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences and expand mutually beneficial cooperation.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed reporters earlier on Wednesday about Trumps election victory.

We respect the choice of the American people, she said. Our policy towards the U.S. is consistent; we will continue to view and handle China-U.S. relations under the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.

Meanwhile, Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S., posted on X: My warm congratulations to Mr. Trump @realDonaldTrump on his reelection as President of the United States! China looks forward to working with the U.S. side for a stable, sound and sustainable China-U.S. relationship.

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Read More: How Far Trump Would Go

Colombia

President Gustavo Petro referenced key themes from the contentious American presidential election in a post on X in which he said in Spanish: The American people have spoken and they are respected. Congratulations to Trump on his victory. The North/South dialogue is still in force and the reality of climate collapse will make it revolve around its solution. The only way to seal the borders is with the prosperity of the peoples of the south and the end of the blockades. The progressive possibility in the US could not applaud the genocide in Gaza.

Czechia

Prime Minister Petr Fiala also congratulated Trump for winning the presidential election. Our shared goal is to ensure that the relations between our countries remain at the highest level, despite changes in administration, and that we continue to develop them for the benefit of our citizens, Fiala posted on X.

Denmark

In a statement, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen congratulated Trump, saying: We must maintain the close cooperation between the United States and Denmark and continue to strengthen the transatlantic bond that has endured through generations.

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I look forward to strengthening the defense coorporation [sic] between the United States and Denmark together with President-elect Trump. In a world in which Russia behaves more aggressively, increasingly supported by Iran and North Korea, there is a need for reinforcing global alliances. This is especially true in Ukraine where we need to continue our support for their fight for freedom. Furthermore, it would not be possible for Russia to continue the war in Ukraine without the help of China which is of grave concern. Our common security is at stake.

A strong partnership must be based on a Europe that must be able to do more on its own and take greater responsibility for our own security. We need to speed up and invest even more in our collective defense. It is necessary for ensuring peace and security in Europe, and for being a strong partner for the United States globally.

Egypt

In a post on X, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said in Arabic that he wishes Trump all the best and success in achieving the interests of the American people. He continued: We look forward to reaching together to establish peace, maintain regional peace and stability, and strengthen the strategic partnership relations between Egypt and the United States and their friendly peoples. The two countries have always presented a model of cooperation and succeeded together in achieving the common interests of the two friendly countries, which we look forward to continuing in these critical circumstances that the world is going through.

El Salvador

President Nayib Bukele, in a post on X, shared a photo of him and Trump and said: Congratulations to the President-Elect of the United States of America @realDonaldTrump May God bless and guide you.

Ethiopia

Congratulations to President Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump) on your election victory and comeback, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed posted on X. I look forward to working together to further strengthen the relationship between our two countries during your term.

France

Congratulations President Donald Trump, President Emmanuel Macron posted on X in French. Ready to work together as we have done for four years. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

Germany

Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X: I congratulate @realDonaldTrump on his election as US President. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens.

Greece

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated Trump in a post on X, saying: Greece looks forward to further deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries and working together on important regional and global issues.

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Read More: What Trumps Win Means For Crypto

Hungary

The biggest comeback in US political history, Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted on X. Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!

India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X: Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

Indonesia

President Prabowo Subianto offered his heartfelt congratulations to Trump in a post on X. Indonesia and the United States are strategic partners who share a robust and multifaceted relationship, he said. Our strategic partnership holds immense potential for mutual benefit, and I look forward to collaborating closely with you and your administration to further enhance this partnership and for global peace and stability.

Iran

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani has downplayed Trumps win in the eyes of Iran, according to Reuters, stating: the U.S. elections are not really our business. Our policies are steady and dont change based on individuals. We made the necessary predictions before and there will not be change in peoples livelihoods.

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Trump during his first term pulled out of an international nuclear deal with Iran that was negotiated by Obama. In addition, the Trump Administration placed over 1,500 sanctions on Iran, including on oil sales, which impacted the countrys economy.

Ireland

In Ireland, senior government leaders responded to Trumps election in different ways.

Taoiseach Simon Harris, the prime minister, congratulated Trump in a post on X and said, The people of the United States have spoken and Ireland will work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and our nations in the years ahead. In an official statement, Harris added: The world faces many challenges and needs leadership to meet them. With the US and Irelands shared commitment to democracy and international law, we can, and will, tackle these challenges.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin, the deputy prime minister who is also the minister for foreign affairs, also congratulated Trump in a statement. We look forward to working with him and his new administration in a constructive manner, as we did during his previous administration, he said. This year marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States. Irelands relationship with the United States draws its strength from our deep, historical people-to-people connections, the support of the US to peace on this Island, as well as our significant, and mutually beneficial, economic relationship. As we prepare to engage with a new US administration, we do so building on the strong legacy of the last 100 years. The high level of political bipartisan interest in Irish issues among US politicians and officials is, and will continue to be, invaluable. Regular, high level, political engagement, both with the new US administration and on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill, will be a high priority for the government.

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But Labour leader Ivana Bacik called Trumps election a devastating result, in a post on X: A Trump win spells disaster on so many fronts. For Ukraine, for Gaza, for Climate. For womens rights, for migrant rights and for Europe. The US has made a choice - now the impact will be felt worldwide. Grim prospects ahead. At a press conference, the Irish Times reported, Bacik added that its important Ireland articulate very strongly and clearly our values of inclusivity and of solidarity, and she called on Harris to share any briefings hes received on the risk assessment of a Trump win for Ireland.

Read More: What Donald Trumps Win Means for the Economy

Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara addressed Trump and his wife Melania in a short letter on X: Dear Donald and Melania Trump, they wrote. Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship, yours, Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu.

Italy

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended her most sincere congratulations to Trump.

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On behalf of myself and the Italian Government, my most sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald #Trump, she posted in Italian on X. Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship.

It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further. Good work Mr. President.

Japan

Speaking at a press conference, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said, I listened to Mr. Trumps election victory speech. I congratulate Mr. Trump wholeheartedly on his election victory. I also wish to express my respect for the democratic choice made by the people of the United States of America.

Ishiba added: Going forward, I intend to cooperate closely with Mr. Trump as President-elect and work to raise the Japan-U.S. alliance and Japan-U.S. relations to even greater heights. From now, I aim to be in contact with him as soon as possible.

Jordan

Warmest congratulations to President Donald Trump on winning the US presidential election, King Abdullah II posted on X. Looking forward to working with you again to bolster Jordans longstanding partnership with the United States, in service of regional and global peace and stability for all.

Kenya

President William Ruto posted on X a lengthy message for Trump. Kenya values its longstanding partnership with the United States spanning over sixty years grounded in our shared values of democracy, development and mutual respect, Ruto wrote. We look forward to deepening our collaboration under your leadership as we work together to address global challenges, promote peace and security and foster inclusive economic growth for the benefit of our peoples.

Kosovo

Prime Minister Albin Kurti congratulated Trump in a post on X, saying: The US is a key ally, friend, and partner to Kosova and we look forward to working together for progress and peace.

Malaysia

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim congratulated Trump on his remarkable political comeback in a post on X, saying: This new chapter brings renewed opportunities, and were ready to move forward with optimism, collaboration and shared purpose.

The United States remains Malaysias largest source of foreign investment and a vital player in the Asia-Pacific region. As ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia hopes that America will reinvigorate its engagement with Southeast Asia. We also urge the US to use its considerable influence to help end the devastating violence and loss of life in Palestine and Ukraine.

We look forward to working closely with the incoming president to foster mutual benefits for the people of both our nations.

Mexico

I would like to express my most sincere congratulations to Donald Trump, who won the presidential election of the United States of America, Mexicos first female President Claudia Sheinbaum said in Spanish in a post on X. On behalf of Mexico, we would like to acknowledge the American people for their democratic exercise during their election campaign.

I am certain that we will continue to work together in a coordinated manner, with dialogue and respect for our sovereignties, to advance the broad bilateral agenda that links us, she added.

Netherlands

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on winning the presidential election, Prime Minister Dick Schoof posted on X. The United States is an important ally for the Netherlands, both bilaterally and in international contexts such as NATO. I look forward to our close cooperation on the shared interests between the USA and the Netherlands.

Read More: What Donald Trumps Win Means for Abortion

Nigeria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubus office shared his lengthy congratulatory message in a post on X. He said Trumps victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership and that he looks forward to strengthening the bonds between the two countries and trusts that President Trump will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity.

Northern Ireland

First Minister Michelle ONeill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly congratulated Trump in a joint post on X.

ONeill said her priority will be to continue to work with the incoming administration, to protect the Good Friday Agreement and to press for a ceasefire in Gaza, peace in the middle-east, and in Ukraine.

Little Pengelly pointed out Northern Irelands bonds with the U.S. which were built on history, heritage and trade, and she said she looked forward to enhancing those bonds with Trump's administration as we drive forward our agenda for economic growth in Northern Ireland.

Norway

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre posted on X. The US is Norways most important partner and ally. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with the new Trump administration.

Pakistan

Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his historic victory for a second term! Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X. I look forward to working closely with the incoming Administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-U.S. partnership.

Palestinian Authority and Hamas

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority which controls the West Bank occupied by Israel, congratulated Trump and wished him success.

In a message on the website of the Palestinian Authoritys news agency WAFA, Abbas said he hoped to work with Trump for peace and security in the region, stressing the commitment of Palestinians to the pursuit of freedom, self-determination and statehood, in accordance with international law.

We will remain steadfast in our commitment to peace, and we are confident that the United States will support, under your leadership, the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, Abbas said.

In a statement to Newsweek, Basem Naimpolitical bureau member and spokesperson of Hamas, the group that has ruled over the Gaza Strip for almost two decadessaid: The election of Trump as the 47th president of the USA is a private matter for the Americans  but Palestinians look forward to an immediate cessation of the aggression against our people, especially in Gaza, and look for assistance in achieving their legitimate rights of freedom, independence, and the establishment of their independent self-sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Read More: What Donald Trumps Win Means For Immigration

Philippines

President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. posted on X: President Trump has won, and the American people have triumphed. I congratulate them on their victory in an exercise that showed the world the strength of American values.

We look forward to working with President Trump on a wide range of issues that will yield mutual benefits for two nations with deep ties, shared beliefs, a common vision, and a long history of working together, Marcos wrote.

Marcos added that he was hopeful that this unshakeable alliance, tested in war and peace, will be a force for good, blazing a path of prosperity and amity in the region and on both sides of the Pacific.

This is a durable partnership to which the Philippines is fully committed, because it is founded on the ideals we share: freedom and democracy.

I have personally met President Trump as a young man, so I know that his robust leadership will result in a better future for all of us, Marcos concluded. Congratulations, President Trump!

The Philippines is a major U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific, helping counter Chinas growing influence in the region. While some have warned that a Trump presidency would mean a more insular foreign policy, experts previously told TIME that countering China remains a bipartisan consensus and likely wont be affected by Trump coming back into power.

Poland

President Andrzej Duda used a string of emojis to congratulate Trump. You made it happen!  he posted on X.

Romania

Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on this historic victory! Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu posted on X. Romania stands ready to work together to enhance our Strategic Partnership. Under your new leadership we hope for peace and prosperity for all our citizens!Looking forward to a fruitful collaboration!

Russia

At an international forum in Sochi on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin belatedly congratulated Trump on his election victory and praised him for his courage after the assassination attempt in July.

His behavior at the moment of an attempt on his life left an impression on me, Putin said. He turned out to be a brave man.

The strongman Russian leader also said that hed be willing to call Trump to discuss rebuilding Russia-U.S. relations and facilitating an end to the war in Ukraine, but when asked what to expect from an incoming Trump administration, Putin said: I dont know what will happen now. I have no idea.

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, earlier said, according to Russian media, that he did not know if Putin had any plans to congratulate Trump, who had made some quite harsh statements about Russia during his campaign. Peskov called the U.S. an unfriendly country that is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state. He said whether Putin ultimately congratulated or not would likely not matter much: It is practically impossible to worsen things further; relations are at their historical lowest point.

Russias foreign ministry also issued a statement: We have no illusions about the president elect, who is well known in Russia, or the new Congress, where Republicans have reportedly won control. The US ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles and the policy of containing Moscow. This line does not depend on changes in Americas domestic political barometer, no matter if it is Trump and his supporters America above all or the Democrats focus on a rules-based world order.

Rwanda

President-elect @realDonaldTrump, I warmly congratulate you on behalf of the Government and people of Rwanda for your historic and decisive election as the 47th President of the United States, President Paul Kagame posted on X. Your clear message has been that the United States should be a partner of choice that attracts by the force of its example, rather than by imposing its views and ways of life on others. I therefore look forward to working with you for the common benefit of both our countries in the years ahead.

Saudi Arabia

According to the Saudi Press Agency, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Trump on his election victory. Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman spoke to Trump on the phone and expressed the Kingdoms eagerness to strengthen the longstanding strategic and historic ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States, wishing the friendly American people continued progress and prosperity under the incoming administration.

Serbia

Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your victory, President Aleksandar Vucic posted on X. Together, we face the serious challenges ahead. Serbia is committed to working with the USA for stability, growth, and peace. The message was signed off with flags of Serbia and the U.S. with a handshake emoji between them and a photo of a grinning Vucic standing next to Trump giving a thumbs-up.

Singapore

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam offered a somber analysis in a post on Instagram, saying: Americans have voted in favor of President Trump. He will lead a nation in need of healing, and a people who must rediscover common purpose, despite their divisions. No one can expect this to be achieved easily or quickly. It is an immense task, for government and every level of society. But President Trump pledged in his victory speech to work every day and with every breath for every citizen, their families, and their future.

Tharman added that America also plays a critical role in a world that aspires for peace for all peoples, and for nations large and small being able to prosper together, and he said Singapore looks forward to working with Trump and his team to achieve our mutual interests in an interdependent world.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong congratulated Trump in a post on X and said: I am confident that the US will continue to grow and lead globally. I look forward to taking our partnership to even greater heights. We hope to welcome you back to Singapore soon 

South Africa

Congratulations to United States President-Elect @realDonaldTrump on your return to the Presidency, President Cyril Ramaphosa posted on X. I look forward to continuing the close and mutually beneficial partnership between our two nations across all domains of our cooperation.

Ramaphosa added: In the global arena, we look forward to our Presidency of the G20 in 2025, where we will work closely with the US who will succeed us in the G20 Presidency in 2026.

South Korea

Conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol congratulated Trump in a post on X, saying: Under your strong leadership, the future of the ROK-U.S. alliance and America will shine brighter. Look forward to working closely with you.

Spain

Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your victory and your election as 47th President of the US, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on X. We will work on our strategic bilateral relations and on a strong transatlantic partnership.

Taiwan

President Lai Ching-te offered sincere congratulations to Trump in a post on X. Im confident that the longstanding Taiwan-U.S. partnership, built on shared values & interests, will continue to serve as a cornerstone for regional stability & lead to greater prosperity for us all, he added.

Thailand

In a bilingual post on X, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra congratulated Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance and said, I look forward to working with you to advance Thailand-U.S. long-standing alliance for the benefits of our peoples and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

Read More: What Donald Trumps Win Means for the Economy

Turkiye

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a Turkish-language post on X, lauded his friend Trump, who won the presidential election in the United States after a great struggle and was re-elected as the President of the United States.

In this new period that will begin with the elections of the American people, I hope that Turkey-US relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end; I believe that more efforts will be made for a more just world, Erdogan said. I hope that the elections will be beneficial for our friendly and allied people in the United States and for all of humanity.

U.K.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated Trump in a post on X, saying he looks forward to working with him in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise, Starmer said.

But Starmers relationship with Trump will likely be off to a shaky start. The Trump campaign accused his Labour Government of blatant foreign interference after volunteers with the center-left party traveled to the U.S. to help campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris.

And the Labour Governments foreign secretary, David Lammy, in a 2018 article for TIME, described Trump as a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath. Lammy also congratulated Trump on Wednesday, posting on X: The U.K. has no greater friend than the U.S., with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years. We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.

Kemi Badenoch, the new leader of the U.K.s Conservative Party, congratulated Trump, calling his victory historic, in a post on X. The world faces many serious challenges and I look forward to our two countries working together to confront them, she said.

Ukraine

President Volodmyr Zelensky posted on X: Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together, he added. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.

Uzbekistan

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent a long congratulatory letter to Trump, posted on the official website of the President of Uzbekistan. Your convincing election victory once again clearly confirmed that the American people actively support your programs and plans aimed at strengthening the international prestige and economic power of the United States, ensuring global development and prosperity, as an experienced and skillful politician, he wrote. We remain interested in continuing friendly relations with the U.S. Administration under your leadership and full implementation of all agreements reached at high and the highest levels.

Mirziyoyev referenced support for further expansion of regional cooperation within the C5+1 platform and the United States-Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, and he said he believes ensuring stable peace in Afghanistan and promoting its economic and social development will become an integral part of our cooperation. He closed by inviting Trump for an official visit.

Venezuela

In his first administration, President Donald Trump did not go well for us, President Nicolas Maduro said on a television broadcast. (Caracas cut diplomatic ties with Washington after Trump, during his first term, recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuelas legitimate interim President.) This is a new beginning that we trust will be a win-win and go well for the United States and go well for Venezuela, Maduro said.

Zimbabwe

President Emmerson Mnangagwa congratulated Trump in a post on X, saying: The world needs more leaders who speak for the people. Zimbabwe stands ready to work with you and the American people to build a better, more prosperous and more peaceful world.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
World leaders and top officials reacted to the unfolding results of the 2024 presidential election as the contest drew to a conclusion.

With former President Donald Trump significantly ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris in the race for the White House and claiming victory, French President Emmanuel Macron offered his congratulations to Trump in post to X.

"Ready to work together as we have done for four years," Macron said, referring to Trump's first term. "With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity."

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated both Trump and his wife, Melania. "Congratulations on history's greatest comeback," Netanyahu wrote on X. "Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America."

"This is a huge victory," Netanyahu added.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, newly-appointed Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also all offered their congratulations.

PHOTO: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump react at the site of the rally for Trump, in Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Florida, Nov. 6, 2024. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, also congratulated Trump and wished him success in a statement, saying: "We will remain steadfast in our commitment to peace, and we are confident that the United States will support, under your leadership, the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people."

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Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said during a press conference that his country is "not too worried about Trump being elected" because "there was not much difference between" the two candidates.

"From our point of view, it does not make any difference and the budget that has been considered and the measures that were foreseen for the economic security of the country, the necessary forecasts have been made and there is no reason to worry," Mohajerani added. "Sanctions have greatly strengthened our internal strength and we have the ability to deal with them."

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammad bin Salman wished Trump and the American people "progress and prosperity," according to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said he hoped Trump could help find peace in the Middle East, while Jordanian King Abdullah II said he would work with Trump to in pursuit of "stability for all."

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MORE: Donald Trump wins 2nd term in historic return to White House

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban -- a longtime conservative ally of Trump -- posted to X early Wednesday celebrating what he called "the biggest comeback in U.S. political history." Orban congratulated Trump on "his enormous win," which he described as a "much needed victory for the world."

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto wrote on Facebook of his hope that "Hungarian-American political cooperation will return to its peak form, because we have similar thoughts about peace, illegal immigration and protection of families."

"And there is a better chance than ever before that there will be peace in Ukraine after almost a thousand days," Szijjarto added.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lauded what he called Trump's "impressive election victory." He wrote in a post on X that leaders in Kyiv "look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump's decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

"I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs," Zelenskyy added. "This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together."

MORE: Election Day 2024 live results: Trump projected to win Pa., third swing state

When asked about the election results on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters he was "not aware of the president's plans to congratulate Trump." Peskov added: "Let's not forget that we are talking about the unfriendly country that is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state."

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, meanwhile, posted to X with a video of Harris reciting a psalm during the campaign. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning," Harris said in the video. Zakharova wrote, "Hallelujah, I'll add on my own."

In a later post, Zakharova said, "Those who live by love for their country, and not by hatred for others, win."

The Foreign Ministry issued a standalone statement Wednesday saying the country "will work with the new administration when it 'settles' in the White House, firmly defending Russia's national interests and focusing on achieving all the goals of the special military operation. Our conditions are unchanged and well known in Washington."

PHOTO: The campus of Howard University is pictured after the conclusion of an election night campaign watch party for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Nov. 6, 2024, in Washington. (Susan Walsh/AP)

Former Russian President and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram that Trump "has one quality that is useful for us: as a businessman to the core, he mortally dislikes spending money on various hangers-on" and "idiotic allies," suggesting his election may be a curb on American aid to Ukraine.

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"The question is how much will Trump be forced to give for the war," Medvedev -- who is now the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council -- wrote. "He is stubborn, but the system is stronger."

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko -- one of Russia's closest allies -- said during a press conference that Trump is "an ardent capitalist who won the U.S. elections" while "all of Europe," including Belarus, "is oriented toward socialism."

MORE: American voters in London pitch competing visions of US

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Trump's leadership "will again be key to keeping our alliance strong." He added, "I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO."

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Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, wrote on social media, "I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump."

"The EU and the U.S. are more than just allies," she added. "We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a statement congratulated Trump on a "historic election victory." He added: "I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X, "Good work Mr. President."

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"Italy and the United States are 'sister' nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values and a historic friendship," she wrote. "It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further."

MORE: What Trump said he would do on Day 1 if reelected

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Trump as a "friend" in his congratulatory post to X.

"I hope that Turkey-U.S. relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end," Erdogan said.

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Polish President Andrzej Duda posted on X to Trump: "You made it happen!"

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic posted a photograph of himself standing with Trump in the Oval Office, writing alongside it: "Together we face the serious challenges ahead. Serbia is committed to cooperation with the USA on stability, prosperity and peace."

PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak with former first lady Melania Trump during an election night event, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The leaders of both India and Pakistan were quick to offer their best wishes. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote: "As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let's work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity."

Across the border in Pakistan, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said he is looking "forward to working closely with the incoming administration to further strengthen and broaden the Pakistan-U.S. partnership."

South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol also tweeted a congratulatory message. "Under your strong leadership, the future of the [Republic of Korea]-U.S. alliance and America will shine brighter," he said. "Look forward to working closely with you."

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te congratulated Trump and also thanked President Joe Biden and Harris "for their firm support for Taiwan during their term in office," according to a statement from the Taiwanese Presidential Office.

"No matter which political party has been in power, Taiwan-U.S. relations have not only become stronger but also continued to progress and deepen," the office added. "Building on the existing foundation, we will work hand in hand with the new U.S. administration and Congress to create a new situation in Taiwan-U.S. relations."

ABC News' Tom Soufi Burridge, Bruno Nota, Morgan Winsor, Habibullah Khan, Joohee Cho and Ayat Al-Tawy contributed to this article.

World reacts to 2024 presidential election results originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped Donald Trumps election victory could bring about a just peace in Ukraine as the Republican was declared the 47th president of the United States.

The Ukrainian president said he appreciated Trumps peace through strength approach in global affairs and said he hoped Kyiv could continue to rely on bipartisan support in Washington for his countrys war efforts.

Trump notoriously refused to say whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war with Russia. Speaking alongside Mr Zelensky in Washington in September, the president-elect said: We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin.

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If we win the election, were going to get it resolved very quickly.

Mr Zelensky said he hoped a Trump presidency could bring about a just peace in the war with Russia - Getty

I think the fact we are even together today is a really good sign, he said. If we have a win, long before January 20th, before I would take the presidency, long before that, I think we could work out something that is good for both sides.

He has repeated that claim several times over the past year, and most people expect him to try to start talks with Ukraine and Russia in the coming weeks. Sources in Kyiv told The Telegraph they thought Trump might appoint an envoy to broker between Ukraine and Russia before the end of this month.

But Trump has been vague on how he would achieve that deal. JD Vance, his running mate, has suggested that Ukraine should both give up occupied territory and its ambitions to join Nato in exchange for establishing a ceasefire.

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That will be difficult for Ukraine to accept, and it is not obvious whether Russia would be interested in settling for the current lines when it seems to be taking more and more land. The worst fear in Kyiv is that Vladimir Putin demands more land than he currently holds, that Ukraine then refuses, and Trump cuts all aid in response, allowing Russia to press ahead with its current offensive.

Very few wanted a continuation of previous policy

But there is some cautious optimism in Kyiv on Wednesday morning. A lot of people are concerned because they dont know what to expect, but there are also a lot of people who are hoping this will actually be better, because it is something out of the box, said Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former defence minister. Very few people wanted to see a continuation of the previous policy.

Ukraine and its European allies are unlikely to resist Trumps pressure for talks because of the implicit threat he would cut off military aid in order to force the issue. Instead, said Volodymyr Fesenko, a Kyiv-based political analyst, they will seek to make sure the talks, and whatever settlement comes out of them, are as much in Ukraines favour as possible.

For example, Kyiv may accept the path to Nato is blocked but ask for separate American security guarantees, akin to its deals with Israel and South Korea.

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And they hope that if Putin refuses peace on Trumps terms, the Republican will radically jack up sanctions on Russian oil and increase aid to Ukraine in response.

Europe

The first leader to congratulate Trump was Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, who describes the former president as a good friend.

Mr Orban, who has refused to send weapons to Ukraine, suggested before the election that should Trump win, Europe would have to adjust its stance on the war. If Americans switch to peace, then we also need to adapt, the Hungarian prime minister said.

Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, describes Trump as a good friend - Zoltan Fischer/AFP via Getty Images

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said he was ready to work together with Trump as we have done for four years in his message of congratulations to the president-elect. And as a leader tackling a rising threat from the far-Right in France and potential Trump allies, he also said that he and the German chancellor Olaf Scholz would work on a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe.

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They would do this while cooperating with the United States of America and defending our interests and values, he said on X, formerly Twitter.

Mr Macron initially had a warm relationship with Trump during his first term, describing him as a friend and inviting him to dine at the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day in 2017. But the friendship started souring when Mr Macron described Nato as brain dead two years later.

Frances president Emmanuel Macron has offered an olive branch to Trump - LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

During Trumps first presidency, Mr Macron warned his European allies that it could no longer rely on the US to defend the military alliance, accusing the US of turning its back on us. Trump responded by describing the French presidents comments as very, very nasty, adding that nobody needed Nato more than France and that it was a dangerous statement to make.

Germanys press met the news of Trumps victory with disbelief. The popular weekly Die Zeit led its website on Wednesday with the one-word expletive F---.

Zeit carried a one word headline

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The headline was followed by a report on how watching the news roll in meant that in the end, all that remained was helpless attempts to calm oneself.

Der Spiegel, the countrys main political magazine, led its website with the headline the Trump shock, while the conservative daily Die Welt claimed that a new era in time has begun.

The US is Germanys main trading partner and the country fears that Trumps promise to impose tariffs could end the era of globalisation that has driven German wealth over decades.

Leaders across Europe sent customary congratulations to Trump as it became clear he would retake the White House, despite him once describing the European Union as one of Americas biggest foes.

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Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said she hoped to continue a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens, while Mark Rutte, the Nato chief, said Trump could look forward to working with a stronger, larger and more united alliance.

Israel

The mood among senior officials in Israel, another country heavily reliant on Washingtons support, appeared to be buoyant after Trump declared victory.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, was one of the first leaders to congratulate Trump after he declared victory at his Mar-a-Lago estate early on Wednesday morning.

Describing it as historys greatest comeback, Mr Netanyahu said Trumps return to the White House offered a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between the two nations.

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Israel Katz, the countrys new defence minister, said Trump would help bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Trump at the Israel museum in Jerusalem in 2017 - Sebastian Scheiner/AP

Trump has voiced staunch support for Israel in its campaign against Hamas in Gaza. He has called himself a protector of Israel and suggested it should strike Irans nuclear facilities in response to the recent missile barrage. Trumps first administration delivered big wins to Mr Netanyahu, when it went against most of the world in recognising Jerusalem as Israels capital and accepting Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

But Trump has also stated he wants to see an end to the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon before taking office in January, and made repeated calls for Israel to end the war quickly, which could create fresh tension between himself and Mr Netanyahu.

They have to get it done. Get it over with, and get it over with fast, because we have to, you have to get back to normalcy and peace, Trump said earlier this year, claiming that Israel had been losing the PR war because of the images coming out of Gaza.

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Prior to his victory on Wednesday, Trump made a series of provocative statements about the Jewish community during his campaign, accusing those who were considering voting for the Democrats of disloyalty, and suggesting that Israel would cease to exist within two years if he didnt win.

Russia

In Russia, the former president Dmitry Medvedev, who is now a senior security official, wrote on Telegram that Trump has one useful quality for the country, as someone who dislikes spending money on various hangers-on and hanger-on allies.

Mr Medvedev appeared to be referencing Ukraine and its Nato allies, who have relied on significant US military and financial support throughout the two-and-a-half year war.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said Trump has a useful quality for the country - Ekaterina Shtukina/Sputnik via AP

The former Russian president also said Kamala Harris was finished and said the objectives of Putins special military operation  the war in Ukraine  remain unchanged and will be achieved after the election result.

China

Chinas foreign ministry said the country hoped for a peaceful coexistence with the US.

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During his last term, Trump labelled China a strategic competitor and imposed tariffs on some Chinese imports, a move mirrored by Beijing on US imports. Following attempts to de-escalate the trade war, Trump labelled Covid the China virus.

Trump has again proposed tariffs on Chinese imports in excess of 60 per cent and ending Chinas most-favoured-nation trading status, raising the prospect of another trade war.

Trump and Chinas President Xi Jinping during a G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan - Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

But the president-elect has also been full of praise for president Xi Jinping at times, praising him as brilliant and effective at controlling 1.4 billion people with an iron fist.

We will continue to approach and handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, a Chinese government spokesman said.

Taiwan

Reaction from Taiwan has been mixed. Trump has repeatedly said Taiwan should pay the US for protection against China and accused the island of taking the semiconductor industry  a key component of modern technology and devices  away from the US decades ago.

But he also said he would not have to use military force to prevent a Chinese invasion of Taiwan as Xi knew he was f------ crazy. Trump said in the summer: Taiwan should pay us for defence. You know, were no different than an insurance company.

But the Taiwanese government is trying to play down scepticism towards the second Trump administrations Taiwan policies.

On relations across the Taiwan Strait, we believe that the United States will continue its current approach of constraining China and being friendly to Taiwan, Tsai Ming-yen, Taiwans national security bureau director-general, told journalists in Taipei on Wednesday.

South Korea

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Thursday his government would work with the incoming US administration of Donald Trump to build a perfect security partnership to ensure peace on the Korean peninsula.

Yoon Suk Yeol pictured speaking with Donald Trump over the phone - Shutterstock

Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke with Trump on the phone on Thursday, telling reporters in a nutshell, he was very friendly.

Mr Ishiba, who took office just over a month ago, said the pair had agreed to strengthen the Japan-US alliance and hoped to organise a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible.

I had the impression that he is the kind of person I will be able to talk to candidly, he added.

India

Indias prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated Trump and said he hoped the two countries could work together to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

Narendra Modi, Indias prime minister, congratulated Trump on his election victory - Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images

During the election Trump promised to safeguard Indian Americans from the anti-religion agenda of the radical Left and said the US would strengthen its relationship with the country and my good friend, prime minister Modi.

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LONDON  Most world leaders were always going to congratulate Donald Trump on his presidential win, as they did early Wednesday before he was even officially declared the victor.

Some  like right-wingers and populists in Israel, India, the Gulf and Europe  were gleeful. Many of Americas traditional allies, meanwhile, hinted at their unease but also a pragmatic determination to make the best of their new reality: four more years of a man who has undermined Washingtons friends and boosted its autocratic foes, attempted to overturn the 2020 election and denied basic climate science.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was historys greatest comeback! While his ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted Yesssss followed by the American and Israeli flags and a strong-arm emoji.

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In the worlds largest democracy, India, populist Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his heartiest congratulations my friend. And Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is accused by human rights groups of attacking democratic dissent and the rule of law, led the celebrations among Europes rising ultranationalists, saying he would be popping champagne corks.

President-elect Donald Trump with supporters in West Palm Beach early Wednesday.

Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakeable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship, Italys hard-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, wrote on X. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further.Orban and Meloni are relative outliers in Europe, where most leaders will have hoped for a Harris win, according to officials and experts looking at their shared policies and style.

Few were ever going to say that, given the 50% chance of having to deal with Trump in January. And in the event they too quickly sent their congratulations, reflecting the need to have good relations with Washington.

French President Emmanuel Macron  who many saw as something of a Trump whisperer during his first term  said he was ready to work together as we did for four years, in a post on X. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

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In a parallel message written in French, however, Macron said he had spoken with his German counterpart, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a conversation that reflected the stark reality now faced by Europe.

Then-President Donald Trump visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City in 2017.

He and Scholz discussed the new context given to Europe by this election, according to the French leaders post, one that necessitated cooperating with the United States of America and also defending our interests and our values.Likewise, NATO head Mark Rutte said Trump would again be key to keeping our alliance strong, and that he looked forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former human rights lawyer from the center-left Labour Party, said in a statement, I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.

As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise, he wrote.

Starmers Labour Party has tried to build bridges with the Trump campaign in recent months, attempting to repair relations after its foreign secretary, David Lammy, called Trump a neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath, a racist, a sexist and a homophobe in 2018.

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Among Europe and NATOs primary fears is that Trump will abandon NATO and withdraw support from Ukraine, crushing its defense against Russia, emboldening President Vladimir Putin to attack another ally and paving the way for the redrawing of Europes borders.

Nevertheless, many in Ukraine have displayed a determined  if perhaps grim  realpolitik at the man holding the purse strings of their military rearguard action.

A Trump supporter celebrates during an election night watch party at The Stafford in London on Wednesday morning.

Kamala Harris supporters with Democrats Abroad monitor election updates in London.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Trumps decisive leadership and his peace through strength approach in global affairs.Some Ukrainians were nonplussed by what they saw as the equivocal support provided by President Joe Biden  despite that totaling some $175 billion since 2022  and say they remain optimistic Trump could offer a new start.

The foreign minister of Poland, which as Russia and Ukraines neighbor has frequently raised the alarm about Russias intentions toward the continent, said that Europe urgently needs to take more responsibility for its security.

The winds of history are blowing ever more strongly, Radek Sikorski wrote on X. Polands leadership will rise to the occasion.

Freed from the responsibility of having to retain diplomatic ties with Trump, some of Europes mayors appeared more willing to speak openly about the president-elect.

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Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said Trumps win was bad news for the world, democracies, Europe, climate, women and Ukraine, a country fighting for our freedom. She accused Trump of playing his part in undermining democracy and the rule of law. Her counterpart in London, Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has clashed with Trump, said many Londoners would be anxious about the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. And many will be fearful about what it will mean for democracy and for womens rights, or how the result impacts the situation in the Middle East or the fate of Ukraine, he added. Others will be worried about the future of NATO or tackling the climate crisis.

Beijing most likely sees danger, too, in Trumps unpredictability as well as his promised 60% tariffs on Chinese goods. But may also see opportunity in what is viewed as his isolationist ability to diminish American influence around the world.

Then-President Donald Trump, with French President Emmanuel Macron, surrounded by world leaders at the NATO summit in Belgium in 2017.

True to form, China declined to comment Wednesday, its Foreign Ministry saying Beijing would continue to manage U.S.-China relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.Also notably absent from the growing list of congratulatory messages was Russia, whos relationship with Trump triggered feverish speculation and official investigation.

I am not aware of the presidents plans to congratulate Trump on the election, Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov told reporters. Lets not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly nation which is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.

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Russian officials, speaking to NBC News, said they were preparing themselves for change.

Less predictability is incoming, a Russian diplomat not authorized to speak on the record told NBC News, cryptically adding, The result is not the most interesting part; the best is what is coming after.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

We sit down with Tod Stillson, a family physician and entrepreneur, to discuss how physicians can regain control of their careers in a system designed to push them toward traditional employment. Tod shares his personal journey from being funneled into the corporate health care world to discovering the freedom and financial empowerment that comes with self-employment.

Tod Stillson is a family physician, entrepreneur, and Amazon best-selling author of Doctor Incorporated: Stop the Insanity of Traditional Employment and Preserve Your Professional Autonomy. He can be reached at SimpliMD. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X @DrInc9, or join his Facebook community for doctors, Every Doctor Is A Business.

He discusses the KevinMD article, Systemic collusion: How big business and government herd physicians into traditional employment.

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today, we welcome back Todd Stillson. Hes a family physician and entrepreneur. Hes the author of the book, Doctor Incorporated: Stop the Insanity of Traditional Employment and Preserve Your Professional Autonomy. Todays KevinMD article is Systemic Collusion: How Big Business and Government Herd Physicians into Traditional Employment.

Todd, welcome back to the show.

Todd Stillson: Kevin, its great to be back with you and to be a part of your audience. I love what you do here.

Kevin Pho: All right. So before talking about your most recent article, just what led you to write it in the first place?

Todd Stillson: Well, I think that one of the challenges that we have in medicine today is that, you know, theres a lot of things that are going on. If you look at things from the 20,000-foot view, oftentimes we lose sight of those things because were down in the trenches doing the work every day. And its easy to forget really what these other forces are going on around us. And so that was just sort of a revisit of a, of a bigger subject.

Kevin Pho: All right, perfect. So, of course, one of those 20,000-foot view items is big business and government herding physicians, as you say, into traditional employment. So lets define some terms here before we go into your article. What do you define as traditional employment?

Todd Stillson: Traditional employment is really what the majority of doctors are doing right now, which is you receive a W-2 paycheck from a corporate employer of some type who pays you for your professional services and they take care of the rest. Its basically, you do your work and you get a paycheck.

Kevin Pho: All right, and youre right, that is the majority of physicians today. So talk about some of these outside influences that are making that happen.

Todd Stillson: Well, I think we all recognizeand some of us have varying levels of frustration over itthat there are larger forces that have entered in and really taken over the world of medicine and the business of medicine. And there are several forces involved. I think there are really four primary forces that we have to talk about.

One of them is the big business of medical education. So, medical education is a whole space of its own sort of entity in this process. Then theres the IRS, or the federal government. There are also the large health care corporations and private equity groups controlling the marketplace. And then, of course, theres us in our role in that. So all four forces sort of interplay with one another and affect this space of how we feel like were either in control of it or out of control of it.

Kevin Pho: And you talk about these four entities that are influencing physicians toward traditional employment. Whats in it for them? Why do they want physicians to be traditionally employed?

Todd Stillson: Yeah, thats a fair question. You know, we could get into a whole conspiracy hole of entities working together to keep physicians under control. I think each one has its own built-in incentive that influences the process.

If I were to say, the big business of medical education has to do with growing their footprint and influence through health care. We all see the big departments, the large buildings that are going up, all the faculty being paid for, and the plans that, at the end of the day, come down on the back of the medical student. What that big business of medical education understands is that doctors can get loans, so theyre going to up the cost of their program knowing that a future doctor will take out a larger loan. Its almost like theyre using it as a pass-through to access funds to fuel their business education plan.

Now, for the federal government, we all knowespecially with an election cycle going on right nowthat theyre interested in our tax dollars. Theyve been clear, particularly one side, about targeting people making more than $400,000 a year, high-income earners. And they prefer high-income earners to be W-2 employees because, frankly, as an employee, you dont have a lot of latitude to reduce that tax burden.

And then, in terms of the corporatization of health care, we all know that we are basically commodities in the process. From a big-picture perspective, our physician labor is just another commodity for them to manage, just like patients are a commodity to manage. They take those two elements, along with third-party payments, and put it all through their business metrics to earn money. And so we just become commoditized in the system so that large corporations can do well from a profit standpoint.

So those are really, in general, the reasons behind those forces. Theyre not necessarily working in unison, but they do play off one another a little bit. As an example, I would say physicians come out of medical training with large debts. So, what would a large health care corporation want to do to pull you into their orbit? Theyre going to provide financial incentives for you to become a traditional employee, which they can control and manage as a commodity. They know youre financially vulnerable, so theyre there to meet that need, but in the process, you give up a lot downstream. So theyre colluding, not overtly, but indirectly, they interconnect.

Kevin Pho: And you mentioned that fourth group, which is physicians themselves, right?

Todd Stillson: Yeah, exactly.

Kevin Pho: There is a group of physicianssome would say the majoritywho would prefer traditional employment. Is that what youre alluding to?

Todd Stillson: Yeah, prefer I dont know if I would say prefer. I would say theyre conditioned to expect that to be the norm. Now, so is that preferred? I dont know. Were so used to, as physicians, whether its pre-med training, med school, residency, were conditioned to follow. Were told, This is the way it is; this is what you do. In that conditioning process, whether its the medical education world or the health care marketplace, were conditioned to believe that traditional employment is the only way to survive or do well because its simple, and the marketplace is too strenuous or difficult to navigate on your own.

So, are we being preferred? No, I think were being herded. That lack of business educationI mean, medical education doesnt provide business education anymore, right? Is that on purpose? Theres so much competition for our time. I dont know if its intentional, but it does get pushed to the side. Do the corporate employers want us to have business education? Probably not. They dont want us to be empowered to leave them; theyd rather we stay with them. Does the federal government want us to see ourselves as small businesses? They like small businesses, but they also like the tax dollars that come from us being W-2 employees.

So, were indirectly influenced by these powers to think that the status quo is easiest, that we should just be employees. But my point is, there are other options available to doctors, and we need to think about those and think for ourselves. This is about empowering doctors, and the reason I wrote the article is I believe every physician needs to be empowered to think for themselves.

If you think about it and work through it, and decide, Yeah, I prefer to be a traditional employee; its simpler, easierI think the majority will land there. But theres a lot who didnt really think about it and are just passive about it. Im just encouraging doctors to be active so they can take control of their future, their professional life, and not passively give it up to these other forces. I believe these forces indirectly and directly influence the burnout crisis. Doctors feel powerless in the system, and really the best way to regain our power is to have autonomy. Thats how we can get out of this cycle of burnout.

Kevin Pho: And I think we mentioned this on a prior show, whenever you would go to a medical school to talk about some of these alternative pathways, you wouldnt always be encouraged to do that, right?

Todd Stillson: Absolutely not. Those forces, again, have filters about what they want those theyre influencing to hear and receive. And thats a good example. Those filters are placed on each one of those entities in terms of how they want us to be conditioned. My message to your listeners is, if youre a physician, dont passively let yourself be conditioned to believe this is the only way. There are plenty of other options.

Kevin Pho: So, how does one go about breaking that conditioning? How can you unlearn the conditioning from medical training that a traditional employment model, a W-2 model, is the only way?

Todd Stillson: I think information and inspiration are two elements we need. Just like we come out financially illiterate, we come out business illiterate. So, how can you correct that? Physicians love to learn; they love to read, to listen to podcasts like yours, and to explore. So, make it an intentional effort to read a book, sign up for a blog like SimplyMD, where Im sending out blog posts on self-employment and independence every day. You start to see through stories and examples how other people are doing it.

Another way is to identify a mentor or someone in the marketplace who is a physician who has remained independent. Spend time with them, find out how its working for them. This process of building competency has to come from within. Your employers not going to give you business education. The federal government wont. The medical education system wont. You have to empower yourself. So, find resources for financial and business literacyread books, find mentors, find people who can inspire you.

Kevin Pho: Now, how did you forge your own pathway? For listeners who arent familiar with your path, you are not traditionally employed. Were you at one point, and how did you unlearn that traditional thinking and forge your own path?

Todd Stillson: Yeah, I was traditionally employed for about 15 years, so I do have a compare-and-contrast experience, which is one reason I developed SimplyMD as a messaging community for doctors to know there are alternatives. For the past decade, Ive worked as an independent physician in whats called an employment-light agreement with a large hospital system. Weve discussed this on your site before.

How did I arrive there? Because I didnt have business awareness, having been a traditional employee, I sought out business consultants in health care who exposed me to the opportunity. Once I became aware of it and followed their advice, thats when I transitioned to becoming independent.

Todd Stillson: So, once I became aware of the independent options available and followed their advice, I made the transition to becoming an independent physician and began the journey. I remember being anxious about it, to be very honest, when I made that transition, because I knew so little and didnt feel prepared. But, like a lot of things, sometimes you just have to jump in and learn as you go.

It took a couple of years for me to really wrap my mind around the process of being a micro-corporation and operating as a business entity. And as I did it, I realized that this is something a lot of doctors can do. This isnt rocket science. Its not overtly complicated; you just have to take the initiative, dive in, and do it. I try to provide a host of resources, products, and courses on SimplyMD to help facilitate that and make it easier for doctors who want to go down this path.

Kevin Pho: So, with these larger forcesthese entities influencing physician decisions when it comes to their careersdo you think theres still room today for independent practitioners, or for practitioners who want to do arrangements similar to what you have? Is there room for that?

Todd Stillson: Yeah, 100 percent. In fact, I see a movement happening through my work with SimplyMD. Theres a shift, a trend of physicians who, after being in traditional employment, are looking for alternative options.

Heres what typically happens: First, you have a small subset of doctors who, right out of training, know they want to be independent. They know from the beginning thats what they want, but that group is relatively small. More commonly, what we see is that after three to five years of working as a traditional employee, doctors start saying, I dont really care for this; I dont want to do this, and they start looking for alternative paths.

Thats why were seeing growth in the marketplacewhether its telehealth, direct primary care, concierge medicine, various contracting options like employment-light agreements like mine, or even locum tenens positions. Were seeing this growth that used to be in the 5 to 10 percent range; now its climbing more into the 15 to 20 percent range. And thats not even mentioning private practice, which, though it has its challenges, still remains an option in many areas.

There are all sorts of opportunities that continue to grow. Were in a high-demand profession, and the gap between whats needed in terms of physician services and the number of physicians available isnt shrinking. That demand is only going to increase, and the variety of options in the marketplace will continue to expand.

Kevin Pho: Were talking to Todd Stillson. Hes a family physician and entrepreneur. Todays KevinMD article is Systemic Collusion: How Big Business and Government Herd Physicians into Traditional Employment. Todd, as always, lets end with your take-home messages to the KevinMD audience.

Todd Stillson: My message is simple: Take back control of your professional life. Youre not powerless, and you dont have to be complicit. You dont have to be passive. You have the power to take control of your own career.

Dont rely on a large employer to manage your career for you. Take charge, explore the opportunities available, and enter the marketplace as a self-employed, independent doctor if thats what aligns with your goals. There are many options out there today for physicians to practice autonomously, and I encourage every doctor to at least consider those options. Dont ignore independence as a viable path.

Kevin Pho: Todd, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight, and thanks again for coming back on the show.

Todd Stillson: Its great to be with you, Kevin. Thank you.
I was in a Manhattan museum on a recent October weekend when I noticed the Post-It tacked inside the stall in the ladies' room. "Woman to woman," it read, "Remember, your vote is private. Harris/Walz!" The message was one of encouragement, but it made my heart sink. Never in my lifetime have I lived through an election campaign in which this needed to be shared.

But in the devastating aftermath of Trump winning another presidential election, we find ourselves in a reality marked by fear and intimidation so intense it's little wonder that women have been exchanging secret messages in the few private spaces we have left.

And the threat of  to use Donald Trump's own favorite word, "retribution"  looms so heavily over us we can only brace for what comes after November 5 or January 20, "whether the women like it or not." We women have been robbed of what could have been a momentous campaign and a historic victory.

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We've normalized weird for so long that it seems impossible to suggest that it didn't have to be this way. Just a scant few election cycles ago, the tenor of political debate featured losers who conceded, voters who didn't storm the Capitol and representatives who didn't try to overturn elections.

In an alternate reality, Harris might have faced a Republican opponent who didn't question her racial identity and routinely mispronounce her first name. She might not have had mainstream pundits accuse her of being "a DEI hire" or of sleeping her way to the top. The fact that she doesn't have biological children might not have been weaponized as a rebuke of her "humbleness." And her opponent's former aide wouldn't be joking about overturning the 19th Amendment.

But civil discourse has been ground down to a useless nub at this point, and a presidential candidate can share crude jokes about his opponent with barely a blip in the news cycle. A candidate who has also been convicted of felonies, who has been found liable by a civil jury of sexual assault. Meanwhile, once reputable newspapers now run by billionaires refused to endorse a competent, coherent woman for president.

Hey, guys  because I guess the last eight years of women's marches and #MeToo didn't make it clear  how do you think this has made women feel? Women of color? Women who have endured sexual harassment and survived sexual assault? What do you think the lesson we've been gleaning here has been about our worth in our own country?

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Last week, I asked some women to reflect on those questions and this campaign.

"Throughout my whole family's history, people in my family have reached a place where white male society said, 'OK, that's far enough,'" my friend Celeste Headlee, author of "We Need to Talk," told me. "Most women, but every woman of color, has had their intelligence underestimated, has been called angry, has been called aggressive, has been called intimidating. I've lost two jobs where they specifically told me it was because I was 'an angry person.'"

"Watching Kamala Harris run for president is like watching all of the disappointments and heartaches of your life playing out in real time, except this time the stakes aren't me losing a job," Headlee observed. "The stakes are losing democracy, losing all reproductive rights, losing bodily autonomy in a way that hasn't happened to women of color, really since the end of the Civil War."

Journalist and workplace equity expert Farai Chideya viewed this moment similarly. "When you look at this race, you can't underestimate the impact of misogyny," she said.

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"There are many different ways in which Kamala Harris is taken to be less viable because of her gender, and the combination of her gender and race. She is dealing with not just sexism, but also specifically misogynoir."

I have been trying, for the sake of my daughters and their generation, to stay positive, even while grieving that they have fewer reproductive rights today than I did at their ages. I can recognize the gains we've made despite and because of staggering setbacks. Would we have had #MeToo without the anguish of Hilary Clinton's 2016 defeat? Would we now have a record number of women in Congress? Heck, would we have had "Barbie"?

"When it comes to social justice, you can't put the genie back in the bottle," Lily Burana, author of "Grace for Amateurs," told me. "Women and Gen Alpha girls have an awareness of systemic misogyny, of queer issues, of their value, in a way that would be literally unthinkable to me as a Gen X girlie. Once you've turned over the rock, and people have seen these systems of oppression, you cannot unsee them."

It's undeniable that the last several years have been a cataclysmic era of significant advancements for gender equality. They've also undeniably been a spectacular bummer, on a macro and micro scale.

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The insight that Burana speaks of is painfully omnidirectional, and we can also never unsee what we now know about some of the people closest to us  or the agenda they're willing to support. The toxicity and polarization have broken up friendships and divided families, on a profoundly wounding level.

"I just don't know if the [election] result will change the feeling in society," said comedian and writer Micaela Fagan. "It's starting to feel like you don't know who you can trust."

I remember the last time I spoke to a particular family member, and being told firmly that we could "agree to disagree." I can agree to disagree on plenty: tax rates, arts funding, even the nuances and limits of gun control. I can't agree to disagree with a side that's fine with a sexual assailant in the Oval Office. I can't agree to disagree with the dismantling of women's health and privacy.

I can't agree to disagree about doctors refusing medical attention for ectopic pregnancies, and women being arrested for their miscarriages. Have you ever had a miscarriage? I have. It's physically and emotionally devastating enough without the fear that you and your healthcare provider may be questioned, scrutinized, penalized, that you may have your life endangered, for how it's managed. And we can lay all this suffering at the feet of the pitiful carcass of what used to be the Republican party.

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Now that so many of us know exactly which people in our lives are unbothered by the punitive backlash against our sex, how much can ever be right ever again? How can we just be chill at Thanksgiving when on the other side of the table are people who are fully on board for a dystopian Project 2025 future? The patriarchy really counts on women keeping it comfortable and unchallenged, and it counts on it most especially under its own roof.

Of course, there are Dudes for Kamala and MAGA women, but the power dynamics of gender are unique. Soraya Chemaly, author of the appropriately named "Rage Becomes Her," pointed out to me that other forms of oppression, like racism and homophobia, rely on marginalization. But misogyny cuts to the heart of the home and family. She called it "the most intimate inequality." That's what makes it so distressing  and so dangerous.

"Most families are the same race, same ethnicity, same religion, so the pressure point in those families will be gender," she said.

The complacent political sexism of those near to us has been a wounding disappointment. But for other women, the resentment against our gender is far more overt.

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The United States far outpaces its peer nations in maternal mortality. A leading cause of death among pregnant American women, more than hypertensive disorders, hemorrhage, or sepsis, is homicide. So don't talk to me about how dangerous immigrants are, how valued mothers are, when the party that claims it wants to make America great again is so conspicuously silent about intimate partner violence. And the threat of post-election retribution in both public and private settings is real enough to give all of us pause.

"I feel very strongly that either way, it's going to be bad, and it will be bad in different ways," said Chemaly. "Frankly, women, particularly impoverished, Black and brown women, are going to suffer the consequences of either entrenched male supremacist power consolidation or backlash against the idea that the 'women's' party won."

"Maybe it's a choice between being f**ked quickly or being f**ked slowly over time," she said. "In my mind, you're f**ked either way."

I can't persuade anybody of anything. I can just express what I know a lot of women have been feeling: exhausted sadness that any sliver of joy this campaign season had has been sucked away by a vindictive, babbling old man and his crybaby minions.

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"Ten years ago, we would have been like, 'Yeah!'" Fagan said. "Everyone would have gotten behind this." Instead, we're passing notes in restrooms. We're cautiously leveraging not just our voices but our stealth.

Your Vote Is Private

"I feel that we are in the middle of a global women's refusal movement," Chemaly observed. "We don't call it a protest, because it's not the typical protest led by a charismatic leader in the streets. Women are quiet quitting from heteropatriarchy."

The patriarchy wants us afraid. And good job, patriarchy, because I sure am! But more than I'm afraid, I'm angry. And more than I'm angry, I'm determined. The next few years are going to be ugly and upsetting for women in a lot of ways. It will also no doubt be good in others.

"The patriarchy is not going to go quietly, but that doesn't mean that it's not on the way out," said Burana.

And in the meantime  at least for now  our vote is private.
The Small Property Owners Association (SPOA) is urging local lawmakers to oppose Boston Mayor Michelle Wus commercial and residential property tax increase.

The Massachusetts House met in an informal session on Wednesday and sent the bill to the House Committee on Rules and then to the Joint Committee on Revenue.

The tax bill would grant the Mayors office the power to temporarily shift the division of commercial and residential property taxes in response to projected economic upheaval.

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Critics of the bill, like the SPOA, call her 8% increase to Bostons Fiscal Year 2025 budget egregious, and say she should reduce excessive spending rather than increase taxes on small businesses and commercial tenants.

Mayor Wus plan is to turn to the most beleaguered sector, commercial real estate, to make up the difference in her overly bloated budget, said Small Property Owners Association Vice President Amir Shahsavari. Why are Boston homeowners getting a free ride on the backs of the suburbs and commercial property owners? This is not a deal supported by SPOA and our members.

Currently, Boston has the highest reliance on commercial property tax collections as a share of the citys total revenue in the US, making up about 58% of the citys revenues.

During a Boston City Council meeting last week, Councilor John FitzGerald claimed that property taxes will likely still spike when the legislation lapses in three years.

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Under state law, cities and towns can tax commercial and residential property at separate rates, and push the commercial rate as high as 175 percent of what a single, unified rate would have been.

After making some concessions, Mayor Wus proposal includes a three-year plan with a 181.5% tax shift. In the two following fiscal years, she says the rate wont exceed 180 percent, then 178 percent.

The Boston City Council passed this compromised version of the bill in conjunction with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, NAIOP, Mass Taxpayers Foundation and Boston Municipal Research Bureau.

The tax rates will be finalized and approved in November, and certified in December by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

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Amendment 1 narrowly passed, meaning that wording will be added to the West Virginia constitution to ban medically assisted suicide. (Decision Desk HQ)

West Virginia voters on Tuesday narrowly approved a constitutional amendment that adds a prohibition on medically assisted suicide to the states constitution. Amendment 1 passed with 50.5% of voters voting for the measure, and 49.5% opposing it, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of States Office.

Medically assisted suicide is already illegal in West Virginia.

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The amendment adds to the bill of rights a line that says, No person, physician, or health care provider in the State of West Virginia shall participate in the practice of medically assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing of a person.

It goes on to say that nothing in the section prohibits giving a prescription of medication to alleviate pain or discomfort, prohibit the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment, and nothing in the section prevents the state using capital punishment.

Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, championed the amendment, calling it a proactive measure to ensure that medically assisted suicide does not one day become legal in West Virginia.

It was a great night for West Virginia, McGeehan said Wednesday of the election results. I appreciate the support for Amendment 1. Amendment 1s approval will prevent the terrible scourge of euthanasia from ever gaining a foothold in our great state. Going forward, weve helped set an example for other states to follow.

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Some voters said they were confused by the wording of the amendment on the ballot.

People who voted yes on the amendment supported prohibiting medically assisted suicide. Voters who marked no were against adding the words to the constitution.

Laura Hully, a mother of five in Berkeley County, said she didnt have time to research the amendment before voting and that it was obviously worded in a very confusing way.

Hully said she asked a poll worker for clarification about how to vote if shes in favor of medically assisted suicide and was incorrectly told to vote yes on the amendment.

I got home, and I Googled it and found out I actually voted opposite of what I intended, Hully said. Posting about it to social media, Hully said she found that others had made the same mistake.

A screenshot of a sample ballot showing the wording of West Virginias Amendment 1.

Hully said she came to support medically assisted suicide after caring for her father, who suffered with Lewy body dementia for many years at the end of his life.

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He would literally say to me, Laura, I dont understand why I havent died yet, why I havent passed away yet. And I hate this, and I want out, Hully said.

Hully said she wishes there was an option for people when theyre in that state.

McGeehan did not respond to a question about confusion over the wording of the amendment.

Hully said she reached out to Sen. Patricia Rucker, who represents her district, to see if there is any way that the vote could be changed, considering people said they were confused by it.

Rucker said she told her she told her she doesnt think theres anything in the constitution that would require a recount in this circumstance, but if it passes by a slim majority, at that point, we should have a discussion as to whether it was a legitimate victory and were there enough people who understood to take into account.

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We want to make sure the constitutional amendments are truly supported by West Virginia, she said.

Landon Palmer, assistant communications director for the Secretary of States Office, said that according to law, the amendment became effective Tuesday, when it was ratified during the election. If a canvass of the votes changes the outcome, it would be nullified.

He said voters recourse for changing the outcome of the election would be to file a writ of mandamus with the Supreme Court of Appeals to revoke the certification of the amendment.

Medical aid in dying, as its referred to by advocates, is legal in 10 U.S. states. Bills to that effect were introduced in 23 states this year.

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The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia opposed Amendment 1, calling it unnecessary and backwards.

Amendment 1 passed by the narrowest of margins and is the latest example of how the Legislature wants to push divisive subjects instead of finding solutions for real problems, Rusty Williams, advocacy director for the ACLU-WV, said in a statement Wednesday. The purpose of a constitution is to limit government power and safeguard individual liberties. In addition to being unnecessary and cruel-spirited, Amendment 1 does just the opposite.

West Virginians for Life, an anti-abortion organization, and the Catholic Churchs Wheeling-Charleston Diocese supported the amendment.

In a statement Wednesday, West Virginians for Life celebrated the amendments passage.

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Following the strong example of our legislators who voted by overwhelming majorities, the voters of WV have now also shown their belief that all lives in our beautiful state, regardless of age or ability, will be respected and protected from the dangers of medically-assisted suicide, the statement said. West Virginia becomes the first state in the United States of America to proactively protect all its citizens and health care institutions from the dangerous trend of assisted suicide by a state constitutional amendment.

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Chinese leader Xi Jinping has had a telephone conversation with Donald Trump following his victory in the US presidential election.

Source: CNN, citing two sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: During the phone conversation, Xi is said to have congratulated Trump on his election victory. Neither party has officially confirmed this.

Background:

The Chinese Foreign Ministry had previously stated that it respected the choice of the American people.

Russian media outlet Verstka claimed that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had unofficially congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the presidential election, although this was not publicly announced.

CNN previously reported that Donald Trump, who values flattery and loyalty, closely tracks which world leaders attempt to reach out to him.

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NEW YORK (PIX11) Are you a registered voter in New York?

Did you know that even New Yorkers who have a past felony or misdemeanor conviction can vote in elections?

More Local News

A law passed in 2021 restores the right to vote for a person convicted of a felony upon release from incarceration, regardless of if they are on parole or have a term of post-release supervision. If a convicted felon is not incarcerated, they are eligible to register to vote, according to the New York State Board of Elections. Prior to enactment of this law, a convicted felon was not legally allowed to register to vote until they were discharged from parole or any post-release supervision.

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Thanks to a law signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2021, past convicted felons can vote and do not require any special documentation. According to the New York Civil Liberties Union, the only New Yorkers who are unable to vote are currently incarcerated individuals.

So, who can vote?

People convicted of a felony and no longer in jail YES People convicted of a misdemeanor YES New Yorkers on parole YES New Yorkers on probation YES pardoned New Yorkers YES Individuals currently incarcerated for a felony conviction NO

Only New Yorkers currently imprisoned for a felony conviction lose their right to vote, according to the New York Courts website.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Voters in New York cast their ballots for who will represent them in the New York State Assembly.

Races in Central New York include the 119th, 121st, 122nd, 126th, 127th, 128th and 130th districts.

Results for these races can be seen above.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Voters across Central New York have cast their ballots in multiple New York State Senate races.

The races in Central New York include the 48th, 50th, 52nd and 53rd State Senate districts.

Results for these races can be seen above.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
The New York Times Needle lives: The newspapers popular election-prediction gauge made its return on Tuesday night  despite the ongoing strike called Monday by the union representing tech employees at the paper.

The NY Times Needle, first introduced in 2016, estimates the final outcome of an election based on partial election results. As more results come in, the Needle changes to signal the likelihood of the final outcome of a given race  with tossup at the center position and gradations marked lean, likely and very likely on either side for the Democratic and Republican candidates.

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The Needle is live! Nate Cohn, the Times chief political analyst, wrote in an update at about 8:22 p.m. ET on the site. Our election night forecast shows an extremely close race. Almost all of the vote counted so far points toward a very close election, as anticipated.

The Needle for the U.S. presidential race between VP Kamala Harris and Donald Trump showing real-time predictions is available at this link.

In an article on its website, the Times said the Needle could have been a no-show given the strike. Publishing the Needle live on election night relies on computer systems maintained by engineers across the company, including some who are currently on strike, the paper said. How we display our election forecast will depend on those systems, as well as incoming data feeds, and we will only publish a live version of the Needle if we are confident those systems are stable.

On Monday, The Times Tech Guild, which represents more than 600 engineers, data managers, designers, software developers and tech personnel at the paper, announced they had gone on strike after failing to reach a new contract with the New York Times Co. after multiple rounds of intense bargaining. The union, affiliated with the NewsGuild of New York, accused the company of unfair labor practices. A company spokesperson said the New York Times Co. was continuing to work with the Tech Guild to reach a fair contract that takes into account that they are already among the highest-paid individual contributors in the company and journalism is our top priority.

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The union prominently featured the Needle in its post on X Monday announcing the strike  showing the needle all the way to right predicting a 100% chance of a work stoppage:

According to the union, its the first strike to coincide with a presidential election in the NewsGuild since the 1964 Detroit newspaper strike.

The Times, in its article explaining how the Needle works, said the feature does not use AI but rather uses statistical modeling and other techniques.

One of our principles is that journalists should understand what the Needle is doing, and why, at all times. There is a team of journalists reviewing the data that comes in and goes out of the model at all times on election night, the paper says. If the journalists responsible for the Needle must sleep before the race is called, the Needle will be paused as well.

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As I walked from my lower Manhattan office to head home on Election Night, I kept thinking the unseasonably humid November air smelled like Florida  a place Ive spent a lot of time, that under the DeSantis administration would rather I never come back. Within hours, the election was being called for former president Donald Trump. In a literal sense, the reactionary conservatism of states like Florida had come for the rest of the country, just as Florida youth warned me it would. Come Wednesday morning, New York City was hotter and redder than the day before.

Already the election is being blamed on young people; it was before it even happened. To that I have to say a hearty f*ck you. Young progressives told Democrats how to stop this, and they refused. Now we have another Trump presidency, likely a Republican-led Congress, and pivotal crises that will only be worsened under their leadership. People are shocked that there are populations of young voters that went for Trump, but its no coincidence those particular voters are largely white and conservative. Democrats gave progressive young people nothing to vote for. As professor Tyler Austin Harper wrote this morning for the New York Times, What we just went through was not an election; it was a hostage situation.

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The lesser of two evils argument has run dry, just in time for the autumn drought on the East Coast  rare for now; who knows for the future.

A year ago, young people were warning the Democrats about the strong chance they would lose in 2024 if they didnt switch up their policy on Gaza. At that time we already knew how deeply unpopular both then-nominee Biden and Trump were with voters. On November 7, 2023, March for Our Lives, Sunrise Movement, United We Dream, and Gen Z for Change issued a letter to the Biden administration warning, The position of your administration is badly out of step with young people and the positions of Democratic voters... This is already becoming an issue we are hearing about from thousands of young people across the country. We cannot explain your position to the people of our generation.

Young Muslim and Arab-American Voters Say Kamala Harris Isnt Addressing Their Concerns on Gaza

The community is feeling like they've been truly left out.

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As I noted at the time, this was compounding with deep existential dread over the Biden admins choice to approve oil drilling in Alaska that spring, in spite of extreme pushback. We knew then that he was risking Michigan. By the spring, voters were using uncommitted and similar ballot efforts to sound the alarm, as the death toll in Gaza continued rising by the thousands. Over half a million voters did so during the primaries.

Democrats responded by letting over 2,000 pro-Palestine college students get arrested and harrassed on college campuses for months. Officials with both parties spent the last few years post-2020 uprisings criminalizing protest in states across the country; the spring gave them an opportunity to bear down on youth people especially. I wonder if tear-gassing all your student voters effected [sic] the election, sardonically asked one Twitter user, reacting to Harriss losses in Michigan.

Once Biden dropped out, young voters were offered a new Democratic nominee who consistently refused to differentiate herself from him. Protesters gathered at the DNC and organizers lobbied for the party to consider platforming a Palestinian voice; that small ask  infinitesimal when taken alongside the Palestinian-Americans who have lost dozens of family members from U.S.-supplied weapons  was denied. Some of those protesters had hope at the time that Kamala Harris campaign could be swayed. Within weeks, Harris dismissed them. Pop star Chappell Roan echoed the concerns of young voters over Gaza and LGBTQ+ rights then was harassed for weeks, all because she wouldnt fall into line with the rest of the celebrity endorsements.

The Democrats declined to make aggressive commitments on climate change as the planet burns, focused instead on a mythical centrist voter who doesnt seem to exist. If they do, they went for Trump  because, as many have said, why go for Republican light if the real thing is available?

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Over and over, pro-Palestine protesters chanted, Come November/Well remember. They did. Did the Democrats? Some did; Palestinian-American Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib won handily in the state that went to Trump  indeed, she did twice as well as Kamala Harris.

And even if you say it wasnt just Palestine, it was any number of things, the story is the same: They bet on the wrong people, the ones they never stood a chance with. To do so, Both candidates offered up policies that were unpopular even among their supporters, serving a banquet for their donor classes while doling out junk food to their base, argued Harper in the Times.

And who was left behind in the process? Today Im thinking of trans youth, some of whom have already been forced to flee their states under anti-trans state legislation. Democrats hung them out to dry. Every day I get more angry that we, politicians, no matter your party affiliation, are aiding in a transgenocide, outgoing State Rep. Mauree Turner of Oklahoma commented after the death of Oklahoman trans 16-year-old Nex Benedict in February. Turner, the first openly nonbinary elected state official, has since decided not to run for re-election, blaming in part bipartisan abandonment of the marginalized communities they originally ran to serve.

LGBTQ Crisis Line Reports Nearly 200% Increase in Election-Related Calls From Queer and Trans Youth

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As writer and LGBTQ+ organizer Raquel Willis told me in September, We are being failed across the political spectrum The uptick in the number of legislation introduced regarding the LGBTQ+ community has happened under the watch of the Biden-Harris administration.

A survey we covered in August 2024 found that over 1 in 5 trans people surveyed lost access to healthcare as a result of anti-LGBTQ policies and laws. Nine in 10 believed the 2024 election would have a major impact on access to healthcare for LGBTQ people nationwide. Sixty-seven percent [had] made or [were] planning to make changes to their use of gender-affirming care due to concerns about the election.

The Trump campaigns website promises a federal ban on gender-affirming care for minors, federally mandating gender assignment at birth, Dont Say Gay in schools, and further fear-mongering about trans participation in sports.

Joe Scarborough is partly blaming trans participation in sports for the Democrats losses when the issue that the party threw themselves most firmly behind  reproductive rights  has even stronger support with nonbinary people than with women. Now consider that with the fact that a majority of white women voted for Trump for the third time in a row. Trump went wild with Kamala is for they/them, and Democrats couldnt even put a trans person on stage at the DNC, even though one they invited up onto the 2016 stage became the first to win a seat in Congress.

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Willis told me then, We know that the fight continues, regardless of who gets into the Oval Office come January 2025 your power doesn't start or end at the ballot box; as much as we like to say that it does in the United States, it doesn't. It's everyday people who feed and clothe and house and keep safe and heal folks who for too long have been failed by many of the institutions around us.

Those people will be working for young people regardless of what happened this week. Too bad we cant say the same for most adults in this country.

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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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An excerpt from Prevention First: Policymaking for a Healthier America.

Little did I know that when Prevention First was first published in December 2019, a novel virus with pandemic potential had begun to stealthily spread in China. The subsequent global COVID-19 pandemic resulted in nearly 7 million deaths, exacerbated long-standing health challenges, and led to life expectancy declines around the globe.

With over 1.1 million American lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, two overarching takeaways from this difficult period should be remembered by history: most deaths were preventable, and had we done nothing, millions more would have died. The first is a reminder that so many more lives could have been saved had public health interventions been embraced by the public. And the second is a reminder that the determination, innovation, and humanity of the American public limited the devastation of this pandemic.

Given this books main theme that prevention must be our nations top health policy, it is worth reflecting on whether this theme is even more important today than five years ago. Five lessons from the pandemic suggest that the answer is certainly yes.

First, leadership matters. Second, crisis communication to the public is as important as any response element. Third, access to data is crucial to having situational awareness and guiding a response. Fourth, the investments in the tools (e.g., vaccines, stockpiles, surveillance, supply chains) and people (e.g., public health workforce) required for a successful response pale in comparison to the costs of being unprepared for a pandemic. Fifth, optimally mitigating the economic consequences of a public health response requires timely and targeted aid to underserved communities.

More broadly, there are a number of overarching policy recommendations in this book, but I have chosen to underscore five that have the greatest potential to optimize health in this nation. Collectively, they call for policymakers to engage in proactive policymaking, leverage public payers, invest in public health, and encourage prevention research. Some may say that bipartisanship in politics is nice to have but not necessary. I believe that if we are to create a culture of prevention, policymakers from both sides of the aisle will need to equally provide leadership and support.

1. Each administration and leadership team at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should make disease prevention its top priority. A limited set of specific metrics should be associated with the departments prevention goals, and these should be aligned with Healthy People. Tackling the upstream determinants of health, community prevention, clinical prevention, primary care, public health, and global health should be the focus of each presidential administration.

2. Health care providers should be incentivized through quality measures not only to manage chronic diseases but also to prevent them. As health care moves slowly from a volume- to value-based payment system, quality measures are the currency through which payment will be provided. Moving forward, health status measures related to the incidence of chronic diseases and the prevalence of chronic disease risk factors should be developed, endorsed, and used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and private payers. Increasing accountability of health care entities for health status measures will catalyze the clinical-community linkages necessary to keep vulnerable Americans healthy and reduce preventable health care costs.

3. A regulatory pathway needs to be developed to allow for community-based prevention programs to be deemed safe, evidence-based, and worthy of coverage and payment by Medicare and subsequently private insurers. In the present system, drugs, devices, and other medical interventions undergo an established process to gain approval by the FDA for their safety and efficacy; in most cases, this triggers coverage determinations by Medicare based on the standard of the intervention being reasonable and necessary. A similar pathway does not exist for community-based interventions, even though millions of Americans stand to benefit from evidence-based programs in areas such as falls prevention, physical activity promotion, and chronic disease self-management.

4. Congress should provide robust funding for public health efforts to support population health and well-being. Specific priorities include increasing funding to enhance domestic public health capabilities, boosting the existing public health emergency fund, and supporting impactful global health projects. Public health functions need to be viewed as part of our nations infrastructure in the same way as sectors such as transportation, energy, and information technology. While its true that too many Americans take the functions of public health for granted, public health must also become more participatory for the average citizen. The field must do a better job not only in explaining its role and how it relates to the daily activities of Americans but also in finding specific ways for Americans to support local public health efforts.

5. Federal support for prevention research is not prioritized and needs to be enhanced to match its potential impact. Along with basic science research to identify opportunities for disease prevention, there needs to be more clinical, health services, and public health research in this area. Increased federal funding availability for prevention research from Congress will attract additional researchers to the field. This will result in more published studies and a better evidence base to deploy and scale effective interventions. More robust information on the cost-effectiveness of prevention interventions will also assist the Congressional Budget Office in being able to score future federal legislation related to prevention.

These actions taken by policymakers could help transform the nations health policy conversation. Our dereliction in glossing over preventioneither because we assume that prevention is too difficult or we fear that it is too intrusive in its pursuit of adapting human behaviorhas real consequences. And these consequences come in the form of millions of Americans dying from preventable causes of deaths each year and millions of others suffering from preventable chronic diseases. We can do better. In fact, we must do better.

Anand Parekh is an internal medicine physician and author of Prevention First: Policymaking for a Healthier America.
Voters under 30 years old are on track to cast a higher-than-expected number of votes during the 2024 presidential election, with youth political groups reporting hourlong lines on college campuses nationwide.

Across the country, we are seeing young people turn out in droves, forming long lines on college campuses in battleground states. Although no one should have to wait hours to vote, these lines signal what we have known for months: Gen Z will elect Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump today, said Justin Meszler, programming director for Voters of Tomorrow.

Voters of Tomorrow, the nations largest Generation Z political organizing group, is reporting long lines to vote in battleground states and districts, including at Florida State University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of WisconsinMadison, Lehigh University, Arizona State University, Villanova University, Lafayette College, Cornell University, and Temple University.

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Vice President Harriss campaign is encouraged by the high levels of enthusiasm and long lines on college campuses, an official said. They are working to send more support and surrogates to encourage students to stay in line and the campaign is pushing to extend voting hours on some college campuses in states like Pennsylvania, where voters are reporting seven-hour-long lines at colleges like Lehigh University.

Election officials are also sending more machines to these polling places.

Former President Trumps campaign has been banking on young men to show up in support of him after heavy investments in winning over the group in recent months.

With more than 41 million Gen Z voters, both Trumps and Harriss campaigns have been investing heavily in reaching this demographic, which historically does not turn out in large numbers. That trend has changed since 2018, with each election seeing an even higher proportion of voters under age 30 turn out to vote. Democrats hold a 25-point-to-30-point advantage within this demographic.

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College Democrats of America spokesperson Sohali Vaddula said college Democratic leaders from across the country report the longest lines theyve ever seen.

We are hearing from college Dems leaders across the country that so many students are showing up to vote that lines at polling locations on campuses are the longest theyve seen, she wrote in a statement.

Voters of Tomorrow has also been tracking early voter turnout among young voters, and the demographic has exceeded the groups projection of early turnout.

Gen Z voters have blown past their early vote turnout projection by 42% nationally, according to Voters of Tomorrows benchmarks based on 2022 voting preference rates, a spokesperson wrote.

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Pulling from official early vote totals from Secretary of State data as of Sunday evening, the group is tracking youth early vote numbers surpassing initial projections by 249% in Michigan, 118% in Pennsylvania, 80% in North Carolina, and 59% in Georgia, the spokesperson continued.

According to Anil Cacodcar, one of the leaders of the Harvard Institute of Politics Youth Poll, while there have been high levels of early voting among young voters, the organization has also seen a shift among young people to in-person voting.

The energy on the ground with youth turnout is a lot more palpable than it was in 2020, he told The Hill.

David Hogg, a co-founder of Leaders We Deserve and March for Our Lives, said this turnout among young people is no surprise.

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They are doing their part to make sure Donald Trump is defeated, abortion rights are protected and Democracy is saved, Hogg added.

Trump has banked on winning the votes of young men, focusing heavily on the effort in recent weeks. Courtney Hope Britt, the national chair of College Republicans, said the long lines reflect the GOPs increase in support among Gen Z voters this election season.

The GOPs over performance with Gen Z this election cycle drives home the under-discussed reality: Gen Z is more active and more conservative than the Media has reported, Hope Britt told The Hill.

There is a significant gender gap in support for Harris. Younger women back her by more than 30 points, while younger men only back her by about 10 points. Trump is hoping that younger men will show up for his campaign.

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President Trump will win this election thanks to Gen Z males voting for him with their first ever vote, said Brilyn Hollyhand, chair of the Republican National Committees youth advisory council. Weve seen record setting youth turn out today. If and when Trump wins, Gen Z, specifically young male voters, will be a large part of what sent him over the edge!

However, Democrats are dismissing Republican optimism about younger men voting for Trump.

Ultimately, I think the numbers will show that a lot of young men will show up for [Harris] than is being led to believe, said Simon Isaacs, a Democratic strategist working to engage younger male voters.

Im tracking youth turnout across the country and the big surprise is just how many young women are turning out in college campuses, wrote Santiago Mayer, a researcher with Voters of Tomorrow. Trumps mythical first-time male voters just arent materializing for him.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Tenants rights attorney Ysabel Jurado held a significant lead over Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de Leon on Wednesday in the race to represent an Eastside district, according to partial returns.

The bruising, yearlong contest pitted Jurado, a first-time candidate, against De Leon, a veteran lawmaker who was politically wounded by his participation in a secretly recorded conversation that featured racist and crude remarks.

Read more: 2024 Los Angeles County elections results

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Jurado said her campaign was about making sure that city services are delivered equitably, among other things.

Its about racial justice. Its about change. Its about bringing good governance, and local government that works for people," she said.

Addressing about 200 cheering supporters Tuesday night, she said her campaign had been ridiculed and belittled, yet remained "unbroken" and "unyielding."

Los Angeles City Council member Kevin de Leon is welcomed on stage during an election watch party in Los Angeles. (Ryan Sun / For The Times)

De Leon, appearing at his election night party, said he was proud of his work over the past four years creating park space, fighting homelessness, removing trash from city streets and providing meals to needy families.

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"It's always, always been about making everyday life better for residents of our district," he said, addressing a crowd that included Councilmembers John Lee, Monica Rodriguez and Traci Park.

The 14th District, which takes in neighborhoods stretching from downtown to Eagle Rock and El Sereno, was one of three council seats up for grabs Tuesday.

In the San Fernando Valley, former state Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian held a double-digit lead over small business owner Jillian Burgos in the race to replace Councilmember Paul Krekorian, who is departing because of term limits, according to partial returns.

Read more: Trump elected as the United States 47th president following wins in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania

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Nazarian was "cautiously optimistic" about the initial results, saying he thinks his message resonated with voters.

"My campaign was about making Los Angeles a place where businesses can thrive, where families can thrive, where people can feel safe and have an affordable, sustainable life," he said.

Read more: Kevin de Leon and Ysabel Jurado trade insults in fight for Eastside city council seat

Jurado and Burgos were running to push the council further left on such issues as public safety and city spending. Backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, LA Forward and other progressive groups, they have been looking to expand the bloc of council members who would rein in spending at the Los Angeles Police Department and carry out new tenant protections.

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Burgos said voters repeatedly voiced fears about high housing costs, with many saying they had to work multiple jobs or live with multiple people in order to afford the rent.

"A lot of people are afraid that unless we expand rent control and work on implementing our tenant anti-harassment ordinance, that people are going to be pushed out of the district," Burgos said.

Read more: Your guide to L.A.'s 2nd City Council District race: Burgos vs. Nazarian

Nazarian served in Sacramento from 2012 to 2022 and was, at one point, a high-level Krekorian aide. District 2 takes in all or parts of North Hollywood, Studio City, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, Valley Village and other areas.

Former state Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian is running to succeed Councilmember Paul Krekorian in a San Fernando Valley district. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

In a district stretching from Koreatown to the Crenshaw Corridor, Councilmember Heather Hutt held a lead of more than 20 points over attorney Grace Yoo, partial returns showed.

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Read more: Your guide to L.A.'s 10th City Council District race: Hutt vs. Yoo

Hutt, a onetime staffer to several state elected officials, was appointed to the City Council in 2022 as a temporary replacement for Mark Ridley-Thomas after his indictment on corruption charges. After Ridley-Thomas was convicted, the council reappointed Hutt to the interim post.

Minutes after the polls closed, Hutt said her campaign was about "bringing commonsense resources to the community," such as trimming trees and picking up "bulky items" from the curb and sidewalk. She said she had followed in the footsteps of U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and former Councilmember Gilbert Lindsay, who were appointed to their offices.

"I think that's great company to be in," she said.

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Yoo ran for the 10th District seat twice before  in 2015 and 2020  losing both times. She promised to be more aggressive than Hutt in tackling homelessness, trash removal and neighborhood quality-of-life issues.

In an interview, Yoo said her campaign was about change.

"It was about having an elected official who listens to the people about basic city services, about taking care of problems," she said.

City Councilmember Heather Hutt, who was appointed to her seat in 2022, was leading in her race by a significant margin. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Early Wednesday morning, all three of the leading candidates were ahead by double digits. Still, late-arriving mail-in ballots will be counted in the coming days by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. In previous years, some election results have shifted as those ballots were tabulated.

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Residents of Los Angeles also signed off on several amendments to the City Charter, the document that spells out government operations at City Hall.

Voters overwhelmingly supported Charter Amendment DD, which would take redistricting  the process of creating new boundary lines for the city's 15 council districts  out of the hands of city politicians, turning it over to an independent panel of citizen volunteers.

The proposal was first unveiled in the wake of the 2021 redistricting process, following frustration over efforts to redraw several districts in the Valley. It gained new momentum after the 2022 audio leak scandal, when three council members, including De Leon, and a high-profile labor leader were heard on a recording discussing ways of drawing the lines that would benefit either themselves or their allies.

Voters also approved a companion measure, Charter Amendment LL, which would put independent redistricting in place at the Los Angeles Unified School District. Both DD and LL would go into effect in time for the next redistricting, which coincides with the release of U.S. census results in 2030.

Mike Dowling votes as his dog Remy waits alongside him at the North Weddington Recreation Center in North Hollywood. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Charter Amendment ER, a plan to strengthen the power of the City Ethics Commission, also coasted to victory. That measure, drafted in the wake of several City Hall corruption scandals, would ensure the agency has a minimum budget of $7 million starting in 2025-26.

Krekorian, who worked to get DD, ER and several other measures on the ballot, said voters had embraced "a new way of doing business in Los Angeles."

"This is the end of gerrymandering in Los Angeles, and it's the beginning of a new era of focusing on ethics and a more robust democracy," he said.

Voters also appeared on their way to approving Charter Amendment FF, which would allow officers in some of the city's smaller law enforcement agencies to switch into the more lucrative Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions system.

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Charter Amendment FF would apply to about 460 park rangers, port police officers and law enforcement officers assigned to the city's airports. It would cost the city's general fund $23 million at the outset and about $1 million per year after that.

Yet another city measure, Charter Amendment HH, passed easily. That measure would expand the subpoena powers of the city attorney and clarify that the city controller can obtain records involving city contractors. It would also require that the Board of Harbor Commissioners have at least two local representatives  one from San Pedro, the other from Wilmington.

Charter Amendment II, which makes a series of technical changes to the City Charter, won voter approval. That measure would, among other things, clarify that the Los Angeles Zoo and the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument are park property.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(NewsNation)  NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for Iowas District 3 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of Rep. Zach Nunn. See the results of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate from across the nation here.

Republican Rep. Zach Nunn and Democratic challenger Lanon Baccam faced off in what was expected to be Iowas most contested House race.

Nunn was seeking a second term after winning the seat in 2022 by less than a single percentage point. With all of Iowas U.S. representatives part of the GOP, the race represented the Democrats best chance at flipping a seat.

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Baccam entered the race after serving previously as a U.S. Department of Agriculture official under former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. He was also on President Joe Bidens campaign staff in Iowa in 2020.

Get fact-based, unbiased news coverage 24/7 with the NewsNation app. Download it here.

Baccam, who ran on more of a moderate platform during the primary election season, advanced to Tuesdays general election by defeating fellow Democrat Melissa Vine in the primary.

After defeating incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne to flip the seat for the Republicans two years ago by a razor-thin margin, Nunn found himself engaged in another difficult fight against Baccam in the lead to Tuesdays election.

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The race, which the Cook Political report said was leaning Republican initially, shifted to a toss-up and joined other key races around the country that would determine if Republicans can maintain their slim majority in the U.S. House moving forward.

In a televised debate, the two candidates sparred over key issues including the economy, abortion and immigration. The 3rd District, which covers the southwest portion of the state stretching from Des Moines to the Missouri border, leans Republican, according to the Des Moines Register.

See NewsNations election live blog with real-time analysis from our political experts and the latest race calls nationwide powered by Decision Desk HQ. Watch live results from the presidential election, important swing states and the balance of power in Congress. NewsNation will also be tracking your local state elections and impactful ballot initiatives around the country.

Nunn said that he would crack down on illegal border crossings if elected to a second term while also working to ensure that Medicare and Medicaid are guaranteed.

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Baccam, whose parents immigrated to Iowa from Laos 40 years ago when they were part of a refugee resettlement program in rural towns across the state, said that he is running to give back to the state.

Heading into Tuesdays election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with 220 seats, while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has congratulated the Republican candidate Donald Trump on his victory as he looked poised to win the US presidential election, although he has yet to be officially declared the winner.

"Congratulations to [Donald Trump] on his impressive election victory!" Zelensky wrote on the platform X.

"I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs.

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"This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together," Zelensky wrote.

He said his country relies "on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

"I am looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's strategic partnership with the United States," Zelensky wrote further.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than two and a half years with Western assistance. Trump had promised during his election campaign to end the war in a very short time.

The conservative broadcaster Fox News had already declared Republican candidate Trump the overall winner against Democrat Kamala Harris, but other media networks and US news agency AP have not done so. Trump declared himself the winner in a speech in Florida.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered former President Trump his congratulations Wednesday, after Trump was projected to win the 2024 presidential election.

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine, Zelensky wrote in a post on the social platform X.

He added that he admires Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs.

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This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer, the Ukrainian leader continued. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.

The Hill/Decision Desk HQ called the race for Trump early Wednesday, securing a second term four years after losing to President Biden.

Trump met with Zelensky last month amid the nearly three-year war in Ukraine. The former president highlighted his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the interaction and implied he could make a deal end the war very quickly.

However, at a rally in South Carolina in February, Trump told a story from his first term in office where he spoke to another leader of a NATO country, saying he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want if the country was delinquent in payments to the security alliance.

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One of the presidents of a big country stood up, said, Well, sir, if we dont pay and were attacked by Russia, will you protect us? Trump said at the rally. I said, You didnt pay, youre delinquent. He said, Yes, lets say that happened. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.

Despite scrutiny that has followed the threat, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also extended his congratulations to the president-elect.

Trumps Democratic opponent, Vice President Harris, has been a strong backer of Ukraines fight against Russia. Still, Zelensky gave an optimistic message.

We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trumps decisive leadership, he said in his post. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.

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We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations, he added. Ukraine, as one of Europes strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Donald Trump on his expected victory in the U.S. presidential election, voicing hopes for "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."

"Congratulations to Donald Trump on his impressive election victory!" Zelensky said on X.

Trump is on the brink of victory, with only a few electoral votes left to clinch the needed 270, leaving the chances of Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris increasingly slim.

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His return spells uncertain times for the U.S. support for Ukraine as some fear Trump will seek to cut a deal with the Kremlin and force Kyiv toward painful concessions.

Washington has positioned itself as Ukraine's leading military supporter under U.S. President Joe Biden.

"I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine," Zelensky wrote.

"I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer."

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Zelensky and Trump have a complicated history. A major scandal revolved around a 2019 phone call during which then-President Trump was said to pressure Zelensky to investigate his political rivals by withholding military aid. The phone call led to the first impeachment proceeding against Trump.

The Ukrainian president met Trump during his visit to the U.S. in September, during which the Republican nominee praised his relationship with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Only a few weeks later, Trump laid the blame for Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Zelensky and Biden without mentioning Putin.

"I am looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's strategic partnership with the United States," Zelensky said.

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Read also: Im going to stop the wars  Trump says, as he claims victory

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Congratulations for Donald Trump poured in from leaders around the world on Wednesday as the former US president secured his return to the White House.

Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to have major implications for US foreign policy, with the 78-year-old being known for his isolationist streak and opposition to traditional pillars of US foreign policy such as support for NATO.

Among those congratulating Trump was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is heavily dependent on US aid in its defence against Russia.

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"Congratulations to [Donald Trump] on his impressive election victory!" Zelensky wrote on the platform X even before the Republican's victory had been called.

"I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs," he added.

The mood was ebullient out of Moscow, which has led a full-scale war against Ukraine for more than two and a half years, with no end in sight.

"Hallelujah," wrote Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, on her Telegram channel.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who now sits on the Russian Security Council, said it was a sad day for the "scum" in Kiev, in a post on Telegram.

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Newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, whose alliance has a key role in the war on Ukraine, congratulated Trump on X, writing: "His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong."

Netanyahu hails 'history's greatest comeback'

Trump's victory could also have important ramifications for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

While both Democrats and Republicans have historically supported Israel against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah organizations, Trump is seen as a firm ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu was quick to heap praise on the victor on Wednesday, hailing what he called "history's greatest comeback."

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"Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America," Netanyahu said.

Trump was also congratulated by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who said he was confident that under his leadership the US would support the "legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people," the WAFA news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Hamas stated that its stance towards the upcoming US administration under Trump would depend on its "positions and practical behaviour towards the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights."

The tone was echoed in Israel's arch-enemy Iran, where government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said it "does not matter who becomes president in the United States."

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Amid wider uncertainty about how the result could affect the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a host of regional leaders from countries friendly to the United States toasted Trump's win.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his "friend" had won the presidential election after a "great struggle," while his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi wished Trump "every success in achieving the interests of the American people."

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman described the US as a "key partner" for the Gulf emirate and the region, as Jordan's King Abdullah II sent Trump his "warmest congratulations."

European allies add congratulations

Populist leaders across Europe also sent their congratulations on Wednesday, while European Union officials stressed the importance of trans-Atlantic ties.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the strategic connections between Italy and the United States would now become even stronger.

"Good luck with your work, president!" the far-right prime minister added.

"Congratulations, Mr President ... You made it happen!" Poland's conservative nationalist president, Andrzej Duda, posted on X.

Dutch right-wing populist politician Geert Wilders, a Trump supporter who won elections in the Netherlands almost a year ago, joined in the chorus.

"Congratulations America! Never stop, always keep fighting and win elections!" Wilders wrote on X before Trump was projected the winner.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she looked forward to working with the presumptive 47th president of the United States on "a strong trans-Atlantic agenda" that delivers for their people.

Von der Leyen said the EU and the US "are more than just allies," bound by a "shared history, commitment to freedom and democracy, and common goals of security and opportunity for all."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a post on X that "Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic."

"We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens," Scholz added.

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK-US special relationship would "continue to prosper" following Donald Trump's "historic election victory," the PA news agency reported.

Taiwan congratulates Trump, China awaits confirmation

Further reaction came from across the globe, including in Taiwan, where President Lai Ching-te congratulated Trump and his vice-presidential running mate JD Vance on their victory.

"Regardless of which party is in power, US-Taiwan relations have only grown stronger and continue to deepen," said presidential office spokeswoman Karen Kuo.

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China, meanwhile, was more cautious in its response. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the election was a domestic affair that Beijing would handle as usual once the results are officially announced.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described cooperation between the US and the United Nations as an "essential pillar of international relations" as he congratulated Trump.

"I congratulate President-elect Donald J. Trump and I reaffirm my belief that the cooperation between the United States and the United Nations is an essential pillar of international relations," said Guterres.

Latin American leaders from across the political spectrum also congratulated Trump, with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva writing on X: "I wish the new administration luck and success."

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Lula's predecessor Jair Bolsonaro - a firebrand known for his sympathies with Trump - added: "Congratulations, my friend, on this epic victory." Argentinian President Javier Milei, another populist, said: "You know that you can count on Argentina to carry out your task."

Despite Trump focusing his campaign on opposition to migration across the southern border from Mexico, newly inaugurated Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was confident that the two countries would continue to work well together. "There is no reason for concern," Sheinbaum said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky is planning to visit the European Political Community summit in Hungary on Nov. 7, where leaders will discuss security challenges in Europe amid Russia's ongoing war, he said in an evening address on Nov. 6.

The fifth meeting of the European Political Community will focus on Russia's full-scale invasion against Ukraine and the ongoing escalation in the Middle East among other things.

"We will discuss security challenges in Europe, as well as new opportunities for all partners," Zelensky said.

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The meeting will take place a day after Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. election. President-elect Trump has repeatedly lambasted European NATO members for not investing enough in their defense capabilities and instead relying on the U.S. He also criticized U.S. aid for Ukraine, mocking Zelensky as the "greatest salesman on earth."

Zelensky was invited to the event by European Council President Charles Michel and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The Hungarian leader has dismissed Kyiv's victory plan and touted Moscow's talking points.

Ukraine's president is expected to meet with European leaders in Budapest and sign a number of deals.

Read also: Zelensky congratulates Trump on US election victory

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election and expressed hope that under Trump's leadership, the United States would continue its strong bipartisan support for Ukraine. The official results of the US presidential elections are yet to be announced.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Quote: "Congratulations to Donald Trump on his impressive election victory!

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I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-US strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together."

Details: Zelenskyy added that he was looking forward to an era of a strong United States under Trump's leadership and was counting on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine.

Quote: "We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations. Ukraine, as one of Europe's strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies.

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I am looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's strategic partnership with the United States."

More details: Zelenskyy also added that he was looking forward to greeting Trump in person and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine's strategic partnership with the United States.

Background: Several election result models in the US have predicted the victory of Republican candidate Donald Trump in the presidential elections.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Hungary on 7 November to attend the European Political Community Summit.

Source: a statement from Zelenskyy in his evening address, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy noted that he would be in Budapest on Thursday for the summit of the European Political Community, which Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and European Council President Charles Michel invited him to attend.

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"I express my gratitude for the invitation. We'll discuss security challenges in Europe and new opportunities for all partners. There will be a number of meetings and a number of agreements with European leaders," he announced.

Most European states have reportedly decided to attend the European Political Community Summit despite earlier proposals to boycott it due to Orban's controversial foreign policy actions.

Background:

Notably, Zelenskyy has not visited Hungary since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.

Bilateral relations between Kyiv and Budapest have been strained by Hungary's stalling of EU sanctions and military assistance and the Hungarian leadership's contacts with Russia.

Last week, the Ukrainian president also stressed that Kyiv and Budapest were working on a "bilateral document" addressing security issues and Ukraine's accession to NATO.

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As shown in my earlier post, when prosecuting Byrom vs. Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital with inductive reasoning, as is traditional, the medical intervention is compared to the standard of care in a very general and subjective way. The medical intervention more likely than not departs from the standard of care. More likely than not corresponds to a level of confidence of around 51 percent and a type-1 error of around 49 percent. The defense attorney, also, uses more likely than not. One does not cast doubt on more likely than not by using more likely than not. The outcome is a coin toss resulting in a $229-million plaintiff verdict.

If, however, Byrom vs. Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital is defended with deductive reasoning, decision-making is completely objective. There are ten duties from day one until discharge that collectively represent the duty to do no harm. The standard of care and the medical interventions are separated into ten phases, each corresponding to a specific duty. Phases in the standard of care are compared to corresponding phases in the medical intervention. The comparison is of specific duties, and the differences are quantitative.

The standard of care is empirical. It could mean different things to different practitioners depending on the circumstances. The medical intervention is not empirical; it is verifiable in medical records and cannot be disputed. The medical intervention is or should be a facsimile of the standard of care.

From this comparison, a test sample, which represents the medical intervention, emerges. In the Byrom case, only one phase differs from the standard of care: the technical phase. There is only a maternal indication for Cesarean section. In the technical phase of the standard of care, there are maternal and fetal indications for Cesarean section.

In this test sample of ten phases, nine have the background risk of 10 percent. The background risk is the risk of cerebral palsy in a population of preterm newborns. Only the technical phase has the incident risk of 12 percent. The incident risk is the risk of cerebral palsy by departing from the standard of care.

The null hypothesis is the medical intervention comports with the standard of care. When using a level of significance of 0.05 in the single sample t-test, the p-value is 0.171718. The null hypothesis is retained. Deductive reasoning has a level of confidence of 95 percent and a type-1 error of 5 percent.

Plaintiff attorneys and the medical experts they hire are clearly critical of the standard of care used by the defendants. They also assume that this 26-week fetus is normal before delivery. They never once state their reason for this assumption or their version of the standard of care. The only thing finders of fact know about their version is that it includes maternal and fetal indications for Cesarean section. So does the standard of care using deductive reasoning, but in only one phasethere are ten phases.

What if the plaintiff attorney uses the same deductive reasoning, i.e., hypothesis testing, to reject the null hypothesis? Rejecting the null hypothesis proves a departure from standards of care with 95 percent confidence.

The medical intervention is the same because it is what defendants document in medical records. Documented are a history of no prenatal care during the first trimester in Liberia and sonographic findings of oligohydramnios, absent end-diastolic umbilical artery blood flow, and intrauterine growth restriction at 26 weeks. These are reasons to suspect that this fetus is not normal.

The background risk, the incident risk, and the level of significance are all the same because they are part of the heuristics of the t-test. The only thing in question is the standard of care. After all, it is empirical.

The plaintiff attorneys version of the standard of care must explain which phase or phases justify the assumption that this 26-week fetus is normal before delivery despite what is already documented in medical records. Furthermore, the standard of care must explain why a classical Cesarean section is the safest and most effective option and why the mother must agree. At long last, the plaintiff attorney and the medical expert, who is retained, will articulate their version of the standard of care for all to see.

When their standard of care is compared to the medical intervention in dispute, the test sample has four phases with the background risk of 10 percent and six phases with the incident risk of 12 percent. The p-value is 0.007478, and the null hypothesis is rejected.

However, the distortion of the standard of care necessary to reject the null hypothesis is completely transparent for finders of fact to see. In fact, this degree of distortion crosses the line of professional misconduct. Plaintiff attorneys are not so bold as to use deductive reasoning for this very reason; so, they use inductive reasoning, which obscures this misconduct.

In the final analysis, hypothesis testing proves that a medical intervention comports with the standard of care with 95 percent confidence. Hypothesis testing also makes it virtually impossible to make a medical intervention, which comports with the standard care, appear as if it departs from the standard of care.

On February 2, 2021, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals overturned Byrom vs. Bayview Hospital. Because we conclude that the evidence presented at trial was not sufficient to support findings of either negligent treatment or breach of informed consent, we hold that the trial court erred  We reverse the judgments.

This conclusion presumes that the appellate judges may have used deductive reasoning themselves. The best way to expose the shortcomings of plaintiff attorneys and the medical experts, who they hire, is with deductive reasoning. If deductive reasoning was traditional decision-making instead of inductive reasoning, Byrom vs. Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital would likely never have been filed.

Howard Smith is an obstetrics-gynecology physician.
After a daily flight route change lost it customers, one U.S.-based airliner is turning to artificial intelligence to figure out flight schedules.

Alaska Airlines (ALK) is testing a predictive AI-powered schedule optimization tool to determine when to schedule its planes, the company said in October. The tool was developed by Odysee, the first startup out of a partnership between Alaska Airlines investment arm, Alaska Star Ventures, and tech incubator UP.Labs.

Odysees platform will help the airline ensure the best use of each aircraft asset and the interconnections between them, empowering teams to more effectively optimize one of the most complex areas of an airlines business, Alaska Airlines said.

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The tool can run hundreds of simulations in seconds, the airline said, allowing for accurate flight-level insights to stress-test a future schedule.

Data from more than 700,000 Alaska Airlines flight segments from 2022 and 2023 was used to train the platform, Fast Company reported. Odysees tool performed with 90% accuracy when tested against flight changes made by humans, the startups chief executive, Steve Casley, told Fast Company.

When a scheduler, lets say, realizes there are three [flights] going into a city that has two gates [and] they need to move one of those flights by an hour, now theyre doing it intuitively, Casley told Fast Company. What this product will do is, when they move that flight, it will show them several things: It will simulate the flow of that schedule for that [airplane] and determine if youre impacting the potential for delay and predict the revenue.

Alaska Airlines expects to implement the tool in the first half of next year, Casley said.

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In September, the airliner announced it had officially acquired Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9 billion merger  the largest of U.S. carriers in almost a decade.

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Former and now President-elect Donald Trump has once again won the White House, becoming the first person since Grover Cleveland to win two non-consecutive presidential terms.



As financial markets surge on the news, business leaders across sectors have begun to react to the coming second Trump presidency.

Heres what they have to say.

Mark Cuban

Photo: Richard Rodriguez (Getty Images)

Billionaire Mark Cuban became one of the most outspoken supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris campaign, appearing on a number of talk shows to boost the Democratic nominee  and criticize Trump.



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Cuban previously called Trump the most unethical and dishonest individual hes ever worked with, despite having initially supported Trumps 2016 campaign. In recent months, Cuban has also slammed Elon Musk for his support of Trump, warning that Trump will ultimately betray him.

The businessman had signed at least two pledges to support Harris, one featuring prominent former and current business executives and another designed for venture capitalists.

In a post on X early Wednesday, Cuban congratulated Trump and Musk.

Congrats @realDonaldTrump. You won fair and square. Congrats to @elonmusk as well, he wrote, adding #Godpseed.

David Sacks

David Sacks at the Republican National Convention on July 15. - Photo: Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post (Getty Images)

David Sacks, a South African-born businessman and former CEO of social media platform Yammer, congratulated Trump in a series of tweets late Tuesday and early Wednesday.



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Trump was supposed to be the Lefts bad dream, a brief interlude between two decades of Obama/Biden/Harris rule. As it turns out, hes the transformational figure, a fundamental break that they couldnt stop, no matter what they threw at him, he said in a post.

Sacks announced that he was backing Trump in June. In a post, he listed a number of issues that he believed the former president would handle better than the current Biden administration, including the economy, the war in Ukraine, and the border.

Elon Musk

Photo: Angela Weisss (Getty Images)

Elon Musk has become one of Trumps closest allies over the past several months, even spending election night with him at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.



Musk is poised to have some level of role or influence in the upcoming Trump administration, including perhaps leading a newly proposed Department of Government Efficiency (or Doge, after Musks favorite cryptocurrency).

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The people of America gave @realDonaldTrump a crystal clear mandate for change tonight, Musk wrote in one of many posts celebrating Trumps election victory.

The future is gonna be so   pic.twitter.com/x56cqb6oT5  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2024

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Marc Andreessen

Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

Its time to build, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen said in response to a Musk post calling America a nation of builders.



Andreessen and business partner Ben Horowitz endorsed and donated to Trump in July, saying the Republican nominee would be the better candidate for technology startups and crypto.

Last month, however, Horowitz and his wife said they would make a significant donation to the Harris-Walz campaign.

The Winklevoss twins

Cameron (left) and Tyler (right) Winklevoss. - Photo: Adam Jeffery/CNBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal (Getty Images)

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, the twins behind Bitcoin exchange Gemini, have been vocal supporters of Trump this election cycle. Theyve not only touted his support of the crypto industry, but donated millions to political action committees in support of Trump reelection efforts.



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We are on the brink of a new American Renaissance, Tyler Winklevoss said at around midnight on Wednesday.

Time to build baby build! Cameron Winklevoss said in a separate post about an hour later.

The twins own about 1% of all Bitcoin in the world, and became the first Bitcoin billionaires in 2017. They are believed to own about 70,000 Bitcoin.

Trump, who has positioned himself as a strongly pro-crypto candidate (and even launched his own coin), helped send Bitcoin to a new all-time high on Tuesday night.

Jeff Bezos

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos - Photo: Michael M. Santiago (Getty Images)

Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities, Amazon founder and Blue Origin CEO Jeff Bezos wrote on X on Wednedsday.

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Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love, Bezos added.

The enthusiastic response to Trumps victory comes after Bezos found himself at the center of controversy over his decision to nix The Washington Posts tradition of endorsing a presidential candidate. At least 250,000 subscribers, or 10% of its 2.5 million customers, canceled their plans with the newspaper in the wake of the decision.

Adding fuel to the fire was that the CEO of Blue Origin, Bezos aerospace company, met with Trump the morning that the Posts decision was announced. Blue Origin has a $3.4 billion contract with the government and is competing with Elon Musks SpaceX and the United Launch Alliance for various contracts.

In 2019, Amazon accused the Trump administration of giving Microsoft a $10 billion contract because of Trumps behind-the-scenes attacks against it, citing the then-presidents criticism of Bezos and the Posts reporting.

Sam Altman

OpenAi CEO Sam Altman - Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

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On Wednesday morning, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote on X, congrats to President Trump. i wish for his huge success in the job.

Although Altman did not make a formal endorsement during the election cycle, he has largely supported Democratic candidates over the years, according to campaign finance filings.

Altman, alongside executives from Nvidia and other AI firms, met with top White House officials in September to discuss building data centers in the U.S. The U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute has also announced a deal with OpenAI to work on making AI safer.

[I]t is critically important that the US maintains its lead in developing AI with democratic values, Altman added Wednesday.

Mark Zuckerberg

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg - Photo: Alex Wong (Getty Images)

Congratulations to President Trump on a decisive victory. We have great opportunities ahead of us as a country, said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on his Threads platform. Looking forward to working with you and your administration.

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Although the two men havent had the best relationship  Trump has threatened Zuckerberg with life in prison if he helped the Democratic party steal the election, as he alleges happened in 2020  Zuckerberg has made inroads to Trump in recent months.

He has publicly moved to focus on nonpartisanship and away from the liberal causes he once backed. In private, he considers himself a libertarian and declined to make a public endorsement this year.

In a recent interview, Trump said he likes Zuckerberg much better now.

Sundar Pichai

Google CEO Sundar Pichai - Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his decisive victory, Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote on Wednesday. We are in a golden age of American innovation and are committed to working with his administration to help bring the benefits to everyone.

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Pichai, like several other tech CEOs, has made an effort to connect with Trump recently as his victory appeared to be a growing possibility.

I actually got a call from Sundar, Sundar, whos great, from Google, hes a great guy, very smart. The head of Google, Trump said during a rally last month. And he said, Sir I just want to tell you, what you did with McDonalds was one of the single biggest events weve ever had at Google.

Trump has recounted that story on at least two other occasions, once at a Las Vegas rally and once while speaking to podcaster Joe Rogan. During an interview in Chicago on Oct. 15, Trump said he called Pichai because he was frustrated with a lack of positive stories about him, calling Google rigged just like our government is rigged.

Trump has long gone after Google and other tech companies, routinely accusing them of bias and controlling what results get shown to the public. In 2019, he claimed Pichai was working very hard to explain how much he liked me and the Trump administration.

Satya Nadella

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella - Photo: Ethan Miller (Getty Images)

Congratulations President Trump, were looking forward to engaging with you and your administration to drive innovation forward that creates new growth and opportunity for the United States and the world, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Wednesday.

Nadella, unlike some of his colleagues, has largely stayed out of the election. While the CEOs of Google and Meta have reached out to Trump in recent months, Nadella hasnt endorsed a candidate or even talked to Trump or Harris over the phone, according to The Guardian.

The companys only major presence in the election cycle has been its regular reporting on hacking attempts against the campaigns and misinformation, as well as Nadellas statement condemning violence after an assassination attempt against Trump in July. In May, Microsoft announced plans for a $3.8 billion AI data center in Wisconsin alongside Biden.

During the Trump administration, Nadella built a rapport with Trump and largely avoided angering the then-president.

Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook - Photo: Noam Galai for WSJ. Magazine Innovators Awards (Getty Images)

Congratulations President Trump on your victory! Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote Wednesday.

We look forward to engaging with you and your administration to help make sure the United States continues to lead with and be fueled by ingenuity, innovation, and creativity, he added.

Trumps relationship with Cook has been better than that of most other tech CEOs. Last month, he said that Cook was necessary to take Apple to its current heights, rather than company founder Steve Jobs.

Cook frequently called Trump when he was president, sat on the administrations Workforce Policy Advisory Board, and hosted Trump at Apples campus in Austin. Trump said on the PBD Podcast that Cook had called him to complain about Apples legal troubles with European regulators, including fines levied against the iPhone maker.

In 2019, after Cook managed to convince Trump to get Apple an exemption from a series of tariffs affecting Chinese imports, Cook gifted the then-president with one of the first Mac Pros built at its new U.S. facility. In an interview with Bloomberg News in June, Trump remarked that he found Cook to be a very good businessman.

Reid Hoffman

Reid Hofman - Photo: Kimberly White for Wired (Getty Images)

Reid Hoffman, a venture capitalist and the co-founder of LinkedIn, said on Wednesday that he very much hopes that Trump wont participate in anti-democratic actions as the next president.

Iand many othersraised alarms about the anti-democratic actions Donald Trump took during his first Presidency, and has promised to take this next time, the Democratic donor wrote, pointing to Trumps comments about punishing opponents or enacting a crippling, 19th-century tariff regime.

On this day, and for Trumps term, I very much hope they are right. I love America, and hope that the next four years will be our strongest yet, Hoffman added.

In June, Hoffman said he was concerned thatTrump would persecute his political opponents as enemies of the state, telling CNN that business leaders are afraid of retaliation. Besides donating heavily to causes opposing Trump, Hoffman also helped fund E. Jean Carrols lawsuit accusing Trump of sexually assaulting her, which was successful. Trumps legal team has sought to appeal that verdict.

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Things arent exactly festive at TGI Fridays. Thats because the bar-and-grill chain is grappling with a major issue in its bankruptcy case: Unused gift cards.

The company currently faces a $49.7 million bill tied to unredeemed gift cards  far more than the cash it has on hand, despite borrowing $5.9 million to help fund its bankruptcy, as reported by Reuters (TRI).

That has franchisees on high alert, concerned theyll be left to foot the bill if the companys financial restructuring goes off course. A lawyer representing the franchisees explained that, while they can accept gift cards as payment, theres no guarantee theyll be reimbursed if customers hurry to redeem the cards during the bankruptcy process.

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TGI Fridays owns 39 U.S. locations, while its franchisees operate over 100 domestic restaurants, and more than 460 internationally. The company has already closed 50 locations this year. With most TGI Fridays locations in the U.S. being franchises, the uncertainty around reimbursement leaves franchise owners particularly vulnerable in a bankruptcy scenario.

At a court hearing, the judge allowed the gift card program to continue for now, buying franchisees more time to figure out if the company can cover these obligations.

The Texas-based chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Nov. 2, citing rising costs and declining customer demand for casual dining, worsened by the pandemic. The company has struggled for years to regain its footing in an increasingly competitive market.

Despite attempts to rally, foot traffic has taken a nosedive. Recent data reveals a staggering 39% drop in visits year-over-year during the week of Oct. 21, mirroring a 37% decline in traffic on Jan. 1, according to foot traffic analytics firm Placer.ai. This decline reflects not only the post-pandemic shift, but also changing consumer habits and rising costs that are squeezing the brand.

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With $37 million in debt and a plan to sell its assets by early January, the pressure is greater than ever. Moving forward will require a clear understanding of what todays diners truly desire  beyond just good value.

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You won't have to worry about repurchasing your Nintendo favorites when the Switchs successor finally arrives. In its earnings report, Nintendo said its next console will have backwards compatibility and be able to run games made for the Switch. In addition, Switch Online will also be available on the Switch 2.

The earnings report takes a philosophical tone in talking about the why. Its online service, Nintendo Account, ties a users history to one account and enables the company, it said, to maintain a continuous relationship with them across console generations.

Were all waiting: Nintendo downgraded its sales forecast for the fiscal year due to a big decline in console sales compared to last year.

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 Mat Smith

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Its a test to see if the material is durable enough.

Japanese researchers just sent the worlds first wooden satellite to space, in a bid to figure out whether wood could be a future suitable material for all kinds of space activities. With timber, a material we can produce by ourselves, we will be able to build houses, live and work in space forever, said Takao Doi, an astronaut affiliated with Kyoto University.

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Continue reading.

Weve adjusted our review.

While we felt the Kindle Colorsoft was a solid first stab at a color ereader by Amazon, theres an issue. After several buyers pointed out that a yellow band was discoloring the bottom of the display, the same issue occurred on our review unit. Now, the company says its offering refunds and replacements for anyone seeing the same issue. For the time being, Amazon has delayed shipments of the ereader while it juggles replacements. Weve also pulled the score from our review until its resolved.

Continue reading.

Bees?

TMA

Meta had plans to build an AI data center that relies on nuclear power in the US  it even already knew where it wanted to build the facility. According to the Financial Times, though, the company had to scrap its plans because a rare bee species was discovered on the land reserved for the project. The report didnt say whether Meta is looking for a new site  one without rare bees.

Continue reading.
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

If you're trying to view the latest hit Netflix show while traveling overseas, or you want to watch a show Netflix only provides on the other side of the globe, you're in for a tough time. But with a VPN service and a little persistence, you should be able to see most of what you want to watch wherever you are. We're here to show you how.

The Netflix You See Is Different from Netflix Abroad

It's easy to assume the video streaming services we watch are the same everywhere, but that's not true. What's available can vary wildly from country to country, as streaming services like Netflix make different agreements with the studios in specific markets. A good example is Rick & Morty: It used to be available on Netflix in the US, but now you need a Hulu or Max account to follow their misadventures due to local licensing deals between the streamers and Warner Brothers. However, people in Australia and several other countries can still enjoy their hijinks on Netflix.

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Netflix subscribers can only watch libraries customized to the country they're connecting from. The company reads the IP address of your connection, determines your location via the location of that IP address, and presents a library filled with region-specific content. Each region has different deals with different studios, meaning no two Netflix libraries connecting from opposite ends of the world will be the same.

While those libraries will often share many shows, there will be just as many they don't share. The only way to ensure consistent access to your favorite shows, no matter where you're connecting from in the world, is to spoof your location using a VPN.

But of course, the engineers at Netflix thought of this workaround, too. Netflix blocks a VPN when it detects one, which the company does in a few ways. The easiest is to look for patterns in the traffic. If a group of IP addresses from the same server farm connect at all hours of the day, Netflix can examine the traffic to determine if it belongs to an individual customer or a VPN. If the system detects an IP address block as belonging to a VPN service, that block could be banned from Netflix altogether. The alternative is having your VPN's access quarantined to a Limited library, which we'll explain in more detail below.

The Best VPNs for Watching Netflix in the US

In writing this article, we considered two possible use cases for a VPN and Netflix. In the first case, you're traveling overseas and can't continue watching a show you started in your home country. That's a real problem, but we imagine just as many of you (if not more) are more interested in the second caseaccessing Netflix content unavailable in their home countries.

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This does raise a thorny question of ethics. Using a VPN for Netflix (or any other streaming service) and watching content the streamer already paid to license in another country is different from downloading copyrighted content without paying for it. After all, you are paying for Netflix. Regardless of how you feel about it, watching content that's unavailable in your home region still breaks the ruleseven when it isnt available in your country at any price.

How We Test Netflix on VPNs

For testing, we installed each VPN and attempted to access Netflix while connected to different servers. In these tests, we connected to VPN servers in Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK, and the US. While these are far from the only countries serviced by Netflix, we chose them due to the population of each respective market and the differences in their content licensing agreements.

For each VPN service, we used any unblocking tools the desktop application supports. We started with a Chrome browser that was signed into a single Netflix account and loaded a new Incognito window every time the VPN was connected to a new location. Each VPN was given five attempts to load the content from a specific location, and we used a different IP address each time. Sometimes, this meant switching to a different server in the same location. For others, it meant trying an entirely different location within the same country. If the VPN provides servers specifically for streaming, we tried those first.

What Is Blocked, Open, and Limited Streaming Access?

In testing, we found Netflix returned one of three different results. The first state is as if we are connected normally within a given country. We can see all the content available in that region's library and stream it without being blocked. We call this state Open.

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The second state, in which trying to stream content generates an error message, is what we call Blocked.

The third state is a kind of limbo where we can only see and stream a subset of movies and shows, all of which are Netflix Originals. The options offered on the homepage change depending on the region, but upon searching, we only find the same selection of Originals. We denote this state as Limited.

Comparing our results from previous years with this year's, it's interesting to note that VPNs are now rarely Blocked outright; 20 of the 23 VPNs we evaluated were either Open or Limited in every region we tested. We found this to be the case most frequently on either Australian or Japanese VPN servers. Conversely, many of the VPNs we tested were Open in the US, the UK, and Canada.

While frustrating for people trying to access region-restricted content in Australia or Japan, this is an improvement for most customers trying to get around local Netflix restrictions. Netflix seems to be acknowledging it can't stop people from using VPNs outright and is instead choosing the lesser of two evils, giving you a reason to keep your monthly subscription going with enough Originals to choose from.

How Does a VPN Affect Netflix Playback?

Streaming video can take up some serious bandwidth, especially if you want HD quality or better. To get 4K video, Netflix recommends a connection that can sustain a 15Mbps download at minimum, while 1080p needs at least 5Mbps.

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To get the speed results in the chart above, we recorded the percentage change between speeds without the VPN connected on an Intel NUC 13 Extreme Kit ('Raptor Canyon') benchmark PC and those with the VPN turned on. Note that your results will likely differ from these, as every VPN provider reports different bandwidth peaks depending on where you're connecting from, trying to connect to, and even the time of day.

For example, while we might have seen peak speeds in our tests, that's likely because many VPN providers host servers in Manhattan, where we also test from. However, if we wanted to stream a show in NYC that's only available in the UK, all the data we want to stream must hop between the UK and the US before it makes it to your device. Added distance often means slower speeds, and our results only reflect what you should expect on a local connection in high-population centers.

How to Unblock Netflix With a VPN

If you want to try this for yourself with the highest chance of success, you have a few options. The first is simply to use one of the servers the VPN provider has marked for streaming. VPN companies know their subscribers want to stream content, and several offer servers built specifically for streaming access in popular regions. These are the most likely to return Open libraries on the VPN's network.

The second is to purchase a static IP address. Instead of your IP address being obfuscated to whichever IP address is assigned to the VPN server, you'll have the same IP address every time you switch on your VPN. The downside is that you'll lose some anonymity. The static address is yours, and only yours, so savvy observers could easily correlate online activities to you directly. But because Netflix has an easier time banning IP access in blocks, a static IP could go much longer without being Blocked or Limited by the streamer. These can be pricey, though, so it's a bit of a risk if you're only concerned about streaming online content.

Once you've found the right server type, simply enable the VPN on your device and access Netflix as you normally would.

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We should take a beat to say that accessing Netflix through a VPN is always, ultimately, a moving target. What works today could be banned tomorrow, and the only way to know for certain is to try it yourself. We recommend using a short-term subscription for VPNs, or better yet, a free trial, to test things out first. Just about every VPN offers steep discounts for long-term commitments, but if you start at least with a month-to-month plan, you can test how well it unblocks Netflix in the regions you want to watch from before locking in to a more expensive subscription.

When it comes to free VPNs, these are often the worst offenders for gaining Netflix access. As free servers are usually the most popular choice on the network of any VPN that offers them, their high usage patterns stand out like a sore thumb to Netflix. They use IP addresses that get blocked the most early and often, and likely won't be representative of the full unblocking experience you'd get with access to the paid servers offered by a VPN provider.

Editors' Note: Max Eddy contributed to this article.
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Credit: STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images

This new spaceflight tech has a very retro feel.

The world's first wooden satellite, a tiny Japanese spacecraft called LignoSat , arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) today (Nov. 5) aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule.

LignoSat measures just 4 inches (10 centimeters) on each side, but it could end up having a big impact on spaceflight and exploration down the road.

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"While some of you might think that wood in space seems a little counterintuitive, researchers hope this investigation demonstrates that a wooden satellite can be more sustainable and less polluting for the environment than conventional satellites," Meghan Everett, the deputy chief scientist for NASA's International Space Station program, said in a press briefing on Monday (Nov. 4), a few hours before the Dragon capsule lifted off.

Conventional satellites are made primarily of aluminum. When they burn up in Earth's atmosphere at the end of their lives, they generate aluminum oxides, which can alter the planet's thermal balance and damage its protective ozone layer.

Related: Pollution from rocket launches and burning satellites could cause the next environmental emergency

These impacts are becoming more of a concern as the orbital population grows, thanks to the rise of megaconstellations like SpaceX's ever-growing Starlink broadband network, which currently consists of about 6,500 active satellites.

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Wooden satellites like LignoSat  which substitutes magnolia wood for aluminum  could be part of the solution going forward; they wouldn't pump such damaging pollutants into the atmosphere when they fell back to Earth, mission team members have said.

"Metal satellites might be banned in the future," retired Japanese astronaut Takao Doi, an aerospace engineer who's now a professor at Kyoto University, told Reuters. "If we can prove our first wooden satellite works, we want to pitch it to Elon Musk's SpaceX."

RELATED STORIES:

 Kessler Syndrome and the space debris problem

 Can we solve the satellite air pollution problem? Here are 4 possible fixes

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 SpaceX could launch this wild, origami-inspired folding heat shield later this year

LignoSat, which was developed by researchers at Kyoto University and the Tokyo-based logging company Sumitomo Forestry, will soon get a chance to prove itself.

About a month from now, the cubesat will be deployed into orbit from the ISS' Kibo module. If all goes according to plan, its onboard electronics will record and beam home key health data for the next six months.

"Student researchers will measure the temperature and strain of the wooden structure and see how it might change in the vacuum environment of space, and the atomic oxygen and radiation conditions as well," Everett said.

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LignoSat team members also say a successful test could have implications far beyond Earth orbit.

"It may seem outdated, but wood is actually cutting-edge technology as civilization heads to the moon and Mars," Kenji Kariya, a manager at the Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute, told Reuters. "Expansion to space could invigorate the timber industry."
Editor's Note

To make informed decisions, voters need accurate, timely and impartial information, and they need it in the language they speak. So, with generous support from the Yakima Free Press Fund, the Yakima Voter Project is providing free access to general election coverage by the Yakima Herald-Republic and El Sol de Yakima. To contribute to the Free Press Fund, visit www.yakimafreepress.org.
The United States federal government is a single entity, despite its three equal branches having more heads than a hydra and more arms than Mahakali. One part of that federal government is not supposed to create and propagate standards that another part arrests you for following, as confirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Gonzales v. Oregon. When it comes to the criminalization of medicine by the DEA and other federal law enforcement agencies, that rule has clearly been broken. The FDA has the statutory power to approve medications for use in the United States in accordance with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938.

The FDA has approved controlled medications like opiates, stimulants, and sedatives for use. Opiates are approved for pain management, cough suppression, and anesthesia. Stimulants are approved for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and, in some cases, obesity. Sedatives are approved for anxiety, sleep disorders, seizure control, muscle spasms, and as an anesthesia adjunct. Any licensed and certified doctor can absolutely prescribe those medications for those purposes and be within the law as long as they do so for a legitimate medical purpose and in the usual practice of medicine.

What is a legitimate medical purpose and the usual practice of medicine? The U.S. Supreme Court admitted that it did not know, which is not surprising, as they arent doctors. Still, any sane physician would include prescribing to patients with the above disorders (legitimate purpose) after a patient has been seen and evaluated by a physician or other prescribing health care provider (usual practice). The Supreme Court also ruled that once the FDA approves a medication for one use, physicians have the authority to prescribe it for other purposes based on medical judgment. The term medical judgment is critical here, as this is what the DEA is usurpingthe right to make a medical judgment call.

The DEA was allowed by the Supreme Court to prosecute Dr. Thomas Moore when he, 1) charged for medications by the milligram and count, and 2) did not see or evaluate his patients, not even trying to practice medicine but effectively just selling pills. The DEA is now targeting and sending to prison physicians who 1) reviewed patient records, 2) charged a fee based on time seen, 3) saw and evaluated the patient, and 4) prescribed medications approved for the condition diagnosed by the doctor. They are getting away with this because there is no effective oversight of their actions. One might think that the courts can do this, but here we run into a problem.

Judges are not medical experts, and they are not trained to discern the complicated medical issues argued by medical experts. Judges have said that it is illegal to prescribe opiate medications to addicts when this is not the law. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which effectively created the DEA and allowed them to certify doctors to prescribe controlled medications and police noncertified persons who distribute controlled medications, clearly states that it is illegal for doctors to prescribe controlled substances for the purpose of maintaining the addiction. Prescribing a controlled medication to an addict for the purpose of treating their pain or ADHD is perfectly legal.

The DEA, as can be readily seen in their press releases and indictments, routinely charges doctors for ignoring the risks of overdose and addiction when the doctors actually considered these issues and just made a judgment call, just in a manner that the DEA disapproved of. Going so far as to bring in paid federal witnesses to retroactively diagnose patients with substance use disorder and claim that this post-facto and illegitimate actionthe expert never saw the patients and therefore cannot legally make any diagnosis (usual practice, etc.)justifies sending doctors to prison for decades or even life. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Pried from the DEAs hands by the tenacious Dr. Neil Anand, wielding the Freedom of Information Act, the DEAs own words prove its actions are illegal. These documents prove that to justify an inexcusable intrusion into the practice of medicine, the DEA sought any excuse to brand physicians as dirty doctorstheir words, not mine. Individual DEA agents, without the input of any legitimate medical authority, were allowed to decide which physicians would be targeted and prosecuted, applying false metrics such as that a physician used dangerous medications in dangerous combinations, a doctors very raison detre, which Ive touched on before, and for exceeding the CDCs voluntary, non-binding guidelines.

The common definition of voluntary denotes an informed decision made without coercion or fraud. The DEA-created reality is the exact opposite of the CDCs voluntary, non-binding guidelines, first propagated in 2016 and revised in 2022, after six years of, according to the CDC itself, misapplications resulting in laws and policies that are inconsistent with a central tenet of the guideline: that the recommendations are voluntary and intended to be flexible to support, not supplant, individualized, patient-centered care. Now, because of these previously withheld documents, we can have no doubt that the CDCs guidelines, by themselves, are being used to target and prosecute doctors.

This travesty of federal overreach has resulted in physicians like me (and a few thousand others) who read the CDC guidelines and were trusting enough to believe the government would follow them being targeted by DEA agents who enforced these voluntary, non-binding guidelines as if they had come down from Mount Sinai. They did this with a zeal that would make Tomas de Torquemada himself proud, disregarding any evidence of honorable intent and lawful practice. This is despite their own admission in confidential DEA records that they do not have the authority to take these actions. Here are their exact words and a link to where they can be found:

While the CSA is one component of the overall regulation of the practice of medicine in the United States,\10\ it bears emphasis that the CSA does not regulate the practice of medicine as a whole. Therefore, although DEA is the agency responsible for administering the CSA, DEA does not act as the federal equivalent of a state medical board overseeing the general practice of medicine. State laws and state licensing bodies (such as medical licensing boards) collectively regulate the practice of medicine.

One of the chief purposes of this document is to make clear that the longstanding requirement under the law that physicians may prescribe controlled substances only for legitimate medical purposes in the usual course of professional practice should in no way interfere with the legitimate practice of medicine or cause any physician to be reluctant to provide legitimate pain treatment. DEA also wishes to dispel the mistaken notion among a small number of medical professionals that the agency has embarked on a campaign to target physicians who prescribe controlled substances for the treatment of pain (or that physicians must curb their legitimate prescribing of pain medications to avoid legal liability). To achieve these aims, this document begins with a general summary of the relevant legal principles and an explanation of the role of DEA with respect to regulation of controlled substances. The document then addresses specific issues and questions that have been raised on a recurring basis by physicians who seek guidance on the subject of dispensing controlled substances for the treatment of pain. It should be understood that the legal standard under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) for prescribing controlled substances to treat pain is the same as that for prescribing controlled substances generally: the prescription must be issued for a legitimate medical purpose by a registered physician acting within the usual course of professional practice. The reason this document focuses on the prescribing of controlled substances for the treatment of pain is that there has been considerable interest among members of the public in having DEA address this specific issue.

Next, we have the provider alerts proving this illegal activity occurred. They were found in a document forced from their hands by the heroic efforts of Dr. Neil Anand.

Provider alerts posted through the health care fraud prevention partnership:

Seven providers appeared to be prescribing high amounts of controlled substances. Further analysis identified patients with prescriptions equal to or exceeding a daily average of 90 morphine milligram equivalents (MME). The prescribing providers were identified as outliers for prescribing opioids compared to their peers. Clinical documentation is unavailable. The investigations are currently ongoing.

An investigation identified provider prescription fraud related to inappropriate prescribing of medication. The provider appeared to be prescribing high amounts of controlled substances (82 percent controlled and 18 percent non-controlled substances), and was identified as an outlier. Further analysis revealed patients with prescriptions exceeding a daily average of 90 morphine milligram equivalents (MME). The investigation is ongoing.

An investigation identified potential fraud related to inappropriate prescribing of medication. A physician appeared to be prescribing large quantities of multiple opioids that exceeded current dosage guidelines, placing patients at risk. The investigation is ongoing.

An investigation identified inappropriate prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines, placing patients at an increased risk of overdose. Further analysis revealed that the provider is an outlier for high opioid prescribing.

This shows that doctors still treating pain or other medical conditions with controlled substances are assumed to be outliers outside the usual practice of medicine, and anything over 90 MME is assumed to be placing patients at risk. Despite the fact that clinical documentation is unavailable. This is exactly what was promised would not happen when states started creating PDMP databases and why the DEA should stay out of medicine. They were not supposed to troll through everyones otherwise private medical information in a search to find people to prosecute, and administrative data is not supposed to be used for criminal prosecutions without a search warrant in accordance with the 4th Amendment.

It also shows that despite both the CDC and the DHHS making clear that prescribing opiates and benzodiazepines together is sometimes warranted, the DEA feels qualified to state that the doctor is placing patients at an increased risk of overdose. The punitive actions of the DEA, coupled with direct threats to physician board members, have resulted in pain review committees and state medical boards all over the U.S. ordering physicians to rapidly taper patients off benzodiazepines when on opiates, placing patients at a 60 percent increased risk of death over the next three years. If a patient comes to a doctor already on both medications, it is safer to continue them rather than discontinue the benzodiazepines (or opiates).

Despite these evidence-based facts, juries all over America are being told by paid witnesses to send doctors to prison because the DEA, despite the evidence, thinks otherwise. This clearly encroaches on physicians medical judgment, something the DEA is forbidden from doing by federal law (42 U.S.C. 1395) and Supreme Court rulings (Gonzales). Only state medical boards have the authority to police those judgments. Every physician targeted leaves more than a thousand patients without care. The doctors willing to treat the most complicated patients, those who have failed other treatments and are at the end of their rope, will always be exceptional.

It is usual for some physicians to take on this challenge. What is not usual is for the DEA to usurp these decisions from the physicians and lawful state authorities. Worse than that. The entire dependence on MME is not only flawed but outright fraudulent. Any test or calculation used as evidence in federal court is supposed to undergo a rigid assessment for accuracy and reliability. By the CDCs own admission, the concept of MME does not meet this standard. MME was the brainchild of a few physicians who basically guessed at the relative strength of different opiate medications based on their own personal experiences so they could have some conversion metric.

If this were left to opinion and choice, that would be fine. However, once propagated in federal courtrooms as some kind of mandatory metric, it violates the rules of evidence and FDA regulations, as it is being used to influence diagnosis (addiction risk) and treatment. The FDA requires that any device, including any software used to influence diagnosis but does not make final decisions (Class II) or those influencing critical treatment (Class III), require special controls and rigorous testing, including usability testing, bench testing, as well as verification and clinical validation. The latter would mean verifying safety and effectiveness through clinical trials. There is absolutely no evidence that this was ever done.

Not only have the proper studies not been accomplished to prove these conversion rates, but patients are so variant in opiate processing that they can never be applied to an individual. The main two hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes that process opiates are CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. Processing speeds of 2D6 can vary 100-fold, and 3A4 by 20-fold. Also, responsiveness to opiates by mu opiate receptors can vary by as much as 20-fold. A good paper on these factors is here. All of this combined means that average patients will have vastly different effects from the same opioid dose, making individualized treatment paramount to treating severe chronic pain effectively. Paramount, but, according to Dr. DEA, illegal.

The results are clear. As the regulations regarding pain and other controlled medication therapy became more byzantine and medical boards, pressured by the DEA, began insisting on unproven metrics, doctors became reluctant to treat pain. This placed a higher burden on those still willing to treat, which made them, according to the DEAs AI-enforced algorithms, outliers, and an inquisition was started to find an excuse to prosecute. Once the prosecutions started and the doctors willing to treat complicated patients were locked away, most physicians quit prescribing at all, and patients suffering from severe chronic pain had nowhere to go but the streets. Funneled into the arms of the cartels, the death rates skyrocketed.

There can be no doubt. The DEA, through its unlawful influence on the practice of medicine and targeting of exceptional physicians with false metrics, is responsible for the deaths of over a million Americans.

L. Joseph Parker is a research physician.
The Northwest Junior Pipe Band marches at the 73rd annual Veterans Day Service at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home & Cemetery in Seattle. (Daniel Kim / The Seattle Times, 2022)
A student and family members pose for a photo at a national college entrance examination site in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, June 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

In recent years, China has made remarkable strides in the development of its higher education system, particularly through the initiative of building world-class universities and disciplines with Chinese characteristics, Education Minister Huai Jinpeng said.

The "Double First Class" initiative, which was launched to develop a set of world-class institutions and disciplines in China, has undergone two rounds of changes, Huai said when delivering a report which was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for review on Tuesday.

The first round identified 140 universities and 465 disciplines to be part of the initiative and the second round has added seven universities and 41 disciplines, with an emphasis on foundational and cutting-edge fields that are critical to the country's development, according to the report.

China has implemented programs for basic disciplines, establishing 288 elite student training bases, 14 national centers for talent development in mathematics and physics and 16 interdisciplinary research centers, aiming to contribute to significant advances in disciplines such as quantum science, materials engineering and space exploration, it said.

Universities are evaluated based on their overall development and growth potential. Some top-tier institutions like Peking University and Tsinghua University are allowed to autonomously determine their own disciplines, creating a model for personalized growth, Huai said.

Since 2016, China has invested over 166.7 billion yuan ($23.4 billion) in "Double First Class" universities to support the development of these institutions and their high-level research programs, the report said.

Universities involved in the initiative have trained more than half of China's master's degree students and 80 percent of its doctoral students.

Focusing on national strategic needs, 84 new undergraduate majors have been added, including interdisciplinary engineering, intelligent sensing engineering and carbon storage science, it added.

However, the traditional academic structure in Chinese universities, which was based on departments and disciplines, limits the flexibility required to foster innovative, interdisciplinary talent, Huai said.

"The model for talent development needs to evolve, with greater emphasis on integrating STEM or science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with the humanities, and on strengthening collaboration between education and industry," he said.

Moreover, China still faces challenges in producing leading-edge and disruptive innovations, particularly in fundamental research. The potential for universities to contribute more effectively to economic and social development has not been fully realized, and the commercialization of scientific discoveries remains insufficient, the report said.

"There is still a gap when compared to top universities in developed countries," Huai said. The ability to attract and retain global talent is a key challenge, as is China's participation in global educational governance, especially in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, he said.

There is an urgent need to refine the criteria for evaluating disciplines, particularly for interdisciplinary studies and social sciences. The lack of a clear, characteristic development model for "Double First Class" universities further complicates the process of building distinct, world-class institutions, according to the report.

In response to these challenges, a more tailored evaluation system should be developed, focusing on contributions to society, especially in areas such as ideological leadership, national security and social stability, Huai said.

To cultivate top talent, China should strengthen early identification of potential innovators and foster a more integrated talent development model that combines research with education, according to the report.

Special emphasis should be placed on developing engineers, professionals in emerging fields, and interdisciplinary researchers. Improving core curriculum and integrating research breakthroughs into teaching will help nurture a new generation of world-class talent, it added.

The ability to attract top international talent will be crucial to building globally competitive institutions, according to the report.
In medical malpractice, inductive reasoning regards the standard of care as the duty to do no harm. If there is a complication from a medical intervention and the medical intervention differs from the standard of care in any conceivable way, the difference alone is sufficient to conclude that the medical intervention departs from that duty.

However, unanticipated threats require nimbleness. This is a calculated risk. It causes a difference, but it does not cause harm. Nonetheless, a calculated risk can be misrepresented as the cause.

No medical malpractice lawsuit illustrates this phenomenon better than Byrom v. Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital.

Sixteen-year-old Erica Byrom comes to the U.S. from Liberia in August 2014, when 18 weeks pregnant. At 23 weeks, she begins prenatal care. Two weeks later, she is admitted to Bayview Hospital for pre-eclampsia.

Sonograms are consistent with chronic antenatal conditions associated with neurologic injury. There is at least a 65% chance that the fetus has already sustained neurologic injury. She steadfastly refuses a Cesarean section unless her own life is in immediate jeopardy.

On October 24, after 22 hours of induced labor, there is a normal spontaneous vaginal delivery of a 670-gram, 26-week, female infant with a 1-minute Apgar score of 0. After resuscitation, the newborn is admitted to the NICU and is later found to have cerebral palsy.

A trial begins in June 2019. Using inductive reasoning, the plaintiffs attorney argues that more likely than not, at 26 weeks the fetus is normal prior to birth. If not for the failure to perform a Cesarean section, Zubida Byrom would still be normal. It is as though the antenatal history about Liberia and subsequent sonographic findings are not factors. Also using inductive reasoning, the defense attorney argues that more likely than not, at 26 weeks the fetus has neurologic injury prior to birth. Even if there is a Cesarean section, Zubida Byrom would still have neurologic injury. The antenatal history and subsequent sonographic findings are factors.

Two plaintiff medical experts testify that, because of the duty to do no harm, a Cesarean section should have been performed. A vaginal delivery is a medical error.

By convention, preponderance of evidence is 50% confidence plus a vague value, and that vague value only needs to be a scintilla to tip the scale. In inductive reasoning, 51% confidence suffices to prove a departure from the duty to do no harm. The defense attorney uses the same metrics to cast doubt on this proof. On July 1, 2019, the jury returns a $229-million plaintiff verdict.

This would have been different with deductive reasoning. First of all, medical interventions are harmonious processes involving 10 duties. These duties interact as a collective unit, and each duty represents a particular phase. The duty to do no harm is the collective result of these 10 phases. The ten phases are: 1. Presentation, 2. Investigation, 3. Interpretation, 4. Diagnosis, 5. Discrimination, 6. Informed Consent, 7. Selection, 8. Technical, 9. Resolution, 10. Discharge.

The accepted background risk for cerebral palsy in a preterm low birth-weight newborn is 15.2%. Cerebral palsy can still occur even with the standard of care because the 15.2% is inescapable. Nevertheless, because the standard of care is error-free, the risk of cerebral palsy from each phase in the standard is the background risk. The medical intervention is designed to be a facsimile of the standard of care.

When the 10 phases of the standard of care are compared to corresponding phases in the medical intervention, if a phase is the same, that phase in the medical intervention is represented by the background risk, or 15.2%. If a phase is different, that phase in the medical intervention is represented by the incident risk for the complication. In Byrom v. Johns Hopkins, the incident risk is 28.3%.

The aforementioned 65% chance of neurologic injury serves as the basis for this incident risk. If there is a 65% chance that a Cesarean section would not alter the outcome, it follows that there is a 35% chance that it will. Hence, the risk/benefit ratio for performing a Cesarean section is 1.86. In this case, not performing a Cesarean section increases the background risk of cerebral palsy in a preterm low birth-weight newborn from 15.2% to 28.3%.

The null hypothesis is if there is no departure from the standard of care, there is no statistically significant difference between the incident risk resulting from the medical intervention and the background risk resulting from the standard of care.

The null hypothesis is tested using the single-sample t-test. The null hypothesis is either retained or rejected. The level of significance is 0.05, corresponding to 95% confidence. The population mean is the background risk, which is 15.2%.

When the phases in the standard of care are compared to their counterparts in the medical intervention, there is a test sample, which collectively represents the entire medical intervention for Erica Byrom. It includes the 10 results from the comparison. The test sample is 15.2%, 15.2%, 15.2%, 15.2%, 15.2%, 15.2%, 15.2%, 28.3%, 15.2%, and 15.2%. Except for the technical phase, in which a Cesarean section is performed in the standard of care and is not performed in the medical intervention, there are no other differences between counterparts.

The result is the p-value. The p-value is 0.171718. Because the p-value is greater than the level of significance, which is 0.05, the null hypothesis is retained. The medical intervention comports with the standard of care with 95% confidence.

Hypothesis testing casts sufficient doubt on the plaintiff attorneys inductive reasoning, which is no less than 51% confidence.

When using hypothesis testing, no medical expert with any integrity would prepare a certificate of merit favoring the plaintiff attorney. Instead of a verdict, Byrom v. Johns Hopkins would never go to trial.

On February 2, 2021, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals overturns this verdict, but it takes 16 months.

Howard Smith is an obstetrics-gynecology physician.
When I was doing my medical training at St. Vincents Hospital in New York City (a proud and fine hospital that has sadly closed), the official word was that we could not counsel patients to use condoms to prevent HIV transmission. Like many other doctors in training, I was bothered by this edict but kept in mind that St. Vincents had been at the forefront of providing compassionate care to people with AIDS since the very beginning of the epidemic. I went right ahead and counseled patients at risk for HIV infection to use condoms without suffering any consequences.

That kind of interference between doctor and patient, easily sidestepped, seems quaint today. We are experiencing a dangerous and increasingly successful power grab by many politicians to pass legislation controlling how medical providers are allowed to practice medicine. How could this be happening? It may have started with abortion restrictions and access to family planning care, but political ideology is now being used to affect general medical practice in ways that will have consequences for every single American. Every time I talk to colleagues about how politics is creeping into our profession, I see that they share my outrage. We all know how much blood, sweat, tears, and time are necessary to become a competent medical practitioner. The idea that politicians without a shred of medical training are writing laws that restrict what prescriptions we can write and what procedures we can perform is unfathomable.

It is common knowledge that politicians in many states have by now enacted laws that only permit abortion when a womans life is in danger. And we have seen elected officials argue with obstetricians about whether a womans life is truly in danger. Women have now died because they could not get a court order for an abortion in time. We all know that many states have now taken away parents rights to allow gender-affirming care in their children. And there are strong forces that have IVF in their crosshairs. But are you aware that politicians such as state attorneys general have joined lawsuits that would force the FDA to rescind the licensing of a safe and effective medication because it is used for medical abortion, among other things? And that they are making efforts, which have been successful in the courts, that will affect whether insurance companies pay for preventive care such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and lung CTs for long-term smokers.

Most people have never heard of the United States Preventive Services Task Force. This panel makes recommendations about preventive health care measures and cancer screenings, and their guidelines are followed by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies to decide whether to cover tests like mammograms or bone density scans.

It is no exaggeration to say that the USPSTF is universally respected and continuously consulted by American medical providers. Their recommendations are always evidence-based. Up to now, insurance companies that participate in the Affordable Care Act have been mandated to follow the USPSTFs Grade A and B recommendations to cover screening tests. That mandate has been stricken from the ACA by a three-member panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Not only did they declare that insurance companies can ignore the USPSTFs guidelines, but they went further and questioned the constitutionality of using their guidelines at all. This decision is being appealed but is already in effect in states covered by the Fifth Circuit; in those states, ACA-participating insurance plans are now free to charge co-pays for screening tests and to deny coverage of some preventive medications on religious grounds. Originally dreamed up to limit access to medications that prevent HIV infection (PrEP), this lawsuit, likely to reach the Supreme Court, will have real-life effects on coverage of expensive screening tests such as mammograms, breast MRIs, and colonoscopies.

I am old enough to remember a time when politicians across the political spectrum agreed that the government had no role in personal medical decisions. That principle has weakened in recent years, with far-reaching consequences that most Americans have not considered. As you cast your ballot next week, think about which candidates are committed to keeping government out of the exam room, leaving medical decisions to patients and their health care providers.

Kevin Armington is an internal medicine physician at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Robert Wood Johnson. AIDS activism in the 1980s guided him toward a career in medicine. He is board-certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine and is an HIV specialist. He currently practices on telemedicine platforms.
(Seoul City Government)

Seoul invites you to a week-long gourmet adventure, 2024 Seoul Gourmet Week, from November 8th to 14th.

This event will bring together traditional and modern Korean food culture, featuring the Seoul Gourmet Market, where visitors can explore Korean cuisine in one place, and unique workshops to learn flavors from across the country.

Visitors can also enjoy special menus at selected restaurants from the Seoul Gourmet 100 list during Seoul Restaurant Week.

The event kicks off on November 8th with a kimchi-making experience at Gyeongdong Market led by culinary expert Hong Shin-ae, joined by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

On November 9th and 10th, the Traveling Market will open at Nodeul Island, featuring over 100 booths, and workshops will showcase five unique culinary themes with chefs, food artisans, and local farmers sharing their expertise.

On November 10th, the Seoul Gourmet Awards will be held at the Nodeul Island Live House, celebrating top chefs and contributors to Seouls culinary scene, including honorees from the Seoul Gourmet 100 list.

Additionally, programs like An Invitation to Traditional Markets, which pairs cooking with market shopping, and A Taste of Seoul, guided tours exploring neighborhoods like Seongsu and Seochon, offer immersive culinary experiences.

During Seoul Gourmet Week, 120 participating venues  including Seoul Gourmet 100 restaurants and popular markets like Gyeongdong Market  will offer special menus and exclusive discounts. The event will conclude with the Hip Invitation from MZ Chefs, featuring reimagined Korean street food by young, trending chefs.

For more information, visit the official website at tasteofseoul.visitseoul.net.
The world will turn its attention to Budapest this week as the capital city is going to host top diplomatic events, Barna Pal Zsigmond, a government official, told public broadcaster M1 on Tuesday.

The parliamentary state secretary of EU affairs noted that on November 7, Budapest will host a European Political Community summit and on the next day an informal summit of the European Council.



"Thursday's event will be a summit of European countries in a geographical sense with the UK, Turkiye, the Caucasus and the Western Balkan countries in attendance while on Friday EU heads of state and government are set to meet," he said.



The agenda of both events includes discussions about major geopolitical, geostrategic and economic issues, as well as the US presidential election, Zsigmond said, adding that a Budapest declaration on Europe's competitiveness was also planned to be adopted.



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Prime Minister Viktor Orban is scheduled to hold talks with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Budapest on Thursday, the PM's press chief said in a statement.

Rutte will attend a summit meeting of the European Political Community, scheduled to take place in Budapest on the same day, Bertalan Havasi said, adding that the conference would be "the biggest diplomatic event in Hungary's history".



DefMin: New military equipment to strengthen Hungary security

The Hungarian armed forces are ready to boast a 21st-century NATO compatible fleet of military equipment and with every new vehicle added to the fleet Hungary's security will be strengthened, the defence minister said at a military base in Tata, in western Hungary, on Tuesday.



Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky told journalists that the armed forces received another 15 Gidran armoured vehicles and two new Leopard 2A7HU tanks on Tuesday.



With the new Gidrans added, the army now has the originally planned 48 of the armoured vehicles put in service, the minister said. The Gidrans will be fitted with weapons and other types of equipment in Hungary, he added.



With the two new Leopard 2A7HU tanks added, there is a fleet of 26 of the vehicles serving at the Tata base, the minister said, adding that a delivery of more tanks was expected.



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On display until 26 January. Balazs Hanko, the minister of culture and innovation, opened an exhibition on the life of piano legend Gyorgy Cziffra at the House of Music Hungary.

Hanko said Hungarians could be proud to belong to a nation "that has given us giants" and "unfading" cultural icons such as Cziffra, "a great Hungarian and a great Hungarian pianist, whose magic is still with us today".



Cziffra's life, he added, was an example of humility, struggle and greatness.



Freedom of Music - Hommage to Gyorgy Cziffra, curated in cooperation with the Hungarian Culture Foundation, the Petofi Cultural Agency, House of Music Hungary and the Cziffra Festival, runs until Jan 26.



About Gyorgy Cziffra:



We can reminisce in many different ways  but remembering Gyorgy Cziffra, the pianist who would break out from completely hopeless situations time and again during his life and who finally and deservedly accomplished worldfame is only possible in a single way: as he looked upon himself: a phoenix.



His childhood was everything but easy: the family expelled from France lived in such housing conditions in Budapest that could by no means be called ideal for a child prodigy. Indeed, a child prodigy, as at the age of eight, he was discovered by Erno Dohnanyi and could begin his piano studies at the Liszt Academy.



His promising career was first smashed into pieces by the Second World War, the Russian prison camp, and finally three years of prison and labour camp following a failed emigration attempt in 1950. Cziffra, who was making ends meet by playing in bars, managed to take to the stage again in the mid-1950s thanks to the help of fellow-musicians and friends. He could at release records and even earn a state decoration (the Liszt Prize).



Then in September 1956, he was asked to play  basically out of the blue, just in six weeks  the solo piano part in Bartoks incredibly complicated Piano Concerto No. 2. On 33 October 1956, the virtuoso performance garnered roaring success, and Cziffra played the Rakoczi March five times as an encore.



For a moment in time, music history and the history of the revolution got entwined: Hungarys western border opened by the following day, and Gyorgy Cziffra  together with his family  emigrated to Paris.



The soaring career of the subsequent years was in sharp contrast with the immense hardships of the previous decades. Cziffra soon became one of the most sought-after pianists of his day. Such orchestras and concert halls were on his waiting list as the Carnegie Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, the Hollywood Bowl or the Tonhalle.



In 1969, he founded his own international music competition in Versailles, got the ruined royal chapel restored in Sensis and turned it into a concert hall, which he named after Ferenc Liszt.



The most renowned musicians of the period would line up to play there. At the age of sixty, he suffered another blow: he lost his only son in an accident, who  as a conductor  was also his fellow musician and partner. Cziffra decided not ever to perform alongside an orchestra again.



Cziffras legacy is far more than his recordings, his charities or the knowledge he passed on to his students. In Liszt and Dohnanyis footsteps, he represents a performance tradition that is free from the sterility of sound recordings; still, virtuoso improvisational ease and natural ability to synthesise various styles live on in it, which made the performance of the great masters of the 19th century so singular and lively.



His lifes ideal and artistic creed achieved at the cost of great suffering share the same essence at their core: the freedom of man and music.



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Hungary prioritises peace and opposes the prolongation of war, Levente Magyar, a foreign ministry state secretary, said at the ceremonial opening of the Sultanate of Oman's embassy in Budapest on Tuesday, adding that Oman's dedication to finding diplomatic solutions accorded with Hungary's ethos.

On behalf of Oman, the event was attended by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs Khalid bin Hashel bin Mohammed Al-Muslahi and Ambassador Malallah Mahmood Shaban Al Balushi.



Magyar said the embassy's opening marked a new chapter in the history of the two countries. Strengthening links with the Middle East is a basic pillar of the Hungarian government's foreign policy and economic strategy, he added.



The large number of ambassadors from Middle Eastern countries attending the event "is a testament to this", he said.



He praised Oman's intermediary role in resolving regional conflicts, adding that Oman was among the first countries to call for peace talks aimed at resolving the Yemeni conflict and guaranteeing the security and freedom of Red Sea shipping.



The state secretary said that Hungary continued to support the personal ties developed with Oman in recent years, primarily under the arrangements of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship scheme.



Also, talks on launching direct flights between the two countries' capitals and main cities are under way, he noted.



MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only



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Chhath Puja is a significant and ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, Surya, and his consort, Chhathi Maiya. This festival, mainly observed in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, honors the sun as a source of life, energy, and health. Celebrated with immense devotion, Chhath Puja is unique because it focuses on gratitude, spirituality, and the purification of the mind and body.

Concept and Significance Behind Chhath Puja

The roots of Chhath Puja can be traced back to ancient Vedic times, with mentions in scriptures and stories that emphasize the worship of natural elements. The Sun God, considered the sustainer of life on Earth, is venerated for providing nourishment and promoting well-being. Chhathi Maiya, often regarded as an incarnation of Goddess Usha, is believed to be the deity who grants blessings of offspring and protection of children.

The festival is observed as a way of expressing gratitude for the bounties of nature and invoking divine blessings for health, prosperity, and happiness. It also symbolizes purity, simplicity, and devotion, as devotees practice rigorous rituals and abstain from luxury.

Key Rituals and Phases of Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is celebrated over four days, each filled with its own set of rituals and significance:

1. Nahay Khay (Day 1)

The first day marks the beginning of Chhath Puja. Devotees purify themselves by bathing in sacred rivers or water bodies and cleaning their homes. They prepare a simple vegetarian meal, which usually includes rice, dal, and pumpkin-based dishes. This meal is consumed as prasad and is meant to symbolize purity and simplicity.

2. Lohanda and Kharna (Day 2)

On the second day, known as Kharna, devotees fast from sunrise until sunset without consuming water. At sunset, they prepare a meal comprising kheer (a sweet rice pudding), chapatis, and fruits. This food is offered to the gods and shared among family and neighbors. The consumption of this meal marks the end of the fast for the day, and from this point, the 36-hour nirjala (waterless) fast begins.

3. Sandhya Arghya (Day 3)

The third day is the most significant. Devotees prepare offerings, including baskets of fruits, sweets, and thekua (a traditional cookie made from wheat flour and jaggery). These offerings are taken to a riverbank or any water body where the evening ritual, known as Sandhya Arghya, is performed. Devotees stand in the water and offer arghya (water) to the setting sun, accompanied by devotional songs and hymns. This ritual signifies the acknowledgment of the sun's vital energy as it sets.

4. Usha Arghya (Day 4)

On the final day, known as Usha Arghya, devotees gather at the riverbank before sunrise to offer arghya to the rising sun. This ritual symbolizes the rejuvenation of life and the continuation of blessings. After completing the prayers and rituals, devotees break their fast and share the prasad with family, friends, and neighbors, marking the end of Chhath Puja.

Customs and Traditions

Sacred Offerings: The items offered during Chhath Puja hold symbolic meanings. Fruits, coconuts, and thekua represent natural abundance and the sustenance provided by the Earth.

Vrat (Fasting): The practice of fasting, especially the 36-hour waterless fast, demonstrates immense willpower and dedication. It is believed to purify the devotee both physically and spiritually.

Songs and Folk Music: Devotional Chhath songs play an essential role in the celebration, creating a spiritual ambiance and reinforcing cultural values. These songs, passed down through generations, reflect themes of devotion and respect for nature.

Community Gatherings: Chhath Puja is not just a religious event but also a communal celebration. Families and communities come together, fostering unity and shared devotion.

Spiritual and Environmental Aspects

The rituals of Chhath Puja promote environmental consciousness. Devotees prefer biodegradable items such as bamboo baskets, leaves, and earthen lamps for their offerings. By performing the rituals near water bodies, they highlight the need to protect these vital resources.

Moreover, Chhath Puja is seen as a practice that aligns body, mind, and spirit. The fast and immersion in water are believed to detoxify the body, while meditation and prayers calm the mind, bringing inner peace.

For many, Chhath Puja is more than a festival; it is a heartfelt tradition that brings together families and communities in a shared expression of gratitude, reinforcing faith in the divine forces that nurture life on Earth.

(This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.)
New Delhi: The initial public offering (IPO) of food delivery and quick-commerce major Swiggy is all set to open today. Swiggy is looking to raise Rs 11,300 crore through its IPO.

A day before its initial share-sale opening for public subscription, Swiggy on Tuesday collected Rs 5,085 crore from anchor investors. Among the investors who were allocated shares are New World Fund Inc, Government Pension Fund Global, Nomura Funds Ireland Public Limited Company, Fidelity Funds, BlackRock, Allianz Global Investors Fund and Schroder International, according to a circular uploaded on BSE's website.

Additionally, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund (MF), SBI Mutual Fund, HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd, SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd too were allotted shares in the anchor round.

Key Points You Want To Know About Swiggy Upcoming IPO

1. The shares would be available at a price band of Rs 371 to Rs 390 apiece.

2. The issue would conclude on November 8 and the bidding for anchor investors will open for a day on November 5, they added.

3. Those selling shares in the OFS route are -- Accel India IV (Mauritius) Ltd, Apoletto Asia Ltd, Alpha Wave Ventures, LP, Coatue PE Asia XI LLC, DST EuroAsia V B.V, Elevation Capital V Ltd, Inspired Elite Investments Ltd, MIH India Food Holdings B.V, Norwest Venture Partners VII-A Mauritius and Tencent Cloud Europe B.V.

4. Early investors like Accel, Elevation Capital and Norwest Ventures are making up to 35 times in returns on the portion they decided to sell. On the other hand, SoftBank continues to stay invested.

5. Going by the IPO papers, proceeds from the fresh issue to the tune of Rs 137.41 crore will be used for debt payment of subsidiary Scootsy.

6. Additionally, Rs 982.40 crore will be invested in Scootsy for expanding the Dark Store network in the quick commerce segment, with Rs 559.10 crore allocated for setting up dark stores and Rs 423.30 crore for lease or licence payments.

7. The company will also invest Rs 586.20 crore in technology and cloud infrastructure, Rs 929.50 crore for brand marketing and business promotion, and funds will be allocated for inorganic growth and general corporate purposes.

Should You Subscribe To Swiggy IPO?

Stockbroking company Bajaj Broking has recommended that investors should subscribe to the IPO for Long Term. "We recommend to subscribe the IPO with a long-term perspective," Bajaj Broking said.

"While the company has demonstrated steady top-line growth, it remains loss-making with a negative P/E ratio, raising potential concerns for conservative investors. However, the IPO valuation appears reasonable when evaluated against other metrics, such as price-to-sales.

Given the current market conditions, both the subscription and listing performance could face added pressure. Investors should consider Swiggys long-term growth potential alongside its current profitability challenges, making this IPO more aligned with those comfortable with high-risk exposure and a longer investment horizon," said Shivani Nyati, Head of Wealth at Swastika Investmart Ltd.

Swiggy IPO: Indicative Timetable

Finalization of Basis of allotment: November 11, 2024

Refund/ Unblocking of ASBA: November 12, 2024

Credit of Equity Shares to DP A/C: November 12, 2024
AIIMS INI CET Admit Card 2024-25: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi is expected to release the admit card for the Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI CET) January 2025 session soon. Candidates can download their admit cards from aiimsexams.ac.in. Although the scheduled release date was November 4, 2024, the hall tickets are still pending. The INI CET entrance exam for the January 2025 session is set for November 10, 2024. The admit card will include key details such as exam timing, reporting time, exam centre location, and important guidelines for exam day. The INI CET 2025 syllabus covers various subjects from pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical fields, including topics like biochemistry, pathology, and gynaecology. Candidates must bring their INI CET 2025 January session admit card along with a valid ID proof to the exam centre. Acceptable forms of ID include an Aadhaar card, drivers license, voter ID, PAN card, or ration card.

AIIMS INI CET Admit Card 2025: Steps to download here

Visit the official website at aiimsexams.ac.in.

Click on the INI CET January 2025 admit card link available on the homepage.

Enter your login details.

Submit and download your admit card.

AIIMS INI CET 2025: Details on admit card

Name Of The Candidate

Registration Number

Exam Time and Date

Exam Details

Exam day guidelines

Candidates are advised to carefully check their admit cards for any errors and promptly notify the board for corrections. As AIIMS New Delhi is the conducting authority for INI CET 2025, any discrepancies should be reported to them. Candidates can either call the toll-free number 1800117898 or send an email to aiims.inicet@gmail.com to address the issue.The INI CET is conducted for admission to postgraduate programs, including six-year MD, MS, MCh, DM, and MDS courses. These programs are offered by AIIMS institutes across India, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bangalore, PGIMER Chandigarh, and SCTIMST Trivandrum.
Assembly Elections 2024 Live Updates: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will begin his poll campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly elections on Wednesday in Nagpur, where he will attend a "Samvidhan Sammelan" (Conference on Constitution).

Later in the day, Rahul Gandhi will attend a public meeting in Mumbai where the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) poll guarantees are expected to be announced. The symbolism of choosing Nagpur is crucial as it is not just the headquarters of the RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, but also the place where B.R. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956.

Nagpur is in the larger Vidarbha region which is of strategic importance in the battle for Maharashtra. Of the 76 constituencies where the BJP and the Congress are engaged in a direct contest, 36 are in Vidarbha, which is the state's cotton belt. Of all the regions in the state, the BJP has fielded the most in Vidarbha (47), and dealing it a blow here will go a long way in paving the way for the MVA's return to power in the state.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said tribals will rule the state as it belonged to them. Soren, also the JMM executive president, slammed the BJP, claiming that no Hindu is in danger in the state but the opposition party is only trying to create conflict with its Hindu-Muslim narratives.

"We fought for a separate Jharkhand state, and we will fight to secure our rights as well. Tribals will rule here as Jharkhand belonged to tribals," he said while addressing a public meeting at Chotanagra in West Singhbhum district on Tuesday.

According to the 2011 Census, Jharkhand has a total population of 32,988,134. Of them, 26.21 per cent (8,645,042) are tribals. Except for Raghubar Das, all chief ministers of the state, which was created in 2000, belonged to tribal communities. Soren said that his government has functioned well with the support of the people and will continue to do so in the future.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated 47th President of the United States of America Donald Trump on Wednesday, soon after the Republican candidate claimed a landslide victory in the 2024 US Presidential Election with over 60 million votes.

In a post on his social media account on X, PM expressed his heartiest wishes to friend Donald Trump. The Prime Minister wrote, Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, pic.twitter.com/u5hKPeJ3SY  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were among the world leaders who congratulates the new US President early.

Netanyahu said in a post on X, Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on historys greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.

Ukraine President Zelenskyy wrote a long note addressed to the 47th POTUS, He said, Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine. I appreciate President Trumps commitment to the peace through strength approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.

Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory!



I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 6, 2024

Donald Trump claimed a sweeping victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, securing 277 electoral votes. Trump is now set to return to the White House as the 47th president after defeating Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday. This election marks the 60th U.S. presidential poll.
Tourism in India has transformed dramatically, moving beyond the traditional focus on historical landmarks to embrace a diverse array of experiences that appeal to modern travellers. Today, visitors are not only drawn to iconic sites like the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort but also seek authentic interactions with local cultures, traditions, and natural landscapes. A significant trend within this evolving tourism landscape is MICE tourism, which stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions.

This sector emphasises the organisation of business events and corporate gatherings, positioning India as an attractive destination for international conferences and corporate retreats, thanks to its unique blend of rich culture, exceptional hospitality, and modern infrastructure.

To further explore this new tourism trend, we will turn to Meghraj Singh Royal, owner of MRS group for his expert insights into the rising popularity of MICE tourism in India. In recent years, MICE tourism in India has experienced significant growth, with the exhibition industry expanding at a remarkable rate of over 8%, outpacing the country's GDP growth.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, India welcomed more than 6.9 million foreign tourists in 2019 for various events, conferences, and exhibitions. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranked India 28th globally, hosting 158 meetings out of a total of 13,254.

This sector plays a crucial role in the overall tourism industry, generating substantial revenue and providing a boost to the local economy. As India continues to enhance its infrastructure and promote itself as a business-friendly destination, MICE tourism is poised for further expansion and recognition on the global stage.

Meghraj Singh Royal says, "India stands as the perfect MICE destination, where modernity seamlessly intertwines with rich history and cutting-edge technology, offering a unique backdrop for corporate events that inspire innovation and collaboration. From state-of-the-art venues in bustling metropolises to serene retreats steeped in tradition, India provides an unparalleled experience that caters to every aspect of business tourism, making it an ideal choice for organizations seeking to connect, engage, and thrive."

Several factors are driving the increasing popularity of MICE tourism in India. The country boasts a rich array of destinations that seamlessly blend historical significance with modern amenities, making cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Goa prime locations for MICE events due to their excellent infrastructure and accessibility.

The Indian government has recognised MICE tourism as a vital growth area, launching initiatives such as the "Meet in India" campaign to promote the country as a premier business event destination. Additionally, significant investments in infrastructure have enhanced connectivity and facilities across major cities, with venues like the IECC Complex in Delhi positioning India competitively on the global stage.

Furthermore, India's unique cultural appealwhere old-world charm meets contemporary sophisticationattracts international business travellers, encouraging longer stays and additional tourism opportunities. Collectively, these factors create a robust environment for MICE tourism to thrive in India.

Meghraj Singh Royal Believes, At MRS Group, we believe that when showcasing India to the world, we must put our best foot forward. With a wealth of resources and unique offerings, we are well-positioned to emerge as a leader in the global MICE tourism sector.

The government's strong support and initiatives provide us with a significant opportunity to capitalize on this momentum and elevate our tourism industry. Now is the time to harness this potential and showcase India as a premier destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.

The outlook for MICE tourism in India is exceptionally bright and full of potential. The concerted efforts from both the public and private sectors to enhance the MICE landscape signify an exciting era ahead, promising significant economic growth and fostering international partnerships.

With these developments, India is not just participating in the global MICE arena, it is poised to take a leading role, making it an exhilarating time for stakeholders in this thriving industry.

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts sponsored feature, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.)
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed dissatisfaction with the recent resolution on Article 370 passed by the National Conference (NC) in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, calling it a "half-hearted" effort.

Mufti remarked that the language used in the resolution seemed hesitant and failed to fully convey a demand for the complete restoration of Articles 370 and 35A.

"The language could have been stronger. This is a half-hearted attempt, and we are considering bringing amendments to the resolution," Mufti said during a press conference. She noted that while NC's resolution acknowledged concerns over the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, it did not explicitly condemn what she described as an unconstitutional decision.

Mufti questioned the resolutions vague call for "dialogue on the matter," asking, "Dialogue with whom?" She stressed that the NC should have firmly stated the demand for full restoration of Article 370, aligning with the strong sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The PDP president emphasized her partys commitment to opposing the 2019 revocation and supporting full restoration, in line with PDPs election promises.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, aiming to outshine the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, unveiled a series of bold promises on Wednesday, pledging substantial financial benefits to women, farmers, and unemployed youth if it wins the upcoming state assembly elections on November 20. Addressing a large gathering at the BKC ground, the Shiv Sena (UBT)-NCP(SP)-Congress alliance laid out a roadmap of support that could reshape Maharashtra's social welfare landscape.

Central to the MVAs promises was a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 for women in Maharashtra, along with free travel on state transport buses. This measure, designed to provide direct financial assistance, competes with the current BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP governments `Ladki Bahin scheme, which offers Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women, with a potential increase to Rs 2,100 if the government retains power.

The alliance also rolled out the Krishi Sammruddhi Yojana, pledging a loan waiver of up to Rs 3 lakh for farmers, along with an additional incentive of Rs 50,000 for regular repayment of crop loans. This initiative aims to ease the financial burden on farmers, a critical voter base in the state.

In addition to farmer support, the MVA promised Rs 4,000 per month to unemployed youth, health insurance coverage up to Rs 25 lakh, and free medicines for the states residents. These guarantees represent our commitment to lifting Maharashtra, declared NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, who criticized the current administration, noting that never before had Maharashtra seen such a decline in all spheres of life.

Another significant promise from the alliance was a caste census in Maharashtra. The MVA committed to removing the 50 percent cap on reservations if elected to power at the Center, signaling a shift in policies that could potentially reshape the states social structure. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi weighed in, framing the current political climate as a fight between the ideologies of the RSS/BJP and the INDIA grouping of the Opposition.

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray added to the list of promises, vowing that an MVA government would stabilize prices for five essential commodities: edible oil, sugar, rice, wheat, and daal. This measure, he said, aims to protect citizens from price fluctuations and ensure affordability in daily essentials.

With the election drawing close, the MVAs sweeping promises reflect a determined challenge to the ruling coalitions welfare policies.
The geopolitical landscape has undergone significant shifts in recent years, with emerging alliances reshaping traditional power dynamics. One of the most notable developments is the strengthening relationship between China, Iran, and Russia.

This triad of nations, each with substantial regional influence and resources, presents opportunities and challenges for the global market. To understand the implications this partnership could have on the changes in the worldwide stock markets, it's essential to explore the historical context of their relationship, current economic ties, and potential future scenarios.

Historical Context

The relationship between China, Iran, and Russia has its roots in a shared desire to counterbalance Western dominance, especially that of the United States. China's rise as an economic powerhouse has led to increasing partnership offers to countries seeking to diversify away from Western influence, which could impact CFD trading.

Iran's leaders are eager for economic relief from crippling sanctions. In contrast, Russia, facing sanctions due to its actions in Ukraine, has found a willing partner in China for trade and energy needs. The alignment of interests has led to a strategic partnership that transcends mere diplomatic niceties underpinned by mutual economic necessity, energy cooperation, and military collaboration.

Economic Ties

A significant aspect of the trilateral relationship is energy cooperation. Iran, rich in oil and natural gas reserves, has become a crucial partner for China, primarily as it seeks to secure energy resources to sustain its growth. In 2021, China became the largest buyer of Iranian oil, circumventing U.S. sanctions through various means. This relationship enables Iran to monetize its resources and China to meet its energy needs without relying solely on Western markets.

As a major oil and gas exporter, Russia complements Iran's resource-rich portfolio. With the ongoing impact of sanctions on Russia's energy sector, the country seeks to double down on its partnership with China for energy exports. The growth in energy trade between these nations could lead to increased volatility in global oil prices, influencing stock values for energy companies worldwide.

Russia has become one of China's top oil suppliers in recent years. It was reported that Russia supplied around 15-20% of China's total crude oil imports, making it the largest supplier to China. The two countries have strengthened their energy ties, especially following the sanctions imposed on Russia from the West due to geopolitical tensions.

China has also been an essential market for Iranian oil, particularly in light of U.S. sanctions that have limited Iran's ability to sell its oil on the global market. Estimates have suggested that Iran supplies approximately 5-10% of China's crude oil imports, depending on the effectiveness of sanctions and China's willingness to purchase Iranian oil amid international scrutiny.

Trade Developments

In addition to energy, trade between China, Iran, and Russia is expanding across several sectors, including technology, agriculture, and infrastructure. The signing of the 25-year cooperation agreement between Iran and China in 2021 highlighted their commitment to deepening economic ties, which could see upwards of $400 billion in Chinese investments in Iran.

For Russia, engaging with China offers an alternative market for its goods and services, including advanced technology and military equipment. As these nations create a more integrated economic bloc, companies operating within their jurisdictions may find new opportunities for investment and expansion, influencing stock values in sectors tied to this collaboration.

Strategic Military Collaboration

Strategic military collaboration is another foundational pillar of this relationship. While covert, the military ties between these nations have strengthened, leading to joint exercises and intelligence sharing. The implications of this collaboration affect global stock markets, especially for defence contractors and technology firms.

The increased military cooperation between China and Russia has already affected US defence spending and procurement strategies, which has implications for defence companies' stock values. Countries that rely on US military technology must assess their posture in the context of growing Russian and Chinese military capabilities.

Potential Repercussions on Global Markets

The geopolitical manoeuvres of this triad are likely to create an environment of increased volatility in global markets. Investor sentiment is known to be sensitive to geopolitical developments, and any actions taken by China, Iran, and Russia could trigger immediate market reactions. For instance, if tensions escalate in the Middle East due to Iran's military ambitions or if the China-Russia alliance emboldens aggressive territorial claims in the Asia-Pacific, stock indexes could experience rapid fluctuations.

Impact on Energy Prices

As already discussed, this burgeoning relationship will mainly affect the energy sector. Supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and alliances influence global oil prices. A cohesive approach to oil trade among China, Iran, and Russia could lead to coordinated pricing strategies or supply chain adjustments destabilising existing price structures. Energy-related stocks will be at the forefront, with significant implications for investment portfolios globally.

Supply Chain Challenges

The alignment between China, Iran, and Russia also affects global supply chains. The ongoing conflict between these nations and Western countries can drive efforts to create alternative trading networks, impacting multinational corporations reliant on traditional supply routes. Companies may need to adapt their strategies, leading to potential disruptions and changing stock valuations based on strategic pivots.

Long-Term Scenarios

The evolution of the China-Iran-Russia alliance will ultimately depend on how domestic and international political landscapes change. Several scenarios could emerge.

Should this triad successfully create a prosperous economic bloc, we could see the rise of a powerful alternative to Western-dominated financial and trade systems. This scenario might involve increased investment flows within the bloc, shared technological advancements, and even efforts to establish new financial mechanisms analogous to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. This could mean heightened competition for global stock markets, particularly for firms in developing markets that may find themselves increasingly aligned with or dependent on this bloc. Emerging market stocks could rally in response to the increased investment and trade benefits, while Western markets may face uncertainty regarding supply chains and market access.

Heightened Tensions with the West

On the flip side, deteriorating relationships between this trilateral alliance and the West could lead to sanctions, trade wars, and military conflicts. Companies that operate internationally may find themselves navigating a highly complex situation that could impact their global strategies, leading to stock market volatility. In particular, US and European companies with significant operations in regions influenced by this alliance could see their stock values affected negatively if tensions rise.

Technological Rivalry

As cooperation deepens, particularly in the tech sphere, we may see these countries band together to challenge Western technological dominance. This situation may involve the development of alternatives to Western-dominated systems, like a joint payment system that circumvents U.S. dollar reliance. If successful, this could reshape global technology stocks, particularly affecting firms heavily invested in or reliant on international sales tied to existing payment systems. Tech stocks in Western markets might experience volatility based on perceived threats from this burgeoning technology competition.

Implications for Investor Strategies

Investors must respond wisely to the potential impact of the China-Iran-Russia relationship on market values.

Given the uncertainties involved, a diversified investment portfolio can mitigate risks associated with geopolitical events. Investors may consider exposure to sectors less impacted by geopolitical hostilities, such as domestic-focused companies in stable regions or serviced-based industries relying less on global supply chains.

Monitoring Energy Markets

With energy being a significant variable in this trilateral relationship, vigilance in monitoring developments in energy markets, particularly regarding crude oil prices and production agreements, will be critical. Investors could consider energy stocks positioned to benefit from price increases and those that may hold up better during downturns due to global supply constraints.

Russia has been one of the world's largest producers and exporters of natural gas. Historically, Russia has supplied approximately 25% of the world's natural gas supply.

Most of Russia's natural gas exports go to Europe, which has traditionally been a significant market for Russian gas. However, following geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions, European countries have been actively seeking to diversify their energy sources and reduce their dependence on Russian gas.

Emphasis on Defense and Security

Given the military dimension of the China-Iran-Russia cooperation, defence contracting firms and cybersecurity companies may see increased demand for their services. Investors may wish to focus on stocks in these sectors, as geopolitical tensions often lead to increased defence spending by nations wary of rising adversarial coalitions.

The Bottom Line

The relationship between China, Iran, and Russia significantly impacts the global stock market landscape. Their evolving partnership, driven by strategic, economic, and military cooperation, signifies a shift that could create opportunities and challenges for investors. Whether we face an era of increased market volatility, a robust alternative economic bloc, or intensified tensions with Western powers, understanding the nuances of this historical alignment is essential. In navigating this complex geopolitical environment, investment strategies must be adaptable, forward-thinking, and well-informed to capitalise on the evolving global economic landscape.

To sum up, the dynamics of the China-Iran-Russia alliance will be instrumental in shaping the future of international finance and global trade. Investors and market analysts must remain aware of strategic developments and market trends from this triad of countries. They can better navigate the potential volatility and seize opportunities in an ever-changing global stock market environment by staying informed.

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts sponsored feature, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.)
With a landslide victory in the US presidential elections, Republican candidate Donald Trump is set to take charge after defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. With Trump set to commence his second term as president, his return to power has several meanings for India.

From areas like trade technology to energy and defence cooperation, New Delhi has a significant interest in the US polls. The Indian economy is expected to experience ripple effects with Trump coming back to power. Indias future relationship with the United States can now possibly see a new path.

In the past, Trump has conveyed his interest in boosting ties with New Delhi, and he has made public commitments to enhancing what he calls the great partnership between the two countries. In a recent post on X, ahead of the US polls, Trump reaffirmed his friendship and bond with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The camaraderie between the two leaders was on full display during events like "Howdy, Modi!" and "Namaste Trump," which turned into a cornerstone of relations between India and the US during Trump's previous tenure.

It is pertinent to mention that Washington is the largest destination for Indian merchandise exports. In 2023-24, imports into India from the US amounted to $42.2 billion, while exports from India were valued at $77.52 billion.

As a candidate, Donald Trump has clearly stated that he intends to revamp the foreign policy of the US with a sharp focus on "America First" principles. Commenting on US poll results, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar recently asserted that Washington is very likely to become more isolationist regardless of who bags victory between Trump and Kamala Harris.

With Trump at the helm of affairs now, his second tenure poses both opportunities and challenges across several key dimensions: trade, immigration, military cooperation, and diplomacy.

Trump's foreign policy approach is prioritizing American interests and minimizing entanglements in international agreements. During the second term, Trump's policies could continue to disrupt traditional US alliances and agreements, including with New Delhi.

One area where Trump administration would likely impact the ties between New Delhi and Washington is trade. Last month, the former US President alleged that it imposes the highest tariffs on foreign products and vowed to introduce a reciprocal tax if elected to power.

The Trump administration's potential tariff policies could have repercussions for India's IT, pharmaceutical, and textiles sectors, all of which rely on the US market.

On the other hand, the continued push to decouple from China could open new opportunities for New Delhi to position itself as a manufacturing hub, attracting US businesses that are aiming to diversify supply chains away from Beijing.

Immigration Issue

In the past, Trump's stance on immigration, especially the H-1B visa program, impacted Indian professionals. In his first tenure, he made attempts to increase wage requirements for foreign workers and impose additional restrictions, which created challenges for Indian IT professionals and technology firms. These measures, if reintroduced, could affect the Indian talent pool in the US and influence tech firms that rely on skilled Indian workers.

Military Ties and Defence Cooperation

In recent years, Defence and military collaboration have been cornerstones of the relationship between the two nations. The landmark Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) and defence deals such as the GE-HAL agreement for manufacturing jet engines have been some of the highlights of India-US relations under Joe Biden's administration.
The Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme, dedicating a budget of Rs 3,600 crore for the period from 2024-25 to 2030-31. This initiative aims support an additional 7 lakh students through its provisions.

The PM Vidyalaxmi scheme is a government initiative to ensure affordable access to higher education for deserving students in India. Under this scheme, students who gain admission into quality higher education institutions (QHEIs) can avail collateral-free, guarantor-free loans from banks and financial institutions to cover tuition fees and other course-related expenses.

Key Highlights of PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme

The PM Vidyalaxmi scheme provides financial support to students pursuing higher education in reputable institutions across India. It aims to eliminate financial barriers to higher education and make it more accessible for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Eligible Institutions for PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme

The scheme applies to Indias top-quality higher education institutions as determined by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). Eligible institutions include:

All higher education institutions, both government and private, ranked within the top 100 in the NIRFs overall, category-specific, or domain-specific rankings.

State government institutions ranked between 101-200 in the NIRF.

All centrally governed institutions, ensuring a wide selection of eligible schools for students seeking financial aid.

Loan Amount and Credit Guarantee

For loan amounts up to 7.5 lakhs, the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme offers a 75% credit guarantee on the outstanding balance in case of default. This guarantee supports banks in offering more accessible education loans to students under the scheme.

Interest Subvention for Eligible Students

Students from families with an annual income of up to 8 lakhs, and who are not already receiving government scholarships or interest subvention, are eligible for additional financial support:

A 3% interest subvention will be applied to loans up to 10 lakhs during the moratorium period.

The scheme aims to provide this interest subvention support to one lakh students annually, with preference given to those enrolled in government institutions or technical/professional courses.

Funding and Expected Beneficiaries

The scheme has an allocated budget of 3,600 crore for the period from 2024-25 to 2030-31, aiming to support seven lakh new students during this time. This investment reflects the governments commitment to empowering students in achieving their educational goals.

How to Apply for PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme?

The application process for the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme is simplified through a unified portal, PM-Vidyalaxmi, managed by the Department of Higher Education. Students can apply for education loans and interest subvention directly on this portal, which all participating banks will use.

The interest subvention will be provided through an e-voucher or Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallet for seamless disbursement.

Eligibility Criteria for PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme

To qualify for the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme, students must:

- Secure admission to a Quality Higher Education Institution (QHEI) as defined under the scheme.

- Have an annual family income of up to 8 lakhs (for interest subvention benefits).



Additionally, under the PM-USP CSIS program, students from families with incomes up to 4.5 lakhs who pursue technical or professional courses in approved institutions are eligible for full interest subvention on education loans up to 10 lakhs during the moratorium period.

Together, the PM Vidyalaxmi and PM-USP CSIS schemes provide comprehensive support to students pursuing higher education in accredited institutions.
Israel Katz, who previously served as Israels foreign minister, has been appointed as the new defense minister. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made this decision following his dismissal of Yoav Gallant from the role. Netanyahu cited a lack of confidence in Gallants handling of the country's military operations, which include ongoing actions in Gaza and Lebanon.

Early Life and Military Service

Born in 1955 in the coastal city of Ashkelon, Israel Katz has longstanding roots in Israel. He began his military career in 1973, serving as a paratrooper during a tumultuous period in Israels history, and remained active until 1977.

Although he has an extensive military background, Katz lacks experience in senior command positions, distinguishing him from his predecessor, Yoav Gallant, a former general.

Political Career and Roles in Knesset

Katzs political career began in 1998 when he became a member of the Knesset, Israels parliament, where he joined various influential committees related to foreign affairs, defence, and justice. Over the years, he has held an array of ministerial roles across key sectors, including agriculture, transportation, intelligence, finance, and energy.

Time as Israels Foreign Minister

In 2019, Katz was appointed as Israels foreign minister, where he made bold diplomatic moves. One of his notable actions was his sharp criticism of the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, whom Katz labeled persona non grata for what he perceived as Guterres failure to firmly denounce Iran's missile strikes on Israel.

Additionally, Katz instructed the foreign ministry to initiate legal proceedings against French President Emmanuel Macron after Israel was excluded from a military naval trade show in Paris.

Limited Engagement with the U.S.

In the ongoing conflict since October 2023, Israels relations with the United States have been pivotal, yet Katz has kept a relatively low profile in these diplomatic exchanges.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has frequently traveled to Israel, but his interactions with Katz have been limited. Blinkens primary meetings have been with Gallant, highlighting a contrast in the U.S.s engagement with Israels defence leadership.

Education and Personal Life

Israel Katz pursued his higher education at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, completing both undergraduate and graduate studies. He is married and has two children.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday, congratulating him once more on his recent election victory. Sources report that during the conversation, both leaders emphasized their commitment to working together to promote global peace.

In the exchange, Trump expressed admiration for Modi and India, remarking, "India is a magnificent country, and PM Modi is a magnificent man." Trump conveyed his respect and friendship for Modi and called him "one of the first world leaders" he reached out to following his victory. He also said, "The whole world loves PM Modi."

Breaking: President Trump says the whole world loves PM Modi. Adds that India is a magnificent country and PM Modi is a magnificent man: Sources on PM Modi, Trump telephonic conversation  Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) November 6, 2024

Earlier in the day, PM Modi shared a congratulatory message on social media, stating, Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory.

As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability, and prosperity."

Modi accompanied the message with photos from their past meetings during Trumps previous tenure.

Donald Trump Secures the White House

In a close and challenging race, Donald Trump defied predictions to secure the presidency, defeating Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. With his win in Wisconsin, Trump achieved the 270 electoral votes required to claim the White House.

Final vote counts are still being awaited in states like Michigan, Arizona, and Alaska.
New Delhi: Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar who unveiled the trailer of his upcoming film 'I Want to Talk' recently, spoke about the deep bond he shared with the late Irrfan Khan, both on and off-screen.

The two not only collaborated professionally but also developed a friendship that transcended the boundaries of their careers. Sircar recently opened up about his connection with Irrfan, especially during the actors battle with cancer, offering a touching and heartfelt tribute to his dear friend.

Speaking candidly in a recent podcast, Sircar revealed that their relationship grew even closer during the actor's illness. When Irrfan got diagnosed, I was able to relate to him in a very personal way, Sircar said. Having seen my own father go through a similar ordeal, I understood the pain and the inner battles he was facing. During his treatment, Irrfan and I became much closer; we would talk for hours on the phone. Sometimes, I wouldnt even know what to say because hed dive into deep topicsspirituality, life, magic, cinema all kinds of things.

He added, I think Irrfan was torn between different optionswhether to go for chemo or consider alternate therapies. I sometimes wonder if I had advised him to try something else, maybe he would have lived a little longer. He was already in the final stages when he started his treatment. He was fighting hard, but I think there was always a part of him that wanted to explore other ways."

Sircar fondly remembered how they would spend time in peaceful meditation. He said, There were days when I would go over to his house and wed do breathing exercises together. Id say, 'Irrfan, today lets meditate,' and hed always say 'yes' with a smile. He was such a genuine person, a true friend, someone you rarely meet in this industry.

The filmmaker expressed how deeply he misses the actor, not just as a friend but as a collaborator. A person like him, with such humanism, was rare. Thats why he was Irrfan. Even now, when I think of him, I see that spark in his eyes and that unforgettable smile. Sometimes, he'd call me at 4 AM just to chat'Dada, lets talk,' hed say, and wed talk about films, nonsense, everything. I miss him in every film I make now.

Sircars words reflect the incredible bond he shared with Irrfan Khan, a connection that transcended the screen. For Shoojit, the void left by his friends passing is immeasurable, but the impact of their friendship continues to leave a mark on both his personal life and work.

Shoojit Sircar's directional 'I WANT TO TALK', stars Abhishek Bachchan in a pivotal role. The film is all set to hit theaters on 22nd November 2024.
In the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, Donald Trump secured the Republican Party's nomination, winning a total of 277 electoral votes out of 538. This victory enabled him to surpass the required 270 votes needed for a majority.

With this win, Trump made history by becoming the first to win a second presidential election after a gap of four years, joining Grover Cleveland, who achieved this feat 132 years ago. In today's episode of DNA, Zee News sheds light on overall afeects of this historic win.

Watch Full Episode Here

Trump's Historic Win

Trumps victory marks a significant political achievement, as he secured the 2024 presidency after losing in 2020. His comeback reflects his enduring political strength, having won in 2016, lost in 2020, and now succeeded again in 2024. This remarkable feat has put him in the same league as Grover Cleveland, who won non-consecutive terms in office.

Swing States Play a Key Role

A decisive factor in Trumps victory was his strong performance in the swing states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, and North Carolina. These states, often seen as pivotal in the U.S. election outcomes, played a crucial role in Trump gaining the necessary electoral votes.

Elon Musk's Support and Social Media Strategy

Another important element in Trumps success was the support from tech mogul Elon Musk. Musk ensured Trumps return to social media and leveraged "X" (formerly Twitter) as a platform for his campaign.

The social media boost, coupled with a strong narrative from Trumps campaign team, contributed to his resurgence as a leader, particularly after facing numerous legal challenges in 2024. This enhanced his popularity, further cementing his path to victory.

Global Impact of Trump's Victory

Trumps win is expected to have significant global ramifications. His policies on Russia, including his relationship with the country, his stance on the Ukraine-Russia war, and potential actions on tariffs against China, will shape international relations. Additionally, his approach to the Israel-Iran issue will have major diplomatic consequences.

Impact on India

Trump's policies will also have an impact on India, particularly in the areas of trade, defense, and strategic cooperation. His foreign policy stance and actions may influence bilateral relations between the U.S. and India, potentially leading to new opportunities or challenges.

### Potential Global Changes Under Trumps Presidency

Trumps return to office could usher in major shifts in both domestic and foreign policy. It will be interesting to observe how his leadership evolves and how his policies affect both the United States and the rest of the world during his second term.
US President Elections: As the United States awaits its next president with a bated breath, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said on Wednesday that Washington is likely to become more isolationist irrespective of who becomes the next president of the country.



Speaking at an event in Canberra as Americans were still casting votes, Jaishankar said the election was unlikely to reverse what he called a long-term trend in US policy. The EAM said on Tuesday that India's relationship with the US would only grow in the future.

Highlighting US reluctance to deploy troops and its withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Joe Biden, "Probably starting with President Barack Obama, the US has become much more cautious about its global commitments." "President Trump may be more articulate and expressive in that regard," he stated during a panel discussion with the Foreign Ministers of Australia and New Zealand.

But he further stated, "It's important to look at the US more nationally than purely in terms of the ideology of the administration of the day." "If we are truly analyzing them, I think we have to prepare for a world where actually the kind of dominance and generosity which the US had in the early days may not continue," the EAM said.

All three foreign ministers said their nations needed to step in to create the global environment they wanted. "We all have an interest today in creating some kind of collaborative consensual arrangement," EAM Jaishankar added.

"There is more protectionism," said New Zealand's Winston Peters. "The world we were once trying to build on is changing, and we'll have to react and change with it."

On Tuesday, speaking at a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong at Parliament House in Canberra, EAM Jaishankar also credited former US President Donald Trump with reviving the QUAD alliance in 2017, marking a significant development in Indo-Pacific cooperation.

"We have seen steady progress in our relationship with the US over the last five presidencies, including a previous Trump presidency," EAM Jaishankar said on Tuesday in response to a question on how India-US ties may evolve after the elections. "So, when we look at the American election, we are confident that, regardless of the outcome, our relationship with the US will continue to grow," he added.

(With IANS Inputs)
Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is expected to concede defeat in the US presidential election to Republican candidate Donald Trump. According to news agency Reuters, Harris will deliver her concession speech at 6 pm local time (4:30 am IST on Thursday). The announcement follows her decision to cancel her election night speech on Wednesday, once it became evident that Trump had secured the necessary 270 electoral college votes to reclaim the Oval Office, making him the 47th president of the United States.

Despite a tight race predicted by pre-election polls, Trump surged ahead of Harris, winning key swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin. These victories solidified his return to the White House, as he also captured the popular votemaking him the first Republican to do so since George W. Bush in 2004. In his victory speech to a packed crowd in Florida, Trump declared, America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.

Harris, with 224 electoral college votes compared to Trumps 280, ran a powerful campaign that resonated with many Americans. The 60-year-old trailblazer made history as the first Black woman and the first South Asian woman to earn a major partys presidential nomination. Her campaign raised a staggering $1 billion in just under three months, with backing from high-profile supporters like Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Oprah, and even some Republicans.

However, her efforts couldnt overcome Trumps MAGA (Make America Great Again) message, which focused on the economy and immigrationissues that proved pivotal for voters this election. Polls revealed that many Americans felt more financially stable during Trumps earlier presidency (2016-2020) compared to the Biden-Harris administration.

Political experts noted that Harris, tied to an unpopular administration, struggled to distance herself from Bidens policies and offer a message of changea feat Trump achieved successfully. When asked in an interview how she would differ from Biden, Harris responded, Not a thing comes to mind, a statement that underscored her challenge in defining a distinct platform.

Harriss campaign momentum was further limited by the late start, as she only began campaigning in earnest after Biden exited the race in July. In contrast, Trump had been rallying his base since his first term and remained a significant figure in the US political landscape even after leaving office in 2020.

Historic Comeback for Trump

At 78, Trump has set a new record as the oldest elected US president and only the second to serve two non-consecutive terms, following Grover Clevelands precedent in 1897. Trump survived an assassination attempt during his campaign and, following his victory, hailed his political movement as the greatest of all time.

"We are going to help our country heal, fix our borderswe made history for a reason tonight," he said, celebrating his comeback. "We have achieved the most incredible political win. I want to thank the American people. I will fight for you and your family with every breath in my body."

The impact of Trumps win has already reached beyond US borders, with stock markets surging in countries like the US and India following the election results.

With Harriss concession speech approaching, the stage is set for a momentous transition, marking a dramatic shift in American politics as Trump prepares to return to the White House.

(With inputs from Reuters)
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over what he cited as a lack of trust, according to the Times of Israel. Gallant, a long-standing rival within the Likud Party, will be succeeded by Foreign Minister Israel Katz. Katzs position will be taken over by Gideon Saar, Minister without Portfolio.

According to the Times of Israel, the Prime Ministers Office released a statement confirming that Netanyahu notified Yoav Gallant that his role as Defence Minister would conclude 48 hours from the receipt of this letter. The brief letter closed with Netanyahu expressing, I would like to thank you for your service as defence minister.

In a video statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed that while there was strong cooperation and trust with the Defence Minister during the initial months of the war, this trust had eroded over recent months, according to the Times of Israel.

Netanyahu added that he and Gallant clashed over handling the war, alleging that Gallant made remarks and took steps that went against the cabinets decisions.

He further claimed that Gallants actions indirectly supported Israels enemies: "I made many attempts to bridge these gaps, but they kept getting wider," Times of Israel quoted him as saying.

After his dismissal, Yoav Gallant stated on X (formerly Twitter) that ensuring Israel's security would remain his lifes mission.

"The security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life," he said.
Following Donald Trumps comeback victory in the US presidential election, leaders from around the world, including Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, extended their congratulations, hailing his win as a "historic" achievement.

In a statement from London, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared his optimism about future collaboration, emphasizing the unique UK-US special relationship. Congratulations, President-elect Donald Trump, on your historic election victory, Starmer said. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead, he added, citing shared values of freedom, democracy, and enterprise.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of Trumps close allies during his previous term, expressed his excitement on X, writing, "Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history's greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed the sentiments, emphasizing a strong future for the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Heartiest congratulations my friend, Donald Trump, on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen our strategic partnership, Modi posted on X. Together, lets work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability, and prosperity.

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also conveyed his congratulations, saying Trumps peace through strength approach offers hope for progress. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer, Zelensky wrote.

French President Emmanuel Macron posted, Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, voicing her enthusiasm for renewed ties, posted, On behalf of myself and the Italian Government, my most sincere congratulations to the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump. Italy and the United States are sister nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values, and a historic friendship.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also extended her congratulations, saying, The EU and the US are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So lets work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese underscored the close bond between the US and Australia, posting, Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory. Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the importance of Trumps leadership in strengthening the alliance, saying, His leadership will again be key to keeping our alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also congratulated Trump, reaffirming the long-standing cooperation between Germany and the US. For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens, Scholz posted.
US Presidential Polls: The result in the US Presidential Polls 2024 brought a good news for former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump who defeated Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris in the race to the White House. The counting of votes took place on Tuesday, November 5 (local time).

As the results began to unfold, Trump maintained a lead over his rival Harris throughout. His victory over Kamala Harris has again brought Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo, into the limelight who got it dead right as far as the prediction of the winner is concerned.

The hippo from Thailand became an unlikely prophet ahead of 2024 U.S. polls. She came out with a prediction that Trump would secure victory and return to the White House. What makes the prediction different and unique is that it involves watermelons.

Mood Deng grabbed eyeballs last year on November 4 when she was presented with two watermelons. Each melon was carved with the name of one of the candidates for the top post: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Moo Deng showed no hesitation and waddled right over to the watermelon marked with Donald Trumps name and proceeded to munch on it like a true conservative icon. The hippo became a sensation on the internet for her adorable antics at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand.

As far as the US presidential poll results are concerned, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are witnessing a neck-and-neck fight with Trump having his nose ahead. Trump is leading by over 230 electoral votes, whereas Harris is leading by 216, according to the Associated Press.
US President Elections: As the United States awaits results after voting in the presidential election, Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump said that this was the best campaign he has run and indicated that it may be his last. "I ran a great campaign. I think it was maybe the best of the three," he said on Tuesday at a polling station in Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago home.

He stated that it would be "crazy" to think that he would not concede if the election was fair. "If I lose an election, if it's a fair election, I'm going to be the first one to acknowledge it, and I think it'swell, so far, I think it's been fair," Trump said, as quoted by news agency IANS.

Responding to a reporter query on whether this would be his last campaign, the 78-year-old said, "Yeah, I would think so." Trump won his first election against Hillary Clinton, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, in 2016, but lost the second to President Joe Biden in 2020.

He has not conceded defeat in the last election and insists he is the winner. "We did great in the first one. We did much better in the second one, but something happened. And this was the best; I would say this was the best campaign we ran," he said.

As he insisted that he had defeated Biden and the election was stolen, his supporters rioted on January 5, 2021, and invaded the Capitol while Congress was certifying Biden's election. They made death threats against Vice President Mike Pence and made members of Congress flee.

The former US President said that he did not expect violence this time. "My supporters are not violent people," he added. Trump's wife, Melania, joined him at the polling station set up at a tightly guarded recreation centre.

Earlier he posted on X, "Voter enthusiasm is THROUGH THE ROOF because people want to Make America Great Again. That means lines are going to be long!" He exhorted his supporters to "stay in line" and vote no matter how long it took. "The Radical Communist Democrats want you to pack up and go home," he added.

(With IANS Inputs)
Workers plant Caragana seedlings at Baijitan national nature reserve of Lingwu, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, March 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

With more than half of its reclaimable desertified land treated, China has taken the lead globally in achieving zero growth in land degradation and become the largest contributor to global afforestation, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Since 2012, China has seen its desertified land decrease by 4.3 million hectares, said Guan Zhiou, head of the administration, reporting to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, on Tuesday.

"This demonstrates a positive trend of overall improvement and accelerated enhancement," he said.

He credited the achievement to a series of concerted efforts by the country to promote initiatives aimed at controlling desertification, underpinned by the establishment of a robust and effective legal framework.

Currently, the legal framework has included six national laws, including laws for sand prevention and control, as well as forest and wetland conservation, he noted, adding the 13 key provincial regions for desertification control have all enacted regional regulations on the issue.

He highlighted the significant roles of a series of projects in tackling desertification, including the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, which was launched in 1978.

Thanks to these projects, 35.9 million hectares of desertified land have been brought under protection and 7.9 million hectares of such land have been effectively treated, he shared.

Guan elaborated that within the expansive scope of the Three-North program spanning from northwestern to northeastern China, the forest coverage rate has risen significantly from approximately 12.4 percent to 13.8 percent. Moreover, effective measures have successfully controlled soil erosion on 61 percent of the affected land.

He continued by noting that within the Yellow River Basin, the boundary delineating regions with and without vegetation cover has shifted approximately 300 kilometers westward. Due to these efforts, northern China has embraced a remarkable decrease in the number of days with severe sand and dust weather, he added.

He also noted, however, China is still confronted with an arduous task to forge ahead with desertification control, considering the size of its desertified land and the severity.

"Currently, there are 47.2 million hectares of desertified land that can be reclaimed across the country," he said. "Of them, 22.2 million hectares remain untreated, mainly concentrated in the Three-North region and are all hard nuts to crack," he said.

The official vows a series of measures to advance the work, including incentivizing the public and enterprises to participate in desertification control.

China will tap into different modes to encourage farmers and herdsmen to participate in desertification control, he continued.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged efforts to promote high-quality development of social work in the new era.

In a recent instruction on social work, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, highlighted the need to promote social governance under socialism with Chinese characteristics.

A central conference on social work was held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Xi's instruction was read out at the conference.

Social work is vital to the Party's long-term governance, the country's enduring peace and stability, social harmony and stability, and the well-being of the people, Xi said in the instruction.

China's social structure is currently undergoing profound changes, with the rapid development of emerging sectors, Xi said, calling for a stronger sense of responsibility and more actions in the face of new situations and tasks in social work.

It is essential to strengthen Party building in new types of economic and social organizations and among groups in new forms of employment, and to enhance the Party's influence, cohesive power and appeal in the emerging fields, Xi said.

It is important to give full play to the leading role of Party building in community-level governance, Xi added.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the conference and delivered a speech.

Cai, who is also a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, called for following Xi's instruction as guidance for developing social work.

He emphasized the importance of prioritizing Party building in emerging sectors and called for concerted efforts to expand the reach of Party organizations and the scope of their activities.

Cai also underscored the significance of uniting and serving the people. He urged Party committees at various levels to strengthen their leadership in social work and foster high-quality development of social work through reform and innovation.
On 5 November a new migrant caravan set off from the city of Tapachula in Mexicos southern state of Chiapas en route to the US as voters north of the border headed to the polls to elect a new president.

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On 5 November Argentinas media reported that the far-right government led by Presidenthad accepted the resignation of, the secretary for international economic relations at the foreign ministry.

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On the first day of seventh grade in Aurora, Colorado, this past August, Alisson Ramirez worried about making friends and not understanding lessons taught in English.

"I was nervous that people would ask me things and I wouldn't know how to answer," the Venezuelan teen says. "And I would be ashamed to answer in Spanish."

But it was not what she had expected. Her teachers had translated words from their lessons into Spanish. They gave out written instructions in Spanish. Some teachers even asked in Spanish if students had finished or had questions.

"That made me feel better," says Alisson. The 13-year-old is among the 3,000 new students, mostly from Venezuela and Colombia, at the Aurora public school system.

City officials and false claims

While teachers have been working hard to educate children of immigrants, outside the classrooms, city officials are not as welcoming. They promised not to spend any money helping newcomers and tried to keep them from coming to the area.

One city official even claimed that criminals from Venezuela had occupied buildings in Aurora. The police investigated and found it was not true. But the false claim continued to spread.

Maria Angel Torres is Alissons mother. The family had left Venezuela to escape lawlessness and violence. They left behind a food truck business after being attacked for not paying protection money. The family then crossed the dangerous Darien Gap on foot to head north and seek asylum in the United States.

Torres said she did not believe criminals had taken over buildings. But she worried that bad reports about Venezuelans would affect her and her family. Some organizations and churches wanted to help her family. But others are deeply afraid.

Torres told the Associated Press, I dont look like a threat. But people here act like they feel terrorized.

Times have changed in Aurora

Aurora is used to educating children of immigrants.

The 2020 census reported that more than a third of people in Aurora speak a language other than English at home. Immigrants and refugees have been moving to Aurora because it is close to Denver and it has a lower cost of living.

However, some schools in the area were not ready for the sudden arrival of many non-English-speaking students from Venezuela and Colombia. Before, a teacher might have had one or two new students in her class. Now, teachers in some schools have as many as 10, or a third of their classroom.

Translanguaging

Marcella Garcia is the head of Aurora Hills Middle School. She observed that some new students were not talking in classrooms where only English was spoken. So, the school system advised teachers to use a method called "translanguaging." That means using Spanish or the home language at times to help new students understand English lessons and discussions happening around them.

The method has helped Alisson feel more at ease.

One day in September, Alisson and her friends spoke Spanish among themselves as their teacher spoke to the class in English about a drawing he was showing in front of the class.

It was a drawing of an ancient Egyptian marketplace. What do you think this dude here is doing with the basket? the teacher asked the class. One girl who had been in Aurora schools longer than the rest translated for Alisson and the other new students.

Before the school began using this new method, teachers may have stopped the new students from talking among themselves. Now, they permit students to help each other in any language they can.

So far, there appears to be little public criticism in the area against this method. It generally requires more work for teachers, who have to translate materials or their talks in real-time.

Rumors of violence

Recently, Alissons mother received messages from Aurora Public Schools that there have been rumors of bomb threats at its schools and others across the state. The schools said there was no truth to the rumors.

But that does not make Torres feel better. She said in Venezuela, the country is in trouble, but no one there would think of threatening children at school.

Im Jill Robbins.

Bianca Vazquez Toness reported this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English.

Quiz - Uncertain Time for Immigrants Children in School Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

ashamed  adj. not wanting to do something because of shame or embarrassment

take over  phrasal verb. to take control of something

church  n. place of religious worship

census  n. the official process of counting the number of people in a country, city, or town and collecting information about them

dude  n. informal. a man  used especially by young people

basket  n. a container usually made by weaving together long thin pieces of material

translate  v. to change words from one language into another language

rumor  n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true

What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.
Melania Trump, the wife of Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate who is leading the race, came to support her husband during the politician's speech on the stage of his headquarters in Florida. The former first lady appeared in front of the audience in a gray suit, which consisted of a long skirt with a classic cut and a jacket with a smell.

ADVERTISIMENT

The ex-model's blazer had accent black buttons on the front. Melania looked happy, sometimes even teary-eyed, standing next to her lover on stage, smiling at the audience and holding her husband's hand.

The woman wore radiant makeup with pink blush and lip gloss. The public figure styled her hair in her signature light waves and complemented the look with a light-colored manicure and silver rings.

ADVERTISIMENT

The US presidential candidate has thanked the mother of his youngest son for her support, the Hindustan Times reports. "I also want to thank my beautiful wife Melania, the first lady, who has the number one best-selling book in the country. Can you believe it? She works very hard to help people. So I just wanted to thank her," the politician said in his speech.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about how Kim Kardashian went out in public wearing Princess Diana's necklace for almost $200 thousand.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
After a day when the United States appeared to be on the brink of a constitutional crisis, Richard Nixon has finally emerged as the countrys next president.

It was not until midday EST (1800 BST)) that Democrat Vice-President Hubert Humphrey conceded victory to the Republican candidate.

The announcement came after a full 24 hours of waiting when at times it seemed any of the three presidential candidates could have won the race to the White House.

At the latest count, only 25,552 votes separated the two front runners. Mr Nixon and Mr Humphrey have each won 43% of the popular vote.

Gallant and courageous

The third nominee, George Wallace, running on his own American Independent Party ticket, made early gains in the Southern states for his segregationist views and calls for the use of nuclear weapons in Vietnam.

At a news conference this afternoon, Mr Nixon, surrounded by his family, appeared in a packed ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria hotel.

He praised his opponents gallant and courageous fight and pledged to bring us together in a united country.

The president-elect did not dwell on the closeness of the race.

He told reporters he had received a gracious message of congratulations from Mr Humphrey and had spoken to him on the phone.

He had also been congratulated by President Johnson and the two men had pledged to work together for a smooth transition of power.

The president-elect clinched his winning margin in the electoral college by taking Illinois  the same state which cost him victory against John F Kennedy eight years ago.

Illinoiss 26 votes have taken him above the 270 majority required  although not all the electoral college votes are in yet.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Richard Milhous Nixon was sworn in as the 37th president of the United States on 21 January 1969.

His most acclaimed achievements in office included reducing tension with China and the USSR. He also ended the war in Vietnam with what he termed peace with honour.

He won a second term in 1973 but became the first president in US history to resign  over the Watergate scandal.

It was revealed there had been a break-in at the Democratic National Committee office in the Watergate building during the presidential election campaign which was traced back to Nixons supporters.

Tape recordings showed the president had tried to influence the police investigation into the break-in.

By the time of his death on 22 April 1994 he had re-established his reputation as an elder statesman in foreign affairs.
The temple reverberated with rhythmic Sanskrit and Tamil hymns, as a Hindu priest held a flame before the god. As this tiny South Indian village gathered to pray for Kamala Harris, a gaggle of reporters jostled for space and camera angles.

Theres little to distinguish the village of Thulasendrapuram from any other rural community in Tamil Nadu, except its connection to a woman who could become Americas first leader with South Asian roots.

As millions of Americans vote, Harris has people rooting for her from thousands of miles away in a village surrounded by rice paddies and coconut trees, where her mothers family has ancestral ties. They talk about her at the local tea shop. Banners and billboards bearing her face are seen throughout the community.

Our deity is a very powerful God. If we pray well to him, he will make her victorious, said M. Natarajan, the temple priest that led the prayers in front of the image of Hindu deity Ayyanar, a form of Lord Shiva.

Harris maternal grandfather was born in the village, about 350 kilometers from the southern coastal city of Chennai, more than 100 years ago. As an adult, he moved to Chennai, where he worked as a high-ranking government official until his retirement.

Harris has never visited Thulasendrapuram and she has no living relatives in the village, but people here still venerate the family that made it big in the U.S.

Our village ancestors granddaughter is running as a U.S. presidential candidate. Her victory will be happy news for every one of us, Natarajan said.

The villages sudden fame has helped bring money into the village. Recently, construction began on a water storage tank with funds donated by a local bank. Village residents say it will carry a plaque with Harris name.

Harris late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born in India. After moving to the U.S. to study, she married a Jamaican man, and they named their daughter Kamala, a Sanskrit word for lotus flower.

Other than trips during her childhood, Harris hasnt visited India much  particularly not since becoming vice president  but she has often spoken emotionally about her ties to her late mothers country of birth. Yesterday, she released a campaign video highlighting her mother, who arrived in the U.S. at age 19 and became a cancer researcher.

Titled Mother, the video ends with a narrator saying: This daughter of Shyamala, this daughter of the American story, is ready to lead us forward.

Harris has often talked about how she was guided by the values of her Indian-born grandfather and mother. She has also spoken of her love of south Indian food, especially a type of steamed rice cake called idli.

Harris name is engraved in a list of donors  her aunt Sarala Gopalan gave money to the temple in her name  along with that of her grandfather. Outside, a large banner wishes the daughter of the land success in the election.

Yesterday, the village temple also received rare international visitors: two American tourists and one from the U.K., all wearing black t-shirts that said Kamala Freakin Harris.

Manikandan Ganesan, a villager who runs a small store near the temple, said Harris bid for the presidency has made the village famous. He hopes Harris will eventually visit them.

Even if she mentioned that she would visit our village, it would make us very happy, Ganesan said. Her victory itself will be a big source of happiness for us.

Village residents also prayed for Harris victory in 2020, and set off firecrackers when she became the U.S. Vice President.

For women of the village, the candidates journey is a source of inspiration.

Local politician Arulmozhi Sudhakar said Harris embodies a significant step toward female empowerment in places like Thulasendrapuram, where a majority of women continue to face discrimination and gender inequality.

From the time when women were not even allowed to step out of their house, to now a woman from our village contesting in the U.S. presidential election  this brings happiness for us, Sudhakar said. The coming generations will see her as a role model to succeed in life. SHEIKH SAALIQ, THULASENDRAPURAM, MDT/AP
According to a recent edition of The Economist, in a press conference held on October 14th Mike Duheme, the head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, accused Indias top diplomat in Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, of involvement with a criminal network that has coerced and killed Canadian citizens who support Sikh separatism.

In September 2023, Canadas Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, publicly claimed that Indian agents were involved in a shooting targeting Hardeep Singh Nijjar  a Canadian citizen, activist for the Khalistan separatist movement, and Sikh religious leader labeled a terrorist by the Indian government  outside a Sikh temple in a Vancouver suburb.

The Indian government dismissed the accusation as ridiculous and demanded that Canada provide evidence; Canada reportedly shared evidence via the intelligence services of both countries, though India continues to deny the allegations. Its hard to believe the Canadian government would create a diplomatic storm with commercial repercussions for both countries without a strong basis.

Another similar case involved the attempted assassination of American citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (another Khalistani activist), which led to accusations from the U.S. Department of Justice against an Indian working for the Indian government in November 2023.

Pannun and Nijjar are just two in a long list of Indian opponents who have been assassinated (or faced assassination attempts) abroad. The Indian government denies having an overseas assassination program, but analysts suggest the sheer number of cases points to the existence of such a program.

While not unique on a global scale, its clear that the Modi/BJP government does not hesitate to violate the sovereignty of friendly nations and strain international relations with key Western countries in order to extend abroad its domestic sectarian persecution of religious minorities, in line with its Hindutva policies.

Its also true that some Western powers (e.g., the U.S.) do not have entirely clean hands in actions of this sort, carried out in the name of raison dEtat. Just as we criticize such actions when committed by Western powers, there must be consequences for the brazen way the Modi government engages in these acts that violate international law.

The West must recognize that, under BJP rule, India is a highly imperfect democracy with severe civil liberties violations, many stemming from BJP policies and the nature of RSS/BJP  a blend of religious-based ultranationalism with a proto-fascist organization. Access to Indias lucrative market and geopolitical considerations cannot be the only factors taken into account. If Modi continues crossing red lines in international law, there must be consequences.

linkedin.com/in/jorgecostaoliveira
China has moved forward with a complaint at the World Trade Organization that alleges the European Union has improperly set anti-subsidy tariffs on new Chinese-made electric vehicles.

The Chinese diplomatic mission to the WTO said Monday it strongly opposes the measures and insisted its move was designed to protect the EV industry and support a global transition toward greener technologies.

The European bloc announced last month it was imposing import duties of up to 35% on electric vehicles from China, alleging the Chinese exports were unfairly undercutting EU industry prices. The duties are set to remain in force for five years, unless an amicable deal can be struck.

Electric vehicles have become a major flashpoint in a broader trade dispute over the influence of Chinese government subsidies on European markets and Beijings burgeoning exports of green technology to the bloc.

China alleged that the EU move amounted to an abuse of trade remedies that violates WTO rules, and amounted to protectionist measures, according to the missions statement.

Valdis Dombrovskis, the executive vice president of the EUs Commission, last week called the steps proportionate and targeted and were aimed to underpin fair market practices and support the blocs industrial base. MDT/AP
The seventh edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) started on Tuesday, offering countries and companies across the globe a grand platform to showcase their products and services, and a valuable opportunity to tap into the vast Chinese market.

On top of the national level import-themed expo, China has recently unveiled a series of initiatives, including broadened visa-free policies and eased investment restrictions, to open its doors even wider to foreign visitors, investors and business doers.

As the country presses forward with its high-quality opening-up policies, an enormous boost is widely expected in global trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.

This year's CIIE, running on Nov. 5-10 in China's commercial hub of Shanghai, brings together participants from 152 countries, regions, and international organizations, with a record number of 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders setting to attend, a testimony to the event's growing international sway and appeal.

The event displays China's clear commitment to expanding imports and promoting trade liberalization. It also serves as a platform for China to introduce new measures to improve the business environment for foreign enterprises, from easing trade policies to supporting cross-border e-commerce and facilitating smoother customs procedures.

Over the past six years, the annual expo has become a signature event of China's high-level opening up and an emblem of its ongoing endeavors to build an open global economy.

Through the expo, China has signed trade agreements worth billions of dollars and opened its domestic market to a wide range of foreign goods and services, thereby delivering benefits to both domestic consumers and global suppliers.

This commitment to shared prosperity and economic globalization makes the CIIE a major contributor to global economic stability and a driver for cross-border trade and investment, particularly at a time when global trade is fraught with uncertainties and protectionist pressures.

China is also on the move to make visits by foreign tourists and businessmen much easier. Starting from Nov. 8, citizens holding ordinary passports from Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and South Korea will be able to travel to China visa-free.

This move, coupled with other visitor-friendly measures, promises to give a further boost to foreign arrivals. In the third quarter this year, China registered an influx of 8.186 million foreigners with 4.885 million of them visa-free, which represent year-on-year upsurges of 48.8 percent and 78.6 percent respectively.

Local governments across China are also stepping up hospitality offerings. A brochure of "Welcome to Beijing: Essential Tips for New Arrivals" has been introduced in Beijing with essential tourism information; and Shanghai has equipped its taxis and subway stations with devices that accept foreign bank cards. Tourism hubs like Chengdu and Xi'an have also taken new measures to make foreigners feel at home.

Substantial strides in fostering a more favorable environment for foreign investors have also been made recently. The new edition of China's national negative list for foreign investment, which took effect Friday, eliminated the remaining restrictions on the manufacturing sector.

The country has thereby removed all barriers to foreign investment in manufacturing, a testament to its global leadership in manufacturing openness, especially as some developed countries are still bent on limitations on foreign manufacturing investments.

An ever opening up China, as multiple pundits have observed, is a tremendous boon for the rest of world, adding impetus to global economic recovery especially amid the evolving and turbulent international landscape.
The head of Myanmars military government embarked yesterday on an official visit to China, the embattled Southeast Asian nations most important international ally, for several regional meetings.

It is the first time Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has traveled to the neighboring country since his army seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmars army suffered unprecedented battlefield defeats over the past year, especially in areas near the Chinese border. Both Myanmars ruling generals and Chinas government have shown concern as pro-democracy guerrillas and armed ethnic minority groups, sometimes working hand in hand, have taken the initiative in their fight against military rule.

But Beijing is now concerned about instability that threatens its strategic and business interests in Myanmar. Chinas government has maintained good working relations with Myanmars ruling military.

State-run MRTV television said that Min Aung Hlaing departed on a flight from the capital, Naypyitaw, yesterday morning to begin his visit.

He will visit the Chinese city of Kunming today and tomorrow to attend three summits: The Greater Mekong Subregion, the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy and the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Cooperation. Kunming, the capital of Chinas Yunnan province, is about 400 kilometers from the border with Myanmar.

The report said he will also have meetings with Chinese government officials to discuss ways to enhance goodwill, economic and various sectors between the two governments and the people.

China, along with Russia, is a major arms supplier to Myanmars military in its war against resistance forces. Beijing is also Myanmars biggest trading partner and has invested billions of dollars in its mines, oil and gas pipelines, and other infrastructure.

Russia is the only other foreign destination to which Min Aung Hlaing is known to have traveled since taking power, aside from his attendance at an April 2021 summit meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. His governments unwillingness to cooperate in efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of his countrys conflict led to him and other top Myanmar government officials being disinvited from ASEAN summits since then.

Myanmars pro-democracy opposition has expressed concern about China welcoming a visit by Min Aung Hlaing.

Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for the opposition National Unity Government, said in a recorded video posted on Facebook before the official announcement of the trip that he was deeply concerned about Chinas invitation to Min Aung Hlaing and urged the Chinese government to review its action.

Myanmars people want stability, peace and economic growth. It is Min Aung Hlaing and his group who are destroying these things, Kyaw Zaw said. I am concerned that it will unintentionally incite a misunderstanding of the Chinese government among Myanmars public.

The shadow National Unity Government was established by elected lawmakers barred from taking their seats in 2021 and is closely linked to Suu Kyis former ruling National League for Democracy party, which had friendly relations with Beijing. Although China is scorned by many for backing the army, the shadow government tries to avoid antagonizing Beijing too much, recognizing the influence it has in the region.

Myanmars army has been on the defensive since late last year when ethnic armed organizations dealt it major defeats in the countrys northeast.

The offensive by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Taang National Liberation Army, was able to quickly capture towns and overrun military bases and command centers and strategic cities along the Chinese border in northeastern Shan state. It was widely seen at the time as having Beijings support to help stamp out rampant organized crime activities in the area controlled by ethnic Chinese.

Beijing helped broker a cease-fire in January, but that fell apart in June when the ethnic rebel forces launched new attacks.

China was displeased with the ongoing warfare, shutting down border crossings, cutting electricity to Myanmar towns and taking other measures to discourage the fighting. MDT/AP
Passenger traffic at Macau International Airport (MIA) in the first 10 months of the year reached 6.34 million passengers, an increase of 56.92% over the same period last year, the Macau International Airport Co. Ltd. (CAM) unveiled in a statistic report.

According to the report, aircraft movements rose substantially, reaching over 49,000  a 49.37% jump.

Compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, passenger volume and aircraft movements have recovered to around 80% and 78%, respectively.

During the January-September this year, international visitors with foreign passports made up 15% of arriving passengers, 1.1 times last years total. This indicates the MIA is steadily rebuilding traffic after Covid-19 disruptions and moving closer to pre-pandemic levels.

Most flight routes suspended during the health crisis have now reopened, with some carriers upsizing aircraft on routes with strong demand.

An expansion project will boost capacity to accommodate growth by attracting new airlines and destinations.

Additionally, some airlines are modifying winter schedules in response to market needs.

Air Macau will debut a new route to Taichung, Taiwan, this month and increase Bangkok flights in December.

Flights to Chongqing and Guiyang will rise to five weekly, while Nanning services will expand to four per week.

West Air plans to inaugurate a Lhasa-Chongqing-Macau route with Jeju Air resuming flights from South Korea. Other carriers are also tweaking schedules based on local demand.

Beyond expanding direct services, MIA is actively cultivating transfer business.

Partnerships allow one-ticket-through-baggage flights to Canada, France, the US, Europe, Australia, Egypt, India, and Sri Lanka via connections of two to six hours, aiming to integrate Macaus regional network with long-haul international routes.

Collaboration with land transport providers is developing air-rail-bus options from Greater Bay Area hubs like Guangzhou, Jiangmen, and Dongguan.

Passengers can buy bus tickets to border points and easily transfer to MIA, providing convenient mainland access.

Looking to 2025 and its 30th anniversary, MIA will intensify overseas promotional efforts aligned with Macaus tourism master plan.

In the same statement, MIA also said to aim to further tourism growth by attracting airlines and servicing more international visitors, supporting Macaus diversification goals. Victoria Chan
MGM has been pioneering innovation in cultural tourism, exploring new models that integrate MICE and cultural attributes. After signing a long-term partnership agreement with Prince Kungs Palace Museum of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Peoples Republic of China in September, the two parties aspire to pass down Chinese intangible craftsmanship to Macaus creative industry through the project Eastern Elegance: Timeless Tale Intangible Cultural Heritage Fashion Series.

This event has been held earlier, encompassing symposium, workshops, and fashion shows. It is an all-inclusive industry-driven exhibition  designed not only to show local fashion practitioners the ropes on how to turn the time-honored handicraft into novel opportunities that foster the modern development of Chinese intangible cultural heritage, but also open a widened path for the Tourism + MICE integration. It attracted around 200 participants from cultural institutions, industry professionals, and students from Mainland China, Macau, and Hong Kong.

The fashion series made full use of the resources of both MGM and Prince Kungs Palace Museum of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, offering multifaceted learning and hands-on experience with the theme of high fashion. Around 20 experts and scholars from Mainland China and Macau were invited to lead a number of interactive masterclasses that offered in-depth insights into the entire journey from design basics like Chinese embroidery techniques to the culmination of haute couture fashion shows.

Participants could either gain hands-on experience in the workshops or observe as spectators. These two modes of participation enabled people of varying skill levels to experience and learn together on-site.

Riding on the events educational activities, MGM also organized an Educational Tour for Greater Bay Area Fashion Industry, and nearly 70 students majoring in fashion from Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong attended the series. This tour was set to provide a platform for young designers to exchange, further promoting the collaborative development of the industry within the region.

In addition, the tour highlighted MGMs efforts in developing Tourism+ content into in-depth and captivating study tour itineraries that enrich Macaus status as a diversified travel destination.

Through this new MICE model in Macau, MGM aims to not only facilitate the modernization of intangible cultural heritage in the contemporary industry, but also promote Chinese traditional culture further on the world stage.

MGM

Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, NAPE, Macau

E: info@mgmchina.com.mo

W http://www.mgm.mo/
Gaming revenue soared in October, marking a 6.6% year-on-year increase, thanks to a surge in visitors during Chinas Golden Week holiday, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau revealed late last week.

The citys gross gaming revenue (GGR) reached MOP20.8 billion (USD2.6 billion), the highest since the pandemic halted travel.

According to a Bloomberg report, the numbers align with analysts predictions and represent a 20% rise over Septembers revenue, although they remain 21% below pre-pandemic levels from 2019.

During the seven-day Golden Week holiday, Macau saw a significant influx of visitors, with average daily tourist numbers reaching nearly 142,000  surpassing 2019 levels.

September alone saw 2.5 million arrivals, roughly 91% of pre-pandemic figures, with most tourists arriving from mainland China.

In addition to the Golden Week boost, casinos benefited from concerts by popular Hong Kong and Korean artists in late October, which resulted in another Golden Week for the operators, drawing additional crowds, industry analysts said.

However, the gaming industry is facing regulatory challenges as China tightens its stance on capital outflow and money laundering.

Macaus legislature recently criminalized unlicensed money exchanges, a practice common around casinos.

Adding to the citys regulatory shift, former judge Sam Hou Fai, elected as the new leader in October, has expressed concerns over the gaming industrys dominant influence, signaling a possible push for economic diversification.

Meanwhile, the financial impact on casino operators has been mixed.

The Bloomberg Intelligence index of Macau casino operators dropped 11.4% in October, and the Hang Seng Index, Hong Kongs main benchmark, declined 3.9%, reflecting investor caution amid regulatory uncertainties.

According to analysts at JP Morgan, GGR could continue to grow by 2% to 3% quarter-on-quarter.

This looks pretty impressive to us, considering headwinds from weak macro and consumer sentiment, noted JP Morgan analysts DS Kim, Mufan Shi, and Selina Li in their report.

Seaports Vitaly Umansky is even more optimistic, forecasting a 6.4% quarter-on-quarter increase in GGR for Q4, projecting it to reach MOP59.1 billion.

He expects November revenues to dip by month-on-month, although this would still represent a 17% increase compared to November 2023.

For December, Umansky has predicted a 4% month-on-month rise and a 5% year-on-year increase.

He said the base mass segment will likely benefit from recently announced stimulus measures in mainland China, which should lead to an improvement in economic activity and consumer confidence in China in 2025.

This could result in a stronger recovery for the base mass segment alongside continued growth in premium offerings, leading to an estimated 8% GGR growth for 2025. PC/LV
The sixth-term Chief Executive (CE), Sam Hou Fai, has shared his ambition to build Macau as the perfect home, to live up to the trust and expectations of both the Central government and the Macau people.

He was speaking late last week in a media briefing at the Macau International Airport, the Government Information Bureau said.

Sam was returning from Beijing, where he met President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking Central government officials.

He met Premier Li Qiang, who presented him with a decree of the State Council appointing him as the sixth-term CE.

Sam expressed profound appreciation for being received by President Xi and acknowledged his appointment as the sixth-term CE by the Central government.

He said the appointment not only reflects the trust and support granted to him but also embodies the Central governments concern for the people of Macau and its backing for local development.

Sam specifically highlighted President Xis remarks that One country, two systems is a beneficial system that aligns with the fundamental interests of both the nation and Macau.

The Central government will continue comprehensively implementing the principles of One country, two systems, Macau people governing Macau, and a high degree of autonomy, ensuring that these principles remain intact.

Sam said President Xi hoped he could embrace the heavy responsibilities and fulfill his mission of leading the new-term MSAR government.

President Xi hoped Sam could unite all sectors of society and work to create a new chapter in the practice of One country, two systems with distinct Macau characteristics, to make greater contributions to the countrys high-quality development and national rejuvenation.

During his meeting with President Xi, Sam said the president also said national security is a fundamental principle and is of utmost importance. It requires the MSAR government to safeguard national sovereignty, security and developmental interests.

He said President Xi also called for the new MSAR Government to create a favorable environment for local economic diversification.

President Xi highlighted the need to fully leverage Macaus advantages as One Centre, One Platform, One Base to participate in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macau Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

President Xi also expressed concern regarding elderly care, childcare, education and healthcare, urging the new MSAR government to consider measures to ensure the public could enjoy equitable, precise and targeted social welfare.

Sam said he was fully committed to implementing President Xis important directives.

Sam aims to improve the national security legal framework to adapt to changing circumstances and challenges, thereby reinforcing national security without compromise.

Sam promised to unite Macau to enhance governance capabilities and standards, improve peoples livelihoods, promote economic diversification, and better contribute to national development to build a better home for Macau people.

The Central government fully supports the new CE and government in leveraging Macaus position and advantages to better contribute to national development while playing a more active role in Chinas opening to the outside world.

New govt officials list within this month

Sam said he is organizing the new government but has not yet chosen candidates for the principal positions.

He said he is listening to opinions and engaging with people and aims to submit a list of principal officials to the Central government this month.

He said loyalty to the nation and the MSAR, support for the Basic Law, patriotism, dedication to duty, and integrity are essential for anyone serving as a principal official.

Furthermore, candidates must earn the trust of the Central government and the recognition of local people.

They must possess national awareness, a commitment to public welfare, a sense of responsibility, a spirit of teamwork, governance capabilities and integrity, Sam said.

He said that once the Central government appoints the principal officials, they will start working to prepare next years policy address by refining certain campaign platform elements into key priorities for governance.

Focus on enhancing livelihood and diversification

Sam said the main focus will be on enhancing livelihoods, promoting economic diversification, advancing high-quality development in the next phase of the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, improving public governance capabilities and standards, and perfecting the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security.

Speaking of peoples livelihoods, he said attention should continue to be given to post-pandemic recovery, support for the underprivileged, and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Regarding economic diversification, Sam is considering promoting an industrial fund led by the government.

The fund will guide the development of high-tech industries while creating conditions to encourage international high-end talent to remain in Macau and further develop the cultural and tourism sectors.

Sam also said public administration reform, optimization, and restructuring will be conducted step by step to improve overall civil service awareness and proactivity in delivering efficient public administrative services to citizens.
Election Day 2024 arrived  with tens of millions of Americans having already cast their ballots. Those include record numbers in Georgia, North Carolina and other battleground states that could decide the winner.

The early turnout in Georgia, which has flipped between the Republican and Democratic nominees in the previous two presidential elections, has been so robust  over 4 million voters  that a top official in the secretary of states office said the big day could look like a ghost town at the polls.

As of Monday (Macau time), Associated Press tracking of advance voting nationwide showed roughly 82 million ballots already cast  slightly more than half the total number of votes in the presidential election four years earlier. Thats driven partly by Republican voters, who were casting early ballots at a higher rate than in recent previous elections after a campaign by former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee to counter the Democrats longstanding advantage in the early vote.

Despite long lines in some places and a few hiccups that are common to all elections, early in-person and mail voting proceeded without any major problems.

That included in the parts of western North Carolina hammered last month by Hurricane Helene. State and local election officials, benefiting from changes made by the Republican-controlled legislature, pulled off a herculean effort to ensure residents could cast their ballots as they dealt with power outages, lack of water and washed out roads.

By the time early voting in North Carolina had ended on Saturday, over 4.4 million voters  or nearly 57% of all registered voters in the state  had cast their ballots. As of Monday, turnout in the 25 western counties affected by the hurricane was even stronger at 59% of registered voters, state election board Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell said.

Brinson Bell called the voters and election workers in the hurricane-hit counties an inspiration to us all.

Besides the hurricanes in North Carolina and Florida, the most worrisome disruptions to the election season so far were arson attacks that damaged ballots in two drop boxes near the Oregon-Washington border. Authorities there were searching for the person responsible.

The absence of any significant, widespread problems has not stopped Trump, the Republican nominee, or the RNC, which is now under his sway, from making numerous claims of fraud or election interference during the early voting period, a possible prelude to challenges after Election Day.

He has mischaracterized an investigation underway in Pennsylvania into roughly 2,500 potentially fraudulent voter registration applications by saying one of the counties was caught with 2600 Fake Ballots and Forms, all written by the same person. The investigation is into registration applications; there is no indication that ballots are involved.

In Georgia, Republicans sought to prohibit voters from returning mailed ballots to their local election office by the close of polls on Election Day, votes that are allowed under state law. A judge rejected their lawsuit over the weekend.

Trump and Republicans also have warned about the possibility that Democrats are recruiting masses of noncitizens to vote, a claim they have made without evidence and that runs counter to the data, including from Republican secretaries of state. Research has consistently shown that noncitizens registering to vote is rare. Any noncitizen who does faces the potential of felony charges and deportation, a significant disincentive.

One case of noncitizen voting was caught during early voting last month and resulted in felony charges in Michigan after a student from China cast an illegal early ballot.

This is the first presidential vote since Trump lost to Joe Biden four years ago and began various attempts to circumvent the outcome and remain in power. That climaxed with the violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol to halt certification of the results after Trump told his supporters to fight like hell.

Even now, a solid majority of Republicans believe Trumps lie that Biden was not legitimately elected, despite reviews, audits and recounts in the battleground states that all affirmed Bidens win. A survey last month from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed Republicans remain much more skeptical than Democrats that their ballots will be counted accurately this year.

Seeking to rebuild voter confidence in a system targeted with false claims of widespread fraud, Republican lawmakers in more than a dozen states since 2020 have passed new voting restrictions. Those rules include shortening the window to apply or return a mail ballot, reducing the availability of ballot drop boxes and adding ID requirements.

On the last weekend before Election Day, Trump continued to falsely claim the election was being rigged against him and said a presidential winner should be declared on election night, before all the ballots are counted.

Vice President Kamala Harris urged voters not to fall for Trumps tactic of casting doubt on elections. The Democratic nominee told supporters at a weekend rally in Michigan that the tactic was intended to suggest to people that if they vote, their vote wont matter. Instead, she urged people who had already cast ballots to encourage their friends to do the same. CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY & ALI SWENSON, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP
* Live Up

 Sam Hou Fai expresses his vision for transforming Macau into the perfect home, aiming to meet expectations of both residents and the Central Government

* Economy | UM adjusts GDP growth downwards

* Education | CityU to establish new campus in Coloane

* Gaming revenue soared in October, marking a 6.6% year-on-year increase, thanks to a surge in visitors during the Golden Week

* Gaming: Wynn expands premium gaming areas as part of capex efforts

* A tiny village in India where Kamala Harris has ancestral roots is praying for her victory

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Wednesday, November 6, 2024  edition no. 4599
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This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2024 shows the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in Mashghara, Lebanon. [Photo/Xinhua]

UN agencies and partners continue to deliver humanitarian aid to the crisis-impacted people in Lebanon amid escalating hostilities, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN chief, said at a daily briefing on Tuesday.

On Monday, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) delivered medical supplies and fuel for generators to the Burj Shimali Palestinian refugee camp in Tyre in southern Lebanon. A humanitarian convoy also delivered medical supplies, medicine and hygiene kits to a healthcare center in Labweh, located in the Baalbeck-El Hermel area.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) has already reached over 2 million vulnerable people in the country through its emergency assistance as well as regularly programs. WFP is also providing food assistance to Lebanese and Syrian people fleeing across the border into Syria.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is partnering with local authorities to facilitate the gradual return to learning for some 387,000 Lebanese children, including those staying in shelters and communities affected by the war.

The initiative is part of an emergency response plan to support the opening and operation of 326 public schools not used as shelters to ensure school-age children in Lebanon have access to education.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that the humanitarian situation in the country has reached levels that exceeded the severity of the 2006 war. The healthcare sector continues to face relentless attacks, with facilities, staff and resources increasingly caught in the crossfire, and further straining Lebanon's already fragile health infrastructure.

"Our humanitarian colleagues fear that, amid escalating hostilities and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, the demand for food, medicine, shelter and other essential supplies is growing higher," the UN spokesperson said, calling for urgent funding needed to sustain the response.

However, the humanitarian appeal launched in the beginning of October for 426 million U.S. dollars is currently just under 19 percent funded. That means only 80 million dollars has been received so far, he added, urging countries not only to pledge but turn pledges to cash as early as possible.
King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to Donald J. Trump, following his election as President of the United States of America for a new term.

In this message, the Sovereign expresses to Mr. Donald Trump His sincere congratulations and His best wishes for every success in his presidential duties and endeavors to serve the American people.

HM the King underlines that the resounding success of Mr. Trump in these elections is a tribute to his patriotism and rewards his continued commitment to upholding the best interests of the United States, our longstanding friend and ally.

The Sovereign reiterates that the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America share a historic alliance and a strategic partnership, both of which have withstood the test of time, adding that the values we have in common and our shared interests across a wide range of sectors have enabled us to consistently work together towards building a better future for our peoples, making our relationship a driving force for peace, security and prosperity in the Middle-East, Africa and beyond.

In this message, HM the King recalls that during the previous tenure of Mr. Trump, bilateral ties reached an unprecedented level when the United States of America recognized the Kingdom of Moroccos full sovereignty over its entire territory in the Sahara, underlining that this memorable act, for which the Moroccan people will be forever grateful, was a milestone and a pivotal moment, reflecting the true depth of the special, longstanding relationship which holds the promise of even greater cooperation and a broader strategic partnership.

As we address an array of increasingly complex regional and global challenges, the Kingdom of Morocco will be, more than ever, a true friend and loyal ally of the United States, the Sovereign writes, voicing His determination to work closely with Mr. Trump to advance our shared interests and further enhance our unique alliance across all levels of cooperation.
On November 5, Cape Verdean President Jose Maria Neves renewed his call for the timely replacement of officials whose mandates have expired, emphasizing the importance of new appointments in national institutions.

Speaking at the opening of the judicial year at Praias Palace of Justice, Neves urged political leaders to reach consensus on these renewals, stressing that extended terms should remain an exception.

Neves highlighted the principle that heads of constitutional bodies, who are not directly elected, should continue only until successors are named to ensure continuity. However, he noted that several officials have had their mandates extended for years due to political stalemates or procedural delays.

The president argued that democratic integrity requires regular renewal of mandates, with extensions limited to a reasonable transition period. His comments came after his office sought to annul a Court of Auditors report on irregular presidential expenses, arguing that its judges lacked legitimacy after their mandates expired in November 2023.

Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva responded by acknowledging the challenge of achieving parliamentary consensus for key appointments, citing the National Elections Commission as an example. He stressed that officials must remain in office until successors are confirmed to maintain institutional continuity.
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, who is in China to attend the 7th China International Import Expo, in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic in Shanghai on Tuesday, who is here to attend the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Noting that China always attaches great importance to its relations with Serbia, Li said that China stands ready to work with Serbia to further implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain close strategic communication, deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, take bilateral cooperation in various fields to a new level, and advance the building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future in a new era with high quality.

Li said that China is willing to work with Serbia to strengthen the docking of development strategies, jointly implement the China-Serbia free trade agreement, build and operate key cooperation projects, accelerate cooperation in green, digital and artificial intelligence innovation areas, and achieve more mutually beneficial and win-win results.

It is hoped that Serbia will continue to provide a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Serbia, Li said, adding that the two sides should further deepen exchanges and cooperation on culture, tourism, education, sports, media and youth to consolidate popular support for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future.

Vucevic said Serbia firmly abides by the one-China principle, appreciates China for its firm support on issues concerning Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and looks forward to closer exchanges with China, well implementing the bilateral free trade agreement under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, deepening practical cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, education, science and technology, medical and health care, transportation and agriculture, and strengthening people-to-people exchanges.
The Angolan Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) arrested four men, one of whom is Brazilian, for the crime of counterfeiting foreign currency, finding in their possession material to counterfeit 11.5 million dollars.

According to SIC spokesperson, Manuel Halaiwa, the network was dismantled on Friday after an operation that culminated in the arrest of these four individuals, aged between 38 and 53.

Manuel Halaiwa said that the 51-year-old Brazilian citizen, who has lived in Angola for 17 years, is a mechanical engineer and works in a mining area, in the province of Lunda Norte, but was arrested in Luanda, having been found with three of the four safes seized, where the material for the production of counterfeit banknotes was located.

The SIC spokesperson stressed that the accused was detained when he was allegedly heading towards the area where these notes would be reproduced.

Following the arrest of the Brazilian citizen, three other men were also arrested in Luanda, who were part of the network, in possession of two other suitcases, with a safe and several films, which were supposed to be used for forgery.

These safes had films, in each safe there was an amount, in terms of films, that could provide a total of 11.5 million dollars. Each safe had a total of 2.5 million films and the suitcase 1.5 million , said the SIC spokesperson.
Supporters of Cameroonian President Paul Biya are gearing up to celebrate his 42 years in power this Wednesday, with an array of public events, tributes, state-sponsored media programs, and appeals for an eighth term.

The ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (RDPC) has called on its members to rally behind the 91-year-old leader, who recently returned to Cameroon after a six-week absence, dispelling widespread health rumors. Let us unite in support of President Paul Biya to ensure Cameroons stability and progress, urged Jean Nkuete, RDPCs Central Committee Secretary General, in a statement released in late October.

The statement commended the impressive achievements of Biyas tenure and called for efforts to counter negative speculation against the leader, who assumed office in 1982 following Amadou Ahidjos resignation. The Cameroonian people are a people of respect for age and wisdom, the circular emphasized, encouraging continued allegiance to Biyas leadership.

Party sections across the country quickly heeded the call. In the West, numerous activists signed a petition inviting all Cameroonians, regardless of political affiliation, to join us in supporting President Paul Biyas candidacy. In Ebolowa, a southern city, the screening of a documentary titled *Paul Biya: A Great Statesman with a Remarkable Destiny* prompted similar endorsements, with the Minister of Education and RDPC communications secretary formally requesting Biya to stand as the Southern regions candidate in the October 2025 presidential election.
On November 5, Mozambiques Defense Minister Cristovao Chume acknowledged that Security Forces may have used excessive force to manage recent protests but emphasized that the response aligned with the level of protester aggression.

We recognize that there may have been cases where police or Defense and Security Forces exceeded necessary force, and we are actively investigating why certain officers may have overstepped during the demonstrations, C. Chume stated.

The Mozambican Bar Association (OAM) also criticized the police response, calling the protests a legitimate exercise of fundamental rights and condemning what it saw as a disproportionate response that could fuel further unrest. Chume, however, described the demonstrations, led by presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, as violent and stressed the Defense and Security Forces responsibility to uphold public order. He also urged protest organizers to prevent minors from participating.

Mondlane, who disputes the October 9 election results, organized a week of protests starting October 31, with further marches planned for November 7 in Maputo. Earlier protests on October 21, 24, and 25 led to clashes with police, resulting in at least ten deaths, numerous injuries, and around 500 arrests, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

The National Elections Commission (CNE) declared Daniel Chapo, from the ruling Frelimo party, the winner with 70.67% of the vote, while Mondlane received 20.32%. Mondlane, Ossufo Momade of the opposition party Renamo, and Lutero Simango of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) have all rejected the results, calling for the annulment of the vote and planning legal or political actions to contest the outcome, which still awaits validation by the Constitutional Council.
ing Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, delivered, on Wednesday evening, a speech to His faithful people on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the glorious Green March.

Here follows the full text of the speech:

Praise be to God May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Dear Citizens,

Today, we are proudly celebrating the forty-ninth anniversary of the Green March.

That peaceful, popular march enabled us to recover the Moroccan Sahara; it also strengthened the bond between that regions inhabitants and their motherland.

Since then, Morocco has been able to establish tangible facts on the ground as well as an irreversible reality rooted in law, legitimacy, commitment and responsibility, as evidenced by the following:

Firstly: the strong attachment of our sons and daughters in the Sahara to their Moroccan identity, and their commitment to the nations sacred, immutable values, in keeping with the bond of the Beia, which has existed throughout history between the inhabitants of the Sahara and the kings of Morocco.

Secondly: the progress, security and stability existing in the Moroccan Sahara.

Thirdly: growing international recognition of the Sahara as a Moroccan territory, and the broad support the Autonomy Initiative has been receiving.

Parallel to this natural, legitimate situation, there is, sadly, another world clearly disconnected from reality  a world still feeding on the illusions of the past and clinging to outdated theories and claims:

As a result, there are some who demand a referendum, despite that option being discarded by the United Nations and the impossibility of implementing it; at the same time, the proponents of that position refuse to allow a census of the people detained in the Tindouf camps, using them as hostages, keeping them in deplorable, humiliating conditions, and depriving them of the most basic rights.

And there are those who exploit the Sahara issue so as to secure access to the Atlantic Ocean.

To them I say this: We do not refuse such as a prospect. As everyone knows, Morocco has proposed an international initiative to facilitate the Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean, within the framework of partnership and cooperation. The aim being to achieve shared progress for the benefit of all peoples in the region.

And there are those who exploit the Sahara issue to deflect attention from their many internal problems.

Still others seek to manipulate certain legal aspects in order to serve narrow political goals.

To them as well, I say this: Moroccos partnerships and legal obligations will never be at the expense of its territorial integrity or its national sovereignty.

Now is time for the United Nations to assume its responsibility and spell out the major difference between the real, legitimate world  represented by Morocco in its Sahara  and a world which is frozen in time, and which is disconnected from reality and the developments that have taken place.

Dear Citizens,

At this stage in the evolution of the question of our territorial integrity, we need to keep up the concerted efforts of us all.

In this regard, I wish to commend, in particular, the sense of patriotism shown by our Moroccan community abroad, and its commitment to defending the nations sacred, incontrovertible values, as well as its contribution to our countrys development.

To strengthen the bonds linking our expatriate community to the homeland, I have decided that the mechanisms used in managing the affairs of Moroccans residing abroad should be revisited.

This will be achieved by restructuring the institutions concerned with our community abroad to make sure there is no overlap of powers and no dispersion of actors, and to see to it that the new needs of our expatriate community are met.

With that in mind, I have asked the government to ensure a restructuring of the institutional framework, based on two main bodies:

 The first one is the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad; this independent constitutional institution must play its role in full as a platform for reflection and for making proposals, ensuring that all components of our expatriate community are duly represented.

In this respect, I call for the rapid adoption of the new law for the Council so that it may be installed at the earliest opportunity.

 The second one concerns the establishment of a special body, to be called the Mohammadia Foundation for Moroccans Residing Abroad; it will serve as the executive arm for the implementation of public policy in this regard.

The new institution will be tasked with pooling the powers currently scattered among a number of actors, and with preparing, coordinating and implementing the national strategy for the Moroccan community abroad.

The new institution will also manage the National Mechanism for Mobilizing Moroccan Skills Abroad, which I called for and which should be front and centre in the institutions mission.

The aim is to open up prospects for Moroccan skills abroad and to accompany project leaders.

Working actively with the departments and stakeholders concerned, I expect this institution to give a strong impetus to the linguistic, cultural and religious services provided to the Moroccan community abroad, all generations included.

One of the main challenges this institution must address is the simplification and digitization of administrative and judicial procedures that concern our expatriate community.

I also attach special importance to opening up new prospects for Moroccans abroad to invest in their homeland. That the contribution of our expatriate community to private investment should stand at a mere 10% is really not acceptable.

Dear Citizens,

The sacrifices made by the generation of the Green March inspire and prompt us to be more vigilant and to show greater mobilization. The purpose is to enhance the gains made in the recognition of the Sahara as a Moroccan territory, and to continue promoting the development and progress witnessed in our southern provinces.

In the same spirit, we must see to it that the fruits of progress benefit all citizens in all regions, from the Rif region to the Sahara, from the east to the Atlantic Ocean, from mountainous regions to our plains and oases.

I seize the opportunity of this glorious anniversary to remind ourselves of the Green Marchs eternal oath, as a mark of loyalty to its architect, my revered father, His late Majesty King Hassan II  may he rest in peace  and to pray for the souls of our righteous martyrs.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.
King Mohammed VI delivered a speech on Wednesday evening on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the Green March, a key moment in Moroccos contemporary history. Through this speech, the Sovereign reaffirmed the pride of the Moroccan people in this symbolic event that helped recover the Sahara and strengthen ties between this region and the nation. Since this event, Morocco has continued to defend its sovereignty over the Sahara, based on the principles of legality, justice and responsibility.

In his speech, the King highlighted three fundamental elements that underpin Moroccos position on the Sahara. First, the Sahrawis unwavering attachment to their Moroccanness, illustrated by centuries of loyalty to the monarchy and its sacred symbols. Second, the growing development and stability of the Moroccan Sahara, which is experiencing significant dynamism, a constant improvement in security and a promising future for its inhabitants. Third, the growing international recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara, supported by the international community and the adherence to the autonomy proposal as a political solution to the conflict.

The King also condemned the defenders of obsolete ideas, such as that of organizing a referendum, an option abandoned by the United Nations due to its unfeasible nature. He denounced those who refuse to register the populations sequestered in the Tindouf camps, where they live in inhumane conditions, deprived of their fundamental rights. He criticized the international actors who exploit the Sahara issue for geopolitical purposes, in particular those who seek to control access to the Atlantic Ocean. The King reaffirmed that Morocco supports an initiative aimed at facilitating the access of the Sahel countries to the Atlantic, within a framework of cooperation beneficial to the region.

The Sovereign reiterated that Morocco would never give up on its national unity, and that all the countrys international commitments and partnerships would always be aligned with the preservation of its territorial integrity. He stressed the need for continued mobilization of all citizens to defend the integrity of the country and praised the commitment of Moroccans abroad in defending national symbols and in the development of the kingdom.
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Credit: Alex Green from Pexels

The NHS mental health workforce decreased significantly during austerity, with notable disparity in staffing levels across the country, according to a new review.

The uneven growth in the mental health workforce over recent years is highlighted in the new analysis by the University of East Anglia. While, overall, the evidence is that the mental health workforce in 2023 is bigger than the mental health workforce in 2009, there appear to be notable differences in the way the workforce has grown between regions.

The figures show that in 2009, there was a 39% difference between the best served (North East and Yorkshire) and least served (East of England) regions.

In 2023, there is now a 54% difference between the best served (London) and least served (East of England) regions. In addition, the growth in the mental health workforce appears about half that of the growth in the wider clinical workforce, suggesting that ambitions to create a 'parity of esteem' between mental and physical health conditions are not reflected in the workforce.

The new analysis is based on existing data but because it is adjusted for population, it makes it much easier to see changes in the workforce and make comparisons between regions. "Mental health workforce in England: regional trends and disparities" is published in the British Journal of Mental Health Nursing.

Author Dr. Peter Beazley, from Norwich Medical School at UEA, said he conducted the analysis because he could see the NHS was publishing wholetime equivalent (WTE) headcount data but providing no adjustment for population growth.

He said, "Adjusting for population provides a fairer comparison, not least because the growth in population over recent years has been quite unevenly distributed over the country. Here at UEA we train a number of mental health professionals, and I felt motivated to conduct this analysis after hearing of issues about un-met need first hand from our trainees and supervisors working in the region

"It's a rather simple analysis, but without this sort of data, we can't plan effectively for future needs or ensure equitable distribution of resources between regions.

"Plans to develop the mental health workforce further should account for the regional differences observed, but should also consider anticipated population growth. This sort of long-term planning isn't necessarily very exciting, but it is particularly important for institutions like ours which are involved in training the mental health workforce of the future."

Key findings from the report highlight:

Differences between the Mental Health Workforce and wider clinical workforceThe mental health workforce, overall, grew a little less than 10% between 2009 and 2023. On the other hand, the wider clinical workforce across the NHS grew by almost 20%. Such a difference is surprising in the context of the wider social concern and demand for mental health services.

Reductions in the Mental Health Workforce during the years of austerityThe analysis shows that the mental health workforce was hit particularly hard during the austerity years, with some regions being more severely affected than others. This reduction in size of the mental health workforce was greater than the overall clinical workforce in the NHS.

Post-COVID Workforce GrowthAlthough the mental health workforce has seen significant growth, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has only relatively recently surpassed 2009 levels. While there are no figures showing the workforce at different clinical levels of qualification, Dr. Beazley said the rapid increase in staffing was likely driven by hiring less qualified personnel,. highlighting concerns about the quality and sustainability of this growth.

Regional DisparitiesWhile the data suggests national improvements over recent years, the East of England and South East regions appear particularly under-served in terms of the proportion of the mental health workforce to regional population. However, limitations in the way that data is recorded means that these findings must be treated with caution, since services provided in one region may be delivered by a provider based in another.

Dr. Beazley said that the analysis does not account for the fact that people living on the edges of particular geographic regions may receive NHS services from a bordering geographic region; for example, a hospital in London could be serving people in the South East.

Moreover, some NHS services are highly specialized and are therefore provided in a centralized location with funding from other regions. This may explain to some extent a need for additional provision within London.

However, Dr. Beazley said, "There are some factors which do impact on quite how generalizable the data is, but even so I think it's hard to argue with some of the findings. The increasing gap between the mental health workforce and the wider clinical workforce appears to reflect poorly on wider ambitions to achieve a 'parity of esteem' of mental health."

More information: Peter Beazley, Mental health workforce in England: regional trends and disparities, British Journal of Mental Health Nursing (2024). DOI: 10.12968/bjmh.2024.0018
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On the left, ecDNAs that link together to enhance cancer cell growth tend to be inherited together by daughter cells after cell division. On the right, in contrast, ecDNAs that are inherited randomly give more genetic variability but may be less likely to spur tumor growth. Credit: Emily Moskal/Stanford Medicine

A trio of research papers from Stanford Medicine researchers and their international collaborators transforms scientists' understanding of how small DNA circlesuntil recently dismissed as inconsequentialare major drivers of many types of human cancers.

The papers, published simultaneously in Nature on Nov. 6, detail the prevalence and prognostic impact of the circles, called ecDNA for extrachromosomal DNA, in nearly 15,000 human cancers; highlight a novel mode of inheritance that overthrows a fundamental law of genetics; and describe an anti-cancer therapy targeting the circles that is already in clinical trials.

The team, jointly known as eDyNAmiC, are a group of international experts led by professor of pathology Paul Mischel, MD. In 2022, Mischel and the eDyNAmiC team were awarded a grant to learn more about the circles.

Cancer Grand Challenges, a research initiative co-founded by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute in the United States, supports a global community of interdisciplinary, world-class research teams to take on cancer's toughest challenges.

"We're in the midst of a completely new understanding of a common and aggressive mechanism that drives cancer," said Mischel, who holds the Fortinet Founders Professorship.

"Each paper alone is noteworthy, and taken together they represent a major inflection point in how we view cancer initiation and evolution." Mischel is also an institute scholar at Stanford Medicine's Sarafan ChEM-H.

Mischel is co-senior author of each of the three papers; Howard Chang, MD, Ph.D., professor of dermatology and genetics, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor in Cancer Research and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, is the co-senior author of two of the three papers and a co-author on the third paper.

Those featured circles, ecDNAs, are small and often contain a few genes on their circular DNA. Frequently, these genes are cancer-associated genes called oncogenes. When a cancer cell contains multiple oncogene-encoding ecDNAs, they can supercharge the cell's growth and allow it to evade internal checkpoints meant to regulate cell division.

The ecDNAs also sometimes encode genes for proteins that can tamp down the immune system's response to a developing cancerfurther advantaging tumor growth.

Greater prevalence than previously thought

Until recently, it was believed that only about 2% of tumors contained meaningful amounts of ecDNA. But in 2017, research in Mischel's lab showed that the small circles were widespread and likely to play a critical role in human cancers.

In 2023, Mischel and Chang further showed that their presence jumpstarts a cancerous transformation in precancerous cells.

In the first of the three papers, of which Chang is a co-author and Mischel is a co-senior author, researchers in the United Kingdom built on Mischel's 2017 finding by analyzing the prevalence of ecDNA in nearly 15,000 cancer patients and 39 tumor types.

They found that 17.1% of tumors contained ecDNA, that ecDNA was more prevalent after targeted therapy or cytotoxic treatments like chemotherapy, and that the presence of ecDNA was associated with metastasis and poorer overall survival.

The researchers also showed that the circles can contain not just cancer-driving oncogenes and genes that modulate the immune response, but also that others can contain only DNA sequences called enhancers that drive the expression of genes on other circles by linking two or more ecDNAs together.

"This was kind of a heretical idea," Chang said.

"The ecDNAs with enhancer elements don't confer any benefit to the cell on their own; they have to work with other ecDNAs to spur cancer cell growth. If looked at through a conventional lens, the presence of ecDNAs that solely encode enhancers wouldn't seem to be a problem. But the teamwork and physical connection between different types of circles is actually very important in cancer development."

"This study is a tour de force of data gathering and analysis," Mischel said.

"We learned critical lessons about which cancer patients are affected and what genes or DNA sequences are found in ecDNAs. We identified the genetic backgrounds and mutational signatures that give us clues as to how cancers originate and thrive."

Mischel and Chang are the co-senior authors of the second paper that studied how the ecDNA circles are segregated into daughter cells when cancer cells divide. Typically, ecDNAs segregate randomly during cell division. As a result, some new cells could have many ecDNAs while their sister cells had none.

This kind of genetic roll of the dice increases the odds that at least some population of cells in the tumor will have the right combination of ecDNAs to evade environmental or drug challenges and contributes to the development of drug resistance.

Chang and Mischel and their colleagues showed that this concept is still true, to a point. But they found that, unlike chromosomes, ecDNA transcriptionthe process of copying DNA sequences into RNA instructions that are then used to make proteinscontinues unabated during cell division. As a result, ecDNAs working in tandem remain interconnected during cell division and segregate together as multi-circle units to daughter cells.

A new take on peas

"This upends Gregor Mendel's rule of independent assortment of genes that aren't physically linked by DNA sequences," Mischel said, referring to the biologist and Augustinian friar who first described how traits are inherited during his studies of pea plants in the 1860s.

"It's really stunning and an enormous surprise."

"Daughter cells that repeatedly inherit particularly advantageous combinations of ecDNA circles should be rare if the segregation of each type of circle is truly random," Chang said.

"But this study showed that we were seeing many more of these 'jackpot events' than would be expected. It's like getting a good hand in poker. Cancer cells that get dealt that good hand over and over have a huge advantage. Now we understand how this happens."

These jackpot events highlight a weakness in the cancer cells, however. Chang and Mischel and the eDyNAmiC team realized that there is inherent tension between transcription and replication, each of which are carried out by protein machinery that trundles along the DNA strand.

When transcription and replication machinery collide, the process stalls and the cell activates internal checkpoints to pause cell division until the conflict is resolved.

The third paper, of which Chang and Mischel are co-senior authors, reports that blocking the activity of an important checkpoint protein called CHK1 causes the death of ecDNA-containing tumor cells grown in the laboratory and causes tumor regression in mice with a gastric tumor fueled by the DNA circles.

"This turns the table on these cancer cells," Chang said. "They are addicted to this excess transcription; they can't stop themselves. We made this into a vulnerability that results in their death."

Currently in trials

The results were promising enough that a CHK1 inhibitor is now in early phase clinical trials for people with certain types of cancers that have multiple copies of oncogenes on ecDNAs.

"These papers represent what can happen when researchers from many different labs come together with a common goal," Mischel said.

"Science is a social endeavor and together, through many avenues of converging data from wildly different sources, we've shown that these findings are real and important. We are going to continue exploring the biology of ecDNAs and use that knowledge for the benefit of patients and their families."

Mischel, Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, MD, Ph.D., a professor of cancer genomics and metastasis at the Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence at University College London Cancer Institute and Charles Swanton, Ph.D., a deputy clinical director at the Francis Crick Institute are co-senior authors of the paper on the prevalence and impact of ecDNA in nearly 15,000 cancer patients; clinical research fellow Chris Bailey, Ph.D., and senior bioinformatics scientist Oriol Pich, MD, Ph.D., of the Francis Crick Institute are co-lead authors.

Jamal-Hanjani is also an honorary medical oncology consultant in translational lung oncology with the UCL Hospitals NHS Trust.

Mischel and Chang are co-senior authors of the paper detailing the mechanisms of inheritance of ecDNA; graduate student King Hung; postdoctoral scholar Matthew Jones, Ph.D.; postdoctoral scholar Ivy Tsz-Lo Wong, Ph.D.; and graduate student Ellis Curtis are the lead authors of the study.

Mischel, Chang and Christian Hassig, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Boundless Bio, are the senior authors of the paper describing a new therapeutic approach targeting ecDNAs in cancer cells. Postdoctoral scholar Jun Tang, Ph.D.; pathology instructor Natasha Weiser, MD; and postdoctoral scholar Guiping Wang, Ph.D., are the lead authors of the study.

Mischel and Chang are scientific co-founders of Boundless Bio, a San Diego-based oncology company developing cancer therapeutics based on ecDNA biology. Boundless Bio is the sponsor of a phase 1/2 study of an inhibitor of CHK1 in people with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors with oncogene amplifications.
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Dutch court backs ban on sweet-flavoured e-cigarettes.

A Dutch court on Wednesday upheld a government ban on sweet flavors for e-cigarettes, arguing they encouraged young people to smoke.

The District Court in The Hague threw out an appeal by British American Tobacco (BAT), which argued that a ban on flavors in e-cigarettes went against the principle of the free movement of goods.

"The flavor ban is not unlawful," the court's verdict read.

"The harmfulness of the e-cigarette and the attractive effect of the sweet flavors on young people have been sufficiently established," it added.

BAT had argued the flavor ban was a de-facto ban on e-cigarettes overall, which could even be counter-productive for authorities' efforts to stamp out smoking.

The firm had argued that fewer smokers of regular cigarettes would be tempted to switch to e-cigarettes in an attempt to quit if the flavor ban was upheld.

But the court also stubbed out this argument.

"The fact that e-cigarettes with tobacco flavor are permitted is also a factor. Other manufacturers have succeeded in developing such e-cigarettes," the court ruled.

"Smokers who try to quit by switching to an e-cigarette can therefore continue to do so under the flavor ban."

 2024 AFP
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Clinics and hospitals currently defer medication abortion until ultrasound confirms a pregnancy inside the uterus. However, a large international study led by researchers from Karolinska Institutet now indicates that treatment can be equally effective and safe even before the sixth week of pregnancy. The study is published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

A total of 35,550 abortions took place in Sweden in 2023; over 60% of them before the end of the seventh week of pregnancy.

Often, the procedure is held off until intrauterine pregnancy is confirmed by vaginal ultrasound to rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy, in which the embryo attaches outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes. An ectopic pregnancy is not terminated by a medication abortion and can be life-threatening for the woman. Ultrasound reveals a pregnancy in week five to six.

"Women often find out very early if they're pregnant, and a majority also know if they want a termination and if so, want it to take place as quickly as possible," says the study's first author Karin Brandell, gynecologist at Karolinska University Hospital and doctoral student at the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

"Observational studies have produced contradictory results as regards effectiveness, so we wanted to study if very early abortion is just as effective and safe as waiting."

Women from nine countries

The VEMA (Very early medical abortion) study included over 1,500 women at 26 clinics in nine countries who requested an abortion before ultrasound was able to confirm intrauterine pregnancy. They were randomly assigned to either a delayed abortion once pregnancy could be confirmed in the uterus (in week five to six) or to early abortion (in week four to six). Both groups received two drugsmifepristone and misoprostol.

At the start of the study, all participants were up to six weeks pregnant and presented no symptoms of ectopic pregnancy (e.g. abdominal pain or bleeding) or risk factors for such a pregnancy (e.g. pregnancy despite a coil or previous ectopic pregnancies). The outcome measure was terminated pregnancy (complete abortion).

"Very early medical abortion was just as effective and safe to perform, even in the case of an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy," says Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the same department at Karolinska Institutet, senior physician at Karolinska University Hospital and project leader of the VEMA study.

A political issue

In both groups, over 95% of the women had a complete abortion, but the few procedures that failed differed between the groups. On delayed treatment, the treatment was incomplete in 4.5% of cases and required additional vacuum aspiration (surgery). In 0.1% of cases, the pregnancy continued.

In the early group, the pregnancy continued in 3% of cases and 1.8% required surgery for incomplete abortion. A total of 1% of all participants had an ectopic pregnancy.

The women in the early group reported less pain and bleeding. In both groups, the women also expressed a desire to have the abortion performed as quickly as possible.

"Abortion is a political as well as a medical issue," says Dr. Brandell. "In Sweden, a woman can repeat the procedure a week after a failed early abortion. But a woman in Texas, where abortion is banned after the sixth week, can't. It was therefore important to show that early abortion is equivalent to current standard procedure at a later stage of pregnancy."

Better abortions and contraceptives

The researchers now want to test if a new combination of drugs for early abortion is also effective for ectopic pregnancies. They are also developing new contraceptives based on one of the components of current medical abortions, mifepristone.

"It can be taken in a lower dose than for abortion to prevent unwanted pregnancies in the form of one tablet a week, or when needed," says Professor Gemzell-Danielsson.

More information: Karin Brandell et al, Randomized Trial of Very Early Medication Abortion, New England Journal of Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2401646 Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine
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A ballot measure to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the state of Florida failed on Tuesday.

While 55.9% of Florida voters backed the proposed amendment, it did not reach the 60% threshold needed to make the initiative part of the state's constitution.

"With the rejection of Amendment 3, Floridians have taken a firm stance against the dangerous drugs the pot profiteers tried to convince the public are harmless," Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which opposes marijuana legalization, said in a statement.

"Amendment 3 was bad for Florida and even worse for Floridians," Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. "This pro-drug amendment was bad for our kids, bad for our communities, bad for our local business, and ultimately bad for Florida."

David Culver, senior vice president of the U.S. Cannabis Council, told the Washington Post that the supermajority threshold required by Florida was too much to overcome this election.

"This isn't the end in Florida, it's just the beginning since we've now seen how strongly the push for legalization resonates in the state," Culver added.

Florida wasn't the only state to say no to recreational marijuana this election: Voters in North Dakota and South Dakota appear to have again rejected similar measures, the Post reported.

Meanwhile, voters in Nebraska handily approved two measures legalizing medical marijuana, though a judge could invalidate those results in the coming weeks, the Post reported.

Psychedelics, which have been touted by some as a potential treatment for depression and other mental health issues, also took a hit in the polls: In Massachusetts, voters rejected a measure that would have legalized plant psychedelics such as magic mushrooms for therapeutic use. Oregon and Colorado have already passed such laws, the Post reported.

At the moment, recreational marijuana is legal in 24 states and Washington, D.C., amid dramatic shifts in public attitudes about the drug. Gallup polling last year reported that a record 70% of voters support marijuana legalization.

Although marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, the Biden administration is seeking to loosen restrictions, but skeptics argue that high-potency marijuana products pose a risk to youth brain development and up the chances for addiction.

The Biden measure would not legalize marijuana at the federal level, but instead place it in the less dangerous tier of controlled substances that includes prescription ketamine and testosterone. That move could boost research into marijuana's health benefits by easing federal restrictions for studying the drug.

More information: The National Institute on Drug Abuse has more on marijuana.

 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Laszlo Kover, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with Laszlo Kover, speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, in Beijing on Tuesday.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Hungary, and in May, the two sides elevated bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era.

China is willing to work with Hungary to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, consolidate the momentum of high-level exchanges, enhance strategic communication and cooperation, and embark on a new chapter of practical cooperation, jointly creating a bright future, Zhao added.

Zhao also expressed China's willingness to strengthen policy communication with Hungary in various fields, deepen high-level political mutual trust, firmly support each other's core interests, and consolidate the political foundation of China-Hungary friendship.

The Chinese side is willing to promote a deep synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Hungary's "Opening to the East" policy, accelerate the construction of the Hungary-Serbia railway, and expand cooperation in emerging areas such as clean energy, digital economy, and artificial intelligence, to comprehensively elevate the level of cooperation, said Zhao.

Noting that China's NPC and the Hungarian National Assembly have maintained a long-standing and good relationship, Zhao said the two sides should further strengthen exchanges and interactions at different levels, to enhance mutual understanding, trust, and friendship. He also called on the legislative institutions of the two sides to strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral forums, promoting global governance that is more conducive to maintaining world peace and international fairness and justice.

Kover said Hungary firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to seize the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, including jointly building the BRI, promoting economic and trade investment, Hungary-Serbia railway construction, and people-to-people exchanges, to contribute to the cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries and China, as well as the development of EU-China relations.

The Hungarian National Assembly is committed to enhancing friendly exchanges with China's NPC, to make active contributions to the development of bilateral relations, Kover added.
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The International Space Station (ISS) is an incredible feat of engineering, designed to support human life in profoundly inhospitable conditions. But the tiny metal bubble in the big black void can only do so much. Life in space, with zero gravity and higher exposure to cosmic radiation, can have serious consequences for spacefarers' health.

Now, a team including both ground-based scientists and NASA crew is taking health research to the final frontier. Their results may help prevent dangerous blood clots for astronauts on missionsand lead to better treatments for clotting and immune disorders back on Earth.

How space affects blood health

Researchers had known for decades that astronauts on missions are more likely to develop blood clots, and longer missions may be particularly hazardous, says Matthew Rondina, MD, professor of internal medicine and pathology at University of Utah Health and the Utah-based site lead for the project.

"As the duration that astronauts spend in space increases, we believe the risk of blood clots likely continues to accumulate," Rondina says.

In the isolated environment of a space station, clots can present a serious problem, adds Hansjorg Schwertz, Ph.D., MD, project lead, physician at Billings Clinic, and adjunct assistant professor of occupational medicine at U of U Health. "You don't want to have astronauts developing any occlusive thrombi [blood clots] up in space," Schwertz says. "It requires a lot of logistics and a lot of treatment."

Schwertz and Rondina are working together with NASA astronauts, who will do experiments on the ISS that show how spaceflight affects blood cells.

The team is specifically looking at plateletscells that are directly involved in blood clottingand megakaryocytes, bone marrow cells that produce platelets. After growing megakaryocytes and platelets aboard the ISS, researchers will analyze their gene activity, proteins, and functionality to learn how space exposure changes them.

Taking science from Earth to space

The cells launched into space November 4, 2024. But the road to get them there was a long one.

The lab has already been analyzing how platelets and megakaryocytes are affected by simulated space conditions. They've taken blood cells to a particle accelerator to expose them to simulated cosmic galactic rays, the high-energy particles that bombard astronauts in space. And they've grown cells in a container that constantly, slowly rotates, leaving them adrift in simulated microgravity.

Their experiments so far have detected a few changes that could be important for platelet function: genes involved in inflammation, immune regulation, and cellular energy generation, among others. But while their simulated space conditions are the best that can be achieved on Earth, no simulation is perfect. So it's critical to test how cells respond to real-life space conditions.

The land-based researchers' job isn't over when the cells go up to the ISS. "Once they're up there, we'll be working in real time with the astronauts for a lot of the experiments," Rondina explains. "We'll be doing a set of ground-based control experiments that completely mimic and parallel what's occurring on the ISS."

Mirroring the astronauts' actionsincluding any unplanned deviations that may occurwill ensure, as much as possible, that any changes between the cells on the ground and the cells in space are a direct result of the extraterrestrial environment.

Down-to-Earth results

The results will have the potential to inform better health care for people both in space and on Earth, Rondina says. "This may allow us to identify new genes and pathways that regulate platelet production and clotting," he explains. "We think a lot of those pathways likely have relevance to diseases that occur in normal gravity conditions."

In addition to clotting, platelets regulate important aspects of the immune system, so platelet dysfunction may also be involved in some immune disorders. Understanding them could help researchers understand why those diseases occur and how to prevent or treat them.

Schwertz adds that, after so much preparation, the launch of the experiment to the ISS felt akin to saying farewell to a family member. "There's sadness because this part is done now, but also so much excitement and thankfulness for how it worked out so far."
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The cost of childbirth and postpartum health care results in significant, ongoing financial hardship, particularly for lower-income families with commercial insurance according to a Columbia University study. About half of people who give birth in the United States are covered by commercial health insurance, which typically requires cost-sharing in the form of deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. The study is published in the Milbank Quarterly.

Researchers Jamie Daw, Ph.D., of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and Heidi L. Allen, Ph.D., of the Columbia University School of Social Work surveyed a representative sample of 4,453 postpartum people; 1,544 with a Medicaid-insured birth and 2,909 commercially insured, from the Postpartum Assessment of Health Survey (PAHS).

A follow-up survey was conducted among participants in the CDC Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) 12 to 14 months after giving birth in 2020 in six statesKansas, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginiaand New York City. The survey included questions on health care costs and financial well-being.

The researchers found:

Over half of respondents with commercially insured births spent more than $1,000 out of pocket on childbirth and nearly 40% reported being somewhat or very worried about paying health care bills.

Lower income people (with annual incomes of less than about $60,000) with commercially insured births reported particularly high financial strain: nearly half still owed money for childbirth costs, 16% had not made any payments yet, and 1 in 5 had medical debt in collections.



Overall, Medicaid was financially protective for birthing families relative to commercial insurance. The vast majority of people with a Medicaid-covered birth did not have any out-of-pocket spending on childbirth or health care in the postpartum year (80%). However, even small amounts of cost-sharing were associated with outstanding medical debt. Among Medicaid enrollees with any OOP spending for childbirth, 1 in 3 still owed money and over 1 in 4 had not made any payments 12 to 14 months after birth.

"Out-of-pocket costs related to childbirth or postpartum care come at a time of financial vulnerability for families," Allen said. "There are significant costs associated with a new baby, including diapers and childcare. Additionally, many people take unpaid family-leave and some reduce their hours at work. Making childbirth more affordable should be a public policy priority."

To ease the financial burden for people with Medicaid, Daw and Allen propose that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or states eliminate all cost-sharing for pregnant and postpartum people in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, which covers pregnancy for women with incomes above the Medicaid threshold in some states.

Commercial insurance solutions might include allowing lower-income birthing people to apply for supplemental Medicaid coverage; exempting certain pregnancy and postpartum services from cost-sharing; and state actions to relieve the burden of medical debt.

"Policies to improve the affordability of childbirth can also be viewed as investments in early child health and development. It is important to think about the trade-offs families may be forced to make between paying off medical debts related to childbirth and providing their children with resourceslike healthy food, adequate housing and quality childcarethat are important for them to thrive," said Daw, assistant professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia Mailman School.

"This is an often-overlooked consequence of the high medical costs of childbirth in the United States."

Co-authors are Chen Liu, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; Mandi Spishak-Thomas, Ph.D., of the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, and Kristen Underhill, Cornell Law School.

More information: Heidi Allen et al, When the Bough Breaks: The Financial Burden of Childbirth and Postpartum Care by Insurance Type, The Milbank Quarterly (2024). DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12721 Journal information: Milbank Quarterly
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Brooke Boyarsky Pratt remembers when her childhood doctor told her mom that her daughter weighed too much.

"You should send her to fat camp," she remembers the doctor saying.

Boyarsky Pratt was eight years old at the time.

People who have obesity regularly report medical providers are rude or dismissive towards them, research shows, which can lead people to avoid necessary health care. People with high BMIs also have their treatment denied or delayed either because their medical providers don't take their pain seriously, or because medical offices and clinics don't have equipment that can accommodate them.

"What we have done in the United States does not work," Boyarsky Pratt said.

Boyarsky Pratt's childhood experience has been repeated throughout her life, she said. At one point, she believes her medical care was delayed when a doctor initially said her knee pain was likely due to her weight. It turned out she had a torn meniscus, she said.

In part based on her own experience, the Dallas native partnered with an obesity doctor and launched a medical clinic in Boston that provides "weight-inclusive" care. Patients can go to the clinic for either primary care or weight management care, or both.

And this month, Boyarsky Pratt opened a second clinic near her hometown. The new clinic, in Plano, saw its first in-person patient in mid-October and hosted a grand opening earlier this week.

Both Boyarsky Pratt and her co-founder Dr. Angela Fitch said the clinics, under the company name knownwell, aim to provide empathetic medical care to patients who are frequently stigmatized in traditional health care settings.

The clinics are coming on the scene at a time of explosive public interest in weight management. Wegovythe weight loss version of the drug Ozempicwas approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021. It was the first drug for "chronic weight management" to be approved since Saxenda in 2014.

A May 2024 poll by KFF Health News found that 12% of U.S. adults have taken a GLP-1 agonistthe class of drug that includes Wegovy and Ozempicat some point, either for weight loss or for treatment of diabetes or another condition.

Despite the interest in weight management, a number of factors in the U.S. medical system converge to create a significant gap in care for people who are living with obesity. (The American Medical Association has recognized obesity as a disease since 2013.)

First, there's a lack of providers who are trained in how to treat obesity, multiple experts said. There are only about 8,000 doctors in the U.S. who have been certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine, according to the board's data. And for doctors in other specialties, including primary care, obesity-specific training is rare.

Fitch, who's a primary care doctor and an obesity specialist, said there's nowhere near enough obesity doctors to match the magnitude of the need.

Nationwide, about 40% of U.S. adults are obese, according to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Texas has a slightly lower rate of obesity, at about 34% of adults. Nationwide, nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults have either obesity or overweight.

"There's just so many patients that need to be treated," Fitch said.

Doctors without formal training in obesity care can end up perpetuating weight stigma in their interactions with patients, said Dr. Jaime Almandoz, the medical director of UT Southwestern Medical Center's Weight Wellness Program. And weight stigma itself creates another barrier to care.

"This creates a very toxic environment for people who then want to avoid care with that clinician because they feel they're not being listened to," Almandoz said. "Some clinicians can struggle to look beyond weight."

James Zervios, the chief operating officer of the Obesity Action Coalition, attributed much of the gap in care to medical providers themselves.

"The reason why that gap exists is because of weight bias in health care, especially in primary care," Zervios said.

When patients struggle to find a doctor who will listen to their concernsor when they're too nervous to go to the doctor at allit can lead to a cycle of worsening health.

Almandoz said he hopes to see more providers approach patients as people first, regardless of whether they have obesity. That would be a step toward providing medical care that actually helps people, as opposed to care that alienates people.

"Our patients are people that have diseases," Almandoz said. "We need to make sure that people are getting the kind of comprehensive care they need."

2024 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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This colorized electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2024 shows Mpox virus particles, green, found within infected cultured cells, blue. The virus particles are in various stages of maturity, which accounts for differences in shape. Credit: NIAID via AP, File

British health officials say they have identified four cases of the new, more infectious version of mpox that first emerged in Congo, marking the first time the variant has caused a cluster of illness outside of Africa. Scientists said the risk to the public remains low.

Authorities announced the first case of the new form of mpox in the U.K. last week, saying the case was being treated at a London hospital after recently traveling to countries in Africa with ongoing outbreaks.

This week, the U.K. Health Security Agency said it had now identified three further cases who lived in the same household as the first patient. They too are now being treated at a hospital in London.

"Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household," said Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor of the U.K. Health Security Agency.

The new variant of mpox was first detected earlier this year in eastern Congo. Scientists believe it causes milder symptoms that are harder to notice, which makes it easier to spread because people may not know they are infected. Its spread in Congo and elsewhere in Africa prompted the World Health Organization to declare a global emergency in August.

Britain recorded more than 3,000 cases of another type of mpox during a 2022 outbreak that hit more than 100 countries.

The new variant of mpox has also caused outbreaks in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Single cases in travelers have also been reported in Sweden, India, Germany and Thailand.

To date, there have been about 43,000 suspect cases of mpox in Africa, including more than 1,000 deaths, mostly in Congo.

On Wednesday, WHO said it had allocated 899,900 vaccine doses to nine African countries struggling with mpox epidemics.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
China leads in combating desertification

08:35, November 06, 2024 By Hou Liqiang ( China Daily

Workers plant grass grids for sand control in the Tengger Desert in Zhongwei, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on May 30. (FENG KAIHUA/XINHUA)

With more than half of its reclaimable desertified land treated, China has taken the lead globally in achieving zero growth in land degradation and become the largest contributor to global afforestation, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Since 2012, China has seen its desertified land decrease by 4.3 million hectares, said Guan Zhiou, head of the administration, reporting to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, on Tuesday.

"This demonstrates a positive trend of overall improvement and accelerated enhancement," he said.

He credited the achievement to a series of concerted efforts by the country to promote initiatives aimed at controlling desertification, underpinned by the establishment of a robust and effective legal framework.

Currently, the legal framework has included six national laws, including laws for sand prevention and control, as well as forest and wetland conservation, he noted, adding the 13 key provincial regions for desertification control have all enacted regional regulations on the issue.

He highlighted the significant roles of a series of projects in tackling desertification, including the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, which was launched in 1978.

Thanks to these projects, 35.9 million hectares of desertified land have been brought under protection and 7.9 million hectares of such land have been effectively treated, he shared.

Guan elaborated that within the expansive scope of the Three-North program spanning from northwestern to northeastern China, the forest coverage rate has risen significantly from approximately 12.4 percent to 13.8 percent. Moreover, effective measures have successfully controlled soil erosion on 61 percent of the affected land.

He continued by noting that within the Yellow River Basin, the boundary delineating regions with and without vegetation cover has shifted approximately 300 kilometers westward. Due to these efforts, northern China has embraced a remarkable decrease in the number of days with severe sand and dust weather, he added.

He also noted, however, that China is still confronted with an arduous task to forge ahead with desertification control, considering the size of its desertified land and the severity.

"Currently, there are 47.2 million hectares of desertified land that can be reclaimed across the country," he said. "Of them, 22.2 million hectares remain untreated, mainly concentrated in the Three-North region, and are all hard nuts to crack," he said.

The official vows a series of measures to advance the work, including incentivizing the public and enterprises to participate in desertification control.

China will tap into different modes to encourage farmers and herdsmen to participate in desertification control, he continued.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, who is in China to attend the seventh China International Import Expo, in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday met with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, who is in Shanghai to attend the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Li said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and Mongolia have maintained sound, stable momentum in their bilateral relations in recent years. China values its friendly cooperation with Mongolia highly, and considers Mongolia a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, he noted.

He said that both sides should implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state to deepen practical cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.

Li noted that China will synergize its development strategy with Mongolia further, step up trade and investment cooperation, and enhance cooperation on infrastructure construction in such areas as port connectivity, mining and hydropower stations.

The premier encouraged both sides to tap into the cooperation potential of emerging industries such as the high-tech and green development sectors, and support more capable Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Mongolia.

China will work with Mongolia and other Asian countries in the pursuit of peace, solidarity and cooperation, and enhance exchange and coordination within the frameworks of multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Oyun-Erdene said that Mongolia abides firmly by the one-China policy, and is willing to maintain mutual respect and support on issues bearing on each other's core interests.

Mongolia stands ready to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in such areas as energy, urban planning and desertification control, and explore cooperation in new fields including artificial intelligence, green development and human resources, he said.
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is in China to attend the seventh China International Import Expo, in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met on Tuesday with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is in Shanghai to attend the 7th China International Import Expo.

Li said that China-Malaysia relations have entered a new stage of historical development and are moving steadily toward the goal of building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

He said that China is ready to work with Malaysia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, uphold mutual respect and mutual trust, treat each other as equals and cooperate for win-win results, working together to achieve common development and prosperity of the two countries.

Li said China is willing to continue with firmly supporting each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, strengthening the docking of development strategies and the exchange of experience in governance, improving the layout of cooperation in various fields, and boosting the modernization process of the two countries with high-level strategic cooperation.

He called on the two sides to steadily advance flagship projects such as the East Coast Rail Link and the Malaysia-China "Two Countries, Twin Parks," tap into the cooperation potential in emerging areas, and constantly expand new space for cooperation.

China will continue to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning with Malaysia, strengthen cooperation on education and visa facilitation, and encourage the two peoples, especially the youth, to visit each other more often to enhance mutual understanding and friendship, he said.

Li said China will strongly support Malaysia in assuming the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, and is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Malaysia within China-ASEAN and other multilateral frameworks to jointly advance regional economic integration, safeguard ASEAN centrality and safeguard the peaceful development of Asia.

Anwar noted that China is Malaysia's good friend and good partner. Malaysia is willing to deepen Belt and Road cooperation with China, promote cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, digital economy and education, and enhance people-to-people exchanges, he added.

Malaysia supports China in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, said Anwar.

He noted that as the rotating presidency of ASEAN next year, Malaysia will take this opportunity to enhance coordination with China on international and regional issues.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua reflected on his life after impeachment, highlighting the positive aspects that have emerged from his experience.

Speaking at the burial of Lucy Wambui Nganga on Tuesday, Gachagua recognized that every experience in life carries both positive and negative elements, including his impeachment.

He shared that he now enjoys more time to spend with family and friends. Probably, with what has happened to us in leaving office, the positive side is that we have more time for friends. Everything that happens has both a good and a bad side; we now have ample time for friends, and they are very important, he said.

In a subtle critique of President William Ruto, Gachagua emphasized the rarity of finding true friends, underscoring the value of such relationships. There are not many genuine ones; if you have more than five, you are blessed, he stated.

The former Deputy President also mentioned that he can now dedicate more time to engaging with religious leaders and participating in Bible studies.

We now have the opportunity to visit our friends. Last Sunday, I spent a lot of time with Bishops. I didnt have time to read the Bible before, but now I can explore various interpretations, and we will be able to do that regularly, he explained.

Gachagua encouraged Kenyans to work hard and remain honest despite the challenging economic climate. Some of us have gotten into a lot of trouble because of being truthful, he remarked.

He revealed that he has received many inquiries about the next steps following his impeachment. Gachagua noted that some people expected residents of Mt. Kenya to take to the streets in protest after his ouster.

However, he clarified that the region has a unique way of responding to disappointments and advised his supporters to remain calm.

Furthermore, he suggested that anyone feeling the need to express themselves should do so through song and dance.

I want to assure the people of our region not to worry. Our community is unique, and many people are surprised by our response. They expected us to take to the streets, light fires, destroy vehicles, and shout, but thats not who we are. Those who think they know us dont truly understand; when we feel offended, we tend to stay silent, he said.

Gachagua Eulogizes Lucy Wambui

Gachagua also conveyed his condolences to Lucy Wambui Ngangas family. He shared that he and his friends had known the Nganga family for 30 years and described them as a wonderful family.

He described Francis Nganga as a unique businessman, noting that while 90 percent of small traders struggle, Nganga has managed to thrive.

Gachagua acknowledged the profound grief the family was enduring, stating, It is not easy, and we cannot pretend to feel what you feel. We are just praying for you, asking God to give you the strength to accept what has happened.

He also urged regulatory authorities to ensure the safety of medical facilities in Kenya, advocating for better protection for citizens against unlicensed and unprofessional medical establishments.

And as we bury Lucy, we want to call on authorities for regulation of medical facilities to protect the people of Kenya from being misled. Kenyans are simple and gullible; when you market your product well, they tend to trust easily, which can lead them to facilities that are not licensed or professional, resulting in tragic situations like this, he said.

Furthermore, Gachagua advised the public to exercise caution when seeking medical assistance, emphasizing the importance of choosing reputable facilities.

He used Ngangas journey as a testament to perseverance, sharing that Nganga started as an attendant in a car wash and worked diligently with his wife to grow their business, which now includes importing high-end vehicles.

Gachagua concluded with a message of hope, reminding everyone that despite the challenging economy, hard work and honesty can lead to success.

Nganga is a perfect example of the bottom-up approach. He started as an attendant in a car wash, and he has built his success alongside his wife. Today, he imports high-end vehicles. I want to encourage our people that even in this tough economy, hard work and honesty will pay off, he said.
Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley made history by becoming the first Kenyan-born individual to secure a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives in the just concluded U.S. elections.

Running under the DemocraticFarmer-Labor Party, Hiltsley won with an impressive 64.78% of the vote, representing Minnesotas District 38Aa diverse area that includes parts of southwestern Brooklyn Park and Osseo. This district is known for its vibrant, multicultural communities, with about 66% of its residents identifying as people of color and a significant portion being African immigrants.

Minnesota has become a popular destination for Kenyan immigrants in the U.S., particularly among the Kisii community, who frequently choose to settle there when given the opportunity.

Hiltsley, an alumna of Bethel University, credits her decision to enter politics to her dedication to uplifting her community and advocating for its needs within the legislative framework.

In her role as a representative, she plans to focus on key issues that impact her constituents, including affordable housing, equitable access to education and healthcare, and economic opportunities tailored to her districts diverse population. Throughout her campaign, Hiltsley faced challenges as an immigrant and a woman of color, noting that her background led some to question her qualifications.

Theres a two-edged sword, where my skills, experience, and education are questionedpeople wonder if Im even qualified, she explained, highlighting some of the unique obstacles she encountered.

Hiltsleys victory over Republican Brad Olson has brought joy not only to her supporters in the U.S. but also to those in Kenya, her birthplace. Born in Nyamira County in 1985, Hiltsley is the daughter of Philip and Tabitha Momanyi, who were among the first generation of Kenyan immigrants to settle in the U.S. Her family has resided in Minnesota, specifically in the Brooklyn area, for more than 20 years.

Reflecting on her journey, Hiltsley shared on her campaign website, I graduated from Cooper High School and earned three Bachelors degrees and an MBA, all from Bethel University. Ive built a career in data privacy and data protection, while my true passion has been organizing within the community to address the needs of all residents.

Despite her focus on U.S. politics, Hiltsley still follows political developments in Kenya. In an interview with Voice of America, she discussed the difference in campaign approaches, expressing concern over the role of money in Kenyan elections.

The biggest difference between running in the U.S. and in Kenya is how candidates approach voters. In Kenya, we know how it isits unfortunately often about buying votes, and thats something Kenya needs to work on and address, she said.

Hiltsleys win marks a significant milestone for both her community in Minnesota and her supporters back in Kenya, highlighting the growing influence of African immigrants in U.S. politics.
Jabavu Village Limited, a real estate development company, has refuted media claims that the Jevanjee Housing Estate in Ngara, Nairobi, has stalled. The company also denied allegations that it used a title deed from the Nairobi County government to fund the project.

In a press release, Hussein Abdikadir, Managing Director of the Jevanjee Housing Project, explained that despite early setbacks related to land acquisition, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a sharp increase in steel prices due to the war in Ukraine, the project remains on schedule.

The projects progress is currently at 50 percent, with affordable housing units expected to be complete by September 2025 and market units by September 2026. We are constructing two towers, each containing 400 units that will rise 14 floors. The construction of the structures for towers three and four is complete, with roofing for tower three nearly finalized, Abdikadir clarified.

The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created for the project legally acquired the Jevanjee land, which formerly belonged to the Nairobi City Council. Jabavu Village Ltd. now owns 80% of the SPV shares, while the Nairobi County Government holds the remaining 20%.

Under the agreement, the county government provided the land, while the joint venture companies are responsible for securing project funding.

As a result, the company applied for a Kes.1.9 billion facility from a bank to help finance the development. So far, Jabavu Village has collected Kes.450 million based on work certifications from the contractor and supporting consultants.
The prime suspect in the murder of three women abducted from Eastleigh, Nairobi, will remain in police custody as detectives work to complete their investigation.

On Monday, Makadara Senior Principal Magistrate Mary Njagi ordered Hashim Dagane Muhumeds detention at Ruaraka Police Station until December 2, 2024, when police will present him in court for further directions.

Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested Muhumed on November 3, 2024, following a tip-off from the public. He is under investigation for the deaths of Dahabo Daud Said, Musayba Abdi Mohamed, and Amina Abdirashid Dahir, all of whom were relatives.

Magistrate Njagi approved the detention after Police Sergeant Mohammed Hassan explained that the cases complexity required additional time for a thorough investigation.

During the hearing, the court learned that Dagane had used a Nissan Note, registration number KDQ 718Y, to pick up the three women from their residences. The vehicle was later found abandoned at Ena Express Yard in the Wakulima area of Nairobi, with Dagane identified as its owner.

Also Read  Eastleigh Triple Murder Suspect is an Ethiopian Ex-Police Officer

According to the police, Dagane was in constant communication with the victims and reportedly picked them up at different times on the nights of October 21 and 22, 2024, before they were later found brutally murdered.

Sergeant Hassan requested extended detention, stating that detectives needed more time to complete crucial investigative steps, including analyzing call data, conducting forensic examinations, and gathering witness statements.

The police have a significant task to unravel this murder syndicate, Sgt. Hassan stated, highlighting the complexity of the case.

In her ruling, Magistrate Njagi emphasized the importance of allowing police sufficient time to gather all necessary evidence before pursuing murder charges against Dagane.

The police have shown a prima facie case justifying the suspects 21-day detention to enable a thorough investigation into the mysterious murders of the three women, Njagi ruled.

The magistrate expressed deep concern about the rising violence against women, noting that over 90 women have been killed in the past 90 days. She concluded by approving the request to remand Dagane in custody, with the case set for mention on December 2, 2024, for further directions.
Two mechanics were killed at a garage in Nairobis Ruai area after being accused of siphoning fuel from vehicles at the facility.

On Monday afternoon, other employees accused the men, identified as John Oduor Otieno and Emmanuel Oduor Martin, of stealing fuel from parked cars to sell. Their coworkers raised an alarm, which escalated to a violent attack. Tragically, the two men were beaten to death at the scene.

When police arrived, they found the victims bodies inside the garage, each displaying numerous injuries inflicted by blunt objects.

Following the incident, officers detained two suspects believed to be involved in the attack.

Authorities stressed that the suspects should have turned the men over to the police instead of resorting to violence.

Law enforcement officials are urging the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands to prevent similar tragedies. They emphasized the importance of allowing legal processes to handle such matters for a safer community.
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Participants pose for a group photo during the sixth Friends of the Paris Agreement High-Level Dialogue in Paris, France, on Oct. 28, 2024. [Photo/The European Climate Foundation]

Climate change knows no borders and demands a coordinated global response. The 2015 Paris Agreement was a landmark achievement in multilateral climate governance, with countries pledging collective action to mitigate carbon emissions.

However, geopolitical tensions increasingly complicate the path to unified global climate action. Some nations are undermining international trust through protectionist policies and trade barriers driven by self-interest.

Amid this backdrop, the recent sixth Friends of the Paris Agreement High-Level Dialogue, held in Paris on Oct. 28-29, offered a platform to reflect on the progress and challenges of global climate cooperation.

In an exclusive interview with China.org.cn, Jiang Feng, a researcher at Shanghai International Studies University and chairman of the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance & Area Studies, emphasized that combating climate change requires international collaboration rather than divisive geopolitics.

He emphasized the need for stronger China-Europe cooperation, warning that recent countervailing duties on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) could undermine global efforts to reduce emissions.

Jiang noted that the Paris Agreement established ambitious, binding targets for global carbon emissions reduction, reflecting a consensus on the urgency of climate action. China, instrumental in shaping and committing to the Paris goals, has made notable progress and received widespread recognition. However, not all countries are showing the same level of commitment; some engage in more rhetoric than action and politicize the transfer of technology.

Participants at the Paris meeting expressed concerns about the possible negative impact of the upcoming U.S. election on global emissions reduction efforts.

A key takeaway from the dialogue was the need to broaden the focus of climate measures beyond just emissions reduction targets. Jiang stressed that technological innovation, biodiversity preservation and energy structure transformation should also be prioritized.

"The Paris Agreement represents a shift  a need for humanity to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy," he stated, calling it a historic opportunity for sustainable development.

Such a transition requires countries to rethink their development philosophies and models to address the core issues of climate change. Jiang pointed to China's investment in renewable energy as a key example. With strong policies, substantial investments, and technological innovation, China has fueled significant growth in renewables, supporting its economy while also aiding the global energy transition and emissions reduction.

Jiang also highlighted the ambitious goals set by the European Union and some member states in their fight against climate change. For example, Aachen in Germany and RWTH Aachen University aim for carbon neutrality by 2030  15 years ahead of Germany's national target. Jiang noted that this and other examples show a strong awareness among several countries in addressing climate change, bringing together governments, universities, businesses, and civil society.

Yet, despite significant achievements, many challenges remain, particularly in the transfer of green technology. "Many innovative technologies are not being fully utilized due to rising geopolitics and trade protectionism, which politicize and instrumentalize the transfer of essential technologies and products globally," Jiang lamented.

The EU's recent five-year imposition of countervailing duties on Chinese EVs illustrates this dilemma. Jiang stated that some countries have maliciously labeled China's success in the photovoltaic and electric vehicle sectors as "overcapacity." While the measure aims to give European manufacturers a "window" to strengthen their industries, experts fear it creates unnecessary barriers to technology exchange. Given that European industries require China's advanced EV technology, such measures may ultimately hinder both Europe's and global progress toward renewable energy. Instead of imposing trade restrictions, Jiang urged nations to create a supportive and collaborative environment for green technology transfer.

During the dialogue, Chinese representatives met with experts from the International Energy Agency and European institutions to discuss enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation.

Jiang emphasized the importance of China-Europe collaboration, suggesting that as key global players, they should jointly plan technology research, development, and transfer projects for third parties or other regions, making these technologies more market-oriented and industrialized.

"This can not only aid third-party countries and regions but also open up new opportunities for China-Europe collaboration, creating growth drivers for their relationship," he explained.
Detectives have arrested another suspect in the murder investigation of Willis Ayieko Onyango, a former Human Resource Manager at Wells Fargo.

Authorities apprehended Fredrick Otieno Omondi in Kisumu, believing he played a crucial role in the events leading up to the brutal abduction and murder of Ayieko.

Omondi, a motorcycle rider, allegedly transported Victor Ouma, also known as Sisco, to the location where Onyango was abducted. Victor Ouma Okoth is currently in police custody and has been linked to the crime along with his deceased brother, Robert Wakolo Okoth, and several other unidentified individuals.

RELATED  Willis Ayieko Murder Suspect Linked to Series of Violent Robberies

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is pursuing various leads to uncover the full circumstances surrounding Onyangos murder.

Detectives said they are diligently gathering evidence to ensure that all individuals involved are brought to justice as the investigation progresses.
Parliament has received a petition proposing a law that limits Senators, Members of Parliament (MPs), and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to a maximum of two five-year terms, mirroring the term limits set for the presidency and governorship.

The Grassroot Civilian Oversight Initiative, a civil rights group based in Nakuru, submitted this proposal to promote fairness in Kenyas political landscape. The initiative argues that implementing term limits would allow voters to experience a variety of leadership styles and ideas, fostering a more diverse political environment.

In their petition to the National Assembly, the group advocates for restricting elected representatives at both county and national levels to a total of 10 years in office, aligning their tenure with that of the President, governors, and their deputies.

Laban Omusundi, the coordinator of the initiative, emphasized that these proposed term limits would enhance fairness among political leaders and facilitate the emergence of fresh talent.

The two-term limit for the President and governors should extend to other elected political leaders to ensure fairness across all political positions and to cultivate diverse gifts and talents in emerging leaders, Omusundi stated.

He referenced Articles 37 and 119 of the Constitution to support the initiative, arguing that the reasoning behind capping terms for the presidency and governorship should apply to all elected offices.

It is unfair for one group of leaders to serve for two terms while others are allowed to serve indefinitely, he remarked.

The petitioner pointed out that current laws create opportunities for some leaders to view their positions as their birthright, despite ongoing efforts to improve governance in Kenya.
Police in Homa Bay County arrested eight teachers for allegedly participating in malpractices during the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.

The teachers, employed at a secondary school in the Homa Bay Town constituency, were reportedly caught photocopying a Chemistry exam paper on Monday evening.

Sub-County Police Commander Emmanuel Kiplagat confirmed the incident, stating that the suspects took advantage of a candidates illness to photocopy the exam paper.

Kiplagat noted, We still dont know the motive behind reproducing copies of the paper.

The arrested individuals include the center manager, invigilators, and teachers hired by the schools board of management. A multi-agency team consisting of officials from the Ministry of Education and the National Police Service conducted the arrests.

The evidence collected will be used in court. We are currently detaining the suspects at Homa Bay police station as we interrogate them to uncover their motives and intentions, Kiplagat explained on Tuesday.

In response to the incident, the Ministry of Education replaced all exam officials at the school, allowing candidates to continue their exams uninterrupted.

Kiplagat emphasized the importance of maintaining exam integrity, stating, We want students to take their exams in an environment free from interference. We will not hesitate to take action against anyone who undermines the integrity of the exams.
Wilson Sossion praised President William Rutos appointment of Kithure Kindiki as Kenyas third deputy president, calling it a big reward for education.

The former secretary-general of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and a former nominated member of parliament highlighted the importance of prioritizing education in politics.

Sossion expressed his joy as a teacher, noting the significance of Kindiki, a professor of law, taking on the role of Kenyas second-in-command. He emphasized that Kindikis strong educational background would greatly benefit the countrys public administration.

During a televised interview with K24 TV on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Sossion stated, On the appointment of Abraham Kithure Kindiki, the professor of law, and one of the youngest professors this country prides itself on, I think I should congratulate him.

For educators like us, this is a big reward for education. Politics must reward education, and that has happened. I am the happiest man. The president has chosen an eminent professor with a strong educational background that is essential for the countrys public administration.
VMPL New Delhi [India], November 6: With India grappling with soaring air pollution, especially in the Delhi NCR region, it is the children and the elderly who are the most vulnerable to toxic air. Citing the alarming situation with pollution levels far exceeding the unhealthy mark, school authorities are embracing comprehensive measures and tools to keep pollution in check in schools, where young children spend a significant portion of their day. ''Schools can integrate air quality monitoring systems by installing sensors across the campus that provide real-time data. This information can be shared with school administration and parents through digital platforms. At GD Goenka, Vasant Kunj when pollution levels exceed safe limits, we restrict outdoor activities, switch to indoor settings, and provide students with safe spaces with air purifiers,'' says Dr Kevin Brady, Principal, GD Goenka Public School, Vasant Kunj. Echoing his views, Rinku Pandey, PGT English, Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Kanpur, states,''Monitoring air-quality forecasts will enable schools to understand the level of pollution in the air and accordingly restrict the outdoor activities of students when the pollution levels are high. Schools may encourage indoor activities to engage students on high-pollution days. If schools can afford it, they can install air purifiers in classrooms, so that children get to breathe better quality air.'' Speaking in a similar tone, Kanak Gupta, Group Director at Seth M.R. Jaipuria Schools underlines the significance of routine communication with guardians in such scenarios. ''First off, rescheduling outdoor activities to times when pollution levels are lower, typically early mornings, can substantially minimise exposure. In addition, utilising air quality monitoring tools like the Air Quality Index (AQI) can allow school authorities to stay informed and take prompt action when pollution levels are elevated. Moreover, schools should regularly communicate with parents about high-pollution days and advise precautions to ensure everyone is aware and prepared,'' says Kanak Gupta. Air pollution poses a significant threat to children's health, affecting their respiratory systems and overall development. This makes it imperative for school management to take steps to safeguard them in school environments. ''At GD Goenka, we ensure that the school infirmary is stocked with the necessary equipment and medications for vulnerable students (with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma). The school has a state-of-the-art in-house ambulance along with a full-time doctor and nursing staff ready to respond to any medical emergencies,'' says Dr Kevin Brady. Similarly, Pandey underlines that in the wake of a pollution led health emergency indoor air filtration system must be a standard feature in schools. ''Indoor air filtration systems are the need of the hour, considering the amount of pollution which exists in the atmosphere around. I feel that indoor air filtration systems must become the standard feature in classrooms if we want our children to focus better during their classes and improve their overall health,'' opines Pandey. Agreeing with her views, Kanak Gupta further underscore the substantial benefits of installing air filtration systems in schools. ''Given their noteworthy benefits, indoor air filtration systems should certainly be a standard feature in classrooms. They offer a reliable way to ensure that students are breathing clean air, particularly during high-pollution days when outdoor air quality is hazardous,'' says Kanak Gupta. While restricting outdoor activities and deploying air purification systems are effective solutions for mitigating the harmful effects of pollution, school administrators believe that empowering students as change agents is vital for curbing pollution. ''The rising generation of students can play an important role in raising awareness of the long-term effects of air pollution, the value of urban green spaces, and the impact of harmful practices such as: burning garbage during the winter season, and bursting crackers. Students should see themselves as change agents and we, as their mentors, should encourage them to envision a future in which the air we breathe is increasingly pure and pollutant-free,'' says Dr Brady. Mentioning the importance of local environmental organisations in raising awareness about environmentally friendly practices, Pandey states, ''Schools can play a crucial role in generating environmental awareness. Working in close collaborations with local environmental organisations may give students opportunities for hands-on-experiences with sustainable practices. By attending expert talks and gaining practical experience, students get motivated to adopt these environmental-friendly practices in their regular course of action.'' In addition, experts are also of the firm opinion that green spaces in schools and eco-friendly practices can go a long way in reducing exposure to toxic air and pollutants. ''Adapting school infrastructure to counter the effects of pollution can include constructing green spaces with plants that absorb pollutants. Using trees and shrubs as barriers can also lower pollution from nearby roads and industrial zones. Embracing eco-friendly designs in school buildings, such as green roofs and walls, can also elevate air quality and reduce exposure to pollutants,'' says Kanak Gupta. Moreover, experts suggest that bringing indoor plants, such as Peace Lilies, Spider Plants, and Snake Plants, into classrooms can improve indoor air quality. Additionally, incorporating small water bodies or fountains on campus can help reduce dust and lower airborne particulate matter, while also creating a calming and aesthetically pleasing environment for students. The combined efforts of school authorities, parents, and the community can foster healthier learning environments and contribute to a broader movement towards cleaner air and a sustainable future. As we continue to witness the challenges of air pollution, these proactive steps are essential in safeguarding the health and well-being of our children. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
SMPL New Delhi [India], November 6: Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Nagpur is setting new benchmarks in management education with its robust Professional Development Programmes (PDP), designed to merge academic excellence with practical, industry-relevant experience. These programmes, driven by technology-enhanced pedagogy and strong industry-academia collaborations, aim to equip students with the skills necessary to succeed in today's complex business landscape. Aspiring candidates can apply for SIBM Nagpur's management programs through SNAP 2024, with registrations open until November 22, 2024. The last date to complete the payment and registration for SIBM Nagpur is 15th January 2025. Dr Shailesh Rastogi, Director of SIBM Nagpur, remarked, "At SIBM Nagpur, we focus on creating industry-ready professionals by integrating academic learning with real-world experiences. Our PDPs and our tech-centric pedagogical approach ensure that students are prepared to meet the evolving demands of the corporate world." Professional Development Programmes (PDP) SIBM Nagpur's PDPs bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practices through workshops, guest lectures, live projects, and consistent engagement with industry leaders. These initiatives emphasize critical skills like problem-solving, strategic decision-making, and innovation, ensuring students are well-equipped for modern business challenges. Technology-Driven Learning The institute integrates technology into its curriculum, allowing students to learn essential data-driven tools like Stata, R programming, and Python. In addition, certifications from platforms such as LinkedIn Learning complement the classroom experience, while Harvard Business School case studies encourage real-world problem-solving and analytical thinking. Strong Industry Collaborations The MBA Batch of 2022-24 at SIBM Nagpur witnessed an impressive highest package of Rs20 LPA, with the average salary standing at Rs11.25 LPA and a median of Rs10 LPA. Top recruiters included prestigious organizations like Grant Thornton, HCL Tech, Deloitte, VE Commercial Vehicles, ICICI Lombard, SBI General Insurance, Genpact, Federal Bank, KPIT, Mercedes Benz, Digit, and Piramal Realty, among others. For the Food and Agri-Business Management (FABM) Batch 2022-24, the highest package offered was Rs18 LPA, while the average stood at Rs8.6 LPA, with a median salary of Rs7.2 LPA. Notable recruiters included industry giants such as Sumitomo Chemicals, ITC, Piramal Realty, Haldirams, Britannia, Syngenta, Pepsico, Kotak Life Insurance, and Blue Stone, among others. Comprehensive MBA Programmes SIBM Nagpur offers a range of MBA programmes, including its flagship MBA, MBA-Food and Agribusiness Management (FABM), and MBA-Executive, catering to various industry needs. Specializations include Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Operations, and Food & Agriculture Management. Global Exposure and Internationalization SIBM Nagpur provides students with international exposure through exchange programs, global seminars, and international collaborations, fostering a global mindset essential for today's business leaders. Faculty Initiatives on Teaching and LearningAt SIBM Nagpur, the faculty fosters academic excellence and innovation. Faculty members stay updated with the latest teaching methodologies by participating in professional development programs offered by Symbiosis' Student and Teaching Learning Resource Center (STLRC) in Pune. These continuous learning initiatives ensure that students benefit from cutting-edge education, preparing them for success in a dynamic business environment. Experiential Learning PedagogySIBM Nagpur emphasizes experiential learning, integrating real-world simulations, live projects, and case studies into the curriculum. This hands-on approach allows students to apply theoretical concepts in practical scenarios. Additionally, research-oriented projects encourage students to undertake publication-worthy studies, enhancing their academic rigor and critical thinking skills. In conclusion, SIBM Nagpur consistently spearheads and focuses on versatile, industry-ready professionals by emphasizing experiential learning, integrating cutting-edge technology, and providing global exposure. The institute is committed to setting new benchmarks in business education, equipping students with the skills needed to excel in a rapidly evolving corporate landscape. For more details, please visit SIBM Nagpur's official website to explore the programs, opportunities, and initiatives that make it a leader in business education. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 6: NBR Group, a renowned name in Bengaluru's real estate landscape for over 25 years, has unveiled a new logo and brand tagline "Elevate to Extraordinary", as it moves from mid-segment homes to luxury hi-rise gated community living. This transformation underscores the company's commitment to excellence in urban living. With an impressive portfolio that includes diverse residential and real-estate developments, NBR Group has sold over 12 million square feet of residential space and cultivated a loyal customer base of more than 7,000 homeowners. The new logo symbolizes clear specific communication with bold letters symbolic to building new-age futuristic construction providing aspirational lifestyles and the dedication to creating gated communities that emphasize modern amenities, open spaces, and high-quality infrastructure. The enhanced brand identity highlights a strong commitment to sustainability and contemporary luxury design, ensuring that every project meets the aspirations of discerning residents. NBR Group's royal blue colour represents trust, reliability, and sophistication, the main three pillars that resonate deeply with NBR Group's vision. The vibrant and bold shade not only enhances the visual identity but also reflects the company's ambition to provide a premium living experience that meets global standards. Royal blue serves as a symbol of the luxurious lifestyle NBR Group aims to create for its customers, embodying both elegance and stability. "Elevate to Extraordinary" embodies NBR Group's focus on delivering high standards and demonstrates the strong reputation it has cultivated over two decades in the industry. This commitment extends beyond customers to include employees and stakeholders, ensuring that every project not only meets but exceeds expectations. This new approach of the brand is focused on providing the highest standards of living, integrating global trends and high-calibre craftsmanship to create vibrant, modern communities for new-age homebuyers. The company has also secured around 10 acres land parcel in one of Bengaluru's most prestigious suburbs, setting the stage for the development of a luxurious high-rise residential project valued at over Rs 1200 crore. With this approach, NBR Group aims to reinforce its commitment to quality. On this occasion, Nagabhushan Reddy, Managing Director & Founder, NBR Group stated, "NBR Group's journey has been defined by our commitment to transformation and quality, always aligning with the evolving preferences of our customers. Our new brand identity signifies a pivotal moment that reflects the contemporary luxury standards we aim to uphold. The tagline "Elevate to Extraordinary" underscores our dedication to creating exceptional living experiences, not just homes. As we expand into the luxury high-rise segment, integrating global trends and aesthetics into our developments will remain central to our mission." The rebranding comes as NBR Group continues its expansion into the luxury segment, reaffirming its position as a leader in residential development. For more information about NBR Group and its latest projects, please visit NBR Group's Website. NBR Group has been a cornerstone of Bengaluru's real estate market for over 25 years. Renowned for its commitment to masterful construction and customer satisfaction, NBR Group specialises in developing gated communities that blend modern living with sustainability. The company remains dedicated to enhancing urban living experiences through innovative solutions. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], November 6: Located in the city of Gurgaon, DeCeramica has evolved as a brand that provides luxury and precision with Bathroom aesthetics since the last two decades. Promoted by the insightful Neelesh Gupta, it is a Company which has single handedly cross-pollinated Italian and German concepts of home livability into India-etching entirely new standards in style mixed with subtlety. Professional Practice and Specialization DeCeramica is the embodiment of artisanality as a skill and deep-rooted passion in each article produced. The zenith of their offering is perhaps the stone basins, for it uncompromisingly represents an A La Carte sourcing with only best in quality and design. Such commitment has not only earned him recognition but also built a strong and loyal customer base who appreciates the craftsmanship behind every piece. State-of-the-Art Global Associations DeCeramica has had an amazing journey with partnerships with distinguished brands such as Hansgrohe, Axon and the likes of international designers who have enriched our culture by maintaining excellence. These associations enable DeCeramica to hand-pick and deliver the best of products, ensuring every customer walks into luxury at its most unadulterated form. Clientele and Satisfaction Having catered to thousands of clients, DeCeramica is well known for their reliability in service and customer satisfaction. Every project stands as proof of their commitment to the improvement of daily life, by means of novel design and outstanding execution. End-to-End Solutions DeCeramica offers much more than just supply - they work as a total partner in space transform. Known for their turnkey project capabilities, they infuse luxury into every aspect of bathroom and living space designing. From design to deployment, this detail orientation sees all our work delivered above and beyond. Looking Ahead Here at DeCeramica, we are now in our 20th year of influencing the idea behind luxury goods and this promise ensures that innovation carries forward into future. With a relentless focus on quality, and an innate vision of international lifestyles they are determined to define the future of luxury living in India. In short, DeCeramica is a reflection of hard work, passion and love for what you are doing. From humble beginnings to being up there, as a fine purveyor of luxury bathroom solutions in the country - they have been delivering quintessential international craftsmanship throughout Indian homes. But as they take the next step forward on their journey, one thing will still hold true: DeCeramica always promises to bring a touch of luxury into daily life with unmatched products and an uniquely visionary ethos.For more information visit: deceramica.in (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], November 6: FCF India is pleased to announce a strategic pre-financing partnership with Asvata, a company under the RPG Group, to support the Rangsang Carbon Project, "Restoration of Homestead Lands of Poor Rural Communities in Assam and Meghalaya." The Carbon Project, developed by FCF India and implemented by Rangsang, will eventually span over 8,860 hectares across the states of Assam and Meghalaya. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in aligning climate finance with climate action, focusing on ecosystem restoration, improved livelihoods, and emissions reduction. A Strategic Partnership for Climate Action The Carbon Project, registered with Verra, is designed to ensure not only a removal in carbon emissions through the ARR project but it also ensures improvement in Food Nutrition Security and livelihood opportunities of more than 15,000 farmers. The initiative will benefit local communities through the plantation of indigenous tree species and improving the ecosystem of the region. Asvata's involvement is instrumental in bridging the financial gap to scale up the Rangsang Carbon Project. "Partnering with Asvata reaffirms the potential of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to scale through a business model supported by commercial capital," said Jasmeet Singh, Founder and Director, FCF India. He further added, "This collaboration highlights our belief that sustainable solutions can deliver both environmental impact and financial returns, proving NBS as a viable approach to tackling climate challenges." Aligning Corporate Investment with Sustainability "Our investment and partnership in the Rangsang Project reflect our broader strategy of supporting sustainability initiatives that drive long-term value for both the environment and society," said Navin Mathur, Chief Operating Officer, Asvata. He further added, "Through this partnership, we will play a pivotal role in the implementation of key project milestones, helping to create measurable climate impact. We are proud to be part of this project and are committed to creating a green and resilient future." About FCF India & Asvata FCF India develops high-quality Carbon Projects, with high priority to Nature-Based Solutions. The organization builds bridges between corporate clients who want to pursue Net Zero targets and the smallholder farming community that generate carbon credits. FCF India inspires and empowers corporates to achieve their Net Zero targets. The organization focuses on Fair principles, Inclusivity at all levels, and a Transparent process where all stakeholders are aware and informed. Asvata, part of the RPG Group, helps businesses take climate action that goes beyond carbon reduction--transforming communities, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Through high-quality projects, Asvata believes that every carbon credit can set in motion multiple positive effects that benefit the planet, its people, and businesses. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 6: The National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) Maharashtra NextGen is excited to unveil the third edition of its flagship annual event, Excelerate 3.0, scheduled for 14th November 2024 at Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai. Under the theme 'Innovation in Construction,' the event aims to further the penetration of cutting-edge innovation in making the construction and real estate industry ready for the challenges of the future including but not limited to rapid urbanization, climate change etc. Excelerate 3.0 will also spotlight NAREDCO Maharashtra's PROPEL, an initiative designed to foster innovation and empower emerging entrepreneurs in the real estate landscape. As India's real estate industry advances towards an ambitious $1 trillion target by 2030, the event seeks to position innovation as a core strategy in meeting the sector's evolving demands. The event will serve as a forum for thought leadership, featuring top industry experts, leaders, and innovators sharing their best practices and practical viewpoints in exclusive panel discussions named 'Build Fast', 'Build Quality', 'Build Sustainable'. Attendees can expect a rich exchange of ideas on optimizing processes as well as cutting edge tools and technologies to contribute sustainably for the growth of our built environment. Prashant Sharma, President, NAREDCO Maharashtra said, "Excelerate 3.0 is a clear reflection of our steadfast commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in the construction industry. By providing a platform for the next generation of leaders to come together, collaborate, and innovate, we're laying the foundation for a more resilient and tech-forward sector. NAREDCO Maharashtra's initiative is not just about setting new standards, it's about inspiring bold, transformative solutions that will help build faster, build better; a more sustainable environment for the future." Rajan Bandelkar, Vice Chairman, NAREDCO said, "This is a powerful platform that will drive innovation and foster collaboration within the real estate sector. By nurturing emerging talent and embracing cutting-edge technologies, we are empowering the next generation of leaders to create sustainable, transformative solutions. As the real estate sector plays a pivotal role in India's growth, initiatives like Excelerate 3.0 are key to setting new industry standards, promoting sustainability, and shaping the future of construction Ridham Gada, President, NAREDCO NextGen Maharashtra said, "We are excited to announce Excelerate 3.0, an initiative designed to push the boundaries of innovation and excellence within the construction industry. This platform will empower young leaders and professionals to collaborate, ideate, and bring groundbreaking solutions that will reshape the future of real estate and infrastructure development. With the able support of NAREDCO Maharashtra, Excelerate 3.0 will be the catalyst for creating sustainable, technology-driven solutions that will help the industry build faster, build quality, and build sustainably, addressing the challenges of tomorrow." With a carefully curated agenda, Excelerate 3.0 promises to offer participants deep insights into the future of construction, foster meaningful dialogues, and establish a roadmap for sustainable growth in the sector. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], November 6: TalentSprint, a leading global education company powered by AI, has teamed up with IIM Calcutta, India's 1st IIM and a premier management institute, to offer advanced executive education programs tailored for working professionals. The partnership blends IIM Calcutta's academic leadership with TalentSprint's vast outreach and expertise in online program delivery, designed to empower professionals with the skills needed to thrive in today's environmentally responsible businesses. The launch of an Executive Program in Corporate Sustainability marks a decisive step forward in addressing the evolving needs of the industry. Sustainability is no longer a choice or a reporting requirement but a strategic action for companies across their business value chain. The International Labor Organization predicts that by 2030, the green economy will generate approximately 100 million new jobs globally. In India alone, over 30 million sustainability-related jobs are expected in the next 25 years. As businesses align with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, SEBI now mandates listed companies to disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities through the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR). This shift places a growing responsibility on companies to find professionals capable of setting and executing effective sustainability agendas. Corporate honchos are increasingly being pushed to tick the boxes on ecology protection as a metrics of evaluating their performances. In light of this ongoing transformative shift, IIM Calcutta, in collaboration with TalentSprint, has launched a high-impact Executive Program in Corporate Sustainability (EPCS). This program is designed to equip participants with the skills to create and implement actionable sustainability strategies, transforming ESG from a compliance obligation into a strategy for profitability. Prof. Runa Sarkar, one of the Program Directors, and Professor at IIM Calcutta highlights, "Our curriculum is backed by rigorous research and tailored for professionals with corporate experience. It's not just aligned with the SDGs; it's designed to integrate cutting-edge business simulations that translate sustainability principles into actionable strategies. The live sessions are planned with interactive discussions, experiential learning and case study discussions to enable real world impact." Dr. Santanu Paul, Founding CEO & MD of TalentSprint, adds, "Sustainability is no longer just a regulatory mandate; it's now recognized as a profit center and a critical business imperative. Thus, the need for skilled professionals in this area has never been so high. This program, built on industry-trusted pedagogy, empowers learners with the expertise to lead impactful and responsible sustainability initiatives." Ideal for experienced professionals, learners who enrol in this program understand the parameters to drive sustainable growth, enhance organizational reputation, and stay ahead of sustainability trends and regulations, simultaneously adding to the bottomline.The program is a 12-month live learning experience which brings to light critical knowledge on ethical and strategic sustainability challenges, green finance and sustainable design thinking. It combines the academic depth of IIM Calcutta with the online delivery expertise and outreach experience of TalentSprint. This thoughtfully crafted program will help participants to navigate strategic sustainability challenges while aligning with applicable sustainability practices and methods, in line with the latest trends and benchmarks. For more information about the program, visit website About IIM Calcutta The Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta was established as the first National Institute for post-graduate studies and research in management by the Government of India in November 1961 in collaboration with Alfred P. Sloan School of Management (MIT), the Government of West Bengal, the Ford Foundation and Indian industry. The vision of the Institute is to be an international center of excellence in all facets of management education. Over the past four decades, IIM Calcutta has blossomed into one of Asia's finest business schools. It has an enviable reputation for imparting high quality management education to some of the best minds in the country. It has been playing a pioneering role in professionalising Indian management through its post graduate and doctoral level programmes, executive training programmes, research, and consulting activities. About TalentSprint Established in 2010, TalentSprint is a part of the NSE group and a global education company powered by AI that brings transformational bootcamps and innovative learning programs to modern-day professionals who aspire to future-proof themselves with deep expertise. TalentSprint partners with top-tier academic institutions and big tech global corporations to create futuristic programs and deliver remarkable outcomes. Its AI-powered platform ipearl.ai, seamlessly blends world-class academic rigor with industry-leading practitioner experience. The company's learner engagement rates and high customer delight scores make it a leading player in the industry. For more information, visit talentsprint.com. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], November 6: The much-anticipated thriller A Real Encounter is set for a nationwide release on November 15, bringing audiences a gripping story inspired by a true police encounter in Gujarat. Directed by Sabir Shaikh and produced by Pradip Churiwal under the banner of MacNeil Engineering Limited, the film delivers an engaging storyline, with Shahbaz Khan in a lead role as an encounter specialist. Distribution is managed by Balakrishna Srivastav of A One Cine Creation, ensuring the film reaches a wide audience across India. The plot centers around Muskaan, a young woman at the heart of a controversial encounter, with suspenseful questions about her innocence. The cast includes Shahbaz Khan, Ehsan Khan, Mushtaq Khan, Raza Murad, Ali Khan, Himaayat Alam Ali, Akhilesh Verma, Bratuti Ganguly, Anil Nagrath, Rakesh Pujara, Sangeeta Singh, Rishikesh Tiwari, Amrit Dujari, and Kaleem Akhtar who bring intensity to their roles. The story is written by pradip Churiwal. The trailer, which has been well-received, features powerful dialogues like, "No one knows who will conduct whose encounter next," and Raza Murad's impactful line, "This encounter is fake." In addition to Hindi, A Real Encounter will also be released in Gujarati, reflecting its regional roots. The film includes a courtroom drama that explores the pressures faced by policemen carrying out encounters, revealing the moral dilemmas they encounter under orders. Director Sabir Shaikh has woven a social message throughout the film, emphasizing the importance of parental supervision to keep children on the right path. Mushtaq Khan, known for his comedic roles, steps into an emotional role as Muskaan's father and commended Shaikh's vision. Anil Nagrath, who plays a politician, noted that the film portrays the calculated nature of politics realistically. Catch A Real Encounter in theaters on November 15 for a compelling blend of action, suspense, and thought-provoking social themes. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
He said the event reflects the India vision story and unifies the entire mobility value chain under a single umbrella.

He also unveiled the event film and brochure for the expo.

Goyal lauded ministries and industry bodies from the automotive and mobility sectors for their initiative in organising the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025.

The Expo's theme is 'Beyond Boundaries: Co-Creating the Future of the Automotive Value Chain,'

The event is scheduled to be held from January 17-22, 2025 across three separate venues viz. Bharat Mandapam (ITPO), Delhi; Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Center), Dwarka, Delhi and India Expo Center and Mart, Greater Noida.

It is going to be spread across more than 200,000 sq. metres, playing host to over 9 shows and 500,000 visitors.

And this time, there is a special emphasis being placed on the global significance of the expo, seeing sizable participation from across the globe as exhibitors and visitors.

The expo will showcase the latest advancements and breakthroughs in the mobility ecosystem. Featured will be specialised exhibitions such as the Auto Expo Motor Show (including electric & hybrid vehicles), the Auto Expo Components Show, a Mobility Tech Pavilion (connected and autonomous technologies, infotainment, etc.), an Urban Mobility and Infrastructure Show (sustainable urban transportation systems - drones, public transport and infra, etc.), a Battery Show (battery technologies and storage solutions), a Construction Equipment Expo, a Steel Pavilion, a Tyre Show and a dedicated Cycle Show (new models, accessories, innovations), amongst other specialised events and expos.

The Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 is an industry-led and government-supported initiative and is being coordinated by Engineering Export Promotion Council India (EEPC India) with the joint support of various industry bodies and partner organisations- SIAM, ACMA, IESA, ATMA, ISA, NASSCOM, ICEMA, AICMA, MRAI, ITPO, Invest India, IBEF, CII, Yashobhoomi and IEML.

More information about Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 is available at www.bharat-mobility.com. (ANI)
Kiki Hakansson, the first-ever Miss World, has passed away peacefully at the age of 95. She died in her sleep on Monday, November 4, at her home in California. Her family confirmed that she "went peacefully, comfortably, and well taken care of." The announcement was made through the official Miss World Instagram account. https://www.instagram.com/p/DCAk6IPxQz1/ Born in Sweden, Kiki Hakansson made history in 1951 when she was crowned Miss World at the inaugural Miss World pageant, which took place in London. Held on July 29, 1951, at the Lyceum Ballroom, the pageant was initially conceived as a one-time event tied to the Festival of Britain. However, the contest went on to become a global institution, and Kiki's victory marked the beginning of the Miss World legacy. In a heartfelt tribute shared on social media, the official page of the Miss World pageant expressed its deep sorrow at her passing. The official post read, "We extend our deepest sympathies to all Kiki's family, sending our love and offering our prayers at this difficult time." Her son, Chris Andersen, also paid tribute to his mother, describing her as "real, kind, loving, and fun," with a "brilliant sense of humour and wit, and a big heart." He added, "She will be remembered by all who knew her for her warmth and generosity." Julia Morley, Chairwoman of Miss World, shared her personal thoughts, saying, "Kiki was a true pioneer, and it was therefore fitting that Kiki would have her place in history as the first Miss World." Morley continued, "We will continue through eternity to celebrate the memory of the first ever Miss World, Kerstin (Kiki) Hakansson, who is forever in our hearts." Kiki Hakansson's passing marks the end of an era for the Miss World competition, but her legacy as the first winner will endure for generations to come. As a trailblazer, she not only set the stage for future pageant queens but also became an iconic figure in the global cultural landscape. (ANI)
Bollywood's beloved superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who recently celebrated his 59th birthday in Mumbai, is back at work after an eventful month of festivities. The actor was spotted at a dubbing studio in Mumbai, where he was accompanied by his son, Aryan Khan, sparking excitement among fans about an upcoming, highly anticipated project. Meanwhile, it was earlier announced that the father-son duo will lend their voices for Disney's 'Mufasa: The Lion King', an upcoming prequel to the classic 1994 animated film 'The Lion King'. The film, which is set to hit Indian theatres on December 20, promises to bring a fresh chapter to the legendary Lion King saga with a stunning blend of photorealistic CGI and live-action techniques. Shah Rukh Khan has been roped in to voice the iconic character of Mufasa, while his eldest son, Aryan Khan, will take on the role of Simba. Adding a touch of family charm, Shah Rukh's youngest son, AbRam Khan, will also feature in the film, voicing the young Mufasa. In a statement shared by Disney, Shah Rukh Khan spoke about the personal connection he feels to his character, Mufasa. "Mufasa has an incredible legacy and stands as the ultimate king of the jungle, imparting his wisdom to his son, Simba. I deeply relate to him as a father and also resonate with Mufasa's journey in the film," said Khan, whose powerful voice is set to bring the character's regal authority and wisdom to life once again. The 'Mufasa' film will explore the legendary lion's early years, from his orphaned cub days to his rise as the esteemed king of the Pride Lands. Khan described his experience as "exceptional" and mentioned that revisiting Mufasa has been a deeply meaningful experience for him, especially with his sons involved in the project. Bikram Duggal, Head of Studios at Disney Star, echoed the sentiment, calling the father-son collaboration a perfect fit for the film. "The ferocious Mufasa is more than just a fictional character; he embodies a spirit that continues to inspire generations. When 'Mufasa: The Lion King' was announced, we could not envision anyone other than Shah Rukh Khan and Aryan Khan returning to our family entertainer as Mufasa and Simba," Duggal said in a press release. The film also features a stunning soundtrack, with original songs by the talented Lin-Manuel Miranda, further enriching the cinematic experience for audiences across India. Directed by Barry Jenkins, 'Mufasa: The Lion King' is set to be an epic prequel that delves into the origins of Mufasa, telling the story of his journey from a young cub to the majestic king of the Pride Lands. The Hindi-dubbed version promises to be a visual and emotional spectacle, with Shah Rukh Khan and his sons adding an extra layer of excitement to the film. (ANI)
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, and Rani Mukerji starrer 'Veer Zaara' has created an everlasting impact on the minds of people because of the remarkable star cast, story and music. There is good news for all the fans as Yash Chopra's iconic film is all set to re-release internationally on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. It will entertain the audience once again. The film will be re-released internationally on 600 screens on November 7. It will also premiere for the first time in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. Another highlight is that the re-release prints of 'Veer Zaara' will also include the iconic deleted song 'Yeh Hum Aa Gaye Hai Kahaan'. It is the first time that the song will be a part of the movie. Directed by the legendary Yash Chopra, Veer-Zaara transcends borders and generations with its powerful narrative of love, sacrifice, and hope. The film also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Rani Mukerji, Divya Dutta and Manoj Bajpayee. The film showcases the eternal love story of Indian Air Force pilot, Veer Pratap Singh (Shah Rukh Khan) and a Pakistani woman, Zaara Hayaat Khan (Preity Zinta). 'Veer Zaara' was much liked for its story, performance by the cast of the movie and music. "Veer Zaara has a cult following across the globe and on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, we wanted to re-release this iconic love story for the fans to savour the world over. As we entered the 20th year of this unanimously loved film, we could sense that the fans wanted to see this love story worldwide. From the chatter on social media, to fan requests to our offices globally, we could sense that people were waiting for us and wanting us to take this decision. So, this move by YRF is our hat-tip to the fans of the film," said Nelson D'Souza, Vice President, International Distribution in a statement shared by the film's team. In its re-release, Veer Zaara will re-release in the following global markets like USA, Canada, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, France, Australia, Newzealand, Fiji, Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa. (ANI)
Acclaimed actor Nicholas Braun, known for his role in 'Succession', and rising stars David Castaneda and O-T Fagbenle have signed on to star alongside Dakota Johnson in 'Splitsville', an upcoming sex comedy directed by Michael Covino. The indie film, which has already wrapped production, also stars Adria Arjona, Kyle Marvin, and Covino himself, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Neon and Topic Studios, the forces behind the project, are currently shopping the film at this year's American Film Market (AFM) in Las Vegas. 'Splitsville' tells the story of Ashley (Arjona), who decides to divorce her husband Carey (Marvin), a kind-hearted man struggling to cope with the decision. Seeking emotional support, Carey turns to his friends Julie (Johnson) and Paul (Covino), only to be taken aback when he learns that the key to their happiness is an open marriage. Carey tries to adopt this unconventional approach to relationships, but his attempts to embrace the lifestyle quickly spiral out of control, leading to chaos in all their personal lives, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film marks a new chapter for Michael Covino, who made a name for himself with the critically acclaimed 'The Climb', a 2019 indie comedy that debuted at the Cannes Film Festival. After its success, Covino's directorial talent was widely recognized, with Sony Pictures Classics acquiring the film for distribution. He returns to the director's chair for 'Splitsville', bringing his signature comedic style to the new project. Covino and co-star Kyle Marvin, who both served as writers, directors, and producers on 'The Climb', are continuing their collaboration on 'Splitsville' under their production company, Watch This Ready. Speaking on the new film, Covino shared, "We're excited to bring this story to the screen, and with this talented ensemble cast, we're confident it will resonate with audiences. 'Splitsville' blends humour and heart in a way that feels fresh and fun," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Neon, which previously worked with Covino and Marvin on 'The Climb', is set to release 'Splitsville' domestically in 2025. Neon International is handling worldwide sales, and the film is expected to be a key focus at AFM this week. The project was developed under a multi-year first-look deal between Covino, Marvin, and Topic Studios, who had previously worked together on 'The Climb'. In addition to Covino and Marvin, 'Splitsville' is produced by Emily Korteweg under the Watch This Ready banner. Dakota Johnson, Ro Donnelly, and Samantha Racanelli are also serving as producers for TeaTime Pictures. Adria Arjona and Paul Barbeau are executive producing the film. (ANI)
Actor Christina Applegate, who is known for playing Kelly Bundy in the comedy sitcom 'Married... with Children', recently opened up about her health battle, reported E! News. Christina got candid about how painful the effects of her multiple sclerosis (MS) can be. "Everybody has different ways of it showing up," said Christina on the recent episode of her MeSsy podcast, co-hosted by The Sopranos alum Jamie-Lynn Sigler. She added, "I lay in bed screaming. Like, the sharp pains, the ache, the squeezing." She was diagnosed with the illness in 2021 and while talking about the symptoms, she shared, "I can't even pick up my phone sometimes, because now it's travelled into my hands. So I'll try to go get my phone or get my remote to turn on the TV or whatever, and sometimes I can't even hold them." "MS is defined as an auto-immune disease that affects communication between the brain and the rest of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic," as reported by E! News. Christina who continues to fight the disease shared how to cope with it, saying, "I find reality television very useful," she said, adding, "That's kind of it for me." "Anyone who knows me well knows that it's on 24/7 in my room," she continued. "I don't leave my room very often. I know that sounds really depressing but it's kind of like, I just need to sleep sometimes. Yeah, reality TV," reported E! News. Christina received a Primetime Emmy Award for her guest role in the NBC sitcom Friends (2002-2003). Applegate was also part of films including 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead', 'The Big Hit', 'The Sweetest Thing', 'Grand Theft Parsons', 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' , 'Hall Pass', 'Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues', 'Vacation', 'Bad Moms' , and 'Crash Pad'. (ANI)
During her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! show, she shared, "I literally threw the script across the room. It was like, 'What the?' Because it was such an explosive, such an incredible-everyone has to binge the whole season because I'm only in the last two episodes. It is such a spectacular ending, I get chills thinking about it."

Janney plays Vice President Grace Penn in the series, which follows U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), and her husband Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) as they try to prevent a global war.

'The Diplomat' is an American political thriller television series created by Debora Cahn. It premiered on Netflix on April 20, 2023. In May 2023, it was renewed for a second season, which was released on October 31, 2024.

Keri Russell was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.

In October 2024, the series was renewed for a third season.

Talking about Janney, she has played character roles in films, like Primary Colors (1998), American Beauty (1999), The Hours (2002), Juno (2007), Hairspray (2007), The Help (2011), Spy (2015), Bad Education (2019), and Bombshell (2019)

'The Diplomat' season 2 is streaming now on Netflix, reported People. (ANI)
People visit a stand of software products during the 2024 edition of the Digital Week of Benin in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 4, 2024. The digital week takes place in Cotonou from Nov. 4 to 8. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
According to officials, the case was initially filed against Pauly following a complaint by a woman at the Oonnukal police station in Kerala's Ernakulam district.

Authorities submitted a report in the Kothamangalam court requesting Pauly's name to be removed from the list of the accused, while the investigation continues against the other accused in the case. The report was submitted to the first-class judicial magistrate court, Kothamangalam, officials said.

Investigators found that Pauly was not present at the scene on the time and dates specified in the complaint, they added.

Pauly took to Instagram to express gratitude towards those who supported him during the investigation.

"Heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stood by me. Thank you for all the love, prayers and support," he wrote.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCBwbE1vyii/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

In September, Pauly and five others were named in a case filed by Kerala Police after a woman accused them of sexual assault and related crimes, claiming the offence occurred in Dubai the previous year.

The complainant alleged that the accused had promised her a role in a film.

Charges were filed under various IPC Sections, including 354 (assault or use of criminal force on a woman), 376D (gang rape), 354C (voyeurism), 450 (trespass), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376(2)(n) (repeated rape of the same woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). (ANI)
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has cancelled its untimely 'Rath Yatra' which was slated to be held on November 9 in Houston, USA, said a release from the ISKCON. As per the release, this proposed 'Rath Yatra' was facing major opposition from the devotees of Lord Jagannath, after which this decision was taken. The press release reads, "Finally, respecting the sentiments of Odiya Devotees of Lord Jagannath, the Houston Rath Yatra is cancelled. They will do Gour Nitai Sankirtan Yatra. National Communications Director, Yudhistir Govinda Prabhu told this after his discussion with Anuttama Prabhu, the member of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission and GBC Minister for Communications." However, the ISKCON said that it will organise the Gour Nitai Sankirtan Yatra on the day. "National Communications Director Yudhistir Govinda Prabhu informed about the cancellation of Rath Yatra and holding the Gour Nitai Sankirtan Yatra after his discussion with Anuttama Prabhu, member of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission and GBC Minister for Communications," said the release. Earlier on October 30, the Chairman of Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee in Puri, Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb, wrote a letter to the President of ISKCON Temple, Houston, HG Saranga Thakur Dasa, requesting him to celebrate the 'Rath Yatra' and 'Snana yatra' on "appropriate tithis" as per the Hindu traditions. He said the ISKCON Houston Centre is planning to celebrate the 'Snana Yatra' of Lord Jagannatha on November 3 and 'Ratha Yatra' on November 9, which is contrary to "scriptural injunctions." "It has come to our notice that ISKCON Houston Centre is organizing at Houston the Snana- yatra of Lord Jagannatha on 3rd November 2024 and Ratha-Yatra on the 9th of November 2024. At the very outset, I wish to state that performing these sacred festivals on the aforesaid dates is contrary to scriptural injunctions and well-established traditions," the Chairman stated in the letter. He further said the ISKCON devotees will honour and ardently abide by the sacred scriptures, and urged him to postpone the two said celebrations from the announced dates. "As sincere followers of the glorious Vaishnava tradition of Sanatana Vaidika Dharma, it is expected that ISKCON devotees around the world will honour and ardently abide by the prescription of sacred scriptures and long-established religious traditions," he said. "In view of the above and having regard to sacred scriptures, long-established tradition and the religious sentiments of devotees around the world, I urge upon your Organisation to postpone holding Snana-yatra on 3rd November 2024 and Ratha-yatra on 9th November 2024 and to hold these most holy festivals on the this/dates sanctioned by scriptures and tradition," he added. Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee Chairman, Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb also wrote a letter to the Chairman of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission in Mayapur, West Bengal, Guru Prasad Swami Maharaj, urging him to ensure that Ratha-Yatras and Snana-yatras are celebrated by ISKCON centres around the world only on the this according to scriptures and tradition. Additionally, Gajapati Maharaj noted that ISKCON centres in Nigeria have proposed to celebrate the Ratha-yatra of Lord Jagannatha in Wari City on November 23. In his letter, Gajapati Maharaj referenced a previous resolution by the Governing Council (Bureau) of ISKCON India, which stated that ISKCON centres within India would celebrate Ratha-yatra only on dates sanctioned by scriptures and tradition. However, he expressed concern that centres outside India continue to celebrate Ratha-yatra on varying dates that often conflict with these established traditions. (ANI)
They were detained on Tuesday afternoon at the Agartala Railway Station.

The Bangladesh nationals have been identified as Mohammed Jalal Awladar (40) and Ruma Begum (25) with her 4-year-old daughter Raima and are residents of Bagerhat district of Bangladesh. They reportedly planned to board a train to travel to other Indian states.

Based on the confidential information, a joint operation involving the Agartala Government Railway Police (GRP), Border Security Force (BSF), and Agartala Railway Protection Force (RPF) led to their detention.

The detained individuals are currently undergoing rounds of questioning at the Agartala GRP police station, with authorities suggesting that further arrests may follow in connection with this case.

A case has been officially registered at the Agartala GRP station. The detained individuals are scheduled to appear before the court on Wednesday.

Investigations are underway to uncover further details in the case.

Earlier on November 4, in a joint operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Sabroom Police apprehended eight individuals, including three Indian nationals and five Bangladeshi nationals, at Jalkumbha near Sabroom in South Tripura district. The operation took place around 2:40 pm.

According to the official statement, "All three Indian nationals were apprehended while crossing the border, and are residents of Baikhora, South Tripura district. All the Bangladeshi nationals are residents of village Jagannath, PS Ramgarh, Khagracheri in Bangladesh."

A preliminary inquiry is underway.

"BSF is maintaining a high level of alertness along the international border to prevent infiltration, emphasizing their commitment to border security," the statement added. (ANI)
Karnataka's former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai said that the Congress didn't have the moral right to invoke BR Ambedkar's name, as they had opposed him when he aimed to implement reservation in Parliament, according to a press release. Speaking at a BJP workers' meeting organized in Shiggaon city of Haveri district on Tuesday, he said "When Ambedkar proposed reservation, the Congress leaders of that time did not agree to it. It was only after discussions with Mahatma Gandhi and the Pune Pact that reservation was implemented. What is the purpose of this freedom if the oppressed communities of this country do not receive equality and justice?" He said that even when the reservation was brought into effect, it wasn't implemented properly due to inadequate policies. Congress opposed Ambedkar by fielding S.J. Patil against him, fearing that Ambedkar would implement reservations if elected to Parliament. Now, they still mention Ambedkar and the Constitution. When Ambedkar passed away, Congress didn't even provide a place for his funeral in Delhi, so they have no moral right to invoke his name. Bommai also referenced Babu Jagjivan Ram, calling him an undefeated leader who initiated the Green Revolution and strengthened the Indian army as Defence Minister. Despite his contributions, Congress did not allow him to be re-elected. "Indira Gandhi made Babu Jagjivan Ram the Congress president, displayed his large photo, and won the elections. Everyone thought he would become Prime Minister, but Indira Gandhi took the position after the election," he said. "Support those who work for you. I have built more Ambedkar Bhavans and installed statues in my constituency than in the constituencies of G Parameshwara or HC Mahadevappa. I have done this out of respect for Dr Ambedkar". The MP accused state Congress leaders of misappropriating around Rs. 190 crores meant for the Valmiki Corporation, causing injustice to that community. In fact, no funds were released for anyone from the Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivan Ram Development Corporation by the incumbent government. Bommai highlighted that the fight for increasing SC/ST reservation had been ongoing for a long time. "I was advised not to stir the beehive, but I did it anyway. Even if I get stung, I will ensure justice for the community," he said, noting that his increase of reservation allowed about 2,500 additional engineering seats and more than 400 medical seats, which made him as happy as if his own children had secured these seats. "This is the path we have walked, living closely with the community like sandalwood mixed in water. I am ready to dedicate my life to this cause. Power is not permanent, but I have made decisions with a clear conscience. With your support, I was able to make decisions that benefited the SC/ST community across the state," Bommai stated. He urged voters to question any minister or CM about the development in their constituency and asked the Dalit community to vote for Bharat Bommai with their conscience, without being swayed by others' words. Former Deputy CM and MP Govind Karjol and many local leaders were also present at the meeting. (ANI)
West Bengal Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari hit out at the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and alleged that a journalist was arrested on Tuesday for covering vandalism at Kali Puja Pandal and blaming the West Bengal police for an attack on a peaceful procession during idol immersion. In a post on X Suvendu Adhikari said, "Madhyom (https://madhyom.com ) is a West Bengal-based news portal which covers news & views and perspective on the present state of affairs in West Bengal. Recently the portal uploaded a video covering the vandalism at a Kali Puja Pandal at Dakshindari area (adjacent to Ultadanga) in Kolkata. The video got a substantial amount of views and is getting viral." He further claimed that Sanatan Dharma is under attack in West Bengal and there was an attempt to suppress those voices. "Mamata Police who failed to secure the Kali Puja Pandal and desecration of Maa Kali's idol, arrested Journalist Ananyo Gupta today. It seems, his fault is that he was covering the truth. This is not just about Free Press, this is an attempt to suppress those voices which raise an alarm when the Sanatan Dharma is under attack in West Bengal," he further said. In the video the journalist claimed that there were two incidents of desecration and blamed the TMC government for the unrest. In the first incident, an idol was vandalised in the Dakshindari area for playing the loudspeakers at high volume. He said that although one person was arrested he was kept at a different location and not the prison. In the second incident, a peaceful group was attacked by a mob at Raja Baazar on Friday night during idol immersion. Earlier West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee celebrated her 47th Kali Puja and offered prayers to the Goddesses at her residence in Kolkata. She said that over the years she has turned to Maa Kali for strength and guidance. (ANI)
Police officials received information around 8:30 AM that a resident of Nehru Vihar, Mustafabad was stabbed by a group of people.

According to police, the minor was taken to the Jag Pravesh Hospital where he succumbed to injuries and declared dead.

A case has been registered at the Dayalpur Police station and the police have launched an investigation to identify and nab the accused. Further details on the case are awaited.

Earlier on November 1, a 38-year-old man was stabbed to death by a group of people in Hastsal Road area of West Delhi. The victim, identified as Gagan Oberoi, was a property dealer, police said.

The victim was taken to the Mata Chanan Devi Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries due to excessive blood loss.

A case under Section 109(1) and 3(5) of the BNS was registered based on a complaint. (ANI)
"Despite holding the office bearer post in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), you have worked to violate party discipline. Such actions are a breach of party discipline and you are being expelled from the party immediately," the release signed by Maharashtra BJP office secretary Mukul Kulkarni said.

The saffron party released the names of 40 leaders including Ashok Pangarkar from the Jalna assembly constituency, Vishal Prabhakar Parab from Sawantwadi, Mayur Kapse from Jalgaon City, Jagdish Gupta from Amravati, Shrikant Karle from Dhule Rural, among others.

Karle recently filed a nomination from Dhule Rural as an Independent candidate. This comes days after Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the party leaders will make efforts to convince the rebels to withdraw their nomination as an Independent candidate by November 4.

Earlier, Senior BJP leader Gopal Shetty on Monday withdrew his candidature from the Boriwali assembly seat in north Mumbai. Shetty, a two-time MP from the north Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency, had rebelled against the BJP after the party gave a ticket to Sanjay Upadhyay.

Meanwhile, the Mahayuti alliance on Tuesday unveiled its much-anticipated manifesto presenting a vision aimed at driving Maharashtra toward "unprecedented prosperity and development."

During a public meeting held in Kolhapur North, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar jointly launched the manifesto, highlighting the alliance''s commitment to transformative growth and a progressive future for the state. The Mahayuti alliance, comprises BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (ANI)
Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Keshav Upadhyay emphasised that the BJP would campaign for Eknath Shinde's candidate Suresh Patil in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar and would have no association with Nawab Malik. NCP's Mahayuti's alliance partners, BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) have expressed their opposition to Malik's candidature. Nawab Malik has expressed confidence in winning the upcoming assembly elections from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar assembly seat. Keshav Upadhyay said, "I have made our role clear concerning Nawab Malik. We have said that we won't campaign there. We will campaign for Eknath Shinde's candidate in that constituency. We will not campaign for Nawab Malik and we will not have any association with him. He has been out on bail and he has not been proven innocent. The case is going on." BJP's Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar already clarified that the party would not be campaigning in support of Nationalist Congress Party's (Ajit Pawar) Nawab Malik. Keshav Upadhyay also strongly objected to Arvind Sawant's remarks on BJP leader Shaina NC and Sunil Raut's remarks against Shiv Sena Shinde faction's Vikhroli assembly candidate Suvarna Karanje. He further said, "It shows the mental bankruptcy of the leaders of Maha Vikas Aghadi. Yesterday in Kolhapur when a women candidate tried to take back her nomination then a Congress leader asked that if she did not have the courage then why did she fill the form. Mahayuti is thinking about women empowerment while MVA leaders are showing how low they can stoop to." Earlier in a no-holds-bar-attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Raut over his alleged comment on women candidate, Shiv Sena candidate from Mumba Devi seat, Shaina NC on Tuesday said that it is time that the women in Maharashtra wake up and raise their voice against such "regressive" comments. Reportedly, Sunil Raut while addressing an election rally called the Shiv Sena Shinde faction's Vikhroli assembly candidate Suvarna Karanje a "goat". Reacting to the remark made by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Shaina NC said, "This is the most regressive comment coming from Sunil Raut, on one hand, they call us 'Bakri' and used word 'Maal'. Look at the mind and thought process. On one hand, we have a PM who respects women...you have a CM who has empowered us with 'Ladli Bahin' scheme and on the other hand we have 'Maha Vinas Aghadi' where you have somebody referring to us as objects." Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against Sunil Raut, the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Vikroli constituency and brother of Sanjay Raut for his reported objectionable comments against a woman candidate of chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Maharashtra elections will be held in a single phase on November 20 with counting of votes held on November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections in Maharashtra, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (ANI)
Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Wednesday said that they have received the final assessment report showcasing the losses caused by cyclone DANA in the state. Nearly 131 blocks across 14 districts of Odisha were affected due to the cyclonic storm and the subsequent flooding, he added. The overall damages due to the cyclonic storm and the subsequent flooding, including damage to the departments of the state are estimated to be around Rs 616.19 crore, the minister said, adding that there have been damages to the power department, Panchayati Raj department, Rural Department, among others. The crop loss in the entire state of Odisha due to the cyclonic storm is estimated to be around Rs 82.92 crores, Pujari said. "After the damage caused by the recent cyclone DANA, we have received the final report of the losses caused due to the cyclonic storm. Many departments of the state including the Power Department, Panchayati Raj Department and Rural Development Department were also affected by the cyclone. The entire loss (to public property or the departments) put together is worth Rs 512.26 crores. Apart from this, 131 blocks across 14 districts of Odisha were affected. The crop loss in the entire state due to the cyclone and subsequent floods is estimated to be around Rs 82.92 crores. The loss to the damages to the house was nearly Rs 21 crores. The overall damages are estimated to be Rs 616.19 crores. This is the final assessment report. The file is being processed," Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said. The Odisha Minister said that the state government will compensate those whose houses and crops have been affected in various districts. "We will start distributing the amount to different departments and districts within a day or two. We will try to ensure that those affected are getting the compensation. We have a provision to provide compensation to houses that have been partially or completely damaged. In case of completely damaged houses, we can provide them houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)," the minister said. Earlier Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas of the state and directed concerned departments to immediately assess the damage and provide assistance to the needy. Minister Pujari and Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja also accompanied the CM Majhi. The Chief Minister directed concerned departments to immediately assess the damage and to provide assistance to those people impacted by Cyclone Dana. Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja took stock of the damage done in the state, and the relief efforts being carried out, and highlighted that around 92 per cent of connectivity has been restored across the state. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Abhinav Kumar held a meeting with concernced officials and discussed issues related to crime, law and order, and traffic management on Wednesday. According to an official release from Police Headquarters, the meeting was held through video conferencing with Zone and District Incharges, Superintendents of Police, and officials from the STF and Railways. DGP Abhinav Kumar, while giving instructions to all the District Incharges in this meeting, said that registration of crimes should be done compulsorily and the reasons for the increase and decrease in crime rate should be reviewed at the police station and circle level. He directed the districts performing below 61 per cent in property recovery to increase the property recovery percentage and said that comparative evaluation of crime-related figures of plain and hill districts should be done separately. DGP Kumar further issued directions to take effective action against reward criminals and to take action by running an effective campaign to reunite the missing people with their families through 'Operation Smile.' He said that all the district in-charges should thoroughly study the legal process of the cases registered under BNS in the new laws and make them aware of the problems that arise. Training will be given to the personnel at the concerned police station level and from the year 2025, the concerned district in-charge will be responsible for supervision. The DGP directed all the district in-charges to highlight the success story of BNS in the DGP / IGP conference and directed them to provide the story of what convenience the common people have from the new law as compared to the old laws to the headquarters. He said that while reviewing the cases registered in e-FIR and Zero FIR, the problem / feedback should be resolved by segregating the data and the common people and people living outside Uttarakhand give priority to Online FIR and in the coming time also work will be done on this module. The DGP directed all the districts to take effective action by running a special campaign against overloaded vehicles, illegal vehicles, drunk drivers from November 10. He said that in case of road accidents caused due to overloading, a case should be registered against the vehicle owner, driver, conductor as per the guidelines given in the SOP. The DGP instructed to identify/verify the hot spots of road accidents caused due to overloading in the last 10 years in the entire state and install special signage boards, glowing boards, crash barriers etc. at such places. The DGP said that the common man has to face problems when the national highway is blocked/train is stopped through dharna, procession. A case should be registered against such anti-social elements, along with this, coordination should be established with the stakeholders and they should be given proper information about the instructions, said the DGP. In the meeting, it was considered to organize a joint Nanda Devi expedition of Uttarakhand Police with ITBP on the 25th foundation day of Uttarakhand state in the coming year and to organize Ganga Safai Abhiyan program through rafting from Gangotri to Haridwar and other public awareness programs at district and state level. In the meeting, DGP instructed the officials study their work and ensure smooth conduct of Chardham Yatra in the coming year. In this regard, instructions were given to install electronic sign boards, mark holding area capacity and parking area while complying with the guidelines sent earlier from the headquarters level. All the districts were instructed to provide the problems, suggestions arising during Chardham Yatra on priority within 1 week. (ANI)
The Africa Mission Association is on a mission to help churches in Africa establish mission associations in all 54 countries from the current seven in the continent. Stephen Mbogo, the Vice Chair of the Africa Mission Association (AMA) is alive to the enormous task but equally aware of the great opportunity to formalize country mission associations that would be a source of coordinating and supporting missions in respective countries.

Speaking to Christian Daily International on the sidelines of the Christ Over Asia Africa and Latin America (COALA 2.5) meeting in Busan, South Korea, Mbogo said AMA is strategically working to establish national mission associations in each African country by fostering a sense of ownership and coordination at the national level.

One of the key challenges the AMA is tackling head-on, said Mbogo, is the historical under-representation of Africa's significant contributions to the global missionary movement. This under-representation is often reflected in mission statistics and reports, which tend to overlook the extensive missionary activities undertaken by African churches and organizations.

He said the continental association will learn from the experience of more established mission bodies such as the Nigeria Mission Association which has been in existence for 40 years and the 30-year old Ghana Mission Association.

We were challenged by these other countries because we realized that unless you have a national association, reaching the unreached remains very disjointed, said Mbogo.

This unity of purpose brought about by an association, added Mbogo, is what has enabled Latin America through COMIBAM (Ibero-American Mission Cooperation) to have detailed and up-to date information about the number of missionaries they have sent or the number of unreached people groups which cannot be said the same of Africa.

In 2023, COMIBAM mobilized 2,750 pastors across 24 LATAM countries for global missions, 850 churches engaged and close to 1,000 women and youth mobilized for missions, according to the organizations 2023 report.

Mbogo, however, said this does not negate the impact African churches are having in sending missionaries to other regions of the world, thereby challenging the traditional notion of missions as a primarily Western-led enterprise.

We have a long way to go but it also shows the need is there because if no one can substantively say this is where we are in Africa, unless you measure it, you'll not know if you're achieving it or not, said Mbogo.

Despite facing various challenges, such as limited resources and infrastructure, Mbogo is optimistic about the future of Africa-led and Africa-funded missions. He emphasized the immense potential that lies within the passion, commitment, and spiritual vitality of African Christians, particularly the youth.

Africa, with its young and rapidly growing population is now the continent with the most Christians, a fact that Mbogo sees as an opportunity to double down on mission activities, for the benefit of the African Church and the global Christian community. He observed that as Africa continues to be a force in sending missionaries to the rest of the world, discipleship and specifically youth discipleship will be a very key factor in expanding the kingdom of God.

AMA is looking within the continent for partnerships and impactful mission strategies, added Mbogo, who cited the work of African Enterprise, a pan-African urban-focused mission organization where he serves as the CEO. African Enterprise, with its extensive experience and expertise in urban missions, is playing a crucial role in equipping and mobilizing African churches to effectively engage with the complexities of urban environments.

With a presence in 12 African countries, Africa Enterprise follows an elaborate prayer-led plan backed by Gods people to establish missions in some of Africas big cities. Mbogo said it takes up to two years to prepare a new mission.

We have what we call the three Ps: Preparation can take one or two years gestation where we are groaning and praying for the city and also mapping the city, identifying the various areas where we will be targeting with the gospel, explained Mbogo.

The second stage is proclamation where Africa Enterprise partners with different churches, professional groups, para church organisations and government agencies to deliver a demand-driven need with a missional objective. The third is preservation, where new believers are attached to local church partners for discipleship and training of pastors and churches.

We call it stratified evangelism where you reach everybody at their level. So we say from statehouse to the streets. We ask ourselves; how will I reach the top leaders, the politicians, the movers and the shakers in town? But you also ask yourself, how do I reach the street boy who is in the streets? explained Mbogo.

Taking a holistic approach to missions has allowed Africa Enterprise to impact more people and has provided an opportunity to demonstrate kingdom principles in different social-economic spheres. Mbogo gives an example of the organisation's microfinance institution in Kigali, Rwanda which has 300,000 members and has won multiple awards for being one of the best performing para-church NGOs in the country.

The mission ministry has also partnered with medical institutions in different countries to provide free medical camps and the construction of clinics in informal settlements as part of missions to the unreached in the urban areas. This, and missions to prisoners and through sports, has provided an opportunity to minister to people of other faiths and create contact points for discipleship.

In Africa we must address the social side deliberately without assuming [that the physical needs have been met], said Mbogo who is trusting God that the impact of the national mission associations will be felt at the spiritual level, primarily, but also at the social-economic level.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo announced that the state would be celebrating the International Day of Millets on November 10-11, as declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi would inaugurate the 'Millet Mission' on November 10. Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said, "The Prime Minister had declared 10th November as the International Day of Millets. So this year, we are observing the International Day of Millets on November 10th and 11th in Bhubaneswar. We are going to have 10 technical sessions spread over two days. The CM (Mohan Charan Majhi) is going to inaugurate the 'Millet Mission' on November 10." He further said that this event would be on forgotten crops that are grown in the tribal and the mascot also bears the name Milli which has been derived from millets. "This mission is about educating people to eat healthy, live healthy and eat fresh. I am sure that all the international participants who are coming for this two-day symposium and the other technical experts, through their interaction, are going to enlighten all the people of the state." Reacting to a conference organised by iFOREST (International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology) on 'Just Energy Transition To Support Green Growth And Green Jobs In Odisha' he said that Odisha was moving towards a more sustainable generation of power. He further said, "The conference today is organised by iFOREST on 'Just Energy Transition To Support Green Growth And Green Jobs In Odisha'. We are moving towards a more sustainable generation of power. As per the guidelines set by the PM, we have to move with the times and have a more environment-friendly environment for people...The seven districts that were being talked about are the seven districts where you have a lot of mining activity available. Wherever there is mining activity, you have a lot of DMF funds available. So through the DMF fund, you can develop sustainable green energy." (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party leaders held a meeting in the national capital to discuss the campaign strategy for the upcoming Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, including the bypolls in several states. The meeting, held on Tuesday was reportedly conducted in two phases, with the second phase centred around the internal elections of the party. According to sources, the first phase of the meeting involved Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda, who discussed the election strategies with allied party ministers regarding the assembly and bypoll elections. One of the objectives of this meeting, ahead of the winter session of Parliament, was to maintain better coordination within the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). Earlier too, a similar meeting had been held at BJP President JP Nadda's residence. The discussions covered key aspects of election campaigning, including the overall framework of the campaign and ways to sharpen the party's messaging. Additionally, a strategy was devised to strengthen coordination with allied parties moving forward. During this session, discussions were also held with Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi regarding the upcoming bypolls in Bihar. Similarly, a conversation was held with Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary regarding the bypolls in Uttar Pradesh. The second phase of the meeting exclusively involved BJP's central ministers, focusing on organizational matters, particularly the process of internal elections within the party. The leaders also discussed speeding up the process for the election of BJP's National President, and ensuring swift progress in organizational elections across various states. The meeting included detailed state-wise discussions about the election of district and mandal-level party leaders, with updates being provided on the progress. The meeting, led by JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah, lasted for over an hour and a half. The 288 member Maharashtra Assembly will be going to polls in a single phase on November 20. Whereas the 81-seat Jharkhand Assembly will be going to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with the counting of votes to be held on November 23 for both states. In Maharashtra, the BJP is in alliance with Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), NCP (Ajit Pawar), called the Mahayuti alliance. In Jharkhand, the party has allied with All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti party (BJP). (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday arrived at Lokayukta Police office in Mysuru for an inquiry over the alleged irregularities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. The Mysuru Lokayukta officially has initiated an inquiry into the MUDA scam case following a September 27 court order to file an FIR. The Lokayukta was directed to investigate allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi. It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted these sites to the Chief Minister's wife in a prime location in Mysuru city. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at more than half a dozen locations in Mangalore, Bengaluru, Mandya, and Mysuru in connection with the MUDA-linked money laundering case. This move came within a week of the agency summoning six employees associated with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) for questioning. The employees were summoned in connection with the high-profile alleged scam on different dates for interrogation, which will take place at the ED's zonal office in Bengaluru. The ED has also filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah and others. This case was prompted by a First Information Report (FIR) from the state Lokayukta concerning the MUDA, placing the Karnataka Chief Minister in a difficult situation. The FIR names Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and Devaraju, from whom Swamy bought land that was later gifted to Parvathi. The ED has applied provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in its case, allowing the agency to summon individuals for questioning and possibly seize assets during the investigation. Siddaramaiah has consistently denied the allegations, claiming that he is facing political persecution. He has stated that he will not resign, despite ongoing demands from the BJP for him to leave his position as head of government. As the allegations surfaced, the BJP has accused the Congress of supporting "corrupt" leaders and has demanded Siddaramaiah's resignation. However, Siddaramaiah has quashed all demands for his resignation. On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court issued notices to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others on a petition seeking the transfer of the investigation into the MUDA land allotment case registered against the Chief Minister, his wife, and others. In a petition filed by Snehamayi Krishna, the court also issued notices to the Central and State governments, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Lokayukta police. The High Court directed the Lokayukta police to submit details of the probe conducted until November 25 while adjourning further hearings on the petition until November 26. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasised the importance of timely completion of the projects in a recent Mahakumbh review meeting in Lucknow.

Three key departments--the Tourism Department, Smart City, and Prayagraj Development Authority--are collaborating closely to finish these projects at an accelerated pace.

Vivek Chaturvedi, Additional Mela Officer for Mahakumbh, remarked, "Preparations for Mahakumbh are progressing at full speed. The temple corridor and renovation work are also in their final stages. The Mela administration has prioritized both the faith and the comfort of all devotees and tourists attending Mahakumbh to ensure a memorable experience for them."

The Tourism Department is currently overseeing 15 temple corridor and renovation projects, with 14 set for completion by November 15 and the final project by November 30.

Key projects nearing completion include the Bhardwaj Corridor, Mankameshwar Temple Corridor, Dwadash Madhav Temple, Padila Mahadev Temple, Alop Shankari Temple, and nine additional temples.

Meanwhile, the Smart City initiative is advancing three major projects, all slated for completion by November 15. These include the Akshayavat Corridor, Saraswati Koop Corridor, and Patalpuri Corridor.

Additionally, the Prayagraj Development Authority is finalizing two projects: the renovation of Nagvasuki Temple, targeted for November 30, and the Hanuman Temple Corridor, set to be completed by December 10.

During Mahakumbh 2025, millions are expected to bathe at the sacred Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers converge. By visiting Prayagraj's revered temples, devotees will express their deep devotion to the Sanatan faith. (ANI)
As the counting begins for the US presidential elections, special prayers were offered for the success of US Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance in Andhra Pradesh's Godavari district. The Vice Presidential candidate is the husband of Usha Vance who originally belonged to Vadluru village in the Nidadavolu assembly constituency. "We hope that Trump will win the election. America is countering terrorism across the world. The relations between America and India will improve if Trump becomes the President. There is a big fight between the two (Trump and Kamala Harris). We feel generally proud that (Usha) Vance is a native of Vadluru. We feel proud (about it). They donated the land long ago, but her (Vance's) relatives are here," Ramana, a resident of the village said. "They moved abroad and to other places more than 50 years ago. The family has educated individuals from the village. In the past, they donated land to the village, where the Sai Baba, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, and Goddess Bala Seeta temples were constructed for the welfare of the village. We hope she achieves victory in the election results that will bring pride to our village and country. We offered special prayers for Usha Vance's success. The victory of Usha's husband will advance the bilateral relationship between India and USA can improve," he added. Earlier, JD Vance cast his ballot in person for the US Presidential Elections on Tuesday morning (local time), as reported by CNN. Vance cast his ballot at the St. Anthony of Padua Church in Cincinnati from the state of Ohio. "I felt good about my own race a couple of years ago when I voted in this exact same spot. Hopefully, it goes as well for President Trump and me as it went for me a couple of years ago in the state of Ohio," Vance told reporters after casting his vote Meanwhile, a special Pooja was organised on Wednesday morning for Kamala Harris at Sri Dharma Sastha Sri Sevaka Perumaal Temple in her ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram, Tamil Nadu. Harris' supporter, Joy, who came to stay in the Thulasendrapuram village from Chicago expressed confidence about the Democrat candidate winning the US elections. However, the early trends show Trump leading. According to the latest projections by CNN, Donald Trump is leading on 230 electoral votes and Kamala Harris is ahead on 182. "It has been a stressful and anxiety producing process, as you might imagine, in the United States and in India and for the world. I believe that Kamala will prevail. I believe in the goodness of the American people. I feel that in my heart. This is my first time being here in the temple and I will attend the 'Aarti' tonight. I was on a bus and everyone had a smile on their face when they knew about my reason for coming here and the bus driver gave me a free ride," she said while speaking to ANI. (ANI)
BR Naidu took oath as the 54th Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Wednesday morning at the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple. TTD Executive Officer Shyamala Rao administered the oath to the Chairman. He first had a darshan of Varaha Swamy and then proceeded to enter the temple from Vaikuntham Queue Complex 1. After the darshan of Lord Venkateswara, the priests offered their blessings with Vedic chants at the Ranganayakula Mandapam. Earlier he was appointed the new Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Chairman and expressed his intention to work in a selfless manner. His appointment comes a month after the controversy over Tirupati Prasadam began. This issue arose when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, the Prasadam offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous YSRCP government. On October 4, the Supreme Court constituted an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the allegations of the use of animal fat to make laddus to serve as prasadam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, where Lord Venkateswara is worshipped. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan said sentiments of crores of devotees across the world are involved with Tirumala prasadam. "We don't want this to turn into political drama. If there is an independent body, there will be confidence," said the bench as it disposed of the petitions. The apex court constituted a new SIT, and ordered that the SIT will consist of two officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) who will be nominated by the CBI director, two officers of the Andhra Pradesh state police to be nominated by the state government and a senior official of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The top court said that SIT will be supervised by the CBI director and the new SIT will replace the one set up by the state government. (ANI)
An uproar erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Wednesday over a resolution on the restoration of Article 370. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary had demanded the resolution, but Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma objected to it. Earlier on Monday, the first session of the newly elected assembly in Jammu Kashmir kick-started with the introduction of a resolution opposing the revocation of Article 370 and restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. An uproar erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly when PDP (People's Democratic Party) leader Waheed Para, representing the Pulwama constituency introduced a resolution against the revocation of Article 370 and to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah stated that the resolution was introduced merely "for the cameras" and holds no real significance. He added that if there had been a genuine intention behind the resolution, it should have been discussed with the National Conference. Notably, the restoration of Article 370 and Jammu and Kashmir's statehood as well as implementation of the autonomy resolution was one of the main promises made by the National Conference in its manifesto for the Jammu-Kashmir elections. The first session of the new assembly will conclude on November 8. In the last Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, the Congress-National Conference alliance won 49 seats out of 90. The BJP won 29 seats in the election. The Assembly election was held after a gap of 10 years and since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. NC leader Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on September 16. (ANI)
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday, called the White House race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump "very close," adding that the current trend may change once counting shifts from rural to the urban areas. Speaking to ANI, Tharoor said, "Let's see what happens, it looks like a very close election. Come what may." Elaborating on the counting process in the US, Tharoor said that the less populated rural areas are counted first followed by the dense urban areas. He further stated the "picture has started changing" as the counting progresses. "The truth of the matter is that the way they count in America, it is a physical counting process as you know, they start off with the less populated rural areas. In America, the dense population is in urban areas. Rural areas are strongly Republicans and Trump-inclined in many states. Whereas, cities tend to be much more liberal and Democratic-inclined. So, once the city votes come in, the picture is changing," the Congress leader said. "The Associated Press News Agency which about 15-20 minutes ago had Trump in a very big lead is now showing electoral college votes at 220-205. Very tight. So, I think we just have to be prepared to wait until the final count is in," he added. The Congress leader also shed light on the challenges of the counting day citing the controversy in 2020 after Donald Trump challenged the results in multiple states. "There may be challenges as we saw in 2020. The final result took a couple of days to come because Trump was challenging in 3-4 states. Let's see what happens, it looks like a very close election. Come what may." According to the current projections of the presidential race called by Politico, Donald Trump is projected to win 246 electoral votes and Kamala Harris 210. A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes out of 538 to win the presidency in an election that is seen as one of the most significant in recent US history. Trump, who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, is seeking a return to the White House. Vice President Harris is aiming to create history by becoming the first woman president in US history. The election is expected to come down to a handful of battleground states -- Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Trump has won the battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia. Being asked about the India-Canada diplomatic row, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said that the government should try to keep all parties involved on such issues. "I think that on these matters, the Govt should find in its own interest to keep all parties involved. This is something that transcends politics," Tharoor said. "We have been getting a briefing from the Foreign Secretary in our external affairs committee." Tharoor, who is also the Chairman of the Parliament Standing Committee on External Affairs, along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived at Parliament House Annexe, where the latter will brief the committe on the India-Canada row. The agenda for the meeting states that representatives of the Ministry of External Affairs will give oral evidence on Demands for Grants of the Ministry for the year 2024-25 and there will be briefing by Foreign Secretary "on issues in India's foreign relations - India-Canada and India-China". India's ties with Canada have seen sharp deterioration with India repeatedly expressing its deep concern about extremism and the culture of violence and anti-India activities in Canada and has asked Canadian authorities to take action against these activities. The ties between India and Canada took a sharp downturn following Canadian leaders making allegations without providing evidence regarding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The sharp downturn in ties saw India recalling its High Commissioner from Canada. An Indian consular camp at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Canada's Brampton witnessed a "violent disruption" on Sunday in Brampton, near Toronto. The incident sparked widespread criticism in and outside Canada. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned the "deliberate attack" on a Hindu temple in Canada and said that "cowardly attempts to intimidate" Indian diplomats were appalling and New Delhi expects Canadian authorities to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday slammed the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka over MUDA, and Valmiki scams saying wherever the Congress rules, it indulges in corruption. Speaking to ANI, BJP Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that the MUDA scam and Valmiki Corporation scam are occurring because Rahul Gandhi instructs his Chief Ministers to engage in corruption and transfer the "cut money" of the corruption to his "family coffers." "From Delhi to Karnataka, the INDI alliance government is involved in corruption. They do not believe in serving the poor. They believe in looting the poor. In delhi, they were involved in a liquor scam. In Karnataka, the excise department is taking money for transfers and postings. All of this points towards only one common factor and that common illustration is the Congress Party. Wherever it governs, it is only involved in acts of corruption and the Karnataka Congress Party is running the most corrupt government in Karnataka till date," BJP Spokesperson Bhandari told ANI. "MUDA scam, liquor scam, Valmiki Corporation scam all these scams are happening because Rahul Gandhi instructs his Chief Ministers to commit corruption and transfer the cut money of the corruption to his family coffers this is why 'C' for Congress, 'C' for corruption," he added. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday arrived at Lokayukta Police office in Mysuru for an inquiry over the alleged irregularities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. The Mysuru Lokayukta officially has initiated an inquiry into the MUDA scam case following a September 27 court order to file an FIR. The Lokayukta was directed to investigate allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi. It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted these sites to the Chief Minister's wife in a prime location in Mysuru city. (ANI)
According to congress leader Bindu Krishna, police knocked at her room at around Tuesday's midnight and asked to examine the room. Her husband and Congress leader Krishnakumar was with her and they were permitted to search the room.

Police also knocked the room of congress leader and former MLA Shanimol Usman and she asked the presence of a women police officer to search her room.

According to police, the search was conducted after they received some information related to black money being used in elections. 12 rooms were searched but the search did not yield any results.

Congress alleged that this incident implied a relationship between CPIM and BJP, claiming that the workers of CPIM and BJP reached the hotel immediately after police came to the spot. In response, CPIM alleged that the Congress brought in money to be used for election.

Bindu Krishna also alleged that BJP women leaders were also there in the hotel but their rooms were not searched by the Police teams.

Leader of opposition in Kerala assembly and Congress leader V D Satheesan said "Yesterday's police search in the rooms of congress women leaders was part of a conspiracy between CPIM and BJP. Police insulted women leaders."

He demanded the resignation of Minister MB Rajesh, alleging his involvement in the conspiracy.

"Minister MB Rajesh should resign. Minister MB Rajesh and his brother-in-law were behind the conspiracy," V D Satheesan said.

"Before police reached the hotel DYFI workers and CPIM party channel representatives reached the hotel," he added.

Party workers of CPIM, Congress and BJP reached the hotel and there was an altercation between them. (ANI)
Elim Evangelical Church in Alfafar, inaugurated only last September, suffered severe damage after the recent floods in Valencia. The storm left the premises unusable, with more than a meter and a half of water destroying furniture and essential materials. Despite the losses, the evangelical community has received great support from neighbors who have offered to help. Mariana Galvez, a member of the congregation, expressed her gratitude and excitement at seeing the communitys response.

After a long search for a place to congregate and intense negotiations with the property owner, the congregants were able to rent and set up a space for weekly meetings to grow together in fellowship and getting to know God. The church was inaugurated on September 21, bringing with it great hope for growth and continuity. However, the storm took its toll, as it did on many buildings, homes, and gathering spaces, as well as entire villages that disappeared due to the immense flooding.

The approximately 50 people who met in the the church space are all Latinos from countries, such as Nicaragua, Peru, El Salvador, and Colombia, except for one Spaniard who is also part of the faith community.

According to Religion Digital, after gathering in apartments and hotel rooms, where they eventually were denied entry as their religious movement grew, it took a landlord willing to rent a space for worship, Galvez recalls. She emphasized in her search that their gatherings are neither disruptive nor noisy, though many people end up labeling us with these adjectives, admits the Nicaraguan.

However, she was surprised to see that those who initially looked with distrust at the establishment of the church are now working side by side to clean the place and try to salvage some of the furniture that is still unpaid for, such as the chairs. According to Galvez, they had been hosting breakfasts to raise funds to cover the remaining installments.

Meanwhile, the devastating effects of the storm continue in Valencia and surrounding areas. The need is great, and churches that were not affected have been among those who are actively working to help the victims in every way possible.

Originally published on Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
One of the key eye-witnesses in the Baba Siddique murder case was threatened by an unknown caller who demanded Rs 5 crore from the person, Mumbai Police said on Wednesday. According to police, the eye-witness received death threats if the Rs 5 crore is not paid. A complaint has been registered against an unknown person at Khar police station in Mumbai. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway. Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader, was shot dead on October 12 by three assailants near the office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique, in the Nirmal Nagar area of Mumbai. He sustained gunshot wounds to the chest after being shot at outside his office in Nirmal Nagar, Mumbai. He was taken to the city''s Lilavati Hospital for emergency treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on October 12. The gang led by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has claimed responsibility for the killing. So far, Mumbai Police has made 15 arrests in connection with the case. Earlier on November 2 in an exclusive interview with ANI, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the state government will take strict action against the accused involved in the matter. Calling the killing of Siddique "unfortunate," the CM said, "It is the government''s responsibility to maintain the law and order... The incident was very unfortunate... Many of the accused in the incident have been arrested. The government and Home Department will reach the roots of it. Those who are involved will be spared. Strict action will be taken," CM Shinde said. Moreover, on October 26, Mumbai Police in a joint operation with Punjab Police apprehended Sujeet Sushil Singh, a resident of Mumbai, wanted in the high profile murder. "Sujeet was involved in the murder conspiracy and was informed about the plan to kill Baba Siddique three days in advance by Nitin Gautan Sapre-another accused. He also provided logistical assistance," DGP Punjab police Gaurav Yadav said on Saturday in a post on X. He was then handed over to Mumbai Police for further investigation. (ANI)
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Wednesday attacked Aam Aadmi Party over the pollution levels in the national capital and River Yamuna, accusing the party of being a 'liar' and having an 'anti Sanatan minset.' The BJP leader also said that AAP was doing politics over festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja and playing a 'blamegame' over pollution. Speaking to ANI, Poonawalla said, "AAP is the biggest liar. They used to blame stubble burning in Punjab for air pollution. Since the AAP government has been formed in Punjab, they started blaming UP and Haryana. They can even blame the Israel-Lebanon war for this." "Arvind Kejriwal had spoken 'on record' that he would not blame anyone and will make River Yamuna as clean as River Thames by 2025. Today Gopal Rai is saying that the people of UP are contaminating and polluting the River Yamuna. The stretch between Okhla to Wazirabad creates 80 per cent pollution in the river. The sewage treatment plants are not effectively working," said Poonawalla. Poonawalla also targeted AAP over the contamination in River Yamuna and said, "Chhath puja is being celebrated and even so the pollution level in River Yamuna is on an all time high with toxic foams floating all over. People especially women will come to give arghya to Sun God and pray to Chhathi Maiya in the river. During this, one can imagine how it will affect their health." Adding further, he said, "It is the anti-Sanatana mindset of AAP where they ban firecrackers on Diwali and now people cannot celebrate the Chhath Puja properly. They are doing politics." Delhi's air quality remained 'very poor' on Wednesday morning with a thin layer of smog covering several parts of the national capital for the sixth consecutive day post-Diwali. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 358 as of 8 am today. Many areas of the city reported very poor air quality levels, posing significant health risks. Thick toxic foam was seen floating on the Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj, as the pollution level in the river remains high. An AQI is considered "poor" between '200 and 300', "very poor" at '301 and 400', "severe" at '401-450," and 450 and above is "severe plus." The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Delhi government as to how the ban on bursting firecrackers in the national capital to curb air pollution was flouted during Diwali celebrations. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih asked the Delhi government to file an affidavit on the steps taken to ensure that pollution is tackled and to enforce the firecracker ban in the city. The bench observed that there are widespread reports in newspapers that the ban on firecrackers was not implemented and said it wanted the Delhi government to immediately respond why the firecracker ban was hardly implemented. It further directed the Delhi government and the Police Commissioner of Delhi to file affidavits highlighting what steps they propose to take so that this thing does not happen next year. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Archana Pathak Dave also told the bench that there was absolute non-compliance with firecracker restrictions during Diwali this year and added that there is a report suggesting a huge increase in air pollution on the day of Diwali, with the pollution percentage rising from 10 per cent to 27 per cent. (ANI)
A case was registered and a POCSO section will also be added in the incident that took place on Tuesday, the police said.

"On November 5 a PCR call was recieved at Police Station at Welcome stating that a 4-year-old girl, daughter of Mohammed Tanzeem resident of Janta Majdoor Colony in Welcome was missing. After this Case FIR no 601/24 u/s 137(2) BNS dated November 06 was registered at PS Welcome and a search was conducted."

Delhi Police said that the girl was rescued from a house at Janta Mazdoor Colony in Welcome. The minor was found to be kidnapped by a man named Shahjad and his wife namely Afsa.

"Both the accused were beaten by people and the missing girl was recovered," Delhi Police said.

Medical tests were conducted and the girl was given counselling. A POCSO section will also be added against the accused, Delhi police said. (ANI)
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed seeking permission to perform Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna River, challenging the ban on the ritual. However, the Delhi High Court refused to issue any directions, citing the severe contamination of the Yamuna River. The bench led by Chief Justice of Delhi, emphasized that allowing people to perform the puja in the river could lead to health issues, referring to a recent case where an individual fell ill after taking a dip in the polluted water and was hospitalized. The court also highlighted that nearly 1,000 alternative locations had been designated for the puja, with adequate arrangements made for the celebration. As a result, the petition was dismissed. The Court stated that there are other ghats and designated areas where people can perform the puja safely. The court observed that the ban was likely imposed due to the high pollution levels in the Yamuna River, warning that people could fall ill from bathing in such toxic water. The Court was hearing a plea filed by the Purvanchal Nav Nirman Sansthan, seeking permission to perform Chhath Puja on the banks of the Yamuna River. The petitioner argues that permission was previously denied during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the restrictions have been reimposed, preventing people from performing the puja in the traditional manner in Delhi. The Delhi government's counsel informed the court that alternative arrangements have been made for people to conduct the ritual at these other locations. As the four-day Chhath festival began with the traditional 'Nahay Khay' on Tuesday, a troubling sight disrupted the religious spirit along the banks of the Yamuna River near Kalindi Kunj in Delhi. Devotees recently had gathered in large numbers to offer prayers and perform the ritual holy bath, an integral part of the festival dedicated to the Sun God. However, their devotion was overshadowed by the sight of toxic foam floating on the river's surface, serving as a grim reminder of the city's ongoing pollution crisis. (ANI)
Ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anup Agarwal on Wednesday lashed out at the opposition's candidate, saying that they were not able to bring any business or industry to the Dhule City assembly constituency. Agarwal is up against Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate and UBT Sena vetran and 3 time MLA Anil Gote and incumbent MLA who represents the AIMIM Farkh Anwar. When asked about his opposition in the upcoming assembly polls, Agarwal said that his party has more to talk about the work they have done as compared to others. "We have a vision. We have done more work (than others). During Mahayuti's tenure, the kind of work we have done here is huge. The development work is still going on. It is the efforts of our MP Subhash Bamre from Dhule and us that have brought development work (in the area)," he said. "I am contesting elections from Dhule City and contesting on behalf of Mahayuti. The response from the people is good. People have high hopes from us that we will carry out development work and ensure safety. Only Mahayuti can do this. Mahayuti will win with a huge margin," the BJP candidate from Dhule City assembly constituency said. Taking a dig at the opposition candidates, Agrawal said that they were not even able to bring any kind of business or industry to the constituency. He also emphasised the need to expand the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to the Dhule City constituency. "They failed to bring any industry or business in Dhule City. Look at the condition of this city, it is ridden with the problem of encroachment. The problems of hawkers on the streets are also there because these poor people don't have any other work. That's the reason the poor are forced to do all this work," he said. "First, we want to expand MIDC. Dhule City stands at the border of two states including Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Here, a highway is already planned. The water issue has also been resolved. The railway line work has also started. We want to develop this city by bringing in industries," the BJP leader said. The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday dissmised allegations about her party colleague Sunil Raut's alleged remarks and said she was disappointed to see that his statement being linked to misogyny and sexism while real issues are getting sidelined. Responding to the 'Bali ka bakra' remark allegedly made by party colleague Sunil Raut, she said, "He said 'bali ka bakra'. Now, this is being related to misogyny and sexism. I am sad that today, such things are being related to misogyny and sexism, when that is not the issue here..." "I feel sad that when women come into politics there is character assassination happening to them. In broad daylight a women was made to dance in Kurla. But I am hearing for the first time that this 'Bali ka bakra' remark is being connected to women, I have used these words myself before," she told ANI on Tuesday. Talking about women getting respect in politics, Chaturvedi advocated that it would be a reality when women get their important positions in politics and when the 33 per cent of reservation is implemented in Parliament. "The respect for women is about their representation, their place in politics and when 33 per cent reservation will be implemented - these are the issues, but all this about how an FIR was registered, I would like to ask Mumbai Police if that is all the issues they have, that this fake narrative is being spread out. There is fake news on Uddhav (Thackarey), what is the investigation being done on that?" she asked. An FIR was registered against Sunil Raut, the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Vikroli constituency and brother of Sanjay Raut for his reported objectionable comments against a woman candidate of chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Moreover, Priyanka has also claimed that people were not provided with adequate services in Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai, "I have received many phone calls -people were saying that no services are being provided at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus for railway passengers. People were worried about Bandra's stampede-like situation. I have written to the DRM regarding this - that on one side, the railway minister says that we have run this many special trains and have made arrangements and on the other side the condition is such." Hitting out at the 'Ladki Behna' scheme of the Mahayuti-led Maharashtra government, she said, "The problem with Ladki Behena is only one problem, that the Ladki Behenas have understood that they are giving money to them in the hopes that the party which has done a 'Maha-loot' of the state will benefit from this, this is a 'Maha-jhooti gatbandhan (alliance),' they are 'Maha-brashtachari' (corrupt) people. The women in Maharashtra know that this work they have done is done after the Lok Sabha elections." (ANI)
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) released its election manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly elections on Wednesday in Baramati. The party also unveiled constituency-specific manifestos for all the assembly seats it is contesting. The manifestos were released simultaneously in different cities. NCP National President and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar led the release in his home constituency Baramati, while State President Sunil Tatkare released the manifesto in Mumbai, and Working President Praful Patel released it in Gondiya. NCP candidates and local leaders released the poll manifestos in their respective constituencies across all the assembly constituencies. Pawar unveiled both the party's state-level manifesto and constituency manifesto for Baramati and said "We will present the New Maharashtra Vision within 100 days of government formation." In its manifesto, the party has promised to increase the amount under Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana from the existing Rs1,500 per month to Rs2,100 per month. This initiative will be the largest monthly Direct Benefit Transfer in Maharashtra's history providing benefits of Rs25,000 per year to over 2.3 crore women. Also, the manifesto consists of 11 new promises, increasing the old age pension from Rs1500 to Rs2100 per month. For farmers, the party has promised to raise the Shetkari Sanman Nidhi from Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 per year, combining support from both the central and state governments. Pawar has also promised to waive the farmer's loan and give a 20 per cent additional subsidy for all crops sold under MSP. Besides this, NCP has also given assurance of Rs25000 per hectare bonus for paddy farmers. "We have resolved to build more than 45000 'panand' roads in rural parts of Maharashtra. This is the biggest plan to develop the rural agricultural infrastructure", the manifesto read. Other commitments included in the manifesto are the creation of 2.5 million jobs and the provision of a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 to 1 million students through training, Rs15,000 monthly salary for Anganwadi and ASHA workers, a reduction in electricity bills by 30 per cent while prioritizing solar and renewable energy. The Maharashtra assembly elections are set for November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies scheduled for November 23. The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), aims to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (ANI)
Former Ambassador of India to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Wednesday called Republican nominee Donald Trump's projected victory in the US elections a 'historic comeback story' amid assassination attempts and political shifts. Reflecting on the race for the US presidential elections, Taranjit Singh Sandhu emphasized the remarkable political journey of a Donald Trump as a candidate who once served as President, lost, and is now made a dramatic return to the race. He pointed out the twists and turns in the campaign, including two assassination attempts and the shifting political dynamics, from initial support between Presidents Trump and Biden, to a subsequent wave of momentum, and the pivotal involvement of Vice President Kamala Harris. Sandhu likened the situation to America's classic "rebound" narrative, calling the candidate a true "comeback kid." Speaking to ANI, Taranjit Singh Sandhu said, "In democracy, both in India and the US, elections are a very important event. So, this was also an exercise of democracy. It appears from the figures that are coming in, I don't want to jump the gun, it is for the electoral authorities to declare in the US. But US political system is more focussed on what is their electoral college." "There were 7 critical states. The bigger states balance each other. So, in those 7, it quite clear that 4 will go to President Trump & other 3 could also. So, it is pretty fair to come to a judgement that as of now, the situation looks very favourable to President Trump's coming back," said the ex-diplomat. Speaking on why is it historic, Sandhu said, "For a candidate who was a President, then lost and now is coming back - that itself is history. Within that, this campaign had 2 assassination attempts, you saw it going up and down. It was President Trump with President Biden in the beginning, and then after the assassination there was a wave this side. Then VP Kamala Harris came on board. It is as Americans always love saying, 'rebound'. So, he is in a sense, comeback kid." Donald Trump early on Wednesday morning hailed his countrymen as results of the high stakes presidential elections projected his victory which set poised to return him to the White House after securing a electoral college victory. Speaking at an address to supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump affirmed that his win will help the country "heal." Addressing the crowd accompanied by his running mate, JD Vance, and family members Trump called his projected win the "greatest political movement of all time" which will help in making "America great again." "This is a movement like nobody has seen before. This was the greatest political movement of all time. There's nothing like this ever in this country. We are gonna help our country heal. We have a country that needs help, and needs help very badly. We are gonna fix our borders, we are gonna fix everything about our country," Trump said. According to the latest projections called by Fox News, Trump has won 277 electoral votes, well above the 270 threshold needed to win the presidency. Trump flipped the key battleground states of Pennsylvania and Georgia and he continues to lead Michigan. Notably, this is going to be only the second instance of a president serving two non-consecutive terms in the White House. This is only the second instance and the first in over 100 years of a leader winning the presidency after losing once. Grover Cleveland served as non-consecutive president in 1884 and 1892. In his address, he invoked God and how he survived assassination attempt against him in Pennsylvania this July when a bullet grazed his ear. "God spared my life for a reason" said Trump. He pointed out that was because God wanted to "save our country and restore America to greatness. And now we're going to fulfill that mission together," he told supporters. "The task before us will not be easy, but I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit, and fight that I have in my soul to the job that you've entrusted to me," Trump said. Republicans will win at least 50 seats in the Senate of the US Congress by the end of the elections, as estimated by Fox News. As per CNN projections, candidates from the Democratic Party are winning the elections for the governors in only three of the ten states where the counting is already underway. (ANI)
As the projections for the US Presidential elections indicate a win for Republican candidate Donald Trump, the people of Kamala Harris' ancestral Thulasendrapuram village in Tamil Nadu expressed their disappointment since they had planned to celebrate the Democrat's victory by bursting crackers and organising a special victory prayer at the local temple. Trump is set to become the 47th US President. Harris' supporter, Joy, who came to stay in the Thulasendrapuram village from Chicago earlier expressed confidence about the Democrat candidate winning the US elections. "If Donald Trump wins, I hope he is given the wisdom to lead us with unity. My hope is that he changes his ways and becomes the one who unites and not a divider. My expectations are different though. I think our country will be in chaos for the next four years," Joy from Chicago said. "Just now I watched the result of the US elections. It is a little disappointing for us. Anyway, I hope that Donald Trump will change (his ways) and will not govern like he did earlier. Last time when Kamala won as the Vice Presidential candidate, we celebrated. This time we had planned to celebrate more. But we have to accept the mandate," a resident of the village said. Meanwhile, Trump early on Wednesday morning hailed his countrymen as results of the high stakes presidential elections projected his victory which set poised to return him to the White House after securing an electoral college victory. Speaking at an address to supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump affirmed that his win will help the country "heal." Addressing the crowd accompanied by his running mate, JD Vance, and family members Trump called his projected win the "greatest political movement of all time" which will help in making "America great again." "This is a movement like nobody has seen before. This was the greatest political movement of all time. There's nothing like this ever in this country...we are gonna help our country heal. We have a country that needs help and needs help very badly. We are gonna fix our borders, we are gonna fix everything about our country," Trump said. Meanwhile, Democratic Campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond said that the Vice President will not address supporters tonight, but is expected to speak tomorrow. While addressing a gathering, Richmond said that the votes are yet to be counted and there were states that have not been called. "We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet," Cedric Richmond said. Earlier in the day, special prayers were offered for the success of US Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance in Andhra Pradesh's Godavari district. The Vice Presidential candidate is the husband of Usha Vance who originally belonged to Vadluru village in the Nidadavolu assembly constituency. (ANI)
A team from the Inter-State Cell (ISC), Crime Branch solved a broad daylight murder case of PS Khajuri Khas, Delhi within 24 hours, Delhi police said. Promptly reacting to the incident ISC, Crime Branch launched an operation and was successful in nabbing the perpetrator in less than 24 hours. Delhi Crime Branch said, "On November 3, a broad daylight murder was reported in the area of PS Khajuri Khas, Delhi wherein a person named Hemant Kumar was fatally shot in his wife and other family member's presence during Bhai Dooj gathering. Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 533/24, U/S 103(1) BNS r/w 25/27 Arms Act, was registered at PS Khajuri Khas, Delhi." On November 3, the complainant reported that she along with her husband Hemant was celebrating Bhaiya Dooj at her mother's residence in Sonia Vihar, Delhi. Suddenly, his brother-in-law named Ali Hassan @ Ajay Verma who had a contentious past involving business disputes with her husband Hemant came there. He pressured the complainant and deceased Hemant to withdraw an ongoing case against him. Ali Hassan @ Ajay Verma approached Hemant, shot him multiple times and fled from there. Despite, the complainant's attempts to intervene, accused Ali Hassan violently rebuffed her before escaping. Injured Hemant was rushed to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital, where he was declared dead by the doctors. The team developed intelligence about the accused's location. A team consisting of SIs Devender Singh & Roopesh Baliyan, HCs Gajendra Singh & Narendra Kumar and Ct. Ravindra Kumar under the leadership of Inspectors Pankaj Malik and Rohit Kumar under the supervision of ACP/ISC Ramesh Chander Lamba was quickly mobilized. Leveraging local intelligence and advanced surveillance methods, HC Gajendra Singh tracked the accused's movements across North-East, Delhi. The team pinpointed the accused and on November 4, a raid was conducted near MCD Office, Welcome, Delhi. The operation successfully led to the apprehension of accused Ali Hassan @ Ajay Verma. A sophisticated pistol and two live cartridges were also recovered from his possession. A separate case vide FIR no. 216/24, dated November 5, u/s 25 Arms Act was registered at PS Crime Branch, Delhi. Accused Ali Hassan @ Ajay Verma, (46), resident of Bulandshahar, UP, had left school after 2nd class. He married in 2005 and changed his name to Ajay Verma. After working as an auto driver, he joined his brother-in-law Hemant as a business partner in 2017 in the manufacture of wedding garlands. However, the partnership soured in 2019 over financial disputes, leading to a separation and subsequent threats by the accused to Hemant and his wife. In September 2024, a case was registered at PS Loni, Ghaziabad (U.P) vide FIR No. 572/24 U/S 352/351(4) BNS on the complaint of Hemant's wife, after the accused threatened her and Hemant. Ignoring the accused's demand to withdraw the case, the couple faced ongoing intimidation. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he had further planned to eliminate two other persons right after committing this crime. However, the team's swift and relentless pursuit thwarted this deadly plan before it could be executed. (ANI)
Fulani herdsmen on Friday (Nov. 1) kidnapped four Christians in an attack on villages in north-central Nigeria, sources said.

One woman was among the four Christians abducted from two predominantly Christian villages, Mai-Iddo and Arikon, in Kachia County, Kaduna state, said area resident Festus Audu. He identified the assailants as Fulani herdsmen and also called them bandits.

The bandits, wielding deadly weapons, kidnapped the four Christians at about 5 p.m. on Nov. 1 as the Christians were working on their farms, Audu told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News in a text message. This is a second invasion of Mai-Iddo village in the past two months.

The herdsmen also attacked Mai-Iddo village in Oct. 17, kidnapping four Christian women and a child, he said.

Women and Girls Abducted at Gunpoint

Fulani herdsmen on May 19 attacked another predominantly Christian community in Kachia County, Mai-Goro village, kidnapping seven Christian girls and women at gunpoint, said area resident Peter Madaki.

He identified those kidnapped as Elizabeth Markus, 13; Alheri Maichibi, 13; Lydia Iliya, 6; Bridget Obadiah, 4; Amama Hassan, 3; Godiya James, 30; and Beauty Mandela, 23.

In Bishini village on April 14, herdsmen kidnapped five Christians, said area resident Abraham Bishini.

The bandits invaded the community and kidnapped Samuel Danbayi, our community leader, alongside four of his children in his house at about midnight, Bishini said. The herdsmen demanded the payment of a ransom of 15 million naira [$9,070 USD] before they can release the Christians from Bishini, our community.

In the countys Goshe village, Fulani herdsmen on April 3 killed a Christian and kidnapped 13 others, said area resident Musa Bala.

The herdsmen shot and killed a Christian, Philibus Andrew, a community leader of Goshe village, Bala said. The incident occurred at about 11 p.m. The herdsmen first attacked the house of Philibus Andrew and shot him dead. They then moved to the house of another Christian, Abraham Dangana, where they kidnapped him, his wife, eight children and three other Christian relatives of his.

The herdsmen also attacked neighboring Badeko village, another predominantly Christian community, on the same day, where they kidnapped 10 Christians, he said.

Hassan Mansur, a spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, answered inquiries by Christian Daily International-Morning Star News about the attacks with a brief statement.

The incidents youre inquiring about occurred, Mansur said. However, security agencies, including police personnel, are in the affected areas working to end the activities of the bandits.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini visited the villages in the Ladwa Assembly constituency on Wednesday after he achieved victory from this seat in the Assembly polls. He said that he would carry out development activities at a swift pace. Speaking to reporters, Saini said, "I came here today to thank various villages of Ladwa Assembly constituency. People of Ladwa made Lotus bloom. I am meeting people and thanking them. We will fulfil the requests made by people while voting. We will find solutions for the issues of people." He further said that the way the people of Haryana have given a huge mandate to the BJP for the third time in a row the state government will carry out development activities very swiftly. "I have given approval for tenders of various development work regarding water, health department, sewerage, and renewal projects yesterday. The people of Haryana will get the benefit of it. We will take Haryana towards progress in swift manner under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi," he added. The Congress in Haryana could not capitalise on the 10 years of anti-incumbency of the BJP government. The BJP won 48 out of 90 seats in the Haryana assembly, while Congress managed to win 37 seats. Independents won 3 seats, and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) secured 2 seats. Following the Haryana Assembly election results, Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Ashok Gehlot, Jairam Ramesh, Ajay Maken, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and other senior party members met with Election Commission officials. They presented a list of 20 complaints, including seven written complaints from specific constituencies. The Congress raised concerns over discrepancies in EVM battery levels, stating that some machines showed a 99 per cent battery level while others ranged from 60-70 per cent on the day of counting. The party demanded that these machines be sealed and secured until an investigation could be completed. The Election Commission of India (ECI) categorically rejected allegations made by the Congress party regarding irregularities in the recent Haryana elections, labelling them as "baseless, misplaced, and devoid of facts." (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed alleged that the BJP-led central government wants all the agencies to harass CM Siddaramaiah. However, he added that they will not find anything. Speaking to ANI, Political Secretary to CM Siddaramaiah, Naseer Ahmed said, "There is no charge against the CM. He is clear. He has gone to Lokayukta Police and appeared there to respect the law of the land. He has a very clear conscience that he has not done anything wrong. He will not do anything wrong. He is a man with a clean image. After the inquiry, the CM has said that these are all fake cases filed by the BJP and it is their agenda to bring CBI...They (the centre) want all the agencies to harass the CM. They will not find anything. The more they haras him the more he will get the sympathy of the people." Earlier today, on Wednesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Lokayukta is an independent agency like the CBI and has answered all the questions posed by the Lokayukta. His comment came amid demand by the opposition for a CBI probe in the MUDA scam. Speaking to reporters after his questioning Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, "Lokayukta is an independent agency, like CBI. I have answered all the questions asked by the Lokayukta, and my responses have been recorded. They will proceed with further investigation. My wife has returned those sites saying that there are accusations against me." Today Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appeared before Lokayukta Police in Mysuru for an inquiry over the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam. The Mysuru Lokayukta officially has initiated an inquiry into the MUDA scam case following a September 27 court order to file an FIR. The Lokayukta was directed to investigate allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi. It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted these sites to the Chief Minister's wife in a prime location in Mysuru city. The ED has also filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah and others. This case was prompted by a First Information Report (FIR) from the state Lokayukta concerning the MUDA, placing the Karnataka Chief Minister in a difficult situation. The FIR names Siddaramaiah, his wife BM Parvathi, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, and Devaraju, from whom Swamy bought land that was later gifted to Parvathi. The ED has applied provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in its case, allowing the agency to summon individuals for questioning and possibly seize assets during the investigation. Siddaramaiah has consistently denied the allegations, claiming that he is facing political persecution. He has stated that he will not resign, despite ongoing demands from the BJP for him to leave his position as head of government. As the allegations surfaced, the BJP has accused the Congress of supporting "corrupt" leaders and has demanded Siddaramaiah's resignation. However, Siddaramaiah has quashed all demands for his resignation. On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court issued notices to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others on a petition seeking the transfer of the investigation into the MUDA land allotment case registered against the Chief Minister, his wife, and others. In a petition filed by Snehamayi Krishna, the court also issued notices to the Central and State governments, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Lokayukta police. The High Court directed the Lokayukta police to submit details of the probe conducted until November 25 while adjourning further hearings on the petition until November 26. (ANI)
The bench, led by Chief Justice Manmohan and including Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, noted that the report emphasised that any child in distress could seek help by calling the helpline.

The court also acknowledged that the Delhi government had presented a detailed roadmap for rescuing children involved in begging, outlining the roles of various departments in the process.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had directed the Delhi Government and Delhi Police to ensure the widespread publicity of the child helpline number 1098 to combat child begging across the city.

The PIL, filed by Ajay Gautam, called for measures to eradicate child begging in Delhi, and the court closed the case following the government's compliance with these directions.

In his petition, Gautam requested the authorities to rehabilitate children involved in begging and to identify and arrest those exploiting women and children--especially toddlers, teenage girls, and young children--by coercing them into begging and criminal activities.

Gautam further argued that despite the visible presence of beggars throughout the city, the authorities had not taken adequate measures to address the issue. (ANI)
After Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Ajit Pawar released election manifesto for Maharashtra Assembly polls, party MP Sunil Tatkare on Wednesday assured that the state government will work ahead on the principles of secularism. "Maharashtra is a progressive state and its economic condition in good...The state govt has given a lot of benefits to women and also to farmers...I assure you that the Maharashtra government will work ahead on the principles of secularism," Tatkare said to the media. Meanwhile, the NCP also unveiled constituency-specific manifestos for all the assembly seats it is contesting. The manifestos were released simultaneously in different cities. NCP National President and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar led the release in his home constituency Baramati, while State President Sunil Tatkare released the manifesto in Mumbai, and Working President Praful Patel released it in Gondiya. NCP candidates and local leaders released the poll manifestos in their respective constituencies across all the assembly constituencies. Pawar unveiled the party's state-level manifesto and constituency manifesto for Baramati and said "We will present the 'New Maharashtra Vision' within 100 days of government formation." In its manifesto, the party has promised to increase the amount under 'Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' from the existing Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 2,100 per month. This initiative will be the largest monthly Direct Benefit Transfer in Maharashtra's history providing benefits of Rs 25,000 per year to over 2.3 crore women. Also, the manifesto consists of 11 new promises, increasing the old age pension from Rs1500 to Rs2100 per month. For farmers, the party has promised to raise the Shetkari Sanman Nidhi from Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 per year, combining support from both the central and state governments. Pawar has also promised to waive the farmer's loan and give a 20 per cent additional subsidy for all crops sold under MSP. Besides this, NCP has also given assurance of Rs25000 per hectare bonus for paddy farmers. Other commitments included in the manifesto are the creation of 2.5 million jobs and the provision of a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 to 1 million students through training, Rs15,000 monthly salary for Anganwadi and ASHA workers, a reduction in electricity bills by 30 per cent while prioritizing solar and renewable energy. The Maharashtra assembly elections are set for November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies scheduled for November 23. (ANI)
Following the passage of a resolution by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking dialogue with the Centre on the restoration of Article 370, People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti stated on Wednesday that the PDP has demonstrated that numbers alone do not determine outcomes; rather, it is the result of her party's hard work. Addressing a press conference here today, Mufti said, "Today, the PDP has shown that numbers don't matter. A strong opposition can compel the majority government to fulfil the people's aspirations and honour its commitments to the public. This is the result of the PDP's dedicated efforts. The resolution does not demand the restoration of Article 370 outright but calls for dialogue on the matter... After discussions, we may introduce amendments to this resolution." The J-K Assembly passed a resolution on restoring the special status to the erstwhile state. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary introduced the resolution, prompting an uproar and criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators. On Monday, the newly elected Jammu and Kashmir Assembly held its first session, beginning with the introduction of a resolution opposing the revocation of Article 370 and seeking the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. Tensions arose in the assembly when PDP leader Waheed Para, representing Pulwama, introduced a resolution opposing the revocation of Article 370 and advocating for the restoration of the region's special status. However, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah dismissed the resolution, stating that it was introduced merely "for show" and held no genuine significance. He added that if there had been real intent behind the resolution, discussions would have included the National Conference. The restoration of Article 370, along with Jammu and Kashmir's statehood and the implementation of the autonomy resolution, was a key pledge in the National Conference's manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir elections. The first session of the new assembly will conclude on November 8. In the previous Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, the Congress-National Conference alliance secured 49 of the 90 seats, while the BJP won 29. The election took place after a 10-year gap and since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. NC leader Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on September 16. (ANI)
As the Republican nominee Donald Trump is set to become the next President of United States, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday cited expectations from him based on his previous term. Tharoor hailing Trump as "transactional leader" suggested that his second term might not have "too many surprises" for India. "It seems as if he (Donald Trump) is coming back. I think the official declaration is imminent. The truth is that we've had experience of Mr. Trump as president for four years already, so there shouldn't be too many surprises. We know that he's a very transactional leader," Shashi Tharoor said. Based on Trump's previous term and recent speeches, Tharoor cited expectations on Trade and Immigration. "He's very tough on trade. I think he said that he doesn't like India's tariffs. If India is going to impose tariffs on Americans good than American could impose tariffs on Indian goods that could be a problem for our companies. He's tough on immigration that could be a potential issue on some of our family reunion cases," Tharoor said. Emphasising on Trumps 'friendly relation' with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tharoor mentioned that the President-designate's 'tough' stand on China might be "not bad" for us. "He has been very friendly with Mr. Modi and the government of India. He's been tough on China, which, of course, given our own troubles with China, is not bad for us. So I think these are the kinds of things we can expect on the basis of his existing track record," Tharoor said. Tharoor suggested that he doesn't expect Trump to take "personal interest" in India and Canada relations, yet mentioned the opportunity to hold discussion with new administration. "I don't see President Trump having expressed any particular view on the Canada situation. Certainly, I would be surprised if that was the kind of concern that he would have. We have concerns about the Canada relationship and perhaps we can talk to a new Trump administration about why we are unhappy with these Khalistanis running rampant across the border...I don't see Trump taking a personal interest very much in that particular issue. We'll have to see. This is all speculation." Tharoor said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Trump on his victoryIn a post on social media platform, X, PM Modi wrote, "Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory". PM Modi expressed confidence in taking the Indo-US ties forward to greater heights as Trump would take over for his second term. (ANI)
The board has also downgraded six schools in Delhi from senior secondary to secondary level after irregularities were observed during the surprise inspections.

The CBSE has conducted a series of surprise inspections across Rajasthan and Delhi on September 3. The assessments were conducted in 27 schools, affiliated with the Board.

The prime objective of the inspections was to ascertain that the schools were operating in compliance with the norms of regular attendance of students in schools as per Affiliation and Examination Bye-Laws of the Board.

Following the inspection, the CBSE issued Show Cause Notices, allowing schools 30 days to respond.

"The replies submitted by the schools were examined in detail by the Board. Based on the inspection findings and supported by video - graphic evidence: 21 schools had their affiliation withdrawn due to significant numbers of non-attending students from classes IX-XII," CBSE said in a statement.

"Six schools were downgraded from Senior Secondary to Secondary level," the statement added.

Out of 21 de-affiliated schools, five are in Rajasthan and 16 in Delhi. All 6 downgraded schools are situated in Delhi.

The CBSE said that the practice of dummy/non-attending admissions contradicts the core mission of school education, compromising students' foundational growth.

"To address this issue, we are taking decisive action to combat the proliferation of dummy schools and send a clear message to all affiliated institutions to resist the lure of accepting dummy or non-attending admissions," the statement read. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lead the 'Anti-Terror Conference-2024' on Thursday with a key focus on fostering coordination among various stakeholders to tackle terrorism through a unified, 'whole of the government' approach. The two-day event, hosted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), aims to shape future counter-terrorism policies and strategies, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) pointed out in a statement. The conference will bring together senior police officials, central agency officers, and experts from law, forensics, and technology to discuss crucial issues such as legal frameworks for counter-terrorism, prosecution challenges, and the role of emerging technologies. The discussions will also address international legal cooperation and strategies for dismantling terrorist networks operating across India. "Key focus of the 'Anti-Terror Conference-2024' is on developing synergies among various stake holders by establishing channels for coordinated action against the menace of terrorism in the spirit of 'whole of the government approach'," stated the MHA. "The meeting also aimed at presenting substantive inputs for future policy formulation. The deliberations and discussions in the two-day conference will be focused on various matters of importance including prosecution and evolving legal framework in counter-terrorism investigations, sharing of experiences and good practices, challenges and opportunities related to emerging technologies, international legal cooperation and strategies for dismantling terror ecosystem in various counter terrorism theatres across India," it added. The conference will be attended by senior police officers from states and Union Territories, officers from Central agencies and departments dealing with issues related to counter terrorism and experts from related fields such as law, forensics and technology. "The annual conference has over the years emerged as a meeting point for operational forces; technical, legal and forensic experts and agencies engaged in counter terrorism for deliberations on issues impacting national security and threats emerging out of terrorism," mentioned the MHA. The Ministry further said that the Central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to root out the evil of terrorism by following zero-tolerance policy against it. (ANI)
Dr Sandeep Sonara, an advanced gynaecology laparoscopic surgeon and 'endometriosis' specialist based in Gujarat, emphasised the need for awareness among women, stating that India's large population contributes to it having the highest number of patients suffering from this condition. In an interview with ANI, Dr. Sandeep cited World Health Organisation (WHO) data, which shows that endometriosis affects around 10 per cent of women of reproductive age globally. "Regarding India, given its population size, 25 per cent of the global burden of women suffering from endometriosis falls here," he explained. When asked about symptoms and the impact on women, Dr Sandeep said, "Endometriosis causes pain, infertility, and in some cases, if undiagnosed for years, it may progress to malignancy, where abnormal cells grow and spread uncontrollably." "Patients experience pain during menstruation, urination, and backaches. Even post-menstruation, pain can persist. Some young women are restricted from household and professional work due to the condition. Post-marriage, it can lead to infertility, and in one per cent of cases, endometriosis progresses to malignancy," he added. On the situation in India, Dr Sandeep noted that social taboos often prevent young girls from discussing menstrual issues with doctors. "In India, societal taboos mean young girls often avoid consulting doctors about menstrual pain. Instead, they take painkillers during menstruation, neglecting symptoms, which can ultimately disrupt their lives," Dr Sandeep explained. He also pointed out that this condition is a contributing factor to marital discord, as it can lead to infertility. When asked why the disease is difficult to diagnose, Dr Sandeep cited a lack of awareness, technology, and expertise within the current healthcare system. "The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, but scientific theories exist. One theory suggests retrograde menstruation, where menstrual blood deposits in the abdomen, cause inflammation. Another theory is genetic. A third theory likens it to cancer, with the disease potentially spreading to the lungs and brain. The fourth is called coelomic metaplasia. These complex pathophysiologies make diagnosis and treatment challenging," he said. "We can't claim it is fully curable, as it stems from physiological processes like menstruation. However, we can manage the symptoms to allow women to lead fulfilling lives," he added. Dr. Sandeep shared his breakthrough research, in which he diagnosed and treated an exceptionally rare presentation of endometriosis--the first such case in humans globally. "I recently published research on a rare endometriosis presentation. The patient, who suffered from pain and infertility for 14 years, had consulted orthopaedic surgeons, gynaecologists, and pain specialists without a diagnosis," he explained. "When the patient visited us, we identified an unusual cyst location. This endometriosis cyst, found beneath the uterus, was surgically removed and diagnosed as a mesonephric cyst endometrioma. Previously, this condition had only been identified in dogs, with three recorded cases worldwide. After six months post-surgery, the patient successfully conceived," Dr. Sandeep added. The expert also highlighted the Multidisciplinary Endometriosis Care Centre, staffed with specialists to address various aspects of the condition. "The centre includes IVF specialists for infertility, as well as a gastroenterologist, urologist, anaesthetist, and radiologist. A psychotherapist provides counselling and pain management support," he noted. Discussing the importance of an expert team, Dr. Sandeep recounted a patient from Bangalore who suffered from lung endometriosis, leading to blood vomiting. "A dedicated team is essential to deliver comprehensive treatment for such complex cases," he stressed. Dr. Sandeep also shared that he received accreditation from the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) in the United States for his contributions to endometriosis care. "I received the Master Surgeon accreditation in Multi-Disciplinary Endometriosis Care from SRC, which evaluated my surgical quality and patient recovery outcomes. I am the only doctor in Gujarat with this accreditation," he said. Calling for more awareness of endometriosis, he advocated for establishing multidisciplinary care units across India. "Awareness about endometriosis is crucial. While the condition is treatable, India's treatment centres are limited. Many gynaecologists can treat endometriosis but do not follow international guidelines and protocols," he concluded. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Dimple Yadav on Wednesday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for using provocative rhetoric to divide communities and secure votes. During her campaign, Yadav highlighted that people are increasingly aware that, while such statements might garner votes, essential promises like employment and justice remain unmet. "Today, people across all communities understand that they [BJP] make provocative statements to create divisions for votes. Now, people see that while these speeches may bring votes, promises like employment and justice are never fulfilled. People from every community feel oppressed," she said. Yadav expressed confidence in her party's success, adding, "There is enthusiasm among workers... I am confident we will win the Karhal seat decisively," she told ANI. Meanwhile, BJP leader and former Union Minister Smriti Irani launched a fierce attack on the INDI alliance, accusing its leaders of repeatedly making derogatory remarks against women. Speaking to ANI, she said, "Whether it is Sita Soren in Jharkhand or Shaina NC in Maharashtra, when a woman contests elections for her beliefs or raises her voice, INDI bloc leaders make derogatory comments against them. Instead of stooping so low, they should engage in debates on current issues with NDA alliance women candidates; that would be acceptable." Irani further questioned whether the INDI alliance offers any positive change, given the offensive remarks by its leaders. "Considering their impending failures in the Jharkhand and Maharashtra elections, with the kind of statements made by INDI alliance leaders, will voters see any real change? Why don't these leaders discuss security and current issues with women leaders? On the other hand, PM Modi passed the bill for 33% reservation, strengthening the nation," she added. Earlier on Tuesday in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC, a candidate from the Mumba Devi constituency, criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Raut over his alleged comments about another woman candidate. "They should not make the mistake of thinking I am a helpless woman. I have been active in politics for 20 years and have fought for women's rights. I will continue to do so. I am a woman, not an object ('Mahila hoon, maal nahi')," Shaina NC said in a statement posted on X. The controversy began when Arvind Sawant, an MP from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction, allegedly referred to Shaina as "imported maal," saying, "Look at her condition. She was in the BJP all her life and now has joined another party. Imported 'maal' doesn't work here; only original 'maal' does." Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, Sita Soren broke down while speaking about comments made by Congress leader Irfan Ansari against her. She mentioned that the tribal community had decided to bar him from entering their villages. BJP's Sita Soren is the party's candidate for the Jamtara constituency in the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, where she faces Congress' Irfan Ansari, the INDIA bloc candidate for the seat. Ansari sparked controversy by calling Sita Soren a "rejected" and "borrowed" candidate. (ANI)